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There are many ways to mess up a perfectly good espresso machine. By contrast, virtually all of them are preventable if you follow only a few specific strategies to care for what is likely to most expensive piece of equipment in your store. Now another question, where can you find these best practices and techniques along with detailed "whys" behind the "whats" of espresso equipment maintenance? Lucky for us, it is not all in one book! I am thrilled to welcome back to the show long time espresso tech and now author, Jon Ferguson! Jon Ferguson has worked in specialty coffee for nearly 20 years, with hands-on experience in roasting, green coffee, equipment service, and barista training. He has owned and operated both a roasting company and a coffee tech service business. Jon has served as a volunteer sensory and technical judge for both regional and national coffee competitions, was a U.S. Brewers Cup and U.S. Cup Tasters runner-up in 2012, and has participated as an international juror for the Cup of Excellence on several occasions. A regular speaker at industry events like Coffee Fest, Specialty Coffee Expo, and World of Coffee, Jon has contributed to Barista Magazine, Daily Coffee News, and professional coffee blogs. Coffee Under Pressure: A Guide to Espresso Machine Ownership is his first book, blending his passion for service work with a deep respect for the effort it takes to keep machines running smoothly. Links: Buy on Barnes and Nobles https://www.instagram.com/coffeeunderpressure/ Related episodes: 312 : How to Choose the Right Machine for Your Shop w/ Chad little of La Marzocco
On this episode I chatted with Chuck Swisher, professional Bullfighter and owner of Swisher Beef Co. Chuck is from Dover Oklahoma and started as a bullfighter in high school. From then he never looked back and has been to the heights of his industry competing at the NFR. As he looks to transition out of rodeo and into the beef business. He started Swisher Beef Co which has gone from strength to strength with the demand for quality beef in homes, schools and businesses across the country. For more information go to www.instagram.com/swisherbeefco and follow Chuck here www.instagram.com/cswish116 Huge thank you to our sponsors. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum telling Oklahoma's story through its people since 1927. For more information go to www.oklahomahof.com and for daily updates go to www.instagram.com/oklahomahof The Chickasaw Nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. www.chickasaw.net Dog House OKC - When it comes to furry four-legged care, our 24/7 supervised cage free play and overnight boarding services make The Dog House OKC in Oklahoma City the best place to be, at least, when they're not in their own backyard. With over 6,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor play areas our dog daycare enriches spirit, increases social skills, builds confidence, and offers hours of exercise and stimulation for your dog http://www.thedoghouseokc.com If you're looking for a way to make a real difference, check out Bethany Children's Health Center. They're helping children reach their full potential as a leader in pediatric rehabilitation. They're also building a new Outpatient Center of Excellence — and it's going to be a landmark right on Route 66! Want to learn more or even schedule a tour? Just head to bethanychildrens.org and click on the "Ways to Give" tab. www.bethanychildrens.org #ThisisOklahoma
For episode 202 we have Miles Ramsey the creative director for 52Eighty Creative. Miles has been working with the PTBA, American Trails, along with others in the Trail Space to improve the marketing game on the outdoor infrastructure we all love to build and use. Miles also the person behind the Outdoor Marketing Boot Camp which was created as a way to help bring new and creative ideas to the outdoor recreation and trail world. The Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp will be hosted in a virtual format so traveling to and attending this conference will not be an issue. Miles has brought together more than 25 professionals who work in Outdoor Space as speakers at the Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp. This conversation also kicks off a partnership that Miles and myself have formed to help co-promote both the Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp and the Trail EAffect Podcast. Topics Include: How Miles got involved with the Trail World (PTBA / American Trails) Common themes Miles has seen in terms of room for improvement from a marketing and branding perspective Small Business ownership Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp Backstory Year One Successes Miles – on “Is it good for the client?” Speakers and the lineup for the 2026 Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp What should an attendee expect from participating in the Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp Various levels of experience Dates: February 17th & 18th 2026 What Miles looks for in a Trail Community The Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp Podcast Closing Comments Trail EAffect Show Links: 52Eighty Creative: https://www.52eightycreative.com/ Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/ Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp Podcast: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/podcast Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh Smith's Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services
What makes a truly unforgettable client experience? In this episode of The Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch sits down with Rosemary Lewis, coach, author, and real estate broker, to unpack how intentional design and heartfelt connection turn ordinary client experiences into lasting relationships. Rosemary, team lead at RL Realty Group and creator of Real Estate Besties, shares how she combines strategy, faith, and authenticity to build a brand that keeps clients coming back again and again. From the moment guests walk into one of Rosemary's events, they're met with warmth, care, and purpose. She believes that exceptional client experiences start long before the sale—by considering the fears, hesitations, and sacrifices clients make just to show up. Every color choice, every greeting, and every activity at her Real Estate Bestie Experience conference is crafted to make attendees feel valued, seen, and celebrated. As Nikki observed firsthand while speaking at Rosemary's event, the energy in the room was electric. Women weren't just attending a conference—they were forming friendships, collaborating on business opportunities, and building confidence that would ripple long after the weekend ended. Throughout the conversation, Rosemary reveals that her success stems from an empathetic approach: she puts herself in her clients' shoes and anticipates their emotional needs. Her focus isn't just on teaching real estate strategy but also on creating transformation through connection and faith. That commitment extends beyond the event itself—her programs, podcast, and community all reinforce the same message: growth happens when you invest in yourself and others. Nikki and Rosemary also discuss the mindset shift required to move from spending to investing—in time, money, and personal growth. Rosemary explains how she helps clients overcome fear and recognize their own worth, creating environments where women support one another rather than compete. She's proof that when you design client experiences rooted in empathy, faith, and service, loyalty becomes natural. By the end of the episode, listeners are left inspired to rethink how they engage with their own clients. It's not just about delivering value—it's about crafting moments that make people feel understood, appreciated, and motivated to keep coming back. This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to elevate their client experiences from transactional to transformational. Nikki invites you to join the Sales Maven Society. Take advantage of this opportunity to work together with you and Nikki. Bring your questions, concerns, and sales situations; she provides answers and guidance. Join the Sales Maven Society here, click Join Today, and then checkout and use coupon code 47trial to get your first month for $47.00! For more actionable sales tips, download the FREE Closing The Sale Ebook. Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Sales Maven Society https://calendly.com/salesmaven/work-with-nikki-discussion
How do brands really live in our minds? According to Ulli Applebaum, it's all about associations — the complex web of meanings and emotions that define how people see your brand. This week on On Brand, the international strategy veteran and author of The Science of Brand Associations shares how we can use science, not guesswork, to build brands that stick. What You'll Learn Why brand associations are the “operating system” that shapes every strong brand How science explains the way memories form—and how marketers can build stronger ones The difference between positive and negative associations (and how to fix the latter) Why distinctiveness and focus matter more than ever for new brands Simple, science-backed tools to audit and strengthen your brand's mental network Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:20) Why no one has written about brand associations—until now (03:40) The brain science behind how brands live in memory (06:20) Brand associations as your brand's operating system (08:00) How associations drive purchase and brand preference (10:20) Managing negative brand associations (14:50) What small brands can do to stand out (23:50) The brand that's made Ulli smile recently Ulli Appelbaum is an internationally recognized brand strategist, consultant, and author with more than 25 years of experience shaping business-building strategies for some of the world's top brands. Before launching his consultancy First The Trousers Then The Shoes, he held senior strategy roles at agencies including BBDO Germany, Leo Burnett Chicago, Fallon Worldwide, and SapientNitro. Ulli's work has earned seven Effies and an ARF Ogilvy Award for Excellence in Research. His latest book, The Science of Brand Associations: Win Minds, Win Markets, is a first-of-its-kind guide to understanding and building the mental networks that make brands thrive. What Brand Has Made Ulli Smile Recently? Ulli chose KitKat — a brand he's admired for decades for its clever, humorous advertising and the enduring “Have a Break” positioning. He recalls a classic British TV spot where a photographer takes a break with a KitKat just as the panda he's waiting to capture starts ice-skating behind him. It's a moment that's stuck in his mind for 25 years — proof, he says, of how powerful brand associations can be. Resources & Links Connect with Ulli on LinkedIn. Check out Ulli's new book, The Science of Brand Associations: Win Minds, Win Markets. You can also download the diagnostic tools we discussed on his website, First the Trousers. Want more of Ulli On Brand? Here's his first visit back in 2023. And, for fun, here's that KitKat ad that was such a powerful brand association for Ulli. Support the Show Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I'll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As I was prepping these episode notes, I got a call about a matter concerning my Sailors that I needed to address. With that said, enjoy these ChatGPT-generated notes and enjoy this episode. You'll see very early in the episode that we put our hearts into it. - Damo Episode Description: This episode kicks off with weather talk and Halloween banter before shifting into reflection as Damo asks, “When's the last time you were let down?” The conversation evolves into leadership mode as he introduces The Vibe Check—a new way to bridge influencers and skeptics across the command. From there, Damo and Damon explore what it means to “zero out at the pursuit of excellence,” setting the tone for an unfiltered discussion on accountability and consistency. The guys dive deep into the RSCA evaluation system and question whether it rewards authenticity or compliance. Damon reminds listeners that leadership happens at your pace, not at the world's. The conversation then pivots to Sailor 360, execution mistakes, and how leaders can avoid burnout by doing the basics well. In this week's Do Better segment, the focus is on poor meetings and the people who just “know they wrong.” Damo and Damon also unpack the viral DoorDash story and tie it to accountability in and out of uniform. The episode closes with a look at the Barracks Task Force, why leaders are afraid to lead in the IG era, and how to professionally address both seniors and subordinates when they make mistakes. Damon and Damo break down the latest NAVADMIN, and Damo closes with his Pick of the Week—Tim Grover's Relentless—a book that ties every message together: discipline, mentality, and excellence. These and more topics are discussed in this episode. Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com Picks of the Week: Relentless (Tim S. Grover) - https://timgrover.com/relentless/ Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0
This week, we remember FAMU's 8th President, Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, a visionary leader whose “Excellence with Caring” philosophy shaped generations of Rattlers. His son, Laurence Humphries, joins us to share personal stories and reflections on his father's remarkable legacy.
In this thought-provoking episode of Voices for Excellence, Dr. Michael Conner sits down with Rebecca Bultsma — international AI ethics researcher, Chief Innovation Officer, and co-host of AmpED to 11 — to explore what it really means to lead in the age of artificial intelligence.From Kendrick Lamar lyrics to ethical paradoxes, this conversation moves from AI strategy and governance to the human heartbeat of education. Rebecca unpacks her belief that “ethics is the seatbelt of AI strategy”—a grounding metaphor for how innovation must move fast, but never without responsibility.Together, Dr. Conner and Rebecca dive into:How ethics and strategy intersect in real-world decision-making, from boardrooms to classrooms.The VIBE Framework (Visible, Intentional, Beneficial, Earned) — Rebecca's approach to ensuring AI use in schools stays transparent and trustworthy.The coming wave of frontier models like GPT-5, Claude 4.1, and Grok 4 — and what they mean for leaders, teachers, and students.How AI agents could transform personalized learning and potentially repurpose traditional schools into community-based learning hubs.Why the next decade demands permission-to-fail leadership — cultures that value experimentation, iteration, and vulnerability over perfection.And how the learners of tomorrow — Generation Alpha and soon Generation Beta — will thrive by staying curious, unimpressed, and unapologetically human.Rebecca challenges listeners to imagine a future where education isn't confined to classrooms, grades, or standardized tests, but exists as a network of personalized experiences, guided by ethical innovation and human connection.This is more than a conversation about technology — it's a blueprint for human-centered transformation in the age of AI.
In this episode, I sit down with Benjamin Paz, a coffee producer from Santa Bárbara, Honduras, and one of the key people behind San Vicente, a coffee exporting company working with over 600 producers in Honduras. His role is to connect producers with buyers, helping to build lasting and healthy relationships that allow both farmers and roasters to grow together. Benjamin's family has been in coffee since the 1950s, but it was through the Cup of Excellence that they became closely tied to the specialty coffee world. He has since won the competition twice himself, in 2022 and 2024, and continues to inspire producers with his belief that hard work makes anything possible. In our conversation, Benjamin talks about the challenges producers are facing today, from unpredictable weather to pests appearing in new areas, and the importance of keeping workers in the country to secure the future of coffee production. He explains the role of the “middleman” in specialty coffee – helping farmers improve their processing, define a strategy for their farms, and find long-term buyers. Benjamin also shares his personal reasons for buying his own farm, running a coffee shop, and starting a roastery – to truly understand the producers' perspective and to bring the benefits back to the community. Looking ahead, Benjamin is also part of our TW Biological Project and our ten-year plan to transition all the farms we work with towards regenerative agriculture. His farm is one of the pilot sites where we are already seeing promising results: reduced costs, renewed excitement among workers, and a clearer picture of what the land needs in terms of shade trees and biodiversity. With Benjamin's involvement, we hope this knowledge can spread further in Santa Bárbara, creating a stronger and more sustainable coffee community. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Trevor reconnects with his former professor, Dr. Rupp Carriveau from the University of Windsor, to explore how Southern Ontario's agriculture and energy sectors intersect. From powering greenhouses and managing massive industrial demand to reimagining aging wind farms and testing “atomic agriculture,” together they unpack how innovation, AI, and new tech are reshaping Canada's clean energy future. Listen to episode 164 of thinkenery. Related links Dr. Rupp Carriveau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupp-carriveau-b4273823/ Environmental Energy Institute: https://www.environmentalenergyinstitute.com/ Turbulence and Energy Lab: http://www.turbulenceandenergylab.org/ Offshore Energy and Storage Society: https://www.osessociety.com/ Trevor Freeman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-freeman-p-eng-8b612114 Hydro Ottawa: https://hydroottawa.com/en To subscribe using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinkenergy/id1465129405 To subscribe using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wFz7rdR8Gq3f2WOafjxpl To subscribe on Libsyn: http://thinkenergy.libsyn.com/ --- Subscribe so you don't miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/user/hydroottawalimited Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hydroottawa Stay in the know on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HydroOttawa Keep up with the posts on X: https://twitter.com/thinkenergypod --- Transcript: Trevor Freeman 00:07 Welcome to thinkenergy, a podcast that dives into the fast, changing world of energy through conversations with industry leaders, innovators and people on the front lines of the energy transition. Join me, Trevor Freeman, as I explore the traditional, unconventional and up and coming facets of the energy industry. If you have any thoughts, feedback or ideas for topics we should cover, please reach out to us at think energy at hydro ottawa.com, hi everyone, and welcome back. Today's episode brings us back to a few elements of my own personal history. Now you'll have to bear with me for a minute or two while I dive into my past in order to properly set up today's conversation, I grew up in southwestern Ontario, in and just outside the border town of Windsor, Ontario. Now for those of you not familiar with this area, Windsor and its surroundings are the most southern part of Canada. It might surprise you to know that Windsor is at the same latitude as Northern California and Rome, Italy. You can imagine that after growing up in Windsor and then living in various places around the globe, when I finally settled down here in Ottawa, adjusting to the more stereotypical Canadian winters of this northern capital, took a little bit of getting used to Windsor is so far south when you cross the border to its neighboring American city, Detroit, Michigan, you actually travel north. Have a look at a map if this seems to defy logic, but I promise you, it's true. This is the area that I grew up in. It's also where I went to school and got my engineering degree. More on that in a minute. Now, if you've ever driven down to the southwestern end of the 401 going past London and Chatham, you will notice two things. First, it is flat, very flat. You will not see a meaningful Hill anywhere in sight. I often joke with people that I used to toboggan when we did get any meaningful snow off of highway overpasses, because that was the only hill we could find. I was only partly joking, and I have indeed tobogganed off of said overpasses in my young and foolish days. But that is a story for another time. That brings us to the second thing you'll see, which is wind turbines. A lot of wind turbines. They are seemingly everywhere, stretching as far as you can see, southwestern Ontario is a hotbed of wind energy generation. Finally, a hint at why I'm going on about this part of the province on an energy podcast. But before we get into it, there's one other thing to touch on, and that is the fact that this area is also home to a large number of greenhouses growing produce year-round, as well as manufacturing. Windsor and its surrounding area is the automotive capital of Canada, with a number of plants from major car companies, as well as a supporting ecosystem of parts manufacturers. Incidentally, that's where I started my career, working as an environmental engineer for one of the automakers, and many members of my family have also worked or still work in that industry. The reason I bring up greenhouses in the auto industry is because they have some very high energy demand profiles, and that is how we get for me going on nostalgically about the area I grew up in, to our conversation today, I recently caught up with one of my engineering professors, Dr Rupp Carriveau, about the work that he and his colleagues have been doing that ties all of this together. And I thought it would be great to have him on the show to talk about that. Dr. Carriveau is the director of the Environmental Energy Institute and co-director of the Turbulence and Energy Lab and the CO lead of AGUwin at the University of Windsor. Back in the day, he was my fluid dynamics professor. But today, he balances his teaching duties with research into energy systems futures and advanced agricultural systems. He is a founder of the offshore energy and storage society, a recipient of the University Scholar Award, and has been named to Canada's clean 50 for his contributions to clean capitalism. Dr Rupp Carriveau, welcome to the show. Dr Rupp Carriveau 03:59 Trevor, great to be here. Thanks. Trevor Freeman 04:01 Yeah. So, Rupp, the last time we chatted, well, so you and I chatted a couple weeks ago, but before that, the last time that you and I interacted, I was in third year university. You were my fluid dynamics Prof. So, in addition to your professorial duties, you're now the director of the environmental Energy Institute at the University of Windsor. So, there's two questions around that. First off, how did you end up going from my fluid dynamics prof a number of years ago, probably close to 20 years ago now, to running this institute? And tell us a little bit about what the Institute does. Dr Rupp Carriveau 04:40 Sure. Though. So, thanks. Yeah, and very memorable Trevor, because I, you know, I remember you well. And, yeah, that was, that was a very nice class that we had. I remember, well, I remember your colleagues too. Trevor Freeman 04:54 If there's one thing I do, well, it's, it's be memorable, and you can take that however you want. Dr Rupp Carriveau 04:58 That is, that is. Something to be said for that. Yeah, thanks for that question. So I should point out that in addition to EEI, I am a co-director in the Turbulence and Energy Lab, which is really where all of the EEI initiatives have started from, that's a lab that I co supervise with Dr David Ting in mechanical engineering and the nuts and bolts, the very serious engineering side of things, comes out of the Turbulence and Energy Lab. EEI kind of came about to handle topics that were, frankly speaking, less interesting to Dr Ting. So, things that push more, a little bit more into policy wider systems looks at things as opposed to, you know, pure thermodynamics and energy efficiency type pursuits, which underpin a lot of the EEI policy pieces, but are sort of beyond the scope of what turbulence and energy lab does. So those two things, and then more recently, actually, I'm co lead on, AGUwin, which is like a center of excellence, emerging Center of Excellence at the University of Windsor. So, Agriculture U Windsor is a group of about 40 professors that do work in agriculture in some shape or form. And we've, we've, we've taken to organizing that movement in seeking sort of group funding proposals, developing curriculum and organized sort of platforms to help industry in agriculture. And it's, it's really taking off, which I'm really excited about my extremely hard-working colleagues and CO lead, Isabel Barrett-Ng, she in particular, has been really driving a lot of really cool initiatives ahead and all the people that work with us. So, yeah, lots, lots happening at the University since I saw you last. But you know, time has a way of helping with that, people find ways to find efficiencies and get to do and build on, build on, hopefully incremental progress. Trevor Freeman 07:08 Yeah, very cool. And you're teasing a few of the areas our conversation is going to go today, that sort of intersection between agriculture and obviously, this is an energy podcast, and so how does agriculture and the way we're moving in with agriculture impacts energy and vice versa. So, we're definitely going to get to that in a minute, I think, for our listeners that are not familiar with Southern Ontario, and I haven't talked about Southern Ontario on the podcast a lot, but people that know me know I will gladly talk about what goes on in the very southern part of our country. It's where I grew up. Help us paint a picture of what Southern Ontario is like. So, in the context of energy, what makes this area of Ontario unique? Dr Rupp Carriveau 07:50 Well, it's that's a really good question, and I'm glad you phrased it that way, because I think it gets taken for granted. And also, folks, folks don't know energy isn't in the headlines every day, and if it is, it's not a headline that everybody pays attention to. But the southwestern Ontario region, if you take the 401 west of London, you'll start to see a high concentration of wind. So, there's a significant wind corridor in the region, and that's because it's very flat, so the whole area used to be a lake bed, and so we have very fertile agricultural lands as a result of that. And we also have very few obstacles to fetch, which is a huge aspect of how wind carries over the lakes, and is, you know, not, not obstructed. And so it's like you have offshore resources onshore, which is completely ideal. Also, we have, as it may be, we have massive natural gas resources in the area, in sort of the subterranean space of Devonian reefs for natural gas storage. We have natural gas generation facilities down around the Windsor area that help with provincial peaking and there is some solar in the region, because it is the Leamington Kingsville area is referred to as the sun parlor of Ontario. And as a result, we have a lot of under glass agriculture there, which benefits, obviously, directly from solar resources. And then we have solar photovoltaic that takes advantage of that sun as well. So there's, there's a lot happening here energy wise. Trevor Freeman 09:38 Yeah, and there's a lot on the demand side of things as well. So, you mentioned the greenhouses, which are an up and coming, you know, source of demand draws on our grid. There's also a big manufacturing base. Talk a little bit about the manufacturing base in the area. Yeah, yeah. And that's that gets into my next question is talking about some of the specific, unique energy needs of greenhouses. I think on the manufacturing side, you know, you mentioned the auto industry and the parts industry that supports it, you're seeing more. There's a battery plant being built now I think that, I think people have a sense of that, but greenhouses are this thing that I think a lot of folks don't think about. So, you talked about the magnitude of the load, the lighting side of things. What else is this like, a 24/7 load? Is this sector growing like? Tell us a little bit about, you know where things are going with greenhouses? Dr Rupp Carriveau 09:53 Yeah, thanks. So, yeah, I was, I was thinking about generation and, yeah, demand is. Significant we have. You know, Windsor has laid claim to Canada's automotive capital, and while I'm biased, I'd like to think it still is. And so we have significant manufacturing around the automotive industry, either automotive OEMs or tier one parts makers that have significant draws. We have Stellantis. Every minivan comes out of this area has come out of this area. The electric Dodge Charger comes out of this area. But there are engine plants for Ford, but they're also now, you know, sort of next generation transport technologies. You've talking about battery manufacturing. So, there's an enormous LG consortium with Stellantis here that's doing battery manufacturing. And so, these are huge loads that that add to existing and growing loads in the greenhouse space, which, again, I'll just mention it now, is something that isn't well understood. And we did a, we did a study for the province a couple years, three, four years ago. Now, I think grid Innovation Fund project that looked at sort of really getting into granular detailing of the loads that come with a lit greenhouse. A lot of people don't appreciate that a lit greenhouse, when switched on, depending on the lighting technology, depending on how it's used, can be like a 50-megawatt load, which is a significant load. And just imagine that's one so they can come on quickly, and they are non-trivial, significant loads. And so, this is something that we looked at trying to develop distributed energy resource sort of solutions for, because, simply speaking, you can't put up a new transmission line overnight, and we don't want to economically constrain the growth of the sector. Sure, yeah. I mean, it's, it's not a simple thing to characterize, because what you can take away from this is that these greenhouse developers are business dynamos, and frankly speaking, many of them do very well, because they're very good at what they do, and with the resources they have, they can largely do what they want. And if, if the infrastructure isn't there, they will build it so. So, you'll have folks that are operating off the grid, essentially not off the gas grid, of course, but they're using gas for cogeneration purposes, to produce heat for their crops, but also the electricity for their lights. So that is one aspect of it that further complicates how to figure out what these loads on the grid will be. But for the most part, of course, the grid provides quite clean and quite affordable electricity in the province, and you know where they can they want to be able to connect to the grid. Now, lights are designed to extend the growing day and extend the growing season as well. So, in terms of when they're switched on and how they're switched on, that is highly variable, and that is also something that is, I would say, in development, folks are looking at different ways to use intermittent lighting to be conscious of when peaking happens. It is dispatchable in a way, in that some growers are able to turn their lights off to avoid, you know, peaking charges. But again, there's a lot to manage. And, and it's, it's very complicated, both on the grid side and, and for the greenhouse grower. Trevor Freeman 14:38 Yeah, so you mentioned natural gas for cogen for heating as well. So, as we look to decarbonize all different aspects of the sector, we talk often on the show of what are the specific areas where decarbonization might be challenging. Is, is greenhouses one of those areas? And, and what are the options available for heating these spaces? Like, is it realistic to think that there's an electric solution here, or what? What's happening in that sector related to decarbonization? Dr Rupp Carriveau 15:10 Again, you've hit on a real sort of hot button issue for the for the sector, the trouble with natural gas is that it's spectacular. Oh, it's storable. It's dispatchable. It's a triple threat for greenhouses in the best way possible, because you can make your heat, you can make your electricity, and the plants crave CO2, and that comes out of the flue gas on the other side of the combustion reaction. So, you know, when you swing in there and you say, Oh, I've got this great new solution. It's called hydrogen. We'll burn hydrogen and we won't have these nasty CO2 release. And they're like, Okay, who's going to replace my CO2? So, it's a difficult fuel to displace. Now, admittedly, people understand that, you know, that's where we really need to go. And is, is electric? You know, electrification the path. So, people talk about, people talk about heat pumps, people talk about electric boilers. And then, as I mentioned, people talked about, you know, we've, we've also looked at the idea of blending hydrogen into a natural gas feed for existing infrastructure to, you know, because, because not all of the CO2, that is, you know, released is, is taken down by the plants. And so could you get to a magic blend where it's just the amount of CO2 that you need is what goes into the other side, and then there's nothing left after the plants take what they need. So, there's a lot of things that are being looked at. It is again, a challenging space to operate in, because it's highly competitive. Getting really granular. Data is very sensitive, because this, this, this is a, you know, it's a game of margins, and it's in its high stakes production. So to get in there and sort of be in the way is, is difficult. So, this work is being done. We're participating in a lot of this work. We just finished a study for the province, a Hydrogen Innovation Fund study on looking at the integration of hydrogen into the greenhouse space. And it was, it was pretty revelatory for us. Trevor Freeman 17:36 So is the exhaust from burning natural gas on site. Does that get recycled through the greenhouse and therefore captured to some degree? Do we know how much you kind of hinted at finding out that sweet spot? Do we know how much of that gets captured? Dr Rupp Carriveau 17:53 Yeah, so the short answer is yes. So, they have the cogen engines have scrubbers on them, and these, these machines are spectacularly capable of being tuned the combustion and the professionals that operate them at the greenhouse facilities are artists, and that they can get the sort of combustion profile a certain way, and so that that flue gas will go into the greenhouse, but to know exactly how much is being taken down, that is an area of active research, and we don't, we don't know that answer yet. There are people that are looking at it, and you can imagine it's kind of a provocative number for the sector. So, they're being very careful about how they do it. Trevor Freeman 18:36 I'm sure, I'm sure. Okay, let's, let's park that just for a minute here, and jump back to something you mentioned earlier. You talked about one how flat Southern Ontario is, and it took me leaving, leaving the county before I really knew what skiing and tobogganing and everything else was. So, there's a lot of wind power generation. And for anyone listening, yeah, as rip mentioned, if you ever drive down the 401 going towards Windsor, you'll just start to see these massive wind turbines kind of everywhere you look. So, help us understand how these turbines, you know, you look out over a field and you see, you know, 2030, of them more in your line of sight. How do they connect to our provincial grid? How do the contracts work? Like, who gets that power? Give us a little bit of a sense of how that works. Dr Rupp Carriveau 19:28 For sure. Yeah, well, so what most people don't realize, and again, it's not something that's talked about, and if it is, I don't know people are necessarily paying attention to it, but, but you know the comment I'll get from relatives we talked about Thanksgiving. So, you know people, because they know I'm a wind person, they'll be like, 'Hey, I was driving down the road and I saw they weren't spinning with, what's going on? Are they broken or what?' Well, you know, because we, we've got some pro wind and some non pro wind folks in the in the family, so it's an exciting time for me. But you know, and I mentioned that the greenhouses I'm working with are often starved for utility supply. And they said, well, how can that be? The turbines are right there. They're sharing the same space, right? And most people don't realize that. Really, I would say 95% of the wind in our corridor is put on a transmission line and sent up to, effectively, to Toronto, to be distributed throughout the province, which is great, but it's not really a local asset. And that was sort of what inspired us when we saw these two sorts of juxtaposed. We thought maybe you could turn these assets into something that acted as really a new type of distributed energy resource, and that you've got a transmission connected asset that's currently under contract, but if that contract could be modified, then the fiscal connections could potentially be modified so you could have local distribution, let's say at a time of maybe at a time of transmission curtailment, maybe under different conditions. So again, looking into the physical plausibility of it was part of our study, and then doing some sort of economic investigation of how that would work, having a nearly 20-year-old asset all of a sudden springing into a new role in a new life, where it continues to perform transmission duties for the province at large, but it also serves local needs in the production, let's say, of hydrogen through an electrolyzer, or just plain electrons turning lights on. That is something that isn't possible yet. Regulatory reasons exist for that that would require some, some significant changes. But it was a really interesting exercise to go through to investigate how that could happen. Trevor Freeman 22:08 Yeah, so there's just trying to understand how this work. There's someone who owns these turbines. Some conglomerate somewhere, you know, Canadian, not Canadian, who knows. They contract with the Independent Electricity System Operator who operates the grid in the province. And they basically say, yeah, well, look, we'll provide you with X amount of power on some contract, and when ISO needs it, they call on it. How long do those contracts last? Is that a 10-year contract? A 20-year contract? Dr Rupp Carriveau 22:35 So, they are in Ontario. The ones that I'm familiar with for 20 years. So it's possible there are others. I know. I have a there's a farm that operates in PEI that has a nice 30 year PPA. So the longer you can get, the better. Yeah, and these, these power purchase agreements are, are wonderful for developers, because they're known entities, doing the math on your finances is really straightforward with these contracts. And frankly speaking, when you had a sector that needed to be brought up from nothing, they were very necessary. They were very necessary. And but those contracts, and they're and they're locked down, as much as we try to, you know, persuade the province to get crazy, to amuse us with these new, newfangled ways of of connecting to people, commerce wise, through energy, they are not interested so far, at least in and they're like, let's finish these out, and then we can talk your crazy ideas, you know, and so, but that's we're getting glare, because I would say many, many, many farms in the province will be coming up on the sun setting end of Their power purchase agreements in the coming five, six years. Trevor Freeman 24:03 Yeah, yeah. Which brings me to my next point, of the assets themselves, the actual physical turbine, I assume last longer than 20 years. You're going to build one of these things. You know, 20 years is not its end of life. So what are the options available today? You talked about regulatory barriers. We talk about regulatory barriers on this show often, what are, what are the options today for a wind farm that is at its end of contract? Does it look at re contracting? Can it kind of direct source to someone else? Like, what are the options available for an owner? Dr Rupp Carriveau 24:40 Yeah, well, to me, it's an exciting time, because it could be work for us. We get excited about this. I think it could be a source of anxiety for owners, because there's nothing better than that long term contract. So many of them will try to apply for things like a medium, a new medium term length contract from the. Province, like an MT two, I think they're called. There are other contract types that are possible, but there'll be, it'll be a highly competitive landscape for those, and the in the province won't be able to give everyone one of these contracts. So some of these, some of these operators, will likely have to look at other options which may be going into the spot market, potentially, you know, getting into the capacity game by getting a battery on site and firming up their ability to provide power when necessary or provide capacity. And then there's a there isn't a relatively recent regulatory development in the around the middle of July, the province said, you know, if you're a non emitting generator and you're not under contract, you could provide virtual power someone else who might need it, if they're looking if they're a class, a customer that's trying to avoid peak charges. You know, rather than that class a customer buys a battery behind the meter and physically reduce their peaks. They could potentially virtually reduce their peaks by setting up a virtual power purchase agreement with another supplier. So these, these off contract spinning assets could have an opportunity to get into this game of peak relief. Which, which could be very lucrative. Because, based on last year's provincial global adjustment charges at large, you're looking at being paid something on the order of about $72,000 a megawatt hour for the, for the for the for the megawatt hours in question, which, which, of course, you know, try to get as many as you can. . Trevor Freeman 26:31 Yeah. So there's a couple of things there. Bear with me while I connect a few dots for our listeners. So on different shows, we talk about different things. Global adjustment is one of them. And we've been talking here about these long term contracts. Global adjustment, as you might remember from previous conversations, is one of those mechanisms that bridges the gap between the spot market price, you know, the actual commodity cost of electricity that's out there, and some of the built-in cost to run the system, which includes these long term contracts. So there's a there's a fixed cost to run the system, global adjustment helps bridge that gap. The next concept here that is important to remember is this class, a strategy where the largest the largest customers, electricity customers in the province, have the opportunity to adjust how they are build global adjustment based on their contribution to the most intensive demand peaks in the province over the course of a year. So during a really high demand period, when everybody needs electricity, if they can reduce their demand, there's significant savings. And so what you're saying is there's this new this new ability for kind of a virtual connection, where, if I'm a big facility that has a high demand, and I contract with a generator, like a wind turbine that's not in contract anymore, I can say, hey, it's a peak time now I need to use some of your capacity to offset, you know, some of my demand, and there's those significant savings there. So you're absolutely right. That's a new thing in the province. We haven't had that ability up until just recently. So super fascinating, and that kind of connects our two topics today, that the large demand facilities in southern Ontario and these these generators that are potentially nearing the end of their contract and looking for what else might happen. So are you guys navigating that conversation between the greenhouses or the manufacturers and the generators? Dr Rupp Carriveau 28:49 I'm so glad you asked. And here comes, here comes a shameless plug. Yeah? So yes. So there's a spin off company from the turbulence and Energy Lab, and it's called jailbreak labs. And jailbreak labs really represents sort of the space that is more commercial than research, but it also was sort of spurned, spurred from research. So jailbreak Labs has developed a registry, and we've been providing some webinars as well. So this, again, this is a company that that is essentially run by students, that this registry allows generators and consumers to ultimately find each other so that, so that these kinds of connections can be made. Because, as you may well imagine, there is no guarantee that the wind will be blowing at the time that you need it so, so and your load may be such that you need a different type of generation profile. So it needs to be profiling on the generation side. There needs to be profiling on the customer side. Yeah, and, you know, we've been doing this on our own for years. It was the time was right for us to sort of step in and say, because we were following this, we were real fanboys of this, of this reg, even before it came into play. And we kept bugging, you know, OEB for meetings and ISO and they, begrudgingly, to their credit, would chat with us about it, and then the next thing we know, it's announced that it's that it's happening. Was very exciting. So, so, yes, so we're really interested in seeing this happen, because it seems like such a unique, we're thrilled, because we're always interested in this sort of Second Life for assets that already have been depreciated and they're clean energy assets. Let's get everything we can out of them and to have this dynamic opportunity for them, and that will help Class A customers too hard for us to ignore. Trevor Freeman 30:56 And you mentioned the last time we chatted about building a tool that helps evaluate and kind of injecting a little bit of AI decision making into this. Talk to us about that tool a little bit. Dr Rupp Carriveau 31:08 Yeah. So we have a, we have a tool called quantract which is basically playing on the idea of quantifying all the risk and opportunity in in a contract. So it's really a contract visualization tool. Another way to think of it as a real time Net Present Value tool that allows renewable energy stakeholders to really, evaluate the value of their investment by not only understanding the physical life left in an asset. Let's say that a wind farm that's, you know, at 20 years and it looks like we may need to replace some blades. Do we just walk away and say, look at it. We had a good run contracts over, you know, we made some money. Let's sell the assets as they are. Or do we say, you know, I'm looking into this vppa game, and we could do okay here, but I'm not exactly sure how that's going to work and when. And so this, this tool that we've developed, will do things like will first of all identify all risk factors, and risk includes opportunities and then we'll profile them, and then builds them into basically what is more or less a glorified discounted cash flow model. So it is a way of measuring the potential value of investment in the AI space. I mean, the AI piece of it is that we have developed agents that will actually identify other things that are less, less sort of noticeable to people. In fact, this regulatory change is one of the things that our AI agents would have been looking for. Okay, now it pre it predated our tool going online, so we didn't see it, but it's the kind of thing that we'd be looking for. So the agents look for news, they look for changes online, and then, and then what happens is, they got brought, they get brought into a profiler. The profiler then determines the probability of or makes an estimate of the probability that this risk will occur. IE, a regulatory change will happen. IE, battery plant will come to town at a certain time. IE, a Costco facility will come in. Then we'll determine the potential magnitude. So there'll be uncertainty in the occurrence, there'll be uncertainty in the magnitude, and there'll be uncertainty in the timing. So we have basically statistical distribution functions for each one of those things, the likelihood of it happening, the magnitude and the timing. And so those are all modeled in so that people can push a button and, say, with this level of certainty your investment would be, would be worth this much. And that's dynamic. It's in real time. So it's changing constantly. It's being updated constantly. And so no so that that is something that goes in, and one of these virtual power purchase agreements would be one of the types of things that would go into this sort of investment timeline? Trevor Freeman 34:22 Yeah, so it's giving these owners of these assets better data to make a decision about what comes next, as you said, and as we're talking I'm kind of doing the math here. If these are typically 20 year contracts, that's bringing us back to, you know, the mid, early, 2000s when we were really pushing to get off coal. So a lot of these assets probably started in and around that time. So you've probably got a whole bunch of customers, for lack of a better term, ready to start making decisions in the next you know, half a decade or so of what do I do with my. Sets. Have you seen this? Has it been used in the real world yet? Or is, are you getting close to that? Like, where are you at in development? Dr Rupp Carriveau 35:07 Yeah, it actually started. It's funny. It started a little a little bit even before this craze. A couple years ago, we had, we had a manufacturer in our county come to us with, they had a great interest in, in just, just they were trying to be proactive about avoiding carbon tax and so, and they wanted to develop a new generation technology close to their facility. And so we used it there since that time. Yeah, so, so it was field proven that was a still a research contract, because they were the technology that they were interested in was, was, was not off the shelf. But since that time, we got a chance, because we represent Canada in the International Energy Agency, task 43 on wind energy digitalization. And so one of the mandates there was to develop a robust and transparent tools for investment decision support using digital twins. And we had a German partner in Fraunhofer Institute that had developed nice digital twin that would provide us remaining useful life values for things like blades, you know, towers, foundations, etc, and those are, again, those are all costs that just plug into our but they did. They didn't have a framework of how to work that into an investment decision other than, you know, you may have to replace this in three years. Okay, well, that's good to know, but we need the whole picture to make that decision, and that's sort of what we were trying to bring so the short answer is, yes, we're getting a lot of interest now, which is thrilling for us, but it's, I'll be honest with you, it's not, it's not simple, like, you know, I I've talked about it a bunch of times, so I'm pretty good at talking about it, but, but the doing it is still, it's computationally intensive and in the end, it's still an estimate. It's a, it's a, it's a calculated, quantified estimate, but it's an estimate. I think what we like about it is it's better than saying, Well, I have a hunch that it's going to go this way, but we could get beat by the hunches too. Yeah, totally, right. So, so, you know, I'm not trying to sell people things that, like I we have to be transparent about it. It's still probability. Trevor Freeman 37:35 Well, I think if there's, if there's one thing that is very apparent, as we are well into this energy transition process that we talk about all the time here on the show. It's that the pace of change is is one of the things that's like no other time we are we are seeing things change, and that means both our demand is growing, our need to identify solutions is growing the way that we need to build out the grid and utilize the ers and utilize all these different solutions is growing at a rate that we haven't seen before, and therefore uncertainty goes up. And so to your point, yeah, we need help to make these decisions. We need better ways of doing it than just, as you say, having a hunch. That doesn't mean it's foolproof. It doesn't mean it's a guarantee. Dr Rupp Carriveau 38:27 Nope, it is not a guarantee. Trevor Freeman 38:30 Very cool. So Rupp, this is a great conversation. It's really fascinating to talk about to me, two areas of the energy sector that aren't really understood that well. I think the agriculture side of things, not a lot of people think about that as a major demand source. But also wind, I think we talk about solar a lot. It's a little bit more ubiquitous. People's neighbors have solar on their roofs. But wind is this unless you drive through Southern Ontario or other parts of the province where there's a lot of wind, you don't see it a lot. So it's fascinating to kind of help understand where these sectors are going. Is there anything else that the Institute is working on that that's worth chatting about here, or is what we've talked about, you know, kind of filling your day, in your students days? Dr Rupp Carriveau 39:15 Well, actually there is something we haven't talked about the nuclear option. Literally, literally the nuclear literally the nuclear option. Yeah, so we've been really thrilled to have a growing relationship with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, which is much closer to you than it is to me. And specifically in the connection of small modular reactors to meet these growing agricultural loads. So I have a science colleague at the University of Windsor, Dr drew Marquart, who was all hot and bothered about these s. Mrs. And he's like, we should drop one of these SMRs in Leamington. Then I this, this part I really enjoyed, because it's obviously so he came from Oak Ridge National Laboratories in the States, and he's and he's been at CNL as well. So he's fully indoctrinated into the nuclear space. But it just didn't occur to him that that would be provocative or controversial at all, that there wouldn't be some social he, you know, he's like, we can do the math. And I said, Oh yeah, yeah, we can do the math. But I'm like, I think you're missing something. I think you're missing something, right? So, but so it's, it's a super fascinating topic, and we're trying to connect, physically connect. So just before the weekend, I was in the turbulence and Energy Lab, and we were trying to commission what we believe is North America's first we're calling it a model synthetic, small modular reactor, synthetic being the key word, and that it's non nuclear, okay? And so it's non nuclear. What it what it is really and if I'm going to de glamorize it for a second, it's a mini steam thermal power plant, which doesn't embody every SMR design, but many SMRs are designed around this sort of where you've got a nuclear reaction that provides the heat, and then after that, it's kind of a steam thermal power plant. Our interest is in this physical little plant being connected to small electrolyzer, being connected to small thermal battery, being connected to a lab scale electric battery and being connected to a lab scale fully automated inlet, cucumber, small cucumber, greenhouse, mini cubes greenhouse, all this in our lab. The exciting thing around this is, you know, I I've said that I think nuclear technology needs to get out from behind the walls of nuclear facilities for people to start to appreciate it, and by that, to start doing that, you have to take the nuclear part out, which, to me, is not necessarily a deal breaker in terms of these dynamic issues that we want to solve. You know, because nukes have traditionally been said, Well, you know they're not that. You know, you can't just ramp them up and down, and that's true, you know, and small modular reactors are supposed to be considerably more nimble, but there's still lots of challenges that have to be solved in terms of having how it is an asset that is provides copious energy, but does so maybe not, not as dynamic, certainly, as a gas turbine. That how does it? How do you make it nimble, right? How do you partner it up with the right complimentary other grid assets to take advantage of what it does so well, which is crank out great amounts of heat and electricity so, so effortlessly, right? And so that's, that's sort of what we're trying to do, and connecting it to what we're calling atomic agriculture. I don't know that's a good name or not. I like it, but, but, but, yeah, so that that's another thing that we're that we're flirting with right now. We're working on. We've done a few. We've had a few contracts with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to get us this far. We did everything computationally. We're continuing to do computational studies with them. They develop their own hybrid energy systems, optimizer software, HISO, which we use, and we are now trying to put it into sort of the hardware space. So again, just the idea that physically looking at the inertia of spinning up a turbine, the little gap, the little sort of steam powered turbine that we have in the lab that's run by an electric boiler. But our hope is to, ultimately, we're going to get the electric boiler to be mimicking the sort of reaction heating dynamics of a true reactor. So by, but through electrical control. So we'll imitate that by having sort of data from nuclear reactions, and then we'll sort of get an electrical signal analog so that we can do that and basically have a non nuclear model, small modular reactor in the lab. Trevor Freeman 44:14 Very cool, very neat. Well, Rupp, this has been a great conversation. I really appreciate it. We do always end our interviews with a series of questions here, so I'm going to jump right into those. What's a book that you've read that you think everyone should read? Dr Rupp Carriveau 44:31 I would say any of the Babysitters Club. That's as high as I get in the literary hierarchy. I'm barely literate so and I thoroughly enjoyed reading those books with my daughters that they were great. So I recommend any, any of the Babysitters Club titles. I mean that completely seriously, I that was the peak of my that are dog man, yeah, Trevor Freeman 44:56 I'm about six months removed from what i. Was about an 18 month run where that's, that's all I read with my youngest kiddo. So they've, they've just moved on to a few other things. But yes, I've been steeped in the Babysitter's Club very recently. Dr Rupp Carriveau 45:11 So good. So, you know, absolutely. Trevor Freeman 45:14 So same question, but for a movie or a show, what's something that you recommend? Dr Rupp Carriveau 45:17 Everyone thrilled with that question. If you're looking for a good, good true story. I've always been romantically obsessed with the ghost in the darkness, the true story of, I guess, a civil engineer trying to solve a problem of man eating lions and Tsavo. That's a, that's a, that's a tremendous movie with Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas. Yeah, that's good then, and I think for something a little more light hearted and fun, a big fan of the way, way back and youth and revolt, nice. Trevor Freeman 46:03 If someone offered you a free round trip flight anywhere in the world, where would you go? Dr Rupp Carriveau 46:05 I don't really like flying, I got to be honest. But if, if I was forced onto the plane, I think, I think I go to Japan. Nice. Have you been before? No, I haven't. I'd like to go. Okay, cool. You're not the first guest that has said that someone else was very That's understandable. Yeah, who is someone that you admire? I would say truly selfless people that help people when no one's looking and when it's not being tabulated for likes those people are who I aspire to be more like nice. Trevor Freeman 46:47 And last question, what's something about the energy sector or its future that you're really excited about? Dr Rupp Carriveau 46:53 I think maybe power to the people I really like, the movement of distributed energy resources. I'm sure there's a limit to it, but I think, I think if we have more responsibility for our own power production, and again, I can see there are limits where it's probably, you know, there's, there's a point where it's too much. I'm all for, for major centralized coordination and the security in the reliability that goes with that. But I think a little bit more on the distributed side would be nice, because I think people would understand energy better. They would they would own it more, and I think our grid would probably increase in its resiliency. Trevor Freeman 47:37 Yeah, that's definitely something that no matter the topic, it seems, is a part of almost every conversation I have here on the show. It works its way in, and I think that's indicative of the fundamental role that decentralizing our energy production and storage is is already playing and is going to play in the years to come as we kind of tackle this energy transition drove this has been a really great conversation. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us, and that's great to catch up. Great to chat with you again. Dr Rupp Carriveau 48:11 Total privilege for me. Trevor, I really appreciate it. Outstanding job. Trevor Freeman 48:15 Thanks for having me. Yeah, great to chat. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the thinkenergy podcast, don't forget to subscribe. Wherever you listen to podcasts, and it would be great if you could leave us a review. It really helps to spread the word. As always, we would love to hear from you, whether it's feedback comments or an idea for a show or a guest. You can always reach us at thinkenergy@hydroottawa.com.
What does it really take to achieve excellence — on the field and in life? In this episode, Rosie talks with Inner Excellence author and performance coach Jim Murphy, whose methods have helped world champions and top athletes master their minds under pressure. They explore how to overcome limiting beliefs, manage emotions, and bring excellence into everyday life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brought to you by J.C. Newman Cigar Co.- On this episode, Matt and Pat welcome back Steve Saka who talks about the many releases he has in store for us this year as well as many other great topics of discussion. Who am I kidding - it's Steve Saka, the one guy who could make any topic of discussion interesting so tune in now or you are doing yourself a disservice! Visit smokintabacco.com for more news, reviews and updates from the industry! Visit 2GuysCigars.com for the best selection of in the industry! Accessories provided by S.T. Dupont - Shake Up the Legacy with S.T. Dupont! Perdomo Cigars: Quality, Tradition, and Excellence!
This week on Tapod we catch up with perpetual innovator and a great person to boot – Derek Del Simone, Chief Talent Officer from Abano Healthcare. Fresh off winning 3 (that's right 3) ITAs in 2025 – Excellence in Innovation, Best Tech Stack & Excellence in Candidate Experience. Derek sees tech as a key driver to recruitment success and takes us on the same journey he took his team and business on to achieve it. And don't get us started about Dr Wisdom Tooth!Thanks to SmartRecruiters for partnering with us this month.
Twelve year-old Serenity Noah has never told anyone about her recurring nightmares -- the haunting images of silver butterflies whose flapping wings drive away all sound, leaving only suffocating silence in their wake. Her parents already favor her "perfect" younger brother, Peace, and she doesn't want to be seen as the "problem" child. Instead, Serenity's found a productive way to channel her fears: creating a horror movie as scary as her nightmares.When Peace suddenly becomes afraid of the dark and refuses to sleep alone, their parents take him away for "treatment" on Duppy Island. Serenity has a very bad feeling about the mysterious island and the facility's creepy leader, Dr. Whisper. And when she sees a silver butterfly from her nightmares in the forbidden forest she realizes that something is seriously, dangerously awry.But nothing could've prepared Serenity for the truth: the island is home to douens -- faceless children with backward feet who are trapped in limbo between the world of the living and the land of the dead. And unless Serenity acts soon, her brother is going to join their ranks... Shakirah Bourne is a Bajan author and filmmaker. She once shot a movie scene in a cave with bats during an earthquake, but is too scared to watch horror movies. She is a recipient of the Governor General Award for Excellence in Literary Fiction for her short fiction collection, IN TIME OF NEED. Her first children's book, JOSEPHINE AGAINST THE SEA, received starred reviews in Kirkus and Booklist, was a SLJ Best Book of 2021, A Black Caucus of the ALA Best Book of 2021 and an Ignyte Award Finalist for Best Middle Grade Novel.She was also the co-editor of YA non-fiction anthology, ALLIES: Real Talk About Growing Up, Screwing Up and Trying Again (DK/PRH, 2021), which was a World Book Day Selection in the UK. Her upcoming middle grade horror, NIGHTMARE ISLAND, a tale based on Caribbean folklore, will be published by Scholastic in June 2023.
In Part 3 of the 500th episode, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker reflect on the deeper purpose of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). They emphasize the accessibility of IEW’s materials and share stories from parents and students illustrating the transformative effects of IEW programs for both homeschoolers and full-time schools. Wrapping up, they reinforce the central idea that IEW is ultimately about teaching students to read, write, speak, and think well—prompting the ongoing question: “What are we really doing here?” Go to Part 1. Go to Part 2. Referenced Materials Portable Walls™ for Structure and Style® Students IEW Premium Membership Checklist Generator™ Fix It!® Grammar Structure and Style® for Students Adventures in Writing Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) IEW Online Instructors IEW Brand Ambassador Program Contact IEW Customer Support Chef JoJo Recipe App Arts of Language Podcast 500th Episode Giveaway: Receive a free Portable Walls for Structure and Style Students with coupon code E500-PWSS (for the first 500 customers). If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.com Perhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA). If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com
On this episode I chatted with Jenny Peters PhD. Jenny is an aviation, aerospace and physics teacher at Pryor High School. Jenny has an incredible story, her background in aerospace is extremely impressive. Jenny has been teaching at Pryor HS for the past 8 years, currently her class is building an aircraft. WHATTTT. So cool. I had the opportunity to chat with Jenny at Thunderbird Drone Festival. https://www.pryorschools.org/article/2453449 For Jennys contact reach out here. petersj@pryorschools.org https://www.pryorschools.org/staff?search=Jenny Huge thank you to our sponsors. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum telling Oklahoma's story through its people since 1927. For more information go to www.oklahomahof.com and for daily updates go to www.instagram.com/oklahomahof The Chickasaw Nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. www.chickasaw.net Dog House OKC - When it comes to furry four-legged care, our 24/7 supervised cage free play and overnight boarding services make The Dog House OKC in Oklahoma City the best place to be, at least, when they're not in their own backyard. With over 6,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor play areas our dog daycare enriches spirit, increases social skills, builds confidence, and offers hours of exercise and stimulation for your dog http://www.thedoghouseokc.com If you're looking for a way to make a real difference, check out Bethany Children's Health Center. They're helping children reach their full potential as a leader in pediatric rehabilitation. They're also building a new Outpatient Center of Excellence — and it's going to be a landmark right on Route 66! Want to learn more or even schedule a tour? Just head to bethanychildrens.org and click on the "Ways to Give" tab. www.bethanychildrens.org #ThisisOklahoma
Brent discusses the obstacles his company had to overcome and the hoops they had to jump through to coordinate the construction of a 3 foot corinthian column. The guys talk about why you should never do this... and how they're planning on doing a doric and ionic one too.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes' exciting local radio program, Heart of the Athlete, airs Saturdays at 9:30 am MST on 94.5 FM and 790 AM Boise's Solid Talk. The show is hosted by local FCA Director, Ken Lewis. This program is a great opportunity to listen to local athletes and coaches share their lives, combining sports with their faith in Jesus Christ each week!Our relationships will demonstrate steadfast commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word through Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence.NNU Box 3359 623 S University Blvd Nampa, ID 83686 United States (208) 697-1051 klewis@fca.orghttps://www.fcaidaho.org/Podcast Website: https://www.790kspd.com/podcast-heart-of-the-athlete/
Join Jonah Goldberg as he reverts into an intimidated little policy gnome in the presence of Charles Murray, our greatest living social scientist. Jonah and Charles brave the deep waters, inquiring into the existence of God, the reliability of the New Testament, the reality of life after death, and the possibility of reincarnation. Plus, titillating side comments on Star Trek whales and milk theft. Shownotes:—Taking Religion Seriously—Murray's last appearance on The Remnant—Taking Religion Seriously: A Book Event with Charles Murray at AEI—Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces That Shape The Universe—Human Accomplishment: The Pursuit of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences, 800 B.C. to 1950—Mere Christianity—Father Pine Remnant Episode The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—click here. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes react to opening night, a mysterious timeout that was never called, the return of pageantry, Michael Jordan's segment and Wemby's mysterious height. Truth Teller Yaron Weitzman joins the program to discuss his new book A Hollywood Ending, which features some amazing stories from behind the scenes of all the prestige drama that has transpired in LA since LeBron took up residence. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/countthedings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Watch Truth Teller Interviews on YouTube Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happy 80th birthday to Maggi Hambling, our guest this week! We meet Maggi in her studio to discuss her 6 decades of making painting and sculpture.Maggi Hambling CBE was born in Suffolk in 1945. She studied at the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing from 1960 under Cedric Morris and Lett Haines, then at Ipswich School of Art, Camberwell, and finally the Slade School of Art, graduating in 1969.In 1980 she was the First Artist in Residence at the National Gallery, London, and in 1995 she won the Jerwood Painting Prize (with Patrick Caulfield). Public sculpture includes A conversation with Oscar Wilde (1998) at Adelaide Street, London, facing Charing Cross Station and Scallop (2003), a sculpture to celebrate Benjamin Britten, at Aldeburgh beach, Suffolk and for which the artist was awarded the Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture. A Sculpture for Mary Wollstonecraft was unveiled in Newington Green, London in 2020.Hambling's work is held in public collections including at Tate, British Museum, CAFA, Beijing and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.Visit: http://maggihambling.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Let's face it. Most of us aren't Olympians. We're parents and people with full time jobs, and we're not in our twenties any more. But we still want to get the best out of ourselves every time we train and line up at the start. What's the best way to do that? Today we are going to talk to John Davis, coach and writer, who holds a PhD in human performance. His new book is called Marathon Excellence for Everyone and I'm going to ask him if everyone really can be excellent at it. We also talk about: Regular runners can get really good at the marathon, How advances in science have made massive changes in the sport, and We'll go over some marathon training myths and mistakes that might be costing you minutes While we don't get into the mental side of training in this conversation, don't worry, I've got you covered for your next race with my new Find Your Flow State Audio training series. I'll talk more about it later, but if you are ready right now, head to theplantedrunner.com/flowstate to learn more. Welcome to the Planted Runner. I'm Coach Claire Bartholic and my mission is to help you improve your running, your mindset, and your life with science-backed training and plant-based nutrition. If you need more help, you can order my book The Planted Runner: Running Your Best With Plant-Based Nutrition wherever you get books or request a copy from your local library. Don't forget to stay tuned all the way to the end of the episode for another Mental Strength Minute. Fortify your mind in 60 seconds or less. LINKS: John Davis: Book: https://marathonexcellence.com Free newsletter: https://runningwritings.com/news If you'd like help directly from me, you can check out my freebies, personal coaching, and sign up for my PR Team at https://www.theplantedrunner.com/link. For my recommendations of at-home equipment and other running products I recommend, check out my curated list on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/theplantedrunner LIQUID IV: Just one stick of LIquid IV + 16 oz. of water hydrates better than water alone. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://www.liquid-iv.com/ and use code PLANTED at checkout. RECENT REVIEWS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My Go-to podcast I've been running for the last 10yrs, vegan for 3 and this last year I've been dialing in my casual running to actually training. Being able to have The Planted Runner podcast as a resource has been priceless and it's kept me entertained and inspired on long drives, long runs, and during work. Claire clearly has a wealth of knowledge and I really enjoy learning from her and the various guests she has on the show! Definitely worth a listen! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Great podcast! Love listening to the podcast while running! There is a lot of great information! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Great content Super informative and educational. Really enjoy the content. Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat
It's part 3 of our Woodstock Film Festival movie reviews as we discuss the 26th Awards Ceremony and some must see movies that won hardware. Plus, we review The Black Phone 2 & Shelby Oaks before diving into a non-spoiler AND spoiler review segment on After the Hunt. 26th WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS: An Audience Awards Winner getting its “second wind” in the Oscars race? - 3:52 The Plague w/ Joel Edgerton wins Best Narrative Feature competition - 7:05 Steal This Story, Please! Wins Documentary Audience Award + Our Review - 8:35 https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-film-guide?filmId=689656bde56d04276a7b8bb5 Floating Carousel wins the Ultra Indie Award + Our Review - 11:24 https://bestdressedfilms.com/floating-carousel The Floaters wins Excellence in Directing Award + Review - 15:05 https://floatersmovie.com/ OTHER WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL RECOMMENDATIONS / REVIEWS: The Ark: a doc on an animal refuge in the Ukraine - 19:30 https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-features?filmId=6888d194890a9096ccbc5cce River of Grass: a doc on the alarming state of the Everglades in Florida - 23:31 https://www.riverofgrassfilm.com/ Park Avenue: an NYC drama featuring a stupendous Fiona Shaw - 26:04 On The End featuring Tim Blake Nelson in his best role since Buster Scruggs - 28:11 https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-film-guide?filmId=68a721e699412b9ef7b6ba8b Eloise and the Dress: a hilarious short film in need of the feature film treatment - 31:14 https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/2025-film-guide?filmId=68bede7a397fa68e1fb335a0 Whale 52: an emotional and adorable animated short feat the voice of Bruce Villanch - 32:45 https://whale52themovie.com/ WHAT WE'RE WATCHING: The Black Phone 2 - 34:53 Shelby Oaks - 36:29 After The Hunt Non-Spoiler Section - 39:28 Spoiler Section for After The Hunt - 45:47 OUTRO: There's a big musical biopic hitting theaters soon called Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. There's a horror holiday, which we like to cover. Plus, we have Gotham Awards Nominations next week. Otherwise, we're planning more reviews, previews, and interviews that we hope you'll continue to enjoy. So please follow, like, subscribe, rate and review us via our socials or wherever you get your podcasts. As always, thank you for doing so. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar
In This Episode Inside The Futurists X Summit: Preparing For An AI Powered Future This week Breaking Banks comes to you from The Futurists X Summit in Dubai, the world's largest gathering of top-ranked futurists. This summit brings together leaders, innovators and policymakers from around the globe for meaningful dialogue on the future of technology, business and society. Tune in as Breaking Banks and The Futurists host Brett King speaks with Mastercard's J.K. Khalil, EVP and Division President of East Arabia, and Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard. JK and Brett kick off the discussion with JK highlighting Mastercard's partnership with the Ministry of AI in Dubai and their AI Center of Excellence in the UAE. Mastercard is always talking about the fast and accelerating pace of change and its impact on consumers' lives. The AI Center of Excellence aims to demonstrate that AI is more than just a buzzword, helping people see the bigger picture and understand the broader implications -- how this access to information and AI translates to daily life. The discussion also touches on exploring possible futures and enhancing the human experience. Then, Raja joins Brett to share his perspective on an AI-powered future. As AI improves quality of life, helping to alter the work-life balance -- working less, experiencing more -- what does the world look like? With AI, chores can be delegated to the machine, you can let go of certain things and have more time for other things. Time to pursue your passions – a long-standing focus for Mastercard is helping elevate lives through experiences. As technology levels the playing field—and everyone feeds similar briefs into the same AI tools—outputs will start to look alike. That's exactly why this moment could become a new golden age of marketing: a chance to break through the sameness with real creativity, smart risk-taking and unconventional ideas. With advanced tools and the right mix of strategy and imagination, the possibilities are endless. And when you serve consumers with heart while driving revenue, that's marketing at its best. It's an engaging and thought-provoking episode from leaders in the field....priceless! Interested in hearing more about The Futurists X Summit? Follow our sister podcast, The Futurists.
Today's podcast is titled “The War on Drugs: A 1990s Debate on Prohibition versus Legalization” Recorded in 1995, Dennis McCuistion, former Clinical Professor of Corporate Governance and Executive Director of the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance at the University of Texas at Dallas hosts a discussion about the war on drugs with former Cato Institute executive vice president David Boaz, former dean of National College of Criminal Defense Emmett Colvin, FBI special agent Buck Revell, and DEA special agent Phil Jordan. Listen now, and don't forget to subscribe to get updates for the Free To Choose Media Podcast.
This is an episode recorded at the PIA VADC conference in Virginia Beach with my man Byron Roberts. It is a fast, on-the-ground conversation about how Openly built for independent agents, why speed still matters, and how data is shifting from rearview mirror to windshield. Quick recapOpenly's origin story is agent-first. Founders Ty Harris and Matt Duffy asked agents what they actually needed, then shipped a three-question quote experience built to find “diamonds in the rough,” not write everything in sight. The company doubled down on listening loops like ACE, its Agency Council of Excellence, to sanity-check product decisions, fix friction fast, and keep writing business during a stubborn hard market. They are rolling into PL Rating in key states to cut keystrokes, and they see the next frontier as forward-looking data that helps carriers price for tomorrow's weather, not yesterday's. Key takeawaysBuilt by and for independent agents, not DTC. Choice and counsel are the strategy. Three inputs to quote, then verify details to bind accurately and quickly. Think seconds, not hours. ACE council gives Openly real-time agent feedback and a promise to report back on changes. Smart underwriting beats growth at any cost. Openly tightens or tweaks instead of pulling out. PL Rating integrations are in motion to reduce double entry and speed comparisons. Data is shifting from historical to predictive. Actuaries need “crystal balls,” not just rearview mirrors. Notable quotes“Tell me I can't, I'll show you I will.” Byron on persistence. “Three questions, name, date of birth, and address. We can get it.” On the quoting thesis. “We're staying open for these agencies. We don't tighten everything down or pull out.” On disciplined appetite. “We used to look at historical data. Now we need crystal balls.” On forward-looking pricing. Sponsor Smart Choice- The fastest growing insurance network, with 10,000 agencies, 11 billion in written premium written its incredibleCanopy Connect- your 1 click solution to getting the deck pages you need to quote your prospects.
The Black in Sports Podcast is back in The Locker Room for one of the most talked-about moments in sports media — Michael Jordan's return to NBC. Yes, you read that right. The GOAT himself is teaming up once again with the network that once turned his prime-time performances into cultural events. But this time, it's not about fadeaways or Finals MVPs — it's about perspective, legacy, and paying it forward.In this episode, EJ & MH dive into “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” NBC's highly anticipated special that marks both MJ's return to the spotlight and NBC's renewed push back into NBA coverage. While some fans expected an on air personality maybe highlights and hardwood moments, what we got instead was a rare, raw, and segmented interview offering a masterclass in mindset.From his obsession with greatness to his quiet transition from legend to leader, Jordan reminds us that excellence doesn't retire — it evolves. Even if he hasn't touched a basketball in years, if you believe that, his impact on the game and culture still echoes louder than any buzzer-beater.
This excerpt from the About Mansfield News/Talk audio newspaper offers a comprehensive overview of local news, information, and community features for Mansfield, Texas. The broadcast covers several key local topics, including the start of early voting for 17 state constitutional amendments, the opening of Christmas assistance signups for families, and the Mansfield ISD's call for Circle of Excellence nominations.Additionally, the source includes a sports recap focused on local high school football and North Texas SC. The episode also features an interview with Stu Stewart, known as the voice of Newsom Stadium, a segment on home heating system maintenance, and a profile of a local executive for the 40 Under 40 list.
Speedlearning - die Erfolgstechniken für Beruf, Schule und mehr
Diese Woche wurde der Speedlearning Club mit den großen Wissen-Bibliotheken und Fortbildungsplattformen wie Coursera Plus, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy Personal Plan, Mindvalley oder LeetCode Premium verglichen und hat sich in einem Bereich als deutlich überlegen erwiesen: Bei den Live-Sessions und der Accountability. Somit hat sich der Circle of Excellence jetzt schon gegenüber den großen Plattformen als ein absoluter Gamechanger herausgestellt. Test den Club selbst auf Herz und Nieren und überzeuge dich davon, was möglich wird, wenn du nicht nur lernst, wie man richtig lernt, sondern von einer motivierten Community und unserem Expertennetzwerk unterstützt wirst. Hier geht es zum Speedlearning Club: https://www.speedlearning.academy/speedlearning-club/
Leading Improvements in Higher Education with Stephen Hundley
As we kickoff season 6 of the podcast, we feature co-authors of Foundations of Assessment: From Theory to Practice, a recently released book from Routledge. Our guests are Joe Levy and Natasha Jankowski. Joe is Associate Vice Provost of Accreditation and Quality Improvement at Excelsior University. Natasha is Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Link to resources mentioned in this episode:Foundations of Assessment: From Theory to Practicehttps://www.routledge.com/Foundations-of-Assessment-From-Theory-to-Practice/Levy-Jankowski/p/book/9781032581569 This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: September 2025. Host: Stephen Hundley. Producers: Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman. Original music: Caleb Keith. This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute.
What if lighting education wasn't just theory—but full-contact? In this episode, Bruce Clark, the “Lighting Sherpa” himself, returns to unveil the Lighting Excellence Dojo—a hands-on, immersive training ground where lighting pros don't just talk the talk… they throw the punch.
"Healthy birds leave the nest and strong leaders know when to let go." In this refreshingly candid episode, Heather sits down with Julie Cole, co-founder of Mabel's Labels and mother of six, for a real-deal conversation on parenting, leadership, and letting go of guilt. From building a wildly successful company while raising a big family to advocating for psychological safety in the workplace and at home, Julie brings wisdom, warmth, and straight talk about what it really means to lead without losing yourself in the process.
This week on The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh & Dan Devine react to the NBA's opening night. They discuss Alperen Sengun's impressive three-point shooting to open the season. What kind of impact could this have on the Houston Rockets' season, and could Sengun be an MVP candidate? The duo also share their takeaways from the Golden State Warriors' win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Are the Warriors title contenders? What do the Lakers need to do to improve their defense? Plus, does Reed Sheppard fit in Houston's system after struggling in the opener?Then Tom and Dan share their thoughts on Michael Jordan's sit down with Mike Tirico for the debut of "MJ: Insights to Excellence." What do they expect going forward?(2:05) The Big Number: Alperen Sengun's 3-point shooting(24:14) - Little Numbers: Warriors title contenders?(28:25) - Little Numbers: Lakers defensive struggles(32:19) - Little Numbers: Rockets unique defensive approach(36:37) - Little Numbers: Does Reed Sheppard fit in Houston(44:56) - "MJ: Insights to Excellence" debuts
We continue talking to NBA Insider Brian Windhorst about the Lakers and LeBron's future. Will Brian and Chriss talk about Columbo. And Lindsey unloads on Kappy about his girl friend Rachel. Plus, the crew swipes left or right in Radio on a question about Michael Jordan's - "MJ Insights to Excellence." Dealer's Choice presented by Sellers Advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this special bonus episode of Lean Blog Interviews, Mark Graban is joined by C.J. Kaufman, Education Chair for the ASQ Cincinnati Section, to preview the ASQ Southwest Ohio 2025 Conference, themed “Excellence Through Quality.” Episode page with transcript, video, and more Taking place Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Mason, Ohio, the event brings together quality professionals from the Cincinnati and Dayton regions for a half-day of engaging speakers, practical insights, and networking — plus an optional afternoon workshop with Mark. C.J. shares how the conference was designed collaboratively by the Cincinnati and Dayton ASQ Sections, what attendees can expect, and why psychological safety is a cornerstone topic for today's quality and Lean leaders. Highlights Event Overview: ASQ Southwest Ohio 2025 — a collaboration between Cincinnati and Dayton sections. Theme: Excellence Through Quality — exploring leadership, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Keynote: Mark Graban on Psychological Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement. Featured Speakers Include: Deb Coviello — Leading Quality Susan Marshall — FDA Perspectives on ROI in Quality Management Colleen Soppelsa — Group Intelligence in Problem-Solving Optional Workshop: Hands-on Lean learning with Mark Graban in the afternoon session. Why It Matters: Quality and continuous improvement thrive when organizations foster safety, trust, and engagement. Quotable Moments “Psychological safety is essential for positive change — without it, continuous improvement can't sustain.” — Mark Graban “We want people to leave with practical things they can use Monday morning.” — C.J. Kaufman “Excellence through quality isn't just a theme — it's how we build better systems and better workplaces.” — Mark Graban Event Details Location: Mason, Ohio Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025 Time: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Workshop to follow) Includes: Breakfast + Lunch More Info & Registration -- ASQ Cincinnati Section Website Related Links Mark Graban – Psychological Safety Resources Lean Blog Interviews Archive
Episode Summary: In this episode of the 'Paralegals on Fire' podcast, host Ann Pearson delves into strategies for thriving in a paralegal career versus merely surviving. She shares her insights from years of training paralegals, highlighting the distinguishable traits between those who excel and those who just get by. Ann also discusses her current projects, including the forthcoming Rise Legal Support Mastery Program and an attorney training course collaborated with a law firm in Chicago. She also addresses the importance of continuous personal and professional growth, mentorship, and avoiding workplace negativity. Ann emphasizes that thriving is a choice and encourages paralegals to take ownership of their careers. Key Takeaways: Survive vs. Thrive: Thriving paralegals go beyond doing what's required - they take initiative, grow their skills, and actively shape their careers instead of just getting by. Career Ownership: Success comes from taking responsibility for your professional development, not waiting for feedback or promotions to drive improvement. Excellence in Action: Thriving paralegals create systems, checklists, and habits that ensure accuracy, consistency, and high-quality work every time. Going Beyond the Job Description: The best paralegals anticipate needs, offer solutions, and seek ways to add value beyond what's expected. Leadership and Mentorship: True professionals lift others up, avoid negativity, and lead by example - even without a management title. Long-Term Impact: A thrive mindset early in your career leads to greater confidence, satisfaction, and earning potential over time. Evolving the Profession: Ann's upcoming programs (RISE and Litigator Launch Pad) aim to elevate both paralegals and attorneys through skill-building, collaboration, and excellence. Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegals-on-fire-podcast
AMDG. Bonnie and Steven are joined by professor and author, Dr. Michael Pakaluk. They discuss Dr. Pakaluk's family's homeschooling experience his new book, The Shock of Holiness; and his thoughts about St. Maximilian Kolbe. Links mentioned & relevant: Dr. Pakaluk's new book The Shock of Holiness The Appalling Strangeness of the Mercy of God by Ruth V.K. Pakaluk & Michael Pakaluk Recent piece on St. Maximilian Kolbe and the saint's impact on Dr. Pakaluk HSLDA episode with Dr. Catherine Pakaluk Dr. Pakaluk's piece on Fr. John Tracy Ellis Related Kolbecast episodes: 174 Kolbe's Chiaroscuro with Anthony D'Ambrosio, writer and producer of Triumph of the Heart 226 Cultivating Habits of Excellence with Andrew Abela Have questions or suggestions for future episodes or a story of your own experience that you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to podcast@kolbe.org and be a part of the Kolbecast odyssey. We'd be grateful for your feedback! Please share your thoughts with us via this Kolbecast survey! The Kolbecast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast apps. By leaving a rating and review in your podcast app of choice, you can help the Kolbecast reach more listeners. The Kolbecast is also on Kolbe's YouTube channel (audio only with subtitles). Using the filters on our website, you can sort through the episodes to find just what you're looking for. However you listen, spread the word about the Kolbecast!
EPISODE 148 | The Visitors: 3I/ATLAS & Friends Something is happening right now that maybe we should all pay at least a little bit of attention to. It's time to break out the nice dishes and give the place a good dusting, because we have company folks. We have a visitor. Probably a comet. But maybe not, according to some. Maybe it's an alien spaceship with bad intent. And it's coming to get us. Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our page on Buy Me a Coffee. Review us here or on IMDb. And seriously, subscribe, will ya? Like, just do it. SECTIONS 03:21 - Wanderlust - 1I/ʻOumuamua, Avi Loeb, solar sails, technosignatures, 2I/Borisov, astronomical units (AUs) 12:56 - Poor Fractured Atlas - Avi Loeb gets into UAP, the ATLAS detection system, 3I/ATLAS, "normal" comets, maybe a planet seed 22:08 - Calling All Comets - 3I/ATLAS starts acting weird, the Dark Forest Hypothesis, an interstellar highway, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), nickel and iron 30:20 - In My House - A Mars flyby, the US government shuts down and conspiracy theories fill the void, a recap of weirdness, why it does not have "military implications" 39:15 - Supermassive Black Hole - The Overview Effect, real dangers, more stuff is probably coming Music by Fanette Ronjat MORE INFO The Uncensored Guide To ‘Oumuamua, Aliens, And That Harvard Astronomer in Forbes ʻOumuamua on RationalWiki New interstellar object 3I/ATLAS: Everything we know about the rare cosmic visitor on space.com Could comet 3I/ATLAS be alien technology? Controversial Harvard astrophysicist says yes 3rd interstellar visitor confirms a cosmic highway — Earth could be in ‘someone's trajectory' on EcoNews This Mysterious Object From Our Solar System Might Be a Planet-Making Seed “Physics Doesn't Work Anymore”: Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Traveling Backwards At 130,000 MPH Shatters Every Scientific Law Sun Fires Energy Blast Straight at Mysterious Interstellar Object Cruising Through Solar System Interstellar object spotted shedding mysterious metals in way that defies science: 'It's extremely puzzling' Are internet rumours of a comet hurtling towards Earth true? Scientists reveal where 'alien object' heading past Earth will actually be going 3I/ATLAS is Captured in New Images as Mysterious Object Cruises Past Mars—What Does the Latest Data Reveal? First Images of 3I/ATLAS from ExoMars TGO by Avi Loeb Mysterious interstellar visitor spotted above Mars appears as 'massive cylindrical craft' A Recap of the Anomalies of 3I/ATLAS on the Day of Its Closest Approach to Mars by Avi Loeb (the Trojan Horse article) 7 reasons why 3I/ATLAS's high-speed trajectory has military implications - nonsense article on Wion Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS May Be A 10-Billion-Year-Old Time Capsule From An Earlier Age Of The Universe 3I/ATLAS came from mysterious frontier of Early Milky Way? Scientists study interstellar comet's origin, track trajectory, travel speed, age Physicists detect water's ultraviolet fingerprint in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS Asteroid just flew closer to Earth than many satellites, space agencies say The biggest threats to Earth from space Follow us on social: Facebook X (Twitter) Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of a Gold Quill Award, Gold MarCom Award, AVA Digital Award Gold, Silver Davey Award, and Communicator Award of Excellence, and on numerous top 10 podcast lists. PRAGUE TIMES - A city is more than just a location - it's a kaleidoscope of history, places, people and trends. This podcast looks at Prague, in the center of Europe, from a number of perspectives, including what it is now, what is has been and where it's going. It's Prague THEN, Prague NOW, Prague LATER
Caleb Sewell is a former professional footballer, he has played in the best leagues across the world. Recently appointed to the role in Tulsa. Caleb has had a huge impact on the organization. Today we talk about his journey to Tulsa. Spending a lot of his time in Australia before moving to the states pursuing his passion for football. Caleb is a goalkeeper, and one of the best in his day. With years of experience in the administrative role, he is leading FC Tulsa straight towards its first playoff appearance. Huge thank you to our sponsors. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum telling Oklahoma's story through its people since 1927. For more information go to www.oklahomahof.com and for daily updates go to www.instagram.com/oklahomahof The Chickasaw Nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. www.chickasaw.net Dog House OKC - When it comes to furry four-legged care, our 24/7 supervised cage free play and overnight boarding services make The Dog House OKC in Oklahoma City the best place to be, at least, when they're not in their own backyard. With over 6,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor play areas our dog daycare enriches spirit, increases social skills, builds confidence, and offers hours of exercise and stimulation for your dog http://www.thedoghouseokc.com If you're looking for a way to make a real difference, check out Bethany Children's Health Center. They're helping children reach their full potential as a leader in pediatric rehabilitation. They're also building a new Outpatient Center of Excellence — and it's going to be a landmark right on Route 66! Want to learn more or even schedule a tour? Just head to bethanychildrens.org and click on the "Ways to Give" tab. www.bethanychildrens.org #ThisisOklahoma
Caleb Sewell is a former professional footballer, he has played in the best leagues across the world. Recently appointed to the role in Tulsa. Caleb has had a huge impact on the organization. Today we talk about his journey to Tulsa. Spending a lot of his time in Australia before moving to the states pursuing his passion for football. Caleb is a goalkeeper, and one of the best in his day. With years of experience in the administrative role, he is leading FC Tulsa straight towards its first playoff appearance. Huge thank you to our sponsors. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum telling Oklahoma's story through its people since 1927. For more information go to www.oklahomahof.com and for daily updates go to www.instagram.com/oklahomahof The Chickasaw Nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. www.chickasaw.net Dog House OKC - When it comes to furry four-legged care, our 24/7 supervised cage free play and overnight boarding services make The Dog House OKC in Oklahoma City the best place to be, at least, when they're not in their own backyard. With over 6,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor play areas our dog daycare enriches spirit, increases social skills, builds confidence, and offers hours of exercise and stimulation for your dog http://www.thedoghouseokc.com If you're looking for a way to make a real difference, check out Bethany Children's Health Center. They're helping children reach their full potential as a leader in pediatric rehabilitation. They're also building a new Outpatient Center of Excellence — and it's going to be a landmark right on Route 66! Want to learn more or even schedule a tour? Just head to bethanychildrens.org and click on the "Ways to Give" tab. www.bethanychildrens.org #ThisisOklahoma
How do you write the story that only you can tell? How do you remain disciplined when you want to continue to create new and different pieces of art? Or, what if you find yourself on the run from multiversal agents of chaos!? All of these discussion topics and more are shared in the latest episode of The DTALKS Podcast! Today's guest, John Claude Bemis, shares his perspective writing, the highs and the lows, this is an episode you won't want to miss! About John Claude Bemis John Claude Bemis is the award-winning author of six middle-grade novels, a picture book, and the forthcoming Rodeo Hawkins graphic novel series. A former elementary school teacher, John earned his Master's of Education in Literacy from UNC Chapel Hill and taught fourth and fifth grades for thirteen years. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award from UNC-Chapel Hill for his work as an author-presenter in schools and served as North Carolina's Piedmont Laureate for Children's Literature, promoting literacy and the literary arts. A popular instructor and inspiring guide to writers of all ages—kids, teens, and adults— he teaches creative writing workshops and leads retreats around the world. Beyond the creative expression of writing, John is also a sculptural mask-maker, a songwriter, and musician. He lives with his wife and daughter in Hillsborough, North Carolina. About 'Rodeo Hawking & The Daughters of Mayhem Sidney Poblocki is thrilled to learn his destiny is to save the multiverse—until he discovers it's actually his destiny to destroy it—in this fantasy adventure graphic novel! When Sidney Poblocki runs away from his troubled home life, he winds up in a whole new world of trouble. Why are interdimensional assassins after him along with every other kid named Sidney Poblocki throughout the multiverse? Will he ever see his best bud Walt again now that Walt's memory of Sidney has been erased? And what the heck is the deal with Rodeo Hawkins and her ragtag gang of mischief-making girls the Daughters of Mayhem?! They claim they're trying to keep him safe, but Sidney isn't so certain “safe” is even in their vocabulary. As Sidney is swept into a series of misadventures that will change the multiverse forever, one thing is for certain: with Rodeo Hawkins around, his life is about to be filled with a lot more mayhem. Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload. With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale) Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life! At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care. Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com
“When I was in medical school, no one had even heard of mitochondrial disease. Today, every student who graduates here knows what it is and has seen a patient with it,” says Dr. Mary Kay Koenig, director of the Center for the Treatment of Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disease at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School. That remarkable change in awareness has been accompanied by advances in genetic sequencing, the development of clinical guidelines, and the emergence of potential treatments in some forms of mitochondrial disease. In fact, Dr. Koenig's multidisciplinary team at UTHealth's Mitochondrial Center of Excellence has been a key player in clinical trials that may yield the first FDA-approved treatments for it. As you'll learn in this Year of the Zebra conversation with host Michael Carrese, her work in neurodegenerative diseases also includes tuberous sclerosis, where advanced therapies have replaced the need for repeated surgeries, and Leigh Syndrome, which has seen improvements in diagnoses and supportive therapies leading to better quality of life for patients. Tune in as Dr. Koenig reflects on an era of progress in the space, the rewards of balancing research, teaching and patient care, and the need for more clinicians to center listening, humility and honesty in their approach to caring for rare disease patients and their families.Mentioned in this episode:Mitochondrial Center of ExcellenceCenter for the Treatment of Pediatric Neurodegenerative Disease If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast
Welcome back to We Heart Therapy: The EFT Talk Series!
Mission Driven - How To Make Better Decisions - From Former Commanding Officer US Navy SEAL Team TwoGuest:Mike Hayes A Managing Director at Insight Partners * Former Commanding Officer of US Navy SEAL Team TWO* Managing Director, Insight Partners* Author of National Bestseller Mission Driven (distilled nicely in this article)All of Mike's profits from his book sales go to a 501(c)(3) he founded, The 1162 Foundation, which pays off mortgages for Gold Star families – he's paid off 12 widows' mortgages to date.AUMRegulatory assets under management $90B and 600 portfolio managers. Timeless LessonsLeaders Don't need to make the best decision.They need to make sure the best decision gets made. Team, Teammate, SelfAlgin these 3 things – for purpose and elite performance:What gives someone energy?What are they good at?What's good for the business?Best adviceWhenever you are having a hard day, find someone else who's having a harder day and help them. Social Profiles* Instagram @thisis.mikehayes* X @thisismikehayes* LinkedInBioMike Hayes is Managing Director at Insight Partners, a global software investment firm with $90B+ in regulatory assets under management and 800+ portfolio companies across every stage of growth.Prior to Insight, Mike was Chief Operating Officer at VMware, where he led the company's worldwide business operations, their SaaS transition, and the successful acquisition into Broadcom for $94B. Before that, Mike served as Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Operations for Cognizant Technologies, where he ran a $2B P&L for Cognizant's global financial services clients.Mike previously spent four years at Bridgewater Associates, an investment management firm, where he served in Chief of Staff to CEO and COO roles. Prior to Bridgewater, he spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEALs where his career began as one of 19 graduates from a class of 120. Mike served throughout South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, including the conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.His last job in the Navy was the Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO, which included ten months as the Commander of a 2,000-person Special Operations Task Force in southeastern Afghanistan. Before that, Mike was selected as a White House Fellow ('08/'09) and served two years as Director of Defense Policy and Strategy at the National Security Council.In the Bush Administration, Mike was responsible for the START Treaty, where he produced a new proposed START Treaty and flew to Russia for negotiations. In the Obama administration, he led the White House response to President Obama's first major foreign policy showdown — the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia. Prior to the White House Fellowship, Mike served as the Deputy Commander for all Special Operations in Anbar Province, Iraq.Mike holds an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School and received his B.A. from Holy Cross College, where he was an active Big Brother. His military decorations include the Bronze Star for valor in combat in Iraq, a Bronze Star for Afghanistan, and the Defense Superior Service Medal from the White House.Mike is the author of the best-seller Never Enough: A Navy SEAL Commander on Living a Life of Excellence, Agility, and Meaning, and donates all profits to a 501(c)(3) he started that pays off mortgages for Gold Star widows and children.He serves on the board of Immuta, a data governance company, and is the founding board member of the National Medal of Honor Museum. Mike is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, is fluent in German and Spanish, frequently speaks about leadership and elite organizations, and enjoys mentoring others to success.He is a life-long Sox/Pats fan, but most enjoys laughing with his wife, Anita, and their 24-year-old daughter, Maeson.
Excellence in rehab doesn't happen by chance - it's built through education. VAHL shares how ongoing education shapes competence, why professional growth is a journey (not a destination), and how investing in knowledge directly impacts the quality of care that we can offer our patients. Learn more about VAHL: https://vahl.vet/en/ Find out more about the Vet Rehab Summit: https://vetrehabsummit.com/ Learn more about Paw Prosper's special offer: https://pawprosper.com/OPH Learn more about Paw Prosper: https://pawprosper.com/ To learn about Onlinepethealth, watch a free webinar, or join any of our Facebook groups, click here: https://onlinepethealth.com/podcast
Many people confuse excellence with perfection, creating impossible standards in their relationship with God. True excellence isn't about flawless performance but wholehearted devotion to Jesus. When asked about the greatest commandments, Jesus pointed to loving God completely and loving others as ourselves. This excellence involves making Jesus the center of our hearts, surrendering our souls to Him, renewing our minds with Scripture, working wholeheartedly for His glory, and loving others selflessly. God's grace, symbolized throughout Scripture by the number five and ultimately demonstrated through Jesus's five wounds on the cross, empowers us to live with devotion rather than perfection. Excellence that honors God flows from a heart fully committed to Jesus, allowing that love to overflow into every aspect of life. Follow and subscribe to stay updated with our latest content: Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Central Wired Website
Sponsored by Nutrafol X Hello Salon Prohttps://nutrafol.com/stylists/https://www.instagram.com/nutrafol/https://thetease.shop/products/hello-salon-pro-subscription-boxInterview with Aris SingletonAris Singleton, serves as the dynamic CEO at the helm of Thank God It's Natural (tgin®), one of the leading textured hair care brands sold in retailers such as Target, Walmart, Ulta Beauty, Sally Beauty, Walgreens, CVS, and numerous other national and international outlets, as well as online platforms.Her journey with tgin® commenced in its nascent stages back in July 2009. After completing her BA in Finance from Texas Southern University, she rejoined tgin® as a rotational employee in May 2017.As one of the youngest CEOs in the beauty industry, her remarkable achievements haven't gone unnoticed. Aris has graced the pages of esteemed publications such as Rolling Out and The Chicago Defender's Women of Excellence and was recently highlighted as Walmart's SheEO Beauty Disruptor. She continues to grow the brand while honoring the legacy of her late aunt and tgin founder, Chris-Tia Donaldson, who passed away from breast cancer in 2021.Beyond its commercial success, tgin is also deeply committed to community impact. Through the tgin Foundation, the brand supports women battling breast cancer, raises awareness about health disparities, and advocates for early detection, especially among women under 40. Although breast cancer mortality rates have declined overall, African American women still face disproportionately higher death rates. The foundation is working to close that gap.Links:https://tginatural.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqkdNzMCDEwjoMtAHW6Qrp44xuilkortj22HOWtMJcZXNmI-sGghttps://tginatural.com/pages/about https://www.instagram.com/tginatural/ https://www.instagram.com/tginari/ News from TheTease.com:https://www.thetease.com/six-muk-hair-products-that-completely-changed-my-wash-day-routine/https://www.thetease.com/rachel-polycarpe-on-how-to-get-olivia-deans-big-and-bodacious-acl-music-festival-texture/More from TheTease.com:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers)Instagram:
The Lawyer Stories Podcast Episode 240 features Jeff Kimmel, Partner and CEO of Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro (SSKB) in New York. Jeff shares his inspiring journey of integrating business strategy, legal innovation, and client-centered practices while honoring the mentorship of the late Marvin Salenger. He reminds us to go where life takes you, embrace it, and be who you are. SSKB continues to grow through quality over quantity, focusing on serious medical malpractice and personal injury cases that truly make a difference.
In this follow-up episode, Thomas and Kari dive deeper into what true excellence looks like in everyday life, family, and ministry. Learn how to pursue growth without guilt, give your best without losing your peace, and lead with grace instead of pressure.
A sermon from Andy Cantrell. No text available. The post Glory In Excellence and Hope appeared first on Biblical Truths from West Palm Beach church of Christ.