Podcasts about great games

Leslie S. Klinger in conversation with Arvind Ethan David

Playing in the sandbox of old literary characters, author Arvind Ethan David brings back mystery the solving duo of Bunny and Raffles – reimagined in a way that flips the script on the Holmesean mystery challenging the colonialism that exists in the orginal texts. Serious themes aside, THE GREAT GAME is a blast to read.

A Great Game Of Stairway To Seven!

In this episode, I talk with Arvind Ethan David about his historical mystery thriller The Great Game! Listen to hear all about: How Arvind Ethan David reimagined classic literary icons by pairing Sherlock Holmes with gentleman thief A.J. Raffles and Balvinder Singh, an Indian veteran whose perspective reshapes Edwardian-era mysteries.  The real history that shaped the thriller, including the Boer War, the British Empire, and the often-overlooked presence of Indian soldiers and immigrants in early 1900s London. How historical fiction can be propulsive, as Arvind blends grisly serial murders, conspiracy, humor, and literary Easter eggs into a fast-paced mystery. The surprising process of writing a first novel after years in television and theater, including what he had to unlearn about dialogue, pacing, and building scenes on the page. How Arvind wove real historical figures with fictional legends, from J.M. Barrie and Winston Churchill to Sherlock Holmes, while staying faithful to the historical timeline. Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

Arvind is an Olivier nominated playwright who also writes novels and television. His seven graphic novels include the official adaptation of Raymond Chandler's "Trouble Is My Business" and the Bram Stoker Award–nominated "Darkness Visible" with Mike Carey. Arvind has also written multiple chart-topping audio originals, including the science fiction anthology series "Earworms", "The Crimes of Dorian Gray", and the nonfiction audiobook "Douglas Adams: The Ends of the Earth."In theatre, Arvind has created adaptations of the Douglas Adams novels "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" (co-written with James Goss) as well as the children's musical "The Boy With Wings", based on Sir Lenny Henry's children's books, for which he received an Olivier nomination. He was also a lead producer of the Grammy and Tony Award–winning Alanis Morissette musical "Jagged Little Pill".Arvind has written and produced extensively in television, including "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" for AMC/Netflix, "Anansi Boys" for Amazon, and the Asian Academy Award winner "The Garden of Evening Mists" for HBO.His debut prose novel "The Great Game" is published by Thomas & Mercer in July 2026.Follow Arvind @ArvD on BlueSky and @arvind.david on Instagram.

In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we're joined by Darren Williams, Founder & CEO of MinMax Game Consulting, to explore a question every developer should ask: why do some great games fail to find an audience?Using Bayonetta as a case study, Darren breaks down the lessons indie developers can learn from games that were critically acclaimed but struggled to achieve commercial success. We discuss the dangers of being unique for the sake of being unique, the importance of release timing, and why awareness alone is rarely enough to guarantee success.Darren also shares insights into modern game marketing, including why developers should rethink traditional marketing funnels, why metrics and measurement matter more than ever, and how to build a pre-release plan that can adapt as circumstances change. We'll also examine how AAA publishing approaches differ from indie development and why smaller studios have opportunities that larger publishers often miss.If you want to better understand the relationship between great games, great marketing, and commercial success, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply to your own projects.Follow Darren Williams: LinkedIn:   / darrencwilliams  #IndieGameBusiness #GameMarketing #IndieDev #GamePublishing #GameBusinessAsk

Ali Mac, Dylan Mathews, and Mike Johnson talk about how Mike was potentially a good wing man last night, continue to recap and react to the Atlanta Braves beating the Pittsburgh Pirates last night in Pittsburgh 3-0 in game two of their three game series, and talk about how the Braves entire pitching staff helped the offense conquer Pittsburgh Pirates' starting pitcher Jared Jones' great game.

Andrés Martinez, Author of the book THE GREAT GAME: A Tale of Two Footballs and America's Quest to Conquer Global Sport, joins Sports Business Radio to discuss how America's complicated and ever-evolving relationship with the world can be seen through the two footballs of the world — American football and soccer--and the interaction between them. With FIFA World Cup taking place on North American soil and helping to grow soccer in the United States, this is a fascinating look from a 2-Time Pulitzer Size finalist and former editor for the New York Times, LA Times and Wall Street Journal. Martinez is currently a professor at Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism. LISTEN to Sports Business Radio on Apple podcasts or Spotify podcasts. Give Sports Business Radio a 5-star rating if you enjoy our podcast. Click on the plus sign on our Apple Podcasts page and follow the Sports Business Radio podcast. WATCH SBR interviews by going to the sports business hub on Yahoo Sports and Yahoo Finance at https://sports.yahoo.com/sports-business/ or our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@sportsbusinessradiopodcast. This week's edition of Sports Business Radio is presented by Boingo Wireless. Teams like the LA Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bears and San Diego Padres trust Boingo to connect their stadiums and arenas with cutting-edge 5G and Wi-Fi.From mobile ticketing to security cameras to kiosks, connect every piece of stadium technology with Boingo's converged wireless networks. As you plan for the future of your stadium, make 5G part of your gameplan and choose Boingo Wireless as your trusted connectivity partner. Learn more by downloading Boingo's free 5G Playbook for Stadiums & Arenas. Head to boingo.com/5Gstadium to get your copy. Sports Business Radio is produced by Bryan Griggs at Griggs Productions dot com #Soccer #Football #WorldCup #NFL  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View all cards mentioned in this episodeAndy and Anthony talk about board stalls and Cube. They talk about what they don't like about this particular genera of board state. They theorize about some aspects of a cube's design would lead to more stalls, and ways they might, as a designer, try to minimize them.This weeks topic was suggested by listener MZ. Thanks, MZ!Discussed in this episode:Lucky Paper Cube Events PageSam Black's article describing “big” and “small” gamesBun Magic CubeSacred Geometry100 OrnithoptersNeoclassical CubeIf you'd like to show your support for the show, please consider backing Lucky Paper on Patreon or leaving us a review on iTunes or wherever you listen.Check us out on Twitch and YouTube for paper Cube gameplay.You can find the hosts' Cubes on Cube Cobra:Andy's “Bun Magic” CubeAnthony's “Regular” CubeYou can find both your hosts in the MTG Cube Talk Discord. Send in questions to the show at mail@luckypaper.co or our p.o. box:Lucky PaperPO Box 4855Baltimore, MD 21211Musical production by DJ James Nasty.Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:01 - Andy's Pool Adventure4:14 - Board Stalls18:33 - Who's the Beatdown?22:35 - Equilibrium26:10 - Creature Sizing30:11 - Evasion31:40 - Combat Tricks and Friends33:12 - Equipment35:42 - 2 for 1s and Big vs Small Games42:00 - Great Game in Sacred Geometry44:32 - Ornithopters and Neutral States49:18 - Milling Out55:15 - Conclusion

In this week's episode Doug and Michael discuss the latest news and headlines including a new edition of Parks and data from Origins Game Fair. In addition, they also speculate on complainers in the hobby, reveal their high-five American themed games, and conclude last week's monthly game roundup with Frosted Blooms, Fox Grove, and Spooktacular.00:00:20 - Introduction to Board Game Radio00:20:42 - What's On Your Mind? - The State of Online Discourse in Gaming00:39:00 - List Time - High-Five American Themed Games00:56:52 - Monthly Game Roundup00:57:34 - Spooktacular01:03:36 - Frosted Blooms01:13:16 - Fox Grove

"in league with the thief" [REIG]     Arvind Ethan David is a versatile writer and producer whose career spans theater, television, film, graphic novels, audio, and now his debut novel, The Great Game, a historical thriller set in 1905 London. Blending mystery and suspense, the book marks the return of A. J. Raffles — the famous gentleman thief created by Conan Doyle's brother-in-law, E.W. Hornung.   Born in Malaysia and educated in England, Arvind's perspective on imperial rivalry, colonialism, and cultural identity is expressed through the eyes of his narrator Balvinder dev Singh, a law student and military veteran who is funding his education in partnership with Raffles. When a brutal Mayfair murder tangles Bunny and Raffles in a widening conspiracy, it attracts the attention of Holmes, Watson, and even Winston Churchill.   Arvind's career began when he was still a student, adapting Douglas Adams's novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency as a play. When Adams came to see it, he became a mentor. He has written and produced extensively in television, including Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency for Netflix, Anansi Boys for Amazon, and The Garden of Evening Mists for HBO. He has also written seven graphic novels, including an adaptation of Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business. Join us as he reflects on his experiences in these different artistic worlds, and on the unique challenges of bringing honored characters to life.   Our "Learned Societies" segment kicks off with Sherlockian society activities coming up in the latter half of August. Then, it's a new edition of "Examining the Pictures," with the film critic, journalist, and author Christian Monggaard, BSI, as he reviews the first Enola Holmes film. Finally, the Canonical Couplet quiz will test your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of The Great Game for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by July 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. DST. All listeners are eligible to play.   As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack).   And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, or if you want to show off your good taste to other Sherlockians, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.     Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts.   Links The Great Game (Amazon | Bookshop.org) Arvind Ethan David's website Other episodes mentioned on the show: Episode 200: Holmes in the Heartland I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store     Explore more here. Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.   And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the player of your choice? It would help other Sherlockians find us. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.  

In this episode, Mike is joined by Ambassador Laura Stone, who most recently served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and previously held senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of State, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for China and Mongolia. They discuss the role that the Marshall Islands and the broader Pacific Islands play in U.S. engagement with the Indo-Pacific, how they factor into U.S.–China strategic competition, and how the United States can work more effectively with its allies and partners to strengthen its approach to the region.

To mark the 250th anniversary of Independence Day this week, this classic replay episode of the ABA Banking Journal — sponsored by Q2 Software — explores the role of banking and finance in the American Revolution and the founding era. John Steele Gordon is an acclaimed economic historian whose books include Hamilton's Blessing, The Great Game and An Empire of Wealth; he is also the ABA Banking Journal's "From the Vault" columnist. In this episode, Gordon discusses: How not having any chartered banks prior to 1782 put the United States at a disadvantage during the Revolution. Conversely, how the Bank of England was a "secret weapon" for Britain during the war. The role of patriotic financiers like Robert Morris in achieving U.S. victory. The debates over a central bank in the post-revolutionary period and how they contributed to the development of the Constitution.

Zarrar Khuhro is a current affairs commentator and analyst. He is the co-host of Zara Hut Kay on Dawn News.The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceTo support the channel:Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912Patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceAnd Please stay in touch:https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperienceThe podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikhFacebook.com/Shehzadghias/Twitter.com/shehzad89Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC44l9XMwecN5nSgIF2Dvivg/joinChapters:0:00 Introduction2:30 Iran-USA War, Greater Israel and US's religious wars16:18 Antisemitism and Judeo-Christian Values18:40 USA's war aims 23:47 Israel wants to break up Arab States28:10 American Empire, the Economy and Foreign Policy31:22 China vs America35:40 Africa, Swahili and Arabic 38:13 LIbya, Iran and Iraq should have developed nuclear bombs39:22 Attending Evangelical Church Service45:00 Trump and Relationship Troubles50:30 AI and Conspiracy Theorists53:41 Trump, Steve bannon and the Media58:50 Iranian Diaspora1:01:23 Idealism, Israel and Modi1:04:30 Israel, Saudi and Turkey1:21:00 Pakistan-Saudi Defense Pact and Social Media Algorithms1:23:11 Iran's response and the Kurds1:25:40 Pakistan, Power, Pragmatism and Idiots online1:31:44 Propaganda against Iranians and Action Movies1:33:48 Propaganda and normalizing violence1:36:30 Purim1:39:53 AI, Claude and Anthropic1:44:00 Polymarket and betting1:46:34 Audience Questions

This Week on Pure Dead Gaming  This week we dive into the latest GTA 6 buzz — from the newly revealed cover art to pre‑orders finally going live.We also tackle another wave of studio closures, as more developers face uncertain futures amid industry cutbacks. Of course, there's still plenty of nonsense, game updates, and football fever to keep things lively — all the essentials for a Pure Dead Gaming week.If you enjoy the episode, please rate and review — it genuinely helps support the show.Want to get involved in next week's episode? Drop your thoughts in our form:https://shorturl.at/kpEZ2Timestamps00:00:00 Intro19:20 Games Played34:12  Latest Opencritic Scores47:45 Score Challenge49:30 Out Next Week 53:45 News1:07:10 Movie Review: Final Score 2018Links & Socials  PureDeadGaming.comBrand — @puredeadgamingCraig — @puredeadcraigJess — @xjesixAndy — @AkGarfunkelEverything else: https://bio.link/puredeadgamingTheme Song by David FinlaysonAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Zarrar Khuhro is a current affairs commentator and analyst. He is the co-host of Zara Hut Kay on Dawn News.The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceTo support the channel:Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912Patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceAnd Please stay in touch:https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperienceThe podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikhFacebook.com/Shehzadghias/Twitter.com/shehzad89Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC44l9XMwecN5nSgIF2Dvivg/joinChapters:0:00 Introduction2:30 Iran-USA War, Greater Israel and US's religious wars16:18 Antisemitism and Judeo-Christian Values18:40 USA's war aims 23:47 Israel wants to break up Arab States28:10 American Empire, the Economy and Foreign Policy31:22 China vs America35:40 Africa, Swahili and Arabic 38:13 LIbya, Iran and Iraq should have developed nuclear bombs39:22 Attending Evangelical Church Service45:00 Trump and Relationship Troubles50:30 AI and Conspiracy Theorists53:41 Trump, Steve bannon and the Media58:50 Iranian Diaspora1:01:23 Idealism, Israel and Modi1:04:30 Israel, Saudi and Turkey1:21:00 Pakistan-Saudi Defense Pact and Social Media Algorithms1:23:11 Iran's response and the Kurds1:25:40 Pakistan, Power, Pragmatism and Idiots online1:31:44 Propaganda against Iranians and Action Movies1:33:48 Propaganda and normalizing violence1:36:30 Purim1:39:53 AI, Claude and Anthropic1:44:00 Polymarket and betting1:46:34 Audience Questions

The "Memorandum of Understanding" signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is contingent on the cooperation of two entities not a party to it: Hezbollah and Israel—which continues to commit war crimes in Lebanon. The provisions on Iran's nuclear program do not even recoup the progress won in Obama's nuclear deal that Trump tore up in his first term. And Trump's claim when hostilities began back in February to be acting on behalf of Iranians who rose up in mass protests against the regime are now completely betrayed in a "non-interference" pledge. In Episode 334 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg continues to urge support for alternative voices that take a neither/nor position regading MAGA-imperialism and the Islamic Republic, and again recalls the anarchist slogan: Neither your war nor your peace! Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/countervortex Production by Chris Rywalt We ask listeners to donate just $1 per weekly podcast via Patreon -- or $2 for our new special offer! We now have 61 subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 62!

From Shipping in Paraguay to Photojournalism in Kyrgyzstan: Luke Oppenheimer's Journey & the Making of Ottuk

In this final episode of the Daily Dollar Demand series, Aaron shares how to move from understanding the concept to actually implementing it in your business. In This Episode: Start with one job — Apply Daily Dollar Demand from quote to schedule and build momentum through small wins. Make the number visible — Create a scoreboard by putting Daily Dollar Demand on job files, work orders, and schedules. Integrate it into the business — Use Daily Dollar Demand throughout estimating, sales, scheduling, production, and installation. You'll also hear lessons from Jack Stack's The Great Game of Business and why visible numbers help teams stay focused and engaged. Coming Next How to increase throughput and profit without increasing the number of jobs or square feet. Questions or feedback? Aaron@AaronCrowley.com No Lift Install System - https://www.noliftsystem.com ActionFlow - https://www.actionflowspring.com   Keep Grinding! Aaron Crowley aaroncrowley.com

June 10, 2026 Hour 1. VP Trent sitting in for David. Does he use steak sauce? Trent's take on the Sorsby case. Big 12 AD's meet with league commissioner. Great Game 4 in the Stanley Cup Final. The Starting Five.

20 years ago, Bo Burlingham gave a name to a feeling a lot of business owners had struggled to articulate. In his book Small Giants, Bo profiled companies that had chosen not to chase growth at all costs. Most were bootstrapped, owner-operated businesses that cared less about getting big than about building something enduring, meaningful, and excellent. They weren't anti-growth. They just wanted growth to be intentional. And for many owners who read the book, the reaction was immediate: “I thought I was the only one who felt this way.” Out of that recognition grew a community—and eventually an organization—led in large part by Paul Spiegelman, whose own company embodied the Small Giants philosophy. With Bo's encouragement, Paul launched the Small Giants organization 15 years ago to connect owners trying to build great companies without sacrificing culture, independence, or quality of life.At our recent 21 Hats Live gathering in Cincinnati, we explored where that movement goes next in a Brainstorm session with Jean Moncrieff, who took over leadership of the Small Giants organization last year. Jean—who's from South Africa, lives in Zurich, but is moving to the U.S.—brings both momentum and candor to the role. He recently led his first Small Giants Summit in Detroit, which attendees—including me—praised for its renewed energy and sense of purpose. He's also the author of a terrific new book, Finding Freedom: The Business Owner's Guide to Building a Valuable Company and a Meaningful Life. But as you'll hear, Jean recognizes there are challenges ahead.What exactly is Small Giants today? Who is it for? What makes it different from the many other organizations competing for the attention of business owners? Does it need a more formal set of principles—or even an operating system—to help companies put its philosophy into practice? Can it stay true to its founding mission while also attracting businesses large enough to support its events and programs? Ultimately, the conversation arrives at a tension at the heart of the enterprise: Can the Small Giants organization itself become a sustainable, profitable business without losing the values it was created to protect? In other words, can Small Giants become a true small giant?Show Notes:The organizations discussed in this episode include: The Great Game of Business, the Tugboat Institute, and EOS Worldwide.The books discussed in this episode include: Finding Freedom by Jean Moncrieff, Small Giants by Bo Burlingham, Another Way by Dave Whorton with Bo Burlingham, The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack and Bo Burlingham, The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio, and Profit First by Mike Michalowicz.The businesses discussed in this episode include: Smiley Technologies, ITR Economics, Zingerman's Community of Businesses, Text-Em-All, Tasty Catering, Venturity, ImageOne, and Atomic Object. 

(1/3) The Great Game. Gaius and Germanicus debate in their favorite wine bar by the Thames, in Londinium, Spring 92 AD. Germanicus compares 19th-century British strategy to modern American policy, noting both pursued a 78-year containment of Russia. Britain's efforts from 1830 to 1908 involved "wasteful wars" in places like Afghanistan and the Crimea to block Russian expansion in Eurasia. This strategy eventually backfired; by weakening Russia and later alienating Japan, Britain suffered a massive military humiliation at Singapore in 1942, leading to the empire's collapse. The United States has followed a near-identical timeline since 1947, which Germanicus argues has driven Russia and China into a close alliance while making an enemy of Iran. He concludes that the U.S. is currently at a 1930s-style "inflection point," having lost its global reputation and "mojo." Survival now requires acknowledging this reality rather than clinging to a "godlike" view of military power. (1/3)1904

https://youtu.be/aQyHwoGfy50 Max Kryzhanovskiy, President and CEO of MOS Creative, is driven by a desire to set an example for his children and show what's possible through technology, persistence, and innovation. As the leader of a tech-forward agency that builds websites, apps, and AI-enabled platforms, Max helps businesses move from idea to execution by creating digital products that solve real problems and scale over time. We explore Max's MVP Framework — Define the problem, Determine target market, Prototype the product, Build the MVP, Test and obtain feedback, Iterate — a practical approach for transforming ideas into scalable digital products. Max explains why founders should avoid overbuilding too early, how AI is accelerating prototyping and development, and why businesses must balance automation with authentic human connection. — Drive Growth Using AI Agents with Max Kryzhanovskiy  Good day, dear listeners. Steve Preda here with the Management Blueprint Podcast, and my guest today is Max Kryzhanovskiy, the President and CEO of MOS Creative, a company that builds websites and apps that drive growth. They were also the first company in Baltimore to launch a mobile site. Welcome to the show, Max.  Thank you for having me.  Let me ask you this—what is a mobile site? Is it a mobile phone site, or is it something different?  I mean, now it probably doesn't matter as much anymore, because everybody obviously has a website that works on a smartphone screen—or a responsive websites. But before mobile websites came out—or I should say, when smartphones first came out—we had to adjust for smaller screens. We were all used to bigger screens on a computer, and then once we started having different screen sizes come out before responsive, we were the first company to have a mobile website in Baltimore. And we actually built a web application specifically to create them ourselves, and then also went to market to offer it to other clients as well. So a mobile website is just like it sounds, a website that’s specifically designed for mobile.  That’s cool. So it sounds like you are very much a tech-forward company, and you are at the edge of technology. And as we were logging on, you said that you would be recording this on your phone because you actually have AI agents running on your computer. Does that mean you have AI agents as part of your team? What kind of agents do you have? Is it still an experiment, or is it already in execution mode?  It's in execution mode, but we're always experimenting. We like to think we're ahead of the curve, but with AI, we're all experimenting to a certain extent, right? Something new comes out, we try it out, see if it works, and see how it can be applied to your business—what kind of outcomes it can give you. So I'm all about AI. It's amazing. It's an amazing tool. But I think AI is becoming a lot more than we thought it was going to be—and also a lot less at the same time. Meaning, when AI launched—for example, when ChatGPT came out to the broader market—I mean, obviously AI had been around for a while—but when ChatGPT launched its chatbot platform publicly, we were amazed by how much work it could done. So it went from zero to a hundred. “Oh my God, it can do all of this,” right? But now, for example, with the more recent models—4.5, 5.0—the improvements are much smaller.  It's not a hundred percent or a thousand percent better anymore. Now it's maybe five or ten percent better, but the cost keeps increasing. I just read somewhere that even Claude said Claude Code won't be included much longer as part of the regular plan. So now it's only in the $200 higher-tier plan, plus you have to buy additional tokens. So it's really becoming more like, “Hey, yeah, we can do this for you—but you're going to end up paying something similar to what you'd pay a team.” At first, it was more like, “Let's get into the market. Let's get a lot of people interested.” But now, obviously, they have a lot of money behind them—investors, VCs, public market pressure—and they need to bring in revenue. So I think things are going to change very soon. AI is going to become a lot more expensive because the infrastructure and resources it requires are expensive. So eventually, those costs are going to be passed on to users. Yeah. And I noticed that ChatGPT started to do some ads as well. They’re probably going to go that direction, and who knows what that’s going to bring. But that's not our topic today. Today, it's about something else—frameworks. But before I go to the framework question, I'd like to ask you: what is your personal “why,” and how are you manifesting it at MOS Creative? Well, I'm a family man, so my “why” is to see my kids grow up to be amazing human beings—and hopefully to show them a great example of what can be accomplished in sports and in business. So my “why” is also to be a good person. Success can mean different things to different people, but for me, I love the hunt to get to a certain level of success. And then it's kind of like—us as humans, or at least a lot of people—we reach a certain level of success and we don't really celebrate it. It's more like, “Okay, let's get to the next level.” So my “why” is to show my kids that anything is possible if they really want it. Why I got into this space—it was exciting. You could see how quickly technology was moving, the kind of innovation that was possible, and it excited me. So that was one of the main reasons I got into technology. But the other reason was because I was in a different business, and we created technology that helped us grow. And I thought, “Oh wow, this is a completely different way to scale a business.” So technology became the direction we took. Yeah, I love it. I think inspiring our kids is a huge driver for many people, and it totally makes sense. Technology is exciting. I'd like to switch gears here and ask my other common question on this podcast, because this podcast is all about frameworks—business frameworks—how we can help listeners understand things, simplify things, and see different perspectives. So my question to you is: what is your favorite shortcut to success—or framework? And I don't mean “shortcut” in a negative sense, but rather a framework that allows you to understand things differently, make decisions, serve clients, and create valuable outcomes. Whatever it is—something that has worked for you, and is simple enough that you can explain it to listeners in three to five steps. Well, I believe in always being open to learning. It's not specifically a framework—it's more of a mindset: understanding that we don't know everything, especially now, with how quickly things are changing. I mean, a lot of people say that AI is going to make humanity a little dumber than we are. But actually, I learn a lot from it as well. If I'm doing something and I think, “Oh, this is a great way to speed up the process,” then I use it. So let's say, for example, a client asks me a question. There are different ways to approach it. If I already know the answer because I have specific experience with it, I can answer it, right? That doesn't always mean the answer is going to be correct.  I can research it, or I can get an answer from AI and then verify it through research and experience to make sure the outcome is actually what it says it's going to be. The learning part is making sure you're always open to figuring out whether the steps you've taken before are the right steps—or whether they can be optimized. I'm a big believer that everything can be optimized, especially now. There's almost no question that can't be answered quickly. Maybe there are some deep philosophical questions—but for the most part, especially in business, work, or even life, you can get answers very quickly. For example, I had a kind of vertigo-type feeling, and I was wondering what exactly it was. I entered specific prompts into ChatGPT, and it actually broke things down really well for me. Then I went to a doctor. First, I checked with a friend of mine who's a nurse, and she said, “This is probably what you have.” And she started asking me questions. I thought, “This is funny—these are exactly the same questions ChatGPT asked me.” And her husband said, “You know what? That proves that medicine is basically a set of questions. As you answer one question, it leads to the next.” So it's like a dynamic questionnaire. And by the time I got to the doctor, I already had a good idea of what it potentially was, and I knew what questions to ask so I could understand the next steps to fix it.  Yeah.  So what I'm saying is there’s always a way to improve. I'm a big believer in that. It doesn't matter what you're doing, because in this age, everything moves very fast—regardless of the business you're in. That's true. It's interesting that you say ChatGPT can answer any question. It's true—sometimes it hallucinates, but it still gives you an answer. Yesterday, I went to a presentation, and the president of Great Game of Business talked about this. He said, “Today, the answer is everywhere. So it's not a lack of answers—it's a lack of good questions.” So what we really have to come up with are good questions to ask. That's the bigger challenge now—not finding the answer. And I thought that was a really interesting insight. I agree. It's the same thing, right? It relates to prompts as well. If you have a good prompt, you're going to get a better answer. If you ask a good question, you're going to get a better answer. So yeah, I agree with you. Listen, AI isn't a complete solution, but it's a huge help—especially if you're just starting out. Yeah. So what drives your business? Is it technology? Is it trends? Is it something else? What drives it?  It's kind of a mix between technology and growth marketing. What that means is we work with clients all the way from ideation to scaling. We've also had several clients successfully exit. So clients come to us and say, “I have an idea. How do I take it to the next step?” Obviously now, there are AI builders and AI platforms that can help take a high-level idea and turn it into some kind of prototype—or at least a basic flow. But ideally, we work with clients from the idea stage all the way through design, development, launch, and driving traffic to the product. So the perfect client fits into that category. They might have an idea for a web application, mobile application, or software product.  They come to us and they're not really sure what the next steps are—or they've done some research For example, I spoke to a prospective client the other day. She worked with a developer who tried to build the product using an AI builder. For some reason, something didn't work out, and now she's back at square one. So now we have to review what she actually wants to build, determine the best approach, and figure out what phase one, phase two, and phase three should look like. So that's kind of how we work. For our clients, it's not just, “Let us develop it for you.” It's also about the creative side, the messaging, and the user experience. It's about making sure that when someone downloads the app—or visits the website or web application—it serves its purpose. It's a problem-solving product. It needs to solve a problem so users keep coming back again and again. And then we help grow it to new audiences. That's when it starts to scale and become exponential. Does that make sense? Yeah. So I’m wondering, you work from the idea forward, or you work from the outcome backwards? What’s the approach?  That's a great question. Not everyone knows the outcome right away. When someone has both an idea and a clear outcome, it works better, right? Because then you can help them get to that outcome. But overall, the outcomes are usually very high-level. You know: “I want to build this web application or software because I'm targeting this audience.” Okay—but what does that really mean? What problem are you solving? To be honest with you, ninety percent of people don't really know what problems they should be solving at the initial stage. So, talking about frameworks, we work with them to define which problems they should solve first. Because most startups—or even profitable companies trying to add new technology into their workflow or business—often don't know what one or two problems they should solve for the MVP before going all in. Yeah. Okay, so step one is to define the problem. What's step two?  Make sure you have the right audience for that problem. That's a big issue. A lot of times, people try to serve everyone. You don't want to go too broad, and you don't want to go too narrow. If you go too narrow, you're going to hit a ceiling before you even go to market.  So you determine the audience for the problem you're trying to solve, right?  Correct.  And then what's the next step?  Once you determine the audience and define the problem, the next best step is to create some kind of prototype and actually take it to that audience to test for product-market fit. Meaning: get feedback. Again, it doesn't have to be a fully working product. But go to that audience and get feedback like: “Yes, this solves my problem,” and “Yes, I would pay for it.” Or even better—for them to actually exchange some money to join a waitlist or gain access to an early version of the product, so they can test it and provide feedback. That's the best-case scenario. Because once you have that input, it becomes much easier to make adjustments. It doesn't matter whether those adjustments are in the design or in the actual working product—you're refining it for that niche audience. Yeah, that makes sense. So you design the prototype or minimum viable product, then you test it and get feedback. Then what do you do?  Well, I want to clarify something. Designing a prototype and having a minimum viable product can be two separate things.  Okay.  You can design a prototype. Again, it can be designed in Figma, using an AI builder, or even just as a workflow or user flow. Obviously now, things are a little different because you can build prototypes much faster. That doesn't mean they're going to be production-ready. But a minimum viable product is usually focused on solving one or two specific problems for that market. It's a problem-solving product that actually works—meaning it's much closer to being production-ready. Yeah.  So those are two separate things. There's a very big difference between them.  Yeah, because now you have vibe coding, and with tools like Lovable—or whatever platform you're using—you can create a prototype quickly. But it's not necessarily going to work, and then you still have to build the actual working product. Correct. Yes, I agree. Then you test it, expose it to the target market, and gather feedback. And then what do you do? Do you iterate? What's the next step? You iterate, yeah. So at that point, ideally, you have product-market fit, you've received great feedback from users, and—best-case scenario—they've even paid you some money. Then you either expand on what has already been built, or you go all in: invest more money into it and start building a production-ready product. And once you have that, you may realize that you also need to improve the user interface. That happens a lot—especially if you vibe-coded it. The output usually isn't the best when it comes to user interface design or user experience. So you may need to redesign the interface, properly develop it, and then take a production-ready application to market. And then it goes back into the cycle of iteration. Meaning, you keep gathering feedback. This is why I often recommend not adding too many features in the beginning. Focus on one or two core features—one or two main user flows within those features. That's it. Forget about everything else. Yeah. And then you can add features later.  You can always add features later. Most of the time, if you add too many features in the beginning, you'll probably end up cutting at least 40% of them because people just won't use them. And I'm not talking about core features like sign-up, sign-in, forgot password, onboarding, authentication—that kind of stuff. Obviously, you need those. But you still have to figure out who your audience is. Do you need SMS login? Do you need email login? Do you need both? Do you need social logins? You have to make sure you clearly understand your audience—but you don't need everything all at once. You may eventually need all of it, but not in the beginning. Yeah, that's true. So you've worked with other businesses, which means you're primarily a business-to-business agency, right?  Business-to-business, business-to-government—we've also built business-to-consumer apps as well. But usually, our client is a business-to-business.  Yeah. So here's my question: In B2B, how do you gain people's trust so they'll even engage with your product? I understand there's a funnel—but how do you get businesses into the top of that funnel? How do you create that initial trust so they engage? What does it take? Many things. Content helps, obviously. Creating content like this, creating videos—I create videos on a regular basis talking about what's out there, what's possible, what's good, what's bad. Kind of the everyday life of an agency, and the type of work we do. We also post projects on different directories and platforms. A lot of previous clients come back to us, and we get many client referrals. We rank pretty well for SEO and AEO, so a lot of people find us through ChatGPT. Especially because that's one of the services we offer. People find us when searching for things like “best app developers” or “best website designers” in our specific area. We're not targeting nationwide rankings—that's much harder and a much longer-term strategy. But in our area—Maryland, Howard County, Columbia—we rank very high.  And what does it take to rank high in AEO—in AI search?  It's the same approach we take to rank in Google. Google obviously owns Gemini, and now there's Google AI Overview. It's really a real-estate play. If you have a website that's properly structured for Google—with some adjustments for semantic search, like adding question-and-answer content to every page, especially product and service pages—you improve your chances significantly. You also need a properly configured robots.txt file with clear descriptions, so when search crawlers reach your site, they can immediately understand the structure and know where to go. When you see sources cited in AI search, that's exactly what those systems are reading from your site.  You also need the right technical setup: Your website has to be fast. You need proper H1, H2, and H3 structure across the site. So overall, it's about having a properly structured website. If you follow strong SEO fundamentals, with additional improvements specifically for AEO and GEO—because now it's not just SEO anymore, it's SEO, AEO, and GEO—you'll usually appear in ChatGPT, Google AI Overview, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI search tools. And your Google Business Profile and Google Maps listing are properly optimized—which has changed a lot recently on Google's side as well—you'll also show up more often in local AI search results. So isn't it true that AI search looks for different kinds of signals than traditional SEO? I've heard, for example, that backlinks are less important in AI search than they used to be. They're not as important for AI search, but backlinks still carry a lot of weight. Again, you have to think about this as two separate systems, right? There's Google Search—with Google AI Overview and featured snippets—and then there's Google Maps. You don't need a website just to appear on Google Maps. You mainly need a properly optimized Google Business Profile. And you can still show up in AI search that way. Having a website does help, because it sends another signal to Google, but it's not as critical. The most important thing—and I'll answer your question for both cases—is consistency and structure. For Google Maps, if you have a properly maintained Google Business Profile with constant updates—blog posts, videos, photos, and business updates—that teaches Google AI what your business does. So you want updated product pages, images, descriptions, and location details if you're location-based.  All of that educates Google, which helps you rank higher on Google Maps. And like I said, Google Maps ranks very well in AI search. Now, if you also have a website, that's even better. And on your website, it helps to embed your Google Map as well, because that reinforces another signal from Google Maps. For example, some of our clients have multiple locations, so we include Google Maps with all their locations on the site—and that helps. Then you also create location pages, just like you create product pages or service pages. Google—and AI systems in general—don't really rank entire websites. They rank individual pages. That's why top-of-funnel content is usually blog posts or educational content answering someone's problem. Then that written or video content leads users to a service page or product page. That's basically how it works. Does that make sense? Yeah, that's very interesting. So if I want to increase my AI ranking… one of my clients told me that if your clients post about you on Reddit, that can be really powerful and help drive AI search visibility. Is that true? Reddit and Quora are very powerful. Very powerful. They rank very high. Listen, I'll give you a simple example that anybody can use. If you go to Quora or Reddit and look at the questions people are asking—for example, let's say you search for “app development”—you can filter by questions and literally see what people are asking. If you answer those questions in a natural way, related to your service or product, and include a backlink—not in a salesy way, but naturally—that's a very strong backlink. And speaking of backlinks: they're still relevant. Maybe they don't carry as much weight as they used to, but they're still very valuable.  Because when Google or AI systems evaluate content—and when you search in ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and see sources—those sources are essentially citations and backlinks. So if your website has strong citations and is properly structured, it absolutely helps you get discovered. You just need to make sure everything is set up correctly so Google—or any other search system—understands what your content means. But yes, to answer your question directly: Reddit and Quora are excellent for visibility because they're high-authority websites with massive traffic and very strong domain ratings. Yeah. That’s great. So Google Maps, Reddit, Quora, they are big drivers. That’s great.  Huge drivers. I mean, listen, there are many others—but social media has become huge over the past two years. Before, if you made a Reel on Instagram, you wouldn't be able to find it through Google search. But in the past couple of years, they opened that up. Why do you think they did that? Because they understand the value of content. Just like YouTube—where you can find videos through specific keywords—they want Instagram videos to be discoverable through Google Search and AI search. And then those searches lead people back to their platform. If someone who isn't already an Instagram user discovers content they like—a creator they like—they may sign up for Instagram because of it. So yeah, all of this ties back to backlinks and discoverability. It's really about how you use those backlinks. I mean, YouTube has been a huge driver for people looking for answers or trying to learn almost anything. So yeah, that's kind of how it works. It's one big spiderweb. Yes. It’s interesting. So basically, the more content I have and the more content other people post about me in credible sites, whether it’s Reddit, Quora, YouTube, social media, and they all point to my website or web pages, then the more it’s going to be discoverable by AI. That’s kinda makes sense.  You're definitely going to become more discoverable. But again, if it's just “Steve Preda,” that alone may not be valuable unless someone is specifically searching for your name. Now, if people are responding to or discussing how to apply a specific framework—and someone is searching for that framework that relates to your content—then it becomes relevant. Does that make sense?  Yeah. Yeah, understand. Yeah. Absolutely. Let me ask you this. If you could have a magic wand and fix one thing inside your company in the next 12 months, what would that be?  That’s an interesting question. I don’t know. I think I'd be very interested in applying more AI agents so they can help drive the business and support more growth. Overall, I just want healthy growth—making sure we're happy with the work we're doing, and that our clients are happy with the work we deliver. Because that leads to better outcomes, longer-term relationships, and healthier growth for the company. I mean, my ultimate goal at some point is probably to grow the company and eventually sell it. If we're happy with what we're doing, and our clients are happy with the work we're delivering, I think that growth will happen organically. Yeah. And what do you need to make the company sellable in your perspective?  Having strong, scalable systems—and AI is going to help with a lot of that.  So do you believe that a company with only AI employees—at the extreme—could still become a very valuable company? No, I'm not saying we should rely only on AI, and I'm definitely not planning to let go of any employees. What I'm saying is that AI can help with certain smaller tasks that sometimes get missed or forgotten. That's a perfect fit for AI. For example, even during conversations—if a project manager is handling several clients at once—we usually need updates on what was discussed. Yes, AI can record the conversation, but more importantly: what are the actionable next steps? And from those action items, what has already been completed, and what still needs to be done? Those are the kinds of things AI agents can help with—tasks that don't necessarily require a human. That way, time isn't wasted and can instead be used more effectively to make sure things are getting done and that we're reaching the outcome you mentioned earlier. What is your opinion about controlling AI agents? What is the level of risk? Not just about someone maybe doing a prompt injection and kind of hijacking your agents, but losing control of the agents in terms of complexity. So do you see a risk there that someone could kind of unleash these agents and somehow not be able to control them, or the quality of their work? Could they not control that? Or something changes and the agents get impacted—maybe a software update or something like that? Is this a thing, or is that not a concern? I think there should definitely always be guardrails. For example, right now we're building a platform with AI to gather RFPs, review them, score them, and actually create outputs—like the structure of the RFP. But before they get submitted, an actual person reviews them. I think there should always be final approval by a human—unless it becomes such a perfect system. I mean, it's software, right? At a certain point, can something go wrong? Yes. Especially with updates—unless you own the full process from beginning to end. Yeah, I think there's always a risk, but there's always a risk with software.  There should definitely be some guardrails, no doubt about it. I don't think it should be the last step before a human approves it and actually—for this RFP example—submits the response to whatever platform. I think a human should always review and approve it to make sure everything is working properly. But I think you can save a lot of time. For example, instead of us doing two or three RFPs a month, we can do ten or fifteen. I mean, the quality isn't really changing. It's structure. It's answering what they're asking for. So if it fits the criteria we're looking for, we still spend time reviewing it. I mean, we got an RFP the other day that was 150 pages. It would probably take two days just to read it. And at a certain point, you're like, “You know what? This isn't a good fit.” So it saves time. It just creates more efficiency. But there should definitely be guardrails and structure for sure, and a human should be involved in the loop. That I agree with you on. Okay. It's a big topic. One of the thoughts is that at some point AI is talking to AI. Like in hiring—you see these big recruiting companies using AI to filter resumes, and then applicants use AI to write resumes that fit what the filters are looking for. And at some point, the authenticity or credibility of those resumes begins to fade because it's all prearranged. So then the whole purpose of filtering employees starts to diminish. Do you think this kind of thing might happen with RFPs too? Maybe. Very possible. I wouldn't be surprised if it's not happening already. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely very possible. There are already several platforms that find RFPs. They work a little differently. We're building specifically for our own purpose. I do want to document the process to kind of show, “Hey, here's what can be done.” But yeah, it's very possible, for sure. Listen, if you're relying on a regular process to get a job, then you're probably not going to get the job. There are a lot more people looking for work right now. I don't know if you heard about Microsoft—and I think Tesla too—but companies are letting people go left and right. Microsoft is offering long-term employees buyouts. And by long-term employees, I mean people who are probably older and maybe not as knowledgeable or experienced with AI.  It's like, “Hey, let us buy you out so you can retire a little earlier.” So this is happening. If you're going through the same regular hiring process as everyone else, you're competing against 500 or 1,000 other people for the same job. Obviously, it's an employer's market right now, not an employee's market. If you're trying to get a job, it shouldn't just be through the regular process. It should be through people you know. Networking is going to have even more value. Personal connections matter, and people knowing, “Hey, this person actually spoke to me the right way.” You should also know how to use AI, because that's going to give you an edge in getting a job. But actually speaking to someone should happen through networking and connections. Yeah, that's my feeling too—that human interaction is actually going to increase dramatically in value. Because authenticity… that's really the only way to verify authenticity: being face-to-face with someone, a real physical person. That's fascinating. Yeah. But I'll tell you—like I said, I post videos on a regular basis. My mom asked me the other day, “Max, are you using AI, or is it really you?” I said, “No, it's really me. It's not AI.” So it's funny because AI is getting so good that you're not always sure what's real anymore. And even with RFPs—it's not just about submitting proposals or resumes. Personal and human connection is going to become more valuable than ever. If I personally knew every buyer putting out an RFP, I'd rather talk to them directly, one hundred percent. Because it becomes a completely different process.  Yeah, that's spot on. Love it. So, great information. I love the framework: define the problem, determine the audience, create a prototype, build the MVP, test it, and then iterate. That's how you build a digital product—whether it's a website or an app. So if you're out there looking for a solution, Max Kryzhanovskiy and MOS Creative may have the solution for you. So if people would like to connect with Max Kryzhanovskiy and MOS Creative, where can they reach you? People can reach us through our website: www.moscreative.com. They can also find me on LinkedIn under Max Kryzhanovskiy or MOS Creative. They can fill out a form on our website or email us at info@moscreative.com. Fantastic. So if you want an AI-driven platform, definitely reach out to Max. So Max, thank you for coming and sharing your ideas. And I love that you have such a strong vision for AI and that you're actively experimenting within your company, which means your clients will benefit from that as well. And if you enjoyed this conversation, then stay tuned, because every week a successful entrepreneur comes on the show and shares their ideas and frameworks. So thanks for coming, Max—and thank you for listening. Thank you. Important Links: Max's LinkedIn Max's website Max's email: info@moscreative.com

Peter Merel: From Desk-Pounding to Harmony — How the Game of Go Transformed a Violent Product Owner, and Why Every Employee Should Think Like an Owner In this episode, we refer to The Agile Way by Peter Merel and The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack. The Great Product Owner: The Real Estate Visionary Who Built Channels of Learning Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.   "When a product owner brings an attitude of learning together, it doesn't just create psychological safety — it creates an active experimental mindset and a network of trust relationships that support each other in the learning process." - Peter Merel   The best product owner Peter has worked with is Ben White, one of three brothers and partners in Ray White — Australia's largest property management business, started by Ben's great-grandfather. Ben had a vision for transforming how property management works across the entire Australian industry. To realize this vision, he tried to bring an app to market — and failed. Not once, but twice, before succeeding on the third attempt. What made Ben exceptional wasn't his persistence alone, but that each failure became an opportunity to learn how to approach the problem differently. The product he finally brought to market was informed by all of that learning. Ben's real genius, Peter explains, is his ability to establish channels of learning — trust relationships that flow not just through the technical team, but throughout the entire business and back into product development. Without those trust relationships, psychological safety alone isn't enough. Peter also emphasizes that the product owner should be a servant leader, and points to Jack Stack's open book management model where every employee is motivated to think and act as a business owner. When everyone understands that the future of the business is their future, they all collaborate as product owners — and the need for desk-pounding disappears entirely.   Self-reflection Question: How many channels of learning does your product owner currently have — and are there trust relationships in the organization that could become active channels but haven't been tapped yet? The Bad Product Owner: The Violent Visionary Who Didn't Understand Collaboration Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.   "The problem isn't the role of product owner. The problem is the relationship between product owner and everybody else." - Peter Merel   At Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Peter worked with a business executive who drove the development of a digital product that generated $2 billion in business for the bank. By any business measure, this person was extraordinarily successful. But as a product owner, he was terrible. He pounded desks, went red in the face, insisted that everything the team was doing was wrong, didn't trust anyone, and couldn't be trusted either. The core anti-pattern wasn't the shouting itself — it was that this person didn't understand what a collaborative relationship needed to be. Peter found a creative solution: he taught the executive the game of Go. Go rewards harmony — you lose by being too passive, and you lose by being too aggressive. Through Go, Peter taught the executive to create prompting questions, to work through others so they would carry concerns into meetings, and to provide answers rather than demands. Once the executive saw that collaboration was a more effective way to realize his own vision — faster, better, and more reliably — the behavior changed completely. The insight Peter shares is that before coaching behavior, you sometimes have to prove the business case for collaboration itself.   In this segment, we refer to The Agile Way by Peter Merel, which Peter now gives to product owners as a framework for understanding collaborative relationships.   Self-reflection Question: When you encounter a product owner who leads through demands rather than collaboration, have you considered showing them that collaboration is actually a faster path to getting what they want?   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Great game design doesn't just come from talent or vision. It can fall apart when good ideas get stuck, overlooked, or brought in too late. So today, we're going to explore how studios can adapt lessons from large teams to improve design input, make better informed decisions, and turn collaboration into better gameplay. Episode Shownotes Link: https://rengenmarketing.com/452

JB White had a rough show day technically, but not intellectually. He opens with a milestone salute to Clarence Thomas before getting to the real business: James Thorne's sharp analysis of why China's tough talk on sanctions is all swagger and no structure. Beijing refuses to float the yuan or open its capital account, which means it is building a walled-off subsystem, not a dollar replacement. JB adds his own commentary framing Trump as the architect of a new monetary order where America is no longer a junior partner to British and European systems. He then takes direct aim at Emmanuel Macron's claim that the US, Russia, and China are aligned against Europe, and at Tom Luongo's agreement with that framing, calling it proof that Trump has successfully fooled people who should know better. JB also names the groupthink problem inside Badlands Media plainly and without apology.

This week's episode features Gambonanza, Survivor Mercs, Dread Delusion, Tiny Bookshop, Skautfold: Moonless Knight, GluMe, Ninjora Echoes, and Above Snakes. Anyway and as always, thank you for watching or listening, I hope you enjoy this here episode, and I hope you have a wonderful wonderful rest of your day. (And if you haven't already, or are a listener and not a watcher, please like, subscribe, hit the bell, and all that jazz; it may not seem like much, but it goes a long way in helping support the show and site in general. I would appreciate it greatly.)

In this episode, Jason Miller speaks with Steve Baker of The Great Game of Business about the critical role of financial literacy in building successful employee ownership and ESOP cultures. They explore why ownership alone does not automatically create an ownership mindset and why education is essential for helping employees understand how businesses actually work. Steve shares practical insights on how organizations can strengthen engagement, accountability, and performance by teaching teams to think and act like owners through a deeper understanding of financials and business performance. The conversation highlights a key takeaway for ESOP companies and leadership teams: financial literacy is the foundation that connects employee ownership to real behavioral change and long-term business success.

Andrés Martinez, the author of the new book “The Great Game: A Tale of Two Footballs And America’s Quest to Conquer Global Sport,” joins Sarah to discuss what it took for the U.S. to finally speak the language of soccer, FIFA finally reaching stateside audiences in the most ironic way, the surprising root of the term “soccer mom,” and how women’s soccer is a U.S. export despite the sport itself being an import. Plus, a last-minute battle to choose-your-own-adventure, cleared for the Storm, and what’s that I see? Way more airtime. The NWSL schedule can be found here Read Jeff Kassouf’s reporting for ESPN on how the NWSL could flip schedules here and here Check out the WNBA preseason broadcast schedule here and the regular season broadcast schedule here Read Alexa Philippou’s story with details on Dominique Malonga’s FIBA clearance here Buy a copy of Andrés Martinez’s new book “The Great Game” here Donate to the Hear the Cheers campaign here Listen to Pablo Torre’s podcast episode on The Onion buying InfoWars here You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky: @biancahillier.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if this is an ancient war for the planet itself? Routes, resources and ideology are the real targets and right now food production is being deliberately choked. Major shipping choke points are being lined up for disruption and climate shifts are handing the perfect excuse for the shortages headed straight to your table. This is the Great Game as described by Michael Yon and David DuByne. ☕ Buy a Double Espresso to Support Civilization Cycle Podcast

DJ & PK talked about and reacted to the Game 1 loss for the Utah Mammoth as they lost 4-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights.

OH WAIT WE DO! It's called WAR OF THE ROSES and we have an ALL NEW ONE! But first, a SPORK story? Also, where is the CRAZIEST place you have napped and why? Plus, A DOOZY of a MINUTE TO WIN IT TODAY but also 2 GREAT GAMES from TRICKY NIC-Y and KYLE UNFUG!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the "Maximize Business Value Podcast," our Certified Mastery Partner host, Dave Casey, and Panelists, Amy Morin & David Brown, discuss why having a Business Operating System matters for your eventual exit. Listen in as Dave Casey, Amy Morin, and David Brown break down the mechanics of EOS vs. The Great Game of Business. GET THE BOOKS: Start with Maximizing Business Value by Tom BronsonTune in weekly to hear more from Mastery Partners and to receive relevant key content on your journey to maximizing your business value! #MasteryPartners #MaximizeBusinessValuePodcast #BusinessOwnerHotline Learn More about Dave CaseyDave Casey is an engaged business leader with an eye for cybersecurity, non-profits, and business transformation. Dave previously founded and led an IT managed services company, brought it through a successful exit, and today helps companies craft cybersecurity strategies.Learn More about Amy MorinAmy Morin is an accomplished entrepreneur and Business Growth Coach who brings exceptional value to your network. She has an impressive background as a Certified EOS Implementer®, Outgrow Sales Advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor®. Learn More about David Brown: David Brown is a seasoned business leader, consultant, and growth strategist with over 30 years of experience leading, scaling, and turning around small to mid-market companies. Mastery PartnersElevating Businesses to Achieve The Business Owner's Dream Exit The unfortunate reality is that for every business that comes on the market (for whatever reason), only 17% of them achieve a successful exit. You read that right. 83% of attempted business transitions never reach the closing table. Mastery Partners is on a mission to change that. We ELEVATE businesses to achieve maximum value and reach that dream exit.Our objectives are simple - understand where the business is today, identify opportunities for dramatic improvement, and offer solutions to enhance the business, making it more marketable and valuable. And that all starts with understanding the business owner's definition of his or her dream exit.  Mastery has developed a 4-Step Process to help business owners achieve their dreams.STEP 1: Transition Readiness Assessment STEP 2: Roadmap for Value Acceleration STEP 3: Relentless Execution STEP 4: Decision: Now that desired results are achieved, the business is ready for the next step in the journey!CONNECT WITH MASTERY PARTNERS TO LEARN MORELinkedInWebsite© 2025 Mastery Partners, LLC.

In 1672, Charles sought to put the Treaty of Dover into operation; to join Louis XIV in making war on the Dutch Republic. The plan was to replace de Witt's government with William of Orange as Stadholder, capture key Zealand ports for England, and secure further financial support from Louis. And thus have a free hand with parliament. All that was needed was victory at sea for the Anglo French fleet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Drive broke down the Sweet 16 games, which delivered great basketball last night.

In the first hour, DVD discussed Mahoney Daunic and the big red with a big win last night, and the Preds BIG OT win over the Jets. They also discuss Jeremiyah Love to the Titans, maybe real, or will someone grab him earlier? 

In this solo episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, Sarah Olivieri shares key lessons from the influential book The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack—and why its principles apply just as powerfully to nonprofits as they do to for-profit companies. At its core, the idea behind the "great game" is simple: organizations perform better when everyone is engaged in the work of improving the business. Not just leadership. Not just managers. Everyone. Too often, only a handful of people in an organization are expected to think strategically and make decisions, while the rest of the team is tasked with executing instructions. But when only a few people are using their brains to solve problems and make improvements, the organization is leaving enormous potential untapped. Sarah explores how leaders can begin unlocking the intelligence of their entire team by creating systems that encourage participation, collaboration, and shared responsibility for results. She also highlights two powerful principles from the book: First, the power of gamification. When people feel like they are playing a game they can win together—whether that means reaching fundraising goals, improving efficiency, or increasing impact—they become more engaged and invested in the outcome. Second, the importance of financial transparency and literacy. When people understand the numbers that drive an organization—cash flow, revenue, expenses, and impact—they are able to make better decisions and contribute more meaningfully to the mission. This approach ultimately leads toward what's known as open-book management, where financial information is shared widely so teams can see how their work contributes to the organization's success. The result? Stronger collaboration. Better decisions. And a team that truly feels ownership over the mission. If you want a smarter, more engaged team, this episode will challenge you to think differently about how you involve your people in the work of running the organization. In This Episode, You'll Learn Why organizations perform better when every team member uses their brain to improve the business How gamification increases engagement and teamwork Why winning as a team is more motivating than internal competition How understanding financial numbers helps teams make better decisions Why transparency often builds trust rather than risk The core idea behind open-book management Who This Episode Is For This episode is especially helpful for: Executive directors leading growing teams Nonprofit leaders who want stronger engagement from staff Organizations working to build a high-performance culture Leaders who want their teams thinking like owners About Your Host, Sarah Olivieri Bold, strategic, and refreshingly human… Sarah Olivieri is the go-to expert for conversations on aligned leadership, outcome delegation, and sustainable growth. She brings wit, warmth, and real-world wisdom to mission-driven founders, visionary CEOs, and change-makers who want more clarity, more joy, and more results.   Most leaders hit a wall when success depends on them holding it all together. Sarah helps them change that by redefining leadership around outcomes instead of activity, empowering teams to own results that scale and freeing leaders to focus on the vision that drives them. A former director of three nonprofits and founder of five businesses, she has a rare ability to spot opportunity where others see chaos, shift stuck patterns, and build organizations that support both legacy and life.   Sarah leads with the same mindset that made her an award-winning sailor: iterate on what works, stay focused in the storm, and never forget the joy of the journey. Links Website: saraholivieri.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-olivieri Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

SHOW SCHEDULE THURSDAY 3-12-20261917 COTSWOLDS ENGLAND1. Mary Anastasia O'Grady (Wall Street Journal) discusses Iranian presence in Venezuela, focusing on war drones and agents with Venezuelan passports. She notes the U.S. recognition of Delcy Rodriguez as acting president while pursuing a democratic transition. (1)2. Natalie Ecanow (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) examines Qatar's "Special Watch List" designation for religious freedom abuses, specifically involving a Baha'i leader. She highlights the contradiction of Qatar hosting groups like Hamas while maintaining strategic U.S. partnerships. (2)3. Jeff McCausland (CBS News) analyzes modern warfare's reliance on drones and missiles, noting the lack of a clear U.S. strategy for the Iran conflict. He criticizes the administration's poor messaging regarding tragic civilian casualties. (3)4. Jeff McCausland (CBS News) discusses technology favoring defense in Ukraine and Iran through drones and GPS. He examines Iran's asymmetric strategy targeting global supply chains and their willingness to fight a long attrition war. (4)5. Evan Ellis (U.S. Army War College) details Panama's port contract disputes with China and the transition to APM Terminals. He also discusses ongoing lawfare in Guatemala and the U.S. intention to return Haitian migrants despite local violence. (5)6. Evan Ellis (U.S. Army War College) reports on rumored secret diplomacy between the U.S. and Cuba's Castro family. He explains Cuba's severe economic collapse and electricity crisis following the loss of subsidized oil from Venezuela. (6)7. Evan Ellis (U.S. Army War College) discusses U.S. direct engagement with Venezuela's leadership regarding oil and mining investments. He also analyzes shifting political trends in Colombia and Peru, where right-of-center candidates are gaining significant momentum. (7)8. Evan Ellis (U.S. Army War College) notes cooled relations between Brazil's Lula and the U.S. due to Brazil's foreign policy shifts toward the BRICS. He also analyzes the rise of conservative leader Jose Antonio Kast in Chile. (8)9. Paul Thomas Chamberlain (Columbia University) recounts U.S. strategic calculations before Pearl Harbor, highlighting uncertainty about carrier technology. He describes the U.S. as a reluctant, "anti-colonial" empire facing imminent threats to its Philippine possessions and interests. (9)10. Paul Thomas Chamberlain (Columbia University) identifies late 1942 as World War II's turning point, citing Stalingrad, Guadalcanal, and North Africa. These battles signaled the rise of continent-spanning superpowers over traditional colonial empires in a new world order. (10)11. Paul Thomas Chamberlain (Columbia University) analyzes the Casablanca and Cairo conferences, highlighting Roosevelt's strategies to keep Stalin as an ally. The U.S. promoted anti-colonialism and self-determination to establish a post-war liberal capitalist order dominated by American economy. (11)12. Paul Thomas Chamberlain (Columbia University) examines Allied plans like Operation Ranke to contain Soviet influence as Germany neared collapse. Despite focusing on Europe, the U.S. successfully launched simultaneous offensive thrusts across the Pacific against the Japanese Empire. (12)13. Anatol Lieven (Quincy Institute) discusses the Iran war's impact, noting Russia's benefits through increased energy profits and diverted Western air defenses. He criticizes the U.S. administration for failing to predict predictable Iranian retaliation against global energy supplies. (13)14. Anatol Lieven (Quincy Institute) explores the resurgence of the "Great Game," detailing Israel's goal to dismantle the Iranian state. He argues that bombing will not break Iranian resistance and notes European reluctance to impose sanctions. (14)15. Richard Epstein (Civitas Institute) criticizes President Trump's trade policies and tariff investigations, arguing they cause severe domestic economic dislocation. He highlights the legal uncertainty businesses face regarding tariff refunds and the potential for prolonged litigation. (15)16. Richard Epstein (Civitas Institute) discusses the Middle East war's threat to niche commodities essential for high-end microchips. He critiques recent energy policies and emphasizes the difficulty of assessing military progress due to limited public information. (16)

14. Anatol Lieven (Quincy Institute)explores the resurgence of the "Great Game," detailing Israel's goal to dismantle the Iranian state. He argues that bombing will not break Iranian resistance and notes European reluctance to impose sanctions. (14)1900 RUSSIA EMPIRE

In this episode, we celebrate a wild 3-2 road win in Atlanta fueled by goals from Solans, Hezarkhani, and Gozo, though the victory is tempered by the news that Ari Piol is out for the season. We debate whether the front office must find a striker replacement now or wait until summer, while also questioning if Atlanta's $22 million man, Emmanuel Latte Lath, is the biggest bust in MLS history. After a dominant 5-goal "Monarchs Moment" recap and a look at the upcoming Leagues Cup gauntlet, we wrap things up with a blunt preview of the Austin FC clash—predicting a satisfying RSL win and a Sanabria "thundercunt" goal against a team we truly love to hate.

in this episode pablo and joestar break down everything that happened in the entire universe this weekpatreon.com/stateoftheleague

Get Jeff Dudan's book FOR FREE! Most businesses don't have a people problem — they have a clarity problem. In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Steve Baker (VP, The Great Game of Business | co-author of Get in the Game and the 20th Anniversary edition of The Great Game of Business) to break down why “open-book management” isn't about spreadsheets… it's about building ownership, accountability, and a winning culture. ✅ What you'll learn: Why leaders hide financials (and why it backfires) The real goal of open-book management: education + transparency How to get employees to think like owners without “boss energy” Why forecasting beats quotas (and kills sandbagging) Mini-games: the 90-day system to drive results and engagement How this applies to franchisees, franchisors, and operators

Get Jeff Dudan's book FOR FREE! Most businesses don't have a people problem — they have a clarity problem. In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Steve Baker (VP, The Great Game of Business | co-author of Get in the Game and the 20th Anniversary edition of The Great Game of Business) to break down why “open-book management” isn't about spreadsheets… it's about building ownership, accountability, and a winning culture. ✅ What you'll learn: Why leaders hide financials (and why it backfires) The real goal of open-book management: education + transparency How to get employees to think like owners without “boss energy” Why forecasting beats quotas (and kills sandbagging) Mini-games: the 90-day system to drive results and engagement How this applies to franchisees, franchisors, and operators

Get a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan's book DISCERNMENT here What if the key to building a winning company isn't charisma… but teaching everyone the score? In this episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan, Jeff sits down with Jack Stack, founder of the Great Game of Business and pioneer of open-book management. After surviving the collapse of International Harvester in the 1980s, Jack helped lead a leveraged buyout and discovered a painful truth: most leaders don't truly understand their numbers. That realization became a movement. In this conversation, they break down: -Why companies hide financial information -Why financial literacy is the biggest leadership gap in business -How small operational wins compound into massive enterprise value -Why manufacturing matters -The danger of too much overhead and not enough direct labor -How teaching ownership changes people's personal lives -Why talent — not strategy — will determine future valuations -The role of AI in leadership and business clarity -The simple principle that can change a child's future Jack's closing message is simple: “Teach a kid how to make a buck.” Learn more about The Great Game of Business Watch the full episode and see why ownership and transparency create winning cultures. Absolutely. Here's a strong, optimized hashtag block for this episode — built around leadership, ownership, financial literacy, manufacturing, and Jack Stack's brand. Get a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan's book DISCERNMENT here  #JackStack #JeffDudan #UnemployablePodcast #GreatGameOfBusiness #OpenBookManagement #FinancialLiteracy #EmployeeOwnership #ESOP #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipDevelopment #OwnershipMindset #CompanyCulture #BusinessTurnaround #ManufacturingMatters #LeadershipTransparency #ScaleYourBusiness #WinningCulture #FinancialEducation #BuildToWin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan's book DISCERNMENT here What if the key to building a winning company isn't charisma… but teaching everyone the score? In this episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan, Jeff sits down with Jack Stack, founder of the Great Game of Business and pioneer of open-book management. After surviving the collapse of International Harvester in the 1980s, Jack helped lead a leveraged buyout and discovered a painful truth: most leaders don't truly understand their numbers. That realization became a movement. In this conversation, they break down: -Why companies hide financial information -Why financial literacy is the biggest leadership gap in business -How small operational wins compound into massive enterprise value -Why manufacturing matters -The danger of too much overhead and not enough direct labor -How teaching ownership changes people's personal lives -Why talent — not strategy — will determine future valuations -The role of AI in leadership and business clarity -The simple principle that can change a child's future Jack's closing message is simple: “Teach a kid how to make a buck.” Learn more about The Great Game of Business Watch the full episode and see why ownership and transparency create winning cultures. Absolutely. Here's a strong, optimized hashtag block for this episode — built around leadership, ownership, financial literacy, manufacturing, and Jack Stack's brand. Get a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan's book DISCERNMENT here  #JackStack #JeffDudan #UnemployablePodcast #GreatGameOfBusiness #OpenBookManagement #FinancialLiteracy #EmployeeOwnership #ESOP #BusinessLeadership #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipDevelopment #OwnershipMindset #CompanyCulture #BusinessTurnaround #ManufacturingMatters #LeadershipTransparency #ScaleYourBusiness #WinningCulture #FinancialEducation #BuildToWin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 "I cultivate a large number of friends" [WIST]  What does it take to build a legacy that lasts nearly a century? Today we're joined by Peter Eckrich and Rob Nunn to discuss their new book, On the Shoulders of Giants. It's a portrait gallery of twenty-one of the influential men and women who founded and fueled the Sherlock Holmes literary scene from its infancy in the 1930s.  We dive into the lives of these bookish, clubbable people, who were all as knowledgeable as they were sociable. Whether you're a lifelong Sherlockian or a newcomer to the Great Game, our conversation takes a fresh look at the "Giants" whose scholarship and camaraderie created the community we know today. Our "Learned Societies" segment kicks off with Sherlockian society activities in the second half of April. Then it's a new edition of "Examining the Pictures," with the film critic, journalist, and author Christian Monggaard, BSI. This time, Christian explores Disney's 1986 success, The Great Mouse Detective.  Then the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a copy of On the Shoulders of Giants for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ihearofsherlock.com by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play. As a reminder, our supporters can listen to the show ad-free and have access to occasional bonus material. Join us on the platform of your choice (Patreon | Substack). And if you need some show swag or gift ideas, or if you want to show off your good taste to other Sherlockians, check out our Merch Store, with mugs, notepads and more.   Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts.   Links On the Shoulders of Giants: Great Sherlockians Remembered (Wessex Press) Other episodes mentioned on the show: Episode 244: The Finest Assorted Collection Episode 283: Canonical Cornerstones Episode 290: Legends of the BSJ - James Montgomery Other links: The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar And It Is Always 1895 conference I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere / Trifles Merch Store     Explore more here. Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.   And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians find us. Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.  

Ken and Anthony share their initial reactions to the Super Bowl and why they thought the halftime show was more entertaining than the game.

SNOWED IN! We had a blast recording this episode from home—both of us snowed in (outside, of course). Tim was rescued by the plows just in time to hit record. Jeff, meanwhile, somehow still made it to his full-time job.On This Date in Baseball History, we tip our caps to “my man” and Harold Reynolds. And whenever Tim breaks out the cards, you know it's going to be a good time. We also settle the debate on the greatest player to wear No. 59—and yes, it's a current player!Plus, a puzzling story from Tim involving his grandson proves that even a guy with a massive baseball brain can struggle when it comes to actual puzzles.All this and more on this week's edition of Is This a Great Game, or What? Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights. Joy Pop Productions LLC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is competing in one of the most crowded genres in video games: the Metroidvania. Sorry, "Search Action Game."  But trust us, this one's worth pulling from the pack. It blends the aesthetics of Nier, Citizen Sleeper, and oil paintings into something surprising and beautiful. Plus, the boys return to their Animal Crossing islands for the big Switch 2 update. Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan. Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episodes each month!

Serbian analyst Nikola Mikovic argues that the contemporary world remains firmly under Western dominance, refuting the popular narrative of an emerging multipolar global order. He posits that the United States and its European allies possess unmatched power, citing recent military actions in Venezuela and the lack of support for Iran as proof of Russian and Chinese weakness. Mikovic characterizes Russia and Iran as an “axis of impotence,” suggesting they are incapable of providing a true alternative to Western systems. The discussion also explores the global shift toward technocracy, noting that rapid digitalization and the elimination of cash are occurring across both East and West. Finally, the source warns of a potential large-scale war in Europe and predicts a “Great Game” in Central Asia where the West and China will ultimately displace Russian influence. Watch on BitChute / Brighteon / Rumble / Substack / YouTube *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.com Donate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donations Consult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Listen Ad-Free for $4.99 a Month or $49.99 a Year! Apple Subscriptions https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/geopolitics-empire/id1003465597 Supercast https://geopoliticsandempire.supercast.com ***Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopolitics American Gold Exchange https://www.amergold.com/geopolitics easyDNS (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://easydns.com Escape The Technocracy (15% off with GEOPOLITICS) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopolitics Outbound Mexico https://outboundmx.com PassVult https://passvult.com Sociatates Civis https://societates-civis.com StartMail https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=ngu4nzr Wise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites X https://x.com/nikola_mikovic Telegram https://t.me/Nikola_Mikovic About Nikola Mikovic Nikola Mikovic is a freelance journalist, researcher and analyst based in Serbia. He covers mostly the foreign policies of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, as well as energy-related issues. Nikola primarily focuses on Russia's involvement in post-Soviet space, the Middle East, and the Balkans. He writes for several publications such as Byline Times, CGTN, Lowy Institute, Global Comment, and World Geostratregic Insights, among others. *Podcast intro music used with permission is from the song “The Queens Jig” by the fantastic “Musicke & Mirth” from their album “Music for Two Lyra Viols”: http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)