Podcasts about Endless

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit InwardTorah.org

Pepe embarks on an exploration with Endless Mike And The Beagle Club as they walk through their latest album, The Forest Is The Trees.Unlock the intimate thoughts behind a band that defies conventions—where 18-piece tours become a collective art form. Dive into the chaos and beauty of managing a constantly evolving lineup that sometimes hits 25 members, turning complexity into cohesion, every decision is rooted in a desire for authenticity, community, and artistic freedom. We break down elements of each song on their lates album.This is for you if you're a fan of punk, folk, experimental indie, or anyone who believes that true art isn't commercialized but rooted in shared meaning and anti-capitalist spirit. EM&TBC is a band that's been nourishing the DIY scene for over 20 years—proof that the best art grows from collaboration, and a fierce love for song.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindConnect with Endless Mike And The Beagle Clubinstagram.com/emandthebcendlessmikeandthebeagleclub.bandcamp.com/musicGet Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe)StayFreeCoffee.comBack On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch:backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicFollow the podcast on Instagraminstagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramReach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions toPodcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :)Stay Free,Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A woman sitting blissfully on a vibrating laundromat dryer. A faked pregnancy test to dump a bad boyfriend. In 2019, the internet was abuzz about bizarre ads for a mobile game called Lily's Garden. The ads were only about 15 seconds each, but they evoked a whole universe of drama amongst a cast of zany characters that inspired countless YouTube videos and copious internet chatter. The thing is... the story in the ads had almost nothing to do with the story in the game. In this episode of Endless Thread: creative differences, the wilderness of mobile games, and where the Lily's Garden game-world and the ad-world diverged. Show notes: Lily's Garden on the App Store Lily's Garden on Google Play "I hate Lily's Garden and her teeth" (PewDiePie, YouTube) How Tactile Games made marketing and diversity core to Lily's Garden's $500 million success (Pocket Gamer) This episode was produced and written by Grace Tatter, co-hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson, and edited by Meg Cramer. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. Special thanks to our 2025 Bloomberg Arts Intern Cendy Charles.  *** Sponsor message: INCOGNI: Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code ENDLESS at the link below and get 60% off annual plans: https://incogni.com/ENDLESS

Dominican friar and Godsplaining podcast host Fr. Gregory Pine, OP joins Erika to discuss his new book, Training the Tongue: Growing Beyond the Sins of Speech. In an age of hot takes and endless commentary, how do we learn to speak truthfully, charitably, and even humorously? A conversation about disciplining our speech – and reclaiming real human conversation.Check out Fr. Pine's new book: "Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech" https://stpaulcenter.com/store/training-the-tongue-and-growing-beyond-sins-of-speechWatch The Deep on Zeale: https://zeale.co/podcasts/the-deep

On this episode I sit down with Hell of a Life, a shoegaze band from Chicago. We talk about how they started out and their self titled EP that came out in 2024. We then dive into their latest singles "Endless" and "Monument", and where they are going from here. Be sure to follow Hell of a Life and check out "Endless" and "Monument"!!!This episode features the songs "Endless" and "Monument".You can find Hell of a Life at the following links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellofalife.bandBandcamp: https://hellofalife.bandcamp.com/Everywhere Else: https://linktr.ee/hell_of_a_life_______________________________________You can find Beers With Bands here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeersWBandsPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beerswithbandspod/Bandcamp: https://beerswithbands.bandcamp.comEverywhere else: https://linktr.ee/BeersWithBands

Trevor Yates, CS, from New York, New York, USA

If you're a mom building a business or leading in your life, it can feel like the world never stops demanding your attention.Bad news. Fear-filled headlines. Social media overwhelm. Endless responsibilities.But what if burnout isn't coming from doing too much… What if it's coming from absorbing too much?In today's episode, we're talking about how women can protect their peace, lead their families well, and build meaningful work without constantly living in stress mode.I'm sharing three sustainable self-care tools that help you stay grounded, energized, and aligned — even in a world that thrives on chaos.Because self-care isn't selfish.It's how we protect the energy God gave us to live out our calling.Inside this episode you'll learn:• Why modern life keeps women in constant stress mode • How to protect your mind and nervous system from overwhelm • The power of an intentional “Input Diet” • How to create daily anchors that stabilize your day • Why choosing joy is actually an act of leadershipScripture we reflect on:“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23If you've been feeling stretched thin, this episode will help you come back to what truly matters.

Youth sports used to be simple.Kids played with neighborhood friends, parents volunteered as coaches, and the goal was just to have fun.But today?Youth sports have become a multi-billion-dollar industry, and parents are under enormous pressure to keep up.Private coaching. Travel teams. Year-round specialization. Endless tournaments.In this episode, Jamie sits down with Jonathan Carone from Healthy Sports Parents to talk about how youth sports got so intense — and what parents can do to bring some sanity back into the experience.Jonathan shares how a viral video about toxic sports parenting launched his platform and why he believes most parents truly want to do better… they've just never been shown how.Together they discuss:How youth sports evolved into a billion-dollar industryThe pressure parents feel to keep up with travel teams and private lessonsWhy kids today feel more pressure than previous generationsThe myth of the college scholarship dreamHow parents accidentally turn sports into a high-stress experienceWhy kids are quitting sports earlier than everThe importance of letting kids fail and develop intrinsic motivationWhy travel sports can either strengthen families… or break them apartA healthier way to approach youth sports and athletic developmentThis episode is a must-listen for any parent navigating the increasingly intense world of youth athletics.

Why do so many sellers stay stuck even after watching courses, reading books, and buying tools?   In this Coach's Corner episode, Brian and Robin share a powerful story about the Wright Brothers and Samuel Langley. One had funding, prestige, and a perfect plan. The other simply kept testing. Only one of them flew.   That story opens a conversation about a common trap Amazon sellers fall into. Over-planning. Endless research. Waiting for the perfect moment to start. Brian and Robin break down a simple three-question filter that helps you cut through the noise and focus on the next right move in your business.   You'll learn: • Why planning too far ahead keeps sellers stuck • How to tell the difference between real progress and "feeling busy" • The simple Now vs. Later filter that keeps you focused • Why boring systems usually mean your business is working • The one action challenge you should complete this week   If you feel overwhelmed by tools, courses, or endless advice, this episode will help you reset and focus on what actually builds a business. Because the antidote to confusion isn't more information.   It's action.   Special guest at the conclusion of today's show, Jeff Schick of JeffSchick.com answers the question: "If I don't have Jeff's team on retainer, can they still help me? (Answer: YES!)" Use coupon code "MISTAKE" to get your first month of services for only $1 with Jeff and his team!   Watch this episode on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/vPGOInhtiL4   Show note LINKS: 3pmercury.com/friends - The best pricing on 3pMercury software!   ProvenAmazonCourse.com - The comprehensive course that contains ALL our Amazon training modules, recorded events and a steady stream of latest cutting edge training including of course the most popular starting point, the REPLENS selling model. The PAC is updated free for life!   SilentJim.com/kickstart - If you want a shortcut to learning all you need to get started, then get the Proven Amazon Course and go through Kickstart.   TheProvenConference.com - Learn more about our upcoming August 2026 event! The longest running annual event for Amazon sellers in the world!   SilentSalesMachine.com - Text the word "free" to 507-800-0090 to get a free copy of Jim's latest book in audio about building multiple income streams online (US only) or visit SilentJim.com/free11   SilentJim.com/bookacall - Schedule a FREE, customized and insightful consultation with my team or me (Jim) to discuss your e-commerce goals and options.   My Silent Team Facebook group. 100% FREE! Facebook.com/groups/mysilentteam - Join 83,000 + Facebook members from around the world who are using the internet creatively every day to launch and grow multiple income streams through our exciting PROVEN strategies! There's no support community like this one anywhere else in the world!          

When a ten-day head cold and a client's second hip surgery both landed on my radar the same week, the question of motivation hit differently. How do you fire yourself up when life pulls you down? I've been building this around a simple idea — life begins when you move. And over 20 years, that's gone way deeper than the gym. When you can't do what you want to do, frustration builds fast. That's the signal. The good news? Motivation isn't fleeting. It's renewable. And once you know your triggers, you can flip the switch anytime you need it. Featured Story Paula has been a client of mine for almost 20 years. She just had her second hip done seven days ago, and there she was on our Inner Circle video call — same chair, same smile, same fire. What came up wasn't pain. It was frustration. Not being able to do what she wanted was the hard part. I've been feeling that too. Ten days with a head cold will do that to you. And it reminded me that this feeling — the one that comes when life slows you down — is actually the signal that your motivation is still alive. You just need the right trigger to fire it back up. Important Points Motivation isn't some exhaustible resource — you can renew your supply anytime once you know your personal triggers. Your physiology runs the show — move your body first, and everything about your mental state follows right after. Focus isn't really your problem — you're already focused on something right now, just probably not the right thing. Memorable Quotes Actions always precede change — change has never once preceded the action, no matter how long you sit with the idea. Physiology dictates your feelings — move your body, and your entire world instantly starts to shift right along with it. Focus is like a decision — when you truly make one, you literally cut off every other option that was available to you. Scott's Three-Step Approach Move your body first — even a few push-ups will shift your state fast and break you right out of any kind of slump. Lock your focus onto the things that genuinely fire you up, and start cutting out everything that drains you right now. Swap out negative self-talk for words that point forward — the language inside your head creates everything you feel. Chapters 0:02 - The other M-word: what motivation really is 1:14 - A head cold and a hip surgery — same lesson 3:09 - Why actions always come before the change 4:25 - Motivation isn't fleeting — it's renewable 8:46 - Move first — physiology runs your feelings 10:18 - Focus: you're already doing it on something 12:07 - Words, self-talk, and the triggers that fire you Connect With Me Search for the Daily Boost on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify If you enjoy the Daily Boost, you might like Notes From Scott. A few mornings each week, I send a short note with something I've been thinking about or noticing lately. Sometimes those ideas turn into podcast episodes later. You can sign up at https://notesfromscott.com. Email: support@motivationtomove.com Main Website: https://motivationtomove.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast Instagram: https://instagram.com/heyscottsmith Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/motivationtomove Facebook Group: https://dailyboostpodcast.com/facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff & Shannon celebrate Trump's energy wins with new Texas refinery slashing costs at the pump, while Operation Epic Fury dismantles Iran's terror machine—no endless quagmire! Shredding globalist spin live. Tune in at Rumble, YouTube, X and Red State Talk Radio now! Patriots, gear up—@intheMatrixxx and @shadygrooove unleash fury in **Season 8 Episode 45: "No Boots, No Quagmire: Trump Saves Families at the Pump While Ending Endless Wars"**, spotlighting how President Trump delivers massive relief for American families hammered by high costs, pushing energy dominance through the historic first new U.S. oil refinery in 50 years opening in Brownsville, Texas—a $300 billion powerhouse deal with Reliance Industries fueling abundance, competition, and lower pump prices amid global chaos. They break down Operation Epic Fury's unstoppable momentum, with over 5,500 targets crushed, Iran's navy, air force, missiles, and terror proxies decimated—no boots on the ground, no drawn-out quagmire draining American blood and treasure—while rejecting MSM narratives spinning temporary market pressures from decisive strikes as failures, instead highlighting smart America-First strategy that protects families, ends endless wars, and returns power to the Iranian people after decades of regime aggression. The duo ties it all to broader wins: inflation holding at 2.4% and trending down under Trump's momentum, economic abundance reprogramming minds from scarcity lies, financial sovereignty via crypto and alternatives like Rumble Wallet breaking big bank control, plus the urgent push for the Save America Act's popular provisions on voter ID, citizenship proof, election integrity, women's sports protection, and safeguarding children. The Constitution is your weapon as they expose historical manipulations and champion real prosperity for hardworking Americans. The truth is learned, never told—tune in at noon-0-five Eastern LIVE to stand with Trump! MG Show: America First MAGA Podcast & Conservative Talk Show Launched in 2019 and now in Season 8, the MG Show is your go-to source for unfiltered truth on Trump policies, border security, economic nationalism, and exposing globalist psyops. Hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen (@InTheMatrixxx) and Shannon Townsend (@ShadyGrooove), it champions sovereignty, traditional values, and critiques of establishment politics. Tune in weekdays at 12pm ET / 9am PT for patriotic insights strengthening the Republic under President Trump's America First agenda. Correspond: MG SHOW POST OFFICE BOX 299 PMB #19215 Tangent, Oregon 97389 Talent - Jeffrey Pedersen (@InTheMatrixxx): Expert in political analysis and exposing hidden agendas, with a focus on Trump's diplomatic wins and media bias. - Shannon Townsend (@ShadyGrooove): Delivers sharp insights on intelligence operations, Constitutional rights, and defenses of Trump's strategies against mainstream critiques. Where to Watch & Listen Catch live episodes or on-demand replays packed with MAGA victories like inflation drops, border awards, Trump pardons, and psyop exposures: - Live Streams: https://rumble.com/mgshow for premium America First content. - Radio: https://mgshow.link/redstate on Red State Talk Radio. - X Live: https://x.com/inthematrixxx for real-time pro-Trump discussions. - Podcasts: Search "MG Show" on PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Amazon Music. - YouTube: Full episodes at https://youtube.com/c/inthematrixxx and https://www.youtube.com/c/TruthForFreedom. Follow for daily pro-Trump alerts: - X: @InTheMatrixxx (https://x.com/inthematrixxx) and @ShadyGrooove (https://x.com/shadygrooove). Support the MG Show Fuel the MAGA movement against establishment lies: - Donate: https://mg.show/support or contribute at https://givesendgo.com/helpmgshow. - Merch: https://merch.mg.show for official gear. - MyPillow Special: Use code MGSHOW at https://mypillow.com/mgshow. - Crypto: https://mgshow.link/rumblewallet. All Links Everything MG Show Related: https://linktr.ee/mgshow. MG Show Anthem Get chills with the patriotic track: https://youtu.be/SyfI8_fnCAs

Grim and James are joined by Jerry Cthulhu, ThatGuy, Nickie the Dude, RSHarmful, Pirateshipping, Endless, Mellowhoirus, and Suzanne! Enjoy the chat!! Email me for the Guilded chatroom link! Check out our anime review show Shonen Dump www.shonendump.com James Cruz Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/cruz_controllin Grimsteak Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/grimcrt Grimsteak Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@grimsteak Send us hatemail or love mail at grimsteak@gmail.com Live Show Every Tuesday at 9pm est on CwS Radio https://s3.radio.co/s230f698de/listen Check out Jerry's show "Nox Mente' at https://noxmente.simplecast.com/

It is time to wrap up this season, summon our thoughts and feelings and sometimes random talking points! We had a few drinks and talked about the good the bad the weird and the us during the recording of this 2nd season of the Sandman. Timestamps, cause it is a long one: 00:00:58 Classic bits (fave/worst char, most/least char development) 00:24:37 Random bits (rewatch commentary, Dead Boy Detectives, Ship names) 01:05:50 Defining things (Mirror sides of the Endless, Age order of the Siblings, Lyta Hall backstory, Gifts from the Fae) 01:42:10 Cleaning up the Questionaire list 01:52:12 Final final thoughts about this show and podcast coverage We also sprinkle (and flat out say) our next show throughout the episode, so either listen in or keep an eye on our socials for a logo reveal soon. Speaking of our socials, feel free to follow us on those, or join our patreon, which helps us keep the lights on for you: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theappleoftruth.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taotpodcast Patreon: https://patreon.com/taotpodcast

Tammy and Bob Cranston join us on the podcast and open up about the tragedies that changed their lives—& the unexpected journey that brought them together!This episode is packed with wisdom on intentional grieving, goal-setting, and moving forward at your own pace—whether that means finding love again, creating new adventures, or embracing purpose in unexpected ways.Highlights include:Their individual journeys through spousal loss and support systemsMeeting in a bereavement group and the importance of intentional healingThe pivotal role of goal-setting and adventure (like biking all 50 states!)Navigating family relationships and the realities of blended familiesTheir passion for helping others on the grief journey through writing, volunteering, and educationCheck out their website for more resources, blog posts, and information about their books—including The Blank Journal and Tammy's award-winning children's series on lossVisit: www.tammycranston.comTo be a guest and join one of our roundtable podcast episodes, email me at jen@widow180.com Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQFor more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.comQuestions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

From Gaza to Iran tensions, the show examines how elites drive endless war while leaders deny civilian harm—despite historical evidence like My Lai and Panama's El Chorrillo devastation.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

There was a time when choosing hunting or fishing gear was pretty simple. A good rifle, a dependable scope, a fly rod that felt right in your hand and that was about it.Today it feels different.Endless options, endless features, and gear that seems to get more complicated every year. From rifle scopes with exposed turrets and dozens of reticle options to fly rods, reels, and lines designed for every specific situation, it's easy to feel like the industry has gone a little overboard.So when did it happen?In this episode we talk about how the buying of hunting and fishing gear evolved, why it became so specialized, and whether all that complexity is actually helping us in the field...or just making things harder than they need to be.Sometimes simpler really is better. Enjoy!#huntinggear #fishinggear #flyfishing #riflescopes #outdoorgear #hunting #fishing

In Season 5, Episode 3 of the 3 Old Goalies Podcast, the guys sit down with Chris Ducar, the General Manager of the legendary North Carolina Tar Heels women's soccer program at the University of North Carolina, the program that holds the record for the most championships in NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship history.Few programs in the history of college athletics have defined excellence the way North Carolina women's soccer has. In this episode, Chris takes us inside the machine that has produced decades of national titles, world-class players, and a culture that expects greatness every single day.The conversation explores what the General Manager role looks like in modern college soccer, how elite programs manage recruiting, roster building, and player development, and how the landscape of college athletics is evolving in the era of NIL, transfers, and professional pathways.Chris also shares insight on developing goalkeepers and the mentality required to thrive in championship environments, along with stories from working inside one of the most iconic programs in the sport.For coaches, goalkeepers, and anyone who loves the game, this episode offers a rare look behind the curtain of a dynasty and the people who keep it running.Another great conversation from the only podcast brave enough to center an entire show around the weirdest position on the field.3 Old Goalies.
Three guys. One position. Endless stories.

Many high achievers wear the identity of being a grinder like a badge of honor. You wake up early. You stay late. You outwork everyone around you. And at first glance, that looks like discipline. But what if the identity of being the grinder quietly becomes more familiar than the identity of being the performer? In this episode, I unpack one of the most subtle traps high performers fall into—the Grinder Identity Trap—and why relentless effort can sometimes become the very thing preventing breakthrough performance. Whether you're an entrepreneur buried in spreadsheets or a golfer grinding endlessly on the range, the same psychological pattern often appears: constant effort without the results to match. The truth is this: Your nervous system is wired for familiarity. And sometimes it would rather maintain a familiar struggle than adapt to an unfamiliar level of success. That's why real breakthroughs require more than strategy, reps, or hard work. They require identity-level change. In this episode, we explore how the grinder identity forms, why it can quietly sabotage your growth, and how to create the psychological and emotional safety required to operate at the next level. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the grinder identity can become a hidden form of self-sabotage How dopamine, control, and familiarity keep high performers stuck Why relentless practice and work eventually produce diminishing returns The role your nervous system plays in resisting higher levels of success How to begin creating psychological safety around breakthrough performance If you've been putting in the work but still feel stuck… This conversation may help you understand why. Apply for 1-1 High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching: Click here to apply to work with me. The 90-Day Golf Identity Upgrade Accelerator: This is a private 3-month coaching container designed to help serious golfers rapidly upgrade their beliefs, rewire their golf identity, and accelerate lower scores through deep subconscious transformation — not surface-level tactics. Click here to learn more and DM me "identity upgrade on Instagram (@thepaulsalter) to learn more.  Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter Download my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course.  Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist  Key Takeaways: The grinder identity can become so familiar that success begins to feel foreign and uncomfortable. Your nervous system prioritizes familiarity over progress—even if that familiarity is frustration. Endless reps and effort produce diminishing returns as you approach higher levels of performance. Grinding often provides dopamine, control, and avoidance of deeper emotional discomfort. Breakthrough performance requires identity-level change, not just more strategy or effort. Key Quotes: "Your brain would rather maintain a familiar struggle than adapt to an unfamiliar level of success." "At some point, the grind itself becomes part of your identity." "Strategy creates opportunity, but identity determines whether you can operate at that level." "Expansion isn't only about doing more. It's about being more through doing less." "If you removed the identity of being the person who outworks everyone… what version of yourself might finally have space to emerge?" Time Stamps: 00:00: The Grinder Identity: A Double-Edged Sword 07:40: The Importance of Identity in Performance 15:05: The Balance Between Grinding and Resting 22:06: Navigating Change and Embracing Expansion

Thank you Catherine Hollingsworth, Jane B In NC

In Episode 322 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with entrepreneur, brand strategist, and bestselling author Pia Silva to explore what it really takes to build a brand that stands out and commands premium pricing. Pia shares her journey from hustling hourly design work with her husband to building a powerful branding business after facing a moment of crisis when their agency found itself $40,000 in debt with no cash left. That turning point forced them to rethink everything about how they worked with clients and ultimately led to a revolutionary approach to branding that helps service-based businesses position themselves as premium experts rather than commoditized providers.Throughout the conversation, Pia breaks down the mindset and strategic shifts required to stop blending in and start building a truly differentiated brand. She explains why most entrepreneurs misunderstand branding, how eliminating unnecessary complexity can transform both profitability and freedom, and why compressing work into focused brand intensives can dramatically increase value while eliminating the endless revisions and communication that often derail projects. The episode is a powerful reminder that strong branding is not just about design, it is about positioning, clarity, and the confidence to charge what your expertise is truly worth.Key Takeaways: A strong brand is not just about how your business looks, it is about how clearly you are positioned in the market and why people choose you over everyone else.Pia's story shows that hitting a breaking point can become the exact moment that forces a smarter, more profitable business model.Many entrepreneurs start by selling their skills hourly, but real growth often happens when they package expertise into a higher value offer.Premium pricing becomes much easier when clients understand your process, trust your expertise, and see a clear outcome attached to your work.Too many businesses blend in because they never take the time to define what makes them different in a meaningful way.Branding should solve a business problem, not just satisfy a creative preference or make something look more modern.Pia's intensive model proves that simplifying delivery and removing unnecessary back and forth can increase both client value and profitability.Endless revisions, scattered communication, and unclear direction are often the real reasons service businesses lose time, margin, and momentum.Entrepreneurs need to stop chasing every opportunity and start building offers that align with the kind of business and life they actually want.The episode reinforces that confidence, clarity, and a differentiated brand are what allow business owners to stop competing on price and start charging what they are truly worth.Explore Pia Silva's work and the resources discussed in this episode:Pia Silva Website: https://www.piasilva.com/ No BS Agency Mastery: https://www.nobsmastery.com/Check out Pia's books featured in this conversation:Badass Your Brand: https://www.badassyourbrand.com/ Scale Solo: https://scalesolobook.com/

In this episode of 'More Than Work,' host Rabiah Coon sits down with Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist and creator of the Substack newsletter "Endless Urgency." Mike shares his compelling personal journey from struggling with depression and weight management to becoming a prominent voice in Democratic politics and digital strategy. He opens up about his philosophy of "endless urgency" - living every moment fully and intentionally - which emerged from his own experiences with suicidal ideation and a transformational journey from 600 pounds to a healthier, more engaged life.The conversation covers Mike's 20-year career in political strategy, his work on major campaigns including Bernie Sanders' 2016 run, and his role as a co-founder of "White Dudes for Harris." He discusses the current state of the Democratic Party, the importance of engaging with voters across the political spectrum, and why Democrats need to be more strategic about communicating with all Americans - including those who disagree with them. Mike also reflects on the challenges of the 2024 election, the need for Democrats to understand and wield power more effectively, and the critical importance of showing up in uncomfortable spaces to have difficult conversations.Throughout the episode, Mike emphasizes the value of building systems, staying present, and finding joy even during challenging political times. He shares mantras and advice for maintaining momentum, from "1% better every day" to being a "joyful warrior" in the face of adversity.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:31 What is "Endless Urgency"?01:47 Mike's journey: from 600 pounds to transformation09:11 What the Substack offers: No BS Democratic strategy14:28 How Mike got into political strategy21:28 Staying in the Democratic Party vs. going independent23:10 Kamala Harris and the 2024 election: what went wrong27:53 Strategic messaging and power40:11 Handling family members who voted for Trump42:25 Why cutting people out weakens democracy47:21 Going on Fox News and right-wing media52:55 "White Dudes for Harris" and organizing men56:07 Mantras and advice: 1% better every day58:40 Being a "joyful warrior"65:23 Who inspires Mike right nowNote from Rabiah (host):Mike Nellis and I quickly found out we have more in common than we could have realized! You'll hear about what when you listen. And please do listen because Mike is doing the hard work that is so needed right now which the work of speaking out against the Trump administration and working to get Democrats elected. He is doing it his way and after our conversation I have even more respect for him. Honestly, Mike is doing a version of what I would have done if I'd had the courage. I've been volunteering for various Democratic candidates, the general party and with non-partisan voter registration for years but he pursued the work as a career. What he is doing really is More Than Work. Mike was very open and honest so I've added a trigger warning to this episode. It is that kind of honestly I like to approach conversations with too and I am grateful that he made it through his early battles and is here today. Enjoy our conversation. And check your voter registration while you do.+++++Find MikeWebsite: https://endlessurgency.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mike_nellis+++++More than Work Social Media: @morethanworkpod (Facebook, Instagram) and @rabiahcomedy (TikTok)Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

We struggle to a near comical degree to take The News head-on and The News may've won this round. An especially hellish week among hellish weeks. If you really wanna know how I feel just look at my posting history of late.Please don't kill yourself. Join a labor union.P.S. Publicly available Matt Schlapp contact info for no particular reason.P.P.S. Credit to @citiesbydiana for some repurposed audio elements from her videos.Recorded on Saturday, March 7th, 2569 around 12.30 PM Korea Standard Time. Commiserate on Discord: discord.gg/aDf4Yv9PrYNever Forget: standwithdanielhale.orgGenral RecommendationsJosh's Recommendation: Reach out to the people you love and love them.Tim's Recommendation: A Knight of the Seven KingdomsFurther Reading, Viewing, ListeningShow notes + Full list of links, sources, etcEternal thanks to Rm Brown ("King of the Soundboard")Anyone Else Have Those Weird Dreams Where Sobbing Future Generations Beg You To Change Course?More From Timothy Robert BuechnerPodcast: Q&T ARE / violentpeople.co Tweets: @ROHDUTCHLocationless Locationsheatdeathpod.comEvery show-related link is corralled and available here.Twitter: @heatdeathpodPlease send all Letters of Derision, Indifference, Inquiry, Mild Elation, et cetera to: heatdeathoftheuniversepodcast@gmail.comSend a textSupport the showSupport: patreon / buzzsprout

Derek Thompson, journalist and co-author of Abundance, joins Offline to hash out some hard truths about AI: who it will actually replace, why we haven't seen more labor market disruption, and why the Department of War's battle with Anthropic spells the end of private property rights in America. Then Derek lays out his Postmanesque "Everything Is Television" theory of media for Jon, where politics becomes theater and news becomes performance. The guys wrap it up by discussing how becoming fathers changed their views on parenting—and on living.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

 Note: This episode describes sexual situations that are non-consensual. Sharing a photo of yourself online has always carried some risk. But things got a lot scarier this year when users began using Grok, X's generative AI chatbot to create sexualized deepfakes of women and children. Iona Fyfe, Scottish folk singer and activist, was one of the people who had an image altered and manipulated by Grok. Hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson talk to her about her experience. **** Sponsor message: INCOGNI: Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code ENDLESS at the link below and get 60% off annual plans: https://incogni.com/ENDLESS

This monthly series features an episode sharing my recent highs and lows, how my habits are going, a Do Something List update, plus what I'm loving lately and my commitments for the upcoming month. I hope this glimpse into my life, my family, my work, and my own self development encourages you in your own journey. Around here the goal is never perfection, just to keep trying, even if in very simple ways. I think you'll see that with all of the big changes going on for me, taking the smallest of steps has helped to keep me afloat and feeling like myself. As always, I encourage you to get messy, too!  Special links: Sourdough Cookbook; Cinnamon foccaccia recipe (can use without sourdough); Undereye patches; Check to see if you won a prize from our Favorite Things Giveaway.  Get the free DSL Training. Check out Monica's DSL for 2026. Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday! More for Moms Conference use code “LISTENER” for $20 off Leave a rating and review Check out my ⁠workshops⁠! Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE! Book Launch Committee Full Show Notes Transform your space now. Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns; Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home; Join Masterclass for 15% off at masterclass.com/progress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosting with his producer Eric Travis dives into the wild world of financing everything—from PlayStation 5 leases in the UK to Gen Z's surprising DVD revival. They roast subscription fatigue, debate console controllers, and warn why endless payments kill your financial flexibility (and freedom to quit bad jobs). On this episode we talk about:   Sony's PlayStation Flex lease program: PS5 Digital Edition for as low as £13.58/month (36 months) or £26.60 rolling—great for testing GTA6, terrible for your wallet long-term   Why financing non-essentials (shoes, phones, couches) traps you in debt and removes life flexibility when surprises hit   Gen Z rebels against streaming chaos: DVD/Blu-ray sales dropped just 9% in 2025 (vs. 20%+ prior years), boosting rental shops as ownership fights content vanishing   Subscriptions vs. leases: Cancel anytime is fine for NBA playoffs, but locked payments destroy credit and opportunity   Lost media risks: 75-90% of silent films gone forever; what happens to Netflix hits if they tank? Buy physical to preserve culture Top 3 Takeaways 1.  Avoid financing toys like PS5—pay cash or short-term rent to dodge endless payments that exceed the item's value and tank your credit.​2.  Endless subscriptions/leases kill flexibility; keep payments under income to handle life's curveballs and pivot careers freely.3.  Own physical media amid streaming fatigue—Gen Z's DVD surge proves intentional buying beats scattered, cancellable content. Notable Quotes   "You should not be purchasing anything that requires you [to finance] other than a car or a house or shoes." – Travis Chappell   "Getting up to your eyeballs in payments is quite literally the antithesis of setting up your life [for surprises]." – Travis Chappell   "Physical media sales declined just 9% in 2025... Young customers cite frustration with subscription fatigue."​ ✖️✖️✖️✖️

Prep is EverythingWelcome to Everyone Racers Episode 426 — the full four-host chaos is back.This week is a true HOW TO episode:How to paint your own race car — and more importantly — how much prep it actually takes.Because here's the truth:Painting isn't the hard part.Prep is.We break down:

From the intricacies of foreign policy to the way political chatter shapes our views Stephanie Miller is diving headfirst into the wild world of U.S. politics and global shenanigans! Join her as she unpacks the latest military moves and the jaw-dropping statements coming from the political arena. Expect plenty of laughs mixed in with some serious insights as she navigates the chaos of current events. With Bob Cesca & Malcolm Nance!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grim and James are joined by Jerry Cthulhu, ThatGuy, Nickie the Dude, RSHarmful, Pirateshipping, Endless, Anubis, Mellohorus, Armouro, and Suzanne! Enjoy the chat!! Email me for the Guilded chatroom link! Check out our anime review show Shonen Dump www.shonendump.com James Cruz Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/cruz_controllin Grimsteak Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/grimcrt Grimsteak Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@grimsteak Send us hatemail or love mail at grimsteak@gmail.com Live Show Every Tuesday at 9pm est on CwS Radio https://s3.radio.co/s230f698de/listen Check out Jerry's show "Nox Mente' at https://noxmente.simplecast.com/

Ascent Nutrition Algae OIL DHA: https://goascentnutrition.com/andweknow  —————— New Spring Wellness Center: https://nad.newspringwellnesscenter.com/andweknow 573-577-3400 Video: https://shorturl.at/zpHUK —————— Protect your investments with And We Know http://andweknow.com/gold Or call 720-605-3900, Tell them “LT” sent you. ————————— ➜ Our AWK Website: https://www.andweknow.com/ ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ------- *DONATIONS SITE: https://bit.ly/2Lgdrh5 *Mail your gift to: And We Know 30650 Rancho California Rd STE D406-123 (or D406-126) Temecula, CA 92591 ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ➜ Audio Bible https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/1John.3.16 Connect with us in the following ways: + DISCORD Fellows: https://discord.gg/kMt8R2FC4z

Why don't we talk about our skin more?! When you or your child is diagnosed with diabetes, you quickly realize the skin is in for a rough time. Endless pokes from needles, infusion sets, CGM wires. You make it work, but what if there was a better way? I'm talking Marie Schiller and Kent Manson – they've teamed up to help with a solution now and one they're working on for the future. The available now treatment is Site Hero – a recovery patch to help sites heal.. and – for the future - a way to scan an area and help identify better injection or infusion sites at home. This is a great and practical conversation. This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider. Learn more about Site Hero and Healthy Sites here Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here. Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Omnipod - Simplify Life All about Dexcom  All about VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com 

What if the greatest threat to Christianity in America isn't persecution — but distraction?In this video, we explore a powerful thought experiment: If Satan wanted to turn Americans away from Jesus, how would he do it?Not through banning churches.Not through burning Bibles.But through busyness, comfort theology, political tribalism, cultural embarrassment, and shifting the focus away from the resurrection.This is a wake-up call for Christians and a serious challenge for skeptics.Because if Jesus really rose from the dead — that changes everything.

It was supposed to be minor, routine surgery. But the anesthesia had a strange effect on this Academy Award winning actress. Afterward, every thought, every conversation, and even things she saw . . literally turned into music in her head. This is what she did with the endless earworm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tis the season for illnesses, snow days, days off school, and so many other unexpected reasons for the kids to be home when you need to work. In this episode, I'm sharing what I do from the moment I receive the call (or hear the cough) to still be able to get things done while also navigating having a kid at home (or being sick myself). Listen in for some ideas and to be reminded that you're not alone!   ==========================  

The world is exploding — Iran, Mexican cartels, border security, China infiltration — and Americans are asking one critical question: How do we defend our country WITHOUT repeating the disasters of Iraq and Afghanistan? This is a legitimate question to ask, and we thread the needle today with my friend Ammon Blair of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Blair, a former Border Patrol agent and Iraq War veteran, takes us through the strategic plays of the Trump administration in Iran and the Caribbean, while also raising concerns about the shortsightedness of administration policies dealing with the Mexican cartels and prematurely declaring the border secure. America must project strength — but with discipline, clarity, and strategy. What does that balance look like?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports on Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth rebutting concerns the Iran war could spiral into a bigger regional fight.

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit InwardTorah.org

The Book of James deals a deck of wisdom, guiding us to live with faith, love, and discernment through actionable teachings, inspired by Proverbs and the Sermon on the Mount. Like a dealer laying out cards, James introduces God's wisdom as a gift, always there during trials, when we need guidance, and when tempted to be selfish or petty. Join Horizon for James: LIVE AND LOVE WISELY, a verse-by-verse study.

Courtney's experience with insomnia didn't start overnight — but when it hit, it hit hard. Looking back, she could see some early signs. As a child, she was sensitive to her environment. New places, travel, small changes — sleep didn't always come easily. But it wasn't something that took over her life. That changed in 2020. With a new baby, the stress of the pandemic, family tension, and untreated anxiety, everything began to build at once. Then the nights started to change. She began waking up in the early hours of the morning, wide awake. At first, it was confusing. Then it became frightening. The moment she noticed she wasn't asleep, panic would take over. Her heart would race. Her body would react as if something was wrong. Nights became something to fear. Sleep became something she felt she had to make happen. She tried everything — supplements, routines, changes to her environment, and eventually medication. But nothing brought consistent relief. Her days started revolving around sleep. Avoiding things. Planning everything around the night ahead. Trying harder, doing more — all in the hope that sleep would finally come. But the harder she tried, the more difficult it became. What began to shift things for Courtney wasn't another strategy — it was a different way of understanding what was happening. A realization that nothing was broken. That her body already knew how to sleep. And that the struggle itself might be what was keeping her stuck. From there, things didn't change overnight. It took time. Practice. Setbacks. Learning how to respond differently to difficult nights and the thoughts and feelings that came with them. But slowly, something began to change. She started trusting her body again. Sleep became less of a battle. And instead of her life revolving around sleep, she was putting more of her energy into the things that mattered to her each day — and insomnia lost its power and its influence. Click here for a full transcript of this episode. Transcript Martin: Welcome to the Insomnia Coach Podcast. My name is Martin Reed. I believe that by changing how we respond to insomnia and all the difficult thoughts and feelings that come with it, we can move away from struggling with insomnia and toward living the life we want to live. Martin: The content of this podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. The statements and opinions expressed by guests are their own and are not necessarily endorsed by Insomnia Coach LLC. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied. Martin: Okay, Courtney, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to come onto the podcast. Courtney: Thank you very much for having me on. Martin: It’s great to have you on. Let’s start right at the beginning as always. When did your sleep problems first begin, and what do you feel caused those initial issues with sleep? Courtney: So I think what caused the insomnia battle that I dealt with was some background things that got, had, had gone on in my life. For example my mom has always struggled with sleep, so I have wondered if there’s a genetic component to that. Even as a kid, I’ve just always been more sensitive to my environment. Courtney: For example if I went to a friend’s house, I wouldn’t sleep very well. There was times I’d have my mom come and get me because I wasn’t sleeping. Probably get really anxious if the, if we’re traveling, I don’t sleep well, if the room is too hot, I don’t sleep well. Just things like that. Just very sensitive to shifts in my environment. Courtney: And then in 2020 is when I began my battle with insomnia. What also added into that was just some unhelpful beliefs about sleep that I just picked up from the media. Courtney: For example, like I feel like there’s a lot of times that they’ll do a study or they’ll release an article that doesn’t tell the full story, but is enough to cause fear in you about insomnia. So for example, if someone doesn’t get seven to nine hours a night, that could lead to whatever catastrophic thing or. Courtney: Insomniacs are, you know, shown to struggle with, you know, fill in the blank there. So I had that kind of fearful mindset already. And then yeah, you just add in. My husband and I had our first child in 2019. Around that time I was struggling with an un untreated anxiety disorder, and I was trying to muscle my way through that. Courtney: And then, as you know, the years progressed. We had some family and relational tension and my husband has some job changes due to the pandemic that happened, let alone the pandemic itself and the fear around that. So there was just a lot of lifestyle changes at that time that I think I had a hard time with, and I just never slowed down to kind of process that or make space for that. Courtney: And I think my body was trying to communicate that to me through anxiety, but I just didn’t slow down to listen. And then it, it. Overflowed into a, a sleep disorder or insomnia right around 2020. And I’ve struggled with that for quite a few years and finally I’m in a better place where I feel like I can talk about it having been on the other side of it. Martin: So it sounds like for you, concern or a focus or issues with sleep was always something that was kind of with you, maybe perhaps more in the background. It would show up every now and then, but then in 2020 around then there was lots of change going on. Lots of stresses, lots of different stuff happening and so the sleep issues resurfaced, but this time it felt different. Courtney: Yes. There was just a few nights that I started waking up at like 3:00 AM just wide awake. And I was like, huh, this is weird. And then it started getting more and more frequent, and there was a few nights that I did not sleep at all. And what shifted was my focus on it and my fear around it. So I started becoming very fearful, like, what is wrong with me that I can’t sleep? So as that fear grew, I started to become more fearful of nighttime. Courtney: And it was on the week of Halloween. There was a few nights that I, I didn’t sleep at all. Like, I would lay down at night and I, I lay there for maybe about 15 minutes or so, and it’s like, as soon as I was aware, oh, I’m not sleeping yet, I would instantly have a panic attack. I mean, I was sweating, my heart was racing. Courtney: I was in full panic mode. I had my, I called my dad up ’cause he lives, you know, nearby. And my husband stayed with our son and I had him take me to the emergency room at about 3:00 AM just panic stricken. Courtney: And I didn’t even know, I just, I needed help and I didn’t know where to go. So he took me there and I mean, I went in and I was just like, I just can’t sleep. I, I can’t sleep. And I’m sure they thought. You know, I was on something ’cause they ran a full drug screen and of course that came back clean. I was just panic stricken, severe anxiety. Courtney: But it probably looked to them like I was taking a stimulant of some kind. ’cause how else, like, would I end up there? Not able to sleep. But unfortunately, like they didn’t really have any answers for me. I remember talking with the nurse and just telling her my story and she acknowledged, she’s like, you’ve been through a lot of life change and, you know, that can contribute to this. Courtney: But there was no real like, help. I think they gave me two Benadryl and I think that made me doze off for an hour in the ER while I was waiting to be discharged. And I think that only came from the fact that they were treating me for something like they were taking care of me. So I feel like I could like come down a little bit and then went home and I don’t think I slept the rest of the night after that. Courtney: The next morning I think I crashed on the couch for maybe an hour, and then the following Thursday, I ha ended up having my husband take me into the emergency room. ‘Cause we had stayed at my parents’ house that night and so they were with my son and my husband took me in and I was again just begging them to help me sleep. Courtney: Prior to that I was able to get in with the local psychiatrist’s office and I think I went to them that Thursday and, you know, they gave me medication and they gave me an anti-anxiety medic medication. And then also she called it a heavy hitter sleep medication. I think it was Restoril, which is an older generation drug. Courtney: And I was like, okay, this will do it for me. And she was pretty confident. She’s like, well, you know, put you on this for a very limited time, maybe two weeks. And we’ll see how that goes. So I went home that Thursday night and I took it and it didn’t help. And I, so I can’t even tell you the fear, the shame, the confusion of, they gave me a heavy hitter as she put it, sleep medication. Courtney: And that was not enough to help me sleep. So hence, I, I ended up back in the ER and all they could do was give me another dose of that, just because I think you were allowed to take two and that was the maximum. So I, from then on, I was taking the maximum dose of that much longer than the two weeks. And so I felt completely just weak, broken alone, confu, I mean, anything you can think of in a dark season like that, I felt it because I was like, this is not helping. Courtney: Like this is the strongest that they have and this is not enough to knock me out, like, what is wrong with me? Martin: Well that was a really difficult situation that you were going through. And so the way it sounds like it was different, apart from the obvious in terms of the visits to the emergency room, was when the sleep issue showed up. Martin: This time around, they, they felt different. Like you were waking up during the night and sleep just wasn’t getting back on track like it was in the past. So that led to some understandable concern ’cause you’re a human being. But then the more that concern raised. Perhaps there was like more pressure to make sleep happen, more effort to make sleep happen more trying. Martin: And then that in turn just made it more difficult until it reached this crescendo where you’re just kind of, you can’t try any harder. And then we’re told, well, this, this is the most powerful medication we have. This will make sleep happen. And when that isn’t working, especially after you’ve been told that, then you’re feeling really alone out of options. Martin: Confused, scared, as you said, you can feel broken and it just makes it just even so much more difficult and scary. Courtney: Yes. And so what even made it worse was I was back in the psychiatrist’s office a few days later and I think she was very concerned that I had to take the maximum dose. And that it wasn’t helping. Courtney: So on top of that, on top of the anxiety medication, on top of the heavy sleep medication, she prescribed a anti-psychotic, not because I was psychotic, but because it was also used off-label as a a sleep to induce sleep. So she’s like, maybe this com, you know, combined with the Restoril, will help you go back to the one pill, the one dose, and then you don’t have to take the two. Courtney: We can get you off of it faster. Well, I wish that was the case, but I still had to take the two, I had to take the anti-psychotic and I was on it longer than the two weeks. So then that snowballed into fear of dependency on the medication. And I will say I was dependent on it because it got to a point where if I even thought, okay, maybe I can try to not take it tonight, I would instantly have anxiety. Courtney: So. After, after, you know, the, the hospital trips and the trips to the, the psychiatrist, I, the medicine did help temporarily. There was a couple nights that knocked me out for like 10 hours. So I was taking everything that they gave me and I, I got some sleep, but it was like, one night would be 10 hours and then the next night, you know, I might get four hours and then another night I would make that up, like my body would sleep longer. Courtney: So it was kind of like a rollercoaster of sleep. I just had the hardest time getting balanced again. Martin: So it sounds as though you felt just really dependent on all these different medications. But at the same time you felt that this was just unsustainable, like continuing to take this much medication, especially when it wasn’t even generating consistently good sleep for you. Martin: But as far as you are concerned, you had no other options. Courtney: Exactly, yes. And so it was hard because the, the other feelings, it wasn’t just about the sleep anymore. So there was nights that I would get up and just go for a walk around our neighborhood at like 3:00 AM And I, I remember thinking, this is like so weird how like, physically I am up walking in the dark when everybody else is asleep and I should be asleep, but I can’t. Courtney: And then emotionally I’m in the same place. Like I’m dealing with something that no one around me knows what to do with. I, you know, I remember talking to family and friends and even my husband just like, you know, they were telling me, oh, have you tried melatonin? Have you tried lavender? Have you tried CBD oil? Courtney: And I’m like, yes, I’ve done all of it. But they just, they don’t know. And I remember my husband saying maybe try not to think about it. And so then I’m like, okay, maybe he’s right. Courtney: Maybe I just need to not think so much about it. And that’s when I was, I lay down at night and I would try to control my thoughts and I would try to, I started changing my environment because I was of course researching everything, being a problem solver. And I’m like, okay, so I need to, you know, wear the blue light glasses. Courtney: I need to not drink coffee afternoon. I need to do all, all of the things that, you know, I’m sure many people have talked about with you that you’ve discussed on your channel that other people have done. Like I did all of them, but the intention behind them was to induce sleep. So every time I did those things, it backfired. Courtney: And I think those things are, can be helpful if you’re trying to relax your body. If you’re trying to. I was actually just talking to my dad about this. He asked me about like a, a sleep supplement. I’m like, well, if you’re trying to, you know, support your body, great, but I think it can backfire. If you’re trying to induce sleep, if the goal is to make yourself sleep, that can be very problematic. Courtney: And that was my case. So it was just a very lonely place of people suggesting things and telling me things, and I’m like, I’ve done all of it. None of it works. Something’s wrong with me. Like I, I remember thinking my, something in my brain must have just broke. And when you look online about insomnia outside of the community that you have created, there’s not, there’s nothing that’s helpful. Courtney: So it was just, it was a very lonely place of trying to navigate this until I came across your channel. Martin: You made an insightful point there that all the things that you did for as long as the intention was to make a certain amount or a certain type of sleep happen. It was going to backfire because sleep is out of your direct control. Martin: But when you were going through this struggle, was, was that insight present? Like did you realize at the time that the more your intention was focused on trying to make sleep happen the more you seemed to struggle? Or was it more of a case of I’ve just gotta keep trying, sooner or later I’ll find something that works. Courtney: Yes. So initially I think I was just so frazzled that I was trying anything and everything, and I mean, I, it took me quite a while to come across your channel. I was looking at different, I was researching things, I was looking at different videos and for me personally, my faith is very important to me. Courtney: So I was looking thing, looking for things through that lens. And the first thing that I came across that was even a little bit helpful was there’s, there was this guy who was talking about his struggle with insomnia, and he talked about the importance of surrender. Courtney: And just for him, you know, he talked about just surrendering everything to God and giving up and not trying so hard. And that was enough for him. And I’m like, okay, I can, you know, I can do that. I can surrender. And, you know, I did have a night where I was like, all right, you know, if I’m never gonna sleep again, I can’t help it. Courtney: Like, I, I give up and, you know, but for me, and that helped for a little bit. The surrender or the acceptance did help for a little bit. But for me, I just, I needed more information. I’m someone who, I, I love to know the why behind why I’m doing things. I love to, you know, learn as much as I can. And so when I finally stumbled across your channel, you explained everything with the why behind it, why in insomnia develops, why your body’s doing what it’s doing, why your efforts are failing. Courtney: And I’m like, okay, this is, this is filling in the gaps that I have needed in order to move forward. Martin: Mm. So perhaps it’s education, perhaps that educational component of it. A greater understanding of where insomnia comes from, what keeps it alive, what gives it power and influence just felt reassuring. Martin: Now things started to make sense for you. Maybe you didn’t feel broken anymore. You realized that you weren’t broken, you were just stuck. And I think you made a good point too, because when we hear people talk about surrender or acceptance. That, that can be a new option that’s available to us. And like you said, you experimented with it but without that kind of understanding on, you know, why is this helpful? Martin: How is this helpful? It can make it harder to commit to that kind of approach. Courtney: Exactly, exactly. And so it was frustrating because like, everything that I was looking into felt like just a bandaid. And it, it, it was hard because the things that I was doing was not helping, like, it wasn’t addressing the root cause. Courtney: And, you know, I, I did everything I could. I had, there were nights my husband would stay up with me to talk with me. I had people praying for me. I was praying about it, like trying all the supplements and nothing like, you feel just helpless. You’re like, I’m doing all the right things. And in my mind, or in the way we’ve learned in our culture is if you try harder. Courtney: You will get results. Well, I’ve learned with anxiety and I’ve learned with insomnia, the opposite is true. The harder you try, the more your body’s like this is not gonna work very well. So it took me a while to get to that point, but I feel like once I did there was so much more freedom and I was able to take that pressure off. Martin: One thing that you touched upon earlier was how this wasn’t just an issue at nighttime, it would also be present in the daytime as well. When you were still tangled up in this struggle, how was this affecting your days? Courtney: It consumed my thoughts. So in the morning, okay, so for example, nowadays, like if I’m having a rough day and maybe I didn’t sleep well, I will tell my husband, Hey, you know, I’m having a rough day. Courtney: I didn’t, I maybe slept, you know, four or five hours, just bear with me. But back then. I would get up in the morning and be like, telling everybody, oh my gosh, I only slept two hours tonight. Last night I only slept an hour. I didn’t sleep at all. I was telling anybody and everybody just desperate. And my entire day looked like cultivating the day to support the night. Courtney: So not drinking coffee after noon, as I mentioned. Not over exerting myself because I didn’t wanna overstimulate myself to keep myself awake at night. There were times I stayed at home more often and just kind of avoided the things that I normally enjoy. I started worrying about what I was eating. Courtney: I started worrying about like how much screen time I had. I started worrying about how much I was outside. You know, anything that you can think of. Like I was doing all of that in order to try to provide myself the best opportunity to sleep that night. And it never worked. Martin: It’s almost like sleep or insomnia was in charge of your decisions each day. Martin: And so all your actions were intended to serve sleep rather than serve you and the life you wanted to live. And so not only was this kind of maintaining that struggle because none of that stuff really had much influence on sleep anyway, but it was making things even more difficult because then you’re getting pulled away from doing the stuff that’s important. Martin: Doing the stuff that matters, like through no fault of your own because you’re a problem solver, you’re trying to fix this. But it’s just a, a really clear illustration of how easy it is to get pulled into this struggle. And to find it consuming your attention, consuming your life, and just becoming increasingly more difficult the more you try to deal with it. Courtney: Yes, exactly. And it’s, it is just, it’s crazy how you can’t, like, you can’t even help it. It’s not like you’re intentionally trying to do that. You’re just trying to survive in that moment, and that’s what happens. Unfortunately, that’s the opposite of what needed to happen. So it’s just, it’s, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Courtney: It is such a confusing and lonely and just disorienting space to be in when you’re struggling with insomnia to that level. And then on top of that, it took me a while to realize that like the, the brain fog or forgetfulness or irritability or whatever I was struggling with during the day wasn’t necessarily because of the sleep that I lost. Courtney: It was because of the anxiety that was consuming me as well. Martin: Yeah, it’s, it’s just so difficult, isn’t it? Um, You mentioned that you listened to a podcast episode where someone talked about moving away from the, trying, from trying to make sleep happen, and that kind of prompted you to explore a new approach. Martin: So as you dove into that, and now as you reflect on that journey, what were some of the changes that you made to your way of approaching sleep and responding to insomnia and other thoughts and the feelings that can come with it that helped you move away from the struggle and got you to where you are today? Courtney: So definitely the education behind your videos, like the, the early videos that you’ve posted. I found that so helpful because I remember it was like a big breath of fresh air when you said something like insomnia is not the same thing as sleep deprivation. Therefore it doesn’t have the same effects and. Courtney: The second thing was your body is wise in that it will make up the sleep that you need through deep sleep. And even if you’re not getting the full eight hours that you would like to get, your body’s going to get the sleep then it needs. So it allowed me to kind of take a step back and be like, whoa, if I just, if I just let my body do what it is designed to do, maybe I can get back on track. Courtney: And so, yeah, just the, the, the initial moments of just surrendering to that and letting go and trusting the physiologic, the physiology of my body is what helped me to kind of loosen my grip a little bit. But I will say unfortunately for, well, in my mind, unfortunately it took a lot longer than I would’ve liked it to. Courtney: I would call that week of no sleep traumatic for me. I, I don’t use that term lightly, but I say that because I’ve come to learn that our bodies keep the score of things like they remember. And there are nights even now, you know, five years later where if I, I’ll be okay for a night or two, but if I go a little bit, you know, maybe three days more of just struggling, those, those fears start to creep back in. Courtney: And my body, it’s almost like I’m back in 2020 and I’m like, oh, okay, are we going back here? And that’s where, you know, for me, it helps to get out of bed to kind of separate myself from that environment and then go back downstairs. And I found coloring before bed during those times to be really helpful. Courtney: So I’ll get like an adult coloring book with like, you know, the intricate designs and I will sit there and color and that calms my body down. But allow, it also allows those thoughts to just be there, but I don’t have to pay attention to them. Something else that has been helpful is if I’m really struggling with like thoughts, I would just get my phone out real quick and I will just journal ’em. Courtney: I will just type ’em all out and there’s been nights I can’t even finish, finish journaling before I fall asleep. So there’s different, you know, tools and things I can do now to support myself to not go back to that place. But it took me a very, very long time. And a lot of, you know, I’ve heard the term relapses or setbacks or however you look at it, you can look at it as like, okay, this isn’t just another opportunity to take care of myself. Courtney: This is another opportunity to try to implement what I’ve learned and grow and teach my brain through behavior that I can move past this point. You know, I don’t have to go back to 2020, but it, it takes a long time. At least it did for me. Martin: Yeah, absolutely. I always like to think of this different approach as being skills-based. Martin: And so like with any skill, it’s gonna take time to get better at that skill, and it’s gonna require a lot of practice, a lot of ongoing practice. And there are gonna be times where it feels that that practice is useful and helpful. And there’s gonna be times when it feels like that practice isn’t doing anything. Martin: But what matters is just continuing to get the practice in if developing this new skill. Is important to you. And I like how you shared the, the educational component of it was just so reassuring that you learned that you don’t need to intervene with sleep. Like you don’t need to do anything to make it happen. Martin: Your body wants to take care of that by itself. So that just immediately takes so much of the pressure off, right? You don’t have to do anything anymore. With that, once you’ve got that understanding, I mean, is that, is that what that felt like for you? Courtney: Oh, yes. And it’s interesting how like. And the health circle of things like, you know, sleep gets grouped in with like, if you want to eat healthier, do all these things. Courtney: If you want to exercise, do all these things. If you wanna be healthier, do all these things. And then sleep gets thrown in there, like, make sure you’re getting your seven to nine hours. Make sure you’re practicing sleep hygiene and it gets grouped in there. But that’s the only thing that doesn’t work with effort. Courtney: So it took me a long time to unlearn that, that okay, sleep’s the one thing I can just, you know, take, take my hands off of it. And I found that to be true with other people that I’ve known. It seems like the best sleepers I knew were the people that like could sleep by the, like my husband could sleep by a campfire outside, like, no, doesn’t need anything. Courtney: And so it’s those people that don’t even try that seem to sleep the best. Martin: Yeah. And that’s another great insight, isn’t it? Is just looking to what other people are doing. Especially those people that seem to have no issue or concern around sleep. They get great nights almost every night. What are you doing to make that happen? Martin: You ask that question, you kind of get this dumbfounded look right as they try and figure out what they’re doing, because the answer is they’re not doing anything. They’re just setting time aside for sleep to happen, and that’s it. So perhaps all this messaging around sleep, you know, get seven to nine hours of sleep. Martin: Maybe it should be make time for sleep, you know, make sufficient time for sleep. The issue is the people who are reading that kind of advice are the people who are struggling with sleep and then, and people with insomnia are often allotting even more time than necessary for sleep. And then setting themselves up for more wakefulness at night. Martin: So it’s, it again, it’s just so easy through no fault of our own, to just get pulled into this struggle with the kind of messaging around sleep that is predominant. Courtney: Yes. Yep. And then you add in the, the, like the fear behind it. Like the fear-based, if you don’t do this, this will happen. So then you feel even worse. Courtney: Like if I don’t, if I don’t get sleep soon, something bad’s gonna happen to me. So that’s why like during that week, I remember at one point I told my husband, I’m like, I just want them to admit me to the hospital. Check me in, send me up to, you know, the mental health floor wherever I need to go, and just, can they just knock me out? Courtney: Can I just sleep? Just to get, you know, get back into sleeping again. Because I thought if I don’t do that, I’m, my health is gonna self-destruct. Like this is harmful to my body, which puts you into fight or flight even more. And then, yeah, just the shame of, like I said, like walking out at night and looking around at the world and it’s dark and everybody’s sleeping and you’re like, what’s wrong with me? Courtney: Like, something’s wrong with me, that I’m not like everybody else, that I can’t sleep. And so that’s a whole nother component to this is those thoughts that creep in when you do lay down at night. And for the longest time I was just trying to control them. Like, don’t think about that. Think about something else. Courtney: Like try to be calmed down. I was trying to breathe, you know, do all the things and I learned, you know, through, you know, your resources that just letting those thoughts be there and let ’em float away, you know, just don’t get too over involved with them. That can relax your body. So you can go to. And then, yeah, another thing that was kind of counterintuitive was the sleep restriction, but that I think had the biggest impact for me is because I was trying to allot aot of time for sleep, but I was going to bed at like nine o’clock and I’d lay there for an hour and a half and that would just increase the anxiety to where I’m like, okay, what’s the minimum sleep I can get? Courtney: And so I would go to sleep at like, or I’d go up at like 10 or 10 30 when I noticed my eyes were actually drowsy and I would lay there and some nights I would fall right asleep. If I didn’t, I got back up and came downstairs. But that is what helped me to actually be tired enough to go to bed. But again, the message is, well, you have to, you know, you have to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, so you have to go to bed early. Courtney: And it just, it creates such a mess for people. I, ugh, I just feel bad for anyone going through it right now because I know I, I’m not too far removed to forget what that feels like. Martin: Absolutely. And it comes down against that theme of the more we chase after sleep, the more elusive it becomes. Martin: You mentioned that one thing that was really helpful for you was to open up a little bit more to whatever thoughts and feelings were showing up compared to trying to fight them, avoid them, resist them, control them, reason with them or anything else with them. And I think the, for a lot of us, this idea of opening up to what can be really scary, difficult, and uncomfortable thoughts and feelings can itself feel really scary, difficult, and uncomfortable. Martin: What was your experience like with that? What showed up for you when you first heard of this approach of opening up to this, these really difficult thoughts and feelings? Courtney: Oh my goodness. I just, I instantly flashed back to just laying there in bed with all these crazy thoughts in my head, but making time to allow that. Courtney: And I just remember thinking like, oh my goodness, if I do this, like, I’m gonna end up even worse. Like, I’m gonna end up even further into insomnia if I allow all this, all these feelings, and I don’t do something to try to calm them down. And it, it makes so much sense because as I’ve learned with anxiety slash insomnia, it’s that the more you try to control things, the worse it gets. Courtney: Because your anxious response is to get you to do something like it. Your body thinks it’s in danger. So the more you respond with trying to grab a hold of it and like do something, it’s gonna get worse. Where if you just kind of say, all right, I’m okay. I’m gonna lay here as uncomfortable as I am. Courtney: This is terrible, but I’m just gonna lay here and let them be. I’m gonna let these feelings be here over time they do pass. So it took, again, it takes time. I still have to practice that, but I’m much better at it than I was. But it does take time. Martin: it is definitely an ongoing practice. I think to get better skilled in experiencing the full range of human thoughts and feelings with less resistance making space for them to exist. I’m curious to hear from you what that first night or what the first few nights were like when you tried to practice this new approach of making space for that stuff to show up compared to that default response of resistance. Courtney: So it was. It was very, again, I would say a rollercoaster in those hours of like, you know, 10 30 to seven or whatever, I was in bed. Like initially I would be like, okay, this is uncomfortable, but I’m gonna try this. And I would try it and I would fit, I, I would feel myself relaxed and I would calm down. And then a new thought that would really jar me would come in or a new feeling. Courtney: And I’d be like, and then I’d have to do it again. So it was constantly, constantly grabbing a hold of those thoughts and being like, okay, you know, I’m just gonna let this be here. I don’t have to believe this, you know, this is what my body’s feeling, but my brain. And it helped for me to separate myself a little bit or create some distance between my, my identity and my brain. Courtney: Like my brain is the one, you know, churning out all these crazy thoughts. ’cause my body doesn’t feel safe right now. And that’s okay. That’s okay. But I am safe. I’m just gonna lay here. That would work and then I’d have to do it again. So it was a lot of rep repetition over and over. It wasn’t like a one and done, like tonight’s the night, I’m gonna challenge my thoughts or allow them to be there, or you know, breathe and calm down and I’m good. Courtney: It was repetition over and over again. Martin: That’s where I think a lot of us can give up because we can still have that, whether it’s, maybe it’s a little bit hidden away in the background or more of a covert goal of I’m practicing this in order to get rid of these thoughts and these feelings. So every time they kind of pop back you’re like, ah, this isn’t working. Martin: So I’m curious to hear from you with that very common experience of, I opened up to the thoughts, they felt like they were starting to lose their power. I got a little taste of how this could be helpful, but then again, another one would come in and I’ll be back to square one again. What prompted or motivated you to keep up with that practice to feel as though this was an approach that you wanted to commit to and develop skill in? Courtney: I would see incremental progress. Like I would see little glimmers of hope that I was working my way out of this. So, for example, like I said, with the emails, like I did see through the, the email practices I was putting into place, I would see incremental progress there. And I would do that with the thoughts as well. Courtney: And then there was a point where I, I just kept going back to, well, I can’t go back to the way it was because that got me nowhere. So there were weak moments where I’m like, I just needed, you know, I need to go back to trying harder, trying all the things, or maybe I should try different sleep medication. Courtney: And I would be like, well that didn’t get you anywhere. That’s not getting to the. So I think I would love to say it was this big, profound moment of like, breakthrough, but it really was just incremental progress that I saw in myself. Like I’ll never forget the one night I was sitting on the couch and I was drowsy because I had implemented sleep restriction and I was color, I was doing something calming before bed. Courtney: My husband and I had the TV on. I was just coloring and my eyes got drowsy. And I was like, normally at this time I’m getting hypervigilant. Like I’ll be tired during the day, but then nighttime comes and I’m wide awake. So when I got drowsy, that gave me hope. And so there were more things like that that happened along the way. Courtney: And then I remember nights where the thoughts weren’t as bad and I was like, okay, here’s my next step. So I, I saw little bits of progress along the way that kept me going. Martin: Yeah, you got like little hints that this was an approach that held some promise. You started to feel more sleepy as the night approached or as bedtime approached compared to more alert. Martin: And with those thoughts and those feelings, they were still showing up. But every now and then, perhaps they felt a little bit less powerful or a little bit less influential. Martin: We have to fight, we have to put effort into sleep. What medication can we explore? But you harnessed your experience. You drew on your superpower of self-reflection and your experience told you that that stuff doesn’t work. So. Your brain is suggesting that’s a route we should carry on pursuing. But you recognize it’s doing that ’cause it’s doing this job. Martin: It’s doing its job of looking out for you. But you knew from experience that that approach wasn’t getting you closer to where you wanted to be, so you wanted to stay committed to this approach of less resistance and building that skill and experiencing all this stuff with less of a struggle. Courtney: Exactly. Courtney: Yes. And I think when you mentioned the struggle, like my laying, laying in bed at night had become a place of struggle and just it felt like I was battling all night with my mind. And so I tried to make a point of not making my bed that place anymore. Courtney: So when I’m having those nights, I get outta bed and I come downstairs and I’ll journal or color or what have you, and try to do all that there, and then go back to bed when it’s calmer. Martin: So you withdrew from the battleground when you found yourself getting pulled into that fight. And this is another thing that some people can struggle with because they’re like, should I get out of bed? Martin: Should I stay in bed? And my answer is always, well, it’s really up to you. It doesn’t matter if you stay in bed or get out of bed. What matters is, are you engaged in a battle? And if you are, how might you withdraw from that battle? So you might want to color or read or watch TV in the living room, or you might want to do that in bed. Martin: It really doesn’t matter. What matters is you’re awake and you’re not fighting. You’re doing something other than battling away, struggling more, making things more difficult. Courtney: Yes. And that, you know, there’s that. I’ve read that somewhere. There’s a rule, you know, you don’t use your bed for anything but sleep because you don’t wanna create an association. Courtney: Well, on good nights, I can color in my bed, I can watch a show. I can read and I, there’s nights I can’t even get through a paragraph and I set it down, I’m out so I can, I can do activities in my bed and not associate it with anything. Courtney: But the night that, like you said, it is a struggle, I gotta get out of bed. I gotta go do that somewhere else. Because that is part of, I, how I think that that habit became created with insomnia is I would lay down at night in instant panic because my body was like, well this is, this is associated with the panic place. Courtney: You know what I mean? So that was a learning curve too. Martin: Yeah, absolutely. It, listening to you share that experience, really, you kind of just played around with some of this, this stuff, right? You gave it a try with an open and a curious mind. And with this understanding. You’re thinking, I’m just gonna see what I take from this. Martin: What am I gonna learn from this? Because we’re always gonna learn something from what we do. And so you’ve really learned what was a helpful way forward for you, and that kind of gave you that motivation or that impetus to keep you moving in that direction. So to, to bring this together, what you, what you’ve shared as the most helpful things was the educational component. Martin: You know, really understanding where insomnia comes from, what keeps it alive. And in short, it’s really all of our attempts to get rid of it. Ironically what keeps it alive. And you also learned how easy it is to get drawn into the struggle. And so when you are struggling, it’s not because you’re broken. Martin: It’s just because what you are understandably doing is you’re just kind of pumping insomnia full of oxygen in effect. You know, it is just kind of feeding the beast through no fault of your own. You found it really helpful to go to bed when you were sleepy, like finding it hard to stay awake rather than going to bed based on what time it was at night. Martin: And that led to less time awake or less time awake for potential struggle. You found it helpful to be aware or to cultivate an awareness of when you were struggling at night, when you were getting pulled into that battleground and with that awareness, you then chose to respond in a different way. So instead of putting effort into sleep fighting or avoiding thoughts and feelings, you’d do some coloring or you’d do some reading and you found it helpful most of the time to get outta bed to do that. Martin: And you found it helpful to practice opening up to whatever thoughts, whatever feelings are showing up, even though you might not want them to show up, there they are. You’re acknowledging them and you’re just allowing them to come and go to flow, to be an observer of them. And one way you did that, that you shared was you would just journal them, you would write them down, not as a way to kind of reason with them or change them, unless I’m wrong, in which case please correct me. Martin: But just as a way to acknowledge them. And it was almost a way that you were putting into practice this idea of opening up to the thoughts and feelings, just writing them down. Courtney: Yes. Yep. And I will say, yeah, it was both like there were nights I would journal just to get the thoughts outta my head. ’cause then they’re not spiraling while I’m laying there. Courtney: And there were nights that I would have old fears come back, like the old thoughts that I would write them down and then challenge them. Like for example. I feel like if I don’t sleep, I won’t be able to function tomorrow. And then I would be like, well, actually that’s not true because you have had many good days on, two hours, no hours of sleep. Courtney: And so for example, like a month ago, I had the first all night, or I’ll call it, you know, I was all night. I haven’t had one of those nights in years, but my husband and I were leaving for the airport that morning, I think at three 30. And so I was wired from packing and tra we were getting ready to travel. Courtney: I knew I, we had our flight we had to catch. So I gave myself a lot of compassion, like, this makes sense for you. Like, you know, this is, you’re about to travel. It’s the first time we left our boys at home. So there was a lot there. Like it made sense why my body would react that way. And yeah, you know, I, I think maybe I napped on the plane. Courtney: I don’t remember, but I tried not to pay too much attention to it and. Again, it was the first all nighter in years that I’ve had where I didn’t sleep all night long, but it was okay. Like I, we got there, we had our full day. I think I, we came back and I did take like an hour and a half nap or something, and then we went on with our evening and that night my body made up the sleep. Courtney: So I can have really good days, like if you’re struggling with insomnia, you can have normal days, you can function fine even if you don’t get sleep. So back to the thoughts, there was a lot of thoughts that I was able to challenge with the educational component that I found through your videos, which was very helpful. Martin: Yeah, I’m, I’m glad you mentioned that there are still times when sleep isn’t perfect or exactly as you want it to happen, because when we’re struggling, we might have that as our goal. You know, we just have a great night of sleep every single night. But the truth is that no human being has a great night of sleep every single night. Martin: The difference now is when sleep doesn’t go as you might want it to. It’s not this huge focus of your attention. It’s not something that creates a huge, difficult struggle and pulls you away from the life you want to live. Now it’s more like water off of a duck’s back. You know, it comes and it goes, and then you are moving on from it. Martin: It really has just lost all of its power and influence over you. And I do want to emphasize, you used the phrase self-compassion. And I think that’s huge because when we are struggling, we can be so hard on ourselves and mean to ourselves, and that doesn’t make things any easier. So giving ourselves some grace, some kindness can be immensely powerful. Martin: You discovered that thoughts are thoughts. They’re not more than thoughts. They’re not less than thoughts. They’re thoughts. So they’re not facts. Sometimes they might be true, but sometimes not. They’re not a reflection on who you are as a person. Martin: They’re not always an accurate prediction for the future. They’re not always an accurate reflection of the past. They’re thoughts. And so by listening to your thoughts being more open to them, it kind of came with that bonus that you were able to recognize, Hey, some of these thoughts aren’t even true. Martin: This thought is telling me that tomorrow is gonna be a disaster, but hang on a minute. The other day I had no sleep and I had a great day, or I had a good day, or an okay day. So you notice that with that acceptance, there’s a reminder that thoughts are nothing more or nothing less than thoughts, and you’ve got that separation too between your thoughts and your body. Martin: One thing you shared with us a little bit earlier was that as you practiced opening up, especially at first when it feels really scary, like what’s gonna happen if I start allowing these thoughts and these feelings to come in? It feels really uncomfortable. It can feel more and more intense. Then something happens, it kind of reaches a peak at some point, and then it kind of flows back down again. Martin: And you realize that even though it can feel really scary, really threatening your body is lying in the bed or on the couch in a safe place. So even though it feels very unsafe physically, you are safe. So with that openness and acknowledgement, you also got that reminder or that awareness that your thoughts are separate from your body. Martin: There was that detachment there, and that in turn can reduce some of their power and influence too. Courtney: Yes, and that’s something like I think with anxiety in general or insomnia, is like for someone like me who is, like I said, a recovering perfectionist type, the type A. You can have the bar set really high to where your idea of progress or success is. Courtney: I will never have a rough night again. I will not struggle with, you know, scary thoughts. My thoughts will balance out. I will be peaceful all the time, and that’s just not realistic, nor is that life and so much of our anxiety or other emotions or our body just responding to life. And so life is not perfect and that would be my encouragement to anyone struggling with it is maybe lower the bar a little bit. Courtney: I had to lower it many times to where, like I mentioned earlier, my idea of progress was just when my eyes got drowsy, like nowhere near a full night of sleep. But I was just happy with that. And so you can build on that versus trying to get your thoughts to be what you want them to be. Get your body to do what you want it to do all the time. Courtney: Because then what if that’s your standard? What happens when you do have a rough night, a couple, you know, down the road or a couple months, a couple years, for example? How are you gonna respond to that? So I even had that challenge last night. I had, you know, some troubling thoughts pop into my head and at first I was like, oh geez. Courtney: And I was really kind of dwelling on ’em, and I’m like, wait a minute, wait a minute. Just because I’m thinking it doesn’t mean it’s true, you know, separate a little bit. So it’s still a practice. But that I think is a huge part of insomnia is the thoughts that, that come in during those late nights when you’re, you feel like you are the only one awake in the world or in your neighborhood or wherever, and it’s dark and you are alone with the loud, intense thoughts and you just feel like you’re, you’re crazy. Courtney: You’re nuts because you can’t move past it. And really, like you said, you’re not broken. It’s just the dynamic of the situation. But you can separate and you can challenge them or write them down and. It will peak and it will, it will pass At some point. It will pass. Courtney: In the beginning, and I’m sure anyone who has struggled with this, can attest to this, that the beginning of anxiety is such a lonely place. And you feel so alone, like I mentioned, but then you start to hear from other people, especially on your channel. And it, it’s mind boggling to me how. Courtney: Insomnia starts and progresses is almost like a formula. Like we’re not alone because it almost plays out identically person to person, regardless of their job, where they live, if they’re a parent or not, if they’re married or not, if they’re male, female. It’s amazing to me how similar everyone’s experiences. Courtney: So you’re, it’s not, it’s not you, it’s the insomnia, if that makes sense. Or the response to it. Martin: One thing that you touched upon was how we’re measuring progress as we’re on this journey away from the struggle. Martin: Because for as long as we are measuring progress on sleep or what thoughts and feelings are showing up, we might be setting the stage for more struggle because our own experience probably tells us that we can’t directly control those things. So if we’re measuring how well we’re doing against something we can’t control there’s just so much potential to still be in that quicksand and not be free from the struggle. Martin: Looking for action based markers of progress can be more helpful. Like, am I doing more of the stuff that matters? Are the decisions I’m making more related to what I want to be doing or how I want to be protecting sleep or preparing for sleep? There’s so many potential markers of progress out there, but focusing on action based markers of progress can be really helpful because it keeps us focused on what is in our control. Martin: Which are our actions. Courtney: Yes. I remember like in the thick of it, there were days where I had said that, you know, the sleep consumed my thoughts. And I, I was walking around like a zombie in this in the sense of, all I thought about was I didn’t sleep last night. I probably won’t sleep tonight. And just like feeling so jealous of all my friends and family, like they’re sleeping with no problem. Courtney: Like, this is not my life right now. This is horrible. And now I, there’ll be nights I don’t sleep well and it’s like, oh yeah, I forgot I didn’t sleep that great last night. Okay. You know? It’s not always like that, but more often it is. And like I can look at my day and be like, oh, I had a great day. I laughed a lot. Courtney: I had a lot of joy. The weather was beautiful. I exercised, you know, I had a great day despite what my night looked like. Martin: There’s just so much in your life beyond sleep. Sleep is still a part of your life, but it’s not the main part or a huge part of your life anymore. It’s just one thing of many things. Martin: How long would you say it took for you to practice this new approach of less resistance, less effort, not trying to control sleep, thoughts, feelings, to get you to a place where you felt that you left the struggle behind, that you can now live your life independently of sleep, and even in the presence of whatever thoughts and feelings might choose to show up? Courtney: So let me see. For me, I think my full. Severe anxiety struggle was about two and a half to three years. So I had that, you know, under my belt before implementing these, these strategies. I wanna say it probably took me about six months, give or take to, to where I, I didn’t feel burdened by it anymore. Courtney: Now I will say the nights or the episodes I would have where I would have a couple nights in a row, I would start to get a little weary again and a little doubtful and a little nervous, but I would get through those. So despite those, or setting those to the side, I would say about six months. Martin: I’m really glad that you emphasized that there was still ups and downs along the way. It doesn’t mean that over the course of that six months, every day or every night was incrementally better than the previous ones. There were sometimes when things felt really good and other times where it felt like, oh, I’m getting pulled back into the struggle again. Martin: But what mattered was you just kept on with that practice. You acknowledged what was happening. Maybe you were being a bit kinder to yourself when you noticed that maybe you were getting pulled back into the struggle again and just refocusing your attention on acting in a way that you wanted to act in response, acting in a way that you knew was gonna be moving you closer or in the direction that you wanted to be heading. Courtney: Yes, yes. I remember in the thick of it too, like wondering how long it was gonna take me to feel better. And I remember hearing someone say, oh, it takes as long as it takes. And I was so frustrated by that. ’cause I’m like, I just want a number. Like, is this gonna be like a year? Is it like six months? Like what am I? Courtney: But it does, I mean, everybody’s different. Your body handles it differently. Like mine remembers very vividly what happened. So I, that I wouldn’t say presents a challenge, but like I said, I have to be more mindful than someone else might. So everybody’s different. But yeah, it’s just keeping in mind where you want to go and keep. Courtney: Keep going through what you’ve learned and holding close to the va, what you value about your life, and allowing the space and the compassion for the upsets or, you know, setbacks or whatever you would like to call those. Martin: How were you able to be patient with yourself when no doubt you wanted progress to happen like immediately, which is human nature. How did you practice being patient and just staying committed to the practice? Courtney: Yes, that was very challenging. Even with anxiety in general, I still struggle with being patient with myself initially because I do, like I said, I have unfortunately high standards for myself that I always have to lower. And so the nights of, you know, bad sleep or a really anxious day, I just constantly had to be like, okay, you know, I can’t, I can’t control this. Courtney: I just have to accept it. I will get through this. Like this will pass. Just constantly refocusing. But yeah, it was very hard because there’s so many days, even now with different things, I’m like, man, I’m still struggling with this aspect of something, or I haven’t moved past this yet. And again, that’s the initial response. Courtney: But then I have to, you know, kind of be mindful of that and respond with, I’m growing. Life is not perfect. Progress is not linear. And that kind of helps with the patience part. But it is very challenging, I will say that. Martin: So it sounds like when you felt impatient you reminded yourself that you are on a journey. Martin: You are learning that you are growing that you’re heading in the direction you want to be heading. And on any journey there’s gonna be ups and downs. What matters is just continuing on the journey if it feels like that journey matters. Courtney: Yes. One thing that like was frustrating for me is like, I would hear different success stories and of anything, like, you hear success stories or you read about ’em, and people don’t always share that they’re still working through things. Courtney: Sometimes it’s just like, oh, I struggle with this thing now I’m here on the other side of it, and life is great. So when you are like me and you’re still working through different things, it’s hard not to see that as a sign of failure and understand that that is the normal, it’s normal to ebb and flow and you know, like you said, sleep is not perfect. Courtney: It can’t be controlled, so you can’t gauge your progress off of that. Martin: Yeah, that’s a good reminder that we are never gonna reach this perfect end point moment in our life where everything is perfect for the rest of time. When we’re struggling, we often feel like, if only I can get rid of this one obstacle, then everything will be perfect. Martin: But the reality is once one obstacle goes away at least one more is gonna show up because life is a journey and that journey involves many obstacles. Courtney, I’m curious what would you say an average night is like for you these days? Courtney: Oh, I would say most nights I probably, I don’t know, I wander upstairs around like 9 30, 9 45, you know, and then I’ll get in bed and my husband will, I have chat real quick, and then he passes out within 30 seconds, which is amazing. Courtney: But I will grab my Kindle, read. It depends how tired I am. Read maybe a paragraph, maybe a page, and I’m out. Around 10 o’clock, 10 30, and I get up about six or six 30. And yeah, sleep. Sleep pretty good. I would say. Martin: I think what really stands out for me there is that there’s no kind of mention of, well, I come home I, I turn all the lights down in my house, I make sure the thermostat is set to a certain temperature. Martin: I put on some blue blocking glasses. I drink some warm milk. You know, there’s, there’s just nothing there. It was just, I wander up to bed I talk to my husband for a bit, I read and then I get outta bed in the morning. There was just like nothing else. There’s none of that effort. None of that trying, none of the, the rules, none of the rituals. Courtney: Yeah. And I’ll say, you know, there are a couple, you know, nights here and there where like recently I was anxious in general about different things, and I was like. Struggling with some night sweats and just feeling on edge and maybe some vivid dreams. And so I got up and came downstairs and just got some water and sat for a minute and went back up to bed. Courtney: And those are the nights that, like I said, I just had to be more mindful that, you know, maybe through my anxiety, my body’s trying to tell me to slow down or pay attention to something. But it’s not an indication now of like, oh, something, you’re gonna go back there. You’re doing something wrong. It’s because I know most nights are like what I just told you prior to that. Martin: You’ve got a normal human brain that’s gonna generate anxiety and all different thoughts and feelings from time to time. Now they’re just not pulling you into so much of a struggle. You’ve got that skill in your back pocket now to kind of acknowledge them to make space for them. Martin: To be kind to yourself and to not feel as though you have to do anything with them because they are thoughts and they are feelings. And ultimately you get to choose how to respond to them. Courtney: Yeah. And that’s something that is super beneficial about this insomnia journey is not only have I learned to how to relate to my thoughts at nighttime, but during the day, ’cause there’s, you know, during the day I’ll just be going through my day like anybody else would. Courtney: And I’m sure anyone can relate when you get a crazy thought that pops into your head and you know, before it could really jar me and it could cause anxiety or something like that. But now I’m just like, oh, okay, that’s just a thought. Like, doesn’t mean it’s true. So the benefit I think of this insomnia journey is it can benefit all areas of your life. Courtney: You learn some skills that can apply to everything. Martin: As you become less of an opponent to certain thoughts and feelings, they become less distracting. So they can show up during the day. You are able to just quickly acknowledge them and refocus on where you are, what you’re doing, what you want to be doing, rather than, you know, the magnifying glass comes out and you’ve got some, a pair of tweezers and you’re kind of looking through that thought and it’s just the whole focus of your attention. Martin: And you miss out on the whole world around you. You’re missing out on where you are and what you’re doing. Courtney: Yes. Yep. Exactly. Same as like the insomnia monster, if you will. The more attention you give to it, the more it grows. And same with those thoughts that pop into your head. The more attention you give to them, the more they can get, they can really grab a hold of you and then you’re dwelling on them. Courtney: I just remembered, I never shared how I was able to get off the sleep medication because that can be a huge source of shame and like struggle is the sleep medications themselves. So coming from someone who was on three and I, and that was just at one time, like there was a lot of adjustments, made a lot of changes. Courtney: What did it for me was tolerating those uncomfortable thoughts because I told myself, okay. As I try to decrease my dosage and wean off of this, this is gonna create some really uncomfortable feelings and thoughts and I, it’s okay. This is expected. So it did. And as I expected that to happen

Endless scrolling doesn't sharpen your thinking. You probably can't remember 95% of what you just consumed, yet it still takes your time, attention, and even your money. In this solo episode of Habits & Hustle, I share why I created The Habits & Hustle Book Club and what pushed me to build something that encourages completion instead of constant consumption.  We break down how a clear deadline builds accountability, why finishing a book strengthens follow-through in other areas of your life, and how using those spare 10 to 20 minutes to read instead of scroll can improve your focus over time. Tune in to learn how the book club works, what kinds of books we're reading, and why finishing what you start changes more than just your reading list. Sign up for free at https://www.jennifercohen.com/bookclub What's Discussed (00:26) Why book clubs are trending again amid social media fatigue (01:32) The polarization and comparison trap fueled by constant scrolling (02:35) Why you don't remember 95 percent of what you consume online (03:26) The shift toward real connection and community through reading (06:08) TikTok shopping, impulse buying, and algorithm-driven spending (12:11) Using a finite reading deadline to build accountability and follow-through Thank you to our sponsors: Rho Nutrition: Try Rho Nutrition today and experience the difference of Liposomal Technology. Use code JEN20for 20% OFF everything at https://rhonutrition.com/discount/jen20. Prolon: Get 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift. Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off  Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE40 for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off  Manna Vitality: Visit mannavitality.com and use code JENNIFER20 for 20% off your order  Amp fit is the perfect balance of tech and training, designed for people who do it all and still want to feel strong doing it. Check it out at joinamp.com/jen  Find more from Jen:  Website: https://jennifercohen.com Instagram: @therealjencohen Books: https://jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: https://jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement

Leadership. What a snooze. This is a word that feels stuffy and boring to a lot of wild-hearted, spiritually minded explorers. But strong, confident leadership – rooted in values and beliefs that center the well-being of all beings – is exactly what we need right now. There comes a point on the spiritual path where healing stops being expansion and starts being the place you hide so you can stay small.In this episode of We Are Standing on the Edge, I'm speaking directly to the high-functioning, spiritually seasoned leaders (the therapists, facilitators, healers, entrepreneurs, caregivers, and professionals who have been doing the work) holding it down for everyone else... And yet in your own life things have stalled out. Maybe you're battling health issues, or ping-ponging back and forth between depression and anxiety so fast your head is spinning. Endless self-development, plant medicine journeys, certifications, shadow work, and integration cycles have become a sophisticated form of spiritual perfectionism that's stealing the very thing we claim to treasure most. Our presence.Awareness is necessary, but that alone will never initiate you into embodied leadership. The real question isn't whether you still need healing. It's whether you are willing to step into the realm of leadership your soul came here for.WORK WITH SINCLAIRThreshold 1:1 Private Coaching - ⁠https://sinclairfleetwood.com/coaching⁠Resonance Retreats: https://sinclairfleetwood.com/eventsNEST Community Membership - ⁠https://sinclairfleetwood.com/nest⁠Subscribe on Substack - ⁠⁠https://wearestandingontheedge.substack.com

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Trump's State of the Union address effectively convinced voters to ignore the pain in their wallets because he says he's “winning” the economy, how the Supreme Court finally stood up to the president on something he really cares about, and the Pentagon's ominous ultimatum against AI company Anthropic.For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss James Talarico, Jasmine Crockett, and what might happen in next week's consequential Texas Senate primary races. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson talks with Father James Martin about his new book, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest. They discuss the spiritual lessons learned through eight different jobs, Martin's controversial LGBTQ ministry that made him a target of criticism within the Catholic Church, and what the Gospels demand about welcoming strangers and caring for the marginalized. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily DittoYou can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park. Follow@SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfestSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Trump's State of the Union address effectively convinced voters to ignore the pain in their wallets because he says he's “winning” the economy, how the Supreme Court finally stood up to the president on something he really cares about, and the Pentagon's ominous ultimatum against AI company Anthropic.For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss James Talarico, Jasmine Crockett, and what might happen in next week's consequential Texas Senate primary races. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson talks with Father James Martin about his new book, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest. They discuss the spiritual lessons learned through eight different jobs, Martin's controversial LGBTQ ministry that made him a target of criticism within the Catholic Church, and what the Gospels demand about welcoming strangers and caring for the marginalized. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily DittoYou can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park. Follow@SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfestSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether Trump's State of the Union address effectively convinced voters to ignore the pain in their wallets because he says he's “winning” the economy, how the Supreme Court finally stood up to the president on something he really cares about, and the Pentagon's ominous ultimatum against AI company Anthropic.For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss James Talarico, Jasmine Crockett, and what might happen in next week's consequential Texas Senate primary races. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John Dickerson talks with Father James Martin about his new book, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest. They discuss the spiritual lessons learned through eight different jobs, Martin's controversial LGBTQ ministry that made him a target of criticism within the Catholic Church, and what the Gospels demand about welcoming strangers and caring for the marginalized. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily DittoYou can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy, the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek Park. Follow@SlateGabfest on X / https://twitter.com/SlateGabfestSlate Political Gabfest on Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/Gabfest/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is available for FREE on patreon.com/imsopopular It's the biggest night in I'M SO POPULAR history, discussing the 1.5 million word visual novel epic UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY うみねこのなく頃に by 07th expansion with a full length visual novel prelude experience only for patrons and a three hour discussion of the text. Discussing illusion, love, fantasy, mystery and the fleeting, destructive notion of TRUTH. ANSWER ARC To listen to the essential Prelude and full version of this episode, join us on patreon.com/imsopopular

We transported back to the good old days for one epic radio show… in the 1990s!We wanted to celebrate the birth of Chris Moyles and the greatest decade in one show, and we definitely did that! This extra special bonus episode features surprise celebrity messages, a special appearance from Dean ‘The Gaffers' Gaffney, aka Robbie Jackson from Eastenders and live music from Steve and Simon from Ocean Colour Scene and Nigel from Dodgy!Plus, Noel Edmunds revived his iconic game Telly Addicts, putting a 90's twist on the feature in honour of Chris' birthday. Noel is usually all about calm and positivity, and you'll see if the game reflects that...Nostalgia! Mayhem! Endless 90s references! One very big Happy Birthday to Chris Moyles!Enjoy!The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X!Weekdays 6:30am - 10am

We were once again fooled by the Annual Minnesota First Spring but we just had to have our friend Aaron Teal on to talk. We do a DEEP dive into the JDM Tackle Scene, how he got involved in it, some of his trips to Japan, and some exciting stuff he's got coming up at the Bassmaster Classic.~ Past The Barb Social Media ~ Email Us Questions and Feedback: pastthebarbpodcast@gmail.comInstagram: @pastthebarbpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... ~ Follow Us On Social Media ~ Adam Bartusek Instagram: @adambartusek Adam Bartusek Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adambartbart... Ryan Pinkalla Instagram: @ryan_pinkalla Ryan Pinkalla YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiRa... Sam Sobi Instagram: @sam_sobi_ Sam Sobi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sobieckfishing

get strong California Wants to Ban 3D Printers | Episode 593 Good morning. This is James from SurvivalPunk.com. It's 29 degrees. The coffee didn't start. The breaker tripped. My headphones weren't charged. My phone was at 9%. I forgot my medicine and had to turn around in the driveway. So yeah — we're already off to a strong start. And today we're talking about something equally annoying: California trying to ban certain 3D printers. Not because they're dangerous. Not because they're exploding. But because the government is afraid of what people might do with them. Let's get into it. The Headline Is Clickbait… But Also Not The headline reads something like: “California to Ban 3D Printers.” That's bombastic. That's designed to grab attention. But it's not entirely wrong. What they're really trying to do is ban non-approved 3D printers, restrict file sharing, and criminalize ways of bypassing those restrictions — all aimed at stopping people from printing “ghost guns.” Ghost guns meaning: firearms printed from polymer without serial numbers. Here's the issue. This isn't a widespread crisis. This is government reacting to a hypothetical problem. 3D Printers Are Still in Their Infancy 3D printers right now are like computers in 1992. How many people had one back then? A few. Most of them weren't doing anything groundbreaking. They were playing Oregon Trail. That's where 3D printing is right now. If you think of ten people you know, maybe one owns a 3D printer. And of those owners? How many are truly using them to their full potential? Most of them sit there like a treadmill with clothes hanging on it. The narrative being pushed makes it sound like garages across America are mass-producing plastic arsenals. That's just not reality. Government Overreach Is the Real Pattern This isn't about safety. It's about control. We've seen this pattern before: Rainwater catchment restrictions.Filter bans.Endless regulatory creep. Every time there's a new tool that increases individual capability, the instinct is to regulate it before it's even a measurable threat. And once a government starts restricting hardware, restricting file sharing, and criminalizing workarounds — that's not about safety anymore. That's about controlling information and capability. That should concern you whether you own a 3D printer or not. Are 3D Printed Guns Even a Real Issue? Here's a question: How many major shootings have involved fully 3D-printed firearms? Not hypotheticals. Not headlines. Not fear narratives. Actual confirmed cases. Very, very few — if any. Most violent crime still involves traditional firearms obtained through traditional means. So we're building legislation around something that's statistically insignificant. Meanwhile, 3D printers are used to make: ToolsRepair partsAdaptersHobby projectsPrototypesFunctional survival gear But because something could be misused, we're talking about banning the tool entirely. That's backwards. If You Live There… You Already Know At some point, you have to ask: Why are you staying in a state that constantly moves the goalposts? You can fight every single regulation. You can try to out-argue lawmakers. Or you can recognize patterns. When governments show you who they are repeatedly, believe them. Sometimes the most strategic move isn't fighting every skirmish. It's relocating to ground that isn't actively hostile to your independence. Freedom isn't about screaming at politicians. It's about positioning yourself where you don't need their permission. Final Thoughts This isn't about 3D printers. It's about capability. Every time technology empowers individuals, there will be pressure to restrict it. The question is simple: Do you want a society where tools are allowed unless proven dangerous? Or one where tools are restricted because someone might misuse them? Preppers understand this better than most. Capability equals resilience. Resilience equals freedom. And freedom doesn't survive well under constant regulation. This is James from SurvivalPunk.com. DIY to survive. Amazon Item OF The Day Creality Ender 3 V3 SE 3D Printer, 250mm/s Faster Print Speed CR Touch Auto Leveling Sprite Direct Extruder Dual Z-Axis Auto Filament Loading Ender 3 Upgrade 3D Printer Print Size 8.66×8.66×9.84 inch Think this post was worth 20 cents? Consider joining The Survivalpunk Army and get access to exclusive content and discounts! Don't forget to join in on the road to 1k! Help James Survivalpunk Beat Couch Potato Mike to 1k subscribers on Youtube Want To help make sure there is a podcast Each and every week? Join us on Patreon Subscribe to the Survival Punk Survival Podcast. The most electrifying podcast on survival entertainment. Itunes Pandora RSS Spotify Like this post? Consider signing up for my email list here > Subscribe Join Our Exciting Facebook Group and get involved Survival Punk Punk's The post California Wants to Ban 3D Printers | Episode 593 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we discuss some intel being shared in the LimaCharlie community.A financially motivated threat actor known as GS7 is conducting a large-scale phishing campaign called Operation DoppelBrand, targeting Fortune 500 companies by impersonating their corporate login portals.Kaspersky researchers have analyzed a newly identified Android malware strain named Keenadu that provides attackers with remote control over infected devices.Application Programming Interfaces continue to be a primary attack surface, and new research from Wallarm shows the problem is accelerating as AI adoption expands.Hacker News outlines cybersecurity technology priorities for 2026, framing the environment as one of continuous instability rather than periodic disruption.Support our show by sharing your favorite episodes with a friend, subscribe, give us a rating or leave a comment on your podcast platform.This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastructure for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io.

There are ways Christians escape that don't look like rebellion. They look like busyness. Performance. Endless content. Religious activity. We stay "engaged," but we are quietly numb. And over time, that numbness settles into the body as anxiety, irritability, and bitterness we don't know how to name. This week on Win Today, Stephen McWhirter joins me to discuss the socially acceptable ways believers avoid reality and why those patterns keep us stuck. Stephen's story is raw. He grew up in a violent home, ran hard from God through addiction and self-destruction, and encountered the presence of the Lord in a moment that changed everything. We explore how trauma and rebellion can coexist with spiritual language, how bitterness lodges itself in the body, and what it means to become a resting place for chaos rather than a reactor to it. This episode isn't about shame. It's about sobriety. If you've been medicating pain with distraction, ministry, content, or noise, this conversation will help you confront what you've been avoiding and rediscover what it means to be radically restored. Guest Bio Stephen McWhirter is a singer, songwriter, and worship leader known for his powerful testimony of transformation and his passion for helping others encounter the presence of God. After growing up in a tumultuous home and spending years in addiction and rebellion, Stephen experienced a radical encounter with Christ that reshaped his life and calling. He now leads worship and shares his story nationally, pointing people toward healing, identity, and freedom in Jesus. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.