Podcasts about exiting

Over the last decade, I've watched private equity surge into the machining world — and I've seen firsthand how often the short-term flip-in-five-years strategy ends up hurting shops, people, customers, and entire supply chains. While the capital can help, the incentives often drive decisions that weaken the very businesses PE firms acquire. But every now and then, someone comes along with a model that stops you in your tracks because it actually makes sense for our industry. That someone is Mark Hillenburg, co-founder of Collective Manufacturing Group, a company built on a radically different vision: buy great machine shops and hold them forever. No flipping. No short-term targets. No cultural upheaval. Just long-term stewardship, disciplined investment, and a deep respect for the people who built these businesses in the first place. In this conversation, Mark and I dig into his incredible journey — starting a tiny shop with his father in a 700-square-foot garage, learning machining the hard way, living through major turnarounds, scaling multi-site aerospace manufacturing, and ultimately becoming disillusioned with traditional PE models. His experiences shaped a philosophy that aligns closely with the heart of American manufacturing: protect the legacy, empower the people, and build a business that lasts. We also talk about how his team is already reviving shuttered shops, empowering internal leaders, gaining trust from OEMs, and receiving deal flow from customers who don't want their critical suppliers bought by traditional PE firms. If you care about the long-term health of the machining ecosystem, you'll want to hear this one. Mark's approach gives me real hope for where this industry can go. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Mark Hillenburg's background in manufacturing (7:07) Exiting the family shop and transitioning into sales/business development roles (9:10) Rebuilding MSP Aviation during a downturn and rising to President/CEO  (13:25) Reconnecting with Matt Ritchie to pursue a new vision: Collective Manufacturing Group (22:38) Finding and acquiring the three shops they purchased (26:59) Why owners chose Collective over traditional PE buyers (32:09) Identifying "hidden gem" employees and future leaders (35:22) Culture-building and becoming an employer of choice (38:34) Collective's four-pillar stakeholder philosophy (39:00) Deal flow (48:13) What matters to Collective when it comes to PE and acquisitions  (51:50) How shops create strategic value—not just parts (53:17) Why going deep with customers beats being transactional (56:44) Collective's financial backing and long-term capital structure (58:31)) Buying three shops in nine months: challenges and lessons (59:33) Is the industry moving away from traditional PE models? Connect with Mark Hillenburg Connect on LinkedIn Collective Manufacturing Group Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK

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Monday 4pm Hour: Have you heard the term "affordability" enough yet? If not, buckle up. It's coming. What do you think is too expensive? Then Jason is joined by one of the founders of Center of the American Experiment to talk about his new book "Second Chance Hiring: An Economic and Ethical Necessity"

Send us a textFeeling overwhelmed in your business? With the holidays approaching, it's easy to get stuck in constant tasks and firefighting. If you're operating—not owning—what you need isn't more hours, but smarter systems and empowered delegation.That's where NexusPoint comes in. They help founders streamline operations and integrate global talent—so you can lead like a CEO, not just survive like one.✨ Exclusive for Renaissance listeners: NexusPoint is waiving their $500 recruiting fee. 

 What happens when life shifts faster than you expect? In this solo episode, Jerome offers a raw and real update on the unexpected changes unfolding in his world. From becoming a faculty member at the Exit Planning Institute to being invited into rooms he once dreamed of, he reflects on recognition, alignment, and the responsibility that comes with thought leadership. Jerome also breaks down the heart of his methodology: helping founders exit to something meaningful rather than from something overwhelming. He shares behind-the-scenes experiences, upcoming speaking engagements, and the personal transitions shaping his next chapter.  This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation that reminds every founder that clarity, purpose, and personal planning remain the true North Star of any successful exit. [00:00 – 01:00] A Solo Episode and a Month of Change Jerome sets the tone with a personal update instead of frameworks or concepts Acknowledges unexpected changes that appeared without warning Frames the episode around reflection rather than instruction [01:00 – 03:10] Becoming Faculty at the Exit Planning Institute Shares the milestone of joining EPI as a faculty member Describes the podcast interview and connection with Scott Snyder Calls it a dream realized after years invested in thought leadership [03:10 – 05:00] Recognition, Intellectual Property, and the Power of Personal Planning Reflects on publishing more exit-focused content than anyone in the country Points out the gap between theoretical expertise and lived exit experience Introduces his core belief that personal planning must lead the strategy [05:00 – 06:00] Exiting To vs Exiting From Defines his signature concept of exiting to instead of exiting from Exiting to creates clarity, identity, and confidence post-exit Exiting from leaves founders in a painful void that can be costly Emphasizes why alignment and future identity are essential [06:00 – 07:15] A Warm Welcome from Exit Planning Exchange Charlotte Shares the invitation to speak on November 19 with EPX Charlotte Reflects on the warmth and connection from the community Highlights the upcoming panel on life after the exit Notes how refreshing genuine, welcoming relationships can feel Key Quotes: “When founders exit TO, they leave with clarity and confidence. When they exit FROM, they find a void.” - Jerome Myers“Most people optimize their exit around goals they never defined in the first place.” - Jerome Myers Join industry leaders shaping the future and secure your spot at the Exit Planning Summit today! https://exitplanningsummit.com/speakers Ready for your next chapter?Start Your Assessment Now

Could a pandemic business-plan lesson for a bored kid spark the next breakout fast-casual brand?This episode moves fast — because Rob Gresham's career has never slowed down. Chris Ressa sits with the restaurant veteran who went from washing dishes at 15 to helping architect the early operational engine behind CAVA's meteoric growth from zero to 80 stores.Rob shares the wild ride: running a steakhouse kitchen as a teenager, getting recruited by Chipotle to fix troubled locations, learning the business side under industry giants, and joining CAVA before it was a household name — building systems, opening markets, and helping scale a brand that eventually went public.Then the pandemic hit. Consulting work vanished. His son was bored. So Rob turned a homeschool project into something much bigger: a business plan for a scratch-made, allergen-conscious chicken concept. When it came time to name it, Rob's son delivered the winner: Isaac's — inspired by Isaac Newton, who invented calculus and discovered gravity while quarantined during the plague. “He changed the world in quarantine,” his son said. “You created a restaurant. Name it Isaac's.”Today, Isaac's Poultry Market has two booming locations, a cult following, and the DNA of a future fast-casual standout. Rob's story is momentum, grit, and timing — the kind Retail Retold was made for.What You'll Hear:How Rob went from washing dishes at 15 to helping scale CAVA into an 80-unit national powerhouseThe pivotal career moves — and mentors — that shaped his operator mindsetWhy he left CAVA at its peak and walked straight into entrepreneurshipThe pandemic moment that sparked Isaac's Poultry Market (and how his son named it)What it really takes to open a restaurant during supply-chain chaos and skyrocketing construction costsHow Rob chose his first two locations — and the real-world negotiation battles behind themWhy exclusives matter, how fast-casual operators think about competition, and the markets he's targeting nextThe scratch-made, allergen-friendly philosophy behind Isaac's menuAnd the big question: Is Isaac's positioned to become the next major fast-casual brand?Chapters00:00 — From Dish Pit to DriveHow a 15-year-old dishwasher discovered his path — and his ambition — in the restaurant world.02:00 — Learning the Business Beyond the KitchenThe mentors and moments that pushed Rob from chef to full-scale operator.04:45 — Chipotle, CAVA, and Fixing What's BrokenRob's early role in stabilizing stores and helping build CAVA's operational backbone from day zero.06:30 — Building a Rocketship BrandCross-country construction sprints, tiny founding teams, and opening stores at breakneck speed.09:00 — The Decision to Walk AwayWhy Rob left CAVA at its peak and refused to transition into an office role.13:00 — Pandemic Curveball → Entrepreneurial BreakthroughHow a business-plan lesson with his son turned into the foundation for Isaac's Poultry Market.14:00 — Naming Isaac's: A Quarantine Stroke of GeniusThe Isaac Newton inspiration that became a bold, meaningful brand name.17:00 — Building Location #1 in a Broken Supply ChainConstruction chaos, blown budgets, and the reality of opening a restaurant during COVID.22:00 — The Battle for Location #2Inside the seven-month negotiation to secure exclusives and protect the emerging brand.29:00 — The Future of Isaac's Poultry MarketHow Rob is approaching growth, second-gen spaces, and...

An Angel For Bishop: Part 3 Willows tortured past exposes itself. In 4 parts, based on a post by BurntRedstone. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Once they were both clean they were breathing hard and standing facing each other. The moment he leaned towards her lips she surged forward to press hers against his. His tongue slipped forward to brush against hers and suddenly she was sucking at his tongue. His hands came up and cupped her breasts and he gently took her nipples between his thumb and finger, feeling the little gold barbells and rings dangle from them. Willow gasped into his mouth and he felt Willow's legs buckle a little. She was beginning to make those needy yips as she rolled her hips. She tugged, but he jolted back. "Willow, I don't have any condoms and I doubt Percy had the decency to put you on the pill. We can't." "I can't get pregnant," was all she said as she tugged at him. "What?" he gasped, as it was difficult holding a conversation with her. "The doctor made sure I couldn't have babies so it's okay," she said in a matter of fact tone. His head was spinning. He was still incredibly worked up and wanted to take Willow right now, but she'd just dropped a bomb from her past in his lap and his mind was reeling with the implications of her words. "Please! I need it!" she whined as he continued to hold her off while he tried to get his head back in the game. Willow dropped to her knees in one movement. First her lips were sliding, then her nose was buried against his stomach. He could feel her swallowing but he couldn't feel her breathing so he pulled back until he heard her gasp.  Willow got to her feet then turned around and put her hands against the shower wall, pushing her ass back. She rubbed him up and down her crack a few times. Dan grabbed her hips and Willow sighed. She was surprisingly tight and he couldn't get over how amazing she felt. Willow was moaning loudly and bearing down with her joyous cries she was loving every second. He could not exploit her vulnerable mental state, but knew that rejection was beyond her capacity to tolerate. So he continued to caress her and gently show her that she was precious and respected. The feeling of real love was enough to set her body into what seemed like multiple waves of ecstasy. Somehow Dan had found an amazing tool of therapy for this sexually abused woman. He pulled her back to stand upright. This sensation and her cries of joy triggered him. For good measure he gave her neck a gentle kiss and felt her trigger off again. He held her exhausted body suspended between his arm circling her chest and his other arm around her hip. She leaned back against his chest and her breath came out in deep gasps. Once their breathing had returned to normal Dan set her feet back on the floor. He looked at her and said "We need to talk about what you said about the doctor. I need to hear the whole story, but later." He tenderly washed between her legs. Then he shampooed and conditioned her hair once more. God he loved running his fingers through her hair and from the way she moaned and purred he knew she loved it too. He washed his hair, rinsed off, and turned the water off. They stepped out and dried off with their thick towels together. He replaced her bandages once more with dry ones. They padded into his bedroom and Dan remembered her clothes should be ready in the dryer. He quickly collected them and brought them back to her. He inspected the garments and saw the jeans were largely undamaged though there were some grease stains on the lower legs he suspected came from riding the motorcycle. Her shirt had a tear where the branch had pierced her shoulder. He could probably fix it but it wouldn't be pretty. He flipped it over and for the first time noticed the faded word across the back. It said 'Bitch'. He frowned. That asshole probably made her wear it. He wouldn't let her wear this again. He ripped it in two between his hands. He looked up and saw Willow staring at him wide eyed. "Sorry, the shirt had a word on it that doesn't belong on you. You won't be wearing clothes like that with me. You deserve better," he said. She smiled shyly at him. He saw she was struggling to get the bikini top on. Now that he was an 'expert' he showed her how to tie the lower string first under her tits (while struggling to keep his hands off of them), spin the knot around to the back, and pull the cups up, tying the top strings behind her neck. With his hands behind her neck, feeling her damp but now much smoother hair caressing his hands he saw she was looking into his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her lips tenderly. He just wanted to feel her amazing lips on his as her kiss was so sweet. Willow's eyes closed and she swayed a little when he pulled back. His heart hurt she was so lovely. How anyone could hurt someone so beautiful was beyond him. He pulled her into a hug and squeezed her body against his, wanting to protect her with his strength and relishing the intimacy. Her arms wrapped around his chest and he felt her shiver. He pulled back and looked at her questioningly. He saw tears sliding down her cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked gently. "I've never felt like this before," she whispered and hiccupped. "I feel so safe in your arms." She clung to him and pressed her face against his neck. He squeezed her to him again, feeling her tremble against him. They stood like that for a while. Once her trembling calmed he stepped back and gave her a smile which she returned. Her eyes glowed and she seemed as relaxed as he'd ever seen her. Chapter 3 Dan gave Willow a tour of the 'log cabin' which was more accurately described as a log mansion. He was rather proud of the building as it showcased his engineering expertise. The building was all on one level and followed the natural contours of the hillside in a serpentine curve with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, or in this case the blizzard which continued to rage into its second day. Under the gleaming hardwood flooring the entire structure was built on a poured concrete base with in-floor heating courtesy of a complex network of piping linked to the hot springs and an even more complex computer control system. The power needed to support the electronics and the rest of the house was fed by a huge series of batteries stored in an underground bunker built into the hillside. This array was on a constant trickle feed from multiple sources. Wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal, and even a small hydro turbine generator tapping into an underground river they discovered during construction. All said, they had energy to spare. Beyond the amazing array of technology he'd built into the mansion the building contained all the comforts you could ask for. There was a huge living room with a large stone fireplace surrounded by deep comfy couches and facing a panoramic view of the mountainside. A large deck started on the northern side of the house and wrapped around to the western side to create a huge, two level socializing area in front of the living and dining room windows. Behind the living room built into the mountain was a large home theatre with stadium seating for twelve, three rows of four comfy recliners. Next to the living room was a large dining room with a massive polished slab of shiny hardwood for a table and seating for twelve. The next room was the kitchen which Willow was familiar with. There was an enormous pantry off the kitchen and a second door which led to the communications/control center for the house which doubled as a safe room. The table in the kitchen sat six and there was a deck accessible by a door next to the table. Exiting from the other side of the kitchen was a corridor which had the laundry room on one side, a utility room on the other, and continued on to the five big guest bedrooms each having a small seating area and a dedicated full washroom. The final bedroom was the master which had an enormous washroom suite, a walk-in closet, and a decent sized office. On the uphill side of the building at this point was the garage, a concrete and steel bunker built right into the mountainside. It was deep and wide enough for eight vehicles and at its far end was a complete metal and wood working workshop with all the required tools for maintaining the house. The roof deck of the garage was the home for communication dishes, a large greenhouse with a pool area again heated by the hot spring. There was interior access to the pool area by a spiral staircase in the garage. When Dan led Willow back to the kitchen she was looking a little overwhelmed. "So... you're rich?" she asked quietly. "Rich?" he replied in surprise. Then he smiled and said "I designed and built the home but it's not mine. I just live in it during the winter months when no one else is here. The home is owned by the Noskov family from Russia. They are... incredibly rich, and generous. I was unofficially adopted by the Noskov's when I... helped get them out of a hot zone in Iraq during the war. They let me build them this house and I get to live in it. They also set me up with a... trust fund I guess you'd call it. When I need something I can tap into it. I don't think I'm rich but I'm pretty comfortable. I mean I have my engineering degree and the stuff I learned building this house has set me up in a very lucrative business of designing custom energy systems for people wanting to live off the grid. I have patents pending on several of the components and their designs. There is also a waiting list of customers wanting me to design for their specific environments. I can do most of that right from here. All that brings in a good income... huh, maybe I am rich or at least have the potential to be!" he smiled at the delight in Willow's eyes. Dan busied himself making some herbal tea. It still wasn't time for dinner yet but a snack would be good. He wanted to ensure Willow started taking in the calories she needed to get back to a healthy weight. He dropped some bread slices in the toaster and pulled out the peanut butter. He poured the tea and sweetened it for Willow. He spread the peanut butter on toast watching it melt. Then he stopped. Dan was pissed at himself again but he kept that anger inside so he wouldn't spook Willow. He just made an assumption that might have been really bad for her. "Willow, are you allergic to anything? Like nuts?" he asked. "I don't think so," she replied. "Have you eaten peanut butter before? Do you like it?" Dan asked. "Yes, I love peanut butter but I've never had it on toast," she said. Dan shook off the tremble that crept up his back. He needed to know more about her to prevent something like this from happening again. He saw the notepad was still on the table. He carried the herbal teas to the table then brought Willow her peanut butter toast. She looked at him when she saw he didn't have any toast in front of him. "You need the calories. I'll wait for dinner," he said with a smile. Willow carefully picked up her toast and took a small bite. When the warm peanut butter hit her tongue a broad smile spread across her face. "I LOVE peanut butter toast!" she gushed. She took a few more bites. He grinned at her delight and picked up the notepad. After a sip of his tea he looked at Willow and asked "I hope you don't mind but I'd like to see how much more of your history we can fill in." She continued to munch on the toast and sip at the tea but gave him a nod. "Do you recall the name of the man Percy, uh, took you from?" He still felt weird saying that. "Herman Denk. He was a doctor. He gave me my new tits and fixed me so I couldn't make babies or have a period." she said. Dan's stomach clenched. She said it like it was nothing but Dan was grateful to Percy for having killed the bastard who butchered Willow for his own needs and enjoyment. He took a deep breath and wrote down the Doctor's name and the approximate year he died. "Do you recall how long you lived with Herman? How many winters or summers?" he asked her next. Willow looked confused then sad. "Herman lived in Las Vegas and I stayed inside in my room most of the time when he wasn't taking me out to parties. I don't remember how long that was but I think I stayed with him the longest. Before we moved to Las Vegas we were in Florida. That's where he poisoned and killed Officer Warren Greggs and took me from him. Officer Greggs used his handcuffs on me a lot and beat me because I wasn't worthy of having sex with him. That's where these scars came from." She showed him the rough white ridges encircling both of her wrists. Obviously the cuffs had done some serious damage to her skin at that time as the scar tissue was extensive. "He kept me chained in a room in his basement. When I got sick Officer Greggs brought Herman to fix me. We moved to Las Vegas after Officer Greggs was dead." Dan was feeling a little queasy but while Willow was feeling talkative he'd get the information from her. As long as he had names and knew they had died he could find their obituaries and work out a timeline from that. He jotted down some notes and nodded at Willow to continue. "Madam Tallia was my Mistress before Officer Greggs took me from her. She lived in a big old house in Georgia. She was angry a lot. She had been hurt in a car accident and she lost her eye. She wore a fancy eye patch but her mouth was so cruel. She told me I looked just like the bitch who destroyed her beauty. She would tie me up and burn my arms and legs with her cigarettes." Willow pointed out a few of the older circular scars running up her arms. "She told me that she was saving my face for later. I was always terrified that she was going to burn my face. Officer Greggs was at one of her parties. He found me tied up in my bedroom and put me in the trunk of his car. He told me he burned Mistress Tallia's house down with her inside." Willow took a long sip of her tea to moisten her throat as she was unaccustomed to talking for so long. "Mistress Tallia got me from Mr. Bill who brought me to one of her parties. Mistress Tallia called him Buffalo Bill because she said he was from that 'miserable place'. She told me that she wasn't going to give me back to Mr. Bill. She told me she gave him poisoned heroin so he wouldn't come back to get me the morning after the party and he didn't so I guess he's dead. When I was with Mr. Bill we moved around a lot and we lived out of his car. I don't remember his last name. Sometimes he gave me drugs and I would forget things. He loaned me out to people who gave him drugs and took me to lots of sex parties. I think Mr. Bill bought me from my mom's boyfriend when she died." Willow's voice ran out at that point. It was the longest Dan had ever heard her speak and while the subject matter was horrific to him, he was so glad that he got her story. He could work with this. "Do you remember your mom's name?" he asked gently. She thought about it then shook her head sadly. "Do you remember how old you were when your mom died?" he asked. Willow sat quietly for a minute thinking. "I remember... a tenth birthday party. I think it was shortly after that when some men came to the house looking for mom's boyfriend. I was playing outside but I heard them yelling 'where is he'. When they left I went inside and she was dead. When her boyfriend got home he took me with him in the car and we drove away. He met Mr. Bill at a truck stop on the highway and sold me to him." Dan sat looking at Willow. He couldn't breathe. His chest felt tight. Her mother was murdered when she was 10 and she was immediately sold off into the sex trade and slavery? How could that not screw you up? He opened his arms and Willow was immediately curled up on his lap and in his arms. They sat like that for quite a while, just holding each other and rocking gently. It gave Dan time to think. Dan felt completely inadequate for the task of healing Willow. He knew he could love her and was surprised that he was already starting to feel that way towards her. He reminded himself that they'd only met the day before and there'd been a lot of intense emotion involved in that short time. Before he started throwing words like love around he needed to get some perspective. Difficult to get when her soft body was clinging to him. Based on her account she'd been held captive by five people and had been raped and tortured multiple times by them and raped by many others starting from a very early age. Now she was with him. Was she better off? He'd already had sex with her, multiple times in the very short time he'd known her. And he'd killed for her as they had. He was willing to grant that in his case at least it really had been kill or be killed and her life was at risk at the time. That said it was easy for him to see how similar he was to previous 'masters'. God, his skin crawled when he thought of himself in those terms. Maybe that was the difference? He didn't want to be her master. He wanted her to be a whole person. He wasn't sure that was going to be possible considering her past. But he knew he would do what he could to help her regain as much as she could. He felt so protective of her! He wasn't clear where that came from but it certainly didn't seem harmful to her so he felt okay about letting her see that. The first thing he could do to help her was get her identity back. With the information he had an investigator should be able to connect the dots to get back to the start. Then he could get her birth certificate, then a passport, an identity. Maybe it was just his paranoia but he wanted a discreet investigation. There had been at least one police officer involved in her abduction and Percy's gang was not going to be too friendly to someone who killed one of their members. He was again over his head but he knew someone that could help. "I could stay here all day holding you but I need to make a call and send a note. I have to report Percy's death to the police or things could get messy. And I have to contact Andrei Noskov, the man who owns this house, to ask a favor. I thought we'd cook up a frozen pizza for dinner tonight. Can I ask you to go to the walk-in freezer in the garage and pick one out? They're on the rack to the left and there should be a supreme on top but any will do." She stood and headed off to the garage. Dan walked into the communications room and checked the signal strength. The storm seemed to be winding down but it still had the potential for affecting the line of sight antenna. He'd prefer not to use the satellite phone to contact the police as he wasn't sure how long he'd be on the line. He used the PC to dial up the nearest state police station and waited for someone to answer. He heard some weird stuttering on the line so he knew his connection was fairly weak. When someone finally answered he asked for Officer Benson or Officer Duncan as he'd met them and his instincts said they were okay. Not the best gauge but it was what he had. Benson was gone for the day but Duncan was just coming on shift so Dan was put through to his desk. "Officer Duncan." He sounded tired. "Hello, my name's Dan Bishop. I live at the Noskov Estate off Mountain Road 23 up on Peacemill Peak. I need to report a traffic accident, a shooting, and a fatality." "Sorry, Mr. Bishop, this seems to be a bad line. Did you say a fatality?" Officer Duncan asked. "Yes, a fatality. Sorry about the poor connection. The line of sight towers up here on the mountain are having some trouble with the storm." "Can you give me the details before we lose our connection?" the officer asked. The connection must have sounded worse on his end. "Sure. I was driving back to the house yesterday when that storm hit. I was just about back to the house when I noticed someone hung up on one of the trees hanging over the edge of the cliff. I stopped and went to see if I could help. There was a trike motorcycle on a ledge 50 feet down and a badly injured man. He'd gone through the guardrail. I tried to climb up to the woman stuck in the tree but the man woke up and started shooting at us. He shot at me and then he hit the woman twice. Once in the arm and once on the side of her helmet. I had to drop the broken guardrail on him to stop him from shooting her. He fell to the bottom of the gorge with his motorcycle. He's dead. Did you get all that?" There was silence for a bit and Dan thought he'd lost the connection when Officer Duncan's voice came back on. "Yeah, I got it. Is there any access to that gorge?" "I don't think so. It's very narrow and the river in it is pretty wild most of the year. I have a buddy with a Sikorsky cargo helicopter that might be able to lower someone with a line from above but it would be a long hairy ride down. Anyway, I can send you the GPS coordinates. I had the entire area mapped when we were building this place." "What about the woman?" Officer Duncan asked. "I got her back to the house before she froze to death and patched her wounds which appear to be pretty minor. She's suffering from malnutrition and her weight is very low. She may have some memory loss as she has been unable to recall her name. She did remember the name of the man she was with. Percy Jackson. From the marking I saw on his jacket I think he may have been a member of a motorcycle gang, maybe the Blood Brothers. I have no idea what he was doing trying to drive his bike up this mountain road in a snow storm. Makes no sense to me." "Damn, that complicates things considerably. The Feds are going to want in on this. When can you come in for a statement?" the officer asked. "In about four months," Dan replied. "What?" came the shocked reply. "Sorry, but the mountain road is closed for the season. It will remain blocked with snow until the spring. We're completely snowed in. I can get extra supplies air dropped in but us getting out is up to Mother Nature," he explained. "OK, but I can reach you at this number?" "As long as the storms aren't interfering with the connection, yes," Dan answered. "Thank you Mr. Bishop. I'll be contacting you once I find out how the Feds want to handle this." After signing off Dan looked over to see Willow standing in the doorway watching him. He gave her a smile which she returned. "I just have to send a note to Andrei to fill him in. Can you come over here a minute?" She approached him and sat on his lap when he indicated he wanted her to sit. He turned on the webcam on the PC and they posed for a quick snapshot. Then he asked her to look into the camera and took a close up of just her face. "I'm going to send these along to Andrei. The family is going to be very curious about you and Andrei will need the close up for his investigator. I'm going to ask him to have them do some discreet searches based on the information you gave me. One thing you should know, as Andrei is a Russian national, all of my communications with him are very likely monitored by Homeland Security. I'm not worried about it but I just wanted you to know as well. Okay?" he asked. Willow nodded at him with wide eyes. He just smiled at her with wonder at how good she made him feel. He gently pulled her face down to his and kissed her tenderly. She moaned a little and hugged him fiercely. After he returned her hug he had her stand again so he could prepare the email for Andrei. Willow sat on the floor beside his chair and rested her head on his thigh. He was going to protest but she looked so content he turned back to the keyboard. Once he had described the events of the past two days (omitting the racy bits) and included the chronology he'd gotten from Willow he completed the note to Andrei, attached the images and sent it off. He turned back to Willow and ran his fingers through her hair. He felt her purr in pleasure at his touch. He tucked a tablet PC under his arm, helped lift Willow to her feet then they walked back into the kitchen. Dan started the oven, slid the pizza inside, and set the timer. Dan took her hand and they walked into the living room. They sat together on one of the sofas and snuggled under a blanket while they waited for the pizza. "Speaking of comfortable..." he smiled and continued "I think we'd better order you some clothes and other items you may need." Willow looked out the window at the continuing blizzard and back at him. "How?" was all she could say. Dan smiled at her and pulled a tablet PC from under the blanket. "Through the magic of the Internet!" he said with a flourish. All he got for his theatrics was a puzzled expression. "Okay, I'll let you in on the secret. We order stuff and get it delivered to my buddy Wally's place. Then he delivers it by air drop in the meadow just past the small forest to the east of the house. Wally's a pilot and enjoys the challenge of precision payload delivery. I'll set up the target and he drops the delivery bundle on it. If he's within 3 feet of the target I owe him a beer. If not, he owes me one." Willow was still looking at him like he was a little nuts so he just flipped on the tablet and proceeded to load up the webpage for an online clothing retailer. First he had to figure out her size. He found the help page and saw how he needed to determine her measurements. He gave Willow the tablet and rushed off to the workshop where he grabbed a cloth tape measure. Granted it had a one hundred foot spool and was used for more industrial purposes but it would work. He grabbed the pencil and pad on the way back to Willow and asked her to stand. Using the tape measure he recorded her measurements on the pad and Willow had a good giggle at how flustered Dan got when he had to measure her for a bra. Now that he had the details out of the way Dan took Willow through the webpages where she could see the clothes. Dan watched her face to see if she liked any of the clothes but when she didn't react to any of them he started to suspect she didn't realize what they were doing. "Willow, do you understand I want to buy you some clothes? Have you ever gone shopping for clothes?" he asked. She glanced at him and shook her head. "So people just brought you clothes and you wore them whether you liked them or not?" he asked. She nodded but had a puzzled look on her face. "OK, I'd like you to try imagining yourself in one of the outfits you see on this page and let me know which one you think might look good on you and be nice to have." Willow looked at the models on the page and turned her eyes back to him. "Which ones do you like?" she asked. That stopped him short. He realized that she couldn't make this kind of decision. She'd been basically a living dress up doll for quite possibly most of her life and only wore clothes at the whim of her 'masters' to please them. Well, he wasn't going to make her feel bad about it now. He turned his eyes back to the page and studied what the models were wearing. He finally clued in that he had no idea how to dress a woman. Guys were easy; undershirt, shirt, underwear, pants, socks and you're done. Mixing and matching? Please. He needed help. Female help. He heard a chirping and realized he had an incoming call on the PC. He got up again and hustled into the communications room. Willow was right behind him. He sat and she sunk to kneel next to his chair. He suppressed his annoyance as her reaction might just be an automatic reaction for her. He'd talk to her about it later. Dan answered the call and Kira Noskov's face appeared on the screen. At her elbow was her youngest daughter, Katya. The picture was choppy as the signal was weak but that didn't diminish the brilliance of the woman's smile as she greeted him. "Hello Daniel! We received your message and I wanted to call you immediately to congratulate you two! You make a beautiful couple! I've been telling you for years to find yourself a woman. You've finally taken my advice!" she laughed. Dan realized that Kira read more into the photo he'd sent of Willow sitting on his lap than he'd intended. He looked down at Willow and saw the smile on her face and knew he couldn't try to explain it now. "Thank you Kira! And hello Katya!" "Svetlana is crying, DanDan. She is not happy," Katya said, using her pet name for him. Kira looked pained then apologetic. "Not to worry Daniel, Svetlana has been holding onto her hero worship too long. She will grow from this and her tears will dry." Dan's expression froze and twitched as he realized he'd fucked up again and hurt the young girl unintentionally. He knew she'd had a crush on him. They had a strong bond from what they'd gone through together. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt her." His PTSD surfaced with a series of twitches. Kira's voice grew firm, "Daniel, stop this. You are not responsible for Svetlana's happiness or tears." She turned to Katya and said something quietly to the girl who vanished out of the frame. Willow got worried at Dan's stricken expression so she stood and took his face in her hands and turned his face to hers so she could look into his eyes. He was slightly dazed but his eyes came back into focus when they were looking into the vibrant green depths of Willow's eyes. He heaved a sigh and came back to the present. Kira witnessed the transformation with a satisfied smile on her face. There were tears in the corners of her eyes as she saw her friend pulled back from an attack. She was convinced that this young woman was just the medicine her Daniel had been missing all of these years. She didn't approve of his self-imposed solitude but he hadn't listen to her protests. She didn't know anything else about this woman but she was good for him, this much she knew. Svetlana appeared in the picture and took in the shaken expression on Dan's face and the beautiful woman holding him. Her jealousy flared terribly to see another woman touching Dan. She'd vowed she'd marry him so many years ago when he'd saved her and her family. But she couldn't bear the thought that she'd caused him pain. Above all else she knew the scars he carried from that day and how long he'd struggled with them. "Da, Daniel! I am so pleased to see you looking well! Please know that I am well and happy for you! Do not worry about me! I have many friends here and many boyfriends- I mean many who would like to be my boyfriend!" she corrected herself before her mother could protest. She looked at the annoyed expression on her mother's face then gave Daniel one more forced smile and left the picture." Kira came back into the picture. "If there is anything we can do Daniel please let us know." Dan pulled himself together and looked at Willow with gratitude. "First off, I'd like to introduce you officially to Willow." Willow smiled uncertainly at the screen but Kira graciously took the conversation from there. "Hello Willow! My name is Kira. I am so pleased to meet you!" Uncertain what to do as she'd never spoken to anyone over a computer before much less been allowed to speak without permission Willow just nodded her head towards the screen. Dan rubbed her back and felt her jump slightly at his touch then she climbed up and snuggled on his lap. Dan was uncomfortable with such a display in front of Kira but couldn't scold her for the damage that might do. Kira seemed to be enjoying his blush as she wore a big grin on her face. Then he thought of something. "There is one thing I would like to ask of you actually. I have no clothes for Willow here at the house and we're snowed in. I was going to order some online and have Wally airdrop them but I have no idea what to order. I've never had to buy women's clothes before and Willow hasn't ever chosen her own clothes. If I gave you the credentials for my online account could I ask you to shop for the clothes she'll need for the next 4 months?" "That I can do! Send me her measurements and I will place the order," Kira said with a smile. "Thank you so much! Please speak to Svetlana for me! You know I think the world of her, and Irina and Katya! I would never do anything to hurt them!" he blurted and glanced awkwardly at the blond curled on his lap. Kira made placating gestures. "They know you do and they all love you for it. Some a little too strongly. Not to worry Daniel. Because they love you they understand. I will speak with you soon as will Andrei. Goodbye, Willow!" and she disconnected. To Be Continued in part 4, based on a post by BurntRedstone for Literotica

An Angel For Bishop: Part 3 Willows tortured past exposes itself. In 4 parts, based on a post by BurntRedstone. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Once they were both clean they were breathing hard and standing facing each other. The moment he leaned towards her lips she surged forward to press hers against his. His tongue slipped forward to brush against hers and suddenly she was sucking at his tongue. His hands came up and cupped her breasts and he gently took her nipples between his thumb and finger, feeling the little gold barbells and rings dangle from them. Willow gasped into his mouth and he felt Willow's legs buckle a little. She was beginning to make those needy yips as she rolled her hips. She tugged, but he jolted back. "Willow, I don't have any condoms and I doubt Percy had the decency to put you on the pill. We can't." "I can't get pregnant," was all she said as she tugged at him. "What?" he gasped, as it was difficult holding a conversation with her. "The doctor made sure I couldn't have babies so it's okay," she said in a matter of fact tone. His head was spinning. He was still incredibly worked up and wanted to take Willow right now, but she'd just dropped a bomb from her past in his lap and his mind was reeling with the implications of her words. "Please! I need it!" she whined as he continued to hold her off while he tried to get his head back in the game. Willow dropped to her knees in one movement. First her lips were sliding, then her nose was buried against his stomach. He could feel her swallowing but he couldn't feel her breathing so he pulled back until he heard her gasp.  Willow got to her feet then turned around and put her hands against the shower wall, pushing her ass back. She rubbed him up and down her crack a few times. Dan grabbed her hips and Willow sighed. She was surprisingly tight and he couldn't get over how amazing she felt. Willow was moaning loudly and bearing down with her joyous cries she was loving every second. He could not exploit her vulnerable mental state, but knew that rejection was beyond her capacity to tolerate. So he continued to caress her and gently show her that she was precious and respected. The feeling of real love was enough to set her body into what seemed like multiple waves of ecstasy. Somehow Dan had found an amazing tool of therapy for this sexually abused woman. He pulled her back to stand upright. This sensation and her cries of joy triggered him. For good measure he gave her neck a gentle kiss and felt her trigger off again. He held her exhausted body suspended between his arm circling her chest and his other arm around her hip. She leaned back against his chest and her breath came out in deep gasps. Once their breathing had returned to normal Dan set her feet back on the floor. He looked at her and said "We need to talk about what you said about the doctor. I need to hear the whole story, but later." He tenderly washed between her legs. Then he shampooed and conditioned her hair once more. God he loved running his fingers through her hair and from the way she moaned and purred he knew she loved it too. He washed his hair, rinsed off, and turned the water off. They stepped out and dried off with their thick towels together. He replaced her bandages once more with dry ones. They padded into his bedroom and Dan remembered her clothes should be ready in the dryer. He quickly collected them and brought them back to her. He inspected the garments and saw the jeans were largely undamaged though there were some grease stains on the lower legs he suspected came from riding the motorcycle. Her shirt had a tear where the branch had pierced her shoulder. He could probably fix it but it wouldn't be pretty. He flipped it over and for the first time noticed the faded word across the back. It said 'Bitch'. He frowned. That asshole probably made her wear it. He wouldn't let her wear this again. He ripped it in two between his hands. He looked up and saw Willow staring at him wide eyed. "Sorry, the shirt had a word on it that doesn't belong on you. You won't be wearing clothes like that with me. You deserve better," he said. She smiled shyly at him. He saw she was struggling to get the bikini top on. Now that he was an 'expert' he showed her how to tie the lower string first under her tits (while struggling to keep his hands off of them), spin the knot around to the back, and pull the cups up, tying the top strings behind her neck. With his hands behind her neck, feeling her damp but now much smoother hair caressing his hands he saw she was looking into his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her lips tenderly. He just wanted to feel her amazing lips on his as her kiss was so sweet. Willow's eyes closed and she swayed a little when he pulled back. His heart hurt she was so lovely. How anyone could hurt someone so beautiful was beyond him. He pulled her into a hug and squeezed her body against his, wanting to protect her with his strength and relishing the intimacy. Her arms wrapped around his chest and he felt her shiver. He pulled back and looked at her questioningly. He saw tears sliding down her cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked gently. "I've never felt like this before," she whispered and hiccupped. "I feel so safe in your arms." She clung to him and pressed her face against his neck. He squeezed her to him again, feeling her tremble against him. They stood like that for a while. Once her trembling calmed he stepped back and gave her a smile which she returned. Her eyes glowed and she seemed as relaxed as he'd ever seen her. Chapter 3 Dan gave Willow a tour of the 'log cabin' which was more accurately described as a log mansion. He was rather proud of the building as it showcased his engineering expertise. The building was all on one level and followed the natural contours of the hillside in a serpentine curve with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, or in this case the blizzard which continued to rage into its second day. Under the gleaming hardwood flooring the entire structure was built on a poured concrete base with in-floor heating courtesy of a complex network of piping linked to the hot springs and an even more complex computer control system. The power needed to support the electronics and the rest of the house was fed by a huge series of batteries stored in an underground bunker built into the hillside. This array was on a constant trickle feed from multiple sources. Wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal, and even a small hydro turbine generator tapping into an underground river they discovered during construction. All said, they had energy to spare. Beyond the amazing array of technology he'd built into the mansion the building contained all the comforts you could ask for. There was a huge living room with a large stone fireplace surrounded by deep comfy couches and facing a panoramic view of the mountainside. A large deck started on the northern side of the house and wrapped around to the western side to create a huge, two level socializing area in front of the living and dining room windows. Behind the living room built into the mountain was a large home theatre with stadium seating for twelve, three rows of four comfy recliners. Next to the living room was a large dining room with a massive polished slab of shiny hardwood for a table and seating for twelve. The next room was the kitchen which Willow was familiar with. There was an enormous pantry off the kitchen and a second door which led to the communications/control center for the house which doubled as a safe room. The table in the kitchen sat six and there was a deck accessible by a door next to the table. Exiting from the other side of the kitchen was a corridor which had the laundry room on one side, a utility room on the other, and continued on to the five big guest bedrooms each having a small seating area and a dedicated full washroom. The final bedroom was the master which had an enormous washroom suite, a walk-in closet, and a decent sized office. On the uphill side of the building at this point was the garage, a concrete and steel bunker built right into the mountainside. It was deep and wide enough for eight vehicles and at its far end was a complete metal and wood working workshop with all the required tools for maintaining the house. The roof deck of the garage was the home for communication dishes, a large greenhouse with a pool area again heated by the hot spring. There was interior access to the pool area by a spiral staircase in the garage. When Dan led Willow back to the kitchen she was looking a little overwhelmed. "So... you're rich?" she asked quietly. "Rich?" he replied in surprise. Then he smiled and said "I designed and built the home but it's not mine. I just live in it during the winter months when no one else is here. The home is owned by the Noskov family from Russia. They are... incredibly rich, and generous. I was unofficially adopted by the Noskov's when I... helped get them out of a hot zone in Iraq during the war. They let me build them this house and I get to live in it. They also set me up with a... trust fund I guess you'd call it. When I need something I can tap into it. I don't think I'm rich but I'm pretty comfortable. I mean I have my engineering degree and the stuff I learned building this house has set me up in a very lucrative business of designing custom energy systems for people wanting to live off the grid. I have patents pending on several of the components and their designs. There is also a waiting list of customers wanting me to design for their specific environments. I can do most of that right from here. All that brings in a good income... huh, maybe I am rich or at least have the potential to be!" he smiled at the delight in Willow's eyes. Dan busied himself making some herbal tea. It still wasn't time for dinner yet but a snack would be good. He wanted to ensure Willow started taking in the calories she needed to get back to a healthy weight. He dropped some bread slices in the toaster and pulled out the peanut butter. He poured the tea and sweetened it for Willow. He spread the peanut butter on toast watching it melt. Then he stopped. Dan was pissed at himself again but he kept that anger inside so he wouldn't spook Willow. He just made an assumption that might have been really bad for her. "Willow, are you allergic to anything? Like nuts?" he asked. "I don't think so," she replied. "Have you eaten peanut butter before? Do you like it?" Dan asked. "Yes, I love peanut butter but I've never had it on toast," she said. Dan shook off the tremble that crept up his back. He needed to know more about her to prevent something like this from happening again. He saw the notepad was still on the table. He carried the herbal teas to the table then brought Willow her peanut butter toast. She looked at him when she saw he didn't have any toast in front of him. "You need the calories. I'll wait for dinner," he said with a smile. Willow carefully picked up her toast and took a small bite. When the warm peanut butter hit her tongue a broad smile spread across her face. "I LOVE peanut butter toast!" she gushed. She took a few more bites. He grinned at her delight and picked up the notepad. After a sip of his tea he looked at Willow and asked "I hope you don't mind but I'd like to see how much more of your history we can fill in." She continued to munch on the toast and sip at the tea but gave him a nod. "Do you recall the name of the man Percy, uh, took you from?" He still felt weird saying that. "Herman Denk. He was a doctor. He gave me my new tits and fixed me so I couldn't make babies or have a period." she said. Dan's stomach clenched. She said it like it was nothing but Dan was grateful to Percy for having killed the bastard who butchered Willow for his own needs and enjoyment. He took a deep breath and wrote down the Doctor's name and the approximate year he died. "Do you recall how long you lived with Herman? How many winters or summers?" he asked her next. Willow looked confused then sad. "Herman lived in Las Vegas and I stayed inside in my room most of the time when he wasn't taking me out to parties. I don't remember how long that was but I think I stayed with him the longest. Before we moved to Las Vegas we were in Florida. That's where he poisoned and killed Officer Warren Greggs and took me from him. Officer Greggs used his handcuffs on me a lot and beat me because I wasn't worthy of having sex with him. That's where these scars came from." She showed him the rough white ridges encircling both of her wrists. Obviously the cuffs had done some serious damage to her skin at that time as the scar tissue was extensive. "He kept me chained in a room in his basement. When I got sick Officer Greggs brought Herman to fix me. We moved to Las Vegas after Officer Greggs was dead." Dan was feeling a little queasy but while Willow was feeling talkative he'd get the information from her. As long as he had names and knew they had died he could find their obituaries and work out a timeline from that. He jotted down some notes and nodded at Willow to continue. "Madam Tallia was my Mistress before Officer Greggs took me from her. She lived in a big old house in Georgia. She was angry a lot. She had been hurt in a car accident and she lost her eye. She wore a fancy eye patch but her mouth was so cruel. She told me I looked just like the bitch who destroyed her beauty. She would tie me up and burn my arms and legs with her cigarettes." Willow pointed out a few of the older circular scars running up her arms. "She told me that she was saving my face for later. I was always terrified that she was going to burn my face. Officer Greggs was at one of her parties. He found me tied up in my bedroom and put me in the trunk of his car. He told me he burned Mistress Tallia's house down with her inside." Willow took a long sip of her tea to moisten her throat as she was unaccustomed to talking for so long. "Mistress Tallia got me from Mr. Bill who brought me to one of her parties. Mistress Tallia called him Buffalo Bill because she said he was from that 'miserable place'. She told me that she wasn't going to give me back to Mr. Bill. She told me she gave him poisoned heroin so he wouldn't come back to get me the morning after the party and he didn't so I guess he's dead. When I was with Mr. Bill we moved around a lot and we lived out of his car. I don't remember his last name. Sometimes he gave me drugs and I would forget things. He loaned me out to people who gave him drugs and took me to lots of sex parties. I think Mr. Bill bought me from my mom's boyfriend when she died." Willow's voice ran out at that point. It was the longest Dan had ever heard her speak and while the subject matter was horrific to him, he was so glad that he got her story. He could work with this. "Do you remember your mom's name?" he asked gently. She thought about it then shook her head sadly. "Do you remember how old you were when your mom died?" he asked. Willow sat quietly for a minute thinking. "I remember... a tenth birthday party. I think it was shortly after that when some men came to the house looking for mom's boyfriend. I was playing outside but I heard them yelling 'where is he'. When they left I went inside and she was dead. When her boyfriend got home he took me with him in the car and we drove away. He met Mr. Bill at a truck stop on the highway and sold me to him." Dan sat looking at Willow. He couldn't breathe. His chest felt tight. Her mother was murdered when she was 10 and she was immediately sold off into the sex trade and slavery? How could that not screw you up? He opened his arms and Willow was immediately curled up on his lap and in his arms. They sat like that for quite a while, just holding each other and rocking gently. It gave Dan time to think. Dan felt completely inadequate for the task of healing Willow. He knew he could love her and was surprised that he was already starting to feel that way towards her. He reminded himself that they'd only met the day before and there'd been a lot of intense emotion involved in that short time. Before he started throwing words like love around he needed to get some perspective. Difficult to get when her soft body was clinging to him. Based on her account she'd been held captive by five people and had been raped and tortured multiple times by them and raped by many others starting from a very early age. Now she was with him. Was she better off? He'd already had sex with her, multiple times in the very short time he'd known her. And he'd killed for her as they had. He was willing to grant that in his case at least it really had been kill or be killed and her life was at risk at the time. That said it was easy for him to see how similar he was to previous 'masters'. God, his skin crawled when he thought of himself in those terms. Maybe that was the difference? He didn't want to be her master. He wanted her to be a whole person. He wasn't sure that was going to be possible considering her past. But he knew he would do what he could to help her regain as much as she could. He felt so protective of her! He wasn't clear where that came from but it certainly didn't seem harmful to her so he felt okay about letting her see that. The first thing he could do to help her was get her identity back. With the information he had an investigator should be able to connect the dots to get back to the start. Then he could get her birth certificate, then a passport, an identity. Maybe it was just his paranoia but he wanted a discreet investigation. There had been at least one police officer involved in her abduction and Percy's gang was not going to be too friendly to someone who killed one of their members. He was again over his head but he knew someone that could help. "I could stay here all day holding you but I need to make a call and send a note. I have to report Percy's death to the police or things could get messy. And I have to contact Andrei Noskov, the man who owns this house, to ask a favor. I thought we'd cook up a frozen pizza for dinner tonight. Can I ask you to go to the walk-in freezer in the garage and pick one out? They're on the rack to the left and there should be a supreme on top but any will do." She stood and headed off to the garage. Dan walked into the communications room and checked the signal strength. The storm seemed to be winding down but it still had the potential for affecting the line of sight antenna. He'd prefer not to use the satellite phone to contact the police as he wasn't sure how long he'd be on the line. He used the PC to dial up the nearest state police station and waited for someone to answer. He heard some weird stuttering on the line so he knew his connection was fairly weak. When someone finally answered he asked for Officer Benson or Officer Duncan as he'd met them and his instincts said they were okay. Not the best gauge but it was what he had. Benson was gone for the day but Duncan was just coming on shift so Dan was put through to his desk. "Officer Duncan." He sounded tired. "Hello, my name's Dan Bishop. I live at the Noskov Estate off Mountain Road 23 up on Peacemill Peak. I need to report a traffic accident, a shooting, and a fatality." "Sorry, Mr. Bishop, this seems to be a bad line. Did you say a fatality?" Officer Duncan asked. "Yes, a fatality. Sorry about the poor connection. The line of sight towers up here on the mountain are having some trouble with the storm." "Can you give me the details before we lose our connection?" the officer asked. The connection must have sounded worse on his end. "Sure. I was driving back to the house yesterday when that storm hit. I was just about back to the house when I noticed someone hung up on one of the trees hanging over the edge of the cliff. I stopped and went to see if I could help. There was a trike motorcycle on a ledge 50 feet down and a badly injured man. He'd gone through the guardrail. I tried to climb up to the woman stuck in the tree but the man woke up and started shooting at us. He shot at me and then he hit the woman twice. Once in the arm and once on the side of her helmet. I had to drop the broken guardrail on him to stop him from shooting her. He fell to the bottom of the gorge with his motorcycle. He's dead. Did you get all that?" There was silence for a bit and Dan thought he'd lost the connection when Officer Duncan's voice came back on. "Yeah, I got it. Is there any access to that gorge?" "I don't think so. It's very narrow and the river in it is pretty wild most of the year. I have a buddy with a Sikorsky cargo helicopter that might be able to lower someone with a line from above but it would be a long hairy ride down. Anyway, I can send you the GPS coordinates. I had the entire area mapped when we were building this place." "What about the woman?" Officer Duncan asked. "I got her back to the house before she froze to death and patched her wounds which appear to be pretty minor. She's suffering from malnutrition and her weight is very low. She may have some memory loss as she has been unable to recall her name. She did remember the name of the man she was with. Percy Jackson. From the marking I saw on his jacket I think he may have been a member of a motorcycle gang, maybe the Blood Brothers. I have no idea what he was doing trying to drive his bike up this mountain road in a snow storm. Makes no sense to me." "Damn, that complicates things considerably. The Feds are going to want in on this. When can you come in for a statement?" the officer asked. "In about four months," Dan replied. "What?" came the shocked reply. "Sorry, but the mountain road is closed for the season. It will remain blocked with snow until the spring. We're completely snowed in. I can get extra supplies air dropped in but us getting out is up to Mother Nature," he explained. "OK, but I can reach you at this number?" "As long as the storms aren't interfering with the connection, yes," Dan answered. "Thank you Mr. Bishop. I'll be contacting you once I find out how the Feds want to handle this." After signing off Dan looked over to see Willow standing in the doorway watching him. He gave her a smile which she returned. "I just have to send a note to Andrei to fill him in. Can you come over here a minute?" She approached him and sat on his lap when he indicated he wanted her to sit. He turned on the webcam on the PC and they posed for a quick snapshot. Then he asked her to look into the camera and took a close up of just her face. "I'm going to send these along to Andrei. The family is going to be very curious about you and Andrei will need the close up for his investigator. I'm going to ask him to have them do some discreet searches based on the information you gave me. One thing you should know, as Andrei is a Russian national, all of my communications with him are very likely monitored by Homeland Security. I'm not worried about it but I just wanted you to know as well. Okay?" he asked. Willow nodded at him with wide eyes. He just smiled at her with wonder at how good she made him feel. He gently pulled her face down to his and kissed her tenderly. She moaned a little and hugged him fiercely. After he returned her hug he had her stand again so he could prepare the email for Andrei. Willow sat on the floor beside his chair and rested her head on his thigh. He was going to protest but she looked so content he turned back to the keyboard. Once he had described the events of the past two days (omitting the racy bits) and included the chronology he'd gotten from Willow he completed the note to Andrei, attached the images and sent it off. He turned back to Willow and ran his fingers through her hair. He felt her purr in pleasure at his touch. He tucked a tablet PC under his arm, helped lift Willow to her feet then they walked back into the kitchen. Dan started the oven, slid the pizza inside, and set the timer. Dan took her hand and they walked into the living room. They sat together on one of the sofas and snuggled under a blanket while they waited for the pizza. "Speaking of comfortable..." he smiled and continued "I think we'd better order you some clothes and other items you may need." Willow looked out the window at the continuing blizzard and back at him. "How?" was all she could say. Dan smiled at her and pulled a tablet PC from under the blanket. "Through the magic of the Internet!" he said with a flourish. All he got for his theatrics was a puzzled expression. "Okay, I'll let you in on the secret. We order stuff and get it delivered to my buddy Wally's place. Then he delivers it by air drop in the meadow just past the small forest to the east of the house. Wally's a pilot and enjoys the challenge of precision payload delivery. I'll set up the target and he drops the delivery bundle on it. If he's within 3 feet of the target I owe him a beer. If not, he owes me one." Willow was still looking at him like he was a little nuts so he just flipped on the tablet and proceeded to load up the webpage for an online clothing retailer. First he had to figure out her size. He found the help page and saw how he needed to determine her measurements. He gave Willow the tablet and rushed off to the workshop where he grabbed a cloth tape measure. Granted it had a one hundred foot spool and was used for more industrial purposes but it would work. He grabbed the pencil and pad on the way back to Willow and asked her to stand. Using the tape measure he recorded her measurements on the pad and Willow had a good giggle at how flustered Dan got when he had to measure her for a bra. Now that he had the details out of the way Dan took Willow through the webpages where she could see the clothes. Dan watched her face to see if she liked any of the clothes but when she didn't react to any of them he started to suspect she didn't realize what they were doing. "Willow, do you understand I want to buy you some clothes? Have you ever gone shopping for clothes?" he asked. She glanced at him and shook her head. "So people just brought you clothes and you wore them whether you liked them or not?" he asked. She nodded but had a puzzled look on her face. "OK, I'd like you to try imagining yourself in one of the outfits you see on this page and let me know which one you think might look good on you and be nice to have." Willow looked at the models on the page and turned her eyes back to him. "Which ones do you like?" she asked. That stopped him short. He realized that she couldn't make this kind of decision. She'd been basically a living dress up doll for quite possibly most of her life and only wore clothes at the whim of her 'masters' to please them. Well, he wasn't going to make her feel bad about it now. He turned his eyes back to the page and studied what the models were wearing. He finally clued in that he had no idea how to dress a woman. Guys were easy; undershirt, shirt, underwear, pants, socks and you're done. Mixing and matching? Please. He needed help. Female help. He heard a chirping and realized he had an incoming call on the PC. He got up again and hustled into the communications room. Willow was right behind him. He sat and she sunk to kneel next to his chair. He suppressed his annoyance as her reaction might just be an automatic reaction for her. He'd talk to her about it later. Dan answered the call and Kira Noskov's face appeared on the screen. At her elbow was her youngest daughter, Katya. The picture was choppy as the signal was weak but that didn't diminish the brilliance of the woman's smile as she greeted him. "Hello Daniel! We received your message and I wanted to call you immediately to congratulate you two! You make a beautiful couple! I've been telling you for years to find yourself a woman. You've finally taken my advice!" she laughed. Dan realized that Kira read more into the photo he'd sent of Willow sitting on his lap than he'd intended. He looked down at Willow and saw the smile on her face and knew he couldn't try to explain it now. "Thank you Kira! And hello Katya!" "Svetlana is crying, DanDan. She is not happy," Katya said, using her pet name for him. Kira looked pained then apologetic. "Not to worry Daniel, Svetlana has been holding onto her hero worship too long. She will grow from this and her tears will dry." Dan's expression froze and twitched as he realized he'd fucked up again and hurt the young girl unintentionally. He knew she'd had a crush on him. They had a strong bond from what they'd gone through together. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt her." His PTSD surfaced with a series of twitches. Kira's voice grew firm, "Daniel, stop this. You are not responsible for Svetlana's happiness or tears." She turned to Katya and said something quietly to the girl who vanished out of the frame. Willow got worried at Dan's stricken expression so she stood and took his face in her hands and turned his face to hers so she could look into his eyes. He was slightly dazed but his eyes came back into focus when they were looking into the vibrant green depths of Willow's eyes. He heaved a sigh and came back to the present. Kira witnessed the transformation with a satisfied smile on her face. There were tears in the corners of her eyes as she saw her friend pulled back from an attack. She was convinced that this young woman was just the medicine her Daniel had been missing all of these years. She didn't approve of his self-imposed solitude but he hadn't listen to her protests. She didn't know anything else about this woman but she was good for him, this much she knew. Svetlana appeared in the picture and took in the shaken expression on Dan's face and the beautiful woman holding him. Her jealousy flared terribly to see another woman touching Dan. She'd vowed she'd marry him so many years ago when he'd saved her and her family. But she couldn't bear the thought that she'd caused him pain. Above all else she knew the scars he carried from that day and how long he'd struggled with them. "Da, Daniel! I am so pleased to see you looking well! Please know that I am well and happy for you! Do not worry about me! I have many friends here and many boyfriends- I mean many who would like to be my boyfriend!" she corrected herself before her mother could protest. She looked at the annoyed expression on her mother's face then gave Daniel one more forced smile and left the picture." Kira came back into the picture. "If there is anything we can do Daniel please let us know." Dan pulled himself together and looked at Willow with gratitude. "First off, I'd like to introduce you officially to Willow." Willow smiled uncertainly at the screen but Kira graciously took the conversation from there. "Hello Willow! My name is Kira. I am so pleased to meet you!" Uncertain what to do as she'd never spoken to anyone over a computer before much less been allowed to speak without permission Willow just nodded her head towards the screen. Dan rubbed her back and felt her jump slightly at his touch then she climbed up and snuggled on his lap. Dan was uncomfortable with such a display in front of Kira but couldn't scold her for the damage that might do. Kira seemed to be enjoying his blush as she wore a big grin on her face. Then he thought of something. "There is one thing I would like to ask of you actually. I have no clothes for Willow here at the house and we're snowed in. I was going to order some online and have Wally airdrop them but I have no idea what to order. I've never had to buy women's clothes before and Willow hasn't ever chosen her own clothes. If I gave you the credentials for my online account could I ask you to shop for the clothes she'll need for the next 4 months?" "That I can do! Send me her measurements and I will place the order," Kira said with a smile. "Thank you so much! Please speak to Svetlana for me! You know I think the world of her, and Irina and Katya! I would never do anything to hurt them!" he blurted and glanced awkwardly at the blond curled on his lap. Kira made placating gestures. "They know you do and they all love you for it. Some a little too strongly. Not to worry Daniel. Because they love you they understand. I will speak with you soon as will Andrei. Goodbye, Willow!" and she disconnected. To Be Continued in part 4, based on a post by BurntRedstone for Literotica

Brandon Dawson is 1 of youngest to ring NY Stock Exchange Bell. Sold 1st Business at 29 for 38.2M dollar. Sold Last Business for 151M dollar. Business Scaling Expert, Precision Health Optimizer. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Success is not luck but a choice. Anyone who decides to take consistent action and never quit can build something extraordinary. 2. Your business should self-fund growth. Learn to force your business to make money before turning to investors. 3. Exiting is not just selling. It's about designing your business so it thrives without you, maximizing value and freedom. Check out Brandon's website - Brandon Dawson Website Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. NetSuite - Get the business guide, "Demystifying AI", for free, at Netsuite.com/fire. Framer - Ready to design, iterate, and publish all in one tool? Start creating for free at Framer.com/design, and use code FIRE for a free month of Framer Pro! Rules and Restrictions May Apply.

Are these members of The Playhouse Family doing totally normal things or definitely NOPE?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dominic “DJ” Mazza walks through how a third-generation New Jersey scrap and demo outfit became one of the region's most diversified recycling platforms—spanning transfer stations, a single-stream MRF, mulch & bagging, roll-off and commercial collection, scrap, concrete, and more. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into capital intensity, acquisitions (Liberty/Bull), building a professional management layer, and why process, cost accounting, and tech are DJ's real superpowers. You'll hear: How a Big Four CPA ditched fluorescent auditor rooms to scale the family business with cousin Jimmy.The “feed your own transfer station” move: launching roll-off & commercial collection to control inbound.Building a state-of-the-art single-stream MRF and a Scotts mulch bagging line—plus what they'd do differently.Buying right: Liberty & Bull, when to keep local brands, and bringing in an A-player COO from Waste Management.Valuation reality in waste/recycling, why the industry is capital- and compliance-heavy, and where DJ's building next. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: capital-intensive ops, team size, and early acquisitions (Liberty/Bull) 00:49 – Intros; first waste/recycling guest on the Buzz 01:32 – BU → Deloitte CPA years; why auditing felt like “double-checking” not building 02:36 – Back to the family business; the 1964 roots and grandfather's original operation 05:12 – The cousins' plan: DJ + Jimmy begin shaping the next chapter 07:24 – From local scrap to regional platform; footprint across New Jersey and greater Philly 07:46 – Exiting demolition to focus: redeploying time/capital into scalable lines 09:15 – “Feed the transfer station”: launching roll-off with a truck and ten cans 10:32 – New bagging plant: producing Scotts mulch for Home Depot/Lowe's in the Northeast 11:17 – Inside the single-stream MRF: optical sorters, PET capture, and why the facility's different 12:59 – Why processing costs are high; plant capex and how the permit strategy started (cardboard → full stream) 15:08 – Touring plants, picking vendors, and what they'd change in hindsight 15:41 – Size, scope, and staying privately owned; leading a 250-person team 18:45 – Property bets from the '80s and how real estate underpins growth 25:22 – Business lines roll-call: transfer stations, MRF, mulch/topsoil, scrap, concrete, tires, roll-off & commercial routes 27:17 – Open to the public; marketing mix and in-house director driving search & demand 31:20 – M&A integration: DJ runs diligence/legal, Jimmy runs deal sourcing; adding a seasoned COO 32:47 – Valuation talk, regulatory moat, and why scaling takes management depth 35:24 – Planning horizon, pivots, and what it takes to double again 38:03 – Hours & throughput: accepting to 5pm, processing to 10pm; hiring/keeping A-players

Dive into this episode as Mitch McGinley provides expert insights for business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to make a profitable, purposeful exit. As an accomplished sales advisor, Mitch is a former yoga studio owner who knows firsthand what it takes to build a business with heart and how to sell it without losing the legacy. Through his company Boutique Fitness Broker, Mitch helps studio owners navigate every stage of the sales journey — from structuring, pricing, and positioning their studios to finding the perfect buyer or growth partner. With immense industry knowledge and a hands-on approach, he and his team make the process seamless, strategic, and deeply personal… Hit play to find out: The value of good customer service in the business broker world. Common mistakes fitness owners make when exiting. Misconceptions surrounding business brokers. How to preserve community and mission during transition. At Boutique Fitness Broker, Mitch's mission is simple: to help boutique fitness owners thrive one sale at a time. Want to learn more about what makes his approach so unique? Join the conversation now! To learn more or start your own exit journey, visit BoutiqueFitnessBroker.com.

It’s not the numbers that make a business thrive—it’s the people, the trust, and the purpose behind it. In this revealing episode, Jaryd Krause sits down with Antoine Minoux, Principal Product Designer at Yelp and a serial entrepreneur who has founded, grown, and sold multiple successful SaaS ventures, including Improvmx and VoilaNorbert. Together, they unpack what really happens behind the scenes of buying, scaling, and selling online businesses—and the emotional intelligence required to do it right. Antoine shares his candid reflections on navigating acquisitions, from spotting undervalued opportunities to balancing multiple ventures and knowing when it’s time to sell. They explore how trust and transparency form the foundation of any successful deal, why valuation isn’t just about numbers, and how emotional awareness can be the difference between a smooth exit and a painful one. Through Antoine’s firsthand experiences, this conversation provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs looking to grow not just through innovation but through strategic acquisition and authentic relationships. Together, they explore: ✔️ Why buying an existing business can be less risky than starting from scratch✔️ The emotional and relational side of business acquisitions most founders overlook✔️ How to balance multiple ventures without losing clarity or momentum✔️ The right way to approach valuation and negotiation in SaaS deals✔️ Lessons learned from multiple exits—and why selling doesn’t always mean letting go Whether you’re an aspiring acquirer, a seasoned founder, or somewhere in between, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, exits, and the role of trust in entrepreneurship.

Max is one of the visionaries that helped to create the truckload and logistics industries that we have today. As an early adopter of many safety, productivity and driver comfort, Max was very early on with items like power steering, air conditioning, steering stability controls, disc brakes, satellite communications, traction control, collision avoidance systems, electronics on engines years before it was accepted by the industry. He was one of the first to computerize his company in the mid 1980s. He would find technologies in Europe and push for implementation in the U.S. Max has developed companies in various industries with great success. He developed Paragon Trailer Rental which was sold to GE. He developed Xpress Data systems which he sold the software assets to Qualcomm. He started a company called Innovative Processing Solutions (a fintech software company) which was sold to US Bank. He co-founded a fintech company called TransCard which specializes in b to b and b to c payment applications. During his tenure at U.S. Xpress Enterprises, he completed 31 acquisitions with successful implementations. As a founder of US Xpress, he built the company to approximately $2,500,000,000 in total revenues. He has been on the SunTrust/Truist Advisory Board since 1994. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prasad Gollapalli is chief executive officer, founder and chairman of the board of Qued, a pioneering cloud-based AI workflow automation platform transforming load appointment scheduling into the future. It seamlessly automates the entire process, securing the optimal appointment times to all types of loads including multi-stop loads. By eliminating the chaos of spreadsheet management, overflowing inboxes, and cumbersome portal logins, Qued empowers 3PLs, brokers, and carriers with a streamlined workflow while delivering significant workforce optimization benefits for shippers. Through Qued, brokers build trust by guaranteeing on-time deliveries, enhancing communication, and fostering transparency, thereby strengthening industry relationships and enhancing efficiency and reliability. Qued's innovative approach has earned recognition from industry leaders such as McLeod Software, a premier freight management and transportation software provider, which has certified Qued as an integration partner. With nearly three decades of industry experience, Prasad is a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his success in start-up ventures and leadership roles within trucking and shipping software companies. Prior to Qued, Prasad founded and led Trucker Tools, the industry's premier digital freight management platform with the most popular Trucker Tools driver app. As the CEO of Trucker Tools, he led the team in implementing innovative solutions including capacity management, predictive freight matching, automated booking, and real-time GPS-based visibility. Prasad sold Trucker Tools to ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors, in June 2021. In December of 2024, DAT (a Roper Industries company) acquired Trucker Tools making ASG extremely happy with the outcome.  Prior to his tenure at Trucker Tools, Prasad held various leadership positions focused on the design and implementation of advanced transportation technology solutions. As Director of Product Management at Getloaded.com, later acquired by DAT, he led business and product strategy efforts. Prasad's expertise extends to the shipping industry, where he served as a product manager for the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR, LLC). Prasad holds an MBA with a focus on strategy and entrepreneurship from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, as well as a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Alabama-Huntsville. He earned his bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering from the University of Madras, India. Prasad resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife and daughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

-The US Customs and Border Protection submitted a new measure that allows it to photograph any non-US citizen who enters or exits the country for facial recognition purposes. According to a filing with the government's Federal Register, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security are looking to crack down on threats of terrorism, fraudulent use of travel documents and anyone who overstays their authorized stay. -Google is rolling out a new feature for Gemini's Canvas, the free interactive workspace inside the AI chatbot's app, meant for students and employees who need to create presentations. Gemini is now capable of generating slides with just a prompt, though users can also upload files like documents, spreadsheets and research papers if they want a presentation based on a specific source. -The Commodore 64 is back in black, sort of. Retro Games and Plaion Replai released a limited edition redesign of the best-selling computer, called THEC64 - Black Edition. The latest blacked-out version is now available on Amazon or Retro Games' website for $119.99. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Various Scriptures

In this episode, Nick and Steven sit down with Wullie Thomson — entrepreneur, former dairy business owner, and now full-time property investor. Willie shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Shotts to building one of Scotland's largest independent milk delivery businesses before moving into the property world.

Send us a textJoin us in this captivating episode as we explore the profound journey of consciousness and the concept of "Exiting the Matrix." Our guest shares their unique experiences and insights on Never Return to Earth Again and  Finally End Your Reincarnation Cycle, Dive into the nature of reality, reincarnation, and spiritual awakening. Discover how to navigate the complexities of existence and find your path to enlightenment. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that challenges the boundaries of perception and reality.TakeawaysI clearly recalled being a part of shared consciousness community.The Earth has a recruitment campaign to bring more cosmic souls.Love is the highest, most pristine kind of luge.Quantum travel allows you to bypass all these structures.We were created as batteries for the worlds, the seven dimensions.The system is very clever and intricate, making it hard to escape.Practices like meditation can help in spiritual awakening.The concept of karma is questioned and seen as a control mechanism.The astral plane and its layers are described in detail.The importance of spiritual practices in improving earthly experiences.Title OptionsExiting the Matrix: A Journey BeyondUnlocking the Secrets of ConsciousnessThe Cosmic Recruitment: Souls on EarthLuge Energy and the Power of LoveQuantum Travel: Transcending Earthly LimitsReincarnation and the Illusion of KarmaShared Consciousness: A Cosmic ConnectionThe Matrix System: A Clever DesignSpiritual Awakening: Practices and InsightsBeyond the Earth: A Cosmic PerspectiveSound bites"I clearly recalled being a part of shared consciousness community." "The Earth has a recruitment campaign to bring more cosmic souls." "Love is the highest, most pristine kind of luge." "Quantum travel allows you to bypass all these structures." "We were created as batteries for the worlds, the seven dimensions." "The system is very clever and intricate, making it hard to escape." "Practices like meditation can help in spiritual awakening." "The concept of karma is questioned and seen as a control mechanism." "The astral plane and its layers are described in detail." "The importance of spiritual practices in improving earthly experiences."

The number of federal employees exiting the government this year continues to grow. The Partnership for Public Service has added thousands more to its running tally of how many feds have left their jobs since January. The latest estimate surpasses 211,000 employees who are either already gone, or who may exit soon. The organization says the increase comes from the layoffs agencies announced earlier this month ... although those are being temporarily blocked. There were also some updated numbers on how many Defense Department personnel have taken a deferred resignation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if AI read your entire book and explained your life's work better than you could? That's exactly what happens in this one-of-a-kind episode of The Root of All Success. Jason Duncan fed his bestselling book, Exit Without Exiting, into Google's AI tool, Notebook LM, and let it create an entire podcast conversation — no script, no notes, just pure AI synthesis. The result? A surprisingly deep discussion between two AI hosts about Jason's signature frameworks for achieving freedom without selling your business. From delegation and systems to time, money, and purpose — this episode captures the heart of what it means to build a business that serves your life instead of controlling it. Jason returns at the end to unpack what AI got right, what it missed, and how this experiment proves that the Exit Without Exiting lifestyle is more relevant than ever in today's AI-driven world.

Want to start, grow, and monetize your own podcast? Watch ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Success Secrets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Welcome to the optYOUmize Podcast where we help entrepreneurs build the business AND life of their dreams. Get tips, tactics, stories, and inspiration from interviews with business and personal development experts and lessons from my own successes and failures so you can make more, work less, and live better. You don't have to go it alone--we're here to support and motivate you, and encourage you to keep going until you reach your goals. Follow optYOUmize Podcast with Brett Ingram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Summary Brett Ingram interviews Raj Singh, VP of Product at Mozilla, who shares his journey as a successful entrepreneur and startup founder. Raj discusses his early career, the importance of problem-solving, and the role of luck and timing in entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the need for iterative processes, the discomfort of entrepreneurship, and how AI is transforming growth strategies. Raj also provides insights on decision-making in product management and offers valuable tips for entrepreneurs looking to prepare for an exit strategy. Visit https://linktr.ee/mobileraj for links to his background, product portfolio and socials. Chapters 00:00 The Journey of an Entrepreneur 08:13 Building for Success: Intent vs. Outcome 12:09 Navigating the Startup Landscape 20:09 Empowering Solopreneurs with AI Tools 21:28 The Shift in Startup Funding Dynamics 22:41 Harnessing AI for Creative Empowerment 26:13 The Art of Decision-Making in Product Management 33:11 Strategic Planning for Business Acquisition 37:40 Leveraging AI for Accelerated Growth #startup #AI #growthstrategies #personaldevelopment #entrepreneurship #optyoumize #brettingram #entrepreneurpodcast #podmatch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Hakeem Anwar from Above Agency joins us to discuss the rising threat of Global Digital ID & The equally disturbing roll out of School Surveillance of our children. Don't miss this one, it will absolutely shock you! Hakeem Anwar, a technologist, activist, educator, and entrepreneur, currently leads a number of projects focused on the intersection of technology and personal freedom. Exiting his corporate career as a software engineer to support activist movements – he found the true power of the internet is to bring people together under one cause. After facing mass censorship and cyberattacks, he realized that free … Continue reading →

Turn online alignment into an offline community — join us at TheWayFwrd.com to connect with like-minded people near you. It's the best way to support this podcast and the movement we're building together: https://thewayfwrd.com/join/ Alec and Kaylor Betts explore what it means to “exit the traps” of modern society; emotionally, financially, and spiritually. They discuss emotional regulation, authenticity, and the discipline needed to live freely. Kaylor shares how he built Betts Nation as a framework for self-led living, balancing ambition with truth and freedom. For more details, links, timestamps and resources mentioned in this episode, visit our website: https://thewayfwrd.com/content/ Resources & Links Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thekaylorbetts/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thekaylorbetts Website - https://www.awakeandwinning.com The Betts Nation Business Academy - https://bettsnation.ca/biz-kb/ Free Jumpstart Call -  https://calendly.com/betts-nation/the-business-academy-jumpstart-call-twf Spotify: Awake & Winning - https://open.spotify.com/show/1LLN3LPYq7nvyxeuHF2PAQ    The Way Forward podcast is sponsored by: New Biology Clinic: Redefine Health from the Ground Up Experience tailored terrain-based health services with consults, livestreams, movement classes, and more. Visit https://NewBiologyClinic.com and use code TheWayForward for $50 off activation. Way Forward members get the fee waived: https://thewayfwrd.com/membership-sign-up/ ————————— RMDY Collective: Homeopathy Made Accessible High-quality remedies and training to support natural healing. Enroll: https://rmdyacademy.org/?bg_ref=MKho6KZowaExplore: https://rmdycollective.org/?bg_ref=MKho6KZowa

Welcome back to my 2-part podcast episode, where I'm talking about how to “de-center” men (or really anything or anyone we've made the “sun” in our lives). We named the pattern: what it looks like to center men and the emotional, relational, and cultural costs when we orbit someone else's needs at the expense of our own. Today we move from insight to action (Yay!). This episode is about how to stop self-abandoning without burning your life down, and what decentering looks like in real, everyday practice. I'll walk you through a clear framework you can try this week—tiny choices, boundary language, nervous-system support, and specific drills for dating, work, and long-term partnership. You'll also hear a couple of personal moments that show how these tools play out when things get clear, messy, and very human. This is what you'll hear in this episode: A short recap of Part 1: a plain-language definition of “centering men” and why the costs keep adding up over time. How to spot the pattern in real time using quick questions (“Am I doing this for their comfort? For avoiding conflict? To not inconvenience someone else?”) and a pause before reacting. Relational autonomy in action: the “Two-Yes Rule”, and speaking your “why” without over-explaining. Exiting self-silence with nervous-system help: a scheduled anger/venting that doesn't bleed into your relationships. Reframing “being disliked for having needs” as data—not disaster. Decentering drills for real life: speaking first and reclaiming your voice at work, and self-regulation + clear timing in partnerships. Shifting the ecosystem: auditing your media, re-centering women in your inputs, etc. Decentering isn't about rejecting or hating men; it's about reclaiming yourself in a culture that has taught us that centering men will keep us safe and it's the only option. My hope is that this episode gives you a practical path: notice the old bargain as it's happening, choose one small values-aligned action, and let your nervous system catch up as you practice new boundaries. And please try the homework! Pick one domain where you tend to self-abandon, run a tiny experiment this week, and reflect on what your body and inner voice tell you. If this landed, share the episode and let me know what shifted for you!  Resources from this episode: Episode 697: De-Centering Men Part 1: What it means and what it costs us Download a Free Digital Version of my upcoming book, Live Like You Give a Damn Hop on my email list for updates on my books, programs, and more: andreaowen.com/free My Ketamine Therapy Journey secret podcast series Book recommendations: I love a good personal development book, and you do too, right? I've compiled a list of book recommendations, as mentioned in past episodes. Check out these amazing book recommendations here. Happy reading!   MSN is supported by: We love the sponsors that make our show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: andreaowen.com/sponsors/ https://andreaowen.com/podcast/699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Angela Jollivette (Moonbaby), an award-winning music supervisor and producer, shares her journey of faith and purpose in the music industry. She discusses her transition from the Grammy Awards to founding Moonbaby Media, emphasizing the importance of spiritual guidance in navigating success. Angela highlights her mission to bridge the gap between faith-based artists and the mainstream music world through her initiative, Faith in Sync. The conversation explores themes of community support, the significance of simplicity in spiritual journeys, and the need for unity in the music industry.

October 20, 2025 - Season 16, Episode 39 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Monday morning episode, Alex Kozora and I get right into talking about where the Pittsburgh Steelers stand as the team exits their mini bye week. As part of our weekly Monday morning housekeeping portion of the show, which is sponsored by Touringplans.com, Alex and I look at where the Steelers now stand in the AFC North and how the team has four very tough games coming up. We discuss the possibility of the Steelers getting injured WR Calvin Austin III back for the team's Sunday night home game against the Green Bay Packers. There continues to be rumblings about the Steelers trading for a wide receiver at some point in the coming weeks, so Alex and I again address that topic. While it's plausible that the Steelers could wind up trading for a wide receiver before this year's deadline, we are not overly convinced that any such deal will come to fruition. Now that Alex and I have completed our individual looks at the all-22 tape from the Steelers Thursday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, we each give extended thoughts on what transpired in that contest. We start off with the positives that we saw from the Steelers offense against the Bengals and then go over the several negatives that transpired on defense. We discuss the quick snap-to-throw time that Bengals QB Joe Flacco had on Thursday night and how the Cincinnati running game gave the Steelers defense fits. Missed tackles played a huge role in the Thursday night loss so we go over that element from the contest. We also discuss once again the limited playing time that Steelers OLB Nick Herbig had in Cincinnati. Alex and I both agree that we will learn quite a bit more about the Steelers defense in the next two weeks as that unit will face quality offenses in the form of the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts This 98-minute episode also discusses several other minor topics not noted and we wrap things up by answering several emails we received from listeners. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to build a construction business that runs without you? In this episode, Aaron Mills shares how accurate financials and strategic systems can transform your company from owner-dependent to highly valuable and sellable. Learn how one electrical contractor grew from $30M to $90M in four years while the owner reduced his involvement from 60 hours to just a few hours per week.What You'll LearnHow to transform messy financials into strategic tools for growthThe importance of WIP schedules and how they reveal hidden profit opportunitiesWhy pricing increases often meet less resistance than you expectHow to strategically remove yourself from day-to-day operationsThe exact systems needed to triple net profits while working lessTime Stamps00:55 - Episode Intro02:32 - Financial Resource Optimization04:15 - Challenges in Construction Financials05:29 - Case Study: Electrical Contractor06:48 - Growing Broke: Understanding Revenue Pillars14:21 - Controller vs CFO: Roles and Responsibilities22:25 - Exiting the Business and Personal Success Stories28:51 - Understanding the WIP Schedule31:41 - Dissecting the WIP Schedule36:03 - Training Project Managers44:28 - Challenges in Implementing WIP46:03 - The Importance of Systems49:16 - Daaxit's Free Strategy Session50:30 - Core Values and Asking for Help50:55 - The Story Behind Daaxit51:47 - Episode OutroSnippets from the Episode"If your financials are on a roller coaster month to month—if you're making a whole bunch of money one month and losing a whole bunch the next—then your financials are inaccurate and you need some help."— Aaron Mills"When you're going to sell your business, it's so much more attractive if you're not in the business running it every day. You want a business that operates by itself."— Aaron Mills"A controller's reporting the history; the CFO bridges the history to the future with the business owner and the vision."— Aaron Mills"I just took my first two weeks off. I didn't answer my phone. This spring, this summer, I've been going to my kids' sporting events for the first time ever, and I have the best relationship with my wife ever."— Construction Business Owner (Client Success Story)Key TakeawaysYour financials should be strategic tools, not just tax documentsWIP schedules reveal hidden profit opportunities when properly analyzedRaising prices on unprofitable clients is often easier than you thinkBuilding a business that runs without you increases its value dramaticallyDifferent revenue levels ($5M, $10M, $20M+) require completely different systemsProject managers need monthly financial reviews to maintain profitabilityA business that runs without you provides both financial and personal freedomResources⁠24 Things⁠ Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire & Train an Executive Assistant⁠Schedule⁠ a 15-Minute Roadblock CallCheck out⁠ OpenPhone⁠Build a Business that Runs without you. Explore our⁠ GrowthKits⁠ Need Marketing Help? We Recommend⁠ Benali⁠Need Help with podcast production? We recommend⁠ Demandcast⁠More from Aaron MillsAaron Mills - Founder/ CEO DaaxitDaaxit WebsiteAaron Mills on LinkedInMore from Martin Holland⁠theprofitproblem.com⁠⁠annealbc.com⁠   ⁠Email Martin⁠⁠Meet With Martin⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Instagram⁠More from Khalil⁠benali.com ⁠⁠Email Khalil⁠⁠Meet With Khalil⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠Instagram⁠More from The Cash Flow ContractorSubscribe to our⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠Subscribe to our ⁠Newsletter⁠Follow On Social:⁠ LinkedIn⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠,⁠ Instagram⁠, ⁠X(formerly Twitter)⁠Visit our ⁠website⁠⁠Email⁠ The Cashflow Contractor

In this sixth episode of the Call My Lawyer series, we are focusing on the topic of Succession – Exiting Your Business.  Meghan Warren of Burke and Associates Lawyers explored this topic with Hanya Oversby.Given the matters discussed in this podcast, it is critical that as a means to protect and realise the investment of all equity holders, you seek professional advice before a business entity considers exiting a medical business. Burke Lawyers can help! For more information on Meghan and Burke Lawyers, please click on this linkhttp://www.burkelawyers.com.au/ More information about Hanya Oversby can be found onhttps://hanyaoversby.com.au/

Bottom of the 11th drama as Dodgers advance with win after Philly blunder, The NY Giants upset The Eagles on Thursday night. Not a good night for Philadelphia sports fans...College and Pro football weekend preview, more...

Exiting a business is never just about the deal, it's about who you become on the other side. In this episode, Jerome Myers, America's Leading Exit Authority, explores the unseen emotional and psychological realities of selling a company. From the illusion of control to the founder's exit paradox, Jerome explains why independence can't carry you through the transition and why trust, guidance, and proven frameworks are essential for a fulfilling next chapter.  If you're approaching an exit, or even just thinking about it, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and invite you to prepare in a way that safeguards not only your wealth, but also your peace, relationships, and purpose. [00:00 – 01:09] Introduction to Business Exits Exits are more than transactions; they're transformations Many founders believe they can handle the process alone Independence created success, but it can also create blind spots [01:09 – 03:06] Illusion of Control & The Trust Gap Control brings results in business, but doesn't guarantee clarity in exits Spreadsheets can model finances, but not emotions Past betrayals create fear and isolation, blocking growth Real safety comes from trust—self, others, and frameworks [03:06 – 04:47] The Founder's Exit Paradox & The Guarantee Fallacy Selling your company also means letting go of the version of yourself it represents Perfect deals can still leave founders unfulfilled Chasing guarantees fuels regret; preparation reduces it Exiting alone costs more than money—it risks peace, clarity, and purpose [04:47 – 06:26] Common Objections and Misconceptions Privacy vs. secrecy: why keeping plans hidden creates isolation “No one understands my business,”—but the process is about you, not the business “I just need one more deal”—a dangerous trap leading to burnout“I don't trust anyone”—trust is the doorway to healing and legacy [06:26 –08:11] Invitation to Action & Next Steps Independence built your empire, but interdependence builds legacy You don't need another consultant—you need a guide and a framework Take the Exit Readiness Assessment to discover where you stand Explore The Next Intensive to gain clarity in the emotional, strategic, and financial dimensions of your transition Key Quotes: “The exit isn't just a transaction, it's a transformation, and no one transforms alone.” - Jerome Myers “Independence built your empire, but interdependence will build your legacy.” - Jerome Myers Ready for your next chapter?Start Your Assessment Now

Pastor Tamar shares about Revelation 18-19:9.

Send us a textWatch the video!https://youtu.be/iffvVDJRBtAIn the News blog post for October 3, 2025https://www.iphonejd.com/iphone_jd/2025/10/in-the-news798.html00:00 Foundational Intelligence13:42 Thank you LIT SOFTWARE for sponsoring this episode!13:58 26 Ways iOS Keeps on Giving24:12 Bug Squashing26:26 Air-Inspiring31:34 Lux-urious Cameras36:02 Apple's Other Earbuds38:56 Watching Satellites45:53 M5 Possibilities49:34 Thank you LIT SOFTWARE for sponsoring this episode!57:40 Goodnotes Gets Gooder1:00:33 In the Vision! Exiting the Uncanny Valley1:04:26 In the Show! Streaming for Peanuts1:08:56 Brett's iTip: Watch Apple TV+ on United Flights!1:10:17 Jeff's iTip: Double-Tap to React with a TapbackThank you LIT SOFTWARE for sponsoring this episode!https://www.litsoftware.com Apple's Foundation Models framework unlocks new app experiences powered by Apple IntelligenceTim Hardwick | MacRumors: 26 Hidden iOS 26 Tricks to Change How You Use Your iPhoneJuli Clover | MacRumors: Apple Releases iOS 26.0.1 With Fixes for Wi-Fi, Cellular, and Camera Issues on iPhone 17 ModelsJuli Clover | MacRumors: Two Weeks With the iPhone Air: Is Ultra-Thin Worth the Compromises?David Sparks | MacSparky: The Reasons for the iPhone AirLux: iPhone 17 Pro Camera Review: Rule of ThreeJuli Clover | MacRumors: Powerbeats Fit Review: Apple's New $200 Workout Earbuds Replace Beats Fit ProWesley Hilliard | Apple Insider: Apple Watch Ultra 3 review: Iterative update, but still excellent hardwareJuli Clover | MacRumors: FCC Leaks Upcoming MacBook Pro and MoreMahnoor Faisal | MakeUseOf: I didn't think GoodNotes could get better but it just didJason Snell | Six Colors: visionOS 26 Review: Keep moving toward the futureDan Moren | Six Colors: visionOS Diary: Work itBrett's iTip: Watch Apple TV+ on United Flights!https://techfortravel.co.uk/app-news-apple-tv-shows-hit-the-skies-with-united/  Jeff's iTip: Double-Tap to React with a TapbackSupport the showBrett Burney from http://www.appsinlaw.comJeff Richardson from http://www.iphonejd.com

Scaling an e-commerce business from six to seven figures is an exciting milestone—but it’s also where many founders hit costly roadblocks. In this insightful episode, Jaryd Krause sits down with award-winning e-commerce mentor Jodie Minto, founder of the seven-figure fashion brand iland co., host of the Online Store Success podcast, and certified digital marketer, Meta Ads specialist, and life coach. Jodie built her global fashion label from scratch while raising a young family, working full-time, and living in the Middle East—before scaling it to seven figures with customers and stockists around the world. Together, they dive deep into what it really takes to grow an e-commerce business beyond six figures, avoid the biggest pitfalls along the way, and prepare for a successful exit. Jodie shares her unfiltered journey of scaling and then strategically de-scaling her brand, the lessons from her first failed exit attempt on Flippa, and how she ultimately secured an all-cash sale to an outside buyer. You’ll learn: ✔️ The two biggest mistakes brands make when trying to jump from six to seven figures✔️ Why scaling too fast can backfire—and how to know when to pull back✔️ The mindset traps that lead to burnout and how to avoid them✔️ What to expect when selling your business (and how to recover if a deal falls through)✔️ How to align business growth with life goals for long-term fulfillment Whether you’re scaling toward seven figures, planning for an exit, or simply want a healthier approach to growth, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone who’s been through it all.

Wolfspeed (WOLF) surged to the upside after avoiding Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Diane King Hall talks about the stock's volatile history and how A.I. hopes added to the company's stunning rally. Goldman Sachs tuned down its bullishness on Spotify (SPOT) through a downgrade from buy to neutral. Diane notes a similar analyst move seen in Oklo Inc. (OKLO) from BofA.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Let's discuss the legal intricacies of exiting a practice, particularly in the context of private equity transactions. On this episode, David Cohen and I explore the importance of managing expectations for sellers, understanding the valuation process, and the implications of debt and real estate ownership in practice sales. Our conversation emphasizes the need for thorough preparation and professional guidance to navigate the complexities of selling a practice successfully.   As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our monthly “planning life on purpose” newsletter that's filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also set up a Triage conversation to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you're interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more.   And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with David Cohen.   Resources: 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form   Takeaways   You will exit your business at some point. Exiting to a corporate buyer is very different than peer-to-peer transactions. Sellers need a realignment of expectations regarding control and changes post-sale. Understanding the enterprise value is crucial for sellers. Debt must be paid off at closing, complicating the sale process. Real estate ownership can impact the sale and lease agreements. Negotiating lease terms is essential to maintain property value. Expectations around performance metrics must be managed carefully. Professional guidance is vital in navigating practice sales. Preparation is key to avoid pitfalls in the selling process.   ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews James France of Vanguard Luxury Brands, who grew his company from $13K in sales to $18.5M before exiting to Lion Nathan. James shares how focusing on “best brands for the best bars” and a strong USP fueled growth, opens up about setbacks like losing key brands and managing cash flow, and highlights lessons on scaling, leadership, and sustaining success in the competitive spirits industry. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: 1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? According to James France, the hardest thing is feeding the cash flow furnace, as managing growth and funding operations is always a major challenge. 2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? James France shared that his favorite book is “10 Truths for Raising a Healthy, Bouncy Business” by his former coach Roland Hanekroot, which offers practical stories, case studies, and clear next steps. 3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? According to James France, industry podcasts like James Atkinson's Drinks Adventures and Sam Bygrave's Boothby have been particularly valuable for learning, especially about the on-premise drinks industry. 4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? James France shared that the most important tool or resource to grow a small business is having a good advisor or sounding board — whether it's a mentor, coach, or accountant—someone who can provide objective, pragmatic advice and not just handle the numbers. 5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? According to James France, the advice he would give himself on day one of starting out in business is that it will be much harder and more expensive than expected—like having children—so be prepared, keep your promises, and always treat people with respect. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Treat everybody at every level with respect, just as you want to be treated yourself – James France A strong USP will guide every decision and set your business apart – James France Every role in a business is sales—every touchpoint is selling your company – James France

In this episode, Murray Dahm revisits Alexander's encounter with scythed chariots and unpacks some of the practical and tactical issues surrounding their historical use. From wargaming figure ratios to the use of caltrops, shield-banging, and even Roman caligae, we explore how ancient armies may have neutralised these fearsome weapons. Were chariots best used against cavalry or lighter infantry? Did ancient troops rely on noise and tight formations—or did they use more direct countermeasures? And finally, a listener asks: is there any evidence that chariot drivers dismounted before impact—or is that a modern myth?   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

One in four Dublin home sales are now landlords exiting the rental sector. That's according to the latest residential market review from property advisors DNG, which also found the rate of price increase seen in the capital has moderated for a third successive quarter. We discuss the findings with Marian Finnegan is CEO of Sherry Fitzgerald.

Bruce Pardy is professor of law at Queen's University, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and executive director of Rights Probe. We discuss the tyranny hidden within Canadian society and government, the prospects for an independent Alberta, and why Alberta will need to purge itself of the Canadian identity should it ever achieve independence.Read Bruce's Constitution for an Independent Alberta:https://c2cjournal.ca/2025/09/articles-of-freedom-what-the-constitution-of-an-independent-alberta-should-look-likeFollow Bruce on X:https://x.com/pardybruceFollow Brave New Normal on X, Substack and audio streamers:https://linktr.ee/bnnpod This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bravenewnormal.substack.com/subscribe

This special episode of The Root of All Success is different—because this time, I'm the guest. I had the honor of joining Christian Maurer on the Successful Spiritualpreneur Podcast for a deep conversation about what it really means to live with faith, purpose, and freedom as an entrepreneur. For those who don't know my backstory, I didn't start as an entrepreneur. I was a schoolteacher who got pushed out of the profession I thought I'd spend my whole life in. That painful exit opened the door to my entrepreneurial journey—and eventually to building a company that did $2.3 million in revenue within its first year. In this episode, we cover: ✨ Faith and Entrepreneurship – why spiritual alignment matters in business more than strategy alone

The real ROI of business? It's not more revenue. It's the life you get to live.What if the real purpose of building a business wasn't just to scale endlessly — but to design your ideal life and exit on your own terms? In this episode, George sits down with Noah Rosenfarb — CPA, family office founder, investor, and advisor — who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs build, exit, and live with intention.From $750M in company exits and $1B in real estate investments, Noah shares the secrets of wealth that go far beyond money — including how to avoid common exit regrets, create true time freedom, and build wealth that supports your identity (not replaces it).This is more than a conversation about taxes. This is a blueprint for building a business that supports your life, not consumes it.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Four Freedoms Framework to align business with lifeHow to create a personal “Opportunity Filter” to vet every offer or investmentWhat most entrepreneurs get wrong about exit planningThe real distinction between tax preparation and tax strategySimple habits that build long-term wealth — regardless of incomeThe truth about passive income and how the wealthy really think about ROIHow to build a healthy relationship with money (and why most don't)The mindset shift from “rat-race revenue” to “rich beyond money” Key Takeaways:✔️Build with the end in mind — Don't wait until it's too late to plan your exit. Most entrepreneurs miss the window or get trapped in the business they built.✔️Wealth vs Money — True wealth is measured in freedom, time, and alignment, not just income.✔️Use an Opportunity Filter — Say no quickly and only say yes to opportunities that pass your personal filters (e.g. ROI on time, alignment with lifestyle, no personal guarantees).✔️Tax Strategy vs Tax Prep — They are not the same. You need both. And strategic tax planning yields the highest ROI per hour for 7-figure entrepreneurs.✔️Audit your habits — Financial freedom starts by spending less than you earn and investing the difference. Sounds simple, but it's rarely done.✔️Identity matters — Exiting your business without building a new identity or purpose leads to depression, regret, and emptiness.✔️Invest your time wisely — Focus on semi-passive income vehicles that don't require your daily presence but benefit from your expertise. Timestamps:[00:00] – Why most entrepreneurs wait too long to plan their exit[02:19] – Meet Noah Rosenfarb: $750M in exits, 5 books, and building family offices[05:27] – The one rule for financial success (that's not so common)[07:35] – Noah's “Opportunity Filter” – a 14-item checklist for decision-making[11:35] – The #1 mistake entrepreneurs make: taxes and lack of strategy[17:01] – Why tax strategy is the highest leverage activity for 7-figure earners[21:04] – Best practices to prepare for windfalls or exits[26:44] – Building a healthy relationship with money[34:22] – Guilt vs. gratitude in spending: a personal boat story[37:20] – The power of prudent planning: save, then ratchet up[40:13] – Passive vs. semi-passive income (and what counts)[43:34] – The “lottery ticket” exercise to design your ideal life[48:58] – Where to start with financial literacy and wealth coaching[53:54] – Why so many entrepreneurs feel regret after the exit[56:16] – Noah's final words: Freedom is the real exit strategyConnect with Noah:Book: Exit Rich Beyond MoneyServices: WellThrive – tax strategy + wealth coaching for US-based entrepreneursMain Site: Freedom Family Office Your Challenge This WeekWhich question from today's episode hit you hardest?Share your thoughts on social, tag @itsgeorgebryant, @noahrosenfarb and @wealthriveinc, or join our community to start designing your exit strategy from day one.Want to build your business with sustainability, freedom, and a bigger purpose?Here are 3 ways we can help:Join The Alliance – The Relationship Beats Algorithms™ community for entrepreneurs who scale with trust and connection.Apply for 1:1 Coaching – Ready to build your business with sustainability, impact, and ease? Apply here.Live Events – Get in the room where long-term success is built: mindofgeorge.com/event

From testing markets with a simple Google ads landing page to scaling a multi-million dollar education business, John Rood has learned what it takes to build, exit, and start again. In this episode, John shares the lessons that shaped his journey: the importance of hiring specialists at the right time, why EOS was transformational for scaling, and how “feedback is a gift” became one of his guiding philosophies. We also get into life after exit, what it looks like to find meaning beyond money, and John's latest chapter as founder of Perceptual where he helps enterprises adopt AI safely and responsibly. Whether you are a founder, an executive, or someone simply curious about what is next in your career, this conversation is packed with practical insights and real-world stories you can act on tomorrow. Inside the episode How John tested new markets with Google ads before making big bets Lessons in hiring: specialists vs. generalists, and convincing talent to join a smaller business Implementing EOS and why “following the recipe” matters Research and discovery, from validating product markets to interviewing 70 founders Why “feedback is a gift” and how to give it effectively The role of peer groups like EO and YPO in accelerating growth Finding purpose and passion after an exit, the “pocket knife” principle Guardrails for AI, how enterprises can adopt AI without being paralyzed by fear Mentioned in this episode EOS / Traction - https://www.eosworldwide.com/?podconvergence Beyond the Exit by John Rood - https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Exit-Successful-Entrepreneurs-Their/dp/B0DRCWS3P6/?podconvergence  Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) - https://eonetwork.org/?podconvergence  YPO - http://ypo.org/?podconvergence  Perceptual - https://proceptual.com/about/?podconvergence  John's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrood1?podconvergence Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts, including video episodes on YouTube. . Learn something? Give us a 5-star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It is how we grow.  

Troy Horne Broadway Star, Musician, Author, and DAD!Troy Horne is a three-time best-seller author-ing, Star Search contestant-ing, NBC's the Sing Off competing, Steve Miller and Gov't Mule band opening, RENT on Broadway Tom Collins performing, Father of three. As a self-published author he's sold over 287,800 copies of his non-fiction books. (Exiting third person ‘cause I wrote this. HA!) My mission is to help people over 40 live their dream. I wrote a book about it called Middle Management! If you're middle aged and would like some inspiration and motivation as well as some how to you should check it out.Links:https://awesomegang.com/troy-horne/https://www.instagram.com/troyhorneofficial/Tags:Career Transitions,Change Management,Empowering,Family,Personal Growth,Purpose,Troy Horne Broadway Star, Musician, Author, and DAD,Live Video Podcast Interview,Phantom Electric Ghost Podcast,Podcast,Podmatch,InterviewSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

Today, I'm joined by Chris Van Dusen—serial entrepreneur turned Senior Equity Partner at SoCo Capital. Chris built and sold multiple companies, including one of the world's largest CBD brands, before stepping into the world of private equity and alternative investments.We break down the critical differences between building businesses and investing in them, why luck and timing matter more than people are willing to admit, and how successful family offices and billionaires are acquiring and allocating their wealth.Chris also shares insider lessons on venture capital, private equity, private credit, and even pro sports investing—and how entrepreneurs can apply the same playbook to build generational wealth and financial freedom.In this episode, you'll learn: 1.) Why most entrepreneurs struggle as investors—and the mindset shift you must make to avoid costly mistakes.2.) The real wealth allocation strategies of billionaires and family offices—and how you can use the same playbook.3.) How to evaluate opportunities across venture, private equity, private credit, and alternative assets to build lasting financial freedom.Show Notes: LifestyleInvestor.com/255Tax Strategy MasterclassIf you're interested in learning more about Tax Strategy and how YOU can apply 28 of the best, most effective strategies right away, check out our BRAND NEW Tax Strategy Masterclass: www.lifestyleinvestor.com/taxStrategy Session For a limited time, my team is hosting free, personalized consultation calls to learn more about your goals and determine which of our courses or masterminds will get you to the next level. To book your free session, visit LifestyleInvestor.com/consultationThe Lifestyle Investor InsiderJoin The Lifestyle Investor Insider, our brand new AI - curated newsletter - FREE for all podcast listeners for a limited time: www.lifestyleinvestor.com/insiderRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed today's episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review.Connect with Justin DonaldFacebookYouTubeInstagramLinkedInTwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tonight's rundown: Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Bill explains why progressive leadership doesn't work anywhere in the world and never will. Dr. Owen Anderson, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Arizona State University, joins the No Spin News to discuss the increase of reverse discrimination on college campuses and DEI narratives. A new poll shows that Americans are losing faith that hard work leads to economic gains. How many immigrants have left the U.S. labor force so far during Trump's second term? The latest on the Trump administration's strike against a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea. Final Thought: Check out our new Not Woke item at BillOReilly.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Get 20% off your first Mood order with promo code "VIEWS." https://mood.com Use our code DOBRIK for 50% off your first Wavers order on GoPuff! https://hoo.be/daviddobrik/wavers On today's podcast, David, Jason and Natalie record fresh off of posting David's newest vlog and give you some of the behind the scenes that you didn't see including, visiting Corrinna's farm, how Jason got buried in the yard again, and David reminds everyone that he is indeed straight. Also, Natalie forces David to read a Wavers ad, Jason realizes he's got to stop eating his wife's entree, and Natalie stays over David's and gets accused of farting. And a little bit later David's friend Ryan stops by to talk about his company Charge Fuze and why pickleball at David's house has become his obsession. Listen to Jason's AGT Pod here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GXDTltzrV6OGPnHCiRUzL?si=O6KHGLm8SB2RxfvaxoakgQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices