Podcasts about Cleft

When Stacey Hussell learned that her son would be born with a cleft lip—just like she was—she was flooded with emotions. In this episode, she opens up about the weight of passing down her diagnosis, the fears and guilt that came with it, and how trauma coaching helped her navigate the emotional toll. Join Laura and Stacey for a raw and inspiring conversation about healing, acceptance, and finding strength as a cleft-affected mom raising a cleft-affected child. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store ______________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

In this episode of The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal podcast series, Pat Chibbaro interviews Catherine de Blacam, author of the CPCJ article entitled, "Lives of Irish Adolescents Who Were Born With a Cleft (LIA-Cleft)" (coauthored by Bridget Geoghegan, Elizabeth Nixon, BA, PhD, and Anne Nolan, BA, PhD).)

Join me for a summary of CBCT use inorthodontics, where I look into the current risk of cancer with CBCT use, the differenceit can make to treatment planning, and the 3 most common incidental findingsorthodontists should be aware of. This was one my highlight lectures from lastyears British Orthodontic Conference by Consultant Dental Radiologist, SimonHarvey.    How much radiation comes from dentalCBCT, medicine?Effective dose of modern machines:·      Dose from full DPT with adigital system = 20-25µSv·      KAVO, MoritaX800 4 x 4cm =16uSv·      FDA values of CT scans acrossthe boy from Lubar 1500uSv – Heart 16000uSvFACT 1 – effective dose in dental imagingare far below the rest of medicine Background radiation·      Terrestrial radiation·      Cosmic radiationo  Flight London – New York 56uSv– cancer UK ‘does not effect risk of cancer, even for frequent flyers', 4uSvper houro  Pilots do not have an increasedrisk of cancerUK 3000 uSv annuallyFACT 2 – EFFECTIVE DOSES IN DENTAL IMAGINGARE FAR BELOW THE NATURAL BACKGROUND RADIATION American Association of Physicist inMedicine AAPM“evidence supporting increased cancerincidence or mortality from radiation doeses below 100mSv is inconclusive” –cancer incidence and mortality from the use of diagnostic imaging are highlyspeculative, discourage these prediction of hypothetical harmFACT 3 EFFECTIVE DOSES IN DENTAL IMAGINGARE SO LOW, THEY DO NOT CAUSE CANCER Clinicians improved confidence andconsistency in treatment planning decisions.Impacted canine:·      3 radiographs -  namely occlusal view, opg , periapical  = still not confident about prognosis.·      CBCT = clear follicle and impactedcanine proximity to adjacent tooth, = easily make up the decision estimatingprognosis o  22%-44% change of plans Hodges 2013 Stoustrup 2024  change in treatment plans ofimpacted teeth. The majority related to change in planning, with approximately10-20% a change in exposure Vs extraction. Keener 2023  ·      Cleft – quantification of bonedefect volume for grafting and localisation of ectopic teeth·      Surgery – location of importantanatomical structures 3 Commonincidental findings for orthodontists·      Dense bone island- o  Radiopacity with no radiolucenthaloo  Mandibular premolar regiono  Harmless, may resorb roots ifcontact it·      Sinus mucosal thickeningo  Antrum floor intacto  Only concern if 5mm+·      Trabecular patterno  Around inferior dento-alveolarcanalo  No corticated boardero  normal in children, technicalreason is physiologic response as more RBC's are developing surrounding thatarea. Pregnant women –yes as not irridating pelvic reason, CBCT beam is horizontal so no risk Conclusion1.    CBCT superior for resorption,material change to treatment plans and improve confidence of the orthodontists2.    No recommendation for takingfull mouth CBCT instead of DPT ahead of starting every orthodontic treatment asroutine and x rays should never go hand in hand3.    Small volume CBCT does is solow it doesn't cause cancer

In this insightful episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Dr. Huay-Zong Law to explore his journey into cleft care and the deeper purpose that fuels his work. Dr. Law shares why he chose this specialty, his dedication to constantly improving as a surgeon, and how he has used social media to educate and connect with others in the cleft community. They also discuss the lifelong nature of cleft care, including the often-overlooked treatment of adult patients, and how each patient's journey is truly unique. This conversation is a powerful look at dedication, purpose, and the lasting impact of compassionate, personalized care. Links and Resources: Dr. Law on Instagram Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store NC Cleft Mom FB Group Our Forever Smiles FB Group _________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

Utahns are well known for their humanitarian efforts and charitable giving.  In this segment of Midday with Maria Shilaos, Maria tells the story of a Utah non-profit that is making a huge difference for people with cleft palettes nearly 8,000 miles away in Nepal, a country in the Himalayan Mountains of Asia. She speaks with Jim Webber, who is the owner of Foothill Oriental Rugs. He went to Nepal in the 1990s to find a way to design and create his own unique rugs. But his mission ended up becoming something much more fulfilling and long-lasting.  Learn more about the Nepal Cleft and Burn Center, and register for the May 16th fundraiser, at nepalcleftandburncenter.org or by calling Foothill Oriental Rug.

Samantha found out from a mutual friend she wasn't invited to her guy bestie's wedding because his fiancee feels "threatened" by her in Group Therapy. Then an UNHINGED Not Sober Segment puts the spotlight on another RIDICULOUS conversation and the #dadjokes were ON POINT today!

In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Erin Ulloa, a dedicated wife, mother, and full-time professional balancing life as a student and future history teacher. Erin shares her experience as an older mom navigating her son Oliver's bilateral cleft lip diagnosis, the support she found through online communities and a colleague with a similar journey, and the challenges of balancing career, school, and motherhood. One of the most shocking moments in her journey came when she learned that, in California, termination must be offered by law when a child has a birth anamoly. Without hesitation, Erin chose love over fear. Tune in as she shares her story of strength, advocacy, and unwavering determination to give Oliver the best life possible. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store NC Cleft Mom FB Group Our Forever Smiles FB Group _________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

Hosts Beth and Cathy sit down with Carrie Francis, a university student and passionate advocate for the blind, visually impaired, and deafblind communities. Carrie, born with a rare 5th-degree facial cleft, has overcome extraordinary medical challenges, including severe blindness and hearing impairment. Despite being told she wouldn't survive beyond her first week of life, Carrie has defied the odds and is now pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology while dedicating her life to advocacy and community support.   Carrie shares her journey from childhood surgeries and speech therapy to navigating life as a deafblind person. She opens up about the misconceptions surrounding the deafblind community, the resilience required to thrive despite medical challenges, and the support systems that have helped her along the way.   This episode is a testament to the power of determination, the importance of advocacy, and the strength it takes to rewrite your story against all odds.   Key Topics Discussed: What is a cleft palate, and how does it differ from a cleft lip? The medical and emotional challenges of living with a 5th-degree facial cleft. Navigating life as a deafblind person: adaptations, family support, and advocacy. Overcoming misconceptions about the deafblind community. Carrie's journey to pursuing a degree in psychology and her advice for students with disabilities. Resilience and the factors that helped Carrie defy her initial prognosis. Impact of the Lions Foundation in Canada   Connect with Us:   Stay tuned for the next new episode of “It Happened To Me”! In the meantime, you can listen to our previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “It Happened To Me”.    “It Happened To Me” is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. DNA Today's Kira Dineen is our executive producer and marketing lead. Amanda Andreoli is our associate producer. Ashlyn Enokian is our graphic designer.   See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, ItHappenedToMePod.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com. 

Episode 32 -Heidi Quinn - Evaluating Nutrition in Children with Autism In this episode of Nutrition Pearls: the Podcast, co-hosts Nikki Misner and Jen Smith speak with Heidi Quinn on nutrition in patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Heidi Is a registered dietitian working in the field of pediatric/young adult nutrition with special health care needs for 35 years across various settings which includes inpatient and outpatient settings at Franciscan Children's Hospital (Brighton) , Boston Children's Hospital, Early Intervention programs, schools for children with special needs, and specialty clinics ( feeding clinics, developmental disability programs) and Joslin Diabetes Center. Heidi currently works at Boston Children's Hospital providing nutrition care  in multiple clinics including the out-patient GI clinic, the Growth and Nutrition Program, Autism/GI clinic, Cleft lip and Palate program and the Endocrine department. It is her work in the Autism/GI clinic which will be the focus of this episode.Nutrition Pearls is supported by an educational grant from Mead Johnson Nutrition.Resources:How Food Chaining Therapy Works: A Solution for Picky Eaters  Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Complementary and Integrative Medicine Therapies - UpToDateThe Managing Medical Issues in Autism video series developed by Tim Buie, Co-Director of the GI and Autism Clinic, Sonia Ballal, Stacy Kahn, Howard Shane and Julia Carmody. All 5 videos are free to families, caregivers and professionals.  Link to all the videos on the Boston Children's Hospital YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/BuieVideosProduced by: Corey IrwinNASPGHAN - Council for Pediatric Nutrition Professionalscpnp@naspghan.org

In this eye-opening episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Dariyon Mendoza, a mom of three who proudly calls herself a “crunchy cleft mom.” Dariyon challenges the notion that a cleft diagnosis automatically means a high-risk pregnancy, sharing her journey of advocating for natural births and creating the birth experience she wanted—despite her baby's diagnosis. She opens up about her own home birth experience and her mission to empower other moms to know that they have options. Tune in for an empowering conversation about informed choices, trusting your body, and redefining what's possible in cleft-affected pregnancies. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store NC Cleft Mom FB Group __________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

The car parked on Lurgan Avenue matched the description circulated to the police in London. PC William Waters reported the discovery from a nearby police box and waited for detectives to arrive. Soon after, a man emerged from a house on Lurgan Avenue and approached the vehicle. PC Waters swiftly intercepted the suspect, asking if he owned the car. The man remained silent. When he was searched, officers discovered a pistol and ammunition concealed in the man's pockets...*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane.Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna FittonNarration, additional audio editing, script editing, and production direction by Benjamin Fitton.To get early ad-free access, including Season 1, sign up for They Walk Among PLUS, available from Patreon or Apple Podcasts.More information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.comMUSIC: Ephemeral Colors by Moments Nuclear Conception by Alice in Winter Layers by Caleb Etheridge Road To Nowhere by Caleb Etheridge Lord Of The Dead by CJ0 Misery Loves Company by CJ0 The Diary by CJ0 Altered Fate by Cody Martin Artisan Craft by Cody Martin DarkNight by Cody Martin Every Life Matters by Cody Martin Far From Home by Cody Martin Loaves+Fish by Cody Martin Legend Of Eleven by Cody Martin Seeking Answers by Cody Martin Wolgrim by Cody Martin Memories Of Future Events by Hill The Choice Is Yours by Moments In Shadows by Painted Modern Orchestra Quiet Strength by Moments Sleep by Stephen Keech Distances by Salon Dijon To What End by Caleb Etheridge SOCIAL MEDIA: https://linktr.ee/TheyWalkAmongUsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Appearance Matters: The Podcast! This month's episode focusses on a project aimed at providing peer support for young people with cleft lip and/or palate. Abbi is joined by Kenny Ardouin, a speech language therapist and lecturer at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. As part of his PhD, Kenny has been involved in running a youth camp for children with cleft aged 10-18. In the episode, Kenny discusses his research background, how this project came about, the practical implications of running a camp and evaluating the camp's impact on the campers' wellbeing. Thanks for listening! Episode links: • Kenny's website: www.kennyardouin.com • Paper (open access): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10556656251329297 • Camp resources (freely available): https://kennyardouin.com/supplementary-materials/ • Previous episode featuring Kenny: 58. Expanding Support for Adults with a Cleft Lip and/or Palate https://soundcloud.com/appearance-matters/expanding-support-for-adults-with-a-cleft-lip-andor-palate To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us: • On X: x.com/CAR_UWE • On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/ • On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot. Thank you! Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com Cover photo kindly shared by Kenny Ardouin. Episode developed and produced by Abbi Mathews

In this inspiring episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Tessa De Goede, the founder of Tess Unlimited, a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive cleft care to children in Guatemala. Tessa shares her incredible journey of how she got into this work, the deep connection she has with the Guatemalan people, and the passion that drives her to serve cleft-affected families. She opens up about the challenges and triumphs of running an organization dedicated to life-changing surgeries and holistic cleft care, as well as the support system that keeps her mission going. From the first moments that led her to cleft advocacy to the countless lives she's impacted, Tessa's dedication shines through in every aspect of her work. Tune in for an uplifting conversation about service, resilience, and the power of making a difference in the cleft community.

“Anyone who needs surgery around the world will be able to do it and get it and survive from it. And we're making significant impacts by delivering cleft surgery care and by educating and training more and more people each week. The numbers just increase and we're about to... launch something very special as this podcast is being aired, where we're going to really build and strengthen one hundred district hospitals around the world.” – Mark Climie-Elliott This episode's guest is the CEO and Chief Smile Officer of Operation Smile Canada Foundation. Operation Smile is one of the world's largest volunteer-delivered global medical charities, serving children born with cleft conditions in low and middle-income countries. Prior to joining Operation Smile, he spent more than forty years serving in a variety of leadership roles in the non-profit sector, children's rehabilitation, and international hospital start-ups in the Middle East.His name is Mark Climie-Elliott, and you'll want to hear where this discussion will take us. From helping children make sound to his philosophy on the importance of sound and why it matters so much to the kids his Foundation helps, there's a lot to cover. But I was extremely honored to help get the word out about this very worthy charity, and I hope, after you've listened to how passionate Mark is about this cause, that you'll check them out too.This conversation is being released during Podcasthon, so thank you to Jeremie and all the wonderful staff there putting this initiative together. And if you'd like to learn more about Podcasthon, and maybe participate in it next year, be sure to check out podcasthon.org. As always, if you have questions for my guest, you're welcome to reach out through the links in the show notes. If you have questions for me, visit audiobrandingpodcast.com where you'll find a lot of ways to get in touch. Plus, subscribing to the newsletter will let you know when the new podcasts are available and what the newest audio chats will be about. If you're getting some value from listening, the best ways to show your support are to share this podcast with a friend and leave an honest review. Both those things really help – and I'd love to feature your review on future podcasts. (0:00:00) - Sound, Surgery, and Changing LivesOur conversation begins with Mark's early memories of sound, an experience that may have been as memorable for his neighbors. “The first time sound really got into me,” he recalls, “was when I found the pots and pans underneath the counter and I found the wooden spoons. Oh and let me say, sound resonated not just from our home but right through the neighborhood.” We discuss how Operation Smile began back in 1982, and just how serious, and even life-threatening, the need for cleft-palate treatment options in the developing world has become. “It was then that both Dr. Magee and Kathy realized that there are so many people around the world,” he explains, “that don't have the benefit when they get sick and need surgery to actually be able to access it. It's just not there.”(0:11:24) - Surgical Program and Patient CriteriaWe talk more about what causes a cleft lip and the enormous impact it can have on children's speech, health, and nutrition. “Cleft lip and palate are some of the world's highest birth anomalies,” he tells us, “they can happen, we say one in every three minutes. A child is born with either a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both, or one in every 700 to 1,000 live births.” He shares some of the challenges of treatment through multiple...

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Carson Gaines to discuss her journey as a cleft mom and how she has navigated the ups and downs of motherhood. From the moment she received her son's cleft diagnosis, Carson found guidance and support through Our Forever Smiles, which became a source of reassurance and strength during an overwhelming time. Carson opens up about her experience with the Latham device, a pre-surgical orthodontic appliance used before cleft lip repair to gradually bring the segments of the cleft closer together. She shares the challenges of caring for the device, the emotional difficulty of seeing her baby undergo the process, and the relief of knowing it was a necessary step toward a successful repair. Through the struggles of feeding, cleaning, and managing the adjustments, she found strength in her faith and the support of the cleft community. Beyond cleft care, Carson also discusses how each of her sons faced different birth-related challenges, shaping her perspective on resilience and motherhood. Through every high and low, she continues to embrace the journey with strength, love, and determination. This episode is a powerful reminder that no mother walks this path alone. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with honesty, hope, and the power of community.

This week, we’re starting a new series called “Glimpses of Glory,” which is focused on the glory of God. The roots of this series are found in a previous series we completed last called “Covenant Living.” We encourage you to watch or listen to these messages if you have not done so. Exodus 33:11-23 served as the basis for that series, and we’re revisiting it for this series, too. There are many different passages in the Bible where God revealed His glory to people and many expressions of that glory, but churches don’t talk about it much because it’s difficult to understand and cannot be controlled. With this series, Pastor John is attempting to restore a biblical understanding and appreciation of God’s glory, starting with a message called “The Name and Nature of God.”

This week, we’re starting a new series called “Glimpses of Glory,” which is focused on the glory of God. The roots of this series are found in a previous series we completed last called “Covenant Living.” We encourage you to watch or listen to these messages if you have not done so. Exodus 33:11-23 served as the basis for that series, and we’re revisiting it for this series, too. There are many different passages in the Bible where God revealed His glory to people and many expressions of that glory, but churches don’t talk about it much because it’s difficult to understand and cannot be controlled. With this series, Pastor John is attempting to restore a biblical understanding and appreciation of God’s glory, starting with a message called “The Name and Nature of God.”

In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Hailee Chavez to discuss the deep connection between motherhood, femininity, faith, and the unique journey of raising a cleft-affected baby. Hailee opens up about becoming a mother as a teenager and the challenges she faced navigating young motherhood. When her second child was born with a cleft, she found herself once again facing an unexpected hurdle—one that tested her strength, resilience, and ability to trust in God's plan.   Hailee shares the emotional rollercoaster of cleft care, including the heartbreak of post-op lip repair and the struggle of seeing her baby in pain. She and Laura discuss the raw realities of surgery, recovery, and the emotional toll it takes on a mother's heart. Through it all, Hailee leaned on her Christian faith to find peace, hope, and the strength to keep moving forward. She reflects on the power of prayer, the reassurance of knowing she was never alone, and how her faith gave her the courage to embrace the journey with grace and love.   This episode is a moving testament to the resilience of mothers, the beauty in surrendering to faith during the hardest moments, and the deep love that carries us through.

Today's Scripture passages are Exodus 33 - Exodus 35:3 | 2 Corinthians 2:5 - 3.Read by Ekemini Uwan.Get in The Word with Truth's Table is a production of InterVarsity Press. For 75 years, IVP has published and created thoughtful Christian books for the university, church, and the world. Our Bible reading plan is adapted from Bible Study Together, and the Bible version is the New English Translation, used by permission.SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of this podcast, use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode at ivpress.com.Additional Credits:Song production: Seaux ChillSong lyrics written by: Seaux Chill, Ekemini Uwan, and Christina EdmondsonPodcast art: Kate LillardPhotography: Shelly EveBible consultant: JM SmithSound engineering: Podastery StudiosCreative producers: Ekemini Uwan and Christina EdmondsonAssistant producer: Christine Pelliccio MeloExecutive producer: Helen LeeDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

In this inspiring episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Tiffiny Tyler, a cleft-affected mom raising a cleft-affected daughter. Tiffiny shares how her own journey—from overcoming bullying to finding confidence—has given her the strength to navigate her daughter's cleft journey with even more determination and love.   She reflects on the differences between being a cleft patient and being a cleft mom, the emotional challenges that come with both roles, and how her lived experience has empowered her to advocate for her daughter in ways she wishes had been done for her. Tiffiny also opens up about her advocacy work for the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) and how becoming a mother has only deepened her drive to fight for change.   Join us for a powerful conversation about resilience, breaking generational barriers, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter who share the same journey. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store ______________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Kelley Bennett to discuss the emotional highs and lows of navigating the NAM treatment. Kelley opens up about the heartbreak of NAM adjustments—when helping your baby feels like hurting them. She shares the emotional toll of watching her little one cry through the process, knowing it's ultimately for their benefit, and how many cleft moms struggle with this difficult reality.   Kelley also reflects on learning to love her baby's face through every stage, cherishing the sweetness of cleft kisses, and the comfort she found in choosing a doula for labor and delivery. This episode is a must-listen for any parent walking the cleft journey, offering reassurance, raw honesty, and a reminder that love and strength go hand in hand. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store ______________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

God is never closer than when your heart is aching.-------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Cleft Sentences are an area of English grammar that is used in daily conversation, but isn't often taught. I don't know many things, but what I am knowledgable about is English! (There's an example!)In this episode, I first explain two of these grammar patterns that you can follow, and then I go through some questions about travel, life experience, and work while answering using this grammar. And of course, I encourage you to do the same. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast309This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

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Jim Swanson: The Cleft of the Rock: The Bride's Place of Safety [1:50:39] Click here for: High quality (1.92 GB) Click here for: Low quality (709.48 MB) 5014

Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com. ______________________________________________________________________________________ In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, we sit down with Alexis Garcia, a dedicated mom who opens up about her emotional journey through the early days of motherhood after her child's cleft diagnosis. Alexis shares her personal experiences with mom guilt, the emotional rollercoaster of navigating a cleft-affected newborn's needs, and the unique challenges faced during the postpartum period. With raw honesty, she talks about the pressure to "do it all," the struggle to find balance, and the moments of strength she found in herself through it all. This episode offers support, understanding, and encouragement to all parents in the cleft community, especially those who may be facing similar emotional hurdles. Tune in for an honest conversation about the ups and downs of the cleft journey and the powerful bond between mother and child. We understand that the journey through a cleft diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially during the postpartum period. If you're feeling isolated, anxious, or simply need someone to talk to, please know you're not alone. Many parents face similar challenges, and there are resources and communities ready to support you every step of the way. If you're struggling with mom guilt, emotional stress, or just need guidance on how to navigate your journey, here are a few places you can reach out to for support: The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) www.acpa-cpf.org ACPA provides both educational resources and a network of healthcare professionals to help families understand cleft care and treatment options. Postpartum Support International (PSI) www.postpartum.net PSI offers mental health resources, support groups, and trained professionals for anyone experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or other emotional challenges. National Helpline for Emotional Support Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) for free, confidential support from trained counselors. If you're struggling with feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression, don't hesitate to reach out. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It's okay to not have all the answers. Take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to lean on the resources and communities available to you.

Send us a textToday's Episode:Norwegian Grammar: Mastering Cleft Sentences and “Utbryting” (B1-C1 Level)The Learn Norwegian Podcast is brought to you by the Norwegian Language School. Listening to our podcast is an enjoyable way to learn Norwegian at your own pace, whenever and wherever you are!Visit our website www.nlsnorwegian.no  or send an email to info@nlsnorwegian.no to sign up for Norwegian Classes!Support the showRegister for Norwegian classesCheck your Norwegian level for free here

It does not do, to speak mockingly of erections.By Drmaxc. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. "Men and their erections,""Men and their erections," Tacey laughed shrilly, "if you could harness them you'd solve the energy crisis. Forget the unpredictability of wind power, their erections rise and fall come sun, come rain, come snow; if you could only capture the energy of all those millions of cocks..."The girls giggled and laughed loudly in their gaggle at the bar. They had drunk too much and were being disrespectful of men. Jonathan did not like it, he expected women to speak of such things, the male sexual organ, in hushed, slightly awed tones: not make silly jokes as if, he paused and took a breath, a 'Teors' was something to laugh about. He used the Old English deliberately. To have used a slang term — a 'cock' as the girl had done, a 'willy' or the like would have been wrong. He gripped his glass; something would need to be done.Entering the subterranean halls of the Knights of the Teorsas always gave Jonathan a particular thrill. Unknown to virtually the whole population of London it was a closely guarded secret, not even disclosed to the authorities. All they knew about was the insignificant little house in a backstreet of Covent Garden and it was to that house that the bills for electricity and the like came. It was an unremarkable house that held a remarkable secret as it gave access, through its cellar, to the ancient home of the Knights, the Great Phallocrypt, a network of rooms, halls and passages built in stone many, many, many years ago.Jonathan was much more than an initiate, a Raphe, more than a mere knight but a man who had crossed the Fraenum, the narrow bridge between the Corpus Cavernosum, the great hall where the knights assembled in their pomp, and the grand domed meeting hall of the inner circle, the Corona, who ruled the order. Jonathan was himself a member of the Corona, albeit its most junior having only been erected to the position a bare month before. He had, by virtue of his status, access to the Grand Master of the Order, the Bacalum, and could speak to him as of right.Dressed in his ceremonial robes, the gold badge of the erect phallus woven in gold thread into the red material, Jonathan strode through the Corpus Cavernosum nodding to knights he met but there was no time to pause and engage in intercourse, he had urgent business, a matter of grave importance to report to the Bacalum himself. Crossing the bridge of the Fraenum still gave him a thrill. How many of the knights achieved that? Such a singular honour; he had been speechless for a full minute when he had been told to prepare himself. How many would ever wear the third gold band around their teors? How many of them were ever able to do the thing he was about to do? To raise the great brass phallic knocker and tap three times on the oaken door of the Lacuna Magna, the Grand Master's private office?As always, the Bacalum was dressed in his ancient robes, beautifully decorated with representations of the ancient Roman god, Priapus, and with his great red curving penile hat making him look so much taller than he actually was. A trick long realised by the designers of uniforms; whether the bearskins of the Guards, the Shako of yesteryear or, indeed, the 'tit' of the London bobby. Shaking his grey head wisely he listened as Jonathan described what he had heard only the night before."It will not do, it will not do." The Baculum's words of wisdom enervated Jonathan."I seek permission to use, to wield, the Great Mesmodildo." The words were out; Jonathan had made the request, an act of considerable presumption in one so junior.There was a sharp intake of breath, the great phallic hat jerked upwards, and the penetrating eyes of the Grand Master seemed to bore right into Jonathan. There was a pause, "It will do."They sat for a few moments in contemplation. On the walls were artists' impressions of wonderful buildings not built. Designs by some of the leading architects of their day for skyscrapers intended to be the tallest buildings in the world in their time, all unmistakeably phallic, as skyscrapers are, but not simply because they were structures pointed at the sky but true erections designed to look like erections, buildings particularly phallic in design. Unrealised plans by Mies Van de Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Colonel Seifert and most recently Sir Norman Foster. Designs the Order had not been able to find sufficient backers to fund; statements to the world not yet realised; buildings intended to awe and strike a proper respectfulness, an understanding of their place in the world, in womankind.The Grand Master rose, drawing his robes around him and walked to a cupboard; opening its black ebonised door he drew out something about a foot long and wrapped in a cloth; with both hands he presented it to Jonathan who, standing, accepted it with a bow. "I shall take the greatest care, Grand Master.""Do."Walking slowly back down the Corpus Cavernosa, Jonathan mused on the wise words of the Bacalum and upon his mission. Tucked into his robes was the ancient object — it would not do for the knights to see that which he had been entrusted or to know it was amongst them.Shedding his ceremonial robes in the outermost halls, where the putative knights, the Raphes, met and took instruction in their twin, wonderfully spherical, meeting rooms, Jonathan ascended back into a rainy, wet London morning; the ancient object tucked in his duffle bag along with his laptop and sandwiches. He had his job in the world outside the Order which he must attend to from 9am to 5pm but then he would commence his mission.It was one thing to hold the Mesmodildo but another to set up the opportunity to use it. Jonathan neither knew where Tacey lived nor worked. He did not actually know her name. His only knowledge was that she sometimes frequented: rather had at least once frequented, the bar where he had heard her disrespectful statement. He should have found out more about her at the time; he realised that now — it would have been better to have gathered more evidence before reporting to the Bacalum — but he had been so incensed, so overcome that he had rushed ahead without careful reflection and contemplation. He would meditate upon it later that evening.Meditation was important to the Order. Sitting cross-legged on a mat woven with ancient designs, a knight would sit in contemplation of his teors until turgidity ensued, that First Wonder of the teors; his thoughts would roam free as he sought to better understand himself, resolve his problems and focus on the baseness of his desires whilst seeking to raise the Primo Cumum, that first flowing of the teors so aptly described as its Second Wonder; lastly came the conclusion of the ritual, the ultimate goal of the meditation—the full flowing of the teors, the Ejaculum, a sight wonderful to behold—when the teors of its own volition would spew forth its seed. Putative knights worked hard at achieving this, many sitting for hours trying to create in their heads the necessary images; erotic images necessarily to achieve the apparently spontaneous Ejaculum.At first, and Jonathan had to admit he was as one with them, putative knights would use the Manualum or hand to achieve the necessary final stimulation; but he had achieved so much more -- the result of hard work and dedication. Often appropriate texts or images were used, spread before the knight or novice to assist in his meditation. The Library of the Order, the Curiosa, contained many volumes and meditational material.Traditionally the knight would bow his head and orally accept the bounty of the Ejaculum. Ancient manuscripts, some written in Latin, some Sanskrit testified to this and the beautiful coloured illustrations showed no less. A variant much favoured in the modern Corona, and therefore too the Corpus Cavernosa, was the Art of Felicitation, requiring extensive practice, much suppleness of the body and, Jonathan admitted, a long teors. He, himself, had only managed the briefest of Teorsic Kiss at the moment of Ejaculum but the Bacalum and a few others of the Corona, knights of great experience, could hold the rounded terminus of their teors orally at the moment of the Third Wonder, an ideal act permitting the recycling of the seed so not one drop was lost to the body.Jonathan was lucky, very lucky. Inevitably he had returned to the very bar of Tacey's misdeed as the only reference point he had in relation to her; had sat there nursing a beer and wondering if he would have to use the power of the Mesmodildo on the very pretty bar girl who had, he recalled, been there on the previous night. Perhaps she would know about the disrespectful girl; know who she was and where she lived — and her name. The entrance of Tacey saved the need. It was a relief to Jonathan — the pretty bar girl with the large breasts might not have known anything about the disrespectful girl and left him with no obvious lead in his quest; it also saved the seed he might well have lost to her in the course of extracting the information; she was, after all, very pretty and perhaps worthy of the honour.Tacey moved across the room and sat on a bar stool, her long legs crossed one over the other drawing up the material of her trouser leg revealing a particularly fine pair of high heeled shoes—clearly new by the sight of the soles and undoubtedly expensive.Not for the first time Jonathan wondered both at the impudence and the illogicality of women. There sat the girl in a suit of clothes but with trousers not a skirt. Trousers were a male prerogative and unsuited to women; they were for men. A skirt would have shown her new shoes off but instead they were largely hidden by the trousers. What was the sense in buying shoes to be noticed and then wearing trousers? There was no logic. The girl would look better without the trousers. In his mind he imagined the girl naked but for the shoes; it was an appropriate image he would use for meditation later. He looked down at his own sensible, solid black shoes largely hidden by his own trousers — and that was perhaps just as well. He mentally gave himself a note to polish them in the morning—it was a task he tended to overlook though it would not do to keep the dome of his teors unpolished.A further shock came to Jonathan; instead of a white wine spritzer or some expensive but brightly coloured vodka concoction in a pretty bottle, the girl had ordered beer: not just a half but a whole pint. She was drinking beer from a pint glass! Had she no shame?Jonathan got up and walked across to her, "I have something to show you," he said without introduction and in a deep impressive voice.Tacey looked Jonathan up and down for a moment and then burst into laughter, "Ooh, you little pervert, you!" She seemed to find the whole scene very funny indeed. Jonathan was affronted. What had he said?"Well, what do you want? Who are you?" She said.It was not going well; it should be he who was asking the questions. As the Bacalum had wisely said, "it would not do." Slowly he drew from his duffle bag an object wrapped in a cloth. "I have this to show you," Jonathan said mysteriously, drawing the cloth down the object a little way.Tacey had never seen the like. It was a pearl, a great creamy, misty pearl; far, far bigger than any she had seen before; a pearl far bigger than the cultivated pearls of her best necklace; a pearl far bigger than the one Great Aunt Agatha used to wear when she, Tacey, was little and had so fascinated her on visits. Within it, great streamy swirls of creamy clouds seemed to move, captivating her, capturing her eye; she found it difficult to look away from the pearl, to stop watching the moving clouds of cream that appeared to roll around the jewel.Gradually Jonathan drew down the material covering the object and whilst her eyes could not leave the pearl she could see it was mounted on gold, indeed atop a golden acorn... or was it an acorn? As the material rolled back Tacey realised it was not so much an acorn as the bulbous end to a golden penis — a golden erect penis in exquisite detail surmounted by a great pearl; a pearl representing, quite clearly to her eye now, the bubbling up of semen or rather, what did they call it, yes, it was the 'pre-cum.' She was both shocked and fascinated; her eyes could not draw away and leave the pearl with its swirls of milky cream. Her mind was being taken.Jonathan watched Tacey's reaction; it was how it should be, no woman could resist the Great Mesmodildo, their pretty eyes were drawn to the pearl like moths to a candle and next would come the longing, a certain dryness of the mouth, an increasing need for something they could not quite place—it was no less than the desire for the milk of a man, a teosic longing in their loins. Jonathan had no need to completely un-sheathe the artefact, to reveal its shining golden glory, merely sliding back the material to expose the bulbous head was sufficientTracey's tongue moved slowly across her lips; they felt dry."Shall we sit over there, somewhere more private?" Jonathan sheathed the Mesmodildo. He had taken command of the situation.Tacey took a large swig of beer to ease the sudden dryness in her throat and followed him without question.Once again Jonathan eased back the covering revealing the golden head mounted with its strange pearl. Tacey stared; images of ejaculating penises came flooding into her mind and the thought of taking the head of this gold penis into her mouth, stroking it with her tongue, feeling the sensual smoothness of the pearl—smooth, yes smooth like... like... semen. Her nipples pricked at the material of her bra, they felt as hard as iron or, indeed, the gold of the strange penis before her. Within her panties, the new purple pair her especial friend, Diane, had bought her, she was flowing. Already the material felt soaked as if newly from the wash; it would seep into her trousers—an embarrassing wet stain."May I, may I please suck it," she asked in a small, little girl's voice.Jonathan smiled to himself. It was more like pleading. How easy these women were taken, how powerful the Mesmodildo, how easily their minds were beaten and taken and their lust aroused. In a moment she would be pleading with him to let her suck his teors, desperate to take his seed and feel it slipping down her throat. But now was not the time and not just because they were in a public bar.The bar actually was empty but for the pretty bar girl and the Mesmodildo would handle her easily. Jonathan looked again at her and thought that perhaps another time, if he had not returned the Mesmodildo, he would like to use the artefact upon her and see her kneeling before him."You may," he replied and held it for her, still wrapped, with just the very end, the beautifully rounded head showing, and watched as she made the proper rounded shape with her mouth, the Teoric Circle, that women must make, before bowing her head down and absorbing the smooth gold head. He could imagine within her mouth the rapid flicking tongue; all women did this; the tip caressing the smoothness of the pear imagining it a continuous spurt of male milk to assuage their desperate thirst.Gently he pulled, extracting the Mesmodildo. He liked the need to pull a little to overcome the natural suction of the girl wishing to retain the object. It was a pleasant resistance.Tacey looked up at him, her eyes wide and doe like, her mouth still in the shape of the Teorsic Circle ready for the Mesmodildo, his own teors or, indeed, any other teors. It was a temptation. So very pleasant to have been able to disrobe, but not there, and place his own teors in this girl's mouth; feel her tongue seeking the milk, trying to enter the very end of his teors; feeling the Second Wonder rising and watching, as his teors rested on her tongue, the small first clear drop of the Teorsic Fluid seep and run down from the acorn head; the sudden stiffening as the tongue tasted and induced a frenzy of sucking.From the bar the other girl stared. What had that man offered the girl to eat and why did her face now hold the expression of some plastic inflatable sex doll?"Come," he said — and she almost did — the feeling of arousal was so strong, but he meant for her to follow.It was but a short taxi ride; though Tacey would remember nothing of it nor walking into a small building and down some steps — the stone steps to the Great Phallocrypt, Jonathan leading her by the hand.It might have been thought that no women would have been permitted to enter the ancient halls of the Order. Certainly they could not be of the Order, being mere women and lacking teorsas though it was said in times past there had been exceptions; women who would rather have been men; women with slim boyish hips and small breasts who had worn cunningly made simulated, pseudo-teorsas and had been more than happy to join in the male rituals sometimes made upon and with other members of their sex. This, though, was most certainly not permitted by the current and recent Bacala.It was possible, though, for women to be brought for judgement, correction or punishment: but not for pleasure. It should not be thought the Order was in any way a society for 'randy' old men to enjoy countless women in a social way, a sort of 'Hellfire Club' or opportunity for hedonistic orgiastic activity. The Order's purposes were profound, mysterious and extremely serious. Any sexual gratification was a by-product, almost an accident: though to achieve the First, Second and Third Wonders of the Teors erotic thoughts a plenty were needed and sexual activity was something the knights were required to undertake regularly and in a brotherly fashion. The Wonders of the Teors, after all, had their root in sexual activity.It was appropriate for Jonathan to undress Tacey. It would not do for her to be presented to the Knights in clothes from the city above, least of all in that so wrong trouser suit. She needed to be modestly clad in a simple cream linen shift, a shapeless garment hiding her womanly attributes from the knights. First, though, she needed to be ritually washed; like the undressing it was a task Jonathan would need to undertake and it was a task he did not shirk. There were no female attendants in the Phallocrypt to assist female 'visitors' and, as Tacey was his charge, Jonathan would need to perform the ceremony. He led her into a side chamber, stone vaulted and with a stone bath sunken into the floor. The water splashed into the bath and Jonathan added scents of sandalwood, carbolic and spice.Firstly Jonathan undressed, glad to be free of his workaday clothes ready to dress in the wonderful robes of the Order; it was better for him to be naked whilst bathing Tacey as it would not do to wet his robes. Tacey stood motionless in her trouser suit, still with the Teorsic Circle fixed to her face but her eyes betrayed intelligence behind her fixed expression. It was right for her to be conscious, she now needed to remember the lessons she would be taught. He knew her eyes would be staring at his teors, she could not help it and it was right for women to focus on the teors, to think about its beauty and power. Generously, as he began to take off Tacey's jacket he permitted his teors to rise to help give her focus and bring her back from her Mesmodildo induced trance. His penis swayed magnificently and he paused to watch it in one of the many mirrors of the bath house. Inevitably she would compare it to her own biologically comparable but so much inferior organ, the Clitoris. Almost unnoticeable in some women, a mere pimple in others but for some there was an element of size, a proto-teors but, obviously, none could stand comparison with the Teors. The Bacalum was most particular and expected the size of the erect clitoris to be established and recorded. He thought it important. Jonathan was skilled in this and had a Clitometer ready.Jonathan fumbled at Tacey's bra strap. He always had difficulty with these and then pulled down her panties. Jonathan took a step back and frowned, staring at the naked girl and particularly her pudenda. Her pubic hair had been shaved into a long vertical band rising up with her Cleft of Venus. To Jonathan the upright band had an inappropriate element of the Teors about it, a column of dark curly hair standing vertically up her pubis—did it not represent a Teors—that great column of the male? Why even the top of the column, below her navel seemed rounded. Was this sign of her further disrespect or quite the opposite, a mark of respect? Jonathan did not know. He was torn between seeking out the Bacalum and asking, but thereby displaying ignorance, or leaving be, but that seemed indecisive. Perhaps it would be best for Tacey if he assumed the worse and shaved off the offending symbol leaving her pudenda naked of hair. The Bacalum, he knew, preferred girls like that— innocent and pure was Jonathan's understanding of his reasons.Leading Tacey by the hand into the water Jonathan picked up the soap and began to lather Tacey's skin. It was not an unpleasant task feeling his hands sliding over her smooth young skin, leaving no place uncleansed, but taking especial trouble over the ritualistic four parts of the woman's body which required greatest care—the nipples, the bottom and the pudenda. A full minute being allotted to each in the proper order. First the left nipple, then the right, followed by the bottom and lastly the pudenda. Jonathan looked into Tacey's eyes and saw considerable surprise as his right index finger, liberally coated in soap, slipped up her bottom. It was appropriate. A woman should be surprised at the unexpected acts of a man.Finally Jonathan washed Tacey's hair, lathering it enthusiastically as he stood and she knelt in the bath in the proper position a woman should take when a man is shampooing her hair. Equally properly Jonathan placed his teors between Tacey's lips, still in the Teorsic Circle, and pushed. A woman should always suck the man's teors when he is washing her hair. It was clearly shown in the old manuscripts. Tacey reacted rather dopily but instinctively seeking the Teorsic Fluid. It was not, though, appropriate yet.The full minute spent soapily washing, shaving and examining Tracey's pudenda also ensured, had the Mesmodildo not done its arousing work, the clitoris was fully erect. Drying Tacey with towels he had her lie down and open her legs wide, giving him not only full access but a full view of her sex. He readied his instrument, his Clitometer, adjusting the wheels and shiny metal dividers to measure both circumference and length. The cold metal touched Tacey's sensitive button and she winced slightly. "Why?" she said in a slightly slurred voice. Her faculties were returning."Because it is necessary." He was being kind. It was not necessary to answer a woman's questions or even to listen to her.The last part of the preparation now needed to be undertaken. Jonathan brought Tacey to a curved marble saddle surmounted by a gorgeous golden teors. Of realistic size; unlike many of the beautiful representations in the halls; not too large because this had to fit all women; and more stylistic in design than many more faithful depictions. It was in an art nouveau style which so fitted the curving nature of the teors and the artist had taken liberty with his depiction of the glans which swept unusually far down the shaft giving a particularly streamlined look. A beautiful object which would give any women great pleasure to mount. Carefully he sat Tacey astride ensuring she lowered herself so the teors pushed up inside her. Instinctively, as before, Tacey began to ride the teors. Jonathan smiled a little in pity. Women had such a need for and such a longing to steal the Teorsic Fluid. They could not help themselves.Jonathan depressed a lever and Tacey betrayed surprise. It was not Teorsic Fluid but a sweet Almond oil that was being injected by the golden teors into her as she rode. A cunning contraption pumped out the oil in carefully regulated spurts mimicking the Third Wonder but in a profusion only the most adept knights were able to achieve—and the truth was that Jonathan was not one of them; much to his chagrin. He was, though, working at raising his TFL, performing the exercises at morning and night. He carefully recorded the outcome in a spreadsheet stored on his laptop and the chart did show a rising trend. (TFL = Teorsic Fluid Level).The purpose of the Almond ejaculation was not the pleasure of the women, or deceiving her she had taken Teorsic Fluid, but to prepare her. In Tacey's case the Mesmodildo had caused her to literally drip but the liberal amount of Almond oil being pumped into her would ensure ease of teorsic insertion and a most appropriate sheen of oily lubrication running down the inside of her thighs. The Order expected not just the substance but the appearance of things and it was so very important for a woman appearing before the massed knights not only to be massively aroused by the honour shown but to visibly demonstrate it as well.Prepared, Jonathan dressed Tacey in the linen shift and finished his own ritual. Washed, he merely needed to don the badges of his rank and his robes. At the very base of his teorsic shaft, indeed clasping it tightly behind his scrotum, he tied, with leather thongs, a thin leather belt encircling the shaft forcing the scrotum forwards and the testes into greater prominence. It was the first symbol of a member of the Order and many wore it ordinarily under their street clothes.From a small red leather box Jonathon drew out three intricately engraved gold rings, rings prepared by the Order's goldsmith—a member himself. The first ring for a raphe, the second for a knight and the third ring for a member of the Corona. Jonathan had not possessed the third ring for long, indeed had only recently been erected to the Corona, and was only just getting used to wearing it tightly and impressively below his glans. Lifting his now unerect teors by the prepuce, with an ease gained by long practice Jonathan slipped the first, second and then third ring down the shaft and willed the First Wonder. His teors rose proudly, the flesh expanding into the rings so they were held tightly in their allotted positions as if the shaft was bound in gold. His teors looked magnificent in the mirror; Jonathan admired himself turning to the right and left as if trying on a new suit of clothes; it was big, knurled by veins, beautifully banded in gold and surmounted by the shiny purple head with its eye of mystery. It never ceased to impress him.Only the Bacalum wore the fifth symbol, a gold, bejewelled hat or helmet sitting atop his teors-head.Pulling on his great red robe Jonathan was prepared and led Tacey out into the great hall of the knights, the Corpus Cavernosum. The Knights of the Teorsas were assembled and waiting.The grand phallic ritual is concluded.The shock to Tacey must have been immense, shock and awe at walking into such a beautiful stone vaulted place and seeing the knights and raphes, perhaps a hundred in all, standing in their red robes watching her, their eyes focused just upon her; and, at their centre, the figure of the Bacalum looking so serene and wonderful in his great curving red penile hat. Jonathan could not but sense what she was feeling as he led her down the massed rows of the knights. Certainly her eyes were wide.A low chanting filled the hall as Jonathan led Tacey forward to the centre of the hall. Speaking in a clear voice he outlined to the assembly Tacey's grave misdemeanour. It was certain, very certain they were not pleased and Jonathan felt for Tacey as she must now realise how great was her error, how unwise and wrong it was to speak lightly of the teors and in a flippant manner. It was possible she thought herself there for punishment but that was not often the way of the Order. Perhaps once upon a time Tacey would have been bound tightly and her bottom roundly punished as the Knights watched; the sight of a helpless, naked, bound girl wriggling under torment greatly assisting their meditation.

It does not do, to speak mockingly of erections.By Drmaxc. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. "Men and their erections,""Men and their erections," Tacey laughed shrilly, "if you could harness them you'd solve the energy crisis. Forget the unpredictability of wind power, their erections rise and fall come sun, come rain, come snow; if you could only capture the energy of all those millions of cocks..."The girls giggled and laughed loudly in their gaggle at the bar. They had drunk too much and were being disrespectful of men. Jonathan did not like it, he expected women to speak of such things, the male sexual organ, in hushed, slightly awed tones: not make silly jokes as if, he paused and took a breath, a 'Teors' was something to laugh about. He used the Old English deliberately. To have used a slang term — a 'cock' as the girl had done, a 'willy' or the like would have been wrong. He gripped his glass; something would need to be done.Entering the subterranean halls of the Knights of the Teorsas always gave Jonathan a particular thrill. Unknown to virtually the whole population of London it was a closely guarded secret, not even disclosed to the authorities. All they knew about was the insignificant little house in a backstreet of Covent Garden and it was to that house that the bills for electricity and the like came. It was an unremarkable house that held a remarkable secret as it gave access, through its cellar, to the ancient home of the Knights, the Great Phallocrypt, a network of rooms, halls and passages built in stone many, many, many years ago.Jonathan was much more than an initiate, a Raphe, more than a mere knight but a man who had crossed the Fraenum, the narrow bridge between the Corpus Cavernosum, the great hall where the knights assembled in their pomp, and the grand domed meeting hall of the inner circle, the Corona, who ruled the order. Jonathan was himself a member of the Corona, albeit its most junior having only been erected to the position a bare month before. He had, by virtue of his status, access to the Grand Master of the Order, the Bacalum, and could speak to him as of right.Dressed in his ceremonial robes, the gold badge of the erect phallus woven in gold thread into the red material, Jonathan strode through the Corpus Cavernosum nodding to knights he met but there was no time to pause and engage in intercourse, he had urgent business, a matter of grave importance to report to the Bacalum himself. Crossing the bridge of the Fraenum still gave him a thrill. How many of the knights achieved that? Such a singular honour; he had been speechless for a full minute when he had been told to prepare himself. How many would ever wear the third gold band around their teors? How many of them were ever able to do the thing he was about to do? To raise the great brass phallic knocker and tap three times on the oaken door of the Lacuna Magna, the Grand Master's private office?As always, the Bacalum was dressed in his ancient robes, beautifully decorated with representations of the ancient Roman god, Priapus, and with his great red curving penile hat making him look so much taller than he actually was. A trick long realised by the designers of uniforms; whether the bearskins of the Guards, the Shako of yesteryear or, indeed, the 'tit' of the London bobby. Shaking his grey head wisely he listened as Jonathan described what he had heard only the night before."It will not do, it will not do." The Baculum's words of wisdom enervated Jonathan."I seek permission to use, to wield, the Great Mesmodildo." The words were out; Jonathan had made the request, an act of considerable presumption in one so junior.There was a sharp intake of breath, the great phallic hat jerked upwards, and the penetrating eyes of the Grand Master seemed to bore right into Jonathan. There was a pause, "It will do."They sat for a few moments in contemplation. On the walls were artists' impressions of wonderful buildings not built. Designs by some of the leading architects of their day for skyscrapers intended to be the tallest buildings in the world in their time, all unmistakeably phallic, as skyscrapers are, but not simply because they were structures pointed at the sky but true erections designed to look like erections, buildings particularly phallic in design. Unrealised plans by Mies Van de Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Colonel Seifert and most recently Sir Norman Foster. Designs the Order had not been able to find sufficient backers to fund; statements to the world not yet realised; buildings intended to awe and strike a proper respectfulness, an understanding of their place in the world, in womankind.The Grand Master rose, drawing his robes around him and walked to a cupboard; opening its black ebonised door he drew out something about a foot long and wrapped in a cloth; with both hands he presented it to Jonathan who, standing, accepted it with a bow. "I shall take the greatest care, Grand Master.""Do."Walking slowly back down the Corpus Cavernosa, Jonathan mused on the wise words of the Bacalum and upon his mission. Tucked into his robes was the ancient object — it would not do for the knights to see that which he had been entrusted or to know it was amongst them.Shedding his ceremonial robes in the outermost halls, where the putative knights, the Raphes, met and took instruction in their twin, wonderfully spherical, meeting rooms, Jonathan ascended back into a rainy, wet London morning; the ancient object tucked in his duffle bag along with his laptop and sandwiches. He had his job in the world outside the Order which he must attend to from 9am to 5pm but then he would commence his mission.It was one thing to hold the Mesmodildo but another to set up the opportunity to use it. Jonathan neither knew where Tacey lived nor worked. He did not actually know her name. His only knowledge was that she sometimes frequented: rather had at least once frequented, the bar where he had heard her disrespectful statement. He should have found out more about her at the time; he realised that now — it would have been better to have gathered more evidence before reporting to the Bacalum — but he had been so incensed, so overcome that he had rushed ahead without careful reflection and contemplation. He would meditate upon it later that evening.Meditation was important to the Order. Sitting cross-legged on a mat woven with ancient designs, a knight would sit in contemplation of his teors until turgidity ensued, that First Wonder of the teors; his thoughts would roam free as he sought to better understand himself, resolve his problems and focus on the baseness of his desires whilst seeking to raise the Primo Cumum, that first flowing of the teors so aptly described as its Second Wonder; lastly came the conclusion of the ritual, the ultimate goal of the meditation—the full flowing of the teors, the Ejaculum, a sight wonderful to behold—when the teors of its own volition would spew forth its seed. Putative knights worked hard at achieving this, many sitting for hours trying to create in their heads the necessary images; erotic images necessarily to achieve the apparently spontaneous Ejaculum.At first, and Jonathan had to admit he was as one with them, putative knights would use the Manualum or hand to achieve the necessary final stimulation; but he had achieved so much more -- the result of hard work and dedication. Often appropriate texts or images were used, spread before the knight or novice to assist in his meditation. The Library of the Order, the Curiosa, contained many volumes and meditational material.Traditionally the knight would bow his head and orally accept the bounty of the Ejaculum. Ancient manuscripts, some written in Latin, some Sanskrit testified to this and the beautiful coloured illustrations showed no less. A variant much favoured in the modern Corona, and therefore too the Corpus Cavernosa, was the Art of Felicitation, requiring extensive practice, much suppleness of the body and, Jonathan admitted, a long teors. He, himself, had only managed the briefest of Teorsic Kiss at the moment of Ejaculum but the Bacalum and a few others of the Corona, knights of great experience, could hold the rounded terminus of their teors orally at the moment of the Third Wonder, an ideal act permitting the recycling of the seed so not one drop was lost to the body.Jonathan was lucky, very lucky. Inevitably he had returned to the very bar of Tacey's misdeed as the only reference point he had in relation to her; had sat there nursing a beer and wondering if he would have to use the power of the Mesmodildo on the very pretty bar girl who had, he recalled, been there on the previous night. Perhaps she would know about the disrespectful girl; know who she was and where she lived — and her name. The entrance of Tacey saved the need. It was a relief to Jonathan — the pretty bar girl with the large breasts might not have known anything about the disrespectful girl and left him with no obvious lead in his quest; it also saved the seed he might well have lost to her in the course of extracting the information; she was, after all, very pretty and perhaps worthy of the honour.Tacey moved across the room and sat on a bar stool, her long legs crossed one over the other drawing up the material of her trouser leg revealing a particularly fine pair of high heeled shoes—clearly new by the sight of the soles and undoubtedly expensive.Not for the first time Jonathan wondered both at the impudence and the illogicality of women. There sat the girl in a suit of clothes but with trousers not a skirt. Trousers were a male prerogative and unsuited to women; they were for men. A skirt would have shown her new shoes off but instead they were largely hidden by the trousers. What was the sense in buying shoes to be noticed and then wearing trousers? There was no logic. The girl would look better without the trousers. In his mind he imagined the girl naked but for the shoes; it was an appropriate image he would use for meditation later. He looked down at his own sensible, solid black shoes largely hidden by his own trousers — and that was perhaps just as well. He mentally gave himself a note to polish them in the morning—it was a task he tended to overlook though it would not do to keep the dome of his teors unpolished.A further shock came to Jonathan; instead of a white wine spritzer or some expensive but brightly coloured vodka concoction in a pretty bottle, the girl had ordered beer: not just a half but a whole pint. She was drinking beer from a pint glass! Had she no shame?Jonathan got up and walked across to her, "I have something to show you," he said without introduction and in a deep impressive voice.Tacey looked Jonathan up and down for a moment and then burst into laughter, "Ooh, you little pervert, you!" She seemed to find the whole scene very funny indeed. Jonathan was affronted. What had he said?"Well, what do you want? Who are you?" She said.It was not going well; it should be he who was asking the questions. As the Bacalum had wisely said, "it would not do." Slowly he drew from his duffle bag an object wrapped in a cloth. "I have this to show you," Jonathan said mysteriously, drawing the cloth down the object a little way.Tacey had never seen the like. It was a pearl, a great creamy, misty pearl; far, far bigger than any she had seen before; a pearl far bigger than the cultivated pearls of her best necklace; a pearl far bigger than the one Great Aunt Agatha used to wear when she, Tacey, was little and had so fascinated her on visits. Within it, great streamy swirls of creamy clouds seemed to move, captivating her, capturing her eye; she found it difficult to look away from the pearl, to stop watching the moving clouds of cream that appeared to roll around the jewel.Gradually Jonathan drew down the material covering the object and whilst her eyes could not leave the pearl she could see it was mounted on gold, indeed atop a golden acorn... or was it an acorn? As the material rolled back Tacey realised it was not so much an acorn as the bulbous end to a golden penis — a golden erect penis in exquisite detail surmounted by a great pearl; a pearl representing, quite clearly to her eye now, the bubbling up of semen or rather, what did they call it, yes, it was the 'pre-cum.' She was both shocked and fascinated; her eyes could not draw away and leave the pearl with its swirls of milky cream. Her mind was being taken.Jonathan watched Tacey's reaction; it was how it should be, no woman could resist the Great Mesmodildo, their pretty eyes were drawn to the pearl like moths to a candle and next would come the longing, a certain dryness of the mouth, an increasing need for something they could not quite place—it was no less than the desire for the milk of a man, a teosic longing in their loins. Jonathan had no need to completely un-sheathe the artefact, to reveal its shining golden glory, merely sliding back the material to expose the bulbous head was sufficientTracey's tongue moved slowly across her lips; they felt dry."Shall we sit over there, somewhere more private?" Jonathan sheathed the Mesmodildo. He had taken command of the situation.Tacey took a large swig of beer to ease the sudden dryness in her throat and followed him without question.Once again Jonathan eased back the covering revealing the golden head mounted with its strange pearl. Tacey stared; images of ejaculating penises came flooding into her mind and the thought of taking the head of this gold penis into her mouth, stroking it with her tongue, feeling the sensual smoothness of the pearl—smooth, yes smooth like... like... semen. Her nipples pricked at the material of her bra, they felt as hard as iron or, indeed, the gold of the strange penis before her. Within her panties, the new purple pair her especial friend, Diane, had bought her, she was flowing. Already the material felt soaked as if newly from the wash; it would seep into her trousers—an embarrassing wet stain."May I, may I please suck it," she asked in a small, little girl's voice.Jonathan smiled to himself. It was more like pleading. How easy these women were taken, how powerful the Mesmodildo, how easily their minds were beaten and taken and their lust aroused. In a moment she would be pleading with him to let her suck his teors, desperate to take his seed and feel it slipping down her throat. But now was not the time and not just because they were in a public bar.The bar actually was empty but for the pretty bar girl and the Mesmodildo would handle her easily. Jonathan looked again at her and thought that perhaps another time, if he had not returned the Mesmodildo, he would like to use the artefact upon her and see her kneeling before him."You may," he replied and held it for her, still wrapped, with just the very end, the beautifully rounded head showing, and watched as she made the proper rounded shape with her mouth, the Teoric Circle, that women must make, before bowing her head down and absorbing the smooth gold head. He could imagine within her mouth the rapid flicking tongue; all women did this; the tip caressing the smoothness of the pear imagining it a continuous spurt of male milk to assuage their desperate thirst.Gently he pulled, extracting the Mesmodildo. He liked the need to pull a little to overcome the natural suction of the girl wishing to retain the object. It was a pleasant resistance.Tacey looked up at him, her eyes wide and doe like, her mouth still in the shape of the Teorsic Circle ready for the Mesmodildo, his own teors or, indeed, any other teors. It was a temptation. So very pleasant to have been able to disrobe, but not there, and place his own teors in this girl's mouth; feel her tongue seeking the milk, trying to enter the very end of his teors; feeling the Second Wonder rising and watching, as his teors rested on her tongue, the small first clear drop of the Teorsic Fluid seep and run down from the acorn head; the sudden stiffening as the tongue tasted and induced a frenzy of sucking.From the bar the other girl stared. What had that man offered the girl to eat and why did her face now hold the expression of some plastic inflatable sex doll?"Come," he said — and she almost did — the feeling of arousal was so strong, but he meant for her to follow.It was but a short taxi ride; though Tacey would remember nothing of it nor walking into a small building and down some steps — the stone steps to the Great Phallocrypt, Jonathan leading her by the hand.It might have been thought that no women would have been permitted to enter the ancient halls of the Order. Certainly they could not be of the Order, being mere women and lacking teorsas though it was said in times past there had been exceptions; women who would rather have been men; women with slim boyish hips and small breasts who had worn cunningly made simulated, pseudo-teorsas and had been more than happy to join in the male rituals sometimes made upon and with other members of their sex. This, though, was most certainly not permitted by the current and recent Bacala.It was possible, though, for women to be brought for judgement, correction or punishment: but not for pleasure. It should not be thought the Order was in any way a society for 'randy' old men to enjoy countless women in a social way, a sort of 'Hellfire Club' or opportunity for hedonistic orgiastic activity. The Order's purposes were profound, mysterious and extremely serious. Any sexual gratification was a by-product, almost an accident: though to achieve the First, Second and Third Wonders of the Teors erotic thoughts a plenty were needed and sexual activity was something the knights were required to undertake regularly and in a brotherly fashion. The Wonders of the Teors, after all, had their root in sexual activity.It was appropriate for Jonathan to undress Tacey. It would not do for her to be presented to the Knights in clothes from the city above, least of all in that so wrong trouser suit. She needed to be modestly clad in a simple cream linen shift, a shapeless garment hiding her womanly attributes from the knights. First, though, she needed to be ritually washed; like the undressing it was a task Jonathan would need to undertake and it was a task he did not shirk. There were no female attendants in the Phallocrypt to assist female 'visitors' and, as Tacey was his charge, Jonathan would need to perform the ceremony. He led her into a side chamber, stone vaulted and with a stone bath sunken into the floor. The water splashed into the bath and Jonathan added scents of sandalwood, carbolic and spice.Firstly Jonathan undressed, glad to be free of his workaday clothes ready to dress in the wonderful robes of the Order; it was better for him to be naked whilst bathing Tacey as it would not do to wet his robes. Tacey stood motionless in her trouser suit, still with the Teorsic Circle fixed to her face but her eyes betrayed intelligence behind her fixed expression. It was right for her to be conscious, she now needed to remember the lessons she would be taught. He knew her eyes would be staring at his teors, she could not help it and it was right for women to focus on the teors, to think about its beauty and power. Generously, as he began to take off Tacey's jacket he permitted his teors to rise to help give her focus and bring her back from her Mesmodildo induced trance. His penis swayed magnificently and he paused to watch it in one of the many mirrors of the bath house. Inevitably she would compare it to her own biologically comparable but so much inferior organ, the Clitoris. Almost unnoticeable in some women, a mere pimple in others but for some there was an element of size, a proto-teors but, obviously, none could stand comparison with the Teors. The Bacalum was most particular and expected the size of the erect clitoris to be established and recorded. He thought it important. Jonathan was skilled in this and had a Clitometer ready.Jonathan fumbled at Tacey's bra strap. He always had difficulty with these and then pulled down her panties. Jonathan took a step back and frowned, staring at the naked girl and particularly her pudenda. Her pubic hair had been shaved into a long vertical band rising up with her Cleft of Venus. To Jonathan the upright band had an inappropriate element of the Teors about it, a column of dark curly hair standing vertically up her pubis—did it not represent a Teors—that great column of the male? Why even the top of the column, below her navel seemed rounded. Was this sign of her further disrespect or quite the opposite, a mark of respect? Jonathan did not know. He was torn between seeking out the Bacalum and asking, but thereby displaying ignorance, or leaving be, but that seemed indecisive. Perhaps it would be best for Tacey if he assumed the worse and shaved off the offending symbol leaving her pudenda naked of hair. The Bacalum, he knew, preferred girls like that— innocent and pure was Jonathan's understanding of his reasons.Leading Tacey by the hand into the water Jonathan picked up the soap and began to lather Tacey's skin. It was not an unpleasant task feeling his hands sliding over her smooth young skin, leaving no place uncleansed, but taking especial trouble over the ritualistic four parts of the woman's body which required greatest care—the nipples, the bottom and the pudenda. A full minute being allotted to each in the proper order. First the left nipple, then the right, followed by the bottom and lastly the pudenda. Jonathan looked into Tacey's eyes and saw considerable surprise as his right index finger, liberally coated in soap, slipped up her bottom. It was appropriate. A woman should be surprised at the unexpected acts of a man.Finally Jonathan washed Tacey's hair, lathering it enthusiastically as he stood and she knelt in the bath in the proper position a woman should take when a man is shampooing her hair. Equally properly Jonathan placed his teors between Tacey's lips, still in the Teorsic Circle, and pushed. A woman should always suck the man's teors when he is washing her hair. It was clearly shown in the old manuscripts. Tacey reacted rather dopily but instinctively seeking the Teorsic Fluid. It was not, though, appropriate yet.The full minute spent soapily washing, shaving and examining Tracey's pudenda also ensured, had the Mesmodildo not done its arousing work, the clitoris was fully erect. Drying Tacey with towels he had her lie down and open her legs wide, giving him not only full access but a full view of her sex. He readied his instrument, his Clitometer, adjusting the wheels and shiny metal dividers to measure both circumference and length. The cold metal touched Tacey's sensitive button and she winced slightly. "Why?" she said in a slightly slurred voice. Her faculties were returning."Because it is necessary." He was being kind. It was not necessary to answer a woman's questions or even to listen to her.The last part of the preparation now needed to be undertaken. Jonathan brought Tacey to a curved marble saddle surmounted by a gorgeous golden teors. Of realistic size; unlike many of the beautiful representations in the halls; not too large because this had to fit all women; and more stylistic in design than many more faithful depictions. It was in an art nouveau style which so fitted the curving nature of the teors and the artist had taken liberty with his depiction of the glans which swept unusually far down the shaft giving a particularly streamlined look. A beautiful object which would give any women great pleasure to mount. Carefully he sat Tacey astride ensuring she lowered herself so the teors pushed up inside her. Instinctively, as before, Tacey began to ride the teors. Jonathan smiled a little in pity. Women had such a need for and such a longing to steal the Teorsic Fluid. They could not help themselves.Jonathan depressed a lever and Tacey betrayed surprise. It was not Teorsic Fluid but a sweet Almond oil that was being injected by the golden teors into her as she rode. A cunning contraption pumped out the oil in carefully regulated spurts mimicking the Third Wonder but in a profusion only the most adept knights were able to achieve—and the truth was that Jonathan was not one of them; much to his chagrin. He was, though, working at raising his TFL, performing the exercises at morning and night. He carefully recorded the outcome in a spreadsheet stored on his laptop and the chart did show a rising trend. (TFL = Teorsic Fluid Level).The purpose of the Almond ejaculation was not the pleasure of the women, or deceiving her she had taken Teorsic Fluid, but to prepare her. In Tacey's case the Mesmodildo had caused her to literally drip but the liberal amount of Almond oil being pumped into her would ensure ease of teorsic insertion and a most appropriate sheen of oily lubrication running down the inside of her thighs. The Order expected not just the substance but the appearance of things and it was so very important for a woman appearing before the massed knights not only to be massively aroused by the honour shown but to visibly demonstrate it as well.Prepared, Jonathan dressed Tacey in the linen shift and finished his own ritual. Washed, he merely needed to don the badges of his rank and his robes. At the very base of his teorsic shaft, indeed clasping it tightly behind his scrotum, he tied, with leather thongs, a thin leather belt encircling the shaft forcing the scrotum forwards and the testes into greater prominence. It was the first symbol of a member of the Order and many wore it ordinarily under their street clothes.From a small red leather box Jonathon drew out three intricately engraved gold rings, rings prepared by the Order's goldsmith—a member himself. The first ring for a raphe, the second for a knight and the third ring for a member of the Corona. Jonathan had not possessed the third ring for long, indeed had only recently been erected to the Corona, and was only just getting used to wearing it tightly and impressively below his glans. Lifting his now unerect teors by the prepuce, with an ease gained by long practice Jonathan slipped the first, second and then third ring down the shaft and willed the First Wonder. His teors rose proudly, the flesh expanding into the rings so they were held tightly in their allotted positions as if the shaft was bound in gold. His teors looked magnificent in the mirror; Jonathan admired himself turning to the right and left as if trying on a new suit of clothes; it was big, knurled by veins, beautifully banded in gold and surmounted by the shiny purple head with its eye of mystery. It never ceased to impress him.Only the Bacalum wore the fifth symbol, a gold, bejewelled hat or helmet sitting atop his teors-head.Pulling on his great red robe Jonathan was prepared and led Tacey out into the great hall of the knights, the Corpus Cavernosum. The Knights of the Teorsas were assembled and waiting.The grand phallic ritual is concluded.The shock to Tacey must have been immense, shock and awe at walking into such a beautiful stone vaulted place and seeing the knights and raphes, perhaps a hundred in all, standing in their red robes watching her, their eyes focused just upon her; and, at their centre, the figure of the Bacalum looking so serene and wonderful in his great curving red penile hat. Jonathan could not but sense what she was feeling as he led her down the massed rows of the knights. Certainly her eyes were wide.A low chanting filled the hall as Jonathan led Tacey forward to the centre of the hall. Speaking in a clear voice he outlined to the assembly Tacey's grave misdemeanour. It was certain, very certain they were not pleased and Jonathan felt for Tacey as she must now realise how great was her error, how unwise and wrong it was to speak lightly of the teors and in a flippant manner. It was possible she thought herself there for punishment but that was not often the way of the Order. Perhaps once upon a time Tacey would have been bound tightly and her bottom roundly punished as the Knights watched; the sight of a helpless, naked, bound girl wriggling under torment greatly assisting their meditation.

Pastor Bryan shares the second half of a lesson from Exodus 33. Dr. Chapell highlights the Glory of God that was revealed to Moses, and also God's faithful fullness to all generations. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29

Pastor Bryan shares a lesson from Exodus 33. In this passage, God reveals to Moses, and to us, His nature and what He requires of His people. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1286/29

Join host Laura Arroyo in this heartfelt episode of Forever Smiles as she speaks with Dana Audain, a passionate advocate and mother to Lexi, a remarkable girl with a Tessier 7 cleft condition. Dana explains what a Tessier 7 cleft is and shares the journey of discovering Lexi's diagnosis, along with the emotional challenges their family has faced. With love and resilience, she describes Lexi as her "wonderful warrior," illuminating the strength and courage they both embody. Tune in to hear Dana's inspiring story of advocacy as she empowers others to embrace and celebrate children with facial differences. Want to share your story? Email us at ourforeversmiles@gmail.com. Want to be a show sponsor? Email us at ourforeversmiles@gmail.com Follow us @ourforeversmiles on social platforms We know you will have questions! Join our FB Community to discuss the weekly episode and speak directly to our guests. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1081522212884073/

In this episode of the Award-winning PRS Journal Club Podcast, 2024 Resident Ambassadors to the PRS Editorial Board – Rami Kantar, Yoshi Toyoda, and Amanda Sergesketter- and special guest, Jeffrey Marcus, MD, discuss the following articles from the October 2024 issue: “Aesthetic Outcomes in Cleft Care: Exploring Patterns in Patient-Reported Outcomes across Adolescence” Dunworth, Hernandez, Ching, et al. Read the article for FREE: https://bit.ly/AdolescenceCleftCare Special guest, Dr. Jeffrey Marcus, is Professor and chief of the Division of Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery at Duke University. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Michigan followed by plastic surgery residency at Northwestern and fellowships in both pediatric plastic surgery and craniofacial surgery at the University of Toronto Sick Kids. His clinical interests focus on cleft and craniofacial surgery, facial paralysis, and rhinoplasty. He is the past president of the Rhinoplasty Society and the recipient of numerous grants and patents in craniomaxillofacial surgery. READ the articles discussed in this podcast as well as free related content: https://bit.ly/JCOct24Collection

A message about Moses being placed in the cleft of the Rock Exodus 33

In this special episode, we introduce you to Isaac Ballou and Michael Barbour, Iva and Ashley's brothers. They share their personal stories, offering a look into what it's like to grow up alongside a cleft-affected sibling. From early childhood memories to their roles in their sisters' lives today, these men's insightful stories of the strength and love that can define this journey are a must-listen for all members of the cleft community, including allies.

Hosts Ashley Barbour and Iva Ballou sit down with Dr. Leanne Magee, a pediatric psychologist from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia who specializes in working with children with appearance differences, for a thoughtful discussion on the critical intersection of mental health and cleft care. We explore Dr. Magee's unique role on the cleft care team, strategies for addressing bullying, and the importance of building confidence in children and adults alike. Our conversation also touches on the challenges of accessing mental health care within the cleft community, insurance barriers, and the often-misunderstood aspects of psychosocial care. Mentioned:Dr. Leanne Magee at Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania Cleft Con 2020 Session Cleft Con 2021 Session Cleft Con 2022 Session Cleft Con NYC Session American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association Patients & Families ResourcesSmile Train Community ProgramsIf you like the show, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, follow us on social, and tell all your friends to listen. Questions or episode ideas? Email us at lovemeetsjoy@smiletrain.org. We can't wait to hear from you.Transcripts are available at smiletrain.org/lovemeetsjoy Follow Ashley on IG at CleftLoveIG and Facebook at CleftLove Follow Iva on IG at RealSophisticatedJoy and Facebook at RealSophisticatedJoy Love Meets Joy is produced by Smile Train, the world's largest cleft-focused organization, with a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care. Over the last 25+ years, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for 2+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve. Learn more here.

Guest: Beth Bergstrom, MS, CCC-SLP - This episode provides answers regarding Velo-Pharyngeal Incompetence (VPI) and how to diagnose a submucous cleft from other diagnoses differentially. She shares specific methods to recognize a submucous cleft as a structural issue that only improves with surgical intervention; she explains why. You'll learn treatment options that are dependent on the characteristics before and after repair.

In this episode, we bring you the inspiring stories of painter Monica Bachue and TikTok star and RN Jackson Wright, two cleft-affected individuals who are channeling their personal experiences into art that makes a difference. Mentioned: Leporinos Foundation Follow Monica and Leporinos on IG at @monicabachue and @leporinos Follow Jackson at @printfairy and @dakotawright If you like the show, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, follow us on social, and tell all your friends to listen. Questions or episode ideas? Email us at lovemeetsjoy@smiletrain.org. We can't wait to hear from you.Transcripts are available at smiletrain.org/lovemeetsjoy Follow Ashley on IG at CleftLoveIG and Facebook at CleftLove Follow Iva on IG at RealSophisticatedJoy and Facebook at RealSophisticatedJoy Love Meets Joy is produced by Smile Train, the world's largest cleft-focused organization, with a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care. Over the last 25+ years, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for 2+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve. Learn more here.

Iva and Ashley sit down with Canadian actor, writer, and producer Allisha Pelletier for a heartfelt conversation celebrating resilience, creativity, and the joy of embracing your own unique journey. Allisha shares what it was like to grow up with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, discover her passion for acting, and navigate the challenges of being in a beauty-focused industry. We also dive into her new project, "The H-Word," a show that blends comedy with real-life experiences and explores the healing power of storytelling and the importance of community. Mentioned:Follow Allisha and H Word on IG at @allisha.pelletier and @thehwordseries If you like the show, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, follow us on social, and tell all your friends to listen. Questions or episode ideas? Email us at lovemeetsjoy@smiletrain.org. We can't wait to hear from you.Transcripts are available at smiletrain.org/lovemeetsjoy Follow Ashley on IG at CleftLoveIG and Facebook at CleftLove Follow Iva on IG at RealSophisticatedJoy and Facebook at RealSophisticatedJoy Love Meets Joy is produced by Smile Train, the world's largest cleft-focused organization, with a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care. Over the last 25+ years, Smile Train has supported safe and quality cleft care for 2+ million children and will continue to do so until every child in need with a cleft has access to the care they deserve. Learn more here.

Curious about cleft lip and palate? You're not alone! This episode dives deep into 20 frequently asked questions, providing clear and concise information for anyone who wants to learn more. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or simply interested in learning more, this episode is packed with valuable information and insights. Join us as we shed light on cleft lip and palate, fostering understanding and creating a more inclusive community. Want to share your story? Email us at ourforeversmiles@gmail.com. Want to be a show sponsor? Email us at ourforeversmiles@gmail.com Follow us @ourforeversmiles on social platforms We know you will have questions! Join our FB Community to discuss the weekly episode and speak directly to our guests. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1081522212884073/ This podcast is completely free for you, but if you'd ever consider supporting the show, we truly appreciate it. One way you can do that is by using our affiliate links. These are links to products we've mentioned on the show, and if you make a purchase through one of them, we might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's a great way to show your love for the podcast and help us keep creating content that educates, empowers, and strengthens the cleft lip and palate community! First Bottle to Purchase After Palate Repair - Post Palate Repair Straw Trainer Juselle's Cleft Palate Bottle - Pigeon Bottle Specialty Feeder Sippy Cup for Pre Palate Repair Prep - Munchkin 360 Weigh your Baby at Home - Weighted Feeds Scale Squeezable Straw Training Bottle - Honey Bear Straw Cup Free Flow Cup for Pre palate Repair Prep - Reflo Smart Cup Pacifiers that have Worked for Cleft Lip and Palate Babies - Itzy Ritzy Pacifiers that have Worked for Cleft Lip and Palate Babies - MAM Pacifiers that have Worked for Cleft Lip and Palate Babies - Itzy Ritzy Scar Cream Recommended by Alexis Garcia, Cleft Lip Mom - bioCorneum - Pricey**

Iva and Ashley welcome Luci Capo-Rome, a retired nurse practitioner, author, and advocate for older adults with craniofacial differences for an insightful, powerful discussion on overcoming challenges, finding strength in community, and advocating for lasting change. Luci shares her journey to accepting her bilateral cleft lip and palate, her career as both a patient and a healthcare provider, and the inspiration behind her book, Lucia's Story: My Imperfect Beauty. Our conversation explores why community is so important for cleft-affected individuals, the impact of self-esteem on relationships, and Luci's advocacy work, including her efforts spearheading Smile Train's support for the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA).

In this highlight, Ashley and Iva introduce listeners to a completely different perspective of their cleft journeys – their mothers'.

In this highlight, Ashley and Iva introduce listeners to a completely different perspective of their cleft journeys – their mothers'.

In this highlight, Ashley and Iva discuss their experiences with bullying and share advice for others who may be dealing with it.

Dr. Rick Kapitan is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon specializing in cleft lip and palate surgery, orthognathic surgery, facial trauma repair, bone grafting, and dental implant reconstruction. As the Director of the Carolinas Center for Cleft Lip, Palate, and Craniofacial Surgery and the Clinicians Implant Academy, Dr. Kapitan is a renowned speaker who provides extensive clinical instruction in surgery. In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, he joins us to share his invaluable perspective on establishing a private cleft and craniofacial (CCF) practice. From obtaining the necessary training and experience to building a presence in a supportive community, Dr. Kapitan emphasizes the importance of providing holistic care. He also shares tips for finding mentorship, connecting with local mom groups, and letting your passion for your profession set you apart. If you're looking for practical advice that can elevate your practice and professional journey, don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field and gain actionable insights that will benefit your career and your patients. Tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:An overview of Dr. Kapitan's training and his current practice setup.Ingredients for establishing a private CCF as a single-degree surgeon.The personalized care and community resources that sets Dr. Kapitan's practice apart.Advice for pursuing craniofacial mentorship without a medical degree.Reasons that Dr. Kapitan believes that passion is the biggest differentiator.The importance of taking ownership of your profession and providing holistic care.Why a strong community presence, particularly in mom groups, is crucial!What it looks like to offer a complete surgical care package.A special shoutout to one of Dr. Kapitan's patients, Sarah Katherine.Recommended reads about work-life balance from today's guest.How his faith serves him in his daily life and his oral surgery.Forceps that Dr. Kapitan uses to extract tooth number 12.What he's watching right now and the quote he repeats most often.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Dr. Rick Kapitan on LinkedIn — linkedin.com/in/richard-kapitan-09115726Dr. Rick Kapitan Email — rkapitan@mycenters.com Dr. Rick Kapitan Phone — 704-620-1807Clinicians Implant Academy — cia-implants.comCarolinas Center for Cleft Lip, Palate & Craniofacial Surgery — mycenters.com/cleft-center El Paso Children's Hospital Cleftsymposium — elpasochildrens.org/cleftsymposium Ordering Your Private World — amazon.com/dp/0785288643Masters of the Air — imdb.com/title/tt2640044/ Everyday Oral Surgery Website — everydayoralsurgery.com Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgeryDr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Denise's husband has been kind of a cleft. But what he wants to steal now may push her to the breaking point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denise's husband has been kind of a cleft. But what he wants to steal now may push her to the breaking point! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul, along with a short biography of the life of the hymn's composer, Horatio Spafford. Dennis also couples his song, Hide Me In The Cleft of the Rock, with that old hymn. This medley is from his recording, HYMNS I. That mp3 is available at https://dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2777 or on iTunes. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!