Podcast appearances and mentions of George Bailey

In episode 139 of Cybersecurity Where You Are, Tony Sager is joined by Amelia Gifford, Sr. Manager, Administration, at the Center for Internet Security®(CIS®); and George Bailey, Director of Purdue cyberTAP. Together, they discuss how the 2025 grant from the Alan Paller Laureate Program will support Purdue cyberTAP's mission of community building for the cyber-underserved. Here are some highlights from our episode:01:02. Honoring a legacy of making cybersecurity practical and accessible03:34. The business of giving products away to benefit the cybersecurity community05:00. The use of the CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls) to help rural electricity cooperatives in Indiana11:00. Methodology, tooling, and repeatability as part of a lifecycle of realizing a good idea11:56. Cross-Mapping as a means to help people live with so many security frameworks12:59. Accountability and re-assessment as methods for measuring program success14:59. The power of community in prioritizing the CIS Controls16:38. Community building as a way to navigate the cybersecurity business together17:42. A controlled Controls experiment to generate data, learn lessons, and create feedback19:03. Progress reporting as a way to foster connections24:39. Feedback on the Alan Paller Laureate Program application process26:30. Focus on cybersecurity community impact as a consideration for future applicants30:31. Parting thoughts about the grant program and an invitation to reach out to GeorgeResourcesCenter for Internet Security Awards Nearly $250,000 to Purdue University's Technical Assistance ProgramEpisode 114: 3 Board Chairs Reflect on 25 Years of CommunityEpisode 97: How Far We've Come preceding CIS's 25th BirthdayCIS Critical Security Controls v8.1 Industrial Control Systems (ICS) GuideSEC366: CIS Implementation Group 1™How to Plan a Cybersecurity Roadmap in 4 StepsCIS SecureSuite® MembershipMapping and Compliance with the CIS ControlsReasonable Cybersecurity GuideIf you have some feedback or an idea for an upcoming episode of Cybersecurity Where You Are, let us know by emailing podcast@cisecurity.org.

Adam Peacock is joined by Daily Telegraph and Code Sports cricket journalist Ben Horne to talk about then brilliance of Vaibhav Suryavanshi the 14-year-old wonder kid in the IPL who's just hit a 35 ball century, we talk about the Australians in the IPL, Hazlewood's success with the ball and Starc's almost Hat-Trick. Plus, we look at the five biggest headlines for cricket this winter, how England can win The Ashes, the headache George Bailey and Andrew McDonald are facing and Horne's run in with the Indian media over a Trump-Kohli comparison! Send your cricket club cap to Producer Joel at the following address: Joel Harrison 50 Goulburn St, Sydney, NSW, 2000 Follow on Apple, Spotify and the LiSTNR app Watch on YouTube Drop us a message on Instagram and TikTok! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 1 of 2 - David Sneddon, a 24-year-old Brigham Young University student from Logan, Utah, disappeared on August 14, 2004, while hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, China, after completing Mandarin language classes in Beijing. A devout Mormon, Eagle Scout, and experienced hiker fluent in Korean and Mandarin, David was described as smart, outgoing, and adventurous, with plans to attend law school. He had spent two years in South Korea on a Mormon mission and was studying in Beijing with friend George Bailey during the summer of 2004.   After classes, David and George traveled to southern China. On August 9, they parted ways, with David heading to hike the 16-mile High Trail of Tiger Leaping Gorge, a scenic but well-maintained trail. His last communication was an email to his parents on August 11 from Lijiang, expressing excitement about the hike and returning home. He planned to stay at Tina's Guesthouse, visit Shangri-La, and fly to Seoul to meet his brother Michael on August 15. When David missed the flight, his family reported him missing.   Chinese authorities conducted a brief investigation, finding no trace of David in hostels, hospitals, or jails. His passport and $700 in his bank account remained untouched, and his backpack, left at Jane's Guesthouse in Lijiang, contained undeveloped film showing his travels. Despite no evidence of foul play and a heavily trafficked trail, officials concluded David fell into the Jinsha River and drowned, a theory his parents, Roy and Kathleen, rejected due to his hiking experience and the trail's safety.   On September 9, 2004, Roy and sons Michael and James traveled to Yunnan to retrace David's steps, hiring a translator and guide. They found the trail safe, wide, and busy, with no perilous drops, contradicting the official narrative. The family's methodical search—using non-leading questions and photos—yielded a confirmed sighting: a guide, Keith Chu Chung, recalled David hiking with a Hong Kong couple on August 11, reaching Tina's Guesthouse by 7 p.m., proving he exited the gorge safely.   The Sneddons grew suspicious of the Chinese authorities' efforts, noting performative searches with bloodhounds and missing person posters that seemed staged. Seven years later, a phone call (details undisclosed) reignited hope that David might be alive. Part 2 will cover the family's continued search, official reactions, and theories, including a controversial claim of North Korean abduction.   Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak 03:30 100th Episode Celebration and Giveaway 05:30 David Sneddon 39:00 The Branch of Hope     Sources: Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/family-us-student-who-disappeared-china-looks-north-korea-summit-answers-967469 Vogel, C., & Vogel, C. (2022, May 12). Did North Korea kidnap an American hiker? Outside Online. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/did-north-korea-kidnap-american-hiker/ “Thinking Sideways Podcast” David Sneddon (Podcast episode 2015) - Plot - IMDB. (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14457712/plotsummary/ 13: David Sneddon: Tiger Leaping Gorge, China - The Last Trip | iHeart. (n.d.). iHeart. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/270-the-last-trip-127775104/episode/13-david-sneddon-tiger-leaping-gorge-148633018/ China Discovery. (n.d.). China Discovery - Leading China Travel Agency with Reviews. https://www.chinadiscovery.com/   Join The Dark Oak Discussion: Patreon The Dark Oak Podcast Website Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok Youtube This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

01:00 I was intoxicated for a month with Trump II 05:00 Polarized America, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOlMkcqXAIg 07:00 Tariffs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBoGJlpSdpY 12:00 The Vanishing Neighbor: The Transformation of American Community (2014), https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=159303 30:00 AI can be a great editor, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=159508 49:20 From Harding to Trump: The REAL History of American Conservatism | Matthew Continetti, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KITCo1ZKLiY 57:00 We embrace that which reduces our tension, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=159442 56:20, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMgTDHlkWrk 1:05:00 Matthew Continetti, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Continetti 1:07:00 Aaron Renn: The Wounded Prophet: When alienation reveals what conformity conceals: why our most profound truths often come from those most deeply wounded, 1:08:50 The Wounded Warrior, https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/the-wounded-prophet 1:09:40 Cinema Paradiso, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_Paradiso 1:22:00 The Sound of Cinema: Ennio Morricone & Cinema Paradiso, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLJ-78Pe0rc 1:45:00 What Catholics should learn from Protestants, https://socialpathology.blogspot.com/2021/12/some-thoughts-on-george-bailey-and.html 1:47:00 Michael joins to talk about Tucker's tweet about Iran, https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1898505111359418731 2:05:00 Cotto v Ford On Voter Fraud (6-10-21), https://rumble.com/viha7l-killstream-mirror-cotto-v-ford-on-voter-fraud-6-10-21.html 2:28:00 George Bailey & the Protestant elite, https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/george-bailey-protestant-elite 2:40:00 Michael Anton Says He Does Not Know Who Truly Won The 2020 Election, But He's ‘Moved On', https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=137453 2:53:50 The Hidden Costs of Defending Others Online: Defending the weak against attacks by the strong is noble, but needs to be done wisely., https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/defending-the-cancelled 3:14:45 Aaron Renn: Don't Be Fooled, Pot is Dangerous: Even the New York Times is deeply troubled by the problems with our Wild West approach to legalizing pot. https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/pot-is-dangerous 3:16:00 Farewell to the best loser in sporting history, https://www.smh.com.au/sport/farewell-to-the-best-loser-in-sporting-history-20250306-p5lhlp.html 3:19:45 Tim Dillon says we need to wrap up the Ukraine war show, and move on to sequels, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMgTDHlkWrk 3:24:00 The US Push for Peace & Europe Panics - John Mearsheimer, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh9CtLw_poA 3:37:00 How do you help someone who won't listen to you? 3:55:00 Gene Hackman story hits me because I fear dying alone, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-07/gene-hackman-betsy-arakawa-death-investigation-update

The last time South Australia won the domestic one day title, they played out a thrilling tie against a star studded Tasmanian team that featured eight players who had represented Australia. That included the Test captain at the time, Ricky Pointing, and the one day captain at the time in George Bailey. Those two superstars were at the crease when the Tigers needed just five runs to win off the final over. So how did South Australia manage to tie the game? Adam Crosthwaite was the wicket-keeper for the Redbacks and he talked Sam Lane and Lehmo through that epic final in 2011-2012.

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time. Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What's up, Mom?”“I've got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I'm going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don't have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he'd just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he'd made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn't wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom's list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren't harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I'd see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won't settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I'm just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it's great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I'm, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don't know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that's sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I'll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn't believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline's fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I've got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I've got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason's longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She's an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don't belong on the same Planet as her! You're nothing'! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken's arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken's gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won't be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn't have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn't?”“I did. Jason, someday you'll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won't bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn't bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn't want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken's mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason's punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that's not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan's families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken's seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man's gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that's family; I don't want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles' cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I've got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it's Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I'll; I'll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn't even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You've reached Live 95.5 FM's world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you've reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn't help creeping on her! That's where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You're doing everyone a favor! If you'd like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken's rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn't even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She's far worse! I can't imagine how evil she'd be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken's mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn't know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason's words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn't have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken's initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason's cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that's not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle's Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It's a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”“Oh, Jimmy Stewart, you charmer you.” Gabby sighed.Soon, her emotions welled up as the hopeless romantic that was George Bailey began to succumb to the pressures and injustices of life. He had blamed his own uncle for destroying their business, lashed out at his wife and children in anger, and gone crawling to his hated rival for a loan. The hardest scenes for her to watch were always the bar fight and the car crash. Still, she always stuck it out. The best was yet to come.Just as George stood atop the bridge, Gabby caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye. A young man of about nineteen or twenty was watching the movie from a distance away, leaning against a tree near the road. His face twisted in angst as he saw the pain on display in the film, and he soon spun around, walking into the nearby park. Gabby couldn't explain why, but something compelled her to follow him and make sure he was okay.Collecting her lawn chair, she walked along the perimeter of the green space, soon arriving at the entrance to the park. As she went, she began to hear angry shouting up ahead of her; it sounded like the young man was in distress. After a few minutes, she came upon the fountain situated in the center of the park. On a bench sat the man from earlier, appearing to be deep in thought. By the glow of the lamppost, Gabby could now get a good look at him. He appeared to be of average height, maybe 5'7”, and had shaggy black hair that seemed a bit unkempt. Still, it's color shone in the light of the park, and his white skin provided for quite a striking appearance. A pair of black horn-rimmed glasses framed his face, which combined with his red MIT hoodie to project a very specific image into Gabby's mind. He had to be incredibly intelligent.As she studied him, she saw the young man pull an object out of the pocket of his jeans. Catching a glimpse of something reflective, she could now see that he was holding a small folding knife. Gabby tensed up and wondered if she should run, but soon decided against it; he didn't seem to have even noticed her presence. In fact, the way he looked at the knife was quite unsettling. It was as if he saw that little blade as his best friend in the world. She knew the look in his eyes. She knew what would happen in a moment if she did nothing. Taking a deep breath, Gabby decided to act.“Hey.”Intervention.Ken was startled by the unfamiliar voice. Looking up, he now saw a woman in her early twenties standing across the way. She gazed at him with intent, but for what reason he did not know. Looking back at her, Ken's typical awkwardness began to kick in, as he could see that she was quite beautiful. Dressed warmly in a black winter coat and blue jeans, she wore a grey knit cap over her long blonde hair. Upon first glance, she appeared to be of some sort of Scandinavian descent, or perhaps German, though Ken couldn't be sure. His mouth went dry as he tried to find the words to speak.“Everything okay?” she asked.“Uh; fine. Why do you, um; why do you ask?”Smiling, she replied, “I saw you over on the green, watching the movie. By the look on your face, you were having a tough time with it. When I saw you walk off towards the park, I felt I should come and see if anything was wrong.”“No, nothing's wrong.”“Good. Then I shouldn't be concerned about the way you're looking at that knife of yours, right?”Shaking his head, Ken answered, “I'm not going to hurt you. Promise.”“That's not what I'm concerned about.”“Wha; what do you mean?” Ken asked, his eyes growing wide.“I've seen that look before,” she said, taking a couple of steps closer. “I am, sadly, all too familiar with it. You were about to hurt yourself, weren't you?”“You don't know a thing about me, lady,” Ken muttered, preparing to leave.“I don't have to know anything about you to be concerned,” she fired back.“Concerned,” Ken snorted. “How could you be concerned about me? You don't even know me!”“Easily rectified. Gabrielle Libertine. My friends call me Gabby,” she said, sticking out her hand with a warm smile. When he didn't respond, she smirked and continued, “This is the part where you tell me your name.”Sighing, he replied, “Ken. Ken Dix.”“A pleasure, Ken,” she said as they shook hands.“So; Gabrielle, eh? You supposed to be my Clarence or something?”With a playful gasp, she responded, “Oh my God! Does that mean you're Jimmy Stewart?! I've had the biggest crush on you for Years!”Ken gave a nervous laugh. “Alright, alright, I walked into that one. But in all seriousness.”“No, I'm not a Guardian Angel or the Word of God or anything like that. Just an average person like you.” Motioning to the bench, she asked, “May I?”“Sure, I guess,” Ken answered, scooting to the edge.“Thanks.” Taking a seat, she continued, “So tell me this, Ken: why would you want to hurt, maybe kill yourself?”His face twisted in pain. “You don't want to know.”“I do. Believe me, I do.”Sighing with reluctance, Ken relented and began to tell Gabby of the events of the day. He started with Jacqueline and Jason, then the confrontation with his uncle, and finally the fake phone number showing Jacqueline's true colors. Through it all, Gabby sat in silence, maintaining eye contact and nodding whenever appropriate. At last, he finished his story, and Gabby could feel her heart breaking within her chest.“Ken; I'm so sorry. I can feel the pain in your voice. No one deserves what you've gone through today. I know it's of little help, but I do understand what you're going through.”“Understand?” Ken said, incredulous. “How could a girl like you understand any of this? I mean, look at you. You're gorgeous, and I bet you've always been popular. Just like Jacqueline. Just like Jason. Just like Uncle Lee. None of you could ever imagine the world I live in.”With a stern look on her face, she replied, “I'm going to choose to let that slide, considering everything you've told me. Still, you need to know that what you just said was quite hurtful. Almost as hurtful as the things that have been said to you today.”Ken recoiled. He knew she was right. “I'm; I'm sorry. You're right; I should never have said that. You've been nothing but nice to me tonight.”“Apology accepted,” Gabby said with a smile. “Humility is a rare trait in men these days. Hang on to that.”Ken thought she might be mocking him, but bit his tongue nonetheless. He had already insulted her once, and he wasn't going to chance a second time.Seeking to turn the conversation to happier topics, she asked, “M I T, huh? You're an awful long way from home, aren't you?”“Huh? Oh, the hoodie. Yeah, I'm a freshman there this year, just home on break right now.”“Nice. Major?”“Health sciences. I want to go to medical school after MIT, though I'm still figuring out a specialty.”“Plenty of time to decide that. I'm sure you'll find the right career path,” she said with a grin.As nice as it was to talk about a familiar topic, a few things still bugged Ken's mind to no end. “I still can't figure it out; why would Jacqueline do this?”Frowning, Gabby replied, “Some people are cruel. Often the ones that are the cruelest disguise it with a kind, warm public demeanor. Jacqueline sounds like she fits that mold to a T.”“And she hid it all that time while we were in school?”“You were useful at the time, in her mind. She wasn't going to chance losing that. Once she got what she needed, she had no more reason to hide her true feelings.”“Yeah, but still. Why be all friendly to me in the store?”“In her twisted mind, she probably felt she was doing you a favor. She wanted to ensure you never tried to contact her again. To a cruel person like her; that's her idea of doing you a kindness,” Gabby replied sadly. “We just have to hope that there's enough real kindness in this world to counteract such cruelty.”Now noticing a silver cross hanging from her neck, Ken pointed to it and asked, “I guess this the part where you start lecturing me about suicide? That I'm being selfish and trying to go against God's plan?”“No,” she replied with simplicity.“No?”“No. Ken, I meant it when I said that I've seen that look before. I know better than most that suicidal thoughts are rarely that simple. There's no switch that can turn them off. It's a tide that must be turned back, bit by bit.”Stunned, Ken started to see that this woman understood what was important in life. Realizing he still had the knife in his hand, he folded it closed and put it back in his pocket.“Bit by bit,” she said with a smile. “My car's around the corner. Is there somewhere I can take you? Where do you live?”“I'm not going home. Not yet,” Ken replied. “Not with my uncles still there.”“No problem. I'm not going to force you.” Thinking a moment, she continued, “It's pretty cold out here. Why don't you come back to my place for a bit?”“That's; unnecessary. I'm fine on my own.”“Nice try, but no cigar,” she said. “I'm not leaving you alone with that knife, mister. And I'm certainly not leaving you alone on Christmas Eve. Nobody should be alone for the holidays.”“Thanks, but; won't your husband mind?”“He would, if I were married.”“Boyfriend?”“Nope, just my townhouse and me. Pretty cozy, all things considered. No problems with you coming over, but I do have one condition.”“And what's that?”Smirking, Gabby replied, “You call your mom right now and tell her you're okay.”Hesitating a moment, Ken soon relented. “Fine.” Tapping his phone, Ken waited as it rang. “Hey Mom, it's me; Yeah, I'm okay; No, seriously. I'm fine; Yeah I'm just hanging with a friend. I probably won't be back ‘til tomorrow; I will; Love you too; Bye.”“See? Now that wasn't so bad, was it?” Gabby teased him.Eying her, Ken asked. “You're seriously okay with bringing me to your home?”“Positive.”Taking his hand, Gabby led him to her car.Gabby's guest.The drive had been silent for the most part. Ken was still trying to comprehend everything that was happening. Who was this woman? Why would she go to such great lengths for a stranger she didn't even know? Gabby seemed to pick up on this, refraining from prodding him for any further conversation. She could tell he was still processing the events of the day. Soon, they arrived at her townhouse complex and pulled into her garage.“Come on in, make yourself at home,” she said as she turned on the lights. “Can I offer you something to drink? Coffee? Hot chocolate?”“Hot chocolate sounds good, thanks.”“Coming right up!”As she hung her hat and jacket up on a rack, Ken couldn't help but stare. He now saw that she wasn't just a pretty face; her entire body was sublime. She wore a tight burgundy sweater and a pair of tight, form-fitting jeans. This ensemble only served to accent her body even further. Her hourglass figure was delectable, her slim waist contrasting with her curvy hips and ample bust. She was also just as tall as him, perhaps a bit taller, with legs for miles. Though Ken had fantasized about some of his classmates, none of them could come anywhere close to Gabby. She was a woman, not a girl, and in the prime of her life no less.“Here you go,” she said, handing Ken a mug.After blowing on the hot drink, he took a sip, feeling the warm liquid spreading through his body. “Thanks,” he sighed.“No problem,” she replied with a smile. “Come on, let's go relax in the den.”She led him into an intimate area with a sofa and a loveseat. The only illumination came from the twinkling multicolored lights on her Christmas tree in the corner. As Ken took in the relaxing surroundings, smelling the delicious scent of her Frazier fir tree, Gabby stepped over to the fireplace opposite the sofa. Flipping a switch, she soon had a comfortable fire roaring from the gas logs. She then sat on the sofa, placing her mug on the side table and patting the spot next to her.“Come sit. I promise I don't bite,” she said with a playful grin.“Um, okay.” he mumbled, scooting as close to the armrest as he could to give Gabby plenty of space.“Tell me about M I T,” she inquired. “You mentioned you want to go into health sciences. Does that include medical school?”“Uh, yeah with any luck. Harvard would be my top choice, but I don't know if I could afford it. But assuming so, my dream has always been to be a brain surgeon.”“Brain surgeon?! That's so cool! They're like; the most badass of all the badass doctors! Not just surgeons, brain surgeons!” Gabby gushed.“It's, uh, not that big a deal,” Ken replied as he blushed with embarrassment.“Well, I could totally see you as a brain surgeon. Don't ever give up on it.”“Thanks.”“So, what then for you, Dr. Dix? What happens once you reach your dream?”Ken began to feel a strange amount of comfort with this woman, and started to open up to her. “Honestly; I don't know. I mean even if I become a brain surgeon, I'm still hopeless around girls. Maybe Jason's right. I'm gonna die a virgin.” Realizing what he had confessed to her, he turned to Gabby and blurted out, “Not that it's your problem, or anything. S-sorry, I just; I shouldn't have gone that far.”Gabby just smiled and moved closer to him, brushing her hand against his arm.“Don't worry about it. You have goals, both personal and professional, but aren't sure exactly how to achieve them. So you're a virgin. That's nothing to be embarrassed about, and it's healthy to express your anxiety about it. That can help you overcome your fears. In all seriousness, I think you underestimate yourself, Ken.”“Underestimate myself?”“Of course,” Gabby replied. “You're smart, considerate, polite, you even held the car door for me earlier! Any girl you'd want to be with is gonna swoon at traits like that. I can also tell that you still think of yourself as unattractive, but I disagree. You wear glasses, yes, but that doesn't make you a dork. Your hair is a little shaggy, but not greasy or anything. You may not have a tan, but your skin complexion is damn near flawless. You have nothing to be ashamed of, be it your looks or your personality.”“You're about the only woman who thinks so,” he sighed.“Doubtful, but if it's that big a worry for you, I can give you a couple of pointers, if you like.”“Um, oh, okay I guess.”“Great! Okay, so you definitely give off the ‘geek' vibe, but that's not a bad thing. Don't fight it; own it.”“How?”“Well, you can make just some slight alterations to your outward appearance that can change the way others see you. For example, you could switch to wire-framed glasses instead of your horn-rimmed ones. Your hair is a great color, and would do well in a short, clean-cut style, if I do say so myself. You can also change out your usual t-shirts for some casual polo shirts.”“So; the secret to getting women to notice me is to change who I am?” Ken asked, feeling more than a little offended.Cocking her eyebrow, Gabby replied, “Are you saying your glasses, hair length, and shirt choices define who you are?”“Oh, uh; fair point,” Ken conceded.“See? Humility. Such a rare quality these days,” Gabby said with a grin. “To be honest, all the changes I suggested are things my brother did a couple of years back. He was a complete geek, maybe even bigger than you. The poor boy was helpless around the fairer sex. But after he made these changes, he no longer came off as the socially awkward geek. He came off as a self-assured, confident geek, one who loves himself for who he is. I see that potential in you, Ken.” Grabbing her iPad from the side table, she pulled up a couple of pictures for him. “See? Here's before. And here's after.”“Woah,” Ken marveled. He could see the drastic difference. The guy hadn't done anything to make himself stronger or bulkier, nothing to increase his manliness, but the things he did change just popped in all the right ways. Was it really that simple?“That's great and all, but can new clothes and a haircut get rid of social awkwardness? I still don't have even a shred of confidence around women,” Ken said.“They can help, but a change in your mental confidence is completely based on your willpower. You have to love yourself as much as you want others to love you. If you don't, everyone else will pick up on it.”“Knew there was a catch.”Gabby bit her lip in frustration. There had to be a way she could give him the confidence boost he needed to love himself, but how? Getting one somewhat crazy idea, she moved closer to Ken.“I'm guessing from your previous statements that; you've never kissed a girl before. Is that right Ken?”Poor Ken Dix didn't even know what had hit him. Here he was, sitting with the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, and the unthinkable was beginning to happen. She was moving closer, running her fingers through his hair, and now wanted to know if he'd ever been kissed! This was too much, way beyond any of his hottest dreams. Unable to find the words to respond, he managed to slowly nod his head.“Close your eyes,” she instructed in her sweet voice. When he only blinked in reply, she whispered, “Close; your eyes, Ken. Trust me.”Guided by an unseen force, Ken felt compelled to obey her. His eyes finally fluttered closed, and his breathing became more labored in anticipation of what was to come. A small part of him doubted that she was being truthful, thinking that she'd fake him out just like Jacqueline had. Those doubts were soon quashed, as he felt the warm sensation of Gabby's face leaning close to his. He could feel her breathing. He could smell her perfume. If there was a God, Ken prayed, then and there; that He could make this incredible moment last forever.After what felt like eons, Gabby finally released their building tension and touched her lips to Ken's. Her kiss was soft at first, allowing him to savor the new sensations he was feeling. Ken was so terrified and excited all at once that he could barely even move his lips in reply. Not that it mattered to Gabby. She had expected his fear, and made sure to keep her technique simple yet enjoyable. After around thirty seconds, she withdrew at last, her face aglow in the Christmas tree light.“Wow,” Ken managed to mutter as he opened his eyes. He soon noticed that he couldn't see Gabby at all; his glasses had fogged up from their kiss.“Here, let's just take these off,” Gabby said with a giggle. She slipped his glasses off and laid them on her side table. “Now then, since we've gotten your first kiss out of the way, ready to really dive in?”“Dive in to what?” Ken asked, his nerves beginning to fray.“Kissing, silly! You do know there's much more to it than what we just did, right?”“More?”“Of course! Look, one day you'll get the prime opportunity to kiss a special lady, and I want you to be ready when that chance comes.”To be continued in part 2, based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts for Sex Stories.

"This has been my George Bailey moment, you know?" Back home from Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Wes Johnson checks in with Elliot In The Morning.

Today, Crystal & Grey discuss Supernatural 6.10 - Caged Heat. We talk about: the beginnings of the Pizza Man cold open, commending a show for having the bravery to kinda suck, and George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all - and it's Christmas! Warnings for mentions of rape and sexual harassment ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Episode Transcripts Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Episode Outtakes and Give us a Tip in Ko-fi!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our merch on Redbubble!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Tumblr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email Address: bustyasianbeautiespod@gmail.com Podcast art is made by cyvvang! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Send us a textHey Pickles!Happy New Year! This week, while Sam is in London, we're releasing a replay of Ep 121.This episode was released shortly after Sam's London trip last year, and includes a ton of discussion about the vegan food in London. We also talk about ways to be a better vegan in the coming year, and we pose an interesting scenario where George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life is vegan.How does George's absence in the world affect animals and our planet?Thanks so much for listening, and we'll be back next week with a new episode for you!Much love, Sam & ChristineSupport the showJoin Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/CompassionandcucumbersSign Up For Our Newsletterhttps://www.compassionandcucumbers.comOur YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@compassioncucumbersveganpod/videos72 Reasons To Be Vegan *paid link https://amzn.to/3W8ZwsUVisit Our Website https://www.compassionandcucumbers.comSam's Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/CucumberCraftworks

"Remember no man is a failure who has friends." It's a Wonderful Life, 1946 George Bailey can teach us all a lot about life. Every year we try to dedicate the last program of December to think about what Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart were trying to tell America in the classic film It's a Wonderful Life. So grab your last holiday cup of cheer and join us around the radio this week on The Public Square®. Happy New Year from all of us at The Public Square®! Topic: Holidays The Public Square® Long Format Program with hosts Dave Zanotti and Wayne Shepherd thepublicsquare.com Release Date: Friday, December 27, 2024  

The impact you have on this world is real and cannot be measured. It is significant! I talked a little bit about the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and related this to the impact that we all can and do have on making the world a better place whether we know it or not.To check out YIELD Today Premium: https://www.buzzsprout.com/543310/subscribeTime Stamps:1:37 - The INSANE Value of George Bailey's Life4:22 - Some of the Lives that I Know I've Touched10:58 - You Cannot be Replaced12:56 - Time is a Friend to Innocence, Discipline, and Love14:24 - The Things I Need Most I Have15:55 - One Conversation Can Help Re-Orient Our Life Towards God 21:20 - Gotta Keep on Spreading Light in the Darkness25:00 - I Ought to Own Life at the DEEPEST Possible Level That I Can Right NowQuotes:6:02 - "I don't know what impact I've had."9:39 - "Dallin is still worthwhile."10:28 - "You make a difference in these peoples' lives."11:44 - "I know I was meant to rise up and be at a higher level."13:41 - "I am needed here on this Earth. The Lord has BIG things in store for me."13:55 - "Proactive Dallin is Joyful Dallin. Stress-Out Dallin is NOT joyful Dallin. Care-Free, Chill, Playful Dallin is the Dallin, that's it."16:27 - "Most of the things about history we don't know about."18:10 - "I'm learning, growing, and changing - I'm building."20:28 - "It's a completely different life, just because of one person."21:30 - "One of the BEST things that George Bailey did was that he was himself."Support the show

Det här arkivavsnittet kommer från julen 2015 när vi åkte till Berlin för att förstå vad en bostad är och har varit – hur den kan vara både en boja och en frihetsmaskin och den ekonomi som skapar förutsättningarna för vad det kan vara att bo. Med oss hade vi filmen, Livet är underbart, av Frank Capra, med James Stewart, om hypoteksbanksägaren George Bailey och hans kamp för de små bostadsägande människorna mot den onde hyresrättsutsugaren Mr Potter.I avsnittet pratar vi om arkitekten och Martin Wagners, stadsplanerare i Berlin under mellankrigstiden, och hans idé Det Växande Huset, ett nytt sätt att se på vad ett hus, en stadsdel, en bostad kan vara. Hans idé kom i mitten av 1920-talet efter en kris där ingen byggde och han sa: ”Det här är vår chans att ta en skapande paus” Vi gjorde det här avsnittet 2015 när inget skapades och ingen paus kunde anas, när allt rusade framåt. När backspeglarna var avmonterade och krockkuddarna likaså. Är bostaden en frihetsmaskin eller en boja 2024?Är bostaden något som man kan växa i eller något som krymper ens liv?Vad betyder ägandet – och vad skiljer det från att inte äga? Vad gör bostaden och idéerna om den och ekonomin kring den med oss? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Daily Quiz - Entertainment, Society and Culture Today's Questions: Question 1: Which of these languages would you find spoken in India? Question 2: Which classic Christmas movie features the character George Bailey and the search for Zuzu's petals? Question 3: Which Singer Starred In The Title Role Of The Film 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence''? Question 4: What is the name of the magical kingdom in Frozen? Question 5: The Character Jack Skellington Appears In Which 1993 Tim Burton Film? Question 6: Which actress has starred in films including Fargo and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri? Question 7: Who sang the theme song to the 'Breakfast Club'? Question 8: What is the term for a person who has joined a Catholic religious order, but has not yet taken vows, originating from the Latin for 'new'? Question 9: Which does Carrie's mother warn her will happen if she attends the prom? This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Josh, David, and Garrett discuss Frank Capra's 1946 classic "It's a Wonderful Life." The hosts explore how the film's themes of community versus greed remain remarkably relevant today, Jimmy Stewart's post-WWII comeback performance, and why this holiday favorite continues to resonate with modern audiences.Highlights:[01:40] - The film's surprising initial box office performance and later success[16:00] - Discussion of the movie's political themes and modern parallels[24:35] - The emotional impact of the community coming together[29:50] - Final thoughts and perfect 5-star ratings Become a VIP with the So Many Sequels Pod Squad!

As Jimmy Stewart learned, it certainly is a wonderful life! Or is it actually a wonderful con? Did the richest man in town create an intricate farce to trick the poor, downtrodden George Bailey and steal all the townspeople's money? Listen and find out in this merry Christmas episode! Do you like what we do? You can support us at Patreon and get access to exclusive behind the scenes outtakes: https://www.patreon.com/thepopcornisntreal

One Christmas night, in the little town of Bedford Falls, a man named George Bailey contemplates throwing away God's greatest gift...but through the prayers of those who love him dearest, George learns that he truly lived a wonderful life. In the meantime, the angel Clarence earns a pair of wings. This Christmas, Sophie and Raymond discuss one of the most beloved Christmas classics of all time, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. What makes George Bailey's life wonderful? How do we convince those who are despondent (including ourselves) that life is truly worth living? How is It's a Wonderful Life like the book of Job? Is the idea of angels "earning wings" in Heaven theologically accurate? The answers the Unreliable Narrators come up with may not be what you were expecting, but who said we were reliable? Stay tuned for our next episode, where we talk about William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies. Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/UnreliableNarratorsPodcast Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablepodcasters@gmail.com, visit our website at unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast. Theme music is "New Moon" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music athttps://soundcloud.com/kappamuse Access the 2024-2025 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2024-2025.pdf

It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage, may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone.Mark Twain - Letter to the Editor, New York Evening World, 23 December 1890If you grow up on the Left, you grow up without religion. After the counterculture movement split from conventional religion in the 1960s, we'd done everything we knew how to do to fill up the eternal emptiness that had us chasing everything from sex, drugs, and rock n' roll, cults in the 1970s, gurus, and ashrams, the self-help movement, the mental health movement, and eventually, we ended up back where we started.We “found religion,” but this time as the politics of identity, where our happiness depended on how we solved the problems of society, like racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and climate change. It came from needing to feel good about ourselves and our world, but it was followed by anger and resentment when we could not convert the entire country to our way of life.The truth about the Left is that they know no other way of life. This was the problem for the Southerners after the Civil War. They, too, knew no other way of life and could not evolve out of their hatred, fear, and hysteria. All they could do was preserve it by banishing those who threatened it. I wish I could say I've come out of these past several years with a renewed faith in humanity. The truth is exactly the opposite. What I saw was what collective hatred, fear, and tribalism can do to otherwise decent people. I saw what we're all capable of when our power is threatened. I saw how easy it is to go along with the crowd, even when what they're doing is wrong.I always thought the people I called my heroes were made of tougher stuff. Better stuff. Kinder stuff. I always thought my side was the side of the good guys who would be immune to group dehumanization. I also did I think we would ever be the ruling class aristocracy sneering at the middle and working class, gathering all of our culture, wealth, and institutions, and hogging them for ourselves.Now that the empire is in collapse, those with all of the power are scrambling, not just to explain it but as a way to get back some of what's been taken. Good luck with that one. Take yet another agonizing, unbearable column by your typical Leftist elite, Jill Filipovic, writing for The Guardian:Worse than what, Jill? Indoctrinating children to choose their genders, then surgically or chemically sterilizing them? Or does it just come down to immigrants and their right to cross the border illegally by the millions, their safety, and our safety be damned? Corruption? You mean like government censorship on a laptop or covering up the mental incapacity of the Commander in Chief for four years? Weaponizing the Department of Justice? Immorality? Like what exactly? Lying to the public via the propaganda press? Calling half the country “garbage” or “White Supremacists” or “Nazis”? And what rights? The right to have an opinion without losing your job, status, or social standing? Your right to play in sports as a biological female without having to compete with biological men? Oh, of course not. She means abortion, as usual. Honey, if you want an abortion, there's a pop-up clinic down the street. People like Jill examine half the country as insects in a jar, watching how they behave in tightly confined spaces, how they respond to being called racists, or how they are de-banked or canceled off of social media. It's fun, right? To watch the insects get stressed and claw at the glass for a way out? The disgust drips from every word, even as she tries to make nice-nice, now that her ass has been handed to her in a historic, humiliating defeat.Trump won again, Jill. Eat that for breakfast. It isn't you people who have to learn to tolerate Trump voters. It's you who have to apologize to them for what you've done not only to them but to this country. You have destroyed every great thing you ever built, and listen to you now, pretending you still have the moral high ground. She then tries to explain why she's writing this at all:To paraphrase a line from Carrie, “Shut up, Jill. Just shut up.”These are the kinds of people I used to call home. I knew them, mingled with them, read them, RT'd them and was Facebook friends with them. Now, they terrify me. They are the banality of evil. They are the side that would go along with segregation, even if they'll never admit it. They're the side that would lock arms as the Jews were carted off to camps, and no, they'll never see themselves that way. She writes:Oh, poor deluded Jill. She has no idea what just happened, does she? It would do her a world of good to start opening her mind to reality, escape the fear bunker, and start interfacing with the truth. She should read David Samuels' piece in Tablet, one I'll be writing about in more depth for my next piece: “Trump's head turn was a perfect example of an event that has no explanation outside the favor of the gods, or whatever modern equivalent involving wind factors and directional probabilities you might prefer to the word “God.” Trump was fated to win, just as Achilles was fated to overcome Hector, because the gods, or if you prefer the forces of cosmic randomness, were on his side, on that day, at that moment. That move not only saved his life by allowing him to escape an assassin's bullet; it revitalized his chi and set in motion a series of subsequent events that generated a reordering of the entire world.”“You can't stop what's coming. It ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity.”A Christmas StoryI was always the first to wake up on Christmas morning. It was almost like a job. I'd scramble into the living room before the sun even came up to gaze upon the abundance of treasures beneath the Christmas tree. I never believed Santa was real, but those presents got there somehow. It was my grandmother who enlisted my older sister to help her wrap all of the presents after the rest of us had gone to sleep. It was a magic trick she performed every Christmas to keep the illusion of Santa alive in our imaginations.She thought she had us fooled. We let her pretend. It didn't matter because every Christmas morning was a rare moment of pure joy. One after the other, we'd tear through the presents, not waiting for each person to finish before moving on to the next. Pure carnage but oh what fun. I never really thought much about what Christmas really means until recently. If it is only about driving the economy or buying stuff, then it isn't worth celebrating. But if it is about something much bigger than ourselves, a way to unify us as one people under God, well, then it means something.I began thinking back on my life, on my childhood, and how religion fit into it. Most movies during the Hays Code era (before the 1960s and 1970s) were infused with Christian ideology, especially Christmas movies. And why wouldn't they be? George Bailey prays in It's a Wonderful Life, and an angel shows up to answer his prayers. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, they sing about the “Newborn King,” who is, of course, Jesus. We all used to share that as a country. It was a thread that united us, along with being American citizens. We all watched these movies because we understood the foundational principles of what made America. That isn't true anymore. To even reference religion, as I'm doing now, is practically a revolutionary act. There is a new religion in town, a fundamentalist one that offers no path to redemption or forgiveness and demands total compliance or else.What does any of it mean to us now? Is it really just about the list of things we buy? Is it about the movies we all treasure every year? Is it about what unites us, not what divides us? Is it about something bigger than ourselves? Are we still even allowed to say “Merry Christmas?” I don't have the answers; I just know that I was raised by a devout atheist who hated religion, and thus, I never thought about Christmas other than as a way to give things and get things. But now, thanks to my four years of getting to know Trump supporters, I see that and many other things differently. I wandered out of darkness and despair toward what looked like a golden light of hope and optimism, surrounded by people our ruling class deemed “dangerous” at best and “human garbage” at worst. I knew every step that brought me closer to them would be one more step that separated me from everyone and everything else.As I've written so often here, it was another Christmas movie, maybe the best one, that reminded me of what happened to me. It was The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The moral of that story is that you can't steal Christmas. It isn't something you can buy or attain. It isn't even something you can give. That's why the Whos in Whoville are still celebrating and singing even after the Grinch takes away every last symbol of Christmas. He couldn't take away the one thing that mattered most - what was in the hearts and minds of those celebrating.I can't call myself a Christian or even a person of faith. I lean in, and that's farther than I did before. But I also know I have learned the same lesson the Grinch did. I saw people abandoned by our political establishment, institutions, and culture - people who should have been angry and bitter. But they weren't. They were happy. That's how my heart grew and why I think differently about Christmas now.It wasn't Trump supporters who demanded I pick a side—it was the Left. They have imagined an unbearable reality for most of us. Perhaps it comforts people like Jill Filipovic, but for the rest of us, we choose the better way, one that values forgiveness, redemption, and humility. And one that allows us to say, even shout, Merry Christmas. So thank you, dear readers. When I say you saved me, I really mean it. You did. There, but for the Grace of God, Go I. // This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sashastone.substack.com/subscribe

On Christmas Day, Vintage Classic Radio invites you to join us for a special broadcast filled with timeless holiday entertainment. We begin with the "Dinah Shore Show" sponsored by Chevrolet, featuring the episode "Sleigh Ride Together With You," which originally aired on December 24th, 1954. showcasing Dinah's melodic vocals alongside The Skylarks and the deft orchestration of Frank DeVol, celebrates the festive season with music and stories, evoking the warm spirit of Christmas Eve. Following Dinah, we'll transport our listeners back to 1947, Lux Radio Theatre offers its beloved rendition of “It's a Wonderful Life,” from March 10th, 1947, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, joined by Donna Reed as Mary Hatch and Victor Moore in a heartwarming adaptation of Frank Capra's timeless tale.This poignant drama captures the heartwarming tale of George Bailey and his realization of life's true value, making it a perfect reflection for Christmas. Our celebration continues with a musical interlude, "Christmas Hymns," performed by harpist Francis J. Lapitino in 1917, bringing serene and classic sounds to your holiday. Adding a touch of magic for our younger audience, we will hear Ernest Hare's narration of "The Night Before Christmas." This enchanting 1920 recording of Clement Clarke Moore's famous poem promises to transport children and adults alike to a starlit Christmas Eve. The festivities wouldn't be complete without "Christmas Sing with Bing" from December 24th, 1961. Bing Crosby's iconic voice fills the air with holiday classics, creating a cozy, sing-along atmosphere. For a dose of humor, we visit December 25th, 1945, with "Fibber McGee and Molly" in the episode "Doc Gamble's Present." The comedic duo's holiday escapades are sure to bring laughter to your celebration. Next, Gordon McRae stars in the "Railroad Hour's" "Christmas Show" from December 25th, 1950. This musical story blends heartwarming narratives with festive songs, enhancing the holiday cheer. Then comes a moment of reflection courtesy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's December 24th, 1940, Fireside Chat, delivered at the lighting of the Christmas Tree with a heartfelt message of hope and resolve. We bring our Christmas Day Special to a glorious close with the Victor Mixed Chorus performing selections from “Messiah,” including the triumphant “Glory of the Lord,” ensuring an unforgettable finale to your festive day wrapping up our broadcast with soul-stirring chorales that embody the spirit of Christmas. Gather 'round your radio set on Christmas Day, as Vintage Classic Radio presents an extraordinary lineup to celebrate the season with nostalgia and joy.

Ryan Helfenbein explains how this timeless classic reveals grand truths about life, morality, and politics that directly apply to our current cultural context. He draws parallels between Mr. Potter and today's corrupt elites and shows how George Bailey's efforts to help the "forgotten man" are similar to Trump's populist agenda.  Learn more at standingforfreedom.com

"Send us a Fan Mail Text Message"Ever stumbled upon a film so late in life that it feels like discovering a hidden treasure? That's exactly how many of us felt with "It's a Wonderful Life." Join us as we explore the journey of George Bailey and the enchanting world of Bedford Falls. From its rushed 1946 release to its eventual ascension as a holiday classic, we dissect the film's cultural impact and the many reasons it resonates across generations. From nostalgic childhood tales of sledding adventures to the Spanish flu's historical parallels, this episode is a rich tapestry of history, cinema, and personal reflections.Picture yourself back in time, immersed in the innocence of youth and the landmarks of your high school days. Our conversation shifts between the adventures of George Bailey and our own past escapades. We unravel the layers of love, sacrifice, and community spirit woven into this cinematic masterpiece, alongside a dive into the socio-economic dynamics of the Bailey household and their timeless relevance. There's humor, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia as we revisit iconic scenes and ponder over the ethical dilemmas faced by our beloved characters, drawing surprising connections to modern-day societal shifts.As we trace George Bailey's transformative journey, we can't help but marvel at the film's exploration of alternate realities and timeless themes. The episode takes a fascinating detour into the world of copyright intricacies, colorization controversies, and the evolution of villainy in film. With insights into Jimmy Stewart's military background and the film's eventual rise to iconic status post-copyright expiration, we wrap up with heartfelt personal stories and reflections on the movie's enduring legacy. Whether you're a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, "It's a Wonderful Life" continues to be a source of inspiration, reminding us of the power of community, redemption, and hope.Support the showSounds:https://freesound.org/people/frodeims/sounds/666222/ Door openinghttps://freesound.org/people/Sami_Hiltunen/sounds/527187/ Eerie intro music https://freesound.org/people/jack126guy/sounds/361346/ Slot machinehttps://freesound.org/people/Zott820/sounds/209578/ Cash registerhttps://freesound.org/people/Exchanger/sounds/415504/ Fun Facts Jingle Thanks to The Tsunami Experiment for the theme music!!Check them out hereSUPPORT US AT https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984311/supporters/newMERCH STORE https://ol-dirty-basement.creator-spring.comFind us at the following https://oldirtybasement.buzzsprout.com WEBSITE ...

Send us a textIt's been 2 years of Dew Dads!  After starting with a holiday special in 2022, the Dew Dads are back with their third holiday special.  What are the best and worst Christmas songs of all time?  Who would win in a fight...George Bailey from It's A Wonderful Life, or the train conductor from Polar Express?  The only way to find out is to listen to the Dew Dad's Holiday Special!

Anyone who has watched the Holiday Classic, It's A Wonderful Life, can fondly recall Clarence, the guardian angel sent to earth to aid George Bailey in his time of need. Clarence helped George see the value in his life, and George helped Clarence earn his wings. This touching story has led many to wonder if there really are angels by our side and what their role may be in our lives. Lorna Byrne has been seeing and talking to angels since she was a baby. As a young child, she assumed everyone could see the beings who always accompanied her. Today, sick and troubled people from around the world are drawn to her for comfort and healing, and even theologians of different faiths seek her guidance. Lorna offers us a unique insight into the angelic help that is around us and available to us all the time. As Lorna says, "All you have to do is ask." Lorna is a spiritual teacher, international bestselling author, and philanthropist. She has dedicated her life to reminding humanity of the spiritual potential within us all. She is the author of seven best-selling books, including Angels in My Hair, A Message of Hope from the Angels. She is founder of the Lorna Byrne Children's Foundation, and the Seraph Foundation. Lorna has been featured worldwide by CNN, NBC Today, BBC, The London Times, The Economist, and many others.   Follow CYACYL: Website: www.cyacyl.com Digital: www.cyacyl.com/digital Upcoming shows: www.cyacyl.com/shows Facebook: www.facebook.com/changeyourattitudechangeyourlife Music: www.purple-planet.com

Based on the classic holiday film "It's A Wonderful Life," this year's Christmas episode is an Odd Fellows' retelling of the old favorite in which George Bailey is the harried Past Grand of Bedford Falls Lodge #310.  Straining under the weight of his lodge's expectations, he finally breaks and wishes he had never been an Odd Fellow.  The ghost of Thomas Wildey visits him to give him a glimpse into the world where he never joined the lodge.  This episode features an all-star cast including Gil T. Rodello, Kyle Fuller, Mason Wolf, Matthew Thornton, Fran Carris, Kaitlyn Osman, Ian Love-Jones, Steven Cross, Michael Greenzeiger, Joseph Benton, Elizabeth Keena, and Toby Hanson.

Sara Carbonell, directora general de Banco BiG, ha recomendado la emblemática película Qué bello es vivir como una obra clave para reflexionar sobre lecciones económicas y su impacto en la sociedad. Esta película, considerada una de las 100 mejores de la historia, no solo es un clásico del cine, sino que también ofrece valiosas enseñanzas sobre la economía y el sistema bancario. Qué bello es vivir cuenta la historia de George Bailey, un hombre que, en su papel de banquero, enfrenta diversos desafíos durante una época de turbulencias económicas, especialmente durante el colapso financiero del 29 y la Gran Depresión que lo siguió. A través de su historia, la película cuenta el impacto del pánico bancario y cómo las decisiones de los individuos pueden marcar la diferencia en la vida de los demás. Con su recomendación, Carbonell invita a todos a sumergirse en esta película que no solo toca aspectos del sistema financiero y la economía global, sino que también transmite un mensaje de esperanza y solidaridad en tiempos de crisis. Qué bello es vivir continúa siendo una obra imprescindible para quienes buscan entender las dinámicas económicas a través del cine.

The lads do battle with Mr. Potter for the heart of Bedford Falls as they cover Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas classic: It's a Wonderful Life. Topics include the pernicious myth of “Capra-corn”, the art of the Jimmy Stewart impression, and what it takes to be a George Bailey in a system designed to turn you into a Henry F. Potter.   REMINDER: SUBMISSIONS FOR OUR ANNUAL CALL-IN EPISODE ARE OPEN! Call +1 347 857 9523 and leave us a voicemail letting us know what the show meant to you this year and/or what your favorite moments were. We look forward to hearing from you!   Media Referenced in this Episode: It's a Wonderful Life! Dir. Frank Capra. 1946. 'Young George Bailey' Took Some Hard Hits by Stephen Cox. Los Angeles Times. December 15th, 1996. What ‘It's A Wonderful Life' Shows Us About The Weird History Of Building & Loans by John Wake. Forbes. December 31st, 2021.   TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com   Interstitial: “Jimmy the Raven” // Written and Performed by A.J. Ditty. 

Send us a textKatie and Bridget run through the town screaming MERRY CHRISTMAS as they re-watch the heartfelt classic: It's a Wonderful Life! It's a timeless (NO SERIOUSLY EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THIS MOVIE IS APPARENTLY HAPPENING NOW WTFFFFF) - ahem - story that teaches us that when you're not an asshole, people will show up for you! Come along as we meet George Bailey, a sassy hard-of-hearing man who gets handed a lot of seemingly crap deals in life... Except for his wife Mary! She's the best and is basically awesome in this timeline as well as the one where George doesn't exist. When George gets to the end of his rope, an angel named Clarence comes in to remind him that he's got a great life and needs to just CHILL OUT and STOP YELLING AT THE TEACHERS PLEASE! With a little help from his family, friends, neighbors, and God/someone named Joseph, George learns that he's going to jail! Isn't it wonderful!? Just kidding - he learns to appreciate his life as well as learns how beneficial websites like GoFundMe are! Released in 1946, it stars James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Travers.

“Well, your money's in Joe's house, that's right next to yours. And in the Kennedy House, and Mrs. Macklin's house, and, and a hundred others. Why, you're lending them the money to build, and then, they're going to pay it back to you as best they can.” Seventy-eight years ago, George Bailey memorably explained the operation of a mutual savings and loan to a national audience in It's a Wonderful Life. But while today's bankers understand mutuality, do today's potential clients? On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast — sponsored by TransUnion — bank leaders Gregg Tewksbury and Lori Dufficy discuss a new campaign, Mutuals Matter, that aims to educate consumers about mutual bank ownership. Among other things, they talk about: Why present, and future, customers need to be educated about the distinctive values of mutuality. How the campaign developed messaging that resonates with consumer. The role of the campaign in helping mutual bank employees understand their unique value proposition and take pride in their work. This episode is presented by TransUnion. If you can't see the audio player above, click here to listen to this week's episode. View the campaign at MutualBanksMatter.com. Read more in the ABA Banking Journal about public opinion on mutuality. Register for the ABA Mutual Community Bank Conference, April 6-7 in Washington, D.C.

Send us a textToday we discuss our thoughts on the 1946 Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life. You've known George Bailey your entire life, but what can he teach you about responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit within you, duty, family, and angels that appear as talking galaxies?Join us as we once again try to force theology into a movie everyone was just trying to enjoy.Be sure to follow and review! Merry Christmas!Intro music provided by Holly Serio

For the final episode of 2024, it's PART 4 of our four-part Christmas series, where Pastor Jack Hoey III and host Joey Svendsen discuss the ultimate Christmas movie classic, It's a Wonderful Life. We'll also catch up with Lead Pastors Josh and Lisa Surratt and hold the second annual "Christmas Trivia Championship Showdown." Listeners will hear a variety of opinions about It's a Wonderful Life—Joey is disappointed by the lack of excitement surrounding what he thinks could be the greatest movie ever. Some of the hosts theorize that the movie may be more interesting to people with specific racial backgrounds, while Jack highlights that the main character, George Bailey was celebrated because of how he lived his life sacrificially for others—relating this idea to how God is also sacrificial.Also included in this episode is a thought-experiment on having political discussions with family during the holidays, the balance between living sacrificially for others while not neglecting self, the significance of feeling compelled to give a gift to a person he or she received a gift from, and whether it's more difficult to find healthy community in 2024 when technology options have increased. Be a Patron of the Podcast!  Other Past Christmas Episodes:Santa Claus and Other LiesThis Christmas, Rejoice With Those Who RejoiceChristmas Episodes on Grief:This Holiday, Mourn with those Who MournThis Holiday, Mourn with those Who Mourn IIIn this episodeJack Hoey III / InstagramJosh Surratt / Instagram Lisa Surratt / Instagram Roy Jacques, host / FacebookTomelex Copeland, host / FacebookLynne Stroy, host / InstagramJoey Svendsen, host / InstagramAmy Worley, host / Instagramspecial thanks to the Christmas Trivia Championship Showdown participants:Teddy Winter, Corey Schneckloth, Brian Adleman, Jen Ullum, Jennifer Klatka, and Jenny Mayer; and the new Champs, Ciarrah Lindsay, Rebecca Lindsay and Luke Gaikwad. Executive Producer: Josh SurrattProducer/Editor: Joey SvendsenSound Engineer/Editor: JT PriceSound Engineer: Katelyn VandiverMusic, including theme song: Joel T. Hamilton MusicBecome a patron!We have a YouTube Channel for videos of all episodes since Jan. 2024.

In this episode of A Prisoner's Pardon, Michi J. explores the timeless holiday film 'It's a Wonderful Life,' outlining how the protagonist, George Bailey, learns the true value of his life through his sacrifices and impact on others. The episode highlights parallels between George's journey and our own lives, encouraging viewers to shift their perspective from materialism and self-reliance to community, support, and selflessness. By reflecting on George's hardships and divine intervention, listeners are inspired to embrace a wonderful life filled with purpose and gratitude.00:00 Introduction to Classic Christmas Movies00:41 The Timeless Message of 'It's a Wonderful Life'01:29 Deep Dive into George Bailey's Life04:06 George's Sacrifices and Temptations06:29 The Impact of George's Choices07:31 Finding Freedom and Embracing a Wonderful Life08:44 The True Spirit of Christmas10:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Step into the heartwarming story of hope, redemption, and the power of community with Lux Radio Theatre's adaptation of It's a Wonderful Life. Based on the beloved 1946 film, this radio program captures the essence of Frank Capra's timeless tale, bringing George Bailey's unforgettable journey to audiences in a whole new way. This episode was originally broadcast March 10th, 1947 on CBS Radio.

For a lot of people, It's A Wonderful Life is the Christmas movie. George Bailey's story of learning how much you really matter to the world has family, community, an angel, a mean rich guy, and a little kid playing carols on the piano. It has become a staple of holiday viewing, so we thought it was a perfect time to revisit our discussion about the movie. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today, I reflect on the greatest Christmas movie of all time, It's a Wonderful Life and what it teaches us about hope, healing, and finding meaning in life's challenges. George Bailey's story is all of us—navigating dreams, disappointments, and the tension between personal desires and the needs of others. It's a story of sacrifice, resilience, and ultimately, grace showing up in the most unexpected ways, like misfit second class angels. This is the second part of my Advent series on Hope and Healing, last week we talked about acceptance (please check out that episode).  This week focuses on the surprising ways God comes to us, which is the central reflection of Advent – the miracle of the incarnation and the reminder that God shocked us all as a baby in the manger. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let's reflect together on the gift of Advent, the power of acceptance, and the surprising ways divine providence manifests in our lives. If you have any questions about this show or topic, please leave them in the comments.   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Who is George Bailey? 04:44 The Burden of Responsibility and Choice 10:18 Don't Let Pain Turn You into a Villain 16:15 God is Listening 20:11 Final Encouragement   Not sure how to start a conversation with a someone you find attractive? Download my free Dating Toolkit at www.drmariosacasa.com/dating-toolkit   See the links below to offer financial assistance: Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Charities Hurricane Helen Donations Page: https://giving.classy.org/campaign/624511/donate   Diocese of St. Petersburg Hurricane Relief Fund: https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration/acp5f44220f014e0/user/guest   To catch up on previous audio-only episodes click on the links below: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/always-hope/id1437447070 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1EfQGHAQLHkQcmHeWjlCJF?si=6e6199090a0b4f0c   Follow me on the socials: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa Facebook: www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa   Full Courses: Dating Well: www.drmariosacasa/datingwell Overcoming Stress and Anxiety: www.goodcatholic.com/product/overcoming-stress-and-anxiety/   The content of Always Hope is for purely educational reasons and is not meant as a substitute for proper diagnosis and/or professional counseling. If you need psychological or counseling services, please contact a trusted therapist for assistance.

What is your favorite Christmas Movie? One of my favorites has to be "It's A Wonderful Life". In *It's a Wonderful Life*, George Bailey discovers his worth and the profound impact of his life on others. Guided by an angel, he sees a world without his influence, realizing how deeply his choices matter. Similarly, *Homecoming*, the 18th season of *Other People's Shoes*, explores returning to places of safety and belonging, reminding us of the unseen value of our lives and connections. This idea resonates with John Graham and the Good Samaritan Home, a non-profit that has been offering ex-offenders housing and support since 2001. From one remodeled house to 17 homes in Dayton, Ohio, they've helped over 1,000 people rebuild their lives through faith and kindness. Just as George learns that brokenness can lead to redemption, the Good Samaritan Home shows that broken lives, like broken houses, can be restored. Join me as I walk in John Graham's boots.

For our Holiday episode in December we have a lot of “goodies” for you including a wonderful interview on how to help adults with terminal illness live out their dreams, how to improve our health as we age and how to optimize our sleep health which is always in short supply during the busy holidays, but especially for caregivers and how respite care can help. We also will share how to help your older loved one live out their dream of driving safely with age and we give a sneak peek into our Holiday Gift Guide (which you can watch separately on our YouTube channel) and from our Self Care in 7 Minutes – 7 Lessons from George Bailey, the character in the classic holiday film, “It's a Wonderful Life” on how life can be challenging but also wonderful. (2:43) In CAREGIVER WELLNESS NEWS, Sherri talks about two new studies: the 4th Annual Older Adult Health Survey from Independa; and a sleep science study from UCSF on how our brains age if we do not get good restorative sleep (article and full study). Sherri also offers several resources to help caregivers find respite care during the holidays. (12:37) Kisa Heyer – CEO of the Dream Foundation – Kisa shares the wonder of this nonprofit that focuses on end-of-life dreams and how you can help make them happen for your loved one and for others. (30:50) For WELL HOME DESIGN NEWS, Sherri talks about December 4-8 which is National Older Driver Safety Week and what are the tips around keeping our older loved ones safe in their cars but also to keep them socially active and not just sitting at home alone. One alternative may be using rideshare and Sherri tells us how the new Caregiver App from Uber Health works to give free rides to older adults. Our 4th Annual Caregiving Club Holiday Gift Guide is here and Sherri shares a sneak peek into our 21 gift ideas for Caregiver Wellness, Older Adult Wellness and Wellness for the Home (you can also watch our gift guide selections on these links on our YouTube channel and check out our previous year's gift selections). (40:22) – In our Pop Culture segment, Sherri talks about the last chapter from her “Me Time Monday” book called “Me Time Monday for a Wonderful Life.” She talks about how there are lessons in the classic holiday movie, “It's a Wonderful Life” and captures 7 lessons from the main character, George Bailey, in our “Self Care in 7 Minutes” video as part of our Me Time Monday Wellness Hacks. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays – Take Care and Stay Well! Find out more at: caregivingclub.com/podcast/

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Frank Capra's beloved holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. Capturing the charm and warmth of the original story, actors portray multiple roles and create live sound effects to bring George Bailey's uplifting journey to life. This production - featuring Christopher Patrick Mullen and Brian Anthony Wilson; and directed by Pete Pryor (the team behind A Christmas Carol Comedy) - offers a unique, immersive experience that celebrates the enduring message of hope and community.FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://www.hedgerowtheatre.org

Send us a textIn this episode of Made for Mondays, we explore how the ordinary can become extraordinary. Heather shares about the power of “shabby little offices” and how they can change lives. We also reflect on the humble setting of Jesus' birth and what it reveals about God's character and priorities.What happens when life doesn't go according to plan? We talk about finding contentment, seeing the impact we make, and learning from George Bailey's journey in It's a Wonderful Life.Plus, Lisa gives insight into FreeKind's incredible efforts to end human trafficking in Virginia. Hear how this year's Gift initiative supports their mission and discover ways you can join the fight.

That is what true stewardship is—sacrificial giving that leads to a transformed lives…to a transformed world. We do that through first fruits, proportional giving that hurts only enough to make us feel good. We might have to put our plans on hold just as George Bailey did, but when we remember our blessings—when we know that they are the way we are preparing for the Lord—then we too get to proclaim, “It's a wonderful life.”

Welcome to Day 2516 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – My Guardian Angel – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2516 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2516 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today is the thirty-third lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God's redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it's also a book that seems strange to us. While God's Word was written for us, it wasn't written to us. Today's lesson is: My Guardian Angel. “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.” These are familiar words for those of us who follow the holiday tradition of watching the classic film It's a Wonderful Life. The angel Clarence helps George Bailey discover the unseen but tremendous significance his mundane life played in the lives of others. It's a heartwarming story, full of hope and encouragement. But what about its theology? Are guardian angels—like Clarence—really biblical? Jesus' words in Matthew 18:10 suggest the answer is yes: “Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. The passage affirms that children have angels who represent them before God. Where did Matthew get such an idea? In Job 5:1, angels are presented as mediators between God and people. Job's friend Eliphaz challenges him: “Cry for help, but will anyone answer you? Which of the angels[a] will help you? Eliphaz presumes that angels would act as mediators between God and Job. This understanding was common in the biblical world. Ancient Mesopotamians, for example, believed that humans had “personal gods” who could appeal for them before the assembly of gods. We no longer need a mediator. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus now intercedes on our behalf before God (1 Tim 2:5). But the New Testament still describes angels as having an immediate ministry to believers, as demonstrated by Hebrews 1:14: Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. Also, the narrative in Acts 12 shows us a continued connection between angels and people. After an angel frees Peter from prison and execution, Peter goes to the house of his fellow believers (12:6-10). Those inside don't believe the servant girl's report that he is at the door. They reply, “It must be his angel!” (12:15). This statement testifies to the early Christian...

Jimmy Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, take your pick. Either of their wishes will work. Listen and find out what they are and why George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart in It's A Wonderful Life, is the poster child for Happy Life Studios, and no, it's not just because he's always Happy, because truth is, he's not—quite the opposite actually. This is precisely why he is the epitome of a Happy Lifer. Listen and share with someone else you would like to give Happier Holidays to.Here are the links for the VRBO I recorded this episode from, plus another one I stayed at last time I was in town owned by the same Happy Lifer. I highly recommend. Tell them Happy Life Studios sent you. https://www.airbnb.com/slink/rEpQV5Ga https://www.airbnb.com/slink/s3I1QrmJ https://www.airbnb.com/slink/QmgmlJNo The songs we use in this episode are "Title Sequence" from It's A Wonderful Life directed by Frank Capra, and "Merry Happy Christmas" by Jimmy Fallon. We don't own any rights. Contact usLinktree: www.Linktr.ee/HappyLifeStudiosEmail: Podcast@HappyLife.StudioYo Stevo Hotline: (425) 200-HAYS (4297)Webpage: www.HappyLife.lol YouTube: www.YouTube.com/StevoHaysLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hays-b6b1186b/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@happylifestudiosFacebook: www.Facebook.com/HappyLifeStudios Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HappyLife_Studios Twitter: www.x.com/stevehays If you would like to help us spread the HappyPayPal: www.PayPal.me/StevoHaysCash App: $HappyLifeStudiosZelle: StevoHays@gmail.comVenmo: @StevoHaysBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/HappyLifeStudioCheck: Payable to Hays Ministries or Steve Hays and send to 27240 213th Place S.E. Maple Valley, WA 98038

The Daily Quiz - Entertainment, Society and Culture Today's Questions: Question 1: Which of these Latin phrases means 'A beard doesn't make one a philosopher'? Question 2: Which antihero, whose mask looked like swirling ink, did Jackie Earle Haley portray in 'Watchmen'? Question 3: Which film contains the character 'Howard Beale'? Question 4: In what movie, based on a Washington Irving short story, is the protagonist a policeman sent to investigate a series of decapitations? Question 5: Which car manufacturer makes the Impala? Question 6: In which year was Full Metal Jacket released? Question 7: Which of these quotes is from the film 'Gone with the Wind'? Question 8: Which of these quotes is from the film 'Now, Voyager'? Question 9: Which actor played the role of George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life? This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Christmas season, we are doing a special Christmas Classics Drive-In series! We will be reviewing Christmas movies we believe have stood the test of time (50 years or older)! Brandon Knight joins Joshua Noel to start us off by discussing "It's a Wonderful Life"!.What is the famous line from It's a Wonderful Life? How old was Jimmy Stewart in the movie It's a Wonderful Life? What is the main message of It's a Wonderful Life? How much money did George Bailey get at the end of It's a Wonderful Life? What was the mistake in It's a Wonderful Life? Was Mr. Gower really drunk in Its a Wonderful Life? What is the significance of the bird in It's a Wonderful Life? Who was the angel in It's a Wonderful Life? We discuss all this and more in this one! Join in the conversation with us on Discord now!.Support our show on Captivate or Patreon, or by purchasing a comfy T-Shirt in our store!.Check out last year's Christmas Drive-In series:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/1a64b548-2f00-4348-bd87-0c15222b16d8.Listen to all of our film reviews:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/6a01e00d-cfd7-4041-a7a4-1fd32c545050.Check out all of Joshua's episodes:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/642da9db-496a-40f5-b212-7013d1e211e0.Check out our other episodes with guests like Brandon:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/0d46051e-3772-49ec-9e2c-8739c9b74cdeMentioned in this episode:Anazao Ministries Podcasts - AMP NetworkCheck out other shows like this on our podcast network! https://anazao-ministries.captivate.fm/

Send us a textWhat if you could bring the charm of a 1940s radio play to the stage, all while presenting the venerable classic, It's A Wonderful Life? On "Steps to the Stage," we explore this intriguing blend with director Chris Diehl and actors Philip Kasinski, Lourie Deards Chase, and Danny Chase as they breathe new life into "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play." Our guests share how this innovative format allows theater companies to capture the magic of the beloved film without the need for an extensive cast and elaborate settings. Listen in as we discuss the fascinating dual-layer narrative, where actors portray both their radio personas and the iconic characters of George Bailey and his circle.Step into the small-town charm of Bedford Falls as we delve into the characters that make this story a timeless favorite. Our talented actors reveal the challenges and joys of bringing characters like George Bailey and Mary Hatch to life, capturing the heart of their journeys. Danny Chase offers an insider's view into the art of voice work, portraying an impressive eleven characters within the radio play format. This multifaceted storytelling approach not only captures the essence of the original but also adds fresh layers of creativity, inviting audiences to experience the beloved tale anew.Beyond the stage, our conversation opens up on the crafting of authentic soundscapes and engaging period-appropriate commercials that enhance this radio play experience. With the Chino Community Theater's upcoming season on the horizon, we shine a spotlight on exciting productions like "Steel Magnolias" and classics such as "A Raisin in the Sun." This episode promises a rich exploration of community theater's creativity and the passion that fuels it, setting the stage for a memorable season ahead.It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play runs weekends Dec. 6-22ndPurchase tickets at:  https://chinocommunitytheatre.seatyourself.bizor call 909-590-1149$15 Student/Senior/Child$18 General AdmissionFind STTS:Steps To The Stage (@stepstothestage) | InstagramFacebookSteps To The Stage (buzzsprout.com)Steps To The Stage - YouTubePlease follow on your favorite podcast platform and we appreciate 5 Star ratings and positive reviews!

Parents who worry that their daughter is overindulged, spoiled, or ungrateful can use the “George Bailey effect” to help them become more grateful for the people, experiences, and material things in their lives.In the famous holiday movie, It's a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart's character is so discouraged and depressed that he thinks committing suicide to give his family his life insurance money is better than him being alive, and he wishes he had never been born. An angel, Clarence, comes down from heaven and allows Jimmy to see what would have been different for all of the people in his life if he indeed had never been born. This has the effect of making him extremely grateful for his life and he becomes happy and ready to live his life fully.Dr. Jordan encourages parents to teach their daughters this tool to engender a sense of gratitude for their lives. Have your daughter imagine what her life would be like without a major blessing like parents, siblings, relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, good friends, and any positive life events. Then encourage them to express gratitude internally or to thank them in person or with letters of gratitude.What a great exercise for us all to do during this thanksgiving and holiday season.Join Our Community:https://www.facebook.com/DrTimJordanhttps://www.instagram.com/drtimjordan/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-jordan-md-79799120b/

President and Artistic Director of Torch & Trumpet Theatre Company, Oksana Horton joins Mornings with Eric and Brigitte on Tuesday to talk about their upcoming musical, "It's a Wonderful Life", beginning with one performance on December 12, one on December 13, two on December 14 and a matinee on December 15 at The Church at Deerfield Beach. Based on the beloved 1946 film, this musical faithfully follows George Bailey's life from his childhood dreams to his midlife disappointments and beyond, as we all take a journey to discover whether his life has mattered at all . . . It's a Wonderful Life: The Musical - Dec. 12-15 - The Church at Deerfield BeachDonate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wrmbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered what happened to some of the characters in Bedford Falls after the events of "It's a Wonderful Life"? My guest today is author John Theo, and he wondered the same thing and has written a piece of fan fiction exploring that very thing. Get ready for a wonderful new cozy story, and then stay tuned for Friday, as I have John Theo back on the podcast as a guest and we talk about this story and more.  Find out more about John Theo at https://www.johntheo.com/  Ways to support the show: Rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-cozy-christmas-podcast/id1523423375  Buy me a coffee? www.ko-fi.com/cozychristmas  Ornaments, Mugs, and Notebooks: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CozyChristmasPodcast  Logo shirt designs: http://tee.pub/lic/edygC_h4D1c    Contact Me: facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cozychristmaspodcast  instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozychristmaspodcast/  twitter: https://twitter.com/CozyXmasPod  youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCikiozEbu0h9pKeI1Ei5TQ email: cozychristmaspodcast@gmail.com           #Christmas #Podcast #christmaspodcast

My hope for you and for myself is that we will be just like George Bailey at the end of the movie “It's a Wonderful Life”. By having a motorcycle. the ability to ride to ride it and the many friends and family who love us, we will recognize how very blessed you are right now.  We'll be reminded that yeah, we are having a Wonderful Life.Send me a message!

George Bailey spoke earlier in the week and gave some clarity to the make up of the Aussie team. Get the inserted AD's FREE VERSION of the show on our Patreon Page Subscribe to our YouTube page for live streams: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7koDKpKxe0e3yC7NXQx6Q Linktree for listening on podcast apps and finding us on social media: https://linktr.ee/cricketunfiltered Show twitter: https://twitter.com/auscricketpod Menners on twitter:  https://twitter.com/amenners TIKTOK: @cricketunfiltered Sponsorship enquiries for host read ads: andrew@piccolopodcasts.com.au Email the show your cricket takes: cricketunfilteredpodcast@gmail.com Piccolo Podcasts: https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/ Founder Andrew Menczel. The first episode aired August 2013.  It is a multi award-winning podcast team, the show has featured 15 Australian captains and some of the greatest legends of cricket and an episode is archived in the Australian National Film and Sound Archive. Menners is an accredited cricket journalist and commentator and his interview with Alex Blackwell won a Cricket NSW Media Award. The show was the first ever regular weekly Australian cricket podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready for an exciting return! Join our new hosts, George Bailey and Jim Stratton, as they dive into the latest cybersecurity news and topics. They will be accompanied by a rotating panel of experts and guests each week, and yes...there will be appearances by Mat and Mike from time to time.Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!-------------------------Follow us on all the things: Twitter: @PCyberTAPLinkedIn: Purdue cyberTAP Email the Cyber Tap with suggestions (or be a guest)cybertappodcast@purdue.edu To learn more about Purdue cyberTAP's education and professional services, visit cyber.tap.purdue.edu

This lesson is from George Bailey called “Can You Recommend Your Religion?” A catchy title for a great lesson from God's word. Special thanks to WVBS.org for providing the audio for this episode. Check out more of these lessons from the “Gospel Preachers Living History Series” at https://video.wvbs.org/series/gospel-preachers-living-history-series/. Visit our linktree: https://linktr.ee/scatteredabroadnetwork Visit our website, www.scatteredabroad.org, and subscribe to our email list. "Like" and "share" our Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/sapodcastnetwork Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ the_scattered_abroad_network/ Subscribe to our Substack: https://scatteredabroad.substack.com/Subscribe to our YouTube channel: The Scattered Abroad Network Contact us through email at san@msop.org. If you would like to consider supporting us in any way, don't hesitate to contact us through this email.