Podcasts about Falling in love

Bean? What are we, Boston?! C'mon you shiny legume! ===⁠⁠You can get an ad-free feed and bonus material for the show by joining our Membership program here: https://audaciousmachinecreative.memberful.com/joinTranscripts for this episode can be found on Apple Podcasts.⁠⁠Content advisories for this episode can be found here.: www.audaciousmachinecreative.com/wgw-cw-803Credits:Malik: Michael TurrentineJamie: Hilary WilliamsWritten by Jessica Best, directed and edited by Jeffrey Nils Gardner. Our theme song is "Falling in Love at the End of the World" by Olivia and the Lovers. Created and produced by Eleanor Hyde and Jeffrey Nils Gardner. From Audacious Machine Creative.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On an all-new Speed Dates episode, host Joel Kim Booster sits down with the hilarious Jon Daly (Kroll Show, Hail, Caesar!, Big Mouth) to talk about his role on the hit series Fallout, his journey from drama school to comedy and back to dramatic roles, falling in love during the pandemic, and why Billy Joel's “New York State Of Mind” depicts a perfect relationship (between Billy and the city of New York, obvs). Plus: Peaches is a very good dog, and this should be commemorated.  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for full episodes. Merch available at SiriusXMStore.com/BadDates. Joel Kim Booster: Psychosexual, Fire Island, Loot Season 3Jon Daly: Fallout Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming now! Check out The Fallout Fake Talkshow! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Bad Dates ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

*Disclaimer* This episode contains adult content and is not recommended for young listeners.   Hebrews 12:15 NLT “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”   *Transcription Below*   About Dr. Morgan Cutlip:  It's hard to know where to start so I'll start with what matters most to me and that's my relationships.   I'm a mother to two kids, Effie (12) and Roy (9). They are hilarious, spirited, spicy, deeply thoughtful and emotional kids. I adore them and being their mother. They've challenged me in the most surprising and wonderful ways. I'm married to my high school sweetheart, Chad. I always feel like I lose a little street cred when I say that so, for the record, we didn't date that entire time and eventually reconnected years after college on MySpace (yup, now I've aged myself). He's the love of my life, an incredible man that loves others deeply, works so very hard, and continues to be open to growth and change.   I've worked in the field of relationship education for over 15 years alongside my father, Dr. John Van Epp, who is the founder of Love Thinks and developer of multiple relationship education courses that have been taught to over a million people worldwide. I started traveling to conferences with him when I was in junior high and so, in many ways, it feels like I've grown up in the relationship education field. He's amazing and brilliant and I'm blessed to have learned so much from him over the years we worked together and just cherish our relationship.   I distinctly remember a conversation with my dad over 20 years ago where I said that someday I wanted to support women, but I just wasn't sure how.   Fast forward 10 years and Effie (our oldest) was born and, holy moly, did motherhood hit me like a ton of bricks and I completely lost myself in motherhood (you can read the full story in my book).

Scott Kaufman is a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author. He is a professor of psychology at Columbia University and director of the Center for Human Potential. He also hosts The Psychology Podcast which has received over 30 million downloads and is widely considered among the top  psychology podcasts in the world. Scott's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review, and he is the author and editor of 11 books. In his most recent book Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential, he explores the limiting beliefs and widespread anxiety that puts people in boxes, lowers expectations, and holds them back. In addition to teaching at Columbia, Scott has also been a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and NYU. Scott received a B.S. in psychology and human computer interaction from Carnegie Mellon, an M. Phil in experimental psychology from the University of Cambridge under a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Yale University. In this episode we discuss the following: Scott's definition of intelligence: the dynamic interplay of engagement and abilities in the pursuit of goals. When we give people a chance to go deep into an area that they love, over a long period of time, they can develop expertise and brain structures that can override some of our IQ limitations. The thing that surprised Scott most as he researched intelligence was just how predictive IQ is. Scott thought he was going to be on a vendetta against IQ but ended up falling in love with the science of IQ, intelligence, and the brain. Differences in ability are both natural and valuable, and recognizing them—rather than denying them—creates better paths for growth and contribution. Unlocking our potential requires intellectual honesty, patience, and environments that allow passion and skill to reinforce one another over time.  

Dating may feel harder, but has it truly gotten harder in the last 10 years? Julie is breaking down her hypothesis that what we do know is that it sure has gotten a heck of a lot noisier! Between social media, AI, and well-meaning friends, she discusses how this has causes an influx of overthinking in dating instead of leading with connection. She talks about what we can do to reclaim our intuition and learn to trust yourself again. We're going to deep dive even further into this concept of self trust on a future episode, but hope this is the lightbulb moment that can help many of you today start to tune out the noise. Enjoy!

Are your friendships or relationships feeling unaligned, unclear, or just plain confusing? Are you doing the work but still not experiencing the depth of connection you truly crave?Right now, we're in the midst of a collective relationship reckoning. In this potent episode, Jessica breaks down why manifesting love, intimacy, and deep friendship can feel harder than ever—and why it's reflecting the exact parts of you that are ready to be healed.If you're feeling romantically adrift, unseen, or wondering why your dream partner or soul-aligned friendships haven't arrived yet, this episode will help unlock your next step forward. It's not just about recognizing patterns; it's about stepping into the version of you who can say no to what no longer fits, stay regulated in the face of fear, and source your worth from within.With real expander stories and powerful energetic reframes, this episode is a must-listen if you're ready to deepen your relationships from a place of embodied self-love.Find the complete show notes here -> https://tobemagnetic.com/expanded-podcast Resources: Return to Magic - 15 Day Manifestation ChallengeA 15-day guided journey to reparent your inner child, reconnect with your magic, and step into this new year as your most confident, regulated, and magnetic self yet. Join our membership to access! (It's not too late to join in. Start any time!)The Pathway Membership gives you unlimited access to all of our manifestation workshops—including How to Manifest, Unblocking Your Inner Child, Shadow, Love, Money, Rock Bottoms, Ruts, and Energetic Updates —plus 70+ self-hypnosis tracks designed to unlock your full potential. LEARN MORE HERE Get the latest from TBMJoin the Pathway now - Return to Magic Challenge available now! New to TBM? Free Offerings to Get You StartedLearn the Process! Expanded Podcast - How to Manifest Anything You Desire Get Expanded! The Motivation - Testimonial LibraryReady to find out what's holding you back? Try our Free Clarity Exercise Be an EXPANDER! Share Your Manifestation StorySubmit to Be a Process GuestWhat did you manifest during the Money Challenge? Share a voice note of your question, block, or Process to be featured in an episode! In this episode we talk about:Why many are feeling unseen or unfulfilled in their relationships right nowHow nervous system regulation is essential for intimacy and manifestationThe mirror principle: using relationships as a tool for self-awarenessThe trap of pedestal-ing your manifestationsThe power of detaching from outcomes and falling in love with your lifeHow fear and protector parts sabotage relational growthReleasing urgency and timelines around your manifestationsUsing the Return to Magic challenge to understand your relationship blueprintLearning to love and have compassion for your shadowExpander stories of partnership breakthroughs and healingFriendships as mirrors: projecting vs. authentic connectionBuilding trust and communication in long-term relationships Mentioned In the Episode: Expanded x Ep. 373 - Elizabeth Endres on How to Choose Yourself and Become MagneticExpanded x Ep. 365 - How to Manifest the Love You Desire with Jillian TureckiExpanded x Ep. 342 - Top Tips for Self-love, Manifesting Love, & a Deeper Connection with Your PartnerExpanded x Ep. 300 Best in Class: Love - Romantic, Self-love, FriendshipExpanded x Ep.  298 - Reimagining Love, Relationships & Breaking Codependency with Mark Groves and Kylie McBeathExpanded x Ep. 265 - People Pleasing, Dating Apps, & Manifesting Self Love – Unblocking: Love & PartnershipEp. 236 - Best in Class The Love/Money ConnectionExpanded x Ep. 197 - EXPLAINED Divorce and Relationships w. LMFT Janelle NelsonWatch our full-length video episodes on Youtube!Find our Return to Magic Challenge plus all our workshops and all workshops mentioned inside our Pathway Membership! (Including the Self-Love Playlist, Calming DI, Reset DI, Conflict DI and Safe with Money DI) HOW TO MANIFEST by Lacy Phillips (with exercises by Jessica Gill)Available now! The Expanded Podcast, from To Be Magnetic™ (TBM), is the leading manifestation podcast rooted in neuroscience, psychology, and energetics. Hosted by TBM's Chief Content Officer Jessica Gill, with monthly appearances from founder Lacy Phillips, Expanded is where science and the mystical meet to help you manifest in the most grounded, practical, and life-changing way.At TBM, we've redefined manifestation through Neural Manifestation™—our proven, science-backed method developed with neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart. This process helps you reprogram limiting beliefs at the subconscious level so you can create the life most aligned with your authenticity.Each week, we take you inside the TBM practice to help you expand your subconscious to believe what you desire is possible. Through expert interviews, thought leader conversations, TBM teachings, and real member success stories, you'll learn how to: – Rewire your subconscious mind and step into your worth – Heal your inner child and integrate shadow work – Set boundaries, strengthen intuition, and reclaim self-worth – Manifest relationships, careers, abundance, and experiences that align with your true selfWith over than 40 million downloads and a global community in over 100 countries, Expanded has become the gold standard in manifestation content. Think of it as your weekly practice for expanding your mind, believing what you want is possible, and manifesting the life you're meant to live.Past guests include leading voices such as Mel Robbins, Lewis Howes, Jenna Zoe, Martha Beck, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Dr. Gabor Maté, Mark Groves, and Brianna Wiest. Where To Find Us!@tobemagnetic (IG)@LacyannephillipsLacy Launched a Substack! - By Candlelight - Join Here@Jessicaashleygill@tobemagnetic (youtube)@expandedpodcast

Falling in love is a courageous, destabilizing, and deeply human act. In this Valentine's Day special, Irish poet and philosopher David Whyte returns with poems of romance. He reflects on love's power to transform a life. Through intimate stories of vulnerability, longing, and the willingness to step into the unknown to live and love fully. ------ Sign up to receive Tetragrammaton Transmissions https://www.tetragrammaton.com/join-newsletter

Thinking about retiring in Mexico and buying a home? Before you sign anything, this episode of Live by Design - Mexico Edition gives you the real story. Host Taniel Chemsian sits down with Marc and Paulette, a couple who relocated from Sacramento to San Luis Potosí, Mexico, to share what they learned while navigating Mexico real estate as American retirees. From working with agents and notarios to understanding closing costs, property taxes, and the true cost of living in Mexico, they walk through the practical steps every retiree should consider. You'll also hear how choosing the right neighborhood, adjusting expectations, and embracing a slower lifestyle helped them build a secure and comfortable retirement. If you're researching buying property in Mexico, wondering whether it's safe, or planning to retire in Mexico from the USA, this episode offers honest insights, realistic expectations, and firsthand experience to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Key Moments:  00:00 Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Differences 03:17 Home Search Challenges Explained 06:55 Neighborhood Life and Unexpected Risks 11:17 Approval and Purchase Process Explained 13:29 Property Closing Process Vallarta 18:40 Lower Living Costs Abroad How to contact Paulette and Marc:  YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TheTwoTravelersInMexico EMAIL: thetwotravelersinmexico@gmail.com   Feeling overwhelmed about buying in Mexico? Chat TCP, our AI-powered assistant, guides you to stress-free homeownership. Click here to start using Chat TCP: https://tanielchemsian.com/chat-tcp/?utm_source=youtube_lbd_mex   Want to own a home in Mexico? Start your journey with confidence – download your FREE “Buyer's Guide” now for expert tips and clear steps to make it happen! Click here - https://tanielchemsian.com/buyers-gui...   Discover why everyone is falling in love with Puerto Vallarta real estate: https://tanielchemsian.com/puerto-vallarta-real-estate/   Join the ‘Taniel Chemsian Properties' YouTube channel to learn what you need to know about Puerto Vallarta real estate. https://www.youtube.com/@TanielChemsian   Join our ‘Live By Design: Mexico Edition' podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VfClD5... Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/032... YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@livebydesignmexicoedition   Contact Information: Email: info@tanielchemsian.com Website: https://tanielchemsian.com/ Mex Office: +52.322.688.7435 USA/CAN Office: +1.323.798.8893

Who got next?Braswell High School might have the answer.In this episode of SportsLifeTalk – You Got Next (Savage Season), we sit down with Delilah “DJ” Jeffrey, a 6'0 multi-positional wing from Braswell High School in Little Elm, Texas, who is quietly building a reputation as one of the most versatile and high-motor players in the DFW area.DJ isn't just another scorer. She's the kind of player who takes pride in defense, embraces physicality, dives on the floor for loose balls, and brings an energy that impacts the game on both ends. Whether she's finishing through contact, knocking down perimeter shots, or blocking shots in transition, Delilah's game is rooted in discipline and work ethic.And that mindset shows.During this episode, Delilah opens up about:• Falling in love with basketball in elementary school• Growing into her 6'0 frame and embracing her identity as an all-around player• Why defense and hustle mean just as much as scoring• The sisterhood and culture inside the Braswell Lady Bengals program• How Pro Skills and Coach Dre helped elevate her competitive level• What it felt like to earn her first college offer (Alaska Anchorage)• Her long-term dream of playing college basketball — at any level — to earn her educationShe also shares one of her most recent “Mamba Moments,” including a 19-point performance against Duncanville and her growth as a shooter (including a 4-for-4 night from three).But this episode isn't just about basketball.Off the court, DJ is focused, driven, and already thinking about life beyond the game. She plans to pursue a career in pediatric cardiothoracic nursing — proving that her ambition extends far beyond the hardwood. Her discipline in basketball directly connects to her academic and career goals, and that maturity stands out.During the SLT Initiation, she also reveals:• Her Top 5 music artists (a mix of R&B and gospel vibes)• Why Spider-Man is her favorite superhero• The life lesson basketball has taught her about discipline and consistency• Her go-to restaurant order at Chili's• The deeper meaning behind her jersey numberWhat makes Delilah Jeffrey different is her balance. She's confident but grounded. Competitive but team-oriented. Driven but realistic about the work required to reach the next level.She understands that talent opens doors — but discipline keeps them open.As Braswell continues its push through district play, DJ is focused on growth, leadership, and helping her team compete at a high level. And as her recruitment continues to develop, she's clear on one thing:She's willing to work for everything.This is what Savage Season is about.If you're a fan of girls' high school basketball, DFW hoops, rising Class of 2027 prospects, or stories about athletes building their future the right way — this episode is for you.Tap in. Share with a coach. Send to a recruiter. And follow Delilah's journey as she continues to rise.Because at SportsLifeTalk…We don't just talk about the next generation.We introduce you to them.You Got Next.

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. November 12 – November 19, 1939 A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today's SoundScape: Churchill Summarizes the First Ten Weeks of War. Mexican Jumping Beans from Your Skelly Man! Falling in Love … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #156 – SoundScape 1939 part 26

Poetry and baring the soul.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Arriving at her house, Leah and I carried my clothes up to the spare bedroom. I thanked Leah once again, then kissed her.Leah softly whispered, “Jorunn is downstairs!”I replied in the same whisper, “Then kiss me quietly.” And she did.I spent the remainder of the day doing my laundry, once Leah showed me how to use her Norwegian washing machine. Leah opened the clothes drying rack, and when done, I laid my clothes out to dry.For dinner, Leah prepared salmon fillets with boiled potatoes. As Jorunn and Leah washed the dishes, I sat on the center seat of the sofa, reflecting on the day. When they finished, both Jorunn and Leah rushed into the living room, extremely excited, and sat down on either side of me. Jorunn turned on the television and switched to Norwegian National Television. I wondered what the fuss was about.“Five more minutes,” yelped Jorunn.After a brief introduction, an old black-and-white movie started. Both Jorunn and Leah snuggled up tight against me and I put my arms around them. It felt great. The show, called “Dinner for One”, featured a 90-year-old countess celebrating her birthday. She invited four friends but outlived them all. Her butler decides to impersonate each of the four missing guests. As he slips into each of the roles, he drinks a toast, and quickly becomes intoxicated, leading to numerous sight gags. It felt good to laugh along with people again. It was rather short, and when it ended, Leah told me it was the most repeated television show of all time and is quite popular in Scandinavian countries and northern Europe.Leah and Jorunn went around rearranging and straightening Christmas decorations, then announced it was time to make Julekurver. I heard of them, but never actually made one. Made of paper, they are heart-shaped and filled with sweets.We quickly cleared the dining room table, then covered it with red and white paper, a plastic rule, a plastic circle, and scissor. Leah and Jorunn both moved quickly, folding a sheet of paper of each color, and I followed their action. Then it was time to measure and cut, and fortunately, they slowed down to allow me to keep up. Using a circle, we marked a half circle and cut the excess away. Then cut strips into the paper, not going all the way across. We wove the red and white papers together in a checkerboard pattern and unfolded them into a perfect heart shape. I thought the process rather inefficient and decided to show off my engineering skills from 3M by making a fancier one. As I unfolded it, Jorunn and Leah laughed, and a moment later, I discovered one way not to make a Julekurver.After a long and active day, I was tired, so I went to bed. Both Jorunn and Leah were talking softly in the living room as I drifted off to sleep.A nocturnal visitorDecember 23rd - Just Before MidnightI was startled awake when I heard my bedroom door close, followed by a soft, “Shush!”I listened closely in the total darkness for footsteps and heard someone approach my bed. Leah must be ready to resume what we started back at the hotel! A hand pulled back the covers, and instinctively I slid toward the middle of the bed to make space. Leah slid in next to me and drew the covers back over us.Leah moved and shifted, and a hand found the back of my head. I expected her lips to follow, and they did. Soft and gentle, a wonderful way for my nocturnal visitor to say hello. Leah told me at the hotel she did not want to feel rushed, so there was no urgency. Her lips retreated, and her hand slid down to caress my cheek, as delicate fingers gently stroked me.I reached out and found her left shoulder as Leah faced me, then marveled at the smoothness as my hand traced her arm downward. Approaching her hand, I extended further to touch her hip. I began softly rubbing, but her ass beckoned, and my hand moved to cup and squeeze her firm cheek. My fingers began shooting sensations of warmth, softness, and inner firmness directly to my brain. I pulled Leah tight against me and discovered she was already completely naked.Leah swung her left leg over me and moved to an upright position, straddling my crotch. Beneath my boxer shorts, my erect cock fought for release. Her hand found my cock within its shelter but did not liberate it. Instead, her hand pushed my cock flat against my lower stomach, and she slid forward, trapping it with the swollen outer lips of her pussy. Leah began slowly gyrating, and even through the fabric of my boxers, I felt her pussy lips spreading as they slid along either side of my hidden cock.The hushed sounds of Leah cooing and moaning barely reached my ears, as dampness built between us. I reached up with both hands, found her small breasts, and used my thumbs to tease her nipples to an erection. A heavy breath followed by a long ‘uh. Oh; Ah!’ brought me close to premature orgasm, but this was not what Leah wanted, so I held back.Leah must have sensed I was close. She stopped gyrating, lifted herself, and then began inching herself up my torso. She paused for a moment and sat on my chest, then her hands reached out to touch my face. Two fingertips began touring my facial features as if Leah wanted to memorize every feature of my face. In the darkness, my senses heightened, her fingers swirled, and circled, and glided over me. I never would have imagined how erotic it felt.Leah resumed moving higher, her knees passing over my shoulders until they rested on either side of my head. I reached up to confirm what lay just inches above my face and grazed the same hairy splendor I sampled back at the hotel. Inhaling deeply, I picked up traces of the same body wash on her thighs. I was ready to dive back in, so I reached up and grabbed Leah’s hips, then pulled her pussy down toward my awaiting tongue. I paused as her short curly hair began painting her scent onto my face. The scent of arousal overpowered my senses. But? Something strange? I froze. The contradiction awoke my twilight dream state.“Why did you stop, Gunnar?” From the darkness came Jorunn’s voice! The dream of Leah's nocturnal visit was replaced by the reality of a beautiful young woman revealing her devotion and desire to this 56 year old guy.I was stunned. I couldn’t reveal the real reason I stopped; was uncertainty. Jorunn’s pussy smelled different than Leah’s! I hadn’t noticed any difference between Leah’s and Jorunn’s tall, fit bodies. If there were any, they were undetectable in the darkness, especially with only my brief exposure to Leah. “I can’t do this with you, Jorunn.” I softly and sincerely spoke.“I want to make love to you tonight, Gunnar. More than anything in the world. Am I not pretty enough? Has not enough time passed since your wife’s funeral? You are the only man in the world I can love to, without fear of being hurt.”“Jorunn, you are an incredibly beautiful woman. For months, I fantasized about holding you in my arms, kissing you, and wishing to be exactly where I am now. But yesterday, I met your mother.”Jorunn asked, “Did she order you not to have sex with me?”I replied, “It’s not that. I think I’m falling in love with Leah. We spent a wonderful day together, and she swept me off my feet. If that love turns out to be mutual, I am prepared to pledge my heart totally to her and her alone. A lifetime commitment, one I will never dishonor. The only reason you and I got this far tonight is that in the darkness and my dream state, I thought you were Leah. I never would have done it otherwise.” But you are a lovely and desirable woman. I respect you and Leah. So much that I cannot be false to either of you. And I cannot dishonor myself, by doing what I know is dishonorable.”Jorunn shifted positions and lay next to me in the bed. In the darkness, Jorunn whispered, “You are so unlike my father. He always put himself first. I was ready to give myself to you tonight. You could have kept quiet and let it happen. Then lied about it to my mother in the morning. But you didn’t. You are a better man than my father ever was, and I know you will make my mother happy. Please don’t be afraid to give her, and yourself, a chance. She really needs someone like you in her life.”I heard a soft sob and reached out to touch Jorunn’s face. She was crying. Jorunn came into my bedroom tonight, looking for someone to love. She didn’t know about Leah and me, or what happened between us at the hotel. I very much doubt her mother would have told her. I admired what Jorunn just did. She was sacrificing her chance at love so that her mother might have one. Jorunn knew that she bore the duty to initiate affection, after so harshly rejecting my romantic advances, last week.Silence followed, before Jorunn finally said, “What you have shown me, Gunnar, is that there are still good men in this world. But I am still afraid to look for them.”I thought back to the day Jorunn and I went sledging. “Remember what you told me at Korketrekkeren? You don’t need to be afraid of looking for a man, Jorunn. What you need to be afraid of is being too afraid to try looking for a man. Promise me that you will push off, just like riding a sledge, and start looking. When you reach the bottom of that scary hill, you will no longer be afraid, and someone you love will be waiting there for you.”“I will, Gunnar. I promise. And thank you.” Jorunn climbed out of my bed and closed the door as she left.Christmas EveDecember 24 - MorningI woke up in the guest room bed. Hearing noises and holiday folk music in the kitchen, I dressed and went downstairs. Leah smiled and said, “God Jul!”, Norwegian's way of saying merry Christmas. Then she made me scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Afterward, I enjoyed a slice of fruited Christmas Cake with coffee.“Leah, there is something I need to tell you. Jorunn came into my room last night looking for a man to love. In the darkness and my dream state, I thought it was you. It took a moment for me to realize it was Jorunn, and I stopped myself before going too far. Jorunn and I talked, and I confessed my love for you, to her. She understood, and asked that I give that love a chance. I want to do that. I asked Jorunn to no longer be afraid to look for love, and she agreed.”“Thank you for telling me, Gunnar. I have struggled to get Jorunn to go on dates after her father hurt her so badly. You must be a special man to find a place in her heart.”Leah sat down at the table with me, and continued; “I trust Jorunn, and now I trust you. So you will know, I will come to you tonight, bearing a lighted candle.”I said, “That sounds romantic.” My cock jolted to attention, under my trousers. I smiled and winked.Leah replied, “Wait until you see what I will be wearing.” She stood and returned to her baking, as the soft holiday music filled the busy kitchen. Leah's hips softly gyrated to the soft beat as she hummed with the lyrics.Jorunn came down later for breakfast, and after eating, she announced she would be working on edits and voiceovers for her recent videos. Since they were related to Christmas, she wanted to finish them to post them later tonight.Just before lunch, Leah led me back to the television and as we snuggled on the couch, she turned on “Tre Notter til Askepott”, a 1973 Czech reenactment of Cinderella, dubbed into Norwegian. The story was familiar, with Cinderella granted three wishes. It was enjoyable, but the dubbed dialog did not quite match the lips of the actors, so I needed to concentrate on what they were saying. Leah mentioned that this show is so popular in Norway, that storms of protest arose one year when they decided not to broadcast it. They ended up sending it out later in the holiday.Jorunn joined Leah and me for lunch. We ate Risengrynsgrot, which is rice porridge cooked with milk, sugar, and vanilla. We each had a bowl, and hiding in one of the three bowls was an almond. I suspected possible cheating such that I would be the one getting the almond, but as it turned out, Jorunn got the lucky bowl. As her prize, Leah gave Jorunn a chocolate-covered marzipan pig, an oddity for certain, but part of the tradition. There was porridge left over, and Leah said she would use it to make Riskrem, the delicious rice dessert eaten after tonight’s dinner. Solveig’s Riskrem was one of my favorite parts of the holiday season, and I was looking forward to tasting Leah’s.Leah turned to me and said, “If you want to eat, you must help in the kitchen.”Cooking was not something I knew very well, and after Leah led me into the kitchen, I let her know that. But since we were alone, I moved behind her, pulled her blonde hair aside, and nuzzled her neck.Leah said, “If you don’t stop, Gunnar, it will take longer before we eat.” But she wiggled her hips into my crotch before spinning out of my embrace.I helped Leah remove a large roasting pan from the refrigerator and put it in the oven. “That’s a strange-looking piece of meat,” I said.Leah replied, “It is called Ribbe, or roasted pork belly. It is one of the most popular Christmas meals in Norway. I scored the fat layer on top two days ago into a checkerboard pattern. Once cooked, the bottom meat stays tender while the cracklings on top get crispy.”Leah handed me a vegetable peeler and pointed to a bag of potatoes. I needed no further instructions on this. While I worked, Leah flittered around the kitchen, preparing the side dishes. She looked genuinely happy, and we talked and laughed and told tales of Christmases long ago.Just as we pulled the Ribbe from the oven, church bells began ringing from multiple sources. It was 17:00.“It seems like an odd time for church bells,” I said.Leah replied, “In Scandinavia, a new day traditionally starts at sundown, not midnight. Following the old ways, Christmas Day has arrived. It is time to eat.”Jorunn joined us in the mad flurry of activity as places were set, and food moved from the kitchen to the dining room. On the table was Ribbe, boiled potatoes, meatballs, gravy, sausages, sauerkraut, prunes, and lingonberries. Leah poured each of us a tall glass of juleøl, a dark spiced ale, brewed during Christmas all over Norway. She said at one time, a Norwegian king made it illegal to Not brew Christmas Ale. Everything was delicious, and I ate until I could stuff in no more.After dinner, we cleaned up and went into the living room to enjoy coffee, cookies, and a small bowl of Riskrem. I wondered why Leah brought out four bowls of Riskrem. Three topped with whipped cream and a berry sauce, one with only a blob of butter in the middle.Leah said, “We set out a bowl of porridge every Christmas for the fjøsnissen. The tradition evolved from the days when farming families would offer porridge to their barn elf, or nisse. The nisse takes care of the animals in the barn during winter so they don’t get sick. If you don’t do this, the fjøsnissen will play tricks on you.”As we nibbled, Jorunn set the bowl of porridge outside the front door for the fjøsnissen. Then we sat and watched an American Christmas movie on television. After it ended, Leah announced it was time to open the presents. I suspected this would happen and was glad I bought a gift for both Leah and Jorunn. We each dispersed, returned with our packages, and placed them under the Christmas tree.As expected, Leah and Jorunn shared the most gifts for each other, opening the usual mix of chocolates, clothing, and kitchen items. Then Jorunn handed me a gift from her. I opened it and found a DVD labeled, 'Christmas in Norway Tour’, along with a link and instructions to download the video if I preferred. Jorunn told me she made an hour-long video of all the things we did together over the past week, adding music and voiceovers so I would remember the now-completed tour. In exceedingly small letters, at the bottom of the instructions, I saw a link for a story with a similar name and suspected it might be one full of adjectives.Jorunn then opened my gift to her. I remembered the small camera she used this past week and bought her a new top-of-the-line digital camera. From her reaction, I did well.Leah then opened my gift to her. I purchased a genuinely nice Advent star to hang in her window, since she did not have one. It was large and electrically lit and after opening it, she wanted to hang it up right away, which we did. Then we went outside to see how it looked. Leah kissed me and whispered that the Advent Star possessed a special meaning for her this year, a sign of brighter days ahead.Seeing us standing outside, a Julenissen crossed the street and came up to us. The man, dressed in a red jacket with a matching pointed red hat, carried a cloth sack. He was older, and his white beard looked genuine.Jorunn yelled, “God Jul, Julenissen!”As the Julenissen joined us, Leah said, “Nice to see you again, Mr. Bjornstad.”The Julenissen opened a small cloth sack, pulled out a straw goat wrapped with red ribbons, and handed it to Jorunn. Leah explained that the Julenissen come around to houses on Christmas Eve to hand out presents and chocolate to the children. Often, more than one Julenissen would knock on your door during the evening. Unlike America, children get to meet the Julenissen in Norway.“It wouldn’t be the same this year without one of your julebukk!” said an excited Jorunn. Mr. Bjornstad had been coming to Jorunn’s house for a long time, and told us he likes to keep alive the old Norse traditions, such as the julebukk. In addition to handing out hand-made gifts, he tells folklore stories and tales from the days of the Vikings. What a wonderful thing to do to preserve the ancient Norse legacy of sagas and storytelling.Leah excused herself as Mr. Bjornstad started telling such a tale to Jorunn and me. He described Valhalla, where Odin and the brave warriors would train by day, and feast on roast boar and ale at night. Leah returned a moment later with four glasses of Aquavit. We toasted the season and sipped our Aquavit with the Julenissen after the story ended. We then sang a Christmas song together.Then we went back inside and watched the DVD that Jorunn made. The tour sounded exciting and full of fun, which indeed, it was. It also gave Leah another chance to see me in action. It was a full evening, and close to 23:00 when the DVD ended. We were all tired, and it was time for bed. Jorunn told us she was going upstairs to take a shower. Leah and I followed her up to our two bedrooms.A Single CandleDecember 24th - Late EveningFive minutes later, there was a knock on my bedroom door. Opening it, Leah stood there, holding a single candle, and wearing a lavender-colored silk nightgown and robe set. The half-sleeve wrap robe only partially covered her nightgown, leaving the lace-trimmed bustline and hem of her nightgown exposed. She put a finger to her mouth and whispered, “Shhh!” Then she led me by hand to her bedroom. The only light inside came from her single candle.My eyes quickly adjusted, or perhaps it was just my intent stare, “You look incredible.”Leah

Poetry and baring the soul.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Arriving at her house, Leah and I carried my clothes up to the spare bedroom. I thanked Leah once again, then kissed her.Leah softly whispered, “Jorunn is downstairs!”I replied in the same whisper, “Then kiss me quietly.” And she did.I spent the remainder of the day doing my laundry, once Leah showed me how to use her Norwegian washing machine. Leah opened the clothes drying rack, and when done, I laid my clothes out to dry.For dinner, Leah prepared salmon fillets with boiled potatoes. As Jorunn and Leah washed the dishes, I sat on the center seat of the sofa, reflecting on the day. When they finished, both Jorunn and Leah rushed into the living room, extremely excited, and sat down on either side of me. Jorunn turned on the television and switched to Norwegian National Television. I wondered what the fuss was about.“Five more minutes,” yelped Jorunn.After a brief introduction, an old black-and-white movie started. Both Jorunn and Leah snuggled up tight against me and I put my arms around them. It felt great. The show, called “Dinner for One”, featured a 90-year-old countess celebrating her birthday. She invited four friends but outlived them all. Her butler decides to impersonate each of the four missing guests. As he slips into each of the roles, he drinks a toast, and quickly becomes intoxicated, leading to numerous sight gags. It felt good to laugh along with people again. It was rather short, and when it ended, Leah told me it was the most repeated television show of all time and is quite popular in Scandinavian countries and northern Europe.Leah and Jorunn went around rearranging and straightening Christmas decorations, then announced it was time to make Julekurver. I heard of them, but never actually made one. Made of paper, they are heart-shaped and filled with sweets.We quickly cleared the dining room table, then covered it with red and white paper, a plastic rule, a plastic circle, and scissor. Leah and Jorunn both moved quickly, folding a sheet of paper of each color, and I followed their action. Then it was time to measure and cut, and fortunately, they slowed down to allow me to keep up. Using a circle, we marked a half circle and cut the excess away. Then cut strips into the paper, not going all the way across. We wove the red and white papers together in a checkerboard pattern and unfolded them into a perfect heart shape. I thought the process rather inefficient and decided to show off my engineering skills from 3M by making a fancier one. As I unfolded it, Jorunn and Leah laughed, and a moment later, I discovered one way not to make a Julekurver.After a long and active day, I was tired, so I went to bed. Both Jorunn and Leah were talking softly in the living room as I drifted off to sleep.A nocturnal visitorDecember 23rd - Just Before MidnightI was startled awake when I heard my bedroom door close, followed by a soft, “Shush!”I listened closely in the total darkness for footsteps and heard someone approach my bed. Leah must be ready to resume what we started back at the hotel! A hand pulled back the covers, and instinctively I slid toward the middle of the bed to make space. Leah slid in next to me and drew the covers back over us.Leah moved and shifted, and a hand found the back of my head. I expected her lips to follow, and they did. Soft and gentle, a wonderful way for my nocturnal visitor to say hello. Leah told me at the hotel she did not want to feel rushed, so there was no urgency. Her lips retreated, and her hand slid down to caress my cheek, as delicate fingers gently stroked me.I reached out and found her left shoulder as Leah faced me, then marveled at the smoothness as my hand traced her arm downward. Approaching her hand, I extended further to touch her hip. I began softly rubbing, but her ass beckoned, and my hand moved to cup and squeeze her firm cheek. My fingers began shooting sensations of warmth, softness, and inner firmness directly to my brain. I pulled Leah tight against me and discovered she was already completely naked.Leah swung her left leg over me and moved to an upright position, straddling my crotch. Beneath my boxer shorts, my erect cock fought for release. Her hand found my cock within its shelter but did not liberate it. Instead, her hand pushed my cock flat against my lower stomach, and she slid forward, trapping it with the swollen outer lips of her pussy. Leah began slowly gyrating, and even through the fabric of my boxers, I felt her pussy lips spreading as they slid along either side of my hidden cock.The hushed sounds of Leah cooing and moaning barely reached my ears, as dampness built between us. I reached up with both hands, found her small breasts, and used my thumbs to tease her nipples to an erection. A heavy breath followed by a long ‘uh. Oh; Ah!’ brought me close to premature orgasm, but this was not what Leah wanted, so I held back.Leah must have sensed I was close. She stopped gyrating, lifted herself, and then began inching herself up my torso. She paused for a moment and sat on my chest, then her hands reached out to touch my face. Two fingertips began touring my facial features as if Leah wanted to memorize every feature of my face. In the darkness, my senses heightened, her fingers swirled, and circled, and glided over me. I never would have imagined how erotic it felt.Leah resumed moving higher, her knees passing over my shoulders until they rested on either side of my head. I reached up to confirm what lay just inches above my face and grazed the same hairy splendor I sampled back at the hotel. Inhaling deeply, I picked up traces of the same body wash on her thighs. I was ready to dive back in, so I reached up and grabbed Leah’s hips, then pulled her pussy down toward my awaiting tongue. I paused as her short curly hair began painting her scent onto my face. The scent of arousal overpowered my senses. But? Something strange? I froze. The contradiction awoke my twilight dream state.“Why did you stop, Gunnar?” From the darkness came Jorunn’s voice! The dream of Leah's nocturnal visit was replaced by the reality of a beautiful young woman revealing her devotion and desire to this 56 year old guy.I was stunned. I couldn’t reveal the real reason I stopped; was uncertainty. Jorunn’s pussy smelled different than Leah’s! I hadn’t noticed any difference between Leah’s and Jorunn’s tall, fit bodies. If there were any, they were undetectable in the darkness, especially with only my brief exposure to Leah. “I can’t do this with you, Jorunn.” I softly and sincerely spoke.“I want to make love to you tonight, Gunnar. More than anything in the world. Am I not pretty enough? Has not enough time passed since your wife’s funeral? You are the only man in the world I can love to, without fear of being hurt.”“Jorunn, you are an incredibly beautiful woman. For months, I fantasized about holding you in my arms, kissing you, and wishing to be exactly where I am now. But yesterday, I met your mother.”Jorunn asked, “Did she order you not to have sex with me?”I replied, “It’s not that. I think I’m falling in love with Leah. We spent a wonderful day together, and she swept me off my feet. If that love turns out to be mutual, I am prepared to pledge my heart totally to her and her alone. A lifetime commitment, one I will never dishonor. The only reason you and I got this far tonight is that in the darkness and my dream state, I thought you were Leah. I never would have done it otherwise.” But you are a lovely and desirable woman. I respect you and Leah. So much that I cannot be false to either of you. And I cannot dishonor myself, by doing what I know is dishonorable.”Jorunn shifted positions and lay next to me in the bed. In the darkness, Jorunn whispered, “You are so unlike my father. He always put himself first. I was ready to give myself to you tonight. You could have kept quiet and let it happen. Then lied about it to my mother in the morning. But you didn’t. You are a better man than my father ever was, and I know you will make my mother happy. Please don’t be afraid to give her, and yourself, a chance. She really needs someone like you in her life.”I heard a soft sob and reached out to touch Jorunn’s face. She was crying. Jorunn came into my bedroom tonight, looking for someone to love. She didn’t know about Leah and me, or what happened between us at the hotel. I very much doubt her mother would have told her. I admired what Jorunn just did. She was sacrificing her chance at love so that her mother might have one. Jorunn knew that she bore the duty to initiate affection, after so harshly rejecting my romantic advances, last week.Silence followed, before Jorunn finally said, “What you have shown me, Gunnar, is that there are still good men in this world. But I am still afraid to look for them.”I thought back to the day Jorunn and I went sledging. “Remember what you told me at Korketrekkeren? You don’t need to be afraid of looking for a man, Jorunn. What you need to be afraid of is being too afraid to try looking for a man. Promise me that you will push off, just like riding a sledge, and start looking. When you reach the bottom of that scary hill, you will no longer be afraid, and someone you love will be waiting there for you.”“I will, Gunnar. I promise. And thank you.” Jorunn climbed out of my bed and closed the door as she left.Christmas EveDecember 24 - MorningI woke up in the guest room bed. Hearing noises and holiday folk music in the kitchen, I dressed and went downstairs. Leah smiled and said, “God Jul!”, Norwegian's way of saying merry Christmas. Then she made me scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Afterward, I enjoyed a slice of fruited Christmas Cake with coffee.“Leah, there is something I need to tell you. Jorunn came into my room last night looking for a man to love. In the darkness and my dream state, I thought it was you. It took a moment for me to realize it was Jorunn, and I stopped myself before going too far. Jorunn and I talked, and I confessed my love for you, to her. She understood, and asked that I give that love a chance. I want to do that. I asked Jorunn to no longer be afraid to look for love, and she agreed.”“Thank you for telling me, Gunnar. I have struggled to get Jorunn to go on dates after her father hurt her so badly. You must be a special man to find a place in her heart.”Leah sat down at the table with me, and continued; “I trust Jorunn, and now I trust you. So you will know, I will come to you tonight, bearing a lighted candle.”I said, “That sounds romantic.” My cock jolted to attention, under my trousers. I smiled and winked.Leah replied, “Wait until you see what I will be wearing.” She stood and returned to her baking, as the soft holiday music filled the busy kitchen. Leah's hips softly gyrated to the soft beat as she hummed with the lyrics.Jorunn came down later for breakfast, and after eating, she announced she would be working on edits and voiceovers for her recent videos. Since they were related to Christmas, she wanted to finish them to post them later tonight.Just before lunch, Leah led me back to the television and as we snuggled on the couch, she turned on “Tre Notter til Askepott”, a 1973 Czech reenactment of Cinderella, dubbed into Norwegian. The story was familiar, with Cinderella granted three wishes. It was enjoyable, but the dubbed dialog did not quite match the lips of the actors, so I needed to concentrate on what they were saying. Leah mentioned that this show is so popular in Norway, that storms of protest arose one year when they decided not to broadcast it. They ended up sending it out later in the holiday.Jorunn joined Leah and me for lunch. We ate Risengrynsgrot, which is rice porridge cooked with milk, sugar, and vanilla. We each had a bowl, and hiding in one of the three bowls was an almond. I suspected possible cheating such that I would be the one getting the almond, but as it turned out, Jorunn got the lucky bowl. As her prize, Leah gave Jorunn a chocolate-covered marzipan pig, an oddity for certain, but part of the tradition. There was porridge left over, and Leah said she would use it to make Riskrem, the delicious rice dessert eaten after tonight’s dinner. Solveig’s Riskrem was one of my favorite parts of the holiday season, and I was looking forward to tasting Leah’s.Leah turned to me and said, “If you want to eat, you must help in the kitchen.”Cooking was not something I knew very well, and after Leah led me into the kitchen, I let her know that. But since we were alone, I moved behind her, pulled her blonde hair aside, and nuzzled her neck.Leah said, “If you don’t stop, Gunnar, it will take longer before we eat.” But she wiggled her hips into my crotch before spinning out of my embrace.I helped Leah remove a large roasting pan from the refrigerator and put it in the oven. “That’s a strange-looking piece of meat,” I said.Leah replied, “It is called Ribbe, or roasted pork belly. It is one of the most popular Christmas meals in Norway. I scored the fat layer on top two days ago into a checkerboard pattern. Once cooked, the bottom meat stays tender while the cracklings on top get crispy.”Leah handed me a vegetable peeler and pointed to a bag of potatoes. I needed no further instructions on this. While I worked, Leah flittered around the kitchen, preparing the side dishes. She looked genuinely happy, and we talked and laughed and told tales of Christmases long ago.Just as we pulled the Ribbe from the oven, church bells began ringing from multiple sources. It was 17:00.“It seems like an odd time for church bells,” I said.Leah replied, “In Scandinavia, a new day traditionally starts at sundown, not midnight. Following the old ways, Christmas Day has arrived. It is time to eat.”Jorunn joined us in the mad flurry of activity as places were set, and food moved from the kitchen to the dining room. On the table was Ribbe, boiled potatoes, meatballs, gravy, sausages, sauerkraut, prunes, and lingonberries. Leah poured each of us a tall glass of juleøl, a dark spiced ale, brewed during Christmas all over Norway. She said at one time, a Norwegian king made it illegal to Not brew Christmas Ale. Everything was delicious, and I ate until I could stuff in no more.After dinner, we cleaned up and went into the living room to enjoy coffee, cookies, and a small bowl of Riskrem. I wondered why Leah brought out four bowls of Riskrem. Three topped with whipped cream and a berry sauce, one with only a blob of butter in the middle.Leah said, “We set out a bowl of porridge every Christmas for the fjøsnissen. The tradition evolved from the days when farming families would offer porridge to their barn elf, or nisse. The nisse takes care of the animals in the barn during winter so they don’t get sick. If you don’t do this, the fjøsnissen will play tricks on you.”As we nibbled, Jorunn set the bowl of porridge outside the front door for the fjøsnissen. Then we sat and watched an American Christmas movie on television. After it ended, Leah announced it was time to open the presents. I suspected this would happen and was glad I bought a gift for both Leah and Jorunn. We each dispersed, returned with our packages, and placed them under the Christmas tree.As expected, Leah and Jorunn shared the most gifts for each other, opening the usual mix of chocolates, clothing, and kitchen items. Then Jorunn handed me a gift from her. I opened it and found a DVD labeled, 'Christmas in Norway Tour’, along with a link and instructions to download the video if I preferred. Jorunn told me she made an hour-long video of all the things we did together over the past week, adding music and voiceovers so I would remember the now-completed tour. In exceedingly small letters, at the bottom of the instructions, I saw a link for a story with a similar name and suspected it might be one full of adjectives.Jorunn then opened my gift to her. I remembered the small camera she used this past week and bought her a new top-of-the-line digital camera. From her reaction, I did well.Leah then opened my gift to her. I purchased a genuinely nice Advent star to hang in her window, since she did not have one. It was large and electrically lit and after opening it, she wanted to hang it up right away, which we did. Then we went outside to see how it looked. Leah kissed me and whispered that the Advent Star possessed a special meaning for her this year, a sign of brighter days ahead.Seeing us standing outside, a Julenissen crossed the street and came up to us. The man, dressed in a red jacket with a matching pointed red hat, carried a cloth sack. He was older, and his white beard looked genuine.Jorunn yelled, “God Jul, Julenissen!”As the Julenissen joined us, Leah said, “Nice to see you again, Mr. Bjornstad.”The Julenissen opened a small cloth sack, pulled out a straw goat wrapped with red ribbons, and handed it to Jorunn. Leah explained that the Julenissen come around to houses on Christmas Eve to hand out presents and chocolate to the children. Often, more than one Julenissen would knock on your door during the evening. Unlike America, children get to meet the Julenissen in Norway.“It wouldn’t be the same this year without one of your julebukk!” said an excited Jorunn. Mr. Bjornstad had been coming to Jorunn’s house for a long time, and told us he likes to keep alive the old Norse traditions, such as the julebukk. In addition to handing out hand-made gifts, he tells folklore stories and tales from the days of the Vikings. What a wonderful thing to do to preserve the ancient Norse legacy of sagas and storytelling.Leah excused herself as Mr. Bjornstad started telling such a tale to Jorunn and me. He described Valhalla, where Odin and the brave warriors would train by day, and feast on roast boar and ale at night. Leah returned a moment later with four glasses of Aquavit. We toasted the season and sipped our Aquavit with the Julenissen after the story ended. We then sang a Christmas song together.Then we went back inside and watched the DVD that Jorunn made. The tour sounded exciting and full of fun, which indeed, it was. It also gave Leah another chance to see me in action. It was a full evening, and close to 23:00 when the DVD ended. We were all tired, and it was time for bed. Jorunn told us she was going upstairs to take a shower. Leah and I followed her up to our two bedrooms.A Single CandleDecember 24th - Late EveningFive minutes later, there was a knock on my bedroom door. Opening it, Leah stood there, holding a single candle, and wearing a lavender-colored silk nightgown and robe set. The half-sleeve wrap robe only partially covered her nightgown, leaving the lace-trimmed bustline and hem of her nightgown exposed. She put a finger to her mouth and whispered, “Shhh!” Then she led me by hand to her bedroom. The only light inside came from her single candle.My eyes quickly adjusted, or perhaps it was just my intent stare, “You look incredible.”Leah

This week on rabble radio, something a little different: a love story.  Sarah Sahagian sits down with Rachael Durie to talk about falling in love at 18, becoming a living organ donor, and what it means to keep going after losing the love of your life. This is part one of their conversation. To hear Sarah's full interview with Rachael, join our Patreon community today—memberships start at just $1 per month. About our guest  Rachael Durie is a public policy and nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience spanning government, community advocacy, and social impact. She is currently the executive director of Spectrum Mothers Support Society, supporting mothers and families in crisis through community-based, preventative care. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio. 

Poetry and baring the soul.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Arriving at her house, Leah and I carried my clothes up to the spare bedroom. I thanked Leah once again, then kissed her.Leah softly whispered, “Jorunn is downstairs!”I replied in the same whisper, “Then kiss me quietly.” And she did.I spent the remainder of the day doing my laundry, once Leah showed me how to use her Norwegian washing machine. Leah opened the clothes drying rack, and when done, I laid my clothes out to dry.For dinner, Leah prepared salmon fillets with boiled potatoes. As Jorunn and Leah washed the dishes, I sat on the center seat of the sofa, reflecting on the day. When they finished, both Jorunn and Leah rushed into the living room, extremely excited, and sat down on either side of me. Jorunn turned on the television and switched to Norwegian National Television. I wondered what the fuss was about.“Five more minutes,” yelped Jorunn.After a brief introduction, an old black-and-white movie started. Both Jorunn and Leah snuggled up tight against me and I put my arms around them. It felt great. The show, called “Dinner for One”, featured a 90-year-old countess celebrating her birthday. She invited four friends but outlived them all. Her butler decides to impersonate each of the four missing guests. As he slips into each of the roles, he drinks a toast, and quickly becomes intoxicated, leading to numerous sight gags. It felt good to laugh along with people again. It was rather short, and when it ended, Leah told me it was the most repeated television show of all time and is quite popular in Scandinavian countries and northern Europe.Leah and Jorunn went around rearranging and straightening Christmas decorations, then announced it was time to make Julekurver. I heard of them, but never actually made one. Made of paper, they are heart-shaped and filled with sweets.We quickly cleared the dining room table, then covered it with red and white paper, a plastic rule, a plastic circle, and scissor. Leah and Jorunn both moved quickly, folding a sheet of paper of each color, and I followed their action. Then it was time to measure and cut, and fortunately, they slowed down to allow me to keep up. Using a circle, we marked a half circle and cut the excess away. Then cut strips into the paper, not going all the way across. We wove the red and white papers together in a checkerboard pattern and unfolded them into a perfect heart shape. I thought the process rather inefficient and decided to show off my engineering skills from 3M by making a fancier one. As I unfolded it, Jorunn and Leah laughed, and a moment later, I discovered one way not to make a Julekurver.After a long and active day, I was tired, so I went to bed. Both Jorunn and Leah were talking softly in the living room as I drifted off to sleep.A nocturnal visitorDecember 23rd - Just Before MidnightI was startled awake when I heard my bedroom door close, followed by a soft, “Shush!”I listened closely in the total darkness for footsteps and heard someone approach my bed. Leah must be ready to resume what we started back at the hotel! A hand pulled back the covers, and instinctively I slid toward the middle of the bed to make space. Leah slid in next to me and drew the covers back over us.Leah moved and shifted, and a hand found the back of my head. I expected her lips to follow, and they did. Soft and gentle, a wonderful way for my nocturnal visitor to say hello. Leah told me at the hotel she did not want to feel rushed, so there was no urgency. Her lips retreated, and her hand slid down to caress my cheek, as delicate fingers gently stroked me.I reached out and found her left shoulder as Leah faced me, then marveled at the smoothness as my hand traced her arm downward. Approaching her hand, I extended further to touch her hip. I began softly rubbing, but her ass beckoned, and my hand moved to cup and squeeze her firm cheek. My fingers began shooting sensations of warmth, softness, and inner firmness directly to my brain. I pulled Leah tight against me and discovered she was already completely naked.Leah swung her left leg over me and moved to an upright position, straddling my crotch. Beneath my boxer shorts, my erect cock fought for release. Her hand found my cock within its shelter but did not liberate it. Instead, her hand pushed my cock flat against my lower stomach, and she slid forward, trapping it with the swollen outer lips of her pussy. Leah began slowly gyrating, and even through the fabric of my boxers, I felt her pussy lips spreading as they slid along either side of my hidden cock.The hushed sounds of Leah cooing and moaning barely reached my ears, as dampness built between us. I reached up with both hands, found her small breasts, and used my thumbs to tease her nipples to an erection. A heavy breath followed by a long ‘uh. Oh; Ah!’ brought me close to premature orgasm, but this was not what Leah wanted, so I held back.Leah must have sensed I was close. She stopped gyrating, lifted herself, and then began inching herself up my torso. She paused for a moment and sat on my chest, then her hands reached out to touch my face. Two fingertips began touring my facial features as if Leah wanted to memorize every feature of my face. In the darkness, my senses heightened, her fingers swirled, and circled, and glided over me. I never would have imagined how erotic it felt.Leah resumed moving higher, her knees passing over my shoulders until they rested on either side of my head. I reached up to confirm what lay just inches above my face and grazed the same hairy splendor I sampled back at the hotel. Inhaling deeply, I picked up traces of the same body wash on her thighs. I was ready to dive back in, so I reached up and grabbed Leah’s hips, then pulled her pussy down toward my awaiting tongue. I paused as her short curly hair began painting her scent onto my face. The scent of arousal overpowered my senses. But? Something strange? I froze. The contradiction awoke my twilight dream state.“Why did you stop, Gunnar?” From the darkness came Jorunn’s voice! The dream of Leah's nocturnal visit was replaced by the reality of a beautiful young woman revealing her devotion and desire to this 56 year old guy.I was stunned. I couldn’t reveal the real reason I stopped; was uncertainty. Jorunn’s pussy smelled different than Leah’s! I hadn’t noticed any difference between Leah’s and Jorunn’s tall, fit bodies. If there were any, they were undetectable in the darkness, especially with only my brief exposure to Leah. “I can’t do this with you, Jorunn.” I softly and sincerely spoke.“I want to make love to you tonight, Gunnar. More than anything in the world. Am I not pretty enough? Has not enough time passed since your wife’s funeral? You are the only man in the world I can love to, without fear of being hurt.”“Jorunn, you are an incredibly beautiful woman. For months, I fantasized about holding you in my arms, kissing you, and wishing to be exactly where I am now. But yesterday, I met your mother.”Jorunn asked, “Did she order you not to have sex with me?”I replied, “It’s not that. I think I’m falling in love with Leah. We spent a wonderful day together, and she swept me off my feet. If that love turns out to be mutual, I am prepared to pledge my heart totally to her and her alone. A lifetime commitment, one I will never dishonor. The only reason you and I got this far tonight is that in the darkness and my dream state, I thought you were Leah. I never would have done it otherwise.” But you are a lovely and desirable woman. I respect you and Leah. So much that I cannot be false to either of you. And I cannot dishonor myself, by doing what I know is dishonorable.”Jorunn shifted positions and lay next to me in the bed. In the darkness, Jorunn whispered, “You are so unlike my father. He always put himself first. I was ready to give myself to you tonight. You could have kept quiet and let it happen. Then lied about it to my mother in the morning. But you didn’t. You are a better man than my father ever was, and I know you will make my mother happy. Please don’t be afraid to give her, and yourself, a chance. She really needs someone like you in her life.”I heard a soft sob and reached out to touch Jorunn’s face. She was crying. Jorunn came into my bedroom tonight, looking for someone to love. She didn’t know about Leah and me, or what happened between us at the hotel. I very much doubt her mother would have told her. I admired what Jorunn just did. She was sacrificing her chance at love so that her mother might have one. Jorunn knew that she bore the duty to initiate affection, after so harshly rejecting my romantic advances, last week.Silence followed, before Jorunn finally said, “What you have shown me, Gunnar, is that there are still good men in this world. But I am still afraid to look for them.”I thought back to the day Jorunn and I went sledging. “Remember what you told me at Korketrekkeren? You don’t need to be afraid of looking for a man, Jorunn. What you need to be afraid of is being too afraid to try looking for a man. Promise me that you will push off, just like riding a sledge, and start looking. When you reach the bottom of that scary hill, you will no longer be afraid, and someone you love will be waiting there for you.”“I will, Gunnar. I promise. And thank you.” Jorunn climbed out of my bed and closed the door as she left.Christmas EveDecember 24 - MorningI woke up in the guest room bed. Hearing noises and holiday folk music in the kitchen, I dressed and went downstairs. Leah smiled and said, “God Jul!”, Norwegian's way of saying merry Christmas. Then she made me scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Afterward, I enjoyed a slice of fruited Christmas Cake with coffee.“Leah, there is something I need to tell you. Jorunn came into my room last night looking for a man to love. In the darkness and my dream state, I thought it was you. It took a moment for me to realize it was Jorunn, and I stopped myself before going too far. Jorunn and I talked, and I confessed my love for you, to her. She understood, and asked that I give that love a chance. I want to do that. I asked Jorunn to no longer be afraid to look for love, and she agreed.”“Thank you for telling me, Gunnar. I have struggled to get Jorunn to go on dates after her father hurt her so badly. You must be a special man to find a place in her heart.”Leah sat down at the table with me, and continued; “I trust Jorunn, and now I trust you. So you will know, I will come to you tonight, bearing a lighted candle.”I said, “That sounds romantic.” My cock jolted to attention, under my trousers. I smiled and winked.Leah replied, “Wait until you see what I will be wearing.” She stood and returned to her baking, as the soft holiday music filled the busy kitchen. Leah's hips softly gyrated to the soft beat as she hummed with the lyrics.Jorunn came down later for breakfast, and after eating, she announced she would be working on edits and voiceovers for her recent videos. Since they were related to Christmas, she wanted to finish them to post them later tonight.Just before lunch, Leah led me back to the television and as we snuggled on the couch, she turned on “Tre Notter til Askepott”, a 1973 Czech reenactment of Cinderella, dubbed into Norwegian. The story was familiar, with Cinderella granted three wishes. It was enjoyable, but the dubbed dialog did not quite match the lips of the actors, so I needed to concentrate on what they were saying. Leah mentioned that this show is so popular in Norway, that storms of protest arose one year when they decided not to broadcast it. They ended up sending it out later in the holiday.Jorunn joined Leah and me for lunch. We ate Risengrynsgrot, which is rice porridge cooked with milk, sugar, and vanilla. We each had a bowl, and hiding in one of the three bowls was an almond. I suspected possible cheating such that I would be the one getting the almond, but as it turned out, Jorunn got the lucky bowl. As her prize, Leah gave Jorunn a chocolate-covered marzipan pig, an oddity for certain, but part of the tradition. There was porridge left over, and Leah said she would use it to make Riskrem, the delicious rice dessert eaten after tonight’s dinner. Solveig’s Riskrem was one of my favorite parts of the holiday season, and I was looking forward to tasting Leah’s.Leah turned to me and said, “If you want to eat, you must help in the kitchen.”Cooking was not something I knew very well, and after Leah led me into the kitchen, I let her know that. But since we were alone, I moved behind her, pulled her blonde hair aside, and nuzzled her neck.Leah said, “If you don’t stop, Gunnar, it will take longer before we eat.” But she wiggled her hips into my crotch before spinning out of my embrace.I helped Leah remove a large roasting pan from the refrigerator and put it in the oven. “That’s a strange-looking piece of meat,” I said.Leah replied, “It is called Ribbe, or roasted pork belly. It is one of the most popular Christmas meals in Norway. I scored the fat layer on top two days ago into a checkerboard pattern. Once cooked, the bottom meat stays tender while the cracklings on top get crispy.”Leah handed me a vegetable peeler and pointed to a bag of potatoes. I needed no further instructions on this. While I worked, Leah flittered around the kitchen, preparing the side dishes. She looked genuinely happy, and we talked and laughed and told tales of Christmases long ago.Just as we pulled the Ribbe from the oven, church bells began ringing from multiple sources. It was 17:00.“It seems like an odd time for church bells,” I said.Leah replied, “In Scandinavia, a new day traditionally starts at sundown, not midnight. Following the old ways, Christmas Day has arrived. It is time to eat.”Jorunn joined us in the mad flurry of activity as places were set, and food moved from the kitchen to the dining room. On the table was Ribbe, boiled potatoes, meatballs, gravy, sausages, sauerkraut, prunes, and lingonberries. Leah poured each of us a tall glass of juleøl, a dark spiced ale, brewed during Christmas all over Norway. She said at one time, a Norwegian king made it illegal to Not brew Christmas Ale. Everything was delicious, and I ate until I could stuff in no more.After dinner, we cleaned up and went into the living room to enjoy coffee, cookies, and a small bowl of Riskrem. I wondered why Leah brought out four bowls of Riskrem. Three topped with whipped cream and a berry sauce, one with only a blob of butter in the middle.Leah said, “We set out a bowl of porridge every Christmas for the fjøsnissen. The tradition evolved from the days when farming families would offer porridge to their barn elf, or nisse. The nisse takes care of the animals in the barn during winter so they don’t get sick. If you don’t do this, the fjøsnissen will play tricks on you.”As we nibbled, Jorunn set the bowl of porridge outside the front door for the fjøsnissen. Then we sat and watched an American Christmas movie on television. After it ended, Leah announced it was time to open the presents. I suspected this would happen and was glad I bought a gift for both Leah and Jorunn. We each dispersed, returned with our packages, and placed them under the Christmas tree.As expected, Leah and Jorunn shared the most gifts for each other, opening the usual mix of chocolates, clothing, and kitchen items. Then Jorunn handed me a gift from her. I opened it and found a DVD labeled, 'Christmas in Norway Tour’, along with a link and instructions to download the video if I preferred. Jorunn told me she made an hour-long video of all the things we did together over the past week, adding music and voiceovers so I would remember the now-completed tour. In exceedingly small letters, at the bottom of the instructions, I saw a link for a story with a similar name and suspected it might be one full of adjectives.Jorunn then opened my gift to her. I remembered the small camera she used this past week and bought her a new top-of-the-line digital camera. From her reaction, I did well.Leah then opened my gift to her. I purchased a genuinely nice Advent star to hang in her window, since she did not have one. It was large and electrically lit and after opening it, she wanted to hang it up right away, which we did. Then we went outside to see how it looked. Leah kissed me and whispered that the Advent Star possessed a special meaning for her this year, a sign of brighter days ahead.Seeing us standing outside, a Julenissen crossed the street and came up to us. The man, dressed in a red jacket with a matching pointed red hat, carried a cloth sack. He was older, and his white beard looked genuine.Jorunn yelled, “God Jul, Julenissen!”As the Julenissen joined us, Leah said, “Nice to see you again, Mr. Bjornstad.”The Julenissen opened a small cloth sack, pulled out a straw goat wrapped with red ribbons, and handed it to Jorunn. Leah explained that the Julenissen come around to houses on Christmas Eve to hand out presents and chocolate to the children. Often, more than one Julenissen would knock on your door during the evening. Unlike America, children get to meet the Julenissen in Norway.“It wouldn’t be the same this year without one of your julebukk!” said an excited Jorunn. Mr. Bjornstad had been coming to Jorunn’s house for a long time, and told us he likes to keep alive the old Norse traditions, such as the julebukk. In addition to handing out hand-made gifts, he tells folklore stories and tales from the days of the Vikings. What a wonderful thing to do to preserve the ancient Norse legacy of sagas and storytelling.Leah excused herself as Mr. Bjornstad started telling such a tale to Jorunn and me. He described Valhalla, where Odin and the brave warriors would train by day, and feast on roast boar and ale at night. Leah returned a moment later with four glasses of Aquavit. We toasted the season and sipped our Aquavit with the Julenissen after the story ended. We then sang a Christmas song together.Then we went back inside and watched the DVD that Jorunn made. The tour sounded exciting and full of fun, which indeed, it was. It also gave Leah another chance to see me in action. It was a full evening, and close to 23:00 when the DVD ended. We were all tired, and it was time for bed. Jorunn told us she was going upstairs to take a shower. Leah and I followed her up to our two bedrooms.A Single CandleDecember 24th - Late EveningFive minutes later, there was a knock on my bedroom door. Opening it, Leah stood there, holding a single candle, and wearing a lavender-colored silk nightgown and robe set. The half-sleeve wrap robe only partially covered her nightgown, leaving the lace-trimmed bustline and hem of her nightgown exposed. She put a finger to her mouth and whispered, “Shhh!” Then she led me by hand to her bedroom. The only light inside came from her single candle.My eyes quickly adjusted, or perhaps it was just my intent stare, “You look incredible.”Leah

#233:In a season that glorifies romantic love, this episode is your reminder that the most important relationship you'll ever build is the one you have with yourself. We're talking about falling in love with yourself in ways that are both romantic and psychologically grounded — from small rituals that make you feel cared for to the science of self-trust and self-compassion. Whether you're single or deeply partnered, this is your invitation to become someone you feel safe, steady, and proud to be.FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhSUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 Sponsors:Peloton: Go to onepeloton.comCaraway: Visit Carawayhome.com/NTS to take an additional 10% off your next purchaseQuince: Go to quince.com/payton for free shipping on your order and 365 day returnsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We celebrate a monumental day, talk falling in love, and more!

We celebrate a monumental day, talk falling in love, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lasting love isn't something you find; it is a skill you must practice. In this episode, Jeff Krasno speaks with two leading relationship experts, Yung Pueblo (Diego Perez) and Jillian Turecki, to explore how to build healthy relationships through emotional responsibility, conscious communication, and self-awareness. While society focuses on the romance of falling in love, very little guidance exists on what it takes to sustain connection over time. This episode dismantles the myth of the “perfect partner” and provides actionable tools to navigate the inevitable challenges of long-term commitment, from boredom to conflict. This episode covers: The three anchors for loving better: Kindness, Compassion, and Growth Emotional Responsibility: How to communicate feelings without blaming your partner The “Comfort Trap”: Balancing stability with novelty to keep the spark alive Healing the Past: Why your relationship with yourself dictates your romantic success Conflict Resolution: Moving from “fighting to win” to listening to understand Love as a Verb: Practical rituals to show up for your partner even when you don't feel like it This podcast is for couples feeling stuck in a rut, singles looking to break old patterns, and anyone ready to approach love with greater mindfulness and maturity. New episodes weekly. Listen, learn, and grow together. This show is made possible by: CBDistillery: Go to CBDistillery.com  and use code COMMUNE for 25% off. Stemregen: Get 20% off your first order at stemregen.co/commune with the code COMMUNEPOD Bon Charge: Get 15% off when you order at boncharge.com and use promo code COMMUNE Vivobarefoot: Try Vivobarefoot risk-free with a 100-day return guarantee, and get 15% off your order at vivobarefoot.com/commune. Timeline: Go to Timeline.com/COMMUNE to claim a special offer for Commune listeners."

The only woman in a laboratory filled with men, Katharine Burr Blodgett soon becomes indispensable as an assistant to The General Electric Company's most famous scientist, Irving Langmuir. Their working relationship is an elegant symbiosis: her forte is experimentation, his is scientific theory. We follow their partnership as they successfully find ways to build a better lightbulb but Langmuir stumbles with an off-the-wall theory of matter. All the while, Katharine builds her life in Schenectady: going to church, making new friends, falling in love. In 1924, she embarks on a new journey to the University of Cambridge, where she studies with some of the most prominent physicists of the 20th century.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Do you feel truly loved? In their new book, psychology professors Harry Reis and Sonja Lyubomirsky explore the connection between love and happiness. According to their research, a key to happiness is feeling loved. They argue that the actions we usually associate with being loved, loving someone, or falling in love differ from truly feeling loved. So how can you nurture that feeling? This hour, we sit down with Reis and his University of Rochester colleague, psychology professor Bonnie Le, to explore the science of love and happiness and what it takes to feel more of both. In studio: Harry Reis, Ph.D., professor of psychology and Dean's Professor in Arts and Sciences at the University of Rochester, and co-author of "How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most" Bonnie Le, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at the University of Rochester ---Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.---Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter. Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.---Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

Send a textI'm joined by my friend Pontus for an honest conversation about the pattern many people label “avoidant”—the push–pull between longing for connection and needing space. If you're the one pulling away, or if you're on the receiving end of someone creating distance, this episode offers a rare, compassionate look behind the curtain.Pontus shares what it's like when the body says no and the mind rushes in to build a case: “They're not right,” “I'm broken,” “This will never work.” Together, we slow it down and uncover what's underneath: the fear of an inner emotional experience—and the survival strategy of pulling away so you don't have to feel it.Related episodes:EP 192: 5 Signs of Insecure Attachment (And How to Use Them to Heal) EP 164: A different look at anxious and avoidant attachment Ready to revolutionize your relationship experience? Last spots for the 2026 power journeys:Spain April 12-18 (women) The online programs: Join Alchemy to heal emotional wounds and shift reactive patterns (one year of live calls, lifetime access to practices, €550) The Embodied Relationship Academy (ERA) - the yearlong mentorship with me into secure relating and leading from love (from €370/month) Let's grow into the relationship you always longed for, starting with falling in love with being YOU.

Wyatt Feltgen chose the hard road.From getting “obliterated” as a 7th grader on varsity to making deep tournament runs as a postseason threat at 120 lbs, Wyatt's journey is about grit, growth, and refusing to quit.In this episode, Jordan sits down with the Florida High standout to talk about:• Falling in love with wrestling after quitting football• Taking tough losses to Steven Palmer and finally breaking through• The grind that changed everything at George Mulligan• The Florida High brotherhood and mentorship from seniors• Capital City Classic battles and postseason expectations• Why young wrestlers need to find “their senior” and stay the courseThis isn't a story about overnight success.It's about staying in the fight long enough to become dangerous.Wyatt Feltgen is just getting started.

In this newscast:  The Juneau School District is returning over $1 million earmarked for child care back to the city; The Alaska Department of Transportation has faced intense scrutiny in recent months over its plan to build a new ferry terminal between Juneau and Haines. Now, the agency is drawing fire from a panel of lawmakers charged with overseeing it; For the Alaska Survival Kit series, Alaska Public Media's Wesley Early set out to learn how Alaskans can increase their chances of finding a date and falling in love; Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Carney highlighted efforts to reduce case backlogs and asked lawmakers to fund new judges and long-delayed courthouse maintenance during the annual State of the Judiciary address today

This week on Olivia's House we're joined by Love Island winner Toni Laites for her first-ever podcast - and she does not hold back. Toni opens up about being street-cast in Vegas, arriving in the villa as a day-one bombshell, and how isolating the experience really was. She gets honest about the girls in the villa, the early divide, and why she believes she wasn't truly respected until the very end. From public votes and being labelled fake to accusations of being a “plant,” Toni reveals what it was really like to speak up for herself on Love Island. She also spills on villa relationships, pressure behind the scenes, her viral take that they “weren't getting paid enough to be having sex on TV,” plus moving to the UK with nothing but a suitcase, falling in love off camera, and why she'd NEVER go back the villa.. Unfiltered, funny, and brutally honest- this is Toni Laites telling her side of the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection is holding an overdose awareness and Naloxone training this Friday in Homer; and for Alaska Public Media's Alaska Survival Kit series, Wesley Early set out to learn how Alaskans can increase their chances of finding a date and falling in love.

Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection is holding an overdose awareness and Naloxone training this Friday in Homer; and for Alaska Public Media's Alaska Survival Kit series, Wesley Early set out to learn how Alaskans can increase their chances of finding a date and falling in love.

Sadie calls Luke (for KING & COUNTRY) and Courtney Smallbone “the realest deal,” and she's absolutely right. From how they first met to falling in love, Luke and Courtney share their backwards Cinderella dating story — and what it actually looked like to live out their vows in the early years of marriage. In sickness and in health… and then some. Through disease, terrifying moments with their baby, unexpected surgeries, addiction, and rehab, they get real about how hardship and suffering didn't break them—it built their faith, strengthened their love, and shaped a marriage that reflects God's love in a way only He can. Plus, Luke shares the backstory behind for KING & COUNTRY's “Burn the Ships,” and Sadie recalls how the song specifically impacted her, too. This Episode of WHOA That's Good is Sponsored By: https://preborn.com/sadie — Donate today. For just $28, you can help a mother in need meet her baby for the very first time. https://wildgrain.com/whoa — Get $30 off your first box - PLUS free Croissants for life! https://drinkAG1.com/whoa — Get 3 AG1 Travel Packs, 3 AGZ Travel Packs, and Vitamin D3+K2 FREE in your Welcome Kit with your first subscription order when you use my link! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Tale of Two Tapes: Unlocking Profits in the Note Investing MarketIn the world of real estate, there are those who chase physical property, and then there are the "gentle note investors" who look for the hidden gold within the paper. Channeling a bit of Charles Dickens—and perhaps a touch of Bridgerton—Scott Carson recently took to the airwaves for "Note Night in America" to break down two distinct, high-potential investment opportunities. Whether you are looking for the steady rhythm of performing land contracts or the complex, high-reward puzzle of early buyouts (EBOs), the current market is ripe for those ready to take action. Let's dive into the "Tale of Two Tapes" and see where the smart money is moving as we head into the new season. Key Takeaways from This Episode:Exploring the Power of Performing Contracts for Deed: A featured tape included 60 performing contracts for deed (land contracts) primarily centered in Wichita, Kansas. These assets offer a mixture of "rough" properties that were fixed up and owner-financed, as well as new construction homes. These notes boast attractive interest rates between 6.5% and 9.5%, often yielding double-digit returns (10-20%) when purchased at a discount. The Strategic Advantage of EBOs (Early Buyouts): The second tape consisted of 50 nonperforming FHA and VA loans, known in the industry as Early Buyouts. These assets often feature trial payment plans or active foreclosure actions. Investors can find opportunities here by either finishing the foreclosure to gain the property or benefiting from the modified payment plans once the borrower gets back on track. Navigating Tax Implications and Loan Modifications: Buying a note during a trial payment plan requires careful tax planning. If a loan modifies permanently, the IRS may attempt to tax you based on the full loan amount; however, investors can mitigate this by submitting third-party valuation forms to establish a more accurate cost basis based on the purchase price. The "Conversion" Strategy for Higher Yields: For land contracts, there is a unique opportunity to convert them into traditional 30-year mortgages. By working with a Registered Mortgage Loan Originator (RMLO), investors can formalize the paperwork, potentially increasing the asset's long-term value and stability while keeping the existing borrower in place. Hyper-Local Focus vs. National Spread: The tapes showed two different geographical strategies: the 60 land contracts were centrally located in the Wichita market, allowing for easier local oversight. In contrast, the 50 EBOs were scattered across the country, including New York, Texas, Florida, and California, requiring a broader understanding of state-specific foreclosure timelines and bankruptcy laws. Whether you're falling in love with the cash flow of Kansas or navigating the legal intricacies of nonperforming loans, the message is clear: the most successful investors are the ones who stay "in the game" and keep making offers. Note investing isn't just about the numbers on a spreadsheet; it's about finding the opportunity within the problem. As the baseball season kicks off and the market heats up, now is the time to sharpen your due diligence and build your portfolio.Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here's How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest

In this solo episode of the Fit Fathers Fellowship Podcast (formerly the Ben Barker Fitness Podcast), Ben Barker talks directly to dads about what it really takes to build strength—in the gym, in marriage, in fatherhood, and in faith.After nearly missing his Tuesday podcast for the first time in over two years, Ben shares a powerful reminder: life doesn't get easier—you just learn to handle hard better. Motivation isn't the key to progress. Discipline is built in the boring reps, the early mornings, and the ordinary days that no one sees.This episode is about falling in love with the process, even when it sucks:Why consistency beats motivation every timeHow strength and fitness are built on average workouts and showing up tiredWhat it really means to be a present father in the day-to-day momentsHow strong marriages are built through daily sacrifice, not highlight reelsWhy faith grows quietly through obedience, prayer, and trusting God in unseen seasonsIf you're a dad who wants to get incredibly strong and fit, lead your home well, love your wife deeply, and grow in your relationship with Christ—this episode is for you.You don't need a breakthrough.You just need to show up again today.Listen now, share this with another dad who needs encouragement, and fall in love with the process—because that's where strong men are made.

Falling in love with investing isn't about avoiding volatility. It's about changing how you relate to it.In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a client message, a private conversation with one of my closest friends after the 35% silver crash, and the single driver behind my investing philosophy,  the reason I never worry about the market and continue to make so much money investing.Tune in to learn:Why I never worry about the marketHow to fall in love with turbulent times instead of fearing themThe reframe on investing that nobody else will share with youThe single driver of my investing philosophy + why it's not found in any finance textbookWhat a 35% silver crash looks like when you're not operating from fear

The Tale of Two Tapes: Unlocking Profits in the Note Investing MarketIn the world of real estate, there are those who chase physical property, and then there are the "gentle note investors" who look for the hidden gold within the paper. Channeling a bit of Charles Dickens—and perhaps a touch of Bridgerton—Scott Carson recently took to the airwaves for "Note Night in America" to break down two distinct, high-potential investment opportunities. Whether you are looking for the steady rhythm of performing land contracts or the complex, high-reward puzzle of early buyouts (EBOs), the current market is ripe for those ready to take action. Let's dive into the "Tale of Two Tapes" and see where the smart money is moving as we head into the new season.Key Takeaways from This Episode:Exploring the Power of Performing Contracts for Deed: A featured tape included 60 performing contracts for deed (land contracts) primarily centered in Wichita, Kansas. These assets offer a mixture of "rough" properties that were fixed up and owner-financed, as well as new construction homes. These notes boast attractive interest rates between 6.5% and 9.5%, often yielding double-digit returns (10-20%) when purchased at a discount.The Strategic Advantage of EBOs (Early Buyouts): The second tape consisted of 50 nonperforming FHA and VA loans, known in the industry as Early Buyouts. These assets often feature trial payment plans or active foreclosure actions. Investors can find opportunities here by either finishing the foreclosure to gain the property or benefiting from the modified payment plans once the borrower gets back on track.Navigating Tax Implications and Loan Modifications: Buying a note during a trial payment plan requires careful tax planning. If a loan modifies permanently, the IRS may attempt to tax you based on the full loan amount; however, investors can mitigate this by submitting third-party valuation forms to establish a more accurate cost basis based on the purchase price.The "Conversion" Strategy for Higher Yields: For land contracts, there is a unique opportunity to convert them into traditional 30-year mortgages. By working with a Registered Mortgage Loan Originator (RMLO), investors can formalize the paperwork, potentially increasing the asset's long-term value and stability while keeping the existing borrower in place.Hyper-Local Focus vs. National Spread: The tapes showed two different geographical strategies: the 60 land contracts were centrally located in the Wichita market, allowing for easier local oversight. In contrast, the 50 EBOs were scattered across the country, including New York, Texas, Florida, and California, requiring a broader understanding of state-specific foreclosure timelines and bankruptcy laws.Whether you're falling in love with the cash flow of Kansas or navigating the legal intricacies of nonperforming loans, the message is clear: the most successful investors are the ones who stay "in the game" and keep making offers. Note investing isn't just about the numbers on a spreadsheet; it's about finding the opportunity within the problem. As the baseball season kicks off and the market heats up, now is the time to sharpen your due diligence and build your portfolio.Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here's How »Join Note Night in America community today:WeCloseNotes.comScott Carson FacebookScott Carson TwitterScott Carson LinkedInNote Night in America YouTubeNote Night in America VimeoScott Carson InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest

Connor O'Donoghue, JC Cassis and Jay Michel share stories about crushes and rebounds. 

[Rerun] Can we predict two people falling in love? Does online dating work? Does the TV show Married at First Sight use valid science? Dr. Kirk does a deep dive on the empirical research on scientific matchmaking. May 29, 2020This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/KIRK to get 10% off your first month.Become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOUZWV1DRtHtpP2H48S7iiw/joinBecome a patron: https://www.patreon.com/PsychologyInSeattleEmail: https://www.psychologyinseattle.com/contactWebsite: https://www.psychologyinseattle.comMerch: https://psychologyinseattle-shop.fourthwall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychologyinseattle/Facebook Official Page: https://www.facebook.com/PsychologyInSeattle/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kirk.hondaThe Psychology In Seattle Podcast ®Trigger Warning: This episode may include topics such as assault, trauma, and discrimination. If necessary, listeners are encouraged to refrain from listening and care for their safety and well-being.Disclaimer: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, therapy, diagnosis, or creates a counselor-client relationship. Topics discussed may generate differing points of view. If you participate (by being a guest, submitting a question, or commenting) you must do so with the knowledge that we cannot control reactions or responses from others, which may not agree with you or feel unfair. Your participation on this site is at your own risk, accepting full responsibility for any liability or harm that may result. Anything you write here may be used for discussion or endorsement of the podcast. Opinions and views expressed by the host and guest hosts are personal views. Although, we take precautions and fact check, they should not be considered facts and the opinions may change. Opinions posted by participants (such as comments) are not those of the hosts. Readers should not rely on any information found here and should perform due diligence before taking any action. For a more extensive description of factors for you to consider, please see www.psychologyinseattle.com(By The Daily Telegraph. Copyright holders of the image of Madeleine at three are Kate and Gerry McCann. The age-progressed image was commissioned by Scotland Yard from forensic artist Teri Blythe for release to the public. Both images have been widely disseminated by the copyright holders, and have been the subject of significant commentary., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39861556)

SEASON 22 IS OFFICIALLY HERE! And it's also our 10 year anniversary special from when our first episode went live back in Feb 2016. We're to taking a trip back memory lane to when we first started the podcast – what was going on in our lives and what made us decide to start a dating podcast to begin with! We're also talking about the big shifts that have happened in the last few years – from when the term situationship wasn't even in our vocabulary to what progress (and regressions) we've made in dating (yes, there is both). We're also reading our very first listener submission and leaving on a hopeful note of what we both think dating will look like in the next 10 years. Enjoy!

Through most of history, royals were stuck in unhappy, arranged marriages. But, sometimes, after getting through the awkward wedding night, royal brides and grooms found they had a lot in common and formed intimate, passionate, life-long connections. Some kings even ignored the court ladies clamoring to be their mistresses, and had eyes only for their Queen. From a medieval Queen who rode into war at her husband's side, to a renaissance emperor who trusted his wife to rule. From a Queen who risked death to continue sleeping with her husband, to a Princess who was betrothed to the heir, but ended up happy with the spare. While these monarchs might have been romantic heroes in the bedchamber, they were far from flawless. Some were cruel and violent towards their enemies and even their own people. But they prove that happily ever afters really can come true! At least until a lack of medical knowledge came in to turn their Julia Quinn bodice rippers into Nicholas Sparks tragedies. Let's meet 4 royal couples, who were brought together by arranged marriages but ended up falling in love! 1. King Edward I of England & Eleanor of Castile 2. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V & Isabella of Portugal 3. Queen Maria II of Portugal & Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha 4. Tsar Alexander III of Russia & Princess Dagmar of Denmark Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Butterflies in Love by Sir Cubworth #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 133, Sudan Archives's Brittney Parks shares the story of her creative evolution, beginning with falling in love with violin when she was in fourth grade (thanks to a school visit by Canadian fiddle group Barrage), how playing in church led to learning songs from the MTV countdown to impress her friends, and eventually learning how to make beats and record her own songs using her iPad. She also talks about the influence of artists including Ibeyi, Santigold, Lykke Li and Corinne Bailey Rae, and how she began releasing her music (under the moniker Sudan Moon) more than a decade ago. And of course we also delve into the making of her excellent latest album, The BPM, and how "driveway beef" with her LA neighbors led her to finish the project with family in Detroit, where the city's rich history of pioneering dance music helped coalesce some of her sonic ideas for the LP. Sudan Archives is currently on tour in the U.S.; get tickets here.

Sarah Ciociola shares her journey from agency novice to auto industry leader, how search is shifting from sales-focused to discovery-based, and why building trust through relevant, educational content is now the key to winning quality customers. The conversation also covers advanced strategies like profile-based marketing, the surprising value of call ads for fixed ops, and why automation and AI are the force multipliers dealers can't ignore.Whether you're in fixed ops, sales leadership, or dealership marketing, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways for elevating your store's digital game and seizing success as search and customer journeys keep evolving.--------------------------------------------This show is powered by PartsEdge: Your go-to solution for transforming dealership parts inventory into a powerhouse of profitability. Our strategies are proven to amp up parts sales by a whopping 20%, all while cutting down on idle inventory. If you're looking to optimize your parts management, visit

Hello, hello — and welcome back to Greedy Bitch, the podcast for groomers who are done apologizing for wanting more. I'm your host, River Lee — founder of The Savvy Groomer — and today's episode is perfectly timed for February. Because it's the month of love… and I want to talk about who you're actually in a relationship with in your business. Not your partner. Not your dog. Your clients. Because here's the thing no one tells groomers early enough: You can be booked solid. You can be making money. You can look “successful” from the outside. …and still quietly dread your day-to-day life. And most of the time, that doesn't come from grooming itself. It comes from the relationships you've built your business on. So today, we're talking about: Fling clients Ideal clients And soulmate clients And how falling in love with your clients doesn't mean being softer, nicer, or more accommodating. It means building a business that actually loves you back. Let's talk about fling clients. And before anyone feels called out, I want to be very clear: Most groomers did not choose fling clients on purpose. We were taught to accept them. Early in our careers, the message was: Say yes. Take what you can get. Be grateful for every client. And in the beginning, that makes sense. You're building. You're learning. You're trying to survive. But somewhere along the way, temporary clients became the foundation of permanent businesses. And that's where things start to hurt. Fling clients are the clients who: Book once and disappear Only show up when they're desperate Don't read your policies Don't remember your boundaries And don't feel invested in you They're not bad people. They're just not committed. Here are a few grooming-specific examples — and I want you to notice how your body reacts as I say them. The once-a-year doodle. They promise they'll be on a schedule… but you don't hear from them again until the dog is matted and they're panicking. The “can you squeeze me in?” client. Not because of an emergency — but because they waited too long and now it's suddenly your problem. The client who disappears the moment you enforce a boundary. You correct pickup time. You enforce a matting policy. You raise prices. And suddenly? Gone. These are fling clients. And here's the part most groomers don't realize until they're exhausted: Fling clients are expensive. Financially, they: Create gaps in your schedule Require re-education every visit Take more time than they're priced for Emotionally, they: Keep you on edge Create resentment Require constant mental energy Operationally, they: Create chaos Make staffing harder Make income unpredictable And the sneakiest part? You start reshaping your business around them. You loosen policies. You over-explain. You hesitate to raise prices. You make exceptions “just this once.” That's not love. That's survival mode. Fling clients are not the problem — expecting commitment from them is. Now let's talk about ideal clients. These are the clients most groomers think they want. They show up. They pay. They're polite. They mostly follow the rules. They're… fine. Ideal clients feel safe. They don't cause drama. They don't stress you out the way fling clients do. But here's the truth that doesn't get said enough: Ideal clients often represent a comfort ceiling. They keep your business running — but not necessarily growing. You still remind them. You still explain policies. You still manage expectations. Let's compare this for a moment. An ideal client: Asks questions about price Occasionally forgets policies Needs reminders Refers people similar to them A soulmate client: Accepts pricing without debate Respects systems Follows policies automatically Refers people who already trust you Ideal clients keep you busy. Soulmate clients make things easier. This is why so many grooming businesses plateau. They're not failing. They're not doing anything wrong. They've just built a business around “good enough.” And if you've ever thought: “I should be happier than I am with this…” That's usually why. Let's clear something up right now. Soulmate clients do not magically find you because you're nice, talented, or have good vibes. That idea keeps groomers waiting instead of building. Soulmate clients are created through systems. Clear messaging. Strong onboarding. Consistent policies. And follow-through. Soulmate clients don't require convincing. They trust your expertise. They understand how your business works. Every boundary you hold does two things: It repels a fling client… and signals safety to a soulmate client. People who value professionalism are attracted to structure. People who want exceptions are repelled by it. That's not a flaw. That's a filter. Soulmate clients: Respect your time Trust your recommendations Follow your systems Refer people just like them And here's the part I really want you to hear: You don't need more clients. You need better-aligned ones. When groomers shift toward soulmate clients, we see: Smaller schedules Higher income Better retention Less burnout More predictability Business stops feeling chaotic and starts feeling calm. And that's not luck. That's alignment. If you're listening and thinking, “Why does this feel so hard for me?” Here's the truth: No one taught us this. Most groomers were trained in: Safety. Technique. Breed patterns. Not client alignment. Not onboarding. Not de-alignment. So when things feel messy, we internalize it. We think: “I'm bad with people.” “I hate clients.” “This is just how grooming is.” No. You're not bad at clients. You're under-supported. Client alignment is a business skill, not a personality trait. And skills can be learned. Practiced. Refined. When you stop blaming yourself and start building systems, everything changes. If this episode hit close to home, that discomfort isn't failure. It's awareness. Most groomers didn't intentionally build businesses that drain them. It happened slowly. Quietly. One “yes” at a time. And once you see the difference between fling clients, ideal clients, and soulmate clients — you can't unsee it. Falling in love with your clients doesn't mean overgiving. It means alignment. Clarity. Respect. And that doesn't happen by accident. That's why I created the Business Workshop Library. Inside, you'll find on-demand workshops like: Identifying & Attracting Your Soulmate Clients Onboarding Clients & Dealing With Difficult Clients Once-A-Year Clients and whether they belong in your business at all ✨ It's $200 for the year ✨ Or $50 a month You can watch at your own pace, revisit when needed, and apply what you learn to your real business. And if you're looking for ongoing support instead of one-off fixes, that's exactly what the Savvy Groomer Circle is for. Inside the Circle, you get continued education, monthly Q&As, real-time conversations, and support as you actively implement boundaries, policies, and systems in your business — not just think about them. And for those of you who want deeper access and closer support, the Inner Circle gives you just that — including direct access to me so you're never figuring this out alone. You can learn more and join at savvygroomer.com/membership If you're ready to stop building your business around flings and start intentionally creating alignment, you'll find the Business Workshop Library at savvygroomer.com/gwg As always — stay savvy, stay greedy, and never apologize for wanting more.

‘Where Everybody Knows Your Name' podcast co-host and TV legend Ted Danson joins the show. Over an omelet and patty melt – you know, diner classics – Ted tells me about how 'Cheers' had a precarious start, acting opposite his wife Mary Steenburgen in this season of the Netflix series ‘A Man on the Inside,' and how he wrestled with imposter syndrome and social anxiety for a long time. This episode was recorded at Max & Helen's in Larchmont Village, Los Angeles.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever looked at your email list, followers, or past inquiries and thought, “I know these people are here… but it feels quiet”? In this episode of Passports, Profits & Pixie Dust, we're having a heart-centered conversation about warm leads—the people who aren't ready to book yet, but aren't gone either. If you're a travel agent feeling discouraged by low engagement, ghosted inquiries, or long gaps between bookings, this episode will remind you of something powerful: Your audience isn't cold. They're human. You'll learn how to fall back in love with your audience, nurture warm leads with intention, and build trust-driven relationships that lead to bookings, referrals, and long-term loyalty—without pressure, urgency, or salesy tactics. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown & Talking Points [00:00] Welcome to Passports, Profits & Pixie Dust Why this conversation matters for travel agents right nowThe emotional side of nurturing leads in a long decision cycle industry [03:00] What “Warm Leads” Really Mean in the Travel Industry Why warm leads aren't ignoring youCommon examples of warm leads travel agents already haveUnderstanding travel as an emotional and timing-based decision [09:00] Why Travel Agents Fall Out of Love with Their Audience How quiet engagement creates self-doubtWhy ghosting isn't rejectionThe danger of pulling back—or pushing too hard [15:00] How to Nurture Warm Leads with Heart Leading with service instead of the saleNormalizing the “not yet” phaseStaying consistent without overwhelming yourselfInviting conversation instead of commitment [27:00] The Long Game of Love-Based Marketing Why relationships outperform urgency long-termHow warm leads turn into dream clients and referralsBuilding a business people remember—even if they don't book right away [33:00] Final Thoughts & Action Step Falling back in love with your audience as people, not prospectsOne simple connection-focused action to take this week

Ever been told to "believe in yourself" and thought, "How?" Yue explores why belief isn't about commands but proof. Inspired by Nir Eyal, she reveals how your brain demands evidence, not motivation. Discover how to shift beliefs by collecting proof from past wins and admired relationships. Yue shares practical steps to turn daily routines into evidence-collecting rituals, helping you align your mind with your goals. Ready to stop feeling fake and start believing? Hit play and start gathering those receipts!

A conversation about the deaths and rebirths that we experience throughout our lives, the existential shift of motherhood, the personal language required to choose faith, the philosophy behind Chabad outreach and how it democratizes spirituality, why the concept of Moshiach (messiah) cannot be disentangled from the purpose of the Jewish people, and the small concessions to our vices that have outsized negative impacts on our lives. This episode is part 3/3 of a series on the Introduction to the Zohar: The Wisdom of Truth by Rabbi Yehudah Leib Ashlag, co-hosted by Tonia Chazanow and Charlotte Broukhim. Find the book here: share.fund/zoharhhUse code ZOHARHH at checkout for 20% offCharlotte Broukhim is a Jewish mom from Los Angeles who explores the intersections of Jewish mysticism, science, and politics. She studied comparative religion at Harvard, and her upcoming Substack will share practical reflections and insights at the crossroads of ancient wisdom and today's world. Find her on instagram @cbroukhim and contact her at Charlottebroukhim@gmail.com.* * * * * *EPISODE SPONSOR: Today's episode is sponsored by SHARE, a global initiative connecting individuals to the timeless teachings of the inner dimension of Jewish wisdom, known as Pnimiyut Hatorah. Their mission is to inspire soulful living and learning by translating ancient insights for the contemporary moment. You can learn more on Share.Fund.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction & Charlotte's Background03:28 - The Intersection of Mysticism and Science06:20 - Messianic Vision as Core Jewish Purpose11:12 - Looking Forward vs Looking Backward 15:45 - Shabbat is a Dress Rehearsal for Redemption 20:31 - Resurrection of the Dead in Modern Times24:16 - Releasing Our Attachments to our Roles and Accomplishments27:53 - Becoming a Channel for God Through Unexpected Questions30:21 - Matrescence and the Ego Death of Motherhood 34:21 - Intergenerational Healing 38:46 - Who is the Zohar's Author? 42:04 - Torah Ideas Are More Powerful Than Historical Proof46:29 - Faith is a Choice We Make 50:40 - Emunah vs. Blind Faith55:07 - Spiritual Maturity 59:05 - Mysticism Awakens the Deepest Parts of Our Souls 01:02:29 - Should We Lead With the Mystical Parts of Torah?01:04:38 - The Democratization of Spirituality 01:09:48 - Even Following Traffic Laws Can be a Mitzvah 01:14:58 - Hashgacha Pratis: Making Meaning of Every Moment01:17:38 - Is Time Management Holy? The Trap of Wasting Time & Scrolling01:21:55 - Upping the Stakes Helps Us Overcome Our Vices01:24:24 - Intensity Driven by Purpose, Not Shame 01:27:11 - Delayed Pleasure Comes Through the Work01:31:13 - Falling in Love with the Process

Carlo Rovelli's quest to understand the nature of reality began not in a physics lab, but in youthful experiments with consciousness, political protest and a restless hunger for meaning—years before he “fell madly in love with physics.” Today, Rovelli is famous for his bestselling books, including "Seven Brief Lessons on Physics" and "Reality Is Not What It Seems," and his pioneering work on some of the biggest mysteries in physics, including black holes and quantum gravity. In a wide-ranging conversation, Steve Paulson talks with Rovelli about his early, profound experiences with LSD; his discovery of the "spectacular" beauty of general relativity and quantum mechanics; his lifelong search for purpose in both the cosmos and his own life; and why scientists need to be politically engaged. Carlo also tells us about the big idea that he'd put in our own wonder cabinet.This interview was recorded at the Island of Knowledge think tank in Tuscany, a project supported by Dartmouth College and the John Templeton Foundation. We also play a short excerpt from Anne Strainchamps' earlier interview with Rovelli that originally aired on Wisconsin Public Radio's To The Best Of Our Knowledge. This Wonder Cabinet episode was not funded, endorsed or affiliated with Wisconsin Public Media or the University of Wisconsin - Madison.--- Deep Time: Carlo Rovelli's white holes, where time dissolves: https://www.ttbook.org/interview/carlo-rovellis-white-holes-where-time-dissolves More from Carlo Rovelli: https://www.cpt.univ-mrs.fr/~rovelli/ ---00:00:00 Introduction & The Chirp of Black Holes00:04:10 Early Years in Verona00:10:00 Falling in Love with Physics00:17:30 Search for Truth00:25:05 Politics of Wonder---Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson.Find out more about the show at https://wondercabinetproductions.com, where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter.  Wonder Cabinet is hosted by Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson. Find out more about the show at https://wondercabinetproductions.com, where you can subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter.

This week we're breaking down Chair Model. After a disastrous dinner party, Michael is single and finds himself falling in love with a chair model from an office supply catalog. Meanwhile Kevin and Andy fight to get their parking spaces back from a construction project by confronting the Five Families. We hear from Paul Faust who actually played himself as one of the heads of the Five Families. Jenna wonders what she'd be like on The Bachelor, Creed Bratton gives theories on why the character Creed was trying to score three office chairs, and Angela reveals something pretty special about the chair she's been using to record Office Ladies. You totally should listen to this episode, no shortn't about it. Check out Paul Faust's Survival Kits at 1800Prepare.com Office Ladies Website - Submit a fan question: https://officeladies.com/submitaquestion  Follow Us on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod Follow Us on YouTube Follow Us on TikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices