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In this episode of High Notes, host Melissa Thom speaks with Simon Lancaster, one of Britain's most acclaimed speechwriters.Simon traces his path from aspiring songwriter to shaping the words of top politicians and business leaders. They explore the art of persuasive communication, the timeless power of rhetoric, and why authenticity and emotion matter on stage.With stories from his remarkable career, Simon offers practical strategies for crafting unforgettable speeches, from harnessing rhythm and repetition to mastering rhetorical devices that captivate an audience.Tune in for practical insights on speaking with clarity and how to craft words that leave a lasting impression.More about Simon:https://www.bespokespeeches.com/Speak like a Leader Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGBamfWasNQReady to elevate your voice, confidence, and communication at work?Contact us at BRAVA Business and start making every conversation count:brava.uk.com/businessStay connected with BRAVASubscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, training opportunities and insights connecting business, acting, and voice:brava.uk.com/subscribeFollow us for more informationhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/bravauk/https://www.facebook.com/bravaukhttps://www.instagram.com/bravauk00:00 Introduction to High Notes Podcast00:30 Meet Simon Lancaster: Britain's Renowned Speech Writer01:40 The Journey to Becoming a Political Speech Writer03:14 The Art of Unforgettable Speeches05:40 The Language of Leadership07:05 Rhetorical Devices in Public Speaking12:23 When Speeches Go Wrong: Lessons from Gerald Ratner17:19 The Power of Rhetorical Devices: TEDx Talk Insights21:31 Favourite Rhetorical Devices and Techniques23:45 The Power of Hypnosis in Overcoming Nerves26:02 Engaging Your Audience: The Role of Charisma27:27 Finding Inspiration in Speech Writing31:07 Building Confidence in Communication33:29 Admiring Modern-Day Speakers37:50 The Impact of Iconic Speeches40:13 The Influence of Music and Funk41:16 Conclusion and Farewell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fluent Fiction - Spanish: A Creative Spark: Finding Inspiration Above the Cityscape Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-10-24-22-34-02-es Story Transcript:Es: El cielo estaba en llamas.En: The sky was on fire.Es: El sol se ocultaba detrás de los altos edificios, iluminando la ciudad con un resplandor dorado.En: The sun was setting behind the tall buildings, illuminating the city with a golden glow.Es: Me encontraba en el observatorio de cristal, en la cima de un rascacielos.En: I was in the glass observatory, at the top of a skyscraper.Es: Había decidido venir aquí, buscando inspiración para mi arte, deseando que la vista del atardecer me devolviera la chispa perdida.En: I had decided to come here, seeking inspiration for my art, hoping that the view of the sunset would return the lost spark to me.Es: Mientras caminaba por el observatorio, admirando la vista, me topé con Teo.En: As I walked through the observatory, admiring the view, I ran into Teo.Es: Él estaba recostado contra el vidrio, observando fascinado las estructuras de la ciudad.En: He was leaning against the glass, fascinated by the city structures.Es: Tenía curiosidad sobre qué lo traía aquí.En: I was curious about what had brought him here.Es: "¿Amas la vista tanto como yo?En: "Do you love the view as much as I do?"Es: ", le pregunté tímidamente.En: I asked shyly.Es: Él sonrió, asintiendo.En: He smiled, nodding.Es: "Soy arquitecto.En: "I'm an architect.Es: Me encanta ver cómo la ciudad se transforma al anochecer," respondió con entusiasmo.En: I love seeing how the city transforms at dusk," he responded enthusiastically.Es: Hablamos sobre el contraste entre la modernidad de los rascacielos y la tradición del Día de los Muertos que se acercaba.En: We talked about the contrast between the modernity of the skyscrapers and the approaching tradition of Día de los Muertos.Es: Las calles comenzaban a decorarse con colores vibrantes y flores de cempasúchil.En: The streets were beginning to be decorated with vibrant colors and cempasúchil flowers.Es: Sentí algo diferente al escucharlo hablar sobre cómo la arquitectura es un arte en sí misma.En: I felt something different when I heard him talk about how architecture is an art in itself.Es: Era apasionado, y eso me hizo pensar en mi propia pasión perdida.En: He was passionate, and that made me think of my own lost passion.Es: "Estoy buscando inspiración para mi arte," confesé.En: "I'm looking for inspiration for my art," I confessed.Es: "Pero me siento atrapada.En: "But I feel trapped.Es: No sé por dónde empezar."En: I don't know where to start."Es: Teo me miró con comprensión.En: Teo looked at me with understanding.Es: "La ciudad tiene su historia escrita en sus edificios.En: "The city has its history written in its buildings.Es: A veces, ver el mundo desde otra perspectiva ayuda," sugirió.En: Sometimes, seeing the world from another perspective helps," he suggested.Es: A medida que el sol se retiraba definitivamente, las luces de la ciudad se encendieron con tonos naranjas, púrpuras y azules.En: As the sun finally withdrew, the city lights came on in shades of orange, purple, and blue.Es: Fue como si cada edificio contara una historia nueva, como si el pasado y el presente estuvieran celebrando juntos.En: It was as if each building told a new story, as if the past and the present were celebrating together.Es: De repente, algo dentro de mí encajó.En: Suddenly, something inside me clicked.Es: Vi la belleza en la mezcla de tradición y modernidad, en cómo la ciudad se preparaba para honrar a sus ancestros mientras seguía creciendo hacia el futuro.En: I saw the beauty in the blend of tradition and modernity, in how the city prepared to honor its ancestors while continuing to grow into the future.Es: Teo, sin darse cuenta, había encendido una chispa en mi imaginación.En: Teo, without realizing it, had sparked something in my imagination.Es: Me di cuenta de que mi arte podría capturar esa transición, esa unión de lo viejo con lo nuevo.En: I realized that my art could capture that transition, that union of the old with the new.Es: Al salir del observatorio, el aire primaveral se sentía diferente.En: As I left the observatory, the spring air felt different.Es: Estaba llena de una nueva energía.En: I was filled with a new energy.Es: Sabía que mi próximo cuadro emergería de esta experiencia.En: I knew that my next painting would emerge from this experience.Es: La ciudad, la tradición, el cambio… todo tenía un nuevo significado para mí ahora.En: The city, the tradition, the change... everything had a new meaning for me now.Es: Llamé a Raúl mientras caminaba hacia casa.En: I called Raúl while I walked home.Es: Quería contarle todo.En: I wanted to tell him everything.Es: Sentía que mi bloqueo artístico se había roto, gracias a una conversación inesperada en un lugar tan especial.En: I felt that my artistic block had been broken, thanks to an unexpected conversation in such a special place.Es: Teo había sido el inicio de mi renovada perspectiva.En: Teo had been the start of my renewed perspective.Es: Día de los Muertos iluminaba mis pensamientos, como lo hacían las luces de la ciudad aquella noche.En: Día de los Muertos illuminated my thoughts, just like the city lights did that night.Es: Con cada paso, me sentía más segura de que mi capacidad de creación estaba de regreso, y sabía exactamente cómo plasmar esa energía en mi lienzo.En: With each step, I felt more certain that my creative ability was back, and I knew exactly how to capture that energy on my canvas. Vocabulary Words:the observatory: el observatoriothe skyscraper: el rascacielosto illuminate: iluminarthe glow: el resplandorthe inspiration: la inspiraciónthe dusk: el anochecerenthusiastically: con entusiasmothe contrast: el contrastethe tradition: la tradiciónto decorate: decorarvibrant: vibrantethe passion: la pasiónto confess: confesarto trap: atraparthe history: la historiato grow: crecerthe perspective: la perspectivathe shade: el tonoto withdraw: retirarsethe transition: la transiciónto realize: darse cuentathe union: la uniónspring (as in season): primaveralthe energy: la energíathe canvas: el lienzounexpected: inesperadoto break: romperto fill: llenarthe ability: la capacidadto capture: capturar
This week on The Veg Grower Podcast, Richard shares another busy few days of tidying, planning and preparing for the colder months ahead — and reflects on where he finds his garden design inspiration. Allotment Update: Storing Canes Down on the allotment, the big tidy-up continues. With the days drawing shorter, time after work is now limited, so Richard has been making the most of every dry spell. This week he's been tackling weeds, laying down mulch, and organising tools and materials ready for winter. Straw has once again proven to be a fantastic mulch — keeping weeds at bay and making maintenance much easier. He's also been sorting through canes and supports, using a simple but clever trick for storing them neatly: fixing a bungee cord to the shed wall and slipping the canes behind it. It's easy, quick, and stops everything falling about in the wind — a great tip for anyone short on shed space. Plastic pots have also had a bit of a tidy. While Richard prefers to reuse rather than throw away, he's been organising them into bins and boxes to keep things under control. The goal this winter is clear — get the plot tidy, mulched, and ready for another productive year. Kitchen Garden Update: Overwintering Chillies Back home in the kitchen garden, listener Stuart Jackson got in touch with a great question: how do you overwinter chillies? Chillies are actually perennials, so with the right care, they can keep going for years. The trick is to move potted plants indoors — a shed, greenhouse, or even a bright windowsill works well — and keep them just ticking over. Richard recommends pruning each branch back to about a third, watering sparingly, and keeping them frost-free but not too warm. Then, when spring returns, the plants can burst back into growth and reward you with an early crop. It's a simple method that helps keep those favourite chilli plants alive year after year. At home, the brassicas are thriving — Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbages and cauliflowers all doing well. The new chickens are settling in, though not yet laying, while the older hens continue to keep the egg basket full. Remarkably, the courgette plants are still producing flowers and fruit — quite something for October. And there's plenty of beetroot too, recently harvested for a batch of delicious beetroot and chocolate brownies. Recipe of the Week This week's recipe is Spicy Autumn Potato Soup, perfect for a chilly October day. It's a simple, warming dish that uses stored potatoes, late chillies and peppers for a kick of flavour. You'll find the full recipe on the website — ideal for using up seasonal veg and serving with crusty bread after a day in the garden. In the Potting Shed As the rain fell outside, Richard found himself thinking about garden design — not just for practicality, but for beauty too. After ten years in the same home, the kitchen garden continues to evolve. The ambition now is to make it look amazing while still being productive. To do that, Richard's been looking everywhere for inspiration — from social media to stately homes, RHS shows and hotel gardens. He's already bringing ideas home, like training apple and pear trees over a small arch — a miniature take on the grand designs seen at places like West Dean or Bewley Gardens. It's proof that even in a modest garden, we can borrow the elegance of larger spaces while keeping things edible and functional. So, where do you get your garden inspiration? Get in touch and let Richard know.
Ben Johnson is a GRAMMY-nominated songwriter, producer, and artist originally from Meridian, Mississippi. He has earned 11 No. 1 songs, including “Truck Bed” recorded by HARDY and “One of Them Girls” recorded by Lee Brice. His songs have also been recorded by Morgan Wallen, Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Jelly Roll, John Legend, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, and many others. In this episode, we discuss Ben's journey from Mississippi to Nashville, his approach to writing across genres, the stories behind some of his biggest hits, and many other stops along the way.--------------------------------------------------This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art.---------------------------------------------------Troy Cartwright is a Nashville-based artist and songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas. His songs have collectively garnered hundreds of millions of streams, and he is currently signed to Big Machine Music for publishing. Cartwright has written songs recorded by Cody Johnson, Nickelback, Ryan Hurd, Josh Abbott Band, and has upcoming cuts with several A-list artists.New Episodes every Tuesday.Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram. Social Channels for Ten Year Town:YoutubeFacebookInstagramTwitterTikTokThis podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth. Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here. Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura. Artwork design by Brad Vetter. Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.
Transformative Leadership and Business Innovation: Natalie Spiro's journey from Johannesburg to the CEO of Drum Cafe North America illustrates the power of adaptability and innovation in leadership. Her story highlights how interactive drumming became a transformative tool for team development and corporate engagement, leading to a unique business model that turns energy into inspiration. Resilience in the Face of Adversity: The episode delves into Natalie's strategic pivots during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing her resilience as she transitioned from live events to virtual operations. Her ability to navigate challenges, consolidate resources, and embrace personal growth serves as a testament to her strength and determination in maintaining business continuity. Strategic Growth and Team Development: As Drum Cafe scaled, Natalie focused on building a team-managed business, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships and logistical planning. Her experience in hiring and training facilitators, managing expenses, and adapting to corporate needs offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs looking to expand their operations. Legacy of Cultural Humility and Education: Natalie discusses her vision of leaving a legacy through a non-profit initiative aimed at improving social-emotional learning in schools. Her commitment to cultural humility and fostering future leaders reflects her passion for creating meaningful impact and inspiring the next generation. Tune in to explore Natalie's inspiring leadership journey, learn from her experiences in overcoming business challenges, and discover how she continues to pioneer a path of transformational leadership in uncertain times. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome to Business Legacy Podcast 00:01:10 - Natalie's Journey from Johannesburg to the U.S. 00:02:30 - Discovering Purpose Through Vision Exercise 00:04:00 - Encounter with Motorola and the Birth of Drum Cafe North America 00:06:15 - The Transformative Power of Interactive Drumming 00:08:30 - Importance of Valuing Work and Establishing Business Model 00:11:45 - Transitioning to Virtual Operations and Personal Development 00:13:00 - Rebuilding the Business Post-COVID 00:15:00 - Managing Strategic Partnerships and Scaling Challenges 00:17:30 - Adapting to Changes in Team and Corporate Needs 00:19:00 - Overcoming Adversity and Finding Inspiration 00:21:00 - The Impact of Cultural Humility and Ancestral Wisdom 00:23:30 - Natalie's Vision for a Non-Profit and Legacy 00:25:00 - Contact Information and Closing Remarks Episode Resources: Connect with Natalie here and find more out about Drum cafe: https://drumcafenorthamerica.com/ Legacy Podcast: For more information about the Legacy Podcast and its co-hosts, visit businesslegacypodcast.com. Leave a Review: If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and rating on your preferred podcast platform. For more information: Visit businesslegacypodcast.com to access the shownotes and additional resources on the episode.
Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Finding Inspiration: Milan's Artistic Awakening at Kalemegdan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sr/episode/2025-10-12-22-34-02-sr Story Transcript:Sr: У јесен, Калемегданска тврђава у Београду била је пуна боја и живота.En: In the fall, the Kalemegdan Fortress in Beograd was full of colors and life.Sr: Стари зидови тврђаве били су сведоци многих догађаја, али у овим данима, на њима су се вијорили светлуцави зборови.En: The old walls of the fortress had witnessed many events, but during these days, bright banners fluttered on them.Sr: Ветар је лагано носио мирис сувог лишћа и топле јесени, а сунце је обасјавало шарене штандове пуне ручних израда.En: The wind gently carried the scent of dry leaves and warm autumn, and the sun shone on colorful stalls full of handmade crafts.Sr: Милан, Јована и Петар шетали су између штандова фестивала.En: Milan, Jovana, and Petar walked between the festival stalls.Sr: Милан, са плавом марамом око врата и бележницом у руци, тражио је инспирацију.En: Milan, with a blue scarf around his neck and a notebook in hand, was seeking inspiration.Sr: Јована, његова пријатељица, увек је веровала у њега и бодрила га.En: Jovana, his friend, always believed in him and encouraged him.Sr: Петар је био ту да их подржи, иако је често изразио своју скептичност.En: Petar was there to support them, although he often expressed his skepticism.Sr: "Зар заиста мислиш да ћеш пронаћи своју инспирацију овде?En: "Do you really think you'll find your inspiration here?"Sr: " питао је Петар.En: Petar asked.Sr: "Ако не овде, где онда?En: "If not here, then where?"Sr: " одговорио је Милан, његов глас је био тих, помешан са сумњом.En: replied Milan, his voice quiet and tinged with doubt.Sr: Док су пролазили кроз гужву, Милан је видео нешто необично.En: As they moved through the crowd, Milan saw something unusual.Sr: То је била апстрактна скулптура, чудних облика и боја, дело једног младог уметника.En: It was an abstract sculpture, with strange shapes and colors, the work of a young artist.Sr: Скулптура је била у центру малог штанда, као да је чекала баш Милана.En: The sculpture was at the center of a small stall, as if it were waiting just for Milan.Sr: Јована је ухватила његов заинтересован поглед.En: Jovana caught his interested glance.Sr: "Шта мислиш?En: "What do you think?Sr: Изгледа занимљиво," рекла је уз осмех.En: It looks interesting," she said with a smile.Sr: Милан се двоумио.En: Milan hesitated.Sr: Његова самосвест га је почела гушити, али онда је направио корак напред.En: His self-awareness began to suffocate him, but then he took a step forward.Sr: Одлучио је.En: He decided.Sr: "Узећу је," рекао је, изненадивши чак и самог себе.En: "I'll take it," he said, surprising even himself.Sr: Петар је на то само климнуо главом, тајно дивећи се његовој храбрости.En: Petar just nodded, secretly admiring his courage.Sr: Кад су наставили шетњу, Милан је седао на једну од старих клупа тврђаве.En: As they continued their walk, Milan sat on one of the old benches of the fortress.Sr: Извадио је бележницу, скулптура је стајала поред њега.En: He took out his notebook, the sculpture stood beside him.Sr: Њени чудни облици били су на његовом папиру, као да су се претварали у нове идеје.En: Its strange shapes were on his paper, as if they were transforming into new ideas.Sr: Писак оловке постао је звук новог живота.En: The scratch of the pencil became the sound of new life.Sr: Са сваким потезом, Милан је осетио како га креативна енергија ломи изнутра.En: With each stroke, Milan felt how the creative energy broke through him from within.Sr: Инспирација се вратила, а заједно са тим и поуздање у себе.En: Inspiration returned, and with it, confidence in himself.Sr: На крају дана, троје пријатеља отишло је са фестивала.En: At the end of the day, the three friends left the festival.Sr: Листопад је прекривао стазе, али Милан је корачао с осмехом.En: Leaves covered the paths, but Milan walked with a smile.Sr: Осећао је што дуже није – надахнутост и веру у своју уметност.En: He felt something he hadn't in a long time—an inspiration and faith in his art.Sr: Решио је да увек слуша свој уметнички инстинкт.En: He resolved to always listen to his artistic instinct.Sr: Док се сумрак спуштао над тврђавом, њихово срце је било пуно.En: As dusk fell over the fortress, their hearts were full.Sr: Са светлом скулптуром под мишком, напустили су Калемегдан.En: With the bright sculpture under his arm, they left Kalemegdan.Sr: Све троје су знали да је овај дан био почетак нечег новог.En: All three knew this day was the beginning of something new.Sr: Милан је пронашао свој занос, а са њим, и веру у нове почетке.En: Milan had found his passion, and with it, faith in new beginnings. Vocabulary Words:fortress: тврђаваwitnessed: сведоциbanners: зборовиfluttered: вијорилиscent: мирисcrafts: израдаinspiration: инспирацијаencouraged: бодрилаskepticism: скептичностabstract: апстрактнаsculpture: скулптураhesitated: двоумиоself-awareness: самосвестsuffocate: гушитиadmiring: дивећиbench: клупаtransforming: претваралиstroke: потезconfidence: поуздањеcovered: прекриваоresolved: решиоdusk: сумракinstinct: инстинктabstract: апстрактнаcreative: креативнаenergy: енергијаfaith: вераpath: стазеartistic: уметничкиpassion: занос
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Moonlit Serendipity: Finding Inspiration and Peace at Yiheyuan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-10-04-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 秋天的颐和园,金黄色的树叶在微风中沙沙作响,昆明湖水面波光粼粼,En: In the autumn at Yiheyuan, the golden leaves rustle gently in the breeze, and the surface of Kunming Lake glistens with light.Zh: 偶尔有只小船划过水面,打破了湖面的宁静。En: Occasionally, a small boat glides across, breaking the lake's tranquility.Zh: 中秋节的夜晚,颐和园更是热闹非凡,四周挂满了红灯笼,还有隐约传来的传统音乐声。En: On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yiheyuan becomes even more vibrant, with red lanterns hanging all around and the faint sound of traditional music drifting through the air.Zh: 莲是一个画家,她最近总觉得与自己的作品失去了联系。En: Lian is a painter who recently feels disconnected from her work.Zh: 无论她如何努力,总是找不到灵感。En: No matter how hard she tries, she can't find inspiration.Zh: 这天,她决定去参加颐和园的中秋节活动,希望能在这个美丽的地方找到一丝启发。En: Today, she decides to attend the Yiheyuan Mid-Autumn Festival, hoping to find a spark of inspiration in this beautiful setting.Zh: 明是一位历史学家,他最近经历了一场个人失落,心情沉重。En: Ming is a historian who recently experienced a personal loss, leaving him feeling heavy-hearted.Zh: 今天,他也来到了颐和园,想在这宁静的地方寻求片刻的安宁。En: Today, he too comes to Yiheyuan, hoping to find a moment of peace in this serene place.Zh: 节是他们的共同朋友。En: Jie is their mutual friend.Zh: 在节的建议下,莲和明去颐和园散心。En: On Jie's suggestion, Lian and Ming visit Yiheyuan to relax.Zh: 节原本不过是想让两位朋友心情好一点,但他没想到他们竟然会在中秋节的晚上相遇。En: Jie originally just wanted to lift his friends' spirits a bit, but he did not expect that they would meet on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.Zh: 月亮圆圆地挂在天空,银白的月光洒满大地。En: The moon hangs round in the sky, its silvery light casting over the earth.Zh: 莲坐在湖边的一块大石上,注视着水面发呆。En: Lian sits on a large rock by the lake, gazing into the water in a trance.Zh: 明也独自漫步在优雅的长廊中。En: Ming also walks alone along the elegant corridors.Zh: 他们都不知道,命运很快就会把他们的路径交集。En: They are unaware that fate will soon intertwine their paths.Zh: 当莲和明在灯笼下相遇时,莲先打破了沉默:“你好,我是莲,一个画家。最近我对画画失去了热情。”En: When Lian and Ming meet under the lanterns, Lian breaks the silence first: "Hello, I am Lian, a painter. Recently, I've lost the passion for painting."Zh: 明叹了口气,轻声说道:“我是明,历史学家。最近我经历了一些失去,在找寻平静。”En: Ming sighs softly and says, "I am Ming, a historian. Recently I've gone through some losses, looking for peace."Zh: 在那一刻,他们彼此分享了内心的苦涩和挣扎。En: In that moment, they share with each other their inner bitterness and struggles.Zh: 也许是皎洁的月光,也许是微凉的秋风,让他们愿意向对方敞开心扉。En: Perhaps it was the bright moonlight, or maybe the cool autumn breeze, that made them willing to open their hearts to each other.Zh: 他们在水边坐了很久,聊了很多。En: They sit by the water for a long time, talking about many things.Zh: 莲听了明的故事,感受到了他的痛苦,却也理解他的坚强。En: Lian listens to Ming's story, feels his pain, yet understands his resilience.Zh: 而明则被莲对艺术的渴望所触动,即使在困难时期,她也在努力寻找自己的方向。En: Ming is touched by Lian's yearning for art, even in difficult times, she strives to find her own direction.Zh: 不知不觉中,夜已深,他们却感到心情轻松了许多。En: Unknowingly, the night deepens, yet they feel much lighter at heart.Zh: 随着交谈的深入,莲发现自己心中消失的灵感一点点地回来了。En: As their conversation deepens, Lian finds her lost inspiration gradually returning.Zh: 明也感觉到了久违的宁静和接受。En: Ming also senses a long-lost tranquility and acceptance.Zh: 分别时,莲对明说:“谢谢你,让我重新找到了画画的勇气。”En: As they part, Lian says to Ming, "Thank you for helping me rediscover the courage to paint."Zh: 明微笑着回答:“也谢谢你,让我开始接受过去,面对未来。”En: Ming smiles and replies, "Thank you, too, for helping me begin to accept the past and face the future."Zh: 伴随着灯笼的摇曳,莲和明走出颐和园。En: Accompanied by the swaying lanterns, Lian and Ming walk out of Yiheyuan.Zh: 尽管道路不同,但他们的心灵此刻已感到充实和温暖。En: Although their roads are different, at this moment, their hearts feel full and warm.Zh: 莲带着新生的激情,明找到了内心的平静。En: Lian carries newfound passion, and Ming finds inner peace.Zh: 月光依然洒在湖面,而在这一个秋夜,他们的心灵都得到了治愈。En: The moonlight still shines on the lake, and on this autumn night, their hearts have been healed. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 秋天rustle: 沙沙作响glistens: 波光粼粼tranquility: 宁静vibrant: 热闹非凡lanterns: 灯笼faint: 隐约disconnected: 失去了联系inspiration: 灵感spark: 一丝启发historian: 历史学家heavy-hearted: 心情沉重serene: 宁静intertwine: 交集trance: 发呆corridors: 长廊sighs: 叹了口气struggles: 挣扎bitterness: 苦涩resilience: 坚强yearning: 渴望unwillingly: 不知不觉tranquility: 宁静acceptance: 接受rediscover: 重新找到courage: 勇气swaying: 摇曳passion: 激情inner: 内心healed: 治愈
Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Finding Inspiration: The Magic of Rishikesh's Ghats Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-10-01-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: अर्जुन की आँखों में रौशनी की चमक और कैमरे के वीज़र को पकड़ते हुए वो रिषिकेश के घाटों पर पहुँचा।En: Arjun arrived at Rishikesh's ghats, eyes gleaming with the sparkle of light, gripping the camera's viewfinder.Hi: घाटों पर लोग ही लोग थे।En: The ghats were crowded with people.Hi: चारों ओर भक्ति गीतों की गूंज और घाटों पर जलती हुई धूप की सुगंध हर किसी को मंत्रमुग्ध कर रही थी।En: The echo of devotional songs surrounded them, and the fragrance of burning incense entranced everyone.Hi: नवरात्री का समय था, और गंगा आरती का दृश्य अनोखा था।En: It was Navratri, and the scene of the Ganga Aarti was extraordinary.Hi: अर्जुन, एक युवा फोटोग्राफर, इन पलों को कैमरे में कैद करना चाहता था।En: Arjun, a young photographer, wanted to capture these moments with his camera.Hi: उसे एक ऐसा शॉट चाहिए था जो नवरात्री की असली भावना को दर्शाए।En: He needed a shot that would truly represent the spirit of Navratri.Hi: लेकिन भीड़ के कारण सही जगह मिलना मुश्किल हो रहा था।En: However, due to the crowd, finding the right spot was difficult.Hi: इसी बीच अचानक उसका कैमरा काम करना बंद कर दिया।En: Suddenly, amidst this, his camera stopped working.Hi: अर्जुन परेशान हो उठा, इतनी सुन्दरता थी सामने लेकिन कुछ भी नहीं कर पा रहा था।En: Arjun was troubled; there was such beauty before him, but he could do nothing.Hi: तभी उसकी नज़र प्रिय पर पड़ी।En: That's when he noticed Priya.Hi: प्रिया, जो एक मानवविज्ञान की छात्रा थी, गंगा के किनारे खड़ी रस्मों को ध्यान से देख रही थी।En: Priya, a student of anthropology, was standing by the riverbank attentively observing the rituals.Hi: अर्जुन, हिचकिचाते हुए, प्रिया के पास गया और उससे मदद के लिए पूछा।En: Arjun, hesitating, approached Priya and asked for her help.Hi: प्रिया ने उसकी मदद करते हुए कैमरा ठीक किया और फिर दोनों ने बात करना शुरू किया।En: Priya helped fix his camera and then they began to talk.Hi: प्रिया ने अर्जुन को बताया कि गंगा आरती का क्या महत्व है और नवरात्री के दौरान इसका क्या महत्व है।En: Priya explained to Arjun the significance of the Ganga Aarti and its importance during Navratri.Hi: अर्जुन ने प्रिया की बातें सुनीं और महसूस किया कि उसका कैमरा केवल बाहरी सौंदर्य ही नहीं बल्कि आंतरिक प्रेरणा भी ले सकता है।En: Arjun listened to Priya's words and realized that his camera could capture not only outward beauty but also inner inspiration.Hi: प्रिया की बातें सुनते हुए अर्जुन के भीतर उत्साह की नई लहर दौड़ गई।En: Hearing Priya, a new wave of enthusiasm surged through Arjun.Hi: अर्जुन ने अपने कैमरे को उठाया और उन भावनाओं को कैद करना शुरू किया जो वह प्रिया की बातों से समझ पाता था।En: Arjun picked up his camera and began to capture the emotions he understood from Priya's words.Hi: उसकी तस्वीरें अब कुछ अलग और गहरी बन रही थीं।En: His photos now had a different and deeper quality.Hi: इस प्रक्रिया में उसने एक नयी दोस्त और संभवतः प्रेरणा भी पा ली थी।En: In this process, he found a new friend and possibly a source of inspiration.Hi: समापन पर, अर्जुन और प्रिया ने निर्णय लिया कि वे एक साथ अन्य सांस्कृतिक स्थलों की यात्रा करेंगे।En: At the end, Arjun and Priya decided that they would travel together to other cultural sites.Hi: अर्जुन को यह भी एहसास हुआ कि कभी-कभी सच्ची प्रेरणा मिल बांटने और साझा अनुभवों से प्राप्त होती है।En: Arjun also realized that sometimes true inspiration comes from sharing and shared experiences.Hi: रिषिकेश के घाटों पर उनकी यात्रा एक नई शुरुआत थी।En: Their journey on the ghats of Rishikesh was a new beginning.Hi: वो दोनों अब इस अनुभव को साझा करने के लिए तैयार थे, जिस से उनका रिश्ता और उनकी समझ और गहरी होती जाएगी।En: They were now ready to share this experience, which would deepen their relationship and understanding. Vocabulary Words:gleaming: चमकviewfinder: वीज़रghats: घाटोंdevotional: भक्तिincense: धूपentranced: मंत्रमुग्धextraordinary: अनोखाanthropology: मानवविज्ञानrituals: रस्मोंsignificance: महत्वinspiration: प्रेरणाemotions: भावनाओंobserve: देखनाattentively: ध्यान सेenthusiasm: उत्साहdeeper: गहरीspirit: भावनाfragrance: सुगंधcrowd: भीड़troubled: परेशानpossibly: संभवतःcultural: सांस्कृतिकrepresent: दर्शाएsharing: मिल बांटनेbeginning: शुरुआतrelationship: रिश्ताunderstanding: समझcapture: कैदscene: दृश्यsurged: दौड़ गई
Finding Inspiration in Everyday Wisdom: The Power of Quotes In this uplifting episode of The Better Humans Project podcast, hosts Glenn and Mili Mayhem explore the transformative power of inspirational quotes and how they've influenced their personal journeys. The conversation takes a refreshing turn from previous episodes by focusing on positivity rather than negativity. From ancient wisdom about physical training to modern perspectives on discipline versus motivation, the hosts share quotes that have become guiding principles in their lives. They dive deep into what these words mean beyond their surface value, offering personal interpretations and real-life applications. Timestamps:- 3:45 - "No man has the right to be an amateur in physical training" - The importance of exploring your body's capabilities- 8:30 - Discipline over motivation - Why consistency beats temporary inspiration- 12:15 - "Laziness will kill you" - How cutting corners affects all areas of life- 17:20 - Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard- 23:50 - "Confidence and fear both require you to believe in something that hasn't happened yet"- 31:10 - "The standard you walk past is the standard you accept"- 38:40 - "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall" Key Takeaways:- Small, consistent actions create more lasting results than sporadic bursts of motivation- It's never too late to pursue what you've always wanted to be- The people who judge most harshly are rarely "in the arena" themselves- Creating opportunities requires action, not just dreaming- Surrounding yourself with positivity changes what you find in everyday life Ready for a dose of inspiration that might just change your perspective? Listen now and discover which quotes might become your new guiding principles. Share your favorite quotes in the comments - Glenn and Mili would love to hear what inspires you!THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS www.adventureprofessionals.com.au ONLINE MINDSET PROGRAMS MENTORING 1-ON-1 ADVENTURE WITH USSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into those all-too-familiar reading ruts and writing slumps. In this episode, we explore how to find inspiration again—both on the page and in life. In Segment 1, join me with Neal Shusterman, New York Times bestselling author of over thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, as he shares his strategies for breaking out of creative ruts and staying inspired in writing and life. In Segment 2, our fantastic guest host Amy Allen Clark reveals her personal approach to reading ruts: how she navigates them, embraces them, and ultimately finds joy in getting back into the flow of books. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just someone looking to reignite your spark, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a few laughs along the way. Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel! Check out the full book list for our episode here! Follow the guests & guest hosts: Segment 1: Neal Shusterman – Website | Instagram Segment 2: Amy Allen Clark - Links Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:22 Intro 00:02:00 Segment 1 – Conversation with Neal Shusterman on Writing Slumps 00:59:13 Break 01:01:24 Segment 2 with Amy Allen Clark (About Season 1 of Book Lounge) 01:07:07 Segment 2 – Getting Out of Reading Ruts with Amy Allen Clark 01:45:02 Outro Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today's episode! Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog! We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram! Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fluent Fiction - Korean: Finding Inspiration and Friendship at Insadong's Tea House Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-09-25-07-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 인사동의 어느 가을날, 쌀쌀한 바람이 불었습니다.En: One autumn day in Insadong, a chilly wind was blowing.Ko: 추석을 맞아 곳곳에서는 활기찬 소리가 들렸습니다.En: In celebration of Chuseok, lively sounds could be heard everywhere.Ko: 길가에는 오색빛깔의 단풍잎들이 수놓여 있었습니다.En: The roadside was adorned with multicolored autumn leaves.Ko: 지윤은 어느 멋진 주말, 인사동에 있는 찻집을 찾았습니다.En: Jiyun visited a tea house in Insadong on a wonderful weekend.Ko: 그녀는 새로운 영감을 찾아 헤매는 젊은 화가였습니다.En: She was a young artist searching for new inspiration.Ko: 찻집은 조용한 공간이었습니다.En: The tea house was a quiet space.Ko: 부드러운 조명 아래, 섬세한 종이등이 달려 있었습니다.En: Under soft lighting, delicate paper lanterns were hung.Ko: 다양한 차의 향기가 은은하게 퍼졌습니다.En: The subtle aroma of various teas gently filled the air.Ko: 여기서 차를 마시면 마음이 차분해졌습니다.En: Drinking tea here would calm anyone's mind.Ko: 그 찻집에서 민석이라는 청년이 있었습니다.En: In the tea house, there was a young man named Minseok.Ko: 그는 전통 차 문화를 사랑하는 문화 역사 학생이었습니다.En: He was a cultural history student who loved traditional tea culture.Ko: 추석을 맞아 그는 찻집에서 자원봉사를 했습니다.En: To celebrate Chuseok, he volunteered at the tea house.Ko: 그가 바쁘게 일을 하는 동안 지윤이 조용히 찻집 안으로 들어왔습니다.En: While he was busy working, Jiyun quietly entered.Ko: 지윤은 새로운 것을 시도하는 것이 두려웠습니다.En: Jiyun was afraid of trying new things.Ko: 하지만 그날 따라 그녀는 찻집의 차 시연회를 보고 싶었습니다.En: However, on this day, she wanted to see the tea demonstration at the tea house.Ko: 마침내 그녀는 마음을 다잡고 참석하기로 결심했습니다.En: Finally, she resolved to attend.Ko: 민석은 바쁜 가운데서도 지윤의 진지한 눈빛을 놓치지 않았습니다.En: Even in his busyness, Minseok did not miss the earnest look in her eyes.Ko: 민석은 지윤에게 다가갔습니다.En: Minseok approached Jiyun.Ko: "차 시연회는 잠시 뒤 시끄러울 수도 있어요.En: "The tea demonstration might get a bit noisy soon.Ko: 특별히 이곳을 좀 보여드릴까요?En: Would you like a special tour of this place?"Ko: " 민석은 조심스럽게 제안했습니다.En: Minseok suggested carefully.Ko: 지윤은 머뭇거리다 결국 고개를 끄덕였습니다.En: Jiyun hesitated but eventually nodded.Ko: 둘은 조용한 공간에서 차 한 잔을 나누었습니다.En: The two shared a cup of tea in the quiet space.Ko: 차 한 모금을 마시며 이야기를 나누었습니다.En: They exchanged stories over sips of tea.Ko: 지윤은 자신의 그림에 대한 고민을 털어놓았습니다.En: Jiyun confided her concerns about her paintings.Ko: 민석은 차의 문화에 대해 이야기했습니다.En: Minseok talked about the culture of tea.Ko: 둘은 공통점을 발견하고, 서로 이해하기 시작했습니다.En: They found common ground and began to understand each other.Ko: 대화가 깊어지며 둘은 예술과 차, 전통과 현대에 대해 열띤 토론을 했습니다.En: As their conversation deepened, they passionately discussed art and tea, tradition and modernity.Ko: 그들은 서로의 세계를 잠시 엿볼 수 있었습니다.En: They caught a glimpse into each other's worlds.Ko: 시간이 흐르면서 지윤은 점점 마음의 벽을 허물었습니다.En: As time passed, Jiyun gradually broke down her emotional barriers.Ko: 민석 또한 더 많은 것을 알고 싶은 새로운 친구와의 관계에 마음이 열렸습니다.En: Minseok, too, opened his heart to the relationship with this new friend, eager to learn more.Ko: 추석의 밤이 깊어가고, 찻집이 닫을 시간이 되었습니다.En: As the night of Chuseok deepened, it was closing time for the tea house.Ko: 지윤과 민석은 연락처를 교환했습니다.En: Jiyun and Minseok exchanged contact information.Ko: "다음에는 다른 찻잎으로 차를 만들어볼까요?En: "Shall we try brewing tea with different leaves next time?Ko: 또 만나자고요," 민석이 웃으며 말했습니다.En: Let's meet again," Minseok said with a smile.Ko: 지윤은 행복한 마음으로 그 제안을 받아들였습니다.En: With happiness in her heart, Jiyun accepted the offer.Ko: 인사동의 찻집을 나설 때, 그녀는 그저 단순한 차 한 잔을 넘어서 많은 영감을 얻었습니다.En: As she left the tea house in Insadong, she found more inspiration than just a simple cup of tea.Ko: 민석은 이번 추석이 오래도록 기억에 남을 것이라 생각하며 손님을 배웅했습니다.En: Seeing off the guests, Minseok thought this Chuseok would remain memorable for a long time.Ko: 차가운 바람이 불어오는 인사동 거리에서, 둘은 새로운 시작을 맞이하며 각자의 길을 갔습니다.En: In the cold wind blowing through the streets of Insadong, they each went their separate ways, welcoming a new beginning.Ko: 그 가을의 찻집은 그들에게 특별한 곳이 되었습니다.En: That autumn tea house became a special place for them. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 가을chilly: 쌀쌀한adorned: 수놓다multicolored: 오색빛깔lanterns: 등subtle: 은은하게aroma: 향기demonstration: 시연회hesitated: 머뭇거리다confided: 털어놓다concerns: 고민glimpse: 엿보다emotional: 마음의barriers: 벽exchange: 교환하다inspiration: 영감passionately: 열띤tradition: 전통modernity: 현대volunteered: 자원봉사하다cultural: 문화history: 역사common: 공통ground: 점memorable: 기억에 남다earnest: 진지한resolved: 결심했다suggested: 제안했다tour: 보여드리다silence: 조용한
How do you move from showing your art in group exhibitions to building a loyal circle of collectors who not only buy your work but champion it? In this conversation, we dive deep into the lived experience of an artist who has done exactly that. From humble beginnings in group shows to being invited into exhibitions in New York, Japan, and Europe, our guest shares how community, consistency, and serendipity shaped a career sustained not by social media clicks but by human connection. We explore: Building Collectors: How early supporters became long-term champions who now buy new work before it's public. Real-Life vs. Social Media: Why genuine conversations and showing up in person often outperform online likes. Printing Philosophy: Why Moab Luster paper brings photography to life like a “window into reality.” Archiving & Editing: A practical system in Lightroom to organize decades of work while leaving space for rediscovery. Film Revival: How DSLR scanning revolutionized archiving film—fast, precise, and surprisingly affordable. Creative Tools: From smart collections to Google Earth, the surprising ways digital tools fuel analog creativity. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Accidental Photographer 05:10 From Marine Biology to a High School Darkroom 07:29 Finding a Focus in Skate Photography 14:59 The Evolution of a Creative Eye 17:10 Photography as a Way to Preserve the Present 21:37 A Deep Dive into Landscape and Nature 27:28 The Process: Planning, Gear, and Google Earth 33:41 The Creative Dance of Fatherhood 39:28 Building a Collector Base for Your Art 43:33 The Art of the Archive: Lightroom, Keywords, and DSLR Scanning 52:39 Final Thoughts on a Winding Journey Connect with Darnell: Follow Darnell on Instagram:https://darnell-scott.com/ Darnell's Website: https://www.instagram.com/_darnellscott_/?hl=en Support the Show Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives
In this episode of Getting There I open up about my recent silence, the overwhelm of living online, and the courage it takes to begin before you're “ready.”
In this Masterclass edition of Author's Voice with KAJ, Amy L. Bernstein shares actionable strategies to navigate self-doubt while pursuing creative or professional goals. Learn how to transform uncertainty into motivation, keep moving forward despite fear, and apply practical techniques from her book Wrangling the Doubt Monster. Essential insights for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone ready to push through hesitation and grow with confidence.==========================================
Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Finding Inspiration: A Dance of Art in Madrid's Heart Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-09-17-22-34-02-es Story Transcript:Es: La Plaza Mayor en Madrid estaba llena de vida en aquel día de otoño.En: La Plaza Mayor in Madrid was full of life on that autumn day.Es: El sol brillaba suavemente, iluminando las hojas de color dorado y carmesí que caían de los árboles.En: The sun shone softly, illuminating the golden and crimson leaves falling from the trees.Es: La gente caminaba por la plaza, disfrutando del fresco aire otoñal.En: People walked through the square, enjoying the fresh autumn air.Es: Era el festival de arte local, y las calles vibraban con música, risas y la energía creativa de los artistas que exponían sus obras.En: It was the local art festival, and the streets vibrated with music, laughter, and the creative energy of the artists displaying their works.Es: En medio de todo este bullicio, Lucía, una joven estudiante de arte, deambulaba buscando inspiración.En: Amid all this hustle and bustle, Lucía, a young art student, wandered around looking for inspiration.Es: Su mente estaba hecha un lío; no lograba plasmar en sus lienzos emociones sinceras.En: Her mind was a mess; she was unable to capture sincere emotions on her canvases.Es: Mientras caminaba, su atención fue capturada por un talentoso malabarista que lanzaba fuego al aire con una gracia asombrosa.En: As she walked, her attention was captured by a talented juggler who tossed fire into the air with astonishing grace.Es: A pocos metros de allí, Tomás, un fotógrafo introspectivo, ajustaba su cámara con cuidado.En: A few meters away, Tomás, an introspective photographer, carefully adjusted his camera.Es: Pasaba mucho tiempo buscando el momento perfecto, una imagen que hablara por sí misma.En: He spent a lot of time searching for the perfect moment, an image that would speak for itself.Es: Al igual que Lucía, sentía que su creatividad estaba estancada, y necesitaba encontrar una chispa que despertara su pasión por la fotografía.En: Like Lucía, he felt his creativity was stagnant, and he needed to find a spark to awaken his passion for photography.Es: De pronto, Lucía notó a Tomás y la forma en la que apuntaba su cámara hacia el malabarista.En: Suddenly, Lucía noticed Tomás and the way he was pointing his camera at the juggler.Es: Decidió romper su habitual timidez y se acercó a él.En: She decided to break her usual shyness and approached him.Es: "¿Te gusta capturar la magia de este festival?En: "Do you like capturing the magic of this festival?"Es: ", preguntó con una sonrisa.En: she asked with a smile.Es: Tomás, sorprendido por el interés de Lucía, asintió suavemente y mostró la pantalla de su cámara.En: Tomás, surprised by Lucía's interest, nodded gently and showed his camera's screen.Es: Las imágenes eran impresionantes, cada una capturando la esencia del festival.En: The images were impressive, each capturing the essence of the festival.Es: Lucía estaba fascinada, su mirada iba de las fotos a los ojos de Tomás.En: Lucía was fascinated, her gaze shifting from the photos to Tomás's eyes.Es: "Tienes un don para atrapar momentos", comentó admirada.En: "You have a gift for capturing moments," she commented with admiration.Es: Compartir sus trabajos y sus inquietudes creativas llevó a un diálogo espontáneo entre ellos.En: Sharing their work and creative concerns led to a spontaneous dialogue between them.Es: La timidez inicial se desvaneció, dejando espacio para una conexión genuina.En: The initial shyness faded away, leaving space for a genuine connection.Es: Tomás, animado por las palabras de Lucía, propuso que unieran sus talentos para una pieza de arte en vivo.En: Tomás, encouraged by Lucía's words, proposed that they combine their talents for a live art piece.Es: Entusiastas, comenzaron a trabajar juntos.En: Enthusiastic, they began working together.Es: Lucía pintaba sobre una tela improvisada, mientras Tomás documentaba el proceso con su cámara.En: Lucía painted on an improvised canvas, while Tomás documented the process with his camera.Es: Los curiosos se acercaron, formándose una pequeña multitud alrededor.En: Onlookers gathered, forming a small crowd around them.Es: Se creó una energía palpable entre los dos artistas y el público, alimentando su creatividad.En: A palpable energy was created between the two artists and the audience, fueling their creativity.Es: Al finalizar su proyecto conjunto, el aplauso de la multitud resonó en la plaza.En: As they finished their joint project, the crowd's applause echoed in the square.Es: Lucía sonreía, satisfecha de haber encontrado una nueva fuente de inspiración.En: Lucía smiled, satisfied to have found a new source of inspiration.Es: Tomás también sintió un cambio dentro de él, descubriendo la riqueza de crear en compañía de otro artista.En: Tomás also felt a change within himself, discovering the richness of creating alongside another artist.Es: Cuando el sol comenzó a ocultarse, tiñendo el cielo de naranja y púrpura, Lucía y Tomás descansaron, sintiendo que algo había cambiado.En: As the sun began to set, tinting the sky orange and purple, Lucía and Tomás rested, feeling that something had changed.Es: Habían enfrentado sus bloqueos creativos, y lo habían hecho juntos.En: They had overcome their creative blocks, and they had done it together.Es: Ver la conexión y la creatividad fluida entre ellos les dio confianza para continuar buscando la belleza y la emoción en su arte.En: Seeing the connection and fluid creativity between them gave them confidence to continue seeking beauty and emotion in their art. Vocabulary Words:the hustle and bustle: el bulliciothe festival: el festivalthe square: la plazathe leaves: las hojasthe autumn: el otoñothe juggler: el malabaristathe spark: la chispathe crowd: la multitudthe artist: el artista / la artistathe canvas: el lienzointrospection: la introspecciónthe creativity: la creatividadthe talent: el talentothe inspiration: la inspiraciónthe energy: la energíathe connection: la conexiónthe gaze: la miradathe enthusiasm: el entusiasmothe admiration: la admiraciónthe dialogue: el diálogothe passion: la pasiónthe project: el proyectothe applause: el aplausothe block: el bloqueothe emotion: la emociónthe process: el procesothe richness: la riquezathe sunset: la puesta de solthe autumn air: el aire otoñalthe grace: la gracia
Ever wonder what it really takes to become a celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles?
How can self-doubt become a catalyst for growth instead of a roadblock? On this episode of Late Boomers, Merry and Cathy sit down with Amy L. Bernstein, author of Wrangling the Doubt Monster. Amy opens up about her shift from a high-pressure career to the joy of writing, sharing practical wisdom on managing doubt, facing rejection, and navigating the publishing world. She reveals how small, intentional changes can unlock new possibilities and why embracing vulnerability is essential for personal growth. Tune in to discover how to “change the channel” on self-criticism and lean into your creative passions with courageAmy L. Bernstein's Bio:Amy L. Bernstein is the author, most recently, of Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize. Amy's mystery-thriller, The Potrero Complex, was a 2020 Petrichor Prize Finalist and her paranormal mystery, The Nighthawkers earned a silver medal from BookFest in 2022. Her fifth novel, Seed, will be published by Running Wild Press in 2027. Amy teaches writing and creativity workshops and brings an empowering message to writers and multi-media artists around the world. Her weekly Substack, Doubt Monster, explores the realities of living a creative life. Special Offer:Take this unique survey, the Doubt Decoder, to discover the extent to which doubt affects your everyday life, from family to finances. Your score might surprise you! https://submit.jotform.com/250468635432156Connect with Amy:Website: https://amywrites.liveYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amylbernstein00authorFacebook: https://facebook.com/AmyLBernsteinAuthorInstagram: https://instagram.com/amylbernsteinLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/amylbernsteinThreads: https://www.threads.com/@amylbernsteinThank you for listening. Please check out @lateboomers on Instagram and our website lateboomers.us. If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to watch it or listen to more of our episodes, you will find Late Boomers on your favorite podcast platform and on our new YouTube Late Boomers Podcast Channel. We hope we have inspired you and we look forward to your becoming a member of our Late Boomers family of subscribers.
When you listen to your innermost thoughts, your best work will come out. In today's episode, I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to write a book proposal and get your book purchased in the traditional publishing world. I want to share a preview of where I am in the process, what is required, and some “words of warning” for things that you may encounter along the way; things I didn't anticipate and would have appreciated a heads up on! Connect with Abagail Instagram All the Links! I want to thank my loyal listeners for being part of this space where you can show up fully and share openly. I'd like the Strategy Hour to evolve, so if it's helped you, please share it with someone else who can benefit from this community. Episode Highlights Where I am In My Publishing Journey [0:03:00] What You Need to Know About Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal [0:05:46] Writing on Demand and Finding Inspiration [0:16:38] Letting Your Work ‘Live', Grow, and Evolve [0:26:10] Special Thanks to Our Advertiser FreshBooks Thank you for listening! Please subscribe, rate, and review The Strategy Hour Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. For show notes, go to thestrategyhour.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us a textIn this powerful episode of Quilting on the Side, Tori and Andi welcome back their favorite coach for quilters, Dara Tomasson, for a timely conversation about mindset, controversy, and emotional resilience in business. Together, they explore how to navigate emotionally charged situations, set healthy boundaries, and separate self-worth from business outcomes - especially in today's divided social and economic climate (in the US at least!). Dara shares why reaching a neutral emotional state leads to clearer decision-making, and how curiosity and inspiration in everyday life can fuel both personal and professional growth. This episode is especially relevant for quilt pattern designers, teachers, and longarm quilters navigating challenges like tariffs, scarcity mindset, and conflicting beliefs while growing a sustainable business. Chapters00:00 The Importance of Mindset in Business04:09 Reaching a Neutral State for Better Decisions06:35 Separating Self-Worth from Business Outcomes11:47 Navigating Emotional Challenges in Business18:14 Establishing Boundaries in a Divided Society26:56 Having Difficult Conversations31:42 Understanding Mental Health in Business34:44 Finding Inspiration in Everyday LifeConnect with Dara Tomasson:On Instagram On her website: https://daratomasson.com/Sign up for her free Webinar: How To Work With Your Hormones Instead of Against Them September 17th @ 12pm Pacific Time CLICK HEREWant to Support the Podcast and Unlock Exclusive Perks and Content?Join our Quilting on the Side Patreon community! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your quilting journey. Plus, your support helps keep the podcast thriving! Click here to join.Want More Quilting Content?
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Finding Inspiration: Mei's Journey in the Heart of Beijing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-09-06-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的秋天,奥林匹克森林公园是一幅美丽的图画。En: In the autumn of Beijing, the Olympic Forest Park is like a beautiful painting.Zh: 树叶已变金黄,空气中流淌着桂花的香气。En: The leaves have turned golden, and the scent of osmanthus floats in the air.Zh: 这里是个适合沉思和放松的地方,尤其是在中秋节期间。En: This is a perfect place for contemplation and relaxation, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival.Zh: 这天早晨,阳光透过树叶,洒在一群正在练太极的人身上。En: On this morning, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting its glow on a group practicing tai chi.Zh: 梅站在一旁,慢慢被这种宁静的气氛吸引。En: Mei stood aside, gradually drawn in by the peaceful atmosphere.Zh: 她是一位艺术家,最近正为创作苦恼。En: She is an artist, recently troubled by the creative process.Zh: 她无法找到新的灵感,内心充满了自我怀疑。En: She couldn't find new inspiration, and her heart was filled with self-doubt.Zh: 她的好朋友志建议她来这里散心,解开心结。En: Her good friend Zhi suggested she come here to clear her mind and untangle her thoughts.Zh: 志说,“你可以试试太极,它能帮助你找到内心的平静。En: Zhi said, "You can try tai chi; it can help you find inner peace."Zh: ”于是,梅鼓起勇气来到了这里。En: With encouragement, Mei gathered her courage and came here.Zh: 初次参加太极课,梅显得有些拘谨。En: Participating in a tai chi class for the first time, Mei seemed somewhat reserved.Zh: 但教练梁的热情和活力很快感染了她。En: But Coach Liang's enthusiasm and energy quickly infected her.Zh: 梁是一位健身教练,他鼓励学生们全身心投入这项运动。En: Liang is a fitness instructor who encourages his students to fully immerse themselves in the activity.Zh: 梅认真地跟随梁的指导,渐渐放松下来。En: Mei followed Liang's guidance attentively, gradually relaxing.Zh: 课后,梁走向梅,开始跟她聊天。En: After the class, Liang approached Mei and started a conversation.Zh: “你看起来进步很快,”他微笑着说。En: "You seem to be improving quickly," he said with a smile.Zh: 梅略显腼腆地回答:“谢谢,我其实是第一次来。En: Mei, slightly shy, replied, "Thank you, it's actually my first time here."Zh: ”梁的友善让梅觉得很温暖。En: Liang's friendliness made Mei feel very warm.Zh: 两人坐在公园的长椅上,望着不远处的银杏树,继续交谈。En: They sat on a park bench, looking at the ginkgo trees not far away, continuing their conversation.Zh: 梅谈起了自己的艺术项目,以及她的困惑。En: Mei talked about her art projects and her confusion.Zh: 梁则分享了他对运动的热爱和生活的哲学。En: Liang shared his love for exercise and his philosophy on life.Zh: 随着谈话的深入,梅发现梁的话竟然给了她启发。En: As the conversation deepened, Mei found that Liang's words actually inspired her.Zh: 梅意识到,艺术和太极其实有相似之处,都需要心无旁骛的专注和对自然的感悟。En: Mei realized that art and tai chi have similarities; both require undistracted focus and an understanding of nature.Zh: 她忽然感到一种久违的灵感在心中涌动。En: She suddenly felt a long-lost inspiration stirring within her.Zh: “希望下次还能和你一起练,”梅认真地对梁说。En: "I hope to practice with you again next time," Mei said earnestly to Liang.Zh: 梁点点头,“当然,我也非常期待。En: Liang nodded, "Of course, I look forward to it as well."Zh: ”他们相约在下次课后,一起探索太极和艺术的更多可能性。En: They agreed to explore more possibilities of tai chi and art together after the next class.Zh: 梅的内心重燃起希望和热情。En: Mei's heart reignited with hope and passion.Zh: 她明白,自己需要更开放地去接受生活中的每一个瞬间和体验。En: She understood that she needed to be more open to every moment and experience in life.Zh: 当天晚上,梅凝望着窗外明亮的圆月,心中满是感激。En: That night, Mei gazed at the bright full moon outside the window, her heart filled with gratitude.Zh: 她开始为新的艺术项目构思,并决定用画笔记录下这个美好的季节以及新的友情。En: She began to conceive a new art project and decided to capture this beautiful season and new friendship with her brush.Zh: 在这一刻,梅终于重新找到了那令人振奋的创作的冲动。En: At this moment, Mei finally rediscovered that exhilarating drive to create. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 秋天scent: 香气contemplation: 沉思filter: 透过casting: 洒在peaceful: 宁静troubled: 苦恼inspiration: 灵感untangle: 解开encouragement: 鼓励courage: 勇气reserved: 拘谨enthusiasm: 热情infected: 感染improving: 进步shy: 腼腆friendliness: 友善ginkgo: 银杏confusion: 困惑philosophy: 哲学similarities: 相似之处undistracted: 心无旁骛focus: 专注earnestly: 认真地possibilities: 可能性exhilarating: 令人振奋的gratitude: 感激capture: 记录rediscovered: 重新找到drive: 冲动
Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Finding Inspiration Amidst Ganesh Chaturthi Revelry Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-09-06-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: मुंबई का गेटवे ऑफ इंडिया एक भव्य दृश्य प्रस्तुत कर रहा था।En: Mumbai का Gateway of India a magnificent sight presented.Hi: भारी बारिश के बाद उसकी पत्थर की दीवारें चमक उठी थीं।En: After heavy rain, its stone walls had started to shine.Hi: आसमान में बादल छाए हुए थे।En: Clouds filled the sky.Hi: चारों ओर उमड़ती भीड़ के साथ रंग-बिरंगे छाते एक सुंदर चित्र बना रहे थे।En: With crowds bustling all around, the colorful umbrellas were creating a beautiful picture.Hi: डोल, नगाड़े और समुद्र की लहरें वातावरण में संगीतमय ताल मिलाते हुए गूंज रही थीं।En: The sound of dhol, drums, and the waves of the sea were echoing in a rhythmic melody in the environment.Hi: अरुण और मीरा भी इसी भीड़ का हिस्सा थे।En: Arun and Meera were also part of this crowd.Hi: गेटवे ऑफ इंडिया, गणेश चतुर्थी परेड की भव्यता के लिए एक प्रमुख स्थान बन चुका था।En: The Gateway of India had become a major location for the grandeur of the Ganesh Chaturthi parade.Hi: अरुण, एक जुनियर आर्किटेक्ट, बड़ा प्रोजेक्ट संभाल रहा था, लेकिन इस भीड़भाड़ और उत्सव में आकर उसने अपने दिमाग को तरोताजा करने का सोचा।En: Arun, a junior architect, was managing a big project, but amidst this hustle and festivity, he thought of refreshing his mind.Hi: दूसरी ओर, मीरा एक सांस्कृतिक ब्लॉग चलाती थी और अपनी नई किताब के लिए असली अनुभव जुटाना चाहती थी।En: On the other hand, Meera ran a cultural blog and wanted to gather real experiences for her new book.Hi: अरुण के मन में काम का तनाव था।En: Arun had stress about work.Hi: वह अपने बॉस को प्रभावित करना चाहता था।En: He wanted to impress his boss.Hi: वहीं, मीरा इस सोच में थी कि कैसे इस त्योहार की सच्ची भावना को बिना किसी बाधा के कैमरे में कैद किया जाए।En: Meanwhile, Meera was wondering how to capture the true essence of the festival on camera without any hindrance.Hi: लेकिन भीड़ में चलते-फिरते अरुण ने सोचा कि उसे काम से थोड़े समय के लिए छुट्टी लेनी चाहिए।En: But walking through the crowd, Arun thought he should take a break from work for a while.Hi: शायद इस रंगीन मेले में उसे नई प्रेरणा मिल सके।En: Maybe in this colorful fair, he might find new inspiration.Hi: मीरा ने भी तय किया कि कैमरा कुछ देर के लिए किनारे रखकर वह खुद उत्सव का आनंद लेगी।En: Meera also decided to put the camera aside for a while and enjoy the festivities herself.Hi: उसे अहसास हुआ कि सच्चे अनुभव का कोई मुकाबला नहीं है।En: She realized that nothing compares to real experiences.Hi: जैसे-जैसे परेड आगे बढ़ी, अरुण को अचानक अपने प्रोजेक्ट के लिए एक शानदार विचार आया।En: As the parade progressed, Arun suddenly got a brilliant idea for his project.Hi: वह तेजी से अपनी नोटबुक निकालकर विचारों को लिखने लगा।En: He quickly took out his notebook and began to jot down his thoughts.Hi: उसकी आंखों की चमक और मुस्कान को मीरा ने गौर से देखा।En: Meera noticed the sparkle in his eyes and his smile.Hi: वहीं, अचानक एक कुम्हार मीरा के पास आया।En: At the same time, a potter approached Meera.Hi: उसकी बातें सुनकर मीरा का दिल भर आया।En: Listening to him moved her deeply.Hi: उसकी कहानियों ने मीरा के मन में गहरे प्रभाव छोड़े।En: His stories left a profound impact on her mind.Hi: इस अनुभव के बाद, अरुण ने पाया कि वह व्यक्तिगत जीवन और कामकाजी जिम्मेदारियों के बीच संतुलन बना सकता है।En: After this experience, Arun discovered that he could balance personal life and work responsibilities.Hi: वहीं मीरा ने भी जाना कि कभी-कभी कैमरे से परे देखने में ही सच्ची कहानी छुपी होती है।En: Meera also realized that sometimes, the true story lies beyond the camera lens.Hi: उसने अपने ब्लॉग पर एक पोस्ट लिखी, जिसमें उसने गणेश चतुर्थी की मानवता और रंगत का वर्णन किया, बिना किसी तस्वीर के।En: She wrote a post on her blog, describing the humanity and vibrancy of Ganesh Chaturthi without any pictures.Hi: उनका दिन गेटवे ऑफ इंडिया पर एक नई शुरुआत की तरह ही खत्म हुआ।En: Their day at the Gateway of India ended like a new beginning.Hi: अरुण की कलात्मक स्वतंत्रता ने नयी ऊंचाई हासिल की और मीरा को पता चला कि सच्चे भावनात्मक अनुभवों की दृष्टि ही सबसे मूल्यवान अनुभव होता है।En: Arun's artistic freedom reached new heights, and Meera found that seeing true emotional experiences is the most valuable experience of all. Vocabulary Words:magnificent: भव्यbustling: उमड़तीumbrella: छातेrhythmic: संगीतमयechoing: गूंज रहीgrandeur: भव्यताjunior architect: जुनियर आर्किटेक्टhustle: भीड़भाड़festivity: उत्सवrefreshing: तरोताजाessence: सच्ची भावनाhindrance: बाधाinspiration: प्रेरणाsparkle: चमकjot down: लिखनेprofound: गहराartistic freedom: कलात्मक स्वतंत्रताbalancing: संतुलनresponsibilities: जिम्मेदारियोंcapture: कैदparade: परेडnotebook: नोटबुकpotter: कुम्हारvibrancy: रंगतhumanity: मानवताemotional: भावनात्मकvaluable: मूल्यवानgather: जुटानाimpress: प्रभावितnew heights: नयी ऊंचाई
Nonprofit leadership isn't just about managing resources — it's about vision, resilience, and the bold action it takes to solve the toughest challenges in our communities. Dr. Dawn Belamarich, CEO of Collaboratory, is leading a bold mission to solve Southwest Florida's biggest social challenges by 2040. With roots as a therapist and the discipline of a business leader, Dawn shares how she blends compassion with strategy to drive impact. From data-driven initiatives to scholarships that change lives forever, her leadership lessons resonate with nonprofit executives, Board members, and emerging leaders alike. You'll learn: Why every nonprofit must be run like a business to sustain its mission How optimism became Dawn's leadership superpower—and why it matters The power of scholarships and community funding to change lives Straight talk for Board members and CEOs navigating tough times Why knowing your “why” is essential for every nonprofit professional If you're ready for practical wisdom, candid insights, and real inspiration to lead with courage, this episode is for you. Prefer video? Watch the full episode on YouTube, https://youtu.be/9IXlGHn0eQY. Standout Quotes “A nonprofit is a business. If there's no money, there's no mission.” — [18:03] “It's the game changer of game changers when you see a life transformed by a scholarship.” — [15:43] “Know your why. Write it on your mirror, remind yourself every day, because many things will try to take you off course.” — [40:12] Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Collaboratory's Bold 2040 Mission 01:05 – From Therapist to Nonprofit CEO: An Unexpected Journey 07:15 – Finding Inspiration in People, Innovation, and Optimism 13:42 – Scholarships & Success Stories That Change Lives 18:03 – Running Nonprofits Like a Business 21:39 – Navigating Funding Challenges with Collaboration 24:21 – Straight Talk for Board Members and Nonprofit CEOs 29:47 – Failures, Lessons, and Surprising Leadership Insights 38:12 – Final Advice for Nonprofit Leaders: Know Your Why Guest Bio Dr. Dawn Belamarich is President & CEO of Collaboratory, Southwest Florida's regional community foundation with a bold mission to solve the area's biggest social challenges by 2040. A licensed mental health therapist with a doctorate in business and leadership, Dawn brings a unique blend of compassion and strategy to her work. Before joining Collaboratory, she held senior leadership roles at Recovery Centers of America, where she led clinical and operational excellence for a national addiction treatment provider. Her career spans both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, giving her a distinctive perspective on driving impact with business discipline. Dawn also serves on the Board of the ARCHway Institute, a national organization providing education and resources for those impacted by addiction. Originally from New Jersey, she now calls Cape Coral, Florida home, where she enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family, and life with her husband Dave and their...
A new segment: Grotbusters!Meat of it: InspirationNews Update: Eldar Warhammer + model
Send us a textIn this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori chat with Jennifer Long of Sew a Story about her journey from a hobbyist quilter to a successful fabric designer and membership founder. Jennifer shares her early experiences with quilting, how she transitioned her passion into a business, and the challenges she faced along the way, including a significant rejection that ultimately led to her growth as a designer. The conversation delves into the importance of crafting connections with children through sewing, the intricate process of fabric design, and the balance between creativity and business. Jennifer emphasizes the value of community and connection in her work, and she shares exciting new projects aimed at fostering creativity in families.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Quilting and Crafting Journey01:53 Transitioning from Hobby to Business05:35 Overcoming Rejection in Fabric Design10:14 Current Business Ventures and Future Plans19:23 The Importance of Crafting Connections23:37 The Fabric Design Process Explained32:13 Balancing Creativity and Business Tasks38:38 The Circle of Security and Personal Growth41:08 Prioritizing Opportunities and Energy Management47:09 Finding Inspiration in Art and Storytelling51:55 Connecting with the Community and Future PlansConnect with Jennifer Long:Website: SewaStory.comInstagram: @sewastory_jenniferlongFacebook: Sew a StoryFacebook Group: Sew a StoryYouTube: Sew a StoryPattern Club MembershipModern Rag Doll MembershipWant to Support the Podcast and Unlock Exclusive Perks and Content?Join our Quilting on the Side Patreon community! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your quilting journey. Plus, your support helps keep the podcast thriving! Click here to join.Want More Quilting Content?
Fluent Fiction - French: Finding Inspiration: A Montmartre Café Reunion Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-08-25-22-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Les rayons du soleil illuminaient le petit café à Montmartre.En: The sun's rays illuminated the little café in Montmartre.Fr: Ce matin-là, Élodie, une écrivaine à la recherche d'inspiration, s'assit à une table près de la fenêtre.En: That morning, Élodie, a writer in search of inspiration, sat at a table near the window.Fr: Elle observait les passants, espérant que quelque chose éveillerait sa créativité.En: She watched the passersby, hoping that something would awaken her creativity.Fr: Le café embaumait le croissant chaud et le café fraîchement moulu.En: The café smelled of warm croissants and freshly ground coffee.Fr: Les rires et bavardages des clients créaient une ambiance chaleureuse.En: The laughter and chatter of the customers created a warm atmosphere.Fr: Élodie se sentait perdue.En: Élodie felt lost.Fr: Elle avait l'impression d'être coincée, incapable de trouver une idée pour son prochain texte.En: She had the impression of being stuck, unable to find an idea for her next piece.Fr: Perdue dans ses pensées, elle ne remarqua pas immédiatement l'arrivée de Mathieu.En: Lost in her thoughts, she didn't immediately notice the arrival of Mathieu.Fr: Celui-ci, un musicien tout juste rentré de voyage, à travers le monde, eut un sourire nostalgique en voyant Élodie.En: He, a musician just returned from traveling around the world, had a nostalgic smile upon seeing Élodie.Fr: « Élodie !En: "Élodie!"Fr: » appela-t-il, avec enthousiasme.En: he called enthusiastically.Fr: Étonnée, elle leva les yeux.En: Surprised, she looked up.Fr: « Mathieu ?En: "Mathieu?"Fr: » répondit-elle, surprise mais contente de voir un visage familier.En: she replied, surprised but glad to see a familiar face.Fr: Ils s'embrassèrent chaleureusement.En: They embraced warmly.Fr: Très vite, leurs échanges furent interrompus par l'entrée de Julien, un élève des Beaux-Arts passionné par les projets spontanés.En: Very quickly, their exchanges were interrupted by the entrance of Julien, a student from the Beaux-Arts passionate about spontaneous projects.Fr: Avec son éternelle bonne humeur, il s'installa à leur table.En: With his eternal good humor, he settled at their table.Fr: « Quelle bonne surprise !En: "What a nice surprise!"Fr: » dit Julien.En: said Julien.Fr: « Qu'est-ce qui vous amène ici ?En: "What brings you here?"Fr: » « Je cherche l'inspiration, » avoua Élodie, un peu gênée.En: "I'm looking for inspiration," admitted Élodie, a bit embarrassed.Fr: « Mais rien ne vient.En: "But nothing comes."Fr: » Mathieu, voyant l'agitation d'Élodie, proposa : « Et si on parlait de nos aventures ?En: Noticing Élodie's agitation, Mathieu suggested, "What if we talked about our adventures?Fr: Cela pourrait t'aider peut-être.En: That might help you."Fr: » Ils partagèrent alors leurs histoires.En: They then shared their stories.Fr: Mathieu raconta ses voyages en Asie, les musiques qu'il avait découvertes.En: Mathieu recounted his travels in Asia, the music he had discovered.Fr: Julien expliqua ses derniers projets artistiques, tous spontanés et remplis de couleurs.En: Julien explained his latest artistic projects, all spontaneous and full of colors.Fr: Les yeux d'Élodie s'illuminèrent peu à peu, capturant des fragments d'idées à chaque récit.En: The eyes of Élodie gradually lit up, capturing fragments of ideas with each story.Fr: La conversation devint passionnante.En: The conversation became exciting.Fr: Élodie, d'abord silencieuse, commença à poser des questions, à rire, à rêver.En: Élodie, initially silent, began to ask questions, to laugh, to dream.Fr: Un torrent d'idées l'assaillit soudain.En: A torrent of ideas suddenly assailed her.Fr: Elle vit une nouvelle direction pour son travail.En: She saw a new direction for her work.Fr: L'aventure, la musique et l'art, tout se mélangeait en elle pour créer un feu d'artifice d'inspiration.En: Adventure, music, and art, all mixed within her to create a firework of inspiration.Fr: « J'ai trouvé !En: "I found it!"Fr: » s'exclama-t-elle tout à coup, interrompant Mathieu en plein récit.En: she suddenly exclaimed, interrupting Mathieu mid-story.Fr: « Je sais ce que je vais écrire maintenant.En: "I know what I'm going to write now.Fr: Merci à vous deux !En: Thank you both!"Fr: » Mathieu et Julien échangèrent un regard complice, satisfaits de voir leur amie sourire avec espoir.En: Mathieu and Julien exchanged a knowing look, pleased to see their friend smiling with hope.Fr: Élodie quitta le café ce jour-là, le cœur léger, le carnet plein de notes et l'esprit en ébullition.En: Élodie left the café that day, her heart light, her notebook full of notes, and her mind buzzing.Fr: Elle avait retrouvé sa confiance en elle et son désir de réaliser son rêve d'écriture.En: She had regained her confidence and her desire to pursue her writing dream.Fr: La rencontre fortuite avec Mathieu et Julien lui avait offert plus qu'un simple après-midi de discussions ; elle leur était reconnaissante d'avoir ravivé en elle la flamme de la créativité.En: The chance encounter with Mathieu and Julien had offered her more than just an afternoon of discussions; she was grateful to them for reigniting the flame of creativity within her.Fr: Elle était prête à s'ouvrir au monde et à y puiser des histoires nouvelles.En: She was ready to open up to the world and draw new stories from it.Fr: Sous le ciel bleu de Montmartre, Élodie marchait, convaincue qu'elle n'oublierait jamais ce jour d'été où tout avait changé.En: Under the blue Montmartre sky, Élodie walked, convinced that she would never forget that summer day when everything changed. Vocabulary Words:the ray: le rayonthe writer: l'écrivainethe passerby: le passantto awaken: éveillerthe croissant: le croissantthe chatter: le bavardagewarm: chaudthe atmosphere: l'ambianceto be stuck: être coincéthe piece: le textelost: perduthe musician: le musiciennostalgic: nostalgiqueto embrace: s'embrasserthe student: l'élèvespontaneous: spontanégood humor: la bonne humeurto settle: s'installerto admit: avoueragitation: l'agitationto propose: proposerto recount: raconterto capture: capturerfragment: le fragmentto assail: assaillirdirection: la directionfirework: le feu d'artificeto exclaim: s'exclamerto exchange: échangerthe look: le regard
The Awake Space Podcast is 100% listener supported! For as little as $5 a month you can help keep The Awake Space ad and sponsor free! Join the community HERES5 Ep 34 of The Awake Space Podcast covers the important skills and perceptions needed to navigate this time of massive system change. In this episode your host, Laurie Rivers covers the astrology of the French Resistance of WW2 and the Stalin Pact that happened in 1939, highlighting the importance of holding consciousness steady in order to navigate current world turbulence. Laurie talks about the Virgo New Moon and what you can do to prepare for the energy as we head into the New Moon sandwich (black moon) with two new moons in Virgo August 22 and September 21st 2025.As always huge shoutouts to all supporting patrons for keeping the podcast ad free and sponsor free. Listeners can join to support the podcast at Patreon.com/theawakespaceFor more about the French Resistance you can go to US Library of Congress https://guides.loc.gov/french-resistance-world-war-twoSign Up for How To Make Sense Of Your Astrology Chart here: https://www.wokeastrology.com/event-details/how-to-make-sense-of-your-astrology-chart-so-you-get-what-lauries-talking-about Only $15 August 29, 2025Chapters00:00 Navigating Energetic Shifts02:51 Understanding Collective Unconsciousness05:11 The Importance of Regulating Your Nervous System05:49 Navigating Emotional Contagion10:34 The Importance of Silence and Observation15:36 Lessons from History: The French Resistance20:19 Understanding Personal Value and Resilience25:59 Virgo Season and New Moon Insights36:44 Setting Intentions and Inventory Taking38:10 Patron Shout Outs42:37 Revolution vs. Resistance: A Historical Perspective45:19 The Power of Subtle Acts of Resistance48:53 Understanding the Current Political Climate51:28 Astrological Insights and Historical Parallels01:02:02 Geopolitical Dynamics and Historical Context01:04:30 Finding Inspiration in History01:05:42 Celebrating Growth and Community01:08:32 Astrology Classes and Predictions
Fluent Fiction - Japanese: A Rainy Day's Muse: Finding Inspiration in the Tokyo Museum Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-08-09-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 夏のある日、東京国立博物館はいつもより賑わっていました。En: On a summer day, the Tokyo National Museum was busier than usual.Ja: 特別な展示があり、多くの人が訪れていました。En: There was a special exhibition, attracting a large number of visitors.Ja: しかし、外は突然の雨嵐。出られなくなった訪問者たちで、館内はさらに混雑していました。En: However, outside, a sudden rainstorm made it impossible to leave, and the inside became even more crowded with stranded visitors.Ja: 雨の音がガラスの天井を叩く中、若い美術学生のユキは一つの絵画の前で立ち止まっていました。En: As the sound of rain pounded on the glass ceiling, a young art student named Yuki stopped in front of a painting.Ja: 心の奥には自分の能力への不安があり、周りの評判を気にしていました。En: Deep inside, she was anxious about her own abilities and concerned about others' opinions.Ja: 彼女は絵画からインスピレーションを得ようとしていましたが、雑踏の中で集中できずにいました。En: She was trying to draw inspiration from the painting but couldn't focus amidst the hustle and bustle.Ja: 「こんにちは、ユキさん。」突然の声がユキの注意を引きました。En: "Hello, Yuki." A sudden voice drew Yuki's attention.Ja: 博物館のガイドであるヒロシです。En: It was Hiroshi, a museum guide.Ja: 彼は明るく自信にあふれているように見えましたが、自分自身の芸術家としての道に悩んでいました。En: He seemed bright and full of confidence, but he was also struggling with his own path as an artist.Ja: 「この絵、素晴らしいですね。何か感じますか?」En: "This painting is wonderful, isn't it? Do you feel anything?"Ja: ユキは少し戸惑いながら、「はい、でもよくわからなくて...。」と答えました。En: Yuki, a bit perplexed, replied, "Yes, but I'm not really sure..."Ja: そのとき、ヒロシの隣にいたアキコという年配の女性が微笑みました。En: At that moment, an elderly woman named Akiko, who was standing next to Hiroshi, smiled.Ja: 「若い頃、この絵を見て、私は決断しました。En: "When I was young, I saw this painting and made my decision.Ja: 大事なのは自分を信じることです。」En: The important thing is to believe in yourself."Ja: アキコは日本の過去を懐かしみながら、その絵に故郷の思い出を重ねていました。En: Akiko reminisced about Japan's past, layering her hometown memories over the painting.Ja: 彼女は昔、こうした絵に触発され、自分の人生を選んできたと言います。En: She said that she had been inspired by such paintings and had chosen her life path.Ja: ヒロシも、自分の中の葛藤と夢の話を始めました。En: Hiroshi also began to talk about his own struggles and dreams.Ja: 三人の会話が続く中、ユキは新しい視点を得ていました。En: As the conversation among the three continued, Yuki gained a new perspective.Ja: 結局、芸術は他人の評価ではなく、自分の思いを表現する手段であると気付きました。En: She realized that art is not about others' evaluations but a means to express one's own feelings.Ja: そのとき、ユキは古い絵の中の幽玄な美しさに心を奪われました。En: At that moment, she was captivated by the profound beauty within the old painting.Ja: 瞬間、彼女は自分の限界を超える力を感じました。En: In an instant, she felt a power that surpassed her limits.Ja: 雨が止み、館内は少し静かになりました。En: The rain stopped, and the museum became slightly quieter.Ja: ユキは深呼吸をして、「ありがとう。En: Yuki took a deep breath and said to the two, "Thank you.Ja: 私はもっと自分を信じます。」と二人に伝えました。En: I will trust myself more."Ja: 彼女はもう一度絵を見て、自分のアートに伝統と個性を融合させたいという新しい決意を固めました。En: She looked at the painting again, firming her new resolve to fuse tradition and individuality in her art.Ja: 雨が止んだ外の世界に向かう三人。En: The three headed out into the world where the rain had stopped.Ja: ユキの足取りは軽く、新しいインスピレーションに満ちていました。En: Yuki walked lightly, filled with new inspiration.Ja: ヒロシもアキコも、彼女の背中を見送りながらそれぞれの道を歩み始めました。En: Both Hiroshi and Akiko watched her back and began to walk their own paths.Ja: それぞれが心に新たな光を得て、次の一歩を踏み出します…En: Each had found a new light in their hearts and took the next step forward... Vocabulary Words:exhibition: 展示rainstorm: 雨嵐stranded: 出られなくなったanxious: 不安hustle and bustle: 雑踏perplexed: 戸惑いながらelderly: 年配reminisced: 懐かしみながらlayering: 重ねていましたprofound: 幽玄なcaptivated: 心を奪われましたresolve: 決意inspiration: インスピレーションevaluate: 評価confidence: 自信perspective: 視点tradition: 伝統fuse: 融合させるindividually: 個性art student: 美術学生museum guide: 博物館のガイドtook a deep breath: 深呼吸をしてfull of confidence: 自信にあふれているopinions: 評判ability: 能力drawing: 描くexpress: 表現するlimits: 限界memories: 思い出decision: 決断
Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Finding Inspiration: A Night Above Buenos Aires Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-08-08-22-34-02-es Story Transcript:Es: El viento frío soplaba fuerte en la ciudad de Buenos Aires.En: The cold wind blew strongly in the city of Buenos Aires.Es: Era invierno y las calles estaban llenas de gente con abrigos gruesos y bufandas.En: It was winter, and the streets were filled with people wearing thick coats and scarves.Es: Ismael y Luciana caminaban juntos, siguiendo los pasos de miles de turistas hacia el famoso rascacielos.En: Ismael and Luciana walked together, following the steps of thousands of tourists towards the famous skyscraper.Es: Era una tarde perfecta para apreciar la ciudad desde lo alto.En: It was a perfect afternoon to appreciate the city from above.Es: Ismael, un periodista que buscaba una pausa del estrés de la oficina, sonreía ligeramente mientras pensaba en la sorpresa que había preparado para Luciana.En: Ismael, a journalist seeking a break from the stress of the office, smiled slightly as he thought about the surprise he had planned for Luciana.Es: Luciana, a su lado, miraba el suelo, perdida en sus pensamientos.En: Luciana, by his side, looked at the ground, lost in her thoughts.Es: Era una artista y últimamente había estado luchando con un bloqueo creativo.En: She was an artist and had been struggling with creative block lately.Es: Finalmente, después de unos minutos de espera, llegaron al ascensor que los llevaría a la cima del rascacielos.En: Finally, after a few minutes of waiting, they reached the elevator that would take them to the top of the skyscraper.Es: Ismael sabía cuánto le costaba a Luciana confiar en su propio talento, pero también sabía que ella tenía la capacidad de ver belleza donde otros no.En: Ismael knew how much it took for Luciana to trust in her own talent, but he also knew she had the ability to see beauty where others did not.Es: Este viaje era más que unas simples vacaciones; él quería que Luciana encontrara la inspiración perdida.En: This trip was more than just a simple vacation; he wanted Luciana to find her lost inspiration.Es: La puerta del ascensor se abrió y el aire frío de la plataforma de observación los envolvió.En: The elevator doors opened, and the cold air of the observation deck surrounded them.Es: El horizonte de Buenos Aires se extendía vasto y majestuoso ante sus ojos.En: The horizon of Buenos Aires stretched vast and majestic before their eyes.Es: A lo lejos, el río de La Plata brillaba bajo la luz tenue de la tarde que empezaba a caer.En: In the distance, the Río de La Plata glimmered under the dim light of the afternoon that was beginning to fall.Es: Luciana miró alrededor, respiró profundamente y cerró los ojos por un momento.En: Luciana looked around, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes for a moment.Es: Abrió su cuaderno de bocetos, pero las páginas seguían en blanco.En: She opened her sketchbook, but the pages remained blank.Es: Ismael observó la frustración en su rostro.En: Ismael noticed the frustration on her face.Es: Pero entonces, algo cambió.En: But then, something changed.Es: Las primeras luces de la ciudad comenzaron a encenderse, pequeñas estrellas en un cielo urbano.En: The first lights of the city began to turn on, small stars in an urban sky.Es: Luciana abrió los ojos y en su mirada brilló una chispa de entusiasmo.En: Luciana opened her eyes, and a spark of excitement shone in her gaze.Es: El paisaje transformado por las luces era como una pintura esperando ser creada.En: The landscape transformed by the lights was like a painting waiting to be created.Es: Con determinación, Luciana comenzó a dibujar.En: With determination, Luciana began to draw.Es: Ismael, a su lado, la miró trabajar.En: Ismael, by her side, watched her work.Es: Sabía que había cumplido su cometido.En: He knew he had achieved his goal.Es: Ver cómo las líneas y formas surgían con vida en las páginas era un alivio para él.En: Seeing how lines and shapes came to life on the pages was a relief to him.Es: Luciana estaba encontrando su alegría creativa otra vez.En: Luciana was finding her creative joy again.Es: Mientras la noche envolvía la ciudad, Luciana sonrió satisfecha por primera vez en mucho tiempo.En: As the night enveloped the city, Luciana smiled with satisfaction for the first time in a long time.Es: Ismael sintió una paz que no había experimentado durante meses.En: Ismael felt a peace he had not experienced in months.Es: Comprendió que las pequeñas acciones pueden tener un gran impacto en los que amamos.En: He understood that small actions can have a great impact on those we love.Es: La ciudad a sus pies seguía vibrante, iluminada por miles de luces.En: The city below them remained vibrant, illuminated by thousands of lights.Es: Y en esa plataforma de observación, altos sobre Buenos Aires, Ismael y Luciana compartieron un momento de tranquilidad, rodeados por la promesa de nuevos comienzos y descubrimientos.En: And on that observation deck, high above Buenos Aires, Ismael and Luciana shared a moment of tranquility, surrounded by the promise of new beginnings and discoveries. Vocabulary Words:the skyscraper: el rascacielosthe journalist: el periodistathe stress: el estrésthe surprise: la sorpresathe talent: el talentothe sunset: el atardecerthe horizon: el horizontethe sketchbook: el cuaderno de bocetosthe frustration: la frustraciónthe spark: la chispathe determination: la determinaciónthe relief: el aliviothe peace: la pazthe inspiration: la inspiraciónthe discovery: el descubrimientothe beginning: el comienzothe coat: el abrigothe scarf: la bufandathe observation deck: la plataforma de observaciónthe breeze: la brisathe facade: la fachadathe enthusiasm: el entusiasmothe block: el bloqueothe afternoon: la tardethe gaze: la miradathe smile: la sonrisathe landscape: el paisajethe action: la acciónthe city: la ciudadthe moment: el momento
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On this week's episode of The Rural Woman Podcast™, you'll meet Lindsay Kozakevich.Lindsay is a 3rd generation farmer in NE Alberta who returned to her roots after nearly 15 years in the machining trade and overcoming challenges in male-dominated fields. From raising her first bottle-fed calf to running her own herd and reigniting her passion for horticulture, Lindsay's journey reflects resilience, a love for agriculture, and a determination to build a career on her own terms.For full show notes, including links mentioned in the show, head over to wildrosefarmer.com/228 . . .THIS WEEK'S DISCUSSIONS:[00:23] - The Rise of Women in Agriculture[01:29] - Lindsay's Journey Back to Farming[23:02] - Returning to Education: The Prairie Horticulture Certificate[33:07] - Finding Inspiration and Overcoming Anxiety[37:32] - Navigating Emotional Changes: A Woman's Journey[44:22] - The Journey of Self-Discovery and Confidence. . .This week's episode is brought to you by Patreon . . .Let's get SocialFollow The Rural Woman Podcast on Social MediaInstagram | FacebookSign up to get email updatesJoin our private Facebook group, The Rural Woman Podcast Community Connect with Katelyn on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest. . .Support the ShowPatreon | PayPal | Become a Show SponsorLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts | Take the Listener SurveyScreenshot this episode and share it on your socials!Tag @TheRuralWomanPodcast + #TheRuralWomanPodcast. . .Meet the TeamAudio Editor | MixBär.Patreon Executive ProducersSarah R. | Happiness by The Acre. . .More with KatelynOne on One Podcast Consulting | Learn More
Fluent Fiction - Danish: Finding Inspiration in Nyhavn: Astrid's Artistic Revival Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-07-27-22-34-01-da Story Transcript:Da: Som aftensolen begyndte at bøje sine stråler over Nyhavn, stod Astrid klar med sine pensler.En: As the evening sun began to bend its rays over Nyhavn, Astrid stood ready with her brushes.Da: Sommerluften var varm og brisen let.En: The summer air was warm and the breeze light.Da: De farverige huse langs kanalen spejlede sig i det stille vand, og det hele så næsten magisk ud.En: The colorful houses along the canal mirrored in the still water, and it all looked almost magical.Da: Astrid var en talentfuld, men kæmpende gadekunstner.En: Astrid was a talented but struggling street artist.Da: Hendes staffeli var opsat på brostensgaden, hvor turister traskede forbi med isvafler og kameraer.En: Her easel was set up on the cobblestone street, where tourists strolled by with ice cream cones and cameras.Da: Nyhavn emmede af liv.En: Nyhavn buzzed with life.Da: Musikken fra en gadeperformer spillede i baggrunden og lød som lyden af sommeraftener i København.En: Music from a street performer played in the background and sounded like the essence of summer evenings in Copenhagen.Da: Alligevel følte Astrid sig fjern fra sit maleri.En: Yet, Astrid felt distant from her painting.Da: Hun kunne ikke finde forbindelsen mellem sine hænder og lærredet.En: She couldn't find the connection between her hands and the canvas.Da: Det var som om blot at opfange alle de farvestrålende motiver, som Nyhavn tilbød, var en øvelse i det umulige.En: It was as if capturing all the vibrant motifs that Nyhavn offered was an exercise in the impossible.Da: Mange forbipasserende stoppede op for at beundre hendes arbejde, men alligevel sad usikkerheden fast i hendes sind.En: Many passersby stopped to admire her work, but still, doubt lingered in her mind.Da: Emil og Sofie, to venner fra byen, gik forbi og vinkede til hende.En: Emil and Sofie, two friends from the city, walked by and waved at her.Da: "Hvordan går det med maleriet?En: "How's the painting going?"Da: ", spurgte Emil med et smil.En: asked Emil with a smile.Da: Astrid trak på skuldrene og prøvede at ignorere den buldrende tvivl.En: Astrid shrugged and tried to ignore the roaring doubt.Da: "Jeg ved det ikke, Emil.En: "I don't know, Emil.Da: Det hele føles... fjernt," svarede hun ærligt.En: It all feels... distant," she replied honestly.Da: Efter lidt tid besluttede Astrid sig for at ændre sin tilgang.En: After a while, Astrid decided to change her approach.Da: I stedet for at male hele scenen, fokuserede hun på én detalje: et bestemt hus med røde skodder og en ældgammel historie.En: Instead of painting the entire scene, she focused on one detail: a particular house with red shutters and an ancient history.Da: Hun begyndte at skitsere de små detaljer, de ornamenterede vinduer og de bløde skift i farvenuancer.En: She began sketching the small details, the ornamented windows, and the soft shifts in color tones.Da: Netop da hun begyndte at male igen, overhørte hun en samtale mellem to ældre mænd om netop dette hus.En: Just as she began to paint again, she overheard a conversation between two elderly men about this very house.Da: Det havde engang været hjemsted for en berømt dansk digter, lærte Astrid.En: It had once been home to a famous Danish poet, Astrid learned.Da: Historien, der blev fortalt med entusiasme og kærlighed, tændte en gnist i hende.En: The story, told with enthusiasm and love, ignited a spark in her.Da: Pludselig så hun huset med nye øjne, og hendes pensler begyndte at danse over lærredet.En: Suddenly, she saw the house with new eyes, and her brushes began to dance across the canvas.Da: I løbet af den næste time flød farverne naturligt fra hendes hånd, og motivet trådte levende frem.En: Over the next hour, the colors flowed naturally from her hand, and the motif came to life.Da: Hendes fokus havde givet hende genopdaget klarhed og glæde.En: Her focus had given her newfound clarity and joy.Da: Hun tegnede med en passion, hun længe ikke havde følt.En: She painted with a passion she hadn't felt in a long time.Da: Da mørket lagde sig over Nyhavn, lagde Astrid penslen til side.En: As darkness settled over Nyhavn, Astrid put her brush aside.Da: Hun betragtede sit færdige maleri med stolthed.En: She regarded her finished painting with pride.Da: Det var lykkedes hende at fange stedets skønhed og ånd på en måde, der føltes ægte og personlig.En: She had succeeded in capturing the place's beauty and spirit in a way that felt genuine and personal.Da: Hun følte sig forbundet med sin kunst og omgivelserne igen.En: She felt connected to her art and surroundings once more.Da: Astrid pakkede sine materialer sammen, mens tilskuere nikkede anerkendende.En: Astrid packed up her materials while onlookers nodded appreciatively.Da: Med et lettet smil vidste hun, at hun havde genfundet sin kærlighed til at male, og hendes selvtillid voksede stille og roligt indeni.En: With a relieved smile, she knew she had rediscovered her love for painting, and her confidence slowly grew within her.Da: Nyhavn havde endnu engang vist hende vejen tilbage til sine kreative rødder.En: Nyhavn had once again shown her the way back to her creative roots. Vocabulary Words:rays: strålerbrushes: penslercobblestone: brostensgadenbreeze: brisenmirrored: spejledemagical: magisktalented: talentfuldstruggling: kæmpendestrolled: traskededoubt: tvivlconversation: samtaleelderly: ældreenthusiasm: entusiasmeignite: tændespark: gnistfocus: fokusclarity: klarhedpride: stolthedgenuine: ægteroots: røddershutters: skodderancient: ældgammelornamented: ornamenteredetones: farvenuancersketching: skitseremotif: motivlinger: sidde fastredeemed: genopdagetsurroundings: omgivelserpacked: pakkede
Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Bamboo Grove Serenade: Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-07-24-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 古い竹林の中を歩くと、時間が止まったような感覚になる。En: When walking through an old bamboo grove, it feels as though time has stopped.Ja: 鎌倉の竹林は、都会の喧騒から逃れるための静かな避難所だった。En: The bamboo grove in Kamakura was a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city.Ja: 夏の暖かい風が竹を揺らし、光が木漏れ日となって足元に降り注いでいる。En: The warm summer wind rustled the bamboo, and the light filtered through the leaves, casting dappled sunlight at his feet.Ja: 日曜日、ヒロシはいつものルートを変え、新しいインスピレーションを求めてこの竹林を訪れた。En: On Sunday, Hiroshi changed his usual route and visited this bamboo grove seeking new inspiration.Ja: もうすぐオボン祭りが始まる。En: The Obon festival was about to begin.Ja: 町は祭りのために賑わっているが、ヒロシの心は落ち着かなかった。En: The town was bustling in preparation, but Hiroshi's heart was uneasy.Ja: グラフィックデザイナーとして、創造力の壁に直面していた。En: As a graphic designer, he was facing a creative block.Ja: なかなか良いアイデアが浮かばない。En: Good ideas just weren't coming to him.Ja: 彼は苦労していた。En: He was struggling.Ja: 竹林の奥の方へ足を進めると、そこには小さな休憩所があった。En: As he walked deeper into the bamboo grove, he found a small rest area.Ja: 突然、夏の夕立が降り始めた。En: Suddenly, a summer shower began to fall.Ja: 雨宿りをしなければならなかった。En: He needed to take shelter from the rain.Ja: 休憩所に駆け込むと、そこでアイコとケイコという二人の女性に出会った。En: Rushing into the rest area, he encountered two women named Aiko and Keiko.Ja: アイコは明るく若い小学校の先生で、友達であるケイコは大阪から遊びに来ていた。En: Aiko was a bright, young elementary school teacher, and her friend Keiko was visiting from Osaka.Ja: 二人はオボン期間中にゆっくりしたいと言っていた。En: They said they wanted to relax during the Obon period.Ja: 雨音が竹の葉をたたく中、ヒロシとアイコは自然と会話を始めた。En: While the sound of raindrops beat on the bamboo leaves, Hiroshi and Aiko naturally started a conversation.Ja: アイコは、小さなことを楽しむ大切さを話し、将来について考えていると打ち明けた。En: Aiko talked about the importance of enjoying small things and confided that she was thinking about her future.Ja: ヒロシは緊張したが、その静かな場所とアイコの自然体な話し方で次第にリラックスした。En: Hiroshi was nervous, but the tranquil setting and Aiko's natural way of speaking gradually put him at ease.Ja: 彼らは興味を共有し、特にヒロシはアイコの前向きで明るい考え方に惹かれた。En: They shared interests, and Hiroshi was particularly drawn to Aiko's positive and bright outlook.Ja: 話をしているうちに、ヒロシは新しい視点を得ることができた。En: As they talked, Hiroshi gained a new perspective.Ja: インスピレーションは、意外な出会いやつながりの中から生まれるものだと悟った。En: He realized that inspiration often comes from unexpected encounters and connections.Ja: 雨が止むと、彼らは竹林の静けさに別れを告げた。En: When the rain stopped, they bade farewell to the tranquility of the bamboo grove.Ja: ヒロシは新しい気持ちでいっぱいになっていた。En: Hiroshi was filled with a renewed feeling.Ja: アイコのおかげで、彼の心の中に新しい創造力と温かいつながりが芽生えた。En: Thanks to Aiko, new creativity and a warm connection blossomed in his heart.Ja: 竹林を出る頃、ヒロシは自分に言い聞かせた。「もっと心を開き、世界と関わっていこう。」En: As he exited the bamboo grove, Hiroshi told himself, "I should open my heart more and engage with the world."Ja: ヒロシの歩みは少しだけ軽やかになっていた。En: His steps felt a little lighter.Ja: そして、アイコとの出会いは、彼の心にほのかな希望の光を灯したのだった。En: The encounter with Aiko had kindled a faint light of hope in his heart. Vocabulary Words:grove: 竹林refuge: 避難所bustle: 喧騒rustled: 揺らしdappled: 木漏れ日uneasy: 落ち着かなかったcreative block: 創造力の壁struggling: 苦労していたshower: 夕立shelter: 雨宿りencountered: 出会ったconfided: 打ち明けたtranquil: 静かなperspective: 視点encounters: 出会いconnections: つながりbade farewell: 別れを告げたrenewed: 新しいcreativity: 創造力blossomed: 芽生えたengage: 関わっていくkindled: 灯したperspective: 視点dappled: 木漏れ日inspiration: インスピレーションtrivial: 小さなことbustling: 賑わっているquiet: 静けさ
Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Finding Inspiration and Friendship Under the Stockholm Sun Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-07-24-22-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Solen sken varmt över Stockholm när Karin steg in i Vasamuseet.En: The sun shone warmly over Stockholm as Karin stepped into the Vasamuseet.Sv: Hon var en konststudent som behövde inspiration för sitt projekt.En: She was an art student in need of inspiration for her project.Sv: Just nu var det mitt på sommaren, och staden var livlig med Midsommarfiranden.En: It was midsummer, and the city was bustling with Midsommar celebrations.Sv: Karin gick runt i museet.En: Karin wandered around the museum.Sv: Hon fascinerades av den stora skeppet Vasa och alla dess detaljer.En: She was fascinated by the large sailing ship Vasa and all its details.Sv: De höga fönstren släppte in solens strålar, vilket skapade en varm och välkomnande känsla över hela museet.En: The tall windows let in the sun's rays, which created a warm and welcoming feeling throughout the museum.Sv: Efter att ha utforskat utställningarna bestämde sig Karin för att hitta ett unikt minne i museets presentbutik.En: After exploring the exhibits, Karin decided to find a unique keepsake in the museum's gift shop.Sv: Hon ville ha något som fångade hela hennes upplevelse i Stockholm.En: She wanted something that captured her entire experience in Stockholm.Sv: Butiken var full med turister, och alla vanliga souvenirer verkade så generiska - kylskåpsmagneter, vykort och nyckelringar.En: The shop was filled with tourists, and all the usual souvenirs seemed so generic—fridge magnets, postcards, and keyrings.Sv: Klockan började närma sig stängningstid, och hon blev alltmer orolig.En: The clock was nearing closing time, and she was growing increasingly anxious.Sv: Just då fick hon syn på Sven, en vänlig kille som arbetade som volontär i butiken.En: Just then, she noticed Sven, a friendly guy working as a volunteer in the shop.Sv: Sven hade stort intresse för historia och älskade att hjälpa besökare.En: Sven had a great interest in history and loved helping visitors.Sv: Karin gick fram till honom och frågade försynt, "Har du något speciellt här?En: Karin approached him and gently asked, "Do you have anything special here?Sv: Jag letar efter något unikt."En: I'm looking for something unique."Sv: Sven log varmt.En: Sven smiled warmly.Sv: "Följ med mig," sa han och visade henne en liten, bortglömd hylla längst bak i butiken.En: "Come with me," he said and showed her a small, forgotten shelf at the back of the store.Sv: Där låg en samling med exklusiva, begränsade upplagor av tryck från Vasa-skeppet, vackert illustrerade av en lokal konstnär.En: There lay a collection of exclusive, limited edition prints of the Vasa ship, beautifully illustrated by a local artist.Sv: Karin blev förtjust.En: Karin was delighted.Sv: Hon visste genast att dessa tryck var perfekt för henne.En: She immediately knew these prints were perfect for her.Sv: De var sällsynta och fångade essensen av hennes besök.En: They were rare and captured the essence of her visit.Sv: Hon kände en glädje av att ha hittat precis vad hon letat efter.En: She felt a joy at having found exactly what she was looking for.Sv: När hon gick ut från museet med sitt nyförvärvda tryck kände hon sig tvungen att tacka Sven ännu en gång.En: As she left the museum with her newly acquired print, she felt compelled to thank Sven once more.Sv: Han nickade glatt och sa, "Det var bara roligt att kunna hjälpa till."En: He nodded happily and said, "It was just fun to be able to help."Sv: De delade ett ögonblick av förståelse.En: They shared a moment of understanding.Sv: Karin insåg vikten av att be om hjälp när hon behövde det, och Sven kände sig uppmuntrad att fortsätta dela sin passion för historia.En: Karin realized the importance of asking for help when she needed it, and Sven felt encouraged to continue sharing his passion for history.Sv: Båda lämnade museet med ett leende och ett minne för livet.En: Both left the museum with a smile and a memory for life.Sv: Det var en dag som fångade både sommarsolens glans och de oskattbara människomötena som Stockholm kunde erbjuda.En: It was a day that captured both the splendor of the summer sun and the invaluable human interactions that Stockholm could offer. Vocabulary Words:stepped: steginspiration: inspirationbustling: livligfascinated: fascineradesdetails: detaljerwelcoming: välkomnandeexploring: utforskatsouvenirs: souvenirergeneric: generiskaapproached: gick fram tillanxious: oroligvolunteer: volontärunique: unikaspecial: specielltshelf: hyllaexclusive: exklusivalimited edition: begränsade upplagorillustrated: illustreradedelighted: förtjustessence: essensenacquired: nyförvärvdacompelled: tvungenencouraged: uppmuntradsplendor: glansunvaluable: oskattbarainteractions: människomöten
Want to start, grow, and monetize your own podcast? Watch Podcast Success Secrets Welcome to the optYOUmize Podcast where we help entrepreneurs build the business AND life of their dreams. Get tips, tactics, stories, and inspiration from interviews with business and personal development experts and lessons from my own successes and failures so you can make more, work less, and live better. You don't have to go it alone--we're here to support and motivate you, and encourage you to keep going until you reach your goals. Follow optYOUmize Podcast with Brett Ingram: LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Website Summary Brett Ingram speaks with Sean Bellerby, an entrepreneur and speaker, about his journey from working in big tech to overcoming personal challenges and finding purpose in life. Sean shares insights on the importance of corporate culture, the power of personal transformation, and how to attract the right people into your life. He emphasizes the significance of authenticity in business and the need to engage in activities that inspire and ground us. Visit https://manifestwithsean.com to get your free workbook and book a call with him. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Personal Transformation 01:51 Career Beginnings in Tech 07:38 The Importance of Corporate Culture 08:07 Overcoming Personal Challenges 13:31 The Journey to Self-Discovery 18:59 Finding Your Deeper Purpose 21:55 Fleshing Out Ideas and Staying Grounded 24:23 Finding Inspiration in Work 28:55 The Importance of Environment and Connection 30:34 Attracting the Right People and Experiences 34:45 Measuring Progress and Feeling Fulfilled 37:33 Authenticity in Business and Life #personaltransformation #overcomingchallenges #digitalmarketing #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #entrepreneurship #optyoumize #brettingram #entrepreneurpodcast #podmatch
This Quick Tip episode from Straight Talk with Sally is a snippet from our full conversation with award-winning photographer Ric Gentiluomo. Ric reflects on the people who've supported his journey and how staying inspired comes from looking beyond your local circle — and even your own industry. Whether you're in photography, coaching, or creative business, this bite-sized tip will remind you that personal growth and creative excellence come from always striving to be better than your last project. Tune in and get inspired to take your creative work to the next level. Stay Connected & Get Exclusive Access: Join the Private OmniSAM Community: omnisam.com.au/gsdgroup Facebook Group: gsdfb.omnisam.com.au Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/sallysparkscousins Watch the Live Stream & Subscribe for More Updates: OmniSAM YouTube: youtube.com/@omnisamsoftware Sally Sparks-Cousins YouTube: youtube.com/@sallysparkscousins
This week, we're bringing back one of our most-loved episodes and for good reason. If you've ever wondered what it really looks like to scale from shooting budget weddings to booking luxury destination clients, this one's for you. In this replay, we dive into the exact mindset shifts, pricing pivots, and relationship-building strategies that helped this creative go from starting her business at 19 to filming multi-day events for high-end planners.It's honest. It's inspiring. And it's proof that with clarity and intention, you can grow into the next version of your business even if you're still early in the game.If you've been second-guessing your pricing, overthinking your marketing, or waiting for someone to give you permission to go bigger… consider this your sign
Welcome to Episode 286 of the Spun Today Podcast, the show anchored in writing but truly unlimited in its scope. I'm your host, Tony Ortiz, and today we're diving into something both personal and nostalgic: a throwback tribute episode to my good friend and Spun Today alum, Pablo Mosquera Jr. In this heartfelt installment, we revisit one of our annual beach day recordings—this one taking place on Coney Island during that odd window in the summer of 2020, right in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Pablo and I reflect on everything from the challenges and isolation of lockdown, the mental health impact of working from home, and our predictions about the ever-evolving work landscape, to our perennial struggles getting to Governor's Island for a bike ride and, of course, our shared love of breaking the monotony with a little weekday hooky at the beach. Expect a conversation that ranges far and wide, just like the show itself. We cover road trips, favorite drinks, and the transformative power of routine escapes—plus the creative, life-affirming benefits of unplugging from work and leaning into tradition, even during uncertain times. There's even a story about a real-life lifeguard rescue and a heap of pop culture moments, from The Sopranos to Patrick Swayze classics, all through the unique lens of creativity, inspiration, and the everyday writer's perspective. So whether you're here for the writing talk, the laughs, or some much-needed motivation, this episode invites you to reminisce, recharge, and most of all, keep spinning creativity into your life—no matter what the world throws your way. Let's get into it. The Spun Today Podcast is a Podcast that is anchored in Writing & Random Rants, but unlimited in scope. Give it a whirl. Twitter: https://twitter.com/spuntoday Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spuntoday/ Website: http://www.spuntoday.com/home Newsletter: http://www.spuntoday.com/subscribe Links referenced in this episode: Follow Pablo on Instagram: @pabs711 Fu*k , That's Delicious S04E10 With Action Bronson - Bronx To Farm Cuisine | MUNCHIES & VICE TV: https://youtu.be/cwEjj6dALlk?t=420 Lillo Brancato Jr on 'Bronx Tale', Drug Addiction, Cop Getting Killed, Prison (Full Interview): https://youtu.be/-oqFY7vTEIM Atlanta: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4288182/ Red Dawn: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087985/ Toy Soldiers: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103112/ The Movies That Made Us: https://www.netflix.com/title/80990849 Point Break: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102685/ Talking Sopranos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUH23ccuK5a2rhKqE1HcEw Two dope scenes from True Romance: 1. The Sicilian Scene: https://youtu.be/S3yon2GyoiM 2. Fight scene Part 1: https://youtu.be/VxRpMphMmXM & Part 2: https://youtu.be/2l1hDC34gTc Listen to episode #283 (re-release of #107 – Beach Day with Pablo): Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/283-cycles-of-life-loss-and-stories-honoring/id924328532?i=1000709665351 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/44wHccKC8Jpuu3eYLd1fO5?si=R7EH9dQZSAKFutXeSF80YQ&nd=1&dlsi=e830def4b0bd401c YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lfWTjGP2JY Get your Podcast Started Today! https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SPUN (Use Promo code SPUN and get up to 2-months of free service!) Check out all the Spun Today Merch, and other ways to help support this show! https://www.spuntoday.com/support Check out my Books Make Way for You – Tips for getting out of your own way FRACTAL – A Time Travel Tale Melted Cold – A Collection of Short Stories http://www.spuntoday.com/books/ (e-Book, Paperback & Hardcover are now available). Fill out my Spun Today Questionnaire if you're passionate about your craft. I'll share your insight and motivation on the Podcast: http://www.spuntoday.com/questionnaire/ Shop on Amazon using this link, to support the Podcast: http://www.amazon.com//ref=as_sl_pc_tf_lc?&tag=sputod0c-20&camp=216797&creative=446321&linkCode=ur1&adid=104DDN7SG8A2HXW52TFB&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spuntoday.com%2Fcontact%2F Shop on iTunes using this link, to support the Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?genreId=38&id=27820&popId=42&uo=10 Shop at the Spun Today store for Mugs, T-Shirts and more: https://viralstyle.com/store/spuntoday/tonyortiz Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Outro Background Music: https://www.bensound.com Spun Today Logo by: https://www.naveendhanalak.com/ Sound effects are credited to: http://www.freesfx.co.uk Listen on: iTunes | Spotify| Pocket Casts| YouTube | Website
In this episode, artist and designer Ragni Agarwal shares how she found freedom and healing through bold, vibrant art. Ragni is an Indian American fine artist and graphic designer based in Los Angeles, who shares her journey from tech to a professional art career, the mental health benefits of creating art, and the challenges of being a female artist of color in today's climate. Hear about her vibrant art style, collaborations with notable brands like Hulu and Bombay Sapphire, and her dedication to making her art a safe space for all women. Discover how Ragni balances creativity with survival and her thoughts on the current political landscape and its impact on the creative community. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, vulnerability, and finding joy in making art. 00:00 Introduction to Ragni Agarwal 00:21 Challenges of Being an Artist Today 01:01 Ragni's Artistic Journey 01:31 Connecting Through Art 01:56 Starting the Conversation 04:03 The Role of Mental Health in Art 06:42 Balancing Art and Survival 09:51 The Influence of Politics on Art 13:02 The Power of Color 16:15 Cultural Influences and Inspirations 19:39 Safety and Expression in Art 23:37 Addressing Social Issues and Frustrations 24:46 Defining Powerful Ladies 25:34 Finding Inspiration and Building Community 27:40 Embracing Vulnerability in Art 29:18 Advice for Aspiring Artists 30:53 Navigating the Challenges of Being an Artist 39:41 The Importance of Storytelling in Art 45:14 Manifesting Future Goals 45:54 Conclusion and Farewell The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Finding Inspiration and Connection in El Born's Alleyways Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-07-06-22-34-02-ca Story Transcript:Ca: L'estiu havia arribat a Barcelona amb el seu càlid aire i l'energia vibrant que omplia els carrers de la ciutat.En: Summer had arrived in Barcelona with its warm air and the vibrant energy that filled the city's streets.Ca: El Born, amb la seva història fascinant i els seus carrerons fascinants, era un dels llocs més animats.En: El Born, with its fascinating history and enchanting alleys, was one of the liveliest places.Ca: Els llums colorits penjaven alegrement entre les façanes antigues, i una multitud de veus i rialles incomplia l'aire de festa.En: Colorful lights hung cheerfully between the old facades, and a multitude of voices and laughter filled the festive air.Ca: Martí, un artista amb esperit curiós, caminava pel barri, lluitant amb un bloqueig creatiu que l'havia perseguit durant setmanes.En: Martí, an artist with a curious spirit, walked through the neighborhood, struggling with a creative block that had been haunting him for weeks.Ca: Cercava inspiració, alguna cosa que el fes sentir connectat altra vegada amb l'art que tant estimava.En: He was seeking inspiration, something to make him feel connected again with the art he so loved.Ca: De sobte, el so alegrement dels tambors el va aturar.En: Suddenly, the cheerful sound of drums stopped him.Ca: Dues cantonades més enllà, un grup de ballarins de carrer havia començat la seva actuació.En: Two corners away, a group of street dancers had begun their performance.Ca: Els colors vius dels seus vestits contrastaven amb les pedres grises del paviment.En: The bright colors of their costumes contrasted with the gray stones of the pavement.Ca: Gemma, una advocada que havia decidit donar un tomb per El Born després del treball, també es va aturar per observar la mateixa actuació.En: Gemma, a lawyer who had decided to take a walk around El Born after work, also stopped to watch the same performance.Ca: Buscava trencar amb la seva rutina, experimentar alguna cosa nova i desconeguda.En: She was looking to break her routine, to experience something new and unknown.Ca: Encara que era una persona reservada, l'energia dels ballarins la va captivant.En: Although she was a reserved person, the dancers' energy captivated her.Ca: Martí va alçar la vista i va veure a Gemma parada al seu costat, mirant fixament als artistes amb una brillantor especial als ulls.En: Martí looked up and saw Gemma standing beside him, gazing intently at the performers with a special sparkle in her eyes.Ca: La festa de Sant Joan encara es sentia en l'aire i tot semblava impregnada d'una màgica vibració.En: The festival of Sant Joan was still in the air, and everything seemed imbued with a magical vibration.Ca: Després d'un moment d'indecisió, Martí va decidir fer el primer pas.En: After a moment of indecision, Martí decided to take the first step.Ca: —També et fascina aquesta energia?En: "Are you also fascinated by this energy?"Ca: —va preguntar Martí, amb un somriure.En: Martí asked with a smile.Ca: Gemma, sorpresa pel seu atrevit comentari, va dubtar un moment.En: Gemma, surprised by his bold comment, hesitated for a moment.Ca: Però la seva part aventurera, la que desitjava viure experiències diferents, va decidir respondre.En: But her adventurous side, the one that craved different experiences, decided to respond.Ca: —Sí, és increïble.En: "Yes, it's incredible.Ca: Mai ho havia vist així abans —va admetre ella, encara que amb un to incòmode.En: I've never seen it like this before," she admitted, though with an awkward tone.Ca: Els dos van seguir parlant, compartint històries sobre el barri, les seves vides i els seus somnis.En: The two of them continued talking, sharing stories about the neighborhood, their lives, and their dreams.Ca: La seva conversa va ser interrompuda bruscament per un acrobata que va fer una espectacular volta en l'aire, fent esclatar en riure a la multitud.En: Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by an acrobat who made a spectacular flip in the air, causing the crowd to burst into laughter.Ca: El riure compartit entre ells va ser la clau que va trencar el gel completament.En: The shared laughter between them was the key that completely broke the ice.Ca: Martí va sentir un nou brot d'inspiració i Gemma es va sentir alliberada d'una mica de la seva pròpia rigidesa.En: Martí felt a new surge of inspiration, and Gemma felt liberated from some of her own rigidity.Ca: Quan la nit va començar a caure, amb la ciutat encara plena de llum i música, Martí i Gemma van decidir compartir els seus números de telèfon.En: As night began to fall, with the city still full of light and music, Martí and Gemma decided to exchange phone numbers.Ca: Van prometre explorar més racons de Barcelona junts, descobrint-la amb ulls nous i esperits més lliures.En: They promised to explore more corners of Barcelona together, discovering it with new eyes and freer spirits.Ca: Martí havia trobat una nova font d'inspiració en la manera de veure el món de Gemma, i ella, poc a poc, començava a abraçar la vida amb més espontaneïtat.En: Martí had found a new source of inspiration in Gemma's way of seeing the world, and she, little by little, began to embrace life with more spontaneity.Ca: Amb un somriure mutu, van caminar junts pel Born, seguint els llums i sons de la ciutat que continuava bategant al seu voltant.En: With a mutual smile, they walked together through El Born, following the lights and sounds of the city that continued pulsating around them. Vocabulary Words:the alley: el carreróthe creative block: el bloqueig creatiuthe performance: l'actuacióthe costume: el vestitthe pavement: el pavimentthe brightness: la brillantorthe festival: la festathe drum: el tamborthe acrobat: l'acrobatathe laughter: el riurethe crowd: la multitudthe spontaneity: la espontaneïtatthe sparkle: l'espurnathe inspiration: la inspiracióthe indecision: la indecisióthe vibration: la vibracióthe laughter: la riallathe corner: la cantonadathe rigidity: la rigidesathe energy: l'energiathe adventurous side: la part aventurerathe attorney: l'advocadathe flip: la voltathe facade: la façanathe blockage: el bloqueigthe cheerfulness: l'alegriathe sparkle: el desigthe desire: el desigthe mutual smile: el somriure mututhe multitude: la multitud
In this episode of the Book Fair Podcast, host Anthony interviews renowned author Gordon Korman, discussing his latest book 'Snoop' and the themes of privacy, technology, and character development in middle grade literature. Korman shares insights into his writing process, the importance of relatable characters, and the balance of humor and serious topics in his stories. The conversation also touches on the role of authority in young readers' lives and the collaborative nature of working with publishers and editors. Korman reflects on his journey as an author, celebrating milestones and the impact of middle grade literature on young audiences.New Releases:Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. JacksonThe Case of the Contraband Closet (Bubblegum Shoes #1) by Goldy MoldavskyThe Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks (Lottie Brooks #1) by Katie KirbyFree Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney GardnerThe Yomigaeri Tunnel by Kelly MurashigeChapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Current Events05:18 Character Development: Carter's Journey11:00 Balancing Technology and Healthy Limits16:24 The Writing Process and Publishing Schedule21:54 Finding Inspiration and Personal Reflection25:40 The Role of Middle Grade Literature in Society29:13 New Releases36:30 News
Fluent Fiction - French: Lavender Connections: Finding Inspiration in Provence Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-07-02-22-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil d'été brillait haut dans le ciel, illuminant les champs de lavande de Provence.En: The summer sun shone high in the sky, illuminating the lavender fields of Provence.Fr: Les rangées infinies de fleurs violettes ondulaient sous la brise légère, créant un tapis vibrant et parfumé, enveloppant les collines douces dans une atmosphère idyllique.En: The endless rows of purple flowers swayed under the gentle breeze, creating a vibrant and fragrant carpet that enveloped the soft hills in an idyllic atmosphere.Fr: Luc, appareil photo à la main, errait parmi les fleurs, guidé par leur parfum envoûtant.En: Luc, camera in hand, wandered among the flowers, guided by their enchanting fragrance.Fr: Luc était à la recherche d'inspiration.En: Luc was in search of inspiration.Fr: Photographe de voyage passionné, il avait récemment connu un blocage créatif.En: A passionate travel photographer, he had recently experienced a creative block.Fr: Les paysages qu'il capturait semblaient vides de l'émotion profonde qu'il recherchait.En: The landscapes he captured seemed devoid of the deep emotion he sought.Fr: Alors, il était venu ici, dans ces champs, en quête de tranquillité et de beauté.En: So, he had come here, to these fields, in search of tranquility and beauty.Fr: Au même moment, Céleste marchait doucement à travers les plantes, ses doigts caressant les brins délicats avec affection.En: At the same moment, Céleste was gently walking through the plants, her fingers affectionately caressing the delicate stalks.Fr: Horticulturiste vivant dans la ville, elle avait besoin de s'évader, de respirer l'air pur, loin de l'agitation quotidienne.En: A horticulturist living in the city, she needed to escape, to breathe the fresh air, far from the daily hustle and bustle.Fr: La lavande apaisait son esprit, la reconnectant avec la nature qu'elle aimait tant.En: The lavender soothed her mind, reconnecting her with the nature she loved so much.Fr: Leurs chemins se croisèrent parmi les fleurs.En: Their paths crossed among the flowers.Fr: Luc observa Céleste, intrigué par la façon dont elle interagissait avec les lavandes.En: Luc observed Céleste, intrigued by the way she interacted with the lavenders.Fr: Elle semblait presque parler aux fleurs, son visage serein et plein de douceur.En: She seemed almost to be speaking to the flowers, her face serene and full of gentleness.Fr: Il s'approcha timidement.En: He approached timidly.Fr: « Bonjour, je m'appelle Luc, » dit-il, captivé par sa grâce.En: "Hello, my name is Luc," he said, captivated by her grace.Fr: « Bonjour Luc, je suis Céleste, » répondit-elle avec un sourire chaleureux.En: "Hello Luc, I'm Céleste," she replied with a warm smile.Fr: « Ces champs sont magnifiques, n'est-ce pas ?En: "These fields are beautiful, aren't they?"Fr: » Ils commencèrent à échanger.En: They began to exchange stories.Fr: Luc partagea ses difficultés à retrouver son élan créatif.En: Luc shared his struggles to regain his creative momentum.Fr: Céleste parla de son envie de changements, de sortir du quotidien.En: Céleste spoke of her desire for change, to break away from the everyday.Fr: Ensemble, ils trouvèrent une écoute attentive l'un chez l'autre.En: Together, they found a listening ear in one another.Fr: « Pourquoi aimes-tu tant ces fleurs ?En: "Why do you love these flowers so much?"Fr: » demanda Luc, fixant l'objectif de son appareil sur elle.En: Luc asked, focusing his camera lens on her.Fr: « Elles sont simples mais si belles, » répondit Céleste.En: "They are simple but so beautiful," Céleste responded.Fr: « Elles me rappellent qu'il y a de la beauté dans les petites choses, loin de la ville.En: "They remind me that there is beauty in small things, far from the city."Fr: » Inspiré par ses mots, Luc leva son appareil photo.En: Inspired by her words, Luc raised his camera.Fr: Il trouva l'image parfaite : Céleste, délicatement penchée sur une fleur de lavande, perdue dans la contemplation.En: He found the perfect image: Céleste, delicately leaning over a lavender flower, lost in contemplation.Fr: Un clic, et la beauté qu'il cherchait était capturée, une image de sérénité pure.En: A click, and the beauty he was seeking was captured, an image of pure serenity.Fr: Le soleil commençait à descendre, teintant le ciel de nuances dorées.En: The sun began to set, tinting the sky with golden hues.Fr: Luc et Céleste restèrent dans les champs, parlant de leurs rêves.En: Luc and Céleste stayed in the fields, talking about their dreams.Fr: Ils échangèrent leurs coordonnées, promettant de se revoir.En: They exchanged contact information, promising to meet again.Fr: En quittant les champs, Luc souriait, son esprit en paix, ses doutes dissipés.En: As they left the fields, Luc smiled, his mind at peace, his doubts dispelled.Fr: Il avait trouvé son inspiration.En: He had found his inspiration.Fr: Pour Céleste, cette rencontre lui ouvrait la porte à de nouvelles expériences, hors de ses habitudes.En: For Céleste, this encounter opened the door to new experiences, outside of her usual routine.Fr: Ainsi, sous le ciel provençal, une amitié naissait, promettant des découvertes futures.En: Thus, under the Provençal sky, a friendship was born, promising future discoveries.Fr: Les champs de lavande avaient non seulement réussi à apaiser leur esprit mais aussi à les unir.En: The lavender fields had not only succeeded in soothing their minds but also in bringing them together. Vocabulary Words:the summer sun: le soleil d'étélavender fields: les champs de lavandethe gentle breeze: la brise légèrethe atmosphere: l'atmosphèrethe travel photographer: le photographe de voyagethe creative block: le blocage créatifthe landscape: le paysagethe emotion: l'émotionthe tranquility: la tranquillitéthe beauty: la beautéthe horticulturist: l'horticulturistethe hustle and bustle: l'agitationthe mind: l'espritthe nature: la naturethe flower stalk: le brin délicatthe paths: les cheminsthe grace: la grâcethe warm smile: le sourire chaleureuxthe momentum: l'élanthe change: le changementthe everyday: le quotidienthe listening ear: l'écoute attentivethe contemplation: la contemplationthe serenity: la sérénitéthe golden hues: les nuances doréesthe dreams: les rêvesthe contact information: les coordonnéesthe doubts: les doutesthe routine: les habitudesthe discoveries: les découvertes
Donna delves into the concept of showing up authentically in business by harnessing high vibrational energy. She discusses her personal approach to work, which includes integrating daily walks along the beach for energy and inspiration, and how these practices can enhance productivity and creativity. Emphasizing the importance of intuition and joy in work, Donna encourages us to find and follow our unique flow, whether it's through nature, creativity, or non-traditional work methods. Strategies to align work with personal energy and preferences are also shared, advocating for an approach where business practices are tailored to individual needs and passions for optimal results.00:00 Introduction: The Essence of Showing Up01:10 Embracing a New Way of Doing Business03:13 Finding Inspiration in Nature05:06 Redefining Work and Productivity06:08 Aligning Business with Personal Energy07:57 Leveraging Your Strengths and Preferences10:28 Creating Simple and Effective Business Systems11:16 Conclusion: Creating Experiences and Following Your PassionDonna's Sacred Business Ascension program helps established solopreneurs align their business energy so they can make more money with less effort while staying true to who they are.Learn more at https://www.donnaashton.com or connect on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/donnaashtonJoin me the FUN & Worthwhile Networking: Full Moon Collaborations> https://www.donnaashton.com/collaborationsBook Study: Summer It's Not Your Money: Tosha Silver> https://www.donnaashton.com/bookjulyAbout Donna AshtonDonna Ashton is a Human Design Projector and Business Priestess (she works with a lot with Manifesting Generators.) As host of the podcast "4 Day Weekends," she helps established spiritually minded entrepreneurs leverage their businesses with their natural energy so they attract clients with less effort.With over 15 years of experience running her own 3-day workweek business, Donna intuitively guides entrepreneurs to transform scattered energy into focused prosperity through ancient rhythms, sacred wisdom, and aligned business practices.
Today, Ceri is joined by Laleh Khorramian, painter, printmaker, animator and textile artist, whose work spans drawing, light, costume and collage. Laleh reveals the roots of her creative life, from drawing under duress to discovering Van Gogh in Costco. Laleh shares how growing up between cultures shaped a dual sense of self that still informs her work. She explains how she rebuilt her practice and sense of self after cancer diagnoses and found her way back when the work felt lost. Whether you are building a sustainable practice, navigating reinvention or reclaiming your identity in your work, this episode is for you. The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Apply for the next Artist Mastermind Circle a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities. Apply by 21 July at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle/ to take the next bold step. KEY TAKEAWAYS · Take notice of what you see, feel and dream, they are what you are destined to create. · Let go of shame about the things you get wrong and accept support. BEST MOMENTS “I became aware of that. It was okay, if it reflected me, it's okay. Actually, this is I'm, I'm the artist. It's that that work is what it is because of me, because I made it, and there's my voice in particular is important to what's happening there.” “you have to sometimes become something very outside yourself. You have to create skills that you didn't know you had or think you could summon, including acceptance.” “So you make something in response to a person or a character. Yeah, very often it's not someone I know it's, very often it's, it's a, it's a character, it's a, it's a, I think there's all constantly an ongoing opera in my mind.” ABOUT LALEH Laleh Khorramian (b. Tehran, raised in Florida) is multi-award-winning artist with degrees from RISD, SAIC, and Columbia University. Her work spans animation, painting, lighting, and textile art. She exhibits internationally including at MoMA PS1, Times Square and the Saatchi Gallery. Her awards include the Vasseur Artists' Award and the Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant. Laleh created LALOON - an ongoing project of hand-painted garments, gowns and costumes in NY. https://www.lalehkhorramian.com https://www.instagram.com/lalehkhorramian PODCAST HOST BIO With over 30 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership Build Relationships The Easy Way Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly and build the confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
Join Chris Palmer, chief creative officer, BGB Group, and Jameson Fleming, editor-in-chief, MM+M, live from Cannes as they discuss trends, AI and inspiration.Step into the future of health media at the MM+M Media Summit on October 30th, 2025 live in NYC! Join top voices in pharma marketing for a full day of forward-thinking discussions on AI, streaming, retail media, and more. Explore the latest in omnichannel strategy, personalization, media trust, and data privacy—all under one roof. Don't wait—use promo code PODCAST for $100 off your individual ticket. Click here to register! AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here.
Fluent Fiction - Italian: Finding Inspiration in the Heart of Toscana's Market Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-06-18-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Nella dorata luce del sole estivo, il paesaggio collinare della campagna toscana si stendeva sereno.En: In the golden light of the summer sun, the rolling landscape of the campagna toscana stretched out serenely.It: Qua e là, vigneti si allineavano con precisione, e il profumo delle erbe aromatiche riempiva l'aria.En: Here and there, vineyards lined up with precision, and the scent of aromatic herbs filled the air.It: Era il giorno del mercato settimanale, e Marco camminava lentamente lungo i viali vivaci.En: It was the day of the weekly market, and Marco walked slowly along the lively avenues.It: Il mercato era un arcobaleno di colori e suoni.En: The market was a rainbow of colors and sounds.It: Ovunque guardasse, c'erano persone che ridevano, parlavano, scambiavano merci con molta energia.En: Wherever he looked, there were people laughing, talking, and exchanging goods with great energy.It: Marco era un artista.En: Marco was an artist.It: Amava il silenzio e la contemplazione.En: He loved silence and contemplation.It: Tuttavia, quella mattina, cercava qualcosa di speciale, qualcosa che potesse accendere la sua creatività.En: However, that morning, he was looking for something special, something that could ignite his creativity.It: Si fermò davanti a un banco pieno di splendidi fiori.En: He stopped in front of a stall full of beautiful flowers.It: Livia, la donna dietro il banco, era vivace come i suoi mazzi di girasoli e lavanda.En: Livia, the woman behind the stall, was as lively as her bunches of sunflowers and lavender.It: "Ciao!En: "Hi!It: Vuoi dei fiori freschi?"En: Do you want some fresh flowers?"It: esclamò Livia con un sorriso radioso.En: exclaimed Livia with a radiant smile.It: Marco scuoteva la testa con un sorriso timido.En: Marco shook his head with a shy smile.It: "Sto solo guardando, grazie.En: "I'm just looking, thank you.It: Cercavo un po' di ispirazione."En: I was looking for some inspiration."It: Livia continuò a raccontare di come coltivava i suoi fiori con amore e cura.En: Livia continued to tell how she grew her flowers with love and care.It: Marco ascoltava mentre Livia parlava della sua passione per le piante.En: Marco listened as Livia spoke of her passion for plants.It: La semplicità e la vitalità delle sue parole lo colpivano.En: The simplicity and vibrancy of her words struck him.It: Proseguendo, Marco incontrò Gianni, che stava sistemando melanzane e pomodori maturi sul suo banco.En: Continuing on, Marco met Gianni, who was arranging ripe eggplants and tomatoes on his stall.It: "Ciao, Marco!"En: "Hi, Marco!"It: salutò Gianni, riconoscendolo.En: greeted Gianni, recognizing him.It: "Devi provare questi pomodori, sono appena stati colti!"En: "You must try these tomatoes, they were just picked!"It: Marco assaggiò un pomodoro e fu colpito dalla dolcezza.En: Marco tasted a tomato and was struck by its sweetness.It: "Sono perfetti, Gianni.En: "They're perfect, Gianni.It: Lavori sodo e si vede."En: You work hard, and it shows."It: Gianni raccontò delle stagioni, della terra e delle sue tradizioni familiari.En: Gianni talked about the seasons, the land, and his family traditions.It: Marco osservò l'interazione tra Livia e Gianni, notando come si scambiavano storie e risate.En: Marco observed the interaction between Livia and Gianni, noticing how they exchanged stories and laughter.It: In quel momento, una scintilla di ispirazione balenò nella mente di Marco.En: In that moment, a spark of inspiration flashed in Marco's mind.It: Vedeva una storia visiva diventare chiara: il mercato, le persone, la vita quotidiana che fioriva in silenziosa armonia.En: He saw a visual story become clear: the market, the people, daily life blossoming in silent harmony.It: Non era il paesaggio, ma la gente, la loro energia e connessione, a dargli nuova ispirazione.En: It wasn't the landscape, but the people, their energy, and connection that gave him new inspiration.It: Tra i suoni e colori del mercato, Marco trovò ciò che cercava: non la bellezza esteriore delle colline o dei fiori, ma la semplice bellezza delle storie umane.En: Among the sounds and colors of the market, Marco found what he was looking for: not the external beauty of the hills or flowers, but the simple beauty of human stories.It: Lasciò il mercato con un sorriso grato, portando nel cuore un quadro vivente per la sua tela futura, riconoscente per i nuovi occhi con cui vedeva il mondo.En: He left the market with a grateful smile, carrying in his heart a living picture for his future canvas, thankful for the new eyes with which he saw the world.It: Marco tornò ogni settimana, non solo per i fiori freschi o i pomodori dolci, ma per quel legame prezioso che aveva scoperto tra l'arte e la vita.En: Marco returned every week, not just for the fresh flowers or sweet tomatoes, but for that precious bond he had discovered between art and life.It: E così, il mercato del villaggio diventò per Marco una fonte infinita di ispirazione nel cuore della Toscana.En: And so, the village market became for Marco an endless source of inspiration in the heart of Toscana. Vocabulary Words:the landscape: il paesaggioserene: serenothe vineyard: il vignetothe scent: il profumothe herb: l'erbathe avenue: il vialethe rainbow: l'arcobalenoto exchange: scambiarethe contemplation: la contemplazionethe stall: il bancolively: vivacethe bunch: il mazzoradiant: radiosoto ignite: accendereto flourish: fiorirethe simplicity: la semplicitàthe vibrancy: la vitalitàripe: maturoto strike: colpirethe sweetness: la dolcezzahard-working: laboriosothe season: la stagionethe interaction: l'interazionethe spark: la scintillato blossom: sbocciareexternal: esteriorethe gratitude: la gratitudineto become clear: diventare chiaroto recognize: riconoscerethe bond: il legame
Fluent Fiction - Italian: Finding Inspiration: A Guide's Journey in the Amazon Jungle Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-06-09-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore della vasta e lussureggiante Foresta Amazzonica, Giuliana guidava con passo sicuro.En: In the heart of the vast and lush Foresta Amazzonica, Giuliana walked with a confident stride.It: Era una mattina di autunno, fresca e umida, mentre il sole si faceva strada tra le gigantesche foglie degli alberi.En: It was a cool and humid autumn morning, as the sun made its way through the giant leaves of the trees.It: Marco ed Elena, i turisti che aveva in carico, camminavano dietro di lei, chiacchierando animatamente delle foto che avevano scattato agli alberi esotici.En: Marco and Elena, the tourists she was in charge of, walked behind her, chatting animatedly about the photos they had taken of the exotic trees.It: Giuliana conosceva la foresta come le sue tasche.En: Giuliana knew the forest like the back of her hand.It: Da anni lavorava come guida turistica, ma la sua passione era la conservazione della natura.En: She had been working as a tour guide for years, but her passion was nature conservation.It: Sognava che i turisti capissero l'importanza di proteggere questo incredibile ecosistema.En: She dreamed that tourists would understand the importance of protecting this incredible ecosystem.It: Tuttavia, Marco ed Elena sembravano più interessati a scattare selfie che a imparare.En: However, Marco and Elena seemed more interested in taking selfies than learning.It: "Guardate voi stessi intorno," disse Giuliana, fermandosi accanto a un antico albero di caucciù.En: "Look around you," Giuliana said, stopping beside an ancient rubber tree.It: "Qui c'è vita in ogni angolo."En: "There is life in every corner here."It: Ma Marco stava già puntando la sua fotocamera su un buffo scimmia urlatrice.En: But Marco was already aiming his camera at a funny howler monkey.It: Decisa a catturare la loro attenzione, Giuliana raccontò una storia: "Un giorno, trovai un armadillo ferito.En: Determined to capture their attention, Giuliana told a story: "One day, I found an injured armadillo.It: Lo presi con me, lo curai e oggi vive di nuovo libero nella foresta."En: I took it with me, cared for it, and today it lives freely in the forest again."It: I due turisti ascoltarono, ma erano distratti dai colori brillanti di un tucano poco lontano.En: The two tourists listened, but were distracted by the bright colors of a toucan nearby.It: Mentre procedevano, la foresta diventava sempre più fitta.En: As they proceeded, the forest became increasingly dense.It: L'aria era piena del suono dei misteriosi abitanti della giungla.En: The air was filled with the sounds of the mysterious inhabitants of the jungle.It: A un certo punto, Elena si bloccò, allungando una mano verso un cespuglio.En: At one point, Elena stopped, reaching a hand towards a bush.It: C'era qualcosa che si muoveva.En: There was something moving.It: Con stupore, videro un giaguaro, mai visto così da vicino.En: With amazement, they saw a jaguar, never seen so closely before.It: Era elegante e fiero.En: It was elegant and proud.It: Giuliana sussurrò: "È raro vedere un giaguaro così.En: Giuliana whispered, "It's rare to see a jaguar like this.It: È uno dei simboli della foresta."En: It's one of the symbols of the forest."It: Marco ed Elena rimasero incantati.En: Marco and Elena were enchanted.It: Finalmente, vedevano con i loro occhi il significato delle parole di Giuliana.En: They finally saw with their own eyes the meaning of Giuliana's words.It: "Questo è ciò che dobbiamo proteggere," disse Marco.En: "This is what we need to protect," Marco said.It: "Dobbiamo fare qualcosa."En: "We must do something."It: Giuliana sentì una scintilla di speranza accendersi in lei.En: Giuliana felt a spark of hope ignite within her.It: Vedendo l'entusiasmo nei loro occhi, disse: "Possiamo cambiare le cose insieme."En: Seeing the enthusiasm in their eyes, she said, "We can change things together."It: Concluso il tour, Marco ed Elena promettevano di sostenere i progetti di conservazione.En: As the tour concluded, Marco and Elena promised to support conservation projects.It: Giuliana sentì una rinnovata fiducia.En: Giuliana felt a renewed confidence.It: Sapeva di aver fatto la differenza.En: She knew she had made a difference.It: Tornando indietro, sentì il fruscio rassicurante della foresta.En: Walking back, she heard the reassuring rustle of the forest.It: Realizzò che poteva ispirare gli altri e, forse un giorno, avrebbe potuto dedicarsi pienamente alla sua vera passione: proteggere e conservare il polmone verde del mondo.En: She realized that she could inspire others and, perhaps one day, could fully dedicate herself to her true passion: protecting and conserving the world's green lung. Vocabulary Words:the forest: la forestathe heart: il cuorethe stride: il passoconfident: sicurothe autumn: l'autunnohumid: umidothe tree: l'alberothe tourist: il turistato chat: chiacchierareanimatedly: animatamenteexotic: esoticoto dream: sognareto protect: proteggerethe ecosystem: l'ecosistemaancient: anticothe rubber tree: l'albero di caucciùto capture: catturareto whisper: sussurrarerare: rarothe jaguar: il giaguaroproud: fierothe spark: la scintillathe conservation: la conservazioneto support: sostenerethe confidence: la fiduciato inspire: ispirareto dedicate: dedicarsithe passion: la passioneto ignite: accendersithe bush: il cespuglio
Send us a textAuthor Shirley Russak Wachtel discusses her latest book, THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES, NYC, generational trauma, history, and much more in this compelling interview.“As a daughter of Holocaust survivors,” Wachtel explains, “I have heard many tales of loss, trauma, and even heroism. These stories inspire me not only in the way I live my life, but also in the topics I take on as a writer. In THE BAKER OF LOST MEMORIES, I turn to the story of a child of someone in my generation—the second generation—who carries her parents' trauma throughout her life. The experiences of our parents and the resounding effects on the next generation are what make this story compelling.SYNOPSIS: It can take a lifetime to turn painful memories of the past into hope for the future. Growing up in 1960s Brooklyn, Lena wants to be a baker just like her mother was back in Poland prior to World War II. But questions about those days, and about a sister Lena never even knew, are ignored with solemn silence. It's as if everything her parents left behind was a subject never to be broached.The one person in whom Lena can confide is her best friend, Pearl. When she suddenly disappears from Lena's life, Lena forges ahead: college, love and marriage with a wonderful man, the dream of owning a bakery becoming a reality, and the hope that someday Pearl will return to share in Lena's happiness―and to be there for her during the unexpected losses to come.Only when Lena discovers the depth of her parents' anguish, and a startling truth about her own past, can they rebuild a family and overcome the heart-wrenching memories that have torn them apart.To learn more about Shirley, or to purchase her book, please go to: https://www.shirleywachtel.com/Creator/Host: Tammy TakaishiAudio Engineer: Alex Repetti Visit the Self-Care Institute at https://www.selfcareinstitute.com/ Support the showVisit www.creativepeacemeal.com to leave a review, fan voicemail, and more!Insta @creative_peacemeal_podcastFB @creativepeacemealpodRedbubble CPPodcast.redbubble.comCreative Peacemeal READING list here Donate to AhHa!Broadway here! Donate to New Normal Rep here! Interested in the Self-Care Institute with Dr. Ami Kunimura? Click here Interested in Corrie Legge's content planner? Click here to order!
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Lian's Artistic Triumph: Finding Inspiration in Limitation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-06-03-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在学校的走廊里,连、明和其他学生们忙碌地穿梭着,空气中弥漫着端午节的兴奋和期待。En: In the school corridor, Lian, Ming, and other students busily shuttled back and forth, the air filled with the excitement and anticipation of the Duanwu Festival.Zh: 连是个充满创意、热情洋溢的高中生,正准备参加学校的艺术比赛,她希望能在比赛中脱颖而出。En: Lian is a creative and passionate high school student, preparing to participate in the school's art competition.Zh: 但此时,她正为找不到适合的艺术材料而感到苦恼。En: She hopes to stand out in the contest, but at this moment, she's troubled by her inability to find suitable art materials.Zh: 连的好朋友明是个乐观、支持她的人,他一直鼓励连将作品展示给更多人看。En: Lian's good friend Ming, an optimistic and supportive person, always encourages her to showcase her work to more people.Zh: 他们决定趁课间去学校的小商店看看,那里通常有各种各样的艺术用品。En: They decide to take advantage of the break to check out the school's small shop, which usually has a variety of art supplies.Zh: 然而,他们到达商店时,发现货架几乎被一抢而空,留给连的选择十分有限。En: However, when they arrive at the shop, they find the shelves almost empty, leaving Lian with very limited choices.Zh: 明不想让连失望,他提议道:“别灰心,我们可以去问问秀老师,说不定她会有好办法。”En: Unwilling to let Lian down, Ming suggests, "Don't lose heart, we can go ask Xiu lao shi, maybe she'll have a good idea."Zh: 秀老师是学校的艺术老师,虽然平日里显得有些冷淡,但她一直很欣赏连的潜力。En: Xiu lao shi is the school's art teacher.Zh: 他们来到秀老师的办公室,秀正在专心画着龙舟图案。En: Although she usually appears a bit aloof, she has always appreciated Lian's potential.Zh: 看到连和明进来,她放下画笔,微微一笑。En: They arrive at Xiu lao shi's office, where Xiu is intently working on a dragon boat pattern.Zh: 连有些拘谨,但还是说出了她的烦恼:“秀老师,商店的材料不够,我不知道该怎么办。”En: Seeing Lian and Ming entering, she puts down her brush and smiles slightly.Zh: 秀耐心地听完她的话,然后鼓励道:“创意才是一个艺术家的真正财富。En: Lian, slightly apprehensive, voices her concerns, "Teacher Xiu, the store's materials are not enough, and I don't know what to do."Zh: 我们不妨利用已有的材料,尝试一些不同的东西。En: Xiu listens patiently, then encourages her, "Creativity is the true wealth of an artist.Zh: 联想一下端午节的活力和色彩,用你的独特视角去创造。”En: Why not use the materials you have and try something different?Zh: 连被秀老师的话打动了,决定不再过分纠结于完美的材料。En: Think of the energy and colors of the Duanwu Festival, and create with your unique perspective."Zh: 她开始利用现有的颜料、纸张,并加入其他未曾想到的元素,例如旧报纸、干树叶,甚至一些彩色线绳。En: Moved by Xiu lao shi's words, Lian decides not to overly concern herself with perfect materials.Zh: 渐渐地,一幅充满端午节热情的作品在她的手下成型。En: She begins to use the available paints and paper, incorporating other elements she hadn't thought of before, like old newspapers, dried leaves, and even some colorful strings.Zh: 最后的作品送到评委面前,连心中忐忑不安。En: Gradually, a work brimming with the enthusiasm of the Duanwu Festival takes shape under her hands.Zh: 然而,当她看到评委会给出的积极评价,她终于展开了笑容。En: When the final piece is presented to the judges, Lian feels anxious.Zh: 大家都被她作品中的活力和新鲜感打动,赞扬她的创意和想象力。En: However, upon seeing the positive feedback from the jury, she finally breaks into a smile.Zh: 通过这次经历,连明白了她作为艺术家的价值不在于完美的材料,而在于她独特的视角和创意。En: Everyone is impressed by the vitality and freshness of her work, praising her creativity and imagination.Zh: 她更有自信地表达自己的艺术,从此,连在艺术的道路上越走越远。En: Through this experience, Lian realizes that her value as an artist doesn't lie in perfect materials, but in her unique perspective and creativity.Zh: 端午节的阳光洒在她的脸上,也照亮了她心中的未来。En: She becomes more confident in expressing her art, and from then on, Lian progresses further on her artistic journey.Zh: 端午节的阳光洒在她的脸上,也照亮了她心中的未来。En: The Duanwu Festival sun shines on her face, illuminating the future in her heart. Vocabulary Words:corridor: 走廊anticipation: 期待creative: 创意passionate: 热情洋溢festival: 节participate: 参加competition: 比赛contest: 竞赛materials: 材料supportive: 支持shuttle: 穿梭shelves: 货架choices: 选择aloof: 冷淡potential: 潜力apprehensive: 拘谨concerns: 烦恼creativity: 创意perspective: 视角elements: 元素dried: 干enthusiasm: 热情judges: 评委feedback: 评价vitality: 活力imagination: 想象力realizes: 明白confidence: 自信expressing: 表达journey: 道路
Welcome to Friday Favorites! Over the last eight years, we've had some incredible conversations with world-class experts, inspiring guests, and, of course, YOU. This series is all about revisiting the episodes that have stood the test of time as listener favorites. This also gives new listeners the chance to explore some of our "greatest hits".Every Friday, we'll bring you one of the most popular episodes from our archives, packed with wisdom, inspiration, and actionable advice. Whether it's your first time hearing it or you're coming back for a refresher, these episodes are guaranteed to bring value to your life.Join us as we celebrate some of the best moments in the podcast's history with Friday Favorites! Let's dive in...In this episode of the Rachel Hollis podcast, Rachel discusses the common struggle of making big decisions and how it often stems from fear of making the wrong choice.Original Air Date: May 31, 2023In this episode of The Rachel Hollis Podcast, Rachel explores the challenge of decision-making and provides valuable advice on how to navigate big choices. Rachel discusses the importance of taking action and overcoming the fear of making the wrong decision.01:11 Welcome and Podcast Subscription Request02:04 Making Big Life Decisions07:55 Embracing Fear and Learning from Mistakes18:09 Visualizing the Best Outcomes24:55 Overcoming the All-or-Nothing Mentality25:43 Embracing Fear and Going All In26:15 Dealing with Judgment and Critics28:23 Building Community and Commitment29:16 Listening to Life's Nos30:14 Finding Inspiration and Modeling Success32:09 Making Conscious Decisions40:56 Considering Long-Term vs. Short-Term Effects47:42 Final Thoughts and EncouragementSign up for Rachel's weekly email: https://msrachelhollis.com/insider/Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (737) 400-4626Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelHollisMotivation/videosFollow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MsRachelHollis To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices.
Download my FREE Smart Buyer's Guide for Acquiring Cash-Flowing Businesses in 2025 HERE: https://contrarianthinking.biz/4iD1WtP In this episode, Robert Greene discusses the intricate dynamics of power, communication, and human behavior in both the personal and professional realms. He emphasizes the importance of observation, understanding ego, and navigating workplace politics while also exploring the nature of authenticity and the role of storytelling in influence. Codie and Robert dive into the balance between fear and likability in relationships and the challenges of finding inspiration in adversity. Chapters 00:00- Understanding Power Dynamics in Business 03:08- The Art of Writing and Communication 06:13- The Importance of Marginal Notes 09:06- Navigating Workplace Politics 12:08- The Role of Ego in Professional Success 14:57- Recognizing Toxic Influences 17:50- The Interplay of History and Human Nature 21:12- The Nature of Authenticity 24:04- The Subtlety of Seduction and Deception 27:09- Observing Human Behavior 29:46- The Complexity of Authenticity 33:13- The Role of Storytelling in Influence 41:10- Playing the Power Game 42:50- Strategic Thinking vs. Tactical Hell 45:10- Leveraging Power and Long-Term Thinking 45:46- Fear vs. Likability in Relationships 51:02- The Sublime and Personal Transformation 55:06- Finding Inspiration in Adversity 01:00:54- The Importance of Authenticity in Writing 01:06:01- Understanding Anti-Seductive Traits 01:10:50- Creating Mystery in Relationships 01:15:56- Words of Wisdom for the Younger Self MORE FROM BIGDEAL: