Podcasts about Footwear

For years, I thought I was doing everything right, showing up, sweating it out, and doing all the workouts I saw online. But I couldn't figure out why I wasn't actually getting stronger. Why my joints ached, why I felt stuck, or why my lifts weren't going anywhere.Turns out, I was making some of the most common fitness mistakes that women still make today.From rushing through reps to skipping rest (guilty), from starting every workout with cardio to training only in one plane of motion, I've done it all. And in this episode, I'm breaking it all down for you. Not to make you feel bad, but to help you finally connect the dots and train in a way that actually supports your goals.If you've ever felt like you're working hard but not seeing the results, this episode is for you. We're talking about how to lift smarter, move with purpose, and fix the sneaky things that are secretly sabotaging your progress.This is part one, because yep, there are that many things we need to talk about.Because strength isn't just about lifting heavier. It's about doing the little things right, and doing them consistently.Let's fix this, together. I Also Discuss:(00:00) Common Fitness Mistakes and Solutions(09:07) Proper Core Bracing for Lifting(15:17) Proper Footwear and Multi-Plane Training(30:05) Empowerment Through Purposeful LiftingThank You to Our Sponsors:Broads App – Get structured, progressive training and a powerhouse community to keep you strong, consistent, and unstoppable. Join at broads.app and use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month!Legion - Use code Tara20 for 20% off your first order and double loyalty cash back any order after that when you shop at LegionAthletics.comFind more from Tara: Website: https://www.taralaferrara.com/Instagram: @taralaferrara @broads.podcast @broads.appYoutube: Tara LaFerraraTiktok: @taralaferrara

MORE STAFFINGRecruit, onboard, and train incredible virtual professionals in the Philippines with my friends at More Staffing by visiting ⁠https://morestaffing.co/af⁠. INTELLIGEMSIntelligems is the ultimate profit-optimization tool for DTC brands. Use it for all of your CRO efforts by visiting https://intelligems.io.//Isaac Mertens is the Co-Founder & CEO of Flux Footwear, a mid-8-figure footwear brand running at a 15-20% profit margin. Reach out to Isaac via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-mertens-5b107964/.//CHAPTER TITLES:00:58 Sec - Origin of Flux Footware5:48 - What Products Launched Flux Footware10:00 - Google Trends14:50 - Self Financing & Profit Growth23:28 - Building Customer Loyalty36:34 - Levers of Impacts In Your Business44:40 - Ad Creation & Content//SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL FOR 2X WEEKLY UPLOADS!FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris Email: podcast@ajfgrowth.comWork with Andrew: https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we speak to Marie Gumbert and Dr. Nick Salupo, DO about how Flexible Footwear, called by many the “Osteopathic Shoe”, becomes an extension of the foot. It respects the four arches of the foot and optimizes the body's biomechanics. The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. While we strive to share accurate and up to date information, this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical care. Always consult your physician or a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical guidance or delay seeking care because of something you heard on this podcast. Marie Gumbert: marie@flexiblefootwear.comNick Salupo, DO: nsalupDO@gmail.comONMM Podcast: onmmpodcast@gmail.com

Arc'teryx has officially launched a line of trail running footwear, created in collaboration with their athletes. Josh Herr and Kat Drew join the podcast to talk about the process of bringing Arc'teryx's new footwear to life, how they incorporated athlete feedback, and the future of product development in trail running. Arc'teryx: https://arcteryx.com/ Josh Herr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-herr-1b6b0a1/ Kat Drew: https://www.instagram.com/katdrew/ Adam Campbell: https://www.instagram.com/adamo1979/ Alana Yip: https://www.instagram.com/alannah_yip/ Ovi Garcia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovidiog/ Greg Hill: https://www.instagram.com/_greghill_/ Baden-Powell Trail: https://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/baden-powell-deep-cove-to-lynn-canyon/ Protos Of The Gram: https://www.instagram.com/protosofthegram/ BPC - Brand, Product, Content: Sapiens (book): https://amzn.to/4487J6N Rick Rubin Substack: https://substack.com/@rickrubin Modern Elder Academy: https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/superage-fitness-own-your-fitness-own-your-future/ Join us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/second-nature-media Meet us on Slack: https://www.launchpass.com/second-nature Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.secondnature.media Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@secondnaturemedia

Matt Priest, President and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, came on the Shoecast the morning after 104% tariffs on Chinese goods into the US hit in a rapidly-moving-target trade war with the United States and just about every other country. What ARE tariffs? How might tariffs and general uncertainty impact massive shoe brands? Smaller ones? Made-in-USA footwear? Retail prices? What's kinds of supply chain breakdowns have already happened and what might be next? How does the lobbying work that FDRA does function and benefit the footwear industry? And why is everyone suddenly really, really mad at Matt?  Support the Shoecast, get full bonus episode access, and join the most interesting shoe-and-boot-loving community on the internet with a Stitchdown Premium membershiphttps://www.stitchdown.com/join-stitchdown-premium/Check out our site!https://www.stitchdown.com/2025 dates and location for Stitchdown's Boot Camp 3—the world's fair of shoes and boots and leather and more—coming soon.https://www.stitchdownbootcamp.com/

In the United States, the vast majority of shoes sold are imported. That means tariffs are a real issue for the footwear industry. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Matt Priest, president and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America trade group. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Step beyond the glossy facade of fashion into the fierce legal battlegrounds where iconic footwear brands fight tooth and nail to protect their signature designs. From the vibrant red soles of Christian Louboutin to the humble foam clogs of Crocs, the most recognizable shoes in the world have sparked global intellectual property wars with stakes in the millions.Louboutin's journey through courts worldwide reveals how differently countries interpret trademark protection. While his red sole secured recognition as a valid trademark in the US (but only when contrasting with the rest of the shoe), he faced defeat in France against Zara yet triumphed in the Netherlands and China. These jurisdiction-specific battles highlight how fragmented global IP protection can be, forcing brands to fight the same war on multiple fronts.The Manolo Blahnik saga in China demonstrates the perils of trademark squatting, with the legendary designer locked out of using his own name for 22 years until China's Supreme People's Court finally ruled in his favor in 2022. Meanwhile, Crocs transformed from counterfeit victim to accused party, first winning import bans against 20+ knockoff brands before facing accusations of falsely advertising patent protections they didn't possess.The digital age has created new pitfalls, as Puma discovered when Rihanna's Instagram posts of their collaborative Fenty Creeper invalidated their design protection in Europe by starting the clock on the 12-month disclosure grace period. Even tech innovations face fierce battles, with Nike aggressively protecting its Flyknit technology against competitors like Lululemon, while comfort-focused Skechers surprised everyone by successfully challenging luxury powerhouse Hermès over sole designs.These cases reveal crucial lessons for creators and businesses: secure your IP early and globally, develop truly distinctive designs that consumers immediately associate with your brand, understand how protection varies by country, and recognize that even seemingly mundane innovations can represent valuable intellectual property worth defending. Whether you're fascinated by fashion, intellectual property law, or business strategy, these high-stakes battles showcase how the soul of a brand often lies in its sole.Send us a text

Living an active lifestyle can keep you on your feet for most of the day. Even everyday activities like going to the grocery store, gardening, or going for a walk all require much from your body and the best thing you can do to make sure your physical well being is being taken into consideration is to lace up your feet with safe and effective footwear. Not realizing how important this step is could lead to injury or long term chronic pain. In This Episode You Will Learn: 1). How your body changes as you age and what effects this has on your balance and overall agility. 2). How it can be very intimidating looking for the right shoe in a huge market that seems to be overwhelming with new shoe products everyday and how to block out the noise to help you find the right shoe for you. 3). Some of the things you should look for in a shoe when shopping and how to determine if it will be right for you. 4). Some of the reasons why we decide not to upgrade or buy new shoes when we should. 5). Why it's easy to take our feet for granted and how this can lead to health and physical issues later down the road. /// We hope our tips in this episode help you when it comes to choosing your next pair of shoes. It's very easy to overlook the importance of wearing proper footwear especially if you enjoy an active lifestyle. The correct choice of what you wear on your feet can help improve your activity levels and most importantly, keep you safe and independent for years to come. Team MeredithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Import levies on Chinese goods amount to 54% right now. But some things that China excels at producing will likely remain in China. In this episode, why shoemaking can’t up and leave anytime soon. Plus: Copper prices ballooned and tanked in the past few weeks, European carmakers weigh their options in the trade war and recession fears, not inflation fears, are driving bond yields.

Import levies on Chinese goods amount to 54% right now. But some things that China excels at producing will likely remain in China. In this episode, why shoemaking can’t up and leave anytime soon. Plus: Copper prices ballooned and tanked in the past few weeks, European carmakers weigh their options in the trade war and recession fears, not inflation fears, are driving bond yields.

Brands come and go. Trends rise and fall. Customer taste changes. There are a million different variables involved in the success of any one brand, and very few actually stand the test of time. But every once in a while, amid the chaos of the fashion and retail marketplace, something sticks. But how does that happen? Is there a formula? What are the essential pillars, the stepping stones that guarantee longevity beyond a brand's initial buzz? In this episode we'll uncover the core principles of long-term success with one such brand that consistently defies expectations and remains one of Nordstrom's top-five brands year after year. You've heard the name. You've seen the boot. It's UGG. Join us for a chat with Stefano Caroti, President and CEO of Deckers, the company that owns UGG and several other successful footwear brands that we carry. After that, stick around to hear more about our unique partnership with Deckers from Anna Kaplan, our Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager for Women's and Kids' Footwear. Appearing on fashion icons and influencers alike, in the halls of every single high school across the U.S., UGG can be found around the globe, on men and women of all ages. Deckers has a special thing going on and we're super happy to be a part of it. Thanks for tuning in to episode 84. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to nordypodcast@nordstrom.com to be a part of the conversation! And be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Doug Hintze, OPDD alum, footwear designer, and founder of Landed Footwear, speaks to students about his time in the program as well as professional and entrepreneurial journey. Listen to these conversations on the Highlander Podcast. https://opdd.usu.edu/podcast The Highlander Podcast is sponsored by the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a four-year, undergraduate degree training the next generation of product creators for the sports and outdoor industries. Learn more at opdd.usu.edu or follow the program on LinkedIn or Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/usuoutdoorproduct/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/opdd Discover the Outdoor Recreation Archive on Instagram or on USU's website. https://instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive https://library.usu.edu/archives/ora Subscribe to our ORA newsletter: https://outdoorrecarchive.substack.com/ Outdoor Recreation Archive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/outdoorrecarchive/?hl=en Episodes hosted, edited, and produced by Chase Anderson in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasewoodruffanderson/

Today, I'm joined by Bryan Poerner, CEO of Diadora North America. Founded in Italy in 1948, Diadora has a rich heritage of craftsmanship and innovation, blending performance and style across running, sport, and lifestyle footwear. In our conversation, Bryan shares the brand's origin story and offers an inside look at the 2025 Diadora shoe lineup. We explore the latest advancements in footwear technology, Diadora's growing presence in the U.S. market, and their vision for athlete development and grassroots marketing. Bryan also reflects on his creative journey from Puma to Diadora, lessons learned from running and life, and how music fuels performance. Plus, he gives us a sneak peek at the Diadora playlist inspiring runners everywhere. Stay tuned for an inspiring and energizing episode. Plus, I am seriously loving the design of both this brands performance and lifestyle shoes! Definitely on my fashion radar.. Chapters 3:09 Origin Story 5:18 Exploring Diadora 2025 Shoe Line Up 9:41 Innovative Technology In Footwear 13:24 Diadora Shift in US Market 15:28 Sponsorship and Athlete Development 18:14 Vision for Diadora Future 21:00 Grassroots Marketing Strategy 23:48 Transition from Puma to Diadora 16:27 Early Days of Creativity 30:46 Role of Luck in Success 31:44 Pursuing Passion & Happiness 33:54 Lessons from Running & Life 36:12 The Intersection of Music and Running 42:07 Diadora Playlist CONNECT Diadora on Instagram Marni On The Move Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or YouTube` Marni Salup on Instagram and Playlist on Spotify SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Do What Moves You, for Marni on the Move updates, exclusive offers, invites to events, and exciting news! SUPPORT THE PODCAST Leave us a five stars and a review on Apple, it's easy, scroll through the episode list on your podcast app, click on five stars, click on leave a review, and share what you love about the conversations you're listening to. Tell your friends the episodes you are listening to on your social. Share a screen shot of the episode in your stories, tag us, we will tag you back! Subscribe, like and comment on our YouTube Channel, MarniOnTheMovePodcast  

Dr. Asher Roberts R2P sports resident discusses a recent research article covering footwear and its influence on running biomechanics.

It's no secret that Duluth is an active city, thanks in part to the abundance of outdoor recreation we have right in our own backyard. To take it all on, we need the right footwear. For that, we turn to Tortoise & Hare Footwear in West Duluth, a thriving local business that started as a franchise more than two decades ago and counting. Known for their incredible customer service and comprehensive fitting process, Tortoise & Hare Footwear is truly a STEP above the rest. Today, it is owned and operated by Jim and Mary Stukel, along with their three sons, making this business a family affair - one where finding the perfect sneakers is always a SHOE-in. This episode shines a spotlight on the Stukel family, as Jim and Mary share how Tortoise & Hare Footwear went from franchise to Northland favorite.

In this final check-in, Stuart Rainbow is all-in for Delirious West—even if it means being stalked by a fox mid-run, gluing his shoes to keep the sand out, and completely reworking his race strategy after a last-minute course change.   He shares the highs of a smooth 75K night training run (with donut aid stations, naturally) and the lows of a brief knee scare that had him resting just weeks before the race. Stuart talks logistics, from jetboils and battery backups to his meticulously reinforced shoes, stitched and Velcroed to fight back against the WA sand.   With a brilliant sense of humour and total commitment, Stuart also reflects on the mental reset the new course demands, why it might be tougher—but better—to tackle the infamous Mount Clare section up front, and how the Delirious community is everything.   Key Highlights: •12-hour night run feat. fox encounters and servo donuts •Managing a knee injury close to race day with help from a runner-friendly physio •Gear upgrades: Velcro-sealed shoes and enough socks to start a store •Navigating the course reversal and reassessing sleep and pacing strategy •A heartfelt nod to the volunteers, medics, and other crews who make this race special •Reflecting on what Delirious means after years of build-up—“Why not make it tougher?”   Connect with Us: Subscribe for race week energy and finish line stories! Have a quirky pre-race ritual or last-minute gear upgrade? Let us know in the comments!   Check out the Delirious WEST event - https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ Event Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428304207182387   https://fitmindfitbody.co/podcast/

Dr. Dustin Jones // #GeriOnICE // www.ptonice.com 

Graduation Day.  Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels."You know nothing of what you speak of, Ishara, yet you now feel free to insult us," she simmered."Don't know, don't care. It was all before my time. I care about the 'here-and-now' as well as what we do in the future. What I am asking you is what concrete item or 'thing' can be provided to House Zorja to put this blood feud behind you. Name it and House Ishara will endeavor to procure it for you.""We are not merchants," Jana's eyes narrowed."No. I didn't imply you were. If you want new sandals for everyone in your House, I'll find you new sandals. If you want 100,000 acres of ranchland, I'll find you the land. Name it," I persisted."Our prestige cannot be bought," she 'explained'."No, but a blood feud with House Ishara can be avoided by making a request of us in the same way as expressing your desire to harm my daughter can be expressed by denying my offer," I hardened. "And 'fuck you very much' if you think I won't use every son, daughter, mother, aunt, and uncle of Ishara when I come gunning for House Zorja too.""You wouldn't dare bring outsiders into this," Klavdiya interjected."Why not? The offices of Ishara handed House Zorja the coup of the century ~ the capture of the People's Liberation Army Navy nuclear carrier. A member of House Zorja commanded that task, yet they did so by leading forces marshalled by House Ishara, outsider forces. You may wish to keep playing by old rules concerning who is and isn't part of a House, but I am not so constrained, sisters.""So Klavdiya, if House Meenakshi pursues its blood feud with House Zorja, House Ishara will gleefully join them in the pummeling. And we have Isharans in the 9 Clans, the Khanate and the Illuminati who will gladly help us out in slapping them around like the old-fashion curmudgeons they are showing themselves to be, or, House Zorja may request a gift from House Ishara and we will happily clear accounts between them and House Meenakshi in the name of our daughter, Parvati. Their choice.""You are still on the mats," Elsa reminded me. Sikia coiled protectively next to us."And you said something about a lesson being long overdue," Pamela smirked, "Kitten.""Cáel Ishara," Shawnee said in a soft voice, "perhaps it is germane to the argument: the fault of the blood feud rests with House Zorja, not House Meenakshi."I fell on my back, carrying Tad fi with me. She gasped out in surprise while remaining closely cuddled with me. Her right hand never left my lips."Why does no one tell me this shit?" I moaned."You are hard," Tad fi announced. "Are you ready to have more sex?" She was sounding upbeat about our prospects. She was also ignorant of our surroundings being deaf and blind to the mortal realm."Gossamer Wing," I created a pet name for the augur, "we are lying on the sparring mats of a large combat arena in the central Full-blooded training center for Havenstone with roughly 500 sisters in attendance (the audience had grown). While I am enticed by your scent, words, proximity and sweet memories of what we've shared, I'm probably going to be badly beaten up really soon for a terrific diplomatic snafu.""But then we can have sex?""Yeah. I'm totally up for having sex with you after they release me from Medical," I assured her. I looked around her to a very unhappy Mahdi."Can you find it in your heart to forgive House Zorja? Anything I can,""Yes," she abruptly cut me off.What the fuck?"At this time, my hatred of House Ishara, and you in particular, make any grievance I have with House Zorja pale in comparison. You have bewitched my only daughter. She bares your child, and it will be a wonderful child if the soiled augur you've stuck your cock in is to be believed," she ground out bitterly. "I want to go home. I want to find enemies to kill. And when I do, Cáel Ishara, know each and every one of them will carry your face in my mind."She turned to Jana. "Do you agree that we both hate Ishara enough to put aside our current differences?"Jana studied Mahdi, me, then Mahdi again and agreed. She stood. Mahdi stood. They clasped arms like Amazons, then hugged like sisters."Agreed. He is much worse."My thoughts on the matter. Woot! I was having sex! Oh, and I was making Aya happy by ending a blood feud."My admiration of you continues to increase," Krasimira looked at me. "This diplomacy stuff is harder than it looks yet you pull it off so effortlessly.""Yay me!" I muttered."Keeper, are we done?" Sikia asked Krasimira."I believe so," the older Amazon rose to her feet. Sikia was far faster in rising."Mahdi of Meenakshi, you have insulted me and my augur. Defend yourself," she snarled. If Tad fi hadn't been immediately present, Mahdi wouldn't have even warranted a warning no doubt."Had you done your job," Mahdi flowed into her fighting stance, "you both wouldn't be pregnant.""Whoa now," I struggled to rise while keeping Tad fi close and my body between her and the Meenakshi/Zorja side of the mat. "Sikia, I can't let you fight. You're pregnant too.""Don't be stupid, Cáel Ishara," Sikia retreated off the mat, so she could shed her jacket and footwear. "Amazons have fought pregnant for thousands of years.""Hold on now," NYPD Sgt. Larisa Kutuzov said in English as she moved forward. I was a millisecond too late. Larisa's foot touched down on the mat and Marlene Zorja popped her one, a hand chop to the larynx. The senior cop stumbled forward."Mom!" shouted Nikita. Marlene followed up with a leg sweep, putting Larisa face first on the mats, then a fist strike to the back of the head, knocking her out. Neat and tidy in less than two seconds.Nikita was about to charge in when Chaz stopped her."Footwear," he advised in the tone of voice I had learned to associate with him and imminent violence. The moment he stopped her, he was quickly removing his own socks and shoes. Virginia and Pamela were doing the same. I was allowed freedom of movement because I was holding Tad fi. Krasimira exited because of her unique status. The rest were already barefoot."Gale, could you please stay with Tad fi," I tried to hand her off."No," Gale looked me over. "I will fight." No hint on whose side she would be fighting on. Krasimira came to my rescue."I'll take her.""Tad fi," I told the augur, "I have to go get beaten up now, but I promise I will be back for you directly.""This is not your fight," Krasimira said. "The words and deeds are Sikia's.""A, she carries my child and B, the deeds being called into question are my fault.""You told me once they were the Will of Ishara," Krasimira mused."We are one in the same," I gave a lopsided grin."Be careful," Tad fi pleaded. "Your future is a chaotic jumble, I cannot see,""Eh, I've been very bad. We'll talk about it later. Gotta go," I headed onto the mats.Pamela was giving the ground rules to the 'normals': No 'fair warnings'. No 'fair play'. No 'time outs'. You fought until unconscious, or you surrendered."This is going to suck," Virginia assessed our odds. Two Amazons had removed Larisa from the mats and were tending to her. Nikita was kneeling by her side until she heard Virginia, then came our way.Besides Sikia, we had Pamela, Chaz, Virginia, myself and Nikita. Oneida stepping up was nice. She wasn't a great combatant, but we dearly needed the help. Gale joining us was, unsettling. Amazons don't play fair, so this could be a ruse.Against us were all three Zorja and both Meenakshi ~ I imagined Rhada felt she had something to prove to her mother. They'd picked up ten other Amazons and Rhonwenn Nemain. Klavdiya joined them to counterbalance her baby sister. Eight to seventeen ~ ouch."Damn," a familiar voice from my first days on the job spoke up from behind me, "we almost missed this." I didn't dare look over my shoulder. Desiree stepped between Chaz and Virginia. Rachel came up on my left and Tiger Lily on my right. At the tail end of our line was Mona, Meridian, Brielle and Wiesława. Fifteen to seventeen was looking much better, especially considering Desiree had brought five Security Detail warriors with her, all of whom were moving to further bolster our numbers."Rachel," Elsa looked to her underling, "you have no idea why you are fighting.""It is for Cáel. So it must be for a better tomorrow," Rachel laughed."Very well," Elsa smirked."You!" Mahdi pointed at me, and we both charged. It was a jumbled nightmare of clashing bodies, war cries and flashes of movement all around. Our side had two main advantages -While Chaz was by no means the best hand-to-hand combatant present, he knew the basic Amazon style and most Amazons didn't know his. Added to his overall height and bulk advantages, he bought us time.Of greater importance, Rachel, Tiger Lily and Mona had extensive training working as a team, which none of the opponents had.Elsa was the most dangerous individual on the mat. Pamela was the second most dangerous, so Elsa grabbed a couple of partners and ganged up on her to drive her off the mats. Chaz went next, out-Elsa'ed and beaten unconscious. The issue was, it took her too long to accomplish those two feats. By the time she rounded on me, Rachel and Tiger Lily, our half of the field had wiped out theirs. It was six of us (me, Rachel, Tiger Lily, Gale, Wiesława and Desiree) versus four of them (Elsa, Marlene, Klavdiya and Rhonwenn).Still, I was facing Elsa, so a judicious bit of treachery was required."Gale," I huffed and puffed, "please retire. I don't want you to fight your sister.""What?" Gale snapped. She'd taken a beating, yet remained feisty."No, fighting her sister is okay with me," Desiree scowled. "We are still facing fucking Elsa.""All the other women you have mated with have failed. I remain," Gale trumpeted."Oh, you are right," I half-turned. "All the reason you are more precious to me.""Really?""Of course," I deepened my introspective appreciation of her."Oh," and Klavdiya punched Rhonwenn. That was an 'oh, Cáel Ishara must actually care for my baby sister and not be just a Playa' on Klavdiya's part. Yeah. I'm a horrible fucking person at times.Rachel, Tiger Lily and I rushed Elsa. Marlene pivoted to ward against Klavdiya while Gale and Wiesława stormed in against her. Desiree helped Klavdiya finish drubbing Rhonwenn before they combined to force Marlene off the mats. Elsa chose to go down swinging in a dogpile of bodies. I took an ear-ringing blow to the head which allowed Rachel to apply a chokehold and it was lights out for the Head of SD.After some water bottles went around and those concussed returned to wakefulness, the resolution of the brawl was decided. Mahdi apologized to Sikia. It was short, terse and sparing of any empathy, yet was within the bounds of Amazon etiquette. She departed with Rhada, which left me to pick up the pieces, starting with Nikita's mom."Oh," the older woman moaned then, "Ms. Fredrickson? What are you doing here?""Avenging you, Mother," Nikita fluffed up the truth. "She, Cáel and the others cleaned house on the woman who jumped you and her allies.""Desk Sergeant," Desiree gave a curt nod."This isn't over," Larisa winced as she moved to a sitting position."Mrs. Kutuzov, it is over," I headed off a colossal waste of time. "This is my daily life and part of your daughter's life with JIKIT. You will find scant witnesses and no tape recordings of these events. This craziness is just another day in the life here at Havenstone. You stepped on the mat and thus became fair game to any physical confrontation an opponent cared to mete out. Consider this sovereign soil of an independent nation-state.""We," she looked around. "You kicked their asses?""Definitely," Pamela gave a feral snarl."This is plain nuts," she shook her head, winced in cranial pain, then put her aching head in her hands."One of the reasons we've put our dating in hiatus," Nikita comforted her mother while looking at me, and smiling affectionately.Ah, for fuck sakes! I was engaged to someone else and having a dozen kids by ten different women. How could I still possibly be considered viable dating material? Oh yeah, martial valor, laughing at death, I hung out with truly exceptional cool people and I would always be in need of saving, a plus for a crusader like Nikita.I had so many allies to tend to, but only one who seemed to be making an exit. I swooped down on Tad fi long enough to place her fingers to my lips."I'll be right back, friend of a friend in need," and off I went. I caught Tavi of House Stolgos just outside the door. She wasn't avoiding me. She'd been observing Chaz and he had been otherwise occupied.My British companion had played a pivotal role in the combat and taken his beating like a man. He'd been rendered unconscious. So had many others, so no stigma was attached to his loss. Post-battle, he had chosen to sit on his haunches, knees up, talking to several of the Amazons, both kneeling and standing. A few had been bystanders and a few others foes.He stayed on his ass to reduce his height advantage. Letting Amazons make eye contact while not having to look up at you created definite benefits. His good natured approach to his role in the fight and pummeling earned him positive vibes as well. He made it clear the tussle to him was not macho-personal. He was my 'brother / sister / sibling' spiritually-speaking via Pamela adopting us both as her 'grandsons', so my fights were his fights. Sikia had my (Cáel's) child, so that bond extended to her as well ~ family.Pamela and I had schooled him on Amazon psychology and those lessons were now paying serious dividends. 'The Male' hadn't wanted to fight them ~ 'Amazons are tough' he'd confessed, he knew this because he worked with several every day on JIKIT~ but family was on the line, so he fought. Mahdi had apologized, so the matter was settled. The other Amazons he'd fought? They had fought for their reasons and he was okay with not questioning them about it.Why? He was conscious of his conspicuous status as a 'guest', knew he was in no way an Amazon, and was not privy to what motivated them. He didn't want to be an Amazon. He had his own, much younger, martial tradition he was proud of, yet was eager to learn from the vastly greater Amazon war lore because 'winners' didn't have a gender-bias and no other tradition could compete with the Amazons' 3,000 years.Under normal circumstances, the women around him wouldn't have given credence to his praise. He was a male after all. Through the tiny tear I'd created in their insulating social fabric, Chaz was building upon his own exploits. In the after-battle analysis, the Amazons reflected on the realization Elsa had concentrated on him as her number two objective, second only to Pamela who scared everyone who knew anything about her. That bolstered Chaz's appeal.For the Amazons who thought a male would get all pouty and cry over being beaten up by a girl/girls, Chaz was breaking the mold. He wasn't angry. He was amused. The fight had been a learning experience and he'd felt honored to watch, no matter how briefly, a warrior of Elsa's caliber fight. He'd explained 'I', Cáel Wakko Ishara, considered Elsa one of the top 5 combatants I'd ever seen, which included Ajax the Unconquered. The others were Sakuniyas, reborn Amazon and former Queen of Assyria, Saint Marie, the Golden Mare, and Pamela, the Cliff-walker.More happy Amazons because the list's only non-Amazon was a dead Hero from the Trojan Wars and it was well known I 'got around' (aka dealt with violent outsiders.) Chaz was telling the truth, almost. The 'fifth' person on the list was Alal, but explaining him would be difficult, so Chaz edited him for this particular audience. Good man.In the hallway, "Tavi, a moment," I called out. She slowed down, took a few more steps allowing me to catch up."Yes Ishara?" she gave me her best neutral look. Yep. She was jealous."I beg two favors from you," I quickly went down to one knee in her path. That caught her off guard and left her in the awkward position of me being terribly close and staring up at her."I, I will listen," she muttered."I would like to know if you are pregnant," I asked very softly. Yes, she was, but she didn't want to tell me. She contemplated pushing past me. It would be very easy. "I know I am stepping beyond the boundaries between warriors. Please. My destiny has brought you two together. I am at fault here." 'Fault' was the key word."If I have a son, he will be given to the Queen," Tavi's face was stern and unforgiving. "He will live.""That's not what he's worried about," I shook my head. "He wants to be a father to your daughter, Tavi. He wants to introduce you to his mother and grandmothers, maybe his sisters too, if that can be arranged.""Huh?""He is not like me, Tavi. There is no other in his life, but you.""I, I will not leave my House for him," she protested angrily."He would never ask you. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to remain at your side for years to come. He can be a father to your child and not be a part of House Stolgos in the same way you can be a mother to your child and not be a part of Clan Tomorrow.""Oh," she furrowed her brow. "How would this possibly work?""I have an 'in' with the Queen," I winked. "I'll work out something.""He knows I will never stop being an Amazon," she elucidated intensely."Absolutely. He is an intelligence operative after all. He's figured a few things out for himself.""Why doesn't he tell me these things?""Tavi, he threw his body on top of me to shield me from a bomb blast, so he's undoubtedly brave, but telling you what is in his heart is scary for him. As his brother, I see behind his silence,""Oh, what should I do?" she was vexed."Go back in there, demand to speak with him and tell him the truth," I stood up."The truth?""That you are going to have a little StolgosTomorrow-ite running around sometime next year," I exuded confidential friendliness."Cáel Ishara," she tilted her head slightly, "you don't know much about infants, do you?""Nope," I pseudo-confessed. I actually did know something about newborns. I'd studied up so I could make a move on a cute girl whose free time was eaten up by babysitting, so I 'helped out'. Oink."They aren't 'running around'," she turned to head back into the gym, "until the ninth month at the earliest. Normally, running doesn't happen until the eighteenth month.""My fiancée has a three-year old, so she should be able to help me through some of the hardest parts," I babbled along. Tavi didn't give a crap.In we went. Tavi stormed straight toward the bevy of Amazon babes concentrating on 'her' Chaz."Color Sergeant Tomorrow," she abruptly interrupted. "A moment of your time.""Ladies," Chaz uncoiled himself from the surrounding women. The Amazons were either mildly put off, they thought they were about to get laid, or pissed off, they were sure they were about to get laid, and Tavi was stomping on their happy."Yes, Ms. Gentry," Chaz linked his hands behind his back in a 'rest easy' stance. 'Gentry' was the fake last name Tavi used in the outside world. She motioned toward the windows with her head. Off they went. I couldn't hear what was being said, but my lip reading skills were up to the task.T: (I am pregnant)C: (I love you)T: (Oh) ~ stunned. Go Chaz!C: (Well, I don't imagine the Amazons have a marriage ceremony and an Anglican service would be inappropriate, so perhaps we could research a Scythian ritual which could make both families happy) ~ delivered in the patented smooth Chaz style.T: (Marriage? To you?)C: (I will not submit to being anyone's slave nor would I ever ask you to submit to me. Outside of that, will you be my partner and my partner alone until the cliffs separate us?)T: (Amazons are not monogamous)C: (I am)T: (I will, I mean, can I think about this?)C: (I am not going anywhere, Tavi){Pause}T: (Did you put Ishara, Cáel Ishara up to this?)C: (Yes)T: (Why?)C: (I imagine he explained what I am feeling better than I could)T: (Oh, do you want me to meet your mother and grandmothers?)C: (Absolutely)T: (Okay)C: (Okay ~ you would like to meet my Mother and Grandmothers?)T: (No, yes, I mean, yes I would like to meet them and I am okay with you being with no other woman until the cliffs separate us, and I will do the same, no other males)C: (If I pick you up, hug you and kiss you, will your sisters freak out?)T: (I don't know)So Chaz swept Tavi up until her head was higher than his (a feat, considering their 8" height differential) and kissed her deeply. Mumbled words followed. Tavi wrapped her legs around Chaz's waist and out they went. Around me were angry murmurings of the 'did that Amazon just run off with our man' variety. Not my problem. I had plenty of different Amazons wanting my attention. Hallelujah!{8:00 pmDon't try this at home.I covered my face with a pillow and pressed down hard. I'd already tried breathing exercises, meditation and even contemplated more cranial trauma before thinking up this particular crazy idea. It took some mental effort and accessing some of my Alal-'pain sorting' skills to accomplish, but in the end, I felt myself 'let go'.I sat up."Hello," Tad fi beamed."Hey," I took a deep breath. Since we were talking, I must have passed out. Her eyes wandered over the room."Is this the world as you see it?" she wondered. Oh yeah, I had to be creating the environment for her to enjoy.Sikia was kneeling on the bed a foot away, her gaze moving between the two of us. The 'grayness' of her form suggested she was wholly in reality and not in the 'Ishara-space' the goddess had shown me and I was now sharing with my augur."This is how you see me?" she examined her fingers, her wrists, then some long locks of her hair."You are more beautiful," I answered. The impact of my words crossing over drew her eyes back to me. It was the magic of hearing for the normally deaf girl. I concentrated, peeled back some fantasy and attached a realistic form to Sikia. Tad fi followed my gaze."Your hair," she addressed her guardian, "It is lighter than I imagined."Sikia said something I couldn't understand, muffled as it was by my dreaming."I cannot hear you, but I see you through his eyes," the augur carried on her conversation. They touched. It had to be somewhat bizarre for Sikia. As she reached for Tad fi's hand, her friend intercepted the extended member. Their fingers intertwined before completing the journey to the guardian's lips."Don't cry, no, we couldn't have, no, we shouldn't have knocked him out sooner. I don't think he was aware of this discipline when we first met. Were you, Cáel?""No. Perhaps if I had understood more about the consequences of seeing ghosts, I might have," I tapered off. "Now that we know. I can try this more often.""Your health?" Tad fi worried."I might be immortal," I confessed. I was confessing because I was desperately seeking a way to share some of my genetic quirkiness with her ~ some strength to carry her through this pregnancy and spare her life, Dot Ishara be damned."And you would seek a way to spare me," she graced me with her gentle presence. Lying in the 'spirit' world was a whole lot tougher than in the flesh."Yeah. I've got some arcane lore rattling around in my head, plus I have a few outside sources I can ask for help. I'm not giving up on you.""I have foreseen my death.""Well, un-foresee it," I scolded her. "Dot Ishara told me we see what might happen, though nothing is guaranteed. So even your death isn't an absolute. Since it hasn't happened, I see no reason to let it happen. You are going to live to hold our daughter. If not, my immortality is worthless.""You can never save everyone. Sometimes you must let a few go to save the rest," she advised."If I find someone I'm not attached to, I'll let them go. I promise. Until then, I'm, ugh, I'm fading, and I'm keeping you.""We shall see," she murmured. I fell back into my body and into wakefulness."Now we have sex," Tad fi announced in a melodic voice."He is ready to perform," Sikia agreed. She was fondling my balls with one hand while her breath played across my rod. I sat up to see the augur climbing up the bed between my thighs. She kissed my glans, licked across its top, then kissed it again."I've got it from here," she told Sikia."What?" Sikia was confused. Tad fi's lips began to engulf my sceptre."Sikia, come here," I gently pulled on her arm. She was conflicted yet up some came.We started out with tender kisses on the lips. I kept drawing her toward me. My lips and tongue migrated down her chin and throat to her breasts. When she thought my target was her breasts, she was all onboard. That was a mere stop-off point on my journey, though I played around for a while.At the same time, I had to use subtle movements with my hips and clenches with my gluts to school Tad fi on her fellatio. Thankfully, I was doubly-blessed. This wasn't my first time schooling two girls at once and Tad fi could determine more from such minimal reactions due to her heightened sense of my muscle contractions through her touch than any other woman I'd ever met.When I began running my tongue in large lashes underneath her breasts, I confused Sikia once more. She was resistant as my hands on her hips pulled her higher so that my lips and teeth could tease her taut stomach while I twirled my tongue in her belly button. She giggled.I had been slowly wiggling down the bed, backing Tad fi up, so when it came time to mount Sikia on my face, I had the headboard room. I kept her muscular thighs securely in hand because the moment I had her happy, I pushed her up. She looked down, seeking guidance and I motioned her to turn around. She did the eye-ball math, realized she'd be facing her augur, and hastily obeyed. Of course, her movement on the bed alerted Tad fi through mattress vibrations.Sikia was sitting on my face, leaning down so she could run her hands through Tad fi's hair and along her face and lips (and my phallus). I kept my hands pressed between our bodies. My right made the sojourn to my pubic area to play around and give them both something else to suck on, my fingers. My left loitered around between Sikia's breasts and her clitoris when my lips were otherwise occupied.I could cup her clit with my tongue in a U-shape, rubbing it along my taste buds. Most of my time was taken up with my tongue broad lashing her vulva or tightly-twisted and delving into her cunt and my nose pushing against her brown hole. I could tilt myself up so I could make tongue-intrusions into her back passage as well. The first time, she squealed.Before she could decide if she wanted to make me stop (she did, virtually all first timers always default to asking their partner to stop, so you have to distract them), Tad fi wanted to know what had brought her reaction on. Then came Sikia's troubled revelation of what I was doing, how the augur shouldn't suffer through it, despite the increasing pleasure she was receiving, only to finally be unable to supply the answer as to why Tad fi shouldn't experience it too.Sikia shot me a treasured look of bewilderment. I'd brought her to orgasm with my tongue alone. I was a guy after all."Switch?" I suggested. Tad fi was still administering one of the slowest, most considerate blowjobs I'd ever experienced. She wasn't rushing toward anything. Sure, she was unschooled, but was devoting her incredible sensitivities to my pleasure and taking pleasure in her ability to bring me to such excitement."Change places?" she mused. "Okay." Tad fi's lips slid off me with one final, loud 'pop', then she used her spider-like fingers to climb up my body while Sikia traveled south. She lavished butterfly kisses on my face ~ childish, yet so very appropriate between us ~ and I mirrored the gesture.With some reluctance, she mounted me, facing Sikia. My tongue flicking across her clit on its first exploration brought out a joyous gasp. It only got better from there.The Long Slide Into Domestic Life:"Twins?" Hana snuggled into my arms. We were at her place, naked in bed together after a late late-night unscheduled meeting with some VIPs. Despite the late/early hour, she was alert, tense even. It had been a mentally stimulating late night encounter which had brought me to her bed."Yes. That is what Tad fi predicted," I inserted between raining kisses down on her forehead. Hana liked non-distracting attention when she was in this kind of mood. She was exhausting herself mentally as she was building up to being amorous."Ana-Călina and  rp d?" she worked over the names on her tongue. "They have a special meaning?""Only if you are Hungarian and Romanian," I teased her. She elbowed me slightly. " rp d was the semi-mystical pagan warlord who led the Ten Tribes who became known as the Hungarians ~ the Magyar peoples ~ into the Carpathian Basin, present day Hungary. Ana-Călina was born a Byzantine princess of the storied House of Basarab; she married Radu Negru, thus becoming the first Princess of a free Wallachia ~ the foundation for a free Romania. She was also the great-grandmother of Dracula.""So they are famous names with regional historical significance, did they live long, happy lives?"" Árpád, no one knows for sure. His kids were quarrelsome, but they did manage to found a dynasty at the start of the second millennia which ruled for three centuries.""Ana-Călina, yeah. I think so," I continued. "She lived into her seventies and her eldest son left his country stronger, richer and safer than when he received it. She did out live her husband by over fifty years, and got to see her youngest grandson bury most of his rivals, the kids from her husband's first marriage.""Ah, what?" Hana rose up until we were eye to eye. Since she was naked, her boobs swayed slightly as she did so. My eye flickered. "Eyes forward, Mister," she playfully barked. "What happened to all her other grandsons?""Wallachia in the 15th century was a tad rough and tumble," I evaded."They killed one another?""Mostly they were killed by conspiracies amongst their boyars, nobles of the time.""Why does, Tad fi want to dredge up these names again?" she kept eye contact."Not a clue," I pleaded."But you think it is important?""No. I think you are important. Screw Fate. It can name its own kids. We can chose whatever names make you happy, except 'Up'. Up's been taken.""You've named another of your offspring 'Up'? That's cruel, or does that mean something in another language I'm unaware of?" she shifted her shoulders so her boobs wobbled again. Of course, I broke eye contact. I hadn't had sex in hours and her boobies were right there, damn it!"Actually, Pamela and I named this secret agent in Hungary that, just to fuck with his head," I divulged."Oh. Pamela. I should have known," she slowly smiled. "You are being very well behaved," she added. Woot! She noticed I wasn't throwing her down and pawing her delectable flesh. "One more thing before the nookie.""Name them. Their dead," I pledged."Not necessary," her sigh turned into a giggle. "If I'm going to be having twins, I'm going to be rather big come late March. We need an earlier wedding date."Oh, fuck me!"What do you have in mind?" I tried to keep the creeping dread out of my voice."New Year's Day?" she suggested. I did a quick calculation. That was annihilating 78 days out of what remained of my bachelor life. In 114 days my life would cease having any meaning whatsoever. I'd be a Mr. to someone's Mrs. The end"Sure, I can arrange to be killed before then," stumbled out of my mouth."What was that?" Hana pouted."Nothing Dear. Cosmic psychic intersection with an Al -demon; don't know what came over me," I fibbed."Man up," Hana bit my nose. "Our marriage won't be that bad if we both work at it. It isn't like I'm demanding celibacy from you." Then she mouthed 'yet'."Wait. Did you mean celibacy, as in no fun at all, or monogamy, as in only 'happy time' with you?" I desperately sought clarification."Oh," she pursed her lips. "I meant monogamy. I didn't mean to scare you.""Oh, thank goodness," I sighed."Here," her gaze turned tender. "Let me make it up to you." Hana placed one hand on my shoulder and rose up my body until my face was gently nestled in her bosom. Then she wiggled back and forth, basically because I'm a big baby and easy to please. I was alternating which nipple I was kissing in no time."Mmm," she murmured. "I've missed you." Her other hand's fingernails coasted down my abdomen and found 'Mr. Happy' had risen to attention. Okay, he'd been hopping up and down on my groin since she'd said we were 'going to bed' 30 minutes ago. Hana decided wrap up my shaft with her hand, then applied a few tender strokes. I reciprocated by cupping her left tit in one hand, forming a mound with her areola at the center, and began to twirl from the outside inward to her hardened nipple with just the tip of my tongue.It was 4 a.m. Why was I taking it slow when I had my final work review with Katrina in three hours? Hana deserved this and more. Why was Hana doing it? She was her own boss, plus her life was careening wildly outside of anything she'd imagined before she'd first laid eyes on me. Half of the financial empire she shared with her father was suddenly in the hands of a military dictatorship, her beloved father was dealing with the murder of her hated step-brother and she was marrying a Prince in a European cathedral which required someone high in the Vatican's approval process to use.Yeah, her life had gone nuts. Worse, she loved me. And I wasn't the kind of man she ever thought she'd love. She'd thought she'd never love anyone again after her life with her asshole of an ex-husband and their bitter, contentious divorce. I was barely someone she could classify, and Hana was a terribly ordered and organized person. Saying my life was messy was being generous. I was some mysterious warrior-diplomat-playboy-aristocrat who hung out with people more bizarre than me.Hana picked up her tempo. I switched breasts. Her motor was really starting to hum. Any other night, I could have moved straight to revving her up to an orgasm. I had the time to make it two without any problems. A good one and Hana would be happy and drift off to sleep. Instead, I intuited she wanted more, so we developed our own game of cat and mouse with her climax, and its suspension, being our ultimate goal.My left hand danced down the back of her ribcage like playing keys on a piano. It was a light, teasing gesture. Her hair the color of tarnished gold cascaded down as she began placing her own kisses upon my crown. Each move by one partner evoked a response by the other. Hana ran my glans over her glistening labia, getting it nice and slick. I worked down her waist, cupped her ass, and then glided over her thigh to the back of her knee where I started tickling her. She snickered."You are distracting me," she murmured. I wasn't. I knew these things."I like to get the feel of every inch of your flesh," I responded. More mirthful noises from her. Slowly, her gooey vestibule rubbed against and over the top, until I felt myself entering. There, she hesitated. I propelled my hips an inch up, twisted right then left before falling back down, a micro-fuck."Ah," she emoted her approval. "My turn." Hana's knees spread to the side, making a memorable sound on the silk sheets as she impaled herself. This time she rolled her hips forward, back, then did a slow 360 with me  inside her, letting the slow progress over her spark memories for her to savor. "I never believed sex could be like this," Hana hiccupped."How so?" I knew the answer, but wanted her to put her chaotic passions to words. It would make her happier."Experimenting, silly. Stopping in the middle and doing, this," she reversed her hip rotations this time. "I never imagined a lover having such patience, or,""Yourself as being so openly sexually adventurous?" I finished."Yeah," she huffed. "I really, really owe your college professor, plus you and all your diligence, for this," at the last moment, she encountered the gateway to her G-spot. I knew precisely where that gem was. Previously, Hana had gained a vague idea where it was from the perspective of masturbation and our prior lovemaking. Now I had let Hana rediscover that joy with my cock as her tool to utilize as she wished."You realize pregnant women want even more sex," she hummed. She was vigorously working my cock now. Hana had bridged a huge gap, sexually. Normally, a woman of Hana's quality tried to please her man first with the hope her orgasm would soon follow. I was different. My greatest sexual gratification came from her ecstasy. She was confident in that now. By bringing herself to climax, she was making me excited for what would come next."That's okay," I propped myself up on one elbow now that Hana was riding me cowgirl-style. "I dig big chicks." The open-palm slap to the chest was a given."Hercege, you, you are horrible," she growled around a feral smile. The lip-biting, tongue-sucking kiss was equally vicious, primal and leading Hana to the end of her tether. Not only was Hana's sexual trust in me/us expanding, she was putting extra effort into her physical workout regime too. She might still have a ways to go to compete with an Amazon, but it was still going to be a great night."Hercegn , I am nothing but a twisted shadow of masculine lust whose every contour is cast by your muliebrous glow," I teased. Her eyes twinkled. Yes, definitely still going to be a great night."Okay," Hana yawned, "I give up. What does 'muliebrous' mean?" She'd been holding on to that for an hour and a half. It was five-thirty and I was dressing in my biking clothes before heading into work."From the Latin 'muliebri' which means 'womanly'," I answered. Her sleepy eyes drank in both my response and my physique. I had discovered another thing Hana liked and that was to expand her academic/linguistic frontiers. She was enchanted with the idea that I liked to engage her mind along with her body, sparking on all cylinders.She'd crawled over to my side of the bed, her head resting on my pillow, soaking up my scent as she watched me. I knelt down, kissed her on her ear, cheek and finally the side of her lips. Hana was beat."Have a good day and be careful," she mumbled. Her eyes closed. Her chest rose with one last, waking breath before her sleep rhythms took her."Ditto," I whispered. I snuck into  Annela's room and planted a kiss on her head as well. The craziness of my life had a way of cascading over to the ones I loved. Loved? Oh boy,7:00 am Monday, September 8th, Graduation Day!Brielle and her buddy were humming along as the elevator doors closed. Once more, my 'hellish' schedule demanded I change in the elevator. I'd gone to gun practice with my bike clothes on, so I absolutely had to change into business attire in the magic box, in front of them.Juanita adjusting my tie was a less than subtle attempt to strangle me. I was about to be late to my final 'start of day' meeting as an intern in Executive Services, so her chastisement would have to wait. Who would have thunk it? Juanita would have to wait outside for this ceremony. Paula raced with me to be the last one in, only to have Daphne grace us with the 'news':"The meeting won't start for another fifteen minutes," she grinned. "Katrina is bringing up the 'new hires' for the fall program."I finger-flicked my head. The 84 days as an intern was merely the 'training wheels' period. To really be a member of ES was at least a two year training process. The Amazons around me had started their training for this gig when they were fifteen and were eighteen and nineteen now, their ID's said they were older for legal purposes.In theory, my four years in college was counted as 'preliminary' training and provided things such as acclimation to outsider culture ~ aka 'acting normal'. Logically, I would train under someone like Desiree or Buffy for a year before being a full-fledged member of the service."How many this time?" I asked Daphne since she seemed to be in the know."Twenty," she grinned. "We are getting two."I noticed there was still only my tiny desk in Katrina's office. That meant the new guys would be out in the office pool with everyone else. Probably for the best. The ladies were now used to having a male around, so would be careful in what they did and didn't say. I yawned."Tired," Fabiola smirked."Oh yeah," I stifled another yawn. "Met an emissary from the Pope." Fabiola glowered. "No. Seriously. I met an emissary from Holy See. I let Hana know I wanted to get married in a highly improbable place, a ruined cathedral, so she contacted the Catholic Church and one of their guys wanted to meet with me.""That had to be fun," Tigger grinned. "What does the Cult of the Nazarene think of you and the Goddess Ishara?""We actually discussed polytheism and the place of an omnipotent, omnipresent being in the scope of things," I placed my hands behind my back and rocked back and forth. "It was quite interesting. The guy knew his shit."By that, I meant he was probably with the Pope's Secret Service as well as a Brainiac with a PhD in something. He'd promised to be in touch as soon as he heard back from his superiors. He had this hot chick with him who I suspected was a nun. And if his driver wasn't ex-military, it was because he was still in the service. On the plus side, Hana had been beaming when we left, which assured me the meeting had gone well, so we had sex from 4 AM until 5:30, thus my current fatigued state."Are you going to abandon your faith?" Fabiola taunted me."I don't have faith, Fabiola of Minerva. Faith would imply I don't know there are supernatural entities screwing with our lives. I know they do exist, I've met a few. To satisfy your disingenuous curiosity, we discussed the nature of the Weave and it being the possible manifestation of God's Will.""How did that go?" Paula appeared interested."He strongly suggested I should 'revisit my Catholic roots' soon. By that, I think he meant I'm supposed to start attending church regularly," I shrugged. "The Pope is sending an envoy to the Great Khan too, so odds are good I'm getting married," I pronounced the last bit as the doom-laden prediction it was."Oh, yes," Fabiola reached passed Paula and smacked me in the chest with the back of her hand. "That is for insinuating you and I had intercourse to my Mother and the Council.""Was that chastising me for lying, or for not making it so?" I winked."Ah, no!" she pouted. "Stop lying about me."I looked down at my phone."We've got twelve minutes," I double-pumped my eyebrows. "Want to go to Katrina's bathroom?""What! No!" Fabiola

For way too long, I thought training more meant training better. Six or seven days a week, sometimes twice a day, because if I wasn't pushing my limits, was I even making progress?I see this all the time now. People grinding through back-to-back workouts, ignoring the signals their bodies are screaming at them. Constant fatigue, stubborn plateaus, weird little injuries that just won't go away. And for what? More isn't always better. In fact, sometimes, it's the very thing holding you back.I used to think I had to train like an athlete to see results—until my body literally forced me to slow the hell down. The truth is, real progress happens in the recovery, not just in the reps. And if you're stuck, exhausted, or just not seeing the changes you expected… it might be time to rethink your approach.In today's episode, I'm breaking it all down. We'll talk about the signs of overtraining—like constant fatigue, plateaus, and mood swings—and why they happen in the first place. I'll explain how too much exercise can actually mess with your strength, metabolism, and hormones, making it harder to see results. And, most importantly, I'll show you why rest days are just as critical as your workouts and how you can train smarter (not just harder) to get stronger, feel better, and actually make progress.If you've ever felt guilty for taking a rest day, or wondered why your workouts aren't hitting the same way anymore… this episode is for you!Because here's the deal: training smarter > training more. And learning to listen to your body? That's where the real gains happen.I Also Discuss:(00:00) Fitness Q&A(10:46) Effective Strength Training and Fat Loss(24:42) High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) & Mobility(32:07) Footwear for Strength Training(38:23) Podcast Thank You MessageThank You to Our Sponsors:Broads: Broads gives you structured, progressive training and a powerhouse community to keep you strong, consistent, and unstoppable. Join today at broads.app and use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month!Legion: Use code Tara20 for 20% off your first order and double loyalty cash back any order after that when you shop at LegionAthletics.comFind more from Tara: Website: https://www.taralaferrara.com/Instagram: @taralaferrara @broads.podcast @broads.appYoutube: Tara LaFerraraTiktok: @taralaferrara

PodChatLive 173: April Fools Day & critical thinking, Effects of cadence, footwear & orthoses on running, and Cardiac arrests during marathonsContact us: getinvolved@podchatlive.comLinks from this episode:Critical thinking is more important than ever. How can I improve my skills?Optimizing Running Mechanics, Effects of Cadence, Footwear, and Orthoses on Force Distribution: A Quasi-Experimental StudyLondon Marathon fury as thousands of runners fear they could miss out on finishers' medals after organisers changed the rulesCardiac Arrest During Long-Distance Running RacesHaaland out for up to seven weeks with ankle injury

April 1, 2025 ~ Two people who police say were linked to train robberies of Nike footwear were arrested in Arizona last week. Steve Dolunt joins Kevin to discuss this.

What makes Oofos footwear so uniquely comfortable and recovery-focused? In this episode, Matt Priest and Sandi Mines chat with Chris Peckham, Head of Global Operations at Oofos, to dive into the technology behind their proprietary foam and the brand's rapid growth. Hear how Oofos is shaking up the recovery footwear market, expanding into new retail channels, and navigating industry challenges—all while delivering game-changing comfort. Tune in for insights, innovation, and a little baseball nostalgia! With special guest: Chris Peckham, Head of Global Operations, Oofos Hosted by: Matt Priest and Sandi Mines

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CMO Paul Nugent talks about new initiatives including a campaign with Sydney Sweeney

What makes a 133-year-old American shoe company thrive today? In this episode, Jeff Burns, President of Weinbrenner Shoe Company also known as Thorogood, shares the brand's rich history, commitment to American-made quality, and innovations in work footwear. Discover how Thorogood balances tradition with cutting-edge production, why they support retail partnerships over direct-to-consumer, and what's fueling their impressive growth. Plus, hear about their bold investment in U.S. manufacturing! With special guest: Jeff Burns, President, Weinbrenner Shoe Company Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

Fall factors: Medication, Balance, Weight, Footwear, Psychological Impact—are all discussed 

Spring has arrived at Walt Disney World and your Disney vacation is coming up, so what should you plan to pack and wear?Fashion Trends in Disney Parks for SpringWe studied what people are wearing this spring at Walt Disney World, and added our recommendations for the best types of clothing to pack and wear for your next Disney vacation.Now that the Orlando weather is turning much warmer, you'll need to pack accordingly to ensure that you are comfortable -- particularly for park visits.The most common and comfortable outfit for a day in the parks this spring is the classic t-shirt and shorts combination. Lightweight tees are a good choice, but you will still be fine in a standard heavyweight t-shirt.T-Shirts are Still the Most Popular Top for SpringFor t-shirt colors, one thing to note is that the majority of guests are still wearing darker colored tees, coming out of the winter months. Approximately 20 per cent of Disney Park guests are wearing white tees and tops, while 10 per cent are wearing very dark (or black) tops.With the spring weather settling in, the darker choice of t-shirt/top colors is still fine. However, it is getting warmer, so bear in mind that the darker colors will attract more heat from the sun. We are not yet into the true heat of an Orlando summer, but still, black is likely on its latter end of being an optimal color. So if you prefer these darker shades, you should be good to go until closer to the middle or end of May.If you get uncomfortable in the heat or want to focus on maintaining a cool body temp over the style of your top, we would recommend switching now to lighter color or white t-shirts and tops. Looser fitting shirts will also help to keep you cool as the parks begin to heat up.What Kind of Footwear is Best for Spring Weather?Footwear can also be affected by the heat of the parks. As the pavement gets hotter, you'll want to consider how this affects what type of footwear you choose.Far and away, sneakers or running shoes with good padding are the most popular footwear at Walt Disney World. This is true for several reasons, from the padding that offers extra cushion to the snug fit that will lessen the potential for blisters. Be sure to wear socks and shoes with a breathable fabric will help to keep you going throughout the day.There are a smaller percentage of guests at Walt Disney World wearing flip flops, sandals or tennis shoes/skateboard shoes. These offer less padding than runners and can be a little more punishing when it comes to hot feel from the pavement or tired legs. So be sure to consider what will work best for you and the other guests in your group.For bottoms, shorts of all kinds are still the most popular choice. This works year-round at Walt Disney World, so the main consideration is to go with comfort and style. We are not yet into the true heat and humidity of summer, so inner-thigh heat rash isn't yet a big issue (if you tend to suffer from this during the dog days of summer).Nights are getting warmer as well, meaning that extra layers may no longer be necessary to pack. As always, check the local weather forecast for your week of travel to get specific temperatures for your vacation.Shop at 1923 Main StreetThank you for listening to the Disney Travel Style Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com.Shop unique and original Disney-inspired clothing, including t-shirts, sweatshirt, hoodies, dresses, swimwear and more at 1923 Main Street.Follow along on X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.Thank you for listening and have a magical day!Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic--Media provided by Jamendo

What happens when football fandom meets footwear insight? Join host Matt Priest, co-host Thomas Crockett, and special guest Christie Horan as they dive into Christie's journey from FDRA to commanding the sidelines as the Washington Commanders' dance coach. They discuss game-day energy, sneaker choices for the team's dancers, and the unforgettable moments of an epic season. Get an exclusive peek behind the curtain of sports, style, and motivation! With special guest: Christie Horan, Head Dance Coach, Washington Commanders, and Marketing and Media Coordinator, FDRA Hosted by: Matt Priest and Thomas Crockett

Today on the show Colin is joined by Producer Dave and Outdoor Industry Insider Eoin Comerford to take a look a bigger look at the outdoor industry.Optimism was high at the end of 2024 that the outdoor industry was due for a come back year. Inventory issues had improved and open to buy was increasing. But with the end of the first quarter just a couple of weeks away things have fallen off of a cliff. We take a look at what happened and what to expect. (07:25)Then the crew turns their attention to the recent news that two outdoor parent companies Solo Brands & Pelican International are experiencing financial distress. Is this related to the other issues the industry is experiencing? We take a deeper look. (24:59)Lasting for The Parting Shot Colin looks at the new footwear collection launched by Stio. Will Stio's Mahomes like luck continue? (43:08)Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com.

Brad and I discuss the options we use for sneaky feet for our bow hunts. Use the code GRITTY at https://sheepfeetoutdoors.com/ as well as at https://www.lonepeakleather.com/ WE RECOMMEND GEAR THAT FLATOUT WORKS. Buying gear using the links and codes below directly supports the GRITTY TEAM. ____________________________________________________________________

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00:00 Introduction to Ben Weiss and Sintelay02:51 Lessons from Family: Resilience and Independence04:41 The Entrepreneurial Spark: Inspiration from Steve Jobs06:39 Navigating the Transition to Entrepreneurship08:16 Networking: The Key to Opportunities10:36 The Birth of Legends and Leaders Podcast12:34 The First Episode: Insights and Preparation14:49 Learning Through Podcasting: The Importance of Adaptability16:24 Consistency in Podcasting: Systems and Processes18:00 The Impact of Podcasting on Personal Branding19:29 Building Relationships: The Power of Podcasting21:23 Collaborating with Joe Foster: A Footwear Journey22:45 The Evolution of Footwear Branding24:21 AI in Footwear Design27:49 Building a Brand with Influencers30:04 Scaling Production and Market Relevance32:20 Continuous Learning and Networking36:10 Defining Success and Impact

Open Mic with prospective, current or past limb lengthening patients to hear their experiences to share with others.________Audio Podcast: will be available within 24-48hrs after the stream Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro1:24 - Master Distractor's Pre-Surgery Preparation2:46 - Convincing Family & Support System9:08 - External Fixator Pros & Cons11:55 - Showering with External Fixators12:54 - Bone Consolidation & Recovery 14:12 - Blood Thinners & Supplementation Risks23:27 - David's Experience with Precise Max (Weight-Bearing Nail)24:50 - Walking Timeline & Recovery with P-Max42:37 - When to Expect Normal Walking Post-Lengthening44:26 - Quadrilateral Lengthening Discussion45:48 - Pain Levels & Nerve Pain During Lengthening49:02 - Nerve Pain vs. Bone Pain in Recovery51:50 - Peptides for Bone Healing (BPC-157, TB-500, etc.)53:47 - Complication Rates at Trustworthy Clinics56:01 - Importance of Stretching & Prehab for Successful Lengthening58:48 - Insane Lengthening Goals (10cm+ in Femur & Tibia)1:02:50 - Footwear & Shoe Lifts After Limb Lengthening1:06:19 - Femur vs. Tibia Lengthening Recovery Differences1:12:03 - Shoe Lifts vs. Sole Adjustments for Proportions1:17:00 - Effects of Age on Lengthening & Recovery1:22:01 - Outro________

Matt Klein and David Salas are here for another mailbag episode where we answer your questions. In this edition, they cover shoes, injury rehab, training advice and more. Are there any firmer super trainers? Do you need to size up your shoes for marathon racing? What are the best strategies for dealing with shin pain? Tune in for answers to these and much more. Want your question answered? Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com!Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!Chapters0:00 - Intro4:03 - New stability shoes: Brooks Glycerin 22 GTS & Puma Foreverrun 29:30 - Is there any validity to how a shoe bends in our hands?16:44 - Do different shoes help with specific kinds of fatigue when running longer distances?24:08 - Are there any firm(ish) super-trainers?32:10 - Do you need to size up your shoes for marathon running?38:40 - Shoe recommendations for Morton's neuroma42:20 - Shoe recommendations for treadmill running45:20 - Advice for dealing with shin pain49:26 - Does running workouts in super shoes reduce the gain from the workout?58:34 - Santa Barbara vs. Houston tacos59:46 - Wrap-up

Myrqvist's journey began in 2016, starting small — like most things do — but with a clear vision: to craft high-quality footwear with a timeless design at a fair price. A product designed to stand the test of time and trends alike.How do they balance top-tier craftsmanship with a modest price point? At Myrqvist, they take pride in their dedication to quality. While all design work happens at their Stockholm headquarters, their shoes are expertly crafted by skilled artisans in Portugal, with whom they've built long-standing relationships. Rather than inflating prices with hefty margins, they focus on keeping costs aligned with the craftsmanship that goes into each pair. The result? Premium footwear — without the premium price tag.Scandinavian design, meticulous attention to detail, and the finest materials sourced from world-renowned tanneries are at the heart of Myrqvist. Thanks to this commitment, they were named Sweden's fastest-growing footwear brand in 2020. While roots remain deeply Scandinavian, Myrqvist shoes are now worn across continents, making their mark far beyond Sweden.But growth hasn't just been geographic. The first shoe model, the Äppelviken Oxford, laid the foundation for their collection. While they continue to offer classic formal shoes, their range has expanded to include sneakers, boots, sandals, and accessories — each embodying timeless design and a commitment to longevity. Together, they define Myrqvist: premium footwear without the premium price tag.Support the show

On this episode of the Sneaker History Podcast, host Mike Guillory welcomes Rick Teves, a footwear developer at Puma. They discuss Rick's journey into the sneaker industry, the intricacies of footwear development, and the exciting innovations coming from Puma. The conversation also touches on the art of customizing sneakers and Rick's personal projects, providing insights into the sneaker culture and industry. In this engaging conversation, Mike Guillory and Rick Teves delve into the world of sneakers, exploring personal collections, the design process at Puma, and the impact of social media on sneaker releases. They discuss the fast-paced nature of sneaker partnerships, the evolution of basketball shoes, and current trends in sneaker design. Rick shares his journey into sneaker obsession, highlighting the nostalgia that drives many collectors today. In this engaging conversation, Mike Guillory and Rick Teves delve into the world of sneakers, discussing everything from shoe care and collection management to the nostalgia of old sneakers. They explore the evolution of Air Max technology, the importance of innovation in sneaker design, and the resurgence of classic models. The discussion also touches on personal style and fashion trends, as well as the mystery behind unique sneaker technologies like beaded cushioning. Throughout the conversation, the camaraderie between the speakers shines through, making for an enjoyable and insightful listen.Support The ShowBuy me a coffee

Today Colin is rolling solo! First he offers his comments and observations after attending the virtual launch of Arc'teryx's spring footwear collection earlier this week. While the launch itself was a leap forward in how outdoor brands should be engaging with outdoor media, it was also a good example of how brands could improve how they promote their products. (02:16)Next Colin talks about how the outdoor industry needs to unite in order to fight for our public lands over the next four years. He looks at a story that was recently published on the DCReport by war veteran and outdoor advocate Stacy Bare as an example of how important our wild places are and can be. You'll hear how the outdoors helped save Stacy's life in his own voice. (08:46)Lastly for The Parting Shot, for third year in a row on The Rock Fight, Colin makes his prediction for Best Picture at Sunday's Academy Awards. (15:40)Check out hundreds of wildly cool products by visiting and shopping at Garage Grown Gear!Click here to take The Rock Fight Podcast Listener Survey! Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com.

Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk's Pets. Here we are at the end of February and in many climates there is still a fair bit of winter to go. Dog coats and boots are still high on the list of purchases. So, let me give you the options and the honest truth on pet apparel and footwear.Please remember to follow or subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.To help the show, please don't forget to Rate and Review each episode that you find helpful/educational.Email me at: val@valtalkspets.com with topics you think would be of interest or with any questions you may have.For links mentioned on the show, as well as pictures, visit my website at valtalkspets.com.Thanks for listening!

Episode #144 of The Shallow End is chock full of vitamins and other nutrients!  (Okay. It's not. But it is entertaining as hell.) Lindsay's story comes to us from Kissimmee, FL, where a young woman and her boyfriend decided to celebrate the man's birthday at a local motel by ordering a pizza delivered to their room. Everything was going swimmingly – until the police were called. Find out why! (Note: It involves drivers who will stop at nothing to drive home their opinions on the importance of gratuity.) Then Jethro takes us to the mountains above Tucson, AZ, where a gentleman was enjoying the sweeping views of the city before a late monsoon rain blew in to wash away the summer heat. What an unfortunate time to have to answer nature's call. No worries!  When you're a male, the whole Earth is your bathroom! (Shame about the timing of that lighting strike!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Born Primitive Podcast, Bear shares details about his upcoming trip to Jamaica for psychedelic therapy, where he will experience psilocybin mushrooms. He discusses the proven benefits of psychedelic therapy, including its use in treating PTSD, addiction, and other mental health challenges, particularly for military veterans. The conversation also covers Born Primitive's broader vision beyond being just an apparel company. Bear and Tony explore their commitment to making a positive impact on society and finding ways to give back. They also dive into political changes and updates, discussing the new administration, debunking claims, and examining the nation's debt and future economic outlook. Finally, Bear and Tony reveal what they're most excited about this year, including Born Primitive's strong inventory, expansion into footwear, and potential collaborations with Black Rifle Coffee Company and UFC for Veterans Day launches.To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/And you can  learn more about Born Primitive Tactical by visiting: https://bornprimitivetactical.comFollow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bornprimitive/Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCruGgs2p3VVVy-v6YTiKuQwPRODUCED BY IRONCLAD

Is India the next big footwear sourcing hub? In this episode, Matt and Andy talk with industry veteran Neeraj Narayan who leads SIV Impact and Synergy India Ventures. Neeraj discusses India's growing importance as a sourcing destination due to its talent, infrastructure, and trade agreements. Neeraj shares insights from his journey with Nike and beyond, tackling sourcing complexities, material innovations, and regulatory trends shaping the future. Don't miss this deep dive into what's next for the shoe industry! With special guest: Neeraj Narayan, CEO SIV Impact, Co-Founder Synergy India Ventures Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

The future of footwear isn't plastic — it's algae. Ryan Hunt, co-founder of Shloop and BLKSWN Footwear, discusses how his journey to a footwear factory in Meridian, Miss., began with a bioengineering lab. Hunt discusses: • How algae, once explored for biofuels, became a key ingredient in his companies' eco-friendly footwear • The pitfalls of global supply chains • Why he decided to manufacture in the United States • What's coming next for his retail brand as it develops its customer base Photo courtesy of Shloop

▶️ Check This Out On YouTubeJustin Fitzpatrick is the founder and co-owner of J. Fitzpatrick Footwear. With a strong background in shoe design and manufacturing, Justin has established a reputable shoe brand known for its classic welted shoes with a bold twist. Justin also runs "The Shoe Snob" blog, where he shares his extensive knowledge and passion for the men's high-end shoe industry, further solidifying his credibility in the world of footwear.In this episode, you'll learn:- The differences between Blake Stitch and Goodyear welted shoes and why these constructions matter in terms of quality and longevity.- How Justin Fitzpatrick's unique approach to shoe design distinguishes his brand in a competitive marketplace.- Insights into the evolving trends in men's footwear, including the shift from classic shoes to sneakers and back.

In this week's episode, we spotlight the big and beautiful Malines chicken. Dr. Jon Moyle, Poultry Specialist with the University of Maryland Extension Service, joins us to talk about Avian Flu and separate some fact from fiction. We share our recipe for delicious Bavarian Apple Torte, and provide some retail therapy and biosecurity with footwear for Chicken Ladies and Gents.Grubbly Farms - click here for our affiliate link.https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100963304-15546963Pre and Probiotic and Vitamin and Electrolyte Powders!Bright and Early Coffee - use code CWTCL15 for 15% off of any bagged coffee. K Cups always ship free!https://brightandearlycoffee.com/Omlet Coops- Use Our Affiliate Link for 10% off!https://tidd.ly/3Uwt8BfChicken Luv Box -  use CWTCL50 for 50% off your first box of any multi-month subscription!https://www.chickenluv.com/Breed Spotlight is sponsored by Murray McMurray Hatcheryhttps://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/Metzer Farms Waterfowlhttps://www.metzerfarms.com/Nestera UShttps://nestera.us/cwtclUse our affiliate link above for 5% off your purchase!Roosty'shttps://amzn.to/3yMDJBavarian Apple Tortehttps://coffeewiththechickenladies.com/farm-fresh-egg-recipes/bavarian-apple-torte/CWTCL Websitehttps://coffeewiththechickenladies.com/CWTCL Etsy Shophttps://www.etsy.com/shop/CoffeeWChickenLadiesAs Amazon Influencers, we may receive a small commission from the sale of some items at no additional cost to consumers.CWTCL Amazon Recommendationshttps://www.amazon.com/shop/coffeewiththechickenladiesSupport the show

Kindred Label founder Cassidy Caulk built a patented luxury shoe brand from scratch, mastering everything from cobbling to engineering. Get actionable tips for product development, manufacturing partnerships, and protecting your invention.For more on Kindred Label and show notes click here. 

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Season 6 Episode 12:  Unnatural Selection Guys, We don't know how or why Hilo from BSG is ALSO  a (basically) Cylon in the Stargate Universe, but we're not going to question our good fortune.  We are going to question a couple other things, however.  Like why the Replicators ALL just chillin here?  What is the weakness these new Cylon Bots are trying to mechanize out of themselves?  And most importantly, what and who, EXACTLY, is Sam Carter's type?  And why they all have horrible endings?  We learn none of these answers.   ----more---- 00:00 - Intro 7:33 - 24 Seconds 9:38 - Episode Debrief 1:02:37 - Yeh Neh or Meh 1:07:06 - Next Episode 1:08:14 - ComeTrya 1:10:44 - Get To Know Your Hosts 1:14:13 - Outro    

Daniel Shaw - Footwear Innovator | Building Iconic Brands and Projects from Brooklyn to Vietnam Empowering Businesses with 25+ Years of Industry Expertise. Sponsor The Jason Cavness Experience is sponsored by CavnessHR. CavnessHR provides HR to companies with 49 or fewer people. CavnessHR provides a tech platform that automates HR while providing access to a dedicated HR Business Partner. www.CavnessHR.com Go to www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com for the podcast on your favorite platforms Powered By Earth VC is on a mission to unf@#k the earth. They are doing this by supporting breakthrough scientific research, empowering outlier founders to build enduring climate businesses and investing in high-growth startups that decarbonize the world. Earth VC empowers founders who are Ambitious, Breakthrough and are Committed Earth VC invests in the pre seed to Series A round. If you think you might be a match reach out to them at rebuild@earth.vc Daniel's Bio My journey in the fashion industry began in 1992 with Walkerwear in New York City. Over the years, I gained invaluable experience working with renowned brands such as Maurice Malone, P-H-A-T Farm, and others before launching my own brand, Pure Players, in the late 90s and early 2000s. I went on to establish 1020 Blues and secured licensing deals with major companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Remy Martin, and Nayak. I also developed TRPL, a brand deeply connected to the hip-hop scene, collaborating with many prominent rappers. My career has taken me across the globe, including eight years in China. Where I focused on footwear and clothing manufacturing. For the past four years, I've been based in Vietnam, where we're expanding our operations. We're planning to open facilities and freestanding retail shops that not only offer apparel but also contribute to re-gentrifying local neighborhoods. Our most recent and exciting venture is the launch of Soul Alley, a brand that embodies the fusion of cultures and the spirit of innovation that has driven my career.  We talked about the following and other items Early Career in Fashion and Business Transition to Asia and Business Expansion Life in Vietnam and Business Insights Challenges and Opportunities in the Footwear Industry Cultural Exchange and Business Strategies Reflections on Hip Hop and Cultural Influence Future of Business and Technology Factory Visit and Production Challenges Global Fashion Trends and IP Theft Design Process and Market Dynamics Sustainability and Textile Waste Affordability and Market Strategy Opening a Factory in Vietnam Quality Control and Market Trust Finding Customers and Building a Brand Innovation and Manufacturing Personal Growth and Influence Future of Vietnam and Personal Goals Travel and Luggage Preferences Cultural Awareness and Social Responsibility Personal Reflections and Social Observations Daily Routine and Efficiency Advice  Daniel's Social Media Daniel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielshaw-footwearspecialist/ Daniel's Advice Don't ever let anybody tell you you can't do something. I'm using myself as a guinea pig to that, because I came from Brooklyn. Grew up in the 90s. I lived in Vietnam, China, Korea, several other places and countries.  If you asked 100 people, they would have told you that this wasn't supposed to happen. So the journey, the destination is unknown. The journey is fucking dope. I'm staying on it, rocking it until the wheels fall off. You know, life is good. Life is good.

“Sneaker” Steve Patino shares his journey from sneaker enthusiast to footwear industry innovator, discussing how his passion for shoes evolved into a mission to revolutionize sustainable manufacturing. “Sneaker” Steve is the founder of Ales Gray. Chapters: 00:00 – The future of business and creating a positive legacy 01:02 – Working for free at a sneaker ... Read more The post A Footwear Industry Pioneer Talks Entrepreneurship and Sustainability appeared first on SportsEpreneur.

The idea that well-made, resoable footwear can last almost literally forever is one of its core allures—but it's a promise that simply won't come true if it's not cared for properly. Especially the leather. But what's the best way to do that? And for different types of leather? Well you'll know a ton more after my fantastic chat with Andy Vaughn, owner of Pure Polish, the Oregon-based company whose emphasis on 100% natural, non-toxic leather care products is fulfilled thanks to the kind of experience and knowledge that comes with obviously researching and making the stuff—but also personally restoring over 100 pairs of vintage shoes—all of which we got out of Andy over the course of a fantastic episode. Get ready for the most fun you'll ever have learning about Bentonite clay, along with where things can go VERY wrong, Andy's Universal Care Truth Trinity, why brushing is so essential and if the fancy ones are worth it, and plenty more. Time to keep it clean, keep it conditioned, and keep it protected, with Andy Vaughn, of Pure Polish. Support the Shoecast, get full bonus episode access, and join the most interesting shoe-and-boot-loving community on the internet with a Stitchdown Premium membershiphttps://www.stitchdown.com/join-stitchdown-premium/Check out our site!https://www.stitchdown.com/2025 dates and location for Stitchdown's Boot Camp 3—the world's fair of shoes and boots and leather and more—coming soon.https://www.stitchdownbootcamp.com/