Podcasts about colorado springs

Get ready for some smiles! We're looking at the science of two things that bring us joy: tickles and cuteness. We'll explain why tickles make us giggle and why you can't tickle yourself. Then we'll talk about what makes cute things cute and why sometimes we want to eat or smoosh cute things. Brains On is powered by YOU! Become a Smarty Pass member and enjoy ad-free episodes, virtual hangs, bonus content, discounts on merch and more. Head over to the Smarty Pass page to find out more. Want to see Brains On and Smash Boom Best live?!? We just announced fall dates for both show, and there's more to come. Click here for ticket info. 9/19 Minneapolis, MN* 9/26 Charlotte, NC 10/11 Dallas, TX* 10/17 Colorado Springs, CO (two shows) 11/7 Norfolk, VA 12/6 Evanston, IL 1/31 Princeton, NJ *Smash Boom Best show

Covered the waterfront from Colorado Springs today! So, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 defended against Bishop Jaxi (again), new (good) rules for online behavior for the Eastern Orthodox, the Scriptural testimony to the sovereignty of God, a traditional Catholic being hypocritical about "Protestants," Bart Ehrman mentions me, Stephen Wolfe just isn't a serious man, and finally a bit on Pseudo-Dionysius. Whew! We hope to do a program Thursday however I have seven hours to drive that day so... we will have to see!

Governor John Kasich went on national TV and told Paul Rieckhoff, to his face, that independents aren't really independent — that come November they'll just go back to the bench and put the old jersey back on. Paul's response is the spine of this episode: that's an antiquated way of looking at America in 2026. Sixty percent of young people are unaffiliated. Fifty percent of veterans are unaffiliated. Ten thousand Americans are walking out of the Republican and Democratic parties every single week. Trump is sitting at a 22% approval with independents and a 32-34% approval overall — the Bush line — with an unpopular Iran war, tariffs jacking prices, and a party heading into the midterms with 96 days on the clock. This is a media-blitz sweep of a very big week. Paul rolls through his hits on CNN, News Nation, and MS Now to break down the races the rigged two-party system doesn't want you watching: Todd Achilles running head-to-head against 83-year-old Jim Risch in Idaho after the Democrat dropped out, Seth Bodnar in Montana, Dan Osborn in Nebraska, Yemi Mobolade already governing as an independent mayor in Colorado Springs. He takes on the Politico poll showing MAGA voters shrugging off DUI convictions, bribery, domestic violence, and sexual assault allegations — and names the command climate that made that possible. And he pushes the Democrats hard: outrage isn't a plan. What's your alternative on affordability? What's your alternative to end the war in Iran? Independents are listening. So is a country starved for character. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Southgate Campus 

Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff at Occidental College, and Dr. Miriam Merrill, Chief of Staff at Hamilton College, join Mallory to discuss the inaugural Chief of Staff Summit, where 50 higher-ed chiefs of staff met at Colorado College in Colorado Springs for closed-door, case-based peer problem solving. They explain the chief of staff role varies widely by president and institution, often centering on supporting decision-making, execution, and human impacts. Summit topics included cabinet politics, crisis leadership, managing up without formal authority, board relations, burnout, career trajectories, strategic planning, and AI.  Register for Next Year's Chief of Staff Summit:  www.chiefofstaffsummit.org - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

DEEP DIVE - On this episode we revisit one of the most revered and wildly enigmatic minds in human history; a pioneering engineer, prolific inventor, bonafide genius and all-round kooky eccentric, whose astonishing ideas, theories and inventions were often so far ahead of their time, they couldn't be realised for another century. Nikola Tesla helped build the modern electronic world, and pretty awesomely became known as the legendary 'Master of Lightning' and yet still, somehow managed to succumb to the typical fate of such an extraordinary personality; to die penniless and alone... despite spending years living in a luxury New York hotel suite and carrying on what can only be described as, a serious long-term relationship with a pigeon. Tale as old as time itself! From Tesla's infamous feud with the nefarious Thomas Edison and the AC/DC War of the Currents to harnessing the mysterious and awesome power of the earth itself to generate global free wireless electricity with his Wardenclyffe Tower; top secret and highly advanced government work at Colorado Springs, getting into a billionaires tiff with J.P. Morgan; missing government files including an Earthquake Machine, a Death Ray and even a device that bends the fabric of space and creates time travelling wormholes, as we explored in our episode on The Philadelphia Experiment. We separate the documented history from the astounding legend and ask whether Nikola Tesla was simply a misunderstood genius... or something greater still; a man whose talent, vision and imagination reached so far into the future that the rest of the world has spent the last hundred years trying to catch up. You can get this episode (and all the others) AD FREE and in VIDEO with EXTRA CONTENT for FREE when you join the TCG PATREON (so many capital letters) and you can find the episode here: https://www.patreon.com/thoseconspiracyguys/posts/s09e03-nikola-165321984 or by ⁠clicking here⁠ and you can sign up for a FREE Patreon account, follow TCG and get this and loads more. If you want to support the show and get even more content and exclusives, please consider becoming a subscriber! Thanks to everyone who is already a Patreon supporter; I literally wouldn't be here without y'all!

A preview of Saturday's New Mexico United match against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC as The Kings of Chaos look for vengeance against one of their regional rivals.

Listen to Jay Garvens Home and Mortgage Show Saturdays at 8:00am or Sunday's at 11am as Jay explains The Difference Between House Fixing and House Flipping in Colorado Springs on KRDO News Radio 105.5fm and 1240am.

Today on KRDO News Radio 105.5fm and 1240am on Real Estate Realities with Justin Hermes, Justin advises to "Stay The Course!" With 35years in real estate here in Colorado Springs, no one knows the Springs and the direction it's heading better than Justin Hermes,.

Today on KRDO News Radio 105.5fm and 1240am on Real Estate Realities with Justin Hermes, Justin advises to "Stay The Course!" With 35years in real estate here in Colorado Springs, no one knows the Springs and the direction it's heading better than Justin Hermes,.

Listen to Jay Garvens Home and Mortgage Show Saturdays at 8:00am or Sunday's at 11am as Jay explains The Difference Between House Fixing and House Flipping in Colorado Springs on KRDO News Radio 105.5fm and 1240am.

Send us a message! Really!This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, is Victor Marx running a campaign for Governor of Colorado, or a grifty merch store? Can it be both? Then, what do 2010 and 2026 have in common? Could it somehow be the even further collapse of the Colorado GOP because of top of the ticket vote-splitting due to the primary electorate being completely and totally brainrotted? Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, we've got even more bad news for Colorado Republicans whose names rhyme with Beth Dank or Stave Blevins. Speaking of Beth Dank, a friend of the pod down in Colorado Springs is KILLIN it, as we get more polling showing that a once-safe-GOP stronghold is moving rapidly toward the side of truth justice and light. And finally, as the Big Orange Guy continues to sleep his way through his second term, surprise, the Iran war isn't over yet...or maybe it's just begun. Again.That's it for this episode! If you loved watching and/or listening to it as much as we loved recording it, you can thank us by subscribing to the pod wherever you listen, following us over on New Old Twitter AKA Bluesky, subscribing to our shiny new channel on YouTube, smashing that subscribe button on our Substack, and sharing this episode with your friends, your enemies, and your 8th favorite Member of Congress from Colorado! THANK YOU so much for listening, and we'll see you next time!

Bestie time! Whitney and Kevin Christy go ham on hot goss, strong af opinions, major tea, and barn burner takes - this ep will show you why It's hard for me to socialize at the dog park. Tickets for The Big Baby Tour https://www.whitneycummings.com 09/11 Fresno, CA -  Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts 09/12 Palm Springs, CA -  Plaza Theatre 09/18 Buffalo, NY -  Buffalo State Performing Arts Center 09/19 Syracuse, NY -  Carrier Theater 09/20 Albany, NY -  Hart Theatre at the Egg Performing Arts Center 10/02 Tucson, AZ -  Rialto Theatre 10/03 Albuquerque, NM -  Kiva Auditorium 10/09 Wilmington, NC -  Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College 10/10 Charlotte, NC -  Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts 10/23 Boise, ID -  The Egyptian Theatre 10/24 Colorado Springs, CO -  Pikes Peak Center 11/06 Charleston, WV -  Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center 11/07 Roanoke, VA -  Berglund Performing Arts Theatre 11/18-11/23 Miami, FL -  Bert Kreischer's Fully Loaded Cruise (Miami to Cozumel) 12/04 Cincinnati, OH -  Taft Theatre 12/05 Columbus, OH -  Speaker to Ann Davidson Theatre SHOP: https://whitneycummings.com/index.html#store Thank you to our sponsors! NUULY https://www.nuuly.com promo code WHITNEY Get $28 off your first month at Nuuly Subscription Clothing Rental! Head to NUULY.com and use code WHITNEY at signup. Rent 6 styles every month for just $98 with free, fast shipping and returns. HUEL Limited Time Offer – Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code WHITNEY at  https://www.huel.com/WHITNEY. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! BOOKING.COM Ready for your next getaway? Head to Booking.com and find your perfect stay—hotels, vacation homes, and more. Make your travel plans easy. https://www.booking.com BUTCHERBOX Get $20 off your first ButcherBox + free ground beef for life (or free chicken thighs or top sirloins in every box for a year).  Head to https://www.ButcherBox.com/WHITNEY with free shipping always.

Some of the biggest money to be won in the 2026 season was captured during the month of July, including the NFR Openand the California Rodeo Salinas.Jake Smith and Nicky Northcott took home the NFR Open win in Colorado Springs after a 4.3 in the sudden-death finals, pocketing $16,000 a man. While not partners throughout the year, Northcott edged out Smith's partner in the race for the Wilderness Circuit year-end title in 2025, pairing them up for the NFR Open.Rodeo action moved quickly from the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast with the California Rodeo Salinas where Canadians Dawson and Dillon Graham conquered five head in 44.1 seconds for the win and $14,528 apiece. Between the five head, chute draw and the longest score in rodeo of 35 feet, Salinas is a far cry from the hockey rinks in Canada.Jake Smith and Dawson Graham join this episode of The Short Score to talk through their wins.___This episode is brought to you by SmartEquine and ColiCare—an innovative approach to hindgut health and colic prevention. Designed with research-backed ingredients and a unique support program, when your horse is counting on you, you can count on ColiCare.ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It's built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.Whether you're hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse's digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.Visit SmartEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse's long-term.

Some of the biggest money to be won in the 2026 season was captured during the month of July, including the NFR Openand the California Rodeo Salinas.Jake Smith and Nicky Northcott took home the NFR Open win in Colorado Springs after a 4.3 in the sudden-death finals, pocketing $16,000 a man. While not partners throughout the year, Northcott edged out Smith's partner in the race for the Wilderness Circuit year-end title in 2025, pairing them up for the NFR Open.Rodeo action moved quickly from the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast with the California Rodeo Salinas where Canadians Dawson and Dillon Graham conquered five head in 44.1 seconds for the win and $14,528 apiece. Between the five head, chute draw and the longest score in rodeo of 35 feet, Salinas is a far cry from the hockey rinks in Canada.Jake Smith and Dawson Graham join this episode of The Short Score to talk through their wins.___This episode is brought to you by SmartEquine and ColiCare—an innovative approach to hindgut health and colic prevention. Designed with research-backed ingredients and a unique support program, when your horse is counting on you, you can count on ColiCare.ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It's built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.Whether you're hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse's digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.Visit SmartEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse's long-term.

Thanks to Colorado Springs council member Kimberly Gold for chatting with me.EDIT: This version of the podcast accidentally features a "Yolanda Avila" name plate over council president Lynette Crow-Iverson early on. Just, uh, ignore that.BNLO is an independent show/opinion piece/podcast about Colorado Springs. Support it on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheBNLOShow

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the current state of the education system and wondering how to best support your child's learning? In this episode of the Homeschool Yo Kids Podcast, host Jae sits down with Cat Hendricks from Parents Challenge to discuss why school choice is a fundamental right and how parents can reclaim their power as primary educators.

On Jesse Vega's first date with Deaunda Lira, a romantic sushi dinner in Colorado Springs three years ago, he was upfront: He has epilepsy and suffers severe seizures. “It could be scary,” Jesse, 49, recalls telling her. Deaunda, 52, was wary at first, especially after witnessing one of his seizures firsthand. But she shortly came around. “He's so handsome, I'm gonna have to give it a try,” she remembers thinking, laughing. The seizures started in 2002, when Jesse was 25. At first, they were minor, leaving him flushed and nausea­ted before smelling a scent of ammonia. These temporal lobe seizures (sometimes referred to as “déjà vu” seizures) happened about 60 times a day and left him exhausted. They eventually progressed to grand mal seizures: violent shaking and stiff muscles, vomiting, tongue-biting and a loss of bladder or bowel control. The couple married in 2023, and Deaunda quit her nearly $50,000-a-year job in medical billing to take care of Jesse. He wasn't working either: He had to give up his job at the Department of Defense because of his condition. Money got so tight that the middle-aged newlyweds moved in with Jesse's dad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the OutThere Colorado Podcast, Spencer and Seth chat about recent flooding and the state's deadliest flood ever, a hiker that got impaled on a hiking pole, a new fire in southwest Colorado, a one-of-a-kind music venue we've been teasing for a long time, the best Mexican food in Colorado Springs, a recent incident at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, a hiker that got lost after being caught in monsoon rainfall, and more.

Ep 120: Mike CallicrateMike Callicrate runs Ranch Foods Direct and Callicrate Beef out of Colorado Springs and St. Francis, Kansas. He built a fully vertically integrated operation involving raising cattle, slaughtering on-site, cutting, and selling direct to consumers. Our conversation follows his life story from his childhood on a small Colorado farm, a rodeo scholarship that led him into an animal science degree, and years running large-scale feedlots before he became one of ten ranchers who sued major meatpacker IBP in 1996 over market manipulation, a case that ended in a $1.28 billion jury verdict the judge later overturned.We get into why that loss pushed him to stop selling livestock and start selling meat instead, how Ranch Foods Direct's on-site slaughter facility, composting system, and bone char/biochar production work together, and the economics that separate a small direct-to-consumer operation from an industrial one. Key topics- From rodeo and animal science to building and later rejecting industrial feedlots- The 1996 lawsuit against IBP, the overturned $1.28 billion verdict, and the Packers and Stockyards Act- How producers' share of the consumer dollar collapsed since 1970- Fraud, political influence, and market consolidationWhat "pink slime" and lean finely textured beef actually are- The grass-fed/grass-finished labelling problem - Declining Ogallala Aquifer levels and what it means for ranching's future- Building local maker-owned marketplaces as an alternative to scaling upTimestamps:0:00 – Intro + backstory: rodeo, animal science degree, early feedlots6:00 – Building industrial feedlots, growing concerned with market concentration12:00 – Decision to sue IBP, being blackballed by buyers18:00 – The lawsuit's path to trial and the $1.28B verdict30:00 – The judge's reversal + Packers and Stockyards Act explained36:00 – Shifting from selling livestock to selling meat direct44:00 – Building the on-site slaughter facility and circular waste model52:00 – The "story of the steer" and producers' lost share of the consumer dollar1:02:00 – Scaling down vs. scaling up: why direct/local beats commodity1:10:00 – COVID, empty shelves, and the case for local food resilience1:18:00 – Batista brothers, JBS, and meatpacking consolidation1:28:00 – What pink slime is and how it's made1:38:00 – Grass-fed/grass-finished labeling and imported beef1:46:00 – Ogallala Aquifer decline and water scarcity1:52:00 – Vision for maker-owned marketplaces and local food hubsFind out more: https://www.mikecallicrate.com/The Regenaissance Podcast explores the people, farms, and ideas rebuilding our food system from the ground up.

Women's Cycling & Homeward Pikes Peak What do cycling and community change have in common? According to Beth Roalstad, they both bring people together, build trust, and create opportunities to change lives.My longtime friend Beth Roalstad, CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak, talks about two of her greatest passions: cycling and building stronger communities. We discuss how Beth discovered cycling, what she's learned from more than 20 years of cycling and building community in Colorado Springs, and why she launched the Wednesday Women's Ride at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort. She shares why women-only rides create such a special sense of encouragement, friendship, and belonging for riders of all experience levels.As a longtime social worker, Beth also offers a thoughtful perspective on homelessness in Colorado Springs. She explains how seeing the person first—not just the circumstance—can help create real change. We talk about practical, compassionate ways cyclists and trail users can respond when encountering someone experiencing homelessness, and how to connect people with trained outreach professionals instead of simply moving on.Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle ResortGuest: Beth Roalstad, CEO Homeward Pikes Peak & Leader Wednesday Women's Ride. In this episode:Beth's cycling journey and becoming a community bike leaderWhy cycling builds friendships that last a lifetimeThe Buffalo Lodge Wednesday Women's Ride (6:00 p.m. through September)Creating welcoming spaces for women on bikesSeeing the person first when addressing homelessnessPractical tips for trail users encountering someone in needThe work of Homeward Pikes Peak and its Street Outreach TeamOrganizations working together to support our communityFavorite local rides, including Garden of the Gods and Cherry Creek TrailIdeas for improving cycling infrastructure throughout Colorado SpringsOrganizations & Resources MentionedBuffalo Lodge Bicycle ResortHomeward Pikes PeakHomeward Pikes Peak Street OutreachCOS Outreach (Give Help / Get Help reporting tool)The Place (Youth Services)HelpCOSColorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural ServicesColorado Springs Police Department Homeless Outreach TeamColorado Springs Fire DepartmentThe Salvation Army Family ShelterSprings Rescue MissionFollow Pedal The Springs for more stories from the people, places, and events that make Colorado Springs one of America's great cycling communities.Pedal the Springs is presented by the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, the only bicycle-themed lodging and must-stay for cyclists coming to Colorado. Check us out at bicycleresort.com for more information.Episodes are produced by Studio 809 Podcasts, and recorded in the community podcast studio at The Next Us.Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at studio809podcasts.com

7-28-26 Previewing New Mexico United's home match vs. Colorado Springs with Owner-CEO, Peter Trevisani

Welcome to Sunday Service  Wish you were here!  Newsong, Colorado Springs (starts at 10:00am)  Subscribe to text updates. Text the words text alert to 94000  Subscribe to emails (bottom of page on newsongcs.com)  Listen to podcasts. Keywords newsong foursquare  Watch services on Youtube. Keyword newsongcs  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok keyword newsongcs  3 ways to give to Missions, Disaster Relief, Tithes, or Offerings  1.. newsongcs/com/give  2. Text Giving - text the word EASY to 94000 3. Mail - P.O. Box 75818 • C.S., CO 80970

Welcome to Sunday Service  Wish you were here!  Newsong, Colorado Springs (starts at 10:00am)  Subscribe to text updates. Text the words text alert to 94000  Subscribe to emails (bottom of page on newsongcs.com)  Listen to podcasts. Keywords newsong foursquare  Watch services on Youtube. Keyword newsongcs  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok keyword newsongcs  3 ways to give to Missions, Disaster Relief, Tithes, or Offerings  1.. newsongcs/com/give  2. Text Giving - text the word EASY to 94000 3. Mail - P.O. Box 75818 • C.S., CO 80970

Welcome to Sunday Service  Wish you were here!  Newsong, Colorado Springs (starts at 10:00am)  Subscribe to text updates. Text the words text alert to 94000  Subscribe to emails (bottom of page on newsongcs.com)  Listen to podcasts. Keywords newsong foursquare  Watch services on Youtube. Keyword newsongcs  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok keyword newsongcs  3 ways to give to Missions, Disaster Relief, Tithes, or Offerings  1.. newsongcs/com/give  2. Text Giving - text the word EASY to 94000 3. Mail - P.O. Box 75818 • C.S., CO 80970

Welcome to Sunday Service  Wish you were here!  Newsong, Colorado Springs (starts at 10:00am)  Subscribe to text updates. Text the words text alert to 94000  Subscribe to emails (bottom of page on newsongcs.com)  Listen to podcasts. Keywords newsong foursquare  Watch services on Youtube. Keyword newsongcs  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok keyword newsongcs  3 ways to give to Missions, Disaster Relief, Tithes, or Offerings  1.. newsongcs/com/give  2. Text Giving - text the word EASY to 94000 3. Mail - P.O. Box 75818 • C.S., CO 80970

Across four generations, the Flying W Ranch has connected families and friends over home cooked meals and Western music by the Flying W Wranglers. Since building the nation's original chuckwagon dinner show in 1953, and then rebuilding after a major fire in 2012, the Flying W has remained an iconic Colorado Springs experience. Tune in as Ruth Thurston and Michael Amidei tell us about the Flying W – where the beauty of Colorado meets the magic of the Old West.   Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss our next episode! Send any questions or inquiries to Media@VisitCOS.com.

Join us as we continue in our series "Camp Paul"Join us every Sunday online or in-person at 9:00am & 11:00am. 4005 Lee Vance Vw, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 Website: rockfamilychurch.com Connect Card: https://rfc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/528074 Prayer Requests: https://www.rockfamilychurch.com/prayer-request Start Serving: https://rfc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/category/92573 Join a Small Group: https://rfc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3287086 Facebook: facebook.com/rockfamilychurch Instagram: instagram.com/rockfamilychurch Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@rockfamilychurch Youtube: youtube.com/@RockFamilyOnline#ColoradoSpringsChurch #Faith #Jesus #Worship #ChurchOnline #SundayMessage

Shad Mayfield had one week left before he was going to load up and go home for the summer. But then he won the California Rodeo Salinas.The two-time PRCA World Champion tied three calves in 30.3 seconds to win the Salinas average on Popular Snow Resort "Tootsie Pop," banking $13,576 for the first win of his comeback from double hip surgery—exactly 40 years after his father, Sylvester, won the same buckle. It capped a $28,076 week that also included a second-place finish worth $14,500 at the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, and he joins The Tie-Down Breakdown to talk about it.About Roping.comLearn to rope from the best. A Roping.com membership gets you full access to the most comprehensive tie-down video library anywhere, with instruction from World Champions Caleb Smidt and Shad Mayfield plus top hands Logan Harkey, Justin Maass and Blane Cox — plus hundreds of hours of archived tie-down livestreams. Choose anywhere from one month to a full year.

  What happens when you build your work around the life you want to live? In this episode of On Adventure, Josh talks with Stefan Gruber, a climber, photographer, traveler, and customer success professional at Levitate. Stefan shares how remote work and his wife Sarah's career as a travel nurse have helped them create a life centered on movement, creativity, and outdoor adventure. They discuss climbing, film photography, international travel, dangerous moments in the mountains, and the judgment required to turn around when conditions are not right. At the heart of the conversation is a simple message: meaningful experiences should not always be postponed. In This Episode Building a mobile life around remote work and travel nursing Why climbing creates focus, presence, and flow Traveling through the American West, Poland, and Nepal The appeal of film photography and printed images Balancing documentation with being present Avalanche terrain, exposed climbing, and failed summit attempts Summit fever, risk assessment, and the limits of luck Future goals, including the Grand Teton and Colorado fourteeners Why Stefan believes in doing things while you still can Episode Chapters 00:00 – Colorado Springs and life on the move Josh and Stefan discuss Colorado Springs, choosing temporary homes, and the possibility of eventually buying land in Colorado or Montana. 11:00 – Stefan's career and lifestyle Stefan explains how he moved from a long corporate commute into remote work and began traveling with Sarah during her nursing assignments. 17:30 – Climbing, travel, and flow Stefan reflects on his Polish heritage, his early interest in travel, and the sense of complete focus he finds while climbing. 20:00 – Designing work around life The conversation explores the freedom and tradeoffs of building a career that supports travel, adventure, and flexibility. 24:00 – Poland and international travel Stefan describes Poland's cities, mountains, coastline, affordability, and cultural growth, along with other memorable travel experiences. 36:30 – Photography and creative ambitions Stefan explains how photography connects his travels and outdoor life. He also shares ideas for creating a travel channel with Sarah. 41:00 – Film, digital photography, and presence They discuss the visual character of film, the value of printed photographs, and the tension between capturing an experience and fully living it. 51:00 – Risk, fear, and turning around Stefan recounts dangerous moments involving avalanche terrain, exposed climbing, wildfire smoke, and two unsuccessful attempts on the Grand Teton. 57:00 – Summit fever and the limits of luck The conversation turns to humility, decision-making, and why surviving a poor choice does not make it a good one. 1:04:00 – Survival psychology and photography advice Stefan recommends Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales and encourages new photographers to begin with whatever camera they can access. 1:11:00 – Favorite mountains and future goals Stefan talks about the Tetons, Annapurna Base Camp, Denali, Everest, and his goals for the rest of 2026. 1:18:00 – Do it while you can Stefan closes with his belief that health, time, and opportunity are uncertain, so meaningful goals should not always be saved for later. Memorable Quotes "Sometimes those limits find you." "There's a certain store of luck, and it will run out eventually." "If it doesn't happen today, it can happen another day." "Do it while you can." Key Takeaways Build work around what matters. Flexible work can create more room for travel, relationships, creativity, and meaningful experiences. Turning around is not failure. Good judgment sometimes means abandoning a climb or summit and returning under better conditions. Luck is not a strategy. A successful outcome does not automatically mean the decision behind it was wise. Give photographs a life beyond the screen. Printing images or shooting film can make photography feel more intentional and lasting. Do not save everything for someday. Adventure can be a major expedition or a small personal goal. The important step is beginning while the opportunity still exists. Resources Mentioned Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales Stefan's Instagram page About Stefan Gruber Stefan Gruber is a climber, traveler, and photographer who works remotely for Levitate. He and his wife Sarah travel throughout the United States for her nursing assignments while pursuing hiking, climbing, skiing, photography, and international travel. Keep Exploring Subscribe to On Adventure in your podcast app and on YouTube for more conversations with people building meaningful lives through exploration, challenge, and curiosity. Share this episode with someone who has been saving an important goal for "someday."

Come see Fandomonium LIVE in Colorado Springs on August 14thIn our non-nerdy fandom of the year (it's still nerdy), we're leaping into the Great Outdoors. To play some comedy games about National Parks, hiking and nature.Audra and Chris were joined on the panel by Amanda Bonnot (Felty & Friends, The Guest Bedroom) and Corn Litt (The Stick Horses, Tune Titans). And everyone came dressed for the outdoors. Which is my way of saying, check out our Patreon for the video episdoe!Support our PlayersListen to Tune Titans perform fully improvised musicalsCome and see Amanda and Corn performWe are an ad and listener supported podcast, but mainly listener supported. Consider supporting our production over at patreon.com/gateleapers. All supporters get ad-free audio episodes. Paid supporters get video recordings + our bonus monthly live comedy gameshow Slidesplitters!Do you have a suggestion for a fandom we've not yet covered? Are you a comedian, creative or performer who would like to be a guest on our show? Get in touch! gateleapers@gmail.comMusic: BoucheDag by Alexander Nakarada (serpentsoundstudios.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fandomonium-a-fandom-comedy-game-show--5150861/support.

Our city banned graywater at a time when water is our limiting factor, and this year it's impossible to ignore. What is graywater? It is the gently used water from laundry, bathroom sinks, and showers that can be reused to nourish landscapes instead of being sent straight to the sewer.Host Ally Richardson and Joe Petsche explore what it means to live in step with nature's boundaries and why Colorado Springs must adopt smarter, regenerative water strategies now. They also dive into how graywater can cut costs, ease infrastructure strain, and build a resilient future for our region. Join the movement for a water wise city by signing the petition! Visit peacheswater.com Mentioned In This Episode:Colorado passed graywater legislation in 2015, allowing jurisdictions to adopt or opt out. CDPHE Reg. 86 - Graywater ControlSince January 1, 2026, Colorado Springs residents are banned from reusing their own laundry and shower water on their plants. Peacheswater.com is rallying support to reverse the ban and restore simple, safe graywater reuse. Add your name to the petition and urge City Council to bring graywater back.Colorado Springs Ordinance 25-99, prohibiting the use of graywaterEl Paso County Resolution No. 25-342 Resolution Prohibiting Graywater Use In Unincorporated El Paso County and Directing Further Analysis of a Possible Future Graywater Use ProgramAdoption of Chaffee County GraywaterListen to Peak Environment Episode #152 BiocharGraywater Research:Removal of anionic surfactant from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto biochars: characterisation, kinetics, and mechanismGreywater Treatment Using Activated Biochar Produced from Agricultural WasteEscherichia coli Removal in Biochar-Modified Biofilters: Effects of BiofilmLaundry To Landscape ClassesDPHE has partnered with Red Rocks Community College to bring laundry to landscape classes to all Denver residents and individuals who work in the City and County of Denver.Lakewood, Colorado 10/19/2026 – 10/20/2026 Course Cost - $495 Fee *The full cost of this course is eligible for a rebate for individuals who live, work or attend higher education courses in Denver. Visit the Green Jobs Training Rebates webpage for more information. Registration Info hereVeda"Water is the rebel element, it won't conform to the laws of physics or gravity and it can't be killed. Without it there is no life. It reincarnates for all to see and science tells us it came to Earth from outer space. Rebellious, nonconformist, eternal and alien.....just look at the power we are filled with." Veda AustinDr EmotoInterested in learning more about permaculture? Visit pikespeakpermaculture.org to learn more about our programs, including…Permaculture In Action Summer Tour SeriesSee several local landscapes which have been practicing permaculture design. This unique opportunity allows you to see various stages of implementation over many sites.Register Here2027 Permaculture Design CourseTake a deeper dive and come learn together with us as community.Register for Course HereThis episode is brought to you by Pikes Peak Permaculture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to teaching the ethics and principles of permaculture design in Southern Colorado. Permaculture is all about working with nature rather than against, to regenerate land, water, and food systems, and build resilient communities for generations to come. Learn more about their work with schools, organizations, and community members at pikespeakpermaculture.orgThe following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.Peak Alliance for a Sustainable FuturePikes Peak Permaculture350 Colorado SpringsGrowthBustersKeep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode.

Aliens in Brazil, World Cup Vs Stanley Cups, The End Of Reading Tickets for The Big Baby Tour https://www.whitneycummings.com 09/11 Fresno, CA - Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts 09/12 Palm Springs, CA - Plaza Theatre 09/18 Buffalo, NY - Buffalo State Performing Arts Center 09/19 Syracuse, NY - Carrier Theater 09/20 Albany, NY - Hart Theatre at the Egg Performing Arts Center 10/02 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre 10/03 Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium 10/09 Wilmington, NC - Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College 10/10 Charlotte, NC - Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts 10/23 Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre 10/24 Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak Center 11/06 Charleston, WV - Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center 11/07 Roanoke, VA - Berglund Performing Arts Theatre 11/18-11/23 Miami, FL - Bert Kreischer's Fully Loaded Cruise (Miami to Cozumel) 12/04 Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre 12/05 Columbus, OH - Speaker to Ann Davidson Theatre SHOP: https://whitneycummings.com/index.html#store Thank you to our sponsors! REVOLVE Shop at https://www.revolve.com/WHITNEY and use code WHITNEY for 15% off your first order. #REVOLVEpartner ZBiotics Go to https://www.zbiotics.com/WHITNEY and use WHITNEY at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. HUEL Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with code WHITNEY at https://www.huel.com/WHITNEY. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! Booking.com Booking.com makes it easy to book your next trip. Visit https://www.Booking.com to find your perfect stay.

A monsignor with decades of service in canon law, including work in Peru and the Diocese of Colorado Springs, was laicized just days before the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. He claims it was not justice. It was retaliation.The monsignor alleges that false accusations, manipulated evidence, and irregular canonical procedures were used to destroy his reputation after he defended alleged abuse victims and publicly criticized influential Church leaders. He says he was never shown a formal decree of dismissal. He says due process was never afforded. He says the Church authorities who destroyed him relied on power, not law.At the center of his accusations: Pope Leo XIV, then Cardinal Robert Prevost, whom the monsignor accuses of covering up abuse and orchestrating his removal. He also names Bishop Michael Sheridan, Bishop James Golka, and Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò in his account of a system that punishes those who speak truth.Make the switch today to iCatholicMobile today!iCatholic Mobile—supporting the Catholic faith with every connection.https://www.facebook.com/icatholicmobile https://www.icatholicmobile.com/ HELP SUPPORT WORK LIKE THIS: https://give.lifesitenews.com/?utm_source=SOCIAL U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://sjp.stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews +++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenewsJohn-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On January 27, 2020, 11-year-old Gannon Stauch vanished from his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, sparking one of the most closely watched missing child cases in the state's history. His stepmother, Leticia Stauch, told police he had been picked up by a friend's family and never returned. Within days, that story began to unravel.In this episode, Gina and Amber walk through Gannon's disappearance hour by hour: the initial 911 call, the massive search effort that followed, and the early inconsistencies in Leticia's account that investigators couldn't ignore. They introduce Gannon as more than a headline, a bright, loving kid whose absence devastated his family and his community, and they break down why law enforcement so quickly began focusing on the woman who was supposed to be caring for him.This episode lays the foundation for everything that follows: the frantic search, the mounting suspicion, and the case that would eventually make national headlines.SourcesEl Paso County Sheriff's Office press releases Colorado Springs Gazette court coverage KRDO / KKTV / CBS Colorado news archivesWeird True Crime is an independent true crime podcast. If this episode moved you, please share it, the more people who know Gannon's story, the more this conversation stays alive.

Denver active listings ended June at 12,744, down roughly 9% from the same month last year, catching the panel off guard in this June 2026 Denver real estate market update. Most expected inventory to keep climbing through the summer. Instead, the Denver metro is heading into the back half of the year with less supply than it had a year ago, while median prices remain locked near $600,000 for the fourth straight year. Colorado Springs looks even flatter, with June closing at a $499,900 median and almost no movement month over month or year over year. Host Chris Lopez sits down with the full panel of Jenny Bayless of Colorado Springs, Jeff White of Envision Advisors, Troy Howell of Nova Home Loans, and Brandon Scholten of Keyrenter Denver. Together they walk through the June DMAR and Colorado Springs data, then move into two closed deals and the shifting picture in commercial multifamily debt. You get the ground-level view from the brokers, lenders, and property managers actually working these deals. The conversation also covers a Lakewood condo that finally sold for $150,000 after being listed at $270,000 and briefly dropped to $1 as a test. On the multifamily side, Chris shares a 100-unit Colorado Springs deal his fund closed near $11 million after the previous owner ran out of money at a roughly $17 million basis. Meanwhile, a Loveland fourplex traded at $685,000 with $27,000 in seller credits, bought down to a rate near 6.8% on a 5% down owner-occupied loan. From there, the June 2026 Denver real estate market update digs into the federal 21st Century Road to Housing Act and its 350-home institutional threshold, plus the extend and pretend cycle in commercial multifamily lending. Denver Business Journal quotes Mark Bell of Stinson describing extensions, negotiated ownership changes, and new equity infusions as the tools being used today. Chris shares his read after a night with Pinnacle Commercial brokers on why 2026 and 2027 could finally break the cycle. In This Episode We Cover: Why Denver inventory dropped 9% year over year when everyone expected a climb How Denver median prices have stayed near $600,000 for four straight years The Lakewood condo that listed at $270,000 and finally sold for $150,000 A Colorado Springs duplex that closed at list price for a first-time house hacker How a Loveland fourplex closed with $27,000 in seller credits and a rate near 6.8% What the 21st Century Road to Housing Act actually does at the 350-home threshold Why the extend and pretend cycle in commercial multifamily is finally starting to break The 100-unit Colorado Springs deal that traded roughly 35% below its previous basis And so much more! Whether you are house hacking your first duplex or holding a mid-size multifamily, Denver’s June 2026 real estate market update gives you the specific numbers and local context to make your next move. Watch the Youtube Video https://youtu.be/FrBw_y-kyi0 Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Full Panel Introductions 01:37 Colorado Springs June Stats and Flat Median Prices 05:05 Denver Inventory Drops 9% Year Over Year 09:44 Why Denver Median Prices Stayed Flat for Four Years 12:55 Sellers Renting Instead of Cutting Prices 14:25 Class C Condo Market and the One Dollar Listing Story 17:46 Colorado Springs Duplex Sale Closes at List 23:46 Loveland Fourplex House Hack with $27K Seller Credits 26:54 Underwriting Path From Single Family to Fourplex 28:40 21st Century Road to Housing Act Breakdown 34:54 Extend and Pretend Commercial Lending Shift 40:52 Fund Deal on 100-Unit Colorado Springs Multifamily 46:00 Rate Outlook and the New Fed Chair 48:42 Closing Thoughts and How to Reach the Team Links in Podcast Commercial real estate workouts gain traction as loans come due in DenverMetro Denver home prices continue to hold at mid-2022 levelsStinson Law FirmPinnacle Commercial Real Estate Troy Howell: troy.howell@novahomeloans.com LinkedIn: Troy Howell Website: https://www.novahomeloans.com/loan-officer/troy-howell/ Brandon Scholten: brandon@keyrenterdenver.com Website: https://keyrenterdenver.com/ Jeff White: jeff@envisionrea.com Jenny Bayless: jenny@envisionrea.com Who is Keyrenter? Keyrenter Property Management Denver provides rental solutions for homeowners and real estate investors in the metro area who are interested in transforming their properties into passive income. It offers various services, from property marketing and thorough applicant screening to tenant placement and 24/7 maintenance services. Keyrenter Denver's team of experts can take the clients' burden of managing their rental off their hands so they can get back to what matters to them. Who is Nova Home Loans? For over 40 years, we've been focused on helping homeowners find the perfect loan to fit their financial needs and personal goals. Working with NOVA is a personalized experience from initial application to final loan closing and beyond. We will be with you every step of the way toward successful homeownership. Start working with NOVA & Troy Howell today! NOVA FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT CORPORATION, DBA NOVA HOME LOANS NMLS 3087/ EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY/8055 EAST TUFTS AVENUE, SUITE 101/DENVER, CO

“The people you're trying to lead may become your greatest teacher.” SUMMARY Matthew Ayers '99 believes leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about listening, learning and serving with joy. Hear how experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy, on a U.N. peacekeeping mission and leading Dream Centers of Colorado Springs transformed his understanding of leadership. MATTHEW'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP LESSONS 1. Leadership Begins with Ordinary Acts Matthew's grandfather didn't set out to do extraordinary things—he simply noticed people, asked questions, and invited them in. Great leadership often begins with small acts of compassion that have lifelong impact. 2. Lead with Joy One of the defining characteristics of Matthew's grandfather was his joy. Even in difficult circumstances, he demonstrated that joy isn't the absence of hardship—it's a choice that gives others hope and the courage to move forward. 3. Stay Curious About People Matthew learned that leadership starts by genuinely wanting to know people and understand their stories. Curiosity builds trust, broadens perspective, and opens the door to meaningful relationships. 4. Integrity Is Lived, Not Signed His experience during a United Nations peacekeeping mission revealed that values aren't proven by an oath—they're revealed in everyday decisions. Leadership requires the courage to live your principles, even when circumstances become complicated. 5. Influence Doesn't Require Authority Serving alongside people outside his chain of command taught Matthew that leadership often happens through relationships rather than rank. Quiet, consistent influence can move an organization—and a mission—forward one conversation at a time. 6. Presence Is Sometimes the Greatest Gift Whether comforting cadets during tragedy or supporting people in crisis, Matthew discovered that leaders don't always need the perfect words. Simply showing up and being present can have a lasting impact. 7. Listen Before You Lead Matthew's work reinforced that the people closest to the problem often hold the clearest vision for the solution. Leaders who listen deeply make better decisions because they're willing to learn before they act. 8. Let Others Become Your Teachers One of the most powerful themes of the episode is that leadership is not about always being the teacher. Matthew believes the people we serve—and the people we lead—often become our greatest teachers if we're humble enough to learn from them. 9. Transformation Happens Through Action Leadership isn't mastered in a classroom alone. Matthew reminds us that principles become convictions only when we wrestle with them in real life, applying them through service, relationships, and everyday decisions. 10. Leave People Better Than You Found Them Looking back on his grandfather's influence, Matthew's own leadership philosophy comes into focus: serve others with humility, model joy, remain teachable, and help people flourish. The greatest legacy a leader leaves is the positive impact they have on the lives of others. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Opening: Sometimes the Greatest Teachers Aren't the Ones We Expect 00:00:53 – Meet Matthew Ayers, USAFA Class of 1999 00:01:38 – The Story That Changed Everything: Grandpa, Joy & Two Strangers 00:08:47 – Justice Begins at Home: Lessons Passed from One Generation to the Next 00:15:12 – Ethiopia: When Integrity Is Tested in the Real World 00:24:31 – The Difference Between Signing an Oath and Living It 00:31:26 – The Child Who Became the Teacher 00:39:08 – Why Great Leaders Never Stop Being Students 00:45:51 – Leading Through Joy, Compassion & Presence 00:52:37 – Leadership in Practice: Listening Before Leading 00:58:44 – Matthew's Leadership Philosophy 01:03:28 – Advice to His Younger Self 01:06:14 – Final Reflections: Leave People Better Than You Found Them   ABOUT MATTHEW BIO Matthew Ayers, USAFA Class of 1999, is the founder and CEO of Dream Centers, a Colorado Springs nonprofit dedicated to serving women, children, and families through comprehensive healthcare, behavioral health services, and transformational housing. Before founding Dream Centers in 2011, Matthew served as an Air Force officer, managed air and space programs, taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and deployed as an unarmed military observer with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. A passionate student of leadership, theology, and community development, Matthew believes the most meaningful leadership begins with humility, service, and a willingness to learn from others. Through his work and volunteer service, he continues to champion innovative approaches that strengthen families, empower communities, and create lasting change. Matthew lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Amber, and their two children, Zeke and Halle Joy. CONNECT WITH MATTHEW LINKEDIN  |  DREAM CENTERS CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Please note: we are only considering USAFA graduates as guests at this time. Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE AT USAFA.ORG/LONGBLUELEADERSHIP AND ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS   FULL TRANSCRIPT Guest: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Matthew Ayers '99  |  Host: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99 Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 Sometimes the greatest leadership lesson isn't learning how to teach others; it's discovering that the people you're trying to lead may become your greatest teacher. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99 — Long Blue Leadership starts now. Well, welcome. Our guest today is Matthew Ayers, class of '99. Yes, my classmate. Welcome, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Let me tell you about Matthew from his military service, where he served in international peacekeeping. Then he went into the classrooms of Fairchild Hall, onto leading an organization called Dream Centers, where he's the CEO, really focusing on a vulnerable set of our community. It's such a pleasure to have you here today, Matthew. Matthew Ayers 0:46 Love being here. Thank you, Naviere. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:48 Absolutely. Well, we're going to jump right in because your story is so unique and so personal. I'd like to take us back in time and talk about your grandfather. I know we had some time talking about him, but I think it's well worth that our listeners and our watchers get to know him a little bit more as well. Let's talk about your grandfather and maybe a particular act of courage. Matthew Ayers 1:09 OK, yeah, he's my hero, and I always continue to this day trying to live life like my grandpa. He just was so inspirational in the way he lived, and he's a very relational servant leader. He pastored most of his life in the Pacific Northwest, but his beginnings were in Wuhan, China, where he was born and raised, and moved to the U.S. when he was 15. Got on a back of a cargo ship, and he and his brother John made their way here. He built railroad with the CCC and flipped burgers, put himself through high school, college, seminary, and he's just got an amazing life. But when I got to know my grandpa as a little boy, he was smoking cigarettes like a chimney and in the local bowling league and playing cards with his neighbors. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:01 I can visualize this man. Yes. Yes. Matthew Ayers 2:06 He was just everybody's person, and he could hang out with anyone. No one was a stranger, and he was genuinely curious about everyone he met. And so he just modeled that with such joy. I just grew up thinking I want to be like my grandpa. He's an amazing guy, And so I've got unlimited stories about him, about someone that really has left a mark on my life, and I was 11 years old, and we were pretty new, about a year or so into living in central Washington State. And he came to guest preach at a local church there, and when he came to visit, of course, we would always go to a local Chinese restaurant.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 2:53 And did he say it wasn't as good as when he grew up, though? Matthew Ayers 2:57 It was not nearly as good, but he still enjoyed it. He still would enjoy it wherever he went. And so he disappeared like usual, and we just knew he was back in the kitchen, probably washing dishes, hamming it up with the staff. And soon he comes back out, introducing us to staff, and we have all this free food, and he's best friends with this couple. So we were just this was like a normal experience with Grandpa, but on this particular visit, he had some pretty serious conversations after that with my parents, and he had found out that several of the staff were labor trafficked. They were new immigrants from China, and the next day, he brought me along as a little boy, we go down in our little town into a bag alley, knock on the door of a warehouse, no running water, no electricity, no amenities, dirt floor, and I see the rats running around. I'm like, "What are we doing here?” And we get to sit down with these people who are serving at this restaurant and can't speak English and do not know any way to navigate their situation. And he challenged us as a family. Well, he might have just volunteered us, but it was going to happen one way or another, that this couple ended up moving in with us, and we got to be like family with them, and had the most incredible experiences cross culturally just in our own home, and that was my first, maybe you know, shocking example of just the vulnerability of people in every community. It happens everywhere, but what was even more powerful to me about that, and what stays with me, is just how simple it really was looking back, where he just asked the question, and it seemed like such an ordinary, easy thing that that he made it out to be. And looking back, I'm like, well, that that's not easy for most people, but really, it is an ordinary thing that anyone can do. Naviere Walkewicz 5:07 Ask a question and bring someone in, right? Matthew Ayers 5:10 That's it. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 3:46 I'm thinking about you as an 11-year-old, and you said it was kind of your first real glimpse of that experience. How did that shape you as you grew up? Because they were with you, right? And so, first off, did you did you learn to speak Chinese? Matthew Ayers 5:27 No, I learned a few phrases. I should have though. I remember even the simple things like these cross-cultural miscommunications we had about ruining laundry and just doing things so differently that made us sometimes laugh and sometimes have some pretty tense moments. But it was it was all of us learning together. How do we do this? And I think one of my favorite memories was one of these people — they were they just had this incredible ability to do this unique art form of laying small colored thread, and would take months and hundreds of hours per piece of art, and just the beauty of getting to introduce into this art of her culture that was in particular from this region she was from. So we just, I mean, we had so many rich experiences like that. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 6:29 I can imagine. So taking a leap forward, what was part of your journey that led you to the Academy? And when you went to the Air Force Academy, was your goal in mind to think about how to either participate or engage in things cross culturally, or was that just part of your upbringing and your makeup? Matthew Ayers 6:50 Yeah, I thought you might ask me this, and I have nothing here. Honestly, I saw pictures of the Rocky Mountains. I love the beauty of Colorado. It just seemed magical to me, coming from this little town in central Washington, and I wanted to snowboard, so it came with some, you know, really good university education. It was a win-win. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 7:13 Yes. So getting into the Academy, you know, obviously drawn by the aesthetics. What about the service in the military do you think really called you? And would you say that started, you know, with your grandfather, or was that something else you saw throughout just your childhood? Matthew Ayers 7:29 My mom and dad modeled it well, of course. My dad found an amazing and safe place in my mom's home, where she grew up in Wenatchee, Washington, and so they really had this model of my grandpa and grandpa Paul and Lydia serving continually, and they modeled that in our home, in our community, in our neighborhood. I mean, from as young as I can remember, my dad was leading leadership camps for high school students in Washington State and doing incredible things to serve. And servant leadership, which is always kind of a part of the conversation. So it was like the water that we got to swim in. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:09 It seems so when you talk about your grandpa and your parents, it feels very warm and comforting and secure. And when I think about our time at USAFA, Matthew, it was — you know while it was, you know, in this ecosystem, and yes, you know, we were growing as leaders, I would say there was chaos around us, you know? How did you navigate that with such a different kind of upbringing, and by what you saw in leadership. Matthew Ayers 8:37 Yep. That is, I think, really insightful, and it's probably — it could be the most powerful part of my growing up, my formation in my family. Because my grandpa, when he did these hard things that were ordinary, but you naturally create friction in these situations where you're serving and helping and bringing cross cultures together and bringing people in need, including us. We needed to be educated in that situation, understanding what was happening in our own community and understanding how to serve. And you don't — there wasn't a formula for that, and we didn't have a lot of coaching or training. Grandpa just pulled us in, and so we learned through doing this kind of life together. And I think that that was the power of it: is that he did it with such joy. So you describe it as this warmth, and absolutely it was. And so having that mindset, I think, built this resilience in us to have joy no matter what the situation was, and to hold those things intentionally. You know, sometimes things are really difficult and sad and sorrowful, but to still be able to carry joy into those situations, you're really able to have that impact on somebody who may need that. So even coming to the Academy and experiencing that, especially the chaos of the first year, it felt like a little bit of a challenge. Like, how do we have joy through this? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:05 Well, I think I would have loved to be in your squadron because it sounds like you would have brought some joy to us for sure. Let's talk about after the Academy. There was a particular time while you were serving, you went on to work in — I think it was 2005 — you were part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. Can you talk about some of that experience and how it maybe shaped you? Because I think it was a really transformational moment as well in your leadership journey. Matthew Ayers 10:33 It was. It was. I was in the acquisition career field, and so I didn't have much opportunity to go overseas, but although I really wanted to. So this was one of those few things that I could thankfully got some approval from our commander and got to apply for this mission. And in that, I had this experience of coming out of Asmara, Eritrea, and heading down to our team site, which was pretty remote near the border, just south of Eritrea, and in this very small village in a war-torn area, it was completely austere, and you basically, as military observers, you have a team site you run and you kind of manage this area that you observe with daily patrols. And so I got to be in a team site with people from Ghana and South Africa and Bangladesh, and you name it. I mean, we always had new members coming in and out from one of these 41 nations that were there. And when I arrived at the team site the first day, Adahanit was our team cleaner, and so she was hired by the local staff on our team site. And when she literally ran to me, she saw my uniform and the American flag, and she dropped to her knees and just started weeping. And she was telling me how grateful she was that an American was at her team site now, because Americans had treated her and some of her family and friends and people who were living in this village with a little more respect than they were used to, and that was my introduction to this mission, to this team site, and I just thought, “Wow, what did I step into?” Because there are obviously a lot of really interesting dynamics that I didn't necessarily expect that kind of welcome coming in. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:27 We take for granted what seems so normal and usual and expected, right? And so to actually see how what we're expecting can really make a difference to somebody else is really powerful. What was some of that experience like there? Can you talk a little bit more about that mission and really why it, besides that incredible greeting, why it really spoke to you? Matthew Ayers 12:52 What I came to learn over the next six months living in Shiraru was that, you know, we all of us on the mission we had this MOU, kind of a moral obligation that we signed. We had this oath that we gave and communicated. We had a lot of training, extensive training in country, and then when we arrived overseas, and it was so — I think coming from this side, we had these just very clear expectations, and I think also kind of some of the culture that we swim in is filled with moral obligations. Even just our values at the Academy, where we where we were trained, and but it's such a part of American culture. And so what I realized is that although all the soldiers from every nation get to sign this thing and take this oath, it's not necessarily something that was part of the conversations in families growing up, or a part of the water that they swam in. So our day-to-day life there was filled with this tension between what we agreed to do and what was actually happening on the ground, and those things were completely different. So we saw — I mean, I saw two nations get kicked out and dismissed from the mission for starting trafficking rings. I saw two members of our own team site, they ended up running the black market cash exchange for the entire nation of Ethiopia while I was on site. And some of these things I really struggled with. Tried to work with people to help them understand what we were doing is not helpful to locals, and even to the point of bringing some of these things up legally with some of the team at headquarters. But when they're dealing with international trafficking rings, some of those smaller things that were happening at our team site, they just — they didn't even have capacity to deal with. And so that's also tension was like, OK, we have to learn to deal with this on a one-on-one basis in our team site in the middle of several hours' drive away from anyone who has any authority over the space. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 15:06 Wow! So, how did you learn from that? What did — what changed in you, or what evolved in you? How do you grow as a leader from that? Because that's really powerful when you have a mission, and then you have these competing things happening that sometimes challenge values. Matthew Ayers 15:25 It made life so much more complicated for me. I think I went in —   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 15:28 Like, “If my grandpa was here, he simplified things really well.”    Matthew Ayers 15:33 Right. Exactly. Where is this simple answer? There really wasn't. And I remember sitting in several meetings, both formal and informal, with some of the JAGs, some of the legal team there, and just trying to untangle some of these issues and understand what would be worth our time to bring up, even to the highest levels, even if we had to go to Congress. What are some of the things that we need eyeballs here and influence here so that we can change some what's going on ground? It's really negatively impacting people's lives, and some of the things that we had to wrestle with were these larger moral questions of if we do this and we potentially raise these other issues at this particular level, we can end the mission. And we're trying to keep these two nations from destroying each other. So please don't go to this level. Work with us. We're going to work with you. We're going to give you advice, but you need to deal with this one on one with these people that you're working with and serving with, and they may not be from your country and they may not be in your chain of command, but you have at least some level of influence with them. So we need you to be courageous and we need you to have these conversations on a daily basis and help us. So those, that was powerful to me because it wasn't, you know — I at first I felt disempowered and like I don't know what I could do in this position, but over time I think little by little, you know, you can you can move the ball down the field if you stay focused -and you kind of understand the situation you're working within. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 17:11 I'm so glad you shared that because often we might think, “Well, I'm just an acquisitions officer” or “I'm just this and this is not my lane” or “This is not my role.” But I think to your point is we can all be leaders and if we stay focused and we know what we need to be doing, moving the ball down the field is still very much progress. And so thank you for sharing that. I think that was really powerful. You know, you've had so many incredible experiences. I'm curious. So, acquisitions officer, you went and did this UN mission, and somehow you ended back in the hallways of Fairchild Hall teaching cadets. Let's talk about that transition and maybe what leadership looked like after you had some of this real-world and mission experience, operational experience. How did that translate to leading cadets in the way they think, etc. Matthew Ayers 18:03 The mission, you know, sharing knowledge, sharing wisdom, sharing the things that we know we're learning in Management 101. I mean, that's important, right? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 18:13 Yeah. Matthew Ayers 18:13 But what I realized in that role too is just, and I realized this going back to our time. You know, as '99ers…   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 18:24 Gold will shine.   Matthew Ayers 18:25 …and just people who had so much influence on us. That's my always dreamed to come back. That was a dream job for me. I wanted to be back here on campus and influencing kids' lives because I think you are for the first time in your life for most of us. Then you're away from home, and you get to like have your family, your brothers, your sisters, your parents, your grandparents. You can lean on in those situations at home to help you carry that leadership. But this is the first time you get to try it out on your own. And I wanted to get to know people relationally first and build trust so that I could earn a right as little as it was to speak into anyone's life, and maybe learn from them too, because we're all coming from different backgrounds where we can learn from each other. So that environment was incredible to me because it's just so much more than sharing knowledge, right? You know you're transforming. You're part of that transformative process of a person being formed when they're standing on their own values for the first time. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 19:34 Matthew, can you share an example of maybe when you saw that come to life with a cadet and an interaction with you? Was there a time in that that when you were facilitating or when you were an instructor that you actually saw some of those seeds be received and how it actually bloomed? Matthew Ayers 19:52 My very first night on duty, I was officer on duty at night, and you know you do this. Everyone pitches in and has that role at some point or another when they're on faculty here, and there was a suicide, and I remember getting to interact in the moment as the news is, you know, in a grassroots way, very quickly moving through the Cadet Wing. And in the middle of the night, just walking the hallways and seeing kids, and just getting to put my hand on my shoulder and ask if they need to talk, can I pray? Can I support you? And hearing their stories and what they knew, and so life happens, right? No matter what position you're in, no matter where you are, and you get to show up for people where you don't, or you get scared. And I think some of those things, you know, being in Eritrea in the middle of night with people, and that I think you build a little more resilience there too when you're in some interesting situations. And it helps you step into somebody else's space and just be present and I — those are sacred memories for me and those opportunities just to be present. Didn't do anything really but just be there. And I think I'll cherish that always. And I just encourage us. You know, it again — these things seem like so challenging sometimes when you're in a, when the stakes are high and the emotions are high, but those are the most important times to stand in and be present. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 21:42 I feel this tie from your grandpa to you. This ordinary act. I will tell you, the cadets that you spent time with when you were walking the halls that evening, and you put your hand on their shoulder, or you said, "Do you need to talk?” They will take that with them, and there's a good chance that when the moment calls for that from them, they're ready because they saw it in action and they felt the importance of that. Man, thank you for sharing that incredible story. I have to think that that probably played into your decision to jump into the nonprofit space and lead something incredible like you've been doing for the past 10+ years. Matthew Ayers 22:20 If I'm honest, I was a little bit upset leaving the Air Force. I loved that job. I loved what I was doing, but of course, I did have the seed that my grandpa planted, and really, it went back to that first experience that day when he introduced us to the staff at this restaurant. And I thought, I remember making a commitment back then to say, I want to be like my grandpa, and I want to do something. I think with my life, just to interact with vulnerable people and serve them. And so that came true. I got to start some work in the nonprofit world when I got out of the Air Force, and then it led into this opportunity. And I think just casting that vision in that early season of getting out and just sharing this bigger idea of like, OK, we what does the city need? We love Colorado Springs. There's a lot of great nonprofits, and we don't want to duplicate anything. So what do we really need? And that's when I got to go on this journey of just listening to leaders all over our city and discovering what some of those things could be. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 23:29 I love that powerful listening tour. Before we jump into that, I want to just in that piece of time in which you made that transition, I'm curious on how you knew it was time. Because I think many leaders, you know, when they're in different roles, they're looking for the when is the right time for what's next, or and who do you talk to in your corner? What was that transition, and maybe that network around you or your community around you, what did that look like in navigating that decision? Matthew Ayers 1:57 So, Naviere, my life is like one example after another of I have plans in my mind, in my heart, and then they get redirected. And there's a proverb about that that says, you know, people make plans in their heart, and the Lord directs their steps. So this was another clear example of that, of me taking a while to learn what really should be the next step. And I remember the voluntary separation program, that VSP came open, that opportunity. And this is strange. So if anyone's been around the Academy or taught there, you know this. If you haven't, it is rare to have people just come by your office and small talk for a while, right? You're with cadets in your open office hours, or you're teaching, or you're preparing for something. So we're running. We're always running around. And 15 people, several of them — I couldn't have even told you their last name. I was just an acquaintance with them — stopped by my office in my open hours during the day, one after the other, asking the exact same thing: “Are you going to apply for this VSP?” Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:12 Did you make — I mean, I can't even. That's just kind of blows my mind, right? I'm just I'm putting myself in your shoes in that moment. Yes, please continue. Matthew Ayers 25:22 Yeah. So if Anthony Pedroni is listening, he was the last one, and Tony comes in at like 7 that night in my office and asks the same exact question. We're friends. We work together in the management department. And he said, "Are you going to apply for this VSP?” I said, "No, man, I love my job. I love what I'm doing. Why would I want to leave here?” And he said, "Oh, Mr. Sensitive,” and he walked away. And when he said that, I was convicted. I had not even stopped to pray for a second. Like, is this the right thing to do? And I just knew it was, and I didn't know why. So, I, as an Enneagram 9, I try to lead with my gut instinct. That always just naturally leads first, and I just knew I needed. So I applied that night. I was one of 20 that got it. I got a call the next day, and I was out in 30 days. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 26:11 Oh my goodness. So really, it was this group around you, and then some self-reflection and prayer, and you made that decision. There was really not a lot of talk at all, it sounds like. Matthew Ayers 26:23 There was zero planning. So yeah, but I knew it was right, and I knew if — you know, I just think taking steps of faith, sometimes we need to be redirected. And looking back on my life now, I cannot imagine not doing this nonprofit work early. In my mind, the timing was retire first, be stable, make a good decision, get your retirement, then launch this nonprofit. But that's not that wasn't the best way forward. And so I would just say that for others too, where I had to be redirected, and it was so helpful for me. And that if you know you're holding on to a dream, sometimes it's good to be stable and make that, you know, what might look like a more traditional decision, and sometimes it's not. And to have the courage to be able to at least ask that question. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:15 I love that. So you jumped, and you have now led Dream Centers. Let's talk about this a little bit because I think many people may not know what Dream Centers of Colorado Springs is and the mission. Matthew Ayers 27:30 There's a movement across the world. There's several hundred Dream Centers, and the basic thing that ties it all together is that we share this vision that we would find a real need in a city wherever we're located that's unduplicated, and we go meet that need. So we're not the same organization as any one other of these hundreds of Dream Centers. But I got to go on that listening tour for about six months and learn as much as I could from people here before we decided what we wanted to land on. That would really be something unique and unduplicated that we could offer the city. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 28:09 Do you feel that this is another way that you continued to put on a uniform outside of the uniform, right? So this is a new way of service. Do you think that that was part of not only it was a need that you decided this is the one we're going to do and it's unduplicated, but it actually spoke to you because of your servant leadership background? Matthew Ayers 28:29 Maybe. I think honestly, going back to those roots, my parents, my grandpa. I mean, I think of my wrestling coach in high school and English teacher. They served so well, and they did it with joy. I think just to me, it was a more inspiring way to live, and so I didn't think about it like that, and I don't think about it like that. Although that's absolutely important and valuable, but I think as I as I experience the joy of learning from our clients right now and our staff, and just how rewarding the mission is, yeah, absolutely. It's about serving our community, but it is so joyous. It's — I get so much more out of it that it's like it really is a way of life that that is just incredible. I love getting up in the morning. I love what I get to do. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 29:19 So you are learning from the people you serve. You just — you were just talking about the joy that it brings you. What has changed in you? And I think about it — you know, this is Long Blue Leadership. So from a leadership capacity, because you're leading a team of professionals that's making this joy possible, but curious how it's also really, like, you know, changed you? Matthew Ayers 29:40 Man, I think I've changed every day. There's — you know, I have not had a lot of extreme or challenging situations I've dealt with in life, but I've had like a front row seat to that, and I think that I don't understand what it's like to live in a car, or to live on the street, or to experience domestic violence, or to be without food, and people are in those situations in our city every day, and they have so much to tell us about what's going on with our city, what's working, what's not. How can we improve it? How can we improve it down to the level of interactions, from phone calls and intake and how we're welcomed into a front office, to what actually is going to move the ball and make an impact in their life, and I think those are the things that we know are like adding to the quality of community, and it transfers intergenerationally in our city. So if we don't stop to learn about those things, it we're all going to be affected by that, and we're all going to be life will just not be as rewarding because it is so rewarding to be in the middle of those conversations and experiences. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 31:17 So I'm thinking about it in parallel as leaders. To your point, are you know they have colleagues or teammates that are experiencing things that they haven't. How do you navigate those conversations? How do you actually get to a place where maybe you are driving impact or making it a difference? I'm curious if you could share some of that, maybe some for those who are looking for that leadership as well. Matthew Ayers 31:41 We're always trying to do things with excellence. We're always tweaking what we're doing, and we're trying to just be steady and show up every day and learn what we can. And so I think when we have some big changes we need to make or a program we need to implement, first it needs to come from the people we're learning from, right? And it's not dreamed up without partnership there, and I think it needs to be confirmed by them as well. And so I mean, this again-it's the story of my life. But for several years at one of our programs at Mary's Home, the families we get to be with and serve and learn from were telling me about, you know, “The way that you're setting up this high-challenge, high-support program, and what we're able to accomplish here, and how we're surrounded with love and services and challenge. It is so good. Why aren't you doing that with our children? Why are you not offering the same thing for them?” And we — this was a theme, and I got to hear it over and over and over again. And they probably felt like they were being a broken record, but it was so important that they kept — they felt they had that important message to share. And it took me years of hearing that and then validating it with other people in the community, other people who had come through the program, our graduates, who had been years, you know, after launching for Mary's home, validating it, and I think that whole process was something where, for me, it felt like at least scales had to fall from my eyes. I had to really wake up to the reality of what this is because at first I was thinking there's other organizations that do this, and they continued just faithfully week after week, month after month, to have this conversation and say, “No, you — OK, so you don't really understand, Matthew, what we're talking about, so let's back up.” It was conversations like that. Like, “Let me tell you about my experience here with my children.” “Let me tell you about my experience over here at this service and why it's not working.” And so I think those, you know — it's being in touch with your customer. It's being in touch with your client. It's really — we have to be changed first if we're going to really offer something that's truly transformational. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 34:03 I love how you said you can drive change and it really make an intergenerational difference. I'm curious how your work has changed the lives of your family because I know you know you're married and you have two beautiful children. What does this legacy look like in your household? Matthew Ayers 34:22 Yeah, well I hope that I can you know at least try to live up to my grandpa's way of being. And so like when we're around work, that our kids it feels like a normal thing to do, just to be in service and to be engaged, to be in touch with what's going on in our community, and that it feels normal to come to work and have that warmth and have that encouragement and see models of people just doing normal things that we may if we don't have those models otherwise they seem maybe difficult for a little distant from us. And sometimes they're actually closer than we realize and we just keep them distant because it reminds us of just how maybe vulnerable we are sometimes, or maybe a memory like going back to our childhood that could be implicit. You know, before we're even four, and we remember it with our mind. Our body is remembering it with our emotions, and we're and so we get scared sometimes, and we don't even know why to engage with some big challenges in our city. And that's what I think. Yeah, the day-to-day stuff I want to model for Zeke and Halle Joy are just — you know, this is this is actually super rewarding, and it's one of the best things in the world you can do. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 35:40 So, Matthew, if we can go back in time, and you could talk to your 11-year-old self, what might you tell him today? Matthew Ayers 35:46 I think knowing what I know now and seeing what's possible, what transformation, what kinds of things, and just that we've been able to do with our partners in the city, through Dream Centers, going back to that, all that may seem really daunting and just incredibly tough to imagine or even think about as 11-year-old. But I think I would keep just want to model it for him, you know, just like my grandpa did, and make it make it easy, make it like this is — anyone can do this. Take that next faithful step, that everyone has something that they can do to show just a little bit of genuine curiosity in whoever they're with, that we always have something to learn, and if you can model that with joy, I just think it can be captured so much easier. If you model it in any other way, I don't know that it becomes something that you want to emulate. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 36:45 I love that. And speaking of joy, I have a feeling I know where you might go with this answer, but let's see if you surprise us. You know, what is something you're doing every day to be better, either as a leader, you know, in your in your life? What are you doing every day to be better? Matthew Ayers 37:05 I'll say it's something that I try to do every day. So even this week is a great example. Like, the last couple weeks, I've had conversations with staff where they felt courageous enough to give me feedback, and I got to listen, and I get to learn from them, and they're my greatest teachers. “So, this is how I felt in that situation, Matthew, and this is how I didn't feel seen or heard.” And let me just tell you how that impacted me, and those conversations are, you know, although I wish I could say they're far and few between, they're probably more regular. But I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful that we have a team that really trusts each other, and where we can just be honest and reflect and call each other to this higher place. And my team does that for me. So if I could do one thing, I don't always do it, but if I could do one thing really well, it'd be to keep learning from them. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 38:03 Oh, that's fantastic. May I ask how you accept that feedback? Because, you know, being open to hearing it is one thing, but accepting it, I think, is another. Can you talk about how you do that? Matthew Ayers 38:18 Yeah. Well, I think people are complicated, and all of us, right? We're like this incredible mishmash. You have, like, unlimited layers of variables going on an x-axis and a y-axis, and for some reason, on one day, one person will hit that one button that really affects us more deeply than another. And I see that, you know, with me, I see that with our team. And so, even one staff member will give me feedback that's in this direction, and another and receives it completely differently. So, what I think it does for me is I want to hold all those things as equally valid and say how can I sharpen what I'm doing even more so? Like that thing really landed for somebody and it really hurt somebody else. So how can I adjust? How can I learn from that so that I am presenting, I'm showing up to work my best self in a way that's able to speak to everyone. You can't always do that. You're never going to hit on the head, and that's why we need grace for everyone. We need a little patience. But I think we can always learn too, and we can always sharpen the skills. And I'm so grateful that we can, and that EQ is just one of those things that we can constantly work on. So, yeah. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 39:36 I love that. Well, what is something that we didn't cover today that you feel is really important for our viewers and listeners to hear from you? Matthew Ayers 039:46 You keep doing what you're doing because you're bringing a message that is really — it's not complicated at all, but there's so many layers to this leadership journey, and I think people need examples of that. We don't learn — I think what I know that whether it was just in my work here at the Academy, or the work with the nonprofit, or just growing up in Ellensburg, Washington, learn as much in the classroom, and so we have to wrestle with these ideas. That's important, and these ideas we'll hear today are really important. But we need to the community we live in, the family we're a part of, our work, and we need to apply these things. And that's where we really learn. And I don't think leadership can ever be learned just from talking about it, right?   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 40:43 That's right.   Matthew Ayers 40:43 So we have to be able to apply these ideas constantly and wrestle with them, and talk about them, and keep them front and center. So thank you for doing that. And I know we're going to keep trying to do that within Dream Centers and make it real instead of just theoretical. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:00 Well, Matthew, this conversation has been really incredible in many ways. I think some of the things that really stuck with me in this conversation, one, I just really appreciated getting to know your grandpa through you. I mean, he's someone that I also hope that I can emulate in just his finding ordinary ways to make big impact. And I think you're doing that every day in your job, and that's helping to inspire others as well. I really appreciated our conversation how you really have become a student of learning leadership through the through the actions that others have gone through, right? So maybe not living them yourself, but being there in the moment, learning from them. And so I appreciated how you really talk about leadership through learning. And so I think that really came through and folds in our conversation today. And last, I want to end with this because, as I sit here and I smile at you, it's because you bring joy, and I think it's really important that we find joy in the moments, even when they're difficult. If we can continue to like hold onto that thread of joy, life is sure a lot more fun and meaningful, and we bring others along with us in that in that capacity. Matthew Ayers 42:04 Thank you, Naviere. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 42:05 For all of you that are watching this and listening, thank you for joining us on Long Blue Leadership. If you know someone who's on their leadership journey, they really should check out this conversation and all of our others at longblueleadership.org. Many of our graduates have different paths that they want on leadership, and just like Matthew, they have so many wonderful lessons you can pose in them. So until next time, I'm Naviere Walkowicz, Class of '99. We'll see you on Long Blue Leadership. KEYWORDS Primary: Servant leadership, leadership through learning, influence, humility, curiosity, transformation. Secondary: Mentorship, moral courage, resilience, trust, active listening, empathy, community, values-based leadership, feedback, purpose. Supporting: Emotional intelligence, authenticity, growth mindset, stewardship, compassion, vulnerability, presence, integrity, service, relational leadership. The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation    

Greg Cobble, owner of Manitou E-Bikes, talks with host Torie Giffin about helping people get back on bikes through the power of e-bikes. They discuss how to choose the right e-bike, battery care, e-bike classes, where you can ride, beginner lessons, test rides, rentals, and available rebates of up to $225.Also hear about Manitou E-Bikes' support of the Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb, including the Velotric Demo Day on August 2 and the Velotric E-Bike Giveaway on August 4.Like, subscribe, and keep pedaling!Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle ResortGuest: Greg Cobble, owner of Manitou E-Bike Co.LEARN MORE:Pikes Peak Cycle to the Summit & Velotric Summit ll E-Bike GiveawayManitou E-Bike Co.Manitou SpringsRad Power BikeRed Rock Canyon Open SpaceGarden of the GodsGold Camp TunnelsManitou SpokesRampart Range RoadTrails End TaproomBike BrandsAventonAimaGazelleMacFoxUrtopiaVelotricZeusFollow Pedal The Springs for more stories from the people, places, and events that make Colorado Springs one of America's great cycling communities.Pedal the Springs is presented by the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort, the only bicycle-themed lodging and must-stay for cyclists coming to Colorado. Check us out at bicycleresort.com for more information.Episodes are produced by Studio 809 Podcasts, and recorded in the community podcast studio at The Next Us.Find other great podcasts produced in and for the Pikes Peak Region - at studio809podcasts.com

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This video is about SundaysJoin us as we continue in our series "Camp Paul"Join us every Sunday online or in-person at 9:00am & 11:00am. 4005 Lee Vance Vw, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 Website: rockfamilychurch.com Connect Card: https://rfc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/528074 Prayer Requests: https://www.rockfamilychurch.com/prayer-request Start Serving: https://rfc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/category/92573 Join a Small Group: https://rfc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3287086 Facebook: facebook.com/rockfamilychurch Instagram: instagram.com/rockfamilychurch Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@rockfamilychurch Youtube: youtube.com/@RockFamilyOnline#ColoradoSpringsChurch #Faith #Jesus #Worship #ChurchOnline #SundayMessage

It's Friday, July 17th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Scottish man arrested for hate speech about pro-life politician's murder A 50-year-old man, pretending to be a woman, who works at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, publicly celebrated the murder of former British Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Herbert, an Aberdeen web developer, who prefers to be called “Heather,” wrote, “Some good news for once. I hope it was an extremely painful death” and “I hope she was handcuffed to the bed as she screamed in agony.” Widdecombe, a pro-life advocate, served in the Parliament from 1987 to 2010. She endeared herself to Britons with her surprisingly popular appearances on the television shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.  Herbert has now been charged for his bizarre hate speech as the investigation into her murder continues. Some have raised speculation that the arrest might be due less to Herbert's hate speech and more to do with what, if any, inside knowledge he might have about her murder. Widdecombe is the second murder of a high-profile pro-life politician in England this decade. Sir David Amess, who was a Member of Parliament for 38 years and Widdecombe's friend, was murdered at a local event in 2021 by Islamist Ali Harbi Ali. Arizona Senator admits to two extra-marital affairs U.S. Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a married man and a potential 2028 presidential candidate, engaged in sexual relationships with at least two House staffers, reports the New York Post. The 46-year-old lawmaker admitted to the two extramarital affairs. In Exodus 20:14, God gave Moses the seventh of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not commit adultery.” Man, who spewed racial epithet, charged black NBC Today co-host Andrew Truelove allegedly stormed NBC's "Today" show at 9:00am Eastern on July 16th, lunged at anchor Craig Melvin, a black man, and called him the N-word, reports NBC News. He is now facing a slew of hate crime charges. Truelove, who is white and was unarmed, had entered a stairwell and made his way backstage near the dressing room. The staff and security rushed in -- and the intruder was ultimately detained and arrested. The incident was not captured during the broadcast. Nobody was hurt. Roughly 15 minutes afterwards, both Craig Melvin and Al Roker were on air. Neither hinted at the drama. AG nominee open to roll back Biden's mail-order Abortion Kill Pill During his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15th, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced a range of questions from Republicans regarding the Abortion Kill Pill mifepristone, reports The Washington Stand. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri asked about the Trump administration's perspective. HAWLEY: “Joe Biden took away President Trump's safety restrictions on this chemical abortion drug. He instituted a mail order abortion policy. So, my state went to court to try to defend our state's laws. A number of other states, Republican states, did this. And of course, in the meantime, the president changed, thank goodness. And now we have President Trump. “But that means that that now we have the state of Missouri, a Republican state, along with a number of other conservative Republican states, are in court against a Republican administration, fighting over Joe Biden's abortion policy.” BLANCHE: “I share your concerns, as does this entire administration. We have the most pro-life president in history, and you are one of the most pro-life senators in this body. “We are not defending what Biden did, and will not. The FDA has a process that takes a year. They've committed to do it in significantly less time than a year. President Trump's administration, in its entirety, will protect the life of the unborn.” HAWLEY: “Presumably, you have no issue with President Trump's earlier rule, which had common sense safety restrictions. You had to see a doctor, get a prescription. There had to be a follow-up visit to see if there was any hemorrhaging. Those were in place before Biden gutted them. “Presumably, there's no issue with any of those.” BLANCHE: “I anticipate the Department [of Justice] would defend those rules.” HAWLEY: “Why not, while the FDA is doing its review, why not put President Trump's rules in place? They're good rules. Why not do that rather than leave in place these rules?” BLANCHE: “We want to get to a good result, consistent with President Trump's administrative directive and priorities. And we very much believe that the Biden rules were wrong.” Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” Senator Cruz: Comstock Act should prohibit Abortion Pill by mail And Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas also addressed the Abortion Kill Pill with Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche. CRUZ: “The Comstock Act provides that every article or thing designed or adapted or intended for producing abortion is declared to be non-mailable. I have to admit that statutory text to me looks quite straightforward. It is not subtle. It is not difficult. It is straightforward. “As you know, during the Biden administration, the Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion concluding that those provisions generally do not prohibit mailing abortion drugs unless the sender intends them to be used unlawfully. Is that right?” BLANCHE: “Yes, that's correct.” CRUZ: “Now, [the] Office of Legal Counsel's opinions may be reconsidered when the Attorney General concludes they are inconsistent with the law. Is that right?” BLANCHE: “That is right.” CRUZ: “Will you commit to carefully reviewing that opinion to ensure that it faithfully reflects the actual statutory text that Congress enacted?” BLANCHE: “Yes.” CRUZ: “Will you commit that the Department [of Justice] will carefully evaluate every lawful action available to ensure the faithful enforcement of the Comstock Act and other federal pro-life acts?” BLANCHE: “Yes.” CRUZ: “I want to point out the real consequences of the Biden administration's lawless authorization of mail-order abortions. According to FDA reporting, the abortion pill has taken more than 3.7 million unborn lives, caused 24 maternal deaths -- moms are being killed -- and resulted in at least 4,195 adverse maternal reactions, including hemorrhage, excruciating abdominal pain, and severe, life-threatening infections. “The position of the Democrats now seems to be that women and teenage girls should be able to get mail-order abortions without a doctor being involved at all. And I will tell you, the death toll from that is horrific, and it needs to stop.” Once Blanche is voted out of the Judiciary Committee, he will need 51 votes of the 100 senators to be confirmed as President Trump's next U.S. Attorney General. Focus on the Family president Jim Daly to step down Nearly two decades after taking the helm of Focus on the Family following the departure of its founder, Jim Daly is preparing to hand the ministry to a new generation, reports The Christian Post. The president of one of America's most influential Evangelical groups announced this week that Focus has officially launched a nationwide search for its next leader, marking the beginning of what is expected to be an 18-month succession process ahead of the ministry's 50th anniversary in 2027. Unlike many recent leadership transitions in prominent Christian groups, this one is not being driven by scandal or internal upheaval. Rather, Focus on the Family is intentionally choosing to transition while it's healthy. Jim Daly said, "My core belief was it's good to get new faces, new energy, younger leadership in to speak to the 30-, 40-somethings about what they're facing with marriage and parenting. I'm going to be turning 65. It's time to start looking for the next-gen leadership. That's really the goal, and to do it well is the other goal." The search, being conducted with executive search firm FaithSearch Partners, will culminate in a vote by Focus' board of directors. Founded in 1977 by Christian psychologist and author Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family grew from a fledgling radio ministry into one of the most recognizable voices in American evangelicalism. Through its daily radio broadcasts, magazines, books, counseling services, and public policy advocacy, the Colorado Springs-based nonprofit became a defining force in conversations about marriage, parenting, religious liberty, and the sanctity of life. Today, the ministry reaches millions through radio, podcasts and digital media, employing roughly 750 people and overseeing an annual budget of $150 million. Worldview listeners weigh in from Texas and Alaska Liz Walker in Lubbock, Texas, wrote me and said, “I learned about your newscast from a Homeschool Mom blog. I love listening to it every weekday morning. I definitely get news that I would not get otherwise, including updates of the persecuted church and calls to action.  As a homeschool mom, I often want to do things, but feel like I am powerless.” And Thomas Williams in Wasilla, Alaska, wrote, “I just wanted to drop you a little note and say how much we value what you and your team are doing at The Worldview. My wife and I are raising eight kids -- six boys and two girls. We homeschool and use many items from Generations in our daily life. I pray that God continues to bless the work that you have begun.” 8 Worldview listeners gave $3,220 And finally, on Thursday night by 9:30pm Central, 8 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Karen in Hillsborough, North Carolina who gave $20 and Cathy in Fate, Texas who gave $50. We were touched by the generosity of Denise in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania who gave $200, Lin in Katy, Texas who gave $300, and Audrey in Otisville, New York who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300. And we're grateful to God for Kristin and Josh in Ball Ground, Georgia who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Jeremy and Meggan in Register, Georgia who gave $750, and Heather in Eagle, Idaho who gave $1,000. Those 8 gifts add up to $3,220. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $29,840 (sound effect of people cheering) That means we need to raise a whopping $26,725 to hit our $56,565 goal by tonight, Friday, July 17th, at 12 midnight! We need to find 8 Worldview listeners who will pledge $100/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $1,200, 14 folks who will pledge $50/month or give a one-time gift of $600, and 28 listeners who will pledge $25/month or give a one-time gift of $300. Please, go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  Remember, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total With God, all things are possible.  Ask Him what He would have you give toward funding this critical newscast for another year. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, July 17th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Coach Mark Misch joins Airey Bros Radio to discuss building one of the nation's premier NCAA Division II distance running programs at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).Entering his 20th season leading the Mountain Lions Men's Cross Country program, Coach Misch has established UCCS as a perennial national contender, guiding the program to 11 NCAA Division II National Championship appearances while coaching NCAA Champions, All-Americans, Olympians, Olympic Trials qualifiers, national record holders, and some of the most accomplished distance runners in Division II history.In Episode 469, Coach Misch shares his coaching journey from growing up in southeast Kansas to building a nationally respected program in Colorado Springs. We discuss the philosophy behind developing championship distance runners, creating a culture centered around character and accountability, recruiting student-athletes from across the country, and helping runners thrive both academically and athletically.We also dive into what makes Colorado Springs one of the world's premier endurance training destinations, the advantages and challenges of altitude training, competing in the always competitive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), and preparing athletes to compete on the national stage year after year.We also discuss:• Building championship culture• NCAA Division II Cross Country recruiting• Altitude training & athlete development• Character-based coaching philosophy• Developing NCAA Champions & Olympians• Competing in the RMAC• Creating academic excellence within a championship program• Recruiting student-athletes from across the country• Leadership, accountability & team culture• Coaching through adversity and athlete development• Advice for aspiring collegiate runners and coachesDuring his tenure at UCCS, Coach Misch has helped establish one of the premier distance running cultures in NCAA Division II while mentoring generations of student-athletes who have gone on to become coaches, educators, professionals, and leaders.Program Highlights:

The Garage Hour goons assembled at Location BFE for an hour of good garagey fun - salvaging parts from rolled trucks, hubcaps versus center caps, some of the more durable engines, and current catalytic convertor costs.  There's also some villains, some mortar rounds, a look at the 'Springs' WW2 Air Force Museum, some dead baby jokes (yeah, I know, we couldn't help ourselves - the chicken started it), and an Excellent Weirdo R.I.P. for Kjell Nillson - better known as Lord Humongous. Still in there: clips versus mags, extension cords, questionable fireworks, a fancy starter, JFS4, the live-fire zone that is Colorado Springs on Independence Day, flybys from the U.S. military (and the French?), and Five-Horse Johnson sets the mood.

The Garage Hour goons assembled at Location BFE for an hour of good garagey fun - salvaging parts from rolled trucks, hubcaps versus center caps, some of the more durable engines, and current catalytic convertor costs.  There's also some villains, some mortar rounds, a look at the 'Springs' WW2 Air Force Museum, some dead baby jokes (yeah, I know, we couldn't help ourselves - the chicken started it), and an Excellent Weirdo R.I.P. for Kjell Nillson - better known as Lord Humongous. Still in there: clips versus mags, extension cords, questionable fireworks, a fancy starter, JFS4, the live-fire zone that is Colorado Springs on Independence Day, flybys from the U.S. military (and the French?), and Five-Horse Johnson sets the mood.

In this Lessons in Success episode of So You Want to Be a Real Estate Agent, host Meredith Fogle sits down with Kera Baggot, a rising star in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado Springs, whose success story proves that extraordinary results come from consistent action, strong systems, and a willingness to grow through life's challenges.Kera shares the pivotal lessons that helped her transition from balancing two careers to taking the leap into real estate full-time. She opens up about navigating personal challenges while continuing to move her business forward, the role coaching has played in accelerating her growth, and the systems that keep her focused on the activities that matter most.Kera also reveals the mindset shift that helped her become comfortable on video, sharing the simple but powerful self-talk that transformed one of her biggest fears into one of her greatest business-building tools.

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. On this episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast, Jennie and Dianne wander back in time to the wild west days of Old Colorado City, Colorado, to share the story of how "the dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard" played a small part in that city's politics in 1891. Resting in a tidy grave at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs is Mr. John Henry Holt, who was once marshal of Old Colorado City and was presented with a very special badge by one Bob Ford, an infamous outlaw during the heyday of the western frontier. Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.comFamily Tales: A free printable is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharingSupport the show

WHAT IFWhat if the very humility you were raised to wear like a badge of honor is the exact thing quietly capping your career? What if showing up, speaking up, and being seen isn't bragging. That's the whole game. Siri Swahari spent two decades unlearning that lesson, and now she's built an entire movement to make sure other women don't have to figure it out alone.SUMMARY & GUEST INTROSiri Swahari moved to the US at 23 with no network, no roadmap, and no one in her corner. She built her entire career from scratch, volunteer work at a Colorado Springs library to VP at one of the world's largest IT and business consulting firms. Along the way, she founded Women Executive Circle, a community of senior women leaders now active in 12 states and growing. I needed to have this conversation. Her message is one every woman in corporate America needs to hear right now: you were not taught to show up, speak up, and be seen. That ends today.INSIDE THE EPISODEThe Humility Trap. Siri grew up in India being told that announcing her achievements, even being class topper, was bragging. She breaks down the deep unlearning it took to realize that staying invisible when you're already delivering value isn't humility. It's counterproductive.Imposter Syndrome Is a Growth Signal. Siri reframes the thing most women dread: if you're feeling imposter syndrome, you're doing something new, something uncomfortable, something that means you're growing. She shares how a career rotation into an entirely unfamiliar business function transformed how she leads. She coaches others through it now.You Can't Be an NPC in Your Own Career. Siri borrows her son's gaming acronym. NPC, non-playing character. It's what happens when talented women stay silent and expect growth anyway. Advocacy, visibility, and speaking up aren't optional extras. They're the game itself.What Bad Leaders Teach You. Siri and Erica both share how their worst leadership experiences became their most formative ones: the bosses who didn't credit their work, the environments that made people feel disposable, and how those moments became the North Star for the leaders they chose to become.The Origin Story of Women Executive Circle. What started as a small lunch group in Raleigh, born out of a Christmas party that required 100 attendees to happen, became a 12-state community of senior women leaders. Siri tells the full story, including the parking lot moment that made her text her WhatsApp group that Thursday night and say: the world needs this. Let's go.The WEC Framework: Wins, Evolving, Challenges. Siri walks through the rose/bud/thorn icebreaker she adapted into WEC's signature framework. Going around a table and asking 'what's actually going on in your life' unlocks something no traditional networking event ever could. It's the reason a leader who hadn't gotten out of bed in three days showed up to happy hour. She left with a plan.Representation Is the Work. After a women-in-AI event, Brown women lined up to ask Siri how she was so comfortable speaking in public. Not the VP title, not the promotions. That moment is what drives her. Because you can't be what you can't see, and Siri is committed to being visible so others know it's possible.RESOURCES & LINKSWomen Executive Circle: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-executives-circle/LinkedIn: Siri Swahari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirishaswahari/ RESOURCES & LINKSStart small with me inside HER Jumpstart:https://her-collective.mn.co/plans/1985289?bundle_token=60b2c61d62213cdbd16d437cdc0e4204&utm_source=manual

What does it take to faithfully follow the call of God through every season of ministry?-----------For extended show notes - https://hacka.org/2026/07/16/229-ryan-neer-the-ministry-mindset-every-leader-needs/-----------In this episode, we are joined by Ryan Neer, Lead Pastor of Gateway Pentecostal Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ryan shares his remarkable testimony—from addiction, brokenness and losing his father at a young age to becoming an evangelist and now pastor. But this conversation goes far beyond his story.We discuss why "mantles fall on moving targets," how to discern when God is saying "go" and when He's saying "stop," why a "no" from God may simply be an underdeveloped "now," and how God often develops His greatest leaders through seasons of weakness rather than strength.If you're pursuing God's calling, wrestling with unanswered prayers, or trying to understand the season you're in, this conversation will encourage, challenge and equip you to trust God's process.In this episode:- Ryan Neer's powerful testimony of salvation and transformation- Why mantles fall on moving targets- How to know when God is changing your season- Why God's "no" isn't always permanent- Receiving correction without becoming discouraged- Developing your gifting with humility- Understanding the fivefold ministry- Why God chooses weakness over self-confidence- Finding purpose in life's limitations- Letting patience prepare you for God's "suddenly"