Podcasts about Grand marshal

Jon and Leigh welcome Annie Carter to chat about the Parade! Like Dragon Con, the parade is a little chaotic, a bit cheeky, and always a blast. This year’s Grand Marshal is Anson Mount. He and his lovely hair will be right out front of the other entries this year that include: Helldivers 2, the official Rick Mobile, the Bloodmobile, the return of the pirate ship, Hope Atlanta, and the usual mix of old favorites and newer fandoms. The parade starts at 10 o’clock on Saturday – Get there early, but please leave space for the younglings! Track links: Dragon Con Parade page · Dragon Con Parade Facebook Leave us a voicemail: (813) 321-0884Shop The Unique GeekSuggest a 50 Days Podcast Idea Be sure to check out our Facebook social media thingies. Have a question for the directors or maybe something you want us to try and get info on? Then leave a comment, email us, or call the comment line.Email: 50days[ at ]theuniquegeek.comFacebook: facebook.com/TheUniqueGeekYouTube: YouTube.com/TheUniqueGeek Read the transcript Watch on YouTube The post 50 Days of Dragon Con 2026 – Day 49 – Parade first appeared on The Unique Geek.

Last time we spoke about autumn battle of Changsha. In late September and early October 1941, the Chinese commander Chen Cheng focused on Yichang, a crucial Yangtze stronghold whose loss would threaten China's position and the approach toward Chongqing. Chen Cheng's plan tightened a ring around the city while Chinese forces blocked Japanese reinforcement routes, including efforts to cut retreat lines at places like Jingmen and Dangyang. The battle's pressure was intensified by shifting momentum elsewhere. As the Japanese situation around Changsha became unstable—strained by supplies, exhaustion, and mounting casualties—the Japanese command began to withdraw north. Chiang Kai-shek used this to accelerate Chinese priorities, ordering rapid capture of Yichang within a tight deadline. Inside Yichang, the defense turned tragic as Japanese troops faced encirclement, heavy artillery barrages, and desperate street fighting.    #213 Blood, Rain, and Flags: The Last Struggle Around Yichang 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. While the struggle around Changsha occupied one half of the battlefield, another contest of equal consequence was taking shape farther west at Yichang. The two operations were not separate stories. They belonged to the same campaign, and each influenced the fate of the other. If Changsha was the city whose danger was plain to every observer, Yichang was the stronghold whose importance weighed most heavily on the calculations of commanders. In the autumn of 1941, the outcome in one place could not be understood without the other. For Chen Cheng, Yichang was more than a military objective. It was a wound that had never closed. The city stood on the Yangtze at a point of major strategic value, tied not only to communications and transport but also to the defense of the river approach toward the wartime capital. When Yichang had fallen in June 1940, it had done more than alter the front line. It had left behind humiliation. Three Japanese divisions—the 3rd, 13th, and 39th—had seized the city after twelve days and nights of intense fighting. At five in the afternoon on June 11, a unit of the Japanese 13th Division under Tanaka Seiichi had broken in from the southeast. Chinese troops of the 18th Army under Peng Shan and Luo Guangwen's 18th Division fought a savage close-quarters battle inside the city for a full day and night, while Japanese forces of the 3rd and 39th Divisions pressed from the north. At four in the afternoon on June 12, with Deng Ping's battalion covering the withdrawal, the Chinese finally pulled out and Yichang was lost. Men in high command do not always remember defeat in the same way as the men who fight through it. Soldiers tend to remember heat, hunger, the dead, or the exact corner where a friend fell. Commanders also remember those things, but they remember something else as well: failure recorded in the language of responsibility. Chen Cheng could not forget that twenty Chinese corps had been beaten by three Japanese divisions. At the time, Li Zongren had commanded the operation. Now the chance to erase that old disgrace seemed to be passing into Chen Cheng's own hands. On September 20, he received two telegrams, one from the Military Commission and one from Chiang Kai-shek himself. From that point onward, Yichang dominated his thoughts. By September 23, the Military Commission approved Chen's request to transfer the 33rd Army Group of the Fifth War Zone into the Sixth War Zone for the coming attack. On paper, his position seemed powerful. He now had fourteen divisions at his disposal. Yichang itself was held only by Uchiyama Eitaro's 13th Division and the Hayabuchi Detachment, together amounting to roughly sixteen thousand men. Even granting the usual Japanese superiority in training, firepower, communications, and local tactical cohesion, the Chinese possessed absolute numerical advantage. By September 28, the Chinese units had reached their attack positions, and Chen Cheng set his operational design in motion. The forces on the right bank were to attack first and pull the main body of the Japanese 39th Division southward. The 33rd Army would strike toward Jingmen and Dangyang in order to cut off the enemy's routes of retreat and reinforcement. Once these movements took hold, Yichang itself would be enclosed and crushed. Li Jilan's 94th Army, Li Yannian's 2nd Army, Song Kentang's 32nd Army, and other formations advanced according to plan. On paper the arrangement had clarity. On the ground it had resistance. The Japanese defended from strong fieldworks, and progress came slowly. Earthworks, wire, trenches, and mutually supporting positions transformed every apparent advance into hard labor. The Chinese pushed forward, but not with the speed Chen Cheng wanted. Even a favorable comparison of troop numbers could not cancel the fact that an entrenched Japanese force, once determined to hold, could impose a terrible price on assault. By October 1, Japanese troops outside Yichang began withdrawing into the city proper. Chen Cheng responded by ordering all troops to complete the encirclement. At last the operation seemed to be reaching the decisive stage. The city was tightening under pressure. The ring was nearly closed. Yet at that very moment time began pressing harder on both sides. On October 2, both Chen Cheng outside the city and Uchiyama inside it received telegrams that sharpened the crisis. The message sent from the Japanese 11th Army headquarters in Wuhan informed Uchiyama that the famous Tokyo Asakusa Art Troupe was coming to Yichang to comfort the front-line troops. The Expeditionary Army Headquarters in Nanjing had decided that, for political reasons, the troupe could not be turned back merely because combat conditions were dangerous. Their purpose was morale. That such a message could arrive at such a time reveals much about Japanese wartime culture. Appearances, spirit, ritual reassurance, and the emotional theater of endurance still had to be maintained even when military reality was worsening by the hour. The telegram that Chen Cheng received was very different. Chiang Kai-shek's order stated with brutal directness: the Japanese in northern Hunan had begun to withdraw, and Chen was ordered to spare no effort to capture Yichang within three days. Chen stared at the message for a long time. There was no need for explanation. He understood at once what Chiang meant. The battle for Yichang had already consumed days of hard fighting. Chinese units had suffered substantial losses. But the essential fact stood over every map and every order: if Japanese forces disengaging from northern Hunan reached Yichang in time to reinforce it, then all the effort already expended might amount to nothing. The battle had become not only a contest of strength, but a race. At nearly the same time, the command post of the Japanese 11th Army at Yueyang was confronting the other half of the same problem. On the night of September 30, the headquarters was brightly lit as Chief of Staff Isamu Kinoshita arranged reports, reconnaissance findings, and field messages before the army commander. The Japanese still possessed a valuable advantage: they had access to Chinese communication codes. But such intelligence could not solve every operational problem. It could not conjure food where there was none, restore exhausted bodies, or stop the battlefield from changing shape. By then the Japanese situation around Changsha had become increasingly unstable. The Hayabuchi Detachment, after entering the city, was entangled in fierce urban fighting with the Chinese 6th Provisional Division of the 79th Army. By the evening of September 30, neither side had eliminated the other inside the city. Outside Changsha, the Japanese 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 40th Divisions had assembled and kept major Chinese forces at bay. One element of the 3rd Division had even moved south by truck to Zhuzhou, fifty kilometers away, and occupied the abandoned city. Yet these outward signs of success concealed a serious weakness. The Japanese rear was fraying. Ammunition and food were running low. Divisions operating that deep in hostile territory could not sustain a prolonged campaign under such conditions. More than ten days of uninterrupted movement and fighting had also produced rising non-combat casualties. Men were collapsing from fatigue along the march. Sickness increased steadily. Units that had looked formidable on the offensive were beginning to wear thin from inside. At the same time, Chinese remnants from earlier defeats, new reinforcements, and formations that had regrouped after being thrown back were all watching for signs of weakness. Even if the Japanese divisions in Hunan still had the strength to fight several more actions, another question overrode everything else: Yichang. Yichang was not simply another point on the map. It was a strategic stronghold on the Yangtze and one of the key places from which Japan threatened Chongqing. The city also carried institutional memory. After its capture in June 1940, the occupying troops had initially been ordered to withdraw for rest and reorganization. But Imperial General Headquarters had reversed that decision almost at once and demanded that Yichang be held after all. Troops already on the road had to turn back and retake a city that had been burned, stripped, and rendered difficult to occupy. Among those who had insisted most strongly that Yichang must be retained was Anami Korechika, then vice minister of the army. Now Anami faced the consequence of that earlier insistence. However attractive the gains in Hunan might appear, Yichang could not simply be sacrificed. Uchiyama's 13th Division was not strong enough to hold indefinitely without relief. Anami looked at Hunan on the map—a rich province, beautiful and militarily tempting, much of it seeming almost within reach. But strategy does not reward attachment. With great reluctance, he gave the order to retreat. On the morning of October 1, all Japanese divisions received the reversal instructions, and at four in the afternoon they began moving north. For Xue Yue, this altered the entire meaning of the campaign. Since the beginning of the battle, he had known frustration, disappointment, and anger. Whatever private calculations he may have made about Chiang Kai-shek's strategic direction, Chen Cheng's political influence, his own mistakes in the earlier phase of operations, or the rivalries that had long poisoned Republican military life, none of those feelings prevented him from seeing the opportunity now before him. Once the Japanese turned north, pursuit was no longer merely a matter of salvaging dignity. It became an operational necessity tied directly to Yichang. His staff quickly drafted a pursuit order defining routes, timings, and methods. The document explicitly called for tracking and pursuing, interception, flanking movement, ambush, and surprise attack. This was not to be a ceremonial following of a retreating enemy at a respectful distance. It was meant to be pressure—enough pressure, if possible, to delay Japanese movement back toward Hubei. Two hours after Xue issued the order, another telegram arrived from Chongqing. Chiang Kai-shek instructed that since the enemy which had advanced into northern Hunan had begun retreating toward Yueyang on the night of October 1, the Ninth War Zone was to exploit their fatigue, pursue boldly, seize Yueyang if possible, sabotage the Wuyue Railway, and launch attacks, ambushes, and fierce strikes along the retreat route to prevent the Japanese from regaining their former defenses or shifting quickly toward Wuhan. The purpose was stated clearly: to facilitate the operations of the Third, Fifth, and Sixth War Zones. Xue Yue understood the message at once. The support provided by the Third and Fifth War Zones had been limited and often symbolic. The operation that truly mattered now was Chen Cheng's assault on Yichang. Pursuit in Hunan was not simply retaliation for the threat to Changsha. It was an attempt to buy time in blood, mud, and delay. He adjusted the pursuit deployment and ordered commanders at every level to go forward and supervise their units in person. Autumn rain began to fall over northern Hunan. Hills disappeared in mist and drizzle. Along the roads leading north moved Japanese soldiers under the Rising Sun flag; behind them and beside them, often through fields, villages, and broken country, moved Chinese troops under the Blue Sky, White Sun, and Red Earth flag. Their uniforms differed, their languages differed, their causes differed—but the exhaustion in their faces must often have looked terribly alike. Both armies moved through damp air, hunger, uncertainty, and the constant expectation of another clash. The pursuit, however, revealed the limits of Chinese strength as well as its persistence. On October 2, the battered remnants of the Chinese 74th and 26th Armies cleared battlefields along the Liuyang and Laodao Rivers and found no Japanese left there. The 74th withdrew to Liling to regroup. The 26th halted at Changle Street for replenishment. Yang Sen sent the whole 27th Army Group after the retreating enemy. Ou Zhen's 4th Army attempted to intercept the Japanese 40th Division, but the Japanese maneuvered skillfully and escaped. Ou Zhen pursued them north of the Miluo River for three days, reached the Changshui River, and found the south bank empty. The 20th Army tried to cut off the Japanese 6th Division at Fulipu. At first they could not even locate the enemy, but they did collect large amounts of matériel left behind. Deputy Commander Xia Jiong remarked, with rough optimism, that the Japanese were still "steaming hot" and would certainly be caught. His men ran hard, crossed the Miluo River, and finally did catch a rearguard. Yet the Japanese, intent only on getting away, adopted what Chinese accounts described as a low-key method of not retaliating and not becoming decisively engaged. After crossing Gaoqiao they withdrew into their previous defensive area, and Xia could do little more than stop, rest, and continue to watch them. The 58th Army intercepted more than two thousand Japanese troops near Guanwang Bridge. For a moment it seemed a major clash might erupt. Instead the Japanese fled, leaving behind large quantities of supplies. The Chinese followed them as far as Taolin and then halted when it became clear that the enemy had regained strong ground. These episodes were frustrating, but they were not meaningless. They showed that many Chinese formations had been too badly mauled in the earlier phase of the campaign to sustain relentless offensive pressure. They also showed that the Japanese, though in retreat, were still disciplined enough to avoid disastrous entanglements while shedding matériel to gain speed. The Chinese units that struck hardest during this phase were not those most damaged at the beginning of the battle, but fresher formations such as Xia Chuzhong's 79th Army and Fu Zhongfang's 99th Army. Xia's men ambushed the Hayabuchi Detachment and nearly destroyed it, killing two of its three battalion commanders. Fu's 99th Army fought a series of clashes with the Japanese 3rd and 6th Divisions and with the Hirano and Araki Detachments. The Japanese, eager to keep moving, absorbed losses rather than pause for extended battle. The 99th Army captured so much matériel that transporting it became a problem in itself. On October 4, a squad leader of the 197th Division even shot down an aircraft with machine-gun fire. Yet even here success had limits. By October 9, the entire Japanese force in northern Hunan had crossed the Xinqiang River and reoccupied its original positions. Chinese attacks achieved nothing decisive. The river once again became, in military imagination, almost a fixed frontier. As gunfire subsided in Xiangbei, all attention turned toward Yichang. The encirclement of the city was completed at noon on October 4. Chen Cheng ordered a general offensive to begin at four in the morning on October 6. Outside the city, Li Yannian's 2nd Army held fast against the Japanese 39th Division, which was trying to come in from Jingmen. Altogether, the Sixth War Zone had committed fourteen divisions—more than one hundred thousand men—to the operation. What followed was the familiar but always arresting spectacle of a great battle gathering itself. Small detachments moved forward to cut wire and destroy fortifications outside the city. Artillery officers adjusted their fire with care. Ammunition boxes changed hands continuously. Telephone operators hurried back and forth laying lines. Engineers worked with picks and shovels. Trucks forced their way down crowded roads with horns blaring. Boats were requisitioned along the riverbank, and dark-skinned boatmen weathered by the Yangtze wind moved among soldiers and officers. Behind the assault units stood medical stations under Red Cross flags, waiting for the wounded they knew were coming. All the machinery of battle was in motion. Inside Yichang, meanwhile, another scene unfolded that could only exist in wartime Japan's peculiar mixture of militarism and performance. At the field hospital of the Japanese 13th Division on the campus of Mingde Middle School, wounded soldiers wrapped in white bandages stood, sat, lay on stretchers, or leaned on medical orderlies in the yard watching entertainers from home perform while the dull rhythms of artillery sounded in the distance. The Asakusa Art Troupe had been founded in the mid-1920s and had made its name by combining modern popular elements with traditional stage culture. It had first won over ordinary audiences and then, as its reputation rose, gained acceptance among official and elite circles as well. After the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, it was gradually folded into the machinery of wartime propaganda, performing works meant to praise sacrifice, glorify the empire, and strengthen morale. When the delegation of more than thirty members arrived at the 11th Army headquarters in Wuhan, the army added a military band of more than twenty men to accompany them to Yichang. But by the time they reached the city, the battle had already drawn close. They could not visit forward positions. Instead they performed for the wounded. The last performance featured heavily made-up young men and women dancing a popular folk number. As the dance continued, the women bowed and invited medics and wounded men who could still move to join them. Kimono and military uniform mixed. Smiles appeared beside bandages. Music from the home islands drifted out beneath the sound of an approaching siege. Then war interrupted the scene completely. Before dawn on October 6, Chinese artillery opened on Yichang with a deafening bombardment, and the cries of attack rolled over the city. As day came up, the troupe members watched stretchers being rushed into the field hospital where they had only recently performed. One of the sixteen-year-old twin geisha sisters, Mihoko, asked the troupe leader Akizuru through tears whether they would ever be able to return to Tokyo. Qiuhe, the famous dance artist in her fifties, answered gently that they would. General Anami, she said, was leading brave troops there and would arrive in the next few days. The child must pray. The reassurance was human, but it was also part of the wartime language of consolation. Outside the city, reality was harsher. For two days and nights the fighting remained severe. The Japanese fell back toward the edge of the city and resisted with desperation. The Japanese 3rd Air Regiment in Hankou committed itself heavily to the defense, flying sortie after sortie over Yichang. Aircraft came so often that some made four round trips in a single day. On the morning of October 8, a unit of the Chinese 94th Army crossed by boat from the west bank, bypassed the Gezhouba area, and landed at the northern end of Huangcaoba. Advancing south along the embankment, it established positions on the Yangtze side only about half a kilometer from the city. This foothold effectively dominated Japanese positions west of Yichang. Mortar rounds crossed the water. Heavy and light machine guns pinned the defenders outside the walls. At the same time, the 9th Division of the 32nd Army and part of the 99th Army pressed inward as well. The ring tightened. October 9 was grave for both sides. The Japanese withdrawal from northern Hunan had by now produced a relief force. Anami assembled elite troops from several divisions into a rapid deployment column for Yichang. For the Chinese Sixth War Zone, however, victory seemed very near. Inside the city the Japanese situation was increasingly desperate. Casualties were severe. The field hospital yard was filled with groaning wounded. Uchiyama summoned support personnel, medics, cooks, ordnance repairmen, and any wounded men still capable of firing. He armed them all and formed an improvised reserve. Then, while this force was assembling, he heard the sound of a trumpet. One of the band members, still practicing as if battle had not reached its climax, reminded him that the more than twenty members of the 11th Army band were also soldiers in uniform. He added them as well, creating a special unit of 388 men. Hundreds of sacks of rice were taken from storage and piled around division headquarters as fortifications. Uchiyama then turned to Chief of Staff Akinaga and said, "Let's not believe any miracles will happen." The line was bleak, but lucid. It meant that there would be no rescue through wishful thinking. If they lived, it would be because they held long enough. If they died, they would die without pretending that destiny had cheated them. Outside the city, Chen Cheng faced a different but equally harsh pressure. On October 2, Chiang Kai-shek had ordered Yichang taken within three days. On the 4th, Chen requested an extension until the 8th; Chiang agreed, but warned that because the Japanese were retreating from northern Hunan, the city must be captured by then or all previous effort would be wasted. Chen launched the general assault on the 6th, but fierce resistance on the ground and in the air slowed him. By the 8th, the city still had not fallen. He requested another extension, asking to take Yichang by October 10. This time Chiang sent no reply. Chen understood the silence. It meant that no political room remained behind him. At 2:30 in the morning on October 10, the Sixth War Zone opened another general offensive. One hundred and forty artillery pieces joined the bombardment. Shells fell across every part of the Japanese defenses until the repeated flashes made it hard for the gunners to tell what had not yet been hit. Then the infantry went in. Men shouted and surged forward like water breaking through a barrier. Hidden Japanese machine guns cut them down in wave after wave, but more men followed behind. The dead piled on the approaches so thickly that nationality itself seemed to vanish in blood and mud. Under that fire, dawn rose red. Uchiyama watched the sunrise from the highest building in the city, the three-story Yichang Bank. After the war, he told a reporter that the sky, the earth, and even the Yangtze had all seemed red to him, as if the river itself were carrying the blood of Chinese and Japanese alike. According to a later Japanese account, messages reached him from every side that morning reporting collapse. Roughly 5000 men were estimated killed or seriously wounded. At eight o'clock Uchiyama went down to the operations room. Waiting there were his chief of staff and senior officers. At that moment the final ritual of battlefield defeat began. A farewell telegram to Anami Korechika was read aloud. Nearby stood the regimental flag of the 104th Regiment, entrusted to Captain Izumi Shigeru before the regiment's complete destruction. Uchiyama then took the 13th Division's own flag—the imperial military color—and laid it over the regimental flag. Officers and men wept, removed their caps, and bowed their heads. Uchiyama's hands trembled so badly that it took him three matches to set the flag alight. In Japanese military culture, burning a flag was among the sternest rites of defeat. The flag could not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. To destroy it was to acknowledge annihilation while presenting that annihilation as a final offering to the imperial state. When the flags had burned and places for seppuku had been chosen, the farewell message remained. It declared that all officers and soldiers had done their utmost for the empire in the final struggle, that military flags, confidential documents, and imperial edicts had been burned, and that it was deeply regrettable that overseas Chinese and the delegation in Yichang had also suffered this fate. Uchiyama then added one final sentence in red pencil: the soldiers of the empire had fulfilled their duty and died for their country amidst the heroic cries of "Long live the Grand Marshal!" At 8:50 the clerk began encoding the telegram. Then Uchiyama said quietly to the officers waiting to die: "Please wait a little longer." The words postponed death by minutes. There was still the narrow possibility that communication mattered, or that the battle had not yet reached its absolute end. Chief of Staff Akinaga summoned his adjutant, Sakata Ryūshirō, and ordered that if the division commander and chief of staff died before the telegram was sent, Sakata was to form a suicide squad, break out by any means possible, and report the division's fate to 11th Army headquarters. At ten in the morning, the Japanese 39th Division attacking from Jingmen launched a new assault under Anami's strict orders against Li Yannian's 2nd Army. One regiment used poison gas to break through part of the Chinese line and reached the outskirts of Yichang. Chen Cheng personally directed the Chinese response, using elements of the attacking force and the 2nd Army to surround and beat back the thrust. By two in the afternoon, only the Dongshan Temple line remained intact among the different sectors of the Japanese city defense. Chinese troops had penetrated the city and were fighting bitterly in the streets, moving steadily toward division headquarters. At four in the afternoon, more than 2000 Japanese rapid deployment troops from northern Hunan reached the northeast approaches of Yichang and at once joined the relief effort. Chen Cheng threw reserves in to block them, and both sides locked in combat six kilometers outside the city. As dusk fell, the Chinese assault units in the city had also suffered terrible losses. Chen Cheng ordered them to regroup, replenish, and launch a final attack after dark. Then, at seven in the evening, almost as the order was issued, a violent gale rose and torrential rain began to fall. Such heavy rain was unusual in the Yichang area in October, and to men who had been living for days under the pressure of siege, death, and deadline, it must have seemed uncanny. The Chinese attacked through the downpour, but progress was painfully slow. At the same time, more than ten thousand Japanese troops arriving from northern Hunan reached the outskirts, fought for over two hours in the rain, and finally broke into the city, linking up with what remained of the 13th Division. At eleven that night, Chiang Kai-shek ordered the attack on Yichang halted and instructed the Chinese troops to return to their original defensive positions. The battle ended not in a clear verdict, but in exhaustion. One elderly resident of Yichang, Huang Jupu, later left a memory of the aftermath more vivid than any headquarters summary. He recalled that the heavy rain began at nightfall on the twentieth day of the eighth lunar month—October 10 in the Gregorian calendar—and continued into the next afternoon. Rainwater soaked the corpses lying in the streets until the water became a deep brownish-red pool more than two feet deep before it drained into the Yangtze and changed the river's color. The next day, he said, both sides sent corpse-collection teams into the streets under Red Cross flags. They pushed carts and worked separately, avoiding conflict, though sometimes they spoke to one another when trying to identify bodies. The Japanese recovery party included Chinese helpers and local residents. They turned corpses over, looked at clothing and weapons, and tried to determine nationality. Some bodies were naked, perhaps stripped wounded, which made identification harder. Since Chinese and Japanese could resemble one another, neither side wanted to take the wrong dead, fearing that a mistake would disturb the heroic souls to whom each army believed it owed proper burial. In the end, Huang remembered, it was the people of Yichang who pooled their money to bury many of the dead north of the city. Later an unmarked stone was raised there, with a bowl of rice and a stick of incense set before it. That image does something military history often fails to do. It restores weight to the end of battle. Armies issue attack orders, counterattack orders, pursuit orders, and retreat orders. Staff officers mark arrows on maps. Commanders calculate reinforcement and delay. But after all of that comes the business of soaked bodies in the street, identification, carts, shallow graves, and local people forced to do what armies can no longer fully do for their own dead. Seen as a whole, the operations in Hunan and Hubei during these weeks form one connected historical drama. The Japanese advance toward Changsha was real and dangerous, but it failed to produce decisive strategic gain. The battle strained the Chinese defense badly. Some units collapsed. Others improvised and recovered. The city was entered, contested, and then fought over again. Behind the forward line, Chinese forces such as Yang Sen's 27th Army Group harassed Japanese communications and supply, turning depth into vulnerability. At the same time, Chen Cheng's offensive against Yichang transformed what might otherwise have remained a local success for Japan in Hunan into a strategic dilemma. Once Yichang came seriously under threat, the Japanese command could not continue to treat the Hunan offensive as self-contained. It had to weigh possession against preservation, momentum against strategic necessity. That calculation compelled the retreat from northern Hunan. The retreat in turn changed the meaning of Xue Yue's operations. Pursuit became valuable not mainly because it might recover wounded pride or even because it might damage the retreating enemy, but because every hour of delay imposed on Japanese units moving north was another hour in which Yichang might fall. Yet Yichang did not fall. That fact is central, but it must be interpreted carefully. Chen Cheng had numerical superiority and fought with determination, but numbers alone could not cancel the difficulty of assaulting a fortified Japanese position under air attack and against fanatical resistance. Time worked against him. Every day lost increased the chance that Japanese relief would arrive from Hunan. Chiang Kai-shek's increasingly urgent telegrams reflected strategic logic, but they could not abolish battlefield reality. Men still had to cross open ground, cut wire, silence guns, and survive fire. Inside Yichang, Uchiyama's defense reveals the same pressure from the opposite side. He understood that his task was simple in principle and terrible in practice: hold until relief arrived. That necessity drove him to arm cooks, medics, repairmen, musicians, and wounded men. It drove him to build fortifications from sacks of rice. It brought him to the point of burning flags and preparing for ritual death while still delaying the final act long enough to see whether rescue might come. The presence of the Asakusa Art Troupe inside the besieged city sharpened the tragedy. They had been sent for morale and appearance, as if cultural performance might reassure an empire already growing anxious about the costs of war. Instead they became trapped witnesses to near-annihilation. The young girl asking if she would ever return to Tokyo cuts through all rhetoric. It is the ordinary human question that waits behind every doctrine of heroic sacrifice. In the end, neither side obtained everything it sought. Japan failed to turn its push into Hunan into a decisive result. China failed to retake Yichang despite concentration of force and a window of opportunity that for a time seemed very real. But that does not mean the campaign resolves into stalemate in any empty sense. It revealed important truths. For China, it showed both weakness and development. Weakness appeared in broken lines, uneven coordination, exhausted pursuit, and the inability to convert superiority in numbers into victory at Yichang. But development appeared too: a greater ability to coordinate war zones, to pressure Japanese rear areas, to force the enemy into strategic compromise, and to sustain resistance under conditions that would once have threatened outright collapse. For Japan, the campaign exposed the narrowing gap between aggressive offensive action and dangerous overextension. Japanese divisions could still strike hard, move with speed, and defend with ferocity. Their aircraft could still exact terrible cost. But logistics, fatigue, sickness, and the obligation to rescue threatened positions like Yichang increasingly limited what offensive success could mean. The deepest memory of the campaign may belong not to generals, however, but to the smaller figures history often notices only in passing: the soldier chewing dry ration without water; the wounded man who blew himself up rather than submit; the old beggar who revealed a depot; the band member still practicing trumpet in a city preparing for death; the frightened girl from the troupe; the townspeople who buried the dead after rain washed blood into the Yangtze. These are not decorative details. They are what make the history real. The autumn of 1941 in Hunan and Hubei was not one clean victory, nor one clean defeat. It was a season in which pressure in one sector altered decision in another, in which tactical success did not always yield strategic reward, and in which endurance itself increasingly became a form of power. That is why the campaign matters. It shows a war whose balance had begun to change, not dramatically or conclusively, but perceptibly. China still suffered, improvised, and fell short. Japan still advanced, struck hard, and held important ground. Yet the margin between them was no longer what it had been in the earlier years of the war. History moved that autumn not by omen or destiny, but by the hard materials of war: supply, timing, weather, command, fatigue, communications, morale, and blood. In Hunan and Hubei, all of those forces converged. They carried armies north and west, into cities and out again, across rivers, through rain, and finally into memory. 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. As Chinese pressure tightened, Japan's wider situation around Changsha deteriorated—fatigue, supply strain, and losses accumulated. When the Japanese began retreating north, relief efforts turned Yichang into a desperate struggle marked by shifting fronts, poison gas, street fighting, and heavy bombardment. Chiang Kai-shek demanded a deadline, forcing Chen into final assaults that ultimately failed to secure a clean victory.  

Chipper fills us in on some of the Braves hitting struggles and talks some serious NASCAR as w he has a big weekend ahead. Chipper will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta Motor Speedway) this Sunday night, July 12. His biggest responsibility is getting the race started with the command: “Drivers Start Your Engines”. He will also be recognised in the Drivers Meeting and be introduced on the pre race stage during driver introductions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discussions highlight Chipper Jones serving as Grand Marshal for the Quaker State 400 and a report regarding fireworks striking a Delta flight. Analysis also covers NFL headlines including the Jets' defensive struggles and rumors of a wedding between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. 01:00 - Chipper Jones NASCAR Role 03:08 - Fireworks Hit Delta Plane 08:12 - NFL No Huddle News 11:01 - Kelce and Swift Wedding

Braves legend Chipper Jones joins Andy and Randy to discuss his upcoming role as Grand Marshal for the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He breaks down his work as a hitting instructor, specifically detailing the mechanical adjustments he is helping Austin Riley make. Additionally, they share stories from post-career travels and their unique approaches to golfing trips with friends. 01:20 - Chipper Jones Joins 05:21 - Braves Hitting Analysis 10:43 - Guys Trip Debate

Braves legend Chipper Jones discusses his role as Grand Marshal for the upcoming NASCAR race and provides a deep dive into fixing Austin Riley's swing. They also cover the latest NFL news, including Brandon Aiyuk's social media drama and the controversial decision to pull Eury Pérez from a perfect game. Additionally, they react to the news of veteran MLB umpires retiring due to the implementation of new technology. 01:50 - Chipper Jones Guest Preview 08:42 - NFL No Huddle Update 15:29 - Chipper Jones Joins 19:16 - Braves Offensive Analysis 24:38 - Guy's Trip Discussion 30:53 - MLB Umpire Buyouts 35:21 - Back Page News 39:55 - NFL Drama & Roster

On this Monday Morning Quarterback edition of The Morning Rant, Dave Garner and Big John Davis recapped a busy Fourth of July weekend, including their appearances at the Jasper and Ellijay parades, John serving as Grand Marshal in Ellijay, and the strong sense of community support throughout North Georgia. The show featured discussions on sports superstitions, local high school football culture, and the growth of WPGY and its partnerships with local businesses. They also broke down major sports topics, including Team USA's World Cup matchup with Belgium and the controversial reversal of Folarin Balogun's red card, Norway's upset of Brazil, Wimbledon, and the Atlanta Braves' recent struggles heading into the All-Star break. Throughout the show, they emphasized community, the positive experiences international soccer fans are having in America, and their excitement for the future growth of The Morning Rant and Sports Pig Radio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Monday Morning Quarterback edition of The Morning Rant, Dave Garner and Big John Davis recapped a busy Fourth of July weekend, including their appearances at the Jasper and Ellijay parades, John serving as Grand Marshal in Ellijay, and the strong sense of community support throughout North Georgia. The show featured discussions on sports superstitions, local high school football culture, and the growth of WPGY and its partnerships with local businesses. They also broke down major sports topics, including Team USA's World Cup matchup with Belgium and the controversial reversal of Folarin Balogun's red card, Norway's upset of Brazil, Wimbledon, and the Atlanta Braves' recent struggles heading into the All-Star break. Throughout the show, they emphasized community, the positive experiences international soccer fans are having in America, and their excitement for the future growth of The Morning Rant and Sports Pig Radio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chipper fills us in on some of the Braves hitting struggles and talks some serious NASCAR as w he has a big weekend ahead. Chipper will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta Motor Speedway) this Sunday night, July 12. His biggest responsibility is getting the race started with the command: “Drivers Start Your Engines”. He will also be recognised in the Drivers Meeting and be introduced on the pre race stage during driver introductions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tim Conway Jr. Show Hour 3 (7.2) Big holiday-week show! More with the Old P — including his grandfather's fireworks-packed warehouse and how San Pedro measures 4th of July mortars by pure chaos. Plus the World Cup madness that swept Southern California after Mexico's 2-0 win over Ecuador, a little Taylor Swift grid talk, and a deep dive into everything from LeBron and the Lakers to Charles Laughton's legendary turn as Quasimodo and some serious '80s sitcom nostalgia. Then the big one: Conway reads the news that HE'S been named the 2026 Grand Marshal of the 122nd Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade — leading Surf City USA's America 250 celebration! Get ready for laughs, energy, and maybe a few "Ding Dong!" moments along the route. We also get into The Rock stepping back from political endorsements, and Petros' unforgettable Coliseum hot dog incident. And of course — it's the Foosh's birthday!

The Monday edition of The Morning Rant covered a wide range of sports topics, led by excitement surrounding the ongoing World Cup and Atlanta's role as a host city, including Canada's dramatic stoppage-time win over South Africa and anticipation for Team USA's upcoming match. The hosts also discussed Victor Hovland's playoff victory over Scottie Scheffler at the Travelers Championship, the Braves' recent struggles and possible roster changes, Wimbledon getting underway, and early college football storylines as Week Zero approaches. Closer to home, Big John Davis was announced as the Grand Marshal of Ellijay's July 4th parade, and the show previewed a busy holiday weekend of broadcasts and community events, wrapping up with thoughts on the Buffalo Bills' decision not to honor O.J. Simpson in their new stadium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Monday edition of The Morning Rant covered a wide range of sports topics, led by excitement surrounding the ongoing World Cup and Atlanta's role as a host city, including Canada's dramatic stoppage-time win over South Africa and anticipation for Team USA's upcoming match. The hosts also discussed Victor Hovland's playoff victory over Scottie Scheffler at the Travelers Championship, the Braves' recent struggles and possible roster changes, Wimbledon getting underway, and early college football storylines as Week Zero approaches. Closer to home, Big John Davis was announced as the Grand Marshal of Ellijay's July 4th parade, and the show previewed a busy holiday weekend of broadcasts and community events, wrapping up with thoughts on the Buffalo Bills' decision not to honor O.J. Simpson in their new stadium.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Nas Mohamed grew up in Qatar where homosexuality is criminalized, arranged marriages were expected, and silence was the only safe option. He chose medical school over a lie, built a life on his own terms, and became the first publicly out individual from Qatar. Now he is watching the United States move in a direction he recognizes. This episode is not a history lesson about somewhere else. It is a warning from someone who has seen how this goes. Dr. Nas joins Rick to talk about authoritarian control, the cost of complacency, and why gay men over 40 who think the fight is over are not paying attention. Key Takeaways: What it actually costs to come out in a country where it is criminalizedWhy Dr. Nas sees dangerous parallels between Qatar and current US political trendsHow dehumanization works and why the LGBTQ community is not immune to itWhy wealthy gay men disengaging from the fight is a threat to everyoneThe role of authentic storytelling in building understanding across culturesWhat the Alwan Foundation is doing to increase visibility of LGBTQ life in the Gulf states About Dr. Nas Dr. Nas Mohamed is the first publicly out individual from Qatar, a physician, activist, and founder of both Osra Medical and the Alwan Foundation. Driven out of a country where being gay is criminalized, he built a practice and a movement rooted in one conviction: every person deserves to be seen, treated with respect, and given access to care without fear. He founded the Alwan Foundation to increase visibility of LGBTQ life across the Gulf states and has served as Grand Marshal of San Francisco Pride. He speaks globally on LGBTQ rights, healthcare equity, and what it actually costs to live authentically when your country criminalizes your existence. Connect With Dr. Nas Website Instagram Hey Guys, Don't Forget! Join the 40 Plus: Gay Men Gay Talk, monthly chats. - Learn More! Also, join our Facebook Community - 40 Plus: Gay Men, Gay Talk Community

Performer Miss Peppermint found herself in late '90s NYC club culture, made history on RuPaul's Drag Race and Broadway, and is now one of four grand marshals at NYC Pride. She joins us to talk about the role NYC has played in her story, and what this year's Pride slogan "For All of Us" means when the T in LGBT feels under attack. Photo: Walter McBride/Getty Images -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Getting Better, JVN sits down with actress, activist, performer, and NYC Pride Grand Marshal Peppermint for a conversation about the energy, joy, resilience, and community that make Pride so powerful. From starring in Survival of the Thickest to leading one of the world's most iconic Pride celebrations, Peppermint shares what Pride means to her today, how the movement has evolved, and why joy remains one of the most important tools for building connection and creating change. Along the way, JVN and Peppermint dive into Pride history, the responsibility and excitement of being a Grand Marshal, what it means to be “the first,” and how we can all help create a future rooted in belonging. Plus: a gum health detour, baths vs. showers, some Peppermint's Transcendence Tea, and why staying connected to our shared humanity matters now more than ever. Whether you're celebrating Pride this month or looking for ways to build more community, courage, and joy in your everyday life, this episode is a reminder that Pride is more than a celebration - it's a practice. Wanna see JVN on stage? Get tix to the Hot & Healed Comedy Tour here.  Full Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Peppermint @peppermint247  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Executive  Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from: Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Judson prepares to celebrate Pride in Albany just as Brian returns from Pride in West Hollywood. Judson declares the season High-Signal Summer after his signature brand of overt homosexuality attracts a new friend from across two streets. Brian spars with his second grader's teachers when they won't approve the book he plans to read to her class for Pride, and he is called out by his fifth grader for having Grindr on his phone. Judson appears on the second season of the documentary series Finding Fire Island. The Hookup of the Week finds our listener reuniting at a bathhouse with a favorite hookup from years past who happens to be a Daddy Bear Pornstar. Brian and Judson are then joined by global superstar - and a Grand Marshal of the 2026 New York City Pride March - Peppermint! An actress, singer, and comedian who rose to international fame on Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race and has become one of the most prominent voices in the fight for trans inclusion everywhere, Peppermint talks about the current barriers keeping trans people from living happy and healthy lives, why fighting for civil rights is a core part of her being, why she chose to audition for RuPaul's Drag Race, why her season wasn't appreciated at the time, the divisive Drag Race queen she admits is one of her favorites to tour with, and the extreme expense of drag competitions. She also details how she was required to audition for the role based on - and named for - her on Netflix's Survival of the Thickest, how she finds confidence through gratitude, her relationship with dating, what dating is like for trans women, and so much more. To close, Peppermint joins Brian and Judson in responding to a Go Ask Your Dad question from a listener who joined a gay sports league in an effort to make friends, only to find his team unwelcoming and uninterested in camaraderie. He wants to know whether there is any hope of finding gay fellowship or whether he should prepare for a future full of impenetrable cliques. Find Peppermint on Instagram at https://instagram.com/peppermint247/  Email your Hookup of the Week, Go Ask Your Dad and Dr. Daddy submissions to dadsanddaddies@gmail.com Dads and Daddies on the Web: https://www.dadsanddaddies.com/ Dads and Daddies on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsanddaddiespod Dads and Daddies on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dadsanddaddiespod Dads and Daddies on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dadsanddaddiespod.bsky.social Your hosts, Dad Brian Rubin-Sowers - https://www.instagram.com/ditmasparkpapa  and Daddy Judson Morrow - https://www.instagram.com/gunclejudson Edited by Toby Rubin-Sowers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fishers Parks and Recreation Director Marissa Deckert joins the LarryInFishers.com Podcast for a full preview of Spark Fishers 2026, the city's biggest community celebration of the year. This year's festival has been reimagined as a two-day event, set for Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, in downtown Fishers. Deckert explains why the city moved away from a weeklong schedule and returned to a more concentrated “hometown community feel.” Among the highlights: the Big Ten Volleyball Tournament, coming to Fishers for the first time this November, will serve as Grand Marshal of the Spark Fishers parade. The tournament will also be part of the festival experience with volleyball-themed activations and photo opportunities. Friday night features a free concert by a Pink tribute band, complete with an aerial performance, followed by the popular Spark Fishers drone show. Saturday brings the street fair, car and art show, more than 100 vendors, seven entertainment stages, children's activities, the parade and a fireworks finale. Deckert also discusses what is new this year, including a silent disco, drum circles, a thrift-a-thon, local music school performances and expanded family activities. She also shares details on sensory-inclusive features, parking changes and shuttle service from Cross Point Plaza. Listen for everything you need to know before heading to Spark Fishers 2026.

Levi's Stadium will be the site of a series of World Cup matches beginning June 13. Switzerland, Algeria, Qatar, Jordan and Australia are some of the teams that will be appearing in match ups. Though the FIFA extravaganza has had a bumpy rollout with complaints about high ticket prices and tourists opting not to come to the U.S. for matches, local expat communities are ready to cheer their home teams on. We'll talk to hometown fans about their hopes and dreams for their teams and their lives in America. Guests: Erich Sonnberger, realtor, Intero Real Estate Services in Menlo Park; president, United Swiss Societies of Northern California Dr. Nasser "Nas" Mohamed, physician and founder, Osra Medical; LGBTQ activist and the 2023 Grand Marshal for the SF Pride Parade Salvador Rodriguez, journalist; his Substack "The 2026 Dispatch" is focused on the World Cup Mounir Bhaloul, co-founder and co-owner, KAYMA, an Algerian restaurant Melissa Zajic, executive director, Australian American Chamber of Commerce Charlie Marji, president, Jordanian American Association of San Francisco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kenny Wallace discusses his brother Rusty Wallace being named the Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Cup race at North Wilkesboro.#nascar #racing #kennywallace #rustywallace

You know that voice that tells you to "stand clear of the closing doors" when you take the train? That's Bernie Wagenblast. Bernie has been the voice of the New York City subway since 2009, and this month she's one of four grand marshals at NYC Pride. She joins us to talk about growing up knowing she was trans, and what it took to finally live that truth decades later. Photo: Courtesy of Bernie Wagenblast -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailTHE COWGAYS are a viral sensation this Pride season! They are a country trio comprised of music artists Brooke Eden, Chris Housman, and Adam Mac, and they take on '90s Country and bend it to a queer-friendly format. Lee Ingalls and Brett Cullum get to interview them! Then, Trendsetter Grand Marshal 2025 Hayden Cohen talks to the Trendsetter Grand Marshal 2026 D'Trique Fitzgerald! Finally, Brett Cullum talks to CLUE star Zoie Tannous about coming to the Hobby Center and hitting up Jollibee! THE COWGAYS:  https://www.thecowgays.com/CLUE: https://houston.broadway.com/shows/clueJOLLIBEE: https://www.jollibeefoods.com/Queer Voices airs in Houston Texas on 90.1FM KPFT and is heard as a podcast here.  Queer Voices hopes to entertain as well as illuminate LGBTQ issues in Houston and beyond.  Check out our socials at:https://www.facebook.com/QueerVoicesKPFT/ andhttps://www.instagram.com/queervoices90.1kpft/

Conway Jr Show Hour 2 (6.4) Live Dynamite, Passive-Aggressive Drivers & HVAC Shakeups Tonight, we kick things off with a wild Valley Glen scare after a homeowner finds 20 sticks of live dynamite in a freezer, prompting evacuations near NoHo West. That brings back memories of the infamous 2021 LAPD fireworks explosion on 27th Street in South L.A. Then, Ventura Boulevard gets named the most passive-aggressive street in the U.S.—which raises the real question: are you a passive-aggressive driver? At 7:20, Dean Sharp, The House Whisperer, joins the show to break down the rapidly changing world of heating and air conditioning. New HVAC technology, new energy standards, new air quality rules, and a major shift in how homes are being heated and cooled could impact anyone looking at a new system. Plus, we get into Dutch Bros baristas asking, “Whatcha doing today?”, awkward customer service chit-chat, Trader Joe’s bread that barely survives the ride home, the new pastel mini tote bag craze, WeHo Pride weekend, Kathy Hilton stepping down as Grand Marshal of the parade, and smart gas pump tips to help you save money. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailFirst up on this QUEER VOICES, contributor Ethan Michelle Ganz interviews the Pride 365 Grand Marshal for 2026, representing the ALLIES. Mandy Giles: She is the founder of Parents of Trans Youth, whose advocacy equips families with tools to support and affirm their transgender children.Then Brett Cullum dives into some Theater Voices. First up, Labraska Washington, who is currently at the HOBBY CENTER playing one of the DRIFTERS in Theatre Under the Stars' BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. They are having an OUT AT TUTS performance on Thursday, May 28, at 7:30 pm.  Finally, Brett chats with Alley Resident Company Member Dylan Godwin about his role in DEAR ALIEN, a show running at the Alley where he plays a sassy gay advice columnist out to save the world from itself. Parents of Trans Youth: https://www.parentsoftransyouth.com/BEAUTIFUL: https://www.tuts.org/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-2026/DEAR ALIEN: https://www.alleytheatre.org/plays/dear-alienQueer Voices airs in Houston Texas on 90.1FM KPFT and is heard as a podcast here.  Queer Voices hopes to entertain as well as illuminate LGBTQ issues in Houston and beyond.  Check out our socials at:https://www.facebook.com/QueerVoicesKPFT/ andhttps://www.instagram.com/queervoices90.1kpft/

It's Wednesday, May 20. Here are today's top stories around Central Indiana. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org and follow us on social media to get local news every day. WFYI News Now is hosted by Barb Anguiano and produced by Zach Bundy. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Caitlin Clark named Grand Marshal of Indy 500, San Diego Mosque shooting, Kim Mathers mugshot collection, Rashee Rice to jail, Hayden Panettiere pops off, Meghan Markle keeps failing, and YouTuber Ryan Upchurch loses defamation lawsuit. Remember that you can go see Sponge at Rock & Brews on Thursday night. Teebs made the national spotlight on FS1 for his Detroit Tigers wardrobe. Caitlyn Clark to be the Grand Marshall of the Indy 500. The WNBA must be pissed. Eminem's ex-wife Kim Mathers is piling up the mugshots. Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield vs Teen Takeovers. Kansas City Chief Rashee Rice is going to jail for smoking the reefer on probation. Joe Rogan and Theo Von are making up. Mackenzie Shirilla's father has been placed on administrative leave from his gig following the release of The Crash. InfoWars may be toast, but Alex Jones is still rolling. Musician/YouTuber Ryan Upchurch is ordered to pay $17.5M to the family of Kiely Rodni for being a prick online. A couple of loser teens shot up a mosque in San Diego and killed 3. A woman fell in a womanhole in New York and was electrocuted. She's dead. Paul Caneiro is the worst brother and uncle possibly ever. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively stiffed their contractors. Kanye West doesn't want to pay for his web design. He's currently constructing a temporary concert venue in Albania. 13-year-old kid vs Karen. Who ya got? Bitches be trifling. Tyson Fury's daughter is married at 16 and it was a lavish event. Hayden Panettiere is popping off left and right following the release of her memoir. Madonna truly loved Michael Jackson. We remember his historic and impactful press conference for the This Is It Tour. Spencer Pratt has good ads… but are they airing on LA television? Meghan Markle can't draw crowds like Princess Kate. The beast put out an anniversary post celebrating 8 years of marriage. Prince Harry's cousin hates him. Meghan loves far-right Finnish politician Willie Rydman. Meghan is the new Wallis Simpson. South Park is coming back in September. Slow down. Merch is for sale! Buy it. Or don't. But do. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley, BranDon, and Roberto).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight, on Trackside with Curt Cavin and Kevin Lee, they talk about the statement from Ed Carpenter Racing saying Alexander Rossi had successful outpatient procedures to minor injuries sustained to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle, with full intent to practice on Carb Day and race on Sunday. They later talk about what the next steps for Rossi. They also talk about the unpredictable weather in Indy this weekend and Caitlin Clark named the grand marshal for the Indy 500. In the second segment, they talk more about qualifying from yesterday with times getting disallowed from Caio Collet and Jack Harvey, and how the one-off entries did. To wrap up another edition of the show, Kevin talks about the Wienermobiles testing with rain tires, TV ratings, and more auction items for the Burger Bash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts Jake Zivin and Patrick Harris discuss the Timbers' massive win over Sporting Kansas City as well as the news about Diego Chara being named the Grand Marshal of the Rose Festival Grand Floral Starlight Parade. Plus, a discussion on the challenge of a double-game week and the strong play of Kevin Kelsy. We also hear an interview with midfielder Cole Bassett and get a preview of the road games against Montréal and Miami.

This episode kicks off with some hometown pride as HB’s July 4th Parade names Conway as Grand Marshal. We take a fun blast from the past with Doug Steckler, followed by a little magic turned mischief—“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo… oh NO you don’t!” A big thank-you goes out to The One L Michele, who not only shares her inspiring “True Good Man” brand (reach out at info@yourmoralcompasscounts.com for more), but also surprises Bellio with a birthday cake and gift. From there, we dive into the latest Costco craze—Scan & Go—promising a 10-second checkout. But seriously… stop eating your Costco pizza in your car and move out of the parking space! In the news, an $81 billion Warner-Paramount merger has officially been approved, setting the stage for a major shake-up in Hollywood. Meanwhile, a wildlife alert has been issued for sick squirrels—yes, really. Closer to home, Altadena residents are raising concerns about Edison’s plan to underground cables to prevent fires, citing the high costs involved. On a brighter note, coffee lovers will be happy to hear about newly discovered gut health benefits tied to their favorite brew. We wrap things up with a spotlight on Cal Lutheran’s broadcast students, joined by Professor Kyle Tamkin, sharing insights and experiences from the next generation of media talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s episode is packed with local buzz, heartbreak, celebration, and a little island energy

Thousands of runners will take to Utah streets this Saturday for the annual Salt Lake Marathon. The spring time event also draws thousands of spectators and tends to catch some motorists by surprise. In this segment, Maria Shilaos gets details on the marathon itself -- including what makes it special and which roads will be closed for the race -- from Jennifer Nelson, marketing director at High Altitude Special Events, which oversees the marathon. She also speaks with Olympian and Utah State University alum Chari Hawkins, who's serving as this year's Grand Marshal.

Harley Lippman, founder & CEO of Genesis10 & former Grand Marshal of the Israeli Day Parade, joins Sid to offer his thoughts on the ongoing war that Israel and the United States are engaged in with Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Community advocate Deaunte Damper has been named a grand marshal for the 2026 Seattle Pride Parade, an honor recognizing his impactful work at the intersection of Black identity, public health, and LGBTQ advocacy. This development aligns with Seattle Pride 2026's theme, "Rally," which underscores unity, visibility, and collective action in response to increasing challenges faced by LGBTQIA2S+ communities. Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

On this week's Vogue & Amber: Amber goes hard on the spring clean, Vogue has sweat issues, and they prepare for Vogue's big day as the Grand Marshal of the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin.Plus, Vogue admits she's now in a verruca sock household, we all get the ick from towels and Vogue and Amber take on some of the weirdest World Records.Watch us on Youtube! CLICK HERE! or search Vogue & AmberRemember, if you want to get involved you can:Email us at vogueandamberpod@global.com OR find us on socials @voguewilliams, @ambrerosolero @vogueandamberpodListen and subscribe to Vogue & Amber on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.

Beat Migs! Tune in to find out who… or what our Grand Marshall will be!

In Dumb Ass News, a man spent more fighting a ticket in court, than if he had just paid it. Plus, the Tribe calls in their stories of passing the school bus. (0:00)  A woman broke into a home in Missouri, and started eating their Fruity Pebbles. (5:57) Tribe member Jose in Shelton called Chaz and AJ to welcome them to Long Island, and talked about his two mistresses on the island. Plus, his two rules for a successful marriage, after being married three time. (11:33) Sunday is a big day for New Haven, as the state's largest spectator event will take place; the New Haven St. Patrick's Day parade. Fiona Stewart Jimenez is the Grand Marshal for 2026, and was on the phone with Chaz and AJ to talk about what it takes to be named the Grand Marshal. (31:01) A Florida woman gave a weird reason for driving 136 mph, which was more than double the posted speed limit. (40:30)

Metallica has acknowledged the Sphere ticket buying fiasco, Bring Me The Horizon's recent inclusion at the Sphere is being labeled demonic and Gene Simmons says celebs should shut up about politicsDon't forget to bang your head on the links belowTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@jesealeeInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jesealee/YouTubehttps://youtube.com/@JeseaLeePodcast available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and everywhere else you consume podcastsProduction by WhatTheGleeson Content Creation https://www.instagram.com/whatthegleesonTheme song by Michael Stoutengerhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/6LO5eGttpemsEdm5kixX10?si=pXW6AbohTWaFgHMdh3ZmzgSubscribe to my newsletter:https://jesealee.substack.com/Everything else:https://www.jesealee.com/00:00 Intro00:47 Metallica Reacts To Sphere Ticket Fan Backlash06:36 Bring Me The Horizon and ILLENIUM are demonic?12:07 Gene Simmons says celebs should shut up about politics17:35 Korn's Jonathan Davis will be Grand Marshal of NASCAR

Preparations are underway in West Clare for the annual Doonbeg St. Patrick's Day Parade, which will take place on Sunday March 15th at 3.30pm. This year's celebrations promise a colourful and family-friendly event for the community, with marching bands, a vintage tractor and car rally, and plenty of entertainment for all ages. The theme for 2026 is “Legends”, encouraging groups and participants to celebrate local heroes, sporting greats and figures from folklore. To tell us more, Alan Morrissey spoke with Rita McInerney, councillor and PRO of the Doonbeg St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, and this year's Grand Marshal, Joe Russell, General Manager of Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg. Photo (c) Doonbeg Community Development Post

The St. Patrick's Day celebrations are just around the corner in Ennis, and excitement is building for this year's parade. Joining Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus was Ennis native and internationally acclaimed artist Mick O'Dea, who will serve as Grand Marshal, and Mary Howard, Mayor of Ennis and Fine Gael Councillor.

Today is Monday, March 2, 2026. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

Dolly Parton BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Dolly Parton has been remarkably active these past few days despite her recent health challenges that kept her away from public appearances since September 2025. The 80-year-old country music legend made headlines on Thursday, February 26th when she announced that East Tennessee Children's Hospital will now bear her name. According to multiple sources including People magazine and the hospital's official statement, Parton shared the news via video message wearing a stunning white jumpsuit with gold and butterfly accents. She emphasized her lifelong belief that every child deserves to grow up healthy, hopeful, and surrounded by love, calling the nearly 90-year-old institution's staff compassionate and skilled caregivers. The hospital's president and CEO, Matt Schaefer, stressed this represents far more than a simple name change, with Dolly's backing reinforcing their mission to provide world-class pediatric care.This announcement comes as Parton continues her philanthropic legacy in her home state of Tennessee. Her charitable work already includes her Imagination Library, which according to Halifax CityNews sends three million free books monthly to children, plus a one-million-dollar donation to Vanderbilt University's Medical Center that contributed to COVID-19 vaccine research.Looking ahead, Parton is preparing for her highly anticipated comeback to public life. According to Parade, she will make her first in-person appearance since 2025 at Dollywood's opening on Friday, March 13th in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where she's expected to serve as Grand Marshal of the annual Dolly Homecoming Parade. This marks her return after months of health procedures and recovery, during which she reassured concerned fans in October 2025 by stating, "I'm not ready to die yet. I don't think God is through with me. And I ain't done working."Additionally, Dollywood is expanding its reach beyond the Smoky Mountains through a partnership with Allegiant Air, launching a themed flight experience from Orlando on November 6th, 2026, transporting guests to Knoxville, Tennessee. The flight is cleverly designated as Allegiant Flight 925, a reference to her iconic "9 to 5" song.Parton also has her Las Vegas residency at the Coliseum at Caesars Palace scheduled to begin in September 2026, signaling her gradual return to performing after her health challenges.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Salt Grass Trail Riders heading out tomorrow and will meet at Memorial Park next FridayUS Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan saved 165 children during 2025 4th of July floodsDavid and Chad from the BBQ Committee tell us cookoff will be more family friendly this year

Johnny Mac hosts a slow news day and leads with Parade Magazine's coverage of George Lopez launching a four-piece stovetop barbecue grill and smoker, which Lopez demonstrates on Instagram and invites fans to suggest what he should cook.The episode also covers Amy Schumer posting a red bikini video and sharing a message about laughing with friends, getting off screens, breathing, moving, and jumping in water.Nate Bargatze is noted as Grand Marshal at the Daytona 500, where he slept at the track, discussed NASCAR possibly returning to the Nashville Fairgrounds, and joked about finding material for NASCAR-centric sketches.Bert Kreischer is mentioned appearing at Daytona with driver Natalie Decker in a sponsor-related post.Adam Sandler shares that after being fired from two restaurants and a pharmacy while at NYU, he sang and played guitar on New York subways to make money. 00:30 George Lopez's ‘innovative' stovetop grill & smoker reveal02:06 Parade Magazine's ‘beyond cool' review + cooking show tease02:56 Amy Schumer's bikini post & wellness pep talk03:30 Nate Bargatze at the Daytona 500: sleeping at the track & NASCAR bits04:49 Bert Kreischer links up with driver Natalie Decker05:11 Adam Sandler's subway-singing origin story (and Johnny's NYC flashback)06:33 Jessica Kirson on crowd work, hosting, and ‘crowd conversations'07:11 Mike Epps opens an Indianapolis boxing gym07:31 Quick hits: Vancouver listings, Netflix special, Simpsons hits 80008:36 Politics corner: President vs. Bill Maher + CNN follow-up Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Daily Comedy News is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free.This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.

Johnny Mac covers the upcoming Daytona 500 and previews the inaugural Full Throttle Festival featuring comedy, music, and barbecue headlined by Bert Kreischer. The host shares personal NASCAR experiences from attending Daytona 500 and Talladega races. Additionally, Nate Bargatze makes history as the first comedian to be Daytona 500's Grand Marshal; other noteworthy points about Nate include his strong comedy career, his first feature film 'The Breadwinner,' and devotion to Vanderbilt and the Tennessee Titans. The show also highlights other events like the Simpsons' milestone 800th episode and upcoming performances at the Vancouver Comedy Festival. Lastly, a portion of the podcast features a discussion between Joe Rogan and Roger Avery critiquing the new direction of the Star Trek franchise. 00:17 Bert Kreischer's Full Throttle Festival01:54 John's NASCAR Experiences05:13 Nate Bargatze The Comedian Grand Marshal07:03 The Simpsons' 800th Episode08:22 Vancouver Comedy Festival Highlights09:36 Joe Rogan and Star Trek Discussion Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Daily Comedy News is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free.This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.

Dan & Patrick from Purina are here to crown Dave as the Grand Marshal for the Purina Pet Parade!- h1 full 2185 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:07:44 +0000 A1AcniwKmWTfBZHdH6zyg3ZcIjxJAjlS comedy,religion & spirituality,society & culture,news,government The Dave Glover Show comedy,religion & spirituality,society & culture,news,government Dan & Patrick from Purina are here to crown Dave as the Grand Marshal for the Purina Pet Parade!- h1 The Dave Glover Show has been driving St. Louis home for over 20 years. Unafraid to discuss virtually any topic, you'll hear Dave and crew's unique perspective on current events, news and politics, and anything and everything in between. © 2025 Audacy, Inc. Comedy Religion & Spirituality Society & Culture News Government False

SlapperCast Episode 362: "VagueCast" This week, we share updates on upcoming Blaggards plans, including an all-originals midweek show with Lone Feather, Chad's solo originals project, early preparations for a late-October 2026 Ireland tour, and a rapidly filling tour calendar. ALSO: Paddy has been named Grand Marshal of the 2026 Houston St. Patrick's Day Parade! The Best of Steven Seagal - SenseiSeagal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx_6mbl9uxo Show dates Blaggards.com Facebook Bandsintown Follow us on social media YouTube Facebook Twitter Instagram Become a Patron Join Blaggards on Patreon for bonus podcast content, live tracks, rough mixes, and other exclusives. Rate us Rate and review SlapperCast on iTunes Questions? If you have questions for a future Q&A episode, leave a comment on Patreon, or tweet them to us with the hashtag #slappercast.

Super Bowl LX is set, as the Seattle Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots in a rematch of 11 years ago. How did the Seahawks beat the Rams in the NFC title game, how did the Patriots beat the Broncos in the AFC, and what do we think of the Super Bowl matchup? Let's ask the crowd on Monday's Dattitude (Ep. 468) presented by Evangeline Securities, as we take comments and questions throughout the show. And Lane Kiffin as Grand Marshal of Endymion?

The twins are back and kicking off 2026 with a bang! From packed appearances to personal resets, Nikki and Brie recap the whirlwind start to the year—including Nikki's Grand Marshal moment at the Fiesta Bowl Parade, her custom-blessed medallion from Arizona's tribal nations, and a stadium full of energy for Miami vs. Ole Miss. While Nikki's been juggling parade duties and parenting, Brie's been deep in her wellness bag, diving into biohacking, IV drips, and a new mindset she's bringing into the year.Nikki shares what it meant to take Matteo to Legoland (his happy place!) and watch him build planes from scratch, while Brie celebrates Buddy kicking off his flag football season and channeling his inner Saquon Barkley. The moms also get candid about parenting milestones—Matteo asking for his first poster (Cristiano Ronaldo, obviously!), Buddy leveling up his room, and the kids starting to embrace their own little worlds.Plus, the twins are ready to compete—on screen and in life—as Celebrity Beast Games premieres, and we get all the details! With plenty of laughs, stories, and a reminder that mindset matters, Nikki and Brie share this week's Inspiration & Affirmation: “If you can overthink the worst, you can overthink the best.” Press play, and step into 2026 with some good energy! Call Nikki & Brie at 833-GARCIA2 and leave a voicemail! Follow Nikki & Brie on Instagram, follow the show on Instagram and TikTok and send Nikki & Brie a message on Threads! Follow Bonita Bonita on Instagram Book a reservation at the Bonita Bonita Speakeasy To watch exclusive videos of this week's episode, follow The Nikki & Brie Show on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok! You can also catch The Nikki & Brie Show on SiriusXM Stars 109! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dusty Slay drops by with "Wet Heat" fresh on Netflix to talk Opelika lore (a.k.a. Snopalika), becoming parade Grand Marshal, and how a onetime pesticide salesman turned country-music linguist builds jokes from tiny word quirks. We get into his love of language (Carlin vibes), song-lyric autopsies ("It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Brooks & Dunn's "Hard Workin' Man"), the origin of "We're having a good time," Comedy Cellar war stories, Opry nights, accent drift, trailer-park childhood, and why he's plotting an ASMR sleep-comedy album. Also: milk, hand-washing, and the eternal mystery of gas stations named "Kum & Go." Produced by Corey Wara Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠