Podcasts about Granite

Justin Martin is the CEO of Granite Hills Group, a rapidly growing commercial landscape platform serving the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Since joining Granite Hills in 2020, he has helped lead the business from $10 million in revenue to nearly $70 million through strong organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and a relentless focus on people and culture.  Justin works closely with the company's leadership team to shape strategy, strengthen operations, develop leaders, and build a business designed to last.  He believes success—both personally and professionally—is ultimately measured by impact: the impact we make on our families, our team members, our customers, and the communities we serve. Justin's career in the green industry began in high school at a garden center in Raleigh, North Carolina.  After starting his professional career in management training and sales with Cintas, he returned to the landscape industry and spent nearly a decade with one of the country's largest commercial landscape companies, growing from account manager to vice president.  Along the way, he learned from leaders who challenged him to level up and from experiences that reinforced how he wanted others to feel when working alongside him—lessons that continue to shape how he leads and develops people today.  He is passionate about building great teams, developing leaders, and challenging the status quo of what a commercial landscape company can be.  Justin lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina, with his wife, Michelle, and their two sons, Will and Zach.  Outside of work, he enjoys trail running, mountain biking, hiking, traveling, and exploring new places with his family.   Derek Stutts is the General Manager for Granite Hills' Raleigh-Durham market, where he leads a team of experienced professionals and a frontline workforce of more than 70 employees. His passion for the green industry began at just 16 years old, working on the grounds crew of a private country club in North Durham. Originally planning to become a golf course superintendent, Derek attended North Carolina State University, studying Turfgrass Management, Horticulture, and Agricultural Business. After graduation, his career took him into the commercial landscape industry, where he advanced from crew leader into management with a national landscape company. He later helped build a landscape maintenance division for a local contractor before returning to a larger national provider in a leadership role. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Derek eventually launched his own company, GroundWorks, growing the business from a single truck and one employee—himself—to approximately $1.5 million in annual revenue within just a few years. When the opportunity arose to become part of Granite Hills as an originating platform company, he made the decision to join the organization and help build its future. Today, Derek is passionate about developing people, building strong teams, and delivering exceptional service to clients across the Triangle. He and his family live on old farmland in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where his appreciation for the land extends beyond his career. Away from work, you'll most likely find him spending time with his wife and three children, relaxing anywhere near the water, or behind a drum set playing with his band or serving on various worship teams.

Gerald "Jerry" Reiter grew up with nine siblings on his family farm, and when the 80's economic crisis hit, his father encouraged him to find another career path. Gerald went to work in banking and never looked back, rising through the ranks and ultimately buying, saving and transforming Granite Bank into one of Minnesota's most trusted lending partners. In this episode, Gerald retraces his career steps with Kathy & Chris, sharing tips on family business success.Connect with Versique 

Trump just hosted Xi Jinping at the White House like it was a friendship tour. Bald eagle sculpture at dinner. Invitation to walk the unfinished ballroom. Granite helipad. Marine One. Fighter jets and a B-2 overhead. A photo of the two of them already hanging in the West Wing. This is the first White House meeting between the two men. Trump greeted Xi at Andrews, showed him the renovations, cracked the Biden autopen bit, and talked “mutual respect.” Xi talked market access for Chinese cars and “partnership” on advanced AI chips. Two pandas are headed to Atlanta. Tech names were on the dinner list. What you did not get was a public answer on the fentanyl pipeline that has killed about 488,000 Americans in a decade, on Taiwan, or on imprisoned publisher Jimmy Lai. If this is “America First” diplomacy, you should be able to see the trade. If it's just the show, you should be able to say that too. Pat also covered: Delegations walk out the second Netanyahu takes the U.N. podium Macklemore announces a Gaza tour coming to a city near you Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.V.) rolls baby dog in a covered wagon for a Capitol birthday bash Trump at Neyland: Tennessee-Texas and the "GameDay" guest pick Sunny Hostin's “I was the lone holdout” jury story doesn't match the 1991 reporting Does a state dinner with an eagle gift count as leverage — or as a photo the Chinese will use at home? Have we seen this movie before: pomp first, fentanyl and chips later? If you want unfiltered truth and commonsense analysis that cuts through the noise, hit subscribe and turn on notifications. 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:14 Xi Jinping Arrives at the White House 01:32 Donald Trump and Xi Jinping Inside the White House 02:23 Trump Shows Xi the Autopen in the Presidential Walk of Fame 03:25 Xi Jinping Loves Granite 04:01 Trump Shows Xi the New White House Helipad 06:02 Xi Provides Two Pandas as Gifts to the U.S.A. 08:07 Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan at the Smithsonian 09:06 Trump goes Off-Script to Talk about the White House Ballroom 14:30 Benjamin Netanyahu Calls Out the Fleeing Cowards at the UN 15:47 Netanyahu's Show and Tell 16:16 Netanyahu Addresses the Genocide Claims 17:35 Netanyahu on Attacking Iran 18:52 Netanyahu Gifts Starlink to Iranian President 19:53 Netanyahu Calls Out Zohran Mamdani 23:03 Netanyahu on the Phony Human Rights Protestors 25:07 Macklemore's "Free Palestine Tour" 29:55 Fat Five 47:23 Football Talk 48:48 James Talarico's Pastors are Not Real Christians 1:03:06 Joseph Arminio Booed for Misgendering Tim / Sarah McBride 1:08:49 Adam Hamilton Doesn't Want to Campaign with Kamala Harris 1:12:21 Caller Eric 1:15:12 Discussing our Call with Mike from Yesterday 1:19:30 Barack Obama on Fixing the Federal Government 1:23:12 Barack Obama on Social Media 1:24:16 Barack Obama's Political Fantasy 1:25:54 Caller Leo 1:27:07 Caller James 1:31:12 Sunny Hostin Lied about Being a Holdout Juror?! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Headlines: Trump spent day two of Xi Jinping's state visit showing him the White House construction zone and reporting that Xi "likes granite" and is "an expert on stone," while mortgage rates hit 7% for the first time since early 2025 and the state dinner guest list included Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, and Supreme Court Justices Roberts, Kavanaugh, and Coney Barrett — a who's who of people who will shape the AI era sitting down together while Zuckerberg publicly broke with Altman and Amodei on whether AI companies need to slow down. Netanyahu addressed the UN claiming that without Israel and America acting together, "we'd all be dead," and took time to call out NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani by name for accusing Israel of genocide, while Iran's foreign minister presented a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and start final deal negotiations. In other news, the Navy officially acknowledged that 8 sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln attempted to take their own lives during their 300-plus day deployment on a ship with broken plumbing, rotten food, and no port calls — while Trump previously said the deployment hadn't gone on long enough. A federal judge ordered ICE to fix "squalid" conditions at a New York detention facility and issued a permanent injunction, and a separate judge blocked Trump's press ban in the middle of the night — which the White House ignored anyway, continuing to bar CNN and MSNBC reporters and confiscating press hard passes. And finally, a 76-year-old man who was shot at Trump's Butler rally in 2024 died yesterday after more than two years of surgeries, making the casualties of that event two people, neither of whom is the president. Resources/Articles mentioned: NYT: Mortgage Rates Hit 7% as Iran War Fallout Crushes a Weak Housing Market WaPo: Guests at state dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping include Elon Musk, Sam Altman NBC News: Mark Zuckerberg rejects calls for industrywide AI slowdown CNN: Key speeches and moments from UNGA Day 3: Netanyahu lambasts Iran, defends Gaza war CNN: We aren't trying to kill Trump, Iran's president insists to reporters at New York hotel NYT: 8 Sailors in U.S.S. Lincoln Strike Group Attempted Suicide, Navy Says Axios: ICE ordered to fix "squalid" conditions at NYC detention facility AP News: 3 US news outlets return to White House after judge orders Trump to lift ban Politico: Pennsylvania man dies two years after he was wounded in Butler shooting Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto's Smallest Brewery, Bickford Brewing, jumps back on the pod just in time for their second anniversary. Founder and Head Brewer Andrew McCready joins Cee and Nate to chat about what's been happening since we last spoke, their Best New Brewery award from the CBAs, their growth into the LCBO with core brands, how they continue to remain experimental and fun, why they brew collab beers at other breweries, we discussed all five of their second anniversary collab beers (and drank three of them on the pod), Untappd beer ratings and Google Reviews and their impact on breweries, his experience beer judging in both GTA Brews and professional organizations, how he plans to iterate on his popular Patio Crusher series, his Oktoberfest plans, their recent break-in and his house fire that disrupted the year, the difference between a Kentucky and California Common, and how he continues to build and connect with his community. They got into seven killer Bickford beers - Patio Crusher Tangerine Light Lager, 3 Way IPA West Coast IPA collaboration with Samara and Steadfast, Copper & Pine Red IPA second anniversary collaboration with Granite, The Hot Minute Hoppy Brown Ale second anniversary collaboration with Jordan St. John, Vital Signs Passionfruit NZ Sour second anniversary collaboration with Pierced Mug, What Gose Round Raspberry Gose, and Buried Bridge Pilsner. This was a gem - cheers!  BAOS Podcast Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube | Website | Theme tune: Cee - BrewHeads

What does it take to turn a single moment of compassion into a lifelong mission? After a career spent supporting children in Vancouver's inner-city classrooms, Patti Shales Lefkos set out on a journey that carried her far beyond anything she'd imagined — into the remote mountain villages of the Nepali Himalaya, where a village asked her to help rebuild a school that was falling down around its students. She didn't promise anything. A year to the day after she stood in that village, the 2015 earthquake flattened it. Host Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff talks with Patti about the schools, homes, and scholarships that grew out of that moment, what she learned about listening instead of assuming, and why, at 79 and about to turn 80, she's packing for Kanchenjunga. Guest Patti Shales Lefkos, Founder, Nepal One Day at a Time Society. Following a rewarding career as a teacher, administrator, and advocate for Vancouver inner-city children, Patti studied journalism at Langara College. She's a graduate of the University of Toronto, Toronto Teachers College, Simon Fraser University, and a wilderness leadership program. She is the author of Nepal One Day at a Time: One Woman's Quest to Teach, Trek, and Build a School in the Remote Himalaya and Grounded by Granite, a coming-of-age story of family connection and personal resilience framed by summers on a remote island in the Canadian Shield. A third book, about the 800-kilometre Great Himalaya Trail trek she completed at 77, is currently seeking a publisher. She founded the British Columbia nonprofit Nepal One Day at a Time Society to support education, health care, and home building in Nepal, and lives near Silver Star Mountain in the BC interior. What is Nepal One Day at a Time Society? A small British Columbia nonprofit that funds education, health care, and home building in remote Nepali villages — the kind of places that sit at the end of the road, where children walk two hours each way to reach a classroom and the nearest bookstore is a two-day journey to Kathmandu. The organization works through long-standing relationships with a Nepali trekking company and its affiliated NGO rather than parachuting in. Two partner schools. The first, whose original 55-year-old building had a condemned top floor and rain coming through into the classrooms below, now runs kindergarten through grade ten and serves roughly 350 students. The second, a small primary school in the far northwest reached during the Great Himalaya Trail trek, serves about 150 children in classrooms with dirt floors and bare cement walls. Three homes rebuilt after the earthquake, at roughly $15,000 USD each — a two-room house with an outdoor bathroom and a front porch, built to post-earthquake standards with rebar corners. Student sponsorships. Rosina, sponsored from grade five in the village, is now 23, has graduated in physiotherapy, and lives in Australia. The guide's 12-year-old son is next. School supplies and technology. A first gift of $500 for library books — the school had none — followed by $6,000 for supplies, more books, and three computers for a staff that had none. Low overhead. The partner NGO is staffed by young people from the region who handle administration through the trekking company, keeping admin costs to roughly 3–5%. Funded by Rotary clubs in Vernon, BC, and Kingston, Ontario, profits from Patti's books, photo art cards of Nepal and Tibet, speaking engagements, and individual donors. Key Topics Covered A book in grade ten, and forty years of waiting. Patti grew up an outdoor kid on an island with no electricity, drinking straight from the lake, long before screen time. Then a novel on the grade ten curriculum — Lost Horizon — put the magic of the Himalaya in her head, and she filed it away. A year of high school in Switzerland got her a passport and a taste for adventure, and then she did all the expected things: university, teachers college, a career. It was only after retiring, and after journalism school, that she and her husband picked up passports again and started walking. A coast-to-coast hike across England was the shakedown. Tibet was next, including a three-day circumambulation of sacred Mount Kailash at an altitude she'd never experienced. She was hooked. The decision to go alone. They'd planned to return to Nepal together to visit their guide's and porter's villages and volunteer as teachers. Days before departure, her husband ruptured his Achilles tendon. Friends and family were getting sick. Her reasoning was blunt and worth hearing: you don't know what will happen to you next. With her husband's blessing, and with the same guide and company guaranteed, she went by herself. "Would you help us build a school?" After her volunteer teaching, her guide Raj took her to a village at the end of a road that had never received outside help. The school building was 55 years old, built by the villagers themselves. The top floor was condemned. They were still using the main floor, with rain coming through from above. The villagers asked her directly. Her honest first thought: they think all Westerners are rich — what could I possibly do? She promised nothing and went home to think. A year to the day, while still in Nepal, she'd met a Buddhist monk in Upper Mustang who was building a school for children with no access to education at all, funding it by giving teachings in Singapore five months a year. That conversation about what was possible stayed with her. She came home, mulled it over, looked into what starting a nonprofit would take — and then, a year to the day after she'd stood in that village, the earthquake hit. The area she'd visited was at the epicenter. Every home in the village was gone. Her husband, an outdoor guy who hates computers, built a slideshow. They showed it at Silver Star Mountain and raised $1,000 the first night. Then she joined her local Rotary Club, and everything scaled from there. Coffee, tea, and the discipline of listening. The most transferable lesson in the episode, and it comes from Vancouver, not Nepal. Trying to get parents involved at an inner-city school, Patti's team put out coffee every morning for the grandmothers dropping off the primary kids. They didn't want coffee. They wanted tea. She carries that into every village: don't decide what people need. Ask them. When she stood on that school playground in northwestern Nepal, the question she asked was simply, " Do you have any library books? Would you like some"? Being told about her own privilege, Patti recounts a former staff member giving her what she describes as a long lecture — that as a white, middle-class woman whose parents and grandparents went to university, she was operating from privilege. Her response, decades later and on the record: "that was really good for me to hear." Laura connects it to the reason the relationship works — the villages hold parades for her, which is not how a colonial dynamic looks. How she vets where the money goes: Patti admits she was long reticent about charities and what share actually reaches the work. Her answer has been to build relationships rather than write checks: a good feeling about the head of the trekking company that a first trip confirmed, a principal who traveled two days to Kathmandu to buy books and sent photos back, a guide who translates and vouches, and a partner NGO whose admin is handled by local young people at a few percent of the total. 800 kilometres at 77 In 2023, believing they had one last long trek in them, Patti and her husband designed their own route on the Great Himalaya Trail, which runs the length of Nepal. They walked 800 kilometres over 75 days with a guide, a cook who had cooked as high as Camp Two on Everest, and a donkey man with five or six animals carrying food and camping equipment. In the first 50 days they met perhaps seven or eight other Westerners — which is exactly what they wanted, because it meant being with Nepali people the whole way. She journaled daily and photographed a wipe-off sign each night recording the day number, kilometres walked, total distance, and altitude. Why she doesn't trek with big groups anymore On the Tibet trip, a man on their trek died of altitude sickness — a man who had climbed Kilimanjaro the year before. On her first Nepal trek, feeling sick at 12,000 feet, Raj simply said they'd stay put another day and see. She was fine. In a group of thirty, she notes, you're pressured forward: go ahead when you don't want to, or lose the group. Being able to make your own call is the whole point. How to Get Involved Learn more and see photos of the schools, the children, and families in their new homes — and reach Patti directly through the contact form — at her website PattiShalesLefkos.com Follow the September trek: Patti will post to her Facebook page as reception allows Read the books: Nepal One Day at a Time and Grounded by Granite — profits go back into the projects, an idea Patti took from Conor Grennan's Little Princes Photo art cards of Nepal and Tibet are also available, with proceeds supporting the work If you are a nonprofit or want to donate goods directly to a nonprofit, check out Givelink: www.https://givelink.app/en? Connect with Small & Gutsy Website: SmallandGutsy.org Email: Laura@SmallandGutsy.org Do you know a nonprofit or social enterprise doing incredible work? Send them our way!

Trap Talk Reptile Network Presents Top Breeder On The Block With Justin Kobylka Of Kinova Reptiles Ep.820  (Live)JOIN TRAP TALK FAM HERE: https://bit.ly/311x4gxFOLLOW & SUPPORT THE GUEST:https://www.instagram.com/jkobylka/SUPPORT USARK: https://usark.org/MORPH MARKET STORE: https://www.morphmarket.com/stores/exoticscartal/SUBSCRIBE TO THE TRAP TALK NETWORK: https://bit.ly/39kZBkZSUBSCRIBE TO THE TRAP REPTILE VLOGS:https://www.youtube.com/@trapreptilevlogsSUPPORT USARK: https://usark.org/memberships/Follow On IG: The Trap Exotics https://bit.ly/3hthAZuTrap Talk Reptile Podcast https://bit.ly/2WLXL7w Listen On Apple:Trap Talk With MJ https://bit.ly/2CVW9Bd Unfiltered Reptiles Podcast https://bit.ly/3jySnhV Listen On Spotify:Trap Talk With MJ https://bit.ly/2WMcKOO Unfiltered Reptiles Podcast https://bit.ly/2ZQ2JCbTrap Talk Reptile Podcast Sponsors:MORPHMARKET SHIPPING:https://shipping.morphmarket.com/MARC BAILEY REPTILES https://www.morphmarket.com/stores/marcbailey/WORKSHOP REPTILLIUM https://www.instagram.com/workshop_reptilium/PHENOME GENETICS:https://phenome.com/https://www.instagram.com/phenome_genetics/PRAGUE MORPHS:https://www.instagram.com/praguemorphs/SUNDOWN REPTILEShttps://www.sundownreptiles.com/TX CHONDROShttps://www.texaschondros.com/FOCUS CUBED HABITAT: https://www.instagram.com/focuscubedhabitats/JERSEY GUYS BALLS:https://www.instagram.com/jerseyguysballs/KINOVA REPTILES & CLTCH:https://cltch.io/https://kinovareptiles.com/THE REPTILE SUPER SHOW:https://reptilesupershow.com/SOUTHEAST REPTILE EXPO:https://www.instagram.com/southeast_reptile_expo/BLAKES EXOTIC FEEDERShttps://www.instagram.com/blakesexoticfeeders/ZOO MED:https://zoomed.com/#fyp #reptiles #coolestreptilepodcastintheworld

Find the full text of this article at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/stone-still-preaches/. Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Retaliatory tariffs on American goods from our Northern neighbors go into effect today. Another report of AI behaving badly. It's time for Granite state voters to choose who's going to be on the November ballot. Stay in "the loop" with WBZ newsradio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BEST SHOW BESTS! In this classic clip, Tom gets a call from GRANITE TOUGHMAN IN STRONGBRIDGE! (Originally aired on January 27th, 2026)New to the Best Show? Check out Best Show Bests, the greatest hits of The Best Show! Available every Friday on your podcast app.BEST SHOW GARAGE SALE - NOW ONLINE!Shop classic Best Show merch including shirts, vinyl, CDs & DVDs, posters, stickers, and more!https://bestshowstore.comSUPPORT THE BEST SHOW ON PATREON! WEEKLY BONUS EPISODES & VIDEO EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBestShowWATCH THE BEST SHOW LIVE EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT 6PM PT ON TWITCHhttps://www.twitch.tv/bestshow4lifeFOLLOW THE BEST SHOW:https://twitter.com/bestshow4lifehttps://instagram.com/bestshow4lifehttps://tiktok.com/@bestshow4lifehttps://www.youtube.com/bestshow4lifeTHE BEST SHOW IS A FOREVER DOG PODCASThttps://thebestshow.nethttps://foreverdogpodcasts.com/podcasts/the-best-showHEARD IT ON THE BEST SHOW PLAYLISThttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/2XIpICdeecaBIC2kBLUpKL?si=07ccc339d9d84267See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With all due respect to grammarians, when we at Beyond the Polls think of New Hampshire, hard facts and rock-solid political analysis from our friend Dante Scala are foremost in mind. In anticipation of Tuesday's Democratic primary, he and Henry discuss the tectonic political shift in the Granite State now that Jeanne Shaheen is retiring—along […]

Peter Lehman, co-founder of Granite Creek and member of the Investment Committee, has been leading private equity transactions and operating businesses since 1998. Peter leads the Firm's investment operations process as well as oversees the Firm's farmland investment platform, Moraine Farmland Partners. He began his career at Dakota Capital Partners, working with Brian Boorstein. Peter received his B.S. in Organizational Studies from Northwestern University.

We're often told that we live in a world full of toxic behaviour, but is it the world that's toxic or is it our view of it that gives it a toxic flavor? In this episode, Thom explores the true source of toxicity: the stress we carry that makes us sensitive to the inputs from the outside world. As always Thom has a solution that allows us to remove those stresses and develop the resilience we need to be less disturbed by the forms and phenomena we come into contact with on a day-to-day basis. Listen to or watch this episode for a grounded Vedic perspective on toxicity, stress reactivity, and the invincible integrity of the inner Self. Episode Highlights[00:45] What Makes Something Toxic?[04:31] Beyond Stoicism, Toward Vastness[06:15] Maharishi Meets an Imposter[08:58] Toxicity Comes From Reactivity[10:32] Granite, Clay, and Foam Rubber[14:40] Infinite Stability Meets Adaptability[16:12] Premature Associations Become Reactions[19:43] Rest Beyond What Sleep Provides[21:33] Inner Integrity Is Invincible Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The GRANITE Act is a two-and-a-half-page bill designed to stop foreign governments from censoring Americans online. Preston Byrne, the Managing Partner at Byrne & Storm, has spent over a decade advising tech companies on free speech questions. His work was instrumental in the introduction of the GRANITE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives on August 27, 2026.Timestamps:0:00 Intro2:10 How foreign governments censor Americans3:34 The origins of sovereign immunity6:40 197 demands, 4 refusals8:58 Sovereign immunity in the courts10:58 The GRANITE Act shield12:37 The GRANITE Act sword17:20 Where GRANITE stands in the states, House and SenateThis episode is presented by Altitude. Visit altitude.xyz/law to understand why.Thank you to the other sponsors of this episode: Cahill Gordon & Reindel, the Solana Policy Institute and the Hyperliquid Policy Center.Preston's Blog Post: https://prestonbyrne.com/2026/08/28/rulligranite/ GRANITE Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10174/text?s=1&r=1&hl=graniteDisclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or investment advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of their employers. Listening to this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Graphene has been called one of the most extraordinary materials ever discovered. It's exceptionally strong, lightweight, electrically conductive, and thermally conductive. But more than a decade after capturing the world's attention, one major question remains: why hasn't it transformed manufacturing the way so many people predicted? On this episode, Brad Larschan and Kevin Wyss of Avadain join the show to discuss... The post 274: Graphene at Scale: Turning This Wonder Material Into Industrial Reality first appeared on Cast Polymer Radio.

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss Trump's latest threats against Iran, the ballooning national debt, Trump's fixation on the White House helipad, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss Trump's latest threats against Iran, the ballooning national debt, Trump's fixation on the White House helipad, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss Trump's latest threats against Iran, the ballooning national debt, Trump's fixation on the White House helipad, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Dr. Yasmeen S. Alfaraj discusses the next generation of thermoset composites. She is the founder and CEO of NextSet Materials, a company developing a new generation of reprocessable thermoset materials. Through NextSet Materials, Yasmeen is addressing one of the composites industry's most persistent challenges: how to recover valuable fibers and other materials from durable thermoset structures that... The post 273: The Chemistry That Could Transform Thermoset Composites – Interview with Yasmeen S. Alfaraj of NextSet Materials first appeared on Cast Polymer Radio.

It's the first day back to school for Granite and Iron County districts! Plus, today's total solar eclipse over Europe, and cooler weather is on the way — finally. Utah's controversial Grand Liberty Arch is getting a new location s after neighbors fought back. In Nerd Alert: Marvel and Star Wars are officially crossing over for the first time in a comic book series.  New brain scan research shows dogs can tell when you're happy, scared, or sad. We also hit Europe's messy new passport system, Allegiant's free drinks, parent stress leading to more screen time for kids, and a Gen Z worker called out by their CEO for leaving 10 minutes early. Plus your AI Question of the Day.   KSL Brightside streams live weekdays 12–3 PM. Watch the YouTube-exclusive live stream from 12–1 PM, then catch us on radio and YouTube from 1–3 PM.   Follow KSL Brightside on social media! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KSLBrightside Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KSLBrightside Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KSL_Brightside TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ksl.brightside  

It's finally here! For thousands of Utah students, today is the first day back to school. Two districts are back in session: Granite and Iron. With a new year comes a whole lot of stress, uncertainty, and anxiety... for both the kids and the parents. Holly is sending one of her kids to junior high school this year; she talks about the anxiety both she and her daughter are feeling right now. Granite School District Superintendent Ben Horsley joins the program to share updates on how the first day of school is going in his district and the resources available to help kids transition in the new year.

Howie is live from Global Marble and Granite. He's joined this hour by Brian Shortsleeve and more candidates giving their pitch for your vote. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Howie is joined for Police Blotter Fax Friday live from Global Marble and Granite. Today's stories include a man who mistook his neighbor for a bear and shot him, and a man who flew his helicopter to the store because the drive was too long.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode we interview Jon Driscoll, founder of Backyard Butler (launched 2018), which provides recurring “white glove” cleaning and maintenance for luxury outdoor living spaces in Dallas–Fort Worth—filling a gap not covered by gardeners, pool cleaners, or housekeepers. Jon explains service frequency options, party-prep cleanings, and a detailed checklist covering patios, furniture, outdoor kitchens, grills, heaters, and more, aiming to deliver a “Four Seasons” experience at home. The episode covers materials and maintenance insights: Sunbrella fabrics clean best; porcelain paving is easiest while exposed aggregate and some stones are difficult; efflorescence can be treated but plant-pot mineral stains can be nearly impossible; turf is maintained via power-brooming and deodorizing; granite counters and non-porous backsplashes clean best; drains, hose bibs, outlets, sealed lighting, and easy-clean materials improve long-term upkeep. Jon discusses seasonality, common stains (notably crape myrtle), a sealing mishap that ended their sealing services, notable transformations, and Backyard Butler's plans to franchise.   Discover more and connect: https://www.backyardbutler.net/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet the Hosts 01:37 Guest Intro Backyard Butler 02:05 Why Outdoor Cleaning Matters 03:52 Recurring vs Event Cleanings 05:55 White Glove Standard 06:37 Best Fabrics Sunbrella 08:22 Post Build Priorities 10:19 Pavers and Surface Choices 12:04 Efflorescence and Stains 14:58 Synthetic Turf Maintenance 18:38 Heaters and Outdoor Fixtures 20:02 Cleaning Without Damage 22:34 Stainless and Cabinet Care 26:05 Outdoor Countertop Materials 28:02 Granite vs Dekton 28:53 Backsplash Grease Fixes 30:32 Seasonal Demand Shifts 31:51 Decking and Wood Limits 34:23 Design for Easy Upkeep 36:55 Sealer Nightmare Story 40:46 Wild Backyard Features 44:55 Pollen and Storm Cleanup 46:42 Worst Stains and Trees 48:03 Contact and Wrap Up  

Bethel, Vermont is home to a rare geological treasure: a brilliant granite that's often described as the whitest in the world. The stone has been quarried there for generations and sent as far as Paris and Abu Dhabi. Two local residents want to know: Why is this stone found in Bethel, of all places? And is it found anywhere else?Thanks to Bennett Law and Owen Daniel-McCarter for the great questions. Click here for photos and a full episode transcript.For more on granite in Vermont, here are some suggested resources: Vermont Stones/Italian Bones (2016) by Bill Johansen, published by the Bethel Historical Society A three-part series about the Woodbury Granite Company by Paul Wood in The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, 2021 “How has the geology of Vermont affected its character?” (Brave Little State, 2017) “Meet Giuliano Cecchinelli, Barre's last Italian stone carver” (Vermont Public, 2023) This episode was reported by Sabine Poux. Editing and production from the rest of the BLS team: That's Burgess Brown and Josh Crane. Our intern is Sarah Bokelberg. Our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Gail Wiese, Timothy Rath, Laurie Grigg and Denise Guilmette.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. 

The leaders of Israel and Ukraine visited the United States while President Donald Trump railed at his own Congress to get back to work on the SAVE act and skip their summer break. Plus Colonel Sanders and LeBron James each had cash registers ringing across the US this week.

The leaders of Israel and Ukraine visited the United States while President Donald Trump railed at his own Congress to get back to work on the SAVE act and skip their summer break. Plus Colonel Sanders and LeBron James each had cash registers ringing across the US this week.

The leaders of Israel and Ukraine visited the United States while President Donald Trump railed at his own Congress to get back to work on the SAVE act and skip their summer break. Plus Colonel Sanders and LeBron James each had cash registers ringing across the US this week.

The leaders of Israel and Ukraine visited the United States while President Donald Trump railed at his own Congress to get back to work on the SAVE act and skip their summer break. Plus Colonel Sanders and LeBron James each had cash registers ringing across the US this week.

The leaders of Israel and Ukraine visited the United States while President Donald Trump railed at his own Congress to get back to work on the SAVE act and skip their summer break. Plus Colonel Sanders and LeBron James each had cash registers ringing across the US this week.

The leaders of Israel and Ukraine visited the United States while President Donald Trump railed at his own Congress to get back to work on the SAVE act and skip their summer break. Plus Colonel Sanders and LeBron James each had cash registers ringing across the US this week.

The leaders of Israel and Ukraine visited the United States while President Donald Trump railed at his own Congress to get back to work on the SAVE act and skip their summer break. Plus Colonel Sanders and LeBron James each had cash registers ringing across the US this week.

Really? Bullets seem remarkably uncomplicated. I got asked recently why dealing with Iran isn't as easy as dealing with Venezuela. Because they're not the same country. That's like asking why climbing Mount Everest isn't as easy as walking up the steps at Walmart. Venezuela is in our hemisphere. We've had strategic interests there since James Monroe was telling Europe, "Stay on your side of the pond." Iran has spent decades preparing for exactly this moment. Their nuclear infrastructure wasn't built in office parks with valet parking. They buried it inside mountains. Granite. Reinforced bunkers. Underground complexes that look like somebody hired a Bond villain as the architect. These people weren't planning for inspections. They were planning for survival. Which makes President Trump's strategy fascinating. Everybody expected fireworks. Instead, he's conducting surgery. One target. Another target. Economic pressure. Military pressure. Psychological pressure. It's less "shock and awe" and more "you'll wake up tomorrow and discover another piece of your government has mysteriously disappeared." Melissa made an interesting point the other day about international law and whether Trump worries about being labeled a war criminal. That's adorable. The same people who spent years calling Trump Hitler now expect him to lose sleep because somebody at the International Criminal Court might wag a finger? Then, almost on cue, Iran demanded Trump and Netanyahu be declared war criminals. You have to admire the timing. It's like getting robbed and having the burglar call the police because your alarm scared him. Meanwhile, Trump escalated anyway. Oil infrastructure. Bridges. Military headquarters. The message wasn't subtle. It was, "We can make your economy disappear one strategic target at a time." And apparently Iran responded by pretending not to hear it. That's generally not a winning strategy. Now things get even more interesting. Most Americans don't even realize Iran has two navies. There's the regular navy. Then there's the Revolutionary Guard Navy. Think of them as the mosquito version of naval warfare. Tiny boats. Fast boats. Hidden in caves. Launching from tunnels. Harassing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. They're betting that enough little stings become one big headache. Twenty years ago, maybe. Today? Every satellite is watching. Every drone is watching. Artificial intelligence is watching. Some poor analyst in a windowless room probably knows what cave they're using before the captain does. Technology has made hiding much harder. You can hide from your neighbors. You can't hide from an American reconnaissance system that can probably tell what you had for breakfast. Meanwhile, Iran's proxy network is beginning to crack. The Houthis are under pressure. Regional allies are making moves. Kevin Jackson has been called, the "white-collar" Joe Rogan. Given their similar backgrounds in TV, comedy, and martial arts, it's easy to see why people enjoy Kevin's show so much. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most people dream about real-life Pokémon. Officer Granite decided to build them.In this episode of As The Pokéball Turns, David Hernandez sits down with Officer Granite, the creator behind incredibly lifelike animatronic Pokémon, to uncover the story behind one of the Pokémon community's most creative projects. What began as a childhood fascination with Jurassic Park animatronics eventually evolved into building moving Pokémon that delight fans of every generation. From teaching himself robotics and 3D printing to rediscovering Pokémon through HeartGold and finding unexpected inspiration in Pidgey, Officer Granite shares how curiosity, persistence, and nostalgia shaped his journey. Along the way, he reflects on growing up with Pokémon, the joy of conventions, and why seeing adults become kids again for a few moments makes every hour of work worthwhile.If you've ever wondered what it would take to bring Pokémon to life—or why childhood passions never truly leave us—this conversation is one you won't want to miss.Listen now and follow As The Pokéball Turns for more unforgettable Pokémon stories from the Trainers, creators, and fans who make this community extraordinary.SourcesOpening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay Send us Fan MailSupport the showVisit our website: www.asthepokeballturns.comJoin Our Discord Community!https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRtMailing AddressP.O Box 117Addison, TX, 75001Your next Pokemon adventure begins here!Disclaimer: This podcast is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.

Good morning, folks. We have another weekend of violence to report. Two dead. Ten wounded. No, no... not Iran. Chicago. And before anybody panics, relax. For Chicago, that's practically a Chamber of Commerce commercial. Somewhere in City Hall they're popping champagne because nobody hit double digits. Yet somehow the people counting bodies in Tehran can't seem to find a calculator for Cook County. Funny how that works. The Left has suddenly become fascinated with casualty reports. They have spreadsheets for Iran. Pie charts. PowerPoint presentations. But ask them about Chicago and suddenly they become performance artists. "Violence is complicated." Really? Bullets seem remarkably uncomplicated. I got asked recently why dealing with Iran isn't as easy as dealing with Venezuela. Because they're not the same country. That's like asking why climbing Mount Everest isn't as easy as walking up the steps at Walmart. Venezuela is in our hemisphere. We've had strategic interests there since James Monroe was telling Europe, "Stay on your side of the pond." Iran has spent decades preparing for exactly this moment. Their nuclear infrastructure wasn't built in office parks with valet parking. They buried it inside mountains. Granite. Reinforced bunkers. Underground complexes that look like somebody hired a Bond villain as the architect. These people weren't planning for inspections. They were planning for survival. Which makes President Trump's strategy fascinating. Everybody expected fireworks. Instead, he's conducting surgery. One target. Another target. Economic pressure. Military pressure. Psychological pressure. It's less "shock and awe" and more "you'll wake up tomorrow and discover another piece of your government has mysteriously disappeared." Melissa made an interesting point the other day about international law and whether Trump worries about being labeled a war criminal. That's adorable. Kevin Jackson has been called, the "white-collar" Joe Rogan. Given their similar backgrounds in TV, comedy, and martial arts, it's easy to see why people enjoy Kevin's show so much. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode, Gus Perez of Marble-Lite joins the podcast to share how he’s using Claude Code to help run his business. Marble-Lite is our featured manufacturing member in the upcoming Summer issue of Cast Polymer Connection (coming out next week).  The post 272: How Business Owners Can Use Claude Code to Save Time and Get More Done first appeared on Cast Polymer Radio.

****This was supposed to be a bonus episode but since I haven't been posting I decided to unlock it. Apologies again for the long delay between episodes!!!*** Tehran-based Sara discusses some of her experiences during the war, the rage she feels for Iranians who advocated for bombing, and the different meaning of resistance. You can follow Sara on Instagram @Sarasg2026 Consider supporting the show www.patreon.com/east_podcast

Did you know ancient Egyptians moved 100-ton granite crates, and scientists are still scratching their heads over how they did it? These massive stone boxes, found in places like the Serapeum of Saqqara, were carved with incredible precision. The crazy part? They were transported from quarries hundreds of miles away! Modern engineers are baffled by how this was even possible without cranes, trucks, or modern tools. Some think they used ingenious methods involving ramps, sledges, and even water to reduce friction. Whatever the method, it's a mind-blowing example of ancient innovation that still amazes us today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Granite is everywhere — it makes up much of the continental crust beneath our feet; yet, for over a century geologists were stuck on a deceptively simple question: where does all that magma find room? In this episode, Jesse and Dr. Mike Ackerson pick the granite series back up to tackle the "room problem" — the puzzle of how you wedge a magma body tens of kilometers wide into solid crust. Using California's Tuolumne Intrusive Suite (the fruit fly of igneous petrology) and the landmark Coleman et al. 2004 paper, they show that the way out isn't space at all — it's time. These giant plutons weren't emplaced in one molten flash; they were assembled incrementally over millions of years. Along the way: a whirlwind history of geochronology, why the word "lead" makes clean-lab chemists recoil in horror, and the slow death of the "magma chamber."Download the CampGeo app now at this link. On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series. You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!——————————————————Instagram: @planetgeocastTwitter: @planetgeocastFacebook: @planetgeocastSupport us: https://planetgeocast.com/support-usEmail: planetgeocast@gmail.comWebsite: https://planetgeocast.com/

The college funding space is always changing which can create new challenges for students and parents as they venture forward with their higher education planning. In this episode, Micha Sabovik, Vice President, Growth & Lending Solutions at Granite Edvance, shares important updates on what's new in the student lending space, upcoming changes to be aware of and strategies students and parents can follow to choose the right funding for their higher education. Links: Access free resources, book one-on-one appointments, and find links to helpful tools and guides: https://graniteedvance.org/plan-your-journey/get-our-help/ Explore financial aid resources: https://graniteedvance.org/find-your-direction/resource-library/ Check out Granite Edvance's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GraniteEdvance Get official FAFSA forms and helpful wizards to determine dependency status and required contributors: https://studentaid.gov/ Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources: https://triangleuniversity.org/ Learn more about Triangle Credit Union: https://www.trianglecu.org/ Update: The topic of changes to the federal direct loan program related to professional degrees was discussed on this podcast; since the recording, the effective date of these changes has been put on indefinite hold pending the outcome of certain litigation that is referenced in the podcast. Depending on the outcome of that litigation, these program changes may differ from the description on the podcast or could be struck down altogether. Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Granite Edvance. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only and is believed to be materially accurate at the time of this recording; however, information presented is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Granite Edvance. For current information about our products and services, please see our website at graniteedvance.org.

From a childhood dream of becoming an inventor like Louis Pasteur to leading commercial due diligence for private equity funds like KKR and HIG, Josh Emington shares how his team sizes markets, calls real customers, and spots the growth opportunities other investors miss. In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer sits down with Josh Emington, a partner at The Martec Group, a boutique strategic consulting and market research firm. Josh leads Martec's value creation team, working with lower middle market and middle market private equity funds including KKR, HIG, Granite, Rotunda Capital, and Everglades Equity. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How commercial due diligence tests whether a deal's growth story actually holds up, why customer concentration can erase a company overnight, and what a free pre-diligence memo can flag before a client spends real money. Josh also explains why his team still picks up the phone to call a target's real customers, and how AI has compressed Martec's research timelines from seven days to two. JOSH'S JOURNEY Josh's path into research started at a scholastic book sale, where his parents picked up a chemistry kit and a book about Louis Pasteur. He decided he wanted to be an inventor who saved lives the way Pasteur had. His first real deal came as an Eagle Scout, selling popcorn door to door to earn a trip. The professional turning point came on a customer journey project for a top manufacturer of toilet seats. When his team learned that customers had no idea who to call when a seat broke, they recommended putting the brand name on the back. Two years later Josh saw the brand on a hotel toilet seat and, as he told Corey, "just making an impact in a business like that doesn't get any better." Over the past decade Josh has executed hundreds of global research and consulting engagements at Martec, focused on commercial due diligence, M&A funnel support, target identification, and customer due diligence anchored in primary research. KEY INSIGHTS Commercial due diligence looks at both the risks that could blow up a deal and the opportunities a buyer might be paying for without realizing it. Josh shared a southern Florida example where his team helped a client acquire a lawn care installation business alongside a separate maintenance company, turning one time jobs into recurring revenue. Skipping pre-diligence is a common mistake. At least three times a year, Josh's team will deliver a short, free memo that sometimes recommends an investor not proceed at all because a technology is about to obsolesce or a competitor is far more advanced than the marketing suggests. Customer concentration is the biggest single risk Josh's team flags. As he put it, if 10 customers or even one customer accounts for 70 percent of revenue and that relationship ends, you do not have a company anymore. Corey pushed back from his seller side perspective, arguing buyers should consider structural protections tied to retention rather than discounting valuation outright. About 10 percent of Josh's M&A work happens on the sell side through exit planning. In one engagement, his team interviewed 2,000 rug buyers for an upper middle market online rug company to give a skeptical buyer the confidence that the brand really commanded its prices. AI has also compressed Martec's research timelines from seven days to two, and Josh's team now applies a triple AI lens to every deal, assessing how AI will affect the target's market, its workforce, and its own customers. Perfect for private equity investors, business owners preparing for sale, and dealmakers who want to understand what really gets tested before a deal closes. FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE: https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/joshemington FOR MORE ON JOSH EMINGTON: Website: https://martecgroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshemington/ FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:00:02] - Introduction and Josh's background at The Martec Group [00:03:21] - The toilet seat project that made Josh fall in love with research [00:09:01] - The southern Florida lawn care deal that turned one time jobs into recurring revenue [00:13:39] - The free pre-diligence memo that can stop a bad deal before it starts [00:16:04] - The last bastion of human value and how customer due diligence really works [00:23:13] - Sizing the prize and spotting customer concentration risk [00:38:46] - How AI has compressed research timelines from seven days to two [00:46:56] - What freedom means to Josh Guest Bio Josh Emington is a partner at The Martec Group, a boutique strategic consulting and market research firm serving private equity funds and Fortune 1000 leaders. Over the past decade he has led hundreds of global research and consulting engagements focused on commercial due diligence, M&A funnel support, target identification, and customer due diligence anchored in primary research. He leads Martec's value creation team, supporting clients from thesis validation through pre-LOI and into post close growth strategy. Publicly known clients include KKR, HIG, Granite, Rotunda Capital, and Everglades Equity. Host Bio Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Show Description Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster. Related Episodes Episode 332 - John Martinka. Financial due diligence and why messy financial statements can kill a deal or cost a seller real money on valuation. Episode 324 - Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt. Technical and cybersecurity due diligence, and how a company's IT history follows it into a sale. Episode 351 - Corey Kupfer Solocast. A breakdown of the different types of due diligence that apply across every kind of deal. Keywords/Tags commercial due diligence, private equity due diligence, customer due diligence, voice of customer research, market sizing, TAM and SAM analysis, customer concentration risk, exit planning, M&A due diligence, value creation, buy side due diligence, sell side due diligence, AI in market research, deal thesis validation, competitive market mapping, business combination strategy, recurring revenue acquisition, pre-LOI diligence, lower middle market private equity, Martec Group

This episode, Keepers Bridgett & Evan unpack the best ways to begin a scenario! We're going to define what the means, things to consider, best practices, worst practices, and even provide you with some recommendations on authors who truly stuck the landing on a strong opener! Patreon Plug & Update Hey listeners! Did you know that MUP has a Patreon? That's right! We do!  You can directly support the show, and our surrounding community, by becoming a Patreon! “Dr Weir’s Optometry and Travel Agency: Where you’re going, you won’t need eyes to see.” Submitted by iPwned Head over to patreon.com/MUP or click the patreon icon on the sidebar of our website. If you're able to support us, we'd appreciate it! Patreon, we offer everything from exclusive backer only bonus content, Patreon only episodes, backer only hangouts, access to our backer only portal on Discord, and more! The Discord Plug Our MUP Discord and we are all there! We invite all of our listeners to come and enjoy the community of horror gaming and cute pet pics. Link in the show notes: MU Discord server invite link: https://discord.gg/vNjEv9D  And thank you to our editor NATE for editing this episode.  Bridgett's Pet Pick Shout Out Tonight, I'd like to shout out friend of the show, GroucyLenny and their cats, Lily and Camille, who are captured here with the caption– nefarious plan is to absorb all of the sun's energy to destroy humankind. Wait. You guys are getting sun? I'm in Ohio. I haven't seen the sun since October 2025. Can I join this plan?? Thanks for sharing with us, GroucyLenny! Main Topic Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Main Topic! Tonight, we're going to unpack the best ways to begin a scenario! We're going to define what the means, things to consider, best practices, worst practices, and even provide you with some recommendations on authors who truly stuck the landing on a strong opener!  From a storytelling perspective and from a game design standpoint, this is such an important topic that I don't believe it is getting enough affection. It needs some love, so I'm happy that we're slowing down to really explore the impact that introductory scenes and onboarding have on the rest of your game and storytelling experience! What is the beginning of the scenario? Is this… a roundtable of character introductions? What do you look like, name, occupation? Is this an opening scene? Is this worldbuilding? Why do we care about this topic? Arguably, the introduction, climax, and conclusion are the most essential and vital points of storytelling Essential things to establish? The world The vibe/genre/tone/expectation Your PC's place and impact in the world Character connection Level of buy-in/care Good Examples: Sorrow in Tsvao by Bridgett Jeffries (begins with a team meeting) buff.ly/3AvlvAr Taken for Granite by Jade Griffin's (begins with a car crash) https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/379700/taken-for-granite Graham Walmsley's Cosmic Dark  Opening scenes for a campaign: Two-Headed Serpent drops you right in the action and sprays your face with blood, while setting up the central mystery of the campaign. HotOE lets you fool around at a party with some characters who later become important but it doesn't do much to establish the plot. [As a counter-example, the start of The Haunting often flops because it's geared towards new players and doesn't immediately put them in the action.]  Homework Dear listener, tell us of your favorite scenario start!  

The emergence of America's ruling class in Chicago to celebrate the Obama Presidential Center Museum hit like a gust of hot, wet wind. Just days before, tornadoes tore through Illinois and Iowa, upending homes and wreaking havoc on the landscape. By the time Barack Obama and his Royal Court were ready to roll out the red carpet, the skies had cleared.The building perfectly reflects how Obama might see himself, but certainly how he's ruled over the past 15 years. He still can't let go of his position as God and King of the once-mighty utopia, one I devoted most of my life to building, protecting, and defending. I was a true believer and a good soldier.Obtuse, mysterious, and opaque, the building, like its inspiration, towers over the indistinguishable figures below, the swirling paths and gardens, not blending into the landscape but rather projecting outward, with a kind of bulk you could even see from space. Not even a tornado could make a dent.The quote on the side of the mighty beast reads:You are America. Unconstrained by habit and convention. Unencumbered by what is, ready to seize what ought to be. For everywhere in this country, there are first steps to be taken, there is new ground to cover, there are more bridges to be crossed. America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.' ‘We The People.' ‘We Shall Overcome.' ‘Yes We Can.' That word is owned by no one. It belongs to everyone. Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours.”The quote comes from Obama's speech, not in Chicago, but at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Most of the rest of it has been trimmed away to make the statement appear more inclusive, shall we say.But note the use of the word “We.” His speech was full of flowery language about how we have to come together as a country.The sitting president of the United States and the majority of Americans who voted for him were not invited to the party. Not only weren't they invited, but they're also not allowed anywhere at any time in a society largely controlled by the Left.No, Trump would not be allowed in, and he never really was, which goes a long way toward explaining why he won the second time. Trump feels like one of us, who have taken the shape of Obama's sworn enemies. We are rejected outsiders because this America, their America, depends on and is built around race and gender identity.Both Barack and Michelle Obama made a point of elevating the illegal immigrants who crossed over under Joe Biden and celebrated the citizen army that went to war on Federal officers, even after condemning such actions on January 6th.They prioritize the illegal immigrants because they are mostly non-white and thus have special protective status, as long as they vote blue no matter who, of course. And yet, for most Americans, they still don't understand why they've been sidelined like this. Once you understand the rules of utopia, where an endless supply of oppressed people, along with an endless supply of racists, is what powers their engine.It's an ideology that comes from Western countries overtaken by global elites, who need this form of virtue signaling to justify their power and their worldwide alliance, but it doesn't do much for ordinary Americans, who don't have the luxury of putting themselves last.It is a kind of class system that pretends to be about equality, about inclusion, and diversity, but really, it's a way of categorizing us and deciding our worth. If you can participate in this game, you can go far. But if you don't, out you go.Nate Bargatze dared to show up alongside RFK, Jr., and his wife, Cheryl. The internet found out about it, and things got so bad his publicist had to issue a statement that he wasn't a Trump supporter. What kind of America is this? If they want to talk about unity, they have to call off their attack dogs.It didn't used to be this way. Those of us who have been alive a long time remember when what mattered was the majority of Americans, the free market, democracy, and all that. Box office, ratings, and elections all decided the direction of our country and our culture. Not anymore.They want our country to look a lot like Obama's kingdom, epitomized by his Brutalist monument - he's way up there, and we're all way down here. If you worship that way, we'll all get along fine, they say, but don't you dare vote in a way we don't like, or we will go to war.So is that the plan from here on out? Must all elections be sanctioned and approved by the Democrats, or else?From Utopia to DystopiaObama was not born in Chicago, but his monument will reside there as a showcase of his preferred legacy. He's the Chicago guy, not the Hawaii guy.The fortress will be a place for travelers driving across this country to stop and admire, along with other historic landmarks in Illinois, like the birthplace of Abe Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, two of Obama's strongest influences, or so he has said.The Obama museum event was a reminder of how we all shaped this story, the bad guys and the good guys of Obama's Camelot - Obamalot - the height of the glory days, where everyone had a seat at the table and we'd mostly eradicated the “ists” and the “phobes.”I think Obama thought that making history as the first Black president meant more than just winning an election, and that the influence he had and the power he attained made him more than just a two-term public servant. He was, after all, living history, and everywhere we look, we can see his fingerprints.It was the play, Hamilton. It was Bruce Springsteen before he shrank into a bitter old prune. It was Tom Hanks when he could still open movies. It was when Oprah still had influence.They think that showcasing their high status while locking out so many Americans is enviable. It's U2 and Oprah. It's Julia Roberts and George Clooney. It's Jennifer Hudson and Steven Spielberg. It's all four former presidents and their First Ladies. Obama made a point of saying that they are all of like minds except one president, the one who defeated them again after their ten-year war.Who do these people think they are? They don't have the right to tell the American people who they can and can't vote for. It is their job to make their best case to us to earn our votes, and either they do, or they don't, but they work for us, not the other way around.Are we all supposed to cheer seeing them standing there as a united front against the sitting president? They have absolutely no self-awareness about how tone-deaf this appears to most people.Do they think we've forgotten? Do they think we don't remember Michael Moore calling George W. Bush a war criminal at the Oscars?Their terrible, blatant propaganda films like Oliver Stone's W.And Adam McKay's truly awful film about Dick Cheney, Vice, one of the worst films ever made, with the sole exception of his next movie, Don't Look Up.They're not finished. They expect the other half of the country to choke down more of it, unending amounts of it, in hopes of forcing all of us into compliance through the worst art the film industry has ever seen because it is under the complete control of a totalitarian movement.Next year, we'll be tortured with a sure-to-be-terrible Sean Penn film on January 6th.They still see themselves as fighting the oppressive forces against them when the truth is that they are the oppressive force. Trump was the way out.The clocks were striking thirteenIf any of us had been paying attention, we'd have known what we built mirrored Orwell's 1984 and where it would ultimately take us.Every word of 1984 was a cautionary tale. Co-opting and distorting language, check. A Goldstein-like figure to sell two minutes of hate, check. A mandate to love Big Brother or else, check. An inside of accepted citizens ruled by the party elites and policed by the children spies, check, the abandoned working class, the Proles, outside of it, check.Trump's win, to me, was like Winston Smith's hope for the future, should the Proles rise up.That Obama and the rest of the establishment did worse than refuse to step aside but went to war on the duly elected president in an attempt to impeach, indict, discredit, and destroy him is the smoking gun that they no longer believe in American democracy. It's their way or nothing. Americans have no way out.All the people ever had was Trump, and indeed, he was and remains a mighty force. He is the troll to Obama's virtue signal, the two internet presidents who led whole armies online, facing off against each other for 15 years.Obama's ten-year plea to the American people to choose him feels desperate by now. Choose me, love me, follow me, worship me. It doesn't mean America is racist because they didn't. That has been the Left's method of policing all of us for far too long, and this country can unify the minute they snap out of it.They want us to see them as the better side, the special people, our gods and goddesses. But I look at them and see people who have long since cut themselves off from the rest of the country and have no plans to ever change. The museum reflects that better than anything ever has. What is inside? It doesn't matter. It looms large.// This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sashastone.com/subscribe

The world is burning down.At least, that's what the modern media landscape convinces you into thinking. But what if there were a different way to present the news? What if, instead of focusing on all the negative, we actually celebrated the thousands of milestones and mini-victories happening each and every day?Andy DeMeo asked himself that question two years ago. Then, he founded Granite Goodness - a podcast, newsletter, social media brand, and fast-growing media company dedicated to telling the good news that's happening across all of New England.His work with Granite Goodness garnered DeMeo the 2025 Stay Work Play Young Person of the Year award, the 2025 Catapult Seacoast 10 to Watch award, and NH Union Leader 40 Under 40 award. He travels across New Hampshire, hosting panels and leading talks where he shouts from the rooftops about just how good the world actually is, and why we should all be more optimistic about the state of things.In this Season 5 launch week bonus episode, DeMeo FINALLY joins host Troy Farkas - exactly two years after they launched their own platforms on THE SAME DAY - for a conversation about the ethos driving Granite Goodness, how DeMeo stumbled into the world of "progress journalism," some very positive recent stories in New Hampshire and Maine, and how he's managed to turn Granite Goodness from hobby into a full-time career.To join the Optimists Club, visit GraniteGoodness.com for details.CHAPTERS:Andy DeMeo's accomplished resume (00:00)Do Troy and Andy hate each other? (03:35)The tricky dance of turning a newsletter into a full-time job (10:24)SPONSORS: Avery Insurance & Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (27:30)Focusing on good news in a "broken" modern media landscape (29:51)WILD good news happening in N.H. and Maine (42:02)Reflecting on the growth and success of Granite Goodness (49:05)UPCOMING EVENTS:Seacoast Singles (Ages 25-45): Ready to meet the love of your life, or know someone who is? We're bringing the Seacoast's No. 1 dating show to The Press Room on Saturday, June 27. ⁠Snag your tickets here.⁠Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17! ⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠SPONSORS:Avery Insurance: Protecting Portsmouth families since 1899. Learn more at ⁠averyinsurance.net⁠.Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Keep the Seacoast sun out of your home! ⁠Get the deets here⁠.AFFILIATE LINKS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!

**This episode ends abruptly when Sara's internet connection cut off suddenly! We picked up the conversation as best as we could the next day. Part 2 will be available to Patrons (soonish) and on YouTube** Tehran-based Sara discusses some of her experiences during the war, the rage she feels for Iranians who advocated for bombing, and the different meaning of resistance. You can follow Sara on Instagram @Sarasg2026 Consider supporting the show www.patreon.com/east_podcast

Summer/Fall 1917.  Arthur Currie takes command of the Canadian Corps, but finds it difficult to replicate the success of Vimy Ridge in the mud of Passchendaele.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-nations-of-canada--4572969/support.

Established in 1852, The Granite YMCA is part of the worldwide non-profit Y organization. They focus on youth development, healthy living, family strengthening, and social responsibility. The Granite YMCA is part of the state's safety net in support of those less fortunate. This past year, they provided financial aid and/or free services valued at over $1.6 million dollars to 12,937 individuals across NH. The Granite YMCA does so much more than you may realize. In this episode, I speak to the Chief Executive Officer, Michele Sheppard, to learn more. I hope this episode educates and inspires you.For more information, please visit https://www.graniteymca.org/You can also find them on https://www.facebook.com/TheGraniteYMCAhttps://www.instagram.com/graniteymca/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-granite-ymca/For more on the Dose of Good Podcast, visithttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552349588905https://www.instagram.com/dose_of_good_podcast/https://www.tiktok.com/@doseofgoodpodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@DoseOfGoodPodcastYou can also email doseofgoodpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mike Ackerson (Smithsonian) for the kick-off of a deep-dive series on granites and granitoids. This one goes into the weeds: the 250-year history of how arguing about granite shaped nearly every major idea in the geosciences.We trace the great controversies from the 1700s to today:

A man with a fake name shows up in Elberton, Georgia and commissions six massive granite slabs inscribed with 10 “commandments” for society. Deals are made, The Guidestones appear, and the conspiracies begin…  If you like this series, you're only scratching the surface. Go to ajc.com, become a subscriber, and find out for yourself.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send a textYou can do everything “right” on the job and still end up quietly falling apart at home. Part two with Nikki Mason gets real about what first responder mental health support actually needs to look like when the stakes are high and the window for help is small.We start with the hard conversation many departments avoid: how to get chiefs and administrators to back real treatment instead of rushing someone back after a few required days off. Nikki explains why a first responder agreeing to care is a rare moment worth protecting, and we talk about how the leadership case can be framed in human terms and in dollars and cents, including the true cost of losing a trained police officer, firefighter, paramedic, dispatcher, or correctional professional.Then we break down what a voluntary first responder treatment program can look like at Granite Recovery Centers' Rally Point program in New Hampshire: no locked doors, a supportive environment, daily groups, individual therapy, case management, medical support when needed, and recovery options that respect personal choice. We also dig into Granite's Enjoy Life campaign and why rebuilding connection, fun, and community is not fluff but a relapse prevention tool. If you have ever wondered whether “connection” is the missing piece for PTSD, depression, anxiety, or substance use recovery, this conversation gives you language and a path forward.To find Nikki Mason, please visit Granite Recovery Centers - Rally Point Program: Detox, residential, PHP/IOP with lodging up in scenic New Hampshire, all in network with insuranceAlso visit Open Sky - Crisis Intervention Training: 40 hour certificate training for law enforcement & first respondersIf this helped, subscribe, share it with someone on your shift, and leave a review so more first responders can find the support they deserve.DeemedFit: First Responder OwnedWe are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showYouTube Channel For The Podcast