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In this highly requested AMA, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon addresses the most critical questions surrounding male hormone health. Dr. Lyon tackles the fear, stigma, and misinformation surrounding Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), revealing why a low testosterone level is a major predictor of serious health issues like heart disease, bone fracture, and obesity.She breaks down the current medical consensus on TRT, the risks of replacement, the truth about dosing, and what every man over 40 needs to know about their hormone health. This is a must-watch to separate the bodybuilding myths from the medical facts.Chapter Markers0:00 - Intro: Low Testosterone is a Predictor of Heart Disease1:12 - The Penile Shrinking Myth: What Caused the Viral Frenzy2:20 - Testosterone Levels: The Truth About Aging in Men3:44 - The First Step: What Labs to Ask Your Doctor for4:22 - Why Men Need to Check Their Estrogen (Estradiol)6:13 - The Medical Cutoff for Low T and Androgen Sensitivity7:27 - Low T is Linked to Fatigue, Depression, and Fat Deposition9:27 - TRT and Cardiovascular Health: Is it Protective or a Risk?10:36 - Erectile Dysfunction Predicts Heart Attack Within 3-5 Years12:30 - The Stigma: Why Doctors Don't Check Testosterone13:00 - TRT vs. Steroids: Defining the Line14:21 - Infertility and TRT: What You Must Know15:18 - Safety: What are the Risks of TRT for Men?16:33 - The Stigma: Why Doctors Don't Treat Low T17:15 - TRT and Obesity: Treat Concurrently or Wait?18:10 - Menopause vs. Andropause: Why Men Don't Have to Decline19:34 - Testosterone Boosters (Ashwagandha, Tongkat Ali)26:11 - Different Forms of Testosterone Administration28:09 - Intranasal Testosterone for Less Impact on Fertility30:38 - Managing Expectations: How Long Until You Feel Better?33:00 - TRT and Muscle Gain: The Highs and Lows of Dosing36:47 - The Win-Win: Low Risk, High Reward39:00 - Blood Flow & Erectile Function: Cialis and Exercise40:17 - Semen Quality as a Marker for Overall Male Health41:29 - Parenting and the Cost of Unhealthy Humans41:45 - How to Raise Testosterone Naturally (The Pillars)42:29 - Low-Dose Cialis for Cardiovascular Health (Preemptive Strategy)43:59 - Dr. Lyon's TRT Journey and Early Concerns46:00 - OutroKey Takeaways:Low Testosterone is a major health risk. Low T is linked to an increased risk of bone fracture, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.TRT is often protective. Contrary to the long-standing myth, replacing low testosterone to a healthy range does not increase the risk of cardiac events. It is, in fact, protective against cardiovascular disease.Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a canary in the coal mine. ED can predict a heart attack within 3 to 5 years.Men can maintain high T levels. Testosterone levels in a healthy 75-year-old can be just as good as in a man in his 20s.The solution is often concurrent. For an obese or overweight man with low T, concurrent treatment with TRT and a lifestyle intervention is often the most responsible approach to provide the motivation needed for weight loss.Low-dose daily Cialis (2.5mg to 5mg) may be a viable preemptive strategy for cardiovascular health due to its blood flow benefits.This episode is brought to you by:Manukora - Get $25 off your Starter Kit at
We're thrilled to offer a bonus episode here on our feed, where we shout out an awesome new podcast created by friends of Judaism Unbound. It's called Aderaba: Jewish Studies on the Contrary and it's co-hosted by Rafe Neis – a past teacher in Judaism Unbound's UnYeshiva – and Gilah Kletenik. We're featuring their second episode, entitled What's Bad about Being in the Image of God, which connects to the mini-course that Rafe taught with us, entitled Untangling Tselem Elohim (the image of God).------------------------------------------------------Aderaba: Jewish Studies on the Contrary Description: Join Rafe Neis and Gilah Kletenik as they explore big questions through a diverse range of Jewish texts, ideas, and cultures. The conversations are sometimes clarifying but always contrarian. Come for their uncommon insights, stay for their critical takes on the fields of Rabbinics, Classics, History, Philosophy, Critical Theory, and more!Episode 2: What's Bad About Being in the Image of God? Description: Hosts Gilah Kletenik and Rafe Neis discuss the multifaceted and often contradictory Jewish notion that humans are created in the image of God. They explore the historical context of this idea in ancient near Eastern cultures and its interpretation through Jewish and Christian philosophical traditions. The hosts delve into the dark side of this notion, including its use in exclusionary ideologies, the hierarchies it inducts, and its potential pitfalls. They also debate whether alternative theological frameworks better address contemporary issues like climate change, ultimately suggesting a nuanced approach that balances the ideal of human dignity with a broader ecological responsibility.You can subscribe to Aderaba via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else podcasts are found.-------------------------------------------------------Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes to check out our up upcoming courses in the UnYeshiva. Amazing learning opportunities are available for registration exploring the book of Jubilees, Jewish Exile and Liberation, the Talmud, and Antisemitism Unbound! Financial aid is available via this link.
In this thought-provoking episode of Bred to Perfection, Kenny and Frank dive deep into the powerful connection between evolutionary biology and selective breeding—and how understanding this relationship is the key to creating, improving, and preserving a pure strain of chickens or gamefowl. Contrary to what some believe, building a true family or strain isn't a myth—it's a science. But most breeders are unknowingly using flawed methods that hold them back. Together, Kenny and Frank break down: How evolution directly mirrors selective breeding Why understanding Darwin's principles is crucial for breeders The role of variation, selection, and gene frequency in strain creation What genetic drift, the Founder's Effect, and gene flow really mean for your flock Why infusion and crossbreeding often lead to permanent setbacks How to tighten your gene pool for maximum purity and consistency They also reveal why small populations—like a single breeding pair—are often more powerful than large flocks when starting a new line. You'll learn about mutation theory, meiosis, recombination, and other mechanisms often misunderstood in the breeding world. If you've ever asked: “Is it really possible to create a pure strain?” This episode will give you the science—and strategy—you need to do exactly that. Whether you're just starting your breeding journey or refining a long-standing line, this is an episode you don't want to miss. #PureStrainBreeding #StrainCreation #GamefowlGenetics #GeneticImprovement #EvolutionInBreeding #MechanismsOfEvolution #BreedingScience #BetterBreedingMethods #BreedingPodcast #GamefowlBreeding #ChickenBreeding #TrueStrainBreeding #BredToPerfection #PoultryBreedingScience #BreedingBetterBirds #SelectiveBreeding #BreedWithPurpose Join us on Bred to Perfection Live, Friday's at 6pm PST or 9pm EST on YouTube, as we discuss the benefits of creating your own strain. See ya there! Kenny Troiano Founder of "The Breeders Academy" We specialize in breeding, and breeding related topics. This includes proper selection practices and the use of proven breeding programs. It is our mission to provide our followers and members a greater understanding of poultry breeding, poultry genetics, poultry health care and disease prevention, and how to improve the production and performance ability of your fowl. If you are interested in creating a strain, or improving your established strain, you are in the right place. We also want to encourage you to join us at the Breeders Academy, where we will not only help you increase your knowledge of breeding and advance your skills as a breeder, but improve the quality and performance of your fowl. If you would like to learn more, go to: https://www.breedersacademy.com
There countless people who claim to be reincarnated celebrities or possess the ability to channel beings from the future or past. It seems like none of them reincarnate as common people or channel without utilizing acting techniques, accents, and bizarre theatrics. Contrary to the Oracle of Delphi, for example, who was possessed of noxious fumes, many of these characters going back to the 1980s convulse and twitch before breaking into an accent that is at best comical. These are not merely signs of acting, but signs of delusional states of frenzy. From Darryl Anka and Bashar to JZ Knight and Ramtha, to David Wilcock and RA/Michael the Archangel, these frauds are a dime a dozen and the centerpiece of this episode of Mystery Scam Theater. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKWEBSITEBuyMe-CoffeePaypal: rdgable1991@gmail.comCashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.
There's a chill in the air, baseball playoffs on TV, and candy on sale. You know what means? That's means it's almost Halloween. Come on along for some cool new music, and a chat with Rex & Christina of Big Stir Records about the label's new seasonal release: Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies: The Big Stir Records Halloween Grimoire. Contrary to all that, this is not the Mod Mod World's annual modcast. Fear not, is still to come with modcaster extraordinaire DJ Ken handing out the candy as always. Check all the past halloween modcasts here.And for the first time ever, a video modcast interview! In 19 seasons, with almost 600 modcasts under my belt, and this is the very first time I've recorded a video. First time for everything eh. Check it out on the modcast homepage. As always find a complete track list, a bonus third set of songs, and all the important links to all the important stuff over on the modcast homepage at http://www.mistersuave.com/2025/10/modcast-589-pre-season-warmup.html.And keep up with me between modcasts:Subscribe - iTunesX (formerly Twitter) - @mistersuaveBluesky - @mistersuaveFacebook - facebook.com/modmodworldInstagram - instagram.com/mrrobsuaveTune in - iHeart RadioAnd listen on Mod Radio UKWhat is Mod? Mr. Suave's Mod, Mod World is one of the web's original modcasts celebrating mod-influenced music from past eras including #mod #powerpop #punkrock #garagerock #northernsoul #britpop #acidjazz #lounge #exotica #ska #modrevival & more. Featuring over 500 mod friendly music mixes since 2006.
Ready to heal and trust again? Book your call: https://jordanapodaca.com/#free-call Rebuilding After Infidelity: Why Separation is Essential In this podcast, we discuss the importance of taking some form of separation after an incident of infidelity if you are seeking reconciliation. Contrary to popular advice that may push for immediate forgiveness or continuity, separation helps to acknowledge the emotional rift that has already occurred. This distance is crucial for healing, rebuilding trust, and resetting your nervous system. The video covers practical suggestions such as living apart, maintaining separate bedrooms, and establishing boundaries in communication and physical intimacy. Emphasis is placed on structured rebuilding efforts, symbolic rituals for closure and new beginnings, and the importance of humility and accountability for the unfaithful partner. Additionally, the video advises on how to manage parenting during this sensitive period. Ultimately, separation is seen not as abandonment but as a necessary step to let the old relationship die and foster a new one. 00:00 Understanding the Need for Separation 03:30 Practical Steps for Physical and Emotional Separation 06:50 Benefits of Separation for Both Partners 10:09 Communicating with Children and Final Thoughts If you're struggling with the pain of infidelity, you don't have to go through this alone. I help people heal from betrayal and open their hearts to love again in as little as one session—even if you think you'll never trust again. Book your call today and discover how you can: Break free from intrusive thoughts Stop feeling worthless Learn to trust again Build stronger relationships than ever before Don't waste months or years trying to heal on your own. Take the first step toward transformation now: https://jordanapodaca.com/#free-call --------------------------------------------------------------------- • Educational Purpose Only: Our courses and services are for educational purposes only and are not certification programs or recognized by any professional boards. • Not Medical/Therapeutic: Hypnosis and coaching services are not substitutes for professional therapy or medical treatment. If under care of a mental health professional, inform them before participating. • No Guarantees: We make no guarantees regarding results, outcomes, or income potential from our programs. • Your Responsibility: You are solely responsible for your implementation of techniques learned, compliance with applicable laws, and any results with clients. • No Refunds: We do not offer refunds except as required by law. • Lifetime Access: Includes all future updates to the program for as long as it exists. • Intellectual Property: All materials are property of JJA Consulting LLC and may not be shared or distributed. • Code of Conduct: We reserve the right to remove disruptive participants without refund. By purchasing our products or services, you agree to these full terms: https://jjaconsultingllcterms.carrd.co/ JJA Consulting LLC | info@jordanapodaca.com Subscribe to The Infidelity Recovery Podcast on Soundwise
Transcript:Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. What is the basis of the modern sexual ethic? I think it boils down to one word: “consent”. If the participants (whatever the number) are agreeable in the activity (whatever it may be), there can be no complaint, for they have done so willingly—they have given their “consent”. Now, beyond the questions of how to negotiate such “consent” in a world of nuanced power dynamics and communication difficulties—not to mention at what age this “power of consent” magically materializes—there still exists a much deeper and more fundamental problem. This ethic assumes reality itself, including our sexual reality, is malleable—that it can be manipulated to fit our desires. There is no design to which our desires must yield, no limits to which our “consent” must be confined. But nowhere else in all creation can reality be so manipulated. Contrary to a popular contemporary anthem, we cannot “defy gravity” but only submit to it. Gravity is what it is, and if we are to benefit from its reality, we must approach it with reverence. If we “defy” it, we will most certainly suffer the consequences of transgressing its reality. So, it is with sex. Sex is not defined by our desires but by our Designer. When our desires overrule what God designed sex for, we do violence to it; and since sexuality is core to who we are, ultimately, we do violence to ourselves. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. [emphasis added]~ 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (ESV)
Send us a textThe commercial real estate landscape is evolving, not dying, and Mike "Big Mike" Zlotnick is at the forefront of connecting passive investors with lucrative opportunities. His simple yet powerful philosophy? "We marry money and opportunity."Contrary to popular belief, many commercial property types are thriving post-pandemic. Open-air shopping centers have become particularly attractive investments as supply remains constrained while demand grows. Even previously online-only retailers like Warby Parker have opened hundreds of physical locations, recognizing that customers still want in-person experiences for certain products. Meanwhile, industrial properties continue seeing strong demand due to reshoring initiatives and manufacturing needs. Multifamily remains a necessity-based investment that performs well across economic cycles.Not all commercial property is created equal, however. Zlotnick candidly warns about office space being a "danger zone" due to remote work trends. This level of transparency characterizes his investment approach, which prioritizes downside protection over home runs. "I would rather never lose money than make 10 home runs and 10 strikeouts," he explains, echoing Howard Marks' definition of risk as simply "the possibility of loss."For those interested in commercial real estate syndication, Zlotnick breaks down the essentials: typically, investors need to be accredited ($200,000 annual income or $1 million net worth excluding primary residence), with minimum investments around $100,000. The syndication structure allows investors to participate passively while experienced operators manage the properties, providing both cash flow and potential appreciation.Perhaps most compelling is Zlotnick's perspective on the educational journey of investing. He poses a thought-provoking question: "Are you learning to invest, or are you investing to learn?" This dual nature of investment education underscores that every decision provides valuable lessons, regardless of outcome.Ready to explore commercial real estate investing with a focus on predictable outcomes? Visit BigMikeFund.com to learn how you can participate in institutional-grade commercial real estate without the headaches of active management. Support the showThanks again for listening. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a FIVE-STAR review.Head to Dwanderful right now to claim your free real estate investing kit. And follow:http://www.Dwanderful.comhttp://www.facebook.com/Dwanderfulhttp://www.Instagram.com/Dwanderful http://www.youtube.com/DwanderfulRealEstateInvestingChannelMake it a Dwanderful Day!
Activism can often feel like a race against time; the gravity of injustice too urgent to look away from. But what does this constant sense of urgency mean for the well-being of those at the frontlines of responding to these crises? In this week’s episode of On the Contrary by IDR, we speak to two veteran activists from South Africa. Kumi Naidoo is a human rights and environmental justice activist who has led major global organisations including Amnesty International and Greenpeace. He is joined by Louisa Zondo, the former head of the South African Human Rights Commission and founder of the Riky Rick Foundation for Promotion of Artivism. Listen as Kumi and Louisa discuss the importance of care and well-being when confronting the most pressing issues of our time. Host: Devanshi VaidProduced and edited by: Shreya Adhikari, Devanshi Vaid, and Halima AnsariIDR is an online journal that publishes cutting-edge ideas, lessons, and insights written by and for the people working on some of India’s toughest problems. For more information about IDR, visit www.idronline.com. Also, follow IDR on Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Watch the full episode here, or read the transcript here. This podcast is a Maed in India production.Donate: https://idronline.org/donate/
Moving right ahead, taking inspiration form the recent DBIR report from Verizon. So for the next couple of weeks, Security is what it is all about! Closing off the security topics this week with a look at security training for employees. Contrary to our own experiences, these are actually helping things? Please use the Contact Form on this blog or our twitter feed to send us your questions, or to suggest future episode topics you would like us to cover.
China's soft power strategy has been largely unable to resonate with global audiences, but Labubus have taken the world by storm. From Thailand to Texas, Pop Mart stores are popping up to satiate consumers' desire for these collectable toys. Contrary to state-backed soft power strategies, Labubus tapped into organic market-driven trends, such as blind-box culture, to reach a wide and dedicated audience. Labubus can also serve as a gateway to China, introducing people to Chinese artists and incentivizing them to visit POPLAND in Beijing to collect exclusive toys. Are Labubus the exception to China's previous soft power pursuits, or a sign of a successful new strategy? Natalia Cote-Muñoz joined us in September 2025 to share how Labubus are resonating across different cultures and changing the way people perceive China. Learn more about the speaker and watch the video
A listener turned me on to a little known podcast for men dealing with addiction. It's as much therapy for the guest and listeners as it is anything else and the latest conversation is with former Chiefs coach Britt Reid who is out of prison and building a new life. I was skeptical at first, thinking Britt would not come clean and try to create an appearance that all is well. Instead, he tells all on "That Sober Guy" podcast. You're about to hear him say things about his life of guns, drugs, addiction and prison. He chronicles living at his dad's house, working for his dad as a coach and using and abusing for decades. Contrary to news reports, Andy Reid knew everything and warned his sons they are in a family filled with addicts. This is gut wrenching and it explains a lot about why the Chiefs have been so secretive. Not anymore. Britt smoked pot and got drunk at Arrowhead and nearly killed a little girl. He thought his worst days were behind him as it was only marijuana and booze and not heroine and cocaine and opioids. This is the story of a family dealing with addiction and tragedy all while living a high profile life at the top of the NFL. There is no other football story like this and Britt shares it all. Then we lighten things up with some football fun for Mizzou fans as Jon Gruden is on the band wagon and the great Stephen Miller says Memphis is about to be liberated.
In this episode of the Daily Mastermind, George Wright III explores the concept of personal brand momentum, a vital yet often overlooked growth strategy in entrepreneurship. Contrary to common perceptions, George explains that personal branding is not just about popularity, but strategic positioning. By treating your personal brand as a business asset that compounds over time, you can attract high-quality opportunities and clients effortlessly. George shares insights on how visibility builds trust, positioning creates perceived value, brand equity opens doors, and consistency leads to compounding ROI. Emphasizing that building a personal brand is a long-term investment, he encourages listeners to start today and offers actionable steps to get started. 00:55 The Hidden ROI of Personal Branding02:20 Four Key Strategies for Building Brand Momentum02:28 Visibility Creates Trust03:41 Positioning Builds Perceived Value04:35 Brand Equity Opens Doors05:45 Consistency Compounds Momentum06:57 Recap and Final ThoughtsYou have GREATNESS inside you. I BELIEVE in You. Let's Make Today the Day You Unleash Your Potential!George Wright IIICEO, The Daily Mastermind | Evolution X_________________________________________________________P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are ways I can help you…Get to know me:1. Subscribe to The Daily Mastermind Podcast- daily inspiration, motivation, education2. Follow me on social media Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | TikTok | Youtube3. Get the Prosperity Pillars Poster I Developed over 20 years from my Mentors.Work with me:My mission is to help you Master Your Mind, Money, & Business, and I firmly believe:It's Never Too Late to Create the Life You Were Meant to Live…a LIFESTYLE of Health, Wealth, and Happiness. Here are ways I've been able to help thousands of people over the past 20 years… 4. FREE DOWNLOAD: Download the FREE 12-Day Authority Formula Email Course.5. JOIN THE EVOLUTION: A Private Members Only Mastermind Group that includes Weekly Group CEO Mentoring, Courses, Resources & Live Events. We will Grow Your Authority.6. GET FEATURED: Grow Your Brand and Authority by getting interviewed and featured alongside celebrities and experts in Valiant CEO Magazine online.7. AUTHORITY LAUNCH: Get a Custom Authority Blueprint that will help you to Quickly Grow Massive Authority and Get Seen by Thousands in Less than One Hour using our Proven Formula.
This week Murphy and Heilemann were joined by the sharp-witted Charlie Sykes — author of How the Right Lost Its Mind and host of the Substack newsletter and podcast To the Contrary. The Hacks dive into an exhaustingly eventful week: Hegseth's body-shaming of our troops, Trump declaring a war from within, the chaotic deployment of ICE and the military to U.S. cities, the looming shutdown, Comey's indictment, and the first crack in Trump's armor. And so much more! Photo by Alex Wong via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When we talk about philanthropy, we usually focus on the tangible: what’s being funded, where the money goes, and what results it delivers. But behind every outcome is a relationship—between funders and grantees, between organisations and the people they serve. So what would it take to centre well-being, not just as a perk or an afterthought but as a guiding principle of how philanthropy works? Mahendra Pandey of Humanity United and Steven Harris of Fetzer Institute discuss on this week’s episode of On the Contrary by IDR. Host: Devanshi Vaid Produced and edited by: Shreya Adhikari, Devanshi Vaid, and Halima Ansari IDR is an online journal that publishes cutting-edge ideas, lessons, and insights written by and for the people working on some of India’s toughest problems. For more information about IDR, visit www.idronline.com. Also, follow IDR on Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Watch the full episode here, or read the transcript here. This podcast is a Maed in India production. Donate: https://idronline.org/donate/
R. Marcus Rubenstein's sermon on parshat Vayelech on Shabbat Shuvah delivered on Shabbat morning at Temple of Aaron on September 27th, 2025
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Contrary to evolutionary assumptions, honeybees demonstrate the ability to store mental images of productive flowers rather than just recognizing simple patterns. Experiments reveal their surprising intelligence and learning capacity, challenging the idea of “higher” and “lower” creatures. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies
Contrary to most people's popular opinion, Jesus didn't come to just get you into heaven when you die, Jesus came to get heaven into you.You see, the book of Acts begins with Jesus -- the suffering servant, now the resurrected King of the universe -- speaking about the Kingdom of God. He is there first, being the first witness to bear witness by showing his proof and his nail scarred hands, and talking about the Kingdom of God through the power of the Holy Spirit and acts ends with prisoner Paul now doing the same thing that Jesus did in the beginning, bearing witness to Jesus and speaking about the kingdom of God with all boldness, which we know comes through the power of the Holy Spirit.30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!Acts 28:30-31We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.Jesus Over Everything.Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.churchPodcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQPodcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.https://www.elevatecc.church/home
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-studies
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law
Dr. Rosemary Admiral provides a groundbreaking history of women's legal engagement in Marinid Morocco between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries that fundamentally challenges contemporary assumptions about women's relationships to Islamic legal traditions. Drawing on a rich collection of fatwas (legal documents) from Fez and surrounding areas, Dr. Admiral demonstrates how women—some without formal education—strategically navigated complex legal landscapes to protect their interests, expand their rights, and reshape social dynamics. Contrary to prevailing narratives that portray Islamic law as a monolithic, oppressive system, the book shows how women actively co-produced legal interpretations. They used sophisticated strategies like contract stipulations, exploring plurality in legal opinions, and consulting local scholars to renegotiate marriage terms and expand their rights. These women did not view the legal system as an enemy, but as an instrument for challenging misdeeds and addressing community needs. Dr. Admiral draws attention to the historical practice and implementation of the Maliki school of Islamic law in an area that remained outside of Ottoman control. She highlights women's engagement with Islamic law as deeply embedded in support systems encompassing families, communities, and legal structures, and makes visible women's agency and power. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pastor Ty Neal Revelation 1:9 Social disconnection correlates to an increased risk of premature death comparable to smoking up to fifteen cigarettes every day. The National Library of Medicine Revelation 1:9 1 Timothy 3:12-13 1 Peter 4:12-16 Contrary to some modern ‘prosperity' teaching, membership of Christ's kingdom does not shield us from suffering—rather, for John and his readers, membership of the kingdom was the cause of their suffering. Paul Beasley-Murray Acts 14:21-22 I didn't go to religion to make me
https://thecommunists.org/2025/09/01/news/history/stalins-library-geoffrey-roberts-resume-book-review-pt4/ The discovery of this library put an end to nonsense about Stalin's ‘mediocrity' and shed light on the multifaceted talents of this intellectual and revolutionary giant. Contrary to the myths peddled by Khrushchev and Trotsky and repeated endlessly by anticommunist historians, Josef Stalin was a selfless, modest and devoted revolutionary, and a lifelong student of Marxist-Leninist science. Subscribe! Donate! Join us in building a bright future for humanity! www.thecommunists.org www.lalkar.org www.redyouth.org Telegram: t.me/thecommunists Twitter: twitter.com/cpgbml Soundcloud: @proletarianradio Rumble: rumble.com/c/theCommunists Odysee: odysee.com/@proletariantv:2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/cpgbml Online Shop: https://shop.thecommunists.org/ Education Program: Each one teach one! www.londonworker.org/education-programme/ Join the struggle www.thecommunists.org/join/ Donate: www.thecommunists.org/donate/
Today on Mea Culpa, I'm joined by Charlie Sykes, political commentator, author of “How the Right Lost Its Mind,” writer of the Substack newsletter “To the Contrary,” and MSNBC contributor, for a hard-hitting conversation on Trump's unraveling of American leadership at home and abroad. Once at the center of the conservative movement, Sykes brings invaluable insight into Trump's grip on the GOP. We break down Trump's UN General Assembly speech, his pivot to isolationism, and how his rhetoric is reshaping the GOP into an authoritarian, nationalist movement. We also dig into Trump's attacks on the press, the fight over Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and what escalating political violence means for America's future. Thanks to our sponsors: Hims: Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/COHEN Superpower: Go to https://superpower.com and use code COHEN to get $50 Off your annual Superpower subscription. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpod Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does well-being mean when systems are built on conflict and violence, and who gets to define what healing looks like? This week’s episode of On the Contrary by IDR brings together two guests who have witnessed conflict up close. Paula Moreno, founder of Manos Visibles (Visible Hands), works on racial and territorial justice in Colombia and is the youngest person to hold a cabinet position in Colombia’s government. Dr Jean Bosco Niyonzima, raised during the ethnic conflict in Rwanda, is a doctor, a social entrepreneur, and an expert in trauma healing and community-based mental health. Listen as they discuss the complexities of building collective healing, the meaning of well-being in conflict-affected systems, and the lessons their experiences offer for communities around the world. Host: Devanshi VaidProduced and edited by: Shreya Adhikari, Devanshi Vaid, and Halima Ansari IDR is an online journal that publishes cutting-edge ideas, lessons, and insights written by and for the people working on some of India’s toughest problems. For more information about IDR, visit www.idronline.com. Also, follow IDR on Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Watch the full episode here, or read the transcript here. This podcast is a Maed in India production.Donate: https://idronline.org/donate/
Relationships are more transactional than we admit. Psychologist Orion Taraban explains what men and women actually want versus what they say! [Pt 1/2]Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1212What We Discuss with Orion Taraban:People often can't accurately describe what they actually want in relationships. Women may say they want kindness and safety, but these qualities only matter from men they're already attracted to. The key insight: watch what people do, not what they say they want.According to Orion Taraban, people are always in relationships with their perceived best available option. This involves both emotional connection and practical value calculations. While this framing may feel uncomfortable, it helps explain why purely psychological dating advice often falls short.Contrary to popular belief, there aren't different strategies for short-term versus long-term relationships in modern dating culture. Since sex typically precedes commitment, the path to long-term relationships requires first succeeding at short-term attraction dynamics, then maintaining those behaviors over time.Men tend to cheat while staying in relationships (often due to opportunity rather than dissatisfaction), while women are more likely to cheat as a way to transition to better relationships. Women may also engage in "consecutive cheating" — ending one relationship and immediately starting another, which technically isn't infidelity but serves a similar function.Focus on attraction first, everything else second. The most practical takeaway is understanding that attraction must be established before other relationship qualities matter. Whether you're looking for casual dating or marriage, you need to first master the fundamentals of becoming attractive to your target demographic. This means being honest about what actually creates attraction rather than what you think should create it. Stay tuned for the second part of this two-part episode (airing later this week), where we'll dive deeper into specific strategies for building and maintaining this attraction in both short and long-term contexts!And much more...And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Kindred: Free signup + 5 nights travel credit: livekindred.com, code JORDANQuiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.com for more infoBetterHelp: 10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordanCaldera + Lab: 20% off: calderalab.com/jordan, code JORDANHomes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
“Everything is energy, and that's all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want, and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” – Albert Einstein Check Out These Highlights: We have all heard about the Law of Attraction. Contrary to popular belief, manifestation goes far beyond the power of wishful thinking. Nothing can be manifested into reality without purposeful action and spiritual and energetic guidance. The universal Law of Creation demands that aligned action be taken to co-create anything in life. About Cynthia Rivard: Cynthia is a spiritual teacher, seer, environmental advocate, and author. Through a meteoric upleveling of channeling skills, Cynthia has become a crystal-clear seer for awakening humanity to the next chapter of its evolution. Raising consciousness and saving humanity from extinction due to the effects of climate change are the priorities, which she illuminates in her book, Hope for A New Era: Turning the Tide, Love & Leadership through Turbulent Times. How to Get in Touch with Cynthia Rivard: Webistes: https://www.cynthiarivard.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@globalrisingtide Free Gift: https://globalrisingtide.org/free-resources/ YouTube Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwOx1Wmo-bM Stalk me online! LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/conniewhitman Subscribe to the Enlightenment of Change podcast on your favorite podcast streaming service or YouTube. New episodes are posted every week. Listen to Connie explore new sales and business topics or address problems you may have.
Hello beloved. When it comes to spiritual direction deep ing our sense of longing for itimacy with spirit - some foster intuition via telepathy, some open the Akashic Records, and most PRAY. There is NO right or wrong - it's all CONNECTION. Metaphor and meaning - of channeling the infinite and eternal:THE VERTICAL PRISM OF LIGHT. When I talk about "vertical intuition," I'm describing how we receive guidance from the Akashic record or our spiritual guides. The Akashic Records originate in the Dynamic Energy (living and always changing) because they are a record of our soul's journey, which is a journey of change and transformation.We exist on the vast infinite energy continuum. Potential energy is on one end and formed manifestations on the other. As an expression of this field, you're constantly evolving between those states.Think of it like a diamond—a vertical prism through which pure light flows. Our personal distortions (trauma, wounds, limiting beliefs) act as cloudiness in this prism. This is why inner work is vital—it clears the channel so your intuitive insights remain authentic, clear, and clean.Most of our lives, we operate from a linear perspective, always reaching outward to grasp information. But true intuition works differently. You're not searching; you're allowing information to flow inward and to you. Seeking clarity from the infinite and eternal is similar to stepping into warm water. Not straining to find answers—simply soften to the middle balance.This is where you allow information to arrive. You blend the hot and the cold, creating a state of balance for the subtle to come to you. We're not "data mining" to find certainty in the past or projecting into the future.It's not a place of expectation. This is where we lose our power. Powerful intuition requires a beginner's mind, a clear head, and an intentional heart. Then insights graciously - drop in. Contrary to what some traditions teach, you don't need special processes to access intuition. We all have this capacity naturally. As you clear the unconscious shame and conditioning at no fault to you via your energetic system, your intuition and psychic abilities come online quickly and powerfully. You stop trauma treadmilling. Here's an image to support how information clearly comes in when we have "done the work—and stop fixing ourselves."IN A TIME OF GREAT CHAOS - THIS, IS THE PATH TO STRENGTHENING YOUR INTUITIONThe distortions dissolve, and your natural guidance system emerges. The journey back to your own wisdom isn't about adding more—more knowledge, more tools, more practices. It's about stripping away what stands between you and what you already know.BELOW is a solution to expedite healing and expanding your telepathic abilities…ENTER THE LIGHT BETWEEN Journey + APP The Light Between Oracle Journey offers a space to:* reconnect with your intuitive power, * challenge the stories that keep you small, and * remember the truth of who you are and why you're here.Not because you need fixing, but because sometimes we all need a mirror that reflects our light instead of our fears. A guide that leads us back to ourselves rather than away.Enter your clairvoyance rising session and turn insights into action that creates change that actualy impacts your life's trajectory and - legacy!Return to the Prism of Your Light Body -a Vehicle to your IntuitionTwo Ways to Experience & Integrate - post resolve of current stressors and trauama's that wont budge - no matter how hard you've tried. ✨ Sign up for Free Astrology Transits & Dream Decodes or✨ Two Options: For just $7/month or $84/Year (w/ $258+ Free Resources), subscribers get access The Light Between Divination System for spiritual problem solving in high stakes times. Personalize Your Inquiry and Expansion, NOW! History is the study of power. That's all it is... And what is your life? Your life is the story of YOU in YOUR POWER ... When I listen to clients tell me about their life, what they're telling me is who took their power, who has power, who empowers them, and what kind of power they own from within. All my love .Kassandra Personalize Your Inquiry and Expansion, NOW! The Light Between is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Light Between at thelightbetween.substack.com/subscribe
Ephesians 5:3
The venture capital landscape is evolving, and a founder's choice of fund size and partner could make or break their business. In this episode, CJ sits down with Kyle Harrison, General Partner at Contrary and writer of the Substack Investing 101, to make sense of the changing incentives and power dynamics in the field of venture capital. He explains how capital agglomerators and cottage keepers are playing dramatically different games, how the ethics of backing competitors have changed since the advent of AI, why a fund's size is its strategy, and what the potential pitfalls of dilution could be for founders. The conversation also covers why the line between hype and tangible business value in AI is so blurry, the role of narrative as an economic driver, and why the most valuable thing a VC can offer might just be "borrowed credibility.”—LINKS:Kyle Harrison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-harrison-9274b278/Contrary: https://www.contrary.comInvesting 101: CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.comLINKS MENTIONED:* “The Unholy Trinity of Venture Capital”: * “The Horse, The Jockey, or The Whole Race?” * Endowment Eddie on X (@endowment_eddie): https://x.com/endowment_eddie* “Institutionalized Belief In The Greater Fool”: * “The Unbundling of Venture Capital”: * “The Productization of Venture Capital”: https://kwharrison13.com/essays/the-productization-of-venture-capital—TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview and Intro(02:23) Sponsor – Navan | Rillet | Pulley(07:13) VC Models: Cottage Keepers Versus Capital Agglomerators(11:16) Balancing Taking On Money and Finding Great Investments(16:35) Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev(20:54) Founder-Friendliness: The Ethics of Backing Competitors(26:33) When Fund Size Sabotages Outcomes(32:32) The Sins of Omission Versus Commission(36:02) The Dilution Trap for Operators in Venture-Backed Companies(38:17) Underestimating the Magnitude of the Outcomes(40:35) AI Hype, Valuation, and Real Business Impact(45:37) Market Psychology: Narrative and Story As Economic Drivers(48:21) Valuation: Cursor and Windsurf(52:50) The Unbundling of Venture Capital: What Founders Really Hire VCs For(1:01:47) Things To Consider When Choosing a VC(1:04:35) FTX Lessons & Compounding Growth(1:10:02) Kyle's Predictions for the Future of VC—SPONSORS:Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that can give you access to exclusive, proprietary Nasdaq-validated data that reveals what's happening with corporate travel investments. See the Navan Business Travel Index at https://navan.com/bti.Rillet is the AI-native ERP modern finance teams are switching to because it's faster, simpler, and 100% built for how teams operate today. See how fast your team can move. Book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/metrics.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: https://pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at https://www.brex.com/metricsAleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at https://www.getaleph.com/runRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit https://www.rightrev.com and schedule a demo.##VentureCapital #VC #Startups #Founder #FundSize This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cjgustafson.substack.com
Contrary to popular belief, marriage is not all about you and what you can get out of it. Marriage should first and foremost be about God and how you can glorify Him through your relationship with your spouse. Pastor Ricky will be explaining that when you keep God first in your marriage and you focus on how to please the Lord, your marriage will be more blessed. As you fall more in love with the Lord, you'll naturally love your spouse unconditionally and become more selfless.
The Greek word "Apokalupsis" serves as the root for the English word "Apocalypse." Contrary to pop culture references, "Apocalypse" has nothing to do with destruction and chaos and has everything to do with how it translates to English: "Revelation."
Send us a textEver wondered how to turn financial expertise into a thriving remote business that creates both freedom and wealth? Sherrel T. Martin, founder and CEO of Nitrum Financial Solutions, pulls back the curtain on building a successful virtual bookkeeping practice that serves entrepreneurs while allowing her to be present for her family.Contrary to popular belief, Sherrel reveals that bookkeeping success hinges more on problem-solving abilities than mathematical prowess. "Math is the smallest part," she explains, dispelling the myth that you need complex calculation skills to excel in this field. What truly matters is understanding compliance, creating systems, and helping clients navigate financial decisions with confidence.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Sherrel shares her methodology for helping business owners actually pay themselves consistently—a struggle for many entrepreneurs. Through implementing cash management systems based on the "Profit First" approach, she's transformed how clients view their money, leading to greater personal and business wealth. Her mission goes beyond accurate books; she's passionate about creating a financial legacy for herself and those she serves.For aspiring bookkeepers, Sherrel offers practical wisdom on avoiding common pitfalls: pricing services appropriately (hint: bundle packages instead of hourly billing), finding your industry niche, and being intentional about client selection. Her candid admission about leaving her corporate job too quickly resonates with anyone contemplating their own entrepreneurial leap.Whether you're considering a bookkeeping business or simply want to better understand your company's finances, this episode delivers actionable insights on creating profitability, maintaining proper financial boundaries, and building a business that serves your life rather than consuming it. Discover why "pricing for profit" might be the mindset shift that transforms your financial future.
Hello Youtube Members, Patreons and Pacific War week by week listeners. Yes this was intended to be an exclusive episode to join the 29 others over on my Youtube Membership and Patreon, but since we are drawing to the end of the Pacific War week by week series, I felt compelled to make some special episodes to answer some of the bigger questions. Why did Japan, or better said, why did Emperor Hirohito decide to finally surrender? It seems obvious on the face of it, but there is actually a lot more to it than bombs or Soviet invasions. I guess you can call this episode a teaser or a shameless plug for going over to my Youtube Membership or Patreon. There's honestly a lot of interesting subjects such as ‘why was the japanese army so brutal”, “Hirohito's war time responsibility”, “the 4 part Kanji Ishiwara series”. Thus if you liked this one please show some love and check out my other stuff on my Youtube Membership or over at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel. Stating all of that lets just jump right into it. We first need to start off briefly looking at Emperor Hirohito. Upon taking the throne, Emperor Hirohito in 1926 Hirohito inherited a financial crisis and a military that was increasingly seizing control of governmental policies. From the beginning, despite what many of you older audience members may have been told, Hirohito intensely followed all military decisions. Hirohito chose when to act and when not to. When the Kwantung Army assassinated Zhang Zuolin, he indulged their insubordination. This emboldened them to invade Manchuria in 1931, whereupon Hirohito was furious and demanded they be reigned in. Attempts were made, but they were heavily undermined by radicals. Hirohito could have put his foot down, but he chose not to. On September 22nd, at 4:20pm Hirohito said to the IJA Chief of General staff, Kanaya Hanzo “although this time it couldn't be helped, the army had to be more careful in the future”. Thus Hirohito again acquiesced to the military, despite wanting them to stop or at least localize the conflict. The military had disregarded his wishes, they should have been severely punished. Why did Hirohito not take a firmer stance? Again for older audience members you may have heard, “hirohito was a hostage at the whim of his own military”. This narrative made it seem he was some sort of hostage emperor, but this is not the case at all. In fact Hirohito was instrumental in many military decisions from 1931-1945. The reason this, I will call it “myth” , went on was because after Japan's surrender, the US basically rewrote the Japanese constitution and covered up the Emperor's involvement in all the nasty stuff, to maintain control over Japan. Yeah it sounds a bit conspiracy esque, but I assure you it was indeed the case. This narrative held firm all the way until Hirohito's death, when finally meeting notes and personal accounts from those close to him came out, illuminating a lot. Though to this day, many records are still red -tapped. The reason Hirohito did not stamp his foot down has to do with the Kokutai. The Kokutai So before I carry on, I have to explain what exactly is the Kokutai. The Kokutai, loosely translated as "national essence," refers to the qualities that distinguish the Japanese identity. However, this concept is remarkably vague and poorly defined; even Japanese historians acknowledge this ambiguity. In contrast to Kokutai is seitai, or "form of government." While the Kokutai embodies the eternal and immutable aspects of Japanese polity—rooted in history, traditions, and customs centered around the Emperor—Japan's seitai has evolved significantly throughout its extensive history. For instance, shoguns governed for over 700 years until 1868, when the Meiji Restoration reinstated direct imperial rule. Nevertheless, Emperor Meiji's direct authority came to an end with the adoption of the Meiji Constitution in 1889, which established a constitutional monarchy, introducing significant complexities into the governance system. Article 4 of the constitution declares: “The Emperor is the head of the Empire, combining in Himself the rights of sovereignty, uniting the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, although subject to the consent of the Imperial Diet.” Under this framework, the Emperor alone possessed the power to appoint or dismiss ministers of state, declare war, negotiate peace, conclude treaties, direct national administration, and command the army and navy. A glaring flaw in this arrangement is the inherent ambiguity of the Meiji Constitution. While it established a democratic parliament, it simultaneously afforded the Emperor absolute authority to usurp it. The document failed to clearly define the relationships between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and its language was intentionally vague. Most critically, the military—the army and navy—were not directly accountable to the civilian government. So with the kokutai, the Emperor is a divine figure who embodies the state's sovereignty. It was not necessarily the Emperor's job to surrender on behalf of the official government of Japan, but he most certainly could do so, given the Japanese people still remained faithful to the kokutai. Now Hirohito did not live an ordinary life. According to the imperial custom, Japanese royals were raised apart from their parents, at the age of 3 he was placed in the care of the Kwamura family who vowed to raise him to be unselfish, persevering in the face of difficulties, respectful of the views of others and immune to fear. One thing that was absolutely indoctrinated into him was to defend the kokutai. It became his top mission as a monarch, it was the only mission in many ways. At the very core of how he saw the world and how he acted, it was always to protect the kokutai. So when the Japanese military began these insubordinate acts, Hirohito's primary concern was to the kokutai, ie: anything that threatened his imperial authority and the imperial institution itself. Although the military usurped his authority, the operations had been successful. Hirohito was not at all opposed to seeing his empire expand. He understood the value of manchuria, he was fully onboard with the military plans to eventually seize control over it, but these radicals were accelerating things to quickly for everyone's liking. He turned a blind eye, dished light punishments and carried on. However the local conflict escalated. It traveled to Shanghai by 1932 and here Hirohito took action. He understood Shanghai was full of western powers. Nations like Britain and America could place economic sanctions on Japan if things were allowed to get out of hand here. So he ordered General Yoshinori Shirakawa to bring the Shanghai expedition to a close. During this period, two factions emerged within the Japanese military: the Kodoha, or “Imperial Way,” and the Toseiha, or “Control” faction. The Kodoha was founded by General Sadao Araki and his protégé, Jinzaburo Masaki. Their primary objective was a Shōwa Restoration aimed at purging Japan of corrupt politicians and businessmen, especially those associated with the zaibatsu. Composed mainly of young army officers, the Kodoha espoused a romanticized and radical interpretation of Bushido, idealizing pre-industrial Japan, which Araki believed had been tainted by Western influences. To achieve their goals, they resorted to assassinations and planned a coup d'état. In response, the Toseiha faction was formed, initially led by Lt. General Tetsuzan Nagata and later by Hideki Tojo. Like the Kodoha, the Toseiha sought a Shōwa Restoration but adopted a more moderate and conservative approach. They recognized the importance of preserving traditional values while integrating Western ideals, advocating for a balanced perspective. The Toseiha promoted pragmatic military strategies to navigate the complexities of modern warfare. Although they acknowledged the existence of corrupt politicians and zaibatsu, they preferred to work within the existing political system, anticipating that future total wars would necessitate a strengthened industrial and military capacity. Their ranks primarily included promising graduates from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Academy, Army Staff College, and select naval members. The most significant distinction between the two factions was that the Toseiha explicitly rejected the use of a coup d'état in pursuit of their goals. Between 1932-1936 radical officers, mostly of the Kodoha faction assassinated politicians and military leaders trying to usher in a showa restoration. You might be led to believe this was in the interest of Hirohito, you would be mistaken. Hirohito did not want a military dictatorship at the whim of the cult of the emperor. Ironic to say, given how WW2 turns out mind you. This really would have been a hostage situation. Hirohito wanted to maintain the exact ambiguous situation that was Showa Era Japan pre 1945. He saw this as the most ideal structure to defend the kokutai, because blame could not be placed solely upon his shoulders. He always maintained a get out of jail free card one could say. The February 26 incident of 1936, was the climax of the Kodoha faction. They performed a mutiny trying to usher in a SHowa restoration. They assumed when their messenger came to the emperor he would join them and take direct rule. Instead Hirohito was furious. His first thought was the mutineers were trying to enlist his brother Chichibu to overthrow him. He dragged his brother who was a fraternizer amongst the kodoha members mind you, into a meeting, demanding he never associate with them again nor attempt to challenge him. Then Hirohito furious demanded the mutineers be dealt with. At one point he even threatened to lead the imperial guards to put them down. The coup failed, the kodoha faction was destroyed. Ironically the toseiha faction were the ones to do it and thus they became the defacto ruling clique. The military, especially the kwantung army did not stop with their insubordination. On July 8th of 1937 the Kwangtung army performed the Marco Polo Bridge incident, ushering in the second sino-japanese war. This was one of many false flag operations they had pulled off over the years. Upon being told about this Hirohito's first response was whether the USSR would invade Manchukuo over the matter. This is what he said to Prime Minister Konoe and army minister Sugiyama “What will you do if the Soviets attack us from the rear?” he asked the prince. Kan'in answered, “I believe the army will rise to the occasion.” The emperor repeated his question: “That's no more than army dogma. What will you actually do in the unlikely event that Soviet [forces] attack?” The prince said only, “We will have no choice.” His Majesty seemed very dissatisfied. Hirohito furious demanded to know what contingency plans existed and his advisors told him before he gave his red seal of approval to invade northern china. Henceforth he micromanaged a lot of the military decisions going forward and he oversaw the forming and dissolving of numerous cabinets and positions when things went his way or did not in the military and political scene. Emperor Hirohito was presented with several opportunities to cause cease-fires or peace settlements during the war years. One of the best possible moments to end it all came during the attack on Nanking when Chiang Kai-sheks military were in disarray. On July 11 of 1938, the commander of the 19th division fought a border clash with the USSR known to us in the west as the battle of Lake Khasan. It was a costly defeat for Japan and in the diary of Harada Kumao he noted Hirohito scolded Army minister Itagaki “Hereafter not a single soldier is to be moved without my permission.” When it looked like the USSR would not press for a counter attack across the border, Hirohito gave the order for offensives in China to recommence, again an example of him deciding when to lay down the hammer. By 1939 the US began threatening sanctions for what Japan was doing in China. Hirohito complained to his chief aide de camp Hata Shunroku on August 5th “It could be a great blow to scrap metal and oil”. Hirohito was livid and scolded many of his top officials and forced the appointment of General Abe to prime minister and demanded of him “to cooperate with the US and Britain and preserve internal order”. Fast forward a bit, with war raging in Europe Hirohito, on June 19th of 1940 Hirohito asked if chief of staff Prince Kan'in and Army Minister Hata “At a time when peace will soon come in the European situation, will there be a deployment of troops to the Netherlands Indies and French Indochina?” This question highlighted Hirohito's belief at that time that Germany was close to achieving victory, which led him to gradually consider deploying troops to French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies since neither of those parent nations was in a position to protect their territories and vital resources. Regarding the war in China, the Japanese aimed to stop the flow of materials entering China from places like Hong Kong. Hirohito received reports indicating that Britain would not agree to block the shipment of materials into China via Hong Kong. The military recognized that an invasion of Hong Kong might be necessary, which would mean declaring war on Britain. When this was communicated to him, Hirohito responded, “If that occurs, I'm sure America will enforce an embargo, don't you think?” In response, Kido, the lord of the privy seal, reassured him by stating, “The nation must be fully prepared to resist, proceeding with caution and avoiding being drawn into events instigated by foreign interests.” Hirohito went through countless meetings, but eventually signed order number 458 authorizing the invasion of French Indochina, knowing full well the consequences. The US,UK and Netherlands began embargoes of oil, rubber and iron. In the words of Admiral Takagai “As time passes and this situation continues, our empire will either be totally defeated or forced to fight a hopeless war. Therefore we should pursue war and diplomacy together. If there is no prospect of securing our final line of national survival by diplomatic negotiations, we must be resolved to fight.” Hirohito understood the predicament full well, that each day Japan was wasting its oil reserves, if they were to strike it had to be quickly. On October 13th Hirohito told his closest advisor Koichi Kido “In the present situation there seems to be little hope for the Japan–U.S. negotiations. If hostilities erupt this time, I think I may have to issue a declaration of war.” The reason I am bringing up all this stuff is to solidify, Hirohito had agency, he was micromanaging and forming decisions. After the war broke out with the west, Hirohito did have the ability to stamp his foot down. Of course there could have been wild repercussions, his military could have usurped him with Chichibu, it was definitely possible. But you need to keep this mind set, as far as why Hirohito acts or doesn't, its always to protect the Kokutai. Thus one of the levers for peace, solely rested on Hirohito's perception if the kokutai could be retained or not. From the outset of the Pacific War, Hirohito believed Germany was going to defeat the USSR. In line with his military leaders, they all believed Japan had to seize everything they could in the asia-pacific and thwart off the US until a negotiated peace could be met. Hirohito committed himself to overseeing the war, determined to achieve victory at any cost. He was a very cautious leader, he meticulously analyzed each campaign, anticipating potential setbacks and crafting worst-case scenario predictions. He maintained a skeptical view of the reports from his senior officials and was often harshly critical of high commanders. While he did not frequently visit the front lines like other commanders in chief, Hirohito wielded significant influence over theater operations, shaping both planning and execution whenever he deemed necessary. Similar to his approach during the war in China, he issued the highest military orders from the Imperial Headquarters, conducted audited conferences, and made decisions communicated under his name. He regularly welcomed generals and admirals to the imperial palace for detailed briefings on the battlefront and visited various military bases, battleships, and army and naval headquarters. His inspections encompassed military schools and other significant military institutions, adding to his comprehensive involvement in the war effort. Now the war went extremely well for Japan until the battle of Midway. This was as major setback, but Japan retained the initiative. Then the Guadalcanal campaign saw Japan lose the initiative to the Americans. Upon receiving the initial report of the Ichiki detachment's destruction, Hirohito remarked, “I am sure it [Guadalcanal] can be held.” Despite the numerous reports detailing the devastating effects of tropical diseases and starvation on his troops, he persistently demanded greater efforts from them. Hirohito exerted continuous pressure on his naval and land commanders to retake the island. On September 15th, November 5th, and November 11th, he requested additional Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) troops and aircraft to be allocated to the cause. General Sugiyama expressed concerns about dispatching more IJA pilots due to their inexperience in transoceanic combat, preferring to reinforce the North China Army for an attack on Chongqing instead. Hirohito pressed the issue again, but Sugiyama responded that the IJA had diverted its air resources to New Guinea and Rabaul. Undeterred by the objections from senior commanders, Hirohito persisted in his demands. By late November, it became evident that Guadalcanal was a lost cause. At an Imperial Headquarters conference on December 31st, 1942, the chiefs of staff proposed canceling the attempts to recapture Guadalcanal. Hirohito sanctioned this decision but stated, “It is unacceptable to just give up on capturing Guadalcanal. We must launch an offensive elsewhere.” He insisted on this point, leading to the selection of new strategic targets in the Solomons, north of New Georgia, and in the Stanley Range on New Guinea. Hirohito even threatened to withhold authorization for withdrawing troops from Guadalcanal until a new plan was established. He later opposed the withdrawal from Munda Airfield, as it contradicted the newly defined defensive line. As the defensive perimeter in the central and northern Solomons began to crumble, Hirohito continued to insist that the navy engage in decisive battles to regain the initiative, allowing for the transport of supplies to the many soldiers trapped on various islands. When he learned of the navy's failure to reinforce Lae on March 3rd, he asked, “Then why didn't you change plans immediately and land at Madan? This is a failure, but it can teach us a good lesson and become a source of future success. Do this for me so I can have peace of mind for a while.” The phrase “Do this for me” would come to be his signature rallying cry. After Guadal canal, it was loss after loss for Japan. By February of 1944, Hirohito forced Sugiyama to resign so Hideki Tojo could take his position as chief of the general staff, note Tojo was prime minister and army minister at this point. Hirohito worked alongside Tojo to plan some last ditch efforts to change the war situation. The most significant one was Operation Ichi-Go. As much damage as they did to China with that, Chiang Kai-Shek's government survived. Hirohito watched as island by island fell to the Americans. When the Americans were poised to take Saipan he warned Tojo “If we ever lose Saipan, repeated air attacks on Tokyo will follow. No matter what it takes, we have to hold there.” Saipan fell, so Hirohito stopped supporting Tojo and allowed his rivals to take down his cabinet by june 18th of 1944. Hirohito remained resolute in his determination to wrest victory from the Allies. On October 18th, the Imperial Headquarters ordered a decisive naval engagement, leading to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war, Hirohito publicly stated, "Contrary to the views of the Army and Navy General Staffs, I consented to the showdown battle at Leyte, believing that if we launched an attack and America hesitated, we might find an opportunity to negotiate." Leyte Gulf didnt work. The military began the kamikaze program. On new years day of 1945 Hirohito inspected the special last meal rations given to departing kamikaze units. Iwo Jima fell. Okinawa remained, and Hirohito lashed out “Is it because we failed to sink enemy transports that we've let the enemy get ashore? Isn't there any way to defend Okinawa from the landing enemy forces?” On the second day of Okinawa's invasion Hirohito ordered a counter landing by the 32nd army and urged the navy to counterattack in every way possible. It was a horrible failure, it cost the lives of up to 120,000 Japanese combatants, 170,000 noncombatants. The Americans lost 12,500 killed and 33,000 wounded. An absolute bloodbath. The Surrender time Now we come to the time period where Japan seriously began looking for ways to surrender. In Europe Germany was heading to its defeat and Japan knew this. As for Japan, their army in Burma had been annihilated. Their forces in China were faring better after Operation Ichi-go, having opened up a land corridor along the main railway from Beiping to Wuhan and from throughout Guangdong but still stuck in a deadlock stalemate, facing a guerrilla war that was costing them 64% of their military expenditures. They deeply feared once the Soviets finished up with Germany, they would undoubtedly turn east against Manchuria. With the Soviets attacking from the north, the US would attack from the south, perhaps landing in Shanghai and the home islands. The Kamikaze tactics were proving formidable, but not nearly enough. By 1945, 43% of the IJA were now stationed in Japan, Korea and Formosa, bracing for the final stand. Former prime minister Reijiro Wakatsuki came out of retirement in may of 1945, having heard Germany collapsed, to urge Hirohito and the Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki to open negotiations with the US as soon as possible. However he also said “the enemy must first be made to see the disadvantages of continuing the war”. To this Hirohito's chief counselor Makino Nobuaki said that “the ultimate priority is to develop an advantageous war situation.” Advisor admiral Kesiuke Okada said Japan should wait for “a moment favorable for us,” then make peace. Advisors Kiichiro Hiranuma and Koki Hirota advised the emperor to fight on until the end. Now I want to bring in a key player to the surrender decision, that of Prince Konoe. Konoe was very close to Hirohito and understood the emperors mentality, especially how he viewed things in relation to the kokutai. The senior statesman Prince Konoe had been consulting with Hirohito for over 18 months at this point trying to convey the message that if the war continued it would threaten the kokutai. Many months prior, he confided in the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, that the army was suffering from “a cancer” in the form of the Toseiha faction. However, he noted that “Kido and others” did not share his perspective, while “his Majesty is relatively unconcerned with ideological issues.” For the past four years, he continued, the emperor had been advised and still believed that “the true extremists are the Kodoha faction.” In reality, the greater threat to the kokutai arose from the Toseiha faction. Konoe further asserted that if the war escalated, they would attempt to alter the kokutai. Konoe speculated that whether the threat originated from communists within the nation, primarily referring to left-wing radicals in the Toseiha faction, or from the “Anglo-American enemy,” both would seek to preserve the emperor while pushing towards the country's communization.In his written report to the emperor on February 14, which Kido listened to attentively, Konoe elaborated on his conspiracy theory. He asserted that the Soviet Union regarded Japan as its primary threat in East Asia. The Soviets had allied with the Chinese Communists, the largest and most formidable Communist party in Asia, and were collaborating with the United States and Britain to drive Japan out of China. He warned that they would enter the war when the opportunity arose. Defeat, he cautioned the emperor, was inevitable if the conflict persisted. However, he emphasized that a far greater fear was the potential destruction of the kokutai. The ongoing war was eroding the domestic status quo, unleashing forces that threatened Japan and its imperial institution from within as much as from external adversaries. The real danger lay in the emperor's and Kido's trust in the generals of the Toseiha faction, who were unintentionally facilitating the communization of Japan. Konoe implored for a swift peace settlement before a Communist revolution emerged, making the preservation of the kokutai impossible. Hirohito agreed with Konoe but stated “ To end the war would be “very difficult unless we make one more military gain.” Konoe allegedly replied, “Is that possible? It must happen soon. If we have to wait much longer, . . . [a mere battle victory] will mean nothing.” Hirohito replied “If we hold out long enough in this war, we may be able to win, but what worries me is whether the nation will be able to endure it until then.” On February 15th of 1945, Hirohito's intelligence warned the Soviet Union would likely abrogate its Neutrality Pact with Japan. Even Tojo conceded there was a 50/50 chance the USSR would invade Manchuria. In March, the US began B-29 incendiary bombing raids over Tokyo, turning 40% of the capital into ash. On March 18th, Hirohito with some aides drove around the capital to witness the devastation. The civilians looked exhausted and bewildered to Hirohito. Factory production was collapsing, absenteeism was rising, instances of lese majeste were running rampant. For the next 5 months imperial family members and senior statesmen all began speaking to Hirohito about the “crises of the kokutai”. The threat Konoe had warned about for months was becoming the main talking point. It seemed like the Japanese people within the countryside and urban areas remained steadfast in the resolve to obey their leaders, work and sacrifice for their nation, but for how long would they feel so? It was only after the battle for Okinawa was lost and 60 Japanese cities had been leveled by American incendiary bombs that Hirohito openly indicated he wanted to negotiate a surrender. Kido's diary reveals the first clear indication that the emperor might be urged to consider an early peace on June 8, 1945, when Kido drafted his “Draft Plan for Controlling the Crisis Situation.” This marked a pivotal moment. It followed the unintentional bombing of the Imperial Palace, the complete loss of hope for saving Okinawa, and coincided with the day the Supreme War Leadership Council adopted the “Basic Policy for the Future Direction of the War.” With the fighting in Europe concluded, Japan found itself entirely isolated. Kido's plan, although vague, proposed seeking the Soviet Union's assistance as an intermediary to help Japan gain leverage in negotiations with its adversaries. By drafting this plan, Kido signaled the end of his long alliance with the military hard-liners. Hirohito's acceptance of it indicated his readiness for an early peace. Hirohito was moved to an underground bunker in the mountains of Matsushiro in Nagano prefecture where upon those around him noted he fell into a deep depression. On June 22nd Hirohito informed the Supreme War Leadership Council he wanted them to open diplomatic maneuvers to end the war. In early July Soviet Ambassador Jacob Malik broke off inconclusive talks with Hirota. Hirohito stepped in immediately and ordered a new special envoy be sent to Moscow. However Hirohito nor the Suzuki government had concrete plans on how to mediate a surrender through the Soviets. The only things they did prioritize was a guarantee of the emperors political position and retainment of the imperial system, ie the kokutai. This was taken into consideration rather than ending the war as quickly as possible to save the lives of millions. From April 8, 1945, until Japan's capitulation, the Suzuki government's chief war policy was “Ketsugo,” an advanced iteration of the “Shosango” (Victory Number 3) plan for defending the homeland. The hallmark of this strategy was a heavy reliance on suicide tactics, including deploying a massive number of kamikaze “special attack” planes, human torpedoes launched from submarines, dynamite-stuffed “crash boats” powered by truck engines, human rocket bombs carried by aircraft, and suicide assaults by specially trained ground units. While preparations for Operation Ketsu progressed, the Imperial Diet convened on June 9 to pass a Wartime Emergency Measures Law, along with five additional measures aimed at mobilizing the entire nation for this final battle. On the same day, the emperor, who had yet to initiate efforts to end the war, issued another imperial rescript in conjunction with the Diet's convocation, instructing the nation to “smash the inordinate ambitions of the enemy nations” and “achieve the goals of the war.” Concurrently, the controlled press launched a daily die-for-the-emperor campaign to foster gratitude for the imperial benevolence and, from around mid-July onward, initiated a campaign to “protect the kokutai.” The Americans countered with their own propaganda aimed at breaking Japan's will to fight. B-29 bombers dropped millions of leaflets written in Japanese, announcing the next scheduled targets for bombing raids and urging surrender, while using the emperor to challenge the militarists. Leaflets bearing the chrysanthemum crest criticized the “military cliques” for “forcing the entire nation to commit suicide” and called on “everyone” to “exercise their constitutional right to make direct appeals [for peace] to the Emperor.” They asserted that “even the powerful military cliques cannot stop the mighty march for peace of the Emperor and the people.” One notable batch of seven million leaflets conveyed the terms of the “joint declaration” issued by the United States, Great Britain, and China. “Today we come not to bomb you,” they stated. “We are dropping this leaflet to inform you of the response from the United States government to your government's request for conditions of surrender.... Whether the war stops immediately depends on your government. You will understand how to end the war if you read these two official notifications.” Amid pressures from imperial edicts to continue preparations for a final battle and focus solely on victory, the Japanese people were also subjected to an intense American psychological warfare campaign in addition to aerial bombardment. During late July and August, prefectural governors, police chiefs, and officers of the “special higher police” submitted reports to the Home Ministry detailing the rapidly deteriorating national morale. Now on the other side, Roosevelt made it known back in January of 1943 at the Casablanca conference, the allies would only accept unconditional surrender. By 1945, the allies understood the predicament this left Japan with. On May 8th of 1945, Truman added “Japan's surrender would not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people” trying to indicate a non vindictive spirit. However the Kokutai question always remained ambiguous. State Department Joseph Grew, the former ambassador to Japan, began arguing to Truman they needed to make public a clear definition of the terms to persuade Japan to surrender. As he argued to Truman: Emperor Hirohito was seen as the key figure in Japan's surrender, likened to a "queen bee in a hive... surrounded by the attentions of the hive." Throughout the war, he was characterized in various ways—as a “puppet” of the militarists, a constitutional monarch, and a pacifist. Grew had immense faith in the influence exerted by what he referred to as the “moderates” surrounding the Japanese throne. However many of Grew's colleagues argued the future existence of the monarchy was intolerable as it was akin to fascism. Many wanted to punish the emperor. Truman was in a tug of war. The Potsdam declaration issued on July 26th of 1945 came in the form of a ultimatum aiming to quicken japans surrender. Truman clarified the terms for the unconditional surrender at the end of its terms: "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction." Zero mention of the emperor. Grew had argued to add “this may include a constitutional monarchy under the present dynasty.” But it was deleted from the article. The status of the emperor was not guaranteed, the kokutai was thus up in the air. The next day, the Suzuki cabinet rejected the terms. The Japanese leadership and Hirohito were still banking and awaiting Soviet replies to their terms. Lets talk about the Soviet talks now Back on July 12th ambassador Naotake Satō sent this message to the Soviets: “His Majesty the Emperor, mindful of the fact that the present war daily brings greater evil and sacrifice upon the peoples of all the belligerent powers, desires from his heart that it may be quickly terminated. But so long as England and the United States insist upon unconditional surrender, the Japanese Empire has no alternative but to fight on with all its strength for the honor and existence of the Motherland”. However the Soviets had made commitments to their allies, promising in fact to invade Japan to aid them. As for the Soviets their primary objective was to ensure unrestricted access to the Pacific Ocean. The year-round ice-free areas of the Soviet Pacific coastline, particularly Vladivostok, could be blockaded by air and sea from Sakhalin Island and the Kurile Islands. Securing these territories to guarantee free access to the Soya Strait was their main goal. Secondary objectives included acquiring leases for the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Southern Manchuria Railway, as well as gaining control over Dairen and Port Arthur. To achieve these aims, Stalin and Molotov prolonged negotiations with the Japanese, creating a false sense of hope for a Soviet-mediated peace. Simultaneously, in their discussions with the United States and Britain, the Soviets insisted on strict adherence to the Cairo Declaration, which had been reaffirmed at the Yalta Conference. This declaration stipulated that the Allies would not accept a separate or conditional peace with Japan; thus, the Japanese would need to surrender unconditionally to all the Allies. The Soviets aimed to prolong the war by opposing any efforts to dilute this requirement. This approach would provide the Soviets with the necessary time to complete the transfer of their troops from the Western Front to the Far East and to conquer Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, northern Korea, South Sakhalin, the Kuriles, and potentially Hokkaidō, starting with an assault on Rumoi. AUGUST 1945 Thus we come to at last the critical point, August of 1945. The Americans prepared for the deployment of atomic bombs and for an invasion of southern Kyushu, known as Operation Olympic, scheduled to commence on November 1. At 8:15 A.M. on August 6, a single B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay dropped little boy, devastating much of the undefended city of Hiroshima, instantly killing an estimated 100,000 to 140,000 people and leading to the deaths of possibly another 100,000 over the next five years. At the epicenter of the explosion, “a light appeared 3,000 times brighter than the sun,” creating a fireball that emitted thermal radiation capable of “instantly scorching humans, trees, and houses.” As the air heated and rushed upward, cold air surged in to ignite a firestorm. Hours later, a whirlwind escalated the flames to their peak until more than eight square miles were virtually reduced to cinders. Subsequently, black, muddy rain filled with radioactive fallout began to fall. Two days later, using Japan's rejection of the Potsdam Declaration as a pretext, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Then on August 9, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, resulting in the immediate deaths of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 people and injuring more than 60,000. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, during the critical period between the Potsdam Declaration and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohito remained silent about accepting the Potsdam terms. However, on July 25 and 31, he explicitly conveyed to Kido that the imperial regalia must be defended at all costs. The three sacred objects—a mirror, a curved jewel, and a sword—symbolized the legitimacy of his rule through the northern court and were integral to his identity as the divine sovereign. Hirohito's focus was on protecting these symbols of office, as he insisted on having them brought to the palace. This fixation on maintaining his symbols occurred during a pivotal moment when the pressing issue was whether to accept immediate capitulation. Reflecting on this, he was unprepared to seize the opportunity to end the war himself. Prime Minister Suzuki, following his initial rejection of the Potsdam ultimatum, also saw no need for further action. His Cabinet Advisory Council, which included the president of Asano Cement, the founder of the Nissan consortium, the vice president of the Bank of Japan, and other representatives from the nation's leading business interests that had profited significantly from the war, convened on the morning of August 3. They recommended accepting the Potsdam terms, arguing that the United States would permit Japan to retain its non-military industries and continue participating in world trade. Here are some reactions to the two bombs and invasion of Manchuria. Yonai Mitsumasa said to admiral Takagi Sokichi, on August 12, that “I think the term is perhaps inappropriate, but the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war are, in a sense, gifts from the gods [tenyu, also “heaven-sent blessings”]. This way we don't have to say that we quit the war because of domestic circumstances. I've long been advocating control of our crisis, but neither from fear of an enemy attack nor because of the atomic bombs and the Soviet entry into the war. The main reason is my anxiety over the domestic situation. So, it is rather fortunate that we can now control matters without revealing the domestic situation”. Konoe's characterized the Soviet involvement in the war as “a godsend for controlling the army,”. Kido viewed of both the atomic bombings and the Soviet entry into the conflict as “useful” elements for ensuring a smooth transition. A nascent power struggle was unfolding, rendering the potential death toll—whether one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand—immaterial to those involved, as long as their desired outcome was achieved: an end to the war that would leave the monarchy intact and capable of managing the discontent that defeat would inevitably provoke. Throughout the final acts of this wartime drama, the Japanese “moderates” found it easier to capitulate to external pressures than to take decisive action on their own to conclude the war. Another illuminating looks at Japan's elite's perspective on surrender terms was the document titled “Essentials of Peace Negotiations” (wahei kosho no yoryo). Drafted by Konoe and his adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Sakai Koji, after Konoe had reluctantly accepted a mission to Moscow, this document, stipulated the preservation of the emperor system, along with most of the imperial prerogatives, as the absolute minimum condition for peace. It defined the “original” or “essential homeland” as including the southern half of the Kurile Islands but showed a willingness to concede all overseas territories to the enemy, including Okinawa and the American-occupied Bonin Islands, as well as the southern half of Sakhalin. The “Essentials” also accepted complete disarmament for an unspecified period, thereby compromising on the issues of demobilizing and disarming the armed forces. More significantly, an “explanation” attached to the “Essentials” emphasized that “the main aim is to secure the imperial line and maintain the political role of the emperor.” Why Japan surrendered We come to it atleast after a long podcast. Why did Japan ultimately surrender? The twin psychological shocks of the first atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war, combined with Kido's and the emperor's concern over escalating public criticism of the throne and its occupant, fueled an almost paranoid fear that, sooner or later, the populace would react violently against their leaders if the war persisted much longer. These factors ultimately led Hirohito to accept, in principle, the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. At the first meeting of the six member constituents of the Supreme War Leadership Council, held from 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on August 9, Army Minister Anami Korechika, Chiefs of Staff Umezu Yoshijiro, representing the army, and Yonai, representing the navy, along with Tōgō, from the Foreign Ministry, were expected to discuss the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Instead, the conversation revolved around whether to attempt a conditional surrender—specifically, should they insist on one condition, the preservation of the kokutai, or four? After Suzuki addressed the assembly regarding the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the Soviet attack, Yonai, as recounted by Navy Chief of Staff Toyoda, was the first to speak, framing the issue in terms of four conditions. “Let's start to talk, Do we accept the Potsdam Declaration with no conditions? If not, and we wish to insist on attaching hopes and conditions, we may do so this way. First, preservation of the kokutai; then for the rest, the main items in the Potsdam Declaration: treatment of war criminals, method of disarmament, and the matter of sending in an army of occupation.” Thus, the participants identified what they perceived to be the ambiguous points within the Potsdam Declaration and used them as the foundation for their discussions. The army insisted on four conditions: First, the preservation of the kokutai, which they considered distinct from the Potsdam Declaration itself. The other conditions proposed were, second, that the Imperial Headquarters assume responsibility for disarmament and demobilization; third, a prohibition on occupation; and fourth, the delegation of the punishment of war criminals to the Japanese government. The army equated the kokutai with the emperor's right of supreme command. Their self-serving desire for autonomous war crimes trials was based on the belief that the Allies would use such trials to politically indict the military. Consequently, army leaders aimed to preempt the activities of any international tribunal by conducting their own trials—similar to the approach taken by the uninvaded and unrepentant Germans after World War I. Supporting the military's views during cabinet meetings that day were three civilian members of the Suzuki cabinet: Justice Minister Matsuzaka Hiromasa, Home Minister Yasui Toji, and Minister of Health Okada Tadahiko. At the imperial conference that night, which extended into the early hours of the tenth, Foreign Minister Tōgō's interpretation of the “preservation of the kokutai” referred solely to the safeguarding of the Imperial House or dynasty, rather than the continuation of Hirohito's reign. Hiranuma, another advocate for the single condition, interpreted the kokutai as the “emperor's sovereign right to rule the state [not] deriving from national law. Even if the entire nation is sacrificed to the war, we must preserve both the kokutai and the security of the imperial house.” This discrepancy illustrated that there was no completely unified understanding of what the kokutai entailed; the debate over one condition versus four represented conflicting visions for the future of the Japanese state and masked the competition for political power that was already unfolding. It remains doubtful whether the emperor and Kido initially sided with Tōgō against the four conditions proposed by the senior military leaders. A more likely inference is that both men retained sympathies for the hardliners, both military and civilian, who preferred to continue the futile war rather than surrender immediately and unconditionally. This may explain why, on August 9, Konoe had Hosokawa Morisada approach Navy General Headquarters to urge the emperor's brother, Prince Takamatsu, to pressure Hirohito (through Kido) to accept the Potsdam terms. Later that afternoon, Konoe enlisted the help of diplomat Shigemitsu Mamoru to persuade Kido to reconsider his stance on the four conditions. Ultimately, at the urging of Takamatsu and Shigemitsu, Kido did shift to support Tōgō's position. At the end of the war, as at its beginning and throughout every stage of its progression, Emperor Hirohito played a highly active role in supporting the actions carried out in his name. From the very beginning of the Asia-Pacific war, the emperor played a significant role in the unfolding events around him. Prior to the Battle of Okinawa, he consistently advocated for a decisive victory. Afterward, he acknowledged the necessity of pursuing an early peace, although he did not favor an immediate cessation of hostilities. Instead, he wavered, steering Japan toward ongoing warfare rather than direct negotiations with the Allies. When the final crisis fully unfolded, the only option left was unconditional surrender. Even then, he continued to procrastinate until the atomic bomb was dropped and the Soviets launched their attack. The wartime emperor ideology that once sustained morale made it exceedingly difficult for Japan's leaders to accept the act of surrender. Aware of their objective defeat, yet indifferent to the suffering the war inflicted on their own people—as well as on the populations of Asia, the Pacific, and the West whose lives they had disrupted—the emperor and his military leaders sought a means to lose without appearing to lose. They aimed to mitigate domestic criticism following surrender while preserving their power structure. Blinded by their fixation on the fate of the imperial house and committed to an overly optimistic diplomacy toward the Soviet Union, Japan's leaders missed several opportunities to end their lost war. Would Japan's leaders have surrendered more promptly if the Truman administration had “clarified” the status of the emperor before the cataclysmic double shocks of the atomic bomb and the Soviet entry into the war? Probably not. However, it is likely they would have surrendered to prevent the kokutai from being destroyed from within. The evidence suggests that the first atomic bomb and the Soviet declaration of war led Hirohito, Kido, and other members of the court to believe that continuing the war would inevitably result in that destruction. They recognized that the populace was war-weary and despondent, with rising hostility toward the military and the government, accompanied by increasing criticism of the emperor himself. More specifically, Kido and Hirohito were privy to Home Ministry reports, which contained information from governors and police chiefs nationwide. These reports indicated that citizens were beginning to label the emperor as an incompetent leader responsible for the deteriorating war situation. This is the third variable, never spoken about. Many first look at the atomic bombs. Bigger brain people turn to the Soviet Invasion of Manchuria. But hardly anyone reads about how the collapse of Japan's social fabric, scared the shit out of the Emperor and his closest advisors. You can't have a kokutai, without a populace that worshiped you. When the emperor expressed in February, “What worries me is whether the nation [could] endure” long enough to achieve victory, he was not merely voicing concern for the suffering of his subjects; rather, he feared that such suffering could lead to social upheaval—in short, revolution. At that time, he referred to the ordinary, war-related hardships of food shortages, air raids, devastated cities, destruction of homes, and the omnipresent grief from the loss of loved ones. The atomic bomb escalated death, pain, and suffering to unimaginably higher levels, intensifying the threat from within. After the bombings of Japan and two atomic bombs, Hirohito was in a dark way, given a golden get out of jail free card. Hirohito could now save his suffering people from further anguish by surrendering, allowing him to deflect responsibility for leading them into misery while adopting an air of benevolence and care. Indeed, Hirohito did care—though not primarily for the Japanese people, but rather for the survival of his own imperial house and throne. After the bombing of Hiroshima, Hirohito delayed for a full two days before instructing Kido, shortly before 10 A.M. on August 9, to “quickly control the situation” because “the Soviet [Union]” had declared war. Kido immediately communicated with Prime Minister Suzuki, who began arrangements for an Imperial Conference scheduled for later that night. Following the seidan of August 10, Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu took charge of drafting the “Imperial Rescript Ending the War” based on Hirohito's directives. Assisted by two scholars of the Chinese classics, Kawada Mizuho and Yasuoka Masahiro, Sakomizu worked tirelessly for over three days before submitting a version of the rescript to the Suzuki cabinet. After six hours of contentious discussion on the night of August 14, the cabinet modified and approved the document. Hirohito promptly signed it, and Shimomura and Kido persuaded him to record a suitably opaque final version for broadcast to the nation. On the night of August 14, the Suzuki government notified the United States and other Allied nations that it had accepted both the Potsdam Declaration and the Byrnes letter of August 11. Accelerating the emperor's actions during this climactic moment of the unconditional surrender drama was the American psychological warfare campaign. When a leaflet dropped from B-29 bombers came into Kido's possession on the night of August 13 or the morning of the fourteenth, he conferred with the emperor and explained the gravity of the situation. The latest enemy leaflets were informing the Japanese people of the government's notification of surrender under one condition, along with the full text of Byrnes's response. If this continued, it would undermine the imperial government's reliance on secrecy to obscure the true nature of the lost war and the reasons for the prolonged surrender delay. Given Kido's and the emperor's concerns about rising signs of defeatism, including criticism of the throne, immediate action was necessary to prevent the populace from acting on their own initiative. Thus, the second seidan was convened. At noon on August 15, the Japanese people gathered around their radio receivers and heard, for the first time, the high-pitched voice of their emperor telling them: “After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration. To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart. Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement. But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone—the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people—the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers... The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable”. Clearly Hirohito sought to justify his decision to surrender by citing the dropping of the atomic bombs. He wanted to become the saviour of the Japanese people. Hirohito wanted to obfuscate the issue of accountability, to prevent expressions of strife and anger and to strengthen domestic unity around himself, to protect and raise the kokutai. Interestingly, the surrender declaration to the civilian population was not the same one sent to the military. On August 17th Hirohito issued a second “rescript to soldiers and sailors” throughout the asia-pacific. “ Now that the Soviet Union has entered the war against us, to continue . . . under the present conditions at home and abroad would only recklessly incur even more damage to ourselves and result in endangering the very foundation of the empire's existence. Therefore, even though enormous fighting spirit still exists in the Imperial Navy and Army, I am going to make peace with the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, as well as with Chungking, in order to maintain our glorious national polity”. The lesser-known August 17 rescript to the army and navy specified Soviet participation as the sole reason for surrender, while maintaining the kokutai as the primary aim. Dissembling until the end—and even beyond—it was noted that the emperor presented two different justifications for his delayed surrender. Both statements were likely true. Months later Hirohito's said this about his decision to surrender “The main motive behind my decision at that time was that if we . . . did not act, the Japanese race would perish and I would be unable to protect my loyal subjects [sekishi—literally, “children”]. Second, Kido agreed with me on the matter of defending the kokutai. If the enemy landed near Ise Bay, both Ise and Atsuta Shrines would immediately come under their control. There would be no time to transfer the sacred treasures [regalia] of the imperial family and no hope of protecting them. Under these circumstances, protection of the kokutai would be difficult. For these reasons, I thought at the time that I must make peace even at the sacrifice of myself.” There exists this sort of childish argument today whether it was the atomic bombs or the Soviet Invasion that caused Japan to surrender. However, this overlooks as I think I've explained in 9000 words jeez, the influence of the kokutai. Defending the kokutai was Hirohito's number one priority. The Soviets threatened it. Communism threatened it. What Japan perceived to be “democracy” threatened it. American victory threatened it. And the destruction of Japan's social fabric threatened it. I love this one piece of history, that I have only come across in one book, that being the main one I am using here. On August 12th, Hirohito came to the imperial family to tell them he had made the decision to surrender. His uncle Prince Yasuhiko Asaka asked him whether the war would be continued if the kokutai could not be preserved. Hirohito replied “of course”.
In this episode, Eli continues his walkthrough of the study questions in the book "The Impossibility of the Contrary" by Greg Bahnsen. He specifically covers chapter 4.
Вопреки – парадокс Божьего всевластия / Contrary – The Paradox of God's SovereigntyДаниил 1:1-21Даниил 2I. Вопреки логике / Contrary to LogicII. Вопреки чувствам / Contrary to FeelingsIII. Вопреки страху / Contrary to FearIV. Вопреки законам / Contrary to LawsV. Вопреки ожиданиям / Contrary to Expectations
The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – An oligarchy is a political system ruled by a few. Contrary to popular belief, legally, the US is a republic, not a democracy. However, more and more we are being governed not by Congress, but by a small group in black robes known as federal judges. If the elected branches of government cannot do anything unless the courts approve, then we are no...
Send us a textBreaking through the invisible barriers holding your business back requires recognizing the habits that secretly sabotage your success. In this powerful five-minute session, I share the five critical habits that stunted my own business growth for years – and how you can avoid making the same mistakes.Perfectionism might seem like a virtue, but it's actually a growth killer. I spent too long polishing products in isolation when I should have been gathering real client feedback to guide improvements. Similarly, failing to document systems forced me to constantly reinvent processes instead of building on previous work. The documentation doesn't need to be fancy – simple notes or templates can transform your efficiency and make delegation possible.As your business grows, opportunities multiply. Without clear criteria for what deserves your attention, saying "yes" becomes a default response that spreads you too thin. I learned that understanding your core values and mission provides the framework for strategic decisions about where to invest your time. Equally important is embracing difficult conversations rather than avoiding them. Contrary to what many fear, challenging discussions don't destroy relationships – they strengthen them by building trust and demonstrating commitment to honest communication.Perhaps most critically, what you don't measure, you can't improve. I discovered that consistently tracking key performance indicators – from sales calls to conversion rates – naturally drives improvement simply through awareness. This principle applies universally: monitor your weight and it tends to normalize; track your sales activities and they typically increase.Ready to break free from these limiting patterns? Start by identifying which of these habits is most holding you back right now. Even small changes in these five areas can unlock remarkable growth potential in your business. Which habit will you transform first? To Reach Jordan:Email: Jordan@Edwards.Consulting Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ejFXH1_BjdnxG4J8u93Zw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordan.edwards.7503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanfedwards/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanedwards5/ Hope you find value in this. If so please provide a 5-star and drop a review.Complimentary Edwards Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/jordan-edwardsconsulting/30min
In this week's episode, Ryan, Chris, and Courtney dive into the paradox of modern investing: why are so many investors chasing assets like Gold, Bitcoin, and Nvidia, which offer little to no income—while ignoring the historical power of dividend-paying stocks? We unpack a revealing JP Morgan study showing that concludes 55% of the S&P 500's total return since 1987 came from re-invested dividends. Contrary to popular belief, high-flying tech stocks haven't been the primary engine of long-term market returns. In fact, the best-performing U.S. stock over the past 40 years, Altria Group (ticker: MO), formerly known as Philip Morris, is an old-school producer and marketer of tobacco products. From 1985–2025, Altria stock returned an incredible 2,033,839%, a $1,000 invested in 1985 would be worth over $20 million today! Even more remarkably, over 80% of that return can be attributed to dividend reinvestment. But here's the twist—dividend paying value stocks have been underperforming their growth stock counterparts over the past decade, driven by themes like AI, have dramatically outperformed. Is this just a temporary anomaly? Will markets revert to the mean? Are dividend stocks about to make a comeback? Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is betting big on income-rich sectors like healthcare and energy instead of chasing the current hype around the Magnificent 7. With many high-yielding stocks trading at steep discounts to the tech-heavy S&P 500, is now the time to lean into income? We give you the “Payne Perspective.” We also tackle the recent signs of weakness in the labor market—and what it really reveals about the underlying health of the economy. Are Wall Street economists missing the mark yet again? The stock market is hitting all-time highs, economic growth is accelerating, and corporate profits are trending upward, all forward-looking indicators that point to a continued expansion. So, do we truly need more rate cuts? Or is the Federal Reserve simply spiking the punch bowl—risking an overheated economy and inflated asset prices? We break it all down and share exactly what we think.
In this eye-opening episode, we dive into stunning new data from Gallup and the U.S. General Social Survey that reveals a surprising truth about America's birth rate crisis. Contrary to popular belief, it's not conservatives who are having fewer children—they are maintaining above-replacement fertility rates. The decline in births is almost entirely driven by liberal men and women having fewer or no kids. We break down what the polls say about happiness, priorities, and life satisfaction: Married women with children report being 2.5 times happier than women who aren't married or childless. Conservative men (particularly Trump voters) rank having children as their #1 priority and marriage as #4, while liberal men and women rank them far lower. Liberal women often prioritize career and financial independence over family, which aligns with the falling birth rate among left-leaning households. The episode also explores the cultural and psychological divide between conservatives and liberals when it comes to family creation, relationships, and personal fulfillment. We discuss why the data suggests that America's future demographic landscape could be shaped by these stark differences in values and priorities. Listeners will learn: How political affiliation correlates with family planning and happiness. Why conservative households continue to thrive in family creation. The surprising links between mental health, political ideology, and life satisfaction. Insights on how cultural messages about career and timing can impact long-term happiness. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in family trends, cultural shifts, and what really drives happiness in America.
The ten plagues in Exodus are a prototype of what God is going to do at the end of time. Each plague has a specific meaning and there are several parallels to events in the book of Revelation. Contrary to popular belief, God did not send these plagues to be cruel, He sent them to show the Egyptians that He is Lord over all the earth, and also to introduce Himself to the Hebrews who did not yet know Him. VF-2507 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
Are you worried that real estate investors are skewing the housing market? In this episode of On the Market, host Dave Meyer and guest expert Rick Sharga dive into the complexities behind investor activities in the housing realm. Discover how investor behavior has shaped the current market landscape, influencing housing prices and inventory. Contrary to some beliefs, small investors play a critical role by fueling market liquidity rather than causing housing prices to spike. Listen in as they unravel how mortgage rates, housing market forecasts, and affordability trends will unfold over the next couple of years. As we tread through this transitional period, the housing market could remain lukewarm for a while longer. Are we on the verge of a 'great stall' or just a balanced market correction? Tune in to find out! Links from the Show Join the Future of Real Estate Investing with Fundrise Join BiggerPockets for FREE Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area Find Investor-Friendly Lenders Property Manager Finder Dave's BiggerPockets Profile Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/on-the-market-353 Interested in learning more about today's sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Contrary to the rumors on social media, President Trump is alive and spending his time blaming artificial intelligence and landscaping contractors when things go wrong at the White House. The Emmy-winning host of “Last Week Tonight” confesses to his obsession with “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” and offers Stephen Colbert a crash course in the series' lore. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Get ready to dive headfirst into the wild world of Burning Man! We're peeling back the layers on the infamous Orgy Dome and sharing stories of some brave souls who have ventured into this bustling desert oasis. We take a detour to reminisce about the bonds forged in the hallways of high schools across St. Louis. Remember those awkward teen years... They might just hold the key to some of our adult relationships! And speaking of relationships, we'll be breaking down the latest dating trends that are shaking up the scene—think new terms like "shreking" and "hamstering" that will have you scratching your head. Grab your headphones, kick back, and join us for a rollercoaster of laughs, insights, and maybe a few "Aha!" moments with the Rizzuto Show.Show Notes:New vocalist plays it safe in Linkin Park's return to St. Louis after more than a decadeEx-UFC champ Rampage Jackson speaks out after son appears to assault pro wrestler in Sun ValleyMingus Reedus, Norman Reedus' son, charged with assaultThe story behind the St. Louis question: ‘Where did you go to high school?'The new dating term 'Shrekking' sounds innocent. It's not what you think---In this episode, we take a deep dive into the fascinating and chaotic world of Burning Man, specifically focusing on its infamous Orgy Dome. For those unfamiliar, Burning Man is an annual event held in the Nevada desert, where thousands gather to celebrate art, community, and self-expression. The Orgy Dome, a unique feature of this event, is not just a free-for-all; rather, it's a surprisingly organized environment where attendees can explore their desires in a safe and consensual space. Listeners will hear about experiences from those who have ventured into the Orgy Dome, including the rules and etiquette that govern this intriguing space. Contrary to what one might assume, entry requires a level of respect and understanding, with workshops on consent and guidelines in place to ensure that all participants feel safe and comfortable. But our discussion on The Rizzuto Show doesn't stop there. Rizzuto, Moon, Lern, Rafe, and King Scott also explore the cultural significance of high school connections in St. Louis. The question "Where did you go to high school?" serves as a common icebreaker, revealing much about a person's background and social standing. This unique aspect of St. Louis culture highlights how deeply intertwined our lives are with our formative years and the communities we come from. Additionally, the hosts delve into modern dating trends, introducing terms like "Shreking" and "hamstering," which reflect the complexities of contemporary relationships. These terms capture the nuances of dating in today's world, where individuals often find themselves navigating the murky waters of attraction, compatibility, and emotional connection. Join The Rizzuto Show for an engaging and entertaining episode that blends personal anecdotes, cultural commentary, and a touch of humor. Whether you're a Burning Man veteran or just curious about the festival's unique culture, this episode offers insights that resonate beyond the desert and into our everyday lives. Tune in and discover the connections that bind us all, from high school to the Orgy Dome! --- Follow The Rizzuto Show @rizzshow on all your favorite social media, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and more. Connect with The Rizzuto Show online at 1057thepoint.com/rizzSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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