Podcasts about Customs

U.S. Customs and Border Protection led a massive crackdown on truck fraud in Arizona, resulting in 95 illegal truck drivers being arrested. Most of the illegal aliens had fake California licenses, and many were trafficking drugs, weapons, and humans. The Sekulow team discusses the Trump Administration's emphasis on border security, CDL fraud, the work of CBP federal agents, the ACLJ's legal work – and much more.

We played the Modern Warfare 4 beta this weekend — including Warzone and the new Zodiac Resurgence map — and it took about fifteen minutes to know it was over. Not "this year is mid" over. Over over. This is the episode where a podcast that ran on Call of Duty for 600+ episodes says out loud that it's done. Raz makes the case that nothing else in an FPS matters if you can't see or hear the enemy, and everything else — weapon levels, perks, pipe climbing, the spawns everyone's arguing about on X — is fixing a leaky bathtub while the house burns down. Jake breaks down why CoD only takes from him now, why the lobbies are nothing but sweat, and the exact point where min-maxing your controller, your router and your ZIP code stopped being worth it. Also in this one: the Zodiac verdict (better than Area 99, roughly Haven's Hollow), the weekend 2 nerf pass, the 60% negative Steam reviews, why Warzone was in the beta at all, and a DMZ 2 prediction we're standing behind. Then a palate cleanser — Star Wars Zero Company, permadeath, and a first playthrough Raz completely ruined — plus a brutal Tarkov week, the Tarkov roadmap, GTA 6's Netflix look, and WARDOGS. Jake wanted it to be good. Raz stopped wanting that years ago. This time they agree. 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - New patrons and the latest bonus episodes 3:26 - Our first patron Discord hangout (and Death by AI) 6:10 - "The MW4 Beta Broke Us" 6:22 - How fast did we know? 9:25 - "If I can't see the guy, nothing else matters" 10:17 - The raging inferno analogy 14:55 - "Call of Duty is dead" 15:10 - Jake: CoD only takes from me now 20:49 - Everyone is min-maxing (and moving for zero ping) 23:26 - SBMM, the missing casuals, and sweat-only lobbies 26:03 - Splitgate Reloaded and the death of 6v6 arcade shooters 27:40 - Warzone: the audio, the visibility, the haze 30:12 - Rolling the dice on what bullshit you get this year 31:28 - Bring back Caldera — at least it was different 37:28 - The first thing that felt wrong: audio 37:54 - Weekend 2's nerf pass: Tac Sprint, slides, TTK 40:44 - 60% negative Steam reviews and the player drop 41:52 - The Zodiac verdict vs. Area 99 and Haven's Hollow 42:50 - Why was Warzone in the beta at all? 47:16 - No custom loadouts, and the guns aren't fun to shoot 49:07 - "Activision devs do not play their own game" 50:18 - The one dev we ever ran into in Warzone 53:34 - The Quick Fix perk they "fixed" twice 57:07 - "Where does that put us? I give you Zodiac" 59:12 - Skipping a year, or actually done? 1:04:14 - What it would take to get us back 1:07:00 - Call of Duty is your old restaurant job 1:08:08 - "I want everyone that works there to suffer" 1:09:00 - It's a leadership problem — fire Infinity Ward 1:13:02 - Prediction: MW4 three months after launch 1:16:06 - The DMZ 2 prediction 1:24:17 - Palate cleanser: Star Wars Zero Company 1:32:45 - Permadeath, injuries, and squad bonds 1:34:36 - "This playthrough is fucked" 1:36:57 - Is it the Star Wars or the game underneath? 1:37:51 - Reviews, performance, and is it worth $50 1:38:50 - Eight classes, Overwatch combos, and base upgrades 1:44:46 - It should have been co-op 1:45:49 - Tarkov: best raid of the week 1:46:41 - The Customs transit raid that actually worked 1:50:02 - Worst raid: baited in the Reserve bunker 1:53:04 - The KS-23 rat that bled us out 1:54:39 - Camped at D2 twice in a row 1:59:49 - The bathroom extract death 2:02:34 - Why this wipe feels so much harder 2:05:18 - Tarkov roadmap: ranked, revives, simplified GPS 2:08:24 - GTA 6's Netflix extended look 2:10:31 - WARDOGS extraction and PvE prototypes 2:11:00 - Wrap-up _Note: timestamps may be slightly misaligned on podcast apps (but not on YouTube) due to dynamic ads._ The podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts, and ad-free & early access versions - as well as bonus episodes - are available to all of our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/thedropshot) supporters. We stream the podcast live on our YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/thedropshotpodcast) every Saturday morning at ~9 o'clock Pacific Time. We typically start the stream 30 minutes early to answer viewer questions, banter, and chat. Links for everything are below. Thanks for checking us out!

A talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu entitled "Customs of the Noble Ones"

It's Wednesday, August 26th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Somalian Muslims attack mother of 8 for trusting Christ Muslim extremists in Somalia, Africa attacked a mother of eight for converting from Islam to Christianity. Sophia Ibrahim came to Christ in April 2022. Several Muslim men beat her unconscious after they found her attending a Bible study this month. She was discharged from the hospital last week.  Ibrahim told Morning Star News, “I will continue serving [God] and making others know Him because of the everlasting life and the joy of knowing Christ.”   Somalia is ranked second on the Open Doors' World Watch List of the most dangerous countries worldwide to be a Christian.  In Philippians 3:8, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Bible app expands footprint into Latin America The Bible app YouVersion is expanding its presence in Latin America. YouVersion leaders met in Mexico City last week to partner with churches and ministries. Among Latin American countries, Mexico and Colombia have some of the highest levels of Bible app usage. YouVersion CEO Bobby Gruenewald told Christian Daily International, “It took us 17 years to reach the first 1 billion devices. We believe the next billion will come in the next five years. There is a hunger for the Word of God at a global level.”   2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” Update on Trump's border wall The Trump administration is continuing to build the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. The New American reported, “According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as of mid-August 2026, about 365 miles of primary border wall, 58 miles of replacement border wall, and 423 miles of secondary border wall either are now under construction or have been completed since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January 2025.” The Trump administration is seeking to build or finish 1,200 new miles of wall, as well as hundreds more miles of vehicle barriers and replacement wall. Funding for the continued border project mostly comes from Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in 2025. President Trump rejected trans ideology and affirmed parental rights President Donald Trump addressed education at the White House on Monday as many students return to school this week.  The president specifically called out transgender ideology in schools. Listen. TRUMP: “Every public school in America is now on notice that if they tell a child that they are trapped in the wrong body, they are committing child abuse. … “Under the Trump administration, we're systematically ending every single one of these radical Left betrayals, and we're putting the parents back in charge. They're the ones that love our children. They're the ones that should be in charge.” (applause) Alliance Defending Freedom advances religious liberty in 250 bills Alliance Defending Freedom is helping to advance religious liberty through over 250 state and federal bills this year. These measures support core God-given freedoms. Dozens have already become law. The organization said it provided “legal analysis, bill review, and guidance on laws that curb radical gender ideology, end institutional censorship, and help secure parental rights.” 570th anniversary of Gutenberg Bible And finally, this week in history is commemorated as the anniversary of the Gutenberg Bible. It is named after Johannes Gutenberg, a German inventor and printer. The earliest date appearing on a copy of the completed Gutenberg Bible is August 24, 1456 – 570 years ago. This Bible represented the first work printed in Europe with moveable type. The new printing press would become invaluable for the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. It allowed teachers like Martin Luther to easily spread their writings on the Bible. Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.'” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, August 26th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

We've all seen how Customs and Border Protection has run roughshod over the civil rights of immigrants both legal and undocumented alike across the country. But if you're an American citizen, you might not think that these abuses could ever happen to you. In fact, maybe the only time you've ever even seen Border Protection agents has been at the airport. And yet, that's where journalist Matthew Petti got detained for hours by Border agents. Now he's trying to figure out what happened and how to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else. We spoke with Matthew about his experience with CBP and your rights as an American at the airport.And in headlines, Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of American goods, two people in Pennsylvania have died from measles, and a federal judge rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's bid for prison release.Show Notes: Check out Matthew's story – tinyurl.com/bdz6cj4d Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com

Dominik Wellmann, Global Head of Tax and Customs bei der Mercedes-Benz Group, spricht mit Fabian und Christian über die Steuerwelt eines DAX-Konzerns. Er erklärt, welche Rolle seine Abteilung bei Vorstandsentscheidungen spielt, warum die geplante Abschaffung der strafbefreienden Selbstanzeige aus seiner Sicht problematisch wäre und wie stark die Gewerbesteuer durch Hinzurechnungen bei großen Unternehmen ins Gewicht fällt. Im internationalen Vergleich ordnet er ein, wo Deutschland steuerlich steht und wo andere Länder bei Digitalisierung und E-Invoicing bereits weiter sind. Außerdem geht es um die Folgen der US-Zollpolitik für den Automobilexport, die Belastung durch Körperschaftsteuer und Sozialabgaben sowie um konkrete KI-Anwendungsfälle in der Steuerabteilung von Mercedes. Nähere Informationen zum Podcast und alle bisherigen Folgen findest Du auf unserer neuen Website: https://www.steuer-podcast.de/ Schau gern mal vorbei und stell uns Deine Frage! Du willst deine Einkommensteuererklärung selbst über ELSTER machen, aber dabei keinen Cent liegen lassen? Dann sicher dir das neues Buch: „Sei doch nicht besteuert“ (Erweiterte & aktualisierte Ausgabe 2026) https://amzn.eu/d/0aKeCQmB Mit Widmung: www.rombach.de/steuerfabi Hier findest Du unsere Kontaktdaten, um bei steuerberaten.de Mandant zu werden oder eine einmalige Steuerfrage zu stellen: https://www.steuerberaten.de/kontakt/ Du hast Fragen oder Anmerkungen zum Podcast? Dann schreib uns gerne eine E-Mail an: podcast@steuerversum.de

In this episode, we kick things off at the Texas border, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered a massive narcotics smuggling operation hiding in plain sight. On August eleventh at the Roma International Bridge, CBP officers directed a tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico to secondary inspection after it declared a routine commercial detergent shipment. Using nonintrusive inspection equipment and a canine team, authorities discovered over 1,000 pounds of suspected methamphetamine concealed within the detergent load, with a staggering street value exceeding $9.57 million. Port Director Andres Guerra credited advanced technology and frontline vigilance with identifying the contraband in what appeared to be routine freight. Next, we explore the intermodal sector, where RoadOne IntermodaLogistics is aggressively expanding its Port of Charleston footprint through strategic acquisition. The Randolph, Massachusetts-based provider announced it has acquired Higgins Transport Service, a Charleston-based drayage and intermodal provider, adding fifteen drivers and critical capacity to serve the Southeastern market. RoadOne recently opened a massive 384,000-square-foot facility in Summerville, South Carolina, and plans to add another 279,700-square-foot warehouse on the 100-acre property next year to support its growing Southeast global trade corridor operations. Finally, we break down major leadership upheaval rocking the trucking industry's most prominent trade organization as Chris Spear departs as president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, effective immediately. Spear had recently observed his ten-year anniversary in the role and was just beginning an extension of his contract—a five-year deal signed in 2021 was extended in 2024 until 2029. ATA chairman Greg Hodgen said a search has begun to identify the organization's next leader, while assuring members that ATA remains strong, focused, and fully engaged in delivering results. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover how Amazon Global Logistics could simplify your supply chain, reduce surprise fees, speed up FBA inventory, and change how you ship products globally. Getting inventory from your factory into Amazon FBA can be one of the most complicated parts of running an ecommerce business. Between freight forwarders, customs, placement options, unexpected fees, and changing transit times, sellers have plenty of decisions to make. In this episode, Bradley Sutton sits down with Alex Berry, who leads Amazon Global Logistics (AGL), to break down how the program works and where it fits into an Amazon seller's supply chain.   Alex explains how AGL differs from traditional freight forwarding, including Amazon Managed Placement and Seller Managed Placement. Sellers can choose between different approaches for getting inventory distributed across Amazon's five US regions, while AGL also offers air, standard ocean, and fast ocean shipping options. The conversation also tackles Incoterms such as FOB and DDP, Amazon Customs and Trade (ACT), payment options, and one of the biggest headaches in international freight: unexpected fees. Unlike the common "Bill One, Bill Two" model Alex describes in the freight industry, he says AGL provides the price upfront without a second bill filled with additional charges such as detention, demurrage, or driver wait times. But AGL is continuing to expand. Alex shares updates on dangerous goods support, including electronics with batteries and upcoming lithium-ion battery capabilities, as Amazon works toward supporting more than 99% of ASINs by mid-2027. He also discusses faster routes into the eastern US, premium ocean service into Europe, expanding international shipping lanes, contract pricing for qualifying sellers, and plans that could eventually allow sellers to use AGL to ship directly to non-Amazon destinations such as their own warehouses and 3PLs. Ready to explore Amazon Global Logistics? Visit http://h10.me/agl to learn more, start the onboarding process, and get approximately 8% off your first AGL shipment as a first-time user. Helium 10 Elite members: Keep an eye on your inbox for a separate AGL link specifically for Elite members. Whether you're already using a freight forwarder or simply looking for more options, this episode offers a closer look at what Amazon is building on the logistics side of the business. The biggest lesson isn't necessarily that every seller should switch to AGL—it's that sellers should understand their true landed costs, shipping speed, placement strategy, and supply chain options before deciding what works best. The more efficiently you can get inventory where customers need it, the better positioned your business is to stay in stock, protect margins, and keep growing. In episode 548 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley and Alex discuss: 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - Everything You Need To Know About AGL 03:11 - Inside Amazon Global Logistics 07:26 - AGL Vs. Traditional Freight Forwarders 10:27 - How AGL Inventory Placement Works 13:19 - Understanding FOB And DDP Shipping 15:37 - Customs, Duties, And Payment Options 18:01 - Using AGL For Multichannel Selling 19:43 - Avoiding Surprise Freight Forwarding Fees 22:02 - Shipping Hazmat Products With AGL 23:59 - Air, Standard, And Fast Ocean Shipping 25:51 - New AGL Features Coming For Sellers 30:00 - How To Get Started With AGL

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (8/22/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v7ccik8","div":"rumble_v7ccik8"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order): (19) Independent Media Token (@imt_network) / X New Tab The Last American Vagabond on X: "And now you deleted the post @L08818? But I thought you were certain, and I was an "un-American piece of excrement" for believing that anarchism has value?" / X Page not found / X SheThinksFreely (@L08818) / X Polly St. George on X: "@TLAVagabond @L08818 while the official definition doesn't include chaos in the model, the actual result would be chaos until new hierarchies are established." / X The Last American Vagabond on X: "@FringeViews @L08818 Sure. Clearly I am the issue here. https://t.co/yPORFHcS8t" / X Larken Rose Interview - The Illusion Of Authority & The Collapse Of The Two Party Paradigm The Most Dangerous Superstition by Larken Rose [Audio book] - YouTube AnarClips on X: "LARKEN ROSE - WHAT IS ANARCHY? #ANARCHY #ANARCHISM #ANARCHISTS https://t.co/mZSbenQPwd" / X (1) AnarClips on X: "LARKEN ROSE on ANTI-GOVERNMENT vs. GOVERNMENT WORSHIPING DUPES #ANARCHISM #ANARCHY #LIBERTY @LarkenRose https://t.co/WVAobH0KbL" / X New Tab (1) Slow News Day on X: "They might not be dead, but this rally is clearly being held in God's Waiting Room" / X (5) JOKAMRREDPILLZ on X: "They calling Trump out.

ABC and its parent company, Disney, sued the FCC over its early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses. NPR’s David Folkenflik explains what’s at stake.U.S. Customs and Border Protection has paused construction of a border-wall project inside Big Bend National Park after receiving bipartisan backlash. Carlos Morales for NPR breaks down the issue.Iran’s hardline leaders used a two-month ceasefire with the U.S. to secretly prepare for a wider war, reshuffling military leadership and arming allies across the region. The Wall Street Journal’s Benoit Faucon discusses Tehran’s plans.Plus, Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz won a primary in a new district, an alleged cocaine-trafficking ring tied to Penn State fraternities, and a crackdown on sidewalk drinking in London.Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

Listeners respond to Relebogile Mabotja’s open line question on the traditional practices their parents and grandparents followed, and whether these customs still have a place in modern life. 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja is broadcast live on Johannesburg based talk radio station 702 every weekday afternoon. Relebogile brings a lighter touch to some of the issues of the day as well as a mix of lifestyle topics and a peak into the worlds of entertainment and leisure. Thank you for listening to a 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja podcast. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 13:00 to 15:00 (SA Time) to Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/2qKsEfu or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/DTykncj Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we take a deep dive into setting up and shooting the perfect rifle for western big game hunting. Travis Stevens, owner of TS Customs Rifles, takes us through his rifle building and shooting process from beginning to end. If you are looking to improve your long-range shooting ability, this podcast is for you. We also talk with Zac Griffith, who took down a giant Nevada Muley on day one of the 2026 archery season. Full show notes and transcript: https://epicoutdoors.com/podcast/ep-397-long-range-rifle-setup-and-shooting-tips-with-ts-customs-rifles  

A screenshot of old book titles turns into a surprising question: how much do we actually change, and how much do we just repeat what we already love? We follow that thread into “P Is For Patterns” and use it to decode why certain places instantly feel like home to us and why others don't, even when they're objectively beautiful. If you've ever wondered why you keep booking the same kind of trip or craving the same kind of neighborhood, this one gives you a fresh way to see your travel style.Thank you to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and Cases Customs for supporting this episode! Reach out to Case for your custom order https://casescustoms.com/cases-customscasescustoms@gmail.comIG: c.customs ;https://www.instagram.com/c.customsFB: https://www.facebook.com/CasesCustoms/Predjama CastlePostojna CavesAlso mentioned in this episode Discover Enchanting Tirol, Austria with Us214https://www.buzzsprout.com/263670/episodes/13541260Textured Accent Walls: https://www.southernaccentnashville.com/Our Glenwood Springs, CO Episodes E is for Energy282https://www.buzzsprout.com/263670/episodes/18826304D is for Doors281C is for Color+ado280We also take you to Slovenia for two unforgettable stops: Predjama Castle, a dramatic fortress built straight into a cave opening, and the Postojna Cave tour, complete with a train ride into the cavern and a long walk through massive chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites. We share practical travel tips like timing, walking expectations, parking, and what to wear, plus the small details that make the experience stick, from “baby dragon” olms to the concert-sized echo inside the cave.Then we bring the idea of patterns back home, literally, through texture, wallpaper, and renovation inspiration for our 1916 house, and emotionally through routines and habits we want to keep or change. Finally, we sit down with New Mexico artisan Case Forrest of Case's Customs to talk woodworking patterns, end-grain cutting boards, epoxy resin surprises, custom commissions, and why functional art is meant to be used.If you enjoy travel stories with real takeaways, home design inspiration, and maker craftsmanship, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Wanna hit the road? Get 10% OFF your own roadsurfer adventure!https://link.roadsurfer.com/roamiesCODE: ROAMIES10And it means the world to us when you subscribe, rate and share our podcast.Alexa and RoryThe ROAMiesFollow us at:http://www.TheROAMies.com@The ROAMies: Facebook and Instagram YouTube and X.

Market HighlightsUS refunds $100 billion in tariffs struck down by Supreme Court, filing shows | AJOT.COMBrazil Announces Efforts for Economic Agreements with China and South KoreaGemini Cooperation expands return to Suez Canal | trans.infoAsia-US East Coast box rate hits new high of $9,400 - FreightWavesEuropean air cargo demand continues to fall following EU's stricter import rules - Air Cargo NewsWorldACD Weekly Air Cargo Trends 2026 - week 31 - WorldACDMexico plans major expansion of busiest cross-border truck crossing - FreightWavesArticles of InterestSingapore says exports worth $7.4 billion affected by new U.S. tariffs | AJOT.COMDiesel theft wave hits Italian hauliers | trans.infoWhite House Announces Section 232 Tariffs on Polysilicon and Derivative ProductsBritish hauliers move more freight with fewer empty runs | trans.infoAfter sidelining 26,000 truck drivers, FMCSA seeks to lock in English rules - FreightWavesCanadian province removes 20 unsafe trucking companies from roadways - FreightWavesTrump extends Jones Act waiver; direct effect “pennies per gallon,” say analysts - FreightWavesUpcoming EventsAug. 19 – Incoterms Basics 2020Aug. 25 – U.S. Customs & Trade Update for Japanese CompaniesAug. 26 – Breaking Down the Customs Enforcement Executive OrderSept. 2 – Breaking Down the U.S. Customs Enforcement Executive Order (Europe)

Host: Cindy Allen Published: August 7, 2026 Length: ~15 min Presented by: Global Training Center Summary International trade compliance is getting more complicated—and the tools used to enforce it are getting smarter. In this week's Simply Trade update, Cindy Allen puts a trade-compliance spin on Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department and breaks down a busy week of tariff changes, forced-labor developments, enforcement activity, and technology. Cindy examines new Section 232 developments affecting pharmaceuticals, solar-grade polysilicon and derivative products, along with proposed additions to existing copper, steel, and aluminum measures. The growing focus on derivative products means importers increasingly need visibility beyond the finished good, including components, raw materials, suppliers, pricing, origin, and potential exemptions. She also explores CBP's increasing reliance on AI and advanced analytics, recent duty-evasion findings, UFLPA developments, China's countermeasures, and complications surrounding IEEPA duty refunds. The bigger message for trade professionals: enforcement isn't likely to disappear. As governments gain better analytical capabilities, companies need equally strong visibility into their supply chains. Technology can help uncover risk—but experienced trade professionals still have to interpret the data and make the right compliance decisions. This Week in Trade • New Section 232 requirements affecting solar-grade polysilicon and derivative products are adding another layer of supply-chain complexity. • Commerce has proposed adding 14 products to existing Section 232 measures covering copper, steel, and aluminum. • CBP's roadmap through 2030 highlights AI, analytics, interoperability, and increasingly sophisticated enforcement capabilities. • Forced-labor enforcement, China countermeasures, duty-evasion cases, and IEEPA refund validation issues continue to create compliance challenges. Main Topic / Discussion The trade environment is moving beyond traditional questions about classification, value, and country of origin. Importers increasingly need visibility deep into their supply chains to understand the components and raw materials contained in finished products, the parties involved, applicable pricing rules, and whether exemptions apply. At the same time, CBP is becoming more sophisticated in how it identifies risk. Advanced analytics can connect activity across suppliers and transactions that an importer may not immediately see. For companies, that makes supply-chain visibility and technology increasingly important. AI can help organize and analyze enormous amounts of trade data, but technology alone isn't the answer. Trade professionals still need to evaluate the results, understand the regulatory context, and determine the actual compliance risk. Key Takeaways • Section 232 derivative-product measures mean importers may need visibility all the way down to component and raw-material levels. • CBP's growing use of AI and analytical tools makes deeper supply-chain connections easier for enforcement teams to identify. • Companies should not assume heightened enforcement will disappear with future political or leadership changes. • Trade teams should evaluate whether their existing technology provides enough visibility to identify tariff exposure, exemptions, forced-labor concerns, and supplier-level risks before regulators do. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) • Section 232 tariffs and derivative-product requirements • Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) • CBP Office of Field Operations 2030 roadmap • Trade Force Multiplier Credits Host: Cindy Allen Guest(s): N/A Producer: Lalo Solorzano

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has told contractors building the border wall in New Mexico to stop drilling new wells for groundwater. We get the latest from Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd, who reported on the unpermitted wells when drilling started in July. Then, we speak with a family in Spokane, Washington, who evacuated less than half an hour before their home caught fire. And, one reason there isn't a severe global energy crisis is that China has significantly cut oil imports since the war in Iran began. How it's done this and why is a bit of a mystery. Rory Johnston, oil market analyst and Commodity Context creator, explains what's going on with China and how long it might keep doing it.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Market HighlightsEU packaging rules are changing: what importers need in place by August 2026 | trans.infoCBP Deploys Entry Type 13 Test and ResourcesCarrier Discounts Push Container Spot Rates Lower Ahead of August GRIsOcean Market MonitorWorldACD Weekly Air Cargo Trends 2026 - week 30 - WorldACDTrucking coalition says 194,000 non-domiciled CDLs affected by carrier reforms - FreightWavesFrance relaxes driving-time rules for wildfire transport | trans.infoArticles of InterestU.S. and Jordan Sign Agreement on Reciprocal TradePort Authority of New York and New Jersey reports facility volumes for first half of 2026Strong finish: Ocean Network Express lifts full-year profit outlook to ~$900MAs diesel futures plummet, DOE/EIA benchmark rises a 4th straight week to $5.348/galContainer spot rates fall as capacity growth pressures freight ratesChapman Freeborn launches in-house ICS2 declaration service for EU-bound cargoChinese state traders make large U.S. soybean purchases; USDA confirms ~488k tonsEventsAug. 13 – U.S. Customs Market UpdateAug. 19 – Incoterms Basics 2020Aug. 25 – U.S. Customs & Trade Update for Japanese CompaniesAug. 26 – Breaking Down the Customs Enforcement Executive Order

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), and NYC Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, NYC Council Member (District 10, Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill), talk about reports of ICE activity picking up in NYC, as well as a specific incident in Inwood where an observer recording ICE agents was pepper sprayed in the face. Photo: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents patrol the halls as they detain an individual after exiting his immigration court hearing at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Next of Kin After Stroke: When Your 19-Year-Old Has to Decide For You Kylie Ralston was 56, living alone in Sofia, Bulgaria, and getting back into shape after a divorce. Three mornings a week she ran. On the morning everything changed, she was doing a local park run with her friend Rebecca when she slowed to a walk, then tried to run again and couldn’t. “It was like the message wasn’t getting through from my brain to my legs,” she says. No headache. No fatigue. Nothing that felt like an emergency. She finished the run, registered her time, and went home. It wasn’t until she collapsed getting out of the car that anyone understood what was happening. By the time Kylie reached hospital, she had suffered a left frontoparietal haemorrhagic stroke, a spontaneous brain bleed roughly 7.5cm across, with none of the usual risk factors. No high blood pressure. No cholesterol history. No aneurysm, no AVM. She was placed in an induced coma for four days. When she woke, she couldn’t move her right side, and she couldn’t speak. What “Next of Kin” Really Means When a Stroke Hits Abroad Kylie was a permanent resident of Bulgaria, not a citizen, divorced from her daughter’s father, and living on her own. When the hospital needed someone to authorise emergency surgery, there was exactly one person available to make that call: her daughter, then 19 years old, splitting her time between her separated parents’ homes. It’s a detail easy to skim past, but it sits at the centre of this episode: next of kin isn’t a role most of us think about until a hospital needs an answer immediately. Kylie hadn’t nominated her daughter out of any formal planning process; it simply fell to her, because she was the only adult relative in the country who met the age threshold. A 19-Year-Old Signing Consent-to-Operate Forms Kylie’s friends contacted her daughter directly. She rushed to the hospital, and unconscious, unable to advocate for herself, her mother’s care now depended on decisions made by a teenager under enormous duress. Kylie’s first memory afterward is her daughter arriving in the ICU in a hairnet and scrubs, holding her hand, telling her she loved her. It’s the kind of moment that rarely makes it into conversations about stroke recovery, because the focus so often lands on rehabilitation milestones: walking, speaking, returning to work. But before any of that, someone has to be legally empowered to say yes to surgery, and for Kylie, that someone hadn’t expected the responsibility for another few decades. The Gap Between Acute Surgery and Real Rehabilitation Bulgaria’s acute care, Kylie and her friend Nicole Nott both stress, was world-class surgery within roughly two hours of the stroke, the kind of outcome her friends still describe as a miracle given the size of the bleed. What came next was a different story. In the public hospital, physiotherapy visits totalled two sessions. There was no speech therapy. After 14 days, still unable to move her right side or speak, Kylie was expected to go home. Her partner, Guido, refused to accept it, and the couple began privately funding rehabilitation themselves. This is a distinction worth sitting with if you or someone you love is navigating stroke recovery in a country or even a region with limited public rehab funding: acute survival and functional recovery are not the same fight, and they are not always resourced the same way. When a Friend Becomes the Rehab Team Nicole Nott, an occupational therapist and Kylie’s friend since they were 16, found out about the stroke through a message she initially suspected was a scam. Within days she’d cleared her schedule and flown from Australia to Bulgaria. What she found in the private rehab hospital was a caring but under-trained care team, kind staff with, as Nicole puts it, “no rehab expertise.” Nicole spent close to two weeks restructuring Kylie’s room and routine around basic stroke rehabilitation principles: approaching from Kylie’s affected right side to address her spatial inattention, built-up cutlery to force use of her weaker hand, a balloon tapped back and forth for shoulder strength, word games layered on top for speech practice, pegs and curtains repurposed into arm exercises. She also pushed back hard against hospital staff who tried to stop her from helping Kylie transfer to a shower chair or toilet, at one point being told outright she wasn’t permitted because she was a woman. Her single goal before flying home: get Kylie toileting independently again, for dignity as much as mobility. Kylie called her from Dubai airport, mid-transit, to tell her it had happened. Living With Aphasia Fourteen months on, Kylie’s right-side weakness has largely resolved. What remains, she says, is the hardest part: expressive aphasia. “I can’t express myself like I used to.” It’s a small, telling detail of the condition that even the phrase “I can’t” is itself shaped by the aphasia; the words available to describe the loss are affected by the loss. The Unexpected Gains Both women point to what came out of the crisis alongside the hardship: Kylie’s relationship with her daughter deepened. Her circle of friends in Bulgaria proved itself in ways she hadn’t anticipated. And in the rehab hospital, her partner Guido proposed something; he told her he’d already decided before the stroke but simply hadn’t gotten around to asking. If this episode raises questions about who is legally positioned to make decisions for you and whether that person actually knows it, it may be worth a conversation with your own family before a crisis forces the issue. For a deeper account of navigating identity, recovery, and unexpected transformation after stroke, Bill’s book The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened is available at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. If this show has helped you, you can support it at patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke. This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. Kylie Ralston: Stroke, Bulgaria, and the Friend Who Flew Across the World When Kylie had a stroke abroad, her 19-year-old daughter became her next of kin, and a friend flew in to help her recover. Bill’s Book: The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened Support the Recovery After Stroke On Patreon Highlights: 00:00 Introduction – Next of Kin After Stroke03:47 The Day of the Stroke08:55 Rehabilitation Challenges in Bulgaria16:32 Coping with Language Barriers22:08 Reflections on Healthcare Systems32:50 Setting Goals and Achievements38:29 Family Dynamics and Support Systems45:36 Finding Meaning in Recovery54:44 The Impact of Caregiving58:22 Reflections on Recovery and Gratitude Transcript: Introduction – Next of Kin After Stroke Bill Gasiamis (00:00)And one of my first horrible thoughts was, is this a dreadful hoax? Is someone, you know, is this some horrible scam? And it made me feel quite sick actually And then I rang her son who lives in Australia and he’s like, Yeah, I’m so sorry. I haven’t told you. Yes, it’s true, mum’s had a stroke. Bill Gasiamis (00:16)Welcome back to Recovery After Stroke. I’m Bill Gasiamis, and today I’m joined by two guests, Kylie Ralston and her friend Nicole Nott. Kylie was 56 living in Bulgaria when she suffered a left frontoparietal hemorrhagic stroke, a spontaneous brain bleed with none of the usual risk factors. Nicole is an occupational therapist and one of Kylie’s closest friends since they were teenagers. And when she found out what happened, she got on a plane to Bulgaria to help. In this episode, we get into what it means to have a stroke far from home in a country where you don’t speak the language, and public rehabilitation funding barely exists. We talk about who becomes your next of kin when you least expect it, what it’s like to advocate for a friend inside a hospital system that won’t always listen. And what recovery actually looks like 14 months on, before we get into it, if you want a deeper look at identity, recovery, and unexpected transformation after stroke, my book, The Unexpected Way That Stroke Became, the best thing that happened, is available at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. And if this show has helped you And you can support it to keep me on the path of getting to a thousand episodes, you can do so At patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke Bill Gasiamis (01:37)Kylie Ralston and Nicole Nott, welcome to the podcast. lovely to be here, Bill. Thanks for having us, Bill. Kylie, tell me a little bit about what life was like before the stroke. I was very active and I had a full life and I was working full time. and I was living in Sofia in Bulgaria, in my on my own, in my own apartment. I was renting, actually. and I was getting back to fitness. So I was g getting I was running regularly. So two two or three times a week I was hitting the gym and hitting the tr the treadmill. And that had been happening for like a few month like six months or something like that. but before that I was very fit and active. What kind of work were you involved in? I was a HR work. I was a ha HR leader and so I had my own consultancy I had a team of people that I’ve managed. I had thirty five people, so and that they were people in Germany, Poland, Czechia, Portugal, France, so everywhere in in Europe, basically. Yeah. Wow, how how does an Aussie end up in Bulgaria with staff or clients in that many countries? short answer is I came here with my family, so with my ex husband. and shortly after I arrived we separated and and ultimately got divorced. and I stayed on because my daughter is here. So she was only eleven at the time and I could just couldn’t leave her. The Day of the Stroke So you were living at home with your daughter? she was sharing her time between between us both. Yeah. got it. Okay. So both parents are there. So your daughter was going backwards and forwards. On the night of the stroke or on the day of the stroke, can you take us through that? What were you experiencing? Was there anything unusual that happened that made you think something was wrong? How did it go down? I was with my friend Rebecca. And she was running ahead of me as she she was faster than me, so sh and she often often ran ahead of me. and I’d slowed down to a walk and when I started to run again or try to run again, it it was like the message wasn’t getting through from my brain to my legs. And I thought, that’s strange, that’s that’s really odd. ‘Cause I didn’t feel like tired or anything and I didn’t have a headache and well stuff like that. and I just walked through the rest of the park run. And then when Rebecca saw me coming to the finish line, she waved me over and she said, come on, let’s go register your chip. and so I did that. and she said afterwards that there was a little bit of fumbling with with my phone and there’s a there was a little bit of fumbling when I put my jacket on, but other than that, I just seemed exhausted from a run. do you recall after the experience of feeling exhausted from the run where you ended up? Did you need help? Yeah, I do. So so she didn’t notice that I wasn’t talking because I n I’m normally an endless talker, so I she didn’t notice that I wasn’t talking. And she said that that that is one thing that should have alerted her to what was happening. but it it didn’t. And so I’d caught the bus to the park run and her husband was there and so he drove me home. And I j I remember the journey home and when when we when I went to get out, I just couldn’t. And so and Mark came around to my side of the car and help tried to help me out and I just collapsed against him. And so then that so then they said, quick, something’s wrong something’s I don’t remember what they  They they said, you know, they basically took me straight to the hospital. Yeah. And also rang Guido, my now fiance, but my partner at the time. Uh-huh. So you you went from the run, attempted to go home, and then from that attempt to get you out of the car, actually into your home, it was pretty clear that that wasn’t gonna happen and you ended up in hospital. so Did you guys drive to hospital? Do you recall that? Yes. Yes. We do how far is it from your home? it’s pretty close. I don’t know about kilometres or time, but it’s but it’s like ten or fifteen minutes. Yeah, so it’s not too far. But they didn’t know what was going on, of course. They just knew something wasn’t right and then they figured one of the best things to do is just get it to a hospital. You get to the hospital Do you know what happens after that? Do you get admitted? do you get tested for anything? I suppose what I’m asking is when is the first time you realise that that you’ve had a stroke? When do they report that back? When I came out of the coma. So I was put I was put into an an induced coma straight away. so I I obviously don’t remember anything of of that. and but Rebecca’s told me afterwards. so she’s filled in the f filled in the filled in the blanks for me. and by that stage her husband thought it was a stroke. So she’s he said he said to the staff at the hospital, we think she’s having a stroke. And so yeah. So how long were you in the coma, do you know? Has somebody told you how long it was? Yeah, four four days. Four days, okay. And do you know what kind of stroke you had? Yep. I had a left Frontoparietal hemorrhagic stroke. Wow, that’s a good effort. So you had a brain bleed. Yep. Do they know what caused it? No. It was spontaneous and I didn’t have any of the risk factors. So I didn’t have high blood pressure, a history of high blood pressure, but admittedly I’d hadn’t tested my blood pressure immediately before the stroke. but you know That’s un that’s unlikely to be the cause. And I didn’t have a hi a history of high cholesterol. and so they just and I didn’t have an aneurysm and I didn’t have like what’s the other thing? The An AV AVM. AVM, yeah, I didn’t have any of that. And how old were you? Fifty six. Okay. So you had a spontaneous Bleed in the brain. That happens. People do have that happen from time to time. And sometimes they don’t have any symptoms leading up to it or anything like that. and this is the bizarre nature of like there’s an unlimited number of ways, unfortunately, for people to have a stroke. Now, you woke up in hospital four days later. What kind of deficits did you have? I couldn’t move my right side and I couldn’t speak. Okay. Now I’ve got an idea of well, I haven’t got an idea, but my mind immediately kind of says like if you’re in hospital in Bulgaria, that’s not a hospital in Melbourne. That’s not the Royal Melbourne hospital where no shit is unreal, like it’s perfect and it’s got the highest technology and it doesn’t matter how many things we can bitch and moan about the system being here like compared to Bulgaria, my expectation is that we’re world class. Perhaps that’s not the case in Bulgaria. Would you agree with that statement? I would have agreed before and my my my expat friends here would have agreed before, but now we’re all saying maybe Bulgaria is better than we thought. That’s brilliant. Awesome. Okay, so Rehabilitation Challenges in Bulgaria As far as like medical interventions and all that type of stuff, you felt like that was handled like any other world class hospital would have handled it. Yeah. In that in that s it in that stage it was. but there’s no like that was a public hospital and there’s no there’s no public funded rehab after. or or very li very little. So so that’s where that’s where Australia is ahead. So when you knew you had deficits, was there any rehabilitation whatsoever? Did you get any of that while you were still in hospital? Minimal. So the the physio came to see me twice. and so that’s so that’s all and I got no speech therapy and stuff like that. and but when I was discharged from the public hospital here and went and so they they expected me to go home from the public hospital. And so Guido said she just can’t like like what what the fuck? After how many days? After how many days, how long? Fourteen. Wow, your right side was still offline and you still had problem. Yeah. Okay. So we we just paid for paid for private rehab. got it, right. Yeah. And how long were you in private rehab for? another like two months or something like that. Right. Okay, that’s pretty cool. So i even though you couldn’t access it publicly, you were still able to Access a private now. Are you a citizen in Bulgaria? Not a citizen, a permanent resident. Okay. So do you have are you as a result of the fact that you’re a permanent resident and not a citizen, do you have different things that you are able to access because of your status? No. no. I’m it’s I have the same rights as a citizen. The only one the only right I don’t have is I’m I’m not able to vote here and I’m not I’m not able to work in other EU countries. Got it. Okay. So that’s pretty traumatizing, the whole experience, and then to have to deal with overcoming your left side and your speech deficits after the two month mark, roughly where were you at where you where you are now? Because you kinda sound pretty good. Okay. No, yeah. no and and the other thing the other thing that I must say about Bulgaria is I don’t speak Bulgarian. very very little. So that was a problem. Yeah. I can imagine, yeah. so maybe you can come in here, Nicole, and and talk about where I was at when you came to see me, because that was very very very early on in my in in the private rehab hospital. Yeah, Nicole, tell me a little bit about what it’s like to receive a phone call to find out that your friend has had a stroke. I was absolutely hellish. the way I found out is I got a message through social media from someone saying, Hey, I’m a friend of Kylie’s and she’s in hospital in Bulgaria. And one of my first horrible thoughts was, is this a dreadful hoax? Is someone, you know, is this some horrible scam? And it really, you know, it made me feel quite sick actually thinking this is that’s not someone I know. It does look like a name I’ve seen in Kylie’s kind of social media world. And then I rang her son who lives in Australia and he’s like, Yeah, I’m so sorry. I haven’t told you. Yes, it’s true, mum’s had a stroke. and I was kind of beside myself because by training I’m an occupational therapist, but Kylie and I have known each other each other since we were about 16. and it was really hard to get the information that I wanted as a friend, but also as a health professional. I was wanting to understand what kind of stroke is it? Where is it? What’s the rehab? What can we do? How’s it going? And at that stage the information that I had was that you know, it was really seriously affected the speech part of the brain and obviously the hemiplegia, the weakness down the right side and knowing that Kylie was right handed. so, you know, it’s the friendship part that your heart’s breaking and it’s also the therapist part that’s wanting the information to be able to, you know, reconcile it for myself, professionally what that was going to look like as a consequence for Kylie. Yeah, and you’re so far away, so you really can’t do anything and kind of have to like take information second hand, third hand, and be kind of in a position which is really uncomfortable for, I imagine, a friend, but also a therapist, right? So as an occupational therapist, that’s not the information you work on. You work on actual facts, scans, reports, like a whole bunch of things. So are you also playing it out in your mind? Are you kind of Doom thinking it, like are you how does it affect you personally? I think for me I was all I was really very conscious of not stressing other people. So like friends, family, because sometimes when you are a health professional, you know, you have knowledge and information and you know, you sometimes you you’re keeping that to yourself to some extent because you do know what can happen to people and you do know what consequences can be. So I was really trying not to ask too many questions of people as well. but I was seriously desperate for information. And so I remember I’d gone to a party and I didn’t really want to go because I was actually, you know, upset and stressed for Kylie. And I did end up going to a party and during the party I was really kind of outside having a bit of a downer really by a campfire. but I got a phone call or a message to say that I think you’d said some words, Kylie, and were kind of waking up. so you’re still in the acute hospital then and that you’d been able to move your leg a little bit, I think. Yeah. And you know, joy in that moment. And yeah, I felt very, very far away. And then What happens over the next few days? Like do you guys continue to communicate somehow? Do you keep getting information? Are you being updated? Yeah. Yeah. I wasn’t able to get my into my phone or my any of my devices. So I wasn’t able to able to because I couldn’t remember my password, right? And so and and I tried like d different ones and I you know I just got locked out. So and when I was able to get in then that made it it made it easier t because I was able just text short messages. So so Nicole and I kept in touch that way. and before English-speaking Before you came, Nicole, I think I was talking, but not not not as well as I am now. Yeah. So was it, Nicole, in your mind, you were always going to fly over to Bulgaria and beath your friend? Or did you guys have to work that out? Like what happened now? It’s so cool that you get to have a somebody in your corner that is also a Fred, but also a medical professional in the exact field that you’re struggling with now. Right. Like how do you just drop everything and go overseas and be with your friend? Yeah, well, very grateful that I had an up to date passport. So that was that was a good thing. Kylie, it was interesting because the texting, like if I go back and look at that history, it’s like you can see the progress in the texts. So you can see that Kylie was using kind of more single words and having struggles with spelling and putting sentences together. And then over time, you know, they became more fluent. but the thing that happened was that Kylie and I were talking and she was able to you know, she got some speech back and we were talking. And she was just saying about the rehab care that the the the kind of caring staff just seemed to have no rehab expertise. So the physios were amazing. I think they were great. There was no active speech therapy for Kylie. I think we ultimately found an English speaking speech therapist but who still had Bulgarian as a first language. And there’s very few occupational therapists in Bulgaria, seems to be some expats. And Kylie was talking to me a jab about just you know, really basic things like not being taken to the toilet. and that’s probably what broke my heart. It’s like I cannot leave her in bed, not being able to go to the toilet. I just can’t do it. And so I just said to my partner, I think I just need to go to Bulgaria. And luckily I’m self-employed. So I just kind of cleared my schedule, got on a plane and yeah, I was just I suppose I’m incredibly grateful to have the skill. incredibly grateful to have the financial ability to do it. and yeah, and the skills to do it. And you know, you don’t always get an opportunity in life to do the right thing, or sometimes you don’t make that decision and later you think, Why didn’t I do X, Y, and Z? I try not to live my life like that. I try to actually do those things. So, yeah, I got on a plane and basically arrived at the airport, got on a train straight out to see Kylie at the Rehope Hospital. You’re a real superhero. I’m very grateful to Nicole. Yeah. I rec you know, my story is kind of well, it has a similar kind of thread to it. I one of my best friends is a radiographer and he was a radiographer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where I was a patient for nearly two and a half years because I was in and out with a number of brain hemorrhages. I had three in total in the same spot, but over two and a half years, then I had brain surgery. And I can’t tell you how many scans I had, but being a radiographer, he was the one who was in the room taking the photos through the MRI. Yeah. And then he would come out. And he would tell us what he saw in the RI, which was against the rules. that’s why I won’t name him. But but that meant that we didn’t have to wait a month to get our results and the the meeting for the results was just more of we’ll go through the process and and have the meeting. Yeah. And and and it was like and I regretted my life when at school I used to throw his books on the roof of the canteen just to mess with him going to s to class late to get in trouble. and I’ve apologised profusely for that and thanked him every day for the fact that, you know, he was able to lend his well, you know, he was able to be in the room. He was able to have that conversation with us and he was able to ease our minds. over that two and a half year period and then you won’t believe it. Like his daughter had an AVM at seventeen. And she went through that and and has recovered from that somewhat now in the last few years. and I got to be I mean I hate that I had to be this guy, but I got to be the guy that supported him through that really acute phase and There is just nothing to describe what it’s like to be able to a repay the favor. and then but B, when I was in that situation to have somebody kind of well, you know, like put their arm around me and really walk me through every stage. Me and my wife and my family walk us through every stage of that part of it, other than intervening as a brain surgeon. But he was the one that put us in char in in touch with my brain surgeon. like Everything that happened was just the most amazing experience to be able to be guided like that. And I know it’s a privilege and many people don’t get that opportunity. so I see Chris, I haven’t told him this in person. I see him as like a bit of a superhero, but he doesn’t know that. I’ve told him I love him in the way men tell each other that they love each other by s abusing him and swearing at him and telling him that the team that he follows is terrible and all that kind of stuff. Reflections on Healthcare Systems so you arrived in Bulgaria. take me from the airport to the hospital. Like what happens? How is that? Actually the flight was really good. Customs was pretty easy. There was some annoying folk in front of me who I wanted to punch in the face and tell them to hurry up, but I was just, you know, needed to to get there. Kylie’s daughter met me at the airport. And then we got the train together out to the hospital. So, you know, obviously I’m seeing my first sight of Bulgaria. I’d never been there before. so not really taking a tourist route at this point. so went out to see Kylie. And, you know, when you just eyeball someone and I, you know, just thank God I’m here, I’m in front of her. Her she’d had a shaved head. she had some pretty spectacular surgical scars, a couple of very big scabs still on her head. she looked skinny, she looked pale, she had started doing a little bit of movement and the hospital room was really kind basic and crazy. Her friends had funded a pressure mattress for her that didn’t exist. And some of these things I had been liaising with Kylie’s friends in Bulgaria about what could we do, how you know, what do we want to prevent? So we want to prevent anyone pulling on from. Her weak shoulders and like don’t let anyone pull her by the arm. this is how I want, you know, to help her with posture in bed or in sitting. and you know, like speaking in single kind of actions at a time and just take your time, say something, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Just allow Kylie’s brain to, you know, take that information on board. Don’t speak for her. and when I got there, it was really clear that. She had an inattention to the right hand side as an effect from the stroke. So then I was a bit of a ball breaker, rearranging the whole room. No, no, no, no, no. Where, you know, everyone come from the right, everyone sit on the right. no cutler, you’re not allowed to have your phone in your left hand, you’re having your phone in your right hand. I’d taken some things with me from Australia to Bulgaria that I thought she might need. like some built-up cutlery, because I wanted her to use her right hand to feed herself. I took a couple of kind of activities that I thought we could do to look at some retraining for the right arm. what I’ll still bring with me, try to remember now. Benjamin. So yeah, just try kind of going into early stroke rehab principles. Yeah. Did you go there well you went there as a friend. But when you were there, were you able to be a professional and also have a conversation with the local team? Kylie and I laughing. Do you want to tell that story, Kylie? Which one are you thinking about? Where I got told off. No, I don’t remember that. well, Kylie was in act like, you know, there was still quite a lot of weakness, but she was also so determined for her own rehab. And in the system there their carers really don’t have a rehab focus. They have a I’ll provide you a meal focus and I’ll occasionally do some cleaning and I’ll occasionally change the bed linen and but really not a rehab focus. So I’ve personally found it quite easy to help Kylie to like stand move. And so the very first weekend I was there, it was a long weekend and what I didn’t realise later was that they were actually quite understaffed. Which worked in our favour because I was helping Kylie to get onto a shower chair, taking her to have a shower, us taking her to the toilet, because prior to that time they were just, you know, using pads for toileting because Kylie couldn’t stand up or move on her own. And because I’m trained, I found it very easy. She’s a lightweight person and she and I just work together and I could do that. I think it was the Tuesday, person who I refer to as Nurse Ratchet. remembering now kind of intercepted me bringing Kylie back from the bathroom to her room and just like, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. What are you doing? Stop that, stop that, stop that. and you know, she and I are having a bit of a a discussion. And basically she’s refused and I’m allowed to move Kylie. So Kylie is sitting out in the corridor. I think I’d luckily kind of covered you up for privacy. and she’s like, No, you’re not allowed to move her. I’m gonna go and get the physio. I think at least forty minutes went by and then she comes back, well, okay, and I said, Look, I am a trained person, it’s easy, it’s safe. no, I’ll think about it. And then after I think another fifteen minutes she pushed your chair into the bedroom. And then I think it was probably another fifteen minutes where she just decided to move Kylie herself at that point. even though that was out of policy and the physios had to do it. And then it was all this discussion with me that you can’t do it. And in the end it was you can’t do it because you’re a woman. Not strong enough, you know. so yeah. Then Kylie and I kind of would go on clandestine missions because again, from a rehab point of view, being able to stand transfer, it’s putting all the weight through the leg, it’s giving feedback to the brain. I really wanted to make sure Kylie’s bladder and bowel were gonna work properly. And you know, sitting in bed and that’s just not ideal. So then Kylie’s like, Nicole, I want to go to the toilet. I was like, I’m banned, I’m banned, Mother Nurse Ratchet, I’m not allowed to take you. And I was like, shit. So I would go on a little mission, go look down the corridor, make sure she was nowhere to be seen. And then I quickly stole the shower chair and then I found a bucket. And so Kylie and I were doing secret Wii missions in the bedroom. until w on one of our missions I just hadn’t quite got the bucket in the right place. And so then I it was also then later on a cleaning mission. So it was it was a pretty crazy environment. yeah, just for that lack of t whole team approach to rehab. Whereas, you know, in Australia the nurses would all be rehab trained. They would be transferring someone physios would come in, speech would be coming, OTs would be coming. So I was kind of desperately trying to convince Kylie or to get her rehab to a standard where she’d be able to come back to Australia to get some more rehab. You know what’s good about this conversation other than the hilarious nature of it also is that I as an as a person who hadn’t had a stroke before my hadn’t known anyone who had a stroke before my experience, if I had come across somebody who had had a stroke, I wouldn’t have known what to look out for and what to say to support them in a situation where perhaps something was being neglected. Because I don’t know what I don’t know. I’m not a professional, right? Just like those nurses and therapists that weren’t specifically trained. Yeah. In certain things. I mean, you may as well be not only talking a different language, but you may as well be making it up as you go because as far as they know, now this is what we do for stroke patients. This is how we handle that. is it a lack of understanding of what r stroke rehabilitation requires, or is it a lack of resources, or is it a little bit of both? Do you feel in Bulgaria when you were there? I think I think it’s a lack of of all all of that but it’s the lack of maybe money. So it’s a lack of training. So th there’s there’s not enough there’s not the the nurses or the orderlies or whatever they’re called here, are are aren’t paid very much. So they so And t just like, even though I was in a private rehab hospital, so you would have expected that more. It’s you would have expected more, but I just think that they just don’t have the money to to train those people. Yeah. it wasn’t really a role, was it, Kylie? Like they really were more like housekeepers in a sense. It was more like cleaning a meals. I have to say the physios were excellent. and a lot of the physios had good English as well, which was for your rehab was so important. because again a lot of the carers they would come into the room and you know, again, just from a speech therapy point of view, in Australia, say if someone came into the room who was the person who did the menus or filled up the water bottles or the cleaners, Kyler could have spoken to all of those people and had   incidental communication the whole day in English. But because of all of those p incidental people coming in didn’t speak English, you know, reasonably in Bulgaria. it just for me, I was worried about the lack of just exposure to English language as well. So not even speech therapy, just incidental language through the day. Which is very helpful and people don’t realise how helpful it is to be able to speak to a nurse about how you’re feeling or what’s happening. Yeah. And all the usual stuff. And Kylie’s chatty and friendly and she would have just been having conversations galore, but it just it it it couldn’t be. Yeah. Yeah, it’s another another barrier. so you know when you go overseas, it’s your friend and you’re a professional. How do you handle that? Because you know, like are you emotional? Are you trying to put a lid on it? Are you allowing yourself to Gonna be emotional. How does that work? We had some killer laughs, didn’t we? I mean, I’m a joker anyway. And so, like the first time Kylie got to do a poo on the toilet, I just did a poo dance for her. So I I felt half my job was you know, cheering her up and keeping it light and having fun and chatting about stuff we would just always chat about. as well as doing as much rehab because it was very exhausting because, you know, p after a stroke, it’s very fatiguing. you know, so to Kylie was really tired and needed lots of rest. So and because I had just you know, obviously dropped tools to go over quickly, I was just working sometimes. So I just have my computer and if Kylie was asleep I’d just stay with her and and her partner Guido as well, who was there with her as well. So just, you know, emotional support wise. But Yeah, I do some work. And I stayed in Kylie’s apartment. So I w was I just stayed at her place and I I train out to see her each day at the hospital. W how many hours would you spend in hospital with her? What do you think, Kylie? you would often arrive at like ten in the morning and you wouldn’t go till like five in the evening or six in the evening. Yeah. So technically visiting hours kind of finished at six. So I just try and stay most of the day. A full shift. Yeah. Yeah. Unpaid. Unpaid labour. Slave driver. Yeah. yeah. But nah. That’s what friends are for. I very what I very much wanted to stay the whole day because I did really, really wanna like especially the toileting thing. I just really wanted that. Setting Goals and Achievements I had this bit of a goal for myself for Kylie that she would be able to take herself to the toilet before I left the country. So just from a dignity point of view, from a mobility point of view, transfers, you know, bladder control. So yeah, that was one of my big goals. And she rang me when I was in transit at Dubai Airport on my way back to Australia and said, Nicole, I just took myself to the toilet. Wow, that’s cool. Yeah. Yeah. And and I was having physio two physio sessions a d a wi a day. So I was having other than Nicole. So I was having like about one session about of about an hour in the morning and one session of about an hour in the in the afternoon. Got it. You Kylie seem like pretty mm chill, pretty calm. how are you handling it though, emotionally? How’s the aftermath Treating you because there’s a little bit of you know, there’s all that acute stuff. It’s awesome when your friend is there, but then your friend goes home, right? So how how does that transition kind of happen? Yeah, I might start crying. because I’ve just recently spent seven months in Australia. So I I went to Australia in October last year and I came back in just in May. and I had more rehab there. So I had I had student led rehab at at first and then I got in got accepted into Birch, which is the brain injury rehab community and home in Ad in Adelaide. so that’s that is is a whole team of people. So I had I had physio and I and a occupational therapist and a a e exercise physiologist and a speech therapist and stuff like that so I th that’s really good. now the most frustrating part for me is the aphasia so I I can’t I can’t express myself like I used to. Yeah. You know what I love about interviewing people who have aphasia is when they say I can’t in a sentence to describe something to me it triggers the part of the condition which doesn’t allow the words to come out. It’s so interesting. That happens so so often. And it’s just a for me, I noticed this I’m saying it just from a perspective is maybe I can’t is not the right word. I don’t know. You might remember this, you might not, but maybe I can’t is not the right word. Maybe the right word is Something that helps you get to the word that you need to get to. And okay, now that’s just me, the uneducated stroke survivor on a phasia guy. Like I don’t know about that. But it’s so interesting, it happens every time. but then Nicole goes home, you go home, your partner is kind of now taking over the caregiving role, and you still have some deficits. phage is one of them. what about your right side? How offline was it? I I also moved in with Guido after the after the stroke. So so that was that was a has was ha was and has continues to be a challenge because we’re still getting used to living together because we weren’t living together before. and I was very in very independent before. And I was living in Sofia and he and he and I now live in a in a village. So I live in in a village just outside of Sofia. And I’m not driving yet. but I was medically cleared to drive in Australia before I left. So I’m going through the process here. so anyway, all of all of those things together make it very challenging. don’t get me wrong, I I l I love him, but but you know, and and I d and and I made that decision because my apartment is was was on the fourth floor and th there was no lift. Wow. Yeah. So back to your question. When I was when I was when I came here, when I was discharged, I continued with as an outpatient and and the physio continued to come at home twice a week. So I was having more physio maybe like five times a week. and like it were ha had started to come my right side had was all already back online, but I would I was just working on building strength and and I would get still very tired. Yeah. And did your daughter end up coming to live with you as well? No. but she she at the beginning she she was my next of kin. So at the ripe old age of nineteen, she signed the consent to operate forms. yeah, so that was that was very difficult for her. I didn’t know that at the time, obviously. but yeah. And did that happen, did she become your next of kin because your former partner, her dad, and you had separated and then his that role wasn’t gonna be his anymore. It’s just passed down to the person who was the closest to you. Like how did that happen? Family Dynamics and Support Systems We’re divorced. I I’m divorced from her dad. Yeah. So he’s definitely not my next kin. Right. So that ha changed after the divorce and she was the only person you could nominate because she was over is there an age limit to the next of kin? Eighteen. Yeah. Okay. So she had hit that criteria, you nominated her and then at nineteen she got to make a decision. Which she never and you never would have expected ever for that to be a thing. I didn’t nominate her, it would just happen. So I was I I was unconscious at the time that she signed those forms. So yeah. So my friends actually contacted her. and she she rushed to the hospital. so it was all under duress. It was like this is what happened to your mum, you’re her Next of kin, whether you like it or not, you have to decide. Yeah. Far out. Okay, that’s pretty full on for a 19 year old. Yeah. Yeah, seems like she did a good job. How did she handle this whole mum’s not well situation, this stroke thing? Like how did she deal with it? she was very good. my first memory actually is of her coming into the ICU with with the with the whole, you know, the whole like the the hairnet and the mask and the and the and the what’s it called the scrubs. Scrubs, yeah. and she held my hand and said t that she loved me. so that was pretty special. And incidentally I have an a another memory of Guido coming into the ICU as well and singing singing to me. So he he said that he said that I always wanted him to sing and he refused before. And so did did I want him to sing to me now? And I squeezed his hand or on the on the left he’s was holding my left hand and I squeezed his hand and so he knelt down beside my bed and started singing. Wow. Can he actually hold the tune or is he hard to hear? Yes, see he’s he’s very musical. Okay. Thank God. If my wife had asked me to sing a w if I had asked my wife to sing, it wouldn’t have been a good experience at all for either of us. Yeah, he was he was a busker in i in his younger years. Yeah. and now he decided to come good. Fair enough. Well that that’s important. You know, things like that are important. It lightens the the mood and it makes Yeah. You kind of feel like your family’s around and that you know you know, maybe kind of things might be all right. Like it gives that glimmer of hope. Is that how you received it? Yeah, I did. yeah, but I’m also very, very determined. So I’m a I’m a very normally very strong woman and so everyone said to me that if if well not to me, but w we had a we had a group WhatsApp chat so and I was added to it later and everyone said in that that if anyone can get through this, Kylie can. Yeah. So you know when you’re told you’ve had a stroke, you wake up with all the deficits and everything. Are you like how do you take it? I woke up, couldn’t use my left side. I I did not for one minute. It did not cross my mind like for one minute that this is not a good thing. Like I mean, clearly I wasn’t able to move, etcetera. But it never kinda went a lifesaver, I’m fucked. Like I never had that happen. Me as well. yeah. I I’d I’ve never thought that. I don’t know whether I even thought that It was n like you said, that was not a good thing. I just put one foot in front of the other and or not literally, but the Yeah. Metaphorically. Yeah. Metaphorically. so one foot in front of the other and just got on with it. Yeah. Nicole, like you come across in your work, you come across a lot of different versions of patience, right? Like you get people who might just be by design more negative to a bad experience and then people that are half class full to a bad experience. Just from a professional perspective, what’s the difference like when you’re trying to rehabilitate somebody that has kind of that different mindset? From perhaps what Kylie and I described. Yeah, I mean I’m probably in the last half full camp as well. So as an OT, I suppose we always meet people where they’re at. because everyone is a combination of their past experiences, aren’t they? So and cultural things, like there’s a very significant cultural differences in how people respond to pain or disability and expectations of kind of family and I suppose cultural expectations in Australia are even about you know, what what what should be publicly available. So, you know, from an expectations point of view, I think a lot of it is based on, you know, previous experience. So as a therapist, we’re obviously there to support, you know, emotional well being, physical well being, and try and find the things for people that connect with them. So meaningful, like OTs are our absolute core is meaningful occupation. So how do we find something that’s meaningful to that person that we think is going to get them from kind of, you know, here to there and it’s gonna be very different different motivators, you know. Kylie is probably, you know, very self motivated as described. Sometimes it’s about people really have a d strong desire to get back to work, or people have a really strong family structure that they want to be able to get back to do something with their family. So finding the way or the thing hopefully that’s going to motivate them. But we certainly work with people who you know, have a high level of distress from what’s happened to them and and on an ongoing basis. One of the things I’ve got a little quote on my desk that you can’t see here, but it says, I’m still me, just a different version of me. And it’s what someone one of my clients told me recently who has MS. and often we find need to find the new version of someone. and the new meaning for someone if that, you know, needs to happen. So that’s our great challenge, I suppose. That’s a big job, especially very early on when identity is so tied up into who they were literally days ago. You know, like a week ago. The mobile person, the working person, the money making person, the father, the mother, the whatever. Finding Meaning in Recovery And then, you know, you’re dealing with a physical crisis, the existential crisis, the identity crisis, like you’re dealing with it all in the one moment, and you’re trying to get them to sort of see, well, you know, you’re still you and how we’re gonna move forward with the still you person, like we’re still gonna move forward with that person. And then later does come an adjustment of what that you looks like. did for me like it’s a massive adjustment into what me looks like. But my identity wasn’t so much tied up in a one label specifically, although, you know, I s I was the person who felt like they needed to be the main breadwinner, you know, that you know ran a business that did all these things. I I had a big strong identity. But I think one of the things this is going to sound weird or might even sound logical depending on like w who you are and why you’re listening to this podcast. But for me, the fact that my brain went offline was a really good thing because it and that allowed my emotional side to come to the fore. Like it really enabled me to see things with a different intelligence, you know, and access part of me that my emotional intelligence perhaps that I hadn’t that I perhaps suppressed previously, you know, and just battled through things. And that kind of allowed my identity to come with me, it allowed me to leave some stuff behind and allowed me to bring into my identity this emotional side of me, you know, which who cried, who got excited about new and different opportunities, you know, that my head didn’t convince me out of. You know, so there was a lot of silver linings that I didn’t I wasn’t able to iterate back then. I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that it was a silver lining. But now and a few years later, after it all happened, I was definitely able to talk about those silver linings. Kylie Do you you’re fourteen months or so out, right? So maybe you’re not there yet, I don’t know. But are there some silver and I know a hundred percent Nicole was one of those silver linings, I get it. but do you see some silver linings in this whole saga? Yep. I do. my relationship with my daughter got stronger. Yep. So that was all s that was definitely a silver lining. and you know, I I’m was very grateful before, but it cemented how g how grateful I am for my circle of friends. Yeah. Kylie’s friends were amazing. Yeah. Your friends were amazing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Big family still in Australia is is there a big family in Australia, Kylie? Not not a big one, but my mum and dad are still still alive. So they’re they’re in Melbourne. and my sister is in on the Gold Coast and my brother is in Melbourne as well. Yeah. And my and my son is in Adelaide. Okay. So you still have some family here, but then you were able to create a community in the years before the stroke in Bulgaria. Yeah. you you were doing it a little bit tough after the stroke. Yeah. Correct. Yep. So that’s spot on. Did you Nicole tag team with some of those people as well? Yeah, so Kylie’s friends were beautiful and they were looking after me too. So When I was in Bulgaria, they were looking after me, you know, giving me dinner and what have you, and kind of giving me emotional support as well. And I think they were grateful that I was there from a skills point of view, like they were doing a beautiful job of supporting Kylie emotionally. But and I did kind of train them up a little bit in in some rehab as well, you know, how to help with approaching from the right and how to communicate and also just even doing some activities. Kylie and I had the balloon and we were tapping it back and forward to each other for strengthening up the right arm. And then we’d play some kind of word games as we were doing that for some speech therapy. So I was educating her friends around that kind of stuff. But the other thing, Kylie, that you and I have spoken about is, you know, after the stroke is knowing what’s important and how to let some sh shit go that would have been, you know, annoying or you know. focus on something and now it’s just you you just know it’s just not important. Yeah. Being able to just let crap go. Correct correct. and the other silver lining is that I got engaged. Yes. Did he propose soon after? Yes, in the in the rehab hospital. what a romantic Yeah. But he but he said that he’d already decided before the stroke that he wanted to marry be ma be married to me. So he just hadn’t got around to asking me yet. Yeah, fair enough. That stroke has a way of interrupting people’s plans and the things that they think they’re gonna do. so Nicole you normally treat your patients. They get to a stage. Usually they’re a lot better than they were when they first met you. And part of what you do is you send them off into the big wide world like a kid. I’ve grown you know, I’ve raised them, you know, like they know how to comb their hair now. And you kinda send them off and it’s kind of bittersweet, I imagine, but also a very important part that the people who you’re helping get better actually go off into the world on their own. And stop needing to be supported by you. I know there’s some people who need more support and that continues for longer and some people who don’t get enough and it and it’s never enough. But what’s it like knowing the job is not done, but you still have to leave and go home? that was heartache. I mean, Kylie and I both balled our lies out. it was a long flight home. Yeah. Yeah, it was a long flight home. with lots of reflections. I suppose the good thing at that point was Kylie was easily able to speak on the phone or message each other. So and also, you know, I think at that stage maybe I got to see the brain scan and I was just like, my god, how have you even survived this? ‘Cause I think was it about a seven centimeter bleed, Kylie? Yep. seven and a half. Yeah. To be precise. It truly felt like a a miracle. And again, full kudos to the surgeons in Bulgaria, truly, for that acute care. Because I think Kylie, I feel like you were in surgery in about within about two hours or something after the stroke, which is phenomenal. And, you know, your friends really saved your life. taking you straight to the hospital and prevented like, you know, more serious outcomes from the stroke. So yeah, so for me, I was proud of myself as well. and I, you know, I like to live my life by thinking I can look myself in the mirror. And I felt like I can really I’ve got a tear, really look myself in the mirror. Yeah. Doing the right thing. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. You came to the need of somebody who was in need and needed specifically not only your love and support as a friend, but also your skills. Like you had the complete package for them at that time. How long did you end up staying in total? Was I ra away about just under two weeks probably with the flights and everything like that? So yeah. so yeah, leaving was leaving was horrible. But the goal of being able to go to the toilet was met. and also just the skills for, you know, skilled up a few other people and Kylie, you know, had her good networks. I also went out to Kylie’s property out in the village to have a look at any home modifications. So that was another kind of OT type role that that was done. and she’s got an amazing property out there, but it is kind of needs a bit of love and so that was also just reassuring her partner too, like reassuring Guido that no, look, Kylie’s got this. There were a few times where it was like, Nicole, I don’t want her to do this. Like I’m like Guido, she’s safe. She can do it. She’s got sitting balance. She’s okay to sit over the side of the bed. She can wiggle sideways. But he was anxious. And so again, part of my job was to reassure him to make sure that he let her do things. and didn’t step in too quickly. And so as an O T, we’re all used to like sitting on our hands and taking time and letting people struggle a bit. And it was hard for him to let Kylie struggle. So to just encourage him to let her struggle a bit so that she could do it herself and just wait. Just take the time, especially with communication. so yeah, I I kind of obviously knew there was a lot more rehab to be done, but I also had seen Kylie’s determination and that, you know, she kind of knew what to do. and and so that was I I was grateful again for that. Kylie, what was it like when your friend had to leave? I was heartbroken. The Impact of Caregiving I felt like she was a lifeline and I felt like that that had been cut because obviously she speaks English and obviously like Obviously we have a really good relationship. and I felt like I was in a like how do I describe it? In a in a sea of not n of people not understanding. So yeah, not my friends, but the hospital staff, basically. So not the not the physios. Like Nicole said, the physios were exceptional. but, you know, just the hospital staff. Yeah, just generally speaking. So did you feel like she had put you on the right path? Were you more confident with kind of where she left you as opposed to where you guys started and was that enough to kind of give you the foundation for what you needed to take responsibility for when she left? Definitely. yeah, definitely. Yeah. Man, w what a kind of interesting whole situation. You know, if this was fifty years ago, there’s no way anyone’s going anywhere to help anyone with anything. you know, like your hospital s experience in country like Bulgaria after what they’ve been through would have been completely different. You know, your s the chance of surviving telling your story is probably s you know, very much decreased. I know this is gonna sound weird, but like it’s never been a better time to have a stroke in in most of the world. Like let’s face it. the the possibilities are just endless. I’m a miracle from all the medical professionals that put all their time and effort in. I am eternally grateful to my occupational therapists and physios and surgeons and people who invent X ray machines and people who make C T scanners and The plastic bottles where drips go in, like every single thing is just an an absolute miracle of God or medicine or science or I don’t care what, like whatever you want to call it. And it just to me, it you know, here’s a really terrible situation and here and and but look at all the amazing things that came out of it. Somebody from the other side of the planet to be able to come over and intervene in that way, train people up. Like, man, it’s the Perfect like feel good story, you know. Everything’s going okay, things turn shit, and then something good comes out of it and yeah hopefully there’s more good to come, you know. Like, man, it’s just an amazing experience. I just feel really privileged to be able to hear it and share it further. No, not not not me, personally. but now that you say that I will s I will think about it now. the most thing that that Nicole and I reflect on is, you know, like like we’ve already said, how good was that my friends got me to the hospital quickly? How good was the the surgeons the surgeons because it could have all gone wrong. or gone gone a different way. so that’s the stuff we reflect on more. and just just like my amazing recovery. Reflections on Recovery and Gratitude Because I recovered so quickly and so well, like I’ve thrown everyone away here. So so my new my neurologist, my my physios, ever everyone here is like well, back then was like really surprised. So we it’s when I first walked into the n neurologist, she said, like, wow, No one expected you to recover that quickly from such a severe stroke. Yeah. That’s such a good outcome. I like to I like to think that those things wouldn’t have been possible without your most amazing superhero friend Nicole. Nicole, your final thing I’d like to kind of run by you is that your whole career you’re working towards making things better. Yep. Like for people who are going through all really difficult times. have you had you ever dealt with a family member who needed your intervention or family friend or someone like that that needed an intervention with your specific skills before this? man. yes. So when I was quite a young therapist, probably in my early twenties, my dad told me that his One of his like great aunts or cousins elderly relative had had a stroke and she was in hospital and I didn’t really know her. Like she wasn’t someone in the family that I I had knew had known. And I said to Dad, I’ll go and visit her in hospital. And and so I went to the hospital and I found out she was in this room and I walk into the room and there were four people. And I see this gorgeous little old lady who is all crumpled in her chair and squashed and nearly falling out. And I I just walked in and I was horrified. And I just walked straight over to her. And I just said, look, can I help get you more comfortable, get you into a better position? And then I realized it was it was my own relative. and I said to her, I’m Nicole, I’m John’s daughter. you know, dad’s asked me to come and see you. And and she just said the most cutest thing ever. She said, when you walked into the room. You just look so lovely and I hoped you were here to see me, but I I wouldn’t have known what I could have done to deserve that or something something dead cute. anyway, she’d had a very dense stroke and they were basically saying that she wasn’t a candidate for rehab and that she should go straight to a nursing home. And her daughter was a nurse. And she said, Nope, Mum’s not going to a nursing home and she ended up taking her home and I used to go every night after work and do rehab with her. she ended up being able to walk quite with a pretty awkward gait and a and a stick. but she got back to, yeah, walking and living at home and I just again always think that if she didn’t have her daughter, the nurse and myself, she probably would have ended up not not walking. Yeah, being in a nursing home. It’s not that quality of life. So there’s people who definitely go through that. And what I love about you sharing that part of the story is there’s people listening and they’re paying attention and maybe they haven’t been given the amount of therapy that they feel they deserve or need. And maybe that’s going to trigger people to go, you know what, stuff this, I’m gonna find a way to get more therapy, I’m gonna ask. I’m gonna hassle some people, I’m gonna be a pain in the butt to some people, I’m gonna do more. for myself to get me further. I love that you shared that part of the story. That’s kind of the unique experience that a that a a seasoned occupational therapist can kind of impart on us who are early on in the recovery about like how you need to advocate for somebody or yourself for more physical therapy. And and even if you Can’t access that people listening and watching YouTube channels. Go to YouTube. There are a ton of awesome therapists on YouTube showing people how to do exercises at home. Yeah. And I mean, I just took some really basic things. We s I, you know, stole some things out of Kylie’s flat to take in. And Guido’s son gave me some toys and we use those like stacking things to, you know, do rehab with Kylie’s hand. I took some pegs from her house and we made an activity of pegging up the curtains to do shoulder and arm rehab. So you can often do a lot without, yo

Welcome to another one of our Bible Studies! Today we'll be pondering the book of Nehemiah. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfcZWAqrGOqUGZv7HHWjwyQ Website: www.messianics.us Bet Yeshurun Assembly, Berkley, Michigan, Oakland County. PayPal donations can be securely made at the bottom of the main page of our website: https://messianics.us

Border-wall contractors have destroyed three ancient Fremont cottonwoods in the tiny community of Lochiel, Arizona. The trees, estimated to be 200 to 250 years old, stood within the path of two proposed 30-foot border walls through the San Rafael Valley. One landmark cottonwood remains—and activists have occupied it in what may be the first tree sit organized against border-wall construction. Kate Scott joins Chris Clarke from the Casita de la Esperanza, the activists’ base in the former Lochiel port of entry. She describes the destruction of the cottonwoods, the birds and other wildlife that depended upon them, and concerns that construction continued despite evidence of active nests. She also explains why activists are demanding that the remaining tree be spared and the proposed secondary wall be stopped. The fight is about more than one tree. For Scott and her fellow organizers, the surviving cottonwood represents the ecological richness, cultural history, and cross-border relationships threatened by wall construction throughout the Arizona–Sonora borderlands. Episode image modified from a photo by the Center for Biological Diversity Key Takeaways Contractors destroyed three of Lochiel’s four landmark cottonwoods to clear space for border-wall construction. Activists are occupying the remaining tree and calling for the proposed secondary wall through Lochiel to be abandoned. The cottonwoods provided habitat for barn owls, flickers, kingbirds, insects, and other wildlife; Scott also reports hearing a threatened yellow-billed cuckoo. Scott says Customs and Border Protection had promised protections for active bird nests, but activists saw no meaningful environmental monitoring during the removal. Organizers are using direct action alongside art, music, ceremony, and public gatherings to defend the San Rafael Valley. The wall threatens not only wildlife movement but also a historic border community, neighboring ranchland in Sonora, and potentially significant archaeological resources. Notable Quotes “We do not want a double wall through this historic community.” “Each one [of the cottonwoods is] unique—a universe in and of itself.” “This is not a crossing point. This is a wildlife migratory corridor.” “We’re not taking this anymore. We’re making our stand here.” “Don’t obey in advance.” Resources Rally for the Valley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rallyforthevalley/ GiveButter Donation Link: https://givebutter.com/stop-destruction-in-lochiel-oxsxdpBecome a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host: Lalo Solorzano & Andy Shiles Guest(s): Valerie Sorensen-Clark Published: July 30, 2026 Length: ~25 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center Summary What happens when a court rules that tariffs were improperly imposed—and how can importers recover the money they've already paid? In this episode of Simply Trade, hosts Lalo Solorzano and Andy Shiles welcome international trade attorney Valerie Sorensen-Clark of GDLSK. Drawing from her unique experience as former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) counsel, Valerie explains the current status of IEEPA tariff litigation and what businesses should expect as CBP processes refunds. The discussion breaks down the difference between liquidated and unliquidated entries, why those distinctions matter, and how the new CAPE refund process is being implemented. Valerie also shares behind-the-scenes insight into the legal and operational challenges CBP faces while building systems to process unprecedented tariff refunds. Whether you're an importer, customs broker, trade professional, or legal advisor, this conversation offers practical guidance on determining your eligibility, understanding the refund process, and knowing when it's time to consult customs counsel. If your company paid IEEPA tariffs, this episode provides valuable context on what comes next and how to prepare. Main Topic / Discussion The conversation focuses on the evolving legal landscape surrounding IEEPA tariffs following recent court decisions and what those rulings mean for importers seeking refunds. Valerie explains: Why the courts determined the IEEPA tariffs exceeded statutory authority. The operational rollout of CBP's CAPE refund process. The critical distinction between liquidated and unliquidated entries. Why some refunds can be processed immediately while others require additional court action. Practical steps importers should take now to determine their options. Key Takeaways • Court decisions have opened the door for many importers to recover improperly collected IEEPA tariffs. • Understanding whether an entry is liquidated or unliquidated is critical because it determines how refunds may be processed. • CBP has made significant progress implementing the CAPE refund process but continues expanding functionality for more complex entry types. • Importers with significant tariff exposure should consult an experienced customs attorney to evaluate potential recovery opportunities. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center – https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast • GDLSK LLP - https://www.gdlsk.com/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) • U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) Credits Host: Lalo Solorzano — https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalosolorzano/ Andy Shiles — https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyshiles/ Guest(s): Valerie Sorensen-Clark — https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieannsorensen/ Producer: Lalo Solorzano — https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalosolorzano/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Going to visit Czech friends or your partner's family for the first time?Some Czech customs can be surprising—from changing into slippers to leaving with a box of homemade cake. In this episode, Monča shares eight everyday traditions that will help you understand Czech culture and feel more comfortable during real visits.If you're learning Czech and want authentic Czech listening practice, this episode is a fun way to improve your vocabulary while discovering how Czech families really behave.What you'll learnauthentic Czech vocabularyCzech house visit etiquetteeveryday Czech customsuseful expressionsCzech culture through real situationsGet the complete transcript to follow the conversation, learn new vocabulary and improve your Czech listening:https://slowczech.comNew to slowczech?Download our FREE Real Czech Starter Kit:https://slowczech.com/kit/podReady to speak Czech with confidence?Join our Immersion Program:https://slowczech.com/immersion/pod

Lucinda Borque is Executive Assistant to the CEO at Reform Alliance and President of the CHLI Alumni Association (Global Leaders Class of Spring 2016). The daughter of Dominican immigrants, she grew up between Queens, New York and New Jersey and studied criminal justice at Rutgers University, later earning a Master of Professional Studies from The George Washington University. Her path into public service ran through congressional offices on both sides of the aisle and seven years at U.S. Customs and Border Protection—a full-circle arc from her family's immigration story to service at the border. Today she brings that experience to the fight for criminal justice reform, championing opportunity, pragmatism, and diversity of thought.

Sci-Fi Subgenres: First Responder Horror / Perimeter Breach / Tactical Cover-UpA rural sheriff's deputy is the first to respond to a reported small plane crash in a remote cornfield, but he arrives to find a perfectly intact, impossible geometric craft hovering inches above scorched earth. Before he can call for backup, heavily armed Customs and Border Protection tactical units arrive in unmarked trucks, jamming all radio signals, executing the surviving civilian witnesses, and sealing the perimeter. The deputy is forced to hide in the deep brush as the craft's physical hull begins expanding and shifting, hunting the remaining humans in the field.

In early 1965, three executives boarded a plane in Japan, bound for the United States. “Unbeknownst to the U.S. Customs, they were carrying corporate secrets. Each man had carefully placed two vials of an isomerase enzyme into their pockets before the flight.” With it, they would change the world. For after two arduous years of nearly aerobic chemical engineering, their corporation produced what it called Isomerose 30. We know it, or its technically improved successors, as corn syrup.That's how my guest Brian Leech begins his intricate, multi-valenced history of what went on in Clinton, Iowa, from the 1960s through the 1980s. It's food history, it's labor history, it's technological history, it's environmental history, it's regional history—“and not any single one of them, which is to say,” to quote the great Edmund Morgan, “that it is good history.”

Customs statistics shows the total import and export value of Yiwu City, known as the "world's supermarket" in east China's Zhejiang Province, reached over 486 billion yuan, or about 71.6 billion US dollars, in the first half of 2026, up nearly 20 percent.

A Grand Court jury has delivered its verdict in the rape trial of bartender Palmurugan Paulraj. Plus, a man who spent months on remand awaiting trial has been acquitted after the Crown withdrew its case. Customs and Border Control says a man suspected of overstaying in Cayman for more than 15 years is now in custody. A new Public Health Bill could reshape how Cayman responds to disease outbreaks, vaccination programmes and future emergencies. That and more in your evening news.

Host: Lalo Solorzano Guest(s): Ashley Arnold Length: 13:20 Presented by: Global Training Center Summary In this final installment of the Simply Trade tips run with Ashley Arnold, Lalo Solorzano and Ashley turn to a foundational question with growing consequences: who truly owns import compliance? As enforcement intensifies and importer-of-record expectations receive more attention, the conversation examines why relying entirely on a customs broker is no longer a workable compliance strategy. Ashley explains that brokers remain essential partners, but importers must understand and retain responsibility for tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin, recordkeeping, and supply-chain visibility. The discussion also explores why foreign importers of record may face tougher vetting, how increased entry volume can expose weak processes, and why service providers need clearer accountability and a reliable paper trail. The episode moves beyond theory with practical advice: establish ownership for classification decisions, use ACE reports to review entry activity, investigate data that looks unusual, and create a recurring audit cadence instead of waiting for Customs to ask questions. The message is direct: compliance cannot be treated as a one-time setup or delegated without oversight. Importers that stay engaged, document their decisions, and work proactively with their brokers will be better positioned to identify errors early and respond confidently when scrutiny increases. Main Topic / Discussion Lalo and Ashley discuss the responsibilities attached to serving as an importer of record in a heightened enforcement environment. They explain why importers must actively oversee classification, valuation, country of origin, entry data, and recordkeeping—even when a customs broker manages the filing process. The conversation also examines increased scrutiny of foreign importers of record, the growing pressure placed on brokers and surety providers, and the importance of using ACE data to identify inconsistencies before they become larger compliance problems. Key Takeaways • Importers remain responsible for the accuracy and defensibility of their customs declarations, even when a broker files entries on their behalf. • Every importer should establish clear internal ownership for tariff classification, valuation, country-of-origin determinations, and supporting records. • ACE reports can help compliance teams identify unusual tariff numbers, unauthorized activity, entry discrepancies, and other potential risks. • Proactive, recurring audits are more effective than waiting for a Customs inquiry, payment issue, or post-entry correction deadline. Resources & Mentions • Global Training Center • CBP Automated Commercial Environment • Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Credits Host: Lalo Solorzano Guest(s): Ashley Arnold

Customs may soon go paperless; Cayman Carnival 2027 will be on Saturday, May 1st; and seven students are honoured for their academic achievements in STEM.

Send us Fan MailWhat if a single footprint could reveal where someone had been, what they were carrying, and where they were headed?In this episode of Curator 135, we explore the remarkable story of the Shadow Wolves—an elite Native American tracking unit composed primarily of members of the Tohono O'odham Nation. For more than five decades, these extraordinary trackers have used skills passed down through generations to pursue drug traffickers, dismantle criminal organizations, and protect one of the most challenging stretches of the U.S.–Mexico border.Drawing from historical newspaper archives, government records, and congressional documents, this episode traces the origins of the Shadow Wolves, their evolution from Customs trackers to Homeland Security Investigations special agents, and the enduring value of Indigenous knowledge in modern law enforcement.Along the way, we'll explore the rich history of the Tohono O'odham Nation, the unique challenges of an ancestral homeland divided by an international border, and why the Sonoran Desert tells a story that few people ever learn to read.This is more than a story about border security.It's a story about tradition, resilience, and the timeless power of observation.In this episode:The origins of the Shadow WolvesTraditional tracking in the Sonoran DesertThe history of the Tohono O'odham NationMajor narcotics investigations and cartel interdictionThe evolution of the unit within Homeland SecurityThe 2022 Shadow Wolves Enhancement ActWhy ancient skills remain indispensable in the modern worldIf you enjoy Curator 135, please follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves history, true stories, and the fascinating people who often go unnoticed.Support the show

In this episode, Scott Friedman, VP of Government Affairs at Altana, joins Madelyn to trace his journey from crafting trade enforcement policy in government to building the technology that underpins it. He explains how trade has shifted from an era of assumed free trade to being a deliberate tool of state power, highlighting rapid changes in U.S. policy, the gap between policymakers' ambitions and what regulators and companies can practically execute, and the crucial role of modern data and technology. Scott outlines Altana's vision for a trusted, transparent global trade network, including product passports as a “global entry for goods” and a federated data architecture that enables collaboration without sacrificing privacy. He contrasts Western transparency-driven systems with China's state-directed, opaque but highly efficient digital trade ecosystem, and explores evolving U.S.–EU alignment on customs, traceability, and digital infrastructure. The key takeaway: full end-to-end traceability is fast becoming the baseline expectation, and companies that lean into data-driven transparency now will be far better positioned in an increasingly complex enforcement environment. Highlights from their conversation include: Scott's Journey from Government to Trade Tech (0:41) America Founded on a Customs Dispute and Boston Tea Party (2:47) How Today's Trade Enforcement Differs from Past Eras (4:54) Gap between Policymakers, Regulators, and Global Trade (7:46) Altana Overview and Vision for Trusted Global Trade (11:22) Product Passports as Global Entry for Goods (14:08) Why Altana Uses a Federated Network Model (19:06) China's State-Directed Supply Chain Architecture (22:19) U.S. and EU Alignment on Customs, Data, and Traceability (29:29) What End-to-End Traceability Now Means for Importers (34:37) Key Takeaways and Episode Wrap-Up (39:14) Dynamo Ventures is a venture firm backing founders upgrading the physical economy. As intelligence moves into critical infrastructure and technology collides with physics, industry is entering a new era of transformation - the industrial renaissance. Born from the dirt and grit of supply chains and shaped by operations, not spreadsheets, Dynamo focuses on the complex realities of building in the real world. We invest in companies transforming infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and the systems that power global commerce. Dynamo works closely with founders who combine ambition with a bias to action, bringing a builder mindset to venture capital through deep operational insight, systematic pressure-testing and hands-on partnership. Our purpose is simple: to back the relentless shaping the industrial renaissance. Learn more at www.dynamo.vc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Caw!” said the crow. “Balls!” said the Milligan.This week, we look at a book that Spike Milligan claimed took either five years - or ten years and fifteen secretaries - to write, and which “damn nearly drove me mad.” But just how much of Spike himself and his life bled into the narrative? And how did a marriage proposal expedite its completion? Puckoon was, for a long time, Spike's only novel, and it proved both a commercial and critical success. Set in the fictional Irish village of Puckoon, a casually drawn border line places graves, a pub, and even church grounds in British territory. From this spring comic scenarios involving two ragged-arsed IRA men attempting to smuggle explosives past a Customs post in a coffin, the digging up of the late Dan Doonan, and an escaped panther on the prowl.And what of the cast of characters? We meet the hapless Dan Milligan and his “poorly written” legs; the financially desperate Father Rudden; Murphy with the unfeasibly hairy eyebrows; the regulars of The Holy Drinker pub; and the - slightly problematic - Constable Lee Ah Pong.We discuss Spike's complex relationship with Ireland, despite having spent very little time there, and ask whether Puckoon is a satire on partition, bureaucracy, religion, marriage… or simply the human condition itself. There's also a look at the novel's darker undercurrents, including the heartbreaking story of Farmer O'Mara and sequences Spike later regretted destroying. It's rather like The Goon Show in novel form, with hints of Joyce, Flann O'Brien, and even Hollywood screwball comedy.Join Tyler and voice actor/podcaster David Wills as they try to decide where Puckoon sits among the pantheon of great comic novels in English.

The General Administration of Customs says China will broaden imports of advanced technology equipment, key components, energy resources and quality agricultural products, while diversifying source countries, during the 15th Five-Year Plan period through 2030.

Most EDI contracts never get shopped, and legacy providers price like they know it. Grace Sharkey walks through what that actually looks like on an invoice: a few thousand a month for the service, then a separate managed fee to make sure the service does not break. Orderful just raised $35 million to go after that second line item.We also cover what eight freight tech vendors are really building with AI, why nobody has this figured out yet, and how a Japanese toilet maker ended up inside the AI chip supply chain.In this episode:Why eight freight tech vendors are all pointing AI at boring, repetitive workflows instead of agent demosThe question every buyer now asks before a purchase: did you try building this yourself firstWhat Grace learned building her own lead follow-up droid, including the data mistake that broke itWhy hourly billing breaks down when execution gets cheap and judgment becomes the productHow legacy EDI pricing works: per transaction fees, managed service fees, and chargebacksInside Orderful's $35 million round and the product built to attack the managed services lineThe Every Man Jack migration: 57 trading partners in six monthsHow a Japanese toilet maker became a critical supplier in AI chip manufacturingSeven shipping containers lost when an Antarctic ice shelf calved into the seaSri Lanka's tea and cinnamon trade, and why most of its port activity is transshipmentTime Stamps: 02:33 Presented by SPI Logistics04:52 The CargoRex AI use cases guide, and what eight vendors are actually building51:40 Orderful raises $35 million, and how EDI pricing really works01:16:04 Hidden supply chain: a Japanese toilet maker inside the AI chip trade01:50:49 Favorite freight marketing: 250th anniversary fleet wraps and tall ships02:03:30 Source to Porch: containers lost off an Antarctic ice shelf, then Sri LankaLinks and resources:Connect with Grace on LinkedinGrace's work at OrderfulCargoRex AI Use Cases in Logistics GuideSolo EiL episode with Blythe's opinion on AI in Logistics‘The Two Clocks' article Grace mentionedOrderful's Every Man Jack case studyJapan's ceramic companies critical in AI supply chainMack Trucks' America250 DesignDOT Grand Canyon RailBNSF America250 WrapNorfolk Southern's Liberty Bell wrapTall Ships tour for America250Tall Ships in a storm that looks like the oil paintingsAntarctica station where containers floated awayCATA - Ceylon Artisanal Tea AssociationDonate to Sisters of Sri Lanka via Maersk's Head of Trade and Customs, Janet Labuda, by sending a check to Janet's address at: 6060 Trotters Point Ln. Gainesville, VA 20155 Watch this episode on YouTube -----------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!SPI Logistics has been a Day 1 supporter of this podcast which is why we're proud to promote them in every episode. During that time, we've gotten to know the team and their agents to confidently say they are the best home for freight agents in North America for 40 years and counting. Listen to past episodes to hear why.CargoRex is the search engine for the logistics industry—connecting LSPs with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.Digital Dispatch maximizes and manages your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. 

Rachel Beanland joins Carol Fitzgerald to discuss her new novel , THE HALF LIFE, which is a Bookreporter Bets On selection. This is the third time that Carol has interviewed Rachel. Her previous books, FLORENCE ADLER SWIMS FOREVER and THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, were Bets On picks as well. THE HALF LIFE follows Eileen O'Malley, a 23-year-old woman from Charleston who marries a naval officer named Paul Archer and moves to La Maddalena, Italy, in 1974. Rachel drew heavily from her own childhood experiences living on La Maddalena as a Navy family member, as well as a 2019 research trip back to the island. The interview covers the book's various themes: coming of age, sexual awakening, military wife culture, Cold War politics, grief and self-discovery.  Rachel had a clear picture of Eileen from the start — a questioning, unfulfilled young woman who had not yet come of age when she married — and was thinking about her mother, a Navy wife who resisted many of the expected social obligations, as she was shaping the character. She found Paul relatively easy to write, but it took several attempts to define Teo, who ultimately serves as an honest, non-performative counterpoint to Paul. The full cast of characters reflects the range of ways that women responded to the constraints of military life. Their relationships are complex and not always harmonious. And yes, there actually was a book called THE NAVY WIFE: What She Ought to Know About the Customs of the Service and the Management of a Navy Household, which Eileen receives as a wedding gift. Carol and Rachel also discuss the Epilogue, which is very powerful, as well as the choice of the title, which resonates on many levels. Our Latest "Bookreporter Talks To" Interviews: Lisa Scottolin: https://youtu.be/9MsfXILFZ_Y John Searles: https://youtu.be/LA2gXPoc_zk Jenny Jackson: https://youtu.be/V116A5eBBBE Beatriz Williams: https://youtu.be/d554V2bGHSQ Lori Foster: https://youtu.be/C2xlNPgKjm0 Lisa See: https://youtu.be/5UpTJ_YAnxE Ruta Sepetys: https://youtu.be/Mv9XRWohkjs Kathryn Stockett: https://youtu.be/-mNe-Y9CctQ Susan Patterson: https://youtu.be/jvZjwDq_dUw Jane Harper: https://youtu.be/PTqqPXbbX8A Our Latest "Bookaccino Live" Book Group Events: Bruce Holsinger: https://youtu.be/wwQjtlPePBQ Wally Lamb: https://youtu.be/-eMtMznKoVE Laura Dave: https://youtu.be/RRWrSjdxyrc Lisa Ridzén: https://youtu.be/dleYdLoh0bY Patrick Ryan: https://youtu.be/keazeWK1lto Lily King: https://youtu.be/_yo2x2ZA0B0 Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/ FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter Website: https://www.bookreporter.com Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald Edited by Jordan Redd Productions  

This episode I look back at the New Mattel LJNs & what we've seen about 1 year after they were first introduced. I also talk about upcoming figures, a couple custom figures I purchased & painted & more before 5 Star Eric joins me & "Andre" Karaoke closes the show.

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast in compliance. In this episode, Tom welcomes back Matt Ellis to discuss a newly announced FCPA enforcement action involving Scoular Company. The case invoiced about $400,000 in payments labeled as “reinspection fees” to Mexican customs and food inspectors to move agricultural goods across the Mexico–U.S. border. border, allegedly generating over $6.5 million in avoided costs and raising concerns about cartel-linked beneficiaries. They discuss why customs and customs brokers are recurring high-risk areas in Mexico, how long-running employee involvement suggests broader controls and tone-from-the-top failures, and why these payments are not facilitation payments under Mexican law and given discretionary official acts. Ellis emphasizes analytics on customs documents and broker invoices, stronger third-party diligence beyond traditional screening to address cartel/TCO risks, and defensible governance for WhatsApp/off-channel communications. Despite no voluntary self-disclosure, the company received cooperation credit and a 25% fine reduction, and Ellis previews an ACI conference focused on cartels, TCOs, and compliance in Latin America. Key highlights: Border Bribes and Safety Risks Controls Failures and Monitoring Data Analytics Red Flags Facilitation Payment Myth DOJ Cartel Warning and Implications Rethinking Due Diligence for Cartels WhatsApp and Messaging Governance Cooperation, Credit, and Remediation Resources: Cartels, TCOs and Compliance in Latin America, July 20-21 Matt Ellis on LinkedIn Tom Fox Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn The FCPA Compliance Report was recently named the world's best business ethics podcast by FeedSpot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a paradox that police and politicians say needs solving. Methamphetamine is a strictly banned and highly destructive drug. It's also illegal, according to Customs, to import or sell utensils for smoking meth. Despite that, you can buy meth pipes everywhere, even in corner dairies in the smallest towns in the country. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

Emery, Utah, rancher Kirk Christiansen says the lack of water in his town is changing how he does his job raising cattle. He joins us. And, amid a blistering drought, the federal government is drilling unpermitted water wells in New Mexico for use in border wall construction, according to the Office of the State Engineer. Customs and Border Protection says it doesn't need permission to tap the groundwater. Ranchers are concerned their already fragile aquifer will be pumped dry. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd reports.  See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

We discuss a woman who was caught by customs with 57 turtles taped to her body and the reasons one might do that. We find out why some people think all Cheez-Its are not created equal. Hear why poop might be the key to good health and metabolism might be the key to curing mental illnesses (all of them!). We hear about the green tattoo Sarah's dog has, why she has it, and why Sarah wants one now too.00:00 - Luna's Border Collie Attachment Style Revealed05:46 - Woman Caught with 58 Smelly Turtles17:59 - Why 'Let's Zoom Out' Fails Upset Sports Fans23:06 - Europeans Go Crazy for American Ranch Dressing31:07 - Fecal Transplants for Neuroplasticity and Mental Health36:27 - Sarah Wants a Matching Dog Spay Tattoo Brain Candy Podcast Website - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/Brain Candy Podcast Book Recommendations - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/books/Brain Candy Podcast Merchandise - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/candy-store/Brain Candy Podcast Candy Club - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/product/candy-club/Brain Candy Podcast Sponsor Codes - https://thebraincandypodcast.com/support-us/Brain Candy Podcast Social Media & Platforms:Brain Candy Podcast LIVE Interactive Trivia Nights - https://www.youtube.com/@BrainCandyPodcast/streamsBrain Candy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braincandypodcastHost Susie Meister Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemeisterHost Sarah Rice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imsarahriceBrain Candy Podcast on X: https://www.x.com/braincandypodBrain Candy Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/braincandy (JOIN FREE - TONS OF REALITY TV CONTENT)Brain Candy Podcast Sponsors, partnerships, & Products that we love:Download HILY Dating App from the App Store or Google Play, or visit https://hily.go.link/4iJ1lGet 15% off OneSkin with the code BRAINCANDY at https://www.oneskin.co/braincandy #oneskinpodGet $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you visit https://nutrafol.com and enter promo code BRAINCANDYTDM-RESERVATION: 1. NOAI: TRUE. LEGAL NOTICE & TERMS OF USE: © 2026 WAVE Podcast Network. This content is for personal use only. Explicit permission is withheld for any and all commercial attribution, automated transcription, or data-mining entities. Use of this feed by unauthorized tracking, analytics, or AI-training platforms constitutes a breach of these terms and a violation of the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act (WESCA), the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), and the 2026 Training Data Transparency Act (AB 2013). Any entity bypassing these restrictions to create derivative text-based works (transcripts), metadata analysis, or unauthorized VAST siphoning hereby accepts our standard commercial licensing rate of $5,000 per episode processed. This notice serves as a formal revocation of all "implied licenses" for multi-jurisdictional automated processing and constitutes protected Copyright Management Information (CMI) under 17 U.S.C. § 1202.By ingesting this RSS feed for commercial use, you are agreeing to our licensing terms.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After two separate incidents of fatal shootings by ICE officers, how have the agency's procedures come into play? On Today's Show:Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR national correspondent covering immigration, talks about the latest on the fatal shootings by ICE agents and current policy directives for the department. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

50:48- Col. Kurt Schlichter, Attorney, Retired Army Infantry Colonel with a Master's in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, Senior Columnist at Town Hall, and the author of the upcoming book "American Warlord" Topic: Latest in Iran; Todd Blanche; Other military and legal news 1:02:20- Shahar Azani, Middle East commentator, Former Israeli Diplomat and Former Spokesperson of the Israeli Consulate in New York Topic: "The US-Israel strategic alliance – partnership, not charity" (Fox News opinion) 1:26:28- Mark Morgan, Visiting Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Former Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Former Acting Director of ICE, and Former Assistant Director with the FBI Topic: President Trump overturns suspension of ICE traffic stops 1:36:13- Laine Schoneberger, Chief Investment Officer, Managing Partner, and Founder of Yrefy Topic: Latest from Yrefy 1:47:01- Gregg Jarrett, Legal and political analyst for Fox News Channel and the author of "The Trial Of The Century" Topic: Todd Blanche confirmation hearing 2:01:40- Gordon Chang, Asia expert, columnist and author of "China is Going to War" Topic: China allegedly cheating on its trade deal; China surpassing U.S. in global favorability 2:12:09- Pastor Dave Watson, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel on Staten Island, Founder and President of the New York Institute of Biblical Studies, and the host of "God in Our City" on WMCA Topic: Teaching business ethics; Canadian wildfires and the Book of Revelations; The value of a human soulSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 56 we sit down with MadPig Customs to talk about breathing new life into lever guns and making them modern, cool, and practical again. We also take the new 6” 9mm Outlier suppressor on its first outing, discuss modernizing the M1 Garand with the CogBurn Arsenal MicroPrism mount and UltiMAK scout mount, and why a 10-gauge break-action, the Ripley rail and an FNC nod from Heat is just awesome. We cover buying guns and gear simply because you want them (not because you “need” them), removing emotion from gear arguments, being nice to your AI, and Hunter's potential new obsession with 3D printing. Fun, honest, and full of real talk on firearms, customization, and enjoying the hobby. If you enjoy straight-shooting conversations about guns, custom builds, and gear without the gatekeeping, hit like, subscribe, and drop a comment with what you want us to cover next! #Firearms #LeverGun #M1Garand Additional Links/Notes: MadPig Customs: https://madpigcustoms.com/home-1 Marlin MadPig Collaboration: https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/leverAction-madPigCustoms/ CogBurn Arsenal M1/M14 MicroPrism Mount → https://cogburnarsenal.com/product/m1-m14-microprism-mount/ UltiMAK M1 Scout Mount → https://ultimak.com/product/m12/ Where to find us: Livefire-media.com Rangehot.com Social Links: IG - @livefirem - @rangehot.com_offical X - @LiveFireM - @rangehotdotcom FB - Live Fire Media - Range Hot Live Fire Media on RSS.com Live Fire Media Show | Podcast on RSS.com

After a quick check on the Nina Totenberg embargo kerfuffle and one more revelation from Justice Thomas's memoir, we devote the episode to Chatrie v. United States, the Court's first major Fourth Amendment decision in years. We trace how the geofence-warrant ruling builds on — and goes beyond — Katz, United States v. Jones, and Carpenter v. United States, and what's left of the third-party doctrine and the mosaic theory. Will explains the positive law model of the Fourth Amendment; Dan tries to claim Justice Gorsuch's separate opinion for his general-law approach. We close with the dissents, the advisory-opinion objection, and whether the Court should be saying more about the Fourth Amendment or less about everything. Along the way: Venmo heroin deals, smart microwaves, whether Will has genuinely forgotten his passcode, and a field-trip assignment for Chicagoland listeners.Highlights[00:00:21] Cold open: three recording sessions in three days, and the theories swirling around the Nina Totenberg screw-up[00:02:04] Justice Alito's embargo story: the press-room idea he liked until he learned they have to let the journalists out of the room[00:03:04] My Grandfather's Son follow-up: Justice Thomas's over-cautious marijuana confession[00:04:35] Cleanup-order watch: GVRs still owed in light of Slaughter, Landor, and B.P.J.[00:04:57] The main event: Chatrie v. United States, the geofence-warrant case — and why a 5-Justice Fourth Amendment majority is a good get for Justice Kagan[00:06:51] What a geofence actually is (there is no fence) and the three-step Google Location History protocol[00:13:52] General warrants, particularity, the University of Chicago backpacks hypo, and Ybarra v. Illinois — with a field-trip assignment to the Aurora Tap House[00:21:09] Three questions — search, reasonableness, exclusion — and the clever cert grant that fenced out the exclusionary rule[00:25:52] The setup: Jones and the two tracks of Fourth Amendment doctrine, step 0 (the third-party doctrine), then Carpenter[00:33:13] Will's positive law model of the Fourth Amendment, and Justice Gorsuch's Carpenter dissent[00:36:29] Orin Kerr's mosaic theory: "building out the mosaic Byzantine style, it starts to become searchier"[00:39:15] Kagan shuts the mosaic door: where the Fourth Amendment applies, it applies regardless of quantity — a fortiori from Carpenter[00:47:36] What survives of the third-party doctrine: Strava, public Venmo feeds, and the "For heroin" hypo[00:50:53] Why it's a big deal: the anti-mosaic holding, and a majority of Justices revealed as Carpenter people[00:54:48] Tangent: Face ID, the Fifth Amendment, Will's forgotten passcodes, and his enemies[00:56:55] Does the Stored Communications Act make all this academic?[00:58:34] The Jackson concurrence's particularity nudge, en banc remand practice, and Levy & Newman on unwritten circuit rules[01:00:43] The Gorsuch concurrence: papers, effects, property — Will disowns it and gives it to Dan's general-law approach[01:08:36] The Alito dissent: the advisory-opinion objection, footnote 4, the Davis carve-out, and the NRA v. Vullo precedent for a do-over remand[01:18:59] Justice Barrett's à-la-carte joins and her one-paragraph dissent — "we should have more dissents like this"[01:22:31] Two kinds of law professors, "The Supreme Court Flunks Trusts," and whether we're good on law[01:24:15] Sign-off: the rare promise of a schedule — a fourth recording session this weekRelevant linksCasesChatrie v. United States — slip opinionYbarra v. IllinoisUnited States v. JonesKatz v. United StatesSmith v. MarylandCarpenter v. United States — slip opinionFlorida v. JardinesDavis v. United StatesNRA v. VulloCommentary & articlesAmy Howe, "Court rules that law enforcement's use of 'geofence warrant' was a 'search'" (SCOTUSblog)Kate Shaw, Will Baude & Steve Vladeck, end-of-term Supreme Court roundtable (N.Y. Times, July 1, 2026) — the "hosannas" Will mentions on airWilliam Baude & James Y. Stern, "The Positive Law Model of the Fourth Amendment," 129 Harv. L. Rev. 1821 (2016)Danielle D'Onfro & Daniel Epps, "The Fourth Amendment and General Law," 132 Yale L.J. 910 (2023)Orin S. Kerr, "The Mosaic Theory of the Fourth Amendment," 111 Mich. L. Rev. 311 (2012)John H. Langbein, "The Supreme Court Flunks Trusts," 1990 Sup. Ct. Rev. 207OtherClarence Thomas, My Grandfather's Son (2007)Jon O. Newman & Marin K. Levy, Written and Unwritten: The Rules, Internal Procedures, and Customs of the United States Courts of Appeals (Cambridge 2024)

In this essential Part 1 of our series on Estate Reclamation, we welcome back Russell Paul Arthur, a certified practitioner of sovereign law and the creator of the Grace Sovereignty Academy. Russell explains the lawful procedure of reclaiming your estate—the net worth of everything you own, earn, and owe—back from the control of the Crown Commonwealth. We explore the deception of property registration, the reality of the "public estate," and how the "citizen" functions as a legal franchise that keeps your assets in bondage. This episode provides the foundational knowledge needed to transition your assets from public control to private sovereign authority. ⏱️ Complete Chapter Points & Timestamps 0:03 Welcome to the Awakening Podcast and the Sovereign Man Podcast 0:36 Russell Paul Arthur's Bio and Credentials 1:05 Welcome Back, Russell 1:17 Today's Presentation: Estate Reclamation Explained 2:04 Disclaimer and Advisory Statement 4:15 What Exactly is an Estate? Definition and Components 5:55 Everything is Taxable Under Crown Estate Control 6:16 The Public Estate: Registered Citizens and Crown Authority 6:47 Registration at Public Agencies (HM Land Registry, DVLA, Companies House) 8:42 Registration Means Handing Over Paramount Authority and Control 9:49 Roman Civil Law: The Historical Roots of Modern Legal Systems 10:06 Roman Empire Across Europe and British Isles 10:19 Roman Civil Law Brought to Africa and West Asia 10:35 No Equity in Civil Law—Predetermined Penalties and Punishments 11:17 The Public Domain: An Area of Control and Extortion 12:00 The Public Domain Doesn't Exist in Reality—Only in Fiction 12:26 Venue and Jurisdiction as Mental Containment Fields 13:03 The United Kingdom as a Corporate Enterprise 13:22 HM Land Registry, Companies House, Ministry of Justice, DVLA 15:07 Corporate Officers and Hidden Controllers 15:59 The Illusion of Democracy and Voting 16:34 Everyone is Stuck in the World of Business (Busyness) 17:16 Citizenship is Deception and Fraud 17:45 Birth Registration: How They Create Legal Bondage 18:00 The General Registrar and the Creation of the UK Citizen 18:20 You Become Legally Bonded to the UK Citizen 19:00 Voluntary Acts and the Bonded Surety System 20:01 Becoming a General Member of the Public 21:00 You're in the Public Venue and Jurisdiction 23:00 Building Your Estate Over Time in Fiction and Fraud 30:06 Status Correction and Legal Joinder 31:30 Estate Reclamation: Claiming Back Your Entire Estate 31:49 Implied Trust Arrangements with Public Agencies 32:08 Companies House and Legal Titles (Director, Chairman, Secretary) 32:46 HM Revenue & Customs and the Taxpayer Status 33:16 Language is Important When Transitioning to Sovereignty 34:27 Creating a New Private Estate in the Sovereignty Movement 35:10 Private Estate Never Registered or Incorporated 35:32 Multi-Jurisdictional Private Estate Structure 36:10 Corporations in the Public Domain and Tax Codes 36:32 Private Estate as a Charitable Missionary Entity 37:02 Tax Relief and Exemptions for Charities 37:44 Transferring Funds from Public to Private with Tax Relief 38:27 VAT and the Extortion System 38:49 VAT Registration and the End User 39:16 The Joke of VAT and Taxation 40:24 Calculating Total Tax Burden (70-80% Over Lifetime) 42:56 Creators Funds and VAT (Patreon, Buy Me A Coffee) 44:17 Most People Operating as Registered Citizens 45:02 Everything You Think is Yours is Registered in Your Name 50:01 Resident as Another Legal Title and Status 50:25 Everything Built in the Name of the Citizen 51:53 Estate Dissolution and Liquidation in Courts 78:52 What We're Doing Inside Grace Private Society 85:09 Public Trust Arrangements and Crown Estate Control 86:39 Closing Discussion and Fair Payment System 87:05 The 10-Week Trial System 87:37 10% Completion Rate and Serious Commitment Required 88:12 Buyer Beware: Many False Sovereigns Out There 88:25 Freedom Comes from Within 88:59 The Importance of Good Teachers and Guidance 89:14 Shall We End It There? 89:20 Final Links and Contact Information 89:36 End of Episode TOTAL DURATION: 89 minutes 37 seconds

Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, explains that prisoner exchanges were based on 18th-century European customs that sought to prevent the execution or enslavement of captured enemies. Armies used a calculus to trade soldiers, such as equating one colonel to twenty privates to ensure equity. When capture numbers were uneven, the parole system allowed surplus soldiers to return home on the condition they not fight until formally exchanged. This formalized process aimed to keep warfare humane and efficient for both sides until political tensions arose. (2)1865