Podcasts about Felt

When you've been together for years, it's easy to let your relationship run on autopilot. But what happens when you need to reconnect, especially after a difficult period? In this episode, we share our personal journey of creating an intentional retreat to nurture our established relationship after 18 months of significant changes and challenges.We believe that established relationships deserve just as much intentional care as new ones—maybe even more so! The routines and patterns that develop over time can either support your connection or slowly erode it. By creating a specific container for reconnection, we discovered a renewed sense of love and appreciation for each other that surprised even us.We're breaking down:— How we created a 5-day retreat to nurture our established relationship energy— The power of using a Minimum Viable Agreement (MVA) to create clear expectations and boundaries for our time together— Why choosing a familiar environment reduced the need for resilience and allowed us to focus on each other— The importance of regular check-ins to stay connected without falling into hypervigilance— How practicing differentiation (recognizing where you end and your partner begins) creates space for authentic connection— The value of having a "parking lot" for relationship issues that need discussion but can wait— Using regulation tools when things get emotionally challenging, especially around intimacy— Why explicit communication is crucial for preventing resentment from unmet implicit expectations— How repair tools like our soft safe word "marshmallow" and the apology and accountability ladder helped us navigate difficult moments— The necessity of preparation when creating intentional relationship experiencesResources mentioned in this episode:— NSI (Neuro Somatic Intelligence) techniques— The Apology and Accountability Ladder and other repair techniquesJOIN The Year Of Opening® community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠Learn the 5 secrets to open your relationship the smart wayAre you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at www.JoliQuiz.comGet the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! Sign up for an Ask Me Anything hereMusic: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

Get the 2 New MECH Cities Out Now (for Free!)   Felt like a good time to play through a little bit of me & Raso's Carved by RUNE solo Mech vs. Kaiju TTRPG MECH!   In this demo, I play through Hraunvollr, a city on a fjord below a volcano where a greedy energy company has awakened the ancient lava Dormant Surtr!   ----more----   Join the DMs After Dark Discord channel!   I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)   Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark Rene's Games: MECH | MECH Cities 2 | One Last Quest email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com   Music in the Episode: Weirder Things 2 by TabletopAudio.com The Threshing Hour by TabletopAudio.com Starforged Planetside by TabletopAudio.com Orbital Prison Break by TabletopAudio.com Dark Future by TabletopAudio.com Docking Bay by TabletopAudio.com Mech War by TabletopAudio.com Starforged Space by TabletopAudio.com Starforged Fray by TabletopAudio.com Summoning by TabletopAudio.com Theme Song written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

O papo desta semana vai ser sobre Bike Fit com Fernando Rianho. A bicicleta sempre esteve presente na sua vida e o bike fit veio como uma "aposta": na época, pouquíssimas pessoas sabiam o que era ou trabalhavam com isso no mundo. Hoje, ele é uma das referências deste tipo de serviço no Brasil e neste papo falamos um pouco sobre esse mundo apaixonante da bike e muito mais. Confira o episódio!PatrocinadoresA OUTLIVE nasceu com o propósito de viver mais e melhor, promovendo um estilo de vida saudável!

Hart, Johnson and Bahl discuss their main takeaways from the Patriots' training camp practice on Tuesday (7/29), and Ted shares the reasons why he left Tuesday feeling optimistic.

CINCINNATI -- With training camp finally underway and rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. and Shemar Stewart finally signed, the Bengals defense is coming together. Only Trey Hendrickson remains unsigned and on the did not report list. Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer joins Trags to discuss the vocal secondary and what they have to prove under first-year defensive coordinator Al Golden, the role safety Geno Stone could play this season. And just how important will Chase Brown be to the offense this season? All this and much more on the latest edition of the Jungle Roar Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 278 - "Why We Feel What Others Feel"Ever cried during a movie? Flinched when someone stubbed their toe? Felt joy simply because someone else was beaming? You're not imagining it—we're wired for it. In this episode, Michelle and Scott dive into the fascinating and mysterious territory of empathy, emotional contagion, and the shared wiring of human connection. From mirror neurons to ancient survival strategies, they explore why we feel what others feel, how those feelings shape our choices, and how to manage the emotional overload that sometimes comes with being a deeply feeling person. This isn't just science—it's soul work. Whether you consider yourself an empath, a healer, a caregiver, or just someone who cries at dog commercials, this conversation will help you understand your emotional superpower—and how to use it without burning out. So . . . grab a cup of tea, center yourself, and let's explore the invisible threads that connect us all.Keeping Your Sh*t Together in a Stressed World is a podcast hosted by Michelle Post, MA, LMFT and Scott Grossberg, JD, CLC, CCH, NLP, and is 30 minutes of raw, irreverent, and results-oriented discussion with one purpose in mind . . . to help you cope, thrive, and survive the craziness that's going on in the world.As a reminder, our “Get Your Sh*t Together” Home Retreat can be found here:http://thinkingmagically.com/retreatReplays of prior episodes can be found at:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-grossbergYou can also join our Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/keepingystMichelle Post can be reached at michelle@postinternationalinc.com http://postinternationalinc.com
Scott Grossberg can be reached at sgrossberg@hotmail.com https://www.thinkingmagically.com© ℗ 2025 Scott Grossberg & Michelle Post. All rights reserved."Easy Lemon (60 second)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0DISCLAIMER: MICHELLE IS A THERAPIST, BUT SHE IS NOT YOUR THERAPIST. SCOTT IS A RETIRED ATTORNEY, DOES NOT PRACTICE LAW, AND DOES NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE. AS SUCH, SCOTT IS NOT YOUR ATTORNEY. THE INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION THAT TAKES PLACE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT LEGAL, MEDICAL, NOR MENTAL HEALTH ADVICE. LISTENING TO THIS PODCAST DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT NOR THERAPIST-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP. MICHELLE AND SCOTT ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY LOSSES OR DAMAGES RELATED TO ACTIONS OR FAILURES TO ACT RELATED TO ANY OF THEIR PROGRAMS OR TRAINING. IF YOU NEED SPECIFIC LEGAL, MEDICAL, OR MENTAL HEALTH ADVICE OR HELP, CONSULT WITH A PROFESSIONAL WHO SPECIALIZES IN YOUR SUBJECT MATTER AND JURISDICTION. NEVER DISREGARD THE MEDICAL ADVICE OF A PSYCHOLOGIST, PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, OR DELAY IN SEEKING SUCH ADVICE, BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION OFFERED OR PROVIDED WITHIN OR RELATED TO ANY OF MICHELLE'S OR SCOTT'S PROGRAMS OR TRAININGS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY EITHER MICHELLE OR SCOTT OR BOTH OF THEM ARE OFFERED IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES, OFFERED "AS-IS" AND NO REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE THAT THE CONTENT OF ANY VIEWS ARE ERROR-FREE.MICHELLE'S AND SCOTT'S PROGRAMS AND TRAINING ARE NOT SUITED FOR EVERYONE. THEY DO NOT ASSUME, AND SHALL NOT HAVE, ANY LIABILITY TO USERS FOR INJURY OR LOSS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. THEY MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY CONCERNING ANY TREATMENT OR ANY ACTION FOLLOWING THE INFORMATION OFFERED OR PROVIDED WITHIN OR THROUGH ANY PROGRAM, COACHING, CONSULTING OR STRATEGIC WORK SESSION.

H1 - Segment 4 - Tue July 29 2025 - Mark in Pickens "What tears me up , breaks my heart - the kid felt like he couldn't defend himself"

Na edição inaugural do Metrópoles Endurance os olímpicos Manoel Messias e Djenyfer Arnold deram show e venceram a prova que teve muitas disputas pelo top5. Falamos também sobre os demais resultados do final de semana, sobre a aposentadoria de Anne Haug, polêmica na World Triathlon e muito mais. Confira o MT News desta semana.PatrocinadoresA OUTLIVE nasceu com o propósito de viver mais e melhor, promovendo um estilo de vida saudável!

Remember when you were spooked by April's market dip? Spencer and Jamie unpack how to discuss your feelings of panic this past April, stay calm, stick to your investing philosophy, and make smart moves post-crisis. Key Takeaways: The S&P 500 dropped 19%, sparking fear, but headlines thrive on panic. Debriefing your emotional response helps clarify your strategy. Automate contributions to reduce emotional decision-making. Now's the time to create or revise your personal investing philosophy and asset allocation. You don't actually "lose" money unless you sell your shares when they're down. Long-term success comes from consistency, not reaction. Action Steps: Reflect: How did you feel during the downturn? Write down your investing philosophy. Automate TSP/Roth IRA contributions and delete trading apps. For a limited time, Spencer is offering one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions! Get your personal military money and investing questions answered in a confidential coaching call. Our new TSP course is live! Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual or email podcast@militarymoneymanual.com. If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. I also offer a 100% free course on military travel hacking and getting annual fee waived credit cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card in my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3. Learn how to get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards from American Express in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3. The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card waive the annual fee for active duty military servicemembers, including Guard and Reserve on active orders over 30 days. The annual fees on all personal Amex cards are also waived for military spouses married to active duty troops.

Mountains may be peaked, collars may be peaked, but when we're sick, we're not “peaked” but “peak-ed.”

Alex Cora mentioned the environment at Fenway this weekend against the Dodgers. Felt like October, can the Red Sox perform under pressure

Live from the Burlington Hotel, Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan and full-back Jason Foley joined OTB GAA correspondent Tommy Rooney to reflect on a one of the best ever All Ireland Football Final performances, and the success of a season as a whole.Become a member at offtheball.com/join

Have you ever felt taken advantage of?Have you ever done something nice for someone else and that kindness wasn't reciprocated?Sunday, July 27, 2025Exploring God's Protection: when helping others

Left school with one GCSE.Felt stupid for most of his life.Nearly ended up in jail.Now he's a Royal Marine Commando, psychologist, author and doing a PhD on decision-making and belief systems.This episode with Gareth Timmins isn't about ticking boxes or fitting in.It's about what happens when you stop proving your worth to the world — and start building a life that actually fits you.We Untangle...ADHD without a diagnosis and what it felt like.School, shame, and feeling like you were already failing before you even beganMasculinity, masking, and the pressure to be “the strong one”The dark side of discipline — and what real self-trust looks like.Rejection, RSD, and why feeling undervalued can flip your whole life.Life after sport — chasing highs, losing identity, and starting again.Why breaking down doesn't mean you're broken.If you've ever walked away from something and called it failure  this one's for you. “I'm not fragile. I'm not a failure. I just needed the right conditions to grow.”Follow Gareth!Website: https://www.gareth-timmins.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garethtimminsauthor/Let's get untangled and show the world what we're made of.ADHD COACHING IT'S TIME TO TURN YOUR ADHD STRUGGLES INTO STRENGTHS AND SHOW UP IN THE WAY YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO! Have you ever felt the need to change who you are in order to fit in? me too! And I've spent so many years hectically running around this world trying to be everything and everyone else but my true myself Party girl, house wife, rebel, addict, yogi…. To name a few Hoping that eventually, something would work and something would fix me and make me normal… None of it ever did. But two things in my life that have allowed me to live a more meaningful and authentic life and that is Yoga & My ADHD Diagnosis, which is why I am on a Mission to support as many individuals with ADHD to turn their struggle into strength with ADHD through Movement & ADHD Coaching. Find out more about my coaching & training programmes below!1-1 Coaching with RosieADHD Certified Trainingshttps://academy1.untangledco.com/home-page The ADHD Movement Group Coaching @adhd_untangleduntangledco.com

Are you constantly overcommitting, people-pleasing, or feeling drained — but don't know how to stop?
These 7 quick breakthrough moments will help you finally learn how to say “no” without the guilt … so you can protect your energy, set better boundaries, and reclaim your time.This isn't just advice - it's a compilation of real, raw moments from past episodes that hit deep and shift your mindset fast.

It's no fun feeling used by someone. Simon the sorcerer wanted the Holy Spirit's powers to extend his influence. He even offered to pay for it. Pastor Dave unpacks Simon's impure motives and encourages us to pursue God with greater purity.

Jennifer is abducted and tortured by a serial killer who has already murdered four other women. Neely Ann is with her four year old daughter when they are trapped in the attic of their house by a flash flood.Apartments.com - To find whatever you're searching for and more visit apartments.com the place to find a place.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When we step outside established relationship norms, we're not just changing our dating lives—we're challenging entire paradigms that shape how we see the world. In this episode, we welcome Marla Schreiber, author of the new book Non-Monogamy and Defying a Paradigm, to discuss what it truly means to question and move beyond mononormativity.Marla brings a fresh perspective as someone who's been practicing polyamory since 2005, when resources were scarce and community was hard to find. Their journey offers valuable insights for anyone questioning relationship structures or feeling constrained by societal expectations.Paradigm shifts aren't just intellectual exercises—they're deeply personal transformations that require courage, patience, and a willingness to exist in uncertainty. Whether you're considering non-monogamy or simply questioning other societal norms, this conversation offers wisdom about the challenging but rewarding process of creating your own path.In this episode, we talk about:— What paradigms are and why they're so difficult to challenge— The humbling experience of trying to create new relationship structures without established models— How mono-normativity is embedded not just in our social world but in legal systems and economic structures— Why it takes 3-5 years (or more!) to truly begin shifting paradigms— The scarcity model that underlies mono-normativity and how it affects our sense of security— Why "exclusivity" often stands in for deeper values and needs that can be met in other ways— How couples privilege operates and why it's challenging to recognize when you're benefiting from it— The courage required to question your approach, even after years of practice— Why defiance can be a powerful tool when challenging established norms— The importance of staying in the "unknown" rather than rushing to create new rigid structuresResources mentioned in this episode:— Marla Schreiber's new book Non-Monogamy and Defying a Paradigm— Marla's socials: @PolyaMarla— Marla's newsletter at polyamarla.com— The new edition of More Than TwoJOIN The Year Of Opening® community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠Learn the 5 secrets to open your relationship the smart wayAre you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at www.JoliQuiz.comGet the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! Sign up for an Ask Me Anything hereMusic: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

What happens when the voice in your head saying "don't drink" keeps getting louder? In this vulnerable conversation, grandmother and retired occupational therapist Cindy Strachan shares her journey to almost 1,000 days of alcohol freedom after decades as a weekend drinker.Unlike many sobriety stories, Cindy's doesn't involve hitting rock bottom or daily drinking. As a high-functioning perfectionist who reserved alcohol for weekends, she maintained a successful career and family life while battling with moderation. The breaking point? A simple family trip to the aquarium where, despite a mild hangover, she found herself too exhausted to fully engage with her grandson. "This isn't living," she realized.What follows is a powerful story of faith and transformation. Now approaching three years sober, she's found freedom in being "sober loud" and breaking the stigma around choosing not to drink.Cindy's message resonates deeply for women questioning their relationship with alcohol: "Stop asking yourself if you have a problem and start asking if you can do better." Her story demonstrates how neural pathways can be rewired, new habits can replace old ones, and authentic joy doesn't require alcohol. Whether you're sober curious or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers wisdom, hope, and practical advice for embracing a life of greater freedom and presence.Mentioned in this video: What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain & Health | Dr. Andrew Huberman https://youtu.be/DkS1pkKpILY?si=XrfmneIiDcjGYqkZFind Cindy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otfingerfidgetsandfun/ and https://www.instagram.com/renewal.of.the.mind/Drop us a Question or CommentIf you have ever...Struggled with the social pressures associated with alcohol use.Felt isolated, alone, and unsure of how to break the cycle.Experienced shame and frustration after drinking.Told yourself, “I'll never get this. It's no use.”Then this 5-Day Sacred Sobriety Kick Start is for you! Each day, you'll receive a short video with simple tasks to help you analyze your drinking habits with clarity.I'm here for you. I'm praying for you. You are NOT alone!Please subscribe to this podcast so you won't miss a thing!

This is a Fan Fav episode. There is something both sobering and chilling about being manipulated, especially by someone close to you. The feeling of betrayal and pain can leave you untrusting of everyone after that, and the emotional aftermath can lead to years of therapy or unhealthy behaviors. If you're a ‘Yes' to any of these, this episode is a must for you: Have fallen for people's fake concern at the expense of invalidating yourself Felt suffocated by the weight of someone's constant complaining Started questioning your version of reality because you were being gaslit The Boundary Boss and one of our favorite homies on Women of Impact, Terri Cole, is back for another round and this time she's unpacking everything you need to never be tricked by manipulative people again! They want to get their way no matter what at your expense, and it's your job to recognize it and put an end to it with the right boundaries in place. Terri Cole is a licensed therapist and bestselling author who helps women like you break the cycle of living without boundaries. It doesn't matter who you are or what your past is, everyone deserves and needs boundaries to create and maintain healthy relationships. If you're walking on eggshells at home, it's time to sit up straight and pay attention. Original air date: 5-17-23 Check out Terri's new book, Boundary Boss: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Boundary-Boss-Essential-Guide-Finally/dp/1683647688⁠ Follow Terri Cole: Website: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-OC1zN27enpTA_eNWB7dKw⁠  Podcast: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/podcast/⁠  Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/terri_cole⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/terricole/⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TerriColeLCSW/ CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ and entering promo code WOI at check out.  SleepMe: Visit ⁠https://sleep.me/woi⁠ to get your Chilipad and save 20% with code WOI. Try it risk-free with their 30-night sleep trial and free shipping! OneSkin: Get 15% off with code LISA at ⁠https://oneskin.co ⁠ ****************************************************************** LISTEN TO WOMEN OF IMPACT AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS:⁠ ⁠ ⁠apple.co/womenofimpact⁠ ****************************************************************** FOLLOW LISA: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your pain or illness wasn't just physical—but a hidden emotional sabotage pattern quietly running in the background… even sabotaging your life? Have you ever felt stuck in the spiral of illness, wondering why healing just isn't happening? In this powerful and heartfelt mind-body healing session, Brandy works with Fran, a brilliant and self-aware woman whose unexplained symptoms turned her life upside down. Despite countless medical tests, nothing could explain her condition—or heal her body.  However, as the session unfolds, deep emotional triggers and subconscious belief patterns come to light—revealing how unresolved emotions and disconnection can physically manifest as illness or pain. Whether you're dealing with chronic health issues, stuck in a healing plateau, or simply curious about the deeper root of physical symptoms, this episode will shift your perspective in a profound way. You'll learn: How emotional triggers and past patterns can sabotage healing Why subconscious beliefs can keep symptoms stuck in place If you've ever: Felt unsupported during illness Struggled with emotional or physical symptoms that don't make sense Wondered why healing isn't happening (even when you're doing “everything right”) …then this episode will open your eyes. Pain and illness are the messengers. The real question is—what are they trying to tell you? IMPORTANT NOTE: We understand that some may believe mind-body healing is impossible. Therefore, if you would like to see images of individuals using their minds to relieve pain, you can check out this medical journal. It includes images from some of Brandy's case studies. If you want to learn how to use your mind to heal yourself, you can check out the training on Brandy's website. Each week, Brandy publishes a volunteer episode where she coaches a volunteer to heal themselves using their own mind. In addition, Brandy shares a quick IQ episode (Insights and Questions) where she answers listener questions or delves deeper into insights on working with the mind for healing. Additional links and resources: Click here to begin "Finding the GIFT in Self-Healing™" https://brandygillmore.com/healing Join the FREE Breakthrough 90-Minute "GIFT Mind-Body Healing™ Masterclass" Training: https://brandygillmore.com/gift-mind-body-healing-masterclass The GIFT Method™ Online Video Series: Heal Yourself. Change Your Life. https://brandygillmore.com/gift-method-healing Website: https://brandygillmore.com TEDx Talk: https://brandygillmore.com/tedx Social Media and Additional: Facebook: https://facebook.com/brandy.gillmore/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandygillmore/ X ~ (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BrandyGillmore Additional classes and services: Heal & Transform Your Self-Love and Relationships with GIFT Alternative Therapy and Mind-Reprogramming (GIFT ATMR)™:  https://brandygillmore.com/gift-atmr Gillmore Internal Freedom Technique (GIFT)® : https://brandygillmore.com/gillmore-internal-freedom-technique/ Additional Courses: https://brandygillmore.com/courses-workshops VIP Monthly Coaching https://brandygillmore.com/vip-coaching/ Please remember that genuine change and follow through are key for self-healing results. If you struggle with negative thoughts or have a chronic health issue or chronic pain, please do not avoid seeing your doctor. Instead, your goal with self-healing should be to continue to see your doctor as recommended and blow their mind with what you are capable of with your mind and with the power of mind-body healing. Please enjoy this self-healing podcast. Topics covered: healing, self-healing, energy healing, mind-body healing, emotional healing, natural healing, heal yourself, chronic illness recovery, multiple health issues, energy blocks, emotional blocks, inner transformation, holistic healing, deep healing, self-healing journey, wellness transformation, activate healing power, release emotional patterns, body-mind connection, true healing, spiritual healing, Brandy Gillmore, chronic pain relief, natural health, healing journey, Mind-body connection, Emotional messages in illness, Subconscious programming, Resistance to change, Emotional loneliness, Cultural disconnection, Relationship strain, Feeling unsupported, Negative spiral from illness, Deserving love through illness, Patterns of abandonment, Emotional suppression, Love and illness association, Rewiring beliefs, Lack of emotional support, Expecting love through suffering, Connecting through celebration and joy, Relationship dynamics, Empathy and emotional understanding, Emotional ownership, Subconscious resistance, Cultural longing and homesickness, Conscious choice to heal, Self-awareness and transformation, Releasing anger and upset, Creating positive connection, Healing through mindset change, Reprogramming the mind, Support without sickness, Communication of needs, Conscious relationship repair, Celebrating healthy connection  

Quaranteam-Northwest: Part 2 The Start of Something New Based on a post by Break The Bar. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels. Grierson finally sat forward, meeting me energy-to-energy as he kept my gaze locked in. "And yet, here we are, Mr. Black. We can either come up with a deal, or I swear to Christ and all the Saints that the government will seize this land for eminent domain under the emergency provisions of the pandemic and you won't be able to do a fucking thing about it." "Sell, or die," I said. "So you can build a 'resettlement camp?' Jesus Christ, yourself. If you know so much about my family history, you know building a fucking 'camp' of any sort on this land would be the absolute last thing I would bend over for." "I didn't say 'camp.'" Grierson said. "No matter what your Native, and Japanese, forebears had to go through, listen to me; this is the farthest thing from that." I was 1/32nd native from my father's side and 1/16th Japanese from my mother's side. Again, not the hardest thing to dig up, but while I had the black hair of both those ancestries, I mostly just looked like a tall white guy with a pretty generic last name. No one ever assumed I was anything else in passing. "What does that even mean?" Erica asked. "It means we aren't building concentration camps," Grierson said, glancing over at her. "We aren't building a reservation, or an internment camp, or any of the other shitty things our and other governments have done to people." He looked back at me again. "We're going to develop this land into a neighborhood. The God damned fanciest kind of gated community you can think of. Big houses, big properties, for people who do or did important work to settle in safety and stability as we try to survive this shit show virus." "None of this answers why," I said. "Why should I agree to this? Why shouldn't I make it so fucking annoying that you go find a different patch of land and leave me alone?" Grierson frowned, though I had the feeling he'd been planning this from the start. He wanted me to work to peel back the layers of information, to earn the answers because that would make me believe them more. It would tick off boxes in my psychology and experience. The fucking problem was even though I knew he was doing it, it was also working. "Because you'd be saving lives," Grierson answered. "Our pilot development down in California is called New Eden; the place is only two-thirds built to starting specs, and we're already out of room on the next five phases of development once it's opened. Now it's my job to set up the next locations and get them rolling because our current projections are that within the next six months, the death toll is only going to skyrocket. We can't even get a grasp on what the numbers might reasonably be because the range is so fucking staggering. Millions is the easy number, Mr. Black." It was my turn to say it. "Fuck." "Now, you're not going to hear that on the TV," Walters said. "You won't hear it from the CDC, or the other health agencies. The only reason we are cleared to tell you this is because folks in our circles have developed the preference to work with reasonable people when they are useful. And also, who would fucking believe you?" "Here's our offer," Grierson said, pulling out a slip of folded paper from inside his suit jacket and putting it on the coffee table. "That's the hard cash number we've designated for this deal. No taxes. Straight transfer from us to you. There will also be other perks, including homes inside the settlement for you and Mr. Lacoste. Things are about to get really weird in the world. Have you heard anything about the Tier system?" "Nothing," I said, but Leo spoke up. "I saw some rumors. It's supposed to be some kind of a terrifying triage, right?" he asked. "Who's the most worthy kind of shit. People started protesting, but I thought it got debunked." Grierson nodded. "Oh, we stopped the protests, but it's all too real. I won't hide it; I find the entire thing absolutely un-American. It's the kind of shit the Chinese government operates, but it is what it is." Walters drained the last of his coffee and set the mug onto the coaster on the coffee table politely. "Suffice it to say, it's a sort of social karma system. The more important you are to society, the more protections and comforts you're afforded as we roll out our limited resources on quarantine defenses. There's 5 tiers, one being the lowest and five the highest. Most of society will land in the 1's and 2's, including all three of you. This development we'll be building is mostly going to house 3's and 4's. As part of the deal, we'll place Leo at tier 3 for resettlement purposes, and you Harrison would be placed at tier 4 despite your lack of qualification in the matter." This entire conversation felt like I was running downhill trying to keep up with an avalanche. "That sounds an awful lot like a really great way to set up for corruption," I said. "A fucking caste society? Really?" "It's already done," Grierson said. "Believe me, there were a lot of in-the-know people against the idea. But it's the only idea that works in this situation. We've gamed it out to the Nth degree. Leo, your description is pretty much the best that we were able to make internally. We're triaging society to make sure it stays together and can weather this hurricane." "What would we tier at without this?" Leo asked. "Leo Lacoste," Grierson said, talking as if he were reading directly off of a portfolio even though he rattled it off without referencing anything. "Positives: Early thirties age bracket, relatively fit and healthy. Low-to-Mid career path; carpentry skills of moderate qualification. No criminal record. Negatives: No community investment. Likely rating: Tier 1." "Harrison Black," he continued. "Positives: Early thirties age bracket, relatively fit and healthy. Former military service including Military Police service, honorable discharge at the rank of MP Investigations Special Agent, no known psychological impacts. No criminal record. Negatives: No community investment, null-rank career; freelance artist. Likely rating: Tier 1." "To be fair, there is a big question mark on your file that we couldn't fill," Walters said. "Your honorable discharge happened mid-tour, without any reported incidents or injuries. It's surprising you haven't been called back into at least reserve service with the Emergencies Acts. A decent answer would probably bump you up to tier two." "I can't talk about it," I said. Erica snorted and rolled her eyes, and both men looked at her. "Erica," I warned her. "What?" she demanded. "They just called you 'low tier,' Harri. If you're not going to tell them then I will." "I can't talk about it," I said again. "Harrison knocked out an Air Force bigwig when he was an MP and stationed in Germany," Leo cut in. "The guy was abusing and trying to blackmail a female subordinate into sex. The only reason we know is because she tracked Harri down a few years ago and we met her in a bar in Portland." "The bigwig was politically protected and nothing happened in the end," Erica said. "At least, that's what she said. He got shuffled around, and Harrison got the boot." "I got an honorable discharge instead of a court martial for striking a very superior officer of a different branch," I said. "And part of that deal was that I not talk about it." "Well that explains some things," Grierson said. "It wouldn't change anything though. If you were doing something more useful with your life than painting little pictures, you might have made tier two or three without this offer." "Says you," Erica scoffed. "Art is useful. And important!" Grierson pursed his lips slightly. "Erica Lacoste. Not an official resident of the property, but I know enough. Positives: Early thirties age bracket, relatively fit and healthy. Negatives: Criminal record, including battery, two counts of public drunkenness, and public urination. No community investment. Null rank career; tattoo artist. Likely rating: Tier 1." "Hey, fuck you too," Erica said, and pointed her middle finger at Grierson, along with a scowl to go with it. Honestly, none of that was surprising news about Erica for me except for the Battery charge, I definitely needed to get that story out of her. "Okay, we get it," I said, interrupting what I had a feeling was about to become a degenerating path of conversation. "You know about us. You do realize this is all a little much, right? It comes across as insane." "Of course it does," Grierson sighed. "But a year ago, only bored analysts tripping on LSD were asked to think about these kinds of situations. Now we're in it, right in the damned middle of the clusterfuck." "You should really look at the offer," Walters said, gesturing to the folded paper I hadn't looked into yet. It sat on the coffee table like an accusing finger pointed at me by my father, and his father before him. How dare I even consider this? "So it's a butt load of cash," I said, still not opening the paper. "And we get treated like what, royalty? And in exchange, I lose my family legacy." "Royalty is a stretch; you're selling us land, not curing cancer. We'll take care of you like valued members of society. You'll also get early access to the vaccine," Grierson said. "There's a vaccine?" Leo immediately asked. "Social media has been wild with rumors but,” "It's still experimental," Walters said. "And undergoing trials. But it's functioning, with some unconventional side effects. They're still doing long-term tests down in California, but we're going to start rolling it out down there any day now once the doctors are happy with the plan. That's how bad we need it, FDA bullshit be damned." I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Flipside, stick. If I don't cut a deal, you'll use the might of the US government to bend me over and rip my family legacy right out of my ass." "You got it. But like I said, we prefer working with people. There's always a silver lining to making friends," Walters said. "Fuck," I said again. Then I flipped one half of the paper open and looked at the number written on the inside. There were a damn lot of zeros. "I need to call my sister," I said. "But pending her approval, I'll lease it to you. All 560 acres, for a hundred years less a day; that's what people do, right? And Leo and I get to pick where our houses are built." "That's not how this works," Walters said. "It's my counter offer," I said. "Hold on," Grierson said, raising a hand to his partner. He narrowed his eyes as he looked me over again. He was a man who made judgment calls on the fly, despite his ability to reel off memorized facts like he'd been living with them for years. I could practically see the rusty old gears turning behind his grizzled facade. "Fuck it," he finally said. "We need to survive the next six months, year, five years and decade before anyone will be worrying about next century. Make your call." "You're really doing this?" Leo asked me as I stood up and fished in my pocket for my cell. "My family has had to defend this land from everything and everyone except the federal government," I said. "Up until now, they might be the only people who haven't thought they had some claim to it. Obviously, this will all need to be in writing before I make a final agreement, but look at the news; everything they're saying makes some sort of terrible sense. And I'd rather get the carrot than a stick so far up my ass it's tickling my brain stem." I went outside to the porch to make the call to Valerie, my older sister. It was quicker than I thought it would be; Val and her husband Brad were hearing horror stories from their nursing friends in the local hospitals, and she immediately understood the position we were in. We hadn't always gotten along the best growing up, but if Val had one thing it was a practical head on her shoulders. When I came back inside, I nodded to Grierson. "Add in another house for my sister and her family, and we've got a deal." "In exchange for the Lease, and the extra house," Walters said, "We're going to need your help in identifying the landscape. I assume you know it fairly well; we'll want you to walk our surveyors through to show any odd landscape elements, seasonal issues like flood areas, that sort of thing." "Done, as long as I can point out the shit they shouldn't fuck with and they actually listen," I said. "There are some pretty big old growth trees out there that would be a fucking shame to cut down." "I understand your concerns, son," Grierson said, as he stood and offered his hand. "But believe me when I say this; we aren't looking to build any high rises or pave over the place. These developments are for people important to society for one reason or another, and that means we're making sure to give them the best we can. Landscape included." One last deep breath and I reached out and hovered my own hand near his. "In writing before it's official." "The contract will be done by this afternoon and we'll email it over. Our lawyers work on our timeline, not their own," he said and grasped my hand in his. We both had larger hands than most, but I could immediately tell he had the grip of a man made from the iron bones of a hard life. I'd like to think he felt the same in my grip, but I had a feeling he'd shaken hands with much harder and scarier people than me. "When can we get vaccinated?" Leo asked. "If we're going to be working with surveyors and shit, shouldn't we all be as safe as we can?" "We have a testing site opening up in Portland as we speak, so it can get done as soon as possible," Walters said. "Though, as I mentioned, things are a little bit unorthodox right now. Harrison and Leo, you'll need these codes. Get online this afternoon, go to the website and fill out the questionnaire. It's extremely important you are entirely truthful. Your answers will affect how your tier ranking will play out for you as we roll it out over the next few months across the west coast." He pulled out two business cards from a pocket, each with their names, an URL and a twenty-five-digit passcode, and handed them to Leo and me. "What about me?" Erica asked. "Vaccination side effects and implementation are different between men and women," Grierson said. "Just like the virus is overly affecting men, the vaccine has different effects. If you want your vaccine immediately, Miss Lacoste, you're going to need to fly with us back up to Portland and attend the information session this afternoon that some of our volunteer human guinea pigs are doing. Then, if you agree to the risks and side effects, we can have you immunized as soon as tomorrow morning." Things moved quickly after that. Erica went to pack an overnight bag and put on her 'going out into the world' gear that she usually wore for grocery trips into town; she'd be put up in a quarantine hotel while in Portland for the night before she returned the next day. Within ten minutes she was ready to go and Walters was escorting her out, and the helicopter was warming up its rotors with a whining hum in the front yard. "I'm glad you agreed to the deal," Grierson said, offering his hand to me again, which I shook. "You may not fully understand what you've agreed to yet, but when you do I expect a more enthusiastic thank you. I get that the cash wasn't the important factor with you, son. I grew up on a ranch in North Dakota, I know what family land means. This place is going to do a lot of good for people." "Are you managing the development?" I asked, raising my voice to be heard over the rising thrum of the helicopter. "Not a chance," he said. "It'll be managed by the Air Force, they've been spearheading with the CDC on all these efforts. I'm just the pre-show, but I'll be around to check in on the progress every once in a while, and do the problem solving other people can't handle." "What does that look like?" I asked. "Any way it needs to," he grinned, and I saw the look that all veteran soldiers had. An acceptance that violence could come easily into the life of a person, and that they knew how to handle it when it came. "And don't be alarmed, but we've already had a crew starting to widen your driveway down at the highway. They'll work through the night and probably make it up here by tomorrow morning." "What's the rush?" I asked. Grierson barked a laugh as he started backing away from me towards the open helicopter door. Sour-puss lady was leaning out, holding onto the door and looking like she was about to try and scold Grierson for keeping them waiting. "Kid, in two weeks' time there's going to be well over a thousand lumberjacks, construction workers, surveyors and architects up here. Government moves slow, but OGA were designed to do the opposite. Your life is about to get a little crazy, I'd strap in." I had too many questions to even start one as Grierson hopped into the dark interior of the helicopter. The door slammed, the motor whined at a higher pitch, and it leapt into the sky and started heading north. "Hey, does this questionnaire strike you as way too fucking personal?" "Hmm?" I asked. I was sitting on the front porch with my laptop open, but I hadn't even keyed in the website URL. Instead, I'd been sitting there for over an hour just looking out at the trees, wondering if I'd just betrayed six generations of my family in under thirty minutes. "These questions," Leo said, holding up his own laptop. He'd stepped out the front door and had a look of confusion plastered on his face. "It's like... sex stuff. Shit I wouldn't talk to you about, let alone the government." "What?" I asked. "Are you sure you're on the right site? It's supposed to be about the tier thing." "Yeah, I'm sure. Dot-Gov link and everything." "Fucking OGA," I grimaced. "You and that Agent dude kept saying that. What does it mean?" I sighed. "Other Government Agency. It's kind of a military meme for when someone from the CIA doesn't want to say they are from the CIA. Or, if you're into conspiracies, it's completely separate from the CIA but they're so secretive they don't even have a name." Leo just shook his head and sighed before sitting down in the other deck chair. He joined me in looking out at the forested hills that had surrounded us for the last five years. "Did I fuck everything up?" I asked him. "What? No," he said. "Well, I mean, it's hard to know. But no, I don't think so." "This is all going to go away," I said, gesturing out to the wilds that had been my childhood, and our shared backyard. "My family has been on this land for over a hundred and fifty years, and I just agreed to let the government wipe it out." "It's not like you had much of a choice, Harrison. Carrot and stick, like you said. And whether those guys were CIA or something else, they definitely seemed to have a really big fucking stick. They flew in on a damn helicopter." "Still," I said. "I feel like I'm selling out my childhood." We talked for a while, reminiscing. Leo let me tell some old family stories he'd already heard a half dozen times before. We joked about the shit we'd gotten up to, living out in our backwoods paradise. "Maybe it's time for a change," I sighed. "This was never going to last forever." "Felt like it though, didn't it?" Leo asked. "Yeah, it did." Poing! Leo's laptop, sitting forgotten, made a horrible noise. He glanced at it, "Ah, shit. I timed out. Now I gotta start all over again." He started typing away, and I finally opened my own laptop. The first thing I did was open my emails, and sitting right at the top, already marked with an 'important' star, was the email with the contract. Everything is as discussed. Print and sign, someone will be by tomorrow to collect. Make sure you fill out the questionnaire!; Walters. "Jesus," I muttered. "They really are putting a lot of emphasis on this thing." I opened up the website, starting by filling out all the basic information. Then, just like Leo said, it started to get weird. It was like filling out the most invasive and specific dating app ever. "I feel like they're going to try and 3D Print me a girlfriend," Leo laughed at one point. "Maybe it's cloning," I snickered. "That's fair. I wonder if they can clone me an Angelina Jolie?" "Gone in 60 Seconds Jolie, or Wanted Jolie?" I asked. He snorted. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith Jolie will always be my peak. Or Tomb Raider." "Ugh," I scoffed. We went back and forth like that, laughing at the ridiculousness of the questions and suggestions. The list of kinks we were attracted to, or turned off by was immense. We had to help each other even figure out what some of them were. I found myself ticking off some that surprised me because I'd never considered them before but they sounded hot. Other stuff I down voted hard, and I couldn't believe someone would ever admit to the government that they were into them. Hell, one of the suggested kinks was the government. Who the fuck got hot under the collar about bureaucracy and paperwork? I mean, I guess someone would, somewhere, or it wouldn't have been on the list. "What did you put for that last one?" Leo asked me as I was closing my laptop. "The relationship style scale?" I asked. "Yeah. I put a full 10, polyamory all the way. How hot would it be to be some sheikh with a harem of ladies?" "I went for a 6," I said. "I'm not going to turn down a threesome or anything if that's what my girl wants, but I'm also not into the idea of sharing with another boner." Leo shrugged, closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. "I don't know, my dude. The Agents did say the world is changing. Maybe the norm will be great big orgies next year, and we'll all be smashing like it's our jobs." I snorted and smirked. "Yeah, sure. Society threatens to collapse and we all devolve into Eyes Wide Shut perverts." "One can dream," Leo laughed. We spent the evening starting to pack. It was tough, since we weren't really sure what the actual plan was. The contract fully outlined that we'd be getting new residences in the development, which was being called 'Valhalla,' but it wasn't exactly clear what the timeline was. I pushed for Leo to get packing sooner than later. My days in the military had me trained to expect 'hurry up and wait' to never mean waiting on the little guy, and right now we were definitely the little guy. We were woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of machinery, and we got dressed and rode the ATVs down the driveway. The gravel trail stretched about a half mile from the highway up to the house, but we only made it around a couple of bends before we came to the lights and action. "Stop right there," someone with a megaphone called to us, and we pulled our rides to a halt and cut the engines. "Who the fuck are you?" the voice asked. "Harrison Black. You're on my,” I had to stop myself. As of that evening, I'd signed the contract. It wasn't mine anymore. "We live here," I corrected. "Oh, it's you," said the voice. One of the workers stepped forward. He had on a big, bright orange reflective vest, and had a clipboard in one hand and the megaphone in the other. "Keep working, boys!" he shouted, and the machinery ground into action again. He approached us and stopped about ten feet away, despite needing to shout to be heard over the machinery. "Sorry about the noise. We've got orders to get this road done up to your house by tomorrow." "We heard," Leo said. "How does this all work?" I asked. "Shouldn't you guys be in quarantine gear or something?" "We got tested twice over the last two days in preparation for the job," the guy said. "Everyone on the crew is clean, and we all damn well needed the work. Fastest turnaround and the highest pay I've ever seen. Still, we're supposed to keep our distance from anyone other than the team. You guys get tested?" "No," I shouted back. "But the Government guys who set this up didn't seem to care." "Yeah, they did that with us, too. Acted like they were immune. Hell, maybe they are," the worker said. "You hear about what that idiot in the White House said yesterday?" We traded some stories we'd heard. It was strange, usually Leo and I were pretty private with strangers, but after so long in isolation with just each other and Erica, and the fucking weird encounter with the Agents, it was nice to just shoot the shit with someone new and normal. Even if it was shouting over the sound of machinery. Williams was the foreman of the operation that was clearing the trees to either side of the road. Another crew was working behind them, and trucks were already dumping off heavy set gravel at the entrance to widen it into a three-lane road. By morning they expected to have all of the trees, stumps and all, ripped out and stacked up for processing, and the driveway would be graded and levelled by lunch. The speed at which the crew worked was almost frightening. They were all experienced hands and did everything safely, but it was clear that they were motivated. While we were talking, Leo and I had to back up our ATVs twice to clear space for the crew to move ahead. Eventually, we said good night to Williams and headed back up to the house. I went back to bed, wondering if I'd made a terrible mistake. True to their words, by the time Leo and I woke up in the early morning, the clanging and crashing was just fifty yards from the front door. We made a couple big pots of coffee and brought it out to the guys, and one at a time they all walked over to the stump we used as a table and poured it into their thermoses while we stayed back. I had to make two more trips with more fresh coffee to cover everyone; in the dark it had been hard to tell how many people were working stretched out along the driveway. The clearing crew itself had to be thirty people, and a tired but thankful Williams said the gravel grading and levelling crew was probably just as big. "I'm sure we'll see you around," Williams called as the workers started packing up their equipment and prepping their heavier machinery for transport. "Supposed to be lots more work to do up here, yeah?" "Guess so," I called back. "Where are you guys headed now?" "They set us up in a motel about 20 minutes south. We've got guys on the crew from all over; they recruited all of us to fly out for this work, all expenses paid. Gotta tell you, it felt like hitting the lottery after sitting around in quarantine with my savings siphoning away." They left behind stacks of logs and stumps along the side of the now widened driveway area, and soon Leo and I were prepping a whole new serving of coffee as the morning wore on and the grading crew made its way up my old driveway. The guys on that crew were a little more hesitant to chat since they felt like they were running behind schedule, but they were happy enough to take the hot coffee after a whole night of work. It was around noon when one of the grading crew came up and knocked on the front door of the house. I'd been busy cleaning out the attic; one of those jobs I'd always had on my list of things to do around the property but never got around to. If there was anything up there worth saving, I hadn't found it yet, but it was worth the look. I came down to the front door covered in dust. The guy took one look at me from where he'd backed to 'social distance' and started laughing. I took one look at him, covered in gravel dust with rings of sweat from where he'd taken off his hard hat, and laughed right back. "Sir," he finally said after a minute, "We just thought you should know that the crew down at the far end of the road said someone in a green pickup truck drove by real slow a few times. The third time they pulled over and asked what was going on, but the boys down there followed orders and didn't tell him anything, so he peeled out. Just figured we'd let you know." "I appreciate that," I said, and sighed in the way that only old family history could make me sigh. Deep, long and aggravated. "And I think I know who it probably was. Thanks for letting me know." He nodded and went back to work. I didn't even think to ask what all was going on down at the end of the new road they had installed until he was already at the other end of the yard. "What's up?" Leo asked when I went to join him in the barn. "One of the crew guys said they saw a green pickup doing drive-buys." "Hah! Well, I guess that's not going to be your problem anymore, is it?" Leo laughed. I smirked. "Not legally. I'm sure I'm still going to be on Kara's shit-list and get a fucking earful though." I ended up spending the early afternoon helping Leo pack up a bunch of his woodworking equipment. The smaller stuff was fairly easy, but he needed the extra body for some of the larger presses and table-mounted saws. It felt like we'd barely made a dent when the double-honk of a car broke our concentration. We both headed around the side of the barn to find Erica getting out of the passenger seat of a black town car that had eaten a whole lot of the fresh gravel dust and now looked like someone had dusted it with flour. Sour-puss Agent Maggie was getting out of the driver's seat. "Hey, sis, how was it?" Leo asked. "Umm-Hmm," Erica said, shaking her head and holding up a finger to keep him from hugging her. "I need to talk to both of you inside." She had nervous energy going on, bouncing her weight on one leg and chewing on the corner of her lower lip. "Give me twenty; no, give me thirty minutes." "Is everything alright?" I asked. Erica was already moving quickly into the house. She'd had a look on her face like she was sick, and flushed with a fever or something. I turned to Agent Maggie. "Did something happen? She didn't catch the virus, did she?" "No," sour-puss said, that permanent sneer never breaking. "She knows everything she needs to, and needs to talk. Just do what she says." "What are you talking about?" I asked. Leo had followed Erica inside to make sure she was Okay. "Look, prick. Your little 'send her to the car' thing yesterday made me look bad, and now I'm stuck as a glorified cab driver while my boss and my partner are off to another shitty corner of the country like this one to bribe someone else into handing over their property to the government. Just fuck off inside and enjoy your new fucking world, you Mamoa-wannabe jerk." She got back in her car and slammed the door closed, then started to peel away and spin the car around before slamming the breaks and rolling down the window. "I'll be back again in a few hours with Lacosta's partner. He needs to be here waiting." "What?" I asked. She just flashed me her middle finger as she drove away. God damn woman, I sighed, watching her kick up dust and loose stones as she drove way too fast down the brand new gravel road. I shook my head and went inside. Erica was already upstairs and I could hear the shower running. Leo just shook his head and shrugged, "She wouldn't say anything. Just muttered about needing to get ready for something." "This is weird," I said. "I'm really fucking hoping this whole thing isn't going to blow up in our faces." "If it is, we might as well take it head on. Too late to do anything else," Leo said. "That's too fucking true, my friend," I said. Thirty-five minutes later Erica, dressed in a pair of her tight jeans with all the holes 'stylishly' cut into them down the legs and a black Metallica hoodie, strutted down the stairs and immediately began pacing and fidgeting with the strings of her sweater hood. She had done her full makeup, and seeing her like that was almost as shocking as the first time she'd gone without it; it had been a month since she had bothered with makeup at all, since even when she went out on grocery runs she was entirely covered up. "Sit," she demanded when we joined her in the living room, pointing me to my usual chair and Leo to the couch. He furrowed his brow as he watched his sister's nervous energy, but I wasn't sure it was because he was worried or didn't like her ordering him around. Their whole twin thing had always been more bouncing off each other than working in parallel. "Alright, alright," I said, hands up as I went to sit. "What's going on, E?" She stopped pacing and looked at both of us, transferring her energy into tapping her foot. I'd only ever seen her like this once before, right before we'd had our big group conversation about her staying indefinitely through the quarantine. Later, she'd elaborated to me a little bit more as to why she'd been so nervous; beyond the pandemic dangers, and feeling alone if she left, Erica had been chipping in for groceries with us, but that was it; the woman couldn't work during the pandemic, and tattooing hadn't exactly fueled her savings accounts. Everything all piling on at once had turned her into a nervous wreck, the opposite of her usual self. So what was doing this to her now? "Erica," Leo said, snapping her out of the train of thought she'd lost herself in staring at me. Her gaze was intense, only added to by her sexy post-punk look. It was like she'd erected a wall of armor around herself, or was taking on a persona that she'd let drop. "Right, sorry, I'm just really fucking distracted," she said. "Look, there's no way to say this easily without sounding sort of crazy at first, Okay? So I'm just going to say it, and you both need to listen cause I'm only explaining it once, alright?" Leo and I both nodded. "Alright, so the vaccine isn't just like, a shot. Well, it is for women. I got it this morning, and I'm something like 97% immune to the virus. But for men it isn't a shot. I did that information session and they showed us a bunch of research I only half-understood thanks to my AP bio classes back in high school, but I definitely got the video. The vaccine is pretty much lethal for men, and it has some weird side effects for women. They couldn't remove those aspects, so they modified it in other ways to try and adjust." "So how are we supposed to get vaccinated?" Leo asked. Erica licked her lips, and I realized she was sweating slightly. She glared at her brother, then looked at me and her eyes softened, then hardened, and I couldn't tell if she was angry at me or what. Then she glared back at her brother again. "They basically turned the vaccine into an STD, and it's the only way for men to get vaccinated. It's not permanent and needs frequent upkeep in both men and women, and it turns women fucking horny as hell if they go without for too long." "I'm sorry, what!?" Leo burst out. "And you took the shot?" "Just shut up, Leo!" Erica tried to shout him down. "I heard all the evidence, I weighed my options, and I decided this was the best thing to do. The whole tier system thing? I did the same questionnaire as you guys did, and they gave me a list of good matches. People I could go become a partner of. Like, sexually, and maybe romantically. We'd live together in quarantine, screw each other into immunity, and be that way for the foreseeable future until they fix this vaccine." "That's so fucked up," I said. "They wanted you to just shack up with someone you didn't know?" "Yeah, except someone I did know was on my list," she said. "Who?" Leo asked. "Are you moving back to Portland?" Erica turned from her brother and looked right at me. "Oh, no," Leo said. "No, no, no. You two are not becoming fuck buddies. We discussed this, Erica!" "Wait, what?" I said. "You discussed,” "Not important!" Leo shouted. "It's not important. It's not happening." "It's too late, Leo," Erica said. Then she turned to me. "At least, it is if you're into it. Look, Harrison, you can say no. I can't make you do this. What's-her-name will come back and get me, and I'll pick someone else on that list they gave me, and I'll go stay with them wherever they are. No hard feelings, you've done so much for me already that I can't even start to say thank you properly. But fuck I really want to fuck you. I've been getting off thinking about you almost exclusively for weeks, and the only reason I never asked you out in all these years is because I promised Leo back in high school I wouldn't ever date his friends." "And this is better?!" Leo squawked. "Shut up, Leo!" Erica shouted back at him. "You're not seriously considering this, are you?" Leo asked me. "You can't; Why; Come on, dude. She's my twin sister, it would be like... ugh!" He threw his hands up in the air in frustration. I rubbed my face with both hands and took in a deep breath before looking back at the siblings. "Alright," I said slowly. "First off, Erica, is this the vaccine talking? Just try and focus, cause this sounds an awful lot like some crazy date-rape drug and not a vaccine." "God, fuck. Why do men have to make things so hard?" she said. "I've wanted to fuck you for ages, Harrison. You being on my compatibility list at the vaccine center just made the decision fucking convenient instead of a fantasy." I turned to Leo. "Would you rather it be me, or some freak you know nothing about?" "I'd rather it be no one!" Leo said. "That's not an option anymore," Erica growled. "I've already got the shot. I'm just going to get hornier and hornier until I fucking snap, Leo. Then I'll fuck anything that fucking moves, that's the way it works. I need to bond with someone or I'll lose my goddamn mind. There are still a few days before I apparently go full-on bitch-in-heat feral, but I'm already feeling an itch all over and the only thing that I know, I know, is going to relieve that itch is cock." "Jaysus," I muttered, sitting back. Erica turned back to me, hugging herself. "Please, Harrison? Just; just tell me yes or no. Standing here without an answer is killing me, cause I don't know if I need to fight the feeling or I can give in." "I; Erica, you are absolutely gorgeous. I always assumed you weren't interested in me, or just wanted a friend. Honestly, I sort of thought you were gay with the comments you make about the women you work on in your shop. You're always talking about perky tits and firm asses and stuff like that," I said. "I'm Bi," she clarified. "And I work with people's bodies all day. I know what's hot and what's not for me, and Harri, you've fucking revved my engine since that first weekend Leo introduced us. I just want to rub my body all over,” "Erica!" Leo interrupted her. "Sorry, sorry, too much," she said. "I told you, this fucking vaccine is damn distracting right now. I need some relief here." "I'll do it," I said. "I just; this feels like the drug or whatever talking, Erica. Are you absolutely sure?" She was on me, straddling my lap and pressing her mouth to mine. Erica grabbed my head in her hands as she started forcefully making out with me, muttering 'Thank you' over and over into my lips. Her tongue pushed against mine, and then she grabbed my hands with hers and pulled them around to grab her ass. It was wonderfully firm, with a good amount of muscle that kept it looking full even if it wasn't particularly plump. "At least go get a room," Leo growled loudly. I pushed Erica back far enough that we could look each other in the eyes. Hers were bright, lucid, and silently pleading with me in a way that made her seem smaller and more vulnerable than the tough chick I'd come to know. "Let's go upstairs," I said to her. "I didn't mean literally get a room, right now," Leo said. "We need to talk this over! You made me a promise, Erica." "Shut up, Leo," Erica said. "I'll make it up to you, this isn't the end of the world. Probably. I think." She grabbed my hand, scrambled out of my lap and started pulling me up out of my chair. "What the fuck am I supposed to do?" Leo asked. "How am I getting vaccinated?" "Whenever they find someone who actually wants to fuck you, dorkus," Erica told her brother. "That lady agent said she'd be back in a few hours with your 'partner,'" I told him as I passed by, still getting pulled by Erica towards the stairs. "I didn't know what she meant at the time, but I guess;?" "Is she hot?" Leo asked me. I was already getting pulled up the stairs. "How am I supposed to know?" I yelled down to him. It's funny how energy can rise and fall at the drop of a hat. Erica pulled me into the guest bedroom she'd been using as her bedroom, slammed the door shut and turned to me; and stopped. She bit her lip, one leg bouncing at the knee as she shifted her weight. "Second thoughts?" I asked. "No, no," Erica said, shaking her head. "Definitely not. God, fuck, no. I didn't want to get into it in front of Leo like that, but you're also just being so you that I feel like I need to explain myself more." "So tell me," I said, sitting down on the bed. Erica started pacing again but stopped after one back-and-forth. "Okay, look. What I said down there is true. I would have asked you out years ago, after that first time we met at Burleson's when Leo brought you around." "The pub around the corner from your shop? That wasn't the first time we met," I said. "I know," she replied. "That was when you were moving into Leo's apartment. We passed each other in the building lobby and I saw you glance at my tits. I thought you were just another fuckboy asshole." "Wait, I don't remember that," I said. "Why didn't you ever tell me that happened? I thought the first time was when you gave Leo the fish tattoo on his side." "That's the first time we actually spoke," Erica said. "And you had an uphill fucking battle to try and change my mind about my first impression of you. You only made it far enough that I didn't bitch about Leo bringing you to the pub a couple nights later. That was when I got to actually focus on talking to you instead of chatting while I was at work. I also remember being super fucking pissed at Leo that night, because I asked him if I could go back on our deal from high school and hook up with you, and he said no." "Okay, whoa; we could have been having sex for seven years and you held to an agreement you made in high school? What was this fucking thing, a treaty ratified by the Pope?" Erica snorted a laugh and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "No, it was stupid. And honestly, looking back, we probably would have had a lot better of a time if he and I had agreed on the opposite. But Leo was a jock, and I was a scene girl, and we made an agreement that we didn't want each other messing with our friend groups. So no dating, no crushing, no nothing if the other twin claimed them first. We wanted to guard what we had, instead of helping each other out." I huffed a soft laugh. "Sounds like teenage bullshit to me." "Yeah, well, I'll just claim twin loyalty, Okay?" Erica said. "But that's not the really fucked up thing about this. When you invited me down from the city to stay with you guys, Leo and I had a separate talk. Harrison, my brother fucking loves you. Not like in a sexual way, but you're the best friend he's ever had. Period. No doubt about it. And he may not have ever said it to you but he was really worried that I would screw up the dynamic you guys have; and now here I am doing it." Erica squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her face to the ceiling. "Shit, maybe this was a bad idea after all. Fuck, he's never going to forgive me, I,” "Hey, hey," I said, standing and pulling her into a hug. Erica was a tall woman, easily 5'9 or a bit more, but I still towered over her with my 6'6". She clung to the sides of my shirt instead of hugging back, but buried her face into my chest. "I didn't know any of this, E. But we're all adults, we can handle this better than making promises we don't want to keep." "I know," she mumbled into my shirt, and slowly let go of my sides and slid her arms around until she was hugging me back. "You should know that I would have asked you out in a second if I thought you were interested," I said. "I'm still not exactly comfortable with the big picture on all of this, but this right here? I will definitely take this silver lining." "God, you make me so hot, Harrison," Erica said, and she looked up into my eyes. I kissed her as we held each other. Her considerable chest was pressing against my sternum, and as she shifted her arms up to wrap them around my neck and pull me closer to her, I lowered mine until I hooked my fingers into the belt loops of her jeans. We held that for a while, eyes closed and enjoying the feeling like we were teenagers again. God, we're both over thirty, I laughed in my head. We should be a lot bet

Beat Migs! Plus we chat about Toni Iommi saying he felt like Back to the Beginning was a dream!

What happens when the life you thought you'd built - the one with love, money, recognition - seems to slip away? This week, Elizabeth speaks to Dorinda Medley, author, TV personality and iconic former Real Housewife of New York, about reinvention, resilience and learning to be okay with not being liked by everyone. Dorinda opens up about the loss of her husband, the loneliness that followed fame, and why her departure from Housewives was both painful and necessary. This is a raw, funny, emotional conversation with a woman who's lived many lives - and isn't afraid to talk about all the ways they've fallen apart. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 02:12 Life After Reality TV 03:30 Authenticity and Public Perception 06:37 Dealing with Grief and Loss 14:06 Finding Strength in Vulnerability 19:14 The Impact of Fame 21:56 Housewives' First Visit to Blue Stone Manor 23:03 Behind the Scenes Drama 23:32 Staying Connected with Castmates 25:36 Dealing with Trolls and Haters 29:00 Coping with On-Screen Conflicts 31:19 Reflecting on the Housewives Experience 32:48 Blue Stone Manor Tag Sale 35:57 Life Lessons and Moving Forward

A caller describes the spiritual awakening they’ve had after a brief episode of believing they were God. Afterwards a caller lives with their ex after the break up and explains what a U-Haul Lesbian is, then we read viewer mail about walking in on a first date naked on your couch + other things. Time to drink a cup of sludge. I am a gecko. Send an email to therapygeckomail@gmail.com to maybe have it possibly read on the show potentially. GET BONUS EPISODES: therapygecko.supercast.com FOLLOW ME ON GECKOGRAM: instagram.com/lyle4ever GET WEIRD EMAILS FROM ME SOMETIMES BY CLICKING HERE.Follow me on Twitch to get a notification for when I’m live taking calls. Usually Mondays and Wednesdays but a lot of other times too. twitch.tv/lyleforeverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Johnson, Beau Morgan, and Ali Mac let you hear former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback and now Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck explain why he thinks going to Miami was one of the best decisions he's ever made, and react to what Beck had to say as well. The Morning Shift crew then explains why they think Carson Beck leaving Georgia for Miami felt like a mutual parting of ways for both sides.

Felt the gut punch of betrayal? Deb Drummond did too—and what she discovered will give you goosebumps.In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with Mission Accepted Media founder Deb Drummond to share the moment a whisper at 4 a.m. cracked open the truth about her marriage. What followed was a crash course in self-trust, healing from narcissistic abuse, and rebuilding life after uncovering infidelity.Together, we dive into the rollercoaster of emotional collapse, crippling anxiety, the myth of the perfect family, and the unexpected ways our bodies store trauma. From realizing your relationship wasn't what you thought, to finding unexpected peace through solo travel and movie dates, Deb's story is equal parts heartbreaking and liberating.If you've ever questioned your reality, doubted your strength, or felt ashamed for not seeing the signs—this one's for you.

Há algumas semanas, Lionel Sanders falou em um vídeo que estava com RED-S, Síndrome da Deficiência Relativa de Energia. Convidamos a médica do esporte e preceptora do ambulatório de nutrologia e performance da UNIFESP Dra. Rafaella Sinisgalli, para entender mais sobre essa Síndrome desde o diagnóstico até a alta do paciente. Confira como foi o nosso papo.PatrocinadoresA OUTLIVE nasceu com o propósito de viver mais e melhor, promovendo um estilo de vida saudável!

In this week's episode, Lauren is joined by Debbie Lehr, a recent graduate of the DCB coaching program and a type 1 diabetic of 30 years. Though Debbie had always felt in control of her diabetes, a cross-country move and the onset of menopause left her feeling stuck, isolated, and overwhelmed- resulting in her highest A1C ever. After hearing about Risely through her daughter's best friend, Debbie took a leap and joined the program, seeking both support and a fresh start. What followed was a powerful transformation: within three months, Debbie lowered her A1C, stabilized her blood sugars, and found renewed confidence in her management. In this candid conversation, she shares how community, structure, and learning her own patterns helped her go from frustrated to empowered. This episode is a reminder that even after decades with T1D, it's never too late to ask for help and that real change begins with connection.Quick Takeaways:Knowing when it's time to ask for more help (and it's never too late) Overcoming fear and gaining confidence with your diabetes The powerful role mindset AND community plays in T1D management Timestamps:[04:03] The moment Debbie felt like she truly reclaimed her life with T1D [09:21] “I really felt defeated before I went to Risley”[13:17] Debbie's biggest wake up call: “I've learned my body and I thought I knew it before but I didn't.”[14:42] T1D + relationship to food [18:26] Navigating overwhelm and taking control [18:57] Finding AND understanding your patterns [21:39] The power of not having to struggle alone [24:58] Debbie's A1C journey & past endo experiences [31:00] Overcoming fear with T1D management (giving ‘too much' insulin / going low) [37:21] The importance of mindset and how to reframe it [37:47] What Debbie credits for her transformation[38:56] Dissecting the process of coaching [40:07] ‘80% mental and then 20% of doing all the steps'What to do now: Follow me @lauren_bongiorno and @riselyhealth on Instagram to stay in the loop when new episodes drop.Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve. Hear Debbie's story on IG: HERE!

In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with my close friend Heston Moyers, someone I didn't expect to become one of the most reliable, loyal, and transformative people in my life. What started as a rocky first impression turned into a brotherhood rooted in honesty, accountability, and unconditional support.Heston opens up about surviving a life-altering car accident, his journey through self-doubt, and the pivotal moment that helped him believe he was enough. From shedding 55 pounds to reshaping his mindset, he shares how the Levels retreat and the men who showed up there helped change the trajectory of his life.We talk about what real friendship looks like, how powerful it is to have a 2am call friend, and why your circle can either limit or launch you. Heston also reflects on producing this podcast, the stories that shaped him, and how it's helped him become a better father, husband, and man.If you've ever wondered what it takes to truly change your life, this one is for you.Key moments:0:00 A Rare Kind of Friendship3:00 The Crash That Changed Everything10:35 First Impressions & Misjudgments13:58 From Acquaintance to Inner Circle17:48 The Seizure That Redefined Loyalty23:16 Meeting His Younger Self26:47 Rewiring His Life32:01 What Makes a True Friend39:03 From Boy to Man45:22 Choose Your Circle CarefullyGuest Info:IG: @‌hgmoyers (https://www.instagram.com/hgmoyers/)-Where to find Tyler Hall: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerchall/ Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-tyler-hall-archives-7018241874482122753/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sirTHALL Work with Tyler: https://www.tylerchristianhall.com/

A organização do IM Brasil promete endurecer a fiscalização sobre profissionais não credenciados produzindo conteúdo nos eventos da marca. Qual o impacto disso? A fiscalização será eficaz? Confira o MT News desta semana!PatrocinadoresA OUTLIVE nasceu com o propósito de viver mais e melhor, promovendo um estilo de vida saudável!

Jennifer is abducted and tortured by a serial killer who has already murdered four other women. Neely Ann is with her four year old daughter when they are trapped in the attic of their house by a flash flood.Apartments.com - To find whatever you're searching for and more visit apartments.com the place to find a place.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever felt embarrassed about something you couldn't do on bass? In this episode, Scott and Ian get real about the things that used to make them cringe, from slap bass fails to technique gaps they kept under wraps. What about you? This one's all about getting real, dropping the shame, and finding your own way forward.

ITV Weather Presenter Lucy Verasamy joins Lucy Watson to breakdown the different types of heat - where it comes from and how that changes what it feels like. Most importantly, will we get another heatwave before the end of summer?

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3674: Cylon George invites readers to embrace the surprising joy of underachievement by challenging society's obsession with constant productivity. By stepping off the treadmill of striving, he discovers a deeper sense of purpose, presence, and peace in simply being himself, offering a liberating path to those feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the pursuit of “more.” Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.spirituallivingforbusypeople.com/underachieving-never-felt-so-good Quotes to ponder: "Underachieving never felt so good." "I no longer feel compelled to prove myself or impress anyone." "I'm learning to be okay with not knowing what's next." Episode references: The Surrender Experiment: https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Experiment-Journey-Lifes-Perfection/dp/080414110X The Four Agreements: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319 The Untethered Soul: https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like your own mind is your biggest bully? Negative thoughts are a common struggle, especially for high achievers. In fact, the average person has over 6,000 thoughts per day—80% of which are negative (National Science Foundation). For high performers, these thoughts can feel louder, faster, and more brutal. But here's the good news: You can shift your relationship with your thoughts.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3674: Cylon George invites readers to embrace the surprising joy of underachievement by challenging society's obsession with constant productivity. By stepping off the treadmill of striving, he discovers a deeper sense of purpose, presence, and peace in simply being himself, offering a liberating path to those feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the pursuit of “more.” Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.spirituallivingforbusypeople.com/underachieving-never-felt-so-good Quotes to ponder: "Underachieving never felt so good." "I no longer feel compelled to prove myself or impress anyone." "I'm learning to be okay with not knowing what's next." Episode references: The Surrender Experiment: https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Experiment-Journey-Lifes-Perfection/dp/080414110X The Four Agreements: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319 The Untethered Soul: https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3674: Cylon George invites readers to embrace the surprising joy of underachievement by challenging society's obsession with constant productivity. By stepping off the treadmill of striving, he discovers a deeper sense of purpose, presence, and peace in simply being himself, offering a liberating path to those feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the pursuit of “more.” Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.spirituallivingforbusypeople.com/underachieving-never-felt-so-good Quotes to ponder: "Underachieving never felt so good." "I no longer feel compelled to prove myself or impress anyone." "I'm learning to be okay with not knowing what's next." Episode references: The Surrender Experiment: https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Experiment-Journey-Lifes-Perfection/dp/080414110X The Four Agreements: https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319 The Untethered Soul: https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Video link to this interview: https://youtu.be/aAHE9YNnxf8What was it like to grow up in 1960s Boro Park as the daughter of survivors—and as a girl who wanted to run? In this candid and unfiltered conversation, scholar Naomi Seidman opens up about her Orthodox Jewish upbringing, her discomfort with the gender roles she was expected to fulfill, and her deep desire to escape. We talk about her path to becoming a PhD, how her parents responded, and the haunting legacy of her father's own doctorate from the University of Warsaw—earned just as war was about to erupt. A deeply personal, often funny, and unforgettable reflection on memory, identity, and rebellion.

Originally known as The Hammersmith Gorillas, UK's The Gorillas were often thought to be the missing link between Hendrix, glam and punk. This week's guest, musician Philip King (Felt, Lush, The Jesus and Mary Chain), brings us their smashing debut album, 1978's 'Message To The World' Songs discussed in this episode: You Really Got Me, Leavin' 'ome - The Hammersmith Gorillas; Factory Grime - Crushed Butler; Brand New Cadillac - The Clash; Gatecrasher, Foxy Lady - The Gorillas; Sunshine Of Your Love - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Live Happening for Lulu 1969); I'm A Liar - The Gorillas; I Need You - Helter Skelter; I Need Her, Going Fishing - The Gorillas; New York Groove - Hello; New York Groover - The Gorillas; Going Back Home - Dr Feelgood; Outa My Brain, Waiting For You, No Way In - The Gorillas; Black Train - The Gun Club; Last Train - The Gorillas; New Rose - The Damned; Message To The World - The Gorillas; New Dawn Fades - Joy Division; Night Of The Vampire - The Moontrekkers; Message To The World - The Gorillas; Love Resistance - Apple Boutique; I'm Seventeen - The Gorillas

When we think about altered states of consciousness, we often focus on individual experiences. But what happens when we bring psychedelics into our relationships—especially non-monogamous ones? The potential for healing, connection, and transformation is immense, but so are the risks if we're not careful about our approach.In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Nicole Thompson, a queer, non-monogamous sex and relationship psychotherapist with training in psychedelic integration therapy. Nicole is the host of the Modern Anarchy podcast and founder of The Pleasure Practice. Her groundbreaking doctoral research is the first study on relationship anarchy, and she brings a wealth of knowledge about how psychedelics can support relational liberation.In this episode, we talk about:— How psychedelics function as "non-specific amplifiers" that can enhance whatever is present in your relationships (both the good and challenging aspects)— The crucial importance of set, setting, and integration when using psychedelics for relationship exploration— Why community is medicine—both in psychedelic experiences and non-monogamy— The parallels between non-monogamy and psychedelics as mind-expanding experiences that challenge cultural norms— How psychedelics can help us experience our bodies differently and reconnect with sensation after trauma— The neuroplasticity that occurs during and after psychedelic experiences (and how to make the most of that 72-hour window)— Why self-compassion is essential when navigating jealousy in non-monogamous relationships— The similarities between NRE (New Relationship Energy) and psychedelic states— Practical integration practices that help us incorporate insights from altered states into everyday life— Why focusing on positive experiences is just as important as processing challenges— The importance of harm reduction and testing substances if you choose to use psychedelicsResources mentioned in this episode:— Nicole's podcast: Modern Anarchy— The Psychedelic Jealousy Guide— Fireside Project psychedelic support hotline— Relationship Reflection Integration QuestionsJOIN The Year Of Opening® community for a full year of learning & support. Registration is open now at ⁠⁠www.TheYearOfOpening.com⁠⁠Learn the 5 secrets to open your relationship the smart wayAre you ready to open your relationship happily? Find out at www.JoliQuiz.comGet the answers you want to create the open relationship of your dreams! Sign up for an Ask Me Anything hereMusic: Dance of Felt by ⁠Blue Dot Sessions

Let's Chat!That moment when everything finally clicks - not with fanfare, but with a quiet certainty that feels like coming home to yourself. This episode explores the transformative power of authentic connection and the courage to stop performing.Through a captivating narrative about a writer who finds unexpected peace in his daily visits to a local cafe, we witness how genuine conversations with a thoughtful barista named Lena gradually reshape his understanding of success and fulfillment. Their exchanges over coffee become a masterclass in presence - in being fully available to the moment without trying to capture, define, or leverage it.What makes this story resonate so deeply is how it challenges our conventional metrics of achievement. The protagonist experiences professional success - publications, speaking invitations, lucrative contracts - yet finds himself valuing the quiet moments at the cafe far more than these outward symbols of accomplishment. His journey reminds us that peace isn't necessarily found through achievement but through alignment, when our external actions finally match our internal values.The recurring napkin notes exchanged between the characters become breadcrumbs guiding the protagonist back to himself. "You feel more like yourself when you're not explaining who you are," reads one - a powerful reminder about the exhaustion of constant self-justification and the freedom that comes with authentic being.As you listen, consider your own life: When was the last time something worked and you didn't try to turn it into proof? What would your days look like if you stopped chasing and started choosing? What moments have you kept private, not out of fear, but because they felt too sacred to share?Join me in exploring how stillness becomes not the goal, but the gift - and how sometimes the key to everything isn't in striving for what's next, but in fully inhabiting where you already are."True mastery is found in the details. The way you handle the little things defines the way you handle everything."

(00:00-21:31) Joe Buck will be joining us at 9:00 talking about the Cardinal reunion with Tony LaRussa last night. Felt like LaRussa's 8-Track last night. Tim's performance at Cardinal Fantasy Camp. Performance, ability effort, problematic in the clubhouse. Is Alan Benes Harrison's Brother Master? Will Clark's rant from last week. Plowhawk's OnlyFans.(21:39-43:15) Lix's Morning drop-off. What a leaderboard early on in The Open. Doug wants the grass cut at Royal Portrush. Barstool and Dave Portnoy partnering with FS1 for their college football programming. Andres Galaraga. Barstool and Pat MacAfee. Not angry, or a woman.(43:25-54:02) Is Jackson updating his LinkedIn? A cloud-based postcard for themselves. The Tim McKernan Show Podcast makes careers. "Is he ready to take the keys, big boy?" Audio supercut of Shane Gillis's monologue at The ESPYs. You did your best though, Pale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(00:00-23:34) What was your favorite part of the Swing Off? Felt a little random. National League has shouting rights. And now it's on to Portrush. Tigers don't growl, they chuff. Beefin' with all the other shows. Martin's Dangly Bits has some insight on the BK and Ferrario fued.(23:42-34:17) Audio of Clayton Kershaw mic'd up while pitching in the All-Star Game last night. How many big moments was Doug at a disco for? Ludacris and Jermaine Dupri. The Crash vs. Brokeback Mountain travesty. Knitting at Rams games.(34:27-49:21) Celebrating journalism. Daddy Padre quoted in an AP article on the new collective bargaining agreement. Sodie Salesman. Painted goalie masks. We're all getting pink Cadillacs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This has been a game-changer for me lately! Felt lost, created a spreadsheet, used AI, felt better ;)Want 1 roundup email of fun & useful resources for creators? JOIN MY NEWSLETTER!https://petemcpherson.com/OTHER WAYS I CAN HELP YOU:- Do You Even Blog: A+ blog posts, podcast episodes, and YT videos to help you grow your audience.- Topical Map AI 1,000 keywords in 1 click.- Promptimizer: Organize & deploy your AI prompts faster than you can say "Hey ChatGPT!".- Aff Tracker: All your affiliate links in one place.- List Gadget: Skyrocket your email list engagement

From PasserineAtypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen.If you'd like to support the show, please visit atypicalartists.co/support.If you'd like to send Whiskey a message, click here.--[TRANSCRIPT]"Breaker breaker. This is Passerine calling back to Whiskey. You got the name right. I caught your response a little late, honestly just pure luck that I went to check my radio. I couldn't believe it when I heard you reading out my message. Felt a bit like a dream.As someone who's lost people, I know how much apologies mean little. So, I'll just say I get it. For me, I recently lost a family member, and we were going through their clothes, trying to figure out what to keep and what to give away. It's amazing how much of someone you can find in their clothes, the colours they picked out, the brands they stick to. My person, she loved colour and animals. She volunteered with a whole bunch of different organisations and kept the polo shirts from each one. It was wonderful. And it hurt like hell, because I'd see a jacket I remembered her wearing, and I realised she'd never wear it again. She'd never add another patch to her jacket covered in all the places she'd went. And thinking about losing her just makes me think of all the people you stand to lose in life. Made me terrified about all the clothes and possessions I was going to have to go through in my life, all the memories I was going to have to fold and put into a box, like it was that easy,To cut my ramble short, I understand you. And you are always welcome to respond in this way. The darkness is never as warm as you think it will be.You mentioned not knowing things about me, and well, like you, I'm a little cautious about letting big details slip. But, I'm happy to make a little trade, to keep things fair.My favourite colour is blue, specifically the way the ocean looks from a cliff on the beach on a sunny day. I once nearly concussed myself when ice-skating. In just two weeks, I'm upending my whole life and heading off into the unknown. Not a bad unknown, but just a different one. Maybe I'll be able to give you an update on that later. I love the sound of rain, and the waves, the scratch of a pencil when you're writing a story. I'm a writer, which is my only excuse for how long this message will probably be. My hair is short, and no one can agree on whether it's dark blonde or brown. That's all I can think of for now. Thank you for your promise, I'm holding you to it. And I'll keep up my end over here. No more sinking into dark corners for me.By the way, a passerine is actually a category of birds, passerines make up over half of all bird species. Big bird fan over here, but I also picked it as my name because it's the title of a song that wasn't yet released in your timeline.This has been Passerine, out for now."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On July 2nd, Sean Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges he faced: racketeering and sex trafficking. He was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution — and he remains in prison awaiting sentencing in early October.Over the course of eight weeks, the trial became a spectacle, even by the high standards of celebrity courtroom dramas. One reason? All of the influencers. For our weekly Reporter's Notebook series we bring you the the view from inside the courthouse as the Diddy spectacle unfolded. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy