Podcasts about Forge

Everyone is  back this week!  We have the full cast and I am over the moon.  We talk about the latest updates to Warhammer 40k and then talk about what … Read More

In this episode of Making It to Milan, co-host Dani Aravich sits down with Brenna Huckaby, a Paralympic snowboarder representing Team USA, to talk about her road to the Milano Cortina Paralympic Games. Brenna shares how she went from growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a gymnast to being diagnosed with osteosarcoma at 14, undergoing an above-the-knee amputation, and discovering snowboarding on a rehabilitation ski trip in Utah. She opens up about moving across the country at 17 to pursue the sport, qualifying for her first Paralympics at 22, and the legal fight she led to ensure her classification category could compete in Beijing. Brenna reflects on motherhood between Games, managing PMDD and ADHD, navigating prosthetic fit while gaining strength, and embracing her role as a veteran leader on Team USA as she prepares for Milan. She's joined by a very special guest, her 9 year-old daughter, who shares how she can't wait to cheer for her mom in Milan.

Farrier training and education in the United States can be a touchy subject amongst people in our trade. Whether or not 6-8 weeks is long enough for someone to be able to successfully learn all the skills needed to become a successful farrier or if attending a school that has a large amount of students at that time if you're going to be able to get enough attention from the instructor to learn the valuable skills needed. This episode isn't about dogging on the current farrier schools we have in the US. This episode is about the farrier school that Brian Strelow has developed to be more hands on and attentive from the instructor to give you the best possible options of becoming a successful farrier. Brian developed a 6 month curriculum for two students at a time to attend where they can gain so much exposure and education in that amount of time without feeling left out or possibly missed. The biggest thing i learned someone can gain from his school is the amount of exposure one will get by enrolling in Brian's school. Check out wis website- www.straydogforge.com to find out more details about how to enroll or if you know someone who is thinking about attending a farrier school.Also check out our website-www.forgingbrains.comOur Proud Sponsors of the Showwww.farrierbox.com use code BRAINS for 25% off your first month's order!www.well-shod.com use code BRAINS for a surprise product in your order!www.worldchampionshipblacksmiths.com use code BRAINS for 10% off in their online store! (not including membership/contest entry fees)www.yukonforge.com use code BRAINS for 10% off your order!

We're back! First episode of 2026, a new trailer, a new guest, lots to be excited about in this one. If you're returning to the podcast, welcome back, and if you're new here, thank you! This episode serves as a reminder to go after the things you love, today I'm joined by two filmmakers, and more notably, two filmmakers in the week of Joburg Film Festival, it feels like an incredibly well timed episode. Nontokozo Mlaba's film: Melusi is being screened at Joburg Film Festival this weekend at 2PM at the Forge. Please do your best to try and watch his movie and all the other local movies being displayed, its awards season in America, but its important to keep in mind that we have an abundance of talent in South Africa. There are always dozens of things going on at once, but in times like these, I'm incredibly grateful to have have the time to discuss films once again. We're proud to have had Mr Mlaba make his podcast debut with us — an incredibly talented filmmaker, and someone we're grateful to have hosted this week.For those interested, Tickets for Joburg Film Festival are available here: https://joburgfilmfestival.co.za/

How do you discover your calling as a Christian? In Part 2 of this conversation on Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan and Forge speaker John Vermilya focus on the practical next step: serving where you are right now.John explains why trying to imitate someone else's calling often leads to frustration, and why God reveals our gifts through action, not waiting. This episode explores the idea that every follower of Jesus is a “laborer first,” called to love people, serve faithfully, and live on mission in everyday life—whether inside or outside the church.This conversation is especially helpful for Christians who feel stuck, unsure of their gifts, or waiting for clarity before taking action. Part 2 challenges listeners to stop waiting, start serving, and trust God to guide their calling through obedience.Topics include: discovering your calling, using spiritual gifts, serving in the local church, everyday discipleship, laborership, obedience, Christian mission, and faithfulness over platform.Fuel for the Harvest is a Christian discipleship podcast equipping everyday followers of Jesus to make disciples and live out the Great Commission.

In this episode of the Mullins Farrier Podcast, Tom Smith, a farrier from South England and former chair of the Farriers Registration Council, discusses why he created Forge Smart after seeing farriers struggle with long hours, tight margins, and pricing confidence. He shares practical insight on understanding true costs, communicating value to clients, and implementing sustainable price increases to support both business success and work–life balance. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For access to other full length episodes: www.mullinsfarrier.supercast.com   For more information on the courses www.forgesmart.co.uk

https://youtu.be/UgAJ4-221HA Josh Block, President of Block Imaging, Founder of Cube Mobile Imaging, and author of People Matter at Work, is on a mission to restore work as a positive force in people's lives. After unexpectedly stepping into the presidency of his family business at just 29 years old, Josh began asking a bold question: What if we could create a place where people love to work — and become someone they never dreamed of because of it? We explore Josh's “Me Cycle” to “We Cycle” Framework (3Ts) — Work Together, Make Thoughtful Decisions, and Be Transparent — a leadership model designed to build trust, ownership, and thriving team cultures. Josh explains how slowing down sharpens decisions, why empathy must shape executive choices, and how radical transparency strengthens accountability. He also shares how defining a clear organizational identity — including mission, values, and thriving mindsets — creates a culture that attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones. — 3 Ways to Forge an Identity for Your Business with Josh Block Good day, dear listeners. Steve Preda here, the Founder of the Summit OS Group, and my guest today is Josh Block, who’s been President of Block Imaging for the last 15 years. He is also the Founder of Cube Mobile Imaging and the author of People Matter at Work. Josh, welcome to the show.  Thank you so much for having me, Steve. It’s good to be with you.  I'm excited to have you because you've taken over a company as president and CEO, then changed the culture, and written a book about it. So we're going to dive into all this. But before we go there, I'm curious: what is your personal “Why,” and how are you manifesting it in Block Imaging, Cube Mobile Imaging, and your new company? Yeah, I grew up in a home that work was a positive thing. I never heard my dad complain about work. And yet as I went to college and then moved into my twenties, I recognized that work had become kind of a four-letter word in our day—more of a “have to” than a “get to.” So at 29, when I became president of our family business, the collision of my own experience and the world's experience led me to ask the question: What if we could create a place where people love to work? Culture often gets labeled as soft stuff, but not just love to work, but become someone they never dreamed of because they're challenged, they're connected to a mission, they respect their leader, and go home as better people? And so, over the last 15 years, we've sought to create that kind of place—where kids would grow up in homes and say, “I want to work at a place like Mommy and Daddy work.” And they’d actually experienced what I experienced as a young person.  That’s great that you had such a positive experience, and I agree. I mean, that’s what we want as entrepreneurs. We want to create this experience for our people as well. So how do you actually do that? How do you create this experience? Do you have a framework that will help people? Perhaps you write about it in your book to get that. I think you call it going from the “me cycle” to the “we cycle.” What does that mean, and how do you get there?  Yeah. In most organizations, “me” is the driver. Bosses are extracting from people. They're focused on themselves, or maybe they’re focused exclusively on performance. But in the “me cycle”, bosses look out for themselves, and then employees return the favor. And really nobody wins because it’s more of a cannibalistic approach. And so 322: 3 Ways to Forge an Identity for Your Business with Josh BlockShare on X Leaders set the tone. They're the ones who go first, and they create a culture where people are cared for. In the book, I talk about the “three Ts.” I didn't have them at the beginning — I kind of stumbled upon upon them over the last 15 years. And really, these three Ts allow us to create a culture where people feel safe, seen, and successful. And when they do that, they feel safe, seen, and successful, they give back in incredible ways. They take ownership of the business, and ultimately, trust builds. And when that happens, it shares the burden across the leaders and the team. Everything gets easier. Everyone wins. Performance blossoms. And so that’s really what I highlight along with sharing my story into becoming president is the shift from “me” to “we”. I loved it. So when did you recognize that this was something that needed to happen, and how did you create the vision of what it would look like if you wanted to create it? So when you came into the business, was it more of a “me” culture, and did you change it, or did you pick it up, recognize it, and articulate it even though it was already there? Yeah, I think there were positives and negatives, and maybe I'd classify it as neutral. I wouldn't say it was a thriving team culture, but I wouldn't say it was toxic either. My care for people, my love for work, and my belief in the power of business—that really was what we were looking to embody.Share on X And so it started out just trying to be the answer to that “what if” question I shared. Little by little, because of my really quick transition from sales rep to president, the three Ts emerged. The first was together—we have to work together. It was born out of humility to sharpen decisions. Then it serendipitously became the second T: thoughtful decisions, which is careful consideration of the needs of others. And then the last piece was really a T as well that was leading how I would like to be led, which is just with lots of transparency. So many leaders are keeping so much close to the vest, and it reduces trust. Yet, when we share openly and transparently with people, trust builds, and all sorts of really cool things start to happen. Those three Ts, I kind of stumbled across, and they've become the framework for embodying—not manipulating—people, but really embodying the care that we already have for people. Share on X Yeah, I love it. So working together, making thoughtful decisions, and being transparent. So let’s peel the onion here. What do you mean working together? How is it different from what most companies do?  Yeah, so in lots of companies, leaders are overwhelmed. They have too much on their plate. They're moving so fast, and it might be a big decision or a small decision that they make, and they think, “Oh, this isn't that big a deal. In fact, this is like eight on my list of 20 priorities.” And then they spend a lot of time clarifying, cleaning up, and fixing because they’ve moved too fast and they’ve moved thoughtlessly. And so this working together to sharpen decisions, whether it’s something that’s big or really, again, something that’s small. Sometimes the smaller decisions have an inordinate impact on people. So yeah, when I think about working together, I just think of using people in our organization—and even outside of our organization—to sharpen any decision of consequence.  Yeah. Many leaders don’t recognize that just because they can come up with a decision themselves, if there is no buy-in, people can't weigh in. And then they don’t realize that people don’t feel ownership of this decision. And they might not get the complete context of it, and they might have some concerns that they feel like it hasn’t been seen and heard, and that can create friction in an organization. And a lot of leaders are thinking to themselves, “Well, I don't have time to slow down. I have too much to do.” And I would say, you actually have so much to do sometimes because of moving too fast and having to clean up, fix, and address issues. I think “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” If we actually took a bit more time in the decision, we would save time in the long run. Yeah. What about being thoughtful? If you do that—if you work together and take input from other people—isn't that going to create thoughtful decisions? Or is there another dimension that needs to be considered?  It certainly is helpful. The more people you bring in, the broader our paradigm is in making a decision.Share on X But you have to stop and think: what is it like to be on the other side of this decision? And one of the story that comes to mind is Office Space. Right now, I'm in a corner office, and I've had an office for a long time. It can be easy to forget what it's like to be in a cubicle, to work closely with 12 other people, or to deal with different lighting or temperature—whatever it is. Stopping and recognizing that there was a time when some things were important to me, but are not important anymore, and yet they're still important to the people I lead—that's thoughtful. This careful consideration of the needs of others asks: how does my decision impact them? And that requires knowing people and knowing what's important to them. I also share in my book, People Matter at Work, that compensation and workspaces are two topics that are really sensitive when it comes to making thoughtful decisions.  Can you give an example where you used this principle and you made a different decision because you wanted to be thoughtful and the outcome was positive? Yeah, it is. It's a daily endeavor. For me, oftentimes in my role today, it's working with our leaders and asking them: how would you feel if the decision that we’ve just talked about that you’re getting to ready to roll out? How would you feel if you were 24 years old, or you were new in your role, or you were concerned about your next house payment, or your spouse was having health issues? It's very interesting to see people stop and say, “Yeah, I think my 25-year-old self would not have been happy with the 40-year-old decision I'm about to make.” That's really important. There's a danger in seeing everything through our own lenses and forgetting what was important to us 10 years ago. That's where I find myself in this coaching season—working with leaders to ask: what would you be thinking if you were on the other side of this decision 10 years ago?  That's interesting. Alright, let's go to the next one: being transparent. This is a big topic, and different CEOs have different sensitivities to it. Some are willing to be completely transparent with all their numbers, while others are very conservative. They don't even want to show gross profit, let alone net profit numbers. Some even hesitate to show revenue because they feel that if people know it, they might get carried away or ask for a raise. So how are you thinking about transparency, and what is your experience with the pros and cons of transparency?  Yeah, a lot of people start from the lens of, “How little can I share with my people?” And really we have tried to go with maximum transparency is what absolutely has to be kept transparent. So there's performance assessments, owner's box information, health, and sensitive HR situations. But other than that, what can we share with people? Ultimately, it comes down to: do you trust your people or not? It starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I trust our people with information and believe that information is power, the more I empower them, the more likely they are to make good decisions and take ownership. Personally, in our experience, this comes down to answering three questions over and over again. Every one-on-one and every all-team meeting asks: what's going on? And that ranges from the parking lot expansion that we’re working on to our relationship with Siemens, who acquired us two and a half years ago. What’s going on? What is the leader thinking about? What am I reading? What am I concerned about? What am I thinking about in the year ahead? And then the last—and perhaps most important—is: what am I thinking about them? There’s a veil that so many leaders are holding back, and our best people want to know more about what we’re thinking about them. And so this last piece is just a feedback loop. We keep short lists of items that haven't been shared with team members, giving feedback early and often. Yeah. I completely agree. The more you can share with people, the more context they have. They can expand the business, make better decisions, and they don't have to nag you all the time because they can connect the dots themselves. Feedback—especially positive feedback—is always appreciated. Of course, negative feedback might be the “Breakfast of Champions,” but it's not necessarily pleasant. Still, it helps. It's better to get constructive feedback early in the year rather than waiting in your personal appraisal, right?  Absolutely.  That's too late to do anything about it. One thing that really struck me in our pre-interview is the idea of the identity of the organization. And I have always thought at least the recent years that identity of the CEO is very important for them to be able to live the identity they want, whether inside or outside the company. It's critical during transitions. But I haven't thought about identity in relation to the organization, at least not in this context. So please tell me: what does organizational identity mean, and how can you create the right one?  Yeah, so lots of organizations have some sort of mission, vision statement, and values. For us, it looks like what we call the Block Bullseye. At the center is our mission: because we believe that people matter most, we seek to create a thriving team culture that serves healthcare providers in offering a second chance at life for patients.Share on X The middle of the bullseye represents our best self—living out our belief that people matter. And then right outside of our bullseye, we have three different ways of looking at our values and our approaches, which I just shared. The three Ts represent our leadership approach, and the last piece is our thriving mindsets. This is really a way of like inviting people people in: this is who we are when we're at our best. We're imperfect. We don’t do any of this perfectly all the time, but that organizational identity becomes a roadmap or a compass of sorts for guiding our attitudes, actions, and behaviors.  What does it mean thriving mindsets, and how do you get people into a thriving mindset?  Yeah, so I was just sitting at my desk, maybe 10 years ago, and was just trying and looking at the hundreds and hundreds of people we had hired over the years. I was trying to reverse engineer success. What are those mindsets that tend to lead to people thriving, growing, and taking on more responsibility at our company? And what are the mindsets of those who haven't done as well? I mapped them out, and they were on a spectrum. For example: one is scarcity and abundance, another is blame and responsibility. And then another one is stuck in the past and shapes the future. And so while none of us are to the right side all the time. Oftentimes, in companies, success becomes like a popularity contest: “Oh, they just get along,” or “he likes the way she does this,” or “she likes the way he communicates.” While those things are important, instead of leaving it up to chance or every leader having a different perspective, we actually say, “Here's what we're after.” From our mission, to our values, to our approaches, to these thriving mindsets, it allows people to self-diagnose: “Hey, I'm thinking through a scarcity lens.” It also gives us a roadmap for performance assessments and one-on-ones—something consistent that doesn't change. Brene Brown talks about clear is kind, and it's incredibly kind to say, “This is what we're after.” And then ultimately, that organizational identity that we just talked about becomes a magnet that it draws certain people who want to be a part of a culture like that. And then consequently, it also repels those who maybe don’t connect with the organizational identity that we’ve set forth.  Yeah. Essentially, you help these personas understand what it looks like to be in abundance vs. scarcity, or shaping the future vs. stuck in the past. Then you coach people: “Hey, we are about shaping the future. We have a balanced mindset.” How do you coach people on this? Yeah. So I mean, it becomes situational in nature, right? For example, we might have a difficult customer challenge, or we're hiring someone, and we can stop and ask: did the interview answers that the person gave? Did that seem like someone who cares about people? Do they walk with integrity? Do they have a mindset for shaping the future? This allows us, on a situation-by-situation or day-by-day basis, to make better decisions. We had one example this morning: a vendor was disappointed with how we had handled a situation after an audit. I asked our team members, “What would it look like to honor this vendor?” We have a longstanding relationship with them, and so going back to that core value of honor actually allows us to grab onto something that’s tangible, that’s hung on the walls that we talk about often, and it ends up being much stickier than just picking our values on the fly.  So these are part of your values? The shaping the future is a core value, or it’s a different dimension?  I'm happy to share our organizational identity, and you can put it in the show notes. But around that people matter, our center mission, we have three pieces to the pie. One is values, the other is those approaches, those three Ts I talked about, and then the last piece is those thriving mindsets.Share on X So those three together allow us, and some people would say it’s too much, but for us it’s very clear and something you can grab onto when we’re looking to develop, or frankly, even hold ourselves accountable to the right thing to do in the moment, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpleasant. I love it. So tell me about your book, Josh. Are all these concepts in your book, and have you essentially described how Block Imaging works in your book? Or what is the book, how did this come about, and what is your purpose with it?  Yeah, so I became president over a weekend. I was a sales rep on a Friday and became president on a Monday. And so that is part of the story is kind of sharing the transition into leadership, which while many don’t face it as quickly, when they become leaders, they often feel like they weren't trained the same way they were trained to be a technician or whatever job they were hired for. So this book is really my story of coming into leadership and then learning about the shift from the “me” to the “we” cycle.Share on X The purpose of writing the book was the question: What if we could create a place? This was the question I was asking 15 years ago, and it has evolved into: What if we could share our story, the lessons learned, and the principles we've carried along the way to create the culture we have here? What if we could invite other leaders, and not just encourage and equip, but empower them to create cultures that are healthy, where people thrive and performance blossoms?  Awesome. If the listeners would like to learn more, is the book available on Amazon? When is it coming out?  Yeah, so the book is coming out on March 3rd. It will be available everywhere books are sold, including Amazon. If they'd like to know more about Block Imaging, they're welcome to go to blockimaging.com. And if they'd like to know more or connect with me in any way, they can reach out to peoplematteratwork.com or email josh@peoplematteratwork.com. Okay, well, if you're listening to this and you want to improve the culture of your organization, make sure it has a robust identity that attracts the right people, perhaps repels the wrong people, and ensures people have the right thriving mindset. Also, make it a transparent, thoughtful culture where people work together. Then do check out Josh Block's book, People Matter at Work. If you liked this conversation, keep coming back, because every week I have a thought leader, CEO, or business owner who shares frameworks that worked for them and their companies, which you can pick up and implement in your company to scale much faster. So thanks for coming, Josh, and sharing your goodies, and thanks for listening.  Thank you so much for having me, Steve. Important Links: Josh's LinkedIn:  Josh's website:  Josh's email: josh@peoplematteratwork.com

Send a textMark Osborne is the host of The Valiant Forge, a podcast created for Christian men who want to grow in their faith through honest, grounded conversation. His work centers on biblical masculinity, spiritual leadership, and the quiet battles men often fight alone.  Mark's story includes a late-life wake-up call marked by a health scare, depression, and a season of spiritual dryness that led to a renewed faith and restored marriage. That season reshaped how he understands manhood, obedience, and what it means to lead with humility and courage.  He approaches conversations not as an expert, but as a fellow traveler, speaking openly about fatherhood, failure, emotional health, addiction recovery, forgiveness, and Scripture lived out in everyday life. Mark brings a steady, thoughtful presence and values discussions that go deeper than surface-level answers, always pointing back to Christ with honesty and grace. His website:  https://www.thevaliantforge.com/His podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NOP0AuscqJSlU9M0GElKy?si=l_4WgZy1TJC9SYFe_m9P4QContact US:  Rumble/ YouTube/ IG: @powerofmanpodcastEmail: powerofmanpodcast@gmail.com.Twitter: @rorypaquetteSTART YOUR OWN MEN"S MOVEMENT!  We NEED more men to LEAD!  Join us here to learn how!   https://www.facebook.com/groups/490821906341560/?ref=share_group_linkYou have VALUE!  You are WORTH IT!  BELIEVE IT!

Följ med Fredrik och Poki på GOTY-resan, där vi återvänder till klassiska – men fortfarande moderna – spelår och ser hur väl titlarna står sig i dag. Har tiden gett dem en ny innebörd, eller cementerat deras legendariska status?Den här gången är det 2011 som står i fokus. Dags att utse årets bästa spel – retroaktivt.Upplägget är som vanligt:Vi börjar med att lyfta årets bubblare, fortsätter med våra personliga topp 10-listor och avslutar med det tuffaste momentet av alla – att enas om en gemensam topp 5. En lista av spel som ska stå emot all kritik och förbli ohotade över tid.Och högst upp?Ett spel som för oss definierar året. 2011 års Game of the Year.

It’s just Paul and Adam this week as the other two are strewn to the winds, hopefully to be back next week! We talk about the new model reveals the … Read More

If you enjoy this episode, we're sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we've got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.  Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Cash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejects

In this solo episode, I share what's coming in March inside the Dad Edge Alliance, including a full breakdown of how we're helping dads move from authoritarian parenting to grounded leadership and collaboration. I also announce The Men's Forge live event, the next Roommates to Soulmates cohort, and highlight an incredible 1st Phorm transformation story from inside our community.   If you've been feeling the drift — in your parenting, your marriage, your energy, or your leadership — this episode is your reset.     Timeline Summary [0:00] Who this episode is for — dads stuck in power struggles or marriage drift [4:19] Why holding kids accountable feels harder than asking them to do something [5:51] Moving from authoritarian parenting to grounded leadership [7:06] Mastering regulation before correction [8:16] Building accountability without authoritarian energy [9:59] The Men's Forge live event announcement [13:22] Guest speaker lineup including G.S. Youngblood [15:03] F3 Nation President Frank "Dark Helmet" Schwarze joining the event [17:01] Dad Edge 1st Phorm Dad of the Month transformation [18:53] Roommates to Soulmates course update and preview call details     Five Key Takeaways: Authoritarian parenting creates compliance — but often erodes trust. Regulation before correction is a leadership skill every dad needs. Collaboration builds accountability far better than control. Intimacy fades when emotional leadership is missing at home. Transformation accelerates in community, not isolation.     Links & Resources Roommates to Soulmates: https://thedadedge.com/soulmates The Men's Forge Live Event: https://themensforge.com Micro Factor Pack: https://1stphorm.com/products/micro-factor/?a_aid=dadedge Phormula-1 + Ignition (Post Workout Stack): https://1stphorm.com/products/post-workout-stack/?a_aid=dadedge Collagen with Dermaval: https://1stphorm.com/products/collagen-with-dermaval/?a_aid=dadedge Protein Beef Sticks: https://1stphorm.com/products/protein-sticks?a_aid=dadedge&a_bid=970de3cd Episode Shownotes: http://thedadedge.com/1445     Closing Remark If you're tired of the battles at home, the roommate vibe in your marriage, or feeling worn down physically and emotionally — don't wait for crisis.   Take action.   Join us. Step in. Lead differently.   From my heart to yours — go out and live legendary.

Every year, as we enter into the lenten season, we are invited to reflect upon our brokenness, our mortality, and our deep need for Jesus and His resurrection. This exercise of writing your own epitaph will encourage you to consider your life - as it has been, as it is, and as it could be. What matters most? How do you want to be remembered? What does it look like to live life to the fullest? As we do this, we turn towards God, who is the author of our lives, and discern what it looks like to lead lives defined by worship and gratitude.

Tyler Kennedy didn't think Toews and Makar played great for the Canadiens in the Gold Medal Game. How close was Sidney Crosby to playing? Bob wants to do what it takes for Crosby and Malkin to go back to the postseason.

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: TK didn't think Toews and Makar played great for the Canadiens in the Gold Medal Game. How close was Sidney Crosby to playing? Bob wants to do what it takes for Crosby and Malkin to go back to the postseason. Tyler Kennedy thinks the Penguins should give Avery Hayes a chance on the top line.

In this week's episode... The group, along with Alistair, enter a mysterious doorway that appeared in Vintersmouth's town square.

Organizing is a great way to address the tremendous crises we're facing, and investing in and supporting organizers is key to its success. Listen as Aaron and Damien discuss the piece “Our Prescription for Winning: Give Organizers What They Need to Thrive” by Alicia Jay, Kara Park, and Rebecca Gorena in The Forge, which analyzes some of the pressing dynamics and issues facing organizers and the current state of community organizing, as well as what organization leaders and funders should do to make positive changes in the lives and effectiveness of community organizers, and what we learn and take away from this incredible piece in our continued learning and unlearning work and fight for collective liberation. Follow us on social media and visit our website! ⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a voice message⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠

On episode 202 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Forge the Sun! Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Forge the Sun is a progressive alternative rock band that formed in 2020. With influences including Deftones, Tool, Rush, Evanescence, Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Smashing Pumpkins, and Queens of the Stone Age, Forge the Sun has created a genre-bending sound that's resonating in the Midwest and beyond.  In 2023, Forge the Sun released their debut album Heart of the Sunrise, followed by their live record Forge the Sun Live at Zeroes and Ones Studios in 2024. In addition to those albums, the band has released numerous singles over the years. Their latest single entitled "Toadhoney" just dropped on January 16th. On this episode, Ally, Isaac, Barret, and Tristan of Forge the Sun talk with Mike about their various musical influences, the diversity of talent in the Detroit music scene, memorable live shows, having fun pushing boundaries with different genres, and more.  This episode of the podcast also features the aforementioned "Toadhoney" from Forge the Sun, available where you get your music! Follow Forge the Sun on TikTok and Instagram @forgethesun and @forgethesunband. To see them live on 3/7 at Mosh For Mutts, visit https://www.sanctuarydetroit.com/index.html. Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up to date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists. Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

How does God use ordinary Christians to accomplish His purposes? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with Forge speaker and pastor John Vermilya to explore calling, gifting, and what it really looks like to say yes to God over time.John shares his journey growing up as a missionary kid, navigating identity, passion, and insecurity, and learning how God weaves together our experiences, abilities, and opportunities for His glory. From sports and teaching to preaching and pastoring, this conversation highlights how God uses faithfulness in small steps to shape a life of impact.This episode is especially encouraging for anyone who feels unsure about their calling, wonders if they've waited too long to use their gifts, or believes they are too ordinary for God to use. Part 1 focuses on John's story and the foundational lessons that led him to step fully into his God-given calling.Topics include: Christian calling, spiritual gifts, obedience, using your gifts for God, ordinary Christians, discipleship, ministry outside the church walls, and saying yes to God.Fuel for the Harvest is a Christian discipleship podcast equipping everyday followers of Jesus to make disciples and live out the Great Commission.

The Year of the Fire Horse began on February 17, 2026 — bringing bold, dynamic, transformative energy with it.For many of us in our Me Now Years (especially those turning 60 and completing a full 60-year zodiac cycle), this feels like a powerful moment of renewal and return to our original destiny.Today, on Episode #192 of the Habit Thrive Podcast, we're exploring what this fiery, forward-moving year means for your energy, relationships, habits, and daily routines — and how to harness it without burning out.We'll talk about:Why Fire Horse energy creates restlessness and a desire for changeThe “push–pull” dynamic of growth vs. reflectionHow self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-love, and self-care keep you groundedAn inspiring insight from Gabby Bernstein and Mary Ann DiMarco about summoning your inner teenagerBold doesn't mean harsh.It means aligned. Courageous. Intentional.Maybe bold this year is:• Saying no without guilt• Trying something new• Prioritizing your health• Allowing joy• Resting before you're exhaustedThis is your year to ride forward — with fire and with self-trust.

Today's episode breaks down Christian Briggs' Part Four of his policy paper, "China's Strategic Assault on Dollar Hegemony Through Banking Infrastructure, Critical Mineral Dominance, and the Architecture of De-Dollarization - Part 4". Christian pulls back the curtain on what may be the biggest monetary shift since 1974—and it's happening right now. Forget headlines about tariffs and trade deals. This episode argues Washington is quietly constructing a “Mineral-Dollar” system designed to defend the U.S. dollar against BRICS, yuan oil trades, and China's gold accumulation strategy.The thesis is explosive: the dollar isn't being replaced—it's being fortified. If the petrodollar weakens, America wants a second anchor already in place. That second pillar? Critical minerals. Rare earths. Lithium. Silver. Platinum. Cobalt. And eventually—gold.Through Project Vault, Section 232 tariff authority, and the launch of the Forge mineral trade bloc, the U.S. is building a multilateral pricing regime that could lock 30–50 nations into dollar-denominated mineral trade. Instead of oil forcing global dollar demand, it becomes batteries, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and defense metals doing the job. The strategy mirrors Nixon and Kissinger's 1974 petrodollar architecture—but adapted for the Silicon Age.And then comes the bombshell: gold's exclusion from the 2025 critical minerals list wasn't a mistake. It was sequencing. Gold doesn't meet the technical “supply disruption” criteria—but it has already been quietly folded into executive orders expanding the definition of strategic minerals. If gold is formally added, it opens the door to government-set reference pricing and—most controversially—revaluing Fort Knox's 8,133 tons of gold from $42.22 per ounce to market value.That move would instantly unlock over $1 trillion in unrealized federal assets.The episode outlines a five-phase roadmap: lock in the mineral bloc, enforce tariff-backed price floors, expand processing capacity, integrate gold into the framework, and complete the mineral-dollar nexus by 2030. It also warns of accelerants that could compress the timeline—Chinese export embargoes, BRICS gold-backed settlement announcements, or a dollar confidence crisis.China won't sit idle. The podcast details how Beijing could respond with rare earth embargoes, yuan-denominated mineral trade, or accelerating gold purchases. But here's the twist: if the West aggregates its reserves, it may still control more gold—and more infrastructure—than China.The final message is clear: this isn't just trade policy. It's monetary warfare. The mineral dollar system is either America's next 50-year foundation—or the battlefield where the next financial order is decided.The only question left: who moves first?

Atlas Camp 2026 has wrapped in Amsterdam, and this week on The Jira Life we're bringing you the inside scoop.Join us as we welcome Peter Van de Voorde and Dan Hardiker to break down everything that mattered from Atlas Camp 2026.From AI-first app development to the continued evolution of Forge and platform extensibility, Peter and Dan share their firsthand insights on:The biggest themes shaping the Atlassian ecosystem in 2026How AI agents and automation are changing the way developers build on Jira and ConfluenceWhat's new (and what's next) for Forge and the Atlassian developer platformRoadmap signals that solution partners and app vendors should be paying attention toThe hallway conversations and community energy you didn't seeAtlas Camp isn't just another conference — it's where Atlassian's developer future takes shape. If you build, administer, or extend Atlassian apps, this episode will help you understand how AI, extensibility, and ecosystem strategy are converging — and what that means for your work in the year ahead.Whether you attended in Amsterdam or followed from afar, this is your definitive Atlas Camp 2026 recap.

The Tata Group, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and OpenAI have announced a multi-dimensional strategic partnership that will drive AI-powered innovation across enterprise, consumer, and social sectors. TCS, a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions company, operates a global delivery centre in Letterkenny. The announcement, which coincides with this week's India AI Impact Summit, shows a continued aspiration for TCS to become the world's largest AI-enabled tech services company. This partnership spans multiple high-impact areas, including powering AI-led innovation across Tata Group companies, joint efforts to drive AI transformation across industries globally, and setting up AI infrastructure. Key Partnership Highlights: Empowering Tata Group employees with Enterprise ChatGPT: Several thousand Tata Group employees will get access to Enterprise ChatGPT, accelerating innovation and productivity. In addition, TCS will leverage OpenAI's Codex to boost software engineering outcomes. Building industry-specific Agentic AI solutions: Under this partnership, OpenAI, with its leading Agentic AI solutions, and TCS, with its contextual knowledge of industries and deep AI skills, will come together to build impactful industry-specific solutions. Joint go-to-market (GTM) initiatives: TCS and OpenAI will jointly enable global enterprises to transform with AI-powered solutions specific to their organisational context. Through this collaboration, TCS will help its customers accelerate AI-led transformation by deploying, integrating, and scaling OpenAI's advanced AI platforms worldwide. Developing AI infrastructure: TCS's HyperVault unit and OpenAI have agreed to a multi-year partnership to develop AI infrastructure. In the initial phase, TCS will develop AI infrastructure with 100MW capacity, with an option to scale to 1 GW. This infrastructure will power next-generation AI workloads and position India as a global AI hub. Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI, said, "India is already leading the way in AI adoption, and with its talent, ambition, and strong government support, it is well placed to help shape its future. Through OpenAI for India and our partnership with Tata Group, we're working together to build the infrastructure, skills, and local partnerships needed to build AI with India, for India, and in India, so that more people across the country can access and benefit from it." N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said, "This deep collaboration between OpenAI and Tata Group marks a major milestone in India's vision to become a global leader in AI. We are pleased to partner with OpenAI to create state-of-the-art AI infrastructure in India. This is a unique opportunity for OpenAI and TCS to transform industries. Together we will skill India's youth and empower them to succeed in the AI era." TCS established HyperVault in 2025 with a vision to deliver gigawatt-scale secure, reliable, large-scale AI-ready infrastructure for hyperscalers and AI-driven organisations. Powered by green energy, it will offer purpose-built, liquid-cooled data centres with high rack densities, and network connectivity across all key cloud regions. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in India's vision to become a global leader in AI and build an ecosystem that accelerates AI development and adoption. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Faceboo...

Roam Land Ep2 Rumble In The Forge Welcome to Roam Land Powered by Whitetail Land Company Host: Bryan Meyering Guest: Johnny Stewart Land Stats Type: Public Land Terrain: Flat Cover Type: Big woods Primary Food Source: Timber Cuts/ Native browse Water Source: Drainages and Swamps Peak Activty: Rut Hunting Location: Downwind of Bedding Stand Location: Multitrunked Cherry Tree Johnny Stewart - Instagram Bryan Meyering - Instagram   Stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring hunter stories, habitat tips, and interviews with experts. Whether you're managing land, chasing deer, or just love the outdoors, Roam Land is here to inspire and educate. Thanks for listening! Roam Syndicate Vitalize Seed Ina Store Deer Hunter Synthetics Wildlife Legends Taxidermy Find It Fred Experiencewild10 at Brenton USA for 10% off online Keep learning, keep pushing, and get outside! In this episode of Roam Land, host Bryan Meyering sits down with Johnny Stewart, a well-known figure in hunting communities, to discuss one of Johnny's favorite and most productive spots. The conversation kicks off with Johnny sharing his current hunting status, including tags he has left and his plans for the remainder of the season. They dive into Johnny's impressive hunting year, highlighting a memorable deer he harvested in New Hampshire, which he describes as one of his best hunts due to the challenging terrain and low deer numbers. The discussion transitions into the intricacies of deer behavior, habitat diversity, and the importance of scouting and understanding the land when hunting. Connect with the Hosts:Resources & Links: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you tired of treating your faith like a "grind" in an RPG? We often approach spiritual disciplines like we are trying to level up a skill tree: if we just read enough, pray enough, or "do" enough, then we will finally be "good Christians." But what if the point of your faith isn't the destination, but the doorway?In the kickoff of our new series, The Crucible, Pastor Druzi explores the shift from performing spiritual disciplines to experiencing spiritual formation. This is part of our Year of the Forge journey: moving from the "what" of our faith to the "how" of being changed by God's presence.In this video:

Men are confused. The culture is loud. Fathers are absent. The Church is under pressure.So what does it actually mean to be a holy, strong, masculine man today?In this episode of The Manly Catholic, I chat with John Bishop, founder of Forge and author of New Adam, to confront the crisis head-on. We talk about the collapse of fatherhood, declining male engagement in the Church, toxic masculinity narratives, and the deep hunger men feel for a clear mission.This is not about machismo or cultural sterotypes such as "toxic masculinity" or domination; but about returning to Genesis and the garden.We walk through:Why masculinity and femininity rise and fall togetherThe devastating impact of fatherlessness on faith and societyWhy young men are searching for heroesThe failure of modern culture to form menAdam in the Garden and what his mission teaches usThe sacred call to work as part of male holinessWhy priests must reclaim authentic fatherhoodHow Christ, the New Adam, restores what was lostIf men do not know who they are, they cannot lead. If fathers do not lead, families collapse. If families collapse, the culture collapses.This episode is a direct challenge: Stop drifting. Stop outsourcing formation. Stop waiting for someone else to lead.The time for passivity is over.Products & References MentionedNew Adam by John BishopForgeFellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)Mystic Monk CoffeeHarmel Academy of the TradesOpus DeiBrad Wilcox – Get MarriedPowerful Quotes from the Episode“Masculinity and femininity thrive when they are in synergy with one another. If you try and kill the one, you almost by definition kill the other.”“If you hit your 17th birthday and you have both biological parents in the home, that makes you a minority demographic.”“We need a healthy picture of masculinity. We need a new Adam.”Prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page (https://buymeacoffee.com/tmc) to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.Subscribe to our YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxrRLZNk4WqPdgcac5vuWEQ)Check out our website (www.themanlycatholic.com)Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com

Send a textThis week's enterprise software developments underscore a widening gap between rapid AI-driven platform innovation and the unresolved execution risks embedded in large-scale ERP programs. On one side of the ledger, Mendix and OutSystems both advanced their agentic AI roadmaps with new releases aimed at operationalizing autonomous workflows, while ServiceNow's unveiling of its AI Experience, Sprinklr's new AI capabilities, and Braze's product enhancements at Forge 2025 reinforce how aggressively vendors across ITSM, CX, and marketing automation are repositioning around AI-first interaction layers. Salesforce's latest Slack updates and Upstream Works' enhanced agent desktop further extend this trend into collaboration and contact center operations, signaling that AI augmentation is now table stakes across front-office and service environments. In parallel, Plex's expanded connected worker integrations highlight how these same concepts are being pushed into manufacturing execution and workforce enablement, while Cleo's invoice payment and financing solution reflects growing pressure to modernize B2B financial operations. Yet this innovation narrative is tempered by Daedong USA's loss of an injunction in its ERP dispute—placing its $11.4 billion suit in jeopardy—which serves as a reminder that beneath the AI acceleration, legacy implementation failures, legal exposure, and governance breakdowns continue to create material risk for enterprises betting on large transformation programs.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Arr9GjwOBsQuestions for Panelists?

How should Christians read the Bible so it actually changes them? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan and Forge speaker Jonathan Sherwin talk about how to go deeper in God's Word—not just to finish a reading plan, but to truly know God.Jonathan shares practical tools for Bible reading, studying Scripture in context, using trustworthy resources, and building simple reading plans that help everyday Christians grow. Together, they explore why reading the Bible is central to discipleship, how small observations can lead to big spiritual growth, and why Scripture was never meant to be consumed quickly, but lived out daily.This conversation is especially helpful for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to understand the Bible. If you want Scripture to come alive and shape your daily obedience to Jesus, this episode will give you clear, practical next steps.Topics include: how to read the Bible, Bible study for beginners, Christian discipleship, studying Scripture in context, spiritual disciplines, daily obedience, reading plans, and making disciples through God's Word.Fuel for the Harvest is a Christian discipleship podcast equipping everyday followers of Jesus to make disciples and live out the Great Commission.

Welcome back for another episode of Colostle - Dungeons!   Sybil and friends explore the Rookling Forge and discover a dark secret. They follow the spectral chains down to the source to save a friend.   Learn more about Colostle and the Dungeons supplement here! If you like all of the new additions and ideas constantly being added to the world of Colostle, I highly recommend checking out Nich's Patreon page!   ----more---- Join the DMs After Dark Discord channel!   I made a Ko-Fi if you feel absurdly generous and want to help cover podcast hosting costs & all the upkeep. I'm still working on whether I want to offer anything special over there or just give my extreme gratitude (maybe some stickers or something in the mail) to those who donate, but no pressure whatsoever :)   Where to Follow Rene Plays Games: LinkTree |  BlueSky | Threads | Instagram | Facebook | DMs After Dark Rene's Games: MECH | MECH Cities 2 | One Last Quest | I Know I Know You, But I Don't Know How... email: RenePlaysGamesPod@gmail.com   Music in the Episode (in order of appearance): Battle Stations by Tabletop Audio Haven by Tabletop Audio Dark 1 Hour Mix by Monument Studios Hidden Passage by Tabletop Audio Combative Strings by Monument Studios Rene Plays Games Theme written & produced by Dan Pomfret | @danfrombothbands

Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/qLwxIaHvTHI  In this spotlight from episode 345, the team behind Forge digs into how they built their winning presentation. They talk about wanting the new word to be a natural successor to Pioneer, and how Broad River Retail has transformed from a regional company into a national one. The vision accounted for the inevitable heat and pressure of that transformation, as well as the strength and unexpected results that often come from it. Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.    Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com   Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail      

In this overdue episode of the Age of Darkness podcast, we conclude our review of the 3rd edition Imperialis Militia list (#teamflakjacket). Afterwards in Tales of Heresy, in anticipation of our analysis of Saturnine, we take a quick detour to the Primarchs series to delve into Perturabo Hammer of Olympia. Will this be the first book in the Primarchs series where the protagonist comes off well? Tune in to find out! Age of Darkness Episode 1460.00  Intro 17.16  Strategium: 3rd ed. Militia Part 2: Units1.34.00  Tales of Heresy: Perturabo Hammer of Olympia2.48.25  Hobby ChallengeClosing song is "Sons of Malice" by Pestigor (https://pestigor.bandcamp.com) The Age of Darkness Podcast can be contacted at ageofdarknesspodcast@gmail.com Lil' Legends Painting Studio: www.lillegendstudio.com Get merch here: https://ageofdarkness.bigcartel.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-age-of-darkness-podcast /id985682558 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theageofdarknesspodcast Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ageofdarknesspodcast Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-age-of-darkness-podcast  

A lot of folks woke up this week with some changes to their favorite detachments.  Were you one of those folks?  Some stuff stayed the same.  All the erratas aside, … Read More

This week we're talking about ErsatzTV, Forge, Black Caeser, Three The Hard Way, and Black Dynamite. Show music by HeartBeatHero and OGRE. Support the show! Get up to 2 months free podcasting service with our Libsyn code OZONE

Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/qLwxIaHvTHI  In this spotlight from episode 345, the team behind Forge discusses the significance of choosing the Word of the Year at Broad River Retail and what it means for the company. They also share what it means to them personally and why every company should consider choosing its own Word of the Year. Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.    Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com   Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail      

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, sat down with Rick Mancinelli, CEO of C3 Complete, along with Tim and Tasha of Nerds To Go, to discuss a new partnership designed to accelerate MSP growth and expand service capabilities across a national franchise network. C3 Complete, a multifaceted technology, telecom, and cybersecurity provider with 16 years of industry experience, has partnered with Nerds To Go to help strengthen and scale its managed services model. Nerds To Go, a franchise-based IT services brand that evolved from a break-fix concept into a managed services provider, is focused on expanding both its B2C and B2B footprint. The partnership brings additional backend support, broader product offerings, and operational depth to franchisees looking to move upstream into larger, more complex accounts. As Mancinelli explained, the goal is to “complete their product portfolio and allow them to bring a total solution to each and every one of their customers.” Through C3's telecom, data center, and advanced services capabilities, Nerds To Go franchisees can now pursue opportunities that previously exceeded their internal bandwidth. At the same time, the franchise network provides C3 with boots-on-the-ground coverage in markets where local presence is critical. The collaboration reflects a broader industry trend toward partnership-driven growth. By combining franchise scalability with enterprise-grade backend support, both organizations aim to increase margins, enhance recurring revenue streams, and enable franchisees to confidently say “yes” to larger opportunities. As the group emphasized during the conversation, this is not a vendor-client relationship but a mutual growth strategy built on shared opportunity. Visit C3 Complete: https://c3-complete.com/ Visit Nerds To Go: https://www.nerdstogo.com/

Pumas ganó el duelo de vuelta ante San Diego, pero no le alcanzó en el global para clasificar a la siguiente fase de la Concacaf Champions Cup; Tigres, sin problema, eliminó al Forge; Manchester City, sin problemas, venció al Fulham en la Premier League. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us as we do our weekly live recording while watching Tigres take on Forge in Champions Cup!--Tune in to our recordings LIVE every week on Twitter/X and YouTube! We usually record on Monday or Tuesday night. Come hang and interact with us!Follow us on Twitter/X (@La_U_Times), Instagram (@la.u.times), and TikTok (@lautimespod)Check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LaUTimesCheck us out on Golz TV! https://golz.tv/@la_u_timesEmail us! lautimespod@gmail.comVisit our Linktree to find us anywhere (linktr.ee/lautimes)--Follow @DoubleLNation, @tigres_english, @TigresTakes, @AJPena123, and @dennisgartmanjr on Twitter/XFollow Woods on Twitter/X @OzoneWoodz

In this powerhouse episode of the Owning Her Authority Summit, host Kate House takes you inside the crucible to reveal your version of a refined leader. We'll move beyond the good girl conditioning and explore the Forge of Authority—a four-step process designed to move you from raw, unrefined potential to steeled, unshakeable power. Tune in to learn:The Biological Cost of the Lie: Why acting against your core truth triggers a cortisol flood that shuts down your executive function—and how to stop paying that debt.The 4 Steps of the Forge: A deep dive into smelting, shattering, steeling, and striking - and why each step matters!The 25% Tipping Point: The mathematical reality of why you don't need a majority to change a system—you only need a committed minority to flip the status quo.The Audit: A tactical exercise to identify the habits and "shoulds" you've been carrying that are currently draining your impact.It's time to stop rounding your edges for the comfort of the room. Step into the heat, trade your mask for your mission, and become the sovereign tool the world is waiting for!---Enter the Book Launch Celebration Giveaway!

In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan is joined by Forge speaker and pastor Jonathan Sherwin for an honest and practical conversation on perseverance in the Christian life. Together, they explore why salvation is not the finish line but the starting point, and how following Jesus requires daily acts of obedience empowered by the Holy Spirit.Jonathan shares the heart behind Six Mile Camp, “the place of perseverance,” rooted in Hebrews 12, and explains why fixing our eyes on Jesus is the only way to endure spiritual battles, burnout, suffering, and temptation. This episode unpacks the connection between evangelism and discipleship, the danger of slow spiritual drift, and why perseverance is not a burden—but a blessing.If you've ever wondered how to keep going when faith feels hard, this conversation will encourage you to take the next faithful step and keep running the race with Jesus.Topics include: perseverance, Christian discipleship, daily obedience, spiritual disciplines, fixing your eyes on Jesus, evangelism and discipleship, spiritual warfare, burnout in ministry, and running the Christian race.

This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qLwxIaHvTHI  What does it take to choose the Word of the Year at Broad River Retail? In this episode of Stories from the River, Charlie Malouf sits down with members of the team behind Forge, Broad River Retail's 2026 Word of the Year. Carl Hillesland, Lynn Knowles, and Corey Edens walk through how they landed on Forge, the thinking behind their submission, and how the idea took shape. With Broad River's goal of reaching $500M by 2030 in mind, the team built their presentation around pressure, progress, and growth—connecting Forge to the momentum created by Pioneer in 2025. They also share how they designed a presentation meant to connect not just logically, but emotionally, using storytelling, clear language, and visuals that could land with the entire organization. Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.    Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com   Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail       

Is the United States a nation state? Does it have a national identity? On this episode of the Transatlantic, scholar Colin Woodard discusses his early career experiences as a journalist in Eastern Europe and the Balkans at the end of the Cold War and how that work informs his work on national identity in the United States. He then talks about his current research uncovering what he describes as eleven distinct nations that make up the United States and how their clashing cultures and traditions have defined the country's struggle to form a national story and identity.    Colin Woodard – a New York Times bestselling historian and Polk Award-winning journalist – is one of the most respected authorities on North American regionalism, the sociology of United States nationhood, and how our colonial past shapes and explains the present. Compelling, dynamic and thought provoking, he offers a fascinating look at where America has come from, how we ended up as we are, and how we might shape our future. Author of the award winning Wall Street Journal bestseller American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, Woodard has written six books including The Republic of Pirates — a New York Times bestselling history of Blackbeard's pirate gang that was made into a primetime NBC series with John Malkovich and Claire Foye – and Union: The Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood, which tells the harrowing story of the creation of the American myth in the 19th century, a story that reverberates in the news cycle today. His latest book is Nations Apart: How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America, released by Viking/Penguin in November 2025. He is the founder and director of Nationhood Lab at the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University, an interdisciplinary research, writing, testing and dissemination project focused on counteracting the authoritarian threat to American democracy and the centrifugal forces threatening the federation's stability. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a visiting scholar at the Minneapolis-based HealthPartners Institute and a POLITICO contributing writer. As State and National Affairs Writer at the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram he received a 2012 George Polk Award, was named Maine Journalist of the Year in 2014, and was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting. A longtime foreign correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, he has reported from more than fifty foreign countries and seven continents from postings in Budapest, Zagreb, Washington, D.C. and the US-Mexico border and covered the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and its bloody aftermath. His work has appeared in dozens of publications including The Economist, The New York Times, Smithsonian, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek and Washington Monthly and has been featured on CNN, the Rachel Maddow Show, Chuck Todd's The Daily Rundown, The PBS News Hour, and NPR's Weekend Edition. A graduate of Tufts University and the University of Chicago, he's received the 2004 Jane Bagley Lehman Award for Public Advocacy, a Pew Fellowship in International Journalism at the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Study and was named one of the Best State Capitol Reporters in America by the Washington Post. He lives in Maine.   This podcast is hosted by Bakhti Nishanov and produced by Alanna Novetsky, in conjunction with the Senate Recording Studio.

In this episode, we kick off the Owning Her Authority Summit with host Kate House as she unveils the Wildfire Manifesto. Kate challenges the belief that palatability is the price of women's power and introduces "The Forge of Authority"—a transformative framework designed to help women move from seeking a permitted presence to embodying unbreakable leadership.Tune in to learn:Why palatability isn't the price of power, but a ransom of silence we pay to stay safe in systems that ask us to shrink.The four stages of the Forge: Smelting for raw authenticity, shattering molds of compliance, stealing your resolve, and striking for impactful disruption.The Heidi vs. Howard case study and how to navigate the very real likability penalty and double bind faced by successful women.How to identify and stop Intentional Invisibility—the survival mechanism that acts as a silent career killer and erodes your authority.Practical steps to stop editing your voice, apologize less, and start generating your own momentum without waiting for permission.It's time to stop being the water that dampens the room and start being the fire that forges the leader you were always meant to be!---Enter the Book Launch Celebration Giveaway!

Watch full episode here: https://youtu.be/HJeq7X4Rn4M   In this spotlight from episode 344, Charlie and Manny reveal Broad River Retail's Word of the Year for 2026: Forge. They reflect on other powerful words that were in the running, but explain why Forge fits Broad River's present and future growth.    Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.    Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com   Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail      

This week marks a turning point rather than a buildup of minor events. On Feb 13th, Saturn fully enters Aries, beginning a two-year cycle that will reshape how action, authority, and responsibility move through both personal and collective life. Saturn is also moving toward a rare conjunction with Neptune, signaling the dissolution of false authority alongside the demand for mature, embodied leadership.This is a shift in conditions, not just astrology. What has been diffuse, delayed, or hidden is coming under pressure. What has relied on impulse, fantasy, or force is being tested for integrity and endurance.Alongside this, on Feb 17th, we experience the first Solar Eclipse of 2026 at 29° Aquarius, square Uranus in Taurus. This eclipse applies stress to collective systems, social contracts, technologies, and economic or material foundations. When Aquarius and Taurus collide, the tension between ideals and survival becomes unavoidable. What has been artificially stabilized can no longer hold.We are also entering the Year of the Fire Horse, an energy of acceleration, volatility, and uncompromising movement. Fire Horse years amplify speed and intensity—but they do not reward recklessness. This is fire that must be shaped, contained, and directed with discernment.Astrologically, we are witnessing a larger elemental transition as well: a gradual shift away from Earth and Water dominance into Air and Fire. This brings faster movement, sharper conflicts around truth and ideology, and an urgent need for clarity in both thought and action. Emotional processing and material reckoning are giving way to decisive moments that ask for ethical resolve.This week's astrology aligns with:The Forge, not the Fire — pressure applied with purposeThe Training Ground, not the Battlefield — courage developed through disciplineThe Unmasking of Authority — legitimacy tested through accountabilityCollectively, this moment coincides with visible authoritarian violence, extractive economic behavior, and escalating systems failure. These are not anomalies, but end-stage expressions of structures losing legitimacy. At the same time, quieter signals of the future are emerging through mutual aid, non-violent resistance, and community care.Reflection Questions for the WeekSit with these gently. They are meant to ground the archetypal themes into everyday life.Where in my life am I being asked to act with more maturity—not more force? Notice where restraint, clarity, or responsibility would be more powerful than urgency or reaction.What from the last Saturn-in-Aries cycle (1996–1999) is ready to be completed, integrated, or consciously released now? This may include an identity you formed, a way of leading or proving yourself, or a lesson that no longer needs to be relearned.How can I stay grounded, relational, and human in my responses—without hardening, rushing, or disengaging—as collective pressures intensify? What helps you remain present and clear when conditions feel volatile?This is a time for clean action, grounded presence, and courage shaped by responsibility.Podcast poem: The Fire in the Song by David WhyteSupport the showGo to Sheila's website for information for transformational resources: https://www.ontheedgesofchange.com/home-page This episode was co-created with generative AI, engaged as a soul-aligned ally in service of transformation. At the edge where technology meets myth, I choose insight over noise, and alchemy over automation. Thank you for dreaming the future with me.

We kick off this week thinking about how to write lore for  Tyranids for a personal army or whatever.  Its a neat exercise.  What do you think?  We then talk … Read More

In this Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle real-world questions from men across the globe. They discuss staying on the path after divorce, resisting the urge to chase new systems, and why consistency matters more than quick results. The conversation dives into parenting sons and daughters, raising boys through real-world apprenticeship, navigating estranged relationships with adult children, and how emotional regulation shapes leadership and influence. From fitness and fatherhood to boundaries, patience, and embodiment, this episode offers grounded wisdom for men committed to growth. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Weekend banter and life updates 03:35 - Systems after divorce and consistency 14:12 - Predictions, expectations, and relationships 21:26 - Taking young children into the outdoors 29:29 - Connecting with daughters as a father 35:55 - Teaching young men leadership and decisions 42:46 - Estrangement from children and self-leadership 51:48 - Men's Forge event announcement and CTA   Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Last time we spoke about the battle of Nanchang. After securing Hainan and targeting Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway corridors, Japan's 11th Army, backed by armor, air power, and riverine operations, sought a rapid, surgical seizure of Nanchang to sever eastern Chinese logistics and coerce Chongqing. China, reorganizing under Chiang Kai-shek, concentrated over 200,000 troops across 52 divisions in the Ninth and Third War Zones, with Xue Yue commanding the 9th War Zone in defense of Wuhan-Nanchang corridors. The fighting began with German-style, combined-arms river operations along the Xiushui and Gan rivers, including feints, river crossings, and heavy artillery, sometimes using poison gas. From March 20–23, Japanese forces established a beachhead and advanced into Fengxin, Shengmi, and later Nanchang, despite stiff Chinese resistance and bridges being destroyed. Chiang's strategic shift toward attrition pushed for broader offensives to disrupt railways and rear areas, though Chinese plans for a counteroffensive repeatedly stalled due to logistics and coordination issues. By early May, Japanese forces encircled and captured Nanchang, albeit at heavy cost, with Chinese casualties surpassing 43,000 dead and Japanese losses over 2,200 dead.    #187 The Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang-Shatow Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Having seized Wuhan in a brutal offensive the previous year, the Japanese sought not just to hold their ground but to solidify their grip on this vital hub. Wuhan, a bustling metropolis at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han Rivers, had become a linchpin in their strategy, a base from which they could project power across central China. Yet, the city was far from secure, Chinese troops in northern Hubei and southern Henan, perched above the mighty Yangtze, posed an unrelenting threat. To relieve the mounting pressure on their newfound stronghold, the Japanese high command orchestrated a bold offensive against the towns of Suixian and Zaoyang. They aimed to annihilate the main force of the Chinese 5th War Zone, a move that would crush the Nationalist resistance in the region and secure their flanks. This theater of war, freshly designated as the 5th War Zone after the grueling Battle of Wuhan, encompassed a vast expanse west of Shashi in the upper Yangtze basin. It stretched across northern Hubei, southern Henan, and the rugged Dabie Mountains in eastern Anhui, forming a strategic bulwark that guarded the eastern approaches to Sichuan, the very heartland of the Nationalist government's central institutions. Historian Rana Mitter in Forgotten Ally described this zone as "a gateway of immense importance, a natural fortress that could either serve as a launchpad for offensives against Japanese-held territories or a defensive redoubt protecting the rear areas of Sichuan and Shaanxi". The terrain itself was a defender's dream and an attacker's nightmare: to the east rose the imposing Dabie Mountains, their peaks cloaked in mist and folklore; the Tongbai Mountains sliced across the north like a jagged spine; the Jing Mountains guarded the west; the Yangtze River snaked southward, its waters a formidable barrier; the Dahong Mountains dominated the center, offering hidden valleys for ambushes; and the Han River (also known as the Xiang River) carved a north-south path through it all. Two critical transport arteries—the Hanyi Road linking Hankou to Yichang in Hubei, and the Xianghua Road connecting Xiangyang to Huayuan near Hankou—crisscrossed this landscape, integrating the war zone into a web of mobility. From here, Chinese forces could menace the vital Pinghan Railway, that iron lifeline running from Beiping (modern Beijing) to Hankou, while also threatening the Wuhan region itself. In retreat, it provided a sanctuary to shield the Nationalist heartlands. As military strategist Sun Tzu might have appreciated, this area had long been a magnet for generals, its contours shaping the fates of empires since ancient times. Despite the 5th War Zone's intricate troop deployments, marked by units of varying combat prowess and a glaring shortage of heavy weapons, the Chinese forces made masterful use of the terrain to harass their invaders. Drawing from accounts in Li Zongren's memoirs, he noted how these defenders, often outgunned but never outmaneuvered, turned hills into fortresses and rivers into moats. In early April 1939, as spring rains turned paths to mud, Chinese troops ramped up their disruptions along the southern stretches of the Pinghan Railway, striking from both eastern and western flanks with guerrilla precision. What truly rattled the Japanese garrison in Wuhan was the arrival of reinforcements: six full divisions redeployed to Zaoyang, bolstering the Chinese capacity to launch flanking assaults that could unravel Japanese supply lines. Alarmed by this buildup, the Japanese 11th Army, ensconced in the Wuhan area under the command of General Yasuji Okamura, a figure whose tactical acumen would later earn him notoriety in the Pacific War, devised a daring plan. They intended to plunge deep into the 5th War Zone, smashing the core of the Chinese forces and rendering them impotent, thereby neutralizing the northwestern threat to Wuhan once and for all. From April onward, the Japanese mobilized with meticulous preparation, amassing troops equipped with formidable artillery, rumbling tanks, and squadrons of aircraft that darkened the skies. Historians estimate they committed roughly three and a half divisions to this endeavor, as detailed in Edward J. Drea's In the Service of the Emperor: Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. Employing a classic pincer movement, a two-flank encirclement coupled with a central breakthrough, they aimed for a swift, decisive strike to obliterate the main Chinese force in the narrow Suixian-Zaoyang corridor, squeezed between the Tongbai and Dahong Mountains. The offensive erupted in full fury on May 1, 1939, as Japanese columns surged forward like a tidal wave, their engines roaring and banners fluttering in the dust-choked air. General Li Zongren, the commander of the 5th War Zone, a man whose leadership had already shone in earlier campaigns like the defense of Tai'erzhuang in 1938, issued urgent orders to cease offensive actions against the Japanese and pivot to a defensive stance. Based on intelligence about the enemy's dispositions, Li orchestrated a comprehensive campaign structure, assigning precise defensive roles and battle plans to each unit. This was no haphazard scramble; it was a symphony of strategy, as Li himself recounted in his memoirs, emphasizing the need to exploit the terrain's natural advantages. While various Chinese war zones executed the "April Offensive" from late April to mid-May, actively harrying and containing Japanese forces, the 5th War Zone focused its energies on the southern segment of the Pinghan Railway, assaulting it from both sides in a bid to disrupt logistics. The main force of the 31st Army Group, under the command of Tang Enbo, a general known for his aggressive tactics and later criticized for corruption, shifted from elsewhere in Hubei to Zaoyang, fortifying the zone and posing a dire threat to the Japanese flanks and rear areas. To counter this peril and safeguard transportation along the Wuhan-Pinghan Railway, the Japanese, led by the formidable Okamura, unleashed their assault from the line stretching through Xinyang, Yingshan, and Zhongxiang. Mobilizing the 3rd, 13th, and 16th Divisions alongside the 2nd and 4th Cavalry Brigades, they charged toward the Suixian-Zaoyang region in western Hubei, intent on eradicating the Chinese main force and alleviating the siege-like pressure on Wuhan. In a masterful reorganization, Li Zongren divided his forces into two army groups, the left and right, plus a dedicated river defense army. His strategy was a blend of attrition and opportunism: harnessing the Tongbai and Dahong Mountains, clinging to key towns like lifelines, and grinding down the Japanese through prolonged warfare while biding time for a counterstroke. This approach echoed the Fabian tactics of ancient Rome, wearing the enemy thin before delivering the coup de grâce. The storm broke at dawn on May 1, when the main contingents of the Japanese 16th and 13th Divisions, bolstered by the 4th Cavalry Brigade from their bases in Zhongxiang and Jingshan, hurled themselves against the Chinese 37th and 180th Divisions of the Right Army Group. Supported by droning aircraft that strafed from above and tanks that churned the earth below, the Japanese advanced with mechanical precision. By May 4, they had shattered the defensive lines flanking Changshoudian, then surged along the east bank of the Xiang River toward Zaoyang in a massive offensive. Fierce combat raged through May 5, as described in Japanese war diaries compiled in Senshi Sōsho (the official Japanese war history series), where soldiers recounted the relentless Chinese resistance amid the smoke and clamor. The Japanese finally breached the defenses, turning their fury on the 122nd Division of the 41st Army. In a heroic stand, the 180th Division clung to Changshoudian, providing cover for the main force's retreat along the east-west Huangqi'an line. The 37th Division fell back to the Yaojiahe line, while elements of the 38th Division repositioned into Liushuigou. On May 6, the Japanese seized Changshoudian, punched through Huangqi'an, and drove northward, unleashing a devastating assault on the 122nd Division's positions near Wenjiamiao. Undeterred, Chinese defenders executed daring flanking maneuvers in the Fenglehe, Yaojiahe, Liushuihe, Shuanghe, and Zhangjiaji areas, turning the landscape into a labyrinth of ambushes. May 7 saw the Japanese pressing on, capturing Zhangjiaji and Shuanghe. By May 8, they assaulted Maozifan and Xinji, where ferocious battles erupted, soldiers clashing in hand-to-hand combat amid the ruins. By May 10, the Japanese had overrun Huyang Town and Xinye, advancing toward Tanghe and the northeastern fringes of Zaoyang. Yet, the Tanghe River front witnessed partial Chinese recoveries: remnants of the Right Army Group, alongside troops from east of the Xianghe, reclaimed Xinye. The 122nd and 180th Divisions withdrew north of Tanghe and Fancheng, while the 37th, 38th, and 132nd Divisions steadfastly held the east bank of the Xianghe River. Concurrently, the main force of the Japanese 3rd Division launched from Yingshan against the 84th and 13th Armies of the 11th Group Army in the Suixian sector. After a whirlwind of combat, the Chinese 84th Army retreated to the Taerwan position. On May 2, the 3rd Division targeted the Gaocheng position of the 13th Army within the 31st Group Army; the ensuing clashes in Taerwan and Gaocheng were a maelstrom of fire, with the Taerwan position exchanging hands multiple times like a deadly game of tug-of-war. By May 4, in a grim escalation, Japanese forces deployed poison gas, a violation of international norms that drew condemnation and is documented in Allied reports from the era, inflicting horrific casualties and compelling the Chinese to relinquish Gaocheng, which fell into enemy hands. On May 5, backed by aerial bombardments, tank charges, and artillery barrages, the Japanese renewed their onslaught along the Gaocheng River and the Lishan-Jiangjiahe line. By May 6, the beleaguered Chinese were forced back to the Tianhekou and Gaocheng line. Suixian succumbed on May 7. On May 8, the Japanese shattered the second line of the 84th Army, capturing Zaoyang and advancing on the Jiangtoudian position of the 85th Army. To evade encirclement, the defenders mounted a valiant resistance before withdrawing from Jiangtoudian; the 84th Army relocated to the Tanghe and Baihe areas, while the 39th Army embedded itself in the Dahongshan for guerrilla operations—a tactic that would bleed the Japanese through hit-and-run warfare, as noted in guerrilla warfare studies by Mao Zedong himself. By May 10, the bulk of the 31st Army Group maneuvered toward Tanghe, reaching north of Biyang by May 15. From Xinyang, Japanese forces struck at Tongbai on May 8; by May 10, elements from Zaoyang advanced to Zhangdian Town and Shangtun Town. In response, the 68th Army of the 1st War Zone dispatched the 143rd Division to defend Queshan and Minggang, and the 119th Division to hold Tongbai. After staunchly blocking the Japanese, they withdrew on May 11 to positions northwest and southwest of Tongbai, shielding the retreat of 5th War Zone units. The Japanese 4th Cavalry Brigade drove toward Tanghe, seizing Tanghe County on May 12. But the tide was turning. In a brilliant reversal, the Fifth War Zone commanded the 31st Army Group, in concert with the 2nd Army Group from the 1st War Zone, to advance from southwestern Henan. Their mission: encircle the bulk of Japanese forces on the Xiangdong Plain and deliver a crushing blow. The main force of the 33rd Army Group targeted Zaoyang, while other units pinned down Japanese rear guards in Zhongxiang. The Chinese counteroffensive erupted with swift successes, Tanghe County was recaptured on May 14, and Tongbai liberated on May 16, shattering the Japanese encirclement scheme. On May 19, after four grueling days of combat, Chinese forces mauled the retreating Japanese, reclaiming Zaoyang and leaving the fields strewn with enemy dead. The 39th Army of the Left Army Group dispersed into the mountains for guerrilla warfare, a shadowy campaign of sabotage and surprise. Forces of the Right Army Group east of the river, along with river defense units, conducted relentless raids on Japanese rears and supply lines over multiple days, sowing chaos before withdrawing to the west bank of the Xiang River on May 21. On May 22, they pressed toward Suixian, recapturing it on May 23. The Japanese, battered and depleted, retreated to their original garrisons in Zhongxiang and Yingshan, restoring the pre-war lines as the battle drew to a close. Throughout this clash, the Chinese held a marked superiority in manpower and coordination, though their deployments lacked full flexibility, briefly placing them on the defensive. After protracted, blood-soaked fighting, they restored the original equilibrium. Despite grievous losses, the Chinese thwarted the Japanese encirclement and exacted a heavy toll, reports from the time, corroborated by Japanese records in Senshi Sōsho, indicate over 13,000 Japanese killed or wounded, with more than 5,000 corpses abandoned on the battlefield. This fulfilled the strategic goal of containing and eroding Japanese strength. Chinese casualties surpassed 25,000, a testament to the ferocity of the struggle. The 5th War Zone seized the initiative in advances and retreats, deftly shifting to outer lines and maintaining positional advantages. As Japanese forces withdrew, Chinese pursuers harried and obstructed them, yielding substantial victories. The Battle of Suizao spanned less than three weeks. The Japanese main force pierced defenses on the east bank of the Han River, advancing to encircle one flank as planned. However, the other two formations met fierce opposition near Suixian and northward, stalling their progress. Adapting to the battlefield's ebb and flow, the Fifth War Zone transformed its tactics: the main force escaped encirclement, maneuvered to outer lines for offensives, and exploited terrain to hammer the Japanese. The pivotal order to flip from defense to offense doomed the encirclement; with the counterattack triumphant, the Japanese declined to hold and retreated. The Chinese pursued with unyielding vigor. By May 24, they had reclaimed Zaoyang, Tongbai, and other locales. Save for Suixian County, the Japanese had fallen back to pre-war positions, reinstating the regional status quo. Thus, the battle concluded, a chapter of resilience etched into the chronicles of China's defiance. In the sweltering heat of southern China, where the humid air clung to every breath like a persistent fog, the Japanese General Staff basked in what they called a triumphant offensive and defensive campaign in Guangdong. But victory, as history so often teaches, is a double-edged sword. By early 1939, the strain was palpable. Their secret supply line snaking from the British colony of Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland was under constant disruption, raids by shadowy guerrilla bands, opportunistic smugglers, and the sheer unpredictability of wartime logistics turning what should have been a lifeline into a leaky sieve. Blockading the entire coastline? A pipe dream, given the vast, jagged shores of Guangdong, dotted with hidden coves and fishing villages that had evaded imperial edicts for centuries. Yet, the General Staff's priorities were unyielding, laser-focused on strangling the Nationalist capital of Chongqing through a relentless blockade. This meant the 21st Army, that workhorse of the Japanese invasion force, had to stay in the fight—no rest for the weary. Drawing from historical records like the Senshi Sōsho (War History Series) compiled by Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies, we know that after the 21st Army reported severing what they dubbed the "secret transport line" at Xinhui, a gritty, hard-fought skirmish that left the local landscape scarred with craters and abandoned supply crates, the General Staff circled back to the idea of a full coastal blockade. It was a classic case of military opportunism: staff officers, poring over maps in dimly lit war rooms in Tokyo, suddenly "discovered" Shantou as a major port. Not just any port, mind you, but a bustling hub tied to the heartstrings of Guangdong's overseas Chinese communities. Shantou and nearby Chao'an weren't mere dots on a map; they were the ancestral hometowns of countless Chaoshan people who had ventured abroad to Southeast Asia, sending back remittances that flowed like lifeblood into the region. Historical economic studies, such as those in The Overseas Chinese in the People's Republic of China by Stephen Fitzgerald, highlight how these funds from the Chaoshan diaspora, often funneled through family networks in places like Singapore and Thailand, were substantial, indirectly fueling China's war effort by sustaining local economies and even purchasing arms on the black market. The Chao-Shao Highway, that dusty artery running near Shantou, was pinpointed as a critical vein connecting Hong Kong's ports to the mainland's interior. So, in early June 1939, the die was cast: Army Order No. 310 thundered from headquarters, commanding the 21st Army to seize Shantou. The Chief of the General Staff himself provided the strategic blueprint, a personal touch that underscored the operation's gravity. The Army Department christened the Chaoshan push "Operation Hua," a nod perhaps to the flowery illusions of easy conquest, while instructing the Navy Department to tag along for the ride. In naval parlance, it became "Operation J," a cryptic label that masked the sheer scale unfolding. Under the Headquarters' watchful eye, what started as a modest blockade morphed into a massive amphibious assault, conjured seemingly out of thin air like a magician's trick, but one with deadly props. The 5th Fleet's orders mobilized an impressive lineup: the 9th Squadron for heavy hitting, the 5th Mine Boat Squadron to clear watery hazards, the 12th and 21st Sweeper Squadrons sweeping for mines like diligent janitors of the sea, the 45th Destroyer Squadron adding destroyer muscle, and air power from the 3rd Combined Air Group (boasting 24 land-based attack aircraft and 9 reconnaissance planes that could spot a fishing boat from miles away). Then there was the Chiyoda Air Group with its 9 reconnaissance aircraft, the Guangdong Air Group contributing a quirky airship and one more recon plane, the 9th Special Landing Squadron from Sasebo trained for beach assaults, and a flotilla of special ships for logistics. On the ground, the 21st Army threw in the 132nd Brigade from the 104th Division, beefed up with the 76th Infantry Battalion, two mountain artillery battalions for lobbing shells over rugged terrain, two engineer battalions to bridge rivers and clear paths, a light armored vehicle platoon rumbling with mechanized menace, and a river-crossing supplies company to keep the troops fed and armed. All under the command of Brigade Commander Juro Goto, a stern officer whose tactical acumen was forged in earlier Manchurian campaigns. The convoy's size demanded rehearsals; the 132nd Brigade trained for boat transfers at Magong in the Penghu Islands, practicing the precarious dance of loading men and gear onto rocking vessels under simulated fire. Secrecy shrouded the whole affair, many officers and soldiers, boarding ships in the dead of night, whispered among themselves that they were finally heading home to Japan, a cruel ruse to maintain operational security. For extra punch, the 21st Army tacked on the 31st Air Squadron for air support, their planes droning like angry hornets ready to sting. This overkill didn't sit well with everyone. Lieutenant General Ando Rikichi, the pragmatic commander overseeing Japanese forces in the region, must have fumed in his Guangzhou headquarters. His intelligence staff, drawing from intercepted radio chatter and local spies as noted in postwar analyses like The Japanese Army in World War II by Gordon L. Rottman, reported that the Chongqing forces in Chaozhou were laughably thin: just the 9th Independent Brigade, a couple of security regiments, and ragtag "self-defense groups" of armed civilians. Why unleash such a sledgehammer on a fly? The mobilization's magnitude even forced a reshuffling of defenses around Guangzhou, pulling resources from the 12th Army's front lines and overburdening the already stretched 18th Division. It was bureaucratic overreach at its finest, a testament to the Imperial Staff's penchant for grand gestures over tactical efficiency. Meanwhile, on the Nationalist side, the winds of war carried whispers of impending doom. The National Revolutionary Army's war histories, such as those compiled in the Zhongguo Kangri Zhanzheng Shi (History of China's War of Resistance Against Japan), note that Chiang Kai-shek's Military Commission had snagged intelligence as early as February 1939 about Japan's plans for a large-scale invasion of Shantou. The efficiency of the Military Command's Second Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau was nothing short of astonishing, networks of agents, double agents, and radio intercepts piercing the veil of Japanese secrecy. Even as the convoy slipped out of Penghu, a detailed report outlining operational orders landed on Commander Zhang Fakui's desk, the ink still fresh. Zhang, a battle-hardened strategist whose career spanned the Northern Expedition and beyond , had four months to prepare for what would be dubbed the decisive battle of Chaoshan. Yet, in a move that baffled some contemporaries, he chose not to fortify and defend it tooth and nail. After the Fourth War Zone submitted its opinions, likely heated debates in smoke-filled command posts, Chiang Kai-shek greenlit the plan. By March, the Military Commission issued its strategic policy: when the enemy hit Chaoshan, a sliver of regular troops would team up with civilian armed forces for mobile and guerrilla warfare, grinding down the invaders like sandpaper on steel. The orders specified guerrilla zones in Chaozhou, Jiaxing, and Huizhou, unifying local militias under a banner of "extensive guerrilla warfare" to coordinate with regular army maneuvers, gradually eroding the Japanese thrust. In essence, the 4th War Zone wasn't tasked with holding Chao'an and Shantou at all costs; instead, they'd strike hard during the landing, then let guerrillas harry the occupiers post-capture. It was a doctrine of attrition in a "confined battlefield," honing skills through maneuver and ambush. Remarkably, the fall of these cities was preordained by the Military Commission three months before the Japanese even issued their orders, a strategic feint that echoed ancient Sun Tzu tactics of yielding ground to preserve strength. To execute this, the 4th War Zone birthed the Chao-Jia-Hui Guerrilla Command after meticulous preparation, with General Zou Hong, head of Guangdong's Security Bureau and a no-nonsense administrator known for his anti-smuggling campaigns, taking the helm. In just three months, Zhang Fakui scraped together the Independent 9th Brigade, the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Guangdong Provincial Security Regiments, and the Security Training Regiment. Even with the 9th Army Group lurking nearby, he handed the reins of the Chao-Shan operation to the 12th Army Group's planners. Their March guidelines sketched three lines of resistance from the coast to the mountains, a staged withdrawal that allowed frontline defenders to melt away like ghosts. This blueprint mirrored Chiang Kai-shek's post-Wuhan reassessment, where the loss of that key city in 1938 prompted a shift to protracted warfare. A Xinhua News Agency columnist later summed it up scathingly: "The Chongqing government, having lost its will to resist, colludes with the Japanese and seeks to eliminate the Communists, adopting a policy of passive resistance." This narrative, propagated by Communist sources, dogged Chiang and the National Revolutionary Army for decades, painting them as defeatists even as they bled the Japanese dry through attrition. February 1939 saw Commander Zhang kicking off a reorganization of the 12th Army Group, transforming it from a patchwork force into something resembling a modern army. He could have hunkered down, assigning troops to a desperate defense of Chaoshan, but that would have handed the initiative to the overcautious Japanese General Staff, whose activism often bordered on paranoia. Zhang, with the wisdom of a seasoned general who had navigated the treacherous politics of pre-war China, weighed the scales carefully. His vision? Forge the 12th Army Group into a nimble field army, not squander tens of thousands on a secondary port. Japan's naval and air dominance—evident in the devastation of Shanghai in 1937, meant Guangdong's forces could be pulverized in Shantou just as easily. Losing Chaozhou and Shantou? Acceptable, if it preserved core strength for the long haul. Post-Xinhui, Zhang doubled down on resistance, channeling efforts into live-fire exercises for the 12th Army, turning green recruits into battle-ready soldiers amid the Guangdong hills. The war's trajectory after 1939 would vindicate him: his forces became pivotal in later counteroffensives, proving that a living army trumped dead cities. Opting out of a static defense, Zhang pivoted to guerrilla warfare to bleed the Japanese while clutching strategic initiative. He ordered local governments to whip up coastal guerrilla forces from Chao'an to Huizhou—melding militias, national guards, police, and private armed groups into official folds. These weren't elite shock troops, but in wartime's chaos, they controlled locales effectively, disrupting supply lines and gathering intel. For surprises, he unleashed two mobile units: the 9th Independent Brigade and the 20th Independent Brigade. Formed fresh after the War of Resistance erupted, these brigades shone for their efficiency within the cumbersome Guangdong Army structure. Division-level units were too bulky for spotty communications, so Yu Hanmou's command birthed these independent outfits, staffed with crack officers. The 9th, packing direct-fire artillery for punch, and the 20th, dubbed semi-mechanized for its truck-borne speed, prowled the Chaoshan–Huizhou coast from 1939. Zhang retained their three-regiment setup, naming Hua Zhenzhong and Zhang Shou as commanders, granting them autonomy to command in the field like roving wolves. As the 9th Independent Brigade shifted to Shantou, its 627th Regiment was still reorganizing in Heyuan, a logistical hiccup amid the scramble. Hua Zhenzhong, a commander noted for his tactical flexibility in regional annals, deployed the 625th Regiment and 5th Security Regiment along the coast, with the 626th as reserve in Chao'an. Though the Fourth War Zone had written off Chaoshan, Zhang yearned to showcase Guangdong grit before the pullback. Dawn broke on June 21, 1939, at 4:30 a.m., with Japanese reconnaissance planes slicing through the fog over Shantou, Anbu, and Nanbeigang, ghostly silhouettes against the gray sky. By 5:30, the mist lifted, revealing a nightmare armada: over 40 destroyers and 70–80 landing craft churning toward the coast on multiple vectors, their hulls cutting the waves like knives. The 626th Regiment's 3rd Battalion at Donghushan met the first wave with a hail of fire from six light machine guns, repelling the initial boats in a frenzy of splashes and shouts. But the brigade's long-range guns couldn't stem the tide; Hua focused on key chokepoints, aiming to bloody the invaders rather than obliterate them. By morning, the 3rd Battalion of the 625th Regiment charged into Shantou City, joined by the local police corps digging in amid urban sprawl. Combat raged at Xinjin Port and the airport's fringes, where Nationalist troops traded shots with advancing Japanese under the absent shadow of a Chinese navy. Japanese naval guns, massed offshore, pounded the outskirts like thunder gods in fury. By 2:00 a.m. on the 22nd, Shantou crumpled as defenders' ammo ran dry, the city falling in a haze of smoke and echoes. Before the loss, Hua had positioned the 1st Battalion of the 5th Security Regiment at Anbu, guarding the road to Chao'an. Local lore, preserved in oral histories collected by the Chaozhou Historical Society, recalls Battalion Commander Du Ruo leading from the front, rifle in hand, but Japanese barrages, bolstered by superior firepower—forced a retreat. Post-capture, Tokyo's forces paused to consolidate, unleashing massacres on fleeing civilians in the outskirts. A flotilla of civilian boats, intercepted at sea, became a grim training ground for bayonet drills, a barbarity echoed in survivor testimonies compiled in The Rape of Nanking and Beyond extensions to Guangdong atrocities. With Shantou gone, Hua pivoted to flank defense, orchestrating night raids on Japanese positions around Anbu and Meixi. On June 24th, Major Du Ruo spearheaded an assault into Anbu but fell gravely wounded amid the chaos. Later, the 2nd Battalion of the 626th overran spots near Meixi. A Japanese sea-flanking maneuver targeted Anbu, but Nationalists held at Liulong, sparking nocturnal clashes, grenade volleys, bayonet charges, and hand-to-hand brawls that drained both sides like a slow bleed. June 26th saw the 132nd Brigade lumber toward Chao'an. Hua weighed options: all-out assault or guerrilla fade? He chose to dig in on the outskirts, reserving two companies of the 625th and a special ops battalion in the city. The 27th brought a day-long Japanese onslaught, culminating in Chao'an's fall after fierce rear-guard actions by the 9th Independent Brigade. Evacuations preceded the collapse, with Japanese propaganda banners fluttering falsely, claiming Nationalists had abandoned defense. Yet Hua's call preserved his brigade for future fights; the Japanese claimed an empty prize. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Japanese operations had yet again plugged up supply leaks into Nationalist China. The fall of Suixian, Zaoyang and Shantou were heavy losses for the Chinese war effort. However the Chinese were also able to exact heavy casualties on the invaders and thwarted their encirclement attempts. China was still in the fight for her life.

We’re back!  It’s been a heck of a few  weeks for the FTN crew but we are back at it and bringing some reactions to the most recent preview.  We … Read More

Divorce doesn't just end a marriage—it can shatter a man's identity, confidence, and sense of direction. In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with my close friend Ryan Michler, founder of Order of Man, to talk openly about what it really looks like to navigate divorce as a man—and come out stronger on the other side.   Ryan shares his personal experience of being divorced for nearly three years, including the identity loss men feel when they're no longer husbands or full-time dads, the mistakes many men make by orienting their lives around their ex, and why healing starts when you make yourself the project. We also dive into rebuilding relationships with kids, handling co-parenting with integrity, resisting isolation, and why brotherhood is non-negotiable in seasons of separation. If you're divorced, separated, or supporting a man who is—this episode is required listening.     Timeline Summary [0:00] Why this episode is for divorced and separated dads [2:35] Introducing Ryan Michler and his journey through divorce [3:37] Losing identity as a husband and father after divorce [4:59] Feeling like "less of a man" after separation [6:02] Why orienting your life around your ex is a mistake [7:21] Making yourself the project after divorce [9:01] Isolation, vices, and the danger of being alone too much [10:45] Why brotherhood accelerates healing [12:15] Journaling, self-regulation, and daily discipline [14:06] Rebuilding physical health and confidence [15:32] Redefining masculinity and self-worth [17:15] Being honest—but appropriate—with kids about divorce [19:02] Staying present in your kids' lives beyond "your time" [21:11] Customizing connection with each child [23:23] Never giving up on estranged relationships [25:08] Civility, boundaries, and co-parenting with integrity [29:02] Why consistency matters more than outcomes [31:22] Divorce Not Death program overview [34:40] The Men's Forge experience and why it's different [38:15] Bringing sons to Men's Forge and legacy building [41:41] What boys learn by watching their fathers lead [45:54] Final encouragement for men navigating divorce     Five Key Takeaways Divorce shakes a man's identity, but it doesn't have to define his future.  Healing begins when men stop orienting around their ex and start orienting around growth.  Isolation amplifies pain, while brotherhood shortens the recovery curve.  Consistency and integrity rebuild trust with kids, even when relationships feel strained.  Men who make themselves the project come out stronger, healthier, and more grounded.      Links & Resources Men's Forge Event: https://themensforge.com Dad Edge Alliance: https://thedadedge.com/alliance Dad Edge Alliance Preview Call: https://thedadedge.com/preview 1st Phorm Dad Edge Challenge: https://1stphorm.com/dadedge Divorce Not Death Program: https://divorcenotdeath.com Episode Show Notes & Resources: https://thedadedge.com/1433     Closing Remark If this episode spoke to where you're at—or where you've been—please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. Divorce is not the end of your story. With discipline, brotherhood, and intention, it can be the beginning of a stronger chapter. Go out and live legendary.

Dorian Yates is a former professional bodybuilder, six-time Mr. Olympia winner and a pioneer of high-intensity, low-volume training for building muscle size and strength. He explains how anyone can vastly improve their fitness, mindset and appearance by training with weights just two or three days per week for less than an hour. We also discuss how to determine your natural strengths and passions and select which life path is right for you. Dorian also shares his journey and transformation from wayward youth to world champion athlete, his exploration of psychedelics, views on cannabis and on longevity and health optimization more generally. The knowledge and wisdom Dorian shares is valuable to men and women of all ages. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David Protein: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Function Health: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dorian Yates (00:03:17) High-Intensity Training, Bodybuilding, Blood & Guts (00:09:15) Muscular Failure, Stimulate & Recover; Anabolics (00:12:04) Sponsors: David & Joovv (00:14:33) Muscle Pump, Stimulus; Recovery Weeks (00:17:32) Beginners & Learning Correct Mechanics; Diabetes (00:22:13) Research vs Real World, Tool: High-Intensity, Low-Volume Training, HIIT Sprints (00:28:53) Bodybuilding Journey, Reading, Training Logs, Aspiration, Parents (00:39:21) Sponsors: AG1 & Our Place (00:42:46) TRT, Steroids, Genetics, Early Bodybuilding Career; Tool: Steroid Risks (00:53:57) Father & Son Relationship; Training Evolution (00:58:31) Workout Intensity & Motivation, Self-Mastery, Transforming Anger (01:05:34) Death; Opportunity Analysis; Bodybuilders, Steroids & Diuretics (01:12:18) Human Possibility, Fitness & Health Progression, Nutrition (01:16:05) Sponsor: LMNT (01:17:26) Mike Mentzer (01:20:42) 1992-1993 Mr. Olympia, Underdog vs Favorite Mindset (01:30:22) Inspiration & Achieving Goal; Retirement, Transition & Identity (01:38:52) Flexibility, Winning vs Loving the Process (01:43:08) Aging, Exercise & Posture (01:46:34) Sponsor: Function (01:48:22) Losing Muscle & Diet Change; Breathing; Health & Mind (01:52:02) Psychedelics, DMT, Ayahuasca, Perspective & Connection (02:01:20) Risks, Research & Psychedelics; Brain Plasticity, Perspective Change (02:06:23) Sunlight & Mood, Schizophrenia, Dopamine, Mitochondria (02:12:15) Cannabis, Smoking & Health; Cancer; Breathwork (02:19:34) Cannabis & Motivation, Individual Variation, THC Levels (02:25:22) Plant Medicine, Kratom, Natural Plants vs Extracts (02:28:53) Training for Women, Losing Fat & Resistance Training; Resilience (02:33:52) DY Nutrition, Supplements; Life Purpose & Consciousness (02:44:40) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices