Podcasts about cultural

NYC's New Mayor: Sean and Scott discuss the election of progressive Muslim democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City's next mayor—exploring socialism's renewed appeal, the moral framework behind market economies, and biblical principles of work, property, and caring for the poorSurrogacy in Crisis: Troubling trends in the surrogacy industry—lack of oversight, exploitation of low-income women, legal gray areas, and moral implications of turning children and motherhood into commoditiesAI Erotica Launch: Sean and Scott react to ChatGPT's announced “erotica” feature, warning that it normalizes digital pornography and creates the illusion of emotional connection while eroding real-world relationshipsListener Questions:Coping with chronic pain and finding God's presence through suffering.Clarifying democratic socialism vs. authoritarian socialism.How Sean and Scott read and evaluate books differently depending on purpose and genre.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

In this illuminating episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony explore Jesus' parables of the mustard seed and leaven found in Matthew 13. These seemingly simple parables reveal profound truths about God's kingdom—how it begins imperceptibly, grows irresistibly, and transforms completely. The hosts delve into what these parables teach us about God's sovereign work in both our individual spiritual lives and the broader advance of His kingdom in the world. Believers can find hope in understanding that God intentionally works through what appears weak and insignificant to accomplish His purposes. This episode offers practical encouragement for Christians who may feel discouraged by the apparent smallness of their faith or ministry impact. Key Takeaways The kingdom of heaven begins in small, hidden, or seemingly insignificant ways, but grows powerfully through God's sovereign work. The mustard seed illustrates the kingdom's visible expansion (extensive growth), while the leaven highlights its internal transformative influence (intensive growth). Both parables emphasize that God's kingdom often appears to "disappear" initially but produces outsized results through His work, not our own. These parables provide encouragement for times when the church feels weak or our personal faith feels insufficient—God's power is made perfect in weakness. God's kingdom transforms both outwardly (extensive growth illustrated by the mustard seed) and inwardly (intensive growth shown by the leaven). Cultural transformation happens most effectively through ordinary Christian faithfulness rather than flashy or provocative engagement. Christians should not despise small beginnings, recognizing that faithfulness rather than visibility is the true measure of fruitfulness. Understanding Kingdom Growth: From Imperceptible to Unstoppable The parables of the mustard seed and leaven powerfully illustrate the paradoxical nature of God's kingdom. In both cases, something tiny and seemingly insignificant produces results far beyond what anyone would expect. As Tony noted in the discussion, what's critical is understanding the full comparison Jesus makes—the kingdom isn't simply like a seed or leaven in isolation, but like the entire process of planting and growth. Both parables involve something that initially "disappears" from sight (the seed buried in soil, the leaven mixed into dough) before producing its effect. This reflects the upside-down nature of God's kingdom work, where what appears weak becomes the channel of divine power. For first-century Jewish listeners expecting a triumphant, militaristic Messiah, Jesus' description of the kingdom as beginning small would have seemed offensive or disappointing. Yet this is precisely God's pattern—beginning with what appears weak to demonstrate His sovereign power. This same pattern is evident in the incarnation itself, where God's kingdom arrived not through military conquest but through a humble birth and ultimately through the cross. Finding Hope When Faith Feels Small One of the most practical applications from these parables is the encouragement they offer when we feel our faith is insufficient or when the church appears weak. As Jesse noted, "God is always working. Even when we don't feel or see that He is, He's always working." The kingdom of God advances not through human strength or visibility but through God's sovereign work. These parables remind us that spiritual growth often happens imperceptibly—like bread rising or a seed growing. We may go through seasons where our spiritual life feels dry or stagnant, yet God continues His sanctifying work. Just as a baker must be patient while bread rises, we must trust the invisible work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the church. When we feel discouraged by apparent lack of progress, these parables assure us that God's kingdom—both in our hearts and in the world—is advancing according to His perfect timing and plan. As Tony explained, "The fact that it feels and looks and may actually be very small does not rob it of its power...in actuality that smallness is its power." God deliberately works through weakness to display His glory, making these parables powerful reminders for believers in any era who may feel their impact is too small to matter. Memorable Quotes "We shouldn't despise small beginnings. Let's not despise whatever it is that you're doing in service to God, to your family, to your churches, especially in the proclamation of the gospel... Faithfulness and not visibility—that's the measure of fruitfulness." — Jesse Schwamb "The Kingdom of Heaven is at work not only in our midst as a corporate body, but in each of us as well. God's grace and His special providence and His spirit of sanctification, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of holiness and the one who makes us holy. He is doing that whether it feels like it or not, whether we see outward progress or not." — Tony Arsenal "What cultural transformation looks like is a man who gets married and loves his wife well, serves her and sacrifices for her, and makes a bunch of babies and brings them to church... We transform culture by being honest, having integrity, by working hard... without a lot of fanfare, without seeking a lot of accolades." — Tony Arsenal Full Transcript Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 468 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother, you and I have said it over and over again. One of the incredible truths that the Bible conveys about the kingdom of God is that it's inaugurated in weakness. It's hidden. It advances irresistibly by the sovereign work of God through the Word and the Spirit. It transforms both individuals and nations until Christ's reign is fully revealed in glory. And so as we're about to talk about parables today, I can't help but think if that's one of the central positions of the Bible, and I think we both say it is how would you communicate that? And here we find Jesus, the son of God, our great savior, you know where he goes. He goes, mustard seeds and yeast. So that's what we're gonna talk about today. And if you're just joining us maybe for the first time or you're jumping into this little series, which is to say, we do know tiny series, this long series on parables, you, I go back to the last episode, which is kind of a two-parter because Tony and I tried this experiment where we basically each separately recorded our own thoughts and conversation, almost an inner monologue as we digested each of those parables, both the one of the mustard seed and then the leaven sequentially and separately. And now we're coming together in this episode to kind of talk about it together and to see what we thought of the individual work and to bring it all together in this grand conversation about the kingdom of God that's inaugurated and weakness and hiddenness. [00:02:31] Affirmations and Denials Explained Jesse Schwamb: So that's this episode, but it wouldn't be a episode without a little affirming. And a little denying it seems, 22, we should this, every now and again we pause to say why we do the affirmations and denials. Why, why do we do this? What, what is this whole thing? Why are we bringing it into our little conversation every time? Tony Arsenal: Yeah. I mean, it, it, at its core, it's kind of like a recommendation or an anti recommendation segment. We take something that we like or we don't like and we spend a little bit of time talking about it. Usually it ends up taking a little bit of a theological bent just 'cause that's who we are and that's what we do. And we use the language of affirmations and denials, uh, because that's classic, like reformed confessional language. Right? If you look at something like the, um. I dunno, like the Chicago statement on Biblical and Errancy, which was primarily written by RC sprawl, um, it usually has a, a statement, uh, of doctrine in the form of things that we affirm and things that we deny. Um, or you look at someone like Turin, a lot of times in his, uh, institutes of elected theology. He'll have something like, we affirm this with the Lutherans, or we affirm that or de deny that against the papus or something like that. So it's just a, a little bit of a fun gimmick that we've added on top of this to sort of give it a little bit of its own reformed flavor, uh, onto something that's otherwise somewhat, um, Baal or, or I don't know, sort of vanilla. So we like it. It's a good chance for us to chat, kind of timestamps the episode with where we are in time. And usually, usually, like I said, we end up with something sort of theological out of it. 'cause that's, that's just the nature of us and that's, that's the way it goes. That's, and that's what happens, like when we're talking about stuff we. Like when we're together at Christmas or at the beach, like things take that theological shift because that's just who, who we are, and that's what we're thinking about. Jesse Schwamb: By the way, that sounds like a new CBS drama coming this fall. The nature of us. Tony Arsenal: The nature of us? Yeah. Or like a, like a hallmark channel. Jesse Schwamb: It does, uh, Tony Arsenal: it's like a a, I'm picturing like the, the big city girl who moves out to take a job as a journalist in like Yosemite and falls in love with the park ranger and it's called The Nature of Us. Jesse Schwamb: The nature of us Yes. Coming this fall to CBS 9:00 PM on Thursdays. Yeah. I love it. Well, this is our homage to that great theological tradition of the affirming with, or the denying against. So what do you got this week? Are you affirming with something or you denying against something? [00:04:55] No Quarters November Tony Arsenal: I'm affirming. This is a little cheeky. I'm not gonna throw too much, much, uh, too much explanation. Uh, along with it. I'm affirming something. I'm calling no quarters, November. So, you know, normally I'm very careful to use quarters. I'm very careful to make sure that I'm, I'm saving them and using them appropriately. And for the month of November, I'm just not gonna use any quarters. So there'll be no 25 cent pieces in my banking inventory for the month. Oh. So I'm, I'm making a little bit of fun. Of course. Obviously no, quarter November is a tradition that Doug Wilson does, where he just is even more of a jerk than he usually is. Um, and he, he paints it in language that, like, normally I'm very careful and I qualify everything and I have all sorts of nuance. But in November, I'm just gonna be a bull in a China shop, um, as though he's not already just a bull in a China shop 95% of the time. So I'm affirming no corridors. November maybe. No corners November. Everything should be rounded. Jesse Schwamb: That's good too. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. No, no. Quatro November. Like we don't do anything in Spanish. No fours in Spanish. I don't know. Okay. I'm just making fun of that. I'm just making fun of the whole thing. It's such a silly, dumb enterprise. There's nothing I can do except to make fun of it. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I think that's fair. That's basically the response it deserves. This time, we, we brought it up for several years going, it's such a strange thing. [00:06:13] Critique of Doug Wilson's Approach Jesse Schwamb: It's hard not to see this thing as complete liberty to be sinful and then to acknowledge that. Yeah. As if somehow that gives you, reinforces that liberty that you're taking it, it's so strange. It's as if like, this is what is necessary and probably we'll get to this actually, but this is what is necessary for like the gospel or the kingdom of God to go forward is that kind of attitude at times. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I will say this, I do always look forward every year to seeing what he sets on fire. 'cause the, the videos are pretty great. I'm not gonna lie. Like the video quality is, is certainly compelling. Um, and you could say it's lit is another little punny way to get at it. Uh, I, I haven't seen it this year. I mean, that's, we're recording this on November 1st, so I'm sure that it's out. Uh, I just haven't seen it yet. But yeah, I mean, it's kind of, kind of ridiculous, uh, that anyone believes that Doug Wilson is restraining himself or engaging in lots of fine distinctions and nuance. You know, like the rest of the year and November is the time that he really like holds back, uh, or really doesn't hold back. That's, that's just a silly, it's just a silly gimmick. It's a silly, like, I dunno, it's a gimmick and it's dumb and so I'm gonna make fun of it 'cause that's what it deserves. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I think that's right. You know, I was thinking recently because as you said, the counter just rolled over. And generally this time of year I end up always watching that documentary that Ligonier put together on Martin Luther, which is quite good. And I think it does, has a fair treatment of him, including the fact that he was so bombastic and that he was very caustic with his language. And I think they treat that fairly by saying, oh, that some of the same things that we admire in somebody can be some of the very same things which pull them into sinful behavior. And there's no excuse for that. And, and, and if that's true for him, then it's true for all of us, of course. And it's definitely true for Luther. So I think this idea, we need to be guarding our tongues all the time and to just make up some excuse to say, I'm not gonna do that. And in some way implying that there's some kind of hidden. Piety in that is what I think is just so disturbing. And I think most of us see through that for what exactly it is. It's clickbaits. It's this idea of trying to draw attention by being bombastic and literally setting things on fire. Like the video where he sets the boat on fire is crazy because all I can think of is like, so if you judge me, one more thing on this, Tony, 'cause I, I, when you said that, I thought about this video, the boat video implicitly, and I've thought about this a lot since then. There's a clip of him, he sets the boat on fire and it's kind of like him sitting on the boat that is engulfed in flames looking out into the sea, so, so calmly as if it's like an embodiment of that mean this is fine, everything is fine, this is fine. Right? Yeah. And all I can think of is that was great for probably like the two seconds that somebody filmed that, but guess what happened immediately after that? Somebody rescued you by putting out the fire on the boat. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse Schwamb: It's just like insanity to presume that, encapsulating that single moment and somehow conveying that he is a great champion, pioneer advocate of things of the gospel by essentially coming in and disrupting and being caustic and that him setting thing on fire makes everything better is a mockery, because that's not even exactly how that shoot took place. Yeah. So I, I just really struggle with that, with the perspective he is trying to bring forward. Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I'm dubious whether or not there was actually any fire involved. Well, that's, I think 95% of it is probably camera magic, which is fine. Like, I don't know. That's fine. Like, I don't want Doug Wilson to burn up. That's, that wouldn't be cool either. But, um, yeah, I mean, like the fruit of the spirit is love, joy piece patience, kindness, good as gentleness, setting things on fire and being a jerk in November, apparently. And I, I just don't, I, I've never fully understood the argument. Um, and this is coming from someone who can be sarcastic and can go over the top and go too far. And, and I recognize that about myself. I've just never understood the argument that like, it's okay to be a jerk sometimes. Or, or not even just, okay. It's necessary to be a jerk sometimes. Exactly. Um, there's a difference between boldness and being a jerk. And, you know, I think, um, the people who, who know me well are gonna like fall off their chairs. I say this like, Michael Foster is actually someone who I think. Does the boldness with a little bit of an edge. I think he actually does it really well. And just like all of us, I, you know, he, he probably goes over the line, uh, on occasion. Um, and, and, but I think he does the, I'm just going to be direct and straightforward and bold. And sometimes that might offend you because sometimes the truth is offensive. Um, I think he does that well. I think where we go sideways is when we try to couch everything in sort of this offensive posture, right? Where, where even the things that shouldn't be offensive, uh, somehow need to be made offensive. It, it's just, it's dumb. It's just, um, and I'm, I'm not saying we should be nice just for the sake of being nice. I think sometimes being nice is. When I say nice, I mean like saccharin sweet, like, like overly uh, I don't know, like sappy sweets. Like we don't have to be that. And uh, there are times where it's not even appropriate to be that. Um, but that's different than just, you know, it's almost like the same error in the wrong direction, right? To be, just to be a jerk all the time. Sometimes our words and our behavior and our actions have to have a hard edge. And sometimes that's going to offend people because sometimes the truth, especially the gospel truth is offensive. Um, but when what you're known for is being a jerk and being rude and just being offensive for the sake of being offensive. Um, right. And, and I'll even say this, and this will be the last thing I say. 'cause I didn't, I, I really intend this just to be like a, a jokey joke. No quarters, November. I'm not gonna spend any quarters. Um, I don't know why I was foolish enough to think we weren't gonna get into it, but, um. When your reputation is that you are a jerk just to be a jerk. Even if that isn't true, it tells you that something is wrong with the way you're doing things. Right. Because I think there are times where, and I'll say this to be charitable, there are times where Doug Wilson says something with a little bit of an edge, and people make way too big of a deal out of it. Like they, they go over the top and try to condemn it, and they, they make everything like the worst possible offense. And sometimes, sometimes it's, it's just not. Um, and there are even times where Doug says things that are winsome and they're helpful and, um, but, but when your reputation is that you are a jerk just to be a jerk, or that you are inflammatory just to get a reaction, um, there's something wrong with your approach. And then to top it off, when you claim that for November, like you explicitly claim that identity as though that's not already kind of your shtick the rest of the year. Um, and just, it's just. Frustrating and dumb and you know, this is the guy that like, is like planting a church in DC and is like going on cnn. It's just really frustrating to see that sort of the worst that the reformed world has to offer in terms of the way we interact with people sometimes is getting the most attention. So, right. Anyway, don't, don't be a pirate. N November is still my way. I celebrate and, uh, yeah, that's, that's that. Jesse Schwamb: That's well said. Again, all things we're thinking about because we all have tendency to be that person from time to time. So I think it's important for us to be reminded that the gospel doesn't belong to us. So that means like that sharp edge, that conviction belongs to Christ, not to our personalities. So if it's tilted toward our personalities, even toward our communication style, then it means that we are acting in sin. And so it's hard for us to see that sometimes. So it does take somebody to say, whoa. Back it down a little bit there and you may need to process. Well, I'm trying to communicate and convey this particular truth. Well, again, the objective that we had before us is always to do so in love and salt and light. So I agree with you that there is a way to be forthright and direct in a way that still communicates like loving compassion and concern for somebody. And so if really what you're trying to do is the equivalent of some kinda spiritual CPR, we'll know that you, you don't have to be a jerk while you're doing it. You don't have to cause the kind of destruction that's unnecessary in the process. Even though CPR is a traumatic and you know, can be a painful event by it's necessary nature, we administer it in such a way that makes sure that we are, we have fidelity to the essential process itself, to the essential truths that's worth standing up for. Yeah, it's not a worth being a jerk. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:14:37] Practical Application of Parables Tony Arsenal: Jesse, let's, let's move along. What are you affirming or denying tonight Jesse Schwamb: and now for something much lighter? So, my, my affirmation I share at the risk of it being like so narrow that maybe nobody will actually want to use this, but I actually had you in mind. Tony, I've been sitting on this one for a little while 'cause I've been testing it. And so we're, we're just gonna run like an actual quick experiment 'cause I. I'm guessing you will find this affirmation useful and will come along with me and it and might even use it, but you and I are not always like representative of all the people in the world. I say that definitely tongue in cheek. So we're a little bit nerdy. We love our podcasts and so occasionally, I don't know if this happens to you, I'm guessing it does, but I want to capture like a moment that I heard while podcast is playing on my phone. Maybe somebody says something really interesting, it's great quotes, or it's mathematical nature and I wanna go back and process it. And so generally what I do is I, I don't know, I stop it. I try to go back and listen to it real quick if I can, or maybe I can't because running, driving, all that stuff. So. When I hear something now that I want to keep, I just cry out to my phone. I have an, I have an iPhone, so I say, Siri, you could do this with Google. Take a screenshot. What happens is the phone captures an image of my podcast app with a timestamp showing of course what's being played. Then I forward this image, this is the crazy affirmation part. When it's time to be alive, I forward this image to a certain email address and I get back the text transcript of the previous 90 seconds, which I can then either look at or file into my notes. What is this email address sent it to you. Well, here's the website so you can go check it out for yourself though. Website is actually called Podcast Magic App, and there's just three easy steps there, and this will explain to you how you actually get that image back to you in the format of a transcript. And the weird thing about this is it's, it's basically free, although if you use it a lot, they ask for like a one-time donation of $20, which you know me, I love. A one time fee. So I've been using this a lot recently, which is why I've been sitting on it, but it is super helpful for those of you who are out there listening to stuff. They're like, oh, I like that. I need to get that back. And of course, like you'll never get it back. So if you can create this method that I've done where you can train your phone to take a snapshot picture of what's on the screen, then you can send it to Podcast Magic at Sublime app, and they will literally send you a transcript of the previous 90 seconds no matter what it is. Tony Arsenal: That is pretty sweet. I'll have to check that out. Um, I don't listen to as many podcasts as I used to. How dare you? I just, the I know. It's, it's crazy. Where do we even do it Feels like heresy to say that on a podcast that I'm recording. Yes. Um, Jesse Schwamb: we've lost half the audience. Yeah. Tony Arsenal: Well, yeah. Well, the other half will come next. Um, no, I, I, I just don't have as much time as I used to. I, I live closer to work than I used to and um, I'm down to, we're down to one car now, so, um, your mother is graciously giving me a ride to work. Um, 'cause she, she drives right past our house on the, the way and right past my work on the way to her work. Um, but yeah, so I guess I say that to say like, the podcast that I do listen to are the ones that I really wanna make sure I'm, I am, uh, processing and consuming and, uh, making sure that I'm kinda like locking into the content. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: So this might be helpful for that when I do hear something and I do think, like, it's hard because I use matter, which is great, and you can forward a podcast to matter and it generates a whole transcript of the entire episode, which is great. Um, but I don't often go back and, you know, a lot of times, like I'll go through my matter, uh, queue and it'll be like three weeks after I listened to a podcast episode, I be like, why did I put this in here? Right? I get that. I don't wanna listen to the entire 60 minute episode again to try to remember what that special thing was. So I just end up archiving it. So this might be a good middle ground to kind of say like, I might set, I might still send it to matter to get the whole transcript, but then I can use this service to just capture where in the transcript actually was I looking for? Um. It's interesting. I'll have to look at it too, because you can, you can send, uh, through Apple Podcast, the Apple Podcast app and through most podcast apps, I think. Right? You can send the episode with the timestamp attached to it. Yes. So I wonder if you could just send that, that link. Okay. Instead of the screenshot. Um, you know, usually I'm, I'm not. Uh, I don't usually, I'm not driving anymore, so usually when I'm listening to a podcast I have, my hands are on my phone so I could actually send it. So yeah, I'll have to check that out. That's a good recommendation. Jesse Schwamb: Again, it's kind of nuanced, but listen, loved ones, you know what you get with us, you're gonna get some, it could be equally affirmation, denial that Doug involves Doug Wilson, and then some random little thing that's gonna help you transcribe podcasts you listen to, because life is so hard that we need to be able to instantly get the last 90 seconds of something we listen to so that we can put it into our note taping at note taking app and put it into our common notebook and keep it. Yeah, there you go. Tony Arsenal: There's a lot of apps. There was actually a, a fair number of apps that came out a while ago that were, they were trying to accomplish this. Where you could, as you were listening to the podcast, in that app, you could basically say, highlight that and it would, it would highlight whatever sentence you were on. But the problem is like by the time you say highlight that you're already onto the next sentence, you now you're going back trying to do it again. And I didn't find any of that worked really seamlessly. It was a lot of extra friction. So this might be kind of a good frictionless or less friction way to do it. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I'm totally with you. [00:20:08] The Kingdom of Heaven Parables Jesse Schwamb: I mean, speaking of like things that cause friction, there's no doubt that sometimes in Jesus' teaching on the parables that he himself brings the heat, he brings a little friction in his communication. And since you and I basically did go through each of these parables, we don't have do that again on this conversation. In fact, what I'm looking forward to is kind of us coming together and coalescing our conversation about these things, the themes that we both felt that we heard and uncovered in the course of talking through them. But I think as well ending with so what? So what is some real good shoe leather style, practical application of these ideas of understanding the kingdom of God to be like this mustard seed and like this lemon. So why don't I start by just reading. Again, these couple of verses, which we're gonna take right out of Matthew chapter 13. Of course, there are parallel passages in the other gospels as well, and I'd point you to those if you wanna be well-rounded, which you should be. And so we're gonna start in verse 31 of chapter 13. It's just a handful of verse verses. Here's what Matthew writes. Jesus puts another parable before them saying The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It's the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flower till it was all leavened. Alright? Yeah. So Tony, what do you think? Tony Arsenal: Uh, I mean, these are so like, straightforward. It was almost, it, it felt almost silly trying to like explain them. Yeah. One of the things that, that did strike me, that I think is worth commenting too, um, just as a, a general reminder for parables, we have to be careful to remember what the parable is saying, right? So I, I often hear, um. The smallness of the mustard seed emphasized. Mm-hmm. And I think your, your commentary, you did a good job of kind of pointing out that like there's a development in this parable like it, right? It's a progression and there's an eschatology to it, both in terms of the, the parable itself, but also it comments on the eschatology of the kingdom of heaven. But it's not just that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. It's the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sewed in his field. Right? It's that whole clause that is the, the kingdom of heaven is like likewise, the kingdom of heaven is not just like leave, it's like leave that a woman took in hidden in three measures of flour till all was leavened. So when we're looking at these parables. Or when we're looking at really any parable, it's important to make sure that we get the second half of the, the comparison, right? What are we comparing the kingdom of heaven to? You know, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a sower who sowed seeds among, you know, in three types of four types of soil. This kingdom of Heaven is like, this is like that. We don't wanna miss part of the parable because we latch on to just like the first noun, and that follows the word like, um, but I think these are great, these are great little, um, parables that in some ways are almost like, uh, compliments or ex explanations of the other parables that we're looking at too. They, they explain to us something more about what the Kingdom of Heaven is using similar kinds of analogies that help us flesh out the parables that are surrounding them. So the Kingdom of Heaven. You know, again, we always want to caution against kind of like overinterpreting, the parables, but the, the parable of the sower is talking about the seed that is sewn into the field, right? And then there's the parable of the wheat and the tears, and there's seed again. And we, we might have a tendency to sort of miss the nature of the kingdom in a certain sort of dynamic. This fleshes this out. So we might think of like the parable of the sowers, like we don't know what, what proportion is of good soil, you know, good soil versus bad. We know that there's three types of soils that are bad soils or unproductive soils and one type, but we don't know like how much of the soil is, um, like what percentage of the field is that. Similarly, like we don't know what percentage of the field was wheat and what was weeds. This is kind of reminding us that the, the kingdom of heaven is not found primarily in the, um, the expansiveness of it. Right. It's not, it's not initially going to look like much. It's going to initially start out very small. Right. And in some ways, like in both of these, it appears to disappear entirely. Right? You sow a grain of mustard seed. I don't, I've never seen a mustard seed, so, but it's very small. Obviously you sow that into the ground. You're not gonna find it again, you're not gonna come back a week later and dig up that seed and figure out where you sewed it. Um, similarly, like you put a, you put a very small amount of yeast or lemon into a three measures of flour. You're not gonna be able to go in even probably, even with a microscope. You know, I suppose if you had infinite amount of time, you could pick a every single grain of flour, but you're not gonna be able to like go find that lemon. It's not gonna be obvious to the eye anymore, or even obvious to the careful searcher anymore. So that's what the kingdom of heaven is like in both of these. It's this very small, unassuming thing that is hidden away. Uh, it is not outwardly visible. It is not outwardly magnificent. It is not outwardly even effective. It disappears for all intents and purposes. And then it does this amazing thing. And that's where I really think these, these two parables kind of find their unity is this small, unassuming thing. That seems ineffectual actually is like abundantly effectual in ways that we don't even think about and can't even comprehend. Jesse Schwamb: Right? Yeah. I would say almost it's as if it's like, well, it's certainly intentionally, but almost like offensively imperceptible. And I think that's the friction that Jesus brings with him to the original audience when he explains it this way. So again, from the top, when we said this idea that the kingdom of God is imperceptible, it's hidden, it grows, it conquers, it brings eschatological resolution. And I'm just thinking again, in the minds of the hearers, what they would've been processing. I think you're spot on. I liked your treatment of that by focusing us to the fact that there is verb and noun and they go together. We often get stuck on the nouns, but this, that verb content means that all of this, of course, is by the superintendent will of God. It's volitional. His choice is to do it this way. It is again, where the curse becomes the blessing, where it's the theology of the cross or theology of glory, where it is what is small and imp, perceptible and normal by extraordinary means becomes that which conquers all things. And so I can. Picture, at least in my mind, because I'm a person and would, would wanna understand something of the kingdom of God. And if I were in a place, a place of oppression physically and spiritually living in darkness, to have this one who claims to be Messiah come and talk about the inauguration of this kingdom. My mind, of course, would immediately go to, well, God's kingdom must be greater than any other kingdom I could see on this earth. And I see it on the earth that the sun rises. And cast light across provinces and countries and territories in a grand way. And then we have this kingdom of God, which, you know, theory, the, the sun should never set on it and the sun should never be able to shine, but on a corner of it. And it doesn't have provinces or countries, it doesn't even have continence, but it has, it encapsulates worlds. And it doesn't stretch from like shore to shore or sea to shining sea, but from sun to sun or star to star from the heavens to the earth, its extent couldn't be surveyed. Its inhabitants couldn't be numbered. Its beginning, could never be calculated because from Tard past, it had no bounds. And so I'm just thinking of all these things and then like you said, Jesus says, let me tell you what it's really like. It's like somebody throwing a tiny seed into a garden. Or it's like a woman just making bread and she puts yeast into it. These seem like not just opposites, but almost offensive, I think, in the way that they portray this kingdom that's supposed to be of great power and sovereign growth, but it comes in perceptibly and how perfect, because the one who's delivering this message is the one who comes imperceptibly, the person of Christ preaching the gospel and the hearts of believers. But that grows into a vast and global proportion, and that of course, that aligns exactly with so many things you and I have talked about in process before. These doctrines are providence and sovereign grace, that God ordains the means that is the seed and ensures the outcome, which is the tree. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I think too, um, you know, I don't, I don't know of any affinity with mustard seed in like the Old Testament law, but there's, there's a sort of a reversal of expectation here too, because although Levin is not always associated with like impurity, um, I think most Jewish listeners would immediately have a negative connotation with Levin for sure. Right? So when, when all of a sudden he's comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven it, it becomes sort of this, um, the reason Levin is so pernicious and the reason that in the Old Testament law, you know, they're, they're, they're not just not making their bread with leave for the, for the Passover. They have to like sweep out their whole house. They have to empty all their stores out. They have to clear everything out. And that's not just because like. In, in, in Old Testament, sort of like metaphors, leaven does get associated with sin, right? Uh, and that gets carried on into the New Testament, but just the actual physical properties of leaven is like, if there's any little bit of it left on the shelf or even in the air, like even on your hands, it's can spoil the whole batch. It can cause the entire batch to go a different direction than you want it to. And in a certain way, like the Kingdom of Heaven is like that, right? Um. [00:30:21] The Resilience of God's Kingdom Tony Arsenal: You hear about, um, you hear about situations where it seems like the presence of God's people and the, the kingdom of God is just, it's just eradicated. And then you find out that there's actually like a small group of believers who somehow survived and then like Christianity is thriving again like 50 years later. Um, you can't just wipe out the kingdom of heaven because it is like leaven and any small remaining remnant of it is going to work its way back through the entire batch in a way that is, uh, mysterious and is somewhat unpredictable and is certainly going to surprise people who are not expecting it to be there. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. [00:31:04] Understanding Theological Concepts Jesse Schwamb: One of the things I really picked up in your treatment of that, that kind of drew me in in a special way was, you know, we think of some theological terms. We have really, I think, strong. Rubric for processing them, and especially like their multifaceted nature. So for instance, when we think about sanctification, we often talk about positional and progressive. And those are really helpful ways to understand a concept that brings us into modeling where it's finite and precise to a degree that allows us to understand it and comprehend it with a greater degree of confidence. And knowing it's many parts, because it is many parted. [00:31:36] The Parable of the Leaven Jesse Schwamb: And I was thinking as you were talking about the leaven, how the kingdom of heaven here that is inaugurated by Christ, that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit is growth and always deny that. But what you drew out for me was I think we're definitely seeing in that this idea of the intensive growth and then of course in the. Parable of the mustard seed. It's more extensive growth and they're both important. So they're in consummate harmony. It's not just like one recapitulating the other. And what that made me think about was even as you were speaking now, this really interesting difference, you know, the woman is taking this, again, talking about the verb, there's two nouns here actually. There's like the, the proper pronoun of the woman there is the act which she's doing, which she's taking the leaven and working it as it were like into the flower. I just did like a weird motion here on the camera if you're watching on uh, YouTube. Sorry about that. [00:32:28] Practical Lessons from Bread Making Jesse Schwamb: Almost like I was giving CPR, but she's working it into this meal or this flower and the working it from within outwards and that working itself like changes the whole substance from the center to the surface of this meal. Now I was thinking about this 'cause you noted something about bed bread. Bread baking in yours. And I did actually just a couple weeks ago, make some bread and the recipe I was using came with this like huge warning. Some of the recipes are like this, where when you're using some kinda lemon, most of the time we're using yeast. You have to not only be careful, of course, about how much yeast you put in because you put in too much, it's gonna blow the whole thing up. You're gonna have serious problems. You're not gonna make the bread anymore, you're gonna make a bomb, so to speak, and it's gonna be horrible. You're not gonna want to eat it. But the second thing is the order in which you add the ingredients, or in this recipe in particular, had very explicit instructions for when you're creating the dry ingredients. When you have the flour, make a little well with your finger and delicately place. All of the yeast in there so that when you bring the dough together, when you start to shape it, you do it in a particular way that from the inside out changes the whole thing so that there's a thorough mixing. Because the beauty of this intensive change is that. As you know Tony, like there's so many things right now in my kitchen that are fermenting and I talked about before, fermenting the process of leavening something is a process of complete change. It's taking something that was before and making it something very different. But of course it retains some of the essential characteristics, but at the same time is a completely different thing. And so it's through a corresponding change that man goes to whom the spirit of God communicates His grace. It's hidden in the heart and chain begin, change begins there. You know, the outward reformation is not preparing a way for inward regeneration. It's the other way around that regeneration, that reformation on the outside springs from a regeneration that's on the inside, growing out of it as a tree grows from a seed as a stream flows from the spring or as leave, comes and takes over the entire lump of dough. [00:34:26] The Power of Small Beginnings Jesse Schwamb: It's amazing. This is how God works it. We again, on the one side we see the kingdom of heaven. That is like the manifestations of his rule in rain coming, like that seed being sown and growing into this mighty tree. It brings shade. The birds come nest in it. And that may be a reference Allah to like Ezekiel or Daniel, the Gentiles themselves. There's that inclusion. And then to be paired with this lovely sense that, you know what else, anywhere else, the power of the kingdom of heaven is made. Manifest is in every heart in life of the believer. And so the Christian has way more in religion in their outer expression than they do anybody else. Because the inner person, the identity has been changed. Now you and I, you and I harp all the time on this idea that we, we don't need some kind of, you know, restoration. We need regeneration. We don't need to be reformed merely on the outside by way of behaviors or clever life hacks. We need desperately to be changed from the inside out because otherwise we. Where it's just, I don't know, draping a dead cold statue with clothing, or all we're doing is trying to create for ourselves a pew in the house of God. What we really need is to be like this bread that is fully loving, that grows and rises into this delicious offering before the world and before God. Because if you were to cut into this outwardly looking freshly baked bread and find that as soon as you got through that delicious, hard, crispy crust on the outside, that in the inside all it was, was filled with like unprocessed, raw flour, you would of course say, that's not bread. I don't know what that is. But that's not bred. What a great blessing that the promise that God gives to us is that the kingdom of God is not like that. It lies in the heart by the power of God. And if it's not there, it's not anywhere. And that though the Christian May at times exhibit, as we've talked about before, some kinda hypocrisy, they are not essentially hypocrites. Why? Because the Kingdom of God is leavening us by the power of the Holy Spirit. That gospel message is constantly per permeating that yeast through all of who we are, so that it continues to change us. So that while the natural man still remains, we are in fact a new creation in Christ. So to start with, you know, bread and or not bread to end with bread, but to start with flour and water and yeast and salts, and to be transformed and changed is the intensive power of the growth of the gospel, which is with us all our lives, until we have that beautific vision. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I think, um, you know, to kind of take a, a pivot maybe to the practical, I think this is, this is not the point of the parable necessarily 'cause the parable. I think there's a lot that these parables have to say to us about like, personal, individual growth, but they really are about the growth of the kingdom or the, the, maybe necessarily the growth of the kingdom. I think that's there too. But really like the nature of the kingdom as this sort of like, hidden, hidden thing that then grows and creates big results. [00:37:34] Encouragement in Times of Darkness Tony Arsenal: I, I think this is a, this is a parable that should encourage us. Like absolutely for sure we should look to this and, and be encouraged because. It is not the case. Um, I know there are lots of people who wanna act as though like this is the worst time anyone has ever lived in, and everything is the worst as it's ever been. It's, this is not even close to the worst time that the church has ever existed in, um, there are, it's funny, um, we'll give a little plug. Some of our listeners have started their own new show called Over Theologizing, and, um, it, it was, it was funny listening to the second episode they had, um. Pete Smith was on there and they were saying, like, they were talking about like, how do you feel about the nature of the church? And Pete was like, it's fine. Like it's great out here. Like there's lots of churches, lots good. Like I, I think that there are pockets in our, in our world, um, particularly, you know, my, my former reference is Western World and in the United States and in some senses in, in Europe, um, there are certainly pockets of places where it's very dark and very difficult to be a Christian, but by and large it's not all that challenging. Like, we're not being actively persecuted. They're not feeding us to the lions. They're not stealing our businesses. They're not, um, murdering us. You know, like I said, there are exceptions. And even in the United States, there are places where things are moving that direction. But there are also times when the church is going to feel dark and small and, and like it's failing and, and like it's, it's weak. And we can look at these parables and say, the fact that it feels and looks and may actually be very small does not rob it of its power that does not rob the kingdom of heaven of its power. It in, in actuality that smallness is its power, right? Leave is so powerful of an ingredient in bread because you need so little of it, right? Because that it, you can use such a small quantity of lemon to create such a, a huge result in bread. That's the very nature of it. And it, its efficacy is in that smallness. And you know, I think the mustard seed is probably similar in that you, you don't need to have, um. Huge reaping of, of mustard seed in order to produce the, the crop that is necessary, the trees that are necessary to, to grow that. So when we look around us and we see the kingdom of heaven feeling and maybe actually even being very small in our midst, we should still be encouraged because it doesn't take a lot of leave to make the bread rise, so to speak. And it doesn't take a lot. And, and again, like of course it's not our power that's doing it, that's where maybe sort of like the second takeaway, the baker doesn't make the bread rise by his own like force of will, right? He does it by putting in this, this agent, you know, this ingredient that works in a sort of miraculous, mysterious way. It's obviously not actually miraculous. It's a very natural process. But I think for most of history. So that was a process that probably was not well understood, right? We, we, people didn't fully understand why Bread did what it did when you used lemon. They just knew that it did. And I think that's a good takeaway for us as well, is we can't always predict how the kingdom of heaven is gonna develop or is gonna operate in our midst. Um, sometimes it's gonna work in ways that seem to make a lot of sense, otherwise it's gonna seem like it's not doing anything. Um, and then all of a sudden it does. And that's, that's kind of where we're at. Jesse Schwamb: I like that. That's what a great reminder. Again, we all often come under this theme that God is always working. Even when we don't feel or see that he is, he's always working and even we've just come again on the calendar at least to celebrate something of the Reformation and its anniversary. Uh. What again, proof positive that God's kingdom will not fail. That even in the places where I thought the gospel was lost or was darkens, even in Israel's past in history, God always brings it forward. It cannot, it will not die. [00:41:26] Faithfulness Over Visibility Jesse Schwamb: So I wanna tack onto that by way of, I think some practical encouragement for ministry or for all believers. And that is, let's not despise small beginnings. Like let's not despise whatever it is that you're doing in service to God, to your family, to your churches, especially in the proclamation of the gospel. This is from um, Zacharia chapter four, beginning of verse eight. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, the hands of the rebel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zabel. So I love this encouragement that is for all Christians. That's one. Again, God is doing all the verbs like just. For one last time for everybody in the back. God does all the verbs. Yeah, and in so doing, because he is doing all the verbs, he may, but he chooses to start with small things because again, he is always showing and exemplifying his glory and he does this in these normative ways. It's a beautiful expression of how majestic and powerful he is. So let's embrace those things with be encouraged by them. The gospel may appear weak or slow in bearing fruit, yet God guarantees its eventual triumph. God guarantees that he's already stamped it. It's faithfulness and not visibility. That's the measure of fruitfulness. So if you're feeling encouraged in whatever it is that you're doing in ministry, the formal or otherwise, I would say to you. Look to that faithfulness, continue to get up and do it, continue to labor at it, continue to seek strength through the Holy Spirit, and know that the measure of his fruitfulness will come, but maybe in a future time, but it will come because this is what God does. It's God doing all the work. He's the one, he's essentially the characters needs of these parables, sowing the seed, working in lemon. Yeah. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I think, you know, like I said, the, the parables are not necessarily about individual personal growth. Um, but I, I think the principle that is here applies to that as well is I think oftentimes we feel like, um. I'll speak for myself. There are have been many times in my walk as a Christian, um, where it just feels like nothing's happening. Right? Right. Like, you just feel like it's dry and like you, you're, you know, you're, you're not like you're falling into some great sin or like you've walking away from the faith, but it just feels sort of dry and stale and like God isn't doing anything. And, um, I've only ever tried to bake bread once and it was a, it was just a terrible, terrible failure. But, um, I think one of the things that I've. I've read about people who bake bread is that there is a level of patience that has to come with it, right? Because oftentimes it seems like the bread isn't rising. It seems like the, the lemon is not doing what it's supposed to do until it does. Right? And like, if you take the bread out of the oven every couple of minutes to check and see if it's rising, it's never going to rise. It's never going to do what it's supposed to do. And, um, you know, I think that is kind of like the Christian life in microcosm too, is we, we have these spiritual disciplines that we do. We pray, we read the scriptures, we attend faithfully to the Lord's Day service. And oftentimes it doesn't feel like that's doing anything right. But it is. The Kingdom of Heaven is at work in not only in our midst as a corporate body, but the kingdom of heaven is at work in each of us as well. That's right. God's, God's grace and his, uh, special providence and his spirit of, of sanctification, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of holiness and the one who makes us holy. Um, he is doing that whether it feels like it or not, whether we see, um, outward progress or not. If the spirit dwells within us, he is necessarily making us holy and necessarily sanctifying us. Um, and and so I want us to all think about that as we, we kind of wrap up a little bit here, is we shouldn't be. I, I don't wanna say we shouldn't be discouraged, um, because it's easy to get discouraged and I don't want people to feel like I'm like, you should never be discouraged. Like sometimes the world is discouraging and it's frustrating, and it's okay to feel that, but we should be able to be encouraged by this parable. When we look at it and we remember like, this is just. This is just the parable form of Paul saying like, God glories by using the weak to demonstrate his strength. Exactly right. He, he is, his power is shown in, in using the weak and frail things of this life and this world to accomplish his purposes. And so when we are weak, when we are feeling as though we are failing as Christians, we should be able to look at this and say, well, this is what the kingdom of heaven is like. It's like a tiny mustard seed, a tiny mustard seed of faith that grows into a large tree. It's, it's like this little little spark of leave that God puts in us and it's hidden in us and it leavens the whole loaf. And that's us, right? And that's the church, that's the kingdom. It's the world. Um, God is at work and he is doing it in ways that we would not ordinarily see. Even the person who has this sort of like explosive Christian growth. That's not usually sustained. I think most people when they first come to faith, especially if they come to faith, you know, as a teenager or a young adult, um, they come to faith and they have this like explosive period of growth where they're like really passionate about it and on fire. And then that, that passion just kind of like Peters out and you kind of get into like the, the day in, day out of Christianity, um, which is not, it's not flashy. It's not sexy, it's not super exciting. It's very boring in a lot of ways, like right, it's, it's basic bread, it's basic water. It's hearing a, a person speak and it's, it's reading words on a page. But when the Holy Spirit uses those things, he uses them faithfully to finish the work that he started. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I think that's exactly right. The spirit's work of leavening, it continues quietly, but it powerfully, yeah. And we shouldn't despise that quietness or that smallness that I think is altogether a gift of God. And again, we're talking about the one who embodies the perfect will of God, who came and condescended to his creation was like us in every eight, where every way without sin. This is the one who became, I think as Paul writes in Galatians, a curse for us. And so again, this blessedness arises out of, again, what I think is this offensive means. And if that is the model that Christ gives to us, we ourselves shouldn't despise that kinda small beginning or even despise the sacrifices we're often called to make. Or those again, I would say like offensively and auspicious kinds of beginnings. All of that is peace wise, what it means to be a follower of Jesus. And there's a beauty in that. And I would say, I want to add to what you said, Tony, 'cause I think it was right on, is this idea that's easy to be discouraged is. It doesn't require any explanation. I, I, I'm totally with you. If you were to pick up any, or go to any kind of website and just look at the headlines for their news reporting, you're going to find plenty of reasons to be discouraged and to feel melancholy. And yet at the same time when I think we, you and I talk about these things, what I'm prone to consider is what Paul writes elsewhere to the church in Corinth, where he says in two Corinthians chapter 10, we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. Being ready to punish every disobedience when you're disobey, when you're obedience is complete. And so what I think that applies to us in this particular case is understanding that this is the promise of God. Like you're saying, you and I are saying. Discouragement happens. And yet the truth is that small inauspicious beginnings in the kingdom of heaven always result in outsized gains that God never ceases to work. That he's always with us, that he's always for us. Then we do have to take captive those thoughts that lead us into kind of a disproportionate melancholy that pull us away or distract us from this truth of God, the knowledge of God, which is that he is super intending, his sovereign will completely over every molecule in the universe because this is what the Kingdom of Heaven does. And so that gives us, I think as I said last week, hope and evangelism we're storming those gates of hell we're coming for you like because there is a triumphalism in Christ that will be manifested in the final day. It's the reformed understanding of the here but not quite yet. [00:49:57] Cultural Engagement as Christians Jesse Schwamb: And like the last place that Le that leads me to like some practical, I think application is, and I wanna be careful with this, so I'm curious for your opinion. It's cultural engagement. You know, if we're thinking about this, leave permeating this dough, this tiny seed growing to overtake the garden, then I think believers should labor to continue to bring biblical truth into every sphere. So your family, your vocation, arts, politics, everything under Christ's lordship. I think sometimes that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be. As we've talked about the top of the show, really outspoken in a provocative kind of way. I think sometimes, again, that same quiet though, consistent work that the Holy Spirit does that's powerful in leavening us is the same thing that we can do with just our attitudes at work or our attitudes in our family, or our willingness to serve or our kind words. Of course, it does require us to preach the gospel using words. It also means that the power of the leaven is that quiet power. It doesn't jump outta the bread. It doesn't boast, but it is present. So maybe I'm saying Christians, let's be present, and leavening means to be present with the attitude and the mind of Christ. What? What do you think? Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I think that's, um, I think that's right on, you know, um, it, it's not quite a parable, but Christ, Christ commands his people to be like salt and light and true. Um, and, and by saying that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, you know, like a, a measure of leaven that was hidden away in three measures. Um, he's also commanding us to be like leaven, right? And he is commanding us to be like the, the mustard seed because that is what we are. And I think, um, we shouldn't think that we can cloister off or sequester off the kingdom of heaven from the rest of culture and create like, um, I'm not quite, uh, I'm not quite to the point where I'm, I'm a transformational in the sort of like Tim Keller sense, but I do think that. We, and I don't like this word, but I'm not sure of a better, a better way to say it, but like, we like to set up these little Christian ghettos where like we, we isolate ourselves culturally into these little subcultures and these little sort of cordoned off areas of culture. Um, where we, we actually then strive to look just like the culture that's around us, right? Right. We subsection off Christian music and although it's, you know, typically it's like a decade behind the curve in terms of what music is good, we're really just doing the same music as the rest of the world. We just baptize it with Christian language. Like, I remember my, my youth pastor in high school rewrote the song closing time to Be Quiet Time. And like that was like, that was like the most Christian thing he could do at the time, was rewrite the lyrics to a song. But like, that's, that's absolutely not what cultural transformation looks like. Right. Well, cultural transformation, and maybe I'm channeling a little bit of, of Michael Foster here, what cultural transformation looks like. Is is a man who gets married and loves his wife, well, serves her and sacrifices for her, and makes a bunch of babies and brings them to church, right? Like that's, that's cultural transformation. And in our culture, like that is a very counter-cultural way to do things. It's actually very counter-cultural. There have been times when that's not particularly countercultural and there probably will be times again where it is. And actually it seems like our broader American culture is moving away from the sort of like two kids, two kids and a dog is a, is a bygone era fantasy. And now it's like two single people living in a house together with a dog. Um, you know, and, and that's not to say that that's the only way to be, to transform culture, right? That's just one example of sort of the most mundane, natural thing is actually the way that we do it. Um. We transform culture by, um, by being honest, having integrity, yes. By, um, working hard, right? Yes. Going to work, doing your job well, uh, without a lot of fanfare, without seeking a lot of accolades, um, and just doing a good job because that's what God commands us to do when he tells us to honor our employers and to be good, faithful bond servants in the Lord. Um, that is also very, uh, that also will transform culture. Um, you know, I think we think of cultural transformation and we, I think we immediately go to, for better or worse, we go to like the Doug Wilsons of the world and we go like, that guy's engaging the culture. Well, yeah, I guess in a certain sense he is. Um, or we, or we go to. The Tim Keller's of the world where they are, they're engaging culture in a different way. But I think for most of us, for most Christians, our cultural engagement is very nor like very normal and very boring. It's living a very ordinary, quiet life. Um, you know, what does Paul say? Work quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your hands, right? Like, don't be a busy body. Um, like that's, that's actually the way that culture is transformed. And that makes perfect sense. We will have to come back and do another episode on this sometimes, but like, that makes perfect sense. When you think about how God created Adam and what he was supposed to do to transform and cult, cultivate, right? The word cultivate and culture come from the same roots to transform and cultivate the entire world. What was he supposed to do? Plant a garden, tame the animals, right? You know, bake babies. Like, it's, it's not, um, it's not. Rocket science, it's not that difficult. And again, we are all called to different elements of that. And God providentially places us in situations and in, in life, you know, life circumstances, we're not all gonna be able to fulfill every element of that. But that's where this, that's where this becomes sort of the domain of the church, right? The church does all of these things in the culture, and I don't mean the church as institution. I mean like the people who are the church. They do all of these things in very ordinary, normal ways, and that will, that will transform the culture. Um, right. You, you show me a. And this is not, you know, by God's common grace, there are lots of really nice people out there who are more or less honest and have integrity and work hard at their jobs. So it's not as that, that's a uniquely Christian thing. But you show me a, a, a person who is known to be a Christian and works hard as honest is straightforward, is kind, is charitable, is self-sacrificial in, in all arenas of their life. Um, people will notice that and they will see it as different and they will associate it with Christianity. They will as

Tara exposes a series of shocking truths—from the Wuhan lab origins of COVID-19 and government censorship, to Chinese researchers smuggling weaponized pathogens into the U.S., to the infiltration of U.S. universities by foreign agents. She also explores alarming trends in American politics, crime glorification, economic sabotage, and workforce instability. This episode is a hard-hitting examination of threats to national security, public health, and everyday American life. Lies, cover-ups, bioweapons, and a country teetering on the edge—what you're not being told. In this explosive episode, Tara unpacks multiple crises facing the United States: 1. **COVID Origins and Cover-Ups:** UNC virologist Ralph Baric briefed U.S. intelligence agencies in January 2020 that COVID-19 originated in the Wuhan military lab, yet government agencies, social media platforms, and leading officials censored and misrepresented the facts for years. 2. **Funding Controversy:** Millions in U.S. taxpayer dollars from the Pentagon and USAID were sent to the Wuhan lab, raising questions about accountability and potential complicity in the pandemic's spread. 3. **Bioweapon Smuggling:** Chinese researchers at the University of Michigan have been caught attempting to smuggle genetically modified pathogens, including weaponized blight and ringworm, threatening American agriculture and public health. 4. **Political and Social Chaos:** Tara discusses alarming trends in U.S. politics, including crime glorification, illegal immigrant candidates, extremist political aspirants, and infiltration of government and defense agencies by foreign actors. 5. **Economic Instability:** October layoffs hit a 22-year high, while Federal Reserve actions, influenced by political agendas, are affecting job growth and economic stability. 6. **Cultural and Social Shifts:** Observations on early holiday displays, side hustles, and changing societal norms reflect a nation under stress and transition. This episode blends investigative reporting, national security concerns, and social commentary, warning listeners of the hidden forces shaping America's present and future. COVID-19, Wuhan lab, Ralph Baric, Anthony Fauci, deep state, censorship, Facebook, YouTube, U.S. defense funding, Pentagon, USAID, Chinese bioweapons, smuggling, University of Michigan, Gordon Chang, STEM espionage, food security, agricultural threats, revelation, crime glorification, Democratic politics, illegal immigration, extremist candidates, economic sabotage, Jerome Powell, layoffs, side hustles, Tara Show, national security

In this heartfelt and empowering episode, Dr. Payal Patel Ghayal sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Harita Raja to unpack how perimenopause and menopause uniquely affect South Asian women—physically, emotionally, and culturally. Together, they explore what it means to age with awareness, strength, and self-compassion while breaking generational cycles of silence around women's health. Dr. Harita explains how South Asian women tend to experience menopause earlier than Western counterparts and how hormonal changes can impact everything from mood to metabolism. Dr. Payal reflects on her own experiences in midlife—navigating divorce, motherhood, and self-discovery—and how the mind-body connection becomes even more vital in this season. The conversation also dives into topics like: Cultural conditioning around women's roles and reproductive health How perimenopause can start as early as your late 30s The link between hormones, sleep, anxiety, and mood Why community, nature, and strength training are essential to thriving midlife The importance of self-education and advocacy around hormone therapy and women's health Dr. Payal and Dr. Harita model vulnerability and courage as they redefine what it means to be Brown and Happy in midlife — choosing joy, movement, and authenticity over silence and shame. Dr. Harita Raja is a South Asian women's psychiatrist, mom of two, and advocate for open conversations around mental health, hormones, and holistic wellness. She's passionate about empowering women to understand their bodies and emotions through every life stage. Resources: IG: @drharitaraja LinkedIn: Dr. Harita Raja Website: www.bwmhc.com Others recommend by Dr. Raja-@drmaryclaire, @menopause_doctor, @heatherhirschmd

America Isn't Collapsing... It's Mutating. Michael Malice Watch this video at- https://youtu.be/ukOGFaOAKkQ?si=8oHaK77YdTDrkPpX Tom Bilyeu  and Michael Malice 228,207 views Oct 14, 2025 Full Interviews of Impact Theory Shortform: Try Shortform free and get 20% off your annual subscription at http://shortform.com/tombilyeu Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impact Check us out wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1nARKz2... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Do you need my help? STARTING a business: join me here inside ZERO TO FOUNDER (https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder) SCALING a business: click here to see if you qualify (https://tombilyeu.com/scale) Get the exact systems, mindset shifts, and principles that built a $1B brand delivered straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free (https://tombilyeu.com) Check out our Video game - Project Kyzen: (https://projectkyzen.io/) Catch Me Streaming on Twitch - (  / tombilyeu  ) Link to IT discord:   / discord   Tom's Favorite Things List: https://amzn.to/41Ftt7e On today's episode of Impact Theory, Tom Bilyeu sits down with author and provocateur Michael Malice for an unfiltered deep dive into America's current social and political turbulence. Are we living through an actual decline—or is that just a narrative fueled by polarization and economic anxiety? Tom and Michael clash over definitions, metrics, and the real-world symptoms of unrest, from “soft secession” among states to the creeping rise of populism and political violence. Together, they unpack the hidden costs of inflation, housing bubbles, and deficit spending, with Tom warning about a dangerous fork in the road ahead: revolution, civil war, or the quiet erosion into economic stagnation. Michael pushes back, claiming America is in “ascension” in some critical ways, but he doesn't shy away from calling out the breakdown in civic discourse and the silos fueling division. They dig into historical context, global comparisons, and the role of universities as modern indoctrination hubs. This conversation doesn't stop at politics—it veers into the future of AI, the meaning of tribalism, social credit scores, and how technological upheaval might drive us all into virtual worlds or leave millions behind. Buckle up for a wild ride through uncomfortable truths, dark humor, and some offbeat protein bar analogies—you're about to hear two radically different views not just of where America stands, but what could come next.   00:00 – Intro 00:34 – Michael Malice pushes back on “collapse” rhetoric 01:14 – America vs. the world: Perceptions of American power and value 04:16 – Political siloization and the shrinking space for dialogue 05:56 – Soft secession: State vs. federal power games 08:39 – Paths ahead: Civil War, Argentina, or revolution? 10:46 – Revolution mechanics: Is another 1860s-style war possible? 13:12 – Violence, political unrest, and expanding executive power 16:06 – Economic crushing of young people and the rise of populism 17:58 – Housing, inflation, and the struggle for the American Dream 20:08 – Currency as a store of value: Societal ruin and a lack of political will 23:10 – The Japan counterargument and the threshold for crisis 26:07 – What drives people to “blink” in political standoffs? 28:24 – Party priorities, empty rhetoric, and pivoting for power 32:00 – Economic disenfranchisement, the myth of moderate politics 36:56 – Populism vs. establishment: Energies within parties 39:03 – Political novelty, enthusiasm gaps, and voter turnout 41:38 – Global leftward drift: Authoritarianism in Canada, UK, and beyond 46:13 – “The time for talk is over”—what this actually means 47:27 – Universities as the “villains” and the creation of ruling elites 49:56 – Marxism, egalitarianism, and cultural bifurcation 52:02 – Cultural shifts, earnestness vs. revolution, and memory-holed leftism 54:00 – The dangers of social conformity and shifting the Overton window 56:29 – Can universities be reined in? 1:00:16 – Narrative control, new media chaos, and elite power after the Internet 1:06:49 – The politics of blame: Antisemitism, conspiracies, and populist rage 1:13:13 – Warning signs: Measuring society's health by its scapegoats 1:19:12 – Israel-Palestine, war, and the elusive search for peace 1:21:52 – The next stage: AI, algorithmic reality, and broken discourse 1:24:00 – Goal orientation, skills, and navigating “useful” beliefs 1:25:18 – Tribalism, isolation, and the dangers for moderates 1:26:46 – Alex Jones, Candace Owens, and why conspiracy theories persist 1:32:00 – First principles: How to actually challenge your beliefs 1:33:56 – A personal story: Sleep apnea, anxiety, and reclaiming clarity 1:37:21 – AI, automation, and the fate of surplus labor 1:40:08 – Brave New World, artificial difficulty, and the post-economic Matrix 1:48:56 – Hardwired for scarcity: The psychological cost of abundance 1:51:16 – Trade-offs, Thomas Sowell, and the “protein bar” thought experiment   --------------------------------------------------------------------  Check out our ACU Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/ACUPodcast   HELP ACU SPREAD THE WORD!  Please go to Apple Podcasts and give ACU a 5 star rating. Apple canceled us and now we are clawing our way back to the top. Don't let the Leftist win. Do it now! Thanks. Also Rate us on any platform you follow us on. It helps a lot. Forward this show to friends. Ways to subscribe to the American Conservative University Podcast Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe via RSS You can also subscribe via Stitcher FM Player Podcast Addict Tune-in Podcasts Pandora Look us up on Amazon Prime …And Many Other Podcast Aggregators and sites ACU on Twitter- https://twitter.com/AmerConU . Warning- Explicit and Violent video content.   Please help ACU by submitting your Show ideas. Email us at americanconservativeuniversity@americanconservativeuniversity.com   Endorsed Charities -------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Born! Saving babies and Souls. https://preborn.org/ OUR MISSION To glorify Jesus Christ by leading and equipping pregnancy clinics to save more babies and souls. WHAT WE DO Pre-Born! partners with life-affirming pregnancy clinics all across the nation. We are designed to strategically impact the abortion industry through the following initiatives:… -------------------------------------------------------- Help CSI Stamp Out Slavery In Sudan Join us in our effort to free over 350 slaves. Listeners to the Eric Metaxas Show will remember our annual effort to free Christians who have been enslaved for simply acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Savior. As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, join us in giving new life to brothers and sisters in Sudan who have enslaved as a result of their faith. https://csi-usa.org/metaxas   https://csi-usa.org/slavery/   Typical Aid for the Enslaved A ration of sorghum, a local nutrient-rich staple food A dairy goat A “Sack of Hope,” a survival kit containing essential items such as tarp for shelter, a cooking pan, a water canister, a mosquito net, a blanket, a handheld sickle, and fishing hooks. Release celebrations include prayer and gathering for a meal, and medical care for those in need. The CSI team provides comfort, encouragement, and a shoulder to lean on while they tell their stories and begin their new lives. Thank you for your compassion  Giving the Gift of Freedom and Hope to the Enslaved South Sudanese -------------------------------------------------------- Food For the Poor https://foodforthepoor.org/ Help us serve the poorest of the poor Food For The Poor began in 1982 in Jamaica. Today, our interdenominational Christian ministry serves the poor in primarily 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Thanks to our faithful donors, we are able to provide food, housing, healthcare, education, fresh water, emergency relief, micro-enterprise solutions and much more. We are proud to have fed millions of people and provided more than 15.7 billion dollars in aid. Our faith inspires us to be an organization built on compassion, and motivated by love. Our mission is to bring relief to the poorest of the poor in the countries where we serve. We strive to reflect God's unconditional love. It's a sacrificial love that embraces all people regardless of race or religion. We believe that we can show His love by serving the “least of these” on this earth as Christ challenged us to do in Matthew 25. We pray that by God's grace, and with your support, we can continue to bring relief to the suffering and hope to the hopeless.   Report on Food For the Poor by Charity Navigator https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/592174510   -------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer from ACU. We try to bring to our students and alumni the World's best Conservative thinkers. All views expressed belong solely to the author and not necessarily to ACU. In all issues and relations, we hope to follow the admonitions of Jesus Christ. While striving to expose, warn and contend with evil, we extend the love of God to all of his children. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Visit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation. www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.In this engaging conversation, TS Wright and Cassian Bellino explore Cassian's journey of faith, the challenges of understanding biblical teachings, and the importance of community in navigating doubts. Cassian shares her experiences leading to the creation of her podcast, 'Biblically Speaking,' aimed at making biblical scholarship accessible and relatable. They discuss the significance of understanding the cultural and historical context of scripture, the relational aspect of faith, and how to seek encouragement during times of doubt.TakeawaysCassian describes herself as curious and confused about faith.She struggled with her faith despite being raised in a religious environment.The idea of wanting to want God is a recurring theme in her journey.Community and accountability are crucial for maintaining faith.Doubts can be addressed through honest prayer and seeking God.Understanding biblical context can prevent misinterpretations of scripture.The relational aspect of faith is more important than transactional beliefs.Cassian's podcast aims to make biblical scholarship accessible to all.Cultural and historical contexts enrich the understanding of biblical stories.Faith is a lifelong journey of learning and growth.

In this episode, Donny explores the intersection of branding and politics, analyzing recent election outcomes and their implications for party identities. He discusses cultural trends in entertainment, corporate mergers, and lifestyle choices, while also touching on the ethical considerations surrounding pet cloning. The conversation highlights how branding influences perceptions in various sectors, from politics to personal lives. Takeaways: Recent elections show a shift in Democratic branding. Moderate candidates are overshadowed by more extreme figures. Corporate mergers often reflect individual CEO interests. Cultural trends influence consumer behavior and brand perception. Morning sex is linked to higher workplace productivity. The term 'six seven' reflects changing language trends. Cloning pets raises ethical questions about identity. Lifestyle choices are shifting towards dual-income, no kids. Public perception of brands can change rapidly based on events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 321 hosts Dr Rami Abadi (Dermatologist from Lebanon) This is the seventh chapter of our miniseries, 'The Beauty Of The World'. (Please also listen to episodes 102, 107, 109, 113, 118 and 224 for our other episodes and regions of the world)  In these episodes we host globally-renowned key opinion leaders to discuss their own regions beauty standards, aesthetic trends and the injectable market in their part of the world. We'll aim to understand what people find attractive, what influences this and celebrate the similarities and amazing differences amongst peoples faces and skin tones. Rami is a globally-renowned dermatologist who consults in several countries across the Middle East. We comparing Western and Middle Eastern beauty standards, and the impact of culture and social media on aesthetic preferences. Rami shares his experiences treating diverse patient demographics across Lebanon, Qatar, Dubai and even in the Ivory Coast.  00:00 Introduction  01:04 Meet Dr. Rami Abadi 02:44 Understanding Regional Beauty 05:29 Cultural and Social Influences on Beauty 06:47 Patient Profiles and Treatment Approaches 08:36 The Role of Social Media in Aesthetics  13:20 Differences in Facial Features and Treatments 15:55 Sun Exposure and Skin Care 18:01 Support Inside Aesthetics on Patreon 19:19 Regenerative Treatments and Exosomes 20:09 Patient Improvement and Polynucleotides 20:57 Exosomes: Plant vs. Human Sources 22:59 Korean Beauty Trends 24:54 Consultation and Treatment Strategies 32:29 Medical Tourism and Regional Influences 37:46 Future of Aesthetic Practices SIGN UP HERE: Alma Laser's AU workshop on 10th of November : 'The Aesthetic Playbook: How to build a business that lasts' by David Segal JOIN OUR PATREON FOR EXTRA EDUCATION & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES CLICK HERE TO BROWSE OUR IA OFFERS FOR DISCOUNTS & SPECIALS CLICK HERE IF YOU'RE A BRAND OR COMPANY & WANT TO WORK WITH US CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO BE A GUEST ON OUR PODCAST CONTACT US  

402-521-3080In this episode of Resilience and Relationships, hosts Stephanie Olson and Rebecca Saunders delve into the complexities of autonomy, boundaries, and the importance of allowing children to express their comfort levels in physical interactions. They discuss the backlash received from a controversial podcast episode, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue and understanding in discussions about consent and familial affection. The conversation highlights personal experiences, societal expectations, and the significance of teaching children about their rights to say no, ultimately aiming to foster a safer environment for all.TakeawaysThe backlash from the podcast highlighted societal discomfort with discussions on autonomy.Intrinsic value and human nature are central to understanding personal boundaries.Children should be taught they have the right to say no to unwanted affection.Healthy family dynamics include respecting children's comfort levels with physical touch.Online discourse can often devolve into hostility rather than constructive dialogue.Personal experiences shape our understanding of consent and boundaries.Teaching children about consent can prevent future trauma and abuse.Cultural differences influence perceptions of familial affection and respect.Respectful disagreement is essential for healthy discussions.The importance of emotional intelligence in navigating relationships. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Controversy01:24 The Impact of Social Media Feedback02:22 Understanding Boundaries and Consent05:45 The Importance of Dialogue12:20 Personal Stories and Their Impact18:43 Cultural Perspectives on Affection25:03 Conclusion and Call for Kindness27:54 R&R Outro.mp4Support the showEveryone has resilience, but what does that mean, and how do we use it in life and leadership? Join Stephanie Olson, an expert in resiliency and trauma, every week as she talks to other experts living lives of resilience. Stephanie also shares her own stories of addictions, disordered eating, domestic and sexual violence, abandonment, and trauma, and shares the everyday struggles and joys of everyday life. As a wife, mom, and CEO she gives commentaries and, sometimes, a few rants to shed light on what makes a person resilient. So, if you have experienced adversity in life in any way and want to learn how to better lead your family, your workplace, and, well, your life, this podcast is for you!https://setmefreeproject.net https://www.stephanieolson.com/

In this engaging conversation, Lori Adams-Brown interviews Mita Mallick about her book "The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses." Mita shares personal stories and insights on leadership, workplace culture, and the impact of bad bosses on mental health. The discussion covers the importance of self-awareness, setting boundaries, and the role of personal relationships in professional settings. The genesis of Mita's book started with a personal experience of her mother's home being flooded. Mita found an old notebook with stories about bad bosses, which inspired her book. Fear-driven workplaces may achieve short-term results but harm long-term culture. Mita shares a 'water test' to identify toxic workplaces during interviews. Setting boundaries is crucial for respect and inclusion in the workplace. Personal relationships can complicate professional decisions, especially in leadership roles. Mita emphasizes the importance of self-care for effective leadership. The conversation highlights the normalization of toxic behavior in workplaces. Mita advises doing reference checks on potential employers. The book encourages readers to learn from bad bosses to become better leaders. My special guest is Mita Mallick Mallick is a highly sought-after speaker who has advised Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice and was named to the Thinkers 50 Radar List. She's a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Adweek, and Entrepreneur. Mallick has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, Forbes, Axios, Essence, Cosmopolitan Magazine and Business Insider. Mallick holds a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University and an M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Learning from Bad Bosses The Devil Emails at Midnight Leadership Lessons from Mita Mallick Navigating Toxic Workplaces Setting Boundaries for Success The Impact of Bad Bosses Self-Care in Leadership Identifying Toxic Workplaces The Role of Personal Relationships in Leadership Transforming Workplace Culture Key topics: leadership, workplace culture, bad bosses, mental health, self-awareness "The Devil Emails at Midnight" "Fear kills culture in the longterm" "Set boundaries for respect" "Personal relationships complicate decisions" "Self-care is key to leadership" "Normalize toxic behavior in workplaces" "Do reference checks on employers" "Learn from bad bosses" "Water test for toxic workplaces" "Respect is a basic need" 00:00:01 Introduction and Book Overview 00:00:29 Inspiration Behind the Book 00:01:27 Fear-Driven Workplaces 00:02:27 Impact of Bad Bosses 00:04:10 Setting Boundaries 00:07:30 Personal Relationships in Leadership 00:11:39 Self-Care and Leadership 00:18:54 Cultural and Personal Background 00:25:20 Advice for Navigating Workplace Dynamics 00:30:51 Conclusion and How to Connect with Mita Connect with us: https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com Linkedin YouTube Substack FaceBook Instagram Threads Patreon (for exclusive episodes just for Difference Makers) Bluesky TikTok Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. Your support helps the community grow and keeps these important conversations going. If you need professional help, such as therapy: https://www.betterhelp.com/difference If you are looking for your next opportunity, sign up for Lori's Masterclass on Master the Career Pivot: https://www.loriadamsbrown.com/careerpivot Difference Makers who are podcast listeners get 10% offf with the code: DIFFERENT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlamos con Carmen Moriyón, alcaldesa de Gijón, sobre los proyectos culturales que están trasformando la ciudad con el fin de rescatar y proteger su patrimonio, como en el caso del edificio histórico de la Tabacalera que será reconvertido en Centro de Arte

In this episode of Now I Get It, I dive deep into how cultural differences shape the United States—past and present. Drawing from Geert Hofstede's groundbreaking IBM studies, I explore how nations differ across dimensions like inequality, gender roles, religion, and individuality. Through that lens, I connect these global cultural frameworks to America's own fragmented identity—how early immigrant roots, regional histories, and moral certainties have divided and defined the country's political landscape.I also unpack how gender distinctions, religion, and attitudes toward uncertainty influence everything from politics to personality. From Appalachian independence to New England collectivism, from authoritarian comfort to improvisational freedom, these cultural currents still ripple through every debate we have today. Understanding them, I argue, is the first step toward finding balance amid the chaos.In this episode, you will learn:(00:00) How IBM's cultural research helps explain America's divided identity(03:10) Why early immigrant settlements still shape regional attitudes centuries later(04:46) The political fault line between equality and inequality in U.S. ideology(08:51) How gender, religion, and cultural “masculinity” define national outlooks(11:57) The psychology of authoritarianism and the comfort of conformity(15:40) Why improvisers crave freedom while stabilizers seek safety(17:49) How time orientation—past, present, or future—shapes cultural behavior(21:30) The historical tug-of-war between Boston and Charleston—and what it still means todayLet's connect!linktr.ee/drprandy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SummaryIn this episode of the Inorganic Podcast, co-hosts Ayelet Shipley and Christian Hassold welcome Brian Burt, founder & CEO of Canopy Management. In this episode, we discuss Brian's entrepreneurial journey, with an emphasis on his principles for building the business and expanding through highly accretive tuck-in M&A transactions. Brian also shares the importance of cultural fit in successful integrations. He then discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the retail media space, emphasizing the need for omnichannel marketing strategies. The conversation underscores the importance of momentum in business and the role of performance-based incentives in sustaining an entrepreneurial spirit within acquired teams.TakeawaysCanopy Management has grown without external investment, focusing on mergers and acquisitions for expansion.The need for operational efficiency and scalability drove the first acquisition.Cultural fit and shared values are crucial in successful acquisitions.Integrating new teams requires clear communication and defined outcomes.Performance-based incentives help maintain entrepreneurial spirit in acquired teams.AI presents both a threat and an opportunity for the agency space.Omnichannel marketing is essential for modern e-commerce success.Building a strong personal brand aids in building an acquisition funnelMomentum in business is key to successful integration and growth.?Chapters00:26 Brian Burt's Background 02:38 Growing through M&A 12:31 Culture Fit and Founder Alignment13:09 Integrating the First Acquisition16:36 Defining and Executing Acquihires20:45 Evolving the Playbook23:46 Incentives Pods, and Integration Strategy27:44 Scale Synergy and Sustainable Growth31:28 Market Outlook: Retail Media Omnichannel and AI37:14 Closing Thoughts and TakeawaysConnect with Christian and AyeletAyelet's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-shipley-b16330149/Christian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/Web: https://www.inorganicpodcast.coIn/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featuredConnect with guest Brian Burthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brianburt1/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We speak with Ken Belson from the New York Times about his new book "Every Day is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the NFL into a Cultural and Economic Juggernaut." After that is a portion of an interview with the author of "Loserville," which tells the story of how Atlanta, GA became the first southern city to be host to teams from MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and the NHL.

In this engaging conversation, Lori Adams-Brown interviews Mita Mallick about her book "The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses." Mita shares personal stories and insights on leadership, workplace culture, and the impact of bad bosses on mental health. The discussion covers the importance of self-awareness, setting boundaries, and the role of personal relationships in professional settings. The genesis of Mita's book started with a personal experience of her mother's home being flooded. Mita found an old notebook with stories about bad bosses, which inspired her book. Fear-driven workplaces may achieve short-term results but harm long-term culture. Mita shares a 'water test' to identify toxic workplaces during interviews. Setting boundaries is crucial for respect and inclusion in the workplace. Personal relationships can complicate professional decisions, especially in leadership roles. Mita emphasizes the importance of self-care for effective leadership. The conversation highlights the normalization of toxic behavior in workplaces. Mita advises doing reference checks on potential employers. The book encourages readers to learn from bad bosses to become better leaders. My special guest is Mita Mallick Mallick is a highly sought-after speaker who has advised Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice and was named to the Thinkers 50 Radar List. She's a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Adweek, and Entrepreneur. Mallick has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, Forbes, Axios, Essence, Cosmopolitan Magazine and Business Insider. Mallick holds a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University and an M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Learning from Bad Bosses The Devil Emails at Midnight Leadership Lessons from Mita Mallick Navigating Toxic Workplaces Setting Boundaries for Success The Impact of Bad Bosses Self-Care in Leadership Identifying Toxic Workplaces The Role of Personal Relationships in Leadership Transforming Workplace Culture Key topics: leadership, workplace culture, bad bosses, mental health, self-awareness "The Devil Emails at Midnight" "Fear kills culture in the longterm" "Set boundaries for respect" "Personal relationships complicate decisions" "Self-care is key to leadership" "Normalize toxic behavior in workplaces" "Do reference checks on employers" "Learn from bad bosses" "Water test for toxic workplaces" "Respect is a basic need" 00:00:01 Introduction and Book Overview 00:00:29 Inspiration Behind the Book 00:01:27 Fear-Driven Workplaces 00:02:27 Impact of Bad Bosses 00:04:10 Setting Boundaries 00:07:30 Personal Relationships in Leadership 00:11:39 Self-Care and Leadership 00:18:54 Cultural and Personal Background 00:25:20 Advice for Navigating Workplace Dynamics 00:30:51 Conclusion and How to Connect with Mita Connect with us: https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com Linkedin YouTube Substack FaceBook Instagram Threads Patreon (for exclusive episodes just for Difference Makers) Bluesky TikTok Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it. Your support helps the community grow and keeps these important conversations going. If you need professional help, such as therapy: https://www.betterhelp.com/difference If you are looking for your next opportunity, sign up for Lori's Masterclass on Master the Career Pivot: https://www.loriadamsbrown.com/careerpivot Difference Makers who are podcast listeners get 10% offf with the code: DIFFERENT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation. www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.In this engaging conversation, TS Wright and Cassian Bellino explore Cassian's journey of faith, the challenges of understanding biblical teachings, and the importance of community in navigating doubts. Cassian shares her experiences leading to the creation of her podcast, 'Biblically Speaking,' aimed at making biblical scholarship accessible and relatable. They discuss the significance of understanding the cultural and historical context of scripture, the relational aspect of faith, and how to seek encouragement during times of doubt.TakeawaysCassian describes herself as curious and confused about faith.She struggled with her faith despite being raised in a religious environment.The idea of wanting to want God is a recurring theme in her journey.Community and accountability are crucial for maintaining faith.Doubts can be addressed through honest prayer and seeking God.Understanding biblical context can prevent misinterpretations of scripture.The relational aspect of faith is more important than transactional beliefs.Cassian's podcast aims to make biblical scholarship accessible to all.Cultural and historical contexts enrich the understanding of biblical stories.Faith is a lifelong journey of learning and growth.

Michael Thiessen, Joe Boot, and Nate Wright unpack how Christians can practice genuine hospitality to immigrants without losing the cultural and legal unity of a nation. Drawing on Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Psalm 2, they argue for care for the sojourner, one law for native and foreigner, and real integration through shared public life—pushing back on church antinomianism and the “multiculturalism = virtue” assumption. They also address the “coercion” objection (every institution disciplines) and why rulers still owe public allegiance to Christ. Get Dr. Boot's latest book, Think Christianly: Developing an Undivided Mind, today!: https://ezrapress.ca/products/think-christianly-developing-an-undivided-mind Stay up to date with Ezra Event: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/events/

Live from Porto: Philosophy—As a Weapon for Success With Yaron Brook, Tim Vieira, and Mário Amorim Lopes

If you're a paid subscriber and haven't yet set up your subscriber RSS feed in your podcast player, here's the EXTREMELY easy how-to .And if you're having any other issues with your Patreon subscription — please get in touch! Email me at annehelenpetersen @ gmail OR submit a request to Patreon Support. Thank you for making the switch with us — the podcast in particular is much more at home here! I've never resisted Love is Blind so much as run out of time for it... but then Audie Cornish said she wanted to come on the show to talk about it, and I said: I will watch any reality show, in its entirety, to talk to you about it. (Cornish was previously best known as the co-host of NPR's All Things Considered; now she is best known as the host of CNN's early morning newscast and The Assignment with Audie Cornish). I did my homework and thought I had smart things to say about Love is Blind and then Audie had way, way smarter things to say, specifically about the ways in which this current season functions as a skeleton key for the ideologies battling for dominance in our cultural moment. Even if you've never watched an episode of Love is Blind, there's a LOT here about how people perform their identities and politics and relationship needs that will snag you — and if you have watched this season (or any season), you're gonna love it even more. What a privilege to have Audie Cornish on-air cackling over reality television, and what a delight! Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode!Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/culture to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.Take the guesswork out of your dog's well-being. Go to ollie.com/culture and use code CULTURE to get 60% off your first box!Go to  https://zbiotics.com/CULTURESTUDY  and use CULTURESTUDY at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.Get better sleep, hair, and skin with Blissy. Use code CULTUREPOD to get an additional 30% off at blissy.com/CULTUREPODShow Notes: Go listen to Audie's fantastic podcast The Assignment Follow Audie on InstagramYou can also catch Audie as the anchor of CNN This Morning, airing weekdays from 6-7AM ET and streaming in the CNN appI really appreciate the Love is Blind Reddit and I know Audie and Melody do too No I am not uploading my Laguna Beach grad school paper what is wrong with you the writing is horrific We're currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:Contemporary Dating Culture!!! Why does it suck, how can it suck less! (with Jonquilyn Hill)Eldest daughter discourseThe sociology of NAMES (naming trends, naming assumptions)WEIRD ENGLISH WORDS (where do they come from!) with Colin Gorrie, who writes explainers like this one on the word DOGAnything you need advice or want musings on for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything, it's literally the name of the segmentAs always, you can submit them (and ideas for future eps) hereFor this week's discussion: We can obviously talk about Love is Blind, but I'd also love to hear how you think other reality shows are reflecting the conflicting ideologies of this moment.

Honoring the past while empowering the future… America's tribal colleges and universities provide a culturally rooted educational experience that prepares students for jobs in their local communities and beyond! In this episode, you'll hear from three tribal college alumni whose alma maters have laid the foundation for their professional journeys, inspiring impactful careers that are strengthening the local economies of their native lands. For more information about the importance of TCUs, check out the 2025 American Indian Higher Education Consortium Economic Impact Report!

Let's be honest — if our politicians really wanted housing to be affordable, it would be by now. They've had decades to fix it. There have been inquiries, commissions, roundtables, and billions thrown at so-called "affordability schemes." And yet, what do we have? Record house prices, record rents, and a generation of young Aussies wondering if they'll ever own a home. Maybe — just maybe — that's not an accident. In today's Big Picture episode, Ken Raiss and I unpack why the housing affordability crisis isn't a policy failure... it's the system working exactly as designed. We'll explore why politicians can't afford for property prices to fall, how government policy quietly rewards property owners, and what that means for investors like you.   Takeaways  ·         Housing affordability remains a critical issue in Australia. ·         Government policies often prioritize property value stability over affordability. ·         Cultural perceptions link home ownership to success in Australia. ·         A significant percentage of politicians own property, influencing housing policies. ·         Consumer confidence is low despite some economic improvements. ·         Investors should focus on strategic property purchases. ·         Wealth advisory services can help investors navigate complex markets. ·         Economic uncertainty can create opportunities for savvy investors. ·         Long-term planning is essential for property investment success. ·         Education and preparation are key for investors to capitalize on market changes.     Chapters  02:07 - Why Politicians Can't Afford for Property Prices to Fall  04:59 - How Government Taxes Depend on Rising Property Values  06:50 - Banks, Confidence and the Economy Built on Housing  09:05 - Cultural Bias: Homeownership as the Core of Australia's Identity  12:11 - Why 94% of Politicians Own Property and Won't Change the Rules    Links and Resources:   Answer this week's trivia question here- www.PropertyTrivia.com.au ·         Win a hard copy of Michael Yardney's Guide to Investing Successfully ·         Everyone wins a copy of a fully updated property report – What's Ahead For Property For 2026 And Beyond.     Michael Yardney http://michaelyardney.com/   Get the team at Metropole Wealth Advisory to create a Strategic Wealth plan for your needs Click here and have a chat with us   Ken Raiss, Director of Metropole Wealth Advisory   Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at www.PodcastBonus.com.au   Also, please subscribe to my other podcast, Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future. Or click here: https://demographicsdecoded.com.au/

AP correspondent Ed Donahue reports on a call for respect for yodeling.

In this solo episode of Dr. Marianne-Land: An Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast, fat-positive therapist and eating disorder specialist Dr. Marianne Miller, LMFT explains why she no longer uses the label “Atypical Anorexia.” She discusses how anti-fat bias, weight stigma, and systemic discrimination in eating disorder treatment have shaped the diagnostic criteria for anorexia and harmed people in larger bodies. Listeners will learn how the term “atypical” upholds thinness as the standard for illness, why that belief leads to delayed diagnoses, and how shifting our language can expand access to inclusive, weight-neutral, and neurodivergent-affirming eating disorder care. Through clinical insight, real-world examples, and liberation-focused analysis, Dr. Marianne reframes what anorexia recovery truly means: healing one's relationship with food, body, and self without hierarchy, shame, or size bias. Key SEO Topics Covered What Is “Atypical Anorexia”? Understanding the origins of the term and how it reinforces weight stigma and anti-fat bias. Why Thinness Shouldn't Define Anorexia: How body diversity challenges outdated diagnostic models. The Role of Weight Stigma in Anorexia Recovery: How medical bias limits access to eating disorder therapyand treatment coverage. Cultural and Systemic Bias in Eating Disorder Diagnosis: How fatphobia, whiteness, and ableism distort who gets diagnosed. Intersectionality and Neurodivergence: How autism, ADHD, race, and gender identity affect the experience and recognition of anorexia. What Inclusive Eating Disorder Treatment Looks Like: How clinicians can provide weight-inclusive, trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming care. Body Liberation and Recovery: Why reclaiming the word “anorexia” for all bodies fosters belonging and healing. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for anyone interested in inclusive anorexia recovery and liberation-centered eating disorder treatment. It's especially for: People in larger bodies who have experienced restriction or medical dismissal. Clinicians seeking to decolonize their approach to eating disorder therapy. Neurodivergent listeners navigating food restriction or sensory challenges. Individuals recovering from anorexia who were told they are “not sick enough.” Advocates, parents, and students learning about anti-fat bias and weight-inclusive recovery models. Why This Conversation Matters The label “Atypical Anorexia” perpetuates harmful myths about body size, illness, and worthiness. It tells people in larger bodies that their pain is less valid and their recovery less urgent. In reality, anorexia occurs in every body size, race, gender, and neurotype. By challenging the term “atypical,” Dr. Marianne advocates for body-liberation-aligned, anti-bias eating disorder therapy that validates all lived experiences. This conversation helps listeners unlearn weight stigma and invites the eating disorder field to adopt inclusive, evidence-based, fat-positive practices that honor every body's right to care and nourishment. Other Episodes on "Atypical Anorexia" Atypical Anorexia Explained: Why Restriction Happens at Every Body Size on Apple or Spotify. Atypical Anorexia with Amy Ornelas, RD on Apple or Spotify. Atypical Anorexia: Mental & Physical Health Risks, Plus How the Term is Controversial on Apple or Spotify. What Is Atypical Anorexia? Challenging Weight Bias in Eating Disorder Treatment with Emma Townsin, RD @food.life.freedom on Apple or Spotify. Learn More and Get Support Visit drmariannemiller.com to learn more about Dr. Marianne Miller's eating disorder therapy, coaching, and educational resources. Her website offers blog posts, podcast transcripts, and tools for people seeking anorexia recovery support, ARFID education, and neurodivergent-affirming treatment.

Cultural roots—and our shared roots on this planet—tie together the projects featured in this playlist of recent and soon-to-land treasures. The playlist features Igor Lumpert; Tarun Balani; Fergus McCreadie; Laura Jurd; Gianni Coscia [pictured]; Robin Fincker, Janick Martin; Vincent Courtois, Colin Vallon. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21447060/Mondo-Jazz [from "Sures" to "Done and Done"]. Happy listening! Photo: Roberto Cifarelli

Michael Thiessen, Joe Boot, and Nate Wright unpack how Christians can practice genuine hospitality to immigrants without losing the cultural and legal unity of a nation. Drawing on Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Psalm 2, they argue for care for the sojourner, one law for native and foreigner, and real integration through shared public life—pushing back on church antinomianism and the “multiculturalism = virtue” assumption. They also address the “coercion” objection (every institution disciplines) and why rulers still owe public allegiance to Christ. Get Dr. Boot's latest book, Think Christianly: Developing an Undivided Mind, today!: https://ezrapress.ca/products/think-christianly-developing-an-undivided-mind Stay up to date with Ezra Event: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/events/

Welcome to the Shonen Shojo ShoShow! In this new episode after a long hiatus, PinoMack and Pauly discuss their return to the podcast and their renewed enthusiasm for sharing their passion for anime and Japanese culture. During this episode, PinoMack recounts her experience at New York Comic Con, including fun encounters with artists and content creators, and memorable appearances at various events. Interviews with prominent artists like Attack Peter and Acky Bright are also featured, along with explorations of the event's themed spaces.Highlights

The ALL ME® Podcast Weight Loss, Wellness, and the Truth About GLP-1 – Dr. Maureen Gibbons In this episode of the ALL ME Podcast, host Brian Parker discusses GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) with Dr. Maureen Gibbons, who shares her expertise on the topic. They explore the medical implications of GLP-1, its role in diabetes and weight loss, and the various FDA-approved drugs in this class. Dr. Gibbons emphasizes the importance of understanding the natural production of GLP-1 in the body and discusses the safety and side effects of these medications. The conversation also touches on who should avoid GLP-1 drugs and the broader implications for health and wellness. In this conversation, Dr. Moe discusses the long-term safety of medications for weight loss, particularly focusing on GLP-1 receptor agonists. She shares her personal experience with weight loss and the mental health benefits of these medications. The discussion also touches on the cultural shift towards using medication for cosmetic weight loss, the dangers of the gray market for medications, and the importance of seeking professional help rather than relying on unregulated sources. Dr. Moe emphasizes the need for a supportive community and the role of coaching in achieving sustainable health outcomes. Takeaways GLP-1 is crucial for understanding modern weight loss drugs. Dr. Maureen Gibbons has extensive experience in lifestyle medicine. The half-life of GLP-1 drugs varies significantly. There are multiple FDA-approved GLP-1 medications available. GLP-1 drugs can help with both diabetes and weight loss. Natural production of GLP-1 can be enhanced through diet and exercise. Safety profiles of GLP-1 drugs are generally favorable. Every medication comes with risks that need to be considered. Certain populations should avoid GLP-1 medications. Behavioral change is essential for effective health management. Long-term safety of medications is a personal decision. Weight loss medications can provide mental health benefits. Cultural shifts towards medication for weight loss raise concerns. The gray market for medications poses significant risks. Seeking professional help is crucial for safe treatment. Behavioral changes are essential for sustainable weight loss. Coaching can help navigate the complexities of health care. Insurance coverage for medications is inconsistent and complex. The cost of medications is gradually decreasing. Community support is vital for individuals seeking help. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to GLP-1 and Its Importance 02:32 Dr. Maureen Gibbons: Background and Expertise 06:52 Understanding GLP-1: Medical Insights 10:09 The Functionality of GLP-1 Drugs 12:17 Exploring FDA Approved GLP-1 Drugs 14:24 The Role of GLP-1 in Weight Loss and Diabetes 17:23 Natural Ways to Boost GLP-1 Production 20:48 Safety and Side Effects of GLP-1 Drugs 26:30 Who Should Avoid GLP-1 Medications? 29:04 Long-Term Safety of Medications 35:58 The Role of Medication in Weight Loss 43:01 Navigating the Gray Market for Medications 50:06 Final Thoughts on Seeking Help Follow Us: Twitter: @theTHF Instagram: @theTHF Facebook: Taylor Hooton Foundation #ALLMEPEDFREE Contact Us: Email: info@taylorhooton.org Phone: 214-449-1990 ALL ME Assembly Programs: http://taylorhooton.org/education-resources/face-to-face-programs/

Welcome to Awakening Aphrodite — the podcast that helps you harmonize and align your masculine and feminine energy, awaken your true power and be more fit in body, mind and spirit.In each episode, holistic health expert Amy Fournier shares inspiring conversations with a variety of guests, blending ancient wisdom and modern science to offer practical tools that help you thrive in today's fast-paced world.In this first episode of her new mini-series, Amy shares the rich history and symbolic meanings of hair across various cultures. You will learn ancient myths and beliefs, such as those from Egyptian, Greek, and Christian traditions, that imbue hair with spiritual and mystical powers. In this episode, she references Barbara G. Walker's 'The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets' to discuss how hair has been used in rituals, as a symbol of fertility, protection, and power, and how it retains significant cultural and personal importance today. Shop all of Amy's curated favorite products with discount coupons!:

The boys are back in town and they've kicked off Season FIVE!!! These first couple of episodes will explore the limited exposure most travelers have to Italy's rich culture, leading to misconceptions and disappointments in their first and second experiences in the Bel Paese.KeywordsItaly travel, travel tips, authentic experiences, tourism, travel mindset, Italy with Bella, travel podcast, cultural immersion, travel checklist, slow tourismSummaryIn this episode, Brian and Anthony kick off Season Five of their podcast, discussing the importance of traveling to Italy for the right reasons. They explore the ten reasons not to go to Italy, emphasizing the need for a mindset shift from consumerism to authentic experiences. The conversation delves into the evolution of travel, the impact of social media on tourism, and the significance of immersing oneself in local culture. They encourage listeners to unpack their travel checklists and seek out the hidden gems of Italy, ultimately aiming for a more enriching travel experience.Takeaways1 % of Italy that people are consuming, that actually get seen and heard and felt and tasted and touched.It's a very small percentage of the country that most people interact with.They come away thinking that they know Italy and that they've had a great experience.A lot of times they're they come back frustrated, as it wasn't what they expected.Expectations play a significant role in travel satisfaction.Cultural depth is often overlooked by tourists.Travel experiences can lead to disappointment if expectations are misaligned.Understanding local culture enhances the travel experience.Tourism marketing can create unrealistic expectations.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Season Five03:39 Reasons Not to Go to Italy08:17 Traveling Well: A New Mindset14:39 The Evolution of Travel22:50 Generational Perspectives on Travel24:27 The Transformative Power of Travel27:11 Redefining Travel Expectations28:01 Personalizing Travel Experiences32:08 Challenging Consumerism in Travel37:07 Discovering the Hidden Italy40:06 The Slow Travel Movement46:57 Avoiding Tourist Traps49:47 Engaging with Authentic Italian ExperiencesS05E01 Travel Reimagined: Turning Italian Tourism on Its Head!

Send us a textIn this episode, host Dawn Hart sits down with Josh Hart to unpack the real meaning of workplace culture—beyond the free snacks and casual dress codes. Together, they dig into how intentional leadership, clear communication, and genuine respect for employees can shape a culture that actually works. Josh doesn't hold back when discussing common missteps organizations make, including a real-life example of how a poorly executed “diversity initiative” backfired, and what leaders can do instead.They also explore how social media has completely changed the game, putting every company's culture under a public microscope. From navigating generational differences to shifting outdated management mindsets, Josh offers straightforward advice that every leader—new or seasoned—needs to hear.

Welcome to Awakening Aphrodite — the podcast that helps you harmonize and align your masculine and feminine energy, awaken your true power and be more fit in body, mind and spirit.In each episode, holistic health expert Amy Fournier shares inspiring conversations with a variety of guests, blending ancient wisdom and modern science to offer practical tools that help you thrive in today's fast-paced world.In this first episode of her new mini-series, Amy shares the rich history and symbolic meanings of hair across various cultures. You will learn ancient myths and beliefs, such as those from Egyptian, Greek, and Christian traditions, that imbue hair with spiritual and mystical powers. In this episode, she references Barbara G. Walker's 'The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets' to discuss how hair has been used in rituals, as a symbol of fertility, protection, and power, and how it retains significant cultural and personal importance today. Shop all of Amy's curated favorite products with discount coupons!:

In Perspektief - Oktober 2025 gesels Scriptura oor ernstige nuusgebeure van die afgelope maand.  Pous Leo en koning Charles III bid saam vir die eerste keer in 500 jaar, en die stryd teen die Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission (CRL) waarmee die Suid-Afrikaanse regering poog om kerke te reguleer.  En laastens het die Grootte kerk in Kaapstad 'n intergeloof byeenkoms gehou vir die geregtigheid van Palistyne wat in die oorlog in Gaza vasgevang is.

Nesta poderosa ministração, "Dos Homens Maus, os Piores São os Religiosos," o Pastor Adeildo Nascimento confronta a religiosidade que afasta pecadores da graça de Jesus Cristo. Muitas pessoas vivem longe do Evangelho por não se acharem "justo suficiente" ou "santos suficiente" para a igreja.O Pastor Adeildo critica aqueles que se colocam como "santos inalcançáveis", comparando-os ao fariseu e ao sepulcro caiado — branquinho por fora, mas com "podridão total" por dentro. Ele enfatiza que Jesus se irritou especialmente com esses mestres da lei que impedem outros de entrar no céu.A Santa Ceia não é para os merecedores, mas para os que reconhecem sua indignidade. O pior modo de participar é se achar merecedor, pois a graça se instala quando o mérito humano acaba. Deus resiste ao orgulhoso e soberbo, mas dá graça aos humildes.Entenda a diferença entre a tristeza segundo Deus (que produz arrependimento e salvação) e a tristeza segundo o mundo (que produz morte, como em Judas).

Welcome to Awakening Aphrodite — the podcast that helps you harmonize and align your masculine and feminine energy, awaken your true power and be more fit in body, mind and spirit.In each episode, holistic health expert Amy Fournier shares inspiring conversations with a variety of guests, blending ancient wisdom and modern science to offer practical tools that help you thrive in today's fast-paced world.In this first episode of her new mini-series, Amy shares the rich history and symbolic meanings of hair across various cultures. You will learn ancient myths and beliefs, such as those from Egyptian, Greek, and Christian traditions, that imbue hair with spiritual and mystical powers. In this episode, she references Barbara G. Walker's 'The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets' to discuss how hair has been used in rituals, as a symbol of fertility, protection, and power, and how it retains significant cultural and personal importance today. Shop all of Amy's curated favorite products with discount coupons!:

Segment 1 • Everyone sees it: the West is in the midst of social, moral, and spiritual collapse • But darkened hearts can't be fixed by legislature or cultural movements. • Real change starts “at the bottom” - with hearts transformed by Christ's gospel. Segment 2 • The Reformation rebuilt a crumbling civilization through faith, not force. • Oz Guinness calls this our “civilizational moment”—we're losing the foundation that built the modern world. • We won't be saved by “making America great again”— but by preaching Christ again. Segment 3 • Dr. Greg Gifford exposes the truth about SSRIs and the “chemical imbalance” myth. • Pills can mute pain but can't renew your mind or restore your soul. • Real transformation comes from God's work in us, not sedation. Segment 4 • New studies link antidepressants to alarming risks—violence, mania, even suicide. • SSRIs offer comfort without cure, masking spiritual problems with medical language. • True healing happens when the soul is renewed, not when the mind is medicated. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

In today's episode, we dive deep into leadership, legacy, and lessons from one of the Air Force's top decision-makers. Reflecting on his tenure, he shared the three major accomplishments that shaped the force's trajectory — from advancing modernization through $100 billion in operational imperatives to restructuring training and investment systems for great power competition. Perhaps most importantly, he instilled a sense of urgency across the Air and Space Forces — a mindset shift recognizing the need to move faster against near-peer threats like China. Yet, he also warns that current "efficiency" cuts and forced talent exits risk undoing progress, creating readiness gaps, and draining critical expertise when it's needed most. Key Takeaways: Modernization with purpose: Seven operational imperatives focused on resilience, technology, and modernization to strengthen U.S. readiness against China. Cultural transformation: Re-optimizing the Air Force for great power competition to improve agility, training, and decision-making. Leadership warning: Current waves of cuts and forced retirements threaten to weaken readiness and morale, undoing years of strategic progress. Join the Bootcamp: https://govcongiants.org/bootcamp Learn more: https://federalhelpcenter.com/ https://govcongiants.org/ 

In this conversation, Corey Gray shares his transformative journey in Cambodia, discussing the impact of his experiences on his perspective and resilience. He reflects on the importance of understanding cultural history, the beauty of service through the Hair Aid project, and the personal growth that comes from stepping outside one's comfort zone. The discussion also delves into emotional regulation, striving for personal perfection, and the significance of building meaningful connections in life. Bobbi and Corey explore the importance of intentional connections and empathy in personal growth and service. Corey shares experiences from a transformative trip to Cambodia, where he taught hairdressing in various settings, including a community center and a prison. The discussion highlights the lessons learned about overcoming fear, living with gratitude, and the impact of service on both the giver and the receiver. The speakers also reflect on their future aspirations to continue this journey of service and the importance of self-awareness in personal development.   Takeaways Corey's journey in Cambodia transformed his perspective on resilience. Understanding the history of a place can deepen personal growth. Service to others can lead to profound emotional experiences. Hairdressing can open doors to unexpected opportunities. Emotional regulation is crucial for personal development. Striving for the best version of oneself is a lifelong journey. Cultural insights can enhance our appreciation for different communities. Building meaningful connections requires intentionality and awareness. Personal growth often comes from stepping outside of comfort zones. True service is about the people you are helping, not your ego. I want to be a light to everybody. The people you surround yourself with shape your future. Empathy is essential to my existence. Teaching in Cambodia was emotionally intense. When opportunity is your only distraction, you learn. Celebrating small victories is crucial in teaching. How you enter a room isn't the room's fault. Living in gratitude changes your perspective. I left a part of me in Cambodia. It's okay to be selfishly selfish at times.   Chapters 00:00 Transformative Journeys: Corey's Experience in Cambodia 03:06 Resilience and Perspective: Lessons from the Past 05:57 Cultural Insights: Understanding Cambodia's History 08:50 The Beauty of Service: Hair Aid Project 11:53 Personal Growth: Beyond the Hairdressing Career 15:13 Emotional Regulation: The Key to Personal Development 18:02 Striving for Perfection: The Ideal Self 21:02 Building Meaningful Connections: Intentional Relationships 26:20 Intentional Connections and Empathy 27:45 Experiencing Cambodia: A Journey of Learning 30:38 Teaching with Purpose: The Power of Opportunity 34:55 Lessons from the Prison: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety 43:26 Living with Gratitude: The Impact of Service 48:12 Future Aspirations: Continuing the Journey of Service   www.beautyschoolbobbi.com www.beautyandstylenetwork.com   Follow Beauty and Style Network: @beautystylenet Beauty School Bobbi: @beautyschoolbobbi Corey Gray: @hairdustry Hair Aid: @hairaid

Luis Herrero analiza con José Luis Garci, Pedro García Cuartango y Luis Enríquez la película de Alauda Ruiz de Azúa.

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! In this conversation, we speak with psychotherapist and author Melissa Fulgieri, LCSW about her powerful book Healing Relational Trauma, which offers a deeply human and integrative approach to understanding the ways our early relationships shape who we become. We explore how awareness, compassion, and self-trust can help us move from survival to connection—transforming old patterns rooted in attachment wounding and developmental trauma.  The conversation also touches on themes of reparenting, nervous system regulation, relational repair, and the ongoing process of finding safety within ourselves and others.Themes of DiscussionUnderstanding Relational Trauma: Moving beyond “big T” events to include chronic emotional disconnection and unmet needs.The Legacy of Attachment: How early caregiving experiences shape self-worth, emotional regulation, and intimacy in adulthood.Breaking Cycles: Recognizing and transforming unconscious relational patterns that keep us stuck in repetition.Embodied Healing: Learning to recognize trauma responses in the body and fostering regulation through awareness and self-compassion.Boundaries and Self-Trust: Reclaiming agency and rebuilding a sense of safety when these capacities were never modeled.Connection as Medicine: Viewing relationships not as sources of pain to avoid, but as opportunities for repair and growth.Integrative Approaches: How modalities like CBT, family systems, mindfulness, and EFT can work together in trauma recovery.Cultural & Generational Context: Understanding how family legacies and social systems influence the experience of healing.Seeing Wounds as Invitations: Embracing pain as a portal to deeper authenticity, resilience, and relational depth.Melissa Fulgieri, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, author, adjunct professor, and speaker specializing in trauma-informed care and relational dynamics. With over a decade of clinical experience, she works with individuals and couples to address the enduring impact of childhood trauma on adult attachment, emotional regulation, and interpersonal functioning.Her integrative framework blends trauma-focused CBT, family systems theory, emotionally focused therapy (EFT), and mindfulness-based approaches. Melissa is the author of The Couples Therapy Activity Book and Healing Relational Trauma, and is recognized for her grounded, compassionate, and accessible clinical voice. She maintains a private practice in New York and teaches in graduate-level social work programs.Connect with Melissa:

Assine a Brasil Paralelo: https://sitebp.la/bp-rasta-news ___________ SEXTA-FEIRA, ÀS 20:00 - Rasta News As velhas notícias de sempre, com um humor nunca dantes visto na história deste país, apresentado pelo Rasta, com o melhor do seu entendimento.

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Send us a textDiscover the rich Italian culture and heritage of Carlentini, Sicily, a city with a strong sense of community and tradition. This video explores the city's history, cultural traditions, and family stories, showcasing the importance of preserving Italian heritage, particularly for those who have experienced immigration and are now part of a new community, such as in Omaha. The city's sister cities program and youth exchange initiatives underscore the importance of cultural exchange and dual citizenship, enabling individuals to connect with their roots while embracing their new home. Through stories of food, language, and tradition, we delve into the heart of Carlentini, Sicily, revealing the treasures of this Sicilian city and the significance of Italian heritage in the lives of its people. Join us on a journey to explore the beauty and charm of Carlentini, Sicily, and experience the warmth of Italian culture and tradition.Carlentini - Omaha Association USASheri shares her family's immigration story from Sicily to Omaha.The significance of food in Italian culture is emphasized.Language plays a crucial role in family identity and communication.Cultural traditions are vital for maintaining family connections.The importance of teaching children about their heritage is highlighted.Sister city relationships can strengthen cultural ties.Youth exchange programs foster understanding between cultures.Challenges exist in maintaining cultural connections across generations.The journey of dual citizenship is complex but meaningful.Community involvement is essential for cultural preservation.Turnkey. The only thing you'll lift are your spirits.Italian Marketplace LLCOnline tee shirts, hoodies and more for ItaliansDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showPurchase my book "Farmers and Nobles" here or at Amazon.

In this solo episode, I open up about one of the most overwhelming seasons my family has faced—fall. Between school demands, sports, band, and everything else, our schedule was maxed out and our connection suffered. Jessica and I found ourselves constantly busy but emotionally distant, operating more like teammates than soulmates. I share how we recognized the symptoms of "roommate syndrome," what we did to course-correct, and why protecting margin in your life and marriage is non-negotiable. I also introduce my brand-new course launching in January, From Roommates to Soulmates, designed for husbands who are ready to rebuild emotional connection and intimacy. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [0:00] – Introduction [2:31] – Why fall marks the beginning of chaos for many families [3:07] – Introducing the From Roommates to Soulmates course [4:15] – What roommate syndrome looks like and why it's dangerous [5:20] – Cultural lies men believe about marriage and fatherhood [6:45] – The silent struggle of disconnection [8:06] – Our family's real-life overscheduling mistake [10:28] – When joy turns into exhaustion [10:54] – The "Sunday Night Reset" strategy [11:27] – How shared calendars and huddles create clarity [12:13] – Learning to say no with purpose [13:16] – Protecting margin and prioritizing connection [14:42] – Why our "Date Days" are sacred [15:38] – Free gift: Questions for the Car PDF [16:41] – Start deeper conversations with your kids today 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Busyness Is the Enemy of Intimacy Just because you're doing a lot doesn't mean you're connecting. Overscheduling your family can slowly erode the relationships that matter most. 2. Roommate Syndrome Is Real—But Reversible When you and your partner start functioning as co-managers instead of lovers, it's time to course-correct. Connection requires intention. 3. Margin Is Not a Luxury, It's a Necessity If your calendar is full but your marriage feels empty, it's a sign you need to guard time for each other and for rest. 4. Clarity and Communication Prevent Chaos Tools like family huddles and shared calendars aren't just logistical—they're emotional anchors that keep the household united. 5. Leading Your Family Starts With Leading Yourself Recognizing when you're off-track and initiating reconnection is the mark of strong leadership—both as a husband and a father. LINKS & RESOURCES • Free Resource – Questions for the Car: https://thedadedge.com/kidquestions • Show Notes for this episode: https://thedadedge.com/1395 If this episode resonated with you, rate, review, follow, and share it with another dad who needs it. Let's lead our families with presence and purpose. Live legendary.

Dr. Michael Thiessen and Dr. Joe Boot preview the Ezra East conference (Nov. 1, 2025, Ingersoll, ON) and tackle one of the West’s most urgent questions: How should Christians think about immigration? Joe walks through the major waves of immigration to the US, UK, and Canada and shows why not all immigration is the same—older migration from Christianized nations was far less destabilizing than today’s government-engineered mass migration from non-Christian contexts. They discuss how secular, globalist elites have used “multiculturalism” to dilute the Christian character of Western nations and why importing rival law orders (like Sharia) is not the same as church courts or Christian mediation. They also highlight key themes for the conference: Islam, immigration, the loss of Christian culture, and recovering a biblical balance between hospitality and preserving community. In the Premium+ post-show, Michael asks Joe: Why do Islamists and the radical left keep teaming up (e.g. “queers for Palestine”)? Joe explains their shared enemy (Christianity), shared totalitarian impulse, and political convenience.

Relational Discontent: Sean and Rick discuss a New York Times piece on growing unhappiness in modern relationships, exploring how dating apps and individualism have replaced duty and community with self-focused fulfillment. They contrast fleeting “happiness” with the deeper pursuit of meaning.Gambling and Sports: They unpack the NBA betting scandal and the rise of legalized gambling in America, warning how it's reshaping sports culture, eroding integrity, and fostering addiction. The conversation highlights the moral and pastoral need to address gambling in the church.Bill Gates and Climate Change: The hosts examine Bill Gates' surprising shift away from climate alarmism, noting his call for pragmatic solutions that help the developing world. They discuss how doomsday rhetoric has replaced thoughtful stewardship and how Christians can respond with wisdom and balance.Listener Questions:On Israel and the Palestinians — Sean clarifies biblical promises to Israel and stresses the need for justice and compassion on both sides.How Christians and churches can thoughtfully respond when accused of being unloving or intolerant, emphasizing careful communication, listening, and clarity about biblical beliefs.On Bible reading — Sean and Rick share their personal Scripture study habits and tips for staying consistent and engaged.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

My guest is Dr. Sunita Puri, a palliative-care physician and author of That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour. We talk about what it really means to care for patients when cure is no longer the goal, why our medical system resists honest conversations about death, and how clarity and compassion can coexist at the end of life. Topics we cover:     • What palliative care really provides (beyond hospice)     • Why "more treatment" ≠ "more life"     • Prognosis, probabilities, and telling the truth kindly     • How families can ask the right questions     • Documentation that matters (and what to avoid)     • The moral distress of clinicians     • Cultural/faith factors that shape decisions     • Dignity, autonomy, and realistic hope Guest Bio: Dr. Sunita Puri is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, where she is the Director of the Inpatient Palliative Care Service. She has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Atlantic, among other publications. She is the author of That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour, a critically acclaimed literary memoir examining her journey to the practice of palliative medicine, and her quest to help patients and families redefine what it means to live and die well in the face of serious illness.

In this conversation, Keith Haney interviews John Oberg, a leader in healthcare innovation and co-founder of Presenia Health. They discuss John's journey through leadership, the evolution of his management style, and the innovative approaches his organization is taking to tackle type 2 diabetes. John shares insights on the importance of relationships in leadership, the challenges patients face in managing their health, and the cultural sensitivities required in healthcare. He emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach in patient care and outlines his vision for a healthier future for a billion people.TakeawaysThe best decisions in life revolve around relationships and purpose.Leadership requires a shift from transactional to relational approaches.Understanding individual needs is crucial for effective management.Innovative healthcare solutions can significantly improve patient outcomes.Behavioral change is essential in managing chronic diseases.Cultural sensitivity is vital in patient care and communication.Collaboration among healthcare providers enhances patient treatment plans.Small, incremental changes can lead to significant health improvements.Training healthcare staff to meet patients where they are is essential.Aiming for a billion healthier lives is a transformative goal.

02:00 – Anthony and Joe discuss AI, music, and Luther Vandross09:30 – Cultural perceptions and coming out in the 80s/90s13:00 – Social media, bots, and the “dead internet” theory17:00 – Honesty and discourse on the internet, generational changes21:20 – Ronda Rousey's interview, career, and public perception24:00 – Ronda's transition from UFC to WWE, timeline, and fan reactions28:00 – Ronda's WWE promos, apraxia, and criticism32:00 – Ronda's current projects, validation, and public feuds36:00 – Tyrus, Trump, and wrestling's political circus41:00 – Eddie Guerrero's daughter Sherilyn starts wrestling, family drama46:00 – Late starts in wrestling, nepo babies, and industry challenges52:00 – Brad Maddox, Vince McMahon, and WWE's odd rules58:00 – Paige, Chyna, and double standards in wrestling1:05:00 – Enzo Amore's interview, firing, and rap response1:12:00 – Andrade's AEW/WWE journey, family sacrifices, and future1:20:00 – Closing banter, Patreon plug, and Halloween wishesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.