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In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb dive deep into the intersection of pop culture, entertainment, and the Christian life. They explore how Christians can engage with leisure and media in a way that glorifies God, applying biblical principles like those found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Ecclesiastes 3. The hosts emphasize the importance of balancing Christian liberty and holiness, while also recognizing the practical role of rest and recreation in human flourishing. Through personal anecdotes and theological insights, they provide listeners with a framework for discerning entertainment choices, encouraging believers to enjoy God's good gifts without compromising their faith. Key Takeaways: Entertainment is a Gift from God: Leisure and entertainment, when approached rightly, are part of God's common grace meant to refresh and restore us. Biblical Principles for Consumption: 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds Christians that all activities, including entertainment, should glorify God. If an activity cannot do so, it may be unlawful. Christian Liberty and Prudence: Decisions about pop culture often fall under the domain of Christian liberty, constrained by wisdom and prudence rather than legalistic rules. The Importance of Rest: Rest is not just about recharging for productivity; it is a God-given means of worship and human flourishing in its own right. Guarding Against Sinful Influences: Christians should be cautious of consuming media that promotes sin, as it can subtly shape their worldview and lead them astray. Personal Convictions and Context Matter: What is permissible for one believer may not be wise or beneficial for another, depending on individual struggles and contexts. Recreation Should Point Back to God: Whether through beauty, creativity, or storytelling, entertainment can lead Christians to worship God when consumed with discernment. Entertainment as a Gift from God Tony and Jesse emphasize that entertainment, when properly enjoyed, is a part of God's common grace. This means that activities like watching a movie, playing a video game, or reading a novel are not inherently sinful but can serve as vehicles for rest and refreshment. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3, they highlight that God has ordained seasons for both work and rest. True rest, they argue, is not about escaping responsibilities but about enjoying God's gifts in ways that glorify Him and restore our energy to serve others. When approached with discernment, even "secular" forms of entertainment can reflect God's creativity and goodness. Applying Biblical Principles to Entertainment The hosts discuss how 1 Corinthians 10:31 provides a litmus test for media consumption: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." This principle challenges believers to ask whether their entertainment choices align with God's glory. For example, content that promotes or glamorizes sin—whether through violence, sexual immorality, or blasphemy—should give Christians pause. However, they also note that some depictions of sin in fiction can serve a redemptive purpose, such as illustrating the consequences of sin or the beauty of redemption. The key is to thoughtfully evaluate whether the media being consumed inclines the heart toward holiness or pulls it away from God. Christian Liberty and Prudence Tony and Jesse stress the importance of Christian liberty in deciding on entertainment choices, while cautioning against legalism. They explain that Christian liberty does not mean a license to sin but rather the freedom to make God-honoring decisions in areas where Scripture does not provide explicit commands. Prudence and wisdom must guide these decisions. For instance, a particular TV show or game may be permissible for one believer but harmful for another, depending on their personal struggles or circumstances. This underscores the need for self-awareness and reliance on the Holy Spirit to discern what is spiritually beneficial. Quotes: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. If we cannot glorify God in an activity, it's likely unlawful for us as Christians." – Jesse Schwamb "Recreation is not just about recharging for productivity; it has its own value in glorifying God and enjoying His good gifts." – Tony Arsenal "Every story worth telling reflects, in some way, the greatest story ever told: redemption through Christ." – Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript: [00:00:30] Introduction and Episode Overview [00:00:30] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 457 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:00:37] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast where sound doctrine meets brotherly love. Hey brother. [00:00:44] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. So we're in a whole series of little one-off conversations, all kinds of things that just pop into our head, or we've had on a list somewhere that we thought, you know what? [00:00:55] Jesse Schwamb: Someday we should talk about that. And I think we've got another great. Conversation coming up on this episode, we're gonna get into a little bit about how Christians should interact with and consume pop culture maybe, and especially things like entertainment. And I know that there are gonna be people out there thinking, wow, these guys are gonna do what reform people always do. [00:01:15] Jesse Schwamb: They're just gonna come out into their lawn, they're gonna shake their fists angrily at the sky, they're gonna yell at the birds. It might not be that way, loved ones, but you're gonna have to wait. We're gonna talk about it. It's gonna be good. We're gonna get after it. We all do it. Everybody loves a bit of a to consume pop culture. [00:01:31] Jesse Schwamb: Is it possible it might be somewhat of a gift that God has given us? Who knows? Maybe it is, maybe it's not, but we'll get to that. But first, let's affirm with or denying against something in the world. So what have you got for us on this episode, Tony? [00:01:45] Tony's Frustrating Customer Service Experience [00:01:45] Tony Arsenal: I'm gonna keep mine super short. It was a frustrating customer service experience, uh, that I had today. [00:01:52] Tony Arsenal: In general, I, I have, uh, Comcast or Xfinity Internet in general. I'm actually very pleased. Their service. Um, I, I actually find them to be responsive. Um, I've managed to get a decent price. I don't have Comcast television, so that's probably part of it. Um, but I, my cable modem. Slash router, which I've had, I don't know, probably for like eight years. [00:02:13] Tony Arsenal: Um, it finally died, so I bit the bullet and bought a brand new one. And those man, those things have gotten expensive and um, you know, it's supposed to be a super easy installation. You plug it in, you do the little thing on the app and it didn't work. So I had to connect with customer service through the app, and. [00:02:30] Tony Arsenal: It seemed like everything was going fine. And then all of a sudden I get a link in my text message and the lady who's chatting with me on the thing says, well just, just scroll down and click on where it says accept and then hit okay. And I was like, that seems sketchy. So I read it and she was, she had sent me a link to change my internet service. [00:02:51] Tony Arsenal: Uh, she was giving me a 90, an $80 promotional price for the first year. Uh, but then it went up to $140 after the first year. Wow. So I went back to the chat app and I said, I'm sorry, I, I must have miscommunicated something. I don't need to change my service. I just need to activate my modem. She said, oh, no, no, you're not changing your service. [00:03:11] Tony Arsenal: And I said, no, I, I definitely am. She goes, let me explain this to you. And she went through and tried, like, she went through and she's like, your speed is this and you're paying this. And I said, and I said, with all due respect, I'm not stupid. I can see that you're trying to change my service and I'm just not interested. [00:03:27] Tony Arsenal: And I had to fight with her for like 10 minutes before I finally said, just activate my modem, please. I'm not interested. Full stop. So I, I guess I'm just denying. I get, I get it. Like, you gotta try to upsell. I used to be in sales. I don't have any problem with you trying to upsell. I, I don't even necessarily have a problem with you trying to be clever and like, you know, intentional about how you upsell. [00:03:48] Tony Arsenal: Like there are ways that you can do that without being deceptive. This was just deceptive. So I'm not denying Comcast. I'm pleased with my service. I'm denying this particular person and this really just underhanded tactic. It was really, really upsetting. I mean, [00:04:02] Jesse Schwamb: there is nothing like good customer service, right? [00:04:04] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, the converse of that is what a blessing it is, and it's kind of a lesson to all of us and how we treat one another. That is whether we're providing the service or we ourselves are consuming it. It is just such a blessing. It's like so easy and so light when you get somebody who really wants to help you. [00:04:21] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And. You know, I would not have changed my service, but I can imagine that somebody who was looking and was interested, if she had just said straightforwardly, like your internet that you have is far slower than the modem that you're, you're installing, right? Um, we can get you a faster internet speed and give you a, a large discount for the first year. [00:04:42] Tony Arsenal: Are you interested in that? I think a good portion of people would just say yes. Even if they didn't think it through, they would just say, oh yeah, sure. Faster speed, less money. They, they wouldn't think it through. That's not deceptive. If you present an option, honestly, to a consumer and they take it and they didn't understand the terms, that's not deception. [00:04:58] Tony Arsenal: That's on them as the consumer for not thinking through what they're purchasing. This was just straight out, like, don't read it, just click on it, it's fine. Totally underhanded, deceptive. Um, and, and you know, I work in. Sort of a kind of customer service and I just can't imagine ever doing something that shady and calling it customer service. [00:05:15] Tony Arsenal: I was, I was very disappointed. [00:05:17] Jesse Schwamb: But I mean, everybody has customers, right? Yeah. Everybody has somebody they're responsible to, and everybody has people to whom they should be responsible in the kind of care. Whatever you provide to somebody, whether it's your family, it's in your church, it's in your job, so, right. [00:05:30] Jesse Schwamb: I like that. It's a good reminder because again, there's nothing like walking away from experience and being like, wow, that was so easy, or that person was so good to help me. Yeah. Or like they really got me to the end that I was looking for and they did it and I felt better afterwards than I did before I called. [00:05:43] Jesse Schwamb: That should be like our goal, like what does great look like in every interaction that we can have with somebody. [00:05:48] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse, what are you affirming or denying tonight? [00:05:52] Jesse's Affirmation: The Plana App for Plant Care [00:05:52] Jesse Schwamb: I'm going back to the app. Well, and by that was a really weird saying of just, I'm gonna affirm with another app. So I really love a good house plant, but I'm no good at the house plants. [00:06:02] Jesse Schwamb: I really like the way they look. It's a lot of pressure with house plans. Maybe people feel this way. Maybe you've not purchased a house plant or been like, I can't be that person. So here's something that I can confirm with for you. Loved one, it's a app called Plana. It's a Swedish plant care app, and it's designed to help both like novice people like me and I guess really experienced plant owners keep their house and garden plants healthy, which I know sounds super boring, but hear me out on this. [00:06:27] Jesse Schwamb: This is what's cool about this. It offers smart, personalized care reminders for things like watering, fertilizing, misting, repotting, and it has all these things where if you, there's paid subscription for this as well, which I do not have, but I looked at all the options. There's some super cool things like you can use your phone to sense where your plan is sitting, how much light it's getting to really tell you, is this the right spot for my plant? [00:06:49] Jesse Schwamb: Because you know, like some plants are like, we need partial sunlight and partial shade and afternoon sun and direct sun, and you need to water me, but not too much and not so often, but just the right amount. It's a lot of pressure. So it's got all these fun features in it, including like an AI doctor. So you can take a look or a picture of your plant rather, and not only will it describe what plants you have, of course, but it will help you say like, Hey, this thing is not healthy. [00:07:08] Jesse Schwamb: Here's what you should do. So the plant app is, might be your foray into feeling more confident about having some greenery in your house. [00:07:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, um, I could kill a plastic plant. I could kill like a fake plant, uh, without trying, uh, but I might check this out. You, you've seen my, my home. You've been here? [00:07:26] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Um, my, my house is, it's a, a mobile home and so it's, it's just one long line and it's situated like almost directly east, west. So I get direct sunlight over the top of the house pretty much the entire day. And we have really beautiful, um. Violet cone plants and some other like lilies on one end of the house, um, that the previous owner planted. [00:07:46] Tony Arsenal: They're very beautiful, but um, they just get baked in the sun and there's gotta be something that can be done to sort of help them through this. Maybe it's more water or something like that. So maybe I'll check this out and see if that can help. 'cause they're not, they're not doing great. Um, they, they didn't bloom very well this year. [00:08:00] Tony Arsenal: Mm-hmm. And I'm, I'm wondering if it might be, I dunno, it's been kind of dry, um, this part of the year, more than usual, so I'll check that out. That sounds like a good recommendation. There's a couple of different apps. This one sounds good. [00:08:10] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, it's, there's certainly a lot of stuff that you can get free in it. [00:08:14] Jesse Schwamb: Of course, they want to upsell you like you just talked about. They're, no, no, they're no Comcast, but they definitely would like you to purchase all their other features, and I bet for the right person, it's totally worth it. But I feel so much more confident now. Mainly just the watering. If you surprised how like much pressure. [00:08:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, like aloe plants and also I'm learning the names of my plants finally, which makes me feel more connected. This, this is, listen, this is like the app to help you take dominion in your house over house plants, which sounds like the lowest form of taking dominion, but honestly still shows how complex and complicated life can be and how God has made everything in this really wonderful way. [00:08:52] Jesse Schwamb: So I'm feeling more empowered to love my plants and to hopefully keep them growing. I was gonna say for generations, but I doubt that I'll be passing on links, plants for generations, but hopefully getting just lots more greenery into our living spaces, which is always super fun. [00:09:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I, I, um, I would like to have more plants, but I just, with between toddlers and dogs and my ability to kill anything green that is in my home, uh, I don't think it would be good. [00:09:19] Tony Arsenal: That's your, your sister who is My wife does a good job with plants, but even the, yeah, she does, even, even that the plants die just because they're around me. I'm not sure what it is. I have like a, I hear it, listen, an aura of some sort that just kills plants. [00:09:32] Discussing Christians and Pop Culture [00:09:32] Jesse Schwamb: It's, it's difficult sometimes to grow in soil, which is, I, one of the things I presume Christians often feel like when they're in the culture and when, mm-hmm. [00:09:41] Jesse Schwamb: Do. Do you like that segue? We're so good with this. I do. And when you are consuming, let me say pop culture, or you find yourself in a place where you want entertainment and you want to rest, and I think if you're a Christian for any length of time, you start to ask yourself, okay, so what's my place in all of this? [00:09:59] Jesse Schwamb: And what's interesting when I thought about this topic, which you graciously put forward for us, was that I think several times we've mentioned kind of cultural things often in the affirmation and denial section. Yeah. Where we've. Maybe come hard alongside something and said, this seems good. And other times we've definitely said, this seems very, very bad. [00:10:17] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. But we've never really had just a pretty honest conversation about, okay, so how does the Christian discern, what is the Christian's role in making that discernment? And how can we, like our house plants grow and flourish in that kind of environment to such a degree that we are actually bearing fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit. [00:10:36] Jesse Schwamb: And yet, of course, separate. From that culture in which we still find ourselves. [00:10:41] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I, you know, I think it bears saying, um, much of popular culture, media, whatever it might be, a lot of it is going to be a matter of Christian prudence and liberty. And I think it's important to say that because I think, you know, we'll talk about, we'll probably talk about like principles we use to try to determine whether we, you know, individually or, or whatever. [00:11:04] Tony Arsenal: We're going to watch something or listen to something, but. The, the Bible doesn't say like thou shalt, and I'm gonna say this example, and it's a little bit ironic because this is actually a show that I think is pretty black and white. But it, it's not like the Bible says, thou shalt not watch Game of Thrones. [00:11:20] Tony Arsenal: Right. Um. Right. Like thou shalt not. Listen to, I don't know who the kids are listening to. Britney Spears like tells you when The last time I listened to popular music was, is Britney Spears is the name on my mind. But like thou shalt not listen to, I dunno, Paramore, I don't know name. Name your pop culture band. [00:11:37] Tony Arsenal: The Bible doesn't give us explicit instructions about specific bands. Movies, shows, insert, pop, you know, novels, whatever it might be. It does give us some wisdom principles. And then of course, there's God's moral law, uh, but even God's moral law does not. Necessarily apply directly to every pop culture choice we might make. [00:12:04] Tony Arsenal: So I'm sure Jesse and I don't have identical opinions. I'm gonna guess that our thoughts are probably pretty close just because, you know, we're influenced by the same people and we, we are running in the same broader theological circles, but they're probably not identical. There are probably things that Jesse would watch that I'd go, oh, I don't know if that's such a great thing for me. [00:12:22] Tony Arsenal: And there's probably things I would feel comfortable with that Jesse might say, eh, I'm not so sure about that. This is usually a matter of Christian liberty constrained by Christian prudence and wisdom. So before we get into any of the nitty gritty or any specific talk of anything particular, I wanna get that out there because yes, we have to be wise, we have to. [00:12:44] Tony Arsenal: Apply God's law, but we are not able to bind other people's conscience and you are not able to bind other people's conscience based on your own particular opinion about something or your own interpretation of how the Bible is to be applied to a particular decision. Um. You know, again, you can speak into a situation. [00:13:03] Tony Arsenal: You, especially if you have a relationship with someone, you can say, Hey, I don't think this is healthy. I don't think this is in conformity with God's law, but at the end of the day, that is between that Christian and God as to whether or not they are applying God's law appropriately and, and in to an extent, and to a great extent between them and their elders. [00:13:21] Tony Arsenal: Right? The elders have a, a different role of authority in a, in a Christian's life than other Christians do. And [00:13:27] Jesse Schwamb: it might be worth saying as we begin that we're kind of talking about this, I think in part because we all feel that pull to consume pop culture, and what I kind of teased at the beginning is this idea, is it possible that, I think we're really speaking about consuming that in a kind of a way of entertainment of like rest and relaxation. [00:13:45] Jesse Schwamb: Principally there. There are other reasons I think as well, and that might be to edify, to educate, but I think principally when we feel this compulsion to say, well, I like you, just give great examples. Listen to music, watch a sporting event, watch tv, read something fiction or nonfiction. I think what we're after there is this idea that we want to rest and that understanding that entertainment is a part of the rest that God intends for us to enjoy from our labors is by itself, full stop, a legitimate thing. [00:14:13] Jesse Schwamb: So the question is. A little bit more nuanced. Where is that line? You already gave, I think a pretty good example of something that you and I would agree on would say that that's a bridge to fight across. Don't watch that thing, right? Yeah, do something else. But the question is how did we get to that place in making that judgment? [00:14:28] Jesse Schwamb: And is there a place in there where we would say, well, the Bible is an explicit about, let's say certain medium or even like specific things within that medium that it is outspoken enough that we ought to say. No, we will not do that. So I think this is what we're after in part, is this proper use of entertainment involving, of course, analyzing worldviews, appreciating elements of beauty and creativity, acknowledging reflections of truth. [00:14:53] Jesse Schwamb: But that also that in some way, all of this is God's gift to us. That while the Bible does not give us a great deal of explicit statements about how believers are to view entertainment, there is much we can draw out to scripture by way of good and necessary consequence to borrow language from somewhere else. [00:15:10] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:15:11] Applying Biblical Principles to Entertainment Choices [00:15:11] Tony Arsenal: And I also think too, like this is a question that often is presented as very simple and very like cut and dry, but it can be a lot more complicated than you think. And here's an example, and we don't have to get into this particular example, but let's do it. You know, I think a lot of times people, um, will take the example of blasphemy. [00:15:32] Tony Arsenal: Right, and a show that is, or a, a video game, whatever it is, content that is intentionally blaspheming, God is something that at a bare minimum, Christians should be very wary of participating in and consuming just because it, it's something that openly dishonors God is probably not something Christians should be eager to participate in or to consume, but. [00:15:56] Tony Arsenal: Um, there, there are instances where a, a show or a, a video game or a book contains a fictionalized blast swimming of God that actually may serve the greater purpose of glorifying God. So if you think of like, um. Think of a, a book or a a movie where there is a character who is a non-Christian, and over the course of the book, they are shown to be blaspheming God, and then they experience a conversion. [00:16:24] Tony Arsenal: And the purpose of the, the purpose of the book is to glorify God through this conversion redemption story. That it character in that fictionalized universe is blasphemy God within that universe, right? Or within that fictionalized story. But the purpose of that blasphemy is actually to serve the greater purpose of glorifying God. [00:16:46] Tony Arsenal: So that's not to say that automatically anything like that gets a pass, right? That can be done well, that can be done poorly. That can be done in a way that actually glorifies God. It can be done in a way that doesn't actually hit the mark. But it's not as simple as to say, this character in this show. [00:17:00] Tony Arsenal: Engaged in blasphemy. Therefore, we should never consume that show. We have to do some actual thinking and some actual analysis of what's going on in order to. Understand whether or not it actually is violating God's law. Now there are probably some things, um, you know, like graphic sex scenes. There's really no reason, um, for Christians to feel drawn to shows that contain that. [00:17:25] Tony Arsenal: Again, this is, this is, um, I, I, at this point in my life and I, in earlier periods in my life, I might have been more black and white on this. I am not here to tell you what you can and can't watch. That's not my role. I'm not the Holy Spirit. I'm not your pastor. I'm not any of the persons or people who have an obligation to tell you what is or isn't, right? [00:17:46] Tony Arsenal: Like I'm not that person. But I cannot think of personally a reason why a Christian would, would need to, or should ever participate in like enjoying a show that contains graphic sex scenes. Um. The people making those have to sin in order to make those scenes right. So there are, there are things we should consider. [00:18:12] Tony Arsenal: Are kind of always off board, right? It's always off board to do physical harm to somebody in the service of making a movie, right? So if you have a movie where people are, are actively trying to hurt each other in order to produce the film, I'm not sure that we should participate in that. I wouldn't feel comfortable if I knew that was going on in a film. [00:18:28] Tony Arsenal: I don't, I don't, you know, again, other Christians might, and we can have a conversation about that, but we have to think about those things. Do the actors. Do the people who are creating the content, do they have to sin in order to create it? If that, if the answer is yes, we as Christians, I think should be extremely, extremely wary of, of even watching or consuming those things. [00:18:49] Tony Arsenal: So those are the kinds of questions and situations that I think need to be list like thought about as we approach pop culture. But I also think, Jesse, you know, you made the point to that. Popular culture, entertainment broadly is a gift from God for us to enjoy. Right? And it's okay to enjoy it. It's okay for us to participate in that. [00:19:09] Tony Arsenal: You know, we're not, we're not the people who are gonna say to you like, well, you know, every minute you spend, uh, reading, I don't know, uh, reading will of the many, every minute you spend reading Will of the many you could spend witnessing to people, right? So therefore, you should never read Will of the many or The Hobbit or whatever it might be. [00:19:27] Tony Arsenal: Um, but we should think carefully about what we consume, how much of it we consume, when we consume it, all those are questions that the Christian needs to ask themselves. [00:19:35] Jesse Schwamb: I agree. I think the broad test here is actually not that difficult to comprehend. It's probably more that we sometimes hesitate to apply it because we're afraid of what it might mean for the stuff that we're consuming. [00:19:46] Jesse Schwamb: So again, like ceasing from our work in order to rest holds us together like that, that is something that God gives us as a pattern relaxation that we should take joy in. It must be the right amounts of lawful entertainment or consumption of all of this stuff in pop culture, but it is there. I think like even God gives it our own cultures as a means for us to find that kind of rest and to find some comradery and solidarity even with those in whom we interact and live with. [00:20:13] Jesse Schwamb: I think all of that's fine. Like you've said, it gets a little tricky when we start thinking about, well, where is that appropriate line? What is our conviction? But I think part of the problem with that is that we might not be seeking out conviction for ourselves. We not be asking because we hate to find that there is conviction in things that we're watching because there's gonna be a lot of things'. [00:20:31] Jesse Schwamb: That society's gonna be preoccupied with for entertainment for its own sake. And again, it's an indicator that everybody, men and women, even children, are seeking rest from the burden of their work and that rest is okay. Even that itself, like you're saying, Tony, it's interesting. I think so much we're gonna come back to is this idea of it. [00:20:47] Jesse Schwamb: Is, are we redeeming what we're doing in this process? Are we being not just thoughtful about discerning, adjudicating, or interrogating what we're watching and listening and reading, but as we do it, are we thoughtful people? Are we seeing the themes even in those joyous things that we find as entertainment that draw us back to the goodness of God that explains something about the world he's created or his own character finding? [00:21:10] Jesse Schwamb: Of course, that in every story is just a reflection of the greatest story ever told. Like, yeah, all of those themes, all the things we are drawn to that we gravitate towards. That move us. All of those things still come from God. And so therefore, even our entertainment can serve this purpose of not just alleviating our minds and bodies from the burden of ongoing labor in a fallen world, but can also draw, draw us back to God's common grace and his particular grace for his people who are always sinners. [00:21:34] Jesse Schwamb: So here's the the first test. I think it's the most simple one. And everybody's gonna throw their listening devices at the wall because it's the one that's the most straightforward. It's the one you might've been thinking you're gonna get to eventually, and let's just get it out of the way. I don't say that because it's not worthwhile. [00:21:49] Jesse Schwamb: I say it because it's exactly the kind of worthwhile test that we should apply, and it applies perfectly in every situation. And that's the Apostle Paul setting out in one Corinthians 10 31. Here it is. This is like. You know, top 20 reform verses whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [00:22:07] Jesse Schwamb: So the beauty of this is I think just first pass, first blush, top of the house. If we cannot engage in an entertaining activity in such a way as to glorify God, then it's just unlawful. And by way of contrast, if you can, then we're justified in viewing it as a gift of God's common grace. I, I just throw it out there to start with. [00:22:26] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think that it's not that we found that this particular test has been tried and left wanting, but rather we haven't tried it very well. Oftentimes. Yeah. At least for my own sake. And instead we say, well, the Bible just isn't clear. But if you're, watch your point, Tony. If you're watching something that is gratuitous in any way, and you stop and say. [00:22:44] Jesse Schwamb: Am I glorifying God in the consumption of this? I think it's really difficult to make a strong argument that in some way you are actively, not just passively and saying like, well, it's okay and there's gonna be a redeeming story plot in here somewhere, I hope. But are we actively, whenever, whenever we're doing or we're consuming these things, are we actually glorifying God? [00:23:02] Jesse Schwamb: Is God glorified in. What's happening with my mind, my thoughts, my body, my eyes, my conversations, how this shapes me, how this changes my worldview. If we have to answer that God is not glorified there, then to my view, it's unlawful. And I think also in the eyes of the Apostle Paul. [00:23:19] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:23:20] Personal Convictions and Christian Liberty [00:23:20] Tony Arsenal: And you know, I think something that is important to, um. [00:23:24] Tony Arsenal: Comment on and think about when we sort of apply that test, that test really has more to do with what's going on in our heart. Yes. When we are consuming any particular part, you know, any particular media than it necessarily has to do with the media itself. I think there are some things, um, that. Just cannot be consumed to the glory of God. [00:23:46] Tony Arsenal: Right? You can't watch pornography to the glory of God, like you just can't do it. Um, you can't, you can't watch people murder each other for, you know, to the glory of God. But the vast majority of things that are out there, um, the, the, the question you're asking is not primarily grounded in the content itself. [00:24:07] Tony Arsenal: It's, it's grounded in. What the content does to us and in us and how we process it. And I think that's why I, you know, I always wanna say for most things, this goes back to Christian Liberty and. Christian Liberty is not a license to sin. It's, it's a freedom to, um, to obey, right? It's a freedom and it's a range of possibilities to obey God in different ways, in different situations, rather than some tightly constrained, tightly restricted behavioral code, right? [00:24:39] Tony Arsenal: There is a law. God gives us a law. We talked about this at length when we did the 10 commandment series. He gives us a law, but this law is a set of 10 principles for godly living. Not a, an exhaustive list of do this, don't do that. Right? So the seventh commandment, you know, for media. Is this inclining my mind towards chastity and purity of thought, right? [00:25:02] Tony Arsenal: For those of us who are married, is this likely to, um, create a barrier in my relationship with my wife, or is this likely to enhance the relationship I have with my wife? Is this. Particular thing I'm doing, this video game that I play, is this likely to draw my attention away from my children when they need me? [00:25:19] Tony Arsenal: Or is it something that I have that is likely to increase my ability to pay attention to my children? Or am I able to properly balance the demands that my children have and the needs my children have while I still play this video game, just as an example. So we can still use those 10 principles to help guide us, but the way that those. [00:25:38] Tony Arsenal: The way that the law is applied to these questions and how it is, is gonna be unique, I think almost, almost across the board for things. It's gonna be unique to each individual, right? One person may be able to, yeah, like my big thing and I like, okay, I'm just gonna put this out there. I'm just gonna lay myself bare here. [00:25:55] Tony Arsenal: If I could say that I have one actual real addiction in life, it's probably World of Warcraft, and I know that sounds probably really silly, but even me saying and saying the phrase World of Warcraft, in my mind I'm like, could I figure out a way that I could go back in and play that game? Like they call it World of Warcraft for a reason. [00:26:14] Tony Arsenal: It is super addictive and it's very easy to fall back into it. I'm sure there are people out there who can perfectly just fine, could manage their life of having children and a wife and a job and, you know, service to the church and still play World of Warcraft for a couple hours a week or, or an hour every night and still be just fine. [00:26:33] Tony Arsenal: I cannot do that. If I subscribe to World of Warcraft, it will imbalance my life such that something that God is calling me to, that I know God is calling me to, is going to be pushed out of the way for that. So for me. I cannot fulfill my obligations and participate in that particular element of pop culture. [00:26:52] Tony Arsenal: And I think there's probably something like that for most of us. Again, someone else may be able to do that just fine. There are probably many people who can do that just fine. That's a problem in my own heart. And the way I address that is by saying, this is just not healthy for me, so I'm not gonna do it. [00:27:05] Tony Arsenal: And whether that's a TV show or a a book series. I know people who won't read certain books because they get so immersed in it and it sort of like shapes their worldview in really unhealthy ways. They just won't pick up a particular set of novels or a particular book series. Um, you know, I've told this story that I, I don't remember where I was flying. [00:27:24] Tony Arsenal: Um, it wasn't. I must have been flying to Minnesota. That's the only place I've traveled by air for quite a long time. Um, I stopped in the, the bookstore, the, you know, the, the souvenir store, whatever. And I forgot a, I forgot a book at home of all the people to forget a book. And I was like, you know, there's this big hub lu about Game of Thrones and you know, maybe the book is better than the show. [00:27:43] Tony Arsenal: And like, you know, I can control what I'm imagining and it's easier for me to skip over parts and nobody is having to make graphic sex scenes. Even if they're sort of portrayed in the book. I can maybe do this. I got like. A chapter and a half into the book and was like, I can't, this is not healthy for me. [00:27:57] Tony Arsenal: It's not helpful. It doesn't glorify God. It's not true. It's not noble, it's not honorable, it's not worthy of praise. Right. I'm just gonna, and I just threw the book away. I spent like $15 on a book and then I just threw it in the garbage. Um, and I don't say that to like prop myself up as some bastion of self control. [00:28:10] Tony Arsenal: That's just in that moment I made the right decision. But there are things like that, that you are gonna have to look at your own self to say, I cannot participate in this, even if someone else might be able to. I personally cannot. And I think that's really the more the question we need to ask then. Are there universal principles that say, I can't do A, B, or C? [00:28:30] Tony Arsenal: It's really about my heart in the moment and how my heart is affected by a given thing. [00:28:36] Jesse Schwamb: Much like the 10 Commandments. This whole conversation in the scriptural, I think admonishment here is very much about freeing us up to enjoy freedom, to have joy in these things. It's not about just saying, well, here's a list of things that you can't do. [00:28:51] Jesse Schwamb: Isn't that unfortunate? Everybody else can do them, but you can't enjoy them. Instead, Scott saying like you're talking about Tony, no put to death all these evil, selfish things that are in your life that actually destruct. And instead, enjoy entertainment and pop culture in such a way that not only glorifies him, but does truly refresh you so that you're not drawn back into patterns of selfish behavior or sinful thinking, or all kinds of, you know, sexual frivolity that's going to lead your mind and your body and your heart astray or into places that you'll end up getting hurt. [00:29:25] Jesse Schwamb: I think. The beauty of this is it just provides us with a way to think and discern about the stuff that we're consuming so that we're ensured. Then it's fulfilling the right purpose that God has for in our lives, and that's freeing. When you get to a place where the scripture says like, here's the way walking it, then you know that you can walk confidently and you can enjoy that very thing. [00:29:46] Jesse Schwamb: One great example, I think that sit on both sides, we can talk about in some ways how there's like a, a lack of, or like kinda a, a moral perspective with certain types of medium of expression. One of those I think famously is, is music. Luther famously said, musical performance is principle among the entertainment that God has graciously given us to enjoy in life. [00:30:06] Jesse Schwamb: And yet who hasn't been part of either music that has been absolutely refreshing, absolutely life-giving, absolutely calming and beautiful in the same way that like David played before King Saul when he was distressed. And maybe you've had this experience where there's some kind of soothing melody that was just a bomb to your soul and your condition in that state. [00:30:25] Jesse Schwamb: And then also. On the other side, who hasn't listened even to some really catchy music that's been filled with like sexual perversion, misogyny, violence themes that at the end of it, you may have enjoyed the beat, but it's, it's just left you kind of feeling gross. And disgusted. Yeah. Even with yourself for enjoying it. [00:30:45] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think that's what we're after here is like to be freed up to enjoy this kind of entertainment in a way that it is truly the gift that God has given rather than something that enslaves us. And I'm gonna argue that it often does. Not because it's just addictive, though. [00:30:59] The Influence of Entertainment on Our Lives [00:30:59] Jesse Schwamb: It can be, but because it does actually influence us deeply and, and I think one thing is clear is that all the things we're talking about here that's present in entertainment, and I'm talking all the way back to things like athletic performance, all of this beauty and creativity, art expressed both in film literature and in music, that all of those things God has given us for our good and for his glory. [00:31:22] Jesse Schwamb: So he wants us to enjoy them. But sin is of course gonna take all those things and pervert them and twist them in such a way that they no longer become life-giving or become life taking. The problem is they take life incrementally and on the margin. Yeah. And so that you rarely feel that that's going on. [00:31:37] Jesse Schwamb: You rarely sense the divide of the chasm that's creating in your thought patterns, in the way that you interact with people, even the way that you interact with God until, not that it's too late, but that's, you wake up and you think, my goodness, how far have I gone from what I think this is really intended to be in my life? [00:31:52] Jesse Schwamb: Then maybe addiction does crop up in such a place that you're like this. This has gone too far. But I think, again, like many things in life, when God says no, what he's saying is, do not hurt yourself. I know better. I want you to enjoy these things. So I see this as like our opportunity to like empower to come with the scriptures, bearing full weights on what we consume, not because we need more laundry lists of things to avoid, but because we need direction on what is best to sink our entertainment time and resources into. [00:32:20] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I, I think that's a good, um, that's a good, maybe a next test right? [00:32:25] Balancing Time and Entertainment Choices [00:32:25] Tony Arsenal: Is we only have a finite amount of time. We, we, and, and I'm not even just talking about like in general, we have a, I'm, I'm talking about like we have a finite amount of discretionary time. We all have commitments, we have jobs, we have families, we have church commitments, we have friends that we wanna maintain relationships with. [00:32:43] Tony Arsenal: The amount of time we have to just like sit down and consume pop culture is limited no matter, no matter who you are. Some people have more, some people have less. Um, we can consume. Ev, every time we say yes to one thing, we're saying no to another thing, right? There is, um, there is popular culture or content out there that absolutely is encouraging, right? [00:33:05] Tony Arsenal: And absolutely is going to enhance your life, and it's going to enhance your piety and your devotion to God, right? And I'm not just talking about like Christian content. There's decent Christian content out there. There's decent Christian films, there's decent Christian music, there's decent Christian fiction writing. [00:33:22] Tony Arsenal: Um, there's probably even decent Christian video games, although I haven't run into them, I'm sure they're out there. Um. But that's not even what I'm talking about. [00:33:30] Finding Value in Non-Christian Content [00:33:30] Tony Arsenal: There there are, there are non quote, non-Christian, um, right there. There's General grace. Common grace works out there that will, they'll, they'll make you smarter. [00:33:41] Tony Arsenal: It will make you healthier. It'll help you enhance your life. It'll help you enjoy your world more. It'll help you enjoy and see the beauty in God's creation. More I've, I've commented, um. At length, and this isn't necessarily pop culture, although it kind of bridges the gap a little bit. I've commented at length on how beneficial in my life, Ryan holiday's, writings have been. [00:33:58] Tony Arsenal: Right? Right. That's what he doesn't get everything right. There are some things he gets very wrong, um, but. I, I read, um, Ryan Holiday's, stoic. Stoic Works, and I wouldn't say he's a scholar of stoicism. He's more like a modern day stoic philosopher. I read his works and I benefit from him. It makes my life better. [00:34:17] Tony Arsenal: It makes my devotion to God better. It makes my piety better. It makes me a better husband and a better father, and a better employee just in general. It makes me a better person. Not because Ryan Holiday is some special thing, but because he seems to have tapped into common grace principles that other writers haven't, I have a choice. [00:34:33] Tony Arsenal: You know? Do I wanna read that or do I wanna read some? Um, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy manga, but like, do I wanna read some. Meaningless, pointless manga that is just the same story over and over again with different animation. You know, some people might find that the reading the manga is the right thing for them and that enhances their life. [00:34:51] Tony Arsenal: Right? But for me, I've had to make that calculation. I only have so much time. I only have so much time to read. Um, and, and this is might be a shock to people. There are times where I'll have the decision between reading a theology book and. Being caught up on my reading in Daily Stoic, I most often will take time to read the Daily Stoic instead of reading something. [00:35:10] Tony Arsenal: For example, I'm way behind on Daily Devotion or Daily Doctrine by Kevin De Young Way Behind, but I'm not behind on, on Daily Dad or daily Stoic from Ryan Holiday. That's not because one, one thing is better than the other necessarily, but what I need in my life and what God is calling me to. The writings by di by Ryan Holiday right now are more effective in a, in accomplishing those tasks and into shaping me into who I believe God wants me to be. [00:35:37] Tony Arsenal: So that's the other question we have to ask is what? [00:35:40] The Importance of Rest and Leisure [00:35:40] Tony Arsenal: What is the most beneficial thing for us at the moment? It could be some sort of mindless cotton, candy entertainment. There's nothing wrong with that. This isn't, this isn't me saying like find, this isn't like hustle culture for pop culture. Like sometimes you just need to veg out and do something that doesn't require any brain power, and that's what God is, is giving you as a gift for your rest and your re recuperation. [00:36:04] Tony Arsenal: Sometimes it's a hard hitting. Heavy theology. Sometimes you need to sit down and read some Bob Ink again, not that that's pop culture, but I think the broader principle applies. Maybe you need to sit down and read some Turin, or maybe you need to like scroll Instagram for a little while and watch funny cat videos, right? [00:36:19] Tony Arsenal: All of those things are good things. They're all gifts from God in the proper proportions and at the proper time, and that's why this can be such a complicated question is because we have to have a good, robust. Honest reflection of who we are and what we need in order to make these, these decisions. Um, and it really is about what do we need in the moment? [00:36:37] Tony Arsenal: What is God calling us to? What is the wise thing to do right now, the wise thing to consume right now? Um, and, and I think that's a good test. Is this the most effective thing and accomplishing in my life what needs to be accomplished, right? That could be all sorts of goals, but is this the most effective thing to accomplish that at my life right now? [00:36:57] Tony Arsenal: If so, and it's not sinful, and then have at it enjoy. You know, I think those are the kinds of questions we need to ask, and I don't think we often ask that. I think we are often passive. And neutral in decisions about what we're gonna watch for pop culture. We're driven by what is the most popular thing on Netflix? [00:37:15] Tony Arsenal: What does the algorithm recommend for us? Or what is being talked about at work? Or what do I have on hand? What do I have easy access to? Um, I think we need to be more active and intentional in our decisions on this towards those ends. [00:37:29] Jesse Schwamb: Right on. And there's no accounting for taste, right? I mean, part, part of time we get caught up in that, so we'll just say, well, maybe what I'm experiencing, because I'm a Christian, I'm trying to process this, has to do more about like particular medium or the taste or the type of genre or something. [00:37:44] Jesse Schwamb: I'd encourage us to not get too caught up in that. I think what you're saying is really, really helpful. The idea here I think is more about embracing the fact that we don't have to be productive all the time. And that we don't have to be, and I use this with great love like puritanical in the sense that, you know, well, if Jonathan Edwards didn't laugh and the Lord sakes that was inappropriate, then I shouldn't either. [00:38:05] Jesse Schwamb: And by virtue of that fact, then I should really have this incredible puritanical work ethic where even when I'm at home or every second that I have, I should be reading something. And if I'm gonna read something, it should be productive. Or if I'm watch tv, it should be something kinda documentary. I need to learn and fill my mind and make use and redeem every second of that time. [00:38:18] Jesse Schwamb: What if part of that redemption. Is enjoying entertainment for the way that God intended it to be, and that when he makes beauty and creativity and artistic expression, and again, we're presuming that this is the right amount of a lawful entertainment, that all of those things are for their own enjoyment because they point back to the creator. [00:38:40] Jesse Schwamb: Just by themselves. Like there doesn't have to be an ulterior motive. You don't have to justify it. You don't even have to feel guilty about it. That in fact, because we're contingent beings and therefore we have limited energy supply and unlimited amount of time and space, that all those things com continue to propel us towards some kind of desire for a lawful entertainment that leads us into rest. [00:39:02] Jesse Schwamb: Even as you're saying Tony, if that's rest for 10 or 15 minutes before, it's the next thing to feel this compulsion instead. To have to again quote unquote redeem. That time by being super productive is I think a fool's errand because we are as much made to work as we are made to rest. And in that rest, I think sometimes we actually find for some of us an easier time identifying and worshiping God in that risk. [00:39:26] Jesse Schwamb: Because in our work, we are busy in our work and we often get caught up in our work thinking all of our work is all of us. And so we rest and we find enjoyment in something. We take a walk, we listen to a beautiful piece of music. We spend some times just conversing about nothing with friends. We sit outside and enjoy beverages together that something happens sometimes in that space. [00:39:46] Jesse Schwamb: We're in the pause of that in the fact that there is beauty that seemingly is without productive purpose, even though I'd argue there is one. It's just hidden behind it and we fail to see it. We are drawn to the fact drawn to say, God, are you not good? For all of your gifts. And of course he's good in our gifts of work. [00:40:02] Jesse Schwamb: He's also good in our, our gifts of rest. But he's given us this gift as a form of entertainment in our own pop culture for us really to enjoy. But you're right, if we get it twisted such that we consume too much of it, or if we misapply that, I think we're just gonna live a less abundant life. So again, like the task here is not, don't do any entertainment. [00:40:23] Jesse Schwamb: Get all, get away from all the entertainments. Like what? Like your point, Tony, I, and I've heard Christian say this, I think there can be a brow beating here where it's like, well, couldn't you have used that time more productive? Like they had a couple more minutes, like maybe you really should have prayed harder or. [00:40:38] Jesse Schwamb: Maybe you should have read that other chapter in the Bible. Maybe you should gone back through your genealogies again and read those because you know that you don't read those particularly well. Or maybe you should have studied this thing or that thing. And instead is there a kind of worship that truly gives itself over to resting in God in the form of appreciating entertainment as he's created it for us to give us that kind of rest? [00:40:59] Jesse Schwamb: I would say yes. It's just that we often don't talk about it and sometimes we do talk about it. It's hard to bring it up 'cause you're gonna. You're gonna feel guilty. Like, can you imagine somebody saying to you, you know what? I'm just finding so much rest these days in this, uh, little game on my phone that I get to play. [00:41:15] Jesse Schwamb: You would be like, you, you might, if you're, if you're like, you know that person, well, you might be like, that's weird. I guarantee though, if that happened to me, I'd walk away and then when I was with my wife later, I'd be like, let me tell you what this weird thing this person said. You know what I mean? [00:41:27] Jesse Schwamb: But what, what, yeah. We need to think more like that. Not as a liberty to forsake or abdicate responsibility, but instead to actually be well rested for the responsibility in the task, the good works that God has created for us. [00:41:42] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:41:42] Personal Experiences with Entertainment [00:41:42] Tony Arsenal: And maybe here's like a concrete example is, um. You know, I, um, I work at a local hospital and my job is relatively intense. [00:41:53] Tony Arsenal: Um, in terms of emotional investment, I'm a patient relations supervisor, so I, I'm in charge of the department that hears all of the complaints from patients, which means we often hear some really frustrating stories about people's healthcare, and it can be very emotionally draining. And so I also, um, I also ride the bus home now. [00:42:15] Tony Arsenal: My, my vehicle is broken right now. Hopefully we're gonna get fixed soon, but I ride the bus home and for the first couple, I don't know, for the first week that I was riding the bus, I was like, I gotta use this time. I gotta read something. I gotta make sure I'm doing that right. And what I've learned actually is if I just take the 45 minutes that I'm on the bus and waiting for the bus and I just sort of zone out and play Pokemon Go. [00:42:39] Tony Arsenal: By the time I get home, I'm ready to engage with my kids better. I'm ready to engage with my wife better. I'm less likely to feel, uh, just drained and tired because I'm actually letting my brain sort of reset and I'm building that buffer. So something as simple as like. Playing a relatively mindless game on my phone for a half hour, 45 minutes while I ride the bus and wait for the bus, um, helps me to fulfill my obligations as a father and a husband in a more present way. [00:43:09] Tony Arsenal: Again, like if you wanna ride the bus and you wanna read a fiction, or you wanna do theology, like that's on you, that's your decision to make. But. I know people who would say to me, um, you really should be using that time for something more productive than playing Pokemon Go. And, and yeah, maybe like, maybe there are times that I should be more productive and maybe there are times that other people should be less productive. [00:43:32] Tony Arsenal: Like I think that's kind of what we're getting at here is. Productivity or spiritual growth or pi, like those categories are, each of those are good categories. Like productivity is not a bad thing. Um, personal devotion is certainly not a bad thing. [00:43:47] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:43:47] Tony Arsenal: But it's not the only thing. And we also, I think we act as though our lives can be this sort of like perfect integrated balance when really like we have to be able to sort of recognize that. [00:44:02] Tony Arsenal: Sometimes doing nothing has its own utility. Like that feels like a weird thing to say, but I I, I'm with you here and, and maybe this is kind of how we bring the episode down to an end is I do think. There is this, obviously the Sabbath principle, the rest principle. Um, but God also gives us rest in these other small ways. [00:44:25] Tony Arsenal: Sometimes not so small, but small ways in the rest of our life. And I don't think that we should bear any shame or guilt or feel like we're less Christian because we take advantage of or make use of those. Those sort of like smaller opportunities to rest and you know, recreation is recreation. Like that's, that's that etymology is not a false etymology. [00:44:49] Tony Arsenal: That's where the word comes from. And it's because we often need to do these sort of leisurely things in order to be able to then go back and put forward the effort that we need. And the other thing just, I feel like we're tying. Leisure to the ability to produce in a way that may actually also be unhealthy. [00:45:09] Tony Arsenal: Leisure is not necessarily the ends, the means to being able to be productive. Right? Leisure serves its own purpose. It has its own use, its own way to glorify God. Yes, it does enable us often to be able to come back and put our nose to the grindstone, but we shouldn't just think about it as like, well, this is just, this is just my recharge period. [00:45:30] Tony Arsenal: We don't think about sleep that way. I don't think we think about sleep in, in a fashion of saying like, well, I've gotta sleep so that I can just get up and go to work the next day. And productive. I think we recognize that our bodies need to rest and there's a blessing and a joy in being able to close our eyes and sort of drift off and have dreams and rest, and that our body recuperates itself, I think we should think of leisure in a similar sense, and recreation and pop culture all kind of play into that. [00:45:53] Jesse Schwamb: I think that's right on. I mean, it's one of those things where we're certainly not saying that there isn't rest in prayer and in daily worship and consuming and studying the scriptures, there's certainly a rest in all those activities too. In some ways, I think we're presuming that we are trying to incorporate a balance into our lives, and that part of that balance is just rest for its own sake. [00:46:12] Jesse Schwamb: The enjoyment of that and when you're truly, I think, enjoying that rest, whatever it is, one we do not long feel guilty because we have processed. And pass everything to the sve of the scriptures and say, this is glorifying to God is for my goodness, for his glory. So therefore there's no, as it were like condemnation for me in this because I have a clear conscience about it. [00:46:31] Jesse Schwamb: And then in addition to that, it does provide us with perhaps, again, that lovely contrast between working hard and then having. Some period of which we are abstaining from that work and from that labor. And in so doing we find different ways to please and to worship God. We find that we see his character reflected in different ways. [00:46:49] Jesse Schwamb: And so in that way too, it reminds us that we are, like I said before, like completely contingent, we get tired, we get exhausted. Like there's only so much the mind can do and so much it can handle. And so by. Willingly accepting and leaning into that, not again, in a way that takes us away. We use as liberty to say, well, I, you know, I really should spend some time before the Lord in prayer. [00:47:10] Jesse Schwamb: I really should spend some time in, in daily particular worship, but you know what? I really need to rest instead. Like of, of course, that itself, we should be convicted about, uh, because then we're using entertainment such a way to distract us. Suppose this. Way from God rather than toward him. But the Bible is so clear, like you're saying, Tony, that there's all these seasons in life and the more I think about those seasons, the more I wonder if we tend to treat them too discreetly. [00:47:34] Jesse Schwamb: And in these two, like, kind of like prolonged periods, what if a season is for an hour? What if a season is for a day? What if a season is for five minutes? So famously, of course, when we have the teacher writing. Ecclesiastes chapter three, some of these famous words, I think we just fail to take them to heart. [00:47:51] Jesse Schwamb: Listen to this beautiful contrast, and I think it really fits in with what we're saying here about the, the ability to rightly consume entertainment and pop culture in such a way that it is glorifying to God and our understanding of it in our application of how it gives us true rest. So it writes things like this. [00:48:09] Jesse Schwamb: There's a time to kill and the time to heal. A time to break down, a time to build up, a time to weep, and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing a time to seek and a time to lose. [00:48:26] Jesse Schwamb: A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to tear. A time to sow, a time to keep silence and a time to speak, a time to love, and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. So it's very clear that God has given us, I think all of these wonderful things to enjoy as part of his character, as demonstrations of the fact that he is a God who is loving and love always leads to giving. [00:48:51] Jesse Schwamb: And so he gives us beauty in arts. In music, in literature, in screen, and of course then we should recognize because those are things from God and we ought to that. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Heavenly Father who is above that. It is the prerogative of the devil to twist and bend those things in such a way that we feel to see them as God's gifts and said, see them as our rightful consumption. [00:49:12] Jesse Schwamb: Such a way that enslaves. Changes our mindset, pulls us farther away from God. So I think part of it's just going into everything with the pun intended, with eyes wide open. So hopefully some of these tests have been helpful. I think people probably have, because like you said, Tony, there's a lot of Christian liberty here and maybe some point. [00:49:29] Jesse Schwamb: Well, I was gonna ask you like what's I, I'm not gonna ask you this because I know you're gonna ask it back to me, but like what would be maybe something you consume that others might be able. Ooh. Um, but I don't want you to ask that back to me. We could do that. We could do that if you want to. [00:49:42] Tony Arsenal: Um, yeah, let's, let's do that in a future episode. [00:49:43] Tony Arsenal: I think that'd be fun. Well, we'll [00:49:44] Jesse Schwamb: save that for another time. So everybody keeps listening. [00:49:46] Encouraging Community Engagement [00:49:46] Jesse Schwamb: But I think one of the things that we should be encouraging our listeners to do, the people who are part of the reform brotherhoodhood, is come hang out online. In this place called Telegram, which is just a chat messaging app and we have a little corner, a protected corner of the world. [00:50:00] Jesse Schwamb: There is a group of people who are like-minded listening to our conversations and participating in their own. And the way they participate with us is you can message in the app, they've got a bunch of channels of different topics, so you can get there by going to t.me/reform brotherhood. I bring this up now, not just to advertise as usual. [00:50:17] Jesse Schwamb: Because we want you to come be a part of this, but I would love to hear from others because we have a channel in there that's just about the conversations we're having on the podcast. Come share some of the practical things that you use, the tests that you have, the conversations that you bring forward to help you discern what kind of pop culture you're consuming. [00:50:37] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Don't just take our word for it. Let's hear what the Holy Spirit. How he is leadi

Twisted Metal and Chief of War The big Summer blockbuster season is slowing down and now we're heading back into the realm of prestige TV coming slowly back to our screens... or maybe, if not prestige, then genre adjacent and hopefully fun. So in the first of our TV roundups for this season we're looking at Season 2 of the surprise romp Twisted Metal and then at the new Apple TV Hawaiian historical action drama Chief of War. Momoa vs Mackie head to head! Jill, Dion and Quinny are leading this war party of post apocalyptic Pacific Islander warriors to this review's gates! Twisted Metal Synopsis: Season 2 finds John entering the deadly Twisted Metal tournament, navigating his relationship with Quiet after seven months apart, and reuniting with his long-lost sister Dollface. Chief of War Synopsis: The story of the unification of the Hawaiian Islands from an indigenous perspective. The plot centers around Kaʻiana, a warrior chief who initially joins a bloody campaign to unite the warring kingdoms but later rebels against the unification process, aiming to protect his people from colonization, https://youtu.be/wMHe0XAiKu0 A huge thank you to all our warriors and weirdos who listen avidly to each show, joining in on the live-chat during the Twitch stream this week (and every week!). If you haven't done so before, sail your canoe to the live show with us 7:30pm next Tuesday to join in on the car crash carnage. Special love and thanks goes to those who have financially bolstered this podcast by making a milk run into our Ko-Fi jar and now also by subscribing on Twitch! Your generosity is always appreciated! If you feel so inclined drop us a sub! The more subs we get the more Emotes You get! Every bit of your support helps us to keep the the cars fueled and the chieftains fed. Don't fret if you can't be there for the recording though as you can catch them on Youtube usually later that very night. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss them! https://youtu.be/SFMG1gBtOtI?si=1eh6vSxsz2yjKUPZ https://youtu.be/owdGcwufWK8?si=jY9KIKycgb3RtTv9 WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! Send in voicemails or emails with your opinions on this show (or any others) to info@theperiodictableofawesome.com Please make sure to join our social networks too!  We're on: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TPToA/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/TPToA Facebook: www.facebook.com/PeriodicTableOfAwesome Instagram: www.instagram.com/theperiodictableofawesome/

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, cinematographer Matthew Chuang ACS has always been drawn to telling stories rooted in culture and identity. After reaching a creative ceiling in Australia, he made the leap to Los Angeles where he connected with director Justin Chon. The two have since collaborated on multiple projects, most recently reuniting for Apple TV's epic series Chief of War. In this conversation, Matt reflects on his upbringing in Australia, his journey into the world of independent filmmaking in the United States, and his first experience working on a large scale television production. He shares how he and Justin brought an indie film sensibility to Chief of War, emphasizing the importance of trusting your instincts when approaching coverage and storytelling. We also dive into the technical side, discussing cameras, lenses, lighting setups, and the unique challenges of shooting in remote locations across the Hawaiian Islands. Tune in to hear Matthew's story, his creative approach behind the camera, and insights from the set of one of Apple TV's most ambitious series. This episode of Cinemapodgrapher is proudly brought to you by our technology partners Sony Produced by Deb Van Dieren Hosted by Lucas Tomoana SOC Edited by Raphael Segal  

We have done it! We have reached the end of the nineteenth century with the beginning of the Spanish-American War. In the first of a string of episodes, we will be exploring the country's first overseas venture - war with Spain over its island possessions in the Caribbean and the Pacific. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States was already thinking beyond its continental borders. With the purchase of Alaska and new found influence in Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands, the United States was already considering what was next. With Spain's influence on a steep decline, there were an insurrection in Cuba which captured the attention of public opinion and those magnates who had invested heavily in the Cuban sugar industry. Uncertain whether to negotiate of go to war, Presidents Cleveland and McKinley proceeded carefully until events dictated their actions. Have a question, comment, concern, or compliment? Contact us at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your questions on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Thanks for listening!

On today’s episode of HI Now Daily, we have an exclusive interview with the producer of “Chief of War” – the new series telling the story of the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. Plus, we’ll have a new lesson in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi with captions, so those of you just learning can follow along.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian and Hannah review the biggest new films and bingeable shows on UK streaming services for the week beginning Friday 1st August 2025, including:Chronicling Birmingham City FC's transformation under new ownership, including Tom Brady, this is new sports reality show Built in Birmingham: Brady & the Blues on Amazon Prime Video.The story of the unification of the Hawaiian Islands from an indigenous perspective; Jason Momoa stars in Apple TV's historical drama Chief of War.From Monday Night RAW to WrestleMania, WWE Unreal goes backstage with Superstars and staff as they bring the company's biggest spectacles to life, and it's on Netflix.The third season of Fire Country arrives in explosion fashion, as convicts and firefighters come together to save the day... and find love? It's on NOW TV.Follow Bingewatch on all major podcast players for your weekly rundown of the best binge-worthy shows across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and more.Remember to leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser and Goodpods AND you can now show your support and leave a tip for Ian and Hannah.You can also stay in touch with the team via Twitter AND if you like Bingewatch but you're looking for a specific review, check out BITESIZE BINGEWATCH, our sister show making it easier to get the bits you want!For ad and sponsorship enquiries, email liam@mercurypodcasts.com now!

Jason Momoa delivers his magnum opus. Chief of War is a sweeping, blood-soaked chronicle of the Hawaiian Islands' unification, a series as brutal as it is beautiful, as spiritual as it is cinematic.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/keeping-it-reel-with-filmgordon--4671407/support.

The prophecies (PLURAL) foretold it all. And he believed it. And then... he made them ALL believe it.Not only does Madi tell you the story of how "The Lonely One" united the Hawaiian Islands in one lifetime (and ALL OF THE DRAMA that brings... you have no idea), but we also talk about Hawaiian warfare, the return of an ancient Hawaiian artifact, AND Hawaiian burial practices.Kamehameha was a force, and his story deserves to be heard. Raised in isolation into a warring island nation, this man was put on this planet to bring them all together. Listen to it all unfold against all odds in this first-but-not-last episode of Hawaiian History.Brook Kapukuniahi Parker's Lecture (Part 1/4) on Kamehameha the Great https://youtu.be/oGX6dUAikFQ?si=KGzhK0GCGlMIHGZ0Keoni Kealoha Alvarez's Documentary "Kapu"https://www.youtube.com/live/2MLWBLmpSOI?si=4moM8LxEOEP2pQPuThe link to the GORGEOUS video by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Chief's Cloak and Helmet Repatriated After 241 YearsJoin our Patreon for extra content!https://www.patreon.com/c/spillthemeadYou can purchase Spill the Mead merchandise https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpilltheMeadPodcast/Find us on Instagram, and Facebook @spillthemeadpodcastFind Madi @myladygervais on InstagramFind Betsy @betsy.hegge on InstagramFind Coco @spill_it_coco on InstagramFind Gabby @so_dym_gabulous on InstagramFind Chris @chrisrileyhistory on InstagramFind Taylor @tjonesarmoredamma on InstagramMusic is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.com

Anne Marie Brown was born into one of Hawaii’s most iconic hospitality families — the Kelleys of Outrigger Hotels — and got her start in the industry with hands-on internships in nearly every department, from housekeeping and front desk to maintenance and the bell desk. Today, her path has taken her far beyond the Hawaiian Islands and the hotel world. Brown is now the co-founder of Alpenglow Travel, a luxury travel agency specializing in FIT, small group travel, events and corporate B2B planning. In this episode of Humans of Travel, Brown reflects on her family’s legacy and the lasting impact Outrigger Hotels & Resorts has had on Hawaii’s tourism landscape. She also shares valuable lessons from her background in hospitality, the story behind launching Alpenglow Travel and how her passion for poetry — including her viral piece, "Pretty," written for her daughter — continues to shape the way she sees the world. This episode is sponsored by Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Alpenglow Travel Contact:  info@alpenglowtravel.com The viral poem "Pretty" ABOUT YOUR HOST Emma Weissmann is the Executive Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly, and the Editor-in-Chief of print publication AGENTatHOME.TravelAge West also produces events including Future Leaders in Travel, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala ad the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. ABOUT THE SHOW TravelAge West’s award-winning podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the highs and lows that make them human.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In November of 2016 the family attempted a vacation to Hawaii, which turned out to be a tropical roller coaster.There were loads of psychic shenanigans, along with luaus, snorkeling, and gentle night time island breezes... And, oh yes - Dreams Galore!

This Day in Legal History: Newlands ResolutionOn July 7, 1898, President William McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, formally annexing the Hawaiian Islands into the United States. Unlike traditional territorial expansion through treaties, this annexation occurred via a joint resolution of Congress—an unusual and legally contested mechanism. The resolution was named after Representative Francis Newlands of Nevada and passed by a narrow margin, reflecting deep divisions over imperialism, expansion, and national identity. Supporters argued that annexing Hawaii would bolster American strategic and economic interests, particularly as the U.S. was engaged in the Spanish-American War and needed a naval base in the Pacific.The legality of annexation by joint resolution, as opposed to treaty ratification requiring a two-thirds Senate majority, sparked constitutional debate. Critics contended that this method sidestepped constitutional checks and amounted to imperial overreach. Native Hawaiians had overwhelmingly opposed annexation, as demonstrated in the Kūʻē Petitions signed by over 20,000 islanders. The resolution disregarded this opposition, cementing a colonial dynamic that would echo in future U.S. territorial acquisitions.The annexation also laid the groundwork for the eventual formation of the Territory of Hawaii in 1900 and its statehood in 1959, though not without continued controversy and calls for sovereignty. Legally, the Newlands Resolution exemplified the flexibility—and limits—of congressional authority in foreign affairs and territorial governance. It also introduced enduring questions about consent, self-determination, and the legitimacy of U.S. expansionism under constitutional law.This event highlights how domestic legal processes were used to justify international actions, revealing tensions between democratic ideals and imperial ambitions.A rare trial is beginning in Boston over a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's policy of deporting international students and faculty involved in pro-Palestinian activism. The case was brought by academic groups including the American Association of University Professors and the Middle East Studies Association. It centers on actions taken after Trump signed executive orders targeting non-citizens with so-called "hateful ideology" and promising to fight antisemitism. Plaintiffs allege that these directives led the State and Homeland Security Departments to revoke visas and detain students like Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk, both of whom were targeted after expressing pro-Palestinian views.Unlike most Trump-era immigration cases, this one is proceeding to a full trial rather than being decided early by a judge. U.S. District Judge William Young emphasized that a trial is the best path to uncover the truth. Plaintiffs argue the policy violates the First Amendment, accusing the administration of suppressing political dissent on college campuses. The administration denies a deportation policy exists, claiming decisions are made based on security concerns, not ideology. Homeland Security officials insist the U.S. won't tolerate advocacy that they perceive as violent or anti-American.The trial outcome could shape how immigration authorities interpret and apply free speech protections to non-citizens in academic settings. It's only the second Trump-era policy case to reach trial under Judge Young, who has publicly criticized the judiciary for avoiding fact-finding through trials.Rare trial to begin in challenge to Trump-backed deportations of pro-Palestinian campus activists | ReutersApple has formally appealed a €500 million ($587 million) fine imposed by the European Commission for allegedly violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission found that Apple restricted app developers from directing users to more affordable options outside its App Store, which regulators said limited competition and consumer choice. Apple filed its lawsuit at Europe's second-highest court on the last day allowed for appeal, arguing that the fine is excessive and that the EU is overreaching by trying to dictate how it operates its App Store.The company claims it altered its policies to comply with the DMA and to avoid further daily fines, which could amount to €50 million per day. Apple also contends that the Commission's demands are both confusing for developers and harmful to users. Despite the changes, EU regulators are still reviewing the company's new terms and have solicited feedback from app developers before deciding if additional enforcement is needed.The case is part of broader efforts by the EU to rein in the influence of major tech companies and ensure fair digital market practices under the newly implemented DMA.Apple takes fight against $587 million EU antitrust fine to court | ReutersMaryland Legal Aid (MDLA), a critical legal support system for low-income individuals, especially women and domestic violence survivors, is facing a potential funding crisis due to the Trump administration's 2026 budget proposal. The proposal includes $21 million to close out the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which provides federal funding to 130 nonprofit legal aid programs across the country, including MDLA. This move would eliminate a key source of support for clients like a Moroccan immigrant mother in Baltimore, who received urgent legal help from MDLA while still hospitalized from domestic abuse.LSC-funded services assist people earning at or below 125% of the federal poverty line, a group that includes a significant portion of Baltimore residents, where one in five people live in poverty. MDLA, the largest legal aid provider in the state, operates 12 offices and assists hundreds of clients each week with issues like eviction defense, expungement, and protection from abuse. Despite receiving only 14% of its funding from LSC, losing this support would result in fewer clients being served at a time when demand is growing.Staff at MDLA describe their work as essential, often likening their intake offices to emergency rooms. Without legal aid, tenants and abuse victims often face court alone, without understanding their rights. Advocates say that legal aid services prevent homelessness, violence, and broader social harm. While similar efforts to cut LSC funding have failed in the past, the current budget process will determine if the latest proposal gains traction.Legal Aid That Helped Abuse Victim Threatened with Trump Cuts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

As luck would have it, I met Bobby Collins on a plane ride to Maui. I was on a family vacation, Bobby was heading home. I'm so glad we crossed trails! Bobby shares his background as firefighter, growing up in Oregon, moving to Maui over a decade ago, and the hunt life he lives within the Hawaiian Islands. He is a survivor of the Lahaina wildfire, the most devastating wildfire in Maui history. He shares the story, and it's a heartbreaker, about how he and his friends narrowly escaped the fast-moving blaze. This is not one you'll want to miss! Make sure you check out Bobby's YouTube below, videos of hunting and the fires are in there.  @juggernautoutdoors1641  on YouTube - Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/rocollins355/ 

Aloha! In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Tyler Deal, the founder of www.radicalheartworks.com. He has made the beautiful Hawaiian Islands his home. Our talk was filled with warmth and laughter, with the fairies seemingly there to add to the joy!

Stacey Aldrich is the Hawaii State Librarian who oversees the fifty-one libraries across our major Hawaiian Islands and is a fan of those who love to read or are returning to the joy of reading. She's our Guest for this episode of "Hawaii Matters" with Host Kathy With a K.The Hawaii State Libraries are celebrating all with "Mele", the theme for their "E Heluhelu Kākou: Let's Read!" summer reading program. They also have a new look for their Library Card, if you're ready to update your existing account or want to officially sign up for your own.The summer reading program is June 1-July 31, 2025 and you can find more information at their official site.Thank you, Stacey, for the talk story!To connect with the Hawaii State Library, visit their official site: librarieshawaii.orgFollow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeFor "Hawaii Matters" inquiries, email: kathywithak@1059thewavefm.com(Original airdate: June 8, 2025)

Join us as we journey to the Hawaiian Islands with Molly Mamaril, a powerful voice bridging Hawaiian wisdom with modern environmental and economic solutions. Born in Hawaii but raised in Minnesota's Hawaiian diaspora, Molly shares her transformative journey back to her ancestral home and reveals practical ways to apply the sacred values of aloha in your own life and community. Discover how you can support local economies, restore damaged environments, and build stronger communities using time-tested Hawaiian principles of reciprocity and abundance. Learn why changing where you spend your money can be one of the most powerful actions you can take today. What You'll Experience: Simple daily practices inspired by aloha values that strengthen relationships and reduce stress Molly's personal journey from the Midwest back to her Hawaiian roots through hula dance

Explore the sacred geography of the Hawaiian Islands with my luminous guest Kathy Williams! We unveil a chakra system encoded in volcanic stone, ancient chants, and living energy lines that allow you to remember the frequency of ancient Mu.⚜️ This episode is for the part of you that knows land is a sacred mother — and you are one of her children coming home. ⚜️What you'll take away from this episode:

Did you know that most travelers miss out on Hawaii's best summer experiences just by sticking to the usual beach routine?If you're dreaming of a trip to Hawaii but worry about missing the real magic—or feeling overwhelmed by all the options—this episode is for you. Unlock the secrets to an unforgettable Hawaii vacation by discovering the seven must-do activities that locals and seasoned visitors swear by.

Are you unsure how to visit multiple Hawaiian islands during one vacation without wasting time and money?For many travelers, Hawaii's diverse islands offer unique experiences, but navigating between them can be confusing, expensive, and time-consuming if you don't know the local strategies.If you've ever wondered which islands to visit, how to travel between them efficiently, or how to experience the distinct character of each destination, this episode is for you.In this episode of Hawaii's Best, host Bryan Murphy breaks down everything you need to know about island hopping in Hawaii, from transportation options to choosing islands that match your interests.

Full Text of ReadingsSaturday of the Third Week of Easter Lectionary: 278The Saint of the day is Saint Damien de Veuster of MolokaiSaint Damien de Veuster of Moloka'i's Story When Joseph de Veuster was born in Tremelo, Belgium, in 1840, few people in Europe had any firsthand knowledge of leprosy, Hansen's disease. By the time he died at the age of 49, people all over the world knew about this disease because of him. They knew that human compassion could soften the ravages of this disease. Forced to quit school at age 13 to work on the family farm, Joseph entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary six years later, taking the name of a fourth-century physician and martyr. When his brother Pamphile, a priest in the same congregation, fell ill and was unable to go to the Hawaiian Islands as assigned, Damien quickly volunteered in his place. In May 1864, two months after arriving in his new mission, Damien was ordained a priest in Honolulu and assigned to the island of Hawaii. In 1873, he went to the Hawaiian government's leper colony on the island of Moloka'i, set up seven years earlier. Part of a team of four chaplains taking that assignment for three months each year, Damien soon volunteered to remain permanently, caring for the people's physical, medical, and spiritual needs. In time, he became their most effective advocate to obtain promised government support. Soon the settlement had new houses and a new church, school and orphanage. Morale improved considerably. A few years later, he succeeded in getting the Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse, led by Mother Marianne Cope, to help staff this colony in Kalaupapa. Damien contracted Hansen's disease and died of its complications. As requested, he was buried in Kalaupapa, but in 1936 the Belgian government succeeded in having his body moved to Belgium. Part of Damien's body was returned to his beloved Hawaiian brothers and sisters after his beatification in 1995. When Hawaii became a state in 1959, it selected Damien as one of its two representatives in the Statuary Hall at the US Capitol. Damien was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. Reflection Some people thought Damien was a hero for going to Moloka'i and others thought he was crazy. When a Protestant clergyman wrote that Damien was guilty of immoral behavior, Robert Louis Stevenson vigorously defended him in an “Open Letter to Dr. Hyde.” Love the saints? Check out these six titles on Catholic saints! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Saturday of the Third Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Damien de Veuster of Molokai, 1840-1889; joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and was assigned to the Hawaiian Islands; in 1873, he went to the government's leper colony on Molokai, and volunteered to remain permanently, caring for the people’s physical, medical, and spiritual needs; Damien contracted Hansen's disease--i.e., leprosy--himself, and died of its complications Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/10/25 Gospel: John 6:60-69

An unusual cruise ship heads to Portland todayToday we'll see the Pride of American cruise ship arrive from Hawaii and head past Astoria (not stopping there) and head upriver to the shipyard in Portland for maintenance. Arriving from Hawaii, she has no passengers on board. An unusual thing about her is that she's US flagged, because her cruise route takes her between the Hawaiian Islands, all part of the state of Hawaii. That makes her a Jones Act vessel, and as such she must be US flagged, US-built and crewed by US citizens or nationals.

Weekly Kingdom Outlook Episode 196-Having a Chat About Ministry In this Hawaiian Island special, Louis and Todd engage in a profound discussion on the nature of ministry, the modalities of revelation, and the discernment of one's divine calling.

Did you know picking the wrong week for your family's Hawaii vacation could double your costs and leave you battling crowds?If you've ever been frustrated by packed beaches or wondered why some trips seem so much smoother—and more affordable—than others, this episode is for you. Get the practical tips on how timing your trip to Hawaii can turn a stressful getaway into a relaxing adventure.In this episode of our travel podcast, we break down exactly when to visit Hawaii for the lowest prices and quietest beaches, and share which three weeks families should skip to avoid crowds and high costs.

Did you know that picking the wrong spot for sunset on Oahu can turn a perfect evening into a headache?Most visitors imagine a postcard view, but the reality is often crowded beaches, expensive parking, and missing the best moments because of poor planning.If you're tired of fighting the crowds or settling for a disappointing sunset, this episode is for you. You'll get straightforward advice to help you skip the hassle and actually enjoy one of Oahu's best experiences.In this episode, you will:Find out which 7 Oahu sunset spots are actually worth your time and how to get there without the usual stress.Learn simple, real-world tips for parking, timing, and what to bring—so you get the sunset you want, not just the one everyone else settles for.Get honest details on which spots are crowded, which are better for families, and how to support local businesses and keep Hawaii beautiful while you're there.⎯Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play to make your next Oahu sunset easy, memorable, and stress-free.

In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, I chat with Dan about his recent journey to Buenos Aires for stem cell therapy on his knee. After living with an injury since 1975, he shares how advancements in medical technology are providing new solutions for pain and mobility. We discuss the challenges of recovery and the impressive potential of these therapies, along with vivid stories from his experience in this vibrant city. We also touch on the role of AI in our modern landscape, questioning its reliability and pondering whether it enhances creativity or simply recycles existing ideas. As we explore the implications of AI, we consider how it can assist in achieving desired outcomes without requiring individuals to develop new skills themselves. Sullivan emphasizes the importance of meaningful work and the balance between utilizing technology and fostering genuine human creativity. Our conversation wraps up by highlighting the ongoing journey of personal growth and the need for continuous improvement in an ever-evolving world. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Dan shares his personal journey to Buenos Aires for stem cell therapy to rejuvenate his knee cartilage, highlighting advancements in medical technology and the promising future of these treatments. We explore the historical significance of technological revolutions, from steam power to the creation of the alphabet and Arabic numbers, and their impact on communication and societal progress. The discussion delves into the rapid advancements in AI technology, questioning its role in creativity and entrepreneurship, and examining its potential for convenience and efficiency. Dan and I consider the distinction between ability and capability, reflecting on how current technological advancements like AI have amplified capabilities while individual aspirations may lag. We discuss the integration of AI in creative processes, highlighting how it can enhance productivity and creativity without diminishing human input. The conversation touches on the importance of efficiency and prioritization in personal growth, exploring strategies for optimizing tasks and delegating effectively. We conclude by reflecting on the ongoing nature of personal and technological growth, emphasizing the value of continuous improvement and collaboration in achieving success. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr. Sullivan. Dan: Mr Jackson, it's been a while, it's been a while. Dean: And yet here we are. Like no time has passed. Dan: Yes. Dean: Because it's now. Dan: But I've put on a lot of bear miles since I saw you last. Dean: Yeah, tell me about your journeys. Dan: Yeah well, buenos Aires. Yep Just got back yesterday and am in considerable pain. Oh really what happened. Well, they give you new stem cells. So now, they're going after. They're going still on the knee, but now they're going after tendons and ligaments, yeah, and so this may seem contrarian, but if you're in pain, it means that they're working. Dean: Oh, okay. Dan: How's that? For a compelling offer If you feel really bad about this, it means that what I'm offering you is a great solution. Dean: Yeah, with a name like Smuckers, it's got to be good, right yeah? What was that cough syrup that was known to taste so bad? Buckley's, buckley's. Dan: Tastes so bad. Tastes awful Works great. Dean: Yeah, that's right. That's the perfect thing. Tastes awful, works great. So were they completely pleased with your progress. Dan: it's, yeah, I think that the from what I can tell from they. They show you pictures of other complete cartridges. You know, okay, with other people and my left this is my left knee an injury from 1975. 1975, uh-huh, so 50 years, and it progressively wore down. It was a meniscus tear and in those days they would remove the torn part of the meniscus, which they don't do anymore. They have new surgical glue and they just glue it back together again. But this is the. This is one of the cost of living in over a period of history where things get better and so, as a result, I have a cartilage today which is equal and capability as it was before I tore it in 1975. However, all the adjustments my left leg and my head to make, 50-year period of adjusting to a deteriorating capability in my left there was a lot of calcification and stresses and strains on the tendons. So now that they can see the complete cartilage back, they can know exactly what they have to do with the otherons. So now that they can see the complete cartilage back, they can know exactly what they have to do with the other things. So they still reinforce it. So I get new stem cells for the cartilage because it has to be reinforced and so it's a good thing. I'm planning to live another 75 years because I think every quarter over that period I'm going to be going to Argentina. Dean: Oh boy, this is great. Dan: Or Argentina, is coming to me. They're going through their FDA phases right now and he's getting the doctor scientist who created this is getting his permanent resident card in the United States. So I think probably five years five years it'll be available to others. You know they don't have to make the trip. Dean: Well, that's great so now you've got the knee cartilage of a preteen Swedish boy. We were bouncing around the mountains. Dan: Yeah, something like that, yeah, something like that, something like that it's interesting that it wasn't 1975 when the $6 million man started out. Dean: That's what you're going to end up as the $6 million man. We can rebuild. We'll see. Dan: Yeah, but I had. While we were there, we had a longtime client from Phoenix was down. He was working on knees and rotator cuffs in his shoulders. Dean: And. Dan: I was able to say does it hurt? And he says yes, it does, and I said that means it's working. Dean: That means it's working. Dan: Yeah, and I said. He said you didn't tell me about the pain part before you encouraged me to come down here and I said, well, why? You know? Why, pull around with a clear message. Dean: And I said well, why, you know why fool around with a clear message, Right, I remember when Dave Astry had he had, like you know, a hundred thousand dollars worth of all of it done, all the joints, all the like full body stuff, and he was just in such pain afterwards for a little while. But how long does the pain last? Dan: Imagine it's like getting well, if I go by the previous trips, which were not equal in intensity to this one, there was about three or four days. Three or four days and then you know, you're, you're up and around. Yeah, as a result of this, I'm not going to be able to make my Arizona trip, because this week for genius Right, because? I'm going to have to be in wheelchairs and everything. And if there's one place in the world you don't want to be not able to walk around, it's Phoenix. Because, it's all walking. That's the truth. Yeah, up and down. So we're calling that off for now, and yeah, so anyway, and anyway. But they're really thriving down there. They're building a new clinic in a different part of the city, which is a huge city. I never realized how big Buenos Aires is. It's along the same size as London, you know London. Dean: England. Yeah right, you know how big London is. How long are you go on each trip? How long are you there? Dan: We arrive on a Sunday morning and we leave on a Friday night. Okay, so the whole week. Yeah, yeah, it's about eight days, eight travel days, because on Saturday we have to go to Atlanta to catch the next plane. Dean: Yeah. Dan: That's either a dog or a monkey. Which do you have there? Dean: That was a dog, my neighbor's. I'm sitting out in my courtyard. That was my neighbor's dog. It's an absolutely beautiful Florida morning today, I mean it is room temperature with a slight breeze. It's just so peaceful out here in my courtyard aside from working out Well. Dan: you're close to the Fountain of Youth. That's exactly right. How many? 100 miles? 100 miles to the north, st Augustine, that's right. That's exactly right. Dean: Yeah, this whole. Just look at. Dan: The De Leon. That's right yeah. Dean: This whole just look at the day. Leon, yeah, I know my I think we're going to look back at this time. You know like what? You are on the leading edge of big advantage of these treatments. You know the things that are available medically, medical science wise to us, and you realize how. I was having a conversation with Charlotte this morning about the I want to layer in you know the benchmarks technologically around the things that we've been talking about in terms of text and pictures and audio and video and seeing them as capabilities where it all started. You know, and it's amazing that really all of it, aside from the printing press with gutenberg, is really less than 150 years old, all of it, because she asked about the benchmarks along the way and if you went from Gutenberg to different evolutions of the press, to the typewriter, to the word processors in personal computing and digital, you know PDFs and all of that stuff and distribution has really only started. You know full scale in 150 years, along with the phonograph in the mid-1800s, the, you know, photography and moving pictures all kind of happened in that one 1850 to 1900 period. You know, but the big change of course, yeah, 1900 to 1950. Dan: Well, you know it's interesting because it's built like the question of what are the tallest mountains on the planet, and the answer is not Mount Everest. The tallest mountains on the planet are the Hawaiian Islands. Dean: Oh, okay. Dan: You know, the big one, the big island, I think the top peak there, Mauna Loa. I think Mauna Loa is a name of it and it's about 30,. Everest is 20, 29,000 and change, but Mauna Loa is around 32,000. Dean: Is that right yeah? Dan: but it's. You know that's an island that goes right down to the ocean floor and I think the same thing with technology is that we look back and we just take it back to sea level. We take technology back but we don't see the massive, you know, the mass amount of growth that was. That was over tens of thousands of years. That was before you could actual changing technology. I think probably have the perception maybe you know 150 or 200 years where we can see changes in technology over a decade. You know it would be a tremendous thing. It's the perception of change that I think has suddenly appeared on the planet. You know, and I think that the big one, there were three right in a row it was steam power, it was electricity and it was internal combustion. You had those three multiplier technologies Steam 18, no 1770s, 17,. You know it was fully developed probably right at the time of the American Revolution 1776. You had really, dependably, certain steam power right around then. You had to have that multiplier. You had to have that multiplier for there to be significant, frequent technological jumps. You had to have this. Before that, it was slavery. It was animals and slavery that got you, and that didn't change. Dean: Yeah, I mean because the steam. That's what really was. The next big revolution in the printing press was the steam powered printing Steam powered presses. Dan: Yeah, steam presses. Dean: That allowed the newspapers to really take off then yeah. Dan: Yeah, it's fascinating. Dean: You know that you have Charlotte in my who knows all of that. Dan: You better explain that, you better explain that. Dean: I think all of our for the new listeners. Well, there may be new people. There may be new people today. Dan: You know, yes, I don't want my reputation. Dean: That's so funny. Well, even that you know having an AI that we have named Charlotte, my chat GPT buddy, to be able to bounce these ideas off and she gets it. I mean, she sees the thing, ideas off and she gets it. I mean, she sees the thing. But you know, it's really what you said about the islands. You know the sea floor right, the bedrock, the level all the way down is where that is. And I think if you look at, even before Gutenberg, the platform that was built on, for there to be movable type, there had to be type, that had to be the alphabet, the alphabet had to be. And it's just amazing when you think about what would have been the distribution method and the agreement that this was the alphabet. This is what this, this is what we're all gonna do and these are the words. Dan: And I'm fascinated by that whole, that whole development, because all that, yeah, yeah, it's really interesting because, as far as we can tell, it's it's roughly about 3 000 years ago. The alphabet eastern mediterranean is basically, but where it really took on that we notice a historical impact is with the Greeks. Their alphabet and ours isn't all that different. I think it's got a few letters different using our set of ABC. It's like 80%, 80%, 85% similarity between that and the. Greek alphabet. And the other thing is did the culture, or did the country, if you will, that? Had it, did they have any other powers? I mean, were they military powers, were they? Maritime powers and the Greeks had it. The Greeks were, they had military power. They had, you know, they were you know they weren't an island, but they had a lot of ports to the Mediterranean. And did they have ideas to go along with the alphabet? Did they have significant, significant ideas? Powerful because they were that's where the spotlight was for new thinking about things at the same time that the alphabet appeared. So they could, you know, they could get this out to a lot of different people and but it's not. It's not very old in terms of time on the planet. Right when you think about the big picture, yeah, yeah, and you could see how the countries that the civilizations, countries, cultures that did not have the alphabet, how they didn't make the same kind of progress. Dean: Yeah, that's. Dan: I mean, it's really and then the Arabic numbering system was huge, where you had zero, you had nine, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and you had zero, and zero made all this. Nothing made all the difference in the world. Nothing made all the difference. Dean: oh, that's funny, I heard a comedian talking about the Greek salad. It was such a. It gave us so much so early. But really all we've gotten in the last few hundred years is the salad, the Greek salad they've kind of been resting on their laurels, you know. Dan: Yeah, don't forget souvlaki. Dean: Oh yes, souvlaki, Exactly. Dan: Souvlaki is a very big contribution to human progress. Dean: Uh-huh and baklava, Baklava yeah. Yes, that's so funny. I had an interesting thought the other day. I was talking with someone about where does this go? You start to see now the proliferation of AI being used in content creation poll. You know 82% of people don't trust any content that's created to be. You know whether it's authentic or whatever, or real compared to. Dan: AI created and yeah, of course I don't trust that poll. Dean: Right, exactly. Dan: None of that. How could you possibly get a poll? Dean: I know. Dan: I mean how you know your hundred closest friends. Dean: I mean, is that what I mean exactly? Dan: I think that whole thing 82 out of my hundred closest friends who's? Got a hundred close. Who's got a hundred closest friends? You know, like that yeah and you know I mean so. It's ridiculous. What we know is that it's pervasive and it's growing. Dean: Yes, that's true, I can tell. Dan: And you know I was really struck by it, like if I go back two years, let's say, you know the spring of 23. Dean: Yeah. Dan: And yeah, and I'm having my connector calls, especially with the raise owners, and you know so maybe there's 15 people on the call two years ago and maybe one of them is one of these lead scouts. He does things technological, you know, it could be Lior Weinstein or Chad Jenkins, like that, or Mike Koenigs might be Mike Koenigs, and of course they're into it and they're into it and they're making very confident predictions about where this is all going, and I go to three weeks ago, when I had two FreeZone podcasts day after each other, tuesday and Wednesday, and there might have been a combined 23 different people. A couple of people appeared twice, so 23 people and every one of them was involved in some way with AI. That had happened over a two-year period and there wasn't any, what I would say, wonder about this. There wasn't any sense. Of you know, this is amazing or anything. They're just talking about it as if it's a normal thing. So fundamental capability has gotten into the entrepreneurial marketplace and is now considered normal. Dean: Yeah, Just the way like yeah. And Wi-Fi is, you know, internet. We take that for granted. Yeah, I worry, though, that I think like, generationally, where does this head? I'm saying that it just seems like a proliferation of intellectual incest is where we're headed with that, that if all the new you know, generative ai are just regurgitating, assembling stuff that already exists, who's creating the new thoughts in there? Dan: you know, well you say you're worried I'm not worried. Dean: I don't, I mean you're not worried, I'm not worried, I'm just, you're like one of those people who says they're curious, but they actually don't care. I don't, I don't really care. You're right, they want to be seen as caring. Dan: You want to be seen as worrying. Dean: Yeah, thanks for calling me out. Dan: You're not worried at all. Dean: Yeah, that's it. I need you to keep me in check. Dan: Actually, you're luxuriating in your inequality. Dean: Yes, exactly Because I know I'm coming up with original ideas. That's right. Well, has it changed at all? No, I think that's the thing. I'm just observing it. I'm really starting to see. I think I mentioned years ago, probably when we first started the Joy of Procrastination podcast I read an article about the tyranny of convenience and I thought that was really interesting. Right, that convenience is kind of an unrated driver of things. We're like on the, you know, at the we're on the exponential curve of convenience now that there's very little need to do anything other than decide that's what you want, you know, and I think, riding on that level, I just see, like, where things are going now, like, if you think about it, the beginning of the 1900s we were, if you wanted to go anywhere, it was with a horse right. And we're at a situation now I've had it my the new tesla self-driving, they've got the full self-driving thing is, I was, I went to meet with Ilko in Vero Beach, which is about an hour and a half away, hour and 15 minutes away, and I pulled out of my driveway not even out of my driveway, I just pulled out of my garage and I said you know, navigate to the restaurant where we were meeting in Vero Beach, and then I, literally, dan, did not touch the wheel as we pulled into the restaurant All the way. The entire drive was done by Tesla and to me. You know, you see now that we're literally one step away from hopping in the backseat and just waking up when you get there, kind of thing. We're inches away from that now because functionally, it's already happening and I have 100% confidence in it. It's you, it's. It's an amazing advancement and I just think about every single thing, like you know, every possible thing that could be done for you is that's where we're moving towards. Do you know, dan Martell? Have you met dan? Dan: no, I heard his name, so he's a really cool guy. Dean: He wrote a book recently called buy back your time, but his, you know, he's made his name with sas companies, he had a sas academy and he's a investor and creates that. But he said the modern, the new modern definition is, you know, instead of software as a service, it's we're moving into success as a service, that it's delivering the result to people, as opposed to the tool that you can use to create the result. And I think that's where we're going with AI more than I don't think people learn how to use the tool as much as people organizing the tool to deliver popular results that people are going to want. And I think that that's really what you know. Electricity, if you go all the way back, like if you think about that's probably on the magnitude of the impact, right, but even way beyond that. But if you think about it, wasn't just electricity, it was what that capability, the capability of electricity, opened up, the possibility for the ability to have constant refrigeration. You know some of the application of that core capability and lighting, and lighting exactly. Dan: Lighting, lighting, yeah. Dean: So I think that's where we're yeah, looking back you know you know. Dan: The thing that strikes me, though, is it all depends on the aspirations of the individual who has these things available and my sense is, I don't see any increase, relatively speaking, in people's aspiration you don't see any increase in people's aspiration. I don't think people are any more ambitious now than when I started coaching, so they have I'll just quote you back a distinction which you made, which I think is an incredibly important distinction the ability, the difference between an ability and a capability. People have enormous capability, exponential capability, but I don't see their abilities getting any better. Right, I agree. Yes. So it doesn't mean that everybody can do anything. Actually only a very small few of people can do anything yeah. And so I think people's ability to be in the gap has gone up exponentially because they're not taking advantage of the capabilities that are there. So they feel actually, as things improve, they're getting worse. That's why the drug addiction is so high. Drug addiction is so high and addiction is so high is that people have a profound sense that, even though the world around them is getting better, they're not. Dean: Yeah, I just thought. As you're saying, all that you know is thinking about that capability and ability. That's a profound distinction. I think so, yeah. Dan: But also the the thing I'll write it down, and I'll write it down and send to you to know that. Dean: I'm serious about it, okay, but the thing people's desire for the things that ability can provide, you know, is I think there's a opportunity there in if you have the capability to, if you have the ability to apply a capability to get somebody a result that they want and value without having to go and develop the ability to create it, I think there's an opportunity there. That's kind of along the lines of that success as a service. Dan: No on an individual basis yes. But nothing's changed between the inequality of certain individuals and other individuals. Dean: Nothing's changed there. No, I think you're right, it's still distribution. Dan: Except that I think people are feeling it's still distribution, Except that the people who I think people are feeling more unequal. Dean: Yeah, yeah, but the ability to and I think AI gives people, you know, the ability to do create content at scale that they wouldn't have the ability to do otherwise. You know, even though it's mediocre, I think that's really the thing we're going to be able to have a, you know, an onslaught of no, I think it magnifies who you are to begin with. Dan: If you're mediocre, I think you get exponential mediocrity I guess. Dean: Thank you, I don't think. Dan: I don't think it takes a poor writer and makes them into a great writer. No, it does not. Dean: That's what I'm saying. Dan: Because they don't have the discernment between what's good writing and bad writing to start with. Well, how would they know when to get the AI back? I mean grammatically, I mean if they're bad at grammar, correct spelling, but that's not meaning, that doesn't have anything to do with meaning. So, yeah, so you know, I'm noticing. I mean I've normalized it already. I mean I put everything through perplexity. I read a whole paragraph and I run it through and then I'll add context to it, I'll add dimensions to it and I think but I'm the one coming up with the prompts, I doing the prompts, it's not prompting. It doesn't prompt me at all right you know, yeah, it doesn't impress me. Till the day I start in the morning, says Dan, while you were sleeping, while you were having, you know, reading and everything else. I've been doing some thinking on your behalf and I've thought this through. Now I'm impressed. Dean: I wonder how far we are away from that. Dan: I mean infinity away, uh-huh right, because that's not what it does. That's what we do. Yeah, yeah. Where do you think the desire comes from? Where do you think the desire because I see it almost as a desire is that we're completely replaceable? Where do you think that desire comes from? Dean: The desire for that people have. I think if you go down to the that technology can completely replace me. Dan: I mean, it seems to me to be an odd aspiration. Dean: I wonder what the I heard. I saw somebody let me see if I get the words right saying that I don't want to. I don't want AI to create art and writing so that I can do the dishes. I want AI to do the dishes and cook so that I can create art and music. Which is so yeah, I mean, when you look at the fundamental things like why does anybody do anything? What drives desire? I think, if you go back to the core thing, like the life that we live right now is so far removed from the life of ancestors. You know, in terms of the daily, you know, if you just look at what even going to Maslow's needs right of the if everybody we want to have a nice house, we want to have a car to drive around in, we want to have food, meals that are plentiful and delicious, and money to do the things that we want to do, but I think that most people would be content with those things. I think it's a very rarefied exception of people that are ambitious beyond their comfort requirements. Like you look at, why does somebody who you know you look at those things that once somebody reaches economic freedom kind of thing or whatever, it's very it's not uncommon that the people who don't need to continue doing stuff continue to do stuff. You know that can, like you're baked in ambition and I think score right if you look at the things that you're beyond, you don't need that at 80. Dan: I like being fully occupied with meaningful work. Dean: Right. Dan: In other words, I like working, I really do like working. Yeah, and there's no difference between the amount of time working at age. I am 80, almost 81. Dean: Yeah. Dan: At age. I am 80, almost 81. And there's no difference between the amount of hours. If you measure me by a day a week, there's no difference in the number of hours that I'm working which qualifies under work. You know it's a focus day kind of work. There's no difference now than when I was 50. How I'm going about it is very different. What I'm surrounded by in terms of other capabilities, other people's capabilities, is very different. I'm surrounded with it by. Technology is very different, okay, but it's still the same. I have sort of a measure of quality. You know that the work is. I like doing the work I'm good at. The work is meaningful. I like doing the work I'm good at. The work is meaningful, I find the work energizing, I find the work rewarding stays exactly the same and that's what I'm always. So when ai comes along, I said does it affect the amount of meaningful work that I do? And so far it hasn't changed anything and it's actually increased it. It's like I would say it. Actually I find and I can just measure it in projects that I'll start and continue work through until the project is completed. It's gone up considerably since I've had perplexity yeah, oh, that's interesting. Dean: So what would you say, like, what are the top few ways that you like? Integrate perplexity to an advantage like that for you, then? Because? Dan: you're basically, you're an observer of what you know and you're thinking about your thinking that hiring with Jeff Madoff and Jeff is working on the part of the book that involves interviews with people in show business and people who really understand the concept of casting rather than hiring, and the people who've built their businesses on a theater approach. So Jeff's doing that and we have our team supporting him. They're setting up the interviews, we're recording the interviews and we're putting them into print form for him. But the interesting thing about it is that I'm just working on the tool part of the book, the four-by-four casting tool, which is actually going to be five chapters. It's actually five chapters of the book Because the entire psychology of having people create their own roles inside your company is the essence of what casting, not hiring, really means is that you're not giving people job descriptions. You're what a completed project looks like, what a completed process looks like and everything else, but how they go about it they create for themselves. They actually create it. So they're not automatons. We're not creating robots here. We're creating people and we want them to be alert, curious, responsive and resourceful. What does? that mean we want things to happen faster, easier, bigger and better. What does that mean? We want them to create projects with a sense of commitment, courage and capability and confidence. So we're laying this out, so it's like a human being's brain manual, basically, as we're putting together that when you're involved in teamwork, what it looks like like. So what I'll do is I'll write a paragraph on my own time, just on word. I write in maybe a hundred word paragraph and what's going to be the context of this, and then I'll immediately go to perplexity and I said now I want you to take the this hundred word paragraph and I want you to come. I want you to divide it into three 50 word paragraphs and stressing these, and have one distinct idea for each paragraph. But I want the meaning of the three paragraphs to integrate with each other and reinforce each other. But there's a distinctly new thought. So I just give it all directions, I press the button and out it comes. So I said okay now looking at the essence of each of the three paragraphs, I'd like you to give each one of them a really great punchy subhead thing. I got my subheads, but I'm really engaged with, I'm sort of in real teamwork. I'm teamwork with this other intelligence and that feels yeah, really terrific, that feels really terrific. Dean: That feels really terrific, that's great. So you're using it to, you're the. You know I heard somebody talk about that the 10, 80, 10 situation where you're the beginning 10% of something, then let it create, expand that, create the 80%, and then you're the final 10 on weaving, yeah, together and except I would have about five, ten, eighty tens for the complete right. Dan: You know, yeah, and, like in perplexity, you just have the ask me line. I'll go through five or six of those and right in the course of producing what I you know, and I end up totally. I'll probably end up with about 200 words and you know it's broken down and some of them are bullet points and some of them are main paragraphs and everything, but I enjoy that. And then at the end I say now rewrite all of this in the concise, factual, axiomatic style of strategic coach Dan Sullivan. Use a maximum of Anglo-Saxon words, a maximum of active passive verbs, everything in the second person singular. You voice Helvetica and then Helvetica, please, Helvetica new standard Helvetica. Dean: New standard Exactly yes so funny, right, yeah I love that. Dan: But here's the thing, the whole question, I think, in all human experience, when you experience something new, how long is it that before amazing becomes normal and expected? Dean: yeah, yeah, and not long, no, not long. Once we get the hang of something, I think what you've had three expectations that's a good way to think about it. Actually, the way you're using it is very that's very useful yeah, and I don't keep my prompts either. Dan: I don't keep my prompts because then I'm becoming a bit of an automaton, right? So every time I start I go through the prompt, you know. And you know, I kind of have it in my head what the prompts are, but I want to see each time. Maybe I'll make a change this time and I don't want to cut myself out from the change, right, yeah, but my sense is that you went back and you could actually observe yourself learning the alphabet, you know first grade for me or learning the numbering system first grade for me. I bet the Dan who's going through this AI experience at 80 isn't much different from the. Dan at six years old, going through learning how to read and write and doing arithmetic. I bet I'm following pretty much the same pattern and that's a capability, that's a yeah, that is a really capability. Dean: Isn't that funny. It's like I remember I still remember like vividly being in kindergarten in january of 1972 and learning that something happened over the Christmas break there that we switched to, we had a new year and now it's not 1971, it's 1972. I remember just. I'm just. It's so funny how that made such an impression on me that now I knew something new. You know this is. Dan: I don't, you know how you just have total unawareness of something. Dean: And then all of a sudden now I know it's 1972, I know my place in time here yeah, yeah, I used to, I, when I was coaching. Dan: You know the first year of strategic coach program and I would talk about how long things took to get a result. You know. Dean: Yeah. Dan: So I said you know you know. I said the big difference that you're going to find being a coach is that you're essentially you're going from a time and effort economy to get a result just getting a result and shortening the amount of time it takes you to get a result. I said that's the big change that's going to take in the program. And I said, for example, I've noticed because I had a lot of really top life insurance agents in the program in the 1970s and 1980s insurance agents in the program in the 1970s and 1980s and they would talk about the big cases. You know the big cases, you know where they would get paid in those days. They get paid $100,000 for life insurance policy and they say you know those big cases, they can take two or three years. You know, take two or three years before them. And I said, actually, I said they were instantaneous. Actually, you got the sale instantaneously. And they said well, what do you mean? No, I put two. No, I said it took two or three years not getting Getting the case was actually instantaneous. It's just that you spend a lot of time not getting the case. What? if you just eliminated the amount of time not getting the case. What if you just eliminated the amount of time not getting the case and just got the case? Then the results would be instantaneous. I think that's really what we're after. Dean: Yes, I agree. I was just talking with somebody about that today. I didn't use those words, but the way you describe it is. You know that people spend a long time talking about realtors in specific. You know that they're getting the listing happens right away, but they do spend a lot of time not getting the listing here. Dan: Yeah, yeah, I remember. First I think it was certainly in the first five years I had a guy from Alberta who was apparently the top residential real estate. You know he was the top agent for the year. He had 240 sales in one year. And people say how does he do that? You can't do that number of presentations in a year, you just can't do that. I said, well, he doesn't do any presentations, he's got trained actors who do presentations. Right, he said a lot of actors spend 90% of their career unemployed. They've got to be waiters or they've got to do this and that. And he just found really great presenters who put on a great theatrical performance and they would do five or six of five or six of them a day, and he had a limousine driver. He had a limousine service that picked them up he would even have the limousine pick up the people to come for the presentation and they said yeah, but look at the cost. I said what cost? what cost indeed, but there you find the divide line between a mediocre person is the cost. He didn't think it was the cost at all. It was just an investment in him not doing presentations. And then he had an accountant who did all the you know he had a trained accountant who did all the. You know the paperwork. Dean: Yes, yeah, I think that's amazing Duplicating. Somebody has the capability to do a presentation, an actor. They're armed with the right script. They have the ability now to further somebody's goal. I meant to mention Dan. You've got a big day in Ohio this weekend. You got Shadur Sanders, went to the Browns in the NFL draft. Dan: I think they've made some bad moves, but I think that one's going to turn out to be one of their good ones. Dean: Yeah, I think so too. Dan: Especially for the coach he's getting. If you're a pocket quarterback, you do Stefanski, you know. I mean, yeah, he's a good coach. Dean: I forget whether are you a Browns or Bengals. Bengals. Cincinnati they're part of the Confederacy. Dan: They're part of the Confederacy, you know we don't yeah. They're a little bit too south. You know Cleveland. Actually, the first game I ever saw was with Jim Brown breaking the rushing record. His rookie year he broke one game rushing record. That was the first year. Dean: I ever saw a game. Dan: Yeah and yeah, yeah. It's in the blood, can't get rid of it. You know everything. Dean: Yeah, but anyway, but I rid of it, you know everything. Dan: Yeah, but anyway. But I think this is. You know we're zeroing in on something neat here. It's not getting anything you want. It's the result you want. How long does it take you to get it? I think that's really the issue. Dean: Yeah, yeah and people are vastly different in terms of the results that they were but I think that there's a difference too, that you mentioned that there's a lot of room for the gap, and I think there's a big gap between people's desires and what they're able to actually achieve. You know that I think people would love to have six-pack abs if they didn't have to go through the work of getting them. You know if there's a bypass to that, if you could just have somebody else do the sit-ups and you get the six-pack. That's what I think that AI and I mean the new, that amplified kind of capability multiplier is, but it requires vision to attach to it. It's almost like the software, yeah. Dan: Yeah, Meaning, making meaning, actually creating meaning. One of my quarterly books was you Are Not a Computer you know where. I just argue against the case that the human brain is just an information processor and therefore machines that can process information faster than human beings, then they're smarter. Dean: And. Dan: I said, if human beings were information processors. Actually I don't think we're very good information processors from the standpoint of accuracy and efficiency. I think we're terrible. Actually, I think we're terrible. We want to change things like repeat this sentence. It's got 10 words in it. We get about two words, seven or eight. We said yeah, I think I'm gonna go change one of the words right, you know very easy see what happens here, and I think what we're looking for is new, interesting combinations of experiences. I think we really like that. I think we like putting things together in a new way that gives us a little, gives us a little jolt of dopamine. Dean: I think that's true. That's like music, you know. It's like every. All the notes have already been created, but yet we still make new songs, some combination of the same eight notes in an octave, you know, yeah I think it would be. Dan: Uh, what was that song for that celine dion's name from the titanic? You know they were. The two lovers were in front of the boat and then yes, the wind blowing them in there. Seeing the sun interesting song the first time you heard it. But you're in a cell by yourself and there it plays every three minutes, 24 hours a day. You'd hang yourself. Dean: Absolutely yeah. Dan: That's the truth. Yeah, what'd you get? What's a pickup from the day. Dean: I like your approach of you know, of using the way you're using perplexity. I think that's a big planting for me to think about over the next week. Here is this using capabilities to create an ability bypass for people that they don't need to have the ability to get the result that they want. You know, because that's kind of the thing, even though people they would have the capability to create a result but they don't have an ability, comes in many different ways. You know, I think that the technical know-how, the creative ability, the executive function, the discipline, the patience, all those things are application things and if we can bypass all of that, I the that kind of blends with this idea of results but it's being in the process of constantly being in the action and the activity of making something faster and easier. Dan: I don't think. I think it's the activity of making things easier and faster, and bigger and better. I think that's what we love. We love that experience of doing that. And once we've done it once, we're not too interested in doing it the next time. Dean: We're looking for something else to do it with, I think who, not how, fits in that way right of doing you see what, you see what you want, and not having that awareness, even your, you know your checklist of can I get this without doing anything? Yeah, you know, or what's the least that I mean and the answer is never. Dan: No, right, almost never. Dean: Never, yes, right. Dan: Yeah, what happens is I identify just the one thing I have to do. I just have to do this one thing. Then the next question is what's the least I can do to get it? And I say this one thing Can I get it faster or easier? Okay, and then the third thing is then who's somebody else who can do that faster, easier thing for you? And then you're on to the next thing. But I think it's a continual activity. It isn't. It's never a being there you know, because then you're in the gap that's right yeah, yeah, anyway, always delightful dan another, uh, one hour of sunday morning well spent. Dean: Yeah, absolutely that's exactly right, always enjoyable. Are we on next week? Dan: yes, I believe yes, we are perfect, all right, okay here, okay, thank you thanks dan bye okay, bye.

Did you know that a simple mistake could make your Maui vacation more stressful and expensive than it needs to be?Whether you're planning your first trip or you've visited before, it's easy to overlook the details that set an average Maui experience apart from a truly memorable one.If you want to avoid common tourist pitfalls, save money, and connect with the island like a local, this episode is for you. Get straightforward advice on travel planning, eating local, and making the most of your time on Maui—all in less than 10 minutes.In this episode, you will:Find out how to handle the Road to Hana without unnecessary stress.Learn which food trucks and local eats are worth your time.Discover proven strategies to save on activities, lodging, and rental cars.Get up-to-date info on what's open in Lahaina and how to be a respectful visitor during recovery.—Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play to make your next Maui trip smoother, more affordable, and memorable for all the right reasons.If you're looking for a travel podcast that delivers practical travel tips and up-to-date advice for your next trip to Hawaii, this episode covers everything you need for a successful Maui adventure. Support local businesses, travel smarter with actionable travel hacks, and experience Hawaiian culture the right way. Whether you're planning to visit Hawaii or just love learning about the Hawaiian Islands, this is your go-to resource for a better Hawaii vacation.

Nathan St Cyr is the co-founder of Howzit Hostels, a fast-growing hospitality brand based in the Hawaiian Islands. Within three years, Howzit Hostels earned the 2024 award for the number one small hostel in North America. With two current locations totaling approximately 140 beds, Nathan and his partner are on a mission to scale to 400 beds in Hawaii and 4,000 beds across North America—all while elevating the hostel experience into a modern, community-focused hospitality model.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here. Key Takeaways Nathan originally trained in multifamily investing but pivoted to hostels after uncovering a major market gap in the U.S. hostel space. Howzit Hostels focuses on elevating the guest experience with boutique design, community engagement, and Instagram-worthy moments. The hostel model allows for multiple revenue levers through room configuration, occupancy flexibility, and curated guest experiences. Their approach targets the Gen Z traveler, who craves connection, shared spaces, and social currency through experiences. Success comes from understanding your avatar, hiring expert operators, and being fully committed to your vision.     Topics From Multifamily to Hospitality Pivot Started with multifamily training, searching for apartment deals in Hawaii. First property search introduced the idea of hostels, which led to a deep dive into the business model. Discovered that hostels offered a more flexible, high-margin opportunity than traditional apartment investing in their market. What Is a Hostel Today? Challenges the outdated U.S. perception of hostels as cheap or dirty backpacker lodging. Focuses on community-based experiences with boutique design, common spaces, guided activities, and both shared and private rooms. Targets modern travelers who value shared experiences over isolation. Creating a Scalable, Passion-Driven Asset Hostels allow room configurations that multiply income potential—such as converting a single hotel room into a shared six-bed space. Hostel occupancy is measured per bed, allowing for higher flexibility and revenue optimization. Deep understanding of their target audience (Gen Z) shapes branding, amenities, and experiences. Mindset, Mentorship, and Execution Emphasizes hiring experts to validate business plans and fill skill gaps, including European hostel consultants and hospitality designers. Stresses the importance of passion, perseverance, and the willingness to go “all in” on your vision. Leverages lessons from a background in sales leadership, focusing on rejection as a temporary obstacle and belief as the driving force.    

For many visitors, Hawaii is more than a dream destination—it's a place of breathtaking beauty, rich traditions, and unique local customs. But without the right preparation, even a well-intentioned trip can result in unintentional disrespect to the islands' environment and culture.If you've ever wondered how to make your trip to Hawaii smoother, more meaningful, and more respectful, this episode is exactly what you need. Learn how to avoid common mistakes, embrace the spirit of aloha, and travel responsibly.

This week's Just the Tip episode will help you choose which Hawaiian island to visit (or in which order!) to best match your travel style and what you want to see and do in Hawaii.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trip Itineraries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Tourists are obnoxious...unless you're one of them. We all want adventure, but every adventure happens in someone else's backyard. Hawai'i knows this better than anyplace. This episode is part two (of a two-part series) about what I learned from my travels in Hawai'i. In it, I ponder, "How can we visit paradise without paving it?" and "What do we owe the places we visit?"

Will your current ID prevent you from boarding your flight to Hawaii next year?The May 7, 2025 deadline is rapidly approaching, and millions of travelers remain unaware that their current driver's license might not get them through TSA checkpoints. This critical change could mean the difference between enjoying your Hawaii vacation and being stranded at the airport.If you're planning a trip to Hawaii after May 2025 or want to make sure your travel documents are always in order, this episode provides essential information you need to know now.

Did you know most visitors to Hawaii miss out on authentic food and music experiences on their Hawaii vacation?For many planning a trip to Hawaii, staying within Waikiki seems convenient, but beyond these tourist spots lies vibrant Hawaiian culture and local businesses across Oahu that embody the true aloha spirit of the Hawaiian Islands.If you've wondered where locals eat and how to experience genuine hospitality on the Hawaiian Islands, this travel podcast is your essential travel hack when you visit Hawaii.Learn how venturing just a short drive from tourist areas transforms your Oahu experience from ordinary to extraordinary.In this episode of Hawaii's Best travel tips series, discover bEASTside Kitchen's inspiring journey from humble tent to beloved local eatery where Hawaiian music legends perform nightly and guests become ohana!

Tourists are obnoxious...unless you're one of them. We all want adventure, but every adventure happens in someone else's backyard. Hawai'i knows this better than anyplace. In this episode what I learned from my travels in Hawai'i about "How can we visit paradise without paving it?" and "What do we owe the places we visit?"

Have you ever wondered why people don't just take boats between the Hawaiian Islands?Well, it turns out the ocean between them is rough, with strong currents and big waves that make boat travel pretty risky.

Did you know that a single travel mistake could cost you time, money, and peace of mind on your Hawaii vacation?For many travelers, Hawaii is a dream destination, but planning your trip the wrong way can lead to unnecessary stress and missed opportunities.If you've ever wondered how to get the most out of your Hawaii trip while avoiding common mistakes, this episode is for you. Learn how to plan smarter, travel safer, and experience the islands like a pro—all in under 10 minutes.In this episode of our travel podcast, we're sharing 10 essential Hawaii travel tips to help you make the most of your time in paradise while saving money, staying safe, and traveling with aloha.

Since the first time Man planted a garden or fought a battle, weather has been vital to success and survival. The weather has famously decided wars. In some cases, weather has been the key factor in the rise and fall of whole Empires. Like many other contemporary real experts, today's guest, Jim Lee, is an independent researcher, in this case, into weather modification.   Why Weather Matters   George Washington avoided surrendering his army in the Battle of Long Island by deceiving the British about his movements and then withdrawing 9,000 men, supplies, and cannons overnight and into the next morning across the East River while a fog miraculously provided cover. If that Providential escape had failed, the War of Independence could have ended.   Napoleon attacked Imperial Russia as winter arrived and was soundly defeated by both poor planning and the vicious cold, decimating the French army, which had over 100,000 men captured, 380,000 dead, and only 27,000 returning to France.   Decades later, despite France's failure in 1812, Hitler's army tried attacking the Soviet Union during World War II and managed to hang on with brutal tactics until winter arrived and the Germans were soundly defeated. Many of the German survivors who managed to make it back to Germany alive were badly disfigured by frostbite, which had claimed noses, eyelids, fingers, and toes. The Germans also murdered over 1 million civilian Soviet Jews during the invasion. The German army troops captured over 5 million Soviet troops and deliberately starved over 3.3 million Soviet prisoners of war in brutal disregard for the established rules of war. Despite the most savage and determined fighting, the weather heavily influenced the failure of the German assault upon the Soviet Union.   Any effective military will invest whatever it can to predict, manage, and manipulate weather systems.   More recently, during the Vietnam War, the US seeded clouds over the Ho Chi Min trail in order to mire down enemy North Vietnamese soldiers from moving South.   Growing Concern About Abuses of Weather Control in the US   Many concerns have arisen that Earth's weather is being manipulated in ways harmful to the citizenry and the economy. The hurricane that hit the Hawaiian Island of Maui and the accompanying firestorm that devastated the town of Lahaina in 2023 with grave loss of life and destruction of the community appeared very suspicious. Hurricane Helene and then Milton chewed up Florida and demolished Southeastern Appalachia communities in North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Have behaved in unusual ways and produced unusual and shockingly high amounts of damage and loss of life. Many citizens have questioned what aspects of the storms may have been “enhanced” or manipulated. The lack of official assistance being provided to survivors of these devastating events has understandably increased suspicion.   The federal government has done nothing to alleviate citizen concerns; instead, it has encouraged censorship through social media. The usual claims of conspiracy theory have been lobbed against anyone raising these questions, but as it turns out, citizens are asking very good questions.   Government Censorship   The federal government censors and curtails information and public discussion on subjects like weather manipulation. For a good review of the state of government censorship in the world today, listen to the Joe Rogan interview with Mike Benz that aired this month. The federal government funds, coordinates, and gives orders to its own branches and federal agencies and to non-government organizations (NGOs), nonprofits, universities, and others to censor and eliminate free speech. There are literally hundreds of thousands of hired individuals manipulating the truth as hired guns through traditional news outlets, social media, university outlets, book publishers, and scientific journals.   Weather Modification, Inc.   The absurdity of these government denials was recently highlighted by a photo of a plane on TikTok with a large corporate logo across its fuselage that said, “Weather Modification, International.” The Weather Modification International website was surprisingly empty, but when I checked the web archive for earlier versions, I found that their website started being stripped of data in early 2020. The 2019 archive offered a more robust introduction to the company. Turns out, Weather Modification Inc. has been operating since its founding in 1961 by two farmers/pilots. As of 2019, the company had grown to almost 40 aircraft and 100 personnel. Here is a screenshot of the 2019 “Who We Are” web page.     Weather Modification, Incorporated has been in business since 1961. Their current website declares:   “When most people look up they see clouds. WE SEE POTENTIAL.” About us: Now, more than ever, the worldwide need for solutions to atmospheric necessities such as water resource management and environmental quality monitoring, is critical. With nearly a half-century of successful programs, our experience speaks for itself.   Let us help you better manage your atmospheric and water resources.   In the archive, Weather Modification Inc. had a very robust and international list of governmental, military, academic, and private clients. The client list for the United States included the US Department of Defense (DOD), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its National Hurricane Center, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, several state cloud seeding or weather modification programs, and more. They also have a number of international government clients.   Our Guest Today, Jim Lee   Despite censorship and other barriers, some intrepid truth-tellers have been collecting and revealing the discovered facts and information concerning both the details of weather manipulation and how it has now been weaponized against U.S. citizens, against all moral and legal limitations.   One of these truth-tellers is today's guest, Jim Lee. He has devoted his work to “separating fact from fiction regarding geoengineering, pollution, privacy, and propaganda in an easy-to-understand way.”   Jim Lee has been gathering and sharing news regarding weather manipulation since 2012. He has gathered and published a collection of historical evidence and news about weather modification that I believe is unmatched anywhere else. His goals are to “enact changes in laws worldwide to bring transparency and accountability for weather modification and geoengineering experiments.” The interview with Jim Lee makes clear that there is nothing conspiratorial about weather modification except the government's attempts to hide it from the public.     His historical Weather Modification History internet collection of thousands of news articles going back more than 100 years is a masterpiece in organization and research. In addition to the screenshots of the media articles, each is linked to the full version of the article, offering an unprecedented review of the history of documented weather management and manipulation.   Lee's accompanying climate viewer maps website is his most remarkable feat, inviting visitors to explore weather issues in depth. His maps are gorgeous.   Jim Lee has directly addressed what he calls the “pseudoscience, fear-porn, clickbait, and the facts” surrounding Helene and Milton. He concludes that proving federal or any other attempts to modify the hurricanes cannot be done but that seeding with chemicals or mechanical devices is possible but there is no data to prove it in this case.   Jim Lee examines in detail on his website why radar or HAARP involvement is impossible, explaining:   First of all, HAARP was not on during either of these storms. If you want to learn more about HAARP and the three ionospheric heaters worldwide, check out my page on Space Weather Modification. You can tell when HAARP is on simply by checking HAM radio or WebSDR and tuning into 2.8 to 10 MHz. It was not.   That leaves NEXRAD Doppler radar, aka WSR-88D. Can a NEXRAD radar alter a hurricane? NO! Why? It's all about the numbers. NEXRAD can produce a peak of 750,000 watts with an average power of around 1300 watts. Let's compare that to a hurricane:   7,000,000,000,000,000 watts or joules/second. 7 quadrillion watts vs 750,000 watts. You do the math.   There is a great deal of old-fashioned weather modifications through seeding and chemtrails (pollution in the sky whether as a byproduct of exhaust or deliberately produced) that have resulted in changing conditions for some of our most fertile and fruitful farmlands turning them from abundant crop producers to wastelands. That alone–the loss of millions of acres of cropland—and the bounty they produce, is alarming enough to warrant our direct attention.   Were the recent hurricanes manipulated by seeding clouds in some way? Lee says, “There isn't evidence.” There are disagreements within the freedom network about this point, but Lee says he and colleagues looked for any airplane traffic, but there was none. So, unless there were undiscovered spy planes with their identifying transponders turned off, there was no manipulation.   There is confirmation of weather modification and manipulation that has now clearly been directed at our own United States citizens and their productivity. Our guest, Jim Lee, tells us about how these practices are used by governments, federal and sometimes state, as well as by private industries. Reasons for manipulating weather vary and include efforts to increase or decrease rainfall and water tables through snow melt and to encourage greater amounts of snow for ski season. Managing rainfall to perfect the growing and harvesting of crops is also attempted.   One of the most serious aspects of climate manipulation is the tolerance shown and lack of measurement of nanoparticles that are spewed into the upper atmosphere by global air traffic.   Listen to us today as we learn so much more about how heavily and capriciously our weather is manipulated, the risks this presents, and what we can do to protect ourselves and our world.   Jim Lee and his marvelous websites can all be found at Connect with ClimateViewer and Weather Modification History. Readers can also connect to Jim through his Substack: The Climate Viewer Report.   ______   Learn more about Dr. Peter Breggin's work: https://breggin.com/   See more from Dr. Breggin's long history of being a reformer in psychiatry: https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control   Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, the how-to manual @ https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/   Get a copy of Dr. Breggin's latest book: WHO ARE THE “THEY” - THESE GLOBAL PREDATORS? WHAT ARE THEIR MOTIVES AND THEIR PLANS FOR US? HOW CAN WE DEFEND AGAINST THEM? Covid-19 and the Global Predators: We are the Prey Get a copy: https://www.wearetheprey.com/   “No other book so comprehensively covers the details of COVID-19 criminal conduct as well as its origins in a network of global predators seeking wealth and power at the expense of human freedom and prosperity, under cover of false public health policies.”   ~ Robert F Kennedy, Jr Author of #1 bestseller The Real Anthony Fauci and Founder, Chairman and Chief Legal Counsel for Children's Health Defense.

Are you making one of these common mistakes visitors unknowingly make in Hawaii?When visiting Hawaii, most travelers want a relaxing, memorable vacation. But without realizing it, many visitors unintentionally make mistakes that frustrate locals, harm relationships, and limit their own experience of Hawaii.

This week, we're honored to welcome Bryan Murphy, creator and host of the popular podcast and social media brand "Hawaii's Best." Growing up in Southern California, Bryan developed an early fascination with the Hawaiian Islands that eventually evolved into something deeper—a calling to share Hawaii's magic with the world.Bryan takes us on a journey through his transformation from casual tourist to passionate advocate for responsible travel to Hawaii. He describes that pivotal moment stepping off the plane for the first time, breathing in the warm Hawaiian air, and feeling an immediate connection that would shape his future.That initial visit sparked what would become a lifelong mission to help others experience Hawaii not just as a destination, but as a way of life centered around the spirit of aloha.In this episode, we explore the profound meaning of aloha beyond its marketing use, the unique character of each Hawaiian island, and how Bryan's media brand has become a bridge between visitors and locals.Join us for a deep and moving conversation about finding purpose through passion, embracing adventure one step at a time, and what it truly means to travel with aloha.

Today we will continue our Sustainable Leaders series and have a Talk Story with Judy Meredith with PRMG Hawaii. Today we will be discussing land loans and how someone can obtain land to build on. A topic of discussion by many who are looking to find that perfect family land larger than the typical 5-10,000 square foot lot, something you can grow food on, live off of, have space away from the hustle bustle and stillafford it. Is this possible many ask and what does it take?Judy is an Expert Loan Officer and PRMG Hawaii Area Manager with a passion for helping clients achieve their financial goals. Serving all Hawaiian Islands and 48 states nationwide, she specializes in Conventional, VA, FHA, USDA,Renovation, and Reverse Mortgage loans as well as Out of the Box specialty transactions. A Board member of the Hawaii Association of Mortgage Brokers and the Veteran's Association of Real Estate Professionals, she also teaches Continuing Education for Realtors and Financial Advisers. She is the author of the column “Equity Matters” and is also known as “ The Mortgage Professor.” She is dedicated to making the home loan process seamless through education and expertise.More Info:FB: @JudyTheMortgageProfessor: https://www.facebook.com/JudyTheMortgageProfessorInstagram: @judythemortgagepro: https://www.instagram.com/judythemortgagepro/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@judythemortgageproEmail:   JMeredith@PRMG.NET ( Direct): 808-222-7903Address:

Today is the feast of Saint Marianne Cope, a woman who served the lepers of the Hawaiian Islands. Father Kubicki shares the humility of this woman who spoke in ways that may astound you.

NOTE: For some reason this episode was "doubled-up" in length. Need to contact tech support. Will upload a "singled" episode in a few hours, and will keep this one up. Sorry for the inconvenience. The CVW Coaches' Panel dives into Week 3 with another FULL week of Men's D1-2 Volleyball news from the Hawaiian Islands to ATX to the East Coast. We are in full effect! Many great non-conference matches on tap with teams rising up early-- like the Cougars of BYU, while others are holding their own like Long Beach St.. While in the MIVA we are seeing a very competitive climate as they grind through early play with certain teams taking down top teams in ATX. With that, we go into our normal recap, banter, players of the week and Week 4 matchups to watch! Somehow, we also dabble in the amount of foreign players on rosters-- which was totally impromptu and could be an entire episode of it's own!

Since the first time Man planted a garden or fought a battle, weather has been vital to success and survival. The weather has famously decided wars. In some cases, weather has been the key factor in the rise and fall of whole Empires. Like many other contemporary real experts, today's guest, Jim Lee, is an independent researcher, in this case, into weather modification.   Why Weather Matters   George Washington avoided surrendering his army in the Battle of Long Island by deceiving the British about his movements and then withdrawing 9,000 men, supplies, and cannons overnight and into the next morning across the East River while a fog miraculously provided cover. If that Providential escape had failed, the War of Independence could have ended.   Napoleon attacked Imperial Russia as winter arrived and was soundly defeated by both poor planning and the vicious cold, decimating the French army, which had over 100,000 men captured, 380,000 dead, and only 27,000 returning to France.   Decades later, despite France's failure in 1812, Hitler's army tried attacking the Soviet Union during World War II and managed to hang on with brutal tactics until winter arrived and the Germans were soundly defeated. Many of the German survivors who managed to make it back to Germany alive were badly disfigured by frostbite, which had claimed noses, eyelids, fingers, and toes. The Germans also murdered over 1 million civilian Soviet Jews during the invasion. The German army troops captured over 5 million Soviet troops and deliberately starved over 3.3 million Soviet prisoners of war in brutal disregard for the established rules of war. Despite the most savage and determined fighting, the weather heavily influenced the failure of the German assault upon the Soviet Union.   Any effective military will invest whatever it can to predict, manage, and manipulate weather systems.   More recently, during the Vietnam War, the US seeded clouds over the Ho Chi Min trail in order to mire down enemy North Vietnamese soldiers from moving South.   Growing Concern About Abuses of Weather Control in the US   Many concerns have arisen that Earth's weather is being manipulated in ways harmful to the citizenry and the economy. The hurricane that hit the Hawaiian Island of Maui and the accompanying firestorm that devastated the town of Lahaina in 2023 with grave loss of life and destruction of the community appeared very suspicious. Hurricane Helene and then Milton chewed up Florida and demolished Southeastern Appalachia communities in North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Have behaved in unusual ways and produced unusual and shockingly high amounts of damage and loss of life. Many citizens have questioned what aspects of the storms may have been “enhanced” or manipulated. The lack of official assistance being provided to survivors of these devastating events has understandably increased suspicion.   The federal government has done nothing to alleviate citizen concerns; instead, it has encouraged censorship through social media. The usual claims of conspiracy theory have been lobbed against anyone raising these questions, but as it turns out, citizens are asking very good questions.   Government Censorship   The federal government censors and curtails information and public discussion on subjects like weather manipulation. For a good review of the state of government censorship in the world today, listen to the Joe Rogan interview with Mike Benz that aired this month. The federal government funds, coordinates, and gives orders to its own branches and federal agencies and to non-government organizations (NGOs), nonprofits, universities, and others to censor and eliminate free speech. There are literally hundreds of thousands of hired individuals manipulating the truth as hired guns through traditional news outlets, social media, university outlets, book publishers, and scientific journals.   Weather Modification, Inc.   The absurdity of these government denials was recently highlighted by a photo of a plane on TikTok with a large corporate logo across its fuselage that said, “Weather Modification, International.” The Weather Modification International website was surprisingly empty, but when I checked the web archive for earlier versions, I found that their website started being stripped of data in early 2020. The 2019 archive offered a more robust introduction to the company. Turns out, Weather Modification Inc. has been operating since its founding in 1961 by two farmers/pilots. As of 2019, the company had grown to almost 40 aircraft and 100 personnel. Here is a screenshot of the 2019 “Who We Are” web page.     Weather Modification, Incorporated has been in business since 1961. Their current website declares:   “When most people look up they see clouds. WE SEE POTENTIAL.” About us: Now, more than ever, the worldwide need for solutions to atmospheric necessities such as water resource management and environmental quality monitoring, is critical. With nearly a half-century of successful programs, our experience speaks for itself.   Let us help you better manage your atmospheric and water resources.   In the archive, Weather Modification Inc. had a very robust and international list of governmental, military, academic, and private clients. The client list for the United States included the US Department of Defense (DOD), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its National Hurricane Center, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, several state cloud seeding or weather modification programs, and more. They also have a number of international government clients.   Our Guest Today, Jim Lee   Despite censorship and other barriers, some intrepid truth-tellers have been collecting and revealing the discovered facts and information concerning both the details of weather manipulation and how it has now been weaponized against U.S. citizens, against all moral and legal limitations.   One of these truth-tellers is today's guest, Jim Lee. He has devoted his work to “separating fact from fiction regarding geoengineering, pollution, privacy, and propaganda in an easy-to-understand way.”   Jim Lee has been gathering and sharing news regarding weather manipulation since 2012. He has gathered and published a collection of historical evidence and news about weather modification that I believe is unmatched anywhere else. His goals are to “enact changes in laws worldwide to bring transparency and accountability for weather modification and geoengineering experiments.” The interview with Jim Lee makes clear that there is nothing conspiratorial about weather modification except the government's attempts to hide it from the public.     His historical Weather Modification History internet collection of thousands of news articles going back more than 100 years is a masterpiece in organization and research. In addition to the screenshots of the media articles, each is linked to the full version of the article, offering an unprecedented review of the history of documented weather management and manipulation.   Lee's accompanying climate viewer maps website is his most remarkable feat, inviting visitors to explore weather issues in depth. His maps are gorgeous.   Jim Lee has directly addressed what he calls the “pseudoscience, fear-porn, clickbait, and the facts” surrounding Helene and Milton. He concludes that proving federal or any other attempts to modify the hurricanes cannot be done but that seeding with chemicals or mechanical devices is possible but there is no data to prove it in this case.   Jim Lee examines in detail on his website why radar or HAARP involvement is impossible, explaining:   First of all, HAARP was not on during either of these storms. If you want to learn more about HAARP and the three ionospheric heaters worldwide, check out my page on Space Weather Modification. You can tell when HAARP is on simply by checking HAM radio or WebSDR and tuning into 2.8 to 10 MHz. It was not.   That leaves NEXRAD Doppler radar, aka WSR-88D. Can a NEXRAD radar alter a hurricane? NO! Why? It's all about the numbers. NEXRAD can produce a peak of 750,000 watts with an average power of around 1300 watts. Let's compare that to a hurricane:   7,000,000,000,000,000 watts or joules/second. 7 quadrillion watts vs 750,000 watts. You do the math.   There is a great deal of old-fashioned weather modifications through seeding and chemtrails (pollution in the sky whether as a byproduct of exhaust or deliberately produced) that have resulted in changing conditions for some of our most fertile and fruitful farmlands turning them from abundant crop producers to wastelands. That alone–the loss of millions of acres of cropland—and the bounty they produce, is alarming enough to warrant our direct attention.   Were the recent hurricanes manipulated by seeding clouds in some way? Lee says, “There isn't evidence.” There are disagreements within the freedom network about this point, but Lee says he and colleagues looked for any airplane traffic, but there was none. So, unless there were undiscovered spy planes with their identifying transponders turned off, there was no manipulation.   There is confirmation of weather modification and manipulation that has now clearly been directed at our own United States citizens and their productivity. Our guest, Jim Lee, tells us about how these practices are used by governments, federal and sometimes state, as well as by private industries. Reasons for manipulating weather vary and include efforts to increase or decrease rainfall and water tables through snow melt and to encourage greater amounts of snow for ski season. Managing rainfall to perfect the growing and harvesting of crops is also attempted.   One of the most serious aspects of climate manipulation is the tolerance shown and lack of measurement of nanoparticles that are spewed into the upper atmosphere by global air traffic.   Listen to us today as we learn so much more about how heavily and capriciously our weather is manipulated, the risks this presents, and what we can do to protect ourselves and our world.   Jim Lee and his marvelous websites can all be found at Connect with ClimateViewer and Weather Modification History. Readers can also connect to Jim through his Substack: The Climate Viewer Report.   ______   Learn more about Dr. Peter Breggin's work: https://breggin.com/   See more from Dr. Breggin's long history of being a reformer in psychiatry: https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control   Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, the how-to manual @ https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/   Get a copy of Dr. Breggin's latest book: WHO ARE THE “THEY” - THESE GLOBAL PREDATORS? WHAT ARE THEIR MOTIVES AND THEIR PLANS FOR US? HOW CAN WE DEFEND AGAINST THEM? Covid-19 and the Global Predators: We are the Prey Get a copy: https://www.wearetheprey.com/   “No other book so comprehensively covers the details of COVID-19 criminal conduct as well as its origins in a network of global predators seeking wealth and power at the expense of human freedom and prosperity, under cover of false public health policies.”   ~ Robert F Kennedy, Jr Author of #1 bestseller The Real Anthony Fauci and Founder, Chairman and Chief Legal Counsel for Children's Health Defense.

EPISODE 482 - Bart Stark - Army Paratrooper, Combat Veteran, Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, NovelistBart Stark is a U.S. Army paratrooper and a combat veteran, who later entered a life of crime as a prosecutor and defense attorney. Now, Bart is beginning the third act of his life as a novelist. After leading a vagabond life which took them across America and Europe, Bart and his wife settled in the highlands of Panama. His favorite pastime is hiking his dogs in the jungle and daydreaming dystopian futures for his characters. Book - Wolves at the GateLieutenant Jim Fraser was in turns eager and terrified. His Bravo Company led the American offensive to liberate Charleston, but would his wife Florie and their twin girls trapped behind German lines survive the coming battle?Consider another Second World War. Due to a twist of history during his youth, Adolf Hitler turns west and out to sea against England and America in alliance with fascist Japan and Italy. After the British Empire falls, the Axis turn on an outnumbered and unprepared United States. Instead of being waged in far off land, total war rages across the Hawaiian Islands and South Carolina, down our streets and into the homes of our families.https://www.bartstarkbooks.com/___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Jello Everybody. Today Jack and the gang take us on their travel log through the Hawaiian Islands.Episode 150 of The Jack Benny Show. The programs originally aired on on November 4, 1934.Please email questions and comments to host@classiccomedyotr.com.Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/classiccomedyotr. Please share this podcast with your friends and family.You can also subscribe to our podcast on Spreaker.com, Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Google podcasts.This show is supported by Spreaker Prime.

PRC INFLUENCE PEDDLING SUCCESS: 3/4: Voyagers: The Settlement of the Pacific by  Nicholas Thomas  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Settlement-Pacific-Nicholas-Thomas/dp/1541619838/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TWNZZ00KO4TU&keywords=NICHOLAS+CLARK+VOYAGERS&qid=1674136652&sprefix=nicholas+clark+voyagers%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1 The islands of Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia stretch across a huge expanse of ocean and encompass a multitude of different peoples. Starting with Captain James Cook, the earliest European explorers to visit the Pacific were astounded and perplexed to find populations thriving thousands of miles from continents. Who were these people? From where did they come? And how were they able to reach islands dispersed over such vast tracts of ocean?  In Voyagers, the distinguished anthropologist Nicholas Thomas charts the course of the seaborne migrations that populated the islands between Asia and the Americas from late prehistory onward. Drawing on the latest research, including insights gained from genetics, linguistics, and archaeology, Thomas provides a dazzling account of these long-distance migrations, the seagoing technologies that enabled them, and the societies they left in their wake. 1815 DEATH OF COOK, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

The rapid rate of extinction observed, especially in places like the Hawaiian Islands, predates modern human impact. This high rate of extinction, with no new species evolving to replace them, suggests that evolution cannot fully account for the diversity of life. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29

The rapid rate of extinction observed, especially in places like the Hawaiian Islands, predates modern human impact. This high rate of extinction, with no new species evolving to replace them, suggests that evolution cannot fully account for the diversity of life. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29

In this episode Katie Taylor, Allison DePesa, and Leanne Sidley discuss each Hawaiian Island and how to decide which is best for you.

Today's expert guests are the owner/operators of Howzit Hostels, a growing brand of hostels based in the Hawaiian Islands. Michael and Nathan discuss their journey beginning with investing in short-term rentals to scaling up to commercial and hospitality properties. They currently own two hostels, one in Maui and the other on the Big Island of Hawaii, with a combined bed count of approximately 140 beds. Within only 3 years of opening, Howzit Hostels won the 2024 award for #1 Small Hostel in North America. Current annual gross revenues from their hostel business are expected to exceed $2.75 million. Their goal is to grow to 400 beds within the Hawaiian Islands and 4,000 beds in North America.Michael and Nathan explain why hostels are not only an excellent investment but a feel-good business that brings people together to share incredible experiences.(00:01:34) STRShare: @the_avian_lakearrowhead(00:02:57) Introducing Mike and Nate of Howzit Hostels(00:16:54) Hostel vs. Short-Term Rental vs. Hotel(00:36:02) What's it Like to Manage a Hostel?(00:47:23) Running the Numbers on Hostel ManagementResources:• Click here for full show notes• Instagram: @howzithostels • Book a Hostel: howzithostels.com • Investment Website: vortexmaui.com • Investment Instgram: @mikeandnate_thehostelguys • Swell Vacation Rentals: swellvacationrentals.com • STRShare: @the_avian_lakearrowhead • Submit your property for our next STRShare at STRShare.com• Video: How to Clean Your Airbnb - A Walkthrough for New Airbnb Hosts • Airbnb Essentials Checklist: hostchecklist.comThanks for Visiting is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Minoan | Visit MinoanExperience.com and tell them TFV sent you!Superhog | Visit superhog.com/thanks-for-visiting and book your FREE demo today!Host Checklist | Grab our Airbnb Essentials Checklist and make stocking your Airbnb a breeze – we've got all your hosting needs covered!Hosting Handbook | Get everything you need to fast track your way to Superhost at thanksforvisiting.com/handbook

On this Thursday episode, Rich sits down with Michael Russel, an owner/operator of Howzit Hostels, a growing brand of hostels based in the Hawaiian Islands.Michael shares his story on how he went from selling timeshares in Maui to controlling his own real estate of two hostels, one in Maui and the other on the Big Island of Hawaii. Rich and Michael speak on what to do with bad reviews, investing in hostels and the benefits of a shared economy. Michael and Rich discuss how taking risks in real estate can lead to unexpected opportunities and significant growth. Michael emphasizes that while risks are real, not seizing opportunities can lead to greater regret. --Connect with Rich on Instagram: @rich_somersInterested in investing with Somers Capital? Visit www.somerscapital.com/invest to learn more.Interested in joining The 7 Figure Creator Mastermind? Visit www.the7figurecreator.com to book a free intro call. Interested in joining our Boutique Hotel Mastermind? Visit www.somerscapital.com/mastermind to book a free call. Interested in STR/Boutique Hotel Management? Visit www.excelsiorstays.com/management to book a free call.