Podcasts about Hacksaw Ridge

Wellness + Wisdom | Episode 742 Is your fear of suffering keeping you from discovering the deepest treasures of your soul? Author and extreme adventurer, Akshay Nanavati, joins Josh Trent on the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast, episode 742, to share how embracing suffering during his 60-day solo crossing of Antarctica became the key to transcending limitations and unlocking pure potential, what his journey taught him about the paradox of oneness, and why the only way out of suffering is through it. "When you stop resisting suffering, it frees you from the grasp of suffering. It's not the suffering in and of itself that I seek. Suffering is the means, not the purpose. The purpose is what it gives you access to. It's the transcendence, the awakening, the breaking down of the illusions, the surrender." - Akshay Nanavati In This Episode, Akshay Nanavati Uncovers: [01:10] 60 Days Alone in Antarctica Akshay Nanavati 606 Akshay Nanavati | How To Love Your Fear: The (REAL) Secret To Unlocking Your Pure Potential How the world shows you more about the human soul than any textbook. Why it's a privilege when we can choose our suffering. How he confronted his inner demons while crossing Antarctica. Why Akshay's biggest mental challenge during the expedition was frustration. How the last 10 days felt like he was drunk. Why he ended the expedition after 60 days due to a life-threatening medical issue. [08:45] How to Stay In The Present Moment What brought Akshay into moments of oneness and bliss during the expedition. The three elements of a raw experience. Why he was pushing himself back into the present moment in order to keep going. How the only thing he could control was his next step. [12:40] The Paradox of Oneness How we all seek different forms of peak experiences. Why the illusion in which we experience life changed for Akshay. Fearvana by Akshay Nanavati How the opposites encompass the human experience. Why the mind creates an illusion of good and bad. How Antarctica made Akshay feel very small but also extremely powerful. Why love is an experience of both separation and connection. How resisting or clinging to duality creates suffering. [19:40] The Gift of Suffering The bigger the dragon we battle, the better the treasure on the other side of the battle. Why the human experience is a paradox. How suffering is the means to transcendence. Why pain connects us to God. How Akshay accepts what is instead of resisting suffering. Why comfort is not the enemy. [26:45] Pure Experience Why reality is not "either, or." How labels create divisions and limitations. Why words can open the door for us, but can't provide the same value as experience. How mastery is about bringing ourselves back to the center. [31:40] Stop Attaching to The Outcome How Akshay's Antarctica crossing helped him shed the resistance to the outcome. Why he's been embracing the process more than the outcome. How he plays on the edge in the middle. What led Akshay to find more peace within. [36:40] Don't Be Afraid to Get Off Balance 734 Kirk Parsley MD | Sleep As Medicine: How To Sleep Like Royalty + Stop Being Sick Why Akshay doesn't feel like the polar expedition was dangerous. The importance of allowing ourselves to feel grief. 612 Dr. Michael Gervais | Living An Authentic Life: How to STOP Worrying About What People Think of You Why stillness isn't the same as doing nothing. How getting off balance helps us awaken. [43:10] The End of The Polar Expedition Henry Worsley Why Akshay's diverticulitis was caused by extreme stress. How his body started falling apart in the last 10 days of the polar crossing. Why Antarctica is a mirror to the human soul. How Akshay doesn't struggle with solitude anymore, even though it used to be a trigger for drinking. [47:25] Does Distance Improve Relationships? How Akshay channeled the spirit of Viktor Frankl. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Why having a conversation with Viktor Frankl helped Akshay understand suffering. 538 John Wineland | A New Masculine Paradigm: Leading With Love, Living Your Truth + Healing The World How distance showed Akshay how supportive his wife is. Why separation makes us feel more connected. [54:15] Accept The Isness Why we're stabbed with two darts of suffering, according to Buddha. How bringing conscious awareness to our self-dialogue can help us change it. Why all unnecessary suffering is the resistance to accepting the isness. How embracing the edge of you makes life more joyful. [59:00] Feel It All Why we need to respect the mystery of God. How Akshay saw value in the delusion he was experiencing during the expedition. Why we shouldn't rob our children of their lessons. How Indian parents tend to over-spoil their kids. Why having our kids experience the full range of emotions builds their resilience. The only way out of the suffering is through it. [01:06:30] The Power of Language How soft talk disempowers us. What led Akshay to become more conscious of his language. How our words shape our reality. When we give our pain voice, we give it more power. How all words are conceptual thoughts. [01:11:20] The Reality of Polar Crossing Why Akshay's now on a mission to share his storm with others. What makes him want to go back to Antarctica. Why his goal was to spend 115 days on the polar mission. What he was eating while he was crossing Antarctica. [01:16:10] Turn Your Pain to Your Purpose Why we often want to skip and bypass grief. How anxiety is demonized. Why Akshay doesn't like to sound like a war hero. The importance of turning our pain to purpose. [01:19:45] Suffer Well How we project our unprocessed emotions. Why even therapists project their wounds onto their patients. How happiness is a side effect of pursuing a meaning. Why the people that are constantly struggling are living in the past. How we can learn to suffer well. Uncommon by Mark Divine How silence opens up a space for our inner dialogue. [01:27:00] Stop The Noise Why many bootcamps miss the element of stillness and silence. How stillness is very uncomfortable at first. Why pausing is the key to training our awareness. [01:31:25] Is Parenting A Spiritual Task? Why Akshay's now focusing on his financial wellness. What makes him feel that raising children is terrifying. Why being a parent is a spiritual experience. How Josh knows children choose us as parents. Why children bring us wisdom. How being a father makes men into leaders. [01:38:10] Find Beauty in Suffering How judgment comes from resentment or jealousy. Fearvana Instagram Why fear and nirvana are not opposite but complementary. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi How finding beauty in suffering makes life more joyful. [01:43:15] Fear of Other People's Opinion Why Akshay doesn't feel directly affected by Indian culture. How he feared what people would think if he didn't make it through the expedition. Why other people's lens of reality doesn't change who we are. How Akshay only took a day off from walking Antarctica on day 50. [01:47:30] Your Beliefs Hold You Hostage Why Josh wasn't able to start the podcast for 4 years because of his childhood conditioning. Inside Out (2015) Why all paths are a crossroad. We don't rise to the level of the desires that we want, we fall to the level of the struggle that we're willing to endure. How all the suffering Akshay went through was worth it. Why belief is built on the battlefield. We are not defined by our thoughts. How confidence is a result of an action, it's not the fuel for action. [01:56:25] Connection with God Why Akshay didn't have a relationship with God when he was struggling with suicidal thoughts. When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner How he taps into gratitude and the essence of the human spirit. Hacksaw Ridge (2016) Why Akshay wants to help other people cross their own version of Antarctica. The One You Feed Podcast Leave Wellness + Wisdom a Review on Apple Podcasts  

Australian war hero Damien Thomlinson, who lost both legs to a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan, joined Luke in studio to discuss the importance of Anzac Day and his experiences overseas. He also shared stories about rubbing shoulders with some of Hollywood's biggest names after appearing in Hacksaw Ridge alongside Andrew Garfield and Vince Vaughn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textOn this Episode, Tom and Bert review and discuss their personal Top 10 +1 extra War Movies thru the Decades (the END)War Movies have always, in most cases, been Epic Films.We complete or list of War Movies with our Final Favorites!Chapter Highlights:(:48) "Bridge on the River Kwai"(4:16) "From Here to Eternity"(8:32) "The Great Escape"(11:36) "MASH"(14:53) "Gone with the Wind"(21:32) "Gladiator"(26:12) "Hacksaw Ridge"(28:43) "Ben Hur"(34:06) "Duck Soup"(38:11) "Stripes"(42:49) "The Manchurian Candidate"Enjoy the Show!You can email us at reeldealzmoviesandmusic@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page, Reel Dealz Podcast: Movies & Music Thru The Decades to leave comments and/or TEXT us at 843-855-1704 as well.

BASED ON THE TERRIFYING SHORT FILM!! Lights Out Full Reaction Watch Along: https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects With Director David F. Sandberg's "UNTIL DAWN" dropping April 25th, Andrew & Aaron give their Lights Out Reaction, Recap, Commentary, Analysis, & Spoiler Review!! Save & Invest In Your Future Today, visit: https://www.acorns.com/rejects Join Andrew Gordon and Aaron Alexander as they plunge into the heart-pounding terror of the 2016 horror film, Lights Out. Co-written and directed by David F. Sandberg (Shazam!, Annabelle: Creation) —who first stunned audiences with his chilling short film that inspired this feature—Lights Out delivers jump scares, unsettling atmospheres, and a ghostly presence that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge, The Grudge 2) stars as Rebecca Bloom, a determined woman confronting a malevolent force that haunts her family's past and threatens their future. Maria Bello (A History of Violence, The Cooler) delivers a powerful performance as Estella, Rebecca's steadfast support amid the encroaching darkness. Gabriel Bateman, Alexander DiPersia, and Billy Burke round out the cast with memorable supporting roles that amplify the film's relentless suspense and eerie visuals. Andrew & Aaron break down every nerve-wracking moment—from the film's spine-chilling opening sequence and the terrifying instances of the apparition's sudden appearances, to the meticulously crafted atmosphere that Sandberg builds throughout the narrative. Whether you're here for the jump scares or the psychological tension, join us for an in-depth reaction and review that uncovers all the haunting details of Lights Out. Follow Aaron On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealaaronalexander/?hl=en Follow Andrew Gordon on Socials:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieSource Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/agor711/?hl=en Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Agor711 Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, McKay talks to the audience about the importance of faith, and begins by introducing the story of Desmond Doss and his unwavering faith and peaceful determination at Hacksaw Ridge. McKay frames faith as a commitment to a choice, and the more we act on that choice, the more we reinforce our faith - reminiscent of Isaac Newton's laws of motion. Moving forward and taking steps, no matter how small, keeps our momentum in the right direction.He next advises listeners to eliminate distractions since they only serve to slow us down and divert us from our faith and purpose. Fear can also skew faith; it can lead to feelings of helplessness and certainly loneliness, and that's why McKay talks so much about action and moving forward. He draws this episode to a close by urging everyone to feed their faith for at least 15 minutes everyday, noting that human potential is limitless, and to let that go to waste would be a shame. The Finer Details of This Episode:Desmond's faith at Hacksaw RidgeCommitment to choicesThe importance of moving forwardScottie Scheffler's Masters winEliminating distractions5 truths about fearsWhy human potential is limitlessFeeding your faithQuotes: “The more you act, the more faith you create. My faith is strong and grows when I am in an active state. When I am in a passive state, I lose my faith.”“In an active state, you learn, grow and feel like you are doing something within your control.”“Distraction is the great thief in life. It will divert your attention, capture your interest, and rarely return any value to your life. When you decide to do something remarkable in your life and place your faith in yourself and your decision, the first thing to do is to clear the path; remove any potential distractions.”“What we need to realize is that faith is a sales job. Each day we are selling to ourselves the thing in which we are placing our faith. That means the longer we go without acting on that thing, the less likely we are to act.”“Remember, action is the great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is the result of fear. Any action is better than no action at all. To prevent the law of diminishing intent, act now.”“Each day, set aside 15 minutes to feed your faith. It's a daily feeding time that will keep you focused and give you the wherewithal to keep your mind in the direction you should go.”Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

In ‘Peter's Decision’, Rick looks at Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ and the implications of truly following Him. He focuses on several themes:  The Identity of Jesus– Peter's recognition of Jesus as the Christ is a pivotal moment in the Gospel of Mark.– “Christ” is not a surname but a title meaning “Anointed One,” referring to the Messiah who had been prophesied about to come and save God's people.– Unlike the popular expectation of a political saviour, Jesus reveals that His mission involves suffering, rejection, and death. The Cost of Discipleship– Jesus rebukes Peter for thinking in human terms rather than God's plan, which includes suffering before glory.– Jesus challenges His followers to take up their cross, deny themselves, and follow Him, even when the path is difficult.– The eternal value of the soul outweighs temporary material gain — “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Personal Application– Like Peter, each person must decide who Jesus is for them.– True faith is not inherited but must be personally embraced.– The story of Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge illustrates the decision to stand firm in faith despite opposition and difficulty. Finally, Rick emphasises that following Jesus is not about ease or worldly success but about trusting in Him, even through suffering. The call is to make a personal decision to acknowledge Christ and live sacrificially for Him. The post Rick Robertson: Peter's Decision first appeared on Jubilee Church Wirral.

Acclaimed actress Teresa Palmer joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss uplifting others, acts of kindness from Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, her new show Mix Tape and more. Teresa Palmer is a globally recognized performer who has been nominated for multiple Best Actress awards, including Critics Choice and many others from her home country in Australia. You'll likely recognize Teresa from her extensive onscreen work, often alongside some of the most acclaimed talents in the industry. She shared the screen with Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale in Knight of Cups. Appeared alongside Andrew Garfield in Mel Gibson's Oscar-nominated film Hacksaw Ridge, with Danielle Radcliffe in December Boys and Adam Sandler and Keri Russel in Bedtime Stories... the list goes on. According to IMDb, some other most popular credits are I Am Number Four,Warm Bodies and Take Me Home Tonight. More recently, you may have spotted Teresa wielding a sword in the SAG Award-winning blockbuster The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, and Hannah Waddingham. And that's not even touching on her TV career, which most recently includes leading the cast of the cult hit A Discovery of Witches. Teresa's TV work continues with The Last Anniversary, an adaptation of Liane Moriarty's book, and the show that brought us together: Mix Tape. Follow Teresa: @teresapalmer Follow us: @artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast Support the show! (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: artofkindnesspodcast@gmail.com Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send Kevin a Text MessageIn this episode of Don't Kill the Messenger, host Kevin Goetz sits down with acclaimed producer David Permut, the visionary behind films like Face/Off, Hacksaw Ridge (Academy Award nominee for Best Picture), Dragnet, and most recently, Rustin. His films have garnered multiple Academy Award nominations, and he is known for his exceptional ability to discover new talent and bring challenging stories to the screen. From selling star maps as a teenager to executive producing with Barack and Michelle Obama, Permut shares candid stories about his remarkable journey in Hollywood.Early Beginnings and Star Maps (02:15)Permut discusses his start as the publisher of Beverly Hills Map Company, selling maps to celebrity homes while meeting stars like Fred Astaire, Elvis Presley, and Katherine Hepburn.Learning from Bill Sargent (09:17)The producer shares how meeting promoter Bill Sargent led to his first major projects, including Give 'em Hell, Harry! starring James Whitmore.Richard Pryor Live in Concert (16:30)Permut reveals the story behind producing Richard Pryor's groundbreaking concert film, which grossed $32.5 million.Face/Off: From Shelf to Screen (24:33)Details the fascinating journey of acquiring Face/Off from Warner Brothers, investing his own money for the option, and bringing John Woo on board to direct what would become a major hit.The Making of Hacksaw Ridge (30:04)Permut talks about the 17-year journey to bring Desmond Doss's story to screen, culminating in six Oscar nominations and working with Mel Gibson.Rustin and Working with the Obamas (36:05)Permut discusses collaborating with Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions on Rustin and the importance of telling meaningful stories.Current Projects and Future Vision (41:27)The producer shares his excitement about discovering new talent and his upcoming projects, including Twinless with James Sweeney and Being Heumann, the story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann.Throughout this engaging conversation, David Permut embodies his own philosophy: "Die with your memories, not your dreams." From selling star maps to producing Oscar-nominated films, his journey demonstrates the power of passion and persistence in Hollywood. Whether creating blockbusters or meaningful dramas, Permut's enthusiasm for discovering new talent and telling important stories remains as strong as ever.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or connect on social media. We look forward to bringing you more revelations from behind the scenes next time on Don't Kill the Messenger!Host: Kevin GoetzGuest: David PermutProducer: Kari CampanoWriters: Kevin Goetz, Darlene Hayman, and Kari CampanoAudio Engineer: Gary Forbes (DG Entertainment) For more information about David Permut:Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_PermutIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0674303/Variety: https://variety.com/exec/david-permut/ For more information about Kevin Goetz:Website: www.KevinGoetz360.comAudienceology Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Audience-ology/Kevin-Goetz/9781982186678Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @KevinGoetz360Linked In @Kevin Goetz

In 1993 Mel Gibson's first directorial effort was a smaller movie named “The Man Without A Face.” Since then he's made nothing but big, epic movies like “Braveheart” and “Hacksaw Ridge.” Now he's going back to his smaller movie roots with the suspense thriller “Flight Risk.” Mel starred in “Father Stu” with Mark Wahlberg and apparently they forged a friendship because Wahlberg is the name at the top of the poster for this movie. In Gibson's latest directorial effort, Wahlberg plays a pilot flying a U.S. Marshal, played by Michelle Dockery and her cooperating government witness, played by Topher Grace, out of Alaska in a small plane. Seems pretty straightforward right? Not so much, otherwise we wouldn't have a movie. As this movie's trailers show, Wahlberg is really a hitman hired by the mobster that the witness will testify against. After Wahlberg makes his move against them, the U.S. Marshal manages to subdue and restrain him. Now she has to try to fly a plane, with no training, while keeping an eye on the witness and especially on the hitman. Will the marshal and the witness make it out alive? Who else is involved in this assassination plot? Is “Flight Risk” even worth putting your seat in the upright position and stowing your tray table to watch? Find out in this episode! “Flight Risk” also stars Leah Remini, Monib Abhat, Paul Ben-Victor, Maaz Ali and Eilise Patton.   Support the showFeel free to reach out to me via:@MoviesMerica on Twitter @moviesmerica on InstagramMovies Merica on Facebook

Critics everywhere are coming down with acute air sickness, thanks to Mel Gibson's latest film, Flight Risk. But at least two of Earth's Mightiest Critics think it's one of the best moviegoing experiences they've had in years!There's a major caveat, of course: Ian and David saw the movie in 4DX (yeah, that setup where they shake your chair and hurl smoke and water at you)!The film centers on a US Marshal (Michelle Dockery) who must transport a mob case witness (Topher Grace) to a Seattle courthouse--by way of a rickety Cessna flying over the snowy Alaskan wilderness. Their pilot (Mark Wahlberg) just happens to be a mob assassin and, well, things go south up north!Join us for a turbulent look at the latest from the Academy Award-winning director of Braveheart and Hacksaw Ridge! We also talk spoilers and take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:kickseat.comXLetterboxdBlueSkyInstagramFacebookShow LinksWatch the Flight Risk trailer.Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.Get seated with The Blonde in Front!Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…...And Film Obsessive...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue....and We Got This Covered.Make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.And stir things up with Will Johnson of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

Send us a textIn this episode, we recount the extraordinary story of Desmond Doss, the WWII medic who demonstrated unparalleled courage at Hacksaw Ridge. Even after being hit by a sniper's bullet and a grenade blast, Doss prioritized helping his fellow soldiers, attending to their injuries before finally addressing his own.We'll discuss how his actions exemplify the outward mindset—focusing on the needs of others while still maintaining personal resilience. Tune in to explore how his heroic story offers timeless lessons on selflessness, sacrifice, and the power of serving with purpose.Each month we will read a new book and discuss how the characters exemplify the outward mindset. Here is our reading list for 2025.January - Redemption and Hacksaw RidgeFebruary - Hidden Figures March - Women of No Importance  April - Iron Cowboy - Redefine ImpossibleMay - Cinderella Man June - Unbroken July - The Good Neighbor: Fred Rogers August - The Inklings September - Ordinary Heroes October - Left to Tell by Immaculée IlibagizaNovember - Band of BrothersDecember - A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry 

Welcome fellow adventurers! The discussion on word of the year 2025, continues right here on the Masculine Journey After Hours Podcast. The clips are from "Hacksaw Ridge," "Picard," and "Beautiful Boy."  There's no advertising or commercials, just men of God, talking and getting to the truth of the matter. The conversation and Journey continues. Be sure to check out our other podcasts, Masculine Journey and Masculine Journey Joyride for more great content!

On today's season finale of The Storytellers, Andrew Erwin is joined by Academy Award-winning director, actor, and producer Mel Gibson. He is not only known for his iconic roles in films like Braveheart and Lethal Weapon, but also for his groundbreaking work behind the camera as the director of films including The Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge.  In this episode, Mel reflects on his storied career and shares exclusive new details about his upcoming sequel to The Passion of the Christ. Andrew and Mel also discuss his latest film, Flight Risk, starring Mark Wahlberg, only in theaters on January 24th. For more information on Flight Risk, visit www.flightrisk.movie. To connect with Andrew, follow him on Instagram @andrewerwinofficial. Make sure you never miss an episode by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @kingdomstorycompany. Join the conversation as a Kingdom Story Company Insider at kingdomstorycompany.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textDesmond Doss, a devout Seventh-day Adventist and conscientious objector became a World War II hero without ever carrying a weapon. Serving as a medic during the harrowing Battle of Hacksaw Ridge, Doss demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness. Amid intense gunfire and carnage, he repeatedly risked his life to save his wounded comrades, lowering 75 soldiers to safety in one night. His unwavering faith and outward mindset—focusing on the needs of others despite the danger—earned him the Medal of Honor, making him a timeless symbol of bravery and compassion. 

In this episode of Diving Deep, Sam Fricker sits down with Damien Thomlinson, a former Australian Commando whose life took a dramatic turn in April 2009 during a night patrol in Southern Afghanistan. After his unit drove over an improvised explosive device, Damien sustained severe injuries leading to the amputation of both his legs. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, he not only learned to walk again with prosthetic limbs but also pursued a career as a motivational speaker, inspiring audiences with his story of overcoming adversity. Damien's journey didn't stop there; he authored the best-selling autobiography Without Warning, participated in the TARGA Tasmania classic car rally, walked the demanding Kokoda Track, and competed in the 2014 and 2016 Invictus Games. Transitioning into acting, he was cast in the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge, which received multiple Academy Award nominations. In 2019, Damien shifted his focus to golf, aiming to represent Australia on the international circuit. He won his first professional tournament in 2020, the Victorian All Inclusive Championship, and is now ranked among the top three multi-amputee golfers globally. Join us as we delve into Damien's extraordinary journey, exploring his unwavering determination and the lessons he's learned along the way. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

Part 2 of our Discussion with Steve Longi begins now! Step behind the scenes of #Hollywood with Vonti Talks w/ Filmmakers! Vonti McRae sits down with Oscar-winning producer Steve Longi, the mastermind behind Hacksaw Ridge. With over 20 years in the industry, Longi has collaborated with legendary stars like Robert Downey Jr., Sigourney Weaver, and Ray Liotta. From producing the Emmy-nominated Prayers for Bobby to directing Netflix's Willie Barcena: The Truth Hurts, Longi shares his journey through some of the industry's most iconic projects. This episode uncovers Longi's process for developing over 100 film and TV projects, including adapting musicals like Zombie Prom and tackling thought-provoking stories like The Interrupted Journey. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or a movie buff, Steve Longi's insights will inspire and inform. Tune in to explore the art of storytelling with one of Hollywood's finest!Stay updated with our podcast schedule at: www.filmconvopodcast.com Connect with us on https://www.instagram.com/vonti_pictures/ Reach out to our host, Vonti McRae, on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/vonti-mcrae-3b71281 or email us: info@vontipictures.com for episode inquiries.#VontiTalksWithFilmmakers #SteveLongi #HacksawRidge #filmmaking #hollywoodstories #indiefilm #tvproduction #filmproducer #oscars #BehindTheScenes #shortsviral #youtube #spotifypodcast #applepodcasts #youtubepodcast #podcastvideo #listennow #subscribenow #newepisode #behindthescenes #trendingnow #viralcontent #podcastclips #viralpodcast #gladiator2 #nostalgia #robertdowneyjr #marvelstudios #movies #trailers #johnwick #avengers #marvel #horror #podcast #podcastlife #podcastshow #podcasting #podcasthost #podcastepisode #podcastcommunity #podcaster #filmmaker #televison

Step behind the scenes of #Hollywood with Vonti Talks w/ Filmmakers! Vonti McRae sits down with Oscar-winning producer Steve Longi, the mastermind behind Hacksaw Ridge. With over 20 years in the industry, Longi has collaborated with legendary stars like Robert Downey Jr., Sigourney Weaver, and Ray Liotta. From producing the Emmy-nominated Prayers for Bobby to directing Netflix's Willie Barcena: The Truth Hurts, Longi shares his journey through some of the industry's most iconic projects. This episode uncovers Longi's process for developing over 100 film and TV projects, including adapting musicals like Zombie Prom and tackling thought-provoking stories like The Interrupted Journey. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or a movie buff, Steve Longi's insights will inspire and inform. Tune in to explore the art of storytelling with one of Hollywood's finest!Stay updated with our podcast schedule at: www.filmconvopodcast.com Connect with us on https://www.instagram.com/vonti_pictures/ Reach out to our host, Vonti McRae, on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/vonti-mcrae-3b71281 or email us: info@vontipictures.com for episode inquiries.#VontiTalksWithFilmmakers #SteveLongi #HacksawRidge #filmmaking #hollywoodstories #indiefilm #tvproduction #filmproducer #oscars #BehindTheScenes #shortsviral #youtube #spotifypodcast #applepodcasts #youtubepodcast #podcastvideo #listennow #subscribenow #newepisode #behindthescenes #trendingnow #viralcontent #podcastclips #viralpodcast #gladiator2 #nostalgia #robertdowneyjr #marvelstudios #movies #trailers #johnwick #avengers #marvel #horror #podcast #podcastlife #podcastshow #podcasting #podcasthost #podcastepisode #podcastcommunity #podcaster #filmmaker #televison

This week we visit a war movie to honor Veteran's Day. What does it mean to be a conscientious objector? What does it mean to serve in the military when you are opposed to taking a life? How can one demonstrate love for the fellow man while still fighting in a war. This movie checks all the boxes of a classic and necessary movie for all to see! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jeffrey-skopak/support

Episodio donde reseñamos Late Night with the Devil, opiniones diferentes sobre recrear casos basados en la vida real como la serie de Monsters sobre los hermanos Menéndez, Wisto tiene pendiente ver la serie From, opiniones sobre Hacksaw Ridge, lo innecesario que sería La Pasión de Cristo 2, canciones de misa, las mejores películas sobre guerra, Pari caminando en Walmart se topa con 14 películas de Piecito, ChatGPT gasta mucha agua con sus búsquedas diarias, Elon Musk y sus robots nuevos, controversias sobre el futuro de los robots y sus derechos civiles, comprar cosas tecnológicas antes de tiempo, reseña CON spoilers sobre The Substance, y terminamos inventando la trama para una posible Striptease 2!! Escúchanos: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube Apóyanos: patreon.com/holamsupernova Síguenos: Instagram/ Twitter/ TikTok @holamsupernova Merch: holamsupernova.myshopify.com

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall and the three amigos take on the US Army's portion of the early fight for Okinawa. the guys break down the slugfest at Cactus Ride, Kakazu Ridge, and Hacksaw Ridge, digging into the stories of the heroics at each location diving into the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, Desmond Doss, Edward Moskala, and others. The fighting done by the US Army from April 4 through the end of the month in 1945 along those ridges was amongst the most brutal of the entire war. Seth, Jon and, Bill also get into Japanese General Cho Isamu's ill-advised counter-offensive in the middle of April that saps strength from the defenders and wastes lives by the bushel. Tune in and check out Part 2 in our Okinawa land campaign series. #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #rodserling #twilightzone #liberation #blacksheep #power #prisoner #prisonerofwar #typhoon #hurricane #weather #iwojima#bullhalsey #ace #p47 #p38 #fighter #fighterpilot #b29 #strategicstudying #tokyo #boeing #incendiary #usa #franklin #okinawa

David Elmes, one of Australia's most experienced focus pullers, works predominantly on U.S. features with many of those films budgets exceeding $100 million. In this episode, we begin by discussing his top tips for new assistants and his insights into the role of the A Cam focus puller. David also shares his journey from New Zealand to Brisbane, and eventually Sydney. Later, we explore his work on iconic films like The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, Hacksaw Ridge, and Mad Max: Furiosa. 

Send Kevin a Text MessageIn this episode of "Don't Kill the Messenger," host Kevin Goetz sits down with Hollywood power couple Paula Wagner and Rick Nicita. Wagner has worked in the top ranks of the entertainment industry as a talent agent, studio executive, and producer. She co-founded Cruise/Wagner Productions with Tom Cruise, producing blockbuster hits like the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. Nicita worked as a successful talent agent for 5 decades before turning to production and consultation. He is currently Chairman of the American Cinematheque. Together, Wagner and Nicita offer insight into cultivating some of the most successful careers in Hollywood.Early Careers and Transition to Becoming Agents (02:21)Paula Wagner shares her journey from actress to agent while Rick Nicita recounts his path from law school dropout to William Morris. The couple then talk about how they met.Hollywood Speed Round and the Art of Being an Agent (14:45)Rick talks about some famous clients including Kevin Costner and Nicole Kidman in a celebrity speed round, and the trio discuss negotiating deals, choosing the right projects, and the importance of building long-term relationships.Memorable Career Moments (28:04)Paula talks about her involvement with Tom Cruise in Rain Man and Born on the 4th of July, and Rick discusses shares his experiences with high profile clients.Cruise/Wagner Productions and United Artists (32:57)Paula discusses her partnership with Tom Cruise, and the pair share the challenges of reviving United Artists while navigating industry changes and economic crises.The Changing Landscape of Hollywood (40:00)The trio discuss stardom, and how it has changed over the years, delving into the challenges of creating new movie stars and the future of audience engagement and storytelling.Broadway and Beyond (48:00)Paula shares about her transition to Broadway producing and her upcoming projects High Noon, and The Others. The couple reflects on the art of balancing film and theater productions.Paula Wagner and Rick Nicita's careers offer a unique, insider perspective on the genesis of some of Hollywood's biggest names. Wagner's journey from actress to top agent, then to successful film producer and now Broadway impresario, demonstrates her versatility and understanding of the creative process. Nicita's legacy as an agent and his transition to production and consulting highlight his expertise in talent management. Together, their experiences provide for a fascinating and inside look at how stars become stars.Host: Kevin GoetzGuest: Paula Wagner and Rick NicitaProducer: Kari CampanoWriters: Kevin Goetz, Darlene Hayman, and Kari CampanoAudio Engineer: Gary Forbes (DG Entertainment)For more information about Paula Wagner:Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_WagnerX (Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/producerpwagnerIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906048/For more information about Rick Nicita:Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_NicitaX (Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/ricknicita?lang=enIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1131362/For more information about Kevin Goetz:Website: www.KevinGoetz360.comAudienceology Book:

A look at the real life WWII hero Desmond Doss. The post A049: Hacksaw Ridge (2016) appeared first on .

Damien Thomlinson has one phenomenal comeback story. The former soldier was on night patrol with the Australian Defence Force when an IED attack completely changed everything. He lost both legs in the accident, and took charge of his recovery and new life. He shares his strength, wisdom and ambition with Ant today.  In this episode, there is a mention of suicide. If this topic is triggering for you, please seek help by visiting Lifeline's website at https://www.lifeline.org.au/ or by calling 13 11 14. LINKS Follow Damien on Instagram @damienthomlinson Find out more about Damien Thomlinson at damienthomlinson.com Details of Damien's book, Without Warning, can be found here Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial. If you enjoy listening to Head Game, you can vote for us in the 'Listener's Choice' category at the Australian Podcast Awards. Submit your vote at australianpodcastawards.com/voting CREDITSHost: Ant MiddletonEditor: Adrian WaltonExecutive Producer: Anna Henvest Managing Producer: Elle Beattie Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respect to Elders past and present. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we talk about Parasite, The Birdcage, Abigail, Hacksaw Ridge, and more! Noah even speaks on the Green Day concert at Target Field. Strap in and strap on for a bumpy ride.

It's Round 3 of the 89th Academy Awards bracket! In this episode will be discussing the final four and declaring a winner!The nominees were: Arrival; Fences; Hacksaw Ridge; Hell or High Water; Hidden Figures; La La Land; Lion; Manchester by the Sea; and Moonlight.The films we added were: Captain America: Civil War; Hail, Caesar!; Hunt for the Wilderpeople; The Lobster; Paterson; Swiss Army Man; and Toni ErdmannNotes: SPOILERS - we talk through the full plots of all the movies we cover.Timestamps are approximate:0:45 - Semifinals2:55 - Discussing the Semifinal Losers3:00 - Manchester By the Sea20:00 - La La Land34:35 - Final Matchup35:50 - Moonlight48:15 - Arrival1:02:00 - Declaring a Winner1:02:55 - Did the Oscars Get it Wrong?1:03:15 - Jake Gyllenhaal Corner1:07:35 - Conclusions1:16:25 - Next Episode--------------------------Want to see the bracket, know what episode we're currently prepping, and suggest non-nominees that we should watch? Check us out on instagram at oscarswrongpod.

It's Round 2 of the 89th Academy Awards bracket. We took the 9 nominees and added 7 additional films for a 16 movie bracket. In this episode will be declaring the winners and losers from Round 2 and discussing the films that were eliminated. Of course, if you don't like our decisions, you can take it up with the people. The nominees were: Arrival; Fences; Hacksaw Ridge; Hell or High Water; Hidden Figures; La La Land; Lion; Manchester by the Sea; and Moonlight.The films we added were: Captain America: Civil War; Hail, Caesar!; Hunt for the Wilderpeople; The Lobster; Paterson; Swiss Army Man; and Toni ErdmannNotes: SPOILERS - we talk through the full plots of all the movies we cover.Timestamps are approximate:0:55 - Round 2 Match-Ups6:00 - Discussing the Losers6:10 - Toni Erdmann20:45 - Lion30:35 - Hunt for the Wilderpeople39:40 - The Lobster58:00 - Conclusions59:55 - Next Episode--------------------------Want to see the bracket, know what episode we're currently prepping, and suggest non-nominees that we should watch? Check us out on instagram at oscarswrongpod

THEY CAN TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!! Save & Invest In Your Future Today, visit: https://www.acorns.com/rejects Braveheart Full Movie Reaction Watch Along: https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects It's another Historical Tuesday & today John & Aaron Alexander are here to give their First Time Reaction, Commentary, Analysis, Breakdown, & Full Spoielr Review for one of the SEMINAL Historical Epic War films of the modern age - the Multiple Academy Award Winning Opus Directed by & Starring Mel Gibson (The Patriot, Hacksaw Ridge) depicting a fictionalized take on the story of William Wallace, the late-13th century Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. The film features a host of notable character actors including Catherine McCormack (28 Weeks Later), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges, The Banshees of Inesherin, Paddington 2), Sophie Marceau (The World is Note Enough), Brian Cox (X-Men, Succession), Patrick McGoohan (A Time to Kill) as Longshanks, Angus MacFadyen (Saw III, Equilibrium) as Robert the Bruce, Tommy Flanagan (Sin City, Gladiator), James Cosmo & Rupert Vansittart of Game of Thrones, Alun Armstrong (Sleepy Hollow, The Mummy Returns), and MORE! John & Aaron REACT to all the Best Scenes & Most Moving Moments including They Will Never Take Our Freedom, The Love of a Princess, The Battle of Stirling, Freedom!, Withstanding the Charge, Beautiful in any Language, Outlawed Tunes on Outlawed Pipes, William Wallace and Murron Flower, the Rock Throwing Contest Scene, Stephen the Irishman, Not My Gentle Son, The Battle of Falkirk, & Beyond! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 movies for 2016! That's right, it's another full tournament for the 89th Academy Awards or the films of 2016. We took the Academy's nine nominees for this year and added seven of our own. In this episode, discuss the losers from Round 1 in this episode.The nominees were: Arrival; Fences; Hacksaw Ridge; Hell or High Water; Hidden Figures; La La Land; Lion; Manchester by the Sea; and Moonlight.The films we added were: Captain America: Civil War; Hail, Caesar!; Hunt for the Wilderpeople; The Lobster; Paterson; Swiss Army Man; and Toni ErdmannNotes: SPOILERS - we talk through the full plots of all the movies we cover.Timestamps are approximate:11:10 - Bracket Set-Up11:40 - Round 1 Match-Ups and Deciding Winners and Losers21:50 - Swiss Army Man29:55 - Hell or High Water36:20 - Hacksaw Ridge49:00 - Hail, Caesar!1:02:35 - Paterson1:09:00 - Captain America: Civil War1:24:20 - Hidden Figures1:32:30 - Fences1:42:55 - Best of the Worst & Worst of the Worst1:44:10 - Next Time--------------------------Want to know what episode we're currently prepping and suggest non-nominees that we should watch? Check us out on instagram at oscarswrongpod.

A HARROWING DEPICTION OF WAR & HUMANITY!! We Were Soldiers Full Movie Reaction Watch Along: https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects With the 4th of July (Independence Day) right around the corner, John & Andrew Gordon reunite to give their First Time Reaction, Commentary, Breakdown, Analysis, and Full Spoiler Review of the Vietnam War Drama adapted from Harold G. Moore & Joseph Lee Galloway's Best Selling Book "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam" & starring Mel Gibson (Braveheart, Hacksaw Ridge, Flight Risk, Boneyard) as Lt. Col. Hal Moore, Madeleine Stowe (The Last of the Mohicans) as Julie Moore, Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine) as Maj. Bruce Crandall, Sam Elliot (Tombstone, Road House) as Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley, Chris Klein (Election, American Pie) as 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan, Keri Russell (The Americans, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as Barbara Geoghegan, & Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan, True Grit, The Green Mile), along with Clark Gregg, John Hamm, Ryan Hurst, Marc Blucas, & MORE.. John & Andrew REACT to all the Best Scenes & Most Harrowing Moments including Arriving in North Vietnam, The French Foreign Legion, Moving into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, The Telegram, Valley of Death, Napalm Air Strike, Army Housewives & Beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome fellow adventurers! The discussion on team diversity, continues right here on the Masculine Journey After Hours Podcast. The clip is from "The A-Team," and "Hacksaw Ridge."  There's no advertising or commercials, just men of God, talking and getting to the truth of the matter. The conversation and Journey continues. Be sure to check out our other podcasts, Masculine Journey and Masculine Journey Joyride for more great content!

No new episode this week as the John Farnham-esque farewell tour stalls for Paul to travel to the eastern states, so instead go back to where the banter between the boys reached an all new level as Wayne causes Paul to lose his mind with one of the most infamous choices in Countdown history.     If you don't know the lore behind this episode, go in blind and "enjoy" what unfolds as the lads countdown their Top 10 War Films of all time circa October 2016 (and review Hacksaw Ridge along the way).     Then tune back in next week for The Countdown (to 500) to continue ...     Check out the show's first draft of a website for your one-stop shop for all things related to The Countdown. But if you want more specific directions, find so many more Countdowns - all the way back to Episode 40! - on our Podbean site. Join The Countdown Podcast Listener Community on Facebook so you can interact more directly with Paul and Wayne and vote in the weekly poll for who has the best list! Head on over to Patreon to find out to have your topic covered on the show and see what extras you're missing.

Special guest Joey Johnson. Twitch Streamer Joexwom. Whatnot Streaming. Pokemon cards. One Gotta Go war movies. Saving private Ryan vs Inglorious Bastards vs Hacksaw Ridge vs American Sniper. Helping people is tough. Hypothetical Moment. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theuneducatedduopodcast/support

Thanks to David Gray for the interview on "Off Code and Unscripted" over at St. Dominic's Media. David certainly did his research! He hits on some highlights of the CAM podcast over the last few years. Part II will work as a great overview and introduction for new viewers/listeners of CAM! Note: You'll hear audio from videos Ellen previously made that he is playing from other videos during the livestream.Part I: Ellen's satire and personal background Part II: War, Just War, Christian Nonviolence47:30 Catholic teaching on war and the proper context for JWT52:39 The question we "SHOULD" be asking right now!56:00 What do we do in the face of mass human "failure" on an institutional and nationwide level and the tendency for humans to resort to violence?1:03:00 Responding to critiques of Fr. Emmanuel McCarthy1:10:53 Is the sacrifice of the soldier the greatest sacrifice? 1:12:10 Hacksaw Ridge and the power of God1:15:25 One final question regarding was the Church wrong to defeat the Muslims? Self-defense? Hitler? Battle of Lepanto? Etc. Find David and St. Dominic's media here:    / @thesaintdominicsmedia  www.stdominicsmedia.comFind CAM here:  https://catholicsagainstmilitarism.comRSS feed: http://www.buzzsprout.com/296171​Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/CAMpodcastFind CAM here: https://catholicsagainstmilitarism.comRSS feed: http://www.buzzsprout.com/296171​Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/CAMpodcast

Soup du Jour. Episode Nine. The guys reveal their top 5 World War II films since they covered The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) in part one of the livestream. They close the episode by doing an impromptu review of one of the best films in 2023 during the One Last Thing segment.What are your top 5 World War II films? Email us your comments/feedback at weeklyreelpod@gmail.com. Subscribe to The Weekly Reel Podcast YouTube channel. Follow The Weekly Reel Podcast on Instagram (@weeklyreel) and TikTok (@weeklyreelpod).Co-host: Ken Arceo (@free_ken_a)Co-host: Jeremy Pulumbarit (@jp_flicks)Social Media: Andrea Pilapil (@andreajpilapil) / Linktree / PatreonMusic: Gunnar Olsen - "Late Night Snack" (from the YouTube Audio Library)

I want to introduce you to Jann Weeratunga from South Africa who is our guest on this episode. Jann was born and grew up in Lundon. After working as a highway maintenance engineer for 10 years she moved to Sri Lanka where she married and lived for several years. Her husband passed away after they were married for four and a half years, but Jann continued to work and live there until she got the moving urge and ended up living in South Africa.   Jann has always had a deep interest in the para-Olympics. In 2012, while watching the closing ceremony of the London Paralympic Games, Jann was deeply moved by Sir Philip Craven's speech which included The tale of a young boy reading a book and recognizing a man with an eye patch, a hook for a hand, a parrot on his shoulder, and a wooden leg as an Olympian. This imagery sparked a transformative idea within her. Anyone recognize the man as a pirate? Jann did and began to write what is now a series of 10 children's books about Polly the Parrot or Pirate. Jann will tell us Polly's story and how this bird helped to create the Piralympics. This series is all about pirates, all of whom have disabilities and who compete in the “piralympics”.   To date, Jann has written over 40 books for children, some poetry and even books for adults. As she says, writing is a muscle that needs to be developed and exercised daily. This conversation to me is certainly quite inspirational and insightful for all. I hope you enjoy it.   About the Guest:   Jann Weeratunga is an author who firmly believes in the importance of representation and diversity, particularly for the 15% of the population who are often overlooked— the disabled community. In 2012, while watching the closing ceremony of the London Paralympic Games, Jann was deeply moved by Sir Philip Craven's speech. The tale of a young boy reading a book and recognizing a man with an eye patch, a hook for a hand, a parrot on his shoulder, and a wooden leg as an Olympian sparked a transformative idea within her. This powerful moment gave birth to the unique concept and content of the Polly's Piralympics Series (Paralympics for Pirates). Through these books, Jann tackles important themes like disabilities, bullying, and cheating.   However, plagued by self-doubt, Jann's journey faced a roadblock until 2016, when a friend who pushed her to take a leap of faith, reminding her that she would never know unless she published her work. This encouragement marked the beginning of her real journey as an author and Polly's Piralympics was launched in South Africa.   Jann's flagship series, Polly's Piralympics, has garnered tremendous success and continues to thrive, with the tenth book currently in the works. In March 2018, she established the Schools Reading Road Show, a non-profit organization aimed at enhancing literacy among primary school students in South Africa. Alongside her fellow authors, she embarked on a mission to visit schools in various regions, sharing inspiring stories, delivering motivational talks on important topics like "anti-bullying" and "it's okay to be different," and encouraging young learners to explore their own storytelling abilities.   Beyond her writing, Jann founded the Schools Reading Road Show, an organization that promotes literacy and encourages young learners to embrace diversity. She has visited schools, delivered motivational talks, and empowered children to tell their own stories.   Jann's impactful work extends to addressing conferences, conducting workshops, and participating in panels, all aimed at emphasizing the importance of representation and inclusivity. She continues to write Best Seller stories for children, while exploring different creative avenues for adults under her pen name, JE Gallery.   Her works have received several awards and nominations across Africa.   Recognized for her invaluable contributions to the literary landscape, Jann has spoken at the prestigious Embrace Head Teachers Conference in 2018 and 2019. She has also conducted workshops on the significance of reading for young adult pupils, participated in panels at esteemed events such as the JBBF (Jozi Books and Blogs Festival), South African Children's Book Fair, and Kingsmead Book Fair.   In 2020 on the eve of Lockdown, she organised and ran the Bennies Book Fayre for Children. The largest Children's Book fair for children in South Africa. To Date in 2023 she has attended the Zintzomi Storytelling Book Fair and The Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers.   Even amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Jann found solace in her writing during the period of isolation. This time allowed her to focus on her craft, resulting in the release of her latest series, Patch's Pirate Pals. The first two books in the series, "Bluebird's New Ship" and "Redhair's Snot Cannonballs," achieved the remarkable feat of becoming Amazon Best Sellers in June and July 2022. ** ** Ways to connect with Jann:   https://www.facebook.com/JannWeeratunga    www.linkedin.com/in/jann-weeratunga-4aa852137   https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jann-Weeratunga/author/B07RPGCF61       About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.     Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hi, thanks for listening here on unstoppable mindset. We're inclusion diversity in the unexpected meet. Today, we get to travel to South Africa to talk with Jann Weeratunga. I hope I pronounced that reasonably right. And absolutely perfectly. Oh, great. I like to I like to try. Jann is an author. She's created a series around what she calls the piralympics. And we're going to talk about that. But she has a lot of other things to bring into the discussion as well. So I think we're going to have a lot of fun today. So Jann, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here with us.   Jann Weeratunga ** 02:05 Thank you, Michael. We're really glad to join you.   Michael Hingson ** 02:07 Well, why don't we start at I love to do with kind of learning a little bit about the earlier Jann growing up and all that sort of stuff.   Jann Weeratunga ** 02:16 Okay. I was born in London. I grew up in London, schooled in London. I eventually got married and moved out to Sri Lanka, hence my very peculiar surname. And I was out there for about 10 years, my husband passed away. And from there, I moved into the Middle East. I taught for a year there and then came over to South Africa, and I've been here for 17 years now.   Michael Hingson ** 02:49 Wow. What? What made you decide to go to South Africa? Well,   Jann Weeratunga ** 02:55 I was hoping it seemed like a good idea at the time. Yeah, there you go. Yeah, it was after the tsunami I had. I'd spent two years working on the east coast of Sri Lanka, I set up my own NGO. And I met people from all over the world. And on one occasion, we'd actually been down the coast this way and driving back and the army stopped us and sort of said, Did you know that there's a tsunami warning? Why are you driving around and of course, where we had been, it had just been water and monkeys and us and that was about it. And in the car, there was myself, British, a friend who was from South Africa and another friend who was from Australia, and another friend who was from America. And it dawned on us, literally, as we were explaining who we were and where we were from, that we were four ladies from four different countries from four different continents. So yeah, it was it was a very different sort of thing. And from there I I made friends with them. And then one of them sort of said, Look, you know, would you like to come and visit South Africa? You know, I've I'm just finishing off here and my time is in Sri Lanka is finishing would you like to come visit? So I thought, Okay, why not? I've never been South Africa. And that's what brought me here.   Michael Hingson ** 04:28 Pretty, pretty interesting scenario all the way around on but you never thought that was going to happen. Did you   Jann Weeratunga ** 04:36 know I didn't. But, you know, life has a habit of sort of just taking you where it wants to. So yeah, it   Michael Hingson ** 04:44 was good. So we're in South Africa, are you?   Jann Weeratunga ** 04:48 I'm actually in Johannesburg. So yeah, so inland about 1000 kilometers from the in gold country as they call it. eaglet and So yeah, I live up in Johannesburg.   Michael Hingson ** 05:03 So you, you have definitely moved around in the world. Have you been to America before?   Jann Weeratunga ** 05:10 I actually haven't. I sort of came out of Britain and turned left instead of turning right. And I never got to the States or Canada is actually one country I would love to go to. It's on my bucket list, along with Iceland and a few others. But yeah, I sort of got as far as as far east as Sri Lanka and as far as South and South Africa. So you know, all the bits in between there?   Michael Hingson ** 05:39 Well, I hope you do get to come to America. It's a it's a large country. fairly large physically, but certainly a lot of different cultures and different kinds of ways of life, depending on what state you're in, and, and so on everything from relatively new in California, which became a state in 1850, compared to some of the other states like Massachusetts, in the other colonies much earlier. And I love to travel around America to see the various different kinds of pupils, the different cultures that have all assimilated into this one really great country, which is, which is a lot of fun to do. And it's really enjoyable to to see the different states and everyone's a little bit different.   Jann Weeratunga ** 06:25 Okay, okay. Yeah, no, it's very big. I sort of looked at Washington State and thought that was a place I'd really like to go to, because it looks very green, and lots and lots of trees. So, you know, I'd like to travel around America if I get the opportunity. So you never know, hey, hey,   Michael Hingson ** 06:42 you never know. Well, I'm actually going to be in Washington State next month. So it'll be it'll be kind of find I've been there before and love going up to Washington. I love California as well. But I've enjoyed going to all 50 states now and just found a lot of wonderful stuff to see and do in all of those various states. So I can't complain a bit. I find it to be rich and, and exciting. But I've been to a number of countries. I have not been to England, I've been to Ireland, and I've been to New Zealand. And of course, I've been to Canada, and to the Netherlands. And in Japan and Korea, but I haven't really been to South Africa. I'd love to come and speak there some time. If the opportunity ever arises. I think it would be fun to do. And I've been to Israel. I went to Israel in August because I was there to be with accessibly for a week. And so again, I love going to a variety of different countries and experiencing and getting the chance to be a part of other cultures. So it's great. Well, so you went to college in England?   Jann Weeratunga ** 07:57 I sort of Yeah, I was a bit of a dropout. Yeah, it some. I passed with straight A's. My first two years and then I just decided, I don't know, I don't know what I decided. But I got a job. And I moved up very, very quickly, and I got paid way too much money. So I just decided that I wasn't going to go back to college.   Michael Hingson ** 08:24 What was your job?   Jann Weeratunga ** 08:27 I was actually a highway maintenance engineer. I actually built roads.   Michael Hingson ** 08:31 Wow. That's an interesting and different job. No, you enjoyed it.   Jann Weeratunga ** 08:39 I did actually it was your same thing. Two days on the trot, which was lovely. And I like sort of variation. I don't like sort of being stuck in an office. That's not really me. So yeah, I really I actually did, I really enjoyed it. And I worked with a great bunch of people. All men, I was the only woman I was the first woman into the department. So that was a little challenging to begin with. But they got used to me and yeah, and then eventually I left there to get married and go out to Sri Lanka.   Michael Hingson ** 09:13 So how long did you have that job? 10 years. Wow. So you you obviously did enjoy it?   Jann Weeratunga ** 09:20 Yeah, no, it was good.   Michael Hingson ** 09:22 So what do you do as a highway maintenance engineer?   Jann Weeratunga ** 09:25 Well, you basically dig up the road and relay it in in sort of very much layman's terms. I actually was responsible for a section of the a 40 which is the sort of London to Oxford road. I was responsible for a section of that. And yeah, just making sure that everything on it was working well. It was supposed to it was kept clean. The lights were on. The Galley pots were cleaned out, there were no potholes. At one point we even managed to put a new footbridge across it which was They're different. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 10:02 that's definitely a different thing to do. But certainly I can understand why that would be part of your job. Yeah, yeah. Then what took you to Sri Lanka.   Jann Weeratunga ** 10:14 Um, my best friend from school was actually Sri Lankan. And we'd gone there when I was when I literally just finished my A levels. And we went out there for a trip. She came over to Ireland to see what Ireland was like. And I went over to Sri Lanka with her, you know, the parents thought it was good, sort of cultural exchanges for us. And I really liked the country. And then sort of 1010 odd years later, I hadn't taken any holiday, I still run a scout troop. So every weekend that I had free and my suppose it holidays, whereas he spent scouting. And I just I got to the point, I was very, very tired. And I needed a break. And her dad actually said, Well, why don't you go back to Sri Lanka? You know, lots of people out there still. You kept in touch go out there. And I did. And then I met my husband and six months of chewing and froing. And eventually, we he popped the question, and we got married, and I moved out there.   Michael Hingson ** 11:21 I'm assuming your parents were okay with that.   Jann Weeratunga ** 11:24 The Not really. She was the other side of the world as far as they were. Yeah. And it was way too far away. But he made sure that every year I actually went back to the UK for, you know, I actually chose your Christmas. Because that's a very family orientated time for us. And unfortunately, he passed away after we'd been married about four and a half years. But I continue to stay out there for another six. The tsunami hit during that time. I also worked as the club secretary for what was at the time, the only the third golf course in the country rated in the top 10 in Southeast Asia, which was the Victoria golf club sat on struggling. So for Duncan golf union, which is actually where I was in 911. Yeah, I was actually at a golf meeting. And somebody said, Excuse me, I think you should all come and see the television. And we watched the plane. The second plane hit. So yeah, it's for those ones. We know exactly where you were in what you were doing. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 12:41 most, most people do. Most people do remember that. And I've heard so many fascinating and interesting stories about where people were or why they ended up not being in the tower that day, although they were scheduled to be and even up on higher floors. It is one of those amazing things and there's so many different stories. And a lot of people have stories to tell about it, which is pretty interesting.   Jann Weeratunga ** 13:08 Yeah. So the world stop moments a little bit like, I suppose, the shooting of JFK and, and of course, COVID More recently, you know, I think everybody knows where they were and what they were doing during COVID. Yeah, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 13:26 we stayed home. My wife had rheumatoid arthritis. And so her immune system was suppressed and she took medication for it that helped the pain, but it did keep the immune system down. So we chose without any qualms at all to stay home, and basically locked down. We were blessed. We could could get things brought in through things like GrubHub and other things like that. And I did my shopping or an our shopping through a service called Instacart. That would bring things and it worked out really well. And we live very close to a country club here in Spring Valley lake in Victorville. And we joined a social members of the club. And although they didn't deliver food, they had food available that you could go down and get, but we were friends with the general manager. And he said, anytime you want food, just call him we'll bring it and they were. So we were we were blessed. That   Jann Weeratunga ** 14:21 sounds really, really good. It's actually something it changed shopping, and how we shop in South Africa. Prior to COVID, everybody used to just go to the supermarket or go to the shops. And we didn't have any delivery services. It didn't exist in South Africa. And it's actually created a whole industry of young men on motorbikes that deliver and I know in the UK, they had deliveries, but it sort of, after about a year it fizzled out and people got back to going shopping, you know, whereas here It is carried on, and people still get their shopping delivered from the local supermarket with these little guys. It's good dude outside your house. And there they are. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 15:11 we have their word delivery services prior to prior to COVID. But it certainly did pick up a lot in COVID. And after COVID. And you're right, it's changed a lot of things. And we can view that as a positive thing or not. But I think overall, people are starting to discover, even with working that there's no need to be in the office five days a week, eight or more hours a day that it's healthier, to let people do some work at home, and do some of their work outside of the office.   Jann Weeratunga ** 15:49 Absolutely, absolutely. But I must admit, I think I saw more dogs being walked around my blog than I had ever seen. People tend not to take the dogs out too much. Yeah. They were very, very big plots, and the dogs run around on those. But of course, that was the only excuse we had initially to actually be able to leave our properties. So all the dogs had their little walkies on a regular basis every day. So that was quite interesting as well.   Michael Hingson ** 16:18 I've been to places in Europe and also talk to to other people who live there. And I guess it was fairly common, even well before COVID, to walk dogs and even see dogs go into stores or restaurants and so on. And it was a common thing. But the difference between there and here and correct me if I'm wrong. But the difference is that most all of those dogs were well behaved and they were controlled by their people.   Michael Hingson ** 16:51 Generally, yes, generally. And   Michael Hingson ** 16:54 unfortunately, here, people just think they should be able to take their dogs, whether they're well behaved or not. And all too often, we see that dogs are not as well behaved as they should be. That creates a problem for those of us who use dogs like guide, like I use our my guide dog Alamo as a guide dog who's trained. And then they tried to put restrictions and has put some restrictions on us, because of those other people that they wouldn't really just deal with them appropriately. So it is it is a challenge. Yeah,   Jann Weeratunga ** 17:25 no, I know, from obviously the UK and Ireland, because my mum's from Ireland, that, you know, taking the dogs out for a walk is commonplace. I mean, dad would always take the dog for a walk around the block at night, just you know, before we went to bed. And it was my brother and my job to sort of walk the dog down to the park and give them a good run during the day. So I think you know, so walking dogs, it was it was it was good, actually, because it's a good form of exercise as well. And, you know, I mean, I would often sort of pop the dog into the car, drive up to the forest and go for a walk for two to three hours, you know, and then come back with a very tired dog. So yeah, well, that's   Michael Hingson ** 18:07 that's a good thing. Yeah. And sometimes attire, Jann, but but still, that's probably.   Jann Weeratunga ** 18:14 Yeah, I wasn't bad. In those days. It was bit younger. But the Yeah. Well, I   Michael Hingson ** 18:20 know one of the things about you is that you, you write you're an author, when did you start writing?   Jann Weeratunga ** 18:25 I think I've always had an interest in poetry, and sort of wrote little details here and that sort of thing. But it was more or less when I came to South Africa, we owned a restaurant down in Nisa, which is on the coast, in very beautiful part of the country is just above the sort of Jitsi, karma, forest area. And I actually lived in a wooden cabin in the forest, where I didn't spend much time there because I actually spent sort of like, six and a half days at the restaurant running it. But when I had spare time, I would actually just sort of sit on the deck. And just let my mind wander. And I started with the poetry. And then I started writing in seriously children's stories in 2012, which was the start of the Paralympics.   Michael Hingson ** 19:27 So love to hear more about that. What got you started doing that? And well, let me ask first, did you publish any of your poetry?   Jann Weeratunga ** 19:38 Would you believe I actually only published my poetry last year? And that was because some friends had basically seen some of the poems and sort of said, Why haven't you published the and I think it's the difference between being judged by your peers and being judged by children. So so most of them My writing is actually for children. But my poetry is obviously for adults. And funnily enough, I actually took a couple of books with me, I went back to the UK in May to see my family. And I took a couple of books, and gave them as gifts to friends. And they actually sort of said, well, would you read a couple of poems for us, and so I read a couple of them, and they were in tears. And I didn't think my poetry would have that much of an effect on people. So it was quite an eye opener for me. The other adult work I've done is I actually write adult short stories, dark stories, unfortunately. I know a couple of other authors that do the same. They write poetry, children's books, and dark, short stories. And I think it's a release from writing children's stuff all the time is to write sort of the dark adult stuff. But I've actually not that I'm not public, I've got two books ready to go. They've been sitting there for a couple of years. And, and yeah, and there's just a block there that the   Michael Hingson ** 21:10 public, are they going to be dark?   Jann Weeratunga ** 21:14 They are dark, all the short stories are very dark. And yes, but they're there. I mean, one of one of them is actually a monologue, for example of a character who has schizophrenia. And so they're obviously talking to themselves. And they're on a plane. They I say they because it was it's one person is on a plane, and the quieter voice of the two has actually arranged to be euthanized in Switzerland, which is legal. Without the other one, knowing what the other side of the venue knowing. And it's this, this monologue, and that's all it is, is this conversation the whole way through the story. And a few people that have read it have been, I think, quite shocked, because it's not the sort of usual happy clappy stuff that I wrote for kids. Yeah. And they were saying, Okay, well, when is it publishing? Have you got any more? And can we read it? So sorry about that thing? I can't stop that.   Michael Hingson ** 22:26 Look at JK Rowling. You know, she wrote the Harry Potter series, and now she's writing the Cormoran Strike series. And I don't know that I would say they're, they're darker, although I think the last Harry Potter book that she wrote was, was darker than the others. But she clearly throughout both series is a mystery writer. Because in one real sense, Harry Potter is all about mystery is being a mystery. Just the various things that go through it.   Jann Weeratunga ** 22:58 Yeah, I think the interesting thing with her work is the fact that it sort of it crossed genres. Yeah. And it was the first of all really strong, young adult series that came out really strong. And I think it defined it defined that that genre completely, you know, all those that don't know, young adult is basically stories that don't contain sex, or explicit violence as in blood, guts and gore type of thing. So So, and it's actually turned out to be a very popular genre, because a lot of people, they don't necessarily want that. But they want a good story, they will, you know, they don't want to read children's stories. They want to read adult stories, but they don't want that side of it. So it's quite interesting how it's developed.   Michael Hingson ** 23:58 Well, I will say any number of adults like them, too. I would love to, I would love to see more Harry Potter books. But there is a new series that's written by an American about one of his sons, James Potter, and five books have come out in that series, and they're pretty good. And again, there's some good mysteries in them. Well, so what got you started writing children's books and the pirate Olympics and so on. I'd love to hear that story.   Jann Weeratunga ** 24:30 Okay, I have always loved watching the Paralympics more than the Olympics. Right from a very young child. I was glued to the TV for the Paralympics. And 12 was the London Olympics, which I personally feel changed people's views towards disabilities in general. I think was a big leap forward for the disabled community at that particular point. But for me personally, it was, so Philip Craven, who's paraplegic himself was giving the closing speech. And he was chatting away and sort of saying, you know, there was this mother with her son, and they were reading a book. And in the book, there was a character and he had a patch over one eye, a hook for a hand, and a wooden leg. And the mother turned around and she said to the boy, my boy, who's this? And he said, Well, he's got one eye, one arm, one leg, he must be a Paralympian. And it was like one of those light bulb moments you get you know, you you don't think they exist. But it but actually it really did exist for me. And I suddenly thought, hang on a minute. Because he was talking about the pirates in Treasure Island. I thought pirates, Paralympics. Hang on a minute. There's something here. So I googled, and I Googled, and there was nothing, nobody had written anything. There was no parallel drawn between pirates and Paralympics. So I started. I spoke to a friend and they and I said, Well, there's nothing out there. Why is nobody written this story, you know? And they said, Well, why don't you write that story? So I did. And then I sat on it. Again, I think fear of failure as much as anything else fear of judgment. Being a bit dyslexic, it's sort of, I got really knocked by my English teacher at school. And so I lacked the confidence to actually pump in a publicize something. So or publish something. So I sat on it until 2016. And of course, the Olympics was round again. And the Paralympics were around again. And I found her and said, Come on your book. Enough now it's got to go out. And so I did I put the first one out and it was very well received and I had a couple of very very young readers that read it me young eight year old turned around to me and said, is Polly real? A Poly is a parrot that was born with one I stolen from her nest in Africa, ends up in Scotland where she's rescued by Captain hiker pirate and she learns to become a pirate. And and so I turned around, and it's a little bit like those sort of questions about you know, is Father Christmas or Santa Claus real. And you never burst a child's bubble. You never ever, in my, that's my rules. You never destroy childhood. You allow a child to be a child for as long as they need to be. And so I chatted to him and I said, How many parents are there in the world? And he said, Ah, auntie, there must be millions. I said yes, because over here they everyday call everybody Auntie's. If you go into a school, they'll call you and your listing they call your auntie, or uncle. And then I said, and do you think any of them are called Polly? He sat down for a moment, he said, I reckon there must be I said, Well, there you go. You've answered your own question, haven't you? So that was how Polly was created. And Polly creates the the Paralympics and they get up to all sorts of things, but they like made me realize Hang on. I mean, I need to actually do a little bit of a backstory here as to the story about Polly is the first one I wrote was just all about the sort of the actual games themselves you know, there's a master chef competition and there's a walk the plank and this time, the rigging gymnastics and what have you. And then I wrote the backstory, which was how they discovered the prosthetics. So my parents have blades and racing wheelchairs and prosthetic hands. And yeah, they they get up to all sorts of antics and lots of fun. So   Michael Hingson ** 29:26 you do you publish your own books, or do you have a publisher?   Jann Weeratunga ** 29:33 For these this set, I published my own books. I had a publisher for a book I wrote. I actually headed up during lockdown. I had it up nosology called locked down behind the mask. So I had a publisher that because for me, when everybody was wearing masks, it reminded me of when I lived in the Middle East and the burqa, and all you would see is the lady's eyes. So I had a publisher for that one. But otherwise I self published. So they all went up on Amazon. I'm on the 10th. One at the moment. The Halloween Paralympics is finished, but that won't be out until next year. So there'll be two others come out before that one, so, but there's seven on Amazon at the moment.   Michael Hingson ** 30:27 So you'll have a ghost pack, you'll have a ghost pirate.   Jann Weeratunga ** 30:31 There is a ghost pirates. Yes, they actually meet, they meet Captain Blackbeard and his ghostly crew. And they have to fight their way off his ship with the map, which is the map that takes them to the treasure, which, of course treasure is in the eye of the beholder. And that is their prosthetics.   Michael Hingson ** 30:50 That sounds like fun. Have you? Have you made sure that or have you done anything to make sure that the books are accessible? Like for blind people to be able to read? Are they? Are they put out in an accessible form like that at all? Do you know? At   Jann Weeratunga ** 31:09 the moment? No. I did have a gentleman that was with the Braille organization in Australia that wanted to actually have them, I suppose you call it translated it into Braille? And unfortunately, he never came back to me. So at the moment, no, I don't I don't have them on audio, audio is very expensive to do. And when I have so many books, because I'm actually up, I think I've been I've got over 40 children's books. So you know, when you're sort of producing a lot of books, it's sort of keeping up with them. And when you don't have a publisher, you have to do everything yourself. So you have to pay for the illustrations, you have to pay for the editing, you have to pay for the proofreading that cover everything that goes into a book, and it's quite costly. So the additional cost of an audiobook is not not something I've yet been able to manage. But I'm still hopeful. So yeah, I'll see what happens with that.   Michael Hingson ** 32:19 You might explore something like in this country, there's the National Library Service for   Michael Hingson ** 32:27 blinding and well print handicapped, essentially, Vegas, originally National Library Service of the blind, physically handicapped, but it goes beyond that. Anyway, they oftentimes will take books that they think people will read or that are popular, and they will produce them. And the reason they will do that is that they are protected under copyright law. So they are only available for people who have some sort of print disability. But still, that's a pretty good circulation. And what prompted me to ask the question was that I would think that people with disabilities could benefit from what you have to say as much as others do.   Jann Weeratunga ** 33:13 Yeah, I mean, for me, it's especially children. I went into a school here, recall, and they have, it's very, it's a mixed school. So they have children with physical disabilities. Unfortunately, not blind children simply because the layout of the school is too dangerous for the kids to be able to navigate. But juggle, there was one young girl, for example, had a prosthetic leg. And I remember going in, and I gave a number of books into the school, and I did a whole day chatting to the kids about disabilities. Because I believe very much about educating young people. And I think, I mean, chatting to you, for me is a real privilege. Because I think very often, by the time we're adults, we're too embarrassed or nervous to ask questions. And because we don't ask questions, we tend to avoid talking to somebody with a disability. And the children don't have that same barrier. You know, that they don't see color. They don't see disability. When I describe it a little bit like you know, being inside the box looking out as opposed to adults who are outside the box looking in. And I very much believe that if we can have young people able bodied as well as disabled reading books were characters have disabilities and I mean, as you my books are a complete flip in in many ways. So the norm because most of my characters have disabilities As Of course, they're pirates. So they've got something missing or they're blind, or they're deaf or whatever. So I've probably got about 80% of my characters that are actually disabled. Whereas most books may be, you might get 10% If you're lucky. So for me, it's important because young people, then able bodied and disabled can can read these books. And this particular young young lady I was talking to you about, I was invited back to the school about six weeks later. And she saw me across the car at the car park, and she came for flying over. And she flow her arms around me. And she said, auntie, auntie, thank you for writing that book for me. And I had this most enormous lump in my throat, that seems to be there for five minutes, I'm sure it was just only there for maybe five or 10 seconds before I could get, you know, regain my composure, because it had meant so much for her to be able to identify with other characters in the book, you know. So I think it's very important that these stories are available to young people, as I say, both able bodied and disabled, because I think it gives an understanding, I think it gives an empathy and an education to both.   Michael Hingson ** 36:29 You not only does it I absolutely agree it, it does. And that's again, one of the reasons I asked about audio or more another accessible version, I would, would think that   Michael Hingson ** 36:47 some people may shoot me for it. But with AI today, the so called artificial intelligence and the number of voices that are out there, that there ought to be some ways to convert the books relatively easily by comparison to even five years ago to audio, and then publish them. And   Jann Weeratunga ** 37:09 I did actually purchase a program that I can't remember the name of it now, because I'm not techie minded, but I was advised that that was the best fit at the time. But it's it sounds so mechanical. Yeah. It still didn't, it didn't flow and the emphasis wasn't on the words. Right, what I felt the emphasis should be if you know what I mean. So I do, I have actually recorded I'm very lucky, I do some work with a local school here, I actually scribe for for some of the boys. And they allow me to use their music rooms, which are all sort of, you know, soundproof. So I've actually recorded some myself, I've got one of the books is actually up on YouTube. That's the first of the poly books, and it's up in four sections. But the whole book is actually actually up there. And that's how Polly became a pirate. So I have actually sort of started this myself. And I've done it sort of through the YouTube roots. But yeah, there have   Michael Hingson ** 38:18 been so many great strides in voice technology. And so on that that even in six months, it might be a lot better. I don't know, I've seen some some discussions where I think there might be some some good voice, artificial voice things that are a lot better. But certainly if you can do it, that would make a lot more sense to do by any standard.   Jann Weeratunga ** 38:44 Yeah, yeah. Let's say and I quite enjoy reading my own stories as well to two kids. So it's, it's something I enjoy doing as well.   Michael Hingson ** 38:54 There are now some programs that can take your voice and create unlimited vocabulary speech. If it has enough of your voice to learn from how do we find your books? While you're one book on YouTube? Let me ask that.   Jann Weeratunga ** 39:14 Row. I think basically, you just go January Tonga, YouTube, and it will come up. Okay. How Polycom virus Yeah, I think I   Michael Hingson ** 39:23 look for it. I have to go look for it. I want to read about Polly   Jann Weeratunga ** 39:29 Okey doke. Good. So   Michael Hingson ** 39:31 is writing kind of full time job for you? Or do you have other work that you do to help income or what?   Jann Weeratunga ** 39:38 No writing is my full time job. That is what I do. I love writing for kids. It's a real I think it's a passion. You know, you either love it or you just don't go near it. And prior to COVID I used to be in schools two, three times a week. I was always is in a school somewhere up here. I even did a tour down on the Eastern Cape and took a couple of other authors with me. So, yeah, it's, it's become literally full time. And at the moment I'm putting out a book roughly one book a month? Well, I   Michael Hingson ** 40:19 think I think it's really important that your books, get out there and get visible. And so since it is your full time job, I'm assuming that you do write every day.   Jann Weeratunga ** 40:33 I pretty well write five days a week, I tried to just have a bit of time off at the weekends, sort of family time, but Monday to Friday. The house is quiet by six o'clock, everybody else's. So I actually sit then, and I write usually to that too. And then whatever sort of household bits and pieces need to be sorted out or shopping or whatever, whatever gets done in the afternoon, so but yeah, I put a good six hours in and it's a bit like people that do physical exercise, you know, you build up your muscles, and is a sort of, I believe it's like building up your mental muscles. You know, the more you write. I mean, I picked up, Polly, I haven't written Polly for quite a long time actually. I wrote a younger series, because a lot of people came to me and said, can't Can't you write a pirate series for younger children as well. So I had the patches pirate pals. And for a year, we literally put out a book a month, or 12 books out there on that series No, like on? Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 41:44 Are those books, oh,   Jann Weeratunga ** 41:46 they're all short little 32, page eight by 10 inches by 10. But those ones, I've actually left the illustrations to be colored in by the kids because I feel, especially with boys, they tend to be a bit more than sort of reluctant readers and you hear coloring in it sort of attaches them to the book, and they gain a bit more of an interest in the book. And from that you gain an interest in the words and the story, etc, etc. So that whole series was like that. I've just produced one from my niece. She's three in two weeks time. And she actually was my my illustrating editor, he saw the pictures and either like them or didn't, which was quite interesting. So my poor illustrator had to redo a couple. And I'd given her a toy dinosaur Bronwyn, the dinosaur. And my sister said to me at one point, you can't see anything except purple because Bronwyn eating the phone. And that was because I've sent the picture of Bronwyn, for my niece to approve. And so she was actually using the dinosaur to kiss the phone to those he liked it. So yeah. So but that one's a mixture of color, color and drawing. And so there is a color picture. And an opposite is the same picture just as an outline. And the kids can either use the same colors or their own imaginations. And I believe very much in that as well. I think it's very important that young people use their imaginations, you know, things have changed from from when we were children. You know, when we were kids, we would play outside, we would, you know, almost have fights with brothers or sisters or mock fights or, you know, we played cowboys and Indians or whatever it was we were doing, we do it. And we maybe would watch television for an hour in the evening, sort of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Weekends was always sports. So that was dad's time type of thing. But today, it's changed. And we didn't have computers, we didn't have smart telephones, we didn't have any of those things. You know, we used to sit there and do this huge Jigsaw which was four foot by four foot square, on our dining room table, you know, every evening was in pieces in type of thing. But today, it's changed. And I think young kids are in a way missing out and missing out on the opportunity to expand their imaginations because so much is spoon fed to them. So much as you know, Google is wonderful. I fall down the rabbit hole with Google all the time when I'm researching my books. And some of the stuff I come I find is just absolutely mind blowing. But it gives you everything. And I think with young people, if they're given too much, they don't use their imaginations that so that's one of the reasons why I like to. I've, I've created I've actually created two journals. which a guided journal is for very young children to start journaling, you know, so it sort of helps them guide them through. And that's actually part of the practice part ELS series, which is really aimed at sort of four to seven year olds, they're very young ones, maybe up to nine, depending on, you know, ability levels. But it's getting them to use their imagination, to write their story, their poem, draw their drawing, or coloring with the colors that they want to use. And if they want to give somebody green hair, that's fine. They know what color hair is. But let them use their imagination. Let them be creative.   Michael Hingson ** 45:42 We don't do nearly enough of that. And I absolutely agree with you. The the problem with so much television is that everything is just for store, everything is there, there's no imagination. It didn't used to be that way. Even in television, of course, early in televisions era, there was, it was an issue where you had both television and radio. And so people were were used to helping individuals use their imagination. But the longer television has gone on, the more we just put everything out there and there's nothing left for a person's imagination. I collect old radio shows as a hobby, and I love listening to old shows, because they still make you use your imagination. And even now, there are new series. And again, people have to use their imagination and fill in a lot of blanks that are deliberately left and can't be there because there are no pictures to look at. So you've got to do it. And I think television should do more of that.   Jann Weeratunga ** 46:52 Yeah. And books as well. I mean, I think books are wonderful. You know, when I go into in schools, and I open the book, and I say to the children, right, what am I doing? And I'm literally I'm standing there and I'm opening a book, okay? And they say you're opening a book? And I say, Yes, but what else am I doing? And they look puzzled. And I said, I'm opening up the pages to your imagination. And then what is imagination? What is it? And I remember one youngster gave a wonderful definition that it's like dreaming, but your eyes are open. But the story is in your head, and you can see it like a film, attitude. And I thought that is exactly it. Because I know, when I write my books, when I'm writing about Polly, especially Polly, Polly has a very she's very special. Polly and my parents are very special. They, that's my comfortable place. Whenever I go back to Holly. And I can see her, I can hear she's almost talking in my ear. When I'm writing her. It's a weird sort of relationship that I think a writer has with their characters. But she's so real for me. It's almost like she's speaking. And I'm just using my hands to write the words if that makes any sense. Yeah. So it's, it's wonderful. From my point of view, because I can just let my imagination go all over the place, you know. And then when you actually are reading the story, and you watch the kids faces, it is so special. Because you can see, they can see it in their heads. They can take their imagination, they can see the pictures, like a little film, you know? Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 49:05 Well and and that's the way imagination should be now, here's a question does skip and where Polly ended up does Polly have a Scottish accent? Sort of   Jann Weeratunga ** 49:17 weird actually. And he definitely has a Scottish accent. And all of his crew do. He has a cruiser quite there's nine crews and they each have quite definitive accent so the the Caribbean Jamaican crew has very Caribbean the turbaned Indians very much the cowboy Americans very much with an American lil. So each each crew I've actually given their own voice, which is important because it also brings diversity for the kids to understand the world is quite a big place that we live in. So we've got tattooed Maori And we've got Scandinavians, we've got Scots, we've got Zulus, we've got Greek goddesses, we, you know, we've got the the Japanese ninjas, you know, there's all these different crews that are very different. But they all belong to the fellowship of pirates, right?   Michael Hingson ** 50:21 That's really the issue, isn't it?   Jann Weeratunga ** 50:24 Yeah. Yeah. You know, what am I realize we're actually all the same, we all want the same things.   Michael Hingson ** 50:31 One of the things that I talked about, on the podcast, I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it today, because people hear it enough. But you talked about able bodied and disabled people, I work to try to get people to understand that disability doesn't mean and I know you're saying somewhat the same thing. disability does not mean a lack of ability. Disability is a characteristic. And I would submit that everyone has a disability, everyone in the world. And for most of you, as I tell people, it's like dependents, you know, when the lights go out, and you don't have an iPhone, or a smartphone of any sort, or a flashlight nearby, you're in a world of hurt, because you can't see what you're doing. So I submit that we need to get away from making a distinction between so called Able bodied and persons with disabilities, because everyone has one. And what we really need to do is to recognize that disability is a characteristic, and it manifests itself in different ways. Yeah,   Jann Weeratunga ** 51:32 yeah. 100% 100%. I mean, it's even down to one, you might disagree with me on this. But if all you've ever wanted to do is ride a bicycle, and you have no sense of balance, and you cannot ride a bicycle, you are effectively disabled. You are disabled from being able to ride a bicycle. Now, people argument they know that that's not really a proper disability. Sure,   Michael Hingson ** 52:03 it is. It's a it's a characteristic.   Jann Weeratunga ** 52:06 Exactly. Exactly. And I think that's, I think you and I are very much on the same page for this. And I know we had a little chat for a few months about that back end. Back   Michael Hingson ** 52:17 in the day. Yeah, it's been a while.   Jann Weeratunga ** 52:21 Yeah, we touched on it. But But But I agree 100% I think we all have a disability. But one of the things I do say is disability does not mean inability, correct.   Michael Hingson ** 52:33 It does not mean a lack of ability, it just means you have something.   Jann Weeratunga ** 52:39 Yes. And I think each each gift is different. And it makes us see the world in a different way. So for example, because I have dyslexia, I have to work a little bit harder. With my writing. There's nothing wrong with my grammar, there's nothing wrong with the my my word order, or the words I use, until I try and type them and then very often they can come out backwards, or I mean to this day, if I type the word, the, I can guarantee guarantee 90% of the time, it comes out HTTP II. Okay, and that's, and my fingers know what they should be doing. To this date, they know what they should be doing. But   Michael Hingson ** 53:29 they know what you want them to do, but they have their mind of their own.   Jann Weeratunga ** 53:33 They do return. So bit of what I'm trying to say there is that, you know, disability, if you if you look at the figures as such, they say that between 20 and 25% of the world is disabled. Those are the disabilities that can be measured. The other 75% they also have disabilities, they just don't admit to it. Right, exactly right. And now the stigmas that are attached to disability. And again, that's why inside the box looking out outside the box looking in, which starts for me with children, because if you are a child inside the box with others use you just as I said earlier, kids don't see disability, they're just friends, right? They all get on with each other. And if somebody can't do something, they'll help them or if they won't help them, they'll believe them or whatever. But the kids will learn to stand up for themselves. And they will get through that   Michael Hingson ** 54:30 until adults until adults get in the way.   Jann Weeratunga ** 54:33 And so the adults get in the way Exactly. But But what I'm saying is when that group of children become adults, and that's where we haven't got that that's why I believe we haven't got to yet. We're getting there but it's not got there yet. When that group of children become adults, because they've grown up with a whole range of people, different races, different colors, different abilities. It's just normal, it's what's around them. Whereas at the moment, we're having to constantly play catch up. And we're having to put into companies and businesses, the the structures for people with disabilities to be able to go to work.   Michael Hingson ** 55:23 As long as those,   Jann Weeratunga ** 55:25 it will just automatically be there. Because those are going to be the new bosses,   Michael Hingson ** 55:30 as long as they don't forget. As long as they don't forget.   Jann Weeratunga ** 55:35 But that's if we don't interfere. Right.   Michael Hingson ** 55:41 So when is Polly going to be in a movie?   Jann Weeratunga ** 55:46 Oh, my goodness, the big question. Yes, I've actually finally sorted out my pitch. And that's taken a long time. And I've actually a gentleman called Steve Longley. He has been my fairy godfather. He produced Hacksaw Ridge, which is a slightly different type of movie to what we're probably going to be. But he's been a real mentor. And that's why I'm giving you a little bit of a shout out to him, because he doesn't have to help me. He doesn't know me from a bar. So I introduced myself on LinkedIn to him one day, which is, of course, how I met met Sheldon and through Sheldon, you. And he, he's given me so much confidence. So my pictures ready. I'm helping a friend launch their book tomorrow, which has taken up most of the last two weeks. And once that's done, I'm actually going to be going out to producers and directors to see if I will hook somebody that will actually produce it. Because to me, it's important. And I think whether it becomes a TV series or a movie, I don't mind, it probably lends itself more to animation, simply because so many of the characters have disabilities. And I think the insurance for that, in real life would would go through the roof on a movie set? I don't know, but I think so. But it leads me on also to something again, that we touched on before. And that was basically when we were talking about actors, disabled actors. And at the moment most most actors sort of literally have a wheel on reel off for a walk on walk off part. There are no real central characters based around disability or very, very few very emerge now. There's one or two sort of characters that are, you know, building up or what have you. But one of the things I've been advocating for is, why can't disabled actors do voiceovers and dubbing there's nothing stopping them to do those doing those things. We need   Michael Hingson ** 57:56 to we need to talk offline about some of that because there's an organization called Radio enthusiast of Puget Sound and a whole group of people who are blind. And the president of that organization also is the lead in a radio Well, internet radio stations called yesterday usa.net. And there's a red network in a blue network, like there is on a piece on NBC in the golden days of radio. And there actually is some work being done to try to create some programs to encourage blind people to go into doing more audio type stuff. So we should talk about that offline.   Jann Weeratunga ** 58:39 I think so. I think so. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 58:43 Speaking of Washington, that's what we're going to do next month is go up and do for radio show recreations. And I and some other blind people and non blind people are all going to be parts of the show. Now   Jann Weeratunga ** 58:54 that's so cool. It's so cool. I've got a friend here, Lois. And she's just done an art exhibition. And I found it. It was a concept that I found quite difficult to get my mind around, obviously. You know, how can somebody who's blind do an art exhibition, but she's actually working with a group of people down in Cape Town, a group of blind students found in Cape Town, and some have maybe 10% site up to they have just a little bit but not very much, you know, and they're doing amazing, amazing work and I and I think just bringing more of this it needs to be funded, it needs to be supported. I mean, South Africa there's no funding for anything. We don't have electricity most of the time internet sometimes and water when they feel like it. But, but but, you know, in Western countries where there is a little bit more money, I think these things need to be fun. Need more supported a lot more than they are? And I suppose, unless we started up and start shouting, it won't happen. And so that's one of the reasons why I want to see my pirates and poly made into either a film or set of films or a TV series. Again, because it's something that everybody can enjoy. Maybe   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:23 well, Todd, what can I do? Sorry? Maybe we also want to explore making it into an audio series. Hmm,   Jann Weeratunga ** 1:00:34 I think so. I think so. Yeah, definitely.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:37 How do we increase the conversation around disabilities and get people? I know, you've talked about one way as children grow up, but what else can we do as adults to break through some of those barriers and get the conversation? more a part of the mainstream?   Jann Weeratunga ** 1:00:59 Oh, gosh. Well, I think number one, we have to identify the problems. And I think the main problems are and I'm going to talk about disability disabled and able bodied, if you will, just sort of entertain me on that. The more able bodied, shall we say? folk out there feel awkward talking to people with disabilities, they will shun away from speaking to somebody with a disability, they will avoid going to help somebody with a disability. And I think it's just such a stigma. And it's not the disabled person. I don't think it's the individual. It's just the whole sphere of disabilities. And I, I've watched LinkedIn recently, and there's a lot more out there and a lot more stories coming out. And I think I think that's a really good thing. And I think things like I know, the Paralympics does focus on the physical, and the Disabilities is a lot more than that. I mean, people in wheelchairs are only 8% of those with disabilities. Yeah, what is the symbol that we use for the disabled? It's, it's a word character in a wheelchair. Right. Yeah. You know, so. And I know there is a movement towards possibly changing that. I don't know how why is that is, in the sense that I understand why, but at least is recognized as a symbol for disabled. You know, there's pros and cons around everything. Yeah. And I think I think we just have to talk more, I think there needs to be, I think, all right, I think people are frightened. It's like when I first spoke with Lois, because I think she was the first blind person I spoke with. And I said, Louis, can I ask you a question? Should you ask me anything? But I thought I had actually say, may I ask you the question? Because I felt awkward. I didn't want to cause offence. I didn't want to be rude. I didn't want to say something that will upset. And I think that's part of it. With a lot of people. And we have to get over it. We have and I think that's what Sheldon did that for me. Actually, he was wonderful. We had an hour long chit chat. And I was chatting to him about how to use some of the analytics in LinkedIn and stuff as well, you know, stuff he had, and been able to do, and what have you. And it was so nice, because I felt so much more comfortable at the end of the conversation than obviously, I had at the start of the conversation. And I think just the more able bodied people, a person is, they just need to get over it. They just need to start talking to people. But it's our and it's hard. And that's why I go back to kids because I think, you know, to a degree we have to start with young people and educate them and bring them through the system. But then what do we do with all of us old is sitting at the top end.   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:20 But the awkwardness is more of a learned behavior than anything else. We we don't like to think that just because someone is different than us. They're necessarily at the same level we are. And we we grow up learning that which is in part why I said I hoped that children today don't forget as they grow up, because it's a learned behavior. And you're right. It's great to start with children, and the more children get to be involved in the conversation and carry on the conversation. and don't have the fear, the better it is, oh,   Jann Weeratunga ** 1:05:03 well, I'll give you an example on something. My niece, as I mentioned earlier is going to be three. One of the things my sister did with her, when for about six months on, she taught her how to sign. Now my niece isn't there. But there's a movement in the UK to teach babies to sign. Because they can sign I'm hungry, I'm full. I would like more. And, you know, I mean, there's obviously a lot more signs than those, I've just taken three, the very basic ones, they can do that six to eight months before they can speak up. So they can communicate on a level to express themselves, which also reduces frustration, and anger. And I'm actually trying to learn there's a guy called the Deaf chef on Instagram, and I'm following him. And every day, he comes out with a new sign. And I've been trying to learn some of those number one, so I can keep up with my knees and get better at styling than I am. But also, sign language actually just became 12 official language in South Africa. And I went to a restaurant one day, and there was a lady there. And I asked her a question, and then she sort of put her hand to it yet and said, you know, yeah, basically, you know, was was telling me she was deaf. So I wrote it down, because I couldn't sign. But the only thing I had looked say was, thank you. So at the end of the conversation, I actually just gave the sign of Thank you. And her face just lit up. It was the only thing I knew how to do. But have it made her day. You know? And and I just think that we we need to all make more of an effort, I suppose. And I think things like, Why can't say why can't we have sign language in schools? You know, over here, we have 11 languages, and they're all taught in school. So why can't we have some language taught and useful? The more we communicate, the more we talk to each other. The more I think barriers will come down. And we've got to get over this stigma of disability. And again, it's that word, isn't it? disability?   Michael Hingson ** 1:07:25 And only YouTube anytime we need to learn it doesn't mean Yeah, because it's not a lack of ability.   Jann Weeratunga ** 1:07:30 Exactly.   Michael Hingson ** 1:07:33 If people want to reach out to you and learn more about you, how do they do that?   Jann Weeratunga ** 1:07:38 Okay, so they can they can email me. And I've actually, I think I've given you some of my links. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 1:07:48 we'll go ahead and spell out email if you want to or whatever. Go ahead and say it here as well, please. Okay,   Jann Weeratunga ** 1:07:54 what is quite a complicated kind of fortunately, but it's, it's, well, I'll give you my easy one. I've got one which is Jann Weeratunga, which is? No, maybe that's not the easier one. I think they'll probably is. It's J a n S Jans, Pics P i C S. SA for South africa@gmail.com. Jan's pics SA for South Africa,   Michael Hingson ** 1:08:21 at Gmail. com. That's pretty easy. Great. Well, I want to thank you for being here. And we will be putting the book covers and all the other things up in the cover notes. And I hope people will reach out this has clearly been fun and fascinating. And I want to continue our discussions later offline. We got to do some

Welcome back to the Bad Dads Film Review! In today's episode, we're suiting up and diving into the trenches to honor the top 5 soldiers in film history. From the valiant to the virtuous, these cinematic soldiers have captured our imaginations and respect. Following that, we'll storm the beaches with a review of "Hacksaw Ridge," before enlisting with "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" for some animated action suitable for the younger brigade.Top 5 Soldiers in Film:John Rambo in "First Blood" (1982) - Sylvester Stallone's portrayal of the troubled Vietnam War vet set the standard for the action hero as a lone soldier, battling both external enemies and internal demons.Captain John H. Miller in "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) - Tom Hanks delivers a powerful performance as a WWII officer on a perilous mission to bring home a soldier behind enemy lines, embodying the sacrifice and burden of command.Sergeant Elias in "Platoon" (1986) - Willem Dafoe's portrayal of a morally upright and compassionate soldier in the Vietnam War offers a poignant look at the conflict's human cost.Private Desmond T. Doss in "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016) - Andrew Garfield plays WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who became the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.Lieutenant Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump" (1994) - Gary Sinise's role as the fiercely proud Vietnam vet provides a moving narrative on the challenges faced by soldiers returning home from war.Main Feature - Hacksaw Ridge (2016):Directed by Mel Gibson, "Hacksaw Ridge" is a war film that tells the extraordinary true story of Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), a conscientious objector who served as a medic during the Battle of Okinawa. Refusing to kill, Doss saved 75 men without ever carrying a firearm. The film is a brutal, blood-soaked, yet inspiring portrayal of courage, faith, and conviction in the face of unimaginable horror.Kids TV - G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero:Switching gears to something a little more family-friendly, "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" is a classic '80s animated series that follows a team of elite soldiers as they battle the evil Cobra organization. It's a show that defined a generation, blending action-packed adventures with lessons on teamwork, responsibility, and patriotism.Whether you're in the mood for a deep dive into the valor of wartime heroism, a discussion on the complexities of combat, or just some nostalgic fun with action figures come to life, today's episode has something for every kind of dad. So, load up your gear and join us on Bad Dads Film Review as we salute these cinematic soldiers and the incredible stories they bring to life.

In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the common pitfall of app fatigue—constantly switching productivity tools in search of the perfect system, only to end up wasting valuable time. Our host shares a compelling conversation with a caller who has experienced this firsthand, revealing the transformative power of gamifying productivity. Drawing inspiration from the story of "Hacksaw Ridge," we explore how setting "just one more" challenges can help us stick with our tools longer, breaking the cycle of endless switching. Plus, discover practical tips and app recommendations to make gamification work for you, turning your productivity efforts into an engaging, winnable game. Whether you're looking to enhance your focus, efficiency, or just make daily tasks more enjoyable, this episode is your guide to leveraging the fun side of productivity. Do you want to improve your work habits? Subscribe to The Productive Life email newsletter! It's free every Saturday: MisterProductivity.com/newsletter Get ready to change how you work. Every week, I'll share tips to help you get your work done fast. Here's why you should subscribe: 1. Learn top tricks to reach your goals. 2. Discover secret ways to boost your work. 3. Find the right balance between work and rest. Time is precious. Our tips are the key to success. Don't miss out on improving your work. Subscribe to The Productive Life newsletter for free this and every Saturday. WHO IS MARK STRUCZEWSKI? I'm a productivity coach who helps solopreneurs banish calendar and task overwhelm to stay on top of their business, not be run over by it. Host of The Mister Productivity Podcast.

Embark on a profound exploration of the human spirit with Mel Gibson as we unravel the threads of forgiveness and courage against the stark canvas of war in "Hacksaw Ridge." Our discussion shines a light on Desmond Doss's story, a pacifist combat medic whose unwavering faith and valor in World War II exemplify premeditated heroism and the complexities of forgiveness. As we delve into the Christian perspective of these themes during Lent, listeners will discover the reconciliatory power of forgiveness, echoing the virtues of fortitude and chastity that are as relevant today as they were in Doss's time.As the world has grappled with recent events, convictions were tested, and the essence of "Hacksaw Ridge" emerged as a beacon of steadfastness amidst the chaos. Our conversation with Mel stretches beyond the silver screen to touch upon personal anecdotes and historical parallels, revealing how art can foreshadow societal upheavals and fortify resilience. Through a moving analysis of a key scene in the film, we uncover the universal struggle of familial forgiveness and the moral courage to stand by one's principles, inviting our audience to reflect on their own experiences during these unprecedented times.In the emotional landscape of father-son relationships, blockbuster films often mirror the tumultuous journey toward understanding and reconciliation. These narratives, along with heartfelt stories shared in our session, highlight the transformative power of empathy and the healing that comes with forgiveness. As we conclude our conversation with Mel Gibson, we leave our listeners with anticipation for our next episode, promising a tapestry of film clips that will continue to inspire and challenge, honoring the enduring connection between faith and film.Support the show********************************************************https://www.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonOdysee: https://odysee.com/@AvoidingBabylon

We offer profound reflections on "Hacksaw Ridge," the harrowing tale of Desmond Doss, whose conviction in the face of conflict left an indelible mark on history. Venture with us into the soul-stirring journey of a conscientious objector who became a World War II hero without firing a bullet. We uncover the intricate dance of morality and faith that guided Doss's life, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the crafting of a film that challenges the very notions of courage and conviction.This episode is charged with the emotional power of storytelling as we analyze the pivotal moments of "Hacksaw Ridge," unraveling the layers of Desmond Doss's character against the backdrop of war and personal belief. We regale you with anecdotes from our personal lives, historical tidbits, and parallels to recent global events, tying the past and present in a thought-provoking conversation. The court-martial scene serves as a cornerstone for our discussion, showcasing the clash between institutional authority and individual conscience, a theme that reverberates through Gibson's directorial oeuvre and our current societal challenges.Rounding off our exploration, we delve into the broader cultural impact of Gibson's filmography, where films like "Apocalypto" stir a potent mix of controversy and insight.  This episode is not just a review of a film but an examination of the moral compass that guides us through life's tumultuous seas. Join us for an enriching dialogue that celebrates the power of cinema to inspire, challenge, and transform.Support the show********************************************************https://www.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonOdysee: https://odysee.com/@AvoidingBabylon

In episode 34 Owen and JessicaRose share their top 8 films of 2016. Plus we explore resident film reviewer and list giver Mike's top 8.  We welcome Leigh to the top 8 universe as he shares his first list with us.  More on Leigh below Head over to instagram to vote for your fav list top_8_media⁠⁠_movies What movies hit top spot?. Where will Deadpool, Rogue One and Hacksaw Ridge end up on the lists? Your top 8 movie based lists are what make the pod work so send them over via DM on Instagram at top_8_media⁠⁠_movies Our Guest Leighs awesome Podcast and YouTube Channel... LEIGH FROM LIGHTS, CAMERA, RANT. A PODCAST AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR ALL THINGS MOVIES, POP-CULTURE AND VIDEO GAMES.    DEBATING ON WHAT MOVIE TO WATCH. WANTING TO AVOID HOURS SEARCHING FOR THE NEW TV SHOW TO BINGE OR WANTING TO FIND THE BEST NEW GAME PLAY   WELL LOOK NO FURTHER AND COME JOIN LEIGH EVERY WEEK WHERE HE RANTS, RAVES AND REVIEWS THE LATEST MOVIES, TV SHOWS AND VIDEO GAMES.    CHECK OUT LIGHTS CAMERA, RANT TODAY. FOLLOW LEIGH OIN INSAGRAM AT LIGHTS.CAMERA.RANT ⁠⁠ This is a weekly podcast all about movies featuring top 8 lists. It's 4 lists per episode based on a topic. Which list is best? You vote. We have lists from our listeners & the industry. Send us your top 8 via DM for our cohosts to discuss.

In this episode, Ned and Joe discuss Hacksaw Ridge (2016). ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to watch?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ned's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joe's Letterboxd

From the trenches of HACKSAW RIDGE, to the sparkling glitz of ELVIS, and the crude humour of HOLIDATE… Working with some of the biggest directors, Luke Bracey is an actor building up a fascinating resume ranging from hardcore action thrills to Netflix romcom and chills.  From his cinematic selection, it seems like he has a taste for high-pressure international intrigue, espionage, political thrillers with personal stakes and GREAT acting. So what could Alexei possibly pick for him to leave the Last Video Story with?Follow ALEXEI TOLIOPOULOS on Letterboxd for all the rental combo lists. Here's Luke Bracey list right here.  Music & sounds by Rowan Dix Produced & Edited by Alex Jae and Xanon Murphy  Art by Hollow Bones Studio  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dive into the heart-pounding world of emergency medical services with "A Medic's Mind" as we unveil our latest episode, "Top 10 Must-Watch Paramedic Movies: A Lifesaver's Cinema." Join us on a cinematic journey through the eyes of heroes in the line of duty, from the gritty streets of Los Angeles to the intense battlegrounds of war. Discover films that capture the essence of courage, dedication, and the human spirit, including critically acclaimed titles like "Bringing Out the Dead" and "Hacksaw Ridge," along with hidden gems that portray the real-life challenges and triumphs of paramedics and EMTs. Whether you're a film buff, a healthcare professional, or someone fascinated by the adrenaline-fueled world of emergency services, this episode is your ultimate guide to the movies that pay tribute to those who save lives. Don't miss our in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes insights, and why these films resonate with audiences and professionals alike. Tune in now to "A Medic's Mind" and let these stories of heroism and humanity move and inspire you. #ParamedicMovies #EMSFilms #MedicalHeroesCinema #Top10ParamedicMovies #EmergencyServices #AmedicsMindPodcast Follow Me on Social Media: • https://twitter.com/AuthorMHeneghan • https://www.facebook.com/amedicsmind • https://www.instagram.com/theamedicsmindpod/ Email Me: • Info@amedicsmind.com Website: • www.amedicsmind.com @PlayMorePods #PodcastsOnAmazonMusic #PodcastsOnApple #ApplePodcast #Spotify #PodcastsOnSpotify --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amedicsmind/message

Welcome fellow adventurers! The discussion about the core desires of God's heart, continues right here on the Masculine Journey After Hours Podcast. The clips are from "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Evan Almighty," and "Hacksaw Ridge." There's no advertising or commercials, just men of God, talking and getting to the truth of the matter. The conversation and Journey continues. Be sure to check out our other podcasts, Masculine Journey and Masculine Journey Joyride for more great content!

Director Mel Gibson makes his 2nd appearance in the club...it's "Hacksaw Ridge" and returning guest Paul Douglas Moomjean is here to discuss it all with Host & Corporate Comic Steve Mazan.  Is this Mel Gibson's best? Is Gibson the only good Christian filmmaker? How was this story not more known? Was Vaughn perfect or miscast? Is it Anti-War? Is Gibson done? All these questions and more get answered on this week's Mazan Movie Club Podcast. Paul Douglas Moonjean on LinkedIn "Hacksaw Ridge" on IMDb Home of the Mazan Movie Club Steve Mazan on Instagram Home of Corporate Comedian Steve Mazan

The review of 2023 films are in full swing, but first there is the annual look back at the movies seen last year that were NOT FROM last year. Its the Not 2023 Top Ten, where we highlight films worthy of a second discussion because they just impacted us so much. Dave, Mikey, and #TwitterlessDrEarl welcome in Friend of the Show, streaming live from the booming metropolis somewhere in Bainbridge, Wyoming, that is one Jacob "Roth from Wyoming."   Together, the foursome discuss their top ten faves of the year from all over the place, as far back as the early 50s to all the way through the 60s and 70s and in the 00s -- The greatness of Chucky Heston before he told us "YOUR MOVE, IMPERATOR..." Rated R Hockey... hot Atlanta Olympic Bombing chatter... Martin McDonough gets lots of love... the mastery of Hitchcock (and the documentary you should see)... why Mel Gibson is so good at directing... why Tom Hanks doesn't direct much... and never go in the back of a fast food restaurant... And much more in this good time of an episode...     ·        Ben Hur (1959) for rental ·        Breathless (a bout de souffle) (1960) MAX ·        Calvary (2014) for rental ·        Compliance (2012) Amazon Prime; Peacock Premium; Hulu; TubiTV ·        Cool Hand Luke (1967) for rental ·        Das Leben der Anderen (2006) for rental) ·        Dog Day Afternoon (1975) for rental ·        Don't Make Me Go (2022) Amazon Prime ·        The Green Mile (1999) for rental ·        Hacksaw Ridge (2016) Netflix ·        Holy Spider (2022) Netflix ·        House (1977) (MAX) ·        The Hustler (1961) for rental ·        In Bruges (2008) for rental ·        Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxells (MAX) ·        John Wick Chapter 2 (2017) Netflix ·        Marathon Man (1976) Amazon Prime; Paramount+; MGM+ ·        Mean Streets (1973) TubiTV ·        Mirror (1975) The Criterion Channel ·        The Mission (1986) for rental ·        The Night of the Hunter (1955) TubiTV ·        Psycho (1960) for rental ·        The Odd Couple (1968) Paramount+ ·        The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) for rental ·        Richard Jewell (2019) for rental ·        RocknRolla (2008) for rental ·        Sick of Myself (2022) Showtime; Paramount+ ·        Slapshot (1977) For rental ·        Some Like it Hot (1959) MAX ·        The Square (2017) Hulu; TubiTV ·        Swingers (1996) Paramount+ ·        78/52 (2017) AMC+ ·        The Ten Commandments (1956) for rental ·        That Thing You Do! (1996) for rental ·        The Thing From Another World (1951) TubiTV ·        The Third Day (2023) MAX ·        Thunderball (1965) Amazon Prime ·        The Wicker Man (1973) for rental

If you are a storyteller, you will enjoy hearing Bill Mechanic, Oscar winning producer of many of your favorite movies from Titantic to Hacksaw Ridge. Listen to the process of adapting a true story to a feature film. Of significance, Bill is the chairman and CEO of Pandemonium Films. At present, he serves on the board of counselors for USC School of Cinematic Arts, and the Board of BFI Southbank American Friends.

The bros talk about the brutality of war and holding to one's convictions in this new episode on the 2016 film, Hacksaw Ridge. Written by Robert Schenkkan & Andrew Knight and Directed by Mel Gibson. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefilmbrospodcast Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4g9YbMBwRIKzDTV4uXt5Eg The bros Letterboxd's: @_isaiahlucas @lilabey @NickGowinPlaces

Hi Everyone - Happy New Year! Today's podcast has lots of bird walks and bunny trails (a new name for a podcast?!). We covered the holidays, two historical events, AI (and all of it's scary implications), and a whole lot more!