Podcasts about Gobi Desert

What if the same thing that nearly destroyed you is the reason you become unstoppable? In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Ken Rideout, world champion marathoner, former Wall Street trader, and recovering addict whose life reads like a story most people wouldn't believe. From a rough, blue-collar upbringing in Massachusetts to winning an ultramarathon across the Gobi Desert, Ken's path has been anything but linear. This conversation digs into how grit actually gets built, why money never filled the void he expected it to, and what it takes to bet on yourself when everyone around you says you can't. Here's what you'll learn: Why toughness isn't something you're born with, and how you can teach it to yourself Why money won't make you happier, even after going from broke to wealthy What it takes to turn a failure into the fire that drives everything after Ken built his comeback one decision at a time, and this episode shows you how to do the same. (00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:19) Why Ken wrote the memoir (00:04:33) A rough upbringing (00:07:49) Is hustle born or built? (00:09:23) The road to Wall Street (00:14:47) Money, watches, and insecurity (00:16:10) How addiction took hold (00:17:24) The constant struggle to stay sober (00:19:37) Why high achievers are wired differently (00:22:03) Finding endurance sports (00:24:24) Quitting the Ironman World Championships (00:32:10) The race across the Gobi Desert (00:39:15) How he defines success now (00:47:33) What it means to be a game changer ---- Links & Resources: Ken Rideout Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard by Ken Rideout David Goggins Mitchell Hooper Darren Waller Mat Fraser Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer Elon Musk Jeff Bezos Mark Zuckerberg ---- Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com. ---- Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. ---- Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more. ---- If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like: 412. Why Doing Hard Things Is the Ultimate Advantage with Joe De Sena 170. Mat Fraser - The Fittest Man on Earth 141. David Goggins - Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within

China has successfully docked its Shenzhou-23 spacecraft with the Tiangong space station, after a dramatic overnight launch from the edge of the Gobi Desert. The mission carries three astronauts into orbit, including the first astronaut from Hong Kong, and one crew member expected to remain in space for a full year, double the usual duration of previous Chinese missions. - Китай успешно состыковал свой космический корабль «Шэньчжоу-23» с космической станцией «Тяньгун» после впечатляющего запуска с края пустыни Гоби. В ходе миссии на орбиту были доставлены три космонавта, включая первого космонавта из Гонконга. Ожидается, что один член экипажа пробудет в космосе целый год, что вдвое превышает обычную продолжительность китайских миссий.Больше историй, интервью и новостей от SBS Russian доступно здесь.Включайте радио в понедельник, четверг и субботу в 12.00 Мельбурн — 93.1 fm, Сидней — 97.7 fm, другие города. Подключайтесь к эфиру на нашем сайте и в приложении SBS Audio app.

China launched the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft at night from the outskirts of the Gobi Desert and has successfully docked at the Tiangong space station. - Tiongkok meluncurkan pesawat luar angkasa Shenzhou-23 pada malam hari dari pinggiran Gurun Gobi dan telah berhasil merapat di stasiun ruang angkasa Tiangong.

China has successfully docked its Shenzhou-23 spacecraft with the Tiangong space station, after a dramatic overnight launch from the edge of the Gobi Desert. The mission carries three astronauts into orbit, including the first astronaut from Hong Kong, and one crew member expected to remain in space for a full year, double the usual duration of previous Chinese missions.

The Gobi Desert holds a secret that has terrified Mongolian herders for centuries: the Olgoi-Khorkhoi, or Mongolian Death Worm. This two-to-five-foot creature allegedly kills from a distance—spitting corrosive acid that melts flesh in seconds and discharging electricity through the sand. No eyes. No legs. Just a thick, blood-red worm that surfaces when the ground gets hot and leaves nothing but blackened corpses and stained sand in its wake. Join me as we explore one of cryptozoology's most persistent mysteries, where the line between folklore and fatal reality gets buried in the sand. EXPLORE MORE SPINE-CHILLING CONTENT: Freaky Folklore: https://www.eeriecast.com/podcasts/freaky-folklore Carman's Crypt (Original Horror): https://www.carman-carrion.com/ Deadly Intent (True Crime): https://www.carman-carrion.com/ Destination Terror: https://www.eeriecast.com/podcasts/destination-terror SUPPORT THE SHOW: Patreon (Ad-Free + Bonus Content): https://www.patreon.com/c/CarmanCarrion Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/carmancarrion CONNECT WITH CARMAN: Website: https://www.carman-carrion.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarmanCarrion Twitter/X: https://x.com/CarmanCarrion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmancarrion/ SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uiX155WEJnN7QVRfo3aQY iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freaky-folklore/id1550361184 Your support helps bring you more terrifying tales. DISCOVER MORE HORROR: http://eeriecast.com/ https://www.carman-carrion.com/ THE CRYPT SHOP: https://the-crypt-shop-2.myshopify.com/ MUSIC CREDITS: Music and sound effects provided by: CO.AG, Myuu, Jinglepunks, Epidemic Sound, Kevin MacLeod, Dark Music, and Soundstripe. #MongolianDeathWorm #OlgoiKhorkhoi #Cryptozoology #Cryptids #FreakyFolklore #TrueCryptids #GobiDesert #Mongolia DesertMonsters #Folklore #UnsolvedMysteries #Paranormal #MonsterLegends #CrypticCreatures #DeathWorm #ScaryStories #HorrorPodcast #TrueFolklore #DesertLegends #CryptidHunting #UnexplainedMysteries #AsianFolklore #DangerousCreatures #PodcastersOfInstagram #HorrorCommunity #CarmanCarrion #Eeriecast   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Brave Enough Show, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt and Jane Hanson discuss:  Career identity loss (doctor, leader, achiever, caregiver)  Why we as women undervalue ourselves and how to stop doing it  Changing people and friendships as you evolve  Practical exercise: separating who you are from what you do  "When your friends change, you have not failed. The opposite is true: you are growing." -Jane Hanson    Guest Bio:  Jane Hanson – Emmy-Winning Journalist, Communication Coach, and Media Strategist. Jane Hanson grew up in rural Minnesota, coming to New York three decades ago to join NBC as an anchor and correspondent in NY.  She co-anchored "Today in New York," and hosted  "Jane's New York"; She covered events ranging from the tragedy of 9/11 to the joy of Yankees victory parades to Wall Street and Washington; has interviewed presidents, business leaders, prisoners, and celebrities; traveled as far as the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and the great depths miles below New York City for her special reports. Most recently, she hosted a daily entertainment and lifestyle program, New York Live, for NBC4. Jane has won 9 Emmys; was named Correspondent of the Year by New York's Police Detectives and Firefighters, among many other awards. Jane has served as the March of Dimes Walk-America Chairman, honorary chair for the Susan B. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure, and as a board member of Graham Windham, Phipps Houses, the Randall's Island Sports Foundation, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, and Telecare. She has taught at Long Island University, Stern College, and the 92nd Street Y. and was President of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  She is currently a much sought-after communications coach working with top-tier leaders in every field while continuing to emcee, speak and host broadcasts.  Social Media Links:  Website IG LinkedIn     Brave Enough 2026 CME Conference For ten years, women have gathered at the Brave Enough Conference to step away from the demands of medicine and into a space of renewal. This anniversary year, we celebrate a decade of empowerment and sisterhood—ten years of lifting each other up, reigniting purpose, and remembering that none of us has to do this alone. Join us September 24-27, 2026, at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa. Coaching with Dr. Sasha Shillcutt As a leadership coach and a certified Enneagram coach, Dr. Shillcutt provides a personalized coaching strategy to help meet you exactly where you are, according to your personality. She will provide an in-depth look at your current work life challenges, and lead you through a plan to master them using the power of your personality strengths. Follow Brave Enough:   WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN Join The Table, Brave Enough's community. The ONLY professional membership group that meets both the professional and personal needs of high-achieving women.

Sponsored By:→ Neuro | Go to https://getneuro.com and use code ONEDAY at checkout for 15% OFF your entire order.DescriptionPrison guard at 18. Wall Street trader. A decade-long opioid addiction nobody knew about. Then running — and winning — some of the hardest races on earth after 50.Jon Bier sits down with his friend Ken Rideout — national bestselling author, fastest marathoner in the world over 50, and one of the most brutally honest people Jon knows — for a conversation about what it actually takes to outrun your own worst version of yourself. Jon knows Ken well. He still didn't know 90% of the stories in this book. That's how deep it goes.Ken doesn't motivate people with highlight reels. He motivates people by refusing to stop — at 103 fever in Kona, in the Gobi Desert with no camping experience, in a decade of addiction that nobody saw coming because the discipline never stopped. The opinion of yourself is the only one that matters. Ken has been proving that to himself his entire life.Nothing in this conversation is comfortable. That's kind of the point.In this episode: • How Ken hid a decade-long opioid addiction while building a Wall Street career and finishing marathons — and what finally made him stop • Why quitting at the Hawaii Ironman became the defining moment of his athletic life, and the fuel that's been burning ever since • The mindset behind being the fastest man in the world over 50 — and why it has nothing to do with genetics and everything to do with never negotiating with yourselfFind Ken: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ken_rideout/ • Website: https://www.thekenrideout.com/ • The Book: https://www.theothersideofhard.com/Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:02 - Why Nothing Is Ever Enough (And Why That's the Point)3:52 - A Decade as a Functioning Drug Addict — While Building a Career7:11 - How He Used Drugs as a Reward System (And Exercise as the Gate)9:38 - The Parts of the Book That Got Cut11:25 - The Mentor Who Changed Everything: Getting Hired With No Experience14:19 - The Pedigree He Never Had & the Emotional Intelligence That Replaced It16:22 - Mind Over Matter: Why Average Biometrics Beat Elite Genetics18:02 - Stop Negotiating With Yourself — The Only Mindset That Works19:16 - When His Wife Got Breast Cancer: The Moment Health Became Everything20:35 - You Can Teach Yourself to Be Tough22:01 - Raising Kids Who Do Hard Things (Wrestling, Boxing & Losing in Front of Dad)24:58 - Crying After Berlin: Why His Opinion of Himself Is the Only One That Matters32:13 - Quitting the Hawaii Ironman — The Sting That Never Leaves34:24 - Racing Kona With Pneumonia & Ending Up in the Medical Tent36:48 - The Gobi Desert Race in Mongolia: Winning With No Experience41:30 - What's Next: The Book, a Possible Film & the Agency

Dom talks with Brendan Hoare, founder and Managing Director of Buy Pure NZ, about the upcoming China Study Tour (14-23 June), including a visit to the country's largest organic dairy farm on the edge of the Gobi desert. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

In this episode, Ken Rideout shares his extraordinary journey of overcoming childhood trauma, addiction, and physical challenges through resilience, authenticity, and love. This show also explores the power of self-awareness, the importance of inner union, and the transformative impact of compassion and perseverance.Chapters00:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery03:03 Pain and Growth: Lessons from Running05:52 The Impact of Childhood on Adult Life08:51 Navigating Fame and Ego11:33 The Role of Family and Relationships14:36 Overcoming Adversity and Finding Strength17:42 Parenting: Challenges and Realizations27:46 Navigating Family Dynamics with a Nanny28:48 The Impact of Addiction on Relationships30:36 The Journey to Sobriety and Adoption31:51 The Heart of Adoption: Choosing to Love33:55 Challenging the System: Advocating for Children37:07 Emotional Resilience and Self-Awareness40:45 Finding Stillness in a Busy Life42:13 Creating a Fulfilling Life Beyond Work43:56 Understanding and Managing Anger46:36 The Power of Perseverance in Endurance Sports49:42 Core Messages of Resilience and Self-ReflectionSponsors: MANUKORA HONEY OFFER: Right now, Manukora is giving Feel Good Podcast listeners their largest discount of the year. Please go to MANUKORA.com/KIMBERLY to save up to 31% plus $25 worth of free gifts with the Starter Kit, which comes with an MGO 850+ Manuka Honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook!USE LINK: MANUKORA.com/KIMBERLY DETOXY OFFER: Go to mysolluna.com and use the CODE: PODFAM15 for 15% off your entire order. USE LINK: mysolluna.comKen Rideout Resources: Book: Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard: A Memoir Website: https://www.rideout.group Social: @ ken_rideout Podcast: RIDEOUT: The Other Side of Hard Bio: Ken Rideout is the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty and a former prison guard, Wall Street trader, and opioid addict. His life story has been chronicled in such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside. Since getting sober more than a decade ago, he has won some of the world's toughest races, including, at age fifty-two, the Gobi March—a 155-mile, self-supported race across the sweltering Gobi Desert in Mongolia—and a few months later, the Masters (50+) Marathon World Championships. In addition to his many running victories, he has completed more than ten Ironman triathlons. In 2018, Ken founded capital solutions firm Camrock Advisors. More recently, he founded talent agency Rideout Sports and Entertainment. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Shelby, and their four children.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Simon Wickhamsmith is a Buddhist monk turned scholar, computer musician, and one of the only translators of Mongolian literature into English. He teaches in the Writing Program at Rutgers University and has been traveling back and forth to Mongolia since 2006. In this conversation he traces his spiritual path from Catholicism through Tibetan Buddhism and back to medieval Christian mysticism, introduces the Mongolian poet Mend-Ooyo, and takes us deep into the life and poetry of the 19th century Buddhist polymath Danzanravjaa — a figure Simon considers his primary teacher — including a live reading of the poem Twos, a stunning meditation on nonduality from the Mongolian steppe. Topics 00:00 — Introduction 00:02 — Simon's spiritual path: Catholicism, Opus Dei, the Desert Fathers, and Zen 00:04 — Discovering Tibetan Buddhism, Samye Ling monastery in Scotland, and ordaining as a monk 00:06 — The three-year retreat, his mother's illness, and returning to the world 00:07 — Returning to medieval Christian mysticism: Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, The Cloud of Unknowing 00:10 — How SAND connected with Mend-Ooyo in Mongolia — and how Simon met him 00:12 — Teaching himself Mongolian by translating Danzanravjaa's complete works 00:13 — Introducing Mend-Ooyo: born 1952 into a nomadic herding family, poet and cultural guardian of Mongolia 00:16 — The underground literary group GAL (Fire) and Mend-Ooyo's role in Mongolian literary culture 00:18 — Mend-Ooyo's mission: reconnecting Mongolia to its nomadic heritage after Soviet collapse 00:19 — Mend-Ooyo's new novel The Solitary Tree: Robin Hood, shamanism, Buddhism, and falcons 00:23 — Who was Danzanravjaa? Born in the Gobi Desert, recognized as the fifth reincarnation of the Noyon Hutagt 00:26 — Danzanravjaa's approach: spontaneous, impromptu poetry as dharma teaching 00:28 — Mongolia's first traveling theater troupe and the poems as dictated teachings 00:31 — Live reading and analysis of Perfect Qualities — a love poem, a guru poem, and a poem of nonduality simultaneously 00:33 — The three levels of meaning in Danzanravjaa's poetry: outer, inner, and secret 00:38 — Bhakti yoga, Ram Dass, Maharaji, and the connection to direct transmission beyond doctrine 00:41 — Danzanravjaa and the land: the Shambhala vortex at Hamriin Hiid 00:44 — Horses, landscape, and the spiritual path in his poetry 00:45 — Simon's personal experience of the Shambhala site and animist relationship to land 00:49 — If Danzanravjaa were alive today: his anti-Manchu politics and primary focus on deepening practice 00:50 — Live reading of the poem Twos — nonduality in full 00:54 — On translation: humor, layers of meaning, and the paradox of the poem itself Resources & Links Simon Wickhamsmith Rutgers University faculty page Suncranes and Other Stories: Modern Mongolian Short Fiction — Columbia University Press, 2021 Politics and Literature in Mongolia (1921–1948) — Amsterdam University Press, 2020 The Hidden Life of the Sixth Dalai Lama — Lexington Books, 2011 Mend-Ooyo Gombojav Official website: mend-ooyo.mn Altan Ovoo (Golden Hill) — translated by Simon Wickhamsmith Gegeenten (The Holy One) — novel about Danzanravjaa The Solitary Tree — Mend-Ooyo's most recent novel, published 2025, translated by Simon Wickhamsmith Wikipedia: Mend-Ooyo Gombojav SAND Event — Nature of Mind and Mind of Nature: A Local Event with Mongolian Poet Mend-Ooyo Gombojav (2026) Danzanravjaa (referenced poems) Perfect Qualities (also known as The Five Senses / Five Offerings) Twos — read in full during the episode Mend-Ooyo's essay on Danzanravjaa: mend-ooyo.mn/content/86.html Referenced spiritual figures & texts The Cloud of Unknowing — anonymous 14th century medieval Christian mysticism text Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart — medieval mystics Simon returned to after Buddhism Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, Scotland — where Simon did his retreat Ram Dass and Maharaji — referenced in discussion of bhakti yoga and direct transmission John Cage — Simon's original entry point into Zen Buddhism Connect with more talks and films from the SAND film Series The Eternal Song Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Chasing Dawn: A Gobi Desert Sunrise Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-04-08-07-38-19-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 고비 사막의 밤은 조용하고 차가웠다.En: The night in the Gobi Desert was quiet and cold.Ko: 별빛이 사막 위에 반짝였다.En: Starlight was twinkling above the desert.Ko: 대지에는 아침 이슬이 살짝 내렸고, 하늘은 점점 빛깔을 바꾸고 있었다.En: A hint of morning dew had settled on the earth, and the sky was gradually changing its colors.Ko: 미호와 수경은 함께 여행을 떠난 친구였다.En: Miho and Sookyung were friends on a journey together.Ko: 이번 여행의 목적은 바로 훗날 추억이 될 아름다운 일출 사진을 찍는 것이었다.En: The purpose of this trip was to take beautiful sunrise photos that would become treasured memories in the future.Ko: 미호는 흥분을 감출 수 없었다.En: Miho couldn't contain her excitement.Ko: "수경아, 저 모래 언덕에 올라가면 일출을 멋지게 찍을 수 있을 거야,"라고 미호가 말했다.En: "Sookyung, if we climb up that sand dune, we can take amazing sunrise photos," said Miho.Ko: 그의 목소리에는 모험에 대한 열정이 가득했다.En: Her voice was filled with a passion for adventure.Ko: 반면 수경은 걱정 가득한 얼굴로 주변을 살폈다.En: On the other hand, Sookyung surveyed their surroundings with a concerned expression.Ko: "고비 사막은 만만치 않은 곳이야. 조심해야 해," 수경이 조언했다.En: "The Gobi Desert isn't an easy place. We need to be careful," Sookyung advised.Ko: 둘은 일찌감치 출발해 모래 언덕을 향해 걸었다.En: They set off early and walked toward the sand dunes.Ko: 시간이 촉박했다.En: Time was pressing.Ko: 하늘은 서서히 밝아오기 시작했다.En: The sky was beginning to brighten gradually.Ko: 미호는 사진 포인트에 빨리 도착하고 싶었다.En: Miho was eager to reach the photo spot quickly.Ko: "저쪽으로 가면 시간이 단축될 거야. 지름길이야," 미호는 새로운 경로를 제안했다.En: "If we go that way, we'll save time. It's a shortcut," Miho suggested a new route.Ko: 수경은 잠시 망설였다.En: Sookyung hesitated for a moment.Ko: "여기가 낯설잖아, 위험할 수도 있어," 그녀는 고민하며 말했다.En: "This place is unfamiliar, it could be dangerous," she said, pondering.Ko: 하지만 미호의 설득에 결국 수경은 동의했다.En: But Miho's persuasion eventually swayed Sookyung.Ko: 두 사람은 모래 언덕 사이를 조심스럽게 걸었다.En: The two carefully navigated between the sand dunes.Ko: 하지만 시간이 갈수록 방향 감각을 잃었다.En: However, as time went by, they lost their sense of direction.Ko: 어느 길로 가야 할지 몰라 망설였다.En: They hesitated, unsure of which way to go.Ko: 저 멀리 하늘은 이미 여명으로 물들기 시작했다.En: In the distance, the sky had already begun to be tinged with dawn.Ko: "어떡하지? 시간이 없어!" 미호는 초조해 했다.En: "What should we do? We're running out of time!" Miho said anxiously.Ko: 수경은 차분하게 말했다.En: Sookyung spoke calmly.Ko: "잠시만, 내가 지도와 나침반을 볼게."En: "Wait a moment, I'll check the map and compass."Ko: 그녀는 천천히 방향을 계산했다. 그리고 희미한 길을 따라갔다.En: She slowly calculated their direction and followed a faint path.Ko: "이쪽이 맞을 거야. 나를 믿어," 그녀는 미호에게 확신 있게 말했다.En: "This way should be right. Trust me," she said confidently to Miho.Ko: 드디어 언덕 정상에 도착했을 땐, 하늘은 이미 주홍빛으로 물들고 있었다.En: When they finally reached the top of the dune, the sky was already tinted with a crimson glow.Ko: 미호는 카메라를 들고 숨을 죽였다.En: Miho held her breath and raised her camera.Ko: 그와 동시에 해가 지평선 위로 떠올랐다.En: At that moment, the sun rose above the horizon.Ko: 금빛 햇살이 모래 언덕 사이로 퍼져 나갔다.En: Golden sunlight spread between the sand dunes.Ko: 아름다운 광경이었다.En: It was a beautiful sight.Ko: 촬영을 마친 후, 미호는 수경에게 감사했다.En: After finishing the shoot, Miho thanked Sookyung.Ko: "너 덕분에 멋진 사진을 찍었어," 미호가 미소 지으며 말했다.En: "Thanks to you, I took amazing photos," Miho said, smiling.Ko: 수경은 고개를 끄덕였다.En: Sookyung nodded.Ko: "가끔은 조심성이 모험을 더욱 가치 있게 만들어," 그녀는 대답했다.En: "Sometimes being cautious makes the adventure more worthwhile," she replied.Ko: 그렇게 그들은 경험과 교훈을 담은 새로운 추억을 얻었다.En: In this way, they gained new memories filled with experiences and lessons.Ko: 미호는 수경의 판단을 신뢰하는 법을 배웠고, 둘은 함께하며 모험의 의미를 새롭게 찾았다.En: Miho learned to trust Sookyung's judgment, and together, they rediscovered the meaning of adventure.Ko: 사막의 일출은 그들에게 중요한 가르침을 선사했다.En: The sunrise in the desert offered them important teachings. Vocabulary Words:desert: 사막starlight: 별빛dune: 모래 언덕hint: 살짝dew: 이슬gradually: 점점purpose: 목적sunrise: 일출treasured: 추억adventure: 모험concerned: 걱정 가득한surveyed: 살폈다unfamiliar: 낯설persuasion: 설득navigate: 조심스럽게 걸었다anxiously: 초조해compass: 나침반calculated: 계산했다crimson: 주홍빛horizon: 지평선glow: 빛golden: 금빛spread: 퍼져 나갔다lesson: 교훈judgment: 판단rediscover: 새롭게 찾았다teaching: 가르침cherish: 가치 있게eager: 빨리 도착하고 싶었다route: 경로

Welcome to PGX: Raw & RealPGX: Raw & Real is simple. I sit with people who've lived through something and/or made it big.This isn't meant to be inspiration or a template for life (for that, you can check out PGX Ideas).This space is different. It's their story, as they experienced it.In this episode, I spoke to Deepanshu Sangwan —  @NomadicIndian  Timestamps:00:00 - Trailer0:49 - Weird Red Light Culture in Japan8:44 - He met Taliban?18:51 - Tragic history of Afganistan28:30 - The most Beautiful part of India: North East38:53 - Near Death experience in Russia48:10 - Scariest travel experiences56:54 - He got lost in Gobi Desert?1:13:34 - Gun Markets and Ethnic Tensions1:18:44 - Trade can stop wars?1:24:55 - Why India is Losing the Global Image War1:30:21 - The Tragic Reality of Modern Syria & Iran1:35:19 - Somalia: Pirates, Guns, and Visa Bans1:38:06 - Mongolian Nomads and Horse ArcheryEnjoy.— Prakhar___________________________________________________________________________________________________Watch NextIf you're looking for human stories & emotion, go to PGX Raw & Real → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa6DgTttATAc0hftp0aZtUvCgVSKO8hbxIf you want ideas, insight, and perspective, go to PGX Ideas → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa6DgTttATAcNdrNSG8Hh78TK-5A0EJbC___________________________________________________________________________________________________Learn with MeMaster the art of Conversation → https://www.artofconversation.in/___________________________________________________________________________________________________Guest - Deepanshu SangwanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadic.indian/X: https://x.com/nomadic_1ndianYouTube:  @NomadicIndian  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nomadic.1ndian/___________________________________________________________________________________________________PGX SocialsInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/pgxpodcast/X (Twitter) → https://twitter.com/pgxpodcastLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/prvkhvr/Clips Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@PGXClips___________________________________________________________________________________________________Follow meTwitter: https://twitter.com/prvkhvrInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/prvkhvr/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prvkhvr/___________________________________________________________________________________________________#prakharkepravachan #prakhargupta #nomadicindian #travel #travelvlog #japan #pgx #raw #real

Send us Fan MailIn this show, the boys discuss the global implications of the Iran conflict that was started by the USA and Israel. Will it end with a change of the Iranian regime? Or will the repercussions extend beyond the Middle East?What are your thoughts on this subject? Do you agree or disagree? And are there other things you feel they should have covered?Links used during the show-https://www.ictworks.org/direct-to-cell-satellite-internet-humanitarian-connectivity-tool/-https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/the-yuxi-circle-the-worlds-most-densely-populated-area/-Key FactsPopulation: As of 2022 data, the circle contains over 4.32 billion people, which is more than 55% of the global population.Geographic Scope: It encompasses the most densely populated regions of China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines.The Paradox: Despite containing over half of humanity, the circle also includes some of the world's most desolate and sparsely populated areas, such as the Tibetan Plateau, the Gobi Desert, and parts of the Himalayas.Origin: The term was coined by mapmaker Alasdair Rae in 2022. It is an updated, more data-accurate version of the "Valeriepieris circle" (a similar concept that went viral on Reddit in 2013).Tune in to the discussion, and please share your feedback with us.Although we greatly prefer effusive praise

Dopeywood Tickets: https://www.showclix.com/event/dopeywood-2026 Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast  This week on Dopey we are joined by high endurance athlete and author of The Other Side of Hard, Ken Rideout! Who tells us of his super rough, tough and ultimately extremely inspiring story! From starting on the mean streets of Boston to NYC and London Wealth to DMT ceremonies, to winning crazy ultra endurance races on the Gobi dessert and being the fastest marathoner over the age of 50! All the while becoming completely addicted to opioids and his path to get off!  PLUS - Did a listener drink and get robbed by Chris? Acid in the Eyes! The $100 Patreon Tier uncovered and so much MORE!  On this brand new super robust episode of that good old Dopey Show!   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ken Rideout is the fastest marathoner in the world over fifty and a former prison guard, Wall Street trader, and opioid addict. His life story has been chronicled in such publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Outside. Since getting sober more than a decade ago, he has won some of the world's toughest races, including, at age fifty-two, the Gobi March—a 155-mile, self-supported race across the sweltering Gobi Desert in Mongolia—and a few months later, the Masters (50+) Marathon World Championships. In addition to his many running victories, he has completed more than ten Ironman triathlons. In 2018, Ken founded capital solutions firm Camrock Advisors. More recently, he founded talent agency Rideout Sports and Entertainment. Today on the show we discuss: overcoming a devastating opioid addiction and rebuilding life through endurance sports, why discipline and consistency beat talent when it comes to success, the brutal mental battles that happen during elite endurance racing, how to respond when life hits you with unexpected chaos, the difference between quitting and losing and why quitting haunts you forever, and the mindset shift that turns adversity into fuel for growth and much more. Connect with Ken: Book: https://www.theothersideofhard.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ken_rideout/ Podcast: https://lnk.to/the-other-side-of-hard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Fluent Fiction - Korean: Journey of Self-Discovery: Surviving the Gobi's Winter Fury Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-01-21-08-38-20-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 고비 사막의 겨울 하늘은 맑고 차가웠다.En: The winter sky over the Gobi Desert was clear and cold.Ko: 낙타를 타고 가던 민서와 지수는 파란 하늘 아래 펼쳐진 넓은 사막을 바라보았다.En: Riding camels, Minseo and Jisoo gazed upon the vast desert spread out beneath the blue sky.Ko: 두 사람은 새해를 맞아 고비 사막을 여행 중이었다.En: They were traveling through the Gobi Desert to celebrate the new year.Ko: 그들의 목적지는 먼 곳에 있는 외딴 사원이었다.En: Their destination was a distant, secluded temple.Ko: 민서는 대학생이었다.En: Minseo was a college student.Ko: 그녀는 졸업을 앞두고 자신의 미래에 대해 고민하고 있었다.En: She was contemplating her future as she approached graduation.Ko: 지수는 최근에 졸업한 모험심 많은 친구였다.En: Jisoo was a recently graduated, adventurous friend.Ko: 지수는 종종 민서를 더 넓은 세상으로 이끌곤 했다.En: Jisoo often led Minseo to explore the wider world.Ko: "민서야, 자신감을 가져봐. 이 여행이 너에게 많은 걸 줄 거야," 지수가 말했다.En: "Minseo, have confidence. This journey will give you a lot," Jisoo said.Ko: 민서는 따뜻한 코트를 꽁꽁 여민 채, 앞을 바라보며 고개를 끄덕였다.En: Minseo nodded as she fastened her warm coat tightly and looked ahead.Ko: 그녀는 자신이 찾고 있는 답을 사막에서 찾을 수 있기를 바랐다.En: She hoped to find the answers she was seeking in the desert.Ko: 고비 사막은 거대하고 고요했다.En: The Gobi Desert was vast and serene.Ko: 사방으로 끝없이 펼쳐진 모래 언덕은 겨울 햇살 아래 길게 그림자를 드리웠다.En: Endless sand dunes stretched out in all directions, casting long shadows under the winter sun.Ko: 차가운 바람이 불어와 사람들의 얼굴을 얼얼하게 만들었다.En: The cold wind made their faces tingle.Ko: 가이드가 앞장서서 낙타를 이끌고 있었고, 두 친구는 그 뒤를 따랐다.En: The guide led the way, steering the camels, and the two friends followed behind.Ko: 그러나 여행은 쉽지 않았다.En: However, the journey was not easy.Ko: 갑자기 몰아닥친 모래폭풍이 그룹을 둘러쌌다.En: Suddenly, a sandstorm enveloped the group.Ko: 바람은 날카롭고 차가웠다.En: The wind was sharp and cold.Ko: 모든 것이 흐릿해졌고, 민서의 마음은 두려움으로 가득 찼다.En: Everything became blurry, and Minseo's heart filled with fear.Ko: 지수는 민서의 손을 꼭 잡았다.En: Jisoo held Minseo's hand tightly.Ko: "괜찮아, 너라면 할 수 있어," 그녀가 말했다.En: "It's okay, you can do this," she said.Ko: 모래폭풍 속, 가이드의 목소리가 들리지 않았다.En: Amid the sandstorm, the guide's voice could not be heard.Ko: 민서는 스스로 결정을 내려야 했다.En: Minseo had to make decisions on her own.Ko: 그녀는 주변을 살피며 바람을 막을 수 있는 지형을 찾았다.En: She looked around for terrain that could shield them from the wind.Ko: 민서는 지수를 이끌고 천천히 걸음을 옮겼다.En: Minseo slowly led Jisoo along.Ko: 손끝이 시리도록 차가웠지만, 그녀는 멈추지 않았다.En: Her fingertips were numb from the cold, but she didn't stop.Ko: 얼마 후, 그들은 조금 더 안전한 장소에 도착했다.En: After a while, they reached a slightly safer place.Ko: 민서는 마음속에서 조용히 뿌듯함과 안도감을 느꼈다.En: Minseo felt a quiet sense of pride and relief inside.Ko: 그녀는 모래폭풍 속에서도 스스로를 이끌어냈다는 사실에 놀라워했다.En: She was amazed that she had managed to guide herself through the sandstorm.Ko: 폭풍이 지나가고, 사막은 다시 평화로워졌다.En: As the storm passed, the desert returned to tranquility.Ko: 하늘은 다시 맑게 개었다.En: The sky cleared again.Ko: 민서는 깊게 숨을 들이마시며 깨달음을 얻었다.En: Breathing deeply, Minseo had an epiphany.Ko: 그녀에게는 앞으로 나아갈 힘이 있다는 것을 깨달았다.En: She realized she had the strength to move forward.Ko: 이 여행을 통해 민서는 자신감을 얻었고 앞으로의 방향에 대한 명확한 목표를 가지게 되었다.En: Through this journey, Minseo gained confidence and a clear goal for her future direction.Ko: 지수는 미소를 지으며 말했다. "새해를 이렇게 시작하다니, 좋은 징조 같아!"En: Jisoo smiled and said, "Starting the new year like this, it feels like a good omen!"Ko: 사원을 향하는 길은 여전히 멀었지만, 민서의 마음은 전에 없이 가벼웠다.En: Though the path to the temple was still long, Minseo felt lighter than ever.Ko: 모래폭풍 속에서 얻은 결심과 용기는 그녀의 마음속에 깊이 새겨졌다.En: The determination and courage she found in the sandstorm were etched deeply in her heart.Ko: 두 사람은 따뜻한 사원으로 향하며, 함께 나눌 새로운 모험을 기대했다.En: The two of them headed towards the warm temple, looking forward to new adventures they would share together. Vocabulary Words:contemplating: 고민하고secluded: 외딴vast: 넓은serene: 고요했다dunes: 모래 언덕tingle: 얼얼하게enveloped: 둘러쌌다blurry: 흐릿해졌고numb: 시리도록terrain: 지형steering: 이끌고epiphany: 깨달음을relief: 안도감을omen: 징조determination: 결심courage: 용기directions: 방향에goal: 목표를graduation: 졸업을guide: 가이드confidence: 자신감을adventurous: 모험심 많은fastened: 꽁꽁 여민shield: 막을 수pride: 뿌듯함steadily: 천천히tranquility: 평화로워졌다reached: 도착했다gained: 얻었다etched: 깊이 새겨졌다

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Discoveries in the Gobi: Ancient Secrets and Modern Bonds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-01-21-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 고비 사막의 하얀 겨울 아침, 서진은 텐트 밖으로 나섰다.En: On a white winter morning in the Gobi Desert, Seojin stepped out of the tent.Ko: 차가운 바람이 그의 얼굴을 스쳤다.En: The cold wind brushed against his face.Ko: 하지만 그의 마음은 따뜻했다.En: However, his heart felt warm.Ko: 이번 발굴에서 고대 문명의 비밀을 풀 중요한 유물을 찾을 수 있을 거라 믿었다.En: He believed that they would find an important artifact to unlock the secrets of an ancient civilization in this excavation.Ko: 서진과 함께한 팀은 민준과 하나였다.En: The team with Seojin included Minjun and Hana.Ko: 민준은 늘 안전과 일정에 집중하는 리더였다.En: Minjun was always the leader focused on safety and scheduling.Ko: 그는 서진과 가끔씩 의견이 충돌했다.En: He occasionally clashed with Seojin in opinions.Ko: 그러나 모두가 존경하는 리더였다.En: However, he was a leader everyone respected.Ko: 하나는 첫 번째 현장 경험을 통해 배우고 싶었다.En: Hana wanted to learn from her first field experience.Ko: 그녀는 조금 불안했지만, 열정적이었다.En: She was a bit anxious but passionate.Ko: 설 연휴가 다가왔다.En: The Seollal holiday was approaching.Ko: 모두 가족과 보내고 싶다는 생각이 들기도 했지만, 서진에게는 발굴이 더 중요했다.En: Although thoughts of spending time with family arose, for Seojin, the excavation was more important.Ko: 그러나 날씨는 점점 악화되고 있었다.En: However, the weather was getting worse.Ko: 고비 사막의 겨울은 혹독했다.En: Winter in the Gobi Desert was harsh.Ko: 모래 언덕은 눈으로 덮였고, 바람은 날카로웠다.En: The sand dunes were covered with snow, and the wind was sharp.Ko: 민준은 서진에게 조언했다. "날씨가 좋지 않아. 오늘은 기지로 돌아가는 게 좋겠어."En: Minjun advised Seojin, "The weather is bad. We should head back to the base today."Ko: 그러나 서진은 포기할 수 없었다.En: But Seojin couldn't give up.Ko: 그는 단 한 번만 더 현장을 살펴보고 싶었다.En: He wanted to take one more look at the site.Ko: 하나는 두 사람의 대화를 조심스럽게 듣고 있었다.En: Hana was carefully listening to the conversation between the two.Ko: 그날, 갑작스러운 모래폭풍이 팀을 덮쳤다.En: That day, a sudden sandstorm hit the team.Ko: 민준은 긴급히 소리쳤다. "모두 안전을 확보해야 해!"En: Minjun urgently shouted, "Everyone, secure your safety!"Ko: 서진은 머뭇거렸다.En: Seojin hesitated.Ko: 그의 마음은 유물에 가 있었지만, 민준의 말을 따랐다.En: His mind was on the artifacts, but he followed Minjun's words.Ko: 그러나 그의 눈은 여전히 땅을 살피고 있었다.En: However, his eyes were still scanning the ground.Ko: 그때, 하나가 뭔가를 발견했다.En: At that moment, Hana discovered something.Ko: "서진 선배! 여기요!"En: "Seojin sunbae! Over here!"Ko: 그녀는 모래 속에서 작은 조각을 집어들었다.En: She picked up a small piece from the sand.Ko: 그것은 구리 조각이었다.En: It was a piece of copper.Ko: 서진은 놀랐다.En: Seojin was astonished.Ko: 이 조각은 그가 찾고자 했던 유물의 일부분이었다.En: This fragment was a part of the artifact he was looking for.Ko: 폭풍이 잠잠해지고, 팀은 기지로 돌아왔다.En: As the storm subsided, the team returned to the base.Ko: 그들은 고대 문명에 대한 새로운 단서를 얻었다.En: They gained new clues about the ancient civilization.Ko: 서진은 민준의 신중함에 감사했다.En: Seojin was grateful for Minjun's cautiousness.Ko: 그는 이제 균형을 지키는 것이 중요하다는 것을 깨달았다.En: He realized that maintaining balance was important.Ko: 하나는 자신감을 얻었고, 고고학에 대한 열정을 확신했다.En: Hana gained confidence and was assured of her passion for archaeology.Ko: 고비 사막의 겨울은 매서웠지만, 그들의 마음속에는 따뜻한 기억이 남았다.En: The winter of the Gobi Desert was fierce, but they were left with warm memories in their hearts.Ko: 설 연휴는 가족과 함께 보내진 못했지만, 세 사람은 새로운 경험과 지식을 얻은 가족이었다.En: Although they couldn't spend the Seollal holiday with family, the three of them were like a family, enriched with new experiences and knowledge. Vocabulary Words:artifact: 유물excavation: 발굴ancient: 고대civilization: 문명clashed: 충돌했다anxious: 불안했다passionate: 열정적이었다approaching: 다가왔다harsh: 혹독했다dunes: 모래 언덕sharp: 날카로웠다secure: 확보해야hesitated: 머뭇거렸다storm: 폭풍fragment: 조각astonished: 놀랐다subside: 잠잠해지고cautiousness: 신중함balance: 균형fierce: 매서웠지만memories: 기억enriched: 얻은secrets: 비밀discovered: 발견했다urgent: 긴급히confidence: 자신감을assured: 확신knowledge: 지식tent: 텐트advised: 조언했다

Last time we spoke about the climax of the battle of Lake Khasan. In August, the Lake Khasan region became a tense theater of combat as Soviet and Japanese forces clashed around Changkufeng and Hill 52. The Soviets pushed a multi-front offensive, bolstered by artillery, tanks, and air power, yet the Japanese defenders held firm, aided by engineers, machine guns, and heavy guns. By the ninth and tenth, a stubborn Japanese resilience kept Hill 52 and Changkufeng in Japanese hands, though the price was steep and the field was littered with the costs of battle. Diplomatically, both sides aimed to confine the fighting and avoid a larger war. Negotiations trudged on, culminating in a tentative cease-fire draft for August eleventh: a halt to hostilities, positions to be held as of midnight on the tenth, and the creation of a border-demarcation commission. Moscow pressed for a neutral umpire; Tokyo resisted, accepting a Japanese participant but rejecting a neutral referee. The cease-fire was imperfect, with miscommunications and differing interpretations persisting.    #185 Operation Hainan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. After what seemed like a lifetime over in the northern border between the USSR and Japan, today we are returning to the Second Sino-Japanese War. Now I thought it might be a bit jarring to dive into it, so let me do a brief summary of where we are at, in the year of 1939. As the calendar turned to 1939, the Second Sino-Japanese War, which had erupted in July 1937 with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and escalated into full-scale conflict, had evolved into a protracted quagmire for the Empire of Japan. What began as a swift campaign to subjugate the Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek had, by the close of 1938, transformed into a war of attrition. Japanese forces, under the command of generals like Shunroku Hata and Yasuji Okamura, had achieved stunning territorial gains: the fall of Shanghai in November 1937 after a brutal three-month battle that cost over 200,000 Chinese lives; the infamous capture of Nanjing in December 1937, marked by the Nanjing Massacre where an estimated 300,000 civilians and disarmed soldiers were killed in a six-week orgy of violence; and the sequential occupations of Xuzhou in May 1938, Wuhan in October 1938, and Guangzhou that same month.  These victories secured Japan's control over China's eastern seaboard, major riverine arteries like the Yangtze, and key industrial centers, effectively stripping the Nationalists of much of their economic base. Yet, despite these advances, China refused to capitulate. Chiang's government had retreated inland to the mountainous stronghold of Chongqing in Sichuan province, where it regrouped amid the fog-laden gorges, drawing on the vast human reserves of China's interior and the resilient spirit of its people. By late 1938, Japanese casualties had mounted to approximately 50,000 killed and 200,000 wounded annually, straining the Imperial Japanese Army's resources and exposing the vulnerabilities of overextended supply lines deep into hostile territory. In Tokyo, the corridors of the Imperial General Headquarters and the Army Ministry buzzed with urgent deliberations during the winter of 1938-1939. The initial doctrine of "quick victory" through decisive battles, epitomized by the massive offensives of 1937 and 1938, had proven illusory. Japan's military planners, influenced by the Kwantung Army's experiences in Manchuria and the ongoing stalemate, recognized that China's sheer size, with its 4 million square miles and over 400 million inhabitants, rendered total conquest unfeasible without unacceptable costs. Intelligence reports highlighted the persistence of Chinese guerrilla warfare, particularly in the north where Communist forces under Mao Zedong's Eighth Route Army conducted hit-and-run operations from bases in Shanxi and Shaanxi, sabotaging railways and ambushing convoys. The Japanese response included brutal pacification campaigns, such as the early iterations of what would later formalize as the "Three Alls Policy" (kill all, burn all, loot all), aimed at devastating rural economies and isolating resistance pockets. But these measures only fueled further defiance. By early 1939, a strategic pivot was formalized: away from direct annihilation of Chinese armies toward a policy of economic strangulation. This "blockade and interdiction" approach sought to sever China's lifelines to external aid, choking off the flow of weapons, fuel, and materiel that sustained the Nationalist war effort. As one Japanese staff officer noted in internal memos, the goal was to "starve the dragon in its lair," acknowledging the limits of Japanese manpower, total forces in China numbered around 1 million by 1939, against China's inexhaustible reserves. Central to this new strategy were the three primary overland supply corridors that had emerged as China's backdoors to the world, compensating for the Japanese naval blockade that had sealed off most coastal ports since late 1937. The first and most iconic was the Burma Road, a 717-mile engineering marvel hastily constructed between 1937 and 1938 by over 200,000 Chinese and Burmese laborers under the direction of engineers like Chih-Ping Chen. Stretching from the railhead at Lashio in British Burma (modern Myanmar) through treacherous mountain passes and dense jungles to Kunming in Yunnan province, the road navigated elevations up to 7,000 feet with hundreds of hairpin turns and precarious bridges. By early 1939, it was operational, albeit plagued by monsoonal mudslides, banditry, and mechanical breakdowns of the imported trucks, many Ford and Chevrolet models supplied via British Rangoon. Despite these challenges, it funneled an increasing volume of aid: in 1939 alone, estimates suggest up to 10,000 tons per month of munitions, gasoline, and aircraft parts from Allied sources, including early Lend-Lease precursors from the United States. The road's completion in 1938 had been a direct response to the loss of southern ports, and its vulnerability to aerial interdiction made it a prime target in Japanese planning documents. The second lifeline was the Indochina route, centered on the French-built Yunnan-Vietnam Railway (also known as the Hanoi-Kunming Railway), a 465-mile narrow-gauge line completed in 1910 that linked the port of Haiphong in French Indochina to Kunming via Hanoi and Lao Cai. This colonial artery, supplemented by parallel roads and river transport along the Red River, became China's most efficient supply conduit in 1938-1939, exploiting France's uneasy neutrality. French authorities, under Governor-General Pierre Pasquier and later Georges Catroux, turned a blind eye to transshipments, allowing an average of 15,000 to 20,000 tons monthly in early 1939, far surpassing the Burma Road's initial capacity. Cargoes included Soviet arms rerouted via Vladivostok and American oil, with French complicity driven by anti-Japanese sentiment and profitable tolls. However, Japanese reconnaissance flights from bases in Guangdong noted the vulnerability of bridges and rail yards, leading to initial bombing raids by mid-1939. Diplomatic pressure mounted, with Tokyo issuing protests to Paris, foreshadowing the 1940 closure under Vichy France after the fall of France in Europe. The route's proximity to the South China Sea made it a focal point for Japanese naval strategists, who viewed it as a "leak in the blockade." The third corridor, often overlooked but critical, was the Northwest Highway through Soviet Central Asia and Xinjiang province. This overland network, upgraded between 1937 and 1941 with Soviet assistance, connected the Turkestan-Siberian Railway at Almaty (then Alma-Ata) to Lanzhou in Gansu via Urumqi, utilizing a mix of trucks, camel caravans, and rudimentary roads across the Gobi Desert and Tian Shan mountains. Under the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of August 1937 and subsequent aid agreements, Moscow supplied China with over 900 aircraft, 82 tanks, 1,300 artillery pieces, and vast quantities of ammunition and fuel between 1937 and 1941—much of it traversing this route. In 1938-1939, volumes peaked, with Soviet pilots and advisors even establishing air bases in Lanzhou. The highway's construction involved tens of thousands of Chinese laborers, facing harsh winters and logistical hurdles, but it delivered up to 2,000 tons monthly, including entire fighter squadrons like the Polikarpov I-16. Japanese intelligence, aware of this "Red lifeline," planned disruptions but were constrained by the ongoing Nomonhan Incident on the Manchurian-Soviet border in 1939, which diverted resources and highlighted the risks of provoking Moscow. These routes collectively sustained China's resistance, prompting Japan's high command to prioritize their severance. In March 1939, the South China Area Army was established under General Rikichi Andō (later succeeded by Field Marshal Hisaichi Terauchi), headquartered in Guangzhou, with explicit orders to disrupt southern communications. Aerial campaigns intensified, with Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" bombers from Wuhan and Guangzhou targeting Kunming's airfields and the Red River bridges, while diplomatic maneuvers pressured colonial powers: Britain faced demands during the June 1939 Tientsin Crisis to close the Burma Road, and France received ultimatums that culminated in the 1940 occupation of northern Indochina. Yet, direct assaults on Yunnan or Guangxi were deemed too arduous due to rugged terrain and disease risks. Instead, planners eyed peripheral objectives to encircle these arteries. This strategic calculus set the stage for the invasion of Hainan Island, a 13,000-square-mile landmass off Guangdong's southern coast, rich in iron and copper but strategically priceless for its position astride the Indochina route and proximity to Hong Kong. By February 1939, Japanese admirals like Nobutake Kondō of the 5th Fleet advocated seizure to establish air and naval bases, plugging blockade gaps and enabling raids on Haiphong and Kunming, a prelude to broader southern expansion that would echo into the Pacific War. Now after the fall campaign around Canton in autumn 1938, the Japanese 21st Army found itself embedded in a relentless effort to sever the enemy's lifelines. Its primary objective shifted from mere battlefield engagements to tightening the choke points of enemy supply, especially along the Canton–Hankou railway. Recognizing that war materiel continued to flow into the enemy's hands, the Imperial General Headquarters ordered the 21st Army to strike at every other supply route, one by one, until the arteries of logistics were stifled. The 21st Army undertook a series of decisive occupations to disrupt transport and provisioning from multiple directions. To sustain these difficult campaigns, Imperial General Headquarters reinforced the south China command, enabling greater operational depth and endurance. The 21st Army benefited from a series of reinforcements during 1939, which allowed a reorganization of assignments and missions: In late January, the Iida Detachment was reorganized into the Formosa Mixed Brigade and took part in the invasion of Hainan Island.  Hainan, just 15 miles across the Qiongzhou Strait from the mainland, represented a critical "loophole": it lay astride the Gulf of Tonkin, enabling smuggling of arms and materiel from Haiphong to Kunming, and offered potential airfields for bombing raids deep into Yunnan. Japanese interest in Hainan dated to the 1920s, driven by the Taiwan Governor-General's Office, which eyed the island's tropical resources (rubber, iron, copper) and naval potential at ports like Sanya (Samah). Prewar surveys by Japanese firms, such as those documented in Ide Kiwata's Minami Shina no Sangyō to Keizai (1939), highlighted mineral wealth and strategic harbors. The fall of Guangzhou in October 1938 provided the perfect launchpad, but direct invasion was delayed until early 1939 amid debates between the IJA (favoring mainland advances) and IJN (prioritizing naval encirclement). The operation would also heavily align with broader "southward advance" (Nanshin-ron) doctrine foreshadowing invasions of French Indochina (1940) and the Pacific War. On the Chinese side, Hainan was lightly defended as part of Guangdong's "peace preservation" under General Yu Hanmou. Two security regiments, six guard battalions, and a self-defense corps, totaling around 7,000–10,000 poorly equipped troops guarded the island, supplemented by roughly 300 Communist guerrillas under Feng Baiju, who operated independently in the interior. The indigenous Li (Hlai) people in the mountainous south, alienated by Nationalist taxes, provided uneven support but later allied with Communists. The Imperial General Headquarters ordered the 21st Army, in cooperation with the Navy, to occupy and hold strategic points on the island near Haikou-Shih. The 21st Army commander assigned the Formosa Mixed Brigade to carry out this mission. Planning began in late 1938 under the IJN's Fifth Fleet, with IJA support from the 21st Army. The objective: secure northern and southern landing sites to bisect the island, establish air/naval bases, and exploit resources. Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō, commanding the fleet, emphasized surprise and air superiority. The invasion began under the cover of darkness on February 9, 1939, when Kondō's convoy entered Tsinghai Bay on the northern shore of Hainan and anchored at midnight. Japanese troops swiftly disembarked, encountering minimal initial resistance from the surprised Chinese defenders, and secured a beachhead in the northern zone. At 0300 hours on 10 February, the Formosa Mixed Brigade, operating in close cooperation with naval units, executed a surprise landing at the northeastern point of Tengmai Bay in north Hainan. By 04:30, the right flank reached the main road leading to Fengyingshih, while the left flank reached a position two kilometers south of Tienwei. By 07:00, the right flank unit had overcome light enemy resistance near Yehli and occupied Chiungshan. At that moment there were approximately 1,000 elements of the enemy's 5th Infantry Brigade (militia) at Chiungshan; about half of these troops were destroyed, and the remainder fled into the hills south of Tengmai in a state of disarray. Around 08:30 that same day, the left flank unit advanced to the vicinity of Shuchang and seized Hsiuying Heights. By 12:00, it occupied Haikou, the island's northern port city and administrative center, beginning around noon. Army and navy forces coordinated to mop up remaining pockets of resistance in the northern areas, overwhelming the scattered Chinese security units through superior firepower and organization. No large-scale battles are recorded in primary accounts; instead, the engagements were characterized by rapid advances and localized skirmishes, as the Chinese forces, lacking heavy artillery or air support, could not mount a sustained defense. By the end of the day, Japanese control over the north was consolidating, with Haikou falling under their occupation.Also on 10 February, the Brigade pushed forward to seize Cingang. Wenchang would be taken on the 22nd, followed by Chinglan Port on the 23rd. On February 11, the operation expanded southward when land combat units amphibiously assaulted Samah (now Sanya) at the island's southern tip. This landing allowed them to quickly seize key positions, including the port of Yulin (Yulinkang) and the town of Yai-Hsien (Yaxian, now part of Sanya). With these southern footholds secured, Japanese forces fanned out to subjugate the rest of the island, capturing inland areas and infrastructure with little organized opposition. Meanwhile, the landing party of the South China Navy Expeditionary Force, which had joined with the Army to secure Haikou, began landing on the island's southern shore at dawn on 14 February. They operated under the protection of naval and air units. By the same morning, the landing force had advanced to Sa-Riya and, by 12:00 hours, had captured Yulin Port. Chinese casualties were significant in the brief fighting; from January to May 1939, reports indicate the 11th security regiment alone suffered 8 officers and 162 soldiers killed, 3 officers and 16 wounded, and 5 officers and 68 missing, though figures for other units are unclear. Japanese losses were not publicly detailed but appear to have been light.  When crisis pressed upon them, Nationalist forces withdrew from coastal Haikou, shepherding the last civilians toward the sheltering embrace of the Wuzhi mountain range that bands the central spine of Hainan. From that high ground they sought to endure the storm, praying that the rugged hills might shield their families from the reach of war. Yet the Li country's mountains did not deliver a sanctuary free of conflict. Later in August of 1943, an uprising erupted among the Li,Wang Guoxing, a figure of local authority and stubborn resolve. His rebellion was swiftly crushed; in reprisal, the Nationalists executed a seizure of vengeance that extended far beyond the moment of defeat, claiming seven thousand members of Wang Guoxing's kin in his village. The episode was grim testimony to the brutal calculus of war, where retaliation and fear indelibly etched the landscape of family histories. Against this backdrop, the Communists under Feng Baiju and the native Li communities forged a vigorous guerrilla war against the occupiers. The struggle was not confined to partisan skirmishes alone; it unfolded as a broader contest of survival and resistance. The Japanese response was relentless and punitive, and it fell upon Li communities in western Hainan with particular ferocity, Sanya and Danzhou bore the brunt of violence, as did the many foreign laborers conscripted into service by the occupying power. The toll of these reprisals was stark: among hundreds of thousands of slave laborers pressed into service, tens of thousands perished. Of the 100,000 laborers drawn from Hong Kong, only about 20,000 survived the war's trials, a haunting reminder of the human cost embedded in the occupation. Strategically, the island of Hainan took on a new if coercive purpose. Portions of the island were designated as a naval administrative district, with the Hainan Guard District Headquarters established at Samah, signaling its role as a forward air base and as an operational flank for broader anti-Chiang Kai-shek efforts. In parallel, the island's rich iron and copper resources were exploited to sustain the war economy of the occupiers. The control of certain areas on Hainan provided a base of operations for incursions into Guangdong and French Indochina, while the airbases that dotted the island enabled long-range air raids that threaded routes from French Indochina and Burma into the heart of China. The island thus assumed a grim dual character: a frontier fortress for the occupiers and a ground for the prolonged suffering of its inhabitants. Hainan then served as a launchpad for later incursions into Guangdong and Indochina. Meanwhile after Wuhan's collapse, the Nationalist government's frontline strength remained formidable, even as attrition gnawed at its edges. By the winter of 1938–1939, the front line had swelled to 261 divisions of infantry and cavalry, complemented by 50 independent brigades. Yet the political and military fissures within the Kuomintang suggested fragility beneath the apparent depth of manpower. The most conspicuous rupture came with Wang Jingwei's defection, the vice president and chairman of the National Political Council, who fled to Hanoi on December 18, 1938, leading a procession of more than ten other KMT officials, including Chen Gongbo, Zhou Fohai, Chu Minqi, and Zeng Zhongming. In the harsh arithmetic of war, defections could not erase the country's common resolve to resist Japanese aggression, and the anti-Japanese national united front still served as a powerful instrument, rallying the Chinese populace to "face the national crisis together." Amid this political drama, Japan's strategy moved into a phase that sought to convert battlefield endurance into political consolidation. As early as January 11, 1938, Tokyo had convened an Imperial Conference and issued a framework for handling the China Incident that would shape the theater for years. The "Outline of Army Operations Guidance" and "Continental Order No. 241" designated the occupied territories as strategic assets to be held with minimal expansion beyond essential needs. The instruction mapped an operational zone that compressed action to a corridor between Anqing, Xinyang, Yuezhou, and Nanchang, while the broader line of occupation east of a line tracing West Sunit, Baotou, and the major river basins would be treated as pacified space. This was a doctrine of attrition, patience, and selective pressure—enough to hold ground, deny resources to the Chinese, and await a more opportune political rupture. Yet even as Japan sought political attrition, the war's tactical center of gravity drifted toward consolidation around Wuhan and the pathways that fed the Yangtze. In October 1938, after reducing Wuhan to a fortressed crescent of contested ground, the Japanese General Headquarters acknowledged the imperative to adapt to a protracted war. The new calculus prioritized political strategy alongside military operations: "We should attach importance to the offensive of political strategy, cultivate and strengthen the new regime, and make the National Government decline, which will be effective." If the National Government trembled under coercive pressure, it risked collapse, and if not immediately, then gradually through a staged series of operations. In practice, this meant reinforcing a centralized center while allowing peripheral fronts to be leveraged against Chongqing's grip on the war's moral economy. In the immediate post-Wuhan period, Japan divided its responsibilities and aimed at a standoff that would enable future offensives. The 11th Army Group, stationed in the Wuhan theater, became the spearhead of field attacks on China's interior, occupying a strategic triangle that included Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangxi, and protecting the rear of southwest China's line of defense. The central objective was not merely to seize territory, but to deny Chinese forces the capacity to maneuver along the critical rail and river corridors that fed the Nanjing–Jiujiang line and the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway. Central to this plan was Wuhan's security and the ability to constrain Jiujiang's access to the Yangtze, preserving a corridor for air power and logistics. The pre-war arrangement in early 1939 was a tableau of layered defenses and multiple war zones, designed to anticipate and blunt Japanese maneuver. By February 1939, the Ninth War Zone under Xue Yue stood in a tense standoff with the Japanese 11th Army along the Jiangxi and Hubei front south of the Yangtze. The Ninth War Zone's order of battle, Luo Zhuoying's 19th Army Group defending the northern Nanchang front, Wang Lingji's 30th Army Group near Wuning, Fan Songfu's 8th and 73rd Armies along Henglu, Tang Enbo's 31st Army Group guarding southern Hubei and northern Hunan, and Lu Han's 1st Army Group in reserve near Changsha and Liuyang, was a carefully calibrated attempt to absorb, delay, and disrupt any Xiushui major Japanese thrust toward Nanchang, a city whose strategic significance stretched beyond its own bounds. In the spring of 1939, Nanchang was the one city in southern China that Tokyo could not leave in Chinese hands. It was not simply another provincial capital; it was the beating heart of whatever remained of China's war effort south of the Yangtze, and the Japanese knew it. High above the Gan River, on the flat plains west of Poyang Lake, lay three of the finest airfields China had ever built: Qingyunpu, Daxiaochang, and Xiangtang. Constructed only a few years earlier with Soviet engineers and American loans, they were long, hard-surfaced, and ringed with hangars and fuel dumps. Here the Chinese Air Force had pulled back after the fall of Wuhan, and here the red-starred fighters and bombers of the Soviet volunteer groups still flew. From Nanchang's runways a determined pilot could reach Japanese-held Wuhan in twenty minutes, Guangzhou in less than an hour, and even strike the docks at Hong Kong if he pushed his range. Every week Japanese reconnaissance planes returned with photographs of fresh craters patched, new aircraft parked wing-to-wing, and Soviet pilots sunning themselves beside their I-16s. As long as those fields remained Chinese, Japan could never claim the sky. The city was more than airfields. It sat exactly where the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway met the line running north to Jiujiang and the Yangtze, a knot that tied together three provinces. Barges crowded Poyang Lake's western shore, unloading crates of Soviet ammunition and aviation fuel that had come up the river from the Indochina railway. Warehouses along the tracks bulged with shells and rice. To the Japanese staff officers plotting in Wuhan and Guangzhou, Nanchang looked less like a city and more like a loaded spring: if Chiang Kai-shek ever found the strength for a counteroffensive to retake the middle Yangtze, this would be the place from which it would leap. And so, in the cold March of 1939, the Imperial General Headquarters marked Nanchang in red on every map and gave General Okamura the order he had been waiting for: take it, whatever the cost. Capturing the city would do three things at once. It would blind the Chinese Air Force in the south by seizing or destroying the only bases from which it could still seriously operate. It would tear a hole in the last east–west rail line still feeding Free China. And it would shove the Nationalist armies another two hundred kilometers farther into the interior, buying Japan precious time to digest its earlier conquests and tighten the blockade. Above all, Nanchang was the final piece in a great aerial ring Japan was closing around southern China. Hainan had fallen in February, giving the navy its southern airfields. Wuhan and Guangzhou already belonged to the army. Once Nanchang was taken, Japanese aircraft would sit on a continuous arc of bases from the tropical beaches of the South China Sea to the banks of the Yangtze, and nothing (neither the Burma Road convoys nor the French railway from Hanoi) would move without their permission. Chiang Kai-shek's decision to strike first in the Nanchang region in March 1939 reflected both urgency and a desire to seize initiative before Japanese modernization of the battlefield could fully consolidate. On March 8, Chiang directed Xue Yue to prepare a preemptive attack intended to seize the offensive by March 15, focusing the Ninth War Zone's efforts on preventing a river-crossing assault and pinning Japanese forces in place. The plan called for a sequence of coordinated actions: the 19th Army Group to hold the northern front of Nanchang; the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi Border Advance Army (the 8th and 73rd Armies) to strike the enemy's left flank from Wuning toward De'an and Ruichang; the 30th and 27th Army Groups to consolidate near Wuning; and the 1st Army Group to push toward Xiushui and Sandu, opening routes for subsequent operations. Yet even as Xue Yue pressed for action, the weather of logistics and training reminded observers that no victory could be taken for granted. By March 9–10, Xue Yue warned Chiang that troops were not adequately trained, supplies were scarce, and preparations were insufficient, requesting a postponement to March 24. Chiang's reply was resolute: the attack must commence no later than the 24th, for the aim was preemption and the desire to tether the enemy's forces before they could consolidate. When the moment of decision arrived, the Chinese army began to tense, and the Japanese, no strangers to rapid shifts in tempo—moved to exploit any hesitation or fog of mobilization. The Ninth War Zone's response crystallized into a defensive posture as the Japanese pressed forward, marking a transition from preemption to standoff as both sides tested the limits of resilience. The Japanese plan for what would become known as Operation Ren, aimed at severing the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway, breaking the enemy's line of communication, and isolating Nanchang, reflected a calculated synthesis of air power, armored mobility, and canalized ground offensives. On February 6, 1939, the Central China Expeditionary Army issued a set of precise directives: capture Nanchang to cut the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway and disrupt the southern reach of Anhui and Zhejiang provinces; seize Nanchang along the Nanchang–Xunyi axis to split enemy lines and "crush" Chinese resistance south of that zone; secure rear lines immediately after the city's fall; coordinate with naval air support to threaten Chinese logistics and airfields beyond the rear lines. The plan anticipated contingencies by pre-positioning heavy artillery and tanks in formations that could strike with speed and depth, a tactical evolution from previous frontal assaults. Okamura Yasuji, commander of the 11th Army, undertook a comprehensive program of reconnaissance, refining the assault plan with a renewed emphasis on speed and surprise. Aerial reconnaissance underlined the terrain, fortifications, and the disposition of Chinese forces, informing the selection of the Xiushui River crossing and the route of the main axis of attack. Okamura's decision to reorganize artillery and armor into concentrated tank groups, flanked by air support and advanced by long-range maneuver, marked a departure from the earlier method of distributing heavy weapons along the infantry front. Sumita Laishiro commanded the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade, with more than 300 artillery pieces, while Hirokichi Ishii directed a force of 135 tanks and armored vehicles. This blended arms approach promised a breakthrough that would outpace the Chinese defenders and open routes for the main force. By mid-February 1939, Japanese preparations had taken on a high tempo. The 101st and 106th Divisions, along with attached artillery, assembled south of De'an, while tank contingents gathered north of De'an. The 6th Division began moving toward Ruoxi and Wuning, the Inoue Detachment took aim at the waterways of Poyang Lake, and the 16th and 9th Divisions conducted feints on the Han River's left bank. The orchestration of these movements—feints, riverine actions, and armored flanking, was designed to reduce the Chinese capacity to concentrate forces around Nanchang and to force the defenders into a less secure posture along the Nanchang–Jiujiang axis. Japan's southward strategy reframed the war: no longer a sprint to reduce Chinese forces in open fields, but a patient siege of lifelines, railways, and airbases. Hainan's seizure, the control of Nanchang's airfields, and the disruption of the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway exemplified a shift from large-scale battles to coercive pressure that sought to cripple Nationalist mobilization and erode Chongqing's capacity to sustain resistance. For China, the spring of 1939 underscored resilience amid mounting attrition. Chiang Kai-shek's insistence on offensive means to seize the initiative demonstrated strategic audacity, even as shortages and uneven training slowed tempo. The Ninth War Zone's defense, bolstered by makeshift airpower from Soviet and Allied lendings, kept open critical corridors and delayed Japan's consolidation. The war's human cost—massive casualties, forced labor, and the Li uprising on Hainan—illuminates the brutality that fueled both sides' resolve. In retrospect, the period around Canton, Wuhan, and Nanchang crystallizes a grim truth: the Sino-Japanese war was less a single crescendo of battles than a protracted contest of endurance, logistics, and political stamina. The early 1940s would widen these fault lines, but the groundwork laid in 1939, competition over supply routes, air control, and strategic rail nodes, would shape the war's pace and, ultimately, its outcome. The conflict's memory lies not only in the clashes' flash but in the stubborn persistence of a nation fighting to outlast a formidable adversary. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Japanese invasion of Hainan and proceeding operations to stop logistical leaks into Nationalist China, showcased the complexity and scale of the growing Second Sino-Japanese War. It would not merely be a war of territorial conquest, Japan would have to strangle the colossus using every means necessary.  

Artist: Tayu / Gobi Desert Collective / Glorionix Label: Earthly Delights Genre: Downtempo Release Date: 19.12.2025 Download: https://go.protonradio.com/r/rl69l_umJD2m8 Earthly Delights: https://soundcloud.com/delightsearthly Tayu: @tayumusique Instagram: www.instagram.com/tayumusique Gobi Desert Collective: https://www.facebook.com/gobidesertcollective Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gobi-desert-collective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobidesertcollective Glorionix: https://www.facebook.com/glorionix Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/glorionix Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glorionix_music CONTACT (DHM): Email — deephousemoscow@hotmail.com

In this episode of Find Your Finish Line, I sit down with Scott DeRue, the CEO of the IRONMAN Group, as we wrap up the incredible year of 2025. We reflect on the whirlwind that is the triathlon world, the global journey it encompasses, and the impact it has had on both participants and the communities hosting these events. One of the highlights of Scott's tenure so far includes witnessing firsthand the emotional and economic influence of IRONMAN and other endurance events across various countries. With 15 events attended in 2025 alone, Scott shares insights into what it takes to elevate the athlete experience and community engagement at every race. Scott and I delve into the expansion of triathlons into emerging markets, such as the Middle East, and the collaborative efforts that bring new racing opportunities to different parts of the world. We also explore how the IRONMAN Group fosters strong relationships with host communities, ensuring each event delivers meaningful economic and social value. Scott recounts touching stories from world championship events and highlights the community spirit that defines IRONMAN culture. We wrap up the conversation with Scott's incredible tales from climbing Mount Everest and running across the Gobi Desert, illustrating the teamwork and resilience that parallel the IRONMAN journey. To keep up with Scott DeRue and the IRONMAN Group, follow on their website at ironman.com, Instagram @ironmantri, and Twitter @IRONMANtri.

Guests Luke Fowler and Sam Edder share what it's been like on their bikepacking adventure from Vietnam to Spain.  The two friends, better known as The Garbage Bag Boys  have certainly chosen to take on some of the most challenging routes. Their journey so far has taken them through the punchy Ha Giang Loop and almost broke them as they pushed headfirst into the punishing winds of the Gobi Desert. They've also taken on the Tian Shan Traverse and the Celestial Divide routes, as well as the Caucasas Crossing. I spoke to them while they were in Greece about to head into the final part of the journey.This trip has been full of adventures, from surviving a roof-ripping storm in a derelict shack to pushing their bikes through deep sand for hours on end, Luke and Sam share brutally honest stories of hardship, freedom, privilege, wild landscapes, and the lessons they're gathering along the way.Together we talk about:Hitchhiking across IndiaHow two student paramedics decided to ride across the worldThe storm that tore the roof off their shelterThe emotional weight of travel, privilege & storytellingThe Gobi Desert and why it's a place they never want to ride againWhat brings meaning to long-term human-powered travelHow their perspectives have shifted along the journeyWhy discomfort is equal parts addictive and transformativeFollow their adventures via their instagram - @GarbageBagsBoysCheck out the Cycplus tiny e-Pumps and use the code STR for a 5% discount Support the showBuy me a coffee! I'm an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:

Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska was a Polish scientist and the first woman to lead a dinosaur excavation expedition. On her explorations of the Gobi Desert, she discovered many famous animals, including Deinocheirus—a dinosaur that, for decades, was known only by its enormous, terrifying arms & claws. But when we finally found the rest of its body, it turned out to look more like Jar Jar Binks. This is the story of Zofia, and the dinosaur that surprised us all - as told originally aired on the History Dispatches podcast with Matt and McKinley Breen.History Dispatches Podcast: https://historydispatches.com/The Explorers Podcast: https://explorerspodcast.com/History Dispatches & Explorers Podcast are part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.comI Know Dino Website: https://iknowdino.comI Know Dino Book: https://books.disney.com/book/i-know-dino/Sources:https://archive.org/details/inpursuitofearly0000kiel/page/n5/mode/2uphttps://archive.org/details/huntingfordinosa00kielhttps://iknowdino.com/deinocheirus-episode-527/https://www.nature.com/articles/520158ahttps://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2014.16203https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13874https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13930See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Further reading: Study: Giant Therizinosaurs Used Their Meter-Long, Sickle-Like Claws for Display Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. I am delighted to report that Therizinosaurus lived in what is now Mongolia in Central Asia, in the Gobi Desert. 70 million years ago, the land wasn't a desert at all but a forest with multiple rivers and streams flowing through it. Lots of other dinosaurs and birds lived in the area, including a tyrannosaurid called Tarbosaurus that was probably the only predator big enough to kill Therizinosaurus. When the first Therizinosaurus fossils were discovered in the 1950s, they were initially thought to belong to a type of giant turtle. Later it was reclassified as a sauropod relation, not a turtle. These days, we know for sure it's not a turtle and we're pretty sure it's not anything like a sauropod. The Therizinosaurus fossils found so far are incomplete. All we have are some ribs, one hind foot, and mostly complete arms and hands. We don't have any parts of the skull or any vertebrae, so paleontologists still have a lot of questions about what Therizinosaurus looked like and how it lived, although we have more complete specimens of some of its close relations to help scientists make good guesses. Luckily we have its hands, because its claws are enormous. Therizinosaurus had claws bigger than any other dinosaur known. Therizinosaurus was a big dinosaur overall, with an estimated length of 33 feet, or 10 meters, although until a more complete specimen is discovered we can't know for sure how big it really was. It may have stood up to 16 feet tall, or 5 meters, and walked on its hind legs. It's classified as a theropod these days, a group that includes famous dinosaurs like T. rex and Spinosaurus, but it wasn't closely related to those big fast meat-eaters. Most paleontologists think Therizinosaurus ate plants, but again, we don't know for sure since we don't have any of its teeth to examine. Its closest relatives were herbivorous but its immediate ancestors were carnivorous. If Therizinosaurus was a plant-eater, why did it have such enormous claws? Its claws were seriously terrifying! Its arms were big and strong in general, measuring about 8 feet long, or 2.5 meters, including long, slender fingers, and the claws measured over three feet long! That's more than a meter long. If the claws were covered with a keratin sheath, which is probable, they would have been even longer when Therizinosaurus was alive. They were relatively thin and straight with a curve at the end. There are many reasons why an animal develops big claws. Predators need claws to help grab prey or tear meat into pieces, or an animal may need big claws to help it dig or climb trees. Claws are also great for defense. Some animals use claws to grab tree branches and bend them closer to the animal's mouth, which is something that giant ground sloths probably did, at least sometimes. The new study published in February 2023 examined the claws of Therizinosaurus and lots of other dinosaurs to learn how strong they were. The claws were 3D scanned, and then the scans were used in various models that measured the stress placed on each claw in various different activities. The study discovered that the claws of different dinosaurs were strong in different ways depending on what they were used for, which wasn't a surprise. What was a surprise was that Therizinosaurus's claws were weak no matter which model the scientists used. In other words, Therizinosaurus probably didn't use its claws to fight other dinosaurs unless it just had to, because they would break too easily. It wouldn't have dug with its claws or even used them to hook branches down closer to its mouth. As far as we can tell, its claws were basically useless. But obviously, Therizinosaurus used its claws for something or it wouldn't have evolved to have such gigantic claws.

This week we talk about radioactive waste, neutrons, and burn while breeding cycles.We also discuss dry casks, radioactive decay, and uranium.Recommended Book: Breakneck by Dan WangTranscriptRadioactive waste, often called nuclear waste, typically falls into one of three categories: low-level waste that contains a small amount of radioactivity that will last a very short time—this is stuff like clothes or tools or rags that have been contaminated—intermediate-level waste, which has been contaminated enough that it requires shielding, and high-level waste, which is very radioactive material that creates a bunch of heat because of all the radioactive decay, so it requires both shield and cooling.Some types of radioactive waste, particularly spent fuel of the kind used in nuclear power plants, can be reprocessed, which means separating it into other types of useful products, including another type of mixed nuclear fuel that can be used in lieu of uranium, though generally not economically unless uranium supplies are low. About a third of all spent nuclear fuel has already been reprocessed in some way.About 4% of even the recyclable stuff, though, doesn't have that kind of second-life purpose, and that, combined with the medium- and long-lived waste that is quite dangerous to have just sitting around, has to be stored somehow, shielded and maybe cooled, and in some cases for a very long time: some especially long-lived fission products have half-lives that stretch into the hundreds of thousands or millions of years, which means they will be radioactive deep into the future, many times longer than humans have existed as a species.According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, something like 490,000 metric tons of radioactive spent fuel is currently being stored, on a temporary basis, at hundreds of specialized sites around the world. The majority of this radioactive waste is stored in pools of spent fuel water, cooled in that water somewhere near the nuclear reactors where the waste originated. Other waste has been relocated into what're called dry casks, which are big, barrel-like containers made of several layers of steel, concrete, and other materials, which surround a canister that holds the waste, and the canister is itself surrounded by inert gas. These casks hold and cool waste using natural air convection, so they don't require any kind of external power or water sources, while other solutions, including storage in water, sometimes does—and often the fuel is initially stored in pools, and is then moved to casks for longer-term storage.Most of the radioactive waste produced today comes in the form of spend fuel from nuclear reactors, which are typically small ceramic pellets made of low-enriched uranium oxide. These pellets are stacked on top of each other and encased in metal, and that creates what's called a fuel rod.In the US, alone, about 2,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel is created each year, which is just shy of half an olympic sized swimming pool in terms of volume, and in many countries, the non-reuseable stuff is eventually buried, near the surface for the low- to intermediate-level waste, and deeper for high-level waste—deeper, in this context, meaning something like 200-1000 m, which is about 650-3300 feet, beneath the surface.The goal of such burying is to prevent potential leakage that might impact life on the surface, while also taking advantage of the inherent stability and cooler nature of underground spaces which are chosen for their isolation, natural barriers, and water impermeability, and which are also often reinforced with human-made supports and security, blocking everything off and protecting the surrounding area so nothing will access these spaces far into the future, and so that they won't be broken open by future glaciation or other large-scale impacts, either.What I'd like to talk about today is another potential use and way of dealing with this type of waste, and why a recent, related development in China is being heralded as such a big deal.—An experimental nuclear reactor was built in the Gobi Desert by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, and back in 2023 the group achieved its first criticality, got started up, basically, and it has been generating heat through nuclear fission ever since.What that means is that the nuclear reactor did what a nuclear reactor is supposed to do. Most such reactors exist to generate heat, which then creates steam and spins turbines, which generates electricity.What's special about this reactor, though, is that it is a thorium molten salt reactor, which means it uses thorium instead of uranium as a fuel source, and the thorium is processed into uranium as part of the energy-making process, because thorium only contains trace amounts of fissile material, which isn't enough to get a power-generating, nuclear chain reaction going.This reactor was able to successfully perform what's called in-core thorium-to-uranium conversion, which allows the operators to use thorium as fuel, and have that thorium converted into uranium, which is sufficiently fissile to produce nuclear power, inside the core of the reactor. This is an incredibly fiddly process, and requires that the thorium-232 used as fuel absorb a neutron, which turns it into thorium-233. Thorium-233 then decays into protactinium-233, and that, in turn, decays into uranium-233—the fuel that powers the reactor.One innovation here is that this entire process happens inside the reactor, rather than occurring externally, which would require a bunch of supplementary infrastructure to handle fuel fabrication, increasing the amount of space and cost associated with the reactor.Those neutrons required to start the thorium conversion process are provided by small amounts of more fissile material, like enriched uranium-235 or plutonium-239, and the thorium is dissolved in a fluoride salt and becomes a molten mixture that allows it to absorb that necessary neutron, and go through that multi-step decay process, turning into uranium-233. That end-point uranium then releases energy through nuclear fission, and this initiates what's called a burn while breeding cycle, which means it goes on to produce its own neutrons moving forward, which obviates the need for those other, far more fissile materials that were used to start the chain reaction. All of which makes this process a lot more fuel efficient than other options, dramatically reduces the amount of radioactive waste produced, and allows reactors that use it to operate a lot longer without needing to refuel, which also extends a reactor's functional life.On that last point, many typical nuclear power plants built over the past handful of decades use pressurized water reactors which have to be periodically shut down so operators can replace spent fuel rods. This new method instead allows the fissile materials to continuously circulate, enabling on-the-fly refueling—so no shut-down, no interruption of operations necessary.This method also requires zero water, which could allow these reactors to be built in more and different locations, as conventional nuclear power plants have typically been built near large water sources, like oceans, because of their cooling needs.China initiated the program that led to the development of this experimental reactor back in 2011, in part because it has vast thorium reserves it wanted to tap in its pursuit of energy independence, and in part because this approach to nuclear energy should, in theory at least, allow plant operators to use existing, spent fuel rods as part of its process, which could be very economically interesting, as they could use the waste from their existing plants to help fuel these new plants, but also take such waste off other governments' hands, maybe even be paid for it, because those other governments would then no longer need to store the stuff, and China could use it as cheap fuel; win win.Thinking further along, though, maybe the real killer application of this technology is that it allows for the dispersion of nuclear energy without the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation. The plants are smaller, they have a passive safety system that disallows the sorts of disasters that we saw in Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island—that sort of thing just can't happen with this setup—and the fissile materials, aside from those starter materials used to get the initial cycle going, can't be used to make nuclear weapons.Right now, there's a fair amount of uranium on the market, but just like oil, that availability is cyclical and controlled by relatively few governments. In the future, that resource could become more scarce, and this reactor setup may become even more valuable as a result, because thorium is a lot cheaper and more abundant, and it's less tightly controlled because it's useless from a nuclear weapons standpoint.This is only the very first step on the way toward a potentially thorium-reactor dominated nuclear power industry, and the conversion rate on this experimental model was meager.That said, it is a big step in the right direction, and a solid proof-of-concept, showing that this type of reactor has promise and would probably work scaled-up, as well, and that means the 100MW demonstration reactor China is also building in the Gobi, hoping to prove the concept's full value by 2035, stands a pretty decent chance of having a good showing.Show Noteshttps://www.deepisolation.com/about-nuclear-waste/where-is-nuclear-waste-nowhttps://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/5-fast-facts-about-spent-nuclear-fuelhttps://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/3-advanced-reactor-systems-watch-2030https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-waste/radioactive-wastes-myths-and-realitieshttps://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-all-the-nuclear-waste-in-the-world/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-level_radioactive_waste_managementhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_wastehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reprocessinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_cask_storagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_geological_repositoryhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/er.3854https://archive.is/DQpXMhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium-based_nuclear_powerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium_fuel_cycle This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Gobi Desert Solitude: A Journey to Creative Revival Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-11-05-23-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Lennart stannade upp och tog ett djupt andetag.En: Lennart paused and took a deep breath.Sv: Framför honom bredde Gobiöknen ut sig, en oändlig värld av sand och sten.En: Before him, the Gobiöknen stretched out, an endless world of sand and stone.Sv: Det var höst, men solen brände fortfarande hett över hans huvud.En: It was autumn, but the sun still burned hot above his head.Sv: Han älskade den här känslan av ensamhet och frihet, men något gnagde inombords.En: He loved this feeling of solitude and freedom, but something gnawed inside him.Sv: Den kreativa elden hade slocknat.En: The creative fire had gone out.Sv: Han hade rest långt, från det svala Sverige till denna karga plats, för att finna det han förlorat.En: He had traveled a long way, from cool Sverige to this barren place, to find what he had lost.Sv: Inspiration.En: Inspiration.Sv: Lennart satte ner sin ryggsäck och lät blicken vandra över landskapet.En: Lennart put down his backpack and let his gaze wander over the landscape.Sv: Sanddynerna reste sig som gyllene vågor, orörda av tiden.En: The sand dunes rose like golden waves, untouched by time.Sv: Men vinden hade börjat ta i, och det blev kallare för var dag som gick.En: But the wind had begun to pick up, and it became colder with each passing day.Sv: Kylan och vinden gjorde resan svår.En: The cold and the wind made the journey difficult.Sv: Lennart kände sig trött och tvivlade på sitt beslut att komma hit ensam.En: Lennart felt tired and doubted his decision to come here alone.Sv: Både Johan och Stina, goda vänner till honom, hade varnat honom.En: Both Johan and Stina, good friends of his, had warned him.Sv: Men ändå, här var han, fast besluten att återfå sin passion.En: But still, here he was, determined to regain his passion.Sv: En dag, trött på den ständiga kampen mot elementen, bestämde sig Lennart för att ta en annan väg.En: One day, tired of the constant battle against the elements, Lennart decided to take a different path.Sv: En osäker väg.En: An uncertain path.Sv: Det var riskabelt, men han hoppades att en förändring kunde snärta till hans kreativa sinne.En: It was risky, but he hoped a change could spark his creative mind.Sv: I rödglödgat ljus, medan solen höll på att försvinna bakom horisonten, snubblade han över något oväntat.En: In the red-hot light, as the sun was disappearing behind the horizon, he stumbled upon something unexpected.Sv: Mitt i den torra öknen fann han en oas.En: In the middle of the dry desert, he found an oasis.Sv: En plats där livet blomstrade, skyddad från omgivningen.En: A place where life thrived, sheltered from the surroundings.Sv: Det var magiskt.En: It was magical.Sv: Palmer och en liten damm med klart vatten stod framför honom.En: Palms and a small pond with clear water stood before him.Sv: Skuggorna från träden dansade över ytan, och han kände en värme spridas i sitt inre.En: Shadows from the trees danced over the surface, and he felt a warmth spreading inside him.Sv: Där, i den stilla skönheten, födde inspirationen liv igen.En: There, in the tranquil beauty, inspiration came to life again.Sv: Lennart satte sig ner med sin skrivbok och började skriva som aldrig förr.En: Lennart sat down with his notebook and began to write like never before.Sv: Han fyllde sida efter sida med ord, berättelser och tankar.En: He filled page after page with words, stories, and thoughts.Sv: Orden flödade som vattnet i oasen.En: The words flowed like the water in the oasis.Sv: Den natten var himlen fylld med stjärnor, och Lennart skrev tills han nästan somnade vid bokens kant.En: That night, the sky was filled with stars, and Lennart wrote until he nearly fell asleep at the edge of the book.Sv: När morgonen grydde och solen återigen värmde den kalla sanden, vaknade Lennart med en nyvunnen känsla av syfte.En: When morning dawned and the sun once again warmed the cold sand, Lennart woke with a newfound sense of purpose.Sv: Han hade funnit det han sökte.En: He had found what he was looking for.Sv: Inte bara i landskapet, utan inom sig själv.En: Not just in the landscape, but within himself.Sv: Berättelsen han skrev, "Oas i själen", bar med sig den styrka och frihet han hade längtat efter.En: The story he wrote, "Oasis in the Soul," carried the strength and freedom he had longed for.Sv: Med förnyad kraft och självförtroende packade han ihop sina saker och påbörjade resan hem.En: With renewed strength and confidence, he packed up his things and started the journey home.Sv: I Gobiöknens storslagna tystnad hade Lennart återfunnit sin röst.En: In the magnificent silence of the Gobiöknens, Lennart had rediscovered his voice.Sv: Och nu visste han, ibland kan den bästa vägen vara den oväntade.En: And now he knew, sometimes the best path is the unexpected one. Vocabulary Words:paused: stannade uppbreath: andetagendless: oändligsolitude: ensamhetgnawed: gnagdebarren: kargainspiration: inspirationgazed: blickenlandscape: landskapetdunes: sanddynernauntouched: orördadoubted: tvivladedecision: beslutdetermined: fast beslutenunexpected: oväntatthrive: blomstradesheltered: skyddadshadows: skuggornatranquil: stillaflowed: flödadedawned: gryddenewfound: nyvunnenpurpose: syftecarried: bar med sigstrength: styrkaconfidence: självförtroendemagnificent: storslagnarediscovered: återfunnitunexpected: oväntadecreative: kreativa

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Finding Solace in Gobi's Golden Sands Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-11-05-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 고비 사막의 하늘은 끝없이 펼쳐지고, 거대한 모래 언덕이 낮은 구름 밑에 파도처럼 밀려옵니다.En: The sky of the Gobi Desert stretches endlessly, with massive sand dunes rolling in like waves beneath the low clouds.Ko: 하늘은 맑고 공기는 선선하지만, 태양은 모래에 황금빛 광채를 입힙니다.En: The sky is clear, the air cool, but the sun casts a golden glow over the sand.Ko: 진수는 이곳에서 마음의 평화를 찾고 싶었습니다. 시끄러운 도시 생활과 최근의 개인적인 아픔을 잊고 싶었죠.En: Jinsu wanted to find peace of mind here, to forget the noisy city life and a recent personal pain.Ko: 그는 미나와 혜진과 함께 트레킹을 시작했습니다.En: He began trekking with Mina and Hyejin.Ko: 미나는 활발하고 친절한 성격이고, 혜진은 침착하고 신중한 성격을 가지고 있었습니다.En: Mina had an energetic and kind personality, while Hyejin was calm and cautious.Ko: 셋은 서로 다른 이유로 이 먼 사막까지 왔습니다. 하지만 진수의 속마음은 누구에게도 밝히지 않았습니다.En: The three of them came to this distant desert for different reasons, but Jinsu had not revealed his true feelings to anyone.Ko: 가을의 사막은 예측하기 어려웠습니다.En: The autumn desert was unpredictable.Ko: 어느 날, 갑자기 모래 폭풍이 몰아쳤습니다.En: One day, a sudden sandstorm swept through.Ko: 바람은 강하고 모래는 눈과 입을 찌푸리게 했습니다.En: The wind was strong and the sand made Jinsu squint his eyes and wrinkle his nose.Ko: 군중 속에서 혼자만의 시간을 원하던 진수는 혼란에 빠졌습니다.En: Though Jinsu was seeking solitude amidst the crowd, he was thrown into confusion.Ko: 그는 잠시 고민했습니다. 혼자 멀리 떨어져 있을지, 아니면 그룹을 도와야 할지 말이죠.En: He pondered briefly—should he stay far away by himself, or help the group?Ko: 폭풍의 강도가 점점 더 강해질 때, 진수는 결정을 내렸습니다.En: As the intensity of the storm grew stronger, Jinsu made a decision.Ko: 그는 그룹 쪽으로 다가가 소리쳤습니다. "우리가 함께 있어야 안전할 거예요!"En: He approached the group and shouted, "We'll be safer if we stay together!"Ko: 미나와 혜진도 그의 의견에 동의했습니다.En: Mina and Hyejin agreed with his opinion.Ko: 셋은 다른 사람들과 함께 안전한 장소를 찾기 위해 움직였습니다.En: The three of them, along with others, moved to find a safe place.Ko: 바람은 더욱 거세어졌지만, 서로의 손을 잡고 힘을 모았습니다.En: The wind grew fiercer, but they held hands and gathered their strength.Ko: 드디어, 폭풍이 잠잠해졌습니다.En: Finally, the storm subsided.Ko: 하늘은 다시 맑아졌고, 모두는 무사했습니다.En: The sky cleared once more, and everyone was safe.Ko: 진수는 이상하게도 마음이 평온했습니다.En: Oddly enough, Jinsu felt calm.Ko: 그는 그동안 피하려 했던 사람들과의 연결에서 힘을 얻고 있었음을 깨달았습니다.En: He realized he was drawing strength from the connections with people he had been trying to avoid.Ko: 혼자만의 시간이 필요했던 그에게 이 경험은 새로운 깨달음을 주었습니다.En: This experience provided a new insight for him, who had needed alone time.Ko: 때로는 개인의 치유가 예상치 못한 연결과 팀워크에서 올 수 있다는 것을.En: Sometimes, personal healing can come from unexpected connections and teamwork.Ko: 모래가 다시 평화롭게 흩어졌을 때, 진수와 그의 새로운 친구들은 앞으로 나아갈 준비가 되었습니다.En: As the sand settled peacefully once again, Jinsu and his new friends were ready to move forward.Ko: 고비 사막은 그들에게 어떤 경험을 남겼고, 진수는 자기 자신을 다시 찾았습니다.En: The Gobi Desert left a mark on them, and Jinsu rediscovered himself.Ko: 이곳은 광대했지만 그 속에서 진정한 연대감과 따뜻함을 발견한 순간이었습니다.En: Though vast, it was here that he found true solidarity and warmth. Vocabulary Words:stretches: 펼쳐지고dunes: 언덕rolling: 밀려옵니다glow: 광채trekking: 트레킹energetic: 활발하고kind: 친절한cautious: 신중한unpredictable: 예측하기 어려웠습니다sandstorm: 모래 폭풍squint: 찌푸리게confusion: 혼란pondered: 고민했습니다solitude: 혼자만의 시간intensity: 강도approached: 다가가shouted: 소리쳤습니다fiercer: 더욱 거세어졌지만subsided: 잠잠해졌습니다drawing: 얻고connections: 연결insight: 깨달음healing: 치유가unexpected: 예상치 못한solidarity: 연대감vast: 광대했지만rediscovered: 다시 찾았습니다gathered: 모았습니다strength: 힘calm: 평온했습니다

Send us a textHow did Cody Poskin, a guy who was told to “get lost” by the coach at his college, become one of the rising stars of ultrarunning and getting invited to run across the Gobi Desert in China? I dig into that with the help of another 23-year-old ultramarathon beast, TJ Harms-Synkiew. After Cody was spurned by the college coach, he decided to target the Boston Marathon, nailing a qualifying time in his first attempt. At age 21, he jumped up to ultras and won his first two races, including the Midstate Massive Ultra Trail 100-mile in a speedy 19:47. He was a very impressive 13th at his first Leadville Trail 100 in 2024 in 19:28, and then had another breakthrough at the Jackpot 100 miler, which he ran in 13:26, breaking the course record by 33 minutes. After placing 8th at the Cocodona 250 in 71:11, Cody joined 54 other runners to run the Ultra Gobi 400K, a life-altering experience. The Chinese hosted a world-class event as Cody describes, all while he had to navigate a course that had no markings, only checkpoints, and he had to run self-supported with a 15-pound pack in which he was required to carry 2000 calories at all times. He won in 64:49, shattering the course record by 4 hours, and earned the title Guanjun Marshall. What makes this episode fun for an old ultramarathon goat like me is listening to 23-year-olds who are relatively new to the sport and how they plunge into all sorts of challenges with the attitude of “I'll figure it out along the way.”Cody Poskincodyposkin.comInstagram, YouTube, and Threads @cody_poskinBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram and Threads @stahlor and @we_are_superman_podcastYouTube We Are Superman PodcastSubscribe to the We Are Superman Newsletter!https://mailchi.mp/dab62cfc01f8/newsletter-signupSubscribe to our Substack for my archive of articles of coaching tips developed from my more than three decades of experience, wild and funny stories from my long coaching career, the wit and wisdom of David, and highlights of some of the best WASP episodes from the past that I feel are worthwhile giving another listen.Search either We Are Superman Podcast or @billstahl8

This week on the HappyCast, we have a special (very) late night episode and a small reunion of sorts that quickly becomes unhinged as we have Aaron Kubala of Speed Project and Moab 240 Pool Boy fame join to talk about his latest undertaking - The Ultra Gobi. Andrew and Aaron sip on some wine all throughout and try to stay on track to talk about this latest undertaking. This is a 400km race through the Gobi Desert in China that traverses the ancient Silk Road. Aaron was able to not only finish, but he ended up running a majority of the race with another 200 mile juggernaut, Jovica Spajic. We hear all about this experience and the formation of a friendship that will last the test of time.And in a twist development, Mika Thewes joins us to help stir the pot and create even more madness in this episode as we talk about all sorts of topics. For those who enjoy a well structured episode focused solely on trail running, this one may not be it. So join in on the chaotic, free-flowing nature of this episode as we learn more about Aaron's epic undertaking and, well, a lot of other stuff. There's sure to be something in this episode that will tug at the heart strings…or not. Who can say.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at info@happyendingstc.org

When ultramarathoner Dion Leonard set out to conquer the grueling 155-mile race across China’s Gobi Desert, he never expected to find a companion. But one small stray dog had other plans. In this heartwarming episode, Dion shares the incredible story of how Gobi ran beside him for 77 miles, forging a bond that would change both of their lives forever. Oct 17th 2025 --- Please Like, Comment and Follow 'The Ray Appleton Show' on all platforms: --- 'The Ray Appleton Show’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- 'The Ray Appleton Show’ Weekdays 11 AM -2 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 KMJ | Website | Facebook | Podcast | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Enebish Namjil, a veteran solar energy expert and pioneer of Mongolia's renewable energy transition. Dr. Namjil shares his journey from launching early solar research in the 1970s to developing large-scale PV systems, solar thermal heating, and even implementing innovative heat battery technologies in his own home. We explore Mongolia's immense potential in solar energy, including gigawatt-scale proposals for the Gobi Desert, the shift toward distributed power supply, and how Dr. Namjil's work is helping combat severe winter pollution. His personal solar-powered home is a model of energy autonomy — generating over 200 kWh/day, storing power with both lithium and heat batteries, and inspiring future generations through education and policy advocacy. Please join to find more: Connect with Sohail Hasnie: Facebook @sohailhasnie X (Twitter) @shasnie LinkedIn @shasnie ADB Blog Sohail Hasnie YouTube @energypreneurs Instagram @energypreneurs Tiktok @energypreneurs Spotify Video @energypreneurs

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, we cover Trump's viral sombrero memes targeting Democrats, the Pentagon's crackdown on leaks, fresh warnings for U.S. farmers and ranchers, the massive energy demands of AI, the arrest of Nord Stream saboteurs, Ukraine's push for Tomahawk missiles, Chinese mafia violence in Italy, Trump's Gaza peace deal, and even a rare case of good news about China's green energy trash. From mariachi memes to missile wars and mafia battles, today's brief connects the headlines shaping America and the world.   Trump's Sombrero Memes Spark Outrage: The White House posted AI videos mocking Democrats with sombreros and mustaches as they demanded $1 trillion for health care, part of which would go to migrants. VP JD Vance shrugged, saying, “Hakeem Jeffries said it was racist… but I honestly don't even know what that means.” GOP commentators called the memes “politically genius” for using humor to spotlight taxpayer costs.   Pentagon Orders Polygraphs to Stop Leaks: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth now requires NDAs and random polygraph tests for all staff and contractors to crack down on leaks. Bryan cautions that “polygraphs are tools, not an oracle,” recalling how his first CIA test flagged him for feeling guilty about stealing junior high concession stand quarters.   Screwworm Outbreak Worsens in Mexico: Cases jumped 32 percent in September to 6,700, including 5,000 in cattle. Ranchers warn the deadly parasite could soon hit Texas and drive beef prices higher. Bryan urges, “Stock up now.”   Farmers and Trump Clash Over Argentina Soybeans: After Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent bailed out President Milei, Argentina sold $7 billion in soybeans to China, undercutting U.S. farmers. Trump promised a bailout using tariff funds, but Democrats are blocking the deal. Bryan calls it “a Mexican standoff” with farmers caught in the middle.   AI Revolution Requires 44 New Nuclear Reactors: The IEEE reports U.S. AI demand will equal the output of 44 new nuclear power plants within five years. Russia remains the top uranium supplier. Trump is expanding coal leases and equity stakes in mineral and energy companies, while Bryan slams Silicon Valley's AGI obsession: “Give me a little buddy I can train each day… not a know-it-all chatbot filled with junk data.”   Nord Stream Saboteur Arrested in Ukraine Plot: German officials detained a Ukrainian tied to the 2022 pipeline bombing, allegedly ordered by General Valery Zaluzhny. Defense may argue the sabotage was a legitimate act of war.   Ukraine Pushes for Tomahawk Missiles: Trump leans toward sending 1,500-mile Tomahawks for “kind-for-kind” strikes. Putin warned it would make America a direct combatant, with U.S. CIA and Special Forces bases likely targets. Bryan warns Russia could also strike from Mexico or use saboteurs posing as asylum seekers.   Chinese Mafia Wars in Italy: Gun battles erupt in Prato as Chinese gangs fight over the $115 million hanger market for Italy's fast fashion industry. The city's Chinese population exploded from 500 in 1990 to 40,000 today, fueling Beijing-backed mafia influence.   Hamas Has Hours to Accept Trump's Gaza Plan: Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt told Hamas to accept Trump's deal or lose support. Turkey may gain F-35 jets and Egypt may see Trump pause recognition of Somaliland in return. Bryan says, “We are on a knife's edge… pray for peace.”   China Finds a Use for Dirty Green Energy Trash: Beijing is planting old wind turbine blades in the Gobi Desert to block sand dunes, creating a “New Great Wall of China.” Bryan admits, “It makes me sad to report it, but this one actually works.”   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Trump sombrero memes Hakeem Jeffries, JD Vance sombrero quote, Pete Hegseth Pentagon polygraph leaks, screwworm outbreak Mexico Texas beef, Argentina soybeans Milei China sales, Trump tariff farmer bailout, AI nuclear power IEEE report, Trump mineral wars coal leases, Nord Stream pipeline sabotage Zaluzhny, Ukraine Tomahawk missile request Trump, Putin warns U.S. combatant, Chinese mafia Prato Italy fast fashion, Trump Gaza peace plan Hamas Qatar Turkey Egypt, China wind turbine blades Gobi Desert

Fierce windstorms in the Gobi Desert force scientists to think fast and run faster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we delve into the legend of the Mongolian Death Worm! Are there any sand grains of truth of this Cryptids existence scattered in the Gobi Desert, it's supposed home? Listen to find out!

Become a Distance to Empty subscriber!: https://www.patreon.com/DistancetoEmptyPodWant to support us? Check out Mount to Coast here: ⁠⁠https://mounttocoast.com/discount/Distance⁠⁠Use code DISTANCE at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Janji.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to select 'podcast' > 'Distance to Empty' on the post purchase "How did you hear about Janji" page. Thank you!In this episode of Distance to Empty, we explore the awe-inspiring Ultra Gobi 400KM race with ultra-marathoner Dion Leonard. Journey with us through the vast and challenging terrain of the Gobi Desert, where Dion navigates 250 miles of extreme conditions, from scorching heat to freezing nights. Discover the unique challenges of self-navigation and the mental resilience required to tackle one of the world's most demanding races. Dion shares his experiences, the rich history of the race, and the profound impact it has had on his life. Tune in for an epic adventure that pushes the boundaries of human endurance.

From a life of hard labor in the Gobi Desert to becoming a prominent Hong Kong investor, Weijian Shan's story is one of incredible contrasts. In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg's Mishal Husain, the Chinese economist and author opens up about his childhood during the Cultural Revolution, his thoughts on Hong Kong’s National Security law and President Trump’s trade war with China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darkness Radio Presents: Cryptid Creatures: Learning to Draw Mysterious Beasts From Around The World w/ Podcaster/Artist, BallyRaven! Have you ever watched a TV show or movie and wished you could sketch out one of these scary monsters on paper? Have you ever wanted to turn that art into something more? Cryptids are animals whose legends are spread far and wide at slumber parties, sleepaway campfires, or on internet webpages you stumble across at 2 a.m. Their existence has never been confirmed by science but that doesn't make them any less fascinating! In Cryptid Creatures, learn how to draw 35 different types of cryptids from all around the world and pick up a thing or two about their origins as well. For artists of all skill levels, this step-by-step drawing book will show you how to sketch basic shapes and forms as well as use shading techniques to help your drawings come alive. Learn to draw such creatures as: Bigfoot, aka Sasquatch, the iconic cryptid said to inhabit the Pacific Northwest of North America The Loch Ness Monster, the underwater sea creature said to lurk in the depths of Scotland's Loch Ness. Affectionately known as Nessie. The Mongolian Death Worm, a gigantic worm that allegedly lives in the most remote reaches of the Gobi Desert. Probably wants a friend. The Bunyip, a creature of ambiguous description stated to haunt bodies of water in Australia. Mothman, the classic harbinger of doom. . . . And more! This book also provides guidance on cryptid anatomy so you can create your own, unique cryptids. With both drawing instruction and tales of global folklore to engage your mind, Cryptid Creatures will transport you to a world of shadows and spookinessthat will have you producing "realistic" illustrations with a touch of the fantastical in no time flat.  On Today's Show, Ballyraven tells us how to go about drawing some of these scary beasts! She also tells us about some of the lore behind them!  And, about her experiences at the Mothman Festival, her podcast, and much much more!  Get your Copy of "Cryptid Creatures" here : https://bit.ly/3Hy0lsw Join BallyRaven's Patreon (there is a free section): https://www.patreon.com/ballyraven Check out Ballyraven's Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agency podcast here:  https://www.ballyraven.com/podcast Sign up to go with Dacre Stoker and Mysterious Universe Tours to Romania here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Want to attend JUST Dracula's Vampire Ball at Bran Castle? Click this link to find out how: https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Travel with Brian J. Cano to Ireland for Halloween for 11 days and get 100 dollars off and break it into 10 easy payments here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps! and subscribe to the Darkness Radio You Tube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis Want to be an "Executive Producer" of Darkness Radio? email Tim@darknessradio.com for details!  #paranormal  #supernatural  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis #ballyraven #cryptidcreatures #learningtodrawmysteriousbeastsfromaroundtheworld #cryptidwildlifeprotectionagency #mothmanfestival  #ghosts  #spirits   #hauntings #hauntedhouses #haunteddolls #demons #monsters #woodlandcreatures  #paranormalinvestigation #ghosthunters #Aliens  #UFO #UAP #Extraterrestrials #shadowpeople #Cryptids #Cryptozoology #bigfoot #sasquatch #yeti #wendigo #squonk #notdeer #mothman  #CIA #FBI #conspiracytheory

Darkness Radio Presents: Cryptid Creatures: Learning to Draw Mysterious Beasts From Around The World w/ Podcaster/Artist, BallyRaven! Have you ever watched a TV show or movie and wished you could sketch out one of these scary monsters on paper? Have you ever wanted to turn that art into something more? Cryptids are animals whose legends are spread far and wide at slumber parties, sleepaway campfires, or on internet webpages you stumble across at 2 a.m. Their existence has never been confirmed by science but that doesn't make them any less fascinating! In Cryptid Creatures, learn how to draw 35 different types of cryptids from all around the world and pick up a thing or two about their origins as well. For artists of all skill levels, this step-by-step drawing book will show you how to sketch basic shapes and forms as well as use shading techniques to help your drawings come alive. Learn to draw such creatures as: Bigfoot, aka Sasquatch, the iconic cryptid said to inhabit the Pacific Northwest of North America The Loch Ness Monster, the underwater sea creature said to lurk in the depths of Scotland's Loch Ness. Affectionately known as Nessie. The Mongolian Death Worm, a gigantic worm that allegedly lives in the most remote reaches of the Gobi Desert. Probably wants a friend. The Bunyip, a creature of ambiguous description stated to haunt bodies of water in Australia. Mothman, the classic harbinger of doom. . . . And more! This book also provides guidance on cryptid anatomy so you can create your own, unique cryptids. With both drawing instruction and tales of global folklore to engage your mind, Cryptid Creatures will transport you to a world of shadows and spookinessthat will have you producing "realistic" illustrations with a touch of the fantastical in no time flat.  On Today's Show, Ballyraven tells us how to go about drawing some of these scary beasts! She also tells us about some of the lore behind them!  And, about her experiences at the Mothman Festival, her podcast, and much much more!  Get your Copy of "Cryptid Creatures" here : https://bit.ly/3Hy0lsw Join BallyRaven's Patreon (there is a free section): https://www.patreon.com/ballyraven Check out Ballyraven's Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agency podcast here:  https://www.ballyraven.com/podcast Sign up to go with Dacre Stoker and Mysterious Universe Tours to Romania here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Want to attend JUST Dracula's Vampire Ball at Bran Castle? Click this link to find out how: https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Travel with Brian J. Cano to Ireland for Halloween for 11 days and get 100 dollars off and break it into 10 easy payments here:  https://www.mysteriousadventurestours.com/darkness_radio/ Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps! and subscribe to the Darkness Radio You Tube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis Want to be an "Executive Producer" of Darkness Radio? email Tim@darknessradio.com for details!  #paranormal  #supernatural  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis #ballyraven #cryptidcreatures #learningtodrawmysteriousbeastsfromaroundtheworld #cryptidwildlifeprotectionagency #mothmanfestival  #ghosts  #spirits   #hauntings #hauntedhouses #haunteddolls #demons #monsters #woodlandcreatures  #paranormalinvestigation #ghosthunters #Aliens  #UFO #UAP #Extraterrestrials #shadowpeople #Cryptids #Cryptozoology #bigfoot #sasquatch #yeti #wendigo #squonk #notdeer #mothman  #CIA #FBI #conspiracytheory

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Tania Carmona—a trailblazing ultrarunner, endurance coach, entrepreneur, and the first Mexican athlete to complete the 5 Deserts Grand Slam. From swimming as a national-level athlete in Mexico to conquering some of the toughest environments on Earth, Tania's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity. Based in Dubai and previously living in Scotland and the U.S., Tania shares her path into ultrarunning—from a reluctant marathon finisher to tackling self-supported races across the Gobi, Atacama, Namib, and Antarctica. We dive into her experience navigating extreme heat, physical stress, and the emotional highs and lows of ultra-endurance. Tania also opens up about the physiological toll of training, dealing with cortisol imbalances, the decision to undergo back surgery, and why she and her husband launched the Ultra Happy Podcast to bring more real, relatable stories to the running world. Whether you're chasing your own desert dreams or looking for inspiration to keep putting one foot in front of the other, this episode is packed with heart, humour, and hard-earned wisdom.  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x Show notes Who is Tania Ultrarunner, coach and podcast host Being based in Dubai, born in Mexico and previously living in Glasgow, Scotland  Growing up in Mexico City in a small family  Being into swimming when she was little Being a national swimmer  Deciding to stop swimming at 15  Moving to Chicago to do her Masters Getting into running in Chicago after being inspired by the Chicago Marathon  Starting running with a free group 3x a week Finishing her first marathon and deciding to never run again at 20 Needing to make new friends after moving back to Mexico Deciding to give running another go A spartan race…. 2016 Finding trail running! Hiring a coach  Signing up for a 50k Meeting her Scottish husband, Andy Moving from Mexico City to Scotland! Deciding to sign up for longer, harder races and how her lifestyle started to change The 5 Desert Grand Slam  Wanting to do Cocodona 250km race  The 5 different, self supported races Dealing with the heat Gobi Desert in Mongolia - more trails and more hard packed terrain - very similar to Scotland Running with really old shoes Running in Antartica over 5 days - living on an expedition boat  Atacama Desert in Chile and why it was one of her most favourite races Reducing those feelings of overwhelm Focusing on the first step first Taking a year off to focus on running  Working with a running coach  Recovery runs and resting  Dealing with gut issues and periods problems The impact on her body with spikes of cortisol  Developing a cortisol hump on her back Not sleeping well The evening routines and life admin after a race  Having surgery on her cortisol hump (7 cm by 1.5 cm deep) on her back Dealing with more stress, by moving to Dubai Ultra Happy Podcast  Co-hosting with her husband Andy Documenting the journey  How to connect with Tania Mini films from each dessert available to watch on YouTube  Final words of advice Live your life with curiosity  Don't do it for the likes  Think about what else you could do    Social Media Website: taniacarmona.komi.io  Instagram: @taniaruns_theworld TikTok: @taniaruns_theworld  Youtube: @Tania_Carmona  

Did you know there's a legend about a creepy creature lurking in the Gobi Desert? They call it the Mongolian Death Worm, and it's said to be a long, red, slimy thing that can spit venom or even shoot out electric shocks! Locals have been telling stories about it for ages, saying it hides under the sand and only pops out to attack its prey. Scientists haven't found solid proof it exists yet, but the mystery keeps adventurers and researchers hooked. Some think it's just a legend or maybe a misidentified snake, while others swear it's real. Whether it's fact or fiction, it's one wild story from one of the world's most desolate places! Credit: Allghoikhorkhoi: By Pieter0024, CC BY-SA 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... American Museum of Natural History: By Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/..., https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... Animation is created by Bright Side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/ Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD... Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Social Media: Facebook: / brightside Instagram: / brightside.official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.of... Telegram: https://t.me/bright_side_official Stock materials (photos, footages and other): https://www.depositphotos.com https://www.shutterstock.com https://www.eastnews.ru ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clean energy visionary Lei Zhang loves the Gobi Desert — the most Mars-like place on Earth. Why? Because of the promise it holds to provide the free, abundant solar and wind energy to fuel humanity's next leap forward. Sharing the story behind one of the world's largest green hydrogen projects, Zhang shows how Earth's harshest landscapes could unlock more energy reserves than the world consumes today, and encourages us all to get a little more creative in how we think about the future.For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch.Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyouTEDSports: ted.com/sportsTEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-viennaTEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Sara dislike today's movie because it's… good? Today, we are digging into the 1990 creature feature for the ages– Tremors! From the western vibes to Reba's first acting role (she's great in this!), we are going deep for this awesome addition to Kevin Bacon's filmography.In today's paranormal segment, Ashley shares all about the creepy, crawly cryptid known as the Mongolian Death Worm, said to haunt the Gobi Desert. If you are a fan of the podcast and would like to be featured in a future episode, we'd love to hear from you! Leave us a review on iTunes, and we will read it aloud on an upcoming episode, or submit your own ghost story or paranormal experience here. And remember, when in doubt, just stay home.Resources for Today's Episode:The Oracle of BaconCryptid Wiki: Mongolian Death WormView Mongolia Travel: 20 Interesting Gobi Desert FactsLongest Legless LizardWorld's Largest Worm Lizard Lived 47 Million Years AgoMongolian Death Worm: Elusive Legend of the Gobi DesertJoin the Homebodies:Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!Watch Full Video Episodes on YouTube!Subscribe to Our Substack!Credits:Music: Goosebumps by Veace D

In this moving snippet from Episode 39, ultra-marathoner, motivational speaker, and author Dion Leonard is leading a race through the Gobi Desert—until a small cry behind him changes everything. What follows is a quiet act of love and courage that would forever shape his story… and touches hearts around the world.LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE “39. Finding Gobi: The Phenomenal True Story of a Stray Dog and Ultramarathoner Dion”We would love to hear your thoughts on this podcast episode. Head over to @purplestars.world on Instagram and share the valuable insights you gained from it. Can't wait to read your comments!Sending lots of love, SarahConnect with us:Website: https://purple-stars.usInstagram: @purplestars.world Instagram: @sarah.hoelzl Youtube: @PurpleStarsWorld Disclaimer: The Purple Stars Podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are suffering from any mental health or medical conditions, please seek assistance from a qualified health professional.

As I tell Gabrielle in the following interview, when a new Gabrielle Brady film emerges into the world, it is like the arrival of a gift, one that pulls us into a mindset of considering the lives of others, including those of the crabs of Christmas Island, or maybe the horses of the Gobi Desert. It's one that encourages us to see the world of truth differently. That notion of truth is something I've asked filmmakers a lot lately, and I'm conscious of its almost accusatory nature, as if documentary filmmaking must adhere to one True Reality. But it's impossible. The truth can never be captured on screen, and truth is in itself a falsity. After all, as soon as you put a camera on an event, or slice it with an editing suite, or apply a score to it, you are skewing reality away from the truth. Documentary storytelling is, by its own creation, not the truth. Yet, the emotions that we're left with and the memories that linger in our mind after the film has long played out, become a source of truth. Yet, as I slip into this spiral a little further, it's clear that co-authored filmmaking like that of Gabrielle Brady's exists to explore versions of the truth, to bring stories of subjects and collaborators to life, and to enrich our collective world.These notions are underpinned by Gabrielle's choice to study at the prestigious La Escuela Internacional de Cine in Cuba, a place which fosters the notion to 'defend the rights to ones own image' and to 'liberate the viewer's gaze'. These are ideas that I ask Gabrielle about in the following interview, which gives way to an open conversation about her creative process, and what it means to be able to work alongside people like Poh Lin, Davaa and Zaya, and Michael Latham, on her films.This interview was recorded ahead of Wolves' screenings at the Sydney Film Festival on 10 and 12 June. This is a film I urge audiences to see in a cinema, let it overwhelm your senses. Let it change you. If you're interested in reading about how the film changed me, then you can read my review here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After launching a global anti-trafficking movement in his teens, Chris Schrader didn't settle down—he leveled up.In Part Two, the founder of the 24 Hour Race draws parallels between navigating the Gobi Desert and leading high-growth businesses across continents. From dropping out of Harvard to leading expeditions and scaling software companies, Chris shares why building teams isn't about maximizing your strongest players—it's about supporting your weakest. And why sometimes, real leadership means being the “secretary of the team,” not the star.This episode goes beyond business tactics and into the mindset behind meaningful leadership. It's a deep dive into servant leadership, self-doubt, ruthless decision-making, and how to chase your personal North Star—even if you never reach it.Key Highlights of Our Interview:When ISIS Threats and Identity Crises Collide“Some challenges are existential—like not knowing what we are. Others are urgent—like whether to cancel an event after a terror threat.”The Expedition Analogy: Climbing Unmapped Peaks“Trying to grow an organization is like summiting a mountain no one's climbed before—you'll miss things, reroute, and sometimes have to turn back.”The Gobi Desert and the North Star“You navigate by stars knowing you'll never touch them. That's what great goals are—worth chasing even if you never arrive.”The Secret to Team Performance“You're not defined by your best players. You're defined by your weakest. Great leaders either lift them—or make hard calls.”Servant Leadership Isn't Just Humility—It's Precision“As a leader, I'm the expedition secretary. My job is to clear the path so my team can outperform me in every way.”When to Cut Loose and When to Coach“Too many leaders let low performers drag down morale. In expeditions, that mistake can get someone killed. In business, it just slowly kills momentum.”The Myth-Building Side of Leadership“Sometimes leadership means becoming something aspirational—a myth people can believe in. But you still serve the mission, not yourself.”Between What You Want to Be and What You Need to Be“I want to be the first man to circumnavigate the moon. But I need to be a good son, a great partner, a reliable chairman—and pay my sous-vide-powered electricity bill.”The Hardest Impact Isn't Global—It's Personal“It's easy to romanticize Musk or Zuckerberg. Harder? Being the friend who actually shows up. That's the real Paragon of humanity.”_____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Chris Schrader  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.18 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>170,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.

How did a federal prosecutor named Martin Bell end up suing a 70-million-year-old tyrannosaurus, looted from the rocky sands of the Gobi Desert? By teaming up with The Babe Ruth of Forfeiture and a personal injury lawyer representing the president of Mongolia, naturally. What followed was a matter of international diplomacy and Florida men — of a narc at the museum and a conspicuous crate, all leading to Pablo's high school, The Graveyard of the Oviraptor... and, of course, Nicolas Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did a federal prosecutor named Martin Bell end up suing a 70-million-year-old tyrannosaurus, looted from the rocky sands of the Gobi Desert? By teaming up with The Babe Ruth of Forfeiture and a personal injury lawyer representing the president of Mongolia, naturally. What followed was a matter of international diplomacy and Florida men — of a narc at the museum and a conspicuous crate, all leading to Pablo's high school, The Graveyard of the Oviraptor... and, of course, Nicolas Cage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a federal prosecutor named Martin Bell end up suing a 70-million-year-old tyrannosaurus, looted from the rocky sands of the Gobi Desert? By teaming up with The Babe Ruth of Forfeiture and a personal injury lawyer representing the president of Mongolia, naturally. What followed was a matter of international diplomacy and Florida men — of a narc at the museum and a conspicuous crate, all leading to Pablo's high school, The Graveyard of the Oviraptor... and, of course, Nicolas Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monty the giant schnauzer won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. And rather than thinking of all things canine, this week the Unexpected Elements team turn their attention to all things giant. First, we find out how a giant virus could help keep our planet cool. Next up, we discover the origins of enormous Greek characters, such as the Titans and the Cyclops. We then find out how giant clams put solar panels to shame. Plus, we're joined by Professor Shinobu Ishigaki, director of the Museum of Dinosaur Research at the Okayama University of Science. He tells us about the ginormous footprints he found in the Gobi Desert, and what they could teach us about herbivorous dinosaurs. That, plus many more Unexpected Elements. Presenters: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Camilla Mota. Producers: William Hornbrook, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Debbie Kilbride, Imaan Moin and Noa Dowling.

In this episode of Shopify Masters, Matthew Scanlon, founder of Naadam, takes us on an exhilarating journey that begins with a daring ride across the Gobi Desert and transporting 32 bags filled with $2.5 million in cash. This gripping tale sets the stage for Naadam's mission to revolutionize the cashmere industry through sustainability. Matthew discusses the challenges of launching a DTC brand in today's market, including securing funding and leveraging AI tools. He shares  insights on building a brand that resonates with ethical practices while fostering deep connections with nomadic herders in Mongolia. Tune in for a fascinating look at entrepreneurship, storytelling, and the complexities of scaling a sustainable business.