Podcasts about exhausted

It’s easy to get swept up in a cycle of holidays that feels more like a relentless to-do list than a source of joy. In this Celebration Roundtable, we talk about how to embrace the holidays as opportunities for intentional connection and meaning. Resources & links related to this episode: Francis Lam Priya Parker Kate Bowler The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin Stone Soup by Marcia Brown (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re sharing a conversation from the More Happier podcast between Kate, Gretchen Rubin, Priya Parker, and Francis Lam. It’s easy to get swept up in a cycle of holidays that feels more like a relentless to-do list than a source of joy. In this Celebration Roundtable, we talk about how to embrace the holidays as opportunities for intentional connection and meaning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's do this! The Cult of Hockey podcast. By the Faithful and for the Faithful. Today Kurt Leavins and David Staples of the Edmonton Journal dig into the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 OT loss to the Lightning of Tampa Bsy

Do you ever get a little tired of having to attend your child sporting events and extracurricular activities? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A changed man. Older. Wiser. Exhausted. Having now done a full-on solo travel with his young son. His eyes are open. And bloodshot.

Do you ever feel like you can't fully relax until everyone else around you is okay? Like you're constantly scanning the room, the conversations, the energy – making sure no one is upset, disappointed, or uncomfortable… even if it means abandoning your own needs? I'm so excited to have family nurse practitioner, coach, healing expert, and all-around wonder woman Beatriz Victoria Albina back on the show to talk about her new book, End Emotional Outsourcing: How to Overcome Your Codependent, Perfectionist, and People-Pleasing Habits.  In this episode we talk about the unconscious habit Beatriz calls "emotional outsourcing" – when we source our sense of safety, belonging, and worth from everyone and everything outside ourselves, instead of within. We also explore the impacts it can have on our bodies, from chronic exhaustion to gut health and nervous system dysregulation. If you've ever wondered why you're always the fixer, the apologizer, the peacekeeper, or the one who holds everything together, this episode will take your lived experiences and share so many beautiful and practical somatic tools to rebuild your self-trust and find inner peace.   IN THIS EPISODE: The top signs you're stuck in a chronic cycle of people pleasing, perfectionism, or codependency, and how these habits disguise themselves as kindness or ambition Beatriz's journey from her medical practice to somatic healing and the links between nervous system dysregulation, gut health, and emotional exhaustion Why the generational script handed down by our mothers is keeping modern women over-giving, under-valuing themselves, and perpetually on edge Simple somatic practices you can start using TODAY to reconnect with your body, listen to your true needs, and interrupt those exhausting autopilot patterns   LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Beatriz and her book on her website, on her Instagram page, on the Feminist Wellness podcast, and you can buy her book on Amazon. If you know you're meant to help other people change their relationship with alcohol and achieve deep healing (along with their bigger dreams), be sure to get on the waitlist for the Empowered AF 5X Coach Certification Program – and get 5x certified as a world class alcohol-free empowerment coach, mindset coach, success coach, NLP practitioner, and hypnosis practitioner when applications open. Check out Euphoric the Club, the premier club for successful women who don't drink (and the women who are becoming them) where you can get access to all my alcohol-free programs and methodology, coaching, and trainings for only $62.  Awarded the most empowering book in the sober curious genre, be sure to get your copy of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today and leave your review. Follow @euphoric.af on Instagram. And as always, rate, review, and subscribe so we can continue spreading our message far and wide.

Feeling stuck or craving change lately? In this episode, Claudia shares how a simple impulsive hair-dye moment became a reminder that midlife is the perfect season to reinvent yourself. Whether it's changing careers, reconnecting with your partner, starting a new workout routine, or simply saying yes to what you've been putting off - this episode helps you rediscover who you are beyond the roles you've played. Learn how to build self-trust, embrace change without fear, and find confidence after 40 - one bold move at a time.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why midlife is the ideal time for reinvention and rediscovery How fear keeps women stuck in "safe but stagnant" routines Real-life examples of small changes that reignite confidence Simple ways to experiment without overhauling your entire life Reflection prompts to help you identify where you're craving change How honoring your desires creates momentum and self-trust   Resources Mentioned:  Rebellion Body  Jake Woodard   [WATCH ON YOUTUBE]   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **BLACK FRIDAY PROMOTION** Starting November 23rd you can save $100 on a Perimenopause Clarity Session with me - a focused, personalized way to help you understand what's really going on in your body.   Here's what's included: ✔ A personalized review of your health, one lab, and your symptoms ✔ Clear, customized next steps to start feeling better ASAP  ✔ Opportunity to get your questions answered — without the overwhelm   And because I know many women want answers now but plan to commit more deeply in the New Year, I'm adding a special bonus:  

Life is like the ocean. It can be calm or still, and rough or rigid, but in the end, it is always beautiful.”Gerry Lopez We've all been there: Exhausted by one of life's waves, or maybe it's turned into a rip. We struggle to keep afloat. Crippled by the fear of the unknown. Hesitant to dive in.Author of

Hormone replacement therapy education is all the talk these days. But how do you cut through all the noise and get the right care for you?  Expert in the field, Dr. Sarah Daccarett joins the podcast to get straight to the point about how the CORRECT hormone replacement methods can do more than just symptom management. We want you to feel GOOD in midlife, not just symptom-free. A lot of providers aren't knowledgeable or confident enough in HRT options, leaving you with a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. And sadly, this causes thousands of women to be totally underdosed.  But Dr. Sarah offers something different that can potentially give some standardization for you. You can get predictable products and services at her company, Inner Balance. With a clinical team to check in with, and less HRT side effects than other formulations, Inner Balance is a safe and massively effective option for managing your midlife hormone symptoms.  Tune in here and learn how to get maximum benefit from hormone replacement therapy to live your brightest life! Dr. Sarah Daccarett, MD  After treating thousands of women who felt ignored with their symptoms or who were totally misdiagnosed, Dr. Sarah realized the healthcare system wasn't built for women, so she built something new. She's the CEO and founder of Inner Balance- a medical approach to female biology that works with women's bodies. It's your science-backed and compassionate solution to hormonal health, with the mission to close the gender gap in healthcare for good.  IN THIS EPISODE Why midlife women don't get the hormone help they deserve The massive gap in knowledge around hormone replacement  The difference between hormone treatment for men and women  The importance of paying attention to your hormone dosing Understanding lab markers for hormone levels  The neuroprotective benefits of hormone replacement  Why so many women are underdosed with hormones  About Dr. Sarah Daccarett's company, Inner Balance  QUOTES “It's because women need to understand that this convoluted messaging they're getting is suppressing them. It's keeping them misinformed and it's keeping them from living probably their fullest potential.” “A take home message for anybody listening is that it's not just the hormones that matter. It's the way you're trying to get them into the body. Unfortunately, we're all having to turn into hormone experts because doctors are not figuring it out for us, so we're doing it ourselves.” “Women, if you want to treat estrogen dominance, you should make sure that your estrogen is actually [high] enough that all these chemicals can't bind. Then you have enough progesterone to counterbalance it. So the treatment is not to lower estrogen, but to actually take it and then you'll feel better.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution  https://peri-revolution.com/ Use code ENERGIZED and get 20% off on your Timeline order http://timeline.com/ENERGIZED Inner Balance Website: InnerBalance.com Inner Balance on Instagram Dr. Sarah on Instagram RELATED EPISODES  #605: Breaking the HRT Confusion: The Truth Behind Hormone Replacement Therapy for Perimenopausal Women with Karen Martel 579: Hormone Replacement Options and Hormone Testing for Women in Midlife + Self Advocacy for Optimal Health with Esther Blum #647: Hormone Optimization Therapy (HOT) Isn't Your Mom's HRT + It's One Of The Best Strategies For Longevity with Dr. Amy Killen 680: You Are Not Broken: Why Women Need Testosterone to Feel Strong, Sexy & Energized with Dr. Kelly Casperson 

Get an inside look at one woman's health journey when she decided now was the time to OWN her health and not live with pain, brain fog and exhaustion any longer.  My guest today shares how her daily chronic pain, brain fog and fatigue was affecting every part of her life including her relationships. Listen in as my amazing client, Jenny James, shares her testimony of how working together helped her body recover and heal. Jenny shares how she went from being so exhausted that her bed became her cocoon to waking feeling rested and no longer needing an afternoon nap! She gives a little tough love and encouragement as she asks, do you have a desire to do what it takes to feel better and be well? In body, mind and spirit? It can all be in harmony… when you OWN your health and pour into yourself as you desire to be WELL. I pray this client testimonial brings you great encouragement and HOPE today! XO, Michelle  Get rid of your stress induced fatigue, brain fog and belly fat in 12 weeks without dieting, deprivation and disappointment! So you can wake feeling refreshed, have a clear mind for your day and have the energy to be fully present with your family in the evening. Book your  Fatigue Freedom Breakthrough Call today!   Online Supplement Dispensary Info: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/michelle-mccoywellness ***Join our community, Fight FATIGUE over 40 with FAITH & Holistic Health, to be supported, encouraged and educated as you take back your health WITH God at the center. **Catch the Treasured Wellness Podcast on https://christianmix106.com/   AND YouTube   ***DISCLAIMER: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Contact your own physician for any medical concerns you have. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Treasured Wellness, LLC, guests or contributors be responsible for damages arising from the use of this podcast.

If you've ever said “I'll slow down after this launch,” “I just need to get through this week,” or secretly wondered why success feels heavier than it should — this episode is about to hit home. Inside Episode 101 of Call Her Creator, host Katelyn Rhoades uncovers The Hustle Hangover — the hidden burnout cycle high-achieving women get trapped in when the world praises their productivity but punishes their peace. We're diving deep into:

This episode retells a clever and captivating folk tale about two friends who set out together in search of work. Their paths diverge—one is hired to water a stubbornly dry garden, and the other to rear a troublesome cow. Exhausted from the unexpectedly difficult tasks, they lie to each other about their day. When they switch jobs the next morning, they discover the truth and promise never to lie again.But fate has more twists in store. While investigating why the garden never stays wet, the friends uncover hidden gold—first a coin, then a whole bag. Greed tests their friendship, leading to tricks, suspicion, and a shocking turn when one friend is thought dead. Their misadventures entangle them with thieves in the forest, where fortune—and danger—strike once again.In the end, the two friends learn that greed always leaves “one coin” behind, causing quarrel, chaos, and loss. But reconciliation brings them wisdom—and wealth—at last.This is a lively tale filled with humour, betrayal, unexpected fortune, and moral insight—a perfect listen for fans of traditional folk stories and character-driven adventures.

If you've been praying for a baby month after month and you're starting to wonder if God even hears you anymore, this episode is for you. Today we're talking about what it feels like when prayer seems pointless in your fertility journey — when you're spiritually exhausted, emotionally drained, and struggling to stay hopeful while TTC. Courtney shares honest encouragement, biblical truth, and gentle guidance for the woman who loves God but feels worn out from unanswered prayers. You'll hear comforting Scripture, practical ways to reconnect with God when your faith feels thin, and five simple steps you can start using today when you're spiritually exhausted from praying for a baby. You'll walk away feeling less alone, more understood, and grounded in the truth that God sees you, loves you, and has not forgotten your desire for a child.   THIS WEEK & NEXT WEEK ONLY - save 20% on any of my devotionals or courses! Use Code THANKFUL at check out! 

Are your physical symptoms trying to tell you something about the emotional trauma you're still carrying from divorce?Many women don't realize that the exhaustion, anxiety, adrenal fatigue, or unexplained health issues they experience after divorce are often connected to unresolved emotional wounds. In this episode, Heather Quick and traditional naturopath Maura Eliza uncover how symptoms act as messages from the body—signals that point directly to toxic patterns, emotional conflict, and the deeper healing your nervous system is begging for. If you've been focused on surviving instead of truly healing, this conversation shows you why addressing the mind and body together changes everything.In this episode, you'll discover:How emotional trauma from divorce manifests as physical symptoms—and how to interpret those signals.Why healing the nervous system and understanding biological healing phases accelerate emotional recovery.The simple self-care and mindset shifts that help women reconnect with joy, desire, and personal empowerment.Press play now to learn how reconnecting with your mind and body can help you heal deeper, faster, and more powerfully after divorce.Join us on our podcast as we navigate the complexities of marriage, divorce, separation, and all related legal and emotional aspects, including adultery, alimony, child support, spousal support, timesharing, custody battles, and the financial impact of dissolution of marriage.Interested in working with us? Fill out this form here to get started. Not quite ready? Interact with us on socials! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/FloridaWomensLawGroup Florida Women's Law Group Website: https://www.floridawomenslawgroup.com/Maura Eliza's Links: Official website: https://flexhealthwithmaura.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flex.health.with.maura/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlexHealthwithMaura/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maura-eliza-1a63281a5Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not an advertisement for legal services. The information provided on this podcast is not intended to be legal advice. You should not rely on what you hear on this podcast as legal advice. If you have a legal issue, please contact a lawyer. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely those of the individuals and do not represent the views or opinions of the firms or organizations with which they are affiliated or the views or opinions of this podcast's advertisers. This podcast is available for private, non-commercial use only. Any editing, reproduction, or redistribution of this podcast for commercial use or monetary gain without the expressed, written consent of the podcast's creator is prohibited.Thank you for listening, please leave us a review and share the podcast with your friends and colleagues. Send your questions, comments, and feedback to...

Have you ever felt exhausted by life?Have you ever wondered how you are going to have the energy to get through something?Sunday, November 16, 2025 Daniel 10:1-19

“Why am I tired after sleeping?” You're doing all the “right” things: going to bed on time, sleeping eight hours, drinking your greens… yet you still wake up tired. In this episode, Functional Medicine Practitioner Nicole Goode explains why exhaustion isn't just about hours of sleep, it's about the quality of your rest and the biology behind it.You'll learn how your circadian rhythm, hormones, and mitochondria interact while you sleep, and how modern habits like late-night screens, stress, and poor timing quietly disrupt your body's repair cycles. Sleep better naturally and finally wake up energized, focused, and calm. Because feeling rested isn't about doing more, it's about letting your body do what it was designed to do.02:00 — The Physiology of Sleep05:50 — How Sleep Influences Every System in Your Body15:50 — How Lifestyle Habits Impact Sleep Quality19:10 — Practical Sleep OptimizationRESOURCES: Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.nicolegoodehealth.com/the-goode-health-podcast/episode-103DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast and related website is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat, instead it is designed to help educate and inspire. Always seek the advice of a professional medical practitioner or qualified health practitioner. Never ignore or disregard advice given to you based on information in this podcast or related website and do not delay in seeking medical advice.

Welcome to the Weekly Vlog! Josh explains why he's exceptionally tired this week due to a packed schedule. He discusses attending and speaking at two conferences on AI for legal professionals, preparing for upcoming court appearances, and his thoughts on the book he's reading, '33 Strategies of War' by Robert Green.  Josh also shares plans to hold a webinar on building custom GPTs for legal professionals. Tune in to get all the details! Never miss an update on his journey by joining his substack here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/ 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:25 Why I'm Exhausted This Week 01:19 Presenting at Two Major Events 02:08 Upcoming Court Appearances 03:19 AI in Legal Practice 07:07 Future Webinar on Custom GPTs 09:32 Current Book Review: 33 Strategies of War 11:30 Conclusion and Sign-Off Why I'm Exhausted: Busy Week Recap & AI Workshops for Lawyers

If we waited to act until we “felt like it,” nothing meaningful would ever get done. Jesus didn't go to the cross because it felt good—He went because it was necessary. Purpose will ask you to move even when your emotions don't want to.✨ Stay Connected with Me! ✨

Russian Economic Stagnation and War Finance. Michael Bernstam confirms that the Russian economy is stagnating, expecting no growth for years due to exhausted resources and reliance on military production. Oil and gas revenues are down significantly due to Western sanctions and high discounts, widening the budget deficit. Russia is increasing taxes, including the VAT, which drives inflation in staples. This economic pain damages the popularity of the war by hurting the low-income population—the primary source of military recruitment. 1951

The Time Riders: Part 5 A Labyrinth Palace. Based on a post by BiscuitHammer, in 16 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. The non-descript carriage had indeed made its way through Paris' winding streets, taking well over an hour to finally stop in front of the palace and allowing Mark to get out of the cramped cab before it rattled off. The sun had set some time ago, and night hung over the city heavily, the cloying air of Paris carrying the city's growing pains to his ears. Even at night, the city was not silent. Mark adjusted his outfit and marched toward the outermost gate of the vast palace, its arms spread wide and encompassing a massive courtyard. Two men wearing ornate red uniforms and holding pikes crossed their weapons at his approach, barring his entry. One of them gruffly asked him to state his business. Trusting to the plan, Mark said nothing, but merely held out one of his sealed letters, this one bearing the emblem of Richelieu. The guard examined it for several seconds, consulting with the other guard before handing it back and then opening the gate. Mark shot them both a dirty look for holding him up in his errand and then swept inside, doing his best to look haughty and full of bravado, which is what the Musketeers were apparently renowned for. He couldn't help but reflect that they seemed a lot less heroic than history let on and were more dickbags than anything else. Oh well. Faking being a dickbag was probably significantly easier than pretending to be a hero. He passed through another gate that got him closer to the palace, this one also manned by the Swiss Guard. He arrogantly presented them with the Richelieu missive, which once again satisfied their scrutiny and he was allowed to pass. He forced himself to not look around in wonder at his surroundings, instead heading straight to the great doors that would give him admittance to the palace. Alex once again presented his letter, but this time the guards squinted at him suspiciously. "Qui es tou?" demanded one of them. His throat was dry, but he answered as readily as he could, trying to sound authoritative and even haughty. "J'mappelle Benat de Ferres, of Soule, Second Company of the King's Musketeers under Monsieur de Treville. Let me through." "Fucking Basques and Gascons," muttered one of the guards in irritation. "Why would a musketeer be bringing a missive to his excellency, the Cardinal?" he demanded to know. Mark concealed his anxiety by looking pissed and rattling off one of the phrases Alexandra had given him, hoping it had the desired effect. "I have an idea, why don't we all go ask the Cardinal and you can fucking explain to him why you held up his envoy on an important errand? Does that sound good to you?" The two men looked at one another warily; the visitor was certainly obnoxious enough to be a Musketeer and a Gascon. Sighing and shaking his head in defeat, the one man handed the sealed letter back to Mark and they opened the doors, allowing him entrance. He swept by them, calling them shitheads in Spanish before the doors closed behind him. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help Gawking as he stared at the palace around him; its splendor was beyond anything he had imagined. Walls of white plaster, carved in exquisite shapes and edged in royal purple, along with gold filigree, and incredible paintings and artifacts lined the walls. Endless numbers of servants scurried by, hardly noticing him. He shut his eyes for a moment and composed himself, remembering the details Alexandra had shown him, the way through the palace. He turned and began his search for his teacher. Lisette walked primly through the halls of the palace, bowing her head deferentially to just about everyone who passed her. Wearing an elegant gown, she seemed to almost glide along the hallway, walking with a practiced ease that her mistress had taught her. She had, in three years, only been in the royal presence twice before, in attendance to Lady Alexandra. The king had barely noticed her, but Lisette didn't mind one bit, because this was far more of a life than she ever could have hoped for. She had, of course, spent much more time in the presence of the queen, because her mistress served Anne directly. Anne of Austria seemed mostly amused by Lady Alexandra's quirky servant, but she was kind to Lisette, often sending her home with gifts of chocolate. Her devotion to the queen, while not equal to her fanatic love for Lady Alexandra, meant she would die in Anne's name if necessary. She hoped it wouldn't come to that tonight, but she had made her peace with God and the Lady Mary all the same. Alexandra had set her with the task of removing or distracting every guard she could from the route Mark would take through the palace. She was not to kill anyone, nor was she to be seen in the mayhem, if at all possible. If things went wrong, she was to retreat to the queen's quarters and be seen protecting her. It was the best alibi she could hope for. A guard up ahead. He was a sullen-looking brute, not carrying the long pikes of the gate guards, but a much more practical halberd, along with a short rapier on his belt. She knew he'd be trouble. She ducked into an alcove and pulled a small phial out of her cleavage, drinking the strong red wine from it and sloshing it around in her mouth, to make sure the aroma was on her breath. Replacing the phial, she lurched back out into the hallway and sauntered toward him lazily. "Hello, beautiful," she said drunkenly, giving him a lopsided smile. "You must' be off-duty by now." "No, I am not," he grunted, not looking at her. "Go away, slut." "C'mon," Lisette persisted, leering at him as she leaned against the wall to his left. "We could be having fun. Don' you like fun?" "Duty is not meant to be fun." "But these are fun," she drawled, as she stepped in front of him and leaned forward, using her hands to pull down the front of her bodice and exposing her perky tits to the man, whose eyes went wide at the sight. "These are all the fun you'll need;” He didn't stop her as she sidled up to him, stood on her tip-toes and put her arms around his neck. Her breath was sweet with wine, her dark eyes glassy with the lack of inhibition it brought on. Her tits pressed to his chest, her hips flat to his crotch. "Take me into that room and fuck me;” she breathed huskily, her lips no more than an inch from his. "I want to feel you inside me;” The man was rather pale at her suggestion, but nodded readily and turned around to open the door. The parlor behind was empty, the perfect place for a rendezvous with this slattern. She took him by the hand and led him inside, closing the door behind them. Mark walked down the hallway, trying to not look like he was hurrying, and staying alert. He was entering a difficult part of the operation, because he was no longer in an area of the palace that led to either the king's quarters or those of Cardinal Richelieu. If anyone stopped him now, he would probably be redirected rather forcefully, and he had precious little time to waste. He walked by a door, from which he heard a moaning noise. Then he heard a familiar woman's voice, gasping and urging someone on. His translator bud wasn't close enough to hear what was being said, but he was fairly certain he knew what was happening. He subtly pushed the door open and peered inside. Mark gaped as he watched Lisette, leaning over a small table, panting while a member of the House Guard fucked her from behind, her layered skirt bunched over her ass as he pushed in and out of her. The guard remained oblivious, but she noticed the door open and flicked a glance his way. She gave him an annoyed look and jerked her head, indicating that she had this covered and he needed to keep moving. He nodded and pulled the door shut quietly before heading down the hall again. He turned a corner and then headed up some stairs, leading up to the next floor, which was apparently where Becky was being kept. He was so busy thinking about what he needed to do next that he blundered right into two guards, who grunted and then glared at him angrily. "Stupid shit!" the one man he had smacked into spat. "Watch where you are; who are you?" Mark went wide-eyed, not having expected them. His mouth seemed to work, but no sounds came forth. They blocked his ascent and continued to glare at him. "Who; are; you?" the man demanded again. Mark regained control of his voice and tried to speak. "My name is; my name is Benat;” Fuck, he'd forgotten his last name. "My name is Benat DeFlepard," he managed to say. "I am from Sully and I have' "What sort of name is DeFlepard?" snarled the one guard. "I have sealed orders," Mark interrupted, not liking where this was going. "From the Cardinal!" "Is that so?" sneered the man. "Let's see them!" Mark handed him the sealed missive scroll. The man examined it and frowned. "This is the king's seal," he growled. "What is the meaning of this?” Before the man could finish his query, Mark punched him in the face and then pulled his crème-colored tabard over his head and threw him down the stairs. The guard cursed loudly as he rolled at least two floors. Mark was too late to stop the other man from drawing his short rapier, but managed to grapple onto him, keeping himself from being run through. Mark might have been taller, but the guard was a veteran of many wars, strong and cunning. It wasn't long before he had Mark's back pressed against the wall, both men fighting for balance on the stairs. "Little shit!" he shouted, trying to press the edge of his blade against Mark's throat and slit it. They tussled, and Mark managed to wedge his arm between his neck and the rapier, feeling the sickening cold pain of the keen edge creasing his forearm. His free hand, however, snaked down to the pistol on his belt, twisting the leather until the muzzle pointed down; The stairwell echoed with a thunderous crack as Mark pulled the trigger and discharged the weapon, the iron ball punching a hole in the guard's boot and then his foot. The man groaned and staggered, releasing Mark. His ears ringing, Mark managed to shove the man down the stairs, following his comrade. He shook his head and began sprinting up the stairs, knowing the whole palace would be coming down on his head any second now. Alexandra was concealed in a secret closet in a parlor not far from the queen's quarters, listening carefully. She was wearing the red uniform of the Cardinal's personal guard, her impressive bust flattened and pulled tight with linen straps. Her golden hair was held in a ponytail while a black mask concealed her facial features. Her rapier sat on her hip and three customized pistols were concealed around her person, along with several knives balanced for throwing. She heard the discharge of a firearm, followed by shouts of alarm and fright. She hung her head and sighed. She'd been hoping it wouldn't come to this, but there seemed to be nothing for it. She would see her obligation met. Alexandra crossed herself and exited the hidden space, heading toward the Cardinal's quarters, determined to cause a distraction for Mark as he went in the opposite direction to rescue Rebecca. It was all in God's hands now. All she could hope was that Mark had remembered what his name was. Mark raced down the hallway, ignoring people who poked their heads out of various rooms and parlors to see what all the commotion was, before closing their doors and locking them in panic at the sight of him. He had his sword in one hand, his pistol in the other. Having discharged his shot already and having no idea how to readily and safely reload the damn thing, the pistol was mostly for intimidation purposes at this point. Thankfully, if he pointed it at people, they tended to make themselves scarce. A guard rushed around the corner, his halberd in hand, but Mark smashed the ornate swept hilt of his rapier into his mouth, which dissolved in a welter of blood, lips and gum before he burbled and fell over. Mark kept running. He shoulder-blocked his way past another guard, but then found himself confronted by a small group of angry servant girls, who kept swearing in French and throwing bread rolls and potatoes at him. Covering his head, he sprinted past them, resisting the urge to take a swipe at the uppity wenches. There was the room! He raced up to it and tried to open the door, but it was locked. Given the amount of noise and commotion he was causing, he shouldn't have been surprised. He stepped back and then slammed the heel of his sturdy boot into the door with all his might, knocking it out of its frame and falling to the floor. He rushed inside, looking around for his teacher, but she was nowhere in sight. That's when the heavy vase smashed into the back of his head. He was on his face on the floor, reality swimming around him. He heard someone hissing at him as he was handled roughly by his neck and his tunic. He was turned onto his back and someone was straddling him now, their supple legs on either side of his throat and their heavy skirt bunched up between their legs, allowing him to goggle up at his assaulter. "Becky! Stop! Stop, I; Ow! Jesus! Quit Hitting Me! It's Me, Mark!" The flurry of fists halted and then there was a pause thick with confusion. He felt his cheeks being gripped tightly, immobilizing his face and then his neck pulled up so that whoever was sitting on him could look at him. "Mark?" Becky exclaimed in disbelief. "Mark! Oh my God!" She began smothering him with feverish kisses, still straddling him. Still dizzy, he was in no particular shape to stop her, in spite of the fact the whole palace was on its way to kill him. His eyes finally managed to focus, and he looked up at her. "I've missed you too, Becks, but can you let me up, please?" Becky blinked and then jumped off him hastily, helping him to his feet. She still seemed stunned to see him, not that he blamed her. "How?" she asked, her eyes wide with disbelief and wet with emotion. "You; you were." "Dead? Yeah, kinda." "The how are you here?" she asked, trembling. He shrugged. "To quote Neil De Grasse-Tyson, science, bitches." "Oh, it doesn't matter," she exhaled, crushing herself to him and hugging tight, her body shaking with raw emotion. "You're back, Mark. You came back for me;” He smiled and hugged her back, his hand on the back of her head. "Well sure I did. You're my time-travelling partner, aren't you? Can't leave you here with these smelly savages." She laugh-choked back a sob and look up at him, her eyes leaking tears onto her scarlet cheeks. "And we're gonna get out of here and; Becks, are you, like, really drunk?" Her expression of delight warped into a scowl at his query and she pushed herself away from him. "Well what do you expect? I only spent the past month trying to kill myself with alcohol while you were taking your unscheduled nap, you jerk!" "I'm sorry," he faltered, knowing that this couldn't possibly be the right time to make her angry, on so many levels. "Let me get you out of here and then I'll explain everything." "Hang on;” she huffed, stomping over to a table and grabbing her bottle of wine, tilting her head back and taking a stiff pull from it gulping loudly. Mark made a wan face and fidgeted, acutely aware of the time they were losing. "Becks, no offense, but I'm pretty sure every guard in Paris is looking for me right now, and I' "Sounds like more of a you problem than a me problem," she grunted, attempting to drain the bottle with several loud glucks. "Nobody was trying to kill me while I was here." "No, you seem to have that covered;” he said dryly. She shot him a nasty look, but didn't stop drinking. "Look, we need to go," he insisted. "Pretty sure Alexandra's risking her neck to make sure I can' "Alexandra?" Becky interrupted, stopping drinking to look at him pointedly. "The gorgeous blonde I want to fuck?" "I; sure," Mark replied, trying to keep up. "Pretty sure she and Lisette are' "Who's Lisette?" Becky asked suspiciously, lurching toward him. She was quite a bit drunker than he'd initially thought. "It doesn't matter," he declared, determined to get moving before Richelieu arrested and shot his ass again. "We need to get' Mark winced in fear as she surged toward him, the bottle raised over her head. She flew by him and smashed the bottle down on the head of a guard who had barged into the room. His eyes rolled up into his head and he went to sleep. "Weren't you drunk moments ago?" Mark asked in disbelief. "Looks like you're the one who need rescuing." Becky shot back. "You were half a second away from having an exit wound the size of an airport runway in your chest just now." Another guard sprang around the corner. Becky, who was closest to the door, kicked him savagely between the legs. The man staggered to a stop and stiffened, but didn't fall over, the impact of her foot cushioned by the many layers of baroque skirt she was wearing, not to mention the dainty, padded slipper. As the man gaped at her, she kicked him between the legs again, but her skirt interfered, softening the blow to the place where he merely doubled over from the ache. Becky snarled angrily, lunged in, grabbed him by the neck and DDT him, almost as smoothly as ‘Jake the Snake' did to fellow pro wrestlers. This time he stayed down. "Jerk!" she muttered, glaring at the man. Without a second thought, she used a knife on the man's belt to tear layers of skirt away, leaving herself clad only in the bodice and skimpy underwear, with garters holding up the silk stockings she wore. She knelt on the unconscious man's back and pulled his boots off, replacing her slippers with the sturdier footwear. She then stripped his rapier and pistol from his person before turning to look at Mark. "You ready now?" she asked pointedly, standing there in what basically amounted to negligee and musketeer boots, while holding a rapier and a wheellock pistol. He gaped at her for a moment, unable to say anything. "You have no idea how stupidly sexy you look right now, Becks." Mark managed to say. "I'll believe it when Alexandra says it to me," she sniffed, turning and heading out the door. "Let's go, hero." Mark sighed and trotted after her, leaving the two men lying on the floor in a spreading pool of wine and broken shards of glass. Lisette made sure the guard was arranged comfortably in the plush chair, snoring, his breeches still around his ankles, his soft cock oozing cum all over his balls. She shook her head in exasperation as she rearranged her skirts; no sooner had the man cum than he yawned and began to fall asleep. She'd been nowhere close to climaxing when he'd finished. Typical male. At least the boy from the future liked to make sure she came first, even if he was a naïve school boy. She left the door open, to make sure his shame was on display and then hurried down the hallway, holding her skirt up and allowing herself to run. The palace was ringing with shouts of alarm, anger and panic. Everything seemed to be going as planned, whatever that entailed. She just trusted that Mistress knew what she was doing. Guards from various regiments were racing around now, getting one another's way and shouting orders angrily. She passed through them virtually unnoticed, merely a servant girl looking for shelter. She made a beeline right for the queen's royal apartments, and she was stopped by no one, since she was known to the guards and stuff. She nodded hastily as she passed two guards outside the ornate doors and headed inside the boudoir. Anne of Austria looked up from a book to see Lisette scurry in, closing the door behind herself and then pressing her ear to the door, ignoring everyone else in the room. She then saw the queen, blinked, curtseyed hastily, and went back to eavesdropping on the frenzy of activity outside. The monarch shook her head wearily and went back to reading her book. "You may not pass through here!" shouted the house guard, blocking Alexandra's passage forward. She had identified herself as a member of the Cardinal's guard, using her well-practiced man's voice to give credit to her guise. Thought he believed her, the man remained unmoved, barring her way. "I told you, I need to reach the Cardinal!" she insisted, knowing full well he would not let her through. "That is no concern of mine," he said coldly, glaring at her, his hand on his sword, ready to draw it. "Find another way to reach your Cardinal, because if you come another step closer, I will run you through." "So be it!" she growled as she lunged in, her own rapier flashing in her hand. The man drew his weapon and thrust at her, but she parried and then drove the point of her blade through the shoulder of his sword arm, pinning him against the wall. He groaned as his sword fell to the ground, but then her foot slammed into his face while she pulled her rapier from his shoulder. He was unconscious, but he would live. She had no cause to kill these men. She ran down the hallway, listening all the while to the commotion that echoed through the Louvre. A young guard barred her progress at a juncture in the hallways, and before he was even ready, she struck him across the head with the basket of her rapier, knocking him out. Alexandra continued along the corridor, but then saw several guards rushing into the other end of the hall, outside of an ornate door that led to the king's royal apartments. Upon seeing her, the six men pointed their muskets at her, three kneeling while the other three stood behind. A series of barks shook the area as she ducked around a corner hastily, avoiding their barrage. She could hear them shouting orders to reload. She leaned her head back against the wall and sighed. Idiots. Before they had reloaded, she had pulled a small device made of two pieces of flint out of her pocket, along with a tiny clay pot out of the other. From the hole in the top of the pot hung a thin strip of rigid paper. She held the pot by its flat bottom and snapped the flint pieces against one another, producing sparks that caught on the paper and began to burn. As the flame made its way down the paper wick, she counted slowly and calmly before leaning around the corner, tossing the pot, which skated on its flat bottom along the floor toward the guards who opposed her. She then ducked back, waiting grimly. There were shouts and the sound of boots stampeding, but then an unreal hissing shriek and a bright, flaring white light as the magnesium powder inside the container ignited. Cries of pain followed. Ten seconds later, the light died, and she rounded the corner and strode down the hallway. Four of the six guards had fled before the grenade went off, while two were writhing on the ground, clutching at their eyes from the flash blindness. She stepped between them and kicked in the door toward the king's apartments before turning around and walking away, knowing that this would create additional confusion as they sought to find the assassin in the red tabard who sought to slay the Sun King. There was more chaos to sow. Mark and Becky sprinted down the hall, ignoring the pell-mell going on around them. Inevitably, though, they were confronted by a soldier of the Cardinal, one that Mark recognized. It was the captain who had shot him. Marks teeth clenched as he rushed forward, ready to run the sonofabitch through, but Becky was faster. She threw herself into a skid, sliding along the polished floor, hurtling straight toward the man. He gaped at her in disbelief, but by then, she had slammed her foot into his crotch, doubling him over with a grunt of unreal pain. With a roar, she surged to her feet, grabbed the man around the middle from behind and yanked him over backwards, suplexing his family jewels with zest. Mark had by now skidded to a halt and watched in disbelief while his teacher stood over the supine officer and kicked him in the ribs. "Bastard!" she raged. "Teach you to kill my students!" She knelt and yanked his head up, making sure his eyes were open as she pointed at Mark, her voice dripping with vitriol. "See that? He's alive! You can't even kill something right! Your life means nothing! Nothing!" She smacked his head off the tile floor and gathered up her weapons before looking at Mark, composing herself now. "Sorry," she said with a flush of embarrassment. "You probably wanted him, didn't you? I thought you were dead, so if I ever saw him again, I'd have to avenge you." Mark shrugged. "No harm done. Except to him, and I don't really' Mark stopped talking and stared down the hallway behind Becky. Three men in flamboyant uniforms, trimmed in blue and white like himself were now approaching them. One had a grim, patrician air and about him, the second a handsome boyish charm, while the third towered over the others by a head and shoulders, a contemptuous smirk on his face. "That can't be good;” he thought. Becky didn't even blink. Without turning around, she pointed her pistol backwards over her shoulder and pulled the trigger. The bark of the shot echoed around the palace and the giant staggered backward, eyes wide in shock, before he fell over like a redwood. The other two gaped at her in astonishment as she turned around to glower at them. They hastily took hold of their downed friend and hauled him out of sight, their duty to the king forgotten. "That's right, ladies, run!" Becky called out, her chest heaving. "How's it feel to get beat up by a girl?" "You are so sexy right now, Becks." Mark chuckled, approaching her. She turned back to face him; covered with gunpowder smudges, scratches and the occasional bruise, she'd never looked more attractive to him. Heedless of their surroundings, she threw herself against him and kissed him shamelessly. His hands found her ass and squeezed as he returned the kiss and she moaned into his mouth. If there'd been a rhino horn on his crotch, he'd have been impaled on it. She broke the kiss and looked at him hungrily, her eyes shouldering with desire. "I'm so glad you're not dead, Mark," she breathed. "I can't wait to prove it to you when we get the fuck out of here." Mark took her hand and pulled her down the hallway, breaking into a run. They weren't out of danger yet. "What're you laughing about?" she asked, scowling while she allowed him to lead her through the palace. "I think that was Porthos you shot," he said almost cheerfully. "Becks, you ganked Porthos." "Oh, I did not," she hissed, trying to not feel disgust at her student's lack of historical knowledge and basic temporal mechanics. "Porthos doesn't die until 1670. So if that guy dies, it wasn't Porthos. If it was Porthos, he isn't dead. Read a book, Mark." "Ha, you said bookmark!" he laughed as he pulled her around a corner and down another hallway, trying to reach the point Alexandra had designated. "Uh!" Becky groused. "Why was I so damn happy that you lived? I swear, Mark, I; Ack!" They both whirled in panic and threw themselves back around the corner as a withering hail of musket fire peppered the plaster of the walls where they'd been standing mere seconds before. They scrambled to their feet and began running back the way they'd come, determined to not die in some baroque version of Bullet Hell from the Matrix. "Fucking shit!" Mark yelped, yanking her around another corner as more soldiers appeared and filled the hall with musket balls. "This sucks!" "Ya' think?" she hissed as they kept running, their options becoming increasingly limited. "I'm in this too, Mister Spotlight!" "Yeah, well at least you don't have the Goblin City Battle music from the Labyrinth soundtrack stuck in your head while they chase us around and try to kill us!" "I do now, you fucker! Thanks a lot!" Becky raged. A lone house guard skidded to a stop near them and prepared to fire. Mark flung his pistol at the man, striking him in the head before knocking him aside as they continued down the corridor. "What did you throw your gun away for, dumbass?" she exclaimed, wondering if blood loss after getting shot had permanently damaged Mark's brain. She hoped he could still get it up, if they made it out of here. "It had no ammo in it." Mark grunted, trying to get his bearings, thinking back to the plans of the palace Alexandra had shown him. "Why were you carrying around an empty pistol?" Becky asked in disbelief. "Intimidation purposes? Were you gonna hold it sideways when you pointed it at people, hope you looked all gangster?" "I plugged a guy on my way to find you, okay?" he sighed as they kept running. "The first shot fired that started this whole mess, it was me shooting some jackoff in the foot as I tried to find you." Becky skidded to a stop, halting Mark's flight as well. She looked into his eyes and then hugged him in relief. "Thank you, Mark," she said quietly. "You came for me, after you nearly died, and we both could today. You're very brave." When she ended the hug, Mark found she had put her own pistol in his hands. He frowned in confusion. "Why'd you give me your pistol?" he asked. "Because let's face it, I'm a lot more likely to snag another one than you are," she sighed. "Let's go, I'm done with the Sun King's France." Out of breath, they settled for trotting down a hallway, surrounded by the echoing sounds of chaos. Things had gotten so confused that the guards were all fighting one another now, thinking the enemy in their midst. Panting, the pair stopped suddenly as they came to a major intersection of hallways. Not far away, a confused brawl consisting of house guard and the Cardinal's guard blocked their passage. Upon their appearance, though, both sides paused in their fight and stared at them. Then a captain raised a call to kill them. Without even thinking, Mark pointed his pistol at the huge iron chandelier over the soldier's heads and fired. The plaster ceiling broke as the iron ball struck at and the chandelier plummeted, crashing into the dozens of men before while clouds of plaster dust filled the hall. "I can't believe that worked!" Mark laughed as they ran down another venue. "Yes, it was very impressive, Gene Kelly," Becky sighed, shaking her head. "Next, you'll be swinging from the damn chandeliers or using your knife to ride down tapestries." Soldiers surged around the corner, charging into the couple. Mark shouted in fury as they tried to skewer him while they attempted to wrestle Becky to the ground. He dodged a blade and slashed his foe across the arm before leaping back to try and give himself room. He looked around in a panic and saw Becky kicking a soldier in the nuts before punching another in the face, her eyes flashing with fury. Someone slammed into him from behind and he tumbled forward, scrambling to gain his feet. More bodies joined the fracas and he realized that they were not only trying to kill him but fighting one another as well. It was difficult to breathe. There were too many bodies smothering him. He gasped in panic and strained to find room for himself. His shaking hand gripped a sword and she shoved it forward indiscriminately, feeling something soft give before him. He focused all his effort on crawling forward, finally emerging from the churning pile of men, locked in combat. He dragged himself along the floor but then grunted in pain as something speared into his thigh from above and behind. He turned to look, his eyes watering in pain, seeing a man in red, glaring at him, raising his rapier for another strike. Then a sword point burst through the man's chest from behind. His eyes widened, and he dropped his sword and crumpled to the ground. The man who had killed him was already moving on to another target. Exhausted and dull with pain, Mark dragged himself to a wall and slumped against it, looking around for Becky, but she was nowhere to be seen. No. Not again. He ignored the maelstrom of violence and pushed himself to his feet, limping down a hallway, sword held loosely in his hand as he went to find his teacher. Alexandra strode down the hall with purpose, her senses keen for trouble. She had caused as much trouble as she could, all the while keeping the fray well away from the queen's quarters. She regretted that men would die today, due to their poor judgement, but she understood that the girl Rebecca could not remain here in Paris. A deep foreboding warned her that almost any price was worth paying to see her safely away. Sparring with D'Artagnan. She stopped as a lone figure came into view, blocking her way down the corridor. He wore the blue of the king's mousquetaires, his young face etched with determination. His hand rested on the hilt of his rapier while he observed her. "So," he began, tilting his head. "You must be the cause of all this mayhem, oui?" "I am not who you seek." Alexandra said plainly. "I do not truck with liars and I do not appreciate being lied to!" the young man snapped. "I would have your name before I run you through in the king's. Are you an agent of Buckingham?" "No." "Charles of Spain?" "I have no time for this," Alexandra said testily, putting her hand on the hilt of her blade. "Move aside and let me complete my task, musketeer!" "Then it is death you crave!" he hissed, his rapier flashing in his hand now. "I shall happily give it to you in the queen's honor!" Alexandra drew her blade as her foe rushed forward. She parried his initial thrust and then counter-thrust, which he swatted aside. A flurry of thrusts and ripostes followed, the two warriors measuring one another, vying for advantage in the narrow hallway. Steel rang and flashed. Alexandra's sword point tore a vent in one of her foe's sleeves, and she followed up with a swipe at his eyes, but he dodged away nimbly. He lunged in with the speed of a striking serpent and she caught his blade on hers before it pierced her stomach, turning it aside. They pressed blade-to-blade, moving around one another in a slow, deadly circle, their eyes locked. He danced away again as a main-gauche flashed in her hand, nearly shearing his throat open. He spun around her next attack, and when he was facing her again, a pistol had appeared in his free hand. At point blank range, he pulled the trigger. The thunderous bark of the firearm rattled her teeth as she bent backwards, the bullet passing harmlessly overhead. Alexandra somersaulted backward gracefully, coming to her feet with her rapier guarding against a follow-up attack. A lot of bemusement crossed his face. "Very pretty, good sir," he said. "But it will not save you." He darted in again and another furious exchange of swordplay followed. His blade kissed the top of her thigh, leaving a shining crimson thread on her skin. She paid him in kind with a nick across his cheek, followed by cutting the red plume from his hat. He was nearly as fast as she was, and his recklessness made him dangerously unpredictable, even to one as skilled and experienced as Alexandra. Their blades grated as they strained against one another, teeth clenched and eyes flashing in fury. With a cry of effort, she shoved with all her might and threw him back. He kept his feet and remained on guard, irritated by his foe's grit and skill. "D'Artagnan!" shouted Athos as he and Aramis dragged the unconscious Porthos across the hallway behind the combatants, disappearing from sight. This distracted the Musketeer, who turned to look behind himself in confusion and then disbelief. He glanced back at his foe and then sighed, sheathing his blade. "Until next time, enemy mine;” he said, before darting around the corner to catch up with his comrades. Alexandra waited some seconds after he was gone and then sagged against the wall, sighing heavily. She rubbed her face for a moment before returning her rapier to its sheathe and continuing on. She had to find Mark and Rebecca. The door to the room swung open and Mark staggered inside, panting in pain. His entire leg felt like it was on fire, and it was maddeningly sticky. He had lost his sword while searching for Becky, but it mattered little if he couldn't find her. He tumbled into a sitting position, propping himself up on his hands and trying to breathe. Everything hurt now, and it was getting to the place where he couldn't move. His head throbbed and he was getting dizzy. With extreme effort, he managed to tear one of his sleeves off, and tied it around his leg, hoping it would act as a tourniquet and perhaps staunch the bleeding. It stung like fucking Hell and to his distress did nothing ease his pain. He sat there panting, when a solemn figure in red moved slowly by the door. There was a pause and then the person came back into view, peering at Mark quizzically. Clad in red robes and a little red skull cap, his tight, lemony features creased in recognition and then disbelief. "I know you," the Cardinal murmured, his eyes never leaving Mark. "Yes, you are the boy from the field, the one who claimed to be a Spanish noble and had the pretty girl with him." He stepped closer, still scrutinizing Mark, who tried to move backwards, his body screaming in protest. "But you died," the elderly man stated. "My captain shot you. You died in that field. What witchcraft is this?" Annoyance flashed in the Cardinal's eyes now. "So, you are the cause of all this tumult. The girl I was to give to the queen, she is missing and now I know why." He pulled a pistol from within the voluminous folds of his red robes and cocked it before pointing the muzzle down at Mark's face. "I think it is time I dealt with this problem myself, once and for all." Too hurt and exhausted to fight back, Mark squeezed his eyes shut; "I Kick You In The Nuts, Richelieu!" shrilled a voice from the doorway behind the Cardinal, the shout followed by a sickening thump as a musketeer's boot appeared beneath Richelieu's groin. The man stiffened for a moment in confusion, but then his eyes crossed, and he bit his lower lip as his skin turned a sickly shade of green. While Richelieu slumped forward and then fell on his side, trembling and holding the family jewels, Mark goggled up at Becky, who stood indignantly in the doorway with her hands on her hips, glaring down at His Eminence. "Asshole;” she muttered as she stepped over the Cardinal and came over to Mark, who was shaking with the effort of holding himself up. Her eyes welled with emotion as she knelt next to him. "Oh, Mark," she said in a gentle voice. "Look at you, you got stabbed, baby. I'm so sorry;” "I'll be alright," he managed to say as she hugged him to her. "At least you still look amazing, no matter how badly your ass has been kicked." Becky's laugh choked back her sob and she smiled at him, tears in her eyes. "Smart-ass," she murmured. "C'mon, let me bind your boo-boo properly and then we'll get out of here, before everyone in Paris is dead." She fixed his makeshift tourniquet and then helped him stand. Once he was upright, he took a deep breath and smiled at her. "I think I can walk, I was just in need of a breather, ya' know?" She giggled. "How the Hell are we gonna explain a rapier wound through your thigh when you get home?" "With any luck, Chester will have a little something' to fix me right up." Mark replied. "Let's go. If we are where I think we are, then our ride isn't that far away." They walked cautiously down several smaller hallways, avoiding any and all encounters. They chaos seemed to have abated, at least for now. Alexandra had predicted that if fighting broke out, there was be lots of confused violence, followed by the various guard companies withdrawing to their assigned wings of the palace, to directly protect their charges, such as the king, queen and cardinal. "Bet the Cardinal's guards are gonna be upset," Mark chuckled. "He's nowhere near his quarters, and they let him get kicked in the freaking balls." Becky giggled as she walked alongside him, her arm through his. "You have no idea how good that felt, Mark. A girl could get used to that. Maybe we should visit Berlin, see if I can kick Hitler in the nuts." "One grand adventure at a time, teach;” he said wearily, causing her to laugh. But her mirth was brought up short when a solitary figure appeared in front of them, wearing red and clad in a black mask, a rapier and several pistols on their belt. Becky scowled, getting ready to step in front of her student, when Mark seemed to sigh in relief. "I am glad to see you are both well," said the person, walking forward, pulling their golden hair out of its ponytail and removing the mask. Becky's heart leapt as she came face-to-face with Lady Alexandra once more. "Thank the Lord." She stepped in and embraced them both, all three of them trembling at being reunited. Alexandra finally smiled at her friends and nodded. "We must still get you out of here, before the guards return to some sense of normalcy. Mark, do you still have the place name I gave to you?" Mark smiled wearily. "I; it's in the little pocket in my pants here, but it's probably pretty red and unreadable by now." "It's a good thing, then, that I wrote a copy, non?" Alexandra lilted, pulling a small piece of vellum out from beneath the sash she wore and handing it to Becky. "Go to this place," the noblewoman instructed. "By carriage, it should not take more than three days. It is a sanctum I use on occasion and it will be safe. Lisette and I will find you there a day or two after you arrive." She then handed two small, round jars into Becky's palm as well. "Use these to salve your wounds, until I arrive. I promise you, they will work." "How can we thank you?" Becky asked, staring at Alexandra, enchanted. The French woman smiled and then pulled Becky to her, kissing her deeply and passionately. Becky shuddered and moaned, her arms wrapping around Alexandra and returning the kiss passionately. Mark smiled as he watched the blondes make out for almost a minute before Alexandra reluctantly pulled away. "We need to stop, or we will be fucking right here in the halls of the palace," she breathed, wiping at the corner of her mouth with a finger. "We will see one another soon, and celebrate then." She turned to Mark and smiled before leaning in and kissing him gently. "You are a brave man, my friend. Never doubt it, no matter what travails Heaven provides." She walked them through several secret passages now, until they emerged into a small courtyard, under the cover of night. Standing nearby, a non-descript carriage awaited them. Alexandra wrapped Becky in a cloak and then spoke to the driver while the clambered inside. His instructions were clear, and he would not deviate from them. Becky and Mark looked out a small window, smiling and waving at Alexandra, who held up her hand to bid them farewell. The carriage exited the Louvre via a small gate where the guards asked no questions, and then they were on their way through Paris. Mark sank back into the surprisingly plush seat and sighed heavily. "Try not to get kidnapped again, Becks," he said lazily. "I'm not sure how much more of this my body can take." "But being rescued by you is one of my favorite reasons to use tawdry sex as a thank you," she protested, turning to smile at him and tracing a fingernail up and down his chest. "You wouldn't deprive me of that joy, would you, hero?" "Perish the thought, teach;” he chuckled tiredly. A time to recuperate. Mark had Lisette pinned beneath him and rocked back and forth on top of her, his cock plunging in and out of her molten cunt, while she groaned in pleasure. It felt so good to have this boy's tool inside her again. Her legs were wrapped around his strong waist and her hips moved in time with his, taking him in as deep as she could. Lisette rarely kissed anyone who wasn't her mistress, but in this case, she was making a willing exception. Their tongues tangled wetly as they fucked, exploring one another. The tingling heat was overtaking her, and she knew it would not be long now. She crossed her ankles behind him and she bit at the skin of his chest, shuddering in delight. Mark arched his back, pushing as deep inside her as he could, before shaking and allowing himself release. Her wanton cunt gripped his cock while he came deep inside her, his whole being awash with unreal pleasure. They moaned through a frenzied kiss and then sagged together, spent and sated, at least for now. Moans, pants and sighs of bliss attracted Mark and Lisette's attention and they looked off their side; also on the huge bed with them, Becky and Alexandra were sitting together, with their arms and legs wrapped around one another, kissing hungrily as they squirmed their slick pussies together. Their matching golden hair was damp with the sweat of their exertions, skin slick and shining. The greedy smacking and sucking sounds their slits made as they mingled made the four lovers shiver in delight. Alexandra and Becky were groping and fondling one another with unreal need, their nails leaving red marks and their fingers gripping tight enough to leave welts. Neither relented, though, desperate to cum together. The moans became groans and they were panting as they gyrated their hips, churning rhythmically in a sensual dance of bliss. They pulled tighter against one another, clenching their teeth and craning their necks as they peaked, then crying out and pressing their molten, gooey pussies as they came. More feverish kissing punctuated the climax and the finally both collapsed backward, chests heaving, their legs still scissored together. Steam seemed to be rising from their bodies, skin flushed pink. The four lovers lay silent for some minutes, just basking in their shared bliss. Mark finally pulled himself out of Lisette and then knelt over her face, allowing the dark-haired girl to slide his cock into her mouth, cleaning their mingled cum from his cock, which she did with great delight. Becky and Alexandra finally clasped wrists and pulled themselves up into a sitting position, hugging tiredly, but not willing to relinquish their most intimate contact. They kissed deeply and contentedly, fondling one another's tits. Lisette looked over at them and giggled. Alexandra looked over at her servant, her eyebrow raised. "What is so funny, girl?" Lisette turned on her side and rested her head on her hand while Mark spooned in behind her. "I was just thinking, Mistress; you and Miss Rebecca look so much alike. What if you are her ancestor?" Becky and Alexandra both thought about that, looked at one another for a moment, shrugged and began kissing again, their tongues tangling loudly. "And if that was the case, think about what we discussed the other day," she continued, smirking mischievously. "You said you had wondered what it would be like to Monsieur Mark's child, yes? Wouldn't that also make him Miss Rebecca's ancestor?" Mark burst out laughing while Becky choked on her shock, interrupting the kiss she had been so enjoying. She looked at Lisette in disbelief. Alexandra just sighed and shook her head, used to her servant's twisted humor. The moment of metaphysical terror passed for Becky and they all cuddled together in the center of the bed, kissing tenderly and caressing. Alexandra had told Becky all about Mark's efforts to find her and reach her, what he had undergone and risked. Becky's eyes shone as she looked at Mark at promised to make sure he was properly thanked until the end of time. "I wish you could stay," Alexandra almost moped, regretting that she had to give her new friends up. "I enjoy your company, and I am not ashamed to say I love you both." "Feeling's mutual, Alexa," Becky lilted, tracing a fingernail across her generous tit. "But maybe we needn't end our association. If we designate a consistent place, when you know you are available, you can leave a message there. Mark and I will check for messages, and when we see one, we can visit you at the appointed time. No conflicts or dangers presented, as long as we're all certain of the clear lines of communication." "I like that idea," Alexandra said, grinning. "And I have a gift for you both." She climbed off the bed and went to retrieve something. She returned shortly with two bottles, which she presented to them. "A new type of wine, invented in my native region of Champagne," she said, kneeling on the bed as they examined the bottles. "Twice fermented and sweet on the tongue, not unlike my darling Rebecca." Becky blushed and Mark grinned. "You'll be glad to know that in our time, champagne is one of the most expensive and sought-after drinks in the world, used in every important celebration." "That does please me, Mark." Alexandra said, nodding her head and deciding to not chide him this time about telling her the future. "And now that I think of it, literally, I've got a present for you, Alexa." Mark mused, getting off the bed. The three women watched as he walked into a large closet, rummaging around loudly. When he returned, he was holding what appeared to be several unusual books, which he handed to Alexandra. "What are these?" she asked, puzzled. "Well, the graphic novel is a pictorial history of Wonder Woman, who you may recall I told you a little bit about," he explained, sitting on the bed again. "And the other three books are all written by a man named Alexander Dumas and are fictional works about the Three Musketeers. I figured they'd be humorous reading for you." She looked up at him incredulously. "But; why were they in my closet here in my chalet?" He grinned again. "Well, just a moment ago, I decided to give them to you. So in a few days, I'm gonna gather them up, bring them here to just before Becky and I arrive, and bury 'em in your closet, where I know they are. That way, I don't run into any of us. And clearly it worked." Becky made a wry face. "Ya' know, I'd say you're getting the hang of this whole temporal travel thing, but I'm pretty sure you're only getting the hang of abusing it." Mark smirked at her and pinched her nipple, making her shiver and bite her lip. He then looked back at Alexandra. "And when you're done with 'em, you can just leave 'em in our drop-off spot and Becks and I'll pick them up. That way, there's no anachronistic copies of nineteenth-century novels or twentieth-century comic books lying around to be discovered by archaeologists." "I take back what I said just now, you're gonna get us all clock-hammered right out of existence." Becky sighed, causing her lovers to laugh. Mark and Becky lay side-by-side in her bed and holdings hands, back in their own time and generally none the worse for wear. They'd learned some valuable lessons and had made some important contacts along the way. "Do' you really think Alexandra's my ancestor?" Becky mused, looking at her bedroom ceiling. Mark shrugged. "You sure look a lot alike, and you're both Hell on wheels. I'm still amused by the notion of me being your great-great-great-whatever grandfather." She sighed and shook her head. "I can handle the notion of fucking and falling in love with my great-whatever grandmother, but the notion of you as my whatever grandfather gives me the jibblies. Just promise me you won't impregnate Alexa and make that come true, Mark." He chuckled. "I promise. I have no idea how trans-temporal alimony or visitation rights even work." Becky giggled and turned in to face him, cuddling close. "So, who're you gonna save me from next, hero?" she purred, nipping at his earlobe and making him shiver. "Oh, God, Becks, can we start out with some really ferocious kindergartners from the Roaring Twenties taking you hostage? I can probably handle that right about now." She giggled again and crawled on top of him, staring down into his eyes and kissing his nose while she squirmed her tits against him. "Take me to New York in the Twenties and I'll show you how liberated a flapper girl I can be," she whispered. "Deal?" "Deal." Mark replied, pulling her down and kissing her soulfully. Count Mark and Becky in! I Think I'm Getting The Hang Of This! Finally home. Mark sat at his dining room table, eating dutifully. His mom had prepared short ribs and mashed potatoes for dinner, one of his favorites. What she didn't know was that Mark had substituted several herbs and spices into her collection, items he'd brought back from his temporal travels. At the very least, this meant they were technically several hundred years old, or sometimes that they didn't exist in the modern era at all. "I'm enjoying this particular batch of thyme that I put in the braise," Dhallyla Pritchard remarked as she gently stabbed some green beans with her fork. "Mark, where did you say you got it for me? The flavor is so; special." Mark shrugged. "Another shop I thought I'd try out," he replied. "Nowhere near our usual places." "Well, keep it up, son," his father said, sitting at the other end of the table. "No offence to your mother's cooking, but the spices we were getting before weren't helping the cause. Now this is flavor." "Such a good little minion," his mom said sweetly, reaching over and pinching his cheek. "First, you did amazingly well on your Physics exam and boosted your overall grade to the place where the university accepted you, and now you're an herbs and spices guru. Talk about an unexpected change." "Yeah," his sister Roxy said, sitting across from him, and trying to keep the suspicion out of her voice. "Unexpected is right." "Now Roxy, be nice," their mom chided. "You should be happy for your little brother, he'll be going to university with you." "As long as she pulls her grades up," grunted dad, pausing in eating to waggle his fork in her general direction. "You promised us you'd keep your grades up and we'd let you live here rent-free as a result, Rox. We're living up to our end of the bargain, what's so difficult about yours?" "Maybe I should study more and party less," she grumbled, scowling at her food. She hated to admit it, but her mom was right, the spices were great. Where had the little trouser-snake bought them? "Ya' know, open my mind more and my legs less?" "Dear!" Dhallyla gasped, looking at her daughter in shock. "Nobody said you were behaving licentiously! There's no need to use language like that!" "Sorry," the dark-haired girl sighed, putting down her fork. "Just been on edge lately. Seems to have been The Mark Show around here recently,

On today's show, the WIP Midday Show is live from Klondike Kate's in Newark, Delaware. But, that is the happiest part of today as the midday show must react to another A.J. Brown tantrum as he took to a twitch livestream last night to air out all the Eagles during laundry. Are you sick of A.J. Brown and his perpetual drama too? Plus, reacting to Jaire Alexander's shock exit from football. As well as, Eliot Shorr-Parks and Devan Kaney both joining the show to debate and give their perspective, updated QB power rankings, replaying Nick Sirianni's sit down with the morning show, and more!

Do you immediately reach for coffee in the morning just to feel human or have afternoon crashes by 2 PM? This episode is for you.  Today in The Wellness Effect, we're diving into adrenal fatigue—or more accurately, HPA axis dysregulation—and why that exhausting cycle isn't just "normal adulting." We'll unpack what's actually happening when your stress system's alarm has been blaring for so long that the batteries finally died. Whether you're stuck in the "tired but wired" cycle, convinced you just need more willpower, or wondering why every small inconvenience feels like a major catastrophe, this conversation will completely shift how you understand energy, stress, and what your body actually needs to function.   In this episode, you'll hear: [00:33] - The real signs you're dealing with adrenal fatigue beyond just feeling tired [20:36] - What your adrenals actually do and the critical hormones they produce [23:40] - The stages of HPA axis dysfunction: from high cortisol to completely bottomed out [25:13] - How adrenal dysfunction affects your thyroid, sex hormones, blood sugar, and immune system [28:40] - What quitting caffeine reveals about your adrenal health [31:05] - What the HTMA test reveals about adrenal function through mineral patterns [32:30] - The exhaustive symptom checklist [37:13] - Nutrition fixes: why undereating and skipping breakfast destroy your adrenals [41:11] - Sleep requirements for women. Seven hours isn't enough! [43:18] - When training is destroying your adrenals [43:52] - Stage four HPA axis dysfunction: when rest is the only cure [46:26] - Supplement supports: magnesium, vitamin C, B vitamins, and adaptogens [50:57] - The productivity mindset shift: reframing what "productive" actually means   Key Takeaways: Your adrenals produce critical hormones including cortisol, adrenaline, DHEA, and more—they regulate stress response, metabolism, blood pressure, immune function, and sex hormones HPA axis dysregulation happens in stages: you start with high cortisol from chronic stress, then eventually your body can't keep up and cortisol crashes—that's when you really feel the exhaustion Rest isn't lazy, it's the most productive thing you can do for long-term health—schedule it like an appointment and don't miss it   Want more from us? Visit our website: https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/ Follow us on Instagram: @wellnesseffectpod Lacey Iskra - @laceeiskk Jensen - @wellnesswjensen Kira Iskra - @kiraiskk Lifestyle U have helped over 1,000+ women transform their mind and body and become the best version of themselves. Want to be next? Click Here to Apply! - https://www.lifestyleucoaching.ca/apply If you loved this episode and want to hear more, subscribe and leave a review! Share this episode with a friend who's ready to start their own wellness journey. Follow us on Instagram at @wellnesseffectpod to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes and tips.  

This episode was sponsored by Cannonball Moments LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/ Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/ In this no‑BS episode of Dropping Bombs, Chad Sanschagrin delivers the exact mindset shifts unlocking growth, influence, and unstoppable execution. The national bestselling author of Keep Telling Yourself and founder of Cannonball Moments explains why teams win when leaders coach the person, not the position—and how identity drives behavior and results. He also  reveals how a childhood "trauma" fueled a victim mentality that nearly destroyed him... until he uncovered the shocking truth years later that turned him into a sought‑after performance coach and host of The Cannonball Mindset. Steal the frameworks: use his four‑question interrupt to dismantle limiting stories, practice the "pause of choice" before reacting, go all‑in by taking your hands off the chips, stop being "illiterate by choice," and upgrade from lack to abundance so performance follows. If you're leading teams or leading yourself, this conversation gives you clear steps to build confidence, culture, and revenue—without fluff. Watch, take notes, subscribe, and implement—this is your wake‑up call to unlock true abundance and stop self-sabotaging now.

Are you tender with yourself? Transformational coach and change consultant Gail Cox probes what mindfulness and self-compassion really entail, including slowing down and softening, being where your feet are, and ‘kind-ing your mind.' Relating stories from her own life, she illuminates having a free pass versus giving oneself a permission slip, and healing from psoriasis. www.gailcoxcoaching.com · Gail's episode on open-water swimming in Mallorca · This episode's podcast notes and photograph · www.mariettesnyman.co.za · www.facebook.com · www.instagram.com · www.linkedin.com

7. Schleicher's Dismissal and Hindenburg's Manipulation. Timothy Ryback discusses how on January 28, 1933, Chancellor Schleicher requested six months of martial law from Hindenburg to allow the politically deteriorating Nazi party to stabilize and restore democracy. Hindenburg, angered by Schleicher trying to dictate terms and preempting the decision in a newspaper, dismissed him. Schleicher immediately attempted a coup by ordering Hammerstein, head of the Reichswehr, to intervene. Hindenburg, who proved to be stubborn and manipulative, blocked the coup and told Hammerstein to return to the garrison. Hindenburg then appointed Blomberg as the new Minister of Defense. Exhausted at age 84, Hindenburg ultimately made the "unpleasant task" of appointing Hitler Chancellor. 1933 VON PAPPEN

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH ON THE PARASHAH 2 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/ Books/9781422645581.html After one of the angels, appearing in the form of a person, told Avraham that Sarah would have a baby, the pasuk says that Sarah laughed, wondering how she could possibly have a child at such an advanced age. The Chizkuni writes that Sarah did not laugh at the moment she heard the news. The angel had said she would have a baby the following year at the same time they were currently in, which was Pesach. Initially, Sarah believed this would happen. She was filled with emunah that the words of the malach would come true. But when Tishre came around six months later and she was still not pregnant, that is when she began to lose hope. Only six months remained until Pesach, and nothing at all had changed in all that time. She looked at her situation, at her age, at the natural limitations, and it suddenly seemed impossible. It was then that Hashem asked Avraham, "Why did Sarah laugh?" and said, hayi paleh meHashem davar — is anything beyond Hashem? Even though she was so old, and even though only a six-month window remained for pregnancy and childbirth, Hashem still wanted her to believe it could happen. She believed for so long, but the moment it seemed too unlikely, she despaired. Of course, the rebuke was only on her exalted level, but the lesson is deeply applicable to all of us. There are times when we get our hopes up and truly believe in Hashem's salvation. We hold on tightly, convinced that what we want can happen. But as the months and years go by, keeping up that hope becomes harder. Sometimes the situation looks so bleak, so unlikely, that even imagining salvation feels unrealistic. It is precisely for those moments that we must remind ourselves, hayi paleh meHashem davar? Is anything beyond Hashem? It doesn't matter how long it has been. It doesn't matter how unlikely the outcome appears. Hashem can do anything, at any moment, and He wants us to believe that with all our hearts. I once read a story from the days of the Gold Rush. A man bought a plot of land and dug for months. He invested enormous time, money, and energy, but he found nothing. Exhausted and discouraged, he finally gave up and sold the land for pennies. The very next morning, the new owner dug just three feet deeper and struck one of the richest diamond pockets ever discovered. Three feet was the difference between despair and fortune. It is often the final moments before the yeshuah that feel the darkest. Hashem is ready to give; He just wants us to hold on a little longer. I once heard a mashal of a man trapped in a room that was completely dark, with no windows. He tried to chisel his way out through thick cinder blocks. Day after day he worked, but the room remained just as dark as when he started. He saw no progress at all. But what he didn't know was that he had almost reached the outside. A few more chisels would have broken through the wall and flooded the room with brilliant daylight. We can be the same. We pray so much, we put in effort, we do everything we can, and yet nothing appears to change. We don't realize that our tefillot and efforts may already have brought us to the very edge of breakthrough. We must never stop. The hope itself is a tremendous mitzvah. We are in this world to fulfill a spiritual mission, and every bit of hope, every tefillah, every moment we strengthen ourselves, brings us success in Hashem's eyes. The harder it is to keep hoping, the greater the avodah becomes. And if salvation comes, it will be because of those very tefillot and efforts we invested during the struggle. Hashem asks only that we continue hoping, continue believing, even when it seems bleak. If we do that, we have done our part, and we will be considered successful by Hashem.

Let's break down why so many women feel drained even when they're following a healthy lifestyle. The truth is, if your body is functioning in a state of dysfunction, surface-level changes aren't enough. I explain how stress, life events, and hormone imbalances quietly build up over time until your system hits a tipping point—what I call the "overflowing bucket effect." If you've ever been told your labs are "normal" but you still feel far from normal, you'll understand exactly why that happens and what to do next. In this episode, we cover:  How chronic stress and small imbalances accumulate over time and lead to exhaustion Why a clean diet and good sleep aren't enough when your body is already in overload mode Subtle signs that your system is in dysfunction, even when your labs look fine How major life events—grief, transitions, illness, caretaking—physically affect your hormones Why you need to look beyond basic labs to find the real cause of fatigue How to start supporting your biology instead of fighting against it You're not doing the wrong things—you're just missing the bigger picture. Your system has likely been in and out of crisis mode for years. The first step to real healing is understanding what your hormones are trying to tell you and how to work with them, not against them. If you're ready to stop guessing and start uncovering what's really driving your fatigue, I invite you to join the waitlist for The 12 Week Female Hormone Solution. Inside the program, we use advanced hormone testing and personalized protocols to help you finally understand what your body needs—so you can get your energy, metabolism, and confidence back. Join the waitlist here: https://drbethwestie.com/waitlist/

In this inspiring episode of Confidently Balance Your Hormones, Functional Health Practitioner Dee Davidson sits down with her client Jayne, a vibrant, health-conscious woman who seemed to be doing everything right — clean eating, regular workouts, and all the “healthy habits” you'd expect.Yet behind the scenes, Jayne was running on empty — exhausted, moody, and frustrated that her doctors kept telling her, “Everything looks fine.”Together, Dee and Jayne unpack how functional lab testing revealed what traditional labs had missed: mineral imbalances, adrenal fatigue, and stress patterns that were quietly draining Jayne's energy. Through targeted nutrition, mineral support, and lifestyle shifts, Jayne discovered that “normal” doesn't always mean optimal — and that true wellness starts when you finally listen to what your body is trying to say.If you've ever felt dismissed by “normal” results but know something deeper is off, this episode will empower you to dig deeper and reclaim your vitality — one insight at a time.Ready to explore your own functional lab journey?Book a session with Dee here → https://calendly.com/confidentlyloveyourselfConnect with Dee on Instagram for daily hormone, gut, and mineral tips → HereDisclaimerThe information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It should not be considered a substitute for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Listeners are encouraged to consult their licensed healthcare practitioner before making any health-related changes, including implementing any suggestions, supplements, or protocols discussed in this episode.All experiences shared are personal and may not reflect typical results.© 2025 Dee Davidson, FDN-P | Confidently Love Yourself™

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! If you are anything like us, you have a hard time resting. It can be challenging to take time out from our busy lives, even when we need to. In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss tips for how to rest. Take a break and listen now.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com

Today we talk about the cycle most parents do when trying to lose weight and drop some body fat. Sound familiar? If so then the FREE 5 Day Reset will be for you and the link is coming soon

Send us a textGideon in Judges 8:4 was lacking support, lacking strength, and was flat out exhausted mentally and physically, but the scripture said that he was still in pursuit of the victory that God had promised him. Could you also be at the place of exhaustion and you don't know what to do? Then this episode is for you. DON'T YOU GIVE UP NOW!Click link to check out Kimberly Canty's new amazing podcast FROM SEED TO SANCTUARY!https://fromseedtosanctuary.buzzsprout.com Email me at JesseCantyPodcast@yahoo.com Feel free to give thru CASHAPP. $JesseECantyAnything you give will be appreciated. Be blessed and thank you. Support the show

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Exhausted! Staying closer to home today. Slots. Live poker. Online Omaha.

If your doctor told you your labs are "normal" but you still feel tired, bloated, anxious, or off in your body, this episode is for you. Claudia explains the difference between conventional lab ranges and optimal ones, the patterns most doctors overlook, and how functional blood work can finally give you the clarity and answers you've been missing in perimenopause. You'll learn: Why "normal" lab results don't mean your body is functioning optimally The difference between conventional and functional lab interpretation Common markers that get dismissed - and why they matter What functional practitioners look for that most doctors don't How missed patterns can lead to years of unnecessary symptoms How we use blood work inside The Perimenopause Method to build effective plans   Sources: Defining laboratory reference values Understanding the limitations of laboratory reference ranges   CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE   LOVE THE SHOW? Please subscribe, leave a 5-star rating, review, and share with other women, so they can get the support they need in perimenopause!    CONNECT WITH CLAUDIA:  Website YouTube Instagram Facebook Inquiries   FREE RESOURCES:  Mini Training: Why You're Exhausted, Moody & Inflamed - And Why It's Not Just Your Hormones Peri-What?! The Must-Have Guide for Women 40+ Navigating Hormone Changes Perimenopause Daily Checklist HRT 3-Day Crash Course   GET SUPPORT:  Perimenopause Clarity Session The Perimenopause Method Program Perimenopause HRT Roadmap Course   PRODUCTS WE LOVE: Equip Prime Protein (Save 15% w/ code: healthcoachclaudia) Microbiome Labs Total Gut Restoration (Save 15% w/ code: claudia123) BodyHealth Reds Powder Symphony Natural Health Melatonin Glow Below Vaginal Estrogen or DHEA For more products we recommend, click HERE.  

Send us a Message!This episode touches on the theme of Practical Psychology.In this episode, we explore the Physical, Mental, and Emotional reasons why employees go home so exhausted after work. We dig into the psychology behind these factors and look at the obligation on organizations to support them.Our prescription for this episode is for organizations and individuals to look at the agency they have when it comes to understanding and impacting employee well-being.Past Episode Referenced:S4 E2: Leadership Tips: Friend/Friendly, Respond/React, Emotional LoadHere are links to the two articles we talked about at the beginning. Thanks HR Digest and Feedspot!To talk more about management training, reach out to us at info@roman3.ca or through our LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/roman3Don't forget to sign up for our New Quarterly Newsletter that launched in the fall of 2024!About Our Hosts!James is an experienced business coach with a specialization in HR management and talent attraction and retention. Coby is a skilled educator and has an extensive background in building workforce and organizational capacity. For a little more on our ideas and concepts, check out our Knowledge Suite or our YouTube Channel, Solutions Explained by Roman 3.

Feeling completely wiped out even after your baby finally sleeps through the night? In this episode, we dig into why postpartum exhaustion isn't always a sleep issue. You'll discover how nutrition could be the missing piece in your energy puzzle and how small, strategic changes to your meals can help you feel like yourself again.

Ansh Singh shares about the stress of explaining his identity to his classmates.

If every evening feels like emotional warfare, you’re not alone. Exhausted, desperate, and out of ideas? In this episode, Justin and Kylie share three powerful ways to turn chaotic, tear-filled nights into calm, connected moments — so bedtime stops being a battle and starts feeling peaceful again. KEY POINTS The three pillars for calmer nights: routine, environment, and presence Why predictability helps kids feel safe (and parents feel sane) The surprising power of dim lights, soft music, and storytime What your kids are really asking for when they “stall” bedtime Simple, loving ways to reconnect — even when you’re out of patience QUOTE OF THE EPISODE “They just want to feel safe and secure and know that they’re loved — that’s the game.” RESOURCES MENTIONED What Your Child Needs From You by Dr Justin Coulson More resources: happyfamilies.com.au ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Create a predictable nightly rhythm — same order, same cues. Ditch screens an hour before bed and dim the lights. Be present, not perfect — a calm hug goes further than any rule. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How busy are you? Do you feel tired? Emotionally, not physically tired. Is your soul tired? Today we start our new series with a story when the Disciples were at a point of spiritual exhaustion. For those who need rest, this message is for you.

I am delighted to connect with Dr. Andrea Matsumura today. Dr. Matsumura, affectionately known as the Sleep Goddess, is a board-certified sleep medicine physician, menopause expert, speaker, and the founder of the Dream Sleep Method.  In our conversation today, we explore how different life stages impact our sleep quality. We discuss the effects of wearable technology, orthosomnia, and sleep stages, and explain why sleep quality is more important than its quantity. Dr. Matsumura highlights the red flags for sleep, breaks down how sleep deprivation affects our health, and examines specific sleep issues, including sleep-disordered breathing, Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, chronic insomnia, and the challenges of shift work. She explains why sleep apnea is seen more commonly in menopause, and how it occurs in 67% of menopausal women, yet most fail to realize that they have it. We also tackle the risks of untreated sleep apnea and the sleep syndrome of menopause, sharing ways to address sleep issues with appliances, technology, medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and ACT therapy, and pointing out those that have proven to be ineffective.  This conversation with Dr. Matsumura is truly invaluable, and I look forward to reconnecting once her new book is published. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How hormone changes in menopause impact airway function and sleep quality. Why sleep apnea in women often goes undiagnosed  How fragmented sleep affects brain function and mood Why even mild sleep apnea can have significant health consequences How different hormones influence specific stages of sleep. How hormone therapy can improve sleep quality without curing sleep apnea The value of oral devices and positional strategies for supporting breathing at night How CPAP therapy can transform sleep and improve cardiovascular health The benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy for addressing insomnia  Why prescription medications and supplements seldom solve long-term sleep problems Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com Connect with Dr. Andrea Matsumura On her website Instagram Pre-order Dr. Andrea's book, The New Perimenopause.

Dr. JB Hixson SORRY, NO VIDEO VERSION TODAY! Mary welcomes back JB Hixson today to help us all turn down the volume on our lives. We are inordinately busy - and not just that, we are tuning in the world more and more and tuning out that still small voice, the one thing that can give us strength and comfort. Sometimes we don't even know how unbalanced our lives are until we tune it all out and spend time with Jesus. God knows what we need, in every generation. The world is so chaotic, and adding to the geopolitical insanity, there are countless voices and opinions presenting other ways to view everything. Exhausted yet? Maybe you are but don't realize it. JB and Mary look at David the sweet Psalmist, and his declaration that what we really need is to draw near to Jesus - and drink of the living water He offers. David, and that deer, panted for the water during the most difficult times, and so should we - whether we are on the run from enemies, navigating apostasy in the church, watching the news about man's inhumanity to man - all these things sap our strength. He is our peace, and He knows what will make for our peace: whatsoever is true, lovely, and praiseworthy. Let's unplug and satisy that thirst.  Have a long drink of cool water.

Join the Catalyst Mastermind - Sign up today! Is this you? You're the go-to girl, the one who holds it all together. But at 2 a.m., you're wide-eyed, Googling “how to feel like myself again.” Your Instagram feed is curated, but yesterday you cried in the Target parking lot. (No judgment—I've been there. More than once.)   Here's the deal: you're not broken. You're just living a life that was never meant to run on hustle and hustle alone. Most women aren't overwhelmed because they're doing it wrong—they're overwhelmed because no one ever told them they could stop and ask, What do I actually need?   Between soccer practice and science projects, we've mastered productivity. But peace? That feels like a luxury. If your life looks full but feels bone-dry, that's not failure—it's a flashing neon sign saying, Something's gotta change. So today, we're not tweaking your to-do list. We're reimagining it.   Timestamps:   (00:52) - The Hidden System You Built Without Realizing It (04:30) - Why “Low Maintenance” Is Secretly Holding You Back (05:02) - What Strategic Living Really Looks Like (and Why It Matters) (05:31) - The Cost of Living When Your Time Isn't Your Own (09:08) - 3 Powerful Actions You Can Take Today to Reclaim Your Life WATCH ALLI  ON YOUTUBE Links to great things we discussed:    Catalyst Mastermind Alli's Skincare Recommendation - Aestura ATOBARRIER365   I hope you loved this episode!

From February, 2021: A homeschooling mom is at her wits end being a mom and a teacher.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever felt like returning to work after having a baby broke something in you or that the system simply isn't built for mothers, this episode is for you. Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, joins me to talk about the truth so many of us live but rarely say out loud – how hard, lonely and overwhelming it can be to return to work after having a baby. Joeli started Pregnant Then Screwed from her kitchen table while bouncing her baby on her knee. What began as a blog for women to share their stories of discrimination became a decade-long campaign that changed government policy and the national conversation around motherhood and work But it came at a huge personal cost. Joeli shares honestly about the burnout, the pressure, and the toll of fighting for change while raising two young children. It's a powerful reminder that even the strongest women need rest, support and community. Now she's channelling everything she's learned into her new project, Growth Spurt — helping mothers navigate one of the most forgotten transitions of all: returning to work. In this episode, you'll hear: Why the return to work is one of the hardest and least supported parts of motherhood What good employers do differently to support parents truly How to protect your mental health and spot the signs of burnout early Simple ways to share the load more equally at homeWhy connection and community are the antidote to loneliness Joeli's story is both heartbreaking and full of hope. It's a conversation about what it really means to care for others, for the system, and for ourselves. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Need a hand managing the mental load? Download your FREE cheat sheet. If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Work Series: The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Return Post-Maternity - the proven formula that's helped thousands, with Jessica Chivers Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe's Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations' This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women's supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Explore thefamilysuite.co.uk and discover luxury hotels around the world that truly welcome families, without compromise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An antidote to boredom and stuckness. Sarah Ruhl is an award-winning American playwright, author, essayist, and professor. Her latest book is Lessons from My Teachers: From Preschool to the Present. In this episode we talk about: How to orient towards the world with an eagerness to learn How to approach our lives not only as students, but also as teachers Unpacking the moment when "the student becomes the master" What does it mean to have a meditation teacher? Being open to synchronicity or signs from the universe Is everything magic? What Sarah's learned from the venerable psychiatrist Dr. Mark Epstein What it means to "leave an emotion alone" Related Episodes: A Deeply Healthy Kind of Perfectionism | Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo How To Find Joy In an Anxious World |Sara Bareilles and Dacher Keltner Sara Bareilles: Anxiety, Anger, and Art Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Tickets are now on sale for a special live taping of the 10% Happier Podcast with guest Pete Holmes! Join us on November 18th in NYC for this benefit show, with all proceeds supporting the New York Insight Meditation Center. Grab your tickets here! To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris Thanks to our sponsors: AT&T: Staying connected matters. That's why AT&T has connectivity you can depend on, or they will proactively make it right. Visit att.com/guarantee for details. BetterHelp: If you're ready to find the right therapist for you, BetterHelp can help you start that journey. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/Happier.

Outnumbered. Exhausted. Unyielding. Fresh from the brutal siege of Harfleur, King Henry V marches his exhausted, disease-ridden army across hostile French territory—toward Azincourt, and into the jaws of disaster. Outnumbered, starving, and surrounded, the English face a vast French force confident of crushing them. But Henry is no ordinary king. With icy resolve and tactical brilliance, he prepares for a showdown that will defy the odds. What follows is the legendary Battle of Agincourt: a thunderous clash of steel, mud, and willpower that rewrites the rules of medieval warfare. This is the story of one of history's most astonishing military victories—and the king who dared to risk it all. For more This Is History on Agincourt, listen back to The Battle of Crecy in season 6, or hear about the French experience of Agincourt in episode 4 of our miniseries, The Glass King.  Remember, you can always delve deeper into the history behind each episode by becoming a This Is History Royal Favourite on Patreon. In addition to ad-free listening and bonus episodes — now available to watch on video — you get to chat with mediaeval buffs from around the world, chat with Dan and the team, and get exclusive access to behind the scenes extras just for favourites.  Don't miss out. Sign up at patreon.com/thisishistory  –  A Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts  To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices.  Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  Written and presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon  Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Executive Producer - Simon Poole Production Manager - Jen Mistri  Production coordinator - Eric Ryan  Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux Head of content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're a Christian working mom who lies awake playing out every possible scenario — trying to stay ahead of what could go wrong — this episode will feel like exhale. Today we're talking about the kind of anxiety that doesn't always look chaotic on the outside — but feels like a constant mental hum you can't turn off. The silent fear of “what if I don't see it coming?” The emotional exhaustion of always trying to pre-live what hasn't even happened yet. In this episode, you'll learn: Why so much of your anxiety isn't because something is actually wrong — but because you don't know what's next The difference between what-if thinking (fear-driven) vs. even-if faith (peace-anchored) A 3-step biblical reset you can do in real time when your brain starts spiraling How to experience peace before clarity — not after Why God isn't waiting for you to figure it all out — He's waiting for you to stay close If your mind is constantly preparing for things that haven't even happened… if you're tired of living braced for impact… this conversation will show you a new way to walk — steady, grounded, and no longer driven by fear of the unknown.   If you're ready to go deeper, I also share Faithfully Balanced, my course designed to help Christian working moms like you restore peace, guard your priorities, and live faithfully aligned with God — all without adding extra hustle to your life.  Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode: Faithfully Balanced Course

Hey friend,  Ever do everything “right” — eat healthy, exercise, rest — and still feel exhausted? Wonder why the scale won't budge no matter how hard you try? Feel like your body just isn't cooperating no matter how much you plan or prep? In this episode, I'm sharing why low energy and stubborn weight are often rooted in blood sugar imbalance — and three gentle, realistic steps you can take to start restoring balance. You'll learn how small, simple shifts with meals, movement, and stress management can help your body feel safe, supported, and energized. This episode is for any mom who's tired of feeling stuck in her body and ready to finally get her energy back. Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Chronic Health Coaching 169. Crashing After Pushing Yourself Too Hard? Why Stress Management, Rest, and Sleep Hygiene Matter More Than Willpower  156. Stressed and Exhausted? This 5-Minute Body Check-In Can Help You Feel Better Fast 166. Can't Lose Weight No Matter What You Try? Why Sleep Might Be to Blame  Part 4: Connecting with You and Next Steps Contact: → Join our free Facebook group Facebook: → https://facebook.com/chronichealthmoms Instagram: → https://instagram.com/chronichealthmoms YouTube: → https://youtube.com/@chronichealthsolutions?si=OrDqjuavV5dctG0d   Next Steps: Choose one of the three ideas covered in this podcast episode to focus on this week: choose blood sugar balancing meals, move after eating, or manage stress intentionally. Join a supportive community of moms looking for gentle, realistic ways to regain energy and support healthy weight at the free Facebook group: Chronic Health Moms Get more personalized support with Chronic Health Coaching at https://ashleybraden.com/coaching

If your labs are “normal” but you still feel like crap—bloated, fatigued, moody, low libido—this episode is a must-listen. Liz and Becca break down Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), the liver-made protein that can block your sex hormones from doing their job. Learn how SHBG messes with testosterone, estrogen, and metabolism… and why your OB/GYN probably isn't testing for it. From reverse dieting and boron to liver health and insulin resistance, we cover exactly what to do when SHBG is high or low. Functional healing starts here.