Podcasts about Central America

What does it actually take to mine Bitcoin in El Salvador? In this episode, Mike sits down with Josue Lopez, CEO of Volcano Energy, to break down what's really happening beyond the hype. Josue explains how his team is building energy infrastructure from the ground up, solar, wind, and geothermal, to support a truly sovereign energy mining operation. This isn't about plugging into someone else's grid. It's about designing a system that El Salvador controls end-to-end.They get into the details of mining economics, from why electricity in El Salvador is so expensive to how immersion cooling made it possible to run ASICs in a tropical climate. Josue also shares why Volcano Energy has already raised nearly $300 million and how the team is balancing short-term returns with long-term strategic goals. Whether the energy gets sold to the grid or powers Bitcoin mining directly, the goal is the same—build assets that last and reduce dependency on unstable jurisdictions.The conversation moves beyond Bitcoin into national development. Josue explains how energy, safety, and financial inclusion are all connected. They dig into El Salvador's massive housing shortage and why his fund is stepping in to build low-income homes designed for families earning minimum wage. It's a look at what Bitcoin infrastructure really means when it's tied to place, people, and policy.If you've ever wondered how energy mining works in the real world, or whether a country like El Salvador can build from scratch without relying on legacy systems, this episode is for you. Hit subscribe, drop a comment if your electric bill has ever made you consider going off-grid, and share this with someone who still thinks mining can't work in Central America.-Bitcoin Beach TeamConnect and Learn more about Josue Lopezhttps://x.com/josuelopezgal https://x.com/Volcano_Energy https://volcano.energy/ Support and follow Bitcoin Beach:X: @BitcoinBeachIG: @bitcoinbeach_svTikTok: @livefrombitcoinbeachWeb: bitcoinbeach.comBrowse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode:00:00 — Can El Salvador actually support Bitcoin data centers?01:48 — Why did Josue Lopez leave El Salvador and what brought him back?06:29 — How did Bitcoin solve banking challenges for international students?08:41 — What changed after China banned Bitcoin mining?15:21 — How much has Volcano Energy raised and where is it going?20:08 — Why are electricity prices so high in El Salvador?24:32 — How immersion cooling made energy mining possible in hot climates34:42 — Should you mine Bitcoin or just sell power to the grid?39:50 — How geothermal energy fits into El Salvador's energy infrastructure53:26 — Why financial inclusion depends on more than just BitcoinLive From Bitcoin Beach

Cindy DeBoer joins Stephanie to share her story of transformation—from living the American dream to pursuing a life of simplicity and deep faith. Cindy's family motto sums it up best: “We chose to live simpler so that others can simply live.” Whether that means downsizing, shifting how you spend time, or offering your unique talents, the ultimate goal is the same—living in tune with God's melody for your life, allowing Him to enrich and use you far beyond what the culture's definition of “success” could offer. Cindy's candid memoir offers practical lessons for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the relentless pursuit of “more” or sensing a disconnect between their faith and daily life. Cindy shares the story of her family choosing to live simpler so others can simply live. She asks, What does it look like to glorify God with our finances? In her new book, Far, far better things, she shares that, in the first 12 years of her marriage, she and her husband, although faithfully attending church and following Jesus as best they knew how, were still very focused on "getting ahead," building their bank account, striving to have the best of everything - including having the best house and the best kids. They pushed themselves nearly to the breaking point. She tells us what (who?) stopped that trajectory and got them to turn their lives around and specifically, start asking the question, "What if we lived what we say we believe?” From Success to Surrender: A Life Re-examined Cindy's early adult life was marked by what her community celebrated as success: marriage to her high school sweetheart, good jobs, a dream house with luxury amenities, and busy, achievement-packed schedules for their four children. Despite following what seemed like a “formulaic path,” she and her husband felt empty and exhausted. Their faith, although present, was largely intellectual and routine—church attendance and mealtime prayers—but lacked genuine heart engagement. The turning point came when brave friends challenged them to question, “Where is God in all of this?” This gentle but persistent questioning—along with new friendships, books, and volunteer work—sparked a series of soul-searching prayers: Were they truly living out what they professed to believe? What might God be asking of them that they'd never considered? Small Steps Lead to Big Changes Change didn't happen overnight. Cindy and her husband began with small, tangible acts of obedience, like reaching out to a homeless family from their child's classroom—a move that transformed their understanding of compassion and shifted their mindset from “helper” to “learner.” These steps emboldened them to pursue adoption, welcoming a daughter from Guatemala. The process opened their eyes further to global poverty and injustice, stirring a passion for others that wouldn't have developed in their comfortable status quo. A defining lesson came as they downsized their home—moving from their “dream house” to the “little brown mansion.” This reduction in material possessions brought unexpected peace and joy, as it freed up energy, time, and resources for giving and serving. Most importantly, Cindy observed the positive impact such choices had on their children, making them more resilient, empathetic, and adept at hearing God's voice. The Heart of the Lesson: Simplicity Isn't Poverty—It's Purpose Cindy insists her story isn't prescriptive—not everyone is called to move overseas or adopt a child. Instead, her encouragement is this: Hold your life loosely before God. Ask the courageous question: “Am I truly living what I say I believe?” Trust that God honors even the smallest steps of faith. Simplicity, as Cindy has learned, is not about deprivation, but about creating space for what truly matters—intimacy with God, sacrificial community, and authentic love for others. Cindy's family motto sums it up best: “We chose to live simpler so that others can simply live.” Whether that means downsizing, shifting how you spend time, or offering your unique talents, the ultimate goal is the same—living in tune with God's melody for your life, allowing Him to enrich and use you far beyond what the culture's definition of “success” could offer. Key Takeaways: ·         True transformation often starts with honest self-reflection, hard questions, and small acts of obedience. ·         Simplifying life creates freedom—to serve, give, and connect with God and others more deeply. ·         God's blessings are not just material or circumstantial—they are rooted in intimacy with Him and being part of His work in the world. ·         Every step towards living out your faith, no matter how small, can create ripples of hope, change, and fulfillment. Let Cindy's story be an invitation: dare to ask what God might want to do with your “ordinary” life, and trust that His far, far better things await, one simple step at a time. ABOUT “FAR FAR BETTER THINGS” What happens when you've reached all your earthly goals and you're only twenty-eight years old? What if you've realized the American Dream, and although you're pretty confident it's all a big blessing from Jesus, you still feel miserably lacking in purpose and fulfillment? What makes a reasonably well-off American Christian family walk away from their perfectly scripted life—prestigious careers, dream home, lake house, nice cars, kids' sports, frequent travel, perfect church, tons of family and friends—and follow God to the ends of the earth? How would any young family have the courage to leave all the things the world tells us to strive for and instead choose a life of intentional simplifying, serial downsizing, and two major moves overseas? Cindy's memoir chronicles their family's unorthodox Christian journey that began as a result of praying in earnest: “Lord, help us to live what we say we believe.” Follow along as the DeBoers, a typical average suburban family, finds the courage to subvert a safe and comfortable life for a risky and riotous ride that led them to far, far better things. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Far-Better-Things-Surrendering-American/dp/1625863128/  Get a signed copy directly from Cindy: https://cindydeboer.com/the-book/  ABOUT CINDY DEBOER Cindy DeBoer is a blogger, psychiatric nurse, and recovering “un-missionary.” She and her husband, Paul, are passionate about demystifying Islam for Christians, working with development organizations in Central America, and partnering with several local ministries that serve under-resourced people. Today, living in the heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan, they delight in their four grown children, three children-in-love, two grandchildren, and the ability to walk everywhere—especially to their small community church (back in the Reformed tradition!) just six blocks away. More at https://cindydeboer.com/  Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3. 1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need. 2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose. 3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content! All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose! Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3. 1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need. 2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose. 3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content! All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose! Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Full Text of ReadingsMonday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 401The Saint of the day is Blessed Stanley RotherBlessed Stanley Rother’s Story On May 25, 1963, Stanley Francis Rother, a farmer’s son from Okarche, Oklahoma, was ordained for his home diocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa. Having flunked out of the area seminary due to his difficulty with Latin, Fr. Rother finally accepted an invitation to attend Mount St. Mary Seminary in Maryland, where he finished his studies and was approved for ordination. After serving in his local diocese for five years, Fr. Rother joined five priests, three religious sisters, and three laypersons to staff a Guatemalan mission in Santiago Atitlán serving the Tz’utujil people. The Oklahoma City diocese heard the call of Pope John XXIII to send missionaries to foreign lands, especially Central America. These twelve individuals felt the call, and with their bishop's approval, left the comforts of the United States to live and work in Guatemala. By 1975, Fr. Rother was alone at his parish in Santiago Atitlán, the others having returned home for various reasons. He served the Tz’utujil people for 13 years and won their hearts and souls. Ever the farmer, and always unpretentious and mild mannered, Fr. Rother experimented with various crops as well as fulfilling his heavy pastoral duties which included as many as five Masses in four different locations on a given Sunday and as many as 1,000 baptisms a year. Guatemala's civil war reached the highlands and Lake Atitlán by 1980. Government troops camped on the parish farm and Fr. Rother witnessed the assassination of a number of his parishioners, including the parish deacon. Warned of imminent danger, Fr. Rother returned to the United States for three months early in 1981, to visit with his family and friends. Against the advice of his family and the local bishop, Fr. Rother returned to Atitlán to be with his people. He remembered a Sisters’ community who had fled the country and later tried to return but the people asked, “Where were you when we needed you?” On the evening of July 28, three masked men entered the rectory and shot Fr. Rother to death. His beloved parishioners mourned him repeatedly crying, “They have killed our priest.” Pope Francis declared Stanley Rother a martyr on December 2, 2016. He was beatified in Oklahoma City on September 23, 2017. Reflection The declaration of a blessed or saint is always a celebration of the Church as the people of God. To single out an individual for his or her holiness and service builds up the entire community of faith. But this is doubly true for the Church in the United States and in Oklahoma, as one of our own is both declared a martyr for the faith and enrolled in the ranks of those declared Blessed by the Church. May the dedication, faith, and service of Blessed Stanley Rother be a source of strength for all in this country. Learn more about Blessed Stanley Rother! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Welcome to Episode 19 of the Game is the Game.   I've been fortunate in life to meet an array of inspirational individuals across varied professions. The Game is the Game is an opportunity for them to tell their stories.   On this episode I sit down with Anthony Serafino, President of New Jersey-based Exp. Group LLC, a multinational organisation which for over 40 years has managed a production, exportation, and distribution network of fresh food across South and Central America and the Caribbean. It's an interesting episode as food is all around us but how much do we really understand about it's journey to our plates? We talk everything about the process of food production and distribution and the things people think they know but actually dont. It just so happens that Anthony now happens to be a minority shareholder in Bromley Football Club as well so it made sense that we talked about his crossover into the world of football as well. You can find out about the Exp. Group LLC here Anthony Serafino can be found on Linked In here You can follow The Game is the Game on Instagram here and on X here. The Game is the Game is an independent venture founded by Machel St Patrick Hewitt. 

We explore the surprising maritime history of Texas cowboys who swam thousands of cattle across open saltwater to reach Galveston Island's rich grazing lands. This forgotten chapter reveals how the Texas Gulf Coast played a vital role in building the cattle economy that helped shape the state.• Spanish and Mexican vaqueros created the original cowboy techniques that would become the foundation of Texas ranching culture• Galveston Island's salt-tolerant grasses made it ideal winter pasture, with water naturally fencing in the cattle• Cowboys literally swam herds across Galveston Bay, guiding thousands of cattle through the water• Legendary cowboys like Sterling Spell performed extraordinary feats, including wrestling a 1,000-pound steer during a bay crossing• Galveston's deep natural harbor and rail connections made it a crucial cattle export hub to Cuba, Central America, and Europe• The Butler family's stockpens processed tens of thousands of cattle annually, including a Cuban shipment of 49,000 head• Barbed wire and expanding railroads ended the era of open-range grazing and long cattle drives• The Schaper family operated a dairy farm on Galveston's West End for nearly 90 years• Coastal ranching contributed to industry innovations like dipping vats to combat Texas fever• In 2011, Galveston facilitated the largest live cattle export in U.S. history, shipping over 5,500 pregnant heifers to Russia• Though now primarily a vacation destination, Galveston's West End still contains traces of its cattle ranching heritageGalveston Unscripted on video! What is Galveston Unscripted?Follow Galveston Unscripted on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! More history content on Visit Galveston!

The Trump administration has set an annual goal to deport one million undocumented persons living in the United States - according to Homeland Security, more than 271,000 people were removed from this country in the first quarter of the year. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is responsible for arresting those who are here without authorization. A significant number of ICE arrests and detainees are from Mexico and northern Central America causing fear and concern within the Latin X community. We take a deep dive into the impact of ICE enforcement in Virginia. Our guests include Patricia Bracknell, CEO, Chamber for Hispanic Progress; Elizabeth Schmelzel, Immigration Attorney, Legal Action Justice Center; and Gabriel Morgan, Sheriff, City of Newport News.

A wave of infrastructure development is sweeping across the Caribbean as nations invest strategically to strengthen their economies and build resilience against future challenges as highlighted in the headlines of our latest Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup. Puerto Rico received $27.8 million in US federal funding for airport improvements in Aguadilla, Ponce, Ceiba, and ViequesTurks and Caicos begins South Dock redevelopment modernizing its primary port that handles 90% of importsGuyana's President Ali announced plans to develop ports and to position the country as a regional shipping hubDominican Republic opened the largest photovoltaic complex in Central America and the Caribbean St. Lucia will host the 2025 OECS Invitational Boxing Championship from August 1-3 Listen online at www.pulseofthecaribbean.com or your favorite streaming platform.Send news releases to news@pulseofthecaribean.com. If you have an interest in sponsoring our podcast, email us at  biz@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

Welcome to this new series, “Something Psalmic,” in which I invite my guests to share what's lifting their spirits and offering them healing and hope right now.In this episode of Psalms for the Spirit, I'm joined by Rev. Heather Prince Doss ~ an ordained Presbyterian minister, lifelong traveler, and founder of Progressive Pilgrimage, a ministry that guides spiritually rich journeys for open-hearted seekers. With over 16 years in parish ministry and a love for creative expression, Heather shares how travel, art journaling, and sacred disruption have become life-giving practices for her.We talk about the power of stepping outside familiar rhythms, the way art and poetry offer space for praise and lament, and how the most moving moments often arise from the unplanned and unexpected. Heather also reflects on the phrase wonder maker ~ a simple shift in language that offered a whole new way of experiencing the sacred.“What psalmic means to me is to bring all of that praise and lament and need before God in a creative way, whether that's words or music or something more visual.”If you're craving space to breathe, reflect, or reconnect with what grounds you, this conversation offers a gentle invitation to find what's psalmic in your own journey.Heather's Bio:Heather is a born traveler, literally. She was born in Germany to military parents, and a love for the world has never gotten out of her bones. This love has carried her all over the United States, to Central America, Europe, Southern Africa, the Middle East, and even to the Presbyterian United Nations Office as a lowly intern. The same love motivated her ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA) where she served as a parish pastor for over 16 years. Alongside parish ministry, Heather has worked serving unhoused communities. She is the founder and owner of Progressive Pilgrimage where where she now works full time to plan and lead spiritual travel for progressively-minded Christians and faith seekers. She is also a creative soul who loves expressing her faith with (very) amateur artistic pursuits like art journaling, poetry, and a variety of visual arts.Find more about Heather here:www.progressivepilgrimage.com Follow Heather on her social media:facebook: @progressivepilgrimage@heather.p.dossinstagram: @progressivepilgrimage@heather.prince.dossFeatured Song:Psalm 84: How LovelySet to the beautiful air, “Carrickfergus,” this psalm depicts the pilgrimage of faith, through which we are strengthened by God's presence.Learn more about the Habits for the Spirit Course www.kiranyoungwimberly.com/habits-courseGet involved with “Summer for the Spirit” www.kiranyoungwimberly.com/summerDownload your free guide here: “7 Spiritual Practices for Wellbeing in Uncertain Times”Become a Supporting/Paid SubscriberYou'll get:* Complimentary access to the Habits for the Spirit course* Videos of the conversations in Substack* The Psalms for the Spirit Journal ebook* Invitations to future offerings for supporting subscribers throughout the yearPsalms for the Spirit is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

The New World screwworm has cattle ranchers, entomologists, and the federal government on edge. The pest was successfully eradicated from the US decades ago, but has recently been moving north from South America into Central America and Mexico, with concerns that it may cross the border into Texas. It's notorious for laying eggs in the wounds of animals and slowly eating them from the inside out. Host Flora Lichtman speaks with entomologist Sonja Swiger about past efforts to get rid of the New World screwworm, and why that process involves dropping millions of bugs out of airplanes.Guest: Dr. Sonja Swiger is an entomologist and professor at Texas A&M in Stephenville, Texas.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Abbie & Jeff Nelson moved from Portland, Oregon to Guatemala with their 3 daughters to practice family medicine & clinical psychology as missionaries. Listen in as they share with Erika Barber what motivated such a radical lifestyle shift and what this kind of dedicated service looks like on a day-to-day basis. Dr. Erika Barber teaches in George Fox University's physician assistant program and holds board certification in internal medicine and geriatrics.Abbie Nelson is a family nurse practitioner working in a local church ministry clinic in the community around the Guatemala City landfill. Jeff Nelson is a clinical psychologist supporting pastors and ministry workers through therapy and education. Check out their Newsletter.Abbie & Jeff serve through a ministry called Serge.If you enjoy listening to the George Fox Talks podcast and would like to watch, too, check out our channel on YouTube! We also have a web page that features all of our podcasts, a sign-up for our weekly email update, and publications from the George Fox University community.

The Stars are A Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson. This is the first novel from a New Zealand writer, about a young woman who leaves home after a tragedy and travels the world for a year, running away from the hurt and running towards something she's not quite sure of. Her travels take her to Asia, then Central America where, in Guatemala, she befriends two people who have significant impacts on her life, each in a different way; and though she often thinks about going home she only makes it as far as Tasmania, with so much in her life that's hard to face up to. Polkinghorne by Steve Braunias. From one of our finest writers this is the definitive book on the trial of the century – Philip Polkinghorne, being accused of the murder of his wife Pauline. Much has already been written about it – and of course there's the TV documentary which many people may have seen- but for anyone who has the slightest bit of interest in the case, this book is a must read. It's thorough, insightful, critical and compassionate, and the last chapter in particular is extraordinary. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Title: Rare Earths to Truffles: Diversified Investments You've Never Heard Of with Louis O'Connor Summary: In this episode of Raise the Bar Radio, Seth Bradley welcomes back Lou, an international investor, to discuss diversification, rare earth metals, and a unique agricultural investment opportunity. Lou, who splits his time between Europe and Latin America, emphasizes the importance of global diversification for peace of mind and flexibility. He highlights the geopolitical dynamics affecting rare earth metals, where China dominates the refining process, and discusses the increasing demand due to restricted exports. Transitioning from metals to agriculture, Lou introduces his truffle farm investment. Leveraging agri-science and Ireland's favorable climate, the project offers investors ownership of inoculated truffle trees with professional farm management. Returns are projected to begin in year 4-5 and continue for up to 40 years, offering IRRs between 14% to 69% based on historical truffle prices. Risks include mismanagement and natural elements, though strong biosecurity and proven success mitigate concerns. Lou finishes with a valuable mindset tip: improve by 1% daily to compound results over time. Bullet Point Highlights: Diversification across countries and industries provides flexibility and peace of mind China's control of rare earth refining and export restrictions create scarcity and opportunity Truffle farm investment offers strong IRR potential, with returns starting in years 4-5 and lasting 30-40 years Minimum $30K investment includes 400 saplings and full farm management with a 70/30 profit split Primary risks are mismanagement and nature, mitigated through biosecurity and replacement guarantees Lou's golden nugget: Focus on improving 1% daily to unlock exponential long-term growth Transcript: (Seth Bradley) (00:02.062) What's up, builders? This is Raise the Bar Radio, where we talk about building wealth, raising capital, and all in all, raising the bar in your business and your life. This is the No BS podcast for capital raisers, investors, and entrepreneurs who are serious about scaling their business and living life on their own terms. I'm Seth Bradley, securities attorney, real estate investor, and entrepreneur, bringing you world-class strategies from the best in the game.   If you're ready to raise more capital, close bigger deals, build a better you and create true financial freedom, you're in the right place. Let's go. Lou, what's going on, brother? Welcome back to the show.   Thank you very much Seth. Thank you. I'm very happy to be here. Good to see you again.   Yeah, absolutely man. Great to catch up with you. Are you tuning in from where?   Well, in Europe still, you know, I'm back and forth between Ireland, Germany, mostly, a little bit of time in Panama as well, because my wife's from there, but I'm in temporary in Ireland, horse breeding country and agricultural heartland actually of Europe. And at the moment anyway, yeah, so in Europe.   (Seth Bradley) (01:16.664) awesome, awesome. That's the beauty of being on a video conference call that you can talk to anyone from anywhere in the world now. That's the one good thing that came out of COVID is it made it normal to do it.   Yeah, it's funny, unbelievable. Just yesterday I was contacted actually by CNBC in the US, I'm in Europe, about the metals. We're not talking about metals today, but I've spoken with you before about the rare earth metals. And I guess the US chamber, secretary chamber of commerce is in China this week because China is restricting the export of certain technology metals and that's their area.   And within a day, there's like an hour after I speak with you, I'm doing an interview with CNBC on, I think it's Power Launch or something they call it. So it's fascinating really how quickly you can sort of ping around the globe and find somebody and do this.   Yeah, yeah, very cool, very cool, man. Well, thanks for taking the time to tune in with us today. And we've got a brand new thing to talk about and we'll jump into that. But before we do, just for listeners who didn't listen to your previous episode, give us a little bit about your background and your story. Just a general synopsis,   Sure, thank you. Yeah, so I'm obviously, you can tell from the accent, I'm Irish or Scottish or Australian, but it's Irish. And I suppose you could say I'm bit of a world traveler who has come back home specifically for this project we're going to talk about. Ireland is known as sort of the breadbasket of Europe. But yeah, I lived in Germany for 10 years, lived in Central America and traveled extensively in South America during that time.   (Louis O'Connor) (03:05.422) But my niche, if you will, you know one other business we're involved in. And my niche, what I'm looking for is always what I call, I don't know what you might call it in the US, but we sort of call it a path of progress play here, which is if you sort of look at an industry or a product, what's happened in the last 10 years, or even a country or even a business for that matter, if you look at what's happened in the last 10, you can sort of   have a look at likely what's going to happen in the next 10. So I'm always looking for somewhere where demand is increasing and supply is either going to be limited or subject to disruption and somehow, and that's what we will be talking to an agricultural product and we'll talk more about it. But I like to be diversified in every way. So I have business in Germany, this agricultural product is in Ireland.   I do my banking in Belize and Panama and different parts of Europe. So just trying to be as diversified as possible.   Right, right. And that's part of your kind of plan as well, right? Like to be kind of this international man of mystery, right? Like you have different ties to a couple of different countries, which gives you flexibility in case something goes wrong in one of them, right? Like, you know, I think a lot of people were worried here for a while and I think it's still in the back of people's minds in the United States about, you know, the strength of the dollar and   You know, people were talking about getting a second citizenship and things like that. Can you speak to that a little bit about kind of, you know, how you've done that and what your kind of thoughts and feelings are around that?   (Louis O'Connor) (04:46.552) Sure, sure. Well, you my feeling always has this peace of mind, you know, I just want peace of mind. I want to be at peace with myself and the world around me. that's, I mean, I'm probably talking about more philosophically and spiritually as well, but also, you know, in business or residencies or banking. I suppose it's because I left Ireland quite young and I did live.   I didn't just go on a vacation somewhere. lived in Germany for 10 years. I learned the language. Ireland is an island, even though we're part of Europe, continental Europe is completely different. And then I went to Latin America, which is a completely different kettle of fish altogether. And I suppose it was those experiences that the perspective that gave me was that, that sounds very simple, really, root of entry, but there's...   there's good and bad, know, you we do certain things in Ireland very well, and maybe other things not so well in Germany, they do, you know, they've made better cars and better roads. And we do and you know, Latin America, I think they dance better and drink better maybe than you know, but so yeah, what I learned is, you know, you know, you can pick is a bit like life can be a bit like a buffet, and you can pick what you like, and you know what you don't like leave behind, you know, so and the idea, I suppose the point I should make is that   What I've learned is it's not expensive or difficult to be diversified. Like have your banking in different jurisdictions really doesn't cost anything. Having a second or third residency if you do the right homework on I'll go into more detail if you want. have residency still in Panama and I three passports. I'm working on the fourth and it has been a little bit of effort but not expensive or costly.   And will I ever use it? I worried that the world's going to end? No. But it's just that peace of mind you have when you've got these other options that, God forbid if something did happen here in Ireland or Europe, I have a residency in Panama, I banking there. So it's just that, suppose it's like having a parachute or a safety net that's always there.   (Seth Bradley) (07:00.13) Yeah, yeah, I agree. mean, that's, you know, especially the way that things are today and people kind of just worry about things generally, right? If you have that peace of mind and you have that, you know, second or third option, it's just something that can kind of let you sleep at night a little bit better. It's like having a nest egg or, you know, having a second, third, fourth, fifth stream of income.   things like that that can let you sleep at night and while other people are panicking and worrying and making, you know, maybe even bad decisions based on that, you know, based on those worries, you can sleep soundly and make decisions that are best for you.   Yeah, yeah, and you're not limited, know, if you're just, you know, like, I mean, it's funny though, as well, I think it's timely. I think the time has come. I you see people, you know, we were chatting earlier, you know, being involved in multiple different industries and, you know, with technology, we're allowed to do that. We can reside in one country, we can do our bank in another, we can do our tax responsibility somewhere else, we can do our business. So it's probably just in the last 20, 30 years that we can move so freely.   with all this stuff, know, you know, only maybe 25, 30 years ago, I wanted to, I couldn't really do business in Germany, but live in Ireland, it'd have to be one or the other. There was no internet, you know, everything. So, so yeah, I think, I think we're heading in that direction anyway. And it's just, yeah, there's great freedom in it and great peace of mind, even though, you know, I mean, I'll be in Ireland for, you know, my two kids are, there's another six or eight years.   before they finish school. So I plan to be here, but I just have other options as well, you know.   (Seth Bradley) (08:41.42) Yeah, yeah, that's fantastic. And speaking of diversification, mean, your investments are very diverse, right? I mean, in the previous episode, we jumped into rare earth metals. And then in this episode, we're going to jump into something new. Before we jump into the new thing, though, give us a little update on what has changed in your business with the rare earth metals or if anything has changed or how those things are going.   Yeah, well, thanks. Thanks for asking, Seth. Since we spoke, actually, the big news is just in the last 60 days, I think I mentioned to you that China pretty much sort of dominates the rare earth industry. it's, I think really, it's possible and we understand now that China sort of saw before the EU and maybe before the US or they understood at least that rare earths would become   the backbone of manufacturing in the 21st century and they've been, you know, they've taken action on that. So we're in a situation now and it's not really an economic strategy. It's more of a geopolitical strategy that China has big plans for electric cars, big plans for solar, big plans for wind. you know, they, they've hundreds of million people, they're, taken out of the poverty, into the middle class all the time. So sort of   thinking strategically and long term, they rightfully secured their supply of rare earths. And what happened just in the last 60 days is the US sort of initiated a sort of a block. Now it was also supported by Holland and Japan and they're blocking sort of the latest sort of semiconductor technology from going to China. And in retaliation for that, China   You know, they have, you know, an ace up their sleeve, which is where it hurts. So the West has the technology and China has the raw materials. And just in the last 60 days, China has said they're going to, well, effective August 1, which is a month ago, they're restricting the export now of gallium and germanium, which is two of these technology metals, and that China, you know, is responsible for 95 % of the global production. so we're seeing the prices go up and this is sort of.   (Louis O'Connor) (10:57.826) what I talked to you about that these metals are in demand on a good day, you know, you will make a nice return. But if something like this happens where China sort of weaponizes these metals economically, then you'll see prices increasing quite dramatically, which they are. Yeah, that's that's what's happening there. It's basically a market where there's surging demand and you have sort of political landscapes affecting as well. So   It makes for interesting investment.   Yeah, yeah. Are these rare earth metals, are they not something that we can mine or is it something we're not willing to mine, like let's say in the West?   (Louis O'Connor) (11:44.142) Yeah, good question actually. that actually gets right to the heart of it, Seth, because despite the name rare earths, they're not all that rare. Some of them are as sort of common as copper and stuff, but there's about eight or ten of them that are rare and they are available in the US. But this is what's changed dramatically in the last 30 years is the rare earths don't occur naturally. So they always occur as a byproduct of another raw material.   They're sort of, they're very chemically similar. they're, sort of all stuck together. So they have to be extracted and separated and then refined and processed into, you know, high purity levels for jet engines or smartphones or whatever the case might be. what's happened where China dominates is, is China is responsible for 95 % of the refining. Now there's about 200 or sorry, $390 billion available in subsidies in the U S.   from the Inflation Reduction Act, which despite the name is all about energy transition. And that's all very well, except the human capital and the engineering expertise to refine rare earths is depleted in, it doesn't exist in Europe, and it's very much depleted in the US. Just to give you some context, there's 39 universities in China, where they graduate degrees in critical minerals.   So the Chinese are graduating about 200 metallurgists a week, every week for the last 30 years. I think the US has a handful of universities. I'd say there's probably 300,000 metallurgists in China and there might be 400 in the US and probably none in Europe at all. So it's not just a question of if they're there, it's how do we get them into 99.99 % purity? Without the engineering expertise, we can't, not anytime soon anyway.   Wow, yeah, yeah. mean, that just alone sounds like a recipe for a pretty good play for an investment. you know, there's these bottlenecks, right? Whether that's people that can refine it or the actual element itself or willingness to mine it, you know, all these different things come into play to make it a good investment. All right, let's switch over a little bit here. Let's talk about the new investment vehicle.   (Seth Bradley) (14:06.99) that you talked to me about. It's an agricultural play, correct? we're talking about truffles, talking about mushrooms, right? Tell me a little bit about it just to get started here.   Okay, well, you probably I mean, you know, truffles are in the culinary world, they're known as the black diamond of the kitchen, you know, they're, they're a delicacy going back to, you know, thousands and thousands of years. Traditionally, the black perigord, which is the Mediterranean truffle would have originated in France, but for the last sort of, you know, the last 100 years or so,   they've been growing abundantly in sort of South, Southwestern France, Northern Spain and Italy. So traditionally, you know, that's where they grow and they sort of, know, because the truffle, as you said, it's a mushroom that has a symbiotic relationship with a a native tree, an oak tree or hazel tree or sometimes beech. So it's a very delicate balance, you know.   And although I have invested in agriculture before, we started, we, I mean, a collective does not just me involved here, and I don't want to sound like I take credit for any of this really. I was just a part of a team where we had some agri-science people, and we had sort of four generational farmers involved. But we were looking at, it is no question that climate, there's a climate change, right?   It doesn't matter to me whether people, whatever the causes of that are, the reality is if you talk to an olive grower or a truffle grower in Italy or France, they'll tell you the climate has changed because their harvests have been decreasing for about the last 30 to 40 years actually, but really more so in the last 10. So we were sort of, I'll tell you basically the AgriScience partner involved in this.   (Louis O'Connor) (16:10.958) As a test back in 2005, they started to plant and the trees inoculated, the baby trees inoculated with the truffle sort of in the root system as a test all over different countries, not just Ireland, England, UK, also the US. So this has been in sort of research and development since about 2005.   And we got seriously involved in about 2015 when history was made and this Mediterranean truffle was grown here in the British Isles for the first time. we then with our agriscience partner in 2015 planted a thousand trees in five different locations in Ireland where I am.   and one of them is about 20 minutes away from me here. They're all secret locations. I won't even tell you where they are because they really are. They're highly valued or highly prized. And so it takes about four or five years to see if you're a business. So yeah, we now are growing the Mediterranean truffle, not just in Ireland, but in other parts of the UK. But the real interesting thing, Seth, it's just now ready for scale. And all of the farmers,   who were involved in the original research. None of them are going to take it to scale. The one that's local to me is a lovely gentleman. in his 60s and he planted a thousand trees really just as a retirement. His daughter works in banking in Switzerland and so there's nobody really to take over the farm. So we're the first to do it with scale. So we're inviting in...   a portion of some investors in as well.   (Seth Bradley) (18:05.87) Gotcha. Are there specific, I assume there are, are specific growing conditions where these things can prosper? Like I can't, I'm in San Diego, I can't just plant them in my backyard and wait five years and be a millionaire.   Well, if you you if I hear you're growing truffles death, you know, we should assign an NDA we should assign. You could try but no, they wouldn't grow in San Diego because I mean, there's a very delicate balance and you're what you're you're what you're using here is agri science and nature. You're working with nature. And because the reason they've grown so well in demand is   No way.   (Louis O'Connor) (18:48.738) just because of that balance up they get a sort of a dry season or sort of they got to get a lot of rain and then they get the dry season and what's happened is they're getting more drought and less rain and it's just upset the balance. So it's a very, very delicate balance. But what people wouldn't know, I think, is that truffles have always grown wild in Ireland.   There was a time five or 600 years ago when Ireland was 85 % forest and our native tree is the oak and the hazel tree, is the tree that's also where the fungus grows. And what happened was when the Brits were before, you know, when shipbuilding was the thing and the British Navy were, you know, the Spanish were, so the Brits sort of chopped down a lot of the forest for the wood for shipbuilding. you know, our forests were depleted. But to this day,   Truffles do still grow wild here, but we're doing it differently. know, we're only planting on land where you have like certain protein and pH levels and limestone. And then we're planting baby saplings that are already two years old that were inoculated with the truffle fungus like at birth, like in the root system. And we only plant them after we see that the root system and the fungi are already thriving.   So if you get into the right soil and it's already thriving, then two, three, four years later, you'll get truffles.   (Seth Bradley) (20:17.216) the interruption, but we don't do ads. Instead, know that if you're raising capital for real estate, my law firm, RaiseLaw, is here to give you the expert legal guidance you need to raise capital compliantly and structure and close your deal. And if you're looking for a done-for-you fund-to-fund solution, Tribest is the industry's only all-in-one setup and fund administration solution. Visit Raise.Law and Tribest.com to learn more.   That's awesome. just, I think about like wine and like, you know, you can grow it, you know, vines in different places. Some places they grow, some places they don't, some places they grow and the result isn't good and some places they grow and the result is awesome. It's probably a very delicate balance between, you know, environment plus how they're raised, how they're taken care of and all those sorts of things.   It is 100%. I mean, first and foremost, mean, because of angry science and technology today, you know, I mean, we can plant baby saplings that are already and not, I mean, we're playing God a little bit with nature, but you know, I mean, it's just amazing, you know, like you could do it. And then, you know, the biggest threat is actually mismanagement. You know, if you don't then manage it correctly. If you have a root system inoculated with the fungus and you have the right soil conditions,   after that and it's management and it's sort of bio security meaning they have a very pungent smell. mean, squirrels and pigs and they love them. They love to eat. So you have to, mean, you're literally it's like protecting a bank, know, you have a bio security fence. You've you know, you limit visitations to the farm, you've, know, special footwear and cleaning and stuff. so yeah, it's serious stuff, you know.   Yeah. Yeah. Wow. That's awesome. Well, let's dive in a little bit to the kind of the investment itself. Like what does that look like for an investor? Like what are your projected returns? You know, what, how does it all kind of, how does it all shape out? Like you've grown these wildly valuable truffles and now I guess the first step would be what's the business plan? Who are we selling these truffles to? What makes them so valuable? And then get into kind of the investor   (Seth Bradley) (22:33.794) portion like how would someone get involved in whether projector returns.   Okay, so we sell, first of all, the estate that the farm is, it's called Chan Valley Estate. People can Google it, it's beautiful. It's 200 acres of north-temporary farmland. The estate itself, it's a bit like a smaller version of Downton Abbey. It's a Georgian.   a three story Georgian home, it's over 200 years old. It's also a museum and we have events there and it's also a working farm. And it's a herbal farm. So we grow plants and herbs there that we then we have our own, we work the value chain where we also sell those herbs for medicinal purpose and we convert them into medicinal oils and things like that. So the location is already up and running.   And what we're doing with the truffles is for every acre, we can plant 800 trees. And so what we're doing is we're offering investors, well, a client, the minimum investment is $30,000 and the investor for that price gets 400 baby saplings already inoculated with the truffle fungus. And then they get the farm management   included up to the first four to five years. takes about, there'll be truffles after, bearing in mind that the sapling, the baby tree is two years old. So after three years in the ground, it's already five years old and there'll be truffles then and the returns don't begin until then. But what's included in the price is all the farm management, know, all the, you know, the,   (Louis O'Connor) (24:23.508) implementation of the farm, the irrigation, the electricity, the hardware that's needed. So all the management right up until there is production and then when they're producing, the investor gets 70 % of the growth and the farm management company, we get 30%. So it's a 70-30 split. Now the great thing about the oak and the hazel is they'll produce   for 30 to 40 years. it's a long term, it's a legacy investment, you might call it, because you won't see returns until the fourth or fifth year. But once you do, you'll see returns then for another 30 to 35 years. And they're very, very good. mean, we have three numbers in the brochure. We looked at what's...   price half the truffles never dropped below. So we have the very low estimate, which is they've never gone below this price. That brings in an IRR, which would be from day one of about 14%. And then the highest that they've sold for, you're looking at about 69%, but the average is about 38%.   So the returns will be very, very good once production kicks in and then they'll maintain. We've included an inflation for 30 to 40 years. I hope, I think I answered everything there.   Yeah, definitely. sorry. I gave you about six questions there to answer in a row. But yeah, I think you covered everything. And having an IRR, which is time-based on something that has this long of a horizon and even takes four or five years to even start producing, those are really, really strong numbers.   (Louis O'Connor) (26:23.63) Yeah, well, again, even the, you know, one of the reasons obviously we like truffles because they're very, very expensive. mean, they're a luxury product. You know, we're about an hour from Shannon Airport here, which is the transatlantic hub between Europe and the U.S. So we can have truffles in U.S. or anywhere in Europe or even the Middle East or the Far East, for that matter, in less than 24 hours. that's important as well. But they're a luxury item. There's huge demand for them. mean,   You know how the world is. mean, there are, unfortunately, you know, there's always sort of, people are getting richer and some people maybe are getting poorer. But the luxury, you know, high end market and the culinary, international culinary explosion means that, you know, there's huge demand for truffles. And also you have to factor in the fact that the harvests in the Mediterranean are less and less every year. And I mean, very, very sadly,   I mean, it's an opportunity for us, but very sadly that they've done very specific scientific studies and it's going to over the next 50 years, the truffle harvests in the Med will go will decline between 73 and 100%. So literally, they will not be growing truffles there in 50 plus years from now. So that's an opportunity for us. you know, again,   We've been working on this really since 2015. And it was only, you know, it was only 2019, 2020 when we began to get to truffles we knew because there was no guarantee, you know. But yeah, now that we're growing them, we just need to scale up.   Gotcha. Gotcha. what's kind of the I see that you know, for that minimum investment, you get X number of baby saplings. How many was that again? 400. That's what I Okay, 400. What's kind of the survival rate, I guess, of those saplings? Do you have kind of a percentage on that? Is it like?   (Louis O'Connor) (28:17.102) 400   (Louis O'Connor) (28:27.086) Yeah, well, we expect you got what's happening so far is within in about year three, which is actually year five, because the sapling, you should get three of the five trees producing. But once you have production, once that fungi is thriving, it will just continue to grow. So in year four, you should have four of them. In year five, you should have all of them producing.   Now we also put a guarantee in the farm management contract that if any tree, you know, if it dies or if it's not, you know, producing truffles, we'll replace it free of charge at any time. in the event, you know, for some reason, I mean, we put a tree in that's inoculated and it doesn't take, then we just replace it. So either way, over the first four to five years, we get them all. And the great thing is if you protect that soil from   pests and diseases and other sort of unwelcome sort of mycorrhizal or fungi, then it will thrive. It will thrive. It'll keep, you know, it'll spread, you know, it's a symbiotic relationship underground between the tree and the fungi.   Got it. Yeah, that's awesome to know. like survival is not one of the things that we should consider because if for some reason it wouldn't survive or is not producing, then it just gets replaced. So you actually are getting those full 400 saplings turning into trees that will be producing.   almost they mature and produce and you know as I said barring you know any pests or diseases or you know interference then they just continue you just protect them you just allow nature then to do its work.   (Seth Bradley) (30:18.848) Yeah, yeah. So what are some of the risks then? What are the downsides that you can foresee if something were to go wrong? What would it be?   Well, the greatest threat is mismanagement, literally. I obviously we're doing this with scale, so it's a professional endeavor, you know, people from time to time, know, I mean, some of the test sites here, mean, I don't know, it seemed like a good idea at the time, and they're not that hard to manage, but people just lose interest, or the younger kids don't want to farm. But the greatest threat is mismanagement. So as long as you put in these biosecurity measures,   and manage, you know, there's got to be some clearing done, there's got to be some pruning done, there's got to be tree guards. So there is a process involved in bringing them to nurturing them along and then keeping everything, you know, neutral, if you will. that's first, weather is always, you know, factor in agriculture. We don't feel it's as much of a threat here, because although we're for the first time,   growing the Mediterranean truffle. Truffles have grown, they grow here wild anyway. So the climate is right and has been right for thousands of years in Ireland. So, you know, and again, we'll have irrigation as well. You know, we get a lot of rain here. It's not likely we'll need any more rain, but yeah, we, you know, the agri-science will kick in there as well. And then, you know, as I said, like,   you know, biosecurity we call it, which is, you know, very, very serious fencing, limited visits to the farm, know, special footwear if people are going up to the area and sort of rinse. We have a pool area where they have to disinfect before they go into, you know, it's a very, very, very protected area from pests and from diseases or anything, you know, that could be brought in from the outside on whether that's machinery or humans.   (Louis O'Connor) (32:22.892) So yeah, it's almost like a laboratory. mean, you keep it very, very delicate balance and keep it very limited on who visits and, you know, people are a visit, but they have to be properly, you know, the feet have to be cleaned and footwear has to be worn and stuff like that. So, but, know, at the end of the day, Seth, it's, you know, well, any investment really, but agriculture, you know, the final say is in nature's hands, you know, not ours. mean, we...   We like to think, suppose, we're in the results business, but the reality is we're not. in the planning business and all we can do is plan everything as well as we can. It's just like, you if you planted a rose, you know, bush out in your backyard there today, you wouldn't stand outside and will it to grow, right? You know, grow quicker. You know, we have to allow nature and the cosmos to do its work. so yeah, nature has the final say, you know.   Yeah, yeah, no, totally, totally understand. And any investment has its risks, whether you're investing in truffles or real estate or any of the above. Quick question on this. Don't want to paint you like in a bad way at all, but we have had and it's not you, of course, of course, but we've had an influx of bad sponsors and people that are anything from mismanaging investor capital on one end, which can happen pretty easily. And there's not a whole lot of   Not a lot of bad blood there. Things happen. And then on the other side of the spectrum, we've seen everything from fraud to Ponzi schemes and all kinds of stuff lately. One thing that I tell investors is to make sure you know who you're investing with and make sure your investing dollars are actually getting invested where they're supposed to. Could an investor invest with you and actually go to the farm?   and see their saplings or see the farm and see this business.   (Louis O'Connor) (34:24.654) 100 % in fact, we would rather people do I mean, I it's not always possible. Right. But Shan Valley Estate, I mean, I'll give you the website and stuff after Shan Valley Estate. It's a 200 acre farm. It's already a museum. have events there. It's a herb dispensary as I said, as I said, it's our our manage our farm management partner is the Duggan family, their fourth generation farmers and they're being in temporary, you know,   longer than that even. absolutely, you you know, of course, there's legal contracts. mean, people get a legal contract for the purchase of the trees and then we have a legal contract for the farm management that we're responsible for implementing the project, we're responsible for bringing the hard, the trees to truffles to harvest. But we do, we just beginning, we just had our first tour, but it was sort of Europe from Germany. Last, sorry,   the 18th, 19th of August. But we will be having tours every quarter. And if anybody wants to come at any time, we'd be delighted to have them because it's like I said, it's like a smaller version of Downton Abbey. And we've accommodated, we converted the stables into accommodation, you know, because we have weddings and events and stuff there as well. It's not just a field that we bought.   Yeah.   And so it's a big deal. I'll give you the website. The location is spectacular and clients can, you know, stay the night, you know, and there's a three story Georgian estate house and the bottom floor is a museum. So it's like walking into a pharmacy from 1840, all the bottles and the counter is 200 years old, you know, and then the middle level, we've an organic vegetarian restaurant, all the   (Louis O'Connor) (36:17.24) food is grown on the farm. There's an old walled garden that they used to wall the gardens years ago to keep out the pests. And all the food that's served is grown on the farm. And then the top floor is accommodation as well and the stables have been converted. look, it's all about trust, Seth. And, you know, I would say to anybody, you've   I mean myself, if I have any doubt about anything, don't do it. And it might not be that somebody's a scam or a fraud, it's just if you're not 100 % sure about it, don't touch it. But what I would recommend is people do their due diligence because we've done ours. We've eight years invested in it, put a lot of time and effort into it. And at the very least, we'd like people to check it out and see it all the way through.   for what it is. yeah, we'll be, we're hoping to, we have a partner in Europe and we're to connect with somebody in North America. I don't want name anybody here because it might not come off, but there's a few sort of marketers and there's plenty obviously that we might sort of do a sort of an agreement with where they'll, you know, I mean, we could even have sort of investment real estate conferences on the farm.   you know, and do farm tours as well. so definitely 100 % we'd love for people to visit and, and they get to drink some Guinness and they're really brave, they can swim in the Irish sea.   Yeah, and I'm looking at the website right now. We'll drop that in the show notes, but it is absolutely gorgeous. I mean, it's making me want to get on a plane right now and check it out. It's incredible.   (Louis O'Connor) (38:00.046) Yeah, that's the estate, shambali.ie. I mean, what I love about it's 100 % organic or members of the Irish Organic Association, track ref, fourth generation. You know, this is not me, I'm a part of this, but the farm management team are, you know, they're already like growing herbs and plants and converting them to medicinal, you know, oils and things. And this is just another, it's more of a farming enterprise, I suppose, than a farm.   And then the other partner is the Agri Science Partner, which is this team of scientists who basically made history by growing for the very first time eight years ago, the black, the Mediterranean truffle in Ireland, you know, so there's a lot of professionalism and thought and effort being put into a chap.   Love that. Love that man. Is there anything else about this type of investment that I didn't ask about that I should have?   I think you know Seth, you should be on CNN or something because I you did. I'm pretty sure you did, you definitely covered it. I mean I may have left something out but I think it's a good foundation for somebody if they're interested, I'll give them my email and you know it's not that expensive to get to Europe and it's a great way to mix a holiday and you know come to the farm and stuff you know.   Absolutely, absolutely. Well, since you're repeat guest of the guest of the show, we won't go into the freedom for but you have one last golden nugget for our listeners.   (Louis O'Connor) (39:34.446) You know, I knew you were going to ask me that, Seth, you caught me off guard. So I have one ready and I stole this from someone else. So I'm not going to take it. But I was listening to a guy last week and he, sort of a big operation in Europe. And he was talking about a phrase they have in the office and it's 1%. And they always look at each other and when you pass them, they go 1%. And I love what it's about. It's about the idea that in a way it sort of comes back to what we talked about earlier, which is forget about.   Yeah.   (Louis O'Connor) (40:04.664) the fact don't think you're in the results business. You're in the planning business. And the 1 % is every day, try and improve every little action. I'm not just talking about work. I'm talking about family, your spiritual practice, if you have one, increase it by 1 % every day. And you know, it's like compound interest, isn't it? That in a way, then you don't have to worry about the big picture. And the results will just look after themselves then, you know.   Yeah, yeah, I love that man. Always improve. mean, you you've got to take small steps to get to those big goals. And a lot of times you just need to ask yourself, did I improve 1 % today? If the answer is yes, then it was a successful day.   Yes. Yeah. Yeah. And it's great because, you know, if I was to try and think now, or you were to try and think now, everything you have to do in the next three weeks, right, you just be overwhelmed, right. And sometimes my head is like that, you know, I mean, I've got meditation practice and stuff, but I watch my thoughts and you know, I mean, it's it's a fact. I mean, it's a human condition. I don't know, some disestimates of how many thoughts do we have a day? How many are repetitive and how many are useless?   A lot of them are repetitive, a lot of them are useless. So it's good just to narrow it right down to what's the next thing I can do right now and can I do it 1 % better than I did yesterday, you know?   Absolutely. Love that man. All right, Lou, we're gonna let us find out more about you.   (Louis O'Connor) (41:34.954) Okay, so they can email me. It's Truffle Farm Invest. Sorry, it's a new website www.trufflefarminvest.com or they can if somebody from your your audience wants to email me directly, it's louis at trufflefarminvest.com   Alright, perfect man. We'll drop all that in the show notes. Thanks again for coming on the show. Always a pleasure, brother.   Thank you very much, Seth. A pleasure.   (Seth Bradley) (42:08.088) Thanks for tuning in to Raise the Bar Radio. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Keep pushing, keep building, and keep raising the bar. Until next time, enjoy the journey. Links from the Show and Guest Info and Links: Seth Bradley's Links: https://x.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.youtube.com/@sethbradleyesq www.facebook.com/sethbradleyesq https://www.threads.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.instagram.com/sethbradleyesq/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethbradleyesq/ https://passiveincomeattorney.com/seth-bradley/ https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/sethbradleyesq https://medium.com/@sethbradleyesq https://www.tiktok.com/@sethbradleyesq?lang=en Louis O'Connor's Links: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054362234822 https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-o-connor-a583341b8/ https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/08/30/strategic-metals-founder-louis-oaconnor-breaks-down-china-u-s-rare-metal-wars.html

Continuing Livebearer Month, the Water Colors team is back to discuss wild-type live bearing fishes! This includes the family poeciliidae, and the tricky taxonomy that comes with it. Some species within poeciliidae are common staples in the aquarium hobby, while many of them are virtually unknown to hobbyists. Aquarists that specialize in livebearing fish have more than a few rare species to dream about! Which species have you kept? Join the discussion on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast Listeners Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/788428861825086/ Enjoying the show? Support the gallery by shopping aquarium plants, merch, equipment, and more! https://watercolorsaquariumgallery.com/ Looking for more content? Become a YouTube member for exclusive access to behind the scenes livestreams! https://www.youtube.com/@watercolorsaquariumgallery Species mentioned in this episode, including episode notes from Calder: – Subfamily Poeciliinae Tribe Alfarini – Genus Alfaro: Small clade of central American livebearers that live in rainforests. Tribe Gambusini – Genus Belonesox: This is a highly specialized predator, with an extremely flexible upper jaw that enables it to take very large prey items for its size. – Genus Brachyrhaphis: Most are restricted to Panama and Costa Rica, but B. holdridgei also occurs in Nicaragua and B. hartwegi is from Mexico and Guatemala. A phylogenetic analysis published in 2015 suggested that Brachyrhaphis may not be of a monophyletic group. – Genus Gambusia: Gambusia contains over 40 species, most of which are principally found in freshwater habitats, though some species may also be found in brackish or saltwater habitats. The genus Gambusia comes from the Cuban term, “Gambusino”, which means “free-lance miner”[3] The type species is the Cuban gambusia, G. punctata. The greatest species richness is in Mexico, Texas, and the Greater Antilles, but species are also found elsewhere in the eastern and southern United States, the Bahamas, Central America, and Colombia. – Genus Heterophallus; A genus of small poeciliids found near the coast in calm waters of river basins in southeastern Mexico. Tribe Girardini – Carlhubbsia – Girardinus Tribe Heterandriini – Genus Heterandria: Most species occur in Guatemala and its surroundings, particularly Mexico, but the midget livebearer (H. formosa) comes from the southeastern United States. – Genus Neoheterandria: – Genus Poeciliopsis is a genus of poeciliid fishes that primarily are native to Mexico and Central America. The only exceptions are P. turrubarensis where the range extends into Colombia, and P. occidentalis where the range extends into Arizona and New Mexico. – Genus Priapichthys: native to Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia – Genus Xenophallus: Xenophallus umbratilis is a species of poeciliid fish native to the countries of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This species grows to a length of 4.5 centimetres Tribe Poeciliini – Genus Limia: It comprises 22 described species found in fresh, brackish, saltwater, and hypersaline habitats of the Greater Antilles islands in the Caribbean Sea. A vast majority are endemic to Hispaniola. There has been a long-running debate on whether Limia should be considered a subgenus of Poecilia rather than a full genus. Most Limia species are detritivores and herbivores. – Genus Micropoecilia: Micropoecilia is a genus of poeciliids native to fresh and brackish water from the Amazon Basin to Trinidad. – Genus Phallichthys: Phallichthys is a genus of poeciliids native to Central America. They are hardy fish which inhabit stagnant and slow-flowing waters, making them well-suited to fishkeeping. – Genus Poecilia – Genus Xiphophorus Tribe Cnesterodontini – Genus Cnesterodon: south American poecilids – Genus Phalloceros: is a genus of poeciliids native to freshwater habitats in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. The majority are endemic to southern and southeastern Brazil (only exceptions are P. caudimaculatus, P. harpagos and P. leticiae).[2] P. caudimaculatus has long been part of the aquarium industry and has been introduced to countries far from its native range.

Located in the heart of Central America is the Republic of Costa Rica.  Costa Rica is situated between Panama and Nicaragua and shares a similar colonial history with other countries in Central America.  However, over the last 100 years, it has taken a radically different path. A path that has allowed the country to avoid most of the problems that have plagued the rest of the region.  As a result, it has been much more stable and much wealthier than its neighbors. Learn more about Costa Rica and what makes it different from its neighbors on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. ***5th Anniversary Celebration RSVP*** Sponsors Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Mint Mobile Get your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Jerry Compare quotes and coverages side-by-side from up to 50 top insurers at jerry.ai/daily American Scandal Follow American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Disce aliquid novi cotidie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Clayton Butler, CEO of Agape International Missions (AIM) , to hear how God is using him and his team to combat human trafficking in Cambodia. Clayton shares how he first got involved in this work, the story behind The Pink Room film, and AIM's bold vision to expand into Central America. We talk about the real stories of rescue and restoration, the importance of saying "yes" when God calls, and the practical ways individuals and churches can make a difference. This episode is filled with hope, purpose, and action—don't miss it. Connect with Us | Text Us: (650)600-0402

Want to support the podcast? Join our Patreon or buy us a coffee. As an independent podcast, Shakespeare Anyone? is supported by listeners like you. Did Shakespeare write The Tempest in response to a shipwreck, or was something bigger at play? In this episode, we explore the early modern travel narratives that many scholars believe inspired Shakespeare's final solo play. We begin with lesser-known travel accounts that focus on cultural encounters in Russia, Southwest Asia, Central America, and India—narratives that shaped how early modern England imagined the world beyond Europe. Then we turn to one of the most famous stories of the time: the 1609 Sea Venture shipwreck on the coast of Bermuda, often cited as a direct influence on The Tempest. Along the way, we examine how these texts reflect English perceptions of unfamiliar peoples and cultures—from fascination and admiration to fear and misunderstanding—and how those attitudes echo throughout the world of The Tempest. If you'd like to explore more about Shakespeare's engagement with proto-colonialism and early travel writing, check out these past episodes from our archive: Mini: Shakespeare and the Colonial Imagination Mini: Shakespeare's World: Immigrants, Others, and Foreign Commodities Whether you're encountering The Tempest for the first time or revisiting it with a global lens, this episode offers rich context on how Shakespeare's world was shaped by the stories of travelers, survivors, and empire-builders. Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. For updates: join our email list, follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod or visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com You can support the podcast by becoming a patron at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone, buying us coffee, or by shopping our bookshelves at bookshop.org/shop/shakespeareanyonepod (we earn a small commission when you use our link and shop bookshop.org). Find additional links mentioned in the episode in our Linktree. Works referenced: Judkins, David C. “Travel Literature of the Early Modern Period.” CEA Critic, vol. 64, no. 1, 2001, pp. 47–58. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44378330. Accessed 3 July 2025. Vaughan, Alden T. "William Strachey's "True Reportory" and Shakespeare: A Closer Look at the Evidence." Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 59 no. 3, 2008, p. 245-273. Project MUSE, https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/shq.0.0017.

Couch Potato Theater: Firewalker (1986) - 1980's Cannon Films Retrospective   Lethal Mullet CROSSOVER SHOW Watch: Fandom Podcast Network YouTube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/@FandomPodcastNetwork Listen: Couch Potato Theater Audio Podcast Link: https://fpnet.podbean.com/category/couch-potato-theater Welcome to Couch Potato Theater, where we celebrate our favorite movies on the Fandom Podcast Network! This year we're celebrating 1980's Cannon action films with a retrospective on how important these movies were to our fandom then, and the nostalgic grasp they still have on us today. On this episode we discuss the the lighter side of 80's Chuck Norris, the buddy adventure film with co-star Louis Gossett Jr. in, Firewalker (1986).  Firewalker is a 1986 American action-adventure comedy film starring Chuck Norris, Louis Gossett Jr., Will Sampson in his final feature film role, and Melody Anderson. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by Norman Aladjem, Robert Gosnell and Jeffrey M. Rosenbaum. Plot Synopsis: Max Donigan (Norris) and Leo Porter (Gossett), down-on-their-luck treasure hunters, team up with Patricia Goodwin (Anderson), a psychic with a map to a legendary Aztec treasure guarded by the sinister Firewalker. Their journey takes them through a perilous trek through Central America. We will also discuss the films 1980's Cannon Films Famous Producers, Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. We also mention the documentaries about them, Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014), and The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films (2014). Fandom Podcast Network Contact Information - - Fandom Podcast Network YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/c/FandomPodcastNetwork - Master feed for all FPNet Audio Podcasts: http://fpnet.podbean.com/ - Couch Potato Theater Audio Podcast Master Feed: https://fpnet.podbean.com/category/couch-potato-theater - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fandompodcastnetwork - Email: fandompodcastnetwork@gmail.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fandompodcastnetwork/ - X: @fanpodnetwork / https://twitter.com/fanpodnetwork -Bluesky: @fanpodnetwork / https://bsky.app/profile/fanpodnetwork.bsky.social Host & Guest Contact Info: - Kevin Reitzel on X, Instagram, Threads, Discord & Letterboxd: @spartan_phoenix / Bluesky: @spartanphoenix - Kyle Wagner on X: @AKyleW / Instagram & Threads: @Akylefandom / @akyleW on Discord / @Ksport16: Letterboxd / Bluesky: @akylew - Lacee Aderhold on Letterboxd & Discord: @LaceePants - Special Guest: Adam O'Brien on X, Instagram, Threads, & Bluesky: @TheLethalMullet #CouchPotatoTheater #CPT #FandomPodcastNetwork #FPNet #FPN #CannonFilms #80sCannonFilms #Firewalker #Firewalker1986 #FirewalkerMovie #JLeeThompson #ChuckNorris #Louis Gossett Jr #MelodyAnderson #Will Sampson #SonnyLandham #JohnRhysDavies  #IanAbercrombie  #RichardLeeSung #MenahemGolan #YoramGlobus #80sActionMovies #1986Movies #KevinReitzel #KyleWagner #LaceeAderhold #AdamOBrien

Named after a beast from Greek mythology, the harpy eagle is widely considered to be the most powerful bird of prey due to its strong legs and huge talons. With a crown of feathers atop its head, and known for eating monkeys and sloths, this regal-looking raptor dominates the rainforest canopies across much of South and Central America. Presenter Adam Hart looks into the folklore and cultural importance of these imposing birds, as well as finding out why these apex predators of the treetops are having to increasingly search for ground-dwelling prey such as armadillos. He also hears how harpy eagle researchers were the pioneers for biological applications of GPS in order to study and track these animals in the dense rainforest.Contributors:Dr. Helena Aguiar-Silva, biologist and associate research scientist at the National Institute for Amazonian Research and a member of Projeto Harpia Brasil.Dr. Eduardo Alvarez founder of a non-profit organisation called EarthMatters.org, to concentrate on the study and conservation of harpy eagles and to preserve their rainforest habitat.Presenter: Professor Adam Hart Producer: Jonathan BlackwellImage: Harpy eagle and nest with chick Credit: João Marcos Rosa

The Caribbean landscape is evolving rapidly, with remarkable advancements in renewable energy, financial governance, and public safety making headlines across the region. Our latest news roundup captures these transformative developments that are shaping the future of island nations. OECS GEOBuild program improves regional geothermal energy development capacity Grenada secured $35.41 million from the World Bank for renewable energy infrastructure and climate resilienceEastern Caribbean Central Bank creating Office of Financial Conduct and Inclusion to regulate bank fees and protect consumersCARICOM Private Sector Organization urges member states to implement full free movement of nationals by December 31stDominican Republic ranks as the second most peaceful nation in Central America and the Caribbean St. Kitts and Nevis reports a 75% drop in homicides through holistic public health approaches to crimeListen online at www.pulseofthecaribbean.com or your favorite streaming platform.Send news releases to news@pulseofthecaribean.com. If you have an interest in sponsoring our podcast, email us at  biz@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

On todays Show James, Sarah and Dwayne talk about the Tuam mass grave scandal in Ireland, where 796 babies were allegedly buried in a septic tank between 1922 and 1961. The participants debated the historical context, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and high infant mortality rates. They noted that the Irish government and Catholic Church faced criticism for their handling of the situation. The conversation also touched on the broader implications of birthright citizenship, with concerns about retroactive changes to citizenship status and the legal complexities involved. The group emphasized the need for a balanced perspective on historical events and the challenges faced by institutions during difficult times. The discussion centered on the complexities of birthright citizenship and immigration policies. Speakers debated the feasibility of Trump's proposals, including the potential for a Supreme Court hold and the challenges of revoking citizenship for children born to undocumented parents. They highlighted the backlog in the immigration system and the difficulties of proving legal status. The conversation also touched on the cultural assimilation of immigrants, particularly from Central America versus those from Islamic countries, and the potential for enclaves that refuse to assimilate. The group emphasized the need for a balanced approach that considers the best interests of children and the practicality of enforcement. Don't miss it!

It was only in 1939 that this Altamira Oriole was first found north of the Rio Grande River. Now it happily visits residents on the Texas side of the river, especially where a juicy orange half waits in a backyard feeder. Northerly breeding orioles, like Bullock's in the West and the Baltimore in the East, nest as far north as Canada, but winter mostly in Central America. More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.

In today's episode, Oasis is trying to limit copyright on images from their concerts, Synology has released 300TB NAS and some Vibrant birds from Central America as well as other stories. You can find the show notes here. https://liamphotographypodcast.com/episodes/episode-462-image-rights-300tb-nas-vibrant-birds-more

Hoy conversamos en vivo desde nuestro estudio en el Tema del Día con Luis Mario Magaña, técnico de sonido de CAP y Miguel Amador, investigador paranormal. de la Central America Paranormal Research Team (C.A.P).

In this episode, we dive into the shocking murder of Alberta Meadows by Clara Phillips, a glamorous showgirl whose jealous rage turned deadly. After killing Alberta with a hammer, Clara staged a sensational escape, fleeing 4,000 miles through Central America before her capture in Honduras. We unravel Clara's troubled marriage, the dramatic courtroom showdown, and the scandalous prison life that followed.   Thank you to this week's sponsors! Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to Skylightcal.com/MOMS.  We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/MOMS. This deal is not available on their regular website.  Go to Suvie.com/Moms to get 16 free meals with your risk free trial. Save time, eat better with Suvie. Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/moms.  Listen and subscribe to Melissa's other podcast, Criminality!! It's the podcast for those who love reality TV, true crime, and want to hear all the juicy stories where the two genres intersect. Subscribe and listen here: www.pod.link/criminality    Check-out Moms and Mysteries to find links to our tiktok, youtube, twitter, instagram and more. Sources:   https://www.newspapers.com/image/623196031/?match=1&terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/623196035/?terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380572671/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM4MDU3MjY3MSwiaWF0IjoxNzUwMzcwNjMwLCJleHAiOjE3NTA0NTcwMzB9.ka_hI2eyGuWChs_ElDBohGG_W_6_VCgDwQZRFXckwwY https://www.newspapers.com/image/380572177/?terms=clara%20phillips Clara Phillips won the jury with her smile https://www.newspapers.com/image/380468376/?match=1&terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380468369/?terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380572630/?terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380505667/?match=1&terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380505644/?match=1&terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380505667/?terms=clara%20phillips ​​https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/241607856/clara-phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380505635/?terms=clara%20phillips Clara Phillips will leave prison today Clara Phillips, The Tiger ​​https://www.newspapers.com/image/678202912/?match=1&terms=%22clara%20phillips%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/608332674/?match=1&terms=%22clara%20phillips%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/605876799/?match=1&terms=%22clara%20phillips%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/622989771/?terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/622989802/?terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/622988129/?match=1&terms=%22clara%20phillips%22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/622125668/?match=1&terms=%22clara%20phillips%22 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-08-08-me-24759-story.html https://www.nytimes.com/1926/04/24/archives/hammer-murderess-to-see-dying-mother-clara-phillips-will-be-allowed.html https://www.facebook.com/homesteadmuseum/videos/955035611672864 https://www.newspapers.com/image/678181419/?match=1&terms=Clara%20Phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/678181468/?terms=Clara%20Phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/678187014/?match=1&terms=Clara%20Phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/678204113/?terms=Clara%20Phillips https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-clara-phil/1305750/?locale=en-US https://www.newspapers.com/image/970685467/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/380443505/?match=1&terms=Clara%20Phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/608109793/?match=1&terms=Clara%20Phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/380444832/?match=1&terms=Peggy%20Caffee https://www.newspapers.com/image/678179588/?match=1&terms=Peggy%20Caffee https://www.newspapers.com/image/1097511427/?match=1&terms=clara%20phillips https://www.newspapers.com/image/586278395/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjU4NjI3ODM5NSwiaWF0IjoxNzQ5OTMzMjg4LCJleHAiOjE3NTAwMTk2ODh9.2CUhKmDOnTkZmd5ZFuJ1a5fXrNrefxU2SCXC39EWFew&terms=clara%20phillips&match=1    

For this special episode of the Houses on the Moon Podcast, Amy Gottlieb (U.S. Migration Director for the American Friends Service Committee, and HOTM board member) interviews New Yorker staff writer Jonathan Blitzer about his book "Everyone Who is Gone is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis." Amy and Jonathan discuss the complex history of US-Central American relations and the themes that inspired our original documentary play and podcast series, “De Novo.” Special thanks to Cory Choy and Tom Fama at Silver Sound Studio for recording this interview and to Will Coley for producing and editing this episode.  Music by Greg Kirkelie via Free Music Archive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Friday, July 4th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslim mob disrupts Christian retreat in Indonesia On June 27, a mob of 200 Muslims stormed a Christian youth retreat at a home in Indonesia, driving out participants and damaging property, as police and soldiers looked on reports Morning Star News. Ironically, after praying at the mosque that Friday, they carried banners and shouted, “Destroy that house, destroy that house.” – referring to the home in Cidahu District in the West Java Province. They damaged windows, toilets, a gazebo, and garden. Claiming that a house should not be used as a place of worship, the Muslim mob also threw a motorbike into a nearby river and damaged the main gate. Videos circulating online show a man climbing a wall and removing a wooden cross attached to it, which he then uses to break a window. House sends Big Beautiful Bill to Trump's desk On July 3, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill to implement President Donald Trump's agenda, sending it to the president's desk, reports The Epoch Times. The bill cleared the House in a 218–214 vote, following an all-night session as Republicans scrambled to win over holdouts who had derailed an earlier attempt to advance the 940-page measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson was exuberant. JOHNSON: “This is the vote tally card. We're gonna frame this one. Okay? 218-214.” The vote also came after Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held the floor — for what C-SPAN confirmed was a new length record — to lambast the bill for more than eight hours. The only two Republicans who voted against it were Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, alongside the entire House Democratic Caucus. House Speaker Johnson said the Republicans knew they had to get Trump's bill passed in light of the gift of unified government. JOHNSON: “We believed in the election cycle last fall that we were going to be given this great blessing of unified government, that we would have the White House and the Senate and the House aligned -- unified government. “We had a tough four years before this last election cycle. America was in, we were in deep trouble. We knew that if we won, and we believed we would, we knew that if we got unified government, we'd have to quite literally fix every area of public policy. Everything was an absolute disaster under the Biden-Harris radical, woke, progressive Democrat regime.” The legislation enacts many of Trump's domestic policy initiatives, including tax cuts as well as boosting spending for the border and defense. The passage marks a major victory for Republican leadership and Trump, who had to contend with a diverse group of holdouts who objected to the Senate's version of the bill for various reasons, including its effect on the deficit and deeper cuts to Medicaid. House Speaker Johnson, an Evangelical Christian, expressed his gratitude to God. JOHNSON: “We took the best effort that we could, in One Big, Beautiful Bill, to fix as much of it as we could. And I am so grateful to God that we got that done as we did. “I do believe in God. I believe in that motto that is what has made our nation the greatest in the history of the world. And some people shake their heads and they think that's old fashioned or something. That is a fact. “When the framers put this together. They stepped out in faith. They did something that no nation had ever done before. The great statesman, philosopher G.K. Chesterton of Great Britain, said, ‘America is the only nation in the world that was founded upon a creed. And he said it's listed with almost theological lucidity [or clarity] in the nation's birth certificate: the Declaration of Independence.' “We hold these truths to be self-evident. We recognize, we boldly proclaim the self-evident truth that her rights do not come from the government. They come from God Himself.” Psalm 9:1 says, “I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds.” The bill will head to Trump's desk ahead of a self-imposed July 4 deadline. He is expected to sign it at 5 p.m. ET today. 4 killed and 14 wounded in Chicago drive-by at rapper party On Wednesday night, four people died from gunshot wounds and 14 others were hospitalized following a drive-by shooting in Chicago, reports The Associated Press. At least three were in critical condition. Three shooters fired out of the SUV before they drove away. No suspect is in custody. Pastor Donovan Price talked to Channel 8 News. PRICE:  “An SUV pulls up and just opens fire on a crowd of people. It was absolute chaos, from people screaming to blood on the streets to people laying on the streets. Just a massive police presence. Horrific. More than I've ever seen.” The shooting took place in Chicago's River North neighborhood, a popular nightlife destination with many restaurants and bars. It was outside a restaurant and lounge that hosted an album release party for a profane rapper named Mello Buckzz, whose actual name is Melanie Doyle. Hip hop lyrics are filled with calls to violence. Ironically, her boyfriend was one of those shot. Thirteen women and five men, ranging in age from 21 to 32, were shot. The dead included two men and two women. On his X account, Pastor Price wrote, “Just sitting in my car crying for some of the people I held tonight.” Psalm 11:5 says, “The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said that the violence “has left our city in a state of grief.” RFK Jr. cites link between Hepatitis vaccine and autism Appearing on Tucker Carlson's podcast, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talked about the link between the Hepatitis vaccine for babies and autism, reports LifeSiteNews.com. He referenced a Centers for Disease Control study that was buried. KENNEDY: “They looked at children who had received the hepatitis vaccine within their first 30 days of life, and compared those children to a children who had received the vaccine later or not at all, and they found a 1,135% elevated risk of autism among the vaccinated children. It shocked them. They kept the study secret, and they manipulated it through five different iterations to try to bury the link.” Secretary Kennedy also referenced 100 other studies and the new studies at the Health and Human Services Department which will be completed by September. KENNEDY: “The external literature is showing over 100 studies that indicate that there is a link. “But we're going to do real science. The way that we're going to do that is we're going to make the databases public for the first time. We have already put out grant requests. Any scientists with credentials can apply for a grant and tell us how they want to go about studying these. We're going to get real studies done for the first time.” (You can watch the entire 90-minute interview on a variety of topics here) Worldview listeners in Nicaragua and Mexico speak up And finally, Bob Kelly wrote me at Adam@TheWorldview.com. He said, “Hello from rural Nicaragua [in Central America,] the 30th most difficult country worldwide to be a Christian, [according to Open Doors.] We like your emphasis on our brothers and sisters who are suffering for Christ.” And Hannah Van Kirk in Mexico said, “My three kids -- Tessa, Reese, and Lincoln -- and I have been listening to The Worldview for a year. We include it as part of our homeschool day. We enjoy the update and prayer reports about the persecuted Christians. And we appreciate that you occasionally suggest that we send get well cards to Christian leaders who are sick or cards of encouragement to others who are standing up against the world. We also enjoy the uplifting stories.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, July 4th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Freddy Silva is an author, a speaker and an independent researcher of ancient knowledge and lost civilizations, in particular the temples and other megalithic sites our ancestors built and left behind. The old cultures knew where to build these things to harness the flow of energy. In Freddy Silva's mind, they are portals.“All of these places around the world that we call temples, for lack of a better word, are located at seismically active spots, and the foundation on which they stand create an electrical charge or current along the landscape.”The builders also carefully chose the rocks they used to build their temples. They would sometimes go hundreds of miles to find the right stones, which have the properties to act as a kind of energy field.“All this makes the laws of physics act differently within these sites”, says Freddy.Very few of the megalithic temples were burial sites. They were used for out of body experiences, shamanism and “accessing information from an astral reference library”.“We can call them portals because they literally punch a hole in the way we view the third dimension, and they get you to access another level of reality.”Today we know that the heightened energetic lines where old megalithic temples are found are telluric currents. NASA has actually mapped them.“Anywhere these telluric currents cross on the surface of the earth, you'll find a standing stone, a dolmen, a mound, a pyramid, a stonehenge”, says Freddy.Thousands of years ago, people knew how to pick up on these energetic lines. They didn't really need to build anything to harness the energy. So why did many of them do that? Freddy Silva thinks they wanted to “x-mark” the highly charged places by placing megaliths on them and preserve them, because they knew that humans in the future – us – would forget this knowledge.“That's the only explanation that makes sense to me.”In fact, not all ancient cultures built megaliths. Neither the indigenous Australians nor the Hopis did, for example. They just knew where the sacred places were.When Christianity arrived, we were well into forgetfulness. Interestingly enough, however, the Gothic cathedrals of the late medieval era were built on sacred sites. The ancient knowledge had gone underground and secretly been preserved and conveyed, starting with the mystery schools of Egypt and continuing with the Essenes and the Gnostics. The Knights templar were one of these groups that were privy to the old wisdom“They were essentially the Essenes under a different name.”The Templars oversaw the erection of some of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in Europe in the 12th and 13th century. “They built sacred spaces disguised as catholic churches. This is the best joke in history”, Freddy quips.He believes that the knowledge of “the gods” – how nature really works – goes all the way back to the Atlantean civilization, which collapsed in the Younger Dryas period 12,000 to 13,000 years ago.The cataclysm that ended the previous high civilizations was likely caused by a devastating bombardment of cosmic debris, which gave rise to an obsession our ancestors had with looking at the sky.“Like in Central America. Why this obsession with long range calendars? The Maya have something like 14 calendars, and some cover hundreds of thousands of years.”Our ancestors are telling us a cautionary tale. Today scientists know that the chunks of rock that created the big flood – the bulk of the Taurid meteor stream – are coming back between 2036 and 2042.But Freddy Silva is hopeful. We can be prepared.“The old cultures teach us that we are the Gods we've been waiting for. The help is there for us to find.”Freddy Silva's website

What does the American Dream sound like? In this special Fourth of July episode of Fritanga, host Antonio Tijerino sits down with one of the composers of that dream: Emilio Estefan. Long before he became a 19-time Grammy-winning producer, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and one of the most influential Latino cultural architects of our time, Emilio was an 11-year-old Cuban boy arriving in Miami with an accordion, no money, and a belief in something bigger. A belief in this country. In music. In himself.From creating the “Miami Sound” to launching the global careers of artists like Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Gloria Estefan, Emilio's story is one of hustle, heart, and the rhythm of possibility.In this episode, Antonio and Emilio dive into:Emilio's journey from Cuba to the global stageHow immigrant resilience redefined American musicWorking with legends—and fighting for Celia Cruz's comebackFatherhood and creative legacy with his daughter Emily EstefanNew projects including Raíces, Gloria Estefan's first Spanish album in nearly 20 yearsBASURA, the new Broadway-bound musical co-created by Emily and Gloria EstefanThis isn't just an interview—it's a love letter to culture, legacy, and what it means to build something lasting from nothing.WATCH: Click here to watch this and other episodes on YouTube. FOLLOW: Follow us on Insta @FritangaPodcastCONNECT: For questions or guest recommendations, email us at Fritanga@HispanicHeritage.orgFeatured Resources & Mentions:

Belize is Central America's delightful oddball – an English-speaking Caribbean nation that happens to be on the mainland. This compact jewel wedged between Mexico and Guatemala offers pristine coral reefs, ancient Maya ruins, and jungle adventures, all wrapped up in a laid-back Afro-Caribbean vibe. With a population smaller than most cities, Belize feels like a well-kept secret where everyone knows everyone, and the biggest traffic jam involves golf carts.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Belize for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/TrodPod/shop/trodpod-51-guide-to-belize-1892275. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WWW.ADVENTUREFREAKSSS.COM Find your Ideal Destination Here:  https://adventurefreaksss.com/ideal-destination-finder/================================= How to work with me: =================================

Welcome back to The Richer Geek Podcast! Today's guest is Stephen Petasky, CEO and Founder of The Luxus Group. For the past 17 years, Steve and his team have helped deliver over 20,000 luxury vacations across North and Central America, the Caribbean, and Tuscany. Steve shares how The Luxus Group creates a high-end, consistent travel experience and works with global luxury brands to deliver real value.Whether you're a real estate investor, a vacation rental owner, or just love traveling in style, this episode gives you real insights into the future of luxury travel and hospitality. In this episode, we chat about… How It Started: The personal story that led to building a luxury vacation rental business, before Airbnb. Solving Inconsistency: How The Luxus Group delivers hotel-level standards in vacation homes. Syndication Strategy: Using early investments to buy high-end properties and offer better experiences. Luxury Tiers Explained: What “accessible luxury” vs. “ultra-luxury” means in today's rental market. Regulations Impact: How short-term rental laws in places like Las Vegas and Maui affect property owners. Professional Management Wins: Why expert property management leads to higher income and fewer headaches. Key Takeaways Demand for Certainty: There's a strong need for consistent, hotel-like experiences in vacation rentals. Luxus Group tackles the inconsistency found in major platforms by enforcing strict brand standards, from linens to kitchen amenities, boosting customer loyalty and repeat bookings. Professional Management Benefits: Self-managing rentals can lead to pitfalls in a changing market. In contrast, expert property management by Luxus Group uses revenue optimization strategies and thorough property care to protect assets and can generate 10-40% or even up to 50-60% higher revenue. Regulations Create Opportunity: Increasing short-term rental rules in places like Las Vegas and Maui reduce overall supply. For legally compliant properties, this shift can drive higher revenues and property values, emphasizing the importance of adhering to local regulations.   Resources from Stephen      LinkedIn | The Luxus Group   Resources from Mike and Nichole      Gateway Private Equity Group |  Nic's guide   

Join us on this captivating episode as we delve into the remarkable journey of Austin Berner. From his enduring aspiration to serve in the military since age five, through his unexpected path into the world of combat documentation, Austin's narrative is a unique blend of ambition, service, and creativity. Listen in as Austin recounts his time documenting military operations in Afghanistan, the camaraderie with fellow soldiers, and the crucial role of combat cameramen in capturing history. Discover his candid insights into the filming battlefield dynamics and his contributions to missions ranging from humanitarian efforts in Central America to commemorative jumps on historic World War II sites. Also, take a leap with Austin as he transitions from military service to soaring the skies with Delta Airlines, sharing stories from both the battlefield and the cabin. This episode is a tribute to resilience, dedication, and the enduring spirit of service across different arenas. ___________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #mentors4mil  #mentorsformilitary #173rdInfantry #comcam Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil  Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

Please remember to rate and review our podcast!Check out your YouTube channel @comadresycomics  CHISME DE LA SEMANA:  Spaceballs Sequel in the works!ON MY RADAR:  Comics Of The Movement #1 (One Shot) Cover A Regular Domo Stanton Cover By Good Trouble Productions by Courtland Cox Jennifer Lawson Alfred Hassler Benton Resnik Art by Jennifer Lawson Unknown Artist Release Date 7/2/2025HORA DE LA CERVECITA:  SoCal Cerveceros We ❤️ L.A. - West Coast IPA @socalcerveceros @welovelabeerBOOK REVIEW:  Octopus: A Memoir of Flailing created by Richard Fairgray @richardfairgrayauthorEN LA LIBRERIA: Wrath Month - Stories of Queer Rage-The punk anthology where queer rage kicks down the doors of fantasy, science-fiction and horror.   http://kck.st/4dQJUn4JUNTOS Y FUERTES: CHIRLA's mission is to achieve a just society, fully inclusive of immigrants.CHIRLA was founded in 1986 to advance the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees. CHIRLA became a place for organizations and people who support human rights to work together for policies that advance justice and full inclusion for all immigrants.CHIRLA's first director was Father Luis Olivares, the pastor at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church. As a leading voice of the Sanctuary movement, Olivares used his church to protect refugees fleeing human rights abuses in Central America in the 1980s.CHIRLA has since become one of the largest and most effective advocates for immigrant rights, organizing, educating and defending immigrants and refugees in the streets, in the courts, and in the halls of power.  www.chirla.orgDESGRACIADOS: Trump, ICE & Christie Shinn. Follow us on socials @comadresycomicsVisit our website comadresycomics.comProduced by Comadres y Comics Podcast

A Dharma Conversation about sacred activism and environmental justice as a Bodhisattva practice with Rev. Chelsea MacMillan and Matthew Menzies  Chelsea MacMillan is an interspiritual minister, the Senior Organizer at GreenFaith, and founder of Brooklyn Center for Sacred Activism. Between 2019-2021, she led direct actions and facilitated regenerative culture with Extinction Rebellion. You can find her writing in Order of the Sacred Earth by Matthew Fox, and at revchelseamac.substack.com. Matthew—born in Harlem in ‘93, by way of Belize, Central America—is an indigenous Yucatac Mayan Activist-Organizer. Through his spiritual animist roots, formal training in Soto Zen Buddhism, past experiences working on our local farm market food distribution systems and the NYC Compost Project, to most recently focusing non-violent civil disobedience campaigns with Extinction Rebellion NYC, Matthew finds his life purpose, on lenapehoking: to live for the benefit of all beings, and preserve the Earth's animals, soils, and waters for the future generations to come.

After a record performance in 2024, U.S. beef exports to Central America have continued to climb this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Juan Martinez to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Juan joins us and shares his experience as a dedicated yoga instructor innovating with inclusive yoga practices in unconventional spaces. We explore how yoga and meditation foster compassion and wellbeing within challenging environments, including prisons and centers for vulnerable populations. Juan shares his journey from the corporate world to becoming an accredited teacher, spreading the healing benefits of yoga through programs like Yoga Inclusivo Costa Rica and collaborations across Central America. Through poignant anecdotes and reflections, Juan illustrates how yoga is more than physical exercise—it's a tool for empowerment, agency, and self-discovery. Learn how Juan navigates logistical challenges to bring yoga to prisons, creating safe spaces for inmates to find peace and inner strength.  Juan is a seasoned advertising and design professional, with over a decade of experience in advertising agencies across Costa Rica. In 2001, he was introduced to the practice of yoga. Today, Juan is an accredited Yoga teacher with the Costa Rica Ashtanga Association, the European Yoga Institute, Yoga 10, AccessibleYoga.org, the Prison Yoga Project, and the Trauma Center.  Juan has extensive experience as an instructor with a specialization in working with disabled and prison populations. His approach goes beyond postural practice and seeks to show a sanctuary, a laboratory, an opportunity, a place for contemplation and expression of compassion, and respect for ourselves as well as for life itself through yoga.  Tune in to hear firsthand accounts of transformation and resilience as individuals find solace and hope through yoga, reshaping their lives amidst adversity.

We've got something a little different but very special for you today. This episode comes from Winging It, a travel podcast hosted by my friend James Hammond, who you'll hear from shortly. He takes us on an immersive, on-location audio adventure through San Salvador, El Salvador – and trust me, it's a journey worth tagging along for. James has a brilliant way of mixing practical travel tips with rich, ambient storytelling. Think the vibe of a Lonely Planet guide meets the easygoing chat you'd have with a mate at the hostel. You'll hear the real sounds of the city—markets, cafés, public squares—plus firsthand insight into what it's actually like to travel in El Salvador today.

It takes determination to dive into hospitality and come out with a boutique hotel that is successful, and that is what Chris Lenz, Founder and CEO of La Compania Hotels and Resorts. Chris shares his journey from opening 37 restaurants to creating extraordinary hotels in Panama. They explore his passion for hospitality, his uncompromising vision, and the meticulous planning that goes into building unique hospitality experiences. Learn about Chris's journey from restaurateur to hotelier, his innovative trifecta perfecta concept, and his ambitious plans for redefining luxury travel in Panama.Takeaways: Always strive to create unique and memorable experiences that differentiate your property or service from others. Focus on curating personalized touches and special features in your establishment that guests will remember and talk about.Maintain an uncompromising vision and execute it with passion. The team must understand and align with this vision to consistently deliver the intended guest experience.Consider partnerships with larger brands for access to their distribution networks, loyalty programs, and market reach. Ensure the partnership aligns with your property's unique and boutique characteristics to maintain brand integrity.Enhance the guest journey by minimizing travel hassles. For example, offering private transportation or concierge services that streamline and personalize the guest's travel experience.Even with growth, maintain high standards for service, safety, and uniqueness. This is critical for retaining your brand's value and ensuring guest satisfaction.Quote of the Show:“I'm gonna build the best historic landmark hotel in Central America. I'm gonna change the tourism of this country.” - Chris LenzLinks:Website: hlcpanama.com https://www.hyatt.com/unbound-collection/en-US/ptyub-unbound-hotel-la-compania Shout Outs:2:02 - Mikey Dobin https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikey-dobin-04308468/ 2:02 - Diana Dobin https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-dobin-319108b5/ 4:25 - Journey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_(band) 4:26 - Arnel Pineda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnel_Pineda 9:36 - Setting the Table by Danny Meyer https://www.amazon.com/Setting-Table-Transforming-Hospitality-Business/dp/0060742763 10:10 - Union Square Cafe https://www.unionsquarecafe.com/ 10:15 - Gramercy Tavern https://www.gramercytavern.com/ 11:52 - McDonald's https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us.html 13:14 - Rafael Nadal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Nadal 25:27 - Holiday Inn https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/reservation 26:25 - UNESCO https://www.unesco.org/en 37:27 - Marriott https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 37:53 - Hyatt https://www.hyatt.com/ 43:41 - booking.com48:08 - Omni Hotels https://www.omnihotels.com/ 1:06:42 - Amtrak https://www.amtrak.com/home.html?msockid=13e7d50d81a968200de9c1bb80596956 

In this inspiring episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we set sail with Dr. Sheridan Lathe, aka Dr. Sheddy — a wildlife veterinarian, sailor, YouTuber, and passionate advocate for both animal and human wellness. After years of working with domestic and exotic animals in Australia and rescuing bears in China, Dr. Sheddy took her expertise to the seas. Now based on her 37ft sailboat Chuffed, she delivers free veterinary care to animals in remote coastal communities across Central America and Mexico — reaching places where traditional care simply doesn't exist. She funds her work independently through Patreon and YouTube while living full-time on the water with her partner Jim. In 2024 alone, Vet Tails helped over 450 animals across 13 communities, offering everything from vaccinations to life-saving surgeries. From sailing storms to working on polar bear rescues, dealing with typhoid, and building a life outside of convention — Dr. Sheddy is redefining what it means to live a life of purpose and impact. If you've ever dreamed of combining adventure, service, and personal freedom — this episode is for you.  Tune in to hear her story, the lessons she's learned, and how you can support her mission — or maybe even start your own.  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x Show notes Dr Sheddy Veterinarian and living on her sailboat in Mexico Delivery veterinary care to remote communities  Growing up in a small beach town in rural Australia  Having an affinity for animals Wanting to be a vet from a young age  Vet school in Australia  Graduating high school at 17 Becoming a vet at 23 Being interested in birds Wanting to specialist in the animals that no one else is seeing Wanting to focus on exotic animals Getting into sailing later on  ‘Chuffed' the boat 37ft mono hull, only 8 boats, made in 1990 Paying for everything Patreon and YouTube  Funding via social media  Animals on the boat Working with local veterinarians Sailing over the past few years Sailing for 8 months of the year Doing a major refit of the boat which took 2 years Buying the boat in Panama  Meeting her partner - Jim The covid years Working on a Polar Bear! (Mixed with a bit of grizzly - a golden bear!) Living and working in China at a bear rescue centre Where to next? Working with local communities and setting up a longer term solution Work life balance  Working at a rural town in Australia  Starting off as a new vet and the hours worked…. Superhero culture Moral injury Giving the best care available  Eating animals Getting typhoid fever in Mexico Not being able to gain the weight back Heading to small remote islands Wifi and keeping connected  VHF Radio for emergency Starlink on boats and in remote communities  How to support the work Dr Sheddy is doing Final words of advice for other women who want to follow their passions and interests Wanting to live life on your terms Using a Purpose Venn diagram The plan for the next few years Dreaming big Wanting to expand    Social Media Website www.vettails.com Instagram @dr.sheddy_the.sailing.vet Patreon - www.patreon.com/ChuffedAdventures    

With over a decade of experience in Office and Industrial Real Estate Tenant/User Representation across Costa Rica and Central America, Alvaro has worked closely with leading multinational companies such as Roche, Microsoft, Penumbra, Pfizer, Auxis, DHL, and others with operations in the region.He has collaborated both within his global firm and alongside competing firms that lack a direct presence in these markets—always respecting the source of business and prioritizing strong, long-term broker-to-broker relationships, regardless of the CRE firm involved. His specialties include site selection, buyer representation, build-to-suit (BTS) projects, and lease negotiations, all with the goal of helping companies secure the right space to support their growth and operations.Recognized as a top producer in the region, he is actively expanding his network and building partnerships with brokers and companies interested in nearshoring to Costa Rica and Central America.Connect with Alvaro:LinkedIn: https://cr.linkedin.com/in/ajcortes--

Fundraising expert Lara Sepanski Pimentel, founder of OSA Philanthropy and former Peace Corps volunteer, joins me to unpack what makes a nonprofit—and any mission-driven venture—truly resilient. Drawing on field lessons from community-development work in rural Central America and a decade inside U.S. nonprofits, Lara explains why “capacity” — the people, processes, and systems behind the programs — must come before the next big grant push. In this conversation you'll learn: Peace Corps principles in practice – how asset-based thinking, local ownership, and radical resourcefulness translate into stronger donor relationships and staff culture. The “capacity first, cash second” framework – diagnostic steps to spot operational gaps before chasing new money. Fast vs. slow money – a pragmatic playbook for raising six figures quickly through warm individual donors while laying groundwork for longer-cycle institutional funding. Reframing the ask – shifting from “begging for help” to “offering investment” so donors see themselves as partners, not patrons. Running a location-independent consultancy – Lara's approach to managing global contractors, Zoom-first client work, and family life across continents. Nonprofit earthquake preparedness – why diversified revenue and data-driven dashboards are the new insurance policy in a volatile funding landscape. Rust Belt Startup · A Sustainable Fundraising Playbook for Non-Profits with Lara Sepanski Pimentel (Osa Philanthropy)

Rog is joined by Reynoso and Soltero of the Give N Go Podcast for Part 2 of our Gold Cup Preview. Together, they offer an insightful and energetic breakdown of the tournament's key contenders, standout players, and emerging dark horses. From Javier Aguirre's formidable Mexico to the polarizing presence of Miguel Herrera on Costa Rica's sidelines, and Panama's pursuit of a historic first title. The discussion spotlights rising talent throughout Central America and the Caribbean as well as winner and runner-up predictions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She started hiking at the southern tip of South America and has made her way through Central America and Mexico. Now she's joining us from Montana! Please welcome Lucy Barnard to the podcast as she shares from her adventures and thousands of miles that she has hiked.

Thanks to Trech for suggesting this week's topic, the red-eyed tree frog! Further reading: Tadpoles hatch in seconds to escape predator The colorful red-eyed tree frog [photo by Geoff Gallice]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week we're going to have a short little episode about a little frog, suggested by Trech. The frog in question is the red-eyed tree frog, which is native to Central America, including parts of Mexico, and northwestern South America. It lives in forests, always around water. You might be thinking, “of course, frogs live in water,” but remember that this is a tree frog. It lives in trees. But it still needs water for its babies, just not quite in the way most frogs do. Before we learn about that, let's learn about the frog itself. A big female can grow about 3 inches long, or 7.5 cm, while males are smaller. It's a cute frog, of course, because frogs are always cute, but it's also brightly colored. It's bright green with red eyes, blue and yellow stripes on its sides, and orange feet. Ordinarily, a frog with such bright colors would warn potential predators that it's toxic, but the red-eyed tree frog isn't toxic at all. Its bright colors have a different purpose. When it's sitting on a leaf, the bright colors are hidden and only the frog's smooth green back is showing, which makes it look like just another leaf. Only its eyes are bright, but it closes its eyes when it's resting. But if a predator approaches, the frog opens its eyes suddenly and jumps up, revealing all those bright colors. The predator is startled, and maybe even hesitates because it thinks the frog might be toxic, and by the time the predator decides it should try eating the frog after all, the frog is long gone. Oh, and if you're wondering, the red-eyed tree frog can see through its eyelids. They're actually not eyelids like we have, but a membrane that it can move over its eyes. The frog is nocturnal and eats insects like mosquitoes, crickets, and moths. It has a good sense of smell, which helps it find insects in the dark. The tree frog also has suction cups on its toes that help it stay put on smooth leaves. During the day it sticks itself to the underside of a leaf to sleep where it's more hidden. The female also lays her eggs on the underside of a leaf. This protects them from heavy rain, since the frogs breed during the rainy season, and it also helps hide them from predators. The female chooses a leaf that's growing above water, and if the leaf isn't very big she'll lay eggs on both sides of it and fold the leaf to help hide all the eggs. The eggs stick to the leaf with a type of jelly that also helps keep them from drying out. The eggs hatch in about a week, but they can hatch a few days early if a predator approaches. The embryonic tadpoles in their eggs can sense vibrations, and if a predator like a snake shakes the leaf as it approaches the eggs, the tadpoles can hatch within seconds. They drop straight down into the water below the leaf. Hatching early when in danger is called phenotypic plasticity, and it's really rare. It's especially unusual because the embryonic tadpoles can actually tell the difference between a typical predator of frog eggs and vibrations caused by other animals or the wind. They can hatch so quickly because the stress reaction causes the pre-tadpoles to secrete an enzyme from their little noses, which weakens the egg wall and allows them to push and wiggle their way out. Tadpoles stay in the water for several weeks, or sometimes several months depending on conditions, during which time they eat algae and other tiny food in the water. As they grow bigger, the tadpoles can eat bigger food, including other tadpoles. They switch to tiny insects after they metamorphose into froglets. At some point during its development, a red-eyed tree frog needs to eat enough food containing carotenoids in order to develop...

We've been to a lot of Central American countries, but Panama might have surprised us the most. In this episode, we break down our three weeks exploring everything from Boquete's coffee farms to Panama City's impressive skyline. We talk about why most overlanders rush through this country (and why they shouldn't), the uncomfortable social dynamics we witnessed, and how Panama compares to Costa Rica. Plus, we share the story of accidentally walking into the Panamanian president's house and why Chris thinks the food here is ten times better than anywhere else in Central America.

If you're wanting to see big change in your company, here's a question: are you willing to change, too? Gui Loureiro, regional CEO of Walmart for Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Central America, shares what it took to lead a digital and cultural overhaul at Walmart Mexico—and why he had to evolve as a leader to make it happen. This episode is a powerful reminder that the big transformations you want for your team and company will also mean some transformation for you personally.  You'll also learn: A powerful question to ask in meetings that'll keep your work customer focused Specific strategies that help your team feel valued How to shift to a more agile process for implementing ideas An insight you need to hear before your next career talk with your boss Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The How Leaders Lead App⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daily Insight Emails⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you'll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.

In summer, the thick tangles of streamside vegetation in many canyons echo with an uncanny sound — the Yellow-breasted Chat. You may find it in willow thickets, brushy tangles, and other dense, understory habitats, usually at low to medium elevations around streams. The male Yellow-breasted Chat may sing all night during breeding season. The chat winters in Mexico and Central America.Support for this episode is provided by Sarah Merner and Craig McKibben from Seattle, Washington, and generous listeners around the world.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. 

LATE SUNDAY NIGHT, police in El Salvador arrested one of President Nayib Bukele's sharpest critics, Ruth Eleonora López, an anti-corruption attorney who has spent years exposing government abuses. “[She] is one of the strongest voices in defense of democracy,” says Noah Bullock, her colleague and the executive director of Cristosal, a human rights group operating in northern Central America, including El Salvador. López, a university professor and former elections official, heads Cristosal's anti-corruption unit. She has also been an outspoken critic of Bukele's crackdown on gang violence that has resulted in “arbitrary detentions, human rights violations,” and the imprisonment of people not connected to gangs, according to Cristosal. The organization has documented widespread abuses in the country's prison system. “There's a clear pattern of physical abuse, and on top of that, a clear pattern of systematic denial of basic necessities like food, water, bathrooms, medicine — medical care in general," says Bullock. “Those two factors have combined to cause the deaths of at least 380 people” in custody in recent years. That's a prison system “that's been contracted by the U.S. government,” Bullock adds. This week on The Intercept Briefing, Bullock speaks to host Jessica Washington about López's continued imprisonment and what her work and detention reveals about the Trump administration's interest in El Salvador's prison system. Facing vague corruption charges, López has seen her family and lawyer but not yet a judge. “The type of jails and the prison system that the United States has contracted is one of a dictatorship — one that operates outside of the rule of law,” says Bullock. But El Salvador isn't the only country the U.S. is looking to partner with to outsource immigration detention. “Now in addition to El Salvador, the U.S. has reportedly explored, sought, or struck deals with at least 19 other countries,” says Nick Turse, national security fellow for The Intercept. “Many of these countries,” says Turse, “have been excoriated by not only human rights groups and NGOs, but also the U.S. State Department.”“ These policies did not leap fully formed from the head of Donald Trump,” says Turse. They have a legacy largely stemming from the post-9/11 counterterrorism policies of the George W. Bush administration. “The Trump administration has expanded the Bush and Obama-era terrorism paradigm to cast immigrants and refugees as terrorists and as gang members,” says Turse.Listen to the full conversation of The Intercept Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nature Boy is now in Central America, where he weaponizes the power of Instagram's algorithm to trick rubes into flying out to join him and handing over all their money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.