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The boys are back to discuss the first of two episodes featuring that waddling master of fowl play and his diabolical ducky boat!
Should the Animated shows on the FOX Network be considered "Sitcoms"? What do YOU think? Comment on our Socials @ TelehellPodcast or, if you wish to make an audio reply; send a 2 minute mp3 or m4a clip to TelehellPodcast@gmail.com
“The Simpsons” began as crudely drawn sketches on The Tracey Ullman Show on the then-nascent Fox Network in 1987. Two years later, it spun off into its own show – the first primetime animated series to air since “The Flintstones” in the 1960s. “The Simpsons” became an unexpected hit, and Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie became one of the most iconic families in television history, as well as a massive pop-culture property that would spawn clothing, toys, music, amusement park rides, video games, and more. The series is still going strong, with 37 seasons, more than 800 episodes, and a second major motion picture set to arrive in 2027. So join the Great Pop Culture Debate as we eat many shorts, have many cows, and attempt to name the best “Simpsons” episode from Season 1 through Season 10.Episodes discussed: “Kamp Krusty,” “The Springfield Files,” “Mr. Plow,” “A Streetcar Named Marge,” “I Love Lisa,” “Two Dozen and One Greyhounds,” “Bart vs. Australia,” “Itchy & Scratchy Land,” “Bart Sells His Soul,” “Homer's Enemy,” “Marge vs. The Monorail,” “A Fish Called Selma,” “Homer at the Bat,” “A Milhouse Divided,” “Cape Feare,” “Flaming Moe's”Join host Eric Rezsnyak and panelists Curtis Creekmore, Jim Czadzeck, and Kara Austin as they discuss and debate 16 of the most beloved episodes from the first 10 seasons of “The Simpsons.”For the warm-up to this episode, in which we discuss additional “Simpsons” episodes that didn't make the bracket, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today. EPISODE CREDITSHost: Eric RezsnyakPanelists: Curtis Creekmore, Jim Czadzeck, Kara AustinProducer: Derek MekitaEditor: Eric RezsnyakIntro/Outro Music: "Dance to My Tune" by Marc Torch#thesimpsons #simpsons #homersimpson #bartsimpson #margesimpson #90s #2000s #television #animation #animatedseries #fox #popculture #podcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We're back for the 6th season of the podcast and we haven't even covered a complete season of BTAS yet! But we're almost there and Brandon is gonna tell you all about it! In this season premiere, we cover The 2 parts of Demon's Quest and then jump forward to look at an episode of Batman Beyond! Let's all get loose and just be ourselves! Take your shirt off and let the sword fightin commence!
This week we head back into the MVM Archives to bring you the story of the making of Marvel's first ever X-Men movie - Generation X! Before Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart reinvented the superhero movie in the year 2000, Marvel teamed up with the Fox Network to make this low budget 1996 TV movie. Jubilee, Emma Frost, Banshee, and a whole host of young X-Men characters were brought to live-action for the very first time, but with a budget so low the action and special effects became painful to watch. For awesome bonus episodes visit https://www.patreon.com/marvelversusmarvel marvelversusmarvel@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/marvelversusmarvel https://twitter.com/marvelversus https://twitter.com/robhalden https://robhalden.com https://will-preston.co.uk
Back to the longtime favorite running series inside the show - It Happened One Year's exploration of television programming specifically on November 3rd of a given year! This time around, Sarah & Joe dig into what the hell was going on that Friday night over at the FOX Network and cable's E! Entertainment Television. Not the most robust of original programming nights saw FOX roll out the short-lived, X-Files-esque FreakyLinks starring Ethan Embry and Dennis Christopher, while E! dropped another entry in their beloved look at chat and reality shows, Talk Soup. Along the way, the hosts get into a lot of random TV areas, including Cheaters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, A.J. Benza, Greg Kinnear, The Nine, The Chicago Code, and more!
From 2007-2014 the FOX Network ran a reality television series entitled KITCHEN NIGHTMARES. It starred Chef Gordon Ramsay, who is invited by the owners of a failing restaurant to come and spend a week with them, in an attempt to revive the business. Typically, the owner thinks the problem is something like, “their sign isn't bright enough” or “the people in the community just don't know good food when they see it”, or “the servers aren't quite up to snuff”. Typically, the owner believes it's always someone else who is at fault. But as Chef Ramsay comes in and sees what's really going on, its usually two issues. Number one, it's the owner. And number two, it's the food! Often there are gross moments as Chef Ramsay looks in the freezer and in the refrigerator and discovers maggots or some other off-putting things such as that. Other times they're using a microwave to warm up frozen food, and it's just an absolute disaster. But the shocking point in almost every single episode, there's this moment where the owner and operator is staring reality in the face and they are unwilling to accept it. They're confronted with everything that they're doing wrong and they either cannot or will not see it. And the audience is left thinking, “I'm sure if I were running that restaurant, I would be different!” But the truth of the matter is, that kind of change is hard for all of us, because on some level, it means that we must admit, (drum roll please) that we're the biggest part of the problem. And that's really, really, hard. It's easier to live in denial than it is to admit that we were wrong about something. And that's why what happens in the city of Nineveh, in JONAH CHAPTER THREE, is so absolutely shocking. Not only is it shocking, it's miraculous! Why don't you make plans now to join us this Sunday at our service at 9:30 or 11AM, or in our livestream service at 11AM on riverbluff.live, as we continue to follow Jonah, and see how the work of OUR RELENTLESS 2ND CHANCE GOD can radically transform a culture, one life at a time! Pastor Joe Still
My guest today is Barry Diller. Barry is the former CEO of Paramount Pictures, Fox Broadcasting, and the founder of IAC. He has been at the center of every major media transformation over the past five decades, from creating the Movie of the Week format to building the fourth broadcast network to executing 150 internet-era deals. Barry reveals his "creative conflict" philosophy - pushing smart, opinionated people past their endurance point to generate breakthrough ideas. He also shares stories of working alongside media titans like Rupert Murdoch and Bill Gates. We discuss his current portfolio strategy, innovation in media, and how personal struggles can become professional superpowers. Please enjoy my conversation with Barry Diller. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to Ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. – This episode is brought to you by Ridgeline. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Head to ridgelineapps.com to learn more about the platform. – This episode is brought to you by AlphaSense. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at Alpha-Sense.com/Invest and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:05:02) Early Career in Entertainment (00:06:33) Defining Moments and Fearlessness (00:09:18) Personal Reflections and Family Impact (00:12:37) The Magic of Interactivity (00:14:44) Creative Conflict and Instinct (00:19:24) Breaking Down Complexities (00:21:35) Innovations in Television (00:23:37) The Fox Network and Murdoch's Gamble (00:29:37) The Value of Money and Motivation (00:30:17) The Leap to Independence (00:32:28) QVC and the Internet Revolution (00:33:37) The AI Opportunist Approach (00:36:55) The Rise of Match.com and Tinder (00:38:57) The MGM Investment and Future of Entertainment (00:41:21) Negotiation Lessons from Lou Wasserman (00:43:47) The Simpsons: From Doubt to Success (00:44:25) The Changing Landscape of Media (00:51:53) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done for Barry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFamed Fox Network TV Producer Files Lawsuit Against CIA‘Disinformation' Scientist and Antigravity/UFO Research Firm Contact: Rob McConnellThe “X” Zone Broadcast Network Canadian Media Servicesrobmcconnell@xzbn.net(905) 575-1222 March 7, 2019 – Orange, CA – Robert C. Kiviat, the investigative producer best known for his hit TV Specials FOX Broadcasting aired along with their X-Files series such as Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction?, UFOs: The Best Evidence Ever Caught On Tape and World's Greatest Hoaxes: Secrets Finally Revealed, has filed a lawsuit in California against longtime CIA scientist Ron Pandolfi, who ran the CIA's “Weird Desk” and most recently has been backing InterNASA, an advanced physics firm also named in the lawsuit which Kiviat worked for under contract since 2018, but has yet to pay him.According to the Complaint filed last week, Kiviat – whose 2014 TV Special for NBC Universal's Syfy channel, Aliens On The Moon: The Truth Exposed unveiled never-before-seen NASA photos taken by the Apollo astronauts that appear to show gigantic lunar constructions of unknown origin – is seeking $300,000 in employment salary arrears InterNASA presently owes him. The suit also promises to pry open for the first time, via legal discovery, the inner workings behind CIA operations ostensibly led by Pandolfi comprising a decades-long disinformation campaign designed to influence and confuse the public about UFOs – or exotic technologies – by manipulating researchers, and worse, lead those involved to lose money, and more, in the process. “Covering UFOs and other unexplained topics for TV networks made me keenly aware that both a former Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and a famous astronaut had moved into anti-gravity R & D upon leaving government service,” Kiviat says. “So when InterNASA CEO Joe Firmage assured me he had secured the necessary funding and that Pandolfi was backing his gravity-control research, I accepted a position to oversee InterNASA's Studios division.” Kiviat adds that Pandolfi's apparent support of the science behind Firmage's device was independently corroborated by a prominent researcher and author giving lectures at packed UFO conferences throughout 2017, claiming he learned of it from a known Pandolfi operative. The same month that Firmage was recruiting Kiviat to oversee InterNASA Studios – which Firmage envisioned as a news and entertainment entity for informing the public about the implications of his discovery – The New York Times ran a front-page article announcing that unidentified “Tic Tac” shaped aircraft had been caught on video by U.S. Navy pilots easily outmaneuvering our fastest jets with gravity-defying capability. These videos The Times wrote about were not released by the U.S. military, but by a company headed by former Blink 182 guitarist Tom DeLonge and Dr. Hal Puthoff, a scientist who had conducted government ESP research and is a former paid consultant Firmage employed 10 years earlier when he was just beginning work on the anti-gravity device.“Firmage asked me repeatedly if I knew of any actual technology that was being developed by the company DeLonge and Puthoff were heading, which they named To The Stars Academy (TTSA), and when I told him I didn't, he indicated he felt Puthoff must have usurped his overall ‘new physics Academy' concept he had been talking about for years,” Kiviat recalls. “To be fair, Firmage had a point, in that InterNASA – or its full name, International Academy of Science and Arts, does sound like it could have inspired TTSA. Then he gave me our plan, which was to beat TTSA to the punch and get news stories and TV series made about our efforts to prove gravity-control exists.”While Kiviat explains that he performed multiple tasks for InterNASA working under his employment contract, including corporate communications, investor relations and also managed to make multiple trips to New York to pitch two major TV Networks a series which would, in part, unveil InterNASA's plans, it was Firmage's insistence that Kiviat actually was working for both him and Pandolfi that intrigued him the most.“Often when I would have my daily phone calls with Firmage, and also with Pandolfi's most trusted operative who was stationed at Firmage's Utah home laboratory overseeing technical progress being made on the gravity-control device and reporting back to Pandolfi on the East Coast, Pandolfi would call in and they would both have to aburprtly end our calls,” Kiviat says. “Any claim Pandolfi makes that he did not call in that frequently or was not majorly involved in monitoring InterNASA's technology development is preposterous and demonstrably false.” InterNASA's financial problems started early, Kiviat reveals, when its seemingly most interested investor, former Utah Congressman Daniel Marriott, feigned he would provide the investment capital to cover all operating costs, but kept coming up with reasons for holding up doing so, while curiously, also maintaining that if any other investor stepped in, he would pull his involvement completely. “It was this Catch-22 kind of dealing that basically strangled the company, Kiviat adds. “But Marriott did eventually make as minimal payment as possible to keep InterNASA's technological development going, and also paid me a small amount out of his own pocket to cover a tiny portion of my amassing InterNASA salary arrears.”By the middle of 2018, Kiviat was told by both Firmage and Pandolfi's operative in Utah that a major meeting – or “gravity control” demonstration – was being planned with Pandolfi's assistance in Colorado. But due to Firmage's inability to meet certain deadlines, the meeting abruptly was canceled. Kiviat was informed the company was going “dark” to work on the machine without distraction, and Kiviat – or what Pandolfi's operative called “Media” – would be the last to be paid with whatever funds Marriott was continuing to contribute. “From that point on, I focused primarily on getting a TV deal since it seemed money would have to come in from some outside source to keep InterNASA going, with Marriott manipulating the way he was doing,” Kiviat says. “TV executives I met with in both Hollywood and New York showed a lot of interest, and these negotiations are continuing despite the lawsuit being filed. One way or another, I think the series I presented will get made, and it will be the most definitive and far reaching TV project ever concerning UFOs, the subject's connection to exotic propulsion systems and what the U.S. government knows about possible extraterrestrial visitation.”On the advice of his attorney, Kiviat's lawsuit also names Marriott as a co-defendant and alleges he is culpable for money owed to Kiviat for the year or more of work performed under his employment contract. Yet Kiviat sees his case having much more significance than simply being about receiving his fair compensation. “Not only am I seeking to be paid for what I am owed legally for my dedicated efforts, but the suit has the added value of exposing the way the U.S. intelligence agencies have seemingly manipulated the UFO community and overall, the general public for years. And to put it mildly, it stinks, many good people have been damaged and it has to stop.”##Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media.
“Rick Rockwell” says it all. To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://www.advertisecast.com/TheJeffWardShow
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
Story: 12 Degrees of Seperation Author: Paula Graves Rating: NR Site link: annehaynes.xf-redux.com/stories/12degree.html Read by: PianoGirlXF Summary: 12 DEGREES OF SEPARATION is an X-Files novel, completely unauthorized and probably unappreciated by anyone connected to Ten-Thirteen Productions or the Fox Network. But since I didn't write it for them, I'm not too worried about it. :) I have received no financial compensation for the writing of this story, and I mean no copyright infringement. Consider this an homage to a smart and addictive show. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFamed Fox Network TV Producer Files Lawsuit Against CIA‘Disinformation' Scientist and Antigravity/UFO Research Firm Contact: Rob McConnellThe “X” Zone Broadcast Network Canadian Media Servicesrobmcconnell@xzbn.net(905) 575-1222 March 7, 2019 – Orange, CA – Robert C. Kiviat, the investigative producer best known for his hit TV Specials FOX Broadcasting aired along with their X-Files series such as Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction?, UFOs: The Best Evidence Ever Caught On Tape and World's Greatest Hoaxes: Secrets Finally Revealed, has filed a lawsuit in California against longtime CIA scientist Ron Pandolfi, who ran the CIA's “Weird Desk” and most recently has been backing InterNASA, an advanced physics firm also named in the lawsuit which Kiviat worked for under contract since 2018, but has yet to pay him.According to the Complaint filed last week, Kiviat – whose 2014 TV Special for NBC Universal's Syfy channel, Aliens On The Moon: The Truth Exposed unveiled never-before-seen NASA photos taken by the Apollo astronauts that appear to show gigantic lunar constructions of unknown origin – is seeking $300,000 in employment salary arrears InterNASA presently owes him. The suit also promises to pry open for the first time, via legal discovery, the inner workings behind CIA operations ostensibly led by Pandolfi comprising a decades-long disinformation campaign designed to influence and confuse the public about UFOs – or exotic technologies – by manipulating researchers, and worse, lead those involved to lose money, and more, in the process. “Covering UFOs and other unexplained topics for TV networks made me keenly aware that both a former Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and a famous astronaut had moved into anti-gravity R & D upon leaving government service,” Kiviat says. “So when InterNASA CEO Joe Firmage assured me he had secured the necessary funding and that Pandolfi was backing his gravity-control research, I accepted a position to oversee InterNASA's Studios division.” Kiviat adds that Pandolfi's apparent support of the science behind Firmage's device was independently corroborated by a prominent researcher and author giving lectures at packed UFO conferences throughout 2017, claiming he learned of it from a known Pandolfi operative. The same month that Firmage was recruiting Kiviat to oversee InterNASA Studios – which Firmage envisioned as a news and entertainment entity for informing the public about the implications of his discovery – The New York Times ran a front-page article announcing that unidentified “Tic Tac” shaped aircraft had been caught on video by U.S. Navy pilots easily outmaneuvering our fastest jets with gravity-defying capability. These videos The Times wrote about were not released by the U.S. military, but by a company headed by former Blink 182 guitarist Tom DeLonge and Dr. Hal Puthoff, a scientist who had conducted government ESP research and is a former paid consultant Firmage employed 10 years earlier when he was just beginning work on the anti-gravity device.“Firmage asked me repeatedly if I knew of any actual technology that was being developed by the company DeLonge and Puthoff were heading, which they named To The Stars Academy (TTSA), and when I told him I didn't, he indicated he felt Puthoff must have usurped his overall ‘new physics Academy' concept he had been talking about for years,” Kiviat recalls. “To be fair, Firmage had a point, in that InterNASA – or its full name, International Academy of Science and Arts, does sound like it could have inspired TTSA. Then he gave me our plan, which was to beat TTSA to the punch and get news stories and TV series made about our efforts to prove gravity-control exists.”While Kiviat explains that he performed multiple tasks for InterNASA working under his employment contract, including corporate communications, investor relations and also managed to make multiple trips to New York to pitch two major TV Networks a series which would, in part, unveil InterNASA's plans, it was Firmage's insistence that Kiviat actually was working for both him and Pandolfi that intrigued him the most.“Often when I would have my daily phone calls with Firmage, and also with Pandolfi's most trusted operative who was stationed at Firmage's Utah home laboratory overseeing technical progress being made on the gravity-control device and reporting back to Pandolfi on the East Coast, Pandolfi would call in and they would both have to aburprtly end our calls,” Kiviat says. “Any claim Pandolfi makes that he did not call in that frequently or was not majorly involved in monitoring InterNASA's technology development is preposterous and demonstrably false.” InterNASA's financial problems started early, Kiviat reveals, when its seemingly most interested investor, former Utah Congressman Daniel Marriott, feigned he would provide the investment capital to cover all operating costs, but kept coming up with reasons for holding up doing so, while curiously, also maintaining that if any other investor stepped in, he would pull his involvement completely. “It was this Catch-22 kind of dealing that basically strangled the company, Kiviat adds. “But Marriott did eventually make as minimal payment as possible to keep InterNASA's technological development going, and also paid me a small amount out of his own pocket to cover a tiny portion of my amassing InterNASA salary arrears.”By the middle of 2018, Kiviat was told by both Firmage and Pandolfi's operative in Utah that a major meeting – or “gravity control” demonstration – was being planned with Pandolfi's assistance in Colorado. But due to Firmage's inability to meet certain deadlines, the meeting abruptly was canceled. Kiviat was informed the company was going “dark” to work on the machine without distraction, and Kiviat – or what Pandolfi's operative called “Media” – would be the last to be paid with whatever funds Marriott was continuing to contribute. “From that point on, I focused primarily on getting a TV deal since it seemed money would have to come in from some outside source to keep InterNASA going, with Marriott manipulating the way he was doing,” Kiviat says. “TV executives I met with in both Hollywood and New York showed a lot of interest, and these negotiations are continuing despite the lawsuit being filed. One way or another, I think the series I presented will get made, and it will be the most definitive and far reaching TV project ever concerning UFOs, the subject's connection to exotic propulsion systems and what the U.S. government knows about possible extraterrestrial visitation.”On the advice of his attorney, Kiviat's lawsuit also names Marriott as a co-defendant and alleges he is culpable for money owed to Kiviat for the year or more of work performed under his employment contract. Yet Kiviat sees his case having much more significance than simply being about receiving his fair compensation. “Not only am I seeking to be paid for what I am owed legally for my dedicated efforts, but the suit has the added value of exposing the way the U.S. intelligence agencies have seemingly manipulated the UFO community and overall, the general public for years. And to put it mildly, it stinks, many good people have been damaged and it has to stop.”##Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.
They're Back.........Again..........and this time, they have Political Powers......Woe to the Union... SPONSORED BY: Dave's Archives RETROCirq Kier's Nostalgia Corner Kev the Ripper And (of course) our Patrons
In today’s LIVE Trish Regan Show, Trish looks at the potential damage the Smartmatic suit against Fox News could cause not only for the Fox Network, but for the profession of journalism as a whole. Plus, a curious thing just happened in the Leticia James $486 million civil case against Donald Trump. The court switched the judge in the case (Arthur Erdogen) only to put him back on. What’s going on? And, given some of the expected FBI Director Kash Patel’s recent commentary, is there a reason for Letitia James to worry? Trish says YES. Trump is offering up a new solution to the IRS - it’s called the External Revenue Service. Get ready for tarriffs! And, finally, there are growing rumors about Mr. and Mrs. Barack Obama possibly in the midst of a divorce! We investigate. Join Trish LIVE by subscribing to the channel to watch today’s stories and much more.
Buckle up, because this episode is a rollercoaster you didn't know you needed! We dive headfirst into Joy Ride's wild antics and unravel the chaos that's erupting over at The Fox Network. From jaw-dropping moments to behind-the-scenes drama, we're pulling no punches.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,” Matt 25:35 My guest is Billie Jauss (billie_jauss )- Author, Speaker, & Host of the “The Family Room Podcast” Her latest book, “Baseball Family: Nine Core Qualities for Developing Healthy Relationships,” delves into different relationships with people we encounter and what qualities make a relationship successful. She shares how to be intentional and generous, to love on the person God puts in front of us and showing compassion. Do we care enough about another person to consider how our actions impact them? How do we deal with people who intentionally want to hurt us? She has navigated life all over the world, adapting to many cultures, while her husband, Dave, managed teams of players on the field. Billie has been featured on CBN's 700 Club, The Shawn Bolz Show, Fox Network, and numerous other podcasts and media outlets. Billie Jauss is the wife of a Major League Baseball coach and the mother of three sons who are also involved in baseball at the highest levels. And she uses baseball analogy - the natural way to go for a baseball family! She's also a friend! You can learn more about her books, podcast, and Compassion International on her website, billyjauss.com, and follow her on social media.
Terry L. Fossum is a highly accomplished individual with a diverse background. He served as an officer in the United States Air Force, where he was the executive officer for a group of nuclear B-52 bombers during the Cold War, earning the title of Officer of the Year at Fairchild Air Force Base. Terry transitioned into marketing, ascending into the top 1% of his industry globally. He represented the Boy Scouts of America on a survival reality TV show on the Fox Network and won, became an award-winning actor, author, and TEDx speaker. His book, "The Oxcart Blueprint for Success," reached the #1 best-selling spot, and he is known for his impactful public speaking and coaching. Episode Summary:Host Myrna Young sits down with guest Terry L. Fossum to unravel the secrets behind achieving your goals and why most people fail to reach them. Terry shares his groundbreaking "Oxcart Technique," a goal-setting methodology based on Nobel Prize-winning science, to help listeners understand how to harness both the fear of failure and the allure of success.Terry breaks down how, at one of the lowest points in his life, he discovered the transformative power of combining positive visualization with negative visualization to motivate himself to achieve his goals. This method, consisting of creating a failure scenario, a detailed action plan, making it applicable to various aspects of life, including business success, health maintenance, and relationship improvement.Key Takeaways:Harnessing Emotion: Understand that emotion, not mere facts, is the main driver of actions toward achieving goals.Failure Scenario: Writing down and emotionally engaging with what failure looks like significantly boosts motivation.Success Scenario: Balancing the fear of failure with the vision of success creates a powerful motivational force.Daily Action Plan: Developing a fluid, achievable daily action plan is critical in moving from the fear of failure to the vision of success.Personalization: Ensure all steps are personalized and discussed with key stakeholders, like partners or family, to ensure mutual support and alignment.Support The Sponsors who Support the Transform Your Mind podcast!RO.CO The Ro Body Program provides access to the most popular weight loss shots on the market. Go to RO.CO/TRANSFORMScience Moms - The Science Moms are a non-partisan group of scientists who are, like many of you, moms. Join us at ScienceMoms.comShopify - Go to shopify.com/transform now to grow your businessSee this video on The Transform Your Mind YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MyhelpsUs/videosTo see a transcripts of this audio as well as links to all the advertisers on the show page https://myhelps.us/Follow Transform Your Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/myrnamyoung/Follow Transform Your mind on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738390977Please leave a rating and review on iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transform-your-mind/id1144973094
"Integrity is the single reason anything works or doesn't work." You're going to love Episode 50 of the 'Transformation Starts Today' podcast with Sanyika "The Fire Starter" Street! Here's some background about Sanyika: Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street is a POWERHOUSE. Sanyika is a Speaker, Executive Coach and one of the world's most Powerful Spoken Word Artists. As an executive coach he helps leaders RAISE THE BAR in their Business, their Body and most importantly their Being through his coaching platform, The ALL-IN TRIBE. His personal mission is to help 1 million+ committed leaders go ALL-IN on creating a safer world in their Business, Body and Being through Brotherhood. As a writer, artist and storyteller, he's told stories for the world's biggest brands including Sony Playstation, FOX Network, The United States Department Of Defense, Universal Music Group, Reach TV and INK Global. The Firestarter has also ignited global audiences with his talk show "The ALL-IN Moment" which has a worldwide distribution of 75 million people. Ladies & Gentlemen, please meet Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street! Here are some ways to connect with Sanyika: www.theallinceo.com IG: @theallinceo FB: Sanyika TheFirestarter Street Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@THEALLINMAN/featured Dr. Jamil Sayegh – Spiritual wisdom teacher, energy healer, life-transformation coach, integrative naturopathic physician Learn more about if or how I can help you: https://jamilsayegh.com/lets-connect/
Host Ipek Williamson sits down with the dynamic and inspiring Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street in this episode of the Ultimate Coach Podcast. Sanyika, a transformative leader and founder of The ALL-IN CEO, shares his journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a powerhouse in personal development and business transformation. He discusses the importance of surrendering to one's greatness, how community and mentorship were pivotal in his growth, and the crucial role storytelling plays in leadership to create deep connections and drive impactful change.Sanyika also delves into his "N Word" campaign, which aims to shift perspectives on the use of a historically charged term. He recounts the powerful experiences and conversations that led to the campaign's inception and its subsequent success. His reflections on the transformative Arizona event and his profound storytelling skills underscore the episode, offering listeners valuable insights into becoming better leaders and more authentic individuals. Through his compelling narrative, Sanyika inspires listeners to embrace radical responsibility and go all in on their personal and professional lives.About the Guest: Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street is a POWERHOUSE.As a Masculinity Coach for Married Businessmen, he helps men RAISE THE BAR in their Business, their Body, and their Being through his coaching platform, The ALL-IN CEO. His personal mission is to help over 1 million men define what it means to live a life fully in ALIGNMENT and built on INTEGRITY, empowering them to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders.As an Innovative Storyteller, Sanyika has worked with the world's biggest brands, including Sony Playstation, FOX Network, The US Department of Defense, Universal Music Group, Reach TV, and INK Global.We're excited for you to experience the transformative power of Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street.To learn more and connect with Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street, please visit www.theallinceo.com. About the Host: A beacon of change and a catalyst for transformation, Ipek Williamson is a multifaceted professional who seamlessly integrates two decades of corporate expertise with a diverse skill set as a coach, mentor, speaker, author, meditation advocate, and teacher. Her mission is to guide individuals through the complexities of modern life, helping them find deep peace and harmony. Ipek's coaching approach, rooted in Core Values, Mental Fitness, and Mind Mastery, empowers clients to unlock their hidden potential and confidently embrace change with joy.Beyond coaching, Ipek's influence spreads through her 100+ meditations on the Insight Timer App and live meditation sessions, where she shares transformative wisdom. Her impact extends to workshops, courses, and training sessions for individuals, groups, and corporations. As a Change Champion, Ipek Williamson is dedicated to promoting positive change, nurturing inner calm, and empowering others to script their own transformation stories.ipek@ipekwilliamsoncoaching.comhttps://linktr.ee/IpekWilliamsonhttps://ipekwilliamsoncoaching.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ipekwilliamson/The Ultimate Coach Resources
It's a week of duo-quizzes sponsored by Pour House Trivia! Check them out for fully daily trivia games at www.Patreon.com/pourhousetrivia Fact of the Day: Instead of using CGI, Tim Burton opted to use real squirrels in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The squirrels were used for 10 months, and the filming was supervised by the American Humane Association to make sure none of the squirrels experienced distress. THE FIRST TRIVIA QUESTION STARTS AT 02:01 SUPPORT THE SHOW MONTHLY, LISTEN AD-FREE FOR JUST $1 A MONTH: www.Patreon.com/TriviaWithBudds INSTANT DOWNLOAD DIGITAL TRIVIA GAMES ON ETSY, GRAB ONE NOW! GET A CUSTOM EPISODE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES: Email ryanbudds@gmail.com Theme song by www.soundcloud.com/Frawsty Bed Music: "Your Call" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://TriviaWithBudds.comhttp://Facebook.com/TriviaWithBudds http://Instagram.com/ryanbudds Book a party, corporate event, or fundraiser anytime by emailing ryanbudds@gmail.com or use the contact form here: https://www.triviawithbudds.com/contact SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL MY AMAZING PATREON SUBSCRIBERS INCLUDING: Linda Elswick Ansley Bennett Mom & Mac Jamie Greig Rondell Merritt Sue First Nick Vogelpohl Adam Jacoby Adam Suzan Jeremy Yoder Chelsea Walker Carter A. Fourqurean Tiffany Poplin Bill Bavar Courtney Cassal Daniel Hoisington-McArthur Paula Wetterhahn Justin Cone Steven LongSue FirstKC Khoury Keith MartinTonya CharlesBen Katelyn Turner Ryan Ballantine Justly Maya Brandon Lavin Kathy McHale Selectronica Chuck Nealen Courtney French Nikki Long Jenny Santomauro Jon Handel Mark Zarate Keiva BranniganLaura PalmerLauren Glassman John Taylor Dean Bratton Mona B Pate Hogan Kristy Donald Fuller Erin Burgess Chris Arneson Trenton Sullivan Josh Gregovich Jen and NicJessica Allen Michele Lindemann Ben Stitzel Michael Redman Timothy HeavnerHarlie WestJeff Foust Sarah Snow-BrineRichard Lefdal Rebecca Meredith Leslie Gerhardt Myles Bagby Jenna Leatherman Vernon Heagy Albert Thomas Kimberly Brown Tracy Oldaker Sara Zimmerman Madeleine Garvey Jenni Yetter Alexandra Pepin Brendan JohnB Patrick Leahy Dillon Enderby John Mihaljevic James Brown Christy Shipley Pamela Yoshimura Cody Roslund Clayton Polizzi Alexander Calder Mark Haas Ricky Carney Paul McLaughlin Manny Cortez Casey OConnor Willy Powell Robert Casey Rich Hyjack Matthew Frost Joe Jermolowicz Brian Salyer Greg Bristow Megan Donnelly Jim Fields Mo Martinez Luke Mckay Simon Time Feana Nevel Brian WilliamsJordania of Zeilingrisk
Beau McFarland is a stand-up comic, writer, and actor from Southern California. Beau has performed in clubs, theaters and, venues all over the United States, Canada, the U.K., China, and Thailand. He has also performed for the troops in Seoul, South Korea, as well as on season 1 of Fox Network's Boom, and is a frequent contributor to Table Read the Podcast. https://beaumcfarland.com/
This week we discuss Paul Heyman getting exiled from The Bloodline, AEW Forbidden Door, WWE x NBA partnership, Fox Network's censors, WWE security is subpar, Dijak leaving WWE + more.
Close your eyes and imagine a booming voice delivering powerful spoken word storytelling, set to cinematic music that will ignite the deepest part of your soul. Then take whatever you imagined and multiply it times 10. You are about to witness "Cinematic Storytelling" by Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street. His EPIC leadership talks and cinematic performances, achieve the trifecta, they Educate, Entertain & Inspire. As a Storyteller, he's worked with the world's biggest brands including Sony PlayStation, FOX Network, The US Department Of Defense, Universal Music Group, Reach TV and INK Global. He is also the CEO/FOUNDER of an elite coaching program, THE ALL-IN TRIBE, where he teaches Leadership, Communication and Mindset so people can go ALL-IN on becoming the person they always desired to become. Through his storytelling, The Firestarter has ignited brands including Sony PlayStation, FOX network, Ford, MTV, The ALL-Warrior Network and Universal Music Group. As a songwriter he's written chart topping songs for artists like Too Short and Nick Lachey/98 Degrees. His videos have amassed over 3,000,000 social media views. His interview show "The ALL-IN Moment" on REACH TV has a global distribution of 75 million people and features some of the biggest thought leaders in the world. Ladies & Gentlemen, you are about to experience something out of this world, we are proud to present, Sanyika "The Firestarter" Street
On this week's episode, we are joined by Katie Kimball, a passionate advocate for teaching kids essential life skills and fostering independence. Katie, an experienced educator and founder of the Kids Cook Real Food program, shares her insights on the importance of empowering children with practical skills that go beyond the classroom. We'll explore how teaching kids to cook not only boosts their confidence and independence but also instills healthy eating habits from a young age. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with practical tips and strategies to help your kids gain the skills they need for a successful, independent future. Don't miss this insightful episode on nurturing independence and life skills in children!More about Katie!Katie Kimball, CSME, founder and CEO of Kitchen Stewardship, is passionate about researching natural remedies and making healthy cooking easier for busy families. As a trusted educator and author of 8 real food cookbooks, she's been featured on media outlets like ABC, NBC and First for Women magazine and contributes periodically on the FOX Network locally. Since 2009, Katie has spoken prolifically at conferences, online summits and podcasts and become a trusted authority and advocate for children's health. Busy moms look to this certified educator for honest, in-depth natural product reviews and thorough research, and she often partners with health experts and medical practitioners to stay on the cutting edge. In 2016 she created the Wall Street Journal recommended best online kids cooking course, Kids Cook Real Food, helping thousands of families around the world learn to cook. A mom of 4 kids from Michigan, she is also a Certified Stress Mastery Educator, member of the American Institute of Stress and trained speaker through Bo Eason's Personal Story Power with 2 TEDx Talks. She is on a mission to have every child able to cook, reinforcing the importance of life skills with #LifeSkillsNow summer camp, and coaching others on their TEDx Talks as a speaker coach.Connect with Katie!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiekimballkidscook/Website: https://kidscookrealfood.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/kitchenstew Facebook: http://facebook.com/kidscookrealfood/Access#LifeSkillsNow: https://members.kidscookrealfood.com/courses/lifeskillsnow-season-three/Connect with Brianna!Instagram: @mombossinaustinLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/briannademikeFollow the Podcast on Instagram: @badassbasicbitchLove the podcast? We would love if you would leave a review!Thank you to this week's sponsors!Air Doctor: Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code BBB, you'll receive UP TO $300 off air purifiers!
Hanson is the Emmy-award winning creator, writer, and show runner of the hit TV show Bones, the longest-running scripted hour-long series on the FOX Network. His debut novel, The Driver, was heralded by The New York Times Book Review, The San Francisco Book Review, New York Post, and more. Hart has taken to his new novel THE SEMINARIAN to pen a story of acerbic humor and wit while exploring the importance of friendship, family, faith, and humanity in the face of life's curveballs and seediest rings. Xavier “Priest” Priestly is a snarky former seminarian turned private investigator who gets thrown into a high stakes twisted murder mystery when the girlfriend of his good friend suddenly disappears and an assassin appears to stop him before he has the chance to investigate. Showing surprising tenderness, The Seminarian is a distinctive thriller that is as entertaining as it is insightful. A California resident, Hart Hanson will also be in New York City next month to promote and discuss his propulsive new novel if you would like to set up anything in studio. With his own brand of cleverness and energetic character, I know your audience would enjoy Hart's stories, humor, and observations.
Time to fulfil another Patreon request; this time, Ed Batey Jr. wants us to look at the FOX sitcom that tried to be "The Wonder Years"...Was it fair to consider this show an out-and-out "Ripoff", or did it have its own vision of what the 1960s looked like? SPONSORED BY: Dave's Archives Retrocirq Kier's Nostalgia Corner And our Patrons
Today's guest is screenwriter Brian Herskowitz. He wrote the book called Process to Product: From Concept to Script: A Practical Guide for the Screenwriter. Like millions before him, Brian Herskowitz moved out to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He soon learned that there was a dearth of roles for shorter leading men and began searching for other outlets for his creative passions. In 1980 he wrote his first screenplay, an action thriller about a young man who moves to Tokyo to train for the Olympics in Judo and gets caught up in an intrigue with the Yakuza. Through that script, based on his true-life experience as an international judo competitor, he uncovered a knack and passion for writing. As a writer, Brian has completed well over a dozen feature films. His first produced feature was a low budget slasher titled DARKROOM. He currently has several projects in active development including, THE ABDUCTION, THE EMPRESS OF ELSEWHERE (co-written with Theresa Nelson based on her best selling novel), TAKE A RIDE, and FAIRIES (co-written with Pam Dawber and Andy Tobey).His TV credits include a staff writing position on the NBC sit-com BLOSSOM, multiple episodes of the syndicated series HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, and ACAPULCO HEAT, the HBO hit comedy DREAM ON, CBS's RENEGADE, THE EXILE, MURDER, SHE WROTE, the FOX Network's YOUNG HERCULES, and CBS's critically acclaimed was series TOUR OF DUTY (associate producer). Brian co-wrote the FOX pilot MANTIC with Jason Alexander. In addition, he worked as a punch-up writer on BOB PATTERSON, and LISTEN UP.Brian currently holds the title of lead faculty in screenwriting for the prestigious BOSTON UNIVERSITY IN LOS ANGELES - WRITER IN HOLLYWOOD PROGRAM. Brian has taught online for UCLA EXTENSTIONS and has had students from every corner of the earth. Enjoy my conversation with Brian Herskowitz.
On this episode of Friends Talking Nerdy, join Professor Aubrey and Tim the Nerd as they dive into some interesting topics for your listening pleasure. Professor Aubrey takes center stage to express her adoration for "The Orville," the brainchild of Seth MacFarlane. Tim the Nerd joins in to dissect the show's uniqueness compared to MacFarlane's other creations like "Family Guy," a series Professor Aubrey isn't quite a fan of. Delving deeper, they explore MacFarlane's involvement in the Fox Network's Cosmos reboot, unraveling his multifaceted contributions to the world of television. Shifting gears, Tim delves into a social media storm surrounding the first installment of the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials, "The Star Beast." He dissects the controversy sparked by a scene addressing pronouns, highlighting how media amplification and professional agitators contribute to such uproars, prompting a discussion on the role of media in fueling controversies. Finally, Professor Aubrey and Tim dive into the insightful article from Psychology Today titled "Can You Achieve Holiday Bliss?" authored by Nina Ahuja MD, exploring the pursuit of holiday happiness and the psychological underpinnings of achieving contentment during the festive season. With their signature blend of analysis, humor, and passion, this episode promises a thought-provoking exploration of television, social media dynamics, and the pursuit of holiday joy. As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his website for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms. Head to our Linktree for more information on where to find us online. Friends Talking Nerdy is a proud member of the Deluxe Edition Network. Head to their website to find out more information about all the shows available on the Network. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ftnerdy/message
How not to be invisible... Orlando talked about his successful mixing career despite growing up illegally in the US, calculating your flat mix rate, getting the best mix notes from an artist, networking tips, and how to mic timbales, congas, & bongos! Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com My guest today is Orlando Torres a mixer/engineer based in the Los Angeles area who has worked with legendary musicians, including Abraham Laboriel, Joey DeFrancesco, Alex Acuña, Justo Almario, percussionist Ron Powell, Lee Rocker (Stray Cats) and Little Willie G. But he is equally proud of his work with up-and-coming local bands and artists. Orlando has worked on television productions that include an Emmy nominated song for The Young And The Restless and ADR cutting for Law & Order. In 2019 he worked with Kobe Bryant at his Granity Studios as a recording engineer for Kobe's ESPN Detail and as an audio editor for The Punies podcast. He is also an active live sound engineer with experience in all genres including orchestral classical music and house of worship and works as a “Playback” engineer running backing tracks for Trace Adkins, Sheila E, Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes), Mary Mary, Alex Fernandez, The President's Own Marine Chamber Orchestra and the Fox Network to name a few. I met Orlando at our NAMM 2023 meetup and learned that he has a unique story which includes immigrating from Mexico with his family and becoming a naturalized citizen as part of his life and career journey. Today we will talk about the importance of networking and the challenges we all face in connecting with artists and musicians and how to overcome them even when faced with overwhelming obstacles. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! https://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com https://www.native-instruments.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off! https://lewitt.link/rockstars https://www.Spectra1964.com https://MacSales.com/rockstars https://iZotope.com use code ROCK10 to get 10% off any individual plugin! https://www.adam-audio.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/ Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rPj20gsl2b74HEyrXulHZ?si=b44cddc6db7c4408 If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/432
On April 28, 1988, the then-fledgling Fox Network's The Late Show with Ross Shafer hosted a Batman reunion. However, due to poor time management and a second-rate host, among other problems, the reunion can be a bit of a tough watch - especially they way Alan Napier was shortchanged on airtime at the end as he and Shafer struggled to communicate with each other. Video of the episode, unavailable when we looked for it years ago, surfaced last year, and this time we discuss the problem as well as the interesting bits that we did pick up from the bat-cast. ALSO: The WDR Big Band version of the theme, and we read your mail on episodes 208 and 209. WDR Big Band The Late Show with Ross Shafer's Batman reunion
The Jason & Scot Show. Podcast about e-commerce and digital shopper marketing. Editor note: We're trying some fun new AI features for this episode. The following show notes were written by ChatGPT. We're also let AI remove all the "stop words" in our audio, and we've switched from Google to OpenAI for our audio transcription. Let us know your feedback. In this episode of the Jason and Scot show, our special guest is Sean D. Nelson, the CEO and founder of Lovesac. He shares his inspiring journey of starting the company as a beanbag business in his basement and growing it into a successful public company. Sean highlights the key moments of his entrepreneurial journey, including winning a million dollars on Richard Branson's reality TV show and navigating the ups and downs of the business. Sean has upcoming book and podcast, both entitled "Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story." Sean emphasizes the importance of being a direct-to-consumer brand and how Lovesac has found sustained success by focusing on customer acquisition costs and offering a high-quality product. He discusses the concept of direct-to-consumer and shares his thoughts on its significance. Sean believes that having a differentiated product that provides value to customers is crucial, rather than simply relying on an online sales strategy. The conversation also touches on the topic of innovation and how Lovesac has been able to push the boundaries of what a furniture company can offer. Sean discusses their Stealth Tech innovation, which incorporates surround sound into their couches, as well as their commitment to creating products that are built to last and designed to evolve. Sean acknowledges the challenges of operating in physical retail and highlights the importance of their showrooms in reducing customer acquisition costs and providing a hands-on experience for customers. He also mentions their partnerships with Best Buy and Costco to expand their reach. The discussion expands to the future of retail and e-commerce, with Sean mentioning the transformative role of AI but cautioning that it takes time for movements to fully evolve. He emphasizes the importance of being patient and keeping an eye on developments in the industry. The conversation concludes with Sean expressing his long-term commitment to Lovesac and his desire to build something meaningful rather than focusing solely on personal gain. Listeners are invited to check out Sean's podcast and website, as well as his upcoming book, which will be released in January. Overall, this episode provides insights into the journey and philosophy behind Lovesac's success and offers valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of retail. Chapters 0:00:46 Introduction and Welcome to the Show 0:08:36 The Journey of Love Sack: From Highs to Lows 0:12:05 Love Sack's Traditional IPO and Company Performance 0:15:49 The Importance of Having a Differentiated Product 0:19:49 The Value and Overhype of Market Movements 0:23:18 Sactionals: Built to Last, Designed to Evolve 0:25:56 Driving a Movement for Sustainable Consumerism 0:31:36 Innovation and the Evolution of Lovesac's Product Line 0:37:07 The Strength of Lovesac's Physical Showrooms in the DTC Landscape 0:40:03 Testing and Learning: Mobile Concierge and Shop and Shop 0:41:52 AI's transformative role in the future of technology 0:50:08 Long-Term Vision vs Quick Profit Episode 313 of the Jason & Scot show was recorded on Thursday, November 9th, 2023. Transcript Jason: [0:23] Welcome to the Jason and Scot show. This episode is being recorded on Thursday, November 9th, 2023. I'm your host, Jason "RetailGeek" Goldberg, and as usual, I'm here with your co-host, Scot Wingo. Scot: [0:37] Hey, Jason, and welcome back. Jason and Scot show listeners. Jason, we're very fortunate to have a entrepreneur on the show. I'm the entrepreneur side of our partnership. So I always really enjoy these. Introduction and Welcome to the Show [0:49] We have on the show, Sean D. Nelson. He is the CEO and founder of Lovesack. And a little birdie told me that he recently started a podcast himself. He started Love Sack as a beanbag company in his basement when he was around 18. And now it's a public company and doing relatively large revenues over 600 kind of run rate. If I look at the last quarter, I took a little glance at that. Sean, welcome to the show. Shawn : [1:13] Thank you. Thanks for having me. Great to be with you. Jason: [1:16] We are thrilled to have you, Sean. Listeners always like to kind of get the background. I'm imagining you don't have a deep background before you started Love Sack because you started it so young. But can you, like where were you in life when that brought you to start build your own product? Shawn : [1:34] Yeah, strangely, 25 years in and still running the same company I founded as my side hustle in college, which is exactly what Love Sack was. So 95, all the way back then, I made a giant not bean bag because I thought it would be funny. I literally, 10 days out of high school, got off the couch at my parents' house, having this dumb idea, like, how about a beanbag, like, me to the TV, like, the whole floor, like, huge. Drove down to the fabric store, bought some fabric, brought it home, cut it out, and then began sewing it up, broke my mom's sewing machine, neighbor finished it, took three or four weeks to try and stuff it, originally with beads, but couldn't possibly find enough, so looked around the house, I just found out my parents' camping mattresses chopped up yellow foam, you know, like those yellow slabs of foam you take camping, on a paper cutter in the basement. And eventually, I mean, foam, packing peanuts, old blankets, had this thing stuffed and started using it out and about through university, taking it camping, back of the truck, driving movies. Ended up putting it away for a couple years. And by the way, everywhere I took it, everybody wants one. Like everyone's always like, Oh my gosh, what is that thing? Where'd you get it? I was like, I'll never make another one. It was such a pain in the butt and put it away for a couple of years to go be a missionary for my church. [2:58] And came back to finish up university in 1998. And that's when I founded the company. Cause people kept bugging me to make them one. And it became my side hustle in college. And we tried to sell these things eventually beyond our friends and family and beer fest, May fest, October fest, car shows, boat shows, 10 by 10 booths, how we got started. Tried to sell them to furniture stores and they laughed at us and told us it was a dumb idea. [3:34] Eventually, at a trade show got discovered by the limited to this is like, you would not today as justice like in the malls, like little girls pink and purple fuzzy stuff for their bedrooms and, and clothing. Anyway, they ordered 12,000 little love sacks, not knowing it was me and a buddy and like a woodchipper shredding foam in the back of this furniture place. And, and that forced us to source over in Asia, which is, you know, where I had served my mission. So I speak Mandarin Chinese. There's a whole story there I won't get into it it was just kind of one thing led to another led to another week we built a factory to support that 12,000 sack order we then went out to the furniture stores who again laughed at us didn't want our $500,000. [4:19] Beanbags having completed that order wanting to keep the factory going so we finally opened our own store in a mall that didn't even want us there but finally capitulated let us in because they We had a space to fill for the holiday season, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it just exploded. We did a good job, carpet paint, neon sign, made it look like a proper mall chain store selling giant beanbags, and it just took off. Like, it worked. People came in, flopped down, music bumpin', big screen TV, playin' movies, had a great time. There was a couch in the corner to look pretty, be part of the decor. People kept asking about the couch, And that led us to eventually, many stores later, many states later, invent Saxionals, which is our modular sofa solution, which now drives almost 90% of our sales today. So we're more a couch company by far today than we are a beanbag company. And there was a whole, listen, I'm skipping over decades of time really, but there was a whole transition where we... We went through after we invented the sectionals and solved all these problems people have with couches not only can you ship it to your house via FedEx which was hyper relevant you know for. [5:32] E-commerce and digital marketing obviously but it's watchable and changeable, and movable and it can be with you the rest of your life that that led us to a whole design philosophy that now. [5:42] Drives are innovation we think is a really cool secret sauce called design for life but. 10, 20, 50, 100, 250 locations now. We came public in 2018 on about 100 million in sales. Right around the time there was just tons of fervor in this direct consumer movement. We had farted around, we'll call it as a furniture store, selling rugs and lamps and bowls and baskets and all the obvious things along the way. And it was really when we purged all that stuff around 2015, seeing the Caspers of the world emerge and Warby Parker's and even Tesla with their showrooms. Could we adopt a more e-commerce-led model with showrooms for people to kick the tires, so to speak? And that transition is really what unlocked the lovesack that you see today and where most of our growth has come since about 2015, 16, when we made that pivot, took the company public, wrapped around that direct consumer story. So we're not a digitally native brand originally, we were actually a retailer that pivoted and became digitally led. And now we don't even operate stores in the traditional sense. We don't, we don't stock things there. You know, you don't walk out of there with your product. They're all really online sales and those showrooms are extremely powerful mechanisms for helping people make up their mind around a five or 10, $15,000. [7:06] Purchase where they want to see the thing and sit on it and, and, and see if it's everything it's cracked, it's cracked up to be online. And so we, we, we believe that we really, uh, through that arc. And then by the way, since coming public, I don't know, six, seven X, the company this year, you know, we'll, we'll be on a run rate to the analysts were a public company. So the analysts show us around, you know, it's called 700 plus in revenue and profitable, very profitable and cash generative. So we think, you know, the direct consumer game, in a lot of respects, Love Sack is one of the unlikely winners of that entire movement. Because I think at that scale, there are very, very few, what I call successful direct to consumer brands. And so we're really proud of that. And it's been a long saga, and we continue to grow and change and adapt and evolve. Jason: [8:01] It's an amazing story. And we definitely want to unpack it. But I want to go all the way back to the beginning for one second. Did that neighbor who helped finish sewing the first prototype get any equity? Shawn : [8:13] No, it was my ex-girlfriend's, mom, so about the time she exited, you know. No, it was just a friendly favor, but the truth is a lot of people helped out along the way, and a lot of people had equity or have equity in Love Sack from along the way, but look, we've been through every high, every low. Somewhere in the middle there, I skipped over it just because of brevity. Not only did I win a million dollars on TV with Richard Branson, The Journey of Love Sack: From Highs to Lows [8:38] his reality TV show on Fox Network back in 2005, if you can believe that, the rebel billionaire. But I also guided the company through a complete chapter 11 reorganization back in 2006, spearheaded by Venture Capital, which was painful and ugly and embarrassing and humiliating. So we've been through every kind of thing over these better than two decades. Scot: [9:01] Yeah, my deep dive question is, when you rented or bought the wood chipper, did you tell them you'd be throwing foam in there, or did they think you were clearing up a tree? Shawn : [9:09] Oh, that's so the original story. Yeah, the original woodchipper actually, you know, if you've ever used one in your backyard or, you know, you shove sticks into these things, that's basically what the original shredder was. And it was in the back room of this furniture factory already. They had used it back in the seventies to shred foam, but it had an electric motor, right? Instead of like, okay. Scot: [9:30] So it's okay to be inside here. Shawn : [9:32] Well, yeah, but I had to rehab it because it hadn't been used in like a decade or two because shredded foam had fallen out of favor in furniture. And then later to do that bigger order, we couldn't afford like a proper German, shredder, so we ended up driving out to farm country to find more of those same kind of shredders and actually found a hay grinder called a hay buster can shred 2000 pounds at a whack. Scot: [9:57] And that's a lot of power. Shawn : [9:59] Yeah, it's powered by a tractor. So we, you know, agricultural loan for tractor and hay grinder. I mean, crazy, crazy story in the beginning. Scot: [10:07] Yeah, as a family, you gotta figure out how to get it done, right? Whatever it takes. Shawn : [10:12] Whatever it takes. Scot: [10:13] I didn't know the Richard Branson thing, so that was interesting. Did he like, was he an active investor, or that's like one of those things where his people kind of take over and you never hear from him again? Shawn : [10:22] No, I mean, it was a weird situation. He had a reality TV show, 2004-5, The Rebel Billionaire, you know, whatever, 16 contestants. It was like The Apprentice, but not for apprentices, for entrepreneurs. So my runner-up on the show was Sarah Blakely of Spanx, gives you an idea. Scot: [10:38] Oh, okay, cool, neat. Shawn : [10:39] Yeah, yeah, so we became great friends, she and I, Richard and I. I ended up also being named President of Virgin Worldwide for a minute as part of the prize, believe it or not. So, worked with Richard, worked with all of his CEOs. Totally weird outcome. And, you know, but huge, huge blessing and a huge piece of story. And he was involved in sort of our VC round that ensued on the tail of that. Scot: [11:06] Okay, and then I think I saw that you guys were on Shark Tank, right? You were like one of those that you know, kind of one of the big success stories. Was that the OG Shark Tank or? Shawn : [11:16] No, we weren't on Shark Tank. A lot of people thought that. There was a Love Sack copycat that's on Shark Tank. Okay, and so they got... Scot: [11:23] I was confused because like Google says you were and then I was like, but then I couldn't find the episode. Jason: [11:28] There's a whole TikTok channel dedicated to Love Sack and Shark Tank and it's super weird. Shawn : [11:36] That's super, yeah, people get confused. Scot: [11:42] Yeah, yeah, super weird. Yeah. And then when you did your IPO, was it a traditional IPO or did you guys get caught up in the SPAC craziness? Shawn : [11:51] No, we did a traditional IPO back in 2018 and you know, our stock has been really volatile for lots of different reasons that, you know, COVID was crazy, but the company performance has been really solid. So we're just trucking. Love Sack's Traditional IPO and Company Performance Scot: [12:06] He, I think, was at Graham that said in the short-term it's an emotional machine, in the long-term it weighs your financials. So you got to, it's very hard, you know, I took a company public, not to the level you have. And yeah, it is, I was like, I'm not going to look at the stock, it's not going to influence me. And then suddenly everyone's like, are we making the quarter? And it's like, okay. And then suddenly it's very hard to get out of that, that short-term mindset. So congrats to you for sticking to it for so long. Shawn : [12:29] Yeah, look, I'm actually a big advocate of it, having lived inside of it now for almost six years. Scot: [12:36] Yeah, the transparency is good, you know, and I like that part of it, I think that's good for, you know, to kind of have to put out everything that you're doing, you know, it's a, the ultimate, yeah, it's like, yeah, transparency tends to be a good thing. Shawn : [12:48] I think it's the right way for companies to be governed and ran. Anyway, we could get into that if you want. Scot: [12:56] Yeah, I like the, you know, and you talked about all the other, we call them digitally native vertical brands, like the Warby's and Bonobos and all that. And yeah, a lot of them have not made it past kind of like that hundred million dollar level. And you guys have obviously, you know, six, seven X that, which is awesome. And then, you know, the big knock on Casper for a long time was as we've actually had this guy, Dan on the show, people were able to pick apart the CAC LTV and they found the average selling price was like, Jason will know these numbers, but it was like 350 and their cost to acquire a customer was 400. And they were like, you know, that obviously wasn't sustainable. So it's pretty neat that you guys have figured that out. Shawn : [13:36] Yeah. I mean, that's at the root of why obviously we've had some sustained success. And I think it's also at the root of why there are almost no other direct consumer brands making any money. End of story, full stop. And it's pretty fascinating to watch the whole thing unfold, because it really has been a movement for almost a decade. Scot: [14:01] Yeah, and I don't want to dig into the information you don't divulge publicly, so this is not a trap or anything but is it because the selection or your products, you've kind of cracked the code on Kakao TV, like what do you, and I don't want to know any methods or anything. and what do you attribute it to? Shawn : [14:18] Look, I think, let's start at the root. I think that many companies, product companies, let's start there, overlook the fact that you need a really good product. I think they pick a category and they say, oh, it could be a direct consumer brand. And the truth is, what does that even mean? Do you mean, because here's the funny thing. When I hear analysts and industry people talk about direct consumer, it has become synonymous over the last decade as it's unfolded today with e-comm. Oh, you mean you're an e-comm company and in many cases you do half of your sales through wholesale. So what does it even mean? I mean, if you want to talk about a direct consumer brand, LoveSack may be the most direct. We don't have any wholesale. I'm talking zero, and we only sell through our own channels, whether it's our website or our showrooms. And we have these partnerships, for instance, where we operate our own showrooms inside of a Best Buy or a Costco. [15:26] But you know, so this whole phrase even, direct-to-consumer, I think is really kind of silly. You mean you're a company that sells stuff online and maybe in showrooms and maybe in wholesale? So you're a company that sells stuff. So let's start with stuff. And you have to make, I think, if you want to be successful in the world, it's not a new concept. You have to have... A great product or or you have to have some other really. Hiller efficiency The Importance of Having a Differentiated Product [15:52] and i think what most have discovered it was a list again over this long decade of direction sumer evolution is that without a really differentiated product. You're just another company with a clever name lots of funding and if you throw lots of money at anything it's gonna grow. But you need to be differentiated. So Love Sack, you know, start with the giant beanbags. They were unique, especially in their day. There's tons of copycats out there now. [16:24] Sactionals are extremely unique. The problem is they photograph just like any other sectional sofa. Like if you took an image of Sactionals and an image of one of, you know, out of any competitor that sells couches, ours looks a lot like theirs. But the difference, the differences are myriad in terms of their washability, changeability, quality, and modularity, and many of those aspects, especially on the modular side, are patented at LoveSac. And so once you dig into it, you find that that's the number one driving factor, is we have a product that's truly differentiated, truly gives more value to the customer, and therefore, we can extract more from the market. It's really that simple, right? And that's at the root of why our CLV to CAC ratio it was so high and sustainable and cash-generative and profitable. And then we could go down all kinds of other paths. We could talk about our website, execution and stuff like that. And all of it needs to be there. Look, running a business is multifaceted and difficult. But at the root of it is that. Jason: [17:27] For sure. One of the things I sort of admire about your company is the original premise was not to have a particular go-to-market strategy. It was to have this great product that people wanted to have in their lives, right? And it feels to me like that, the whole quote unquote D to C movement, like this notion that before you solve any other problem, you're just gonna put a flag in the ground, like this is how you're gonna go to market, that just, it just seems silly because that may not be how the customer wants to acquire your product. Shawn : [18:00] Yeah, I think you're right. And I think that, so I think that whole movement that we're a part of, so I don't mean to like bag on the movement. I'm just an observer as well. Like I've been living in it, right? And we put, and I'm being really transparent, we put on those clothes very intentionally. [18:16] Because people that planted those flags were getting funded. People that planted those flags were being understood at the time. And these movements come. Right now, I could hold up a flag that said AI on it and go out there and raise a bunch of money and do something. And in the end, 99 out of 100 of those, flags are going to fall by the wayside after having tons of money thrown at them and Probably 1% of them will go on to you know be the next Googlers or who knows what right? But these movements come and go and and and I'm and this is what I'm saying You gotta be careful. I'm not bagging on the movement because these movements are useful these movements drive economic activity these movements drive innovation But they're often way overhyped, not as, I think, not as, so, you know, I mean, we could get into AI, you guys are, I'm sure, tracking it just like I am. What does that even mean? Oh, you mean like software? You mean like software that, that does stuff in an automated fashion? Like is that, is that, is it really that new? But it doesn't matter. It's a story that's being heard. It's a story that's being understood and it's where the momentum is. And so if you're able to wield, take advantage of these movements in the marketplace to your end, that's what, and that's exactly what LoveSack did. We put on those clothes, we took a concept that had been around for a long time, our concept. [19:42] And look, in the end, the thinking and the development and even like, let's say the web services and all the things available to that movement that The Value and Overhype of Market Movements [19:49] were spun up because of that movement, we benefited from. The money raising pricing aside, momentum, going public, whatever, all these things aside. So that's why I'm saying I think that there is value in these movements, but fundamentally, you still need to have a great business, a great product, something that's truly differentiated, because anyone with some funding can go out, buy a logo, buy a name, and look like they know what they're doing. Jason: [20:20] And yeah, for sure. And to your point, there's a, there's a funny data by going around in, in our industry this week that like over a hundred million dollars or I'm sorry, Amazon's GMV is, I'm sorry, a hundred billion dollars of Amazon's GMV is from AI. And you hear that and you're like, oh my God, that's huge. And then you find out it's product recommendation tiles that they launched in 1997. Shawn : [20:45] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Jason: [20:47] Which, yeah. Yeah, so I do just want to like kind of wrap up this section, but put it in context. When you open that first store in a mall, like the mall competition for furniture stores was like Expressions Furniture, right? Which no one on this call would even remember probably. And then like by the time you really, after your IPO and really caught fire, you were competing directly against all these D to C companies that were expanding in malls. You were probably competing for leases. Shawn : [21:18] Yeah. Jason: [21:19] It's quite the, quite the journey. Now, Scot mentioned at the beginning of the show that you had recently started a podcast and I'm two part question. How the heck did you have time to start a podcast and tell us what the premise behind the podcast is and what you're talking about? Shawn : [21:36] Sure. Yeah. Just to comment first on what you pointed out, there is this whole strip in the malls now out there right now. But by the way, in these shopping malls that I was told were dead, you know, I could read the headlines of shopping malls are dead back in 2001 when I was opening my first shopping mall and I was forwarded those kind of emails by friends and family who were concerned. And here we are in 2023 and while these things change, they take decades to change. Meanwhile, they've evolved and you have all of these direct consumer players now and it It just cycles through, you know? What the players inside of these shopping centers happen to rotate, and I've watched it all evolve, and by the way, they're rotating again, because a lot of those players are not viable. Some of the best ones, biggest ones, you know? Like, concepts like Peloton, who I think is amazing as a concept, you know? They have their struggles, and so we watch these things evolve. In terms of, the podcast is relevant to this. Let me explain why. We had the chicken, I'm going to go, given the nature of what your podcast is, I'll give you a much broader picture than just, hey, why am I recording a podcast on my own and writing a book? [22:55] It works like this. We had the chicken before the egg. Sactionals being the chicken, we discovered, as we observed and had success with it, we believe are so successful because they are are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve. Like those two attributes in our product are quite unique. And those two attributes underpin what we call our designed for life philosophy. Sactionals: Built to Last, Designed to Evolve [23:21] I did not found Love Sack to make products that are super sustainable, sustain hyphenable. In other words, things that actually sustain. Who's talking about that? I was just trying to survive. I made a big beanbag, people liked it. Made a couch because people were asking about couches. who has solved all these problems, observed the success, and that success was rooted in the fact that things were built to last, designed to evolve. Now that's led us to this whole philosophy that will inform our innovation on every product going forward, and it's why I'm so confident that we can continue to succeed, is because of this design philosophy that I'm sharing with you openly. Because it's one thing to say it, it's another thing to execute to it. That's the hard part. It's the execution that's the hard part, you know? Now, that said... [24:08] I'm trying to drive a movement. I believe that there are many people that are sort of aware now that we have been conned into buying too much crap. New season, new collection, the merchandising hamster wheel, new iPhone, now it's got a titanium band. Really? Everyone knows. No, it's not even hidden. It's not even like a secret. it. This whole hamster wheel called planned obsolescence that was not an accident, it's absolutely an economic strategy to lift us out of the Great Depression and onward. And it has roots all the way back to Louis XIV. What's my point? The world has just, I guess, accidentally, not so accidentally, fallen into all kinds of rhythms that are unhealthy, unsustainable, and not good for anyone, not good for the environment, not good for people, you know, we're frenetically chasing out. Now my jeans are too tight, now they're too loose, now they're too long, now they're short, now I got, now they got to show my ankles, now they got to drape over my, like, this is not an accident. This is a self-propelling machine that we have created. What's my point? I believe we can drive a movement amongst people to reject that. And I believe factionals is one of the embodiments of that. Things built to last a lifetime are designed to evolve. So that movement is actually my long-term strategy. [25:33] In the near term, I need to... One of the ways that we will reach people besides buying advertising and using it to drive a strong CLV to CAC ratio is through... I don't know, even podcasts like this is through people finding our brand, finding out about me, finding out about the company through... Whether it be me, whether it be through the goodwill of our customers, sharing this or that, the other. And so I wrote a book called Let Me Save You 25 Years. It's our clever story Driving a Movement for Sustainable Consumerism [25:59] at Love Sack. It's really great. I think it launches in January. I spun up a podcast called Let Me Save You 25 Years where I share my own entrepreneurial mistakes, miracles, and lessons of the Love Sack story. That's the subtitle of the book. That's the spirit of the podcast. I talk to successful people, some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and successful people about these concepts. And it's not an interview podcast. We go really deep into some of these concepts. So my long-term goal ultimately, is to write another book that can help drive this consumer movement that I'm describing because I think if we can get a little bit of luck and get people thinking about these things and then eventually seeking out. Products that can do this, and just a lifestyle that is supported in the way that I'm describing. Buy better to buy less. Buy better stuff so you can buy less stuff. Well, obviously, LoveSack will benefit from that as a company that makes better stuff. And so, look, it's a long, long, long, long way around, but you asked the question, and I'm totally serious about that. Scot: [26:58] Yeah. So I'm gonna guess you're not a fan of fast fashion. Shawn : [27:03] No, I mean, that's obviously gonna be I made the topic of the book, you know? Scot: [27:06] And I'm not. Jason's a huge Xi'an fan, so you just really hurt his feelings. No, I'm just kidding. Jason: [27:11] Hey, I wore a Patagonia, a used Patagonia jacket in honor of tonight's show. What are you talking about? Shawn : [27:18] You are speaking my language, man. And look, it's not even about being a tree hugger. I think that people have a brain. And people, I think, are waking up to the idea after the iPhone 15, that holy crap, Apple probably should have been forced to innovate a long, long time ago. Biggest company on planet Earth because they sell us the same thing every year or two. Had we not allowed them to do that, they would have had to use their enormous treasure and enormous skill base to innovate into other categories and and change the world. Instead, we've allowed them to sell us the same thing every year. Scot: [28:06] That's an interesting ethos. Having built a company, about how many people are in your company at this point? Shawn : [28:12] Total about 1,500. It's about 400 at the headquarters and another 1,000 out in the field-ish. Scot: [28:19] Yeah, you're at that phase where there's people at the company that you've never really met before. And it's awkward because they always expect you to know their name and they all know your name. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So when you get a company to that scale, how do you keep innovating? And, you know, one of the ones that I really love that you guys have done is the Stealth Tech. I think that's genius because I love AV and like having a really immersive experience. And I'll let you explain what it is, but, you know, my wife hates the big black speakers that I try to put all over the house. So I think it kind of solves like six problems in one. So A, maybe let listeners know a little bit more about what we're talking about. And then be I'd love to hear like how do you guys you know it's really hard to kind of you know ideas are easy and execution is hard on execution. It's really hard to like you know nail what you're doing and you have a lot going on and then like keep innovating. How do you how do you like get the org functional that way? Shawn : [29:16] Yeah. I mean, I think number one is you have to, you have to really want it, you know, not, not just like, Hey, I want to, I want to get, I want to get more business. I want to sell more stuff. Obviously there's that. But this ethos that I just kind of unpacked for you that, that we tripped stumbled into does the design for life ethos animates this organization. Like, it is a lot of, it is very motivating to think about, holy cow, now that we know our purpose, and it's been identified, right? Inspiring humankind to buy better so they can buy, you know, everyone's like, it was purpose, purpose, purpose, and hire some consultant, you know what I mean? But for real, if you have something that's truly unique, and it's meaningful, it's not just like words on the wall, it really is motivating, it's exciting. Scot: [30:11] And you bake baked in the products have to get better too, right? Like you, that's not well, so you have to support it. Shawn : [30:17] That's exactly right. Like, yeah, like we have to make stuff that's built to last a lifetime and design to evolve, which is really hard because if it was easy, everyone would do that. And here I am telling you openly about it. Like that's what we're going to do. And I'm not afraid to tell you because most companies won't do it because it's just freaking hard. Like it's a lot easier. Like why doesn't love sack? You know, you brought up stealth tech. So Stealth Tech is full Harman Kardon surround sound, no quality sound loss audio. Perfect audio emanating from your couch through the phone through the next layer of fabric and through the decorative layer of fabric that's washable, changeable, removable, tuned down to the color of that fabric so that the audio is perfect rear, front, center, subwoofer, invisible, beautiful, because you don't see it, it looks just like a couch, and it has all that packed in there, it's radically successful. It's been, it's now a huge piece of our business. And nobody saw that coming, because what would they expect a couch company to do next? A couch beanbag company. An end table, a coffee table, a rug, a lamp, you know, decorative accessories, get into the bedroom, who knows, right? Like the obvious stuff. Scot: [31:32] Meatballs. Shawn : [31:32] And what, yeah, right? Why did we do that? We anyway, we saw the opportunity and we also invented it. So one is, Innovation and the Evolution of LoveSack's Product Line [31:40] to answer your question, a lot of play. We are constantly at our innovation lab playing. So it's not just consumer-led insights, which is a big piece of what we do, but it's also a lot of inventions. You gotta have teams to invent. You gotta have engineers. You gotta have, so you gotta support that. So there's a cost structure there. And that's why LoveSack is quite profitable, but not as profitable as it could be in the future, because we are investing in innovation. And there's a lot of heads. there's a lot of engineers, there's a lot of designers doing things. Now they're not just all running around playing, they also have a very disciplined approach to executing on innovation, like launching Stealth Tech a couple years ago, and bringing that to market, which is a heavy lift because it's our invention, it's our patents, and it was not easy for this beanbag company to get into home electronics in a real way. [32:29] We've done, I think, more than 100 million in home electronic sales and making us a pretty, a pretty big player in that space, believe it or not. Already, and I don't think most people even, you know, would think that. But we're, you know, totally serious about it. So, innovation, wrapped around an inspiring path to innovation, I think is the key. Do you have an inspiring path, or are you just trying to make more stuff? Because if I wanted all those things I mentioned, like I'm over here in Asia right now, I'm in Hong Kong. And if I wanted a whole line of living room furniture with our logo on it to make myself feel good, I could have it in four weeks. The suppliers will do it for me. They've been doing it for 30 years over here for all the biggest brands you can think of, you know? And we could give them some designs and give them some ideas and let our, I mean, it's so easy to just source stuff. I'm talking about, you know, product land. Now we're talking fashion, talking furniture, talk any category you want, the same is true. But to truly invent stuff's a lot harder. And that's why I think we've had success, that's why I think we will continue to have success. Jason: [33:35] Yeah, you know, so I am interested, I mean, obviously the product has to be the lead in solving that real problem for a customer. But I do think another helpful aspect to your business is that in order for those products to be successful, like, they have to be demonstrated somehow. Like, per your point, the catalog for the StealthTech sectional looks just like the catalog for a generic sectional. And so I'm thinking you having your own showrooms was a big advantage for being able to tell the story. And ironically, I'm not sure you opened that first showroom because you recognize that problem. It sounds like you opened that first showroom because you had no other way to get distribution. Shawn : [34:21] Oh yeah, yeah. And that's why I'm not taking any claim as some kind of marketing genius. We just kind of tried to survive in the beginning. And opening a showroom was actually a reaction to being rejected by the big furniture guys, because they didn't, you know, want our product, they didn't believe in us, whatever. They couldn't see it. And so thankfully, it went that way. And by the way, they weren't showrooms, they were stores. We were a furniture store for a decade and a half. And we did all the furniture store things. And we sold merchandise, and you pulled your car around and we loaded you up, believe it or not, or we shipped to you. And it took us a long, long time to, after copycatting all those furniture stores and hiring merchandisers and window dressers and all those kinds of things from our competition to do that stuff in our stores. [35:14] To make that pivot to the direct consumer model that we operate on today that obviously looks very prescient in today's model. Now, the reason I think we've been so successful at it is because we had those 15, 20 years to get really good at operating now 250 locations across every state, almost in the United States of America, where people are fighting and bickering and hiring and firing and touching each other, whatever it takes. The point is operating physical showrooms is not something you get good at in a day or a week or a year just because that seems like the next thing to do. We have a website, now people need to see our stuff, to your point. And that's the approach I think a lot of the direct consumer brands have taken. And I don't think that they realize how hard it is to be profitable at retail and how many pitfalls there are. Where if I want to get a little better at digital marketing, which I think we're pretty good at now, but I can hire that. I can agency that, I can platform that. And so I think that the physical side of things is really underestimated. And so thankfully, our very long haphazard history has played out in our favor in that realm. And I think it's a huge strength of ours, because by the way, now that the economy's pulling back and this and that, we're 250 locations ahead of most that are just really coming around to the marriage of physical with digital and not realizing that, You know, it's not something you can just turn on and be good at. Jason: [36:44] Yeah. And I think it's you, you rightly pointed out that like the whole landscape of DTC hasn't been particularly successful. There's not a lot of wins, but the, the people that are outperforming the average, even one thing they all have in common is they all have some kind of physical footprint to, to reduce CAC, right? So they're either have their own stores or they, they are white selling through wholesale, or they're, they're in front of customers in some way, The Strength of LoveSack's Physical Showrooms in the DTC Landscape [37:09] other than, than Facebook ads. Yeah, I, I did. I think there's a super interesting new evolution. I thought I read about though. So like Amen stores and showrooms are super complicated. People wildly underestimate how many mistakes you can, you can make owning and operating a retail store. And now, now that you seem to have that clicking, you guys are bringing the retail store to the customer's driveways. Is that true? Like talk to us about the mobile concierge. Shawn : [37:37] Yeah, so just like we're innovating in product, we're also always innovating go to market. So whether it's mobile concierge, which is a lovesack trucks, where you can, you know, from the comfort of your home, have us pull up in the driveway and show you our products, which we've which we've dabbled in, and have tested into. And we'll see, you know, where that goes. I think that that has its own just like retail has its own complications, but also more, I think, more. I guess scalable already is Shop and Shop. So our showrooms right now in shopping malls, they're only like 800 square feet. So obviously the metrics are great, right? We're selling very big ticket items out of very tiny footprints with a small staff. There's just good metrics. And I don't hide from that. That's been a big part of our success, right? So we chose a good category in that way. We chose a terrible category in the sense is that the home category has all kinds of other issues. Jason: [38:38] Not the easiest category to deliver the product. Shawn : [38:41] Yeah, I mean, there's delivery, but there's also just the cyclical nature. You couple that with the idea that, look, we are selling you something that we are intending you to have for decades. My sectionals in my home are 16 years old, some of them, made with brand new pieces, made with Stealth Tech. That's pretty cool. On the other hand, unless we give you Stealth Tech and other reasons to come back, like, you know, you've got your satchels and you've made your investment. And so look, we deal with cover. So we're innovating on product, we're innovating on go to market, shop and shop. So these thousand square foot showrooms have been very useful for us. We have 200 square foot showrooms inside of Best Buy's or Costco's, where our people are basically checking you out and allowing you to kick the tires on the product. And then look, whether you buy there or whether you go back and buy online, we don't care. We built an agnostic platform where we just want you to be in the family. So I think these are things that have evolved over time and you've got to test and learn, whether it's mobile concierge, as you described, whether it's shop and shops. And these tests and learn activities can take years to play out and really take to scale and stuff like that. And so I think in this day and age of, hey, I'm gonna go raise a ton of money and build my company to X revenue and exit for X multiple, which is I think Testing and Learning: Mobile Concierge and Shop and Shop [40:05] what drives a lot of entrepreneurial activity. [40:09] That kind of mentality just doesn't have the staying power necessary. And that's why you see so many of these brands reach a point where they have to be retooled, like some of them are going through now. And look, they've made someone rich. Sometimes these founders find ways to squeeze a bunch of money out of it, or private equity tosses the hot potato to the next guy and they make a ton of money out of it. But in the end, what's left? a brand that is at scale, doesn't make money, and can't go anywhere. So my point is you gotta have the stomach to grind it out, to spend the time, to really slow cook some of these things, and to be flexible when they don't work, and shut them down and move on to the next. And so constantly innovating on go-to-market, constantly innovating on product, and really putting in the time and energy it takes to refine concepts, you know. Scot: [41:03] I know we're running up against time, and you've obviously spent a lot of time thinking about this. I know your goal is to bring this ethos out, but if you think about retail and e-commerce, what do you think the next five years hold? You talked about AI. There's a lot of this stuff that's temporal, but anything you think that you believe is going to change the way we shop and buy, either in-store or online? Shawn : [41:29] Yeah, look, I think that it will just continue to evolve, and so I think AI is real. I think it will play a transformative role, and I think everyone's trying to figure out exactly what that is, and nobody really knows yet. I wish I could just give you a clever answer, but I think I've witnessed, AI's transformative role in the future of technology [41:53] you know, that's What's the benefit of having a 25-year perspective is it's like I was saying about shopping malls. The mall is dead, headline from 2001. TV is dead, headline from 2008. Here we are with both of them still intact. By the way, TV advertising is still a big piece of our marketing spend. I know that's kind of mind-blowing because it seems like everybody's cut the cord or gone to this extreme. And I'm just telling you, these movements take decades. And so while it's great to be ahead of a movement, you don't, unless you are trying to drive that movement, like unless you are trying to take advantage of that AI, boom, to go raise money and wave that flag or whatever. [42:40] I've found it's okay to be a laggard. It's not always beneficial to, unless you're trying to build your concept around that and take advantage of that movement itself, let the movements evolve. So I can't give you a great prediction of exactly what's going to happen. AI is important. But how, where the winners will actually be and what the effects will actually be, I think it's way too early to tell. But I do think it's important to keep your finger and keep watching and eventually, you know, to find the connection and lean into that to affect your business. You have to be a little bit patient, I think. Jason: [43:27] Yeah, well, certainly 25 years in, I think you've earned your patience creds, by the way. Shawn : [43:35] Maybe too much. Jason: [43:37] Yeah, I mean, there's pros and cons to both. Urgency can be useful in certain circumstances, but short time horizons come with a lot of problems, as you have rightly pointed out. That did lead me to one sort of thought question. And you, you referenced some of your, your CAC economics and side note, we've, we've one of the, our favorite guests on the show is this professor Dan McCarthy. Who's, who's a huge advocate for cohort analysis and customer lifetime value based businesses. And so he would be thrilled that you're on, because I know you guys disclose some of your cohort metrics in, in your financial statements, which he loves. And to me, you're in a really interesting category to do that because although your product has invented a reason for customers to come back and you've sort of turned a product into a system, it's not like a fast cycle, right? Like, and so like when you're thinking about like a time horizon for LTV, and you guys have a very good return on your CAC, but compared to most companies, your CAC still is really high, right? Like, you sell a lot of product to compensate for that. Shawn : [44:57] Yeah. Jason: [44:58] So how, like, you know, you're spending five or six hundred bucks to acquire a customer and then you're earning thousands of dollars on each of those customers. Like, was it difficult to sort of have the financial discipline to have a long enough time horizon to see those sorts of high CLVs come back for that initial customer acquisition? Shawn : [45:23] Yeah, I mean, you could call it discipline. In our case, again, it was just survival, being really transparent. You know, we were just trying to find a way to make this business work, and we weren't profitable right out of the gate. It took us many years to get better at retail, to get better at e-commerce, to have a shopping cart experience that was commensurate to the product, because that's really hard with our product. Our product is really weird and complicated. And so that's something that's overlooked with Lovesack. And I think a lot of our copycats and competitors are realizing that. You can't just use a Shopify checkout if you're going to sell something as dynamic as, let's say, factionals where, you know, you can buy a bunch of these and a bunch of those and combine them in a million different ways. How do you, how do you shopping cart that? How do you Amazon that, you know? And so, and so these are superpowers that we've developed over a long time and thankfully given it enough time to become profitable. So to answer your question about, you know, patience, I think part of it is just been our lot in life to, to be, to have patience forced on us. But secondly, real discipline around. [46:32] Our CLV and CAC metrics. So we are, we are, and have been for a long time, carefully monitoring them, tracking them, constantly innovating and refining on the marketing side, these things that I mentioned, whether TV, you know, over the top, linear, nonlinear, digital marketing with its 500 heads, you know, like I'm talking about species of digital marketing, it's such a big word, right? I have to be constantly and tirelessly refined and risk taken and stuff tried and stuff failed and all rolled it and it all rolls up into that CLV to CAC ratio that you can hope you can keep moving and then couple that with innovation so that people can come back and buy more. And so thankfully, look, we chose a category with a high ticket and that drives the lion's share. That first purchase drives the lion's share of that CLV to CAC relationship. But our long-term point of view now is not only to find other ways that we can do more of that, maybe even in other categories and adjacencies. [47:32] But also give like StealthTack, give people a reason to come back and add on. And then by the way, when they do come back, then they face the consequence of, well, what do I do with some of these things that I need to, let's say, I get StealthTack and I got to swap out two of my sides. Well, okay, the obvious answer is I don't want to throw those in the trash. We don't want them throwing them in the trash and they may not need another couch in another room. So it's leading us to services, trade in, trade up, recycle, you know, all kinds of things that will again, give us more reasons to reach out and touch that customer. And so I think that if you relentlessly pursue. [48:13] A good concept with good intentions being driven by good philosophy and purpose like I've described, it's been my experience that the universe kind of unfolds for you, but it doesn't do it overnight. And you can't just have a, at least in my experience, you can't just have a master plan and be like, we're gonna do this and then that and that. You have to iterate to it. You have to observe, you have to live some, like when we launched Stealth Tech, we just, you know, it's easy now to look back in hindsight and be like, well, of course people are gonna want to or trade in their sides or do whatever. But some of those things aren't always so apparent. And you need to plunge yourself into the pool, see what comes of it, and then react to that. And some of those reactions can take years to unfold. Like some of these services that I just described and whatnot, they'll take us years to manifest. [48:59] But the nice thing is, the core business can generate profits that will carry us to that and we'll invest some of those profits in that innovation that I'm describing. But it's like, it's just relentless, man. It's tiring. It's like you have to have the stomach to go the distance. And that's where the time horizon, look, I'm a big advocate of it. Culturally, you know, like when my whole organization knows, like the theme of our manager fest a month ago, this is where we all get together once a year, was 25 and 25 more. And I'm not kidding. Like my personal point of view, if I'm allowed to be here as a public company CEO, if I do good enough to stay in the seat, which is inherent, and that's why I love the structure. It forces you to be awesome, you know? [49:45] If I can do that, but the fact that my organization knows that I'm in for another 25, you know how grounding that is and stabilizing that is, as opposed to, man, when's Sean's gonna sell his stock and bail and go start his next company? That's what I'm supposed to do, isn't it? That's how I become a bazillionaire, isn't it? I'm not interested in that. I'm interested in building something. And I think that that, I don't know, desire is actually kind of rare these days. Long-Term Vision vs Quick Profit [50:14] I think everyone just wants to be a bazillionaire as fast as they can. Jason: [50:17] Oh, for sure. Yeah. Everybody's assuming you're going to cash out and invest in your first rocket. Shawn : [50:24] Yeah, whatever. And I think it's sad. Look, I'd love to make a ton of money, whatever. That's all great. But whatever happened to the ambition of let's build something awesome, no matter how long it takes. And that's where I'm at. Jason: [50:41] Yeah. Well, Sean, it's been an amazing run so far. This is going to be a great spot to leave it because we have used up our allotted time, but I know listeners are going to appreciate you saving them the first 25 years, and we're going to be super excited to watch what happens in the next 25. Shawn : [50:57] Thank you. Thank you. Scot: [50:59] We really appreciate it, Sean. I know you're in Hong Kong, you're in the middle of your day there, and we appreciate you coming on the show. If folks want to check out your podcast, where would you point them to? Shawn : [51:09] Yeah, wherever you love listening to podcasts, Let Me Save You 25 Years is the name. LetMeSaveYou25Years.com. You can find me on social media, Sean of Lovesack. I'm all over that and love to be connected, slide into my DMs. I mean, I love talking to customers, friends, peers, being very accessible and looking forward to building the movement. Of course, Lovesack.com. We're easy to find. Scot: [51:33] Trey Lockerbie 41 Yep. And the book's coming out in January and I assume it's going to be in all the usual places. Shawn : [51:37] Sean O'Toole 41 All the usual places. Yeah. Let Awesome. Jason: [51:45] Thanks again and until next time, happy commercing!
For the Halloween season Ally, Andy, Jeff, and Ria review the Haunted Mask. Debuting in 1995 on the Fox Network, Goosebumps would become a Fox Kids staple through the mid-late 90's. We take a look at the pilot episode, and bit of background on the Goosebumps series as a whole. Andy brings back "Do You Know it?!" and Ally introduces a contreversial new segment!It's a scary little blast, so join us if you dare!FacebookInstagramWesbiteCheck out the Big Door Prize Podcast Network
This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, April 28th, 2023. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/04/27/argentina-shuns-u-s-dollar-will-pay-for-china-imports-in-yuan/ Argentina Shuns U.S. Dollar: Will Pay for China Imports in Yuan Argentina struck a deal with Beijing on Wednesday to stop using U.S. dollars to pay for Chinese imports and embrace the yuan instead. The measure, driven by Argentina’s leftist President Alberto Fernández, is designed to relieve the South American country’s dwindling dollar reserves, AP reports. The deal further enhances China’s rise on the world stage and the diminished role of the U.S. on a host of fronts under President Joe Biden. After reaching the agreement with various companies, Argentina will use the yuan for imports from China worth about U.S.$1.04 billion from next month, accelerating trade with China as Beijing seeks to gain a further foothold in South America. In November last year Argentina expanded a currency swap with China by $5 billion in an effort to increase its yuan reserves. That agreement allowed Argentina “to work on the possibility” of advancing the rate of imports with yuan-denominated import orders being authorized in 90 days rather than the standard 180 days. The decision comes as Argentina battles critical levels in its dollar reserves amid a sharp drop in agricultural exports caused by a historic drought, as well as political uncertainty ahead of elections this year. It has also been working hard to build a relationship with Beijing after having officially joined China’s infrastructure-building Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year. Argentina’s government finalized a deal with Beijing soon after to construct a nuclear plant based on Chinese technology near Buenos Aires, Argentina’s national capital, in the near future. The Chinese Communist Party will reportedly provide $8 billion in financing toward the project’s $12 billion total budget. As Breitbart News reported, Argentina currently owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF) $44 billion. The international organization is in talks with Argentine authorities to finalize a fourth review of its program that includes a flexibilization of the proposed foreign exchange reserve accumulation as Argentina, whose foreign reserves are now at a $5 billion deficit, cannot comply with the current goals. https://www.foxnews.com/world/singapore-executes-man-conspired-traffic-2-pounds-cannabis Singapore executes man who allegedly conspired to traffic 2 pounds of cannabis Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence. Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the trafficking of 2.2 pounds of cannabis. Under Singapore laws, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty. Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and his family was given the death certificate, according to a tweet from activist Kirsten Han of the Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore. Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with the others connected to the case. At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, a spokesperson called on the Singapore government to adopt a "formal moratorium" on executions for drug-related offenses. "Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards," said the spokesperson, who added that increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent. Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect, citing studies that traffickers carry amounts below the threshold that would bring a death penalty. The island-state's imposition of the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes. Singapore executed 11 people last year for drug offenses. One case that spurred international concern involved a Malaysian man whose lawyers said he was mentally disabled. https://dailycaller.com/2023/04/26/red-state-bill-religious-institutions-state-funding/ Red State Passes Bill Allowing Religious Institutions Access To State Funding The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday protecting religious institutions from being denied access to state funding. The Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act was introduced by Republican state Sen. Shane Jett and Republican state Sen. Julie Daniels to further reinforce the First Amendment by preventing the state from denying faith-based groups access to taxpayer dollars, according to the bill. The legislature passed the act Tuesday by a 64 to 27 vote, officially sending the act to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk to be signed into law. The bill makes way for religious institutions to access state funding by barring the state from denying applications for funding “based solely on the religious character or affiliation of the person or entity.” The act adds to religious protections the state passed in 2021 preventing the government from declaring church activities non-essential, as was often the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some Democrats argued that the bill was an unnecessary addition to the First Amendment, according to KFOR.com, a local media outlet. One Democratic state representative warned that the bill could lead to government funding of religious activities at religious schools. Republican state Rep. John Echols, who co-authored the bill, disagreed with his colleague’s assessment, according to KFOR.com. Oklahoma has been at the center of this discussion for some time. Earlier this month, Gov. Stitt and state Attorney General Gentner Drummond clashed over a Catholic charter school application that would have created the first state-funded religious charter school in the nation. The application was temporarily denied by the state’s virtual charter board but will be voted on again in the coming weeks. Stitt told the Daily Caller News Foundation that he was disappointed by the the attorney general’s response to the charter and continued to hope that Oklahoma would host the nation’s first state-funded religious charter school, providing more options for parents. Stitt, Jett, Daniels and Echols did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-ex-producer-suing-tucker-carlson-has-never-even-met-him?utm_campaign=64487 Ex-producer suing Tucker Carlson has never even met him Tucker Carlson Tonight producer Abby Grossberg is suing Carlson and the Fox Network over sexual behavior in the workplace, despite never having met Carlson in person. The Spectator reports that lawyers for Grossberg have confirmed that she never actually met Carlson. "Like many on the [Tucker Carlson Tonight] staff, Abby never met Tucker Carlson in person because he taped the show from his personal studios in Maine and Florida, and he did not visit Fox's NY HQ during her time there," said one of Grossberg's attorneys Kimberly A. Catala. Grossberg was the head of booking from July 2022 until she was recently placed on leave in March. She "alleges that Carlson encouraged a hostile and sexist workplace environment among his employees. Grossberg says she was subjected to bullying, antisemitic comments and sexism by staff while working out of Fox’s Manhattan office," Spectator reports. Despite never having met Carlson, Grossberg told rival network MSNBC that "Tucker and his executive producer Justin Wells, who was also fired, really were responsible for breaking me and making my life a living hell." "Since Tucker did not come to the Fox office, he relied on Justin Wells, his executive producer, and others like Alexander McCaskill, senior producer, who were present in the office every day to be his eyes, ears and mouthpiece, and to convey his ‘tone,’ as they threateningly reminded Ms. Grossberg," Catala said. The allegation per Grossberg's attorneys is that Carlson directed the "sexist" environment from afar. Apparently, the attorneys posited that Carlson had staff work as his "eyes" and "ears" in the New York office while he worked away in Maine. Carlson and Fox parted ways on Monday morning, though promos for the evening's show were already airing as the press release from Fox went out. It is unclear as to why Fox dismissed the insanely popular news anchor, though speculation abounds, including that Fox owner Rupert Murdoch took issue with Carlson's Christian beliefs. Carlson has been seen in Florida enjoying time with his wife, and laughing about finally being able to dine together on weeknights. His show has been on the air for 7 years, and in that time he amassed a loyal following. In the hours following his departure from the network, "RIP Fox News" was trending on Twitter as many viewers found they had no reason to tune in once Carlson was no longer on the air. The end of the Tucker Carlson Tonight era was celebrated by AOC, who had called for federal regulation of Fox and Carlson, which routinely took aim at her and her shenanigans. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/us/colorado-rock-throwing-arrests.html 3 Teens Charged With Murder in Rock-Throwing Spree That Killed Colorado Driver Three teenagers have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a rock-throwing spree on Colorado roads last week that led to the death of one driver, the authorities said. The three suspects, all 18 and identified as Joseph Koenig, Nicholas Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, were arrested on Tuesday evening at their homes in Arvada, Colo., for taking part in a series of rock-throwing episodes on April 19 that fatally wounded Alexa Bartell, 20, who was killed when one of the rocks smashed through her windshield and struck her, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday. In addition to murder, the three men are charged with extreme indifference; other charges to be determined by the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office are expected. It was not immediately clear if the three, who are seniors from different high schools, had lawyers on Wednesday. The rock-throwing spree began shortly after 10 p.m. on April 19 in Westminster, Colo., which is a city of about 114,000 residents north of Denver, the authorities said. During that hour, the authorities said, the three drove a pickup truck around the county and threw large landscaping rocks at six vehicles, including a minivan and an S.U.V., hitting their windshields and driver’s side windows. Those drivers had minor or no injuries. Around 10:45 p.m., Ms. Bartell was driving north on Indiana Street when her Chevrolet Spark, a subcompact, became the last vehicle struck during the spree, the authorities said. Moments before she was killed, Ms. Bartell was on her phone talking to a friend “when the phone went silent,” according to the sheriff’s office. Her friend tracked her phone and drove to the location on Indiana Street where she found Ms. Bartell “fatally wounded inside her car, which was off the roadway in a field.” It was unclear which of the men were driving but “all three are suspected of throwing rocks,” the sheriff’s office said. They were believed to be in a black 2016 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. “Ultimately, mobile device forensics and supporting information from the public helped lead to the identification and arrest of the suspects,” according to the sheriff’s office, which did not release additional details. The men, who were booked into the jail at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. Before we end today… how about some good news?! https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/mom-wins-lottery-with-ticket-she-bought-celebrating-daughters-victory-over-cancer/ Mom Wins Lottery with Ticket She Bought Celebrating Daughter’s Victory Over Cancer After shelling out her life savings to pay for her daughter’s breast cancer treatment, a Florida grandmother got a nod from the universe. Buying the last available scratch-off from her preferred lottery game at the store, she landed a $2 million jackpot. Geraldine Gimblet of Lakeland was celebrating the moment that her daughter, Lawrencia Jackson, rang a bell at the local hospital signifying she had finished her breast cancer treatment. A long-time lottery player, Gimblet, 74, spent $10 on the last scratch-off card at the store, and it happened to be a winner. “I just didn’t know,” Gimblet told Good Morning America regarding her reaction,, ‘Are you sure, would you check this on your phone?’ And, I won!” Daughter Jackson, who accompanied Gimblet to the Tallahassee lottery offices to accept a lump sum of $1.6 million, described it as a “blessing.” Gimblet didn’t hesitate to finance the cancer treatment, saying she just “did what I had to do,” with Jackson adding that she would “just have to keep loving her,” as a means to try and repay the kindness. +-
A federal judge believes the DOJ's case that Trump may have used his own defense attorney to commit a crime in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe – what that could mean for the former president's legal defense. Plus, new details about the inner workings of the FOX Network from a lawsuit filed by a producer that describes the toxic stew of sexism, misogyny and anti-Semitism she experienced there. And, Tacopina vs. Tacopina - Trump's lawyer is now saying something very different than he did on CNN Tonight in 2018 about the alleged Stormy Daniels hush money payments.Also tonight : law enforcement sees an uptick in violent chatter online from right-wing extremists about Trump's possible indictment – is it any different than what we heard before January 6? Plus, a quiz to test your A.I. knowledge, what a potential Trump indictment would mean for presidential politics, a workers' strike shuts down the Los Angeles school district, and, Novak Djokovic is unseated as the #1 tennis player after missing tournaments due to not being vaccinated against Covid.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy
John gives a monologue on Ronna McDaniel's "Loyalty Pledge" and the news that Fox Network chairman Rupert Murdoch acknowledged that some hosts endorsed the lies by former President Donald Trump that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and that he didn't step in to stop them from promoting the claims. Then he interviews Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard - Naomi Oreskes. She is co-author of the new book “The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market". Next Mary in Manhattan calls to chat about the Fox News defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems and Mitch at Kent State calls to discuss John's interview with George Harrison and other music trivia. Then finally Rhonda Hansome joins the fun and they talk about the dropping of the comic strip "Dilbert" due to the cartoonists racist comments. They take calls from listeners on Dilbert and racism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today, John discusses an article in the New York Times by Bret Stephens which claims masks don't work in the fight against Covid 19. Then he takes calls from Sean in California and Greg in Florida about why masks are important. Next producer, writer, actor, and political commentator Bob Cesca returns and they talk about the looming indictments in the Georgia election tampering probe and the revelation that Fox Network hosts knew all along that Trump was lying about the 2020 election being stolen. Then finally attorney Marie from Atlanta calls in to discuss the comments made by the grand jury forewoman who was making decisions about whether Donald Trump should be indicted for election crimes in Georgia and Rob in Orlando calls in to chat about MTG asking for states to succeed from the Union.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In today's podcast - Glenn talks about the recent New York Times article (written by former prosecutors) which claims according to wording in the Georgia special grand jury report - indictments seem to be coming for Trump and/or his accomplices. Then Glenn speaks about the news that the defamation lawsuit against Fox Network by Dominion Voting Systems has brought to light that their hosts knew the election was not stolen but said so anyway in their emails and on the air. He then discusses what the government can do about these media lies that create divisiveness to the country and harm to our democracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
LIVE from Radio Row, Super Bowl 57 Week on 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe, the main story that has been brewing this week is the announcement of Tom Brady's retirement and his big contract to broadcast NFL games for FOX Network. Sean Payton is taking his coaching talents to the Denver Broncos to try and get Russell Wilson and the team on the right track. Trent Dilfer makes comments about the times within the NFL and how it was a lot different when he played the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.