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12.30.25, Nick Ashooh discusses why the Commanders have to be smart with playing players, but aggressive in the upcoming offseason.
Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. Podcasting has officially entered the mainstream. What was once a niche medium for early adopters is now a dominant force across news, entertainment, and social media, reaching audiences on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and beyond. Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. Today, 85% of people in the United States are familiar with the term “podcast,” a figure that represents a 10% increase since 2020. Familiarity does not necessarily mean regular listening, but it does signal cultural awareness. As podcasts are referenced more frequently on radio, television, and online platforms, they continue to move out of the “podcaster bubble” and into everyday conversation. This special episode is streaming for free on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform. By 2025, well over four in five Americans recognize the term podcast, a clear indicator that the medium has become part of the national media landscape. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . Awareness Is One Thing, Listening Is Another Listening habits reveal just how powerful podcasting has become. In mid-2023, Edison Research reported a major shift in media consumption: on-demand audio, including podcasts and streaming music, surpassed traditional AM/FM radio in total listening time across the United States. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms. That trend has only accelerated. According to Infinite Dial data released in early 2025, 70% of Americans have listened to a podcast at least once, up from 55% in 2020. While listening dipped briefly in 2022 as pandemic routines normalized, both monthly and weekly consumption rebounded strongly in 2023 and has continued to grow. Podcasting, it is now clear, is no longer an experiment. It is a mainstream medium. A Podcast That Breaks the Mold Among the thousands of shows competing for attention, some podcasts stand out by doing things differently. One of those is the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, a program built around police, crime, trauma, and real-life stories, delivered without cost and without filters. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. “It's 100 percent free,” the show's creator often emphasizes. “No subscriptions, no credit cards, and no paywalls. It never has been paid content, and it never will be.” That commitment to free access has helped the show grow into a nationally syndicated weekly talk radio program, now airing on 148 AM and FM commercial radio stations. Each week, the show is broadcast to an estimated 48 million people across the United States, in addition to its global podcast audience. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. Equally important is the show's tone. “This isn't a lecture, and it's never a sales pitch,” the host explains. “It's about personal experience. People telling their own stories, in their own words.” There are no scripted questions, no product promotions, and no partisan politics... ever, by design. The special episode can be found on The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories. More Than a Police Podcast Despite its title, the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is not created solely for police officers. In fact, the audience is far broader. With more than 780 free episodes available, and new episodes released every Wednesday and Sunday, the show offers an expansive library of stories that resonate well beyond one profession. Each episode is a conversation, not an interview. Guests are encouraged to speak openly, allowing their experiences to unfold naturally. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. Approximately 75% of the episodes focus on trauma-related stories, often connected to crime. Guests include law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, military members, victims of violent crime, survivors, and family members. These conversations explore the impact of trauma, not only on the individual, but on families, relationships, and long-term purpose. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. “The trauma doesn't end when the incident does,” one guest explains during an episode. “It follows you home, into your family, into your future.” The remaining 25% of episodes focus on crime investigations, presenting the realities of police work as they truly are, far removed from Hollywood dramatizations. A Familiar Format With a Broad Audience The show's structure mirrors popular television programs, in an audio format, such as The Homicide Hunter and Murder Chose Me. Those shows are not designed exclusively for detectives; they are meant for the general public, offering real stories told by those who lived them. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. The same philosophy applies here. “Many of the guests are current or former police officers,” the host notes, “but the stories aren't just for police. They're for everyone.” Proven Reach and Industry Recognition The show's impact is supported by industry rankings and listener feedback. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast is: Ranked #1 Law Enforcement Podcast in the United States by Million Podcasts Ranked Top 45 Law Enforcement Podcasts by Feedspot, currently at #3 Ranked #19 on the Top 100 Indie News Commentary (All-Time) chart by Goodpods Ranked #2 Top Law Enforcement Podcast by Goodpods Ranked #2 Indie Law Enforcement Podcast by Goodpods. What began as a podcast-only project eventually attracted the attention of traditional radio, leading to full national syndication. Today, the show is available via radio, radio satellite, radio internet feeds, and most all major podcast platforms. This Special Episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast available for free on their website, also on Platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and most major podcast platforms. His story is also being shared across their Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other Social Media and News outlets. Beyond Audio: Social Media and Digital Reach The show's presence extends well beyond audio. Supporting articles and features appear on Medium, Blogspot, LinkedIn, IMDb, and Google Business Profiles, alongside daily engagement across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms. The official Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show Facebook page alone has more than 139,000 followers, growing by approximately 2,000 new followers each week. Page insights consistently show a social media reach that continues to expand at a remarkable pace. Why It Matters As podcasting continues to grow, listeners are increasingly drawn to content that is authentic, unscripted, and meaningful. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast fills that space by offering real stories about police, crime, trauma, and resilience, without agendas and without barriers. Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. For those looking for podcasts that are different, stories that entertain, inform, educate, challenge, and connect, the show offers one of the largest free libraries of its kind. The full podcast episode is streaming now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Listeners can follow and listen for free at LETRadio.com, and connect through the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show on Facebook and other social media platforms. In an increasingly crowded podcast landscape, this show continues to stand out by doing something simple, and rare: telling the truth. Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com . Podcasts That Are Different: How The Law Enforcement Talk Podcast Reaches Millions for Free. Attributions: Edison Research Edison Research The Infinite Dial Million Podcasts Feedspot Goodpods Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Today, I pass on my answer to a great question asked by a Christian state legislator who listened to last week’s podcast about working to restore God’s “ordered liberty”: If we are to do that, how should we have argued for the bill not allowing men to compete in women’s sports? Equally important is what can we learn about ourselves by thinking through the two different approaches?
Today, I pass on my answer to a great question asked by a Christian state legislator who listened to last week’s podcast about working to restore God’s “ordered liberty”: If we are to do that, how should we have argued for the bill not allowing men to compete in women’s sports? Equally important is what can we learn about ourselves by thinking through the two different approaches?Support the show: https://www.factennessee.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today, I pass on my answer to a great question asked by a Christian state legislator who listened to last week’s podcast about working to restore God’s “ordered liberty”: If we are to do that, how should we have argued for the bill not allowing men to compete in women’s sports? Equally important is what can we learn about ourselves by thinking through the two different approaches?
The survivor impact statements delivered at Ghislaine Maxwell's sentencing cut through years of obfuscation and legal maneuvering to center the human cost of her crimes. Survivors described how Maxwell was not a passive bystander but an active participant who recruited, groomed, and normalized abuse, using trust and manipulation to deliver them into Epstein's orbit. They spoke of being children targeted for their vulnerability, then conditioned to accept exploitation as routine. The statements detailed lifelong consequences: fractured relationships, chronic anxiety, depression, loss of educational and professional opportunities, and a persistent sense of shame that Maxwell's actions helped engineer. Repeatedly, survivors emphasized that Maxwell's power lay in her ability to make abuse feel inevitable and unescapable, turning what should have been moments of safety into lasting trauma.Equally striking was the survivors' insistence on accountability and recognition, not pity. They rejected Maxwell's attempts at minimization and her portrayal of herself as collateral damage, making clear that her choices reverberated across decades of their lives. Several spoke directly to the court about the courage it took to confront someone who had moved freely among the world's most powerful, while they carried the burden alone. The statements framed sentencing not as closure but as acknowledgment—that the justice system finally named what happened and who was responsible. In doing so, they underscored a central truth of the case: Maxwell's harm was not abstract or historical; it is ongoing, measured in the daily lives of survivors who continue to live with the consequences of her deliberate actionsto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
The survivor impact statements delivered at Ghislaine Maxwell's sentencing cut through years of obfuscation and legal maneuvering to center the human cost of her crimes. Survivors described how Maxwell was not a passive bystander but an active participant who recruited, groomed, and normalized abuse, using trust and manipulation to deliver them into Epstein's orbit. They spoke of being children targeted for their vulnerability, then conditioned to accept exploitation as routine. The statements detailed lifelong consequences: fractured relationships, chronic anxiety, depression, loss of educational and professional opportunities, and a persistent sense of shame that Maxwell's actions helped engineer. Repeatedly, survivors emphasized that Maxwell's power lay in her ability to make abuse feel inevitable and unescapable, turning what should have been moments of safety into lasting trauma.Equally striking was the survivors' insistence on accountability and recognition, not pity. They rejected Maxwell's attempts at minimization and her portrayal of herself as collateral damage, making clear that her choices reverberated across decades of their lives. Several spoke directly to the court about the courage it took to confront someone who had moved freely among the world's most powerful, while they carried the burden alone. The statements framed sentencing not as closure but as acknowledgment—that the justice system finally named what happened and who was responsible. In doing so, they underscored a central truth of the case: Maxwell's harm was not abstract or historical; it is ongoing, measured in the daily lives of survivors who continue to live with the consequences of her deliberate actionsto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
The survivor impact statements delivered at Ghislaine Maxwell's sentencing cut through years of obfuscation and legal maneuvering to center the human cost of her crimes. Survivors described how Maxwell was not a passive bystander but an active participant who recruited, groomed, and normalized abuse, using trust and manipulation to deliver them into Epstein's orbit. They spoke of being children targeted for their vulnerability, then conditioned to accept exploitation as routine. The statements detailed lifelong consequences: fractured relationships, chronic anxiety, depression, loss of educational and professional opportunities, and a persistent sense of shame that Maxwell's actions helped engineer. Repeatedly, survivors emphasized that Maxwell's power lay in her ability to make abuse feel inevitable and unescapable, turning what should have been moments of safety into lasting trauma.Equally striking was the survivors' insistence on accountability and recognition, not pity. They rejected Maxwell's attempts at minimization and her portrayal of herself as collateral damage, making clear that her choices reverberated across decades of their lives. Several spoke directly to the court about the courage it took to confront someone who had moved freely among the world's most powerful, while they carried the burden alone. The statements framed sentencing not as closure but as acknowledgment—that the justice system finally named what happened and who was responsible. In doing so, they underscored a central truth of the case: Maxwell's harm was not abstract or historical; it is ongoing, measured in the daily lives of survivors who continue to live with the consequences of her deliberate actionsto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
Stijn Schmitz welcomes Joel Salatin to the show. Joel Salatin is self described Christian Libertarian Environmentalist Capitalist Lunatic Farmer. The episode explores current trends and challenges in agricultural commodities, with a particular focus on beef, poultry, and farming practices. Salatin discusses the significant challenges facing the beef industry, including a severe drought in the southern United States, an aging farming population, and high entry costs for young farmers. The US beef cattle herd is currently at its lowest point since 1950, despite population doubling. This, combined with dietary trends like paleo and keto diets, has created unprecedented market pressure on beef prices. The conversation delves into the problematic nature of industrial farming practices. Salatin critiques the current agricultural system, highlighting how it has pushed biological systems beyond their natural capacity. He emphasizes the importance of creating habitats that allow animals to express their natural characteristics, contrasting this with large-scale industrial farming approaches. A key trend Salatin sees emerging is the “homestead tsunami” – a growing movement of small-scale farming and backyard food production. In 2020 alone, two million backyard chicken flocks started in the US. He believes this smallholder revolution could gradually challenge the industrial agricultural complex, aided by improved distribution logistics and direct-to-consumer online marketing. Regarding his own farm, Polyphase Farm, Salatin explains their approach of diversification and ecological farming. They focus on perennial systems, extensive composting, and creating a farm with multiple economic enterprises. The farm now supports 22 full-time employees and includes a stewardship program to launch young farmers. Salatin predicts future challenges including water scarcity, increasing veterinary problems in livestock industries, and continued pressure from industrial farming models that exceed their efficiency. However, he remains optimistic about the potential for small-scale, ecologically sound farming practices to create meaningful change in agricultural production. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:10 – Beef Price Surge Drivers 00:07:52 – Understanding Cattle Cycles 00:13:54 – Incentivizing Young Farmers 00:16:24 – Intensive Grazing Advantages 00:24:17 – Soybean Bailouts Critique 00:28:59 – Market Consolidation Fragility 00:34:18 – Genetics Impact on Fertility 00:41:27 – Fertilizer Supply Dynamics 00:54:51 – Wheat Market Fluctuations 00:56:44 – Poultry Price Pressures 01:09:06 – Future Agriculture Trends 01:16:31 – Polyface Farm Overview 01:19:50 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: Website: https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polyfacefarm X: https://x.com/JoelSalatin Joel Salatin, 68, dubs himself a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer. Admirers hail him as the world’s most famous farmer, the high priest of the pasture, and Virginia’s most eclectic thinker since Thomas Jefferson. Detractors label him a bio-terrorist, Typhoid Mary, charlatan, and starvation advocate. Armed with high school and college debate trophies, 16 published books, and a thriving multi-generational family farm, Salatin draws on decades of food, farming, and fantasy to captivate global audiences. Equally at home herding cows or keynoting for Wall Street CEOs, he covers profitable regenerative farming techniques alongside cultural debates like orthodoxy versus heresy.A master wordsmith, he shifts crowds from laughter to tears, frustration to hope, earning frequent standing ovations. He calls his talks “performances,” thriving on Q&A interaction: “I love the interaction,” he says. Salatin co-owns Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia—showcased in Michael Pollan’s New York Times bestseller Omnivore's Dilemma and the award-winning documentary Food, Inc. The operation serves over 5,000 families, 10 restaurants, and five retail outlets with innovative products like salad bar beef, pigaerator pork, pastured poultry, and forestry goods. It ships nationwide, blending local roots with scalable business reach. When not speaking, Salatin farms hands-on, mentoring youth, inspiring visitors, and championing regenerative food systems. He’s editor of The Stockman Grass Farmer, the grass farming movement’s foundational voice, and pens columns like “Confessions of a Steward” for Plain Values magazine, “Homestead Abundance” for Homestead Living, pieces for Homesteaders of America, and monthly contributions to Manward e-magazine. His blog, Musings from the Lunatic Farmer, and co-hosted podcast BEYOND LABELS with Dr. Sina McCullough, extend his influence. A staple on radio and podcasts for preppers, homesteaders, ecological farmers, and foodies, Salatin blends practical, can-do entrepreneurial solutions with passionate sustainability advocacy.
How do we create the stories that will bring a whole new generation back to the web of life, that will help people find hope again, and lean into their heart's yearning for connection, relationship, being and belonging? This week's guest, Ally Kingston, is a creative facilitator and strategy lead at Purpose Disruptors, where she co-developed the breakthrough Agency for Nature, a pop-up agency bringing nature into youth culture. A former advertising strategist, she is curious about how creativity intersects with myth, meaning, consumerism and desire, and how we might design new cultural infrastructures that seed fresh possibilities for how to live.Equally committed to holding space for grief and loss in turbulent times, Ally has trained as a death doula and rites of passage holder and recently co-created the Tending to Endings card deck, a garden-inspired tool for engaging more meaningfully with loss. She is based in Somerset in the UK, where she lives with her partner, young son and lurcher. In this wide-ranging episode, we explore the nature of advertising and how an industry that has been so deeply embedded in the death cult of predatory capitalism can turn all the wild, creative magic in service of life; how the skills that push us to buy the pseudo-satisfiers can instead remind us of our original connections, and turn us towards co-creation, connection and belonging. We talk too, about grief and how learning to compost the old system is a key to the new growth we need and want. Ally is so multi-talented, it was a joy to explore so many ways we can bring our world back into love with life, into balance, into each of us being part of the solution and letting go of the parts of the problem. Purpose Disruptors https://www.purposedisruptors.org/Agency for Nature https://www.agencyfornature.com/Tending to Endings https://www.tendingtoendings.com/Ally on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ally-kingston-75922025/Ally on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/allykingstonALLY is co-guiding a deep dark creative winter journey with Dan Burgess and co, Into the Dark, in January: https://www.becomingcrew.com/intothedarkWhat we offer: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass If you'd like to join our next Open Gathering offered by our Accidental Gods Programme it's 'Dreaming Your Year Awake' (you don't have to be a member - but if you are, all Gatherings are half price) on Sunday 4th January 2026 from 16:00 - 20:00 GMT - details are hereIf you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are here
“They Don’t Know What They’re Signing”: The Student Debt Trap In this episode of The Real Deal with Abby and Regan meets real life decisions: college, trades, and calling. Abby and Regan talk about why so many teens are pushed into student debt before they even understand what they’re signing, why we’re “no student loans” moms, and how to help your kids find a path that fits their God-given gifts—whether that’s college, trade school, military, or beyond. Plus: the importance of choosing a campus that aligns with your family’s values, spiritual formation, and the launch-year reality every mom feels. In this episode: The student loan trap (and why teens can’t grasp the burden yet) College vs. trades vs. military: helping kids find their lane Paying for college with scholarships + realistic planning Why values + formation matter as much as a degree “Equally yoked” and the long game of faith + family Want to collab with Abby & Regan and reach 707,000+ parents? https://www.reganlong.com/new-page-3 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Introduction to the SolutionUC Davis researchers are examining a novel approach to combating climate change: turning our buildings into carbon sinks. The solution is based on incorporating biochar, a carbon-rich material obtained from plant material, into common construction materials like concrete, brick, and asphalt. By embedding carbon directly into long-lasting infrastructure, this approach reduces atmospheric CO₂ and also transforms one of the most carbon-intensive industries in the world into a tool for climate mitigation.Background: How Carbon Storage in Building Materials WorksBiochar is created through pyrolysis, a process involving heating organic material, such as crop residues or wood waste, in a low-oxygen environment. This process locks in carbon that plants absorb during photosynthesis and prevents it from being re-released into the atmosphere through decay or burning.The research team at UC Davis, headed by Professor Sabbie Miller and Dr. Elisabeth Van Roijen, proposes the use of biochar as a partial replacement for the materials in concrete and other construction compounds. Since more than 20 billion tons of concrete are produced every year by the construction sector, substituting 10% of that with biochar-based mixtures could store up to 1 gigaton of CO₂ annually, or the equivalent yearly emissions from Japan.Unlike temporary carbon storage methods, like soil burial, embedding biochar in durable infrastructure ensures long-term sequestration, potentially spanning decades or even centuries. It also leverages the global scale of construction as a medium for climate action.Advantages of This SolutionApart from net carbon emissions reduction, the introduction of biochar-enriched building materials has tangible engineering benefits. It has been found that the addition of biochar can enhance thermal insulation, fire resistance, and durability in some uses. The process also fits well within the circular economy principles because of the organic waste used and reduced need for virgin materials.Because construction is already a high-volume, resource-intensive industry, integrating biochar into existing supply chains could make climate-positive practices scalable and economically viable without requiring dramatic infrastructure overhauls. Equally important, this solution provides dual benefits: supporting both carbon sequestration and the development of sustainable materials.Drawbacks and CritiquesThe approach faces several scientific and logistical obstacles despite such a promising premise. Producing biochar requires energy in quite significant quantities, with sourcing biomass at large scales risking unforeseen ecological impacts such as nutrient depletion or habitat disruption. Some critics even ask whether its broad adoption might inadvertently encourage the removal of older buildings in favor of the construction of newer, carbon-storing ones, offsetting any climate gains.Another factor is the life cycle of the biochar-infused materials themselves. While they can store carbon for decades, it remains undetermined how these materials at the end of a building's life are to be managed to avoid re-release of CO₂. Future policy frameworks and recycling technologies will be required to address these challenges if there is to be long-term effectiveness.About the GuestDr. Sabbie Miller is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis. Her research focuses on sustainable infrastructure materials, life-cycle assessment, and reducing the environmental footprint of the construction industry.Further ReadingUC Davis News: Storing Carbon in Buildings Could Help Address Climate ChangeNature Geoscience: Carbon Sequestration Using BiocharScience Magazine: Building Materials as Carbon SinksScienceDirect: Alternative Sequestration Options in Construction MaterialsFor a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/sequestering-carbon-in-building-materials-with-dr-sabbie-miller/
Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez explores universal themes in death rituals, examining how funerals, grief, and cultural customs intersect at the National Museum of Funeral History. Museum exhibits include gynecological coffins from Ghana, jazz funerals in Louisiana, and Victorian mourning practices, providing insight into how traditions shape the grieving process and honor the dead. Religion and cultural heritage guide communities through loss, establishing rituals that unite people and create space for healthy grieving. Grief is recognized as an ongoing experience, with individuals choosing solitude or seeking support from loved ones. Genevieve Keeney-Vazquez shares personal experiences with grief and emphasizes practices that foster healing. This conversation is part two of a two-part interview with Ashley Gould for On the Table with Ashley, a podcast dedicated to meaningful conversations across diverse life experiences and professions. Plan your visit to the museum today at nmfh.org and take a journey through over 30,000 square feet of fascinating history. Subscribe to The Final Curtain Never Closes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Key Takeaways 1. Rituals surrounding death are universal, but they vary widely in their practices and meanings. These customs serve dual purposes: aiding the grieving process for the living and, in many traditions, helping the soul or spirit of the deceased to “transcend” or move on. Regardless of the specifics, a common thread is that every culture finds ways to honor and remember loved ones, and most have beliefs about life after death or the soul's journey. 2. Funerary practices, including burial containers like coffins and caskets or unique customs such as Ghanaian fantasy coffins or jazz funerals, reflect both cultural values and practical concerns (like public health). These practices evolve over time—sometimes merging, adapting, or being challenged by modern sensibilities—but always provide structure and meaning during periods of loss. 3. Grief is a lifelong and deeply personal process. The transcript emphasizes that grieving varies from person to person and is affected by culture, tradition, and individual circumstance. Equally important is the message that grief should be honored and experienced—not masked or ignored—as unhealthy grief can have lasting physical and emotional impacts. Support from community, rituals, and sometimes professional help, can be vital. 4. Objects, photography, and even art made from cremains are powerful tools for remembrance and healing. These items enable people to hold on to memories, honor the dead, and sometimes find new ways to process loss. The meaning attached to such objects often transcends their physical material, providing comfort and a sense of continuity. 5. Professionals in the funeral industry are both caretakers and guides for grieving families. The transcript highlights that even those with expertise in death care are affected by grief and must manage personal boundaries and seek support when needed. There's an ongoing need for empathy, community, and sometimes humor, to balance the emotional demands of the profession, as well as recognition of the human aspect behind every role.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. From Chicago to West Virginia, a Law Enforcement Perspective. Few accusations are repeated as often, or with as much certainty, as the claim that American policing and the criminal justice system are inherently racist. It's a powerful narrative, amplified daily across social media, headlines, and political talking points. But is it true? Or has it become a dangerous distraction from facts, context, and real solutions? Look for The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on social media like their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. That question is at the center of a special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and many major streaming platforms, and discussed across Facebook, Instagram, and the news. The episode features Maurice “Maury” Richards, a former Police Chief in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and a retired Chicago Police Lieutenant with decades of frontline experience. Experience From Two Very Different Cities Richards' career spans two vastly different policing environments, urban Chicago and small-city West Virginia. His perspective is not theoretical or academic; it's built on years of responding to violent crime, managing officers, and confronting the realities that don't always make headlines. Supporting articles about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . During the conversation, Richards challenges the popular claim that police shootings in America are driven by racial bias. Instead, he argues that crime patterns, suspect behavior, and officer encounters with violence, not race, largely explain police use-of-force outcomes. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. What the Data Shows National data consistently reveals that police shootings closely track rates of violent crime and armed encounters, not racial animus. In 2019, police officers fatally shot just over 1,000 individuals nationwide. The majority were armed or posed an immediate threat. While African Americans represented roughly a quarter of those killed, that proportion has remained stable for years and is lower than what crime and suspect data would predict, given the frequency with which officers encounter armed violent offenders. That context is often missing from public debate. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other podcast platforms. Equally overlooked: in 2019, police fatally shot more unarmed white suspects than unarmed Black suspects, and those numbers have declined significantly since 2015. When placed alongside broader homicide data, unarmed Black suspects killed by police represent a tiny fraction of overall violent deaths involving African Americans. What Research Actually Concludes Multiple large-scale studies, spanning economics, criminology, and peer-reviewed science, have examined police use of force. Their findings repeatedly undermine the claim of systemic racial bias in police shootings. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. Researchers have found that: The likelihood of a fatal police encounter increases with exposure to violent suspects, regardless of race. There is no statistically significant evidence of anti-Black bias in fatal police shootings when crime rates and behavior during encounters are considered. White officers, in some departments, have been found less likely than minority officers to shoot unarmed Black suspects. These conclusions don't deny that misconduct occurs or that bad officers exist. Rather, they challenge the idea that racism is baked into the system itself. The Cost of a False Narrative Richards and the show's hosts argue that the real danger lies in what happens when an unproven narrative is treated as fact. The portrayal of policing as systemically racist has had consequences, some deadly. In past years, false assumptions fueled targeted attacks on officers and led to pullbacks in proactive policing, especially in high-crime neighborhoods. When officers disengage, it is often law-abiding residents in minority communities who pay the price through increased violence, drug activity, and gang control. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. Check out The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and across most podcast platforms where listeners will find authentic law enforcement stories. As Richards explains, fewer arrests and less enforcement don't eliminate crime, they simply shift power to those who exploit the absence of law and order. Politics, Policy, and the Bigger Picture Claims of systemic racism have become foundational to movements such as “Defund the Police,” opposition to Broken Windows policing, and calls to dismantle traditional drug enforcement. Even national leaders have echoed these allegations, often without defining what “systemic racism” actually means. When examined closely, the arguments fall apart: Claims of widespread racial animus ignore how aggressively modern institutions punish and correct discriminatory behavior. Assertions that past racism explains all present disparities assume causal links unsupported by evidence. Psychological theories of subconscious bias have been widely challenged and debunked. Disparity-based arguments focus solely on offenders while ignoring victims, who are disproportionately minority themselves. Perhaps most troubling, many proposed “solutions” would harm the very communities they claim to protect by reducing safety, enforcement, and accountability. The Bottom Line The conversation reaches a clear conclusion: the claim of systemic racism in American policing and the criminal justice system does not stand up to scrutiny. That doesn't mean reform isn't needed or that every police action is justified, but it does mean debates should be grounded in facts, not fear or political convenience. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. A Special Episode of the podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. To hear the full discussion, listen to this special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available now on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and other major platforms, and join the conversation across social media and news outlets nationwide. Listeners can tune in on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most every major Podcast platform and follow updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other major News outlets. You can find the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn, as well as read companion articles and updates on Medium, Blogspot, YouTube, and even IMDB. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com . Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . Stay connected with updates and future episodes by following the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, their website and other Social Media Platforms. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Are the Claims of Racism True, or a Distraction? Special Episode. Attributions Manhattan Insitute Liberty University Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
We're told that "the one who does the will of Elohim continues to live forever." It would seem that we should thereby need to rightly understand how to determine what the will of the Creator is. Equally, Ecclesiastes tells us what is the entire duty and purpose of every man to ever live. Do you want to walk in the Most High's will and inherit eternal life? Do you want to fulfil your purpose? Let's find out!
Send us a textIn this episode, we sit down with Dr. Morris of Missouri State to dive deep into what it truly takes to build a championship-caliber football program from the inside out. From establishing core values like attitude, discipline, accountability, and love, to developing young players with vastly different backgrounds, Dr. Morris breaks down the systems and standards that drive the Bears forward.He shares how his staff approaches player development, motor patterns, nutrition, recovery, and in-season training using tools like force plates, bands, and chains. We also explore his leadership philosophy, the importance of a player-driven environment, and the professional growth he expects and encourages within his coaching staff.With Missouri State making the jump to the FBS level, Dr. Morris offers a transparent look at the challenges, opportunities, and community-building required to elevate a program. This conversation is loaded with insights for coaches, players, and leaders who want to understand what holistic, intentional program-building truly looks like.This episode highlights Dr. Morris's comprehensive approach to building the Missouri State football program as it transitions to the FBS level. He emphasizes the power of culture—anchored in attitude, discipline, accountability, and love—as the foundation of everything they do.We unpack the complexity of player development, especially when athletes arrive with varying levels of experience and inconsistent motor patterns. Dr. Morris explains how accountability, leadership, and a player-driven environment are critical for sustained success.Despite limited resources, his staff invests heavily in nutrition and recovery strategies, while combining technology (like force plates) with training methods such as bands and chains to improve power and explosiveness in-season.Equally important is his commitment to staff development, creating a collaborative coaching environment built on mentorship, growth, and shared purpose.Overall, Dr. Morris provides a blueprint for what intentional, holistic program development looks like—and how those principles are helping Missouri State rise on the national stage.https://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email Voodoo4ranch@gmail.comhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch
In this episode we review the game against Scarlets. It looked like we were cruising at 12-0 up with more points to come but the home side had other ideas and put in a proper shift to take us to the wire.We discuss the reasons why this might have happened as well as hear the thoughts of some listeners. Equally as importantly the game marked the first BBTG road trip of the season so we also review activities that took place off the pitch and as well as on it. Suffice to say we tried to squeeze as much out of Llanelli as we could and had a thoroughly good time despite the weather, the lack of any discernable taxi infrastructure and a poor decision to go to the Red Cow.We briefly look forward to the next game against Section Paloise or 'Pau' as they are also known (although we also hope to get more insight next week with a special 'edu-pod' on Wednesday) and finish off by making a spirited defence of the claim by some loyal listeners that we have sold our souls to the devil for the price of a bobble hat.All this and more with Pete, Lee and Miles live from the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom.Let us know what you think!
This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring legendary trumpeter and horn arranger Jerry Hey, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Jerry Hey trumpet interview" Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here: https://bobreeves.com/blog/jerry-hey-trumpet-interview-the-other-side-of-the-bell-146 About Jerry Hey: Jerry Hey is one of the defining trumpet voices and horn arrangers in modern popular music. Born in Dixon, Illinois, into a deeply musical family, he honed his craft with Charlie Geyer and later at Indiana University under legendary pedagogue William Adam. After an early run co-founding the jazz-fusion band Seawind in Hawaii, Hey moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s and quickly became a first-call session player and arranger. From there, his sound is heard on a staggering number of iconic recordings. Hey's horn writing and trumpet playing helped shape Michael Jackson's Off the Wall and Thriller albums, and his long association with Quincy Jones produced landmark work for Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Barbra Streisand, Toto, and countless others. A six-time Grammy winner, he has been recognized repeatedly for his instrumental and vocal arrangements, as well as his contributions to major film and television scores, including Flashdance, The Color Purple, the Back to the Future trilogy, Forrest Gump, and Dreamgirls. Most recently, Hey has opened his personal archives in Notes From The Past 50 Years, a 250-page collection of pop excerpts spanning his studio career. The book gathers more than 200 of his favorite licks, along with personal stories and rare photos that trace his path from early days in Los Angeles to his most iconic sessions—including a few lesser-known musical gems. Equally at home leading a horn section, crafting a string chart, or delivering a lyrical flugelhorn solo, Hey remains a benchmark for precision, style, and imagination in the studio, with an influence that continues to shape how artists, arrangers, and producers think about horn sections today. Episode Links: Website: www.heyhorns.com Instagram (@heyhorns) Jerry Hey playlist The Other Side of the Bell Episode #15 - William "Bill" Adam Tribute The Other Side of the Bell Episode #22 - Jerry Hey Podcast Credits: "A Room with a View" - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Photo Credit - Jerry Hey/Megan Noller Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg
Happy Birthday Joyce!! She talks about the disqualification of Trump appointee Alina Habba as N.J Prosecutor, as Alina calls out a several republicans for colluding against her. The Association of Psychological Science finds that sexism is no longer an issue in the workplace. The FBI investigating six lawmakers who made a video to the military telling them to undermine President Trump. Lack of gratitude and writing off others success as privilege, and playing the victim.At least 10 children reportedly died after COVID-19 vaccination, data that was reportedly hidden by the Biden Administration . Specific chapters of the Muslim brotherhood to be designated as terrorist groups. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After 15 long years of waiting, Skate 4 is here in the guise of Full Circle's skate. and there are things about it we have to get out in the open. Equally long cooking in the oven is a love of wrasslin' so of course we were going to chat about the documentary (?) WWE: Unreal at some point. And finally, there's Gwent: The Legendary Card Game from CD Projekt and No Loading Games, which brings the digital game found in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt into the real world (wooden tables and all). All that, and trawling through the C section, on Ep236. 00:00 - “Bit early, isn't it?” 04:41 - skate. 26:12 - Gwent: The Legendary Card Game 42:12 - WWE: Unreal 1:06:13 - Secret Santa: The Requestening On this episode were Dan (@ThisDanFrost), Peter (@XeroXeroXero), and Sam (@MrSamTurner). Our Spotify Playlist brings together lots of great thematic music inspired by the stuff we talk about, our Steam Curator page collects every video game we've ever reviewed available on the platform, and our BoardGameGeek page does the same for every boardgame. And if you'd like to see what we're up to between podcasts, your best bet is our Instagram page. Links to where you can find us - StayingInPodcast.com Note: sometimes we'll have been sent a review copy of the thing we're talking about on the podcast. It doesn't skew how we think about that thing, and we don't receive compensation for anything we discuss, but we thought you might like to know this is the case.
Many cherished Christmas carols talk about peace. Consider Silent Night – “sleep in heavenly peace.” Or, Hark The Herald Angels – “peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” Yes, for centuries people have yearned for peace. Particularly, peace at Christmastime. Let’s face it. This world really needs peace. Interestingly, peace starts in each individual heart. Equally, lasting peace only comes from the “Prince of Peace” – Jesus Christ. So, peace at Christmastime . . . Read More … For more resources and tools that inspire and equip you to live well using God's Word in practical ways each day, visit the Alive and Active Life website.
The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 sparked an “AI arms race” with trillions of dollars in investment and profound implications for productivity and employment. For a discussion of how generative AI and related technologies are reshaping public sector operations, workforce needs, and infrastructure planning, Penn IUR and the Volcker Alliance convened a panel of government, academic, and industry experts for “Special Briefing on AI in Government—More Efficiency but Fewer Workers” on November 20, 2025. William Glasgall, Penn IUR Fellow and Volcker Alliance Public Finance Adviser, Susan Wachter, Co- Director of Penn IUR and Wharton professor, and our expert panel discuss the state of America's infrastructure and how some states are developing strategies to better identify and fund needed investments. Panelists include: • Jon Hartley, Policy Fellow, Hoover Institution • Leigh Palmer, Vice President, Google Public Sector LLC • Megan Kilgore, City Auditor, City of Columbus, Ohio • Howard Neukrug, Executive Director, The Water Center at Penn and Professor of Practice, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania • Thomas Sanchez, Professor, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University NOTABLE QUOTES Hartley: “As of the end of September, about 37 percent of American workers claim to be using generative AI at work.” Hartley: “I think it's still a TBD in terms of what the overall labor market impact is going to be, but I think we're just in some of the early innings of what's a much longer baseball game.” Palmer: “We're just at the tip of the iceberg on the potential for this technology.” Kilgore: “We need more GOATs—not sheep. People who are curious, courageous, and willing to climb into unfamiliar terrain as technology reshapes how we're constantly working and ultimately serving the public.” Kilgore: “We need to view building human infrastructure as well as investing in forward-thinking AI technology as on the same level of vitality as investing in that traditional form of hard infrastructure… Equally as important, governments have to start investing in the skills necessary to allow our public sector leaders and our workers here to really use those tools well: data literacy, ethical reasoning, and creative problem solving. I do believe AI will absolutely redefine public service.” Neukrug: “AI-powered digital twins can simulate entire water networks, helping planners test technologies virtually before real-world deployment, saving time and resources.” Hartley: “Conditional on using generative AI to complete a task, roughly two-thirds of the time that would traditionally be dedicated to that task is saved."
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast takes a deep dive into one of the most powerful forces now reshaping the food industry: the rapid rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois begin with a run-through of current food and retail headlines, including controversy at Campbell Soup, conversations around AI adoption and innovation in the food sector, and early teasers from the 2026 Canada Food Price Report. These stories set the stage for this week's feature discussion: how GLP-1 medications are altering what consumers eat, where they shop, and which products they choose.The heart of the episode features an in-depth interview with Ransom Hawley, Founder and CEO of Caddle, a Canadian mobile-first consumer insights platform with access to real-time behavioural data. Hawley shares new Canadian research showing GLP-1 household usage has jumped from 10% to 14% over two years, a dramatic 40% increase. Equally important is the shift in why people are taking these drugs: where most users initially relied on them to manage type-2 diabetes, an increasing number now use them primarily for weight loss. That consumer pivot mirrors rapid adoption trends in the United States and offers important clues about what's coming next for Canadian retailers, manufacturers and restaurants.Hawley reveals that GLP-1 users report eating less, losing weight, buying fewer groceries, and reducing restaurant visits. Consumption of alcohol, sugary beverages and impulse-driven snack foods is falling, while protein-rich foods, functional beverages and satiety-oriented products are gaining momentum. Categories seeing the steepest declines include bakery goods, packaged cookies, chocolates, soft drinks and sweet snacks—all long-time staples of convenience-driven food consumption. This suggests a structural shift, not a temporary fad.The conversation expands to consider the broader implications. As GLP-1 usage rises, brands face new challenges and opportunities: How should they reformulate products for consumers who eat less? Should retailers redesign planograms to reflect category shrinkage? Will foodservice operators pivot toward protein-forward meals, smoothies and portion-smart menu strategies? As the hosts discuss, this is the first time since COVID-era lockdowns that such a large segment of the population is simultaneously changing eating behaviours, and its ripple effects will reshape category strategies, promotional plans, and innovation pipelines.By the end of the episode, one thing is clear: GLP-1 drugs are not just a pharmaceutical phenomenon—they are transforming food culture, retail economics, and consumer expectations. Retailers and brands that ignore this shift risk falling behind; those who understand it may unlock a once-in-a-generation competitive advantage. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.
Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History)
Greg Marchildon speaks with Ron Graham about his book, The Coutts Diaries: Power, Politics, and Pierre Trudeau 1973-1981. Jim Coutts, principal secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau from 1975 to 1981, was one of the most powerful men in Canada during those tumultuous years. Equally admired and attacked, respected and reviled, he was, in the words of one contemporary journalist, “a political phenomenon such as Canada has never known before: Machiavelli masquerading as a cherub.” The man who “exercised more backroom power than anyone else in modern Canadian political history,” Coutts not only knew everyone and saw everything at the centre of the action, he wrote it all down. Now, for the first time, his secret diaries have been edited into a single volume that offers an astonishing, behind-the-scenes look into public events and private lives during some of the most dramatic years in Canadian history. Ron Graham is an author and journalist based in Toronto. He has written extensively over many decades on Canadian politics, history, religion, business, and culture. If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society's mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada's past.
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Joe takes a deep look at how not all belief systems lead to the same outcomes — and why the Gospel stands out uniquely in shaping a world where every human life has dignity. Drawing from Scripture and real-world examples, he explains that every religion produces a kind of fruit, but only Jesus uses power to serve rather than dominate.Have an article you'd like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
The Daily Shower Thoughts podcast is produced by Klassic Studios. [Promo] Check out the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ [Promo] Like the soothing background music and Amalia's smooth calming voice? Then check out "Terra Vitae: A Daily Guided Meditation Podcast" here at our show page [Promo] The Daily Facts Podcast. Get smarter in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Facts website. [Promo] The Daily Life Pro Tips Podcast. Improve your life in less than 10 minutes a day. Pod links here Daily Life Pro Tips website. [Promo] Check out the Get Happy Headlines podcast by my friends, Stella and Mickey. It's a podcast dedicated to bringing you family friendly uplifting stories from around the world. Give it a listen, I know you will like it. Pod links here Get Happy Headlines website. Shower thoughts are sourced from reddit.com/r/showerthoughts Shower Thought credits: automodtedtrr2939, Ferrarileite, LaevantineXIII, E_loomuhnah_T, Thylocine, Aetheldrake, cheesepuzzle, Mr____Moist, Thirdwhirly, mariolikestoparty, NowIsNew, unclefishbits, Mooweetye, GrandKiwiistaken, , pufballcat, BasketGreedy, Chillaxel, trimdaddyflex, , mhem7, No_Cloud_7275, Kazer418, Wyattman1324, emptyraincoatelves, NoNo_Cilantro, onizuka_chess Podcast links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZNciemLzVXc60uwnTRx2e Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-shower-thoughts/id1634359309 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/daily-dad-jokes/daily-shower-thoughts iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/99340139/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a5a434e9-da18-46a7-a434-0437ec49e1d2/daily-shower-thoughts Website: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/dailyshowerthoughts Social media links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyShowerPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DailyShowerThoughtsPodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyshowerthoughtspod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Message by Pastor Doug Bunnell, recorded live November 9, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Kristen Frankland.Created and Treated EquallyIn the Kingdom all people are equal so we live out the subversive resistance by treating all people with equality.What transformation happened in Onesimus's life? How does this change things?How does verse 16 challenge cultural norms of the time (i.e., slavery)? "No longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother..."How can you apply Paul's appeal for reconciliation in your own relationships?What does Paul's willingness to pay Onesimus's debt reveal about his character?How does this letter speak to issues of human dignity, equality, and Christian fellowship—especially across social or economic divides?Philemon1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,To our beloved coworker Philemon, 2 to our sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church in your house:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 I thank my God always when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we share in Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.8 For this reason, though I am more than bold enough in Christ to command you to do the right thing, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.22 One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
In the protein bars market, the rarity of what BUILT Brands hopes to achieve shouldn't be overlooked, but that doesn't mean it won't have ample exit optionality. So, a few weeks ago…citing those elusive “sources familiar with the matter,” BUILT Brands (maker of BUILT bars) reportedly hired an investment brand to explore an exit that could potentially value the protein bar producer at more than $1 billion. And I'm making such a big fuss about that financial echelon mainly because (even with plenty of “upper middle market” deals recently) there have only been two verifiable examples of billion-dollar exit events since the creation of the modern protein bar category about three decades ago. The first was Simply Good Foods acquiring Quest Nutrition for $1 billion in August 2019. Then, about five years after that M&A activity…an international private equity firm became the lead investor in Vitamin Well Group (maker of Barebells) that valued it at around $3.3 billion. But from my understanding, the product origin story began as basically an unsuccessful “garage type hobby business” until CEO Nick Greer was made aware of it through friends and invested (partnered) with BUILT Brands sometime in 2018. Then, after a few years of growth…Nick Greer bought out his business partner, which I assume coincided with a collection of key business events in 2020. These included relocating headquarters (and opening a new production facility), returning to its original proprietary bar formulation, developing its new “puff” bar concept, and announcing USANA Health Sciences made a minority investment in BUILT Brands. However, like any great “math word problem,” only some details truly provide value in determining the correct route before solving our billion-dollar question! Though, maybe most impactful to BUILT Brands (especially if also observing contagion effects) revolves around the nuanced strategic shift sparked by its “puff” bar line extension. Leaning into the famous derogatory categorical statement, that protein bars are basically just “candy bars with added protein,” BUILT Brands created a comparable (but guilt-free) confectionery (candy-like) consumption experience. And consumers have fallen in love with the BUILT Puff Bars combination of its nutritional profile, unique marshmallowy texture, and wide variety of popular dessert-like flavors. Equally, since protein bars are mostly a contract manufacturing “follow the leader” dominated category with a “sea of sameness” market composition…BUILT Brands not fearing form factor uniqueness (complexity) proved to be an important decision. Moreover, by possessing its own manufacturing facility…BUILT Brands retained defensibility from the production process of that (commercially popular) differentiated product. And these strategic decisions will prove significantly valuable towards the quest for a billion-dollar exit, as interested suitors in BUILT Brands (especially certain parties) should fully understand these are non-negotiable when deriving any kind of long-term competitive advantage across the “protein snacking” space. So then, do I honestly think BUILT Brands will be acquired for a billion dollars (or more)? Based on insights trusted parties have shared with me regarding the financial statements, the M&A transaction value for BUILT Brands will most likely land somewhere materially above the $1 billion paid for Quest Nutrition and below the $3.3 billion implied valuation for Vitamin Well Group.
Tulips and diamonds: both figure centrally in the story of Amsterdam. The Netherlands is known as the ‘flower shop of the world' and a visit to Amsterdam's flower market a must for any visit. Equally, you will surely want to explore Amsterdam's heritage as the ‘City of Diamonds'. This episode brings a little background history on both topics, plus ideas for three places to visit to find out more. Reading Suggestions The Tulip by Anna Pavord Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach Links for this post The Tulip Museum The Diamond Museum Royal Coster Diamonds City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions! You can e mail us at citybreaks@citybreakspodcast.co.uk And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode. That would be a big help!
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein did not operate in isolation—they relied on a network. Their crimes were made possible by a web of enablers, facilitators, fixers, and bystanders who either helped directly or looked the other way. From private pilots to personal assistants, house managers to recruiters, there were people in their orbit who scheduled, transported, housed, and in some cases, groomed young girls for abuse. These weren't random helpers—they were staff, associates, and colleagues who made Epstein and Maxwell's operation function like a well-oiled machine. Yet, most of them have never faced a single charge. Their silence, compliance, and active participation were just as essential as the actions of Epstein and Maxwell themselves.Equally complicit were the institutions that protected them. Wealth managers, elite schools, banks, law firms, and even prosecutors played roles—some by omission, others by design. Doors opened for Epstein and Maxwell that would have slammed shut on anyone without money and connections. Social circles embraced them long after rumors had become accusations, and long after accusations had become evidence. And still, they were given platforms, invitations, and cover. This wasn't a case of two people fooling the world—it was a case of the world choosing not to care. The myth of the “lone predator” serves power well, but the truth is always more uncomfortable: predators thrive in systems that help them.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10332169/Underage-orgies-possible-pregnancy-key-moments-Ghislaine-Maxwells-sensational-trial.html
In this key conversation, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption President & CEO Rita L. Soronen maps out a modern playbook for governing with purpose while sustaining momentum after years of change. She begins with the Dave Thomas legacy—not as a branding exercise, but as a lived journey that shaped a national public charity with a singular focus: permanency for children in foster care. “If you can do one good thing in life,” Rita reflects, “the fact that he created two iconic brands—the Wendy's Company and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption—is just remarkable.” That origin story still informs board design, revenue strategy, and leadership cadence today. The throughline for governing is respect for leaders' time and a culture where advice is welcomed, staff are empowered to execute, and collaboration fuels outcomes for children and families.Rita details a deliberately blended board: seats for Wendy's C-suite leaders (tone from the top), franchisees who steward restaurant-level campaigns, Thomas family members, and public members—researchers, policy experts, legal leaders, and child welfare practitioners—who bring depth to complex decisions. The result is governance that can guide a mission working at local, state, and federal levels without being mistaken for a corporate foundation. “We want donors to see a public charity doing serious work,” she notes, “and not assume we're fully funded by Frosty sales.”Her approach to engagement is disciplined and human. Board meetings are two in-person and two virtual per year, each paired (for the in-person sessions) with intentional social time to build trust. Meetings themselves are crisp—two and a half hours—because the real work happens in committees that meet quarterly, report out, and keep decisions moving. Between meetings, Rita runs a high-touch communication rhythm: January one-on-ones with every director, timely updates to the executive committee, and monthly check-ins to prevent surprises.On fundraising, she favors shared responsibility over quotas: franchisee-driven campaigns; a gala at Wendy's convention; personal giving from all members; and thoughtful introductions to new corporate and individual partners. Equally important is recognizing non-monetary value—when a board member's policy expertise or research acumen is as catalytic as a major gift.Finally, Rita describes their operational maturity: a formal platform (Nasdaq Boardvantage) for materials; a consent agenda; predictable deadlines; and smart seasonality—virtual meetings in December and June to avoid travel disruptions.#TheNonprofitShow #BoardGovernance #AdoptionFind us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show
Pope Leo XIV has recently formally declared St. John Henry Newman—who was canonized only in 2019 by Pope Francis—a doctor of the Catholic Church, a recognition given only to 37 other saints in Catholicism's over 2000 year history. This places Newman among great figures like St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Theresa de Avila, St. Catherine of Sienna, and the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux. What is the significance of giving St. John Henry Newman—an Englishman and Anglican convert to Catholicism who was born over 200 years ago—this title? What is it about Newman's approach to communicating the faith that earned him this great honor—and why now? Equally important, how can contemporary evangelists draw inspiration from his work to proclaim the Gospel in a drastically different world, religiously and morally, from Newman's 19th century Victorian England? A listener asks for advice on how to give better homilies at Mass. 00:00 | Introduction 01:26 | Bishop Barron's recent domestic travels 03:20 | Defining "Doctor of the Church" 04:55 | Distinguishing doctors from saints 05:50 | John Henry Newman's brief biography 12:18 | Understanding the development of doctrine 17:41 | Safeguards against corruption 22:33 | The wholeness of the truth 25:34 | Newman: "To live is to change" 29:28 | The "illative sense" of the mind's assent to propositions 34:10 | Difficulties vs. doubt 35:54 | How Newman speaks to England now 37:55 | Listener question: How can priests improve preparation for homilies? 39:58 | Join the Word on Fire Institute Links: Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/ NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
Send us a textThe honorable Mark W. Bennett is a retired U.S. District Court Judge, and the former Chief Judge of the Northern District of Iowa. Judge Bennett retired from the federal bench in 2019, and is now Director Emeritus of the Institute for Justice Reform & Innovation at Drake University Law School. Judge Bennett is known for his advocacy for sentencing reform—including his criticism of the federal sentencing guidelines and statutory mandatory minimum sentences—for his research on implicit bias, and, unusually, for his prison visits to check up on hundreds of the defendants he sentenced. For some of those inmates, Judge Bennett has written, he is the only visitor they have ever had. Equally unusually, Judge Bennett has often met with the families of those he's sentenced, at their request, to explain his sentences. We were honored to discuss with Judge Bennett his own quest for justice, his experience sentencing thousands of federal criminal defendants, and so much more.
Bayern looks unbeatable right now, Leverkusen does not. Can Bayer still take something home from their visit to Munich? Meanwhile, Leipzig hosts Stuttgart in a duel for number one challenger to the throne. The Sandro Wagner hype has turned into spite. Augsburg has lost a lot of games and, more concerning, their defensive identity. Equally ambitious but poor performing: Paul Simonis Wolfsburg, who is our hottest candidate for the next coaching dismissal of the season.
At the Crexendo UGM, Jonathon Alarcon, Senior Director of Technology, and Jake Jacoby, CEO of TELCLOUD, joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, to discuss the company's channel-driven approach to modernizing analog infrastructure. With the copper network being decommissioned, TELCLOUD is helping partners capture new revenue by replacing POTS lines with smart, compliant, and resilient connectivity solutions. “We transform copper,” said Jacoby. “We're absolutely making analog great again for our partners. There's real opportunity in POTS one last time.” He explained that TELCLOUD's solutions enable MSPs and telecom providers to modernize elevator lines, fire alarms, blue-light phones, and other regulated endpoints—without compromising reliability or compliance. Alarcon, who has deep expertise in life-safety communications, emphasized how the company's technology supports critical applications. “Every elevator, every fire alarm, every emergency system still needs a phone line to stay compliant,” he said. “What we've done is create a platform that meets and exceeds those requirements while giving our partners new capabilities for video, data, and monitoring.” At the heart of this transformation is TELCLOUD's new POTSCAST line of devices, launched at UGM. These multi-purpose units use cellular connectivity and PoE backup to ensure continuous operation—even during power outages—and can stream video from elevator cameras directly to central monitoring stations. TELCLOUD's infrastructure is UL listed and adheres to NFPA and NEC standards, making it both compliant and future-proof. Equally important, TELCLOUD's model is 100% channel-focused. The company empowers partners to bring these services to their own customers under their own brands, offering either full-service white-label delivery—including porting, billing, and compliance—or flexible integration into existing telco and MSP environments. “We don't sell direct,” Jacoby noted. “We empower our partners to deliver compliant, high-value solutions to their end customers.” As a platinum sponsor of the conference, TELCLOUD's presence at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach drew attention for both its technical innovation and its signature “Make Analog Great Again” branding—a lighthearted nod to the serious business opportunity behind POTS transformation. For many partners, the discussion was a reminder that the analog world still holds enormous potential, and that modernization doesn't have to mean abandoning the trusted systems that keep people safe. To learn more about TELCLOUD's POTS replacement and compliance solutions, visit telcloud.com or explore the POTSCAST lineup at potscast.co.
Today's sponsor is Piedmont Master Gardeners: Now accepting applications for their 2026 training class. Apply by December 1, 2025No study of American history or macroeconomics would leave out the impact played by the Great Crash of the New York Stock Exchange of 1929 which culminated on Black Tuesday, 96 years ago today. Stock prices had continued to increase throughout the Roaring Twenties but would generally decline until 1932, marking the era of the Great Depression. This edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement does not have the time or resources to delve into the causes of a financial panic that transformed the United States. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I think people should look back on their own time.In this edition:* Earlier this year, President Trump asked officials in Texas to redraw the Congressional maps to give the Republican Party an advantage in the 2026 midterms* Other states with Democratic majorities such as California have countered with redistricting proposals of their own* This week, the Virginia General Assembly is meeting in a special session to take a first step to amend the state's constitution to allow for a mid-Census redistricting* The podcast version features an audio version of yesterday's story on 530 East Main Street (read the story)Charlottesville Community Engagement is the work of one person and that one person sometimes neglects the marketing. You can help fill the gap by sharing with friends!First-shout: The new WTJU mobile app is here!WTJU is pleased to announce our brand new mobile app! You can download a version from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Here are the links to both:* iPhone version* Android versionThe WTJU app is the place to tune in and listen live to WTJU, WXTJ, and Charlottesville Classical. Aside from the live stream, listen to archived shows, view recent songs, playlists, and program schedules, check out videos of live performances, stay up-to-date on WTJU's most recent news and articles, and more!Live chat with your favorite hosts, share stories with your friends, and tune into your community all in the palm of your hand.Virginia General Assembly takes up redistricting amendment during special sessionThe second presidency of Donald Trump has introduced many novel approaches to governance in the United States, including pressure on legislators in Texas to break from precedent to redraw Congressional districts in advance of the 2026 mid-term elections.Traditionally redistricting happens every ten years as mandated in Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. States can determine the method of how they draw districts but for many years Southern states were required to submit boundaries for review to ensure compliance with civil rights legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.The Republican Party currently holds a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives with 219 members to 213 Democrats with three vacancies. One of those vacancies has been filled in a special election in Arizona won on September 23 by Democrat Adelita Grijalva but Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has so far refused to swear her in until he calls the full House of Representatives back into session.According to the Texas Tribune, redistricting in Texas is expected to create five additional safe seats for Republicans. The state's delegation of 38 Representatives consists of 25 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one vacancy. Governor Greg Abbott signed the new Congressional map on August 29 with no need for voters to approve the measure.In response, California Governor Gavin Newsome, a Democrat, suggested legislation called the “Election Rigging Response Act” in direct response to the new maps in Texas, and a voter initiative to redraw maps in the nation's largest state mentions efforts underway by Republicans to redistrict in Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nebraska, and South Carolina. Proposition 50 is on the ballot on November 4.Last week, the Virginia Political Newsletter reported that Democrats who control a narrow majority in the General Assembly are seeking to follow California's lead. On Monday, the House of Delegates agreed to take up House Joint Resolution 6007 which would amend the Virginia Constitution to allow the General Assembly to make a one-time adjustment.The General Assembly is able to meet because a special session from 2024 was never technically adjourned. To allow consideration of the Constitutional amendment, the joint resolution that sets the rules for the special session had to be changed and agreed to by both the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate.One adopted on February 22 of this year lists six items of acceptable business including memorials and resolutions commending people or businesses. A seventh was added to House Joint Resolution 6006 which was introduced by Delegate Charniele Herring (D-4) on October 24. This would allow a “joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia related to reapportionment or redistricting.”Both the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate convened on Monday, October 27.As the debate in the House of Delegates began, Delegate Bobby Orrock (R-66) made a parliamentary inquiry.“My first inquiry would be given that special sessions have by their very nature only occurred for specific reasons. Ergo, we have resolutions controlling what can be considered during them. And subsequently, to my knowledge and experience here, they've never extended for more than a one year period.”Orrock said the 2024 Special Session was continued to allow progress toward adopting a budget that year. He said that had taken place and the stated reason for the special session was moot.The amendment itself was not made available until Tuesday afternoon. More on that later.Delegate Jay Leftwich (R-90) read from §30-13 of the Virginia Code which lays out what steps the Clerk of the House of Delegates has to take when publishing proposed amendments to the Constitution.“It goes on to say, Mr. Speaker, the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall have published all proposed amendments to the constitution for the distribution from his office and to the clerk of the circuit court of each county and the city two copies of the proposed amendments, one of which shall be posted at the front door of the courthouse and the other shall be made available for public inspection,” Leftwich said.Delegate Herring countered that that section of code predates the Virginia Constitution of 1971 which does not have those requirements. Leftwich continued to press on this note but Speaker of the House Don Scott ruled that his questions were not germane to the procedural issue.Delegate Lee Ware (R-72) said the move across the United States to redraw districts mid-Census to gain partisan advantage was a bad idea no matter what party was proposing it.“Just because a bad idea was proposed and even taken up by a few of our sister states such as North Carolina or California, is not a reason for Virginia to follow suit,” Ware said. “ For nearly two and a half centuries, the states have redistricted following the decennial census, responding to the population shifts both in our country and in the states.”A motion to amend HJ6006 passed 50 to 42.The House of Delegates currently only has 99 members due to the resignation of Todd Gilbert. Gilbert had been named as the U.S. Attorney for Western Virginia but lasted for less than a month. Former Albemarle Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Tracci was appointed to the position on an interim basis.Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Second-shout out: Cville Village seeks volunteersCan you drive a neighbor to a doctor's appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.Volunteering for Cville Village can expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at info@cvillevillage.org, or call them at (434) 218-3727.Virginia Senators pre-debate the amendment on TuesdayThe Virginia Senate took up the matter on Monday as well. Democrats have a 21 to 19 majority and were unable that day to suspend the rules to immediately consider an amendment to HJ6006. They had a second reading on Tuesday.The initial discussion of the Constitutional amendment took place during a portion of the meeting where Senators got to speak on matters of personal privilege. As with the House of Delegates, many inquiries from Republican legislators happened because the document itself was not yet available for review.Senator Bill Stanley (R–20) rose to remind his colleagues that the General Assembly passed a bipartisan Constitutional amendment to require that redistricting be conducted by a nonpartisan committee.“We listened to Virginians who were tired of the gerrymandering,” Stanley said. “In 2019, polls showed 70 percent of Virginians supported redistricting reform. Not 51 percent, not 55 percent, [but] 70 percent. The Mason Dixon poll showed 72% support. And crucially, over 60 percent of Republicans and Democrats alike supported this amendment. Equally when it came to a vote in the Commonwealth. This was not partisan.”Senator Mamie Locke (D-2) served on the bipartisan redistricting committee and reminded her colleagues that the process broke down in October 2021, as I reported at the time. The Virginia Supreme Court ended up appointing two special masters to draw the current boundaries.“There was constant gridlock and partisan roadblocks,” Locke said. “[Those] Were the reasons why the Supreme Court ended up drawing the lines because the commission ended up discussing things as tedious as which university could be trusted to provide unbiased data.”Locke said the proposal in Virginia would still have a bipartisan commission draw new maps after the 2030 Census and that voters in Virginia would still have to approve the amendment.Senator Scott Surovell (D-34) said the amendment is intended to step in when other branches of government are not exercising their Constitutional authority to provide checks and balances. He echoed Locke's comment that the redistricting commission would continue to exist.“There's no maps that have been drawn,” Surovell said. “There's no repeal of the constitutional amendment. The only thing that's on the table or will be on the table later this week is giving the General assembly the option to take further action in January to then give Virginia voters the option of protecting our country.”Senator Richard Stuart (R-25) said he thinks President Trump is doing a job of bringing manufacturing back to the country and dismissed Surovell's notion that democracy is at threat.“I'm not seeing any threat to democracy,” Stuart said. “I heard the word king, and I would remind the Senator that if he was a king, he would be beheaded for what he just said. But in this country, we enjoy free speech. We get to say what we want to say, and that is a valued right and privilege.”Senator Barbara Favola (D-40) said many of her constituents are concerned about cuts to federal programs due to the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill including threats to Medicaid. She explained why she supports her Democratic colleagues in Congress in the current state of things.“We are in a shutdown situation because the Democrats are standing up and saying we must extend the tax credits that are available on the health marketplace so individuals can afford their insurance,” Favola said. “Health insurance. This is not going unnoticed by the Virginians we represent.”Senator Mark Peake (R-22) said Republicans were entitled to govern how they want because they are in control of the federal government.“The current president won an overwhelming majority in the Electoral College and he won the popular vote by over 4 million or 5 million votes,” Peake said. “That is called democracy. That is what we have. And the Republicans won the Senate and they won the House of Congress. We will have another election next year and it will be time for the citizens to vote. But we are going under a democracy right now, and that's where we stand.”The points of personal privilege continued. Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-72) said elections are a chance for citizens to weigh in on a presidency that started the process of mid-Census redistricting.“The key point is this,” VanValkenburg said. “The president's ideas are unpopular. He knows it. He's going to his ideological friends, he's asking them to carve up maps, and now the other side is upset because they're going to get called on it in elections.”The Senate adjourned soon afterward and will take up a third reading of HJ6006 today.Democrats file Constitutional Amendment for first referenceEarly discussions about a potential constitutional amendment in the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate this week did not include a lot of details about how a mid-Census Congressional redistricting would take place.House Joint Resolution 6007 was filed with the Virginia Legislative Information System on Tuesday, October 28. As of this publication it is in the House Privileges and Elections Committee because the Senate has not yet given itself permission to take up the matter.The amendment would amend Article II, Section 6, of the Virginia Constitution to insert language into the second paragraph.Here is the full text, with italicized words indicating new language.The Commonwealth shall be reapportioned into electoral districts in accordance with this section and Section 6-A in the year 2021 and every ten years thereafter, except that the General Assembly shall be authorized to modify one or more congressional districts at any point following the adoption of a decennial reapportionment law, but prior to the next decennial census, in the event that any State of the United States of America conducts a redistricting of such state's congressional districts at any point following that state's adoption of a decennial reapportionment law for any purpose other than (i) the completion of the state's decennial redistricting in response to a federal census and reapportionment mandated by the Constitution of the United States and established in federal law or (ii) as ordered by any state or federal court to remedy an unlawful or unconstitutional district map.Take a look at the whole text here. I'll continue to provide updates. Stories you might also read for October 29, 2025* Charlottesville Ale Trail brings people to craft beverage makers, Jackson Shock, October 27, 2025* U.Va. leaders defend Justice Department deal in letter to Charlottesville legislators, Cecilia Mould and Ford McCracken, Cavalier Daily, October 28, 2025* Council agrees to purchase $6.2 million office building for low-barrier shelter, Sean Tubbs, C-Ville Weekly, October 29, 2025* Republican legislators slam Virginia redistricting proposal, Colby Johnson, WDBJ-7, October 27, 2025* Democrat Abigail Spanberger backs Virginia legislature's redistricting push, Steve People and Olivia Diaz, Associated Press, October 27, 2025* Va. Democrats roll out redistricting amendment to counter GOP map changes in other states, Markus Schmidt, October 28, 2025* Virginia Republicans Sue to Block Democratic Redistricting Push, Jen Rice, Democracy Docket, October 28, 2025* Redistricting session to resume Wednesday, WWBT, October 29, 2025Back to local again shortly after #947This is a unique version based on me wanting to go through the General Assembly recordings myself. I have a lot of local stories to get back to in the near future and I'm working extra this week to make sure I get back to them.They include:* Coverage of the discussion of 204 7th Street at the October 21, 2025 Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review* Coverage of last night's Albemarle Planning Commission public hearing on Attain on Fifth Street* Coverage of two discussions at last night's Greene County Board of SupervisorsAs expected, I work longer hours when I'm out of town on family business because I don't have the usual places to go. This is okay. Summer is over and it's time to hunker down and get to work. Today's end video is The Streets: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe
814 They Attempted Again To Seize Him, But He Escaped Their Clutches, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:39-42 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation NET 39 Then they attempted again to seize him, but he escaped their clutches. 40 Jesus went back across the Jordan River again to the place where John had been baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there. 41 Many came to him and began to say, “John performed no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true!” 42 And many believed in Jesus there. RSV 39 Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him; and they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there. Reflection on Scripture: Imagine the ridiculous idea. A group of religious policemen go try and arrest the creator of everything on the earth they walked. When I read this I am overwhelmed by the irony of it all. Jesus on many occasions escaped capture. He would not go until his time came. Even when he was finally captured he did so knowingly. He even told Judas to betray him quickly. For us to assume that we can dictate God's plans is such a spiritually immature and damaging mindset. Yet we are not above this mindset. We like to think we control our world. We like to feel empowered. In some ways this is something God has created within us. Our Godly drive to improve the world around us is good. If we are not careful we can get captured by the idea that we can bend God to our will. Equally unhelpful is that God wants to help us to do whatever we want. God wants our development and perfection and only he knows what it is. With that said I do believe God wants us to learn to pursue good autonomously. Also I think he wants to empower us to engage with Him regarding our plans. I think this is drastically different than us being a law unto ourself and pursuing our own selfish desires and claiming it is what God wants. I believe that God wants us to reach out to him and plead for discernment regarding our lives. The goal should always be for us to seek God's will not to bend God's will to our own. I want you to ponder Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod
Robert Morgan (The Return): The Good Bastard Always Rises
Utah Jazz moving practice facility to Sandy with Utah Mammoth Utes have to turn page quickly and focus on Colorado What you may have missed
(image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/Zalmoxes_FI_38b7.jpg) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host… well, there was a guy there, my best friend also named Matt, but he's already served his time doing Paleo Bites back in the day so he was silent here, discuss Zalmoxes, a teeny iguanodontid that lived on the Romanian islands back in the day and thus underwent island dwarfism. That's cool. Almost as cool as doing this impromptu episode in the middle of a queue at Universal Studios' Jurassic Park River Adventure. Equally cool. Take that however you will. From the Late Cretaceous, this 8-foot rhabdodontid probably deserves a bigger episode than this one, but come on, no one actually cares about Zalmoxes, right? Watch as the three Zalmoxes fans rage at me through the Paleo Bites official email… paleobitespodcast@gmail.com, by the way. Want to further support the show? Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXnbmbdvKBVoUexcFBgMNQ for ad-free episodes, and sign up to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/MatthewDonald. Also, you can get links to follow Matthew Donald and purchase his books at https://linktr.ee/matthewdonald. His latest book, Teslamancer, just released August 27th! And mild spoiler alert... there are kind of dinosaurs in it... mwuahahaha. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Some days you just need some amazement and that's what I found in learning about what researcher Karl von Frish demonstrated in the first half of the 1900s about how bees see, how they navigate (!) , and what they are telling each other (!!) with the dances they do. Equally fascinating is how he managed to design experiments to confirm and prove it all! Hope you enjoy as much as I do! Patrons: Detailed show notes with links to more information on all the topics will be available to you this weekend—a way to say thank you to the group of you who support this podcast to keep it on the air and advertisement free! Just check out this link on Sunday afternoon and I will have your links added: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141368230 kind regards, Leigh -- https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year.
Send us a textIn this continued collaboration with Milford TV, we explore how burnout rarely makes a scene—it slips in as irritability, isolation, and the quiet urge to shut out the world. This episode is the conclusion of episode 225 and we open the door on how those whispers grow louder inside the fire service and EMS, why “just call this number” isn't care, and what it really takes to protect crews before a bad day becomes a disaster. Our guest, Renea Mansfield, shares honest, lived experience—from losing interest in the kitchen table banter to wrestling with passive suicidal thoughts in the height of COVID—and we walk through the small, specific signals leaders and peers need to catch early.From there, we shift into solutions that actually fit the job. We break down the Frontline Resilience Protocol, a three-pillar framework designed for police and fire: tactical performance tailored to real-world demands, culturally competent mental health support with warm handoffs and follow-up, and leadership development that turns communication into a daily practice. Think job-specific strength and mobility, nervous system regulation you can use in the rig or the hallway, and nutrition choices that work at 2 a.m. Equally important, we get into the human factors—dark humor, stigma, and how trust is built or broken when a captain shrugs off a plea for help.The throughline is simple: follow-up saves lives. When someone finally says “I'm not okay,” the next step must be personal, fast, and predictable. Leaders need scripts and skills, peers need permission to check back in, and departments benefit from trained outsiders who know the culture and aren't tangled in station politics. If you're a chief, union rep, or frontline responder, you'll walk away with practical steps to spot burnout early, respond with care, and build a system that doesn't quit when the shift ends.Her website is waywardwellnesscoaching.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waywardwellnesscoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Wayward-Wellness-Coaching/61566792351111/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayward_wellness_coaching/Freed.ai: We'll Do Your SOAP Notes!Freed AI converts conversations into SOAP note.Use code Steve50 for $50 off the 1st month!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showYouTube Channel For The Podcast
Is there evidence that even light exercise can improve mental health and help treat severe mental illness? How easy is it to prove the effects? Are our ever more sedentary lifestyles putting us at risk? How easy is it to apply in the current mental health treatment system?In this episode we have the revealing research on the use of exercise and movement to treat mental health to get up to date on. This is the third episode out of three in this series on the theme of life-style medicine, the other two being on Sleep for mental health (Episode #72 with Roxanne Prichard) and on diet for mental health (Episode #70 with Felice Jacka), so please check those out as all 3 interrelate in term of mental health outcomes. In this episode though we get into the reasons why even a little movement has a radical effect on our mental health; that movement can be used in association with talky and drug therapies to effectively treat even serious mental health disturbances like schizophrenia; we also get into the huge host of improvements across the board when exercise is applied; the impressive bulk of clinical trials that have proved this in the last 15 years; and we hear about the faster than usual uptake of this data by international policy makers, and the difficulties of practically integrating these protocols into the mental health care system.Now fortunately for us, our guest today is one of the world's leading researchers in this field, mental health physiotherapist and Kings College London researcher, Brendon Stubbs. He is the co-author of over 800 highly cited scientific papers, and the book “Exercise-Based Interventions for Mental Illness: Physical Activity as Part of Clinical Treatment”. What we discuss:00:00 Intro06:40 Early attempts on the mental illness ward as a physio.09:28 The rise of life-style research into mental health in the early 2000s.12:00 Sedentary lifestyle issues.13:24 The benefits of being both therapist & researcher.15:50 Resistance to the word ‘exercise'.19:00 Rise in sedentary lifestyle correlates with rise in mental health issues and stress.23:45 Higher inflammation in sedentary populations.26:30 Endorphins are not the only reason it feels good.30:15 15% drop in depression risk.33:10 Muscle, heart and lung strength is a marker for lower depression risk.35:30 Even genetic predispositions to depression can be 25% less at risk.36:30 Equally successful to CBT therapy.38:30 Hippocampus size variations with just 10 mins of light movement.41:45 Sleep, diet & movement increase hippocampus size & reduce inflammation.42:30 Schizophrenia & Psychosis studies.46:00 Difficulty with continuity of exercise when patients return to society.49:15 The body likes routine & reduced friction.50:00 Limitations of randomised control trials on life style interventions.54:15 The faster than usual integration of this into the consensus. 56:30 Policy creation at national and world health level.58:00 Pharmaceutical funded researchers pushing back against these results. 59:00 Difficulty applying this for family doctors and mental health professionals.01:01:15 Socio-economic mental health risk and difficulty of access.01:03:00 The national health money saving motivation is hard to prove.01:05:00 Main tips for movement for mental health. References:‘Physical Activity and Incident Depression: A Meta-Analysis' paper, Felipe Shuch et al. ‘Strength training has antidepressant effects' paper, Fabricio Rossi et al.‘Physical activity offsets genetic risk for incident depression' paper, Karmel Choi et al.‘Exercise and internet-based cognitive–behavioural therapy for depression' paper, Mats Hallgren et al.‘Light-exercise-induced dopaminergic and noradrenergic stimulation in the dorsal hippocampus' paper, T. Hiragana et al.The Lancet Psychiatry Commission: a blueprint for protecting physical health in people with mental illness
Send us a textDid you know that 82% of businesses fail due to cash flow problems? As entrepreneurs, we often focus intensely on generating revenue while neglecting the critical financial foundations that sustain our businesses through inevitable challenges. Drawing from hard-won personal experience, I'm sharing the five essential financial rules that transformed my approach to business finances.The entrepreneurial journey typically doesn't come with a financial manual. When we start out, accepting payments through personal accounts feels natural, but this mixing creates dangerous blind spots. Building a proper financial structure starts with separation – creating dedicated business accounts through an LLC and EIN number forms your first line of defense. But protection doesn't stop there. The financial "moat" around your business castle requires a three-to-six-month emergency buffer that shields you when clients leave unexpectedly or market conditions shift.Perhaps the most painful lesson many entrepreneurs learn is around tax obligations. Without proactive management, tax season becomes a crisis rather than a planned event. By automatically directing 25-30% of incoming revenue to a dedicated tax account, you transform tax time from crisis to routine. Equally important is resisting lifestyle inflation as your business grows. Those $700 monthly car payments for vehicles sitting unused 98% of the time represent opportunity costs that could instead fund business growth. The final rule might seem counterintuitive – strategic investment in your personal and professional growth, even when finances feel tight, often delivers the highest returns by compressing years of learning into months.The brotherhood and sisterhood of entrepreneurship is built on sharing hard-won wisdom. What personal finance strategy has made the biggest difference in your business journey? Comment below with your experiences – your insight might be exactly what another entrepreneur needs to hear today. To Reach Jordan:Email: Jordan@Edwards.Consulting Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ejFXH1_BjdnxG4J8u93Zw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordan.edwards.7503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanfedwards/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanedwards5/ Hope you find value in this. If so please provide a 5-star and drop a review.Complimentary Edwards Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/jordan-edwardsconsulting/30min
From Overcharged to Death Penalty: Luigi Mangione & Tyler Robinson Updates Breaking true crime developments are shaking two high-profile cases, with prosecutors and investigators moving decisively on both fronts. First, Luigi Mangione, accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, saw his controversial murder-one charge dismissed in New York. Prosecutors had originally pursued a terrorism-linked charge after Mangione shot Thompson in the back, but critics long argued this was an overreach. Under New York law, first-degree murder is tied to the victim's status, not premeditation, and prosecutors' attempt to frame the attack as a terrorist act was widely viewed as a stretch. While the top charge has been thrown out, Mangione still faces second-degree murder charges in New York and, more significantly, a federal murder case where the death penalty is already on the table. Crossing state lines to commit murder solidifies federal jurisdiction, and experts say the case should have been federal from the start. Mangione's fate now rests with the federal system, where conviction could mean death row. Meanwhile, shocking new details have emerged in the case of Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating conservative political figure Charlie Kirk during a public event. Prosecutors outlined seven serious charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and firearm-related offenses. The aggravating factors cited were chilling: Robinson allegedly opened fire from 150 yards away in a crowded public space, putting numerous lives at risk, including children present at the scene. Prosecutors compared the setting to other high-profile assassination attempts, underscoring the public danger and trauma inflicted. Equally disturbing are the obstruction charges, which center on Robinson's attempts to silence his partner and erase incriminating text messages. Forensic investigators recovered those communications, which prosecutors described as eye-opening evidence of intent and cover-up. In a powerful press conference, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray emphasized that this case strikes at the core of American values — the right to free speech and public discourse without fear of being murdered for one's beliefs. Comparing the assassination of Kirk to historic political violence, he warned of the chilling effect on democracy if such acts go unchecked. With a preliminary hearing scheduled, the government will now begin laying out its case in court, step by step, against Robinson. From Mangione's federal death penalty exposure to Robinson's calculated public attack, these true crime cases highlight the dangerous intersection of ideology, violence, and justice. Both cases will continue to dominate national headlines as courts determine the fate of two accused killers. #TrueCrime #CharlieKirk #TylerRobinson #LuigiMangione #BreakingNews #MurderTrial #DeathPenalty #FederalCase #JusticeSystem #CrimeNews Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
Many Americans struggle with the rising cost of healthcare. Analysts Terence Flynn and Erin Wright explain how AI might bend the cost curve, from Morgan Stanley's 23rd annual Global Healthcare Conference in New York.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Terence Flynn: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Terence Flynn, Morgan Stanley's U.S. Biopharma Analyst.Erin Wright: And I'm Erin Wright, U.S. Healthcare Services Analyst.Terence Flynn: Thanks for joining us. We're actually in the midst of the second day of Morgan Stanley's annual Global Healthcare Conference, where we hosted over 400 companies. And there are a number of important themes that we discussed, including healthcare policy and capital allocation.Now, today on the show, we're going to discuss one of these themes, healthcare spending, which is one of the most pressing challenges facing the U.S. economy today.It is Tuesday, September 9th at 8am in New York.Imagine getting a bill for a routine doctor's visit and seeing a number that makes you do a double take. Maybe it's $300 for a quick checkup or thousands of dollars for a simple procedure.For many Americans, those moments of sticker shock aren't rare. They are the reality.Now with healthcare costs in the U.S. higher than many other peer countries on a percentage of GDP basis, it's no wonder that everyone – not just investors – is asking; not just, ‘Why is this happening?' But ‘How can we fix it?' And that's why we're talking about AI today. Could it be the breakthrough needed to help rein in those costs and reshape how care is delivered?Now I'm going to go over to you, Erin. Why is U.S. healthcare spending growing so rapidly compared to peer countries?Erin Wright: Clearly, the aging population in the U.S. and rising chronic disease burden here are clearly driving up demand for healthcare. We're seeing escalating demand across the senior population, for instance. It's coinciding with greater utilization of more sophisticated therapeutics and services. Overall, it's straining the healthcare system.We are seeing burnout in labor constraints at hospitals and broader health systems overall. Net-net, the U.S. spent 18 percent of GDP on healthcare in 2023, and that's compared to only 11 percent for peer countries. And it's projected to reach 25 to 30 percent of GDP by 2050. So, the costs are clearly escalating here.Terence Flynn: Thanks, Erin. That's a great way to frame the problem. Now, as we think about AI, where does that come in to help potentially bend the cost curve?Erin Wright: We think AI can drive meaningful efficiencies across healthcare delivery, with estimated savings of about [$]300 to [$]900 billion by 2050.So, the focus areas include here: staffing, supply chain, scheduling, adherence. These are where AI tools can really address some of these inefficiencies in care and ultimately drive health outcomes. There are implementation costs and risks for hospitals, but we do think the savings here can be substantial.Terence Flynn: Great. Well, let's unpack that a little bit more now. So, if you think about the biggest cost buckets in hospitals, where can AI help out?Erin Wright: The biggest cost bucket for a hospital today clearly is labor. It represents about half of spend for a hospital. AI can optimize staffing, reduce burnout with a new scribe and some of these scribe technologies that are out there, and more efficient healthcare record keeping. I mean, this can really help to drive meaningful cost savings.Just to add another discouraging data point for you, there's estimated to be a shortage of about 10,000 critical healthcare workers in 2028. So, AI can help to address that. AI tools can be used across administrative functions as well. That accounts for about 15 to 20 percent of spend for a hospital. So, we see substantial savings as well across drugs, supplies, lab testing, where AI can reduce waste and improve adherence overall.Terence Flynn: Great. Maybe we'll pivot over to the managed care and value-based care side now. How is AI being used in these verticals, Erin?Erin Wright: For a healthcare insurer – and they're facing many challenges right now as well – AI can help personalize care plans. And they can support better predictive analytics and ultimately help to optimize utilization trends. And it can also help to facilitate value-based care arrangements, which can ultimately drive better health outcomes and bend the cost curve. And ultimately that's the key theme that we're trying to focus on here.So, I'll turn it over to you, Terence, now. While hospitals and payers could see notable benefits from AI, the biopharma side of the equation is just as critical here. Especially when it comes to long-term cost containment. You've been closely tracking how AI is transforming drug development. What exactly are you seeing?Terence Flynn: Yeah, a number of key constituents are leaning in here on AI in a number of different ways. I'd say the most meaningful way that could help bend the cost curve is on R&D productivity. As many people probably know, it can take a very long time for a drug to reach the market anywhere from eight to 10 years. And if AI can be used to improve that cycle time or boost the probability of success, the probability of a drug reaching the market – that could have a meaningful benefit on costs. And so, we think AI has the potential to increase drug approvals by 10 to 40 percent. And if that happens, you can ultimately drive cost savings of anywhere from [$]100 billion to [$]600 billion by 2050.Erin Wright: Yeah, that sounds meaningful. How do you think additional drug approvals lead to meaningful cost savings in the healthcare system?Terence Flynn: Look, I mean, high level medicines at their best cure disease or prevent people from being admitted to a hospital or seeking care to doctor's office. Equally important medicines can get people out of the hospital quicker and back to contributing or participating in society. And there's data out there in the literature showing that new drugs can reduce hospital stays by anywhere from 11 to 16 percent.And so, if you think about keeping people out of hospitals or physician offices or reducing hospital stays, that really can result in meaningful savings. And that would be the result of more or better drugs reaching the market over the next decades.Erin Wright: And how is the FDA now supporting or even helping to endorse AI driven drug development?Terence Flynn: If companies are applying for more drug approvals here as a result of AI discovery capabilities without modernization, the FDA could actually become the bottleneck and limit the number of drugs approved each year.And so, in June, the agency rolled out an AI tool called Elsa that's looking to improve the drug review timelines. Now, Elsa has the potential to accelerate these timelines for new therapies. It can take anywhere from six to 10 months for the FDA to actually approve a drug. And so, these AI tools could potentially help decrease those timelines.Erin Wright: And are you actually seeing some of these biopharma companies actually investing in AI talent?Terence Flynn: Yes, definitely. I mean, AI related job postings in our sector have doubled since 2021. Companies are increasingly hiring across the board for a number of different, parts of their workflow, including discovery, which we just talked about. But also, clinical trials, marketing, regulatory – a whole host of different job descriptions.Erin Wright: So, whether it's optimizing hospital operations or accelerating drug discovery, AI is emerging as a powerful lever here – to bend the healthcare cost curve.Terence Flynn: Exactly. The challenge is adoption, but the potential is transformative. Erin, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us.Erin Wright: Great speaking with you, Terence.Terence Flynn: And thanks everyone for listening. 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It's another episode of Drunk-ish in your feed but we thought you'd all be interested in hearing Elby Taylor discuss her experience with drinking in high school and with the college drinking culture on campus and in sororities and frats. Equally parts disturbing and compelling but also slightly reassuring because these girlies seem to have each other's backs!Feel free to watch the episode on YouTube And please subscribe to Drunk-ish in your feed!!