Podcasts about faced

New Evidence Charlie Kirk Faced Pressure from Jewish Donors Before his Assassination, PLUS Biden Blocked CIA From Distributing Report on Hunter's Ukraine Business Dealings

In this episode we meet Lori, a 68-year-old woman who spent her formative years as a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her family was converted when she was five, immediately thrusting her into a high-control environment that abruptly ended a normal childhood. From the outset, Lori harbored an innate skepticism towards the group's doctrines, which manifested as a lifelong, escalating resistance to its demands. Her narrative details significant psychological and emotional abuse, including a cold and detached home life, constant threats of divine annihilation (Armageddon), and severe punishments for non-compliance. Faced with an ultimatum at age 18, Lori strategically executed a pre-planned departure, an event she describes as a profound liberation. The subsequent decades involved a difficult but ultimately successful journey of recovery, overcoming relationship challenges, severe health crises, and periods of deep despair to build a life defined by freedom, authentic connection, and the breaking of a multi-generational cycle of family trauma. Support the show and get bonuses as well by donating to the cause on our Patreon page, Patreon.com/shunned Are you struggling in some area of life? Feeling stuck? Need an accountability partner or some encouragement? Need to talk to someone that understands cult life? Reach out and let's talk. I have affordable programs to help as a certified life coach with a focus on cult recovery. Click HERE for more information. Want more resources? Go to my other website exjwHelp.com Leave us a review on iTunes Find shunned podcast on Youtube, including new VIDcasts here. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can listen to the Shunned Podcast Spotify playlist here for all of the songs chosen by guests of the show. This podcast was made possible by my original podcast This JW Life. You can find it on any podcast app. It is a 9 part series about life as Jehovah's Witnesses designed to help you understand how it worked in one comprehensive story and to help you process your own if you came from that environment. Read my FREE online book, based on This JW Life, called Becoming Jehovah, in both English and Spanish by clicking here An ExJW podcast and ExJW YouTube Channel

Let's dive into the world of cruises - (full disclaimer: neither Vic or Hamish have ever actually been on one!)Today Vic and Hame explore the allure of cruise ships as “giant floating bars” or “Westfields on Water,” complete with endless buffets, towel animals, and drinks packages that basically dare you to drink your body weight in piña coladas before lunch. They chat about why they've always avoided this type of holiday, despite their extended families treating cruises like the holy grail of leisure.But are things changing? With unlimited alcohol packages still the main selling point, they look at the dangers of all-you-can-drink culture at sea — from sunstroke + sangria chaos to the grim statistics on alcohol-related accidents. At the same time, they ask whether the tide (pun intended) might finally be turning. Could cruises actually become activity-laden, dream holidays for sober folk — with gyms, spas, shore excursions, and, dare we say, mocktail menus worth ordering from?As ever, Vic and Hame bring honesty, humour, and a healthy dose of scepticism to the question: are cruises doomed to stay floating pubs, or can the sober awkward among us finally come aboard without dreading the drinks package sales pitch?Enjoy!

In this episode of 'Talking Insomnia,' Andrew shares his transformative journey from chronic insomnia to peaceful sleep. Faced with overwhelming stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights, Andrew discovered a new perspective through Sleep Coach School, fundamentally changing his relationship with sleep and mental health. Learn how Andrew navigated the challenges and found balance in his life. If you're new here…. you'll want to take our FREE course ‘The Festival of Understanding' 

Paul McNulty has had at least three careers. After graduating from law school, he spent 20 years in public service, rising to the top levels of the U.S. Department of Justice. Then he moved to one of the nation's – some might say the world's – top law firms. But service was in his blood, and in 2014 he became president of his alma mater, Grove City College. He has just retired from that position, after an 11 year stint. At a time when lots of colleges are shutting down, Grove City – under McNulty's leadership – has thrived. I asked Paul to be on the program today to do a retrospective of his career, and our conversation ranges widely, from his time in government, to the death of his son due to cancer in 2012, and his involvement with Keith and Kristyn Getty and their efforts to bring theologically rich and musically excellent hymns to the modern church. But the center of our conversation today is a discussion about the challenges facing higher education, and how Christian colleges can meet those challenges. Paul McNulty spoke to me from his home in Charleston, South Carolina.

President Donald Trump was only supposed to address the United Nations for 15 minutes, but he extended that to 55 minutes after it appeared U.N. employees tried sabotaging him four times.  Victor Davis Hanson breaks down the U.N.'s response to Trump's speech and also calls out the hypocrisy as many U.N. members walked out on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech but stayed for China's Xi Jinping's speech—a leader who has “over a million people in a Uyghur labor camp.” “All four of those circumstances were almost impossible to occur in one session ... This is very serious. It means that the United Nations has employees, or perhaps administrators, who deliberately tried to sabotage an American president while on American soil.” 

President Donald Trump was only supposed to address the United Nations for 15 minutes, but he extended that to 55 minutes after it appeared U.N. employees tried sabotaging him four times.   Victor Davis Hanson breaks down the U.N.'s response to Trump's speech and also calls out the hypocrisy as many U.N. members walked out […]

In this next chapter of Emily's journey, we pick up where Part One left off — delving into her second marriage and the dark, hidden betrayals she uncovered. What she thought would be a fresh start spirals into a nightmare when she learns her husband is a secret sex addict — and worse, he's been using her photos to catfish other men online.Faced with this ultimate violation of trust, Emily must confront devastating betrayal, reclaim her boundaries, and find her own path back to safety. Fortunately, her family opens their arms. She moves back home, finds refuge in their love, and slowly begins to rebuild her identity and autonomy.Join us as Emily reflects on survival, tough truths, and the hard work of healing from deception so deep it almost broke her.Takeaways & Listening NotesBetrayal from a partner is not just a relational wound — it can wound your sense of identity, worth, and safety.When deception is compounded by exploitation (i.e., using someone's images without consent), the violation is especially traumatic.A support system (family, trusted friends, therapy) can provide the anchors you need to exit and heal.Recovery is nonlinear. Moving forward often means revisiting pain, resetting boundaries, and building a new narrative for yourself.Content Warning: This episode discusses forms of PTSD, trauma, emotional abuse, sexual addiction, image exploitation, betrayal trauma, and manipulation, self-harm ideation, mental health, murder ideation, and any topics that may disturb some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.We are not doctors or therapists; you should not take our opinions as medical advice.Have a story you would like to share? Please fill out our form.Hosts: Behk & LAHFollow us on Instagram + Facebook @ngcompodProduction & Design: LAHardenMusic: No Reason Why by Anchor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We don't want to rattle your cage, cuties,  but this episode puts us behind bars. Without the Bobby billions to bail him out, the thin blue line is making a big fat example out of our beloved Frank. Just wait until Bobbi hears about this...Faced with his incarceration, Joanne and Ruby make a tenuous alliance to clear his name. Mia, fresh off her disastrous crash, is taking the case as personally as ever and steaming up the evidence locker. We have good cops, bad cops, worse lawyers, and no mineral water. Something has got to give.   Our cuties this week included Geoff Grimwood, Jessie Cannizzaro, Amanda Sykes, Neill Flemming, Mark Gagliardi, Abigail Turner, and Ross Bryant as Dr. Mark Hall. JOSIE'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB was created by Maximilian Clark and Rachel Music. Our story editor is Lauren Grace Thompson. Produced by Simone Kisiel and Alexandra Grunberg.  JLHC is Executive Produced by the Good Story Guild. Keep track of us on Instagram @goodstoryguild and join our Discord.  If you enjoyed the show, consider leaving a rating and/or review on your preferred podcast listening platform.   Support us by joining the Great Story Guild on Patreon!

Life, Culture and Current Events from a Biblical Perspective with guest host, Wendy Francis.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Listeners respond to Relebogile Mabotja's open line question about adulthood. 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja is broadcast live on Johannesburg based talk radio station 702 every weekday afternoon. Relebogile brings a lighter touch to some of the issues of the day as well as a mix of lifestyle topics and a peak into the worlds of entertainment and leisure. Thank you for listening to a 702 Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja podcast. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 13:00 to 15:00 (SA Time) to Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/2qKsEfu or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/DTykncj Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode of The Atheist Experience, Dr. Ben and Scott Dickie of Talk Heathen stage a friendly takeover, fielding calls on the nature of reality, mathematics, and divine revelation! From philosophical deep dives into *a priori* knowledge to the challenges of grappling with infinity, this episode puts logic and the burden of proof center stage.Zeno from the International Space Station begins by mentioning intelligent design but quickly pivots to telling the hosts they have faith. Identifying as agnostic, he insists atheists claim God's non-existence. Dr. Ben and Scott challenge him to state his own beliefs rather than misrepresenting theirs, but when he fails to engage productively, what will become of the conversation?Donald in LA presents a complex philosophical argument for God, blending concepts from Aristotle, Plato, and others, suggesting that the effectiveness of mathematics points to a prescriptive cosmic consciousness. Scott counters that math is merely a descriptive language humans created to model observed universal patterns. With the conversation delving into *a priori* knowledge, can Donald defend his premise without relying on observation?Ken in MI struggles to comprehend an infinite past and future, and the concept of a universe without time. Scott simplifies infinity as the consistent existence of a "yesterday" and a "tomorrow." Ken then asks if it is wrong for an atheist to find comfort in reading religious texts, leading to a discussion about appreciating literature without accepting its claims. Where does one draw the line?Jim in MO proposes that the atheist's burden of proof is analogous to a defense attorney's: simply demonstrating reasonable doubt in the theist's claim. The hosts largely agree but refine the analogy, emphasizing that the burden lies solely with the claimant, and the non-believer has no obligation at all. If the prosecution fails to meet its burden, what is the correct verdict to reach?Miller in MI expresses that religion can lead down a dark path and shares a personal conflict: he holds a belief against having children before marriage, a value from his religious past that now causes friction in his dating life. The hosts differentiate between personal boundaries for a partner and imposing universal moral rules on others. How can one navigate personal values rooted in past dogma?Sheldon in NY shares his personal testimony that Jesus is God, based on a voice he claims has spoken to him for over 50 years, providing guidance and predictions. The hosts challenge the reliability of this subjective experience, highlighting auditory hallucinations and conflicting claims from other religions. Faced with a contradiction between his claim to value truth and his unfalsifiable belief, what will he choose?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

About three years ago, Vanessa "broke-up" with one of her close friends. She tried to do it kindly, but in retrospect she feels guilty for how it all went down. So recently she decided to reach back out and apologize. Faced with his response, she's now asking herself: What's the best way to handle this set of communications when there's still a lot of pain on both sides? This week on the show Mauricio and Vanessa explore how to end relationships well.You can find more information about the Harry Potter and the Sacred Text upcoming Cambridge Weekend on our website. The Real Question is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram--This show is completely funded by Patreon, and we are so grateful to our supporters who make it possible. If you can, please considering chipping in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breaking The Silence with Dr Gregory Williams Guest, Amy Pollack - Retired Teacher and Author of "The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean" This week's Special Guest will be Amy Pollack. Amy is the author of a series of children's books and will be returning back to "Breaking the Silence" to announce her latest book, "The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean." Now retired from a 40-year career in teaching. Her Passion is writing books that help today's children on how to deal with life's ups and downs. Don't forget to check out guest Amy Pollack's book "The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean" https://www.amazon.com/Further-Adventures-Jelly-Bean-ebook/dp/B0BDBX5C9D?ref_=ast_author_dp A Short description of Amy Pollack's book "The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean" from Amazon: In The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean - the third book in The Adventures of Jelly Bean series - Jelly Bean has to deal with more changes. Faced with the departure of her best friend, Jelly Bean struggles to adapt to new dynamics in the classroom. Life also becomes more difficult when her grandmother, who had always had the time to listen to her, gets re-married and moves away. Together with her trusty and beloved dog Roger-Over, and her wonderful new aunt who takes a keen interest in her, Jelly Bean continues navigating and adapting to life's challenges. Join her on this exciting journey with its unexpected twists and turns, as our feisty heroine blossoms and grows.

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, I'm joined by Renee Thibeau, a devoted mother, passionate advocate, and fierce ally to the transgender community. Renee is the proud mom of three incredible children: her oldest, a 25-year-old cisgender daughter; her 17-year-old son, who is autistic and full of love and light; and her courageous transgender daughter — the reason she has stepped so fully into public advocacy.Renee's journey began when her ten-year-old child shared that she was a girl living in a boy's body and, heartbreakingly, had contemplated ending her own life. Faced with this reality, Renee chose love, acceptance, and action. By affirming her daughter's truth, advocating for her well-being, and surrounding her with support, Renee helped transform despair into hope and fear into thriving.Now, Renee speaks out publicly to share their story — not for recognition, but because she knows the stakes. Every child deserves to be seen and accepted for who they truly are, and every parent has the power to save a life with love. Through her writing, speaking, and tireless advocacy, Renee proves that empathy and understanding are life-saving acts, and that true success is measured not by accolades but by the lives we protect.Together, we dive deep into:The myths and false narratives fueling anti-trans rhetoric in politics and religionRenee's personal journey as a parent and the unconditional love that guided her through her daughter's transitionStories of support, including her late Aunt Sylvia—a nun whose unwavering affirmation reminds us of the true meaning of faithThe dangerous hypocrisy of lawmakers who legislate against the LGBTQ+ community while hiding their own truthsHow complacency and societal blind spots have contributed to the rise of harmful cultural narrativesWhy hormone therapy is reversible, but suicide is not — a stark reality we cannot ignoreWhat it means to raise trans kids with joy, love, and dignity, while preparing them for futures full of hopeRenee shares her heart, her advocacy, and her unapologetic truth, reminding us that being an ally isn't passive — it's about showing up, speaking out, and protecting the most vulnerable among us.This is a deeply moving, fiery, and inspiring conversation you won't want to miss.

Carney Is Not What He Was Sold As, Pierre Poilievre SaysBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radio-baloney-the-richie-baloney-show--4036781/support.

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Matthew Coller from Purple Insider stops by to talk Lynx in the playoffs and the Vikings in Dublin. Chad asks about the challenge the Lynx have faced early in their series against the Phoenix Mercury and what Matthew's concerns are from the end of their game 2 loss. The Vikings are playing the Steelers this week in Dublin, Ireland. Chad asks about how close Matthew thinks the Vikings were to signing Aaron Rodgers this offseason. In their second segment, Chad and Matthew parse through the Vikings quarterback situation with JJ McCarthy on the mend and Carson Wentz keeping things at bay. What happens if Wentz is playing well when McCarthy returns? What's the long view for the development of this offense?

During Sun Day 2025, Sustainable PR founder Tony Defazio spoke about some of the challenges developers face in building the renewable energy capacities of communities across the country. Lennox Apudo reports.

GHOSTING: WHY THE AI JOB APPLICATION TSUNAMI IS NO EXCUSE   Diffusion of technology innovation across society is something to be celebrated. We need to be aware of the challenges to existing structures that this will inevitably bring and refactor our processes to account for the changes. One of the first ways in which employers are experiencing this challenge is in how to handle the increased volume of job applicants, who have improved both the quality and quantity of their outputs.   We're going to talk today about the AI job applicant tsunami and how this does not mitigate employer responsibility for candidate experience. It's no excuse for ghosting!   - What is the state of candidate experience in 2025? - What are the factors which explain the trend lines? - What is the impact of AI in the job candidate experience? - How can employers balance between efficiency vs experience? - Can we kill the idea that 'more human' is always better candidate experience? - What are the common themes to great candidate experience? - Faced with lean TA teams + increase workload, what are top TA teams doing about this? - Ghosting: what does it take to eliminate this? - What role can technology play in supporting candidate experience? - Hybrid human + AI = when human vs when AI?   All this and more, with Daniel Chait, CEO (Greenhouse), Kevin Grossman, VP of CandE Benchmark Research (Survale), Cheryl Petersen, Global Head of Candidate Experience (Arup) & Bradley Cooper, Associate VP Technology (SASR Workforce Solutions)   We are on Thursday 25th Sep, 5pm BST / 9am PT / 12pm ET - follow the channel here (recommended) and save your spot for this demo by clicking on the green button.   Ep332 is sponsored by our friends Greenhouse   Hiring is hard, and getting it right is even harder. It's a core business-building function with high stakes that takes a lot of moving parts to see real success. You need workflows that accommodate how you function given your company size and goals. You need a user experience that hiring managers actually buy into. And you need an application process that locks talent in.   Only Greenhouse gives you all that in one platform.   Learn more

Faced with rising household costs, people are turning to pedal power to save money on petrol and parking. Bike charities and loan schemes in Wellington are in demand, and the clientele is increasingly shifting towards higher wage earners looking for a cheaper, more planet-friendly mode of transport. Kate Green reports.

Lucy Fenwick Elliott talks to director William Bridges about his new film, All Of You, starring Brett Goldstein and Imogen Poots.  Best friends since college, Simon and Laura drift apart when she takes a test that finds her soulmate despite years of unspoken feelings between them.  Over the years, as their paths cross and diverge, neither can deny the feeling that they've missed out on a life together. Faced with the uncertainty of changing the course of their lives, are Simon and Laura willing to risk everything to experience the love that had been between them all along, or should they accept their fate? If you'd like to send us a voice memo for use in a future episode, please email podcast@picturehouses.co.uk. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Follow us on Spotify. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with @picturehouses. Find our latest cinema listings at picturehouses.com.  Produced by Stripped Media. Thank you for listening. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends. Vive le Cinema.

Faced with declining enrollment, public school districts across the country are rethinking how many schools they can run. Fewer students often means less government funding, forcing schools to cut services. Yet school closures can disrupt communities and have negative effects on learning. On today's show, the tough calculus parents and schools confront. Related episodes:  Why ‘free' public education doesn't always include school supplies A food fight over free school lunch The evidence of school vouchers that'll please nobody For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Preview: Bob Zimmerman details Astra, a former publicly traded rocket company that faced failures and near bankruptcy. Now private, they abandoned Rocket 3 and plan to launch the much bigger Rocket 4 next summer.

In the Netflix series Love Con Revenge, Cecilie Fjellhøy from The Tinder Swindler teams with a private investigator to track down other swindlers and tell the stories of those left both broke and heartbroken. Faced with limited legal options, the team goes to bat for a group of victims who were ripped off in different ways, but were all victims in elaborate romantic long cons. In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews Cecilie Fjellhøy. SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched Love Con Revenge yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on.  Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at tudum.com. Read more about a romance scammer's playbook and learn what's happened to the victims since their stories were filmed. Check our true crime hub at tudum.com/truecrime. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.

HEADLINE: Kennedy Chooses Quarantine Despite Military Demands for Invasion GUEST NAME: Professor Serhii Plokhy BOOK TITLE: Nuclear Folly TOPIC: Accidental War Warning SUMMARY: President Kennedy faced fierce opposition from the Joint Chiefs, led by General LeMay, who accused him of appeasement by referencing Munich and demanded immediate invasion (OPLAN 312). Kennedy refused to "cave under pressure," fearing that invading Cubawould lead the Soviets to seize Berlin. He ultimately chose the quarantine (blockade), announcing it on Monday, October 22, while the Presidium in Moscow awaited in panic.1920 CUBA

Discover the legend of Jón Ásmundsson of Njarðvík.  Who was a drifter who battled monsters from sea and shadow, and lived to outwit the Devil himself! Like what you hear?  Give us 5 Stars!  And follow for more... Checkout our website: Eerie Iceland  Follow us on: Instagram  Find our page on: Facebook  Email us: hello@eerieiceland.com Sources & Extras: Source 1 Source 2 Episode & Editing By: Ann Irene Peters (Iceland Wedding Planner)

God's Absurd Generosity! | Luke 16:1–13 | The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Here's the heart of it all: God Himself is the absurd master. Faced with the tragedy of our sin, He didn't clutch His wealth. He didn't demand repayment. He gave His only begotten Son into the flesh to save us from sin, death, and damnation. Jesus is the true steward who didn't just cut our debts, He paid them in full with His blood. He didn't just ease our burden; He bore it all. He didn't just lower our balance; He stamped across the ledger: “It is finished.” The cross is the most absurd act in history. God's own Son dies for sinners. The guilty go free. The dishonest, the greedy, the selfish, the prayerless, the vain—all forgiven. Absurd. Crazy. Wonderful. Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

God's Absurd Generosity! | Luke 16:1–13 | The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Here's the heart of it all: God Himself is the absurd master. Faced with the tragedy of our sin, He didn't clutch His wealth. He didn't demand repayment. He gave His only begotten Son into the flesh to save us from sin, death, and damnation. Jesus is the true steward who didn't just cut our debts, He paid them in full with His blood. He didn't just ease our burden; He bore it all. He didn't just lower our balance; He stamped across the ledger: “It is finished.” The cross is the most absurd act in history. God's own Son dies for sinners. The guilty go free. The dishonest, the greedy, the selfish, the prayerless, the vain—all forgiven. Absurd. Crazy. Wonderful. Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

The Freedom Seeker: Twelve-year-old Simi Singh's life in Northern India is filled with love, family traditions, and ordinary worries about hockey competitions, school exams, and avoiding the snide remarks of her class nemesis. But when a single rock carrying a note crash through their window during their Id celebration, Simi's life will shatter. Her Sikh father and Muslim mother's interfaith marriage is becoming a target of violent vigilantes. Faced with rising threats, they must make an impossible choice: stay and risk their lives, orflee their homeland. Simi's father is the first of them to make the journey to the U.S., but when their petition to be reunited in America is denied, Simi and her mother are left with no choice but to attempt a perilous crossing through the Arizona desert with the help of asmuggler. Throughout her nail-biting journey towards safety and belonging, Simi will face unthinkable danger— and when Simi and her mother are separated during the crossing, each led to believe the other is dead, she refuses to accept this fate. Alone in an unfamiliarand unforgiving land, she must summon all her courage and resourcefulness to survive, find her mother, and reunite her shattered family.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

THANKS TO OUR PATRONS:Jacob LickliderJamieJacob's Linktree - Jacob Licklider | Instagram | LinktreeJoey's Linktree - jomoblooddonut | Twitter, TikTok | LinktreeJamie's Bluesky - Jamie (@jamie-season7.bsky.social) — BlueskyBuy the book on Amazon! - Amazon.com: Luke Cage Hero for Hire 1: Numbers 1-16 (Marvel Masterworks: Luke Cage): 9780785191803: Goodwin, Archie, Englehart, Steve, Tuska, George, Graham, Billy, Thomas, Roy: BooksOur next reading - Amazon.com: Luke Cage, Power Man 2: 9781302903435: Wein, Len, Isabella, Tony, McGregor, Don, Mantlo, Bill, Perez, George: Books

#OZWATCH: JEREMY ZAKIS, NEW SOUTH WALES. #FRIENDSOFHISTORYDEBATINGSOCIETY.  SUMMARY: Meteorologists rely on experience as models fail, citing oceans being one degree warmer. The eastern seaboard faced high winds (60 mph), heavy rain, and "mega hail" up to 2 inches in Brisbane. Perth is sodden from unseasonable rain and high winds. Spring brings hay fever, plus increased sightings of kangaroos, snakes, and lizards.1896 1867 MELBOURNE

Send us a text“Your business (and every area of life) only grows as much as you do.” ~ Craig & Meredith BennettIn this week's episode of The Remarkable People Podcast, host David Pasqualone is joined by Craig and Meredith Bennett from Canada. They share their journey from the corporate workforce to starting their own business, and the ongoing quest for fulfillment. Faced with stress and unfulfillment despite their success, they eventually found their true calling through personal growth and helping others. The Bennetts offer valuable insights, actionable steps, and personal anecdotes geared towards entrepreneurs—particularly those working with their spouses. They delve into how strong relationships can propel business success, the importance of personal growth, and the power of taking the first step towards your dreams. Tune in for a compelling discussion filled with practical advice and inspiring stories. Also included is a commercial break featuring MyPillow bath towels and details on how to connect with Craig and Meredith through social media and their website.00:00 Introduction to The Remarkable People Podcast01:59 Meet Craig and Meredith Bennett02:12 The Corporate Life and Unfulfillment03:32 Taking the Leap: Leaving Corporate Jobs04:06 The MyPillow Commercial Break05:47 Starting Over: The Real Estate Venture07:58 Finding Fulfillment: Personal Growth Journey12:36 The Catalyst: Speaking Engagement19:43 Building a Coaching Business22:53 Iterative Process: Continuous Improvement26:10 Realizing Misalignment in Business Ventures27:26 The Importance of Personal Growth28:23 Finding Your True Calling29:26 Balancing Risk and Stability33:32 The Role of Community in Entrepreneurship36:47 Navigating Marriage and Business40:57 Finding Fulfillment and Happiness45:41 Special Offers and Final ThoughtsREMARKABLE SPECIAL OFFER(S):REMARKABLE OFFER 1: Save 30% to 80% on EVERYTHING you order at MyPillow.com with Free Promo Code, “REMARKABLE“. Yes, that's right! Use the best My Pillow promo code out there to save a TON of money on all 200+ quality, comfortable, cozy home goods at MyPillow.com/Remarkable, or by calling 1-800-644-6612. From sheets, to blankets, to pillows, to mattress toppers, be ready to sleep better and live more comfortably than you ever have before!REMARKABLE OFFER 2: Gifts from the Bennett's to all Remarkable listeners & friends: The 200% Marriage Quiz: www.200percentmarriage.com/quiz, and the 33-day Infinite Love email challenge: https://200percentmarriage.com/33-Day-Challenge. Enjoy!For more Remarkable Episodes, Inspiration, and Motivation, please visit https://davidpasqualone.com/Support the showTHE NOT-SO-FINE-PRINT DISCLAIMER: While we are very thankful for all of our guests, please understand that we do not necessarily share or endorse the same beliefs, worldviews, or positions that they may hold. We respectfully agree to disagree in some areas, and thank God for the blessing and privilege of free will. For more Remarkable Episodes, Inspiration, and Motivation, please visit https://davidpasqualone.com/remarkable-people-podcast/ now!

God's Absurd Generosity! | Luke 16:1–13 | The Parable of the Dishonest Manager Here's the heart of it all: God Himself is the absurd master. Faced with the tragedy of our sin, He didn't clutch His wealth. He didn't demand repayment. He gave His only begotten Son into the flesh to save us from sin, death, and damnation. Jesus is the true steward who didn't just cut our debts, He paid them in full with His blood. He didn't just ease our burden; He bore it all. He didn't just lower our balance; He stamped across the ledger: “It is finished.” The cross is the most absurd act in history. God's own Son dies for sinners. The guilty go free. The dishonest, the greedy, the selfish, the prayerless, the vain—all forgiven. Absurd. Crazy. Wonderful. Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. ----- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Andy and Randy start getting ready for Falcons vs Panthers, and while they do not look good through two games, the Panthers currently have the last laugh against the Falcons.

Welcome to Mysteries in the Machine! Ethan and Charlie sneak into a toy store while chasing a zombie but then a gorilla shows up and no one understands why.Send us an email at mysteriesinthemachinepod@gmail.com with your thoughts or any questions you have! We would love to hear from you. Make sure to subscribe so you know when our next episode drops and rate and review if you like what we are doing.Support us on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/MysteriesintheMachine⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mysteriesinthemachinepod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tumblr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tumblr.com/mysteriesinthemachinepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ethan: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/ethan.t.hulen/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/ethulen.does.chat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Charlie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/greenpixie12/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/greenpixiedraws/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

9-15 Matt Maiocco breaks down the 49ers road win over New Orleans and his thoughts on Mac Jones and the adversity San Francisco has faced early in the seasonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of Menomorphosis asks a powerful question:

In a fiery segment, BT and Sal debate whether Giants head coach Brian Daboll's slow start could cost him his job in season, a move Sal thinks is a "bald-faced lie" while BT acknowledges it's a real concern given Daboll's poor record. The conversation shifts to a lighter, yet equally passionate, topic as Sal expresses his intense desire to win a local Emmy, a prize he's been nominated for but has yet to claim, hoping to avoid being the "Buffalo Bills of the damn local Emmys." The hosts then wrap up with their "Bald-Faced Lie, Bald-Faced Truth" segment, providing bold predictions on everything from the Jets' quarterback situation to the Mets' playoff hopes, a "bald-faced truth" that their fans will be tortured regardless.

9-15 Matt Maiocco breaks down the 49ers road win over New Orleans and his thoughts on Mac Jones and the adversity San Francisco has faced early in the seasonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Today we jump back ten years (9-11-2015) to Bruce Mitchell & Travis Bryant covering the big stories of the week.Then, the following Monday's Raw post-show (9-14-2015) with PWTorch columnist James Caldwell talking with live calls about Raw and dissecting the show in-depth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pwtorch-dailycast--3276210/support.

In Episode 213 of the Transition Drill Podcast, Jessica “Jess” Quezada (Episode 86) returns with an unfiltered and powerful story of resilience. A former Marine Corps Sergeant, Jess's military career ended in 2020 with an Administrative Separation. Faced with uncertainty and the loss of identity, she began living in a bus while pursuing a rough vision for LiboRisk, a travel and wellness company for veterans and first responders.In this conversation, Jess shares the real struggles of transition, from the shame of separation to the challenges of building a company from nothing. She explains how LiboRisk grew into a thriving community built on three pillars: adventure, wellness, and cultural immersion. She also discusses the importance of mindfulness, intentionality, and connection as tools for veterans to rediscover resilience and belonging.Jess opens up about her own battles, including sobriety, and her transformative ibogaine treatment. She also recounts her participation in the 2025 Navy SEAL Swim in New York Harbor, part of her year of Misogi challenges.For veterans and first responders, this episode offers encouragement and proof that life after service can be full of growth, adventure, and purpose.The best podcast for military veterans, police officers, firefighters, and first responders preparing for veteran transition and life after service. Helping you plan and implement strategies to prepare for your transition into civilian life.Follow the show and share it with another veteran or first responder who would enjoy this.CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/WEBSITE: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpantani/SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:https://transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#aboutQUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:paul@transitiondrillpodcast.comSPONSORS:Trident CoffeeGet 15% off your purchaseLink: https://tridentcoffee.comPromo Code: TDP15GRND CollectiveGet 15% off your purchaseLink: https://thegrndcollective.com/Promo Code: TRANSITION15Total Force Plus ConferenceLink: https://totalforceplus.orgPendleton Surf ClubLink: https://pendletonsurfclub.com

PREVIEW 4 Unanswered Questions on Iran's Nuclear Program John Batchelor converses with Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, regarding challenges faced by the IAEA concerning Iran's nuclear program. European nations and the US have sanctioned Iran, which seeks to avoid further economic penalties. A key difficulty is accounting for uranium, as the initial amount is unknown and covert production may have occurred. If Iran fails to comply, Germany, the UK, France, and the US might impose more sanctions, potentially prompting Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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What do we do when a coach isn't being fair to our kid? Or what if the coach only cares about winning, at the expense of development? Or maybe your kid has a coach that constantly yells and screams at the kids? On this week's episode, the guys discuss a number of common scenarios that kids and parents face in youth sports, sharing their insights on when parents should step in, when we should stay out of it, and how we should leverage these situations to teach life lessons to our kids. The conversation and discussion is lively, informative, and designed to help listeners think through the situations they may encounter along the journey with their kids.

Book Title: The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England, 1603-1689 Author: Jonathan HealeyHeadline: Monarchs' Fiscal Struggles & Parliamentary Power 17th-century monarchs like James I and Charles I faced immense financial challenges due to long-term inflation and the rising cost of war, particularly with the "military revolution." English common law required Parliament's consent for taxation, forcing kings to seek funds from a "fractious" Parliament. Controversial extra-parliamentary taxes, like forced loans or ship money, sparked debates over royal power and people's liberties, notably championed by Edward Coke. 1658 OLIVER CROMWELL

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a scathing line of questioning from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the Senate on Thursday.Kennedy is a vaccine skeptic and is using his position as Secretary of Health and Human Services to radically change vaccine policy. In recent weeks, there have been a number of public health officials who have resigned or been fired, creating chaos at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies. Federal employees are also speaking out, including more than 1,000 former and current HHS employees who penned a letter urging Kennedy to resign. Now, some states are taking vaccine policy into their own handsFor sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink, Marc Rivers, and Manuela Lopez Restrepo, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.It was edited by Jonaki Mehta, Diane Webber, and Scott Hensley.Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy