Podcasts about Compass

On this week’s Prison Pulpit we start out by looking at some helpful thoughts from James White’s 12 year old sermon on Hebrews 13:3, the timeless passage on which this podcast is based. Then after talking a bit about the uniquely difficult situation in India, we briefly open up the latest edition of the missionary classic, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, and try to learn and apply a lesson from Taylor’s experiences. I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: bfwesten AT gmail dot com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, and books. Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches. The ESV reads: “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them” James White comments on Hebrews 13:3 (in a sermon preached on June 22, 2014 in Arizona): Remember those who are in prison: “The ones bound, the ones who are in chains” As though in prison with them: “As if you yourself were chained together with them” “There are brothers, there are sisters, who some day in the glory of heaven, you will be closer to than anyone on this earth right now, who are suffering in the name of Christ. And in our day we probably have more information and more knowledge of this than any preceding generation has ever had.” Joy as Seven Pastors Freed From Jail in India https://www.barnabasaid.org/gb/news/joy-as-seven-pastors-freed-from-jail-in-india/ FREE EBOOK: Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret https://anekopress.com/product/hudson-taylors-spiritual-secret/ Pray for China Cities of the Week (Sep 1-6): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-sep-1-7-2026 If you would like to “sponsor” a Chinese church leader at one of our upcoming strategic China training gatherings, I can personally provide you with the name (or secure nickname) of the particular pastor/leader who you sponsor, and for whom you can continue to pray for going forward. Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church Sponsor a Chinese Pastor/Evangelist for $1000! Contact me (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) Or donate directly at: MCI3.org Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

Special guest and familiar face, Charles Oswald joins the Suite Spot in his return to the TMG Hospitality Trailblazers series. As CEO & President of Aperture Hotels, Charles shares his insights on AI & technology in hospitality, capital investment challenges, and his vision for the Aperture Hotels brand.  Tune in now to the full conversation. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree, here for another edition of our TMG Hospitality Trailblazers. Technically, a look back on a few years back when we visited with this particular individual and company trailblazing and paving the way forward in hospitality. That is Charles Oswald, president and CEO of Aperture Hotels. Charles, thank you so much for being back here on The Suite Spot. Charles Oswald: Oh, it’s good to be back. Thank you. Ryan Embree: Yeah. You’ve been busy. It’s been a long time. I had to look back and see the last time we visited here on The Suite Spot. We did our original hospitality trailblazers, really in the infancy of Aperture Hotels back in December 2023. A lot’s changed on that since then, right? So catch us up a little bit. What have you been working on? There’s been some incredible growth that we’ve seen with your company. Congratulations on that. But catch us up since we last visited. Charles Oswald: First off, so at that time when we had launched Aperture Hotels, we were coming out in the, in the wake of the pandemic. So if you kind of think back where we were three and four years ago versus today, there were a lot of properties that had gone through this economic shock, and there were owners who were reeling from that experience, especially those that had corporate business travel hotels as opposed to those leisure destinations that benefited from the pandemic. And so during that time, Aperture actually went on and took on almost 30 different properties that we added to the portfolio, that were, driven by those owners who needed a new management company to come and take a look at their, their with fresh eyes and take a look at their top line strategies, their expense controls. And so we had a lot of properties, and they were 100% of those properties were not through acquisitions, but were actually just performance turnaround assignments where they were switching management companies, to somebody to take a fresh look. So, with all that said, we found ourselves, walking into properties that were on, like, the sixth or seventh year of a five-year hold strategy for private equity firms or high net worth individuals and so on. And that quickly turned into turnarounds, which the story from us lately has actually been sales, a lot of sales, 20 plus sales over the course of this last year. And so today, as we stand here, I’m actually more rebuilding the pipeline with a mix of more management change assignments, plus a few pipeline of new developments. And those new developments are mostly, like, 100 or 300 room soft brand properties across the country. So yeah a lot’s changed for sure. Really rapid growth, really rapid sales, and now more sort of measured one at a time growth. Ryan Embree: Yeah, and I wanna talk about that, because I’ve had the privilege to talk to some management company owners and leaders, and they’ve kind of echoed that same sentiment of not just growth, but strategic growth. And that seems to be where you are right now, too. So when you kind of take a look at. I know you mentioned that particular segment, but when you take a look at the hospitality landscape right now, what makes the right strategic partner for Aperture Hotels right now as you kind of enter this cycle where you’re trying to build back up a little bit? Charles Oswald: You’re right. The right partner, it’s about fit. And when you look at the experience of our leadership team, we’re really engineered towards compact, full service hotels, lifestyle, premium select service brands. They can be brand or independent. We’d like to partner with owners that have some portfolio stable scalability. Preferably they own by that, I mean, they own more than one hotel, and there might be more than one opportunity there. You know, we wanna work with those owners that know what they’re doing, right? They’ve got some, some governance, sophistication, some decision speed. Hopefully, they’ve not just made bad investments when they’re turning over these properties, but really, they’re looking for some performance turnaround in a good investment. And preferably those are longer term holds. As you can tell, we did a lot of hard work for some turnarounds and watched them sell. And they sold largely to owners who had their own management. So that’s tricky for us, right? That leads us looking for more opportunities. So in terms of us in aperture and how we see ourselves in competitive points of difference is we’ve got a group that has hundreds of hotels of experiments. Myself, I’ve managed about 300 hotels now over the years, and they’ve ranged from little 60-room properties up to a thousand plus room convention hotels and resorts. And so what we bring is, we’ve got big experience in our leadership team, but we’re in a small package, right? A boutique-sized company that can give more corporate support to property ratio. And we’re very data-driven in how we use our decision-making tools to uncover those hidden business opportunities and the potential to drive market share and outperform GOP. Big experience, I’d say that corporate support, the data-driven decision-making process and tools, I think is really what sets us aside. And by the way, I’ll just mention that our average RGI that we’ve achieved in the first 18 months when you put us in place after another management company, the average RGI growth or repar index gains is actually just over 10%. So we’ve had, like, incredible turnarounds at the top line, which leads them to great bottom line improvements as well. Ryan Embree: Which makes it so much more impressive, too, with the climate right now. And these events that we go to would talk about operating and margins right now, and trying to be just efficient as possible, because costs are, are rising right now. It is certainly difficult to navigate, and I’m sure that experience that you’ve had has certainly lended itself to some great stories that you can then share to help grow that portfolio. And the other part of the experience that you were talking about is you have the data and the insights. And one of the places you find that data and insights is obviously hospitality events that are going on. I’ve had the pleasure of running into you at quite a number of these. If I’m not running into you, Charles, I’m seeing you up on stage conducting interviews or, or sharing some of your takeaways on LinkedIn after the event. You got a busy second half of the year. I wanna talk about these events, though, and how you kind of leverage them, right? So, why do you think these events, especially now, are so important? And then, how do you measure success of an event once it’s completed, whether that be a lodging conference, an investment conference, or whether it be, just an educational data event? Charles Oswald: Look, that’s a really good question. When you consider the time, travel budget, and the opportunity costs on an executive’s busy calendar to get out to these conferences and spend three, four days between the travel and the time out there, we’ve gotta be, we’ve gotta be very intentional, right, about how we approach it. So, I see value in going to these conferences because of deal sourcing and the relationship capital that we pick up. Also, I think there’s that market intelligence and the pricing signals that we get from those from this conference. There’s the access to capital markets. That was particularly important for me here recently as I was looking to as I’m in the process of acquiring a property right now in Phoenix, and when we needed to raise LP capital and we had those relationships these are people, again, we met at conferences. I think talent reputation, right, it’s important to get out there and continue to manage that. So those, those are a number of the reasons why we wanna get out to these conferences and why we think they’re important. But the measure of success, you’re right, for a data-driven guy, I wish I could put a specific number to it. Like, here’s the ROI from each of these conferences. It’s really difficult to. It’s really difficult to do, but I can tell you that, I do look back and, and aggregate those. I look at the management contracts we picked up, and I think of, “Okay, well, where did I meet these folks? And so what’s the average return?” And I can put a number to that. And I would tell you that in terms of the immediate return, what I’m looking for is if I can have three to five specific follow-up conversations, a result of that conference, then the trip was worth the cost. Ryan Embree: That’s great advice for young hospitality professionals out there. I mean, we have a great industry, and one of the coolest parts of it is you get to rub shoulders sometimes with those executives. So even those younger hospitality professionals that might be tuning in here, it’s a great piece of advice to when you can, obviously, try to get that exposure of networking and get out there because hospitality is certainly a big world, but it’s also a very small world, and you run into a lot of the same people. And again, this, just like you said, Charles, a lot of the stories, success stories, whether it be business relationships, some of those transactions could stem from sitting next to somebody at breakfast – Absolutely. On day two of a conference. Love to hear that advice, love to hear that those stay beneficial, because we love those. We’re hospitality people, right? We’re in that industry. Now, another thing you become kinda famous for your takeaways articles on LinkedIn. My advice would be to encourage anyone, definitely give Charles if you’re not already a follow, because you have some great insights and takeaways from some of the events that he goes to. So I’m gonna kind of put you on the spot here. If you had to do a takeaways article for the first half of 2026, maybe give us a couple points, and then if you could, maybe share some predictions. We’re hospitality people. We love to kind of predict, try to predict the future a little bit, so. Charles Oswald: Yeah. Well, maybe, maybe the biggest takeaway from the first half is that we’re not great in hospitality about predicting future. Ryan Embree: That’s a good one. Charles Oswald: So, as we rolled into 2026, there were a lot of folks that were saying it was gonna be, like, Groundhog Day, that we’re looking at flat, very modest, RevPar growth and expenses that, outpace, the top line. And I think what nobody saw coming was US demand growth in the first half of the year. Now part of this, I will tell you, if we look back in some panels, a year ago, I called part of this, which is I asked why is no one talking about the impact of the $30 billion increase in tax refunds that we’ll see, plus the real wage growth that’s happening, and what impact that could have on our industry? And, and a lot of people kind of poo-pooed and they said, “Well, you know, we don’t really know that the tax refunds are gonna be there. We don’t really know how those are gonna hit.” Okay. But we do. There was some, some mirroring it kinda like during the pandemic when you put money in people’s pockets, there were a lot of people that just went out and spent it. And so I did, I think that had a real impact on the, on the first half of the year. And then the other part that none of us saw coming, and I didn’t, was certainly there’d be a war in Iran and how the general global conflict can would affect the outbound travel case for the American traveler. So, that outbound travel, international outbound decelerated, right, while domestic leisure demand, stayed strong. So, that helped prop up the first half of the year. So there are some trends from the first half that I think will carry out to the second half. So for not getting in looking forward, I’d say that second half of the year, there’ll be more bifurcation. You know, we’re gonna see a continuing challenge to new supply growth, and we’re gonna continue to see labor costs rising, but at a bit of a decelerating rate. So if I were to expand a little bit on that, on the bifurcation, we’ve heard a lot of talk about the K-shaped economy. And really in that bifurcation, there’s some people talking about this hollowing in the middle class, and, and, and I think that’s actually very, very misrepresented. What’s actually happened is we’ve seen a growth generational wealth, over the course of the last 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years. And this is a long-term macro trend, okay? The fact is that there are fewer poor today, about a third less than there were, you know, 40, 50 years ago. There are few, fewer lower middle class, and no longer is the core middle class the largest classification of income in America. But according to the BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is actually now the upper middle class is the largest class, right? So people are moving up on this continuum, and they’re more wealthy. So when you start thinking about that, what does that affect on our industry? That’s why we’re seeing this interest in, towards experiential travel, towards the soft brands, towards luxury, and why upper upscale and luxury tiers have been outperforming. So I think we’ll continue to see that as we go through the end of the year. And the other story I think we’ll continue to see is that new supply, right? Man, the plan, I mean, there’s, like, you know, 10% supply growth planned. But what actually happens, is just a, you know, a fraction of a percent. And so, in there, the challenge, you know, debt isn’t the problem anymore. It’s more about equity and construction cost relative to the commercial real estate valuations,in interest rate market environment that we’re in today. Ryan Embree: Yeah, so you have a little bit tampered demand, or tampered, building construction because of those construction costs. And do not underestimate, again, the willingness and ability for people and wanting to travel and have experiences. I still think they even the younger generation, they’re getting some more money in their pockets, and the first thing that they’re wanting to do is plan a nice trip, right, before they go out and, and buy those expensive things that, which was, was typically would happen. Charles Oswald: Yeah, and I wanna just comment one thing though is we’ve talked a lot about economic resilience, and that resiliency definitely exists in the US, and it’s more resilient than a lot of folks probably though it was when you look back in time. However, some of that does seem to be breaking here, right? You know, you are seeing rise of credit card debt. You are seeing some increases in folks, particularly at the mid-scale and, and, and lower income classes defaulting on car payments and things like that. And so if you start to make a decision about, you know, do I travel or do I pay my, my car, that is going to affect the industry, you know, as we go forward. And, and that’s gonna play a little bit in that bifurcation that we were talking about. Those who are on the upper end have watched unreal growth for the last few years in their stock market portfolios. You know, they, they feel a little bit more free and, and open travel. Ryan Embree: Yeah, it’s interesting. You’re right. You know, we always talk about still prioritizing travel, but travel over things. But when tho- those things become, like you said, payments or car payments, then all of a sudden the priorities start to shift a little bit. So it’d be interesting to see how that continues in the second half of this year. Now, another topic we that you’re gonna hear at every single hospitality show, it’s a bingo card, is AI and technology. And you, and you actually speak a lot. I’ve seen you on panels speak a lot to it in, in your interviews. Where do you think the hospitality industry, which we’ve said typically is one to slowly adopt technology? Where do you think we are in this cycle of AI adoption? And then maybe you could zoom in a little bit into your organization and, and where you’ve prioritized that, or maybe stayed away from it. Charles Oswald: Maybe we kind of break that down into sounds like three or four areas, right? I think, yeah, it’s what’s the biggest impact today? What’s kinda happening now? And maybe where’s it going? Sure. And, uh, and how do we play into that as a management company, right? Yeah. So I guess there’s four ways. In terms of the biggest impact today, it’s for sure it’s been, it, it, it’s been in distribution, right? Uh, GEO and AEO are the new SEO. And so, um, uh, maybe what’s accelerated hospitality is entrance into AI because the customer was using it to search for hospitality, and then all of a sudden we woke up and said what – Ryan Embree: Great point. Charles Oswald: It’s not just about keywords, but how, how do we become the answer to the question they’re asking? And so that’s, uh, that’s certainly the biggest impact today is on the distribution side. I think what’s happening in progress, we’re starting to see more in the areas of revenue optimization and design, right? Like on, you know, when it comes to new hotel renovations and they and developments. And then the future, where’s it going? I think we’re gonna see AI more in our, more closely integrated into our business analytics, like and that’s gonna extend into labor scheduling and productivity. I think we’ll see it help us in energy management and procurement. Things like F&B menu engineering both from the creative standpoint and kinda marrying that with the math, right? Like, what the cost of plate is and what the customer’s actually buying. And and that’s really important. IAnd by the way, that’s a weak spot, I think in the industry. There are an awful lot of management companies that are not very good on food and beverage side. So at Aperture, what are we doing? First off, I would say we lean really heavily on our tech partners to adapt, adopt AI for their analytics or reporting insights. And today insights has become the real opportunity, right? I mean, if you ask your BI system, you know, it’s one thing for them to be able to pull a report or show you some side-by-side comparisons, but the insights, like, why is this happening? You know, you can tell me, me what my flow-through is, it’s great, but, like, what should it be if we had run according to all the budget metrics that, like, that we put out there? They’re, they’re weak on that side, at least to date. So I think that’s gonna be the next step is that is conveying those analytics and reports to insights. And so, we’re keenly working with technology solutions that they can implement in those ways, and digital marketing efforts that help us improve the distribution that we were talking about earlier, GEO and AEO. And from a practical day-to-day standpoint, you know, we’ve incorporated, cloud enterprise solutions in our daily work and our applications, like, you know, Excel and SharePoint, et cetera, like a lot of other companies have. But we got plenty of room, plenty of runway there when it comes to AI. Ryan Embree: Absolutely. Yeah, 100%. So, uh, every day, yeah. every hour, it feels like sometimes with these announcements. Um, but yeah, you, you mentioned something really, really fascinating at the top of that, the answer of, you know, I think the adoption cycle sometimes with technology and hospitality has been slow because we’ve tried to, sometime, “Hey, download our app,” right? We’re, we’re trying to get the customer to move with the technology that we want them to move into, and the ecosystem that, that, “Hey, you know, do this.” And now, what’s happening is we’re seeing the consumer move into these LLMs and, and AI search, and now hospitality’s kind of been like, “We have to catch up because this is where our customer is,” right? So maybe that does cause a little bit of, uh, acceleration. So, because that is the biggest thing that we’ve been hearing as well, is just AI visibility. There is just this, this fear of a couple years ago, it was the fear of doing anything and being like, “I’m not doing anything with AI and technology. Now it’s like, now I have. My biggest fear is keeping me up, is I’m not being found on AI, uh, search engines and LLMs.” Charles Oswald: Yeah, let me tell you, like, just a great example, I was traveling not long ago, to Chicago, and I had a trip to Nashville, and I was just curious. I just, I went to Google – Yeah. And said, “Hey, what are the, what’s the best hotel in Chicago?” And it gave me a list of sponsored results. So it was like, I don’t know, half a dozen or so hotels there. And it gave me a list of, like, you know, here’s what says, and there’s like 20 properties there, and there is, AAA and Forbes, and there was the map and so all this stuff, and I’m like, “Wow, there, there’s, like, you know, 60 best hotels in Chicago.” And so then I moved over, just out of curiosity, I asked, uh, Claude, “What’s the best hotel in Chicago?” Gave me one answer, named one hotel, this is the best. And it gave me a little honorable mention list of three properties underneath it. I thought, oh, my gosh. And then I did the same thing with Nashville. I get one answer – Yeah. And it’s honorable mentions. And it really started making me think, oh my gosh, like, like, if, if only one hotel is gonna come up with that, how do I make that money? And, uh, and who is this, who is this, um, generative AI trusting? And so, so, so we began to dive really deeply in that conversation about, like, when, where are these trusted resort returns coming from, and how do we influence that, right? How do we make sure we appear there? Ryan Embree: 100%. Yeah, that’s the, the next race right now is to try to figure that out. And that’s difficult. Charles Oswald: Kind of back up and just elaborate, just one more comment – Yeah. Is just that, that, like, in Google, I mean, it’s, sure, it’s trusted. I don’t think anybody says that you don’t, you don’t trust Google on those returns and the 60 properties that it’s sent, but – Right. It’s returning the results that it wants you to see, the search engine. Whereas Claude, ChatGPT, Grock, others, they’re returning the results that, as the consumer, I wanted to see. Ryan Embree: And that’s, and that’s the, I think that’s the difficult because it almost changes into a little bit 40 chess, because I might ask the same question, and based on my search experience, it could look at a different best hotel in Chicago than could be your best hotel in Chicago. Once you go down that. Yeah. Charles Oswald: Are you Going there for business, or is it a wedding, or is the soccer team? Yeah, right. And it, it might know the purpose. It might know lis – a little something about you. You’re exactly right. Ryan Embree: Well, uh, uh, listen, I’m gonna take us back before we get to, into that to rabbit hole and, and lose everybody there, because one of my, uh, one of the favorite parts of the conversation, and we’ve done, you know, now this, I think we’re, we’re over 200 episodes here, but one of the, one of my favorite parts, uh, places of our conversation, Charles, back when we first spoke, was hearing the origin story of aperture hotels and, and the name for it. And so, uh, I wanted just to revisit that for those who may have missed that episode. Can you share that story again and why this whole shift your perspective, which you can find on your LinkedIn, your website, everywhere, that mindset has really resonated, uh, with, so well with, um, hotel owners, investors, and has, has been an important part of your s – your company’s success. Charles Oswald: Oh, wow. Um, you know, thank you for, uh, for asking that question, uh, and, uh, and it’s a reminder and the flashback. You know, so, uh, so what is an aperture, first off, right? It’s, it, it’s, it’s in that, you know, that, that, that camera lens that allows light, right, to, to, to pass through, right? So, so it creates a clear, well-composed image. And so I think from a hospitality brand, um, that maps into some of our values. Um, you know, we talk about transparency and accountability. We talk about clarity and vision, right? Like, an owner sees a, a hotel’s position, um, uh, potential, and we can help capture it, right? We help focus, bring focus. Precision and control, you know, I, I think that helps, uh, convey into our views on process orientation across the enterprise and, you know, and consistent execution. One of our core values is about being actively curious, right? Like, how do you scratch beneath the, the surface and shine a light on, on what that is, right? And, you know, what can we do to, to make, you know, to reveal those, those, the, the hidden business potential? We think about, you know, when we’re walking into the hotel and, and, and we’re touring our, our properties and, and, and looking for those, um, those guest experience improvements, it’s like, how do we make this, uh, picture perfect for the customer who arrives, right? What that arrival experience, what are the first moments of truth? And so I think all of those things, that, that transparency of clarity, vision, precision control, uh, you know, picture perfect, uh, all these things, um, sort of play into that aperture name. But I’ll be honest, there was another part of this, uh, which is that, you know, there’s, like, 400 hotel management companies out there, uh, and there’s hundreds more that used to be. Finding an original name is admittedly difficult. Every name you can think of has been, uh, used. Sure. Uh, we, we were fortunate, uh, to be able to find something that was original that didn’t, you know, pigeonhole us into something like, you know, calling ourselves, uh, Sunbelt Management or something like that. So, so, so that did work out well for us. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Well, I love it because, you know, you, you mentioned at the top that this was, you know, Aperture Hotels was really their origin story started during and during that COVID time, right? During and after that COVID time. And I think it was in those conversations, the companies and organizations that I spoke to that had a very clear North Star, a very clear direction of who they are and their culture during that time, because it was such a difficult time. So to have such a strong kind of name and you have all of those things, I’m sure that is, has been so beneficial for you as you continue to grow and scale, because you need that, right? You need something to kind of lean back onto and be kind of your Compass North, your North Star, however you wanna to phrase it. But I love to hear that. And like I said, it, it stuck with me all these years afterwards, so I wanted to touch on it again. And, um, I saw recently on LinkedIn that, uh, you and your team wrapped up a leadership conference in, uh, New Orleans. Tell us a little bit about that event and how, how instrumental the team has been, and also your, your success over at Aperture Hotels. Charles Oswald: Oh, that is. Well, yeah, that, that, that was a fun time. Uh, first off, getting together, getting our team together – Yeah. For that annual conference is my favorite part of the year really energizes me. Um, you know, I’m so grateful for, for, for, for the team that’s doing this work on the ground and, and the leadersh – uh, we have out there in the field. You know, I think often we talk about performance. We send around our balanced scorecard. We measure and we rank people and, and, uh, you know, we talk about process and so on. And that, and that’s, that’s an important part of the, uh, uh, of what we cover in the, uh, in, in our annual leadership co – uh, conference as well. But, um, but I think when you’re rubbing elbows, uh, you know, you’re in the same room with everybody. Uh, there’s, there’s a different level of, you know, preparation, focus, and curiosity, you know, team member bonding and relationship that happens. And, you know, and I love how in the aftermath of these conferences, we, you know, we hear about how, you know, the general manager, you know, in, you know, in the US West, it’s called the general manager in the US East, and they’re – Sure. They’re getting together and collaborating now on, on, on best practices and, and how they dealt with certain challenges maybe that are shared experiences that they’re having. So that’s where it happens, right? I mean, you get out there in a conference together like this where I think i- ideas get sharpened, uh, perspectives broadened. People learn, you know, here’s some insights, and they, uh, you know, share in their experiences. They challenge each other. And, uh, we, and, and we come out of it just, uh, winning together. And by the way, I should mention also, there’s some really great food, uh, so – Oh, I know. Yeah, yeah. Sorry. New Orleans. Uh, I’m a big eater. Ryan Embree: Yeah, that, that helps too. Uh, Charles Oswald: A few extra, but I’ve never missed one. And, uh, New Orleans is a great place for someone to like me, that’s for sure. Ryan Embree: Yeah. We, well, we talked about how quickly things are moving right now in hospitality, and it’s so important to kinda get everybody together in one place. And we’ve seen how you prioritize, obviously, the, the bigger hospitality events across hospitality. So sometimes to get that dialed in with your team, just so important. And great to hear that that continues to be. ‘Cause if you remember back in the day, we were hearing that that was gonna be the end of this, by the way. Everybody was gonna have these leadership conferences on Zoom, and everyone was gonna love it, and nobody was going anywhere. So, uh, love to see that that, that prediction didn’t come to pass. Now, you’re – Charles Oswald: Yeah, you know, the funny thing about that, Ryan, is – Sure. Is that we’re out there in hospitality on the sales front. We were telling our companies, our clients, why they all need to get together. And hospitality companies are like, “Well, but, but we’re gonna do it on Zoom.” Ryan Embree: Right. Right, exactly. Right? We gotta practice what we preach a little bit Charles Oswald: Both Sides of our mouth, right? Yeah. Yeah. And, and enjoying some of the hospitality, uh, that we provide every single day, right? So, so you’re headquartered in Atlanta, Charles, you’ve got. But the portfolio spans across the country, you mentioned it. Are there any particular markets that you’re seeing strong opportunities and maybe some that you’re cautiously maybe staying away from for a bit right now? Charles Oswald: Well, uh, first off, the Atlanta part. Um, right? I mean, we’re, we’re the transportation hub of the Southeast, but, uh, arguably the country and the world with the world’s biggest and busiest airport. So when we talk about, like, w- where we’re willing to go, we’ve got a competitive advantage from here in the, uh, in that we have more direct flights to more cities across the country and the globe than any other, an- anybody. Else, right? Uh, coming out of, uh, the world’s biggest and busiest airport. So, so that’s, uh, that’s, that’s really nice and not to mention there’s a, there’s certainly a lot of drive markets, uh, that are within four, four hours of, uh, of Atlanta. So, um, so yeah, that makes us pretty opportunistic when it comes to, uh, uh, hotel management assignments. You know, ideally, uh, you know, we’re looking, ideally we’re, we’re looking at, you know, those top 100 or so cities. Ideally, you know, we, we, we certainly have better presence in the eastern half of the US, but we do span from Florida beaches to coastal California. In terms of the type of markets that are, that are more ideal and better fit for us, you know, generally speaking, they’re, you know, a lot of the, the southern markets are, uh, you know, certainly performing well. They’re business friendly. We avoid union hostility, uh, where, whenever possible, right? Sure. And, um, you know, th- those are the type of markets where we’d wanna go. And in terms of, of the type of hotels, you know, again, I think leaning towards the bifurcation that we know exists in, uh, in the industry that kinda says, you know, you gotta be great at, uh, soft branding experiential properties, right? And some lifestyle assets. And, and so that we’re, we’re, we’re leaning that direction. And you see it in our pipeline. You know, so, so our pipeline includes, you know, includes today, uh, multiple Marriott, Hilton, soft branded assets, like, like Tribute and, you know, and Tapestry Autographs. We also have, uh, some brands like Compass by Margaritaville sitting in the pipeline, right? And, and independent. Um, so, so really cool, exciting places where we get to create our own brand, really, our own store – Yeah. Based off of the building that’s there. And all of those new development projects that we’re talking about have, um, they have a lot of credit. I mean, that’s the only way you can pull these off today is if you’re, if you’ve got historic tax credits, you know, so we’ve got that in multiple places and hundred plus year old buildings. It’s, you know, great stories to tell. Uh, we’ve got, uh, you know, tax increment financing, PIDs, we’ve got enterprise zone, we got the CIPLA, you know, many other different factors that have played into making a capital stat that actually works. Uh, and that’s the way to, you know, that’s, that’s the way we’re getting it done and, uh, on the new development side. Ryan Embree: Well, those are fun projects, let me tell you. Um, I, I, I’m sure to work on, because it’s like you said, I mean, you get to tell a story there. Um, sometimes there’s a story already ingrained with these historic buildings that then become a, a key foundational component of, uh, you know, what you’re building on, um, so to speak, and, you know, uh, literally and figuratively when, when it comes to your maybe digital story. So, yeah, very, very cool to see. We’ll, we’ll, we’ll be excited to watch, watch those come to, to life. I want to. We’re, we’re wrapping up here, Charles, but I always feel like it’s always my duty, you know, having the privilege to talk to leaders like you, try to just get as much inside advice as I can out of you during this time. Obviously, as a business owner, you know, starting a business never easy, so much vision, resilience, incredible amount of commitment, especially doing one where you started it during a historic time and around COVID, right? But looking back on your journey building Aperture, you know, what advice would you give maybe to the next generation of hospitality leaders? It doesn’t necessarily have to be about if someone’s wanting to build their own, uh, management company, but e- even just a hospitality professional just now today in 2026? Charles Oswald: That’s a good question. You know, some things that come to mind is, uh, it’s a one in whatever business you’re, you’re doing, if, if you’re trying to be entrepreneurial and you wanna be an owner, I’d say, you know, choose your partners carefully, right? If you’re coming up in the business, I’d say, um, master the numbers, you know, not just your gut. If you’re, you know, you’re, you’re, you’re in the hiring seat, uh, uh, as a, as a team leader, I would tell them to, um, make sure they treat people decisions as serious as the capital decisions, right? Very, very important. I think from a business development standpoint, uh, I say those guys that are trying to, you know, build a, a portfolio need to y – learn to, to read the deal and not just as an operation. I think young or old, we should embrace the tech shift. I couldn’t believe I, I have some college professor friends, I do some advisory work at several universities, and I listen to, uh, college professors and some students out there, uh, who are very, being very resilient, r- resistant to AI, talking bad about it, they view it as a threat. And, uh, I’m like, “Hey, guys, y’all need to know that we do employ people, employers are looking for those young folks to come out with some experience and exposure and learning, uh, you know, and, and, and to have some insights in how to, how, you know, we cannot adopt AI at our companies.” And, and, uh, you know, you’re doing an injustice if, uh, if you’re resisting tech shift. Uh, so, and lastly, I would say think about your reputation management, right? Like, like, protect your credibility with your owners, with your franchisors, like it’s capital, because it is. Ryan Embree: Great advice. Sound, sound about. We got. That was comprehensive. Thank you for, thank you for sharing that. No, really appreciate it. Like I said, you know, uh, try to glean as much as I can out of these conversations and share it. Um, all great advice. Um, you know, hopefully we don’t have to wait three years next time to have you back on the podcast. Would, would love to catch up with you then, but who knows where, where you’ll be and, and the growth, uh, of Aperture Hotels. But what’s next? Like, as we wrap up today’s final question, kinda what’s your vision for the future as you look into the, this latter part of the half of the 2020s, right, for Aperture Hotels? Charles Oswald: Yeah, I think, um, being involved in a few developments is, is, you know, the one side. I’d say there’s just ongoing organic growth of, uh, taking on, on, uh, new management contracts, and they’ll probably mostly still be through, management company transitions as opposed to actual ownership transitions. And then, look, M&A is on the table, right? We, we’ve studied, uh, a few other small management companies that we can maybe, uh, acquire or merge in with. And I think that’s, yeah, I, I’m continuing to be open to that, uh, that conversation and, and, uh, uh, I hope to probably do just one. Uh, I don’t think multiple, but, but, but probably just one that’s really the right fit and the right strategic play. Ryan Embree: Awesome. Well, we’re excited. It’s been cool to watch your journey and aperture hotels from when we first spoke with you to here we are now and wish you nothing but success. So thank you so much, um, for taking the time to, to spend some time with my, myself as well as our sweet spot listeners, Charles. Charles Oswald: Yeah. Thank you. It’s great chatting. I appreciate it, Ryan. Ryan Embree: alright. Thanks, everyone. We’ll talk to you next time on The SuiteSpot. To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five-star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with cover art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host, Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.  

Your HOA may be watching every car that enters your neighborhood—and the housing market just snapped an eight-month growth streak. So are Flock cameras making communities safer… and is housing finally starting to crack? LIVE on This Week in Real Estate, we're digging into the biggest real estate news of the week, including HOA surveillance, rising mortgage rates, weakening buyer demand, housing-market divergence, MLS battles, commission lawsuits, and a growing debate over professionalism in real estate. Pending home sales just fell after eight straight months of year-over-year gains, new listings are climbing while demand slips, and higher mortgage rates are pushing more borrowers toward adjustable-rate loans. But calling this a nationwide housing crash may be way too simple: San Diego homes are selling faster, San Francisco is outperforming Seattle, and local markets continue to move in very different directions. Then there's the surveillance question. More HOAs are turning to Flock license-plate recognition cameras, raising new questions about security, privacy, data collection, and what buyers should know before moving into a neighborhood using them. In this live episode, we'll cover: • HOAs using Flock cameras to monitor vehicles entering neighborhoods • The privacy and disclosure questions buyers should be asking • Pending home sales breaking an eight-month growth streak • New listings rising as buyer demand weakens • Whether higher mortgage rates are actually pushing housing toward a crash • Why more borrowers are choosing adjustable-rate mortgages • San Diego homes suddenly selling faster than last year • San Francisco booming while Seattle's housing market struggles • The huge price premium for highly rated school zones—and one surprising exception • The $110.6M Gibson real estate commission settlements surviving appeal • Compass settling its fight with NWMLS • Alex Vidal taking the helm at REMAX after the Real acquisition • Why brokers say real estate has a professionalism problem Join us on YouTube every Wednesday, 12 PM CST!

Parent Trainer Keoki Kauanoe joins The Compass to break down how anger works. He explains the brain chemistry behind our emotions, escaping cycles of anger, and empathizing with our children. To learn more, register for the 2026 Fatherhood Summit. For more information and to sign up, visit https://dcyf.wa.gov/services/engaging-fathers/washington-fatherhood-council/meetings-events

Parent Trainer Keoki Kauanoe joins The Compass to break down how anger works. He explains the brain chemistry behind our emotions, escaping cycles of anger, and empathizing with our children. To learn more, register for the 2026 Fatherhood Summit. For more information and to sign up, visit https://dcyf.wa.gov/services/engaging-fathers/washington-fatherhood-council/meetings-events

On this week’s Prison Pulpit we start out by looking at some helpful thoughts from James White’s 12 year old sermon on Hebrews 13:3, the timeless passage on which this podcast is based. Then after talking a bit about the uniquely difficult situation in India, we briefly open up the latest edition of the missionary classic, Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, and try to learn and apply a lesson from Taylor’s experiences. I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: bfwesten AT gmail dot com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, and books. Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches. The ESV reads: “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them” James White comments on Hebrews 13:3 (in a sermon preached on June 22, 2014 in Arizona): Remember those who are in prison: “The ones bound, the ones who are in chains” As though in prison with them: “As if you yourself were chained together with them” “There are brothers, there are sisters, who some day in the glory of heaven, you will be closer to than anyone on this earth right now, who are suffering in the name of Christ. And in our day we probably have more information and more knowledge of this than any preceding generation has ever had.” Joy as Seven Pastors Freed From Jail in India https://www.barnabasaid.org/gb/news/joy-as-seven-pastors-freed-from-jail-in-india/ FREE EBOOK: Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret https://anekopress.com/product/hudson-taylors-spiritual-secret/ Pray for China Cities of the Week (Sep 1-6): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-sep-1-7-2026 If you would like to “sponsor” a Chinese church leader at one of our upcoming strategic China training gatherings, I can personally provide you with the name (or secure nickname) of the particular pastor/leader who you sponsor, and for whom you can continue to pray for going forward. Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church Sponsor a Chinese Pastor/Evangelist for $1000! Contact me (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) Or donate directly at: MCI3.org Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

If your body suddenly seems to be playing by a completely different set of rules in perimenopause or menopause, this episode is for you! For the first time ever on Optimal Metabolism, I am welcoming back a three-peat guest! Cynthia Thurlow, NP, is a two-time TEDx speaker, international speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Everyday Wellness podcast. Her viral TEDx talk on intermittent fasting has surpassed 15 million views, and she has become a leading voice in women's metabolic health, perimenopause, menopause, and intermittent fasting. Cynthia joins me to discuss her latest book, The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond. We're digging into the connection between declining estrogen and the microbiome—and why changes in your gut may affect everything from insulin resistance and stubborn weight gain to inflammation, energy, sleep, brain health, and hormone balance. If you've been eating healthy, exercising, fasting, and doing all the things that used to work—but your body isn't responding the same way anymore—this conversation may help explain why. WHAT WE DISCUSS: Why the gut becomes increasingly important as estrogen declines How the microbiome changes during perimenopause and menopause The connection between gut health, insulin resistance, and blood sugar Why stubborn weight gain in midlife isn't simply about calories or willpower What the microgenderome is and why women should know about it Why digestive problems and food sensitivities can suddenly appear after 40 The estrobolome and the relationship between gut health and estrogen metabolism How chronic stress can influence the gut and the menopause transition Why sleep and circadian rhythm matter for gut and metabolic health The gut-brain connection and why anxiety and brain fog can increase during midlife How gut and hormonal changes may influence immune health and autoimmunity Why extreme dieting and exercise strategies may stop working in midlife Practical ways women can begin supporting their microbiome and metabolism ABOUT CYNTHIA THURLOW, NP Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, two-time TEDx speaker, international speaker, and founder and CEO of the Everyday Wellness Project. With more than 25 years of experience in health and wellness, she specializes in perimenopause, menopause, intermittent fasting, and women's metabolic health. She is the bestselling author of Intermittent Fasting Transformation and The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond. CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA + GET THE BOOK

In Chinese, the cardinal directions are woven into everyday language in ways that often go unnoticed. Ordinary expressions carry traces of an older worldview, one that assigned meaning to every point on the horizon. These are not random quirks, but remnants of a way of thinking that has endured for centuries. / How does a nap right after work sound to you (18:07)? On the show: Steve, Fei Fei & Yushan

Recording date: 28th August 2026Olive Resource Capital's latest Compass episode centres on two connected observations: a summer drilling season that is quietly delivering strong results, and a persistent shortage of the advanced copper projects the market increasingly wants exposure to.On the drilling side, Derek Macpherson said a quick scan of recent releases turned up roughly ten notable holes in a two-day window, spanning gold and copper-equivalent results from companies including Lake Victoria Gold, Free Gold, ATEX Resources and VR Resources. He attributed the volume to well-funded companies - many of which raised capital during the frothy financing window of late 2025 and early 2026 - finally reaching the drill bit with larger, multi-rig programmes than in past cycles. Despite the quality of results, Samuel Pelaez noted that most of the underlying stocks have moved only modestly, framing individual holes as a starting point for deeper diligence rather than a signal to react to immediately. He illustrated the point with VR Resources Ltd. (TSXV:VRR), whose strong copper-equivalent grade at its New Boston project in Nevada turned out to be molybdenum-led on closer inspection, and with Heritage Mining Corp., where a genuinely strong gold result failed to move the share price because of an unresolved warrant overhang from prior financings.Both Macpherson and Pelaez pointed to operational bottlenecks as a growing constraint on the pace of news flow. Assay laboratory turnaround times have roughly doubled industry-wide, and at least one Nevada-based lab has stopped accepting new clients. Macpherson cited a conversation with White Gold Corp. CEO David D'Onofrio, who described Yukon labs as overwhelmed by the scale of concurrent drill programmes in the territory - a dynamic likely to push meaningful drill-result reporting into the fourth quarter and beyond the traditional autumn conference season.This episode returned to a recurring theme: the scarcity of tier-one copper development projects. Pelaez cited comments from Mineral Resources Limited (ASX:MIN) chief executive Chris Ellison, who told investors on a results call that the roughly A$10 billion Australian miner intends to buy a copper project outside Australia within the next 12 months - a sign, in Pelaez's view, that copper demand is broadening well beyond specialist resource investors. Macpherson highlighted Rio Tinto's US$15 million strategic investment in Mogotes Metals Inc. (TSXV:MOG), closed on 27 August, as further evidence of major producers competing for exposure to early-stage assets in Argentina and Chile's Vicuña district, home to NGEx Minerals Ltd.'s (TSXV:NGEX) four significant discoveries. Closer to home, Olive continues to build positions in Edge Copper Corporation's (TSXV:EDCU) Zonia project in Arizona, Gladiator in the Yukon, and Valhalla in Alaska.Olive's preferred strategy is buying advanced development assets likely to be built or acquired this cycle, on the view that the valuation gap between developers and producers is typically widest early in a bull market, a gap they expect to become more pronounced in copper as competition for scarce, advanced assets intensifies.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com/subscribe

On today’s China Compass podcast, we begin by looking at the best way to bless suffering Christians after the devastating Tibet-Nepal landslide/flood, followed by some thoughts on the China-Indian border region and how the world perceives both the US and China. Then we look at a few recent China headlines, before taking a detour into a tragic "deconversion" story in the Amazon. Finally, we hit a few of the places to pray for in China in the upcoming days. Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me (@chinaadventures) on Twitter/X where I post new Chinese city prayer profiles every single day, including amazing pics and links to more China resources.You can also also email me (bfwesten at gmail dot com) and find everything else at PrayGiveGo.us! Asia Harvest’s Critical Response to the Nepal-Tibet Flood Disaster https://www.asiaharvest.org/nepal-flood-disaster How the World Sees China and The US in 2026 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/how-the-world-sees-china-and-the-us-in-2026/ Daniel Everett: Amazonian Missionary to Apostate Linguist https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/10/daniel-everett-amazon Podbean: Joe Rogan Experience #2547 (Relevant Clips @ 1:06:56 & 1:34:45) https://www.podbean.com/ea/dir-twu2b-309de979 The Autobiography of John G. Paton (Recommended as an antidote to the podcast above!) JohnGPaton.com Pray for China Weekly (Aug 29-31): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-24-31-2026 Follow or subscribe to China Compass and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget: Follow @chinaadventures on X, and find everything else @ PrayGiveGo.us. Luke 10, verse 2, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!

In a world overflowing with advice, it can be difficult to figure out what matters most. Thankfully, by studying the foundational principles that Jesus used to start His ministry, we can identify exactly what we need to prioritize in our lives. Join us for our new series entitled, Foundations, and discover the most important keys to thriving spiritually.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

On today’s China Compass podcast, we begin by looking at the best way to bless suffering Christians after the devastating Tibet-Nepal landslide/flood, followed by some thoughts on the China-Indian border region and how the world perceives both the US and China. Then we look at a few recent China headlines, before taking a detour into a tragic "deconversion" story in the Amazon. Finally, we hit a few of the places to pray for in China in the upcoming days. Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me (@chinaadventures) on Twitter/X where I post new Chinese city prayer profiles every single day, including amazing pics and links to more China resources.You can also also email me (bfwesten at gmail dot com) and find everything else at PrayGiveGo.us! Asia Harvest’s Critical Response to the Nepal-Tibet Flood Disaster https://www.asiaharvest.org/nepal-flood-disaster How the World Sees China and The US in 2026 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/how-the-world-sees-china-and-the-us-in-2026/ Daniel Everett: Amazonian Missionary to Apostate Linguist https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/10/daniel-everett-amazon Podbean: Joe Rogan Experience #2547 (Relevant Clips @ 1:06:56 & 1:34:45) https://www.podbean.com/ea/dir-twu2b-309de979 The Autobiography of John G. Paton (Recommended as an antidote to the podcast above!) JohnGPaton.com Pray for China Weekly (Aug 29-31): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-24-31-2026 Follow or subscribe to China Compass and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget: Follow @chinaadventures on X, and find everything else @ PrayGiveGo.us. Luke 10, verse 2, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!

Hi love, it's Jody. Welcome back to the Choose Joy Series. So often we can make decisions from fear, obligation, or pressure without even realizing it… but what if joy could guide us instead? Today, we're slowing down enough to listen for what truly lights us up. Love,Jody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prior Session's Trade Execution Summary Grid: Everyday receive TOMORROW's Trade Execution Summary Grid, our Complete Analysis & Predictions of Stocks, Bonds, Gold & Bitcoin by becoming a Patreon Member at any of our three levels of support: https://bit.ly/CWPatreonSupport Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Sign up at Trading View access my platform and charts: https://www.tradingview.com/?aff_id=136493 How to Set Up Our Three Time Frame Chart on TradingView: https://youtu.be/wLwTnrtAOTA I have opened my page to sharing. Find me on TradingView at Thom Goolsby. Here at Charting Wealth, we focus on the reality of price movement by following trends. We teach you a simple and effective method to read stock, ETF and crypto charts, keep your emotions in check and learn when to buy and when to sell. Charting is your road map to the market and the riches it can offer. Forget the hype you see and hear in the financial news media. They are selling products in print ads and commercials. Focus on what is real, no matter how hard it can be to believe! Otherwise, you become a sucker or worse, a slave, to the delusion someone else wants you to believe. Use the lessons we teach every day to accurately chart any stock, commodity, ETF and cryptocurrencies. We give you daily, real life lessons with the five ETFs we track: S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, 20-Year Treasury Bonds, Gold and Bitcoin. We have all the tools you need to learn how to trade. For subscribers, we have a GREAT TRAINING to SUPERCHARGE your practice trading: "Why We Love Heiken-Ashi Candlesticks!" If you are not a subscriber, become one! Subscribe for FREE to our daily market reviews & training at http://www.ChartingWealth.com We urge you to "Follow the charts, NOT the noise!" and want to help you follow the market and improve your knowledge of stock and ETF movements. Support our work at PATREON and receive GREAT benefits (training, gifts, etc...): https://www.patreon.com/user?u=14138154 Receive our STOCK ALERTS via TEXT when WEEKLY VERTICAL CROSSOVERS occur. Very valuable information! Less than 8 texts a month. Text "chartingwealth" to 33222 on your cell phone. At ChartingWealth.com, http://chartingwealth.com every day the market is open, we chart the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Gold & Bonds. In just a few short minutes, we give you a valuable training update and quickly review the trends we see taking place in the market. At the end of every week, we give you an overview of what happened over the last five days and what's on the calendar for the next trading week. DISCLAIMER: We offer NO advice and make NO claims to expertise of any kind. This site is dedicated to knowledge and education through our stock chart training, reviews and other information -- nothing more.

Ever wondered what resilience looks like in real life? Lisa Pagotto sold her house, rebuilt her business after the pandemic wiped out global travel, and launched a private aviation experience that's changing how people explore Australia. Her story is wild — and deeply inspiring. In this episode of A Swift Kick in the Ass, John W. Curren talks with Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass and Crooked Compass by Air. Lisa shares her remarkable journey from hitting a career ceiling, selling her house to fund a dream, surviving the pandemic collapse of global travel, navigating personal upheaval, and ultimately discovering a new business model in grounded private aircraft. This is a story of grit, curiosity, and the courage to rebuild when everything falls apart. Learn more at: crookedcompassbyair.com

Prior Session's Trade Execution Summary Grid: Everyday receive TOMORROW's Trade Execution Summary Grid, our Complete Analysis & Predictions of Stocks, Bonds, Gold & Bitcoin by becoming a Patreon Member at any of our three levels of support: https://bit.ly/CWPatreonSupport Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Sign up at Trading View access my platform and charts: https://www.tradingview.com/?aff_id=136493 How to Set Up Our Three Time Frame Chart on TradingView: https://youtu.be/wLwTnrtAOTA I have opened my page to sharing. Find me on TradingView at Thom Goolsby. Here at Charting Wealth, we focus on the reality of price movement by following trends. We teach you a simple and effective method to read stock, ETF and crypto charts, keep your emotions in check and learn when to buy and when to sell. Charting is your road map to the market and the riches it can offer. Forget the hype you see and hear in the financial news media. They are selling products in print ads and commercials. Focus on what is real, no matter how hard it can be to believe! Otherwise, you become a sucker or worse, a slave, to the delusion someone else wants you to believe. Use the lessons we teach every day to accurately chart any stock, commodity, ETF and cryptocurrencies. We give you daily, real life lessons with the five ETFs we track: S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, 20-Year Treasury Bonds, Gold and Bitcoin. We have all the tools you need to learn how to trade. For subscribers, we have a GREAT TRAINING to SUPERCHARGE your practice trading: "Why We Love Heiken-Ashi Candlesticks!" If you are not a subscriber, become one! Subscribe for FREE to our daily market reviews & training at http://www.ChartingWealth.com We urge you to "Follow the charts, NOT the noise!" and want to help you follow the market and improve your knowledge of stock and ETF movements. Support our work at PATREON and receive GREAT benefits (training, gifts, etc...): https://www.patreon.com/user?u=14138154 Receive our STOCK ALERTS via TEXT when WEEKLY VERTICAL CROSSOVERS occur. Very valuable information! Less than 8 texts a month. Text "chartingwealth" to 33222 on your cell phone. At ChartingWealth.com, http://chartingwealth.com every day the market is open, we chart the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Gold & Bonds. In just a few short minutes, we give you a valuable training update and quickly review the trends we see taking place in the market. At the end of every week, we give you an overview of what happened over the last five days and what's on the calendar for the next trading week. DISCLAIMER: We offer NO advice and make NO claims to expertise of any kind. This site is dedicated to knowledge and education through our stock chart training, reviews and other information -- nothing more.

In this episode of Tall Boy Radio, host Beans sits down for an in-depth conversation with Mark Roberge, the driving force and drummer behind the powerhouse Boston alternative metal band, Prospect Hill.From childhood dreams to the stark realities of the modern music business, Mark shares the lessons learned over a twenty-year career, offering a masterclass in resilience, authentic fan connection, and what it truly takes to survive as an independent creator.The episode kicks off with a trip down memory lane, charting Prospect Hill's evolution from a group of school friends jamming in Massachusetts back in 1998 to a worldwide touring act. Mark gives listeners an inside look at the bond required to keep a band together through label deals, lineup shifts, and the grueling life of the road.Fans of the band will appreciate the deep dive into their discography, touching on how early fan-demanded hits like "Come Alive" broke into the Billboard Top 40 charts. The guys also discuss the powerful reimagining of their staple track "Victim," which featured Taproot's Stephen Richards.The conversation naturally flows into their hard-hitting, defiant single, "Blood in the Water." Mark breaks down the raw emotion behind the track—capturing that exact moment when the pressure builds and doubt creeps in, but you choose to fight harder instead of folding.Transitioning from the stage to the studio boardroom, Mark opens up about his role as an author. He breaks down the core philosophies found in his book, The Indie Artist's Compass.Designed specifically as a tactical roadmap for startup bands, the book shifts musicians away from chasing empty "vanity metrics" on social media and teaches them how to run their band like a lean entrepreneur. Beans and Mark discuss why modern bands need clear systems, a solid business strategy, and how the "FAME" framework can save independent artists years of costly, frustrating mistakes.To wrap up the episode, Mark explains how his real-world frustrations with broken industry systems led him to launch fanflowy.com.In an era where algorithms gatekeep content from an artist's own followers, Mark emphasizes the absolute necessity of direct-to-fan relationships. Listeners get a breakdown of how FanFlowy uses automation and multi-channel strategies to help creators capture, own, and nurture their audience—proving that a dedicated "backyard" fan base is the ultimate currency for long-term artistic survival.Whether you are a lifelong Prospect Hill fan, a musician looking to get your band off the ground, or a creator trying to decode audience growth, this episode of Tall Boy Radio delivers heavy-hitting inspiration and actionable advice.Find Prospect Hill on SpotifyProspect Hill | SpotifyFind Marks' business onlineHome - Make Our MusicProspect Hill Official WebsiteFind Mark on Instagram(4) Instagramtallboyradio.com

This week’s Prison Pulpit was recorded on location in Thessalonica, where I am spending a day or two en route to Istanbul. Join me today in studying some of 2 Thess, and talking about a few specific prayer needs, and then looking at a few folks who were tortured and/or martyred in the Tower of London I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: bfwesten AT gmail dot com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, and books. Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” We’ve looked at Wang Yi and Early Rain Church’s writings in the aftermath of their arrest and attack in 2018, but I’ve also regularly turned to other persecuted ministers who have gone before, such as Richard Wurmbrand, to give us a voice literally from prison. (Here you’ll find some free PDF books by Richard Wurmbrand: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.org/) Pakistan Raid Forces Digital Gospel Worker Into Hiding https://www.mnnonline.org/news/pakistan-raid-forces-gospel-worker-into-hiding/ Accounts of Persecution in Great Britain & Ireland, Prior to the Reign of Queen Mary I (Fox Ch. 14) https://www.berbc.org/book-of-martyrs-chapter-xiv Anne Askew: Tortured in the Tower of London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Askew Pray for China Cities of the Week (Aug 24-31): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-24-31-2026 Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church If you (or your church or organization) would like to “sponsor” a Chinese church leader, I can personally provide you with the name (or secure nickname) of the particular pastor/leader who you sponsor, and for whom you can continue to pray for going forward. Sponsor a Chinese Pastor/Evangelist for $1000! Contact me (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) Or donate directly at: MCI3.org Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

Real just completed its $880 million REMAX takeover, creating a 180,000-agent real estate giant. Meanwhile, the housing market is shifting in the opposite direction: buyer demand is weakening, cancellations are rising, and home-price growth is slowing fast. In Episode 374 of tWiRE, we're looking at two major forces reshaping real estate at the same time: consolidation at the top of the industry and growing negotiating power at the consumer level. The Real + REMAX merger is officially closed, but the $880 million headline doesn't tell the whole story. We'll dig into the debt, ownership structure, massive stock buyback and leadership team behind the new Real REMAX Group. Then there's Compass. A new proposed class action lawsuit in New York City alleges the brokerage used its market position and listing strategy to reduce rental inventory available on Zillow-owned StreetEasy. We'll separate the allegations from the facts and look at why the private-listing fight continues to move from industry debate into courts and regulatory scrutiny. And in the housing market, buyers have more leverage, but affordability is still doing plenty of damage. In this live episode, we'll cover: • Real officially completes its $880M acquisition of REMAX, creating a 180,000-agent company • The financing, ownership structure and $450M share-buyback authorization behind the Real REMAX deal • Compass facing a new antitrust lawsuit over alleged efforts to pull NYC rental listings from StreetEasy • Why cash buyers are losing some of their pandemic-era advantage • Home-purchase cancellations reaching their highest level in nearly three years • Why late summer and early fall could offer some buyers their best negotiating window • New listings rising while pending home sales continue to weaken • U.S. home-price growth slowing to its weakest pace in a decade • New-home prices falling to a five-year low as builders fight for buyers • Why out-of-town buyers are increasingly targeting new construction • Mortgage rates climbing again and what that means for already-soft buyer demand The big question: **Is this finally becoming the buyer's market people have been waiting for, or are mortgage rates still too high for buyer leverage to really matter?** Join us LIVE on YouTube and tell us what you're seeing in your market. Every Wednesday, 12 PM CST! #RealEstateNews #HousingMarket #mortgagerates 

In this episode, the Professional Development Committee breaks down the many pathways to becoming a United pilot and the resources available along the way. Captains Margie Freeman and David Bertellotti discuss Aviate, meet-and-greets, new-hire and captain upgrade programs, and how ALPA helps pilots throughout their careers. They also explain why participation in the union is a responsibility shared by every pilot.   UPA27.com

In this episode of the John Kitchens Coach Podcast Experience, John sits down with returning guest Fred Butts, co-founder of Arch & Pillar Group in New Hampshire's Seacoast region, to unpack how he and his business partner (and spouse) Elaine are breaking into a luxury real estate market that's been dominated for decades by legacy brokerages like Sotheby's, Christie's, and Compass. Fred walks through why he built a brand instead of leaning on his own name, how he prices for a market that rewards exclusivity over volume, and the specific, patient work of getting into the rooms (private clubs, nonprofit boards, chamber events) where high-net-worth relationships actually get built. It's a clear look at what it takes to reposition an established business around brand instead of personality, and what it means to play the long game in a legacy market.Key Topics Covered* What a “legacy market” is and how it differs from a fast-moving, transient luxury market* Why Fred and Elaine built the Arch & Pillar brand instead of marketing under their own names* Balancing personal brand (the face of the business) with company brand (the business itself)* Reading a legacy market's real pain points — family logistics, time, exclusivity, and dream-driven decisions* Crafting the offer: pairing “the chocolate” clients want with “the broccoli” they actually need* Why Fred refuses to discount, and how pricing should reflect the level of service delivered* Getting into the room: private clubs, The Music Hall, chamber of commerce, and nonprofit galas as relationship-building ground* Playing the long game with patience — staying calm above the water while paddling hard underneath* Managing client emotion and ego at higher price points* Why brand, not the agent's name, is the lasting moat in any market“People don't pay the country's best lawyers for the time that they're in the courtroom. They pay them for the thousands of other hours that they've spent in the courtroom before that event.” — Fred ButtsConnect With Us Ready to scale your real estate business with more freedom? Book your 7 Figure Audit at 7figurecall.com. Follow us: Instagram @johnkitchenscoach | LinkedIn @johnkitchenscoach | Facebook @johnkitchenscoach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnkitchenscoachpodcast.substack.com

This week’s Prison Pulpit was recorded on location in Thessalonica, where I am spending a day or two en route to Istanbul. Join me today in studying some of 2 Thess, and talking about a few specific prayer needs, and then looking at a few folks who were tortured and/or martyred in the Tower of London I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: bfwesten AT gmail dot com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, and books. Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” We’ve looked at Wang Yi and Early Rain Church’s writings in the aftermath of their arrest and attack in 2018, but I’ve also regularly turned to other persecuted ministers who have gone before, such as Richard Wurmbrand, to give us a voice literally from prison. (Here you’ll find some free PDF books by Richard Wurmbrand: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.org/) Pakistan Raid Forces Digital Gospel Worker Into Hiding https://www.mnnonline.org/news/pakistan-raid-forces-gospel-worker-into-hiding/ Accounts of Persecution in Great Britain & Ireland, Prior to the Reign of Queen Mary I (Fox Ch. 14) https://www.berbc.org/book-of-martyrs-chapter-xiv Anne Askew: Tortured in the Tower of London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Askew Pray for China Cities of the Week (Aug 24-31): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-24-31-2026 Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church If you (or your church or organization) would like to “sponsor” a Chinese church leader, I can personally provide you with the name (or secure nickname) of the particular pastor/leader who you sponsor, and for whom you can continue to pray for going forward. Sponsor a Chinese Pastor/Evangelist for $1000! Contact me (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) Or donate directly at: MCI3.org Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

Most guests give me their Crisis Compass looking back on a crisis they've survived. Erin Baker is different. Her partner died just 12 weeks before this recording, and she is, by her own account, exhausted by the demand to keep being strong.These four points aren't hard-won wisdom viewed from calmer shores — they're the things holding her up as we speak. That, I think, makes them rarer and more valuable than almost any compass I've been given.In this bonus episode of Crisis What Crisis, I sit down with Erin to discuss her Crisis Compass. The four points of navigation that she turns to in order to help survive a crisis – a person, a habit, a comfort and a piece of advice. If you haven't heard the full conversation yet, go back and find it in the feed. It's well worth your time.POWERED BY KINGSLEY NAPLEY:I know what it is to have the right legal support around you when facing crisis. Kingsley Napley are the kind of lawyers I wish more people knew about – there to help you make the right decisions, protect what matters and build real resilience when the pressure is on.This episode is powered by Kingsley Napley, visit www.kingsleynapley.co.uk for more details.CHAPTERS:00:52 A Person – Her Frant village church community, and the stability they've offered when everything else is in flux01:23 A Piece of Advice – A day at a time. The most hypocritical advice she could pass on — and the only one that works now01:57 A Comfort – Writing. It's her career because it was her comfort first02:09 A Habit – Paint by numbers. Half an hour of something absolutely mindlessFOLLOW ERIN'S WRITINGPostcards from Grief – https://erinbaker1001.substack.com/FOLLOW ERIN BAKERInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/erinbakerauto/?hl=enLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-baker-58901a48/FOLLOW CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?Instagram – www.instagram.com/crisiswhatcrisispodcastTikTok – www.tiktok.com/@crisispodThis was a Crisis What Crisis Production – Rex Fisher (producer), Ioana Barbu (studio manager), Fred Sharp (research), Johnny Seifert (audio), Jasper Cullen (video)

In this episode, host Duane Osterlind welcomes physician, trauma-informed coach, and author Dr. Frank Spinelli for an honest conversation about trauma, addiction, and the root causes of shame. Dr. Spinelli shares his personal story—from surviving childhood abuse in the Boy Scouts and helping law enforcement bring his abuser to justice, to experiencing a profound breakdown during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.Together, Duane and Frank explore why addiction and shame stem from the same underlying wound, how to separate healthy guilt from toxic shame, and how reframing shame as a tool rather than a sentence can guide us back toward self-acceptance and alignment with our core values.Key Topics DiscussedTrauma and the Hidden Roots of Addiction: How unaddressed childhood trauma often manifests as compulsive behaviors—whether involving alcohol, food, work, or sex.Shame vs. Guilt: Why guilt focuses on behavior ("I did something bad") while shame attacks identity ("I am bad"), and how the inner voice of shame is often an installed narrative from past abuse or upbringing.The Isolation Trigger: How the removal of external coping routines during the COVID-19 pandemic caused dormant trauma and shame to resurface for millions of people.Shame as Information, Not Indictment: How leaning into shame—rather than running from or numbing it—can reveal where you are out of alignment with your core values.Naming the "Unreliable Narrator": Why personifying and giving a distinct name to your inner critic helps separate your core self from intrusive, shame-based thoughts.Key Frameworks & ToolsThe 4 P's of Emotional RegulationA practical exercise to build "shame literacy" when triggered:Pause: Stop before reacting or speaking.Be Present: Bring awareness to the immediate moment and physical surroundings.Ponder: Evaluate if your emotional response belongs to the present situation or an old memory.Possibilities: Select an intentional, grounded adult response rather than an automatic reaction.The 3 Bodies of Processing ShameSomatic (Physical) Body: Noticing physical sensations (chest tightness, sweating, tension) in the nervous system without judgment.Story Body: Recognizing the internal narrative, challenging the "unreliable narrator," and separating objective facts from emotional thoughts.Relational Body: Understanding how shame builds isolation walls instead of healthy, protective boundaries in relationships.Key Quotes"What if shame is not something we need to move away from? What if we leaned into it and used it not as an indictment, but as information?" — Dr. Frank Spinelli"Guilt is 'I did something bad.' Shame is 'I'm bad.' The voice telling you that you're bad is probably not your own voice—it was installed by someone else." — Dr. Frank Spinelli"Addiction and shame are not separate problems. They're the same wound—they're just expressed differently." — Dr. Frank SpinelliGuest Resources & LinksBook: The Shame Compass: A Radical Framework for Trauma Healing and Self-Acceptance by Dr. Frank SpinelliMemoir: P-Shy by Dr. Frank SpinelliWebsite: FrankSpinelli.comSocial Media: Follow Dr. Frank Spinelli on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for daily short-form content on overcoming shame.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben, back in Oklahoma for a few days before returning (finally) to my overseas home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: chinacompass @ privacyport.com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, books, and more… Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” We’ve looked at Wang Yi and Early Rain Church’s writings in the aftermath of their arrest and attack in 2018, but I’ve also regularly turned to other persecuted ministers who have gone before, such as Richard Wurmbrand, to give us a voice literally from prison. (Here you’ll find some free PDF books by Richard Wurmbrand: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.org/) Help Bring Pastor John Cao Home https://revelationmedia.com/bringcaohome Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church First, please pray for these Chinese leaders! Not only do they risk their lives to preach the Gospel within Communist China, but they also risk their freedom just to receive training that we easily take for granted. Pray that God would protect them, provide for them, equip them, and prepare them to continue serving faithfully in one of the most difficult mission fields on earth. Second, help sponsor a Chinese pastor and send him to one of these two Great Commission Conferences for the Chinese Church! The need is roughly $1k per attendee, and we are expecting 60 total. Nearly $45k has already been raised, which leaves about $15k to go. One final thought: whoever gives to wholly “sponsor” one Chinese missionary, I will personally greet them on your behalf and provide you with their name (or nickname), and general location of ministry within China, so you can continue to “adopt” them in prayer for going forward. Online donations can be made via the giving link at MCI3.org (https://givebutter.com/missioncatalyst). Checks can be sent to: Mission Catalyst / PO Box 73047 / Houston, TX 77272 (Memo: China) If you have any questions or would like to confirm your sponsorship or “adoption” of a Chinese missionary, feel free to email (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) anytime or donate directly at: MCI3.org Pray for China Cities of the Week (Aug 17-23): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-17-23-2026 Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

Welcome to the China Compass podcast on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! You can follow me on Twitter, @chinaadventures, where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). You can also email me any questions or comments @ bfwesten at gmail dot com… And if you want to learn more about our missions projects or get one of my books, visit PrayGiveGo.us. Here's the link to the interview I did with NSA Professor, Mr. Pinkall, the week before this podcast went live (August 17, 2024): https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/30293/episodes/19 We start out the actual podcast by discussing Tim Walz' ties to China, as seen in two different articles... Seven Troubling Tim Walz Connections to Communist China https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/08/08/exclusive-seamus-bruner-seven-troubling-tim-walz-connections-to-communist-china/ Tim Walz’s Long Relationship With China Defies Easy Stereotypes https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/us/tim-walz-china.html Next we talk about our primary sponsor, Pray for China, where we encourage Christians from every US state to pray for every Chinese province. Today in “honor” of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, we are looking at the Chinese province of Heilongjiang (Black Dragon River), which is paired up with the state of Minnesota for prayer in our Pray for China intercession scheme. Heilongjiang translates literally as Black Dragon River, and is located in far northern China just south of the Black Dragon River, which separates it from Siberia to the north. Black Dragon River is known for its pine forests, rivers, lakes, and frigid winter weather (sound familiar?). It makes a natural fit for Minnesota. The capital of Black Dragon River is Harbin, but that same trip I also visited the towns of Suihua, Hegang, Yichun, Jiamusi, Shuangyashan, Jixi, Qiezihe, Qitaihe, Mishan, Hulin, and more. I tell a few stories in the time that remains… 4am Conversation with a Homeless Man https://open.substack.com/pub/chinacall/p/4am-conversation-with-a-homeless Double Duck Mountain Orphanage Thinking in Chinese for the 1st Time More fun town names: Eggplant River, Western Chicken, Tiger Forest One final story. It was in one of these cities where I ate dog for the first time. And can you guess the one and only place I've eaten camel (burgers)? Thank you for listening! Subscribe to my blog/substack @ ChinaCall.Substack.com and find everything else at PrayGiveGo.us!

In a world overflowing with advice, it can be difficult to figure out what matters most. Thankfully, by studying the foundational principles that Jesus used to start His ministry, we can identify exactly what we need to prioritize in our lives. Join us for our new series entitled, Foundations, and discover the most important keys to thriving spiritually.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Welcome to the China Compass podcast on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! You can follow me on Twitter, @chinaadventures, where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). You can also email me any questions or comments @ bfwesten at gmail dot com… And if you want to learn more about our missions projects or get one of my books, visit PrayGiveGo.us. Here's the link to the interview I did with NSA Professor, Mr. Pinkall, the week before this podcast went live (August 17, 2024): https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/30293/episodes/19 We start out the actual podcast by discussing Tim Walz' ties to China, as seen in two different articles... Seven Troubling Tim Walz Connections to Communist China https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/08/08/exclusive-seamus-bruner-seven-troubling-tim-walz-connections-to-communist-china/ Tim Walz’s Long Relationship With China Defies Easy Stereotypes https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/us/tim-walz-china.html Next we talk about our primary sponsor, Pray for China, where we encourage Christians from every US state to pray for every Chinese province. Today in “honor” of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, we are looking at the Chinese province of Heilongjiang (Black Dragon River), which is paired up with the state of Minnesota for prayer in our Pray for China intercession scheme. Heilongjiang translates literally as Black Dragon River, and is located in far northern China just south of the Black Dragon River, which separates it from Siberia to the north. Black Dragon River is known for its pine forests, rivers, lakes, and frigid winter weather (sound familiar?). It makes a natural fit for Minnesota. The capital of Black Dragon River is Harbin, but that same trip I also visited the towns of Suihua, Hegang, Yichun, Jiamusi, Shuangyashan, Jixi, Qiezihe, Qitaihe, Mishan, Hulin, and more. I tell a few stories in the time that remains… 4am Conversation with a Homeless Man https://open.substack.com/pub/chinacall/p/4am-conversation-with-a-homeless Double Duck Mountain Orphanage Thinking in Chinese for the 1st Time More fun town names: Eggplant River, Western Chicken, Tiger Forest One final story. It was in one of these cities where I ate dog for the first time. And can you guess the one and only place I've eaten camel (burgers)? Thank you for listening! Subscribe to my blog/substack @ ChinaCall.Substack.com and find everything else at PrayGiveGo.us!

I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben, back in Oklahoma for a few days before returning (finally) to my overseas home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: chinacompass @ privacyport.com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, books, and more… Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” We’ve looked at Wang Yi and Early Rain Church’s writings in the aftermath of their arrest and attack in 2018, but I’ve also regularly turned to other persecuted ministers who have gone before, such as Richard Wurmbrand, to give us a voice literally from prison. (Here you’ll find some free PDF books by Richard Wurmbrand: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.org/) Help Bring Pastor John Cao Home https://revelationmedia.com/bringcaohome Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church First, please pray for these Chinese leaders! Not only do they risk their lives to preach the Gospel within Communist China, but they also risk their freedom just to receive training that we easily take for granted. Pray that God would protect them, provide for them, equip them, and prepare them to continue serving faithfully in one of the most difficult mission fields on earth. Second, help sponsor a Chinese pastor and send him to one of these two Great Commission Conferences for the Chinese Church! The need is roughly $1k per attendee, and we are expecting 60 total. Nearly $45k has already been raised, which leaves about $15k to go. One final thought: whoever gives to wholly “sponsor” one Chinese missionary, I will personally greet them on your behalf and provide you with their name (or nickname), and general location of ministry within China, so you can continue to “adopt” them in prayer for going forward. Online donations can be made via the giving link at MCI3.org (https://givebutter.com/missioncatalyst). Checks can be sent to: Mission Catalyst / PO Box 73047 / Houston, TX 77272 (Memo: China) If you have any questions or would like to confirm your sponsorship or “adoption” of a Chinese missionary, feel free to email (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) anytime or donate directly at: MCI3.org Pray for China Cities of the Week (Aug 17-23): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-17-23-2026 Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

In this episode, Matt Lagos of Compass shares his insights on navigating the North Texas real estate market, negotiation strategies, and the importance of trust and credibility in client relationships.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Prior Session's Trade Execution Summary Grid: Everyday receive TOMORROW's Trade Execution Summary Grid, our Complete Analysis & Predictions of Stocks, Bonds, Gold & Bitcoin by becoming a Patreon Member at any of our three levels of support: https://bit.ly/CWPatreonSupport When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you. — Lolly Daskal Sign up at Trading View access my platform and charts: https://www.tradingview.com/?aff_id=136493 How to Set Up Our Three Time Frame Chart on TradingView: https://youtu.be/wLwTnrtAOTA I have opened my page to sharing. Find me on TradingView at Thom Goolsby. Here at Charting Wealth, we focus on the reality of price movement by following trends. We teach you a simple and effective method to read stock, ETF and crypto charts, keep your emotions in check and learn when to buy and when to sell. Charting is your road map to the market and the riches it can offer. Forget the hype you see and hear in the financial news media. They are selling products in print ads and commercials. Focus on what is real, no matter how hard it can be to believe! Otherwise, you become a sucker or worse, a slave, to the delusion someone else wants you to believe. Use the lessons we teach every day to accurately chart any stock, commodity, ETF and cryptocurrencies. We give you daily, real life lessons with the five ETFs we track: S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, 20-Year Treasury Bonds, Gold and Bitcoin. We have all the tools you need to learn how to trade. For subscribers, we have a GREAT TRAINING to SUPERCHARGE your practice trading: "Power of True Consensus — When All Three Timeframes Finally Agree." If you are not a subscriber, become one! Subscribe for FREE to our daily market reviews & training at http://www.ChartingWealth.com We urge you to "Follow the charts, NOT the noise!" and want to help you follow the market and improve your knowledge of stock and ETF movements. Support our work at PATREON and receive GREAT benefits (training, gifts, etc...): https://www.patreon.com/user?u=14138154 Receive our STOCK ALERTS via TEXT when WEEKLY VERTICAL CROSSOVERS occur. Very valuable information! Less than 8 texts a month. Text "chartingwealth" to 33222 on your cell phone. At ChartingWealth.com, http://chartingwealth.com every day the market is open, we chart the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Gold & Bonds. In just a few short minutes, we give you a valuable training update and quickly review the trends we see taking place in the market. At the end of every week, we give you an overview of what happened over the last five days and what's on the calendar for the next trading week. DISCLAIMER: We offer NO advice and make NO claims to expertise of any kind. This site is dedicated to knowledge and education through our stock chart training, reviews and other information -- nothing more.

Tune in today to refresh your memory of the story structure called the hero's journey. So many of your favorite books and movies followed this exact story pattern. If you enjoyed today's show and you'd like more teaching on effective writing tools, consider one of my classes or retreats.I am offering a storytelling class at a discounted rate. Follow this link: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=b4e0e4813c2d5d7bc3e03507b&id=c1828ad5f5Subscribe to receive news or send it a question: https://www.coachdebby.com/connectWatch Coach Debby on Youtubehttps://youtube.com/@coachdebby564?si=gELppf0nNHaz8QI2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NonCensored is coming to an end. Our final show is at the London Podcast Festival on the 13th September 2026 at 4.30pm. Tickets are available here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/podcast/noncensored/As we take a break over the summer, we're going to remind you of how fun our live shows are. This week, it's the second half of the show we did at King's Place as part of the London Podcast Festival in September 2023, where we took questions from the audience.This week Harriet and Producer Martin are grateful that this is a serious news podcast, because imagine if it was a topical comedy show, and they had to write jokes about what's going on in the world? Instead, they put on a live show to be just as serious as ever, in the company of regular guest Eshaan Akbar, MP (and possible future Prime Minister...?) Liz Truss, and Doctor Professor Jordan B. Peterson. Between them, they cover issues like Liz's alternative budget, Jordan's alternative university, and Eshaan's alternative career.With thanks to Rosie Holt, Brendan Murphy, Eshaan Akbar, Susan Harrison, Will Sebag-Montefiore and Ed Morrish.Rosie's play, Churchill's Urinal, is on at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (tickets here), where she is also doing a new character comedy/stand-up show, The Illegal Aliens Have Landed (tickets here).Brendan also at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Indy, a three-man retelling of Indiana Jones, and tickets are available here.Eshaan has started a new podcast called Adda With Eshaan which you can hear here, and contribute to here. His latest stand-up special, Fool Moon, is available on YouTube.Ed produces P.O.V., a scripted sketch show on BBC Sounds which has NonCensored regulars like Davina, Will and Sooz in it. He also produces Sound Heap With John-Luke Roberts, an award-winning improvised sketch show that features many NonCensored regulars like Rosie, Brendan, Will, Sooz and Joz.Show photography is by Karla Gowlett and design is by Chris Barker. Original music is by Paddy Gervers and Rob Sell at Torch and Compass.NonCensored is a Lead Mojo production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, host Kyle Alexander sits down with Amayr Babar and Ali Sareini, co-founders of Nautilus, to discuss their all-in-one carwash marketing automation platform and two major product launches that debuted at The Car Wash Show™.The conversation covers Nautilus's deepest-in-class point of sale system integrations, which allow the platform to trigger personalized text messages the moment a membership is purchased, a credit card declines or a customer hits a behavioral threshold.  Babar and Sareini introduce Compass, the company's AI operations analyst that connects directly to a carwash's point of sale system and can answer real-time questions about wash volume, billing anomalies, employee performance and membership trends. They also unveil the AI CMO, which monitors competitor pricing and social media activity within a two-to-five-mile radius and automatically adjusts ad campaigns and website content in response.  The episode also highlights Nautilus's Droptop integration, which links carwash and oil lube point of sale data, enabling cross-selling, shared loyalty programs and unified customer profiles across both sides of the business.

Last fall, a client told me she would have paid $10,000 for an experience I had only ever offered inside my year-long mastermind. I could not stop thinking about that comment. It led to a decision I'm announcing in this episode. For the past several weeks, I have been quietly inviting current clients, former clients, and a few select consultants to something I have never done before. The room is almost full. Five seats remain, and today I'm opening them to you. Compass Live is a two-day, in-person strategic planning experience for nonprofit consultants, happening September 24-25, 2026  in Nashville, Tennessee. Over two days, I'll share more of my intellectual property than I ever have in a single container: my frameworks for scalable offers, scalable operations, scalable team, and scalable mindset. We will review your entire business, surface the gaps holding you back, and you will leave with a one-page strategic plan for 2027. Real decisions made: what to sell, what to charge, and what to stop carrying. All of it finished in September, before the craziness of Q4, so you start January already knowing exactly where you're going. Your seat includes a kickoff call on Zoom before the event, two full days of facilitated planning and masterminding with me and a hand-selected room, catered lunches from The Café at Thistle Farms, and a post-event accountability call to keep your year-end sprint on track. This room is specifically for nonprofit consultants with $200K to $1M in revenue who have a consulting firm, or the desire to build one, and who want a 2027 fueled with growth. Everyone in the room is already selling, already serving multiple clients, and brings 10 to 20 years of career experience to the table. In this episode, I also share my insider secret about why attending the FIRST time someone hosts an event is one of the smartest moves you can make, two real decisions that came out of our mastermind planning retreat last fall, and why my team's decade of hosting live events (15 retreats and a multi-day conference we grew year after year) is a skill our friend AI cannot replicate.

What does it take to navigate the highs and lows of the music industry? Join host Buzz Knight in this captivating episode of takin' a walk as he sits down with Nick Heyward, the charismatic frontman of the legendary 80s band Haircut 100. From their explosive rise to fame with unforgettable hits like 'Love Plus One' and 'Fantastic Day' to the challenges of managing fame, Nick shares his incredible journey through music history. Buzz Knight expertly guides this insightful conversation, diving deep into Haircut 100 their formation and the creative process that birthed their iconic sound. Nick reflects on pivotal moments in his career, including a memorable 21st birthday celebration at The Roxy in LA, where music moguls like Clive Davis were in attendance. He opens up about the pressures of fame, the emotional weight of their upcoming reunion album 'Boxing the Compass' after a staggering 42 years, and the impact of losing their manager on the band’s trajectory As the discussion unfolds, Nick reveals the artistic growth he experienced during his transition to a solo career, showcasing songs like 'Whistle Down the Wind' that highlight his evolution as a musician. The episode is filled with inspiring music stories that resonate with anyone who has faced challenges in their creative pursuits. Buzz Knight brings his signature style to the conversation, making it a must-listen for fans of classic rock stories and music history. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Haircut 100 or just someone who appreciates the resilience required in the music industry, this episode of takin' a walk is packed with insights and anecdotes that will inspire you. Tune in to discover the journey of an iconic musician, the importance of collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of creativity. Don’t miss this opportunity to walk alongside Buzz Knight and Nick Heyward as they explore the depths of musical passion and the stories that have shaped their careers. Join us for this enlightening episode and gain a fresh perspective on the music industry, one step at a time, with takin' a walk and Buzz Knight. Support the show: https://takinawalk.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if obesity isn't simply about food? In one of the most powerful conversations I've ever had on the Optimal Metabolism podcast, I sit down with CrossFit coach, author, educator, and metabolic health advocate Athena Perez to explore the deeper roots of obesity, emotional eating, and lasting transformation. Athena's story begins long before she reached nearly 500 pounds. She shares how childhood trauma shaped her relationship with food, why lasting healing required far more than losing weight, and how addressing her emotional health became just as important as improving her physical health. We also take a fascinating deep dive into Athena's experience completing multiple 40-day fasts. She openly discusses why she chose such an extended fast, what happened to her body and mind throughout the process, how she approached refeeding afterward, and whether she believes prolonged fasting helped reset her metabolism. This episode isn't about promoting extreme fasting. It's about understanding the complex relationship between trauma, metabolism, behavior change, and healing. Whether you've struggled with weight, emotional eating, insulin resistance, or simply want to better understand the human side of obesity, I believe this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. In This Episode, We Discuss: Athena's journey from nearly 500 pounds to becoming a CrossFit coach and educator The connection between childhood trauma and lifelong struggles with obesity Why healing emotional wounds was just as important as changing nutrition habits The decision to complete a 40-day fast What happened physically, mentally, and emotionally during the fast Whether prolonged fasting can "reset" metabolism The often-overlooked importance of the refeeding process What Athena learned about true hunger versus emotional hunger Common misconceptions about obesity and larger-bodied athletes Why sustainable healing goes far beyond the number on the scale Connect with Athena Perez Website: https://www.athenamperez.com Instagram: @athenamperez Learn more about Scaled Nation Training and Athena's educational resources for coaches and healthcare professionals. Connect with Shana Hussin Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/ Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness Shana's 90-Day Metabolic Reset, COMPASS

Planning a Walt Disney World land-and-sea vacation paired with your next Disney Cruise Line adventure? In this episode, author Becky Gandillon breaks down what’s brand-new in The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2027. Discover expert park strategies, packing secrets, and top-rated Disney lounges that will elevate your trip beyond a standard theme park stay. Whether you’re booking a Walt Disney World vacation or adding a pre-cruise stay, these essential Disney vacation tips will help you maximize every moment! HighlightsNew Guidebook Updates: Becky breaks down what's fresh in the 2027 edition of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, including reorganized chapters and brand-new features.Essential Disney Packing Hacks: Insights on must-have park items, including shoe ponchos for Orlando rainstorms and tried-and-tested gear recommendations.Disney Resort Bars & Lounges: A comprehensive review of under-the-radar resort lounges like Ale & Compass, plus how to order custom drinks from cast member bartenders.Specialty Guide Sections: Updates covering Walt Disney World tips specifically tailored for larger guests, solo travelers, and non-park resort activities.Behind the Research: A look at what goes into testing park strategies, building touring plans, and dealing with last-minute Disney park announcements.VIP Dining & Experiences: Becky shares her personal experience dining at Victoria & Albert’s in the Queen Victoria Room and taking the Wild Africa Trek tour with her 10-year-old daughter.Follow Becky at: https://www.instagram.com/raisingminniemes/?hl=enWant to be on the show? Fill out this form, and we'll be in contact with you real soon!https://dclpodcast.com/want-to-be-on-the-show/Support our show via Patreon:http://www.patreon.com/dclpodcastUse Christy's Travel Services:https://dclpodcast.com/book-with-christy/Follow the DCL Podcast via:http://www.facebook.com/dclpodcasthttp://www.instagram.com/dcl_podcastFollow Lake at:https://www.instagram.com/mouse.genhttps://www.youtube.com/@MouseGenFollow Christy at:http://www.packyourpixiedust.comhttps://www.instagram.com/packyourpixiedust

Subrata Mitra, Co-founder and Partner at Accel India and co-author of Down But Not Out, shares what decades of backing Indian startups have taught him about building companies that survive setbacks, adapt through uncertainty and keep going long enough to succeed.00:00 Introduction01:01 Why Subrata Wrote Down But Not Out03:08 The Founder Stories Behind the Book09:29 The Map, the Compass & “Long-Term Greed”13:44 What Makes a Founder Resilient?15:46 How Investors Evaluate Founders17:21 How Founders Learn, Adapt & Evolve21:12 The Role of Mentors, Coaches & Family25:13 Finding Your Mission Beyond Money27:32 From Generalist to Specialist30:01 The 2 Things Founders Should Focus On Every Day30:50 Why Relationships Matter More Than Grades36:55 Find Your Unique Skills & Double Down39:08 Why Startup Culture Should Make Room for Joy43:01 What Subrata Would Tell His Younger Self44:40 Why No Startup Goes Straight Up & Advice for Young FoundersWhen Subrata Mitra wrote the first cheque to Flipkart founders Sachin and Binny Bansal, he says a $200 million outcome would have made them happy. Flipkart crossed that milestone so quickly that nobody stopped to treat it as a major marker. It eventually became one of India's biggest startup success stories.But the more interesting story is everything that happens before the outcome: ideas that do not work, difficult decisions, founders who have to change, co-founder challenges, unexpected opportunities and the resilience required to stay in the game for 10 to 15 years.On this episode of the Prime Venture Partners Podcast, Amit Somani sits down with Subrata to discuss the ideas behind his book Down But Not Out, which brings together stories of Indian founders who experienced major setbacks but continued to build. Subrata explains why entrepreneurship is more like a Test match than a T20: you need the stamina to stay long, but you must also recognise the right opportunity and hit the ball when it comes.The conversation explores what Subrata looks for in founders, why it can take eight to nine months to understand whether a founding team has what it takes, and why the ability to evolve may matter as much as what a founder knows when they start. They also discuss coaching, mentorship, family support, complementary co-founder skills and the transition from being a generalist founder to becoming a more specialised leader as the company grows.Connect with Subrata Mitrahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/subratamitra/Follow Amit SomaniX (Twitter): https://x.com/amitsomani?lang=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesomani/Listen/Watch this podcast onSpotify:Apple Podcasts: Read the transcript for the entire podcast here - https://bit.ly/Prime-Venture-Partners-And-Accel-India About Prime Venture PartnersPrime Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm backing exceptional founders building category-defining technology companies across SaaS, fintech, AI, healthcare, consumer internet and enterprise software.Learn more: https://www.primevp.in/Follow Prime Venture Partners:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2780448/admin/dashboard/X (Twitter): https://x.com/Primevp_inInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/primevp_in/Learn more about:Accel: https://www.accel.com/news/portfolio#IndianStartups #VentureCapital #StartupInvesting

On today’s China Compass podcast, we begin by giving thanks for the surprising release of missionary pilot, Kevin Rideout, from the hands of Muslim terrorists in Niger. Then we talk about China’s new border control laws, which don’t seem that new at all. Next, we discuss two fascinating Chinese cities to pray for this weekend, before going back to recount the stories of C.S. Lewis, Burnt Marshwiggle, and the Brainwashing of Richard Wurmbrand. Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me (@chinaadventures) on Twitter/X where I post new Chinese city prayer profiles every single day, including amazing pics and links to more China resources.You can also also email me (bfwesten at gmail dot com) and find everything else at PrayGiveGo.us! Missionary Pilot Kevin Rideout Freed After 9 Months with Islamists in the Sahara https://notthebee.com/article/trump-announces-return-of-kevin-rideout-a-christian-missionary-pilot-who-was-captured-by-islamists-nine-months-ago- China To Tighten Entry/Exit Controls https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-to-tighten-entry-and-exit-controls-from-sept-15 Pray for China Weekly (Aug 10-16, 2026) https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-10-16-2026 C.S. Lewis, Burnt Marshwiggle, and the Brainwashing of Richard Wurmbrand https://chinacall.substack.com/p/cs-lewis-burnt-marshwiggle-and-the?utm_source=publication-search Follow or subscribe to China Compass and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget: Follow @chinaadventures on X, and find everything else

In a world overflowing with advice, it can be difficult to figure out what matters most. Thankfully, by studying the foundational principles that Jesus used to start His ministry, we can identify exactly what we need to prioritize in our lives. Join us for our new series entitled, Foundations, and discover the most important keys to thriving spiritually.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

With the bulk of earnings season in the rearview, the attention shifts next week to reports from retail giants including Target, Walmart and Home Depot. The traders give their picks for the best-positioned retail stocks now. Then, Compass' Mike Simonsen weighs in on the big week of housing data ahead and what it could signal about the next move in interest rates. Plus, Disney's new CEO speaks to CNBC, the traders lay out their charts of the week and why the electric sports car market is stuck at a red light. Fast Money Disclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Private real estate listings are facing new scrutiny in Washington. Congress is examining whether private listing networks could limit competition or hurt consumers, while Compass says its phased marketing strategy can help sellers get higher prices. Kathy Fettke breaks down the conflicting research and what the growing off-MLS debate could mean for home sellers and real estate investors.   Want to know which U.S. markets could offer the best opportunities for real estate investors? Download our free Top Cities for Real Estate Investors PDF at www.RealWealth.com/TopCities.   Source: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/off-mls-antitrust-scrutiny/

We'd love to hear from you! Click here to send us a text. On this episode of The New Wave Music Podcast, Steve and Don take a listen to the latest albums from two legendary artists who helped define the sound of the '80s. First up is Haircut 100 and their new album Boxing the Compass, a long-awaited return that finds the band bringing back their signature mix of infectious melodies, funky grooves, guitars, horns, and sophisticated pop. They also take an in-depth look at Midge Ure's A Man of Two Worlds (World Two: Songs), exploring the latest chapter in the Ultravox frontman and solo artist's remarkable career and seeing how these new songs measure up against his impressive catalog.And in Music News, we'll check out the darker new Soft Cell single, hear what DEVO's Gerald V. Casale has been up to, and talk about Sparks finally releasing their first-ever live album. Plus, we'll check out the new single from Susanna Hoffs, along with the latest from Save Ferris. Haircut 100: https://haircut100.com/Midge Ure: http://www.midgeure.co.uk/Support the show

As I'm still on the road in Moscow, Idaho, today's podcast was originally recorded exactly one year ago. It's sort of a part two with the most recent weekend podcast about the Letters of C.S. Lewis. Today we look at four of these letters more closely, especially in regards praying for suffering and persecuted Christians. Follow and/or message me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I post (among other things) daily reminders to pray for China.You can also email me @ bfwesten at gmail dot com. Lastly, to learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of my missionary biographies, visit PrayGiveGo.us! Today I’m going to look closer at four of the ten letters, each dealing primarily with prayer, from last weekend’s podcast on the China letters of C.S. Lewis: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/the-cs-lewis-china-letters (Also see this related content: C.S. Lewis, Burnt Marshwiggle, and the Brainwashing of Richard Wurmbrand) Here are the specific letters we cover in today's Prison Pulpit podcast: 1940- To his brother Warnie, on the burden of sympathy in a world of “instant” news: Barfield…is very much depressed, having a greater faculty than you or I for feeling the miseries of the world in general, which led to a good deal of argument, how far, as a man and a Christian, one ought to be vividly and continuously aware of, say, what it's like on the [front]line at this moment. I took the line that the present rapidity of communication, etc, imposed a burden on sympathy for which sympathy was never made: that the natural thing was to be distressed about what was happening to the poor Jones's in your own village and that the modern situation, in which journalism brings the Chinese, Russians, Finns, Poles and Turks to your notice each morning really could not be [faced] in the same way. 1946- To Dom Bede Griffiths, on a future Christian China and carrying all the world’s burdens: No, I don't think I feel like you, ‘disillusioned’. I think that though I am emotionally a fairly cheerful person my actual judgement of the world has always been what yours now is and so I have not been disappointed…When you say that nothing… has a value in itself, that everything has a value in relation to God, I couldn't agree with you more. And I often, like you, think that all the valuable future may lie with the Christened Chinaman. But one mustn't assume burdens that God does not lay upon us. It is one of the evils of rapid diffusion of news that the sorrows of all the world come to us every morning. I think each village was meant to feel pity for its own sick and poor whom it can help and I doubt if it is the duty of any private person to fix his mind on ills which he cannot help. (This may even become an escape from the works of charity we really can do to those we know). 1953- To Father Manna, on the Chinese “disaster” and Western culpability in the matter: [Dearest Father Manna, regarding] your article on [the] Chinese disaster…I used [to entertain many hopes for China myself], since missionaries have served there for many years not unsuccessfully: now it is clear, as you write, that all is on the ebb. Many have reported to me too, in letters on this subject, many atrocities, nor was this misery absent from our thoughts and prayers. Footnote- [In his letter] Fr Manna pleads for greater recognition of the gravity of Communist persecution of Christian hospital workers (as well as missionaries) in China. He argues that if [a French Communist Party leader] is arrested in the West, the Communists rise in protest. There should be no less an outcry on behalf of victimized missionaries. 1962- To Mary Van Deusen, on ignoring present pain to pray for the suffering in China: You are always in my prayers. As regards this particular matter [of moving], I sympathise both with [your husband’s] dislike of noise and your dislike of moves. I suppose one thing we must do about these minor crises is to get them into perspective. At the moment when the nuisance of the move is worst, remember that (at that precise moment) people are dying in pain and others are at their bedside, and in China children starving and men in prison camps and some of them being tortured. Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass on whichever platform you use. You can also send any questions or comments on X: @chinaadventures or via email (bfwesten at gmail dot com). Hebrews 13:3!

Cet été, nous vous proposons de (re)découvrir quelques épisodes marquants de ces derniers mois. Nous vous donnons rendez-vous à la rentrée pour des épisodes inédits !Bienvenue dans Entrez ! Plat, Dessert. Dans cette série, notre journaliste Audrey Largouët part sur le terrain et se faufile dans les cuisines des chefs !Aujourd'hui, on prend la direction de La Défense, au sommet de la tour Alto, pour découvrir les coulisses d'Exalt, le concept du groupe Compass qui réinvente la restauration collective. Ici, Alicia Vinial, cheffe exécutive passionnée, dirige ses brigades d'une main de maître pour servir chaque jour plusieurs centaines de couverts — avec exigence et créativité. Produits de saison, circuits courts, plats végétariens gourmands, et même un bar à focaccia pour dynamiser les vendredis : rien n'est laissé au hasard. Entre innovation, engagement et goût du beau geste, cet épisode nous plonge dans l'envers d'une cantine pas comme les autres.Cette série audio est réalisée en collaboration avec Eureden Foodservice et produite par Lacmé.Journaliste : Audrey Largouët ; Réalisateur : Benjamin Macé ; Productrice : Alice Deroide ; Vidéaste ; Edouard Jacques Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Welcome to China Compass on the Fight Laugh Feast Network! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me (@chinaadventures) on Twitter/X where I post new Chinese city prayer profiles every single day, with amazing pics and links to many more China resources. Feel free to email me (bfwesten at gmail dot com) and find everything else at PrayGiveGo.us! I recorded this podcast exactly one year ago while absent from Grace Agenda, which had a C.S. Lewis focus last year. Thankfully, I am participating in Grace Agenda this year, although I didn't have time to record a new podcast today. So I am re-sharing a lightly edited version of last year's podcast, which is a look at China through ten of C.S. Lewis’s letters. C.S. Lewis mentioned China numerous times in his correspondence. Here are a few examples, followed by my own thoughts and commentary. The first one in particular stands out for how close it comes to outright racism, especially the original letter from Lewis’s brother, Warnie. Borden of Yale: The Millionaire Missionary No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regrets www.BordenofYale.com Follow or subscribe to China Compass and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. And don’t forget: Follow @chinaadventures on X, and find everything else @ PrayGiveGo.us. Luke 10, verse 2, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Talk to you again soon!

This week’s episode of the Prison Pulpit was recorded in Billings, MT, on our way to Grace Agenda in Moscow, Idaho. I talk about China’s global tax hunt and how it affects Christians, and then much more about a strategic opportunity to bless the Chinese house church next month (sponsor a pastor!). I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben, on my way to Moscow, Idaho, for Grace Agenda (among other things, including my oldest daughter starting at NSA next week). Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: chinacompass @ privacyport.com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, and books, which will also be available this week at my Pray for China table at Grace Agenda… Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church If you (or your church or organization) would like to “sponsor” a Chinese church leader, I can personally provide you with the name (or secure nickname) of the particular pastor/leader who you sponsor, and for whom you can continue to pray for going forward. Sponsor a Chinese Pastor/Evangelist for $1000! Contact me (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) Or donate directly at: MCI3.org Pray for China Cities of the Week (Aug 3-9): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-3-9-2026 The Real Story of Jesus Can Reach Millions of Iranians’ Homes Iran Outreach from Revelation Media https://revelationmedia.com/Irans-Satellite Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!