Podcasts about Expecting

Are you doing “all the right things” and still not feeling like yourself postpartum? In this episode, Brooke pulls back the curtain on the most common postpartum weight loss mistakes that leave new moms depleted, discouraged, and doubting their bodies. Whether you're breastfeeding or not, this real-talk guide is packed with empowering insights to help you nourish, not punish, your body as you heal. What to Listen For Why cutting out carbs can wreck your milk supply and your energy The truth about keto and who it's actually for (hint: it's not breastfeeding moms) Intermittent fasting: when it's okay and when it can be dangerous The #1 reason you should never skip breakfast postpartum How juicing, detoxes, and “cleanses” are harming more than helping GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic) and why Brooke never recommends them while breastfeeding How scrolling at night disrupts your hunger hormones Why strength training is more effective than cardio for weight loss postpartum The dangers of all-or-nothing thinking with food and exercise What balanced meals (with protein, fiber, and fat) actually do for your Postpartum weight loss doesn't have to mean restriction, guilt, or sacrificing your milk supply. When you nourish your body, protect your hormones, and focus on sustainable habits, your weight will naturally shift to where it needs to go. Want to learn Brooke's proven system that's helped thousands of moms reach their healthiest weight without compromising their milk supply?

In this episode of Life Will Be, Lydia T. Blanco explores the theme of vulnerability and the importance of showing up for oneself. She discusses the shift in expectations from others, the significance of setting boundaries for self-care, and the need for self-awareness in relationships. Lydia emphasizes that one should not expect others to reciprocate the same energy and love they give, as this often leads to disappointment. The conversation encourages listeners to manage their relationships and energy wisely, fostering personal growth and emotional health.Key TakeawaysVulnerability is key to personal growth.Expecting yourself from others leads to disappointment.Setting boundaries is essential for self-care.Self-awareness helps in understanding relationships.Friendships are as important as romantic relationships.You cannot teach others how to treat you.Not everyone will reciprocate your energy.It's important to know who you are dealing with.You don't have to give everything your all.Every expectation can set you up for failure.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Vulnerability07:13 The Shift of Expectations10:20 Setting Boundaries for Self-Care13:08 Understanding Relationships and Expectations16:09 The Importance of Self-Awareness18:55 Managing Energy and Relationships21:51 The Reality of Giving and Receiving24:36 Navigating Changes in Relationships27:14 Final Thoughts on Expectations and Self-ReflectionStay ConnectedWebsite: LydiaTBlanco.comSocial: @LifeWillBePod - @LydiaTBlanco

NEWSSuperman and Spider-Man reunite: DC & Marvel extend crossover through 2026The Invincible Woman debuts in Ryan North's ‘Fantastic Four' #6Knull breaks free: Marvel teases epic showdown with the Queen in BlackOni Press brings secrets, surprises, and a star-studded lineup to NYCC 2025Win free comics, meet stars, and score a Kindle: Inside Comixology's wild NYCC 2025 plansOur Top Books of the WeekDave:Starship Godzilla #1 (Chris Gooch, Oliver Ono)Department of Truth #0 (James Tynion, Scott Snyder, Joshua Hixson, Martin Simmonds)Alex:​​X-Men: Age of Revelation Overture #1 (Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman)The Author Immortal #1 (Frank J. Barbiere, Morgan Beem)Standout KAPOW moment of the week:Alex: Absolute Evil #1 (Al Ewing, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi)Dave: Absolute Green Lantern #7 (Al Ewing, Riley Rossmo, Jason Howard)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKAlex: Red Book #1 (Tynion IV, Michael Oeming) & The Power Fantasy #12 (Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)Dave: DC K.O. #1 (Snyder, Javier Fernandez)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Amazing Spider-Man Torn #1 (Adam Hughes)Alex: World of Revelation #1 (Giada Belviso Variant)Interview - Ronda Rousey - EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED is in all bookstores on Tuesday, October 7Ronda is attending NYCC with AWA — she will be at our booth for signings and a panel on Friday, October 10What inspired you to write Expecting the Unexpected?How did your experiences in UFC, WWE, and Hollywood inform the story and its tone?What was the most surprising or challenging part of making a graphic novel?What kind of tone or energy did you want the art to capture? Gritty realism, over-the-top stylized action, comedy?Do you see “Mom” as a reflection of yourself, a heightened version of you, or something else entirely?Do you see yourself writing more comics or expanding this universe into other media—film, animation, etc.?

Send us a textHey Y'all Heeeeeeyyyyyy!!!! I hope all has been well, just like I hope you enjoy this episode. There are announcements, revelations, half-truths, and whole lies. If you're driving, click-it before you ticket. If you have them, make sure you're kids are out the car or their headphones are on full blast. It's about to be a joyous ride. XOXO Two Bas B*tches. 

While reviewing the current prop bets up for Dolphins AT Panthers, Hoch tries to convince Crowder and Solana that the Fins offense is going to erupt in Carolina.

DJ & PK previewed the BYU-West Virginia matchup and examined if the big spread is a mark of respect for Kalani Sitake and the BYU Cougars.

Nasdaq and S and P hit record highs over rate cut hopes, The latest in Quantum computing, More on the Thursday October 16th Retirement & Wealth Strategies for Your Future seminar at the Palo Alto Elks Lodge with EP Wealth Advisors CFP Chad Burton and CFP CFA Ryan Ignacio

Nick and Jake talk about the 'spark' that Dillon Gabriel could bring to the Browns offense.

“We don't want to put all of our safety eggs in one basket called work.”In this episode of Business is Human, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession traces how workplace expectations ballooned from pay and safety to culture fit, values alignment, and even mental health, blurring identity and fueling burnout. She recounts the historical moments that nudged business into roles it was never designed to carry and explains why offloading our identity to work creates dependency and fear. Rebecca offers a reset: reclaim intrinsic motivation, diversify your sources of safety and belonging, and lead in ways that are deeply human without trying to be everything.In this episode, you'll learn:How decades of “scope creep” (from the 1900s to the 2020s' COVID) turned work into an identity stand-in, and why that drives burnoutWays to rebuild from the inside out: intrinsic motivation, self-respect, and non-work sources of safety, belonging, and meaningPractical language and boundary shifts for leaders and teams (e.g. “great team” vs. “family”)Things to listen for:(00:00) Intro(00:43) How workplace expectations have changed(03:32) Work's influence on personal identity(05:55) Consequences of relying too much on work(08:21) Reclaiming our lives and identities(11:47) Questions to ask yourself when  expectations are too muchConnect with Rebecca:https://www.rebeccafleetwoodhession.com/

In hour 1, the WIP Midday Show are going over the Phillies NLDS matchup vs the Los Angeles Dodgers. What to expect and if the Phillies should be expecting or hoping to take down the reigning World Series Champions. Plus, Rhea Hughes joins the WIP Midday Show to continue Phillies talk and break down A.J. Brown's comments to the media from yesterday.

Episode #406: “I didn't come to study this subject deliberately with a focus on Buddhism,” says Justine Chambers, author of Pursuing Morality, a book that explores Buddhist moral life among the Plong community in southeast Myanmar—known to outsiders as Pwo Karen—particularly in and around the town of Hpaan. Her work, the product of many years of immersive fieldwork, traces not only Buddhist ethical practices in everyday life but also the entanglements of those practices with political transitions, spiritual power, armed conflict, and minority identity in Karen State. Chambers' journey began with refugee advocacy in Australia and continued through work in Mae Sot in 2011, just as Myanmar was opening up. Expecting a conflict zone, she found instead a vibrant town full of youth and ambition, but also widespread moral anxiety. This tension became central to her research. She came to find that morality is not innate, and must be pursued daily. She describes how for the Karen, it is shaped by social factors like gender, age, and class. Chambers corrects the common misconception that Karen identity is primarily Christian. Most Karen in lowland Myanmar are Buddhist, and many trace their spiritual heritage to the Mon and even Burmese kings. Their ethical practice is linked not just to self-cultivation, but to community well-being and even environmental harmony. Yet morality is not always peaceful. Her discussion of the charismatic yet controversial figure, U Thuzana, and the DKBA's role in the destruction of Manerplaw reveals how ethical revival can also justify violence and division. Ultimately, Chambers presents morality as both personal and collective, grounded in Buddhist cosmology but lived through daily negotiations with power, suffering, and hope. “It's also about community, and how you are [a] moral being within that community.”

Nasdaq and S and P hit record highs over rate cut hopes, The latest in Quantum computing, More on the Thursday October 16th Retirement & Wealth Strategies for Your Future seminar at the Palo Alto Elks Lodge with EP Wealth Advisors CFP Chad Burton and CFP CFA Ryan IgnacioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our conversation today is with Dr. Whitney Casares, board-certified pediatrician, CEO and founder of Modern Mommy Doc, and author of the new book for children My One-of-a-Kind Body. Her book is a wonderful tool to encourage body confidence in kids and can be a valuable resource for parents! As new moms, we are shifting the narrative away from the diet culture from the past and learning to love our bodies. We want our kids to feel the same and to view all bodies as special. Dr. Casares will walk us through how to share that ideology with our children by identifying ways we can lead by example - through our actions and self-talk. If you're feeling overwhelmed with your own body-confidence journey while navigating motherhood, Dr. Casares offers encouraging and practical tips. We close today's episode by touching on body confidence in pop culture and highlighting tools you can add to your parenting toolbox and body-confidence journey.If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @modernmommydoc, @raising.body.confident.kids, and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their parenting journey!Follow Dr. Whitney Casares and Raising Body Confident Kids on InstagramDr. Casares and the Raising Confident Kids WebsitesLinks & ResourcesExpecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout Expecting and Empowered WebsiteExpecting and Empowered InstagramThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

What do you do when the first thing you see in the morning isn't sunlight—but a dark mist blocking your way out? At just five years old, while staying at his grandparents' house, Chase awoke to the sound of movement in the living room. Expecting only morning light, he instead saw a black and gray mist—a cocoon-like shape tall enough to tower over him, standing between him and the front door. Terrified, he ran back to bed and hid under the covers until daylight gave him the courage to move again. His grandmother later revealed her own experiences in that same house—visions of being spiritually attacked, countered by what she described as a circle of angels surrounding her bed in protection. And the family's encounters didn't stop there. In Marion, South Carolina, Chase's late uncle experienced strange phenomena in his children's playroom. Battery-powered toys activated on their own, only to fall silent when he entered the room. The silence was broken by something even more unnerving: the sound of childlike laughter when no one was there. From angelic visions to sinister mist, these are the kinds of paranormal stories that leave us questioning: what's really happening in the places we call home? #RealGhostStories #ParanormalMist #HauntedHouse #SouthCarolinaGhosts #ParanormalActivity #DarkEntity #AngelProtection #GhostStoriesOnline #TrueHauntings #Supernatural Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

If that's been something you've been wondering, you're not alone and you're not doing anything wrong. In this episode, Brooke debunks the myth that breastfeeding magically melts the weight away and unpacks the real reasons why your body might be holding on to weight (or even gaining). Let's get to the root of what's really going on and how to support your hormones, metabolism, and milk supply without restrictive diets or guilt. What to Listen For: Why breastfeeding alone won't guarantee weight loss (and what to focus on instead) The impact of hormone shifts and metabolism changes postpartum What nutrient deficiencies and blood sugar crashes have to do with your weight How sleep deprivation and stress can slow down or stall your results Why some moms even gain weight while breastfeeding and what to do about it Brooke's personal story of 3 very different postpartum weight journeys How to spot hidden root causes like thyroid issues, gut imbalances, and PCOS Why undereating might be making things worse for your energy, mood, and supply Simple things you can do today to support your health (without burnout!) A reminder that you're not broken and you can feel like yourself again

The Guardians are back in the postseason, and Jeff Phelps and Dan Menningen give their thoughts on Cleveland's Wild Card series with the Tigers.

As National Preparedness Month draws to a close, one more reminder about the importance of expecting the unexpected and planning for it in advance (at 13:57) --- To Your Health: Parkinson's Disease affects 8.5M people, and that number is expected to double in the next decade and a half... but there is a glaring issue in current medical research - a shortcoming that the Michael J. Fox Foundation is working to fix (at 21:25) --- What's Happening: Welcome fall! October is a great month to enjoy the autumn scenery with the Hancock Park District (at 41:44)

Mary Clayton Crow's life has been marked by radical generosity from the very beginning. After coming to faith in the Jesus Movement of the 70s, Mary Clayton's parents freely shared all they had while living in community with other Believers, regularly opening their home to missionaries, and eventually becoming missionaries themselves behind the Iron Curtain. This model of radical generosity set a strong foundation for Mary Clayton's adult life as she lives to “give generously, expecting nothing in return.”   Mary Clayton has a rich passion for relational, spontaneous generosity, often giving away personal items admired by others as a way to express God's love while resisting the trap of materialism. She is also passionate about collaborative giving, and takes part in several giving communities that invest in local ministries, not only with their finances, but with their time and talents as well.   Major Topics Include: Making generosity your own Being stretched and challenged in generosity Wrestling the “elder brother” mentality What does it really mean to expect nothing in return? A Lenten generosity challenge Resisting materialism with generosity  Modeling generosity to your family The power of community giving to local ministries  Guarding against generosity burnout Hearing from the Holy Spirit through other people Creating a visual reminder to give generously QUOTES TO REMEMBER “You can never outgive God. It's going to come back to you 10-fold, 20-fold, 30-fold, 100-fold. And it may not be in dollars and cents, but it will be in joy.” “I love generosity because it makes sharing the gospel so easy.” “Expecting nothing in return means releasing the result and putting it in the Lord's hand.” “We need to detach ourselves from things owning us so we can be stewards of the things God has given us.” “Generous tipping is one of the easiest ways to be an evangelist.” “I'm excited to chase God.” “I'm looking forward to God disrupting my life for new adventures.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Julie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here) Young Life One Hundred Shares The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Luke 21:3-4 | The Widow's Offering   And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”   John 3:16 | The Ultimate Giver   “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.   Luke 15:11-32 | The Prodigal Son   Matthew 20:1-16 | The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.

Spencer German and Jake Vulinec discuss the Guardians historic turnaround, and what the Browns loss in Week 4 means for Joe Flacco.

Spencer German and Jake Vulinec discuss the Guardians historic turnaround, and what the Browns loss in Week 4 means for Joe Flacco.

The season is a week away and we give all our prognostications on what we expect to happen this year.  There were some bold predictions and some....not so much.    Listen Here:  Apple Podcasts   Direct MP3   iHeart Radio Title Player Shawn Horcoff Shirts off for Horcoff NEWS Stolarz signs - 4 x $3.75MM Atlantic Division   Team Strengths / What's Going Well Key Challenges / What Could Go Wrong Expectations or Projection for 2025-26 Florida Panthers They're coming off back-to-back Stanley Cups, meaning they have experience, confidence, and a championship mindset. They also have strong core players, and continuity tends to help. CBSSports.com+3DraftKings Network+3NHL+3 Big blow: their captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a serious knee injury (ACL/MCL) in training camp, and is likely out for much or all of the season. That hurts leadership, two-way play, and depth. The Sun+2Reuters+2 Also, Matthew Tkachuk is recovering from surgery and may miss time. DraftKings Network+1 They'll need next-man up to step out. Still expected to be a top-team in the Atlantic, maybe the favorite. But their margin for error is slimmer without Barkov. If they stay healthy otherwise, they should contend for division and maybe again deep in the playoffs. Toronto Maple Leafs Very strong offensive core (Matthews, Nylander, etc.), good goaltending (Stolarz / Woll) last season. They won the division in 2024-25, so momentum and confidence are there. Daily Faceoff+3Wikipedia+3The Hockey Writers+3 Major change: Mitch Marner is gone (trade / sign-and-trade), so they lose a big creator and offensive driver. The Hockey Writers+2hockeybuzz.com+2 Depth on the blue line is a concern; mobility and puck-moving among the defense isn't elite. Also any injuries to top forwards could hurt. The Hockey Writers+1 They will likely still compete for a top-3 spot in the Atlantic. Many projections put them 2nd or 3rd. But whether they can pull off another division title may depend heavily on how they adapt without Marner. Tampa Bay Lightning They have veteran depth, star players (Hedman, Kucherov, etc.), strong goaltending history. They tend to remain a steady playoff presence and know how to win big games. The Hockey News+2DraftKings Network+2 Age and wear could creep in; maintaining performance across a full season is always harder for older players. Depth beyond their top lines / defense is always in question. Also, small off-season improvements vs rivals who might have improved more. The Hockey News+2hockeybuzz.com+2 Expect them to be in the mix for a playoff spot, likely top-3 or wild-card if needed. They might not win the division, but they'll be dangerous — especially if other teams have more turmoil. Ottawa Senators Young core is maturing: players like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, Jake Sanderson are established difference-makers. They made the playoffs in 2024-25 for the first time in a while. hockeybuzz.com+3NHL+3Wikipedia+3 They should have more experience, better cohesion. Depth is still a concern — forward depth, goaltending (though they have some good prospects), and whether they can avoid inconsistency (long losing stretches) especially in a tough division. Also, small margins matter in late games; punishing turnover or defensive lapses will hurt more in 2025-26. Likely a wild card contender; maybe push into the top-4 or 5 in the Atlantic depending on health and whether they capitalize in close games. Not likely favorites, but in many projections they finish around 4th in the division. The Hockey News+2The Hockey Writers+2 Montreal Canadiens Youth is coming through; the “next wave” is expected to make strides. Many observers see them as a team that could improve more steeply than some of their rivals. Daily Faceoff+1 They have upside — speed, prospects, and potential depth upgrades. Still less consistency, still gaps — especially in center depth, defensive depth, and perhaps special teams. They might struggle in tight games, and maybe lack the experience to keep pace with more battle-tested teams. Probably still just outside the top group, fighting for a wild-card. If things go well, could squeak into a playoff spot; if not, might hover in the middle. Projections often place them ~5th in the division. Boston Bruins After a down year, they have some assets and draft picks; hiring a new coach and adding forward depth are seen as positives. NHL+2The Hockey Writers+2 They also have tradition and infrastructure; could bounce back. They were last in the division in 2024-25, so regression is required just to be relevant. They need players to step up, younger guys to develop. Also, they need to improve on defense, and be better in transition and in penalty kill / special teams. Without big upgrades, they risk being left behind. NHL+1 Probably still a rebuilding / retooling year. Likely finish in the lower third of the division. Modest improvements, but playoff contention seems out of reach unless some surprise performances or trades happen. Buffalo Sabres Some high-end offensive talent (e.g. players like Tage Thompson) that have shown they can produce. Potential for breakout seasons. Bleacher Report+1 They also have assets and could use them wisely. Defensive structure, consistency, special teams, and goaltending tend to be weak or uneven. They have to avoid letting games get away — handling adversity, depth through injuries will be big. Also, relative to other Atlantic teams, margin for error is small. Probably still outside the playoff picture; might aim for getting close (70-80 wins?), but more likely a lower-end Atlantic finish (6th or 7th). Potential to improve, but not yet in serious contention unless they make big moves. Detroit Red Wings They showed competitiveness last season; some young core pieces are developing; fanbase optimism is there. They're not total longshots — could surprise. hockeybuzz.com+1 Depth is lacking; need more consistency, better defense, better special teams. Also, injuries and inexperience could hurt them over the grind of a full season. Their margin for error is small. Likely still on the outside looking in. May notch more wins than last season, possibly finish mid-pack in the division, but a playoff berth is probably a stretch unless many things go right.     Metropolitan   Team Strengths / What Looks Good Challenges / Risks Expectations / Projection Carolina Hurricanes Added scoring depth (Nikolaj Ehlers) and boosted their defense backing (K'Andre Miller). They have a strong coaching staff, and their core players (Aho, Svechnikov, etc.) are established. (The Hockey News) Ehlers has been somewhat injury prone; Miller is still adjusting to larger responsibility. Also, they've had playoff disappointments lately — expectations are high, so even small slip-ups will be magnified. (The Hockey News) Many project them to win the Metro. Likely among the top point totals in the division (100+ points), serious contender to go deep in the playoffs. (Yardbarker) New York Rangers Key offseason additions: defense improvements, coaching change (Mike Sullivan) which might stabilize some weaknesses. They have top-end talent offensively, good leadership, and the potential to tighten up defensively. (Yardbarker) Their defensive and 5-on-5 metrics were weak last season; goaltending concerns persist. They need consistency, especially in close games and during stretches without full health. (Yardbarker) Expected to bounce back. Many see them finishing near the top of the Metro, possibly 2nd or 3rd. Not quite the favourite, but serious playoff hopes. (Yardbarker) New Jersey Devils Young core that is increasingly experienced: Hughes, Bratt, etc. Some savvy offseason moves adding depth forwards and defensive pieces. If they stay healthy, they could compete for a high seed. (Live Sports on TV) Injuries to their star players remain a concern; goaltending is also an open question (how well Markstrom and others hold up). Depth still isn't quite elite. Also, consistency in tight games will be tested. (Yardbarker) Many expect them to improve on last season, possibly pushing for top-3 in Metro. A playoff berth is expected; division win less certain. If things go well, might break into serious contention. (Yardbarker) Washington Capitals Strong recent performance; good special teams, solid top lines, veteran leadership. Their depth is better in many eyes, and key players are still in good form. (The Hockey News) Aging defense corps could be a liability. Also, regression is possible—last season's stretch may be hard to replicate at the same level. Injuries always loom. (Yardbarker) Probably a top-4 Metro finish. They might not be favoured to win the division, but if things align, they could threaten. Expect playoff qualification, likely in a decent seeding spot. (Yardbarker) Columbus Blue Jackets Young players are continuing to develop; they showed last season they can compete. If goaltending solidifies and they stay healthy, they could push for the lower playoff spots. (Yardbarker) Goaltending is a concern (depth, consistency). Also, finishing games, managing pressure, and handling divisional matchups could expose their inexperience. Depth beyond top lines may still be a weak link. (Yardbarker) Dark horse for a wild card. Probably not expected to win the Metro, but could finish 4th–5th, depending on injuries and consistency. Surprises possible. (Yardbarker) New York Islanders Veteran presence, some depth, experience in tight defensive systems. Could outperform low expectations if they get hot and especially in home games. (Yardbarker) The roster seems to lack top-end scoring punch compared to the top Metro teams. Also unclear whether they've made enough changes to keep up with more aggressive/younger teams. If injuries hit, they may have trouble keeping pace. (Yardbarker) Likely in the middle of the pack. Maybe fight for a wild card but probably not among the top 3 unless something clicks. (Yardbarker) Philadelphia Flyers Some high-upside youth, flashes of good play, potential to surprise. They've added pieces that could help in depth and forward scoring. (Live Sports on TV) Still a ways to go. Lack of consistency, defense and special teams likely won't be top tier. Pressure to improve is there but may not have enough veteran stability. (Yardbarker) Probably among the lower end of Metro. Expecting modest gains; playoff battle is probably out of reach unless overperformance across the board. (Yardbarker) Pittsburgh Penguins Name recognition, leadership with veterans; still capable of pulling out big performances (especially in front of home crowd). If some younger players step up, there's upside. (Bleav) Aging core, inconsistent goaltending, defensive talent concerns. Many see them projected to finish last or near the bottom in the Metro. Long stretches of tough games could expose their vulnerabilities. (Yardbarker) Probably a rebuilding / transition year. More about development and seeing what youth can do. Playoffs unlikely barring massive surprises. Might aim to exceed low expectations rather than compete for top spots. (Yardbarker)                                       Pacific  Team Strengths / What's Working in Their Favor Key Weaknesses / Risks Expectations / Projection Vegas Golden Knights They won the division last season (2024-25) and bring strong overall depth, offensive firepower, and experience. (Daily Faceoff) They've also made roster tweaks to stay competitive. (Daily Faceoff) Losing or aging pieces, defensive depth under pressure, possible regression if injuries hit. Also, they'll get more attention from other teams, meaning more challenging matchups. (Daily Faceoff) Likely to be one of the top 2 in the Pacific, maybe the division winner again. Considered among the favorites. Edmonton Oilers Big upside. With superstars like McDavid, strong offensive core, recent playoff success (they made the Stanley Cup Final last season) indicate they already have what it takes. (Daily Faceoff) Goaltending is a concern, but if the tandem holds up, they could be dangerous. (NHL) Consistency in goal is a known risk: both in terms of performance and availability. Statistics suggest some volatility. Also, pressure expectations are high. If things go off the rails early, it could affect momentum. (NHL) Expected to challenge Vegas closely for the division; likely secure a playoff spot. Possibly division runner-up or even top if they outperform in goal. Los Angeles Kings They had a solid 2024-25, finishing 2nd in the Pacific. Key players have experience, and if their depth continues to build, they could push upward. (Wikipedia) Scoring consistency and depth past the top lines will matter. Injuries or underperformance in secondary scoring could limit how high they go. Also, keeping pace with Vegas/Edmonton will be challenging. (Daily Faceoff) Likely to be in the playoff mix. Possibly a dark horse for second or third in the division, potentially a lower seed but competitive. Vancouver Canucks They have some strong forward pieces, and internal roster improvements (especially on defense) are viewed by analysts as meaningful. If their goaltending is healthy, they could push for a wild card. (The Hockey Writers) Lack of a strong second-line center is viewed as a weakness. Also, past off-ice issues (locker room dynamics) and performance under pressure might be concerns. Health of key players will be crucial. (The Hockey Writers) Probably fighting for one of the lower playoff or wild card spots. Could surprise and finish mid-pack in Pacific if things go well, but not expected to win the division. Calgary Flames Some analysts see potential for them to climb; they may be undervalued, depending on offseason additions, internal development, and being in a division that is top-heavy (so second tiers can get more margin). (Daily Faceoff) Depth issues, matching up against elite offensive teams, special teams and defensive consistency often are weak spots. If opponents exploit those, Flames might struggle in tight games. (Daily Faceoff) Likely just outside of the top 3 in the division; possible wild card contender if they stay consistent and avoid injury. Anaheim Ducks They are still rebuilding, but have young talent, and some key contracts or signings could help them improve. (Daily Faceoff) Probably still a year or two away from being a real threat. Their defense and goaltending need to improve more before they can reliably win close games. Depth beyond the top prospects might limit their ceiling this season. (The Hockey Writers) Probably toward the lower end of playoff contention. More likely playing spoiler or improving win totals rather than challenging for top of Pacific. Seattle Kraken They have new coaching (Lane Lambert) which could bring a change in culture or playing style. Some young players are expected to develop further. (Wikipedia) They were weak in 2024-25, and must overcome inconsistency, defensive holes, scoring shortages. Also, renovation of systems and integrating young players tends to produce growing pains. (OilersNation) Likely among the bottom few in Pacific, unless there is a breakout by young core. Probably fighting for modest gains in standings rather than playoff spots. San Jose Sharks Potential upside in young players / prospects; less external pressure; opportunity to surprise if things align. (Daily Faceoff) Very likely to struggle in many games. Depth, defense, offense vs stronger teams are weak points. Budget / roster limitations may make large leaps difficult. (Daily Faceoff) Likely near the bottom of the Pacific this season. Development year. Might win some rounds, maybe upset a few higher-ranked teams, but not expected to make the playoffs in baseline projections.                                       Central    Team What Looks Good / Strengths What Could Go Wrong / Key Risks Expectations / Projection Colorado Avalanche • Strong forward group with Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Valeri Nichushkin. (The Hockey Writers) • Good defensive depth; additions like Brent Burns and Victor Olofsson project to bolster secondary scoring and depth. (The Hockey News) • More stable goaltending: Mackenzie Blackwood paired with Scott Wedgewood may reduce the inconsistency that has been a drag in past seasons. (The Hockey Writers) • Landeskog's ability to stay healthy and produce consistently is still a question. (The Hockey Writers) • Age of some defensive pieces (e.g. Burns) is a factor; performance may dip or break down in tough stretches. • If the backup goaltending or depth scoring fails, that could expose vulnerabilities. Among the favorites to win the division or finish top 2-3. Many projections put Colorado near or at the top. They are seen as a Stanley Cup contender from the Central. (The Hockey News) Dallas Stars • Strong forward group / top-6 depth. Even if they lost some pieces, their core remains dangerous. (The Hockey Writers) • Jake Oettinger remains a strong goaltender, giving them solid chances in tight games. (The Hockey News) • They may have gotten slightly “worse on paper” due to offseason departures; matching pace with Colorado, Winnipeg, etc., will be tough. (The Hockey Writers) • Defensive depth could be stressed; margin for error is smaller in a tight division. Very likely playoff team; realistic chance to compete for the division title. Projections often put them 1-3 in the Central. (The Hockey Writers) Winnipeg Jets • Strong regular season potential: solid core, strong goaltending, capable offense. (The Hockey News) • Adding leadership / veterans like Jonathan Toews may help in tight playoff push games. (The Hockey News) • They lost Nikolaj Ehlers, which is a nontrivial blow to their offense. Replacing that contribution is not simple. (The Hockey Writers) • Keeping consistency over a full season, especially in travel / divisional games, is always challenging. • Injuries or regression from key players could hamper momentum. Expected to finish among the top 3 in the Central; likely a playoff spot. Some projections have them trailing Colorado and Dallas. (The Hockey News) Utah Mammoth • Progressing core; young but gaining experience. Some observers view them as dark horse. (The Hockey Writers) • They have added pieces to try to round out depth; more cohesion could pay off. • Their overall expectation is rising; they may benefit if other teams slip. • Inexperience could hurt in high-stakes games. • Depth still may not be sufficient to sustain long slumps or injuries to key forwards / defense. • Goaltending and consistency remain open questions. Likely a wild card contender. Could finish 4th-5th in the division, possibly grab a playoff spot if things break well. Not yet expected to challenge at the very top, but capable of overachieving. (The Hockey Writers) Minnesota Wild • Some talented young players developing (e.g. Zeev Buium, Brock Faber, etc.). (The Hockey Writers) • Goaltending tandem (Gustavsson / Wallstedt) may give them more stability. (The Hockey Writers) • If Kaprizov stays engaged and the offense gets consistent support, they could push for wild card. • There has been uncertainty around certain players' commitments/futures (e.g. rumors with Kirill Kaprizov). • Depth beyond the top lines / top 6 remains a concern. • Defensive breakdowns in tight games and special teams performance could limit upside. Probably mid-pack in Central. Many projections expect them to fight for a playoff  

Two recent incidents served as "wake-up" calls to me. I was bracing myself to soon be the recipient of two instances es of negative customer service behavior. In both cases I was wrong ... very wrong. Known for an upbeat and proactive person, I was disappointed in myself for entertaining these two opportunities in such a poor fashion. I promised myself to do better moving forward. Take a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 25 Episode #98 Frank Solana and Shaun J BoyceHello racket sports world! Today in this short episode we've invited Frank Solana. Today Frank is inviting you to try to do something without expecting anything in return.About the GuestFrank Solana: Pickleball Entrepreneur, Athlete, & Coach

Doc give their reasons why they think Atlanta is legit USC has fallen off the map Nats baseball can only look ahead

9.26.25 Hour 1 1:00- Terry McLaurin and Jayden Daniels have been ruled OUT vs Atlanta. We react to this massive news here. 22:00- With McLaurin & Daniels both ruled out this weekend... Do you expect them to still win?

This week on the Talkin' Crazy Podcast, I'm coming in hot — we are talking about expectations, friendships, and why betrayal hurts so bad. Too many of us are expecting “us” from people who were never built like us. I break down:Why expecting loyalty from everyone is setting yourself up for disappointmentHow to stop giving “friend privileges” to classmates, coworkers, and followersWhy fake friends, silent supporters, and secret competitors are dangerous to keep aroundHow to reevaluate your circle and protect your peaceThis episode is about boundaries, accountability, and clarity. If you've ever been betrayed, let down, or left wondering why someone you trusted switched up — this one's for you.IG & TIKTOK: meech.speaksLet our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit https://betterhelp.com/meechspeaks and enjoy a special discount on your first month.

Big O talks Miami Heat 09252

Send us a textMe Before PMDD: Relationship Reset Toolkit-CouplesClick to Book a Private PMDD SessionFollow me on InstagramFollow me on TikTokHave you been pretending to be okay during your luteal phase just to keep the peace? After returning from two transformative weeks in Tokyo with my 16-year-old daughter, I've had a profound realization about how we sabotage our PMDD relationships without even knowing it.While navigating Tokyo's complex train systems and immersing ourselves in Japanese culture during my luteal phase, I discovered something unexpected - the freedom that comes with authenticity. As I watched my daughter blossom in an environment that aligned with who she truly is, I recognized how many of us hide our true selves in our most intimate relationships.The biggest relationship saboteur? Expecting consistency instead of embracing cyclic reality. When we pressure ourselves or our partners to show up the same way regardless of where we are in our cycle, we create an impossible standard that leads to resentment. During my trip, I practiced openly communicating my needs for rest without guilt or shame, which created deeper connection despite being in my luteal phase.Other relationship destroyers include forcing "normal" communication standards during symptomatic days, holding rigid relationship roles that prevent vulnerability, comparing your relationship to others, and equating PMDD symptoms with your true personality. Each of these patterns creates emotional distance that eventually affects every aspect of your relationship.What truly struck me was realizing how many of us fear showing our authentic selves in every phase of our cycle. If you're only showing your partner the "best version" of yourself, how can they truly love and accept all of you? This fear – whether of abandonment, rejection, or simply not being cared for – prevents the deep connection necessary for relationship satisfaction.Ready to break these patterns and create a sustainable PMDD relationship? Connect with me on Instagram @DrRose_inlovewithPMDD to learn more about my monthly PMDD relationship counseling program, where we create customized strategies to help both partners thrive through every phase of the cycle.

In this episode, I talk with Zara—a journalist, women's health reporter, and twin mom—about how knowing too much sometimes gets in the way of just being a parent. Before she even saw two heartbeats on the ultrasound, Zara was knee-deep in reproductive health journalism, covering everything from fertility to pregnancy complications. But when life threw her not one, but two babies, the story she thought she knew so well got personal—fast.We talk about how being informed can sometimes lead to anxiety instead of empowerment, how fertility struggles shaped her perspective on motherhood, and what happens when the glamorous celebrity twin narrative meets the harsh reality of a high-risk pregnancy. From dealing with preeclampsia to unpacking the media's obsession with twins, Zara gets honest about the emotional whiplash of twin parenting and why she believes we need more real talk and less tabloid sparkle.Whether you're pregnant with twins, parenting through postpartum chaos, or just trying to make sense of the internet's latest parenting advice, this episode is a reminder that it's okay to be both grateful and overwhelmed. Knowledge is power—but sometimes, not knowing everything gives you the space to breathe.EPISODE THEMES

Are you wondering how many calories you really need while breastfeeding especially if you're hoping to lose weight without hurting your milk supply? In this episode, Brooke Miller, registered dietitian and lactation counselor, breaks down the biggest myths about calories and weight loss during postpartum. You'll learn why “eat less, move more” doesn't work for breastfeeding moms and what to do instead. What to Listen For Why your calorie needs are higher postpartum than during pregnancy The real reason "eat less, move more" backfires for breastfeeding moms What happens to your milk supply when you eat too few calories Why most moms need over 2,000 calories/day while breastfeeding How protein and fiber impact your metabolism, mood, and cravings Why focusing on macro composition is more effective than calorie tracking The role of strength training in healing your metabolism postpartum Simple signs you're under-eating: mood swings, exhaustion, low milk supply How to calculate your personal macro needs using Brooke's program One small step you can take today to start nourishing your body better You don't need to wait until weaning to start feeling better. By focusing on quality nutrition and listening to your body's real needs, you can feel energized, confident, and supported in your postpartum journey.

Wolf and Luke discuss what they are expecting from Brandon Pfaadt in his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers and react to what Kyler Murray had to say in his press conference on Tuesday.

In 'doing ministry' for God, we must remember that He values who we become more than what we can do. Ps. Nicky shares practical and powerful principles on what can hinder us and what it takes to serve God's will and purpose like King David did in his generation.

In 'doing ministry' for God, we must remember that He values who we become more than what we can do. Ps. Nicky shares practical and powerful principles on what can hinder us and what it takes to serve God's will and purpose like King David did in his generation.

Jason talks to Vikings beat writer for "The Athletic", Alec Lewis, about JJ McCarthy's injury and the long list of walking wounded for the Vikings as they get set for Carson Wentz's first start with the team. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Does your love for your adult child come with conditions? Do you find yourself keeping score of phone calls, visits, and holiday choices? In this transformative episode, Kim explores the difference between natural love (which expects something in return) and supernatural love (which seeks only the good of the other person).You'll discover why the love you think you're showing might actually be conditional, and how shifting to supernatural love can free you from the emotional rollercoaster of adult relationships. Kim shares practical steps for loving without expectations, setting healthy boundaries, and finding peace even when your grown child makes choices that hurt.This isn't about becoming a doormat - it's about discovering a love so powerful it transforms your heart first, then ripples out to heal your relationships. If you're tired of walking on eggshells or feeling rejected by your own child, this episode offers hope and a path forward.Grab Your Free Course and Motivational Book: The Parent's Repair Kit and How to Use the L.O.V.E. M.E.N.D.S. Framework https://www.midlifediscoveries.com/LOVE Visit the website at: https://www.midlifediscoveries.com/

Today we start with an Ironman World Championship breakdown and bridge into how we can learn from how the pros race. We get into understanding what you have on certain days and adjusting on the fly. We talk about how trying to save 10 minutes on the bike can cost you an hour on the bike and why. We look at “expectations” and how they should/can be adjusted as the day goes on. Finding your Best Race with what you have that day. Learning your body's signals. What if you “kinda have it and you kinda don't?” Everyone has a plan until . . . Support the podcast by getting your hands on some awesome C26 Triathlon gear at our store! Topics: Ironman World Championship They all train together Run surges Age Groupers vs. Pros Adjusting pace on the fly “Thinking” you have more than you do in the tank Underperforming with too much science Expecting your best race Kinda had it . . . kinda didn't have it Hope is not a plan Everyone has a plan until . . . Finding your 10 out of 10 on Race Day Understanding what you have today Learning your body's signals How to dig deeper holes 10 minutes on the bike can cost you an hour on the run Ironman analogies for life How this going to affect my sleep? Decisions create habits   Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠ Analytic Dreamz dissects Cardi B's highly anticipated sophomore album, Am I The Drama?, dropping this Friday in September 2025—seven years after her Grammy-winning debut Invasion of Privacy. From over 60 recorded tracks, Cardi trimmed to a powerhouse 23-song LP, closing with the iconic "WAP" featuring Megan Thee Stallion. Singles "Up," "Outside," and "Imaginary Playerz" (sampling JAY-Z's "Imaginary Players") set the tone for raw introspection on life's upheavals, though Cardi guards her vulnerabilities: "People use my pain against me."Star-studded features elevate the project: Reunions with Kehlani (post-"Ring"), Selena Gomez (echoing "Taki Taki"), Lizzo ("Rumors" vibes), and Summer Walker (via "No Love" extended). Fresh collabs shine with Janet Jackson, Megan Thee Stallion, Cash Cobain, and Tyla—blending hip-hop royalty with R&B fire for massive commercial buzz. Cardi calls it "pushing another baby," overwhelmed yet complete: "I touched on everything I wanted."Her viral promo flips the script: Hawking bootleg-style on NYC streets, subway hustles, bodega pop-ups, and a Spotify partner reveal. She previewed emotionally on The Jennifer Hudson Show, now prepping for a grueling 30+ city North American meet-and-greet tour through April 2026, amid dance rehearsals and workouts. Critics whisper she "missed her window" post-singles era, but fans eye a zeitgeist revival if one track ignites. Analytic Dreamz explores if this personal rebirth recaptures Cardi's cultural dominance—tune in for the drama unpacked.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League. Today, it's whether the team should be expecting more from DK Metcalf. Through two games, Metcalf has more than doubled his career percentage in drops, which could be an alarming trend for the team that just paid him $100 million. At the same time, his average depth of target has plummeted. What's going on with Metcalf, his connection with Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh passing offense?  Alan breaks it down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like your brain won't slow down, but somehow you're still constantly forgetting things, running late, or dropping the ball? This episode is a deeply personal look into my recent adult ADHD diagnosis at 36. I'm breaking down the signs I missed, what finally pushed me to seek help, and how I'm navigating motherhood, business, and daily life with this new awareness. What to Listen For The exact signs that made Brooke question whether she had ADHD. Why ADHD in women is often missed or misdiagnosed. How hyper-cleaning can be a form of procrastination (guilty!). Brooke's experience with combined-type ADHD (with a hyperactive/impulsive twist). The family history that pointed to a deeper pattern. How adult ADHD shows up in parenting, marriage, and running a business. The simple lifestyle tools that help Brooke manage her symptoms. A refreshing perspective on using ADHD as a superpower in entrepreneurship. How Brooke is approaching medication while breastfeeding. The most helpful ways to support a partner or loved one with ADHD. This episode isn't just a diagnosis story — it's a conversation about understanding yourself, giving your brain what it needs, and releasing the guilt around the way you operate. If you've ever felt like your brain works differently, you're not alone and you're not broken.  

Should you invest actively or stick with indexing? Lance Roberts & Jonathan Penn break down five different strategies investors use to build wealth, reduce risk, and stay ahead of the market. From active stock picking to index fund simplicity, we'll explore the pros, cons, and real-world applications of each approach so you can better understand how they fit into your financial plan.

Should you invest actively or stick with indexing?  Lance Roberts & Jonathan Penn break down five different strategies investors use to build wealth, reduce risk, and stay ahead of the market. From active stock picking to index fund simplicity, we'll explore the pros, cons, and real-world applications of each approach so you can better understand how they fit into your financial plan.

Last time we spoke about the beginning of the battle of Nanjing. As the relentless tide of war approached Nanjing in December 1937, fear gripped its residents. As atrocities unfolded in the countryside, civilians flocked toward safety zones, desperate for refuge. Under the command of General Tang Shengzhi, the Chinese forces prepared for a fierce defense, determined to hold their ground against the technologically superior invaders. Despite heavy losses and internal strife, hopes flickered among the defenders, fueled by the valor of their troops. Key positions like Old Tiger's Cave became battlegrounds, exemplifying the fierce resistance against the Japanese advance. On December 9, as artillery fire enveloped the city, a battle for the Gate of Enlightenment commenced. Both sides suffered grievously, with the Chinese soldiers fighting to the last, unwilling to yield an inch of their soil. Each assault from Japan met with relentless counterattacks, turning Nanjing into a symbol of perseverance amidst impending doom, as the siege marked a critical chapter in the conflict, foreshadowing the brutal events that would follow.   #167 The Battle of Nanjing Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. By mid-December, the landscape surrounding Nanjing was eerily quiet. The Japanese Army marched through what seemed to be desolate fields and mountains, but they were not truly empty. Civilians were scarce, with most having fled, but a few remained in their homes, hiding in cellars and barns, clinging to the hope that the war would bypass them. Meanwhile, thousands of Chinese soldiers, left behind and unable to keep pace with their units, still posed a significant danger to the Japanese forces. The Japanese Army had not truly conquered the territory east and south of Nanjing; they had merely passed through. Mopping-up operations became a top priority. Soldiers from the 16th Infantry Division, stationed near Purple Mountain, spent early December conducting these missions far from the city's walls. “Chinese stragglers may be hiding in this area, and they must be flushed out. Any small structure of no strategic value to the Japanese Army must be burned!” This command rang out to the division's soldiers as they spread across the countryside around Unicorn Gate. Soon, isolated fires began to illuminate the horizon, one for each home. Soldiers from the 9th Infantry Division, who were not directly engaged in combat south of the Gate of Enlightenment, were also conducting similar mopping-up operations. On December 11 at noon, one squad received orders to investigate a suspicious farm building. Although it had been searched previously, movement inside prompted renewed caution. The Japanese entered carefully, moving from room to room. In the basement, they discovered eight Chinese soldiers who offered no resistance, immediately raising their hands in surrender. Bound together, they were brought outside. Using a few Chinese words supplemented by sign language, the Japanese gathered that the Chinese had been in the vicinity where one of their comrades had been killed days earlier. Unanimously, they decided the prisoners should be executed in front of their comrade's grave. Some of the older soldiers hesitated, reluctant to partake in the killings, leaving it to the younger ones to carry out the order. Soon, eight headless bodies lay sprawled before a solitary Japanese grave.  On the morning of December 11, the first soldiers of the 6th Japanese Infantry Division finally spotted the distant city wall of Nanjing. They had been engaged in fierce combat for nearly two days, attempting to dislodge the tenacious defenders of the Yuhuatai plateau, the elite soldiers of the 88th Division. In a desperate bid to maintain their foothold on Yuhuatai, the 88th Division deployed its reserved 528th Regiment along with a battalion of engineers. Despite their efforts, the regiment's ranks had been depleted, filled with inexperienced recruits, and their leadership nearly obliterated, limiting their effectiveness. Under the relentless assaults from the Japanese forces, their defenses began to falter almost immediately. Faced with the stiff resistance at the Gate of Enlightenment, the Japanese shifted their focus to the Chinese Gate on December 11. Japanese aircraft were summoned for tactical air support, forcing the 88th Division's defenders to retreat behind the wall. This withdrawal occurred swiftly and somewhat chaotically, allowing the Japanese to pursue closely. Before the Chinese could regroup, 300 Japanese soldiers had breached the wall. Only the mobilization of all available forces enabled the Chinese to push the attackers back outside. Meanwhile, the left flank of the 88th Division, stationed east of Chinese Gate, remained outside the wall. Here, they clashed with elements of the 9th Japanese Division but faced intense pressure and were compelled to fall back. By the end of the day, the Chinese division had shortened its defensive line, regrouping in front of the city wall. Plans for a nighttime counterattack were ultimately abandoned, as it became clear that the division's soldiers were too fatigued to mount an effective offensive. Overall, it proved to be a successful day for the Japanese 10th Army. Further south, the Kunisaki Detachment successfully crossed the Yangtze River at Cihu village, beginning their advance toward Pukou. Its special amphibious training made the detachment ideally suited for the operation, but its limited numbers, essentially a reinforced infantry regiment, raised concerns at field headquarters about whether it could accomplish the task alone. Prince Asaka proposed transporting part of the 13th Division across the Yangtze further north to sever the railway connecting Tianjin to Pukou, cutting off a potential retreat route for Chinese forces that had escaped Nanjing.  On December 11, Japanese artillery shells rained down relentlessly, targeting both the interior and exterior of Nanjing's city walls. Administrators of the Safety Zone were alarmed to witness several shells landing perilously close to its southern edge. In a bid to provide some semblance of security, American and foreign flags were raised around the zone's perimeter, though their protective influence against artillery fire from miles away was negligible. The leaders of the Safety Zone faced an unexpected dilemma: how to handle lawbreakers with the city courts now out of operation. That day, they encountered a thief caught in the act. As Rabe noted in his diary “We sentence the thief to death, then pardon him and reduce his punishment to 24 hours in jail, and ultimately, due to the absence of a jail, we simply let him go”. Refugees continued to pour in, with a total of 850 having found shelter at Ginling College. Vautrin and her colleagues began to feel that their initial estimate of 2,700 women and children seeking refuge on the campus was overly optimistic. They were soon proven wrong. On the banks of the Yangtze River, hundreds of injured soldiers and civilians were lining up to be ferried across to Pukou, where trains awaited to transport them further inland and away from danger. Many had been waiting for days without food. While ferries made continuous trips across the river to rescue as many as possible, the process was painfully slow. As of late December 10, approximately 1,500 wounded civilians remained stranded on the south bank of the Yangtze. The Japanese forces were confronted by a fiercely determined enemy composed largely of young soldiers from the Training Division. These soldiers had the advantage of having been stationed near Purple Mountain for several years, making them familiar with the terrain. Additionally, they were part of an elite unit, groomed not just in equipment and training but also instilled with a sense of nationalism rooted in Chiang Kai-shek's ideology. Li Xikai, the commander of the division's 3rd Regiment, had set up his command post directly in the path of the primary Japanese advance, yet his regiment continued to resist. Despite the fierce resistance, the Japanese gradually gained control over the Purple Mountain area. General Nakajima Kesago, commander of the 16th Division, visited an artillery observation post early in the day and was pleased to receive reports that his troops had captured two peaks of Purple Mountain and were poised to take the main peak.  Yet there loomed a problem on Nakajima's right flank. A widening gap was emerging between the 16th Division and the 13th Division, which had advanced along the southern bank of the Yangtze. There was a risk that Chinese forces could escape through this lightly guarded area. The 13th Division was stationed in the strategically important river port city of Zhenjiang, preparing to cross the Yangtze. The Central China Area Army ordered the 13th Division to mobilize three infantry battalions and one artillery battalion. This new formation, known as the Yamada Detachment after its commander, Yamada Senji, was tasked with remaining on the Yangtze's south bank and advancing westward to capture two Chinese fortresses on the river: Mt. Wulong and Mt. Mufu. This redeployment alleviated concerns about the gap, allowing the 16th Division to focus on the city wall. As the sun dipped towards the horizon, one Captain Akao Junzo prepared for what he believed would be his final assault. He had been ordered to seize a hill northeast of Sun Yat-sen Gate that overlooked the city entrance. His commander told him “The attack on Nanjing will likely be the last battle of this war, and I hope your company can be at the front when the enemy's lines are breached”. The hill was fortified with numerous machine gun positions, reinforced with mud, bricks, and tiles, and connected by an intricate network of trenches. Dense rows of barbed wire lay before the positions, designed to halt attackers and expose them to machine-gun fire. Additionally, the area was likely heavily mined, and Chinese soldiers maintained a high level of alertness. Akao knew this all too well; when he crawled forward and slightly lifted his head to survey the landscape, he triggered a hail of bullets, one of which grazed his helmet. Around late afternoon, four mountain guns from the regimental artillery began firing on the Chinese positions, sustaining the bombardment for over an hour. By 5:00 pm, as the winter sky darkened, Akao decided it was time to launch the attack. Expecting close-quarters combat, he instructed his men to carry only their rifles and small entrenchment tools. With the entire company poised to move, he dispatched a small group of soldiers ahead to cut openings in the barbed wire while receiving covering fire from the mountain guns and the rifles and machine guns of their comrades. The remainder of the company advanced with swords raised and bayonets fixed. As they approached within about 700 feet of the enemy positions, the artillery bombardment ceased as planned. The enemy, still reeling from the ferocity of the earlier assault, scrambled in a panic from their trenches, retreating in disarray. Akao and his fellow soldiers pressed forward, cutting down any opposition in their path. Seizing the momentum, Akao charged to occupy the hill that had been his target. He found it deserted upon his arrival and sent a triumphant message back to command, reporting that the objective had been achieved. However, the reply he received left him baffled: he was ordered to withdraw with his company and return to their lines. Apparently, the regimental command deemed the position too precarious. Sensing that a precious advantage was being squandered, Akao disregarded the order. Before his company could establish a defensive position on the hill, the Chinese launched a counterattack. Lying down, the Japanese soldiers returned fire while frantically digging into the earth to fortify their position. Gradually, they began to form a rudimentary perimeter at the summit. The fighting continued into the night. Exhausted from days without sleep, many soldiers rotated between guard duty and rest, dozing off intermittently in their shallow trenches, reassuring one another that everything would be alright before drifting back to sleep. They successfully repelled all attempts by the Chinese to reclaim the hill and were eventually relieved. On December 11, after leaving his capital, Chiang Kai-shek took time to reflect on everything that had happened in his diary. He reassured himself that his nationalist revolution would persist, regardless of whether he held Nanjing, “Temporary defeat can be turned into eventual victory.” Yet he did not fear so much the Japanese invasion itself, but rather how the weakening of his nationalist government might allow the Communists to rise. He wrote about how his nation was on the brink of becoming a second Spain. While foreign invasions were undoubtedly disastrous, they could eventually be overcome, if not immediately, then over years or decades. Sometimes, this could be achieved merely by absorbing the outmatched invader and assimilating them into Chinese society. In contrast, internal unrest posed a far more fundamental threat to the survival of any regime. As we have seen in this series, going back to the mid 19th century, was it the foreign empires of Britain, France and Russia that threatened to destroy the Qing dynasty, or was it the internal civil war brought on by the Taiping? As Chiang famously put it “the Japanese were a treatable disease of the skin. Communism however was a disease of the heart”. Chiang could accept a humiliating but rapid retreat from Nanjing. In his view, it would be far more difficult to recover from a bloody yet futile struggle for the city that might cost him what remained of his best troops. A prolonged defensive battle, he reasoned, would be a tragic waste and could shift the balance of power decisively in favor of the Communists. This new mindset was reflected in a telegram he sent late on December 11 to Tang Shengzhi: “If the situation becomes untenable, it is permissible to find the opportune moment to retreat to regroup in the rear in anticipation of future counterattacks.” On December 12, tankettes cautiously plunged into the Yuhuatai plateau. Unexpectedly the Chinese defenders abandoned their positions and rushed down the hillside toward Nanjing's walls. Upon discovering this, the Japanese tankettes opened fire on the retreating Chinese, cutting swathes through the masses and sending bodies tumbling down the slope. Some Japanese infantry caught up, joining in the slaughter and laughing boisterously as they reveled in the chaos. A tankette column escorted a group of engineers to the Nanjing wall and then drove east along the moat until they reached a large gate, flanked by two smaller openings, all securely shut. A chilling message, painted in blue, adorned the gate's surface. Written in Chinese characters, it conveyed a stark warning: “We Swear Revenge on the Enemy.” The wall itself loomed three stories high, but Japanese artillery was already targeting it, this was known as the Chinese Gate. Now that Yuhuatai was virtually in Japanese hands, capturing the gate had become the primary objective. At this location, the wall stood 70 feet tall, protected by a 100-foot moat to the outside. All bridges spanning the moat had been destroyed. The area around the gate was heavily defended, with approximately one machine gun positioned every 50 yards atop the wall. Inside, the gate was reinforced with a formidable barrier of sandbags. Chinese infantry armed with mortars and small arms could fire down on the Japanese attackers while others had established isolated positions in nearby buildings that had survived the “scorched earth” policy. Taking the gate and the heavily fortified southwestern corner of the wall was the responsibility of the 6th Division. The division was deploying its regiments: the 13th, the 47th, and the 23rd from east to west. The 45th Regiment, the final unit of the division, was tasked with skirting the western side of the wall and advancing northward, aiming for the Yangtze docks at Xiaguan. The soldiers of the division had already formed a rough understanding of the formidable defenses they were facing. During the night between December 11 and 12, they had advanced nearly to the wall, gathering intelligence to prepare for an assault at dawn. As planned, the assault commenced. Field artillery fired round after round at the gate, but the wall sustained minimal damage. A Japanese tank rolled up, firing point-blank at the gate but producing no visible effect. Next, it was the engineers' turn. A “dare-to-die” squad, equipped with long ladders, crept as close to the wall as possible without exposing themselves and then sprinted the final distance. The moment they broke into the open, a Chinese machine gun opened fire, cutting them down to the last man. At noon, three Japanese planes soared overhead, dropping bombs near a Chinese-held building outside the gate. The smoke from the resulting fire briefly obscured the area. Seizing the opportunity presented by the reduced visibility, a large group of Chinese soldiers holed up inside attempted to dash back to the wall. The Japanese spotted their movement instantly, and every soldier in the line opened fire. The fleeing Chinese were mowed down like ripe grass, collapsing in heaps.  Meanwhile the battle for the Gate of Enlightenment was drawing to a close. On the Chinese side of the wall, confusion reigned regarding the overall situation on December 12. Chen Yiding, brigade commander of the 87th Division, had been warned that heads would roll if the Gate of Enlightenment fell to the Japanese. Hearing the sounds of fierce fighting on the edges of Yuhuatai and seeing the smoke rise from numerous fires on Purple Mountain, he was left in the dark about their implications, surrounded by the fog of war. Chen's troops had finally managed to establish a telephone link to the rear, but by mid-afternoon, it was cut off, likely due to a stray artillery shell. After dark, Chen sent an officer to his left flank to make contact with the Chinese forces there. The report that followed was far from reassuring. A unit from Guangdong Province was abandoning its positions and retreating north, attempting to exit the capital through one of the gates in the city wall. The officer had attempted to inquire about their destination, but the retreating soldiers ignored him. With neighboring units evacuating autonomously, a significant gap was opening in the Chinese line atop the wall between the Gate of Enlightenment and Sun Yat-sen Gate. A frightening possibility emerged: the Japanese could walk right in across the undefended southeastern corner of the city wall and surround Chen Yiding's troops before they had a chance to withdraw. The situation was becoming untenable, a fact underscored by the artillery fire raining down on Chen's position. Despite this, retreat was not a simple decision for Chen and the other commanders of the 87th Division. They had been garrisoned in Nanjing before the war, and the city had become home to many of the soldiers. Shortly after midnight, Chen called a meeting with his senior officers. After considerable discussion, they concluded that they had no choice but to withdraw. Nonetheless, Chen insisted that everyone sign a document confirming their support for this decision, recognizing the potential danger of taking such a significant step without consensus. After all, his own life had been threatened if the situation deteriorated further. Soon after, the Chinese began to move out of their positions. The Japanese were initially unaware of the retreat; all they noticed during the night between December 12 and 13 was that the Chinese artillery fire began to grow increasingly distant. By 4:00 am it had stopped completely. The few remaining Chinese were quickly overwhelmed and killed. In the end, the gate, which had cost so many lives during the seemingly endless battle, was taken almost effortlessly by the Japanese. Soldiers of the 9th Division, stationed outside the wall, scrambled up the slope created by the previous days' shelling. Once at the top, they thrust their hands into the air, shouting “Banzai!” so loudly that they believed their families back home in Japan might hear them. Tears streamed down their faces as soldiers embraced and shook hands, reflecting on the friends they had lost throughout the months of fighting, from Shanghai to their current position. They reassured each other that their sacrifices had been worth it for this very moment. On December 12,  the slopes of Purple Mountain  were ablaze. Zhou Zhenqiang, commander of the Training Division's 1st Brigade, led his men in a desperate struggle to maintain control of the mountain's forested peaks. However, they were being overwhelmed by the better-equipped Japanese troops, and Zhou knew it was only a matter of time before he would have to relinquish his position. Zhou found himself unable to obtain any information from his superiors about the overall situation, despite repeated attempts to contact the Training Division's headquarters. He dispatched a runner, who returned a few hours later with disheartening news: the divisional commander had left late in the afternoon. Other reports indicated a general breakdown in command. The elite 88th Division was in disarray, and an entire division of Guangdong troops, that being the same force that had abandoned the wall near the Gate of Enlightenment, had been spotted marching out of the Gate of Great Peace, seemingly intent on returning home. With indications of collapse all around him, Zhou decided to execute an orderly withdrawal from Purple Mountain, leaving a small contingent behind to cover the retreat. His troops entered through the city wall at Sun Yat-sen Gate and marched in disciplined columns through the streets of Nanjing, where signs of imminent anarchy were evident. Chinese soldiers were scattered everywhere, speaking a cacophony of dialects, yet they appeared to lack any coherent command. Tang Shengzhi's grip on the situation was weakening. Meanwhile Japan's 13th Air Group had been busy with the final stages of the battle for Nanjing.  In the morning of December 12, after raiding Chinese positions at Sun Yat-sen Gate, they  received new orders. Intelligence indicated that Chinese ships, laden with troops, were moving up the Yangtze from Nanjing. Japanese infantry on the ground could only watch as this prize slipped through their fingers, and the army requested air support. All available planes at Changzhou, a mix of A4N fighters and Yokosuka B4Y bombers, totaling 24 aircraft, were assembled for the crucial mission. The day was clear, providing excellent visibility as the pilots headed toward the section of the Yangtze where they believed the vessels would be, based on reasonable assumptions about their speed. At 1:30 p.m., 28 nautical miles upriver from Nanjing, the pilots sighted four ships. Trusting their military intelligence, they saw no need for further identification. Initially, the B4Ys bombed the vessels from a considerable height. One bomb struck the lead ship, a military vessel, disabling its forward gun and snapping the foremast. Then, a first wave of six A4Ns dove down over the line of ships, attacking individually. In total, they dropped about 20 bombs. Several exploded close enough to the lead vessel to damage its hull and injure crew members on deck. A 30-caliber machine gun on board was manned, with gunners stripped to the waist firing at the Japanese planes but failing to score a hit. Several of the A4Ns strafed the ship with machine-gun fire. After 20 minutes of sustained bombing and strafing, the result was utter devastation. The lead vessel was stuck in mid-river, riddled with bullets, aflame, and listing to starboard. Two other ships were beached on the right bank, while another sat stranded on the left. Satisfied with their mission, the Japanese aviators broke off and returned to their temporary base. Upon their landing in Changzhou, instead of receiving accolades, the pilots were met with reprimands. Why hadn't they sunk all the vessels? They were ordered to return immediately to finish the job. Though they didn't find the original targets, they stumbled upon four other vessels closer to Nanjing. One aircraft dove toward the ships, releasing a 60-kilogram bomb that struck one vessel. As the pilot pulled up, he caught sight of the Union Jack on the hull and realized his mistake; he had inadvertently targeted neutral ships. The other pilots recognized the significance of the markings as well and withheld their bombs. The vessel was identified as the SS Wantung. Soon after, the Japanese pilots understood that the ships they had attacked earlier upriver from Nanjing were also Western; three of them were Standard Oil tankers. The last vessel, which had sustained the most damage, was the USS Panay, a lightly armed flat-bottomed gunboat,  tasked with protecting American lives and property along China's longest river. The Panay had been instrumental in evacuating American citizens from the war zone in November and December. On the day it was attacked, the Panay was carrying four American embassy personnel and ten American and foreign journalists to safety. The ship's doctor converted the engine room into a makeshift sick bay, treating a steady stream of injured personnel. By the end, he was tending to 45 patients. The soldiers and passengers were evacuated in two small boats to a nearby marshy island covered in reeds, where they hid, fearful of further strafing. From their hiding place, they watched as a Japanese powerboat filled with soldiers approached the Panay. After firing more volleys at the vessel, the soldiers boarded it, remaining for only five minutes before departing. The American flag still flew from the bow at that time. At 3:54 pm, the Panay rolled over to starboard and sank in seven to ten fathoms of water. Cold and frightened, the survivors waded through knee-deep mud to a nearby village, assisting those too severely wounded to walk.  Meanwhile back at Chinese Gate, the mutual slaughter continued into the afternoon of December 12. The Japanese made no significant progress, although their failure was not for lack of trying. The commanders of the 6th Division had strategically placed the boundary between the 13th and 47th Regiments exactly at the gate, encouraging both units to compete to be the first to seize the position. Yet, despite their efforts, it became clear that willpower alone was not enough to breach the Chinese defenses at Chinese Gate. In peacetime, Nanjing's city gates served as entry points into a bustling capital, but in wartime, they transformed into heavily fortified and nearly impregnable strongholds. Any Japanese officer hoping for a swift victory would soon be disappointed; by early afternoon, the situation at the gate had devolved into a stalemate. The section of the wall manned by the 47th Infantry Regiment, located east of the gate, also saw little meaningful movement as the day wore on. Japanese soldiers, pinned down by Chinese fire from atop the wall, could do little more than take pride in a symbolic triumph. A small group of soldiers had managed to reach the wall and place a ladder against it, but it fell nearly ten feet short of the top. One soldier skillfully scaled the last portion, gripping protruding bricks and crevices of the nearly vertical surface. The entire Japanese front watched him with bated breath. He reached the top and unfurled a Japanese flag, but it immediately drew intense Chinese fire, forcing him to duck for cover. Soon, he vanished from sight, raising concerns among his compatriots about his fate. Later, it was revealed that he had taken refuge in a depression in the wall, waiting out the battle. The real breakthrough of the day would occur west of the gate. The 23rd Regiment was deployed there with orders to capture sections of the wall near the southwestern corner. It became evident that the wall could not be scaled without first bringing up artillery to create gaps in its solid masonry. A significant portion of the divisional fire support, 36 small-caliber mountain guns, four 100mm howitzers, and four 150mm howitzers, was assigned to this section. Artillery observers were also sent to the 23rd Regiment's forward command post to coordinate with the infantry and assess the effects of the shelling. By mid-afternoon, the artillery bombardment had created a ravine-like hole in the wall large enough for an assault. The 23rd Regiment positioned its 2nd and 3rd Battalions at the front, with the 1st Battalion held in reserve. First, the engineers undertook the challenging task. As the assault commenced, the rest of the regiment provided covering fire to force the Chinese defenders to seek shelter while the engineers charged into the 70-foot-wide moat. Once a human chain formed, they held up ladders as a makeshift bridge, allowing a company from the 3rd Battalion to rush across and into the gap in the wall. As the batteries switched to close infantry support, they laid down a barrage around the breach to prevent Chinese interference as the attack entered its decisive phase. The Japanese soldiers scrambled up the rubble, created by the artillery fire, which rose several dozen feet high. Shortly before 5:00 p.m., the Japanese seized control of the southwestern segment of the wall. The Chinese launched several counterattacks to reclaim the position, but none were successful. This action ultimately sealed Nanjing's fate; beyond the wall, there was nothing left to save the ancient city and its inhabitants. As defeat appeared imminent, more and more civilians sought safety in foreign-controlled areas, though danger still loomed large. Bits of shrapnel narrowly missed Dr. Robert Wilson while he operated in the Safety Zone. Every square foot of John Rabe's property became filled with families, many camping in the open with their own blankets. Some sought refuge under his large swastika flag, believing that this would make the area especially “bomb-proof” given the growing friendship between Tokyo and Berlin; they assumed Japanese aviators would think twice before targeting a region seemingly under German protection. With just hours left before the Japanese Army was expected to gain control, the residents of Nanjing made their last preparations, prioritizing personal survival. The brutal behavior of Japanese troops in conquered territories fueled intense concern over the possible fate of injured soldiers who might fall into enemy hands. As Nanjing's last hours as a free city unfolded, it became imperative for local hospitals to evacuate as many wounded soldiers as possible across the Yangtze. On December 12, doctors found a motorboat stranded on the riverbank, having apparently broken down. They managed to repair it and ferried several hundred patients to safety throughout the day. Throughout December 12, the citizens of Nanjing were subjected to the unsettling cacophony of heavy shelling, mixed with the roar of bombers overhead. By evening, the entire horizon south of the city glowed with flames. The sound of fighting emanated from all directions, continuing long after sunset. However, in the middle of the night, activity began to wan. Every few minutes, the muffled thuds of shells could still be heard, though their origin was unclear. For the most part, an eerie silence prevailed, as if the city was holding its breath in anticipation of the final onslaught. Chiang Kai-shek had indicated he would understand if Tang chose to abandon the capital. However, on December 12, he reversed his stance, sending a telegram to Tang expressing optimism that the Nanjing garrison could hold out significantly longer. In his words “If you do not shy away from sacrifices, you will be able to hold high the banner of our nation and our army, and this could transform defeat into victory. If you can hold out one more day, you will add to the pride of the Chinese nation. If you can hold out for half a month or more, the domestic and international situation could see a substantial change.” Tang adopted a hardline approach toward any signs of defeatism among his troops. When he learned that General Sun Yuanliang, commander of the formerly elite 88th Division, was leading approximately 2,000 men from the Gate of Enlightenment to the dock area, Tang acted swiftly. He dispatched Song Xilian, the commanding general of the 36th Division, to halt the retreat. When the two units met, a fratricidal clash nearly occurred. Fortunately, the 88th Division agreed to return to the gate and continue fighting. Whatever Tang's plans, they were rendered irrelevant at 3:00 pm,  when he received another telegram from Chiang, this time ordering a full retreat. Rumors that the Chinese Army had started evacuating Nanjing triggerec panic among many units. Thousands abandoned their positions and joined the throngs of soldiers and civilians moving slowly down the city's main avenues. The crowd seemed to have collectively decided that getting a boat out of Nanjing was the best option, and by late afternoon, a solid mass of humanity stretched for miles through the city toward the dock areas at Xiaguan. To reach Xiaguan, everyone had to pass through Yijiang Gate. This relatively modern structure had served as the main entry point for visitors arriving in Nanjing by boat in recent decades and now only half of the main entrance was open. A crowd of that size trying to get through such a narrow bottleneck was a recipe for disaster. Those unfortunate enough to be right at the front felt the crushing pressure of tens of thousands of individuals pushing from behind. In that densely packed throng, stumbling and falling to the ground was akin to a death sentence; anyone who went down was inevitably crushed by the oncoming waves of terrified civilians and soldiers. As chaos erupted, discipline evaporated entirely. Officers lost control over their men, leading to infighting among the soldiers. Pushing and shoving escalated into fistfights, and trucks drove directly into the mass of people to force their way through. Tanks, emitting sounds akin to prehistoric beasts, rolled through the mob, crushing many under their weight. Amid the madness, some soldiers, driven by frustration over the lack of movement, began shooting into the crowd at random. To relieve the pressure at Yijiang Gate, some units were ordered to exit Nanjing via the Gate of Great Peace at the northeastern corner of the city wall. Upon arrival, they found the entrance nearly sealed shut. Thick walls of sandbags had been erected around it, leaving only a narrow opening through which one person could pass at a time. Massive crowds fought among themselves to get through; even under perfect order and discipline, it would have taken the entire night and most of the following day for everyone to pass. In the midst of the frantic chaos, it could take a week or more. During the night of the 12th, a select group of Japanese soldiers, chosen for the offensive, stripped their equipment down to the bare essentials: rifles, bayonets, and helmets. They avoided any gear that could produce a metallic noise, alerting the Chinese defenders to their approach. Stealthily, they moved up to the wall, carrying bamboo ladders tied together in threes for added height. Ascending the rungs, they ensured not to make a sound that could betray their position to an alert Chinese sentry. Everything hinged on remaining undetected; even a couple of hand grenades tossed down the wall could halt the attack in its tracks. Reaching the top without being noticed, the soldiers quickly fanned out. Chinese soldiers stationed on the wall saw the swift dark figures and opened fire, but it was too late to thwart the assault. A brief fight ensued; most Japanese soldiers were too close to use their rifles and immediately resorted to their bayonets. The stunned defenders were pushed back, and the successful assault team established a perimeter, awaiting reinforcements from outside the wall. They didn't have to wait long. A massive assault along the length of the 6th Division's front line commenced at dawn on December 13. Japanese artillery concentrated its fire on a narrow section of the city wall, progressively working its way from the bottom up. Gradually, the shells formed a slope of debris that soldiers could use to scale the wall. A short air raid was executed, and after the planes had weakened the remaining resistance, a group of soldiers rushed up the slope. While their comrades provided covering fire, they climbed the last stretch, rolling down a rope ladder. Within minutes, 40 other Japanese soldiers had joined them. By 10:30 am, the Rising Sun flag was flying over the wall. The Japanese invaders were met with a horrific sight at the top of the wall. Beyond lay the grim aftermath of days of shelling. Some houses were leveled, while others burned. The ground was littered with bodies, some decapitated or disemboweled, and pools of blood surrounded them. As Chiang Kai-shek's order to abandon the city gradually filtered down to the troops manning the wall around Nanjing, things began to move rapidly.  By late morning on December 13, all the major entry points into the city had fallen to the Japanese. These included Chinese Gate in the southwest, the Gate of Enlightenment in the south, and Sun Yat-sen Gate in the east. The first thing that struck the Japanese soldiers upon ascending the wall was how starkly different it was from their expectations. They had anticipated a bustling city teeming with people, but instead, the area adjacent to the wall was characterized by farm plots, resembling countryside more than an urban center. The second notable observation was the complete absence of inhabitants. Cautiously, the Japanese soldiers entered the city they had just conquered, their bayonets fixed and rifles at the ready. Yet, surprisingly, very few shots were fired. After weeks of fearing death and injury, once the immediate danger receded, a certain stupor settled in. For most civilians in Nanjing, their initial encounter with the city's new rulers was uneventful. It took several hours for the Japanese to move from the wall into the urban parts of the capital. It was not until around noon that residents noticed the first groups of Japanese soldiers marching down the streets in clusters of six to twelve men. Initially, many met the conquerors with relief, hoping they would be treated fairly. Their optimism was bolstered by Japanese planes dropping leaflets over the city, reassuring residents of humane treatment. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On December 9, fierce battles erupted, especially at the Gate of Enlightenment. Despite heavy fighting, the Chinese showed remarkable resilience, turning Nanjing into a symbol of determination. However, the tide shifted as overwhelming Japanese artillery and tactics began to breach defenses. By December 13, as chaos engulfed the city, the invaders claimed victory, but not without significant loss. Civilians, caught amid the destruction, clung to hope amid despair.

The jobs market isn't just about employment—it's a leading signal for corporate earnings. In this episode, we explore how recent employment data revisions and slowing job growth are flashing caution for corporate profits. Here's what you'll learn: Why employment trends often lead earnings results How slowing payroll growth may impact revenue and margins Key sectors most at risk from weaker labor demand What this signal could mean for the stock market outlook Portfolio considerations as corporate profits face pressure Understanding the link between the labor market and earnings is critical for investors positioning ahead of the next quarter. SEG-1a: Fed Cuts & Commentary, Buy Back Window Shuts SEG-1b: Market Movement Muted SEG-2a: Tesla Shares & Elon's Compensation SEG-2b: The S&P 493 SEG-2c: Bond Yield Behavior SEG-2d: Overall Bullish Backdrop is not at Risk SEG-2e: The Only Thing that Matters (Forward Earnings) SEG-2f: What Wall St. is Expecting in 2026 SEG-2g: The Problem w Wall Street's Forecasts SEG-2h: The Most Important Indicator to Watch SEG-2i: PCE, CPI, & % of Full Time Workers SEG-2j: Why the Fed is Behind the Curve SEG-2k: Market Earnings Growth By Sector comparison SEG-2l: Why Watt St. Exuberance is at Odds w Economy Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Watch today's video on YouTube: -------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "All Time Highs on Muted Moves," is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNd7D4lz7FU&list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1 ------- Our Previous Show, "The Essential Hierarchy of Money Goals ," is here: https://youtu.be/XHMHkOAWRIc ------- Register for our next RIA Dynamic Learning Series event, "Are We On the Edge of Recession?" September 18, 2025: https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/events/savvy-medicare-planning-what-baby-boomers-need-to-know-about-medicare/ ------- Articles mentioned in this report: "Corporate Earnings Slowdown Signaled By Employment Data" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/corporate-earnings-slowdown-signaled-by-employment-data/ "Invest Or Index – Exploring 5-Different Strategies" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/invest-or-index-exploring-5-different-strategies/ ------- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestmentadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #MarketComplacency #MarketDeviations #NegativeDivergence #AllTimeHigh #WallOfWorry #20DMA #CorporateEarnings #JobsReport #StockMarketOutlook #RecessionRisk #MarketAnalysis #InvestingAdvice #Money #Investing

Bobby has something big to share. So big, he calls for a drum roll because it's something we were not at all expecting! Amy shares how she ended up bloody in public and it was so embarrassing. In Fun Fact Friday, we cover how Tom Brady almost went pro in a different sport, a restaurant that has its own record label, and the strange law about getting married in Ohio. The competition is heating up in Easy Trivia ...can anyone slow down Eddie in his winning streak? We talked about childbirth and how each baby on the show took to be born.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(0:00) Chiefs vs. Eagles preview, Are Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes rivals? (25:41) Packers beat Commanders, Should Jayden Daniels be concerned? (37:45) A.J. Brown ‘excited' for Week 2, Expecting a huge game?  (45:41) Upset Alert, Nick's PicksCan the Chiefs beat the Eagles at their best? (01:06:23) Hall of Famer Will Shields joins the show (01:18:49) Nick, Brou, and Wildes make their Chiefs vs. Eagles predictions (01:21:55) Parkins' Picks, What would Mahomes' first 0-2 start mean? (01:43:24) Will Travis Kelce have a monster game without Xavier Worthy? (01:53:46) What would a Chiefs blowout win mean? (02:02:28) Top of Mahomes Mountain on the line? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.On today's edition of The Briefing, Dr. Mohler discusses the meeting of Putin, Xi, and Modi in China, the pregnant mothers on the front lines in Ukraine, why Ukraine is allowing young men to leave the country, and Germany's need for men in its military.Part I (00:14 – 06:58)Part II (06:58 – 18:32)Expecting on the Front Lines: Motherhood in Ukraine's Military by The New York Times (Cassandra Vinograd and Oleksandr Chubko)Part III (18:32 – 23:00)Why Ukraine Is Allowing More Young Men to Leave the Country by The New York Times (Maria Varenikova)Part IV (23:00 – 25:14)Sign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.