Podcasts about flattered

This company began by accident. As someone who puts on concerts for some of the biggest stars in the world, I wanted to give those I worked with something special, something made with love. After all, what do you give someone who can afford anything? It all started to change with the first order request. Flattered, I shipped a free bottle. But as more requests started pouring in, what began as a heartfelt gesture quickly turned into a challenge. I had to make a choice: turn everyone away or turn this into a business. So here we are. Fiery was the first sauce I created, based on a recipe my aunt shared with me years ago. I spent years refining these flavors with one goal in mind: to help you Amplify Your Food. Just as countless others have shared their positive feedback,I look forward to hearing about the compliments you'll receive at your next meal. Enjoy! Walter Kinzie Foods, Founde

Isabella Löwengrip är en svensk entreprenör och investerare. Hon är bland annat medgrundare till modemärket Flattered och delägare i Natural Cycles. Isabella är politiskt engagerad i Moderaterna och vill hjälpa partiet att vinna tillbaka kvinnorösterna. OBS. Det här är inte hela avsnittet. Vill du få tillgång till alla hela avsnitt? Bli medlem på Sista Måltiden. Som medlem får du tillgång till alla nya och gamla avsnitt i sin helhet och utan reklam. Lyssna i valfri podcast-app, inklusive Spotify. Enkelt att komma igång. Ingen bindningstid. Tryck här för att bli medlem eller gå in på https://sistamaltiden.se. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabella Löwengrip är en svensk entreprenör och investerare. Hon är bland annat medgrundare till modemärket Flattered och delägare i Natural Cycles. Isabella är politiskt engagerad i Moderaterna och vill hjälpa partiet att vinna tillbaka kvinnorösterna. OBS. Det här är inte hela avsnittet. Vill du få tillgång till alla hela avsnitt? Bli medlem på Sista Måltiden. Som medlem får du tillgång till alla nya och gamla avsnitt i sin helhet och utan reklam. Lyssna i valfri podcast-app, inklusive Spotify. Enkelt att komma igång. Ingen bindningstid. Tryck här för att bli medlem eller gå in på https://sistamaltiden.se. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this compelling solo episode, Jesse Schwamb unpacks one of Scripture's most famous—and misunderstood—passages: Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees and Herodians over paying taxes to Caesar. Far from being a simple political soundbite, Matthew 22:15-22 reveals Jesus' brilliant wisdom in dismantling false dilemmas and redirecting our focus to identity rather than ideology. Through careful exegesis, Jesse demonstrates how Christ's response cuts through political posturing to address the deeper question: Whose image do we bear? This episode serves as both a masterclass in biblical interpretation and a timely reminder that our ultimate allegiance belongs not to any earthly authority, but to the God whose image we carry. Perfect preparation for the podcast's upcoming journey through the parables of Jesus. Key Takeaways Jesus Cannot Be Cornered: The Pharisees and Herodians crafted what seemed like an inescapable trap, but Jesus transcends false dilemmas by reframing the question entirely, demonstrating His divine wisdom and authority. The Imago Dei Is Central: By asking "Whose image is this?" about the coin, Jesus points to the deeper question: Whose image is on you? We bear God's image, making our primary obligation to Him, not Caesar. Civil Authority Is Real but Bounded: Jesus affirms legitimate temporal authority ("render to Caesar") while establishing that all such authority is derivative and limited by God's ultimate sovereignty. Hypocrisy Is Exposed by Action: The Pharisees' immediate production of a Roman coin revealed they were already participants in the system they questioned, undermining their supposed concern for Jewish law. Amazement ≠ Transformation: The opponents "marveled" and left, demonstrating that intellectual defeat or astonishment at Jesus' teaching is not equivalent to spiritual conversion or surrender. Identity Precedes Politics: Before asking what we owe the government, we must ask what we owe God—the answer being ourselves, as those created in His image. The Breath of Divine Life: Our creation bears special intimacy—God breathed life into humanity, making us doubly unique as both image-bearers and recipients of His divine breath, foreshadowing spiritual regeneration. In-Depth Analysis The Imago Dei Is Central Jesus' response to the tax question brilliantly redirects attention from political obligation to theological identity. When He asks "Whose image is this?" about the denarius, He's employing the Greek word eikon—the same term used in the Septuagint translation of Genesis 1:27 for humanity being made in God's image. This isn't coincidental wordplay; it's deliberate theological teaching. The profound truth here is that while Caesar's image on a coin establishes his claim to that piece of metal, God's image stamped on humanity establishes His total claim on us. We are not our own; we were bought with a price far greater than any taxation. The coin metaphor works because it's a physical representation of ownership and authority—but our bodies and souls are the true "coinage" that belongs to God. This reframes every political question as ultimately subordinate to our identity as image-bearers, reminding us that our primary citizenship, allegiance, and obligation is heavenly, not earthly. Civil Authority Is Real but Bounded Jesus' statement "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" has often been misinterpreted as establishing a complete separation between sacred and secular realms. However, Reformed theology—particularly Calvin's interpretation—understands this passage as establishing legitimate but limited civil authority within God's sovereignty. Caesar's authority is real and should be respected; Christians are called to submit to governing authorities as Paul argues in Romans 13. However, this authority is derivative, not ultimate. Caesar operates within a sphere that God ordains and limits. There is no zone of existence that belongs exclusively to Caesar, outside God's jurisdiction. The state has legitimate claims on our obedience, our taxes, and our civic participation—but never on our worship, our ultimate allegiance, or our conscience when it contradicts God's law. This creates a framework for Christian citizenship that takes earthly government seriously while never granting it the totalizing authority that belongs to God alone. Amazement ≠ Transformation The conclusion of this encounter is sobering: the Pharisees and Herodians were "amazed" but unchanged. They marveled at Jesus' wisdom, were intellectually outmaneuvered, and had nothing more to say—yet they walked away to plot His crucifixion. This demonstrates a crucial truth for evangelism and apologetics: winning an argument is not the same as winning a soul. Intellectual defeat can coexist with spiritual hardness. Someone can acknowledge the brilliance of Jesus' teaching, be unable to counter His logic, and still refuse to surrender their life to Him. This reminds us that conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit, not merely the result of superior argumentation. Our task is faithful witness and clarity in presenting truth, but we must pray for the Spirit to do what only He can do—soften hearts, open eyes, and bring dead souls to life. Astonishment at Jesus must give way to submission to Jesus. Memorable Quotes "You can never corner Jesus. Of course, you can never catch him off guard. And while those seem like very just trite and straightforward explanations of who he is and what his character is like as the son of God, we should not go away from them too quickly because what we find here is the wisdom and the brilliance of God in providing teaching to cut to the hearts of what is actually in the question." "Caesar can have his coin, but he cannot have you. Not in any ultimate sense. You and I, loved ones, we belong to God." "Being out argued is not the same as being transformed. You can leave someone with nothing to say and still not reach the heart." Full Episode Transcript [00:00:08] Jesse Schwamb: So here's the trap. If Jesus says yes, pay the tax, he completely alienates the crowd of Jewish pilgrims who are beginning to believe that he might be the Messiah who will liberate Israel from Rome if he says. No, do not pay it. He could obviously be reported to the Roman authorities as a seditious rebel. Either answer loses. There's really no good way out of this. At least on the face. Either answer costs him something, his popularity or his freedom, and this is what we call a false dilemma. The Pharisees think that they've got him cornered. But here's the thing, loved ones they haven't. You can never corner Jesus. Of course, you can never catch him off guard. And while those seem like very just trite and straightforward explanations of who he is and what his character is like as the son of God, we should not. Go away from them too quickly because what we find here is the wisdom and the brilliance of God in providing teaching to cut to the hearts of what is actually in the question. And Jesus doesn't play this game. Welcome to episode 487 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast for all those with the Imago Day. Hey, brothers and sisters, so let's talk taxes. Now you should know that the Reform Brotherhood is not that kind of podcast, but I suspect that you had one of two responses when you heard that topic. Either it piqued your interest or you thought, I'm just totally gonna skip this episode, and I get that. That's a polarizing topic. It's in part why I said it at the top, but I want us to chat a little bit today about a passage of the scripture where Jesus himself brings up taxes, but not in that way. In fact, he demonstrates some exceptional teaching, showing the wisdom of God in a very difficult and complex circumstance. And so we're gonna spend just a little bit of time hanging out in Matthew 22.  [00:02:17] Why Matthew 22 [00:02:17] Jesse Schwamb: Now, why are we doing this? Why this on this episode? Well, we're about to continue on the podcast, our inexorable march through all of the parables of Jesus as we go into the summer months. It's parable, summer loved ones, which I realize sounds like a horrible name for like a low budget drama. But in this case, Tony and I are about to reem embark or pick up our journey in the parables of Jesus. And what we find in Matthew 22 is this little exchange. It happens. And it actually is in the midst of a bunch of parables that are happening. It's in some ways a response to the parables that Jesus is bringing forward. And also, I just love this passage so much, and since we're doing one more solo episode, before we, we reunite and the band comes back together and we start talking about parables. I thought this is a great way for us to, again, consider the teachings of Jesus. In light of everything that he's saying and teaching in these really lovely stories. And so we find ourselves to think right in Matthew 22, which is a great place to be. So come hang out with me there. Grab a Bible, go stop your car right now and pull up on your phone the Matthew 22 so you can read along with me because this is something fantastic. It's one of the most famous passages actually in the gospels. And also at the same time, it's one of the most misused texts in the history of political theology. Because people on every side of almost every date about this topic, especially taxes since they're mentioned here, have reached for this passage, like it's some kind of Swiss Army knife. So I think the best thing that we can do. Our conversation right now is, let's slow down a little bit. Let's chill out. Let's get easy. Let's read it carefully and figure out what Jesus was actually doing here because it is, I promise you, far more interesting than just like a soundbite about taxes and the way that I beta you. At the top of this episode by saying, let's talk about taxes. [00:04:09] Setting the Scene [00:04:09] Jesse Schwamb: Now, before we get to this particular passage, here's a bit of scene setting, which I think is really important before we get to verse 15, which is where we're gonna pick up. Jesus has entered Jerusalem in the triumphal procession. He's cleansed the temple. He's cursed a fig tree, and he delivered three withering parables aimed directly at the religious establishment. We've got the parable of the two sons. The parable of the Wicked Tenants, the parable of the wedding banquet, which by the way, we're gonna get to all those bad boys. They will all have their own episodes because they're all brilliant and exceptional in each their own way, and they deserve for us to sit in them a little bit. But by the time we reach chapter 22, verse 15, I think at this point the Pharisees have heard enough. They are not stoked about the fact that Jesus is coming after them and coming in hot. And so the response is, let's set a trap. Let's now go back on the offensive. Let's give Jesus a test in front of everybody. So he's gonna be pinned down with something very difficult to explain or to answer. And so that's exactly where we find Matthew writing in 22 verse 15.  [00:05:15] Reading the Passage [00:05:15] Jesse Schwamb: Here's where we pick it up. Matthew writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Then the Pharisees went and took counsel together about how they might trap Jesus in what he said, and they sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians saying, teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth and deferred a no one for you are not partial to any. Therefore, tell us what do you think? Is it lawful to give a tax to Caesar or not? But Jesus knowing their wickedness said, why are you testing me? You hypocrites, show me the coin used for the tax. And they brought him a denarius and he said to them, whose likeness in inscription is this? They said to him, Caesar's. Then he said to them, therefore rendered Caesar, the things that are Caesar's and to God, the things that are god's. And hearing this, they marveled and leaving him, they went away. What an incredible passage. I love this so much in part because we're about to see here this wisdom in the teaching of God through Jesus. It's both spicy. It comes with almost like a clenched fist. It strikes back, but it gets to the root of something that wasn't even part of the original question and unentangle the trap to such a degree that the end result is that. Everybody is left speechless and they just have to walk away.  [00:06:41] Enemies Unite [00:06:41] Jesse Schwamb: And it starts with this idea that the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. Matthew actually uses this interesting word here, this idea of they took counsel together. It's a formal deliberate scheme. In other words, they definitely talked about this. It's premeditated, it's not impulsive. It's a confrontation with design. And the Pharisees are doing opposition research. They want to. Trap him, tangle him up. The Greek is to snare or to trap in a net. So they're hunting. They're trying to snipe Jesus, and they're going to send in this least likely combination of collaborators, collaborators, to do this whole thing. It's worth noting here. These groups that we have in the passage, the Pharisees and the Herodians, these guys were natural enemies. The Pharisees were Jewish priests or purists who despised Roman rule, and the Herodians were political pragmatists who basically owed their power to Rome. And so these guys, you can imagine, they agreed on almost nothing except that Jesus needed to be stopped. And when your enemies join forces to come after you. I guess you know, you've been effective. We might think about the own, own, our own times in which we live and the kind of polarized way our societies tend to be bending and tilting right now. And to think what would it take for everybody to come together, unite on common hatred or disagreement about some kind of third element or party? What would it take for that to happen? And so here, there is. The sense in which both the Pharisees and the pros for all of their dislike toward each other, for all their philosophical and religious disagreements, for all of their political conniving against each other, they are completely united in this purpose. And they easily come together to say, Jesus, we must deal with, and it requires all of us, let us come together and reason against him finding a way that we can consolidate our effort and power to such a degree that we leverage one another to entrap him. So there's something here where I think they're demonstrating what the Psalms say that God, when the nation's rage against God, he laughs. He holds 'em in derision. And here's a perfect example of that. In a microcosmic kind of way, we find these two groups who really should never be with one another, finding common ground and unity to try to defeat. Jesus.  [00:08:56] Flattery as a Trap [00:08:56] Jesse Schwamb: And so this delegation arrives and here is their approach to Jesus. They say, teacher, we know that you are true and you teach the way of God truthfully, and you don't care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances. This is some kind of magnificent flattery, and it actually, it's almost entirely true, which just makes this so ironic. There's a confession among the Herodians and the Pharisees, even as I tried to undermine Jesus, you know, that's what makes this so dangerous. They say you don't care about anyone's opinion. You're not swayed by appearances. They're essentially saying you can't be pressured. You'll answer honestly no matter what. And in saying so, they're trying to pressure Jesus, of course, into answering honestly. But it's like a rhetorical judo move. The compliment is the trap spring mechanism. Calvin, in this passage, likes to know that they address Jesus as teacher to feign respect while concealing this animosity, this ho hostility that they have towards him. They want him to be relaxed. Flattered off guard as if it's possible to take the son of God off guard, but notice what they're actually confessing in that flattery. Jesus is truthful. He teaches God's way accurately. He's not a respecter of persons. Every word they speak in false praise is true testimony about who he is, which makes their hypocrisy all the more damning. And this is the thing, for as much as anybody wants to try to blaspheme Jesus for as much as anybody wants to come at him with one particularly. Facet of his character. For instance, he's a good teacher or he seems to teach peace and love and truth and that, and that's it. They compliment him while at the same time confessing themselves short of the true confession of who he is. And so it's ironic to me that these guys. Who in their hearts are holding all of this malice toward Jesus. Say, well, you're not a respecter of persons because you th see things as they are and not merely as they appear to be, while all the time thinking that they're truthfully concealing the fact that they hate him and yet are flattering them with his, flattering him with their tongues. The absurdity of this is absolutely insane. And so I think if you're in this moment, you have to be appreciating. This sense of what is building here? How is Jesus going to respond? The trap has been set. They've tried to flatter him, and of course he's not buying it. But they start with this question. All of that's a set up to say here is like the real punchline. Tell us then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?  [00:11:36] The False Dilemma [00:11:36] Jesse Schwamb: Now, if you're like me, quite honestly, you might wish that Jesus answered this question differently. This is the trap, the trap. Snapshots on this single question or so they think, I mean, I, I truly believe they think they're being really smart here, that they've come to terms with maybe lots of ideas. I don't know what they did. Whatever the equivalent of using chat GPT was, they said, how can we entrap Jesus? They all got together. They devised a plan. I'm sure they had. Some kind of whiteboard where they're brainstorming ideas and some came up and said, no, that's not gonna work. And others came. I imagine they settled on this because they thought there was no way outta this. And in some ways it's actually a really brilliantly engineered dilemma. The tax in question here is the kenzos. This was the Roman poll tax. A denarius per head paid directly to Rome, and it was incredibly and deeply controversial. Some Jews viewed paying it as completely an act of collaboration with an occupying pagan power, and the zealots called it outright sin, and the HEROs thought it was perfectly fine. So here's the trap. If Jesus says yes, pay the tax, he completely alienates the crowd of Jewish pilgrims who are beginning to believe that he might be the Messiah who will liberate Israel from Rome if he says. No, do not pay it. He could obviously be reported to the Roman authorities as a seditious rebel. Either answer loses. There's really no good way out of this. At least on the face. Either answer costs him something, his popularity or his freedom, and this is what we call a false dilemma. The Pharisees think that they've got him cornered. But here's the thing, loved ones they haven't. You can never corner Jesus. Of course, you can never catch him off guard. And while those seem like very just trite and straightforward explanations of who he is and what his character is like as the son of God, we should not. Go away from them too quickly because what we find here is the wisdom and the brilliance of God in providing teaching to cut to the hearts of what is actually in the question. And Jesus doesn't play this game.  [00:13:40] Coin and Hypocrisy [00:13:40] Jesse Schwamb: Jesus aware of the malice says, why? Put me to the test. You hypocrites, show me the coin for the tax. He doesn't even pretend to take the question at face value. He immediately identifies what's happening. This is a test and you all are hypocrites. Now, for me, I think if you are in the seats or standing in the shoes or the sandals, I suppose, of the Herodians or the Pharisees. I would be like, if I were on the side, I would be like, pull up, pull up, get out, get out. He's onto us just just with Jesus directly coming at them and labeling them as hypocrites. I think that itself undoes all of this. They've been exposed from the very beginning and Jesus doesn't mess around. It's like him coming into the temple to cleanse the temple, and it's as if in his left hand, he has mercy in his right hand. He has that cord that whip. And the word that Matthew uses here for hypocrites is one that Jesus deploys with like surgical precision throughout his this gospel. A hypocrite is someone performing virtue they do not possess. And right away he identifies it. These men are performing concern for Jewish law while actually serving their own political agenda. And I love that the son of God in power does not put up with that at all. And then, and I think this is. Absolutely delightful. Jesus asked them for a coin of all the things he could have said or done. Here's where there is like a little bit of a kind of a parable feel to this. He asked for the physical object, the thing that they're talking about. He asks, and interestingly, he doesn't have one. He's the guest of Pilgrim, the one without a Roman Denarius in his pocket. But, and here's what's interesting. Loved ones, they produce one immediately for him, which means the people who are asking whether it's lawful to use Roman currency are already using Roman currency. Jesus hasn't even answered yet, and hypocrisy is already self-evident. I think that's a considerable fact. The, the instance that they're able to produce the coin promptly, I don't think is a minor detail. It implicates them. They're already participants in the Roman economic system, which. I would say it's not necessarily a bad thing. Their question about whether it's lawful to pay taxes to Caesar is somewhat undermined though by the fact that they're carrying Caesar's money in the temple precincts. In other words, the whole thing just smells a setup. And even Jesus asking for the coin is showing them and others around them that not is he onto them. Not only does he see through them, but he is undermining the complete argument that they're making, showing that the question that they need to have answered is actually not about taxes at all. It's about something much deeper he's about to answer or bring forward the question, rather, whose image is on you. [00:16:29] Whose Image [00:16:29] Jesse Schwamb: And he starts by holding up the coin and saying, whose image is on this? So they bring him a denarius and Jesus says to them, whose likeness and inscription. Is this now the denarius of Tiberius Caesar bore his portrait in the inscription. The inscription, generally historians say, said something like Tiberius Caesar, son of the Divine Augustus, and it was a claim of divinity stamped into everyday commerce. This is why so much of the Jews found it so offensive to participate because it felt as if in every transaction you were affirming in some way the divine authority of Caesar. It was a claim that was stamped on the coin and therefore represented in every kind of transaction that took place throughout the lamb. Every time a Roman coin changed hands, Rome's imperial theology was in some ways quietly proclaimed, and Jesus holds it up and he asks this obvious question. Whose face is on this thing, and the Greek word for likeness here, whose likeness is, this is the word for image. This is the word the SubT uses in Genesis one. When God makes humanity in his image, in the Imago day, Jesus is about to build an argument that depends on this resonance, whether his questioners hear it or not. Whose image is on the coin and whose image is on you. Those are two very different questions with two very different answers. And of course, they lead to this incredibly famous reply, one that's known by most people, but I think not understood by many. So they said, Caesar's Caesar's image is on this coin.  [00:18:12] Render to God [00:18:12] Jesse Schwamb: So Jesus says to them, therefore. Render to Caesar, the things that are Caesars and to God, the things that are God. I think of almost all the places in the scriptures. This might be Jesus at his most dazzling. I say that partly. Subjectively, because I'm captivated by this whole encounter. I'm captivated and drawn in by the son of God and his teaching here. I'm captivated by his ability to see through what's happening here, and I'm captivated by the truth that he delivers. But I think I'm not alone because objectively, when we get to the end of this, we find everybody else marveling. Notice that Jesus doesn't choose between the two horns of this dilemma. He reframes the entire question. He blows up the entire premise because even here, the choice of language is so incredible. The word render means to give back what is owed, to return, what belongs to someone. Sometimes we hear this as give, give to Caesars. What is Caesars? Just give it to him. This seems like a, a secular question you're asking me. So keep this secular nonsense out of what is this sacred life? But instead it's not just give it's give back, render as in this was already his to begin with. So give Caesar back. What has Caesar's image on it? The coin bears his image. The coin belongs to his realm, fine. But when that, but then comes this, this second half, this glorious truth, that's far better, and this is where the weight falls. Give to God, what has God's image on it. And what of course, bears the image of God, you and I, every human being made in the mago de bears the divine image. Caesar can have his coin, but he cannot have you. Not in any ultimate sense. You and I loved ones. We belong to God. And of course, from a reform perspective, this is the bedrock of what we mean when we speak of the Lordship of Christ over all of life. There's no zone of existence that is only Caesar's. Caesar operates within a sphere that God ordains and limits. The state has legitimate authority. Paul's gonna argue that in Romans 13, but the authority is derivative. It's not ultimate Caesar's domain is real, but bounded God's domain is total and unbounded. And so that's why. Calvin insists that Jesus never divides life neatly into sacred and secular. Rather, he is establishing that all of life is lived before God, and within that totality, there are legitimate temporal authorities to whom we owe appropriate submission. The coin goes to Caesar, but the person. The image bearer of God is owed entirely to the Lord.  [00:20:50] Imago Dei and New Life [00:20:50] Jesse Schwamb: I was thinking, again, reading through Genesis, just how beautiful the CR creation narrative is when it comes to mankind, that God is ex ne hill speaking things into existence. He's showing his great command over all things. The spirit hovering over the waters from the beginning. And here's God in this Trinitarian act, bringing into the existence, all the things that you and I know, all the things which are familiar to us that we still marvel at, but are part and parcel peace wise of the world in which we live. And I sometimes forget that when it comes to that day, when God creates man, that he forms him and then he takes a breath and he breathes. The specialty of that type of creation that you and I are derivative and contingent beings, but we're way separate than all of creation because God has breathed his very breath of life into us. And in that way, it's not just that he set us up and said, let me design mankind to be like me, which he does. Let us make mankind in our own image that Trinity says in the scriptures, but also that consummation of life. Comes from the very breadth of God himself. And in that way we find that human beings are doubly special. I would say that one, that God has formed us to be like him to exhibit many of his qualities, but two, that life itself didn't come just from merely speaking, but there's an intimacy. More or less loved ones. He put his lips on ours and breathed into us so that we might be alive. And of course, the scripture itself tells us that the second life, the abundant life, salvation itself is very much like that. In the same way, Jesus didn't come to make bad people good. It came to make dead people alive. And so we need that breath of life again. And when we are surrendered to him, when he comes and arrests our hearts, when he does that incredible surgery of cutting us and removing that heart of stone and replacing it, one with flesh, we are made alive in Christ so that we gain more in Jesus than what we lost in Adam. [00:22:50] Amazed Not Changed [00:22:50] Jesse Schwamb: So what is everybody's response when Jesus explains all of this? Well, I love what the scripture says when they heard it. They marveled and they left him and went away. They marveled the Greek here is, is the word actually for enthusiasm. They were amazed and astonished. It's not actually polite appreciation. This is like draw drop of people who came to spring a trap and watched it spring BRAC on them. There was no follow up question. I love this, don't you? That this is so complete, so succinct, so confronting, so condemning, so damning that they had nothing, they, they left. Imagine maybe they looked at each other with that look of like, does anybody else have anything else they wanna say? 'cause if not, I just want to get outta here right now and notice what Matthew doesn't say. He doesn't say that they repented, he doesn't say that they believed they were astonished. And they left. They walked away. And this is one of those sobering realities of the gospels. Jesus could silence his opponents without converting them. Intellectual defeat is not the same thing as spiritual surrender. The Pharisees went away to a pla to a. Construct a plan essentially of crucifixion of how to kill him. And being out argued is not the same as being transformed. I think for us in evangelism and apologetics, it's a good reminder that winning the argument is not the goal. Clarity is a gift and faithful witness matters, but conversion is the work of the spirit. You can leave someone with nothing to say and still not reach the heart, and this should move us to pray accordingly. So I'm amazed by this teaching because it draws us back to this understanding that what the Pharisees meant to use for entrapment to in the temporal space. To divide Jesus, to make him basically say something that he did not want to say, to put him in a place he did not want to be. Instead, he uses the convey the greatest message of all, and that is we are God's children. And ironically, the ones who are professing to be God's children had missed the point altogether because what they really needed to ask was, whose image is on you? And as a result of that, what ought you to render that is to give back to God, and that is ourselves.  [00:25:00] Takeaways and Application [00:25:00] Jesse Schwamb: So here's some things I would say that we can take away from Matthew 22. A few things I think worth holding onto as you and I go about our weeks first, Jesus can't be cornered. And I, I understand that that's like obvious to say, but don't you love that about the God man? Like every intent to trap him. In this chapter and throughout the gospels now and forevermore results in his opponents looking worse than when they started. And this is how we know that we can trust Jesus, that we can trust his power, that he is for us, that his enemies will ultimately be subdued, that they will be humiliated and made low, that he is the one who cannot be caught in his words because his words are truth. I love that the scripture just tells us the truth about reality, and so we come back to it time and time again because we find it both. Warm, comfortable blankets in which we might cuddle up as it were and find ourselves comforted by God. But also it does have a sharp edge that like a knife cuts against us sometimes to remind us that we serve a holy God and that we are sinful people. It never shrinks away from the truth when that hard edge of the law must be brandished against us, and it also at the same time, never ceases to apply the bomb of the gospel to our lives where we need healing and restoration and comfort. Here's the second thing in my mind, this question, this big question, is it lawful? And what a question by the way, right? Like, you know, you could couch this in lots of different ways. Should we pay taxes? That's kind of how we think about it. But this idea of like, no, no, no. Is it lawful? Which law are we talking about? The law of God or the law of the land Even that is left for this kind of subjective reasoning to entrap. This was a question though about politics. And Jesus answered with a question about identity. I love that. Whose image is this? That is always the deeper question in my mind. And before you ask what you owe the government, we ought to ask what do we owe God? And remember that you yourself are what you owe him because you bear his image. So we start from this place where we don't get it twisted like we do in Romans one, when we're outside of God. That is, we don't wanna change the truth of God for Allah here. We need to remember that Presuppositional, all that we are, all that we have, all that we've been given, all of this is God's. And so in that contingent sense, we are merely pouring back to him that which is already due, his name and his praise. And so that's the place where we start. Third, I think there is a legitimate but bounded role for civil authority in Christian understanding of the world. That's something Tony and I have talked about before. You can go back into the Reform Brotherhood catalog, which by the way exists in reform brotherhood.com. You can find all of the 400 deficits back there. There's a search function, so you can just type in a word and at this point I'm guaranteed some episode will come up. We've talked about this before. How we're not theocrats, we're we're pilgrims. Who hold our earthly citizenship loosely and our heavenly citizenship with everything that we've got. So there is a role in our land for civil authority. Paul, again will argue this very cogently in Romans 13. At the same time, we don't wanna get it twisted. We don't want to have too much focus on that. And too little focus on the fact that our heavenly citizenship is what truly defines us because of who we are. And finally. Amazement is not enough. The Pharisees were amazed and walked away unchanged. We can't just be impressed by Jesus. We must be His. And to remind you, even I think as we engage in the parables that are ahead of us and the teaching that is behind us here in this episode, that it's not just to marvel and say, wow, isn't Jesus. Good because he is, and he is really great with his teaching. He's really great at perceiving all of this. But more than that, he's Lord and Savior of all. He's guiding us not into just like better rhetoric and how to defeat like Pulic argumentation. He's drawing us into the very heart of God, into love for him and for service for one another. And it starts with who we are and how much of our society right now. Has gotten all of this confused such that a lot of our problems is because we do not realize who we are. We are trying to change who we are, change the rules of who God has made us to be, and in this way we shipwreck our lives. And so Jesus calls us back with this simple question, whose image is this? And in that question, our loved ones, I would encourage you all to meditate, to metabolize it, to set yourselves to it. Because the task of answering that question is the task of understanding who God is and who we are in light of who God is. So there you go. Uh, just a little bit of teaching from Jesus that I think is so helpful for us, especially as we move into more parables that he's about to expand. As we go through, I don't know how many that we have left, but there's a lot of 'em, so you're gonna want to continue to hang out with us, I think, because we're gonna go through these, talk about them, process them together, pull in some exegetical chops at the same time, make sure that we're trying to apply these things, because that's the whole point here. There's so much here. I think that could be said. But I'm gonna leave the application to you. So take your time meditating and thinking through this lovely teaching.  [00:30:08] Join the Community [00:30:08] Jesse Schwamb: If you wanna come hang out and do some of this together, which, why would you not wanna do that? We are super fun people. That's what everybody says. Come and join us in the Telegram chat. You've heard me say before, telegram is just a messaging app, and we have a small corner of that app that's a private group of listeners from all around the world who are just hanging out together. We're talking about the episodes, we're talking about life together. We're sharing prayer requests. We're. Tasting things and recording videos of how delicious or not those things are. So if you're curious now about how you can join, it's super easy. Just go to any browser and type in t me slash reform brotherhood, t me slash reform brotherhood. One more time. Everybody in the back. It's t. It's in telegram.me back slash reform brotherhood and then you'll find a link which will take you right to the place where we are all conversing together.  [00:31:00] Closing Blessing [00:31:00] Jesse Schwamb: So that's it on this episode. Come hang out. We're about to jump back into the parables. The band will be back together. It's everything that you wanted and more and, and I hope that you'll come and hang out again. But until you do, you should definitely honor everyone and love the brotherhood. 

Gustav Lidén, grundare och VD Flattered, gästar podden Framtidens E-Handel och delar med sig av en 13 år lång resa fylld av både eufori och kriser. Från den innovativa starten med influencers till de tuffa läxorna om kassaflöde, tullar och komplex produktutveckling i Sydeuropa. Gustav berättar öppet om de sömnlösa nätterna med Excel-ark, utmaningarna med att skala i USA och hur AI nu revolutionerar allt från design till logistik. En strategisk djupdykning för dig som vill förstå balansen mellan att bygga ett långsiktigt premiumvarumärke och att vara en effektiv "krängare" i den digitala samtiden.05:40 - Bloggar var mer effektiva för trafikdrivning 07:50 - Återförsäljare ställer idag mycket hårdare krav på dokumentation08:50 - Första investeraren gav andrum att anställa mer personal12:40 - Svårt att jobba effektivt ihop som par utan uppdelning15:10 - Tidiga delägare ägde som mest över hälften av bolaget17:50 - Önskar bättre koll på lönsamhet och kassaflöde från start28:50 - Fabriken bör ta huvudansvar för inköp av råmaterial33:00 - En lokal skomakare fick rädda 800 par felskurna skor37:50 - Returgraden på boots kan ligga upp mot 50 procent44:40 - USA står för cirka 25 procent av den totala omsättningen49:10 - AI används för att visualisera skisser till färdiga produktbilder57:10 - Var nyfiken och våga testa nya okonventionella metoderHär hittar du Gustav & Flattered:https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustav-lid%C3%A9n-2125b314/ https://flattered.com/ Sponsor Shopify:www.shopify.com/framtiden Framtidens Berns Event:https://framtidensehandel.se/products/roast Följ Björn på LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjornspenger/ Följ Framtidens E-handel på LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/framtidens-e-handel/ Besök vår hemsida, YouTube & Instagram:https://www.framtidensehandel.se/ https://www.instagram.com/framtidens.ehandel/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEYywBFgOr34TN8NtXeL5HQPoddproducent och klippare Michaela Dorch & Videoproducent Fredrik Ankarsköld:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaela-dorch/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankarskold/ Tusen tack för att du lyssnar!Support till showen http://supporter.acast.com/framtidens-e-handel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arthur's girlfriend thought it was a good idea to show off how hot her ex-boyfriend is

Ellen, Ryan and Sarah Dash tackle this listeners problem,her co-worker is copying her every move!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SEGMENT 10: NIXON, KISSINGER, AND MAO'S MURDEROUS REGIME Guest: Lee Smith Smith examines how Nixon and Kissinger flattered and empowered Mao in 1972 despite his murderous record. Tiananmen Square proved the regime's brutality, yet American leaders ushered China into the WTO anyway, prioritizing riches over human rights and enabling Beijing's rise to global economic dominance.`1905 Shanghai

Gina tells of an intriguing taxi ride. If you want to learn to tell your best story, please visit hongkongstories.com

(SPOILER) Your Daily Roundup covers my rant on why the Pascal interview from Thursday has been taken down & how I'm also kinda flattered by it, & my Back to the Future Sunday with more goodies to share with you.   Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Ads: ZocDoc – Click on https://zocdoc.com/RealitySteve to find and instantly book a top rated doctor today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(SPOILER) Your Daily Roundup covers my rant on why the Pascal interview from Thursday has been taken down & how I'm also kinda flattered by it, & my Back to the Future Sunday with more goodies to share with you.   Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Ads: ZocDoc – Click on https://zocdoc.com/RealitySteve to find and instantly book a top rated doctor today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a moment where artificial intelligence can write our emails, plan our meetings, even give us life advice. But here's the problem: these systems are often too agreeable for our own good. They're less like truth tellers and more like digital echo chambers. They nod along, validate our choices, and tell us exactly what we want to hear. To use an outdated term… GenAI is too often like a Yes Man.In this episode we're looking at the rise of sycophancy in generative AI, the tendency of machines to flatter us instead of challenging us. What does this mean for employees, for leaders, and especially for communicators who rely on AI as a tool? And how do we make sure our AI mirrors are giving us clarity, not just compliments? Listen For3:49 Is ChatGPT too nice for our own good?6:55 Can AI flattery mislead leaders?8:52 Do AIs just tell you what you want to hear?14:36 Is generative AI breaking social unity?20:45 Answer to Last Episode's Question from Mark Lowe Guest: Tina McCorkindale, PhDWebsite | LinkedIn | Google Scholar ProfileLink to Tina's LinkedIn article on The Danger of Sycophancy in GenAICheck out the IPR Video Series In a Car with IPR Rate this podcast with just one click Stories and Strategies WebsiteCurzon Public Relations WebsiteAre you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Apply to be a guest on the podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Our Top 10 for today: #FlatteredAkoKasi

Brad Pitt isn’t rolling his eyes at Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow reminiscing about their romances with him — he’s smiling. Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson’s show may be slated for a September return, but insiders say she’s “running on empty” and far from ready to be back in the spotlight. And Madonna has deliberately stepped out of public view, with friends saying she wants the world to “remember her for how she was” at her peak — not how she is now. Rob’s best pal Delaina Dixon from DivaGalsDaily's joins him today. Don't forget to vote in today's poll on Twitter at @naughtynicerob or in our Facebook group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, we examine Oscar Wilde's quote on flattery. 

Khloé Kardashian is not playing around with her ex-husband, Lamar Odom. Listen here and learn more at OKmagazine.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Can we “flatter” God?  Human flattery emerges out of unhealthy attitudes of mind to achieve a fleshly purpose!  There are many meaningful lessons to be gleaned from today's Psalm 78.  It surveys the whole history of God's nation and the good – and not so good – indeed the bad – in their relationship with their God.  What is a relationship with God? That's a question we each need to answer.The Psalmist draws most of his lessons from their experiences in the wilderness under Moses.  Overwhelming evidence had been given to the people – in the way of visual experiences of God in action.  Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required ….” [Luke 12 v.48]Up to verse 16 the Psalmist makes a summary of the physical evidence they had witnessed of their God in action; of the plagues in Egypt and their exemption from all but the first three; the dramatic Passover night, the drama afterwards and the parting of the waters so they crossed on dry land and then witnessed the drowning of the Egyptians. Then came the provision of water and now, says the Psalmist, “the bread of angels … in abundance” [v.25] and “winged birds … and they ate and were well filled” [v.27,29]At this point “the anger of God rose against them … they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly” [v.31, 34]  But what is their frame of mind as they express repentance and are seeking God?  Were they motivated by a sense of love for God? Now to love someone in a genuine way one needs to be in a heartfelt and abiding relationship with them, so what was now the nature of their attitude toward God?Verses 36 & 37 tell us, “They flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.  Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.”   So what did God do as a result?  Humanly, we would have expected a rejection of them – or at least some form of punishment. But no!  The next verse says, “Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often …”This is the message in the New Testament – to those in the wilderness of this world.  God's all-seeing spirit surrounds us – as it did them in the wilderness.  Paul told the Ephesians to “put off your old self … (it) is corrupt through deceitful desires ..” [4 v.22]  Deceitful desires among other things use flattery to achieve deceitful purposes.  Paul next says, “and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God …  in true righteousness and holiness.”  What challenging thoughts this provokes in our minds.  In what way can our “new self” be “in the likeness of God?”   This requires the deepest meditation – and the most earnest prayer.

Dave Jones presents Super Sunday from the Tottenham Hotspur stadium alongside Les Ferdinand, Jamie Redknapp, and Jamie Carragher and they analysed all the talking points from a very eventful game which saw league-leaders Liverpool score six times, which guaranteed them to be top of the table at Christmas. Redknapp described Liverpool's performance as ‘incredible' and said they exposed every weakness of Tottenham. Carragher agreed and felt the scoreline could have been much worse for the hosts. Trent Alexander-Arnold once again produced an eye-catching performance, and with the full-back's contract still to be resolved, Carra believes he would be remembered as one of the greats to play for the club if he does decide to stay at Anfield.Ange Postecoglou reacted after the match, saying it was a painful day for Spurs as they could not compete at the same level as the hosts. In contrast, Arne Slot was obviously delighted with his players' display and felt it was their best away performance of the season despite conceding three times. Pat Davison also speaks to goalscorer Mo Salah and Tottenham captain Son Heung-Min.

A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: They Flattered God With Their Lips: Lied With Their Tongues Subtitle: The Treasury of David Speaker: C. H. Spurgeon Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audiobook Date: 12/11/2024 Bible: Psalm 78:9-39 Length: 31 min.

The Treasury of David Psalm 78

A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: They Flattered God With Their Lips: Lied With Their Tongues Subtitle: The Treasury of David Speaker: C. H. Spurgeon Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audiobook Date: 12/11/2024 Bible: Psalm 78:9-39 Length: 31 min.

Today I talked about Juan Soto's deal, advancing in fantasy football playoffs with bad teams, Dan being a good person shocks me, fantasy collusion, NFL Week 14 Recap, and MORE! Please rate and subscribe to the podcast!

The truth behind the priests lecherous legends.By Nakod Apa. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.The PledgeAs was customary, the Temple constables came for Diana early on the day that she came of age; for it was ordained that one who had not been sired by a man was holy and consecrated to the service of the gods, if male to become a priest, if female to serve as a vestal servant; and that they should remain celibate all their years. She wore her finest outfit and did herself up for this big occasion. Today she was accepting a celibate vow and a lifetime of religious duties in the temple and the ministries of the priests. She was stunning, and folks stopped and stared along the streets, as her family procession went by.Diana was named for a great goddess. Her natural beauty was striking. Her inner grace and humility prevented her from any vanity at all.Peaceably Diana bade farewell to her mother but allowed them to follow behind her, to the Temple stronghold, for even had she so wished, there was no way she could escape her fate. She had long known that it was her destiny to become a vestal, as it had been her brother's to become a priest.Shut in a small cell, the hours passed slowly, boringly, as she waited to be given the first initiation step; a red robe of a novice; then be instructed in her duties. At last there came a clatter in the corridor and the sound of a key in the lock. Awkwardly, bearing a tray of food, a tall, young priest entered.“Jon!” She exclaimed in surprise. She jumped up and embraced her brother.“Hush, not so loud, little sister,” he admonished. “I had to bribe the kitchen vestal to allow me to deliver this in her place.”“But how are you, brother? Two years and I've not heard from you. Why have you not written?”“As you will discover it is not permitted for those commanded to the service of The Gods, to communicate with the ones they leave behind.”“Not even their sisters?”“Especially not them, for they might disclose the truth of matters that only The Chosen may know.”“Oh! But I was chosen to become a vestal anyway.”“And now you are not. That's why I came as soon as it was possible. To advise you.”“What do you mean, not to become a vestal? What else can I be?” Diana was confused.Jon paused to gather his thoughts. “Let me first set you aright, for much that we are taught is false; especially, that only those who are married may know and practice sex. Thus it follows that the children of an unmarried woman, like us, must have been conceived without benefit of a man, and are therefore special. Correct?”“Yes, of course.”“It's complete nonsense.”“Then who is our father?”“I know not, except that he must have been a priest.”“But the priests are celibate.”Jon gave a snort. “That is what we are meant to believe. The truth is that a priest may have sex whenever he pleases. I've enjoyed many women in the last two years.”“But where did you, do they, find the women?”“What do you think vestals are for?”“You mean, no I cannot believe it.” Diana was dismayed.“Vestals keep house, but that is secondary. Their main duty is to serve us priests. If you had become a vestal you would have been required to entertain any priest who desired you, and with looks like yours it would not have been long before most would have taken and enjoyed you. Wow, look at you, Diana! You're far more beautiful than I remember! These past two years have been very good to you.”“But what has this to do with being special.”“Well, how do we replace those that go to join the gods? If it were to be with the offspring of priests and vestals it would expose the myth of our purity, and in any case would eventually lead to serious inbreeding. So, at a certain point in their career, each priest is commanded to select from the Common Folk an unmarried woman he fancies, then drug the Eucharist she receives at prayers, divert her to private quarters after mass, then wait for her to pass out. When she finally awakes, she knows nothing of the sexual relations that occurred. But if she conceives, she is publicly esteemed by the priest, for having an immaculate conception. The bastards are the special ones, the replacements, us.”Diana shuddered and studied the floor. “But if I'm not to be a vestal, what am I to be?”“You remember in our lessons they taught us about the war with the nation of Dragonia?”“Yes.”“And how as part of the peace treaty, and to mark our subservience, we are bound to provide an annual tribute?”“Sure.”“What they didn't say was that this tribute is not a tax. That collected tax is diverted to secret clerical treasuries. The actual required Dragonian tribute is only nominal, and takes the form of a maiden. A beautiful young maiden from among the vestals and pledges. She becomes a slave to please and entertain the man who is ruler of Dragonia, The elders have decided that you are to be our tribute for this year.”“But I'm not beautiful.”“Oh my sister, Your humility denies the truth. Everyone else thinks otherwise, and they make the decisions in the Temple. Anyway just accept what comes, for a day or so. It won't be anything serious, at least not until you are given to the Dragonian dictator. I don't know what happens after that. But for now I'll keep an eye out and help where I can. Look, I'll have to go or they'll be wondering where I've disappeared to. Eat that food. Keep your strength up.”Awkwardly Jon leant forward and gave her a brotherly peck on the cheek, then slipped out of the cell door.The InitiationSomewhat perturbed Diana toyed with her food until, some thirty minutes later, two vestals appeared, led her to a room lined with old, cracked tiles, briskly undressed her, bathed her, then clothed her in an ancient red robe.“What happens now,” Diana asked.“You get to be taken to the High Cardinal.” One of the vestals told her. “Come on! He's impatient to know you.”Wearing only his outer dalmatic vesture, the High Cardinal watched as Diana was brought to stand before him. The red shift marking her as a novice was threadbare and at least two sizes too big, only just clinging to the points of her shoulders and leaving bare her slim neck and clavicle. The thin cloth draped itself enticingly around her ample breasts and rippled slightly as she walked, plainly revealing the bulge of her nipples with their dark areola. Her gleaming black hair tumbled down her back in disarray until it nearly touched her tight butt.He said nothing, just looked. He felt his manhood gradually stir and stiffen into readiness. This was one he would relish. Three-and-a-half score years, and more, were behind him but still he had the will and the power to want, ravish and enjoy, although not as often as in his prime. This one would delight him with the softness of those hand filling breasts and the thrusts of his shaft inside her hot, throbbing center. Of the many vestals he'd selected to pleasure him over the years, few had possessed a body to compare with this girl. It was a pity she must be relinquished to the Tribute, but it had to be. At least he would have a use of her before she was sent south.For her part Diana waited uncertainly. The supreme head of the Temple, this holy man, was staring at her most peculiarly. It was as if he wanted, intended, to have her. But no, he couldn't, if Jon was right he could take any woman he wished, so why should he want her? Anyway he was so old. That scrawny neck, those hollow cheeks and drooling lips revolted her. The thought of those liver-spot covered hands roaming across her body, fondling her breasts and caressing her thighs, made her feel sick.“My daughter. It was intended that thou shouldst become a vestal. That our priests, who so devoutly serve the Mighty Gods, might be blessed with some reward for their endeavors by enjoying the pleasures of your body. But on occasion the good of our congregation requires another, higher, sacrifice. We wish it were not so, that we could keep you amongst us, but we must bow before The God's command. Thou art to be our Tribute to The Great Dragon, the ruler of Dragonia, that he may leave us in peace for another year.” The High Cardinal paused, “We do not have to explain, your brother covered it well enough.”“You were listening?”“Do you think we are so imprudent as not to take a few precautions. Of course we heard all that he said, There remains just one item to be confirmed. Your beauty is undeniable, but alone it may not suffice to provide the pleasure to which a ruler is entitled. It is our duty to confirm that you will fully answer his desires.”She was muddled, disjointed, confused. “I don't understand.”Prima Nocta“We must be sure that when he uses you, as a man uses a woman, you will satisfy him. So we must first test your bounty.”“I'm to be mated?”“Yes. It is a chore we will ourselves undertake.”The thought of being taken by him repelled her. His pretense that he was only performing his duty was unconvincing, every word merely echoed his lust for her body.The High Cardinal drew a silk scarf from the pocket of his dalmatic vesture. “But first, since your preference will likely run to youth rather than experience, let us blindfold you. Then you can focus your mind on our skill, not our image.” He fastened the scarf around her eyes.“Now come. Disrobe and let us savor that lovely body with which The Great Gods have blessed you.”What choice did she have? Trembling, she raised her arms and reached behind to unfasten her shift. Lazily it fell to circle her feet. She felt a slight draught caress her body, and shivered as she imagined his eyes on her naked and vulnerable flesh. He would be studying her boobs, her untouched cunni. Tightly she pressed her legs together to hide her nether lips.“Trust us,” he said. “Do all we say and you will have an experience you will never forget.”She managed a faint, “I do not doubt it, Your Grace.”Smiling, pleased with her submissiveness, he looked her up and down, his eyes agleam with desire. His gaze lingering first on her quim with its lush beaver, then on her full, firm tits. His breathing grew harsh, his chest heaved as he reached for her and crushed her to him, the hardness of his erection stabbing her stomach. His palms stroked up and down her back, gently massaging her, feeling the smoothness of her skin; then paused on her hips, slid round to her flat belly and up, up to those adorable boobs. He stopped for a long moment, just cupping them and savoring their firm weight.When he again moved he slowly dragged his palms to and fro across her nipples, feeling them swell, before holding her by the shoulders and easing her to the couch. Firmly he pushed her back until she was lying, her neat buns at the edge, her legs dangling.His hands left her. Diana could hear a rustling, he was removing his dalmatic vesture. Quiet footsteps and she sensed he was beside her again. A light, barely felt touch, brushed her mouth. Her tongue instinctively flicked out to find his finger as he caressed each lip in turn. Then he stroked her cheeks, before dragging his palms down across her chin, her neck, the hollow of her collar bone, smoothing the skin in small circles. When he reached her left breast he pressed gently around the edge spiraling in until he found her bud. It stood high for him to squeeze firmly, sending a bolt of ecstasy straight to her centre. She moaned.The High Cardinal heard her breathing deepen, leant forward and ran his tongue around her other breast. God, she was tasty. His thin lips opened to take her swollen nipple into his mouth. He nipped her with his teeth, sucking her deep.The fingers of his other hand found her cunni. Gently, oh, so gently at first, he stroked her from clit to anus. His fondling grew firmer. He pushed a finger inside to test her dampness, was gratified when she arched her back and pushed her mound into his hand.The scarf was doing its work; she was unable to see him but his heavy breathing and the musky, unmistakable scent of sex was feeding her carnal needs and overcoming her revulsion. Her soft, “Yes, yes,” was music in his ears.“What do you want, my dear?” he asked.Diana barely heard him, all she knew was the rapture of his hands and mouth thrilling her in a way she had never known before. As he rubbed her clit, she began to pant, gave a low moan and dug her nails into his shoulders, then down his back to his hips, instinctively pulling him to her.He held back, in no hurry. She felt him ease himself onto the couch and kneel across her. All the time his tongue licked her nipples, his fingers explored her cunni, testing her wetness but not entering her. Her breathing quickened, she was near to climax. She whimpered, she needed to be filled. He would not let her come. His touch on her swollen cunni lips was feather light, then firm, then light. He seemed to sense her need and to repeatedly rouse and then deny her.She was ready. His fingers parted the soft lips of her center. The helmet of his cock butted them, sliding up and down coating itself with her dampness. He eased away from her, placed a hand to one side to take his weight, his other reaching for her thighs to open her wider before grasping his now totally rigid staff and positioning it at her entrance.She felt it, hard yet soft, probing, pushing her lips apart as the glans slowly entered, forcing deeper and deeper. There was nothing else in the world now but this manhood thrusting, filling, rewarding her. His stroke was slow, his pelvis grinding her clit. She couldn't resist. The tremors started deep inside her then rushed out to explode around his cock.He heard her cry, felt her come, but it was too soon, he wasn't ready yet. He thrust harder, faster; her beauty, her pleasure, her satisfaction were a dim, unimportant memory. All that mattered was his release. His thighs tightened, he shuddered, he whimpered. Hot and hard his seed erupted into her, filling her. He lowered his chest onto her two soft boobs and rested while his heartbeat slowed and the blood drained from his tyrannical probe.Some minutes passed before he rose, resumed his robes and removed the blindfold. “Yes, you will be a worthy Tribute. Would that we had more time to attend to your education ourselves. It would please us greatly to instruct you further. However, the Gods have ordained otherwise. You are required to leave at first light.”“No. Leave that. You deserve better,” he said as she reached to cover herself with the discarded shift. He pulled a cord by the tapestry and she heard the faint chime of a distant bell.The two vestals who had escorted her into his presence entered and genuflected. They were good looking women only a few years older than Diana.“What is the meaning of this rag?” The High Cardinal thrust the shift at them.“But, Your Grace, it is not worth giving her new robes just for the journey. Especially as we are told she will be naked for the presentation ceremony.”“But what if she is seen on the journey. What of her dignity. She deserves your respect. Both of you, remove your robes. Now!”Quaking somewhat at his anger they quickly unfastened their gowns, red with the white edging of senior vestals, and laid them before their feet.“Right,” he turned to Diana, “take your pick. Either should be a reasonable fit.Hesitantly Diana stepped to where, naked, staring at the floor, the two vestals waited. Gingerly she selected the nearest robe and swiftly lowered it over her head, grateful in the draughty room for the residual warmth of it's previous owner.Priest GeorgeThere was a sharp rap on the door. “Come!” Commanded the High Cardinal. The figure that entered was young for a senior priest being but a couple of years older than Diana's brother, but he carried himself with the assurance of one who has already received some prominence in the governing hierarchy.“Ah! George. Well timed.” The High Cardinal frowned at the two Vestals. “We will discuss your performance later. You may withdraw.”Hastily one gathered up the remaining robe and the other the rag that Diana had worn and, still naked, they hurried out of the chamber.“There she is, George,” the old man gestured toward Diana. “You may take her and be on your way. I will expect you back within three weeks.”The young priest bowed his head. “I am honored Your Grace. I will not fail the Gods.” Reaching out he took Diana's hand and drew her from the room.

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Karate Kid, Adventures in babysitting, Cocktail, She was nominated for an academy Award for Leaving Las Vegas with Nick CageHer new movie is called, “The Good Half”Elizabeth talks:-New movie-Working with Nick Jonas -How the funeral in the money portrays real life-Leaving Las Vegas -Cobra KaiPhoto Courtesy: The Sun  To subscribe to The Pete McMurray Show Podcast just click here

OR would you be SUPER worried???

Would you rather make the College Football Playoff every season for 25 years without winning a championship, or win one national title and never make the playoff ever again? FanDuel Sportsbook is BEGGING us to take Missouri tonight against Arkansas.***Follow Locked On Mizzou for FREE, and never miss an episode: LockedOnMizzou.com

Would you rather make the College Football Playoff every season for 25 years without winning a championship, or win one national title and never make the playoff ever again? FanDuel Sportsbook is BEGGING us to take Missouri tonight against Arkansas. *** Follow Locked On Mizzou for FREE, and never miss an episode:  LockedOnMizzou.com

Dre Harrison is back with the full team of Charley Williams and Hannah Atkinson for a tiple threat edition of Hot Takes Wednesday! On this edition, we ask if McLaren flattered Oscar Piastri's rookie season, whether drivers shouldn't be speaking out negatively on the state of the sport, and is Fernando Alonso the weakest of the multi-champs? Oh, and be sure to listen all the way to the end, as Dre has a special announcement. This episode is brought to you by NordVPN! Get an Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/wtf1podcast - It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee!

Whiners, this week is a solo episode..and you know what that means –  lots of singing! Please, can the record officially state that yams are yellow and sweet potatoes are orange!! P is warning y'all – don't drink too much at your corporate holiday party cuz like you'll never recover. Flattered, flattered, flattered!Follow the Pod: instagram.com/adultishwhines/Follow your Host: instagram.com/paige_crutcher/Buy Adultish Merch: adultishwhines.comGo to https://betterhelp.com/adultish for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsoredUse code ADULTISH at adameve.com for 50% off, free gifts and free shipping.Use code AWCLUB at kingsofneon.com for 10% off a custom neon sign.

Alex & Jordyn are back in the studio for the first time since leaving Barstool to discuss Alex's Paris trip, Jordyn's BF meeting the parents along with the do's & don'ts that come with it, and the aftermath of Alex revealing her divorce. Follow us on instagram at @meangirlpod, Alex @justalexbennett and Jordyn @jordynwoodruff. Visit our website for more! Thank you to our partners this week: OUAI: Go to https://theouai.com and use promo code GIRL to get 15% off your purchase. BETTERHELP: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/MEANGIRL and enjoy 10% off your first month! Chapters: 00:00:00 - The Return to the Studio 00:02:03 - A Spontaneous Trip to Paris 00:04:07 - Exploring the city of Paris 00:06:19 - Finding Healing in Paris 00:08:24 - The Importance of Self-Care and Enjoying Life in Paris 00:10:27 - The Importance of Hair Care 00:12:51 - Finding Balance and Fulfillment 00:14:47 - Exploring Paris and Meeting the Parents 00:16:53 - The Stingray Incident 00:19:01 - The Worst Stingray Sting Ever 00:21:03 - Painful Jellyfish Encounter 00:23:16 - The Benefits of Therapy 00:25:16 - Travel and Airplane Etiquette 00:27:26 - Room arrangements with significant others 00:29:34 - Sleeping Arrangements 00:31:38 - The Double Standard of PDA with Parents 00:33:43 - Our Own Language 00:36:13 - Couples' Nicknames 00:38:33 - Flattered by Hate Comments 00:41:02 - Finding Peace after Grief 00:43:30 - The Hardest and Most Powerful Year 00:45:54 - Embracing the Challenges of Life 00:48:17 - Prioritizing Self-Care and Finding Purpose 00:50:34 - Appreciating Friendship and Love 00:52:49 - The Power of Being Alone 00:55:05 - Embracing New Opportunities and Spontaneity 00:57:04 - The Next Phase of Dating 00:59:15 - Easy and Refreshing Relationship 01:01:25 - Meeting People in Non-Bar Settings 01:03:51 - Style Tips for Men 01:06:20 - Shoe Recommendations for Dirty Conditions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever run away to the circus and offered a clown a blowjob? It's 1977 in Jolly Old England, and Golden Age of Adult Cinema megastar Veronica Hart (a.k.a Jane Esther Hamilton) is performing under the big top when Brian the tightrope clown catches her eye - so she propositions him backstage. Flattered, Brian tells Vanessa he's happily married - and then the fun really begins! That night's intimate threesome turns into a family breakfast and a lifelong connection that inspired Veronica Hart's career as an actress, producer and director.   Song: '3' (Britney Spears)   Threesome l I Love my Wife l Big Top | Family l Circus l Clown l Elephants l Trapeze Artist l Human Cannonball | Performer l Gobsmacked l Model l Actress l Dancer l Singer l Best Gift l Industry l Tube l Tooting | Pixie l Wine l Malarkey l Parents l Relaxed l Threesome Dynamic l Integrity l Trustworthy l Worship l Miniskirt l Nipple I Crosseyed l Wink l Nuzzle l Smoosh l Guide l Huzzah l Sleepover l Breakfast l Pancakes and Orange Juice l A Scent of Heather l Wanda Whips Fall Street l Misty Beethoven the Musical l Marilyn Chambers l Producer l Director l Ginger Lynn l Michael Nin l Intimacy l Golden Age of Adult Cinema l London l   About our Storyteller:   Veronica Hart (aka Jane Esther Hamilton) became a star in Adult Cinema's Golden Age, won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in the Eroticas and XRCO Awards, and is included in several Adult Hall of Fames. Veronica Hart is one of the twenty-five most notable legends of erotica, and is listed as one of the one hundred most influential people in sex. She has a BA in Theatrical Arts, and is known for performing in many adult films, including A Scent of Heather, Wanda Whips Wall Street, Roommates and Amanda by Night and also acting in mainstream, playing the judge in Boogie Nights and Viveca St. James in Six Feet Under and for acting on stage in The Deep Throat Sex Scandal, The Dyke and the Porn Star and Dial S for Sex. Veronica's Awards include XRCO and Erotica Awards for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Non-Sex Performance and membership in the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame. After retiring from performing hardcore, Veronica became a featured dancer and a producer and director and received an XRCO Best Video Award for Torn (directed and produced by Hart) and for Best Comedy or Parody - Misty Beethoven: The Musical (directed, edited and produced by Hart). Veronica has a Doctorate in Human Sexuality and has worked in Las Vegas at the Erotic Heritage Museum, taught intimacy and loving relationships in China and has a wonderful husband, Stan and two amazing sons, Chris and Max. She currently works as an extra in major Hollywood productions and is looking for representation. As a member of SAG/AFTRA, Veronica is open and available for acting jobs as long as any media is union sanctioned. Check out this Daily Beast article about Jane Hamilton, Annie Sprinkle, Veronica Vera and the infamous Club 90: https://www.thedailybeast.com/club-90-the-secret-womens-club-that-rocked-the-porn-world Episode links:   SUBSCRIBE: Want to be the first to know where Bawdy is headed to on our National Tour? I'm trying to bring Bawdy to YOUR city.   Subscribe to the Bawdy Storytelling email list at https://bawdystorytelling.com/subscribe   You'll be the first to see upcoming tour dates, get access to tickets, storytelling workshops, livestreams, podcasts, fan meetups and special events. I've been shadowbanned on Social Media and having my accounts deleted is probably next. The only sure way we can connect if that happens is for you to sign up for Bawdy's email newsletter. Let's be Friends! (And please ask your friends to sign up, too)   WORKSHOP: 'How to Be Fascinating: Dixie's Secret System for Brilliant Storytelling' is happening live and in-person. It's an all day workshop happening on Sunday, December 3rd in San Francisco, and there's just a couple of spots left… Join Dixie and a fun/small/open-minded group of storytellers-to-be, where you'll learn Dixie's incredibly easy (and super secret) method. Soon, you'll rock that job interview, excel at public speaking, feel more at ease on dates, learn to fully express yourself and yes, even stand onstage and deliver a standing-ovation worthy chapter from your life. My unique story method is so valuable because once you learn how, you'll know the secret of telling a great story forever. #LifeSkills #NotJustBawdy   How to Be Fascinating Workshop in San Francisco Date: Sunday, December 3rd (10 AM - 5 PM) Register now at https://tinyurl.com/HTBFWorkshopSFO Questions? Email Dixie at BawdyStorytelling@gmail.com   Patreon: Bawdy still exists, Thanks to our Patreon supporters. But we're still in dire financial straits, and every dollar matters SO MUCH right now. I want to keep producing, archiving and sharing these exceptional, one-of-a-kind true stories for you for a long, long time - but I'm totally dependent on Bawdy's audience to continue. Would you please help?   Join Bawdy's Patreon now to get exclusive Patreon-only rewards, and my eternal gratitude. Become a Member now: https://www.patreon.com/Bawdy   Every dollar you send our way ensures that we will make it through this, so please, Help (before it's too late). Please consider a donation (of any amount) to our Patreon, or through a one-time donation below. I'd be so grateful!   Looking for another way to Keep Us Going? Our donation links are:   Venmo: Venmo.com/BawdyStorytelling Paypal: paypal.me/bawdystorytelling Zelle: BawdyStorytelling@gmail.com BuyMeACoffee: buymeacoff.ee/bawdy CashApp: $DixieDeLaTour And THANK YOU!   PRIVATE COACHING with Dixie: Want to work one-on-one with me? Right now I'm offering personal branding (your dating profile, website, etc), Storycoaching a nervous new keynote speaker, and I help develop documentaries, craft personal stories for the stage, and write their books - because storytelling is everywhere you wanna be. I can help you live the life that you've always dreamed about: communicate with clarity, help you land your dream job, and discover your own story … Whether it's getting onstage for the first time, writing your memoir, creating a podcast, or learning brand storytelling for your business, I can help. Email me at BawdyStorytelling@gmail.com and let's make it happen.   My upcoming Substack 'The Dixie Ramble' is at https://substack.com/profile/22550258-dixie-de-la-tour #Subscribe   What is Substack? Substack is an email newsletter platform (made up of text, audio, video, etc) known for its hands off approach to censorship. While there are still some publishing guidelines (no porn, hate speech or harassment, for example), the platform's lack of gatekeeping has attracted both ground-breaking journalists and some seriously controversial writers”. https://blog.hootsuite.com/what-is-substack/   Bawdy Got Me Laid perfume, Bawdy Butter & more: Dixie has created her own fragrance: You'll love #BawdyGotMeLaid perfume, scented with golden honey, amber, ylang ylang, and warm vanilla. There's also our (scented or unscented) creamy Bawdy Butter, Hair & Bawdy Oil, & more. Bawdy Got Me Laid Merchandise means you can deliver your own great smelling Motorboats while supporting Dixie and Bawdy. Get yours today at https://bawdystorytelling.com/merchandise   Check out our Bawdy Storytelling Fiends and Fans group on Facebook - it's a place to discuss the podcast's stories with the storytellers, share thoughts with your fellow listeners, & help Dixie make the podcast even better. Just answer 3 simple questions and you're IN! https://www.facebook.com/groups/360169851578316/       Thank you to the Team that makes this podcast possible! Team Bawdy is:   Podcast Producer: Roman Den houdijker Sound Engineer: David Grosof Storytelling support by Mosa Maxwell-Smith Dixie's Virtual Assistant is Roillan James Video & Livestream support from Donal Mooney Bawdy's Creator & Podcast Host is Dixie De La Tour & Thank you to Pleasure Podcasts. Bawdy Storytelling is proud to be part of your sex-positive podcast collective!   Website: https://bawdystorytelling.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bawdystorytelling/ Like us at www.Facebook.com/BawdyStorytelling Join us on FetLife: https://fetlife.com/groups/46341 Support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Bawdy Watch us on YouTube at http://bit.ly/BawdyTV Find out about upcoming Podcast episodes - & Livestreams - at www.BawdyStorytelling.com/subscribe  

Do you ever long for a deep conversation with someone? Today's episode is about a creative measure someone took to make that happen. It reveals what many of us long for, and how we can make the world a better place, one conversation at a time. As with every episode, our purpose in this podcast is to help you find more joy in the relationships God designed for you. The Next Door app I'll start by telling you something interesting I found the other day on the social media app, “Next Door.”  It's a bit like Facebook but for neighborhoods. You sign up to get posts from people living in your neighborhood, and it's usually people asking for recommendations. Things like, “I need a plumber,” or “I'm new in town and am looking for a good dentist, who would you recommend.” Things like this.  Last summer, for example, I found a high school student through this app willing to pull weeds from our flower beds, so it's great for items like this. But you'll also find annoying things like a recent post that read “Why is the Taco Bell on Moreland Rd closed all of a sudden.” That's not so bad, but it generated a long thread of comments about how horrible Taco Bell is, followed by a string of Taco Bell fans praising the place. Followed yet by another string of “Why are people so lazy they can't make their own tacos at home? What's wrong with you people?”  I think you get the picture. It's why I delete the app, but then months later sign up for it again. An unusual request Anyway, the most unusual post I've seen in a long time came from an attractive woman by the name of Nicole who posted her picture with the following: I turn 40 in roughly 4 months. To celebrate, I'm challenging myself to have deep conversations with 40 different individuals. What's in it for you? Maybe some clarity in an area you're questioning or better sense of your purpose or even just someone to listen to you unload. What's in it for me? I get to connect with YOU. Simple as that. I want to close out my 30s by connecting with as many people as possible. And if we already know each other, let's do this anyway! Message me if you're up to help me with this challenge. Summary of the Responses The last time I checked 99 people responded to Nicole. Here's a summary of those responses: Slightly more women responded than men No one said “no” or anything negative. Everyone either said “yes” in one form or another, “Happy Birthday” and nothing more, or they had a question 9 people commented something along the lines of “Oh, you're so beautiful.” One person said she looked like Julia Roberts. None of these 9 agreed to a deep conversation Nicole is looking for. 2 people wanted to know more Selected responses I found interesting Jim: Wish I were 40 yrs. younger Nicole: ha! Flattered, but I'm married! Guy: Hello Nicole! I'm Game!! But I'm a talker…You better be ready!!! Joseph: The years have been very kind to you! What are some of your interests? Anna: I would love to do this. I am 78 years old. This could be very interesting. And maybe loving & caring. I could use more contact w/ good people. How do I get on board? Melody: Please be safe meeting all those people Emily: I'm in. Always great to meet new friends. Happy early birthday  Mark: Hello Nicole, what a way to start and meet new friends. I would like to connect and have some conversations. Angela: What a wonderful way to celebrate your milestone birthday! I am having a milestone birthday today @60! I have a lot of life to discuss and would be honored to help you accomplish this worthwhile project!! Steven: Absolutely, any time! Tami: Hi Nicole! I'm Tami, and I am so intrigued with your project!! I would love to help you with this. I'm a writer and deep conversations are my jam! Craig: Very interesting idea.  I love to chat with new people! Laura: If you haven't met your 40 conversations, I could use a good conversation with a kind soul. An interest in deep conversations from young and old Meghan: I wish there were more people like this with good intentions! I'm in my mid-20s. Intellectual conversations are kinda really my thing. Jeri: I would love to participate. I just turned 70 and looking for connection. Larry: I am 66; is it to just unload problems or to really make new friends--if you want to make new friends I am there count me in- Karen: I would love to help you . I am in my early 50s and love meeting new people and making friends. Kat: Well, I am 76 years old and I have lived through a lot! I was a postwar baby and as I became a teenager we dealt with birth control. Then there was the Vietnam war, civil rights. Live near the Bay Area in the 60s and saw lots of disobedience and Craziness. I lived to see John Kennedy shot and killed Martin Luther King shot and killed and Bobby Kennedy shot and killed. Those were sad sad days for America. I could go on and on, but I won't.  You get the idea.  At this point in my life, I have lost almost everybody that was of significance in my life growing up. But I'm still part of the class of '64 for our high school and we are a very connected class since we went from kindergarten through high school together for most of us. By the way, happy happy birthday Lyn: Nicole, I'm game if you're still collecting names. I just celebrated my 75th...definitely a milestone! Michelle: Hi Nicole, I'd love to assist with your quest.  What a lovely way to celebrate your next birthday. My response to the request for a deep conversation  I responded with this text, I'll do what I can to help you with this challenge. Shortly thereafter I received a text from Nicole that read: "Hey John! Thanks for offering to help with the challenge! "Just as a very brief background: I'm a nurse and obtained a certification as a transformative life coach and my goal is to connect with as many people as possible.  There's no catch, just connecting :) "Here's a link to schedule a time to connect:" Hmmmn. A different “deep conversation” than what was expected I clicked on the link to find a calendar to book an appointment. Above the calendar read “Free Session.” The word “Free” jumped out a me. It implies, especially after reading further, that some sessions are not free. Next to the calendar is more information from Nicole that began with: "Why do this? To connect! I'm a nurse and a health and wellness coach looking to serve my community one conversation at a time. I want to learn about you and where you're struggling right now, and alternatively, what's going great and how to help you build on that!" Nicole goes on to write: "Some sessions can be filled with big emotions and that's ok! I want you to express yourself to the fullest, be open and honest, and I'll do the same for you. That being said, if I feel you're not showing up fully in this way, I'll call you out on it and push you a little harder. Not showing up fully is not an option in my coaching space. "At the end, we'll make sure you have a plan to continue any forward momentum that we've created together." My take on all this I was really tempted to contact some of the 99 people who responded to Nicole's initial challenge to celebrate her upcoming 40th birthday by having deep conversations with 40 people. I'd like to ask them what they thought and felt when they got the same text I received when I responded to Nicole.  Believe me, that was so tempting. But if I did that, this episode would be about the ethics of Nicole's marketing strategy for her wellness coaching business. The larger and more interesting aspect to this story is why these 99 people responded to Nicole in the first place.  It caused me to go back and look at the responses of these 99 more closely and found they reveal something about what many of us are all looking for these days. What people are looking for I think of Anna, who at 78 years of age found the prospect of a deep conversation with Nicole to be in her words, “loving and caring,” and “I could use more contact with good people.” Then there is Laura who said, “I could use a good conversation with a kind soul.” And Larry who mentions he's 66 and “If this is about making new friends I am there. Count me in.” Another response that is telling comes from Jeri who said “I would love to participate. I just turned 70 and looking for connection.” And finally there is the response from Kat who spoke about the major events she lived through in her 76 years, almost as a way of auditioning for Nicole, implying that she would have a lot to offer in any kind of deep conversation.  I was especially touched when Kat said “At this point in my life, I have lost almost everybody that is of significance in my life growing up. But I'm still part of the class of '64 for our high school and we are a very connected class since we went from kindergarten through high school together for most of us.” Over and over again people talk about looking for connection and meeting new friends.  I think it's because many of us are lonely. Otherwise, why would we want new friends? It's either because we don't have any friends, or the few we have are just surface friends. So what does all this mean for YOU?  If you saw Nicole's request for a deep conversation, how would you respond?  Are you interested in deep conversations that would lead to connections with people and making new friends? Or are you overloaded with the things going on in your life that you just don't have any space for deep conversations much less new friends? Another thing this brings up is as people of faith, how would Jesus want us to respond to those looking for friends and connection with others?  We can't connect with everyone, nor be friends with everyone. And if you're active in a church, please, please don't say, “tell others they need to get in a small group.”  No, they don't. My hunch is that Jesus doesn't want us to funnel lonely people into a church program or ministry. Rather, I think he wants us to individually reflect his image and character.  To be what 78-year-old Anna is looking for,  “someone who is caring and loving” and that good person she could connect with. To be that “kind soul” Laura is looking for. Yeah, that's how I think Jesus would want us to respond. Because someone listened… I'll conclude by reminding you of that new feature we're trying out this season, Because Someone Listened… I'd like you to describe a time when someone listened to you well and the impact it had on you. Just complete the sentence because someone listened…. You can post it in the comment box at the bottom of the show notes, or you can email it to me at john@cringforothers.org. Closing In closing, I'd also love to hear any thoughts you have about today's episode. I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show, to be that loving and caring person, that “kind soul”  people are looking for. For when you do, it will help you experience the joy of relationships God desires for you. Because after all, You Were Made for This. Well, that's it for today. If there's someone in your life you think might like to hear what you just heard, please forward this episode on to them. Scroll down to the bottom of the show notes and click on one of the options in the yellow “Share This” bar. And don't forget to spread a little relational sunshine around the people you meet this week. Spark some joy for them.  And I'll see you again next time. Goodbye for now. Other episodes or resources related to today's shows 139: Why Should I Listen to This Podcast? 021: The Most Important Relationship of All Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. Please consider making a donation to help us pay the bills to continue this podcast and other services we provide missionaries around the world. You can make an online contribution to Caring for Others when you click here. You can also make a contribution by clicking on the yellow "Donate" box in the upper right corner at the top of the first page.

We we decided to do the AI 90's yearbook challenge, we didn't realize that people would wish we looked more like the pictures!

"The fashion world is evolving before us, with winter on the horizon. Much like a farmer, a founder must discern the current season and adapt their brands accordingly. Just as a farmer relishes the bounty of spring while also bracing for winter, so too must we be ready for the shifts in our industry." Preview of my recent podcast conversation with Flattered Co-founder & CEO Gustav Lidén for The Future of Fashion Business. In this episode, we spoke about the evolution of the D2C fashion landscape and why brands need to adapt to different business seasons. For clips and video version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCALRJUvCL5a15ZwW7dcpCyA

Sam Hutchison hosts this Full time episode of the Manchester is RED Podcast, with Tyrone Marshall's review from the game and Erik ten Hag's press conference in full. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we host a dialogue with Brian Co from Veloworthy. Brian shares his journey as a cyclist, becoming a podcaster and ultimately founding Veloworthy to explore video storytelling. The talk shifts towards Brian's recent dive into gravel riding during the pandemic - a pursuit aligning smoothly with his interest in digital media and videography. Despite the challenges of filming races and representing cycling's diverse stories, Brian consistently seeks truth in his work. Brian continues to explore the world of gravel through his lenses on this YouTube Channel, Veloworthy. Episode Sponsor: Hammerhead Karoo 2 (use code THEGRAVELRIDE for free HRM) Veloworthy YouTube Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: [00:00:00]Craig Dalton (Host): Brian, welcome to the show. [00:00:03]Brian Co: Thanks. It's so good to be here. I am so excited to be on your podcast. Uh, you know, we, we've been both been doing this for a while, but you've obviously surpassed many of the hobbyists, uh, in the, in the cycling podcast scene, so you're definitely authority when it comes to podcasts, cycling, podcasts. [00:00:24]Craig Dalton (Host): I appreciate it. And, um, you know, as we were reminiscing offline a little bit, your original podcast, the SoCal Cyclist, was one of those that was in my steady rotation as I started getting into listening to podcasts and thinking about doing one myself. [00:00:41]Brian Co: Well, thanks. I'm, uh, do I get a royalty from each episode? [00:00:47]Craig Dalton (Host): Well, you know how cycling media works so you can get a royalty, but it's not gonna do much for you. [00:00:52]Brian Co: It, it'll be, it'll, it'll be, uh, fractions of as cent, I'm sure. [00:00:57]Craig Dalton (Host): Exactly. Hey Brian, as you know, we all start the show. I love to learn like where'd you grow up and how did you find cycling originally? [00:01:05]Brian Co: You know, ironically, you know, I'm kind of, before velo worthy was known as SoCal Cyclist or SoCal Cyclist podcast, and I've ridden all over Southern California, LA Verdugo Hills, San Diego mostly. I'm based out of North County. Uh, but I actually grew up in Northern California. Um, where I think I'll, I'm a little bit biased. I think Northern California when I was growing up had a. And more robust cycling scene than Southern California, which was mostly crit heavy. Uh, so I grew up in the flat heat of Sacramento and um, you know, I think when I was, I. Probably two years old. My dad took me, my brother and all my cousins to this grassy park area called Ansel Hoffman Park and just said, I'm gonna teach you all how to ride a bike in one day. And we just, you know, the age gap between me and my cousins is about five years, and I was the youngest and we all learned the exact same day how to ride bikes. And then so like, Seven, six years later, uh, I entered my first bike race. Um, I was eight years old and it was a B M X race and I just loved it. You know, B M X was very, very big in the eighties and, uh, you know, the movie ET had just come out and there's a scene where they had take ET on the bike and they're like going down the hills and stuff, and I wanted to be Elliot from et I even remember wearing a red hoodie with the hood on. Just so I could pretend to be Elliot from et. And then when I was nine years old, I got introduced to, uh, road cycling, uh, by my cousins. And they all took this trip on the bike from LA to San Diego. I was too young to go, so I was there, but my brother and my cousins, three of 'em all went and they were, you know, 12. 13 years old. Uh, and, and they all did it. And then since after that I was like, I gotta get into bikes. Luckily there was this, this race, it was the biggest race in America at the time, equivalent to like the tour of California was. It was called the Chorus Classic. And it went through my town and it was the first time I actually. Got to meet Greg Lamond in person. And you know, I'm a little kid trying to get an autograph and I'm like tugging at his la claire jersey and he turns around and just gives me a smile because he was being surrounded by people. He had just won the tour of France, uh, for the first time. And, uh, since that point, cycling has, has been the only sport I've ever really known other than like high school, cross country and track. [00:03:59]Craig Dalton (Host): Okay. Interesting. So while you were in high school, I know, I know a lot of kids sort of end up leaving the sport in high school because of social pressures or other sports. Sounds like you kind of maintained and were still riding at that point. [00:04:14]Brian Co: Well, I think it was, it comes down to luck because I was just born at the right time. Like when I was a junior. I remember races being so full that they'd have to have heats and. It was actually cool to be a young junior cyclist. This is, I'm a few years younger than the Lance Armstrong sort of generation of guys like him and Hin, capi and a few others. Um, but when we were little, we all idolized being on like the seven 11 team or the postal service team, and it was actually cool. Today you see more of like. The older, older helmet, mirror bandana wearing crew that maybe thrive peaked in those days. But I think we're seeing a resurgence with, with gravel and, and a few other disciplines [00:05:05]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, certainly with youth, I mean, as you know, in Northern California we have big Nika League, so youth mountain biking at the high school level is insane up here. I I, the Mount Tam School high school team here in my town of Mill Valley, there's 60 kids on that team, which is an unbelievable number. And some of these kids are elite level athletes by the time they're leaving their senior year. [00:05:31]Brian Co: Yeah, it's uh, Nike's becoming the new collegiate cycling. 'cause all we had back in the day was, if you're good enough in high school, you went to a college that had a cycling team. And then I. If you were good enough to race the A category, which was like equivalent to CAT one, two, uh, you might be able to get a pro contract if you did well at a national championship. But Naica now has totally replaced that and the kids are younger, they're more talented, and even though bikes are getting more expensive and equipment is more expensive, they're able to find ways to to do that. I remember my first. Bike race as a junior. I think I was 14 or 15. I did the Mount Tam Hill climb and I was on junior Gears and one of the kids that won, he was on like the, I remember he was on the full team, Richie, uh, red, white and blue kit, and he had a mountain bike that was rigged up to be like, had skinny tires and he blew the doors off of everyone, but. Um, I just remember thinking, I can't compete with this level of talent for all the Bay Area kids. They're just head and shoulder 'cause they can all climb me. In Sacramento, I was okay on the flats and in crits, but you go to the Bay Area and they can just, they're little miniature, you know, Alberto Contours just climbing up the mountains. It was totally [00:06:55]Craig Dalton (Host): you end up, did you end up going to a university that had a cycling program? [00:06:59]Brian Co: Yeah. So, uh, when I was in high school, you know, I, I looked at different colleges. I ended up going to Northern Arizona University and Flagstaff that had I. Uh, a really big cycling team. In fact, um, the first Collegiate National Mountain Bike Championship I did, and, uh, the team got third in the Omnia behind, I think it was like CU Boulder and Stanford. And n a u is not known for a whole lot, but Flagstaff itself is a city, is, is a great place for mountain biking and just, it's at, it's at 7,000 feet altitude. And so you're, you're living at 7,000 feet, you're training at eight to 9,000 feet, and then you just, you have so much, uh, ability to do a lot. And so I actually abandoned road racing and went through like three years of a mountain bike phase. [00:07:54]Craig Dalton (Host): I was just gonna ask you that. [00:07:56]Brian Co: Yeah, rode a Bri Bridgestone, uh, fully rigid, uh, mountain bike, 26 inch wheels. And then my suspension, it was called a soft ride suspension stem. [00:08:07]Craig Dalton (Host): Uh, Brian, don't even talk to me about that. That's painful. [00:08:11]Brian Co: Yeah, [00:08:11]Craig Dalton (Host): had one of those. [00:08:12]Brian Co: jackhammer down these, down, these like breaking bumps. And I'm like, and uh, I, but at the time, like it was that, or like I think Rock Shocks had just come out with like the Judy or something. And so, uh, I did three national championships. Um, the hardest one I ever did was in Kentucky. Uh, a young up and comer from Fort Lewis. His name was Todd Wells, uh, lapped me on the last lap, and I'm like, who is this weirdo? And, uh, he ended up being one of the most dominant mountain bikers in America after that. So I, I hung up my mountain bike cleats after that point. [00:08:52]Craig Dalton (Host): So let's fast forward a number of years you find yourself in Southern California. It sounds like you were still racing criteriums. Recognizing you're not going pro, but still like many of us just loving the sport and continuing to do it. Tell me about like the transition from that to starting to talk about it on the podcast. [00:09:12]Brian Co: Oh, well, I think anyone who grows up with cycling needs, especially from a young age, needs to take a break. So I, I moved to Southern California just because I could, I could ride my bike year round, but then I ended up falling in love with the ocean and I, and I sold all my bike stuff and I ended up taking up surfing for like the next eight years straight. All I did was surf. And I even remember taking like my friends who were like pro cyclists out surfing and then they get hooked. Like my friend, uh, Alex Rio who was on Optum and Rally moved here and I was like his motor pacing guy, but I'm like, Hey, there's a ocean ride here like a hundred feet that way. Let's go get surfboards. And then he ended up loving it so much he moved to Hawaii, ended up starting big island bike tours there. Um, so I, I, I took a break from the sport. I, you know, got a little burned out. I was a little, uh, you know, it was during the whole doping e p o, you know, post live strong kind of mess. And I still followed the tour and stuff on tv, but I, I just wasn't racing anymore. And then one day, like. You know, in 2012 I just got, I, I used my beach cruiser 'cause everyone in Southern California has beach cruisers and I just started doing five miles, 10 miles, 20 miles up to 30 miles on a beach cruiser that weighs about 55 pounds with a basket and a lock. And then, uh, I told myself one day, okay, cool, I'm on a beach cruiser. I'm riding in board shorts and a t-shirt and a helmet, and there's this climb in Southern California called Tory Pines. And I, I said to myself, okay, if I can pass a guy in a real bike kit and a real road bike, I'm gonna buy myself a road bike. And I was like, I don't know how I'm gonna do it. So I, I finally, Saw somebody in a d in like a team kit. I think it was the Swamis team, which is a big team in Southern California. Cotton passed him. I was so gassed up at the top. I remember he said something to me. I think it was a compliment. My bike, it wasn't a single speed, it was a three speed internal hub. And then next day I got a road bike and started racing. And then the first crit I entered, I think it was like masters. I got. I got 13th place and then I was like 13th place with no training, but still the skills. And then I started doing more and more and more and catted up and then started doing the the 35 plus masters, which is I. Uh, probably as fast as the pro one, two, uh, guys, I mean, a lot of 'em are ex pros themselves and just started doing that and then was having so much fun. Decided to create a podcast, talking to all my friends about, um, bike racing and stuff like that. [00:12:15]Craig Dalton (Host): Nice, nice. Yeah. To your point, like in California, the master's class, like there's so many great riders and ex pros scattered across California, you hop into a Master's category. You may very well be racing against an X Pro. [00:12:31]Brian Co: Oh yeah, like I remember I was fighting somebody's wheel just so I could draft behind his name's. Ivan Dominguez, he is the Cuban missile. Just 'cause I wanted to look at his calves. I. That's all I wanted to do. And be like, oh, what gear is he using? And he's like this slow churn, you know, opposite of like spin to win, just mashing the gear. And I was just staring at his calves going, this is so cool. Ivan Dominguez, you know, former multi-time, you know, crit and Road Race champion, uh, and I'm in the same race as him and stuff like that is just, is super cool. [00:13:05]Craig Dalton (Host): Amazing. So you, you're, you start the SoCal cyclist to talk to your friends and just kind of explore another creative outlet as you've got a young child in at the home. Right. [00:13:15]Brian Co: Yeah. Well, at the time, and again, this is in 2016, there wasn't a whole lot of cycling podcasts, and the ones that did exist were very, um, tech heavy. Like they focused on disc breaks and stuff like that, which is great. But I wanted to focus on me and one guest every week for 52 weeks and to see if I could actually do it. But, and, and again, this is. Uh, people physically coming over to my house and recording. So it's the most inefficient way possible. And so, uh, I, I, I met that goal. I, I don't know why I even did it, but I, uh, you know, it started out as, as my friends in the first few episodes, and then by the last it was, you know, a lot of the top people in the sport. So I think it gained a lot of momentum after that. [00:14:07]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, and I can't recall how I originally found and discovered your podcast, but even before you rebranded to Velo Worthy, I was a listener, as you know, and when we connected at that first. Sea Otter, I think we were saying it might've been 2018. I was sort of fanboying you 'cause I knew you had done a lot of episodes. You're putting good content out there. Um, and it was fun to just connect with another podcaster to just trade insights. 'cause as you allo alluded to, the technology we're using back then was pretty rudimentary and difficult compared to what we're able to use today. [00:14:46]Brian Co: Yeah, you're right. Like. Whenever we record or put something out there, not just in podcasting, but in videos or anything, all you're staring at are numbers. So when you see somebody in person, you're like, oh, wow, somebody actually, this isn't all just a facade, like somebody actually is listening and we're talking about in person. So I think that's so cool. I mean, to this day, you know, most recently I was at Unbound, um, and I, I was so. Flattered and kind of validated that people would be like, oh, I watch your race coverage or your YouTube channel, and it just kind of blows me away. And I'm like, oh, really? You watch it? That's cool. And then they talk about it and stuff. So, uh, it still blows my mind. And I, I love that kind of thing. It's cool. [00:15:35]Craig Dalton (Host): so it is interesting in talking and getting a little bit more of your backstory to learn that. You know you had that mountain bike period in your life when you were back in Flagstaff. Then you come back to the road doing your thing, start podcasting Covid hits. I know you decided to kind of put the brakes on the podcast for a little while. I'm curious, in that sort of interim period from 2020 to now, it sounds like you've really kind of discovered gravel as being something that both suits you. Professionally with what you're doing with Worthy, but also just liking the, the vibe of the community and the style of riding. [00:16:15]Brian Co: Yeah, I mean 2020, you know, if, if everything shut down and there's no more races or even, like, I remember the group rides were a fraction of the size they were. Uh, why not do gravel where it's out in the open, it's. Mostly unsanctioned unless you sign up for something. And uh, I think the timing of everything just kind of worked. Um, gravel and I think gravel events kind of really took off between 2020 and now. And I think it appeals to so many people, including myself, because the rules are kind of unwritten. I mean, if I tried to do this, With a road background or a road focus, it would be 10 times more red tape to go to an event, especially like a U C I World Tour event because I, I have gone to like, uh, the tour of France and, um, Amgen Tour of California and just to go through those channels. It's very tradition based. Um, I, I interviewed one writer stuck a microphone in his face. Nathan Haas, he's, he's in gravel now actually, but at the time he, I think he was on like Catusa and he had just finished the stage and I just asked him a question and he reaches toward my lanyard with my media credential and he looks at it and goes, who am I talking to? And, uh, didn't even occur to me to like, Show him my badge. But if I did that at a gravel race, they'd be like, who are you trying to fool? Just talk to me like it. There doesn't need to be this vetting process. Um, so I think gravel gives that kind of freedom. [00:18:01]Craig Dalton (Host): So we don't, so the listener doesn't lear lose the thread here. Let's talk about velo worthy and what you're working on today because it's not a podcast anymore. [00:18:11]Brian Co: No, I, God, I, I need to get back into podcasting 'cause I miss it so much and I'm so excited just being on a podcast like, energizes me so much. But, so velo worthy is primarily, uh, a digital media brand where, uh, For lack of a better term, I make videos and put 'em up on YouTube. Um, but the, the thing about it is I've found this weird niche, uh, with my brand that not many other brands are doing. Um, you're either, most people, you know, if you're like, I. Tyler Pierce, a k a vegan cyclist, you're a vlogger or you, you focus on yourself and your accomplishments. Other writers do that as well. Um, Adam Roberts has his own channel, for example, Alexi has his own channel, for example. So if you're not that, you're either a, a. Working for a media brand. So if you work for Envy or something, you're just doing envy content at these events. But right now there's really nothing that captures the holistic view of an event where you're ca, you're not beholden to one writer necessarily or one brand. You're just trying to cover everything, which is a lot of work. But I think there's something to be said to. Sort of capture an unbiased view of what goes on at cycling events and just seeing things, how they unfold. [00:19:36]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, I think that's the thing that I take away from your videos is that you really do get the sense and feeling of the event. It's not a, an overly packaged, overly produced look at the entirety of the event. You really do. Because you're on the ground, because you're moving through the course, you're capturing footage that's just feels real, like you're seeing the mud on the tires. And when it comes to unbound, you're seeing the jockeying for water. At some of the stations, you're seeing how the riders are handling their pits. And I just feel like as a viewer, you do get a really strong sense of what it's like to be there versus this overly glamorized kind of prepackaged view of what the race weekend experience looked like. [00:20:27]Brian Co: Well, first of all, I'm just not good enough to make something highly produced because that takes a lot of talent, you know, to get that nice, you know, transition effect or whatever. But all kidding aside though, I really like, um, being in the moment, you're kind of up close and personal and, and the thing about gravel racing, the biggest flaw is it's not good for spectating. You start and then you finish either in the same place as the start or a different area. I mean, at least in road racing, it's criteriums and you can just watch lap after lap, have it unfold. But with gravel it's so hard to watch. Um, and so I know that if I film for 10 hours straight, that's kind of boring. Uh, no one's gonna watch that. But if I condense it into. Less than an hour or 45 minutes, or even a half an hour. Um, it can really capture the things that are unfolding. And unbeknownst to me, I didn't know that my footage was gonna be, you know, used for feed zone drama or finish line drama or any kind of drama really, but, The writers are not shy out on course. They'll ask me, what's the time gap? They'll ask me how many guys are ahead, who's in that break? They're asking, they're not asking for directions or anything. And I do follow all the rules of um, I. The race. So if a writer needs assistance and we're not allowed to give it, I don't give it, I just record. Um, so I think the relationship that I versus, uh, you know, a, a local news channel has, uh, at least knowing and following the sport and knowing the writers. And how it's unfolding and posting up at the feed zones, capturing what may or may not happen, uh, whether people wait up or they just hit the gun and go for it. Uh, makes for good, good video. [00:22:21]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, and I think as a fan of the sport, your types of content just help fill the gaps like we might see. Throughout the day, the social media coverage, but the clips are quite quick and much to people's chagrin because it's so hard to get coverage out there, you're just not seeing it in the way you want. So you don't necessarily understand what happened in the race until after the fact. And I was enjoying this morning watching your Unbound video 'cause it just sort of, Added levels of detail and little bit longer clips of content to really get a feel. You know, I obviously many of us have read about the mud conditions in this year's unbound, and it wasn't until I saw some of your, your video that I could sort of understand. Oh yeah. It's that peanut buttery type mud where it looks glossy until you put your tire into it and then it just sinks down a couple inches and it sticks to absolutely everything. [00:23:18]Brian Co: Yeah, this, this year's unbound wasn't necessarily the the dirtiest, but I would say that section of mud. Made the race. Uh, I, I would say it determined who won and lost in that first 11 miles. Uh, but you know, again, you can have the debate of you just gotta be hard and power through it. And if everyone's going through it, then you shouldn't complain or. Do you reroute it last minute and make some changes? So it's actually more of a open, right, where you're, you're riding your bike, you're not running five miles since most cyclists hate running anyway. But yeah, like I, I just, I think, you know, I, I try and show and capture what people would hopefully wanna see. So it's stuff like the mud and, and the pit stops, especially this year. Who's getting a bike wash? Who's not, uh, who's. There's a little section of Sophia that went through the pit stop and it got two and a half million views on TikTok. Just the 60 seconds of it with people going, everything from, why can't she switch bikes to, uh, why does she need to power wash her bike at all? Like, so it's, a lot of it is curiosity. A lot of it is, okay, this is what I heard what happened. I wanna actually see it. So, um, it, it, it's hard to, to get in those areas though. [00:24:45]Craig Dalton (Host): and you've, you know, through a lifetime of cycling and connections you have, you clearly have a good rapport with a lot of these athletes. And it was interesting as that video opened up and, and you're speaking to some of the athletes, I, I thought that was cool. And then you, you do do like morning of start line commentary, and I think there was one woman who said something like, Well, I'm glad it didn't, it's not raining right now, or it seems kind of dry and I thought that statement is not gonna live well. [00:25:13]Brian Co: Yeah. Well, the thing is too, as much as I. You know, I think this is my fifth unbound. Kansas is like Hawaii. The weather just changes on a dime. So it could be sunny, perfectly sunny, not a cloud. And then they just roll in. Um, and a lot of people who aren't from Kansas just aren't used to that. Like even me, I should know, to bring galoshes and, uh, a poncho with me and a plastic wrap for my camera. But I. I didn't because I'm like, oh, the weather looks fine. You know? 'cause we're in California. It rarely changes that drastically. Uh, so yeah, I think I. The relationship I have with the writers is solid. I try not to, to burn people for the sake of burning people. I, I had a good talk with some of the more well-seasoned journalists, and I said, when do you, when do you know when to publish something and when not to, like in the case of Lance Armstrong, no reporter reported anything about him until only one reporter did, and then everybody did, and they said, look, If you wanna burn somebody, you have to do it if it's for the greater good of the sport. So if you know somebody's doing something nefarious, like cutting the course, or cheating or taking drugs or drafting off of a vehicle, you should probably document that and mention that and show that. Don't, don't not do it just because you're friends with them and they ask you not to do it. [00:26:46]Craig Dalton (Host): Right. Yeah, [00:26:47]Brian Co: is always hard because you're like, okay, if I do this, that means you're never gonna probably wanna interview with me again. So that's, that's something I have to decide on the fly. [00:26:57]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, that's the balance. You talked about sort of your efforts to make velo worthy, this video project that people can enjoy on YouTube. You also talked about how you've been excited about coming to Gravel over the last couple years. What does the summer look like for you? What are the types of things that you wanna document this year? [00:27:16]Brian Co: Well, I, I'm learning that I'm not able to sustain what I'm doing on velo worthy unless we have an unbound every single weekend or at least a level of an event, the size of Unbound every single weekend. So I'm actually learning that, again, this is a complete shock to me that brands. Will actually reach out to me and say, okay, we want you to review this tire. Or thinking that I'm some sort, sort of expert just 'cause I go to these events. But, uh, yeah, it's kind of cool, like I'm learning the tech side of it all and doing videos where, uh, I'm reviewing saddles or sunglasses or something. Um, where, you know, in my opinion, I review something. Say sunglasses based on how they look versus like the, the technical prowess of it. And so that's always cool because it, it forces me to just expand what I'm doing and, and you know, you have to have this healthy balance between what you're passionate about versus what people want to see. And if they don't line up, then you have to make some decisions. But, um, You know when, when I'm gr interested in growing velo worthy, it depends on how I define growth and what I want that to be. Because if I could, I could be another channel where I'm just doing all tech, and some people love that. But for me, I like the human story. I like the human drama of it all. [00:28:53]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. I personally think that's more interesting as well. [00:28:57]Brian Co: Yeah, and then maybe show like what tires they're running at the same time, [00:29:01]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. I mean [00:29:02]Brian Co: not mutually exclusive. [00:29:04]Craig Dalton (Host): exactly. I mean, there's the personal element of like why I chose this tire for this particular event and why it was successful or unsuccessful as a choice. So what's, yeah, what's next? So you're out at Unbound, and I know you'd mentioned to me offline that you've got a bunch of gravel events you wanna cover this year. [00:29:21]Brian Co: Yeah. So in between Unbound and the events I'm doing, I have it, I have this like glass wall on my wall here that I take a pen and, and write to, and I have like a whole video queue and one's on doing a tire review, uh, a review of, uh, the new, uh, specialized truck, gravel bike that I'm trying to convert into a all in one bike. Um, and then I have, uh, Foco Fondo in Fort Collins. I'm going to a small gravel race, but probably the most fun you'll ever have on two wheels. Uh, Whitney and Zach Allison put it on and they have. Such a good pulse of what makes cycling events fun. Um, doing that, there's Leadville, uh, which is mountain biking, but not super technical 'cause a lot of the lifetime athletes do it. And then Steamboat, s b t is the next week after that. And then there's also Montana, uh, mammoth Tough. Sporting the mammoth tough T-shirt. And then, uh, there's National Gravel, national Inaugural Championships, which we'll see how that even works. Some people may be like, Hey, this is awesome, and other people might say it's killing the spirit of gravel. The minute U s A cycling gets involved. [00:30:47]Craig Dalton (Host): so we'll see. So when you're out at these events, are you gonna sort of follow a similar format where you'll. Capture some athlete interviews. Capture as much of the course as you can to kind of give people the experience. [00:30:59]Brian Co: Yeah, so I actually plan it all out ahead of time. I use, you know, I have a Google Sheet doc. I type in each day, shot lists for everything. I'm very methodical, you know, charge up all my batteries, clear my, and format all my memory cards. I have all my equipment out there. I work on logistics. I get in touch with the athletes ahead of time and we plan, okay, we're gonna meet at this time, at this location. We're gonna sit down for five minutes and talk about this thing. And then when you get there, you know, everyone has a plan till you get punched in the face and then something could happen, it could rain. Uh, the athlete could be like, I don't feel like showing up. I've run into just every logistical thing you can. And so when you're there, you have to adjust on the fly and be like, okay, like at Unbound. There's this whole thing I did with Rebecca Inger where I didn't know she was gonna get sixth and she's this big personality and gravel, uh, and she just saw me and she's like, Hey, come walk with me. And I followed her and we went to get a race number at registration and I just started documenting that. And then I was like, well, why don't you just come over for dinner the night before? Bring Sarah Max, her friend. They're both like super solid in gravel. They came over for dinner and then I was like, let's just go in the living room and we'll film real quick. And they, they were sort of the intro to that video. None of that was planned. That was all spontaneous. So yeah, like you can only plan so much until it actually happens. And then when it does, you have to adapt it kind of like racing itself, you know? So, uh, in a ways it's, I I approach those events in the same way. [00:32:42]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, that makes sense. Sweet. Well, I'm super excited to see all those events you're gonna cover later in the year. I definitely, I wanna get more of the flavor I've had, I've had Whitney on talking about Foco Fondo. I've had Jess, Sarah and Sam Boardman on talking about Last Best Ride. I'm always curious to just kind of see on the ground footage of. How those events will go down and what the experience looks like. Because I think at the end of the day, most athletes who aren't professional athletes, you know, we've got limited time and limited budgets to get out there and picking the events that are gonna be the right vibe I think is important. I. [00:33:19]Brian Co: Yeah. You know, and not every event needs to be documented in the way, say, Unbound is because not every race is about even focusing on the pointy end, especially if it's a smaller event where people just kind roll out. There's no neutral, there's no gun that goes. People just roll out and then they finish. They still ride hard. So I have to figure out a better way to tell the story. 'cause if I just focus on the leaders or one guy or girl, that's just gonna get boring and because there's so much that happens behind that. There's people on tandems and there's people on all kinds of weird gravelly, custom steel alloy, flannel, mustache, whatever. Like it's just, there's so much going on that I, I, I need to be able to capture that as well, so, [00:34:13]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. No, I agree. I, I mean, I think I've, I've done an equal part of like pointy end of the race racers and mid packers, and I know. It seems to be a growing trend. 'cause I think at the end of the day, part of this quote unquote spirit of gravel is we're all participating together. So I do, I tend to agree with you that the sort of flannel shirt, wearing Mustached party pace athlete experience is every bit as valid to understand as part of, you know, what the overall event jam is gonna feel like as the pointy ended. In fact, probably even more so. [00:34:47]Brian Co: Yeah, I mean, I. Some people finish Unbound in 10 hours and some people finish it in 20 hours. So for the people who are finishing in 20 hours, they had, they spent more time at Unbound than the pros did. [00:34:59]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah, no, I, I, I remember back from my triathlon days at Ironman and thinking like, you know, you have the pros finishing in whatever, seven or eight hours. Then the person who's finishing in 17 hours. That is such a harder day, and I think that most of the pros would acknowledge that saying like, they don't think they could even do a 17 hour day. [00:35:21]Brian Co: Yeah, and the pros are asleep and they have their feet up and they've already had a couple of beverages consumed. I don't know. I've been last in bike races before. I've d NFD in bike races, uh, and I've been in bike races, road bike races where I've come in. I'm pretty sure dead last, where they're like taking like the finishing barriers out and I just kind of like hide. But in gravel, you see like at mid-south, they're celebrating and embracing whoever finishes his last, like at Unbound, the XL winner I think did it in, they finished on like a Sunday afternoon. They started on Friday. Uh, and they, they brought out everyone and sprayed champagne on 'em. And you just don't see that at other events. [00:36:09]Craig Dalton (Host): I think that's the allure of the ultra endurance events that are prevalent in gravel, right? Because these are lifetime achievements to kind of do a 200 mile race or what have you. And yeah, everybody should be celebrated. Everybody should feel an immense sense of accomplishment for just having got a getting across the finish line. [00:36:29]Brian Co: Yeah. I met, I'm met a, I'm met a volunteer. Who was doing the finish line, like wet shammy, butter washcloths, those yellow ones. And I'm like, oh, where are you from? He is like, oh, I'm from Florida. And I'm like, you came all the way from Florida to be a volunteer and you're not even writing the event. He's like, yeah, but being a volunteer gets you entry for the next year. So you're already, you're already doing prep. Well before you're, you can even do it 'cause the lottery system is so random. But if you volunteer, you're guaranteed an entry. Or if you're a vendor, you're guaranteed an entry. And people, I forget, travel I. Just to volunteer. You would never see that. You would never see that at a crit as much as I love crit racing, or you'd never see it at a row race where someone volunteers a year early just to just to throw wet rags on somebody just so they can race it the next year. That just speaks volumes. [00:37:26]Craig Dalton (Host): yeah, it really does. Cool. Well, Brian, I appreciate you coming on and sharing the story. I'll make sure people know how to check out the content so they can explore. The velo worthy YouTube channel. [00:37:38]Brian Co: Thank you. And, uh, you know, I, I, I, I think that a lot of room to grow, not in terms of traffic necessarily, but in the way I. People like you and me develop within the sport. Like we're not, we don't have the advantage of being ex-professional with a big following. So like if Peter Seg wants to start his own podcast, we're just doomed. We just are. But I think we just grind it out. We're there, we're talking to people. We're learning and we're creating, I think a great. Space in the sport to have voices like these. So I really appreciate the opportunity to be out here and talking to you because I just love what you're doing and I, I love being able to share my passion for the sport. [00:38:29]Craig Dalton (Host): Yeah. Amazing. Thanks Brian.  

Dre Harrison is back with Hannah for another edition of Hot Takes Wednesday where we answer the WTF1 Audience's hottest F1 takes! In this edition, is Fernando Alonso being flattered by Lance Stroll? Should DRS be banned for making passing too easy? And speaking of which, was Monaco proof we don't need overtakes for a race to be good? Listen in now! This episode is brought to you by Moneygram. Convert your digital currency to cash and back again! Learn more at moneygram.com/stellarwallets

I veckans avsnitt pratar jag med serieentreprenören Pingis Hadenius som bland annat har grundat Löwengrip, Flattered och Economista - hur man på enkla sätt pratar om ekonomi. Hon sitter också i styrelser och ger ofta ekonomiråd i olika typer av media och forum.Vi får in på det obekväma frågorna kring ekonomi; Hur man får ekonomisk rättvisa i relationer - låt säga att den ena äter mer än den andra eller att man äger olika mycket av bostaden eller helt enkelt tjänar olikaVad man ska göra som första stegen för att få bättre ekonomi i dessa tider och varför kvinnor är mer stressade än män?Ta makten över din ekonomi och ha en positiv syn på ekonomi undermedvetetHur delar man på kostander med vänner?De bästa spartipsen i dagens ekonomiska situation och varför man kan skippa fonder och aktier Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scanning our eyes through today's reading of Psalm 78, our attention was arrested by the many references to God's people Israel that – they did this, and they did that. We counted 27 times the word “they” occurred! The word ‘they” was used in reference to things they did – or did not do. We meditated on this. God's eyes are on Israel because they are his chosen people! So what did his angels see as they looked into their hearts?? There were times, we read, when “they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the most High God, their redeemer” [v.34,35] That is all to their credit and the same can be said of followers of Christ in all ages, when they started to follow him. Are the next 2 verses equally true of Jews and Christians? We read – “But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not faithful toward him; they were not faithful …” [v.36-37] What would you expect God's reaction to be to this behaviour? We read on .. “Yet he, being compassionate … did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often… “ [v.38] This is evidence of the God of love that many ‘Christian' leaders talk about, portraying him as ever merciful, that believers are once saved, are always saved! This became a ‘slogan', you don't have to worry about sin when you follow Jesus! But isn't it human nature, the more you get away with something, the more you do it! It seems as if that is how human nature worked with the Jews, they even killed their Messiah! Let us go back to the Psalm and note the situation that ultimately developed! The time came, the Psalmist has to reluctantly see the time, when God “was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel” [v.59]. Here is a very sober warning for Christian believers today. Could worship become just “flattery” from a heart that is not genuinely “steadfast”? Has it become that way for some? For many? We read in Hebrews 3 v.13, “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today', that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ if … “ [Hebrews 3 v.13,14] Turn this up and read Paul's exhortation to his fellow Hebrews as his nation was nearing its' climax. And what a tragic climax. It seems clear that the world of ‘today” – in which God's word has been so easily available – is nearing its' climax! Let us meditate right now – from our hearts – on the question Jesus asked! “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”[Luke 18 v.8] The answer may depend on how real is your faith – and my faith! Faith is ‘proved' by actions, our priorities day after day, not just by our words. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/christadelphians-talk/message

Our Patreon Listener Challenge is ongoing! And if you're on the fence about supporting the show, why not sit back with a re-release of our first-ever Patreon listener-supported episode from 2018 on C.M. Coolidge's "Dogs Playing Poker," where we dive into the trials and tribulations of kitsch, the battle between the Sams and Dianes of the world, and what it means to appreciate art at a frequency that we all can hear. And if you're so moved, please consider making us happy little trees by becoming a Patreon patron at any level, and we'll do you one better with an episode on your favorite soothing soft-voiced paint-dabby PBS mainstay and mine, Bob Ross. See the images: www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/201…g-poker-1903 Music used: The Andrews Sisters, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" The Blue Dot Sessions, "Rose Ornamental," "Flattered," "Arizona Moon," "Laser Focus," "Alchemical," "Two in the Back," "Maisie Dreamer," "Gullwing Sailor," "Maldoc" Joe Dassin, “Les Champs-Elysees" Support the show! www.patreon.com/lonelypalette

Justina Page is an international speaker and natural storyteller who speaks with a bold and refreshing honesty that touches the hearts of audiences. Her speeches unfold with a combination of humor, insightful observation and wisdom, as well as practical application. Justina is a woman whose faith was tested by fire. She now inspires audiences across the country with a powerful message of hope and triumph. She is the author of the award-winning book, The Circle of Fire which tells the story of how Justina's life was changed forever when fire swept through her home, March 7, 1999. The loss of her 22-month-old twin son, Amos, the severe and lasting injuries of her other twin son, Benjamin, and her own devastating experience of third-degree burns covering 55 percent of her body affected the entire family. She is also the author of 16 other literary works. From the ashes of fire, a new hope has emerged. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Amos House of Faith, a non-profit organization, established to provide post-burn support to children and families affected by burn trauma. She is a voice over actor and children audio producer. She is a supporting actress in the award-winning faith-based movie We Are Stronger and the very powerful and inspirational TV series Breaking Strongholds.

This week, Charlotte Collins, Lu Hough and Polly Sayer answer your burning questions. Fashion, naturally, is top of the list - the team share their favourite picks from each other's wardrobes, the style tips they've learnt from one another, the autumn essentials they're excited to wear and more. Plus, they chat awkward office lunches, adventurous dates and more.Sign Up to The FREE SheerLuxe Daily Email: https://sheerluxe.com/signupFollow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheerluxe/?hl=enTV Recommendations:Black Bird https://imdb.to/3crYbuGSlow Horseshttps://imdb.to/3b2yuQSTime https://imdb.to/3z1cHRTLove Island https://bit.ly/3aRk3zmYour Questions Answered:Hair Recommendations:Michael Van Clarke Hair Maskhttps://bit.ly/3yX7eLHLarry King Hair Care Awayhttps://bit.ly/3S1UagWDavines Curl Shampoohttps://bit.ly/3B7JkQcAffordable Sandals:Dear Franceshttps://dearfrances.com/Flattered https://www.flattered.com/uk/Favourite Snacks:Wispa Gold (snack size)https://bit.ly/3cz8VY0Propercorn Lentil Crisp Propercorn Chocolate bar https://proper.co.uk/Itsu Prawn Crackerhttps://bit.ly/3PoKqf1Deliciously Ella Bar https://deliciouslyella.com/Hippieshttps://www.hippiesnacks.com/Graze https://www.graze.com/uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Charlotte Collins, Lu Hough and Polly Sayer answer your burning questions. Fashion, naturally, is top of the list - the team share their favourite picks from each other's wardrobes, the style tips they've learnt from one another, the autumn essentials they're excited to wear and more. Plus, they chat awkward office lunches, adventurous dates and more.Sign Up to The FREE SheerLuxe Daily Email: https://sheerluxe.com/signupFollow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheerluxe/?hl=enTV Recommendations:Black Bird https://imdb.to/3crYbuGSlow Horseshttps://imdb.to/3b2yuQSTime https://imdb.to/3z1cHRTLove Island https://bit.ly/3aRk3zmYour Questions Answered:Hair Recommendations:Michael Van Clarke Hair Maskhttps://bit.ly/3yX7eLHLarry King Hair Care Awayhttps://bit.ly/3S1UagWDavines Curl Shampoohttps://bit.ly/3B7JkQcAffordable Sandals:Dear Franceshttps://dearfrances.com/Flattered https://www.flattered.com/uk/Favourite Snacks:Wispa Gold (snack size)https://bit.ly/3cz8VY0Propercorn Lentil Crisp Propercorn Chocolate bar https://proper.co.uk/Itsu Prawn Crackerhttps://bit.ly/3PoKqf1Deliciously Ella Bar https://deliciouslyella.com/Hippieshttps://www.hippiesnacks.com/Graze https://www.graze.com/uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Charlotte Collins, Lu Hough and Polly Sayer answer your burning questions. Fashion, naturally, is top of the list - the team share their favourite picks from each other's wardrobes, the style tips they've learnt from one another, the autumn essentials they're excited to wear and more. Plus, they chat awkward office lunches, adventurous dates and more.Sign Up to The FREE SheerLuxe Daily Email: https://sheerluxe.com/signupFollow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheerluxe/?hl=enTV Recommendations:Black Bird https://imdb.to/3crYbuGSlow Horseshttps://imdb.to/3b2yuQSTime https://imdb.to/3z1cHRTLove Island https://bit.ly/3aRk3zmYour Questions Answered:Hair Recommendations:Michael Van Clarke Hair Maskhttps://bit.ly/3yX7eLHLarry King Hair Care Awayhttps://bit.ly/3S1UagWDavines Curl Shampoohttps://bit.ly/3B7JkQcAffordable Sandals:Dear Franceshttps://dearfrances.com/Flattered https://www.flattered.com/uk/Favourite Snacks:Wispa Gold (snack size)https://bit.ly/3cz8VY0Propercorn Lentil Crisp Propercorn Chocolate bar https://proper.co.uk/Itsu Prawn Crackerhttps://bit.ly/3PoKqf1Deliciously Ella Bar https://deliciouslyella.com/Hippieshttps://www.hippiesnacks.com/Graze https://www.graze.com/uk See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Teaser: During the buffalo slaughter, a tiny frontier woman sheltered buffalo calves and saved the breed. Mary Ann Dyer (known as Molly) was born in Tennessee. However, her lawyer father moved the family to Fort Belknap, Texas in 1854, when Molly was 14. Both her parents died shortly after the move and young Molly assumed responsibility for the care of her five brothers, teaching school to provide support. Molly was tiny—a mere five feet tall— but she proved to be tough, dedicated, and ready to take on a challenge. Molly met cattleman Charles Goodnight at Fort Belknap about 1864 and shortly thereafter moved to Weatherford, Texas to teach school. In July of 1870, she married Charles Goodnight, who was already building a strong reputation as a cattleman. He was the only person who called her Mary rather than by her nickname, Molly. The newlyweds settled down to ranching on the spread Goodnight had already established near Pueblo, Colorado. Drought conditions and the Panic of 1873 provided the impetus for them to move back to Texas, which Molly thought more civilized than Colorado. In 1877, Goodnight formed a partnership with Scots-Irishman John George Adair, who participating in a Kansas buffalo hunt, became so enamored with the West, he moved his brokerage business from New York to Denver. In 1877, hearing Goodnight's glowing description of Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas panhandle as an ideal site for a ranch, Adair agreed to finance a ranch there, ultimately agreeing to hold two-thirds ownership himself and give one-third ownership to Goodnight. Goodnight suggested using Adair's initials to name the Palo Duro Canyon ranch the JA. Flattered, Adair agreed. Adair and his wife, Cornelia, the Goodnights, Molly's brother Albert Dyer, and several cowhands, moved 100 top Durham bulls to the new JA ranch, along with four wagons filled with six months worth of provisions and equipment. Molly drove one of the wagons while Cornelia Adair traveled on horseback. A previously built two-room cabin housed the couples in the canyon. After a brief visit, the Adairs returned home, leaving Goodnight to manage the ranch. Steep rock cliffs lined the canyon edges plunging 1500 feet down to the floor below. Red with sandstone, the faces of the cliffs looked like swirling Spanish skirts. Grass was dense. Creeks bubbled through the canyon, which stretched for almost 100 miles and was 10 miles wide. It was a paradise for cattle, but it offered a lonely life to a woman.The nearest neighbors were 75 miles away. Molly's days centered around the chores of the ranch. At one point she made pets of three chickens she'd been given for Sunday dinner. Her social interactions included hosting parties for the cowhands, teaching them to read, and occasionally entertaining curious Indians. She rode the floor of the canyon on a two-horned side saddle designed for her by Goodnight. In 1887, after building a luxurious 2900 square foot, two-story home, less than a mile from the rim of the canyon, Molly and Goodnight opened their doors to occasional guests including heads of state, other cattle barons, and Quanah Parker, the last of the great Comanche chiefs. The ranch prospered, but on the flat prairie stretching in all directions from the canyon edges, buffalo slaughter went on at a frantic pace while Molly lay in bed listening to the cries of orphaned bison calves. From vast herds of Southern Plains buffalo numbering in the tens of millions, the slaughter ultimately reduced the number of buffalo to an estimated 300 animals. The killing was a government policy designed to force the Indians—who were dependent upon them—into reservations and to meet demand for buffalo tongues, hides, and bones. In 1878, Molly convinced Goodnight to start a buffalo herd to try to save the breed. He gathered seven buffalo calves and placed them on Texas cows for...

Director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović latest film, MURINA, is set on a remote island along Croatia's Adriatic coast. Seventeen-year-old Julija (Gracija Filipovic) spends her days diving for eel with her domineering father Ante (Leon Lucev) and watching other teens party on a nearby yacht. Julija bristles at Ante's heavy handed cruelty and resents her mother Nela's (Danica Curcic) passivity. She longs for independence but is unsure how to achieve it, until the arrival of the rich and mysterious Javier seems to offer a way out. Once Ante's employer and Nela's lover, Javier (Cliff Curtis) flirts shamelessly with Nela and Julija, setting off a subtle battle of hyper-masculine one-upmanship that pushes Ante to humiliate and control Julija even more. Flattered by Javier's praise and stories of traveling the world, Julija sees him as the solution to all her problems. But does his affection portend freedom, or something more sinister? Winner of the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, lensed by award-winning cinematographer Hélène Louvart (THE LOST DAUGHTER), and Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese, MURINA features a ferocious, star-making central performance by Gracija Filipović and the most sumptuous images of the Mediterranean since THE BIG BLUE. Equal parts fiery feminist outcry and stirring coming-of-age drama, the film announces director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović as a major new talent in world cinema. For updates and screenings go to: kinolorber.com/film/murina MURINA will open theatrically on Friday, July 8th at Metrograph in New York, and on Friday, July 15th at Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles with rollout to select cities.

OP's girlfriend has a scumbag co-worker that has been hitting on her and asking her out on dates even though he has a girlfriend and she knows this. OP's girlfriend is flattered by this and said she would definitely date the guy if OP wasn't in the picture.