Podcasts about Excellence

What if the thing standing between you and your best business year has nothing to do with your strategy, your niche, or your packages?What if it's five simple daily habits that take less than an hour total, and most service providers are skipping them completely?I ran a 30-day Standards of Excellence Challenge inside Strategist Society at the start of 2026, and y'all, the results completely blew my mind. Students went from zero clients to three clients in 30 days. Others booked their first VIP days. Some revived contracts they thought were dead in the water. And all of it came from five non-negotiable daily habits.I've been doing these habits for two years. I know the Strategist Society members who do them consistently get the best results. But this was the first time we'd ever run a 30-day challenge around them, and now I'm taking you behind the scenes so you can implement them too.These are the Standards of Excellence, and today I'm breaking down all five.In this episode:The episode teaches five simple daily habits (“Standards of Excellence”) that improve mindset, consistency, and business growth.Consistent daily actions matter more than complicated strategies for building a successful business.Daily client conversations and outreach are the primary drivers of predictable revenue growth.Repeating small habits creates identity and mindset shifts that help business owners show up more confidently.Sustainable habits designed for busy service providers produce long-term momentum without burnout.Resources & Links:Ready to scale past $10K months? Learn about Strategist Society: https://thestrategistsociety.comJust getting started as a service provider? https://conversionsforclients.comFollow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/serve-scale-soar/id1477998650Follow Brandi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandimowlesFollow Brandi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brandiandcompany

There's a persistent anxiety among Christian business owners that revolves around an unease about profit. There's a need to justify their work by tacking on something more "spiritual." As if business itself weren't enough. As if serving customers profitably required moral laundering to be acceptable before God. That anxiety reveals a theology problem. And until we fix the theology, we'll keep misunderstanding what Christian excellence in business actually means.

There's a persistent anxiety among Christian business owners that revolves around an unease about profit. There's a need to justify their work by tacking on something more "spiritual." As if business itself weren't enough. As if serving customers profitably required moral laundering to be acceptable before God. That anxiety reveals a theology problem. And until we fix the theology, we'll keep misunderstanding what Christian excellence in business actually means.

Gen. David H. Petraeus is a retired four-star general and former Director of the CIA (2011–2012). In uniform, he led multiple high-profile commands, including the Iraq “surge”, U.S. Central Command, and the NATO/coalition mission in Afghanistan. After government service, he moved into the private sector and is currently Chair of the KKR Global Institute. In the last two years, Petraeus has been one of the most persistent establishment voices arguing the West should increase support for Ukraine rather than manage the war to “avoid escalation.” At the Kyiv Security Forum in February 2025, he argued there was bipartisan U.S. support to keep backing Ukraine, praised Ukraine's battlefield innovation — especially in unmanned systems — and noted it was his fifth trip to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion.----------LINKS:https://www.rusi.org/people/petraeushttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpetraeus/https://www.kkr.com/about/our-people/david-h-petraeushttps://www.centcom.mil/ABOUT-US/LEADERSHIP/Bio-Article-View/Article/904777/david-howell-petraeus/----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtain?Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/siliconcurtain/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqmLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

Let us know what you think! Text us!  Corey Crevier shares his journey from a challenging upbringing to Green Beret service and becoming an author. This conversation explores mental health, family, storytelling, brotherhood, and the importance of purpose beyond military service.Key Topics: • Mental health in Special Forces • Transitioning from military life • Writing as a tool for healing • Family, leadership, and legacy • Veteran community and brotherhoodChapters: 00:00 Meet Corey Crevier: Green Beret and Author 04:51 From Childhood Adversity to Special Forces 10:49 Mental Health and Personal Transformation 14:07 Storytelling and Writing as Therapy 18:17 The Reality of Becoming a Green Beret 21:34 Vulnerability and Leadership 24:34 Strength Through Family and Relationships 27:30 Brotherhood Beyond the Military 30:55 Mental Health and Excellence 33:50 Authentic Conversations That Matter 41:05 Inside a Green Beret's Journey 45:01 War vs. Hollywood Reality 48:12 Emotional Healing Through Vulnerability 51:52 Leadership and Personal Growth 55:30 Writing to Build Legacy 01:01:46 Purpose, Family, and What Comes NextSponsored by: Dr. Mark Gordon & Millennium Health Centers  Get the book Peptides for Health Vol.1 Medical Edition today.  Use code PTH25 for 25% off through March 15  Use code Phase2P for 10% off Millennium products  Available only at MillenniumHealthStore.com PRECISION WELLNESS GROUP  Use code: Security Halt Podcast 25Website: https://www.precisionwellnessgroup.com/  Security Halt Mediahttps://www.securityhaltmedia.com/ Instagram: @securityhaltX: @SecurityHaltTik Tok: @security.halt.podLinkedIn: Deny Caballero Connect with Corey and get a copy of his book Today!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-crevier/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestrawmanprofiler/The Strawman Profiler: https://a.co/d/04kAEcP5 Looking for custom handmade items, military memorabilia, or laser engraving? Contact Eric Gilgenast.Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/haus_gilgenast_woodworks_main/Website: https://www.hausgilgenastwoodworks.com/SOF Heritage Designs Custom belt Buckles. Of the Regiment for the Regiment SOF-HD.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofhdesigns/Support the showProduced by Security Halt Media

https://www.uncommen.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Faith-at-work.mp3 The Office Mission Field: How to Integrate Faith in the Workplace Without Being “That Guy” Quick Answers What holds men back? Fear of being labeled "weird," getting reported to HR, or losing social capital often silences men from sharing their faith in the workplace. Is excellence spiritual? Yes. Your work ethic is your primary witness. You cannot have a sloppy career and a powerful testimony; they are incompatible. Do I have to preach? No. Most workplace evangelism happens through "relational equity"—building genuine friendships first, so you earn the right to speak later. What if I'm not perfect? Perfect people don't need Jesus. Admitting your mistakes and owning your failures is often a more powerful testimony than pretending to have it all together. How do I start? Start small. Pray over your meal. Mention church when asked about your weekend. Let your "faith flag" fly just enough to invite curiosity. The Monday Morning Dilemma We all know "That Guy." You've probably seen him in a movie, or maybe, unfortunately, in the cubicle next to you. He's the guy who turns a request for a stapler into a theological debate. He's the guy who leaves tracts in the breakroom microwave. He's the guy who uses "Christianese" jargon that makes everyone else uncomfortable and frankly, a little annoyed. Because we are so afraid of becoming "That Guy," most of us swing the pendulum entirely to the other side. We go silent. We become "Secret Service Christians." We clock in, keep our heads down, do our work, and clock out, leaving our faith in the workplace completely undistinguishable from the world around us. But as Joshua and TJ discussed on the podcast, this silent approach is just as dangerous as the "weird" approach. Jesus didn't call us to be undercover agents; He called us to be the light of the world. And since most of us spend the vast majority of our waking hours at work, if our light is hidden under a bushel from 9 to 5, we are missing our primary mission field. The challenge for the Uncommon man is to find the middle ground. How do we live out a vibrant, undeniable faith in the workplace that draws people in rather than pushing them away? How do we stop viewing our jobs as just a paycheck and start viewing them as a platform? The Myth of the Secular Job One of the biggest lies men believe is the divide between the "sacred" and the "secular." We think that pastors, missionaries, and worship leaders do "God's work," while the rest of us—accountants, mechanics, sales reps, project managers—just do "regular work." This is unbiblical nonsense. There is no such thing as a secular job for a believer. Everything you do is spiritual because you are spiritual. The Holy Spirit doesn't clock out when you walk into the office. Whether you are preaching a sermon or pouring concrete, Colossians 3:23 applies: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." When you shift your perspective to see your career through the lens of faith in the workplace, the mundane tasks of your day take on eternal significance. That spreadsheet isn't just data; it's a demonstration of integrity. That difficult client meeting isn't just a headache; it's an opportunity to show patience and grace. Joshua made a great point in the episode: We often think evangelism means standing on a desk and shouting repentance. But real, sustainable faith in the workplace often looks much more like quiet excellence. It looks like being the guy who doesn't complain when the project goes sideways. It looks like the boss who takes the blame but shares the credit. It looks like the employee who actually works a full 8 hours when everyone else is scrolling social media. Excellence is Your Apologetic If you want to share your faith in the workplace, you first have to be good at your job. It sounds simple, but it is profound. In a culture of "quiet quitting" and bare-minimum effort, excellence is a disruptor. Think about it. If you are lazy, unreliable, or constantly late, no one cares what you believe about Jesus. In fact, if you are a slacker who talks about God, you are actively doing damage to the Kingdom. You are giving Christ a bad name. Your coworkers will think, "If that's what a Christian is, I don't want any part of it." Competence creates curiosity. When you are excellent at what you do, you earn respect. And when you have respect, you have an audience. People will eventually ask, "Why do you work so hard? Why are you so joyful even when the quarterly numbers are down? Why didn't you panic like everyone else?" That is your open door. That is where faith in the workplace moves from abstract to concrete. You can say, "Honestly, my identity isn't tied to this job. I serve a different Master, and that gives me peace even when things are chaotic." You haven't preached a sermon, but you have planted a seed that only excellence could have cultivated. Relational Equity: Earning the Right to Speak In the podcast, TJ shared a powerful story about working in the design industry in New Orleans, a field often populated by people who live lifestyles very different from a biblical worldview. He didn't walk in on day one and start condemning people or handing out list of grievances. He built relationships. He went to lunch. He got to know them as human beings. This concept is called "relational equity." Think of it like a bank account. Every time you listen to a coworker, help them with a task, ask about their kids, or show genuine care, you are making a deposit. You are building trust. Many men try to make a "withdrawal"—sharing the Gospel or correcting a worldview—before they have made any deposits. That is when you become "That Guy." You are trying to cash a check that is going to bounce because you haven't earned the relational capital to cover it. Faith in the workplace is a long game. It requires patience. It requires you to actually love the people you work with, not just view them as projects to be converted. When your coworkers know that you genuinely care about them, they will be infinitely more open to hearing about what makes you tick. TJ mentioned that when he would go back to work on Monday, and people asked, "What did you do this weekend?", he wouldn't hide it. He would say, "I went to church," or "I served with my community group." He didn't make a big deal out of it, but he didn't scrub it from his life either. Over time, that consistency builds a reputation. People start to associate you with your faith in the workplace naturally. They know who you are. And when a crisis hits—a divorce, a diagnosis, a death in the family—guess whose desk they come to? They come to the guy who has been steady. They come to the guy who has hope. The "Fruit" Check: Do You Look Like the World? Here is the hard truth: You cannot share faith in the workplace if you look, act, and sound exactly like the world. If you are gossiping in the breakroom, you have lost your witness. If you are complaining about the boss behind his back, you have lost your witness. If you are getting drunk at the company happy hour, you have lost your witness. If you are fudging the numbers on your expense report, you have lost your witness. Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them." Your coworkers are fruit inspectors. They are watching you closer than you think. They are waiting to see if your faith is real or if it's just a Sunday morning hobby. Living out faith in the workplace means holding yourself to a higher standard. It means having integrity when no one is watching. It means choosing your words carefully. As the podcast highlighted, this doesn't mean you have to be a prude or judgmental. You can still be fun. You can still joke around. But there is a line. When everyone else is tearing someone down, you stay silent or offer a different perspective. When everyone else is panicking, you bring a calming presence. These small, daily decisions accumulate. They create a distinct aroma of Christ. TJ noted that in the creative field, he worked with many gay colleagues. He didn't affirm everything they did, but he loved them. He treated them with dignity. And because of that, they respected him. They knew he was a Christian. They knew where he stood. But they also knew he wasn't hateful. That balance—truth and love—is the hallmark of mature faith in the workplace. Vulnerability vs. Perfection One of the reasons men hesitate to share their faith is the fear of hypocrisy. We think, "I'm not perfect. I lose my temper. I make mistakes. Who am I to talk about Jesus?" But here is the secret: Your perfection is not the point. In fact, pretending to be perfect pushes people away because everyone knows it's a lie. No one relates to a plastic saint. Real faith in the workplace is displayed most powerfully in how you handle failure. When you screw up—and you will—do you blame others? Do you make excuses? Or do you own it? Imagine the impact of a leader who says, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. I apologize. Will you forgive me?" That is counter-cultural. That is Uncommon. The world teaches us to cover our tracks and shift blame. The Gospel teaches us to confess and seek restoration. When you apologize, you are demonstrating the Gospel. You are showing that you are a sinner in need of grace, just like everyone else. This vulnerability makes your faith in the workplace accessible. It shows that Christianity isn't about being better than everyone else; it's about being forgiven. Practical Steps to Integrate Faith in the Workplace So, how do we move from theory to action? You don't need to quit your job and become a missionary. You just need to be intentional. Here are five practical ways to start exercising your faith in the workplace this week: 1.

A brilliant pre-med student. 521 MCAT — 98th percentile. 4.0 GPA. Published research. Primary author. Rejected by ten medical schools. If that résumé isn't good enough, what is?On The Real Story, I examine how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies are reshaping medical school admissions. Across the country, schools describe “holistic review,” equity mandates, and diversity goals as central to their mission. Academic metrics are no longer the primary standard and that merit is being subordinated to ideology.We break down AAMC data, LCME accreditation shifts, pass/fail grading trends, and looming physician shortages. Medicine is not a sociology lab. When you're on an operating table, credentials matter. Excellence is not negotiable. Thank you to our sponsor: Preserve Gold - text "ASK PHIL" to 50505 and go to https://DrPhilGold.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 2768 - Vinnie Tortorich speaks with retired LSU gymnastics legend D-D Breaux and "The Fighting Tiger" documentary, building excellence, and living on the bayou. https://vinnietortorich.com/2026/02/building-excellence-d-d-breaux-episode-2768 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Pure Vitamin Club Pure Coffee Club NSNG® Foods VILLA CAPPELLI EAT HAPPY KITCHEN YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - @FitnessConfidential Podcast Vinnie's workout videos are available to purchase! Choose from a 2-day, 4-day, or 6-day workout–or buy all three at a discount! TO PURCHASE VINNIE'S WORKOUT VIDEOS, CLICK THIS LINK: https://vinnietortorich.com/workout Building Excellence SEC fans can dive into the fascinating story of LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux in the latest SEC Storied. The documentary is "The Fighting Tiger," and was created by filmmakers Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern Winters. The nature of Donaldsonville bayou names and nicknames. (2:00) ESPN and the SEC Network are running a show about LSU and D-D Breaux's illustrious career. (6:30) D-D wants to encourage others give back to the community she grew up in. (13:00) They share memories from their hometown and what a vibrant community it once was before a certain industrial plant moved in. Vinnie has admired D-D and her career for years. (24:00) How did D-D get involved with Louisiana State University (LSU)? (30:00) There was minimal equipment and resources to start. When she started, gymnastics was treated as an intramural club sport. Title 9 helped improve some of that. They discuss how funding has affected college recruitment. (43:00) NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness and refers to how a college student earns money and is controlled by being a "brand." There are many instances where it works well, but it has evolved into something much larger. They discuss some of the ESPN documentary about D-D's career, "The Fighting Tiger." D-D discusses the progression of her career and how she has worked and been grateful for its growth. She is now "retired", but only kind of. (1:07:00) Did you miss it?: The NSNG® VIP group closed, but you can get onto the waitlist for next time by signing up at https://www.nsngvip.com/join. A New Sponsor Jaspr Air Scrubbers has a discount code, VINNIE, that gets you $300 off for a limited time. Jaspr offers a lifetime warranty. Go to Jaspr.co for more information or to purchase. (1:05:00) You can book a consultation with Vinnie to get guidance on your goals. https://vinnietortorich.com/phone-consultation-2/ More News Serena has added some of her clothing suggestions and beauty product suggestions to Vinnie's Amazon Recommended Products link. Self Care, Beauty, and Grooming Products that Actually Work! https://www.amazon.com/shop/vinnietortorich/list/3GPVU29UHHPMY?ref_=aipsflist Don't forget to check out Serena Scott Thomas on Days of Our Lives on the Peacock channel. "Dirty Keto" is available on Amazon! You can purchase or rent it here.https://amzn.to/4d9agj1 Please make sure to watch, rate, and review it! Eat Happy Italian, Anna's next cookbook, is available! You can go to https://eathappyitalian.com You can order it from Vinnie's Book Club. https://amzn.to/3ucIXm Anna's recipes are in her cookbooks, on her website, and on Substack —they will spice up your day! https://annavocino.substack.com/ PURCHASE DIRTY KETO (2024) The documentary launched in August 2024! Order it TODAY! This is Vinnie's fourth documentary in just over five years. Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries Then, please share my fact-based, health-focused documentary series with your friends and family. Additionally, the more views it receives, the better it ranks, so please watch it again with a new friend! REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! PURCHASE BEYOND IMPOSSIBLE (2022) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries FAT: A DOCUMENTARY 2 (2021) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries FAT: A DOCUMENTARY (2019) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries

In this episode of The Brave Enough Show, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt and Dr. Sunny Smith discuss:  Being lonely in a room full of people  How to tear down the walls we build  Not believing everything we think  "We are meant to live in community with others. When we are vulnerable, authentic, and truthful, we open ourselves up for real connection."  -Dr. Sunny Smith  Dr. Sunny Smith is the Founder and CEO of Empowering Women Physicians, the most effective physician coaching program documented to date. Dr Smith brings her background as an awarded Medical Educator, Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health, and long history of being an advocate for medical student and physician wellness into the coaching space. She leads a comprehensive and collaborative coaching program, podcast, retreats, and Facebook group that seek to change the culture of medicine. Dr. Smith is the recipient of multiple teaching awards, including Humanism in Medicine, Excellence in Teaching, and Outstanding Community Leader award. Her work has been published in many peer-reviewed journals, including JAMA.  She has been in the top 1-2% of female entrepreneurs in the US for the past 6 years and has been featured in Forbes, Inc 5000, and Entrepreneur Magazine.    Brave Balance is about transforming your professional and personal life in a safe, small group setting. You will grow deep in self-awareness, set clear boundaries, and develop strong time management skills to create the work-life balance you desperately need (and deserve). Change your mindset to let unhealthy behaviors go, and create long-lasting work-life control so you can live well on YOUR terms. Brave Enough 2026 CME Conference For ten years, women have gathered at the Brave Enough Conference to step away from the demands of medicine and into a space of renewal. This anniversary year, we celebrate a decade of empowerment and sisterhood—ten years of lifting each other up, reigniting purpose, and remembering that none of us has to do this alone. Join us September 24-27, 2026 at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa. Follow Brave Enough:   WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN Join The Table, Brave Enough's community. The ONLY professional membership group that meets both the professional and personal needs of high-achieving women.

Assuming we already understand the parameters of “good citizenship” (obey the law; do no harm to others), how to decide what constitutes a “well-informed” citizen? Tom Schnaubelt, executive director of Hoover's Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI) initiative, and Checker Finn, a Hoover senior fellow and chair of Hoover's Working Group on Civics and American Citizenship, introduce Hoover's pioneering “Civic Profile” which launches in early March – a three-part test that assesses civics-related values, knowledge, and engagement. Also discussed: how to keep the civics “push” going past the coming American semi-quincentennial in early July (is a decades-long “civics renaissance” feasible?), plus other RAI endeavors currently underway at Hoover (national civics fellows, a networking Alliance for Civics in the Academy, “People, Politics and Places” fellowships that bring rural undergrad and grad students to the Stanford University campus, plus Hoover's USA @ 250 lecture series on ideas, institutions, and civic traditions that have sustained America freedom dating back to the republic's founding).   Recorded on February 25, 2026.  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Chester E. Finn Jr. is the Volker Senior Fellow (adjunct) at the Hoover Institution and President Emeritus of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. At Hoover, he chairs the Working Group on Civics and American Citizenship within the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions. He previously led Hoover's Task Force on K-12 Education and now participates in the Hoover Education Success Initiative, as much of his career has focused on reforming primary and secondary schooling in the US. That included serving as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education and Maryland's Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, as well as Assistant US Secretary of Education and chair of the National Assessment Governing Board. Thomas Schnaubelt is the Executive Director of the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions at the Hoover Institution. Prior to his role at the Hoover Institution, Schnaubelt served as a Lecturer and Senior Advisor on Civic Education at the Deliberative Democracy Lab, within the Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Schnaubelt came to Stanford in 2009 and has served as the Associate Vice Provost for Education, the Executive Director of the Haas Center for Public Service, and a Resident Fellow in Branner Hall, where he and his wife oversaw the development and implementation of a living-learning community focused on public service and civic engagement. In 2015, Schnaubelt coordinated the launch of Cardinal Service, a university wide effort to elevate and expand public service as a distinctive feature of the Stanford experience, and he has launched and led several national initiatives focused on democratic engagement and social change education. Schnaubelt received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan, and Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Bill Whalen, the Virginia Hobbs Carpenter Distinguished Policy Fellow in Journalism and a Hoover Institution research fellow since 1999, writes and comments on campaigns, elections, and governance with an emphasis on California and America's political landscapes. Whalen writes on politics and current events for various national publications, as well as Hoover's California On Your Mind web channel. Whalen hosts Hoover's Matters of Policy & Politics podcast and serves as the moderator of Hoover's GoodFellows broadcast exploring history, economics, and geopolitical dynamics. ABOUT THE SERIES Matters of Policy & Politics, a podcast from the Hoover Institution, examines the direction of federal, state, and local leadership and elections, with an occasional examination of national security and geopolitical concerns, all featuring insightful analysis provided by Hoover Institution scholars and guests. To join our newsletter and be the first to tune into the next episode, visit Matters of Policy & Politics.

Send a text In this episode, I continue exploring the powerful quote from Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis: “I won with all of my strengths and I won with all of my weaknesses.”After reflecting on The Confident Mind last week, I wanted to dig deeper into the idea that excellence does not require perfection. I explore how perfectionism can quietly become a control strategy, what we're actually hoping perfection will give us, and how we can pursue excellence — in motherhood, habits, faith, and even something as simple as getting dressed — without demanding flawlessness from ourselves. For shownotes and transcripts go to www.findingthefloor.com/ep249I would love to hear from you! You can reach me at camille@findingthefloor.com or dm @findingthefloor on instagram. Thanks for listening!!Thanks to Seth Johnson for my intro and outro original music. I love it so much!

Diving into a short story on Franklin D. Roosevelt and the power a mission can have. -----“When you're a person who always has a goal, who always has a mission, the less time you have to think, ‘How do I feel today? Am I depressed today? Do I feel sorry for myself? Have I become a victim? Oh my god, I feel so bad about myself.' I don't have time for this crap. A lot of times, it's people who don't work enough. When you're busy all the time, you don't have time to think about this stuff.” - Arnold Schwarzenegger-----Sources: Leadership - Doris Kearns Goodwin -----Check out my books below.Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence

The House of Gourmet: “A Dangerous Game…” (Special Agent Isabella Ashford Crime) by Monique Gliozzi https://www.amazon.com/House-Gourmet-Dangerous-Special-Isabella/dp/1834185025 Moniquegliozzi.com A series of gruesome murders and a case of relentless stalking leaves detectives baffled. Haunted by a mounting body count and a stalled investigation, the NYPD is forced to enlist assistance from an FBI operative with a unique gift. Determined to find answers for a grieving widow and put an end to the terror inflicted on the upper echelon of fine cuisine, Special Agent Isabella Ashford finds herself in a race against time to hunt down a cold-blooded sadistic killer. About the author Born in Dublin, Dr Monique Gliozzi is a graduate of the University of Western Australia medical school, with a keen interest in psychiatry and forensic sciences. She works as a psychiatrist in Perth, with ties to the UWA School of Psychiatry where she held a role as a senior clinical lecturer. In 2016, her love for educating others granted her a nomination for the Excellence in Teaching Award. Monique is also a passionate aviator, training at the Royal Aeroclub of Western Australia, where she obtained a commercial pilot license. Following this, she completed her instructor rating, enjoying work as a senior flight instructor on weekends. Monique has rekindled her passion for writing starting with the fictional psychological thriller Foresight, followed by Hunted, ghostly encounters in Vestige, and many more, all gaining recognition at the London, Miami, Los Angeles, and NYC book festivals. She draws on her life experience and love for travel to generate fast-paced novellas, catering for those who like to ready but have little time. Get ready for yet another suspenseful tale with her latest publication, The House of Gourmet.

In episode 241, Coffey talks with Neil Katz news and media items from the past month, including who HR is “for”, managing AI agents, and mental-health-related gaps in employment.  They discuss HR's responsibility to conduct impartial workplace investigations based on evidence; the misconception that HR exists primarily as employee advocates; aligning HR strategy with revenue, margin, and organizational mission; the decline of transactional HR through automation and outsourcing; fractional HR leadership for small and midsize businesses; managing autonomous AI agents within organizational structures; developing AI operational literacy and new leadership competencies; redefining KPIs in an AI-enabled workplace; and best practices for addressing employment gaps during hiring.  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP241  Media mentioned in this podcast:   If HR Isn't There to Help You, Who Is HR For? — Dallas Employment Lawyer Blog — February 9, 2026 To Thrive in the AI Era, Companies Need Agent Managers How do explain a gap year taken for mental health. : r/jobsearchhacks  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Neil Katz is the founder and CEO of Exceptional HR Solutions, a leading provider of fractional HR leadership for small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S. With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of people and business strategy, Neil leads a national team of 20+ seasoned HR partners dedicated to helping companies scale, evolve, and thrive. His firm delivers end-to-end HR solutions—from talent acquisition and organizational development to compliance, culture, and leadership alignment.  Under Neil's leadership, Exceptional HR Solutions has become a go-to resource for growth-focused companies in industries ranging from retail and healthcare to manufacturing, technology, and professional services. He is widely recognized for building agile, scalable HR infrastructures that empower leadership, strengthen teams, and deliver measurable business impact. While his primary focus is on growing Exceptional HR Solutions, Neil also serves selectively as an executive advisor, helping founders, CEOs, and leadership teams navigate strategic and organizational change. He holds an MBA from Amberton University, a BA in Business Administration from Texas Lutheran University, and advanced training in executive coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is SHRM-certified and respected for his strategic insight and people-first leadership style. Neil is a frequent guest on industry podcasts and a sought-after speaker at conferences and webinars, where he shares practical insights on fractional leadership, scalable HR strategies, and the evolving role of human resources in high-growth environments.  Outside of his professional work, Neil serves on the board of Hope International, a Dallas-based adoption agency, and previously served on the board of directors at Halo Senior Care, a for-profit business focused on elder care. He has also served with nonprofit organizations such as Gift of Adoption, reflecting his deep commitment to service and community.  Neil Katz can be reached at  https://exceptionalhrsolutions.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-hr-solutions https://www.facebook.com/exceptionalhrS https://www.instagram.com/exceptional_hr_solutions_ https://twitter.com/exceptional_hrs https://www.youtube.com/@ExceptionalHRSolutions  About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: Understand how HR can balance legal compliance with business performance and employee trust. Identify emerging le...

Send a textVeteran wealth advisor Kip Kolson, founder of Family Wealth Leadership, brings decades of insight to this episode on safeguarding generational wealth. In a world where 70% of wealth is lost by the second generation and 90% by the third, Kip reveals practical tools to reverse that trend.He shares five advanced family office strategies — from philanthropic impact investing and private placement life insurance to long-term leveraged capital structures — all designed to retain wealth inside the family and foster financial leadership in the next generation.Whether you're a founder, heir, or family office manager, Kip's framework helps you turn a high-net-worth family into a high-functioning enterprise.https://familyoffices.com/

HFTV gives their final thoughts and ranking on the penultimate season of TFTC.

Interview recorded - 19th of February, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming on Barry Eichengreen. Barry is a renowned economist and Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1987. He is also the author of many books, including the upcoming book “Money Beyond Borders: Global Currencies from Croesus to Crypto”During our conversation we spoke about his thoughts on the economy, the K-shaped economy, geopolitical shift, move away from the US dollar, what it means for the future and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction1:08 - Overview of the economy2:18 - K-shaped economy3:41 - Geopolitical shift6:13 - Europe becoming a world power?9:23 - US currency12:53 - China be trusted?14:58 - Precious metals movements17:09 - Next reserve currencies?19:58 - US Dollar devaluing21:47 - Bifurcating currency world23:56 - Influence for writing the book?25:58 - Any surprises?28:00 - One message to takeaway?Barry Eichengreen is George C. Pardee & Helen N. Pardee Chair and Distinguished Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1987. He is a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research (Cambridge, Massachusetts) and Research Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (London, England). In 1997-98 he was Senior Policy Advisor at the International Monetary Fund. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (class of 1997). Professor Eichengreen is the convener of the Bellagio Group of academics and economic officials and chair of the Academic Advisory Committee of the Peterson Institute of International Economics. He has held Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellowships and has been a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (Palo Alto) and the Institute for Advanced Study (Berlin). He is a regular monthly columnist for Project Syndicate. His books include The Populist Temptation: Economic Grievance and Political Reaction in the Modern Era (2018), How Global Currencies Work: Past, Present, and Future, with Livia Chitu and Arnaud Mehl, (2017), The Korean Economy: From a Miraculous Past to a Sustainable Future (Harvard East Asian Monographs) with Wonhyuk Lim, Yung Chul Park and Dwight H. Perkins, (2015), Renminbi Internationalization: Achievements, Prospects, and Challenges, co-edited with Masahiro Kawai, (2015), Hall of Mirrors: The Great Depression, The Great Recession, and the Uses-and Misuses-of History, (2015). He was awarded the Economic History Association's Jonathan R.T. Hughes Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2002 and the University of California at Berkeley Social Science Division's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2004. He is also the recipient of a doctor honoris causa from the American University in Paris.Barry Eichengreen - Website - https://eml.berkeley.edu/~eichengr/X - https://x.com/B_EichengreenBook - https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691280530/money-beyond-borders?_glWTFinance - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Today on the Invest In Her podcast, host Catherine Gray interviews Julie Cole — a dynamic entrepreneur, recovered lawyer, and mom of six who traded in her legal career to co-found Mabel's Labels, the award-winning company that grew from a basement startup into a multi-million dollar industry leader. As Senior Director of Mabel's Labels, Julie has helped revolutionize the durable label market while becoming a recognized voice in entrepreneurship, parenting, and women's leadership. She is an award-winning businesswoman, best-selling author, and in-demand speaker and media contributor, with appearances on major outlets including NBC's The Today Show, CNN, and The Huffington Post. Her honors include the RBC Women of Influence Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  In this engaging conversation, Julie shares the real story behind building Mabel's Labels from the ground up — including the early scrappy days of bootstrapping, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and scaling a consumer product company in a competitive market. She and Catherine discuss the power of partnership, the importance of knowing your customer intimately, and how community-driven marketing helped fuel their growth long before social media became mainstream. Julie offers candid insights into navigating risk, exiting a business successfully, and what it truly means to lead as a woman in today's economy. With humor, honesty, and practical wisdom, this episode delivers inspiration and actionable takeaways for founders at every stage. https://www.showherthemoneymovie.com www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels   #InvestInHer #FinancialWellness #WomenInFinance #FinancialEmpowerment #MoneyMindset #InclusiveFinance #FintechForGood #BehavioralEconomics #WealthBuilding #FinancialHealth #EmpowerWomen #MoneyMatters #SheAngelInvestors #InvestInYourself #FinancialFreedom  

Tiela Chalmers, the recipient of PLI's second Victor J. Rubino Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Training, talks with Alicia Aiken about her impactful career, including her contributions to California's disaster response infrastructure, her widely used poverty workshop, and her years of teaching with PLI. Explore our Pro Bono programs and resources Learn about our Pro Bono Memberships and Scholarships for qualified organizations and individuals Please note: CLE is not offered for listening to this podcast, and the views and opinions expressed within represent those of the speakers and not necessarily those of PLI.

Balanced Ballerinas is a podcast where classical ballet meets modern wellbeing. Hosted by Georgia — ballet teacher, studio owner, and founder of Balanced Ballerinas — this podcast explores ballet not just as a technique, but as a lifelong practice for discipline, creativity, balance, and self-trust. With over a decade of experience teaching classical ballet, Georgia shares thoughtful solo reflections and conversations with dancers, teachers, and creatives who view movement as a tool for personal growth, leadership, and sustainable living. Episodes explore topics such as: Ballet technique and embodied practice Wellbeing, nervous system regulation, and resilience Teaching, learning, and studio leadership Creativity, discipline, and the ballet of becoming Balanced Ballerinas is for adult dancers, teachers, studio owners, and anyone drawn to ballet as a pathway to a more grounded, balanced life. Connect beyond the podcast: Instagram: @thebalancedballerina + @balancedballerinas Substack: https://substack.com/@thebalancedballerina YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBalancedBallerina Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebalancedballerina Thank you for being here — and for being part of this evolving community.

EPISODE 157 | Bohemian Books: Gigas, Voynich & Soyga Some very old books have an air of mystery and intrigue about them. Partly, that's because they are literally hundreds of years old, and partly because of the weird things they contain.  Today, we'll take a look at three, all of which have a connection to the Czech Republic and Prague: the biggest book in the world, the Codex Gigas (also known as the Devil's Bible and which features heavily [no pun intended] in Dan Brown's latest schlock fest), the utterly baffling Voynich Manuscript, which is not written in any recognizable language; and the mysterious Book of Soyga, which disappeared for nearly 400 years, and some say that if you can decipher the final puzzles in the book, you will die. 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 02:11 - The Codex Gigas - That's a big book, contents, legend of origin, Sweden gets it, defenestrations, the Sedlec Bone Church, The Secret of Secrets 11:00 - The Voynich Manuscript - WTF is this thing?, ownership relay, who maybe wrote it, what maybe it says, aspects of Voynichese, obscure languages, steganography, glossolalia, outsider art, a hoax, radiocarbon dating, those who have claimed decipherment, ciphers, people see what they want to, goropism, the Sun Language Theory, recent videos about Alphafold and protein folding, maybe a work of proto-fiction 43:32 - The Book of Soyga - John Dee, Edward Kelley, cryptic puzzles, 400 years lost, found in 1994 Music by Fanette Ronjat More Info The Codex Gigas – Devil's Bible on the National Library of Sweden website The Devil's Bible: My Deep Dive into the Weirdest Book I've Ever Seen Devil's Bible: Codex Gigas in Klementinum on Prague.net from 2007 loan Inside the ‘Devil's Bible,' the Largest Medieval Manuscript Ever Made on ArtNet EPISODE 109 | What's in a Name? The Shakespeare Authorship Debate with Scott Jackson EPISODE 135 | On Shakey Ground: More Shakespeare Authorship with Scott Jackson What Shakespeare Can Teach Us About Communicating with Jennifer King on the Digital Signage Done Right podcast Yale Library webpage on the Voynich Manuscript, with images The riddle of the Voynich Manuscript on the BBC Unsolved Mystery: The Voynich Manuscript An entire website about the Voynich Manuscript The Voynich Manuscript revealed: five things you probably didn't know about the Medieval masterpiece on The Art Newspaper THE VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT - "The Most Mysterious Manuscript in the World" - NSA report (PDF) Another NSA report on titled The Voynich Manuscript: An Elegant Enigma written in 1978 (PDF) A PDF of the actual Voynich Manuscript Headcanon: The Voynich Manuscript actually doesn't contain any cohesive text and is just a prank done by someone in the past on r/medieval A Scholar Has Cracked the Mystery of the Voynich Manuscript, the Encrypted Medieval Artwork That Defeated Codebreakers for Years on ArtNet Article on the Voynich manuscript on Brazilian website Revista Pesquisa Fapesp The Voynich Wiki How an Emperor Trapped a Con Man - blog on Edward kelley Magic and Mystery: Decoding the Secrets of the Book of Soyga on Discovery The Book of Soyga translated by Jane Kupin (PDF) Decoding the Book of Soyga: A Living Project of Esoteric Discovery The Book of Soyga | Literary History on House of Cadmus Soyga: the book that kills on Blog of Wonders Holy Conversations: The Impact of the Mysterious Book of Soyga on Ancient Origins Book of Soyga on the Voynich Wiki 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 

What does it take to lead a university for over two decades, and still love the work?In this special farewell episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with President Satish Tripathi of the University at Buffalo as he reflects on a remarkable 22-year legacy of leadership, innovation, and transformation. With retirement on the horizon, President Tripathi shares candid reflections on what's changed, what he's proudest of, and what it really takes to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change.From moving a medical school to revitalizing a city, to pioneering national research in AI and drug discovery, Tripathi's tenure is marked by bold vision and patient execution. But beyond the milestones, he shares what shaped his leadership, from growing up in a small Indian village to navigating crises like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also offers unfiltered advice for aspiring higher ed leaders, and a surprising answer about what he's looking forward to most after stepping down.Key Takeaways:→ Big change requires long-term vision: Transformational projects like relocating UB's medical school or launching NSF research centers took years, and a relentless commitment to mission.→ Naivete can be a secret weapon: Not knowing how hard something will be might just be the key to starting it at all.→ Legacy is defined by others: True leadership means focusing on impact, not recognition.→ Leadership evolves: Tripathi now leads with more listening, humility, and trust in his team than when he began.→ Great leadership isn't about the next job, it's about doing the current one with excellence.“If you're always thinking about the next job, you're not doing your current job well. Excellence now is what leads you forward.” – President Satish TripathiIf this conversation inspired you, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more wisdom-filled episodes, and take a moment to journal: what long-term impact are you building today?Learn more about the UIA by visiting:WebsiteLinkedInTwitterYouTubeFacebookThis week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

In this episode, Dr. Phil Mintz, Director of NC State University Industry Extension Services, talks with Bogdan Ionescu, co-owner of OGC Stained Glass (Ordway Glass Company), a husband-and-wife–run stained glass studio based in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Bogdan walks us through how he and his wife Nicole built a thriving, award-winning business out of their garage—balancing art, family life, and purpose along the way. OGC Stained Glass was named the 2025 winner of the North Carolina Chamber's “Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina,” a remarkable achievement for a two-person operation focused entirely on hand-cut, one-of-a-kind stained glass art. This episode offers an honest and inspiring look at what it takes to build something meaningful—one piece of glass at a time. LINKS NCMEP | IES | Ordway Glass Company About the Guest Bogdan Ionescu is the co-owner of OGC Stained Glass, located in Fuquay-Varina, NC, alongside his wife Nicole—the primary artist behind the glass. Together, they create contemporary and traditional stained glass works that preserve heritage while pushing the craft forward.

In this call, Mike emphasizes the importance of building a strong team of professionals for real estate transactions. They advise setting high expectations for oneself and one's team to consistently deliver exceptional customer service, as measured by client compliments. Mike encourages participants to leverage the vendor day to evaluate and potentially upgrade their professional team. They suggest reading 'In Search of Wow' to further understand this approach. The call concludes with a challenge to actively seek and maintain a 'wow' experience for clients.

Blood cancers are the fifth most common group of cancers in the UK. But for a small number of people, the condition may have an inherited genetic cause.  In this episode of Behind the Genes, we explore the role of genetics in blood cancer, and what an inherited risk means for patients and their families. Our guests explain what blood cancer is, how inherited factors can increase risk, and why multidisciplinary teamwork is key to supporting families. They also look ahead to future advances, from whole genome sequencing to prevention trials.  Our host Amanda Pichini, Clinical Director at Genomics England, is joined by:  Dr Katie Snape, Principal Clinician at Genomics England and Consultant Cancer Geneticist  Bev Speight, Principal Genetic Counsellor Dr Sarah Westbury, Consultant Haematologist “By doing whole genome sequencing we get all of the information about all of the changes that might have happened, we know whether any are inherited, but importantly, we're certain of the ones that have just occurred in the cancer cells and can help guide us with their treatment.”  You can download the transcript or read it below. Amanda: Hello, and welcome to Behind the Genes.  Sarah: When we think about blood cancers, it's a whole range of different conditions and when you talk to patients who are affected with blood cancers or are living with them, their experiences are often really different from one another, depending in part on what kind of blood cancer they have.  We also know that blood cancers affect not just the cell numbers but also the way that those cells function, and so the range of symptoms that people can get is really variable.  Amanda: I am your host, Amanda Pichini, clinical director at Genomics England and genetic counsellor.  Today I'll be joined by Dr Katie Snape, principal clinician at Genomics England and a consultant cancer geneticist in London, Bev Speight, a principal genetic counsellor in Cambridge, and Dr Sarah Westbury, and haematologist from Bristol.  They'll be talking about blood cancers and the inherited factors that increase blood cancer risk.  If you enjoy this episode, we'd love your support, so please subscribe, rate and share on your favourite podcast app.  Let's get started.  Thanks to everyone for joining us today on this podcast, we're delighted to have so many experts in the room to talk to us about blood cancer.  I'd love to start with each of you introducing yourself and telling us and the listeners a little bit about your role, so, Sarah, could we start with you?  Sarah: Sure.  It's great to be here.  My name's Sarah Westbury, and I'm a consultant haematologist who works down in Bristol.  And my interest in this area is I'm a diagnostic haematologist so I work in the laboratories here in the hospitals, helping to make a diagnosis of blood cancer for people who are affected with these conditions.  And I also look after patients in clinic who have different forms of blood cancer, but particularly looking after families who have an inherited predisposition to developing blood cancer.  And in the other half of my job, I work as a researcher at the University of Bristol.  And in that part of my job, I'm interested in understanding the genetic basis of how blood counts are controlled and some of the factors that lead to loss of control of those normal blood counts and how the bone marrow functions and works.  Amanda: Thank you.  That's really interesting, we'll be looking forward to hearing more about your experience.  Bev, we'll come to you next.  Bev: Thank you.  Hello everyone, I'm Bev Speight, I'm a genetic counsellor, and I work at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.  I work with families with hereditary cancers in the clinical genetic service, and for the last six years or so have been focused on hereditary blood cancers.  So we've been helping our haematologists across the region to do genetic tests and interpret the results, and then in my clinic seeing some of the onward referrals that come to clinical genetics after a hereditary cause for blood cancer is found.  I'm also part of the Council for the UK Cancer Genetics Group.  Amanda: Thank you, Bev.  And Katie, over to you.  Katie: Hello, I'm Katie Snape.  I'm a genetics doctor and I am a specialist in inherited cancer.  So we look after anyone who might have an increased chance of developing cancer in their lifetime due to genetic factors.  I am the chair of the UK Cancer Genetics Group, so that's a national organisation to try and improve the quality of care and care pathways for people with inherited cancer risk in the UK.  And I have a special interest in inherited blood cancers through my work at King's College Hospital, I work in the haematology medicine service there seeing individuals who might have or have been diagnosed as having an inherited component to their blood cancers.  So it's great to be here.  Amanda: Excellent, thank you for those introductions.  I'd like to then dive right in and understand a little bit more about blood cancers.  So, Sarah, could you tell us a little bit more about what blood cancer is?  Sarah: Yes, sure.  The term blood cancer is used to describe a whole range of different kinds of cancer, all of which affect some part of the blood or sometimes parts of the immune system that kind of gets represented as part of the blood.  So it's really describing a big group of conditions rather than one single kind of condition or entity itself.  But like any form of cancer, we understand blood cancers as being conditions where because cells as part of the blood system are rapidly dividing and normally doing so under really well controlled circumstances to produce just the right balance of blood cells and just the right number of those cells.  In a cancer affecting those cells, we see that that loss of control results in either too many of one type of blood cell being produced or too few, or that balance being lost.  And like any form of cancer, this is because of genetic changes that happen in individual cells that then go on to grow in a way that is not controlled and well regulated.    And because when we talk about blood cancer we're talking about such a wide range of different kinds of cancer affecting different cells within that blood system, there's a really wide range of different conditions.  From conditions that we might think of as being like a form of acute leukaemia, so something that produces often symptoms and signs in patients very quickly and they can often feel quite unwell quite soon and then get picked up with having this condition because they present feeling unwell.  All the way to chronic and slow growing cancers that can be found completely by chance and serendipity when blood tests are done for other reasons.  So when we think about blood cancers, it's a whole range of different conditions.  And when you talk to patients who are affected with blood cancers or are living with them, their experiences are often really different from one another, depending in part on what kind of blood cancer they have.  We also know that blood cancers affect not just the cell numbers, but also the way that those cells function.  And so the range of symptoms that people can get is really variable, again depending on which of the blood cells are really affected by that.  And it may be that during the course of some of the conversations we have today in this podcast, we'll perhaps focus on particular kinds of blood cancer.  But like any cancer, it's that disruption of the normal growth and development of cells that means that the number and function of those blood cells has been disrupted in some way.  Amanda: Thank you so much for explaining that, Sarah, that's really helpful.  In terms of across the range of blood cancers, is that something that people can get at any age, and how common is it?  Sarah: It does depend, as we were sort of talking about that really wide range of different disorders that make up that group of blood cancers.  And individually each of those blood cancers is reasonably uncommon compared to cancers that we might typically think of, like breast cancer or colon cancer.  But actually, if you group blood cancers together, they make up quite a sizeable proportion, and they're actually as a group the fifth most common form of cancer that's diagnosed in people in the UK.  In adults in particular we think that perhaps people diagnosed with leukaemia would make up about 3% of the new diagnosis of cancer made in any year.  Amanda: So coming to you, Bev, when we talk about inherited blood cancers, what are the differences between those and blood cancers more generally?    Bev: So at point of diagnosis, it may not be obvious that somebody with a new blood cancer diagnosis is one of the minority of people in that big group as Sarah has described, who has an inherited cause.  So it may not be immediately obvious.  However, in the last few years certainly, it's become more and more routine to do quite broad genetic testing.  Often on a bone marrow sample or blood, because that is done looking for genetic changes, which are part of all cancer and we find within cancer cells, that can help with treatment planning.  It can also find that there is an inherited cause to that new blood cancer diagnosis.  Sometimes that might not be clear cut, sometimes that might be inferred from the genetic tests that are done on the blood or the bone marrow. And the proportion of blood cancers in that huge group which do have an inherited cause is fairly small, the actual proportion will depend a bit on the age of the patient and the specific subtype of blood cancer.  Amanda: Okay, and could you talk us through how some of those inherited genetic factors can increase the chance of a person developing blood cancer, how does that work?  Bev: Yes, so if we know that there is an inherited cause for blood cancer, then what we mean by that most of the time is that a change in a single gene has been found.  And that there is enough research evidence and enough known about that specific change in that gene to say to the person who's been diagnosed, there is at least in part or perhaps a full explanation for why that blood cancer has developed and this could be shared in the family.  So at that point it's information that not only has implications for the person in treatment, but also their relatives.  Depending on what sort of gene alteration it is and which gene it's found in, there are different inheritance patterns, and that changes the sorts of information that we give about risks for relatives.  So for lots of the genetic tests that detect an inherited cause in adults when they're diagnosed, that's most often what we would call an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.  Essentially that means you only need to have one gene alteration which is in that person's normal non-cancerous DNA inherited from a parent and can be passed onto a child.  And for people in the family who have inherited this one genetic change, then they are likely to be at increased risk of developing blood cancer.  Sometimes with particularly the children's blood cancers, if an inherited cause is found, it can be a different pattern, which we call autosomal recessive.  And that's where two gene changes are found and one has been inherited from each parent.  So parents might be what we call carriers and have one each just by chance, both have been passed onto a child who has developed blood cancer either in childhood or possibly later on, and that's the pattern we call autosomal recessive.  There are other inheritance patterns too.  The third one that we come across being X-linked, and so that has a gender component.  That's where there's a change on the X chromosome, women have two X's, and men have one X and one Y.  So sometimes with the X-linked conditions we're more likely to see the clinical signs of a condition in boys and men because they've only got that one X chromosome.  But those are less common in the context of talking about hereditary blood cancers.  Amanda: Thank you.  That's really helpful to understand.  So it sounds like you're saying that these forms of blood cancers that are caused by a single gene are relatively rare.  And also by having one of these changes, it's not a given that that person will develop a blood cancer, but it makes them more likely, and how likely that is might depend on the inheritance pattern or the type of condition.  Bev: That's right.  So what we're saying is it can give either part of full explanation for the blood cancer diagnosis, and it could confer a risk to family members, but that doesn't mean they definitely will develop it.  We're talking about an increased risk compared to the population risk.  Amanda: Right.  I can imagine for those families to some extent it might be helpful to know the underlying reason why they had that blood cancer, but again, that's just a small proportion.  So, Katie, could I come to you next?  What about the rest of all the blood cancers, how do they occur?  Katie: Yes, thanks, Amanda.  So most blood cancers will occur just by chance.  We also know that there are some environmental factors that can increase the risk of blood cancers, so, for example, serious radiation exposure, something like that.  What Bev has described is where there is this sort of quite rare condition where there is a kind of single gene that's really important for the blood cells in terms of keeping those control mechanisms that Sarah described.  And that's not working properly, which has increased the risk of a blood cancer.  But we also sometimes see some families where there is more blood cancer, or the same type of blood cancer in that family than we might expect by chance.  We think that's probably not due to a single high risk genetic factor, but might be due to kind of multiple lower risk genetic factors that are sort of shared by close family members and can add up together to increase the risk a little bit.  And we call that familial risk or polygenic risk.  We don't have a test for that at the moment.  We wouldn't offer usually any extra screening or testing to those families, but we would just suggest obviously family members are aware of any signs of symptoms of blood cancers and seek any advice if they're concerned.  But, you know, the majority of blood cancers are not due to genetic factors, and it's sort of environmental or chance or bad luck. Amanda: Okay, so it's clear that obviously blood cancer is almost an oversimplification, within that category there's so many different types, so many ways that it could happen in a person.  So, Bev, if we're dealing with that type of blood cancer that is inherited or has some heritability, can you tell us more about what that means for the family?  What kind of impacts do you see that having for them?  Bev: Yes, of course.  So clearly this is another layer of information that's often coming at a family during a time where somebody is often recently diagnosed with blood cancer of one sort or another and is having to take in a lot of information about treatment and all of the uncertainty and anxiety that goes with that.  So for this minority of patients and families where there is new information about an inherited cause, that needs conveying in a timely but sensitive way, bearing in mind what else is happening.  And for some people it can come as a major shock and really an additional burden at that time.  I think the reaction to that will of course depend on lots of factors.  And what we also see is that this question about a new cancer diagnosis of any sort, including blood cancers, can generate the question in people's mind, particularly if they've got children, about does this change the risk for relatives?  So sometimes this new information that, actually, there is an inherited cause is an answer to a question that families have already got.  And that might be because of what Katie's described as familial clustering, there might already have been this known history in the family. So sometimes this information can feed into that and actually be quite a helpful answer.  But it's quite normal for families to feel quite mixed about this and for different family members to have a different approach to it.  When there's the offer of what we would call predictive testing, if we found a change in a single gene in somebody with blood cancer which we're saying is a hereditary cause for that, that might open the door for relatives to access predictive testing.  I.e., the opportunity to discuss and possibly take up a genetic test for themselves when they haven't had cancer themselves, but there's an opportunity to try and quantify whether or not they're at increased risk.  We know in families the uptake of those kinds of tests is different, and a lot of it is to do with timing and the way people respond to this in families might depend on their response to the cancer diagnosis in their relative, and of course what else is going on in their life at the time.  This aspect for the family is where clinical genetic services come in, because these initial tests in the person with blood cancer are done in their haematology/oncology setting, and normally the results about an inherited cause has been found are conveyed through that service.  That's when a referral to clinical genetics happens.  And in our specialist service we're addressing those additional concerns for the family which arise because of this diagnosis. Amanda: Thanks, Bev, for explaining that.  Sarah, coming back to you.  Could you tell me then if someone has an inherited blood cancer does it also change the way that the patient is treated? Sarah: Well, it certainly can do, and again, it does depend a little bit on the specific circumstances of that particular person and the form of inherited blood cancer predisposition that they have.  But certainly if we think about treatment as a whole, then for a lot of people it does affect the way that we might recommend treatments or look after them and their families.  So, for example, for some patients who have a diagnosis of an inherited form of blood cancer, we know that some treatments might be more or less effective for their particular set of circumstances.  And so that can sometimes influence the specific treatment recommendations that we would make, particularly thinking about, for example, the risks that the cancer might come back again after it's been treated.  Or thinking about whether or not some of the typical drug regimes that might be used might be perhaps more likely to cause them side effects or problems with tolerating that treatment.  So it can certainly make some changes in that respect. For some people, to be fair a minority of people with blood cancers, they may need a stem cell transplant as part of their treatment to hopefully cure them of their blood cancer.  And this as I say is a treatment that's required for a minority of patients as a whole who have a diagnosis of a blood cancer.  But for those people who have got an inherited predisposition and who might be recommended a stem cell transplant as part of their treatment, then knowing about a familial risk for this condition can also be really important.  For making sure that if a family member is being considered as a donor for example that we're being really careful to make sure that we're not choosing a donor that might also be affected by the same underlying blood cancer predisposition.  Because this can obviously cause problems for the person that's receiving the stem cells if it turns out that the person they're receiving them from actually has the same inherited condition as them.  So in that respect knowing about the underlying predisposition and genetic cause for their cancer can be helpful.  But in a more sort of general sense, yes, the other thing that it can have a big difference for is that some of these inherited cancer predispositions and syndromes also have other health conditions associated with them.  So it might be that that genetic diagnosis predisposes somebody not only to a form of blood cancer but to other health conditions as well.  And so actually knowing about that diagnosis can help their haematologist then make sure that they're linked in with the right other medical teams to make sure that those other health conditions are identified if they're present and taken care of.  And then I think really coming back to what Bev has already touched on, there's the sort of bigger picture of just how people are looked after in their own right but also as part of their family unit.  And making sure that they're given the right information and advice about their health, but also thinking about other family members.  And particularly for younger patients who perhaps either are just starting their own families or for whom that's not yet a consideration, making sure that they've got the information to understand what might be relevant for future family members, if that makes sense.  So it's not necessarily true to say that for every individual patient knowing that there's an inherited blood cancer present will necessarily directly affect the way that the treatment is offered.  But you can see that as a part of a bigger picture for a lot of patients, it will make a difference to their care as a whole.  Amanda: And you can really see how the impact is very sort of multigenerational and is going to affect people at all ages and stages of their life, so that's really interesting.  Katie, Bev spoke a little earlier about the fact that there are genetic tests that can help tell us if blood cancer is inherited.  Could you tell us more about what the tests involve, and some of your experience taking families through this?  Katie: There's sort of two main different ways that we might identify somebody has an inherited cause for their blood cancer through testing.  So traditionally what has happened, as Bev and Sarah sort of discussed before, is that when a person is diagnosed with a blood cancer, we either take a sample of their blood or bone marrow.  To try and look at what are the changes within those cells that have driven that cell to become a cancer cell and have driven this blood cancer to develop.  And a lot of the time, as we've said, it's not inherited, it's not genetic, so they're what we call acquired changes, they're changes that have just happened in the bone marrow or to the blood cells that have caused that kind of particular cell to become a cancer cell.  And it's really important that we look at those because that can help both diagnose the blood cancer, it can give us information about how serious that blood cancer might be, and it can also help us guide our treatments and therapies.  And so if we do those testings, they're primarily done within haematology for those sort of diagnostic or prognostic or treatment purposes.  We do sometimes see then a change that looks a bit suspicious that it might be inherited for various reason.  And if we see something that is in the cancer and it looks like there's a potential it could be inherited, we would go on and do a second test.  So usually because we can't do a blood test because the cancer's in the blood, we would take a skin biopsy.  And then we would look and see, well, is this change also present in the skin?  And if it is, then that indicates that that change is in all of the cells of the body, because it's in both the blood cancer and it's in the skin, and therefore it's likely to be inherited.  So that's one thing that we do.  And I think that that can be quite challenging for patients.  Because they go in to have a test for their blood cancer and then suddenly were being told, “Well, actually, we've also found something that might be inherited,” and it is something then that other members of the family might have.  And as Sarah said, potentially that means that even if your relative was offering to be a bone marrow donor for you, they might not be able to if they also carry the same thing.  And so that can be quite tricky just in terms of making sure that we're guiding the patient and their family members through that process.  And then thinking about the work that Genomics England does, particularly with whole genome sequencing, and this is particularly offered for children and young adults in the paediatric setting.  But I think we're also increasingly, as we progress we'll perhaps talk about this a bit, moving towards whole genome sequencing for adult blood cancers more routinely as well, that that is offered as a sort of standard of care.  And what whole genome sequencing is, is it is looking at the entire genetic instruction manual in both the blood cancer cells and in the cells that we're born with, to look at the inherited or germline genome as well.  And the reason that we look at both the cancer cells and the inherited or germline genome is because what we're trying to understand is firstly, are there any inherited changes that have led to the blood cancer developing?  But also, what are the changes that have just occurred in the cancer cells that are going to help us to diagnose and treat that blood cancer?  So by doing whole genome sequencing we get all of the information about all of the changes that might have happened, we know whether any are inherited, but importantly, we're certain of the ones that have just occurred in the cancer cells and can help guide us with their treatment.  And so, again, when we're talking to patients, we have to explain to them that we're going to be looking at their entire genetic information.  And what's interesting about that is it might find things that are not only relevant to blood cancer, but very rarely other findings, incidental findings as well, or we might find things that we don't know about.  But I think certainly that's something that patients often feel very comfortable with having because it gives them the maximum amount of information.  Amanda: Thanks, Katie.  So it really sounds like there's a lot of advancements that are being made in genetic technology which potentially brings a lot of new things for you and Bev as genetic specialists, but also for you, Sarah, as a haematology specialist.  What does that kind of change for you, and I assume it's really important then for you all to be working together as a multidisciplinary team?  Katie: Yes, I mean, I think for clinical genetics, we were not involved in sort of haematology pathways for a really long time, and the haematologists are absolute experts in the genomic factors that drive blood cancers.  And certainly in my practice, it's really only been as the technology advanced that we really started finding more and more of these inherited factors, particularly in the adult setting.  Because I think in the paediatric and childhood setting, the haematologists again have been managing those conditions very well for years.  And I think there's places that we really interface and we really need to work together as a multidisciplinary team, understanding the genetic information, really understanding when something that we've seen in the blood cancer or the bone marrow could be inherited.  Do we need to check that?  What should that pathway look like?  But I think as you've said, a lot of these are actually really quite new conditions, particularly in the adult setting.  And we don't yet 100% know why do some people get blood cancer and some people don't when they have the same inherited factor.  What's the actual risk?  Are there any other factors modifying it?  What makes some people progress to develop a blood cancer and some people not?  And for that we really need to work together to try and gather the data and sort of capture people that have these inherited changes.  And hopefully develop a system and an infrastructure that we can follow it long-term and get a lot of information about long-term outcomes, both for individuals with cancer but also their families.  And also from looking at doing population studies.  Because I think we know that lots of people in the general population might carry some of these inherited changes and never develop a blood cancer as a result of this, certainly ones that seem a bit lower risk.  So we really need to work together to understand all of that.  But I'd be really interested in Sarah's views on that as well.  Sarah: Yes, sure.  So I think, as you say, Katie, haematologists have got a long history of understanding and interpreting genetic findings in the sort of acquired or somatic changes that we know are what occurs in some blood cells to drive the cancer forming in the first place. But this kind of newer integration of that with the germline testing is something that is becoming much more mainstream in haematology now, and I think something that people have had to sort of acquire new skills in this area to interpret that alongside.  I think as you say, that multidisciplinary working, where we're able to benefit from both sides of our expertise and knowledge and put that together is so valuable, particularly in those circumstances where there is some uncertainty.  And I think as a haematologist, one of the things that I really find a benefit both personally and professionally to help me navigate these tricky questions but that I also think patients benefit from is your expertise and ability to have those really quite tricky conversations with people who are not haematology patients, if that makes sense.  So they may be the relatives of patients who have a haematological diagnosis for example.  Who at the moment are entirely well and were just going about their daily business, and they're now told that they may or may not potentially have this inherited predisposition.  And I think that as haematologists, we're very used to dealing with potentially quite poorly patients, potentially quite scared patients who find themselves, you know, the recipient of all this quite difficult information.  But we're not necessarily so skilled and experienced at holding conversations with people who don't yet have that diagnosis.  And I think that that's a really rich area of mutual aid to one another as haematologists and genetic doctors, if that makes sense.  And I think your points about understanding actually the real risks and the nature history, as we would call it, of what happens to people who carry these variants that predispose them to blood cancers is something that we can probably only work out by working together.  And of course, working with the patients and families that are affected by these conditions so that hopefully for both sides in the future we'll be able to give much better advice to patients and their families.  Amanda: So, Bev, from your experience and as a genetic counsellor, what do you feel are the important things that patients and their families should know as they're going through this testing and diagnosis process?  Bev: The things I think families where there is a hereditary cause found should know is that with this new information comes a whole new referral to a dedicated service.  Who want to help patients and their family members at risk to navigate this, to adjust the information, and to make decisions that fit with them, about whether to have testing and the timing of that.  As we already said, where there is a hereditary blood cancer risk, that risk in family members is rarely 100%.  Depending on what the hereditary predisposition is in the family, we may be able to quantify that risk, sometimes we can't always.  And the other thing to know which links to that is that there is growing interest in research in this area.  That will really help us to improve care in terms of, for example, being able to quantify the risk of developing a blood cancer in relatives who are perfectly well that may have inherited these predisposition gene changes.  Or, for example, the other obvious place where we want to make improvements in terms of some sort of evidence-based surveillance for those people who want to find out that they have inherited the genetic change and are at increased risk.  Amanda: Thank you.  And overall there's been a lot I think we've been covering today that's probably going to be very new to many people.  Why do you think it's important to raise public awareness of inherited blood cancers?  Bev: There have been lots of public awareness campaigns about other cancers, as listeners probably can think about, in terms of for women checking their breasts and breast cancer awareness.  And perhaps there's been a bit less of that in general for blood cancers.  As we've already talked about, clinical genetics were not so involved in all of the genetic testing happening in blood cancers.  Because it wasn't so long ago in the history of how we think about inherited cancers in general that our suspicion of inherited causes in leukaemia was much lower than it is now.  So I think that awareness in the public probably will take a bit more effort to bring up.  But clearly public awareness about blood cancers in general, symptom awareness, and the fact that occasionally it can be something that is running in the family, clearly better public awareness of that means that people are empowered to ask the right questions.  And the questions that might already be in some way going through their minds of their haematology doctors or perhaps of their GP, if they've got a family history but are not affected themselves.  Amanda: Wonderful.  So, looking now to the future, Katie, what genomic advancements are we seeing or are we likely to see that could impact on the care of people with an increased genetic risk of blood cancer?  Katie: We touched a little bit, I think that whole genome sequencing is expanding.  And as we can turn that test around and get it back more quickly that might become more commonplace.  And I know Genomics England and the UK Haemato-oncology Network of Excellence have been doing a lot of work in that area.  We are very lucky now we have a national inherited cancer predisposition register that NHS England have set up with the National Disease Registration Service.  So that will enable us to capture individuals that have these sort of rarer but single gene disorders or conditions that increase the chance of developing blood cancers.  And that will enable us to do that sort of longer-term follow-up and get really more information.  We've touched on this already but I think there's really amazing research happening, why do some people develop blood cancers and some people don't, even though everyone carries the same underlying change that increases the risk?  And then I think really importantly, we're seeing now in some conditions, clinical trials of certain medications to see if that can actually prevent people who carry these inherited changes from progressing to developing blood cancers.  So I think all of those things are really exciting and will give us lots more information that we can then help patients and their families, particularly the sort of treatment and trials aspects.  Amanda: And, Sarah, on treatment and trials, how do think genomics might improve the treatment, but also the diagnosis of people with inherited blood cancers in the future?  Sarah: I think, you know, hopefully when we are able to accrue more information about these underlying genetic predispositions and how they actually then affect people's likelihood of developing blood cancer, we'll be able to build on what we have so far to make that just feel much more robust and evidence based.  And it feels like at the moment there are many of us struggling to bring together small threads of evidence that have been accrued in the UK but in other centres around the world that are also interested in understanding this inherited blood cancer risk.  In such a way that we can actually give patients and their families more clear information and advice about what that means to them.  And I think that in terms of the diagnosis of blood cancer, I think this is something that Bev alluded to.  If we could better understand who might benefit for example from having regular screening or monitoring blood tests performed to see whether we can detect an emerging blood cancer.  Versus identifying those people who actually, the chances of them developing a blood cancer are so small that doing those tests is likely to do them more harm than good.  Perhaps by just causing them to be anxious or have other sort of unintended consequences of that kind of testing.  So understanding something more about that natural history, as we've already alluded to, will hopefully improve our ability to go from the diagnosis of the predisposition condition to working out how to then diagnose the blood cancer on the back of that.  And with time, I think as Katie has alluded to, thinking about more specific treatments and more tailored treatments to the individual predisposition condition and the blood cancer.  So whether it's that you're intervening before the blood cancer has developed to try and reduce that happening, or whether it's that you're then treating the blood cancer after it's developed.  Understanding the genetic basis and what it is that causes that transition would be really helpful and I think that is something that will come but will take time.  And I think on a sort of national level what I would really hope to see over time is that we're able to use that improvement in evidence base to then be able to bring together perhaps more defined patient pathways.  So that if you're diagnosed with a particular condition, one of these leukaemia predisposition syndromes or another form of blood cancer predisposition, there's a recognised strategy and set of steps that should be taken for all of those patients.  To make sure that they're getting equity of care and make sure that everything is being done in a way that feels safe, sensible and appropriate across the country.  While still then enabling us to give really personalised treatment to that individual person and what that diagnosis means for them.  But I think until we've gathered more information and more evidence we are just in the process of trying to do that to then bring about those changes.   Amanda: If you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love your support.  So please subscribe, share and rate us on wherever you listen to your podcasts.  I've been your host, Amanda Pichini.  This podcast was produced by Deanna Barac and edited by Bill Griffin at Ventoux Digital.  Thank you for listening. 

Colin and I just spent two nights at Bolt Farm Treehouse and I'll be honest… I can't turn the hospitality side of my brain off. If you're in the short-term rental or boutique hotel world, you already know their story. It's talked about a lot. But this episode isn't about the hype. It's about what it actually feels like to check in as a guest at a high-end brand everyone admires. What surprised me. What impressed me. What made me pause. Because here's the truth: not everything was perfect. There was a last-minute room switch. An "all-inclusive" experience that wasn't fully inclusive for dietary needs. A few small design and communication hiccups. And yet… it still worked. We still left feeling connected. Rested. Thought about. Why? Because the welcome was strong. The intention was clear. The storytelling was emotional. From the curated in-room upgrades to the cocktail hour experience to the way they invited guests into something bigger than just a place to sleep, there were so many moments that reminded me what hospitality is actually about. In this episode, I break down: ➡️What they did exceptionally well ➡️Where clarity and alignment could have been stronger ➡️What "all-inclusive" really needs to mean ➡️How guest flow impacts shared spaces like wellness areas ➡️Why appealing to all five senses changes everything And the biggest takeaway? Your property does not have to be flawless to be unforgettable. Excellence isn't perfection. It's thoughtfulness. It's alignment. It's making sure the experience you promise is the experience your guest actually walks into. If you're building a micro-resort, refining your STR, or dreaming about something bigger, this one will challenge you in the best way. Let's get into it. Connect with Steph: @theweberco Apply to work with us: theweberco.com   

In this focused segment from Episode #1161 of The Clay Edwards Show, host Clay Edwards celebrates American excellence on Testosterone Tuesday with Team USA Hockey's gold medal triumph over Canada—their first since the iconic 1980 Miracle on Ice. Clay spotlights the badassery of players like Jack Hughes, who posed with the gold medal in his mouth despite broken teeth (not from biting it, but hey, it's a great story for the grandkids). He shares the epic locker room vibes, including Kash Patel chugging beers, a congratulatory phone call from President Trump praising the team's performance, and an invite to the State of the Union address—complete with promises of medals and fun at the White House (women's team included, boss's orders).   Clay plays clips of players like Matthew Tkachuk calling Trump the "ultimate president" for his support of all U.S. athletes, and Jack Hughes reflecting on leaving USA Hockey in a better place for future stars, proving he's no Democrat with his "leave it better than you found it" mindset. Though Clay admits he didn't watch a second of the Olympics—labeling them the "transgender LGBTQ rainbow supremacy Olympics"—he still roots for America, arguing nothing upsets the rainbow supremacists more than MAGA support. He revels in the liberal meltdowns, from media outrage over the Trump call and locker room patriotism to headlines like the Huffington Post questioning if the American flag turns people off.   The women's team also snagged gold (though they're skipping the White House), and Clay notes the sweeter taste of victory amid the backlash. Tune in for Clay's pumped-up, unfiltered take on patriotic wins, liberal hypocrisy, and why this gold slays the "North Mexico" dragon!

In Episode #1161 of The Clay Edwards Show, host Clay Edwards returns from a brief mental detox, energized and ready to dive into a packed discussion. Kicking things off with American excellence on Testosterone Tuesday, Clay celebrates Team USA Hockey's gold medal win over Canada—their first since the 1980 Miracle on Ice. He highlights the badassery of players like Jack Hughes, who sported a broken tooth while clinching victory, and the epic locker room call from President Trump, complete with an invite to the State of the Union. Clay revels in the liberal meltdowns over the patriotic vibes and shares clips of the team's hero's welcome.   Shifting gears, Clay unleashes on California Governor Gavin Newsom's Atlanta speech, where Newsom code-switches to relate to a black audience by admitting his dyslexia and low SAT score, essentially implying shared struggles. Clay calls it out as condescending and plays clips of other Democrats' gaffes, including Joe Biden equating poor kids to white kids, Hillary Clinton's hot sauce pandering, and Governor Kathy Hochul claiming Bronx kids don't know what computers are. He argues these reveal the left's low expectations and double standards.   Clay also touches on personal anecdotes, like his pet peeves with restaurant sides, a shoutout to retiring wrestler AJ Styles, and frustration with politics invading sports. Wrapping up, he critiques the GOP's cult-like push for school choice in Kentucky despite voter rejection, and drops boxing news: a broke Floyd Mayweather is set for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao on Netflix in September.   Tune in for unfiltered takes on culture wars, patriotism, and hypocrisy—Clay holds nothing back!  

Show Notes:In this episode of Stories with Traction, Matt Zaun sits down with performance coach, speaker, and former pro tennis player Jeff Salzenstein to unpack what it means to “own your zone,” a powerful framework designed to help high achievers transform stress into strength and pressure into excellence without burning out.Jeff breaks down his three-zone model (body, mind, heart), explains why recovery is the true foundation of sustained performance, and shares practical “micro-resets” leaders can use immediately. They also explore why real change is rare without accountability and why high performers must be willing to challenge cultural norms to protect their energy, health, and longevity.

Riya Grover, CEO and co founder of Sequence, breaks down what “good CEO” actually looks like when the job is messy, fast, and high stakes. This is a practical conversation about building excellence through people, clarity, and direction, not through heroics or micromanagement. Riya runs a revenue automation platform for finance teams, helping companies automate order to cash, billing, invoicing, accounts receivable, and revenue recognition. From that seat, she shares a founder level view on leadership that is direct, repeatable, and built for real operating constraints.Key takeaways• The CEO's highest leverage job is building the bench, your company becomes the team you assemble• High performance culture comes from a clear bar, fast decisions when it is not met, and leaders who own outcomes• Great teams do not need more policies, they need context, goals, trade offs, and clarity• Separate reversible decisions from irreversible ones, move fast on two way doors, slow down on one way doors• Hiring signal to watch, motivation and hunger for the stretch challenge often beats the “done it before” resumeTimestamped highlights00:32 What Sequence does, why order to cash is still painfully manual01:48 The CEO role is less about functions, more about direction and execution03:23 Excellence starts with talent density, do not compromise on the bar06:10 Why companies win, direction plus distribution, and the Figma example11:01 Getting real feedback as a leader, how to reduce hierarchy and increase ownership14:39 “They need clarity,” decision frameworks over micromanagement18:01 The hidden damage of the founder weighing in on every micro decision20:53 Hiring underrated talent, motivation, ambiguity tolerance, and the stretch role24:38 Why the CEO should invest time in hiring, the leverage math is obviousA line worth keepingThey do not need policies, they need clarity. Pro tips you can steal• Promote leaders who have done the job and set the pace, it earns trust and improves decision quality• Give teams context and constraints, then treat your input like any other input• Use the door test, reversible decisions get speed and delegation, irreversible ones get more diligence• In hiring, look for motivation plus clear thinking, then bet on aptitude over the perfect backgroundCall to actionIf this one helped you think more clearly about leadership and hiring, follow the show and share the episode with one operator who is building under pressure. New conversations drop with different guests and different problems, so you always have something useful to steal.

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Dawa, the owner of Unbound Archery, to explore the craftsmanship behind his high-quality archery strings. Nick shares the thrilling story of his recent hunting success, where he took down an impressive 186-inch buck last season. Tune in for insights into the world of archery and the dedication it takes to achieve such remarkable feats. Podcast brought to you by: Sportsmen's empire  Asio : SEBH for 15% off https://asiogear.com/ Bowtique: SEBHP https://thebowtiquellc.com/ G5 Outdoors https://www.g5outdoors.com/ Prime Archery https://www.g5prime.com/ Dialed Archery https://dialedarchery.com/ Moultrie https://www.moultrie.com/ BHL https://bowhuntingleague.com/ Bohning Archery SEBHP2025 for 20% off https://www.bohning.com/ Scrape doctor SEBH10 for 10%  https://scrapedoctor.com/ Victory Archery  https://www.victoryarchery.com/ Catalyst archery Catalyst Archery LLC SEBH10 for 10% off Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this deep‑dive conversation, Dr. Krista Kostroman and Dr. Richard Horowitz explore what may be one of the most comprehensive frameworks for understanding chronic disease today: Dr. Horowitz's 16‑point MSIDS model (Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome).Dr. Richard Horowitz is an internationally recognized physician practicing in Hyde Park, NY. He is an award-winning author of two bestselling books on Lyme disease and chronic illness, and co-author of the 2018 HHS Tick-borne Disease Working Group report to Congress. He has received humanitarian awards from the Turn the Corner Foundation and Project Lyme, has appeared on numerous local and national media outlets—including the Today show and Fox News, for his work on Lyme disease and COVID-19—and is now providing novel solutions for our climate emergency.Across 40+ years and 13,000+ chronically ill patients, Dr. Horowitz has repeatedly seen that chronic illness is never caused by just one thing. Instead, it's the collision of infections, toxins, gut disruption, hormonal imbalance, immune dysregulation, and more. Together, they break down:Why the “one cause, one cure” medical model no longer fits modern chronic diseaseHow inflammation is the central biological event behind most conditionsWhy the same 16 factors appear across Lyme disease, long‑COVID, Alzheimer's, autoimmune disease, mood disorders, metabolic disorders, and beyondThe role of genes and epigenetics in both illness and healingWhy younger and younger people now present with high inflammation markersHow we can meaningfully reverse disease trajectories — including cognitive declineWhat a future “Chronic Disease Center of Excellence” could look likeAnd why patient advocacy is reshaping the medical system more than ever beforeIf you wish to learn more from Dr. Richard Horowitz, check out the following links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drrichardhorowitz/Book Website: https://cangetbetter.com/ending-chronic-illness/Contact him at medical@hvhac.com______________________________________________________Keep yourself up to date on The DNA Talks Podcast! Follow our socials below:The DNA Talks Podcast Instagram: @dnatalkspodcastThe DNA Company Instagram: @thednacoThe DNA Company's Official Tiktok Account: @thednaco3Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this communication is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

Summary:In this week's conversation, we discuss various watch-related topics, including personal experiences, recent trips, and the latest releases from brands like Casio, Rolex, and Grand Seiko. We delve into the intricacies of watch certifications, collaborations, and the challenges faced by brands like Swatch Group. The discussion also touches on auction insights and rumors surrounding Rolex discontinuations, providing a comprehensive overview of the current watch landscape.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Watch Talk03:00 Exploring Watch Brands and Experiences06:00 Diving into G-Shock and Casio Watches08:59 The Appeal of the Rolex Explorer11:58 Limited Editions and Collaborations in Watchmaking15:03 Comparing New Releases and Innovations20:19 The Importance of the First 15 Minutes21:41 Design Changes in the Green 15 Watch23:03 Branding and Quality of Christopher Ward Watches24:59 Pricing and Value of Limited Edition Watches26:16 Return Policies and Movement Guarantees28:32 Custom Features of the SW 300 Movement30:19 Collaboration Insights: Adrian Barker and Christopher Ward32:10 Introduction of Excellence Chronometer Certification36:12 Comparing COSC and Excellence Standards40:05 Magnetic Resistance and Household Appliances43:01 The Evolution of Quartz Movements46:55 Swatch Group's Corporate Challenges51:02 Brand Identity and Market Positioning56:58 The Future of Iconic Watch Models01:01:13 Auction Insights and Limited EditionsGive us a follow, and feel free to reach out to us on Instagram: @lumeplottersOr… leave us an audio comment using the link below, and we may just play it in an upcoming episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/lumeplotters

On this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth talks with Brian Pallasch, EVP and CEO of IIBEC, about what to expect at the 2026 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show. Together, they explore the key education topics shaping building enclosure excellence, the importance of industry‑wide collaboration and how the event supports risk management, building performance and professional development. From insightful educational programming to a dynamic trade show floor, this conversation outlines why IIBEC 2026 is a must‑attend event for roofing and building enclosure professionals looking to stay ahead and connected in the industry.    Learn more at RoofersCoffeeShop.com!  https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/     Are you a contractor looking for resources? Become an R-Club Member today! https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rcs-club-sign-up     Sign up for the Week in Roofing!  https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/sign-up     Follow Us!   https://www.facebook.com/rooferscoffeeshop/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/rooferscoffeeshop-com   https://x.com/RoofCoffeeShop   https://www.instagram.com/rooferscoffeeshop/   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQTC5U3FL9M-_wcRiEEyvw   https://www.pinterest.com/rcscom/   https://www.tiktok.com/@rooferscoffeeshop   https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rss     #IIBEC #RoofersCoffeeShop #MetalCoffeeShop #AskARoofer #CoatingsCoffeeShop #RoofingProfessionals #RoofingContractors #RoofingIndustry 

Send a textIn this episode of Let's Talk About Pools, host Lauren Broom sits down with Adam Katchmarchi, CEO of Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), to discuss the vision, purpose, and impact of the PHTA Center of Excellence.Adam shares how the Center of Excellence is designed to elevate education, standardization, and professional development across the pool and hot tub industry. From technical training and certifications to research, safety initiatives, and workforce development, this initiative is focused on strengthening the future of pool professionals at every level.

In this second installment of our three-part series on ⁠⁠Cyber Coalition 2025⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠, host of ⁠⁠⁠T-Minus⁠⁠⁠ Space Daily and CyberWire Producer ⁠⁠⁠Liz Stokes,⁠⁠ take listeners inside a single day at NATO's cyber headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia — focusing on the human side of cyber defense. Hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and led by NATO Allied Command Transformation, Cyber Coalition is a defensive-only exercise built around collaboration, coordination, and information sharing across allied nations. This episode highlights how that plays out in practice, from legal teams working through cross-border policy questions to military defenders coordinating with civilian infrastructure partners inside NATO's secure cyber range. In case you missed the first episode of this three part series, check it out ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Todd Miller, a journalist and author specializing in the militarization of the U.S. border, argues that the current expansion of CBP and ICE is a bipartisan trend spanning decades, rather than a phenomenon exclusive to any single administration. He describes a growing “border industrial complex” where private companies profit from surveillance technologies like robotic dogs, AI towers, and biometric databases. These advanced tools and “extra-constitutional powers” are increasingly moving from the borderlands into the interior of the United States, impacting major cities and American citizens. He warns of a transitioning police state where digital walls and mass detention facilities are becoming normalized global standards. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Listen Ad-Free for $4.99 a Month or $49.99 a Year! Apple Subscriptions https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/geopolitics-empire/id1003465597 Supercast https://geopoliticsandempire.supercast.com ***Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics American Gold Exchange https://www.amergold.com/geopolitics easyDNS (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://easydns.com Escape The Technocracy (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics Outbound Mexico https://outboundmx.com PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis https://societates-civis.com StartMail https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=ngu4nzr Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites The Border Chronicle https://www.theborderchronicle.com X https://x.com/memomiller About Todd Miller Todd Miller has researched and written about border issues for more than two decades, the last 10 as an independent journalist and writer. He is a longtime resident of Tucson, Arizona, but also spent many years living and working in Oaxaca, Mexico, and grew up in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls region (yes, a long-suffering Bills fan), staring across the U.S. border into Canada. His work has appeared in The New York Times, TomDispatch, The Nation, The San Francisco Chronicle, In These Times, Guernica, and Al Jazeera English, among others. Todd has authored four books: Build Bridges, Not Walls: A Journey to a World without Borders (City Lights, 2021); Empire of Borders: The Expansion of the U.S. Border around the World (Verso, 2019); Border Patrol Nation: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Homeland Security (City Lights, 2014); and Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration and Homeland Security (City Lights, 2017), which was awarded the 2018 Izzy Award for Excellence in Independent Journalism. He's a contributing editor on border issues for NACLA Report on the Americas. He's also a Scorpio, which at least partially explains the logo. *Podcast intro music used with permission is from the song “The Queens Jig” by the fantastic “Musicke & Mirth” from their album “Music for Two Lyra Viols”: http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

In this episode, Dan Collard, Co Founder of Healthcare Plus Solutions Group, shares how “rewiring excellence” helps leaders drive meaningful change through practical, incremental improvements, with a focus on workforce retention, emotional onboarding, and early engagement to reduce turnover and strengthen organizational performance.This episode is sponsored by Healthcare Plus Solutions Group.

In this second installment of our three-part series on ⁠⁠Cyber Coalition 2025⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Maria Varmazis⁠⁠⁠, host of ⁠⁠⁠T-Minus⁠⁠⁠ Space Daily and CyberWire Producer ⁠⁠⁠Liz Stokes,⁠⁠ take listeners inside a single day at NATO's cyber headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia — focusing on the human side of cyber defense. Hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and led by NATO Allied Command Transformation, Cyber Coalition is a defensive-only exercise built around collaboration, coordination, and information sharing across allied nations. This episode highlights how that plays out in practice, from legal teams working through cross-border policy questions to military defenders coordinating with civilian infrastructure partners inside NATO's secure cyber range. In case you missed the first episode of this three part series, check it out ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the SleepTech Talk Awards 2025, where we honor the leaders, innovators, and change-makers shaping the future of sleep medicine, sleep technology, and sleep science.In this special solo episode, we announce and discuss the winners across five prestigious categories recognizing excellence in clinical care, research, technology, and public education.These individuals and organizations represent the forefront of sleep innovation and are improving the lives of millions of patients worldwide.

⁠Support the Show Here⁠Jeffrey Priest (Old Town High School, ME) has led an award winning band program in his rural community since 1989 and joins the show to share ways to bring excellence to smaller, more rural communities.To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.comOur mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help every band director, no matter your experience level, as well as music education students who are working to join us in the coming years.Connect with us with comments or ideasFollow the show:Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.comOn Youtube The Growing Band Director Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast GroupInstagram @thegrowingbanddirectorTik Tok @thegrowingbanddirectorIf you like what you hear please:Leave a Five Star Review and Share us with another band director!

Shanin Specter's $25 million verdict against Boeing last November is just one example of his approach to tort: It's not just about compensation and deterrence. It's also about sharing important public information. The son of former Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter, Shanin weighs the different avenues for effecting change – whether it's in public service, like his father, or in the private sector – in this conversation with host Ben Gideon. Tune in for Shanin's thoughts about the role of lawyers today (find opportunities to litigate against the Trump administration) and his advice to law students (you don't have to get swallowed up by BigLaw).Learn More and Connect☑️ Shanin Specter | LinkedIn☑️ Kline & Specter on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Ben Gideon | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram☑️ Gideon Asen on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Rahul Ravipudi | LinkedIn | Instagram☑️ Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP on LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts |

Update: As of February 21, 2026, the Trump administration now says they will set the new "Global Tariff" rate at 15% (not 10%), maintaining the same effective rate on Switzerland, at least for 150 days. On this episode, we unpack breaking news that sent shockwaves through the watch world: the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump-era emergency tariffs, instantly voiding the recent 15% levy on Swiss watches. We explain what this actually means for collectors and retailers, why refunds remain a massive open question, and why—despite the ruling—don't expect watch prices to suddenly drop. Between looming replacement tariffs, a weakening dollar, and ongoing currency pressure against the Swiss franc, volatility is far from over. We then dive into COSC's newly announced “Excellence" chronometer standard and ask the uncomfortable question: is this meaningful progress, or a defensive half-measure against METAS? We break down how the new accuracy benchmarks compare, why third-party certification still matters culturally, and how ever-stricter chronometer claims may be setting unrealistic expectations for mechanical watches that have to survive real life on the wrist. Finally, we look at Audemars Piguet's remarkable 2025 performance—up 10% in a brutal market—and what's driving it: massive price increases, a shift toward high complications, boutique-only distribution, and a growing focus on lifetime customer value. We also explore AP's evolving brand strategy under new leadership, the push toward experiential retail, and why the very clients AP wants most may have the least patience for its increasingly gated buying process. It's a wide-ranging conversation about tariffs, accuracy, and how modern luxury watch brands are reshaping their futures. Openwork is a weekly podcast about how the watch industry actually works. An unfiltered look behind the scenes — no press releases, no hype, and no sponsored takes. Hosted by Asher Rapkin and Gabe Reilly, co-founders of Collective Horology. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can find us online at collectivehorology.com. To get in touch with suggestions, feedback or questions, email podcast@collectivehorology.com.

Kiwi costume designer Kate Hawley is flying home with a BAFTA, following her win at the Awards yesterday for her work on Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein. Earlier this month she spoke to Nine to Noon about her success this awards season - she's also up for an Oscar next month for her work on the same film. In January she took Best Costume Design at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards and since we spoke to her she's also won an award for Excellence in Period Film from the Costume Designers Guild. The BAFTAs represent the biggest night on the British film calendar and are often a marker for success at the Oscars. Kate joins Kathryn from Heathrow.

There's a pressure you've been feeling lately. A quiet sense that your current results, identity, or life no longer fit who you're capable of becoming. And here's the truth most people don't want to admit: growth doesn't feel like confidence — it feels like discomfort. Expansion feels like uncertainty. It feels like being stretched. It feels like something has to change… but you're not sure what. In this episode, I break down what expansion really requires. Not just chasing bigger goals — but becoming the person capable of holding bigger goals. Because you can't expand while protecting the identity that created your current results. In this episode, you'll learn: Why growth begins with discomfort — not clarity How holding onto what's familiar is secretly suffocating your expansion Why your current identity is producing your current results The lobster molting metaphor and how it applies to your life and performance How to create energetic capacity for success through release Four powerful reflection questions to identify what you must let go of One simple but bold action step to initiate your next level If you want lower scores, greater success, more impact, more peace, or more freedom — this conversation will challenge you to let go before you level up. Expansion isn't about getting more. It's about becoming more. Get your pencils ready and start listening.  The 90-Day Golf Identity Upgrade Accelerator: This is a private 3-month coaching container designed to help serious golfers rapidly upgrade their beliefs, rewire their golf identity, and accelerate lower scores through deep subconscious transformation — not surface-level tactics. Click here to learn more and DM me "identity upgrade on Instagram (@thepaulsalter) to learn more. Spots are limited to the first 10 people.  Play to Your Potential On (and Off) the Course Schedule a Mindset Coaching Discovery Call Subscribe to the More Pars than Bogeys Newsletter Download my "Play Your Best Round" free hypnosis audio recording. High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential. He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential. Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course.  Instagram: @thepaulsalter Key Takeaways: Growth begins with discomfort, not clarity — the pressure you feel is evidence you've outgrown your current identity. You must release before you receive — expansion requires letting go of old beliefs, habits, and commitments to create space for more. Your current identity is producing your current results — different outcomes require becoming a different person at the core. Expansion includes a period of vulnerability — temporary uncertainty is the price of increased capacity. Expansion is a lifelong cycle — pressure, release, reorganization, and greater capacity repeat at every new level. Key Quotes: "Growth does not begin with clarity. It begins with discomfort." "The life you want cannot fit inside the identity you're currently protecting." "Holding on to what is familiar suffocates growth." "The shell that once protected you eventually becomes the shell that limits you." "Expansion begins the moment you stop protecting who you were and start building who you're becoming." Time Stamps: 00:00: The Tension of Growth 02:34: Understanding Expansion 11:00: Introducing the Golf Identity Upgrade Accelerator 13:42: The Process of Letting Go 16:38: The Lobster Metaphor for Expansion 19:26: Questions for Reflection 27:08: Creating Space for New Possibilities 29:44: Taking Action Towards Expansion

The water sector is in the middle of a major transition, as decades-old challenges collide with powerful new technologies, workforce shifts, and rising public expectations. In this episode, Ralph Exton, Executive Director of the Water Environment Federation, unpacks how a nearly century-old organization is working to steer global water strategy. He breaks down WEF's three-pillar roadmap—building water communities, advancing workforce development, and leading circularity. The conversation from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. also dives into the water–AI nexus, from the growing pressure data centers place on stressed watersheds to the launch of a new Center of Excellence designed to cut through misinformation and align utilities, regulators, and hyperscalers. Ralph discusses the move toward a circular water economy, including the recovery of resources from wastewater. The discussion closes with a look at workforce development, from managing a wave of retirements across the industry to training the next generation.waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.

In one fashion or another, all state legislatures exercise oversight of state agencies and programs. They do this in a variety of ways using standing committees, rules review, auditing offices, sunset provisions, and more. On this episode of the podcast, we dive into the topic of oversight with three guests who all have different vantage points to observe the process. They include Kade Minchey, auditor general with the Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor General; Holly Trice, registrar of regulations in Virginia and on the staff of the Virginia Joint Commission on Administrative Rules; and Will Clark, who works with NCSL's Center for Legislative Strengthening. Will Clark started our discussion with an explanation of some of the basics of oversight, the approaches used, and the tools available to legislators.Kade Minchey explained how his office in Utah uses performance audits to help agencies improve and how the legislative committee responsible for audits uses the information. Holly Trice talked about the rules review process in Virginia, how the legislature and executive branch work together, and how they afford all legislators and the public a chance to weigh in. ResourcesThe Best Practice Handbook: Root Cause Analysis and Driving Results, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor GeneralThe Best Practice Handbook: A Practical Guide to Excellence for Utah Government, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor GeneralA Performance Audit of Utah State Correctional Facility: An Examination of Staffing, Culture, Safety, and Security, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor GeneralA Performance Audit of Utah's Behavioral Health System: A Case for Governance, Strategic Planning, and Accountability, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor GeneralA Performance Audit of Utah's Election System and Controls, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor GeneralA Performance Audit of Utah's Water Management: Ensuring Data Integrity, Program Best Practices, and Comprehensive Water Planning, Utah Office of the Legislative Auditor GeneralSeparation of Powers: An Overview, NCSLSeparation of Powers: Legislative Oversight, NCSLVirginia Register of RegulationsVirginia Regulatory Town Hall 

LeVar Burton and Rob Lowe have no plans to retire! The legendary actor, writer, and television host returns to the show to discuss the new season of “Trivial Pursuit,” writing his much-anticipated memoir, Rob's recent rewatch of “Roots,” why LeVar is glad he didn't land a different game show hosting gig, and much more. Make sure to subscribe to the show on YouTube at YouTube.com/@LiterallyWithRobLowe! Got a question for Rob? Call our voicemail at 323-570-4551. Your question could get featured on the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brad Stulberg is the New York Times best-selling author of The Way of Excellence. He cohosts the Growth Equation podcast, coaches executives and entrepreneurs, and is on the faculty at the University of Michigan's Graduate School of Public Health. He also deadlifts 530 pounds! He's also the author of The Practice of Groundedness and coauthor of Peak Performance.  In this conversation, we explore what it means to run sustainably: The truth about motivation Why "balance" is often an illusion The incredible power of surrounding yourself with the right people Is anxiety actually a bad thing? His thoughts on Alex Honnold's summit of Tapei 101 live on Netflix Follow Brad on X or Instagram.  Thanks Previnex Previnex is offering 15% off your first purchase at previnex.com with code jason15.  And big news: Muscle Health Plus - a unique combination of amino acids, creatine, and ingredients that aid protein synthesis and absorption of amino acids - has an all new citrus flavor that is much tastier than black cherry. Now's the time to try Muscle Health Plus because this is your anti-soreness supplement. It will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts.  I love Previnex because they adhere to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they're going to do, ingredients are tested, and they donate vitamins to kids in need. So yes, Muscle Health Plus has ingredients that are clinically proven to improve protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids - critical for helping promote lean muscle mass, strength, recovery, and better body composition.  Kelly just used the Jason15 discount code and wrote, "Muscle Health Plus has allowed me to recover much more quickly from my long runs and strength workouts. Plus, I just feel I have more energy!" Jordan left a review that said, "Love the Muscle Health Plus formula. Hard to find such a complete blend like this that's stimulant free. I Notice I'm stronger in the gym when taking this regularly." Finally, Nancy said "I definitely feel stronger. My muscles don't get as fatigued during my workouts." That's what I love about Previnex. Their products just work!" Get 15% off your first Previnex purchase by using code jason15 at checkout. Visit previnex.com, now with international shipping, and just remember: they offer a 30-day money back guarantee where if you don't feel benefits on their product you get your money back no questions asked.  Thank you LMNT! A big thanks to LMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at LMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. And BIG news! Their newest flavor is now permanently available : LEMONADE SALT! LMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day. LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff. Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out LMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.