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Every Wednesday we release our all new “HALO Academy: 2 Minute Financial Drill" by Integrity Square Founder & HALO Talks host, Pete Moore on everything you need to know for financial literacy, unit economics, legal documents used for M&A and capital raises, capital sources you can access, understanding how financings are structured, valuation metrics and parameters, and what you need to know about your own business before engaging in cap raises and/or a potential sale. If you missed our email about this, you can re-read it here: https://mailchi.mp/9567da51c0ce/2025programschedule ====================================================== RESOURCES https://www.integritysq.com https://www.halotalks.com https://www.thehaloacademy.com Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/@halotalks =================================================== ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR Pete is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Dream Architect at Integrity Square ("ISQ"), a leading boutique financial advisory firm focused on the $4.7T Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoor ("HALO") sector. Since founding ISQ in 2010, the firm has played an active advisory role in 100+ mergers & acquisitions, private placements and advisory assignments across North America. Pete Moore and his team have also invested in passionate entrepreneurs at HigherDOSE, XTEND, and Promotion Vault. ISQ's media and "live education" properties include HALO Talks, the leading B2B podcast in the sector, Time To Win Again, and the HALO Academy, an Executive Education Bootcamp Series. Prior to ISQ, Pete was Head of the Active Lifestyle & Wellness Group at Sagent Advisors (2003-2010.) Prior to 2003, Pete was co-founder of FitnessInsite, a SasS sales management platform with 1500+ clients (based in AZ.) At FitnessInsite, Pete invested his personal capital, leveraged his credit cards and learned what it takes to manage a startup. Pete built his business and financial acumen on top of the foundation laid at three critical positions early in his career: Senior Associate at Brockway Moran & Partners, the private equity owner of Gold's Gym International, Inc; worked as an Associate at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; and an Analyst at Chase Securities. (Now JP Morgan.) ISQ saw a need for a deeper & more useful level of education in the HALO sector. In response, we launched the HALO Talks podcast, with 500+ completed interviews and over 120,000 downloads. HALO Talks has become a “must listen” for anyone working or investing in the sector. Pete graduated from Emory University (BBA, 1994) and received his MBA from Harvard Business School (1999.) While at HBS, he co-founded IRON PLANET, the leading B2B auction site for used heavy equipment, which was sold to Ritchie Bros for $758 million. His hobbies include: Football, basketball, tennis, podcasting, amateur ventriloquism, pro bono DJ and fitness enthusiast.
In today's episode, host Pete Moore sits down with Marco Benitez—a guest who brings together the worlds of Taekwondo and biomedical engineering! Marco is the founder of Rook, a "middleman" company specializing in connecting data from hundreds of wearables and medical devices. Drawing on his extensive background in sports and years in big pharma, Benitez discusses the challenges and opportunities in bridging data silos in the fitness, health, and insurance spaces. He also dives into the origins of Rook, the significance of B2B SaaS (Software as a Service) models, and the importance of building predictable, scalable solutions that empower organizations to actually use their data—not just collect it. Whether you're a fitness pro, entrepreneur, or just interested in the quickly evolving landscape of fit tech, this episode is packed with insights into how smart data integration is reshaping the way we approach the HALO space. (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) On working in the enterprise space Marco mentions, "Working with enterprise clients . . . takes a lot of time to close deals but once they are closed, you will receive a lot of feedback, and you will be in the heart of their company. Because we are an API solution, we live 'inside' the platform . . . inside the app." Key themes discussed Importance and value of data integration. Rook's middleware solution for wearables. Challenges of connecting multiple wearable devices' data. Building and scaling a B2B SaaS company. Lessons from sports and long-term business growth. The evolving role of data in healthcare and insurance. Differentiating real, actionable intelligence from the AI hype. A few key takeaways: 1. Rook Connects Wearable Data Seamlessly: Rook acts as a middleware platform that allows companies to easily integrate and extract data from over 300 different wearables and medical devices. This solves a huge pain point for fitness apps, gyms, digital health, and insurance companies that need unified, standardized, and actionable user health data without having to build separate integrations for each device. 2. B2B SaaS with Active User Pricing: Rook is a B2B SaaS company, charging clients (gyms, fitness apps, insurers, etc) based on the number of active users accessing data through the platform. This recurring revenue model is 'sticky' and predictable, making it attractive for both business growth and investors, since switching out such a middleware solution tends to be costly and pretty disruptive for clients. 3. Wearables Becoming Medical Devices: The wearables ecosystem is quickly evolving, with many devices attaining FDA clearance. This means the data they provide is now medically credible and increasingly important for areas like digital health, fitness, and prevention-oriented insurance models—creating new demand for integration platforms. 4. Long-Term Perspective: Building to Become a Data Science Company: Benitez emphasizes the value of the long game—he compares entrepreneurship to earning a taekwondo black belt. Rook's long-term vision is to move beyond just delivering clean, structured data to offering actionable intelligence, insights, and predictive analytics to their clients. 5. Flexibility Driven by Customer Need: A key lesson? Rook's roadmap for integrating new wearables is customer-focused. Rather than chasing each new device that comes out, the team prioritizes devices with the most client demand and market share. This way, they deliver real value where it matters most, instead of losing focus. Resources: Marco Benitez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcobzg Rook: https://www.tryrook.io HALO Talks 2 Minute Financial Drills (Videos): https://bit.ly/2minutedrills Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com
Our guest is Yvonne MacDonald, executive director of HALO, Racine's largest homeless shelter.
Legal Halo is a referral-only membership cohort for change leaders in legal, and ILTA was invited by Alt-V Law to collaborate on this special live event in front of an audience of 50 change makers in legal. Together, we explored the real challenges of driving change in law firms with honesty, humour, and some healthy debate. Brilliantly moderated by Rupert Collins-White of Briefing Magazine, the panel featured: Adam Curphey, Mayer Brown Kevin O'Sullivan, Baker McKenzie Nina Gratrick, Herbert Smith Freehills Sian Ashton, TLT Angela Cotton, Shoosmiths Robert Rowland Smith, University of Oxford They didn't hold back and explored “The Psychology of Resistance”—unpacking the chaos, comedy, and courage it takes to lead transformation in legal. Two heavyweight teams, Lean Zeppelin and The Kaizen Chiefs, faced off in a hilarious round of “Have I Got Legal News For You”, proving transformation doesn't have to be dull. Expect sharp thinking, bold opinions, and yes—plenty of bad puns. Candid conversations and comedy—what more could you want? The podcast is now live—go give it a listen. Look forward to more collaborations with Alt-V Law & ILTA in the future! If you want to be in the live audience for the next one reach out to ILTA for more details.
Ken Ehrman is the founder and CEO of Halo Collar, the leading GPS dog containment system that's revolutionizing pet safety. With a background in IoT and a history of building tech companies—including taking one public in 1999—Ken teamed up with celebrity dog behaviorist Cesar Millan to create a next-generation “invisible fence.” Since launching in 2018, Halo has quadrupled sales, surpassed $100 million in annual revenue, and sold over 200,000 collars, all while giving pet owners the freedom to create a “backyard everywhere they go.” On this episode we talk about: Ken's entrepreneurial journey from yearbook ad sales to founding and scaling multiple tech companies The early days of IoT, RFID, and what it was like to take a company public with just $3 million in annual revenue How the idea for Halo Collar was sparked by a real family tragedy—and why the market was ready for a better solution The power of partnerships: how Ken connected with Cesar Millan to bring dog expertise and credibility to the product Why Halo's GPS-powered, AI-enabled collar is more than a tracker—it's a portable, wireless fence you can set up anywhere The business lessons behind Halo's exponential growth: leveraging existing demand, innovating on proven products, and solving real pain points for pet owners Smart scaling: how Halo used a direct-to-consumer model, negative inventory, and global fulfillment to fuel rapid expansion The importance of product-market fit, recurring revenue, and building a brand that dog owners trust Ken's framework for evaluating new business ideas and the difference between “nice-to-have” and “need-to-have” products Top 3 Takeaways Innovate Where Demand Exists: Halo succeeded by improving an existing solution (the invisible fence) in a massive, established market, rather than trying to create demand from scratch. Solve Real Problems, Not Just Sell Features: The best products address urgent needs—like keeping pets safe—rather than relying on “nice-to-have” technology. Smart Partnerships and Operations Win: Strategic alliances (like with Cesar Millan), creative fulfillment, and a focus on customer experience enabled Halo to scale quickly and efficiently. Notable Quotes “What's the best solution that there could be? That's always my mindset, whether I'm selling yearbook ads or building a tech company.” “People are already buying fences for their dogs. We just made it portable, smarter, and safer.” “If you can find things people are already buying, you're not pushing a boulder uphill—you're meeting a real need.” Connect with Ken Ehrman: Website: halocollar.com
Steam enables Proton by default! Someone recreated Halo in Half-Life, Wuthering Waves learns how to Linux, the open source Steam Controller II is real, and gaming on ARM is better than you think.
Kaye, Dennis, Jala, and Moxie talk about the Alters, Songs of Conquest, Finity, and much more! The Grind: Jala: Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. Nina Aquila: Legal Eagle Chapter IV: Sacred Feathers. Dagon. Songs of Conquest. Dennis: The Alters. Finity. Moxie: FBC: Firebreak. The Division 2. Kaye: The Labyrinth of the Demon King. The Multiplayer: What's your most beloved janky, broken game? The End Boss: 11bit caught using AI in the creation of The Alters. Game developers are being accused of using AI when they absolutely didn't. Relooted is a game about heisting back stolen artifacts from museums. The Halo team is about to announce something, probably a new Halo thing.
Halo Studios got hit with the Microsoft layoffs this week, and many devs are nervous about the future of the franchise. Halo hasn't been cool in a long, long time... and this might be the killshot. Also they're doing 2x the Pride months this year or something? Watch this podcast episode on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify. CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. D/REZZED News covers Pixels, Pop Culture, and the Paranormal! We're an independent, opinionated entertainment news blog covering Video Games, Tech, Comics, Movies, Anime, High Strangeness, and more. As part of Clownfish TV, we strive to be balanced, based, and apolitical. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://news.clownfishtv.com/ On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTV On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvg On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629
This is your Friday Refresh brought to you by the Stayin Alive Disco Dodgeball Tournament that takes place at Mars Hill Bible School in Florence Alabama on August 16, 2025. All proceeds benefit St. Jude Research Hospital. Festivities will begin at 10 AM. More info at BenandTravis.com/Dodgeball The first half of my summer has been pretty! So I took a little break from the Friday Refresh for a couple of weeks. I got to hang out a day or two with some spiritual heroes of mine, Halo and Rhonda Fernandez as my family helped them prepare for a VBS in Munford Alabama. Then Travis and I spent a little time in Lexington, Kentucky with the North Lexington Church of Christ for a mental health workshop. After being home a few short days I took off with a few members of my family and we road tripped from North Alabama to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We went about four days on the beautiful Mackinac Island for my daughter's Senior Trip and then saw some waterfalls and NFL football stadiums on the way home. After barely resting we spent the week in one of my favorites places on earth — Maywood Christian Camp. Such great memories from over 30 straight years of spending a week of my summer there. Links mentioned in this episode: http://www.benandtravis.com http://www.facebook.com/groups/benandtravis http://www.patreon.com/benandtravis Reframing Hope Book https://www.benandtravis.com/books Helping. Healing. Humor. with Ben and Travis: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/batify/id1457601152?mt=2&uo=4 Good Old Fashioned Dislike podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-old-fashioned-dislike/id1643163790 Co-Producers: Justin B., Doris C., Rhonda F., Scott K., Mary H. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Microsoft entlässt über 9.000 Mitarbeitende, viele davon aus der Xbox-, also der Spielesparte. Studios wie die Forza-Macher Turn 10 sind betroffen, Rares Everwild und das neue Perfect Dark werden gar komplett eingestellt. Was bedeutet das für den Software-Riesen? Welche Strategie steckt dahinter und wann hört der Xbox-Kahlschlag endlich auf? Wir suchen nach Antworten.
We talk trades and current angels baseball
Microsoft's latest round of layoffs hits Xbox Gaming hard as the company cuts approximately 9,000 jobs despite record profits. This week, Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell discuss the impact of these layoffs, Windows 11's new version naming, Microsoft Copilot coming to Mac, and dive deep into passkey security. LAYOFFS As expected, Microsoft began a massive round of layoffs across Xbox/Microsoft Gaming on Wednesday. The fiscal year started on Tuesday. These were originally going to happen a week or two earlier. 9,000 employees impacted across Microsoft - about 4 percent of workforce, Xbox/MSGaming was NOT hit hardest, Microsoft now says (on top of 6,000 in May). 10 percent of King being laid off. Carefully worded email from Phil Spencer requires some parsing. It's Finally Official: 25H2 Is Next! Microsoft finally admits that the Dev channel is testing Windows 11 version 25H2, which will arrive, as expected, around October This news came as part of another set of commingled Dev and Beta channel builds. 25H2 will be delivered as an enablement package, so it's a minor release technically. Dev and Beta are linked because 25H2 and 24H2 are linked: Each will get the same features, as started with 22H2/23H2 in late 2023. Windows 11 Last week was Week D, but we didn't get preview updates per usual before WW That finally happened last Thursday - new preview updates for 24H2 and 23H2/22H2 24H2: Click to Do improvements, start of PC migration in Windows Backup, small icons in Taskbar, more. Windows Insider Preview: Those Dev/Beta builds noted above have the first implementation of third-party passkey. Microsoft Edge 138 is a pretty big update, with AI-enhanced history search and Copilot integration into the search box and new tab page. AI Microsoft 365 Copilot is available on the Mac. Apple may cave and adopt Anthropic Claude and/or OpenAI ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence. After Coda's acquisition and $1 billion in funding, Grammarly acquires Superhuman to build an "AI-native" productivity suite that will take on Big Tech (Microsoft, Google) and Little Tech (Notion, Proton) alike. Xbox and Gaming Xbox 360 dashboard is getting its first update in years. Halo Studios teases an October tease of the next Halo from the studio. New Game Pass titles for the first half of July - plus, COD: WWII turns up in Game Pass for the first time. Cursor sort of comes to the web and mobile - like Adobe Firefly on mobile, but for devs when "the mood strikes". Tips and Picks Tip/App picks of the week: Cure Mac envy. The Mac is about to get even prettier. But Windows 11 can rise to this challenge. The PC matters: Paul recommends Surface Laptop 7 as a MacBook Air alternative. Software? It's all free. Full screen apps: Hide the Taskbar and touchpad gestures - also, use DS Clock if you need to see the time. Transparent system menu? You can make the Taskbar transparent too. Want Spotlight? No problem, we have Command Palette (an updated, more extensible PowerToys Run) in PowerToys. Bonus app pick: Inoreader for RSS feeds (and read later if you want). RunAs Radio This Week: More Azure Innovations with Mark Russinovich Brown Liquor Pick of the Week: Alberta Distillers 23 Year Old Rare Batch No. 1 These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/939 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsor: uscloud.com
The latest Halo news for July 2nd, 2025. Hosted by Evo-014.Get more from Halo Evolved at HaloEvolved.co!JOIN THE PATREONpatreon.com/HaloEvolvedEvolved has a Patreon! Sign up for as little as $2 a month to start receiving early access to Podcast Evolved and Halo Book Club episodes, get exclusive free merch, direct access to the Evolved hosts and crew on Discord, and much more!THE COMMUNITYHaloEvolved.co/DiscordJoin our Discord Server to talk with the hosts and other Evolved listeners. Evolved is always open to new members, and welcome every Halo fan to join, whether they are podcast listeners or not. We hope to see you soon!SHOW NOTESEvo-014 and Halo Headlines are powered by AI. All opinions stated are those of Evo-014 and not necessarily shared by the rest of the Halo Evolved crew. Seriously, she has a mind of her own sometimes!
Microsoft's latest round of layoffs hits Xbox Gaming hard as the company cuts approximately 9,000 jobs despite record profits. This week, Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell discuss the impact of these layoffs, Windows 11's new version naming, Microsoft Copilot coming to Mac, and dive deep into passkey security. LAYOFFS As expected, Microsoft began a massive round of layoffs across Xbox/Microsoft Gaming on Wednesday. The fiscal year started on Tuesday. These were originally going to happen a week or two earlier. 9,000 employees impacted across Microsoft - about 4 percent of workforce, Xbox/MSGaming was NOT hit hardest, Microsoft now says (on top of 6,000 in May). 10 percent of King being laid off. Carefully worded email from Phil Spencer requires some parsing. It's Finally Official: 25H2 Is Next! Microsoft finally admits that the Dev channel is testing Windows 11 version 25H2, which will arrive, as expected, around October This news came as part of another set of commingled Dev and Beta channel builds. 25H2 will be delivered as an enablement package, so it's a minor release technically. Dev and Beta are linked because 25H2 and 24H2 are linked: Each will get the same features, as started with 22H2/23H2 in late 2023. Windows 11 Last week was Week D, but we didn't get preview updates per usual before WW That finally happened last Thursday - new preview updates for 24H2 and 23H2/22H2 24H2: Click to Do improvements, start of PC migration in Windows Backup, small icons in Taskbar, more. Windows Insider Preview: Those Dev/Beta builds noted above have the first implementation of third-party passkey. Microsoft Edge 138 is a pretty big update, with AI-enhanced history search and Copilot integration into the search box and new tab page. AI Microsoft 365 Copilot is available on the Mac. Apple may cave and adopt Anthropic Claude and/or OpenAI ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence. After Coda's acquisition and $1 billion in funding, Grammarly acquires Superhuman to build an "AI-native" productivity suite that will take on Big Tech (Microsoft, Google) and Little Tech (Notion, Proton) alike. Xbox and Gaming Xbox 360 dashboard is getting its first update in years. Halo Studios teases an October tease of the next Halo from the studio. New Game Pass titles for the first half of July - plus, COD: WWII turns up in Game Pass for the first time. Cursor sort of comes to the web and mobile - like Adobe Firefly on mobile, but for devs when "the mood strikes". Tips and Picks Tip/App picks of the week: Cure Mac envy. The Mac is about to get even prettier. But Windows 11 can rise to this challenge. The PC matters: Paul recommends Surface Laptop 7 as a MacBook Air alternative. Software? It's all free. Full screen apps: Hide the Taskbar and touchpad gestures - also, use DS Clock if you need to see the time. Transparent system menu? You can make the Taskbar transparent too. Want Spotlight? No problem, we have Command Palette (an updated, more extensible PowerToys Run) in PowerToys. Bonus app pick: Inoreader for RSS feeds (and read later if you want). RunAs Radio This Week: More Azure Innovations with Mark Russinovich Brown Liquor Pick of the Week: Alberta Distillers 23 Year Old Rare Batch No. 1 These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/939 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsor: uscloud.com
Microsoft's latest round of layoffs hits Xbox Gaming hard as the company cuts approximately 9,000 jobs despite record profits. This week, Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell discuss the impact of these layoffs, Windows 11's new version naming, Microsoft Copilot coming to Mac, and dive deep into passkey security. LAYOFFS As expected, Microsoft began a massive round of layoffs across Xbox/Microsoft Gaming on Wednesday. The fiscal year started on Tuesday. These were originally going to happen a week or two earlier. 9,000 employees impacted across Microsoft - about 4 percent of workforce, Xbox/MSGaming was NOT hit hardest, Microsoft now says (on top of 6,000 in May). 10 percent of King being laid off. Carefully worded email from Phil Spencer requires some parsing. It's Finally Official: 25H2 Is Next! Microsoft finally admits that the Dev channel is testing Windows 11 version 25H2, which will arrive, as expected, around October This news came as part of another set of commingled Dev and Beta channel builds. 25H2 will be delivered as an enablement package, so it's a minor release technically. Dev and Beta are linked because 25H2 and 24H2 are linked: Each will get the same features, as started with 22H2/23H2 in late 2023. Windows 11 Last week was Week D, but we didn't get preview updates per usual before WW That finally happened last Thursday - new preview updates for 24H2 and 23H2/22H2 24H2: Click to Do improvements, start of PC migration in Windows Backup, small icons in Taskbar, more. Windows Insider Preview: Those Dev/Beta builds noted above have the first implementation of third-party passkey. Microsoft Edge 138 is a pretty big update, with AI-enhanced history search and Copilot integration into the search box and new tab page. AI Microsoft 365 Copilot is available on the Mac. Apple may cave and adopt Anthropic Claude and/or OpenAI ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence. After Coda's acquisition and $1 billion in funding, Grammarly acquires Superhuman to build an "AI-native" productivity suite that will take on Big Tech (Microsoft, Google) and Little Tech (Notion, Proton) alike. Xbox and Gaming Xbox 360 dashboard is getting its first update in years. Halo Studios teases an October tease of the next Halo from the studio. New Game Pass titles for the first half of July - plus, COD: WWII turns up in Game Pass for the first time. Cursor sort of comes to the web and mobile - like Adobe Firefly on mobile, but for devs when "the mood strikes". Tips and Picks Tip/App picks of the week: Cure Mac envy. The Mac is about to get even prettier. But Windows 11 can rise to this challenge. The PC matters: Paul recommends Surface Laptop 7 as a MacBook Air alternative. Software? It's all free. Full screen apps: Hide the Taskbar and touchpad gestures - also, use DS Clock if you need to see the time. Transparent system menu? You can make the Taskbar transparent too. Want Spotlight? No problem, we have Command Palette (an updated, more extensible PowerToys Run) in PowerToys. Bonus app pick: Inoreader for RSS feeds (and read later if you want). RunAs Radio This Week: More Azure Innovations with Mark Russinovich Brown Liquor Pick of the Week: Alberta Distillers 23 Year Old Rare Batch No. 1 These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/939 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsor: uscloud.com
New shoes??? Yes – we're back to our roots – with a wider remit to talk about not JUST Marvel cards.Season 2 starts here…This week we talk about the ‘why' of the change and then get into it with Star wars autos, Upper Deck's Halo set and … plane cards? Yes, plane - those flying things that take us places.=============Our links are all here; https://linktr.ee/ThatCCPod=============Music;I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/=============Intro;Smooth vocals by Greg McLaughlin of The Rebel Base Card Podcast – find his show here;https://open.spotify.com/show/2T5nysLpxbK2ZpRrgcCO8I
The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
Shoot us a Text.Episode #1086: Today we unpack Q2's early sales surge and late slip, celebrate CARFAX's workplace wins, and wonder about Chuck E. Cheese's nostalgic new venture for grown-ups.Show Notes with links:U.S. new-vehicle sales in Q2 were front-loaded, with consumers acting early to capitalize on incentives and avoid potential tariffs. The momentum faded by June, signaling possible headwinds ahead.Roughly 173,000 additional vehicles were sold in March and April, pushing the sales pace above 17 million SAAR.June sales fell 4.3% to 1.26 million units, with SAAR dipping to 15.65 million.GM posted a 7% gain in Q2, with trucks, crossovers, and EVs all showing growth, with EV sales more than doubling YoY.Tesla deliveries declined 13%, amid an aging product lineup and reputational challenges.Ford reported a 14% increase, supported by employee pricing programs and strong hybrid performance.“We blew the doors off the overall industry,” said Andrew Frick, Ford Blue and Model e President.CARFAX has once again earned recognition as one of the best places to work in the U.S., sweeping multiple national and regional Top Workplace awards for 2025.They were named a USA Today Top Workplace for the fourth year in a row and also honored by the Washington Post (11th time) and St. Louis Post-Dispatch (4th year).The awards are based on anonymous employee feedback regarding culture and practices.Carfax received additional recognition for leadership, benefits, flexibility, innovation, and values.“Being part of a team… committed to the same playbook, has made my experience… rewarding,” said Angela Coyle, Director of Marketing Operations.Also a special shoutout to our friends at the Rohrman Auto Group, who placed on the USA Today list for the first time ever.Chuck E. Cheese is growing up — literally. The company has launched "Chuck's Arcade," a new concept aimed at adult fans of retro gaming and childhood nostalgia.Chuck's Arcade features classics like Donkey Kong and Mortal Kombat alongside modern games like Halo.Locations include St. Louis, Tulsa, El Paso, and St. Petersburg, with 10 now open across U.S. malls.Each arcade features unique artwork and iconic animatronic mascots from the original brand.Some locations include pizzerias and limited beer/wine service.CEO David McKillips calls it a “natural evolution” to attract lifelong fans and a new generation.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/
Short one today, folks! Nick has daddy duties. This is a fun one though. Grab some coffee and a cheese danish and listen to Evan and Nick discuss Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Fan Fiction, and Halo books.
Microsoft's latest round of layoffs hits Xbox Gaming hard as the company cuts approximately 9,000 jobs despite record profits. This week, Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell discuss the impact of these layoffs, Windows 11's new version naming, Microsoft Copilot coming to Mac, and dive deep into passkey security. LAYOFFS As expected, Microsoft began a massive round of layoffs across Xbox/Microsoft Gaming on Wednesday. The fiscal year started on Tuesday. These were originally going to happen a week or two earlier. 9,000 employees impacted across Microsoft - about 4 percent of workforce, Xbox/MSGaming was NOT hit hardest, Microsoft now says (on top of 6,000 in May). 10 percent of King being laid off. Carefully worded email from Phil Spencer requires some parsing. It's Finally Official: 25H2 Is Next! Microsoft finally admits that the Dev channel is testing Windows 11 version 25H2, which will arrive, as expected, around October This news came as part of another set of commingled Dev and Beta channel builds. 25H2 will be delivered as an enablement package, so it's a minor release technically. Dev and Beta are linked because 25H2 and 24H2 are linked: Each will get the same features, as started with 22H2/23H2 in late 2023. Windows 11 Last week was Week D, but we didn't get preview updates per usual before WW That finally happened last Thursday - new preview updates for 24H2 and 23H2/22H2 24H2: Click to Do improvements, start of PC migration in Windows Backup, small icons in Taskbar, more. Windows Insider Preview: Those Dev/Beta builds noted above have the first implementation of third-party passkey. Microsoft Edge 138 is a pretty big update, with AI-enhanced history search and Copilot integration into the search box and new tab page. AI Microsoft 365 Copilot is available on the Mac. Apple may cave and adopt Anthropic Claude and/or OpenAI ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence. After Coda's acquisition and $1 billion in funding, Grammarly acquires Superhuman to build an "AI-native" productivity suite that will take on Big Tech (Microsoft, Google) and Little Tech (Notion, Proton) alike. Xbox and Gaming Xbox 360 dashboard is getting its first update in years. Halo Studios teases an October tease of the next Halo from the studio. New Game Pass titles for the first half of July - plus, COD: WWII turns up in Game Pass for the first time. Cursor sort of comes to the web and mobile - like Adobe Firefly on mobile, but for devs when "the mood strikes". Tips and Picks Tip/App picks of the week: Cure Mac envy. The Mac is about to get even prettier. But Windows 11 can rise to this challenge. The PC matters: Paul recommends Surface Laptop 7 as a MacBook Air alternative. Software? It's all free. Full screen apps: Hide the Taskbar and touchpad gestures - also, use DS Clock if you need to see the time. Transparent system menu? You can make the Taskbar transparent too. Want Spotlight? No problem, we have Command Palette (an updated, more extensible PowerToys Run) in PowerToys. Bonus app pick: Inoreader for RSS feeds (and read later if you want). RunAs Radio This Week: More Azure Innovations with Mark Russinovich Brown Liquor Pick of the Week: Alberta Distillers 23 Year Old Rare Batch No. 1 These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/939 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsor: uscloud.com
Video will be added next week to Spotify. Video is currently available right now on YouTube. During a book club discussion in the JumperScape Discord server, Austin got into a small debate with other members surrounding the idea that Halo 4's characterization of Master Chief was completely tossed aside. What do the hosts think? The Library - Halo Lorecast is a JumperScape Audio production created by Austin Murphy. Connect with the audience and support us at jumperscape.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Xbox On, a podcast with one host, about one console, Xbox. I am said host, Jesse DeRosa, and on today's episode we'll be talking the latest Xbox news for the week of July 3, 2025 including, notable figures from Xbox history comment on the brand's future viability, Halo Studios teases a new Halo announcement soon, and more! New episodes every Thursday! ______________________________________________________________ Main YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCtW7KhvTGMgYnR6HvsY12Qg ______________________________________________________________ Twitch: www.twitch.tv/lightningmcstream ______________________________________________________________ Time stamps: 00:30 Opening Banter 02:20 New Game Releases 06:58 News 44:18 What I've been eating 48:01 What I've been playing 54:34 Listener Comments 1:03:43 Outro (Music by BB Murder Case
Xbox is always finding rakes to step on, which is ridiculous. After the success for NCAA College football, EA is brining NCAA College Basketball, and no one is shocked. Vin Diesel announces the plan for Fast X part 2, and there's major concerns. Matt Reeves finally finishes the Script for The Batman sequel, and James Gunn gives us who is playing Jor El. Plus a full review for F1 The Movie, which is hands down the best movie of the year so far. That and more on tonight's episode.
Microsoft's latest round of layoffs hits Xbox Gaming hard as the company cuts approximately 9,000 jobs despite record profits. This week, Paul Thurrott and Richard Campbell discuss the impact of these layoffs, Windows 11's new version naming, Microsoft Copilot coming to Mac, and dive deep into passkey security. LAYOFFS As expected, Microsoft began a massive round of layoffs across Xbox/Microsoft Gaming on Wednesday. The fiscal year started on Tuesday. These were originally going to happen a week or two earlier. 9,000 employees impacted across Microsoft - about 4 percent of workforce, Xbox/MSGaming was NOT hit hardest, Microsoft now says (on top of 6,000 in May). 10 percent of King being laid off. Carefully worded email from Phil Spencer requires some parsing. It's Finally Official: 25H2 Is Next! Microsoft finally admits that the Dev channel is testing Windows 11 version 25H2, which will arrive, as expected, around October This news came as part of another set of commingled Dev and Beta channel builds. 25H2 will be delivered as an enablement package, so it's a minor release technically. Dev and Beta are linked because 25H2 and 24H2 are linked: Each will get the same features, as started with 22H2/23H2 in late 2023. Windows 11 Last week was Week D, but we didn't get preview updates per usual before WW That finally happened last Thursday - new preview updates for 24H2 and 23H2/22H2 24H2: Click to Do improvements, start of PC migration in Windows Backup, small icons in Taskbar, more. Windows Insider Preview: Those Dev/Beta builds noted above have the first implementation of third-party passkey. Microsoft Edge 138 is a pretty big update, with AI-enhanced history search and Copilot integration into the search box and new tab page. AI Microsoft 365 Copilot is available on the Mac. Apple may cave and adopt Anthropic Claude and/or OpenAI ChatGPT for Apple Intelligence. After Coda's acquisition and $1 billion in funding, Grammarly acquires Superhuman to build an "AI-native" productivity suite that will take on Big Tech (Microsoft, Google) and Little Tech (Notion, Proton) alike. Xbox and Gaming Xbox 360 dashboard is getting its first update in years. Halo Studios teases an October tease of the next Halo from the studio. New Game Pass titles for the first half of July - plus, COD: WWII turns up in Game Pass for the first time. Cursor sort of comes to the web and mobile - like Adobe Firefly on mobile, but for devs when "the mood strikes". Tips and Picks Tip/App picks of the week: Cure Mac envy. The Mac is about to get even prettier. But Windows 11 can rise to this challenge. The PC matters: Paul recommends Surface Laptop 7 as a MacBook Air alternative. Software? It's all free. Full screen apps: Hide the Taskbar and touchpad gestures - also, use DS Clock if you need to see the time. Transparent system menu? You can make the Taskbar transparent too. Want Spotlight? No problem, we have Command Palette (an updated, more extensible PowerToys Run) in PowerToys. Bonus app pick: Inoreader for RSS feeds (and read later if you want). RunAs Radio This Week: More Azure Innovations with Mark Russinovich Brown Liquor Pick of the Week: Alberta Distillers 23 Year Old Rare Batch No. 1 These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/939 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Sponsor: uscloud.com
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our major series on various indie games, now looking at some 2D action games with Spelunky. We talk very briefly about its director and then Tim marvels over a dynamic level design that nonetheless feels just right. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: Into the Jungle (Tim) Issues covered: walking over the sands, a little history of the game, a legendary game, precise platforming, procedural and dynamic, how the level generation works, rules-based generation, eschewing precise level design, not being able to know the level, having many verbs, having to learn the skills, the wind-up of the whip, a game where you have to be focused, not seeing an obstacle due to focusing, focus meditation, the Spelunky daily challenge, similarities to theater, taking a risk with design, not knowing what other players will do, opponents dictating skill ceilings, matchmaking as the balancing feature, consistency of behaviors, not rushing, gaining knowledge in games, the ghost and fear, practicing via the tunnel man, whether it's helpful to skip ahead, the speed-run achievement, spending time on each level, getting abilities in the stores vs equippables, the eggplant and the ball-and-chain, Derek's book, learning by death. Games, people, and influences mentioned or discussed: Tiny Subversions/Darius Kazemi, Fez, Derek Yu/mossmouth, Andy Hall, UFO 50, PS Vita, World of Warcraft, Cave Story, Diablo, Dead Cells, Minecraft, Kaeon, MegaMan, Contra, Super Mario Bros., Hunt: Showdown, Overwatch, Fortnite, Halo (series), Dark Souls, Andy Nealen, Zelda (series), Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Olmecorox, Half-Life 2, TIGSource, Demons's Souls, Dark Souls 2, Outer Wilds, Kirk Hamilton, Aaron Evers, Mark Garcia. Next time: More Spelunky! Twitch: timlongojr Discord DevGameClub@gmail.com
Every Wednesday we release our all new “HALO Academy: 2 Minute Financial Drill" by Integrity Square Founder & HALO Talks host, Pete Moore on everything you need to know for financial literacy, unit economics, legal documents used for M&A and capital raises, capital sources you can access, understanding how financings are structured, valuation metrics and parameters, and what you need to know about your own business before engaging in cap raises and/or a potential sale. If you missed our email about this, you can re-read it here: ====================================================== RESOURCES https://www.integritysq.com https://www.halotalks.com https://www.thehaloacademy.com Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/@halotalks ====================================================== ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR Pete is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Dream Architect at Integrity Square ("ISQ"), a leading boutique financial advisory firm focused on the $4.7T Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoor ("HALO") sector. Since founding ISQ in 2010, the firm has played an active advisory role in 100+ mergers & acquisitions, private placements and advisory assignments across North America. Pete Moore and his team have also invested in passionate entrepreneurs at HigherDOSE, XTEND, and Promotion Vault. ISQ's media and "live education" properties include HALO Talks, the leading B2B podcast in the sector, Time To Win Again, and the HALO Academy, an Executive Education Bootcamp Series. Prior to ISQ, Pete was Head of the Active Lifestyle & Wellness Group at Sagent Advisors (2003-2010.) Prior to 2003, Pete was co-founder of FitnessInsite, a SasS sales management platform with 1500+ clients (based in AZ.) At FitnessInsite, Pete invested his personal capital, leveraged his credit cards and learned what it takes to manage a startup. Pete built his business and financial acumen on top of the foundation laid at three critical positions early in his career: Senior Associate at Brockway Moran & Partners, the private equity owner of Gold's Gym International, Inc; worked as an Associate at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; and an Analyst at Chase Securities. (Now JP Morgan.) ISQ saw a need for a deeper & more useful level of education in the HALO sector. In response, we launched the HALO Talks podcast, with 500+ completed interviews and over 120,000 downloads. HALO Talks has become a “must listen” for anyone working or investing in the sector. Pete graduated from Emory University (BBA, 1994) and received his MBA from Harvard Business School (1999.) While at HBS, he co-founded IRON PLANET, the leading B2B auction site for used heavy equipment, which was sold to Ritchie Bros for $758 million. His hobbies include: Football, basketball, tennis, podcasting, amateur ventriloquism, pro bono DJ and fitness enthusiast.
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On this episode of Bulture podcast:Convicted k*ller of 15-year-old Lesandro ‘Junior' Guzman-Feliz, who showed no remorse, found dead in New York prisonChristian Keyes Snatches His Hit Show “All the Queen's Men” from BET Over Alleged Lack of Transparency from the NetworkJeezy launched TM:101 Live 20th anniversary tour in Miami on June 27, bringing a symphonic spin to his trap classic Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101. The black-tie affair features DJ DramaOpenAI CEO Sam Altman is surprised that people trust ChatGPT.Woman Who Got Curved by Ja'marr Chase in Viral Clip Says He's An "Old Friend' & "She Didn't Know the Cameras Were Out"Big congrats to Pluto on earning her first gold plaque for "Whim Whamieee"Keke Palmer is calling out the double standards successful women face when it comes to dating.Drake responds after T-Pain called him out for not following his own advice about making a graceful exit from the music industryMeek Mill is opening up out about his journey as a businessman in the music industry and how going independent has transformed his earningsKyrie Irving Donates $50K To Tamir Rice Youth Center Fund + Becomes Top Contributor to Campaign Honoring Police $hooting VictimNBA Star James Harden Accused of Negligence in SA Lawsuit Involving His Nephew, Woman Says His Security Failed to InterveneLeBron James will pick up his $52.6 million player option to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers next season, ending speculation about his contract status.The U.S. District Attorney's office is investigating Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley on allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets, sources told ESPN. Serious development surrounding one of the top NBA free agents.Rockets' Dillon Brooks files restraining order against his baby mama, claiming she threatened to cut off his fingers so he could never play basketball — and threatened to kill his mom, via tmz.North Carolina rapper Rissa Reign says Cardi B jacked her song “Outside” What do y'all think coincidence or she have a case?Landscaper arrested for throwing a large house party while the owners were away on vacation and charging each partygoer an entry feeThe New York Knicks are reportedly in talks with Dawn Staley to become their new head coach. If hired, she would make history as the first woman to lead an NBA team.”Several fans on social media believe the NBA would be in a better position if they went back to drafting players from the trenchesThe Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac OkoroThe son of actor Tisha Campbell showcases his toy collectibles.OH MY: another video of Amerie attempting to perform her song '1 Thing' is now making its rounds online.Houston man stole designer glasses from Neiman Marcus at Galleria Mall, posted on social media, and stayed. When cops arrived, he fled, jumped from the second floor onto the ice rink, and broke both legs.DDG has now been granted approval to visit his son Halo in Italy on July 1st–3rd, but under these conditions Visitation hours are 9 AM to 6 PM daily (Halle's team originally proposed 12 PM to 6 PM)– Supervised by Halle's nanny and security– Halle's lawyer raised concern the nanny felt unsafe alone, prompting need for securityNo overnights allowedMust stay near Halle's hotel in Italy. DDG can't take Halo more than 3 miles from hotel. No social media posts of Halo by DDGBigXthaPlug and Shaboozey just dropped their new video “Home,” shot in Dallas. It seems BigX's country tape is on the way, which is rumored to feature Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and moreKhaman Maluach, the Rockets' 10th picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, revealed he used to walk barefoot over an hour every day to the nearest basketball court in Uganda to pursue his dream
In this episode of the Low Meins Asylum Show, we dive into the dark, gritty universe of Warhammer 40K and how it might just be the godfather of modern sci-fi gaming. From DOOM to StarCraft, Halo to Gears of War, developers across the industry have borrowed themes, visuals, and even entire factions from the Warhammer universe. We break it all down: the history, the aesthetics, and the undeniable influence of 40K on your favorite franchises. Did DOOM really copy Warhammer? Was StarCraft just a remix of the 40K factions? And why does everything in sci-fi feel just a little bit grimdark these days? Tap in—we're talking facts, history, and gaming culture with zero filters. Press play, share with a gamer friend, and welcome to the asylum!
Hello and welcome to episode 396 of HCS Pro Talk! This week, the competitive Halo news is flowing and the LVT Pro League has officially begun! 0:00:00 - Intro 0:03:00 - Competitive Halo News 0:53:34 - Rostermania 0:56:44 - Upcoming Tournaments of the Week 0:58:52 - Scrim & Tournament & League Recaps 1:27:00 - CoD and Other Games Watch 1:32:57 - Will's Adventures 1:38:20 - Shoutouts/Community Creations/Ending https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J0X3jZk3qHkv-zzNIPwq7Q3xb9cIwQDJ1oj6nuLC6_k/edit?usp=sharing
In today's episode, host Pete Moore talks with Lauren Schoenfeld, founder of Active Core Consulting and a powerhouse fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) specializing in the boutique fitness space. With an impressive finance background spanning PwC, WeWork, and Equinox, Lauren has a unique blend of skills in the HALO sector (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) to help studios and gyms not only survive but thrive. She relays her journey from athlete to finance entrepreneur, the creation of her consulting agency during the pandemic, and how her team supports fitness businesses with everything from streamlined financial and business planning, to holistic sales and operations coaching. Schoenfeld dives into common financial pitfalls fitness operators face, why understanding your KPIs on a weekly and monthly basis is critical, and her hands-on approach to guiding owners toward sustainable growth and profitability. Whether you're struggling to get your cash flow under control, looking to scale to multiple locations, or simply want to run a tighter ship, this episode is packed with practical advice, real-world studio benchmarks, and Lauren's “just ship it” mantra. Tune in for an insightful conversation that's critical listening for anyone in the HALO space aiming to manage, measure, and ultimately maximize the value of their business. On the power of personal connection in the digital space, she states, "I also think that because our world has become so digital, even having the front desk team learn how to have conversations with people that are coming into the studio is a huge area of opportunity that we help our clients with." Key themes discussed Importance of financial clarity for fitness studios. Role and value of a fractional CFO. Building and tracking key business KPIs. Strategies for boutique studio revenue growth. Managing cash flow and operational adjustments. Software tools and systems for studio management. Community engagement and sales through conversation. A few key takeaways: 1. Strong Financial Foundations Are Essential, Not Optional: Lauren highlights many fitness studio owners lack a true understanding of their finances. She says it's not just bookkeeping that's missing but a real, hands-on understanding of cash flow, profitability, and Key Performance Indicators (KPI's.) Solid financial processes and regular P&L reviews help owners avoid surprises, make better decisions, and ultimately set themselves up for growth or a potential exit. 2. Fractional CFOs Offer Comprehensive Benefits: Lauren's firm, Active Core Consulting, provides not only CFO-level guidance but holistic support—combining bookkeeping, financial modeling, three-year business plans, and ongoing operational consulting. This all-in-one approach is especially valuable for boutique fitness studios needing more than just a traditional bookkeeper or an accountant. 3. Regular KPI Tracking Drives Better Outcomes: She stresses the importance of tracking KPIs weekly (and monthly)—not just revenue, but also leads, intro offers, membership sales, and class packs. By setting benchmarks and monitoring progress, studios can make fast changes and improve their results over time. 4. Sales and Operations Training is Often the Missing Link: Lauren found that many studios simply didn't have a solid sales process, clear guidelines, or strong community marketing strategies. Her agency often helps struggling studios by focusing first on sales and operations coaching—sometimes before touching the financial model—believing operational tweaks can quickly stop the bleeding and boost revenue. 5. Entrepreneurial Flexibility Can Beat Franchise Rigidity: While franchises promise a business-in-a-box, Lauren sees real opportunity for independent owners (and even franchisees) to create more tailored systems that genuinely fit their vision, rather than following (in many cases) overly-rigid franchisor mandates. Her team encourages owners to build scalable, profitable businesses with proven frameworks but without unnecessary constraints. Resources: Lauren Schoenfeld: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenschoenfeld1 Active Core Consulting: ttps://www.activecoreconsulting.com/podcast HALO Talks 2 Minute Financial Drills (Videos): https://bit.ly/2minutedrills Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: http://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: http://www.higherdose.com
Maria Morera Johnson and Heidi Hess Saxton talk about the Blessed Mother as a model for our motherhood. Maria Morera Johnson and Heidi Hess Saxton talk about the Blessed Mother as a model for our motherhood. Heidi Saxton is co-host of the CatholicMom.com Prayercast, and author of Stories of the Eucharist (OSV) and The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers (Ave). She is also senior acquisitions editor for Ave Maria Press. She and her husband Craig divide their time between northern Michigan and West Palm Beach, Florida. You can read about her adventures on Life on the Road Less Traveled. Maria Morera Johnson, author of A Beautiful Second Act:, My Badass Book of Saints, Super Girls and Halo, and Our Lady of Charity: How a Cuban Devotion to Mary Helped Me Grow in Faith and Love writes about all the things that she loves. A cradle Catholic, she struggles with living in the world but not being of it, and blogs about those successes and failures, too. Link in Show:· Read all articles by Heidi Hess Saxton Read all articles by Maria Morera Johnson
In this episode, I sit down with Pete Moore — a powerhouse in the finance world who's also deeply passionate about health and wellness. We dive into how he's successfully merged these two worlds, what entrepreneurs in the wellness space need to know about finances, and his unique HALO concept, which stands for Health, Active, Lifestyle, and Outdoors. Whether you're a business owner, a fitness enthusiast, or just someone looking to live with more intention, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped with practical insights.
It was supposed to be a slow news week, so naturally we talked for almost four hours on the latest in gaming. Heading up our show is a recurrent subject: layoffs at Xbox. Despite Phil's claims about a sustainable business, the cuts keep coming. Of course, that leaves us in a bit of a pickle. What parts of Xbox business are faltering? We're about a year removed from last year where Xbox began shutting down multiple teams, so it's not a far cry to say we may be approaching that point. We haven't seen Game Pass numbers in a hot minute, titles like South Of Midnight and Hellblade 2 have questionable sales at best, and the green team is all but officially confirmed to be out on physical games. So, which is it, if any? We gab quite a bit before leaving it to next week where we'll get official confirmation. Plus, Xbox integrating other PC storefronts into their app, righting the record on Final Fantasy XVI, diving into Lies Of P sales figures, and so much more in what was an unexpectedly meaty (oh!) episode of Defining Duke. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:16:24 - Health Is Wealth0:32:22 - Correcting FF16 information from last week0:41:52 - A new Halo game is releasing… kinda0:54:16 - Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition announced1:01:46 - SEGA sales data leaks1:14:08 - Persona 4 Revival & Stranger Than Heaven release info1:17:35 - Blood Of Dawnwalker Gameplay deep dive1:22:58 - Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.3 has been delayed1:27:54 - Layoffs headed for Mindseye developer1:40:01 - Blood Message reveal reaction1:43:03 - Rematch devs respond to crossplay issues1:48:34 - Third party Switch 2 sales below estimates1:59:03 - Splitgate 2 devs face layoffs2:12:25 - Lies Of P difficulty settings2:23:24 - What We're Playing3:08:15 - Major Xbox layoffs inbound3:33:13 - Steam library comes to Xbox PC App3:45:03 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
[ARCHIVE EDITION] Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms: ➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple ➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic ➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify ➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein ➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart TESLA'S PROJECT HALO PROGRAM ADDS BLACK BOX FOR ROBOTAXI DUTY https://evne.ws/4lcpaZu CATL EYES EUROPEAN BATTERY SWAP EXPANSION https://evne.ws/3IfxVDw XIAOMI YU7 FIRST DRIVE: FERRARI LOOKS AND PERFORMANCE FOR LESS THAN A TESLA MODEL Y https://evne.ws/3TdZSy6 XIAOMI YU7 SUV GETS 200,000 ORDERS IN THREE MINUTES https://evne.ws/3GimUki FOUR NEW CHINESE EV SUVS ARRIVING TO COMPETE WITH TESLA MODEL Y https://evne.ws/40dYEa3 TESLA SALES EXEC DEPARTS THE COMPANY https://evne.ws/4nnJCZ6 VOLVO TEASES 2026 EX60 ELECTRIC SUV https://evne.ws/3FXJT4f NIO OFFERS SIX-MONTH RETURN OPTION IN GERMANY https://evne.ws/4k4hebr LOW-COST EV LEASING PLANNED FOR LOWER-INCOME GERMANS https://evne.ws/45Jiygv NASCENT MATERIALS BOOSTS LFP CATHODE EFFICIENCY https://evne.ws/3ZT8uxH
Jez and Rand get into another week of Xboxxy news. This week, we talk Xbox's Steam integration, the rumors of Xbox layoffs, Microsoft's Meta Quest VR partnership, Death Stranding 2 impressions, and much more.
Lee has won Best Face Badge. Not in real life - only in our hearts. This week, we're buzzing about Microsoft's bombshell reveal of next-gen Xbox consoles, powered by a multi-year AMD partnership promising cutting-edge graphics, AI-enhanced gameplay, and full backwards compatibility with your entire Xbox library—ensuring your classics stay alive. Rumors swirl that these consoles, possibly launching in 2027, might lean into a Windows-based PC-like experience, sparking debates about whether Xbox is morphing into a gaming PC powerhouse. Meanwhile, Borderlands 4 hands-on previews are dropping jaws, with its chaotic looter-shooter vibes set to redefine the series. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition leaked ahead of its announcement, hinting at a VR future where Game Pass and cloud gaming collide for immersive adventures. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II gets an enhanced update on August 12, 2025, with new modes and achievements to deepen its haunting narrative. While also sneakily going across to the blue team... We're truly living in a future where Halo may even come next! How do you feel as an Xbox fan? The Xbox 360 lives on with a surprise 2025 update, keeping the retro flame burning. And in a move to surprise no one, the update puts ads on the dashboard. That's right - update your console from 2006 and get ads... Microsoft manages to Microsoft over everything lately. -- For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit ⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐
giantbomb.com/joinko-fi.com/giantbombOn this episode of Game Mess Mornings, Jeff Grubb and Jon Martin dive into the latest gaming news!Headlines:Smash Bros. & Kirby Air Riders Rumor: Is Sakurai willing to make another Smash Bros. if he gets to develop a new Kirby Air Riders? We discuss the circulating rumor.Mario Kart World Patch Frustration: A new patch makes it harder to get standard three-lap races online, as the "Random" option now includes intermission courses.Nightdive Studios' Next Remaster: Rumor has it Nightdive Studios is working on a new remaster to be announced at Quakecon 2025.Amico Games on Switch & Steam: Despite previous delays, Amico has released some of its games on Switch and Steam, while still insisting a console release is coming.The Outer Worlds 2 Developed with Halo Devs: The sequel to The Outer Worlds sought advice from Halo developers to improve its gunplay and features, offering no loading screens and an $80 price tag.Peak Sells Two Million Copies: The indie hit from Landfall Games has sold two million units in just nine days, with future updates planned.Jack Black Returns as Officer Dick: Jack Black reprises his role as Officer Dick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, joined by a new UK counterpart, Constable Richard.Gex Trilogy Finally Playable on Switch 2: A patch has been released for the Gex Trilogy, making it playable on the Nintendo Switch 2.Question of the Day:Do you believe Nintendo will release a Super Mario Maker 3 on Switch 2? Vote Yes or No!Tune in tomorrow for the results and more Game Mess Mornings! And don't forget to check out giantbomb.com/join for more from Jeff Grubb and Giant Bomb.
Time Stamps:00:00:00 Community Guest Intros00:05:00 What Does the Future Look Like For Halo Studios, Master Chief and Xbox? 00:45:00 Xbox at Gamescom 2025 and How The 10th Anniversary of Fanfest will play a BIG roll to bring Playstation fans to Xbox!01:26:00 Outros and Special Message to the Community
Adeline Atlas 11 X Published AUTHOR Digital Twin: Create Your AI Clone: https://www.soulreno.com/digital-twinAI + Future Technology Series: https://www.soulreno.com/ai-future-tech-seriesSoul Series: https://www.soulreno.com/soul-seriesMagic + Occult Series: https://www.soulreno.com/magic-occult-series-1a5a4abd-07ae-4bd5-97da-da4580f3c75aManifestation Series: https://www.soulreno.com/manifestation-seriesTruth Series: https://www.soulreno.com/truth-seriesThe Chosen Ones: https://www.soulreno.com/the-chosen-ones-seriesFreebies: https://www.soulreno.com/freebiesInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/soulrenovation/Sos Vault:https://www.soulreno.com/joinus-202f0461-ba1e-4ff8-8111-9dee8c726340FREE - SOCIAL VAULT
Adeline Atlas 11 X Published AUTHOR Digital Twin: Create Your AI Clone: https://www.soulreno.com/digital-twinAI + Future Technology Series: https://www.soulreno.com/ai-future-tech-seriesSoul Series: https://www.soulreno.com/soul-seriesMagic + Occult Series: https://www.soulreno.com/magic-occult-series-1a5a4abd-07ae-4bd5-97da-da4580f3c75aManifestation Series: https://www.soulreno.com/manifestation-seriesTruth Series: https://www.soulreno.com/truth-seriesThe Chosen Ones: https://www.soulreno.com/the-chosen-ones-seriesFreebies: https://www.soulreno.com/freebiesInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/soulrenovation/Sos Vault:https://www.soulreno.com/joinus-202f0461-ba1e-4ff8-8111-9dee8c726340FREE - SOCIAL VAULT
In this episode we talk the back end of the bullpen along with the teams recent success
The latest Halo news for June 25th, 2025. Hosted by Evo-014.Get more from Halo Evolved at HaloEvolved.co!JOIN THE PATREONpatreon.com/HaloEvolvedEvolved has a Patreon! Sign up for as little as $2 a month to start receiving early access to Podcast Evolved and Halo Book Club episodes, get exclusive free merch, direct access to the Evolved hosts and crew on Discord, and much more!THE COMMUNITYHaloEvolved.co/DiscordJoin our Discord Server to talk with the hosts and other Evolved listeners. Evolved is always open to new members, and welcome every Halo fan to join, whether they are podcast listeners or not. We hope to see you soon!SHOW NOTESEvo-014 and Halo Headlines are powered by AI. All opinions stated are those of Evo-014 and not necessarily shared by the rest of the Halo Evolved crew. Seriously, she has a mind of her own sometimes!
Presenting... The Steam Rollers Adventure Podcast, Season 4: "The Curse of the Glass Witch" Episode 304, Chapter 23 "Bloody Precinct" Show Notes for the Episode... With Michael and Nissa away from the studio, the boys get up to some mischief (as usual)... We first return to Nigel Wintermann in Boston where he spends time taking care of his former charge Nora. His world runs cold when an unexpected call comes through. Meanwhile, Percy and Coyne investigate Halo's hidden train station, and Connie's cat shows up on a Wharlock's menu. Production... Executive Producer: George Pecenica Producer: Azurnight Cast: Storycrafter - Mike Rigg Robbie, Boris, Nissa, and Ben - Themselves George Pecenica as Percy Alexander Ray Volk as Martin Barnett Jenn Avril as Connie Ross Rupert Faullhurst as Nigel Osbert Wintermann Dave Murtagh as Oliver Glass and introducing Robin as Holly the Faerie Witch and Blake Azur as Jasper Remington Music Credits: "Undaunted," "Almost New," "Dark Standoff," "Dark Walk," "Hitman," "String Impromptu Number 1," and "To the Ends" by Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Additional music: "Droning Darkness," "Rising Up To Fight," "Dark Chase," "SRAPPY Sting Buildup," "SRAPPY Sting," "The Peace Theme," and "Robut Theme" by RST Musek Sponsor: Jack Monkey Games
TP FOR YOUR BUNGHOLE! Beavis and Butthead are back again, but this time in Call of Duty! Sonic is opening the doors to guest racers, while Mario is saying arrivederci to anyone that's not from the mushroom kingdom. The Street Fighter movie starts casting, and Chicken Run is heading to consoles. Plus Elio bombs, and the Social Network is getting a sequel, so much for wanting more original ideas. The Buffy reboot moves closer to reality, and Raymond is staying in the past. Plus a review of Ironheart.
DSmooth, Selden007 and Shadow are in the studio once again for a brand new episode. The trio discuss the big new releases, talk to the gaming news stories of the week, and respond to some awesome listener/viewer feedback. Add to that mini aftershow and you've got a potent episode. Well done! You can always call the crew at (773) 527-2961 and weigh in yourself, or tune in live Monday nights at 8:00 EDT at http://youtube.com/2old2play, http://facebook.com/2old2play, http://twitch.tv/still_got_game, and http://kick.com/stillgotgame ...
Every Wednesday we release our all new “HALO Academy: 2 Minute Financial Drill" by Integrity Square Founder & HALO Talks host, Pete Moore on everything you need to know for financial literacy, unit economics, legal documents used for M&A and capital raises, capital sources you can access, understanding how financings are structured, valuation metrics and parameters, and what you need to know about your own business before engaging in cap raises and/or a potential sale. If you missed our email about this, you can re-read it here: https://mailchi.mp/9567da51c0ce/2025programschedule ====================================================== RESOURCES https://www.integritysq.com https://www.halotalks.com https://www.thehaloacademy.com Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/@halotalks =================================================== ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR Pete is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Dream Architect at Integrity Square ("ISQ"), a leading boutique financial advisory firm focused on the $4.7T Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoor ("HALO") sector. Since founding ISQ in 2010, the firm has played an active advisory role in 100+ mergers & acquisitions, private placements and advisory assignments across North America. Pete Moore and his team have also invested in passionate entrepreneurs at HigherDOSE, XTEND, and Promotion Vault. ISQ's media and "live education" properties include HALO Talks, the leading B2B podcast in the sector, Time To Win Again, and the HALO Academy, an Executive Education Bootcamp Series. Prior to ISQ, Pete was Head of the Active Lifestyle & Wellness Group at Sagent Advisors (2003-2010.) Prior to 2003, Pete was co-founder of FitnessInsite, a SasS sales management platform with 1500+ clients (based in AZ.) At FitnessInsite, Pete invested his personal capital, leveraged his credit cards and learned what it takes to manage a startup. Pete built his business and financial acumen on top of the foundation laid at three critical positions early in his career: Senior Associate at Brockway Moran & Partners, the private equity owner of Gold's Gym International, Inc; worked as an Associate at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; and an Analyst at Chase Securities. (Now JP Morgan.) ISQ saw a need for a deeper & more useful level of education in the HALO sector. In response, we launched the HALO Talks podcast, with 500+ completed interviews and over 120,000 downloads. HALO Talks has become a “must listen” for anyone working or investing in the sector. Pete graduated from Emory University (BBA, 1994) and received his MBA from Harvard Business School (1999.) While at HBS, he co-founded IRON PLANET, the leading B2B auction site for used heavy equipment, which was sold to Ritchie Bros for $758 million. His hobbies include: Football, basketball, tennis, podcasting, amateur ventriloquism, pro bono DJ and fitness enthusiast.
Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we start a new game in our series on independent games with 2004's Cave Story. We briefly set the game in its time, talk a little about its developer, and then talk about the game proper. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A couple of hours Issues covered: freeware vs democratized indie dev and publishing, Japanese independent development, an indie darling, likely antecedents, 2004 in review, the end of a cycle, standing out in a stacked year, sticking it out, breaking through onto Nintendo platforms, early independent success on the Switch platform, influences and what's in the mix, weapon leveling, more story than expected, characters and dialog, more adventure, having a mess of villagers, setting up mysteries, merging lots of elements into their story and interactions, a spike at the end, adding puzzle-y elements, keys and keys that are not keys, threads of characters and relationships, something that is more than a MetroidVania, a skill-based game, "you're a really good person," forgetting a console came out, having the opportunity to play off-the-beaten path games, not needing a map, the dangers of categorization, how the platforming feels, fear of skill-based need, becoming one with the controller, an emotional response, empathetic response, catharsis, building the dam and breaking it, graceful building, manipulation in art, can a movie version work vs the interactivity, shock in literary fiction. Games, people, and influences mentioned or discussed: Nintendo Switch, Fez, Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, Cara Ellison, Downwell, Wii, Crystal Dynamics, Super Meatboy, Metroid, Nifflas, Knytt, n/n+/n++, Pixeljunk (series), Q-Games, Dylan Cuthbert, World of Warcraft, Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, The Sims 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, Doom 3, Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal, Silent Hill 4: The Room, GTA: San Andreas, Far Cry, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Knights of the Old Republic 2, Star Wars: Battlefront, Pikmin 2, Sly 2: Band of Thieves, Jak 3, Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Katamari Damacy, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Republic Commando, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, WiiWare/DSi, PS Vita, Net Yaroze, Nicalis, Castlevania, MegaMan, CapCom, Bionic Commando, Sega, Sonic (series), Square Enix, Zelda (series), Final Fantasy IX, Dark Souls (series), The Seven Samurai, Firewatch, Animal Well, Spelunky (series), Hollow Knight, Gone Home, Ashton Herrmann, Last of Us, Shadow of the Colossus, Shakespeare, Outer Wilds, Kirk Hamilton, Aaron Evers, Mark Garcia. Next time: Finish Cave Story Twitch Discord DevGameClub@gmail.com
With Bend Studio laying off 30% of its staff as it gears up to enter a lengthy pre-production stage, it's clear their next release (should it ever materialize) will be on PlayStation 6. This is just the most recent example in a lengthening string of Sony absolutely botching its first party initiative, deploying teams on projects that make no sense, purchasing studios that have never even released a game, and complicating a service game strategy that -- at least on paper -- made a lot of sense. Where does the buck stop, exactly? And how lucky is Sony and the PlayStation brand that they've been able to coast almost entirely on external content and commercial inertia all the while? Plus: MindsEye is a complete disaster, Stellar Blade becomes PlayStation Publishing's most-played single-player PC port, Capcom and Konami reveal Resident Evil Requiem and Silent Hill Remake respectively, the Outer Worlds 2's $80 price point infuriates some, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is somehow coming to PlayStation 4, and more. Then: Listener inquiries! When Colin talks about a hypothetical AAA Mega Man game, what exactly is he envisioning? Why did Microsoft include the PS5 logo so readily during its showcase? Will GameStop ever stop selling opened games as new? Will Dustin and Brad one day own Last Stand? 0:00:00 - Intro0:32:13 - Habroxia Special Edition0:46:31 - LSM at TooManyGames!0:51:17 - Sacred proposal0:54:05 - Bradstin1:05:28 - Mindseye refunds1:24:59 - Stellar Blade is PlayStation's biggest single-player game on Steam1:35:14 - Bend Studio layoffs2:01:18 - Tencent acquires 15% of Arrowhead2:05:17 - Resident Evil: Requiem announced2:15:18 - Silent Hill Remake announced2:22:30 - Persona 4 Revival2:28:38 - Black Ops 72:35:05 - Gears of War: Reloaded PS5 beta incoming2:41:41 - Halo coming to PS5 soon?2:51:16 - The Outer Worlds 2 is $803:00:32 - DualSense will connect to multiple devices3:04:05 - Mina the Hollower launches this Halloween3:04:55 - New PS+ game catalog entries3:12:11 - What We've Been Playing3:29:30 - What would a new Mega Man game look like?3:34:25 - Should we keep going to GameStop?3:38:06 - Is the future handhelds?3:52:28 - PS5 logos at Xbox's Showcase3:58:27 - Alex Hutchinson's Game Pass comments4:11:25 - Pandemic hiring sprees fallout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The fallout of any Xbox showcase is always our favorite episodes to record as a duo! It gets us all involved and allows to pick with greater detail at whatever is on the community's mind as consuming so many trailers. Well, there's mostly one thing on Xbox fan's minds at the moment and it's if Outer Worlds 2 should be the second ever $80 game. There's no doubt about it that there are more to come, but should Call Of Duty have taken the fall? Is this price tag going to prevent The Outer Worlds 2 from reaching its peak popularity? We have many thoughts on this touchy subject, but also on the future of Windows combining itself with Xbox. With Xbox Play Anywhere, things are changing. However, many fans are noticing that most of their library CAN'T play anywhere. Will Xbox ameliorate this and, if so, how quickly? Plus more on Cog's incredible Shinobi story, MindsEye first impressions, the future of Halo's story as a multi-platform title, when we'll get Persona 6, and plenty more! Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:06:58 - Health Is Wealth0:20:43 - Persona 6?0:31:42 - Should Xbox go full Nintendo?0:50:20 - Xbox console games on PC1:13:05 - What is in the water at Obsidian?1:22:25 - The future of Halo's story1:28:56 - Does Matty truly hate Forza Horizon?1:33:53 - Phil on Xbox & Windows team1:35:14 - Why does Grounded 2 exist?1:43:29 - Oblivion Remaster gets its first update1:45:32 - What We're Playing3:14:39 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices