Podcasts about Comcast

The photo world is filled with remarkable young and up-and-coming talents. They often don't get the visibility they deserve, so we created Next Frame—a new monthly series aiming to shine a light their way. These bite-sized episodes are equally inspired by the guests we speak with and the invaluable contributions of local creative arts programs that have played a key role in their development. We're launching this series with photographer, filmmaker, and boxing & music aficionado Josh Nass, an alumnus of Baltimore's Wide Angle Youth Media programs. From nailing his Photoshop skills while still in middle school to trading in his boxing gloves for a camera during college and beyond, Josh regales us with practical tips about both the successes and challenges all young creatives must face as they transition from trading pictures for access to molding media skills into a profitable career. Looking back on his early days chasing both music and fashion scenes, Josh notes, “Your main role as a photographer—especially with talent and famous people—you know, I thought I was just making them look cool, but I'm making them money. I'm marketing them for their next tour, for their current tour. Looking back, I've learned a thing or two about how to get users' attention online.” Guest: Josh Nass   Episode Timeline: 2:04: Baltimore/DC-based photographer Josh Nass talks about first picking up a camera to fill his time after hanging up his boxing gloves. 3:40: Leveraging social media to get on stage and photograph his favorite Caribbean singer, then trading free pictures for ongoing access. 7:25: Navigating one's comfort level as an up-and-coming photographer, plus making a distinction between comfort with gear and social ease with subjects and clients. 9:08: Making pictures of cool moments, creative editing decisions to draw out the cool factor, and being first to deliver the files are all key to Josh's success. 14:02: Street hustling at New York Fashion Week to gain access to photograph top artists and celebrities, and the tough lessons Josh learned in the process. 19:06: Josh's connection to Baltimore's Wide Angle Youth Media and the formative role their programs have played in his early photography success. 22:50: Being referred by Wide Angle for a Comcast commercial, and the backstory to what transpired behind-the-scenes.  29:49: Josh weighs future career options and whether he'll choose to pursue photography full time.  35:40: Essential advice for emerging photographers: Prioritize building your skills and don't overvalue your work early on. Plus, a look at Josh's first big paid gig for a Keke Palmer concert and marketing campaign.    Guest Bio: Josh Nass is a Baltimore/DC-based freelance photographer and a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he's pursuing a bachelor's degree in information science. As a high school graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts and a participant Baltimore's Wide Angle Youth Media non-profit, he's honed his subject-based style to give each of his shoots, whether its celebrities, musicians, athletes, or models, a unique “wow” factor.   Stay Connected: Website Instagram Facebook Wide Angle Youth / Comcast Video   Host: Derek Fahsbender Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein Executive Producer: Richard Stevens

Plus: Best Buy posts surprise sales increase as consumer spending on electronics held up despite higher prices. And CrowdStrike swung to a loss in the second quarter. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Luke Carignan and Bo Brabo for a lively episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, where they chat with Victor Gaines, AVP of Talent Acquisition at Wellstar Health System. Kicking off with NFL banter and a playful scoop on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's "engagement" (spoiler: it's all in good fun), the conversation quickly dives into Victor's eclectic career journey—from finance and TV to healthcare, pizza at Papa John's, and bourbon at Sazerac—now circling back to innovative TA in healthcare.Victor shares how his cross-industry experience (spanning high-volume hiring at Comcast and Papa John's to specialized roles at Fiserv and McKesson) equips him to tackle post-pandemic challenges like agility, digital transformation, and operational efficiency. The trio explores the transformative power of AI in TA: from automating scheduling and screening to combating bias and "hallucinations." Thought-provoking questions arise—can AI eradicate human biases, or does it amplify them? How close are we to AI-driven individualized learning or even clinical efficiencies?Key takeaways:Diverse Backgrounds Fuel Innovation: Victor's non-traditional path highlights why healthcare is increasingly recruiting external talent for fresh perspectives.AI's Double-Edged Sword: Essential for high-volume tasks but demands a "human in the loop" to mitigate risks like unintended bias or outdated data.Future-Proofing TA: Insights on pre-boarding, ambient listening in clinics, and ethical AI use—could we see 30%+ efficiency gains in five years?Victor's wisdom: "We've seen unprecedented change; now it's about agility to persevere." Whether you're in HR, TA, or curious about AI's role in work, this episode sparks debate on balancing tech with human judgment.Tune in on your favorite podcast platform or visit ashhra.org/ashhra-podcast. What biases lurk in your processes? Share your thoughts!From Our Sponsors...Optimize Pharmacy Benefits with RxBenefitsElevate your employee benefits while managing costs. Did you know hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions annually than other industries? Ensure cost-effective, high-quality pharmacy plans by leveraging your hospital's own pharmacies. Discover smarter strategies with RxBenefits.Learn More here - https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZNStreamline HR Compliance with oneBADGEhealthcareSimplify screening, credentialing, and compliance for healthcare HR. oneBADGEhealthcare from ISB Global offers a tailored solution to keep your workforce compliant and efficient. Built for healthcare leaders, it's your all-in-one compliance tool.Get Started here - https://isbglobalservices.com/onebadgeunitedstates/ashhra/ Support the show

Is a year of random ghostly screaming too much? We think it is! We also discuss trying to revisit the fae portals of our youth, owl mother-in-laws, and the bartender's mouthwash. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of death, home invasion, police activity, child endangerment, cancer, medical procedures, and carbon monoxide leaks. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives' Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb dive deep into the intersection of pop culture, entertainment, and the Christian life. They explore how Christians can engage with leisure and media in a way that glorifies God, applying biblical principles like those found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Ecclesiastes 3. The hosts emphasize the importance of balancing Christian liberty and holiness, while also recognizing the practical role of rest and recreation in human flourishing. Through personal anecdotes and theological insights, they provide listeners with a framework for discerning entertainment choices, encouraging believers to enjoy God's good gifts without compromising their faith. Key Takeaways: Entertainment is a Gift from God: Leisure and entertainment, when approached rightly, are part of God's common grace meant to refresh and restore us. Biblical Principles for Consumption: 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds Christians that all activities, including entertainment, should glorify God. If an activity cannot do so, it may be unlawful. Christian Liberty and Prudence: Decisions about pop culture often fall under the domain of Christian liberty, constrained by wisdom and prudence rather than legalistic rules. The Importance of Rest: Rest is not just about recharging for productivity; it is a God-given means of worship and human flourishing in its own right. Guarding Against Sinful Influences: Christians should be cautious of consuming media that promotes sin, as it can subtly shape their worldview and lead them astray. Personal Convictions and Context Matter: What is permissible for one believer may not be wise or beneficial for another, depending on individual struggles and contexts. Recreation Should Point Back to God: Whether through beauty, creativity, or storytelling, entertainment can lead Christians to worship God when consumed with discernment. Entertainment as a Gift from God Tony and Jesse emphasize that entertainment, when properly enjoyed, is a part of God's common grace. This means that activities like watching a movie, playing a video game, or reading a novel are not inherently sinful but can serve as vehicles for rest and refreshment. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3, they highlight that God has ordained seasons for both work and rest. True rest, they argue, is not about escaping responsibilities but about enjoying God's gifts in ways that glorify Him and restore our energy to serve others. When approached with discernment, even "secular" forms of entertainment can reflect God's creativity and goodness. Applying Biblical Principles to Entertainment The hosts discuss how 1 Corinthians 10:31 provides a litmus test for media consumption: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." This principle challenges believers to ask whether their entertainment choices align with God's glory. For example, content that promotes or glamorizes sin—whether through violence, sexual immorality, or blasphemy—should give Christians pause. However, they also note that some depictions of sin in fiction can serve a redemptive purpose, such as illustrating the consequences of sin or the beauty of redemption. The key is to thoughtfully evaluate whether the media being consumed inclines the heart toward holiness or pulls it away from God. Christian Liberty and Prudence Tony and Jesse stress the importance of Christian liberty in deciding on entertainment choices, while cautioning against legalism. They explain that Christian liberty does not mean a license to sin but rather the freedom to make God-honoring decisions in areas where Scripture does not provide explicit commands. Prudence and wisdom must guide these decisions. For instance, a particular TV show or game may be permissible for one believer but harmful for another, depending on their personal struggles or circumstances. This underscores the need for self-awareness and reliance on the Holy Spirit to discern what is spiritually beneficial. Quotes: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. If we cannot glorify God in an activity, it's likely unlawful for us as Christians." – Jesse Schwamb "Recreation is not just about recharging for productivity; it has its own value in glorifying God and enjoying His good gifts." – Tony Arsenal "Every story worth telling reflects, in some way, the greatest story ever told: redemption through Christ." – Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript: [00:00:30] Introduction and Episode Overview [00:00:30] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 457 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:00:37] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast where sound doctrine meets brotherly love. Hey brother. [00:00:44] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. So we're in a whole series of little one-off conversations, all kinds of things that just pop into our head, or we've had on a list somewhere that we thought, you know what? [00:00:55] Jesse Schwamb: Someday we should talk about that. And I think we've got another great. Conversation coming up on this episode, we're gonna get into a little bit about how Christians should interact with and consume pop culture maybe, and especially things like entertainment. And I know that there are gonna be people out there thinking, wow, these guys are gonna do what reform people always do. [00:01:15] Jesse Schwamb: They're just gonna come out into their lawn, they're gonna shake their fists angrily at the sky, they're gonna yell at the birds. It might not be that way, loved ones, but you're gonna have to wait. We're gonna talk about it. It's gonna be good. We're gonna get after it. We all do it. Everybody loves a bit of a to consume pop culture. [00:01:31] Jesse Schwamb: Is it possible it might be somewhat of a gift that God has given us? Who knows? Maybe it is, maybe it's not, but we'll get to that. But first, let's affirm with or denying against something in the world. So what have you got for us on this episode, Tony? [00:01:45] Tony's Frustrating Customer Service Experience [00:01:45] Tony Arsenal: I'm gonna keep mine super short. It was a frustrating customer service experience, uh, that I had today. [00:01:52] Tony Arsenal: In general, I, I have, uh, Comcast or Xfinity Internet in general. I'm actually very pleased. Their service. Um, I, I actually find them to be responsive. Um, I've managed to get a decent price. I don't have Comcast television, so that's probably part of it. Um, but I, my cable modem. Slash router, which I've had, I don't know, probably for like eight years. [00:02:13] Tony Arsenal: Um, it finally died, so I bit the bullet and bought a brand new one. And those man, those things have gotten expensive and um, you know, it's supposed to be a super easy installation. You plug it in, you do the little thing on the app and it didn't work. So I had to connect with customer service through the app, and. [00:02:30] Tony Arsenal: It seemed like everything was going fine. And then all of a sudden I get a link in my text message and the lady who's chatting with me on the thing says, well just, just scroll down and click on where it says accept and then hit okay. And I was like, that seems sketchy. So I read it and she was, she had sent me a link to change my internet service. [00:02:51] Tony Arsenal: Uh, she was giving me a 90, an $80 promotional price for the first year. Uh, but then it went up to $140 after the first year. Wow. So I went back to the chat app and I said, I'm sorry, I, I must have miscommunicated something. I don't need to change my service. I just need to activate my modem. She said, oh, no, no, you're not changing your service. [00:03:11] Tony Arsenal: And I said, no, I, I definitely am. She goes, let me explain this to you. And she went through and tried, like, she went through and she's like, your speed is this and you're paying this. And I said, and I said, with all due respect, I'm not stupid. I can see that you're trying to change my service and I'm just not interested. [00:03:27] Tony Arsenal: And I had to fight with her for like 10 minutes before I finally said, just activate my modem, please. I'm not interested. Full stop. So I, I guess I'm just denying. I get, I get it. Like, you gotta try to upsell. I used to be in sales. I don't have any problem with you trying to upsell. I, I don't even necessarily have a problem with you trying to be clever and like, you know, intentional about how you upsell. [00:03:48] Tony Arsenal: Like there are ways that you can do that without being deceptive. This was just deceptive. So I'm not denying Comcast. I'm pleased with my service. I'm denying this particular person and this really just underhanded tactic. It was really, really upsetting. I mean, [00:04:02] Jesse Schwamb: there is nothing like good customer service, right? [00:04:04] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, the converse of that is what a blessing it is, and it's kind of a lesson to all of us and how we treat one another. That is whether we're providing the service or we ourselves are consuming it. It is just such a blessing. It's like so easy and so light when you get somebody who really wants to help you. [00:04:21] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And. You know, I would not have changed my service, but I can imagine that somebody who was looking and was interested, if she had just said straightforwardly, like your internet that you have is far slower than the modem that you're, you're installing, right? Um, we can get you a faster internet speed and give you a, a large discount for the first year. [00:04:42] Tony Arsenal: Are you interested in that? I think a good portion of people would just say yes. Even if they didn't think it through, they would just say, oh yeah, sure. Faster speed, less money. They, they wouldn't think it through. That's not deceptive. If you present an option, honestly, to a consumer and they take it and they didn't understand the terms, that's not deception. [00:04:58] Tony Arsenal: That's on them as the consumer for not thinking through what they're purchasing. This was just straight out, like, don't read it, just click on it, it's fine. Totally underhanded, deceptive. Um, and, and you know, I work in. Sort of a kind of customer service and I just can't imagine ever doing something that shady and calling it customer service. [00:05:15] Tony Arsenal: I was, I was very disappointed. [00:05:17] Jesse Schwamb: But I mean, everybody has customers, right? Yeah. Everybody has somebody they're responsible to, and everybody has people to whom they should be responsible in the kind of care. Whatever you provide to somebody, whether it's your family, it's in your church, it's in your job, so, right. [00:05:30] Jesse Schwamb: I like that. It's a good reminder because again, there's nothing like walking away from experience and being like, wow, that was so easy, or that person was so good to help me. Yeah. Or like they really got me to the end that I was looking for and they did it and I felt better afterwards than I did before I called. [00:05:43] Jesse Schwamb: That should be like our goal, like what does great look like in every interaction that we can have with somebody. [00:05:48] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse, what are you affirming or denying tonight? [00:05:52] Jesse's Affirmation: The Plana App for Plant Care [00:05:52] Jesse Schwamb: I'm going back to the app. Well, and by that was a really weird saying of just, I'm gonna affirm with another app. So I really love a good house plant, but I'm no good at the house plants. [00:06:02] Jesse Schwamb: I really like the way they look. It's a lot of pressure with house plans. Maybe people feel this way. Maybe you've not purchased a house plant or been like, I can't be that person. So here's something that I can confirm with for you. Loved one, it's a app called Plana. It's a Swedish plant care app, and it's designed to help both like novice people like me and I guess really experienced plant owners keep their house and garden plants healthy, which I know sounds super boring, but hear me out on this. [00:06:27] Jesse Schwamb: This is what's cool about this. It offers smart, personalized care reminders for things like watering, fertilizing, misting, repotting, and it has all these things where if you, there's paid subscription for this as well, which I do not have, but I looked at all the options. There's some super cool things like you can use your phone to sense where your plan is sitting, how much light it's getting to really tell you, is this the right spot for my plant? [00:06:49] Jesse Schwamb: Because you know, like some plants are like, we need partial sunlight and partial shade and afternoon sun and direct sun, and you need to water me, but not too much and not so often, but just the right amount. It's a lot of pressure. So it's got all these fun features in it, including like an AI doctor. So you can take a look or a picture of your plant rather, and not only will it describe what plants you have, of course, but it will help you say like, Hey, this thing is not healthy. [00:07:08] Jesse Schwamb: Here's what you should do. So the plant app is, might be your foray into feeling more confident about having some greenery in your house. [00:07:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, um, I could kill a plastic plant. I could kill like a fake plant, uh, without trying, uh, but I might check this out. You, you've seen my, my home. You've been here? [00:07:26] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Um, my, my house is, it's a, a mobile home and so it's, it's just one long line and it's situated like almost directly east, west. So I get direct sunlight over the top of the house pretty much the entire day. And we have really beautiful, um. Violet cone plants and some other like lilies on one end of the house, um, that the previous owner planted. [00:07:46] Tony Arsenal: They're very beautiful, but um, they just get baked in the sun and there's gotta be something that can be done to sort of help them through this. Maybe it's more water or something like that. So maybe I'll check this out and see if that can help. 'cause they're not, they're not doing great. Um, they, they didn't bloom very well this year. [00:08:00] Tony Arsenal: Mm-hmm. And I'm, I'm wondering if it might be, I dunno, it's been kind of dry, um, this part of the year, more than usual, so I'll check that out. That sounds like a good recommendation. There's a couple of different apps. This one sounds good. [00:08:10] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, it's, there's certainly a lot of stuff that you can get free in it. [00:08:14] Jesse Schwamb: Of course, they want to upsell you like you just talked about. They're, no, no, they're no Comcast, but they definitely would like you to purchase all their other features, and I bet for the right person, it's totally worth it. But I feel so much more confident now. Mainly just the watering. If you surprised how like much pressure. [00:08:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, like aloe plants and also I'm learning the names of my plants finally, which makes me feel more connected. This, this is, listen, this is like the app to help you take dominion in your house over house plants, which sounds like the lowest form of taking dominion, but honestly still shows how complex and complicated life can be and how God has made everything in this really wonderful way. [00:08:52] Jesse Schwamb: So I'm feeling more empowered to love my plants and to hopefully keep them growing. I was gonna say for generations, but I doubt that I'll be passing on links, plants for generations, but hopefully getting just lots more greenery into our living spaces, which is always super fun. [00:09:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I, I, um, I would like to have more plants, but I just, with between toddlers and dogs and my ability to kill anything green that is in my home, uh, I don't think it would be good. [00:09:19] Tony Arsenal: That's your, your sister who is My wife does a good job with plants, but even the, yeah, she does, even, even that the plants die just because they're around me. I'm not sure what it is. I have like a, I hear it, listen, an aura of some sort that just kills plants. [00:09:32] Discussing Christians and Pop Culture [00:09:32] Jesse Schwamb: It's, it's difficult sometimes to grow in soil, which is, I, one of the things I presume Christians often feel like when they're in the culture and when, mm-hmm. [00:09:41] Jesse Schwamb: Do. Do you like that segue? We're so good with this. I do. And when you are consuming, let me say pop culture, or you find yourself in a place where you want entertainment and you want to rest, and I think if you're a Christian for any length of time, you start to ask yourself, okay, so what's my place in all of this? [00:09:59] Jesse Schwamb: And what's interesting when I thought about this topic, which you graciously put forward for us, was that I think several times we've mentioned kind of cultural things often in the affirmation and denial section. Yeah. Where we've. Maybe come hard alongside something and said, this seems good. And other times we've definitely said, this seems very, very bad. [00:10:17] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. But we've never really had just a pretty honest conversation about, okay, so how does the Christian discern, what is the Christian's role in making that discernment? And how can we, like our house plants grow and flourish in that kind of environment to such a degree that we are actually bearing fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit. [00:10:36] Jesse Schwamb: And yet, of course, separate. From that culture in which we still find ourselves. [00:10:41] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I, you know, I think it bears saying, um, much of popular culture, media, whatever it might be, a lot of it is going to be a matter of Christian prudence and liberty. And I think it's important to say that because I think, you know, we'll talk about, we'll probably talk about like principles we use to try to determine whether we, you know, individually or, or whatever. [00:11:04] Tony Arsenal: We're going to watch something or listen to something, but. The, the Bible doesn't say like thou shalt, and I'm gonna say this example, and it's a little bit ironic because this is actually a show that I think is pretty black and white. But it, it's not like the Bible says, thou shalt not watch Game of Thrones. [00:11:20] Tony Arsenal: Right. Um. Right. Like thou shalt not. Listen to, I don't know who the kids are listening to. Britney Spears like tells you when The last time I listened to popular music was, is Britney Spears is the name on my mind. But like thou shalt not listen to, I dunno, Paramore, I don't know name. Name your pop culture band. [00:11:37] Tony Arsenal: The Bible doesn't give us explicit instructions about specific bands. Movies, shows, insert, pop, you know, novels, whatever it might be. It does give us some wisdom principles. And then of course, there's God's moral law, uh, but even God's moral law does not. Necessarily apply directly to every pop culture choice we might make. [00:12:04] Tony Arsenal: So I'm sure Jesse and I don't have identical opinions. I'm gonna guess that our thoughts are probably pretty close just because, you know, we're influenced by the same people and we, we are running in the same broader theological circles, but they're probably not identical. There are probably things that Jesse would watch that I'd go, oh, I don't know if that's such a great thing for me. [00:12:22] Tony Arsenal: And there's probably things I would feel comfortable with that Jesse might say, eh, I'm not so sure about that. This is usually a matter of Christian liberty constrained by Christian prudence and wisdom. So before we get into any of the nitty gritty or any specific talk of anything particular, I wanna get that out there because yes, we have to be wise, we have to. [00:12:44] Tony Arsenal: Apply God's law, but we are not able to bind other people's conscience and you are not able to bind other people's conscience based on your own particular opinion about something or your own interpretation of how the Bible is to be applied to a particular decision. Um. You know, again, you can speak into a situation. [00:13:03] Tony Arsenal: You, especially if you have a relationship with someone, you can say, Hey, I don't think this is healthy. I don't think this is in conformity with God's law, but at the end of the day, that is between that Christian and God as to whether or not they are applying God's law appropriately and, and in to an extent, and to a great extent between them and their elders. [00:13:21] Tony Arsenal: Right? The elders have a, a different role of authority in a, in a Christian's life than other Christians do. And [00:13:27] Jesse Schwamb: it might be worth saying as we begin that we're kind of talking about this, I think in part because we all feel that pull to consume pop culture, and what I kind of teased at the beginning is this idea, is it possible that, I think we're really speaking about consuming that in a kind of a way of entertainment of like rest and relaxation. [00:13:45] Jesse Schwamb: Principally there. There are other reasons I think as well, and that might be to edify, to educate, but I think principally when we feel this compulsion to say, well, I like you, just give great examples. Listen to music, watch a sporting event, watch tv, read something fiction or nonfiction. I think what we're after there is this idea that we want to rest and that understanding that entertainment is a part of the rest that God intends for us to enjoy from our labors is by itself, full stop, a legitimate thing. [00:14:13] Jesse Schwamb: So the question is. A little bit more nuanced. Where is that line? You already gave, I think a pretty good example of something that you and I would agree on would say that that's a bridge to fight across. Don't watch that thing, right? Yeah, do something else. But the question is how did we get to that place in making that judgment? [00:14:28] Jesse Schwamb: And is there a place in there where we would say, well, the Bible is an explicit about, let's say certain medium or even like specific things within that medium that it is outspoken enough that we ought to say. No, we will not do that. So I think this is what we're after in part, is this proper use of entertainment involving, of course, analyzing worldviews, appreciating elements of beauty and creativity, acknowledging reflections of truth. [00:14:53] Jesse Schwamb: But that also that in some way, all of this is God's gift to us. That while the Bible does not give us a great deal of explicit statements about how believers are to view entertainment, there is much we can draw out to scripture by way of good and necessary consequence to borrow language from somewhere else. [00:15:10] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:15:11] Applying Biblical Principles to Entertainment Choices [00:15:11] Tony Arsenal: And I also think too, like this is a question that often is presented as very simple and very like cut and dry, but it can be a lot more complicated than you think. And here's an example, and we don't have to get into this particular example, but let's do it. You know, I think a lot of times people, um, will take the example of blasphemy. [00:15:32] Tony Arsenal: Right, and a show that is, or a, a video game, whatever it is, content that is intentionally blaspheming, God is something that at a bare minimum, Christians should be very wary of participating in and consuming just because it, it's something that openly dishonors God is probably not something Christians should be eager to participate in or to consume, but. [00:15:56] Tony Arsenal: Um, there, there are instances where a, a show or a, a video game or a book contains a fictionalized blast swimming of God that actually may serve the greater purpose of glorifying God. So if you think of like, um. Think of a, a book or a a movie where there is a character who is a non-Christian, and over the course of the book, they are shown to be blaspheming God, and then they experience a conversion. [00:16:24] Tony Arsenal: And the purpose of the, the purpose of the book is to glorify God through this conversion redemption story. That it character in that fictionalized universe is blasphemy God within that universe, right? Or within that fictionalized story. But the purpose of that blasphemy is actually to serve the greater purpose of glorifying God. [00:16:46] Tony Arsenal: So that's not to say that automatically anything like that gets a pass, right? That can be done well, that can be done poorly. That can be done in a way that actually glorifies God. It can be done in a way that doesn't actually hit the mark. But it's not as simple as to say, this character in this show. [00:17:00] Tony Arsenal: Engaged in blasphemy. Therefore, we should never consume that show. We have to do some actual thinking and some actual analysis of what's going on in order to. Understand whether or not it actually is violating God's law. Now there are probably some things, um, you know, like graphic sex scenes. There's really no reason, um, for Christians to feel drawn to shows that contain that. [00:17:25] Tony Arsenal: Again, this is, this is, um, I, I, at this point in my life and I, in earlier periods in my life, I might have been more black and white on this. I am not here to tell you what you can and can't watch. That's not my role. I'm not the Holy Spirit. I'm not your pastor. I'm not any of the persons or people who have an obligation to tell you what is or isn't, right? [00:17:46] Tony Arsenal: Like I'm not that person. But I cannot think of personally a reason why a Christian would, would need to, or should ever participate in like enjoying a show that contains graphic sex scenes. Um. The people making those have to sin in order to make those scenes right. So there are, there are things we should consider. [00:18:12] Tony Arsenal: Are kind of always off board, right? It's always off board to do physical harm to somebody in the service of making a movie, right? So if you have a movie where people are, are actively trying to hurt each other in order to produce the film, I'm not sure that we should participate in that. I wouldn't feel comfortable if I knew that was going on in a film. [00:18:28] Tony Arsenal: I don't, I don't, you know, again, other Christians might, and we can have a conversation about that, but we have to think about those things. Do the actors. Do the people who are creating the content, do they have to sin in order to create it? If that, if the answer is yes, we as Christians, I think should be extremely, extremely wary of, of even watching or consuming those things. [00:18:49] Tony Arsenal: So those are the kinds of questions and situations that I think need to be list like thought about as we approach pop culture. But I also think, Jesse, you know, you made the point to that. Popular culture, entertainment broadly is a gift from God for us to enjoy. Right? And it's okay to enjoy it. It's okay for us to participate in that. [00:19:09] Tony Arsenal: You know, we're not, we're not the people who are gonna say to you like, well, you know, every minute you spend, uh, reading, I don't know, uh, reading will of the many, every minute you spend reading Will of the many you could spend witnessing to people, right? So therefore, you should never read Will of the many or The Hobbit or whatever it might be. [00:19:27] Tony Arsenal: Um, but we should think carefully about what we consume, how much of it we consume, when we consume it, all those are questions that the Christian needs to ask themselves. [00:19:35] Jesse Schwamb: I agree. I think the broad test here is actually not that difficult to comprehend. It's probably more that we sometimes hesitate to apply it because we're afraid of what it might mean for the stuff that we're consuming. [00:19:46] Jesse Schwamb: So again, like ceasing from our work in order to rest holds us together like that, that is something that God gives us as a pattern relaxation that we should take joy in. It must be the right amounts of lawful entertainment or consumption of all of this stuff in pop culture, but it is there. I think like even God gives it our own cultures as a means for us to find that kind of rest and to find some comradery and solidarity even with those in whom we interact and live with. [00:20:13] Jesse Schwamb: I think all of that's fine. Like you've said, it gets a little tricky when we start thinking about, well, where is that appropriate line? What is our conviction? But I think part of the problem with that is that we might not be seeking out conviction for ourselves. We not be asking because we hate to find that there is conviction in things that we're watching because there's gonna be a lot of things'. [00:20:31] Jesse Schwamb: That society's gonna be preoccupied with for entertainment for its own sake. And again, it's an indicator that everybody, men and women, even children, are seeking rest from the burden of their work and that rest is okay. Even that itself, like you're saying, Tony, it's interesting. I think so much we're gonna come back to is this idea of it. [00:20:47] Jesse Schwamb: Is, are we redeeming what we're doing in this process? Are we being not just thoughtful about discerning, adjudicating, or interrogating what we're watching and listening and reading, but as we do it, are we thoughtful people? Are we seeing the themes even in those joyous things that we find as entertainment that draw us back to the goodness of God that explains something about the world he's created or his own character finding? [00:21:10] Jesse Schwamb: Of course, that in every story is just a reflection of the greatest story ever told. Like, yeah, all of those themes, all the things we are drawn to that we gravitate towards. That move us. All of those things still come from God. And so therefore, even our entertainment can serve this purpose of not just alleviating our minds and bodies from the burden of ongoing labor in a fallen world, but can also draw, draw us back to God's common grace and his particular grace for his people who are always sinners. [00:21:34] Jesse Schwamb: So here's the the first test. I think it's the most simple one. And everybody's gonna throw their listening devices at the wall because it's the one that's the most straightforward. It's the one you might've been thinking you're gonna get to eventually, and let's just get it out of the way. I don't say that because it's not worthwhile. [00:21:49] Jesse Schwamb: I say it because it's exactly the kind of worthwhile test that we should apply, and it applies perfectly in every situation. And that's the Apostle Paul setting out in one Corinthians 10 31. Here it is. This is like. You know, top 20 reform verses whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [00:22:07] Jesse Schwamb: So the beauty of this is I think just first pass, first blush, top of the house. If we cannot engage in an entertaining activity in such a way as to glorify God, then it's just unlawful. And by way of contrast, if you can, then we're justified in viewing it as a gift of God's common grace. I, I just throw it out there to start with. [00:22:26] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think that it's not that we found that this particular test has been tried and left wanting, but rather we haven't tried it very well. Oftentimes. Yeah. At least for my own sake. And instead we say, well, the Bible just isn't clear. But if you're, watch your point, Tony. If you're watching something that is gratuitous in any way, and you stop and say. [00:22:44] Jesse Schwamb: Am I glorifying God in the consumption of this? I think it's really difficult to make a strong argument that in some way you are actively, not just passively and saying like, well, it's okay and there's gonna be a redeeming story plot in here somewhere, I hope. But are we actively, whenever, whenever we're doing or we're consuming these things, are we actually glorifying God? [00:23:02] Jesse Schwamb: Is God glorified in. What's happening with my mind, my thoughts, my body, my eyes, my conversations, how this shapes me, how this changes my worldview. If we have to answer that God is not glorified there, then to my view, it's unlawful. And I think also in the eyes of the Apostle Paul. [00:23:19] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:23:20] Personal Convictions and Christian Liberty [00:23:20] Tony Arsenal: And you know, I think something that is important to, um. [00:23:24] Tony Arsenal: Comment on and think about when we sort of apply that test, that test really has more to do with what's going on in our heart. Yes. When we are consuming any particular part, you know, any particular media than it necessarily has to do with the media itself. I think there are some things, um, that. Just cannot be consumed to the glory of God. [00:23:46] Tony Arsenal: Right? You can't watch pornography to the glory of God, like you just can't do it. Um, you can't, you can't watch people murder each other for, you know, to the glory of God. But the vast majority of things that are out there, um, the, the, the question you're asking is not primarily grounded in the content itself. [00:24:07] Tony Arsenal: It's, it's grounded in. What the content does to us and in us and how we process it. And I think that's why I, you know, I always wanna say for most things, this goes back to Christian Liberty and. Christian Liberty is not a license to sin. It's, it's a freedom to, um, to obey, right? It's a freedom and it's a range of possibilities to obey God in different ways, in different situations, rather than some tightly constrained, tightly restricted behavioral code, right? [00:24:39] Tony Arsenal: There is a law. God gives us a law. We talked about this at length when we did the 10 commandment series. He gives us a law, but this law is a set of 10 principles for godly living. Not a, an exhaustive list of do this, don't do that. Right? So the seventh commandment, you know, for media. Is this inclining my mind towards chastity and purity of thought, right? [00:25:02] Tony Arsenal: For those of us who are married, is this likely to, um, create a barrier in my relationship with my wife, or is this likely to enhance the relationship I have with my wife? Is this. Particular thing I'm doing, this video game that I play, is this likely to draw my attention away from my children when they need me? [00:25:19] Tony Arsenal: Or is it something that I have that is likely to increase my ability to pay attention to my children? Or am I able to properly balance the demands that my children have and the needs my children have while I still play this video game, just as an example. So we can still use those 10 principles to help guide us, but the way that those. [00:25:38] Tony Arsenal: The way that the law is applied to these questions and how it is, is gonna be unique, I think almost, almost across the board for things. It's gonna be unique to each individual, right? One person may be able to, yeah, like my big thing and I like, okay, I'm just gonna put this out there. I'm just gonna lay myself bare here. [00:25:55] Tony Arsenal: If I could say that I have one actual real addiction in life, it's probably World of Warcraft, and I know that sounds probably really silly, but even me saying and saying the phrase World of Warcraft, in my mind I'm like, could I figure out a way that I could go back in and play that game? Like they call it World of Warcraft for a reason. [00:26:14] Tony Arsenal: It is super addictive and it's very easy to fall back into it. I'm sure there are people out there who can perfectly just fine, could manage their life of having children and a wife and a job and, you know, service to the church and still play World of Warcraft for a couple hours a week or, or an hour every night and still be just fine. [00:26:33] Tony Arsenal: I cannot do that. If I subscribe to World of Warcraft, it will imbalance my life such that something that God is calling me to, that I know God is calling me to, is going to be pushed out of the way for that. So for me. I cannot fulfill my obligations and participate in that particular element of pop culture. [00:26:52] Tony Arsenal: And I think there's probably something like that for most of us. Again, someone else may be able to do that just fine. There are probably many people who can do that just fine. That's a problem in my own heart. And the way I address that is by saying, this is just not healthy for me, so I'm not gonna do it. [00:27:05] Tony Arsenal: And whether that's a TV show or a a book series. I know people who won't read certain books because they get so immersed in it and it sort of like shapes their worldview in really unhealthy ways. They just won't pick up a particular set of novels or a particular book series. Um, you know, I've told this story that I, I don't remember where I was flying. [00:27:24] Tony Arsenal: Um, it wasn't. I must have been flying to Minnesota. That's the only place I've traveled by air for quite a long time. Um, I stopped in the, the bookstore, the, you know, the, the souvenir store, whatever. And I forgot a, I forgot a book at home of all the people to forget a book. And I was like, you know, there's this big hub lu about Game of Thrones and you know, maybe the book is better than the show. [00:27:43] Tony Arsenal: And like, you know, I can control what I'm imagining and it's easier for me to skip over parts and nobody is having to make graphic sex scenes. Even if they're sort of portrayed in the book. I can maybe do this. I got like. A chapter and a half into the book and was like, I can't, this is not healthy for me. [00:27:57] Tony Arsenal: It's not helpful. It doesn't glorify God. It's not true. It's not noble, it's not honorable, it's not worthy of praise. Right. I'm just gonna, and I just threw the book away. I spent like $15 on a book and then I just threw it in the garbage. Um, and I don't say that to like prop myself up as some bastion of self control. [00:28:10] Tony Arsenal: That's just in that moment I made the right decision. But there are things like that, that you are gonna have to look at your own self to say, I cannot participate in this, even if someone else might be able to. I personally cannot. And I think that's really the more the question we need to ask then. Are there universal principles that say, I can't do A, B, or C? [00:28:30] Tony Arsenal: It's really about my heart in the moment and how my heart is affected by a given thing. [00:28:36] Jesse Schwamb: Much like the 10 Commandments. This whole conversation in the scriptural, I think admonishment here is very much about freeing us up to enjoy freedom, to have joy in these things. It's not about just saying, well, here's a list of things that you can't do. [00:28:51] Jesse Schwamb: Isn't that unfortunate? Everybody else can do them, but you can't enjoy them. Instead, Scott saying like you're talking about Tony, no put to death all these evil, selfish things that are in your life that actually destruct. And instead, enjoy entertainment and pop culture in such a way that not only glorifies him, but does truly refresh you so that you're not drawn back into patterns of selfish behavior or sinful thinking, or all kinds of, you know, sexual frivolity that's going to lead your mind and your body and your heart astray or into places that you'll end up getting hurt. [00:29:25] Jesse Schwamb: I think. The beauty of this is it just provides us with a way to think and discern about the stuff that we're consuming so that we're ensured. Then it's fulfilling the right purpose that God has for in our lives, and that's freeing. When you get to a place where the scripture says like, here's the way walking it, then you know that you can walk confidently and you can enjoy that very thing. [00:29:46] Jesse Schwamb: One great example, I think that sit on both sides, we can talk about in some ways how there's like a, a lack of, or like kinda a, a moral perspective with certain types of medium of expression. One of those I think famously is, is music. Luther famously said, musical performance is principle among the entertainment that God has graciously given us to enjoy in life. [00:30:06] Jesse Schwamb: And yet who hasn't been part of either music that has been absolutely refreshing, absolutely life-giving, absolutely calming and beautiful in the same way that like David played before King Saul when he was distressed. And maybe you've had this experience where there's some kind of soothing melody that was just a bomb to your soul and your condition in that state. [00:30:25] Jesse Schwamb: And then also. On the other side, who hasn't listened even to some really catchy music that's been filled with like sexual perversion, misogyny, violence themes that at the end of it, you may have enjoyed the beat, but it's, it's just left you kind of feeling gross. And disgusted. Yeah. Even with yourself for enjoying it. [00:30:45] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think that's what we're after here is like to be freed up to enjoy this kind of entertainment in a way that it is truly the gift that God has given rather than something that enslaves us. And I'm gonna argue that it often does. Not because it's just addictive, though. [00:30:59] The Influence of Entertainment on Our Lives [00:30:59] Jesse Schwamb: It can be, but because it does actually influence us deeply and, and I think one thing is clear is that all the things we're talking about here that's present in entertainment, and I'm talking all the way back to things like athletic performance, all of this beauty and creativity, art expressed both in film literature and in music, that all of those things God has given us for our good and for his glory. [00:31:22] Jesse Schwamb: So he wants us to enjoy them. But sin is of course gonna take all those things and pervert them and twist them in such a way that they no longer become life-giving or become life taking. The problem is they take life incrementally and on the margin. Yeah. And so that you rarely feel that that's going on. [00:31:37] Jesse Schwamb: You rarely sense the divide of the chasm that's creating in your thought patterns, in the way that you interact with people, even the way that you interact with God until, not that it's too late, but that's, you wake up and you think, my goodness, how far have I gone from what I think this is really intended to be in my life? [00:31:52] Jesse Schwamb: Then maybe addiction does crop up in such a place that you're like this. This has gone too far. But I think, again, like many things in life, when God says no, what he's saying is, do not hurt yourself. I know better. I want you to enjoy these things. So I see this as like our opportunity to like empower to come with the scriptures, bearing full weights on what we consume, not because we need more laundry lists of things to avoid, but because we need direction on what is best to sink our entertainment time and resources into. [00:32:20] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I, I think that's a good, um, that's a good, maybe a next test right? [00:32:25] Balancing Time and Entertainment Choices [00:32:25] Tony Arsenal: Is we only have a finite amount of time. We, we, and, and I'm not even just talking about like in general, we have a, I'm, I'm talking about like we have a finite amount of discretionary time. We all have commitments, we have jobs, we have families, we have church commitments, we have friends that we wanna maintain relationships with. [00:32:43] Tony Arsenal: The amount of time we have to just like sit down and consume pop culture is limited no matter, no matter who you are. Some people have more, some people have less. Um, we can consume. Ev, every time we say yes to one thing, we're saying no to another thing, right? There is, um, there is popular culture or content out there that absolutely is encouraging, right? [00:33:05] Tony Arsenal: And absolutely is going to enhance your life, and it's going to enhance your piety and your devotion to God, right? And I'm not just talking about like Christian content. There's decent Christian content out there. There's decent Christian films, there's decent Christian music, there's decent Christian fiction writing. [00:33:22] Tony Arsenal: Um, there's probably even decent Christian video games, although I haven't run into them, I'm sure they're out there. Um. But that's not even what I'm talking about. [00:33:30] Finding Value in Non-Christian Content [00:33:30] Tony Arsenal: There there are, there are non quote, non-Christian, um, right there. There's General grace. Common grace works out there that will, they'll, they'll make you smarter. [00:33:41] Tony Arsenal: It will make you healthier. It'll help you enhance your life. It'll help you enjoy your world more. It'll help you enjoy and see the beauty in God's creation. More I've, I've commented, um. At length, and this isn't necessarily pop culture, although it kind of bridges the gap a little bit. I've commented at length on how beneficial in my life, Ryan holiday's, writings have been. [00:33:58] Tony Arsenal: Right? Right. That's what he doesn't get everything right. There are some things he gets very wrong, um, but. I, I read, um, Ryan Holiday's, stoic. Stoic Works, and I wouldn't say he's a scholar of stoicism. He's more like a modern day stoic philosopher. I read his works and I benefit from him. It makes my life better. [00:34:17] Tony Arsenal: It makes my devotion to God better. It makes my piety better. It makes me a better husband and a better father, and a better employee just in general. It makes me a better person. Not because Ryan Holiday is some special thing, but because he seems to have tapped into common grace principles that other writers haven't, I have a choice. [00:34:33] Tony Arsenal: You know? Do I wanna read that or do I wanna read some? Um, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy manga, but like, do I wanna read some. Meaningless, pointless manga that is just the same story over and over again with different animation. You know, some people might find that the reading the manga is the right thing for them and that enhances their life. [00:34:51] Tony Arsenal: Right? But for me, I've had to make that calculation. I only have so much time. I only have so much time to read. Um, and, and this is might be a shock to people. There are times where I'll have the decision between reading a theology book and. Being caught up on my reading in Daily Stoic, I most often will take time to read the Daily Stoic instead of reading something. [00:35:10] Tony Arsenal: For example, I'm way behind on Daily Devotion or Daily Doctrine by Kevin De Young Way Behind, but I'm not behind on, on Daily Dad or daily Stoic from Ryan Holiday. That's not because one, one thing is better than the other necessarily, but what I need in my life and what God is calling me to. The writings by di by Ryan Holiday right now are more effective in a, in accomplishing those tasks and into shaping me into who I believe God wants me to be. [00:35:37] Tony Arsenal: So that's the other question we have to ask is what? [00:35:40] The Importance of Rest and Leisure [00:35:40] Tony Arsenal: What is the most beneficial thing for us at the moment? It could be some sort of mindless cotton, candy entertainment. There's nothing wrong with that. This isn't, this isn't me saying like find, this isn't like hustle culture for pop culture. Like sometimes you just need to veg out and do something that doesn't require any brain power, and that's what God is, is giving you as a gift for your rest and your re recuperation. [00:36:04] Tony Arsenal: Sometimes it's a hard hitting. Heavy theology. Sometimes you need to sit down and read some Bob Ink again, not that that's pop culture, but I think the broader principle applies. Maybe you need to sit down and read some Turin, or maybe you need to like scroll Instagram for a little while and watch funny cat videos, right? [00:36:19] Tony Arsenal: All of those things are good things. They're all gifts from God in the proper proportions and at the proper time, and that's why this can be such a complicated question is because we have to have a good, robust. Honest reflection of who we are and what we need in order to make these, these decisions. Um, and it really is about what do we need in the moment? [00:36:37] Tony Arsenal: What is God calling us to? What is the wise thing to do right now, the wise thing to consume right now? Um, and, and I think that's a good test. Is this the most effective thing and accomplishing in my life what needs to be accomplished, right? That could be all sorts of goals, but is this the most effective thing to accomplish that at my life right now? [00:36:57] Tony Arsenal: If so, and it's not sinful, and then have at it enjoy. You know, I think those are the kinds of questions we need to ask, and I don't think we often ask that. I think we are often passive. And neutral in decisions about what we're gonna watch for pop culture. We're driven by what is the most popular thing on Netflix? [00:37:15] Tony Arsenal: What does the algorithm recommend for us? Or what is being talked about at work? Or what do I have on hand? What do I have easy access to? Um, I think we need to be more active and intentional in our decisions on this towards those ends. [00:37:29] Jesse Schwamb: Right on. And there's no accounting for taste, right? I mean, part, part of time we get caught up in that, so we'll just say, well, maybe what I'm experiencing, because I'm a Christian, I'm trying to process this, has to do more about like particular medium or the taste or the type of genre or something. [00:37:44] Jesse Schwamb: I'd encourage us to not get too caught up in that. I think what you're saying is really, really helpful. The idea here I think is more about embracing the fact that we don't have to be productive all the time. And that we don't have to be, and I use this with great love like puritanical in the sense that, you know, well, if Jonathan Edwards didn't laugh and the Lord sakes that was inappropriate, then I shouldn't either. [00:38:05] Jesse Schwamb: And by virtue of that fact, then I should really have this incredible puritanical work ethic where even when I'm at home or every second that I have, I should be reading something. And if I'm gonna read something, it should be productive. Or if I'm watch tv, it should be something kinda documentary. I need to learn and fill my mind and make use and redeem every second of that time. [00:38:18] Jesse Schwamb: What if part of that redemption. Is enjoying entertainment for the way that God intended it to be, and that when he makes beauty and creativity and artistic expression, and again, we're presuming that this is the right amount of a lawful entertainment, that all of those things are for their own enjoyment because they point back to the creator. [00:38:40] Jesse Schwamb: Just by themselves. Like there doesn't have to be an ulterior motive. You don't have to justify it. You don't even have to feel guilty about it. That in fact, because we're contingent beings and therefore we have limited energy supply and unlimited amount of time and space, that all those things com continue to propel us towards some kind of desire for a lawful entertainment that leads us into rest. [00:39:02] Jesse Schwamb: Even as you're saying Tony, if that's rest for 10 or 15 minutes before, it's the next thing to feel this compulsion instead. To have to again quote unquote redeem. That time by being super productive is I think a fool's errand because we are as much made to work as we are made to rest. And in that rest, I think sometimes we actually find for some of us an easier time identifying and worshiping God in that risk. [00:39:26] Jesse Schwamb: Because in our work, we are busy in our work and we often get caught up in our work thinking all of our work is all of us. And so we rest and we find enjoyment in something. We take a walk, we listen to a beautiful piece of music. We spend some times just conversing about nothing with friends. We sit outside and enjoy beverages together that something happens sometimes in that space. [00:39:46] Jesse Schwamb: We're in the pause of that in the fact that there is beauty that seemingly is without productive purpose, even though I'd argue there is one. It's just hidden behind it and we fail to see it. We are drawn to the fact drawn to say, God, are you not good? For all of your gifts. And of course he's good in our gifts of work. [00:40:02] Jesse Schwamb: He's also good in our, our gifts of rest. But he's given us this gift as a form of entertainment in our own pop culture for us really to enjoy. But you're right, if we get it twisted such that we consume too much of it, or if we misapply that, I think we're just gonna live a less abundant life. So again, like the task here is not, don't do any entertainment. [00:40:23] Jesse Schwamb: Get all, get away from all the entertainments. Like what? Like your point, Tony, I, and I've heard Christian say this, I think there can be a brow beating here where it's like, well, couldn't you have used that time more productive? Like they had a couple more minutes, like maybe you really should have prayed harder or. [00:40:38] Jesse Schwamb: Maybe you should have read that other chapter in the Bible. Maybe you should gone back through your genealogies again and read those because you know that you don't read those particularly well. Or maybe you should have studied this thing or that thing. And instead is there a kind of worship that truly gives itself over to resting in God in the form of appreciating entertainment as he's created it for us to give us that kind of rest? [00:40:59] Jesse Schwamb: I would say yes. It's just that we often don't talk about it and sometimes we do talk about it. It's hard to bring it up 'cause you're gonna. You're gonna feel guilty. Like, can you imagine somebody saying to you, you know what? I'm just finding so much rest these days in this, uh, little game on my phone that I get to play. [00:41:15] Jesse Schwamb: You would be like, you, you might, if you're, if you're like, you know that person, well, you might be like, that's weird. I guarantee though, if that happened to me, I'd walk away and then when I was with my wife later, I'd be like, let me tell you what this weird thing this person said. You know what I mean? [00:41:27] Jesse Schwamb: But what, what, yeah. We need to think more like that. Not as a liberty to forsake or abdicate responsibility, but instead to actually be well rested for the responsibility in the task, the good works that God has created for us. [00:41:42] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:41:42] Personal Experiences with Entertainment [00:41:42] Tony Arsenal: And maybe here's like a concrete example is, um. You know, I, um, I work at a local hospital and my job is relatively intense. [00:41:53] Tony Arsenal: Um, in terms of emotional investment, I'm a patient relations supervisor, so I, I'm in charge of the department that hears all of the complaints from patients, which means we often hear some really frustrating stories about people's healthcare, and it can be very emotionally draining. And so I also, um, I also ride the bus home now. [00:42:15] Tony Arsenal: My, my vehicle is broken right now. Hopefully we're gonna get fixed soon, but I ride the bus home and for the first couple, I don't know, for the first week that I was riding the bus, I was like, I gotta use this time. I gotta read something. I gotta make sure I'm doing that right. And what I've learned actually is if I just take the 45 minutes that I'm on the bus and waiting for the bus and I just sort of zone out and play Pokemon Go. [00:42:39] Tony Arsenal: By the time I get home, I'm ready to engage with my kids better. I'm ready to engage with my wife better. I'm less likely to feel, uh, just drained and tired because I'm actually letting my brain sort of reset and I'm building that buffer. So something as simple as like. Playing a relatively mindless game on my phone for a half hour, 45 minutes while I ride the bus and wait for the bus, um, helps me to fulfill my obligations as a father and a husband in a more present way. [00:43:09] Tony Arsenal: Again, like if you wanna ride the bus and you wanna read a fiction, or you wanna do theology, like that's on you, that's your decision to make. But. I know people who would say to me, um, you really should be using that time for something more productive than playing Pokemon Go. And, and yeah, maybe like, maybe there are times that I should be more productive and maybe there are times that other people should be less productive. [00:43:32] Tony Arsenal: Like I think that's kind of what we're getting at here is. Productivity or spiritual growth or pi, like those categories are, each of those are good categories. Like productivity is not a bad thing. Um, personal devotion is certainly not a bad thing. [00:43:47] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:43:47] Tony Arsenal: But it's not the only thing. And we also, I think we act as though our lives can be this sort of like perfect integrated balance when really like we have to be able to sort of recognize that. [00:44:02] Tony Arsenal: Sometimes doing nothing has its own utility. Like that feels like a weird thing to say, but I I, I'm with you here and, and maybe this is kind of how we bring the episode down to an end is I do think. There is this, obviously the Sabbath principle, the rest principle. Um, but God also gives us rest in these other small ways. [00:44:25] Tony Arsenal: Sometimes not so small, but small ways in the rest of our life. And I don't think that we should bear any shame or guilt or feel like we're less Christian because we take advantage of or make use of those. Those sort of like smaller opportunities to rest and you know, recreation is recreation. Like that's, that's that etymology is not a false etymology. [00:44:49] Tony Arsenal: That's where the word comes from. And it's because we often need to do these sort of leisurely things in order to be able to then go back and put forward the effort that we need. And the other thing just, I feel like we're tying. Leisure to the ability to produce in a way that may actually also be unhealthy. [00:45:09] Tony Arsenal: Leisure is not necessarily the ends, the means to being able to be productive. Right? Leisure serves its own purpose. It has its own use, its own way to glorify God. Yes, it does enable us often to be able to come back and put our nose to the grindstone, but we shouldn't just think about it as like, well, this is just, this is just my recharge period. [00:45:30] Tony Arsenal: We don't think about sleep that way. I don't think we think about sleep in, in a fashion of saying like, well, I've gotta sleep so that I can just get up and go to work the next day. And productive. I think we recognize that our bodies need to rest and there's a blessing and a joy in being able to close our eyes and sort of drift off and have dreams and rest, and that our body recuperates itself, I think we should think of leisure in a similar sense, and recreation and pop culture all kind of play into that. [00:45:53] Jesse Schwamb: I think that's right on. I mean, it's one of those things where we're certainly not saying that there isn't rest in prayer and in daily worship and consuming and studying the scriptures, there's certainly a rest in all those activities too. In some ways, I think we're presuming that we are trying to incorporate a balance into our lives, and that part of that balance is just rest for its own sake. [00:46:12] Jesse Schwamb: The enjoyment of that and when you're truly, I think, enjoying that rest, whatever it is, one we do not long feel guilty because we have processed. And pass everything to the sve of the scriptures and say, this is glorifying to God is for my goodness, for his glory. So therefore there's no, as it were like condemnation for me in this because I have a clear conscience about it. [00:46:31] Jesse Schwamb: And then in addition to that, it does provide us with perhaps, again, that lovely contrast between working hard and then having. Some period of which we are abstaining from that work and from that labor. And in so doing we find different ways to please and to worship God. We find that we see his character reflected in different ways. [00:46:49] Jesse Schwamb: And so in that way too, it reminds us that we are, like I said before, like completely contingent, we get tired, we get exhausted. Like there's only so much the mind can do and so much it can handle. And so by. Willingly accepting and leaning into that, not again, in a way that takes us away. We use as liberty to say, well, I, you know, I really should spend some time before the Lord in prayer. [00:47:10] Jesse Schwamb: I really should spend some time in, in daily particular worship, but you know what? I really need to rest instead. Like of, of course, that itself, we should be convicted about, uh, because then we're using entertainment such a way to distract us. Suppose this. Way from God rather than toward him. But the Bible is so clear, like you're saying, Tony, that there's all these seasons in life and the more I think about those seasons, the more I wonder if we tend to treat them too discreetly. [00:47:34] Jesse Schwamb: And in these two, like, kind of like prolonged periods, what if a season is for an hour? What if a season is for a day? What if a season is for five minutes? So famously, of course, when we have the teacher writing. Ecclesiastes chapter three, some of these famous words, I think we just fail to take them to heart. [00:47:51] Jesse Schwamb: Listen to this beautiful contrast, and I think it really fits in with what we're saying here about the, the ability to rightly consume entertainment and pop culture in such a way that it is glorifying to God and our understanding of it in our application of how it gives us true rest. So it writes things like this. [00:48:09] Jesse Schwamb: There's a time to kill and the time to heal. A time to break down, a time to build up, a time to weep, and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing a time to seek and a time to lose. [00:48:26] Jesse Schwamb: A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to tear. A time to sow, a time to keep silence and a time to speak, a time to love, and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. So it's very clear that God has given us, I think all of these wonderful things to enjoy as part of his character, as demonstrations of the fact that he is a God who is loving and love always leads to giving. [00:48:51] Jesse Schwamb: And so he gives us beauty in arts. In music, in literature, in screen, and of course then we should recognize because those are things from God and we ought to that. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Heavenly Father who is above that. It is the prerogative of the devil to twist and bend those things in such a way that we feel to see them as God's gifts and said, see them as our rightful consumption. [00:49:12] Jesse Schwamb: Such a way that enslaves. Changes our mindset, pulls us farther away from God. So I think part of it's just going into everything with the pun intended, with eyes wide open. So hopefully some of these tests have been helpful. I think people probably have, because like you said, Tony, there's a lot of Christian liberty here and maybe some point. [00:49:29] Jesse Schwamb: Well, I was gonna ask you like what's I, I'm not gonna ask you this because I know you're gonna ask it back to me, but like what would be maybe something you consume that others might be able. Ooh. Um, but I don't want you to ask that back to me. We could do that. We could do that if you want to. [00:49:42] Tony Arsenal: Um, yeah, let's, let's do that in a future episode. [00:49:43] Tony Arsenal: I think that'd be fun. Well, we'll [00:49:44] Jesse Schwamb: save that for another time. So everybody keeps listening. [00:49:46] Encouraging Community Engagement [00:49:46] Jesse Schwamb: But I think one of the things that we should be encouraging our listeners to do, the people who are part of the reform brotherhoodhood, is come hang out online. In this place called Telegram, which is just a chat messaging app and we have a little corner, a protected corner of the world. [00:50:00] Jesse Schwamb: There is a group of people who are like-minded listening to our conversations and participating in their own. And the way they participate with us is you can message in the app, they've got a bunch of channels of different topics, so you can get there by going to t.me/reform brotherhood. I bring this up now, not just to advertise as usual. [00:50:17] Jesse Schwamb: Because we want you to come be a part of this, but I would love to hear from others because we have a channel in there that's just about the conversations we're having on the podcast. Come share some of the practical things that you use, the tests that you have, the conversations that you bring forward to help you discern what kind of pop culture you're consuming. [00:50:37] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Don't just take our word for it. Let's hear what the Holy Spirit. How he is leadi

One of Mayor Adams' advisors tried to bribe a reporter by giving her a bag of potato chips with cash in it. Eric Adams would've been the Democratic nominee for Mayor if Andrew Cuomo had not been in the race. MSNBC may have issues with fundamentals, such as staffing and facilities, now that Comcast has spun them off.

One of Mayor Adams' advisors tried to bribe a reporter by giving her a bag of potato chips with cash in it. Eric Adams would've been the Democratic nominee for Mayor if Andrew Cuomo had not been in the race. MSNBC may have issues with fundamentals, such as staffing and facilities, now that Comcast has spun them off. Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. Steve and Mark talk about a new deal Intel has with the U.S. government. How will the semiconductor chips sector turn out for the USA and other countries in the world? Data centers are in demand in our country. The NY appeals court has thrown out a $500 million dollar penalty against President Trump initiated by AG Letitia James, regarding her civil case. California governor Gavin Newsom should be a senator and not a governor. Gavin reacted to the company Bed Bath & Beyond refusing to open stores in California. SiriusXM has allegedly had enough with Howard Stern, and Netflix so far looks like a top place for him to land. However, sources are saying that SiriusXM allegedly doesn't want to get rid of him and is using this news story as a hoax. Mark interviews Jimmy Failla - WOR Weeknight host of 'Fox Across America'. Jimmy gives his take on the rebranding of MSNBC. MSNBC's primetime shows are just Trump derangement syndrome hours. We get an update on the candidates' personalities and plans so far for the mayor of New York. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Mayor Adams' advisors tried to bribe a reporter by giving her a bag of potato chips with cash in it. Eric Adams would've been the Democratic nominee for Mayor if Andrew Cuomo had not been in the race. MSNBC may have issues with fundamentals, such as staffing and facilities, now that Comcast has spun them off. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. Steve and Mark talk about a new deal Intel has with the U.S. government. How will the semiconductor chips sector turn out for the USA and other countries in the world? Data centers are in demand in our country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Mayor Adams' advisors tried to bribe a reporter by giving her a bag of potato chips with cash in it. Eric Adams would've been the Democratic nominee for Mayor if Andrew Cuomo had not been in the race. MSNBC may have issues with fundamentals, such as staffing and facilities, now that Comcast has spun them off.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Mayor Adams' advisors tried to bribe a reporter by giving her a bag of potato chips with cash in it. Eric Adams would've been the Democratic nominee for Mayor if Andrew Cuomo had not been in the race. MSNBC may have issues with fundamentals, such as staffing and facilities, now that Comcast has spun them off. Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. Steve and Mark talk about a new deal Intel has with the U.S. government. How will the semiconductor chips sector turn out for the USA and other countries in the world? Data centers are in demand in our country. The NY appeals court has thrown out a $500 million dollar penalty against President Trump initiated by AG Letitia James, regarding her civil case. California governor Gavin Newsom should be a senator and not a governor. Gavin reacted to the company Bed Bath & Beyond refusing to open stores in California. SiriusXM has allegedly had enough with Howard Stern, and Netflix so far looks like a top place for him to land. However, sources are saying that SiriusXM allegedly doesn't want to get rid of him and is using this news story as a hoax. Mark interviews Jimmy Failla - WOR Weeknight host of 'Fox Across America'. Jimmy gives his take on the rebranding of MSNBC. MSNBC's primetime shows are just Trump derangement syndrome hours. We get an update on the candidates' personalities and plans so far for the mayor of New York.

One of Mayor Adams' advisors tried to bribe a reporter by giving her a bag of potato chips with cash in it. Eric Adams would've been the Democratic nominee for Mayor if Andrew Cuomo had not been in the race. MSNBC may have issues with fundamentals, such as staffing and facilities, now that Comcast has spun them off. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. Steve and Mark talk about a new deal Intel has with the U.S. government. How will the semiconductor chips sector turn out for the USA and other countries in the world? Data centers are in demand in our country.

You'd think a company with as many resources, employees, and facilities as AT&T or Comcast would have good customer service. Surely, with all the billions of dollars flowing through these businesses, there'd be some resources devoted to creating a really good customer experience, right? If only that were the case. The thing is, these telecom […]

Joe Luchs is the Founder and CEO of DatalinxAI, an AI-powered data refinery that simplifies customer data. As an expert in AI, AdTech, MarTech, and SaaS, he previously served as the Global Head of AWS and Amazon Ads at Amazon, where he led global partnerships and AI business development. Joe was also the Commercial Founder and Head of Revenue at Beeswax (acquired by Comcast) and held a leadership role at Oracle. In this episode… Organizations are beginning to implement AI for personalization, automation, and business intelligence. Yet, messy, unstructured, and inconsistent data hinder smooth implementation. How can businesses bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI models and the data readiness required to scale them? According to AI and data expert Joe Luchs, companies often spend years and vast resources on data prep before they notice ROI on AI models. He recommends using secure hybrid cloud architectures, embedding data compliance measures, and automating preparation processes to free up teams from tedious work. By focusing on high-quality data readiness, businesses can accelerate AI adoption, empower staff to focus on innovation, and deliver the hyper-personalized experiences consumers expect. In today's episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant sits down with Joe Luchs, Founder and CEO of DatalinxAI, to discuss preparing data for widespread AI adoption and integration. Joe explains how consultancies have pioneered data readiness, the future of AI-driven brand experiences, and the dangers of leveraging AI without proper regulations.

News and Updates: Disney will fully integrate Hulu into Disney+ in 2026, creating a single streaming app while still offering standalone subscriptions. Internationally, Hulu will replace the Star brand in fall 2025. Disney expects the merger to cut costs, lower churn, and boost ad sales. Hulu + Live TV will merge with Fubo under a JV but remain separate until its own Disney+ integration in 2026. The move follows Disney's $9B buyout of Comcast's Hulu stake. ESPN and Fox will launch standalone live sports streaming services on Aug. 21, with a joint $39.99/month bundle available Oct. 2, saving subscribers about $10. ESPN's $29.99 plan includes its live channels and WWE coverage, while Fox One's $19.99 plan offers Fox News, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and more. Warner Bros. Discovery is also developing a direct-to-consumer TNT Sports streaming product. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants every American wearing a health tracker within four years under his “Make America Healthy Again” plan. Critics argue it's a tech industry giveaway with minimal real health impact, costly for consumers, and a distraction from weakening public health infrastructure. CGMs and wearables can help specific patients but offer little benefit to most healthy users. OpenAI launched GPT-5, calling it its “best AI yet” with better reasoning, fewer hallucinations, and stronger coding skills. It's free for all ChatGPT tiers with tier-based usage limits. However, backlash erupted as GPT-4o and other models were removed, with users complaining GPT-5 gives shorter, less personal answers and makes basic mistakes. CEO Sam Altman promised fixes, restored GPT-4o for Plus users, and plans tweaks to model-switching and “thinking mode.”

Sometimes we have a guest who just does not want to be scared! That's why we're breaking out some incredible yet wholesome hometown urban legends to share with friend of the pod, Ronald Young Jr. Featuring kindergarten paleontologists, bottomless lakes of fire, and how to make pirates even scarier!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, war, and teeth. GuestRonald Young Jr. is an audio producer, storyteller and host based in Alexandria, VA. He created and produces the podcast Weight For It, a narrative show about navigating the world as a fat person.Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives' Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Warby Parker is here to help you find your next pair of glasses. Head over to warbyparker.com/spirits to try on any pair virtually.Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this edition of The Big Trend Theory, Jack and Miles discuss that Justin Bieber impersonator in Vegas, Trump's new (totally not influenced by his meeting with Putin) attacks on voting, an update on Trump's declining health, Comcast getting rid of MSNBC, the (fictional) war for the soul of Washington D.C. and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 651: Neal and Toby chat about MSNBC's changing of their logo and their name, now MS NOW, part of Comcast's spin-off of cable channels. And, Soho House, the members-only private club goes…private. Next, non-degree job certifications were very popular during the pandemic years, but a new study finds that they don't give you the pay bump you were hoping for. Meanwhile, social-media first sitcom shows are becoming a new way for brand marketing.  00:00 - Disney adult super fans 3:45 - MSNBC is MS NOW now 9:00 - Soho House goes private 12:20 - Job certs don't pay off 17:30 - Toby's Trends: social media sitcoms 21:00 - Sprint Finish! LinkedIn will even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign so you can try it yourself. Check out LinkedIn.com/mbd for more. Submit your MBD Password Answer here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Yzrl1BJY2FAFwXBYtb0CEp8XQB2Y6mLdHkbq9Kb2Sz8/viewform?edit_requested=true  Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MSNBC just dropped its name and logo in a desperate rebrand move — is this the end of the left-wing network as we know it? What’s behind Comcast’s panic, and does this spell trouble for Rachel Maddow? Plus, New York AG Letitia James just got an unexpected visit from the feds. Trish Regan breaks it all down.

Clay Unicorn is the Founder and former CEO of Unicorn.Love, a venture studio that empowers entrepreneurs to build, scale, and exit high‑impact B2B companies. Under his leadership, Unicorn reached a $1.25 billion valuation and became known for its innovations in AI, technology, and venture development. Clay has been a consultant for some of the biggest names in tech: Google, Samsung, Facebook, and Comcast. He has played a pivotal role in launching and scaling ventures like Bowery, iPondr, and ReVision — turning bold ideas into multimillion‑dollar successes. In this episode… What do you do when your hard-earned agency falls apart, a big exit deal collapses overnight, and your business partner's investments freeze assets? How do you recover with integrity — and even reshape your company into something more mission-driven? Clay Unicorn confronts these challenges head‑on, sharing actionable lessons from building and rebuilding multiple ventures. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with the right partners, recognizing the warning signs of misaligned visions, and protecting both your capital and emotional bandwidth. Clay recounts his journey from early candy hustles and agency launches to creating Unicorn.Love, an ethical venture studio, illustrates how failure can fuel smarter decisions, how small MVPs can lead to multimillion‑dollar funding rounds, and why embracing AI and calculated risk is essential for scaling ventures. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Clay Unicorn, Founder of Unicorn.Love, about transforming a traditional development agency into an ethical venture studio. Clay explores his evolution from selling candy as a kid to running conscious studio-backed startups. He discusses Scaffald, investing in Bowery, navigating AI shifts, brick‑and‑mortar lessons, and building ventures with founder-aligned equity while creating systemic value.

Organisers of the Los Angelos Olympics in 2028 have agreed a landmark deal with the International Olympic Committee allowing venue naming rights to be sold to commercial partners for the first time in the games history. Honda and Comcast are the first naming partners. Presenter Roger Hearing also examines why some Americans are drinking less and what this means for the big drinks companies like Carlsberg.And PostNord in Denmark has decided to bring to an end to 400 years of letter deliveries - and focus instead solely on parcels from 2026. We hear from there about what this means for the future of the industry.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett sees the writing on the wall — she’s OUT in the newly redistricted Texas congressional map… and she’s furious. Trish Regan breaks down how Texas just delivered a crushing blow, why California is crying foul, and what this means for the 2024 and 2026 elections. Is this the beginning of a political “civil war” between the two biggest states in America? Meanwhile, Democrats are on the losing side of the DC security crackdown. The public is rallying behind Trump’s promise to restore law and order — and who wouldn’t? Plus — first The View… now Rachel Maddow? The MSNBC star is melting down on air amid Trump’s DC security sweep. But is Maddow’s real frustration about losing her prime spot on the NBC mantel ahead of the Comcast cable (Versant) spinoff? Trish Regan breaks it all down — and more — in today’s LIVE edition of The Trish Regan Show.

This Best Of replay features one of my most popular guests, Bonnie Wan, author of "The Life Brief" - and trust me, this conversation will change how you think about creating the life you actually want. Bonnie's a brand strategist who spent decades helping major companies like BMW and Comcast get crystal clear on who they are, but when her own marriage hit rock bottom with three kids under five, she applied those same penetrating questions to her own life. The result? A framework that saved her marriage, transformed her family, and can unlock what you really want too.If you've ever felt stuck in the messiness of midlife, overwhelmed by all the roles you're playing, or afraid to ask yourself what you actually want because the answer might scare you, this episode is for you. Bonnie breaks down her simple but profound process for cutting through the chaos to find your essence - and shares the raw story of how one question in a supermarket parking lot changed everything. Plus, she reveals why the boldest thing we can do in midlife isn't necessarily going bigger, but sometimes stepping off the treadmill entirely.Key Takeaways: The power of asking "What do I really want?" & how it can cut through years of confusion and fear The life brief framework: A simple 3-step process (get messy, get clear, get active) that creates lasting change Why viewing life in 5-6 year chapters gives you permission to reinvent yourself again and again Why the most courageous act in midlife might be slowing down, not speeding upHow The Life Brief method works for parenting challenges, marriage struggles, and career decisions.Bonnie Says: You're Not Too F***ing Old! To create the life you want!Learn more about Jen Marples at https://www.jenmarples.comWant to work with Jen? Book a complimentary 20-minute call HERE. Follow Jen @jenmarples on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTubeSubscribe to Jen's NewsletterUnedited AI Transcript HereCONNECT WITH BONNIE WAN:WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn

Organisers of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 have agreed a landmark deal with the International Olympic Committee allowing venue naming rights to be sold to commercial partners for the first time in the games history. Honda and Comcast are the first naming partners. Presenter Roger Hearing also examines why some Americans are drinking less and what this means for the big drinks companies like Carlsberg.And PostNord in Denmark has decided to bring to an end to 400 years of letter deliveries - and focus instead solely on parcels from 2026. We hear from there about what this means for the future of the industry.

This week on Power House, Diego chats with Jonathan Wolf, the CEO of Wendover Housing Partners, about affordable housing — specifically in their local Florida market — and how they're working to combat pervasive NIMBYism.  Jonathan also dives into Wendover's recent legislative victories on the affordable housing front and the role of major employers like Universal and Comcast in tackling NIMBYism. Here's what you'll learn: Why collaboration with employers is essential to overcoming NIMBY challenges How Wendover Housing Partners plans to double its community management in the next two years The importance of integrating services like healthcare and education into affordable housing communities The potential for replicating Wendover's successful model nationwide Jonathan's insights on engaging mortgage and real estate executives in affordable housing initiatives Related to this episode:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jonathan Wolf | LinkedIn Wendover Housing Partners ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HousingWire | YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enjoy the episode! The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they're differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've heard his name before: Merlin. Not the first wizard, but the most important wizard! We're taking a crack at Arthurian legend, digging into how the prototypical wizard shaped the stories, including his demonic birth, his terrible romances, and his role as Arthur's Wizard Daddy.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of colonialism, warfare, child endangerment/sacrifice, bestiality, death, poor working conditions, sexual assault/harrasment, incest, and sexual content. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives' Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Bookshop.org, where you can now use the code we shared in the midroll to get 10% off your purchase!Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if your tools shared context like your team does?This week on Grit, Shishir Mehrotra shares how the Coda and Grammarly collaboration unlocks context as a “superpower,” reflects on his early days at Google and YouTube, and hints at a future where tools anticipate intent and amplify how we work.He also shares how this paves the way for agent-based workflows and AI-native communication, beginning with Superhuman's email experience.Guest: Shishir Mehrotra, co-founder of Coda and CEO of GrammarlyConnect with ShishirXLinkedInChapters: 00:00 Trailer01:24 Introduction02:09 Zoo vs safari12:02 A TV ahead of its time21:25 Product decisions31:25 The data behind the algorithm37:26 The AI native productivity suite48:06 Agents are digital humans57:55 Pressure trade-off1:12:50 Insulated from judgment1:25:19 Who Grammarly is hiring1:25:51 What “grit” means to Shishir1:29:30 OutroMentioned in this episode: YouTube, Ray William Johnson, Spotify, Twitch, MTV, Chris Cox, Facebook, TikTok, Google TV, Centrata, Google Chrome, Android, Gmail, Microsoft, Super Bowl, Mosaic, Panasonic, Sony, Susan Wojcicki, Rishi Chandra, Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, Comcast, LoudCloud (Opsware), Quest Communications, AT&T Southwestern Bell, Salar Kamangar, Patrick Pichette, Eric Schmidt, OpenAI ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Platforms, Sundar Pichai, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Hamilton, Reid Hoffman, Sam Altman, Tesla, Waymo, Airtable, Notion, Max Lytvyn, Alex Shevchenko, Superhuman, Duolingo, Luis von Ahn, Khan Academy, MrBeast, Facebook Messenger, Snap (Snapchat), WhatsApp, Google+, Meta LLaMa, Satya Nadella, Tim Cook, Daniel GrossConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

【聊了什么】 2025年是美国媒体行业的分水岭之年。特朗普重返白宫，不仅没有再次给媒体续命，反而加速了传统媒体的衰落，他通过诉讼、监管等多种手段深刻影响了派拉蒙等传媒巨头的商业决策，共和党也掀起了对公共广播的资金围剿。与此同时，WBD、Comcast等集团纷纷拆分传统有线电视业务，科技新贵入主好莱坞，一个旧时代正被加速终结。这期节目中，我们又请来了杨一，一起深入剖析美国媒体的未来将走向何方。 播客文字稿（付费会员专享）：https://theamericanroulette.com/america-media-watershed-moment-trump-transcript 【加入杨一的花园 · 会员计划】 8月31日前加入「杨一的花园 · 会员计划」，成为「联结者」，可以使用优惠码MLMH10，立享首年9折优惠。 美轮美换付费会员加入「杨一的花园」，享首年8折优惠，请登陆美轮美换网站了解兑换方式。 https://yangyigarden.com 【支持我们】 如果喜欢这期节目并希望支持我们将节目继续做下去： 也欢迎加入我们的会员计划： https://theamericanroulette.com/paid-membership/ 会员可以收到每周2-5封newsletter，可以加入会员社群，参加会员活动，并享受更多福利。 合作投稿邮箱：american.roulette.pod@gmail.com 【时间轴】 01:38 「杨一的花园 · 会员计划」 02:23 AAJA记者年会观察：AI、创作者经济与行业变革 12:00 派拉蒙合并案中的特朗普因素与政治博弈 21:57 Colbert深夜秀的落幕与喜剧形态的演变 33:19 WBD、Comcast为何纷纷拆分有线电视业务？ 39:56 国会停止拨款，美国公共广播（NPR/PBS）何去何从？ 48:33 默多克与特朗普因《华尔街日报》报道再现裂痕 55:36 为何说2025年是美国媒体真正的分水岭？ 61:17 未来挑战：AI、“Google Zero”与创作者经济的冲击 【我们是谁】 美轮美换是一档深入探讨当今美国政治的中文播客。 我们的主播和嘉宾： 小华：媒体人 杨一：旅英媒体人 【 What We Talked About】 2025 is a watershed year for the American media industry. The return of Trump to the White House, rather than reviving the media, has accelerated the decline of traditional outlets. Through litigation, regulation, and other measures, he has profoundly influenced the business decisions of media giants like Paramount, while the Republican party has intensified its campaign to defund public broadcasting. Concurrently, conglomerates such as WBD and Comcast are spinning off their traditional cable TV businesses, and new tech money is moving into Hollywood, rapidly bringing an end to an old era. In this episode, we are once again joined by Yang Yi to conduct an in-depth analysis of where the future of American media is headed. Podcast Transcript (Paid Subscribers Only): https://theamericanroulette.com/america-media-watershed-moment-trump-transcript 【Support Us】 If you like our show and want to support us, please consider the following: Join our membership program: https://theamericanroulette.com/paid-membership/ Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/americanroulette Business Inquiries and fan mail: american.roulette.pod@gmail.com 【Timeline】 01:38 Yang Yi's Garden · Membership Program 02:23 Observations from the AAJA Convention: AI, the Creator Economy, and Industry Transformation 12:00 The Trump Factor and Political Maneuvering in the Paramount Merger Case 21:57 The End of Colbert's Late Show and the Evolution of Comedy Formats 33:19 Why Are WBD and Comcast Spinning Off Their Cable TV Businesses? 39:56 With Congress Cutting Off Funding, What's Next for America's Public Broadcasting (NPR/PBS)? 48:33 Murdoch and Trump Rift Resurfaces Over a Wall Street Journal Report 55:36 Why 2025 is the True Watershed Year for American Media 61:17 Future Challenges: The Impact of AI, "Google Zero," and the Creator Economy 【Who We Are】 The American Roulette is a podcast dedicated to helping the Chinese-speaking community understand fast-changing U.S. politics. Our Hosts and Guests: 小华 (Xiao Hua): Journalist, political observer Yang Yi: Journalist based in London

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with Steve Corbesero, Jr., Senior Director of Products and Solutions at MachineQ, a Comcast Company, about the findings from their new Lab of the Future survey. Conducted with Censuswide, the study gathered insights from more than 400 U.S.-based lab professionals, revealing both the opportunities and persistent pain points shaping modern laboratory operations. Steve unpacks why nearly 60% of labs still face unplanned downtime from equipment failures, missed calibration schedules, and asset location issues. We discuss how manual monitoring remains the norm for over half of labs surveyed, and why 14% have no monitoring system in place at all. Despite these challenges, there's a clear appetite for change, with 85% planning to adopt IoT solutions and 87% intending to integrate AI and machine learning into their workflows over the next two years. Our conversation explores the operational impact of disconnected systems, the risks of relying on spreadsheets, and the role of real-time monitoring in preventing costly disruptions. Steve shares practical examples of how IoT and AI are already helping labs shift from reactive to proactive management, from anomaly detection that reduces alert fatigue to intelligent data summaries that give lab managers actionable insights without hours of manual analysis. We also talk about the barriers holding some labs back from adoption, including pilot purgatory, budget constraints, and integration challenges. Steve offers his perspective on how future-ready labs will differentiate themselves—by embracing connected infrastructure, unifying data, and embedding AI into both scientific and operational workflows. If you want to understand what's really happening inside modern labs, and how emerging technology can transform efficiency, productivity, and innovation, this episode offers a clear, data-backed view of the road ahead.

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by Jill McKinley, Ben Roethig, Chuck Joiner, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet,  visionOS beta improvements, standout Vision Pro creative apps, and iOS 26 beta 5 refinements. The panel discusses iPadOS performance boosts, AirPods charging updates, and CarPlay's new compact call view. They also explore time zone glitches, Tim Cook's $600B U.S. manufacturing push, ESPN's NFL Network acquisition, and the macOS HD icon redesign, while touching on GPT-5's debut and broader Apple ecosystem trends  The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com  Direct Link to Audio  Links to our Show Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! CLICK HERE we would really appreciate it! Click this link Buy me a Coffee to support the show we would really appreciate it. intouchwithios.com/coffee  Another way to support the show is to become a Patreon member patreon.com/intouchwithios Website: In Touch With iOS YouTube Channel In Touch with iOS Magazine on Flipboard Facebook Page BlueSky Mastodon X Instagram Threads Summary In Episode 381 of In Touch With iOS, host David Ginsburg is joined by Ben Roethig, Jill McKinley, Marty Jencius, Chuck Joiner, Jeff Gamet, and Eric Bolden to explore the latest developments in Apple's ecosystem. The panel dives into the newly released visionOS developer beta, with notable improvements to the personas feature, especially for glasses wearers, and discusses its stability and potential impact on developers. They highlight creative Vision Pro apps like Da Vinci, Procreate Dreams, and Reality Composer, envisioning how spatial computing could transform artistic expression. The conversation moves to iOS 26 beta 5, focusing on interface refinements, performance gains, and AirDrop icon changes. They also review iPadOS updates like improved snap windows and background processing, watchOS and tvOS betas, and new AirPods charging indicators. CarPlay's incoming call interface now uses a compact view, helping drivers maintain navigation visibility—an update the panel welcomes enthusiastically. Other topics include time zone quirks in certain regions, Apple's $600 billion U.S. manufacturing investment under Tim Cook, ESPN's acquisition of NFL Network, and the transition away from legacy email services. The episode wraps with discussions on macOS Tahoe 26's subtle refinements, a controversial redesign of the Macintosh HD icon, and OpenAI's new GPT-5 model. This lively and wide-ranging episode blends hands-on impressions, practical tips, and spirited design debates, keeping listeners informed and entertained about the fast-moving Apple landscape  Topics and Links In Touch With Vision Pro this week.  Apple releases developer beta 5 for visionOS 26 Top VisionOS Apps For Artists And Designers: Unleashing Creativity In Spatial Computing Da Vinci Eye: Art Projector on the App Store Beta this week.  Apple releases iOS 26 beta 5 for iPhone iPadOS 26 beta 5 is available now, here's what to expect  Apple Releases Second iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 Public Betas watchOS 26 beta 5 rolling out for Apple Watch now - 9to5Mac tvOS 26 beta 5 now available for Apple TV 4K  Apple Seeds Second Public Betas of tvOS 26 and watchOS 26 Here's the redesigned AirDrop icon in iOS 26 Everything new in iOS 26 beta 5lk Apple Upgrades AirPods Charging in iOS 26 iOS 26: Get a Callback Reminder for a Missed Call CarPlay in iOS 26 has a new, improved solution for phone calls - 9to5Mac Listener Cletus has this issue in iOS 26 Fixed: Time Zone Cannot Be Set Manually Due to Device Restrictions  AI OpenAI Brings Faster, Smarter GPT-5 Model to ChatGPT Users  In Touch With Mac this week macOS Tahoe 26 developer beta 5 is out, here's what's new Apple Seeds Second macOS Tahoe Public Beta macOS Tahoe 26 beta 5 retires the old Macintosh HD icon Apple rolls out RC versions of macOS 15.7 and 14.8 betas to developers Apple's big investment in the United States Apple Announces American Manufacturing Program, Promises to Spend $600 Billion Apple, Corning to manufacture all iPhone, Apple Watch cover glass in Kentucky Samsung to produce image sensors for Apple's iPhone in Texas News Apple Original Films' summer blockbuster “F1 The Movie” accelerates back into IMAX Apple TV+ Press Here's How Much It Costs to Sue Apple Xfinity Email move to Yahoo Mail ESPN buys NFL Network and NFL gets 10 Comcast, YouTube TV & Other Cable & Streaming Subscribers Will Get Access to the New ESPN App Tim Cook becomes Apple's longest‑serving CEO - As of August 1, 2025, Tim Cook surpassed Steve Jobs with 5,091 days at the helm of Apple. Shout out to Phil F that's for buying me some coffees he enjoyed episode 380.  Announcements Macstock 9 has wrapped for 2025. Attendees will receive a link for the session recordings when  they're ready in 30-45 days. If you missed Macstock we missed you! Why not purchase a digital pass to relive all the amazing presentations? Click the link below to purchase the digital pass. Macstock X has already been announced July 10,11,12, 2026 hopeful you all can join us.  Macstock IX Digital Pass Our Host Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastodon @daveg65, , BlueSky @daveg65  and the show @intouchwithios   Our Regular Contributors Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's managing editor, and Smile's TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet Pixelfed @jgamet@pixelfed.social and Bluesky @jgamet.bsky.social‬ Podcasts The Context Machine Podcast  Retro Rewatch Retro Rewatch His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet Marty Jencius, Ph.D., is a professor of counselor education at Kent State University, where he researches, writes, and trains about using technology in teaching and mental health practice. His podcasts include Vision Pro Files, The Tech Savvy Professor and Circular Firing Squad Podcast. Find him at jencius@mastodon.social  https://thepodtalk.net  Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him by email at eabolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.   Jill McKinley works in enterprise software, server administration, and IT. A lifelong tech enthusiast, she started her career with Windows but is now an avid Apple fan. Beyond technology, she shares her insights on nature, faith, and personal growth through her podcasts—Buzz Blossom & Squeak, Start with Small Steps, and The Bible in Small Steps. Watch her content on YouTube at @startwithsmallsteps and follow her on X @schmern. Ben Roethig Former Associate Editor of GeekBeat.TV and host of the Tech Hangout and Deconstruct with Patrice  Mac user since the mid 90s. Tech support specialist. X @benroethig and all other social media @benroethig.   Website: https://roethigtech.com/ Chuck Joiner is the host of MacVoices and hosts video podcasts with influential members of the Apple community. Make sure to visit macvoices.com and subscribe to his podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @chuckjoiner and join his MacVoices Facebook group.

The AI arms race in customer experience just got serious. We're joined by industry legends Nerys Corfield (Injection Consulting), Jon Arnold (J Arnold & Associates), and Henry Iversen (boost.ai) to unpack one of the biggest AI moves in recent memory: NiCE's $955M acquisition of Cognigy.We break down what this deal means for the future of AI-first contact centres, the fate of best-in-class point solutions, and the broader shift toward an AI-led customer experience strategy. From questions of market consolidation and vendor lock-in to the culture clash between product-led innovation and marketing muscle, we share some real, unscripted insights into the implications of the acquisition for enterprises, vendors, and buyers alike.This episode is brought to you by NLXBuild and deploy sophisticated chat, voice, and multimodal applications for any purpose with NLX. NLX works seamlessly with any LLM and existing tech stack, freeing you to create, not configure. Trusted by individual builders and leading teams at Comcast, Saks Fifth Avenue, Toyota, and United Airlines, NLX helps you turn AI concepts into working conversational experiences.Show notesFollow the episode guests on LinkedIn:Nerys Corfield - Director, Injection ConsultingHenry Iversen - CCO & Co-Founder, boost.aiJon Arnold - Principal, J Arnold & AssociatesKane Simms on LinkedIn Subscribe to VUX WorldSubscribe to The AI Ultimatum Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maria Weaver has led massive teams, shaped culture across media giants, and built brands at the highest level. But her latest chapter might be the most intentional of all.In this episode of THE POWER OF RE:INVENTION, I talk with Maria about her journey from acting as a child in New York City to rising through the ranks at HBO, Comcast, and Warner Music Experience. We discuss the decision to step away from corporate life to raise her daughters, the challenges of re-entry, and the many ways she Reinvented along the way.Maria shares how a quiet passion—handmaking gemstone bracelets for herself and loved ones—evolved into XO Maria Louise, a jewelry brand built on story, spirituality, and self-belief. She explains how she used every tool from her marketing and leadership career to build a business with heart, intention, and structure.If you've ever felt the tug to create something that's yours, Maria's story offers the blueprint—and the nudge to start.Key Takeaways:A creative pivot can begin long before it becomes publicResilience is a superpower, especially in times of transitionYou don't have to choose between impact and intuitionBuilding something personal can be your most meaningful workSide hustles deserve real strategy and heartYour next Reinvention might already be with you—you just haven't launched it yetExplore XO Maria Louisehttps://xomarialouise.com/Follow MariaInstagram (brand): https://www.instagram.com/xomarialouise/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msmariaweaver/For more inspired content, blogs, podcasts, RE:INVENTION Virtual Chats, or to buy a copy of my book RE:INVENT YOUR LIFE! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? by Kathi Sharpe-Ross, visit THE RE:INVENTION EXCHANGE: https://www.thereinventionexchange.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/kathisr_chief_reinventor/FB: https://www.facebook.com/kathi.sharpeross/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathisharperossAmazon Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/REINVENT-YOUR-LIFE-WHAT-WAITING/dp/1733393005

President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Steve Bernas joins Bob Sirott to share details about celebrity deepfake endorsements, a surge in pet scams, and where you can safely renew your passport. He also talks about a fake Comcast voicemail that Bob received and how Meta is cracking down on WhatsApp scams.

House spirits have been living in our heads (and our hearths) rent free lately! From Central America to Korea and across Europe, spirits like domovoi, brownies, duende, and more have been playing a role in home folklore. So pull up a chair by the hearth and we'll tell you their tales!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of animal death, blood, strangulation, transphobia, colonization, child endangerment, and defecation. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives' Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Blueland creates everyday eco-friendly cleaning productions that save you money and space, without any plastic waste. Get 15% off your first order when you go to blueland.com/spiritsFind Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lou Borrelli on Empowering 650+ Members Through Shared Innovation and the AI Center of Excellence “Connectivity is king. Without connectivity, you don't really have a business.” — Lou Borrelli, CEO, National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC) In this in-depth conversation with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, Lou Borrelli, CEO of the National Content & Technology Cooperative (NCTC), shares the evolution of an organization born from a Kansas City poker game into a powerful force connecting over 650 members across all 50 states and U.S. territories—and over 40 million broadband users. What began 41 years ago as a content-buying co-op for small and medium-sized cable operators has transformed into a modern technology and content hub, offering members buying power not just for programming, but also for hardware, software, broadband, mobile services, and now AI-driven solutions. At the heart of the conversation is NCTC's latest initiative: the AI Center of Excellence (AICOE). This strategic program is currently in its second phase, piloting AI applications for network monitoring, customer service, and predictive maintenance—all designed to help smaller operators stay competitive with national giants like Comcast and Charter. Borrelli emphasizes real convergence—not just of telecom technologies, but of content, connectivity, mobility, and AI. With the explosion of digital tools, even the smallest provider can now offer scalable, competitive services thanks to shared innovation and cooperative economics. From rural Kentucky to the suburbs of Boston, NCTC members benefit from centralized procurement, support, and emerging service models. The conversation also previews The Independent Show, NCTC's signature annual event, which brings together technologists and content creators. Borrelli calls it “the last great cable convention,” providing a unique venue for collaboration amid an increasingly fragmented media landscape. On the topic of content delivery, Borrelli is blunt: “Discovery is broken.” He points to the decline of unified cable guides and the rise of app-based content chaos. Consumers are subscribing, unsubscribing, and re-bundling content in real time—often recreating cable-like bills through a mix of streaming services. NCTC is exploring ways to aggregate and simplify the content experience while delivering sustainable value to customers and members. He also critiques the state of U.S. regulatory policy, calling for an overhaul of retransmission consent rules and emphasizing that consumers haven't truly “cut the cord”—they've unbundled it. For service providers, MSPs, or content vendors wondering if they have a place in the NCTC ecosystem, Borrelli extends a clear invitation: “If you have products or services that help our members succeed, we're open for business.” Learn more about NCTC and how your technology or content can help shape the next phase of convergence: https://www.nctconline.org.

Mitch Askenas, Executive Director and Head of Commercial for the Americas at Comcast Technology Solutions, shares how the company's "Ingest once, deliver everywhere" strategy is reshaping the way streaming content reaches audiences. You'll also learn how Comcast is streamlining media delivery across TV, mobile, and streaming platforms, and what it means for the future of media and technology. Key Takeaways:- The future of streaming- The future of content modernization- Challengers in providing streaming contentEpisode Timeline:1:30 Tod remembers ON TV2:30 What does "Ingest once, deliver everywhere" mean?4:25 What content companies really want6:10 The differences between traditional broadcasting and streaming8:30 What separates Comcast from other companies9:30 What does the future of streaming look like?12:30 How does Mitch stay on top of new technology?14:20 What are Comcast's advantages for content creators?15:30 New ways of monetizing content19:00 Past technologies that have failed22:30 HD radioThis episode's guest:• Mitch Askenas on LinkedInSubscribe and leave a 5-star review: https://pod.link/1496390646Contact Us!•Join the conversation by leaving a comment!•Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn!Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 255Analysts Jake Hawkridge and Roger Entner discuss the remaining Q3 earnings from cable giants Charter and Comcast.00:00 Episode intro 00:55 Charter earnings overview 03:49 Cable's subscriber issues 05:27 Comcast earnings overview 06:17 Streaming is flat overall 08:41 Comcast's pricing remains problematic 10:15 Business customers are disappearing 13:11 Fiber as a potential vacation home solution 13:44 Episode wrap-upTags:telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Jake Hawkridge, Roger Entner, Charter, Comcast, Cox, earnings, net adds, FWA, fiber, cable, RDOF, T-Mobile, NPS, Verizon, churn, Peacock, streaming, AT&T

This week, I outline the key numbers you should know regarding subscriber gains and losses, as well as the profitability of D2C businesses for Peacock, Roku, Paramount, Sling TV, and Fubo. I also cover the revenue growth from cloud providers Amazon and Microsoft, and break out the capex spend of Meta and the hyper-scalers, totaling more than $250 billion this year, driven by AI-related infrastructure. Finally, I highlight some news relating to Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Instagram and DAZN's deal with the NHL.Podcast produced by Security Halt Media

As Comcast prepares to spin off its cable assets, one thing is very clear — the company cannot wait to rid itself of Rachel Maddow, MSNBC, CNBC and all its underperforming cable media assets. Meanwhile, President Trump is calling for accountability over the “Russia” narrative spun by Obama’s cronies. Will we see any? And, Mel Gibson just came out slamming Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass in California… Will Gibson run for governor? Join Trish Regan LIVE for a look at these stories and more. ✅ JOIN the Team for exclusive content and perks: ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBlMo25WDUKJNQ7G8sAk4Zw/join

Kim Masters speaks to Platonic co-creators Francesca Delbanco & Nicholas Stoller about what inspired their show about the comedy and complications of grown-up friendships. They talk about the challenge of writing characters—played by Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen—with none of the underlying sexual tension that has propelled so many television comedies to success. They also remember the time that Netflix boss Ted Sarandos sat through a lengthy table read of their first series, Friends from College.   Plus, as FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ramps up scrutiny of major media players, Comcast’s NBCUniversal appears to be his latest target. Is the company’s cable spinoff Versant a calculated play to dodge the Trump administration’s media witch hunt? Kim Masters and Lucas Shaw dig in.  

Have you been dreaming about a new urban legend episode? Maybe your dreams are a little bit prophetic! We dig into some sweet and also terrifying prophetic dreams, creepy child ghosts, and why we trust night nurses over any other profession to combat the supernatural.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of illness, war, institutionalization, sex, death, dementia, and child endangerment. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives' Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Cornbread Hemp, USDA-certified organic CBD products grown in Kentucky. Use code spirits for 25% off your order at cornbreadhemp.comFind Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special bonus episode of Future U, Michael Horn moderates a panel discussion on the future of work and learning in the age of AI. Recorded at a Western Governors University event in Boston, the conversation features insights from industry leaders across technology, consulting, and higher education.Panelists Paul Bingham (WGU), Will Bass (formerly of Comcast), Kara Wiekowski (Accenture), and Wayne Duso (former VP at AWS) explore the transformative impact of AI on workforce development, talent acquisition, and educational models. They discuss whether we should view AI as revolutionary like the smartphone or complementary like the microwave, share strategies for upskilling at both individual and organizational levels, and examine innovative approaches to virtual internships and experiential learning.Whether you're an educator, administrator, business leader, or student contemplating your career path, this episode provides valuable insights on navigating the rapidly evolving intersection of work, technology, and education.Chapters0:00 - Introduction2:34 - AI Perspectives: Optimism vs. Concerns6:28 - The Microwave vs. Smartphone Analogy9:09 - AI as an Accelerant of Change12:29 - Job Anxiety and Workforce Evolution21:22 - Rethinking Talent Acquisition and Development23:25 - Creating a Holistic Talent Approach24:41 - Accenture's AI Talent Strategy27:29 - The Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down Approach33:58 - Learning at the Speed of Human Capacity37:23 - Skill Forward: Balancing Organization and Individual Growth40:45 - Learning Models for Different Types of Adopters43:39 - On-the-Job Training and Strategic Learning47:55 - The Challenge of Finding Time to Learn53:04 - Virtual Experiences and the Future of Internships Further Reading"AI Skills Fundamentals Certificate" - Western Governors UniversityWGU's certificate program designed to help professionals develop foundational AI knowledge and skills applicable across various industries, supporting both personal growth and organizational innovation."AI Won't Replace Humans—But Humans With AI Will Replace Humans Without AI" - Harvard Business ReviewAn insightful article by Harvard professor Karim Lakhani explaining how AI will lower the cost of cognition and why business leaders must experiment with AI applications for all employees, not just tech workers."The Upskilling Imperative: Required at Scale for the Future of Work" - McKinseyResearch highlighting how companies can take a larger role in upskilling employees by eliminating barriers of time and cost, with specific strategies for developing critical workforce capabilities."ChatGPT is Going to Change Education, Not Destroy It" - MIT Technology ReviewAn examination of how AI tools like ChatGPT are being reevaluated by educators as potential classroom aids rather than threats, with practical examples of implementation across educational settings."The Future of Skills: Employment in 2030" - PearsonA comprehensive research report that identifies which occupations and skills are likely to be in demand by 2030, considering seven megatrends including technological change, globalization, and demographic shifts. Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

In this episode of Making Sales Social, Brynne Tillman welcomes Greg Weinstein, founder and CEO of Aggie—an innovative AI tool built to help small businesses show up online without the stress of constant content creation. Drawing from his deep experience in digital media and roles at MTV, Comcast, and Univision, Greg explores what “human to human” marketing truly means in 2025, why average content just isn't enough, and how smarter AI inputs can lead to more impactful social engagement. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the “content beast,” this conversation might be the insight you've been craving.

Farmer's Fridge is keeping its foot on the gas after doubling its locations in recent years. Crain's reporting intern Laura Turbay discusses the Chicago startup's plans for expansion with host Amy Guth.Plus: Two Chicago hospitals rank among nation's 20 best in annual report, GTCR buying marketing software firm FMG Suite in private-equity deal, Penny Pritzker warns Trump cuts threaten U.S. in global tech race, watching a Cubs game on Comcast is about to get pricier.

The Cubs' Marquee Sports Network will move from Comcast's Popular tier to its Ultimate tier on October 1st, a few days after the baseball regular season ends. Customers who switch to the Ultimate tier will have to pay $20 more per month.

Debora Juarez appointed to Seattle City Council, WA immigration arrests are targeting people with no criminal history, and Comcast hit Seattle customers with improper late fees, according to city audit. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Ruby de Luna. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brought to you by TogetherLetters & Edgewise!In this episode: OpenAI CEO tells Federal Reserve confab that entire job categories will disappear due to AIOpenAI CEO Sam Altman Warns Bankers, Regulators of Coming Fraud ‘Crisis'Netflix admits to using AI in one of its showsBelkin shows tech firms getting too comfortable with bricking customers' stuffNews/Media Alliance Secures Takedown of Illegal Paywall Bypass Website 12ft.ioSurprising Science: How Electric Cars Quietly Transform Urban AirDelta moves toward eliminating set prices in favor of AI that determines how much you personally will pay for a ticketYour Android phone is getting better at warning you about earthquakesFCC to eliminate gigabit speed goal and scrap analysis of broadband pricesWeird and Wacky: Two guys hated using Comcast, so they built their own fiber ISPJapanese Grandparents Create Life-Size Totoro With Bus Stop For Their GrandkidsTech Rec:Sanjay - Swappa Adam - AccuWeather AppFind us here:sanjayparekh.com & adamjwalker.comTech Talk Y'all is a proud production of...

Shuffle through your Tarot deck as we're joined by author and artist Charlie Claire Burgess who talks about their work around tarot and the intersection of spirituality and queerness. We talk about witchy awakenings courtesy of the CW network, getting rid of the binary in tarot readings, and so much more!Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of queerphobia, abusive relationships, theft, misogyny, white supremacists, patriarchy, colonization, and the apocalypse. GuestCharlie (they/them) is a queer and trans-nonbinary author and artist working at the intersection of spirituality and queerness. They are the author of Queer Devotion and Radical Tarot and the creator of the Fifth Spirit Tarot and Gay Marseille Tarot decks. Their nonfiction writing has appeared in the Lambda Literary Review, F(r)iction Magazine, The Rebis, and the Tarot in Other Words anthology, and their short fiction has earned a Pushcart Prize Special Mention and notable mentions in two Best American anthologies.Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives' Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/spirits Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've talked about so many American cryptids on the show, but have you heard about the Flatwoods Monster of West Virginia? Settle around the camp fire as we tell a tale of UFO crash landings, Men in Black, and government conspiracy in small town America.Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of vomiting, child endangerment, atomic warfare, government/military intervention, and bridge collapses. Housekeeping- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives' Tale Teller Corduroy Hat!- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- Bookshop.org, where you can now use the code we shared in the midroll to get 10% off your purchase!Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.comCast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oh yes, we're talking all kinds of stocks! (00:21) Jason Hall and Matt Frankel discuss: - AI stocks in the data center space (including CoreWeave) - Winners and losers in energy and solar from the Big Beautiful Bill. - With Superman coming out, we rank the intellectual property of Warner Bros. Discovery, Comcast, Disney, and Netflix (19:11) Dave Schaeffer, founder and CEO of Cogent Communications, talks with Asit Sharma and Sanmeet Deo about how Cogent's deals with customers like Netflix and Meta Platforms work and what keeps him up at night. (32:39) Jason and Matt talk about Prime Day and other made up holidays and give us the stocks on their radar. Stocks discussed: CRWV, DLR, EQIX, AMZN, MSFT, BEP, BEPC, NVDA, CRM, CSIQ, RUN, FSLR, ENPH, TSLA, GEV, J, CEG, FLNC, WBD, CMCSA, DIS, NFLX, SOFI, CHD Host: Anand Chokkavelu Guests: Jason Hall, Matt Frankel, Asit Sharma, Sanmeet Deo, Dave Schaeffer Engineer: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

But not all the time. Plus, Comcast gets rid of data caps. Starring Tom Merritt and Huyen Tue Dao.Show notes can be found here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.