Podcasts about Seattle

City in Washington, United States

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    Ralph Nader Radio Hour
    Big Tech Using Your Children

    Ralph Nader Radio Hour

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2026 85:30


    Ralph speaks to Baroness Beeban Kidron, a member of the UK House of Lords and a leading voice on children's rights in the digital environment, whose book is “Users: How Big Tech Took Control and How to Fight Back.” Then we welcome back whistleblower Becky McClain a biotech scientist injured in an unsafe lab and author of “Exposed: A Pfizer Scientist Battles Corruption, Lies, and Betrayal, and Becomes a Biohazard Whistleblower.”Baroness Beeban Kidron is a member of the UK's House of Lords and a former film director. She is a leading voice on children's rights in the digital environment and a global authority on digital regulation. She has played a central role in establishing standards for online safety and privacy across the world. She is the author of Users: How Big Tech Took Control and How to Fight Back.The things that children experience online are deliberately designed to distract them. Now, they are there to distract them because those companies want the attention so they can advertise. They want their data so that they can perfect their commercial terms,their product. And they even want their attention to compete against the other people who are competing for their attention. So here we have an absolute arms race for a child's attention.Baroness Beeban KidronI do want to say very clearly to anyone listening: This is a battle you shouldn't be fighting on your own. And there is a responsibility for politicians—for both local politicians and federal politicians (national in our case, here in the UK) —to actually put these companies under the same sort of strictures that all other corporate companies do… One of the things I'm looking at is whether we can recategorize apps as products. And then they'll have all the product liability, the product safety, consumer rights—all the things that we expect of everything else in our life from our food to our cars to our toys. That they would actually have to think before they roll them out: Are they safe? And when they've proven unsafe, we would have a very clear set of legal approaches to address that.Baroness Beeban KidronBecky McClain is a retired biotech worker and research scientist. She is known as the first successful biotech whistleblower who spoke and reported on biolab safety issues of public concern. On April 1, 2010, Ms. McClain won a federal court whistleblower trial against Pfizer, Inc., which centered on free speech rights concerning biosafety and public health. She is the author of Exposed: A Pfizer Scientist Battles Corruption, Lies, and Betrayal, and Becomes a Biohazard Whistleblower.The public wants transparency to ensure that biolabs are run ethically, safely, responsibly, and with accountability. Transparency into these matters builds public trust with science and with government. But without free-speech protections for scientists and also medical physicians, transparency fails, accountability is dismissed, and the public trust hits rock bottom.Becky McClainNews 8/14/26* This week, a new round of primaries was held in the upper midwest and New England. The biggest shock of the night was the defeat of Francesca Hong in the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary. Hong, a Wisconsin State Assemblywoman and member of Madison DSA, went into election night leading in the polls and while she won an astonishing 311,000 votes, her opponent – Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, with the endorsement of sitting Democratic Governor Tony Evers – maintained a lead of approximately one-half of one percentage point throughout the night. As the final margin will be under 1 percent, Hong is entitled to request a recount, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but WKOW reports she has conceded the race. Hong was seen as the best chance for the insurgent, DSA-aligned left to capture a gubernatorial nomination this cycle, particularly in a crucial swing state, but her campaign was dogged by electability concerns and unpopular past statements made by the candidate. Crowley will face Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany, who cruised to an easy victory in the GOP gubernatorial primary, in November.* The Minnesota primaries delivered more encouraging results for the left. In the high-profile Senate primary to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan emerged victorious over her opponent, Congresswoman Angie Craig. Flanagan was backed by a broad, progressive coalition – including Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and outgoing Senator Tina Smith herself – while Craig was backed by more centrist Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and ultrazionist Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer. If elected, Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Nation, would be the first Native American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, per the Minnesota Reformer. Flanagan has also gone on record saying that Chuck Schumer, who would be poised to lead the Senate Democrats as Majority Leader if the party retakes that chamber, needs to be replaced with a “progressive champion” though she has not gone as far as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan who explicitly called for Schumer to be replaced by Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, as reported by Semafor.* In more Minnesota news, Congresswoman Craig's decision to vacate her old seat in the state's second congressional district “created a crowded primary for her seat,” according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. On Tuesday, progressive candidate Matt Little triumphed. Little is a strong proponent of Medicare for All and does not blanch at describing Israel's campaign in Gaza as a genocide. Little overwhelmingly won the endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and of congressional progressives like Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Greg Casar, as well as the Progressive Caucus PAC. If Little wins in what the Star Tribune describes as a swing district historically, it will send a strong signal that progressives can win even in tough districts.* In New England, the results tell a somewhat different story. Specifically, in Connecticut's first congressional district, 14-term incumbent Congressman John Larson lost his primary to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, over 30 years Larson's junior, by over 20 points. However, Bronin is far from a progressive challenger. Whereas Larson enjoyed the backing of the Working Families Party and Congressman Jamie Raskin – though he also had the backing of AIPAC – Bronin's only major national endorsement was from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In short, this would best be described as a non-ideological, but rather age-based primary challenge. This will surely set off major alarm bells for another aged incumbent in New England facing a much younger primary challenger: Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts. Additionally, as Ryan Grim notes, “John Larson was/is the champion of the bill to expand Social Security, which was up to…200+ cosponsors but [former Speaker Nancy] Pelosi would never allow it to get to the floor. There's now an extremely popular bill that could actually pass that needs a lead sponsor.”* Another recent primary loss is worth examining: that of Kshama Sawant in Seattle. Sawant, a former Seattle City Councilmember aligned with the Trotskyist Socialist Alternative party, resigned her council seat and sought to unseat her local Democratic Congressman Adam Smith, running as an independent in Washington's ninth congressional district. The state of Washington has a top two primary system, so Sawant would have only had to get the second most votes to secure a head-to-head matchup against Smith in November. Yet, instead Sawant finished a distant third behind Smith and the Republican candidate Doug Basler. Perhaps that doesn't seem surprising – independent and third party candidates are often outspent by huge margins. Yet, the facts belie that explanation. In fact, a new piece on the Joe Wrote substack finds that “Sawant's campaign wasn't the rag-tag, bootstrapped operation that we typically see from insurgent socialists. Sawant reported $607,493 in campaign spending, meaning she outspent Republican Doug Basler by over six-to-one and still lost to him.” Wrote goes on to state that “The Sawant campaign spent $25.33 per vote, the highest for any candidate in the race…The only registered PAC that spent on the race was Sawant's Revolutionary Change PAC, which raised $5,600 through ActBlue and spent it on billboards.” If nothing else, this test case demonstrates that money is not enough for the left to break through the two-party duopoly. A candidate also needs institutional, organizational support – like that of DSA – and, perhaps most importantly, broadbase solidarity with the other component parts of the movement. Going it alone simply will not get the job done.* In more independent and third party news, we have an update to a previous story about the race for Congress in Pennsylvania's seventh congressional district. Last week, we discussed Andrew Tupone, a candidate running in this race on the Green Party ballot line, despite the GP of Pennsylvania distancing themselves from him – and spokesman Chris Robinson even calling him a “a nice Republican.” According to Lehigh Valley Public Media, the Green Party is now going a step further, formally requesting the Pennsylvania courts “either kick Tupone off the ballot or require him to identify himself as a member of another party.” In their petition to the court, the Green Party argues that “Candidate Tupone and his agents or affiliates who circulated his nomination papers misled voters into signing the nomination papers on the mistaken belief that they were helping to place a candidate supported by the Green Party onto the ballot.” This piece also notes that three Lehigh Valley residents are challenging the petitions Tupone presented to get on the ballot, arguing that technical errors would disqualify thousands of these signatures. For his part, Tupone “has denied having any ulterior motive to enter the race or accepting financial assistance from any outside groups.”* At the same time, in Nebraska, it seems there are two, dueling faux third parties seeking to siphon off votes from the other side. The Nebraska Examiner reports that both the “Nebraska Democratic Party and the national Working Families Party have sued Nebraska's Working People Party to block it from the fall ballot.” The Democrats and WFP are seeking to block Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen from officially recognizing the party, and to “declare that the party's name is breaking state law because it is meant to confuse voters.” Apparently, Nebraska election law includes a provision allowing the secretary of state to “reject a candidate's filing if…that someone is not a ‘good-faith candidate' or is trying to cause confusion for voters,” and that “objections to party names can be considered.” The kicker is that last week, the Nebraska Republican Party filed a lawsuit alleging that the “America First Party” is a similarly bad-faith attempt to confuse and deceive voters and thereby undercut the fortunes of Nebraska Republicans. A Nebraska judge has issued an emergency injunction stopping certification of both the Nebraska Working People Party and America First Party through August 20th.* Turning to local news, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass appears to be moving against Councilmember Nithya Raman, her Democratic rival for the mayoralty in the general election. LAist reports that while Raman has chaired the Council's powerful Housing and Homeless Committee since 2023, Bass' close ally, Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson is “planning to announce…that the city will split the committee into two parts — one on housing, the other on homelessness — neither of which will be led by Raman.” In a campaign video, Raman alleged that the move constituted political retaliation, saying “I called for an audit of our homelessness programs…and now I've been removed…I might be getting punished for running against Mayor Bass, but Angelenos are the ones paying the price for these political games.” Mayor Bass and Councilmember Raman finished first and second respectively in the June primary, meaning they will face off in November with no Republican on the ballot.* In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced this week that he will throw his weight behind a new bill in the city council seeking to curb Amazon's practice of utilizing subcontractors instead of directly employing delivery workers. The Wall Street Journal explains that although these subcontractors “aren't direct employees of…Amazon [or other companies], they often wear branded uniforms or vests and drive corporate-branded vans or trucks,” but are not entitled to the same workplace protections and are excluded from collective bargaining. In a statement, Mamdani highlighted how “Corporations like Amazon build billion-dollar business models by insulating themselves from accountability through a system of exploitative subcontracting.” The Journal reports the bill would also “require warehouse operators to obtain licenses from the city,” and in order to get a license, ”operators would have to adhere to new safety, training and employment requirements, including hiring thousands of the city's contract couriers.” In response, Amazon is, as usual, threatening to move its business out of the city, but also deploying its secret, New York-specific weapon: their chief lobbyist, Jessica Schumer, daughter of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, according to the American Prospect. This sets up a major clash between an array of titanic forces in New York politics and whether or not Mayor Mamdani emerges triumphant will be a huge test of his political clout.* Finally, AP reports the parliament of Lebanon voted this week to abolish the death penalty, making it the first nation in the Arab world to do so. This piece notes that the country has maintained an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment for over 20 years; while death sentences have been issued since then, they have all been suspended or commuted. The official sentence of capital punishment will be replaced with “life imprisonment with aggravated hard labor,” a somewhat vague legal concept that will have to be defined and refined as time goes on. AP adds that this vote comes amidst the Lebanese parliamentary debate over a proposed general amnesty law, that could “reduce sentences or even release convicted militants,” from the country's various civil wars, as well as others convicted of drug-related crimes. The parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah voted against the law. Lebanon banning capital punishment stands in stark contrast to the Israeli Knesset, which voted in May to adopt a new death penalty statute described by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as perpetuating “racial discrimination against Palestinians” and amounting to “a grave erosion of human rights.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

    Brock and Salk
    Hour 3: Hard Knocks Director Pat Harris

    Brock and Salk

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2026 46:29


    HBO’s Hard Knocks director Pat Harris joins the show to talk about his impression of Seattle, the editorial process, looking forward to the preseason game, and much, much more. They talk about the Mariners win over the Yankees, Terrion Arnold joining the Seahawks, and more in Need To Know. Gee Scott joins the show to talk about training camp, Terrion Arnold, and more. And as they take a look back at last season, they have finally come to the grandaddy of them all, recapping the Hawks Super Bowl win over the Patriots.

    TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live
    #4792 Dirty Rotten Sound-drels

    TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 87:05


    Genevieve joins the show to discuss her undying love of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and why she feels the world deserved a sequel. She and Andrew also try  their hand at a "Sounds of Seattle" quiz created by a TBTL listener famous for his audio work.  

    Snacks
    Portland's Shield Hopes Are in TROUBLE… Olivia Moultrie OUT for the Season | The Late Sub

    Snacks

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 28:16


    Claire takes this week to zoom out on the NWSL and see how five teams are trending. With Olivia Moultrie out for the season, an already struggling Portland Thorns team could be on a skid. Washington is feeling the burn out from a packed schedule. Seattle is looking like the Reign of old, and Gotham sits atop the table with the league's best defense. This episode is presented by Ally Bank, member FDIC Chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:39 Portland Fading FAST 06:34 Spend & Save 10:18 Washington Spirit Fall Short 14:27 Is Seattle Making a Run? 21:15 Gotham's Defense Has them at the TOP of the Table Just Women's Sports is the leading digital media platform dedicated exclusively to women's sports. In a world where women's sports have been historically underfunded and under-promoted, Just Women's Sports exists to shine a light on all the stories, athletes and moments that define and fuel the space. Through original podcasts, premium video programming, social media, editorial content, a newsletter, and exclusive merchandise and live events, Just Women's Sports is committed to making it both easy and fun to be a women's sports fan. Add us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justwomenssports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/justwsports Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justwomenssports?

    The MinnMax Show
    Marvel Tokon Review, Fields Of Mistria 1.0, New N64 Games

    The MinnMax Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 148:22


    MinnMax's Ben Hanson, Jacob Geller, and Kyle Hilliard are joined by production assistant Nick Stefanacci and former cohort Suriel Vazquez for the ultimate fighting game discussion on PlayStation's Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. We also unpack the wave of N64 throwback titles with Agent 64: Spies Never Die and Wild Blue Skies' take on Starfox. Then we're joined by Sarah Podzorski, Haley MacLean, and Jeff Marchiafava to celebrate the launch of Fields of Mistria 1.0 and dive deeper into sims with Moonlight Peaks and Pokopia's underwater DLC. Then we answer questions submitted on Patreon by the community and award the iam8bit question of the week! You can win a prize and help make the show better by supporting us on Patreon and submitting a question! https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Watch the video version of this episode here - https://youtu.be/KMrVUfTvIxU https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow - Win two tickets to PAX West by following MinnMax on Instagram and leave a comment on the PAX post, we'll randomly pick a winner on Friday, August 14th Trivia Tower Live - Friday - September 4th - 3:30pm-4:40pm - Creator Stage (Expo Floor) MinnMax Q&A Podcast Panel - Sunday, September 6th - 3:30pm-4:30pm (Blue Dragon Theatre, Level 5, Ballroom 1) Come to MinnMax's Seattle meetup! https://www.patreon.com/minnmax/posts/come-to-minnmaxs-165858157 MinnMax Seattle Meetup Saturday, September 5th - 7-10pm Stoup Brewing - 1158 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122 Help support MinnMax's supporters! https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: IAM8BEACH https://www.factormeals.com/minnmax50off - Get 50% off with Promo Code: MINNMAX50OFF To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below...  00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:46 - MinnMax at PAX and Deepest Dive Poll 00:08:17 - Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls 00:44:03 - Agent 64: Spies Never Die 00:50:29 - Wild Blue Skies 01:00:58 - Big Walk final thoughts 01:06:02 - Factor Meals 01:09:48 - Fields of Mistria 1.0 01:22:45 - Moonlight Peaks 01:30:48 - Pokémon Pokopia DLC 01:36:23 - Thanking iam8bit - https://www.iam8bit.com/ 01:38:39 - Community questions 02:17:13 - Get A Load Of This Haley's GALOT - https://itch.io/b/3802/game-industry-hardship-fund Sarah's GALOT - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2142790/?snr=1_5_9__205 Ben's GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mznsEcZlM2I JeffM's GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab5WvwfLuLM Community GALOT - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/into-the-aether-a-low-key-video-game-podcast/id1415546090?i=1000782897641 Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer. Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

    RealGM Radio with Danny Leroux
    CLIP: Lakers SOLD For Second Time in 18 Months. What's GOING ON?! | RealGM Radio Roundtable

    RealGM Radio with Danny Leroux

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 9:02


    The Lakers are reportedly being sold for $12 billion to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner—just 18 months after Mark Walter purchased the franchise. What could another massive valuation mean for NBA expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle? And somehow, Luka Doncic could already be playing for his third majority owner.   RealGM Radio is your top spot for the best weekly NBA coverage. Subscribe to get RealGM Radio with Wes Goldberg, the Double Dribble and Good Take every week.   Monday: Double Dribble with Jared Dubin and Mo Dakhil Tuesday: RealGM Radio with Wes Goldberg Wednesday: Double Dribble with Jared Dubin and Mo Dakhil Thursday: Good Take with Wes Goldberg and Mike Shearer   Subscribe to watch more RealGM Radio videos: youtube.com/@realgmradio   FOLLOW REALGM ON SOCIAL RealGM on X/Twitter https://x.com/RealGM RealGM on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/realgmnba/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Seattle Now
    Harbor Island Studios has 1 year to make movie magic or bust

    Seattle Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 15:07


    Seattle’s had its very own county-owned film production space for the last 5 years. It’s called Harbor Island Studios. But recently, King County pulled its funding. Now, a non-profit called CREATE48 has 1 year to prove the viability and necessity of the space. We’ll learn more from film critic and arts reporter Chase Hutchinson. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Jason Rantz Show
    Best of the Jason Rantz Show Hour 1: Progressive voter guide, Starbucks menu, Spiderman

    The Jason Rantz Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 44:34


    Seattle progressives launch rival voter guide accusing The Stranger of selling them out. Democrat Congressman Seth Moulton apologized for saying men shouldn’t compete in women’s sports. Starbucks drops its fall menu with new cider-chai drink, food, and cake pop. Sound Transit might install fare gates at busy light rail stations. // The Trump Admin announced they are no longer pursuing charges of a suspected reflecting pool vandal and Trump isn’t happy with Jeanine Pirro. // Apparently everyone on Earth saw the new Spiderman movie.

    49ers Rush Podcast with John Chapman
    49ers Expectations vs Titans

    49ers Rush Podcast with John Chapman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 69:18 Transcription Available


    There are several ways to support the podcast! Join us at The49ersRush.com for all of our All22 film breakdowns and bonus content. This is the best way to support the show.We still have our Patreon as well https://www.patreon.com/49ersRushPodcast49ers road games events for Australia, Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta and Mexico City are up at https://www.49ersrushroadtrip.com/Get your $50-$500 bet back bonus at MyBookie.ag if you use promo code "49ers". So if you miss on your first bet you get it all back if you use our promo code "49ers"Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.comCheck out Outdoorsy and use my code 49ERS for a great deal: https://www.outdoorsy.comFor the 49er Rush Hat go to https://hiveandpines.com/products/the-red-gateI am most active on Twitter please follow @JL_Chapman, Instagram: 49ers Rush Podcast, Email: 49ersRushPodcast@gmail.comIf you need help with website design/builds go to https://www.powerbrandsystems.com/crm949620?am_id=john874Get all 49ers gear at homage.sjv.io/MmYXO2#49ers #49ersrushOur Sponsors:* Check out Omaha Steaks and use my code BEEF for a great deal: https://www.omahasteaks.com* Check out Outdoorsy and use my code 49ERS for a great deal: https://www.outdoorsy.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    Dental A Team w/ Kiera Dent and Dr. Mark Costes
    #1,189: The Future of Private Practice Is Actually Very Bright

    Dental A Team w/ Kiera Dent and Dr. Mark Costes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 32:33


    Did you know: Today's dentists are waiting five years longer to buy a practice than they were a generation ago? Kiera is joined by Brian Hanks of Dental Buyer Advocates to talk about delayed ownership traps and why the future of private practice is an encouraging one (Brian shares numerous data points to back that up). They also touch on overcoming fears and all the information out there that makes everyone seem more prepared for business ownership than they actually are, and how to go about buying a practice while asking the right questions. Episode resources: Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Schedule a Practice Assessment Leave us a review Transcript: Kiera (00:00) Hello, Dental A Team Listeners, this is Kiera, and today is an awesome day. I am so excited to be podcasting with one of my favorite humans. He and I have spoken across the country together. We go to different things, we share clients together. I have Brian Hanks, the owner of Dental Dental Buyer Advocates. And today we're gonna talk about like delayed ownership trap because I think so many people get stuck into this of should I buy, should I not buy? And Brian and I are just here to have a fun rift. So, Brian, welcome to the show today. How are you?   Brian Hanks (00:28) So nice to be back, Kiera. You're one of my favorite people too. Thank you for having me.   Kiera (00:32) Of course. I'm excited, Brian. It's a good time. It's been a hot minute since we podcasted together. So it's time, it's time to talk about this. Because when we were chatting about episodes, you were saying that dentists are now waiting like five years longer to buy a practice than they were a generation ago, which is fascinating to me because I've been on this like whole hot to trap of like, do people buy? Are DSOs taking over? Like, is there still money to be made in private practice? Like literally my chiropractor and I were talking about this the other day because she's like,   My dentist told me that they were like not able to make any money. And I was like, well, they sh just give them my card. Like private practice to me is still one of the best businesses and industries, even if you have to buy a top dollar right now. and so just like super fascinating to talk about like delaying that purchasing, why people do it. But Brian, I've jumped right in and pretended like everybody knows who you are. Brian, give us a little intro of like who you are, how you got into Dental Buyer Advocates, what your background is, and then like let's talk about to delay or not delay buying a practice.   Brian Hanks (01:29) Sure.   Yeah, I one of my favorite stories. I'm an ex-Wall Street guy, so I'm a reformed Wall Streeter. And my father-in-law is a dentist. And I would watch these Wall Street people come in and like sell a very aggressive investments. And when they went bust, they would turn around and sell the crappy investments to dentists who at the time my was my father in law. Active practice, he lived in the Seattle area. And anyway, I went to go work for a dental CPA in the Dallas area. I went to work for another one. So I'm I've lived in the accounting world, Kiera.   And when I was in that world, I got younger dentists who were in the pro they were the associates and they were asking accounting questions and tax questions and you know financial planning questions. And inevitably they would come back to dental practice ownership. Like, how do I do this? How much do I pay? Is   Kiera (02:13) Yeah.   Brian Hanks (02:13) is this a good deal? And so I went looking for the book. I was like, well, where's the book? I was on Amazon, I was other places. There was no book. And I thought, all right, well, let me try writing this book. Famous Last Words, by the way, it's way harder than you assume. But the book is called.   Very creatively, How To Buy A Dental Practice. And that helped me start my own business. And that's   Kiera (02:30) I like it.   Brian Hanks (02:33) what I do. I I only help buyers of dental practices. And, you know, Kiera, my business is good, your business is good. Dentist business, we can talk about why the future of private practice is very bright. I can give you some stats and   Kiera (02:46) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (02:46) statistics. But one of the interesting, the most interesting facts for me is Health Policy Institute has data that shows that.   Dentists get into ownership, like they they end up in ownership. Okay, so I'll give you like they've broken it down by like graduation rates. So like the the   Kiera (03:07) And what I   Brian Hanks (03:08) dental school grads from 1990 and then 1995, and everybody between 95 and 2000, so and so forth. So they have these like vintages of graduates. And   Kiera (03:16) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (03:17) very reliably, they're showing that nine out of ten dentists, of which you know there's 203,000 in the US, nine out of ten end up in ownership.   At some point in their career. But like you said,   Kiera (03:27) Fascinating.   Brian Hanks (03:28) they're waiting longer to do it. And I think that's what we're going to talk about.   Kiera (03:32) Yeah. Which like again, I think people are scared. So many students I worked at Midwestern and they're like, Kiera, should I buy? Should I go associate? And I was like, listen, you're just delaying the inevitable so like get in there and get it done. Now, I like always throw an asterisk on that. Like if you're not good at your hand skills, like yeah, go go associate for a hot minute. like if you aren't confident with your speed and with case acceptance and like presenting, that's gonna be but I'll tell you there is nothing more thrilling than throwing yourself into a business that you have to produce for.   You learn case acceptance really freaking fast. Like, ask me how I know. We surely did that. Like I took a student, we took our first practice from 500,000 to 2.4 million in nine months. Like she was a she was a power producer. Do I have an office right now that just bought a practice less than a year ago? We're already on track for two and a half million. Yes. Like there are a lot of success stories from that small town. It's not like they were just given the keys to the kingdom. Like they've had to work for it, they've had to build things. They don't have full schedules. But   I just, I don't know. I'm the same way and I I don't know. I'm I'm at a space of but do what makes you happy. Like, do not go   Brian Hanks (04:37) Yeah.   Kiera (04:38) own a practice and make less than being an associate. That's like a hard line for me too. I'm like, 'cause if you're gonna like not be a good business owner, keep associating. But I   Brian Hanks (04:43) No. Yeah.   Kiera (04:46) agree, I feel like the trajectory of dentists is always to purchase. Like they want their own stamp, they want their name on the building. I will also highly recommend don't put your name on the building. Like that's really fun and not scalable. Ask me again how I know that. Like   Cura's dental consulting was real fun till it wasn't. Like the things you the things you evolve on, but truly I I'm excited to hear why you think people are delaying, what that's costing them. Brian, I love that you always come with a bunch of stats and facts. And I love that you named your book, like How To Buy A Dental Practice. That's what people want to know. so it sometimes simple is no, that is the best.   Brian Hanks (05:13) I know. I just yeah. I'm not the best at marketing, right? So yeah, like we we call Kiera when we need   marketing advice. So okay.   Kiera (05:24) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (05:24) So Kiera, here are some more stats for you.   Kiera (05:28) Okay, ready?   Brian Hanks (05:29) the average owner, dentist, makes $151,000 than the average more than the average associate. Okay, 151. Now that's   Kiera (05:37) I was like, hold on, 151   is bad. That's more than if you're being an associate. You're gonna make 151,000 more. Okay.   Brian Hanks (05:43) Yep. Yeah. And think about why   that is. Yep. That's obviously the you're taking on the risk. You're taking on the the pain and suffering of being an owner, right? So there's some compensation involved in   Kiera (05:51) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (05:52) that. Those are two medians, right? And there is a bell curve around both of those numbers. So is it possible   Kiera (05:57) Course.   Brian Hanks (05:58) to make less as an associate? Yes. Yeah. Is it possible   to make a hell   Kiera (06:01) Mm-hmm. Uh-huh.   Brian Hanks (06:02) of a lot more than $151,000 more than an associate? Absolutely, yes, right. So there's there's room on both end of the ends of those those bell curves. but think about   So here's why I one of the data points why I think private practice ownership and dentistry is still it's bright and it's getting brighter. Is you think about the average associate you talk to, Kiera, the average associate I talk to when we're standing around a cocktail party or at mid mid the you know, wherever, some conference, Yankee, Midwestern.   Kiera (06:30) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (06:31) And I will tell you the average associate that I talk to isn't saying, gosh, Brian, you know what? I love my boss. I love the DSO I'm working for.   I love my hours. I love the insurances we take, the assistant they force me to use, I love her, right? It's the future of private practice dentistry is bright because dentists are people. And people generally like   Kiera (06:52) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (06:52) a little bit of control over their career if they can get it. And dentists absolutely can get it. So that's one of the data points that   Kiera (06:55) Yeah.   Brian Hanks (06:58) I love. Now, are dentists scared to get into ownership? And do higher on average student loan balances scare them marginally more than they did 10 years ago, 20 years ago? For sure.   Yep, absolutely. Here's the mistake   Kiera (07:11) Absolutely.   Brian Hanks (07:11) they make. So I'll give the associates listening or the students or whoever it is that's maybe telling you, Kiera, or telling me, or they're telling their, you know, the the person next to them on the treadmill at the gym while they're listening to this, like, sure, Brian, easy for you to say, but I don't feel ready. Right? I haven't taken all of Care's courses.   Kiera (07:30) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (07:31) I haven't, I don't know how you know, I'm not the pro at treatment planning. My hands beat because you I I want to take this implant course first, right?   You come up, your brain comes up with all these excuses of why you don't feel ready. And I'm not gonna dismiss your feelings. I think your   Kiera (07:45) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (07:46) feelings are valid. You should listen to them, but don't here here's another thing to consider in addition to your feelings. Is you know how there were like a hundred people in your dental school class, probably ish, right? And 10 of whom you would never let near your teeth. Like you watch them go through all four years of dental school and you're like,   Okay, of those 10 over there, like they're never getting, they're never giving me a shot. They're never in that nothing, right?   Kiera (08:10) Yep.   Brian Hanks (08:10) Because I guarantee you, nine out of ten of those dentists, they already own their practice. They're not bankrupt. They're making more money than you,   Kiera (08:16) Yeah.   Brian Hanks (08:17) and they are killing it. Meanwhile, you're scared to run a practice. And those, if   Kiera (08:22) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (08:22) those jokers can figure it out, you can figure it out.   Kiera (08:26) Totally. Well, and I think also on there like, Brian, let's be real. Is anybody ready to be a business owner? Like I wasn't, I'm sure you weren't.   Brian Hanks (08:31) Nope. Nope.   Kiera (08:33) I think are people ready to be parents? The answer is no. Like nobody feels ready for that. Were you ready when you went into dental school? The answer's no. I think that there's this imposter syndrome that hits us all that we think, like, give me a little more time and I'm gonna get ready. Give me a little more time. And I will say that like the brass taxes, you jump into owning a business and you figure it out. Now, should you listen to some podcasts? Should you do some things? Like for sure.   But   like how many consultants and coaches are there that literally are gonna like grab your hand, walk you through, and make sure you don't make the mistakes? Like how many people like yourself are gonna walk you through buying the practice to where it's an actually great practice? I I think that I think there's more help today. Now, do I think there's a lot of noise and a lot of people that might be like posturing out there saying that they know what they're doing? Yes. So make sure you like vet them a little bit before you go and jump on a bandwagon of somebody, like someone who's been there, done that, done that successfully multiple times is who I'd bet on. But like   We are in such a day and age where there is so much information out there. You need to be a great clinician. We're gonna teach you how to be a great business owner. And as long as you're comfortable realizing that you've got to learn that side of it, that's to me, like if you're a good producer and you're a good human, like go for it. There's dentistry is so fun owning and practice because the sky is the limit. And ultimately there is no cap on what you're able to do, what you're able to produce, how you're able to do it.   And I think that there are very few careers out there, very few job opportunities that really are the sky's limit. Now, remember how I told you about that dentist who bought their own practice. They're now doing like two fifty this year, whatever they're he was making five hundred thousand as an associate. And so this   Brian Hanks (10:06) Yeah. Hi Bart.   Kiera (10:08) is one where like people be like, Well, gosh, like, you know, he went from five hundred thousand and now he's at a two point, I think he's gonna end around two to two point four this year. But like he had a great associateship. And so I think   There is still this just like uncanny, unnatural desire that you want to just own, you want to build. And I think dentistry is also if I look at like banks, they lend to dental practices, like almost guaranteed, like they have a they're pretty lucrative with like just shelling money out to your dental practice. And I'm like, if banks are willing to back, you've got to also see that your dental practice, like you have the greatest opportunity of not failing.   of any business venture you're going to do. Why is private equity coming in strong? Because they know dental practices are almost bulletproof of an investment to have. So when I look at all those reasons, I agree with you, Brian. People don't feel like they're ready, but I'm like, you're never gonna feel ready. But you have so many things stacking in your favor to help you be successful.   Brian Hanks (11:03) At the beginning of that, I   I don't I don't want people to miss that. If they missed the wisdom that Kiera just shared at the beginning of that, as she said, yeah, you use parenting. I think you use business ownership as some advice. Like I I just want to repeat what you said because it's so important. Dentistry is not like, I don't know, Kiera, scuba diving, right? If you go get scuba certified, you like practice in the pool. And then they like make you, you know, they learn, you know, you you learn taking the regulator out of your mouth and putting it back in and all that. And I imagine like dentists think   ownership, like there's gonna be some course I can take that's gonna prepare me for ownership kinda like scuba certification. That's like you gotta help me come up with   Kiera (11:38) Yeah.   Brian Hanks (11:39) a better example, but it's not it's not true. It's like parenting,   Kiera (11:42) I got you.   Brian Hanks (11:42) it's like marriage. It's like I don't know, business ownership, whatever it is. Like the the thing that prepares you for it is just doing it. Just just   try it out.   Kiera (11:50) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (11:50) Yep.   Kiera (11:51) Well, and I think Brian, to that point, like the analogy is I think people think business ownership is a skill that can be learned in a one, two, three step versus like marriage, relationships, child, like being parents, business ownership. It's an evolution of soul and it's a it's a creating of who you are. It is not a skill. Like there are skill points to it, like learning to read a p PL, learning how what profitability is.   But business ownership in and of itself, I had a friend she's like, Kiera, you have to have kids. Like it will strip you down to your core and it will like show things to you that you've never had. And I said, Have you ever been a business owner? Cause I'll tell you that I'm pretty confident. I've got a lot of that stripping over here that's like breaking me down to my utter like most. But I think we think business ownership and running a practice, I'm not here to say that there's not like tactical pieces and we've broken it down. Like our team actually just went through this something. I'm like, there's really like   10 things that you need as systems that are really gonna make or break it. And you gotta know a couple of like core foundations and you got to know your numbers. Like beyond that, that's kind of your checklist. But to your point of like scuba diving or cooking or whatever, it's not this like checklist skill that you're going to have. And so I think, like you said, you're gonna look for this course. But I'm like, the course is life, the course is doing it, the course is going through it. And I think you've got to have the confidence of are you confident in you that no matter what comes your way, you're gonna be able to figure it out. And if so, business ownership is there for you.   And I would give more confidence to you than you give yourself. I've watched a lot of students. I worked at Midwestern. To your point of those 10 students, there was probably like 50 of them. Sorry, Midwestern grads, I was not letting any of you touch my mouth. Like genuinely, you needed a few years to practice and I'm not your practicey. But like I think I think you're more equipped than you give yourself credit for. Just like you're more equipped for life than you give yourself credit for. And I think business ownership is the same.   Brian Hanks (13:31) So Kiera, let's break down some of those numbers. by the way, better   analogy for business ownership is like health. Do you remember the first time by the way? if you're listening to this, it's pretty obvious if you're watching, but if you're listening, Kiera's in a lot better shape than me. But if if Kiera, I don't know if you had this moment. I I did when I was like 21, 22, that I realized at the I was at the gym, I was like lifting some weights, and I realized, I'll never be done with this. Like you're never done with health. So I think business ownership is a lot like.   Kiera (13:59) I do remember my moment   of that. Mine was   Brian Hanks (14:01) Yeah.   Kiera (14:03) not at the gym, Brian. Mine was actually in Bali, like a little flex there. I remember because   Brian Hanks (14:07) There you go.   Kiera (14:07) I was like having a lot of like knee and hip pain. And I was like, okay, I just have to like work out and then eventually this is gonna get better. And I remember I was walking down to the pool overlooking the ocean. I was like, I'm never gonna be done. Like this is my forever. Like I'm not like I used to just work out to be like skinny and fit. And now I'm like, no, you gotta do this so you don't freaking hurt and you can actually walk and get out of bed. Like it's never gonna end. And   I   sat there and read a book, quite depressed. And then I was like, okay, like this is what it you're right. It's it's a constant evolution of soul. You're never done parenting, you're never done in a relationship. Like you don't hit this, like, check the box, we've got a golden thing. It is a forever perpetual. But I also think that that's what drives dentists to go into that because they are of this obsession of wanting to be the best of the best. You want to get a better prep. You want to get a better crown crop. You go to CE, you're CE junkies out there. Like, this is just another level of obsession.   Of a space that's going to evolve you as a human and it's gonna allow you to grow. So yeah, thanks. That was that was a great that was a great analogy, Brian. Good good call on that one.   Brian Hanks (15:02) Yeah. Yeah, the the   the negative of the health analogy is that you're never done, but the positive is you can break it down. Like you can learn how to do certain lifts a little better. You can learn how to macro track. You can learn diet and exercise.   Kiera (15:14) So you're right, Brian. Like that was a solid call out on the health analogy. Like this is what people are obsessed about, but they want to have that evolution of soul. They want to like I think that that's why dentists are drawn to ownership, but I think they're just afraid. But I'm like, we're also afraid to work out. We're afraid to have kids. We're afraid like, so don't let fear hold you back. I think it's just a like, I don't know. It doesn't be like Nike, just do it, guys. Like that sounds like terrible business advice on my side.   Brian Hanks (15:37) Well just do it and but remember   remember how good you weren't at at all the clinical stuff that you're really   Kiera (15:44) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (15:44) good at now, right? So dentists, the the superpower that most dentists have is that attention to detail, like the obsession over the details and and the the minutiae. And and as a patient, like I gotta go to filling next week, and as a patient, I want my sister thinking about all of the all of the little details, right? and   Kiera (16:04) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (16:04) that superpower is real.   And I want the density like lean into it. If you're listening to this and that evolution of soul that that Kiera's talking about, part of that evolution for you is just remembering that that superpower that you have comes like there's another side to that coin. It comes with a downside. And the downside is the overthinking when you're not.   You know you're not that good at a thing. And if you know you're not that good at finding a dental practice to buy, analyzing a dental practice to buy, actually buying that practice, applying for a loan, like talking to lawyers, all those things, your brain is gonna start to spin a little bit. And j but but but here's the good news: your brain spun a thousand times already. Remember that first time they opened up the little mannequin to like practice, like prepping a crown or something, and you were like, How do I even do this? Right.   Kiera (16:49) Dexter, their little type   it on.   Brian Hanks (16:51) Yeah, like seriously, like you figure this out. You like and if the dentists that I deal with they're the smartest people on the planet, they're awesome. And and so if you can figure that stuff out,   Kiera (17:02) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (17:02) my gosh, like first of all, hire somebody else like you to just be amazing for you in all the areas that you aren't amazing, and just remember that it doesn't this isn't rocket science. yeah, so you can figure this stuff out.   Kiera (17:14) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (17:14) But okay, so speaking of minutia, speaking of details, I gave you the hundred and fifty one thousand dollar number.   Okay, here I did some math. I'm an accountant. I I know I know spreadsheets.   Kiera (17:22) Yeah.   Brian Hanks (17:24) I know how to do like compound interest and some those things. Here's what I did is I just is I said, what's the cost? Okay, if dentists aren't feeling ready, they want to feel like they have their student loans under control, which is smart, right? I'm a financial planner. Yeah, don't get yourself over your skis in debt. That's great. But like, how much is it gonna cost if you're the statistic?   Right. And the statistic is you're you, listener, right now, if you're not a practice owner, are waiting five years longer to own a practice. How much does that five years cost you? Right. And if you do the math, and I did the math at like a 38-year-old dentist versus a 33-year-old dentist. And I assumed that they actually retired at age, both retired at age 60. Okay. So like different lengths of associate part of your career and owner part of your career.   with compound interest, assuming 7% and some of those other variables that I put in there, it was a $1.14 million difference between those two numbers. So don't forget that while you're busy like taking care of your student loans so you can feel ready to buy a practice, it's costing you an enormous amount of money. And Kiera, I would just add, and I'm curious if you can think of any others, I would say the compound.   the compound effect that I'm talking about is not just money, although money is a big part of it. I think the compound effect applies to other things. Like how many more times and at bats would you have for treatment planning, for managing that difficult assistant, teaching someone how to answer the phones better, hiring, firing. Like there's a compound effect on all of those behavioral things too and and it's gonna cost you some money. So any thoughts on that?   Kiera (19:04) Mm-hmm.   Yeah, I think it's a I I was fascinated. I'm so glad that you went into the 1.1 because we had talked about that pre-show and I was just very fascinated of like, my gosh, like that's so much for people. That's so many things. Like there's a financial dollar amount, which I love because I think dentists really do. Like that's an easy one for me to be like, gosh, like me delaying this decision can cost me that much. But I think like there's also you still have to go through the   growth of learning to run a business. So not only is there a financial delay, but there's also the growth of you getting good at running a business and having it profitable and being able to make this thing run longer. And then you have more opportunities like I think about yourself. And the longer you're able to build this practice and like maybe do multiple like there's to me that's like such a it's fascinating. And I think I think the the call to today is there are some people that definitely are meant to be owners and there's some that aren't.   but I think if you have that itch, that scratch, I would really ask yourself, like, what truly are you waiting for? And when are you going to know that you're actually ready? Like you're never going to feel ready to have a child. You're like, I need to get these ducks in a row. Well, those ducks get in a row and then you got seven more ducks that come behind that you're like, I need get those in a row. So to me it'd be if I'm really wanting to buy a practice, what things do I need to have? Cl schedule a call with Brian. Like, I think Brian, this is why we put you on the podcast. I think you're fantastic. You don't put people into weird zones. you're very much like   If that dentist is producing and you don't do those skills and you don't do those type of procedures, don't buy that practice. Like you're not, you're gonna be broke. You're very, very pro making sure people feel confident and that they're able to buy it. And I think it's like buying a home. I remember when I first like went and talked to somebody about buying a home, I had no freaking clue and I wish I would have known more. But like until you start having the conversations, I think it can feel more daunting than it actually is. Then from there, like listen to the podcast, start listening to there's our podcast, there's other podcasts out there, start reading up on how to buy a practice.   But I think to me, there is like two parts to it. One is finding the right practice. Like what you buy, and I say like eyes wide open when you're looking in, and then rosy glasses as soon as you sign on that dotted line, and you're gonna see a lot and you're just gonna deal with it. From there, make sure you got somebody really solid in your corner. Like our practices, as soon as they buy, we take them on. I try to get them two to three months before they close. I wanna make sure we're getting things in. If you don't close on time or things happen, no problem. We're gonna pause you, get your practice in place. Like it's happened twice in hundreds of offices we've helped.   But then, like from there, just have somebody in your corner, somebody who's gonna help you grow in your first year. Most practices are seeing like a 10 to 30% increase in their first year. So if I'm buying a one million dollar practice, that's a hundred to three hundred thousand dollar uptick just by having somebody in the corner. That's very conservative. A million dollar practice, like we are usually growing those exponentially. But like you don't have to stress and freak out. Hey, I'm pinned.   Brian Hanks (21:45) Yep. By the way, I I d pin put a pin, put a pin, Kiera. You you gotta you gotta underline that. Yeah.   That's like underline that, underline it. Like keep going, keep going. I I'm throwing you off. I'm interrupting you, but like I will tell you the   Kiera (21:59) Yeah.   Brian Hanks (21:59) average buyer I talk to on the phone is so scared of patient attrition. They're like, Kiera, like   I'm gonna have 10%, 20%. What if 50% of the patients don't show up? Listen, that's a real fear. By the way, I want you to have that   Kiera (22:10) Right. Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (22:12) fear when you're like doing the margin on my crown, right? Like again, it's your superpower dentist,   Kiera (22:16) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (22:17) but like my stats show exactly the same thing, Kiera is saying I have data to support what Kiera is saying that the average   Kiera (22:22) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (22:24) dentist doesn't they have a negative attrition, which is just two negatives, right? So it's a positive. They the average buyer has more enthusiasm, they've got some more energy, they're gonna update the website, they're gonna maybe get rid of.   That one employee that everybody kind of knew probably s needed to go. And suddenly the practice is just gonna it's gonna take off. Ten to thirty percent. That's yeah, right in line with what I'm seeing. That's awesome. So sorry, I I'm interrupting you, keep going.   Kiera (22:47) Mm-hmm. And I think, no, y you are always this is a conversation. It's not like a dictation. So we're like this is real life rift here. I just think people like when you look at it, I think you're more capable than you think you are. I know that you can get the skills, you can figure it out. Like you said, I'm always like, okay, play the what ifs, lose 50% of your patients. Great. Well, we're gonna take those 50%. And there's ways you can actually grow a practice without even needing to have more new patients.   So   we're gonna maximize all those, we're gonna optimize them. You're going to pull in more people. Like it is one of those things that I'm like, I have yet to have a practice go bankrupt. So knock on wood, like you can be my first challenge accepted. Like I feel very confident that I'm not like, unless you completely botch it and you go into malpractice, like we're probably gonna be just fine. So odds of it happening, so minimal. Are you gonna be a little stressed out? Yeah. Like, welcome to business ownership, but you're also looking for growth, and that's why you're being called to this moment. Like   It will not go away. That itch will not go away until you scratch it. And scratching it, and I love that you said like they're waiting five years and that's a $1.1 million minimum. There's so many other pieces to it. So I think I think a lot of dentists like to have facts. I think a lot of dentists like to have that decision make logical sense. And then we back it up with emotional reasons. And I think it's a wise way to make decisions. But I I would just say if you're even remotely curious, like start going down the path. I know when I was going to buy a house.   I needed to go find out, like, I don't know about lenders, I didn't know about interest rates. I did and until you get into it, just like you wanted to be a dentist, but until you got into it and you started working on that type it on and you learned about dropping the box and like waxing it up and working on Dexter and then taking x-rays, like you didn't know it. And I think most of the time the fear comes from the lack of knowing. I will also say, and I've seen this a lot, Brian, a lot of dentists feel like because I'm a doctor and I'm a dentist, if I buy a practice, I should know how to run a practice. And   Brian Hanks (24:38) And   Kiera (24:38) I just want to like   Scratch that out. I want to tell you that that's not true. But I know a lot of you come in feeling like but Kiera, I'm a dentist, or Brad, I'm a dentist, like I'm a doctor, like people expect me to know this. And I want to say you think people expect you to know that, but the reality is you don't. You just need to be scrappy enough to figure it out. No one's expecting you to know anything. Honestly, you probably know way more than you think you do already. But I I want to just cut that because I know a lot of you have perfectionism like fear of being exposed that you're not that great.   Except that you don't know how to run a business just like you didn't know how to prep a crown, but you learned that and you're gonna learn how to do a business and you're gonna do it exponentially well because you are so detail oriented and you're gonna hire a great team around you, hire great coaches around you that you're literally like it's impossible for you to fail. And so I think Brian, like kudos on it, kudos on the stats, any other thoughts that you have around people and like how do they get to the nitty-gritty of actually going through   Brian Hanks (25:26) Let's get some yeah. I'll hit I'll hit you with more stats. Yeah.   Kiera (25:31) that.   Brian Hanks (25:32) Some more facts for dentists. You and you mentioned the failure rate. What is the actual failure rate in dentistry? It's it's 0.14% of dentists go bankrupt. Okay. And it's always, always, always one   Kiera (25:43) Incredible.   Brian Hanks (25:43) of three things. It's drugs, divorce, and then jail. You know, some kind of felony that doesn't have anything to do with practice. so you stay away from those   Kiera (25:51) Yep.   Brian Hanks (25:52) three things and you're guaranteed not to go bankrupt.   And it so what do dentists actually need to buy practice? We've done a good job of pumping people up, given the rah-rah speech. What do you actually need? You need five things, okay? and I almost guarantee you, unless you're in dental school right now, listening to this, you have the five right now. All right. almost guaranteed. and I'll go from hardest to easiest, Kiera. Okay. Hardest for people to get is you need 50k   Kiera (26:18) Okay.   Brian Hanks (26:19) cash. You need some cash. 50k is your magic number.   Has to be liquid. It's gotta be in a checking   Kiera (26:24) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (26:24) savings money market account. Can't be in an IRA or home equity or something like that. but you need that money to show the bank that you're responsible. And by the way, you don't actually hand that money over to the bank. You keep it. Yeah, the bank just wants to see that you have some money to see that you're responsible.   Kiera (26:39) Mm.   Brian Hanks (26:40) And if you know COVID shuts us down again, can you still pay the bank the bank back a few months? All right. So most people have that.   Kiera (26:46) Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (26:47) They've got fifty K or access to fifty K. That's like a side thing we could talk about.   Kiera (26:51) Totally.   Brian Hanks (26:52) Yep.   Kiera (26:52) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (26:53) you need production history. You got to be able to do about 80% of the production of what a seller could do. So million-dollar GP practice, let's say 250 of that Kiera is hygiene, means the doctor was doing 750k a year in production. that means you as an associate need to do about 600   a year   Kiera (27:12) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (27:12) to buy a million-dollar practice. Okay. Most associates listening, you know, public health, military, there are some special exceptions where we need to learn how to count.   procedures and things   Kiera (27:22) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (27:23) like that. But most associates, they can do 600 to buy a million dollar practice. Okay, the 80%. most dentists don't have any problem with numbers threes and four, number three and four. Number three is you got to have a credit score over 680. It's pretty low. And it's a green light, red light. 681 credit score gets you the same interest rate as an 820. And and then you need a clean credit history is number four. And so no bankruptcies, no short sales, or a really good story.   Behind a bankruptcy or short sale. And then you need one year of experience out of dental school or a residency program. GPR, AEGD, specialty program, whatever it is. If you're in a residency program, you could buy a practice the day you get out of your residency. So that's it. And so technically, Kiera, you need number six. Number six is you need a practice to buy. And I'll be I'll be really blunt with people, that's the   Kiera (28:17) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (28:17) hardest step.   Finding a good practice to buy is the hardest thing because everybody   Kiera (28:21) I agree.   Brian Hanks (28:22) wants to look for the practice in their pajamas. They think it's like buying a house. Like I'm gonna go on the MLS and I'm gonna look   Kiera (28:28) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (28:28) for a dental practice. There is no such thing as the DLS, there's no dental listing service. And so if you're in your pajamas looking for a practice to buy, it's   Kiera (28:34) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (28:36) not there. Sometimes it is, which is why people do it, but it's almost certainly not there, especially in the city you want to live right now. and so we'll have a podcast episode about how to   Find a practice well. But the sh here's the short version is you go talk to dentists. Build a network of dentists that know like and trust you. That's the   Six things and and most associates have And so attitude, like don't let us stop you, don't be scared. Like we did the like pump you up version of the speech. And here's the facts to back that up, is it's not actually that hard. Like with those six things, banks will not only give you a hundred percent of the purchase price, they'll give you a hundred percent of the purchase price, and then they'll hand you another seventy-five K in cash just to make sure you don't run out of money on the first day. Sometimes it's a hundred K. I've seen d banks give two hundred thousand dollars in cash.   Kiera (29:21) Mm-hmm.   Brian Hanks (29:21) before they even walk through the doors with you know the key in hand as an owner. So it's awesome. If if you're thinking about ownership and nine out of ten dentists are at some point in their career, it's it's really not it's not it's simple. It's not necessarily easy, but it's simple.   Kiera (29:41) Yeah. And Brian, even on the I've been talking to the Bank of America guys, and they were like, we even give like thirty to forty thousand to a new startup practice for consulting fees in addition to our working capital because   Brian Hanks (29:52) Yeah.   Kiera (29:53) we know that it's also going to help grow them. So there's so many pieces, and I think you've just listed off like really, I agree, like finding the practice and like sending out the postcards, getting to know the network, finding the dentist, like the practice that actually works for you, finding a seller that wants to sell for the price that you want.   I agree with you 100%. That is the hardest part. But I think Brian, you did an incredible job of breaking this down from the like, okay, you're probably gonna do it. Nine out of ten is do buy that. What are the exact steps that I need to take for this? And then I agree with you. Like, absolutely a follow-up podcast on like how to actually find a practice. But Brian, I'm curious if people are interested, like they want to start connecting and like this is what you do. And I know you guys are really generous with your time. How do people connect in with you to like even start the process? Like, again, I feel like curiosity.   Is the best place to be. Like let's just ask the questions. Let's figure it out. So Brian, how do people get connected in with you?   Brian Hanks (30:41) Pop over to Amazon, type in How To Buy A Dental Practice. That's the book. if you want, by the way, if you want a cheaper copy, you can go to the website. The website is DentalBuyerAdvocates.com. I'm happy to ship it to you like as a publisher copy, no strings attached. but yeah, just pop over to Amazon, DentalBuyerAdvocates.com. Care if people want to email me directly. I always offer this. And it's so fascinating to me how few people actually take me up on it. I would be more than happy to have a half an hour conversation with whoever you are, free of charge.   Send me an email, Brian@BrianHanks.com. It's B-R-I-A-N and Hanks like Tom Hanks. So yeah, that's how you get a hold of me.   Kiera (31:20) Amazing.   Well, Brian, thank you for breaking this down and for all of you listening. I hope that today was just a really insightful podcast for you. I hope it gave you the facts to back it up. I hope it gave you the emotional piece. I hope it gave you kind of the like step by step by step of how to get there. I'm so grateful for Brian being here. Everybody connect in with him. And for all of you listening, thank you for listening and I'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team Podcast.  

    Primetime with Isaac and Suke
    Is Russell Westbrook better than Damian Lillard? | Hour 3

    Primetime with Isaac and Suke

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 44:34


    Hour 3 opens up with Isaac and Suke discussing Hard Knocks and some of the storylines out of Seattle. The guys wonder if the Seahawks should go after Terrion Arnold. Later, the guys discuss the Trail Blazers and the city council and go down a discussion about Tom Dundon and if he can ever change the fans feelings to him.

    The Egg Whisperer Show
    Planting the Seeds of Pregnancy: A Discussion on Fertility Acupuncture Dr. Shahine and Stephanie Gianarelli

    The Egg Whisperer Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 28:30


    You all know that I talk about gathering a fertility TEAM when you are a fertility patient. TEAM stands for  T: Therapist E: Eating and Exercise A: Acupuncture M: Mindfulness and meditation I'm speaking with two Egg Whisperers visiting with us from Seattle, Washington, Stephanie Gianarelli and Dr. Lora Shahine. They are experts in all aspects of fertility.  I invited them on to discuss the A of TEAM = ACUPUNCTURE. Stephanie is a fertility acupuncturist in downtown Seattle. Dr. Lora Shahine is a reproductive endocrinologist specializing in infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss at Pacific NW Fertility and IVF Specialists in Seattle. Together, they have written a book called Planting the Seeds of Pregnancy.  We are talking about the role that Chinese Medicine plays in fertility treatment, and they will share the benefits of acupuncture during treatment, as well. Read the full show notes on Dr. Aimee's website You can learn more about Dr. Lora Shahine and find her book by clicking here. Stephanie Gianarelli at Acupuncture Northwest   Do you have questions about IVF? Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, August 17 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom. Click to find The Egg Whisperer Show podcast on your favorite podcasting app.   Watch videos of Dr. Aimee answer Ask the Egg Whisperer Questions on YouTube.  Sign up for The Egg Whisperer newsletter to get updates  Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.

    america washington zoom seattle team pregnancy seeds fertility ivf planting acupuncture chinese medicine egg whisperer aimee eyvazzadeh lora shahine shahine pacific nw fertility
    The Adult in the Room
    FBI Covers for Biden Family, Seattle's Trans Grants, and L.A. Private Eye Tracks Living Zodiac Suspect

    The Adult in the Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 78:50


    Victoria Taft ("your news sherpa") delivers a hard-hitting edition of The Adult in the Room: FBI Biden Cover-Up Scandal: New records expose how the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF) allegedly ran shadow operations to protect the Biden family's Ukraine financial ties while dismissing legitimate corruption evidence as "disinformation". Seattle's "Transfugee" Funding: Victoria breaks down Seattle's decision to allocate $300,000 in taxpayer funds to attract trans individuals as a "trans sanctuary" city—all while local police departments face critical staffing shortages. Massachusetts Abortion Legislation: Victoria reacts to Massachusetts passing late-term abortion laws by highlighting the importance of newborn care and donating cribs to crisis pregnancy shelters. Hot Book Summer Feature (Nils Grevillius): Former Army counterintelligence agent, Pinkerton, and veteran L.A. private investigator Nils Grevillius joins the show to discuss his memoir, The Last Lawman: True Stories of a Private Detective (featuring a foreword by Kurt Schlichter). Grevillius shares gripping cases from his 30-year career—including recovering $16 million in stolen modern art in Hell's Kitchen, using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to elicit confessions, exposing police incompetence as a form of political corruption, and dropping a bombshell about an active, living Zodiac Killer suspect passed to him by late investigator Jack Palladino.

    Deconstructor of Fun
    TWIG #396: AppLovin's Q2, Unity's Supersonic Fire Sale and GTA VI's Netflix Trailer Drama

    Deconstructor of Fun

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 70:12


    Crew breaks down a packed week in mobile and games. AppLovin's stock craters despite the SEC closing its inquiry with no action, Unity sells Supersonic to Tripledot for a shockingly low $40 million, and Take-Two's GTA VI presales are on fire even as its mobile business slows. Topics Covered:• AppLovin's Q2 earnings and stock drop despite growth• Unity's Vector model closing the gap with AppLovin• Unity selling Supersonic to Tripledot for $40M• Take-Two's Q2 earnings, Zynga portfolio trends and GTA VI presales• GTA VI's Netflix trailer exclusive• Blizzard's leaked internal email and its quiet turnaround• Ubisoft Barcelona's layoffs and the birth of Puzzle Mage• Royal Smash and the rise of cannon physics puzzlesCHAPTERS:02:06 Spider-Man numbers debate03:23 Why Spider-Man wins03:53 Odyssey movie review05:28 Seattle roundtable recap07:34 Audience Qs and Roblox08:55 Corrections and Royal Match12:08 AppLovin earnings breakdown18:52 Unity Vector and D2827:14 Unity sells Supersonic34:21 Unity Supersonic Bargain35:09 Take Two Bookings Breakdown36:19 Zynga Portfolio Reality Check39:07 Old Games vs New Hits46:36 GTA VI Preorders and Netflix49:41 Blizzard Comeback Email53:31 Ubisoft Barcelona Fallout56:05 Royal Smash New Subgenre01:00:45 Farm Team and Monetization01:08:51 Wrap Up and Banter

    No Punt Intended Presented by Club Fantasy
    8/13/26 - Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Football Preview: Is Jadarian Price the Next Kenneth Walker?

    No Punt Intended Presented by Club Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 32:06


    The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are back under the fantasy football microscope for 2026!In this episode of A Look Inside, we break down the Seattle Seahawks' fantasy football outlook following the departure of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and their offensive coordinator. Seattle still has its foundational pieces in place with Sam Darnold at quarterback and reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba leading the passing game.But the biggest fantasy question may be in the backfield: Can first-round rookie Jadarian Price be a true 1-for-1 replacement for Kenneth Walker?Seattle spent the No. 32 overall pick on Price, signaling that he could have a major role immediately. We examine his fantasy football value, his potential workload, and whether fantasy managers should be willing to draft him as the next Seahawks RB1.We also look at new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, the possibility of a more balanced offensive approach, and whether AJ Barner could become a bigger factor in the Seahawks' passing game. With Seattle coming off one of the NFL's most efficient offenses, can the production continue despite the coaching and personnel changes?Who are the best and worst fantasy football values on the Seattle Seahawks in 2026? Is Jadarian Price a breakout candidate? Can Sam Darnold repeat his success? And should Jaxon Smith-Njigba be treated as an elite fantasy WR?Find out in this edition of A Look Inside from Club Fantasy FFL!If you feel like talking ball with us, come and join the Club Fantasy FFL/Women of Fantasy Football Discord!

    Play Therapy Podcast
    425 | How to Coach Parents Through Severe Power Struggles

    Play Therapy Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 17:18


    In this episode, I answer a question about helping parents whose child has gradually taken control of the entire home. When a child constantly interrupts conversations, makes relentless demands, or escalates until everyone gives in, it's tempting to focus on stopping the behavior. Instead, I explain why we have to begin by understanding what's driving it. I discuss how power and control needs, inconsistent boundaries, and fractured relationships can combine to create these patterns, and why lasting change starts by helping parents see their child through a different lens—not by teaching them a list of techniques. I also walk through how therapists can coach parents to rebuild connection before focusing on behavior management. We explore why relationship always comes before skills, how giving children appropriate opportunities for choice and control can reduce power struggles, and why parents must be prepared for behaviors to intensify before they improve as new boundaries are established. This episode is a reminder that our greatest gift to parents isn't teaching them CCPT skills—it's helping them understand their child in a way that transforms the relationship. New Live Training Events Announced: Indiana, New Jersey & Tampa dates are locked in and registration is open for Indiana. Go to iamccpt.live for more information. Podcast Meetups! Come hang out with me. I'm hosting casual Play Therapy Podcast listener meetups in Denver and Seattle on Aug. 4th and 6th. I'd love to connect with you in person! Learn more and RSVP at https://www.playtherapypodcast.com/meetup/ New Resource for Play Therapists: The Parent Companion for Play Therapy is now available at author pricing for therapists. Created specifically to help parents better understand the child-centered play therapy process, this book is designed to support parent engagement, improve buy-in, and reduce attrition throughout the therapeutic journey. As a listener of the Play Therapy Podcast, you can order a copy for just $8 (our cost plus shipping). Click here to order your author-priced copy. ** Limit 1 per therapist, offer valid in the Continental U.S. only. Parent Companion for Play Therapy Implementation Guide. Suggested ways to use the book in your practice to increase parent engagement. Order copies for your practice and save with discounted bulk pricing. Bulk ordering makes it easy to place Parent Companion for Play Therapy directly into the hands of the parents you serve. PlayTherapyNow.com is my HUB for everything I do! playtherapynow.com. Sign up for my email newsletter, stay ahead with the latest CCPT CEU courses, personalized coaching opportunities and other opportunities you need to thrive in your CCPT practice. If you click one link in these show notes, this is the one to click! Topical Playlists! All of the podcasts are now grouped into topical playlists on YouTube. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/kidcounselorbrenna/playlists to view them. If you would like to ask me questions directly, check out www.ccptcollective.com, where I host two weekly Zoom calls filled with advanced CCPT case studies and session reviews, as well as member Q&A. You can take advantage of the two-week free trial to see if the CCPT Collective is right for you. Ask Me Questions: Call ‪(813) 812-5525‬, or email: brenna@thekidcounselor.com Brenna's CCPT Hub: https://www.playtherapynow.com CCPT Collective (online community exclusively for CCPTs): https://www.ccptcollective.com Podcast HQ: https://www.playtherapypodcast.com APT Approved Play Therapy CE courses: https://childcenteredtraining.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/playtherapypodcast Common References: Cochran, N., Nordling, W., & Cochran, J. (2010). Child-Centered Play Therapy (1st ed.). Wiley. VanFleet, R., Sywulak, A. E., & Sniscak, C. C. (2010). Child-centered play therapy. Guilford Press. Landreth, G.L. (2023). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.). Routledge. Landreth, G.L., & Bratton, S.C. (2019). Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): An Evidence-Based 10-Session Filial Therapy Model (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315537948 Benedict, Helen. Themes in Play Therapy. Used with permission to Heartland Play Therapy Institute.

    Clark County Today News
    Akin's Free Diaper Drive Serves Clark County Families

    Clark County Today News

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026


    Akin Family Resources handed out 560 boxes of diapers at Hazel Dell Fred Meyer as part of a three-city statewide initiative serving Vancouver, Seattle and Spokane. Clark County families also received wipes, baby food and connections to year-round support services with no income or residency requirements. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/people/akins-bundles-of-love-giveaway-meets-growing-need-in-clark-county/ #AkinFamilyResources #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #Washougal #CommunitySupport #FamilyResources #Diapers #SouthwestWashington #NonprofitNews #PacificNorthwest

    SwampSwami.com - Sports Commentary and more!
    Will the Dallas Cowboys finally end “The Streak” this season?

    SwampSwami.com - Sports Commentary and more!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 10:58


    It’s been 31 seasons since the Dallas Cowboys last played in a Super Bowl game.  That season-ending victory came at the conclusion of the 1995 NFL season on January 28, 1996. Heck, it has been 31 seasons since the Dallas Cowboys have even played in the NFC Championship game! Team owner and billionaire huckster Jerry Jones tried to convince Dallas Cowboys fans last summer that trading away the team’s best defensive player was a smart move.  Micah Parsons wanted ol’ Jer to pony-up with another high dollar contract to remain in Dallas. Instead, the owner shipped Parsons to the Green Bay Packers right before the 2025 season began.  The defensive rushing specialist received what he wanted, though. Micah Parsons signed a new contract in Green Bay last fall paying him $188 million over four years (a whopping $47 million per season). Dallas received Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark from Green Bay plus two first round draft picks as part of the deal. After losing Micah Parsons, Big D’s defense became a league-wide joke in 2025.  You can’t consider your team a title contender with a defense which allowed an NFL high 30.1 points per game last season. Cowboys fans were understandably upset after team owner Jerry Jones dealt the team’s “lone star” defensive player one year ago.  Jones’ history of meddling with the team’s roster has backfired plenty of times during this 31 season title drought. Despite the absence of a competitive defense, Dallas still finished with a fairly respectable 7-9-1 record last season.  Only the prolific offense of the Cowboys saved the 2025 team from being a total disaster. Something feels different this year… In April, Dallas selected safety Caleb Downs from Ohio State with the 11th pick in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.  A two-time college football All-American, Downs was expected to be taken earlier in the first round.  The Dallas Cowboys appear to have capitalized on a little bit of good fortune. Dallas then added another defensive pick with its second selection during Round 1.  Defensive edge rusher Malachi Lawrence played college football for UCF under the watchful eye of the Cowboys’ new defensive line coach, Demeitri Brim. Last season’s “defenseless” Cowboys had just made two first round solid defensive picks in the NFL Draft. Over the past week, the Cowboys re-signed defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (who was acquired from the New York Jets last season) to a new three-year deal worth $106 million. Williams played college football at Alabama under Coach Nick Saban.  He is well liked by his new teammates in Dallas. Is Maxx Crosby still a possible addition? It’s no secret that Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby would like to come play for the Dallas Cowboys.  The former fourth round selection out of Eastern Michigan played his high school football in Colleyville, Texas – just north of Fort Worth. Maxx Crosby plays his position with incredible effort and intensity.  He is a five-time NFL Pro Bowler entering his eighth NFL season – all with the woeful Raiders franchise.  He was briefly traded earlier this year (for two first round selections) to the Baltimore Ravens.  Unfortunately, Crosby failed the physical exam after rehabbing a knee injury incurred last fall.  That nullified the deal and required Crosby to return to the Raiders. Dallas made a competitive offer to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby (a first round and second round pick) but fell short.  Crosby’s knee injury may be healed sufficiently by now to warrant another trade offer from Dallas owner Jerry Jones over the next month. There’s no doubt that Maxx Crosby would represent a significantly upgrade to the Dallas defensive front.  His intense style of play would quickly make him a fan favorite in Dallas.  Keep an eye on this development in the weeks ahead. Cowboys made Brandon Aubrey the highest paid kicker in the NFL Seven million dollars per year sounds like a lot of money to pay for a field goal kicker. That’s what Dallas placekicker Brandon Aubrey will receive for the next four years after recently becoming the NFL’s highest paid kicker. Aubrey’s path to riches came without kicking a football in either high school or college.  He was a talented soccer player at Notre Dame and played professionally in Canada. The USFL’s Birmingham Stallions gave Brandon Aubrey a pro football tryout and signed him.  Aubrey delivered booming kick-offs and field goals in Birmingham over his two seasons with the spring football league team. The Dallas Cowboys signed him in 2023.  Brandon Aubrey made the NFL Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons.  He has booted six field goals of 60 yards or more in his career and provides the potent Dallas offense with a reliable scoring weapon. What about Dallas wide receiver George Pickens? Pickens (who played wide receiver in college at Georgia) was a second round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022.  His first NFL contract paid him nearly $7 million – over a four year period. George Pickens and former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t seem to get along very well.  Pickens occasionally displayed less than 100% effort on the field at times.  That put him into the coaches’ dog house.  He compounded his own troubles with the Steelers and their loyal fans by posting “Free Me” comments on social media. The Steelers obliged and sent “Pouty” Pickens packing to Dallas in 2025. For just a lowly 6th round draft pick, the Cowboys inserted George Pickens into the starting line-up last season and saw his on-field talent.  He snagged 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns for Dallas last year. Dallas’ primary wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, benefited from having the speedy George Pickens on the field at the same time running routes to keep defenses off balance. Following his productive 2025 season, Pickens demanded a new long-term contract from Dallas owner Jerry Jones. Instead, the Cowboys recently placed its “franchise” designation on their new wide receiver. The team likely wants to see more than one season of positive results prior to plunking down big bucks for a long-term deal. Don’t feel sorry for George Pickens. He will receive nearly $24 million for the upcoming 2026 season.  That “franchise” designation requires Dallas to pay him the average of the five highest paid wide receivers in the entire NFL. Dallas fans should watch closely to see if George Pickens will continue to show improvement this season or return into his former disgruntled self while playing in Pittsburgh. Can quarterback Dak Prescott finally lead the Cowboys to an NFC title game? Prescott is entering his 11th NFL season in Dallas.  His impressive personal stats and friendly personality have made him a fan favorite. That said, Dak is only 2-5 in playoff games during his first decade in Big D. The former Haughton High School (Shreveport area) and Mississippi State product is being paid $60 million per season.  A four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Dak Prescott is now being paid at a high level that team owner Jerry Jones, head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and Dallas fans now expect a deep run into the NFL playoffs. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, Prescott has not delivered – yet. Is Dallas a legitimate contender to win the NFC East this season? Absolutely! The NFC East has been dominated for the past several years by the Philadelphia Eagles.  Philly’s dominant defense and efficient offense has produced 50 wins against just 18 losses in the past four NFL seasons.  They won the 2024 Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Philadelphia’s core of top players on offense and defense has been dwindling by the year.  The Eagles posted an 11-6 record last season but were quickly bounced out of the playoffs in the opening round (at home) by San Francisco. Wagering lines posted by Las Vegas oddsmakers show the Philadelphia Eagles remaining the favorite to once again capture the NFC East title in 2026.  The Dallas Cowboys are projected to finish one game behind. Dallas must apply early pressure this fall to nudge the Eagles off their perch atop the NFC East standings. The Cowboys’ 2026 schedule appears somewhat favorable. Dallas plays nine home games and eight road games in the NFL’s 17-week regular season.  A pair of late season road games at defending Super Bowl champion Seattle and at the NFC runner-up Los Angeles Rams will likely decide the playoff fate for the Cowboys. To the surprise of no one, “America’s Team” (ugh) will play in six nationally televised prime time night games.   Three (including the season opener at the New York Giants) will be featured on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.   Dallas will appear twice on Monday Night Football (ESPN) and one time on Thursday night (Amazon Prime).   Prediction: There is no doubt that Dallas has an excellent opportunity to return to the playoffs in the 2026 NFL season.  The defense will improve (it can’t be worse than last season’s 32nd place showing).  Dallas’ productive offense (2nd in the NFL in scoring last year) is back and seems ready to roll once again. Regardless of whether defensive weapon Maxx Crosby comes aboard this year, I see Dallas improving to a record of 10-7 in the regular season. That means that Dallas should make the playoffs – either as NFC East champions or as a Wild Card entry. I have no clue about the playoffs.  Recent history would suggest that you might not wish to place any wagers on the “Boys” once the post-season begins. Buckle up and enjoy the ride this season, Cowboys fans! Perhaps this might even be the year when Dallas ends that 31-season “no titles” streak. The post Will the Dallas Cowboys finally end “The Streak” this season? appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

    Washington in Focus
    Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson Faces Recall Challenge + Ferguson Accused Of Playing Partisan Games

    Washington in Focus

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 26:24


    Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing a recall challenge as questions continue to mount over public safety, the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting and the resignation of former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. Two Seattle residents filed recall charges accusing Wilson of failing to fulfill her responsibilities on public safety. The mayor's office says the effort does not appear to have merit and that Wilson remains focused on making Seattle safer and more affordable. Also, scrutiny of Seattle's LEAD crime diversion program continues following a Washington Policy Center analysis challenging claims about the program's results. We Heart Seattle founder Andrea Suarez shares her criticism of LEAD and describes what she says she's witnessed firsthand on Seattle's streets. Finally, Washington State Rep. Jenny Graham speaks out after losing her home in the devastating Spokane fires. Graham is questioning election rules she says prevent her from reaching out to constituents during the emergency and is calling for a special legislative session as questions grow about Washington's handling of the accused arsonist. We're breaking down the latest developments from Seattle, Spokane and across Washington state on Washington in Focus Daily. #Seattle #SeattleNews #KatieWilson #SeattleMayor #SeattleRecall #SeattlePolitics #SeattlePolice #PublicSafety #LEAD #SeattleCrime #WashingtonNews #WashingtonPolitics #Spokane #SpokaneFires #JennyGraham #BobFerguson #WashingtonState #WashingtonInFocus #CenterSquare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Are You My Podcast?
    Married at First Sight, Season 20, Episodes 8 and 9 - Seattle

    Are You My Podcast?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 89:41


    Sarah and Mary RIP into MAFS Season 20 Eps 8 and 9: love bombing, light dimming, family chats, feather ruffling, group therapy - and more. Join us on Patreon for more of the inner sanctum with Sarah and Mary:MAFS Seattle Episodes 8 & 9   Subscribe, Follow, Like, and Review, Wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook.   Get RUMP Merch here: https://areyoumypodcast.bigcartel.com/   Visit honeylove.com/mypodcast for 20% off your order. Visit huel.com/mypodcast and use code MYPODCAST for 15% off. Visit oneskin.co and use code MYPODCAST for 15% off.   sarahcolonna.commaryradzinski.com      Sarah's merchMary's merch   © 2020-2022 Are You My Podcast?

    The Rant with Jeff Ratcliffe
    Seattle & Tampa Bay Team Previews

    The Rant with Jeff Ratcliffe

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 18:13


    Jeff Ratcliffe previews the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for fantasy football purposes in 2026. He kicks things off with the defending Super Bowl champs and breaks down why Sam Darnold is a decent superflex option, the outlooks for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, and why he's confident in Jadarian Price at his current cost. Jeff then heads to Tampa to talk about how he's approaching the backfield, Baker Mayfield's outlook, and which WR other than Emeka Egbuka he's interested in this year. Get Jeff's content: FTN Fantasy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast
    Problems with Using Autonomy as Your Guiding Moral Principle

    Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 58:00


    Greg answers questions about whether or not we can see evidence that God sustains the universe, and how to respond to someone who says autonomy is his guiding principle for morality.   Topics: Do we have evidence of God sustaining the universe? (12:00) How would you respond to someone who says autonomy is his guiding principle for morality. (26:00) Download the mp3...   Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 Made in Our Image by Stephen Driscoll Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 11–12 in Atlanta, GA; October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl Related Links: The Contingency Argument – Short video by Reasonable Faith Inside Out – Greg explains the tactic

    RealGM Radio with Danny Leroux
    Drafting Fantasy NBA Teams, Lakers Sale and NBA Schedule Release

    RealGM Radio with Danny Leroux

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 49:41


    The RealGM Radio crew is together for a Summer Roundtable! Wes Goldberg is joined by Mo Dakhil and Jared Dubin of Double Dribble and Basketball Poetry's Mike Shearer to react to another stunning Lakers ownership change, break down the NBA's newly announced schedule and battle through a tiered fantasy draft. First, the Lakers are reportedly being sold for $12 billion to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner—just 18 months after Mark Walter purchased the franchise. What could another massive valuation mean for NBA expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle? And somehow, Luka Doncic could already be playing for his third majority owner. Then, the guys grade the NBA's Christmas Day slate and opening week schedule before things get competitive. Using The Ringer's player rankings, Wes, Mo, Jared and Mike snake-draft seven-man rosters—with a catch: Each round is limited to a different 10-player tier, and once that round ends, every undrafted player from that tier disappears. Who can build the best team without immediately regretting their picks? RealGM Radio is your top spot for the best weekly NBA coverage. Subscribe to get RealGM Radio with Wes Goldberg, the Double Dribble and Good Take every week. Monday: Double Dribble with Jared Dubin and Mo Dakhil Tuesday: RealGM Radio with Wes Goldberg Wednesday: Double Dribble with Jared Dubin and Mo Dakhil Thursday: Good Take with Wes Goldberg and Mike Shearer Subscribe to watch more RealGM Radio videos: youtube.com/@RealGMRadio FOLLOW REALGM ON SOCIAL RealGM on X/Twitter https://x.com/RealGM RealGM on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/realgmnba/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Seattle Now
    Wednesday Evening Headlines

    Seattle Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 7:24


    Recall petition filed against Mayor Wilson, Seattle bans landlords from charging 'junk fees,' and Tacoma Police rescue 60 cats from an abandoned boat. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online or on the KUOW App.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Jason Rantz Show
    Hour 2: E-bike crashes, KING 5 smears ICE, Renton covers Flock cameras

    The Jason Rantz Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 48:17


    Two tragic crashes on e-bikes and scooters over the span of about 24 hours. KING 5 runs another anti-ICE smear. Seattle approves $300,000 for “trans refugees.” // Big Local: Unhinged Tacoma Democrats melt down over possible ICE building sale. Renton has voted to physically cover its Flock cameras. // You Pick the Topic: Media is mad that Trump was protected from a plot by the Iranian regime to kill him.

    PuckSports
    Daily Puck Drop "Newark Airport"

    PuckSports

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 15:30


    Puck is on his way home...finally! He's in the Newark Airport and recaps his two-week baseball adventure that covered over 17,000 miles, five different cities, 7 different ballparks, 5 major league parks and two minor league venues and a week of watching his son's team play in Cooperstown! A trip he wished would continue!   Puck plays a portion of his weekly chat with Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.  It's only a LITE version,  if you want to listen to the full show, sign up and join Puck's Posse at PuckSports.com. 

    Bob, Groz and Tom
    Hour 1: How the Mariners can fix their leadership and chemistry problems

    Bob, Groz and Tom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 42:19


    Bump and Stacy break down what the Mariners need to do to fix their glaring leadership and chemistry problems, they give you their thoughts on the sale of the Lakers and Coby Bryant’s injury in Headline Rewrites, they hear what Seahawks GM John Schneider said about Terrion Arnold’s visit to Seattle on last night’s episode of Hard Knocks, and Bump rants about fake police cars, air travel, and local bars. 

    Get Up in the Cool
    Episode 520: Hayden Stern (Classic Tunes for the Post-Yearning Era)

    Get Up in the Cool

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 52:53


    Welcome to Get Up in the Cool: Old Time Music with Cameron DeWhitt and Friends. This week's friend is Hayden Stern! We recorded this at his home in Seattle back in May. Tunes in this episode: Farewell to Santa Ana (Hayden Stern original) (0:32) Susie's (Hayden Stern original) (12:29) Pit Trap (Hayden Stern original) (29:24) Pretty Little Dog (42:23) Rhodendenron (Hayden Stern original) (49:33) BONUS TRACK: Barlow Knife Sign up for Hayden Stern's mailing list at his website Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok Pre-order his new album The Morning Dark Stream Boston Harbor Welcome, the single from his new album on Spotify, and Apple Music Support Get Up in the Cool on Patreon Send Tax Deductible Donations to Get Up in the Cool through Fracture Atlas Sign up at Pitchfork Banjo for my clawhammer instructional series! Schedule a banjo lesson with Cameron Visit Tall Poppy String Band's website and follow us on Instagram follow Sweeten the Third on Instagram

    Kimmer Show
    The Kimmer Show Hour 3 | Heroes, ICE Bee-Sting Gloves & Braves Baseball

    Kimmer Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 44:44


    California water polo player hailed as a hero after rescuing three drowning girls in Seattle, Bill Gates’ daughter facing allegations of “cookie stuffing,” and ICE’s $20 million purchase of electric bee-sting gloves. Pete delivers the latest Braves and Falcons news, including Atlanta’s shutout win over the Mets, Matt Olson’s 35th homer, NFL team valuations, and the latest around the Lakers.

    Think Out Loud
    Oregon Esperanto speakers share a universal language

    Think Out Loud

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 22:37


    Languages have evolved over time, but it is rare when one is just created. Nearly 140 years ago, a Polish linguist did just that. Esperanto was made with the intent to be a universal second language for international communication. It is difficult to measure just how many people speak the language, but it does have speakers across the globe.   In the Pacific Northwest, speakers will gather next month for the 45th anniversary of the Northwest Regional Esperanto Conference in Seattle. We're joined by three members of the Esperanto Society of Portland: Izaak Zawyrucha-Moore, Alaine Warfield and Bruce Sherwood. They share why they've chosen to learn this language and what it has meant for them.  

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official
    Daily Podcast pt. 2 - "What was your first tattoo?"

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 25:59


    Beat Migs! Seattle Tattoo Expo is this weekend so we ask the rockaholics about theirs.

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Kevin thinks he can Beat Migs! Tune in to find out.

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official
    Daily Podcast pt. 3 - "Things get heated in ep 2 of Hard Knocks"

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 22:49


    Beat Migs! So we go Straight To The Comments about Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald lecturing lineman Derick Hall during practice.

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official
    Calling all married men! A lady needs your help

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 5:03


    We ask the rockaholics a simple question about marriage.

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Slide Into Our VMs for a real treat.

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official
    Daily Podcast pt. 1 - "What do you do to relieve stress?"

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 19:20


    Happy Hump Day! We ask the rockaholics, inspired by the Hard Knocks ep2 where Leonard Williams does something surprising.

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official
    Daily Podcast pt. 4 - "Do these 90s songs still hit?"

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 28:35


    Beat Migs! We found a list so Steve puts Taryn and Danny to the test.

    BJ Shea Daily Experience Podcast -- Official

    Zach wants to Beat Migs! Tune in to play along.

    The Tom and Curley Show
    Hour 2: Nude dining launches at South Florida steakhouse: ‘Yes, it's legal'

    The Tom and Curley Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 31:16


    VIDEO GUEST - ERIC ZIMMERMAN - NEW HEAD OF RESEARCH FOR HOMELESSNESS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OUTCOMES IN WA STATE AT THE WA POLICY CENTER // Inaccurate claims, systematic overstatements, and selection bias undermine justification for Seattle's LEAD Model, new report finds // Man with world's smallest penis shares doctor's advice before life-changing surgery // Nude dining launches at South Florida steakhouse: ‘Yes, it’s legal’ // Paul Winter - Whale Concerts 

    The Tom and Curley Show
    Hour 1: Will Democrats Disavow the DSA Platform

    The Tom and Curley Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 32:30


    I WAS THINKING:  When Socialism Becomes Pity // Will Democrats Disavow the DSA Platform // Spike O’Neill calls in to debate John’s take on socialism being a form of “pity” // Sea Lion Radio brings Seattle’s barks, bleats and yaps to the world

    The Tom and Curley Show
    Hour 3: Researchers Want You to Start Smiling at Dogs

    The Tom and Curley Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 31:55


    Interim police chief addressing Bite of Seattle shooting response at city council //  ‘I can’t say yes or no’: Interim SPD chief on third Bite of Seattle suspect //  Seahawks buyer Vinod Khosla chimes in on discussion of grass at Lumen Field // Researchers Want You to Start Smiling at Dogs // Dogs can tell when you’re happy, sad or frustrated, study shows // Contradicting public statements, Trump took secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian threat //  LETTERS

    The Tom and Curley Show
    Hour 4: Sea Lion Radio brings Seattle's barks, bleats and yaps to the world

    The Tom and Curley Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 32:30


    I WAS THINKING:  When Socialism Becomes Pity // Will Democrats Disavow the DSA Platform? // Spike O’Neill calls in to debate John’s take on socialism being a form of “pity” // Sea Lion Radio brings Seattle’s barks, bleats and yaps to the world

    Glenn Davis Soccer
    08/11 Hour 2 - World Cup Impact on Seattle, Atlanta, Texas, and More!

    Glenn Davis Soccer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 50:23


    Hour 2 of Soccer Matters included conversations with Seattle Sounders insider Niko Moreno, Atlanta United commentator Jason Longshore, and also Austin based sports journalist and editor for FIFA, Arch Bell

    Glenn Davis Soccer
    08/11 Hour 1 - How the World Cup is Changing Soccer in America

    Glenn Davis Soccer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 50:30


    Soccer Matters with Glenn Davis!Glenn traveled across the US with guests from Atlanta, Seattle, and Austin to discuss how soccer in America, and MLS is changing because of the success of hosting the World CupPlus conversations on the big leagues getting started soon, the recent play of the Dynamo, and Game on for 90 on the need for transparency in sports ownership/management.

    The Hawk's Nest Podcast
    Seahawks 2026 Season Outlook + Early NFL Draft Prospects with Rob Staton

    The Hawk's Nest Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 79:05


    Rob Staton of Seahawks Draft Blog joins Brandon Cain on The Hawk's Nest for a deep dive into the Seahawks, the upcoming season, and the next wave of NFL Draft talent. We'll break down the state of the Seahawks roster, the biggest strengths and concerns heading into the season, players who could make a major impact, position groups to watch, and what could ultimately determine how far Seattle goes in 2026. Link to my YouTube Channel. Live on Wed and Sunday, 5PM PST...https://www.youtube.com/@TheHawksNest12thman?sub_confirmation=1 Link to my Patreon....https://www.patreon.com/thehawksnest Twitter...@SeahawksNester Twitch...@TheSeahawksNest Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Suite Spot: A Hotel Marketing Podcast
    212 – Independent Hotel Show Series: Staypineapple Hotels Inc.

    Suite Spot: A Hotel Marketing Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 56:41


    With just a little over a month away from the 2026 Independent Hotel Show Miami taking place, special guest and President of Staypineapple Hotels Inc., Dina Belon, joins the Suite Spot to discuss the Stayepineapple brand, the independent hotel industry, and what she is looking forward to from IHS Miami 2026! Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree. Back for another edition of season two of our independent hotel show series, where we are getting geared up and ready for that annual tradition down in Miami Beach at the Independent Hotel Show. We cannot wait. We’re gonna talk a little bit about it with our guests. We actually met for the first time in person last year at this event. We’re able to spend some time with her. Dina Belon, president at Staypineapple Hotels. Dina, thank you so much for joining me back on The Suite Spot. Dina Belon: Oh, thank you so much for inviting me, Ryan. This is amazing. I’m so excited. We had such a good time in Miami last year, it was a blast and, uh, talking to you felt like I was talking to a friend. Ryan Embree: Well, I appreciate it. I feel the same. Just honored to be speaking with you here. And I can’t believe we’re here. It’s we’re just months away from the Independent Hotel Show. It’s gonna be bigger, better than ever. We’re excited about it. We’re gonna talk about it. But we did have you on for the first time, so we had the opportunity. Usually, I start these episodes by a little bit of a background and kind of an introduction, but I’m gonna start a little unorthodox today. There was a post that I saw on LinkedIn, which by the way, for our Suite Spot listeners, make sure you say, uh, you follow Staypineapple Hotels and Dina. Great follows on LinkedIn. But there’s an, an article called Everything Staypineapple Hotels Dina Belon Does in a Day. And I thought that was such a cool and creative idea and concept. Talk to us a little bit about how that idea originated and give us a day in life. What is it like to be Dina Belon? Dina Belon: Well, I tried to be very honest. Hopefully it was fun too. I, there’s a lot of humor in my day, and so hopefully that came across. Um, the magazine, uh, that’s a local magazine here in, uh, east, the east side of Seattle and Bellevue and Kirkland area of Washington does those highlights of leaders in the area, um, on a regular basis. So it was fun, uh, a little stressful because you had to, like, take photographs and, you know, kind of just walk through your day. Um, I loved, though, really integrating my pets, because they’re a big part of my life. And so it started off with Molly waking me up at 5:45, which is actually what she does every morning. About 15 minutes before my alarm goes off, my little kitty cat starts yelling at me about wanting water. Um, so yeah, all the way until, you know, 8:00 at night and a lovely glass of wine with my husband. And all the shenanigans in the middle. Ryan Embree: Yeah. And I think it’s so cool because I think it, you know, we obviously work in the people business, right? In hospitality. Uh, we host people from all over the world, all different walks of life. Um, but to see, you know, sometimes, uh, I think right now, especially right now, right, when there’s all this talk of AI and technology and stuff like that, it’s really refreshing to see our industry leaders. And I get that. I have the, the privilege of getting that, interviewing some of the industry leaders when they talk to me about their, you know, beginnings and, and how maybe they started as a bellman or a front desk agent or fell into the industry. And I think the more that we can kind of humanize and show that these are people that really have a true passion for serving other people. Um, and then on the other side of the front desk, the guests that come into our lobbies, they are people too, whether they’re on a work trip, where they’re trying to escape. You know, sometimes it, it’s refreshing to take, take a beat and think about that. And that’s exactly what this article did for me because it is, you know, even though we’re hospitality, we’re in it, the hustle bustle, 365, twenty four seven. We’re still people, right? Yeah. We’re still people with our pets and, and, and our, uh, you know, what we like to do. Um, so it was a really cool, I think, uh, refreshing look. I wa – I definitely wanted to bring that in. Br – um, and, and your love of pets, it goes right along with your brand, uh, Staypineapples Hotel. And, you know, I’ve come to know and love through your content, your keynotes at the Independent Hotel Show, uh, following you on LinkedIn. For those audience members that might not be as familiar, uh, share with us, uh, a little bit about what makes Staypineapple Hotels so unique and one of a kind. Dina Belon: Yeah. So we are the opposite of corporate uniformity, uniformity. Uh, we’re really about, you know, a boutique sp – hotel experience with a lot of personality. Um, so one of the things that we’re well known for is the naked experience, um, which is, uh, a little eye-opening to a lot of people, but all it really is, is a fun, cheeky, which we like to do, uh, marketing way to talk about our bed and our bedding and our linen and our terry is so comfy, cozy and amazing, you’ll wanna sleep naked. Um, so it, and we give you an, a big cuddly robe so that you don’t come to the door naked. Ryan Embree: There you go. Dina Belon: Um, so that, that’s, that’s very indicative of the Staypineapple personality. Um, we’re also, um, not just pet friendly, we’re dog obsessed. Um, so we, uh, really go over the top with our pet program. We have a partnership with Soundz, S-O-U-N-D-Z, uh, that is, um, uh, sounds, uh, in music – Sure. That, um, pets like and that calm them when they feel nervous, um, that is available for guests, uh, at no cost, a 14-day, uh, free trial. And then, um, we have a partnership with, uh, an emergency veterinary, uh, service called Veg. Um, of course, you get beds and bowls and treats and, um, water bottles and poop bags and all kinds of stuff when you bring, uh, your furry friend. Although we’re dog obsessed, we also love kitty cats too. I have two kitty cats and two dogs. So, um, we, yeah, we’re, we’re pretty over the top with the pet thing. And then we have a, we have a number of the properties that have, uh, hotel dogs as well. Um, so one of the management staff ha – brings their dog to work every day and has really become a, a core team member. Um, you wouldn’t believe how many reviews we get, uh, with our, our furry, uh, friends being, uh, listed as their favorite part of the hotel. Ryan Embree: Yeah. I’ve seen them at trade show nows at industry trade shows. Yeah. You’ll have, like, a puppy break. Uh, brilliant. Brilliant. Dina Belon: It’s my favorite thing. Ryan Embree: Yeah. It just gets people in, in, in a happy mood. People love it. So, uh, and, and the focus of, of the dog obs – dog obsessed, um, i- i- is, is so smart. I mean, p – you know, people. We always think about how stressful travel is, obviously, from a logistics and s – and people standpoint, but obviously on our pets too. They’re in a place that they’ve never been before. Um, they don’t know that they’re heading across the country or even down the road. They’re in somewhere unnatural. So that’s really, really cool that you can kind of make them feel at ease there. And, and I’m sure the guest feedback, uh, from that has been really, really great to see. Um, now, you talked about, um, Staypineapple being a, a very unique boutique brand. Um, I noticed one word you didn’t mention in there, which is, uh, independent or non-branded. Uh, you prefer the term unchained. And I wanna explore that a little bit. I don’t wanna give you too much, uh, of a question. I, I’d like, like you to kinda run with that. Why do you prefer unchained to maybe independent segment or non-branded? Dina Belon: So to me, independent, non-branded, um, you know, indicates that we’re small or we’re isolated or, um. And, and I think it’s, um, diminishing to 30% of the hotel sector, which is truly unchained in both term, both ways that that term can be used. One, we are not attached to a chain in literal terms, but we’re also unchained from a limitation perspective. I think what is so amazing about the independent or the in – the unchained sector of the market to the guest is the founders, the visionaries, the leadership teams, the hotel teams at these hotels put their lifeblood and their passion and their vision and their belief in hospitality into these properties and into the experiences guests are gonna get. It is not a corporate ownership that is managed by a brand that has 5,000 other w – hotels just like it. And, you know, the onsite hotel team has reams of binders to tell them how to do their job. Um, we believe very much in no SOPs. Um, we have, uh, ultimate SOP. It’s do the next right thing. That’s the SOP for Staypineapple. It’s that simple. Just do the next right thing. We help the team understand that a little bit with kind of some guidelines, which is what is the best thing for you and your colleagues? What is the best thing for the guests? And what is the best thing for the business? And if you frame that question, those questions under do the next right thing, anybody can make the right decision at any moment, at every level of the organization. When we talk about empowerment, it isn’t, you know, we’ve given you a toolkit. I always loved this, because I worked in, in the brands. Um, and we always had a toolkit. You had a toolbox full of things that you could use to solve a problem. Well, I don’t need to give you a toolbox. You are a grown person that is a professional in the hospitality industry and you’ve entered this industry with a passion for people. Why would I tell you how to do your job, um, in every aspect with books of SOPs? Instead, I should get out of your way and let you be who you are in an authentic way. Because that connects with people. If, uh, you know, we put, we put people in our industry in a blazer, a Navy blazer, and a name tag, and tell them, “This is how you answer the phone. This is how you greet somebody. This is how you do this.” Basically, you’re a representation of the brand, so you need to fit in this box. Well, I believe in a different hospitality, in a hospitality that is, um, grounded in, um, real people and real human beings and, and mistakes even, and quirkiness, and stuff that you wouldn’t necessarily, uh, engage in or experience in your normal life. That’s why you’re traveling. You wanna experience different things and new things. You’re going to a new place. And so we don’t have, um, dress. We don’t have uniforms for our front of house team members. We do for back of house simply because we don’t want the back of house team to have to ruin their own clothes because the engineers get their clothes snagged and the housekeepers get their clothes dirty and, you know, so it’s more just to take care of our team. But, um, the front of house team doesn’t have uniforms. They get to wear their own clothes to work. That’s another idea. It’s like, I want you to be you, but wear this black polo shirt that makes you look like everybody else. Or Navy Blazer that makes you look everybody, right? Like the entire concept of what we think is normal and standard in our industry is the antithesis of what we’re trying to create as an experience for a guest. Um, so it’s really important to us, you know, you can have colored hair and ear piercings and tattoos. And I remember early in my career, it was always, um, I love to tell this story. Um, the, the dress code, because I was a manager, so I was allowed to wear my own clothes, but the dress code was, had to have, um, pants or a skirt, uh, a, a jacket, had to have a blazer, and it had to be of solid color. So what I’ve got on today would not have applied. Um, my shoes could not have open toes and an open heel, one or the other. And I had to have pantyhose on. So I lived in Florida. I remember I stopped wearing pantyhose at some point because they were hot. And so I, I actually had an HR person, uh, come up to me and say, “By the way, um, we’ve, we’ve noticed that you’re not meeting the dress code.” And I just turned around and looked at her and I was like, “Those things make me sweat. I have to be out by the pool sometimes. I have to be outside. It’s too hot. I’m not wearing them. Fire me.” Ryan Embree: Yeah. Yeah. Dina Belon: That was the end of pantyhose in our dress code. I was like, “Good luck with that.” Ryan Embree: Right. And I’m sure the person on the other side, you know, it, it, they were just obviously following the guidelines – Right. And the standards of what was put before them. And you’re absolutely right, Dina. You know, the, the one thing that we talk about all the time, and you talk to. Uh, I’ve talked to industry leaders about is, you know, what makes your management company brand property so great? Usually the first thing they say is they’re people. Yet, when you’re putting those people in a box, how great can they actually be, right? Every property is so different because of the individuals that make up that property. Um, so, you know, that thought process is, is so brilliant to, to think of the individualism and the passion can kind of shine through because it’s those stories that you talked about in the unchained or the independent sector that, that reason why I, this is one of my favorite series, because I get to sit and talk to independent hoteliers and, and hear their stories, their struggles, their challenges, but also their successes, their passions, where they built this, this property that has been, you know, where they’ve had these struggles, but they’ve gotten over the hump and they just love it so much and you can just see it come out in that, that, uh, conversation. It’s, and sometimes very different. Nothing to knock the brands, but sometimes very different when you’re talking to a GM of a branded hotel. Um, and it’s m- maybe just a stop on, on their way to the career. So it is one piece of advice I hear all the time is if you’re a hospitality professional out there, you know, maybe explore the independent hotel down the road. You know, get some good experience there. It’ll, you’re definitely gonna learn a lot, that’s for sure. Yeah. Um, you’re gonna get a lot of – Well, it depends on – Yeah. Dina Belon: Yeah, what you like, right? And I agree with you. One isn’t right or wrong. I spent the vast majority of my career in the, in the branded hotel space. Um, and I just found my happy place in – Sure. In the independent space, right? I, because I was always bucking the rules when I worked in the brands. And I didn’t, I didn’t even know what boutique and. I, I though boutique hotels were just little. Like, I literally, when I started at Staypineapple, I love the story too. ‘Cause when I started, I was like, “I’m gonna come in and show them how to write SOPs and, and brand standards, and we’re gonna standardize this, and we’re gonna scale it, and it’s gonna be, you know, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” I had, I told, because I had spent my whole career in that space. Um, I believed passionately in brand standards when I started at Staypineapple. And I remember, um, our CFO telling me, “Do not say the word brand standard. You will send Michelle off the deep end.” Michelle is our founder. Yeah. And I was like, “What? I don’t understand.” Yeah. “How could you not have brand standards? How do you even operate this place without brand standards?” Right? Right. Um, and, and it took me a couple of years to really internalize what the difference in the business model is. Again, one is not right or wrong. They both have their strengths. But if you’re, uh, a free spirit, if you’re somebody. Like we hire for three things. Authenticity. Like your. First of all, people underestimate the willingness to be authentic. If you have been trained to put on a mask when you go to work and, and almost be an actor and play a part at the hotel, it’s very difficult to take that mask off and, and allow the vulnerability of being yourself. ‘Cause if somebody rejects you when you’re being yourself, it hurts a lot more than if a guest rejects you and yells at you when you have a mask on. That’s a Ryan Embree: Great point. Dina Belon: You’re being somebody else, right? Yeah. So it’s a harder position for our team members, I think, to be their authentic selves. Um, the next is really critical thinking. The ability to problem solve and, and, and be creative and figure out ways to, um. We know to say yes. That’s one of our sayings. We notice. We know how to say yes. Yes is not always a direct yes. Sometimes you have to go around to get to yes, but we know how to do that. And that’s all about creativity and critical thinking. And then really, the last one, um, I think is underserved in our industry, which is emotional intelligence. Um, that ability to read people. And, and it connects to that critical thinking, right? If I can, if I can, uh, connect with you on an emotional level and understand you better, understand your psychographics as a person, which is much deeper than that you like Diet Coke, right? I want to know things deeper than that about you. Then I can use that emotional intelligence to be creative and create, create hyper-personalized experiences for you. That is something that I think isn’t. It. The industry in general, particularly on the branded side, does not foster in our industry. If those things are interesting to you, then go check out the independent or unchained space, because I think you’ll be a lot happier coming from a recovering brand employee. Ryan Embree: Ryan Embree: Yeah. I, I love that. I love everything about that. I mean, those skills are. I mean, it’s, it’s at the core of hospitality, um, especially the emotional intelligence. And I think y- you’re absolutely right. It’s a skill needed now more than ever, by the way. Um, and it’s gonna get trickier to navigate. So we’ll be those, those younger, um, hospitality professionals and, you know, at, at, at any age, really, that invest that time and effort into honing in that skill that are gonna, that are gonna see successes there. Um, I wanna, I wanna take, uh, a step back, Dina, and kinda look at the hospitality landscape right now for independent and, or unchained, uh, uh, hotels. Where do you see opportunity in today’s landscape? And then maybe where are some of the bigger challenges that, that they’re coming up against? Dina Belon: Sure. So I think one of our biggest opportunities I just mentioned, which is hyper-personalization, um, we really look at this, i- if you kinda start at the beginning of the process of how you do hyperpersonalization. Um, it really starts with zero-party data for us. Uh, every brand or every group or every, you know, independent hotel is different, um, in their philosophy on this. I’ve certainly, um, experienced and, um, met with people that do research on their guests online. They look up your Facebook page. They check you out and see what you might be talking about. Um, we have decided to take the approach that we only wanna use data that you have freely and willingly given us. Um, so we communicate with our guests a lot, um, when we can. So there’s a little bit of a differentiator here when we talk about this. Um, if you’re coming in as an Expedia or a Booking.com guest, probably not getting this experience because we don’t have, we don’t have much information about you, and those OTAs don’t like to share. So, but if, uh, you’ve stayed with us before or it’s a direct booking, then we have communicated with you, um, in a way that is fun and cheeky and kinda starts to get you. Um, w- we like to, we like to encourage kind of a pre-arrival experience that is, um, engaging and, and, and gets you kind of primed for what Staypineapple is gonna be like. So you’re not, like, smacked in the fa – you know, you’re expecting a Marriott courtyard and you’re smacked in the face with Staypineapple. Ryan Embree: Right. You got a dog running up to you and yeah. Um, Dina Belon: So one of the things we do is ask a very open-ended question, um, in a pre-arrival email to all of our, uh, direct booking guests. And it says, um, basically in a cheeky way, I don’t remember exactly how it’s phrased, but it’s why you come in to stay with us. And you would be shocked at the amount of information that people share with us and, like, get into deep personal things and tell us all kinds of stuff. That is a trevor – treasure trove of information. Again, that’s stuff that matters. Not whether Jack Daniels is your favorite, you know, liquor. Uh, like, I wanna know that you’re. What, what do you volunteer for? What, what are you passionate about? What do you care about? Are you married? Do you have kids? You know, like, the things that, that you really, really make you who you are, right? That’s, that’s what we really look at for hyper-personalization and allows our team to use their creativity. So that’s just step one, right? Gotta have the information. And then two, you have to have a culture of people that are encouraged and inspired to be creative, to do fun, interesting things, not just deliver a bottle of wine to your room. What? Ryan Embree: Yeah. Dina Belon: Right? Um, like, do something that’s about me, not about you. It, like, that’s what I always say. To me, the bottle of wine in the room is about you buying my loyalty. It’s about you as a hotel. It’s not about me as an individual. So everything should be about the individual and about what makes them excited or happy or feel welcome or feel like they belong, um, there. How many times have you walked into a hotel and you felt like there was a cool club and you didn’t belong? Ryan Embree: Mm. Yeah. Dina Belon: So awful. It is the worst thing about hotels, I think. One of the other things that I just find, um, disheartening about our, our industry is that many people that are not related to the hotel business think you can’t go in a hotel if you’re not a guest. That’s so sad to me, right? Like, there’s, there’s this perception of a barrier, and it’s the opposite of what we should be. Like, we believe our hotels are very much a community hub. And so we encourage the community to come into the hotel. And we don’t even, we don’t have a lot of food and beverage. And some of our properties don’t have any. Some have just limited. We have a few full-service restaurants, but it’s not about us wanting to make money in our restaurants. It’s about us wanting to create an atmosphere in the hotel that is engaging and activating for the guests that are coming. ‘Cause the guests wanna interact with locals. They don’t want to interact with somebody from New York – Right. When they’re in Seattle. They wanna hang out with Seattle people, right? Yeah. So it’s, it’s a real win-win model, but you have to turn, you have to turn that barrier so many people think exists. Ryan Embree: Well, you touched on two things there, Dina, that at the core of this independent hotel show series, it really comes back to, which is loyalty, you know, just fierce, fierce loyalty for inde – I mean, the type of loyalty that I hear from guests talking about independent hotels is very different from the other points or nights that I’m, that I’m hearing in, on the other side of it. And, and it’s a depth that will be word of mouth. I mean, when you talk about word of mouth, like, that is the ultimate s – what marketing can’t buy, right? That storytelling that they’re going to be able to provide you champions of your brand and advocates for your hotel. Uh, the second thing is local community engagement and getting the community on board with what you do. I see it no greater place than Miami when we’re at, at the independent hotel show. And they talk about trying to just infuse that Miami culture into their own properties. And it does attracts a lot of locals. And, and you’re absolutely right. It’s, there’s a parallel where probably somewhere where you, where we talk a lot about reputation and people being scared of those one-star, two-star, or even negative feedback in any sense of it, embracing that and saying, “I don’t want one-star reviews, but I wanna see the negative feedback so that I can fix it, right? I want those, I want those locals to come into my hotel. Um, I don’t wanna put that barrier up because I wanna be that community hub. I love that. So what about any challenges you think right now? Dina Belon: Yeah, I think, um, the, there’s, there’s a number of challenges. I mean, I can, I can talk about the obvious, the headwinds on inflation, the cost of human and financial capital, maintaining service quality while we’re trying to maximize profit. Yeah. I like all of the blah, blah, blah. All of the, Ryan Embree: Yeah. All those talking points. Dina Belon: Yeah. They’re not very fun topics though. Um, honestly, I think the most interesting topic right now is really AI. And I do think it’s our biggest risk, particularly in our, our world of this unchained or independent hotel space. It’s the biggest risk we have, and it’s also the biggest opportunity. And it could go either way. And I think it will probably go hard one way or the other. It won’t be somewhere in the middle. And the reality is, is AI, AI search, which is kind of where we’re at right now, not, we’re not really to the point of bookings starting a little tiny bit. But, um, AI search is focused on very deep, complex, broad data about a hotel. So a, a person, and it really starts with the search parameters. You’re going from keyword search, like, I’m going to Seattle and I wanna be near Pioneer Square, to, I’m interested in a boutique hotel with a cool vibe that has a restaurant and provides a great sleep experience. Those two searches are completely different and is where the threat and the opportunity comes from. The opportunity is, as the hotel owner, operator, you have the best opportunity to create very deep content that is searchable by an AI. Compared to Booking.com and Expedia and all the others, their scale just does not allow them to create that kind of deep content for every hotel on their site, right? So you can create a higher value for the AI search to go to your website over somewhere else that it can go find your hotel. You might still find your hotel, but you’d rather get the booking. Um, direct and get the AI sending the guests to your website to check out the hotel than to booking.com ‘s website to check out. So that’s where the opportunity is. Threat is very real that the big brands and the OTAs have the pocketbooks, bandwidth, the resources to win at this fight and come in and put themselves between us and our guests. And so I think both at a legislative level, all the way down to individual property advocacy and elevating your voice online and everything in between, every hoteler, hotelier needs to be paying attention to. Because in the next five years, you could lose, you could lose the connection to your guests prior to arriving. And that, for us, that would ruin a huge part of our experience. Like we have pre-arrival concierge that helps you curate and plan your experience for your whole trip, not just your hotel stay. All of that would be for naught if I can’t communicate with my guests. Ryan Embree: 100%. Yeah. Uh, seismic shift happening, technologics pl – like shifting beneath us. Uh, I think you’re absolutely where it’s gonna impact everyone from the big brands all the way down to the small independent hotel who, who thinks, “Oh, this is, this isn’t coming for me. It’s gonna have wide ranging effects. It’ll be very, very interesting to see.” But share your concern, but also hopefully that little bit of hope there too, that it, it does go that right way and hospitality stays in, in somewhere where we come to know and, and love our industry. I wanna shift gears. Another thing I’ve, uh, learned about you over the years following your content and your career is your work, uh, inspiring, empowering the next generation of female hospitality professionals. Dina, I’ve seen you on stage at, at multiple panels, uh, a- a- around this subject. Tell us a little bit about the work you do behind the scenes and any tips you would share for up and coming Suite Spot female listeners or just the listeners in general here. Dina Belon: Yeah, I do. I love this topic. I, I love to empower women. Um, I think, uh, uh, we’re, we’re a force in this industry, um, and our voice should be heard. Um, so I, I like to support other women by a couple of things. Um, you’ll, you’ll, you’ll start to notice, I like to simplify things down to like one, two, three points at most. Yeah, I like it. Um, because I think it’s the way the human brain works. Sure. And the best way we can kind of, uh, create change – Yeah. Is by having a very focused, uh, approach to it. I really like self-advocacy, um, and encouraging women to self-advocate, because I think in general, this is a generalization because it’s not all women, but in general, we’re not great at it. Um, men are much better at self-advocacy than women. There’s been all kinds of study and research done on that. Um, and it’s a huge part of why women are paid less, why women are promoted less, because they just don’t ask. They don’t raise their hand. Um, and so I. And then the, the second point kind of ties in, which is leading by example. And so I think I love to tell stories about my career when self-advocacy was a benefit to me and how I got to where I am. And I’m afraid of it too. Let me tell all the female listeners I am not great at self-advocacy. Um, I’ve learned to do it over the years while I’m kind of gritting my teeth in the back of my mouth. Um, but I, there’s been a number of times when, you know, the really, the places where my career really took off, um, I stood up for myself and I raised my hand and I said, “I can do that.” Or, “I can even do more than what you asked me for.” So I’ll give you an example. Um, when I was at Wyndham, um, we, we acquired another company that did the same thing as we did. Um, and we were looking at how to create efficiency and blah, blah, blah. One was in Seattle and one was in Florida. And I was in the Florida office and I was asked, and we were the acquirer, so we acquired the company in Seattle. And so I was asked to fly out to Seattle and check out how my division, which we did all the renovation work and capital improvements and stuff like that, how my division would work with the group in Seattle. And so off I went on a plane and met with them and talked to them and figured out how they did things and figured out how we did things. Um, and so the ask was like, how do we merge the two and how do we create some efficiency? And I came back with a combined team that had me at the top of it with a promotion to vice president. It was really hard for me to do. It was a little bit easier because I gotta do it in writing and send it in and I didn’t have to say it out loud. Um, but it worked. And it was the first VP role I ever had. I was one of the youngest vice presidents at Wyndham. I remember the first time I went to the all leadership meeting, which was, happened once a year at Wyndham. There was 500 people there. This is vice presidents and above. Um, that’s how large the organization is. Um, that’s less than 5% of the employment base of the company. Um, and I was one of the youngest and I was one of the few women that were in the room. And I was blown away by that factor. And I went, “I, I need to work at do- doing something about this. I need to help other women.” ‘Cause particularly 20 years ago probably, um, there was a little bit more sharp elbows among women. There were so few seats in leadership that we were competing for them. And I think women weren’t as good as we are today at lifting everybody up instead of competing with each other. Adding more chairs at the table instead of competing for the one that a woman is gonna fail, fill. Um, so those, I think, are really my biggest things that I recommend younger women focus on is be an example to other women around you, above you, below you, beside you, I don’t care. Advocate for yourself. Advocate for other women and support each other. Um, don’t compete with each other. Ryan Embree: Yeah, I love that. I love that story. And I think we, you know, it’s inspiring to hear those, right? Because it, it can be scary sometimes. Um, but to hear those, those stories, those real life, um, you know, personal, uh, examples in front of you, those are the things that maybe get you that extra bit of confidence there. And it’s, it’s very, very cool to see. So, uh, appreciate your work there. And, um, you know, ex- excited to, to share that with those tips for the audience. Definitely wanted to, to, um, go into that topic a little bit. Um, but this is the Independent Hotel Show series. We might change your episode to say Unchained Hotel Series. But, uh, we’ll, we’re gonna. This is. We’re talking today about the Independent Hotel Show happening this year, September 16th and 17th. Uh, Miami Beach. Remember, listeners, uh, don’t forget to use promo code Ryan26. That’s for a complimentary, uh, registration. Dina, you’re on the advisory board. You’ve been a long time supporter of this show. What inspired you? Take me back to when you were first kind of asked to get involved with the show. Uh, what inspired you to get in, like, first involved with it? And how do you see it supporting independent hoteliers? Dina Belon: Yeah. I was, uh, introduced to it before the very first one and asked to be on the advisory board. And it was an immediate yes, and yes, what can I, what can I do to help? Because I knew that there was a gap in our industry in the independent space for a place for independents to get together and have real conversations and real opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other. We’re so isolated, um, in, in many ways. Like, we don’t have a mothership to create all of the stuff, the, you know, programs or education or philosophy or how do you do this? Or what do you do with that? Or, you know, how do you get mustard stains out of the towels? You know, like, anything. Like, we don’t have a mothership that helps us, that hands us a bunch of stuff and tells us how to do it. Each of us are creating all of this on our own. And that’s part of what makes our sector of the industry so unique and great, is that you get a different experience at every property because they’re all created through a visionary process. But there’s also a lot that we could share best practices and adapt what somebody else is doing to what we’re doing. I, like, I love to talk to, um, suppliers and vendors and tech companies, um, that reach out to me all the time because I learn from them. I learn what they’re doing, um, how one of their customers is doing something. You know, like, we constantly have a need for new knowledge and collaboration in our space that didn’t exist. And so this show is one of the only things that are really in our space focused on us and give us the opportunity to do that. It is an incredibly good show. It’s so well curated from, uh, an educational perspective, from the sessions. There’s multiple stages. Um, everything is in one room, which I love. Um, you can, you know, you can be listening to a panel discussion that’s really energizing, and then you’ve got a 10-minute break and you can run over and see a vendor that you wanted to talk to because you’ve only got 10 minutes. And then you get, you know, it’s not spread out. It’s not like the big shows where, you know, you’re gonna have to walk 10 miles to get to something. And the people that are there care and are focused on the independent space. So you’re also not gonna get the eye rolls and the you’re too small and we don’t care about you, and oh, you’re not part of Marriott, uh, you know, conversation, whether with vendors or with anybody, right? The, the people that are here are passionate about this part of the industry and are ready and willing to help anybody that comes to the show improve what they’re doing. Uh, like, I love helping other independent hoteliers, uh, in any way I can. In any context, talking about distribution, talking about guest service, talking about, you know, any, any part, because there are enough customers out there for all of us. I know we’re competitors, but, um, helping, helping everybody lift is a much better strategy than trying to elbow somebody out. Ryan Embree: Absolutely. We’re all in it together. 100% agree. And it’s funny, you know, you were mentioning at the, at the top of the answer about, you know, how independent hotels don’t have some of these resources that the big brands do. Uh, you know, one of the, one of the common things that big brands do is have an annual conference, right? And they get everybody together and, and share ideas and challenges. This is like the annual conference for independent hotel shows. So it’s a sense of belonging. Um, it’s a different energy. It’s a different. It’s, it’s a different type of, uh, uh, of event. Um, it. So real quick, first, uh, tip for any first time attendees that, uh, might be going. Dina Belon: Yeah. Um, I think two. Again, I love my, my two or three points. Um, be curious. So show up curious, um, and, and open and willing to share. Um, because that’s what your, your analogy to a brand conference is perfect because, um, that’s what we’re there to do is help each other. Um, and being curious will help you just be a sponge and take things in. Um, use, use AI in this scenario, um, and help have an AI assistant help you, an electronic one in your pocket, help you remember all the stuff that is gonna come at you because it’s gonna come like a fire hose and it’s gonna be really hard to remember it all when you get home. Um, I use Pocket for anybody who cares. It’s a little tiny device that I literally keep in my pocket. And I push it anytime I have an idea, I can just talk into it. Or I can push it if I’m having an interesting conversation with somebody and it’ll record that conversation. Of course, I ask the person before I do it. Um, but right? So that it, so that you’re, you’re capturing all of that interesting, cool ideas and, um, vendors and sup – you know, people that can support you. Um, it, walk away from an interaction with somebody and they’ve handed you their business card. Take your little device. It can be your phone too, but however you wanna do it and say, “I just met Ryan with Suite Spot and I really wanna be on his podcast. I need to reach out to him after when I get back.” And then your little AI will give you a to-do when you get back, uh, home. So that’s, that’s my number one tech tip. Um, and then I think the other, the opposite of that, which is a little challenging sometimes, is set the technology down and be present and be aware and pay attention. And don’t be on your phone answering emails from your staff back at your hotel. Like, I know it’s super hard to disconnect and, and be present while you’re at the conference, but you’ll gain a lot more if you’re there and you’re listening and you’re talking. Like, if you go to some of the educational sessions, raise your hand, ask questions. Make a point. Don’t even ask a question. If you’ve got an idea that the panel needs to hear, raise your hand and say it. Um, because it’s a, it’s a dialogue. This isn’t a. There’s, you know, we don’t have the president of Marriott and the president of Wyndham sitting on a panel telling us all how to do things. We’re all collaborators that are telling how we’re doing things and wanting to hear how you’re doing it and figuring out how we can share, share those ideas. So be present. Ryan Embree: That, that’s a great. Yeah, that’s a great mindset to, to enter this show into. My tip is gonna be make sure you see Dina Bellin on stage, uh, because she’s gonna be there once again. You’re gonna be moderating a powerhouse panel. Hospitality is not a department. Um, give us a sneak preview, if you can, of what that discussion might unpack and maybe your thoughts on the topic. Dina Belon: Yeah. It’s really gonna be, you know, about how hospitality is a culture. It’s not a silo. It’s, um, it’s really formed over time through behavior and modeling. Um, it’s not training manuals. It’s not a poster on the wall. It’s values. Um, it’s about, um, really taking everybody in your organization, whether it’s ops, which always seems obvious, but the finance departments, you know, HR, uh, the marketing team. Like, is everybody aligned to your mission and values as an organization? And you as a leader, are you practicing, as a lifestyle, the culture of your organization? So hospitality is not about the ops department. It is about the entire organization following a. Identifying first, have you identified? Right? So, like, our mission at Staypineapple is where stays become stories. Um, it’s a cute, cute way to say it, but it is in very real terms. We want your stay to be so impactful and so memorable that it becomes a lifetime story for you and your family. That kind of connection, that kind of sense of belonging, that kind of emotional feeling, um, is what we’re after, and that’s our mission. And so, if I’m not living that lifestyle every day as the leader of the organization, and our CFO, and our accountant, and our HR, uh, manager aren’t living that lifestyle, how can we ask the hotel teams to live it? Ryan Embree: Yeah. Great point. Yeah, it’s, I mean, it’s hospitality, right? And what we’re always trying to, to try to accomplish, uh, at the end of a guest day is to really, uh, not just, not just feel, feel the, the hospitality, feel the s – the, uh, uh, the, the service that we were providing them. Uh, not just feeling like they, they stayed in, you know, four rooms in a, four rooms in a box, right? That’s, that’s what – Yeah. The old saying. Dina Belon: How many hotels have you forgotten – Ryan Embree: Right. That’s a wonderful point. Wonderful point. And a great segue into our next, because I think you’ve got an unforgettable, um, uh, portfolio over there. So we’re gonna do some rapid fire here, Dina, to get to know you and your, uh, portfolio a little better at Staypineapple Hotel. So, uh, we always like to start with our favorite view from one of your hotels. Dina Belon: Definitely Chicago. So we’re in the loop and we look right at the Chicago Theater sign. And then three blocks down the other way, you can see the edge of the bean. And then there’s this amazing jazz mural, uh, from the corner rooms of the building. The, the incredible view. And we’re an urban city center, so views are not generally our vibe. Um, right? It’s usually another building next door. Um, but that one, that is really incredible. Ryan Embree: That makes for a good one. Uh, favorite fun fact about one of your properties? Dina Belon: Oh, uh, this is personal. Uh, uh, Fetch, which is our recycling program, is, um, all built around our dog obsessed culture. Uh, again, we like to be, you know, funny and cheeky. Um, so Dash, who’s our, um, our mascot, um, the pineapple pup. Um, he helps with waste reduction education, the Fetch program. Get it? Fetch, dog. Ryan Embree: Oh, I love it. Yeah. There you go. Uh, favorite signature dish, um, or amenity? Dina Belon: Hmm. Um, there’s a couple. Oh, goodness. These, this is hard. This is really hard. I, I mentioned the naked experience already, so I’ll let that one go, though that is one of my favorites. Again, personal. So you might start to see, I have a little bit of slant towards sustainability. Um, I am. It’s a, it’s a personal topic that I’m very passionate about. Um, our water bottles. Um, it was a huge lift for us to figure out. So, uh, what, I don’t know, five years ago, we used to have, um, unlimited water bottles available to our guests. Um, it’s part of our health and wellness program. We believe that, you know, hydration is a big part of health and wellness, particularly in en – urban environments when you’re walking a lot, you need to stay hydrated. It gave me a lot of heartburn. We were, we were, we were selling, or not selling, giving away a half a million water bottles, plastic water bottles a year. And it just, it hurt my heart. Um, so we were able to partner, um, with Path Water to do a custom 20-ounce aluminum water bottle pre-filled. Um, and we leave that in the guest room complimentary for every guest. And we put a water bar in our lobbies, um, for, to refill those bottles. Um, and that replaced all the plastic water bottles. And so, so now you see really fun, cute, steak pineapple aluminum water bottles all over the airport all the time in our city. Ryan Embree: Hey, there you go. Great marketing goes along with it. Uh, favorite guest experience? Dina Belon: Um, definitely Surprise and Delight, which is our, uh, strategy around that creative, uh, you know, hyper-personalization for guests. Uh, really creating those moments that create memories and stories. Ryan Embree: And then last favorite piece of art. Ryan Embree: That’s funny. Um, we, we happen to have our owner, our founder, Michelle, is a huge art collector. So that is really hard. We have a lot of original art in our hotels that’s from her personal collection. She regularly emails me and says, “Hey, I just bought a new piece, and can you find a place to put it in one of the hotels?” And I’m always like, “Oh my God, I’m running out of walls, Michelle.” But I think my favorite that she has, um, bought for every single hotel is, um, a Martin Goldstein original dog sculpture. Um, he is famous for creating these whimsical, limited edition bronze dogs that are known as Harvey Dogs. Um, and they’re just super cute. Um, and you can find one at every hotel. It’s, it’s one of those, like, Disney where you have to find the Mickey Mouse and Everything. Ryan Embree: Yeah, like a little Easter egg, yeah. Dina Belon: Exactly. An Easter egg hunt at any Staypineapple is go find the Marty Goldstein, uh, Harvey dog. Ryan Embree: All right. Well, there it, there it is. Challenge, um, put out there for our Suite Spot listeners, uh, visiting Staypineapple Hotels. Well, Dina, thank you. You’ve spent, um, quite, uh, some time with us. Um, thank you so much for sitting down. As we wrap up today, we do like to look into kind of our hospitality crystal ball. Uh, try to predict the future, which is becoming more difficult to do every single day, uh, now with every, the technology and AI. But, you know, as president of Staypineapple Hotels, what’s your vision for the future of, uh, the brand? Dina Belon: Yeah. You know, I think we’re gonna continue to expand on our ability to connect with guests and make them feel like they belong when they’re at Staypineapple, that they’re part of the family. And I know that sounds kitschy, but it’s, it’s a very real emotional, uh, mission for us. And, and in the broader context, what we believe the hospitality’s, hospitality industry’s role and responsibility in society is, and will become even more important as robots take over the world. That human connection that a hospitality industry can create, um, becomes an imperative for us to stay connected as a society. Ryan Embree: I agree. Yeah, that was just gonna echo that same sentiment. I think it’s gonna become more and more im- important. So we need, uh, brands like Staypineapple Hotels to, to keep true to that hospitality mission statement. So Dina, thank you again, uh, for taking the time to join us here on The Suite Spot. Any final thoughts before we wrap up? Dina Belon: Just go out there and be you, you know? Uh, don’t be afraid to, uh, come play in the independent space and definitely come to the Independent Hotel Show in Miami and, uh, let’s have a cocktail. Ryan Embree: Let’s do it. Uh, both Dina and I will have the privilege of being down there in Miami. We hope to see you in person. Dina, thank you so much for joining us here on The Suite Spot, and we hope to see you at the Independent Hotel Show in Miami. Thank you. And thank you for listening. We’ll talk to you next time here on The Suite Spot. To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five-star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with cover art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host, Ryan Embree and we hope you enjoyed your stay.  

    Only in Seattle - Real Estate Unplugged
    Katie Wilson's Seattle Drops $300K on Trans Refugees Amid Budget Crisis

    Only in Seattle - Real Estate Unplugged

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 24:00


    Seattle's full city council is heading to a vote on a $300,000 allocation from the Jumpstart Payroll Tax — the so-called Amazon tax — earmarked for LGBTQIA+ organizations. The pitch: a surge of "trans refugees" fleeing conservative states like Texas has overwhelmed local nonprofits, and the NGOs say they're out of money. Mayor Katie Wilson has gone a step further, floating a state-of-emergency declaration to accompany the ask.Sean breaks down what a "trans emergency" actually looks like in practice — and why the numbers behind it don't hold up. Seattle is already carrying a significant budget deficit, the state is in its own fiscal hole, and not a single verifiable figure has been offered to justify the spend. The "vulnerable population" framing is doing enormous heavy lifting with nothing behind it.The Fox 13 clip gets a full Sean Reynolds reaction: if you can't afford to get yourself to Seattle, a $300K municipal bailout funded by Amazon employees' paychecks probably isn't the answer. This is a money grab dressed up as a humanitarian crisis, and the Seattle City Council is about to vote on it.Subscribe to @reasonablenews for daily conservative commentary on Seattle city hall, Pacific Northwest politics, and the stories the local press won't touch.#NFRP #Seattle #KatieWilsonGO PREMIUM WITH REASONABLE+ FOR UNCENSORED ACCESS

    FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
    Jadarian Price Isn't Worth the Hype? | DO NOT Draft These 7 Running Backs (Ep. 2123)

    FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2026 24:18 Transcription Available


    Alfredo Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Derek Brown break down seven fantasy football running backs they are avoiding at current ADP in 2026 drafts. The crew explains how to identify RB busts by looking beyond talent and focusing on price, offensive environment, touchdown upside, receiving role, offensive line concerns, backfield competition, age, and scheme fit. Find out why De’Von Achane’s first-round/second-round price may be too risky in Miami, why Jadarian Price’s Seattle role could shrink, and why Jeremiyah Love’s Cardinals cost is hard to justify? Timestamps: (May be off due to ads) Intro - 0:00:00How do you define a "bust" - 0:00:13FantasyPros Premium 3-day Free Trial - 0:01:46De’Von Achane - 0:02:09Jadarian Price - 0:05:45Jeremiyah Love - 0:07:49Rhamondre Stevenson - 0:11:51Draft Assistant - 0:14:49Travis Etienne - 0:15:10Rico Dowdle - 0:16:59Quinshon Judkins - 0:20:10Outro - 0:23:18 Helpful Links: Draft Wizard - Dominate your fantasy football draft with Draft Wizard. Run fast mock drafts, test different strategies, build custom cheat sheets, get pick-by-pick draft advice, and learn your leaguemates' tendencies before draft day. Just download the FantasyPros App or head to fantasypros.com/draftwizard Follow us on Twitch - The team here at FantasyPros is taking questions all week, every week on Twitch. Follow us on Twitch at twitch.tv/fantasypros and never miss a stream! Discord – Join our FantasyPros Discord Community! Chat with other fans and get access to exclusive AMAs that wind up on our podcast feed. Come get your questions answered and BE ON THE SHOW at fantasypros.com/chat Leave a Review – If you enjoy our show and find our insight to be valuable, we’d love to hear from you! Your reviews fuel our passion and help us tailor content specifically for YOU. Head to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts and leave an honest review. Let’s make this show the ultimate destination for fantasy football enthusiasts like us. Thank you for watching and for showing your support – https://fantasypros.com/review/ BettingPros Podcast – For advice on the best picks and props across both the NFL and college football each and every week, check out the BettingPros Podcast at bettingpros.com/podcast, our BettingPros YouTube channel at youtube.com/bettingpros, or wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mock and Daisy's Common Sense Cast
    Fauci Texts REVEALED, DSA Reps Flounder & Tucker's Wild Hunter Biden Interview

    Mock and Daisy's Common Sense Cast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2026 89:34 Transcription Available


    Trump takes aim at Iran and announces a major vaccine schedule shakeup, newly released Fauci texts raise questions about COVID vaccine concerns during pregnancy, and Democratic Socialists get put on the spot over policing, taxes, student debt, Israel and their radical agenda.We break down the latest on the Strait of Hormuz, a razor-thin Indiana election, early 2028 Democratic primary polling, Lauren Boebert's son's arrest and the ongoing debate over transgender athletes in women's sports.Then things get even wilder: Tracy Rosenthal's rent strike story, Hasan Piker's comments about the white middle class, John Fetterman's warning about the DSA, Joe Scarborough sounding the alarm, and Frances Gill struggling through questions about policing, prisons and hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt.Plus, Gavin Newsom and Michael Fanone unload on Trump, Tucker Carlson sits down with Hunter Biden, and the drama surrounding Candace, Andrew Wilson and the leaked anti-Candace X group chat continues.Stick around for the latest viral culture stories and TikToks!SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW!Oversized, ultra-plush, and completely built for your best summer days. Head to https://CozyEarth.com and use code CHICKS for an exclusive 20% off.Be confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.com Give $26 today to the Human Coalition. Be her lifeline. Create a life saving moment. Give today at https://HumanCoalition.org/ChicksSubscribe and stay tuned for new episodes every weekday!Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramTikTokXLocalsMore InfoWebsite

    Impaulsive with Logan Paul
    Puka Nacua Exposes The REAL Dana White, Adin Ross Scandal, Michael Rubin's White Party Secrets

    Impaulsive with Logan Paul

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2026 48:16


    Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/LOGAN10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $25 discountAll-Pro NFL wide receiver Puka Nacua joins the boys to discuss his viral incident with Adin Ross, fighting Logan Paul