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It's now less than one week until "The Life of a Showgirl" drops, and Exquisite and Hannah are balls of anxiety. They drop in for a quick update to let you know our upcoming schedule. We can't wait to listen to this album with you!!!!!!!!!!!! Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming a professor? Donate here: https://gofund.me/ceaf3b27dEnjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #ShowgirlSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
On this episode of Passion to Profession presented by eBay, Brett sits down with Mike Phillips, EVP of Sales and Marketing at Upper Deck.Mike has spent 25 years shaping one of the most iconic brands in the hobby. From his early days managing a card shop to creating some of the most legendary parallels at Fleer Skybox, Mike brings a rare perspective on innovation, competition, and building products that stand the test of time.He shares stories behind sets like Essential Credentials and Fleer Brilliants, reflects on the launch of Exquisite, and talks about what keeps him motivated after a lifetime in the industry.If you've ever opened an Upper Deck pack, chased a parallel, or wondered how the best products get made, this is an episode you won't want to miss.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeGet exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TiktokFollow Mike: | LinkedIn | Upper Deck
Peninsula Energy: 1st uranium production just as US Govt moves to lock in more supply – talk about exquisite timing! Listen to ASX-listed Peninsula Energy Managing Director George Bauk talk to Matt Birney on Bulls N’ Bears about Peninsula’s very first barrel of uranium produced in the USA. Bauk, who was already part of a very rare club having actually produced “heavy” rare earths in Australia at Northern Minerals, joins an even rarer club as a uranium producer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Neighbor's daughter seeks out widower next door, to help her with human sexuality lessons. By SilverFoxMullet - Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories. I was folding the last of my laundry, there wasn't much with just myself left in the house. My son had got married and moved to British Columbia. My wife passed on 2 years ago. Just me now, enjoying a much-too-quiet life. Then the doorbell rang. I went to the door and opened it, only to find my neighbour's daughter Tess standing on his front porch. I'd watched her grow up next door. When my son had moved out ten years ago, my wife and I had occasionally babysat little Tess. It had been nice having kids around the house again. She'd grown up into an intelligent, pretty young girl. She'd also been devastated why Marie had died. "Oh, Hi, Tess. What can i do for you?" "Hi Mr Brock. I um, I need some help with some, uh, homework. I was hoping you'd be able to help me?" "OK, I don't know how much help I can really be, but I can try. High school was an awful long time ago for me! Come on in." Tess followed me into the living room and I asked her "Do you want a drink, I've got water, pop, juice, or milk." "Water's fine" she said. I poured two glasses and came back, handing her one as she sat there on my sofa. "So, how can I help? My knowledge of high school math is really out of date you know." She was fidgeting and blushing, as she sat there clutching her drink and a textbook. Finally she exhaled and said "Human sexuality" as she held up the book. I blinked at her, nonplussed. What are they teaching kids these days? The only response I could muster was "Um, what?" She set down her book, took a drink, then set her glass on the coffee table. "Mr. Brock…" "Call me Kenneth, please." "Kenneth. I, I want to learn about um, you know, sex. I, my friends, they're all starting to do stuff, to fool around, and I um, I want to learn too but I'm afraid." I sat there looking at her, unable to process what she was saying. She grew more agitated, and blushed even more. Tears welled up and slipped down her cheeks. If I have one weakness, it's a crying woman. I got up and moved to sit beside her and wrapped my arms around her. Tess sobbed and clutched at me, crying into my shoulder. After a few minutes she pulled back, and I let her go. "Will to teach me?" she asked. Oh fuck no, I thought. "That depends on what you want to learn." "I want to learn about sex. I want to learn everything, I want you to teach me." "Oh. How old are you now, Tess?" "I'm sixteen. I'm old enough to learn about this." Oh crap. This is bad. Really, really bad. "You may think you're old enough, but not for me, that's for sure. You're not even an adult in the eyes of the law. I'm sorry Tess, I can't help you with this." Tears started dripping again as she spoke. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you with this. It's just, like, all my friends, they're doing stuff, and I feel left out, I want to, but I'm scared. They all say sex is painful, or uncomfortable, or just, not great. Stuff I've read, and stuff I've watched on the internet, makes it sound like sex should be really good, really fun, but my friends say it's not. I want to learn the right way, so it's good for me." Wow. What the hell are her friends doing? Ah, right, teenage boys. Worse than useless. Maybe I can't do anything with her, but I can help. "Ok, I am not going to teach you, at least not any hands-on lessons, but I will offer you some advice." She straightened up a bit, and wiped her eyes. God she was so beautiful. Very girl-next-door wholesome. The last thing she deserved was some idiot teenage boy humping at her for 30 seconds and then running off to brag about his prowess to his idiot friends. "My first piece of advice is to masturbate." She looked confused now. "You want me to what?" "Masturbate, play with yourself. Look, how will you ever be able to tell your lover what you want and how you want it unless you know yourself? Get comfortable with yourself, learn how to please yourself, learn what makes your orgasms great." She was staring wide eyed at me now, as my words started to sink in. "How do I do that?" she asked. "Look up female masturbation videos. Watch and learn, and practice." "Okay" she said, "What else?" "Buy a toy. Get a marital aid, a dildo, so you can practice feeling what intercourse is like. You can use other things, but it's better and safer to use the right tools for the job. Look up a sex shop or stag shop. I'll even go shopping for you if you want." "Oh, yes, would you, please?" "Certainly. Now, once you are comfortable with your own sexuality, and you find someone you want to be with, make sure you tell them what you like. Don't be afraid to be demanding about what they're doing. They either do it right or you kick them out of bed." She giggled at this, which I thought was incredibly cute. "Don't discount female lovers either. They like sex exactly the way you do. Once you get good at masturbation you'll be able to please another girl quite well." "I don't think I want to do that, I like boys." she said. "You mean 'men' not 'boys'. That's exactly why your friends are having lousy sex. They're playing with boys." She nodded, so I continued. "Guys like oral sex too. In fact, if you're good at blowjobs you won't have to put up with their inept antics in bed. That's another use for the dildo, to practice oral sex. And if a guy starts to hump your face, if he starts grabbing you and pushing, bite him. You don't have to take that if you don't want it. If it's something you enjoy, then let him play, but otherwise he is there to please you, not the other way around." Tess was smiling now, tears all but forgotten. She hugged me, and said "Thank you. I will follow your advice Mr, uh, Kenneth." I picked up her book, flipped through it quickly, and found the section on female anatomy. I showed her the diagram and said "Learn what all your parts are, what they're for, and how they work. This is a good place to start. I'll find you a toy tomorrow and you can stop by to pick it up on Tuesday, OK?" She nodded, saying "Thank you", and repeated herself after hugging me again. Once she'd left I locked the door and went upstairs with laundry basket. I dropped the basket on the bed and went into my bathroom. I had such a wicked hard-on, I just had to get some relief. The very idea that the literal girl next door wanted me to teach her about sex had me hard as steel. She might be jailbait but I could still follow my own advice, and masturbate. Of course I didn't last long at all, but I wasn't trying to last. I went shopping for Tess on Monday, picking out a nice realistic looking dildo and a bottle of personal lubricant. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I chose one that was almost exactly my size. The girl at the cash looked kind of funny at me, so I smiled and said "Gift for a friend Tess knocked on my door the next afternoon when she got home from school. We exchanged greetings and I handed her the plain brown paper bag. She wanted to pay me for it but I told her it was a gift. l got a hug in return and she practically scampered next door. I silently wished her luck. ." It's great to see Tess feeling more confident about her sexuality. I'm still amazed that I'm the one she turned to for help. The thought of this girl using her new toy to explore herself gave me fodder for my own playtime for the next week. She may only be sixteen, but she's unbelievably sexy. Afterwards I only saw her in passing, as usual, and we'd wave and say 'Hi'. She looked happy and cheerful, and I assumed her self-directed lessons were going well, as she hadn't returned for any more advice. Part of me assumed she'd developed a romantic relationship and was handling things just fine. Life went on, I kept busy at work, and did yard maintenance, laundry, and all the usual stuff around the house. I wasn't into playing sports, so I went to the gym a few days a week to keep in shape. My woodworking hobby morphed from a strictly power tool shop to using a lot more hand tools. It was slower paced but I found it a lot more rewarding. Thoughts of Tess faded away. I had my 'internet videos & pics' to keep me occupied when I needed it. I had no interest in pursuing a new love this late in life, so i wasn't dating or putting myself out there. That was two years ago. Today I was in the basement shop, planing a cherry table top. It was good physical labour, and I was sweating a bit as I worked. I heard the doorbell, so I set the plane aside and brushed the shavings off my pants. The bell rang again as I hurried up the stairs, yelling "Coming!" I pulled the door open to find Tess standing there smiling at me. "Oh, Hi there, Tess. I haven't seen you around for a while. How've you been?" "Hi Kenneth! I just wanted to stop by for a visit, if that's OK?" "Uh, sure, come on in, can I get you a drink or something?" "Water would be fine, thanks." I poured two glasses and brought them to the living room. We sipped and she set her glass down. "So what brings you by today?" I asked. "Same as last time." she said with a demure smile. Last time? Shit, last time she wanted me to 'teach' her about sex. I choked on my drink. "Uh, Last time?" I said faintly. "I'm here for my next lesson. I turned 18 a month ago," She beamed. "And now I want you to finish teaching me about sex." Holy fucking mother of god. She was back, and she was more beautiful than ever. She'd matured more since she was 16, with such a pretty face and solid, slim figure. I could see how nice that figure was, because she wasn't hiding it. The bright yellow halter style dress she was wearing had a deep vee displaying her lovely cleavage, no back, and came to mid-thigh on her sleek legs. I didn't realize that I hadn't responded to her. "Well? Will you? Please?" she asked. "I've waited two years you know. And I followed all your advice too. I'm ready for the next lesson." "But why me, you're stunningly beautiful, you could have any guy you wanted." "I know. And I want you." She said with resolve. She then kicked off her sandals and stood up. Reaching behind her neck, she undid the tie holding up the top of her dress. It came undone and the dress slithered to the floor, pooling around her feet. All she had on now was a pair of lacy yellow panties God she was perfect. Chestnut hair, falling about her shoulders. High, firm, fully tanned breasts with neat brown areolas and stiff looking nipples; her slender waist flared into nicely curved hips, which continued in a graceful curve down her thighs. Tess stepped towards me, and held out her hand. I reached out and took it. God help me, this was so wrong, but I was literally unable to resist her. She pulled gently and I rose to my feet, stunned by her presence. A tug on my hand was all she had to provide to get me in motion, and I followed her from the living room. She led me to the top of the stairs, hypnotizing me with the sway of her ass; then stopped and asked in a sultry voice "Which way is the bedroom?" "This way" I said, pointing to the right. I continued to follow her, into my room, where she stopped, turned, and stood with her arm wrapped around the tall bedpost at the foot of my queen bed. "Tess…" I croaked in a strained voice. "This is what I wanted back then, when I came to you two years ago. It's still what I want now. You said I was too young. I'm an adult now, and I want this, I want you." "Oh god, Tess. I want to say no, I should say no, I have to say no, but I can't. You're so perfect, so beautiful, so delightful, and I can't tell you no." She smiled, and oh man, she was so stunningly beautiful it made me weak at the knees. Like a fucking goddess. And like a goddess, no mere mortal like me could refuse her. "Make love to me, Kenneth." She said, in a low sultry voice. I peeled off my polo shirt and tossed it aside. The rest of my clothing quickly followed, and I stood before her as aroused as I had ever been in my life. Her smile broadened and she laughed lightly, saying "Oh you're perfect! You're just like that wonderful dildo that you gave me to practice on!" I remembered the dildo I bought her years ago, and recalled that that was exactly what I'd picked out for her. I just smiled back at her and gave a little shrug. She laughed again and beckoned me forward. The goddess pulls the strings and the puppet moves to her will. Where did she get such sexual confidence and assertiveness? I took her hand and walked over to the side of the bed, where I sat and guided her onto my lap, and kissed her. She sighed into the kiss, and melted against me. Her skin was so soft, her warm, fragrant body so supple and firm at the same time. We kissed for a while, and I moved my attentions from her lips to her jawline, then to her earlobes, and finally her neck. Tess was cooing and sighing in my arms, her firm breasts and taught nipples pressed to me. I kissed her again, harder, and brought my tongue into it. Hers came back at me to play, and we tasted each other for a while more. When she started to writhe in a subtle manner I knew she was truly aroused, so I moved her over to lie back on the bed. Awestruck, I gazed at her, reddish brown hair fanning out on the bed, firm breasts sitting high on her chest, defying gravity and anatomy alike. I swooped down upon her breasts, stroking, kissing, licking, and fondling her magnificence. Those coos and sighs continued, and she started adding words to her breathless sounds. "Don't touch my nipples yet" she whispered, as she directed me to the valley between her tits. I moved to the undersides of them, and thence to her areolas, as I progressed along my slow, wonderful tour. Finally, with a moan and a push, she led me to the end of this part of our journey. Set in goose-bumped areolas, her swollen, highly sensitive nipples were my last target. I began with gentle licks, then small kisses, on one, then the other, and back. Then it was nibbles, fingers rolling them, sucking them, pressing them, and manipulating her nipples as many ways as I could. She began to writhe beneath me, her words tapering off into moans and gasps. No longer directing me, I played, I explored, I teased and tantalized her. A shudder, followed by a long sighing gasp was the signal she was done with this, and she gently pushed me away. "Oh, Kenneth, that was wonderful! Thank you. Now lay back, I want to explore you." I did as she bid, and Tess started touching, stroking, fondling, and kissing her way from my ears to my toes. She didn't spend too long in any one place, and she avoided my cock completely. Little questions, do I like this, or that, and little comments about what she found or liked, interspersed her explorations. She found some ticklish places, and she also found some really arousing places too. Places my wife had never found, places I never suspected I had. By now, there was a puddle of pre-cum on my abdomen, and she shifted her position to inspect me more closely. She lifted my cock and licked the most recent droplet from it. Then she dipped her head down and lapped up that puddle. My stomach muscles flexed and clenched as she tickled me with her agile tongue. She giggled at my 'gut reaction' as she called it. Then the most wondrous sensation hit my rigid cock. Her mouth closed over me, and that agile tongue found a new place to play. My late wife hadn't been much for blowjobs, so this was a rare treat indeed for me. Last time would have been probably 25 years ago. And it didn't stop with her tongue, amazing as it was. My shaft began to disappear into her mouth bit by bit, as she bobbed up and down ever so slowly. I stared stunned and slack-jawed in amazement as Tess worked my cock into her throat. I kept my hands to myself, clutching the duvet, and desperately willed myself not to cum. Alas, this last was in vain, because this goddess continued to pull strings on her mortal puppet. She wanted me to cum, so cum I would, whether I wanted to or not. I groaned and muttered "I'm gonna cum" through gritted teeth. She heeded my warning by humming and pulling back until just my head was in her warm wet mouth. She redoubled her efforts with her tongue, swirling around and around my throbbing manhood. With a whimper I came, shaking and pulsing over and over into her eager mouth. She swallowed my load and kept licking and sucking until I wilted in her mouth. "How was that?" she asked. "Oh god, Tess, that was the best I ever had." She giggled again. "I'm just glad you picked a toy the right size. Practice makes perfect. Although my toy doesn't cum like you do, that was a bit of a surprise. It doesn't taste bad at all, but the texture is weird." As I listened to her words, she made me wonder, and I had to ask. "Was that your first real blowjob?" "Uh huh. First ever. It was good?" "Like I said, best ever. I can't believe that was your first time doing this!" "First time for real, it was always just my toy before now." "Wow." "Now it's your turn to please me" she said, rolling onto her back and tugging my arm. Those strings again, pulling me wither she desired, and this time it was her most private place. I used my hands and forearms, my lips and tongue, to stroke and touch her all over. It was my turn to find her interesting places, her ticklish spots, and make her squirm in anticipation. I touched her face and neck, kissing and stroking, and proceeded to her shoulders and arms. Another chance to play with her lovely breasts was not to be denied either, and I did indeed have her squirming now. I worked my way down her body, making sure to test every place I could for sexual suitability. She directed me to a few places that she liked, and I found some spots she didn't yet know about. She began to get more vocal, calling my name occasionally, giving hints and feedback and directions, interwoven with a progressively louder and more varied series of moans and gasps. I stopped, and rose to preview what I was about to acquire. I softly brushed my fingers all around her panties, and her movements became more erratic, changing from a slow undulation to twitching and shuddering. Slowly, I peeled the bright yellow lace from her hips. I could scent her now, a wonderful mix of the robust and the delicate at the same time. She had a beautiful reddish-brown bush, lush and soft, that led to her sex. I nuzzled her lovely triangle of fur, all the while drawing in her heady aroma. I discarded her panties now, and her legs fell open to my gaze. Beautiful. Exquisite, even. Her lightly furred vulva surrounded a pair of dark-edged lips, glistening with the source of that scent I was enjoying. I pushed her legs farther apart and looked up at her. She smiled back at me and said "Teach me". Fuck. A lick, along her slit, hammered my senses of taste and smell, filling me with her. She was sour and sweet and floral and meaty, with a little saltiness from her sweat. I moaned into her as I plowed her with my tongue again, deeper, harder. More contact, more flavour, more joy! I pulled back and looked for her clit. That little peak in her folds held a secret I wanted to discover. I drove my tongue into her again and licked all the way up to try and find her clitoris. It was there, small, but firm, still buried in those folds, I could feel it. She could too, based on how she squeaked and jumped when I hit the right spot. Her breathing was getting faster, and her thighs were flexing, so I assumed she was very close. Did I want, or even need, to tease her? I needed to know what she wanted, so I asked. "Do you want to cum now, or make it last a while?" "In a little while, but not too long" she said as she brought her hands down to run fingers through my hair. Perfect. I wondered if her other lovers had asked the right questions, or had she had to guide them? No matter, I have the here and now to deal with. I pulled her labia apart gently with my fingers and played my tongue over the wet pink flesh revealed within. Her hips gyrated against me, so I continued to play at this. When my nose bumped her clit, she jumped and squeaked again. I worked a fingertip into her opening, swirling it around to maximize the stimulation, while at the same time I began to gently lick and kiss her clitoral hood. A shuddering moan indicated I was on the right track, With feather-light touches around her clit, and my finger slowly working deeper into her passage, I increased her stimulation. Those gyrations increased, and my licks to her clit became less subtle, more direct. Tess whimpered as I rolled my finger inside her, and sought her G-spot. When she cried out suddenly, with an accompanying shudder and thrust of her hips, I knew I'd found the right spot. I attacked her clit with more gusto, lapping and flicking at her, as my finger continued it's internal foray. She came, she came with abandon. Squealing and thrashing and calling my name, she practically bounced on the bed. I had to hold her hips firmly with my arms and my free hand just to stay connected to the vital spots and continue to stimulate her. She seemed to cum at least twice, possibly thrice, before the grip on my air went from pulling to pushing. I relented, and rose to look down at her, her face and chest flushed, sweat beading her forehead, and the most beautiful expression on her face. She looked like the goddess she was. "Oh god Kenneth, that was the most amazing orgasm I've ever had! What have you done to me?" I slid up to lie beside her, cuddling together while she regained her breath and her senses. "That was wonderful" I said. "I enjoyed you so much, and you seemed to enjoy it too." "The best ever" she said, paraphrasing my earlier comment on her own oral efforts. "Your other lovers didn't perform so well, then?" "There are no others. just me and my toy. I've waited and practiced and dreamed of this day." Her hand slipped between us to fondle my hardness, which was back from it's slumber. "No one? But I though you wanted to learn…" "I wanted you. I told you so. I wanted to learn, and I wanted you to teach me. All you could give me was advice and my toy, so I made the best of what I had. Can we start our next lesson?" "Tess? You're still a virgin? Are you sure about this?" She laughed, saying "If you're wondering about my hymen, that toy took it the very first day I got it. I went straight home and tried it. Slowly, carefully, and immediately. And every day since, I've practiced and practiced, hoping that when I was ready, you'd accept me. That you'd teach me the rest." "You are so beautiful, so amazing, I don't know how or why I got so lucky, but you're here. And I will not disappoint you." I sat up next to her, and swept my gaze and my hands along her nubile young body. "Did you bring any condoms?" I asked. "I'm on the pill, and you are my first lover, do we need one?" "I haven't been with anyone in over 5 years, and before that I had a vasectomy. So I am clean and sterile." "Make love to me, Kenneth." "For your first time, I want you on top." She laughed and we switched places on the bed. Straddling my hips, she leaned in to kiss me fervently, passionately, until we were starving for oxygen. I could feel her wet heat against my hardness, as she slowly shifted her weight on me. Finally breaking our kiss, she sat upright, raised herself aloft, and reached for me. I felt her hand moving my cock around, as she tried to position me just so. "I never tried this way with my toy. It doesn't lend itself to this very well. I'm usually on my back or on my hands and knees." Then she pressed herself down onto me, taking it slowly, gently. She leaned forward to plant her hands on my chest. "Oh god, this is so good, sooo goooood" she groaned. Bottoming out, she sat staring at me, gently running fingers through the graying hair on my chest. "Wow. I thought when I saw you, that it would feel just like my toy. But it doesn't, not at all. This is so much better!" With that, she started to play. She bounced up and down for a while, breasts wobbling, hair swirling, suddenly yelping and shuddering on me as she came. Collapsing on me, breathing hard for a minute or two, whilst her pussy throbbed and rippled on me. Smiling that amazing smile of hers, she pushed herself back up, and started grinding on me in little circular motions. This apparently worked even better, as she kept it up for about 5 minutes before squealing through a couple of orgasms. Once again, she slumped down onto my chest, and I could feel her heart beating madly in hers. When her pussy relaxed again, and she stirred, she sat up and said "That was better than anything I've ever felt. Even better than your wonderful tongue. Can we trade places now?" "As you wish" I said. "Oh Westley!" she replied with laugh. "Farm boy, make love to me now!" she demanded. With a chuckle, I rolled her over and we kissed again. I reached down to guide myself into her beautiful warmth, and god she was tight. I knew I wouldn't last long like this, and I told her so. "I've already had the best time of my life, please just enjoy me, the way I enjoyed you." she said. I kissed her again as i began to slowly push my aching cock in and out of her. We could hear the wet sloppy sounds of her pussy as I fucked her. I pushed myself up on my elbows and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. Her smile was amazing, and she felt so alive beneath me! I rocked my hips as my thrusting increased in force and speed, which stimulated her clit. Her smile changed to laughter as she approached orgasm, crying out to me "Oh god yes! Yes!" I was getting closer myself, and then she looked deep into my eyes, saying "I love you". That triggered me, and I humped madly at her, pounding myself deep into her, over and over, until I spasmed in bliss. I felt and heard her answering orgasm as we tumbled from our peaks to lay panting against each other, sharing breath, sharing heartbeats, sharing souls. "Oh god, Tess, I love you too." This, torn from me, how and why could this be happening? She kissed me again. "I hoped, I prayed, I wished, I waited so long for this. Thank you." Not wanting to crush her, I lifted off her, and slowly pulled my shrinking cock from her welcoming heat. "Yipe! Hey, I thought you were fixed!" she exclaimed as my issue came pouring out of her. Too late, the duvet cover needs washing now for sure. "A vasectomy doesn't change how much comes out, just what's in it, or not in it, so to speak. And you knew from that blowjob how much I cum." "My toy never made this much of a mess, that's for sure." she said with a laugh. "Let's take a shower, and then we can have something to eat, and we can talk, OK?" She looked a trifle worried about the 'talking' part, but the shower was definitely of interest to her! We spent a long time in the hot spray, exploring, touching and teasing each other. And we did incidentally get clean. We dried each other off, and I got a spare bathrobe for her. I made some sandwiches, and poured a couple of glasses of lemonade. We ate, and I asked her about school. She had just graduated high school with top honours, and was intending to go to Queens in Kingston, come September. Now we has to discuss 'Us'. "Tess, you're 18, you have your whole life ahead of you. I'm 58, due to retire in 2 years. I'm afraid that if we pursue any kind of relationship it will end badly, and most badly for you." Once again she surprised me by simply laughing at me. "Silly man! You've probably got another good twenty years in you. Do you want to waste it mowing your lawn and doing your laundry, or do you want to live?" I blinked at her in surprise, and she continued, "Do you think I would deny myself my true love simply because it may be cut short? Are you tied to this place? Could you follow me to Kingston?" My mind spun, I felt totally disoriented for a moment, and I looked into those crystal grey eyes. And I was lost. Strings, pulling me out of the quiet, common existence I was in. Strings, hauling me out of a rut that I hadn't known I had fallen into. Strings, pulling on my heart, making me love again. "Yes" I managed to choke out. She smiled that awesome, devastating smile of hers, and said "Kenneth Brock, will you marry me?" This had started with her tears two years ago and it was going to end with mine today. "Yes" By SilverFoxMullet for Literotica.
Neighbor's daughter seeks out widower next door, to help her with human sexuality lessons. By SilverFoxMullet - Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories. I was folding the last of my laundry, there wasn't much with just myself left in the house. My son had got married and moved to British Columbia. My wife passed on 2 years ago. Just me now, enjoying a much-too-quiet life. Then the doorbell rang. I went to the door and opened it, only to find my neighbour's daughter Tess standing on his front porch. I'd watched her grow up next door. When my son had moved out ten years ago, my wife and I had occasionally babysat little Tess. It had been nice having kids around the house again. She'd grown up into an intelligent, pretty young girl. She'd also been devastated why Marie had died. "Oh, Hi, Tess. What can i do for you?" "Hi Mr Brock. I um, I need some help with some, uh, homework. I was hoping you'd be able to help me?" "OK, I don't know how much help I can really be, but I can try. High school was an awful long time ago for me! Come on in." Tess followed me into the living room and I asked her "Do you want a drink, I've got water, pop, juice, or milk." "Water's fine" she said. I poured two glasses and came back, handing her one as she sat there on my sofa. "So, how can I help? My knowledge of high school math is really out of date you know." She was fidgeting and blushing, as she sat there clutching her drink and a textbook. Finally she exhaled and said "Human sexuality" as she held up the book. I blinked at her, nonplussed. What are they teaching kids these days? The only response I could muster was "Um, what?" She set down her book, took a drink, then set her glass on the coffee table. "Mr. Brock…" "Call me Kenneth, please." "Kenneth. I, I want to learn about um, you know, sex. I, my friends, they're all starting to do stuff, to fool around, and I um, I want to learn too but I'm afraid." I sat there looking at her, unable to process what she was saying. She grew more agitated, and blushed even more. Tears welled up and slipped down her cheeks. If I have one weakness, it's a crying woman. I got up and moved to sit beside her and wrapped my arms around her. Tess sobbed and clutched at me, crying into my shoulder. After a few minutes she pulled back, and I let her go. "Will to teach me?" she asked. Oh fuck no, I thought. "That depends on what you want to learn." "I want to learn about sex. I want to learn everything, I want you to teach me." "Oh. How old are you now, Tess?" "I'm sixteen. I'm old enough to learn about this." Oh crap. This is bad. Really, really bad. "You may think you're old enough, but not for me, that's for sure. You're not even an adult in the eyes of the law. I'm sorry Tess, I can't help you with this." Tears started dripping again as she spoke. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you with this. It's just, like, all my friends, they're doing stuff, and I feel left out, I want to, but I'm scared. They all say sex is painful, or uncomfortable, or just, not great. Stuff I've read, and stuff I've watched on the internet, makes it sound like sex should be really good, really fun, but my friends say it's not. I want to learn the right way, so it's good for me." Wow. What the hell are her friends doing? Ah, right, teenage boys. Worse than useless. Maybe I can't do anything with her, but I can help. "Ok, I am not going to teach you, at least not any hands-on lessons, but I will offer you some advice." She straightened up a bit, and wiped her eyes. God she was so beautiful. Very girl-next-door wholesome. The last thing she deserved was some idiot teenage boy humping at her for 30 seconds and then running off to brag about his prowess to his idiot friends. "My first piece of advice is to masturbate." She looked confused now. "You want me to what?" "Masturbate, play with yourself. Look, how will you ever be able to tell your lover what you want and how you want it unless you know yourself? Get comfortable with yourself, learn how to please yourself, learn what makes your orgasms great." She was staring wide eyed at me now, as my words started to sink in. "How do I do that?" she asked. "Look up female masturbation videos. Watch and learn, and practice." "Okay" she said, "What else?" "Buy a toy. Get a marital aid, a dildo, so you can practice feeling what intercourse is like. You can use other things, but it's better and safer to use the right tools for the job. Look up a sex shop or stag shop. I'll even go shopping for you if you want." "Oh, yes, would you, please?" "Certainly. Now, once you are comfortable with your own sexuality, and you find someone you want to be with, make sure you tell them what you like. Don't be afraid to be demanding about what they're doing. They either do it right or you kick them out of bed." She giggled at this, which I thought was incredibly cute. "Don't discount female lovers either. They like sex exactly the way you do. Once you get good at masturbation you'll be able to please another girl quite well." "I don't think I want to do that, I like boys." she said. "You mean 'men' not 'boys'. That's exactly why your friends are having lousy sex. They're playing with boys." She nodded, so I continued. "Guys like oral sex too. In fact, if you're good at blowjobs you won't have to put up with their inept antics in bed. That's another use for the dildo, to practice oral sex. And if a guy starts to hump your face, if he starts grabbing you and pushing, bite him. You don't have to take that if you don't want it. If it's something you enjoy, then let him play, but otherwise he is there to please you, not the other way around." Tess was smiling now, tears all but forgotten. She hugged me, and said "Thank you. I will follow your advice Mr, uh, Kenneth." I picked up her book, flipped through it quickly, and found the section on female anatomy. I showed her the diagram and said "Learn what all your parts are, what they're for, and how they work. This is a good place to start. I'll find you a toy tomorrow and you can stop by to pick it up on Tuesday, OK?" She nodded, saying "Thank you", and repeated herself after hugging me again. Once she'd left I locked the door and went upstairs with laundry basket. I dropped the basket on the bed and went into my bathroom. I had such a wicked hard-on, I just had to get some relief. The very idea that the literal girl next door wanted me to teach her about sex had me hard as steel. She might be jailbait but I could still follow my own advice, and masturbate. Of course I didn't last long at all, but I wasn't trying to last. I went shopping for Tess on Monday, picking out a nice realistic looking dildo and a bottle of personal lubricant. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I chose one that was almost exactly my size. The girl at the cash looked kind of funny at me, so I smiled and said "Gift for a friend Tess knocked on my door the next afternoon when she got home from school. We exchanged greetings and I handed her the plain brown paper bag. She wanted to pay me for it but I told her it was a gift. l got a hug in return and she practically scampered next door. I silently wished her luck. ." It's great to see Tess feeling more confident about her sexuality. I'm still amazed that I'm the one she turned to for help. The thought of this girl using her new toy to explore herself gave me fodder for my own playtime for the next week. She may only be sixteen, but she's unbelievably sexy. Afterwards I only saw her in passing, as usual, and we'd wave and say 'Hi'. She looked happy and cheerful, and I assumed her self-directed lessons were going well, as she hadn't returned for any more advice. Part of me assumed she'd developed a romantic relationship and was handling things just fine. Life went on, I kept busy at work, and did yard maintenance, laundry, and all the usual stuff around the house. I wasn't into playing sports, so I went to the gym a few days a week to keep in shape. My woodworking hobby morphed from a strictly power tool shop to using a lot more hand tools. It was slower paced but I found it a lot more rewarding. Thoughts of Tess faded away. I had my 'internet videos & pics' to keep me occupied when I needed it. I had no interest in pursuing a new love this late in life, so i wasn't dating or putting myself out there. That was two years ago. Today I was in the basement shop, planing a cherry table top. It was good physical labour, and I was sweating a bit as I worked. I heard the doorbell, so I set the plane aside and brushed the shavings off my pants. The bell rang again as I hurried up the stairs, yelling "Coming!" I pulled the door open to find Tess standing there smiling at me. "Oh, Hi there, Tess. I haven't seen you around for a while. How've you been?" "Hi Kenneth! I just wanted to stop by for a visit, if that's OK?" "Uh, sure, come on in, can I get you a drink or something?" "Water would be fine, thanks." I poured two glasses and brought them to the living room. We sipped and she set her glass down. "So what brings you by today?" I asked. "Same as last time." she said with a demure smile. Last time? Shit, last time she wanted me to 'teach' her about sex. I choked on my drink. "Uh, Last time?" I said faintly. "I'm here for my next lesson. I turned 18 a month ago," She beamed. "And now I want you to finish teaching me about sex." Holy fucking mother of god. She was back, and she was more beautiful than ever. She'd matured more since she was 16, with such a pretty face and solid, slim figure. I could see how nice that figure was, because she wasn't hiding it. The bright yellow halter style dress she was wearing had a deep vee displaying her lovely cleavage, no back, and came to mid-thigh on her sleek legs. I didn't realize that I hadn't responded to her. "Well? Will you? Please?" she asked. "I've waited two years you know. And I followed all your advice too. I'm ready for the next lesson." "But why me, you're stunningly beautiful, you could have any guy you wanted." "I know. And I want you." She said with resolve. She then kicked off her sandals and stood up. Reaching behind her neck, she undid the tie holding up the top of her dress. It came undone and the dress slithered to the floor, pooling around her feet. All she had on now was a pair of lacy yellow panties God she was perfect. Chestnut hair, falling about her shoulders. High, firm, fully tanned breasts with neat brown areolas and stiff looking nipples; her slender waist flared into nicely curved hips, which continued in a graceful curve down her thighs. Tess stepped towards me, and held out her hand. I reached out and took it. God help me, this was so wrong, but I was literally unable to resist her. She pulled gently and I rose to my feet, stunned by her presence. A tug on my hand was all she had to provide to get me in motion, and I followed her from the living room. She led me to the top of the stairs, hypnotizing me with the sway of her ass; then stopped and asked in a sultry voice "Which way is the bedroom?" "This way" I said, pointing to the right. I continued to follow her, into my room, where she stopped, turned, and stood with her arm wrapped around the tall bedpost at the foot of my queen bed. "Tess…" I croaked in a strained voice. "This is what I wanted back then, when I came to you two years ago. It's still what I want now. You said I was too young. I'm an adult now, and I want this, I want you." "Oh god, Tess. I want to say no, I should say no, I have to say no, but I can't. You're so perfect, so beautiful, so delightful, and I can't tell you no." She smiled, and oh man, she was so stunningly beautiful it made me weak at the knees. Like a fucking goddess. And like a goddess, no mere mortal like me could refuse her. "Make love to me, Kenneth." She said, in a low sultry voice. I peeled off my polo shirt and tossed it aside. The rest of my clothing quickly followed, and I stood before her as aroused as I had ever been in my life. Her smile broadened and she laughed lightly, saying "Oh you're perfect! You're just like that wonderful dildo that you gave me to practice on!" I remembered the dildo I bought her years ago, and recalled that that was exactly what I'd picked out for her. I just smiled back at her and gave a little shrug. She laughed again and beckoned me forward. The goddess pulls the strings and the puppet moves to her will. Where did she get such sexual confidence and assertiveness? I took her hand and walked over to the side of the bed, where I sat and guided her onto my lap, and kissed her. She sighed into the kiss, and melted against me. Her skin was so soft, her warm, fragrant body so supple and firm at the same time. We kissed for a while, and I moved my attentions from her lips to her jawline, then to her earlobes, and finally her neck. Tess was cooing and sighing in my arms, her firm breasts and taught nipples pressed to me. I kissed her again, harder, and brought my tongue into it. Hers came back at me to play, and we tasted each other for a while more. When she started to writhe in a subtle manner I knew she was truly aroused, so I moved her over to lie back on the bed. Awestruck, I gazed at her, reddish brown hair fanning out on the bed, firm breasts sitting high on her chest, defying gravity and anatomy alike. I swooped down upon her breasts, stroking, kissing, licking, and fondling her magnificence. Those coos and sighs continued, and she started adding words to her breathless sounds. "Don't touch my nipples yet" she whispered, as she directed me to the valley between her tits. I moved to the undersides of them, and thence to her areolas, as I progressed along my slow, wonderful tour. Finally, with a moan and a push, she led me to the end of this part of our journey. Set in goose-bumped areolas, her swollen, highly sensitive nipples were my last target. I began with gentle licks, then small kisses, on one, then the other, and back. Then it was nibbles, fingers rolling them, sucking them, pressing them, and manipulating her nipples as many ways as I could. She began to writhe beneath me, her words tapering off into moans and gasps. No longer directing me, I played, I explored, I teased and tantalized her. A shudder, followed by a long sighing gasp was the signal she was done with this, and she gently pushed me away. "Oh, Kenneth, that was wonderful! Thank you. Now lay back, I want to explore you." I did as she bid, and Tess started touching, stroking, fondling, and kissing her way from my ears to my toes. She didn't spend too long in any one place, and she avoided my cock completely. Little questions, do I like this, or that, and little comments about what she found or liked, interspersed her explorations. She found some ticklish places, and she also found some really arousing places too. Places my wife had never found, places I never suspected I had. By now, there was a puddle of pre-cum on my abdomen, and she shifted her position to inspect me more closely. She lifted my cock and licked the most recent droplet from it. Then she dipped her head down and lapped up that puddle. My stomach muscles flexed and clenched as she tickled me with her agile tongue. She giggled at my 'gut reaction' as she called it. Then the most wondrous sensation hit my rigid cock. Her mouth closed over me, and that agile tongue found a new place to play. My late wife hadn't been much for blowjobs, so this was a rare treat indeed for me. Last time would have been probably 25 years ago. And it didn't stop with her tongue, amazing as it was. My shaft began to disappear into her mouth bit by bit, as she bobbed up and down ever so slowly. I stared stunned and slack-jawed in amazement as Tess worked my cock into her throat. I kept my hands to myself, clutching the duvet, and desperately willed myself not to cum. Alas, this last was in vain, because this goddess continued to pull strings on her mortal puppet. She wanted me to cum, so cum I would, whether I wanted to or not. I groaned and muttered "I'm gonna cum" through gritted teeth. She heeded my warning by humming and pulling back until just my head was in her warm wet mouth. She redoubled her efforts with her tongue, swirling around and around my throbbing manhood. With a whimper I came, shaking and pulsing over and over into her eager mouth. She swallowed my load and kept licking and sucking until I wilted in her mouth. "How was that?" she asked. "Oh god, Tess, that was the best I ever had." She giggled again. "I'm just glad you picked a toy the right size. Practice makes perfect. Although my toy doesn't cum like you do, that was a bit of a surprise. It doesn't taste bad at all, but the texture is weird." As I listened to her words, she made me wonder, and I had to ask. "Was that your first real blowjob?" "Uh huh. First ever. It was good?" "Like I said, best ever. I can't believe that was your first time doing this!" "First time for real, it was always just my toy before now." "Wow." "Now it's your turn to please me" she said, rolling onto her back and tugging my arm. Those strings again, pulling me wither she desired, and this time it was her most private place. I used my hands and forearms, my lips and tongue, to stroke and touch her all over. It was my turn to find her interesting places, her ticklish spots, and make her squirm in anticipation. I touched her face and neck, kissing and stroking, and proceeded to her shoulders and arms. Another chance to play with her lovely breasts was not to be denied either, and I did indeed have her squirming now. I worked my way down her body, making sure to test every place I could for sexual suitability. She directed me to a few places that she liked, and I found some spots she didn't yet know about. She began to get more vocal, calling my name occasionally, giving hints and feedback and directions, interwoven with a progressively louder and more varied series of moans and gasps. I stopped, and rose to preview what I was about to acquire. I softly brushed my fingers all around her panties, and her movements became more erratic, changing from a slow undulation to twitching and shuddering. Slowly, I peeled the bright yellow lace from her hips. I could scent her now, a wonderful mix of the robust and the delicate at the same time. She had a beautiful reddish-brown bush, lush and soft, that led to her sex. I nuzzled her lovely triangle of fur, all the while drawing in her heady aroma. I discarded her panties now, and her legs fell open to my gaze. Beautiful. Exquisite, even. Her lightly furred vulva surrounded a pair of dark-edged lips, glistening with the source of that scent I was enjoying. I pushed her legs farther apart and looked up at her. She smiled back at me and said "Teach me". Fuck. A lick, along her slit, hammered my senses of taste and smell, filling me with her. She was sour and sweet and floral and meaty, with a little saltiness from her sweat. I moaned into her as I plowed her with my tongue again, deeper, harder. More contact, more flavour, more joy! I pulled back and looked for her clit. That little peak in her folds held a secret I wanted to discover. I drove my tongue into her again and licked all the way up to try and find her clitoris. It was there, small, but firm, still buried in those folds, I could feel it. She could too, based on how she squeaked and jumped when I hit the right spot. Her breathing was getting faster, and her thighs were flexing, so I assumed she was very close. Did I want, or even need, to tease her? I needed to know what she wanted, so I asked. "Do you want to cum now, or make it last a while?" "In a little while, but not too long" she said as she brought her hands down to run fingers through my hair. Perfect. I wondered if her other lovers had asked the right questions, or had she had to guide them? No matter, I have the here and now to deal with. I pulled her labia apart gently with my fingers and played my tongue over the wet pink flesh revealed within. Her hips gyrated against me, so I continued to play at this. When my nose bumped her clit, she jumped and squeaked again. I worked a fingertip into her opening, swirling it around to maximize the stimulation, while at the same time I began to gently lick and kiss her clitoral hood. A shuddering moan indicated I was on the right track, With feather-light touches around her clit, and my finger slowly working deeper into her passage, I increased her stimulation. Those gyrations increased, and my licks to her clit became less subtle, more direct. Tess whimpered as I rolled my finger inside her, and sought her G-spot. When she cried out suddenly, with an accompanying shudder and thrust of her hips, I knew I'd found the right spot. I attacked her clit with more gusto, lapping and flicking at her, as my finger continued it's internal foray. She came, she came with abandon. Squealing and thrashing and calling my name, she practically bounced on the bed. I had to hold her hips firmly with my arms and my free hand just to stay connected to the vital spots and continue to stimulate her. She seemed to cum at least twice, possibly thrice, before the grip on my air went from pulling to pushing. I relented, and rose to look down at her, her face and chest flushed, sweat beading her forehead, and the most beautiful expression on her face. She looked like the goddess she was. "Oh god Kenneth, that was the most amazing orgasm I've ever had! What have you done to me?" I slid up to lie beside her, cuddling together while she regained her breath and her senses. "That was wonderful" I said. "I enjoyed you so much, and you seemed to enjoy it too." "The best ever" she said, paraphrasing my earlier comment on her own oral efforts. "Your other lovers didn't perform so well, then?" "There are no others. just me and my toy. I've waited and practiced and dreamed of this day." Her hand slipped between us to fondle my hardness, which was back from it's slumber. "No one? But I though you wanted to learn…" "I wanted you. I told you so. I wanted to learn, and I wanted you to teach me. All you could give me was advice and my toy, so I made the best of what I had. Can we start our next lesson?" "Tess? You're still a virgin? Are you sure about this?" She laughed, saying "If you're wondering about my hymen, that toy took it the very first day I got it. I went straight home and tried it. Slowly, carefully, and immediately. And every day since, I've practiced and practiced, hoping that when I was ready, you'd accept me. That you'd teach me the rest." "You are so beautiful, so amazing, I don't know how or why I got so lucky, but you're here. And I will not disappoint you." I sat up next to her, and swept my gaze and my hands along her nubile young body. "Did you bring any condoms?" I asked. "I'm on the pill, and you are my first lover, do we need one?" "I haven't been with anyone in over 5 years, and before that I had a vasectomy. So I am clean and sterile." "Make love to me, Kenneth." "For your first time, I want you on top." She laughed and we switched places on the bed. Straddling my hips, she leaned in to kiss me fervently, passionately, until we were starving for oxygen. I could feel her wet heat against my hardness, as she slowly shifted her weight on me. Finally breaking our kiss, she sat upright, raised herself aloft, and reached for me. I felt her hand moving my cock around, as she tried to position me just so. "I never tried this way with my toy. It doesn't lend itself to this very well. I'm usually on my back or on my hands and knees." Then she pressed herself down onto me, taking it slowly, gently. She leaned forward to plant her hands on my chest. "Oh god, this is so good, sooo goooood" she groaned. Bottoming out, she sat staring at me, gently running fingers through the graying hair on my chest. "Wow. I thought when I saw you, that it would feel just like my toy. But it doesn't, not at all. This is so much better!" With that, she started to play. She bounced up and down for a while, breasts wobbling, hair swirling, suddenly yelping and shuddering on me as she came. Collapsing on me, breathing hard for a minute or two, whilst her pussy throbbed and rippled on me. Smiling that amazing smile of hers, she pushed herself back up, and started grinding on me in little circular motions. This apparently worked even better, as she kept it up for about 5 minutes before squealing through a couple of orgasms. Once again, she slumped down onto my chest, and I could feel her heart beating madly in hers. When her pussy relaxed again, and she stirred, she sat up and said "That was better than anything I've ever felt. Even better than your wonderful tongue. Can we trade places now?" "As you wish" I said. "Oh Westley!" she replied with laugh. "Farm boy, make love to me now!" she demanded. With a chuckle, I rolled her over and we kissed again. I reached down to guide myself into her beautiful warmth, and god she was tight. I knew I wouldn't last long like this, and I told her so. "I've already had the best time of my life, please just enjoy me, the way I enjoyed you." she said. I kissed her again as i began to slowly push my aching cock in and out of her. We could hear the wet sloppy sounds of her pussy as I fucked her. I pushed myself up on my elbows and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. Her smile was amazing, and she felt so alive beneath me! I rocked my hips as my thrusting increased in force and speed, which stimulated her clit. Her smile changed to laughter as she approached orgasm, crying out to me "Oh god yes! Yes!" I was getting closer myself, and then she looked deep into my eyes, saying "I love you". That triggered me, and I humped madly at her, pounding myself deep into her, over and over, until I spasmed in bliss. I felt and heard her answering orgasm as we tumbled from our peaks to lay panting against each other, sharing breath, sharing heartbeats, sharing souls. "Oh god, Tess, I love you too." This, torn from me, how and why could this be happening? She kissed me again. "I hoped, I prayed, I wished, I waited so long for this. Thank you." Not wanting to crush her, I lifted off her, and slowly pulled my shrinking cock from her welcoming heat. "Yipe! Hey, I thought you were fixed!" she exclaimed as my issue came pouring out of her. Too late, the duvet cover needs washing now for sure. "A vasectomy doesn't change how much comes out, just what's in it, or not in it, so to speak. And you knew from that blowjob how much I cum." "My toy never made this much of a mess, that's for sure." she said with a laugh. "Let's take a shower, and then we can have something to eat, and we can talk, OK?" She looked a trifle worried about the 'talking' part, but the shower was definitely of interest to her! We spent a long time in the hot spray, exploring, touching and teasing each other. And we did incidentally get clean. We dried each other off, and I got a spare bathrobe for her. I made some sandwiches, and poured a couple of glasses of lemonade. We ate, and I asked her about school. She had just graduated high school with top honours, and was intending to go to Queens in Kingston, come September. Now we has to discuss 'Us'. "Tess, you're 18, you have your whole life ahead of you. I'm 58, due to retire in 2 years. I'm afraid that if we pursue any kind of relationship it will end badly, and most badly for you." Once again she surprised me by simply laughing at me. "Silly man! You've probably got another good twenty years in you. Do you want to waste it mowing your lawn and doing your laundry, or do you want to live?" I blinked at her in surprise, and she continued, "Do you think I would deny myself my true love simply because it may be cut short? Are you tied to this place? Could you follow me to Kingston?" My mind spun, I felt totally disoriented for a moment, and I looked into those crystal grey eyes. And I was lost. Strings, pulling me out of the quiet, common existence I was in. Strings, hauling me out of a rut that I hadn't known I had fallen into. Strings, pulling on my heart, making me love again. "Yes" I managed to choke out. She smiled that awesome, devastating smile of hers, and said "Kenneth Brock, will you marry me?" This had started with her tears two years ago and it was going to end with mine today. "Yes" By SilverFoxMullet for Literotica.
MORE FREAKY DELIGHTS AWAIT, in Exquisite Corpses Issue 4 - And it might be our favorite of the series thus far! Featured creators in this issue are Che Greyson & Adam Gorham.
To continue to celebrate the engagement of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce, Exquisite and Hannah go through the theme of marriage (and separation) in Taylor's discography, from folklore to The Tortured Poets Department. (Check out our previous episode for Part 1!)Taylor Swift gives a more complex and nuanced view of long-term relationships through the safety of auto-fiction in folklore and evermore. And then as we get into Midnights, we see her questioning her choices in the past and present, culminating in the manic TTPD. Buckle up. Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming a professor? Donate here: https://gofund.me/ceaf3b27dEnjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #ShowgirlSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
Part 5 zeroes in on the record $12.9M Kobe/MJ Exquisite Dual Logoman: is it a true comp or a one-off outlier? We dig into why this sale triggered stronger reactions than Wagner/Mantle results, the marketing/use-case angle (Schemes/Dick's as precedent), and how headlines (“highest ever”) can be worth more than the incremental bid. We also kick around underbidder theories, “comp” vs “comparable,” and whether there's any real trickle-down. Then a fun closer: what would a 1/1 '89 UD Griffey be worth? Highlights Why this modern card drew more vitriol than vintage record-setters “Comp” vs “comparable”: when a data point doesn't map to anything else Marketing spend logic (Schemes/Dick's) and the Secure syndicate's “calling card” Psychological spillover vs long-term pricing reality Manufactured rarity isn't new: Wagner, '52 Topps highs, '33 Goudey Lajoie, Bert Corbeau, Leaf Marciano Quick takes from Karvin Cheung, Chris McGill, and Josh Adams on what really matters for collectors If you're into record sales, comps, and the vintage–modern divide, this one's for you. Watch Sports Cards Live most Saturday nights on YouTube for live, interactive hobby talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part 4 shifts into a roundtable with Karvin Cheung, Chris McGill, and Josh Adams, digging into why wax is so pricey and who's actually opening it. We compare breakers vs. LCS demand, online buying behavior, and how distribution/licensing ripple through box prices. Chris puts wax costs in macro context (USD purchasing power, gold/bitcoin/S&P comparisons), while Carvin explains the ecosystem effects—and revisits Exquisite's DNA, the “1-of-1-of-1-of-1” idea, bold on-card autos, and game-used (plus where Topps Dynasty fits now). We also hit goat-chasing, sentiment signals, and whether “don't open it” is the only lever to push prices down. Highlights Breakers vs LCS: who opens more, and why it matters Distribution, licenses, and the feedback loop that lifts box prices Macro lens: cards vs gold/bitcoin/S&P; the dollar's bite on the hobby Exquisite legacy & design: bold autos > grades, and the true “1-of-1-of-1-of-1” Game-used patches today; Dynasty's role for high-end, on-card autos Cycles, sentiment, and practical ways collectors can still “stay in their lane” If you're into the real reasons wax is expensive, how breaking reshaped the hobby, and insider takes on Exquisite/Dynasty and game-used patches, this episode is for you. Watch Sports Cards Live most Saturday nights on YouTube for live, interactive hobby conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Part 3 continues the “priced out” conversation with Jeremy and Mike Zier, joined midway by Karvin Cheung (creator of Exquisite, The Cup, National Treasures, and more) and later Chris McGill of Card Ladder. What starts as a collector's reality check on wax prices evolves into a roundtable on distribution, licensing, breakers, and the overall state of the hobby. From $12.9M grails to $800 wax boxes, this discussion spans both ends of the spectrum, and asks whether regular collectors can still find their lane. Highlights Collector angst: returns shrinking while wax prices soar Breaking then vs. breaking now, does it still offer value? Carvin on licensing, distribution, and why the ecosystem fuels high prices Chris McGill connects rising wax costs to broader inflation and everyday life Is “don't open it” the only way to push wax prices down? The tension between million-dollar grails and collectors just wanting affordable packs Discipline, budgets, and staying grounded in today's market If you want straight talk on wax costs, the breaking economy, and the state of the hobby from both collectors and industry insiders, this episode is for you. And don't forget, watch Sports Cards Live most Saturday nights on YouTube for live, interactive conversations with hobby voices at every level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What makes a player a true hobby GOAT? And why do sets sometimes matter as much as the athletes on the cardboard?In this episode, Brett explores the recipe behind collecting greatness. He breaks down why only a select few players reach GOAT status, the role of cultural impact and iconic moments, and why certain sets, brands, and parallels hold long-term value.You'll hear stories about Jordan, Ruth, Jackie, Brady, Kobe, Serena, and others who transcend their sports, plus insights into how products like 2003 Exquisite, 2012 Prizm, and 1952 Topps shape the hobby.Whether you're chasing legends or building around iconic sets, this episode is a guide for thinking long-term, adding stability to your collection, and enjoying the stories behind the cards we all love.Get your free copy of Collecting For Keeps: Finding Meaning In A Hobby Built On HypeStart your 7 day free trial of Stacking Slabs Patreon Today[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok
To celebrate the engagement of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce, Exquisite and Hannah go through the theme of marriage in Taylor's discography, from Taylor Swift to Lover. (They would've kept going but the episode went too long.)Taylor Swift talks about this institution in myriad ways, whether daydreaming about it, taking inspiration from others' marriages, and creating fictionalized stories. In other words, buckle up for "hellos" and "coming homes."Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with#ShowgirlSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
The AMPire Diaries Episode 121: The Originals - “Exquisite Corpse” This BODY is INCREDIBLE? NUH. This CORPSE is EXQUISITE. Yeah. That's more like it. (And yes, I realized after the fact that this bit fits the Drake “Hotline Bling” meme. Sorry for that unintentional corniness. I was actually originally going for The Social Network corniness.) The second season of The Originals really is cooking with propane. That's because, this week, your favorite Vampire Diaries rewatch-slash-first-time watch (and still mostly spoiler-free) combination podcast is discussing The Originals' “Exquisite Corpse” (Season 2, Episode 17). Which means we're talking: - …for 8 and a half minutes (and this is the ABRIDGED version) about things that AREN'T TVDU-related in the intro, in case you wanna skip some dog co-host and movie etiquette talk. - Exquisite Corpse, a signature scent. - P.S. LaToya had some audio issues in this one–mostly resolved in the edit–but there are moments when she's not as clear as she usually would be on mic. - Women's rights and women's wrongs, as exemplified by Freya Mikaelson and Eva Sinclair. - What GOOD sexpionage looks like, STEVE. Here's that sexy Bonnie and Clyde shit we were looking for. - Ya gotta watch Blindspot, gang. Ya just gotta. - We just know that Claire still won't sign SHIT. God love her. - The lack of urgency we've been dealing with from the Mikaelsons lately… it's because Klaus simply hasn't been paying attention to this season. (Couldn't be us.) - Is Marcel being a bad dad or a cool (aka “badd”) dad? - Look, you'll never catch your AMPie Queens ending up in a horror movie. - The Magic Limbo. - Hayley… We love you, girl… But you've gotta stop being such a bitca to other women. (But also, never stop. It's really funny..) “CONTROLLING THE DEMON” (“Exquisite Corpse”... and wow, I guess that means we really should've listened to the episode's voiceover more than we did…) Whether you're a Vampire Diaries obsessive or newcomer, join along with hosts LaToya Ferguson (@lafergs—AMPie Queen, Vampire Diaries obsessive) and Morgan Lutich (@LorganMutich—AMPie Queen, Vampire Diaries obsessive) on their continuing podcast journey.* Most importantly, get AMPED (and horny) along with them on this journey. Ya gotta get AMPED. * And sometimes Jill Defiel (@jiilbobaggins—AMPie Queen, Vampire Diaries newcomer, now former host) and Michael Chasin (@mchasin—AMPie Boy, Vampire Diaries obsessive, sort of host). Become a patron! https://www.patreon.com/ampdiariespod/ Email us! theampirediariespod@gmail.com and fatherkieran1@gmail.com Tweet at us! @AMPDiariesPod Skeet at us! ampdiariespod.bsky.social Instagram... at us! @AMPireDiariesPod Go to our website! http://theampirediariespod.com/ The Official CW Promo for “Exquisite Corpse”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiHjVasHVNU The Mystic Falls Event of the Week for “Exquisite Corpse”: LET'S GO SAVE SOME WITCH KIDS (WITH SEXPIONAGE) The AMPire Diaries is now available to stream on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Podcasts, as well as wherever you get your podcasts (except for Spotify). Don't forget to rate (5 STARS, please) and review the podcast. And most importantly, don't forget to get AMPED.
We're out of the haze and back under dazzling lights in this new episode of The Taylor Seminars, and we're ready to discuss more of this new universe Taylor is revealing, variant by variant. So yes, we talk about the covers, but we also talk about the feeling of accomplishment that comes with each performance, even if it's accompanied by exhaustion. We also apologize to evermore. So join Exquisite and Hannah as they talk about what it means live in The life of A Showgirl.
Craig and Carmine share updates from recent shows across the country including Carmine's financial breakdown as a dealer in The Masters territory, how Emmitt Smith made Craig's All-National Team and the deal for Carmine's new favorite card in his entire collection.Craig also shares the creative ways he funded the newest addition to his Knicks PC and a literally Exquisite card involving a couple GOATs.YouTube & More: https://linktr.ee/crosstowncardboard Craig's Instagram: @newyorkcitysportscardsCarmine's Instagram: @CarminesCards
Even though they predicted it, Exquisite and Hannah were shocked by the drop of TS12, aka The Life of a Showgirl. They interrupt this "evermore" season with their first reactions to the new album. Listen in to hear their overall thoughts and a track-by-track sort-of-rapid-fire impressions. Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
Even though they predicted it, Exquisite and Hannah were shocked by the drop of TS12, aka The Life of a Showgirl. They interrupt this "evermore" season with their first reactions to the new album. Listen in to hear their overall thoughts and a track-by-track sort-of-rapid-fire impressions. Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
In this episode, Brett shares his experience playing as Emma Frost and Jean Grey in Marvel Rivals, just to make EvilJeff jealous. EvilJeff gives Brett his review of the new Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson. Plus we talk K-Pop Demon Hunters and of course some X-Men comics and One World Under Doom!
One of the greatest holiday songs to come out this century, "Tis the Damn Season" from evermore is a Taylor Swift song that's a modern take on the classic story of returning to one's hometown--and all the complex feelings and love that we rediscover. This gorgeous song features hints from her past albums, like Fearless Taylor's Version and also looks forward to songs like "You're On Your Own," and "Midnight Rain." Join Hannah & Exquisite for this winter-y (and muddy) journey. Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #EvermoreSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
Join us for another bonus episode where we discuss the issues of Exquisite Corpses out on Image comics!
Some believe the song of the Wood Thrush to be the most beautiful bird song in North America. Others select the song of the Hermit Thrush. Still others name the singing of the Swainson's Thrush. How do thrushes like this Veery create such fine music? The answer is that the birds have a double voice box, unique to them, called the syrinx. A fine singer like a thrush can voice notes independently and simultaneously from each half of its syrinx, notes which blend brilliantly as ethereal, harmonious tones.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.
What must it be like to write the hauntingly beautiful, "Gold Rush," track 3 of Taylor Swift's album evermore? Join Hannah and Exquisite as they mine the depths of this gorgeous song, including its fascinating song structure and the beauty of the rhymes. Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #EvermoreSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
The six-piece group previewed new music, and their unique blend of bossa nova, neo-soul, jazz and more, in a KNKX Studio Session performance.
Send us a textMusic journalist, podcaster and photographer Jeremy Shatan drops in on YMAAA to introduce Al to Holly Miranda's 2018 album Mutual Horse. Jeremy talks about how his exploration of Miranda's music began with a New York Times article that he read, and how it led him to follow her career ever since. He explains why he thinks Mutual Horse is Miranda's best album and why it is a favorite in his collection. Jeremy also talks about how he developed broad musical tastes and why he started blogging and doing his Discover Music with AnEarful podcast.On this episode, Al made a reference to the first episode of Discover Music with AnEarful, in which Jeremy explains how he became a musical obsession. If you're not familiar with Jeremy's podcast, this is a great place to start. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-1-5-how-i-got-here/id1588981051?i=1000537666517Jeremy mentioned the New York Times article that catalyzed his Holly Miranda fandom. You can read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/arts/music/14mira.html.Through the first 197 episodes of YMAAA, neither of Al's horses had anything to contribute to the show. On this one, at 54:40, Fynn makes his YMAAA debut.To check out Jeremy's Substack, go to anearful.substack.com.His Spotify playlists are available at https://open.spotify.com/user/jshatan.Jeremy's photography website: jeremy-shatan@pixels.comJeremy has not one, but two Instagram accounts!For music: @anearfulmusicFor photography: @murgatroydYou can also follow Jeremy on these other social media platforms…@AnEarful on Facebook, Tiktok and X@AnEarfulTV on YouTubeThe first episode of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA's subscriber-only podcast series—is now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes, posts and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.1:09 Jeremy joins the show1:35 Jeremy explains how he first got interested in Holly Miranda's music7:34 Al talks about his observations regarding Miranda's on-stage charisma8:53 Jeremy notes Miranda's progression across her first three albums17:29 Jeremy appreciates the way that Miranda puts an album together19:01 Hearing some of the tracks live ahead of time got Jeremy excited about buying Mutual Horse21:18 “Wherever You Are” made a great first impression on Jeremy23:42 Al and Jeremy talk about Mutual Horse's sonic variety, particularly in the album's middle section29:40 Jeremy and Al discuss Miranda's collaboration with Kyp Malone on “Exquisite”31:54 Jeremy and Al talk about Miranda's Neil Young cover and some of her other cover songs35:58 Jeremy explains how the tracks on the latter part of the album relate to the death of Miranda's mother41:41 Jeremy has gained a new perspective on the grind of the recording industry50:08 Jeremy talks about getting to know Miranda personally55:37 Jeremy explains how Miranda wound up writing and contributing to the theme song for Discover Music with AnEarful56:50 Jeremy shares how he developed such a broad range of musical interests and how he keeps up with new music1:10:09 Jeremy talks about the value of admitting your musical ignoranceSupport the show
Long before I met the women of La Flor Farm, I met their gorgeous flowers. For the past three years, mom Michele and daughter Chantelle have supplied customers (like me) who shop at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market with a breathtakingly beautiful selection of the highest quality flowers – from tulips in time for Valentine's […] The post Episode 727: A tour of La Flor Farm's dahlia fields, where four generations grow exquisite blooms for the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market and local florists appeared first on Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing.
Bill kicked of the morning revisiting a thought on "eschatological vison" for our life.There's a gap between those who know text etiquette and those who are just figuring out what an emoji is, Bill, Jules and Chad go through what might be good and what could be bad texting practices. While on their trip to Nashville, Dave, Bill and Carmen sat down with friend and sister Natalie Grant!From singing the National Anthem and meeting Tom Brady to what it's like raising...
Join Mike and Bill as they discuss The Visit, Superman, Vicarious #1, Jurassic World: Rebirth, Previews, Sandman TV Show, Godless, Warrior, Nude, Republic of Doil, Medieval Spawn #1, Curse of Sherlee Johnson #1, Free Planet #1, Exquisite Corpses #1, Ti...
Join Exquisite and Hannah as they analyze Track 1 of Evermore , "Willow." This witchy track by Taylor Swift is filled with metaphors that remind us of so many of her past and future songs. (There's one connection that made Exquisite feel crazy!!!) Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #EvermoreSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
Step out of the labyrinth and into the witchy woods of Evermore in our latest season of "The Taylor Seminars." Exquisite and Hannah visit this beautiful album and discuss the themes and context around this beautiful album. Plus they share their favorite (and least favorite) tracks on the album. Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with#EvermoreSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
Taylor Swift was featured in the beautiful song "The Alcott" from The National's album First Two Pages of Frankenstein, and Exquisite and Hannah wanted to cover it. Why? Well because it's also connected to "Exile", "Coney Island," and "You're Losing Me." Join them on this episode that links us to the next series we'll be covering in the Taylor Seminars: evermore.Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with#MidnightsSeminars on X/TwitterFollow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
We come to the close of Midnights by Taylor Swift with the bonus track "Hits Different." Exquisite and Hannah parse the lyrics of this descriptive song, especially the word-vomit-y bridge in this latest episode. Listen to these argumentative, antithetical dream girls!Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on Twitter Follow Alef on Patreon
Movie News: DC (Mister Miracle, Superman, Clayface), MCU (Spider-Man) Aliens vs. Avengers #4 Krypto #1 Exquisite Corpses #2 GI Joe #8
There's a place where fire meets ice, where the sea sings stories older than time, and where the land pulses with the wild truth of transformation. Exquisite. Otherworldly. A sacred journey. Welcome to the ICELAND RETREAT. This is not just a trip — it's a curated journey for women who crave beauty, depth, and nourishment. This premium retreat is created for smart, soulful women who are ready to discover what's next in one of the most stunning locations in the world. On this sacred adventure in November in one of the most stunning spots in the world, you'll reconnect with your inner knowing, release what no longer serves you, and gain the clarity to take bold action toward your next level. On this episode, I share the retreat vision, travel details + why your next chapter is waiting to be discovered in Iceland. "To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice." - Liz Gilbert < LET'S RISE > Iceland Retreat: Discover What's Next in the Land of Fire + Ice | November 2025 https://jennyfenig.com/iceland
A sophisticated restaurant blending European elegance with American flair. Exquisite dishes and drinks. They have an excellent California wine menu. Inviting ambiance and excellent service.
We discuss a few new incredible Image Comics books: Invincible Universe Battle Beast by Robert Kirkman & Ryan Ottley, Lost Fantasy by Curt Pires & Luca Casalanguida, and Exquisite Corpses by James Tynion IV & Michael Walsh. Plus Sleep, Spawn The Curse of Sherlee Johnson, Deadly Tales of the Gunslinger Spawn, Metal Hurlant, Dr Fate, Green Lantern, and Legion of Super-Heroes. #Skybound #TinyOnion #DCComics You can follow us on Bluesky @comicsdiscourse114.bsky.social, Instagram: @comicsdiscourse114, Threads: @comicsdiscourse114, and Facebook: Facebook Comics Discourse 114 Also, please leave us a 5-star review at your favorite podcast platforms.
Exquisite and Hannah take a slight detour because the best glitch ever interrupted their plans: Taylor Swift buys back her masters. Hear them discuss the outcome and then get into the song "Glitch" by Taylor Swift from her album Midnights. Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSeminars on X/TwitterFollow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on TwitterFollow Alef on Patreon
Karvin Cheung's influence on the hobby is probably more than you realize. He's a risk taker who decisions have had positive effects. He returns for part 2 of our conversation on this episode. Talking points on this episode may include: *The Evolution of the Hobby *Wearing different hobby hats *Working for Upper Deck, Working for Panini *The Legend of the Exquisite brand *Grail item *Would you like to see multiple licensing again? *Taking Risks *NSCC Discussion Follow us on Social Media: Website:https://www.sportscardnationpo....com https://linktr.ee/Sportscardna... Merch shop:https://sports-card-nation.pri... To eliminate pre & post-roll adshttps://www.spreaker.com/podca...
Mr. Hollywood forgets his job as we talk Avengers delay. Alex picked Secret Six Vol.2 for the book club. Garrett brings a new book to the table. Leave a message: https://www.speakpipe.com/WednesdayComicsWednesdayComics.comSponsors:Rainbow Comics and CardsRoots of the Swamp Thing
Custom surface artists Lisa Donohoe and Brynn Gelbard met and fell in love in the queer underbelly scene of San Francisco in 2002, a time before bi-national same-sex marriage was legal. Their diverse community was built on love, curiosity and celebrating each other's differences. In an evolution that was equal parts organic maturity and cosmic intervention, Brynn and Lisa moved to Los Angeles and founded Londubh Studio, specializing in elaborate and maximalist hand-applied surface designs. Now the duo, often considered the design world's secret weapon, are translating their wildness, love, magic, and the sacred, through exquisite artistry and pristine craft, into visual celebrations that vibrate with love and emanate joy. Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio:Web designers, Wix Studio lets you deliver your vision with less friction. Built for agencies and enterprises, you get total creative control over every last pixel, with no-code animations, tons of AI tools, reusable design assets, and advanced layout tools. Check out Wix Studio for your next project: https://www.wix.com/studio.For more from Byrnn and Lisa, head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript (with links!) of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! Please help us out by completing a short LISTENER SURVEYSubscribe to our free substack for updates, bonus content, and new episode alerts.Please say Hi on social! Instagram and Linkedin - @CleverPodcast, @amydeversIf you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We didn't podfade! The boys are back to talk this week's new comic releases. Remembering Peter David Andor Exquisite Corpses #1 Superman Unlimited #1 Detective Comics #1097 Note: We did have some minor audio issues with our new software - we're working through them!
Karvin Cheung's influence on the hobby is probably more than you realize. He's a risk taker who decisions have had positive effects. He joins us today on this episode. Talking points on this episode may include: *The Evolution of the Hobby *Wearing different hobby hats *Working for Upper Deck, Working for Panini *The Legend of the Exquisite brand *Grail item *Would you like to see multiple licensing again? *Taking Risks *NSCC Discussion Follow us on Social Media: Website:https://www.sportscardnationpo....com https://linktr.ee/Sportscardna... Merch shop:https://sports-card-nation.pri... To eliminate pre & post-roll adshttps://www.spreaker.com/podca...
Dan Slott moves to DC for the Summer of Superman! In this week's episode, it's Memorial Day weekend, so Joe and Matt are firing up the grill and roasting Dan Slott and Rafael Albuquerque's Superman Unlimited, Aunt Petunia's favorite Fantastic Four member in The Thing's new series, Kaare Andrews' channeling Todd McFarlane in the latest […] The post Spider-Man & Wolverine, Superman Unlimited, Invincible Presents Battle Beast, Exquisite Corpses & MORE! | New Comics Review Show #778 appeared first on The Two-Headed Nerd Comic Book Podcast.
Guess what? We are back and so is Butter Man!www.coolparents.co
With Larkin no longer in the picture, the investigators begin their search of the pyramid site. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/TDGlU7zU7k4 For a limited time, use code "TFC" to save 15% on Cthulhu products at chaosium.com. Access exclusive podcasts, ad-free episodes, and livestreams with a 30-day free trial with code "GCN30" at jointhenaish.com. Join Troy Lavallee, Joe O'Brien, Skid Maher, Matthew Capodicasa, Sydney Amanuel, and Kate Stamas as they tour the country. Get your tickets today at https://hubs.li/Q03cn8wr0. For more podcasts and livestreams, visit https://hubs.li/Q03cmY380. Watch new episodes when they premiere every Friday at 8PM ET on youtube.com/theglasscannon, starting July 11th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
learn how to say 'exquisite' in Korean
Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!NEWSSpider-Gwen gets 'Brand New Day' in new series launchMarvel reveals cover and Quesada talks 'Marvel Knights' The World to Come' #3'Marvel All-On-One' #1 anniversary one-shot coming August 2025'Imperial' gets new teaser promising spin-off one-shots, and issue 3 solicitSequel 'Cemetery Kids Run Rabid' #1 set for August releaseSkybound and Universal reteam for 'The Invisible Man'Casey Jones gets a solo seriesScott Snyder reveals new look at Bane and ‘Absolute Batman' vol. 2 titleDC Comics solicitaitons for August!New existential horror 'Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum' coming August 20252025 Eisner Awards nominees are in!Our Top Books of the WeekDave:Absolute Batman #8 (Scott Snyder, Marcos Martin)Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse (2025) #1 (Mat Groom, Kyle Higgins, Luciano Vecchio)Alex:Exquisite Corpses #1 (Tynion, Michael Walsh)All-New, All-Deadly Gwenpool #1 (Cavan Scott, Stefano Nesi)Standout KAPOW moment of the week:Alex - Doom Snikt in OOUD #4Dave - Battle Beast #1 (Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKAlex: The Vision & the Scarlet Witch #1 (Orlando, Lorenzo Tammetta), Absolute Flash #3 (Lemire, Robles)Dave: Into the Unbeing Part 2 #4 (Zac Thompson, Hayden Sherman)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: The New Gods #6 (Nimit Malavia)Alex: The Ultimates #12 (Inhyuk Lee variant)Interview: James Tynion - Exquisite Corpses #1 out May 14, 20251. What drew you to the exquisite corpse method as a structural framework—and how did it shape your writing process across collaborators?2. You've said before that horror lets you explore personal fears in metaphorical ways—what fear sits at the heart of Exquisite Corpses for you personally?3. This project is filled with shifting tones and visual voices—how did you maintain thematic cohesion across multiple artists and chapters?4. You've tackled horror through multiple lenses—from psychological horror in The Nice House on the Lake to body horror in Something is Killing the Children. Where does Exquisite Corpses fall on your personal horror spectrum?5. You've spoken about burnout and choosing joy in your writing—did this collaborative process reawaken anything in you creatively?6. There's a class warfare element baked into the DNA of Exquisite Corpses. How important was it for you to make that commentary explicit rather than just subtext?7. You're known for big ideas in genre fiction. Was there ever a version of Exquisite Corpses that could've been a prose project or TV pitch—or was comics always the only way this could work?8. What's one element in Exquisite Corpses—a character, twist, or scene—that you're most excited for readers to finally experience, but can't say anything about yet?
Episode 980-Connectivity, Battle Beast Blind Bags, Exquisite Corpses, Jessica Jones, Gary Vee+ Sneak Peek at Next Week w/Kyle & DrewABSOLUTE FLASH #3 (W) Jeff Lemire (A/CA) Nick RoblesCATWOMAN #76 (W) Torunn Gronbekk (A) Patricio Delpeche (CA) Inhyuk LeeSongs by Drew - Static & Disconnect & Sync Need an LCS Kowabunga Comics https://kowabungacomics.com - Get FOC Access: http://eepurl.com/du7Wwf or Eric@KowabungaComics.com Like & Subscribe on our Youtube www.youtube.com/@comicsforfunandprofit5331Patreon https://www.patreon.com/comicsfunprofit Merch https://comicsfunprofit.threadless.comYour Support Keeps Our Show Going On Our Way to a Thousand EpisodesDonate Here https://bit.ly/36s7YeLAll the C4FaP links you could ever need https://beacons.ai/comicsfunprofit Listen To the Episode Here: https://comcsforfunandprofit.podomatic.com/
Join us as Exquisite and Hannah discuss the heartbreaking "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" by Taylor Swift from Midnights. Taylor writes purposefully vaguely about a tragedy in a life and yet so specifically that she's able to put words to people's sadness--even when she says "no words appear before me in the aftermath." Enjoy the episode? Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️And don't forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSeminars on X/TwitterFollow us on Twitter:- @taylorseminars- @sippingaugust (Hannah)- @exquisitewill (Exquisite)Cover Art by Alef Vernon: - @alefvernonart on Instagram- @alefvernon on TwitterFollow Alef on Patreon
Join Hannah and Exquisite as they discuss the first of Midnights 3am tracks. "The Great War" is a masterful self-written song that describes a tumultuous time in a couple's relationship that has a happy ending. But we see glimpses of other battles in the past and even foreshadowing of betrayal and heartache in the future.
On today's podcast, Founder and CEO of af&co., Andrew Freeman shares Expert Tips and Trends in Travel, Luxury Hotels and Fine Dining, and Strategies to stay relevant, resourceful, and respected in your industry BACK STORY Named as one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, and was named a PRNEWS CEO of the Year Honoree for 2023, Andrew brings a combination of deep industry experience, passion and creativity to every endeavor. With 40 years in the hospitality industry and af&co. celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, Andrew has built a legacy of innovation while staying at the forefront of industry trends. With over 200 restaurant and hotel launches, Andrew and his team have provided branding, marketing, PR, and operations consulting for hundreds more, including spirits, wine brands, and destinations. af&co. has also produced culinary events ranging from intimate dinners to festivals drawing over 10,000 guests. From 2016 to present, af&co. has been named by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Top 50 LGBTQ-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area, consecutively moving up the ranks to its current position at number 34. Andrew got his start in the restaurant business by working his way up through the ranks at several legendary New York City establishments. At the Russian Tea Room, Andrew opened the Cabaret, which became the toast of the town after only six months and he spent six years as VP of PR at The Rainbow Room, working alongside Joe Baum. He then moved onto the famed Windows on the World, Andrew was the VP of Public Relations and Marketing and oversaw the re-launch after the Trade Center bombing in 1992. Before founding af&co., Andrew spent a decade as VP of Public Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, launching over 40 properties and expanding the brand globally. He also spearheaded Kimpton's award-winning LGBTQ+ travel program, helping it become the first hospitality company to earn a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index—a distinction it has maintained since 2002. In addition to af&co., Andrew co-founded Carbonate in 2020, an independent branding and creative agency specializing in storytelling, identity, and positioning for the hospitality industry. Under Andrew's leadership, af&co. and Carbonate have become highly respected consulting firms with headquarters in San Francisco and Cincinnati, serving clients nationwide. The af&co. + Carbonate Annual Trends Report, now in its 17th year, continues to be one of the most influential industry resources, providing insights into emerging hospitality trends. When Andrew is not consulting with his growing list of notable clients, he dedicates any extra time he has to philanthropic efforts sitting on the boards of SF Travel, The Golden Gate Restaurant Association, Foodwise, and The Richmond Ermet AID Foundation. He's an honorary board member of Meals on Wheels San Francisco and a co-founder for Dress for Success San Francisco. Andrew has been a driving force in initiatives that amplify and support hospitality businesses in the Bay Area. He is a co-founder of the Oakland Restaurant Collective and Savor Oakland and collaborates with Visit Oakland, Eat Drink SF, and The James Beard Foundation on yearly culinary events. He continues to advocate for hospitality businesses, ensuring they remain integral to the cultural and economic landscape. A regular contributor to industry publications, Andrew is a sought-after speaker at hospitality conferences worldwide. When not working – you can find Andrew at Barry's Bootcamp, catching the latest Broadway show (obsessed), exploring the wonders of San Francisco with his pooch Dolly and of course celebrating life's everyday moments at his favorite restaurants and hotels. Website: https://www.afandco.com/ Instagram: afandco SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much! ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE! JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully.