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A.M. Edition for Aug 4. China has gained leverage over the U.S. military supply chains by choking off the exports of critical minerals to Western defense companies. The WSJ's Jon Emont explains how these restrictions from China will have significant consequences for the U.S. military. Plus, the Trump administration defends the president's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, following Friday's weaker-than-expected jobs numbers. And, dozens of Texas House Democrats flee the state in a bid to block Republican plans to redraw the state's congressional map. Azhar Sukri hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into one of the most shocking truths about our modern food supply with Dr. Tera Fazzino, associate director at the KU Center for Addiction Research. What if we told you that the same tobacco companies that engineered cigarettes to be addictive also helped shape the foods you crave the most? From hyper-palatable snacks to sugary drinks, we unpack how these foods hijack your brain's reward system—and why it's so hard to stop eating them. Dr. Fazzino reveals the documented connection between Big Tobacco and Big Food, and why our current food environment might be more manipulated than we think. If you've ever felt like certain foods are literally irresistible, this episode will change the way you see your pantry.Sign up for our newsletter here!For weekly episodes, come join the Foodie Fam!Check out our book!Chat with us on IG @foodweneedtotalk!Be friends with Juna on Instagram and Tiktok! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Last time we spoke about the battle along the Wusong Creek. The situation was dire for the Chinese defenders, who faced overwhelming odds. Among them was Ogishima, a Japanese soldier who experienced the brutal reality of war firsthand. Amidst the chaos, battles erupted along the Wusong Creek, where both sides suffered heavy casualties. Chinese forces, despite being greatly outnumbered in terms of tactical superiority, demonstrated extraordinary resilience, fighting bravely even when retreat was necessary. As the battle raged on, tactics evolved; Chinese troops fortified defenses and implemented guerrilla warfare strategies. The soldiers transformed the landscape into a fortification, turning abandoned buildings into strongholds. October brought a fresh wave of violence. The Japanese pressed their attack, unleashing superior firepower that gradually saw them conquer Dachang.    #161 The Battle of Shanghai #6: the 800 heroes who defended the Sihang Warehouse Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Before the fall of Dachang, despite the threat of court-martial for anyone abandoning their posts, a general withdrawal of all Chinese forces in the Jiangwan salient was already in progress. As early as the night between October 24 and 25, the divisions within the salient had been ordered to move their baggage trains and support services back southwest across Suzhou Creek, utilizing the Zhongshan Bridge and Jessfield Railway Bridge. As the fighting intensified north of Zhabei in the subsequent days, the flow of soldiers, vehicles, and pack animals continued. By the night between October 26 and 27, the Chinese completely vacated metropolitan Shanghai north of Suzhou Creek. A foreign journalist wrot “The enormous Chinese army simply melted away and at dawn the Japanese found themselves facing empty positions. The two armies were no longer in contact.” During their retreat from Zhabei, the Chinese systematically set fire to thousands of shops and homes, implementing a scorched earth policy. At 7:00 am on October 27, eight narrow columns of smoke cut across the horizon from one end of Zhabei to the other. Two hours later, these columns had transformed into “huge black pillars stretching towards the azure sky.” By afternoon, a massive wall of smoke stretched four miles long, rising thousands of feet into the air. In the words of a German advisor, it was a fire “of unimaginable extent” that raged out of control for several days, repeatedly threatening to spill into the International Settlement. Refugees who had left Zhabei weeks or months earlier, hoping to return now that the fighting seemed to be over, were devastated to see their homes consumed by an immense sea of flames. The Japanese Army, or more specifically the doctrine guiding it in the field, failed in two significant ways by allowing some of China's best divisions to escape the trap they had set for them. First, on the evening of October 26, after taking Dachang, the Japanese columns could have advanced across Zhabei right to the edge of the International Settlement. Instead, they followed orders and ceased their advance at the line they had reached at sunset. German advisor Borchardt wrote “The only explanation for this is the lack of independent thinking among junior Japanese commanders and their fear of deviating even slightly from a meticulously detailed attack plan.  Since the Japanese focused on rallying and reorganizing their forces after the fall of Dachang, they missed an opportunity for a victory so decisive that the Chinese would have been forced to give up their continued resistance in Shanghai.” If the Japanese made their first mistake by leaving a door open for the enemy to escape, they committed a second error by failing to notice that the enemy was using that door. Although Japanese reconnaissance planes monitored the two main bridges utilized by the Chinese to retreat and even deployed parachute flares to detect movements at night, they inexplicably failed to observe the Chinese withdrawal. The retreat was executed precisely as planned, with every piece of artillery withdrawn. This allowed the Chinese to occupy prepared positions south of Suzhou Creek and around Nanxiang, enabling them to continue the fight another day. Despite their missteps, the Japanese initially celebrated their conquest of Zhabei as a victory, placing thousands of small Rising Sun flags throughout the district's ruins. Amid this sea of white and red, the only relatively intact structure, the Four Banks' Warehouse, starkly reminded them that the Chinese still maintained a foothold north of Suzhou Creek. Rumors began to circulate that the soldiers inside had vowed to fight to the death. The Japanese came to realize that their triumph in Zhabei would be perceived as flawed and would even resemble a defeat as long as the warehouse remained in Chinese hands. It was back on October 26, Chiang Kai-shek ordered all forces in Shanghai to withdraw to the western rural region. To facilitate a safe retreat, a rearguard was necessary, as is standard in military withdrawals. Chiang issued orders to General Gu Zhutong, the acting commander of the 3rd Military Region, to leave the 88th Division behind, not only to buy time for the retreating forces but also to stage a final grand stand in front of the Shanghai International Settlement. This was a last-ditch effort to gain international support, as the nine Great Powers were set to convene on November 6. However, General Gu Zhutong was personally attached to the 88th Division, and thus reluctant to abandon them. It's worth noting that he was acting commander in this position because his next post was to lead the 88th Division. Therefore, he telegrammed the divisional commander at the time, General Sun Yuanliang, who also opposed the plan to leave the 88th Division behind. While neither Gu Zhutong nor Sun Yuanliang were willing to disobey orders from the Generalissimo, Sun proposed a solution: They could leave a portion of the troops behind, just not the entire 88th Division. In his words, “How many people we sacrifice would not make a difference; it would achieve the same purpose.” Sun suggested leaving behind a single regiment from the 88th Division to defend one or two heavily fortified positions. Gu Zhutong agreed to this plan, and at that time, the 88th Divisional Headquarters was located at the Sihang Warehouse. The Sihang Warehouse is a six-story concrete building situated in the Zhabei district, just north of Suzhou Creek, at the northwestern edge of the New Lese Bridge. The warehouse was constructed collaboratively by four banks, hence the name "Sihang," which translates to "four banks." Directly across Suzhou Creek lies the Shanghai International Settlement, a neutral territory where Western foreigners resided. The fighting would occur literally just across the creek, forcing Western observers to witness the heroic last stand that China would make in Shanghai up close. For those who might not be aware, there is an outstanding film titled “The Eight Hundred.” I even reviewed the movie on my channel, the Pacific War Channel, on YouTube. The film excellently captures the remarkable situation, depicting an extravagant city on one side of a river, filled with entertainment, casinos, bars, and restaurants. The international community enjoys their vibrant lives, full of colors and lights, while on the other side lies a literal warzone. The Sihang Warehouse stands there, bullet-ridden, as the Japanese continuously attempt to storm it against the Chinese defenders. It's a compelling film worth checking out, feel free to take a look at my review as well! Returning to the story, Sun Yuanliang reconsidered and believed that leaving an entire regiment was excessive. Instead, he opted to leave behind an over-strength battalion. The 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment was chosen for this task. A young colonel, Xie Jinyuan, who was also new to the 88th Division, volunteered to lead the battalion. No one who had met Xie Jinyuan could doubt that he was the ideal choice to lead the battalion that would stay behind, holed up inside the Sihang Warehouse in a corner of Zhabei, demonstrating to both the domestic and international audience that China remained resolute in its resistance against Japanese aggression. The 32-year-old graduate of the elite Central Military Academy, who had been stationed in Shanghai with the 88th Division since hostilities began in August, was a soldier to the core. He stood as straight as a bayonet, and according to a foreign correspondent who met him, even while wearing a mask, he was unmistakably a military man. In the correspondent's words, he represented “modern China stripped for action.” Upon receiving his assignment on the night of October 26, Xie Jinyuan went directly to the warehouse and was pleased with what he found. It resembled a virtual fortress. Each of its walls was pockmarked with numerous rifle slots, ensuring that attacking infantry would face a barrage of fire from the building's well-defended positions. It was evident that once the Japanese arrived, they would surround the structure on three sides; however, a link remained to the International Settlement to the south across Lese Bridge. British forward positions were as close as 40 feet away, and with careful maneuvering and a bit of luck, it was likely that the injured could be evacuated under the cover of darkness. From a tactical standpoint, it was an ideal location.   Still, improvements were possible, and Xie ordered the soldiers already present to work through the night to enhance their defenses. They had an ample supply of large bags filled with wheat and corn at their disposal, which served as excellent substitutes for sandbags. Xie Jinyuan's first challenge was to rally the soldiers of the 524th Regiment's 1st Battalion to occupy the warehouse positions. This was a complex task, given the short notice, as the companies and platoons were scattered throughout Zhabei, and some had unknowingly begun moving west with the rest of the Chinese Army, unaware of the orders their battalion had received. Throughout the night, Xie and his second-in-command, Yang Ruifu, dispatched orderlies through the blazing streets in search of their men amidst the throng of retreating soldiers. Eventually, their efforts bore fruit. By 9:00 a.m. on October 27, the last remaining soldiers of the battalion arrived at the warehouse. By then, Xie Jinyuan's force consisted of just over 400 officers and soldiers. This was a minuscule number compared to the might of the Japanese military, and they were immediately put to the test. Xie was unfamiliar with the men under his command, effectively being thrown into the deep end, so to speak. The location chosen for their stand was, of course, the Sihang Warehouse. The 1st Battalion originally comprised eight hundred men, but casualties incurred during the Battle of Shanghai had reduced their numbers to just 452 soldiers before the defense of the Sihang Warehouse began. Each soldier was armed with either a Hanyang 88 or Chiang Kai-shek rifle, an 8mm Mauser, grenades, a German M1935 Stahlhelm, a gas mask, and they also had some Czech ZB vz.26 light machine guns, along with four Type 24 Maxim guns. They would face off against the forces of the 3rd IJA Division, commanded by General Iwane Matsui, as well as the 10th Battalion, 8th, and 9th Companies of the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force under Captain Okochi Denshichi. The Japanese forces were further bolstered by approximately 260 sailors from the Yokosuka 2nd Independent SNLF Company and another 200 sailors from the Kure 1st SNLF 2nd Company. Additionally, the 8th and 9th Companies of the Shanghai SNLF, originally attached to the 4th Artillery Battalion, would provide support with howitzers and mountain guns. In total, around 980 infantrymen from the reinforced 10th Battalion of the Shanghai SNLF, along with another 200 artillerymen from the 8th and 9th Companies, were involved in the Japanese assault on the Sihang Warehouse. Xie Jinyuan consolidated his battalion's defenses inside the Sihang Warehouse, believing it would provide his men the highest chance of holding out for as long as possible. He correctly assessed that the Imperial Japanese Army would be unable to use their heaviest artillery, aerial bombardment, gas attacks, or naval guns for fear of accidentally striking the International Settlement. It's important to remember that this was 1937, and the Empire of Japan was not willing to risk open warfare with Western nations until 1941. What the Japanese did have access to were armored vehicles, such as the Type 94 tankettes. The Japanese infantry were equipped with various weapons, including the Arisaka Type 38 rifle, Type 11 and Type 96 light machine guns, the Nambu Type 14 pistol, Type 92 heavy machine gun, Type 97 grenade, Type 89 grenade discharger, and the Type 93 flamethrower. On October 27, various companies of the battalion reached the Sihang Warehouse after a fighting withdrawal. By this point, they numbered 414 men, who essentially volunteered for a suicide mission and were later acknowledged by Chiang Kai-shek for their “exemplary soldierly conduct.” The 1st Battalion was commanded by Army Major Yang Ruifu, and their forces included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Companies, as well as a Machine Gun Company, totaling 452 men once the remaining soldiers arrived. Due to two months of intense fighting in Shanghai, many of the German-trained elite troops had been killed or wounded, leaving the majority of the reinforcements at the Sihang Warehouse to be garrison troops from the surrounding provinces. Many of these soldiers came from the 5th Regiment of the Hubei Province Garrison, which meant that many were also inexperienced recruits. On October 27, news began to circulate throughout Shanghai that Chinese forces were still resisting the Japanese in the Zhabei district at the Sihang Warehouse. At 4 a.m., a Girl Guide named Yang Huimin approached a British guard at a post at the Chinese end of the New Lese Bridge, where she noticed a British soldier tossing a pack of cigarettes into the warehouse. Yang asked the soldier what he was doing, and he informed her that there was a battalion of Chinese soldiers inside. She then wrote a message and requested that the soldier place it inside a cigarette box and toss it over. Soon, the Chinese tossed back the cigarette box with a message indicating they needed food, ammunition, and lubricant for their weapons. Yang then left the bridge and began pleading for help at the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, but no one believed her story. Xie Jinyuan deployed the 1st Company, led by Captain Tao Xingchun, on the right side of the warehouse along Tibet Road. The 3rd Company, led by Shi Meihao, was stationed on the left across from the Bank of Communications building, while the 2nd Company, commanded by Deng Ying, held the other sides. Two heavy Type 24 Maxim machine guns were mounted on the roof of the Sihang Warehouse, with additional machine guns distributed among each company. A forward platoon from each company was sent out to provide early warning of any enemy attack. Furthermore, Xie ordered his combat engineers to place remote-detonated charges in front of the warehouse. His units were strategically dispersed with rifles and machine guns throughout the warehouse and on the rooftop. They reinforced the building with bags of sand, corn, and beans, and razed surrounding structures to create a deadly killing field. At 7:30 am an advance outpost reported seeing Japanese marines near the North Train Station, and 45 minutes later, it confirmed that the enemy's flag was flying over that building. The Chinese soldiers were ordered to engage the advancing IJA 3rd division, and over the next two hours, they executed a fighting retreat back toward the warehouse. A brief pause ensued, during which the Chinese defenders prepared themselves, with some taking up positions on the various floors of the warehouse and others crouching behind an outer wall surrounding the building. At 1:00 pm a Japanese column approached the warehouse, confidently marching down the middle of the road behind a large Rising Sun banner. It appeared more like a victory parade than a tactical maneuver. Once they were in range, the Chinese officers ordered their men to fire. Five Japanese soldiers fell, causing the rest of the column to scramble for cover. Within an hour, the Japanese had amassed enough troops to attempt a storming assault on the warehouse. A sizable force surrounded the building, unleashing so much firepower that the Chinese were forced to abandon the outer wall and retreat to the warehouse itself. Although the defenses remained solid, the crisis was far from over, and the attackers appeared to have gained dangerous momentum The first bloodshed occurred when ten IJA soldiers were killed while attempting to secure fortifications around the warehouse that had been rigged with explosives. At 2 p.m., a National Revolutionary Army  platoon led by Yin Qiucheng exchanged fire with approximately fifty IJA troops. By 3 pm, an IJA company consisting of around 194 men launched an attack on the warehouse from the west. During this engagement, the 3rd Company commander, Shi Meihao, was shot in the face but continued to lead the defense until he was shot again in the leg. Meanwhile, about seventy IJA soldiers took cover in a blind spot just southwest of the warehouse. In response, the NRA climbed to the rooftop and threw grenades at the IJA, killing seven and wounding twenty. The initial assault by the IJA was a failure, prompting them to set fire to the northwestern section of the warehouse, where fuel and lumber were stored. By 5 pm., firefighter efforts had extinguished the blaze, as the IJA were preoccupied with looting the Zhabei area. At this point, Yang Ruifu, the second-in-command, commanded a dozen soldiers to rush to the roof and lob hand grenades at the Japanese forces below. This counterattack halted the Japanese advance. As the Japanese withdrew, they left behind seven dead. Much of the fighting was closely watched by excited Chinese on the other side of the 60-yard Suzhou Creek. Each time news spread of another Japanese soldier being killed, a triumphant cheer erupted from the crowd. At 9 pm, battalion commander Yang Ruifu assessed that there would likely be no further IJA attacks that day and ordered the NRA to repair their fortifications and eat their meals. However, no one slept that night. The NRA suffered two deaths and four wounded, while the IJA reported seventeen dead and twenty wounded. Foreign correspondents witnessed the battle from the safety of Suzhou Creek, enjoying a front-row seat to the harsh reality of urban combat. One reporter observed a small group of Japanese soldiers cautiously approaching the warehouse, navigating through the broken masonry and twisted metal. Crawling from cover to cover, it took them 50 minutes to traverse just 50 yards. The Chinese defenders, watching from concealed vantage points, had been monitoring their movements all along. Once the Japanese party was close enough, the defenders unleashed a barrage of hand grenades. After the dust settled, they used their rifles to finish off anyone still able to move. Several Japanese attempting to rescue their wounded comrades were also killed. It was a war without mercy. Even after darkness fell over the warehouse, there was no time for sleep. The soldiers worked tirelessly to repair damages and reinforce their positions.  The next morning, Xie Jinyuan contacted the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce for assistance, having received their phone number from Yang Huimin. At 7 am on October 28, Japanese bombers began to circle the warehouse but refrained from dropping any bombs for fear of hitting the International Settlement. Surrounding the rooftops of nearby buildings was a sea of Rising Sun flags, serving to intimidate the NRA and signal that they were encircled. By 8 am, Xie delivered a pep talk to the defenders and noticed an IJA squad advancing along the Suzhou Creek. According to Yang Ruifu's memoirs, Xie picked up a rifle and shot one of the IJA soldiers from over a kilometer away, halting the squad's advance. At 3 pm, it began to rain as the IJA launched a major attack on the west side of the warehouse, taking control of the Bank of Communications building. From there, they deployed machine guns and cannons to bombard the north face of the warehouse. However, the cannons were unable to significantly damage the six-foot-thick walls, and the Japanese troops in the bank building were easily suppressed by the defenders on the warehouse roof, who enjoyed a superior vantage point. After two hours of fighting, the Japanese gave up on the attack but managed to cut electricity and water to the warehouse. Yang Ruifu ordered strict rationing, with each company placing its water reserves under guard and collecting urine in large barrels for firefighting purposes if necessary. Witnessing the fierce Chinese resistance, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce was invigorated, and news of the stand quickly spread via radio. Crowds of 30,000 people gathered along the southern bank of the Suzhou Creek, cheering the defenders on. In response, ten truckloads of aid were donated by Shanghai citizens, making their way over the bridge to the warehouse throughout the night. The defenders received food, fruit, clothing, utensils, and letters of support from the citizens. A few journalists attempted to visit, but due to the commanding officers being busy, they only managed to meet with Lei Xiong, the Machine Gun Company commander. Xie Jinyuan also utilized the same trucks to transport ten wounded men into the International Settlement. During these truck transit actions, three NRA soldiers were killed by Japanese sharpshooters. Yang Huimin courageously ran to the warehouse to personally deliver the Republic of China flag to Xie Jinyuan. Upon receiving the flag, Xie was asked by a reporter about his plans, to which he simply replied, “Defend to the death.” Yang Huimin then requested a list of the soldiers' names to announce to the entire country. However, Xie was reluctant to provide this information, fearing it would reveal his actual numbers and prompt the Japanese to storm the warehouse. Instead, he wrote down 800 names from the original 524th Regiment's roster. Thus, the legend of the “800 Heroes” was born. The next morning, the Republic of China flag was hoisted on a thirteen-foot pole atop the Sihang Warehouse. Since Yang Huimin had only delivered the flag without a pole, the defenders constructed a makeshift pole using two bamboo culms tied together, holding a flag-raising ceremony. Crowds gathered in the International Settlement, reaching up to thirty thousand in number, shouting “Zhōnghuá Mínguó wànsu!” (Long live the Republic of China). Japanese aircraft attempted to destroy the flag with strafing fire but were unsuccessful and were forced to retreat due to anti-aircraft fire. At noon, the IJA launched their largest offensive to date, attacking the warehouse from all directions with Type 94 tankettes and cannons. The 3rd NRA Company was pushed out of their defensive lines to the base of the warehouse and then further into the warehouse itself. The IJA's cannon fire chipped away at the warehouse structure, creating new firing ports on the windowless west wall. The Japanese attempted to scale the walls to the second floor using ladders. Xie Jinyuan was positioned near a window when two IJA soldiers managed to climb into the second floor beside him. He choked the first soldier to death and shot the other while kicking over the ladder they had used. The situation became dire as a platoon of IJA soldiers began placing explosives to breach the west wall. As the battle raged on, the IJA platoon continued planting explosives at the base of the west wall in an effort to breach it. When the Chinese defenders noticed what they were doing, 21-year-old Private Chen Shusheng, armed with a grenade vest, jumped from a second-story window onto the IJA platoon that was planting the explosives. His suicide attack killed himself and twenty Japanese soldiers below. The fighting continued until darkness fell, with waves of IJA soldiers storming the warehouse using armored vehicles. Ultimately, the IJA had to abandon their assault and began digging a tunnel towards the warehouse with an excavator. In response, posters emerged in the International Settlement, showcasing the movement of the IJA to the NRA. At 7 am, on October 30, the IJA recommenced their attacks, this time employing heavy artillery, firing approximately one shell per second throughout the day. The NRA responded by reinforcing the warehouse with additional sandbags. As night approached, the IJA utilized floodlights to illuminate the warehouse, allowing their artillery fire to continue unabated. Despite the overwhelming firepower, the defenders still managed to destroy some of the IJA's armored vehicles. The International Settlement exerted pressure on the IJA to cease the artillery fire, as it was dangerously close to their area. They informed the IJA that they would attempt to persuade the NRA to end their defense. A petition was sent to Chiang Kai-shek to stop the fighting for humanitarian reasons. By this point, the defense of the Sihang Warehouse had accomplished all its objectives. The NRA forces in Shanghai had successfully redeployed to more favorable positions in the rural west. Moreover, the defense of the warehouse had garnered significant attention from the Western world. Consequently, Chiang Kai-shek authorized a retreat. Chiang Kai-shek ordered the battalion to retreat into the foreign concession and to rejoin the 88th Division, which was now fighting in western Shanghai. A meeting was arranged with British General Telfer-Smollet and Yan Hu of the Shanghai Auxiliary Police to facilitate the retreat. The 524th Regiment would retreat to the International Settlement by crossing the New Lese Bridge. The 3rd IJA Division commander, Matsui Iwane, was notified of this plan and agreed, promising to allow the defenders to retreat unharmed, although he would ultimately not fulfill this promise. At midnight on November 1, Xie Jinyuan led the retreat of 376 men out of the warehouse and across the New Lese Bridge into the International Settlement. Ten NRA soldiers had been killed, and twenty-seven were too wounded to move; those soldiers volunteered to stay behind and man the machine guns on the rooftop to provide cover for the retreat. During the crossing, ten additional NRA soldiers were wounded by IJA sharpshooter fire. By 2 a.m. on November 1, the retreat was complete, marking the end of the defense of the Sihang Warehouse. After the battle, Xie Jinyuan reported that more than 100 Japanese troops had been killed by the defenders. General Sun Yuanliang stated, “Enemy corpses in the vicinity of Sihang Warehouse totaled approximately two hundred.” Xie Jimin claimed, “More than 200 enemy troops were killed and countless others were wounded. Two enemy tanks were also destroyed, and two more were damaged. The number of enemies was based on the daily counts obtained by observation posts.” The NRA suffered ten deaths and thirty-seven wounded, while the IJA incurred an estimated two hundred killed, along with several others wounded. However, a Japanese report indicated that after the SNLF 10th Battalion stormed the Sihang Warehouse, they found only 80 Chinese corpses. As of 2022, historians now estimate that 377 Chinese soldiers managed to retreat, suggesting that the actual death toll for the Chinese was likely around 33. The Battle of Shanghai was arguably unwinnable for the Chinese from the outset. It was only a matter of time before the Japanese would gain the upper hand due to their material and technological advantages. As the fighting dragged on, with the Japanese capturing stronghold after stronghold in the countryside surrounding the city, the immense toll exacted on the defenders led a growing number of Chinese generals to question the wisdom of clinging to a city that was ultimately destined to fall. They pushed for a more comprehensive withdrawal rather than the tactical retreat from Zhabei and Jiangwan that had already taken place. Otherwise, thousands more soldiers would die in vain. Moreover, there were serious concerns about morale taking a devastating hit, which could compromise China's ability to continue the fight. This was becoming a pressing issue. Chinese troops, who had initially entered the battle with an upbeat and patriotic spirit, gradually lost their fervor as casualties mounted in a seemingly hopeless battle. Once a division was reduced to one-third of its original strength, it was sent to the rear for reorganization and replenishment before being returned to the frontline. Most soldiers perceived the odds of survival as heavily stacked against them. Despite regular visits to the front, Chiang Kai-shek remained largely unaware of these grim realities. Officers who understood the true conditions in the trenches were also familiar with the supreme commander's stubborn nature and his determination to defend Shanghai to the bitter end. Given the circumstances, they felt it unwise to reveal the full truth to him. This charade could not continue indefinitely. In some units, the situation was deteriorating so rapidly that it became increasingly likely soldiers would simply abandon their positions. With mutiny looming as a possibility, senior commanders sought to persuade Chiang Kai-shek that a complete withdrawal of all Chinese troops from the Shanghai area to a fortified line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, a city about 35 miles to the south, was the only viable option. In early November, General Bai Chongxi informed Chiang that the officers at the front could no longer control their men and that a pullback would serve as a face-saving measure, forestalling potential rebellion within the ranks. However, nothing they said seemed to impress Chiang Kai-shek. General Li Zongren, another officer who had previously attempted to advocate for a retreat, realized that arguing with the man at the top was futile. “War plans were decided by him personally, and no one else was allowed to say anything,” Li noted in his memoirs. Despite this, there were moments when Chiang appeared tantalizingly close to being swayed by the views of his lieutenants. As early as the first days of October, he seemed to favor a withdrawal from the front, only to reverse his decision later. A similar situation arose late in the month when Chiang called a meeting with his frontline commanders in a train carriage at Songjiang Railway Station, southwest of Shanghai. Before his arrival, the generals discussed the battle and concluded they could do little against the enemy's superior firepower. Upon Chiang's arrival, Zhang Fakui, the commander of the troops in Pudong, suggested moving ten divisions to prepared positions further in the rear, where defense would be easier than in Shanghai. The majority agreed with this proposal. At this point, Madame Chiang Kai-shek made her entrance, dressed in an expensive fur coat and fresh from a visit to the Shanghai front. “If we can hold Shanghai for ten more days,” she declared, “China will win international sympathy.” She was vague about the specifics but seemed to be referring to the upcoming Brussels conference. This declaration galvanized Chiang. “Shanghai must be held at all costs,” he asserted with firm conviction, as if that had been his sentiment all along. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. As Chinese troops retreated across Suzhou Creek, a small battalion under Colonel Xie Jinyuan held their ground, transforming the warehouse into a fortress. Despite fierce attacks, including artillery and tank assaults, they showcased unparalleled bravery. Reinforced by messages of support from locals, spirits soared. Amidst mounting casualties, they persisted until a strategic retreat was ordered. As dawn broke on November 1, Xie led the remaining troops to safety, leaving behind a legacy of valor that inspired future generations. Thus, the "800 Heroes" legend was born.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33MpmtvMKs0 Podcast audio: In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Marek Michulka and Onkar Ghate examine the Trump administration's actions against CBS — including a billion-dollar lawsuit and FCC investigation — and argue that the FCC's regulatory power is incompatible with free speech.  Among the topics covered: How Trump's actions against CBS are targeting them for their content; How censorship in a free country relies on self-censorship; Why many critics of Trump's actions miss the essential issue; How antitrust is being used to force editorial rooms to cater to the whims of bureaucrats; Why the realm of ideas can't be separated from the realm of production and trade; How elite universities' “public interest” rhetoric opened the door to government control; What the future holds. Recommended in this podcast are Ayn Rand's essay “Have Gun, Will Nudge,” her talk “Censorship: Local and Express,” and her novel, especially Part II Chapter 5.  This podcast was recorded on June 11, 2025 and posted on July 31, 2025. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here.

Companies announce price increases to offset tariff costs amid trade war; Office of Special Counsel says it's opened Hatch Act probe of Jack Smith; Raging wildfires fuel air quality concerns in US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another call with Peter Wilson discussing ULEZ, Parking companies and lots more  #commonlaw #natural law #sovereignity About my Guest:Ex Royal Navy gunner and armourer, turned professional fighter. Owned and ran own martial arts gym for about 30 years. Always been aware of something not being right in the world, went deep into it after losing over £1million of property in 1 week including own home. So been up and been down even living in a car for a while with his wife Janine and 4 dogs. ---Awakening Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts  ⁠⁠⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠⁠ ------------------What we Discussed: 00:25 Who is Peter Wilson01:40 His book that explains Trusts in Simple Terms06:23 A series of Books to improve humanity09:00 He created a Video how to Navigate Skool Platform12:30 How they Navigate the Platform15:55 The Ai is pushing an Agenda20:00 How they have created an Ai that does not check the internet22:25 The FCA Handbook25:25 Notice of Assignment27:10 The Business and Property Courts28:30 Can they apply a limit of claims30:40 Fighting a Mortgage Case34:20 Thoughts on Tommy Robbinson37:30 How do we stop our countries been destroyed44:20 Live Life as Privately as Possible44:45 How to Navigate the TV lisence47:10 All the Speed Limits are reduced from 50km (30 miles) to 40km ( 20 miles)53:00 Dealing with ULEZ54:25 You can not live in Chaos while driving58:45 When Peters car when destroyed1:01:10 Can you have a Bond for the Insurance1:03:10 Te Corruption with the Parking Companies1:12:00 How much the DVLA make selling your DATA1:19:28 Case Law Mr Bevis1:21:45 SAR - Subject Access Request1:24:55 The costs and effect of Parking Fees1:28:30 If your Car is Clamped How to Contact Peter:  https://www.skool.com/check-mate-the-matrix-2832/about?ref=f30a0a71fea743aa8f9b8fb632d6129c https://www.claimyourstrawman.com/https://linktr.ee/PeterWilsonReturnToDemocracy ------------------------------More about the Awakening Podcast:All Episodes can be found at www.awakeningpodcast.org My Facebook Group Mentioned in this Episode https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572386459383 Awakening Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts  ⁠⁠⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠⁠ Our Facebook Group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/royawakening #checkmatethematrix #ucc #peterwilson #clamping#parkingcompanies 

In this episode, Stephan Livera and Jad Mubaslat discuss the emerging trend of Bitcoin treasury companies, exploring the potential risks and rewards associated with investing in these entities. Jad expresses skepticism about the sustainability of these companies, particularly regarding their cash flow and financial engineering strategies. The conversation delves into the implications of convertible notes versus preferred shares, tax considerations, and the historical context of financial bubbles. Ultimately, both acknowledge the importance of self-custodying Bitcoin while considering the role of treasury companies in the evolving financial landscape.Takeaways

Send us a textEver wonder what's holding back your business growth? The answer might be staring back at you in the mirror. Tom Howard, owner of multiple successful HVAC and plumbing companies and ServiceTitan executive, delivers a masterclass in ego-free leadership that transformed struggling businesses into multi-million dollar enterprises. His refreshingly blunt perspective challenges conventional wisdom: "You can be right or you can be rich. You get to pick one, but not both."Howard's approach to leadership is revolutionary yet practical. Rather than micromanaging, he advocates giving managers clear boundaries, financial targets, and then stepping aside. "I own probably eight different companies right now and then I work full-time at Service Titan as an executive. I can't do that if I don't have people that can run it." This philosophy creates true accountability and ownership throughout the organization.Perhaps most compelling is Howard's urgent message about AI adoption in trades businesses. "The AI revolution is going to be massive... AI is the opposite [of the Industrial Revolution]. It's giving these massive tools to the guy sitting on his laptop with an internet connection in his basement." He shares mind-blowing examples of AI automating call centers, creating training materials, and developing marketing content - all happening now, not in some distant future.Howard also distinguishes between belief and faith in business - a subtle but crucial difference. "It's one thing to believe something works; it's another to have enough faith to fully implement it." This insight explains why many businesses fail to execute proven strategies.Ready to remove your ego, embrace AI, and build a business that thrives even when you're not there? This episode is your blueprint. Check out Tom's book "Fetching Millions" on Amazon or visit howarddeals.com for his free acquisition guide. Support the show https://www.audible.com/pd/9-Simple-Steps-to-Sell-More-ht-Audiobook/B0D4SJYD4Q?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=library_overflowhttps://www.amazon.com/Simple-Steps-Sell-More-Stereotypes-ebook/dp/B0BRNSFYG6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OSB7HX6FQMHS&keywords=corey+berrier&qid=1674232549&sprefix=%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreysalescoach/

Send us fan responses! Ever wondered why some people never seem to win in court despite having strong cases? The answer lies in a hidden system of securitization that affects every aspect of our legal process—a system that Don Kilam fearlessly exposes in this eye-opening episode.From a luxurious LA penthouse with sweeping city views, Kilam pulls back the curtain on how courts actually function as sophisticated debt collection operations. He meticulously breaks down the bond system used by courts, explaining how bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds create the financial framework that turns defendants into commodities. "Every time you put your signature on a piece of paper, you are creating a negotiable instrument," Kilam reveals, highlighting how our signatures become valuable commercial paper that gets monetized without our knowledge.Perhaps most shocking is Kilam's explanation of the prison-industrial complex's true nature. When defendants go into default judgment by failing to respond correctly to charges (which are actually commercial terms), these judgments are sold to reinsurance companies and eventually converted into mortgage-backed securities traded on international markets. Companies like Corrections Corporation of America make millions by contracting with federal prisons, creating a profit incentive for incarceration that few understand.But this episode isn't just about exposing problems—it offers solutions. Kalam provides specific strategies for winning in court by understanding and using this commercial framework to your advantage. He outlines exactly which government forms to file, how to make conditional acceptances, and why requesting "full settlement and closure of the account" can be more effective than traditional legal arguments. "You're the principal and the owner of the account," he emphasizes. "Tell them what to do."Want to master these powerful techniques and reclaim your sovereignty? Text PRIVATELIFE to 702-200-4900 to join Don Kilam's school where he teaches these methods in detail, or visit skool.com/donkilam for comprehensive resources. As Kalam reminds us, "Prosperity is your divine birthright"—you just need to understand the rules of the game to claim it.https://www.skool.com/donkilam/abouthttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Don-Kilam/author/B09J54V2ZD?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=a626ae46-2ba5-4124-beee-27d01c771e34 https://www.skool.com/donkilam/abouthttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Don-Kilam/author/B09J54V2ZD?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=a626ae46-2ba5-4124-beee-27d01c771e34Support the showhttps://donkilam.com

The Federal Reserve holds rates steady for now, but an ever-evolving trade and tariff picture raises questions about for how long. Also, Meta Platforms and Microsoft earnings suggest no slowdown in AI spending.  Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren, and Jon Quast discuss: - The Federal Reserve's decision to keep rates steady - A shift in smartphone production - Microsoft and Meta Platforms commit to continued elevated capex spending - Who will be the next $4 trillion company? Companies discussed:  Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Nvidia (NVDA)  Host: Rachel Warren Guests: Lou Whiteman, Jon Quast Engineer: Bart Shannon   Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Washington State Republican is warning of wealth flight from our state due to the ridiculous tax burden. A shooting at Northgate light rail station highlights the need for more transit security. Washington is suing the Trump Administration (again) over the defunding of Planned Parenthood. // Big Local: Snohomish County is opening a new mobile addiction treatment center. The Juanita High School theater manager that was detained by ICE has been released. The mother of a child that was pulled into the water at Bremerton Marina is suing the Port of Bremerton. // You Pick the Topic: A man went to great lengths to get his fiance to agree to get engaged to him.

Eva Yazhari is the Managing Partner of Beyond Capital Ventures, an early-stage impact venture capital firm investing in conscious leaders building businesses to solve critical challenges in emerging markets like India and East Africa. Under her leadership, the firm backs purpose-driven companies in healthcare, climate resilience, and financial inclusion in underserved markets. A former Wall Street executive, Eva leverages her institutional investment expertise to promote equitable ownership and long-term value across her portfolio. She is also the author of The Good Your Money Can Do and co-hosts The Beyond Capital Podcast, where she features mission-aligned global leaders. In this episode… In a world where capital often flows toward the most visible or hyped innovations, essential needs in emerging markets remain underfunded and overlooked. Entrepreneurs with purpose-driven missions in healthcare, fintech, and mobility often face structural barriers to scale — especially in regions like East Africa and India. How can investors and founders work together to create sustainable, impactful businesses in these challenging yet opportunity-rich environments? Eva Yazhari, an experienced venture investor and advocate for conscious capitalism, shares how aligning investment strategy with social impact can unlock untapped market potential. Eva emphasizes the importance of backing founders who are in love with the problem — not just their own solution — so they can adapt and thrive in volatile markets. She outlines how early-stage businesses should demonstrate product-market fit, scalable unit economics, and a path to profitability in order to attract aligned capital. Her philosophy of “no investment is neutral” encourages both investors and consumers to intentionally direct resources toward businesses that reflect their values. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Eva Yazhari, Managing Partner at Beyond Capital Ventures, about purpose-driven investing in emerging markets. Eva discusses how to evaluate undervalued opportunities, why relational leadership matters in early-stage ventures, and what it means to build a business with stakeholder alignment. She also explores her investment thesis, personal values, and the power of aligned mentorship.

Do you work to live…or live to work? For many, the answer is simple: “I work to make a living.”But what if there's more to work than just earning a paycheck? Could it be that work holds deeper meaning—something essential to who we are and how we're made? David Bahnsen joins us today to offer a perspective on work you might not have considered.David Bahnsen is the Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a national private wealth management firm managing over $7 billion in client assets. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox News, and Fox Business. He is also the author of Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life. Rethinking Work and IdentityWe live in a world that often tells us our identity has nothing to do with our work. Unfortunately, that idea has not only crept into culture but also into the church. But let's be honest: that's simply not true. Our identity is tied to our work—not in the sense that a job title defines us, but because we are made in the image of a working God.We all instinctively know this. We don't look at someone who is contributing meaningfully to society and compare them equally to someone who spends every day in idleness. That's not about transactional worth—it's about reflecting the nature of our Creator. God created us to be productive, useful, and active. That's not a controversial claim. It's Genesis 1. Work isn't all of who we are, but it is a vital part of who we were created to be.Too often, we treat faith like an add-on. We make decisions about money, career, education, even family, and then sprinkle a few Bible verses on top. But the goal isn't to balance faith and work—it's to integrate them. That begins by grounding our understanding of work in a creational theology: God made work good.What we need in the church is not more dichotomy between sacred and secular, but an integrated vision that sees every good job—yes, even spreadsheets, sales, and software—as part of God's design. This mindset shift must begin in our pulpits. Our congregations need to hear that their Monday through Friday labor is not second-tier spiritual activity. It is sacred.The Relationship Between Work and RestInstead of chasing a “work-life balance,” Scripture offers a “work-rest paradigm.” God modeled six days of work followed by one day of rest—not the other way around. The purpose of rest isn't to escape work; it's to be restored for more of it. Rest has meaning because work has meaning.That's why we push back on the cultural narrative that says rest, leisure, and early retirement are life's ultimate goals. While rest is essential, its purpose is to equip us to return to the good, God-glorifying work He's called us to do.Culture often treats retirement as the finish line—an end to productivity, as if people cease to offer value once they reach a certain age. But that view is deeply flawed.We must challenge the financial industry's narrative that the goal is to accumulate enough so that we never have to work again. That mindset undermines the dignity and purpose of work. Yes, physical limitations may alter what work looks like in later years, but wisdom, experience, and the capacity to contribute remain. Companies and churches alike lose something precious when they usher older workers out instead of tapping into their gifts.Job, Career, or Calling?So, how should we think about our work? Is it just a job? A stepping stone? Or something more?Every Christian, no matter their vocation, should view their work as a calling. That doesn't mean God gives us a divine word about every job transition, but it does mean that the act of producing goods and services, solving problems, and serving others is inherently meaningful. That's our calling: to work with excellence, for the good of others, and the glory of God.To young adults wondering what to do with their lives: Don't believe the lie that you need to find your dream job tomorrow. Instead, embrace the next opportunity in front of you with excellence, humility, and a long-term view.Work is not just a means to a paycheck. It's how we serve our neighbors, develop skills, build character, and participate in God's ongoing work in the world. Some jobs may be stepping stones—but every job matters. The key is to remember the why behind your work: it's about loving God and loving others.Here's the truth: work isn't something we do just to meet our needs. It's something we do because God made us to work. He worked in creation, and He continues to work in redemption. When we work, we join Him in that sacred task—creating, restoring, cultivating, and contributing to human flourishing.Our work builds families, economies, culture—and yes, even the Kingdom of God.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I recently retired and now work part-time delivering food for a restaurant using my personal vehicle. Am I allowed to deduct mileage, gas, or other vehicle expenses when I file my income taxes?My son is having a hard time covering his business expenses and has turned to several payday loans just to stay afloat. I'm looking for advice on how he can get sound financial guidance—or if there's a way he can consolidate that debt and get back on track.Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life by David L. BahnsenChristian Credit CounselorsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

My guest on the show today is Maj Soueidan, Founder, Editor, and Chief Portfolio Officer at MS MicroCaps and GeoInvesting. In this episode, Maj shares a comprehensive update on his investment philosophy, including the performance and evolution of the MSM Quality Index, a passive, factor-driven approach to finding high-quality microcap stocks with multibagger potential. We discuss how the MSM Index blends qualitative and quantitative analysis, what separates it from traditional model portfolios, and the role of occasional rebalancing. Maj also walks us through how the index achieved over 100% returns since inception and why it's built for long-term staying power. We also dive into the differences between MS Micro Caps and GeoInvesting — one serving as a pipeline of ideas, the other as a deeper research platform — and how Maj thinks about conviction levels, diversification, and information edge. From spotting opportunities in “old boring companies” benefiting from data center and AI trends to reading between the lines in press releases and earnings transcripts, Maj offers a masterclass in info arbitrage and microcap idea generation. For more information about MS MicroCap Cliffnotes, please visit: https://mscliffnotes.substack.com/ For more information about GeoInvesting, please visit: https://geoinvesting.com/ Planet MicroCap Podcast is on YouTube! All archived episodes and each new episode will be posted on the Planet MicroCap YouTube channel. I've provided the link in the description if you'd like to subscribe. You'll also get the chance to watch all our Video Interviews with management teams, educational panels from the conference, as well as expert commentary from some familiar guests on the podcast. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1Q5Yfym Click here to rate and review the Planet MicroCap Podcast The Planet MicroCap Podcast is brought to you by SNN Incorporated, The Official MicroCap News Source, and the Planet MicroCap Review Magazine, the leading magazine in the MicroCap market. You can Follow the Planet MicroCap Podcast on Twitter @BobbyKKraft

For today's essential Heretics 101 feature, Kelli and Nolan do a deep dive into executive recruiting mastery with VC Andy Price, covering why exec hires fail, back-channeling strategies, post-hire support, and building scalable leadership teams.*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.coFor coaching and advising inquire at https://kellidragovich.com/HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.Support HR Heretics Sponsors:Planful empowers teams just like yours to unlock the secrets of successful workforce planning. Use data-driven insights to develop accurate forecasts, close hiring gaps, and adjust talent acquisition plans collaboratively based on costs today and into the future. ✍️ Go to https://planful.com/heretics to see how you can transform your HR strategy.Metaview is the AI platform built for recruiting. Our suite of AI agents work across your hiring process to save time, boost decision quality, and elevate the candidate experience.Learn why team builders at 3,000+ cutting-edge companies like Brex, Deel, and Quora can't live without Metaview.It only takes minutes to get up and running. Check it out!KEEP UP WITH ANDY, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDINAndy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyprice1/Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:02) Why Executive Hit Rates Are So Low(04:01) The Artisanal Process: "Soaking" with Companies(05:21) Back-Channeling Strategy(07:11) Recruiters Are Overpaid: The Real Work Happens After Hire(08:24) When Not to Hire - Too Early Stage Warning Signs(09:01) Sponsors: Planful & MetaView (12:46) How to Vet Search Firms(14:00) Experience vs. Trajectory(16:17) Scaling Up and Comers(17:30) Executive Career Management(20:25) Executive Tenure: Why the "One Year BS" Doesn't Work(22:36) The Authenticity Generation(23:52) Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com Title: Creative Storytelling in the Age of AI: When Machines Learn to Dream and the Last Stand of Human CreativityGuest: Maury RogowCEO, Rip Media Group | I grow businesses with Ai + video storytelling. Honored to have 70k+ professionals & 800+ brands grow by 2.5Billion Published: Inc, Entrepreneur, ForbesOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauryrogow/Host: Marco CiappelliCo-Founder & CMO @ITSPmagazine | Master Degree in Political Science - Sociology of Communication l Branding & Marketing Consultant | Journalist | Writer | Podcasts: Technology, Cybersecurity, Society, and Storytelling.WebSite: https://marcociappelli.comOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-ciappelli/_____________________________This Episode's SponsorsBlackCloak provides concierge cybersecurity protection to corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals to protect against hacking, reputational loss, financial loss, and the impacts of a corporate data breach.BlackCloak:  https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb_____________________________⸻ Podcast Summary ⸻ I sat across - metaversically speaking - from Maury Rogow, a man who's lived three lives—tech executive, Hollywood producer, storytelling evangelist—and watched him grapple with the same question haunting creators everywhere: Are we teaching our replacements to dream? In our latest conversation on Redefining Society and Technology, we explored whether AI is the ultimate creative collaborator or the final chapter in human artistic expression.⸻ Article ⸻ I sat across from Maury Rogow—a tech exec, Hollywood producer, and storytelling strategist—and watched him wrestle with a question more and more of us are asking: Are we teaching our replacements to dream?Our latest conversation on Redefining Society and Technology dives straight into that uneasy space where AI meets human creativity. Is generative AI the ultimate collaborator… or the beginning of the end for authentic artistic expression?I've had my own late-night battles with AI writing tools, struggling to coax a rhythm out of ChatGPT that didn't feel like recycled marketing copy. Eventually, I slammed my laptop shut and thought: “Screw this—I'll write it myself.” But even in that frustration, something creative happened. That tension? It's real. It's generative. And it's something Maury deeply understands.“Companies don't know how to differentiate themselves,” he told me. “So they compete on cost or get drowned out by bigger brands. That's when they fail.”Now that AI is democratizing storytelling tools, the danger isn't that no one can create—it's that everyone's content sounds the same. Maury gets AI-generated brand pitches daily that all echo the same structure, voice, and tropes—“digital ventriloquism,” as I called it.He laughed when I told him about my AI struggles. “It's like the writer that's tired,” he said. “I just start a new session and tell it to take a nap.” But beneath the humor is a real fear: What happens when the tools meant to support us start replacing us?Maury described a recent project where they recreated a disaster scene—flames, smoke, chaos—using AI compositing. No massive crew, no fire trucks, no danger. And no one watching knew the difference. Or cared.We're not just talking about job displacement. We're talking about the potential erasure of the creative process itself—that messy, human, beautiful thing machines can mimic but never truly live.And yet… there's hope. Creativity has always been about connecting the dots only you can see. When Maury spoke about watching Becoming Led Zeppelin and reliving the memories, the people, the context behind the music—that's the spark AI can't replicate. That's the emotional archaeology of being human.The machines are learning to dream.But maybe—just maybe—we're the ones who still know what dreams are worth having.Cheers,Marco⸻ Keywords ⸻ artificial intelligence creativity, AI content creation, human vs AI storytelling, generative AI impact, creative industry disruption, AI writing tools, future of creativity, technology and society, AI ethics philosophy, human creativity preservation, storytelling in AI age, creative professionals AI, digital transformation creativity, AI collaboration tools, machine learning creativity, content creation revolution, artistic expression AI, creative industry jobs, AI generated content, human-AI creative partnership__________________ Enjoy. Reflect. Share with your fellow humans.And if you haven't already, subscribe to Musing On Society & Technology on LinkedIn — new transmissions are always incoming.https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/musing-on-society-technology-7079849705156870144You're listening to this through the Redefining Society & Technology podcast, so while you're here, make sure to follow the show — and join me as I continue exploring life in this Hybrid Analog Digital Society.End of transmission.____________________________Listen to more Redefining Society & Technology stories and subscribe to the podcast:

In this episode of the FutureCraft GTM Podcast, hosts Ken Roden and Erin Mills reunite with returning favorite Liza Adams to discuss the current state of AI adoption in marketing teams. Liza shares insights on why organizations are still struggling with the same human change management challenges from a year ago, despite significant advances in AI technology. The conversation covers practical frameworks for AI implementation, the power of digital twins, and Liza's approach to building hybrid human-AI marketing teams. The episode features Liza's live demonstration in our new Gladiator segment, where she transforms a dense marketing report into an interactive Jeopardy game using Claude Artifacts. Unpacking AI's Human Challenge Liza returns with a reality check: while AI tools have dramatically improved, the fundamental challenge remains human adoption and change management. She reveals how one marketing team successfully built a 45-person organization with 25 humans and 20 AI teammates, starting with simple custom GPTs and evolving into sophisticated cross-functional workflows. The Digital Twin Strategy: Liza demonstrates how creating AI versions of yourself and key executives can improve preparation, challenge thinking, and overcome unconscious bias while providing a safe learning environment for teams. The 80% Rule for Practical Implementation: Why "good enough" AI outputs that achieve 80-85% accuracy can transform productivity when combined with human oversight, as demonstrated by real-world examples like translation and localization workflows. Prompt Strategy Over Prompt Engineering: Liza explains why following prompt frameworks isn't enough—you need strategic thinking about what questions to ask and how to challenge AI outputs for better results. 00:00 Introduction and Balance Quote 00:22 Welcome Back to FutureCraft 01:28 Introducing Liza Adams 03:58 The Unchanged AI Adoption Challenge 06:30 Building Teams of 45 (25 Humans, 20 AI) 09:06 Digital Twin Framework and Implementation 17:34 The 80% Rule and Real ROI Examples 25:31 Prompt Strategy vs Prompt Engineering 26:02 Measuring AI Impact and ROI 28:21 Handling Hallucinations and Quality Control 32:50 Gladiator Segment: Live Jeopardy Game Creation 40:00 The Future of Marketing Jobs 47:49 Why Balance Beats EQ as the Critical Skill 51:09 Rapid Fire Questions and Wrap-Up Edited Transcript: Introduction: The Balance Between AI and Human Skills As AI democratizes IQ, EQ becomes increasingly important. Critical thinking and empathy are important, but I believe as marketers, balance is actually more important. Host Updates: Leveraging AI Workflows Ken Roden shares his approach to building better AI prompts by having full conversations with ChatGPT, exporting them to Word documents, then using that content to create more comprehensive prompts. This method resulted in more thorough market analysis with fewer edits required. Erin Mills discusses implementing agentic workflows using n8n to connect different APIs and build systems where AI tools communicate with each other. The key insight: break workflows down into steps rather than having one agent handle multiple complex tasks. Guest Introduction: Liza Adams on AI Adoption Challenges Liza Adams, the AI MarketBlazer, returns to discuss the current state of AI adoption in marketing teams. Despite significant technological advances, organizations still struggle with the same human change management challenges from a year ago. The Core Problem: Change Management Over Technology The main issue isn't about AI tools or innovation - teams can't simply be given ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity and be expected to maximize their potential. Marketing teams are being handed tools while leaders expect employees to figure out implementation themselves. People need to see themselves in AI use cases that apply to their specific jobs. Joint learning sessions where teams share what works and what doesn't are essential. The focus has over-pivoted to "what's the right tool" when it should be on helping people understand, leverage, and make real impact with AI. The AI Adoption Plateau Many organizations face an AI adoption plateau where early adopters have already implemented AI, but a large group struggles with implementation. Companies attempting to "go fully agentic" or completely redo workflows in AI are taking on too much at once. Success Story: The 45-Person Hybrid Team Liza shares a case study of a marketing team with 45 members: 25 humans and 20 AI teammates that humans built, trained, and now manage. They started with simple custom GPTs, beginning with digital twins. Digital Twin Strategy for AI Implementation Digital twins are custom GPTs trained on frameworks, thinking patterns, publicly available content, and personality assessments like Myers-Briggs. These aren't designed to mimic humans but to learn about them and find blind spots, challenge thinking patterns, and overcome unconscious bias. For executive preparation, team members use digital twins of leadership to anticipate questions, identify gaps in presentations, and prepare responses before important meetings. The progression: Simple digital twins → Function-specific GPTs (pitch deck builders, content ideators, campaign analyzers) → Chained workflows across multiple departments (marketing, sales, customer success). Prompt Strategy vs. Prompt Engineering Following prompt frameworks (GRACE: Goals, Role, Action, Context, Examples) isn't enough if the underlying thinking is basic. AI magnifies existing thinking quality - good or bad. Example: Instead of asking "How do I reduce churn?" ask "Can you challenge my assumption that this is a churn problem? Could this data indicate an upsell opportunity instead?" This transforms churn problems into potential revenue opportunities through different strategic thinking. The 80% Rule for Practical AI Implementation AI outputs achieving 80-85% accuracy can transform productivity when combined with human oversight. Example: A team reduced translation and localization costs from tens of thousands of dollars monthly to $20/month using custom GPTs for eight languages, with human review for the final 15-20%. Measuring AI ROI: Three Strategic Approaches Align with Strategic Initiatives: Connect AI projects to existing company strategic initiatives that already have budgets, resources, and executive attention. Focus on Biggest Pain Points: Target areas where teams will invest resources to solve problems - excessive agency costs, overworked teams, or poor quality processes. Leverage Trailblazers: Identify curious team members already building AI solutions and scale their successful implementations. Handling AI Hallucinations and Quality Control AI models hallucinate 30-80% of the time when used as question-and-answer machines for factual queries. Hallucinations are less common with strategic questions, scenario analysis, and brainstorming. Prevention strategies: Limit conversation length and dataset size to avoid context window limitations Use multiple AI models to cross-check outputs Implement confidence checking: Ask AI to rate confidence levels (low/medium/high), explain assumptions, and identify what additional information would increase confidence Live Demo: Claude Artifacts for Interactive Content Liza demonstrates transforming the 2025 State of Marketing AI report into an interactive Jeopardy game using Claude Artifacts. The process involves uploading a PDF, providing specific prompts for game creation, and generating functional code without technical skills. This "vibe coding" approach allows users to describe desired outcomes and have AI build interactive tools, calculators, dashboards, and training materials. Future of Marketing Jobs and Skills Emerging roles: AI guides, workflow orchestrators, human-AI team managers Disappearing roles: Language editors, basic researchers, repetitive design tasks Transforming roles: Most existing positions adapting to include AI collaboration Critical skill for the future: Balance Innovation with ethics Automation with human touch Personalization with transparency Balance may be more important than emotional intelligence as AI democratizes cognitive capabilities. Key Takeaways The Gladiator segment demonstrates how dense research reports can become engaging, interactive content without engineering resources. Making AI implementation fun helps teams stay balanced and avoid overwhelm. Success comes from starting with tiny AI wins rather than comprehensive strategies, focusing on human change management over tool selection, and building systems that augment rather than replace human creativity. This version removes the conversational back-and-forth while preserving all the searchable content people would look for when researching AI implementation, digital twins, prompt strategy, change management, and practical AI use cases. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes from the FutureCraft podcast, where we continue to explore the evolving intersection of AI and GTM. Take advantage of the full episode for in-depth discussions and much more. ----more---- To listen to the full episode and stay updated on future episodes, visit the FutureCraft GTM website. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered advice. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own and do not represent those of any company or business we currently work for/with or have worked for/with in the past.

Earnings from Starbucks, Visa, and Spotify's earnings give us a read on the consumer and Samsung takes a big chip order from Tesla.  (00:21) Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Rachel Warren discuss: - Tesla's chip deal with Samsung - Spotify's earnings - Visa, Starbucks, and Booking earnings - Are you bull or bear? Companies discussed: Tesla (TSLA), Spotify (SPOT), Visa (V), Starbucks (SBUX), Booking (BKNG), NVIDIA (NVDA) Host: Travis Hoium Guests: Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren Engineer: Bart Shannon   Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab the popcorn—this Mailbag goes well beyond beach talk. A listener uses Rule Breaker tactics, keeps adding as the stock climbs, and lands their first spiffy-pop. David retells the term's origin and brings back analyst Yasser El-Shimy, whose original pick sparks a rocket-themed chat. Another listener feeds Keats's “On First Looking into Chapman's Homer” to AI for a Rule-Breaker remix full of wild surmise. Those nuggets—plus the new Authors in August lineup—power this week's breezy, idea-packed summer episode. Companies mentioned: RKLB, SBUX Sign up for The Motley Fool's Breakfast Newshere: www.fool.com/breakfastnews Pre-order David's upcoming Rule Breaker Investing bookhere: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1804091219/ Host: David Gardner Guest: Yasser El-Shimy Producer: Bart Shannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get my in-depth guide for creating scroll-stopping AI Ads with Arcads and Romain's Automations: https://www.gregisenberg.com/arcads Join me as I chat with Romain Torres, founder of Arcads, about how businesses are using AI to create diverse ad content at scale, showing examples of companies making millions monthly through AI-generated ads. The conversation covers techniques for creating winning ads, automating workflows, and identifying profitable niches. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:29 - Demo of Arcads AI 05:19 - Importance of testing multiple ad variations 10:50 - Examples of Successful AI Ad Campaigns 22:42 - Using AI-generated content for organic TikTok growth 25:13 - Visual hooks and creating custom AI actors 29:46 - VO3 integration and extending AI-generated scenes 32:07 - Automating ad creation with Gumloop workflows Create winning ads with AI and Arcads: https://arcads.ai/?via=community Try arcads over here: https://arcads.ai/?via=community (i get a small affiliate fee if you use that link, support the channel if you think this product will work for you) Key Points: • AI-generated ads are enabling businesses to create high-volume, diverse creative content that would be prohibitively expensive with traditional methods • Successful advertisers test multiple variations of ads (hooks, actors, situations) to find winning combinations • Tools like Arcade AI allow for creation of realistic UGC-style content and more creative VO3 videos • Automation workflows using tools like Gumloop can scrape winning content from platforms like TikTok and Reddit to inspire new ad creation The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND ROMAIN ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/rom1trs Arcads AI: https://www.arcads.ai

We revisit our conversation with Frances Ibe, Chief Experience Officer at Tide. Frances shares invaluable insights on her journey from developer to product leadership and how to avoid common pitfalls during the discovery process.Chapters01:07 – Meet Frances Ibe02:05 – Common Discovery Pitfalls03:34 – Embedding Continuous Discovery04:51 – The Myth of Talking to 20 Customers06:38 – What is a Data Prototype?08:03 – Building Confidence in Product Bets10:42 – Sharing Insights Across the Business13:52 – Keeping Sprint Reviews Engaging15:49 – Discovery Through Observation17:21 – Responding to Data-Driven Disruption18:30 – The Power of Storytelling20:49 – Training Teams in Storytelling22:36 – Maintaining Message Consistency23:48 – Collaborating Across Disciplines25:01 – Francis' Game-Changing AdviceFeatured Links: Follow Frances on LinkedIn | Tide | 'Six things we learned at the Pendomonium and #mtpcon roadshow - London 2024' feature by Louron PrattOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

Chuck Zodda and Marc Fandetti discuss what the Federal Reserve actually does, why dissent matters, and how it will determine the rate cut decision. Companies from A-Z are starting to complain that tariffs will cost them millions. Why stimulus checks to pay for tariffs is a bad idea. Joseph Yoon, Edmunds, joins the show to chat about car loans crushing buyers. Buying crypto with your credit card is a terrible idea.

Everyone's talking about AI these days, especially in cybersecurity. Sure, artificial intelligence can boost your defenses, but cybercriminals have noticed too. Now they're crafting phishing emails so believable it's scary and finding clever paths around spam filters while zeroing in on vulnerabilities you didn't even realize were there.    Today, Aviad Hasnis joins the show. He's the CTO of Cynet Security and spent years running cybersecurity missions for the Israeli Defense Forces. Aviad's here to help us figure out what the changing threat landscape really means, whether you're leading a corporate giant or just trying to keep your small business safe. From passwords getting scooped up to VPN setups from a decade ago that no one updated, Aviad's seen just about everything go wrong. He also explains why copy-pasting AI-generated code might open you up to attacks you never saw coming. He's big on education, common sense, and making sure you're using multiple security layers. These days even one slip-up can give attackers exactly what they're looking for. Aviad also walks us through supply chain vulnerabilities and why they should keep you up at night. Whether you're the CISO of a Fortune 500 company or you're running a small team with Bob, the go-to tech person juggling 18 other tasks, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you avoid the next big cybersecurity headache. While AI might be reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, staying secure still comes down to thoughtful planning, human judgment, and making sure someone you trust has your back. Show Notes: [01:08] Aviad has been Cynet's Chief Technology Officer for the past five years. Prior to that, he worked in cyber security for the Israeli Army. [02:18] He was always fascinated with computers and technology. When Iran had a technology problem, he realized that cybersecurity was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. [03:19] Aviad shares a story about his friend's mother being exposed to a scam. She received a phone call from someone pretending to be a police officer. She even installed different executables on her laptop. She didn't realize she was being victimized until she transferred over five grand. [06:07] Social engineering is one of the most dominant ways to gain access. [08:39] The security implications of using AI. [09:30] It's important to have guardrails with how you use AI. [10:28] If you're just copying and pasting code you may copy something that could be vulnerable to exploits. [11:16] People need to be aware of the types of risk and educate themselves. [12:49] Conversations at the C-suite level for implementing AI. [13:43] The challenge is to harness AI the right way without replacing people. [15:18] It's important to use critical thinking when creating with AI. [16:04]  AI is helping security by allowing people to consult and get information. You can also introduce vulnerabilities into your application if you just copy and paste from chat GPT without knowing the context. [17:05] The bad guys can also use AI. [17:56] AI has improved the quality of phishing scams. [21:36] Where organizations are missing out when it comes to sniffing out threats. This includes VPNs and SaaS or cloud.  [22:52] Employees could be using their home computers to connect to the company VPN and then their kids might download some malware or trojan. Companies need to use two-factor authentication when it comes to VPNs. [24:11] Email phishing can be another way to steal credentials. [27:54] The most effective approach is security layers. [30:40]  Another security measure is creating profiles where we know where you're logging in from. [33:35] Is this doom and gloom for small businesses? [34:48] The best solution for small businesses would be to find a company with an all-in-one solution. [37:11] The importance of being proactive, so you can act quickly if you see something suspicious. [38:24] How the move to the cloud affects security. [39:08] Shifting to the cloud is safer. [44:20] New threats on the horizon include threat actors utilizing AI. They love to get control of remote applications. Thanks for joining us on Easy Prey. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review.  Links and Resources: Podcast Web Page Facebook Page whatismyipaddress.com Easy Prey on Instagram Easy Prey on Twitter Easy Prey on LinkedIn Easy Prey on YouTube Easy Prey on Pinterest Cynet Security Aviad Hasnis - LinkedIn Aviad Hasnis - Cynet Security

How does financial transparency affect how CEO's themselves are paid?Young Jun Cho and Hojun Seo investigate how the introduction of SFAS 131, requiring companies to report performance by business segments, impacts equity-based compensation. Their research reveals that more granular disclosure reduces the need for stock-based incentives, especially in firms with weak internal oversight, but strong external scrutiny. The findings show how reporting rules can act as powerful tools of corporate governance, reshaping executive behaviour and investor influence.Read the original research: doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12928

Two Shannon Companies, namely medical technology manufacturer Hooke Bio LTD and leading radar technology developer Provisio have been included in the Department of Enterprises €28m Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which are targeting three initiatives nationwide. Firstly Hooke Bio LTD, along with the University of Galway and lIFT Biosciences have a pool of €11.9m available to them for their work in treating Metastatic Tumuors that are no longer responding to treatment. Provisio, meanwhile, along with University of Limerick and Robert Bosch Ireland LTD are developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and have €6.9m of funding available to them for their project which aims to achieve safer driving outcomes. To discuss this further, Derrick Lynch was joined by Éamonn Boland, Provizio co-founder and program lead.

Using AI isn't a competitive advantage anymore.

Bassem Handy, CEO of Briq.com, survived the VC apocalypse by firing 215 humans and replacing them with robots, growing from burning $1M/month to hitting $25M ARR with just 135 employees. After raising $50M including a peak-bubble Tiger Global round, he took a flat $150M valuation in 2024 and used his own robot technology to automate 80% of his sales team, achieving the lowest customer acquisition costs in company history. In this episode, he reveals exactly how he got 600 companies to pay him $2,000-$5,000/month for robots that process 2.6 million automation minutes monthly, and his plan to double revenue without hiring a single human.

Join me as I chat with Nico Christie where he demos Shortcut, an AI-powered spreadsheet tool that functions like "Excel built for the future." Through several live demos, he shows how the platform can create financial models, update existing spreadsheets with new data, and build custom analysis tools using simple natural language prompts. The product aims to make Excel-based work significantly faster while maintaining transparency about data sources and calculations. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Overview of Shortcut 02:08 - First Demo: How Shortcut works with Existing Excel files 04:44 - Different User Types Who Benefit From Shortcut 08:50 - How to Prompt Shortcut Effectively 11:20 - The benefits of Using Shortcut 13:42 - How Shortcut handles data verification and transparency 17:03 - Best Use Cases for Shortcut 19:03 - Obvious ideas and market opportunity 22:23 -Building a Utilization Model for Agencies 34:59 - Greg's Custom Utilization Rate Dashboard Demo 39:29 - Who should try Shortcut Checkout: https://www.tryshortcut.ai Key Points: • Shortcut is an AI-powered alternative to Excel that allows users to create and modify spreadsheets using natural language prompts • The tool can perform complex financial modeling tasks in minutes that would take hours in traditional Excel • Shortcut provides transparency by showing data sources and allowing users to trace where information comes from • The platform serves both Excel experts (making them faster) and non-experts (making complex spreadsheet tasks accessible. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND NICO ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/nicochristie Shortcut: https://www.tryshortcut.ai

In this inspiring episode of The Entrepreneurial You, host Heneka Watkis-Porter welcomes Betsy Pepine—serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of a top-producing real estate brokerage. Betsy shares her transformative journey from corporate pharmaceuticals to real estate, highlighting how life's challenges—including job loss and single motherhood—served as catalysts for reinvention. With honesty and heart, she outlines how passion, leadership, and purpose-driven decisions helped her grow a thriving business and impactful community initiatives. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • How Betsy transitioned from corporate to real estate success • The impact of flexible careers on women in leadership • How unplanned growth led to intentional leadership change • The power of mentorship and mastermind groups • Why culture and community matter in business success • Insights from Betsy's book Breaking Boxes • Upcoming leadership events for growth and connection • Why real estate—and entrepreneurship—is all about relationships COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Let us take a brief moment to celebrate community and growth. Leadercast Kingston returns this October, offering an exceptional opportunity to connect with some of Jamaica's most dynamic and influential leaders. Then in November, it is time to exchange the office for the ocean with the highly anticipated LeadHerShip Cruise. This empowering four-day journey aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas promises learning, networking, and well-deserved relaxation. A fun fact about the ship: its Royal Promenade is like a floating city — ideal for spontaneous mastermind sessions or a peaceful midnight stroll. For more information or to share a personal story, listeners are encouraged to reach out via email at heneka@henekawatkisporter.com or through WhatsApp at 876-849-2571. CONTACT BETSY PEPINE: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gainesvillerealtor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betsypepine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsypepine/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsypepine/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetsyPepine GIVE AWAY: Sign up on website for free newsletter TRENDING NOW: Here's something to chew on: 89% of real estate leaders say company culture is their top retention tool, and brokerages with a strong giving-back mission grow 3x faster than their peers. Betsy's blend of business acumen and heart is exactly what today's market craves. If you enjoyed this episode of The Entrepreneurial You, subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating, and share it with your friends. Visit henekawatkisporter.com to download a free eBook on how to conduct podcast interviews like a pro! RELATED EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY: Discover more episodes that offer valuable insights, inspiration, and practical tips to help you on your entrepreneurial journey. • Investing in Sustainability, and Redefining Success With Mark Rampolla • Building Trust and Collaboration: Insights from Mike's ‘We're All in This Together With Mike Robbins AFFIRM WITH ME: I am breaking out of my boxes and building a legacy of impact and abundance. LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: Spotify: https://bit.ly/TEYSpotify Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2nDEbsZ POWERED BY OUR SPONSORS: Thanks to our sponsors henekawatkisporter.com & the Jamaica Stock Exchange Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Balancing AI and Human Collaboration  Shep interviews Matt Price, CEO and co-founder of Crescendo. He talks about how blending AI with human expertise can reduce inefficiencies, improve customer experiences, and transform customer service from a cost center into a key revenue driver.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    How can companies effectively balance AI automation with the human element in customer service?  What are hidden sources of waste in customer service operations, and how can they be eliminated?  Why is it important for organizations to move away from viewing customer service as just a cost center?  How can businesses ensure a smooth transition from legacy systems to cloud-based customer service solutions?  How can AI be used to enhance, rather than replace, meaningful human engagement?  Top Takeaways:    Customer service is enhanced when it combines the strengths of artificial intelligence with human capabilities. While AI can handle simple and repetitive tasks, making things faster and more efficient, human agents can excel in complex situations where empathy and emotional understanding are needed.  Customer support is often seen as a way to deal with problems and mistakes. However, when done right, customer support not only keeps customers loyal and happy but also drives future sales.  Companies sometimes attempt to save money by delegating most customer service tasks to AI. However, if AI isn't accurate or easy to use, it can end up costing more. You might lose customers who get frustrated, or spend extra time fixing AI's mistakes. Use AI that is the right fit for your organization and always have backup plans in place for when your customers need human support.  Instead of waiting for something to go wrong, companies can use new technology to help customers before they even reach out. For example, companies can offer AI support to stay with a customer through the whole process of unboxing and installing their product.   Organizations that prioritize customer service tend to achieve better results. Customer service isn't just something you "have to do." It can be your company's main way to stand out from your competition.   Plus, Shep and Matt discuss how companies can move from deflection (using AI or technology to handle customer inquiries and divert them away from live agents) to customer engagement. Tune in!  Quote:   "AI is changing and improving all the time. Your business is changing and improving . You need to establish feedback loops to ensure that handoffs remain seamless for your customers and employees, and you never force AI to do more than it should."    About:    Matt Price is the CEO and co-founder of Crescendo, a customer service platform that combines AI technology with human expertise to deliver exceptional customer support experiences.    Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You've heard the lie: "You'll do great after the military. Companies are lining up to hire vets." But what if that's exactly what's breaking us? Jason Anderson spent 20 years in the Air Force, leading international missions, and closing out his career at the Pentagon. He was ready for the civilian world, or so he thought. What followed was years of hidden anxiety, 3 a.m. panic, and strained family dynamics, all while climbing the corporate ladder. On the outside, he looked successful. Inside, he was unraveling. In this eye-opening conversation, Jason dismantles the flawed assumptions behind the military's Transition Assistance Program and reveals the hidden link between poorly executed transitions and veteran mental health crises. He introduces the Modern Military Transition Framework, an approach built by veterans, for veterans, that finally treats post-service life as a whole new operating environment, not just a career move. Whether you're still serving, just got out, or 10 years post-military and still feel like something's off, this episode is your wake-up call and your blueprint for doing it better. Timestamps (04:00) - The invisible struggle behind Jason's "successful" post-military career (07:00) - Why transition stress quietly breaks even high-performing veterans (11:00) - The lie TAP tells and how it sabotages mental health (20:15) - How Jason's modern framework flips the script on transition (38:30) - Retraining your mind for civilian life without losing who you are Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://preveteran.com/ Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly interwoven with third-party code, APIs, and AI-generated components, organizations are realizing they can't ignore the origins—or the risks—of their software. Theresa Lanowitz, Chief Evangelist at LevelBlue, joins Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli to unpack why software supply chain visibility has become a top concern not just for CISOs, but for CEOs as well.Drawing from LevelBlue's Data and AI Accelerator Report, part of their annual Futures Report series, Theresa highlights a striking correlation: 80% of organizations with low software supply chain visibility experienced a breach in the past year, while only 6% with high visibility did. That data underscores the critical role visibility plays in reducing business risk and maintaining operational resilience.More than a technical concern, software supply chain risk is now a boardroom topic. According to the report, CEOs have the highest awareness of this risk—even more than CIOs and CISOs—because of the direct impact on brand reputation, stock value, and partner trust. As Theresa puts it, software has become the “last mile” of digital business, and that makes it everyone's problem.The conversation explores why now is the time to act. Government regulations are increasing, adversarial attacks are intensifying, and organizations are finally beginning to connect software vulnerabilities with business outcomes. Theresa outlines four critical actions: leverage CEO awareness, understand and prioritize vulnerabilities, invest in modern security technologies, and demand transparency from third-party providers.Importantly, cybersecurity culture is emerging as a key differentiator. Companies that embed security KPIs across all business units—and align security with business priorities—are not only more secure, they're also more agile. As software creation moves faster and more modular, the organizations that prioritize visibility and responsibility throughout the supply chain will be best positioned to adapt, grow, and protect their operations.Learn more about LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/levelblue266f6cNote: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guest: Theresa Lanowitz, Chief Evangelist of AT&T Cybersecurity / LevelBlue [@LevelBlueCyber]On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresalanowitz/ResourcesTo learn more, download the complete findings of the LevelBlue Threat Trends Report here: https://itspm.ag/levelbyqdpTo download the 2025 LevelBlue Data Accelerator: Software Supply Chain and Cybersecurity report, visit: https://itspm.ag/lbdaf6iLearn more and catch more stories from LevelBlue: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/levelblueLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-story

The focal point of our discourse in this episode revolves around the extraordinary and multifaceted career of Charlie Berry, a unique figure in the annals of American sports history. Berry's exceptional achievements encompass his participation as both a player in Major League Baseball and the National Football League, as well as his subsequent roles as a prominent umpire and official in both sports. Throughout our exploration, we delve into the nuances of his career, which includes his notable contributions to the 1925 Pottsville Maroons, a team that, despite its championship aspirations, faced a controversial fate. Additionally, we examine Berry's remarkable tenure as a baseball umpire, where he officiated landmark events, such as Don Larson's perfect game in the World Series and the famed 1958 NFL Championship, often hailed as the greatest game ever played. As we progress, we aim to illuminate the significance of Charlie Berry's legacy, which, despite its obscurity in contemporary discourse, remains a testament to the rich tapestry of sports history.Companies mentioned in this episode: Sports History Network Sports Forgotten Heroes Charlie Berry Cal Hubbard Pro Football Hall of Fame Baseball Hall of Fame Pottsville Maroons Don Larson New York Giants Baltimore Colts Philadelphia Athletics Boston Red Sox Chicago White Sox Eager Sculpture Ingersoll Rand Mentioned in this episode:Sports History Network Theme SongThis theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic?usp=sharing

What if the secret to skyrocketing customer loyalty and retention isn't digital at all, but something you can touch? In this episode of Predictable B2B Success, host Vinay Koshy sits down with Mark Stern, CEO and founder of Custom Box Agency, to unpack how tangible, kinesthetic experiences are transforming the B2B customer journey. After a successful career as a Deloitte strategy consultant, Mark unexpectedly pivoted from corporate life into entrepreneurship, driven by a frustration with the impersonal nature of digital-only offerings. Mark reveals how sending physical “custom box” experiences not only sets customers up for success but turns them into passionate brand advocates who generate organic buzz. Their conversation dives into the real ROI of physical engagement, how clear customer journeys and micro-wins fuel retention, and why recognition is the ultimate hidden driver for long-term loyalty. If you're rethinking how to break free from retention plateaus, want to spark more excitement in your customer onboarding, or are just tired of stale, digital-only strategies, this episode will open your mind to a whole new set of possibilities. Tune in for actionable insights, real-world examples, and a fresh perspective on delivering predictable B2B success, one box at a time. Some areas we explore in this episode include: Mark Stern's Journey – Transition from Deloitte to founding Custom Box Agency.Value of Physical Experiences – Why adding tangible elements to digital offers matters.First “Box Zero” Campaign – How a high-ticket online summit led to the first successful custom box experience.Customer Journey vs. Customer Experience – The importance of mapping the journey before designing the experience.Journey Mapping – Breaking down customer journeys into acquisition, delivery, and retention stages.Gamification and Milestones – Using micro-wins and milestones to motivate customer progress.Strategic Box Use – Leveraging custom boxes for acquisition, onboarding, and ongoing engagement.Practical Examples – Real-life applications like 57 Hats and multi-year coaching programs.Recognition and “Jewels” – How awards and physical tokens drive retention and customer loyalty.Retention Gaps in B2B – Why businesses often overlook delivery and retention in their customer experience strategy.And much, much more...

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti break down the numbers in the latest JOLTS report. A divided Fed eyes future rate cuts but not likely this week. Companies are starting to complain about consumer stress levels. Trump is winning his trade war.

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Germany and Tesla sell. Satoshi hodls and is 12th richest!FEATURING:Dan Eve (https://x.com/Cryptopoly)Ben Arc (https://twitter.com/ArcBtc)Thomas Hunt (https://twitter.com/MadBitcoins)THIS WEEK:  Tesla dumped 75% of its bitcoin at one of the worst times, losing out on billionshttps://www.nbcwashington.com/news/business/money-report/tesla-dumped-75-of-its-bitcoin-at-one-of-the-worst-times-losing-out-on-billions/3964271/Source: NBC WashingtonGermany's Bitcoin Sale Now Seen as Billion-Dollar Errorhttps://bitbo.io/news/germany-bitcoin-sale-loss/Source: Bit BoPublic companies bought more bitcoin than ETFs did for the third quarter in a rowhttps://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/business/money-report/public-companies-bought-more-bitcoin-than-etfs-did-for-the-third-quarter-in-a-row/3735884/Source: NBC Los AngelesBitcoin to Ethereum: NBA icon Scottie Pippen reveals top 4 crypto predictions for 2026https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-bitcoin-to-ethereum-nba-icon-scottie-pippen-reveals-top-4-crypto-predictions-for-2026-3926424/Source: Financial ExpressEl Salvador hasn't bought Bitcoin since February, finance chiefs tell IMF, contradicting Bukele administrationhttps://www.theblock.co/post/363483/el-salvador-hasnt-bought-bitcoin-since-february-finance-chiefs-tell-imf-contradicting-bukele-administrationSource: The BlockSatoshi Nakamoto net worth: Bitcoin's mysterious founder becomes 12th richest person in the worldhttps://www.financialexpress.com/market/cryptocurrency/satoshi-nakamoto-net-worth-bitcoins-mysterious-founder-becomes-12th-richest-person-in-the-world/3913024/Source: Financial Express________________________________________________________________World Crypto Networkhttps://www.worldcryptonetwork.com/On This Day in World Crypto Network Historyhttps://www.worldcryptonetwork.com/onthisday/---------------------------------------------------------------------------Please Subscribe to our Youtube Channelhttps://m.youtube.com/channel/UCR9gdpWisRwnk_k23GsHf

Hacktivist attack grounds Russian flights Naval group denies breach, hackers beg to differ  Dating app breach exposes thousands of women's pictures Huge thanks to our sponsor, Dropzone AI Let me tell you about Dropzone AI—they're revolutionizing how security teams work. Companies like CBTS and Zapier use their AI to investigate alerts automatically, freeing up analysts for the work that really matters. We're talking 40-minute investigations done in 3 minutes. You can meet the Dropzone team at BlackHat in Startup City, or just head to dropzone.ai for a self-guided demo. Trust me, this is the future of security operations.

Modern technology has changed recruitment, especially with AI and to get an insight into this I spoke to Robby Perdue, Senior Director of Product with Greenhouse an American tech company that provides recruiting software as a service.Robby talks about his background, what Greenhouse does, AI, the future plans of Greenhouse and more.More about Robby:Robby is a Senior Director of Product at Greenhouse, where he has worked for nearly nine years. Previously the lead for enterprise customer success, he now oversees the teams that work on the core of Greenhouse Recruiting. Based in GH Europe headquarters, he ensures the global needs of our customers continue to drive our product road map. He's also a contributor to Geekadelphia (RIP), co-organiser of the Philadelphia Geek Awards, and co-founder of Forge Conference.

Oh boy, do we have an episode for you! We get deep into some serious head talk, have a great round of That's a Great Question before wrapping things up with a hilarious Fictional Companies to Work For Draft. Re-brand Mondays with some comedy! Subscribe and tell your friends about another funny episode of The Spitballers Comedy Podcast!Connect with the Spitballers Comedy Podcast:Become an Official Spitwad: SpitballersPod.comFollow us on X: x.com/SpitballersPodFollow us on IG: Instagram.com/SpitballersPodSubscribe on YouTube: YouTube.com/Spitballers

The former Chip King is cutting again in hopes of finding a path to sustainable growth. Tim Beyers and Jose Najarro discuss: - Intel's big restructuring plans.- Predictions for when Intel Foundry may finally be profitable.- The seven links of the semiconductor value chain.We also ask Jose to rank six of his favorite stocks in the sector! Companies discussed: INTC, TSM, ASML, MU, NVDA, CDNS, LRCX Host: Tim BeyersGuests: Jose NajarroProducer: Anand ChokkaveluEngineer: Adam Landfair Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A founder blows the whistle on a remote employee who secretly held 3–4 full-time jobs—scamming multiple startups, lying about his identity, and faking references. The viral tweet naming Saram Parek sparked an avalanche of CEO horror stories, with 23M+ views and explosive backlash. But who's really to blame?

It's reorg season…again. And for many companies, it always is. Every 12 to 18 months, another wave of layoffs, leadership swaps, and org chart redraws rolls through the system. And yet, little changes. Strategy stalls. Trust erodes. Work doesn't get better, just messier. So why do so many organizations keep reaching for the reorg lever first? This week, Rodney and Sam unpack the seductive logic (and systemic failure) of reorgs as a change strategy. They dig into why structure work always feels like the fastest, most visible move a leader can make and why it so rarely delivers. Along the way, they explore the very real fallout of these moves on culture, trust, and performance, and offer smarter starting points for those considering a shake-up. -------------------------------- Let's work together: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theready.com/working-together⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -------------------------------- Mentioned references: The Ready's OS Canvas "16% of reorgs deliver the expected value" Sunshine, Twilight, and Midnight Zones: The Ready's Depthfinding "layoffs episode": Brave New Work Ep. 152 Team Topologies, 2019 book by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais holacracy sociocracy "retention increase if you have a best friend at work" "new job is one of the most stressful life events": Holmes and Rahe stress scale, see combined score of “dismissal from work”, “change to different line of work”, and “Change in responsibilities at work” DAO Miniseries "Jeff Williams departure" "value flow mapping" Haier and micro-enterprises 00:00 Intro + Check-In: What feature is really important in your living space? 03:27 The Pattern: Orgs trapped in a cycle of endless reorgs 05:15 The fastest, most visible sign of change a CEO can show to a board or investors 09:55 Structure work should always come last, but most people do it first 12:22 Reorgs to hit a number come at the expense of workflow, culture, and strategy 19:07 Stop changing the structure without touching the ways of working 22:19 Fundamental components of structure work 25:14 How The Ready approached it's own reorg 26:34 Fallout of bad reorgs on your team and culture 31:17 Companies underestimate the stress of reorgs on individuals 34:40 Hot takes: org structure in the age of AI; legal OS around restructuring 38:15 Idea 1: Use reorgs to recalibrate roles back to defaults 39:42 Idea 2: Value flow map your company before considering a standard reorg 42:53 Idea 3: Test new structure in parts of phases, not everything all at once 44:30 Idea 4: Accept that some centralization is required 47:50 Wrap up: Leave us a review and share the show with your coworkers! Sound engineering and design by Taylor Marvin of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coupe Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On today's episode I share a comprehensive guide to building micro SaaS businesses, which are niche-focused software products that can be developed by individuals or small teams. I explain the difference between traditional SaaS and micro SaaS, share real examples of successful businesses generating $20K-40K monthly revenue, and outline a step-by-step playbook for validating ideas, building MVPs, and growing through audience building and SEO. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:08 - What is a MicroSaaS? 02:25 - Examples of successful micro SaaS businesses 05:35 - Growth flywheel explanation 07:57 - User journey and funnel metrics 12:06 - Building in public strategy 18:28 - MicroSaaS Frameworks 21:58 - MicroSaaS Ideas 1: PermitSync 25:33 - MicroSaaS Ideas 2: PodScriptor 28:52 - MicroSaaS Ideas 3: SpecSheet 32:30 - MicroSaaS Ideas 4: CartSaver 33:58 - MicroSaaS Ideas 5: GrantGuru Get Your Complete Financial OS at https://www.brex.com/sip Key Points: • Micro SaaS businesses focus on niche markets with specific products, typically built by solo founders or small teams • Successful micro SaaS businesses can generate $10K-50K monthly profit with 80-90% margins • Growth comes from building an audience first, identifying pain points, creating solutions, and reinvesting revenue • Pricing strategies typically include free trials converting to monthly subscriptions or usage-based models The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

Check out https://www.brevitypitch.com/    - HOW AI SOLVES THE SALES PRACTICE PROBLEM Here is a FAQ Video on the Courses: https://youtu.be/0F7imrzjXWs Here is a deep dive into which course is best for you: https://youtu.be/JM_jgS8M-iU https://www.b2bRevenue.com - Get Your Free E-Book on How Companies make Decisions. FAQ: 1 YEAR ACCESS, PAY MONTHLY OR ANNUALLY NOT A SUBSCRIPTION OFFICE HOURS EVERY  OTHER WEEK VIA ZOOM. 1 HOUR GROUP Q&A. UNLIMITED 1-ON-1'S  ARE FREE AS LONG AS THEY CAN BE SHARED IN THE COURSE. 1-ON-1 ARE FULL ACCESS ON DAY ONE - NOTHING IS GATED OR TIME RELEASED. ALL CONTENT IS VIDEO BASED AND SELF PACED I RECOMMEND TAKE COURSE ONCE WITHOUT NOTES OR APPLYING IT SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE FIRST. THEN TAKE AND APPLY IT STEP BY STEP. YOU START WHEN YOU WANT AND GO AS FAST OR SLOW AS NEEDED.   Email me additional questions: briangburns@me.com     — SAMPLE EMAIL TO EXPENSE THE COURSE MGR,   I have been listening to the brutal truth about sales podcast for X months and it speaks to the issues we face.   They currently offer a course that includes video instruction, group Q&A and One-on-One coaching. I'm committed to my own personal development and would like your help in expensing the course.   It would pay for itself if I closed only one new deal of $X value.   Please let me know by Friday if I can move forward with this 1 year course.   Thanks, ME Here are some student interviews from the courses:      ———————————————————————————————————— Audible 30 day Free Trial: http://www.audibletrial.com/BrutalTruth  

Chad Dittberner of Werner talks about supply chain sustainability - challenges, alternative fuels, cost, partnerships, and why it's a strategic advantage.     IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:   [04.09] Chad's 32-year career at Werner, and an introduction to their Innovation Council and what it does. [06.37] The biggest sustainability challenges for the industry, and for Werner clients. “It can be messy aligning goals and initiatives. The overall pressure to reduce greenhouse gases is immense. There's progress in so many different things… But solutions aren't widely available at scale, especially in long-haul operations… And most of those solutions come with a premium cost.” [10.13] Why sustainability is good business, not just the right thing to do, and why it's a strategic advantage for Werner. [12.23] How Werner are helping organizations approach their sustainability efforts, a closer look at alternative fuels like bio and renewable, and what a future-ready fleet might look like. “What people often forget… is that the newest trucks on the roadway are very efficient and their emissions are much lower. So we believe in keeping the cleanest trucks on the road. Our average age of truck is just over two years old, the industry average is six plus.” [19.29] The impact of sustainability investments in both the short and longer term. “It's tough. We do a lot of exercises, and a lot them end with: ‘Whoa, I didn't want to pay any more money for that.' But we have to share that cost if it's going to work. Short-term, there are some operational costs incurred to get emissions savings and efficiency gains. But we're seeing many shippers who are prioritizing partnerships with carriers that can demonstrate sustainability progress.” [21.11] The importance of data for making smart decisions, and how Werner give real-time insight into sustainability issues like emissions. “It's a lot of information, it's a daily capture of fuel economies… and you're talking about millions of miles run every day. It becomes very difficult to do it in an Excel spreadsheet!” [23.27] How Werner use data to scorecard and report their own sustainability performance, and demonstrate their successes to inspire others. [26.11] Why it's so important that logistics solutions are scalable and built for sustainability. “To get real impact, efficiency requires solutions… And ultimately all of our big shippers want real solutions. Not just one lane, not just once in a while – they want it every day… It has to be scalable.” [29.17] Two case studies highlighting how Werner helped a food client overcome challenges to successfully establish an electric fleet, and helped another client add devices to trailers and save 3% in fuel economy. “Companies have different themes of what they're working towards. So we need to know where we are today and where we're looking to go tomorrow.” [33.52] From solar charging to carbon capture, the sustainability innovations Werner have their eye on for the future.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Werner's website to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Werner and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or X (Twitter), or you can connect with Chad on LinkedIn. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more from Werner, check out: 477: 95% of Cybersercurity Breaches Start With Email 446: Keep America Moving, with Werner 460: Discover the Limitless Value of Dedicated Freight in Today's Market, with Werner

Madhavan Ramanujam is the world's foremost expert on pricing and monetization strategy. As managing partner at Simon-Kucher, he helped over 250 companies, including 30 unicorns, architect their pricing strategies. He's the author of the definitive book on pricing, Monetizing Innovation. Now he's back with a sequel, Scaling Innovation, which reveals how to build enduring businesses by dominating both market share and wallet share. He recently left Simon-Kucher to launch his own fund, 49 Palms, focused on helping early-stage AI companies.In this conversation, we discuss:1. The 2x2 framework that identifies your optimal pricing model2. Why AI companies can capture 25% to 50% of value created, vs. 10% to 20% for traditional SaaS products3. Why popular AI coding tools may have already doomed themselves with underpricing4. The “give-and-get” framework top negotiators use to extract maximum value from every deal5. The negotiation strategy that helped one founder 4x their deal size overnight6. How to frame POCs as “business case creation” instead of technical demos (and why this changes everything)7. Why AI companies must get monetization right from day one—not “figure it out later”8. How companies like Intercom's Fin and Sierra pioneered outcome-based pricing (charging $0.99 per AI resolution)9. The single question that reveals if your pricing is too complex—Brought to you by:Enterpret—Transform customer feedback into product growth: https://enterpret.com/lennyDX—A platform for measuring and improving developer productivity: https://getdx.com/lennyPersona—A global leader in digital identity verification: https://withpersona.com/lenny—Transcript: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/pricing-and-scaling-your-ai-product-madhavan-ramanujam— My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/168109183/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Madhavan Ramanujam:• X: https://x.com/madhavansf• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhavansf/• Promo email for Scaling Innovation: promo@49palmsvc.com — If you're purchasing more than five copies, send a screenshot of your receipt to enter Madhavan's exclusive bundle raffle.—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Madhavan and his work(04:30) The core thesis of Scaling Innovation(09:20) Common traps founders fall into(12:06) Beautifully simple pricing(15:00) Mastering negotiations(26:51) Other strategies for effective pricing and monetization(27:35) How AI pricing is different(31:33) Handling POCs(36:25) The importance of mastering monetization(38:58) Choosing the right AI pricing model(43:13) Current trends in AI pricing(44:48) Strategizing for outcome-based models(50:23) Packaging strategies for scaling(51:37) Adapting pricing strategies over time(53:40) Key axioms for pricing success(58:00) Takeaways for founders(01:01:33) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• The art and science of pricing | Madhavan Ramanujam (Monetizing Innovation, Simon-Kucher): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-art-and-science-of-pricing-madhavan• Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Sierra Finn: http://www.sierrafinn.com/• Chargeflow: https://www.chargeflow.io/• GitHub: https://github.com/• Intercom: https://www.intercom.com/• Warren Buffett's quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/11478913-if-you-ve-got-the-power-to-raise-prices-without-losing• Sierra: https://sierra.ai/• Clay Bavor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claybavor/• Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9603208/• Delphi: https://www.delphi.ai/• Dara Ladjevardian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dara-ladjevardian/• Sam Spelsberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-spelsberg/• Lennybot: https://www.lennybot.com/• Granola: https://www.granola.ai/• Simon-Kucher: https://www.simon-kucher.com/• Josh Bloom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabloompricingconsulting/—Recommended books:• Monetizing Innovation: How Smart Companies Design the Product Around the Price: https://www.amazon.com/Monetizing-Innovation-Companies-Design-Product/dp/1119240867• Scaling Innovation: How Smart Companies Architect Profitable Growth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119633060• Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers: https://www.amazon.com/Business-Model-Generation-Visionaries-Challengers/dp/0470876417• Thinking Fast and Slow: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555/• Contagious: Why Things Catch On: https://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Things-Catch-Jonah-Berger/dp/1451686587/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

This is the play, corporations are realizing body positivity didnt sell jeans and Sydney Sweeney has good jeans Become A Member http://youtube.com/timcastnews/join The Green Room - https://rumble.com/playlists/aa56qw_g-j0 BUY CAST BREW COFFEE TO FIGHT BACK - https://castbrew.com/ Join The Discord Server - https://timcast.com/join-us/ Hang Out With Tim Pool & Crew LIVE At - http://Youtube.com/TimcastIRL

#628: You follow all the right personal finance advice. You know you should save more, invest regularly, and build an emergency fund. So why does it feel so much harder for some people than others? The answer lies in your personality. Dr. Sandra Matz, a professor at Columbia Business School, studies the intersection of psychology and money management. She joins us to explain why one-size-fits-all financial advice often fails. Her research found that agreeable people — those who are caring, empathetic, and put others first — have a harder time saving money. The solution isn't better budgeting apps or stricter rules. It's reframing financial goals to match your personality type. For example, agreeable people save more effectively when they view their emergency fund as protection for loved ones or a way to help others during tough times. By contrast, competitive personalities respond better to framing savings as getting ahead in life. This personalized approach extends beyond personality assessments. Algorithms can now predict your financial behavior using digital footprints — social media activity, spending patterns, even smartphone usage. With just 300 Facebook likes, artificial intelligence understands your money habits better than your spouse does. The conversation also covers the darker implications. Companies exploit these same psychological insights to manipulate spending decisions. Dr. Matz discusses data cooperatives as a solution — member-owned entities where people collectively benefit from their shared information. We dive into negotiation strategies for salary increases, breaking out of financial echo chambers, and using AI to optimize your money management without losing your decision-making autonomy. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Matz's book "Mind Masters" sandramatz.com Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (0:00) Big data meets financial psychology (3:34) Psychology and computer science intersection (6:26) Algorithms vs spouses at predicting personality (7:21) Curly fries predict intelligence (9:01) Self-talk reveals emotional distress (11:04) Nice people struggle with money (14:03) Personality-based savings strategies (22:21) Privacy versus convenience tradeoffs (24:36) Data privacy management burden (26:28) Organ donation defaults (30:40) Data cooperatives concept (36:01) ChatGPT for financial advice (40:04) AI as unlimited intern (44:06) Breaking financial echo chambers (53:14) AI negotiation training Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices