Podcasts about females

If you've ever started the year with big career goals—only to lose steam by spring—this episode is for you. Career coach Michelle Schafer shares her quarterly career playbook: a simple, structured approach to keep your professional growth on track all year long. Learn how to break your goals into manageable chunks, build momentum each quarter, and stay accountable to your future self.You'll learn:How to create a quarterly framework that keeps your career goals realistic and sustainableThe right way to initiate career development conversations with your managerSimple ways to stay visible, build new skills, and celebrate progress—without burning outShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Self-marketing episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-techniques-to-master-self-marketing-how-to/id1434354911?i=1000706486616 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleschafercoaching/ Website: https://mschafercoaching.ca/ Free offer #1: A free chapter from my book - sign up here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/ Order my book Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/ Free offer #2: Download the reflection tool Career Focus Framework here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/gain-clarity-and-confidence-in-your-job-search/ Email me here: michelle@mschafercoaching.caBook a complimentary 30 min discovery call with me here: https://calendly.com/coaching-with-michelle-schafer Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Secret Sasquatch Research Facility ReportThe report describes a classified U.S. military research program, initiated in 1987 after a Sasquatch was killed by a train, that has expanded over 37 years to involve over 100 personnel in a heavily secured underground facility inside a mountain. Specimens and Facility107 cadavers (various ages and subspecies) stored in freezers.13 living specimens, acquired at significant human cost (multiple helicopter crashes attributed to capture attempts, officially covered as training accidents).Access requires passing three checkpoints; an elevator descends over 100 feet to the research levels.Key Biological FindingsAnatomy: Larger and denser than humans, with two extra ribs forming natural armor capable of stopping 30-caliber rounds; extremely dense skull (vulnerable only via eye socket or base); consumes entire prey (including bones) every 3–4 days.Genetics: 48 chromosomes (like apes, two more than humans), indicating not a human subspecies.Camouflage: Generate electric current through hair to reflect surroundings (electric camouflage); believed to also power night vision (glowing eyes when active).Vocalization: Three sets of vocal cords produce infrasound. Males induce fear, anxiety, confusion, or temporary memory loss; females produce calming/confusing effects that pacify prey.Communication: Use clicks, grunts, hand signals, and infrasound; live in hierarchical groups led by one alpha male.Social and Reproductive BehaviorStrict hierarchy; adult males fight to the death if females are present but can coexist without females.Females breed only after prior offspring reach 3–4 years; usually single births; young cling to mother for first year.Different responses to staff: calm and accepting with female staff; cautious or aggressive with male, uniformed, or armed staff.Female specimens have projected vivid mental images (“waking dreams”) to female staff (capture, childbirth, food preferences); no such events with male staff.Tracking and ReleaseFour non-aggressive specimens released with GPS implants.Tracked individuals follow long migration routes (e.g., eastern Texas to northern Ontario) or move 40–50 miles per night, staying weeks in one area.Signals sometimes vanish for days, suggesting underground cave travel.Distinct musks emitted for breeding, threat, or other contexts.The program prioritizes military applications (survivability, camouflage, infrasound weapons) and maintains extreme secrecy to prevent technology theft or public disruption.Join my Supporters Club for $4.99 per month for exclusive stories:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-if-it-s-true-podcast--5445587/support

In this episode, we dive into the nuanced and often misunderstood topic of testosterone use in women. Dr. Eryn leads the conversation, breaking down what testosterone actually does in the female body, when its use may be appropriate, and where misinformation commonly derails the discussion. We explore clinical context, benefits, risks, dosing misconceptions, and why individualized, evidence-based care matters, especially in a space dominated by extremes and social media hot takes. Coach VinnyEmail: vinny@balancedbodies.ioInstagram: vinnyrusso_balancedbodiesFacebook: Vinny Russo Dr. ErynEmail: dr.eryn@balancedbodies.ioInstagram: dr.eryn_balancedbodiesFacebook: Eryn Stansfield LEGION 20% OFF CODEGo to https://legionathletics.com/ and use the code RUSSO for 20% off your order!

Before you set another career goal, hit pause — it's time for a career audit. Career coach and product marketing pro Saniya Waghray Tyagi shares how to reflect on the past year, clarify what's working (and what's not), and set intentional goals that align your energy, environment, and ambitions for 2026.You'll learn:The five key areas to evaluate in your career audit — and how to spot when you're overdue for one.How to turn reflection into action using Saniya's “power of three” goal-setting method.Simple tools to make your audit feel doable — including the “Skill-Based Smile File.”Show NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Work 1:1 with Saniya: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/profile/Saniya-WaghrayTyagi/32470/ Amanda Goetz - ‘Life's a Game' bloghttps://amandagoetz.kit.com/posts/life-s-a-game-your-2024-game-plan?ref=life-creators.club And how to evolve at the 6-month mark: https://x.com/AmandaMGoetz/status/1774770294810452031 Expect to Win by Carla Harris: https://www.amazon.com/Expect-Win-Strategies-Thriving-Workplace/dp/0452295904/ ‘The First 90 Days' - Michael D Watkins: https://www.amazon.com/First-90-Days-Strategies-Expanded/dp/1422188612/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ SponsorStop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/careercontessa. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We listened to the arguments for and against boys identifying as girls and dominating girls sports, and we have concluded that it's stupid. This highly informed opinion is on display today, both here and at the Supreme Court.

In this episode, Lauren and Marnie break down three major workplace predictions for 2026, drawing from leading reports by Indeed, Forbes, and McKinsey. After a quick lookback on 2025, Lauren and Marnie dive deep into what's ahead for the new year as it relates to job searching and larger workplace cultural shifts. You'll Learn:Why the 2026 job market may feel familiar and how to job search accordingly Why values alignment is becoming a top priority for employeesHow AI will reshape expectations for leadership as it relates to transparency Show NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Career Contessa: http://bit.ly/2TMH2QP 2025 Workplace Predictions Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-in-30-work-predictions-for-2025/id1434354911?i=1000680665545 Prediction 1 - Indeed Article: https://www.hiringlab.org/2025/11/20/indeed-2026-us-jobs-hiring-trends-report Prediction 2 - Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2025/11/16/5-trends-that-will-shape-workplace-culture-in-2026/ Prediction 3 - McKinsey Article: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/tech-and-ai/our-insights/superagency-in-the-workplace-empowering-people-to-unlock-ais-full-potential-at-work Recommended Online Assessment: https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder?afid=2218Follow Marnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnielemonik/ Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmcgoodwin/ Resources Marnie's Instagram Reel on Negotiation: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_O1iZrurJt/ Marnie's Interview Prep eBook: https://www.marnielemonik.com/store/p/ebook-how-to-shine-in-your-next-job-interview 10% Discount Code: CCPOD Marnie's Resume Template: https://www.marnielemonik.com/store/p/template-marnies-resume-with-written-examples The Job Search Dashboard: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-job-search-dashboard-notion-template?affcode=70732_cx6_j5wnCareerFitter Online Assessment:https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder?afid=2218Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Browse open jobs: https://www.careercontessa.com/jobs/ Sponsor:Stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/careercontessa. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Here’s the big invertebrate episode I’ve been promising people! Thanks to Sam, warbrlwatchr, Jayson, Richard from NC, Holly, Kabir, Stewie, Thaddeus, and Trech for their suggestions this week! Further reading: Does the Spiral Siphonophore Reign as the Longest Animal in the World? The common nawab butterfly: The common nawab caterpillar: A velvet worm: A giant siphonophore [photo by Catriona Munro, Stefan Siebert, Felipe Zapata, Mark Howison, Alejandro Damian-Serrano, Samuel H. Church, Freya E.Goetz, Philip R. Pugh, Steven H.D.Haddock, Casey W.Dunn – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790318300460#f0030]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. Hello to 2026! This is usually where I announce that I'm going to do a series of themed episodes throughout the coming year, and usually I forget all about it after a few months. This year I have a different announcement. After our nine-year anniversary next month, which is episode 470, instead of new episodes I'm going to be switching to old Patreon episodes. I closed the Patreon permanently at the end of December but all the best episodes will now run in the main feed until our ten-year anniversary in February 2027. That's episode 523, when we'll have a big new episode that will also be the very last one ever. I thought this was the best way to close out the podcast instead of just stopping one day. The only problem is the big list of suggestions. During January I'm going to cover as many suggestions as I possibly can. This week's episode is about invertebrates, and in the next few weeks we'll have an episode about mammals, one about reptiles and birds, and one about amphibians and fish, although I don't know what order they'll be in yet. Episode 470 will be about animals discovered in 2025, along with some corrections and updates. I hope no one is sad about the podcast ending! You have a whole year to get used to it, and the old episodes will remain forever on the website so you can listen whenever you like. All that out of the way, let's start 2026 right with a whole lot of invertebrates! Thanks to Sam, warbrlwatchr, Jayson, Richard from NC, Holly, Kabir, Stewie, Thaddeus, and Trech for their suggestions this week! Let's start with Trech's suggestion, a humble ant called the weaver ant. It's also called the green ant even though not all species are green, because a species found in Australia is partially green. Most species are red, brown, or yellowish, and they're found in parts of northern and western Australia, southern Asia, and on most islands in between the two areas, and in parts of central Africa. The weaver ant lives in trees in tropical areas, and gets the name weaver ant because of the way it makes its nest. The nests are made out of leaves, but the leaves are still growing on the tree. Worker ants grab the edge of a leaf in their mandibles, then pull the leaf toward another leaf or sometimes double the leaf over. Sometimes ants have to make a chain to reach another leaf, with each ant grabbing the next ant around the middle until the ant at the end of the chain can grab the edge of a leaf. While the leaf is being pulled into place alongside the edge of another leaf, or the opposite edge of the same leaf, other workers bring larvae from an established part of the nest. The larvae secrete silk to make cocoons, but a worker ant holds a larva at the edge of the leaf, taps its little head, and the larva secretes silk that the workers use to bind the leaf edges together. A single colony has multiple nests, often in more than one tree, and are constantly constructing new ones as the old leaves are damaged by weather or just die off naturally. The weaver ant mainly eats insects, which is good for the trees because many of the insects the ants kill and eat are ones that can damage trees. This is one reason why farmers in some places like seeing weaver ants, especially fruit farmers, and sometimes farmers will even buy a weaver ant colony starter pack to place in their trees deliberately. The farmer doesn't have to use pesticides, and the weaver ants even cause some fruit- and leaf-eating animals to stay away, because the ants can give a painful bite. People in many areas also eat the weaver ant larvae, which is considered a delicacy. Our next suggestion is by Holly, the zombie snail. I actually covered this in a Patreon episode, but I didn't schedule it for next year because I thought I'd used the information already in a regular episode, but now I can't find it. So let's talk about it now! In August of 2019, hikers in Taiwan came across a snail that looked like it was on its way to a rave. It had what looked like flashing neon decorations in its head, pulsing in green and orange. Strobing colors are just not something you'd expect to find on an animal, or if you did it would be a deep-sea animal. The situation is not good for the snail, let me tell you. It's due to a parasitic flatworm called the green-banded broodsac. The flatworm infects birds, but to get into the bird, first it has to get into a snail. To get into a snail, it has to be in a bird, though, because it lives in the cloaca of a bird and attaches its eggs to the bird's droppings. When a snail eats a yummy bird dropping, it also eats the eggs. The eggs hatch in the snail's body instead of being digested, where eventually they develop into sporocysts. That's a branched structure that spreads throughout the snail's body, including into its head and eyestalks. The sporocyst branches that are in the snail's eyestalks further develop into broodsacs, which look like little worms or caterpillars banded with green and orange or green and yellow, sometimes with black or brown bands too—it depends on the species. About the time the broodsacs are ready for the next stage of life, the parasite takes control of the snail's brain. The snail goes out in daylight and sits somewhere conspicuous, and its body, or sometimes just its head or eyestalks, becomes semi-translucent so that the broodsacs show through it. Then the broodsacs swell up and start to pulse. The colors and movement resemble a caterpillar enough that it attracts birds that eat caterpillars. A bird will fly up, grab what it thinks is a caterpillar, and eat it up. The broodsac develops into a mature flatworm in the bird's digestive system, and sticks itself to the walls of the cloaca with two suckers, and the whole process starts again. The snail gets the worst part of this bargain, naturally, but it doesn't necessarily die. It can survive for a year or more even with the parasite living in it, and it can still use its eyes. When it's bird time, the bird isn't interested in the snail itself. It just wants what it thinks is a caterpillar, and a lot of times it just snips the broodsac out of the snail's eyestalk without doing a lot of damage to the snail. If a bird doesn't show up right away, sometimes the broodsac will burst out of the eyestalk anyway. It can survive for up to an hour outside the snail and continues to pulsate, so it will sometimes still get eaten by a bird. Okay, that was disgusting. Let's move on quickly to the tiger beetle, suggested by both Sam and warblrwatchr. There are thousands of tiger beetle species known and they live all over the world, except for Antarctica. Because there are so many different species in so many different habitats, they don't all look the same, but many common species are reddish-orange with black stripes, which is where the name tiger beetle comes from. Others are plain black or gray, shiny blue, dark or pale brown, spotted, mottled, iridescent, bumpy, plain, bulky, or lightly built. They vary a lot, but one thing they all share are long legs. That's because the tiger beetle is famous for its running speed. Not all species can fly, but even in the ones that can, its wings are small and it can't fly far. But it can run so fast that scientists have discovered that its simple eyes can't gather enough photons for the brain to process an image of its surroundings while it runs. That's why the beetle will run extremely fast, then stop for a moment before running again. Its brain needs a moment to catch up. The tiger beetle eats insects and other small animals, which it runs after to catch. The fastest species known lives around the shores of Lake Eyre in South Australia, Rivacindela hudsoni. It grows around 20 mm long, and can run as much as 5.6 mph, or 9 km/hour, not that it's going to be running for an entire hour at a time. Still, that's incredibly fast for something with little teeny legs. Another insect that is really fast is called the common nawab, suggested by Jayson. It's a butterfly that lives in tropical forests and rainforests in South Asia and many islands. Its wings are mainly brown or black with a big yellow or greenish spot in the middle and some little white spots along the edges, and the hind wings have two little tails that look like spikes. It's really pretty and has a wingspan more than three inches across, or about 8.5 cm. The common nawab spends most of its time in the forest canopy, flying quickly from flower to flower. Females will travel long distances, but when a female is ready to lay her eggs, she returns to where she hatched. The male stays in his territory, and will chase away other common nawab males if they approach. The common nawab caterpillar is green with pale yellow stripes, and it has four horn-like projections on its head, which is why it's called the dragon-headed caterpillar. It's really awesome-looking and I put it on the list to cover years ago, then forgot it until Jayson recommended it. But it turns out there's not a lot known about the common nawab, so there's not a lot to say about it. Next, Richard from NC suggested the velvet worm. It's not a worm and it's not made of velvet, although its body is soft and velvety to the touch. It's long and fairly thin, sort of like a caterpillar in shape but with lots of stubby little legs. There are hundreds of species known in two families. Most species of velvet worm are found in South America and Australia. Some species of velvet worm can grow up to 8 and a half inches long, or 22 cm, but most are much smaller. The smallest lives in New Zealand on the South Island, and only grows up to 10 mm long, with 13 pairs of legs. The largest lives in Costa Rica in Central America and was only discovered in 2010. It has up to 41 pairs of legs, although males only have 34 pairs. Various species of velvet worm are different colors, although a lot of them are reddish, brown, or orangey-brown. Most species have simple eyes, although some have no eyes at all. Its legs are stubby, hollow, and very simple, with a pair of tiny chitin claws at the ends. The claws are retractable and help it climb around. It likes humid, dark places like mossy rocks, leaf litter, fallen logs, caves, and similar habitats. Some species are solitary but others live in social groups of closely related individuals. The velvet worm is an ambush predator, and it hunts in a really weird way. It's nocturnal and its eyes are not only very simple, but the velvet worm can't even see ahead of it because its eyes are behind a pair of fleshy antennae that it uses to feel its way delicately forward. It walks so softly on its little legs that the small insects and other invertebrates that it preys on often don't even notice it. When it comes across an animal, it uses its antennae to very carefully touch it and decide whether it's worth attacking. When it decides to attack, it squirts slime that acts like glue. It has a gland on either side of its head that squirts slime quite accurately. Once the prey is immobilized, the velvet worm may give smaller squirts of slime at dangerous parts, like the fangs of spiders. Then it punctures the body of its prey with its jaws and injects saliva, which kills the animal and starts to liquefy its insides. While the velvet worm is waiting for this to happen, it eats up its slime to reuse it, then sucks the liquid out of the prey. This can take a long time depending on the size of the animal—more than an hour. A huge number of invertebrates, including all insects and crustaceans, are arthropods, and velvet worms look like they should belong to the phylum Arthropoda. But arthropods always have jointed legs. Velvet worm legs don't have joints. Velvet worms aren't arthropods, although they're closely related. A modern-day velvet worm looks surprisingly like an animal that lived half a billion years ago, Antennacanthopodia, although it lived in the ocean and all velvet worms live on land. Scientists think that the velvet worm's closest living relative is a very small invertebrate called the tardigrade, or water bear, which is Stewie's suggestion. The water bear isn't a bear but a tiny eight-legged animal that barely ever grows larger than 1.5 millimeters. Some species are microscopic. There are about 1,300 known species of water bear and they all look pretty similar, like a plump eight-legged stuffed animal with a tubular mouth that looks a little like a pig's snout. It uses six of its fat little legs for walking and the hind two to cling to the moss and other plant material where it lives. Each leg has four to eight long hooked claws. Like the velvet worm, the tardigrade's legs don't have joints. They can bend wherever they want. Tardigrades have the reputation of being extremophiles, able to withstand incredible heat, cold, radiation, space, and anything else scientists can think of. In reality, it's just a little guy that mostly lives in moss and eats tiny animals or plant material. It is tough, and some species can indeed withstand extreme heat, cold, and so forth, but only for short amounts of time. The tardigrade's success is mainly due to its ability to suspend its metabolism, during which time the water in its body is replaced with a type of protein that protects its cells from damage. It retracts its legs and rearranges its internal organs so it can curl up into a teeny barrel shape, at which point it's called a tun. It needs a moist environment, and if its environment dries out too much, the water bear will automatically go into this suspended state, called cryptobiosis. When conditions improve, the tardigrade returns to normal. Another animal has a similar ability, and it's a suggestion by Thaddeus, the immortal jellyfish. It's barely more than 4 mm across as an adult, and lives throughout much of the world's oceans, especially where it's warm. It eats tiny food, including plankton and fish eggs, which it grabs with its tiny tentacles. Small as it is, the immortal jellyfish has stinging cells in its tentacles. It's mostly transparent, although its stomach is red and an adult jelly has up to 90 white tentacles. The immortal jellyfish starts life as a larva called a planula, which can swim, but when it finds a place it likes, it sticks itself to a rock or shell, or just onto the sea floor. There it develops into a polyp colony, and this colony buds new polyps that are clones of the original. These polyps swim away and grow into jellyfish, which spawn and develop eggs, and those eggs hatch into new planulae. Polyps can live for years, while adult jellies, called medusae, usually only live a few months. But if an adult immortal jellyfish is injured, starving, sick, or otherwise under stress, it can transform back into a polyp. It forms a new polyp colony and buds clones of itself that then grow into adult jellies. It's the only organism known that can revert to an earlier stage of life after reaching sexual maturity–but only an individual at the adult stage, called the medusa stage, can revert to an earlier stage of development, and an individual can only achieve the medusa stage once after it buds from the polyp colony. If it reverts to the polyp stage, it will remain a polyp until it eventually dies, so it's not really immortal but it's still very cool. All the animals we've talked about today have been quite small. Let's finish with a suggestion from Kabir, a deep-sea animal that's really big! It's the giant siphonophore, Praya dubia, which lives in cold ocean water around many parts of the world. It's one of the longest creatures known to exist, but it's not a single animal. Each siphonophore is a colony of tiny animals called zooids, all clones although they perform different functions so the whole colony can thrive. Some zooids help the colony swim, while others have tiny tentacles that grab prey, and others digest the food and disperse the nutrients to the zooids around it. Some siphonophores are small but some can grow quite large. The Portuguese man o' war, which looks like a floating jellyfish, is actually a type of siphonophore. Its stinging tentacles can be 100 feet long, or 30 m. Other siphonophores are long, transparent, gelatinous strings that float through the depths of the sea, and that's the kind the giant siphonophore is. The giant siphonophore can definitely grow longer than 160 feet, or 50 meters, and may grow considerably longer. Siphonophores are delicate, and if they get washed too close to shore or the surface, waves and currents can tear them into pieces. Other than that, and maybe the occasional whale or big fish swimming right through them and breaking them up, there's really no reason why a siphonophore can't just keep on growing and growing and growing… You can find Strange Animals Podcast at strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net. That's blueberry without any E's. If you have questions, comments, corrections, or suggestions, email us at strangeanimalspodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

The Attack Dragon (Draco ferox) is a large, obligate quadrupedal dragon distinguished by a dense, osteoderm-reinforced hide and an elongated cranial structure optimized for both intimidation and prey capture. The skull supports a double row of recurved, serrated teeth that are continuously replaced throughout the animal's life, while a heavily muscled neck allows for powerful lateral strikes. Its wings, though capable of sustained flight, are proportionally thicker than those of migratory dragon species, favoring explosive takeoff and short, violent aerial engagements. Internally, D. ferox possesses a highly efficient cardiopulmonary system and a specialized foregut chamber lined with heat-resistant tissue, enabling the ignition and controlled expulsion of volatile gases used primarily for combat rather than hunting.Dietarily, Draco ferox is a hypercarnivorous apex predator, feeding almost exclusively on large terrestrial megafauna and rival dragons. It is an ambush hunter, relying on territorial familiarity and burst aggression rather than endurance pursuit. Mating behavior is infrequent and highly ritualized; breeding seasons occur once every several decades, typically following periods of environmental stress that reduce population density. Courtship is violently competitive, with males engaging in lethal dominance displays that often result in the death of weaker contenders. Females select mates based on combat success and physical damage sustained, a trait believed to correlate with genetic resilience. After mating, the female deposits a small clutch of heavily calcified eggs in geothermally active sites, abandoning them entirely—hatchlings that survive are immediately solitary, aggressive, and fully independent within days of emergence.This week's episode covers Randy's most-manifested song, "Dragon Attack", from Queen's eighth album, "The Game". If Kev were to title this podcast, he'd probably call it "Dragon Attack" or possibly "Leaping Lizards!"NOTE: Skip forward to 28:58 if wanna get straight into the manifestations and wheel spin.The music at the end of the episode is the song Kev wrote for his childhood best pal, Birchy, who he referenced in the Ask Us Anything section. You can find the video here: https://youtu.be/AGsINNg8l_cIf you want to get involved in the Kofi Klub, you can make a donation here: https://ko-fi.com/seasidepodreview and let us know which song you want us to add to the wheel! We also have a private channel in our Discord community for donors.Follow us onFacebook: @seasidepodreviewDiscord: https://discord.gg/nrzr2mQjBluesky: @seasidepodreview.bsky.socialKo-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/seasidepodreviewBoneless Podcasting Network: https://boneless-catalogue-player.lovable.appAlso, check out Kev's other podcastsThe Tom Petty Project: https://tompettyproject.comThe Ultimate Catalogue Clash: https://shows.acast.com/uccAnd if you want to check out Randy's music, you can find it here:https://randywoodsband.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the PFC Podcast, Dennis and Master Sergeant Dan McGarra discuss the evolving role of females in combat and the challenges faced in medical treatment for female casualties. They explore discrepancies in medical protocols, cultural implications, and the need for gender-neutral approaches in military medicine. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding physiological differences and social dynamics that affect treatment outcomes, as well as the necessity for training that prepares medics for real-world scenarios involving female patients. Dan proposes solutions to improve medical protocols and training to ensure that all soldiers receive appropriate care, regardless of gender.Listen ad free with membership.TakeawaysThe percentage of females in the military is increasing, necessitating discussions on their treatment in combat.Studies show discrepancies in trauma treatment between genders, affecting outcomes for female casualties.Cultural and social factors influence how medics respond to female patients in emergencies.Training scenarios often fail to prepare medics for the realities of treating female casualties.Gender biases can lead to inappropriate prioritization in triage situations.Medical protocols need to be updated to reflect the physiological differences between genders.There is a need for gender-neutral training in military medical education.International military practices can provide insights into better treatment for female soldiers.The Sharp training program must include medical emergency protocols to protect both patients and medics.Open discussions about gender and medical treatment are essential for improving care in the military.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Female Participation in Combat02:48 Challenges in Medical Treatment for Female Casualties06:06 Discrepancies in Medical Protocols and Gender Bias09:56 Cultural and Social Implications in Medical Emergencies17:01 Learning from Global Military Practices21:12 Addressing the Sharp Training and Medical Protocols28:46 Proposed Solutions for Gender Neutral Medical TreatmentFor more content, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.prolongedfieldcare.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Consider supporting us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ProlongedFieldCareCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lobocoffeeco.com/product-page/prolonged-field-care⁠⁠⁠

We're replaying one of our most popular episodes with courage coach and bestselling author Dr. Margie Warrell. If fear or self-doubt has ever held you back from making a career move or life change, this episode will help you take that next step with confidence.You'll learn:Why fear and overthinking keep us stuck in inactionDr. Margie's 5-step process for building courage and momentumHow to reframe failure and embrace discomfort as growthShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:The Courage Gap (Book): https://margiewarrell.com/thecouragegap/ Dr. Margie Warrell's website: https://margiewarrell.comDr. Margie Warrell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margiewarrell/Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it really take to succeed in franchising when so many people still believe it is passive income? This week on Grow Your Business and Grow Your Wealth with Gary Heldt, Gary sits down with Brittney Lincoln, Partner and VP of Franchise at Limitless Franchise Growth and Founder of Females in Franchising. With over thirteen years of experience across home services, beauty, fitness, wellness, medical, dog training, and Pilates franchises, Brittney offers an honest, practical look at what franchising truly requires. Brittney breaks down one of the industry's biggest misconceptions. Many people think franchising is “mailbox money,” meaning passive income with little involvement. In reality, franchising only works when the owner executes the model, leads the team, and stays engaged in the business every day. Execution beats money, intelligence, or excitement every time. She also shares the trifecta every buyer should evaluate before choosing a brand, the dangers of franchisors scaling too quickly, and why more women should consider franchising as their second act. Brittney's passion project, Females in Franchising, is a new online community designed to support collaboration, mentorship, and shared knowledge across the franchising world. Key Takeaways→ Why franchising is not passive income and requires real execution→ What “no mailbox money” actually means inside a franchise system→ How poor franchisor infrastructure creates long-term problems→ The three-part trifecta every buyer must evaluate→ Why more women should consider franchising as their next act→ How mentorship and collaboration accelerate success in franchising Quote from Brittney:“There is no mailbox money in franchising. Maybe vending machines, but you still have to go and fill the vending machine.” Connect to Brittney on LinkedIn: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo 3 in 30 episode, career coach Marnie Lemonik answers listener questions across leadership, job searching, and workplace growth. From stepping into people management for the first time to navigating stagnation, hypothetical interview questions, and asking for more feedback, Marnie breaks down the mindsets and tactical approaches that will help you move forward with confidence. You'll Learn:How to transition into people management with trust, structure, and clarityHow to evaluate whether it's truly time to leave your jobHow to answer hypothetical interview questions with a clear, repeatable formatHow to ask your manager for more feedback in a direct, positive wayShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Marnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnielemonik/ Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmcgoodwin/ Resources Instagram Video: Hypothetical Questions: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ7_A3rgVYs/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==CareerFitter Online Assessment: https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder?afid=2218 Job Search Dashboard: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-job-search-dashboard-notion-template?affcode=70732_cx6_j5wn Marnie's Free Resourceshttps://www.marnielemonik.com/resources Marnie's Interview Prep eBook: https://www.marnielemonik.com/resources/p/ebook-how-to-shine-in-your-next-job-interview 10% Discount Code: CCPOD Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Sponsors:Go to shopify.com/careercontessa to upgrade your selling today.Go to livemomentous.com, and use promo code CONTESSA for up to 35% off your first order.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Die Eroberung des amerikanischen Westens schreibt man weißen Männern zu. Maßgeblich waren jedoch auch Frauen, die an der Frontier zwischen europäisch geprägter Zivilisation und unberührter, wilder, oft lebensgefährlicher Natur, neue Aufgaben übernahmen.

Could Greek-Australian racing driver Aiva Anagnostiadis become the first female Formula 1 driver to race in a Grand Prix? The path has been laid down with the talented 18 year old spending 2025 in the prestigious F1 Academy, but in a sport dominated by cashed-up individuals, talent doesn't always reign supreme. Aiva joins Tom and Nick to discuss her meteoric rise through the ranks and the significant challenges that she faces as she attempts to climb the ladder to a seat on the F1 grid. Coming from the same system as F1 World Champion-hopeful in McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Aiva has the goods to deliver – but she needs support to do it. If you're a lover of motorsport and F1, this is a must-listen!Huge thanks to our sponsors Bay Vista and The Greek Providore for helping to make this episode possible.Send us a textThe Greek Providore: https://thegreekprovidore.com.au/Bay Vista: https://www.bayvista.com.au/ Support the showEmail us at ouzotalk@outlook.comSubscribe to our Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OuzoTalkFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OuzoTalkFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouzo_talk/

This holiday season, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes featuring communication expert Matt Abrahams. Learn how to stay calm, concise, and confident in spontaneous conversations — from job interviews to everyday workplace interactions.You'll learn:How to manage anxiety in high-stakes communication momentsSimple structures (like “What? So what? Now what?”) to keep your responses clear and memorablePractical strategies for handling interviews, feedback, small talk, and even email with confidenceShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Think Fast, Talk Smart Podcast: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/think-fast-talk-smart-podcast Think Faster, Talk Smarter (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW2DNZHX/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk Matt Abrahams on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/ Career Contessa Resources:Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/Sponsor:Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In todays Q and A we hit on 1-Making on the spot decisions regarding injuries and the weight room2- Females getting big and bulky3 Using analytics and dataSports AdvantEdge is now adding more schools for consulting.FIRE IT! We are changing the game in the state of Wisconsin.If you enjoy the podcast please share it with your athletes- teachers- parents and other coaches. Help us grow our GET YOUR EDGE community!#chop-itGET YOUR EDGE PODCASTInstagram and Twitter- @getyouredgepodDean Contactwww.foxvalleythrowsclub.comInstagram and Twitter- @foxvalleythrowsBrian Contactwww.sportsadvantedge.comInstagram- @sportsadvantedgeverona / @brianbott23Twitter- @botter23 / @sportadvantedgeGraphics and Logo- Bailey MarashInstagram and Twitter- @bmarasch13

We're replaying one of our most-loved episodes to close out the year. Career coach Kristin Evanson joins me to share how neuroscience can help you shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset — so you can approach challenges with confidence and creativity.You'll learn:The difference between fixed and growth mindsets (and how to spot your own tendencies)Four actionable steps to reframe limiting thoughts into opportunitiesHow to navigate career transitions with resilience and possibilityShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Kristen Evanson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinevenson/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Sponsors:Go to shopify.com/CAREERCONTESSA to upgrade your selling today.Go to Superpower.com to learn more and lock in the special $199 price while it lasts. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Lauren and career coach Marnie Lemonik are in full holiday prep mode—tackling the stress that often comes with taking paid time off. From the anxiety of unplugging to the chaos of catching up, they share practical strategies to make your vacations more restorative and less overwhelming. You'll Learn:How to use AI tools to streamline your post-vacation “catch up” processHow to navigate your company's PTO norms and clearly communicate expectations How to reframe time off as an essential part of long-term career successShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Marnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnielemonik/ Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmcgoodwin/ Resources Job Search Dashboard: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-job-search-dashboard-notion-template?affcode=70732_cx6_j5wn CareerFitter Online Assessment: https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder?afid=2218 Marnie's Free Resourceshttps://www.marnielemonik.com/resources Marnie's Interview Prep eBook: https://www.marnielemonik.com/resources/p/ebook-how-to-shine-in-your-next-job-interview 10% Discount Code: CCPOD Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ SponsorsTake back control of your business today. Open a Found account for FREE at found.com. Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Go to livemomentous.com, and use promo code CONTESSA for up to 35% off your first order. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Responding to  @TimcastIRL  and  @The_Crucible  after they aired a segment on my plural family, linked below.Should Polygamist Families be Welcome at Church? - https://richtidwell.com/should-polygamist-families-be-welcome-at-church/A Letter to the Anglican Church: https://bit.ly/PolygynyLetterOn Plural Marriage: https://richtidwell.com/on-plural-marriage/The Mia & Heis Saga: https://richtidwell.com/mia-and-heis/St. Augustine, On The Good of Marriage: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1309.htm"Andrew Wilson Slams Protestant Pastor For Saying Polygamy Is Biblical" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CPYbTjcUhgSTUDIES- Birthrates: https://x.com/richtidwell/status/1989109694481170715- London School of Economics and Political Science: https://www.lse.ac.uk/news/new-study-challenges-claim-polygyny-drives-men-to-civil-war- PNAS polygamy study: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2508091122- Females outnumber men: https://www.medicaldaily.com/female-population-has-always-outnumbered-males-historically-according-our-genes-304428- More Christian women in US then men: https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/gender-composition/woman/- More women in the Church than men: https://www.ncls.org.au/articles/why-are-women-more-religious-than-men/

Episode #189 Krista Dunton, Trillium Rose, & Erika Larkin – Opportunities & Challenges for female coaches in golf, Breaking stereotypes in a male dominated field, and Why are there not more females coaching tour level players? Krista Dunton (IG: @kristadunton), Trillium Rose (IG: @trillium_rose) and Erika Larkin (IG: @erikalarkingolf) are prominent, world class golf coaches/instructors. All three got into the golf business before there were programs to promote females in a male dominated industry, but all have had very successful careers. They sit down for the first G360 Roundtable to discuss their career journey and their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for women in golf today. We also review the importance of sports on confidence, the benefits of co-ed play, especially at younger ages, and the differences in teaching male and female golfers. Finally, the discussion goes into the future of female coaches in the golf industry and the evolving landscape of gender representation in the sport.   Sponsors: Want to know why our communities and nation are struggling? Could the answer be our lack of leadership and quality LEADERS?  Find the answers in this eye opening book; 'Why do we call them LEADERS?: The disgraceful collapse of Americas leadership standards' by Rande Somma.  BUY HERE https://amzn.to/3xkoflG Affiliates:Morozkoforge is the world premiere ice bath. It's not a cold plunge or a cold tank, it's a true bath that makes ice. If you want to experience all the health benefits of ice baths and feel better than ever go to https://www.morozkoforge.com/ and use discount code GOLF360 at checkout to save $500 The Stack System is the games premiere training device to increase your swing speed. Check them out at https://www.thestacksystem.com/ and be sure to enter GOLF360 at checkout for your discount. Payntr Golf Shoes are changing the way shoes help you improve by using traction in three dimensions. This helps you improve your ground reaction forces and ultimately your swing. Check them out at www.payntrgolf/GOLF360 to enjoy a more comfortable way to play golf. Cool Mitts - The science of heat transfer. As your muscles work, their internal temperature rises rapidly. Eventually your muscles activate natural fail-safe mechanisms that shut down the muscle's activity to protect them from excessive heat. The result? ...Fatigue. CoolMitt vasocooling technology quickly sends cooled blood to your muscles via your heart - allowing you to go stronger, faster, longer, and better. Use discount code GOLF360-20 at checkout to get your special discount.  https://coolmitt.com/?ref=GOLF360-20 Get your 15% discount on your next order of JustThrive Probiotic at https://justthrivehealth.com/ (use code: GOLF360) Looking to play one of the best golf courses in the Hilton Head Island area? Be sure to check out Old South Golf Links and have one of the best days ever https://www.oldsouthgolf.com/ Listen to all episodes: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Lm6wxs Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2PnsaFR Golf 360 website: https://www.thegolfparadigm.com/golf-360-podcast.html Follow us on social media at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g360podcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Podcast360 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/G360podcast/

At this time of the year there's only one place I'd love to be: The North Island. These are the largest moths in Aotearoa. They are also very nicely coloured – lots of green and yellow as well as white and orange patches. Their wingspan is up to 150mm, and they're a noisy flyer at night. Females are often larger than males – they lay masses of eggs as they fly through the forest at night. The relatively small caterpillars hatch on the forest floor and commence eating dead wood, infected by fungal material. The funny thing is that these very young caterpillars only move around for 6 to 12 months, after which they move up tree trunks to find out what the wood tastes like… Once they've found a suitable tree with nice bark and yummy phloem and xylem, they will start to build a long-term tunnel system in which they can live 5, 6, or even 7 years. It's a 7-shaped tunnel that goes into the trunk and down (yes, the shape of a 7!), and it lives there for 7 years. The puriri moth “homes” are always protected by a patch of silk that protects the dwelling from enemies such as centipedes and even small birds. The silk is tough enough to keep the predators out. Caterpillars chew on the re-growth of the Cambium at night and bit by bit, which is why it takes so long for these larvae to become “mature”. Once they have reached their final “instar” (size) they turn into a chrysalis (a “Pupa”) that finally becomes that huge green ghost moth that we see flying at this time of the year. The adult moths (which grew to that size in 7 years!) have just 24 hours (and at most to 48 hours), to do all their loving, living, and shopping. They look spectacular and full of protein and eggs…. Which is why Ruru are keen on hunting these insects LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we have Sophie Jenz with us, a rising star in the field of neuromuscular physiology research. Sophie has an interesting background with lots of experience in applied practice of strength training for females, which ultimately directed her to her current research area.Sophie is coming to the end of her PhD and her work so far has certainly impacted the way in which we think about females in this area of research.Tune in to here more about the specifics of how and why the hormones are, again, so important in the way our muscles and nerves work together to allow us to move at varying levels!

Fear shows up in every career — whether it's speaking up in a meeting, going for a stretch role, or asking for a raise. But courage isn't about eliminating fear; it's about acting with it. In this episode, Harvard Business School professor and author Ranjay Gulati shares the science of everyday courage and practical strategies to help you move forward boldly in your career.You'll learn:The “fear equation” — and why uncertainty and control matter mostThe 9C's of Courage and how to strengthen them like a muscleMental strategies and rituals to manage fear in real time and take bold actionShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Book: https://ranjaygulati.com/how-to-be-bold/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjay-gulati/ Website: https://ranjaygulati.com/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Stephanie Pirotta, Accredited Practising Dietitian, adjunct research fellow at Monash University, and founder of Womanly Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr Pirotta's research and clinical work centre on women's health, with expertise in PCOS, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. She combines evidence-based nutrition with compassionate care to support women living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, and other hormone-related conditions. We discuss the role of diet and gut health in managing chronic pelvic pain, the links between the microbiome, inflammation, and hormone balance, and the science behind approaches like the Mediterranean and Low FODMAP diets. Stephanie also shares insights on trauma-informed nutrition care, addressing disordered eating, and building sustainable, personalised strategies for long-term wellbeing. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or someone managing pelvic pain yourself, this conversation offers clear, practical, and empowering guidance for navigating the intersection of food, hormones, and gut health. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr Stephanie Pirotta.

Today's episode kicks off our five-part series Unpacking Polygamy—a deep dive into one of the most complex and sensitive topics in our church's history. We hope you'll listen to the full series, where you'll hear from a variety of voices and perspectives that help illuminate this part of our shared story.To start us off, we're honored to bring together two remarkable thinkers. Patrick Mason is a historian, author, and Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University and co-host of Proclaim Peace, another Faith Matters network podcast. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, and professor emerita at Harvard University.In this episode, Patrick and Laurel explore what we actually know—and how we know what we know—about Joseph Smith's involvement in plural marriage, how the practice evolved in early Utah, and the theological, social, and gender dynamics that shaped it. Laurel also shares reflections from teaching a comparative polygamy course at Harvard, and considers how the echoes of plural marriage still reverberate today in our doctrine, culture, and hearts.We're so grateful to both Patrick and Laurel for their honesty, curiosity, and compassion.You can find even more resources on this important topic on our website, faithmatters.org.Find Laurel's groundbreaking book A House Full of Females on Bookshop.org or Amazon.Become a paid subscriber to Wayfare Magazine before December 1 to receive Issue 6, the prophecy issue, in the mail! This is a beautifully bound print magazine with full color art and work by writers like Adam Miller, Hannah Packard Crowther, James Goldberg, Camilla Stark, Matt Bowman, Jenny Richards, Terryl Givens, and more. Visit wayfaremagazine.org/subscribe to learn more.

Think personal branding is only for extroverts? Think again. In this episode, Lauren sits down with Goldie Chan—personal branding strategist, keynote speaker, and author of Personal Branding for Introverts—to unpack how introverts can grow their authentic presence without burning out.You'll learn:Why personal branding is about clarity and connection, not self-promotionThe “Five C's” every introvert should know to build a sustainable brandPractical ways to avoid burnout and define success on your own termsShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Website: https://www.goldiechan.com/Book: https://www.goldiechan.com/bookLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goldie/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S19:Ep.207- do you think females aren't submissive to their man, because they don't feel lucky to be with those men? Special in studio guest!

Abrimos el melon de los viajes a zonas de chicas con sorpresa, conocer sitios nuevos es muy bonito y si puedes comer bichos vivos y conocer amigas con colita pues mejor que mejor.

Play isn't just for kids—it's a powerful tool for creativity and resilience at work. In this episode, play designer Cas Holman shares how curiosity and playfulness can help teams thrive.You'll learn:Why adults need play to spark innovationHow leaders can model play without it feeling forcedEasy ways to bring more play into your daily workShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Cas Holman: https://casholman.comBook: https://casholman.com/work-with-cas-copyRigamajig: https://casholman.com/design/rigamajig Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mel Burbank, founder of Alcohol Free Females, shares her sobriety journey and her mission to empower high-performing women to embrace an alcohol-free lifestyle through reinvention. She discusses the concept of spontaneous remission and how she teaches clients to achieve sobriety through her program.With a background as a certified integrative health and CBT coach, a longtime single mom, and a female entrepreneur, Mel left alcohol behind to create her dream life. With an MBA and over 20 years of experience in women's wellness, fitness, and identity transformation, she provides her clients with the framework to build a life on their own terms-with clarity, confidence, and zero compromise.You can connect with Mel Burbank on Instagram @alcoholfreefemales

The Adam's apple is the visible ridge of thyroid cartilage at the front of your larynx (voice box). Everyone has one, though its size and visibility vary by sex, hormones, body fat, and genetics The Adam's apple isn't bone or muscle — it's made of firm yet flexible hyaline cartilage, which helps shield the vocal cords and anchor muscles that control pitch and tone During puberty, testosterone enlarges the larynx in many males, making the Adam's apple more prominent and lowering the pitch of the voice. Females also experience laryngeal growth, but usually to a lesser degree Its role goes beyond voice: the Adam's apple helps protect the airway during swallowing by lifting the larynx so food and liquid go into the esophagus rather than the lungs Pain or soreness in this area is rarely due to the cartilage itself but can stem from nearby structures. Common causes include muscle or throat tension, infections, thyroid disorders, acid reflux, or — in rare cases — laryngeal cancer

Your time isn't your most valuable resource—it's your attention. In this episode, Dr. Zelana Montminy (Dr. Z), behavioral scientist and author of Finding Focus, joins Lauren to explore why learning to protect your attention is the new workplace superpower. From the myth of multitasking to the everyday “focus thieves” draining your energy, Dr. Z shares practical strategies for reclaiming your focus and thriving at work—without burning out.You'll learn:Why multitasking sabotages productivity and how your brain really works.The most common “focus thieves” and how to spot and stop them.Dr. Z's simple, science-backed tools to reclaim your attention starting today.Show NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest ResourcesDr. Zelana website: https://drzelana.com/ Finding Focus book: https://drzelana.com/findingfocus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.zelana Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ SponsorsMerit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at merit beauty.com.Join thousands of small business owners simplifying their finances—open your FREE Found account now at found.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thanks to Richard of NC, Richard my brother, Siya, Ezra, and Owen and Aksel for their suggestions this week! Further reading: Creature Feature: Googly-Eyed Stubby Squid Nocturnal Spiders Use Trapped Fireflies as Glowing Bait to Attract Additional Prey A male vampire deer: The adorable googly eyed squid [still taken from video linked above]: The snowy owl [photo by Bill Bouton from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA - Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus, male, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19899431]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week for monster month, let's learn about some animals that are considered spooky, although in actuality they're just regular animals who don't even know the meaning of spooky. Thanks to Ezra, Owen and Aksel, Richard from NC, my brother Richard, and Siya for their suggestions! We'll start with the two Richards. Richard from NC suggested vampire deer, and my brother Richard suggested zombie salmon. The vampire deer is more commonly called the water deer, but considering it has tusks growing down from its upper jaw that look like fangs, vampire deer is an excellent name. Females have short tusks, but in males they grow quite long, sometimes over 3 inches long, or 8 cm. Since the animal only stands about two feet tall at the shoulder, or 65 cm, that's pretty impressive. Its hind legs are longer than its front, so that when it runs it sort of bounces like a rabbit. It has a very short tail, small rounded ears, and is golden brown in color with a lighter underside. It doesn't have antlers. We talked about the musk deer in episode 366, which also has fangs instead of antlers, but the vampire deer isn't closely related to the musk deer. The vampire deer currently lives in Korea, China, and Russia although it used to be much more widespread. It mostly lives in reedy habitats near rivers, and it's a solitary animal although females will sometimes congregate to eat. Males protect their territories by fighting with their tusks, although they don't actually drink blood. As for the zombie salmon, it's not a type of fish but something that can happen to an ordinary salmon. The salmon is a fish that famously spends most of its adult life in the ocean, but travels up rivers to spawn. The eggs hatch in freshwater and the baby fish grow up in the river, and then they migrate to the ocean and live there for almost the rest of their lives. Eventually the fish is fully mature and ready to spawn, so it travels to the river where it was hatched, fights its way upstream, and the cycle starts all over with the new generation. Almost all salmon die after spawning. This is partly because the energy requirements of swimming upstream is so high, but also because a salmon is genetically programmed to die after spawning. This is called senescence, and while it's common in invertebrates like octopuses and some insects, it's rare in vertebrates. Not only that, there's not enough food for an adult salmon in the spawning area, and an adult salmon's body is adapted for salt water, not fresh water, so it can't live long in rivers as an adult anyway. A small number of female Atlantic salmon are able to return to the ocean, recover and regain their strength, and spawn again a few years later, but for all other species, after spawning, that's it. Within days all the salmon have died. But sometimes, rarely, a salmon remains alive for weeks after spawning. It doesn't have the energy to return to the ocean, and its body is in the process of shutting down for planned senescence, and the freshwater is causing damage to the fish's skin. But still it survives, growing more and more raggedy, just like a zombie in a movie. But unlike movie zombies, it doesn't want to eat brains. Eventually the zombie salmon dies, if something doesn't catch and eat it first. Next, Siya suggested the googly-eyed squid.

In this new podcast, Dr. Jordan discusses important factors that have occurred over the past 200 years that have shifted cultural standards for how women are supposed to look, creating a moving target of unrealistic standards and pressures that continues to cause intense body dissatisfaction.Some key factors discussed :Bathrooms moving indoors with mirrors and weight scales; a cultural perspective that being overweight was considered a character flaw associated with laziness and a lack of self-control; the rise of advertising playing on teen girls anxieties and insecurities about their looks; earlier sexualization and objectification of girls; increased exhibitionism, perfectionism, lookism, and consumerism causing girls and women to be obsessed with weight, body, fashion, and being sexy.Other valuable resources related to the topic of body image and body dissatisfaction:Previous Dr. Jordan podcasts on the topic of girls and body imageI Hate My Body! When And Why It Starts And What Parents Can Do About It With Dr. Ashleigh Gallagher And Dr. Janet BoseovskiWhen and why body image dissatisfaction begins:Dr. Jordan's book on adolescent girls: Sleeping Beauties, Awakened Women: Guiding the Transformation of Adolescent GirlsBook: Fat History, by Peter StearnsSend ideas for future podcasts or if you have comments/questions to: anne@drtimjordan.comJoin Our Community:https://www.facebook.com/DrTimJordanhttps://www.instagram.com/drtimjordan/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-jordan-md-79799120b/

In this episode, Lauren and career coach Marnie Lemonik tackle one of the most common struggles for all of us —setting boundaries at work. From overcommitting to avoiding uncomfortable conversations, they break down why boundaries matter and how to enforce them in a way that feels fair, balanced, and realistic. You'll Learn:How to replace “maybe” with clear, confident communicationHow to use tools and systems to make boundaries easier to stick toHow to anticipate (and handle) pushback when enforcing boundariesShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Marnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnielemonik/ Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmcgoodwin/ Resources Job Search Dashboard: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-job-search-dashboard-notion-template?affcode=70732_cx6_j5wn CareerFitter Online Assessment: https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder?afid=2218 Marnie's Free Resourceshttps://www.marnielemonik.com/resources Marnie's Interview Prep eBook: https://www.marnielemonik.com/resources/p/ebook-how-to-shine-in-your-next-job-interview 10% Discount Code: CCPOD Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Sponsors:Go to livemomentous.com, and use promo code CONTESSA for up to 35% off your first subscription order. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/careercontessa.Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Visit GrowTherapy.com/CONTESSA today to get startedSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If learning and testing weren't already challenging enough in and of themselves, success can often depend on the level of congruence between students and teachers. For example, is gender an influential factor in academic success? Amy and Mike invited educator Megan Fitzwater to explore how female students benefit from female educators. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the key differences in how girls learn when they work with female mentors? What factors likely contribute to girls feeling like bad test takers? What role do standardized tests play in shaping girls' future opportunities in STEM or other fields? What should educators who want to better support girls in STEM and test prep keep in mind? What kind of female student most benefits from working with female educators?  MEET OUR GUEST Megan Fitzwater is the founder of All Girls' Prep, a women-led tutoring company dedicated to empowering young women in test preparation and STEM. A graduate of an all-girls high school, she experienced firsthand the confidence and community that thrive in a female-focused environment. It was there that a dedicated physics teacher recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue the subject, inspiring her to enter the University of Colorado Boulder as a declared astrophysics major. Transitioning from that supportive, all-girls landscape into the male-dominated world of astrophysics, Megan became one of only a few women in her program. She conducted observational research and excelled academically, yet still grappled with imposter syndrome and quietly questioned whether she belonged. Everything changed when she encountered her first (and only) female physics professor in college. For the first time, she saw herself reflected in someone leading the field she aspired to join, and the impact was profound. The shift gave her a deeper confidence in herself and her abilities, one that shaped the course of her career. Since then, Megan has dedicated her work to creating the kinds of academic environments where girls can see themselves, take risks, and reach their potential. She has developed innovative SAT and ACT curricula, led courses designed to break down barriers in physics and calculus, and built a team of accomplished female tutors, from engineers to film directors, who serve as mentors as much as educators. Through All Girls' Prep, she is committed to ensuring that young women have not only the skills to succeed but also the representation and mentorship to envision themselves in any field they choose. Megan can be reached at megan@satprepct.com. LINKS Why does teacher gender matter? The Myth of the “Girl-Friendly” Test The Impact of Tutor Gender Match on Girls' STEM Interest, Engagement, and Performance Gender gap in standardized tests: What are we measuring? Academic performance and single-sex schooling: Evidence from a natural experiment in Switzerland Student–Teacher Gender Matching and Academic Achievement Student–teacher gender congruence and student performance: The role of context RELATED EPISODES WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A BAD TEST TAKER? COMPETITIVE MINDSET IN TESTING WHY PROFESSIONALISM IN TUTORS MATTERS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.  

Tony Cowden is a former Green Beret and CIA paramilitary operator with Ground Branch — the CIA's most elite and covert special operations unit. His real-life missions blur the line between espionage and war.In this explosive first installment, Tony reveals the unfiltered truth behind a legendary solo gunfight in Iraq, where he survived facing 26 enemy combatants alone in a kill-or-be-killed battle.From CIA tradecraft and Taliban ambushes to the emotional weight of war and survivor's guilt, Tony pulls no punches.

In this episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host and survivor Rick Bangs sits down with Dr. Mark Schoenberg—renowned urologist and Chief Medical Officer at UroGen® Pharma—for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of bladder cancer research, treatment, and patient advocacy. Dr. Schoenberg shares the story behind BCAN's founding, the early challenges of raising awareness, and the innovations that are reshaping care today, including the development of non-surgical therapies like ZUSDURI™ (mitomycin) for intravesical solution, a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of cancer of the lining of the bladder called low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC) after you have previously received bladder surgery to remove the tumor and it did not work or is no longer working. From his decades of patient-centered work to his role in pioneering new approaches with UroGen, Dr. Schoenberg offers insights into where the field has been and the promising future ahead. Tune in to hear a fascinating mix of history, science, and hope for patients and families impacted by bladder cancer. Please see the link to the full Prescribing Information on the podcast web page or available at www.zusduri.com.  ZUSDURI Prescribing Information ZUSDURI Patient Information Holzbeierlein J, Bixler BR, Buckley DI, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: AUA/SUO guideline: 2024 amendment. J Urol. 2024;10.1097/JU.0000000000003846. ZUSDURI (mitomycin) for intravesical solution is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of cancer of the lining of the bladder called low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC) after you have previously received bladder surgery to remove tumor and it did not work or is no longer working. ZUSDURI™ Important Safety Information You should not receive ZUSDURI™ if you have a hole or tear (perforation) of your bladder or if you have had an allergic reaction to mitomycin or to any of the ingredients in ZUSDURI™. Before receiving ZUSDURI™, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: have kidney problems are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ZUSDURI™ can harm your unborn baby. You should not become pregnant during treatment with ZUSDURI™. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with ZUSDURI™. Females who are able to become pregnant: You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with ZUSDURI™ and for 6 months after the last dose. Males being treated with ZUSDURI™: You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with ZUSDURI™ and for 3 months after the last dose. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZUSDURI™ passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with ZUSDURI™ and for 1 week after the last dose. How will I receive ZUSDURI™? You will receive your ZUSDURI™ dose from your healthcare provider 1 time a week for 6 weeks into your bladder through a tube called a urinary catheter. It is important that you receive all 6 doses of ZUSDURI™ according to your healthcare provider's instructions. If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment. During treatment with ZUSDURI™, your healthcare provider may tell you to take additional medicines or change how you take your current medicines. After receiving ZUSDURI™: ZUSDURI™ may cause your urine color to change to a violet to blue color. Avoid contact between your skin and urine for at least 24 hours. To urinate, males and females should sit on a toilet and flush the toilet several times after you use it. After going to the bathroom, wash your hands, your inner thighs, and genital area well with soap and water. Clothing that comes in contact with urine should be washed right away and washed separately from other clothing. The most common side effects of ZUSDURI™ include: increased blood creatinine levels, increased blood potassium levels, trouble with urination, decreased red blood cell counts, increase in certain blood liver tests, increased or decreased white blood cell counts, urinary tract infection, blood in your urine. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to UroGen Pharma at 1-855-987-6436. Please see ZUSDURI Full Prescribing Information, including the Patient Information, for additional information.  JELMYTO® Important Safety Information You should not receive JELMYTO® if you have a hole or tear (perforation) of your bladder or upper urinary tract. Before receiving JELMYTO®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. JELMYTO® can harm your unborn baby. You should not become pregnant during treatment with JELMYTO®. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with JELMYTO®. Females who are able to become pregnant: You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with JELMYTO® and for 6 months after the last dose. Males being treated with JELMYTO®: If you have a female partner who is able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with JELMYTO® and for 3 months after the last dose. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if JELMYTO® passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with JELMYTO® and for 1 week after the last dose. Tell your healthcare provider if you take water pills (diuretic). How will I receive JELMYTO®? Your healthcare provider will tell you to take a medicine called sodium bicarbonate before each JELMYTO® treatment. You will receive your JELMYTO® dose from your healthcare provider 1 time a week for 6 weeks. It is important that you receive all 6 doses of JELMYTO® according to your healthcare provider's instructions. If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment. Your healthcare provider may recommend up to an additional 11 monthly doses. JELMYTO® is given to your kidney through a tube called a catheter. During treatment with JELMYTO®, your healthcare provider may tell you to take additional medicines or change how you take your current medicines. After receiving JELMYTO®: JELMYTO® may cause your urine color to change to a violet to blue color. Avoid contact between your skin and urine for at least 6 hours. To urinate, males and females should sit on a toilet and flush the toilet several times after you use it. After going to the bathroom, wash your hands, your inner thighs, and genital area well with soap and water. Clothing that comes in contact with urine should be washed right away and washed separately from other clothing. JELMYTO® may cause serious side effects, including: Swelling and narrowing of the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder (ureteric obstruction). If you develop swelling and narrowing, and to protect your kidney from damage, your healthcare provider may recommend the placement of a small plastic tube (stent) in the ureter to help the kidney drain. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop side pain or fever during treatment with JELMYTO®. Bone marrow problems. JELMYTO® can affect your bone marrow and can cause a decrease in your white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet counts. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests prior to each treatment to check your blood cell counts during treatment with JELMYTO®. Your healthcare provider may need to temporarily or permanently stop JELMYTO® if you develop bone marrow problems during treatment with JELMYTO®. The most common side effects of JELMYTO® include: urinary tract infection, blood in your urine, side pain, nausea, trouble with urination, kidney problems, vomiting, tiredness, stomach (abdomen) pain. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to UroGen Pharma at 1-855-987-6436. Please click here for JELMYTO® Full Prescribing Information, including the Patient Information, for additional information.  

FRIDAY HR 5 The K.O.D. - His Highness compiles his list of 90's babes!! Gwen vs Fergie Lady Jamiz from Corsets & Cutties. The History of Jake BOTW - PlayLinda See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FRIDAY HR 5 The K.O.D. - His Highness compiles his list of 90's babes!! Gwen vs Fergie Lady Jamiz from Corsets & Cutties. The History of Jake BOTW - PlayLinda

We've been told our whole lives that competition makes us better, sharper, and more successful. But what if that belief is holding us back? In this episode of The Career Contessa Podcast, I'm joined by Ruchika Malhotra—founder of Candour and author of UNCOMPETE—to challenge the myth that competition is the key to growth. Instead, she shows us why uncompeting is the real path to abundance, joy, and lasting success.You'll learn:Why the idea that “competition makes us better” is more harmful than helpfulHow to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundancePractical strategies to embrace collaboration without losing ambitionShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQWGuest Resources:Website: https://www.ruchika.co/Book: https://www.ruchika.co/uncompete-bookLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchikatm/ Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/Sponsor:Go to calm.com/contessa for 40% off unlimited access to Calm's entire library.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever worked for a bad boss? You're not alone—and you're not powerless. In this episode, workplace equity expert and author Mita Mallick unpacks the realities of toxic leadership and how to rise above it. From micromanagers to spotlight-stealers, Mita shares hard-won lessons and practical strategies to protect your confidence and career.You'll learn:The 13 types of bad bosses—and which ones do the most damage.How to navigate toxic power dynamics when you're early in your career.A simple shift every leader can make to build trust and lead inclusively.Show NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Mita Mallick website:https://www.mitamallick.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394316488 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mita-mallick-2b165822/Career Contessa Resources:Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Sponsors:Get up to 35% off plus 2 free gifts when you use code CONTESSA at checkout at shopbeam.com/CONTESSA.Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Visit GrowTherapy.com/CONTESSA today to get started. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why do some people seem to instantly earn trust and command a room—without being pushy or fake? In this episode, executive communication coach Dr. Kate Mason shares research-backed strategies from her book Powerfully Likeable to help you show up with warmth, authenticity, and confidence at work.You'll learn:The difference between being likeable and being a people-pleaserSubtle body language shifts that instantly build trustHow to handle tricky conversations without losing credibilityIf you've ever struggled to be taken seriously and stay true to yourself, this episode is for you.Show Notes:Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Kate Mason Website: https://www.katemason.co/ Powerfuly Likeable book: https://www.amazon.com/Powerfully-Likeable-Womans-Effective-Communication-ebook/dp/B0DQNQMHXN Kate Mason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemasonphd/ Substack: https://katemason.substack.com/Career Contessa Resources:Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Sponsors:Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month Shopify trial period at shopify.com/careercontessa. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to zocdoc.com/contessa to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brittney Lincoln is the CEO and Founder of Females in Franchising, a dynamic platform dedicated to empowering women in the franchising industry. With over 13 years of experience spanning home services, beauty, and medical franchises, Brittney has built a reputation as a connector, educator, and strategist in the franchising world. She is passionate about providing a space for women to collaborate, learn from industry experts, and grow both personally and professionally. Her expertise lies in helping business owners understand franchising, scale their brands, and take their locations from one to 100. She's also a partner in Limitless Franchise Growth, a franchise sales organization (FSO).

Executive coach and author Martin Dubin joins us to unpack the 6 most common leadership blindspots—and why the most successful people are often the most blind to them.You'll learn:Why your biggest strength might secretly be a liabilityHow emotions can quietly hijack your leadershipThe first step to uncovering what's holding you backShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Guest Resources:Website: https://www.martindubin.com/ Blindspot Test: https://www.blindspotting.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRZFK8J6?tag=bk00010a-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Sponsor:Go to Leesa.com for 25% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code CONTESSA, exclusive for my listeners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

269. Questions for More Connection and Laughter in Marriage with Casey and Meygan Caston   *Disclaimer* This episode contains some mature themes and listener discretion is advised.   2 Corinthians 1:4 NIRV "He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves receive comfort from God."   *Transcript Below*   Questions and Topics We Cover: Will you share three of the questions from your most recent book, specifically the ones people have told you unlocked the best conversations in their own marriage? You say you're an unlikely couple to help support marriages. Will you share a glimpse of your own backstory? What are a handful of ideas for ways couples can strengthen their connection with one another?   Casey and Meygan Caston are the Co-Founders of Marriage365. Casey and Meygan were perfect examples of what not to do in marriage. Three years into marriage, they found themselves having racked up more than $250,000 in debt, fighting constantly, and were ready to call it quits. Despite the 12 failed marriages between their parents, they knew this wasn't the legacy they wanted for themselves or their children. They began reading and educating themselves on how to do marriage the right way. The result of their journey is Marriage365, where they millions of people worldwide through their books, social media, retreats, and their online streaming service, Marriage365.   Marriage 365 Website Marriage 365 App Marriage 365 Books Marriage 365 Coaching   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Sample of Previous Episodes on Sexual Intimacy on The Savvy Sauce: 4 Fostering a Fun, Healthy Sex Life With Your Spouse With Certified Sex Therapist and Author, Dr. Jennifer Konzen 5 Ways to Deepen Your Intimacy in Marriage with Dr. Douglas Rosenau  6 Ten Common Questions About Sex, Shared Through a Biblical Worldview with Dr. Michael Sytsma 89 Passion Pursuit with Dr. Juli Slattery 108 Anatomy of an Affair with Dave Carder 135 Healthy Ways for Females to Increase Sexual Enjoyment with Tracey LeGrand 155 Sex in Marriage and Its Positive Effects with Francie Winslow, Part 1 156 Science and Art of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, Part 2 158 Making Love in Marriage with Debra Fileta 165 Mutually Pleasing Sex in Marriage with Gary Thomas 186 Sex Series: Enhancing Female Pleasure and Enjoyment of Sex: An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Degler 218 Secrets of Sex and Marriage: An Interview with Dr. Michael Sytsma Special Patreon Release: Protecting Your Marriage Against Unfaithfulness with Dave Carder 252 Maximizing Sexual Connection as Newlyweds to Long Term Marriages and Recovering from a Sexless Marriage with Dr. Clifford & Joyce Penner   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook, Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcript*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:15)  Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.    Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.    I'm thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, WinShape Marriage. Their weekend marriage retreats will strengthen your marriage while you enjoy the gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse.   To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org.    Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Casey and Meygan.   Casey Caston:  Thanks for having us. Excited to be here.   Laura Dugger: So, thrilled to have both of you, and let's just dive right into one of your sweet spots. How can open-ended questions change a marriage?   Casey Caston: (1:16 - 2:33)  Yeah, well, if you think about when we first met somebody that we fell in love with, fell attracted to that first date, as you're sitting across the table, you are looking at that person with so much curiosity. Like, who is this person? What are their hopes and their dreams and their life experiences?   What are they afraid of? Where are they going in life? And that curiosity drove us to ask really good open-ended questions.   Like, tell me more about yourself. It's funny because we were just reading in Proverbs this morning that in a man's heart, he has a purpose, but a man of understanding draws from the deep wells to pull that out. And I just, I always think about how a great question plums the deep wells of a man's heart or woman's heart.   And that attraction, that energy we feel, helps us with asking great questions. But then what happens is when we get married and we move into the wash, rinse, repeat of childcare and chores and, you know, the mundaneness of going to work, coming home, dinner, like, it can really sap all of the romance out of a relationship. And so, what happens is we fall into asking really boring questions.   Meygan Caston: (2:33 - 2:34)  Like, how was your day?   Casey Caston: (2:34 - 2:36)  What's picking up the kids?   Meygan Caston: (2:36 - 2:37)  What's for dinner? Yeah.   Casey Caston: (2:38 - 3:18)  So, we realize that when the well is dry, so to speak, you're not asking those great questions. We need prompts. We need an outside prompt because I don't think naturally we would ask great questions to spark this, you know, connecting conversation.   And I will tell you too, that if you just dropped in and, you know, just ask your spouse, like, “Hey, so, tell me some boundaries we need to set up with your parents.” People are going to be like, “Excuse me, where did that question come from? And what's the question behind the question?   What's your motivation here?” But those are conversations we need to have. We just need prompts.   So, yeah.   Laura Dugger: (3:19 - 3:32)  Well, I love that response. And I'm also curious after working with so many married couples, what have you seen as that connection between these amazing prompts for open-ended questions and emotional intimacy?   Meygan Caston: (3:34 - 4:20)  Yeah. Well, kind of like what Casey was mentioning about, um, just that curiosity of getting to know each other. I think the other part of asking those open-ended questions and having these deeper conversations is really about intentionality.   Like you still care about me. You still want to know about my heart. Well, for us, 25 years later, I still care about you.   I still love you. And I think that of course, as women, we long for that emotional connection. And I don't think that men realize it, but they actually long for that too.   And it's creating a safe place for spouses to share, to cry, to even, um, dream together about their future. And I think, again, if we don't give ourselves those opportunities and we're not intentional with that, we get stuck in the mundaneness of marriage.   Casey Caston: (4:20 - 5:03)  But, uh, and I would add to that, that curiosity, Meygan, I've talked about how curiosity is the pursuit of something. Right. And we all long to be desired to be pursued.   I mean, that is, that underlying communication is so powerful in relationships, because if you think about it, if you're not being pursued and your spouse isn't curious, I mean, that's like the, the heart of apathy. It's like, I don't care. And I know that people aren't intentionally trying to communicate that, but when you feel that, like my spouse doesn't really care about what I dream about or what I'm hoping to achieve this year, they just come home and they just watch TV or they're on their phone.   Meygan Caston: (5:04 - 5:18)  Right. That communicates a lot non-verbally. And so, that's why these open-ended questions are something that we should never stop being a learner of each other and of ourselves.   And that will provide that emotional intimacy.   Laura Dugger: (5:19 - 5:45)  That's so good. And obviously your resources are amazing. I would love, because you have these 365 Connecting Questions for Couples.   And so, I want to just hear maybe three of these questions that come to mind for you guys, especially as you've heard, these are the ones that tend to unlock something deeper in the conversation.   Meygan Caston: (5:46 - 6:07)  Absolutely. So, August 3rd is, are you someone who spends a lot of time in deep thought, processing things before making a decision, or do you tend to make quick decisions? Why or why not?   That question has genuinely sparked so much conversation between us and even like with our kids and other couples. Maybe you can explain why.   Casey Caston: (6:07 - 6:11)  Yeah. Well, I'm Mr. Impulsivity, so.   Meygan Caston: (6:11 - 6:29)  Yeah, you are. Where I, I don't, I wouldn't consider myself a deep thinker, but I definitely like to make pros and cons lists and think through things. But if you think about a dynamic between a husband and a wife, you know, there are so many decisions that you make together, small and large, your whole life, every day.   Casey Caston: (6:29 - 6:30)  Decision-making is huge in relationships.   Meygan Caston: (6:31 - 6:57)  And it's an everyday thing that couples are tackling. And it's important to know that no one is better than the other. It's not that a deep thinker is better than a more impulsive person. It's kind of more just naturally how you are. Have you always been this way? Do you like that about yourself?   Wow. You know, well, when it comes to these bigger decisions, I do spend, make more time, you know, thinking through and pros and cons. Oh, well, with small decisions, I'm more impulsive. I mean, you could just talk about that for hours and hours.   Casey Caston: (6:57 - 7:01) Yeah. But what's interesting is I tend to think more futuristic and big picture.   Meygan Caston: (7:01 - 7:01)  Yes.   Casey Caston: (7:01 - 7:03)  Even though I'm impulsive in the moment.   Meygan Caston: (7:03 - 7:05)  And I cannot, I can't do that.   Casey Caston: (7:05 - 7:06)  You are Ms. Realist.   Meygan Caston: (7:06 - 7:08)  Just tell me today, tell me this week.   Casey Caston: (7:09 - 7:10)  I can't think about this fun sponge.   Meygan Caston: (7:11 - 7:11)  Yes. Yeah.   Casey Caston: (7:12 - 7:15)  Because I'm like, let's dream big. And she's like, yeah, but what's happening today?   Meygan Caston: (7:16 - 7:49)  Yeah. Yeah. Another great question is January 18th.   How can we romance each other during the day in anticipation of sex? Because as we all know, us ladies, we need the foreplay. But again, I think that husbands also enjoy the foreplay.   But I don't think that couples are having these conversations. I think they think a foreplay is, well, once we enter into the bedroom, you know, and what we like to say is it's anything positive is foreplay. So, a thoughtful text, you know, a flirty I'm going to grab your hand to empty out the dishwasher.   Casey Caston: (7:49 - 7:50)  Amen.   Meygan Caston: (7:50 - 7:55)  Yeah. You know, it's those kinds of conversations. But like, I would never think of asking you that.   Casey Caston: (7:56 - 7:56)  Right.   Meygan Caston: (7:56 - 7:58)  Right. Thankfully for those.   Casey Caston: (7:58 - 8:10)  But as you know, Laura, like couples that need to talk about their sex life. And if you don't talk about your sex life, most oftentimes there's a lot of assumptions. And that leads to, you know, dysfunction.   Meygan Caston: (8:11 - 9:14)  Well, and missed expectations. Totally. Yeah. And then I have another question. April 25th is how do our differences help complement each other?   Oh, so, kind of another one of those things, like with making decisions. Every single couple has differences. And we always tell people Casey, and I are more different than alike.   I think people see us online and whatnot. And they hear, oh, we're both extroverts. We are. So, we have some similarities. We're both stubborn, very competitive, both competitive. But in the day-to-day operations of who Casey and Meygan are, we make decisions, we run our lives, run our business, run our business.   We are completely opposite. And what I think it's good to do for couples is to actually own your differences rather than shy away from them or make yourselves feel bad, like, oh, I wish we were the same. I get it.   You know, we actually are attracted to those things when we're dating. That's why opposites attract. But then when we get married, it's like, why doesn't he do everything the same way? I do it because I do it the right way. That's what we think. Right.   Casey Caston: (9:15 - 9:21)  Well, you heard the joke that marriage is about becoming one. And in the earlier years, it's about which one.   Meygan Caston: (9:21 - 10:14)  Yeah. Which one? Which figure out?   Yeah. And so, that question really allows you to identify your differences, but then go, how do they balance each other out? And I think for me, as someone who is organized, type A Casey's very spontaneous.   If we were both type A and structured, we wouldn't have a lot of fun. We really wouldn't. His spontaneity really brings out that side of me.   But if we were both spontaneous, our bills would never be paid, and we'd be broke. So, you know, I'm a I'm a saver. He's a spender.   You can see the balance in that. It's good that we're both those things. Right.   I'm on time. He's late. We could continue going on and on and on and on.   But I think that he's a risk taker. I'm a complete play it safer. And so, those really draw out a beautiful balance in our marriage versus trying to change one another.   So, I hope that question sparks listeners to really ask your spouse that and have fun with the conversation.   Laura Dugger: (10:15 - 11:03)  Well, you chose three great ones. I love it. And they draw out such different parts of our personality.   You highlighted where Casey's more futuristic. Meygan, you're more present. Some people will connect with questions that direct them more past oriented.   And so, our orientation to time comes out and the meta conversations, the talking like having the conversation about your conversation. Just so much goodness. And yes, especially with sexual intimacy.   So, many couples report that it is much harder to engage in conversation about sex rather than just have sex. And like you said, missed expectations can be one of the blow ups there, among many other things. So, you have questions that don't shy away from all forms of intimacy.   Meygan Caston: (11:04 - 11:10)  Yeah. And to also say we have a lot of fun questions, too. Like, tell me about what your bedroom looked like when you were a teenager.   Casey Caston: (11:11 - 11:12)  That's a great one. I love that one.   Meygan Caston: (11:12 - 11:47)  Let's talk couples. If you had a really hard day with the kids or at work, pick a fun question. You don't have to go by the date.   If you don't like the question, it's triggering, then flip to the next one. But going back to that emotional intimacy and connection that you were talking about, Laura, is you have to have those deep questions and those conversations. And you did when you were dating, because if you went on a date with your husband and you were like, hey, tell me, you know, what do you want to do when you retire?   And he was like, I don't know. Yeah, you'd be like snooze fest. This guy's boring, right?   Or if he was on his phone the whole time, there was something intriguing about your spouse.   Casey Caston: (11:47 - 11:48)  I don't know. I don't know.   Meygan Caston: (11:48 - 12:01)  Yeah, there was something intriguing about your spouse when you were dating and you were asking those questions that should never stop. Just like we hear that quote, never stop dating your spouse. Well, never stop learning about your spouse.   It's the same thing. Absolutely.   Laura Dugger: (12:02 - 12:16)  And I love how you two have such a humble approach because you say that you're a very unlikely couple to help support marriages. So, will you let us in on your own backstory?   Meygan Caston: (12:17 - 12:46)  Yeah, well, can I just start off by saying this? We live in a county that has one of the highest divorce rates in the nation. So, it's 72 percent divorce rate where we live.   We also come from there's 12 marriages between our parents. So, we come from so much divorce and trauma. And then we also got married very, very, very young.   So, all those statistics were against us on top of that. I'm just going to start off by saying that. Casey Caston: (12:46 - 13:18)  Yeah, my mom's been married six times. So, when by the time I hit junior high, I had probably like nine different iterations of home life and different dads and step siblings and half brothers. And all of that between both of our parents.   There's just there's some mental illness. There's affairs. There's all this trauma that was really unprocessed.   But then when Meygan and I saw each other, it was like we knew the wounds that we shared. It was like almost like a trauma bond.   Meygan Caston: (13:19 - 13:19)  Yeah.   Casey Caston: (13:19 - 14:08)  Like, oh, I've got abandonment. So, do you. And, you know, let's do it's like, wow.   So, let's make each other happy. And dating was just all the fun stuff, right? It was long walks along the beach.   It was going to street fairs or, you know, going out and having fun. And then we're like, if this is what life could be like, then we should do this forever and ever and ever. And just, you know, we were so doe eyed of like and optimistic about how marriage life would look like.   So, then once we did get married, done, done, done, we had to like work through stuff. Now, I was so conflict avoidant because I was afraid if there was conflict, then that means that there's going to be distance between Meygan and I and she might leave me.   Meygan Caston: (14:08 - 14:24)  Oh, there's another there's another difference. I'm a fighter. He's a fighter.   So, anytime we would have conflict triggers, you know, emotional regulation, I was like, we're going to go for it. Now, of course, my fighting tactics were not healthy. I yelled. I blamed. I was very aggressive, assertive.   Casey Caston: (14:24 - 14:37)  Conflict was very scary for me. Now. Now, Meygan, she's like wanting to deal with issues. And here I am, like trying to run for the hills. And she's like, he doesn't care about me. And I'm like, I'm trying to protect the marriage by not dealing with it.   Meygan Caston: (14:37 - 14:49)  So, you never really resolved anything. We would fight really bad. We broke all the fighting rules.   And then there was no true resolve, no apologies, no remorse. And you just kind of move forward.   Casey Caston: (14:49 - 15:06)  And so, then we piled ourselves like we had over two hundred fifty thousand dollars of debt when we started to try to work on getting pregnant. We we dealt with infertility. We I have ADHD, so that creates a lot of that's fun.   A lot of fun for the marriage.   Meygan Caston: (15:06 - 15:08)  The divorce rate is very high with ADHD.   Casey Caston: (15:08 - 15:10)  My life gets to teach you patience.   Meygan Caston: (15:11 - 15:11)  Yeah.   Casey Caston: (15:12 - 16:44)  But and then we have a child with special needs as well. So, we we had like if there's something that could go wrong, it it went wrong. We had you know, once we got married, there was toxic in-laws that boundaries that were crossed.   So, it just nothing for us came easy. And so, that's why we were the least likely to succeed in marriage. I mean, if we there was a couple doomed from the get go, it was Meygan and I believe a hundred percent that God used those trials, those hardships to create marriage.   Three sixty five. He gave us the strength to, you know, have the courage to say we're not going to follow in our parents footsteps. We're going to change that.    You know, it ends with us literally like we are going to change and break this generational sin because it goes back many, many generations for both of us. Our whole family is littered with divorce. And now like when we approach marriage, it because of where we've come from, it wasn't all flowery.   It was really tough. We have to be practical and very tactical with our advice, because when you're sitting across from a couple that's angry and resentful. We have to sit there and go, we know what that's like.   And here's exactly what you need to do next. I'm not going to give you a platitude. I'm not going to give you some flowery statement or we're not going to just talk through it.    No, we're going to give you a tool and an action step that's going to help you. Laura Dugger: (16:46 - 18:56)  Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. Friends, I'm excited to share with you today's sponsor, WinShape Marriage. Do you feel like you need a weekend away with your spouse and a chance to grow in your relationship together at the same time?    WinShape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that provides weekend marriage retreats to help couples grow closer together in every season and stage of life from premarital to parenting to the emptiness phase. There is an opportunity for you. WinShape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even when it seems things are going smoothly so that they're stronger if they do hit a bump along their marital journey.   These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of WinShape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham and Chattanooga. While you're there, you will be well fed, well nurtured and well cared for. During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication and more.   I've stayed on site at WinShape before, and I can attest to their generosity, food and content. You will be so grateful you went to find an experience that's right for you and your spouse. Head to their website, winshapemarriage.org/savvy. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage dot org slash S-A-V-V-Y. Thanks for your sponsorship.   I'd love to hear even more into the redemption part of it, because Marriage 365, you had shared before we had recorded that you launched that in 2013. So, just to get the timeline straight, had you already done some work and some counseling before you launched that?   Meygan Caston: (18:56 - 19:26)  Or what was that journey? Yeah, so, we always say we it took us two years to fall in love and get married. It took us three years to destroy our marriage, and it took about four or five years to repair our marriage.   It was, as you know, Laura, it is not a quick fix when your marriage is as bad as ours. And so, our story is unique in the sense where we were both not wanting to get help for our marriage. I love you, babe, but he was resistant.   He didn't want to go to therapy. His family didn't go to therapy. That wasn't normalized.   Casey Caston: (19:26 - 19:31)  Well, my faith background said that therapy is bad from the from the devil.   Meygan Caston: (19:31 - 19:38)  It was specifically your parents. But from the devil. Yeah, because I have a faith background, too. And my parents went to therapy. But that's what I was saying.   Casey Caston: (19:38 - 19:40)  My background was that you don't do that.   Meygan Caston: (19:40 - 21:16)  Yeah. So, I was wanting to get divorced and he wouldn't divorce me. He was like, no.   So, if you're going to do it, you got to do it. And so, I got help for myself. And I had the most amazing woman who a therapist who just walked me through basically how to save my marriage by myself.   And she goes, listen, you know, at the end of the day, if you want to make a better marriage, it starts by making a better you. You have zero control over Casey. You have 100 percent control over you.   He's not here. You are. I can show you how to communicate, how to forgive him even without getting an apology.   I can show you how to bring to his defenses down. I can show you how to create boundaries so he doesn't yell at you anymore. I mean, and that's literally for 13 months I worked on myself. And I believe that that is what genuinely changed everything. And that's really the message behind Marriage 365 is if you want to make a better marriage, it starts by making a better you. Stop waiting around for your husband or your wife to get on board.   They may never. Then you're only going to build resentment while you sit there and wait. At the end of the day, you're responsible for how you show up.   And so, in that 13 months, the hope was, of course, that I would positively influence Casey, which I did. And he saw the change in me. Everything changed.   I mean, like we both used to be yellers, right? We would both yell and scream. And I was like, I'm not going to yell anymore.   Like, I just I don't want to be a yeller of a mom. I don't want to be a yeller of a wife. Like, I don't like this part of me. My mom was a yeller. I mean, oh, yeah, I hate this. And I just remember like one day he came walking in and he was all heated and frustrated and he started yelling at me. And do you remember what I did, babe?   Casey Caston: (21:17 - 21:33)  Yeah. She looked at me and calmly said, you know, I can tell that you're very upset. I really want to have to listen to what you want to share with me.   Why don't you go outside, take a break, come back in? We're going to sit back on the couch. We can talk about it. I'm here for you. And I was like, what a change.   Meygan Caston: (21:33 - 22:07)  Who is this person? I changed the way that we did marriage. I did that.   And I tell people that I didn't do that once. I didn't do it twice. I did that for months because we had habits we had created.   But I was like, that was like a new boundary. I'm like, I'm not going to engage with him when he's angry. It's been triggered.   Nothing good is coming from this. So, it was all of that we started to really adopt and learn together because he's like, you're a different person. Like, it was obvious we were doing the tango.   And now I was doing the rumba and he was over there doing the tango. And I'm like, come join me in the healthy rumba over here because it's way better.   Casey Caston: (22:07 - 22:09)  And so, for toxic tango.   Meygan Caston: (22:09 - 23:20)  Yeah, we went to a marriage. Yeah, we went to a marriage intensive. And we did some therapy.   We did a lot of self-help. But through that journey, this is kind of where we started Marriage 365 is. First off, we couldn't afford therapy.   We needed to pay off all that debt that we had with a lot of student loan debt, a lot of stupid debt. What do you do if you can't afford therapy? What do you do if you don't have a good therapist?   What do you do if you have a bad experience with therapy? What do you do if the books aren't enough? And that was there was a really big hole and missing part in the marriage.   I don't say industry, but in the marriage space, where were all the online resources? Because this was back again in like 2010 when like podcasts weren't even around, social media was just becoming a thing. And it was really hard.   We were really disappointed with the lack of resources there were for marriage. And it felt like every church you go to, there was, you know, the missions ministry and the children's ministry and the youth groups. And all those are great.   Where in the world are all the marriage ministries? Then we found out only 3% of churches have actual paid marriage ministries. And I thought, that's messed up.   That's reverse. It's supposed to be the opposite, because then everything else will work itself out, as we know, with what research shows.   Casey Caston: (23:20 - 23:21)  Same with men's ministry, by the way.   Meygan Caston: (23:21 - 23:22)  Yes, same with men's ministry.   Casey Caston: (23:22 - 23:23)  Men's and marriage.   Meygan Caston: (23:23 - 23:26)  That's like the stepchild.   Casey Caston: (23:26 - 23:33)  Tech guy slash men's guy slash, you know. Children's persons can also do marriage.   Meygan Caston: (23:33 - 23:40)  So, we really just started helping our friends out. Obviously, people could see the change. Then people would come to us. We started helping couples at our church.   Casey Caston: (23:40 - 23:48)  And we had a ghoul pool. Like people were like, we give you guys another like ten months and then we're expecting you.   Meygan Caston: (23:48 - 23:51)  Yeah, everyone that knew us thought we'd get divorced.   Casey Caston: (23:51 - 23:52)  We were messy.   Meygan Caston: (23:52 - 23:58)  We were bad. Yeah. So, to see the complete transformation. And again, I go back to that work we did was on ourselves.   Casey Caston: (23:58 - 25:31)  And I just have to say that if you want to make a better marriage, it starts by making a better you. If you're hearing that. And you're kind of in a one sided marriage right now, I got to just say, I know that message sucks because it's a message that says you have to go first.   And that's not fair. In a marriage, you're supposed to be a team. But I do want to say there's so many couples that are stuck. Waiting for their spouse to join them on the let's get healthy train. So, their spouse doesn't join them. And then what they do is they kind of lean back, fold their arms and go, well, I guess we're stuck.   But I want to say that that's there is a message of empowerment to say you do have influence and the ability to steer your marriage in a healthy way. I have lots of regret that I did not join that train much sooner. But the story is that Meygan, you know, became the hero of our journey.   And that is something that I work actively so that I'm never in that place again, that I am the one that's always actively trying to improve myself, that I'm a better communicator, that I'm not a yeller, which we've ditched that a long time ago, that that I'm considered of Meygan's needs. And I'm even like attuned to like, what is she feeling? And how do I meet her where she's at?   Laura Dugger: (25:32 - 25:54)  Which is amazing that watching Meygan, it was compelling enough for you to join in. And it's admirable on both sides, the work that you've done. And are there any specific areas that you grew in that now you teach couples? I'm thinking specifically under conflict and repair or communication.   Casey Caston: (25:55 - 27:42)  Yeah. So, I remember those early years and every single week was chaos to chaos. Like coming home, it'd be like, what's for dinner?   I'm hungry and we need to make a decision now. Or, you know, it's Friday night or Saturday morning. What's going on this weekend?   Or where's all our money going? It was very, it was very reactionary. And I remember reading through Stephen Covey's, you know, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.   And the first habit is be proactive. You cannot be intentional with your life. You cannot create purpose and meaning unless you are proactive with your life.   So, Meygan and I, you know, I'm working in a company and every single week we get together and we go through what are everyone's goals? What do we need to accomplish this week? We find alignment and the week goes really well.   We've got KPIs. We've got all these like, hey, as a team, you know, work team, here's what we're trying to accomplish this week. And it just kind of dawned on us like, well, why don't we do that in marriage?   Why don't we do that for a family? You got a family of six. You got six people running around the house. All have agendas. And you are trying to find alignment so that, hey, this is what the family is all about this week, right? We've got tournaments.   We've got parties. We've got projects. We've got meals.   And I think for so many couples we talk to, they live. Life with purpose on like building their career or their business or purpose with other areas of their life. And then when it comes to family, they wing it.   Meygan Caston: (27:42 - 27:43)  They just wing it.   Casey Caston: (27:43 - 28:31)  Yeah. And it's like, well, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. It's the winging attitude creates chaos.   And so, Meygan and I love to teach this tool called the Weekly Marriage Business Meeting. And it is all of the logistics of our relationship schedules, meal plans, budgets, connection time, sexy time, alone time, self-care time. Yeah.   And and we kind of set with intention the week ahead for us. And we go through all the decisions of who's going, what, where, when. And all of that's done.   So, when you walk into the day, you're not like stressed about what's supposed to be happening. There is alignment and there's no missed expectations.   Meygan Caston: (28:31 - 29:27)  Yeah, there's no fights anymore about, well, you said you'd be home at six. No, I didn't. I said I'd be home at seven.   We sync our calendars. And I think, too, a big thing with this is we've noticed we fight when we don't do this now. It's one of those tools that it's prevented most of conflict.   I mean, we say it will on average for the most couples that use it. We have at least over 10,000 couples we know right now currently using it that are our members that they say it cuts conflict in half in half, because what you're doing is you're even scheduling that connection time or date night time where you're like, no matter how busy we are, when are Casey and Meygan going to get to be Casey and Meygan?   And that's so important, because again, if you're winging it and you're just trying to find time to connect, well, you've got four kids, we've got two teenagers. It's never going to happen. Right. And so, the weekly marriage business meeting is definitely one of the amazing and favorite worksheets and tools that we've taught and that we use ourselves because it works.   Casey Caston: (29:28 - 29:28)  Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (29:28 - 29:59)  What a game changer. That is awesome and so practical, so intentional, which we're all about. But then also we had talked about emotional intimacy earlier and emotional intimacy is interconnected with sexual intimacy and communication is the root issue.   And that's what you teach couples. So, what are some conversations that couples can begin so that they can grow in both of those types of intimacy and enjoyment?   Casey Caston: (30:01 - 31:34)  Yeah, so, I feel like I have to start off by saying I got this so wrong when we were first married. It's OK. I forgive you now.   Yeah, because, you know. Let's just let's be we'll be we'll be completely transparent. So, Meygan and I waited to have sex until we were married.   So, now I actually waited till I was married to have sex. And I thought that under that purity guideline, I was promised maybe by a youth group, maybe by a convention, that if you withhold sex and remain pure, God is going to bless you with the best sex life when you're married. And that just simply did not happen.   Like when we first got married, I really got went into the bedroom thinking. I don't know what foreplay is, but let's have intercourse until I come and then we're done. And that's sex. That's our sexual intimacy. And we missed out on so many intimate ways of knowing each other and sex being an obligation and something like I just was demanding of it from Meygan. And. What I've come to discover and what I love to teach other men is that sex is so much more broader than just having intercourse. I mean, there was this total understanding like, well, I feel good during intercourse. This feels very stimulating, which means that Meygan must feel the exact same way while we're having intercourse.   Meygan Caston: (31:35 - 31:35)  Nope.   Casey Caston: (31:36 - 32:35)  Because that's because listen, I never had sex before. But anytime I watched a rom com, you know, the guy threw up, you know, against the wall or they're having intercourse and she's going and he's going and they're having a great time. Like this must be what sex is all about.   And what I've discovered now and I get to teach other men is that emotional intimacy is kind of the birthplace of sexual expression of love, right? That we we create safe places for our wives to to open up. And because of that, they become more willing and wanting that that sexual expression rather than us just coming in and saying, OK, it's time for sex.   Let's go. And so, when we talk about just this book, this 365 Connecting Questions for Couples, I tell my guys, I'm like, hey, if you want to have great sex, start here because that is foreplay.   Meygan Caston: (32:35 - 33:48)  That's start here. It's good to know my heart, not just use me for my body, which can feel like that for a lot of people. And I think going back to the emotional intimacy, I think that, again, you had that when you were dating or you wouldn't have gotten married.   There was no way you were. If the person was boring, closed off, if, you know, your spouse was just completely on their phone every time, you wouldn't have had that second, third, fourth date. So, there was emotional intimacy at some point, which means you can't ever say we never had it.    You can always get it back, but you can have to be intentional. And I think a great way is we call it connection time. I think date night scares a lot of people.    I think it's the idea of. We have to go to a restaurant, we have to spend money, we have to find a babysitter, all these hurdles that you have to go through to make it happen, so then couples just don't even do it. So, we're like, listen, if you if that's overwhelming to you, then try connection time.    And really what that is, it's still undivided, you know, attention and time with you and your spouse. Maybe it's smaller, maybe it's 15 minutes, 30 minutes. And I know for when our kids were little, we played board games and card games and they'd go to bed, you know, at 7:30 or 8:00 PM.    And we would bring out Yahtzee.   Casey Caston: (33:48 - 33:51)  There'd be a lot of trash talking over chutes and ladders.   Meygan Caston: (33:52 - 34:29)  But we would play. We would play games. And it was our time to connect.    And when we didn't talk about the kids, you know, we just chatted about our day and again, going through some of these connecting questions that didn't even really exist yet, but they were in our heads. Taking a walk with the dog and, you know, going to a little local coffee shop, even if it's just 30 minutes and sharing and talking and exploring that emotional intimacy should never stop again. And that's going to give people opportunities to then go into the bedroom, like Casey mentioned, more willing and more excited to be intimate to each other because it's like, oh, that's right.    We like each other. We're still married. We're still friends.   Casey Caston: (34:29 - 35:15)  You bring up a great point. Like I said, I think sitting down over the table, staring at each other can be intimidating for a lot of guys, because especially if this is not a regular habit in your relationship and taking a walk for guys when we're doing something and maybe it's less intimidating because we're not even staring at each other. But that kind of like getting the, you know, oxytocin going, like getting moving, like that kind of adrenaline can actually stimulate guys for good conversations and processing things.    And so, what we hear from a lot of couples that take our book, maybe they'll take a picture of the question and they'll go, Hey, let's take a walk. And then they'll use the question on their walk.   Meygan Caston: (35:15 - 35:15)  Yeah.   Casey Caston: (35:15 - 35:24)  And that gets conversations going. So, if that's like a on ramp onto this, that's a that's a great starting point for a lot of people.   Laura Dugger: (35:24 - 36:48)  Oh, that's so good. And I love how you say just an on ramp, because the goal is more intimacy overall together to know one another, be known. And I love that you're showing this is not a manipulation factor.    This isn't ask these questions so we can be more active in the bedroom, regardless of whichever spouse is the higher desire one. But this is to really enhance all levels of your relationship. And as you talk about oxytocin, it just makes me think such an interesting cycle that the Lord created where I will speak more stereotypically that where women require the emotional connection and then they open up and enjoy sex more.    But then men, once they've had sex and they just have this like 500 percent increase of oxytocin in this neurochemical bath that opens them up emotionally. And we could see it even as we view our differences. You could be upset because they're opposite or we can see it as a gift that they can fuel one another.    And then we get more of a holistic picture of overall intimacy. So, I'll also link to quite a few episodes because we do about one per month where we dive deeper into sexual intimacy. S   o, I can link all of those in the show notes.    But Casey, were you going to say something?   Meygan Caston: (36:49 - 36:50)  I want to say something to it.   Casey Caston: (36:51 - 37:16)  He loves. Well, so, we're talking chicken and egg, right? Like who gets the emotional intimacy, who gets the physical intimacy first?    And I just think that there's if we approach our relationship with selfishness, well, then neither people get satisfied. But if we are in an approach to serve one another and be selfless lovers. So, men would be like, you know what?    I want to meet my wife's emotional needs.   Meygan Caston: (37:16 - 37:16)  Yeah.   Casey Caston: (37:17 - 37:38)  Like and I do believe that men are the spark of initiation. If you're a husband out there listening to this, like that one of your greatest gifts to marriage is initiation. You were the one who asked for the first date.    You were the one who got down one the knee. You are the spark of initiation. And I believe that God's created women as nurturers of that initiation.   Meygan Caston: (37:39 - 37:41)  And to clarify, you're not talking just about initiating sex.   Casey Caston: (37:41 - 37:43)  Well, yes. Just everything.   Meygan Caston: (37:43 - 37:55)  Initiating, just initiating, initiating a weekly marriage business meeting. Women are so turned on by when a husband's like, hey, I don't necessarily know what we want to do for a date night, but I want to take you on a date. Can I get an amen, Laura?   Laura Dugger: (37:55 - 37:56)  Right, sister?   Meygan Caston: (37:57 - 38:14)  Hey, women are turned on. Listen, men, women are turned on. If you say, you know what?    I know that like this has been an issue with my parents and I don't even know how to handle it, but I really want to have that conversation. Oh, my gosh. Just initiating the conversation is all we're looking for.    It's OK that you don't have all the answers.   Casey Caston: (38:14 - 38:14)  Yeah.   Meygan Caston: (38:14 - 38:23)  But for men that avoid stonewall, escape, numb out, busy themselves, it is such a turnoff. It is so not what we want.   Laura Dugger: (38:23 - 39:55)  I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit theSavvySauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Heinrichsen from episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand-new website for Savvy Sauce Charities. And we are thrilled with the final product.    So, I hope you check it out there. You're going to find all of our podcasts now with show notes and transcriptions listed a scrapbook of various previous guests and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones so that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living. You will also be able to access our donation button or our mailing address for sending checks that are tax deductible so that you can support the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nation with the good news of Jesus Christ.    So, make sure you visit theSavvySauce.com.    Okay, so, then continue the conversation with just overall intimacy. What are some examples of de-escalation techniques that you recommend to couples who are in conflict, ones that can maybe help the strained relationships so that they can be repaired?  Yeah.   Meygan Caston: (39:55 - 42:19)  Yeah. So, a big thing that I've learned as someone who's very direct, I can tend to be on that, like I mentioned, fighter side. And I know a lot of women, studies have shown 75 percent of us ladies are the ones that typically bring up the issues.    So, just be aware that there is a gender difference there. And if you're a dude, there's nothing wrong with you if you're in, you know, that 75 percent or 25 percent. But I think the biggest thing I've recognized is to remind your spouse in the very beginning of the conversation, why you're having the conversation.    You know, I love you. I love us. I want to see us be the best people that we can be.    I want to see us enjoy marriage and enjoy life. I love you. Like bring the positivity and the reminder that you're better together than apart.    And really, that's part of what we call a soft startup, right? There's a lot of different soft startups you've heard of. You know, I feel when you I need those work to but I like to take it a little bit deeper to say, remind your spouse how much that you love being married to them.    Or again, whatever the issue is like we have the most. Let's say it's parenting. Casey and I are very different in our parenting styles.    Last night would have been a great difference of how that happened. But like reminder that like we both love our children. We both want the best for our kids.    No one doubts that. We both have made we made two beautiful, wonderful, quirky children. Right.    And so, even you can start the conversation with that. But I wish that more people did that because I think people are are, you know, I'm really upset about something. OK, well, the second you say that defenses, sorry, but defenses are going to go up.    We want to keep the conversations defenses low, guards low, right, de-escalation. And so, use soft startups, use kind, positive language. But I think another thing behind that would be come to the conversation processed.    Do not have these conversations 11 o'clock at night when you're tired or when you're hungry. Do not have these conversations when it just happened and you haven't had the time to just like stop. Think about what do I really need?    Why did that trigger me? What am I hoping to achieve? Why is my husband acting this way?    Oh, is he under a lot of stress? Yeah, we got to give ourselves time to sit and process before we even use those soft startups. So, that would be my advice for de-escalation.   Casey Caston: (42:20 - 43:04)  And mine actually would be an apology. I think that we all make mistakes. And when you think about a couple that's maybe living reactively, just winging it, I doubt that there's ever an apology that's given on either side because it takes a little it takes awareness to recognize, gosh, you know what?    My that little comment I just made that probably had a little zing to it. Or, you know, I really let my spouse down by not parenting the children the way she would want me to. Or, you know, I said I was going to do something and I didn't.    And I let my partner down. You want to de-escalate a tense situation. Apologize.   Meygan Caston: (43:04 - 43:04)  Yeah. Own it.   Casey Caston: (43:05 - 43:12)  When you apologize, you know, you're taking all of the heat out of the fire. They really are.   Meygan Caston: (43:12 - 43:16)  And you're validating your spouse's feelings. Who doesn't want to be validated and seen? Everybody does.   Casey Caston: (43:16 - 43:38)  And then you're taking responsibility and accountability for your actions, which is the trust builder for relationships. So, that's why when you talk about high conflict relationships, there aren't a lot of there's not a lot of trust there. It's not a safe place anymore.    So, to create that safety, we want to we want to build trust back into the relationship.   Laura Dugger: (43:39 - 43:50)  Those are fantastic. And do you guys just have maybe a handful of ideas for ways that couples can strengthen their marriage with one another?   Meygan Caston: (43:51 - 44:09)  Absolutely. I would say, obviously, the weekly marriage business meeting. I mean, I know we talked about it, but the important thing is to schedule it, put it in the calendar because you don't want to wing it.    And that way it's showing, oh, you're prioritizing us. Taking walks has been a big one for us. Playing games is a big one.   Casey Caston: (44:09 - 45:18)  The 60 second blessing is where we intentionally spend time. 60 seconds reminding our partner of how much we love them, using our words to say, like, I saw how hard you work for the family. I love how you take care of the kids and kind of reminding your partner, like I see the goodness in each other.    I think it's really important because. Day to day life, we can just be very transactional, and if we again, we have any sort of criticism or, you know, our words just are not flavored with life, well, proverb says, you know, our words have the power to give life or to give death. Right.    So, the words that we speak, if we evaluate. Are we producing what I call weed seeds? Or are we planting fruit trees?    Because weed seeds choke out the garden. Those sharp, critical words can leave your garden looking pretty shabby, whereas being intentional by speaking positive over each other. It's like planting fruit trees.    And who doesn't like a good, juicy orange? Right.   Meygan Caston: (45:18 - 47:15)  Well, and the 60 second blessing, you know, you start off by writing five to seven positive things you love about your spouse. And so, one spouse shares their list for 60 seconds and then the second spouse shares their list. And it's this habit that we actually started doing after our marriage intensive that we did as we were repairing our marriage because we had yeah, we had we had spoken such mean and harsh words or just a lot of roommate stuff.    And we needed that positivity. And it's a great foreplay tip, by the way, just to sit, sometimes sit down and go, I just need to tell you how wonderful you are. Like, who doesn't want to hear that about themselves?    I think another thing that Casey and I have recognized it is the only thing, by the way, Laura, in our marriage, the only thing that has ever stayed consistent. That's we have fun together. We laugh a lot, even in hard times.    Yeah, it wasn't as enjoyable, but we still had fun. And, you know, again, fun is different for everybody. We don't ever want to judge someone else's fun.    But we are constantly like we we are sarcastic. But that's for us because we have high trust levels. I usually tell couples if you're, you know, in a fair recovery or you have low trust levels, sarcasm is probably not great.    But we're very playful. We have again, we play a lot of fun games and we play ping pong and cornhole and we take our dogs on our dog on a walk. And we, you know, we're going to try to go ax throwing in April.    We've never done that before. Like there are fun that we've taken dance lessons. So, we like to think out of the box and do new things or things that we know that like how many games of Yahtzee have we played?    I don't even know. I mean, we've lost count. Or gin rummy, you know, I mean, we just play Sequence or Rummikub like we play them all.    And for that for us, that's really fun. We dance a lot. We love the 90's music.    Like get out your favorite playlist and just dance and sing and be goofy. Like I think if couples were to laugh and enjoy each other more and be able to laugh with themselves, I think that there would be more marriages that would stay together. Laura Dugger: (47:16 - 47:39)  That is something that I've even experienced in this time together. You guys are so fun to be around. And that's very life giving to others.    But I can see where it starts in that secret place between just the two of you, your best friend. And you share a lot of this goodness with Marriage 365. So, can you let us know all the different things that you have to offer?   Casey Caston: (47:40 - 48:48)  Yeah, I would probably say the number one way that people experience all of the resources that we've created over the years is through our mobile app. So, we have an app that has over a thousand pieces of videos, workshop, worksheet, excuse me, courses, challenges. We even have a checkup so you can actually rate kind of your marriage.    And that is a great way for people to be able to have access, you know, on the spot if they're dealing with an issue, they don't know how to get through and they're looking for a tool or a conversation to help them work through that. That our app provides such a valuable resource. I mean, beyond that, you know, some couples need a little bit more hands on approach.    So, we do coaching. We have a coaching staff actually to handle all the incoming couples that are saying, hey, can you can you help us out? And again, I just want to say coaching is really, really focused on giving action plans and homework and accountability to our clients.    And coaching is really, really helpful if you're like, I just need to know what to do next.   Meygan Caston: (48:48 - 49:17)  Yeah. We do intensives for couples that are in crisis, you know, there that are seriously considering separation or divorce or an affair recovery and that we have an over 90 percent success rate because we went through an intensive when we were struggling and it was something we knew we wanted to get trained on and do. And it's a full two days with Casey and I.    I mean, two days back-to-back. We know you. We get Christmas cards from all of our couples, you know, every year.    We love it. And it's they become almost I mean, yes, they're our clients, but they almost become like our friends.   Casey Caston: (49:17 - 49:45)  Yeah. And then probably personally, one of my favorite things that we do is we host our own couple's getaway. And this is a four-day experience.    It's not your it's not like a typical retreat where you're sitting in a conference room, you're just getting lectured all day. We're actually facilitating tools and then giving couples opportunities to work on them. Then some free time to really spend some time making great memories.    We have a dance party. It is a ton of fun.   Meygan Caston: (49:45 - 49:55)  We make sure. Yeah, we make sure it's fun. It's more it's definitely more for couples who are doing OK or want to do better, not they're not ideal for couples in crisis because it's going to be very uncomfortable.   Casey Caston: (49:55 - 49:56)  I love our retreats.   Meygan Caston: (49:56 - 49:57)  I know.   Casey Caston: (49:57 - 49:58)  I love interacting with her.   Meygan Caston: (49:58 - 50:05)  And of course, we have our social media. You can just search Marriage 365 and then we have our website, too. And we have our books, of course.   Casey Caston: (50:05 - 50:09)  Oh, and I have a men's group. I know I launched a five-week men's reset. . Meygan Caston: (50:09 - 50:34)  Needless to say, Laura, we're really busy. I do a lot. I think that's what's funny, right?    I think that people see us online and they think that we just have an Instagram, or we just have Facebook. And I'm like, we've been doing this for 12 years and we have a staff of 12 people. So, we reach a lot of people.    And we because marriage is never a one stop, you know, one size fits all. It's it's true. There are so many different dynamics, and we want to be able to help as many people as we can.   Laura Dugger: (50:35 - 50:59)  Wow. Thank you for sharing that. We will add all of those links.    I love all these different offerings that you have and that will meet people in whatever phase they're in. But you two already know we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for both of you, what is your Savvy Sauce?   Meygan Caston: (51:00 - 51:47)  Mine would be I would want every single person to think about becoming more confident. And that starts with becoming more self-aware. I think that that is completely changed who I am.   And I'm we're raising two kids, and I see the confidence that they have. And we're modeling that but also walking them through how to be self-aware. And really, that starts with having to be one with your thoughts, turning off the phone, sorry, turning off the podcast, sometimes turning off the music and just actually sitting and really going.    Do I really know my thoughts, my feelings, my values, my personality, my good, my bad, my ugly? And we don't do this enough. We are busy ourselves.    We're distracted constantly. And I think that it's really harming our mental health. And so, that would be my savvy sauce.   Casey Caston: (51:47 - 52:30)  Hmm. I love that, babe. It's kind of hard because we find so much alignment.    I mean, I would that's exactly what I would say, too. Um, I, you know, my focus in twenty, twenty-five has really been turned towards helping husbands. And there's a quote that Henry David Thoreau says that many men live lives of quiet desperation and they die with their songs still inside them.    And most guys are terrified of stopping and evaluating. And so, for me, creating space too. Listen, I do a 10, 10, 10 practice in the morning.   Meygan Caston: (52:30 - 52:32)  That's what I thought you were going to say.   Casey Caston: (52:32 - 52:32)  Yeah, yeah.   Meygan Caston: (52:32 - 52:36)  Well, I was like, I bet you he's going to talk about it because it's been life changing for you.   Casey Caston: (52:36 - 53:01)  Yeah. So, I spend 10 minutes of scripture reading. So, that's input.    Then I spend 10 minutes of quiet meditation where I'm sitting and I'm in a listening posture. And I mean, I think about everything from lasagna to the last wave I serve to. But there's intentionality about just opening myself like here I am.    I'm ready to be downloaded on like what you have for me today.   Meygan Caston: (53:01 - 53:02)  God be one with your thoughts.   Casey Caston: (53:03 - 53:18)  Yeah. And all sorts of things come up. And then I spent 10 minutes journaling.    And that process is just and that's like the output. Right. So, now I've got input.    I've been listening and now I get to write stuff out. And that's been a huge game changer for me.   Laura Dugger: (53:19 - 53:43)  Wow, I love both of those. You two are just refreshingly vulnerable and such an incredible mixture of intentional and lighthearted. And it has been so great just to sit under your teaching today.    So, thank you for sharing your story and for helping all of us. And thank you just for being my guests.   Meygan Caston: (53:43 - 53:45)  Oh, you're welcome. It was a pleasure to be here.   Casey Caston: (53:45 - 53:49)  Yes, you asked great questions that plumb the deep wells of Casey Meygan.   Laura Dugger: (53:52 - 57:35)  One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.

In this episode, Lauren and career coach Marnie Lemonik dive into the art of telling your career story—a skill that matters whether you're interviewing, networking, or simply introducing yourself in a work environment. Listen to hear about the three key parts every career story should include and share practical frameworks (plus real examples) to help you create a concise, clear, and authentic narrative.You'll Learn:How to craft a 1–2 sentence “career thesis statement” that highlights your path and through-lineHow to filter your past roles so your story feels relevant (without rambling)How to work through the awkward period of your story feeling “new”Show NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Marnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnielemonik/ Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmcgoodwin/ Resources Career Summary / Thesis Statement Template: I've spent the majority of my career in [ABC FIELDS] within [XYZ roles]. The through line of my experience has really been [a passion to help XYZ group, a desire to contribute to an XYZ mission, an interest in the XYZ element of your roles]. Marnie's “Tell Me About Yourself” Example: https://www.instagram.com/p/C70Ht65M4uR/ Job Search Dashboard: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-job-search-dashboard-notion-template?affcode=70732_cx6_j5wn CareerFitter Online Assessment: https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder?afid=2218 Marnie's Free Resourceshttps://www.marnielemonik.com/resources Marnie's Interview Prep eBook: https://www.marnielemonik.com/resources/p/ebook-how-to-shine-in-your-next-job-interview 10% Discount Code: CCPOD Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Sponsors:Grow Therapy is here to help. Visit GrowTherapy.com/CONTESSA to learn more.Go to shopify.com/careercontessa to upgrade your selling today.Open a Found account for FREE at found.com/contessa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, I explain cortisol and science-based protocols for properly setting your cortisol rhythm, which can significantly increase your daytime energy, focus, mood, and stress resilience, while also improving your sleep quality. Most people mistakenly think cortisol is bad, and many assume their levels are too high, when in fact many health and performance challenges simply stem from a disrupted cortisol rhythm. Getting your cortisol rhythm right can be transformative for your health and performance. I outline behavioral, nutritional, and supplement-based strategies to raise or lower your cortisol levels at the appropriate times of day and night. I also provide specific protocols for overcoming burnout. If you're dealing with stress, low energy, hormone or sleep challenges—or simply want to optimize these for the sake of your physical and mental health and performance—this episode offers science-backed protocols to help. Read the the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Carbon: https://joincarbon.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00) Cortisol (1:29) Stress, Tool: Daily Cortisol Rhythm (3:16) Cortisol & Directing Energy, Glucose, Adrenals (6:39) Sponsors: Carbon & BetterHelp (10:14) Daily Cortisol Phases & Rhythm, Waking Up & Cortisol (17:55) Cortisol Release & Regulation, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis (24:57) Rapid & Delayed Stress Response, HPA Axis (28:42) Bright Light & Cortisol Release, Tool: Increase Morning Cortisol & Sunlight (36:58) Sponsors: AG1 & David (39:48) Viewing Bright Light & Mood, Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) (41:44) Increase Morning Cortisol, Tools: Hydration, Delaying Caffeine Intake (49:30) Exercise, Entrainment Cues & Cortisol Rhythm, Tool: Boost Energy & Exercise Schedule (57:52) Does Deliberate Cold Exposure Increase Cortisol?, Energy & Mood (1:01:19) Sponsor: LMNT (1:02:51) Increase Morning Cortisol & Nutrition, Grapefruit, Black Licorice (1:11:34) Afternoon & Evening Cortisol Rhythms, Sunlight, Screens (1:14:30) Lower Evening Cortisol, Tools: Dim Lights, Light Color (1:20:54) Lower Evening Cortisol, Tools: Caffeine Timing; Stress Response & Exhales; Starchy Carbohydrates (1:30:42) Low-Carb Diets & Cortisol, Metabolic Syndrome (1:35:30) Evening Exercise & Cortisol, Tool: Spike Your Morning Cortisol (1:44:32) Supplements to Reduce Cortisol, Ashwagandha, Apigenin, Magnesium (1:50:57) Burnout, Cushing's & Addison's, 2 Burnout Patterns (1:55:23) Early-Phase Burnout, Tools: NSDR/Yoga Nidra, Boost Morning Cortisol, Caffeine (2:01:35) Late-Phase Burnout, Tools: Reduce Evening Cortisol (2:08:02) Age, Male vs Females, Lifespan, Cancer; Menopause; Brain Health (2:13:41) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest is Dr. Nirao Shah, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences and neurobiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss how the brains of males and females differ and how those differences arise from different genes and hormones during fetal development, in childhood and adulthood. We discuss what drives male- versus female-specific behaviors and how hormonal fluctuations across the lifespan, including puberty, the menstrual cycle, menopause and aging – affect behavior, cognition and health. Additionally, we discuss how biology relates to gender identity and the impact of hormone therapies on brain circuits that regulate mating, parenting and social bonding. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Maui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Nirao Shah 00:02:11 Mice, Humans & Brain, Biological Conservation 00:05:25 Hormones, Nature vs Nurture 00:07:13 Biological Sex Differences, Chromosomes & SRY Gene, Hormones 00:16:01 Sponsors: Maui Nui & Eight Sleep 00:19:09 Androgen Mutations, Feminization & Masculinization 00:22:04 SRY Gene; Animals & Sexual Trans-Differentiation 00:27:49 Hormones & Biological Brain Differentiation 00:31:22 Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Androstenedione; Stress & Pregnancy 00:35:56 Genes, Brain Differentiation & Sexual Identity; Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia 00:43:37 Testosterone, Estrogen & Brain Circuits 00:47:27 Sponsors: AG1 & LMNT 00:50:36 Intersex Individuals, Castration 00:52:23 Female Sexual Behavior, Brain, Testosterone & Pheromones 00:57:58 Identify as Heterosexual or Homosexual, Difference in Hormone Levels? 01:00:42 Gender, Sexual Orientation & Hormones; Hormone Replacement Therapy 01:10:21 Aromatization; Steroid Hormones & Gene Expression 01:15:00 Kids & Changing Gender Identity 01:19:05 Sexual Behavior, Refractory Period & Male Brain, Tacr1 Cells 01:21:31 Sponsor: Function 01:23:19 Hypothalamus, Dopamine, Prolactin, Cabergoline, Libido, Dopamine 01:27:05 Brain Circuits, Aggression & Sexual Behavior 01:32:40 Refractory Period; Age, Testosterone & Libido 01:36:07 Tacr1 Cells in Females, Periaqueductal Gray & Innate Behaviors 01:40:00 Parenting Behaviors & Brain Circuits; Pet Dogs 01:43:12 Oxytocin, Pair Bonding, Vasopressin; Biological Redundancy 01:47:22 Libido, Melanocortin, Tacr1 Neurons; GLP-1 Agonists, Clinical Trials; Kisspeptin 01:56:43 Female Brain Changes, Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy, Menopause; Estrogen; Men & Hormone Fluctuation? 02:04:10 Life Experience Male vs Female, Sex Recognition, Behaviors & Context 02:16:05 Pain Management; Endocrine Disrupters, Gender Identity 02:21:03 Future Projects 02:24:29 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices