Podcasts about eastern germany

*Note: This is the Free Content version of my interview with Veronica French. To access the entire episode, please consider becoming a Tier 2 'Groves of Orpheus' member on Patreon, or you can purchase this episode for a one-time fee. My guest this month is Veronica French. Veronica has an MA in Religious Studies from the University of Erfurt, Germany. She specializes in the study of modern shamanism, anthropology of religion and gender studies. Her master's thesis explored how modern shamans living in Germany define a “shaman way” and their turning point or crisis, which informs their “shamanic journey.” Her undergraduate work was in medical anthropology with a focus on shamanic techniques and Chinese 5 Element, in which she explored the scholar/practitioner position. She presented previously at the 8th Biannual Conference of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE) with the paper “Performative Strategies of Creative Esotericism in 19th Century Jewish Communities” (Cork, Ireland, 2022); XXXI International Summer School on Religion Women and Religions with the paper “Modern Shamanism, Empowerment and Green Religion: Contemporary Shamanic Practice in Germany” (San Gimignano, Italy, 2024); and the International Theosophical History Conference 2024 with the paper “Modern Shamanism, Theosophy and Ecological Spirituality: Connecting Nature Spiritualities” (Ascona, Switzerland, 2024). Veronica also presented at three seminars at the University of Erfurt: “Initial Shamanic Interviews” University of Erfurt, Master's Thesis Colloquium (2023); “Green Religion and Indigeneity in Popular Media,”University of Erfurt, Green Religion? Answers to Climate Change from the Perspective of Religious Studies (2023); and “Ethnographic Work of Shamanic Practice in Eastern Germany,” University of Erfurt, Master's Writing Seminar (2023).In this discussion, Veronica shares her background and inspiration for her research into modern shamanism. We talk a bit about the terms shamanism and animism, as these are somewhat contested within academia, and Veronica shares how she is using these terms in her work. She explains what questions she was asking at the outset of her project, and also the surprising additions that arose once she started interviewing her participants. Veronica also notes the interesting data that she gathered regarding topics such as gender, identity, “lived religion,” and ecology. As Veronica has her own experience within the concept known as a the holistic milieu (referring to a broad and diverse spiritual landscape that encompasses various New Age and alternative spiritual practices; often contrasted with traditional religious institutions, as it focuses on personal spirituality, self-development, and holistic well-being rather than formal doctrines or organized worship), she found she was able to relate well to the experiences of her participants, and this aspect has led her to consider continuing her research using the method known as autoethnography. This is a qualitative research method that combines autobiographical storytelling with ethnographic analysis. It allows researchers to use their personal experiences to explore and critique cultural beliefs, practices, and social phenomena. Veronica talks about other scholars in the field who have been using this method, and how it is becoming more accepted within academia. If anyone has any questions or comments for Veronica, please post them here or contact me via email and I can pass these on to her. She welcomes further feedback and discussion! Veronica was also very kind to share some references for futher reading; please see this below. PROGRAM NOTESReferences:Olivia Cejan: "Arts and Crafts Divine" is her dissertation utilizing autoethnography and pedagogy to write about a secret society group. Talk at Copenhagen Conference:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g2qvGcy5pY&t=524sCorrine Sombrun: -Her institute: https://trancescience.org/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oDs10hUy6ETrailer to her movie; English subtitlesTed Talk:English subtitleshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0kIECFi0Uhttps://amara.org/videos/Tcvokh51yb2Y/en/1543652/?tab=revisionsAnother interview with English (Google)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syy4MTHAfF4 Alice Ahern: Phd Cork Ireland, studying shamanism and pop culture:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCCeV7MLtFcYoutube talk:  "The Reclamation of Feminine Wisdom in the Irish Neo-Shamanic Milieu" Traditional Religions view on Nature Religions:https://fore.yale.edu/Event-Listings/Religions-World-and-Ecology-Conference-Series/Religions-World-and-Ecology-Archivehttps://fore.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/annual_review_environment.pdfBibliography :Eliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1972.Harner, Michael J. The Way of the Shaman. 10th anniversary ed. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990.Harvey, Graham. Animism: Respecting the Living World. Kent Town: Wakefield Press, 2005.Harvey, Graham. Shamanism: A Reader. London: Routledge, 2003.Jenkins, Willis. u.a: “Religion and Climate Change”, Annual Review of Environment and Resources 2018 (43), 85-108.Kaza, Stephanie. “The Greening of Buddhism: Promise and Perils”, in: Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology, Oxford 2006, 184-220.Kraft, S, T Fonneland, and J Lewis. Nordic Neoshamanisms. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. Nordic Neoshamanisms | SpringerLinkLaack, Isabel (2020) “The New Animism and Its Challenges to the Study of Religion”, Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 1-33.Lewis, I.M., Ecstatic Religion | A Study of Shamanism and Spirit Possession | I.M.McGuire, Meredith B. Lived religion: Faith and practice in everyday life. Oxford University Press, 2008.Puca, Angela. Italian Witchcraft and Shamanism: The Tradition of Segnature, Indigenous and Trans-Cultural Shamanic Traditions in Italy. Leiden; Brill, 2024.Saler, Benson. Conceptualizing Religion: Immanent Anthropologists, Transcendent Natives, and Unbounded Categories. New York: Berghahn Books, 2000.Shelton, Dinah (2015): “Nature as a legal person”. In: Vertigo (Hors-série 22).DOI: 10.4000/vertigo.16188.Taylor, Bron Raymond. Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2010. Dark Green Religion – Professor Bron TaylorZnamenski, Andrei A., The Beauty of the Primitive: Shamanism and Western Imagination | Oxford Academic Music and Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie Shea 

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I'd personally send you a thank you email.Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.In this episode, I'm speaking to Dikachi Chizim, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Freiberg, Germany for an MBA.Germany isn't the typical destination for skilled Nigerian immigrants, especially in the past five years. According to Dikachi, even the Germans she met in Freiberg, a town of over 40,000 in Eastern Germany, were surprised she moved to their town to study. “Well, I came to study because tuition was free,” she says. But the culture shock was dramatic. Now, this isn't surprising if you've been to both or any of the two cities. Lagos and Freiberg are different in every measurable way. From population to density to the economy to the urban character to the language. “I was lost,” Dikachi says. Getting a student job became the unlikely path to understanding the language and how the country worked.In this conversation, Dikachi and I chat about dealing with the contrast between Nigerian "African time" and famed German punctuality. We also explore:* How her workplace became more valuable for integration than her international student community* Passing her Nigerian cultural heritage to her German-born daughter* The surprising differences between Eastern and Southern Germany's social climate* Why optimism might be an immigrant's most valuable assetOfficial Links✅ Follow Dikachi on LinkedIn✅ Sign up for Dikachi's Thinking Out Loud newsletterOne AskIf you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com

On today's episode of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, I welcome Kerry Hinds @fertilebodyyoga, founder of Fertile Body Yoga, who shares her inspiring fertility journey and how yoga became an essential part of her path to motherhood. Kerry opens up about her struggles with infertility, navigating IVF abroad, and ultimately conceiving naturally after stepping away from treatments. She also discusses the benefits of fertility yoga for calming the nervous system, enhancing blood flow, and creating a supportive environment for conception. In this episode, you'll learn how yoga can help balance your nervous system, why feeling safe is essential for fertility, and practical ways to integrate fertility yoga into your daily routine. This heartfelt conversation is filled with wisdom, hope, and practical tips for anyone on their fertility journey. Key Takeaways:  Kerry's personal fertility journey and challenges with IVF The pivotal moment when she conceived naturally after stepping away from treatments How fertility yoga supports the nervous system and reproductive health The importance of feeling safe and creating space within the body Practical tips on incorporating breathwork, movement, and mindfulness for fertility Guest Bio: Kerry Hinds @fertilebodyyoga is a certified E-RYT, RPYT, Relax and Renew® teacher, fertility yoga instructor, and Reiki practitioner. She founded Fertile Body Yoga to support individuals on their fertility journeys. Drawing from her personal experiences with fertility challenges, including undergoing treatments and experiencing pregnancy loss, Kerry offers compassionate guidance to her students. She leads weekly fertility yoga classes and provides various mind-body support programs through the Fertile Body Yoga Virtual Studio. Kerry is also the host of the "Fringe Fertility" podcast, where she explores holistic and alternative approaches to enhancing fertility. Websites/Social Media Links: Learn more about Kerry HindsFollow Kerry Hinds on Instagram Listen to her podcast: The Fringe Fertility For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com To learn more about ancient wisdom and fertility, you can get Michelle's book at: https://www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility The Wholesome Fertility facebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/ Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/ ---------------- Transcript: # TWF: Kerry Hinds [00:00:00] Episode number 329 of the Wholesome Fertility Podcast. My guest today is Carrie Hines. Carrie is the owner and founder of Fertile Body Yoga, a virtual yoga studio that is dedicated to supporting women navigating their fertility journey. She offers both live stream and on demand fertility yoga classes. and small group programs that embrace the complete journey physically, mentally, emotionally, energetically, spiritually, and socially. Carrie has been teaching yoga for over 20 years and has been specializing, teaching, and training almost solely fertility yoga for eight years. Her classes and offerings are informed by her own experiences with pregnancy loss, years of IVF, and eventually completing her family with two children. Carrie has supported thousands of women on their fertility journey so far and is on a mission to help women conceive and birth with yoga and community. Carrie also [00:01:00] hosts Fringe Fertility, a podcast that highlights supportive fertility practices beyond the doctor's office. **Michelle:** Welcome to the podcast. Carrie. I'm so happy to have you. **Kerry:** Thanks for having me, Michelle. I'm so happy to be here and spend some time with you today. **Michelle:** Yes. I would love for you to share your story first of all I love fertility yoga. I always suggest for my patients and my clients to do it It's something that I've personally myself have been really transformed by yoga in general. Many different types of yoga, a huge believer in it. And I also think that it's a, I call it an intelligent exercise. It's something that's been around for thousands of years and [00:02:00] really is a medicine in its own. So I would love for you to share your story and how you personally went through your own journey, but also how you combine fertility with yoga. **Kerry:** Okay. Yeah. I'll try and be a little bit concise cause I could go on and on for the, for a long time about this topic. But you know, as many listeners out there, you know, I didn't really start thinking about having kids till I was in my mid thirties. I took me a while to find the person I wanted to share my DNA with. Right. So when I did, we got married we moved to Germany and We went to Germany with the intention of this would be a good time for me to have kids. He's going to do his PhD. Germany has so many great social supports for families and so on. So we're like, Oh, it's just skim the cream off the top of that social system. And so when we got there, as often [00:03:00] happens, things don't go as planned when it comes to fertility. So we rolled into IUI. So we tried for six months, we found a clinic and. You know, we lived in old Eastern Germany, so it was hard to find English speaking doctors. So it was a very interesting time of my life. Not only was it just stressful in general dealing with what's going on and is this ever going to happen to living in another culture, another country? I didn't have a ton of support around, but then trying to navigate a new language that I was not fluent in. at all. So, I, you know, had one amazing friend there who spoke fluent, fluent German, American woman. And she's like,I will help you. And she went into those appointments with me, **Michelle:** oh **Kerry:** did all the **Michelle:** What a great friend **Kerry:** I know, I know. It was so amazing because I was so [00:04:00] lost at that time trying to figure out, like, just what's going on, but then how to say it in a different language or understand it in a different language. So for anybody who's doing this, fertility journey overseas or is here in North America It's not your mother tongue English, and you're trying to figure it out, I see you, I understand how this can add an extra level of stress to it. So we. You know, during that time, I actually went and did a yoga teacher training cause I was like, this isn't working. I want to do something for myself. So let's go get a yoga teacher training. I'd actually been teaching yoga for years before this was, so I've been teaching yoga for 20 years far before, This, you know, all these 200 hour yoga teacher trainings that, you know, you can sign up for one. No problem now. But back then it was your teacher [00:05:00] tapped you on the shoulder and said, Hey, do you want to be like, let's do this. And so that's kind of how I started yoga. But then when I was in Germany, I was like, okay, I need to, let's make this legit, right? Let's go get the training. I love it. I was teaching in Germany and so on. So that was sort of the, the main integration of the yoga into the fertility journey was just taking that bigger step to get the certification. And then, yeah, we went, we did IUIs. The first IUI was successful in that I got pregnant and, you know, 10 week ultrasound, there was no heartbeat. So we lost that baby. Yeah, and it was again, different culture, different bedside manners, different, it was just so stark. That's the word I could use for it. Shocking. It was just like, okay. The baby has no heartbeat. We're booking you in tomorrow for a DNC. Be there at 6 a. m. [00:06:00] You know, there was no time to, to, to absorb what was, to breathe, to figure out what I wanted. it was just like this snowball that was just like, okay, this has happened. You're going to do this. You're going to be better than you're going to start again. And you're going to keep trying and trying. So that's a whole other rabbit hole we could go down. But yeah, it was, it was a lot. It was a lot. And so we ended up going to do IVF, and this was, you know, 15 years ago. So things were maybe a little different than they are now. LikeICSI was just sort of a, more of a thing, right? It's Ooh, we're going to do this new cool thing. ICSI. I was like, okay. And they're like, and then there's embryo glue and we'll glue your embryo to your uterus. And it was all cutting edge at this time. And We did it. We did many cycles frozen cycles fresh cycles. Yeah, so many cycles and [00:07:00] nothing stuck, right? We had been doing IVF for two years and we kind of just paused and said, Is this, do we want to keep doing this?is this how we envision our life to be? And we wanted kids for sure, but we also wanted to start living our lives again. So that was a very pivotal moment in our journey is when we stepped away from IVF. We said, okay, we're done. I had gained weight. I wasn't feeling like myself. My body was weirdly puffy in different places and just, I was unhappy and I was emotional and I was just like, let's. Let's, let's walk away. And I remember my fertility doctor at the time, he said, you know, your chances of getting pregnant naturally are like one in a hundred million. Like you shouldn't be walking away from IVF. And I was like, you know, I'm okay. Like [00:08:00] I just, I need a break. And I walked away and a month and a half later I was pregnant. **Michelle:** Wow **Kerry:** intervention. And then nine months postpartum, I also was pregnant again by accident because we thought we had our miracle baby, right? So we were like, okay, whatever. And then I was pregnant again and through the whole journey, I was using yoga for my body, but more so for my energetic health, my mental, emotional health. So when we ended up coming back to the U S and moving to Boston, that was one of the first things I did. I did a prenatal yoga teacher training and I said, Hey, can we do fertility yoga? And she's like,I don't, I'm sure. I have no idea what it is. Tell me what it is. I'm like, either do I, but I'll get back to you. And that's sort of how the fertility yoga started. And [00:09:00] nobody was really doing it eight years ago. It was, **Michelle:** It's true **Kerry:** Like, there was nothing. There was a few people, there was a couple books out on it but I really spent a lot of time explaining. what it was that we were trying to do when we were doing like a fertility focused yoga practice. So that's kind of the story. That's the evolution. **Michelle:** Well, I love the story. I don't love that you went through the suffering through the story But I love the fact that you can it Prove with your story that when people tell you when you hear from doctors that you have one in a million chance or whatever that is, that is not necessarily the truth. That is their opinion. They say it very factually, and I think that that's where it gets very confusing for people. They say it very factually, and I'm not dismissing what doctors say because a lot of times it could be very accurate or they can, but I, I, what I don't love is Is when things are predicted because the body can be [00:10:00] so unpredictable. And it can also show so many signs that defy what it's going to do. So that's where, you know, I say just have an open mind or getting a second opinion is great. So, but I do love hearing those stories because I think when people who are going through that now and are probably listening to fertility podcasts because they want to get. Answers and hear other people's stories and when they hear stories like that it sparks some hope in their hearts So I think that that's really important **Kerry:** Yeah, I often get Students they'll ask me well what was it like right because this is what we want This is people don't want to do IVF if they don't have to and they're like, what was it? what happened and I was like, I cannot tell you I can't tell you a hundred percent that it was the yoga that I was doing or you know All the other lifestyle changes I was doing but something came [00:11:00] together You magically all together at the right time and this baby happened and if I had to choose one word for it, it would be exhale because there was this feeling that my body was no longer having to perform like it felt safe because I wasn't going in for you know, all these procedures and like they're. You know, minimally invasive, but you're still like vaginal ultrasounds and people poking around down there and all the operations that come with it. Anesthesia, all those sorts of things. And yeah, it's, it's a lot. So my body was like, whew, thank you. Thank you. Let me just be. And I think the mental piece was just like that. I wasn't going to go back to it. At least anytime soon. So my, my body was actually believing [00:12:00] me, right? And I don't think it's It's something that you can fake. It's not a time, like I had to go through those two years of IVF and pregnancy loss to get to that point. I don't think that there's we can't just kind of skip over it and be like, Oh, I'm just going to think this now and I'm going to get pregnant naturally. So it's a process. That's it. you know, everybody's journey is different and we just need to give ourselves a little bit of space sometimes to integrate what's going on and give our bodies that exhale, which is so important. Mm. **Michelle:** I love that you say that because actually exhaling longer can simulate your, parasympathetic nervous system, which is the rest and digest mode, which many times the majority of us in response to life are in the fight or flight mode. And especially when we feel unsafe. And I love that you use the word safe because when we feel unsafe, Then [00:13:00] we're really not in a creative mode. We don't create even like mentally when we're not feeling safe. **Kerry:** Yeah. **Michelle:** When we feel safe, we're able to create, we're able to let go and our body's able to create, and that's a, it's a state of growth. So I love that you talk about that. And I think that one of the commonalities between yoga and acupuncture, which actually they're related in  many ways. And because it's really about moving the energy because yoga is connected to Ayurveda. Ayurveda has Marma points and yoga is actually a branch of Ayurveda. it's part of the medicine of the physicality of the body and moving the energy. **Kerry:** Yep. **Michelle:** Qigong is sort of the yoga of Chinese medicine. So it's very related. And I think one of the biggest commonalities or one of the ways I think it really works is it's all about the nervous system. **Kerry:** 100 percent it, the nervous system. Like when I, [00:14:00] even these days I, when I'm talking to somebody, I'm like, I'm talking to a person. Yes. But I'm interacting with a nervous system. So with the words that I'm saying my body language or how I look at them, right? Like it, it all is interacting with third nervous system. So how are we working with nervous systems? And when we show up, in fertility world supporting people. For me, the huge part of fertility yoga is how do we harness this parasympathetic, I call it rest, digest and reproduce. That's what I call it, just  **Michelle:** Yeah. I love that. Yes. **Kerry:** Because what it is, it **Michelle:** Yup. **Kerry:** It's what yoga is so good at, sadly, right? Like our Western culture view of yoga has been a little focused almost exclusively on exercise and gymnastic style yoga. But [00:15:00] really traditionally, like you said, it was about the marma. It was about the energetic lines running through you and wherever you find that imbalance, you can work with the energetic field to create balance again. And as you know, the Marma points and acupuncture and pressure points are like following very similar lines and it's powerful. But it's subtle, right?  **Michelle:** Right. it's **Kerry:** explain. Yeah, like it's hard to explain exactly what's happening but it is, it's so powerful and it can really be transformative for how we, how we navigate the journey as embracing that, the quiet side, the quiet side of things. **Michelle:** Yes. And I think that the way we connect with it is through feeling. Right. Because that is ultimately how we do it, but we can't feel or pay attention to what we're feeling when we're distracted all the time by the noise of the world. So we're constantly disrupted by the [00:16:00] noise. It's very disrupting actually for our nervous system. We don't realize it because we're so used to it. You could be used to things that are really not healthy for you and listen, you know, hearing the outside noise. And the loud noises of construction, you know, the normal life, if you're living in the city, the constant sirens and honking, and, you know, those things are actually very taxing on the nervous system. And they put us in a fight or flight mode because our bodies don't really recognize them isn't in the natural world. So it stimulates a more fight and flight response. So having that counter balance with practices like yoga. In calming the nervous system. And what I love about yoga is that it includes breath, all the things that really stimulate the vagus nerve mantra sound. So you're able to tune your vibration and breath. Which is also very calming because if you exhale longer, like there's certain controlled breath [00:17:00] where you're able to control your brain through breath and even movement, somatic energy work and emotions that we can at least much more easily, like that control, but manage with our  bodies.  **Kerry:** Yeah. I couldn't say it better myself, Michelle. That was perfect. I think one thing, right, like we, we, we know that the fertility journey is stressful. We know that life is stressful. We know that we're probably living in a heightened state in our sympathetic more than we, we would like to. And yeah, the yoga piece can just. hit so many things. And one thing we need to remember is that we are created like evolutionarily are, you know, we are more attuned to the stresses, right? For survival. So the loud, the loud noises, it [00:18:00] alerts us to look around and see, Oh, is there something coming for me? Or the bright lights and things like that. Like we're just constantly Like our bodies are looking out to keep us safe all the time. And we're tuned to that, right, that our bodies are naturally tuned to go in that direction. And there's way more stimuli that will take us that way. And then with the other side, the parasympathetic, we have to work harder and more intentionally to go there. And I think that is one of the things that is the hardest is you actually need to train the system to be more fluid. It's not the stress isn't going to go away. Stress isn't going to go away, but if you are training your nervous system to float more evenly back and forth between the two and taking the time to go parasympathetic as best that you can, whether it's with the breath or [00:19:00] with yoga or going for a walk in nature or anything like that You're rebalancing, but we have to make more effort that is just the way we're, we're built. And yeah, like things that will help us be calmer are like dim lights, quietude, support. So like lying down flat. So our body doesn't have to be alert, like even sitting, we have to be alert.  So we might not fall over weight. Unless you're claustrophobic, of course so yeah, there's lots of things that we can add, and yoga does that. Restorative yoga, which is a huge piece of how I teach fertility yoga it, that is what it does. those are the things that we're embracing when we do restorative yoga.  **Michelle:** I love restorative yoga. **Kerry:** Me too.  **Michelle:** Oh, it feels so good. It really just feels so good. And you know what? I love to. I remember taking a yoga class and the teacher after we're laying in Shavasana said, allow the ground to support [00:20:00] you. And I'm like, just the thought of that changes. My experience laying down right now **Kerry:** Yes. Yes I say that too in my yoga classes or I'm like the earth is coming up to hold you and you Let the earth hold you like it's like a two way street. It's like here I am I'm here, but you need to let go into it too. Yeah, it, there's so many wonderful things about restorative yoga. I mean, it's not the only part of fertility yoga the way I teach it, but it is definitely a huge part of what I like to emphasize to help train the nervous system that like,  Oh, Oh, I remember this place of calm and safety, right? And then if we can condition it with at the beginning of every Shavasana or every restorative yoga pose, you do three big, deep breaths, long exhales. The body then starts to put it all together. and [00:21:00] say, Oh, when she takes three big, long, deep breaths, it's time to relax. It's time to release and let go. So we can, there's so much we could do to support ourselves on that level, I think. But yeah, society makes it hard. **Michelle:** Right, so it's almost like a triggering relaxation response To something that you repeat over and over again I always say likeif you do meditation and you burn a specific incense That's clean or something that I'm even in the central oil Like diffuse a specific one every single time you start to meditate you're immediately going to It's almost like pavlov's dog. You're always going to associate it with meditation time and our scent brings us Right there because it's so connected our olfactory nerve, which is really responsible for our sense of smell Is connected to our brains directly **Kerry:** Yeah. And certain smells will be more grounding and, you know, so choose your smells. wisely, I would say, you know, where like,citrus [00:22:00] and high notes are a little bit more stimulating where like the deeper tones like sandalwood and like the earthy green trees, those sorts of things can just be really calming. And then plus the volatile oils that are in evergreen trees are calming to the nervous system. **Michelle:** Yeah. It's not amazing. **Kerry:** You know, so why not put those in your diffuser like use all the tools that you can and and and then things smell good **Michelle:** Yeah.  **Kerry:** like  I just  **Michelle:** who doesn't like that? **Kerry:** Yeah Yeah, **Michelle:** That's awesome. So just take people through, likeif they've never really heard of fertility yoga, like what differentiates fertility yoga from regular yoga  or other types of yoga? **Kerry:** Whoo. So the first I would say are the people that are in the class so it is just really dedicated to holding space for those that are trying to conceive and it can be anybody from, Oh, I'm just [00:23:00] thinking about it, but I, my periods have been a little weird all my life. I just want to get in tune with my body to those who have, you know, eighth round of IVF, like really deep into the journey. So I think the community piece is really important because, People like to be seen and understood. And when we do a check in at the beginning of our classes, even though it's online and there's all these little squares and so on on the Zoom room, people, you see people nodding and oh, and like sending hearts and doing all the things. And just creating community around that as opposed to if you went to a regular yoga class and you walked up to your teacher and said, Oh, by the way, I'm doing a stim cycle right now. They're not going to know what to do with you. They're not going to know how to keep you safe, nor are they going to know how to nurture that part of the cycle. So that's the 2nd piece is. Becoming or recognizing [00:24:00] where you are in your cycle and then matching the energies of that time. So follicular phase is a little more. Woo woo, woo hoo, right? Springtime, and follicles are growing, you have more energy because of the hormones, and an ovulation, you're just like the queen bee, right? So these are the energies that we would say, okay, if you're in the follicular phase, you're gonna do this twist, and so on, and blah blah blah. And then you would say, okay, oh, you're in the luteal phase, things are a little quieter, You might be pregnant, you're in the two week wait, you're post transfer, you're stimming, like all these things, then we need to be a little quieter with the body and give the pelvic area a little bit more space. So we would work with that and do some modifications for that. So really following the cycle. So when I'm teaching, I'm constantly, Okay, if you're in the follicular phase, you're going to do this. If you're in the luteal phase, you're going to [00:25:00] do this. So not only am I keeping people safe, but I'm also like finding the nourishing pieces as well. So it's like,I'm boosting that energy and keeping you safe where you wouldn't be able to do that in a regular class. And then the movement piece. Is really just like slow flow, somatic movement, a lot of it's pelvic centered, but not always because we hold tension and all different places in our body, the chakra system, the energetic system, right? We want it flowing as well as possible for many reasons. So it's lots of ooey gooey, juicy sort of moves in and around the pelvis. So what else did I forget? Oh, and of course the yoga wisdom part of it, right? The energetics, the, the wisdom. So I teach, I'm very thematic when I teach. So I will choose a theme and it may [00:26:00] come from yoga. For example, I did a class or I'm doing a series right now. We're doing an elemental series. So it's five weeks. Perfect. Five elements. Let's do this in yoga anyway, or in Ayurveda. So I'm like, we started with earth, like, why is earth, why is grounding important in fertility, then water and fire and so on. So, yeah, just bringing a new perspective into it, like something to be like, oh, okay, I get it. I get that, I need to be grounded and feel safe for fertility to I don't want to say be boosted, but to be, to feel safe, your body, or to be working at full capacity, whatever is happening in your body, your body needs to feel safe for the fertility hormones. Whew.  **Michelle:** I'm sure there's a lot more even that you might not even realize it, you know, because when we feel safe, I [00:27:00] mean, there's so many things that our bodies naturally do. And our bodies are so intelligent. And it puts us into a growth cycle in general, like our bodies are able to regenerate and repair when it feels like it's getting rest, the proper rest. So, also uh, something that I've noticed, and I do have some patients, it's really interesting because it kind of correlates with jaw tension, but it usually correlates with hip tension. **Kerry:** Hip and pelvic floor, probably. Yeah. **Michelle:** And so that's something that I always think about with fertility yoga is really kind of like getting that area more free because it correlates to the first and second chakra. And the first chakra is really that rooted chakra, the place that we feel safe, and that holds up the second chakra, which is really where our fertility is. So in order to have that active, you know, it depends on that foundation of safety. **Kerry:** Yeah. **Michelle:** So also the blood flow, I'm [00:28:00] sure. **Kerry:** Oh, yeah. Yeah. See, there's so much. I like so many things. But yeah, so that somatic slow flow movement that's pelvic centered, of course, it's like, it's energetic, like bringing energy in and like moving energy, which is really important when we're in our lifestyle of sitting stagnant a lot of the time. And yeah, the blood flow, Like this gentle squeeze and release, right? Like it's constantly bringing in new oxygenated blood into the organs of the pelvis. And I think often in yoga, we don't think, we don't think about the organ level. when we're moving our bodies. And that's what I love about the Ayurvedic yoga. It's more okay, this is happening in your body. let's look at the liver, right? So you're doing side bends and the liver and the spleen and just incorporating more of those, organs, like the systems of the body. It's not just about. the [00:29:00] large muscle groups and releasing tension, which feels great and is lovely and good for energy and marma points and things like that. But we can also work at the organ level and the hormonal level. **Michelle:** Yeah, for sure. And do you also include pranayama? Yeah. **Kerry:** I do breath work. I don't do we're going to do half an hour pranayama every time, but I will integrate breath work or pranayama techniques. When they're suited for the theme or what we're doing with our bodies, sometimes mudra as well. So like, let's, Which is our hand gesture. Yeah. It's like a seal. **Michelle:** again, see, it relates to the meridians and the energetic connections in the body. It's like our body's like a circuit. So putting our fingers together in certain positions will actually link that circuit and, and have it continue. **Kerry:** Yeah, yeah, and [00:30:00] I was never really into mudras  for quite a while of my yoga journey like I was like Oh, yeah, let's I'm gonna stick my fingers together do whatever all the things that you know Yeah, mudra and so on that you see all the time and then someone actually sat down and we we I learned and I experimented with like slowly touching your fingers together and then like you know, do you want to increase something or decrease something, et cetera. And it was actually very profound.  And that energetic piece, I believe it, and it's now Ayurveda as well. And in yoga, energy is the thing that connects. The element that connects body and mind. Right. We're always talking about body and mind, but what is it that's, that's going on to connect those two? It's the energetic body. And pretty soon I am hoping western science will get on [00:31:00] board. It slowly **Michelle:** It is. It's really fascinating. I mean, that's a lot of Dr. Joe dispenses. He's always talking about like energy frequencies, and he talks about how we can connect and he does a lot of scientific research on it actually. So he looks at the brain waves and how they respond to certain meditations and certain energy movements. He does also breath a specific breath. And a lot of people have Kundalini awakenings. That's what it, I mean, he doesn't call it that. He talks about it more scientific and he talks about chakras. He doesn't call it chakras. He calls it energy centers. And it's basically the same thing that we've been, you know, we've been taught years ago, thousands of years ago. And ultimately, I mean, people are having Kundalini rising. They, they see this light, they feel this incredible energy just shooting through their spine from the base. It opens up cause that's where the Kundalini of people haven't really learned about that. They say that there's this [00:32:00] dormant energy at the root of your spine. That's always there, but it's sleeping. And so sometimes  doing. Yep. And when we do breath work or certain types of exercises, it can actually awaken that when that awakens, a lot of people have spontaneous healing, spontaneous remission, and it's really fascinating. So his work is also very much based on quantum physics. And if you look at a lot of the old work and teachings of ancient cultures. They describe pretty much what we're learning as quantum physics. And it ultimately comes down to the fact that we are mostly energy and much, much, much, much less matter than we really think we are. We're like 0. 0000001. It's like a million tons of zeros. And then one, that's how our matter is. And if we actually Take it like the space actually is way more in between the [00:33:00] particles in our bodies and just what we  see. So it's kind of like an illusion. It's really fascinating. So we really are vibratory beings, which is why vibration sound really impacts our bodies. I can nerd. I  **Kerry:** I, I'm going to go, I'm going  to,  **Michelle:** all day long. **Kerry:** I know me too. Well, I, well, there's two things I wanted to talk about, but first I want to talk about space and spaciousness, openness. And I often say to my students, like magic happens in the space. So when we think about the body, We need space in our body, openness, spaciousness, for our body to function, right? between the synapses, there's a little gap, right? It's tiny,  but it's there. And that we have, we need to have space, the womb, let's not forget, that is space. openness, spaciousness, [00:34:00] right? we have to have space in our digestive track and air and things like that to keep it moving. And now I'm like going off the deep end and also Ayurveda of course, right? anything that is moving in our body is the air and ether element and ether is spaciousness, it's openness. And so I often emphasize this idea you in class of creating space. When we move our pelvis, we're creating space. We're opening up, we're releasing blocked energy, if you will, or like stagnant blood, like we are getting things moving. And when things are moving, the magic happens, right? Like the space, we need that spaciousness. Oh yeah. I  **Michelle:** that.  **Kerry:** Yeah. The **Michelle:** Well, it's, it's so cool. I mean, cause, cause that's one of the things that Joe Dispenza does is he first, he almost puts you in an induction with his [00:35:00] meditations and he says space, and he wants you to focus on like this endless space. But the reason why is there's a rhyme. There's a reason for everything that he does is that when our minds focus on space, it actually creates. I don't know how to how he described it. Actually. I mean, I go to so many of his stuff, but I don't remember everything but he said that when you do that, I think it takes you almost to a different mind. Mental frequency brainwave when you start to focus on space. **Kerry:** Well, so Yoga Nidra, which we had talked about previously, but Yoga Nidra, which is like a 5, 000 year old technique that the yogis came up with it is about, it is about that. It is about slowing down your brainwave to delta wave, which is what your brainwaves would be like if you were in deep sleep. And why do we love deep sleep so much? Because that's when we heal, that's when we [00:36:00] process and calibrate and so on. Our organs are doing their cleaning up and all that and it's so important and it's definitely related to fertility that deep sleep state. And Yeah, with Yoga Nidra, we're purposefully going there, but being conscious when we're there. So it's an experience that we would never do. We would never get to that state on our, on our own naturally. Like we'd either be in deep sleep or we wouldn't be in Delta. So this is what I love about Yoga Nidra. And like you were saying, just even the concept of thinking about. Space or expansiveness or you know, you're in an airplane, you look out the window and all you see is infinite space. it never ends. It just goes on and on and on. Right. But yeah, it does, slow us down. It slows down the brainwave so we can get out of the, the gamma or the, you know what we're in right now [00:37:00] talking. **Michelle:** Yes. And it also gives you a sense of freedom. You just feel this like sense of peace and freedom from that space. Cause then you're like, ah, you know, there's just so much, and there's so many possibilities and it's open. And so for people actually who have not heard of yoga, Nidra, can you explain what it is exactly? **Kerry:** Okay. So yoga nidra, like I said, it's thousands of years old. It has so many benefits. I mean, it's so many like deep healing, but also like physical deep healing, but also mental emotional. So it takes, you know, sort of these deeply ingrained, maybe even ancestral patterns that we have, we can start to change those patterns. The body can process all of those things. It's so, it's. It's, it's the Soma we say in yoga, it's the sweet nectar. [00:38:00] It's the nectar that we want for our bodies, especially during fertility, but also to for overall health and longevity. We want to have that sweetness and that nectar in us. And what I use it for, I do a ton of Yoga Nidra in classes. It is It is a progressive deep relaxation technique. It that it has been, Huberman has taken it and called it non sleep deep rest because it's more palpable to Western mind. So it's been an eye rest and all these things. So it's yoga nidra has been taken and repackaged in many different ways for our Western minds. I love the traditional one. Of course, I'm sure you probably do too. And. Yeah, you just, you go  ## Marker **Kerry:** progressively to put your body to sleep. So you go through body parts and you relax those body parts and we can, instill or implant a message. [00:39:00] We call it sankalpa, but you can call it whatever you want. Affirmation, it's not quite the right word. Intention maybe of what deep healing you want to happen. And that's sort of implanted throughout the deep relaxation part. And then yoga nidra is actually a state. It's not the progress of getting there. So yoga nidra is when you are, your body's asleep, you're conscious. But your brain is in these sort of Delta waves and sometimes you get there, sometimes you don't, and sometimes the journey is joyful to, to get there too, right? So it's not oh, you have to get to that state to get any benefit. You're still getting all that parasympathetic work going on. The body feels safe and protected. And most people feel very blissful. afterwards, they often say, Oh, it's like hypnotic that there's like this [00:40:00] hypnosis. And my voice too, I think it's like low and like kind of slow and steady. They're like, Oh, I just hear your voice and I start to relax. Right. So it is a really powerful tool. And if I were to choose one thing, like people say, what yoga pose should I do to help my fertility? If I could choose one thing I would say do Yoga Nidra for at least 40 days straight **Michelle:** Yeah, **Kerry:** and see what happens. I think it's perfect. And I have a program, 40 days, a 40 day program where you have the option to do Yoga Nidra every day if you wanted to, or meditation. So yeah, it's, it's perfect. It's really powerful. really **Michelle:** is so cool. And I'm excited actually to have you as a guest contributor to my fertility hypnosis toolbox. Soon. I know a lot of people, listeners are probably on there, so you guys I'll be very excited. I think by the [00:41:00] time this is out, probably going to  **Kerry:** it. to you. I promise. I will do it. I feel honored  **Michelle:** have time. you have time.  **Kerry:** Yeah, I  know. But I wanted to make it, this is me. I want to make it, I don't want to just maybe take an old recording that, you know, It's, you know, been out there for a while. Like I want to make new things for you and also like, where do we need the yoga nidra the most? Like the two week wait, perfect time, um, after law. So you know, I want to theme them so that there's it hits home for what people need the most. **Michelle:** Well, I'm so grateful for that and I'm grateful for this conversation. I think this is awesome. I can nerd out on this stuff  **Kerry:** too. Me too. Me too. I **Michelle:** I think we're on the same page. **Kerry:** I am **Michelle:** fascinating.  **Kerry:** nerdy about it. And, **Michelle:** Yeah. **Kerry:** and, I mean, I know, I love what you do. All the messaging that you're sending out there to those that are on this journey, I think it's so valuable and, [00:42:00] and needed. we need more voices that are like, here, right? here, **Michelle:**  the ancient stuff, kind of like the bridging that ancient wisdom, that ancient nurturing, really connecting with nature. Cause I know that you also are a big fan of nature and being out in nature. And I think that really just kind of coming home to like our authentic authenticity of, as humans, and sort of the tribalness that, you know, coming home to really our roots and the sacredness that we have also as women. I think that that's there's so much power in that. And I think that a lot of people are thirsting for that. And that's why I nerd out on this. I say, it's you know, I could say my brain nerds out now, but I think my soul nerds **Kerry:** Mm. Oh, I love that. Yes, my soul nerds out on it. That is so good. I love that. I'm gonna use it  if I  can't  **Michelle:** said, well, Carrie, like I, we had such a great conversation also on your podcast, **Kerry:** yes  **Michelle:** guys. Yes. I highly recommend you guys [00:43:00] check out her podcasts. Fringe fertility. So it is definitely like something that I highly suggest. Cause you're going to get more of this amazing conversation on there and she has other guests on there. So yeah, very  **Kerry:** thanks for the shout out for the podcast. Thank you. Yeah. Well, it was a pleasure to be here today and sharing this conversation. I could just do it forever and ever. **Michelle:** for sure. And also before we go, how can people find you? What are the best ways? **Kerry:** sure. So yeah, I have a website Fertile Body Yoga. So it's a virtual yoga studio dedicated to fertility. So fertilebodyyoga. com. That's probably the, the lead in place to find me. I'm on Instagram as well. I'm not a huge Instagrammer though. And lately, I'm feeling like I just might need to walk away because for my mental health. But I do have an Instagram account. It is fertile body yoga there. And yeah, like I'm always doing [00:44:00] some great collaborative workshops and I have a retreat coming up at the end of April. You can cut this out if it's not the right timing, but so an in person retreat in New Hampshire at the end of April with. Two lovely co creators. So that, that's the big thing. That is huge. This has been years in the making and it's  finally  **Michelle:** That's so exciting. Well, congratulations. That's really cool. **Kerry:** Yeah. Thank you. **Michelle:** Awesome. Well, Carrie, this has been a pleasure and we really do have great conversations. I could tell you that we definitely are very aligned in a lot of the way we view the body and really view the fertility journey. And also thank you for sharing your own experience and now sharing your story. Cause I think that a lot of people will be inspired by that as well. So thank you so much. This has been amazing. Perfect.  **Kerry:** Thank you. for having me.[00:45:00] [00:46:00]     

It's Monday, December 23rd, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes written by yours truly and heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  Filling in for Adam McMannus I'm Ean Leppin. Attack on a Christmas market in Germany Fox News reported on Friday that a festive Christmas market in Eastern Germany erupted into chaos when a car was driven into a group of people in the city of Magdeburg.  Between 60 and 80 people have been injured and at the time of this report 2 had been killed including a child.  The Associated Press reports that the suspect is a 50 year old Saudi doctor who came to Germany back in 2006.  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, ‘My thoughts are with the victims and their families.  We stand by their side and by the side of the people of Magdeburg.' Pray for all of the people involved that God will bring comfort and peace in this tragic time. Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed spirit. Pray for Believers in Nigeria as Christmas Day Approaches  As reported by Mission Network News Christians in Nigeria are facing an increased level of persecution for the upcoming Christmas holiday.  The terrorist group Boko Haram has historically attacked during past Christmas celebrations.  Darrel Templeton with Megavoice comments on the threat. TEMPLETON: "They're trying to scare and terrorize the Christians, to keep them from being bold in their faith, in gathering and in exercising their religious freedoms." Templeton goes on to report that the military and police force in Nigeria sometimes act more as accomplices than as watchguards.  Nigeria is currently number 6 on the list of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian according to Open Doors. Boko Haram isn't the only group that persecutes believers.  The climate in Nigeria is currently an open season on believers.  It has been reported that homes are looted and buildings have been burned. Word from missionaries on the ground in Nigeria report that believers there recognize the blessing of suffering in relation to their faith.  Templeton with Megavoice tells us how we can pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. TEMPLETON: "They're not praying, or asking us to pray, that they be taken away from this, but they ask for protection and they ask for boldness." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong. Georgia Supreme Court to consider an abortion ban As documented by the Center for Reproductive Rights. In July 2022 a court case in Georgia, SisterSong v the State of Georgia sought to block HB 481, which bans abortions after approximately 6 weeks.  On November 15th 2022 Judge Robert McBurney of the Superior Court of Fulton County struck down the ban as void.  He further found that a subsequent change in Federal constitutional law, the overturning of Roe v Wade, does not revive the ban.  Instead, if the legislature wishes to ban abortion, it must pass a new law.  Just a week later on Nov 23rd the Georgia Supreme Court granted an emergency stay of the injunction, allowing the ban to take effect once again while the state's appeal continued.  As of October 7th of this year The Supreme Court of Georgia issued a ruling staying the trial court decision striking down HB 481.  This reinstated the abortion ban while the appeal proceeds at the Georgia Supreme Court. In response The Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Erik Baptist who is also director of the ADF Center for Life has filed a brief on behalf of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine asking the court to reverse the lower court ruling that permanently blocks Georgia's pro-life Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act or LIFE Act.  The LIFE Act protects the life of an unborn child when a fetal heartbeat is detected. Erik Baptist is quoted as saying, ‘The Georgia Superior Court made a critical error when it pitted the interests of a mother against those of her child as a reason for ruling the LIFE Act unconstitutional. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine has a vested interest in holistic care for both mother and child, and we are urging the court to reverse the lower court's decision and follow U.S. Supreme Court precedent that allows states to enact and enforce pro-life laws.' Hope Being Delivered Through Chainsaws for Christ in North Carolina Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina earlier this year.  CBN News reports that some 120,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.  As temperatures have dropped and winter is settling in, displaced families are facing desperate situations and continuing to rely on the churches and faithbased community for help.  Reverend Scott Rogers with the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry says The churches are the heartbeat of this effort… ROGERS: "The churches are the heartbeat, and, if you will, the nervous system, the spinal cord, that gets the message of the needs to the churches, back to our central support systems, and that's what God's people do.  That's what the Bible Belt is all about." This Christian Ministry unites 300 churches and 5000 volunteers to provide temporary shelter, food, clothing and long term recovery assistance.   Another ministry that has been helping out in North Carolina is Chainsaws for Christ. (Facebook link here) It's founder Brent Allmon talks about what motivates him to serve. ALLMON: "And I just want to help them.  People help me, and God loves me.  He loves you.  He loves everyone that's listening to this.  I just want them to know that there is peace and hope in the name of Jesus Christ." Literally everything that Brent and Chainsaws for Christ brings has been provided by the Lord through donations.  The chainsaws, tools, food, volunteers, RV that he sleeps in to the Christmas toys they are providing to the community.   So what does Brent charge to those receiving services from Chainsaws for Christ? ALLMON: "For us, zero.  The Lord paid it over 2000 years ago, and we get the opportunity to give back just a little bit." If you would like to give to help the victims of Hurricane Helene you can give to  Samaritans Purse Hurricane relief effort or visit the facebook page of Chainsaws for Christ find the links in our transcript at theworldview.com Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, December 23rd, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Ean Leppin (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

At least two people have been killed, and 60 others injured in a car crash in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. Authorities say the deadly incident happened after a driver rammed a vehicle into a large crowd of revelers at a Christmas market on Friday.

In the digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing political processes and decision-making. From targeted election campaigns to the analysis of voter behavior, AI has the potential to reshape democratic systems. While technology offers new opportunities to optimize electoral processes, it also raises significant concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and the risk of manipulation. Some campaigns have been launched by foreign actors seeking to spread disinformation and propaganda. This panel will explore how AI can impact democratic integrity, with a focus on its effects in U.S. elections, state elections in Eastern Germany, and other significant upcoming political events, including the German federal elections. This discussion addresses the role of regulation in ensuring fair and transparent elections and measures to safeguard election processes from manipulation and disinformation.

In the wake of far right gains in recent German state-level elections, German historian and journalist Katja Hoyer joins Aaron to explore the unique regional character of German populism. How has formerly communist Eastern Germany swung to the right? 

A political earthquake rocks the nation of Germany! The so-called far right has risen to power and prominence not seen in decades. But what's taking so many by surprise is that we have the youngest voters to thank! Find out what happened over the weekend in Germany's latest elections, and learn the astonishing trend among young voters who are more and more turning to the populist right like never before!  -- Start the 24/7 Protection of Your Home and Equity Today! Go to  https://www.hometitlelock.com/turleytalks Join my new Courageous Conservative Bootcamp and get equipped to fight back and restore foundational values. Learn more at https://fight.turleytalks.com/join  *The content presented by our partners may contain affiliate links. When you click and shop the links, Turley Talks may receive a small commission.*  Highlights: “The AfD has now risen to the single most popular party in East Germany.” “The AfD is getting more than double the support of any other party in Eastern Germany among voters under 30!” Timestamps: [02:21] The nationalist-populist party the Alternative for Germany's stunning victory in East Germany [04:04] The AfD's position on immigration [05:01] How young voters are driving this mass turn to the right among East Germans and in Europe as a whole [08:14] How the election in East Germany is a disaster for the national government in Berlin  -- Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode.  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and/or leave a review. FOLLOW me on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DrTurleyTalks Click here to partner with us and defy liberal culture! https://advertising.turleytalks.com/sponsorship Sign up for the 'New Conservative Age Rising' Email Alerts to get lots of articles on conservative trends: https://turleytalks.com/subscribe/. **All clips used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Sign up to Nebula to watch our brand new series WTF USA, and also get ad-free access to the full Daily Briefing every single day and 40% off an annual subscription with our link: https://go.nebula.tv/thedailybriefingWelcome to the TLDR News Daily BriefingIn today's episode, we run through the nationwide general strikes taking place across Israel. Also, we discuss AfD's victory in Eastern Germany; Russia's strikes on Kharkiv; and results from Azerbaijan's snap elections.

 Today, we cover modifications to Princeton's protest rules, lewdness incidents around campus, worker strikes at top hotel chains, and election results in Eastern Germany.  ###https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2024/09/princeton-news-adpol-protest-demonstration-regulations-rules-restrictions-fall

How will the military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah affect the ongoing hostage negotiations with Hamas? Plus; Russia launches an attack over Ukraine, Indonesian's protest against a political dynasty, the far-left makes big gains in Eastern Germany and Monocle's Senior Correspondent brings us a roundup of the Brazilian newspapers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've worked in the travel industry for any length of time, you're probably familiar with Kristin Karst. The co-owner and executive vice president of river cruise line AmaWaterways, Karst is a staple at most travel industry conferences, perhaps best known for her bubbly personality, welcoming demeanor and close, personal relationships with travel advisors. However, many travel industry colleagues may not know Karst's unique backstory. She was born and grew up in Dresden, a German town along the Elbe River, in what was formerly Eastern Germany, under a regime that mostly kept Karst and her family isolated from the Western World. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Karst reflects on a childhood spent under the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, and how the limited travel her family was able to do allowed her to gain an appreciation for all that Eastern Europe had to offer and fostered an early love of tourism. Karst will also dive into what it was like when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and how she got her start in the travel industry as a leisure manager at American Express Travel, a role that she kept until she moved to Southern California and met Rudi Schreiner, her husband-to-be and the former president of Viking Cruises. Listeners will hear Karst reflect on the early days of AmaWaterways, how she keeps her work-life balance in check and what's behind her unwavering positivity. This episode is sponsored by Apple Leisure Group Vacations.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE AmaWaterways' debut in Colombia TravelAge West's 2023 WAVE Awards (AmaWaterways took home wins for River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction; Best River Cruise Line for Families; and Best River Cruise Line for Luxury. Get in touch with AmaWaterways: 1-800-626-0126 ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West's podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry's notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intel, TSMC and Tesla are just three of the commercial giants that are increasing their business by expanding to the eastern part of Germany. Unlike former spurts of investment in the regions that used to be Communist East Germany, growth this time around seems more organic and likely to last. Indeed, it's no exaggeration to say that the economic map of Germany is being redrawn. We speak to an expert on business in the region and one of the companies benefitting from going east. Our Guests: Martin Ledwon is vice president of stakeholder relations at UPM Biochemicals in the city of Leuna. The company is a new division of Finland's biofuel pioneer UPM, and the plant being built in eastern Germany will produce chemical products from wood stocks to be used in place of chemicals from fossil fuels. Silke Poppe is Germany Trade and Invest's expert on Germany's eastern regional states and other areas undergoing structural change. She travels around the world promoting investment through GTAI's Internationalization of Regions in Structural Transformation program, and oversees other business development programs for the east, including Taskforce Transformation. Video link audio credit to NDR https://www.facebook.com/ndrinfo/videos/30-jahre-w%C3%A4hrungsunion-helmut-kohls-vision-von-bl%C3%BChenden-landschaften/902774740205272/

Kay Bernstein was elected the president of Hertha BSC, then in the 1st Bundesliga, in June 2022. He died at his home near Berlin on January 16th of this year, with Hertha being in the 2nd Bundesliga. What sounds like a short and - on the pitch - unsuccessful presidency is in fact the most significant shift and opening up of possibilities in club leadership in German and, possibly, European club leadership over the last years. In his memory, are dedicating an hour today to his club, to his life and to his impact. Bernstein grew up in Eastern Germany and Berlin, and was a founding leader of the oldest ultra group of Hertha, the Harlekins. When he became president, he was an event manager with networks in various fancultures, and a visionary for his club who placed an emphasis not just in success on the pitch, but in a football club as a community of belonging, togetherness, listening, patience, modesty as well as excitement and fanaticism. The Visiting Professor of Football is Misha Joel, from Hertha podcast Herthabase and an active fan in Hertha's curve. HELPFUL LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:Deutsche Welle English, "Hertha Berlin President Kay Bernstein dies aged 43"Deutsche Welle English, "Hertha Berlin Chooses former Ultra as Head"General Assembly at Hertha where Kay Bernstein is elected president (Hertha TV)March in Mourning after Kay Bernstein's deathRTL Sport, Rest in Peace Kay Bernstein (Youtube)bundesliga.com, Minute of Silence for Kay Bernstein at Hertha BSC vs. KaiserslauternPlease leave a quick voicemail with any feedback, corrections, suggestions - or just greetings - HERE. Or comment via Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. f you enjoy this podcast and think that what I do fills a gap in soccer coverage that others would be interested in as well, please Recommend The Assistant Professor of Football. Spreading the word, through word of mouth, truly does help. Leave some rating stars at the podcast platform of your choice. There are so many sports podcasts out there, and only ratings make this project visible; only then can people who look for a different kind of take on European soccer actually find me. Artwork for The Assistant Professor of Football is by Saige LindInstrumental music for this podcast, including the introduction track, is by the artist Ketsa and used under a Creative Commons license through Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/

Do you find it hard to stand out on LinkedIn? Have you tried making connections there only to feel bombarded by spam? Our guest today is here to rescue your LinkedIn presence from obscurity. She specializes in coaching agency owners to transform their profiles into irresistible client magnets. During this chat, she goes over some of the most common misconceptions about LinkedIn, her concept of writing a “love letter” to your target audience, and why trying to be overly professional won't work on this platform. Tune in to learn how to make the most of LinkedIn and differentiate yourself in this crowded digital platform. Nicole Osborne is the founder of Wunderstars, a brand and marketing coaching program designed for agency owners and online businesses. With her help, entrepreneurs get to the bottom of how to stand out on LinkedIn. She discusses the importance of being authentic and sociable on the platform and shares insights on how to fix the common LinkedIn mistakes agency owners are making. In this episode, we'll discuss: What's working and not working on LinkedIn. How to write a love letter to your audience. How to connect through vulnerability. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Agency Blueprint: Do you need help accelerating your agency's growth? If you're having trouble scaling your agency, maybe you're just too close to the identify areas where you need the most help. This is why we're setting up a free strategy session with our Scale Specialist Darby where he'll walk you through a framework for scaling your agency faster. Just schedule a chat with Darby – no string attached – at JasonSwenk.com/Darby. Together, you'll figure out your next steps for scaling your agency faster. Rapport Building: The Secret Weapon to Make it in Marketing As a teenager living in former Eastern Germany, Nicole had to help out with the family's market stall sales after both her parents lost their jobs. She was tasked with selling sunglasses and, initially, she felt awkward and shy. However, she soon realized that building rapport with potential customers was essential to successful sales. By engaging in friendly conversations and making people feel comfortable, Nicole was able to draw them in, make the sale, and get referrals. Reflecting on this experience, she realized that many agencies, despite being excellent at marketing their clients' businesses, often struggle to market themselves effectively. They fail to overcome their fears in order to become more visible and successful on platforms like LinkedIn. Initially, agency owners may feel the pressure to portray themselves as uber-technical experts on LinkedIn. However, Nicole suggests that being authentic and talking about everyday things can be just as effective as long as you keep your ideal clients in mind. Not Growing On LinkedIn?  Try This LinkedIn has proved to be THE platform to be in for many agency owners. However, a lot of people have negative perceptions of it. Even though some still think of it as a “boring” platform, it has evolved over the years, transitioning from a strictly professional and corporate platform to becoming a more sociable and engaging one. In this sense, Nicole encourages agency owners to be authentic in how they present themselves on the platform and not stick to an outdated overly professional style in their posts. This is the only way you'll succeed in utilizing LinkedIn to connect with people on a more personal level. Of course, there's no denying that interactions can get quite spammy on LinkedIn. To this, Nicole counters that email marketing can also get very spammy, yet everyone uses it to promote their businesses. Likewise, as long as individuals focus on building genuine connections, the platform can be a valuable tool for business development. It's important to avoid immediately jumping to a sales pitch without first assessing if there is mutual value and benefits in the connection. Instead, engage in conversation and find common ground. By taking the time to get to know each other and finding shared interests, individuals can establish a solid foundation for a meaningful connection on LinkedIn. Approach LinkedIn as a real networking event where you would hopefully not just talk about yourself but also actively listen and engage with others. Treat it like a virtual networking party and you'll have global reach that will allow you to work with international clients and grow your personal brand across the globe. From LinkedIn With Love, How To Find Your Ideal Clients What works on LinkedIn is something that can change over time, like with any social media platforms. For Nicole, one thing that will never change is the human element, which is why you should always show up as yourself. Instead of putting on a professional mask, start by thinking about what your ideal clients need and focus on that. It's an approach she links to writing a love letter. Ask yourself what would appeal to your audience? What would they find interesting? What is it they're struggling with? What is it they're really hoping to achieve? Showcase your agency's culture, creativity, and problem-solving abilities and present yourself as a guide to help them get to where they want to be. As to letting your authenticity shine through, don't forget the importance of the human element. In this regard, while she's all about making processes more efficient, Nicole advises not to lean too much on automation because it may hinder your ability to connect with potential clients on a personal level. Understanding your target audience and what resonates with them is crucial to bringing personality to these interactions, and it can't be effectively done if you're solely relying on AI tools. Additionally, agencies should avoid outsourcing without providing a thorough brief and should be cautious of using appointment setters who may spam potential clients. These approaches can come across as impersonal and may not effectively showcase the agency's unique value. Pro tip: Create polls that tap into your audience's pain points. By reaching out to those who participate in the polls and engaging in conversations, agencies can provide value, offer tips, and potentially encourage further discussions about their services. Ditch the Superhero Complex: Connect Through Vulnerability One mistake agency owners make in how they present themselves on social media platforms is thinking they need to appear as superheroes who have everything figured out. In reality, people feel much more drawn to the vulnerability of someone admitting that they got to this point after making many mistakes. By sharing personal experiences and lessons learned, agency owners can establish a sense of relatability and authenticity, which in turn builds trust and credibility with their audience. Additionally, having the confidence to talk about your mistakes can help you stand out. If you post like everyone else you'll blend so much into the background that no one will ever notice you, which is certainly not the point of marketing. By being willing to share embarrassing or outrageous stories, you can differentiate yourself from competitors in the crowded social media landscape and capture your target audience's attention. Furthermore, focusing on specific social media platforms that align with your target audience will also help you stand out where it counts. For Nicole, LinkedIn is a platform where professionals are actively seeking learning and networking opportunities. She advises agency owners who've tried to use LinkedIn in the past and not seen results to rethink their strategy by following these steps: show up as your authentic self, write as if you're writing a “love letter” to your audience, be vulnerable, and be visible. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Today, I am talking with Kenny G from R3 Contingencies about being prepared for travel, both by car and by plane, as well as developing situational awareness while planning your trips. Featured Event: Save the Date for the LFTN Workshop Ticket Sales, January 20, 2024 at 9am Central. Theme, “Back to the Basics.” Workshop is April 25-27. Sponsor 1: The WealthSteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com Sponsor 2: Last change for the $35 Homesteading and Permaculture Bundle with a 17 episode podcast analysis of Toby Hemenway's Gaia's Garden and a whole HOST of other things! https://permies.com/w/bundle?f=495  Show Resources R3 Contingencies Website Main content of the show Kenny G started R3 contingencies in 2020, Since then he has helped expand their services. So they can help if you lost everything from your cell phone charger to a full suit, to giving you a plan after a break-in. Why should I prep for travel? I have a good travel agent isn't that enough? What should I be concerned with road trips I have AAA is'nt the best thing to have? What is the most common problem you see and what is the easiest way to prevent it? How about flying? What if I want to travel internationally? What if it's for business vs pleasure? Does it change my travel plans? Make it a great week GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  Community Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link Transcript 00:03.643 --> 00:09.346 Howdy, everybody, and welcome to today's live interview with Kenny G. Kenny G, you going to play some music? 00:11.448 --> 00:12.228 Maybe a little later. 00:12.248 --> 00:14.569 I think I forgot my guitar at the show.   00:14.810 --> 00:16.230 Is Kenny G your real name?   00:17.231 --> 00:17.891 Close enough.   00:19.712 --> 00:20.293 That's right, guys.   00:20.833 --> 00:29.518 Kenny G's been on our podcast before on a different topic, but he reached out to me and said, hey, I want to talk about things people should know while traveling.   00:30.359 --> 00:30.519 And   00:31.329 --> 00:47.931 I kind of added because I know you're going to end up talking about this like situational awareness, something that has really struck me in the last couple of years that I've been on the road is so I was driving to Texas and you know how those alerts come over your phone that everybody turns off because they're annoying.   00:47.952 --> 00:48.873 Yep.   00:49.721 --> 00:51.261 Okay, so one of those alerts came over my phone.   00:51.301 --> 00:53.022 I'm like, I have Amber Alerts.   00:53.302 --> 00:53.742 Shut off.   00:53.782 --> 00:54.442 Like, what's up?   00:54.622 --> 00:56.982 And a convict had escaped prison.   00:57.022 --> 01:00.963 So it was a different kind of alert.   01:01.383 --> 01:03.223 And he had taken people hostage.   01:04.364 --> 01:07.384 And they said, this is going on in this area.   01:07.404 --> 01:14.246 Well, I had made the critical error of following my GPS instead of my map to get around, to route around a traffic issue.   01:14.886 --> 01:16.446 So I didn't actually know where I was.   01:18.511 --> 01:23.636 And so when it said where it was, I didn't know where I where I was, where it was in relationship to that.   01:23.756 --> 01:30.864 And luckily, I had more than half a tank because I usually top off about every half tank when I'm driving somewhere long distance.   01:31.364 --> 01:33.206 And I got all the way to my destination.   01:33.226 --> 01:35.829 And it turned out I was within a couple of miles.   01:36.029 --> 01:41.795 And the guy ended up taking a family hostage, driving to Ohio and killing them before he was caught.   01:42.905 --> 01:45.507 And so that's what I mean by situational awareness.   01:45.587 --> 01:53.572 Like we get so used to technology that sometimes it's a really bad idea to just put your faith in it.   01:53.672 --> 01:55.033 But there's a lot of stuff you can do.   01:55.053 --> 01:56.074 Oh, I lost the light.   01:56.454 --> 01:59.516 There's a lot of stuff you can do between now and then.   01:59.656 --> 02:02.038 But let's start with before we jump into that.   02:02.418 --> 02:03.939 I'm just giving everybody the overview.   02:06.021 --> 02:09.283 Tell us who you are and how you ended up on LFTN anyway.   02:11.467 --> 02:14.528 Um, Ken or Kenny G if you prefer.   02:14.608 --> 02:17.630 And yes, that is the real first initial for my last name.   02:18.650 --> 02:24.372 Um, I am working or I work for the emergency concierge service, our three contingencies.   02:24.953 --> 02:27.774 We see a lot of things happen up, down, left, right.   02:28.634 --> 02:31.595 And I thought it would be a great topic here.   02:31.715 --> 02:35.357 And not to mention, I've reached out to Nicole for several things regarding business.   02:35.477 --> 02:37.338 So pay it back, right?   02:37.858 --> 02:37.998 Yeah.   02:38.018 --> 02:40.759 So what is our three contingencies before we jump in there?   02:41.738 --> 02:46.003 They are, as far as I know, the world's only emergency concierge service that there is.   02:47.684 --> 02:50.528 What does an emergency concierge service do?   02:51.949 --> 02:57.795 For example, let's say you go on a flight and they lose your luggage and you have a business meeting.   02:58.656 --> 03:02.861 It would have been something that we prep for and we would have clothes delivered to your hotel room.   03:04.275 --> 03:05.236 Well, that's pretty cool.   03:05.316 --> 03:13.801 With, you know, a Visa gift card if you need it, a phone charger, standard stuff that you may have forgotten or gotten lost.   03:13.921 --> 03:16.883 Or example, you run out because your kid's in the hospital.   03:17.343 --> 03:23.247 We deliver a phone charger to you, food, basic necessities, toothbrush, toothpaste, stuff like that.   03:24.226 --> 03:24.406 Wow.   03:24.426 --> 03:25.207 That sounds really good.   03:25.227 --> 03:25.547 Yeah.   03:26.588 --> 03:26.748 Yeah.   03:26.928 --> 03:27.829 I found your website.   03:27.929 --> 03:30.111 So I thought I had to, you know, show it.   03:30.972 --> 03:33.234 Cause we have that capacity here.   03:33.374 --> 03:33.694 Okay.   03:33.774 --> 03:35.936 So let's go back to traveling though.   03:35.996 --> 03:39.779 Cause traveling has probably taught me more about prepping than anything else.   03:40.540 --> 03:45.164 One thing I learned is you never leave the house without a snack in your bag.   03:46.414 --> 03:53.399 Because you're going to end up on a train somewhere in the middle of the night in Eastern Germany and you didn't have time to get dinner.   03:53.479 --> 03:55.560 And luckily you have that snack in your bag.   03:56.120 --> 03:59.102 But why should I prep for travel?   04:00.203 --> 04:05.526 And if I'm like with a tour group, should I still should I still prep for travel?   04:05.546 --> 04:06.167 And if so, why?   04:08.505 --> 04:10.647 Absolutely, you should still prep for travel.   04:10.907 --> 04:14.550 And prepping for travel is essential because let's face it, you never know.   04:16.311 --> 04:18.452 I live in New Hampshire, I'm really close to Boston.   04:18.833 --> 04:26.278 When the big dig was happened, I have literally driven into Boston and had the road closed that I drove in on, on the way out.   04:28.099 --> 04:29.200 Yeah, what's that mean?   04:29.220 --> 04:30.281 Do you just get stuck on the road?   04:31.901 --> 05:00.958 uh yeah i had to get rerouted and i was stuck in a traffic jam for about four hours what should have been an hour and a half trip literally took me all day and had i not done things like you know make sure my gas tank is kept half topped off bare minimum i keep a gallon of water in the car i keep cliff bars in the car i mean i know they're not the healthiest thing for you but they do help satisfy your hunger and there is such a thing as driving hangry and i would not recommend it   05:01.869 --> 05:02.469 Well, why not?   05:02.489 --> 05:06.971 Because you make stupid choices when you're hangry.   05:08.592 --> 05:11.893 I mean, I know it says no U-turn, but I don't see anyone here and I'm starving.   05:14.334 --> 05:22.897 Yeah, I took a wrong turn on my way from Oklahoma City to Tennessee, which literally all you need to do is stay on the stupid freeway, which is I-40, right?   05:23.958 --> 05:24.198 Right.   05:25.126 --> 05:27.688 But I got on the freeway going the wrong direction after getting gas.   05:27.728 --> 05:30.391 And then I took the next exit, which was a terrible idea.   05:30.511 --> 05:36.896 Ended up driving 28 miles one direction to where I could finally turn around after paying a toll and 28 miles back.   05:36.916 --> 05:41.680 And I kept looking at the gaps every so often that said, don't drive through here.   05:42.741 --> 05:45.922 And I finally like I was like, well, there's so many cars coming.   05:45.962 --> 05:47.063 I'm not going to do it right.   05:47.143 --> 05:52.685 But I was really tempted and I got to the toll booth and I asked about those things like, oh, yeah, we actually have cameras up.   05:52.705 --> 05:56.226 We would have busted your ass because people get into accidents when they do that.   05:56.826 --> 06:00.828 So I made the right choice in that turn and in that situation.   06:00.968 --> 06:06.470 But what does what does prepping for travel look like?   06:08.410 --> 06:08.970 Depends.   06:09.070 --> 06:10.551 Are you flying or driving?   06:10.951 --> 06:13.631 I mean, we're talking about driving, so let's go with that.   06:13.651 --> 06:16.772 A simple low-hanging fruit is get AAA.   06:17.632 --> 06:23.974 It doesn't cost much, and if you get one tow, just one in like four years, it pays for itself.   06:24.994 --> 06:30.875 I used to work for a towing company back when I was younger and had hair, and it started out like $150 to pick you up plus $15 a mile.   06:30.915 --> 06:32.256 That adds up really, really fast.   06:38.846 --> 06:39.186 Yeah.   06:39.747 --> 06:46.232 So I have AAA for this reason and the poor people have had to tow me at least twice a year since I got it.   06:47.933 --> 06:52.417 And except for this year, because it's the second or third or something.   06:54.379 --> 06:59.102 What happened in 2020 with AAA is they would pick your car up, but not you.   06:59.122 --> 07:03.006 Yeah, that sounds about right.   07:03.326 --> 07:06.048 And they said they didn't want to risk giving the drivers COVID.   07:06.108 --> 07:07.129 So I was in 2020.   07:09.451 --> 07:10.411 Maybe it was 2021.   07:10.471 --> 07:11.932 It was still in effect.   07:12.092 --> 07:19.073 I get caught in the middle of the wilderness, basically, between Chattanooga and Sparta.   07:19.893 --> 07:21.714 So I'm like literally on the side of the road.   07:21.734 --> 07:22.874 There's nothing around.   07:22.914 --> 07:26.115 And they're like, well, you can't ride with the driver because of our policies.   07:27.555 --> 07:28.755 And I'm like, what am I supposed to do?   07:28.775 --> 07:29.755 You know what they told me to do?   07:29.775 --> 07:31.276 Get an Uber?   07:32.036 --> 07:32.676 Call a cab.   07:34.890 --> 07:37.215 I'm like, I don't know if you understand where I am right now.   07:37.275 --> 07:38.999 Because, you know, they're always like, are you safe?   07:39.059 --> 07:40.361 I'm like, no, I'm not safe.   07:41.143 --> 07:43.448 I'm on the side of the road in the middle of the winter.   07:44.700 --> 07:47.401 And so they were like, well, we don't know what to tell you, ma'am.   07:47.521 --> 07:49.561 This is this is the deal during covid.   07:50.502 --> 07:58.404 And that made me rethink my relationship with Triple A. Now, what I ended up doing was asking the driver if he cared if I jumped in and he said, are you sick?   07:58.464 --> 07:59.004 And I said, no.   07:59.024 --> 08:00.085 He said, then go ahead.   08:00.725 --> 08:01.485 And I did get it.   08:01.785 --> 08:03.586 Like it was a driver decision.   08:03.606 --> 08:08.147 And I did have friends coming to pick me up if that didn't happen.   08:08.167 --> 08:11.188 But they were going to have to drive like two hours to get me.   08:12.228 --> 08:14.631 Meanwhile, my car was towed, you know, because it was broken down.   08:15.011 --> 08:19.635 So what do you think about that in AAA?   08:19.675 --> 08:25.441 Like they're kind of dead to me, but not dead to me because it's the only towing service I've really found that seems to work at all.   08:26.342 --> 08:28.764 That doesn't cost you an arm and a leg when you have to get it.   08:28.784 --> 08:28.864 Yeah.   08:29.205 --> 08:29.445 Yeah.   08:30.552 --> 08:35.134 Yeah, like, okay, first of all, everyone went insane during COVID.   08:35.634 --> 08:41.617 I mean, let's face it, totally reasonable, rational people I know lost their freaking minds.   08:42.497 --> 08:46.839 So I can't fault AAA too much, and they've probably done away with that policy.   08:47.419 --> 08:53.082 Like way, way back in the day, 2010, they actually could not leave you on the side of the road.   08:53.862 --> 08:55.203 They had policies against that.   08:55.771 --> 09:00.993 If you had to like load five people into your tiny two person cab, you did it.   09:01.433 --> 09:04.014 You drive to the next exit and you let them off.   09:04.554 --> 09:09.355 But as I said, people lost their minds during COVID.   09:10.696 --> 09:12.416 Yeah, that happened once to my mom too.   09:12.436 --> 09:19.259 She was stuck in the middle of the freeway, like the middle left middle because the car went into limp mode.   09:19.279 --> 09:19.939 Do you know what that is?   09:20.993 --> 09:24.395 Yes, that is when it enters in when it only does 30 miles an hour.   09:24.516 --> 09:33.182 Oh, no, it did five, five, five in a rainstorm on I-40 won't go more than five rush hour traffic.   09:33.262 --> 09:35.883 She pulls into the left shoulder, calls AAA.   09:37.204 --> 09:40.667 And they're like, well, we can't get there for four hours.   09:42.448 --> 09:43.048 Are you safe?   09:43.088 --> 09:44.790 And I'm like, no, she's actually not safe.   09:45.578 --> 09:50.641 Like anybody could just reef into the back of that car and they go super fast and whatever.   09:50.881 --> 09:51.501 And you can't see.   09:51.982 --> 09:55.884 So the police came and they actually drove her to the next exit, which was nice.   09:57.585 --> 10:01.687 That is something you should probably look at depending on your location.   10:02.227 --> 10:06.089 Suppose the police had said, no, we don't want to wait for AAA.   10:06.109 --> 10:08.010 We're going to call one of our guys and they'll tow you.   10:09.651 --> 10:14.254 And a lot of AAA states, if they cannot get to you in a reasonable amount of time, they will pay for the tow.   10:15.586 --> 10:18.849 I have had that happen with them too, where they couldn't get there for four hours.   10:18.889 --> 10:20.130 And I said, what's my option?   10:20.170 --> 10:21.471 And they said, you get reimbursed.   10:22.731 --> 10:24.473 And then they reimbursed me 80 bucks.   10:27.315 --> 10:29.136 Yeah, that probably wasn't enough to cover the tow, was it?   10:29.356 --> 10:32.417 It actually was in that case, because I live in the middle of nowhere.   10:32.777 --> 10:33.057 Yeah.   10:33.657 --> 10:37.759 It would not have been the case had it been that incident in the middle of the road.   10:38.679 --> 10:40.359 So we didn't know what limp mode was.   10:40.580 --> 10:44.801 So I didn't know why the car was only going five miles per hour and going doop, doop, doop, doop, doop.   10:44.921 --> 10:47.242 But I was like, hmm, sounds like a transmission problem, right?   10:47.802 --> 10:55.344 Had I known about limp mode, I would have been like, hey, cops, let us get over to the right hand shoulder and then we'll just limp to the next exit.   10:55.464 --> 10:56.404 Down to the next exit.   10:56.504 --> 11:05.206 It seems to me that limp mode is a really dangerous thing when it drops you to five miles an hour and won't let you do anything because you basically can't get yourself out of a situation at that point.   11:05.246 --> 11:06.846 I don't have that car anymore for that reason.   11:08.606 --> 11:09.226 They're dead to me.   11:09.847 --> 11:11.227 People become dead to me easily.   11:13.737 --> 11:21.261 Well, if it's between limp mode and the car not running, I prefer limp mode because, you know, at least I can move a little bit versus some cars.   11:21.301 --> 11:23.743 They will literally just shut down and tell you, nope, not moving.   11:24.063 --> 11:25.044 But you're capable of it.   11:25.244 --> 11:25.564 Don't care.   11:25.604 --> 11:26.004 Not doing it.   11:26.664 --> 11:27.145 Exactly.   11:27.165 --> 11:42.634 I mean, I've driven on on rims before to get out of dangerous situations just because I'm like, I know this is going to cost me a lot, but I'd rather pay money for that than like die on the side of the road because my car had a blowout of some sort in a really dangerous place.   11:43.514 --> 11:47.436 Um, but you know, I'm a weirdo and everybody's like, why do women always do that?   11:47.476 --> 11:50.278 I'm like, cause I'm not going to get out of my car and get hit by a semi.   11:50.378 --> 11:58.121 That's why I, I feel like woman versus semi semi wins every time, every time.   11:59.402 --> 11:59.782 Yeah.   12:00.202 --> 12:04.405 Red fire made it says waited six hours in Austin at night with a motorcycle.   12:04.465 --> 12:04.745 So, um,   12:05.737 --> 12:09.778 How what else should you do besides have something like AAA?   12:09.798 --> 12:11.319 Because I mean, it works.   12:11.499 --> 12:12.759 It is better than nothing.   12:12.839 --> 12:18.081 It's probably the best option I found out there from a price to benefit ratio.   12:18.821 --> 12:22.702 But obviously, I have lots of stories about being stranded by AAA.   12:22.782 --> 12:24.382 And we have some in the comments here.   12:24.422 --> 12:26.623 Like, what else can you do?   12:28.985 --> 12:57.057 something else this is just very basic stuff get a floor jack one with wheels on it i don't recommend the bottle jack and the reason i say the floor jack with wheels is because if you need to you can use it to help get your lug nuts off keep your car on the ground put those stupid little bar they give you and put the jack on the side of the bar so that way when you jack it up it turns the lug because some people out there like my wife she weighs 110 pounds soaking wet   12:58.044 --> 13:02.385 If she's driving an F-250, she does not have the body mass to get that lug off.   13:03.025 --> 13:03.686 It doesn't matter.   13:03.826 --> 13:04.646 It's not happening.   13:05.346 --> 13:12.448 However, she can jack it up, then stand on it, or use the jack in reverse to retighten the bolts if she needs to.   13:14.389 --> 13:19.850 And to know how to do that, how do you know those things to do besides just that one tip?   13:22.731 --> 13:25.732 Heard a lot of horror stories and found ways around them.   13:25.752 --> 13:26.452 Yeah.   13:27.524 --> 13:30.086 The other thing is try to have more than your cell phone.   13:30.206 --> 13:33.268 I mean, I know, like you said, we've become so reliant on these things.   13:33.588 --> 13:34.309 It has a light.   13:34.409 --> 13:35.970 What do I need a flashlight for?   13:35.990 --> 13:37.731 You want a flashlight.   13:37.851 --> 13:43.355 If it's pouring rain out, you do not want your cell phone sitting there as you're trying to get your lugs off.   13:45.338 --> 13:51.063 And your cell phone is not as bright as something like a Streamlight or like a decent pocket flashlight even.   13:53.244 --> 13:53.825 Correct.   13:53.985 --> 13:59.389 Another thing is, and I hate saying this, but dollar store glow sticks, they're not road flares.   13:59.869 --> 14:06.254 But, you know, if you buy five of them and just crack them and toss them down the road, at least they give people something.   14:06.354 --> 14:09.116 And worst case scenario, you have a glow stick light.   14:10.617 --> 14:11.738 Yeah, that makes sense.   14:11.798 --> 14:13.139 You know, I have one of those...   14:14.682 --> 14:21.028 cigarette lighter plug-in tire inflator, like compressors, it has a built-in light too.   14:21.048 --> 14:22.829 So every time it's on, it's flashlights on.   14:22.869 --> 14:27.313 Cause they just assume you need me in the middle of the night and you can't see anything outside.   14:28.574 --> 14:30.496 So that's another good one to have.   14:31.057 --> 14:34.560 The only thing I worry about with those is if your alternator dies or   14:35.094 --> 14:40.559 Because most people don't know that their alternator dies until they're going, why are my headlights getting dimmer?   14:40.879 --> 14:41.139 Yeah.   14:41.619 --> 14:43.401 And why did my radio stop?   14:44.122 --> 14:44.882 Oh, that's weird.   14:45.102 --> 14:48.085 So they just keep driving and then now your car is literally out of power.   14:48.906 --> 14:49.306 Right.   14:50.227 --> 14:53.008 I mean, those you're using it because you have a flat tire.   14:53.088 --> 14:56.890 And I don't know if you know this about me, but I have the flat tire curse.   14:57.971 --> 15:05.235 I may have actually finally passed it on, but there was a series of years where every time I went on any road trip of any kind.   15:06.846 --> 15:13.032 There was a tire blowout or a flat or I came out from the hotel one morning and there it was flat.   15:13.652 --> 15:20.659 And so that's why I have that thing, because I was like, OK, I can pump it up, get to where I need to go to get it patched or whatever.   15:20.699 --> 15:21.940 I do have a patch kit.   15:22.160 --> 15:24.723 I'm not terribly good at patching tires myself.   15:25.640 --> 15:28.041 But I like I can plug them if I need to.   15:28.341 --> 15:34.905 Usually it's it's a strength issue of getting the thing into the hole.   15:35.265 --> 15:35.765 The reamer.   15:35.965 --> 15:36.185 Yeah.   15:36.205 --> 15:36.525 Yeah.   15:37.266 --> 15:37.506 Yeah.   15:37.566 --> 15:39.507 That's that's my challenge with those.   15:39.647 --> 15:43.689 But I think like the more stubborn I am about it, the better it is.   15:43.749 --> 15:51.133 But having that way of inflating tires, no matter what, has been really helpful because I'm usually 20 miles from somewhere useful.   15:51.773 --> 15:53.515 at any given time when there's a problem.   15:53.575 --> 15:58.221 It's not like, oh, hey, look, there's a repair guy and my car just broke right here.   15:58.301 --> 16:00.944 Or there's a gas station and my car just broke right here.   16:00.964 --> 16:04.287 It's always like, okay, nope, no self service.   16:06.049 --> 16:06.770 Now what do I do?   16:06.810 --> 16:08.713 I got to get somewhere where I can go somewhere.   16:09.493 --> 16:11.736 So what's the most common?   16:12.337 --> 16:12.497 What?   16:13.587 --> 16:18.268 Another advantage to those is, at least around here, we get weather that's like negative 20.   16:18.848 --> 16:22.389 And when it is, those gas station compressors will not work.   16:22.990 --> 16:24.930 They turn on, but they don't pump air out.   16:25.290 --> 16:29.531 Those little plug into your lighter air compressors still work.   16:30.192 --> 16:31.492 Yeah, especially if your car is warm.   16:32.692 --> 16:33.192 Exactly.   16:33.813 --> 16:37.734 What do you tell people to do who are driving in environments like yours where it is really cold?   16:37.754 --> 16:42.675 Like what else should they have in the car besides some, you know, basic water and food?   16:43.775 --> 17:09.888 space blanket you can buy 10 of them for like 12 bucks on amazon and they are a lifesaver and this may sound weird but believe it or not if you are broken down in a car with no gas the car will be colder than the actual outside because why is that a giant ice box something to do with the metal and thermal dynamics and some math that is just beyond me at the moment   17:10.339 --> 17:14.622 But yes, there have been multiple studies done, one of them actually done by AAA.   17:15.222 --> 17:19.465 And it turns out outside of your car actually is warmer than inside of your car at a certain point.   17:19.765 --> 17:21.627 Yeah, unless you have a windshield, I assume.   17:21.647 --> 17:23.188 That's insane.   17:23.728 --> 17:23.948 Yeah.   17:26.250 --> 17:26.870 Oh, the cat.   17:27.871 --> 17:28.291 What else?   17:28.612 --> 17:30.893 Space blankets, water, food, anything else?   17:31.273 --> 17:32.814 Hand warmers, anything like that?   17:33.535 --> 17:35.817 Hand warmers are a nice one to keep.   17:35.897 --> 17:37.698 However, most people lose them.   17:39.180 --> 17:41.381 I've stopped recommending them because people throw them in their trunk.   17:41.422 --> 17:45.444 Then when they need them, I can't find them or they throw them in their glove box.   17:45.524 --> 17:50.006 And then, you know, I throw 10,000 other things in my glove box and I cannot find them.   17:50.647 --> 17:54.269 You mean they don't all have a little kit in their card with all the stuff in it?   17:54.689 --> 17:55.489 No, no, no.   17:55.529 --> 17:56.110 Most people don't.   17:56.150 --> 17:59.271 They just throw it in the back of their truck or in their trunk, whatever.   18:01.713 --> 18:05.495 Another thing I tend to recommend is just some basic toiletries.   18:06.431 --> 18:09.033 Toothbrush, toothpaste, face cloth, soap.   18:10.234 --> 18:19.961 I mean, if you happen to get stuck or God forbid sleeping in your car because the roads are closed, they washed out, they had to close down the road because some guy's holding a family hostage.   18:21.142 --> 18:28.628 If you can sleep in a Walmart parking lot, go into the Walmart and just, you know, wash your face, some other necessities.   18:28.788 --> 18:30.449 It makes you feel 10 times better.   18:31.860 --> 18:32.120 Yeah.   18:32.180 --> 18:35.122 I know somebody who actually ended up in a Walmart parking lot.   18:35.162 --> 18:42.948 I think recently waiting for her husband when the past got just jacked up with truck trucks sliding all over the place.   18:42.968 --> 18:44.509 And luckily they got a hotel that night.   18:44.749 --> 18:50.713 That's the other thing is when they closed the highway snow or something, all of the hotels are instantly booked.   18:51.534 --> 18:51.694 Yep.   18:52.655 --> 18:54.396 So how do you get your hotel room in that case?   18:54.476 --> 18:57.198 If you see a road closing, how do you get the hotel first?   18:59.209 --> 19:01.230 Go for off the beaten path.   19:01.350 --> 19:03.212 Don't look for hotels next to airports.   19:03.252 --> 19:04.332 That's what everyone goes for.   19:05.133 --> 19:07.134 And those tend to be the first ones that fill up.   19:08.175 --> 19:10.116 And this is a little tweak here.   19:10.436 --> 19:11.317 Don't look for hotel.   19:11.357 --> 19:12.157 Look for motel.   19:12.437 --> 19:13.618 Everyone looks for hotel.   19:13.938 --> 19:14.679 Those fill up.   19:14.819 --> 19:15.820 Look for motel.   19:16.480 --> 19:18.782 And you might be able to find something a little better.   19:19.942 --> 19:24.505 Downside motels tend to be a little lower quality.   19:24.645 --> 19:25.706 So, yeah.   19:26.306 --> 19:27.307 Bed bugs are a thing.   19:28.047 --> 19:28.468 Oh, yeah.   19:29.304 --> 19:35.029 Well, that and fights outside your door at certain motels.   19:35.329 --> 19:36.110 Oh, yeah.   19:36.130 --> 19:36.991 Three in the morning.   19:37.271 --> 19:37.591 Yeah.   19:38.212 --> 19:38.352 Yeah.   19:38.432 --> 19:43.076 I like to when I'm going to be if I'm at a motel that feels sketchy, which I try not to do.   19:43.756 --> 19:47.800 I love to be on the front office side of the building.   19:49.521 --> 19:52.544 Because the fights all seem to happen in the pool area.   19:53.826 --> 20:14.091 where they can't see so just a little i mean if you end up in that situation and it's safer than staying in your car then you know see if you can get located somewhere where the people who are there all night and awake all night are are also able to see your door that's super helpful um   20:15.379 --> 20:20.782 The thing I noticed, so I was one time, I've done a lot of things on I-40.   20:20.822 --> 20:22.703 This was in New Mexico.   20:23.183 --> 20:24.504 Blizzard was coming through.   20:24.524 --> 20:29.327 And one person was driving, one person was calling.   20:30.427 --> 20:33.309 to make reservations.   20:33.409 --> 20:39.995 Calling was better than the websites at that time because the websites would allow reservations to go through when there weren't rooms.   20:40.735 --> 20:41.716 So it was better to call.   20:42.197 --> 20:50.323 It's almost better to pull over for 10 minutes and find where you're going and then go rather than drive as fast as you can out of that situation.   20:50.383 --> 20:54.647 But everything was booked for hours around that closure.   20:54.687 --> 20:57.329 And I-40 was closed for a couple of days because of that blizzard.   20:58.314 --> 21:01.195 I ended up actually driving south.   21:01.916 --> 21:02.796 We didn't get a hotel room.   21:04.077 --> 21:04.717 We drove south.   21:04.737 --> 21:07.378 Because you know what happens as you go further south?   21:07.638 --> 21:09.880 Usually, it gets warmer.   21:10.780 --> 21:15.582 And eventually, we got to the rain part of the storm instead of the snow part of the storm.   21:15.622 --> 21:16.383 And then we get heavy.   21:16.423 --> 21:20.524 So we just replanned our entire route around.   21:21.285 --> 21:23.606 I'm not driving in the snow and I-40 is closed.   21:27.503 --> 21:29.025 Oh, I get that.   21:29.425 --> 21:38.395 Something I've seen is if it's a blizzard, hotels actually will put a cot in like the gym and only be like, tell you what, 50 bucks on a choice.   21:39.697 --> 21:40.438 Is it pleasant?   21:40.758 --> 21:41.078 No.   21:41.098 --> 21:42.680 Is it better than sleeping in your car?   21:43.101 --> 21:43.361 Yep.   21:44.262 --> 21:44.642 Yep.   21:45.183 --> 21:46.645 That's actually not a bad play.   21:48.004 --> 21:49.265 Lots of cots in the gym.   21:49.305 --> 21:49.825 Who cares?   21:49.905 --> 21:52.326 I mean, it's actually better than dying outside.   21:53.606 --> 21:59.548 What's the most common problem you see when people are traveling and are there ways to prevent it?   22:02.229 --> 22:06.371 Most common problem, especially with flying, is lost luggage, believe it or not.   22:08.152 --> 22:11.253 There is, well, I haven't used this trick in a few years, but   22:12.637 --> 22:15.618 A friend of mine actually recommended this one to me for your carry-on.   22:16.278 --> 22:21.440 If you put a starter pistol in your bag, you have to declare that you have a gun in your bag.   22:21.940 --> 22:29.602 Starter pistols are legal in all 50 states, and they are then required to take much better care of that bag.   22:31.223 --> 22:35.304 So it increases the tracking on it and increases the odds that it'll get to your destination.   22:36.400 --> 22:45.284 Now, if you don't want to go this route, and if you don't have a starter pistol, it's just not something you want to do, it depends.   22:45.344 --> 22:46.965 Are you traveling for business or pleasure?   22:47.685 --> 22:52.807 If I'm flying for pleasure and I get there and they've lost my bag, whatever.   22:53.227 --> 22:54.828 My friends make fun of me a little bit.   22:54.948 --> 22:56.909 I wear the same clothes for a few days.   22:57.029 --> 22:57.990 I go to Goodwill.   22:58.010 --> 22:58.950 It's not a big deal.   22:59.867 --> 23:03.850 Suppose I'm traveling for business and my bag had my suit in it.   23:04.350 --> 23:10.094 This is now a significantly bigger deal because I need to go to the place and look nice.   23:10.154 --> 23:17.840 I can't show up in my travel clothes because let's face it, I look like a hobo at this point because I dress for comfort on the flight, not to impress anyone.   23:18.860 --> 23:26.186 In this case, something we recommend doing is if you're traveling locally, look up places where you could buy a replacement and get an idea.   23:27.142 --> 23:43.909 so you know i need a new suit well i don't want to buy one well there's a men's warehouse right here how much will this cost me okay cool if you're traveling internationally this changes significantly because at this point now you need to before you go look up the translations   23:45.385 --> 23:47.546 Europe does not use the same sizes we do.   23:48.326 --> 23:53.448 And if you go in there with American sizes, you are not going to get clothes that fit at all.   23:53.928 --> 24:01.430 And it can save you a lot of hassle in the long run, just looking up basic translation for sizes, especially when it comes to undergarments.   24:03.991 --> 24:07.712 The way I learned that was by being there and asking him, what size do you think I should try on?   24:10.143 --> 24:14.606 but I actually get really frustrated with the American sizes on Birkenstocks.   24:14.686 --> 24:20.811 Cause I know my Birkenstock European shoe size, which is different in a Birkenstock than other shoes in Europe.   24:21.652 --> 24:28.137 They are the same sizes, but yeah, anyway, something about the wider footbed means I can have a smaller size on that.   24:30.880 --> 24:34.262 You order them on Amazon and they're like, get size nine.   24:34.303 --> 24:35.944 And I'm like, but is it,   24:37.691 --> 24:38.812 Is it a 42?   24:39.072 --> 24:39.853 Is it a 40?   24:40.073 --> 24:40.914 Is it a 39?   24:40.954 --> 24:42.316 Like, what are you actually going to send me?   24:42.976 --> 24:46.620 So I've had a lot like it varies the translation a little bit.   24:49.322 --> 24:52.345 It varies, especially depending on undergarments.   24:55.528 --> 25:00.213 Bras in particular tend to go by much different sizes over in Europe than they do here.   25:01.491 --> 25:04.413 So that's something you need to prepare for and be aware of.   25:04.433 --> 25:11.918 I mean, I know women's sizes are all over the place anyway, but you're going to have to deal with the translation and the sizes being all over the place.   25:12.679 --> 25:15.921 Yeah, I was really frustrated because I had to order a bra here.   25:15.941 --> 25:21.525 And it's like you measure yourself under your boobs and there's a number.   25:21.545 --> 25:24.447 So one would think logically you use that number.   25:24.487 --> 25:27.769 No, you add two to four inches to that number and then you order that size.   25:28.618 --> 25:29.738 And I had to go look it up.   25:29.818 --> 25:33.699 I'm like, how do I stop getting bras that are like too tight?   25:33.739 --> 25:34.659 Cause I'm not going to wear these.   25:34.679 --> 25:35.700 I kept returning them.   25:35.720 --> 25:38.120 And I was like, Oh, because it doesn't make sense.   25:38.140 --> 25:40.421 That's why it does not make sense.   25:41.381 --> 25:41.561 So.   25:41.581 --> 25:44.102 Men's sizes are easy, at least in America.   25:44.122 --> 25:46.242 Like you just wrap a tape measure around your waist.   25:46.262 --> 25:46.522 Okay.   25:46.722 --> 25:47.043 34 inches.   25:47.343 --> 25:50.403 That's how it should be done for women.   25:50.503 --> 25:56.425 Like waist, this hip, that like, here's your size in seam.   25:56.465 --> 25:56.805 The other.   25:58.175 --> 25:58.836 Imagine that.   25:58.916 --> 26:03.599 No, we have to call them numbers so we don't admit how big around our waist are.   26:03.739 --> 26:05.620 I think it's a vanity thing here.   26:06.440 --> 26:08.301 Somebody in the comments is going to fix that for me.   26:08.321 --> 26:10.103 They're going to be like, no, it's based on blah, blah, blah.   26:11.844 --> 26:13.184 No, I agree with you.   26:13.224 --> 26:16.406 I think it's, oh my God, my hips are this big?   26:17.547 --> 26:19.909 Instead of just saying, oh yeah, you're a size 12.   26:20.429 --> 26:21.730 Yeah.   26:21.750 --> 26:22.430 12 is beautiful.   26:22.990 --> 26:25.392 And then 12 has changed from the 50s till now.   26:27.396 --> 26:27.977 What hasn't?   26:28.617 --> 26:30.459 Yeah, that's also true.   26:30.479 --> 26:32.921 I mean, and it will again by the next 50s.   26:32.961 --> 26:34.642 I'm not sure I'll be alive for the next 50s.   26:34.662 --> 26:35.003 We'll see.   26:37.205 --> 26:43.110 OK, well, so let's go back to getting prepared for air travel.   26:43.170 --> 26:45.812 Like, what do you recommend people do for that?   26:48.573 --> 26:52.837 Okay, the key to being prepared for air travel is being prepared for the TSA.   26:53.457 --> 26:55.639 I hate to say it, but that is the number one thing.   26:56.159 --> 26:59.162 Make sure you wear shoes that you can take off easily.   26:59.702 --> 27:06.388 Try to limit the metal on you, like your watch, your ring, whatever, take it off, throw it in your carry-on.   27:07.449 --> 27:09.610 Always make sure when you travel, you have a carry-on.   27:09.670 --> 27:16.276 Worst case scenario, at least you have, you know, a spare pair of pants, boxers, shirt, and socks that you can change into.   27:16.561 --> 27:18.942 I mean, I always need that spare pair of boxers in my luggage.   27:20.063 --> 27:20.883 I figured you would.   27:24.064 --> 27:25.685 I got what I get pulled out for.   27:25.705 --> 27:32.889 I got I actually started setting off the the thingy on my last trip.   27:34.509 --> 27:37.991 And oh, I have a metal hair comb.   27:40.313 --> 27:56.332 that on you know in nashville didn't set it off but it totally set it off at this other airport and they were like you got to take it all the way out ma'am we have to make sure that's what it is i was like okay here yeah here's my non-sharp metal hair comb   27:58.050 --> 28:03.094 The TSA is not a group you want to play a F around with.   28:03.354 --> 28:03.734 Yeah.   28:04.114 --> 28:07.397 And I will drag you into a side room faster than you can blink.   28:07.457 --> 28:07.757 Yeah.   28:07.837 --> 28:11.920 I mean, whatever it's, it's, it is important to know that I, I travel a lot.   28:11.980 --> 28:14.501 So I work really hard not to have to get pulled aside.   28:15.062 --> 28:23.708 And in the last year, because I travel with my food now, mostly to stay on my eating plan, the food trips them up more than anything else.   28:25.629 --> 28:32.016 Like, if you have a summer sausage in your bag, you can guarantee that they're going to have to look at it and make sure it's not a liquid.   28:32.977 --> 28:33.938 Oh, yeah.   28:34.498 --> 28:38.362 I have problems with highly processed food.   28:38.843 --> 28:41.586 So a lot of the times I'll pack a protein powder with me.   28:42.407 --> 28:45.570 Every time I go through, they need to get someone to test that powder.   28:46.551 --> 28:47.132 Every time.   28:48.503 --> 28:50.325 The same goes for cheese starters.   28:50.805 --> 29:02.153 Like the cheese, I did a cheese making class and I had to go through and I, you know, like when you're teaching a class, you're not going to check under the plane, risking it getting lost the culture you need to teach the cheese class.   29:03.254 --> 29:08.698 So I had this little white packet of powder and they were like, what's that?   29:08.978 --> 29:13.162 And I was like, well, it's a mesophilic culture for making cheese.   29:14.383 --> 29:14.843 Duh.   29:16.363 --> 29:19.067 And they were like, yeah, we can have to get someone to do this.   29:19.448 --> 29:22.032 We need to make sure that's not cocaine, ma'am.   29:22.072 --> 29:22.773 I'm like, really?   29:24.943 --> 29:26.364 Do I look like I'm on cocaine?   29:26.384 --> 29:27.245 But I guess whatever.   29:27.545 --> 29:28.986 Maybe I do look like I'm on cocaine.   29:29.006 --> 29:30.648 I do drink a good amount of coffee.   29:33.030 --> 29:33.650 You and me both.   29:35.432 --> 29:36.693 I love me some good coffee.   29:37.754 --> 29:40.516 So let's go back to situational awareness now.   29:40.556 --> 29:45.160 Let's say I know I need to fly to Texas in May for Exit and Build Lamb Summit.   29:45.220 --> 29:49.623 And I'm going to go from Nashville to Austin.   29:50.524 --> 29:57.527 And then I'm going to like grab an Uber to wherever I'm staying for the exit and build land summit in Bastrop.   29:58.368 --> 30:09.212 How do I figure out from a just geopolitical slash whatever's going on standpoint, what I need to be aware of there?   30:09.372 --> 30:19.697 And it's sort of like, I guess the background for this question is when I flew from California home for Christmas or home here after Christmas, I got a text from my dad saying, did you make it home?   30:21.092 --> 30:21.852 And I was like, yeah.   30:21.932 --> 30:26.294 He's like, well, there were protests that shut down the airport in LAX.   30:26.334 --> 30:28.134 And I was like, well, I didn't fly out of LAX.   30:28.214 --> 30:29.815 So because I just try not to.   30:31.495 --> 30:40.558 But I know I've been in one other incident where protests and riots kind of broke out at the hotel I was in in Ferguson.   30:41.741 --> 30:49.927 Which I totally, by doing a little bit of situational analysis, could have avoided that one by just knowing what was going on in the world.   30:49.967 --> 30:54.211 So like, are there steps you recommend people take or how do we prepare ourselves for that?   30:56.212 --> 31:00.356 Depending on where you're going in the world, as you know, most places have patterns.   31:01.056 --> 31:02.077 It's something to look into.   31:02.557 --> 31:06.921 Like last time I checked, France rioted around the same time every year.   31:07.878 --> 31:09.159 Don't go to France during that time.   31:10.300 --> 31:13.143 If you get invited to stay at a place, do a little bit of Googling.   31:13.663 --> 31:18.507 This may sound basic, but look at house prices around there.   31:18.688 --> 31:25.834 If you're seeing a giant four-bedroom house that's 2,000 square feet and it's only valued at $40,000, not a good neighborhood.   31:26.615 --> 31:27.375 Not a good neighborhood.   31:29.827 --> 31:31.408 Be aware of that before going in.   31:32.248 --> 31:34.009 And most of all, listen to your gut.   31:34.409 --> 31:38.110 If your gut says, uh-oh, bad things, bad things, don't go.   31:38.130 --> 31:42.352 It doesn't matter if you're Sac-A-Meal or Navy SEAL.   31:42.912 --> 31:45.433 There are certain situations that you do not want a part of.   31:45.813 --> 31:47.894 And even if you win, you lose.   31:49.568 --> 31:59.485 and this is a tip for international travel a lot of places they have signs that say beware of pickpocket everyone does the same thing they touch their wallet when they see that sign   32:00.543 --> 32:02.083 Don't touch your wallet.   32:02.744 --> 32:04.864 If you're a woman, keep your purse zipped up.   32:05.224 --> 32:08.625 Keep it going around your body, not hanging off one shoulder.   32:09.046 --> 32:11.466 If you're a man, keep your wallet in your front pocket.   32:11.906 --> 32:13.567 No one goes for your front pocket.   32:13.887 --> 32:15.868 It is way too close to the family jewels.   32:16.288 --> 32:20.609 If someone sticks anything in my front pocket, I am aware that they are there.   32:22.349 --> 32:23.950 I got pickpocketed in Prague.   32:25.175 --> 32:32.182 And it was not a lot of money, but I always kept a little change purse in my bag.   32:32.963 --> 32:36.286 And somebody got it out of my bag and that was it.   32:36.366 --> 32:39.829 And I was like, well, I'm glad I don't keep, like I always wear one of the undershirt   32:41.673 --> 33:06.621 things when i have to travel with cash and that's where you know my important stuff was but i lost five bucks man so they had a good day so even when you know you could be pickpocketed and you think you're situationally aware you can still get pickpocketed and not know it absolutely if you're going into a high pickpocket area it is not a good idea to carry cash in your wallet   33:07.589 --> 33:35.989 or in your bag worst of all um another place people usually get swiped is falling asleep at the airport oh yeah yeah tell you how many people i've talked to said hey i fell asleep in the airport and my laptop's gone my wallet's gone my cell phone's gone i'm calling you from a random person's cell phone can you please help me yes we could but still shouldn't have been in that situation in the first place oh i know somebody whose laptop got swiped on the airplane   33:37.401 --> 33:38.421 That's kind of impressive.   33:38.601 --> 33:39.021 It was.   33:39.061 --> 33:40.362 They were in the airplane.   33:41.162 --> 33:44.742 They worked on their laptop, put it in the bag, and at some point got up to pee.   33:45.723 --> 33:52.684 Came back to their seat, didn't notice it until they walked off the plane and were going to sit down and do something, and their laptop had been taken out of their bag.   33:53.324 --> 33:55.544 Presumably by the person sitting next to them.   33:56.705 --> 34:00.865 They were able to report it and catch the person before they got to the next flight.   34:01.225 --> 34:04.006 So they got their computer back, but...   34:05.319 --> 34:13.866 Like some people are very brazen about stuff, which is kind of interesting because now I'm making everybody paranoid about being around people all the time and their stuff getting stolen.   34:13.906 --> 34:16.188 But the other thing is when you travel.   34:18.550 --> 34:20.771 Do your best not to bring stuff that can't get stolen.   34:20.811 --> 34:22.513 That's that's something I've always thought like.   34:23.900 --> 34:28.024 If this gets stolen, it's going to be a bummer, especially if they can crack my password.   34:28.064 --> 34:32.648 But if they can't crack my password, what happens is this gets reset, right?   34:33.749 --> 34:36.171 And gets resold somewhere in theory.   34:37.912 --> 34:43.917 Everything that's on this, I can restore to another one of these in about 10 minutes right now.   34:45.699 --> 34:49.202 My laptop, it would actually really hurt if that got stolen right now.   34:51.331 --> 34:54.797 So that's where I'm like, oh, that's my weak spot.   34:54.817 --> 34:56.519 Because that's usually like this.   34:56.599 --> 34:57.721 It usually can be restored.   34:57.761 --> 35:03.891 But right now there are some decisions I made about the laptop that need to be unmade if it's going to travel with me.   35:05.683 --> 35:07.705 And some things like that you can't get around.   35:08.265 --> 35:11.528 I mean, I need to bring my laptop if I'm traveling, period.   35:11.588 --> 35:12.088 End of story.   35:12.108 --> 35:12.869 It has stuff on it.   35:13.309 --> 35:14.470 I mean, like you said, my phone.   35:15.251 --> 35:18.954 I can, you know, back up everything and get it all on my new phone in 10 minutes.   35:19.534 --> 35:23.558 Also, I have a nifty app that allows me to track this, take pictures, and listen to what you're saying.   35:24.398 --> 35:27.601 So, yes, I stand good odds of getting my phone back.   35:27.701 --> 35:30.183 But if it gets lost, eh, whatever.   35:30.523 --> 35:33.085 I can literally pick up a burner at Walmart and is it great?   35:33.345 --> 35:33.546 Nope.   35:33.926 --> 35:34.747 Will it do what I need?   35:34.987 --> 35:35.147 Yep.   35:35.492 --> 35:36.192 Will it get me through it?   35:36.552 --> 35:36.752 Yep.   35:38.573 --> 35:45.434 Another thing people can do is take photocopies of your identification and any cards you have with you and put them in your safe at home.   35:46.634 --> 35:56.896 And then if you're out and about and your passport gets stolen, at least you have the information you need to start the ball rolling to get some sort of identification.   35:57.816 --> 35:59.996 That brings me up to another travel tip.   36:01.016 --> 36:03.857 Take copies of your ID and email them to a friend.   36:04.757 --> 36:04.997 Oh, yeah.   36:05.768 --> 36:09.451 We keep copies of frequent travelers ID on hand.   36:09.871 --> 36:14.595 And if you lose your driver's license, your odds of checking into that hotel go way down.   36:16.197 --> 36:21.641 If we send them a picture of your driver's license, about 50 to 60% of the time, they'll take that.   36:22.422 --> 36:25.104 And they'll go, okay, you lost your driver's license.   36:25.144 --> 36:25.645 Totally get it.   36:26.305 --> 36:27.386 We'll work with you on this.   36:27.807 --> 36:29.508 Hopefully your card was already on file.   36:30.390 --> 36:30.650 Yeah.   36:31.251 --> 36:35.354 Well, and if you if you store things in more than one place in that situation.   36:35.374 --> 36:39.517 And this is because I've done months of travel with a backpack.   36:41.078 --> 36:44.060 If you don't have all of your identification with you.   36:44.360 --> 36:45.922 So if you have some at home, that's real.   36:46.846 --> 36:48.408 that can be overnighted to you.   36:49.148 --> 36:56.576 If you have a passport and a driver's license in two different places, if one gets stolen or lost, you probably have the other one.   36:56.596 --> 37:02.062 If you have them all in a nice, neat little container with your credit cards, you just lost everything at once.   37:03.163 --> 37:10.090 So I usually would have two different credit cards, separate places, two different IDs, separate places and cash separate places.   37:11.593 --> 37:11.773 Yep.   37:12.153 --> 37:14.555 And sometimes you lose your social security card too.   37:15.935 --> 37:17.336 I do not walk around with that thing.   37:17.736 --> 37:18.597 Me neither.   37:20.218 --> 37:22.099 No, don't walk around with your social security card.   37:23.139 --> 37:27.742 Like some of our frequently travel clients, what they do is they keep an Amex on file with us.   37:28.262 --> 37:28.522 Yeah.   37:28.682 --> 37:30.963 So that way, like, and they just leave their Amex at home.   37:31.443 --> 37:38.067 So no matter what happens, oh crap, I got here and the border patrol literally stole my wallet.   37:38.367 --> 37:39.728 They do that depending on where you go.   37:40.859 --> 37:46.142 Okay, we got you, call up, get you this, get you this, get you that, charge it all, you're set.   37:47.042 --> 37:55.206 What could have been a major, you know, hiccup now just became a slight little bump in the road and you can go on with your trip in relative ease.   37:56.907 --> 38:01.369 So with your concierge service, if I lose my ID, like how do you help me out?   38:02.790 --> 38:07.332 We'll email you a copy of your ID that we got previously from you because you told us that you travel.   38:08.052 --> 38:12.975 We'd also get a general indication of the sizes and type of clothes you like to wear, long or shoe sizes.   38:13.956 --> 38:16.498 Know what type of phone you have, whether it's an iPhone or Android.   38:16.558 --> 38:18.879 So that way we can send you an appropriate charging cord.   38:20.941 --> 38:23.082 Do you ever like shoot out phones to people?   38:24.083 --> 38:24.243 Yep.   38:24.623 --> 38:26.405 We had one guy who called us.   38:26.745 --> 38:28.866 I remember this one because it was from the Washington airport.   38:29.687 --> 38:31.528 And he's like, hey, can you help me?   38:31.988 --> 38:33.149 Everything just got stolen.   38:33.569 --> 38:34.810 I'm like, okay, you got your phone?   38:35.010 --> 38:37.092 No, I'm calling you from some random stranger's phone.   38:37.771 --> 38:39.032 Okay, what's around you?   38:39.052 --> 38:40.072 I'm at the Washington Airport.   38:40.132 --> 38:40.513 No, no, no.   38:40.613 --> 38:41.913 What is actually around you?   38:42.254 --> 38:43.114 There's the five guys.   38:43.514 --> 38:43.854 Cool.   38:43.894 --> 38:44.555 You like burgers?   38:44.655 --> 38:44.855 Yep.   38:45.175 --> 38:47.697 We're going to order you a burger, fry, and a drink.   38:48.437 --> 38:49.037 Go over there.   38:49.157 --> 38:49.417 Get it.   38:49.578 --> 38:50.058 Sit down.   38:50.478 --> 38:51.058 Relax.   38:52.259 --> 38:57.102 And we had someone deliver him a cell phone, a $500 Visa gift card.   38:57.522 --> 39:01.864 We emailed a copy of his ID to the hotel and had an Uber pick him up and take him there.   39:03.445 --> 39:04.646 I bet he was happy about that.   39:05.529 --> 39:07.651 He was, he upgraded it next time he got home.   39:10.493 --> 39:11.714 So how does that get paid for?   39:11.774 --> 39:19.580 It's like, okay, so this $500 gift card, is that you pay in addition to it and the subscription that you're paying is like for the service or how does that work?   39:20.561 --> 39:24.664 In his case, the $500 gift card was wrapped up in his subscription fee.   39:25.644 --> 39:25.885 Okay.   39:26.482 --> 39:29.024 So that was just part of part of the service.   39:29.824 --> 39:39.651 On the financial side, does that work because you have multiple people you're working with and it leverages together or do you buy insurance policies on top of that to cover costs?   39:39.671 --> 39:45.815 So we refer to it as flex funds per account and your flex funds can be used for anything.   39:46.556 --> 39:48.117 I need a $500 gift card.   39:48.218 --> 39:48.478 Okay.   39:48.618 --> 39:49.259 I need a phone.   39:49.419 --> 39:49.760 Okay.   39:50.280 --> 39:56.488 I need Uber Eats delivered to me for a week straight because my kid just got into a motorcycle accident and I'm not leaving his side.   39:56.808 --> 39:57.169 Gotcha.   39:58.671 --> 39:58.911 Okay.   39:59.031 --> 40:03.577 So you pay, I noticed on your site, it's like $50 a year up to $1,200 a year.   40:06.105 --> 40:06.866 Yep.   40:06.966 --> 40:08.768 Are you adding flex funds on top of that?   40:09.048 --> 40:10.850 Or is that part of that?   40:10.870 --> 40:13.932 Flex funds are wrapped up into the subscription fee.   40:15.033 --> 40:17.395 Some guy, he travels in and out of Canada a lot.   40:17.435 --> 40:20.398 He cannot stop mouthing off to the border patrol.   40:20.858 --> 40:24.021 So they take his cell phone every single time.   40:24.702 --> 40:28.305 So every time he gets out, he's like, hey, can I get another cell phone?   40:28.665 --> 40:29.005 Yep.   40:30.587 --> 40:32.749 He should just not have a cell phone in Canada.   40:34.338 --> 40:39.359 You know, he actually tried just deleting everything off it so they wouldn't have anything to hold them for.   40:39.679 --> 40:40.459 And they held them for that.   40:41.419 --> 40:42.839 Wait, why'd you delete everything off this?   40:43.560 --> 40:44.120 What are you hiding?   40:44.900 --> 40:47.900 Because at the border, you're required to open your cell phone.   40:48.720 --> 40:49.161 Really?   40:50.221 --> 40:50.421 Yeah.   40:50.741 --> 40:51.281 You didn't know that?   40:51.901 --> 40:59.562 No, because I don't know that I've gone to Canada with a cell phone since before flip phones went out of fashion.   41:00.142 --> 41:03.083 When you come back, they will tell you to open up your cell phone.   41:04.568 --> 41:05.509 What are they looking for?   41:05.529 --> 41:10.853 Nefarious text messages?   41:11.494 --> 41:11.814 Yes.   41:12.254 --> 41:14.396 Proof of nefarious acts, stuff like that.   41:15.177 --> 41:17.659 It's one of those, what I believe is government overreach.   41:18.019 --> 41:19.000 That is awful.   41:19.941 --> 41:20.261 Isn't it?   41:20.281 --> 41:23.924 Is that going into Canada or coming back to the U.S.?   41:24.164 --> 41:24.825 Coming back.   41:25.305 --> 41:25.605 Okay.   41:26.406 --> 41:26.986 So it's the U.S.   41:27.027 --> 41:27.707 government doing that?   41:28.688 --> 41:28.788 Yep.   41:29.468 --> 41:31.170 Well, at least he always gets held up coming back.   41:31.250 --> 41:31.610 So, yes.   41:31.950 --> 41:32.371 It must be.   41:32.391 --> 41:33.071 Yeah, those are U.S.   41:33.151 --> 41:34.893 agents asking to see yourself.   41:35.173 --> 41:41.899 Yeah, so I have traveled with smartphones to Europe and back and not had that.   41:41.959 --> 41:43.741 I don't know why Canada would be different.   41:46.523 --> 41:48.805 They're more worried about it because we're their neighbors.   41:48.886 --> 41:49.706 I don't know what to tell you.   41:49.726 --> 41:52.669 I mean, but it's our agents on your way back in, not their agents.   41:53.370 --> 41:53.710 Correct.   41:54.010 --> 41:54.771 And heck, screw you.   41:56.752 --> 41:57.573 just gave up my rights.   41:57.673 --> 41:57.773 Okay.   41:57.793 --> 41:58.493 We have a question.   41:58.513 --> 42:03.276 Do they, do you help people with alternative travel arrangements?   42:03.336 --> 42:06.498 Example in July, I took a train from Hungary to Romania.   42:07.079 --> 42:14.484 There was a train wreck and one train for eight hours became a five plus a bus for 22 hours.   42:14.584 --> 42:20.928 So basically in that situation, do you help them find a better way to get somewhere when, when stuff goes wrong or.   42:21.792 --> 42:24.073 Yes, that is one of the reasons we are here.   42:24.193 --> 42:30.395 We have done everything from getting you a ride service because they have different ride services depending on where you go.   42:30.955 --> 42:33.316 And we also partner with various travel agencies.   42:34.696 --> 42:34.936 Okay.   42:35.116 --> 42:39.598 I mean, generally speaking, if you book through a travel agency and something happens, they got you.   42:40.138 --> 42:41.939 They will help you work around that.   42:42.299 --> 42:43.939 Will they answer the phone 24 hours?   42:44.120 --> 42:44.820 Usually not.   42:45.520 --> 42:48.441 But when they do pick up the phone, they will help you.   42:49.764 --> 42:53.867 we had a client who his flight got canceled and he's like, I don't know what to do.   42:53.887 --> 42:54.888 I just need a ride home.   42:55.308 --> 42:56.269 I just need a ride home.   42:56.329 --> 42:57.170 I just need a ride home.   42:57.190 --> 42:58.351 I'm like, relax, relax.   42:58.871 --> 42:59.852 Ended up calling everyone.   43:00.252 --> 43:01.353 No one had a ride for him.   43:01.413 --> 43:05.336 The only thing was like one taxi service and it was going to cost a small fortune.   43:05.856 --> 43:08.819 Well, it turns out it was off season for limo services.   43:09.659 --> 43:12.962 So they were offering rides like dirt cheap.   43:13.302 --> 43:15.163 So we got this guy to stretch the limo.   43:17.265 --> 43:18.386 That's actually hilarious.   43:19.761 --> 43:20.602 Screw the taxis.   43:20.662 --> 43:21.542 I'm taking a limo.   43:22.883 --> 43:24.244 If it's cheaper, why not?   43:26.045 --> 43:31.449 Well, what basic overview advice would you give anybody who's looking to travel in 2024?   43:32.129 --> 43:33.690 Just like around the U.S.   43:37.172 --> 43:41.375 Number one piece of advice is know where you're going and know the local culture.   43:42.656 --> 43:45.398 I mean, I know that seems simple, but it's...   43:46.428 --> 43:47.990 Really not.   43:49.431 --> 43:51.333 Example, you go to Hawaii.   43:51.914 --> 43:53.115 They don't like to be rushed there.   43:53.716 --> 43:54.197 Period.   43:54.677 --> 43:55.578 End of story.   43:56.699 --> 43:59.762 I once lived there for over two years and I never once heard a car horn.   44:00.704 --> 44:05.288 Versus you go to Boston and it's, hi, welcome to Boston.   44:05.889 --> 44:07.431 I mean, it's just the way it is.   44:07.451 --> 44:08.432 Same thing with New York.   44:10.816 --> 44:14.580 Verse over there, you'll never hear a horn when the emergency vehicles come down.   44:14.921 --> 44:15.942 Everyone just pulls over.   44:15.962 --> 44:17.463 It doesn't matter what side of the road you're on.   44:17.964 --> 44:19.045 They don't like to be hurried.   44:19.085 --> 44:20.647 Your meal's coming out slow.   44:21.828 --> 44:24.351 And if you're a tourist, they're going to refer to you as a Howley.   44:24.371 --> 44:27.674 They will be very polite to you because you are bringing them a large amount of money.   44:27.694 --> 44:29.837 However, you are not one of them.   44:29.897 --> 44:30.838 Do not confuse it.   44:32.372 --> 44:41.359 Go down south, people tend to be a bit more on the polite side when it comes to customer service and a bit more rude in their personal lives.   44:42.099 --> 44:45.662 It's a weird formula, but is what it is.   44:46.422 --> 44:55.849 You go to New York, Boston, California, people talk fast, people drive fast, and you might as well get used to hearing the sounds of horns with red lights because that is your life.   44:57.470 --> 45:01.373 I'll tell you what, I live in the south and I flew home to Portland, Oregon.   45:02.227 --> 45:06.831 Well, it's not home anymore, but at the time, and I'd been here for years.   45:07.111 --> 45:13.036 And what happens in the checkout line here is you talk to people you don't know and nobody thinks it's weird.   45:14.918 --> 45:20.063 So I'm at the airport and we're going down the escalator and it's like kind of backed up.   45:20.123 --> 45:26.128 And I say something to the people in front of me and they're like, like, I'm going to ask them for money.   45:28.337 --> 45:29.638 Why did you talk to me?   45:29.698 --> 45:32.079 Northwest, you don't talk to strangers, apparently.   45:32.099 --> 45:40.545 And it seemed very unfriendly to me because I had apparently acclimated to polite conversation here out and about.   45:41.445 --> 45:42.146 Exactly.   45:42.166 --> 45:45.688 And I thought, man, I'm from here and you guys are rude.   45:47.819 --> 45:52.643 Or you go to New York and you try that, people are going to be reaching behind their back or backing up slowly.   45:53.023 --> 45:54.545 Because, oh, they're going to rob me?   45:55.065 --> 45:56.967 I talk to people in New York all the time.   45:57.007 --> 45:59.288 And what I learned is usually I'm asking directions.   46:00.650 --> 46:02.951 Like, is it that way to this street or that way?   46:02.972 --> 46:06.795 Because they all pop up out of the ground like a freaking prairie dog.   46:06.815 --> 46:07.856 And I'm like, I don't know where I am.   46:07.876 --> 46:10.298 And they'll be like, it's Fifth Avenue that way.   46:10.418 --> 46:15.121 And as long as you're walking the direction they are, they usually be like, yeah, that way.   46:15.998 --> 46:18.841 But if you try to stop somebody and ask them, they'd be like, screw off.   46:19.682 --> 46:22.104 So that was my hack in New York.   46:23.646 --> 46:27.770 New York, New York, and like Pine Bush, New York, very different cultures.   46:27.810 --> 46:30.573 You think that you just crossed six borders in a time zone.   46:31.293 --> 46:32.535 That is how different they are.   46:33.813 --> 46:35.394 Pine Bush, New York is out in the country.   46:35.454 --> 46:37.395 Last time I checked, it was a UFO hotspot.   46:37.895 --> 46:40.176 People went out there, watched little lights dance in the sky.   46:41.116 --> 46:42.657 Everyone's all friendly, whatever.   46:43.117 --> 46:45.938 You go to New York, New York at like two in the morning, you step outside.   46:46.619 --> 46:47.679 Very different environment.   46:48.420 --> 46:50.821 Yeah, I don't I haven't really been to rural New York much.   46:51.501 --> 46:56.443 I had an uncle who lived in Manhattan, so he used to always go there and visit him.   46:56.503 --> 46:58.344 But I don't know if he's still there or not.   46:58.624 --> 46:58.964 Anyway.   46:59.324 --> 47:02.746 OK, well, if people want to learn more about your service, like how do they do that?   47:04.281 --> 47:07.422 Go to r3-kon.com.   47:07.862 --> 47:19.767 Also, we are starting up a YouTube channel, giving various sorts of advice, like how to avoid bed bugs, especially if you have a job that requires you to travel and puts you up in cheap hotel rooms.   47:21.108 --> 47:21.468 All right.   47:21.668 --> 47:22.529 Any last words?   47:25.710 --> 47:26.370 Arrivederci.   47:27.290 --> 47:27.611 All right.   47:27.651 --> 47:28.771 Well, thanks for being on today.   47:28.891 --> 47:31.932 Thanks for having me, Nicole.   47:32.232 --> 47:33.253 It was a great

Trade Secrets is on a holiday break, but in the meantime, we wanted to share some of Travel Weekly and TravelAge West's other podcasts with our listeners. This week's episode is Humans of Travel, hosted by Trade Secrets co-host Emma Weissmann, featuring AmaWaterways' Kristin Karst. If you've worked in the travel industry for any length of time, you're probably familiar with Karst. The co-owner and executive vice president of river cruise line AmaWaterways, Karst is a staple at most travel industry conferences, perhaps best known for her bubbly personality, welcoming demeanor and close, personal relationships with travel advisors. However, many travel industry colleagues may not know Karst's unique backstory. She was born and grew up in Dresden, a German town along the Elbe River, in what was formerly Eastern Germany, under a regime that mostly kept Karst and her family isolated from the Western World. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Karst reflects on a childhood spent under the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, and how the limited travel her family was able to do allowed her to gain an appreciation for all that Eastern Europe had to offer and fostered an early love of tourism. Karst will also dive into what it was like when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and how she got her start in the travel industry as a leisure manager at American Express Travel, a role that she kept until she moved to Southern California and met Rudi Schreiner, her husband-to-be and the former president of Viking Cruises. Listeners will hear Karst reflect on the early days of AmaWaterways, how she keeps her work-life balance in check and what's behind her unwavering positivity. Need advice? Call our hotline and leave a message: 201-902-2098 Email us: tradesecrets@travelweekly.com   Theme song: Sock Hop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4387-sock-hop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sandy Seeber-Quayle learned about adapting to change early in her life. Born in Eastern Germany, she was seven years old when her parents divorced suddenly, leaving her and her toddler brother to be raised by her mother, who struggled with the breakup. Consequently, Sandy took on more responsibilities at home, leaving less time for fun. Four years later, the Berlin Wall came down, and everything changed. Then Sandy's Mom found a new partner, and they moved to a new village. After an anxious start in her new school, Sandy was embraced by her new classmates and she made friends. This was the first of several moves during her formative years. At eighteen, Sandy got an apprenticeship in an insurance company, and she continued there for eleven years, learning many aspects of the business. Eventually, she was training apprentices. Sandy loved teaching, but she got itchy feet, as she put it. She started traveling all over the world as often as she could. Then, she decided to leave her job and traveled extensively, 808 days, to be exact. She also met her now husband during that time. Today, Sandy lives near Dublin, Ireland. She specializes in developing middle managers using her KUBA Pilot Strategy to foster effective thinking habits, enabling them to remain calm under stress, overcome biases, and enhance their relationships. Know Yourself Understand Others Build Connections Align Decisions In this week's  follow Sandy's journey and work Sandy enjoys transforming challenging relationships into collaborative partnerships and delivers impactful training, leveraging strong facilitation. With diplomas in Organizational Behavior, Coaching, and Training, Sandy brings a lifelong passion for human behavior and impactful communication to her work.    Learn more and connect with Sandy here:   

Polls in Germany suggest the far-right political party Alternative for Germany, or AfD—with its antisemitic, anti-Muslim, anti-EU, and other extreme views—has support from a fifth of German voters. Hear from Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight Against Antisemitism, and an AJC Project Interchange Alum, on what has contributed to the rise of AfD, why the party threatens German Jews, and the danger it presents to Germany's democracy.  *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.  Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Felix Klein Show Notes: Read: A Roadmap for America: AJC's Experience in Europe Is Helping the U.S. Fight Antisemitism German Antisemitism Czar Says Calling Israel 'Apartheid' Is Antisemitic Listen: What the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism Means for Jewish College Students Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, tag us on social media with #PeopleofthePod, and hop onto Apple Podcasts to rate us and write a review, to help more listeners find us. __ Transcript of Interview with Felix Klein: Manya Brachear Pashman:   Polls in Germany suggest the far right political party Alternative for Germany has support from a fifth of German voters. In some states, such as Thuringia, the AfD has the support of more than a third. This past weekend, the party met to select its candidates for the European parliament, where it has joined a far right bloc that will boost EU funding for the party.  Here to discuss how that affects Germany's Jewish community is Felix Klein, Germany's first Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism. Felix, welcome back to People of the Pod. Felix Klein:   Hello, it's a great pleasure to be here again with you. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So tell us a little bit about Alternative for Germany or AfD, as it's often referred to, and explain for our audience why it was founded 10 years ago? Felix Klein:   Well, AfD was founded in light of the big financial crisis. It was at the time, about 10 years ago, it was questionable at all whether the euro, as one of the most prestigious and most important European projects, could continue as a currency, as a common European currency, because countries like Greece were heavily indebted. And there was a big discussion whether to, to kick Greece out of the Euro system, or, and it was differently decided. O  r to keep it in the EU, of course, and in the Euro system.  And the then-Chancellor Angela Merkel said there is no alternative to that. No alternative for the solution suggested by the government. And there were many people in Germany that were not happy with that, saying, Oh, yes, there is an Alternative for Germany. And that was also the title of this new party, the Alternative for Germany. So it started really, with people who were not happy with the policy towards the European Union and the European solidarity. It didn't start so radical as it is now. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So how did it become as radical as it is now? And why are we seeing a bit of a resurgence? Felix Klein:   Well, in times of crisis and uncertainty people are unfortunately, I think that happens when many democracies are more open to populist ideas and parties. And that happens, many countries, including Germany, and AfD, was successful in getting support of those who were not happy with the decisions of the government in Corona, pandemic, from 2020. And now, last year, with the War of Russia, attacking Ukraine, again, we had a strike of uncertainty, energy prices went up in Germany, people are uncertain of what to do, many are not satisfied with the way the government deals with all these issues. And this is another explanation why AFD was able and successful to catch support, particularly in Eastern Germany. Manya Brachear Pashman:   But it sounds like it also has values that go beyond fiscal responsibility or the economy.  Felix Klein:   Yes, it's beyond the economy. So as I told you, AFD started off with economic issues, but unfortunately, it was attracted by people who have very, very problematic views. And to people who would deny or distort the Holocaust. People will say it was for a long time anyway, Germany was dominated by foreign powers by the EU, and you hear what they're saying this is antisemitic thoughts and narratives. And those people became more influential by the party over time. And what we've seen now, where this party really now chose candidates for the European elections who actually are in against the European Union. Many of them want Germany to leave the EU. There you see how radical it has come, they're also anti-Muslim. This is maybe the most important narrative, anti-migration, anti-Muslim, anti-EU. And of course, with all of that comes also antisemitic narratives. So this is why I'm very, very concerned about the success of this party. And I've expressed it openly in an interview that was published in Welt am Sonntag last Sunday. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You just mentioned that this party appeals to those who deny or distort the Holocaust. How so? Felix Klein:   Holocaust distortion is a very common idea in this party. Up to 20% of the Germans think that we should not talk so much anymore about the atrocities committed by the Nazis, that we have to look forward, etc. So, it is not a big surprise that, of course, anything that downgrades, if I may say so, the horrors committed by Germans in the Holocaust, and in the Second World War, in general, is very common.  Very prominent figures of the AfD call really for a cut, which is illogical anyway, you cannot cut yourself off of your own history as a country. But many of these voices call for a different remembrance culture, that it is a shame for Germany that it constructed the Holocaust Memorial in the heart of Berlin. Germany should not be so shameful with itself. And unfortunately, many people agree to this kind of ideas. So holocaust distortion is a big thing. Holocaust denial, it's not so much of a problem. But of course, anything that kind of makes the Holocaust less, less cruel or less incredible, as it was, is welcomed by this party. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I want to go back to the topic of the European Union, because one of the reasons why Alternative for Germany joined this far-right bloc was to boost EU funding for the party, but yet it's calling for the dissolution of the EU, or at least for Germany to withdraw. Can you explain that calculus? Felix Klein:   Well, it's, of course very contradictory. On one hand, you call for European funds. And anyway Germany is, I think, the one of the countries that really is taking advantage of the most of the European Union, our industry is heavily export-oriented. One out of four workers in Germany depend on international trade, and of course, it would be very much against German interest to leave the EU. On the other hand, it is a very common narrative in Germany to blame the EU for many developments and decisions taken by the government and they do not have a problem calling these two things at the same time. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So besides Holocaust distortion, is there other antisemitic rhetoric coming from this party that you see, or fear threatens Jewish life in Germany?  Felix Klein:   Yeah, one of them, clearly I see conspiracy theories being very popular within the AfD voters and a very concrete danger for Jewish life is a motion the AfD has tried to introduce into our parliament that would have banned kosher slaughtering. And fortunately, it didn't go through of course, but if you ban kosher meat, with the argument for animal protection, then of course, you violate the basic right of religion. Because the way you would like to eat is a part of the freedom of religion and fortunately, the motion didn't go through but you'll see that the AfD is really in that very concretely threatening Jewish life in Germany.  Another thing is, of course, they are on first hand very anti Muslim, anti migration. But it is a common fact that anti Muslim hatred is very much linked to antisemitism actually and the way they also talk about Israel as being a big and important factor against the Muslims shows the whole narrative of, to say that Israel is there also to keep Muslims out, is very dangerous. Because I think we all agree that Israel is not against the Muslims, or it's not an anti-Arabic country, as such, but this is what the AfD would like people to believe. Manya Brachear Pashman:   In other words, championing Israel, for motives that don't belong to Israel, in other words, assigning motives to Israel that don't even exist. Felix Klein:   It triggers a discussion about Israel, which is absolutely bad, not only for Israel, but also for the Jews living here, because they then have to have an opinion about Israel. And it is complicated enough anyway for the Jews who live in Germany, to explain to non Jews that they are not ambassadors or representatives of the Jewish state here, that they are normal German citizens, and of course, they might have an opinion about Israel. But they are by no means representatives of Israel. I think you have the same discussions in the US, where many people think that American Jews represent the Jewish state. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So you have also warned that there are not just antisemitic forces, but anti-democratic forces at work in this party. What do you mean by that? I mean, is that in reference to how they denigrate the EU? Or are other other things in play? Felix Klein:   I refer to the conspiracy theories I already mentioned, which are as such anti democratic, because anybody who believes in a conspiracy theory thing has a problem with democracy. And I would say 99% of the conspiracy theories have an antisemitic content in the end. Because the theory is that a small group of privileged people, in brackets, the Jews, take advantage and profit from a uncertain and difficult situation at the expense of, of everybody, a small group gets an advantage. And this is what leading figures in the AfD also emanate. And of course, this is not only antisemitic, but also anti-democratic. Manya Brachear Pashman:   They really are one in the same. If you're anti democratic, then you're probably anti semitic and vice versa. Felix Klein:   Once again, I cannot reiterate enough, that shows that antisemitism is anti-democratic as such, and if you turn it around, every success we have in the fight against antisemitism is a fight for our democracy. It is really directly linked. I think it's like a litmus test we have in our society. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So what other questions should people ask to measure a candidate or a party's democratic ideals? Certainly listening out for conspiracy theories or antisemitic rhetoric? Are there other litmus tests? Felix Klein:   Yeah, of course, well first off, particularly in Germany, every politician should make it clear that he or she distances himself or herself from the horrors of the Nazi past. I mean, our democracy is the answer to the horrors of the Third Reich. And if you don't make that clear, or if you leave it uncertain, then you have a problem. And this is what voters should actively ask candidates: do you really think that the Holocaust is singular in history? Or is it an atrocity, like any other atrocity that was also committed by other people in history? This has to be made very, very clear. And I hope that in the coming elections, people will ask these questions. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I love what you said about how every victory against antisemitism is a victory for democracy. They really do go hand in hand.  And I want to switch gears a little bit and talk about the EU's Digital Services Act, which takes effect this month in fact. Now for our audience members who aren't familiar with this, this is a new law that will require internet platforms like Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, to not only delete unlawful content, but also provide information about those publishing that information, to the police. Some people would say this is not democratic. Others would say, Oh, yes, it is. So can you speak to that, to that criticism and whether you think this law will make a difference in the fight for democracy and against antisemitism. Felix Klein:   The main number of antisemitic crimes committed in Germany happens in the internet. Holocaust distortion, particularly, but also incitement of the people. More than two thirds of all antisemitic crimes are committed there. And if you look at the antisemitic incidents below the threshold of crime rate, it's even more. So we have to get and develop new instruments in combating antisemitism online. And the idea is very simple. Whatever is punishable offline should be also punished online. So any sentence you could be punished for, like an incitement of the people in the real world should also be punishable when you do it on the internet. It's very, very simple. And that is, this is a very simple idea of the EU Digital Services Act.  And in the past, of course, it was very difficult for police and prosecutors to trace the perpetrators and the main people now we want to involve, or big organizations, is the internet platforms because they have access to the IP addresses of those who spread antisemitism and hate speech. And we have to make them responsible.  So I think this is a very, very good instrument in fighting antisemitism online, I would even say it is a game changer. We have had pilot projects in Germany, where prosecutors who actually then found out with their means the perpetrators who spread antisemitism and will then get counter pressure from the state. So for instance, when the police car is in front of their homes, and the neighbors are watching, these people do not spread antisemitism anymore, they are impressed that the states can defend itself or defend its citizens and go against hate speech.  I think this will be very effective. And we I'm very happy that the federal police office here in Germany has now founded offices to and departments to be ready for the new law. And as you said, yeah, it is getting affected soon. And this is, I think, a very good example, that democracy is not self-evident. It has to defend itself. And freedom of speech has its limits, at least in our European concept. You cannot say anything you would like if you violate the rights of others. And this is a clear case. Manya Brachear Pashman:   The White House just recently released the US national strategy to counter antisemitism. And you and other envoys traveled here to the United States to advise the officials who were developing that strategy. In fact, the last time you were on this podcast, it was to talk about that trip. Did you talk about the limits on free speech during that trip with officials, the need to hold social media platforms accountable? Because what the EU is doing is not happening here. Not yet, at least. Felix Klein:   We talked about this, of course, but I'm aware of the legal situation in the US where you have a different concept of the freedom of speech, that the First Amendment of the US Constitution is, there problematic in that case to limit that. I hope that US administration finds ways nevertheless to go against, or  to be effective against hate speech and antisemitism online and I think the right way is to talk to the internet platforms, to provide us– many of them have their headquarters in the US and earn much money in the US. So, there should be ways in getting them to limit or to do their responsible share of maintaining the US democracy too. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Felix, thank you so much for joining us.  Felix Klein:   It was a pleasure. All the best, and it's always great to be together with AJC.

It's important to understand how the Left sees you to understand the stakes of the game; they're the good guys in their head. The Left thinks Trump is Osama Bin Laden. The Right continues to kneecap itself by not having Republican AGs go after Democrats. 15-minute cities are the return to Eastern Germany surveillance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's important to understand how the Left sees you to understand the stakes of the game; they're the good guys in their head. The Left thinks Trump is Osama Bin Laden. The Right continues to kneecap itself by not having Republican AGs go after Democrats. 15-minute cities are the return to Eastern Germany surveillance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've worked in the travel industry for any length of time, you're probably familiar with Kristin Karst. The co-owner and executive vice president of river cruise line AmaWaterways, Karst is a staple at most travel industry conferences, perhaps best known for her bubbly personality, welcoming demeanor and close, personal relationships with travel advisors. However, many travel industry colleagues may not know Karst's unique backstory. She was born and grew up in Dresden, a German town along the Elbe River, in what was formerly Eastern Germany, under a regime that mostly kept Karst and her family isolated from the Western World. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Karst reflects on a childhood spent under the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, and how the limited travel her family was able to do allowed her to gain an appreciation for all that Eastern Europe had to offer and fostered an early love of tourism. Karst will also dive into what it was like when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and how she got her start in the travel industry as a leisure manager at American Express Travel, a role that she kept until she moved to Southern California and met Rudi Schreiner, her husband-to-be and the former president of Viking Cruises. Listeners will hear Karst reflect on the early days of AmaWaterways, how she keeps her work-life balance in check and what's behind her unwavering positivity. This episode is sponsored by Apple Leisure Group Vacations.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE AmaWaterways' debut in Colombia TravelAge West's 2023 WAVE Awards (AmaWaterways took home wins for River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction; Best River Cruise Line for Families; and Best River Cruise Line for Luxury. Get in touch with AmaWaterways: 1-800-626-0126 ABOUT YOUR HOST  Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.  ABOUT THE SHOW  TravelAge West's podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry's notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Believing in yourself and your possibilities is the key to having a successful and fulfilling life. When we travel, we can be inspired to take risks and be open to new experiences. Trusting your instincts and being willing to take chances to get the most out of any journey is essential. In this Light Up Your Worth episode host Debbie McAllister, and world traveler & Explore to Evolve podcast host, Vivi Wilds discuss the spiritual evolution she experienced through travel, as well as how it all began with her parents in Eastern Germany and continues to transform through travel in a way that she guides other women to do.  Debbie was a guest on Explore to Evolve podcast. Cultural Immersion & Spiritual Healing through Traveling https://lightupyourworth.net/experiencing-the-2011-tsunami-from-the-plane-with-debbie-mcallister-explore-2-evolve---the-travel-show  Experiencing the 2011 Tsunami from the Plane. https://lightupyourworth.net/experiencing-the-2011-tsunami-from-the-plane-with-debbie-mcallister-explore-2-evolve---the-travel-show  Bonus Patreo members episode – Top 10 Spiritual Travel Destinations  https://www.patreon.com/lightupyourworth  Vivi Wilds is a digital nomad, adventure lover, and world traveler who has been to over 70 countries by age 24. Her passion is guiding women to experience life deeper through adventure, creating the wildest experiences & making memories that fill their hearts and soul. She has written several books and created a travel planner and is also the host of Explore 2 Evolve - the travel show, a podcast for all travelers, digital nomads, adventurers & those desiring to become one.  The travel show shares inspiring and eye-opening stories and lessons learned through travels and adventures all around the world to help you live life fully and adventure your world. Other than mentoring, she plans & designs travels, getaways & experiences and teaches her clients to transform through travel and adventure their world.   This episode is sponsored by Debbie McAllister and the Untether from Self-Doubt and Bring in Confidence Energetic Healing.  Dissolve the subconscious emotions, and beliefs that are keeping you stuck recording https://lightupyourworth.net/untethering  Debbie McAllister is a Breakthrough Catalyst Coach and the Light Up Your Worth podcast host.  She guides spiritually curious women to release mental & emotional blocks that keep them stuck so they can discover the unbelievable resources within themselves, ignite their light, and step into their own worth.   To reach Vivi:   Website: https://viviwilds.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viviwilds/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivi.dm.3/  Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explore-2-evolve-the-travel-show/id1547682334  Try the Ignite Your Inner Sparkle! Energetic healing limiting beliefs to reconnect with your inner sparkle! https://www.lightupyourworth.net  What if there were no inner barriers, what would your radiant life look like? Unlock your heartfelt desires! Get Unstuck Coaching packages https://lightupyourworth.net/get-unstuck-coaching-with-debbie-mcallister  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightupyourworth  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/Lightupyourworthpodcast   Facebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/LightUpYourWorthwithDebbieMcAllister   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightupyourworth   3 Ways to Give to the Light Up Your Worth podcast:  Buy Me A Coffee. One-time increments of $5. No commitment.  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lightupyrworth  Join me on Patreon membership with sliding levels beginning at the I AM Enough $2.27 monthly.   https://www.patreon.com/lightupyourworth  Sponsor one or more episodes to expand your reach with your audience in 27 countries and growing.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/lightupyourworth/support  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lightupyourworth/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lightupyourworth/support

Our interview with journalist and community organizer, Kit O'Connell (of the Texas Observer), and anarchist and activist lorén (of QTPIE or Queer and Trans People Illuminate Everything). Both folks are trans folks in Austin, Texas, and we speak for the hour about the increasing legal and social oppression of trans and gender non-conforming folks in that state as well as across the so-called USA, some of its impacts on trans children and children of trans parents, organizing, allyship and community defense. This episode will be available to the wider public in coming weeks. Other links: Kit O'Connell on mastodon (other socials linked on their website) QT PIE Trans Bail Fund: https://account.venmo.com/u/qtpiebailfund Vanguard Drag Crew: https://instagram.com/vanguard_atx Brigitte Bandit (Drag artist): https://instagram.com/brigittebandit It's also worth nothing that Ms. Bandit is being harassed with doctored photos by conservative groups playing up the fearmongering concerning children, as you can see in this tweet here: https://twitter.com/BrigitteBandit/status/1654503599345377280 House of LePore (Balroom house): https://instagram.com/houseoflepore DDOS Secrets leak of American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), an homophobic, anti-abortion and transphobic group run by Christian fundamentalists behind the lawsuit attempting to illegalize mifepristone as an abortion pill and that is confusingly named something like the American Academy of Pediatrics (a legit medical organization). (a legit medical organization). The leak was the feature of a recent article in Wired. Murder of Garrett Foster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Garrett_Foster Announcements Bad News #67! Find the following text & past episodes here & the audio here: Welcome to 67th edition of BAD NEWS, Angry Voices from Around the World, which is a monthly news program produced by international network of anarchist and anti-authoritarian radios. This month we have contributions from three radio projects. A-Radio Berlin spoke to a comrade from the anarchist feminist anti-prison alliance, who organizes the annual protest rally in front of the women's prison in Chemnitz, a small town in Eastern Germany. The focus of the conversation were: hardships of unionizing inside German prisons and the importance of building connections and creating empowering moments together. The second piece is from Kilavo Seme, a show on Radio Študent Ljubljana, which spoke with an activist from Quelili collective about their interesting and a bit crazy idea to buy a ship which would connect europe and latin america to fight, among other things, for climate justice and against colonization. Finally The Final Straw Radio is sharing a portion of a new interview with supporters of 4 people facing up to 12 years in US federal prison for alleged after-hours graffiti at a fake abortion clinic near to Miami in the state of Florida in the wake of the Supreme Court removal of the protection of legal right to choose abortion, laws limiting access for trans people to health care and public participation, and other regressive steps across the so-called USA. This Bad News has been put together by Črna luknja in Ljubljana. Call in for anarchist prisoner, Noah Coffin #1795167 Noah Coffin, a Texas prisoner was granted parole six months ago (November 2022), but has not been released from Texas Correctional and has not been given a reason why. Call/Email the Texas parole board and voice concern as to why Noah has yet to be released, you can reach them at: (512) 936-6351 or bpp_pio@tdcj.texas.gov (call script and email script to follow). Call Script: Hello, I am calling to voice my concern about a prisoner at the Ellis Unit Detention Center, Noah Coffin 01795167. He was granted parole six months ago and has yet to be released from prison, I am just wondering why that is? I am urging you to release him. Email Script: Dear Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, I am contacting you on behalf on Noah Coffin 01795167, a prisoner who is incarcerated at Ellis Unit in Texas. Noah was granted parole six months ago, but has yet to be released from prison, I am emailing you to inqure why that is? I am urging you to release him immediately as he has been granted parole. Upcoming We are planning a number of other chats in coming weeks that will take a while to find their way into our main podcast stream including: an interview with one of the authors of We Go Where They Go, a history of Anti-Racist Action around the millenium; an interview with comic artist and collagist Johnny Damm; an interview with transfem anti-fascists in the UK about the recent violence in Liverpool as fascists attempted to attack refugees held up in a hotel; Devi Machete of Contra Viento y Marea Comedor mutual aid space run by refugees and anarchists in Tijuana, Mexico; and more. We'll be releasing those interviews listed above as we can to our patrons subscribed at a level of $3 or more per month. The patreon funds go to pay for our basic operations cost like web hosting and PO Box as well as to the transcription work that allows our material to be translated into other languages, accessed more easily by folks with hearing difficulties and search engines. The transcripts also get made into zines that can be shared with people behind bars or in person! Check out the growing list of zines at https://tfsr.wtf/zines and consider supporting us at https://patreon.com/tfsr or by other methods at https://tfsr.wtf/support . ... . .. Featured Track: If You Go Down (I'm Going Down, Too) by Kelsae Ballerini from Subject To Change

German cyclist Jens Voigt won three stages of the Tour De France--and wore the yellow jersey twice--Voigt. Today Jens is a cycling broadcaster and enjoys participating in cycling in new ways. He was recently in Boulder for Old Man Winter and we are excited to have him as a guest interview on the show today.   Show Sponsor: UCAN Generation UCAN has a full line of nutrition products powered by LIVESTEADY to fuel your sport.   LIVSTEADY was purposefully designed to work with your body, delivering long-lasting energy you can feel. LIVSTEADY's unique time-release profile allows your body to access energy consistently throughout the day, unlocking your natural ability to stay focused and calm while providing the fuel you need to meet your daily challenges.   Use UCAN in your training and racing to fuel the healthy way, finish stronger and recover more quickly!  Use the code 303UCAN for 20% off at ucan.co/discount/303UCAN/ or ucan.co   In Today's Show Feature Interview - Jens Voigt Endurance News - New 2023 PTO Rankings Revealed & Dissected, 2023 USA Paralympic Team Announced What's new in the 303 - The Evolution of the Modern Bike Wheel Video of the Week - Jens at Old Man Winter   Feature Interview: Jens Voigt German cyclist Jens Voigt isn't a superstar in the traditional sense of the word. Although he won three stages of the Tour De France--and wore the yellow jersey twice--Voigt never claimed an overall victory. He became a star because he embodies qualities that go beyond winning and losing: sacrifice, selflessness, reliability, and devotion. European and American crowds were drawn to his aggressive riding style, outgoing nature, and refreshing realness.   Track coach punishing for not giving 100% Distracting other students What did the Australian's do that was so "deep and dark"? Eastern Germany - couldn't listen to listen to western radio and tv; Iron Curtain to protect us After the border came down, that was all a big lie 27 years old at the first TDF   Bobby and Jens Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bobby-and-jens/id1463427673 VeloNews Cycling's odd couple is back with an informative, entertaining, and occasionally feisty new podcast. Longtime friends and former teammates Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt shared the agonies and ecstasies of World Tour racing, gaining an unrivaled understanding and appreciation for the sport. Every week, they bring insightful commentary and unique chemistry to conversations with the riders, coaches, and diverse new personalities shaping today's scene. Tune in for revealing interviews about life at the front—and back—of the peloton, along with behind-the-scenes stories about emerging trends in training, gear, and coaching.   Plug: Primal Shut Up Legs Bill to read out.   Endurance News: New 2023 PTO Rankings Revealed & Dissected The Professional Triathletes Organization has released an update to their much-maligned pro ranking system. The result is...complicated. FEBRUARY 14, 2023 TIM HEMING    For access to all of our training, gear, and race coverage, plus exclusive training plans, FinisherPix photos, event discounts, and GPS apps, sign up for Outside+.   Ever since the Professional Triathletes Organization got some big-money backers and really put down its marker on the sport, one of the key ways to distribute that wealth has been through its rankings system.   Being ranked number one in the PTO system is more than just about ego; it's worth its weight in gold. Last year, Kristian Blummenfelt and Anne Haug scooped $100,000 each as part of the $2 million payout, and the rankings are also used to provide the first four spots for each region in the lucrative Collins Cup, where another $1.5M is forked out in appearance fees. Bear in mind, this is all on top of prize money and sponsorship dollars.   With some hard greenbacks to be fought over, it's little wonder that long course professionals care that the system is fair, and why – after receiving much criticism in its first three years – it's having an overhaul for 2023.   But before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the new rankings, it's worth a quick recap of the old system and why there was a movement for change.   What were the original PTO Rankings? Introduced in 2020, the original rankings took the average points score from a triathlete's best three races over the course of 12 months.   So far, so easy, but all of those super-important points came from a triathlete's finish time [not position] that was held up against something the PTO called an Adjusted Ideal Time (AIT) for each race.   The AIT was based on an algorithm that took in factors such as previous times on the course and how fast the course was on that specific day. Then, a few days after the race, the points would be issued. The AIT target time was worth 100 points. Go faster, you get more. Slower, you score less.   There were a couple of minor tweaks over the system's three-year run, including upweighting certain races, but chiefly it remained the same time-based format.   So, what was the problem? The problems were multiple, but an overriding issue was one of transparency. Triathletes and fans just didn't know – and it wasn't or couldn't be properly explained – how the algorithm worked. Understandably, this led to conspiracies about how the numbers were actually crunched and to much ire if you scored less than you thought you deserved.   USA Triathlon Announces 2023 U.S. Elite Paratriathlon National Team February 14, 2023   11-member team includes six Paralympic triathlon medalists and seven world champions. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – USA Triathlon today announced the 11 members of the 2023 U.S. Elite Paratriathlon National Team, the group of elite paratriathletes who will represent the U.S. at the highest levels of elite paratriathlon competition during the 2023 season, a pivotal year before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.   Qualification for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games starts this year with the Paralympic qualification period beginning on July 1, 2023. Automatic selection events in 2023 will be the 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Paris on Aug. 19 and the 2023 World Triathlon Para World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain on Sept. 20-24. The finalized U.S. Paralympic (and Olympic) qualification procedures will be published and released soon.   “The group of elite athletes named to the 2023 U.S. Elite Paratriathlon Team have strong podium potential in the ever-improving elite ranks and are contenders for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games,” said Lindsey Jerdonek, USA Triathlon Elite Paralympic Manager. “Through world-class coaching and access to training resources and facilities, these athletes have what it takes to continue to win medals consistently on the international stage.”   The talented roster includes six Paralympic triathlon medalists and seven world champions. The team will compete at World Triathlon Para Series events and World Triathlon Para Cup events throughout the 2023 season.   USA Triathlon values its role in helping further professionalize the sport of paratriathlon and continuing to be at the forefront in equitable treatment of all elite athletes. For the second consecutive year, each member of the 2023 U.S. Elite Paratriathlon National Team will receive direct athlete support stipends equal to that of the funding the athletes on the 2023 U.S. Elite National Team receive. The 2023 U.S. Elite National Team will be announced next Tuesday, Feb. 21.   What's New in the 303:   The Evolution of the Modern Bike Wheel 303 Cycling | The Evolution of the Bike Wheel Graphics and narrative by: A.V. Schmit   Wheels and tires, wheels and tires, wheels and tires… Seems like on every ride that's all people can talk about these days. So, I thought it might be of value for the 303 Endurance community to write a primer about the evolution of bicycle wheel / tire design.   While it usually makes sense to start most stories from the beginning. I think in this case, it makes more sense to start in the middle, as I would anticipate many readers have never ridden on a tubular tire shod hoop.   303 Cycling | Clincher TireUntil the advent of tubeless road wheels, the dominant standard was the clincher wheel. That consisted of a rim with a “hook” that turned inward toward the center of the wheel, and a tire that had a “bead” reinforced with wire, or in the case of foldable tires, reinforced with Kevlar or other aramid fibers like Vectran.   When a tube is inserted into the tire and mounted on the rim and inflated, the tube presses the bead into the hook of the rim. It is that pressure that holds tire onto the rim. This is what most riders use and have likely ever used.   Now, let's take a step back. Originally, tires and tubes for road bikes were a single unit. You may have heard the term “sew up” in the US or “single” in the UK and Australia. They both refer to a tubular tire.   Essentially, a butyl or latex tube is contained within the casing, usually made from cotton fabric that has the tread bonded to it. Then the casing is sewn together with an additional strip of fabric glued over the seam.   The rim, which has a shallow concave channel, is prepared with a number of layers of specialty tubular adhesive and the interior of the casing of the tire is also coated with a number of additional applications of the same adhesive. Then the tire is stretched over the rim and carefully centered over the channel and left to cure.   303 Cycling | Tubular TireNow, if you are thinking, “what a hassle.” You'd be right, gluing up tubular tires under the best of circumstances is a bit of a smelly mess.   The advantages of tubular tires are they tend to be more supple and lighter than clinchers and can be ridden in an emergency when flat. The disadvantage is a puncture by the side of the road is a most unpleasant experience, even if you have an extra tire with you.   Which is why tubulars are almost exclusively used by racers… as a chase car complete with mechanic and spare wheels is seldom far behind. But even race teams are beginning to embrace tubeless tire / rim combinations — In some case because of sponsor demands and in some cases for budget reasons. Eliminating the need for separate “race” and “training” wheels decreases the number of wheels needed to be maintained by the team's mechanic's staff.   Hookless rim / wheels have been “a thing” in mountain bikes for nearly 10 years, but they are just growing in popularity in the road bike community, especially in gravel applications. A hookless rim is kind of what it sounds like. A rim profile that forgoes the traditional hook of a clincher rim / wheel but that also has “shoulders” that stretch the tire around its circumference to form a seal.   The upside of a hookless rim is that is has shown to be more impervious to impact and it simplifies the construction process, especially in carbon fiber wheels. And according to ZPP, a leading manufacturer of high-performance carbon fiber bike wheels, reduces the cost of manufacturing.   303 Cycling | Tubeless TireWhat that means is that hookless rims are tubeless ONLY. It is NOT RECOMMENDED to use a tube and non-tubeless tire with a hookless rim. They require a tubeless tire that meets specific design criteria and materials.   Generally speaking a tubeless tire is stiffer in the sidewall than a clincher tire, making it less supple. This is because the system depends on the tire stretching over the “shoulders” of the rim, mating the tire with the rim to form an airtight seal.   And, like all tubeless tire / rim combinations, they require sealant and specialty rim tape. The sealant completes the tire system by preventing air from escaping through the pores and small imperfections in the tire. The adhesive-backed rim tape prevents air from escaping through the spoke holes of the rim. Sealant also provides a level of puncture protection by using the tire's internal air pressure to force sealant through small punctures when they occur.   A word about sealant. Most sealants are made of natural or synthetic latex and contain cellulose, rubber particles or organic thickeners and glycol which acts as a liquid carrier for the suspended particles. Most are highly basic, not as in simple, but as in the opposite of acidic on the Ph scale.   When the tire is punctured, the internal air pressure of the tire forces the liquid sealant is through the hole, and a small amount escapes.  When this happens the fibers or small particles build-up at the site of the puncture and intertwine to form a flexible plug. Then a chemical reaction happens that “cures” the rubber and fills the puncture.   At least that's what is supposed to happen. When the puncture is too big, the sealant is old, or there is not enough un-cured sealant in the tire… then not so much.   OK, so that was more than a word. But hopefully you learned something.     Video of the Week:   Jens Voigt at the Old Man Winter Bike Rally Feb 6 2023       Closing: Thanks again for listening in this week.  Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment.  We'd really appreciate it! Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!

Joe Natoli has had many titles throughout his career: actor, game designer, educator, full-stack developer and entrepreneur. His passion for delighting people through technology led him to found LOOFT, the world's first world's first cooling and heating comfort service company while working at a venture builder in Leipzig, Germany. Joe brings knowledge of international startups, Silicon Valley and more, having worked with billionaire investor Tim Draper, Draper University, teaching entrepreneurship around the world from Africa to Asia. Afterwards, Joe settled in Europe to put his knowledge to work by forming ventures in the underserved market of Eastern Germany. Joe could be considered the ultimate startup guy, having built, founded or failed over a dozen startup businesses.

Dean Reed's Hollywood career was brief, but he became an international superstar during the height of the Cold War, living in Latin America and communist Europe. After going public about wanting to return home to the United States, Dean's life came to a mysterious end. Decades later, his daughter Ramona is determined to find out what really happened to him.Episodes here:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-red-elvis-105219647/ABOUT RAMONA REEDRamona Reed is the daughter of Dean Reed who Red Elvis is about. Decades after her dad's mysterious disappearance she is she is determined to find out what really happened to him. Ramona is executive producer, narrator and advisor to the documentary film Red Elvis: The Coldwar Cowboy,, now streaming on Amazon Prime.ABOUT THE FILM DEAN REED: THE COLDWAR COWBOY BY ELENA RINGO OF INDIE-CINEMA.COMThe film is a documentary dedicated to an American singer Dean Reed, who became a superstar in the Soviet Union and Eastern Germany. In a way he was much more than Elvis Presley. He was not only a singer, he was also a film director, a writer, an actor and a social activist. He was a rebel with a strong feeling of social injustice and was fighting the existing capitalist system of the Western World. American Rebel - it is written on his grave and he lived as a rebel.The film was released in 2022 and was screened on British Sky TV and American documentary streamer Curiosity. The story of Dean Reed told by several people, including Dean's daughter Ramona Reed is touching and captivating. It is illustrated by numerous footage which show the actor in Latin America, in the USA, in Russia and Eastern Germany.The life of Dean Reed reflects also the complexity of that time. For the first time he visited Russia in the sixties - time of hope and freedom. Dean Reed was a breath of fresh air in Soviet Union and Eastern Germany. He was singing revolutionary songs but at the same time he represented to Russian people the American dream; tall, artistic charismatic cowboy with a Hollywood smile. He was like a ray of sunshine coming through the iron curtain.In the seventies Dean Reed often appeared on Soviet TV, and he was very popular. He toured the Soviet Union and crowds of people cheered him at stadiums. Women fell in love with him and men wanted to copy his haircut. For the Soviet Government Dean was a useful tool of propaganda - he was singing revolutionary songs and was a living proof that the West is on the brink of revolution.But in the eighties his popularity started to decline. The leaders of communist regime were carefully preparing the perestroika - demolition of communism and privatization of manufacturers. They were preparing to benefit from the new order. Red Elvis was not needed for them anymore.Russia little by little opened up to Western culture. When in the eighties I studied at university, we were listening to Joe Dassin, Boney M, ABBA, Frank Sinatra and other western music. Seldom to Dean Reed.When Dean Reed died there was very little information in Soviet press concerning his death. He was supposed to have drowned, but this version obviously did not look credible, as he was an excellent swimmer and was found near the shore. Later it was suggested he committed suicide.Ramona Reed, daughter of Dean Reed, raised in the film concern regarding her father's death. She did not believe in the official version of events. Other American relatives of Dean also did not believe in accidental death and neither in his suicide. And they have a reason because this tragic story has many missing links. Unfortunately, this horrible end was not investigated properly and even now, after many years, no more facts came out. As it turns out, secret services guard their secrets properly.It is interesting that in 2007 a German film "Der Rote Elvis" was made. The creators of the German film interviewed several people, but not American relatives. Somehow the film wanted to leave the impression that Dean committed suicide. I personally do not believe in that because too many clues show that it was a murder. I personally do not believe Stasi or KGB could kill Dean Reed. It was the time when these secret services did not kill people like that and they were especially careful with foreign citizens. To spy on them? Yes. To murder? No. It just was not possible. And even if we suggested that secret services for some very important reasons wanted to eliminate Dean Reed they would not do it in a park just a mile away of his house in Eastern Berlin. It was not the style of secret services, that is for sure.It was stupid and reckless to put a body so near the shore and so near his house. This botched murder was not a deed of professionals, but of a desperate person who hardly knew what he or she was doing. It looks like Dean did not die in the lake, where he was found in shallow water covered with stones. Probably the body was taken there by the murderer.Dean Reed's car was found near the shore. It hit the tree.I cannot imagine that Dean Reed himself hit a tree. He was a very good driver and he was not drunken. But the person who hit the tree was probably the killer, scared out of his wits and disoriented. Probably it was planned to drive further away and bury Dean in a place where he would not be discovered soon. But the accident stopped this plan and he was left very near the beach and covered with stones to prevent his body to come up.The murder of a foreign national and especially a famous singer would be a huge international scandal. Suicide version or accident suited authorities better. So the killer or killers escaped from punishment.I do not believe for a moment that such a clumsy murder could be work of any secret service or professional killers. But Stasi and other authorities did everything to cover it up. Death of Dean was announced an accident, then suggested it was a suicide. Even a suicide note was found in archive, but it does not look remotely authentic. The man who appreciated justice and was fighting for social justice did not get it at the very end.Now that the capitalism won in Russia, the music of Dean Reed is not promoted there anymore, nor in Russia, nor in the USA, not in Germany. But despite this, his music is still listened by many and loved by many. Now the real ugly face of capitalism has hypocrisy, cruelty - everything what Dean hated and now position of Marxist Dean Reed becomes more and more understandable and current. Sometimes I like to listen Dean Reed singing "My Way". He put more special meaning into this song than any other singer because he really lived his life his own way, fought for truth and justice.The film "Red Elvis: The Cold War Cowboy" is a loving tribute to a singer and a person, whose name should not be forgotten. His talent, his struggle for peace and social justice will be with us as a candle in the darkness of modern times and a bridge between two societies divided by a New Cold War.

Joe Natoli has had many titles throughout his career: actor, game designer, educator, full-stack developer and entrepreneur. His passion for delighting people through technology led him to found LOOFT, the world's first world's first cooling and heating comfort service company while working at a venture builder in Leipzig, Germany. Joe brings knowledge of international startups, Silicon Valley and more, having worked with billionaire investor Tim Draper, Draper University, teaching entrepreneurship around the world from Africa to Asia. Afterwards, Joe settled in Europe to put his knowledge to work by forming ventures in the underserved market of Eastern Germany. Joe could be considered the ultimate startup guy, having built, founded or failed over a dozen startup businesses. Website: www.joinlooft.com

Welcome to another episode of Crossing the Chasm. Today I am joined by Saamah Abdallah, an internationally recognized expert on well-being. He worked for the New Economy Foundation, a London-based think tank, where he developed new ways to understand and measure well-being. That work contributed to the Happy Planet Index and other measures that are beginning to have policy implications. Saamah is currently working towards a PhD in Communication Science and lives in Eastern Germany. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!

Eastern Germany had 500 000 informants among it's 18million citizens, where apparently 10 000 of them were under age of 18. Japan's Lycoris initiative aims to put the these highly unethical practices to shame by putting high school girls at the front lines of the domestic war on terror. Tune in for our recap of the 2022 summer series Lycoris Recoil.

What is intelligence? What exactly does an IQ test measure? What are the similarities and differences between the structure of GPT-3 and the structure of the human brain (so far as we understand it)? Is suffering — as the Buddhists might say — just a consequence of the stories we tell about ourselves and the world? What's left (if anything) of the human mind if we strip away the "animal" parts of it? We've used our understanding of the human brain to inform the construction of AI models, but have AI models yielded new insights about the human brain? Is the universe is a computer? Where does AI go from here?Joscha Bach was born in Eastern Germany, and he studied computer science and philosophy at Humboldt University in Berlin and computer science at Waikato University in New Zealand. He did his PhD at the Institute for Cognitive Science in Osnabrück by building a cognitive architecture called MicroPsi, which explored the interaction of motivation, emotion, and cognition. Joscha researched and lectured about the Future of AI at the MIT Media Lab and Harvard, and worked as VP for Research at a startup in San Francisco before joining Intel Labs as a principal researcher. Email him at joscha.bach@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter at @plinz, or subscribe to his YouTube channel.Further reading:The 7 Realms of Truth

Read the full transcriptWhat is intelligence? What exactly does an IQ test measure? What are the similarities and differences between the structure of GPT-3 and the structure of the human brain (so far as we understand it)? Is suffering — as the Buddhists might say — just a consequence of the stories we tell about ourselves and the world? What's left (if anything) of the human mind if we strip away the "animal" parts of it? We've used our understanding of the human brain to inform the construction of AI models, but have AI models yielded new insights about the human brain? Is the universe is a computer? Where does AI go from here?Joscha Bach was born in Eastern Germany, and he studied computer science and philosophy at Humboldt University in Berlin and computer science at Waikato University in New Zealand. He did his PhD at the Institute for Cognitive Science in Osnabrück by building a cognitive architecture called MicroPsi, which explored the interaction of motivation, emotion, and cognition. Joscha researched and lectured about the Future of AI at the MIT Media Lab and Harvard, and worked as VP for Research at a startup in San Francisco before joining Intel Labs as a principal researcher. Email him at joscha.bach@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter at @plinz, or subscribe to his YouTube channel.Further reading:The 7 Realms of Truth

Read the full transcript here. What is intelligence? What exactly does an IQ test measure? What are the similarities and differences between the structure of GPT-3 and the structure of the human brain (so far as we understand it)? Is suffering — as the Buddhists might say — just a consequence of the stories we tell about ourselves and the world? What's left (if anything) of the human mind if we strip away the "animal" parts of it? We've used our understanding of the human brain to inform the construction of AI models, but have AI models yielded new insights about the human brain? Is the universe is a computer? Where does AI go from here?Joscha Bach was born in Eastern Germany, and he studied computer science and philosophy at Humboldt University in Berlin and computer science at Waikato University in New Zealand. He did his PhD at the Institute for Cognitive Science in Osnabrück by building a cognitive architecture called MicroPsi, which explored the interaction of motivation, emotion, and cognition. Joscha researched and lectured about the Future of AI at the MIT Media Lab and Harvard, and worked as VP for Research at a startup in San Francisco before joining Intel Labs as a principal researcher. Email him at joscha.bach@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter at @plinz, or subscribe to his YouTube channel.Further reading:The 7 Realms of Truth [Read more]

The FLDS is a religious sect of fundamentalist Mormons who practice polygamy; the recent documentary Keep Sweet, Pray & Obey has interviews with actual former members. Putin served in the KGB in Eastern Germany. Many of his policies today is due to the time of his posting and watching the USSR fall. Sadly, Queen Elizabeth passed away. How will King Charles III and the new Prince of Wales adapt the monarchy to the new modern world.  If you enjoyed this episode, check out the story of Marlon Brando's son who went to prison for killing his sister's boyfriend on MisdeedsandIntrigue.com. Follow Misdeeds & Intrigue Podcast on Social Media Twitter: www.twitter.com/misintriguepod Facebook: www.facebook.com/misintriguepod Instagram: www.instagram.com/misintriguepod   Follow for Curated Collections of Articles Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MisIntriguepod Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@misintriguepod Watch Related Videos & Clips TikTok: @misintriguepod https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeD9hE5u/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkBIxvkybymGErnYs-7XL0g IMDB Playlist: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls088470884/ This episode in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyrighted holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by general law and the fair use doctrine for one or more of the purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research. Unscholarly References Keep Sweet, Pray & Obey Dr. Phil Sky News ABC News  ID Channel DW Documentary 

The boys are back in town! Having recently returned from our summer vacation, we knew we had so much to share with all of you about the experience of visiting small German villages. This episode will be a discussion about our trip to Swiss Saxony in Eastern Germany along with our time spent in a small village in North-West Brandenburg. We'll cover the nature, the differences in the people vs. those you'll meet in big cities, and what it's like specifically as a foreigner to walk around these small Dorfs (villages). 

This is a 16 min trailer. Listen to the full episode! On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69127921 Or on Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/russianswithattitude 00:12:20 - Conspiracy theories about Putin's family 00:19:00 - Volodya's early life. Hooliganism, The Rule Of the Jungle and Sambo school 00:24:20 - Putin in University and KGB. His secret trip to New Zealand and service in Eastern Germany 00:30:40 - The fall of Eastern Germany and Putin's disillusionment 00:38:00 - Putin in the 90s. First steps in politics as Anatoly Sobchak's sidekick

Our very special guests are global business guru Pepyn Dinandt and Military Cross holder, ex-army Colonel, Richard Westley OBE. They teamed up and wrote the book Business Leadership Under Fire. This is such a compelling show, packed full of hacks and lessons including: Why establishing leadership can stop your platform burning The “Who Dares Wins” approach to strategy and tactics Building and managing an excellent leadership team Team and organization structure to maximize business impact Join our Tribe at https://leadership-hacker.com Music: " Upbeat Party " by Scott Holmes courtesy of the Free Music Archive FMA Transcript: Thanks to Jermaine Pinto at JRP Transcribing for being our Partner. Contact Jermaine via LinkedIn or via his site JRP Transcribing Services Find out more about Pepyn and Richard below: Website: https://businessleadershipunderfire.com Pepyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pepyn-dinandt/ Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-westley-obe-mc-66875216/   Full Transcript Below ----more---- Steve Rush: Some call me Steve, dad, husband, or friend. Others might call me boss, coach, or mentor. Today you can call me The Leadership Hacker.   Thanks for listening in. I really appreciate it. My job as The Leadership Hacker is to hack into the minds, experiences, habits and learning of great leaders, C-Suite executives, authors, and development experts so that I can assist you developing your understanding and awareness of leadership. I am Steve Rush, and I am your host today. I am the author of Leadership Cake. I am a transformation consultant and leadership coach. I cannot wait to start sharing all things leadership with you   What do you get when you smudge one of the world's global business leaders and one of the UK's top Army Colonels? The answer, Business Leadership Under Fire, our special guest today are Pepyn Dinandt and Richard Westley OBE, and they wrote the book, Business Leadership Under Fire, but before we dive in with Pepyn and Richard, it's The Leadership Hacker News. The Leadership Hacker News Steve Rush: Have you ever heard, focus takes you where it takes you? Inspired by a blog by Seth Godin many years ago, he had a focus of depth of field, and I'll share a story with you around how and why focus is so important. Picture the scene. There are two runners, both have exactly the same capability, exactly the same pace and the same injury, an injured left toe. The runner who's concentrating on how much their left toe hurts will be left in a dust by the one who's focused on winning. Even if the winner's toe hurts just as much. Hurt of course is a matter of perception. Most of what we think about is, we had a choice about where to aim that focus, aim that lens of our attention. We can relieve past injustices, settled old grudges, nurse festering sorts. We can imagine failure build up its potential for destruction and calculate its odds. Or we can imagine generous outcomes that we're working on. Feel gratitude, feel compassion for those that got us here and revel in the possibilities of what's next, we have an automatic focus are instinctive and cultural choices, and that focus isn't the only ones that are available to us. Of course, those are somewhat difficult to change, which is why so few people manage to do so, but there's no work that pays off better in the long run than focusing on positive and progressive outcomes. Remember the stories that you tell yourself, your story is your story, but you don't have to keep reminding yourself of the story you've told yourself before. If that story doesn't help you change positively for the future, it's probably not the right story in the first place. So, focus on the future stories that you want to tell yourself, and guess what? Those stories become a reality. That's been The Leadership Hacker New. Really looking forward to our conversation with Richard and with Pepyn. Let's dive into the show. Start of Podcast Steve Rush: I'm joined by two very special guests on today's show. Pepyn Dinandt is a business executive with 30 years' experience successfully leading and restructuring companies in challenging situations as CEO and Chairman. Or in Amsterdam, Pepyn has lived in a number of countries over the years, including Turkey, Ireland, Switzerland, South America, and UK, where he attended University and now lives with his family in Germany. And he's joined by Richard Westley, a military cross holder, who's commanded soldiers and operations at every rank from Lieutenant through to Colonel and environments of desperate situations, including Albania, Afghanistan, Balkans. He retired from the army in 2010, having been responsible for pre-deployment training for forces bound for Iraq and Afghanistan. Between them, they teamed up and wrote the book Business Leadership Under Fire: Nine Steps to Rescue and Transform Organizations, Pepyn and Richard, welcome to The Leadership Hacker Podcast. Pepyn Dinandt: Hi Steve. Yeah, good morning. Happy to be with you. Steve Rush: Me too. Hi Richard. Ricard Westley: Hi Steve. Steve Rush: So, a little bit about your backstory independently, and then we maybe find out how you kind of collided to come together to write the book. So, Pepyn, a little bit about your backstory? Pepyn Dinandt: Well, after leaving University, I somehow ended up in Germany and after spending three years at McKinsey, which was my paid business school, as I like to say, I landed my first CEO role in Eastern Germany, which was then just, you know, unified with Western Germany. And I ran a company which had a revenue of 50 million euros, but also losses of 50 million euros. So that was my first contact with the challenge of rescuing and transforming businesses and challenging situations. And I had so much fun. I mean, obviously it was very tough at the time, but I had so much fun doing that, that I have kind of never left that type of challenge. Steve Rush: Brilliant. And I guess it's the thrive of being able to rescue those firms that has kept you in that space, right? Pepyn Dinandt: That, plus the fact that you know, these are environments where you need to learn, because if you're not willing to listen and learn, you know, you're going to fail. These are always very, let's say complex situations, they're fast moving, they're fluid. And you know, it really kind of sharpens your skills and obviously, you know, some cases have been more successful than others. You never have only just big successes, but I thoroughly enjoy helping teams be the best version of themselves and you know, rescue these companies, rescue these organizations. Steve Rush: Yeah, and Richard, before what you do now, have you always been a military man? Ricard Westley: Yes, I joined the military pretty much straight after school and spent 25 years as an infantry officer serving around the world. Almost exclusively in operations and training roles. I managed to avoid the major staff roles and the ministry of defense for my 25 years. And then I left earlier than I, perhaps needed to, but I was ready to move. And I spent the last 12 years working in a number of appointments in commercial companies and now run my own consulting business. Steve Rush: Great. So, when did the stars align for you to both meet? Pepyn Dinandt: Well, I have been always interested in the application of military best practices in business. And I had met about four years ago, a gentleman called Tim Collins. The famous Tim Collins and you know, I had been discussing these ideas that I had about this crossover between the military and business. And he introduced me to Richard, that's how the two of us met. Steve Rush: And then Richard, from your perspective, what was the moment you thought, how we are going to do some business together, we're going to write a book. How did that come about? Ricard Westley: Yeah, so Tim. I was working with Tim at the time, and he mentioned Pepyn. So, he would you be interested in a conversation. I said, well, I'm always interested in conversations, and I generally like meeting new and successful people. So, you know, Pepyn and I had initial discussions and then some supplementary conversations and started looking at some sort of solution for leaders. It was a discussion over a number of months really. And then the book was a nice fallout because at that time we were in lockdown, and I think Pepyn, and I were both looking for something else to occupy our minds. And hence the hence the book, Steve Rush: Of course, when you think of the role that the military play versus the role that the commercial enterprises play, there's such a lot of crossovers in this sphere of leadership isn't there? Pepyn Dinandt: Yeah, I think, you know, when we sat down and this is interesting because as Richard just said, you know, we started working together without actually having physically met each other. We were basically, you know, we got to know each other digitally and spend a lot of our early relationship on Zoom. So, you know, we used these experiences, both Richards and myself to kind of look at our learnings, our insights, you know, from good and bad experiences, as well as insights from research we did on successful leadership cases, as well as fade leadership cases and developed from that, the concept for, you know, the book, including obviously the nine steps and Richard being, you know, a very hands on guy than me. So ultimately being somebody who's you know, a hands-on executive, I think developed a book, which is very much rooted in real life experience, has a down to earth approach. We believe is straightforward to understand because it's nine steps, with which we try to really cover all angles that we believe is important for leaderships facing transformation challenges. And ultimately, we produced, we believe a very practical guide for leadership when transforming organizations. Steve Rush: Yeah. It's a very chronological approach to how leaders can really consider how to transform and continue to grow their business, which we're going to dive into a moment. But I want to come to you first, Richard, just to explore the parallels from military leadership to commercial leadership, we've been very fortunate to have a number of major generals appear on the show already. And the one thing that's been really consistent from them is that leadership as a behavioral almost has been drilled from the very moment you join an organization, but actually that's often learned in the commercial organization. Been interested in your spin on things. Ricard Westley: Very much so. I mean, the military has the luxury of being able to devote time and resource to training and developing their people. And officers go through the RMA Military Academy Sandhurst. Mottos, serve to lead and behaviors are really focused from the get-go. So, you know, a young graduate who spent three or four years at university in quite a selfish sort of environment is suddenly thrust into a very pressurized, initial six weeks of a yearlong course where they're put under significant amount of pressure and strain to behave in the right way. And doesn't matter how good or well prepared they think they are, or how fit and robust, or how intellectually gifted they are by about day 10 of the RMA Military Academy Sandhurst. You are so stretched physically, emotionally, mentally, you are quite exhausted, and you have to reach out left and right, and grab people and say, look, we need to work together here. This is not about me. This is about us. And so that team bonding which then translates into the leadership of that team you know progresses and then going through your military career, you know, you are prepared for every new role you go. You are course trained and you are developed. And then at the collective level, you know, units or battalions or regiments will prepare for operations, deploy on operations, recover from operations, then start that circle again, that cycle, of course, in the real world, in the commercial world, companies don't have that luxury. You know, they are on operations 24/7. And so, it becomes really important at that stage that the leaders make time to develop their people and to nurture their talent. So, I think there are things that both can learn from each other. The final point I would say is that business find themselves in very, very volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous circumstances most of the time, and certainly now, and the military is designed for that voker, uncertain world. And so, to me, it's a natural progression for the military to talk to business because they're comfortable and are designed for that voker world. Steve Rush: Yeah, Pepyn, I wonder from your expense of being chairman and CEO on a number of businesses, whether or not there's room for that preparation to take leaders out of the operation space and really immerse them into some intense training and support. Pepyn Dinandt: Well, look, the practice in most corporations is unfortunately completely different to what Richard has described. In other words, people are not really prepared systematically for leadership. And in the book, we talk about the so-called career X point, which is an interesting phenomenon we've seen with many failed leadership examples where people, you know, over time, they do learn initially, and they advance in their career. But when you get to a certain level in organizations, you suddenly believe your now CEO, head of big division, have been successful in the past that you don't need to learn anymore. When the learning line crosses the career line, which keeps going up and the learning line flattens, we talk about the career X points, and that's when people basically start making mistakes in business. Steve Rush: Yeah. Pepyn Dinandt: And that's why it's fascinating to look at the crossover because especially the British military, you know, very, very actively train their leaders to be good, not many businesses do it that way. It's more always, you know, advancement by chance, advancement by opportunities, but not those systematic. Steve Rush: Yeah, that makes those sense. So, let's dive into the book and the nine steps and maybe get some perspective from you as to how the steps within that book can help us and Pepyn we start with you. The first step in the book is that building platform, you call it establishing leadership. Tell us about that? Pepyn Dinandt: So, Steve, you know, you coach leaders, you coach people that run businesses, you know, so you're seeing a situation where there is an obvious problem with the business. Steve Rush: Right. Pepyn Dinandt: Financials are declining, for me, for us. When we define the steps, especially the first step, we said, you know, this is an environment. This is an opportunity. This is a window where you take that situation, and you call out a burning platform. And with that burning platform, you basically achieve two things. First of all, you establish yourself as the leader, that's going to take charge of this situation. You know, that's about conveying the fact that you are safe of hands, having simple messages on, you know, what's happening and what's going to happen and projecting certainty as a leader, in a sense of conveying to people. You have a plan; you're going to get this done. You're going to save the situation. So that's the establishing leadership part. The other part, and this is very often something that you see with formally successful businesses. You know, the organization, which is ultimately the people that work there are in the comfort zone. That's very often the reason why the business in trouble in the first place. And one of the things you need to really focus on is to galvanize the organization into action, into a change mode by explaining why they need to change. And that's why it's so important to do that in the very first step. If you don't get people in a mentally ready for small or big change, you're going to have trouble later on with the other steps. Steve Rush: Yeah. Complacency is a real killer in most organizations, but often people don't even realize they're in that comfort zone until others like you or I, or other people on their team pointed out to them and go, this is a problem [laugh]. So, step two, Richard, you call in the book analysis and determination of mission targets. So very much a military focus. Tell us how that translates? Ricard Westley: Yeah, so the military has a command philosophy called mission command. What we would call you know, empowerment and it really centers around telling your people what you want them to do and why, but not telling them how to do it because they should have the technical skills and they may well be considerably more able than you to actually do the, what. What this chapter is about is really making sure that you understand the intent of your boss or bosses or board or shareholders at whatever level, making sure that everything you do and all the direction that you give to your subordinates is in line with that. And what's required here is real clarity, real clarity of vision to make sure you've got it right. And then clarity of expression to make sure that everybody, you know, from other board members down to the people on the shop floor, really understand what you are about and why you are doing this, so that's what it is. And chapter two really digs into that idea of getting the big idea, right. And then conveying the message as simply as possible to your people. Steve Rush: And it's that simplicity that often gets lost in translation, because my experience tells me that the more simple people can align to a common goal, purpose, mission, vision, the more likely they're going to achieve it, the more complex it becomes, then people lose that through a bit of diffusion. Pepyn Dinandt: Yeah, you know, Richard and I, we had a discussion about step one and two in the sense of what comes first, but we like to use the following analogy. I think, you know, if you're going to be the new chef of a restaurant before you actually get told, you know, what the goal is, what the mission is, it's good. That's step one, to get to know the kitchen and the team before you do that discussion. Why step one first and then step two. Steve Rush: Yeah. It makes sense. There's been lots of debate about which comes first. And I think I concur with you that you have to, what if you just think of the chronological order, you get hired first before you decide what you're going to do exactly. And it follows that same principle, doesn't it? Pepyn Dinandt: Yeah. Steve Rush: And in step three, you talk about the evaluation of the environment. I kind like this theater of operations. Tell us about that? Pepyn Dinandt: You know, steps three is, ultimately very big step, but we like to keep it simple and practical. It's the moment when you look as a leader closely at your competition or in the military term, your enemy, as well as your, you know, your customers, your market that you are serving, or in the military term, the environment that you're operating in. And we've seen my own experience, learnings, you know, good and bad, but also from the research we did, we've seen a truly great business leaders, never underestimate their competition. Everything they do is centered around staying ahead of the competition. And, you know, I talk about the degree of skill and business acumen. So, what's important is to know your business very well from both an inside perspective and from an outside perspective, know your strengths and weaknesses and those of your competition, because very often when people develop strategies and we'll talk about that in step four, you know, they overestimate their own strengths, and they underestimate the strengths of their competition. And interesting under step three is the fact that you may find things. You may find out things about your business, about the competition, where the mission you've been set under step two becomes maybe not even only just difficult, but maybe even impossible. So, you know, we do write in the book that after step three, it may be necessary to revisit step two, depending on what you find out. Steve Rush: Is it fair to say that there will be a continual revisiting of step two as their business and their firm or their mission if you like starts to evolve? Pepyn Dinandt: No, I think if you do it properly, and there's a great Chinese general called Sun Tzu who wrote a book, The Art of War two and a half thousand years ago, you know, and in my experience, as he says, if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of one hundred battles, but if you know, neither of the enemy, nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. So, in other words, if you do your homework properly and you really know your business well, and you really know your competition, well, I think you can then move on to the next steps. I think could be that instant that instant where you need to go back once to step two. Yeah, but at some point, you just need to have done your homework. Otherwise, you're in trouble as a leader. Anyway, Steve Rush: I suppose it plays to the philosophy of having no plan B. Pepyn Dinandt: Yes, exactly. Steve Rush: Yeah [laugh] like it. Yeah, so in step four, I love title of step four, who dears wins. It's a very common used phrase in the military. I think this comes from the SAS, if my memory is correct. And this is about strategy and tactics, Richard. Ricard Westley: Yeah, and step four. I mean, I guess the theme that runs through step four is that simplicity rules. The military uses the acronym kiss, keep it simple, stupid, or keep it short and simple. But that strategy for me is about getting the big ideas, right. Giving clear instructions to your people as to what you want them to do. Supervising the execution, but not getting too close. And then having a good process for lessons identified in order to inform best practice. And the chapter actually draws on some work by Michael Porter, where he talks about cost leadership, differentiation and focus in niche markets in order to ensure that, you know, you can deal with your competitors, but stay on track. And as Pepyn says, it builds on, you know, you build on your strength and you attack your competitor's weakness, which is very much in keeping with the military maneuvers approach, which is, you know, find the enemy's weak point and exploit it whilst defending you know, your center of gravity. Step four, gets into an idea about risk taking and how you manage risk, how you mitigate risk and accepting the fact that you can never rule out risk. So, it leads on to stuff that we talk about later, such as contingency planning. And it also indicates that occasionally you have to go back to your mission and say, okay, something's happened. Something's changed. Is the mission still valid in its format at the moment? And therefore, you know, am I okay to crack on, or do I need a little bit of work here so that I can get on with the other steps? Steve Rush: It's an interesting spin on risk too. Because research has provided loads of evidence over the years that those organizations and entrepreneurs and business leaders who avoid risk actually prevent growth and stifle innovation. Ricard Westley: Absolutely, absolutely right. Steve Rush: Yeah. Ricard Westley: You know, from a military perspective, I always encourage my junior commanders to take risk. You know, my mantra was, go now with a 75% solution and tweak it. Because if you wait for the hundred percent solution, somebody will get there first. Steve Rush: Yeah. And I guess that spins then into step five Pepyn in the book, which is around determining the best course of action. And I guess the question I had was, is there ever a best course of action? Pepyn Dinandt: Well, that's a good question, Steve, but if we take a step back, one of the fascinating things for me, you know, looking at the crossover between military and business is that. Step five is something which in the military, in the best practice cases of the military is always done very, very, very well, but in business, not done very often. And the reason it's the following, you know, in business, a situation is typically where the leadership and the let's say top team develop a plan and then basically give the plan to the organization to get done. But what we say in step five is that, you know, if you want to do it properly, what you do is, you sit down as the planning group with the execution group and you get, you know, you brief them on what you want to happen, and they are allowed to give their feedback. And you know, you have to take the time to get that feedback. You, you know, you really have to also be open for a reality check of your plan. And the SES here is brilliant because, you know, in their mission success cycle, which is plan, brief, execute, debrief. The brief part is so important where the guys that have planned go to the guys that are going to execute, present the plan, but get feedback from the people that will be executing the operators and then maybe even change the plan because they see that from an execution perspective, things that are not well thought through maybe even unrealistic. And this reality check, that's step five. Entails is something whereas a leader, as a CEO, you need a healthy ego, you know, to be able to deal with that. Because it means that somebody may criticize your plan. You know, one of the people that you are going to be hiring or that you're going to be entrusting with opening the French office of a company that is up to now only sat in Britain. You know, he may be telling you, well, this plan's not going to work because ABC and you have to be able to accept that criticism and go back and redo the plan. So that's why step five is critical. And it's unfortunately not seen so often in business, you know, not well done in business. Steve Rush: And I love the notion of healthy ego. Again, similarly, there's been a lot of research that, and in fact, to be fair, there's been lots of publicity and things written, ego is a bad thing, and it is if it's overplayed and it's not helpful, but having a healthy ego gives you confidence, direction and purpose. And I wondered what your spin on that would? Pepyn Dinandt: Every leader need ego. By definition, a leader has ego, but the problem that we have, and we saw this when we did the research, especially for the bad leadership cases, you know, many of these leaders are egocentric. And we see this, for example, again, in the military, the special air services I think is very, is a great example here. You know, you can have great leaders that haven't healthy ego that are, let's say, aware of their own limitations, are open to criticism. And basically, as you, in that podcast mentioned, you know, they don't have a centric ego, but rather a healthy ego. And I believe that that you know, good business managers, good business leaders, not necessarily founders entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos, but the people that are entrusted to lead these businesses in the second-generation. Key is for them to have a good, healthy ego, because it's so important to creating a learning organization. Steve Rush: Yeah. Pepyn Dinandt: And that stops you from, at some point in the future, getting into a problem where you need to do transformation. Steve Rush: And that also will help you find other people around you who bring additional strengths and characteristics, which is leading into step six, which is about building and managing that excellent leadership team. Richard, this is essential in the military as well as in the corporate world, isn't it? Ricard Westley: Yeah, it is. And you know, this, whole idea of pulling together and then maintaining a high-performance team is absolutely crucial to mission success, as is, you know, spotting and nurturing potential. And we've already mentioned you know, committing time and resource to developing your people to make sure that team that you've selected is then maintained and developing your team to make sure, you know, they've got clear aligned, you know objectives and values. Those teams need to be encouraged to communicate frequently and effectively, they need to be collaborative, you know, that sort of collaboration breaks down the silos that can often slow up business. And that team needs to build trust through relationships, but it also needs to be able to learn and adapt. And we get onto that in step nine, but it is, it's about making sure that you get the right people and that you don't default to just people, you know, but actually getting the right people and the right job, and then giving them the responsibility Steve Rush: And step seven plays into that lovely, doesn't it? As part of that whole organizational structure in order to get the right people in the right place to get the best results. Pepyn, what's your experience of making sure that in that space you've got the right people? Pepyn Dinandt: Yeah. Look, I think, in my own experience, very often you come into a company that is in trouble and you have to very quickly, you know, go through your steps and act. So, one of the key questions is to look at the culture of the organization and to try to understand, because often, as I said before, these companies have been successful. So for example, find a customer centric culture in this company, or is a very technical culture. It's important to understand, you know, what you're dealing with because ultimately, as I said before, the organization is, another way of saying, you know, five thousand people, ten thousand people, you know, whatever the size of the company is, you need to get them to do something different. So, is it a dynamic organization or is it a company that is clearly in the comfort zone? You need to understand this because then you have to organize yourself to take that plan and make sure you develop the structure that has maximizing the business impact from what you're trying to achieve. My own experience, Steve is that in general, smaller units are much more effective than large units. But the thing that ultimately guides, you know, the structure that you're going to be implementing is, what you are facing in the market. In other words, are you competing against smaller competitors who are organized in smaller entities? Is it a local market? So, you know, once you have all this information, you can then develop and define the structure that you believe. Steve Rush: Yeah. Pepyn Dinandt: Is going to be most effective. But what you need to do is, change it, only for the sake of getting it out of its comfort zone. So typically, I find larger structures, more functional organizations, and typically I define them smaller. And I like to call these business units that have, you know, delegated responsibility, or as Richard said before, you know, where the people leading these smaller entities take responsibility and have freedom. Steve Rush: Yeah. Pepyn Dinandt: And degree of decision making. Steve Rush: That makes load of sense. So, step eight, Richard, there's two words in there that have really interesting connotations. Campaign delivery. So, for me, when I read that, the first thing I thought of is, oh, this is wrapped up in a campaign strategy at IE. There's a start and end. There's lots of moving parts all in the right places. And of course, the one thing that's essential in every business is you have to deliver, what does it speak to? Ricard Westley: Yeah. So, you've got your plan and you're probably feeling quite proud of your plan. But how can you stress test it? And how's it going to survive contact with a competitive arena. And that's absolutely based on the military assertion that, you know, no plan survives contact with the enemy because your competitors or your opponents on a sports field for that matter, they have a vote. And have you contingency planned against their likely responses you know, what is the market going to do when you introduce some new product or service in there, which disrupts, what is their default setting going to be? And how do you plan against that? And this whole idea of contingency planning is that, of course you can't plan against every possible contingency. And I always in the military planned against the worst case and the most likely case, because if you've got a contingency plan for those two, anything else happens in between, you can sort of tweak it, but it is about war gaming and red teaming. And this is not confined to the military or to business. One of the examples we cite in step eight was the way that the British Olympic Committee approached their metal chances and the matrix that was created by the likes of John Steele and Peter Keen in the committee that they would go and pour over, you know, twice a week to make sure that actually they weren't missing something. And if they need a contingency plan against, you know, an outbreak of, you know, foot and mouth in the country just before, what were they going to do? So, war gaming and red teaming, you know, which businesses should do, but often pay lip service to become really important. And finally, it comes down to accountability. Yeah, it's the leader's responsibility. You know, you take the credit when things go well, I'm afraid if they don't, then you've got to be held accountable. And it's all down to you at the last at the last count. Steve Rush: When you start to get people to think about plan for the end planned. The mindset will take you to what you know, or broadly what you can anticipate. But I bet that's changed in the last two years. Me included by the way, got caught out big time with how the pandemic through that perspective to us. And I wonder if in the future organizations will be more thoughtful to that because of what's happened in the last few years. Pepyn Dinandt: I think Steve, you know, step eight is, obviously, it's the execution of the plan, but it's so much more than that. And, you know, I learned for example, an interesting military term, which I believe is also very applicable to business, which is UDA. You know, this is something developed, I think during the Korean war where they saw that the inferior U.S. jets were winning against superior Russian jets flown by the North Koreans. And somebody figured out that the reason was because the pilots flying those American jets were much more in tune in what was going on in the world, let's say, applying a concept that was later called UDA, which is observe, orientate, decide and act. In other words, they were, you know, able to adjust to what was going on in the field. So as Mr. Von Moltke a famous I think Prussian General once said, you know, no plan survives first contact with the enemy. And that's why we also emphasize in step eight that a leader needs to be close to the action. Needs to see what's going on in the field with his plan so that he can adjust real time. You know, as Richard just said, have a contingency plan, but make sure the leader is leading that change of plan together with this team. Steve Rush: Which is why step nine is also then so important, which is that final after-action review. Pepyn Dinandt: Yeah, and the after-action review is something for me personally, that was completely new. I learned this from Richard, you know, Richard can maybe add to this because he was very instrumental in bringing that to the British military, but this is a very interesting concept. And this is by the way for the SAS, their last step in their four-step model. So, you know, when you have finished your transformation program, be it, you know, a cost take out exercise or a relaunch of a growth initiative. You know, you sit down with everybody which includes the boss, but also the people that have been, you know, executing parts of the plan and you have an open and frank and honest discussion as to what went right, what was good, but also what did not go right? And what can we learn for the next time? So, it's seldom a business leader. I have to say that is, you know, able to sit there in the room and take constructive feedback, open bracket, maybe sometimes criticism, you know, of their plan and then take that and think about it and, you know, change things for the next time. But as I said before, this is something which is so important to do, right. Because you create with it, the ultimate learning organization. And I, myself, you know, as I said, this has been a great, interesting learning for me personally. I have seen it in very successful organizations where this is practiced. Maybe not so systematically as we describe it here in step nine, but it's definitely something I would recommend for all companies to do because it's so powerful. Steve Rush: Yeah, and it stops repeating mistakes in the past and focuses you on building on the strengths that you've achieved as well. Pepyn Dinandt: But also, you know, just a signal from leadership to do this, to you know, sit there and take criticism. I think it's so powerful for the organization because it just sends a signal. You know that there is a culture of openness where if it's constructive, if it objective, you know, people can step up and say, look boss, I don't think this is the right way. I think we need to do it differently because 1, 2, 3. Steve Rush: It's a really pragmatic nine steps. I'm really delighted that we were able to dive into them and get into them and we'll allow our listeners an opportunity to find out how they can get a copy and dive to learn a bit more about your work later on. But first I'm going to turn the tables a little bit. And this is part of the show where our listeners have become accustomed to where we get to hack into your leadership minds. So, I'm going to come in turn and quick fire, top three leadership hacks from you both. Pepyn kick us off? Pepyn Dinandt: My top three leadership hacks. One, you know, as I said before, absolutely paramount to get your first step right in a transformation situation. If you don't get that right, you're in trouble. Second, the plan is nothing. The planning is everything, you know. So, I love that saying from Benjamin Franklin, fail to prepare and prepare to fail. And three, if you want to be a really good leader, then you need to have a healthy ego because that is a key to being very impactful and leading a learning organization. Steve Rush: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, Love it. Richard, what about your top three leadership hacks? Ricard Westley: First thing I'd say. Two leaders is a need to learn to listen and really listen. Not, listen to respond, but to really listen, to understand their people because otherwise they'll miss so much more than just the technicalities and the practicalities. They will miss stuff that involves culture and culture is important. Second one is, you know, whatever you do, issue clear instructions, let people know the intent, the why, and empower them to get on with it. And thirdly, you are there to make decisions. And as my first colour sergeant said to me, you know, at the end of the day, Mr. Westley, you have to make a decision, good decision, great. Bad decision, regrettable. No decision, unforgivable. Steve Rush: Yeah. And bad decisions lead to learning as well [Laugh] you know. Ricard Westley: Indeed. Yeah, yeah. You've got to fail to learn and thrive. Steve Rush: That's it, yeah. So, the next part of the show we call it Hack to Attack. So, this is where we ask our guests to share an event, a story or experience where something has particularly not gone well for them in their work or their life, but as a result of it, they've learned. And it's now a force of good in what they do. What would be your Hack to Attack Pepyn? Pepyn Dinandt: Yeah, look. First was when I was a, you know, first time CEO I had come from McKinsey, and I thought as many McKinsey do, that I could walk on water and do it all alone. But I was lucky because through fortunate circumstances, I very quickly learned that it's individuals that may play the game, but teams that beat the odds. And that's been one of my mantras ever since. And the other one is that later on in life, I learned the hard way that not every mission is accomplishable, yeah. So as a leader, you need to be brave enough to stand up to your board, sponsor, owner, and explain that this mission that you have been set is impossible and will not work as envisaged, you know, and not many leaders are brave enough to do that. Steve Rush: That's very important lessons learned there, and I can particularly resonate with the last, because there comes with a fear of particularly if you're leading somebody else's strategy, letting them know that they've also screwed up in the process. Pepyn Dinandt: Yep. Steve Rush: Yeah. Richard, how about you? Ricard Westley: Yeah, I'd harp back to a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia that very nearly failed. I mean, very nearly failed. It nearly brought down the UN and the British Prime Minister, John Major offered his position up to the cabinet because of what had happened to us. And we managed to model through and the town that we were defending did not fall unlike Srebrenica just up the valley and sadly but I would say what I learned from that is, you know, the depth of mine and other people's resilience and how you have to keep working at that and keep topping up their resilience banks when times are tight. I learn to never give up, to keep thinking, keep moving, and again, keep contingency planning at every level, Steve Rush: Really powerful lessons, particularly in times of crisis like that as well. You can rely on those foundations to help you through, can't you? Ricard Westley: Indeed. Steve Rush: So, the last part of the show is you get to do a bit of time travel and all the years of wisdom you've been able to attain in your more mature days, you get a chance to bump into yourselves at 21 and give yourselves some advice. What would Pepyn advice to Pepyn at 21 be? Pepyn Dinandt: Well, by the way, I wrote the book or we wrote the book or the idea for the book came about of providing my younger self, something useful and practical to work with. But to answer your question directly, I think for me, knowledge and experience, you know, the realization that these are greatest weapons in times of trouble that, you know, the good and experienced people that have trained it and done it a hundred times before. They are so valuable to you as a young person. And as a young man, I would advise myself to adopt the scout mindset. So be curious, be open, be grounded and learn. So, to listen and learn from those more experience around you, because typically, you know, young you, does not know at all, even if you think you do. Steve Rush: And the scout and soldier mindset are those kinds of different perspectives. And we can use a metaphor of almost a kind a growth and curious mindset versus a fixed and closed mindset, right? Pepyn Dinandt: Yes, exactly. Steve Rush: Yeah. Richard, 21. I guess you were heading off at Sandhurst, weren't you? Ricard Westley: I was pretty much passing out at Sandhurst at 21. Steve Rush: Oh, yeah [Laugh] Ricard Westley: What I would say to myself there is, the one thing I really learned is the most, for a military commander, but also in business, I guess that one of the most important information requirements you have is time. How much time have I got and when do I have to achieve this by? And so, I would say to young RJ Westley at 21 or 19, get better at time management. Because I don't think I was terribly good at it. And of course, I was fueled with the mindset of most young infantry officers that wanted to go and earn their spurs, go and prove themselves and yeah, and go into violent situations and win. And I guess what I would say to that young person is be careful what you wish for. Steve Rush: Yeah, very good advice, indeed. So, I've had a ball talking, I could spend the rest of the day diving into these subjects because as you probably already know, I'm a bit of a leadership geek and you have an enormous amount of lessons that we can learn from. So firstly, thank you for sharing them so far, but if our listeners did want to get a copy of the book, learn a bit more about the work that you both do now. Where's the best place for us to send them? Pepyn Dinandt: Well [laugh], there is a website, www.businessleadershipunderfire.com where they can learn more about the book. And then there is a link on the website to go directly to Amazon where they can then order it. I think that would be the recommendation for your listeners. Pepyn Dinandt: Perfect. And we'll include that link along with any social media links that you have in our show notes. So as soon as people listen to this, they can dive straight in and find a bit more about what you do. It just goes without saying, to say, thank you ever so much for coming on our show, joining our community here on The Leadership Hacker Podcast. Pepyn, Richard, thanks very much. Pepyn Dinandt: Steve. Thank you very much. Ricard Westley: Absolute pleasure. Thanks.   Closing Steve Rush: I want to sign off by saying thank you to you for joining us on the show too. We recognize without you, there is no show. So please continue to share, subscribe, and like, and continue to get in touch with us with the great new stories that we share every week. And so that we can continue to bring you great stories. Please make sure you give us a five-star review where you can and share this podcast with your friends, your teams, and communities. You want to find us on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter @leadershiphacker, Leadership Hacker on YouTube and on Instagram, the_leadership_hacker and if that wasn't enough, you can also find us on our website leadership-hacker.com. Tune into next episode to find out what great hacks and stories are coming your way. That's me signing off. I'm Steve rush, and I've been your Leadership Hacker.  

The composer Pauline Oliveros thought there was a difference between hearing and listening.  She defined hearing as a passive act, something done with the ears.  But she defined listening as something active saying that listening happens in the brain.  Sam Parker is a recordist who takes inspiration from Oliveros' words and work.  About six years ago, on an episode of Here Be Monsters called Sam's Japan Tapes, Sam shared dozens of recordings he made during his first (and only) trip to Japan.  He released those recordings under the name Observance as an album called Japan, 6/21 - 7/14.On this episode, Here Be Monsters host takes two trips to Germany, and records the sounds of Christmas in Berlin, New Years in Saxony, and many hours of people and birds just going about their daily lives in the late winter and early spring. Before Jeff leaves on his first trip, he calls Sam Parker back, to ask for recording advice before the trip, and Sam offers three tips: Take lots of time.Capture moments of everyday routine. Trust your instinctsThe recordings on this episode are available as an album called “Field Recordings: Germany, 2021-2022” and it's available for purchase on Bandcamp, under Jeff Emtman's The Black Spot moniker.  Until June 30th, 2022, all profits from the sale of this album will be donated to The International Committee of the Red Cross. Producer: Jeff EmtmanMusic: Remixes from the recording session in HBM049: Sam's Japan Tapes.Photos: Jeff EmtmanThank Yous: Sam Parker, Johanna Gilje Sponsor: HBM's Patreon SupportersHere Be Monsters' supporters on Patreon send a small monthly (or yearly) donation to help cover Jeff's living expenses, pay contractors, fees, taxes, etc.Listener Kit Roberts supports HBM on patreon, saying “I'm a patron of HBM because no other podcast has ever made me feel like this one does…so small and singular and yet connected to everything all at once.”Thank you so much, HBM Patrons.👽👉Become a patron👈👽Recordings heard in this episodeMM:SS - Description.  (📸 means there's a photo in the gallery)08:45 - Train to SeaTac airport.09:45 - Announcements on an Air France flight.11:00 - Turbulance and people rustling.12:30 - Berlin's Brandenburg Airport13:15 - A brown swan hissing and chirping13:30 - Boats rubbing against wooden piers and a small dog barking.14:15 - Cars driving on cobblestone streets.14:45 - Ice Skating at Berlin's Alexanderplatz 📸15:30 - Swing ride with metal chains at Alexanderplatz. 📸16:00 - Riding on the subway, then walking up several flights of stairs.18:45 - Radio playing advertisements, news, and christmas music20:45 -  A Christmas Eve service in a cathedral with a speaker reading a children's story.21:30 - Christmas carols playing as people mill around.22:00 - A wedding party in front of the Brandenburg Gate.23:15 - A Christmas exhibit with a lit up polar bear and fog machine.24:00 - Birds chirping in Berlin's Mauerpark as people walk by.25:00 - Crunching frosted leaves on a cold morning.25:30 - Walking through a forest in the Saxony Region of Eastern Germany.📸26:15 - Whistling through hands in the forest.27:00 - Buying 5 kilograms of potatoes from a vending machine as a dog barks.📸27:30 - Mountaintop shop selling hot drinks and snacks in Czechia.27:45 - Chopping kindling. Distant fireworks echoing through the hills in Saxony.28:30 - Snaps and pops of a small fire29:00 - Distant fireworks to celebrate the start of 2022.29:30 - Close fireworks echoing.30:00 - A strong wind blowing on a mountaintop in Saxony.📸30:30 - A tree swing creaking.31:15 - 6AM on the outskirts of Berlin.  Traffic starting, crow screaming.32:45 - Captive pigeons fluffing their feathers and cooing at Hasenheide Park34:00 - Slow motion recording of a sudden hailstorm.34:30 - A motorized billboard in a subway station35:00 - Accordion player performs in a subway station in Berlin's Mitte neighborhood.37:45 - Applause after a play.38:15 - A small bird singing several songs.39:30 - Church bells ringing.40:45 - Wind flapping the torn domes of the Teufelsberg listening station as people sing.📸43:00 - Walking through the forest near Teufelsberg as bikes pass.

The composer Pauline Oliveros thought there was a difference between hearing and listening. She defined hearing as a passive act, something done with the ears. But she defined listening as something active saying that listening happens in the brain. Sam Parker is a recordist who takes inspiration from Oliveros' words and work. About six years ago, on an episode of Here Be Monsters called Sam's Japan Tapes, Sam shared dozens of recordings he made during his first (and only) trip to Japan. He released those recordings under the name Observance as an album called Japan, 6/21 - 7/14.On this episode, Here Be Monsters host takes two trips to Germany, and records the sounds of Christmas in Berlin, New Years in Saxony, and many hours of people and birds just going about their daily lives in the late winter and early spring. Before Jeff leaves on his first trip, he calls Sam Parker back, to ask for recording advice before the trip, and Sam offers three tips: Take lots of time.Capture moments of everyday routine. Trust your instinctsThe recordings on this episode are available as an album called “Field Recordings: Germany, 2021-2022” and it's available for purchase on Bandcamp, under Jeff Emtman's The Black Spot moniker. Until June 30th, 2022, all profits from the sale of this album will be donated to The International Committee of the Red Cross. Producer: Jeff EmtmanMusic: Remixes from the recording session in HBM049: Sam's Japan Tapes.Photos: Jeff EmtmanThank Yous: Sam Parker, Johanna Gilje Sponsor: HBM's Patreon SupportersHere Be Monsters' supporters on Patreon send a small monthly (or yearly) donation to help cover Jeff's living expenses, pay contractors, fees, taxes, etc.Listener Kit Roberts supports HBM on patreon, saying “I'm a patron of HBM because no other podcast has ever made me feel like this one does…so small and singular and yet connected to everything all at once.”Thank you so much, HBM Patrons.

Christie and Cathi are joined by Emilya Naymark, author of "Behind the Lie." They discuss night writing, Eastern Germany, and weird food combinations. The wine this week is actually a beer: Pilsner Urquell.

We welcome Illinois State Representative Andrew Chesney to the show as we get an update from Springfield and what exactly our elected officials are up to; The mask uproar in the legislature; Hot issue bills that are being voted on here at the end of the session;  Representative Chesney explains the absurdity of these bills.   With Russia invading Ukraine we break down the early news of what has happened; as well as some historical context stemming from the Cold War. Jeanne talks about her Military service in West Germany when the Berlin Wall fell; as well as a high school trip to Eastern Germany in 1981.

1950 is a momentous year which sees the birth of Richard Branson and William H Macy, as well as the Canadian invention of bin bags, and Eastern Germany's creation of the Stasi. Find out what rabbits have to do with the Dick of the Year. Also Bobby risks fatherhood for a doughnut, and Red makes a lot of libellous allegations, allegedly.What obscure or significant events did we miss from 1950? Let us know your favourite historical facts from that year, or if have any suggestions for other years for us to do an episode on send us an email to theyearispodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram, Twitter and our other social media channels on @theyearispod Get bonus content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode Summary:In this episode of The Sydcast, serial entrepreneur Adrian Johnson sits down and gives us the details of his fantastic life from childhood to where he is now. He has a curiosity and an entrepreneurial mindset that is, to put it lightly, extraordinary, and a heart that seeks to help wherever he can. This episode has it all, from the ways technology can assist in education to what it was like starting a business in Eastern Germany after the Berlin Wall came down.Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master's degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, including the bestsellers Why Smart Executives Fail and Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent, which LinkedIn Chairman Reid Hoffman calls the “leadership guide for the Networked Age.” He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Management, a consultant and speaker to leading companies around the world, and a top 25 on the Global Thinkers 50 list of top management gurus. Professor Finkelstein's research and consulting work often relies on in-depth and personal interviews with hundreds of people, an experience that led him to create and host his own podcast, The Sydcast, to uncover and share the stories of all sorts of fascinating people in business, sports, entertainment, politics, academia, and everyday life. Adrian Johnson:Adrian Johnson is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and a technology and media entrepreneur. Since 1993 he has co-founded several companies, including Poptel, Germany's first phone-to-phone Internet telephony service provider (VC-funded and successfully sold in a trade sale); Archimation (www.archimation.com), Germany's first architectural animation and visualization company; MrFootage (www.mrfootage.com), a web-based film footage library; Eventival (www.eventival.com), the world's leading online film festival management system and SeriesIMPACT, an “EdTech" business creating “NextGen" live cases (www.LiveCASE.com). At INSEAD Adrian is an Adjunct Professor and teaches the legendary "Your First Hundred Days" (YFCD) MBA/EMBA course as well as Executive Education company-specific and open-enrolment programmes at INSEAD's campuses in Fontainebleau, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Adrian is also a supervisor of final EMBA student projects, and has been teacher, judge and mentor for Startup and Sci-Tech Commercialisation Bootcamps. After fourteen years on the INSEAD MBA Admissions Committee, he now sits on the INSEAD Global EMBA Admissions Panel. Investing in the next-generation leaders of tomorrow, Adrian is the Programme Director of the Summer@INSEAD business awareness summer camp for 15 to 18 year olds. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Adrian began his career with ICI, then the largest manufacturer in Britain. After his MBA, he moved to the IT services industry, later working for the German Treuhandanstalt, privatising East German companies in Dresden and Berlin. After a childhood spent in Sierra Leone, Kenya and the USA, Adrian studied Electrical Engineering at Imperial College London and earned his MBA from INSEAD.Insights from the Episode:How important a Team is to starting a new businessWhat Eastern Germany looked like, from a business perspective, after the wall came downThe nuances of choosing between different countries to start a business inThe potential for technology to integrate with education going forwardQuotes from the Show:Getting an MBA is a way of reducing your career risk because you're increasing your skill set and marketability and your own brand, and coming out of an MBA program you are really extremely marketable - Syd Finkelstein [19:47]On the most important part of a startup: It's kind of easy coming up with ideas but actually turning an idea into a successful venture; I have definitely come to the conclusion that the team ends up being the most important thing. - Adrian Johnson [23:33]We started working together, and we were so complementary to each other. That's why our business worked, and cementing that was the trust that we had and we built over the years. And of course we ended up becoming very good friends - Adrian Johnson [25:34]On the way Germany handled business ventures after the wall came down: I think what has worked very well in Germany is that sort of the social democratic structure, so there was not this massive transfer - as many east germans feared - that the wealthy Germans would come in and take all the wealth and we'd end up with a load of very rich people and a load of very poor people. - Adrian Johnson [36:43]The problem is France didn't have any real role models, successful entrepreneurs. There's no Bill Gates, there's no Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. - Adrian Johnson [49:07]Entrepreneurship can create, not can, but does create wealth not just for the entrepreneurs that are successful but for the entire economy and employment - Syd Finkelstein [57:57]There's still a lot of innovating to be done around how to more effectively use technology to help kids learn. And maybe it's not just in the content delivery but its the process of; how do you actually teach, how do people learn, and can they learn more effectively. - Adrian Johnson [62:11]Stay Connected: Syd FinkelsteinWebsite: http://thesydcast.comLinkedIn: Sydney FinkelsteinTwitter: @sydfinkelsteinFacebook: The SydcastInstagram: The SydcastAdrian Johnson:Website: adrianjohnson.comBlog: Adrian JohnsonINSEAD: Adrian JohnsonTwitter: @acvjohnsonSubscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, iTunes, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

AmaWaterways' Kristin Karst has come a long way, both physically and metaphorically, since her humble beginnings in Dresden, Germany.  In this episode, Kristin joins TMR to talk about her childhood, including growing up in Eastern Germany prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and how she ended up working in hospitality. She also talks about growing AmaWaterways into the river cruise powerhouse it is today, including the philosophies that make the company so successful, and the future of the business. **Subscribe, like, and comment for more #travelagent content**  Subscribe to TMR's daily newsletter here: https://www.travelmarketreport.com/tmr-sign-up  Follow Dan McCarthy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMcCarthy_NY

Germany has seen two totalitarian regimes in the 20th century: Nazism and communism in Eastern Germany. This gives many Germans unique insights into the workings of propaganda, mass-hypnosis and dictatorial policies. At the same time, we can witness a return of these blights in the form of medical tyranny, with most Germans - again - falling for the plot. In today's show, we talk to Sott.net editor Luke, a German who follows what's going on in the country of Goethe and Hitler, of Kant and...

Kyiv Post producer Elina Kent and staff writer Oleg Sukhov sit down to discuss the Kyiv Post's front page cover story of the week - Vladimir Putin: Killer On The Loose. "As Vladimir Putin moves tens of thousands of Russian troops and military hardware to Ukraine's eastern border, it's a good time to look at the Kremlin dictator's blood-soaked past, dating back to his KGB years in Dresden, Eastern Germany. He's responsible easily for tens of thousands of deaths in Ukraine, Syria & Russia, particularly during the Second Chechen War. Many people think he bombed his own citizens in their homes in 1999, killing more than 300 people, to gin up public support for the Chechen war. And, of course, at least 20 of his fiercest critics have been murdered, died under suspicious circumstances or were poisoned. Yet the West and much of the rest of the world treat him as if he's a normal leader." Full transcript available on kyivpost.com

Have you ever been told that you're far less serious on the inside than you appear on the outside? That's something that Anja, aka AS Renner, has experienced as an INFJ personality type. Anja is an INFJ writer, coach, and the author of the novel City of Lies. Under the pseudonym Sina Jasur, she has published several non-fiction books on Minimalism, Self-Publishing on Amazon and Nutrition. As a coach for intuitive writing, she supports creatives in finding their voice. The subscribers to her newsletter are currently receiving the free eBook "Intuitive Writing. My Seven Steps to a Finished Novel." She is also a rockin' mother of three (no seriously, she used to sing in a punk band, it all started when she was a lead singer in an all girl band!). She is also an Empath, Highly-Sensitive Person, an Aries (sun), Gemini (moon), and Leo (rising) from a town in Eastern Germany. In this episode, she shares the lessons that her children have taught her, which is to let go and not put too much pressure on herself or the kids. She said that the most important thing is that her kids are happy as themselves and that the key thing is accepting that they're different from her. This allows her to create more space to let her children have their own experiences and learn from them. We also got deep and talked about the INFJ personality type and all of it's contrasts.. Between getting mistaken for being extraverts (because we're more open with the people we trust and know well) or desiring deeper and meaningful conversations with other like-minded people (that's right, no small talk!), we INFJs know just what it feels like to be a “walking contradiction.” Tune-in to learn more about how intuition shows up for the INFJ and how journaling can help you intuitively work through your struggles with problem solving and making decisions. If you consider yourself creative, this is the episode for you! You'll learn how to use your intuition to ignite your writing (thanks gut instincts, ideas, and ah-ha moments!) We definitely talk about being empaths, going through gradual spiritual awakenings, seeking answers during hard times, seeing patterns across all religions, spiritual dreams, and common empath fears (ex. fear of being seen and being judged). If you'd like to connect with Anja or read her book check out the following links: Website: https://en.asrenner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asrenner1/ *Anja's book: https://www.amazon.com/Stadt-L%C3%BCgen-German-As-Renner/dp/3751968822/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= ***Empath Type Quiz Link: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/5f77e5e6d23d0a0014fc5110 ***Boundaries Type Quiz Link: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/6046ddffc97a130017e1eb63 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thatsdeeppodcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thatsdeeppodcast/support

Christian Baesler is the President of Complex Networks. Christian is a young media savant, who in his 20's had more media experience than most executives have in a lifetime. We discuss his humble German childhood, how he launched Bauer Media's digital business at just 21 years old, being a touring DJ, and Complex's international growth plans for 2021.  Subscribe to our newsletter. We explore the intersection of media, technology, and commerce: sign-up linkLearn more about our market research and executive advisory: RockWater websiteFollow The Come Up on Twitter: @TCUpodEmail us: tcupod@wearerockwater.com--EPISODE TRANSCRIPT:Chris Erwin:Hi, I'm Chris Erwin. Welcome to The Come Up, a podcast that interviews, entrepreneurs and leaders. Christian Baesler:I was there first as the student, still at my program. And I basically took the initiative to say, "Well, you say there is no opportunity here, why don't I just build a case study for you?" And so I programmed a website, plugged in the programmatic ads. And at first, I was also creating some of the content myself. There was, like, celebrity news on In Touch's websites. Chris Erwin:This week's episode features Christian Baesler, the president of Complex Networks. Christian is a young media savant who in his 20s had more media experience than most executives have in a lifetime. And he's a “get your hands dirty”-type builder. Like when he was tapped to be the head of digital at Bauer Media, right out of college and programmed the company's first website himself. And today Christian runs day to day operations of one of the world's largest digital companies, which includes hot sauces, a sneaker marketplace, live and virtual events, and so much more. And oh yeah, he even finds time to be a performing DJ throughout Europe. So yes, Christian is a rockstar, but as you'll quickly learn is also extremely humble. I'm pumped to tell you his story. All right, let's get into it. So Christian, let's jump back a few years. Let's start with where you grew up in Germany. Christian Baesler:Yeah. Where I grew up in Germany is, even for Germany I would say, not as popular place or as well regarded place, at least back then when I grew up there, it was heart of the GDR, the German democratic Republic or Eastern Germany, that only merged with Western Germany in 1990. And fun fact, I was actually born on the day that the German Wall fell. So November 9, '89. So my mother's always joking that's that one might have caused the other, I don't know which one caused what, but. Chris Erwin:Yeah, the whole like causality correlation thing. Christian Baesler:Probably the Wall falling was the cause for her giving birth that day. But I grew up in that area, that in terms of the economic environment had been very depressed. And for the next 10, 20 years after was integrating into Western Germany, but still there weren't that many of the same opportunities like there was in Western Germany. And in addition to that, I grew up most of the time of my childhood in small villages of like a few 100 people. I think the biggest place I lived in was like 1,000 people and everything was very rural. You had a lot of agriculture around and you would have to go 15, 20 minutes to the next nearest town at least, or to see other friends living out of town. So it felt very small and it wasn't the most progressive place, especially with the businesses that were there. Chris Erwin:And growing up, what was your household like? What did your parents do? Were they in a similar field that you are in now or totally different? Christian Baesler:Again, they grew up both in the GDR where it was mostly working class in general, in the GDR with the kind of jobs that people had especially living in villages. After the GDR became one Germany, my father, who was a plumber, started his own company doing plumbing. And so he was entrepreneurial, which previously in the GDR, you couldn't have your own business. There was no concept of privatizing where post he started his own local company. And so my mother was for the most part, a secretary in his company. Before that's in the GDR times, she was a waitress in restaurants. And I don't think I've said that in other podcasts or interviews before, my father passed away when I was 12 of cancer and so that was definitely a big moments of just unexpected big change and also something that was definitely a very difficult, but also important experience for me looking like now? Chris Erwin:Your memories of your father, is it that he was an entrepreneur and he ran his own plumbing business from what you recollect? Christian Baesler:Yes. Chris Erwin:Interesting. A lot of people think about entrepreneurship in the US or in the modern economy as go raise a bunch of money from Silicon Valley and have a big technology startup, but entrepreneurship takes many different forms; small businesses, blue collar businesses. Growing up in small communities of like a few 100 people, did that make you very curious of, "Hey, what else is out there? What else could I get into?" Or was there a level of comfort, which is, "This feels right. I could live like this with these type of people for the rest of my life." What was an early feeling, or if there's tension in your life? Christian Baesler:It was definitely, there must be more than this village life, which was comfortable and people knew each other around the village. So that was nice that sense of community, which I think is somewhat missing today in life in general, that it was more of a feeling of togetherness rather than everyone for themselves. So that was a plus, but I somewhat got lucky in terms of the time I was born on the exposure had early on in my childhood, because that was all pretty much at the development of the internet was just growing and computers were just growing, the personal computers were growing. Christian Baesler:That plus just overall TV getting bigger really gave me a window into what's out there in the world, which if you just live on the village and you read the local newspapers or some magazines, you have no idea what other lifestyles or what other cultures are outside of that bubble. And so I was quite early fascinated with computers in general, but then more importantly the internet, which was just a huge opportunity to learn about different things that otherwise I wouldn't have any exposure to. And that really showed me that there's more outside of this world I live in that I'd like to learn or immerse myself in. Chris Erwin:I understand that you began programming at a pretty early age, I think in your teens, early teens around 13. But your first exposure to the internet and computers, was it at home where your family purchased a computer for you or there was a shared computer or was it through local library or school? Because what I'm hearing from you is there were simple means growing up, like working class people in the community. So what was that first exposure to internet and technology? Christian Baesler:Yeah. My family as you mentioned, just in general by the nature of the environment and the jobs they had, they weren't wealthy by any means. So it was definitely not something that was readily available. We didn't have any computers at home, so that was not like an environment that I could benefit from, but I did have an uncle in my family that was very much into computers at the time. He assembled his own computers; buying all the parts and assembling all of them themselves. And so that was the first time I truly had an exposure to computers. Christian Baesler:And I was very fascinated by this concept of combining different things that if you plug them in, in the right way, it turns out to be this interactive device that then you can manipulate something on a screen with. That was very fascinating. And I would say the curiosity that I developed in this to begin with was probably within computer games. Just the idea that you can play on a device and again, influence what's happening on the screen was what sparked the initial interest and curiosity and computers then allowed me to create something myself that I can interact with manipulate like the games were previously. Chris Erwin:With the internet, what were you consuming? So games was a big part of that. And then did you start developing your own games as well? Christian Baesler:I started building games at the time, but what I was more fascinated with was programming languages around the internet itself. Early on, I think the first thing I started playing with, there was no big systems like Squarespace, back then you have to do a lot of the things manual yourself. And so early on, I remember being very interested in message boards, which was like this exchange platform for a lot of the communities and subcultures that might be on Reddit or other places today. But back then message boards were huge. And oftentimes message boards also got recorded by us for how to program. Like if you were stuck figuring out how to solve a specific programming problem, you could ask someone in the message board and this kind community would just take the time and help you. Christian Baesler:And so early on, for example, I discovered phpBB, I think it was called. It was like one of those WordPress like message board platforms that someone already built and you can create your own message board. But back then you had to host, you have to have your own hosting space and server and then you could style it. And so I took something that was existing like that and figure out how to do the hosting part and then started to manipulate it. Christian Baesler:And then over time it made me more and more curious to create websites on my own, which ultimately when I was probably 13, I started doing it. I made available as a service for companies and organizations in the local village at first, but then in the area. And so I developed websites for a fee for the local companies as probably the first big income source early on. Chris Erwin:When people think about the success formula, it's the power of curiosity and wonder coupled with serendipity and the right connections, and that you had this curiosity about you and then with your uncle who also had curiosity and access to the hardware and the software and interesting computers and intention to share that, what a powerful combination that puts you on a unique path. Christian Baesler:Absolutely. Chris Erwin:So then what is that transition where, okay, you're in high school, you're working these jobs and then I think there's a transition into interest in journalism before you go to university, tell me about like right before university some of the work that you were doing. Christian Baesler:Yeah. Some of the other work I did outside of the developing the website was I developed an interest in photography as well. And I bought myself, at least for that time, quite a good, I think it was called DLSR camera, which at the time was taking the best photos you could take. Maybe these days, all you need is an iPhone but back then, that's what you needed. So I was really interested in the idea of creating something in general, either websites or things for people to consume, which also could be images like photography and text. And so after playing around with the camera, I ended up also working for companies and for weddings as a photographer at first. And so some people trust- Chris Erwin:How old were you when you're doing wedding photography? Christian Baesler:Probably 15, 16, I would say. And so that made me interested in media, which is basically also creating something that people consume around photos and texts. And there was this local newspaper, which is basically one of those weekly things that you get delivered to your house often times for free and covered by ads, so they can monetize through advertising, but it was like the local newspaper and they had a freelance position at first to basically be a local reporter. I applied for it. And for whatever reason, I don't know why now looking back, my boss there eventually gave me a shot and trusted me to be this local reporter even though I was only 16 at the time. Chris Erwin:So the youngest reporter of the paper, probably? Christian Baesler:Probably, Yeah. I mean, I didn't see anyone else there in my age at the time and I wasn't paying too much attention to who the reporters are previous to me, but I would assume so. And basically with that job, I had to go around to different events and two different things happening in the region and interview people undocumented, both with texts, like articles that I wrote, but also with the photos because the budgets were so small, you basically had to do everything yourself as a local reporter. Christian Baesler:That was a hugely transformative experience for me because outside of just exposing them more to medium previously in my childhood and early teens, I was a very shy person. I wouldn't want to talk to people that I don't know. And it was very difficult for me to make conversations and this job required me. It was part of the job description to get information out of people. And ultimately this further, the desire to find out information with people. Chris Erwin:A theme that we'll get into later is this notion of subtle or soft power, which I believe that you embody. And so I was curious to where those roots are and hearing about your early age shyness, but clearly you wanted to express yourself, but maybe just differently relative to social norms. So that was the internet expressing yourself in gaming, and programming and building websites. And then as you said this desire to create and you're creating these stories and photography at the paper, a very interesting theme that takes you to where you are today, that we'll touch on a bit more. So you're creating and expressing in unique ways and then it's time to apply to college or university. And I believe that you ended up going to Nordakademie in Hamburg. When you went to university, what did you want to get out of it? Christian Baesler:Again, coming from a difficult economic environment where my family didn't have a lot of money even going to the government university wasn't as good of an option because they couldn't support me financially to like pay rent and to have the basic income to go through that school. And so there's one other interesting concepts which might be somewhat unique to Germany and it's called an integrated study where after high school, you apply at a company that is partnering with specific private universities and private for the reason that they basically create specific programs with these companies to give you a bachelor degree, you get a salary and you work half the time at the company. So it's a 10 weeks at the partner school, which in my case was Nordakademie. And then you had two to three months at the company where you're basically a trainee rotating them through different parts of the organization from marketing, to sales, to finance, they pay your tuition and pay your salary. Christian Baesler:And so that to me, as a concept integrated study in general was something that seemed like a solution. Like I could basically get an income and study at the same time. And so I was very focused on finding a place to get an integrated study. And originally I wasn't as singularly focused on media. I applied at Diamler, the car company. I applied at Lufthansa, actually the airline to become a pilot, which was something I was fascinated by early on. So it was different paths that could be going down. Chris Erwin:Wait, let me pause you right there. You said interest in being a pilot, had you flown, where did that interest come from? Christian Baesler:It was maybe another symbol of just going places and the freedom that had represented. And so I was always fascinated just by flying and pilots and airplanes in general. And again, growing up I played quite a lot of, I think it was Microsoft Flight Simulator, which I saw they just brought back as a new version the last month, but that was like one of my favorite games. And so I was fascinated by just the art of flying. And so I was seriously considering becoming an airline pilots at the time, applying at Lufthansa. Chris Erwin:It's Lufthansa and Daimler and you end up at Bauer in their integrated study program. And so how did it feel when you got Bauer? Were you excited? Christian Baesler:The Bauer one was one of the first that I got confirmation from. So the other ones weren't as quick in the process. And so it was the first option that was available, but then also in the moment thinking through what would it mean to go to the different companies that also felt like the most exciting, because it would allow me to do more of the things that I was already doing, meaning it was in the media industry, which again, as a local reporter had already worked in as a photographer and digital media was still nascent, but the concepts to build websites to then express the content on was something that they were very focused on at the time. Christian Baesler:So it felt like the best option based on my passion so far, but also they have like 100 magazines or so in Germany and some of them were my favorite from my childhood time. So I also had this excitement about now being at the company that makes the things that I consumed when I grew up. Chris Erwin:Got it. You were busy during your university years, you were at school and you were working a part-time job, but on a pretty serious rotation program. What else did you do in between then? We're going to get into your career trajectory very soon, which clearly you started early. What were other things that you were into? Christian Baesler:During that time, as you mentioned, it wasn't like a normal study where you have a three months summer break or few courses during the day and otherwise not much to do. So the three and a half years then was probably among the most intense time of my life. Maybe for the last few years career wise were more intense, but just up until then, it was the most intense time because it was classes from 9:00 until 6:00 and it was only a 10 week semester, which we had six big exams and there was no break, you had to then go to the company and work for three more months, different departments. And so there wasn't really that normal student life where you just travel the world or you just have this time to pursue other passion projects. Christian Baesler:But the one other passion project I developed quite early as well, going back to the idea of creating something is music, where I was really fascinated by how music is created and how if arrange sounds in a certain way, it could make people feel something just by nature of how it's arranged. And so pretty early on, I, again, thanks to the internet, found out what the tools are, which at the time already were software based. It wasn't that you had to have this big physical hardware environments. So I was quite early on playing around with different softwares for music creation and went deeper and deeper into that. Chris Erwin:And did you also perform as a DJ as well? Christian Baesler:Not in that time during my studies, but afterwards where I did both on the music production side, teach myself how to create my own music, but then I also learned how to be a DJ, which has different meanings. There's like the DJ that's basically just has a playlist of prearranged things like at weddings or other things. They have their purpose and that's definitely one component, but for me it was more the how do I create this experience that shows people music that they've never heard before and it sounds like a two hour long song or track rather than a clear difference actually three to five minutes? And so then I ended up performing multiple times in Germany, which I still did pre-COVID. So I'm still doing it now, if we wouldn't be in the current situation. Chris Erwin:Another unique form of expression. And I've never seen you perform and I know that your SoundCloud handle maybe as a current mystery, I wonder onstage when you perform, is it a more subdued presence and you let the music speak for itself or do you look at that? Is there a unique release there or maybe you enter a form that's unique to your professional leadership or character? Christian Baesler:It's definitely highly therapeutic I would say, because it's a different way of expression and also communication with the audience. And again, that the music I play is not like what you would hear in charts. It's for the most part electronic music, mostly techno music which for people that aren't familiar with, it might sound like jazz sounds. For people that don't understand or don't like jazz, it's just like this random sounds that are just being played. But for the audience that does appreciate it and know it, it's this very reflective experience. Christian Baesler:And for me, I get more instant gratification and joy out of doing this for 90 minutes and seeing the audience react to the music I'm making than doubling revenues or having some other usual measurement of success that feels more indirect. Like you see numbers in spreadsheets, but you don't really know what it means what's happening on the other side. And this is a much more direct feedback loop that is much more rewarding. Chris Erwin:And to be specific, your identity, your behavior on stage, would you say it's very different from your day-to-day life or is it similar? Christian Baesler:I would say it's similar. It's very reserved. With the techno music as a category, the DJ is in the backgrounds like the audience is not even meant to realize that there is a person there doing things, which is very different to when you go to festivals and they're all on big stages and have all these big lights. So that's kind of the opposite of what the electronic music culture or the underground electronic music culture would be about. So I'm basically the shaman in the background playing music for people to be in trance. That's kind of the goal of that experience. Chris Erwin:You're like that master of ceremonies pulling the puppet strings, little do they know that Christian or your DJ name is making that all happen? That's a cool thing. Christian Baesler:The best example would be just like it's a form of meditation where you can influence the behaviors of a big group of people just by playing certain sounds and everything happens in a synchronized way, which is incredibly fascinating that's possible with music as a human species, you can just align everyone through these quite simple ways. Chris Erwin:A unique form of leadership in a way. So let's transition now as you go from university and integrated study into full-time at Bauer. So I think this happens around 2008, there's some like various roles in the company. What's your transition into full-time? What does that look like? Christian Baesler:It was actually 2012 into full-time. So 2008, I started integrated study that went until 2012. And so that study started 2008. I was 18 turning 19. So right after high school, straight into this college integrated study program. And so when I finished in 2012, I was 22 turning 23. Normally you stay within that company for two years after. That's kind of part of the deal, which is great for the student because you have a guaranteed job. And it's great for the company because they get someone at an entry level rate, relatively speaking, that already knows the company for the last three years of having worked there. So it's a great mutual partnership. But usually you're supposed to stay in that location, which for me, was in Germany. I was in Hamburg, which is where the company is headquartered. And so there was kind of a role carved out for me in a certain team or division and everything is kind of pre-planned. Christian Baesler:As part of the integrated study, so during those first three, four years, there were two opportunities to go abroad. One was to study a semester abroad, which I ended up doing at Boston University. And then there was the opportunity to work abroad for one of those practical semesters. And I ended up going to the US office of Bauer Media, the company I was working with. And when I got there during the study part of the three, four years. First of all, I was very fascinated by the US studying at BU and the overall energy and culture and approach here seemed very different to everything I grew up. Christian Baesler:And so it felt very different in a positive way. And then working at the office in New York for Bauer right after, the energy in the office was also totally different. Everyone was much more focused, much more passionate to just do the best work. And more importantly, for my role there specifically, and again, I was still like a 20, 21 year old student at the time, the big opportunity I saw coming here was that there wasn't really a digital business yet that was already built out. There were print magazines and actually at the time, Bauer was the biggest magazine publisher selling at newsstands in the US. So like supermarket checkouts, at airports, all the usual places where you would buy a physical magazine. And so they were the biggest magazine publisher at the time with multiple magazines. The most well-known ones are probably In Touch Weekly, Life & Style Weekly, Woman's World and First for Women. Christian Baesler:And it wasn't like an oversight that they didn't have a digital strategy or the digital business yet, it was by the nature of their print business model. Traditionally, all the media companies in the US, the magazine media companies in the US are build on discounting subscriptions to lock you in for a period of time as an audience and then they monetize it through advertising. So it's basically getting scale in subscriptions, which often a loss leader to then make money through ads. So when all these other companies expanded to digital in the early 2000s, they followed the same model for the online business which is giving away content for free, which is basically giving away subscriptions or discounting subscriptions and then monetizing the reach through ads. Christian Baesler:And so Bauer made the majority of its revenues through actually selling a single magazine to the reader. They didn't discount any subscriptions. The ads was a small part of the business. And so that made them very profitable and very successful, but it didn't really lend itself to just be scaled online because people just weren't used to paying for that kind of content online. Chris Erwin:And a totally new muscle to flex in terms of trying to try a new business model, hire the right team against that new mandate, manage it. So enter Christian, right? Christian Baesler:Yeah. I got there, again, as a student at first in 2011, it was. And so again, that was kind of the context that were the successful print magazines that make most of their revenue through consumers. And there was no way to make revenue through consumers as easily online. And the usual business model is to get most audience possible and directly to a sales team, sell ads into it, which the company wasn't set up for to do both in terms of the people and the kind of focus that was there, but also it might've disrupted the print business more rapidly if we would have pursued a different approach online. And so the timing there, again, was very unique and very much in my favor, which are really like two things. Christian Baesler:One, there was not the emergence of more standardized technologies like WordPress for example, and other systems that were already pre-built were more readily available. You didn't have to completely invent everything from scratch. And the other big opportunity at the time that was developing was programmatic advertising, which means you don't need an expensive sales team to have human conversations with potential clients and convinced him that they should not spend this money with you which in our position at the time, we were one of the smallest in terms of online reach and probably not as differentiated to some of our competitors. Christian Baesler:So it was a lot of upfront risk to spend all this money on the team that might then sell something where with programmatic advertising, every page impression that we generates has a certain amount of ads on them. And they automatically monetize through Google or other partners without question. And so it became very predictable. If we have more traffic, we can make more money without having an upfront risk of hiring a team to sell that space. Chris Erwin:What I want to understand is when you come in, you rise to transform this company into digital and to lead an innovation of their business model. And you are tapped to do this at a pretty young age. So when you are tapped to lead this initiative, some interesting things happen. One, I believe that you probably to really diverged from your peers in a meaningful way that are the same age and two, you get your hands dirty and in the weeds more than I think, I've heard about a lot of other executives, you're building their digital websites and their tech stack yourself, not hiring another team yourself. So first talk about when you were tapped to lead this, what did that feel like? Were you excited? Were you scared? Was it like, "No, of course I'm going to do this." What was in your head? Christian Baesler:It sounded surreal at first. And just again, the context at the US company was what I described and so I was there first as a student still on my program and I basically took the initiative to say, "Well, you say there is no opportunity here, why don't I just build a case study for you?" And so I programmed a website, plugged in the programmatic ads. And at first, I was also creating some of the contents myself for the website to be published there. Chris Erwin:You were writing what type of content? Christian Baesler:There was celebrity news on In Touch's websites. After the first few ones, we ended up hiring some freelancers and relied on some additional support. But yes, in the beginning it was basically, let me show you that there's potential opportunity here while I was still a student there. And I was there for three months, and in that three months I could showcase that there's a probable business. We basically build the website and monetize it, and it was profitable just within that trial period of the time I was there as an assignment. Christian Baesler:At the end of that assignment, when I received the job offer to go back full-time to the US business and join at the time director of new media. And I was still like 21, 22-year-old student in university and I still had one more year to go, I still had to finish my school. And so that was hugely flattering and surprising to be getting that level of trust and also that kind of offer even before I graduated and it was actually frustrating and I still had to basically finish my school for another year before I could take that opportunity. Christian Baesler:So I did go back to Germany and finish the degree and ended up moving to the US in 2012 for this job. And at first I was very scared and concerned I would say, because there were two differences I would say that I was facing to anyone else coming into this role. One was just, I was highly inexperienced in a traditional sense because I never managed people before and I never had one singular boss before I rotated through the whole company but I wasn't part of a traditional team. So now, having to lead a department or in this case it was just me in the beginning but the agreement or the goal was to build it up. It felt very scary because I hadn't done it before and I didn't see it before. Chris Erwin:That's a lot of responsibility at a young age. You're already going through a lot of change when you graduate university, and now this is adding in... It's a lot of change that happens in your career in your 20s is now happening to you all at 21. Christian Baesler:Totally. And also in a different country. While I just had spent six months in the US to study semester here and to work for the company here, it was still now being in a different country with a different culture in a leadership position at relatively young age. And so that was definitely a period of me not feeling sure or confident if I'm ready for this, if I can accomplish the goals that are set or if I'm able to meet the expectations. But in terms of how I felt just about being given the opportunity, it was very, again, flattering. Christian Baesler:But also, just I was very positively surprised to receive that level of trust that someone took a chance on me so early on in my career, which I would say is a constant theme that goes back to people back then trusting me to build their websites, later to work for the local newspaper at a relatively early age. And so having people that trusted me, was probably the single most important way for me to progress with these opportunities. Chris Erwin:Well, and putting in the work to be rewarded with that trust. But also just again the serendipity, Bauer a traditional media business that could really be empowered by transforming to digital and with your background and skills it was like right place, right time. Christian Baesler:Also, it's right place, right time but also I think in general when I talk to other friends about it, it's making sure that you are available for opportunities. You put yourself out there and you put in the hard work, but then when they arise that you go for them. It was definitely a difficult decision for me to say, "Okay. I'm not going to move by myself to the US and take this role and go into this uncertainty." And actually at the time, Bauer in Germany was against me going to the US even though the US part of the company wanted to hire me because they said, "We're educating for the German market and we have this path set out for you here," which was a more traditional progression. Christian Baesler:It was like, "You're going to be this junior project manager on this thing over here." And so that was ultimately decided against, as in they didn't want me to go to the US. And so I basically advocated and lobbied and showed what the potential benefit is or the risks of me not going for a few months to ultimately convince them otherwise. If I would've given up at the time, I would probably not be here where I am today. Chris Erwin:As we like to say, you stood in your power. You had a point of view and you put your foot down and said, "There's a major opportunity in the US, it's where I want to be and I'm going to make this a mutual win." And I like how you said, availability for opportunities. When people talk about success, there's luck that comes into it but it's increasing the likelihood of luck. I'm reading a book called, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. And he talks about setting up your life, your finances, your health, so that when that opportunity comes along you can pounce and you are in a situation where you very much could and could very much make the case. Look, there is a lot more that we could talk about with Bauer. I know we're probably going to rush through the next five to six years there but I want to make sure we have time to talk about Complex, because there's a lot there too. Christian Baesler:Of course. Chris Erwin:A big question that I have is, I look at your next years at Bauer; you're navigating profitability in unprofitable times and you look a lot of digital peers in the US. And I was part of this world, the MCNs and all the digital studios that emerge out of Google original channels program, a lot of companies that did not succeed. And then you end up running two businesses at once, a UK media business and a digital business. I'm curious, high level, how did your leadership evolve during that period of coming in as a newbie leader at 21, 22, to the type of leader you were at the end of this incredible experience? And we'll save another podcast again, to the details there. Christian Baesler:I would say it evolved from not being sure what it means to be a manager and how to lead people, let alone different culture. When I first started to having to figure out how to do a lot in the weeds with other people in the US part, to then hiring a more senior team that then I was working with on a much higher level being less in the weeds. So in the end of my US time, we actually separated out the digital business into its own company called Bauer Xcel Media with standalone content creation technology, everything you can imagine having in a traditional visual media company. And so we had C-level executives, we had vice presidents, senior presidents for different functions. Christian Baesler:And so I transitioned from being the person that creates the content or writes the website to managing senior people at all times really, were older than I was. And so figuring out how to motivate and mentor people in their day-to-day work with me having had less work experience, was definitely one challenge. And it was the startup nature I would say in the US, when I ended up going to the UK as well. Where Bauer is the largest magazine company and Europe's largest radio company, it was kind of the opposite situation. There were already hundreds of brands and hundreds of people across all those brands that worked on digital, and I joined to oversee the digital business. And so I inherited an existing business with existing practices and that was mostly I would say big learning on change management, how do I build partnerships throughout the organization of other functions that don't report into me? How do I get alignments as I think about restructuring and making large scale changes of how we work and who was in certain roles? Chris Erwin:This is interesting. So let me ask you specifically, mentoring people and hiring people that are older than you in senior roles that you're the ultimate leader, what worked well for you to be able to do that? Christian Baesler:There were two parts, there's making sure I convinced people to join the company I was with from other jobs that were companies maybe they were more established to what we're trying to build. And so at that part, I was worried about what was the vision and can I show enough confidence and enough support to make them feel like they can truly build something here. So that was really the big opportunity to co-create or co-build something, but then in turns out actually working with them is finding the right people and then letting them do their work without interfere. So I was seeing myself more as a mediator or almost like the role of a therapist, of making sure they have the tools to work towards achieving their goals without me necessarily telling them what to do in there functions. Chris Erwin:I like that a lot. One of the greatest lessons that I learned was from the old founder and CEO of Big Frame, Steve Raymond, who said, "Hire great people and get out of the way and empower them." Beautiful, simple words and it works. Christian Baesler:Absolutely. And I think that's also what makes people feel like they're trusted and they have the freedom to truly make an impact. Chris Erwin:So Christian, we just took a break. We were talking about change management at Bauer and one of your proudest moments, why don't you tell us about that moment there? Christian Baesler:So looking back throughout my career the proudest moment I had is, at first in the US we were able to separate the digital business that I was tasked with creating into its own division, into its own company. The overall company is called Bauer Media Group, it's one of the largest media companies in the world, a couple of billion in revenue and more than 10,000 staff and one in a thousand radio, TV and magazine brands. It actually might be the biggest magazine company globally in terms of circulation. And so it's a huge organization. Christian Baesler:And so in the US when I was busy, at first the only person doing a digital business in the end we were roughly 50 to 60 people just for the US digital business and spun it off into its own company. The inspiration for me for that was the innovator's dilemma book which is basically, why do big companies that are successful in one industry fail when they're not seeing kind of the innovations around the corner and where things are going? And I thought that in general with print media and specifically at Bauer that was on the horizon and really the only way to solve for it is to create a separate company that in the context of the new market is big relatively speaking, because at Bauer the problem was always printed, so profitable and it's so big, why do we care so much about the small digital dollars? We don't want to cannibalize ourselves. Christian Baesler:And realizing that it's inevitable that digital would be bigger than prints and if we don't cannibalize ourselves our competitors will cannibalize us. And so ultimately, I got them to spin off in a separate company in the US at first called Bauer Xcel Media, which I then became the president of. And because we have been profitable every year since the beginning and scaled other 50 people and we're still highly profitable, which as you mentioned at this time was unusual with a lot of venture-backed companies raising hundreds of millions. I ultimately convinced the ownership, it's a family owned company in the fourth generation, to roll out that model globally. Chris Erwin:How did you convince them? Was it you just call up the family owner, the patriarch, and say, "I want to do some change?" Was it scheduled big board meeting? What was that process? Christian Baesler:I only really learned about what board meetings are after joining Complex now, because back then in a family owned business the board is the owner and so in this case is one person that owns more than 90% of the company. And so we would have monthly or quarterly check-ins with her and some of the other management team she has, just talking about business progress. And at the time they were super fascinated that we were able to build such a profitable business with no investment upfront and relatively little resources. And so they were really curious how we did it and why we were succeeding. And the business grew even more and was even more profitable after we spun off to be a separate business. Ultimately, it led to a conversation of, why are we not doing this in every country? Chris Erwin:When you have management saying, "Why are we not doing more of this?" That's a great place for you to be. Christian Baesler:Exactly. And ultimately, they rolled out Bauer Xcel Media as a concept of separating the digital business from the traditional magazine or radio business in every other major markets. And ultimately, the goal was to have one global platform. So one content management system, one ad tech stack, all the things you would imagine having locally and that's what enabled me then to also take on the UK business operationally to basically do the same business expansion there. Chris Erwin:Last question on Bauer, Christian, did you say that you came up with the name Xcel Media, the digital unit? Christian Baesler:Yes. Chris Erwin:What was the inspiration for that? And was that a proud moment to say, "This is my name, my stamp on the company." Christian Baesler:It was definitely the proudest moment and I think they still even use it now, every company and every country now that does digital is still called Bauer Xcel Media. So it's kind of my legacy now within the company that they're still adopting my name and the logo we created and everything. The name, it's difficult to find a good name in general and it doesn't always have to be super prescriptive of what it is that you're making, best example the Apple that sells computers. The name I think is completely arbitrary just to make sure it's not something negative. Christian Baesler:Traditionally, any kind of digital team within the company was called 'New Media,' which was my title actually. Director of New Media, which what does that mean in the context of everything or 'Digital Media,' which eventually everything will be digital at some point. And so we wanted to find something that wasn't so limiting in what it could mean or it would be out of date a few years later. And Excel just as a name, like the spreadsheet software, just thinking of doing something better and that's more progressive than what we've done so far was the inspiration. I think we just decided to leave out the E like the software, it's spelled X-C-E-L just to make it sound a bit more fancy. But that was the goal to find something lasting that sounds more inspiring. Chris Erwin:Yet another creative fingerprint from Christian that touches audiences, people in society in a unique way. All right. So speaking of interesting names, we now transition to the Complex part of the story. So you're at Bauer for about 10 years, a decade, maybe you're on the path to be the CEO, but something causes you to rethink where you want to be. And I'm curious, were you seeking out change or did change come to you or a mix of both? Christian Baesler:Actually, the change I was seeking at the time after 10 years at Bauer was a break and time to reflect. My plan was to take at least a year off and do a world trip in a way that I think was only possible at that time and maybe still now, meaning I didn't want to plan anything upfront. If I wanted to stay a certain place I like it, I might stay longer or not. Where I feel like you can take a vacation or even a sabbatical you're still at work, you're still thinking about work, you're still checking emails. Christian Baesler:And so I truly wanted to be completely disconnected from everything and if I hate it, then I can stop after two months and if not I would go longer and so that was my goal. And after 10 years in Bauer and the end of it living between London and New York, which was fun but also very tiring as we would fly every week or every two weeks between the two cities; I slept like four hours a night, I felt like I needed a break. So I resigned actually my roles at Bauer for that reason. So I wasn't actually planning to work again right after this. Chris Erwin:How much time was there? Did you get a reprieve? Did you get a vacation? What was the gap before you went to Complex? Christian Baesler:Probably a month I would say. Chris Erwin:A month, okay. Christian Baesler:Not what I had hoped for. Chris Erwin:I was thinking about this notion of sabbatical or time off recently. And I think it is one of the healthiest things that you can do, but I also feel that young up and comers feel well, "I'm going to get out of my groove. I got relationships, people like my work," and they don't want to change that. But I actually think spaces' transformative. So what was the special moment? Was it a conversation with Rich that made you change this whole big plan that you had been formulating for a while? Christian Baesler:Exactly. So Rich and I reached the founder and CEO of Complex, we've known each other since I think 2014. We met at a Digiday conference that we were both speaking at and we stayed in touch, maybe every three months or so we would have breakfast or lunch just to talk about what's happening in industry and what we're seeing in our businesses. I've always enjoyed my conversations with Rich. I was always very impressed by what Complex was doing and how fast it was growing. Christian Baesler:And so I would just meet him on ongoing basis, including when I just had resigned my role at Bauer and basically mentioned to him that I left or I'm actually leaving. After a six months' notice, I had to serve out which is a very European thing that even after you give notice you still have to work for at least three if not six more months, but I already had resigned but I was still there for six months. And I told him I planned to do a world trip and from that moment on he basically pitched me into join Complex instead. And so the one month was basically the compromise to still have some time off in between. Chris Erwin:So it's Rich's fault, he blew up this once in a lifetime chance for an amazing vacay. What did he tell you or show you that caused you to just totally change your thinking and come on board? Christian Baesler:Two things, the ability to focus on fewer brands and go deeper. At Bauer in the US we had 15 brands, in the UK when I was still in UK business it was more than 100 brands. So you never really focused on a brand in the role that I had there, it was always systems and processes and people and so it was very abstract, where this was truly a brand business. Christian Baesler:And then the second part which was the most exciting for me as well, it's just the diversity of the business in terms of the business models. Everything I had done previously was traditional digital media of building websites and optimizing the monetization of those websites for the most part, where at Complex it was also a huge TV, video business, a huge events business, a huge actual commerce business not just affiliate. So I also felt like I would learn a lot and get a lot of experience in areas of media and entertainment that I hadn't had exposure to previously. Chris Erwin:So Rich recruits you, what is your mandate on day one? "All right Christian, you like our vision, here's what we need you to do." What was that? Christian Baesler:I would say my main mandate was to optimize the operations of the company, that the company had been through a lot of growth previously and was acquired in 2016 by Verizon and by Hearst. And so I joined two years later. And so now it reached this point of maturity as an organization in terms of much bigger staff now and many more goals and so my role was created to help create focus and reorganize what we do and how we do it, but also to continue to scale it to the next stage of growth. Chris Erwin:I'm thinking back to your 21-year-old moment being tapped as the director of a department at Bauer. You were scared then. You were excited about the responsibility but natural anxiety. Now you're entering an exciting, well-lauded company in digital media and entertainment at a very senior level. What were your feelings at that point? Christian Baesler:I think at the beginning it was also a question of to some degree anxiety, because there were two unknowns or two uncertainties. One, at Bauer I was there for 10 years and even if I switched between countries or switched between roles I already had established myself, people internally knew me and I already had trust of the people around me. When I went to the UK, people already knew I did something successful in the US office so there was an established relationship or awareness, where here I felt like I was the new person coming in and I had to prove myself all over again. Christian Baesler:So that was definitely a big unknown or a big source of anxiety in the beginning of, can I do it again? Can I prove myself again? And then the second part was just around as I mentioned it, I was very excited about the opportunity because of the expansion to other areas of media entertainment that I hadn't done previously but now it was also my job to work in those areas not having had done them previously in such a way. And so there was also the question of, how quickly can I get up to speed to make sure we're doing better as a business as a whole, including those areas. Chris Erwin:How did you prove yourself? How did you gain trust with this new team right off the bat? What was your immediate approach? Christian Baesler:And with that it was very helpful to just have been at the UK part of Bauer which was established team, established company, everything was already there and I was brought on to optimize it in the UK. It was an incredible learning experience in my most recent role prior to apply here. And so the big learning was, to build trust first and to truly understand what's working and not working is to take the time. Christian Baesler:So the first three months of joining, I would not make any changes. I would not introduce anything new unless it was obvious or easy just so there's time to build relationships and to basically go on the listening tour and hear from everyone throughout the company what's working, what's not working and through basically creating a list of opportunities and issues I would get buy-in from each of the established people throughout the company to then collaborate on solving all the various issues or optimizing all the various opportunities. Chris Erwin:I love that. You're a big new executive, people might expect you're going to come in and mandate all this big change, new culture, the best leaders don't do that. There's an existing culture. There's a lot of smart, great people, listen to them, process that and then you start to add your flair to the business over time. So you joined Complex, this is back in 2018, this is two to three years ago? Christian Baesler:Right. Chris Erwin:Now, you know our team and I write about and I tweet about, why I think Complex is so special, that you guys have built this very impressive, diverse business across media, ads sales, commerce, E-learning events, virtual events, the gamut and which I'll let you talk about. I want to hear, why do you think Complex is so special? Talk about the business of what it is and why it is so unique to its peers and just in the overall media market place. Christian Baesler:I think the three reasons or answers why we are so successful or why we are different to some of our peers, the first one is just; which is the biggest one is, passion for the things that we're covering and creating. We don't cover certain contents or create certain content because it's popular in Google or Facebook right now and we think there's a revenue opportunity, if we were to cover it. All the things that we're creating which historically was mostly in the hip hop and sneakers and streetwear space, we've been pants off from the beginning when they were all still niches and subcultures early in 2001, 2002 when the company was started. And so it's that deep passion that leads to authenticity, like are people actually care about what we're creating which then resonates differently with the audience. Christian Baesler:And so we have benefited as a company from those content categories now being as big as they are with hip hop being the biggest music category and sneakers and streetwear is the biggest in fashion. And we expanded to other verticals since then, but it's really finding people that are truly passionate about the content that you're creating. From a business model perspective, I would say the second big difference is that we think about everything in a 360 connected way. We don't create a product that's a website and then separately we think, "There might be some revenue in events, let's create a completely different event just so we have an event." Everything is connected. Christian Baesler:And so one good comparison I could give is Marc Ecko, who's the co-founder of Complex together with Rich who was also a fashion designer, he compared it to us not trying to be like another print magazine at the time like The Source or XXL [inaudible 00:50:27] or from a TV perspective not like MTV but a youth cultured Disney. Disney, meaning like they think about each of their shows and movies as IP that then translates to all these different revenue streams across events and commerce rather than afterthought and that's really how we're approaching a lot of our businesses. Christian Baesler:And then the third one which I would say is helping us especially in these times today and I was very impressed by as well when I was talking to Rich before joining, it's just the responsibility from a financial perspective that the business has had and has been taken for for years now. We, as the company now, didn't raise a crazy amount of money like some of our peers did, which made us much more focused on running a sustainable business from the beginning. And so with that, we've been running a business that's been profitable for years now which allowed us to be much more dynamic and much more flexible in how we make decisions. Chris Erwin:I think to that last point because you probably won't say it yourself Christian due to your humility, but from personal experience in digital media and modern media there is a lot of founders that are great visionaries, have an idea of where they want to build to but don't know how to build sustainably towards that end. And you exhibited in your career from early days of wanting to build and create, having the lean resources that you had access to, it's like you had your uncle's computer hardware do what you can with that. Then going into Bauer and learning how to do that at a company, I feel like this was ingrained to you not only very early on in your childhood but also in your early career. Chris Erwin:And I think that you are a special leader that a lot of other companies lack that don't bring this discipline nor this focus. And it speaks to another sentiment which is at a lot of media companies studios, is usually a complimentary leadership, like a great business mind and a great visionary. And I think that you and Rich can serve as both, but you're optimizing the day-to-day being in the weeds with the team and also having incredible passion yourself for these brands and where you want this business to go. It feels like a very exciting setup for where Complex can go next. But I don't like to overly editorialize in these interviews, but I do want to call that out for the listeners because I think it's special and worth hearing. Christian Baesler:Totally. Thank you so much. I very much appreciate the kind words. Chris Erwin:Of course. Christian Baesler:I think the overall theme is definitely resourcefulness of just trying to figure out how to make things from very little, where in my case growing up that was just the environment I came from as I mentioned. But also as a company, I think if you have too much funding available it leads you down wrong decisions more easily and you don't realize that you made wrong decisions until you run out of money, so that's a very dangerous path. I do think there is still value in raising money if you have highly scalable business models, let's say if you have subscriptions with a proven cost per acquisition and other things. But for where media is today, it's not as beneficial as people thought it would be five or 10 years ago. Chris Erwin:So with all of those nice things being said, let's talk about something that you and I have chatted in coffee shops before and with Rich, that you feel a lack of industry recognition by your peers, by the press, Complex doesn't get the attention or the notoriety that it deserves. Why don't you expand on that a little bit. Christian Baesler:In general, there's still I would say in the traditional B2B world but also just in a general consumer perspective of people that might not be of our audience and non awareness of either who we are in general or how big we are and how diversified we are, all the things we're doing as a business. But just I think the most simple fact would just be that we, based on Comscore which is the standard measurement for digital media in the US, reached to most 18 to 34 year old males in the US more than any other media company and more than double to Vice and still most people know Vice or think of Vice as the biggest youth culture brand. Christian Baesler:And I give them a lot of credit for having done great marketing and they raised a lot of money for being able to do so over the years. But there's also another prejudice which is, the things that we do and the things that we cover like sneakers or hip hop both as a music as well as culture are niche. Meaning there are small, passion groups of small audiences. But actually, hip hop by far now is the biggest music category in the US and sneakers are a huge growing business, that's the fastest and biggest in fashion now. Christian Baesler:And so those industries are now mass and today's youth, meaning 13 to 40 probably, are incredibly passionate about them. So we're dealing with kind of a prejudice or to some degree ignorance about the markets with those things being perceived as niche, as well as our role in that overall market that we've been working through for the last few years of changing that awareness holistically. Chris Erwin:That sense about the prejudice of being niche focused and I think you've also talked about even the stigma around streetwear culture and hip hop can impact you. I never thought about that before, but it's interesting to think about. All right. So at Complex, you guys have a lot of different brands, a lot of different businesses. Let's talk about some of your favorite children, which I don't know if you often do but we've learned your passions in this interview. What do you kind of love the most working on there, some of the content that you have? Christian Baesler:I think the most obvious one to mention now that maybe most of the listeners know as well is Hot Ones; our interview show where celebrities eat chicken wings while they get interviewed and those chicken wings gets spicier and spicier. And so it's highly entertaining to watch but also to work with the team on and it's been an amazing experience to help them diversify their business beyond advertising into hot sauce, into a game show, into a board game. So that has been an incredible experience. Christian Baesler:But then we also have shows like sneaker shopping, where we have a host go into sneaker stores, interview celebrities in context of sneakers that we diversified into education programs, basically learning how to get into the sneaker industry as a student. But also, up and coming shows like Full Size Run which is a weekly show where we interview celebrities, talk to celebrities as a talk show talking about the sneakers of the week that were released. That's kind of the show that's on the next level coming up. Chris Erwin:And what's the name of that again, Christian? Christian Baesler:Full Size Run. Chris Erwin:Full Size Run. Got it. Christian Baesler:And so that's on the more entertainment side, we also have programming that's more investigative, more serious news journalism with our biggest show there called Complex World which looks at different issues throughout the country, especially in the upcoming election cycle. So it's a balance between the entertainment part of it that's more fun and more casual, to the more serious journalism as well. Chris Erwin:And what you talked about, which I want to make clear for the listeners is you talked about E-learning classes for how to launch streetwear products and businesses. And I think a very cool new theme that Complex has spearheaded in our industry is, we're not just hip hop, streetwear culture and news and reporting, we are expertise in understanding of this space. And that allows you to expand your business in many different ways and to sell that expertise to other businesses, advertiser clients or even youth who are in undergrad programs at Parsons or FIT for example, and to make them better entrepreneurs in your verticals, that is just an awesome thing. Christian Baesler:Absolutely. Chris Erwin:All that being said Christian, you love DJing music. So is it Pigeons and Planes? What's one of the brands that you do a lot but what for you that really resonates with your heart? Christian Baesler:I think Pigeons and Planes resonates because of my passion with music because the focus of Pigeons and Planes is to give emerging artists a platform before they are big enough to be covered by the more traditional music publications or even by Complex and that to me is the most important part of the ecosystem. Everyone that has great talent has the same struggle in the beginning which is, how do I get awareness for what I'm doing? And having a brand within our portfolio does just that, not just through social media and articles, but we do events where we bring emerging artists onto the stage in different cities, has been a big passion of mine for sure to work with. Chris Erwin:All right. So a couple more questions on Complex and then we're going to get into the rapid fire and we'll close this out, how's that sound good? Christian Baesler:It sounds good. Chris Erwin:I don't think I've fully exhausted Christian yet, but maybe getting close in this marathon. Where do you want complex to be in 2021 that you're not right now? Christian Baesler:The main goal that we still have ahead of us that got somehow paused this year is internationalization or globalization. Right now, we are the biggest youth culture company or collection of brands in the US. And what's quite unique right now is that the passion points and the topics that we are the experts on here, are also the biggest in many other markets internationally. So again, hip hop music as a culture and sneakers and streetwear, but there isn't a b

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