Podcasts about Fall

This week, Liberty and Danika discuss Ten Incarnations of Rebellion, Charlottesville, Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon, and more great books! Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Stumped on a great gift this Father's Day? Tailored Book Recommendations brings a personalized touch to any reading list with books hand-picked by professional book nerds. With over 150,000 book recommendations under our belt, we've got the chops to find the right read for your loved one this Father's Day. Plus, with a simple checkout process and the ability to schedule the welcome email, gift-giving has never been easier. Gift TBR today starting at just $18! Check out Strong Sense of Place wherever you get your podcasts, or visit strongsenseofplace.com This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed On the Show: Charlottesville: An American Story by Deborah Baker Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel Flashlight by Susan Choi Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare A Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle Beast by Richard Van Camp The Spinach King: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by John Seabrook Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove Sister, Butcher, Sister by KD Aldyn Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward For a complete list of books discussed in this episode, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Popeye might have gotten strong from eating spinach, but for the family of C.F. Seabrook, New Jersey's narcissistic patriarch of industrialized farming, spinach has been a curse. In his new book The Spinach King: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, New Yorker staff writer John Seabrook charts the dramatic rise and fall of his family's Seabrook Farms. Part family memoir, part critique of industrialized agricultural capitalism, Seabrook tells the story of his grandfather C.F. Seabrook, the "Henry Ford of agriculture”, who built a frozen vegetable empire on 20,000 acres in New Jersey. Rather than a celebration of American innovation, however, The Spinach King is a parable about the dark side of capitalist ambition, explaining how the pursuit of industrial-scale farming led to worker exploitation, family destruction, and ultimately, the dynasty's collapse. Seabrook's motivation for writing about the rise and fall of his grandfather's empire? “Revenge,” he confesses, against a monster who cheated his own father and then psychologically humiliated his son. Five Key Takeaways 1. Industrial Agriculture's Labor Problem Remains Unsolved C.F. Seabrook discovered that while you can mechanize many aspects of farming, crucial tasks like harvesting and cultivation still require human hands. This 100-year-old challenge persists today—American agriculture still depends heavily on immigrant labor because Americans won't do the difficult, seasonal work.2. Capitalism Without Checks Corrupts Families The Seabrook story illustrates how pure capitalist pursuit can destroy the very thing it's meant to benefit. C.F. Seabrook's obsession with profit and control led him to psychologically abuse his sons, cheat his own father, and ultimately tear apart his family dynasty through paranoia and manipulation.3. Generational Conflict Doomed the Business The company's downfall wasn't primarily due to labor issues or market forces, but from irreconcilable differences between C.F. and his Princeton-educated son. The elder Seabrook's anti-union, authoritarian approach clashed with his son's more progressive values, creating internal warfare that destroyed the business.4. Personal Motivation Drives Powerful Storytelling John Seabrook openly admits he wrote the book for revenge against his grandfather, who had psychologically tormented his father. This personal stake transforms what could have been dry business history into a compelling family reckoning with broader implications for American capitalism.5. Agricultural Scale Has Natural Limits Unlike grain farming, vegetable agriculture may have inherent scaling limitations. Seabrook's grandfather tried to apply Henry Ford's mass production principles to farming, but vegetables—especially those requiring hand-picking—resist the kind of industrial scaling that works for manufacturing or grain production.John Seabrook has been a staff writer at The New Yorker for more than three decades. He is the author of The Song Machine, Flash of Genius, Nobrow and other books. The film ​“Flash of Genius” was based on one of his stories. He and his family live in Brooklyn.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Wenn ihr gern unterwegs seid, dann habt ihr oft wertvolle Sachen dabei, die ihr ungern verlieren oder euch stehlen lassen wollt. Für den Fall könnt ihr euch rüsten – besonders jetzt in der Urlaubszeit. Aldi hat aktuell wieder eine kleine Wunder-Box im Angebot, mit der ihr wirklich alles wiederfindet. Das Angebot ist immer schnell vergriffen.

What if the price of every laugh was your own happiness? Jimmy Fallon reveals the shocking toll of his comedy empire.  Jimmy Fallon is host of ‘The Tonight Show', Emmy-winning comedian and television personality, and former host of ‘Saturday Night Live' (SNL). He is also the author of children's and comedy books such as, 'Papa Doesn't Do Anything!' and is set to launch a new innovative marketing show called ‘On Brand with Jimmy Fallon' this Fall. Jimmy discusses: How he didn't expect the entertainment industry to be so brutal. Why his sense of humour became his secret weapon. How he navigated receiving hate after achieving massive success in comedy. How his strict Catholic upbringing shaped his relentless need to please others. How his mother's support gave him the confidence to chase his dreams. 00:00 Intro 02:24 What Made Jimmy the Way He Is Nowadays 03:37 The Earliest Memory of Jimmy Wanting to Please Others 04:52 Jimmy's Parents 07:33 Jimmy's Mother 13:02 Who Was Jimmy Trying to Impress More: His Mother or His Father? 14:28 Jimmy's Relationship With Money 17:05 Jimmy's Anecdote With Jerry Seinfeld 21:11 Was Jimmy a Confident Young Man? 22:11 Principles for Achieving Your Childhood Dream 25:51 How Did Jimmy's Parents React to His Career Plans? 28:10 Did Jimmy Ever Doubt Himself While Trying to Break Into Show Business? 33:51 Where Does Jimmy's Passion for SNL Come From? 37:58 Jimmy's Mental Health During the Auditioning Phase 40:41 What Would Jimmy Say to His Younger Self? 45:09 What Life Would Have Been Like If Jimmy Hadn't Got on SNL 47:32 Jimmy's First SNL Audition 52:00 Getting on SNL Before Turning 25 – A Non-Negotiable Goal 53:32 Ads 57:36 Finally Getting SNL 01:02:01 Was There an Anticlimax When Jimmy Got on SNL? 01:02:50 Struggles With Public Criticism 01:05:55 How Did Jimmy Cope With Fame? 01:09:48 How Meeting Influential People Changed Jimmy's Perspective 01:12:20 How to Never Get Bored of Hosting a Show 01:14:12 How Does Jimmy Keep Himself Challenged? 01:14:52 Dada and "Mama" Books 01:16:23 How Jimmy's Mother's Death Changed Him 01:19:01 What Jimmy Misses About His Mother 01:20:39 Jimmy's Grief After His Mother's Death 01:21:35 Would Jimmy Have Followed His Passion Without His Mother? 01:22:33 When Did Jimmy Start Being Concerned With Longevity? 01:26:50 Is There Another Chapter Beyond TV for Jimmy? 01:29:04 How Is Jimmy Misunderstood? 01:29:31 Jimmy's Pursuits Outside of TV 01:32:31 What Would Jimmy's Gravestone Say? 01:34:02 How Becoming a Father Shifted Jimmy's Meaning of Life 01:34:44 Life Advice Jimmy Would Give to His Daughters 01:36:39 Question From the Previous Guest Follow Jimmy: Instagram - https://bit.ly/3HiDAs1  X - https://bit.ly/3Su5zrd  TikTok - https://bit.ly/3Hk24Bu  You can purchase Jimmy's book, Papa Doesn't Do Anything!, here: https://amzn.to/3HgeQkc  The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt  The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb  Get email updates: https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt  Follow Steven: https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb  Sponsors:  Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett  Perfect Ted - https://www.perfectted.com  with code DIARY40 for 40% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast Kyle and Frank break down a research paper that compared late spring burns vs. fall burns and the plant response, deer usage, and turkey usage in those burns. Spring units created more forbs ,fall burns created more woody browse. Spring units were better for deer nutrition and turkey broods. Fall units were better for deer bedding and turkey nesting.

We're kicking off Pride month with our 300th Episode - our regular Shooting The Flames episode, where we cover all your comments and questions, along with all the latest horror news and trailers! If you have anything to add to the discussion, please don't hesitate to do so by reaching out to us on social media @TheFilmFlamers, or call our hotline and leave us a message at 972-666-7733!     News: Pre-Production is officially under way on ‘Friday the 13th' TV series titled “Crystal Lake” from Peacock and A24: https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3870108/crystal-lake-set-construction-is-underway-on-the-friday-the-13th-tv-series-image/   Trailers Consecration (Jena Malone, Danny Huston, on digital June 16th): https://youtu.be/fQZ0TcC2MLE?si=JZnVnuB7kyKlYBky  Together (Alison Brie, Dave Franco, in Theaters July): https://youtu.be/aSR8mOPBa0I?si=9mfNYTswbCN74kx5  The Conjuring: Last Rites (Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, in Theaters September): https://youtu.be/FSAz556s0fM?si=KcVXOMpKqVoLewzZ  IT: Welcome to Derry teaser (Fall on HBO Max): https://youtu.be/6HG-wsRsg8s?si=hnqFhQXAjEEF0kXy  The Long Walk (Coming Soon to Theaters?): https://youtu.be/vAtUHeMQ1F8?si=3Aql8vXzHBFl2M2s  Tornado (Tim Roth, Coming Soon to Theaters?): https://youtu.be/JCW7OoSp0bI?si=4B1VHqdtTD-IZQv3    Out this Month: Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Hot Take: 28 Years Later Patreon: Lisa Frankenstein      Get in Touch:  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheFilmFlamers  Visit our Store: https://the-film-flamers.printify.me/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefilmflamers  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFilmFlamers/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/thefilmflamers/  (NEW!) SCANS Movie Rating Calculator: https://scans.glide.page/  Our Website: https://www.filmflamers.com  Call our Hotline: 972-666-7733     Our Patrons:    Alex M Andrew Bower Anthony Criswell Ashlie Thornbury BattleBurrito Benjamin Gonzalez Bennett Hunter BreakfastChainsawMassacre Brittany Bellgardt Call me Lestat. Canadianmatt3 CenobiteBetty Christopher Nelson Dan Alvarez Dirty Birdy eliza mc Gia Gillian Murtagh GlazedDonut GWilliamNYC Irwan Iskak James Aumann Jessica E Joanne Ellison Josh Young Karl Haikara Kimberly McGuirk Kitty Kelly Kyle Kavanagh Laura O'Malley Lisa Libby Lisa Söderberg Livi Loch Hightower M Hussman Mac Daddy Matt Walsh Matthew McHenry Nicole McDaniel Niko Allred Nimble Wembley Orion Yannotti Pablo the Rhino Penelope Nelson random dude Richard Best Robert Eppers Rosieredleader Ryan King SHADOW OF THE DEAD SWANN Sharon Sinesthero Thomas Jane's gun Walstrich William Skinner   Sweet dreams...      "Welcome to Horrorland" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Includes music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio

Should We Have Kids in a Dark World?Big Questions: Is it wise or faithful to bring children into a world filled with suffering, evil, and uncertainty?Am I making life decisions from faith or fear?“Many Christians today are wrestling with fear, disillusionment, and sorrow over the state of the world.”Common concerns: evil, school shootings, cultural decline, financial uncertainty, environmental decayAffirm that this is a valid and deeply emotional question.2. Why Are People Afraid to Have Children Today? List cultural and global concernsReflect on emotional and spiritual reasons:Fear of sufferingResponsibility for shaping a soulHopelessness about the futureScripture Reflection:Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14 – “Meaningless! Everything is meaningless... I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Even in Scripture, people wrestled with despair over a broken world.3. God's View of Children in a Broken World A. Children Are a BlessingPsalm 127:3–5 – “Children are a heritage from the Lord... Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”God calls children a gift, not a burden.B. God Brings Life in DarknessGenesis 1:28 – “Be fruitful and multiply...” (original calling)God didn't rescind this even after the Fall.Jeremiah 29:4–7 – While in exile in Babylon, God tells Israel to build homes, plant gardens, marry, and “increase in number.” Even in dark times, God calls His people to live fruitfully.C. Children as Light-BearersPhilippians 2:15 – “...that you may become blameless and pure, children of God... in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”Our children can be raised to reflect light, not just survive the darkness.4. God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”Fear is not a trustworthy counselor—faith is.God doesn't promise ease, but He promises presence.5. What About Wisdom & Discernment? It's not a sin to delay or decide against having children, if done in prayer and obedience, not fear or despair.Romans 14:23 – “...everything that does not come from faith is sin.”Decisions should be rooted in peace and trust in God's will for your life.6. Legacy & Mission in Dark Times Children are disciples in our homes.Parenting is missionary work.Malachi 2:15 – “Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.” God desires the next generation to know Him.7. Closing EncouragementQuestion for you to reflect on as we close…..How might God want to use future generations to redeem the brokenness in our world today?We don't bring children into the world because the world is good— We bring them into the world because God is good.Whether you raise spiritual children, foster, adopt, or give birth—your legacy in Christ is secure when you walk in faith.Scripture:Isaiah 60:1–2 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come... darkness covers the earth... but the Lord rises upon you.”https://rocksolidfamilies.orgSupport the show#Rocksolidfamilies, #familytherapy, #marriagecounseling, #parenting, #faithbasedcounseling, #counseling, #Strongdads, #coaching, #lifecoach, #lifecoaching, #marriagecoaching, #marriageandfamily, #control, #security, #respect, #affection, #love, #purpose, #faith, #affairs, #infidelity

“Got vCon? You will.” — Jeff Pulver In this special edition of the Technology Reseller News podcast, Publisher Doug Green sits down with Jeff Pulver, creator of the Pulver vCon Report and longtime voice of innovation in telecom, to explore what Pulver calls the "sleeper technology of 2025": the vCon. A vCon, or virtualized conversation, is more than just a recording—it's a standardized, structured file format that captures the full depth of business conversations across any channel, whether voice, video, email, or chat. Pulver describes it as “robot food for AI,” the foundational data businesses need to fuel next-generation automation, analytics, and compliance tools. “The moment the call ends is when the real magic starts,” says Pulver. With vCon, conversations become searchable, analyzable, and actionable. From real-time sales dashboards to AI-driven support insights, Pulver argues that vCon files are unlocking "organizational memory" in ways businesses have never seen. Pulver draws parallels between vCon today and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) in its early days—both were initially niche innovations that became foundational. He also highlights the growing vCon ecosystem, noting that over 30 companies are already building with the standard, and invites others to get ahead by building their “vCon strategy.” Upcoming Events: Fall ‘25 VON: Evolution, September 15 in Washington, D.C. Fall ‘25 vCon Conference, October 21-23 in Dallas, TX Throughout the episode, Pulver emphasizes that vCon technology isn't about hypothetical futures—it's happening now, with real tools like conservers (e.g., conserver.io) and protocols like SCITT (Supply Chain Integrity, Transparency, and Trust) shaping a trustworthy foundation for AI-powered enterprises. Whether you're in telecom, compliance, support, or just managing a messy digital life, Pulver's message is clear: “What's your vCon strategy?” Subscribe to Jeff's thoughts at thejeffpulver.substack.com Stay tuned to Technology Reseller News for more on the vCon revolution.  

Im Herbst 2022 tötete ein 54-jähriger Mann einen Taxifahrer in Basel. Der Fall schockierte die Branche und sorgte schweizweit für Schlagzeilen. Heute begann der Prozess gegen den mutmasslichen Täter. Vier Tage lang verhandelt nun das Basler Strafgericht den Fall. Ausserdem: · Naturhistorisches Museum und Staatsarchiv in Basel eröffnen später · Verlässt Trainer Fabio Celestini den FC Basel - oder nicht? · Frauenfussball-EM: Polizei erwartet ein friedliches Turnier in Basel

“You've got this. Just trust yourself.” Sounds empowering, right? But it's a lie wrapped in pride. The truth is, when we lean on our own strength and reject God's way, we set ourselves up for a fall. Pride always leads to destruction. In this next part of Rise and Fall, we'll look at the contrast between Saul and Jonathan—one ruled by pride, the other marked by humility.

April 25, 2025 - Equipped 2025 - Day 2 - 2:30PM Session   Looking at the life as a prophet, Ken reflects on how Isaiah wrote his inspired work.   Isaiah 20-23 -The Sign Against Egypt and Ethiopia 20 In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it, 2 at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. 3 Then the Lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, 4 so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5 Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory. 6 And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, ‘Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?' ” The Fall of Babylon Proclaimed 21 The burden against the Wilderness of the Sea. As whirlwinds in the South pass through, So it comes from the desert, from a terrible land. 2 A distressing vision is declared to me; The treacherous dealer deals treacherously, And the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All its sighing I have made to cease. 3 Therefore my loins are filled with pain; Pangs have taken hold of me, like the pangs of a woman in labor. I was distressed when I heard it; I was dismayed when I saw it. 4 My heart wavered, fearfulness frightened me; The night for which I longed He turned into fear for me. 5 Prepare the table, Set a watchman in the tower, Eat and drink. Arise, you princes, Anoint the shield! 6 For thus has the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees.” 7 And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels, And he listened earnestly with great care. 8 Then he cried, “A lion, my Lord! I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime; I have sat at my post every night. 9 And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!” Then he answered and said, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground.” 10 Oh, my threshing and the grain of my floor! That which I have heard from the Lord of hosts, The God of Israel, I have declared to you. Proclamation Against Edom 11 The burden against Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” 12 The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; Return! Come back!” Proclamation Against Arabia 13 The burden against Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanites. 14 O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Bring water to him who is thirsty; With their bread they met him who fled. 15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, From the bent bow, and from the distress of war. 16 For thus the Lord has said to me: “Within a year, according to the year of a hired man, all the glory of Kedar will fail; 17 and the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the people of Kedar, will be diminished; for the Lord God of Israel has spoken it.” Proclamation Against Jerusalem 22 The burden against the Valley of Vision. What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops, 2 You who are full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous city? Your slain men are not slain with the sword, Nor dead in battle. 3 All your rulers have fled together; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; They have fled from afar. 4 Therefore I said, “Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me Because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.” 5 For it is a day of trouble and treading down and perplexity By the Lord God of hosts In the Valley of Vision— Breaking down the walls And of crying to the mountain. 6 Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots, And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate. 8 He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armor of the House of the Forest; 9 You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10 You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, And the houses you broke down To fortify the wall. 11 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago. 12 And in that day the Lord God of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth. 13 But instead, joy and gladness, Slaying oxen and killing sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 14 Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts, “Surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, Even to your death,” says the Lord God of hosts. The Judgment on Shebna 15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts: “Go, proceed to this steward, To Shebna, who is over the house, and say: 16 ‘What have you here, and whom have you here, That you have hewn a sepulcher here, As he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, Who carves a tomb for himself in a rock? 17 Indeed, the Lord will throw you away violently, O mighty man, And will surely seize you. 18 He will surely turn violently and toss you like a ball Into a large country; There you shall die, and there your glorious chariots Shall be the shame of your master's house. 19 So I will drive you out of your office, And from your position he will pull you down. 20 ‘Then it shall be in that day, That I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah; 21 I will clothe him with your robe And strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem And to the house of Judah. 22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open. 23 I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, And he will become a glorious throne to his father's house. 24 ‘They will hang on him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the posterity, all vessels of small quantity, from the cups to all the pitchers. 25 In that day,' says the Lord of hosts, ‘the peg that is fastened in the secure place will be removed and be cut down and fall, and the burden that was on it will be cut off; for the Lord has spoken.' ” Proclamation Against Tyre 23 The burden against Tyre. Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, So that there is no house, no harbor; From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them. 2 Be still, you inhabitants of the coastland, You merchants of Sidon, Whom those who cross the sea have filled. 3 And on great waters the grain of Shihor, The harvest of the River, is her revenue; And she is a marketplace for the nations. 4 Be ashamed, O Sidon; For the sea has spoken, The strength of the sea, saying, “I do not labor, nor bring forth children; Neither do I rear young men, Nor bring up virgins.” 5 When the report reaches Egypt, They also will be in agony at the report of Tyre. 6 Cross over to Tarshish; Wail, you inhabitants of the coastland! 7 Is this your joyous city, Whose antiquity is from ancient days, Whose feet carried her far off to dwell? 8 Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders are the honorable of the earth? 9 The Lord of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. 10 Overflow through your land like the River, O daughter of Tarshish; There is no more strength. 11 He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The Lord has given a commandment against Canaan To destroy its strongholds. 12 And He said, “You will rejoice no more, O you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus; There also you will have no rest.” 13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, This people which was not; Assyria founded it for wild beasts of the desert. They set up its towers, They raised up its palaces, And brought it to ruin. 14 Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For your strength is laid waste. 15 Now it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot: 16 “Take a harp, go about the city, You forgotten harlot; Make sweet melody, sing many songs, That you may be remembered.” 17 And it shall be, at the end of seventy years, that the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire, and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. 18 Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the Lord; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.   Isaiah 35-39 - The Future Glory of Zion 35 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. 7 The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Sennacherib Boasts Against the Lord 36 Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 Then the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And he stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field. 3 And Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to him. 4 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust? 5 I say you speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. Now in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me? 6 Look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,' is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar'?” ' 8 Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them! 9 How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 10 Have I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.' ” 11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?” 13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and said, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you; 15 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” ' 16 Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make peace with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?' ” 21 But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, “Do not answer him.” 22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh. Isaiah Assures Deliverance 37 And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. 2 Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3 And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.' ” 5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7 Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” ' ” Sennacherib's Threat and Hezekiah's Prayer 8 Then the Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish. 9 And the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “He has come out to make war with you.” So when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 11 Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered those whom my fathers have destroyed, Gozan and Haran and Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?' ” 14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.” The Word of the Lord Concerning Sennacherib 21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning him: “The virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind your back! 23 “Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, And lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel. 24 By your servants you have reproached the Lord, And said, ‘By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; I will cut down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I will enter its farthest height, To its fruitful forest. 25 I have dug and drunk water, And with the soles of my feet I have dried up All the brooks of defense.' 26 “Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins. 27 Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grown. 28 “But I know your dwelling place, Your going out and your coming in, And your rage against Me. 29 Because your rage against Me and your tumult Have come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back By the way which you came.” ' 30 “This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. 31 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 33 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it. 34 By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,' Says the Lord. 35 ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David's sake.' ” Sennacherib's Defeat and Death 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh. 38 Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place. Hezekiah's Life Extended 38 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' ” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. 6 I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ' 7 And this is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing which He has spoken: 8 Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down. 9 This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: 10 I said, “In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.” 11 I said, “I shall not see Yah, The Lord in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world. 12 My life span is gone, Taken from me like a shepherd's tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me. 13 I have considered until morning— Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me. 14 Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; Undertake for me! 15 “What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul. 16 O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these things is the life of my spirit; So You will restore me and make me live. 17 Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 18 For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children. 20 “The Lord was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments All the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.” 21 Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.” 22 And Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?” The Babylonian Envoys 39 At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a far country, from Babylon.” 4 And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.” 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the Lord. 7 ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' ” 8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”   Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_459QS0jW0   Duration 34:07

April 25, 2025 - Equipped 2025 - Day 2 - 2:30PM Session   Caleb leads a bible study over Isaiah 13-23.   Isaiah 13-19 - Proclamation Against Babylon 13 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. 2 “Lift up a banner on the high mountain, Raise your voice to them; Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger— Those who rejoice in My exaltation.” 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts musters The army for battle. 5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven— The Lord and His weapons of indignation, To destroy the whole land. 6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man's heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames. 9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. 11 “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the Lord of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger. 14 It shall be as the hunted gazelle, And as a sheep that no man takes up; Every man will turn to his own people, And everyone will flee to his own land. 15 Everyone who is found will be thrust through, And everyone who is captured will fall by the sword. 16 Their children also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered And their wives ravished. 17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. 18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children. 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It will never be inhabited, Nor will it be settled from generation to generation; Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there. 21 But wild beasts of the desert will lie there, And their houses will be full of owls; Ostriches will dwell there, And wild goats will caper there. 22 The hyenas will howl in their citadels, And jackals in their pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, And her days will not be prolonged.” Mercy on Jacob 14 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. 2 Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the Lord; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors. Fall of the King of Babylon 3 It shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: “How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased! 5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the rulers; 6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He who ruled the nations in anger, Is persecuted and no one hinders. 7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing. 8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, And the cedars of Lebanon, Saying, ‘Since you were cut down, No woodsman has come up against us.' 9 “Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations. 10 They all shall speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? 11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.' The Fall of Lucifer 12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. 16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?' 18 “All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house; 19 But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, Like the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot. 20 You will not be joined with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land And slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named. 21 Prepare slaughter for his children Because of the iniquity of their fathers, Lest they rise up and possess the land, And fill the face of the world with cities.” Babylon Destroyed 22 “For I will rise up against them,” says the Lord of hosts, “And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, And offspring and posterity,” says the Lord. 23 “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says the Lord of hosts. Assyria Destroyed 24 The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand: 25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders. 26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?” Philistia Destroyed 28 This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died. 29 “Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, Because the rod that struck you is broken; For out of the serpent's roots will come forth a viper, And its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent. 30 The firstborn of the poor will feed, And the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill your roots with famine, And it will slay your remnant. 31 Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved; For smoke will come from the north, And no one will be alone in his appointed times.” 32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord has founded Zion, And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it. Proclamation Against Moab 15 The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste And destroyed, Because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste And destroyed, 2 He has gone up to the temple and Dibon, To the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; On all their heads will be baldness, And every beard cut off. 3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; On the tops of their houses And in their streets Everyone will wail, weeping bitterly. 4 Heshbon and Elealeh will cry out, Their voice shall be heard as far as Jahaz; Therefore the armed soldiers of Moab will cry out; His life will be burdensome to him. 5 “My heart will cry out for Moab; His fugitives shall flee to Zoar, Like a three-year-old heifer. For by the Ascent of Luhith They will go up with weeping; For in the way of Horonaim They will raise up a cry of destruction, 6 For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, For the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green. 7 Therefore the abundance they have gained, And what they have laid up, They will carry away to the Brook of the Willows. 8 For the cry has gone all around the borders of Moab, Its wailing to Eglaim And its wailing to Beer Elim. 9 For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon, Lions upon him who escapes from Moab, And on the remnant of the land.” Moab Destroyed 16 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2 For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3 “Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes. 4 Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5 In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.” 6 We have heard of the pride of Moab— He is very proud— Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so. 7 Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken. 8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, And the vine of Sibmah; The lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, Which have reached to Jazer And wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, They are gone over the sea. 9 Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, With the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For battle cries have fallen Over your summer fruits and your harvest. 10 Gladness is taken away, And joy from the plentiful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing, Nor will there be shouting; No treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. 11 Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, And my inner being for Kir Heres. 12 And it shall come to pass, When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, That he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail. 13 This is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14 But now the Lord has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.” Proclamation Against Syria and Israel 17 The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. 2 The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. 3 The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, The kingdom from Damascus, And the remnant of Syria; They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,” Says the Lord of hosts. 4 “In that day it shall come to pass That the glory of Jacob will wane, And the fatness of his flesh grow lean. 5 It shall be as when the harvester gathers the grain, And reaps the heads with his arm; It shall be as he who gathers heads of grain In the Valley of Rephaim. 6 Yet gleaning grapes will be left in it, Like the shaking of an olive tree, Two or three olives at the top of the uppermost bough, Four or five in its most fruitful branches,” Says the Lord God of Israel. 7 In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars. 9 In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken bough And an uppermost branch, Which they left because of the children of Israel; And there will be desolation. 10 Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation, And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold, Therefore you will plant pleasant plants And set out foreign seedlings; 11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow. 12 Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! 13 The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. 14 Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us. Proclamation Against Ethiopia 18 Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, 2 Which sends ambassadors by sea, Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying, “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, To a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide.” 3 All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: When he lifts up a banner on the mountains, you see it; And when he blows a trumpet, you hear it. 4 For so the Lord said to me, “I will take My rest, And I will look from My dwelling place Like clear heat in sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” 5 For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect And the sour grape is ripening in the flower, He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks And take away and cut down the branches. 6 They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey And for the beasts of the earth; The birds of prey will summer on them, And all the beasts of the earth will winter on them. 7 In that time a present will be brought to the Lord of hosts From a people tall and smooth of skin, And from a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide— To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, To Mount Zion. Proclamation Against Egypt 19 The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. 2 “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom. 3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers. 4 And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them,” Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. 5 The waters will fail from the sea, And the river will be wasted and dried up. 6 The rivers will turn foul; The brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up; The reeds and rushes will wither. 7 The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, And everything sown by the River, Will wither, be driven away, and be no more. 8 The fishermen also will mourn; All those will lament who cast hooks into the River, And they will languish who spread nets on the waters. 9 Moreover those who work in fine flax And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed; 10 And its foundations will be broken. All who make wages will be troubled of soul. 11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh's wise counselors give foolish counsel. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings?” 12 Where are they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, And let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt. 13 The princes of Zoan have become fools; The princes of Noph are deceived; They have also deluded Egypt, Those who are the mainstay of its tribes. 14 The Lord has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; And they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit. 15 Neither will there be any work for Egypt, Which the head or tail, Palm branch or bulrush, may do. 16 In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it. 17 And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it. Egypt, Assyria, and Israel Blessed 18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. 20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”     Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJxCvbZt-v0   Duration 41:11

Dass die Governance von Schlachthöfen scheitern kann, hatte ich ja bereits in Folge #290 behandelt. Ein neuer Fall in bayerischen Schlachthöfen bestätigt meine damalige Einschätzung. In diesem Podcast beschäftige ich mich daher erneut mit der Frage, wie die Governance gestärkt werden kann. Dazu analysiere ich die von der Politik vorgebrachten Argumente und vorgeschlagenen Maßnahmen, z.B. die für die Zukunft geforderten flächendeckenden Kontrollen. Komisch, dass das bisher mit den über alle Regierungsbezirke verteilten 85 bayerischen Veterinärämtern nicht der Fall sein soll. Zusätzlich lasse ich Sie an meinen Überlegungen teilhaben, wie die Internen Kontrollverfahren und die Governance für Schlachthöfe gestärkt werden könnte. Ich wünsche Ihnen viel Spaß beim Zuhören und erfolgreiche Prüfungsprozesse!

Was tun, wenn der Schlüssel verschwunden ist? Oder wenn man im Hotel nicht weiß, wo der Lichtschalter ist? Die App OOrion will beides lösen – und noch mehr. Sie erkennt Objekte, liest Texte und hilft per Ton und Vibration bei der Orientierung. Das Ganze funktioniert offline, kostenlos und ganz ohne Datenerhebung. Neben der Nutzung im Alltag zu Hause kann OOrion auch Orte wie Hotels oder Supermärkte zugänglich machen – sofern diese erfasst wurden. In Frankreich ist das bereits bei mehreren Carrefour-Filialen der Fall. Nun möchte das Entwicklerteam auch in Deutschland aktiv werden. Ein Gespräch über Künstliche Intelligenz auf dem iPhone, Datenschutz, einfache Bedienung – und darüber, wie Barrierefreiheit mit der Kamera beginnt.

Was ist "Die Welt von …?" Wenn wir über Video- und Computerspiele sprechen, die entweder elaborat ausgestaltete eigene Welten mit Hintergrundgeschichten haben oder über solche, die ihre Welt aus Literatur, Rollenspiel oder Film borgen, nehmen wir uns zuweilen die Zeit und sprechen ausführlicher über Lore jener Welten als das in den regulären Folgen möglich wäre. Im Format Die Welt von… erforschen Rahel Schmitz und Mháire Stritter die Legenden, die Geografie, die Geschichte, die Politik von diesen fiktiven Welten. Rahel und Mháire holen sich dabei von Fall zu Fall ergänzende Expertise von ausgewiesenen Kennern und Kennerinnen der jeweiligen Welt. Diesmal kommt im Podcast neben den Sprecherinnen auch der Autor und Illustrator Andreas Schroth zu Wort, der ist auch Chefredakteur von Shadowrun. Worum geht's: Das Pen&Paper-Rollenspiel Shadowrun katapultiert uns in eine nahe Cyberpunk-Zukunft, in der die Magie erwacht ist und Metamenschen in Form von Elfen, Orks, Zwerge und Trolle entstanden sind. Es ist eine Zukunft, in der es schamanische Geister und Hacker gibt, Drachen und Megakonzerne, Cyberimplantate und Zauberei. Doch wie passen die die glitzernde Welt der Konzerne, die digitale Anarchie der Netzwerke und die wiedererstandene Magie zusammen? In dieser Episode werfen wir einen Blick auf die Mythen, Konflikte und Schauplätze der Welt von Shadowrun. Podcast-Credits: Sprecher, Redaktion: Rahel Schmitz, Mháire Stritter Audioproduktion: Fabian Langer, Christian Schmidt Titelgrafik: Paul Schmidt Intro, Outro: Nino Kerl (Ansage); Chris Hülsbeck (Musik) Wir danken Andreas Schroth für seine Bereitschaft, mit uns über Shadowrun zu sprechen. Ah, und Gunnar, der gibt eingangs einen kurzen Abriss über die Video- und Computerspiele in diesem Setting.

In the dungeons beneath Fairburn Point Ser Grace, the realms most celebrated adventurer, was forcefully bonded with an entity beyond mortal comprehension. For some such an incident would spell tragedy, for Ser Grace, however, he saw only opportunity. Now the wheels are in motion for something big, something terrifying. A thousand plans, two thousand eyes, and all requiring a personal touch.Such is the State of Grace.To find out how Ser Grace bonded with the Inky Black check out Search for A'Helm. To learn the history of Ser Grace you can listen to the Fall from Grace Trilogy: The Hag, The City, The Dungeon as well as the Tieffany and Pop campaign Return to Grace. Ser Grace last appeared in The Adventures of the Greyhill Free Company and to hear more about the happenings on at Fairburn Point you can listen to Cult & Worship and The Lonely Tower. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second episode exploring Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet by John G. Turner, we dive into Chapters 2 and 3, covering Joseph Smith's evolving accounts of the First Vision, early controversies, treasure digging escapades, and his transformation into a religious leader. We discuss historical inconsistencies, cultural influences, and Turner's critical conclusions about Smith's experiences and motivations.Based on Chapters 2 & 3 of John G. Turner's book, topics include:The First Vision's late emergence and conflicting versionsTreasure digging and supernatural claimsThe influence of revivalist cultureEarly church documents and evolving theologyTurner's secular interpretation of Joseph Smith's story___________________YouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial Media:Insta: @mormstoriesTikTok: @mormonstoriespodcastJoin the DiscordContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117

We got so many great questions from our listeners and we only have time for 2-3 in the Weekly Cultural Update. We have quite a backlog so we're devoting this episode entirely to your insightful questions. We'll cover things like How do we disciple our children? Was there animal violence before the Fall? What if education reform leaves behind kids that deserve better? What about Israel's right to the land? We hope you enjoy this episode and that you keep your questions coming!Join us for ANCHORED: A Conference for Pastors, Church Leaders and the Community June 9-11, 2025. Hosted by Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in Southern California. Learn more and register at https://www.biola.edu/anchored ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Dan and Lex are joined by Rena Yehuda Newman, their colleague at Judaism Unbound who directs the UnYeshiva Certificate Program in Unbound Judaism! This certificate program's 3rd cohort will be beginning in Fall 2025, and applications for it just opened. Together, they explore what the certificate program has achieved so far, and ways in which it will be upping its game in the near future.Apply for the UnYeshiva's Certificate Program for Unbound Judaism by heading to www.judaismunbound.com/certificate!-----------------------------Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation -- support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

It's Founder Friday! And this one is quite special. Nori and Tin Burmudez founded Corridor Flow in the Fall of 2019 with community and relationship as their central mission. I was lucky enough to work with them in their beginning stages and for the last almost six years, their commitment to their vision have shown itself in their deeply rooted and instantly resonant presence in their Lomita community.  Nori comes from the world of healthcare and nursing, and Tin from the world of engineering and construction. Mix this together with their heart for service and passion for coffee as a vehicle to inspire gathering, and you have all the right components to build what is the perfect combination of function and hospitality in Corridor Flow.  Today we explore their 6 year journey cultivating their business and growing themselves in the process. Using coffee, radical hospitality, and a steady focus on serving people, Corridor Flow has embodied so many of the things that make a coffee shop more than just a sum of its parts. Something that opens doors for many possibilities through he flow of people and coffee.  Please enjoy this wonderful Founder Friday episode!  Links:  Instagram: @corridor_flow www.corridorflow.com   Related episodes:

Die Gefahr im Lötschental ist alles andere als gebannt. Der Schuttkegel, unter dem das Walliser Dorf Blatten begraben liegt, staut das Wasser des Flusses Lonza. Im schlimmsten Fall droht eine Flutwelle. Darauf bereiten sich die Gemeinden weiter flussabwärts im Rhonetal vor. Ausserdem: China, Russland und nun auch die USA wollen die Welt neu ordnen, ganz nach ihrem Gusto. Das missfällt vielen kleineren und mittleren Staaten in Asien und Europa sehr. Sie nähern sich an, um gemeinsam der Herausforderung zu trotzen. Dennoch hat die asiatisch-europäische Annäherung Grenzen.

We look at The CEO: The Rise and Fall of Britain's Captains of Industry, coming out in June 2025. See mor about the book here. The CEO: The Rise and Fall of Britain's Captains of Industry reviewed In many ways this book is a bit of a horror show in terms of management for British industries. The authors do a good job of taking us through a variety of types of leader. This is informative and well written, however the constant theme seems to be, regardless of their origin or training, they generally still ended up making either a real mess of it all, or at least not performing optimally. Sadly, as the authors also clearly point out, the only constant is the increasingly dizzy rise of the renumeration packages for this motley crew of incompetents. The approach seems to get ever shorter and shorter in terms of time frames and KPIs to aim for. To compensate for their likely impending dismissal, the renumeration packages are ever more ludicrous and higher and higher multiples of the average working person's salary. This book is well written and researched, but it also became ever more depressing as you were reminded of the growing rogues gallery of poorly performing, but increasingly well paid CEOs that have had to be endured in many British companies. It is a challenging time when competence, ability or ethical integrity seem to be less and less in demand for leading companies or even countries. Here's hoping that this book helps to at least raise the level of debate even while we have to endure as series of self serving leaders. More about the authors Michael Aldous is a business historian and Senior Lecturer at Queen's Business School, Queen's University Belfast. He is a founder and co-director of the Long Run Institute (LRI), which uses historical analysis to help senior executives and policy makers make better decisions. John D. Turner is Professor of Finance and Financial History, Queen's Business School, Queen's University Belfast, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. His previous Cambridge University Press book Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles (2021) was named an Economics Book of the Year by the Financial Times. More about The CEO After analysing 1500 CEOs, what does a good one look like? High cognitive ability; strong organisational and interpersonal skills; clear values and personal purpose; has judgement from career and life experience (so aged 50 or over) History reveals why CEOs are fat cats this study of Britain's corporate history reveals that corporate fat cats emerged because of the emasculation of private sector trade unions and changing social norms about pay inequality. We need CEOs need to move slow and build things (not move fast and break things) By the 1970s, CEOs began getting sacked in ever greater numbers. By this century, over 40% of CEOs were dismissed either for poor performance or because their companies were taken over; tenures fell too from an average of 10 years to under six. The trend of CEOs spending much less time in the role can be traced back to deregulation and privatization policies (of Thatcher era) but also to the financialization of companies and the wider economy. So, how can CEOs make meaningful change? Who makes it to the top? Differing pathways influenced how CEOs historically operated and are perceived. They have been (in historical order): Aristocratic amateurs; Families and founders; Managers; Technocrats It was not until 1997 that Marjorie Scardino became the first woman and also the first mother to become CEO of a FTSE 100 company. Across the century, women have worked to overturn deeply embedded social and cultural stereotypes. Back at the beginning of the twentieth century, even though women made up nearly half of the shareholders in some companies, shareholder voting registers simply de-platformed them from the list of those shareholders who held the qualifying number of shares to almost automatically stand as a director. Being a director was,...

Richtig gute alte Point-and-Click-Adventures sind derzeit rar. Umso schöner, dass Raw Fury eine Fortsetzung zu Kathy Rain veröffentlicht. Im Oldschool-Pixellook scheint Kathy nun deutlich erwachsener zu sein und löst einen mysteriösen Fall, was mir ausgesprochen gut gefällt. Die Story und die englischen Sprecher vermitteln die spannende Geschichte hervorragend, und die Rätsel sind ansprechend und vielseitig. Hier müssen tatsächlich, ähnlich wie in alten Textadventures, ganze Wörter eingetippt werden. Technisch wären heutzutage andere Maßstäbe gesetzt, aber Kathy Rain 2 braucht sich nicht hinter den großen Namen zu verstecken. Kathy Rain 2 setzt die Stärken des Originals nahtlos fort. Die ausgefeilte Story und die überzeugende englische Sprachausgabe ziehen einen tief in Kathys neuen Fall hinein. Die cleveren Rätsel fordern das Gehirn, ohne unfair zu sein – die Rückkehr zu Texteingaben ist ein charmanter Verweis auf die Wurzeln des Genres. Trotz Retro-Looks erzeugt das Spiel eine dichte, spannende Atmosphäre, die man oft vermisst. Es ist ein Beweis, dass eine fesselnde Geschichte und gutes Gameplay wichtiger sind als hochauflösende Grafiken. Für Liebhaber klassischer Adventures ist Kathy Rain 2 ein klares Highlight, das beweist, dass gute Fortsetzungen das Original sogar übertreffen können. Es ist eine gelungene Rückkehr zu den Wurzeln des Genres, die sowohl Nostalgiker als auch neue Fans begeistern wird.

The Fall of Brett Favre is all about Jenn Sterger, Stefon Diggs loves the ladies, WNBA concludes racism investigation, Ray J flips to #FreeDiddy, and the worst celebrity apologies of all time. Pablo Torre continues to break news on the Bill Belichick/Jordon Hudson drama. French President Emmanuel Macron is being abused by his elderly teacher-wife. Some people are saying Brigitte Macron is a man. Untold: The Fall of Favre is basically the Jenn Sterger received a dick pic story. Congrats to Ryan and his dad for winning the Hall Financial prize last month. RIP Rick Derringer. Check out his mad drummer as they played “Hang On Sloopy” at Ohio Stadium. WNBA finds no racism against Angel Reese. A Nazi was kicked out of a punk rock concert. Stefon Diggs is partying it up with chicks while his girlfriend Cardi B was on the same boat. DJ Akademiks calls him out for banging everything. The AMA's actually pulled quite an audience. J-Lo took shots from the comment sections due to her dancing medley. Mission Impossible lost out to Lilo & Stitch. Diddy's lawyers tried (and failed) to toss the case today. Cassie Ventura had her baby today. Ray J gave an interview to Piers Morgan and is totally Team Diddy. We roll through the worst apologies possibly ever. Hailey Bieber made a lot of money today by selling out. Kids love face scrubs, creams and skin care. Chris Brown is out on bail and on a world tour. San Francisco is banning homework and both the left and right are pissed about it. The Obama's reunited! Game Stop bought 4,710 Bitcoin. Crypto crimes are on the rise. Karl Hamburger is making the rounds. Charlie LeDuff will be on Normal World next. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley and BranDon).

Sleep better and Stress Less— with Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. We hope this biblical sleep meditation, narrated by Ben Little, helps your body relax and your mind rest on the truth found in scripture. Fall asleep resting peacefully in the arms of the God of Miracles - the God who provides. He created you and loves you more than you can imagine. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for better sleep is right here: https://abide.com/peaceDiscover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us

Dr. Dan interviews Dr. Avriel Epps, a dynamic scholar, author, and strategist whose work sits at the crossroads of transformative justice and artificial intelligence. With a PhD in Human Development and a masters in Data Science from Harvard University, Dr. Epps brings a fresh and critical perspective to conversations about technology, equity, and social justice. On today's episode, Dr. Dan and Dr. Epps explore her work around how bias in predictive technologies affects racial, gender, and sociopolitical identity development. She aims to understand the complex ways that algorithm design and computer-mediated social expectations—often communicated through artificial intelligence systems—impact the beliefs, behaviors, and health of developing humans. On today's episode, listeners will hear explanations and examples about how AI can sometimes reinforce unfairness. Dr. Dan and Dr. Epps urge us to be part of the solution by demanding technology that works for everyone, not just a few. Dr. Avriel Epps is a former child actor and an R&B artist turned algorithmic justice expert. Her work shows us that AI is not neutral, reminds us algorithmic bias impacts are real, and urges us to question technology.  In the Fall of 2025, she will begin her tenure as Assistant Professor of Fair and Responsible Data Science at Rutgers University. For more information www.avrielepps.com and follow @kingavriel on Instagram. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let's make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feeling overwhelmed in your creative business? In this solo episode, Ekaterina Popova (Kat) walks you through how to do a Creative Business Audit—a practical process to clarify what's working, where your time and energy are going, and how to boost your profit without burning out. Whether you're an artist, coach, designer, or creative founder—this episode will help you reset your priorities and build a business that actually supports your life and art.  

Could having less actually give you more time, more clarity and more joy? Whitney sits down with Stephanie Seferian, host of The Sustainable Minimalists podcast and author of Sustainable Minimalism. During their conversation, Stephanie opens up about how embracing sustainable minimalism has helped her reclaim her peace, time, and clarity in a world that demands more and more from us. She walks us through how choosing less became her gateway to having more purpose and being more present, especially after having children.   Stephanie talks about the invisible weight of clutter, which includes the mental load, financial strains, and the endless to-do lists that come with having too much. She explains the dopamine hit we get when shopping and the Diderot Effect, and offers practical tools and mindset shifts for anyone feeling stuck in this cycle of always wanting more.   If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the need to have more or are not sure how to begin simplifying your life, Stephanie's story will inspire you to pause and reassess. Tune in for a conversation that blends soulful insight with actionable steps toward a more grounded, intentional life.   Here's what you can look forward to in this episode: The ability to have space in our lives to think clearly and have our minds wander is a luxury How Stephanie discovered minimalism after having children The hidden cost of clutter Making the shift toward intentional living The addictive nature of shopping and the Diderot Effect Making a conscious choice to choose less Choosing a more sustainable way of living Reflection question to ponder:  Do I have enough?   **Calling Her In: **10 Soulful Journaling Prompts to Connect with your Future Self Join the waitlist for the next round of Season to Shift starting Fall 2025   Connect with Whitney: Instagram l Website l 5 Days to Less Stress, More Satisfaction l Tend to Your Soul Toolkit l Electric Ideas Podcast   Connect with Stephanie: Instagram | Website | Book: Sustainable Minimalism | Podcast

Jen and Frank chat with Natalie and Hannah, aka The Stride Sisters, about their podcast, RUNDisney, and maybe meeting up this Fall!  Get a vacation quote from Vasilia at ET Family Travel today!  *** Dillo's Diz 55 Gerard St. #987. Huntington, NY 11743 Affiliate Links Music & Themes produced by Matt Harvey. Feedspot's Top 25 Siblings Podcasts You Must Follow AND Top 100 Disney Podcasts You Must Follow. ONE STOP SHOP ALL THE @DillosDiz LINKS! DIllo's Diz Resort Guests: Theme Park Rob, Jeffers, Skipper Bob, Nathaniel Hardy, Louis and Dr. Val of #FigmentsInTime, Lee Taylor, Maz, Troy with the Disney Assembled Podcast, Judy Van Cleef, Ryan Alexander, PixieDustPhD, Tony Orgelfinger, Holly Maddock, Lexi Andrea, Adam Elmers, DCLDuo, Disney Assembled Question or Comment? We LOVE interacting with listeners! FOLLOW Dillo's Diz on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dillosdiz/ FOLLOW Dillo's Diz on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/dillosdiz FOLLOW Dillo's Diz on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/dillosdiz

Im Sommer 1969 erlebt die Kleinstadt Lake Worth in Texas eine Welle der Angst: Ein über zwei Meter großes Wesen mit Ziegenkopf soll nachts aus dem Wasser steigen, Autoreifen werfen und verliebte Paare in der „Lovers Lane“ angreifen. Die Polizei ermittelt. Doch je mehr Zeugen sich melden, desto rätselhafter wird der Fall. War alles nur ein Scherz? Oder lauert in den Schatten des Sees etwas, das wir besser nicht wecken sollten? --- Content Hinweis --- In dieser Folge sprechen wir über paranormale Phänomene und rätselhafte Todesfälle. Wenn du dich mit diesen Themen nicht wohlfühlst, hör dir die Folge bitte nicht alleine an. --- Links --- Verschiedene Darstellungen des Ziegenmannes: https://t1p.de/i88et https://t1p.de/sde51 https://t1p.de/l3n8k Polaroid eines Monsters (Texas Bigfoot Research Center, Foto von Allen): https://t1p.de/s39fi --- Werbepartner [Werbung] --- Rabattcodes und Links von unseren Werbepartnern findet ihr unter https://linktr.ee/schwarzeakte --- Social Media & Kontakt --- Instagram: @schwarzeakte YouTube: @SchwarzeAkte TikTok: @schwarzeakte Mail: schwarzeakte@julep.de Website: www.schwarzeakte.de --- Credits --- Hosts: Anne Luckmann & Patrick Strobusch Redaktion: Silva Hanekamp Intro und Trenner gesprochen von: Pia-Rhona Saxe Producer & Schnitt: Falko Schulte Eine Produktion der Julep Studios Du möchtest Werbung in der Schwarzen Akte schalten? Unsere Kolleg:innen von Julep helfen dir gerne weiter: www.julep.de/advertiser Impressum: www.julep.de/impressum [Wir übernehmen keine Haftung für die Inhalte externer Links.]

273: “This is a together kind of thing. I say that 800 times a day and yet here I was doing it alone. And, at the time I had a team and, I had backend support, but not mojo support and not strategy support.” - Abbi Miller If you've ever wondered why business advice feels like it was made for childless tech bros… spoiler alert: it probably was. In this episode, Chelsea and WorkWomb founder Abbi Miller get real about building businesses that actually fit your life — kids, naps, messy buns full of dry shampoo and all. Episode themes:The systems we operate in weren't built with women in mind; let's stop twisting ourselves to fit them.Motherhood cracked me open in ways that made me rethink everything about how I work.If you build your business without considering your energy, you're building a burnout machine.I wasn't looking for another productivity hack — I needed a whole new rhythm.Your business should work with your body, not against it.This episode is your friendly reminder to stop trying to squeeze your life into someone else's business blueprint. Take a breath, trust your rhythm, and remember: building your OWN business YOUR way isn't selfish; it's the revolution we need (now more than ever).Connect with Abbi:Workwomb.comThe Workwomb PodcastWorkwomb InstagramBreak Your Biz Training (How to take a sabbatical / mat leave) - Code CHELSEA gets you 50% off!FREE Monday Magic Method™ (Notion & PDF Template for cycle-syncing & time batching)FREE Tech & To-dos Training (26:45 is when I mention how I label share & inbox organize!)Free 30-min consult with Abbi!Connect with Chelsea:

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 19 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, father-son duo, Scott and Bode Campbell, are back to take a look at their Junior Tennis Journey as Bode prepares to play college tennis in the Fall.Scott has been a long-time follower of ParentingAces! This is not his and Bode's first time to appear on our podcast. They were here a little over a year ago sharing their perspective on the journey - you can find that podcast at https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/a-parent-player-perspective-on-parentingaces-ft-scott-bode-campbell/.Now that Bode is graduating high school and heading into his first year as a College Tennis Student-Athlete at Xavier University in Ohio, they asked if they could share some of the challenges and solutions they faced with the help of our platform. Of course, I said yes!You will hear from them both about Bode's college recruiting process and how he came to choose Xavier, dealing with injury last summer, Bode's high school tennis experience, working through some of the mental aspects of the game utilitizing tools from Apeak and 7ShotTennis, and how parents can work together to ensure a more positive experience for their children.If you'd like to reach out to Scott directly, he's always willing to help! His email is sccsearch@msn.com. You can find both Scott and Bode on Instagram as well. Scott is https://www.instagram.com/scottcoulter5/ and Bode is https://www.instagram.com/bodecampbell_tennis/.As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠.If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo'd merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop.CREDITSIntro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNEAudio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

In this episode, Dr. RJ gives parents ideas on how to help their teenagers have a productive summer. There are certain experiences that will hinder the child's future success. Parents want to avoid those this summer. Conversely, there are activities that teenagers can do that will enhance their success in the Fall. Teenagers should do those this summer. If you are interested in Dr. RJ's life coaching program for the summer, schedule a consultation at www.drrjjackson.com/coaching

We're back again to review a classic album that we previously knew very little about. This time around it's David Bowie's “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.” How did hosts E and Tank find their first experience with Bowie? Watch and find out!What album have you just never got around to listening to? Let us know in the comments. Listen to “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” for yourself.Watch previous episodes. Please like/follow/subscribe to The Extended Play Podcast.

How did cholesterol denialism go from reasonable skepticism to pseudoscience? It's a question that needs to be asked with Ahseem Malhotra, who has denied the effectiveness of both statins and the covid-19 vaccines, being named chief medical advisor to MAHA. In this special collaborative episode with the Unbiased Science podcast, Dr. Chris Labos speaks with Drs. Jessica Steier and Sarah Scheinman on why it is so hard for the cholesterol skeptics of the past to change their minds.   Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you! http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/ https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.   Editor:    Robyn Flynn Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos Chris' book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer   Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information. References: 1) https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2024/02/how-cholesterol-denialism-went-from-reasonable-skepticism-to-pseudoscience/

Contact us. We'd love to serve youGive financially to support the work of helping pastors thriveApply to stay at The Shepherd's House this Fall!Find out more information about the Advancing the Church Conference. Write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Resources(01:36) Setting up the conversation and biblical foundation (07:36) The importance of the right balance of plurality(09:55) What do deacons do? (15:29) How [not] to find deacons(20:08) How to find deacons(22:15) Qualifications of deacons(23:17) Congregational ways to find faithful deacons(26:25) When you have no qualified deacons (27:38) Can women be deacons?(33:42) Final words and prayer

If you have any questions or comments, send Pastor John a text.Pastor John Bornschein and Dr. Steve Ford discuss the rise and fall of the kingdoms of men that is revealed in a dream to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2. Support the showProduced by Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley church. Learn more at www.CalvaryFountain.com

(00:00) Gary Tanguay, former anchor now actor and author of ‘the Arm and the Fall’ joins Toucher & Hardy to talk about his sweet new tattoo! (21:42) Aaron Rodgers is open to retiring as a member of the Packers, but only under one condition… (34:51) ‘American Sweetheart’ Mary Lou Retton has herself in some HOT WATER! CONNECT WITH TOUCHER & HARDY: linktr.ee/ToucherandHardy For the latest updates, visit the show page on 985thesportshub.com. Follow 98.5 The Sports Hub on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Watch the show every morning on YouTube, and subscribe to stay up-to-date with all the best moments from Boston’s home for sports!

Seth and Sean give their thoughts on the Untold: the Fall of Favre documentary on Netflix and power rank the scumbags in it by how big of a scumbag they were.

Seth and Sean dive into what they and Matt Kawahara of the Chronicle learned about the Astros over the last 17 games, review the Untold: the Fall of Favre documentary and power rank the scumbags from it, and go through the day's Headlines.

Seth and Sean dive into what they and Matt Kawahara of the Chronicle learned about the Astros over the last 17 games, review the Untold: the Fall of Favre documentary and power rank the scumbags from it, go through the day's Headlines, discuss Nico Collins' odds to reach 1,250 yards this season, what kind of extension CJ Stroud may be in line for with the Texans, react to Rafael Stone doubling down on team continuity over brining in superstars, those being petty and get petty themselves in the PettyCast, assess if the Astros can make hay in the standings over the next 25 games, dive into what the 16 team college football playoff would look like, discuss what an extension for CJ Stroud may look like when the time comes, dive into what Ben Solak says is a big question mark on the depth chart for the Texans, and look forward to Hunter Brown's bounceback start tonight against the A's.

I was hungry for language. And stories. And how to tell our stories. That's what this book gave me. But let's not make a Bible out of it.Today we meet Kris Kleindienst and we're talking about the queer book that saved her life: Diving Into The Wreck by Adrienne Rich.Kris is a 72-year old queer lesbian writer, bookseller, and activist. She owns Left Bank Books, a 56-year old progressive bookstore in St. Louis, Missouri. Kris edited a collection of activist essays titled This Is What Lesbian Looks Like: Dyke Activists Take on The 21st Century, published by Firebrand Press and winner of a Lambda Literary Award. She was a gold medal winning and 4-time participant in The Gay Games (also the co-founder of Team St. Louis). She has won multiple awards locally, regionally and nationally for my work with Left Bank Books. She is at work on a memoir about growing up in the 50s-60s with a Lesbian mother. Fun fact: She once got high with Armistead Maupin.Diving into the Wreck: Poems 1971–1972 was Adrienne Rich's seventh book of poetry, an anthology of poems described as provocative and which co-won the 1974 National Book Award for Poetry with Allen Ginsberg's The Fall of America. Adrienne Rich (1929-2012) was an award-winning poet and essayist.Special Limited SeriesThis episode is part of a special limited series of episodes featuring only guests who are owners or staff at LGBTQ bookstores. Airing April-June 2025, these episodes will feature six bookstores across the United States and United Kingdom.Today's guest owns Left Bank Books. Opened in 1969 by a group of graduate students at Washington University who wanted to create a place where one could find all kinds of literature, Left Bank Books is the oldest and largest independently-owned full-line bookstore in St. Louis, Missouri. Open seven days a week, Left Bank Books offers a full-line of new and used books, gifts, cards, toys and services. Learn more and get shopping: left-bank.comConnect with Kriswebsite: left-bank.comfacebook: facebook.com/kleindienstBecome an Associate Producer!Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbookCreditsHost/Founder: John Parker (learn more about my name change)Executive Producer: Jim PoundsAssociate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean SmithPatreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, and Gary Nygaard.Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy EricksonQuatrefoil LibraryQuatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can't buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1Join us in helping Lambda Literary raise $20k for The Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices to ensure all writers can attend. Donate here: http://bit.ly/3RjW51aSupport the show

This week… Is a glorious week, Seamo made his return to The Stu! Andy joined the fellas virtually again and they dove deep into Brewers, Bucks, Packers, Olympic Flag Football, the Fall of Favre documentary, and some long term NFL bets were made! Kärel and Andy both tried to spell a word but the Dictionary didn't bat an eye. 188 was filled with laughs, burps, jokes and swearing! Tune in to tune out the world with HUA! But before any of the nonsense, they saved the best for first, with the Beer of the Week! During the BOW the fellas rate and review a new beer. They discuss the history of the brewery and examine what's in the beer they're drinking. Then, they break down the beer by its drinkability, the probability they'd drink it again, its chugability, and the can's attractability. Find out if Josephsbrau Summer Brew passed the HUA test.Beer of the Week: 05:50 - 48:15Sports World News: 48:20 - 02:47:15Kärel v.s. The Dictionary: 02:49:25 - 02:58:00BOW: Josephsbrau, Summer BrewHUA 188 Drinking game: everytime Seamus talks, drink! Good luck ;)Big shout out to the talented Adrian Pell! He created the intro and outro music for us. Check him out on IG: @AdrianPellMusicHold Us Accountable is on Patreon! Just search, ‘Hold Us Accountable.' We're just trying to earn us some beer money, nothing more nothing less! Join for just $1 a month! https://patreon.com/HoldUsAccountable920?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, rate and review the show, it helps us out a lot!Check out and subscribe to our YouTube Channel!⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRVYu7zopmxja1RsmVpOucQ/featur⁠We're live on Twitch, check out our page!⁠https://www.twitch.tv/holdusaccountable⁠Find us on X:⁠https://twitter.com/hua_pod?s=11&t=DqKX0s9j1XzF2xFF3dBlDA⁠If you want to let us know what you think of the show, or have an idea for the show, you can DM us on Facebook or Instagram @HoldUsAccountable

Eine 13-köpfige Famile aus Syrien ist in Wien auf Sozialhilfe angewiesen. Aufgrund der Größe der Familie steigt der Betrag auf insgesamt 9000 Euro. Die FPÖ ortet einen Skandal der Sonderklasse, und auch die Bundesregierung sieht Handlungsbedarf. Was hinter dem Fall steckt und wie gerecht das Sozialsystem wirklich ist, darüber spricht DER STANDARD mit Alexander Pollak, Sprecher von SOS Mitmensch.

In this episode, we conclude season 16 by remembering with gratitude all the things God has done and is doing in our lives. We reflect on the importance of allowing our hearts to be drawn into beauty in the midst of both joy and sorrow. We also talk about maturity vs self reliance, allowing ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, and the relationship between trust and receptivity. Thank you dear friends for journeying with us this season! You will be in our prayers this summer and we are excited about what's in store this Fall!   Heather's One Thing - All to Bless You and Low (Live) by Kory Miller  Sister Miriam's One Thing - Magdala Grove Michelle's One Thing - I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St. Thérèse of Lisieux by Fr. Jean Delaby   Journal Questions: Pause and take a moment to notice the surrounding beauty. What do I notice? How might the Lord be speaking to me through this beauty? Am I perplexed by the mystery of how God is working in my life? How might He be working all things for good in this season? How do I keep my union with the Lord? What is coming against that right now? In my suffering and darkness, where do I turn my face? Am I allowing myself to be led or am I trying to control? What is the Lord inviting me to do this summer?   Discussion Questions: Are you in a season where it is difficult to be grateful? Why or why not? In the midst of regular life, what is taking you away from union with God? How have you encountered the love of God in your life? God is always doing something new. How can you breathe in new hope? What are you looking forward to this summer?    Quote to Ponder: “To limit your desires and your hopes is to misunderstand God's infinite goodness!” (St. Therese of Lisieux) Scripture for Lectio: “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles…” (Psalm 105:5)   Sponsor - House of Joppa: We're proud to be sponsored by House of Joppa, a family-owned Catholic shop where modern design meets timeless tradition. From stunning Catholic jewelry to sacred art and décor, everything they offer is crafted to reflect the beauty of our faith. Explore their full collection at houseofjoppa.com   Timestamps:  00:00 - House of Joppa 01:00 - Intro 01:51 - Welcome 04:18 - What's Been on Our Minds 09:35 - Union with God 10:43 - Year of Hope 13:32 - Abiding  17:30 - Maturing of Love 19:20 - Turning to God 22:04 - Favorite Moments from Season 16 26:31 - What We are Looking Forward to this Summer 33:20 - Final Thoughts 34:59 - One Things

Luke and Oli review AEW Double or Nothing 2025!Timestamps:0:55 - Start3:05 - Adam Page vs. Will Ospreay20:42 - OmegaChats26:21 - Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay & Harley Cameron29:27 - Eight Man Tag Team Match30:25 - Mercedes Mone vs. Jamie Hayter32:32 - FTR v. Daniel Garcia & Nigel McGuinness35:44 - Mark Briscoe v. Ricochet40:02 - The Hurt Syndicate v. The Sons of Texas42:40 - Speedball v. Okada44:17 - Toni Storm v. Mina Shirakawa47:32 - Anarchy In The Arena1:01:57 - Paragon v. The Don Callis Family1:04:16 - Overall rating1:05:47 - PledgeHammers1:07:10 - OmegaChatsWWE Star Wins TNA World Title! INSANE AEW Match! AEW Double or Nothing 2025 Review!HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WWE ATTITUDE ERA? | Brain BustersNexus WWE Debut Review! The Rise and Fall of NexusCompete against us in https://wrestletalk.com/league/More wrestling news on https://wrestletalk.com/Get exclusive WrestleTalk content: https://www.patreon.com/wrestletalkUnlock the secrets to working in professional wrestling, sign up to https://www.wrestlingmasterclass.com/Listen to the daily WrestleTalk News: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hJ8XNKeUiFN3Ny3pjdTVTJoin the WrestleTalk WhatsApp Channel for news, video releases and behind the scenes content: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWjRis9WtC3S0zSQy0dTheme: Jordan Olds from Two Minutes To Late NightBuy our new WrestleTalk merchandise hereWrestleTalk In The Office Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2sprWyZxCcqhtbzUuKfd0U?si=txG3hFYjSNOlGYpcDipx2gWrestleTalk Discover Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/00I22mwo6wwMKdBh6Y8Gtf?si=geesBbqiSuaNkW6SVdn3eQSubscribe to partsFUNknown hereSubscribe to CutScene hereSubscribe to CTRL Freaks hereWatch the video version of the WrestleTalk Podcast here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  Last time we spoke about the Xi'an Incident. In December 1936, tensions in China erupted as Nationalist General Chiang Kai-shek faced a revolt led by his commanders, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng. Disillusioned by Chiang's focus on battling communists instead of the Japanese invaders, the generals swiftly captured him in a coup. Confined in Xi'an, Chiang initially resisted their demands for a united front against Japan but eventually engaged in negotiation with Zhang and the Chinese Communist Party. As public sentiment shifted against him, Chiang's predicament led to urgent discussions, culminating in an unexpected alliance with the communists. This pact aimed to consolidate Chinese resistance against Japanese aggression, marking a critical turning point in the Second Sino-Japanese War. By December 26, Chiang was released, and this uneasy collaboration set the stage for a more unified front against a common enemy, though underlying tensions remained between the factions.   #152 China Prepares for War 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. Before we jump into the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945, which I honestly have no idea how long will take us, I thought it would be a good idea to dedicate two episodes to how both China and Japan prepared themselves for war.  Going all the way back to the 1910s, Chinese intellectuals began to view an outright conflict between Japan and China was inevitable. In the discussions about China's strategic options, Jiang Fangzhen pioneered a strategy of protracted warfare, a concept that would later shape China's approach during the Sino-Japanese War. Having studied in Japan during his youth, Jiang developed a keen understanding of the Japanese government and military. As early as 1917, he predicted that China and Japan would become embroiled in a long-term conflict, with the battleground likely to be west of the Peiping–Wuhan and Guangzhou–Wuhan railways. In his work titled "Guofang Lun" or “On National Defense”, Jiang reiterated the importance of protracted warfare as a means to thwart Japan's aspirations for a swift victory. He argued that China should leverage its vast population and extensive territory to extend the conflict, gradually wearing down Japanese strength and turning the situation to its advantage. Jiang recommended that China not focus on defending its coastal regions but instead confront the enemy west of the Peking–Wuhan Railway.   Chiang Kai-shek would eventually come to share Jiang's belief that “the longer the war drags on, the more advantageous it will be for China.” Despite significant public criticism, both the Nationalist government and General Zhang Xueliang, decided against military resistance when Japan invaded Manchuria in September 1931 and attacked Shanghai in 1932. Chiang was particularly hesitant to engage Japan directly, as he was also dealing with a Communist insurgency in central China. He feared that Chinese forces would suffer quick defeat, predicting that Japan would capture key coastal areas and critical infrastructure within just three days, crippling China by dismantling its military and economic lifelines. Following the invasion of North China Chiang was forced to adopt a firmer stance. The Nationalist government proposed a dual strategy of pursuing peace and security while simultaneously preparing for war. If peace proved impossible, China would mobilize its resources for ultimate victory through prolonged conflict. This approach was formalized in the National Defense Plan, which China adopted by prioritizing protracted warfare as its core strategy. After the Sino-Japanese clash in Shanghai on January 28, 1932, the Military Affairs Commission devised a plan that divided China into four defense areas along with a preparation area. While some troops were assigned local security, commanders were directed to concentrate their remaining forces for potential confrontations with Japan. That year, the Military Affairs Commission issued General Defense Guidelines that outlined two strategic responses to a potential Japanese invasion. The first, conservative approach focused on maintaining key positions and utilizing protracted warfare to impede the enemy. The second strategy advocated for decisive battles in key regions to thwart Japan's ambitions and protect China's territorial integrity, prioritizing disengagement from Japanese forces along the Yangtze River and coastline. In August 1935, German military adviser General Alexander von Falkenhausen provided recommendations to Chiang Kai-shek based on his predictions of Japanese advance routes into China. He identified three main routes: one from northern Hebei to Zhengzhou, the second from Shandong toward Xuzhou, and the third crossing the Yangtze River to Nanjing and onwards to Wuhan. He suggested treating the Yangtze River as the primary combat zone and highlighted Sichuan as a possible retreat area. Taking all of this into consideration. in 1936, a draft of a new National Defense Plan divided the country into four zones: a war zone, a defense zone, an internal security zone, and a preparation area. The war zone encompassed ten provinces and established strategies for retreating to predetermined defensive positions when necessary, with Sichuan designated as the main base for the war. In January 1937, the Chinese General Staff Department introduced its annual War Plan, outlining three possible military conflict regions between China and Japan. It proposed two main strategies: Proposal A emphasized sustained combat and retreat to fortified positions if the situation became unfavorable, aiming to eventually go on the offensive against Japan. Proposal B focused on repelling Japanese invasions along the coast and from the north, prioritizing counter offensives against Japanese units stationed near key locations. To prepare, the NRA completed several critical projects outlined in its plans, establishing military supply depots in Nanjing, Bengbu, Xinyang, Huayin, Nanchang, and Wuchang to manage logistics for supplies across various strategic railways. These depots were equipped to sustain the military, with ample ammunition and provisions, including 60 million rounds of small-arms ammunition and food for hundreds of thousands. Despite these preparations, not all projects were completed by the time war broke out in July 1937. In contrast to the Japanese military's tactics, Chinese forces prioritized defensive strategies. For example, at the Mount Lushan Military Officer Training Camp in July 1934, Chiang Kai-shek outlined four possible approaches against Japan, favoring a defense-as-offense strategy. Other options included building fortifications, tenaciously defending key positions, and employing guerrilla warfare through irregular forces to constrain enemy advances. Chiang stressed the importance of national mobilization for the war effort.  There was a significant disparity in equipment between the Japanese and Chinese armies. To give you an idea, each Japanese division included a mechanized group featuring thirty-nine light military vehicles and 21 light armored cars, supplemented by 6,000–7,000 horses, 200–300 automobiles, and specialized troops such as poison gas teams. In contrast, Nationalist divisions lacked any of these capabilities, a typical nationalist division theoretically had an armored regiment, but this unit was equipped with fewer than 72 armored vehicles. Another major weakness of the Nationalist forces was their insufficient artillery. In 1936, a division was officially assigned one artillery battalion, which was divided into three batteries totaling twelve guns. It also included a mechanized cannon company with four direct-fire weapons. By comparison, a Japanese division boasted four infantry regiments and one mountain artillery or field artillery regiment, with each artillery regiment comprising three field artillery battalions and one howitzer battalion. The infantry regiment itself included a mountain artillery section with four mountain guns, while the infantry battalion had one Type 70 mountain gun section with two guns. In total, a Japanese division possessed sixty-four artillery pieces of various calibers, four times the number of a Chinese division and of significantly higher quality. In reality, in 1936, twelve of the twenty elite Chinese “reformed divisions” still lacked artillery battalions. The ordnance available in the “reformed divisions” mostly consisted of the outdated Type 60 mountain gun. Nationwide, very few of the 200 divisions were equipped with any artillery, and those that did often used obsolete field artillery pieces or mountain artillery provided to local forces. Some units even relied on trench mortars as a makeshift solution. The artillery weapons came from various countries, but they frequently lacked necessary observation and signal components, and were often low on ammunition. The majority of mountain guns and field artillery were of the Type 75, which, while capable of providing fire support, had limited range and inflicted minimal damage. To give you an idea of the striking inadequacy of the Chinese artillery, during the Shanghai fighting in 1937, the mountain artillery of the Guangxi 21st Army Group could only reach targets within 1,200 yards, while Japanese field artillery had an effective range of 8,000 yards. Chinese-made mountain artillery suffered due to inferior steel-making technology; the gun shields were constructed from low-quality steel, and the barrels often overheated after firing just a few rounds, increasing the risk of explosions. Additionally, the equipment of local forces varied greatly in quality. In fact, some local units had superior equipment compared to Nationalist units. For example, before the Sino-Japanese War, troops from Yunnan were equipped with French antitank guns and heavy machine guns, which were better than the German water-cooled machine guns used by the Nationalist forces. However, the majority of local troops relied on inferior equipment; the 122nd Division under Wang Mingzhang from Sichuan, noted for its brave defense of Tengxian County during the Xuzhou Battle, was armed with locally produced light and heavy machine guns that frequently malfunctioned, and their Type 79 rifles, also made in Sichuan, were often outdated, with some dating back to the Qing Dynasty. These weapons had limited range and sometimes malfunctioned after fewer than one hundred rounds. Now before the war, both Nationalist and local forces acquired weaponry from diverse foreign and domestic sources. Even domestically produced weapons lacked standardization, with those made in Hanyang and Manchuria differing in design and specifications. Arms manufactured in Germany, France, Russia, Japan, and Italy were similarly inconsistent. Consequently, even within a single unit, the lack of uniformity created significant logistical challenges, undermining combat effectiveness, particularly in the early stages of the war. Despite Nationalist ordnance factories producing over three million rounds of small-arms ammunition daily, the incompatibility of ammunition and weapons diminished the usable quantity of ammunition. Chinese communications infrastructure was inadequate. In the Nationalist army, signal units were integrated into engineering units, leading to low-quality radio communications. In emergencies, telegrams could remain undelivered for days, and orders often had to be dispatched via postal services. By 1937, the entire country boasted only 3,000 military vehicles, necessitating heavy reliance on horses and mules for transport. To effectively equip twenty Nationalist divisions, 10,647 horses and 20,688 mules were needed, but by the end of 1935, only 6,206 horses and 4,351 mules were available. A statistic from 1936 indicated a 5 percent mortality rate among military horses, with some units experiencing a rate as high as 10 percent. The distribution of weaponry led to disputes during army reorganization efforts following the Northern Expedition. Although Chiang Kai-shek's forces were part of the regular army, the quality of their equipment varied significantly. Domestic production of weapons was limited, and imports could not close the gap. Priority was given to small arms; through army reorganization, Chiang aimed to diminish the influence of forces less loyal to him. Nationalist army staff officers observed that troops loyal to Chiang received the best weapons. Northwest and Northeast forces, having cultivated good relations with the KMT, were similarly better equipped, while Shanxi troops received inferior supplies. Troops associated with the Guangxi Clique were given even poorer quality weapons due to their leaders' stronger political ambitions. Troops regarded as “bandit forces,” such as those led by Shi Yousan, Li Hongchang, and Sun Dianying, were naturally assigned the least effective weaponry. This unequal distribution of arms increased some local forces' inclination to align with the KMT while alienating others, which inadvertently led to additional turmoil in the aftermath of the Northern Expedition. Logistical accounting within the Nationalist military was severely lacking. Military expenditures accounted for a significant portion of government spending, roughly 65.48 % in 1937, with personnel costs being the largest component. However, military units prioritized boosting their own resources over accurate accounting. Surpluses were not returned but rather utilized to reward military officers and soldiers for merits in battle, care for the wounded, or to create a reserve. Conversely, if deficits arose, troops would resort to “living off vacancies,” a practice in which they would fail to report desertions promptly and would falsely claim new soldiers had arrived. Military leaders typically appointed their most trusted subordinates to serve as accountants and logistic officers. As the war commenced, these issues became readily apparent. During the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, frontline soldiers sometimes went days without food and went months without pay. Wounded soldiers and civilians had to search tirelessly for medical treatment, and when main forces relocated, they often abandoned grain, ammunition, weapons, and petroleum along the way. General Chen Cheng, the commander in chief during the Battle of Shanghai, noted, “This phenomenon clearly revealed our inability to supply frontline troops, indicating that China remains a backward country with poor management.” Many logistical shortcomings severely impacted troop morale and combat effectiveness. In a 1933 speech, Chiang Kai-shek acknowledged that poor food, inadequate clothing, and ineffective logistics contributed to widespread desertion. Soldiers were further demoralized by reduced or embezzled salaries. A lack of professional medical staff and equipment hampered healthcare efforts, leading to high disease and mortality rates. According to official statistics from 1936, approximately 10 percent of soldiers fell ill annually, with a mortality rate as high as 5 percent. Japanese military authorities reported that one in three wounded Japanese soldiers died, while a Dutch military officer present during the early stages of the Sino-Japanese War observed that one in every two wounded Nationalist soldiers perished. Due to inadequate equipment and limited transport options, Nationalist forces were compelled to recruit farmers and rent vehicles, as they lacked essential facilities such as tents. This reliance on local resources inevitably led to frequent conflicts between military personnel and civilians. China is clearly a vast nation with an extensive coastline, requiring the construction of several significant fortresses during the modern era. These included Wusong, Jiangyin, Zhenjiang, Jiangning, and Wuhan along the Yangtze River, as well as Zhenhai, Humen, and Changzhou along the seacoast. Except for the Wuhan fortress, built in 1929-1930, all other fortifications were established during the late Qing Dynasty and featured uncovered cannon batteries. These fortresses suffered from inadequate maintenance, and many of their components had become outdated and irreplaceable, rendering them militarily negligible. Following the January 1932 Shanghai Incident, the Japanese military destroyed the Wusong forts, leaving the entrance to the Yangtze River completely unfortified. Consequently, there were no defenses along the coastline from Jiangsu to Shandong, allowing the Japanese to land freely. In December 1932, the Military Affairs Commission established a fortress group tasked with constructing fortresses and defensive installations, seeking assistance from German military advisers. After the North China Incident in 1935, the Nationalist government accelerated the construction of defensive structures in line with national war planning, focusing particularly on Nanjing. The Nationalists prioritized building fortifications along the seacoast and the Yellow River, followed by key regions north of the Yellow River. The government also ordered a significant quantity of heavy artillery from Germany. This included several dozen pieces of flat-fire antiaircraft and dual-purpose heavy artillery, which were installed at fortifications in Jiangyin, Zhenjiang, Nanjing, and Wuhan. By the summer of 1937, the construction of nine fortified positions was complete: Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Jiangyin, Ningbo, Humen, Mawei, Xiamen , Nantong, and Lianyungang. In total, China had established 41 forts and equipped them with 273 fortress cannons. Some defensive installations were poorly managed, with many units assigned to their perimeters lacking training and access to proper maps. The barbette positions in the fortresses were not well concealed and could hardly store sufficient ammunition. Troops stationed at these fortresses received little training. Despite these shortcomings, the fortresses and fortifications were not entirely ineffective. They bolstered Chinese positions along the defense line stretching from Cangxian County to Baoding and from Dexian County to Shijiazhuang, as well as in southern Shandong.  Before the war, China's political and economic center was situated along the seacoast and the Yangtze River. As Japanese influence expanded, the Nationalist government was compelled to establish bases in China's inner regions, very similar to how the USSR pulled back its industry further west after Operation barbarossa.The Japanese attack on Shanghai in 1932 prompted the Nationalists to relocate their capital to Luoyang. On March 5, during the Second Plenary Session of the KMT's Fourth Congress, the Western Capital Preparation Committee was formed to plan for the potential relocation of all governmental bodies to Xi'an in the event of full-scale war. In February 1933, the Central Political Conference approved the Northwest Development Bill, and in February 1934, the National Economic Commission set up a northwestern branch to oversee development projects in the region. On October 18, 1934, Chiang Kai-shek traveled to Lanzhou, recording in his diary that “Northwest China has abundant resources. Japan and Russia are poised to bully us. Yet, if we strengthen ourselves and develop northwest China to the fullest extent, we can turn it into a base for China's revival.” Interestingly, it was Sichuan, rather than the northwest, that became China's rear base during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War. In October 1934, the Communist army evacuated its Soviet base in southern China, initiating the Long March that would ultimately end in the northwest. By this time, Chiang Kai-shek had decided to designate Sichuan as the last stronghold for China. In January 1935, the Nanchang Field Headquarters of the Military Affairs Commission, responsible for combatting the Communists and serving as the supreme military and political authority over most provinces along the Yangtze River and central China, dispatched a special advisory group to Chongqing. Following this, the Nationalist army advanced into Sichuan. On February 10, the Nationalists appointed a new provincial government in Sichuan, effectively ending the province's long-standing regionalism. On March 2, Chiang traveled to Chongqing, where he delivered a speech underscoring that “Sichuan should serve as the base for China's revival.” He stated that he was in Sichuan to oversee efforts against the Communist army and to unify the provincial administration.  After the Xinhai revolution, the Republic of China was still suing the Qing Dynasty's conscription system. However, once in power, the Nationalist government sought to establish a national military service program. In 1933, it enacted a military service law, which began implementation in 1936. This law categorized military service into two branches: service in the Nationalist army and in territorial citizen army units. Men aged eighteen to forty-five were expected to serve in the territorial units if they did not enlist in the Nationalist army. The territorial service was structured into three phases: active service lasting two to three years, first reserves for six years, and second reserves until the age of forty-five. The Ministry of Military Affairs divided China into sixty divisional conscription headquarters, initially establishing these headquarters in the six provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, and Hubei. By December 1936, approximately 50,000 new soldiers had been drafted. The military service law disproportionately favored the middle and upper classes. Government personnel were exempt from enlistment, allowing privileged families to register their children with government agencies. Similarly, students in middle and higher education were excused from service, while youth from poorer backgrounds often felt compelled to enlist due to financial constraints that limited their educational opportunities. Village and town leaders were responsible for executing the recruitment process and frequently conspired with army recruiters. Recruitment principles often favored wealthier families, with guidelines stating that one son should be drafted for every three sons, two for five sons, but no drafts if there was only one son. Wealthy families could secure exemptions for all their male children, while poor families might see their only son conscripted if they were unable to provide the requisite bribe. Town and village heads wielded significant power in recruitment. This new recruitment system also created numerous money-making opportunities. Military personnel assigned to escort draftees to their units would often allow draftees to escape for a fee. Additionally, draftees could monetize their service by agreeing to serve as substitutes for others. For some, being drafted became an occupation. For example, in 1936, 600 individuals were drafted in the Wuhu area of Anhui province, and accounts from regional administrators indicated that every draftee had either been traded, replaced, or seized. Beginning in 1929, the Nationalist government also instituted military training for high school students and older individuals. Students were required to participate in one theoretical class and one practical class each week, totaling three hours. Starting in 1934, students had to complete a three-month military training program before graduating. Graduates of military academies were employed as military instructors. By the end of 1936, over 237,000 high school students had undergone military training. This student military training was overseen by the Society for the Implementation of the Three People's Principles of Sun Yat-sen, which also provided political education and sometimes gathered information on students' political beliefs.  Although the Nationalists made significant efforts to improve the military training of both officers and troops, they inherited deep-seated challenges that they were unable to completely overcome. A lack of facilities, outdated training manuals, low regard for military instructors, and the ongoing influence of regionalism and warlordism hindered progress. The Japanese would also later exploit these shortcomings of the Nationalist army. The Central Military Academy, which evolved from the Whampoa Military Academy established in 1923 in Guangzhou to train officers for the Northern Expedition, became the primary training institution for junior military officers. The academy offered a basic course, lasting eighteen months, which included general education, specialized training in various subjects, and field practice. This was followed by a two-year cadet training program focused on developing the skills necessary for junior military officers. Seventeen classes were admitted before the outbreak of war. Admission to the academy was highly competitive, with military officers receiving attractive salaries. For instance, in 1935, the academy received 10,000 applications for the twelfth class, but only 7% were accepted. Upon graduation, cadets were typically assigned to divisions within the Nationalist army loyal to Chiang Kai-shek. Their training, influenced by German advisors, resulted in a high-quality cadre. In modern China, most sergeants were veterans. While some units provided training for sergeants, a lack of formal education led to their diminished status. Truly qualified sergeants were rare. During his tenure as Minister of Military Training, General Bai Chongxi proposed establishing a sergeant school and creating a professional noncommissioned officer system; however, the Ministry of Military Affairs opposed this on financial grounds. While commanding officers enjoyed rapid promotions, military instructors did not. Furthermore, there was no system for transferring instructors to field commands or assigning commanders to military academies for extended periods. Despite minor updates to cover modern warfare concepts such as tank warfare and machine guns, Qing Dynasty military manuals were still in use at the Central Military Academy at the start of the war. Yeah, 1937 they were still rocking the old Qing books. Following the establishment of the Ministry of Military Training, a bureau for military translation was set up to evaluate existing course materials and translate military manuals, but its contributions were limited. Another significant shortcoming of military instruction focused on theory at the expense of practical application.  To enhance the quality of military officers, the Nationalist army instituted specialized schools for artillery, infantry, transport, engineering, and signals starting in 1931. These institutions were considered to have high-quality administrators and facilities. The Nationalists adopted German military training models, replacing the previously used Japanese models. They appointed German advisors to oversee instructor training at military academies and established three instructional divisions. By the onset of the Sino-Japanese War, 15,000 students had graduated from programs with a German military influence, resulting in the creation of about fifty combat divisions from these instructional units. However, the progress of other Nationalist army units was limited because their training was not aligned with contemporary battlefield realities. Before World War I, troops operated in close formations due to limited firepower. The widespread introduction of machine guns after World War I necessitated a shift to dispersed formations. Although a new drill manual issued by the Ministry of Military Training in 1935 introduced small-group tactics, few units adopted these methods. General Chen Cheng highlighted another underlying issue in 1938, commenting on the outmoded focus on parade ground drills and formal military manners. He noted, “We have paid too much attention to stereotypical formality and procedures of no practical use. Sometimes, even though soldiers could not get a haircut or take a bath for several months, their camps had to be in order. They underwent intensive training in close-order drill but learned little about gun handling, marksmanship, or maneuvering. This was inappropriate in peacetime, yet we continued this practice even after the Sino-Japanese War started, even using it on highly educated youth.” In contrast, the Communist army simplified training, emphasizing two essential skills: live-fire exercises and physical endurance, which significantly enhanced troop effectiveness in the challenging terrain characteristic of the Sino-Japanese War. Ultimately, the Nationalist army's training did not reach all soldiers. Only about half of all combat soldiers received adequate training, while the rest were neglected. According to statistics from the time, there were approximately five million military personnel during the Sino-Japanese War, with three million serving in logistics. Most of these logistics personnel had received little training, leading to disastrous consequences for overall combat effectiveness. As warfare has become more complex, the role of highly trained staff officers has become increasingly important. Napoleon developed operational plans close to the front and communicated orders via courier. During World War I, military commanders collected information at their headquarters and utilized telephones and automobiles to relay orders to the front lines. In World War II, with the battlefield expanding to include land, sea, and air, senior commanders often made decisions from headquarters far from the action, relying on a significant number of staff officers with specialized skills to keep them informed. In China, however, the staff officer system was underdeveloped. By 1937, only about 2,000 commanders and staff officers had received training. Prior to the Sino-Japanese War, most commanders managed staff work themselves, with staff officers serving primarily as military secretaries who drafted orders, reports, and maps. Many staff officers had no formal military training, and as a whole, the branch lacked respect, causing the most talented officers to avoid serving in it. The situation was even more dire for staff officer departments within local forces. For example, in March 1937, Liu Ziqing, a graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy, was appointed as the director of political instruction in the Forty-fourth Army, a unit under Sichuan warlord Liu Xiang. Liu Ziqing's account illustrates the dysfunction within the ranks: “The commander in chief was not supposed to manage the army and even did not know its whereabouts... But he could appoint relatives and former subordinates—who were officials and businessmen as well—to the army. Each month they would receive a small stipend. At headquarters, there was a long table and two rows of chairs. Around ten o'clock in the morning, senior officers signed in to indicate their presence. Those with other business would leave, while the remaining officers sat down to leisurely discuss star actresses, fortune-telling, business projects, mah-jongg, and opium. Occasionally they would touch on national affairs, chat about news articles, or share local gossip. In the afternoons, they primarily played mah-jongg, held banquets, and visited madams. Most mornings, the commander usually presided over these activities, and at first, I reported for duty as well. But I soon realized it was a waste of time and came very rarely. At headquarters, most staff members wore long gowns or Western-style suits, while military uniforms were a rare sight.” Most senior military personnel were trained at the Baoding Military Academy during the early republic. 2/3rds of commanders in chief, 37 %of army commanders, and 20 % of division commanders were Baoding graduates. Higher-ranking officers were more likely to have launched their careers there. In contrast, only 10 % of division commanders and a few army commanders were graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy. Additionally, commanders trained in local military schools and those with combat experience accounted for 1/3rd of all commanders. While the prevalence of civil war provided opportunities for rapid promotion, it also hindered officers' ability to update their training or gain experience in different military branches. German advisors expressed their concerns to Chiang Kai-shek, emphasizing that officers should first serve in junior roles before taking command. During one battle in 1938, Chiang noted, “Our commanders in chief are equivalent only to our enemy's regiment commanders, and our army and division commanders are only as competent as our enemy's battalion and company commanders.” Despite not viewing high-ranking Japanese officers as great strategists, Nationalist officers respected them as highly competent, diligent, and professional commanders who rarely made critical errors. The infantry was the primary component of the Nationalist army, with middle and junior infantry officers constituting over 80 %of all army officers. A 1936 registry of military officers listed 1,105 colonels and 2,159 lieutenant colonels within the infantry, demonstrating a significant outnumbering of Baoding graduates at ranks below lieutenant colonel. However, the quality of middle and junior infantry officers declined during the Sino-Japanese War; by 1944, only 27.3 % of these officers were from formal military academies, while those promoted from the ranks increased to 28.1 %. In 1937, 80 % of officers in an ordinary infantry battalion were military academy graduates, but this percentage dropped to 20 % during the war. Its hard to tell how educated soldiers were before the war, but it is generally believed that most were illiterate. In 1929, sociologist Tao Menghe surveyed 946 soldiers from a Shanxi garrison brigade and found that only 13 percent could compose a letter independently, while the rest had either never learned to read or were unable to write. In contrast, in August 1938, General Feng Yuxiang found that 80 percent of a regiment in Hunan were literate. Regardless, during the Sino-Japanese War, the quality of recruits steadily declined. More than 90 percent of soldiers were illiterate, and few possessed any basic scientific knowledge, which hindered their ability to master their weapons. On the battlefield, they heavily relied on middle and junior officers for guidance.  In autumn 1933, General Hans von Seeckt, the architect of the post World War I German army, visited China at the personal invitation of Chiang Kai-shek. In his recommendations for military reform, he identified China's greatest problem as its excessively large forces drawn from diverse backgrounds. He stated, “At present, the most pressing goal is to... establish a small, well-equipped army with high morale and combat effectiveness to replace the numerous poorly armed and trained forces.” He suggested forming an army of sixty divisions and recommended the establishment of a training regiment for military officers to equip them with the skills needed for modern warfare. Chiang Kai-shek accepted von Seeckt's proposals, and on January 26, 1935, he convened a National Military Reorganization Conference in Nanjing. On March 1, the Army Reorganization Bureau was established in Wuchang, under the leadership of General Chen Cheng. In the same month, General Alexander von Falkenhausen took charge of the German Military Advisors Group. Before war broke out, around nineteen divisions, roughly 300,000 troops received training from German advisors and were equipped with German-style weapons. At the onset of the Sino-Japanese War, the forces stemming from the First Army of the National Revolutionary Army and the Whampoa cadets, who had fought in the Northern Expedition, held the highest reputation and were referred to as the “core central forces” by the Japanese. Other notable forces included the Guangxi Army, Northwestern Army, Northeastern Army, some Uyghur units, the Guangdong Army, and the Shanxi Army. In contrast, provincial forces such as the Yunnan Army and Sichuan Army were viewed less favorably. Nationalist forces were generally far inferior to those of the Japanese enemy. In 1937, General He Yingqin noted that Nationalist forces had failed to prevail in 1932 and 1933, even when outnumbering the Japanese by 4-1.  In November 1937, during a national defense conference, Chiang Kai-shek stated, "In recent years we have worked hard, prepared actively, and achieved national unification. By the time of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, we were in a better domestic situation and had improved military preparedness compared to before. Since 1935, our strength has doubled. It increased by more than two to three times since January 1932 or September 1931 [when Japan attacked Shanghai and Mukden]. If peace had been achievable, we should have delayed the war for two or three years. Given an additional three years, our defensive capabilities would have been drastically different... Now, if we merely compare the military strength of China and Japan, we are certainly inferior." However, such assessments were overly optimistic, as Chiang failed to recognize that Japan's military capabilities would not have stagnated. 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. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek certainly was dealt a difficult hand of cards for the upcoming poker match he was to play. Yet the Chinese were resilient and they had to be for the absolute horror that would be inflicted upon them from 1937-1945. Until this point, their enemies had been far more lenient, the Empire of Japan would show no mercy.

If you've been feeling discouraged about your blog traffic lately, you're not alone. In this episode of Creatives on Fire, I'm pulling back the curtain on what's really happening with blog traffic in 2025—and giving you five smart strategies to take back control. https://creativesonfirepodcast.com/episode197 How to Get More Blog Traffic I was originally going to cover a different topic this week, but after hearing so many creators talk about low traffic, broken platforms, and general burnout, I had to hit pause and share what I've personally been working through—and how I'm turning it around. Let's talk about what matters, what doesn't, and what you can actually do to get your blog traffic moving again. First: Don't Fall for the Comparison Game It's easy to feel lost when all the voices around you are saying different things. Google is broken, Pinterest is dead, Facebook is hiding links—it's enough to make any blogger feel like giving up. But the truth is, numbers don't lie. So that's where I went—to my Google Analytics. When I compared my year-to-date stats from 2024 to 2025, here's what I found: Sessions were down 20% Pageviews were down a shocking 50% Ouch. That was a wake-up call. But it also gave me clarity. Sessions are mostly out of my control. Pageviews? That's on me. Sessions vs. Pageviews: What's the Difference? If you're not familiar with these terms: Sessions = Visitors arriving at your site (they showed up to the dance) Pageviews = The number of pages they visited (how many people they danced with) So while platforms control a lot of traffic volume (sessions), you control what happens once people land on your site. That's where the pageviews come in—and that's where you can make a huge impact. How to Improve Your Blog's Page Speed Before diving into pageview tactics, I looked at what I could do to improve page speed, which still plays a huge role in search and user experience. Here's what I did: Audited my plugins to remove outdated or unnecessary tools Replaced and optimized my image compression plugin (I now use ShortPixel, which found 1,200 images that needed more compression) Even small improvements to your blog's speed can help platforms like Google and Pinterest want to send more traffic your way. 5 Smart Strategies to Increase Blog Pageviews Once I optimized the tech side, I moved on to what I could do to increase pageviews—the number that is in our control. These five strategies are what I'm actively working on now. 1. Restructure Your Blog for Simpler Navigation When readers land on your homepage or a post, can they immediately tell what you're about and where to go next? Clear navigation, especially with buttons that lead to categories (like “See All Crafts” or “Browse Recipes”), is key. 2. Connect Your Orphan Posts Go find the blog posts that aren't linked to anything else—SEO tools like Ahrefs can help. Either delete them if they don't align with your brand, or link them meaningfully into related content to keep readers clicking. 3. Add Prompts to Explore More Think: “See all fall posts” or “Get more lemon dessert ideas.” Use bold call-to-action buttons early in your post to send them to your category or roundup pages. The more paths they can follow, the more pageviews you'll get. 4. Include a ‘Start Here' Block Toward the top of your post, include a reusable block that says “New here? Start here.” Link it to a curated welcome page with your top categories, opt-ins, and reader favorites. Help new visitors instantly know how to explore. 5. Introduce a Weekly or Ongoing Series Give readers a reason to keep coming back. It could be: A 5-week project like “5 Weeks to a Porch Makeover” A two-part post (before & after) A weekly roundup of your own posts, styled for Pinterest or seasonal trends You could even turn your weekly content into a newsletter hook: “Get this week's top DIYs straight to your inbox!” The Bottom Line: Don't Panic—Make a Plan If traffic is down, take a deep breath. Stop listening to the noise and go check your own analytics. Is it sessions? Pageviews? Once you know, you can act. And that's powerful. Because blogging isn't dead—but it is evolving. And it's our job to evolve with it. Give your blog a tune-up. Guide your readers more clearly. And most importantly, keep showing up consistently. Until next time, stay creative. Links Mentioned in the Episode: ShortPixel Compression Tool FUEL Mastermind is HERE Free Guide: Start Your Blog Today You can GO HERE to subscribe and review (On mobile, scroll down past the episodes to "Ratings & Reviews" section, tap the stars, then scroll down to "Write a Review") 2025 Content Planner for Content Creators SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEW I am honored to share a new Blogging Creative on Fire each week on the podcast to bring you inspiration, behind-the-scenes secrets, and quality tips. I hope it is truly helpful for you. One of the best ways you can bless me in return is to subscribe to the show and leave a review. By subscribing, you allow each episode to be downloaded straight to your phone which helps the download numbers and ensures you never miss an episode. And when you leave a review, you help show others the value of what we provide! You can GO HERE to subscribe and review (On mobile, scroll down past the episodes to "Ratings & Reviews" section, tap the stars, then scroll down to "Write a Review")

(SPOILER) I begin by previewing today's talk with Jenn and a couple points that weren't covered in the pod, also go over the Survivor finale, & AD interviews Ashley from “Love is Blind.”  Then Jenn joins me (9:00) to discuss her role in “The Fall of Favre” documentary on Netflix, what she feels is the main point to take away from it, how it is re-living it again, where she's at now with it, and so much more. Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices