Podcasts about Fascinated

How does someone go from sketching ideas in a notebook to becoming a custom jeweler known for transforming her clients' wildest ideas into wearable works of art? In this episode of the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast, we welcome Carter Eve, founder of Carter Eve Jewelry, as she shares the deeply personal story behind her journey into the world of fine jewelry. It all began in 2008 while living in New York. As a student, Carter found herself returning again and again to a small jewelry store—not to shop, but to observe. Fascinated by the goldsmiths carving wax rings in the back room, she asked endless questions until one of the jewelers finally told her, “You really should consider doing this yourself.” That nudge led her to turn a passing fascination into a full-time passion—and eventually, a business. Since launching her brand in 2013, Carter has blended old-school craftsmanship with cutting-edge techniques. She apprenticed under an 85-year-old master jeweler who taught her everything from intake to customer care the traditional way—skills she still uses today, even as she experiments with 3D modeling and tech-forward design. Her process is fueled by the creative visions of her clients, whom she calls her greatest teachers. Every project pushes her skills further, making room for innovation while staying grounded in timeless artistry. In this candid conversation, Carter opens up about the mistakes that shaped her—like the ring she poured her heart into, only to melt it down when it didn't turn out right. She also talks about the importance of trust in the jeweler-client relationship, the evolving tastes of younger generations, and how she uses sketchbooks to mine ideas and spark new creations. Beyond the bench, Carter Eve serves on the board of the Women's Jewelry Association (Los Angeles chapter), hosts pop-ups, and is exploring retail partnerships to expand her presence. She also shares some fun, off-the-cuff moments—like imagining what she'd hide inside a ring with a secret compartment, and how she strategically “left behind” detailed ring sketches for her partner to find when it came time for her own engagement. Whether you're a new designer, a jewelry lover, or someone dreaming of turning creativity into a career, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom, warmth, and practical advice from someone who's carved her path, quite literally, from wax to gold.   Brought to you by: Southern Jewelry News: https://southernjewelrynews.com/ Jewelry Store Marketers: https://jewelrystoremarketers.com/ Learn more about the Pearls of Wisdom Jewelry Podcast https://southernjewelrynews.com/podcast Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:  • Apple Podcast = https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my.-..  • Amazon Music/Audible = https://www.audible.com/pd/Pearls-of.-.. • iHeartRadio = https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-pe... • Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/6IU1OHw... • Google Podcast = https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...

Dig Up Your Mam, my latest podcast series. Listen to the podcast on this Substack, or the usual platforms This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliebindel.substack.com/subscribe

06-13-25 - Today Marks 6 Years Since Brittany Zamora's Arrest Meaning The Kid Is 18 - Air India Flight Crashes But We're Fascinated By The One Survivor - Great Stanley Cup Final Game Last NightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

06-13-25 - Today Marks 6 Years Since Brittany Zamora's Arrest Meaning The Kid Is 18 - Air India Flight Crashes But We're Fascinated By The One Survivor - Great Stanley Cup Final Game Last NightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

⦿⦿ElectriX Podcast⦿⦿ Hey guys, I hope you doing well so far. We are back with a new episode of ElectriX. This month we go full progressive with a great mix session from Ed Wood from Rennes in France. He delivered a powerful set with some unique and great tracks. Nice transitions and a smooth listening. I hope you like the journey. Check out his music and DJ sets on his profile and support the artist. Have fun and a great weekend! Like the Mix? Click the [Repost]

Michelle Hanlon is a Space Lawyer and President For All Moonkind – the only organization in the world dedicated to assuring that historic sites in outer space are recognized for their value to humanity and thus, are preserved and protected as part of our human heritage.As the executive director of the Air and Space Law Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law – Michelle navigates the legal complexities of humanity's journey beyond Earth. Michelle says we could likely have communities living on the Moon. This episode is beyond interesting—it's futuristic and factual! Don't miss it!Subscribe, rate, and write a review on Apple Podcast- https://apple.co/2SHDDmoTop Takeaways:ANYTHING IS ACHEIVABLE IF YOU STAY COMMITTEDLIFELONG LEARNING IS JOYFUL AT ANY AGETHERE'S NO SUCH THING AS WORK-LIFE BALANCECONNECTIONS ANCHOR YOUR LIFE AND PROVIDE PURPOSEECONOMY PLUS ISN'T WORTH ITRECEIVE FREE “VALERIE'S VOICE” MONTHLY TIPS: www.valerieandcompany.comStay connected with Valerie Sokolosky to unlock your full potential!Don't miss out—join the community and start transforming your success today!Follow Valerie Sokolosky Online:https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriesokolosky/https://www.facebook.com/ValerieAndCompanyListen and watch Doing it Right the Stories that Make Us:https://www.valerieandcompany.com/PodcastTo receive Valerie's Voice free monthly Leadership Tips and to learn more about her leadership programs and coaching, visit her website: https://valerieandcompany.com/ Subscribe, rate, and write a review on Apple Podcast- https://apple.co/2SHDDmo Subscribe on Google Podcast- https://bit.ly/2I8i6zn Follow Valerie Sokolosky Online: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriesokoloskyFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/ValerieAndCompany

In this 472nd episode of “Elton Jim” Turano's “CAPTAIN POD-TASTIC,” Jim Turano is fascinated as late actor Paul Reubens faces his legacy in the new HBO doc “Pee Wee As Himself.”

We are living through a Cambrian explosion of new tools, powered by generative AI. It can be tough to wade through the sea of options in front of us, and find platforms that actually help us in our workflow instead of being a distraction. That's why it was so refreshing to discover the tool Capsule a little over a year ago. We use it to create motion graphics and short videos for Design Better, and the experience is a thousand times easier and more rewarding that using arcane tools like After Effects. Today we're chatting with Champ Bennett, CEO and co-founder of Capsule. We talk with him about his entrepreneurial journey, what motion design systems are and how they fit into more general design systems, and how motion design fits into branding. This is a sponsored bonus episode that we're excited to share, as Capsule is a tool that we love. They believe that video storytelling should be easy and scalable, and if your team is hoping to create more video their platform is the place to go. If you're interested in open design roles or in building a motion design system for your enterprise team, you can learn more at capsule.video Bio Champ Bennett is the co-founder and CEO of Capsule—an AI-powered video editing tool that helps enterprise content and marketing teams create more videos while staying on brand. His background is as a software engineer, designer and musician. After running a product agency for 4 years, Champ pursued a decade-long journey as a 3x startup founder focused on creative technology. Fascinated by creative tools since he was a child, Champ believes there's never been a better time to be building creative tools than now. Through Capsule, he is showing the world how AI can be practically applied to augment human ability rather than replace it — solving real world challenges in creative workflows. Capsule raised $7.75M after a product demo went viral on Twitter, recently raised a $12M Series A round, and is working with some of the world's leading B2B brands to help democratize video creation in their organizations.

Dr. Adam Summers is a Professor in the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences and Department of Biology at the University of Washington, and he conducts research in his lab within the Friday Harbor Laboratories there. With a background in engineering and mathematics, Adam works on applying engineering and physics principles to living systems. He uses lessons from the natural world to develop solutions to real-world problems like how to filter things, stick to things, burrow in sand, and move quickly and efficiently under water. Adam and his family live on a small island where they enjoy hiking and hanging out by the sea shore together. In addition, Adam is a licensed pilot, so you can often spot him spending his free time flying small planes. He completed his bachelor's degree in mathematics and engineering at Swarthmore College, and afterwards worked as a SCUBA instructor in Australia. Adam next decided to pursue graduate school, receiving his master's degree in Biology from New York University and his PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Massachusetts. He received a Miller Research Postdoctoral fellowship to conduct research at the University of California, Berkeley and went on to serve as a faculty member at UC, Irvine before joining the faculty at the University of Washington. Adam has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition, he was awarded the Bartholmew Prize for physiology research from the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, the UC, Irvine Academic Senate prize for undergraduate teaching, as well as the Directors award for program management excellence from the National Science Foundation. He also writes a monthly biomechanics column in Natural History Magazine and served as scientific advisor for the Pixar films “Finding Nemo” and the recently released sequel “Finding Dory”. Adam is here with us today to talk a little about his research and tell us all about his journey through life and science.

As part of our Summer of Encores—revisiting standout episodes while host Shawna Rodrigues focuses on her breast cancer journey—we're bringing back this powerful and fan-favorite conversation from January 2023.In this re-release episode of The Grit Show, psychotherapist Will Halpin joins Shawna to unpack the transformative approach of Internal Family Systems (IFS). What if your mind isn't a battlefield, but an orchestra—filled with anxious flutes, perfectionist violins, and maybe even a snarky drummer or two?Together, they explore how understanding your “internal parts” can lead to greater self-awareness, emotional healing, and real change. Curious about concepts like protectors, exiles, or the 8 C's of healing? You'll hear relatable metaphors, real-life insights into anxiety and people-pleasing, and accessible mental health strategies you can start using right away.Whether this is your first listen or a meaningful return visit, this encore episode is packed with practical wisdom and fresh perspective on how to bring more compassion and clarity into your inner world.Will Halpin is a psychotherapist and public health social worker with over 22 years of experience working in community health center settings and in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts. Earlier in his career, he developed programs and a comprehensive curriculum with the Boston Public Health Commission to train providers on best practices in working with people struggling with crystal meth abuse and dependence. Most of his clinical experience has been working within the LGBTQAI+ population, and specifically complex/developmental trauma and substance abuse. He has trained in a variety of treatment modalities to offer a variety of options when working with survivors of trauma, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). He also enjoys training new practitioners who are learning IFS as an assistant course instructor for over three years, working with providers from India, Canada and all over the US. When he is not at work, you can find him in the mountains, in a lake, or in the woods enjoying whatever outdoor recreation is available in that particular season.Connect with Will - WillHalpin.comLearn more about IFS - IFS-Institute.comBooks:Self Therapy by Jay EarleyYou Are the One You've Been Waiting For - Dr. Richard SchwartzShawna Rodrigues left her award-winning career in the public sector in 2019 and after launching The Grit Show, soon learned the abysmal fact that women hosted only 27% of podcasts. This led to the founding of the Authentic Connections Podcast Network intent on raising that number by 10% in five years- 37 by 27. Because really, shouldn't it be closer to 50%? She now focuses on helping purpose driven solopreneurs find their ideal clients through podcasting. She believes that the first step is guesting on podcasts - check out her tip sheet and once you've built your business and are ready for the full-service support for podcasting production and mentoring, she'll help you launch the podcast you were meant for. Diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2025, much of this year will be prioritizing her fight, victory, and healing. If you would like to follow that journey and be one of her warriors you can learn more via

Makhlouf: Alex Cohen is fascinated by Pete Crow-Armstrong's season (Hour 2) full 2568 Mon, 26 May 2025 17:54:23 +0000 pmlwt2lXAh6YjOViEG9onpV44XfDPkdy sports Best of 670 The Score sports Makhlouf: Alex Cohen is fascinated by Pete Crow-Armstrong's season (Hour 2) Best of the Score brings listeners the best interviews, segments, bits and highlights of the station's many shows, including Mully & Haugh, Bernstein & Harris and Spiegel & Holmes. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False https://player.am

A mini pan flute orchestra, the Alexander Technique, and an exotica Hitchcock-esque documentary. Victoria Mordoch (Floreana) "Floreana is the solo project from Los Angeles musician Victoria Mordoch. Her debut EP Floreana I weaves together elements of exotica, ambient and downtempo jazz. Having grown up in a musical family Mordoch was always musically inclined which led her to over a long decade career as a session bass/guitar/synth player in LA and eventually earning her a spot as a bassist in Taylor Swift's touring band. Quickly disillusioned by the pop music apparatus, Mordoch began exploring her own sound and experimenting with recording. The inspiration for Floreana one struck Mordoch while watching the documentary "When Satan Came To Eden," following a failed utopian settlement in the Galapagos, with the name Floreana coming from the island the events took place on. Fascinated by the story of a doomed attempt at paradise, and surrounded by an array of music equipment, Victoria began creating. She worked mostly alone at home, meditating on these ideas and channeling them into the music. “I'd always make sure the connection to the feeling was first and let everything unfold from there without getting in the way…even the tracks were written in the order they appear on the record.” Floreana One, is the first installment of a three-part series, captures tones reminiscent of early Kraftwerk and Brian Eno, exploring themes of isolation and idealism through tape-saturated woodwinds, hazy synthesizers, and vintage drum machines. Features appearances from her father- David Mordoch, John Carroll Kirby, Nico Georis, Shags Chamberlain, and Daryl Johns." Excerpt from https://floreanala.bandcamp.com Floreana: Bandcamp: https://floreanala.bandcamp.com/album/floreana-one Instagram: @floreana___ The Vineyard: Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSn17dSz8kST_j_EH00O4MQ/videos

As Director Matt Wolf shows in his  insightful and fun 2-part HBO series “Pee-wee as Himself”, in Pee-wee, Paul Rubens found a persona that allowed him to both reveal and yet hide some core truths about who he was.     Fascinated with television and show business since he was a boy, Rubens combined elements of his childhood's pop culture with the art world of Southern California in the 70s and early 80s to craft a character that would both conquer the then punkish milieu of Melrose Avenue as well as create a nationally televised children's TV show.  To achieve this, Wolfe delineates how Rubens deliberately foreclosed both his potential love life as well as cast aside long-held friendships.  Wolfe's series demonstrates both the costs as well as the benefits of outsized talent and ambition.   You can watch “Pee-wee as Himself” on HBO and HBO Max starting Friday, May 23rd.   Follow: @mattpwolf on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X    The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.

In this episode, we're joined by writer, podcaster, and Judaic Studies teacher at Jewish Leadership Academy in Miami, Olivia Friedman for a deep-dive review of the hit Amazon Prime series House of David. Going character by character, we explore what the show gets right—and where it diverges—from the biblical narrative, paying close attention to the scriptural peshat, Midrash, and Talmudic interpretations. We examine how key figures like David, Saul, Michal, Samuel, Doeg, and the Witch of Endor are portrayed, and where those portrayals align with or stray from the text. Olivia helps unpack why certain liberties were likely taken—from narrative pacing to character development—and how the show weaves in motifs and echoes from elsewhere in Tanakh to fill dramatic or emotional gaps. Whether you're a fan of the show, a student of Tanakh, or just curious how biblical stories get adapted for the screen, this episode offers an honest, engaging look at the balance between staying true to the text and telling a compelling story.---*This episode is dedicated to the refua shelema of our dear friend Yaakov ben Haya Sarah Malakh---• Bio: Olivia Friedman is a Judaic Studies teacher at the Jewish Leadership Academy. She loves literary analysis, pop culture, and the Bible. Fascinated by the weekly Torah portion, she created the podcast Parsha for Kids so children can learn the weekly Torah section while commuting to and from school. A passionate reader, Olivia shares book reviews on Instagram at @thebookrave. She currently teaches Tanakh, Jewish Law, and Oral Thought, and serves as the Educational Technology Coordinator at Ida Crown Jewish Academy. She previously taught at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD. Olivia holds a Master's in Teacher Leadership with a concentration in Gifted Education from Northwestern University, a Master's in Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and a Bachelor's in English from Yeshiva University's Stern College for Women. Most recently, she completed the Matan Bellows Eshkolot Fellowship—and enjoyed an incredible tour of Israel as part of the program.---• Check out her podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-for-kids/id1650704738• Welcome to JUDAISM DEMYSTIFIED: A PODCAST FOR THE PERPLEXED | Co-hosted by Benjy & Benzi | Thank you to...Super Patron: Jordan Karmily, Platinum Patron: Craig Gordon, Rod Ilian, Gold Patrons: Dovidchai Abramchayev, Lazer Cohen, Travis Krueger, Vasili Volkoff, Vasya, Silver Patrons: Ellen Fleischer, Daniel M., Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal, Fred & Antonio, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Jacob Winston! Please SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel and hit the BELL so you can get alerted whenever new clips get posted, thank you for your support!

This episode is brought to you by the 2025 Good Medicine Confluence August 17 - 20, 2025 Ghost Ranch, New Mexico LEARN MORE & REGISTER Announcing for your entertainment and education, The Plant Healer's Path.  This is a unique new series of inspirational and informational videos with host Jesse Wolf Hardin. “Are ya feeling in love with plants and the natural world? Fascinated with plant medicine?  Do you keep hearing the call to become a healer and culture-shifter, or to be an even more effective healer than you already are now?  Are you open to exploring not only how to understand and utilize herbs, but also diving into more natural, awakened, purposeful and celebratory ways of being and doing?”   Thus begins Wolf's trailer to this series of episodes, to be followed soon after on HerbRally by his weekly videos postings.  Topics are going to range from “What is an Herbalist?” to redefinitions of health and healing, from an ode to medicinal “weeds” to a look at the “nature” in the term “natural healing,” from herbal activism to explorations of plant spirit, and from “10 things to know to become a better herbalist” to the framing of herbal medicine as a portal to our personal wonderment and re-enchantment. We are beyond thrilled to share these episodes with you! A huge heartfelt thank you to Wolf for taking the time to share his wisdom with all of us.  Watch all of the episodes of The Plant Healer's Path on YouTube Please support this channel by Subscribing, and Liking the post.   Jesse Wolf Hardin is an impactful author, ecosopher, ecological restorationist, personal counsel, graphic artist, musician, and historian on a mission –– a champion of diversity and what he coined “ReWilding,” as well as an impassioned proponent of nature's medicines. Wolf co-founded with Kiva Rose both the international Good Medicine Confluence gathering and Plant Healer Quarterly magazine, and is the author of over 25 books on herbalism, nature connection, and personal realization.  For more information go to http://www.planthealer.org The Plant Healer Online Bookstore is the largest single source or herbal related books and ebooks, both titles by Jesse Wolf Hardin and Kiva Rose, as well as numerous focused compilations by many dozens of other well known herbalists: http://www.PlantHealerBookstore.com Plant Healer Magazine is the most in-depth and artistic magazine available for herbal practitioners, artisans and healers of culture, see: PlantHealerMagazine.com Herbaria Monthly is a totally FREE full color zine, full of herbal information, inspiration and empowerment.  Subscribe at PlantHealer.org More Free Resources including complimentary guides to herb schools and suppliers can be downloaded at: LEARN MORE Plant Healer on Instagram: @PlantHealer Plant Healer on Facebook: @PlantHealer The Good Medicine Confluence is a unique annual educational event and celebration held in the forested mountains of the enchanted Southwest each Summer, click through to the Events pages from: GoodMedicineConfluence.com  

Are you curious about the Salem Witch Trials? Fascinated? Intrigued? Maybe even fully obsessed? Josh and Sarah from Witch Hunt podcast bring you The Thing About Salem, a podcast dedicated to uncovering all things about the Salem Witch Trials. Each week, in 15 minutes or less, we go through all the feels as we share a story and a discussion. Together, we will cry, rage, and even laugh a little about some of the silliness, like the witch cake baked with the urine of the afflicted girls. Early topics include Tituba, The Crucible, poppets, the witches' sabbath, and witch marks. In future episodes, we will peel back all the layers of the witch trials.Visit us at aboutsalem.com

Otago University pathology professor Diane Kenwright likes to add a bit of spice to her classes with trainee doctors. Fascinated by the crossover of words used in pathology and words used to describe everyday food, she created her own YouTube channel - The Pathology Cooking Show, showing what diseases look like inside the body. And her innovative teaching methods have won her an outstanding teaching award from the Royal College of Pathologists. Otago University pathology professor Diane Kenwright spoke to Jesse.

This topic was spawned by a call from Jim of North Tonawanda yesterday, where he made a historical reference and echoed the sentiment that people are bored by history today and cannot make informed decisions about their future because they don't know enough about the past. Where are you on history? Does history bore you to tears or are you transfixed by any mention of history?

Ad-Free, More Advanced Episodes & Bonus Content on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/englishwitholiver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vocabulary List & Learning: https://easyenglishpodcast.com/aliens/Do aliens really exist? Why are we so fascinated by the idea of life beyond Earth?In this episode of the Easy English Podcast, we explore our love for aliens and science fiction - from flying saucers to conspiracy theories, and from UFO sightings to deep space missions.You'll learn new vocabulary like extra-terrestrial, conspiracy, abduction, and evidence, and practise conditionals to imagine what could happen if we made contact.A fun, thought-provoking lesson for B1-B2 learners who enjoy imagination, mystery, and storytelling- all in clear, easy English.

Why are we so fascinated with the morbid? Replica gallows in KS?! Hour 1 5/13/2025 full 2179 Tue, 13 May 2025 19:00:00 +0000 SaWFXVyKh5Dy7BE6nGQlReMBRGgqL5ur news The Dana & Parks Podcast news Why are we so fascinated with the morbid? Replica gallows in KS?! Hour 1 5/13/2025 You wanted it... Now here it is! Listen to each hour of the Dana & Parks Show whenever and wherever you want! © 2025 Audacy, Inc. News False https://pl

In this episode of The Intelligent Vocalist, John delves into the deeply personal experience of discovering your voice. He emphasizes mindfulness, self-acceptance, and staying curious, especially as the voice changes over time. It's a powerful reminder that the vocal journey is ongoing and worth embracing.   Episode highlights: Your voice is truly one in eight billion. Self-acceptance of your voice is essential. Notice everything there is to notice about your voice—go almost to an absurd level.   To learn more about John Henny, his best-selling books, on-line courses, Voiceschool.com featuring his Teaching Team of Experts, Speaker Training and the Contemporary Voice Teacher Academy, visit: JohnHenny.com

Fascinated by magic since pinecones could be fireballs, Clark Rowenson is an award-winning author, blogger, and writing coach that studies magic building like others study oil-painting. His prime directive is to help all kinds of storytellers craft and repair the Reality-Plus portions of their stories. You can visit crrowenson.com or his Youtube Channel (TheMagicEngineer) to witness, fuel, or join in his obsession.

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Plastic surgery is one of those things in society that is kind of taboo to talk about. People usually use the phrase "they got work done" as a slight or reason to gossip, but it is also something people are FASCINATED by. People love to look up "botched" procedures, and surgeon videos on what work various celebrities have done. I decided to start the conversation, and get the scoop on the TRUTh behind plastic surgery from my friend Dr. Ben Caughlin (‪@ManyFacesOfChicago‬ ) Sign up for a $1 per month trial at ⁠https://www.shopify.com/rebecca⁠ Follow Rebecca: ⁠⁠@rrogersworld⁠⁠ To watch the podcast on YouTube:  ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/RebeccaRogersYouTube⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link:  ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/WouldYouBelievePodcast⁠⁠ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend:  ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/WouldYouBelievePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I am so excited to say that my guest on the GWA Podcast is one of the most anticipated and exciting painters working today – Danielle McKinney. Born in Alabama, and based in New Jersey, McKinney is hailed for her small, contemplative, introspective and intimate paintings of women. Caught in moments of rest, relaxation and repose, McKinney's works, to my mind, are a collective portrait of the joys of female solitude. Painted on a black-coloured canvas emphasising the twilight time in which they appear to be set, McKinney's seductive and alluring paintings situate the figure swept up in their own world. Although she uses only a few thick, washy strokes of paint, each has significance, whether it be to evoke a dress, a hint of a cigarette flame, or a glow of light under a low-lit lamp in their soft-focus interiors. Never fussy or over-painted, they show just how much something so simple like a woman in her private space can be so powerful. While we aren't told much about them, it's up to us as the viewers to imagine their lives. I like to read stories into them, trying to understand where they are, and on what day and which time, they can also be read as interior moods. Full of atmosphere, it's almost like you can hear a soundtrack of Sade blasting softly in the background – one of McKinney's great inspirations. But painting wasn't always something she had pursued. While she had a great love of the medium in childhood, McKinney's training is in photography, having graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2013. Fascinated by humanity and movement, and the framing of an image, McKinney had a career as a photographer before turning to painting during the Covid-19 pandemic. Shut inside her New Jersey home, she hid herself away, bought some cheap canvases and turned her focus to painting – and hasn't stopped, and come five years later today, she has exhibited across the world. Recent bodies of work include an Edward Hopper-inspired series – which gets me to think about the connection between the solitude of 1930s America with today. But unlike Hopper, McKinney paints exclusively women, always inside, and resting in still, private moments – as she has said: “That's what I really try to capture in this beautiful solitude … Some of the ladies are very tense in those moments with a cigarette, and then sometimes they're asleep and beautiful. But those moments are theirs. --- THIS EPISODE IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE LEVETT COLLECTION: https://www.famm.com/en/ https://www.instagram.com/famm_mougins // https://www.merrellpublishers.com/9781858947037 Follow us: Katy Hessel: @thegreatwomenartists / @katy.hessel Sound editing by Nada Smiljanic Music by Ben Wetherfield

261. Edible Theology with Kendall Vanderslice   Kendall's Website   John 6:35 NIV "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."   **Transcription Below**   Kendall Vanderslice says "Yes, before you ask, that is my true name."   Kendall is a baker and writer whose best thinking occurs as she works dough between her hands; scribbles down thoughts on pieces of parchment dusted in flour, until she can parse them out later before her keyboard. When she embarked on a career as a pastry chef, she found that her love of bread transformed the ways she read Scripture. Fascinated by God's use of food throughout the arc of the Gospel, she merged her work in the kitchen with academic study of food and theology.   As a graduate of Wheaton College in Illinois (BA Anthropology), she began engaging questions of food and faith. Interested in commensality—or, the social dynamics of eating together—she studied food at Boston University (MLA Gastronomy). Her thesis on church meals sparked a range of theological questions, leading her to Duke University where she wrote a thesis on the theology of bread (MTS). In 2018 she was named a James Beard Foundation national scholar for her work on food and religion.   She lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her beagle, Strudel, her sourdough starter Bread Astaire, and her brood of hens: Judith Jones and the Three Gourmands.   Questions and Topics We Cover: You've studied so much about food and theology . . . are there any favorite lessons or resources that you still think about today? Is there any other science in the bread baking that is fascinating because it also has a richer, deeper spiritual meaning? What's one recipe in the book you're especially excited about?   Other Episode Mentioned from The Savvy Sauce: 47 Relationships and Opportunities that Arise from Using Your Gifts with Founder of Neighbor's Table, Sarah Harmeyer   Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: 15 The Supernatural Power Present While Gathering at the Table with Devi Titus Practical Tips to Eating Dinner Together as a Family with Blogger and Cookbook Co-Author, Rachel Tiemeyer Experiencing Joy, Connection, and Nourishment at the Table with Abby Turner Fresh Take on Hospitality with Jaime Farrell   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Dream Seller Travel, Megan Rokey   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribing to this podcast!   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   **Transcription**   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:22) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.    Do you love to travel?   If so, then let me introduce you to today's sponsor, Dream Seller Travel, a Christian-owned and operated travel agency. Check them out on Facebook or online at DreamSellerTravel.com.    We were one of those families who joined in the COVID trend of baking our own bread.   And so, I was fascinated even years later when I came across my guest for today, Kendall Vanderslice. She's an author and the founder of Edible Theology. And I've always appreciated different verses being brought to life, even things that we interact with every day, such as salt and yeast.   But God has richer meanings for all of these. And so, I can't wait for Kendall to unpack these in our conversation today. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Kendall.   Kendall Vanderslice: (1:20 - 1:22) Thank you so much for having me. It's great to be here.   Laura Dugger:  (1:23 - 1:30) Would you mind just starting us off by sharing a bit about your background and what led you to the work that you get to do today?   Kendall Vanderslice: (1:31 - 3:46) Sure. So, I have always loved baking. I always, you know, when I was a child, but especially once I was in middle school and high school, I had a lot of anxiety.   And so, when I just ever, anytime I needed to work through any sort of scope of emotions, I would always turn to the kitchen. Working with my hands became this way to sort of ground me and help me find calm in the midst of sort of my mind just buzzing. I was also one of five kids.   So, it was like after everyone had gone to bed and the kitchen was silent, was the only time there was quiet in my house. And so that was kind of always became the source of calm and grounding for me. And so, then when I graduated high school and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, once again, I turned to the kitchen as a way to try and process what I should do.   And long story short, over time, I realized, oh, maybe actually this work of baking is the work that I am called to do. And so, I ended up taking a very circuitous path to get there. I took a gap year after high school.   I went to undergrad and studied anthropology in college. And in that time, learned that I could, my love of food and my love of the kitchen, I could examine not just in the practice of cooking, but through an anthropological and historical lens, looking at how food shapes community and shapes culture and how culture shapes the foods that we eat. And so, from there, I went and worked in professional kitchens.   But I had all these historical, cultural, theological questions kind of buzzing around at the same time. And, you know, I would go from my work at the bakery on Sunday morning. I would rush from work to church and I would receive communion each week with bread dough still stuck to my arms.   And I started to question, what does this bread that I spend my whole morning baking have to do with this bread that I receive at the communion table? And so that just unlocked a whole new path of what I could do with bread and with my baking beyond just in the kitchen and larger understanding how it shapes our awareness of who God is and how God is at work in our lives and in our communities.   Laura Dugger:  (3:47 - 3:58) Wow, that is incredible. And even today, do you want to share a few of your offerings? Because edible theology was a new concept to me, and it's just fascinating what all you have going on.   Kendall Vanderslice: (3:59 - 5:31) Yeah, absolutely. So, my primary program is that I teach a workshop called Bake and Pray. And so, this is a workshop where I teach people how to bake bread as a form of prayer.   So, we look at the ways that bread is at play throughout the narrative of Scripture, kind of what it is that God is using, why it is that God is using bread as the storytelling device in the narrative of Scripture, and why Jesus would give us bread at the center of Christian worship. But then at the same time, we're learning how the actual practice of baking bread can be a way to connect with God, to find rest and to understand God's presence with us in a very tangible form. So, with that, I also have a handful of books.   Most recently, I released a book called Bake and Pray. It's sort of this workshop in book form. It's a collection of recipes, but also a collection of liturgies, so that you have the tools you need to make your time in the kitchen a time of prayer. I call it a prayer book meets cookbook.    But I also have a handful of other resources, a Bible study or a small group study called Worship at the Table, where it's actually helping people gather around the table and understand how God is at work through the table. And I have a podcast that it was a limited run.   There are 30 episodes called Kitchen Meditations. They are short meditations to listen to while you cook, while you're in the kitchen. So, you can understand the food that you eat more fully and also understand how your time preparing it can be a time of worship.   Laura Dugger:  (5:31 - 5:50) I love that. And there's so much to unpack. But let's just start here with all the things that you've studied with food and theology and gone to school for years and put this into practice.   Are there any favorite lessons that stand out and are maybe ones that you still think about today?   Kendall Vanderslice: (5:51 - 6:57) Well, you know, one of my favorite books that helped shape my understanding of food is a book that was written in the 1960s by an Episcopal priest named Robert Carr-Capin. It's a book called The Supper of the Lamb. This book is just a delightful book to read.   I think everybody should read it. Robert Carr-Capin was he was an Episcopal priest, but he was also a food writer and he also was a humor writer. He and his wife wrote a satirical column together.   And so, The Supper of the Lamb is kind of the culmination of all three. It is this beautiful reflection on a theology of food in the table, but it is hilarious as well. And so, it is written as instructions to host a dinner party that is all built around preparing lamb for eight people in four different ways.   And so, it's reflections on kind of, you know, this revelation, the imagery in the book of Revelation on the marriage supper of the lamb, But then taking that to be a very liberal dinner party that he hosts in his home. And it will forever change the way that you think about food and think about the table and think about how God cares about food.   Laura Dugger:  (6:58 - 7:13) Wow, that's interesting. And even a piece of that that you had highlighted before is community, that food draws us together in community. Are there any lessons or reflections you have on that topic as well?   Kendall Vanderslice: (7:14 - 9:03) Yeah, I mean, so I spend my days traveling the country and visiting churches and eating meals with strangers all the time. This is such a central part of my work. So, my first book was a study of churches that eat together as their primary form of worship.   And so, I had the opportunity to research 10 different churches across the country and look at how does this practice of eating together regularly shape their understanding of community, but also shape their understanding of church and shape their understanding of worship. And what I saw in that practice of traveling and eating with all of these churches was that communities that were built around the table, where their primary rhythm of gathering was this practice of eating together and talking together and dialoguing together. It created such resilience within these communities as they faced conflict and tension within them that their commitment to eating together, but then their understanding of these community meals as being intrinsically connected to the communion table, the meal of bread and the cup that they also shared, it shaped their ability to have conversations and wade into hard topics that communities might otherwise try to say, you know, kind of avoid, because what they believed was that, you know, the table that we gather at regularly is a place that can kind of manage and hold on to those tensions.   And it's a place where these hard conversations can arise. But also at the end of each of these meals, we remember that we are going to share the bread and the cup together and that God has told us that we have been made one in the body and blood of Christ. And so, we have a responsibility to care for one another, even as we argue and disagree and have a really, you know, dig into these hard conversations.   Laura Dugger:  (9:04 - 9:58) That is beautiful. And I think of so many things when you say that. I'm in the book of Acts right now, my quiet time.   And so, the early churches, they were breaking bread together daily. You see that as part of the impact, the outflow that came from that. And then just, I think, gratitude as you share, because I wasn't a follower of Jesus growing up.   Our family went to church. And by the time I was in high school, all of my family were believers, including my siblings. I was the last one.   But the church that we went to, we shared a meal together every Sunday. And those relationships are long lasting. Then you hear about what people are actually going through.   It's such a natural way to dive deeper into that fellowship. And so, I love that you've traveled around and studied this. And I'm also curious if you've connected with one of my past guests, Sarah Harmeyer with the Neighbors Table.   Kendall Vanderslice: (9:59 - 10:03) I am familiar with her work, but I have never actually connected with her.   Laura Dugger:  (10:04 - 10:09) OK, you two. I'll link her episode in the show notes, but I think you two would have a lot of fun together.   Kendall Vanderslice: (10:09 - 10:14) Oh, great. Great, great. I know I've seen some of her tables on.   She's the one who builds tables. Is that right?   Laura Dugger:  (10:14 - 10:15) Yes. Yes.   Kendall Vanderslice: (10:15 - 10:19) Yes. OK. I have seen her tables on Instagram, and they look just absolutely beautiful.   Laura Dugger:  (10:19 - 10:37) I love it. Well, I'd also like to talk about your most recent book, because there's one part where you talk about the sacred language of bread. And I'd love for you just to walk us through some significant scriptures that highlight bread throughout the Bible.   Kendall Vanderslice: (10:37 - 19:43) Yeah, absolutely. So, one of the reasons that I love to think of bread in terms of a language itself is because so often we think of our faith as being something that happens predominantly in our minds, that it is the things we believe about God and the words that we say to God. And it becomes this very sort of mental exercise of worshiping God in our heads.   And we forget that the rest of our bodies and the rest of our lives are a part of how we know God as well, that we were created in these human bodies with all of these senses. And it's only through these senses that we get to know the world around us. And it's in getting to know this creation around us that we get to know our creator as well.   And so when we think of our faith as happening something predominantly in our minds, then when we have these moments where we don't feel like God is present, or we feel like we don't hear from God, or we just don't have the energy to, you know, to read scripture every day, or we feel like we, you know, I'm just like praying and praying and praying, and I've just exhausted the words I have to say. Then it's easy for us to feel like we've been abandoned by God, that we're in this sort of spiritual dark place. But Jesus, he calls himself the word, but, you know, Jesus is the word that was present with God in the beginning.   But Jesus also calls himself the bread of life. And Jesus identifies himself as something deeply tangible. And he offers his own body to us in the form of bread at the communion table.   And so, Jesus is telling us that Jesus is present with us in this very tangible form, something that we can mix together with our hands, something that we can taste on our tongues, something that we can feel in our bellies as we digest it. That Jesus is telling us, like, I am with you in this deeply tangible way. And if you don't feel my presence, and if you don't, you know, hear what I am telling you, or you don't feel like I am listening to you, know that you can eat this bread and have this very tangible reminder that I have promised to remain present with you and to remain faithful to you.   And so, the ways that we see this at work in Scripture, once we understand that, you know, bread is not just a metaphor, that bread is actually something very physical and tangible, a way that God speaks to us, I think it changes the way that we see bread show up in Scripture. That it's not just a handy metaphor that shows up every, all over the place in the Bible, but that Jesus is actually, that God is actually doing something through bread itself.    So, the very first place that we see bread appear in Scripture is as early as Genesis 3:19, “It is by the sweat of your brow that you will eat your bread until you return to the ground, for from it you were taken, from dust you come, and to dust you will return.” So, prior to this point in Genesis, we have the creation accounts, we have, you know, that God has created the garden, placed humanity in the garden to tend to this creation, to care for it. And they are intended to, you know, they are nourished by the fruits of these trees, they delight in God by delighting in God's creation.   And God gave them just one restriction, which was a restriction on what they could eat. And so, in Genesis 3:19, we know that they have failed to honor this restriction that God has given them. And we are now learning the ramifications of that fall.   And one of those ramifications is that the soil is going to sprout forth thistles and thorns. That we will no longer just be nourished by the fruits of the trees, but that we will have to labor in this soil. We will have to labor against a creation that works against us in order to have our nutritional needs met.   But at the same time, God offers us this gift, that it's by the sweat of your brow, you will eat your bread. Our bread, you know, doesn't just grow from a tree. The humanity was probably not eating bread in the garden.   But in this offering of bread, that it's by the sweat of your brow, you will eat your bread. Humans are being told, yes, we will have to labor in the soil in order to nourish ourselves. But also, we are being invited to participate with God in the transformation of creation into something really delicious as well.   So, bread is, at the same time, both this picture of the brokenness of creation and yet also the goodness of God. This blessing, this gift from God in the midst of a broken creation. The production of bread, historically, has required a lot of work.   It requires months and months of laboring in the soil to grow wheat, harvest wheat, thresh it, and then grind it into flour. Turn that flour into dough, gather firewood to heat up an oven, and then turn that dough into bread before finally being able to eat it. So, humanity has long known that it is, you know, there is this deep, this incredible amount of labor required to make bread.   And yet also, bread contains almost all of the nutrients that humans need in order to survive. We can live off of just bread and water alone for a very, very, very long time. And in fact, many humans throughout most of human history have lived off of just bread and water for a very, very, very long time.   So then when we see bread show up in other places in scripture, we see it show up as this picture of God's miraculous provision for God's people. We see it show up as a sign of God's presence with God's people. And we see it as a sign of God's promises to God's people that God will continue this work of restoration until we have this imagery of this renewed creation in the book of Revelation.   So, one picture of that is in this provision of manna for the Israelites in the desert. You know, I think oftentimes for us, we read this story and we think the miracle is like, well, I don't know about you, but I've never opened my front door and had bread strewn across my lawn that I could just go out and gather. But we can still picture just walking into a grocery store and having a whole aisle of bread to choose from, right?   For us, the miracle seems like it just appears out of nowhere, but it doesn't seem all that crazy to just have a bunch of ready-made bread available to you. But for the Israelites, the work of making bread would have been nine months or more of labor between growing wheat, harvesting it, turning that wheat into flour, flour into dough, dough into bread. That's work that was not possible while they were wandering in the desert.   And so, when God is providing this miracle of manna, all they have to do is go out every single morning and gather, and they have to trust day after day after day that God is going to continue to provide. So, then we see a mirror of this in the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Once again, I think the miracle to us oftentimes feels like, you know, well, I've never seen five loaves capable of feeding 5,000 plus people.   But still, we can picture a Costco aisle of bread that probably has enough bread to feed 5,000 people. Just the presence of bread enough for that size crowd doesn't seem all that miraculous. But for the crowd who was gathered on the hillside with Jesus, they would have had a much closer awareness of just how much work was required to grow enough, in this case, barley.   One of the accounts says that it was barley bread. So, to grow enough barley to make enough bread to feed this crowd. And at the very least, in Mark's account of the gospel, we see a very direct link to work and how much work would be required to feed this crowd.   Because in the gospel of Mark, it says that it would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread to feed this crowd. So, this distinct connection between labor and hard work in order to feed, to provide the bread for these people. But Jesus circumvents that labor required to either make the bread or buy the bread and just miraculously provides these five loaves to feed 5,000 plus people.   So then on the night before his death, Jesus takes, I think, this imagery one step further. It is not just the labor of making bread that Jesus circumvents in his provision of bread for his disciples. He offers bread to his disciples and says, “This is my body that is broken for you.”   Jesus is circumventing the very work of defeating the curse of sin and death. He has taken the labor of defeating sin and death onto his own body. And he's offering that body back to his disciples and onto anyone who remembers Him in this meal of bread and the cup.   But he's offering to us His body as in the form of bread, as this picture of the labor that Jesus has taken on, the curse that Jesus has taken on so that we can then live in freedom. And so, we're still currently living in this sort of in-between time where we know that Jesus, that Christ has died, that Christ is risen, and we are still awaiting the day when Christ will come again. We're still awaiting this imagery in the book of Revelation where creation is restored.   And I believe our relationship to bread will purely be one of delight and joy and freedom. But right now, we do still experience that brokenness of creation in relationship to bread. But also, bread is still a way in which we can know God, in which we can trust God's promises to us in this very tangible form in which we can believe that God is with us, even when we don't feel it.   Laura Dugger: (19:43 - 22:17) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. Do you have a bucket list of travel destinations? Or maybe you have a special event coming up like a big anniversary, a honeymoon, or even just that first trip to Europe?   If so, you need to call Dream Seller Travel. Dream Seller Travel is located in Central Illinois, but works with clients all across the USA. 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Let them deal with the problems that arise while traveling so you can just enjoy the trip. Dream Seller Travel has been planning dream trips since 2005 to amazing destinations such as Alaska, Italy, Hawaii, Canada, the Caribbean, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, South Africa, Iceland, and more.   Where do you dream of going? You can reach out to Dream Seller Travel at 309-696-5890,  or check them out online at DreamSellerTravel.com. Thanks for your sponsorship.   In line with your brand of edible theology, I'd love to go further into the scripture. That was so fascinating. I feel like you're so succinct in the way that you put that all together.   So, I kind of want to do a deeper dive into a couple of the key ingredients of bread and then have you share their significance both in contributing to food, but also their significance for our own lives. Absolutely. Let's just begin with salt.   Will you share the scripture and insight into salt?   Kendall Vanderslice: (22:18 - 23:20) Yeah. One of the things that I love about salt, I think oftentimes, especially here in America, we have a sort of distorted understanding of the role that salt plays in our food. Oftentimes, we treat table salt.   We usually have table salt that you just add onto your food after cooking it. Maybe you add a little bit of salt while cooking, but for the most part, you just sprinkle on table salt after. And it almost is treated as this kind of added flavor.   But salt actually should not be this added flavor at the end. Salt should be incorporated into the cooking process because salt opens up our taste receptors on our tongues, and it opens up the flavors in the dish. So, salt actually should not be the predominant flavor that we taste.   Salt should be the thing that allows us to taste everything else. And I think when we understand salt in that form, it should reframe our understanding of what it means to be the salt of the earth or to be salt and light in the world. What does it mean that salt is not the thing that itself gets tasted, but salt is the thing that opens up the flavors of everything else around us?   Laura Dugger:  (23:20 - 23:30) Kendall, can you take that even a step further? What does that practically look like for believers really living as salt of the earth?   Kendall Vanderslice: (23:34 - 24:26) I think one of the great joys of the ways that these metaphors at work in Scripture is that we get to continually explore and see what that means for us and where God might be calling us. But I do think that being aware that to be the salt of the earth is to help pull out the best in the communities around us, to pull out the best in the people around us, is just this really beautiful picture of how I think God asks us to work in community. But our job is not necessarily to be the strong presence.   Our job is not necessarily to make sure everyone knows that we are present, but instead our job is to identify and build up and pull out the best parts of the people around us in the communities that we are in.   Laura Dugger:  (24:27 - 24:56) That's so good. I love how you shared that because for me, as you were unpacking it, I was just thinking that we as the salt, when you taste it, you don't want to think, oh, that's salt. You want, like you said, to open it up to others.   And so that's our purpose is to reflect and glorify Jesus and to point to him. So, I'm sure there's countless meanings. Will you also do the same thing and share the significance of yeast?   Kendall Vanderslice: (24:57 - 29:44) Yeah, sure. So, yeast is, you know, also a fascinating, fascinating thing. And we are only really just beginning to understand sort of the microbial world and the role that it plays in our lives, in our bodies, in our world.   And so, it's opening up entirely new understandings of how yeast is at work in scripture. One thing that we have to bear in mind is that the writers of scripture did not actually know what yeast was. We were only able to identify the microbes that are yeast and bacteria in the last 150 years.   And so, prior to Louis Pasteur, humans didn't know what yeast was. They only knew the reactions of yeast. You know, you saw if I mix together, you know, this, if I let this flour and water sit, it comes back to life and I can mix that into more flour and water and it can become bread.   You know, I can mix it in with a lot of water and a little bit of yeast and some hops and it becomes beer. I can mix it in with grapes and it becomes wine. So, we see the reactions, but don't necessarily know what it is that is responsible for those reactions.   So, it is fairly new that we have this, you know, in the scope of human history, it's fairly new that we have this understanding of what are the actual kind of little critters that are involved in this process. And so, I have a really dear friend who she studies theology of the microbiome. So, a lot of her research is all based around, you know, how does this emerging research on yeast and bacteria shape our understanding of what it means to be human?   And so then how does that shape the ways we read in scripture, both passages about yeast and also about what it means to be human? And so it is, I think there's just, it's a field that is ripe for exploration and we are only beginning to scratch the surface of all the beautiful imagery that's at play here. But one of the things that I find most fascinating is that leaven or yeast, it is used as a metaphor for two different things in scripture.   In one passage, it is used as a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, the parable of leaven, the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed into three measures of flour until it leavened the whole batch. But apart from that, yeast is always used as an image of sin, the ways that sin works through community. We have the passage about the leaven of the Pharisees.   I believe there are a few others as well. So oftentimes leaven is used as this picture of sin and the ways that sin sort of multiplies and works through communities. But at the same time, it's this picture of the kingdom of God, that it's this little bit of yeast that slowly multiplies and through its multiplication, it transforms the entire community.   It seems like a strange sort of tension that why would we use the same thing as a picture of both the kingdom of heaven and a picture of sin? And I think it makes more sense when we understand a sourdough culture. So, a sourdough culture is a culture of bacteria and yeast that is used to leaven bread, to raise bread.   So, we all have wild yeast and bacteria living in the air, on the surface of our skin, on the surface of everything around us. This wild yeast and bacteria is what makes the world go round. It's what makes our brains function.   It's what allows our bellies to digest food. It is what sort of makes everything work. And there is always this presence of both pathogenic bacteria and also beneficial bacteria.   That is true within our bodies. That's true sort of all around us. It's true in the sourdough culture that there is always the presence of pathogenic bacteria, but there is also the beneficial bacteria.   And so, to maintain a healthy sourdough starter, you have to feed it regularly. And as long as you feed it regularly and maintain its health, that good bacteria is going to keep the pathogenic bacteria in check. It's when you start to starve that starter that the pathogenic bacteria gets stronger and it overtakes the good bacteria and your sourdough starter goes bad.   And so, I think that's a really beautiful way to think about both how the kingdom of God works and also how sin works in our communities. We live in a broken creation. Sin will always be present.   But when we are digging ourselves, like when we are staying grounded and rooted in scripture, when we're staying grounded and rooted in church community and worship and prayer, when we are maintaining these healthy communities that are rooted to God, then we're able to help keep that pathogenic bacteria, that sin in check. But it's when we do not that it can start to take over and it can spread through a community just as quickly and easily as the kingdom of God can also spread through a community.   Laura Dugger:  (29:45 - 29:58) You just have brilliant answers. Is there any other science in the bread baking that is also fascinating to you because it has a richer, deeper spiritual meaning?   Kendall Vanderslice: (29:58 - 32:22) One of the things that I love, I oftentimes lead these bread baking workshops for groups of leaders, especially church leaders or faith leaders who are oftentimes having to manage just large groups of people where they're constantly facing internal conflict. I don't think anyone who leads a group of people has managed to bring together the people that never have any kind of disagreement. One of the things that I love about bread is that inherent to the structure of bread is tension.   The backbone of bread is this protein called gluten that is made up of two different proteins called gluten and gliadin. Gluten and gliadin have two opposing qualities to them. One likes to stretch and stretch and stretch.   It's what's called the elastic quality. One likes to hold its shape, what's called the plastic quality. When these protein strands unravel, they begin to form bonds with one another and they create this network, this protein network.   That protein network is what captures the carbon dioxide that the yeast releases and that allows the dough to both grow while also holding its shape. The strength and the structure of our bread is fully reliant on tension between these two opposing qualities, these two opposing needs. In order to build that tension in a way that brings strength to the bread, it has to be constantly balanced with rest.   The gluten will let you know when it's starting to get tired. If you don't give it time to rest, then it will just fall apart. It will start to break down on you.   This is something that I think so many of our communities really can learn from right now. That tension is good, that our differences, that diversity in our communities is our source of strength. When these differences rub up against one another and they help expand our understanding of the people around us, our differing needs, our differing convictions, our differing desires, our differing hopes, that can be a source of strength in our communities.   Also, we need to understand when it's time to step away and take time to rest before leaning into those differences even further. I love that bread then is itself this element that Jesus gives us as the sign of our unity in Christ, because it is this picture of our differences coming together and making us one even in our difference.   Laura Dugger:  (32:23 - 32:39) All of this from bread, it's just incredible. Then I even think you write about temperature and scoring the bread. Is there anything else?   We won't get to cover all of it, but any other scientific findings that have been really exciting?   Kendall Vanderslice: (32:40 - 33:33) I think there is so much in bread. I like to say that bread is incredibly simple and infinitely complex. It's made of four basic ingredients, but it can be mixed together in myriad ways.   A baker can commit their entire lives to learning about bread, and they will still have more to learn. We'll never be able to cover it all. I think there's room for endless exploration as far as digging into all that bread has to teach us.   My hope is that this book, Bake and Pray, helps to start to illuminate some of the ways that we see God teaching us through the many different steps in the bread-baking process. I also hope that others will start to get into this practice of baking, and through the practice of baking, they themselves will be able to start to see some of the beauty that God reveals through bread.   Laura Dugger:  (33:34 - 34:38) I just wanted to let you know there are now multiple ways to give when you visit thesavvysauce.com. We now have a donation button on our website, and you can find it under the Donate page, which is under the tab entitled Support. Our mailing address is also provided if you would prefer to save us the processing fee and send a check that is tax deductible.   Either way, you'll be supporting the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and helping us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. Make sure you visit thesavvysauce.com today. Thanks for your support.   Well, and Kendall, you also have a unique take. You spent years as a ballet dancer, and even with your books, you're just writing about the connection beyond, like you said, just our intellect and our minds to the Lord, but using our whole bodies to glorify God. Can you share some more ways that we can use our bodies to bake and pray and glorify God?   Kendall Vanderslice: (34:38 - 39:09) Yeah, so one of the things that I love when I'm first teaching people about this idea of praying with your body, it is ironic. The whole concept of praying with your body is to try and get us out of our minds and into our bodies. But the idea of praying with our body can feel like a very sort of cerebral or like, you know, the sort of thing that doesn't quite make sense.   And so, the way that I like to help people first get started is through the practice of a breath prayer. So, a breath prayer is a practice of repeating a line of scripture or poetry with every inhale and every exhale. And so, one of the ones that I love to start with is my soul finds rest in God alone, drawn from the Psalms.   And so, as you inhale, you repeat my soul finds rest. And as you exhale in God alone. And so, when I'm guiding others through this bake and pray practice, I have a start by just closing our eyes and I will lead us in this rhythm of breathing and of repeating this line again and again and again.   And then from there, I encourage the group to start to mix up their dough while repeating this line with every inhale and exhale. And I think it helps us to see how our breath, our breath itself becomes, you know, these words of scripture so ingrain themselves in our breathing that we then understand our breathing itself as an offering of prayer to God. And then the movements of our bodies through this rhythm of breathing becomes an offering of prayer to God.   And then we realize that the words themselves are not even necessary, that we can offer, you know, the movements of mixing bread dough, but also of gardening, of knitting, of cooking, of playing with our children, of raking leaves, that all of these things can be ways to offer our movements to God as prayer and to invite God into this practice with us and to pay attention to how God is present in these practices. So, I do hope that, you know, people will take bake and pray and actually bake with it and learn to bake as a form of prayer. But I also love when I hear from potters or I hear from gardeners or I hear from other people that work with their hands regularly who tell me, I read this and I don't think I'm going to start baking, but it has reshaped my understanding of my own, you know, craft and my own vocation.   So, I am excited to hear from others who maybe will take this and say, like, this is how I see this work being a form of prayer. But I first started learning about embodied prayer and practicing it when I got to college. I was in a dance team at my college.   I had grown up as a ballerina. I left the ballet world in high school, and it was a really, really hard. My experience was really wonderful in many ways and really hard in many ways.   I was in the pre-professional ballet world, which is, you know, very, very rigorous, very mentally draining, very physically demanding. And when I realized that I wasn't going to be able to make it professionally, it was just absolutely devastating. It was like my whole world was wrapped around this.   And so, then when I got to college, I was invited to be a part of this dance company. But the dance company was for women who had experienced sort of the ballet world in the way that I had, and who were looking for healing and to understand that our dance could be a form of worship and a form of prayer. And when I first started, I thought that the whole concept was really strange.   You know, I was I did not understand. I was so grateful to have this very just affirming community that I was dancing with. It was really it was the first time that I had been, you know, affirmed in my body and affirmed as a dancer and not just, you know, told all the things that were wrong with me.   But still, I was like, this is a really strange concept that as we're dancing, we're somehow praying. And it really was something that I had to practice again and again and again to understand and to really feel. And so, if someone is listening to this and thinking like this sounds like a really strange concept, I encourage you to just try it.   And it might take a few tries. Maybe try using the liturgies that are in the book to help get you into that practice. And then I hope that as you practice, either praying through baking or through gardening or what have you, that you will just get to experience the ways that God's present with you.   And then that will transform your understanding of your craft.   Laura Dugger:  (39:09 - 39:20) Thanks for sharing that. It's important for us to understand that we are embodied beings. And that points to that awesome truth that God with us, that Jesus was embodied.   Kendall Vanderslice: (39:21 - 39:22) Absolutely.   Laura Dugger:  (39:22 - 39:31) But then, OK, so in your most recent book, Bake and Pray, what's one recipe that you're especially excited about?   Kendall Vanderslice: (39:31 - 41:04) You know, we are just emerging from the season of Advent and Christmas, and those are some of my favorite recipes in the book. One that is so delicious, that is it is a Christmas recipe. It is the Moravian sugar cake, but Moravians do eat the sugar cake all year round.   So, it is kind of a classical Christmas recipe. But here at the Moravian bakeries here in North Carolina, you can get them all year round. So Moravian baked goods are an early Protestant tradition. They actually were Protestants before the Protestant Reformation, they like to say. And they're a pretty small denomination here in the United States.   But they're largely focused in here in North Carolina, where I am, and then a little bit in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. But the Moravian baked goods are known for all of their breads have potato in them. And so, some people, you know, there are other recipes that have like a potato, a potato bread or potato rolls.   When you add mashed potato into baked goods, it makes it really, really moist and tender. It holds on to moisture in the baked good much longer than just flour alone. So, the Moravian baked goods all have mashed potato in them.   But the Moravian sugar cake is one where it's this very rich potato bread. And then you put it into a pan, and you poke holes in it, sort of like if you were dimpling focaccia. And then you pour butter and cinnamon sugar on top and bake it.   And it is like it is a mix between sort of coffee cake and bread. And it is so, so, so delicious. I love it.   Laura Dugger:  (41:04 - 41:09) And there is also just a cute little story in there with the history.   Kendall Vanderslice: (41:09 - 41:28) Oh, yes, absolutely. It is, you know, there's this lore that apparently when men were looking for wives, they would look for women that had thick fingers. Because if they had thick fingers, it meant that they would have bigger dimples in their Moravian sugar cake that would hold bigger pockets of cinnamon and sugar.   Laura Dugger:  (41:28 - 41:42) I love that. I thought that was so funny. Well, Kendall, what are some of the most creative ways that you've been able to pair bread and generosity together to minister to others?   Kendall Vanderslice: (41:43 - 43:24) Yeah, one of the things that I am doing right now is, you know, I'm on the road several weeks of the year leading bread baking workshops in churches all over the country. And I love, love, love that part of my work. But in the last year, I started to really crave a closer connection with my community here in Durham, North Carolina.   But I am traveling the country and telling other people about how to connect to home and how to connect to their communities. And that work keeps me from being able to connect to my own home and community. And so, I decided that when I am home, I want to have a more intentional way of feeding the people immediately around me.   And so, I have this practice on Fridays of bread for friends and neighbors. And so, I'll tell, I'll send out an email to friends and neighbors on Monday and tell them, you know, here's what I'm baking this week if I'm in town. And then they let me know what they want.   And on Fridays, I have this shed in my driveway that I open up and it's got this whole like really fun armoire and that I that I've sort of decorated to be a bread pickup area. And so, on Fridays, my neighbors and my friends all walk over, and they come pick up their bread. And it's just been such a gift to be able to feed my immediate community through bread.   But then also to see and hear them sort of connecting in the driveway as they all come pick up their bread at the same time. And folks who either didn't know one another are starting to connect and find and meet one another. But then also neighbors to realize like, oh, you can get kindle bread, I get kindle bread.   And, you know, it's just so fun to have that very simple point of connection, because it can be feel very easy to feel disconnected from the neighbors that you maybe see all over the place. But just that that time of connection and picking up bread, I think, goes a long way beyond just that particular moment.   Laura Dugger:  (43:26 - 43:36) Generosity is always inspiring. And where can we all go to learn more about edible theology online or all of the other things that you have to offer?   Kendall Vanderslice: (43:37 - 44:05) You can learn more at my website, kendallvanderslice.com. The website is currently sort of under construction. So, I've got a makeshift website up right now where you can find everything.   And eventually I will have more links to all of the edible theology resources. But you can find everything you need at kendallvanderslice.com. You can learn about my workshops. You can learn about my books. You can learn about curriculum, about retreats that I lead. All of it is right there.   Laura Dugger:  (44:06 - 44:24) Wonderful. We will certainly add links in today's show notes so that it's easy to find. And Kendall, you may be familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge.   And so is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce?   Kendall Vanderslice: (44:25 - 45:13) Well, I think for me it is allowing myself to use even the simplest moments in the kitchen as a time for prayer rather than trying to rush through the practice of just seeing food as something I have to eat three times a day and something I have to make for myself. To realize that even something as simple as heating up a pot of soup or slicing some bread and smearing it with butter is still an invitation to thank God for this gift of food and the ability to prepare it. And so, I think that small practice alone can transform the way we relate to food and our bodies, but also to try and slow down and have a moment in our day where we avoid just rushing through and take a little bit more intentionality to appreciate the gifts that God has given us.   Laura Dugger:  (45:14 - 45:31) Well, Kendall, I was so intrigued from the first time that I heard about edible theology. And I really appreciate how you shed light on God's profound spiritual truths that are around us and that we can interact with in everyday life. But you also have such a charming personality.   Kendall Vanderslice: (45:32 - 45:38) So, thank you for being my guest. Thank you so much for having me. It's been such a delight to be here.   Laura Dugger: (45:39 – 49:21) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

We recently had an email from Alan Phelan in Portlaoise. He was surprised to come across a pair of pigeons nesting on his windowsill. Fascinated with their behaviour, Alan contacted the show and we sent roving reporter Terry Flanagan down to investigate.

Welcome  to the Hopewell Baptist Church podcast. In this episode, our pastor Barry Wilkinson talks about how to experience God's love and forgiveness in your life.  We hope you are encouraged to move closer to God and have a more genuine and joyful relationship with Him.   Hopewell Baptist Church is located 7 miles outside of Andalusia, Al at 6592 Brooklyn Rd, Andalusia, AL 36421. If you would like to contact the church, feel free to call 334-222-2757.

Based in Tinseltown, well just north of it (North Hollywood), Zach and Kristen are married film industry professionals on a deep dive into the history of the Academy Awards. Every other week they watch the Academy Award winning Best Picture starting with the original ceremony in 1929 to now. Fascinated by the concept of The Oscars and curious about the culture surrounding them, the Phaneufs are on a mission to share the history and context of the "best" films in American history - thanks to Oscar and his Academy.

04-22-25 - Fascinated By All This Pope Stuff And Seeing News Show Guy Who Predicted Popes For 1000yrs - Maryland School Teaching Kids The Prince And The Knight A Gay FairytaleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

04-22-25 - Fascinated By All This Pope Stuff And Seeing News Show Guy Who Predicted Popes For 1000yrs - Maryland School Teaching Kids The Prince And The Knight A Gay FairytaleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#journeyofanaesthetepodcast #JoanneDavisWoods #DecorativeKnowledge #silversmithInside this episode with your host, Mitch HamptonSometimes a guest has had such a varied career or more than one career that it feels right to devote two episodes to them. Joanne Davis Woods is most representative in this regard.Coming from one of the smallest towns in Michigan she developed into one of the leading crafts experts in the Hollywood of the 1990s, Wood's story touches on the subjects of what it is to physically create with ones' own hands, craft more generally, and even the subjects of literature and physics.I hope you enjoy watching this episode as much as we did creating it.Joanne's Bio ( from her lovely website) :From a little Michigan village searching the driveway gravel for treasure, to Michigan State University studying Physics, to climbing pyramids & volcanoes; from restoring historic theaters in Wisconsin to painting moviesets in Hollywood, life has led Joanne to Asheville, NC to find time and opportunity to acquire skills needed to bring her ideas into being.In metal smithing, Joanne finds a path that balances both rigor and lyricism. Fascinated with the aesthetics of the Byzantine civilization and the utility of the industrial revolution she strives to embed her work in history, yet keep it contemporary.Often she will begin with an interesting technique, or invent a project to learn the manner of construction of an historic work. She is careful to keep the mark of hand and tool, she looks for an amalgam ancient yet sophisticated, the elusive simple composition.Links to Joanne's many beautiful works:Website: https://www.decorativeknowledge.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decknow#losangeles #hollywood #studio #paramount #20thcenturyfox #warnerbrothers #universalstudio #michigan #belize #hitchiking #latinamerica #southamerica #1960s #1970s #1980s #1990s #craft #design #paint #artdirection #deerhunter #westsidestory #robertwise #curtishanson #davidfincher #seven #morganfreeman #bradpitt #laconfidential #jamesellroy #michiganstateuniversity #kentstate #thomaspynchon #williamgibson #cyberpunk #chicago #milwaukee #city #country #rock #punk #disco #nature #northernexposer #ntpdblue #dillinger #markharmon #television #michaelcimino #heavensgate #kriskristofferson #isabellehubert #williamfriedkin #twelveangrymen #ossiedavis #jacklemmon #courtneyvance #williampeterson #georgecscott #jamesgandolfini #paulsylbert #productiondesign #liuna! #local724   

Ep 71- noseyAF Live!: Faux Fur, Circus Stories, Feelings, and Soft Power with Catie Burrill“Textile work has always been a silent language, especially among women.”- Catie BurrillSummary of the episode:The inaugural episode of noseyAF on Lumpen Radio introduces host Stephanie Graham and her signature blend of curiosity, creativity, and community. In this candid conversation, Stephanie sits down with Chicago-based fiber artist Catie Burrill to discuss the intersection of art, activism, and social change. Known for her whimsical and thought-provoking use of faux fur, Katie shares how her circus background, textile work, and commitment to sustainability shape her artistic vision. This episode sets the tone for the series—personal, probing, and full of laughter and insight.Listeners are invited to reflect on how art can be a medium for activism, the history of textiles as silent communication, and the power of affirmations in mental health and creative practice.Chapters:00:10 - Introduction to Lumpin Radio07:19 - The Art of Furgate: A Journey into Textile and Community13:15 - The Circus Life: Behind the Scenes29:13 - The Intersection of Madness and Art43:02 - Art, Snacks, and the Uncomfortable Aisle51:02 - Communicating Through Craft: The Art of Fiber and AffirmationsTopics discussed:Stephanie's first day on-air as a radio hostCatie's journey through circus life, fiber art, and faux furThe emotional and cultural significance of textile artArt as activism and community engagementAffirmations, mental health, and creativityGuest bioCatie Burrill is a Chicago-based fiber artist whose work pulls from a decade of wayfaring across the US on Greyhound buses, circus trains, and non-descript cargo vans. Fascinated by the psyche, she uses textiles and found objects to explore the intersection of madness, cultural identity, and storytelling through stitchwork and the early internet.Resources mentioned in this episodeLumpen RadioMatt Bodett Mad Disability AdvocateStephanie's WebsiteEpisode sponsored by: This episode is brought to you by Graham Cracker Pins, affordable limited-edition wearable art by artists. Shop now.Connect with Catie Instagram: @yescatieWebsite: catieburrill.comSubscribe to Catie's NewsletterConnect & Stay UpdatedVisit my website (Art, Projects & More)Follow on Instagram (@stephaniegraham)Join my Studio NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & Feedback

You may have heard of Tom Slick, the man who financed many early expeditions in search of Sasquatch both the in US and internationally. But did you know he was also a scientist, military man, inventor, philanthropist, and much more? Learn the strange, fascinating and tragically short history of Thomas Baker Slick Jr. with Heather Moser, Mark Matzke and guest host Aaron Deese.  Email - Monsteropolis@smalltownmonsters.com   SHOW NOTES Monsteropolis: Tom Slick   Welcome back, you lawless knaves.    READER MAIL - got at least one - HERE IT IS, from our friend Christine! — Hi Guys,   First of all, congratulations on the success of your 10th anniversary Kickstarter!  I can't wait to see your new films, especially The Siege of Ape Canyon and The Kinderhook Creature.   I listened with interest to the Monsteropolis episode where you described the changing nature of the appearance of the Wendigo in popular culture from an emaciated human being to one with antlers and a stag's skull. In the fall last year I became aware of the legend of the Leshy of pagan Slavic culture through an excellent YA novel called "Where the Dark Stands Still" by Polish writer A.B. Poranek. When I googled the Leshy I was astounded to see images of what I recognised as the Wendigo. So this got me thinking - is there a Slavic influence at play here too? Perhaps this is something you could look in to!    I am really looking forward to the book and film regarding the Wendigo which I understand may come out next year. I have been fascinated by the Wendigo since reading Algernon Blackwood's novella and there is one passage in particular that always sticks in my mind:   "And soon after he slept, the change of wind he had divined stirred gently the reflection of the stars within the lake. Rising among the far ridges of the country beyond Fifty Island Water, it came from the direction in which he had stared, and it passed over the sleeping camp with a faint and sighing murmur through the tops of the big trees that was almost too delicate to be audible. With it, down the desert paths of night, though too faint, too high even for the Indian's hair-like nerves, there passed a curious, thin odor, strangely disquieting, an odor of something that seemed unfamiliar—utterly unknown."   Christine   (your biggest Scottish fan who lives in Germany

1:00- We get into a weird segment here, and it's something we're fascinated with.

– In the cold twilight above the town, he sang it to himself.The aftermath story that emerged from the rumors and boasting was that there was a girl at the center of it.Fascinated with every big and little thing, Jamie Cheshire has long been an avid student of design and structure. Having worked together with giants, he has had the extreme good fortune to practice his craft for most of the last four decades and has seen his work appear nationally and in several countries on three continents. He lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with his beloved feral, hippie-chick wife, their three dogs and two cats. Deeply committed to the ordinary, he is constantly searching for a way to describe it.

Curtis Sittenfeld is a master at crafting characters that feel like real people, in all their messy, complicated glory. These characters are front-and-centre in her new short story collection, Show Don't Tell. The book features stories about women, mostly in middle age, as they face life's absurdities, joys and disappointments. Curtis and Mattea talk about the tricky boundaries of celebrity, the label of “women's fiction” and how her characters are inspired by famous people. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Casey McQuiston: Celebrating queer love and joy and navigating the future of romance Daniel Aleman: Loneliness inspired a novel about a Grindr date gone fatally wrong

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Does your digital agency a strong social media presence? Wondering which content types and platforms deliver the best results? Today's featured guest runs a social media agency that focuses on a carefully selected roster of clients. She began her career as a stay-at-home mom with exceptional social media instincts and built a thriving agency in just five years. She views social media as a necessary evil for brands and has successfully guided clients with strategically planned and curated content. Join us as she shares what's currently working in social media, her proven strategies, valuable advice for agency owners, and why she personally avoids social media in her spare time. Elizabeth Stone is owner of SociaSavvy, a boutique social media marketing agency who got into the business wanting a challenge and a creative outlet. Now with nearly five years of experience, she reflects on what she's learned about social media, what's working and what's not, and why client's shouldn't ask for a month's work of content in such a rapidly changing space. In this episode, we'll discuss: The power of resilience, determination, and adaptability. Making cross-platform content. Delegating tasks to avoid burnout. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Wix: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by Wix Studio, the all-in-one platform designed to help agencies scale without the headaches. With intuitive tools, robust native business solutions, and low maintenance, Wix Studio lets your team focus on what matters most—delivering exceptional value to your clients. Ready to take your agency to the next level? Visit wix.com/studio and discover how Wix Studio can transform your workflow, boost profits, and strengthen client relationships. The Power of Determination, Resilience, and Adaptability Elizabeth never imagined pursuing marketing or business immediately after college. Instead, she fast-tracked her education and embraced life as a new mom. However, she soon found herself craving both a creative outlet and a way to contribute financially to her household. Fascinated by social media, she offered to help local businesses build their online presence across various platforms, initially working almost for free to develop her portfolio. Her remarkable results with these early clients enabled her to target her ideal market, and as demand grew beyond what she could handle alone, she began expanding her team. Throughout her five years running the agency, Elizabeth has discovered success in marketing requires less of a formal education and more determination, resilience in the face of rejection, and adaptability. Her experience has also given her a nuanced perspective on social media. She views it as a "necessary evil" for businesses that can significantly boost brands while recognizing its potentially addictive nature for individuals. The Rise of ‘Low-Quality' High-Quality Content With the ever-changing nature of social media platforms, most of the "social media hacks" we see are typically obsolete by the time you implement them. This is a reality that frustrates businesses hoping to plan ahead. Elizabeth often finds herself explaining to clients why preparing a month's worth of content isn't feasible; in such a fast-moving environment, content created today will likely be irrelevant within a few weeks. Regarding current effective strategies, Elizabeth confirms that video continues to dominate social platforms. She highlights the rise of "low quality content"—actually high-quality, meticulously planned material deliberately designed to appear candid and spontaneous. Elizabeth also advises businesses to release their attachment to "vanity numbers." Unlike a few years ago when engagement metrics were relatively consistent, today's social landscape is unpredictable—one post might completely flop while the next becomes an unexpected hit. This volatility makes traditional performance metrics less reliable indicators of overall social media success. Making Videos that Get Your Audience's Attention Regarding effective strategies, Elizabeth emphasizes that all social media videos should incorporate both voiceover and subtitles to capture different viewer preferences. Some users engage through audio elements while others browse with sound off, relying entirely on subtitles. She recommends using short clips to maintain momentum, acknowledging today's shortened attention spans and the need to sustain viewer interest. She also prefers videos are prepared and shot by her agency team rather than working with content recorded by the client. In her experience, clients often appear nervous on camera, but with proper coaching from her team, they can focus on their message rather than the recording process She also advocates for cross-platform posting to reach audiences with varying content preferences. While some users gravitate toward short, fast-paced content, others engage more deeply with longer YouTube videos. The optimal approach depends on understanding where your specific audience consumes content. Interestingly, she notes a current trend returning to longer-form content on both TikTok and Instagram. This constant evolution is precisely what Elizabeth loves about the social media landscape—its perpetual changes ensure the work never becomes monotonous. Delegating Tasks to Avoid Burnout As the agency owner, one of the things that Elizabeth sought to quickly delegate was keeping up with social media trends. It's important for the agency to be always up to speed with any new trends for their content creation. However, it was personally exhausting to be on these platforms scrolling every day. It was mentally taxing and took away from her time with her family. Her solution was creating a specialized role dedicated to tracking new trends, typically filled by younger team members. This position requirea regular rotation, as even the most enthusiastic employees eventually experience burnout from constant scrolling. Nevertheless, establishing this position proved to be the right decision—one she's grateful to have removed from her own responsibilities. For any growing agency, there comes a time when further expansion depends largely on your willingness to delegate and get out your team's way as they learn to own their roles. For Elizabeth, it was a surprisingly hard step to take but very much worth it and a key to staying creative as she delegated the tasks that most drained her. The Key to Success for any Digital Agency Elizabeth launched her business just before Covid-19 hit and successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic, helping her clients connect with audiences through social media. This early experience taught her to expect ups and downs as a natural part of running a business—a mindset she encourages other agency owners to adopt. She firmly believes that, regardless of the political or economic climate, there's always an opportunity to pivot and adapt. For her, success is within reach for every agency owner who embraces this resilient and flexible mindset. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Dr. Monique Y. Wells, A native of Houston, Texas and a 32-year resident of Paris, France. Through her entrepreneurial work as a veterinary pathologist and toxicologist, travel professional, writer, speaker, and mentor, she embraces and harnesses the power of education to change lives. While working in Paris she began researching the history of African Americans there and offered self-guided tours of locations associated with African Americans in Paris. This led to her discovery, in the pauper's division of a cemetery outside Paris, of the unmarked grave of the distinguished artist Beauford Delaney, an American modernist painter well known for his work with the Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s and '40s. Delaney moved to Paris in 1953 and continued his production of brilliant figurative and abstract expressionist paintings, including several self-portraits and portraits of James Baldwin. He suffered from mental illness and spent the last four years of his life in a psychiatric institution in the French capital. Fascinated with his story, Monique founded Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, and raised funds for a tombstone to mark his grave. She continues her research and work promoting the legacy of Beauford Delaney. Monique worked for 13 years in the corporate world before combining her passion for life sciences, literacy, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education, the arts, travel/study abroad, and women's empowerment under the umbrella of her U.S. non-profit organization, the Wells International Foundation (WIF). She is currently recruiting a select group of high achieving women leaders for membership in WIF's L³ Alliance. Photo credit: Entrée to Black Paris Founder and CEO, Wells International Foundation https://wellsinternationalfoundation.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/WellsInternationalFoundation (https://www.facebook.com/WellsInternationalFoundation/) Most Charitable Marginalised Community Education & Support Organization - South-Central USA (https://www.acquisition-international.com/winners/wells-international-foundation/) - 2022 - Acquisition International 100 Phenomenal Black Women Fundraiser Award - 2021 10 To Know Global Game Changers in Women's Empowerment - 2018 - The Introducer Magazine Black Women in Europe Power List (https://blackwomenineurope.com/2016/12/07/monique-wells-black-women-in-europe-power-list-2016-a-list-of-our-own/) - 2016 http://walkerslegacy.com/latest-buzz/the-list-12-global-entrepreneurs/?utm_source=12+Global+Entrepreneurs&utm_campaign=OCT-15+Newsletter&utm_medium=emailThe List: 12 Global Entrepreneurs to Watch (http://walkerslegacy.com/latest-buzz/the-list-12-global-entrepreneurs/?utm_source=12+Global+Entrepreneurs&utm_campaign=OCT-15+Newsletter&utm_medium=email) - 2015 - Walker's Legacy Visit our YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPU4szgNs5VG1F_4RF8dLFw) channel! Enjoy highlights of our 2019 International Women's Day event - The Successful Woman (https://the-successful-woman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Event_Highlights_2019_TSW.mp4) Watch me present WIF during my Talking about Success (https://www.jackcanfield.com/pages/success-tv-talking-about-success-5/) interview with Jack Canfield!

NEW ZEALAND MUSICIAN DAVID PARSONS—in retrospect one of the greatest (though less well-known) world-ambient-electronic musicians—passed away in February 2025 at 80. His recorded legacy is so innovative, extensive, and important, that we are doing a two-part tribute. Last week we repeated our first Parsons retrospective from 2003—"LONG TONES." This week we focus on music from the later years of his innovative musical career, on a program called "DEEP TONES." Parsons was one of the earliest western musicians to embrace North Indian classical music, traveling to India in the late 1970s to study the sitar with female master KRISHNA CHAKRAVARTY. Fascinated by the sound of drones and “long tones” in Indian music, Parsons was one of the first to recognize the connection between Indian classical and electronic music, and pioneered popular fusions between the genres. In the late 1980s he went digital, incorporating samples of ethnic instruments, ambient sounds, and the chanting and ceremonial instruments of Tibetan Buddhist monks into his music. In the 1990s Parsons' music became deeper, more abstract, and purely electronic. He released a series of albums using only synthesizers and custom electronic sounds he produced from basic oscillators and filters. He said he was trying to create "atmospheric and surrealistic landscapes into which the listener can place their own thoughts and images." On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, "DEEP TONES"— Part 2 of our 2-part tribute to David Parsons. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Welcome  to the Hopewell Baptist Church podcast. In this episode, our pastor Barry Wilkinson talks about how to experience God's love and forgiveness in your life.  We hope you are encouraged to move closer to God and have a more genuine and joyful relationship with Him.   Hopewell Baptist Church is located 7 miles outside of Andalusia, Al at 6592 Brooklyn Rd, Andalusia, AL 36421. If you would like to contact the church, feel free to call 334-222-2757.  

Welcome  to the Hopewell Baptist Church podcast. In this episode, our pastor Barry Wilkinson talks about how to experience God's love and forgiveness in your life.  We hope you are encouraged to move closer to God and have a more genuine and joyful relationship with Him.   Hopewell Baptist Church is located 7 miles outside of Andalusia, Al at 6592 Brooklyn Rd, Andalusia, AL 36421. If you would like to contact the church, feel free to call 334-222-2757.  

Mark kicks off Season 2 of SCARY EIRE with Brinsley McNamara author of the phenomenally successful WEIRD IRELAND and host of the podcast of the same name. Fascinated by all things weird and wonderful in his home county of Westmeath Brinsley decided to include all of Ireland and bring it to the wider world on social media.His quirky fact laden style of presentation proved hugely popular online and long established publisher Hatchett approached Brinsley to write the book, so much for slush piles and rejection slips! Under discussion in today's enjoyable podcast are curious Irish topics like place names,lake monsters,the Irish BigFoot, weird customs and forgotten languages.Who are the Wren boys and Mummers ? Find out when WEIRD IRELAND meets SCARY EIRE.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paranormal-uk-radio-network--4541473/support.

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I interview Austin Tsosie, a successful entrepreneur with a remarkable journey, starting with him sharing his experience of growing up on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. He discusses the impact of the sawmill closures, which led his family to move off the reservation. Despite the challenges, his father instilled in him and his twin brother the importance of education and success in fields like medicine, law, and engineering. Fascinated by computers and programming,  Austin pursued a career in IT, navigating the evolving landscape of network engineering and software development. Tune in to this inspiring episode of The Daily Windup to hear how Austin's journey unfolded, from the challenges he faced to the pivotal moments that shaped his path as a successful entrepreneur in the IT industry.

Wiggy's fascinated with "Celtic City", loves Bill Russell's story

Dave, Justin, AND Paul are back! This episode is a very special one for Fascinated with Films. This week is the big 300! That's right, seven years later the guys pass a huge milestone. Join them as they celebrate the big day along with celebrating the great Gene Hackman. AND it's not a milestone episode without a trivia challenge, so prepare yourself for a battle to the death between Dave and Justin! "Two men enter, one man leave!"

Nothing short of inspirational, Martin Gerdin's journey through crafting wild fish in hot glass is inextricably tangled with his evolution to mental health and sobriety. Beginning during the pandemic, the artist has hand-blown dozens of meticulously detailed trout, salmon, redfish, and other revered gamefish from his glassblowing studio, Gerdin Glass in Crawford, Colorado. The dangers, volatility, and physical labor of blowing glass are symbolic of the challenges he faced and conquered on his pathway to sober living.  For some, fly fishing is a pastime, something fun to pursue on a long weekend or camping trip with friends and family. For others, it's a calling, a religion, lionized in the literary creations of Ernest Hemingway and Norman Maclean among many others. Gerdin clearly falls into the latter category. He states: “Some say fly fishing is an art. I spend my days on our stunning Colorado river systems catching beautiful wild trout, and I spend my nights in the studio recreating them in glass. My life is a confluence of passion.” Gerdin's father, a professional skier for most of his career, decided to raise his family as far away from civilization as possible. In the Rocky Mountains, some 8,500 feet above sea level, his son's community was built around skiing, conventional fishing, and dirt bikes. Gerdin's mother played a central role in his early angling and artistic exploits. “There were two archetypes in my home growing up — the super athletes and the artist fishermen, and nothing in between,” he states. Gerdin and his mother connected through time spent fishing their local waterways while other members of the family were focused on more physically demanding recreation on the mountain. When not on the water, his mother would create complex beaded and woven patterns in her home art studio. Raised in the wilderness, Gerdin's childhood fostered a love for the natural forms and colors that surrounded him during his youth, especially those in the rivers. He began blowing glass in 2008, when he discovered the hot shop at his high school, Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Basalt, Colorado, headed by Dave Powers and after Gerdin graduated by Jose Chardiet. Fascinated by the material, he spent every spare moment learning and absorbing as much as he could. Being an avid fisherman, blown glass fish were a natural progression in his artistic journey. As Gerdin grew, he lost his way. Addiction clawed its way into every aspect of his life, and he lost his vision for the future. Doing craft shows and drinking enough to prevent seizures due to alcoholism became the norm. On May 13, 2020, he decided enough was enough. After addiction treatment he fell into a crowd of young, sober fly fishermen. With a clear head and a fresh perspective, the artist strived to bring the beautiful wild salmonids he saw to life in glass. Since his sobriety date, Gerdin has made more than 700 fish, making his own tools and trying to push the limits in sculpting realism. His collectors are many and include the likes of other fly fishermen such as Kevin Costner and Jimmy Kimmel.  Moving into the next iteration of his craft, Gerdin is pushing his technical and creative skills to realize a new series of trout, which he calls Naturalisms, stemming from the philosophical idea that everything arises from natural properties and causes. At age 31, his journey is just beginning. From March 7 -9, Gerdin will demonstrate his processes and techniques at Third Degree Glass Factory, St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 2002, it is a multifaceted venue for year-round exhibitions, classes, events and studio rental. Register for the Glasma Conference at studioglassbatch.com.   

Fascinated at how bad the Sixers have been this season and little Joel Embiid has seen the floor. But Hoch still thinks Embiid is a sought after asset in the NBA.

Al & Jerry: What's the best state to live in, Al is fascinated with Jeannie Buss and A Florida man story 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

Al & Jerry: What's the best state to live in, Al is fascinated with Jeannie Buss and A Florida man story--plus warm up 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