Podcasts about hindu

Yoga is an ancient practice with its roots in Hinduism. It originated over 5,000 years ago in northern India, but for many, has now evolved from a spiritual path into the wellness practice known globally. In the West, millions now do yoga as a form of exercise and wellbeing. It is an industry thought to be worth tens of billions of dollars. But as it has boomed, yoga has been interpreted in new and sometimes controversial ways. What has been dubbed 'Christian yoga' has gained loyal supporters, who say it helps them reconnect body and soul. But not everyone agrees. Some within the Hindu faith argue that Christian yoga risks stripping an ancient practice of its religious roots. Then, there are Christians who say the practice is “not of Jesus”. Megan Lawton meets teachers of Christian yoga and those who don't believe yoga and Christianity can ever be compatible.

Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh's deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. The first of a series of six episodes recorded during the pilgrimage ‘In the Footsteps of the Buddha’, this instalment was made in Varanasi, India, in February 2026. In this opening episode, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach Jo Confino are joined by Dharma teacher Shantum Seth to discuss the importance of understanding the Buddha as a fully human being; a boat journey on the sacred Ganges river at sunrise, from which it was possible to witness cremation and devotion; teachings on death and impermanence as daily practice; the importance of living in the present moment; and much more.The speakers also share personal experiences and reflections on their spiritual journeys, the role played by the community, and the continuation of the Buddha’s teachings through their own lives and practice.About the pilgrimage: In 1988, Shantum Seth was invited by Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) to organize a pilgrimage to the sacred sites associated with the Buddha's life across India. Subsequently, Thay encouraged Shantum to continue guiding such journeys each year, offering pilgrimage itself as a mindfulness practice—one that the Buddha had suggested. Shantum has been leading these transformative journeys ever since, offering people from around the world the opportunity to follow In the Footsteps of the Buddha with awareness and insight. After 15 years at the United Nations, Shantum left to volunteer with the Ahimsa Trust, which represents Thay's work in India and promotes the practice of “peace in oneself and peace in the world”. Through Buddhapath, his expression of Right Livelihood, Shantum continues to guide pilgrimages and share the wisdom and culture of the places he visits in India and across Buddhist Asia, cultivating community through these deeply meaningful journeys.To learn more about upcoming pilgrimages, visit www.buddhapath.com, or follow Shantum on Facebook and Instagram at @eleven_directions. Shantum Seth, an ordained Dharmacharya (Dharma teacher) in the Buddhist Mindfulness lineage of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, teaches in India and across the world. A co-founder of Ahimsa Trust, he has been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings for the past 35 years, and, since 1988, has led pilgrimages and other multi-faith, educational, cultural, spiritual, and transformative journeys across diverse regions of India and Asia. He is actively involved in educational, social, and ecological programmes, including work on cultivating mindfulness in society, including with educators, the Indian Central Reserve Police Force, and the corporate sector. Across various Indian sanghas, Dharmacharya Shantum is the primary teacher of different practices of mindfulness from Thich Nhat Hanh's tradition. List of resources The Way Out Is In: ‘Ancient Path for Modern Times: Active Nonviolence (Episode #70)'https://plumvillage.org/podcast/ancient-path-for-modern-times-active-nonviolence-episode-70 Interbeinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Plum Village Traditionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition ‘The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings'https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Sarnathhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnath Dharadunhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehradun_district Bodh Gayahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodh_Gaya Rajgirhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajgir Old Path White Cloudshttps://www.parallax.org/product/old-path-white-clouds Federico Fellinihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_Fellini Ghathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghat Alara Kalama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80%E1%B8%B7%C4%81ra_K%C4%81l%C4%81ma Jack Kornfieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kornfield Upanishadshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upanishads Sister Chan Khonghttps://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong Bodhi treehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_tree Mokshahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moksha Rishi Joan Halifaxhttps://www.joanhalifax.org/ Daily Contemplations on Impermanence & Interbeinghttps://plumvillage.org/daily-contemplations-on-impermanence-interbeing#the-five-remembrances Sutras: ‘Discourse on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone'https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/discourse-on-knowing-the-better-way-to-live-alone Sutrashttps://plumvillage.org/genre/sutras Leila Sethhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leila_Seth On Balancehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1754796.On_Balance_an_Autobiography Quotes “Every step is a miracle. Every breath is an offering.” “The transformation is both individual and collective – and not just right now; it is something which seeps into our understanding and informs our life. The real journey begins when you get home. When you see your familiar surroundings with these pilgrimage lenses, those are very, very important moments. When you see your familiar surroundings slightly differently, and you see what brings you suffering, what brings you joy, what brings a sense of ease, then you can tweak your life.” “Siddhartha always says, ‘I’m on this path not for power, not for leadership, but to find liberation within us.' And that means we have to be ready to let go of all of the ideology that we have received from our ancestors, not from just us, but from the lineage of our whole ancestors and society.” “We can be free amidst the suffering. We can still find our calm, our peace with every storm that arises, that manifests. We find a way to understand it, to embrace it even, because we see that that storm is a part of us.” “In the Mahaparinirvāṇa Sutta, the Buddha said, ‘Go to the places where I was born, died, where the first teachings were given, where I awakened.' But I think he’s saying, ‘Leave your familiar surroundings and explore, and you’ll find different seeds in your consciousness being touched, which are not touched when you go every day to work or in your familiar surroundings.' And that is the learning of yourself. It’s an interior journey on this exterior part.” “In India, your path to God is through your guru – but in the Buddha Dharma, the guru shows you the path, and you walk it. In the classic example of the Buddha pointing to the moon, he says, ‘Don’t get caught looking at my finger; look at the moon.'” “Somebody once asked Thay, ‘What happens when we die?' He said, ‘I don’t know, but I can tell you what happens when we’re alive.'” “The only ingredient that you have any control about for the future is the present. We can only act in the present. As you know, the past is gone, the future is an idea – but all these situations that arise in our lives, how do we respond appropriately? With ethics, with a sense of calm, with a sense of love, how can we respond appropriately to each situation? Because that is the ingredient for the future.” “The Buddha is saying, ‘Stay open, stay alive. This is the most precious moment. This is a gift. And when we die, we’ll have no control over it.'” “In Indian philosophy, we don't have only yes or no. We say, yes, no, neither yes or no, both yes and no. So it’s the idea that I am the same person, I’m a different person, I’m neither the same or a different person, and both the same person and the different person. That’s the Buddha Dharma’s understanding of continuity, birth and death, and in that we don’t get caught.” “Awakening is a collective awakening.” “The Buddha was teaching us how to be a human being, how to take both the joy and the happiness of being a human being, but also to understand the suffering of a human being, and then take suffering as a noble truth. But it’s a noble truth only because we can transform it – otherwise it’s just plain old suffering. Use suffering as the compost for liberation. Looking at the cause, knowing the path to overcome suffering. And that’s key in Buddha. Otherwise, death is suffering, loss is suffering. The Buddha is saying, ‘Take that and look at it deeply, transform it, and live your life today as if it’s your last moment, your first moment, your present moment, our present moment.'” “Secular in India means different from secular in the West. Secular in India means respecting all religions. It doesn’t mean non-religious. I was brought up in a household like that, where we had Hindu icons, Christian icons, Islamic icons, everything. And we would go to midnight mass or go to a mosque or go to a temple, but we were not religious. It was just respecting people like that. And we had friends from every religion.”

The concept of seeing the world as peo­ple groups is arguably the most significant thought innovation in twentieth century missiology. Yet almost 50 years after the launch of the frontier mission movement, fewer than 4% of global missionaries work among “unreached people groups” (UPGs). In view of multiple and contested mission priorities, why prioritize cross-cultural disciple making among least reached peoples? How can healthcare workers make a difference on the edges of the Kingdom?

Many of the most enduring displays of human artistic greatness have been, in some way, religious.The Egyptian pyramids were constructed to accommodate the needs of a king's soul after his death.The oldest architectural structures still standing today are almost exclusively temples, and archaeologists hypothesize that many ancient cave paintings depict religious scenes and images.As history progressed, towering cathedrals, opulent mosques, and brilliantly ornate Hindu temples were erected and maintained for centuries. Worshipful hymns and poems abound in nearly all religious communities. Sacred texts are transcribed with careful calligraphy and detailed illustrations. Elaborate dances celebrate the supernatural, and massive marble statues are carefully carved to depict the holiest beingsThe beautiful things that humans have made throughout time, have most often been made for a deity.But, in a secularized world, the purpose of art is much more varied. Today, art is most often defined as creative self-expression—there has been a clear shift from creating for a higher power to creating for the rest of humanity.
But, has the absence of spiritual motivation made art worse, or has the decision to tell human stories for a human audience made excellence more attainable?Actor, director, and producer David Henrie is interested in this question. It's one of the reasons he recently took a trip to Italy. This trip was filmed and is now available as a 6 episode documentary series called “Seeking Beauty” in which Henrie engages with some of the most sacred Italian churches and artwork to understand the motivations and beliefs of the artists who created them. Religion Unplugged's Culture Critic Joseph Holmes interviewed Henrie to understand his own faith journey and what he learned from centuries of Italian Catholicism.Seeking Beauty: https://www.ewtn.com/programs/9875-seeking-beauty#davidhenrie #henrie #christianity #catholicism #seekingbeauty #art #expresssion #artist #architecture #cathedral #church #wizardsofwaverlyplace #howimetyourmother

What makes a character so compelling that readers will forgive almost anything about the plot? How do you move beyond vague flaws and generic descriptions to create people who feel pulled from real life? In this solo episode, I share 15 actionable tips for writing deep characters, curated from past interviews on the podcast. In the intro, thoughts from London Book Fair [Instagram reel @jfpennauthor; Publishing Perspectives; Audible; Spotify]; Insights from a 7-figure author business [BookBub]. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community and get articles, discounts, and extra audio and video tutorials on writing craft, author business, and AI tools, at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn This episode has been created from previous episodes of The Creative Penn Podcast, curated by Joanna Penn, as well as chapters from How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book. Links to the individual episodes are included in the transcript below. In this episode: Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' trifecta, how to hook readers on the very first page Define the Dramatic Question: Who is your character when the chips are down? Absolute specificity. Why “she's controlling” isn't good enough Understand the Heroine's Journey, strength through connection, not solo action Use ‘Metaphor Families' to anchor dialogue and give every character a distinctive voice Find the Diagnostic Detail, the moments that prove a character is real Writing pain onto the page without writing memoir Write diverse characters as real people, not stereotypes or plot devices Give your protagonist a morally neutral ‘hero' status. Compelling beats likeable. Build vibrant side characters for series longevity and spin-off potential Use voice as a rhythmic tool Link character and plot until they're inseparable Why discovery writers can write out of order and still build deep character Find the sensory details that make characters live and breathe More help with how to write fiction here, or in my book, How to Write a Novel. Writing Characters: 15 Tips for Writing Deep Character in Your Fiction In today's episode, I'm sharing fifteen tips for writing deep characters, synthesised from some of the most insightful interviews on The Creative Penn Podcast over the past few years, combined with what I've learned across more than forty books of my own. I'll be referencing episodes with Matt Bird, Will Storr, Gail Carriger, Barbara Nickless, and Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. I'll also draw on my own book, How to Write a Novel, which covers these fundamentals in detail. Whether you're writing your first novel or your fiftieth, whether you're a plotter or a discovery writer like me, these tips will help you create characters that readers believe in, care about, and invest in—and keep coming back for more. Let's get into it. 1. Master the ‘Believe, Care, Invest' Trifecta When I spoke with Matt Bird on episode 624, he laid out the three things you need to achieve on the very first page of your book or in the first ten minutes of a film. He calls it “Believe, Care, and Invest.” First, the reader must believe the character is a real person, somehow proving they are not a cardboard imitation of a human being, not just a generic type walking through a generic plot. Second, the reader must care about the character's circumstances. And third, the reader must invest in the character's ability to solve the story's central problem. Matt used The Hunger Games as his primary example, and it's brilliant. On the very first page, we believe Katniss's voice. Suzanne Collins writes in first person with a staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short declarative sentences—that immediately grounds us in a survivalist mentality. We care because Katniss is starving. She's protecting her little sister. And we invest because she is out there bow hunting, which Matt pointed out is one of the most badass things a character can do. She even kills a lynx two pages in and sells the pelt. We invest in her resourcefulness and grit before the plot has even begun. Matt was very clear that this has nothing to do with the character being “likable.” He said his subtitle, Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love, doesn't mean the character has to be a good person. He described “hero” as both gender-neutral and morally neutral. A hero can be totally evil or totally good. What matters is that we believe, care, and invest. He demonstrated this beautifully by breaking down the first ten minutes of WeCrashed, where the characters of Adam and Rebekah Neumann are absolutely not likable, but we are completely hooked. Adam steals his neighbour's Chinese food through a carefully orchestrated con involving an imaginary beer. It's not admirable behaviour, but the tradecraft involved, as Matt put it—using a term from spy movies—makes us invest in him. We see a character trying to solve the big problem of his life, which is that he's poor and wants to be rich, and we want to see if he can pull it off. Actionable step: Go to the first page of your current work in progress. Does it achieve all three? Does the reader believe this is a real person with a distinctive voice? Do they care about the character's circumstances? And do they invest in the character's ability to handle what's coming? If even one of those three is missing, that's your revision priority. 2. Define the Dramatic Question: Who Are They Really? Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, came on episode 490 and gave one of the most powerful frameworks I've ever heard for character-driven fiction. He explained that the human brain evolved language primarily to swap social information—in other words, to gossip. We are wired to monitor other people, to ask the question: who is this person when the chips are down? That's what Will calls the Dramatic Question, and it's what he believes lies at the heart of all compelling storytelling. It's not a question about plot. It's a question about the character's soul. And every scene in your novel should force the character to answer it. His example of Lawrence of Arabia is unforgettable. The Dramatic Question for the entire film is: who are you, Lawrence? Are you ordinary or are you extraordinary? At the beginning, Lawrence is a cocky, rebellious young soldier who believes his rebelliousness makes him superior. Every iconic scene in that three-hour film tests that belief. Sometimes Lawrence acts as though he truly is extraordinary—leading the Arabs into battle, being hailed as a god—and sometimes the world strips him bare and he sees himself as ordinary. Because it's a tragedy, he never overcomes his flaw. He doubles down on his belief that he's extraordinary until he becomes monstrous, culminating in that iconic scene where he lifts a bloody dagger and sees his own reflection with horror. Will also used Jaws to demonstrate how this works in a pure action thriller. Brody's dramatic question is simple: are you going to be old Brody who is terrified of the water, or new Brody who can overcome that fear? Every scene where the shark appears is really asking that question. And the last moment of the film isn't the shark blowing up. It's Brody swimming back through the water, saying he used to be scared of the water and he can't imagine why. Actionable step: Write down the Dramatic Question for your protagonist in a single sentence. Is it “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you brave enough to love again?” or “Will you sacrifice your principles for survival?” If you can't answer this with specificity, your character might still be a sketch rather than a person. 3. Get rid of Vague Flaws, and use Absolute Specificity This was one of Will Storr's most important points. He said that vague thinking about characters is really the enemy. When he teaches workshops and asks writers to describe their character's flaw, most of them say something like “they're very controlling.” And Will's response is: that's not good enough. Everyone is controlling. How are they controlling? What's the specific mechanism? He gave the example of a profile he read of Theresa May during the UK's Brexit chaos. Someone who knew her said that Theresa May's problem was that she always thinks she's the only adult in every room she goes into. Will said that stopped him in his tracks because it's so precise. If you define a character with that level of specificity, you can take them and put them in any genre, any situation—a spaceship, a Victorian drawing room, a school playground—and you will know exactly how they're going to behave. The same applies to Arthur Miller's Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, as Will described it: a man who believes absolutely in capitalistic success and the idea that when you die, you're going to be weighed on a scale, just as God weighs you for sin, but now you're weighed for success. That's not a vague flaw. That's a worldview you can drop into any story and watch it combust. Will made another counterintuitive point that I found really valuable: writers often think that piling on multiple traits will create a complex character, but the opposite is true. Starting with one highly specific flaw and running it through the demands of a relentless plot is what generates complexity. You end up with a far more nuanced, original character than if you'd started with a laundry list of vague attributes. Actionable step: Take your protagonist's flaw and pressure-test it. Is it specific enough that you could place this character in any situation and predict their behaviour? If you're stuck at “she's stubborn” or “he's insecure,” keep pushing. What kind of stubborn? What kind of insecure? Find the diagnostic sentence—the Theresa May level of precision. 4. Understand the Heroine's Journey: Strength Through Connection Gail Carriger came on episode 550 to discuss her nonfiction book, The Heroine's Journey, and it completely reframed how I think about some of my own fiction. Gail explained that the core difference between the Hero's Journey and the Heroine's Journey comes down to how strength and victory are defined. The Hero's Journey is about strength through solo action. The hero must be continually isolated to get stronger. He goes out of civilisation, faces strife alone, and achieves victory through physical prowess and self-actualisation. The Heroine's Journey is the opposite. The heroine achieves her goals by activating a network. She's a delegator, a general. She identifies where she can't do something alone, finds the people who can help, and portions out the work for mutual gain. Gail put it simply: the heroine is very good at asking for help, which our culture tends to devalue but which is actually a powerful form of strength. Crucially, Gail stressed that gender is irrelevant to which journey you're writing. Her go-to examples are striking: the recent Wonder Woman film is practically a beat-for-beat hero's journey—Gilgamesh on screen, as Gail described it. Meanwhile, Harry Potter, both the first book and the series as a whole, is a classic heroine's journey. Harry's power comes from his network—Dumbledore's Army, the Order of the Phoenix, his friendships with Ron and Hermione. He doesn't defeat Voldemort alone. He defeats Voldemort because of love and connection. This distinction has real practical consequences for writers. If you're writing a hero's journey and you hit writer's block, Gail said, the solution is usually to isolate your hero further and pile on more strife. But if you're writing a heroine's journey, the solution is probably to throw a new character into the scene—someone who has advice to offer or a skill the heroine lacks. The actual solutions to writer's block are different depending on which narrative you're writing. As I reflected on my own work, I realised that my ARKANE thriller protagonist, Morgan Sierra, follows a hero's journey—she's a solo operative, a lone wolf like Jack Reacher or James Bond. But my Mapwalker fantasy series follows a heroine's journey, with Sienna and her group of friends working together. I hadn't consciously chosen those paths; the stories led me there. But understanding the framework helps me write more intentionally now. Actionable step: Identify which journey your protagonist is on. Does your character gain strength by being alone (hero) or by building connections (heroine)? This will inform every plot decision you make, from how they face obstacles to how your story ends. 5. Use ‘Metaphor Families' to Anchor Dialogue and Voice One of the most practical techniques Matt Bird shared on episode 624 is the idea of assigning each character a “metaphor family”—a specific well of language that they draw from. This gives each character a distinctive voice that goes beyond accent or dialect. Matt explained how in The Wire, one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, every character has a different metaphor family. What struck him was that Omar, this iconic character, never utters a single curse word in the entire series. His metaphor family is pirate. He talks about parlays, uses language that feels like it belongs in Pirates of the Caribbean, and it creates this incredible ironic counterpoint against his urban setting. It tells us immediately that this is a character who sees himself in a tradition of people that doesn't match his immediate surroundings. Matt also referenced the UK version of The Office, where Gareth works at a paper company but aspires to the military. So all of his language is drawn from a military metaphor family. He doesn't talk about filing and photocopying; he talks about tactics and discipline and being on the front line. This tells us that the character has a life and dreams beyond the immediate scene—and it's the gap between aspiration and reality that makes him both funny and believable. He pointed out that a metaphor family sometimes comes from a character's background, but it's often more interesting when it comes from their aspirations. What does your character want to be? What world do they fantasise about inhabiting? That's where their language should come from. In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a spiritual hermit, but his metaphor family is military. He uses the language of generals and commanders, and that ironic counterpoint is part of what makes him feel so rich. Actionable step: Assign each of your main characters a metaphor family. It could be based on their job, their background, or—more interestingly—their secret aspirations. Then go through your dialogue and make sure each character is consistently drawing from that well of language. If two characters sound the same when you strip away the dialogue tags, this is the fix. 6. Find the Diagnostic Detail: The Diagonal Toast Avoid clichéd character tags—the random scar, the eye patch, the mysterious limp—unless they serve a deep narrative purpose. Matt Bird on episode 624 was very funny about this: he pointed out that Nick Fury, Odin, and eventually Thor all have eye patches in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Eye patches are done, he said. You cannot do eye patches anymore. Instead, look for what I'm calling the “diagonal toast” detail, after a scene Matt described from Captain Marvel. In the film, Captain Marvel is trying to determine whether Nick Fury is who he says he is. She asks him to prove he isn't a shapeshifting alien. Fury shares biographical details—his history, his mother—but then she pushes further and says, name one more thing you couldn't possibly have made up about yourself. And Fury says: if toast is cut diagonally, I can't eat it. Matt said that detail is gold for a writer because it feels pulled from a real life. You can pull it from your own life and gift it to your characters, and the reader can tell it's not manufactured. He gave another example from The Sopranos: Tony Soprano's mother won't answer the phone after dark. The show's creator, David Chase, confirmed on the DVD commentary that this came from his own mother, who genuinely would not answer the phone after dark and couldn't explain why. Matt's practical advice was to keep a journal. Write down the strange, specific things that people do or say. Mine your own life for those hyper-specific details. You just need one per book. In my own writing, I've used this approach. In my ARKANE thrillers, my character Morgan Sierra has always been Angelina Jolie in my mind—specifically Jolie in Lara Croft or Mr and Mrs Smith. And Blake Daniel in my crime thriller series was based on Jesse Williams from Grey's Anatomy. I paste pictures of actors into my Scrivener projects. It helps with visuals, but also with the sense of the character, their energy and physicality. But visual details only take you so far. It's the behavioural quirks—the diagonal toast moments—that make a character feel genuinely alive. That said, physical character tags can work brilliantly when they serve the story. As I discuss in How to Write a Novel, Robert Galbraith's Cormoran Strike is an amputee, and his pain and the physical challenges of his prosthesis are a key part of every story—it's not a cosmetic detail, it's woven into the action and the character's psychology. My character Blake Daniel always wears gloves to cover the scars on his hands, which provides an angle into his wounded past as well as a visual cue for the reader. And of course, Harry Potter's lightning-shaped scar isn't just a mark—it's a direct connection to his nemesis and the mythology of the entire series. The rule of thumb is: if the tag tells us something about the character's interior life or connects to the plot, it's earning its place. If it's just there to make the character visually distinctive, it's probably a crutch. Game of Thrones takes character tags further with the family houses, each with their own mottos and sigils. The Starks say “Winter is coming” and their sigil is a dire wolf. Those aren't just labels—they're worldview made visible. Actionable step: Start a “diagonal toast” notebook. Every time you notice something strange and specific about someone's behaviour—something that feels too real to be made up—write it down. Then gift it to a character who needs more texture. 7. Displace Your Own Trauma into the Work Barbara Nickless shared something deeply personal on episode 732 that fundamentally changed how I think about putting pain onto the page. While starting At First Light, the first book in her Dr. Evan Wilding series, she lost her son to epilepsy—something called SUDEP, Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy. One day he was there, and the next day he was gone. Barbara said that writing helped her cope with the trauma, that doing a deep dive into Old English literature and the Viking Age for the book's research became a lifeline. But here's what's important: she didn't give Dr. Evan Wilding her exact trauma. Evan Wilding is four feet five inches, and Barbara described how he has to walk through a world that won't adjust to him. That's its own form of learning to cope when circumstances are beyond your control. She displaced her genuine grief into the character's different but parallel struggle. When I asked her about the difference between writing for therapy and writing for an audience, she drew on her experience teaching creative writing to veterans through a collaboration between the US Department of Defense and the National Endowment for the Arts. She said she's found that she can pour her heartache into her characters and process it through them, even when writing professionally, and that the genuine emotion is what touches readers. We've all been through our own losses and griefs, so seeing how a character copes can be deeply meaningful. I've always found that putting my own pain onto the page is the most direct way to connect with a reader's soul. My character Morgan Sierra's musings on religion and the supernatural are often my own. Her restlessness, her fascination with the darker edges of faith—those come from me. But her Krav Maga fighting skills and her ability to kill the bad guys are definitely her own. That gap between what's mine and what's hers is where the fiction lives. Barbara also said something on that episode that I wrote down and stuck on my wall. She said the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul. I've been thinking about that ever since. On my own wall, I have “Measure your life by what you create.” Different words, same truth. Actionable step: If you're carrying something heavy—grief, anger, fear, regret—consider how you might displace it into a character's different but emotionally parallel struggle. Don't copy your exact situation; transform it. The emotion will be genuine, and the reader will feel it. 8. Write Diverse Characters as Real People When I spoke with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673—Sarah is Choctaw and a historical fiction author honoured by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian—she offered a perspective that every fiction writer needs to hear. The key message was to move away from stereotypes. Don't write your American Indian character as the “Wise Guide” who exists solely to dispense mystic wisdom to the white protagonist. Don't limit diverse characters to historical settings, as though they only exist in the past. Place them in normal, contemporary roles. Your spaceship captain, your forensic scientist, your small-town baker—any of them can be American Indian, or Nigerian, or Japanese, and their heritage should be a lived-in part of their identity, not the sole reason they exist in the story. I write international thrillers and dark fantasy, and my fiction is populated with characters from all over the world. I have a multi-cultural family and I've lived in many places and travelled widely, so I've met, worked with, and had relationships with people from different cultures. I find story ideas through travel, and if I set my books in a certain place, then the story is naturally populated with the people who live there. As I discuss in my book, How to Write a Novel, the world is a diverse place, so your fiction needs to be populated with all kinds of people. If I only populated my fiction with characters like me, they would be boring novels. There are many dimensions of difference—race, nationality, sex, age, body type, ability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, class, culture, education level—and even then, don't assume that similar types of people think the same way. Some authors worry they will make mistakes. We live in a time of outrage, and some authors have been criticised for writing outside their own experience. So is it too dangerous to try? Of course not. The media amplifies outliers, and most authors include diverse characters in every book without causing offence because they work hard to get it right. It's about awareness, research, and intent. Actionable step: Audit the cast of your current work in progress. Have you written a mono-cultural perspective for all of them? If so, consider who could bring a different background, perspective, or set of cultural specifics to the story. Not as a token addition, but as a real person with a real life. 9. Respect Tribal and Cultural Specificity Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer on episode 673 was emphatic about one thing: never treat diverse groups as monolithic. If you're writing a Native American character, you must research the specific nation. Choctaw is not Navajo, just as British is not French. Sarah described the distinct cultural markers of the Choctaw people—the diamond pattern you'll see on traditional shirts and dresses, which represents the diamondback rattlesnake. They have distinct dances and songs. She said that if she saw someone in traditional dress at a distance, she would know whether they were Choctaw based on what they were wearing. She encouraged writers who want to write specifically about a nation to get to know those people. Go to events, go to a powwow, learn about the individual culture. She noted that a big misconception is that American Indians exist only in the past—she stressed that they are still here, still living their cultures, and fiction should reflect that present reality. I took a similar approach when writing Destroyer of Worlds, which is set mostly in India. I read books about Hindu myth, watched documentaries about the sadhus, and had one of my Indian readers from Mumbai check my cultural references. For Risen Gods, set in New Zealand with a young Maori protagonist, I studied books about Maori mythology and fiction by Maori authors, and had a male Maori reader check for cultural issues. Research is simply an act of empathy. The practical takeaway is this: if you're going to include a character from a specific cultural background, do the work. Use specific cultural details rather than generic signifiers. Sarah talked about how even she fell into stereotypes when she was first writing, until her mother pointed them out. If someone from within a culture can fall into those traps, the rest of us certainly can. Do the research, try your best, ask for help, and apologise if you need to. Actionable step: If you're writing a character from a specific culture, identify three to five sensory or behavioural details that are particular to that culture—not the generic version, but the real, researched, lived-in version. Consider hiring a sensitivity reader from that community to check your work. 10. Give Your Protagonist a Morally Neutral ‘Hero' Status Matt Bird was clear about this on episode 624: the word “hero” simply means the protagonist, the person we follow through the story. It's a functional role, not a moral label. We don't have to like them. We don't even have to root for their goals in a moral sense. We just have to find them compelling enough to invest our attention in their problem-solving. Think of Succession, where every member of the Roy family is varying degrees of awful, and yet the show was utterly compelling. Or WeCrashed, where Adam Neumann is a narcissistic con artist, but we can't look away because he's trying to solve the enormous problem of building an empire from nothing, and the tradecraft he employs is fascinating. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, readers must want to spend time with your characters. They don't have to be lovable or even likable—that will depend on your genre and story choices—but they have to be captivating enough that we want to spend time with them. A character who is trying to solve a massive problem will naturally draw investment from the audience, even if we wouldn't want to have tea with them. Will Storr extended this idea by pointing out that the audience will actually root for a character to solve their problem even if the audience doesn't actually want the character's goal to be achieved in the real world. We don't really want more billionaires, but we invested in Adam Neumann's rise because that was the problem the story posed, and our brains are wired to invest in problem-solving. This connects to something deeper: what does your character want, and why? As I explore in How to Write a Novel, desire operates on multiple levels. Take a character like Phil, who joins the military during wartime. On the surface, she wants to serve her country. But she also wants to escape her dead-end town and learn new skills. Deeper still, her father and grandfather served, and by joining up, she hopes to finally earn their respect. And perhaps deepest of all, her father died on a mission under mysterious circumstances, and she wants to find out what happened from the inside. That layering of motivation is what turns a flat character into a three-dimensional one. The audience doesn't need to be told all of this explicitly. It can emerge through action, dialogue, and the choices the character makes under pressure. But you, the writer, need to know it. You need to know what your character really wants deep down, because that desire—more than any external plot device—is what drives the story forward. And your antagonist needs the same depth. They also want something, often diametrically opposed to your protagonist, and they need a reason that makes sense to them. In my ARKANE thriller Tree of Life, my antagonist is the heiress of a Brazilian mining empire who wants to restore the Earth to its original state to atone for the destruction caused by her father's company. She's part of a radical ecological group who believe the only way to restore Nature is to end all human life. It's extreme, but in an era of climate change, it's a motivation readers can understand—even if they disagree with the solution. Actionable step: If you're struggling to make a morally grey character work, make sure their problem is big enough and their methods are specific and interesting enough that we invest in the how, even if we're ambivalent about the what. 11. Build Vibrant Side Characters Gail Carriger made a point on episode 550 that was equal parts craft advice and business strategy. In a Heroine's Journey model, side characters aren't just fodder to be killed off to motivate the hero. They form a network. And because you don't have to kill them—unlike in a hero's journey, where allies are often betrayed or removed so the hero can be further isolated—you can pick up those side characters and give them their own books. Gail said this creates a really voracious reader base. You write one series with vivid side characters, and then readers fall in love with those side characters and want their stories. So you write spin-offs. The romance genre does this brilliantly—think of the Bridgerton books, where each sibling gets their own novel. The side character in one book becomes the protagonist in the next. Barbara Nickless experienced this firsthand with her Dr. Evan Wilding series. She has River Wilding, Evan's adventurous brother, and Diana, the axe-throwing research assistant, and her editor has already expressed interest in a spin-off series with those characters. Barbara described creating characters she wants to spend time with, or characters who give her nightmares but also intrigue her. That's the dual test: are they interesting enough for you to write, and interesting enough for readers to demand more? As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, characters that span series can deepen the reader's relationship with them as you expand their backstory into new plots. Readers will remember the character more than the plot or the book title, and look forward to the next instalment because they want more time with those people. British crime author Angela Marsons described it as readers feeling like returning to her characters is like putting on a pair of old slippers. Actionable step: Look at your supporting cast. Is there a side character who is vivid enough to carry their own story? If not, what could you add—a specific hobby, a distinct voice, a compelling backstory—that would make readers want more of them? 12. Use Voice as a Rhythmic Tool Voice is one of the most important elements of novel writing, and Matt Bird helped me think about it in a technical, mechanical way that I found really useful. He pointed out that the ratio of periods to commas defines a character's internal reality. A staccato rhythm—lots of periods, short sentences—suggests a character who is certain, grounded, or perhaps survivalist and traumatised. Katniss in The Hunger Games has a period-heavy voice. She's in survival mode. She doesn't have time for complexity or qualification. A flowing, comma-heavy style suggests someone more academic, more nuanced, or possibly more scattered and manipulative. The character who qualifies everything, who adds sub-clauses and digressions, is a different kind of person from the character who speaks in declarations. This is something you can actually measure. Pull up a passage of your character's dialogue or internal monologue and count the periods versus the commas. If the rhythm doesn't match who the character is supposed to be, you've found a mismatch you can fix. Sentence length is the heartbeat of your character's persona. And voice extends beyond rhythm to the words themselves. As I discussed in the metaphor families tip, each character should draw from a distinctive well of language. But voice also encompasses their relationship to silence. Some characters talk around the thing they mean; others say it straight. Some are self-deprecating; others are blunt to the point of rudeness. All of these choices are character choices, not just style choices. I find it useful to read my dialogue aloud—and not just to check for naturalness, but to hear whether each character sounds distinct. If you could swap dialogue lines between two characters and nobody would notice, you have a voice problem. One practical test: cover the dialogue tags and see if you can tell who's speaking from the words alone. Actionable step: Choose a key passage from your protagonist's point of view and read it aloud. Does the rhythm match the character? A soldier under fire should not sound like a philosophy professor at a wine tasting. Adjust the ratio of periods to commas until the voice feels right. 13. Link Character and Plot Until They're Inseparable Will Storr made the case on episode 490 that the number one problem he sees in the writing he encounters—in workshops, in submissions, even in published books—is that the characters and the plots are unconnected. There's a story happening, and there are people in it, but the story isn't a product of who those people are. He said a story should be like life. In our lives, the plots are intimately connected to who we are as characters. The goals we pursue, the obstacles we face, the same problems that keep recurring—these are products of our personalities, our flaws, our specific ways of being in the world. His framework is that your plot should be designed specifically to plot against your character. You've got a character with a particular flaw; the plot exists to test that flaw over and over until the character either transforms or doubles down and explodes. Jaws is the perfect example. Brody is afraid of water. A shark shows up in the coastal town he's responsible for protecting. The entire plot is engineered to force him to confront the one thing he cannot face. Will pointed out that the whole plot of Jaws is structured around Brody's flaw. It begins with the shark arriving, the midpoint is when Brody finally gets the courage to go into the water, and the very final scene isn't the shark blowing up—it's Brody swimming back through the water. Even a film that's ninety-eight percent action is, at its core, structured around a character with a character flaw. This is the standard I aspire to in my own work, even in my action-heavy thrillers. The external plot should be a mirror of the internal struggle. When those two are aligned, the story becomes irresistible. Will also made an important point about series fiction, which is where most commercial authors live. I asked him how this works when your character can't be transformed at the end of every book because there has to be a next book. His answer was elegant: you don't cure them. Episodic TV characters like Fleabag or David Brent or Basil Fawlty never truly change—and the fact that they don't change is actually the source of the comedy. But every episode throws a new story event at them that tests and exposes their flaw. You just keep throwing story events at them again and again. That's a soap opera, a sitcom, and a book series. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, character flaws are aspects of personality that affect the person so much that facing and overcoming them becomes central to the plot. In Jaws, the protagonist Brody is afraid of the water, but he has to overcome that flaw to destroy the killer shark and save the town. But remember, your characters should feel like real people, so never define them purely by their flaws. The character addicted to painkillers might also be a brilliant and successful female lawyer who gets up at four in the morning to work out at the gym, likes eighties music, and volunteers at the local dog shelter at weekends. Character wounds are different from flaws. They're formed from life experience and are part of your character's backstory—traumatic events that happened before the events of your novel but shape the character's reactions in the present. In my ARKANE thrillers, Morgan Sierra's husband Elian died in her arms during a military operation. This happened before the series begins, but her memories of it recur when she faces a firefight, and she struggles to find happiness again for fear of losing someone she loves once more. And then there's the perennial advice: show, don't tell. Most writers have heard this so many times that it's easy to nod and then promptly write scenes that tell rather than show. Basically, you need to reveal your character through action and dialogue, rather than explanation. In my thriller Day of the Vikings, Morgan Sierra fights a Neo-Viking in the halls of the British Museum and brings him down with Krav Maga. That fight scene isn't just about showing action. It opens up questions about her backstory, demonstrates character, and moves the plot forward. Telling would be something like: “Morgan was an expert in Krav Maga.” Showing is the reader discovering it through the scene itself. Actionable step: Look at the main plot events of your novel. For each major turning point, ask: does this scene specifically test my protagonist's flaw? If not, can you redesign the scene so that it does? The tighter the connection between character and plot, the more powerful the story. 14. The ‘Maestra' Approach: Write Out of Order If you're a discovery writer like me, you may feel like the deep character work I've been describing sounds more suited to plotters. But Barbara Nickless gave me a beautiful metaphor on episode 732 that reframes it entirely. Barbara described her evolving writing process as being like a maestra standing in front of an orchestra. Sometimes you bring in the horns—a certain theme—and sometimes you bring in the strings—a certain character—and sometimes you turn to the soloist. It's a more organic and jumping-around process than linear writing, and Barbara said she's only recently given herself permission to work this way. When I told her that I use Scrivener to write in scenes out of order and then drag and drop them into a structure later, she was genuinely intrigued. And this is how I've always worked. I'll see the story in my mind like a movie trailer—flashes of the big emotional scenes, the pivotal confrontations, the moments of revelation—and I write those first. I don't know how they hang together until quite late in the process. Then I'll move scenes around, print the whole thing out, and figure out the connective tissue. The point is that discovery writers can absolutely build deep characters. Sometimes writing the big emotional scenes first is how you discover who the character is before you fill in the rest. You don't need a twenty-page character worksheet or a 200-page outline like Jeffery Deaver. You need to be willing to follow the character into the unknown and trust that the structure will emerge. As Barbara said, she writes to know what she's thinking. That's the discovery writer's credo. And I would add: I write to know who my characters are. Actionable step: If you're stuck on your current chapter, skip it. Write the scene that's burning in your imagination, even if it's from the middle or the end. That scene might be the key to unlocking who your character really is. 15. Use Research to Help with Empathy Research shouldn't just be about factual accuracy—it's a tool for finding the sensory details that create empathy. Barbara Nickless described research as almost an excuse to explore things that fascinate her, and I feel exactly the same way. I would go so far as to say that writing is an excuse for me to explore the things that interest me. Barbara and I both travel for our stories. For her Dr. Evan Wilding books, she did deep research into Old English literature and the Viking Age. For my thriller End of Days, I transcribed hours of video from Appalachian snake-handling churches on YouTube to understand the worldview of the worshippers, because my antagonist was brought up in that tradition. I couldn't just make that up. I had to hear their language, feel their conviction, understand why they would hold venomous serpents as an act of faith. Barbara also mentioned getting to Israel and the West Bank for research, and I've been to both places too. Finding that one specific sensory detail—the smell of a particular location, the specific way an expert handles a tool, the sound of a particular kind of music—makes the character's life feel lived-in. It's the difference between a character who is described as living in a place and a character who inhabits it. As I wrote in How to Write a Novel, don't write what you know. Write what you want to learn about. I love research. It's part of why I'm an author in the first place. I take any excuse to dive into a world different from my own. Research using books, films, podcasts, and travel, and focus particularly on sources produced by people from the worldview you want to understand. Actionable step: For your next piece of character research, go beyond reading. Watch a documentary, visit a location, talk to someone who lives the experience. Find one sensory detail—a smell, a sound, a texture—that you couldn't have invented. That detail will make your character feel real. Bonus: Measure Your Life by What You Create In an age of AI and a tsunami of content, your ultimate brand protection is the quality of your human creation. Barbara Nickless said that the act of producing itself is a balm to the soul, and I believe that with every fibre of my being. Don't be afraid to take that step back, like I did with my deadlifting. Take the time to master these deeper craft skills. It might feel like you're slowing down or going backwards by not chasing the latest marketing trend, but it's the only way to step forward into a sustainable, high-quality career. Your characters are your signature. No AI can replicate the specificity of your lived experience, the emotional truth of your displaced trauma, or the sensory details you've gathered from a life of curiosity and travel. Those are yours. Pour them into your characters, and they will resonate for years to come. Actionable Takeaway: Identify the Dramatic Question for your current protagonist. Can you state it in a single sentence with the kind of specificity Will Storr described? Is it as clear as “Are you ordinary or extraordinary?” or “Are you the only adult in the room?” If you can't answer it with that kind of precision, your character might still be a sketch. Give them a diagonal toast moment today. Find the one hyper-specific detail that proves they are not an imitation of life. And then ask yourself: does your plot test your character's flaw in every major scene? If you can align those two things—a precisely defined character and a plot that exists to test them—you will have a story that readers cannot put down. References and Deep Dives The episodes I've referenced today are all available with full transcripts at TheCreativePenn.com: Episode 732 — Facing Fears, and Writing Unique Characters with Barbara Nickless Episode 673 — Writing Choctaw Characters and Diversity in Fiction with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer Episode 624 — Writing Characters with Matt Bird Episode 550 — The Heroine's Journey with Gail Carriger Episode 490 — How Character Flaws Shape Story with Will Storr Books mentioned: The Secrets of Character: Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love by Matt Bird The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book by Joanna Penn You can find all my books for authors at CreativePennBooks.com and my fiction and memoir at JFPennBooks.com Happy writing! How was this episode created? This episode was initiated created by NotebookLM based on YouTube videos of the episodes linked above from YouTube/TheCreativePenn, plus my text chapters on character from How to Write a Novel. NotebookLM created a blog post from the material and then I expanded it and fact checked it with Claude.ai 4.6 Opus, and then I used my voice clone at ElevenLabs to narrate it. The post Writing Characters: 15 Actionable Tips For Writing Deep Character first appeared on The Creative Penn.

In this inspiring podcast, Nirjan Adhikari, founder of Yagyashala Nepal and a leading Bhajan Concert organizer, shares his powerful journey from being a theist to organizing impactful Bhajan Concert Nepal events. He opens up about his spiritual transformation, the intention behind starting Yagyashala Nepal, and how Bhajan healing power can change one's state of mind. The conversation dives deep into Banaras spirituality and the unique perspective of Varanasi death rituals, exploring why Banaras celebrates death rather than mourning it. Nirjan explains the religious and spiritual significance of the city and how that experience shaped his vision for Nepal spiritual culture and devotional initiatives. We also explore the full process of Bhajan concert preparation, organizing spiritual events, selecting artists for Bhajan programs, and promoting Hindu devotional music gatherings. Nirjan discusses hosting events at Pashupatinath Bhajan venues, managing monthly Bhajan programs, and the challenges of sustaining Nepal religious events. The podcast highlights spiritual tourism Nepal, bringing foreigners to Nepal concerts, and expanding devotional music platforms beyond the valley. If you're interested in Hindu spiritual journey stories, devotional music podcast content, or the rise of Bhajan events in Nepal, this episode offers deep insight and inspiration. GET CONNECTED WITH Nirjan Adhikari: LinkedIn - https://np.linkedin.com/in/nirjan-adhikari-020626117 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nirjan.adhikari.90/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jesson.adh/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bhajansanjh/following/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yagyashalanepal/

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is an Episcopal church and more, says its Dean. "I have Jewish, Hindu, Muslim friends who pray here, because it feels like a holy place." My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations, said Jesus, quoting Isaiah, quoting God. Music: Daniel Ficarri.

Today's readings.. (Leviticus 21), (Psalm 120-124), (Luke 4)Psalm 121 today begins with a question – and sometimes this is not recognised.   The Psalmist is lifting up his eyes to the hills and asking, “from where does my help come?”   Does it come from the hills, the high places?     The pagan people around and all too often the Jewish people were attracted to do the same, they looked to high places where they felt they would be nearer where their God's dwelt.  When travelling in India one frequently sees hill tops crowned with Hindu temples.The 2nd verse answers the question, stating, “My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.”  That is just as true today!  But what sort of help can seekers expect?  Well this Psalm is the second of 5 short Psalms to be read today which are called ‘A SONG OF ASCENTS'      Among the Jews these, and the ten Psalms which follow, are generally understood to be the songs that were sung as they went up to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple.  In some cases they would be coming from distant lands – remember the man from Ethiopia that Philip was sent by the Spirit to meet?  “he had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning” [Acts 8 v.27]. Recall Isaiah's vision!  “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains … and many people shall come and say, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD” [Isaiah 2 v.2,3] So what did the pilgrims going up to Jerusalem sing about?  Do these Psalms foreshadow our going up to Jerusalem in the future?  The first one (120) is, “In my distress I cried to the LORD and he answered me.  Deliver me O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue” [v.1,2]   This illustrates the kind of help that was sought – and given – to genuine worshippers of God like David. It also shows the frame of mind of those who do not know God that those going up to Jerusalem leave behind!       Psalm 121 ends, “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore.” The Lord watches over all the ways in which we travel, if we firmly believe our help comes from the Lord.  The verse will find its complete fulfilment when Jesus returns and the kingdom is established – and what a wonderful atmosphere then as we “go up to the mountain of the LORD.”.

It's Thursday, March 12th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Nepal's new government less likely to feature Hindu nationalists Christians in Nepal are cautiously hopeful after recent elections in the Asian country located north of India and which features the Himalayan Mountains including Mount Everest. Youth-led protests toppled the government last year. The new government is poised to feature less Hindu-nationalist parties. Hindu extremists drive most persecution of Christians in Nepal.  One pastor in the country told International Christian Concern, “The [election] results are unexpected. Though the outcome is confusing, we remain hopeful, especially as there appears to be a decline in the influence of pro-Hindu nationalist parties.”  Franklin Graham preached to 90,000 in Lima, Peru Evangelist Franklin Graham shared the Gospel of Christ with over 90,000 people in Lima, Peru over the weekend.  Listen. GRAHAM: “The Bible says, ‘All we, like sheep, have gone astray. Each has turned to his own way.' But man has a problem. That problem is called sin. “Sin is a barrier. It's a wall between you and God, and sin has to be atoned, and the only way is through the shed blood of Jesus, Christ on the cross. “Without Jesus, you have no hope. You cannot save yourself, only the blood of Jesus. “You have a choice tonight.  Jesus said, ‘I'll never leave you nor forsake you.' Will you come to Him tonight?” Thousands responded to the message during the evangelical event. Peru is a predominantly Catholic country. However, the number of Evangelicals has been growing rapidly in the South American country in recent years.  Chile is first country to eliminate leprosy in the Americas Chile recently became the first country in the Americas to officially eliminate leprosy.  The World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization verified the achievement. Chile has not reported any locally acquired cases of the disease for over 30 years.  The World Health Organization noted, “Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease … primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract mucosa, and eyes. If untreated, it can lead to permanent nerve damage, disabilities, and social stigma.” U.S. and Ecuador team up to kick drug cartels out The United States and Ecuador launched joint military operations against drug cartels in the South American country last week.  Over a dozen other Latin American countries also plan to cooperate with the U.S. military against drug smuggling operations. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed these countries during the Shield of Americas Summit in Florida on Saturday. Listen.  HEGSETH: “We don't have to live with communities flooded with drugs or violence or cartels and gangs. We can seal our border, and we have to for our citizens. “We share a hemisphere and geography. We share cultures, Western Christian civilization. We share these things together. We have to have the courage to defend it. We have a Commander-in-Chief in our country who's set that compass heading.” New poll: Don't need to believe in God to be moral Pew Research reports fewer people around the world believe it's necessary to believe in God to be moral. A majority of adults in the United States, Canada, and Europe say it's not necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values. People in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America are much more likely to say belief in God is necessary for morality.  In the U.S., 31% of adults say it's necessary to believe in God to be moral. That's down from 42% in 2014. Wyoming passes Heartbeat bill Wyoming became the latest state to enact a fetal heartbeat law. Republican Governor Mark Gordon signed the Human Heartbeat Act into law on Monday. This makes Wyoming the fifth state to ban abortions on babies at about six weeks of pregnancy.  If a heartbeat is detected, the baby must be protected. Liberty Counsel noted, “The ‘Human Heartbeat Act' bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected. However, it does include exceptions for medical emergencies when the mother's life is in danger, or her health is at risk of serious impairment. The law does not include exceptions for rape or incest.” John Newton, former slave ship captain, wrote “Amazing Grace” And finally, this week is the anniversary of John Newton's conversion.  Newton was a captain of slave ships in his early life. While at sea, a severe storm brought him to his spiritual senses. This led to his conversion on March 10, 1748. Newton went on to marry, become a pastor, and work to end the slave trade. Newton is well known for his hymns. Each week he would write a hymn to a familiar tune. Of his hundreds of hymns, he is especially remembered for “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds!” and “Amazing Grace.” WINTLEY PHIPPS: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see.” That was sung by Wintley Phipps. Newton wrote his own epitaph for his tombstone which says, “Once an infidel … was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.” Reminds me of the Apostle Paul. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”  Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, March 12th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In this episode of That's So Hindu, Dr Indu Viswanathan joins us again for another edition of her Hindu at Heart series of interviews. In this one she explores the inspiring journey of Dr. Anisha Pareddy, a first-generation Hindu American physician, as she shares her childhood memories, spiritual awakening, and how her faith influences her medical career and personal life. Discover insights on Hindu identity in America, the role of gurus, and the integration of spirituality and medicine.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Anisha's Journey02:50 Growing Up Hindu in Carmel, Indiana05:42 Cultural Identity and School Experiences08:52 The Shift to Personal Hinduism12:02 Academic Exploration of Religion15:00 Finding a Guru and Spiritual Growth17:43 Navigating Relationships and Spirituality26:47 Hinduism: Spirituality and Practice29:00 Navigating Relationships and Family Dynamics36:02 The Journey to Becoming a Physician51:31 Embracing Hindu Identity in MedicineKeywordsHindu American, spirituality, medicine, guru, cultural identity, Hinduism in America, cardiology, personal growth, faith, dharma Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Borneo—split between two countries, home to some of the world's oldest rainforests and a vast array of animal and plant life—is back in the news. The island is set to be home to Nusantara, Indonesia's new planned political capital set to, maybe, open in 2028. And the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak—different from the rest of Peninsular Malaysia—are griping for more rights and authority to control its own wealth. Author Olivier Hein tackles the long history of Borneo in his latest book titled, appropriately, Borneo: The History of an Enigma (Hurst, 2025). He tackles Borneo's indigenous communities; the spread of Hindu, Chinese, Muslim and European influence; the rise of the White Rajah; and how Borneo is treated by today's modern nations. A former diplomat with the UN, the OSCE and the UK, Olivier Hein has undertaken postings in Kosovo, Turkmenistan, the USA and France. He is also the author of Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan. He is also a regular contributor to The Chap magazine. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Borneo. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Borneo—split between two countries, home to some of the world's oldest rainforests and a vast array of animal and plant life—is back in the news. The island is set to be home to Nusantara, Indonesia's new planned political capital set to, maybe, open in 2028. And the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak—different from the rest of Peninsular Malaysia—are griping for more rights and authority to control its own wealth. Author Olivier Hein tackles the long history of Borneo in his latest book titled, appropriately, Borneo: The History of an Enigma (Hurst, 2025). He tackles Borneo's indigenous communities; the spread of Hindu, Chinese, Muslim and European influence; the rise of the White Rajah; and how Borneo is treated by today's modern nations. A former diplomat with the UN, the OSCE and the UK, Olivier Hein has undertaken postings in Kosovo, Turkmenistan, the USA and France. He is also the author of Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan. He is also a regular contributor to The Chap magazine. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Borneo. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/native-american-studies

Borneo—split between two countries, home to some of the world's oldest rainforests and a vast array of animal and plant life—is back in the news. The island is set to be home to Nusantara, Indonesia's new planned political capital set to, maybe, open in 2028. And the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak—different from the rest of Peninsular Malaysia—are griping for more rights and authority to control its own wealth. Author Olivier Hein tackles the long history of Borneo in his latest book titled, appropriately, Borneo: The History of an Enigma (Hurst, 2025). He tackles Borneo's indigenous communities; the spread of Hindu, Chinese, Muslim and European influence; the rise of the White Rajah; and how Borneo is treated by today's modern nations. A former diplomat with the UN, the OSCE and the UK, Olivier Hein has undertaken postings in Kosovo, Turkmenistan, the USA and France. He is also the author of Star and Key: The Historical Adventure of Mauritius and Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan. He is also a regular contributor to The Chap magazine. You can find more reviews, excerpts, interviews, and essays at The Asian Review of Books, including its review of Borneo. Follow on Twitter at @BookReviewsAsia. Nicholas Gordon is an editor for a global magazine, and a reviewer for the Asian Review of Books. He can be found on Twitter at @nickrigordon. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies

After taking a long break from the podcast, Rohini Moradi returns with a special surprise episode to celebrate the release of her new book Tapping into the Akasha, out today with Wiser Books. In this intimate conversation, Rohini reflects on the past year of creative transformation—writing, returning to acting, creating music, expanding The Cocktail Camp, and stepping into a new chapter of life. She shares the deeply personal journey that inspired the book: growing up in the only Hindu temple in Iran, traveling through India with her family, arriving in the United States as a refugee, and the spiritual practices that helped her survive unimaginable loss and rebuild herself from the ground up. Rather than offering another system or method to “fix” yourself, Tapping into the Akasha invites readers to untangle the layers of identity we accumulate throughout life and reconnect with the essence that has always been there. This episode includes a special reading from the introduction of the book and a reflection on the deeper truth Rohini discovered through years of meditation and spiritual exploration: The Akasha isn't something outside of us. It's the living memory of existence itself—and we are already inside it. In this episode: • The creative journey that led Rohini back to writing • Growing up in the only Hindu temple in Iran during the revolution • Spiritual practices that helped her endure grief and loss • Why the Akasha is not something to chase, but something to remember • A reading from the introduction of Tapping into the Akasha ✨ Buy the Book Tapping into the Akasha is available now. If this podcast has ever inspired you, supported you, or made you feel less alone, the best way to support the show and Rohini's work is by picking up a copy. This book is an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the deeper intelligence already living within you.

Raja backers run ads for Robin to undercut Juliana. Are you following the cynicism, people? Ben riffs. Amisha Patel and Niketa Brar explain why they're leading an anyone but Raja effort in the March 17 Democratic primary for Senator. The conversation covers corporate Dems, the Hindu right, strategic voting and more. Amisha is former director of Grassroots Collaborative. And Niketa is a political strategist.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discover how Kashi (Varanasi) is governed by divine powers, with Shiva manifesting through the Jyotirlinga and Kaal Bhairav serving as the city's celestial guardian. Contact, follow and support my work - all in one place: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/NamaskarIndia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UPI ID: 9893547492@ptaxisTopic: Indian mythology | Hindu mythology | Hinduism

Episode Description         Sign up to receive this Unreached of the Day podcast sent to you:                       Episode Description         Sign up to receive this Unreached of the Day podcast sent to you:                      https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16429 Dear Friend,             The Batak people of North Sumatra didn't have a written language until 1834. Today, they're one of the largest Christian populations in Indonesia, with over 6 million believers. The transformation happened because someone, a German missionary named Ludwig Nommensen, decided their spiritual poverty was unacceptable. That was 190 years ago. Today, 4,473 people groups are still waiting for their Ludwig Nommensen moment. The People Group Adoption Program launches today, and here's how it works: It meets you where you are. You're not being asked to become a missionary in the field (though if God calls you to that, we'll cheer you on). You're being invited to use your current gifts, prayer, advocacy, networking, research to support those who are already called to go.  

Christ Also Suffered1 Peter 3:18-22Message SlidesWho Are the Sons of God in Genesis 6?- Cook For the bulletin in PDF form, click here. We can be confident in suffering because Christ also suffered. We can be confident in suffering because of Christ's victory. We can be confident in suffering because it is the path to glory.Home Church Questions1. What is an example of a time in your life when you have experienced suffering? Why does suffering often shock us and knock us down?2. One reason we can be confident in God in our suffering is that Christ also suffered (1 Peter 3:18). Why should it encourage us in our suffering to know that Christ also suffered? 3. What are some examples of ways that our suffering is like His suffering? Read 1 Peter 3:18 and highlight some ways Jesus' suffering is different from our suffering? 4. Have you ever considered walking away from the faith because of suffering you have experienced? What encouragement would you give to someone who was wrestling with this?5. While we might not be able to answer all the questions we have about this passage, one clear point is that we should be encouraged in our suffering because of Christ's victory (1 Peter 3:22). Since God is in control in our suffering, we can learn some valuable lessons. What are some lessons God wants us to learn in our suffering? What are some lessons you have learned?6. Another reason we can be confident in our suffering is that it is the path to glory. Christ's suffering led to glory, and we are called to follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). One way we follow Him is by getting baptized (1 Peter 3:21). Share with the group about your baptism experience and your understanding of what it means.7. We experienced communion this past Sunday, and we said baptism and the Lord's Supper are related. What are some similarities between baptism and the Lord's Supper? How should our experience of baptism and the Lord's Supper encourage us when we are suffering? Pray for the Unreached: The Deha in IndiaThe Deha are a small Hindu people group in northern India who speak Hindi as well as their own community language. Traditionally known for weaving winnowing fans, many now sell cloth and work in small trades. They worship Hindu deities such as Kali and rely on their own religious specialists for ceremonies. Though the Bible and gospel resources exist in Hindi, there are no known believers among them. Pray for spiritual openness, growing literacy, and for the Deha to discover lasting hope in Christ.FinancesWeekly Budget 34,615Giving For 02/22 30,796Giving For 03/01 22,132YTD Budget 1,211,538Giving 1,540,050 OVER/(UNDER) 328,512 Fellowship Youth & College Silent Auction | TONIGHT | 4 pm - 6pmJoin us tonight for a fun and meaningful evening as we support our mission trips to Arlington, TX, and the Czech Republic! Don't miss the chance to bid on delicious baked goods, service certificates, gift baskets, overnight stays, and more—all for a great cause. Light refreshments will be provided as you browse and bid. Childcare is available for ages 6 and under by request (contact Shanna at 501-336-0332).New to Fellowship?We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Fellowship Men's Breakfast - March 11 | 6:00 a.m.Join us for a great breakfast, fellowship around the table, and time of prayer with other men from our body. As men, we are called to know, love, and serve God, and this is just one opportunity to gather with other believers to live out that calling. Please RSVP to Michael at 501-339-4222 if you are able to attend. Hope to see you on Wednesday, March 11th! Fellowship 101 - April 12 | 9:00 a.m Whether you've been visiting Fellowship Conway for a few weeks or a few months, we'd love to invite you to take the next step in getting connected. Come hear our heart as a church — who we are, what we do, and why we're passionate about it. It's also a welcoming space to ask questions, meet others, and discover how you might grow and serve alongside us. Please register at fellowshipconway.org/register so we can plan well and keep you updated with reminders or any details about the class. If you have questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to Michael Harrison at mharrison@fellowshipconway.org — we'd love to help you get connected.Fellowship Men's MusterMen's Muster is April 17-19, 2026. Senior Teaching Pastor, Chris Moore, will be our speaker, and the weekend promises to be great for growing spiritually and connecting deeply with other men. Cost is $135 or $85 for a college/High School student. If money is an issue, please check the “contact me” button. We will reach out to see what you are able to pay. Register at fellowshipconway.org/men Holy Week on Hogan StreetPastors from several churches along Hogan Lane have come together to host a special Holy Week gathering, March 30–April 3. Participating pastors include Herschel Richardson of Grace Methodist, Larry White of Woodland Heights, Chase Moser of Cornerstone Bible, Jim Hays of Grace Presbyterian, along with Chris Moore and Ken Wilson from Fellowship Bible Church. You're invited to gather each weekday of Holy Week from 12:00–1:00 pm at Grace Methodist for a brief time of worship, a devotional message from one of the pastors, and a shared meal. Donations will be accepted and directed towards local missions. Crucifixion DinnerYou are invited to join us on Good Friday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. for a meaningful evening of reflection as we remember Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Together, we will share a simple Crucifixion Dinner of broth and bread, setting aside time to consider the depth of His love and the hope made possible through His suffering. Childcare is available for children ages six and under by texting Shanna at 501-336-0332. Please be sure children are fed before being dropped off. Let us gather with grateful hearts as we reflect on the great price that was paid for us.

Prince William visited Cornwall this week to celebrate St Piran's Day and meet with communities affected by Storm Goretti. The Duke of Cornwall got stuck in, making the local delicacies, the famous Cornish pasty, and described one resident as "juicy" (listen for the explanation!). He also spoke to first responders and businesses who were impacted by the storm. And the Princess of Wales participated in a dance class during her first trip to a Hindu temple in Britain. Catherine visited the British-Indian community in Leicester following the Hindu spring festival of Holi. Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers is joined by Jennifer Newton to discuss the Waleses visits, as well as the King's upcoming trip to the United States – and whether Trump's war of words with Starmer could put the trip into jeopardy. Russell also offers Harry both a defence and PR advice following a Channel 4 interview, which brought up Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. You can order Russell Myers' book: lnk.to/WilliamCatherine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hindu festival of Holi has the Unexpected Elements team delving into the science of colour. First up, forget chicken and egg, we bring you a whole new controversy of which came first: colour or colour vision? Then, we learn how a new development in infrared contact lenses could extend our range of vision and help people with colour blindness. We're then joined by marine biologist Roger Hanlon who explains how octopuses are great at changing tones, even though they can't appreciate the colours that they make. Plus, what's orange, cream, 5,000 years old and worryingly resistant to most of our common antibiotics? And why does reading on dark mode leave one listener seeing things? All on this week's Unexpected Elements. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Chhavi Sachdev Producers: Imy Harper, with Ella Hubber and Lucy Davies

(0:00) Intro(0:02) Khutba – Surah Anbiya aur Surah Hajj(0:24) Aitikaf ke Aakhri Ashray ki Tafseer(0:43) Muntakhib Aayaat Surah Anbiya(0:54) Barzakhi Zindagi(1:39) Neend aur Khwab(2:50) Barzakh – Qur'an o Sunnat ki Roshni mein(4:42) Azab-e-Qabar(5:34) Mutawatir Waqiaat(6:19) Shuhada ke Khoon ki Khushbu(6:25) Qabar ki Haqiqat(7:26) Firauon ka Azab(8:23) Firauon ki Lash(9:10) Sone se Pehle Muraqba(11:08) Bayanat aur Maut ka Istehzar(11:24) Muraqba ka Tajruba(11:52) Insani Khudgarzi(12:04) Ghafil Dil(12:28) Mushrikeen ka Zulm(12:52) Ulama ki Baat Ghaur se Sunna(13:44) Takabbur(14:47) Qur'an ko Jadu Kehna(15:16) New Scholars(15:37) Parvezi Firqa(16:10) Taraweeh 20 Rakaat Debate(17:01) Nabi ﷺ par Ilzamat(17:15) Shair Hone ka Ilzam(19:13) Mojiza ki Demand(19:58) Nabi ﷺ ko Tasalli(20:26) Anbiya ka Mard Hona(21:12) Anbiya ka Bashar Hona(21:58) Tauheed aur Nizam-e-Kainat(22:28) Do Sarbarahon ka Nizam(23:11) Allah ki Bartari(23:39) Mufti Sahab ka Dard-e-Dil(24:16) Aetadal ka Usool(25:55) Pani – Zindagi ki Buniyad(26:37) Pani Peene ki Miqdar(27:35) Qur'an se Science(28:06) Solar System(28:25) Maut ka Zaiqa(29:23) Aazmaish aur Haq-Batil(29:58) Nabi ﷺ ka Mazaq(31:03) Ghazwa-e-Badar aur Kuffar ki Lashain(31:19) Azab ki Jaldi(31:44) Allah ki Tasalli(32:50) Hazrat Ibrahim AS ka Waqia(33:20) Baap Dada ka Reference(33:50) Ibrahim AS par Fazal(34:34) Ghair Mumalik ka Shirk(35:19) Pakistan mein Shirk(35:41) Ibrahim AS ka Confidence(36:31) Hindu ko Jawab(37:50) Ghalat Rasam par Tanqeed(38:35) Tauheed ki Gawahi(39:02) But Shikni(39:50) Tauriya(40:06) Qaum ka Faisla(41:04) Qabeeli Support(42:31) Bara But ka Ishara(43:58) Bachon ke Sath Yaadein(45:37) Qaum ka Shock(46:55) Baap Dada ka Deen(47:26) Ibrahim AS ka Jawab(47:43) Mahol Bana Kar Dawat(47:56) Qaum ki Aqal par Afsos(48:52) Aag mein Dalne ka Faisla(49:11) Aag ka Thanda Hona(49:25) Mojiza ke Baad bhi Inkar(49:41) Hazrat Loot AS ki Hijrat(50:00) Ibrahim AS ki Hijrat(50:21) Allah ke Liye Qurbani(50:39) Naya Khandan Banana(52:03) Ibrahim AS ke Khandan ki Shan(52:47) Qaum-e-Loot ki Burai(53:19) Blood Donation Announcement(53:36) Shohar Biwi ka Mizahiya Jumla Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Mat McDermott and Devala Rees delve into the complexities of Hinduism, particularly focusing on the Vedas and their role within various Hindu traditions. They explore the misconceptions surrounding the Vedas, the differences between Vedic and non-Vedic traditions, and the significance of Agamas in Hindu practices. The discussion also touches on the legal definitions of Hinduism as interpreted by the Indian Supreme Court, emphasizing the diversity and fluidity of Hindu identity.TakeawaysThe Vedas are ancient compilations of spiritual teachings and philosophies.Not all Hindus view the Vedas as authoritative; many traditions exist outside of Vedic influence.The Vedas are not a singular source of moral commandments like the Bible in Christianity.Hinduism encompasses over 300 different traditions, each with its own sources of knowledge.Agamas, or tantras, are significant texts that many Hindu traditions follow instead of the Vedas.The Indian Supreme Court's definition of Hinduism is not universally accepted among Hindus.Many Hindus practice spirituality without adhering to the Vedas.The concept of temples in Hinduism originates from Agamic traditions, not Vedic ones.Hindu identity is complex and cannot be reduced to a single definition based on Vedic adherence.The Vedas serve as a historical touchstone but do not dictate the practices of all Hindus.Chapters00:00 Understanding the Vedas: An Introduction09:41 The Role of the Vedas in Hinduism19:54 Diverse Perspectives: Vedic vs. Non-Vedic Traditions29:51 Agamas and Their Significance in Hindu Practices39:44 Legal Definitions and the Supreme Court's PerspectiveKeywordsHinduism, Vedas, Agamas, Hindu traditions, spirituality, non-Vedic, religious practices, Indian culture, philosophy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Refuge: Durgā's Transformation Into the Hindu Great Goddess (SUNY Press, 2025) provides the first comprehensive examination of the Hindu Great Goddess Durgā, one of the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon, who is celebrated annually during the Navarātra festival, a widely observed event across the Hindu world. Drawing on textual, inscriptional, and iconographic evidence, the study traces Durgā's evolution from a minor goddess to her identification as the Mahādevī, or Great Goddess. It presents an alternative chronology for hymnic materials, aligning them more closely with early iconographic depictions and offering new insights into misidentified attributes of the goddess. The work incorporates evidence from beyond South Asia to contextualize external influences on Durgā's persona and her central myths, particularly her defeat of the buffalo demon Mahiṣa. A detailed analysis of the myths in the influential Devī Māhātmya against earlier Purāṇic accounts highlights the text's sophisticated theological approach. Its strategy places Durgā in a transcendent role while asserting her as the supreme deity and ultimate refuge, accessible to both kings and commoners in dire need of her support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Supreme Refuge: Durgā's Transformation Into the Hindu Great Goddess (SUNY Press, 2025) provides the first comprehensive examination of the Hindu Great Goddess Durgā, one of the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon, who is celebrated annually during the Navarātra festival, a widely observed event across the Hindu world. Drawing on textual, inscriptional, and iconographic evidence, the study traces Durgā's evolution from a minor goddess to her identification as the Mahādevī, or Great Goddess. It presents an alternative chronology for hymnic materials, aligning them more closely with early iconographic depictions and offering new insights into misidentified attributes of the goddess. The work incorporates evidence from beyond South Asia to contextualize external influences on Durgā's persona and her central myths, particularly her defeat of the buffalo demon Mahiṣa. A detailed analysis of the myths in the influential Devī Māhātmya against earlier Purāṇic accounts highlights the text's sophisticated theological approach. Its strategy places Durgā in a transcendent role while asserting her as the supreme deity and ultimate refuge, accessible to both kings and commoners in dire need of her support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

The Supreme Refuge: Durgā's Transformation Into the Hindu Great Goddess (SUNY Press, 2025) provides the first comprehensive examination of the Hindu Great Goddess Durgā, one of the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon, who is celebrated annually during the Navarātra festival, a widely observed event across the Hindu world. Drawing on textual, inscriptional, and iconographic evidence, the study traces Durgā's evolution from a minor goddess to her identification as the Mahādevī, or Great Goddess. It presents an alternative chronology for hymnic materials, aligning them more closely with early iconographic depictions and offering new insights into misidentified attributes of the goddess. The work incorporates evidence from beyond South Asia to contextualize external influences on Durgā's persona and her central myths, particularly her defeat of the buffalo demon Mahiṣa. A detailed analysis of the myths in the influential Devī Māhātmya against earlier Purāṇic accounts highlights the text's sophisticated theological approach. Its strategy places Durgā in a transcendent role while asserting her as the supreme deity and ultimate refuge, accessible to both kings and commoners in dire need of her support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

The Supreme Refuge: Durgā's Transformation Into the Hindu Great Goddess (SUNY Press, 2025) provides the first comprehensive examination of the Hindu Great Goddess Durgā, one of the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon, who is celebrated annually during the Navarātra festival, a widely observed event across the Hindu world. Drawing on textual, inscriptional, and iconographic evidence, the study traces Durgā's evolution from a minor goddess to her identification as the Mahādevī, or Great Goddess. It presents an alternative chronology for hymnic materials, aligning them more closely with early iconographic depictions and offering new insights into misidentified attributes of the goddess. The work incorporates evidence from beyond South Asia to contextualize external influences on Durgā's persona and her central myths, particularly her defeat of the buffalo demon Mahiṣa. A detailed analysis of the myths in the influential Devī Māhātmya against earlier Purāṇic accounts highlights the text's sophisticated theological approach. Its strategy places Durgā in a transcendent role while asserting her as the supreme deity and ultimate refuge, accessible to both kings and commoners in dire need of her support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

A quick note before we begin: from tonight, we recite Dua Qunut in Witr. The Shafi'i madhab holds that Qunut in Witr is only in the second half of Ramadan — following the practice established by Sayyidina Umar ibn al-Khattab when he unified the companions behind one imam for Taraweeh and instructed Sayyidina Ubay ibn Ka'ab to lead with Qunut in the final nights. May Allah enter us among those who pray with the imam from beginning to end, and receive the reward of a full night's prayer.The Battle of Badr — ApproachingThe Muslims left Madinah on the 12th of Ramadan. Tonight, in the timeline of history, they would have been settling into the plains of Badr — fasting, outnumbered, about to face something no one had fully planned for.The original aim was to intercept Abu Sufyan's caravan returning from Syria — laden with the wealth the Quraysh had confiscated from the Muslims at the time of Hijrah. Abu Sufyan's scouts, however, found camel droppings containing date pits from the farms of Madinah. He understood: the Muslims are tracking us. He rerouted the caravan and sent the fastest rider back to Makkah with a call for reinforcements — the rider even smeared camel blood on himself for dramatic effect, to ensure the message landed with urgency.Abu Jahl raised 1,300 men. By the time they reached the plains of Badr, the caravan had already escaped via a different route. Three hundred of the Quraysh army turned back — the property was safe, their reason for coming was gone. But Abu Jahl pressed forward with a thousand. This was no longer about a caravan. This was about crushing Islam once and for all.When the Prophet ﷺ chose a campsite on the plains of Badr, one of the companions asked: Ya Rasulullah, is this position based on revelation, or is this your personal judgement? The Prophet ﷺ said: personal judgement. The companion said: in that case, may I suggest we move further, to control the Quraysh's access to the wells?The Prophet ﷺ accepted. He moved the entire army.In that moment — a Prophet, the most beloved of creation, moving his troops based on a suggestion from a companion — is a masterclass in leadership. A good leader takes counsel. A good leader distinguishes between revelation and personal opinion. A good leader is not too proud to be corrected.We continue the story of Badr tomorrow insha'Allah.The Blame Game Has No EndReturning to Surah Al-A'raf — yesterday we saw the people of Jahannam blaming each other as they entered. The followers blamed the leaders. The leaders said: you chose to follow us. Taste what you earned.Now Allah introduces a further dimension: the former and the latter — early generations and those who came after.Think about what this means personally. If someone in your family tree was the first to introduce something harmful — idol worship, a corrupt practice, a tradition that led generations away from Allah — and their descendants followed without question, then when all of them meet in Jahannam, the descendants will turn to the ancestor: you started this. This is your fault. You deserve more.It is a sobering thought. The decisions we make do not end with us.The Reverse Is Also TrueBut the reverse is equally real — and this is where the heart lifts.A thousand years ago, the ancestors of many Muslims sitting in our community tonight were not Muslim. The Malays were Hindu and Buddhist. The Turks were sky-worshipping pagans on the steppe. The Indonesians had their own traditions. And then — somewhere up that family tree — one person made a decision. I am going to be a Muslim.Because of that one decision, generations of descendants were born into Islam. Every salah they prayed, every fast they kept, every act of charity they gave — a portion of that reward travels back up the chain to the one who made the original call.That ancestor has been in his grave for perhaps 700, 800 years. And he is still receiving dividends. Still collecting on that one decision. This is the real passive income. Not a pyramid scheme — a multi-level reward that compounds across generations until Yawmul Qiyamah.And in Jannah, insha'Allah, we will find that ancestor. We will say: thank you. Because of you, I did not have to make the hard choice. I was born Muslim. All I had to do was protect what you gave me.For those among us who did make that hard choice — who came to Islam as adults, who chose this path when no one around them did — your reward carries the same weight. Every person in your lineage who comes after you and remains on this deen is a continuation of your decision. Do not underestimate what you started.Do Not Trivialise Small Good DeedsThis is why we must never dismiss small acts of goodness as insignificant.Teach one child Quran. That child teaches his children. His children teach theirs. How many generations between now and Yawmul Qiyamah? Every one of them who recites the Quran — you carry a portion of that reward. A tiny portion, yes. But multiplied across centuries, across an entire family tree — it becomes something beyond calculation.Whatever good deed you start, its consequences ripple outward in ways you will never live to see. A Muslim thinks in generations, not just in lifetimes. The question is not only: what am I doing today? The question is: what am I starting?The Camel and the Eye of the NeedleFor those who reject the ayat of Allah, who are arrogant against His guidance — la tufattahu lahum abwab al-sama'. The gates of heaven will not be opened for them. Their good deeds will not ascend. The angels carry our deeds up twice daily — at Fajr and Maghrib, which is why these are the great times of morning and evening dhikr, when two shifts of angels overlap and the same act is recorded twice. But for the one who rejects Allah, those deeds remain earthbound. He gets what he intended — praise from people, a legacy among men — and nothing more.Hatim al-Ta'i was the most celebrated generous man in Arab history. His name became a byword for generosity — Arabs still use it today, 1,400 years later. His son asked the Prophet ﷺ about his father's fate. The Prophet ﷺ said: he never gave for Allah's sake. He gave to be known as generous. And Allah gave him exactly that. He is still being praised. His intention was fulfilled in full.You get what you intend for. If you intend for Allah, Allah rewards you. If you intend for people, people reward you. But the gates of heaven remain closed.And if a person who rejects the ayat of Allah still imagines they might enter Jannah — Allah gives us the measure of that hope: try fitting a camel through the eye of a needle first. In Arabic this is the expression for the impossible, the never-happening, the stop-dreaming. It will not happen. Not through arrogance. Not through denial. Not through rejecting the messenger.Tomorrow insha'Allah — the people of Jannah. The Quran always balances: after the warning comes the glad tidings.Following along with the series? Consider a paid subscription to receive a free digital copy of the Surah Al-A'raf Study Guide and Workbook. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit groundeddaily.substack.com/subscribe

In this conversation, Mat McDermott and Devala Rees delve into the complexities of Hinduism, particularly focusing on the Vedas and their role within various Hindu traditions. They explore the misconceptions surrounding the Vedas, the differences between Vedic and non-Vedic traditions, and the significance of Agamas in Hindu practices. The discussion also touches on the legal definitions of Hinduism as interpreted by the Indian Supreme Court, emphasizing the diversity and fluidity of Hindu identity.TakeawaysThe Vedas are ancient compilations of spiritual teachings and philosophies.Not all Hindus view the Vedas as authoritative; many traditions exist outside of Vedic influence.The Vedas are not a singular source of moral commandments like the Bible in Christianity.Hinduism encompasses over 300 different traditions, each with its own sources of knowledge.Agamas, or tantras, are significant texts that many Hindu traditions follow instead of the Vedas.The Indian Supreme Court's definition of Hinduism is not universally accepted among Hindus.Many Hindus practice spirituality without adhering to the Vedas.The concept of temples in Hinduism originates from Agamic traditions, not Vedic ones.Hindu identity is complex and cannot be reduced to a single definition based on Vedic adherence.The Vedas serve as a historical touchstone but do not dictate the practices of all Hindus.Chapters00:00 Understanding the Vedas: An Introduction09:41 The Role of the Vedas in Hinduism19:54 Diverse Perspectives: Vedic vs. Non-Vedic Traditions29:51 Agamas and Their Significance in Hindu Practices39:44 Legal Definitions and the Supreme Court's PerspectiveKeywordsHinduism, Vedas, Agamas, Hindu traditions, spirituality, non-Vedic, religious practices, Indian culture, philosophy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"She had a marvelous time ruining everything" This week, we're doing a Show and Tell episode on one of literature's most enduring narrative structures: the Hero's Journey. We explore three songs through the Hero's Journey lens: Maansi unpacks the cross-generational dual hero's story in "The Last Great American Dynasty" (Folklore, 2020), Jenn applies the framework to "Down Bad" (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024),and Jodi walks us through how "The Life of a Showgirl" (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025) follows every classic beat, from the call to adventure to the triumphant (and pithy) return. Plus: the Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Hindu goddess Kali, The Traitors, and why Jodi thinks the bridge of "The Life of a Showgirl" might be Taylor's greatest bridge of all time.   Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!   aptaylorswift.com   Mentioned in This Episode: The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell The Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien Star Wars (original trilogy) The Last Great American Dynasty (Folklore, 2020) — Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner Down Bad (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024) — Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff The Life of a Showgirl (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025) — Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback & Mathias Bielandt   Episode Highlights 00:36 Welcome and intro — what is the Hero's Journey (the Monomyth)? 17:43 The Last Great American Dynasty: Multiple hero's journeys in one song 31:57 Down Bad: The Hero's Journey when you're sent home against your will 43:56 The Life of a Showgirl: A textbook Hero's Journey   Follow AP Taylor Swift Podcast on Social! TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree → linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro   Email us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com   Affiliate Codes Krowned Krystals — krownedkrystals.com — use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! Libro.fm — Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here: tinyurl.com/aptslibro   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

Let's dive in to Essential Verse 18 of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. In Chapter 5, Verse 22, Shri Krishna explains that sense pleasures are temporary and become the seat of pain. By following the wise, affirming our willpower, and reducing sensory indulgences, we invest in long-term Peace and lasting Joy.➡️ To maximize your experience of this season, we encourage you to request your FREE copy of the Essential Love eBook. Incorporating accessible translations and practical application, the eBook accompanies each episode with additional ways to learn, synthesize, and reflect on key insights.

Have you ever considered your profession as a ministry? Come to this session and hear about the biblical roots of nursing as ministry, your sacred calling to serve, and the importance of paying attention to those divine appointments. We will also talk about finding your passion and being persistent, all while drawing on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Miguel is joined on the podcast by Priyansh, a University of Toronto PhD candidate and new co-host of The End of Sport Podcast. In this episode, Priyansh outlines cricket's spread through British colonialism, elite club patronage, and later mass popularity in India via television and commercialization, noting the earlier prominence of field hockey and persistent class and regional inequalities. Furthermore, Miguel and Priyansh discuss Modi-era Hindu nationalist institutional capture of Indian cricket (BCCI), symbolic nationalism around stadium naming, and cricket's geopolitical implications, including Bangladesh being removed from the T20 World Cup amid tensions and Pakistan's threatened boycott of the India match, later reversed after talks. Priyansh connects this to state-capital consolidation, Indian corporate power in global cricket leagues, India's Olympic ambitions, and revisits C.L.R. James to stress fans' marginalization under capitalist sport.Links:* India-Bangladesh tensions rock cricket, as sport turns diplomatic weapon by Tauseef Ahmad and Sajid Raina/AlJazeera * Bangladesh firm on not playing T20 World Cup in India despite risk of exclusion by ESPNcricinfo  * BCB accuses ICC of double standards over T20 World Cup venue issue by ESPNcricinfo  * How India's politics is reshaping international cricket by Priyansh/360Info * PSL signs record broadcast deal until 2029 by Danyal Rasool/ESPNcricinfo * Donate to the Comrade Brotha Amp Da Truth* RU Spring 2026 Cuban Legal Studies Donation Drive  Miguel Garcia and Comrade E produced this episode. The Sports As A Weapon Podcast is part of the @Anticonquista Media Collective. Subscribe to the ANTICONQUISTA Patreon and follow ANTICONQUISTA on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. All the video episodes are on the ATICONQUISTA YouTube, and listen/subscribe to the Sports As A Weapon Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer, or wherever you get your podcasts.Follow us on:Twitter/X: @sportsasaweaponFacebook: fb.com/sportsasaweaponpodcastInstagram: @sportsasaweaponpodcastUpScrolled: @SportsAsAWeaponYouTube: @SportsAsAWeaponBlueSky: @sportsasaweapon.bsky.socialVisit our website: www.sportsasaweapon.com

In our second episode on the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic from c. 300 BCE, we dive into what is perhaps the most famous section of it: the 700 verses that make up the Bhagavad Gita. We discuss the main points of this foundational Hindu scripture, which recounts a discussion between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna on the eve of an apocalyptic battle. We also discuss debates around its authorship and explore the profound influence it had on Mahatma Gandhi, who didn't read it until he was a young law student in London, when some friends he made at a vegetarian restaurant recommended it to him. Want to read the transcript? Click here. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a rating or review about our show! It helps other listeners find us. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This segment is titled: The Plant-Based RevolutionImagine sitting down at a table laden with vibrant colors and intoxicating aromas—no steak or chicken in sight, yet the plate feels abundant, satisfying, and alive. That's the essence of plant-based cuisine, a way of eating that has quietly sustained civilizations for thousands of years and is now stepping into the spotlight with fresh energy. It isn't a modern fad or a restrictive diet; it's a rich, evolving tradition rooted in wisdom about the earth, the body, and the interconnectedness of all life.Its story begins long before anyone coined the term “plant-based.” In the high Andes, ancient peoples cultivated quinoa as their sacred mother grain, treasuring its complete nourishment in harsh mountain conditions. In Mesoamerica, the Aztecs and Mayans relied on chia seeds for endurance and vitality, grinding them into energy-packed drinks and doughs. Across India, Jain and Hindu traditions shaped meals around ahimsa—the principle of non-harm—turning lentils, grains, spices, and vegetables into intricate thalis that celebrate every part of the plant. In Buddhist monasteries from Japan to Korea, shojin ryori and sachal eumsik emerged as meditative practices in which chefs treated every root, leaf, and seed with reverence, avoiding even pungent alliums to keep the mind clear and the spirit gentle. Ethiopian Orthodox Christians observed long fasting periods, making lentil stews, injera, and spiced greens the everyday foundation of their tables. These weren't sacrifices; they were expressions of harmony with the land and respect for life.Over centuries, colonial powers and industrial shifts pushed many of these traditions to the margins, favoring high-yield crops and animal agriculture. Yet the knowledge never disappeared. It lingered in temple kitchens, family recipes, and indigenous communities. Then, in recent decades, something shifted. People began rediscovering these ancient foods—millets from Africa and Asia, jackfruit in tropical regions, mushrooms cultivated for their meaty texture—while modern ingenuity created approachable versions of familiar favorites. What started as a necessity and a spiritual practice evolved into a conscious choice for many, driven by a desire for lighter bodies, clearer minds, and a gentler footprint on the planet.Nutritionally, plant-based eating offers a quiet kind of abundance that surprises those who expect it to feel limiting. When you draw from a wide palette—beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, leafy greens, roots, and fruits—you receive protein in complete forms, as quinoa and soy demonstrate so elegantly. Fiber arrives in generous waves, supporting steady energy and happy digestion. Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are found in abundance in colorful produce, helping the body fend off inflammation and maintain balance. Many who adopt this way of eating notice steadier moods, smoother skin, and a sense of lightness that comes from meals built on living plants rather than heavy animal fats. The variety itself becomes medicine: rotating between Indian dals one day, Korean temple-inspired namul the next, and Ethiopian lentil wats keeps the palate engaged and the body well-rounded.Of course, no way of eating is perfect, and plant-based cuisine has its own nuances to navigate thoughtfully. Some nutrients that occur naturally and abundantly in animal foods—particularly vitamin B12, certain forms of iron, and omega-3s—require a bit more attention, often through fortified foods or mindful pairings, such as combining lentils with vitamin C-rich vegetables to boost absorption. Highly processed plant-based substitutes, while convenient, can sometimes lean on additives and oils that echo the very convenience foods they aim to replace. Read the Full ContentMore PodcastsChef Walters Cooking School

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed last week in an attack by the US and Israel. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning. Muslims around the world have come out in large numbers to protest his killing and express their grief. In India, thousands of Muslims took to the streets in Kashmir, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Bhopal, among other places, to protest the killing. But beyond the Islamic or religious world, there is only a limited understanding of the man who became Iran's second Supreme Leader, after Ayatollah Khomeini, the cleric who led the Islamic revolution in 1979. Khameini led Iran for 36 years, both during the Iran-Iraq war and in the period after, when Iran had to deal with crippling western sanctions. Besides being a revered religious leader, he is also considered an anti-imperialist statesman who exerted immense religious and political influence in West Asia. What was his legacy, and what are the political, religious and geopolitical implications of his killing – for Iran, for the ongoing war in West Asia, and beyond? Guest: Ziya Us Salam from The Hindu's Delhi bureau Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover why Kashi (modern-day Varanasi) is considered more than just one of the world's oldest living cities. Ancient Indian scriptures describe it as a cosmic instrument, a bridge between earthly and divine realms. From its unique position among the Sapta Puri (seven sacred cities of India) to its status as Avimukt Kshetra (the never-forsaken territory), explore the profound spiritual significance that makes Kashi the ultimate sacred space in Hindu tradition. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of this eternal city through scriptural wisdom and sacred geography.Contact, follow and support my work - all in one place: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/NamaskarIndia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UPI ID: 9893547492@ptaxisTopic: Indian mythology | Hindu mythology | Hinduism

This week on Hafta, Newslaundry's Manisha Pande, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Anand Vardhan are joined by academic and columnist Fahad Zuberi and Kallol Bhattacherjee, the foreign affairs editor of The Hindu.Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and subscriber letters.Produced by Amit Pandey & Priyali DhingraSound by Anil Kumar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  - Buy my collection of horror novellas TALES OF HORROR at https://amzn.to/42XxAu5 - Donate via https://ko-fi.com/U7U03JREM to cover the web hosting and sfx costs. - Follow me on Instagram instagram.com/indiannoir Indian Noir is written, narrated and produced by one of India's best horror and crime writers Nikesh Murali. Nikesh is the author of a multi-award winning, Amazon bestselling  horror novella collection 'Tales of Horror'. His novel 'His Night Begins', which was praised by Crime Fiction Lover magazine for its 'terse action scenes and brutal energy', was released to critical acclaim and earned him the tag of the 'most hardboiled of Indian crime writers' from World Literature Today Journal.   Nikesh has won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Asian region) and DWL Story Prize, and also received honourable mentions for the Katha Short Story Prize twice. Nikesh was among the top creative talents from India (including Amitabh Bachchan, Karan Johar, Anil Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Tabu, Nawazuddin Siddiqui) selected to create original shows for Audible Suno.   Indian Noir Podcast has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, India Today, CBC, The Hindu, Times of India, New Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, The Week, The Telegraph, Femina, The Economic times, Mid-Day, The News Minute, The Quint, India Times, ABC Radio, Mashable, Reader's Digest India, Men's World, Your Story, Calcutta Times, Grazia and other media outlets. It has won rave reviews on major podcasting platforms, from critics and listeners alike and is widely considered as one of India's best horror and crime podcasts.   This podcast is rated R 18+. It may contain classifiable elements such as violence, sex scenes and drug use that are high in impact. This podcast may also contain information which may be triggering to survivors of sexual assault, violence, drug abuse or mental health issues. Listener discretion is advised. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

00:00 - PreRoll10:00 - Intro11:30 - I'm one of the only Christians in my Hindu family...15:00 - I am still struggling with assurance18:12 - I am feeling overwhelmed with fear.35:30 - Eternal security and Bible versions?44:00 - How do we understand fruit in reference to salvation?57:30 - Do the unsaved have a second chance after the rapture?1:04:30 - I am struggling in my marriage.01:17:00 - Turning from sin and Lordship Salvation in doctrinal statement?01:31:00 - Advice on some of the parables + prayer?01:36:00 - If they trust in works and faith in Christ, are they saved?01:39:00 - Are the 10 virgins unbelievers or backslidden?01:40:00 - What about 1 John 1:7 and Matthew 6:15?01:44:00 - What's involved in having faith for salvation?01:50:00 - OutroCALL NOW - 813-565-3771DONATE: calvaryoftampa.org/donateLines open from 7:55-8:55 PM EST- We answer all calls that get screened during that time- Please have one question to ask- First Time callers get priorityS3 Will run until April 19th, 2026S4 Will begin May 31st, 2026------------------------------------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/c/biblelineLIKE https://www.facebook.com/biblelineminTWEET https://www.twitter.com/biblelineminCOMMENT ask us a question!SHARE with all your friends and familyHave a Bible question? The questions@biblelineministries.org email address is not longer in use, but you can:- Explore Pastor Jesse's full teaching library: https://www.youtube.com/@BibleLine/playlists- Watch a clear gospel presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX6NdGnm_vA- Ask your question live on air during our YouTube call-in show:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQWxodOF-5w&list=PLElaVGv3oAZ7b2RkKWzce51Eqjlb3imfzSupport Bibleline - https://www.calvaryoftampa.org/donate/Bibleline is a ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida and is hosted by Pastor Jesse Martinez.LIKE THIS? CHECK THESE GUYS OUT:https://www.youtube.com/c/Northlandchurchstc(Tom Cucuzza)https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdddWVKMcM9c-SjUR1LZTBw(Jim Scudder)https://www.youtube.com/c/NorthsideChurchAthens(Freddie Coile)https://www.youtube.com/user/biblelinebroadcast(Yankee Arnold)https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKeesBoerMinistryChannel(Kees Boer)#question #answer #bibleline #callin #biblequestions #bibleanswers #salvation#arminianism #eternallife #eternal #assurance #bible #truth #real #call #pastor #season3

What if you could turn even your most painful moments into a pathway to bliss? In this episode of The Gathering Room, I talk about the Hindu concept of satcitānanda—which means the joining of truth, consciousness, and bliss—and how we can drop into this state by letting go of resistance. I’ll share a "formula" for how to do this that I learned from the zen monk and mathematician Shinzen Young, and I’ll guide you through a meditation to help you take a shortcut to bliss right now. Join me! CONNECT WITH US Follow Martha on Instagram The Gathering Room Show Notes Join Martha for a Live Episode of The Gathering Room via Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We start by explaining the pañca-makāras, the transgressive offerings in the context of Kālī pūjā in the Vāmācāra, the so-called "left-hand path" of Tantra, mainly to point out the "curse" that is on alcohol & meat with reference to King Parsokhit in the Bhāgavātam, and to Pauranic stories of Brahmā & Śukra who all have cursed alcohol. We explain also how meat is cursed also before offering some modern day examples to show how that curse plays out. These remarks act as a sort of disclaimer for anyone who wants to experiment with Kaulācāra or Vāmācāra! Mainly, we present he Vāmācāra strategy of mitigating the curse, with a reference to the Brahma-śāpa-vimocana stotram which is used to remove the curse on the Devī Māhātmyam. We explain also the logic of using the pañca-makāra to demonstrate how this approach could be spiritually nourishing for a certain kind of person. We also offer a short digression about the esoteric deities  of Vāmācāra: Ānanda-Bhairava & Ānanda-Bhairavī in sexual union, i.e ārdhanarīśvara. But very quickly we digress into a subtle discussion about the Big "I", pūrnahantā, my essential nature as the Self, Consciousness reflecting upon Herself through all beings sentient and insentient. This is the highest non-dual teaching of our tradition! As such, we present the pañca-makāras as a modality, an approach to co-opt intensely disturbing as well as intensely pleasurable experiences to "touch down" on my essential nature as blissful, ever-full consciousness! You'll find all of our lectures on Vāmācara & the more transgressive aspects of our tradition here. Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Let's put on a show! It's season 8 for Paul and Corey Cross the Streams, and this season we're watching musicals. It's a singular art form with a dynamic history, and we get to listen to a lot of cast recordings... For his first episode, Corey chose the international smash-hit, the Tollywood (India) film, RRR (2022). Directed and written by S. S. Rajamouli, the film is a fictional and fictionalized account of the meeting of two Indian revolutionaries, Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju, during the British Raj. The film is a blast: action-packed, singing and dancing, compelling drama, excellent VFX, brilliant (fight) choreography, and more, as it tells the exciting story of rising up against colonial oppression. But. The film exists in a political and economic context, specifically the current rule of Hindu nationalism and the long-established caste system in India, that international viewers might not know or understand. And for as much fun as it is to root for our protagonists in their fight against racist imperialism and colonialism, the film may not be as progressive in its political positions on oppression and exploitation as it purports. It's a nuanced and interesting conversation on a thrilling film.

Ministering Across India's Caste System: Foot Washing, Honor, and Gospel IdentityAfter some quick State of the Union takes Sean interviews Nitin and Jit from India about their ministry in the context of India's caste system, explaining the Hindu belief that people are created into fixed castes that cannot be changed and how this shapes ministry. Nitin describes beginning work among poor, oppressed groups and intentionally learning their belief systems, culture, leadership, oral traditions, and worship practices to bridge the gospel, leading to outreach among 43 people groups in 13 languages and transformed lives. They highlight foot washing as a core biblical strategy, helping people heal from caste-based shame and recover God-given identity as children of the Lord. The ministry also emphasizes honoring people through acts like foot washing, shawls, and garlands to communicate love and acceptance without discrimination, and it has begun bearing fruit among high-caste Brahman religious leaders.00:00 Meet Nitin and Jit16:50 Understanding the Caste System17:47 Starting with the Poor18:28 Bridging Gospel and Culture19:07 Foot Washing as Strategy19:42 Restoring Identity and Healing20:36 Honor and Radical Welcome21:29 Reaching Brahman Leaders22:01 Gurus Respond to the Gospel22:10 Closing ThoughtsTranscript of Interview:I'm here with Nitin and Jit from India, our good friends who are such a blessing and have been with us. We're very grateful. Thanks for being with us. Thank you, Nitin. We'll start with you. You guys have a very unique ministry in India and it's a very different place to minister. Can you start by explaining a little bit of the cast system, because it really instructs a lot how you do ministry.Tell us a little bit about the caste system and how it works. Thank you for asking that question. India, we have caste system. Most of the Hindus believe in the caste system. The creator God Brahma, created Braman pri from his head, from one shoulder came warriors and kings and another shoulder business people from his belly created commoner from one feet tribal and from another feed untouchable.This is the caste system of India. The creator, God, sit at this cast in creation. So you cannot change your cast no matter how much education you may have, no matter how much wealth you have. You born and die in same cost and that shapes a whole lot of the limitations of ministry. You guys have done some really interesting things now, when you began, your ministry specifically began as a ministry to the poor.To that, those untouchables, that lower caste how did you start ministry there? 'cause you now have a lot of places. You guys have really grown and ministering, planted churches. How? Did you start with the poor and why did you start there? Poor people in India, they are suppressed by the caste system.They don't have a whole lot with them. And we want gospel to penetrate their heart, change their identity, their worldview, and they may see the creator God his plan for their life and purpose for their life. And so we began with the premature tribe and reached, started working with them. The way we minister to them, understand the belief system, their culture, leadership structure, their oral tradition, their musical instrument, the date is the worship, and then try to bridge gospel with them and God bless us to reach out 43 different people group and 13 different languages.And they are responding to the gospel. Their life is transformed by the power of gospel and they see hope in their situation. Yeah. One of the things you guys do that is so compelling, and I think in your setting because of the caste system, it's really deeply significant. You've carried the biblical practice of foot washing.And it's not just a thing you do as a ceremony. It's a major strategy. And when you stop and think about the caste system and the inherent humility and the foot washing it, it makes such sense. Tell a little bit about why you do that and how that has impacted your ministry. A two lead person know what is the worth of that person because.System stolen, God-given identity, and they always looked down upon those people. And in biblical bill system, when Jesus washed in John 13 disciple feet and he commanded all of us to wash other people's feet. We felt that God is telling us to wash the people's feet so that he can take all the unshared pain they carry in their life because of the caste system, and they get a true identity in the Lord and they understand the way God view them and accept that standard, not the standard of which people look upon them.And so God is. Shaping their life, transforming their heart, but giving them new identity. They are the children of the Lord who deeply care for them, and he has destiny for them in heaven With him, y you have a unique emphasis on honor. Your ministry, it's very humbling to go and minister with you guys.It's wonderful. But you very much show honor to your guests and honor to the people there. What is happening there and why are you doing that so intentionally because we wanted to see that different kind of law, a uniqueness in the, when you are Christian and love by Christian, it is a deep need in the community to beside food and shelter.The biggest need of any human being is loved and cared by. They are significant people in the community. And we want to wash their feet, give them shawl, give them garland so that they feel that they're precious in the sight of the Lord, and they're accepted without g creed, color, and any discrimination.And you feel that, yes, you feel that there's such a neat spirit. One of the things that is interesting because of the caste system, many people, because there's such need among the poor, many people administered the poor. We all are familiar with the ministry of Mother Teresa and her ministry.You've done something rather. Unique though, and my first exposure to it was when we were with you a couple years ago, it's your ministry to the religious leaders who are of the Brahman cast, that's the highest cast. And you're seeing some amazing fruit of the gospel and using the Lord's Prayer among that cast.Tell us a little bit about that. God started working among these Brahman gurus. These Brahman gurus came from very rich background. Having knowledge. Their PhDs, they have so much wealth under them. Many run hospitals, schools, and thousands of people touching their feet every day to seek their blessing.But God reveling to them in the dreams, one of the guru God dream, three days in the row that he is one step away from burning hell. That terrified him because of the dream, and he understood that wealth. The knowledge is not going to save his soul, right? So he left barefooted from his temple and we found him, and he's working with us right now.Through him. We started with working with other Brahmans and we found many Brahman gurus coming to know the Lord and they understand the repercussion of the caste system on people's life, the way people were ated in the system, how they were suppressed down and stolen, the God-given identity. Now they are washing the feet of Dali.Tribal and untouchable, and they are sharing gospel to their own community. The saving grace has a power. God Gospel has a power to transform different community, and we unite India together in the body of Christ. So we can see that India is separated by the language, by the caste system, but the gospel is uniting people together.Yeah. And we will see India coming together in the body of Christ. That is so powerful. And for us here, it's hard for us to envision. The impact of a Brahman guru washing the feet of someone from the untouchable cast. And so it, it's just very impactful to see that. And you've seen numerous of these gurus for our audience tell, just gimme a minute or less on what a guru is so they understand.It's mo we think of gurus. That's a kind of foreign topic the way we say it. This is Ajit. Ajit. Why don't you tell us that gurus in our context are the leaders. Teachers, so they are the one who gave spiritual teachings and insights for their followers. Okay. So in the Brahman cast, you said they believe in one overall creator.Is that correct? One overall creator. So the Christian faith is a little easier for them to understand the one creator through Jesus Christ if we see and understand each person's soul. Needs a savior, right? Whether we go in any religion, the ultimate thing is like the soul needs a savior. And that's a spiritual hunger.Yeah. That's a spiritual destiny. And when we look at that, there can be only one savior. Yeah. One destination. And that's where we come alongside and say that there is a savior. Will help you fulfill your destiny to reach your greater God. Right Now, some of the things you guys have done have made some of the church people a little uncomfortable 'cause it's outside the box.This is definitely not normal missions work. Talk about that a little bit. We have seen, we sometime we have critical view. If somebody become a Christian, he should be clothing like us. He should talk like us. He should worship like us. It, of seeing that surface thing. So we allow people to wear their customs, their way of life in the sense of the way they cloth the way they do their hair.And we don't come against that, but we want to see that their heart is transformed and we allow them to remain in their clothing and their color. Everything belongs to God. And God can use every person for his glory. We don't have to see the color of their cap, what kind of shirts they're wearing, how long their hair is, or what kind of dots on their forehead of that.Seeing every person is created in God's image and loving them. And when he created, everything was beautiful. Yeah. And to see an individual, a leader, dressed in his robes as a guru. He's leading people in worship of Jesus is a powerful thing. You guys had a big community meeting some Muslims that was there at the time of prayer in one of your, one of your centers, and you let them have their Muslim prayers in your center.That's right. And some people can't envision you loving that way. For the purpose of ultimately sharing the gospel and sharing the love of Jesus after letting them pray in our building, we wash their feet. We share gospel with them. And the god's love is so compelling at that. When you wash somebody's feet, it is a.Compelling, but non-threatening way to witness Christ. Oh, yeah. Without a doubt. Being there is an incredible thing. In November, we have a group going to work with you guys and we don't put your names in the neighbor of your mid ministry over the broadcast, out over the air because persecution.It's a real thing, but if they want people wanna find out more, you can contact us@reallife.org. You can shoot an email to us and we can let you know about, and you can come and find out, our trips fill up fast. So I don't know that there'll be space, but you can at least find out about this great ministry and more about our partnership with this wonderful group in India.Thank you guys for being with us. Thank you.

Shri Krishna reveals the sign of one who has practiced the path to Self-knowledge: humility and the vision of equality. By seeing beyond names and forms and focusing on the essence—the Creator in all—we treat everyone equally and live anchored in the Truth. This is Essential Verse 17: Chapter 5, Verse 18.➡️ To maximize your experience of this season, we encourage you to request your FREE copy of the Essential Love eBook. Incorporating accessible translations and practical application, the eBook accompanies each episode with additional ways to learn, synthesize, and reflect on key insights.

Residents and students learn from others about original motivation, long-haul stamina, pearls and pitfalls of living in community, debt, vision for one’s next step to the nations, and helping the needy now tensioned with investing in education to help others later.

How can trauma become a catalyst for creative transformation? What lessons can indie authors learn from the music industry's turbulent journey through technological disruption? With Jack Williamson. In the intro, Why recipes for publishing success don't work and what to do instead [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; Why your book isn't selling: metadata [Novel Marketing Podcast]; Creating a successful author business [Fantasy Writers Toolshed Podcast]; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn. Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. With its detailed reports on how to improve your writing and integration with writing software, ProWritingAid will help you improve your book before you send it to an editor, agent or publisher. Check it out for free or get 15% off the premium edition at www.ProWritingAid.com/joanna This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jack Williamson is a psychotherapist, coach, and bestselling author who spent nearly two decades as a music industry executive. He's the founder of Music & You, his latest nonfiction book is Maybe You're The Problem, and he also writes romance under A.B. Jackson. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Finding post-traumatic growth and meaning after bereavement, and using tragedy as a catalyst for creative transformation Why your superpower can also be your Achilles heel, and how indie authors can overcome shiny object syndrome Three key lessons from the music industry: embracing change, thinking creatively about marketing, and managing pressure for better creativity The A, B, C technique for PR interviews and why marketing is storytelling through different mediums How to deal with judgment and shame around AI in the author community by understanding where people sit on the opinion-belief-conviction continuum Three AI developments coming from music to publishing: training clauses in contracts, one-click genre adaptation, and licensed AI-generated video adaptations You can find Jack at JackWilliamson.co.uk and his fiction work at ABJackson.com. Transcript of the interview with Jack Williamson Jo: Jack Williamson is a psychotherapist, coach, and bestselling author who spent nearly two decades as a music industry executive. He's the founder of Music & You, his latest nonfiction book is Maybe You're The Problem, and he also writes romance under A.B. Jackson. Welcome to the show. Jack: Thank you so much for having me, Jo. It's a real honour to be on your podcast after listening all of these years. Jo: I'm excited to talk to you. We have a lot to get into, but first up— Tell us a bit more about you and why get into writing books after years of working in music. Jack: I began my career at the turn of the millennium, basically, and I worked for George Michael and Mariah Carey's publicist, which I'm sure you can imagine was quite the introduction to the corporate world. From there I went on to do domestic and international marketing for a load of massive artists at Universal, so the equivalent of the top five publishers in the publishing world that we all work in. Then from there I had a bit of a challenge. In December 2015, I lost my brother, unfortunately to suicide. For any listener or any person that's gone through a traumatic event, it can really make you reassess everything, make you question life, make you question your purpose. When I went through that, I was thinking, well, what do I want to do? What do I want out of life? So I went on this journey for practically the next ten years. I retrained to be a psychotherapist. I created a bucket list—a list of all the things that I thought maybe my brother would've wanted to do but didn't do. One of the things was scatter his ashes at the Seven Wonders of the world. Then one of the items on my bucket list was to write a book. The pandemic hit. It was a challenge for all of us, as you've spoken about so much on this wonderful podcast. I thought, well, why not? Why not write this book that I've wanted to write? I didn't know when I was going to do it because I was always so busy, and then the pandemic happened and so I wrote a book. From there, listening to your wonderful podcast, I've learned so much and been to so many conferences and learned along the way. So now I've written five books and released three. Jo: That's fantastic. I mean, regular listeners to the show know that I talk about death and grief and all of this kind of thing, and it's interesting that you took your brother's ashes to the Seven Wonders of the world. Death can obviously be a very bad, negative thing for those left behind, but it seems like you were able to reframe your brother's experience and turn that into something more positive for your life rather than spiralling into something bad. So if people listening are feeling like something happens, whether it's that or other things— How can we reframe these seemingly life-ending situations in a more positive way? Jack: It is very hard and there's no one way to do it. I think as you always say, I never want to tell people what to do or what to think. I want to show them how to think and how they can approach things differently or from a different perspective. I can only speak from my journey, but we call it in therapeutic language, post-traumatic growth. It is, how do you define it so it doesn't define you? Because often when you have a bereavement of a loved one, a family member, it can be very traumatic, but how can you take meaning and find meaning in it? There's a beautiful book called Man's Search for Meaning, and the name of the author escapes me right now, but he says— Jo: Viktor Frankl. Jack: Yes. Everyone quotes it as one of their favourite books, and one of my favourite lines is, “Man can take everything away from you, apart from the ability to choose one thought over the other.” I think it's so true because we can make that choice to choose what to think. So in those moments when we are feeling bad, when we're feeling down, we want to honour our feelings, but we don't necessarily want to become them. We want to process that, work through, get the support system that we need. But again, try to find meaning, try to find purpose, try to understand what is going on, and then pay it forward. Irrespective of your belief system, we all yearn for purpose. We all yearn for being connected to something bigger than ourselves. If we can find that through bereavement maybe, or through a traumatic incident, then hopefully we can come through the other side and have that post-traumatic growth. Jo: I love that phrase, post-traumatic growth. That's so good. Obviously people think about post-traumatic anything as like PTSD—people immediately think a sort of stress disorder, like it's something that makes things even worse. I like that you reframed it in that way. Obviously I think the other thing is you took specific action. You didn't just think about it. You travelled, you retrained, you wrote books. So I think also it's not just thinking. In fact, thinking about things can sometimes make it worse if you think for too long, whereas taking an action I think can be very strong as well. Jack: Ultimately we are human beings as opposed to human doings, but actually being a human doing from time to time can be really helpful. Actually taking steps forward, doing things differently, using it as a platform to move forward and to do things that maybe you didn't before. When you are confronted with death, it can actually make you question your own mortality and actually question, am I just coasting along? Am I stuck in a rut? Could I be doing something differently? One of the things that bereavement, does is it holds a mirror up to ourselves and it makes us question, well, what do we want from our life? Are we here to procreate? Are we here to make a difference? Some of us can't procreate, or some of us choose not to procreate, but we can all make a difference. And it's, how do we do that? Where do we do that? When do we do that? Jo: That's interesting. I was thinking today about service and gratitude. I'm doing this Master's and I was reading some theology stuff today, and service and gratitude, I think if you are within a religious tradition, are a normal part of that kind of religious life. Whether it's service to God and gratitude to God, or service and gratitude to others. I was thinking that these two things, service and gratitude, can actually really help reframe things as well. Who can we serve? As authors, we're serving our readers and our community. What can we be grateful about? That's often our readers and our community as well. So I don't know, that helped me today—thinking about how we can reframe things, especially in the world we're in now where there's a lot of anger and grief and all kinds of things. Jack: That's what we've got to look at. We are here to serve. Again, that can take different shapes, different forms. Some of us work in the service industry. I provide a service as a psychotherapist, you serve your listeners with knowledge and information that you gather and dispense through the research you do or the guests you have on. We serve readers of the different genres that we write in. It's what ways can we serve, how can we serve? Again, I think we all, if we can and when we can, should pay it forward. Someone said this to me once in the music industry: be careful who you meet on the way up and how you treat them on the way up, because invariably you'll meet them on the way down. So if you can pay forward that kindness, if you can be kind, considerate, and treat people how you want to be treated, that is going to pay dividends in the long run. It may not come off straight away, but invariably it will come back to you in some way, shape, or form in a different way. Jo: I've often talked about social karma and karma in the Hindu sense—the things that you do come back to you in some other form. Possibly in another life, which I don't believe. In terms of, I guess, you didn't know what was going to happen to your brother, and so you make the most of the life that we have at the moment because things change and you just don't know how things are going to change. You talk about this in your book, Maybe You're The Problem, which is quite a confronting title. So just talk about your book, Maybe You're The Problem, and why you wrote that. Put it into context with the author community and why that might be useful. Jack: Thank you for flagging my book. I intentionally crossed out “maybe” on the merchandise I did as well, because in essence, we are our own problem. We can get in the way, and it's what happened to us when we grew up wasn't our fault, but what we do with it is our responsibility. We may have grown up in a certain period or a climate. We didn't necessarily choose to do that, but what we do with that as a result is up to us. So we can stay in our victimhood and we can blame our parents, or we can blame the generation we are in, or we can blame the city, the location—however, that is relinquishing your power. That is staying in a victim mindset rather than a survivor or a thriver mindset. So it's about how can we look at the different areas in our life. Whether that is conflict, whether that is imposter syndrome, whether that is the generation we're born into. We try to understand how that has shaped us and how we may be getting in our own way to stop us from growing, to stop us from expanding, and to see where our blind spots are, our limitations are, and how that may impact us. There's so much going on in the moment in the world, whether that is in the digital realm, whether that is in the geo-climate that we're in at the moment. Again, that's going to bring up a lot for us. How can we find solutions to those problems for us so that we continue to move forward rather than be restricted and hindered by them? Jo: Alright. Well let's get into some more specifics. You have been in the author community now for a while. You go to conferences and you are in the podcast community and all this kind of thing. What specific issues have you seen in the author community? Maybe around some of the things you've mentioned, or other things? How might we be able to deal with those? Jack: With authors, I think it is such a wonderful and unique industry that I have an honour and privilege of being a part of now. One of the main things I've learned is just how creative people are. Coming from a creative industry like the music industry, there is a lot of neurodivergence in the creative industries and in the author community. Whether that is autism, whether that is ADHD—that is a real asset to have as a superpower, but it can be an Achilles heel. So it's understanding—and I know that there is an overexposure of people labelling themselves as ADHD—but on the flip side to that, it's how can we look at what's going on for us? For ADHD, for example, there's a thing called shiny object syndrome. You've talked about this in the past, Joanna, where it's like a new thing comes along, be it TikTok, be it Substack, be it bespoke books, be it Shopify, et cetera. We can rush and quickly be like, “oh, let me do this, let me do that,” before we actually take the time to realise, is this right for me? Does this fit my author business? Does this fit where I'm at in my author journey? I think sometimes as authors, we need to not cave in to that shiny object syndrome and take a step back and think to ourselves, how does this serve me? How does this serve my career? How does this work for me if I'm looking at this as a career? If you're looking at it as a hobby, obviously it's a different lens to look through, but that's something that I would often make sure that we look at. One of the other things that really comes up is that in order for any of us to address our fears and anxieties, we need to make sure that we feel psychologically safe and to put ourselves in spaces and places where we feel seen, heard, and understood, which can help address some of the issues that I've just mentioned. Being in that emotionally regulated state when we are with someone we know and trust—so taking someone to a conference, taking someone to a space or a place where you feel that you can be seen, heard, and understood—can help us and allow us to embrace things that we perceive to be scary. That may be finding an author group, finding an online space where you can actually air and share your thoughts, your feelings, where you don't feel that you are being judged. Often it can be quite a judgmental space and place in the online world. So it's just finding your tribe and finding places where you can actually lean into that. So there'd be two things. Jo: I like the idea of the superpower and the Achilles heel because I also feel this when we are writing fiction. Our characters have strengths, but your fatal flaw is often related to your strength. Jack: Yes. Jo: For example, I know I am independent. One of the reasons I'm an independent author is because I'm super independent. But one of my greatest fears is being dependent. So I do lots of things to avoid being dependent on other people, which can lead me to almost damage myself by not asking for help or by trying to make sure that I control everything so I never have to ask anyone else to do something. I'm coming to terms with this as I get older. I feel like this is something we start to hit—I mean, as a woman after menopause—is this feeling of I might have to be dependent on people when I'm older. It's so interesting thinking about this and thinking— My independence is my strength. How can it also be my weakness? So what do you think about that? You're going to psychotherapist me now. Jack: I definitely won't, but it's interesting. Just talking about that, we all have wounds and we all have the shadow, as you've even written about in one of your books. And it's how that can come from a childhood wound where it's like we seek help and it's not given to us. So we create a belief system where I have to do everything myself because no one will help me. Or we may have rejection sensitivity, so we reject ourselves before others can reject us. So it's actually about trying, where we can, to honour our truths, honour that we may want to be independent, for example, but then realising that success leaves clues. I always say that if you are independent—and I definitely align a hundred percent with you, Joanna—I've had to work really hard myself in personal therapy and in business and life to realise that no human is an island and we can't all do this on our own. Yes, it's amazing with the AI agents now that can help us in a business capacity, but having those relationships that we can tap into—like you mentioned all of the people that you tap into—it's so important to have those. I always say that it's important to have three mentors: one person that's ahead of you (for me, that would be Katie Cross because she's someone that I find is an amazing author and we speak at least once a month); people that are at the same level as you that you can go on the journey together with (and I have an author group for that); and then someone that is perceived to be behind you or in a younger generation than you, because you can learn as much from them as they can learn from you. If you can actually tap into those people whilst honouring your independence, then it feels like you can still go on your own journey, but you can tap in and tap out as and when needed. Sacha Black will give you amazing insights, other people like Honor will give you amazing insights, but you can also provide that for them. So there's that safety of being able to do it on your own. But on the flip side, you still have those people that you can tap into as and when necessary as a sounding board, as information on how they were successful, and go from there. Jo: No, I like that. If you're new to the show, Sacha Black and Honor Raconteur have been on the show and they are indeed some of my best friends. So I appreciate that. I really like the idea of the three mentor idea. I just want to add to that because I do think people misunderstand the word mentor sometimes. You mentioned you speak to Katie Cross, but I've found that a lot of the mentors that I've had who are ahead of me have often been books. We mentioned the Viktor Frankl book, and if people don't know, he was Jewish and in the concentration camps and survived that. So it's a real survivor story. But to me, books have been mostly my mentors in terms of people who are ahead of me. We don't always need to speak to or be friends with our mentors. I think that's important too, right? Because I just get emails a lot that say, “Will you be my mentor?” And I don't think that's the point. Jack: Oh, I a hundred percent agree with you. If you don't have access to those mentors—like Oprah Winfrey is one of the people that I perceive as a mentor—I listen to podcasts, I read her books, I watch interviews. There is a way to absorb and acquire that information, and it doesn't have to be a direct relationship with them. It is someone that you can gain the knowledge and wisdom that they've imparted in whatever form you may consume it. Which is why I think it is important to have those three levels: that one that is above you that may be out of reach in terms of a human connection, but you can still access; then the people at the same level as you that you can have those relationships and grow with; and again, that one behind that you can help pave the way for them, but also learn from them as well. So a hundred percent agree that that mentor that you are looking for that may be ahead of you doesn't necessarily need to be someone that is in a real-world relationship. Jo: So let's just circle back to your music industry experience. You mentioned being on the sort of marketing team for some really big names in music, and I mean, it's kind of a sexy job really. It just sounds pretty cool, but of course the music industry has just as many challenges as publishing. What did you learn from working in the music industry that you think might be particularly useful for authors? Jack: The perception of reality was definitely a lot different. It does look sexy and glamorous, but the reality is similar to going to conferences. It's pretty much flight, hotel, and dark rooms with terrible air conditioning that you spend a lot of time in. So sorry to burst the illusion. But I mean, it does have its moments as well. There is so much I've learned over the years and there's probably three things that stand out the most. The first one was I entered the industry right at the height of the music industry. In 2000, 2001. That was when Napster really exploded and it decimated the music industry. It wiped half the value in the space of four years. Then the music industry was trying to shut it down, throwing legal, throwing everything at it, but it was like whack-a-mole. As soon as one went down such as Napster, ten others popped up like Kazaa. So you saw that the old guard wasn't willing to embrace change. They weren't willing to adapt. They assumed that people wanted the formats of CDs, vinyls, cassettes, and they were wrong. Yes, people wanted music, but they actually wanted the music. They didn't care about the format, they just wanted the access. So that was one of the really interesting things that I learned, because I was like, you have to embrace change. You can't ignore it. You can't push it away, push it aside, because it's coming whether you like it or not. I think thankfully the music industry has learned as AI's coming, because now you have to embrace it. There's a lot of legal issues that have been going on at the moment with rights, which you've covered about the Anthropic case and so on. It's such a challenge, and I just think that's the first one. The second one I learned was back in 2018. There was an artist I worked on called Freya Ridings. At that time I was working at an independent record label rather than one of the big three major record labels. She had great songs and we were up against one of the biggest periods of the year and trying to make noise. At the time, Love Island was the biggest TV show on, and everyone wanted to be on it in terms of getting their music synced in the scenes. We were just like, we are never going to compete. So we thought, we need to be clever here. We need to think differently. What we did is we found out what island the show was being recorded on, and we geo-targeted our ads just to that island because we knew the sync team were going to be on there. So we just went hard as nails, advertised relentlessly, and we knew that the sync people would then see the adverts. As a result of that, Freya got the sync. It became the biggest song that season on Love Island, back when it was popular. As a result of that, we built from there. We were like, right, we can't compete with the majors. We have to think differently. We need to do things differently. We need to be creative. It wasn't an easy pathway. That year there were only two other songs that were independent that reached the top 10. So we ended up becoming a third and the biggest song that year. The reason I'm saying that is we can't compete with the major publishers. But the beauty of the independent author community is because we have smaller budgets—most of us, not all of us, but most of us—we have to think differently. We have to make our bang for our buck go a lot further. So it's actually— How can we stay creative? How can we think differently? What can we do differently? So that would be the second thing. Then the third main lesson that I learned, and this is more on the creative side, is that pressure can often work against you, both in a business sense, but especially creativity. I've seen so many artists over the years have imposed deadlines on them to hand in their albums, and it's impacted the quality of their output. Once it's handed in, the stress and the pressure is off, and then you realise that actually those artists end up creating the best material that they have, and then they rush to put it on. Whether that's Mariah Carey's “We Belong Together,” Adele with her song “Hello,” Taylor Swift did the same with “Shake It Off”—they're just three examples. The reason is that pressure keeps us in our beta brainwave state, which is our rational, logical mind. For those of us that are authors that are writing fiction, or even if we are creating stories in our nonfiction work to deliver a point, we need to be in that creative mindset. So we need to be in the alpha and the gamma brain state. Because our body works on 90-minute cycles known as our ultradian rhythm, we need to make sure that we honour our cycle and work with that. If we go past that, our creativity and our productivity is going to go down between 60% and 40% respectively. So as authors, it's important—one, to apply the right amount of pressure; two, to work in breaks; and three, to know what kind of perspective we're looking at. Do we need to be rational and logical, or do we need to be creative? And then adjust the sails accordingly. Jo: That's all fantastic. I want to come back on the marketing thing first—around what you did with the strategic marketing there and the targeted ads to that island. That's just genius. I feel like a lot of us, myself included, we struggle to think creatively about marketing because it's not our natural state. Of course, you've done a lot of marketing, so maybe it comes more naturally to you. I think half the time we don't even use the word creative around marketing, when you're not a marketeer. What are some ways that we can break through our blocks around marketing and try to be more creative around that? Jack: I would challenge a lot of authors on that presumption, because as authors we're in essence storytellers, and to tell a story is creative. There's a great quote: “One death is a tragedy. A thousand deaths is a statistic.” If you can create a story, a compelling narrative about a death in the news, it's going to pull at the heartstrings of people. It's going to really resonate and get with them. Whereas if you are just quoting statistics, most people switch off because they become desensitised to it. So I think because we can tell stories, and that's the essence of what we do, it's how can we tell our story through the medium of social media? How can we tell a story through our creative ads that we then put out onto Facebook or TikTok or whatever platform that we're putting them out—BookBub, et cetera? How can we create a narrative that garners the attention? If we are looking at local media or traditional media, how can we do that? How can we get people to buy in to what we're selling? So it's about having different angles. For me with my new romance book, Stolen Moments, one of the stories I had that really has helped me get some coverage and PR is we recorded the songs next door to the Rolling Stones. Now that was very fortunate timing, very fortunate. But everyone's like, “Oh my God, you recorded next door to the Rolling Stones?” So it's like, well, how can you bring in these creative nuggets that help you to find a story? Again, marketing is in essence telling a story, albeit through different mediums and forms. So it's just how can you package that into a marketable product depending on the platform in which you're putting it out on. Jo: I think that's actually hilarious, by the way, because what you hit on there, as someone with a background in marketing, your story about “we recorded an album for the book next door to the Rolling Stones”—it's got nothing to do with the romance. Jack: Oh, the romance is that the pop star in the book writes and records songs. Jo: Yes, I realised that. But the fact is— For doing things like PR, it's the story behind the story. They don't care that you've written a romance. Jack: Yes. Jo: They're far more interested in you, the author, and other things. So I think what you just described there was a kind of PR hook that most of us don't even think about. Jack: I'm sure a lot of authors already know this, so it's a good reminder, and if you don't, it's great. It's called the A, B, C technique. When you get asked a question, you Answer the question. So that's A. You Build a bridge, and then you go to C, which is Covering one of your points. So whenever you get asked a question, have a list of things you want to get across in an interview. Then just make sure that you find that bridge between whatever the question is to cover off one of your points, and that's how you can do it. Because yes, you may be selling a story, like I said, about writing the songs, but then you can bridge it into actually covering and promoting whatever it is you're promoting. So I think that's always quite helpful to remember. Jo: Well, that's a good tip for things like coming on podcasts as well. I've had people on who don't do what you just mentioned and will just try and shoehorn things in in a more deliberate fashion, whereas other people, as you have just done with your romance there, bring it in while answering a question that actually helps other people. So I think that's the kind of thing we need to think about in marketing. Okay, so then let's come back to the embracing change, and as you mentioned, the AI stuff that's going on. I feel like there's so many “stories” around AI right now. There's a lot of stories being told on both sides—on the positive side, on the negative side—that people believe and buy into and may or may not be true. There's obviously a lot of anger. There's, I think, grief—a big thing that people might not even realise that they have. Can you talk about how authors might deal with what's coming up around the technological change around AI, and any of your personal thoughts as well? Jack: I was thinking about this a lot recently. I mean, I guess everyone is in their own ways and forms. One of the things that came up for me is we have genre expectations and we have generation expectations. When we look at genres, you will have different expectations from different genres. For romance, they want a happily ever after or a happy for now. For cosy mysteries, they expect the crime to be solved. So we as authors make sure we endeavour to meet those expectations. The challenge is that if we are looking at AI, we are all in our own generations. We might be in slightly different generations, but there are going to be different generation expectations from the Alpha generation that's coming up and the Beta generation that's just about to start this year or next year because they're going to come into the world where they don't know any different to AI. So they will have a different expectation than us. It will just be normal that there will be AI agents. It will just be normal that there are AI narrators. It will be normalised that AI will assist authors or assist everyone in doing their jobs. So again, it is a grieving period because we can long for what was, we can yearn for things that worked for us that no longer work for us—whether it's Facebook groups, whether it's the Kindle Rush. We can mourn the loss of that, but that's not coming back. I mean, sometimes there may be a resurgence, but essentially, we've got to embrace the change. We've got to understand that it's coming and it's going to bring up a lot of different emotions because you may have been beholden to one thing and you may be like, yes, I've now got my TikTok lives, and then all of a sudden TikTok goes away. I know Adam, when he was talking about it, he'll just find another platform. But there'll be a lot of people that are beholden to it and then they're like, what do I do now? So again, it's never survival of the fittest—it's survival of the most adaptable. I always use this metaphor where there are three people on three different boats. A storm comes. And the first, the optimist, is like, “Oh, it'll pass,” and does nothing. The pessimist complains about the storm and does nothing. But the realist will adjust the sails and use the storm to find its way to the other side, to get through. It's not going to be easy, but they're actually taking change and making change to get to where they need to go, rather than just expecting or complaining. I get it. We are not, and I hate the expression, “we're all in the same boat.” I call bleep on that. I'm not going to swear. We're not all in the same boat. We're all in the same storm, but different people are going through different things. For some, they can adjust and adapt really quickly like a speedboat. For others, they may be like Jack and Rose in the Titanic on that terrible prop where they're clinging to dear life and trying to get through the storm. So it's about how do I navigate this upcoming storm? What can I do within my control to get through the storm? For some it may be easier because they have the resources, or for some of us that love learning, it's easy to embrace change. For others that have a fear mindset and it's like, “Oh, something new, it's scary, I don't want to embrace it”—you are going to take longer. So you may not be the speedboat, but at some point we are going to have to embrace that change. Otherwise we're going to get left behind. So you need to look at that. Jo: The storm metaphor is interesting, and being in different boats. I feel I do struggle. I struggle with people who suddenly seem to be discovering the storm. I've been talking about AI now since 2016. That's a decade. Jack: Yes. Jo: Even ChatGPT has been around more than three years, and people come to me now and they're talking about stories that they've seen in the media that are just old now. Things have moved on so much. I feel like maybe I was on my boat and I looked through my telescope and I saw the storm. I've been talking about the storm and I've had my own moments of being in the middle of the storm. Now I definitely do struggle with people who just seem to have arrived without any knowledge of it before. I oscillate between being an optimist and a realist. I think I'm somewhere between the two, probably. But I think what is driving me a little crazy in the author community right now is judgment and shame. There are people who are judging other people, and there's shame felt by AI-curious or AI-positive people. So I want to help the people who feel shame in some way for trying new technology, but they still feel attacked. Then those people judge other authors for their choices to use technology. So how do you think we can deal with judgment and shame in the community? Which is a form of conflict, I guess. Jack: Of course. I think with that, there's another great PR quote: “If it bleeds, it leads.” Especially in this digital age, there's a lot of clickbait. So the more polarising, the more emotion-evoking the headline, the more likely you are to engage with that content—whether that is reading it or whether that's posting or retweeting, or whatever format you are consuming it on. So unfortunately, media has now become so much more polarising. It's dividing us rather than uniting us. So people are going to have stronger positions. There's so much even within this to look at. One is, you have to work out where people are on the continuum. Do they have an opinion on AI? Do they have a belief? Or do they have a conviction? Now you're not going to move someone that has a conviction about something, so it's not worth even engaging with them because they're immovable. Like they say, you shouldn't talk about sports, politics, and religion. There are certain subjects that may not be worth talking about, especially if they have a conviction. Because they may not even be able to agree to disagree. They may not be willing or able to hear you. So first and foremost, it's about understanding, well, where are those people sitting on the continuum of AI? Are they curious? Do they have an opinion, but they're open to hearing other opinions? Do they have a belief that could be changed or evolved if they find more information? That's where I think it is. It's not necessarily our jobs—even though you do an amazing job of it, Joanna—but a lot of people are undereducated on these issues or these new technologies. So in some cases it's just a case of a lack of education or them being undereducated. Hopefully in time they will become more and more educated. But again, it's how long is a piece of string? Will people catch up? Will they stay behind? Are they fearful? I guess because of social media, because of the media, as they say, if you can evoke fear in people, you can control them. You can control their perspectives. You can control their minds. So that's where we see it—a lot of people are operating from a fear mindset. So then that's when they project their vitriol in certain cases. If people want to believe a certain thing, that's their choice. I'm not here to tell people what to think. Like I said earlier, it's more about how to think. But I would just encourage people to find people that align with you. Do a sense test, like a litmus test, to find where they sit on the continuum and engage with those people that are open and have opinions or beliefs. But shy away or just avoid people that have convictions that maybe are the polar opposite of yours. Jo: It's funny, isn't it? We seem to be in a phase of history when I feel like you should be able to disagree with people and still be friends. Although, as you mentioned, there's certain members of my family where we just stay on topics of TV shows and movies or music, or what books are you reading? Like, we don't go anywhere near politics. So I do think that might be a rule also with the AI stuff. As you said, find a community, and there are plenty of AI-positive spaces now for people who do want to talk about this kind of stuff. I also think that, I don't know whether this is a tipping point this year, but certainly— I know people who are in bigger corporates where the message is now, “You need to embrace this stuff. It is now part of your job to learn how to use these AI tools.” So if that starts coming into people's day jobs, and also people who have, I don't know, kids at school or people at university who are embracing this more—I mean, maybe it is a generational thing. Jack: Yes. Look, there were so many people that were resistant to working from home, or corporations that were, and then the pandemic forced it. Now everyone's embraced it in some way, shape, or form. I mean, there are people that don't, but the majority of people—when something's forced on you, you have to adapt. So again, if those things are implemented in corporations, then you're going to see it. I'm seeing so many amazing new things in AI that have been implemented in the music industry that we'll see in the publishing industry coming down the road. That will scare a lot of people, but again, we have to embrace those things because they're coming and there's going to be an expectation—especially from the younger generations—that these things are available. So again, it's not first past the post, but if you can be ahead of the wave or at least on the wave, then you are going to reap the rewards. If you are behind the wave, you're going to get left behind. So that's my opinion. I'm not trying to encourage anyone to see from my lens, but at the same time, I do think that we need to be thinking differently. We need to always embrace change where we can, as we can, at the pace that we can. Jo: You mentioned there AI things coming down the road in the music industry. And now everyone's going, wait, what is coming? So tell us— What do you see ahead that you think might also shift into the author world? Jack: There are three things that I've seen. Two that have been implemented and one that's been talked about and worked on at the moment. The first, and this will be quite scary for people, is that major record labels—so think the major publishers on our side—they're all now putting clauses in their contracts that require the artists that sign with them to allow their works to be trained by their own AI models. So that is something that is now actually happening in record labels. I wouldn't be surprised, although I don't have insight into it, if Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, et cetera, are potentially doing the same with authors that sign to them. So that's going to become more standardised. So that is on the major side. But then on the creative side, there are two things that really excite me. The music AI platforms that we're hearing about, the stories that we've seen in the press, and it's the fact that with a click of a button, you can recreate a song into a different genre. I find it so fascinating because if you think about that—turning a pop song into a country song or a rap song into a dance song—the possibilities that we have as authors with our books, if we wish to do so, are amazing. I just think, for example, with your ARKANE series, Joanna, imagine clicking a button and just with one click you can take Morgan Sierra and turn her into a romantic lead in a romance book. Jo: See, it's so funny because I personally just can't imagine that because it's not something I would write. But I guess one example in the romance genre itself is I know plenty of romance authors who write a clean and a spicy version of the same story, right? It is already happening in that way. It's just not a one-click. Jack: Well, I think you can also look at it another way. I think one of the most famous examples is Twilight. With Twilight and Stephenie Meyer, if she had the foresight—and I'm not saying she didn't, just to clarify—but fan fiction is such a massive sub-genre of works. And obviously from Twilight came 50 Shades of Gray. Imagine if she had the licensing rights like the NFTs, where she could have made money off of every sale. So that you could then, through works that you create and give licence, earn a percentage of every release, every sale, every consumption unit of your works. There are just so many possibilities where you can create, adapt, have spinoffs that can then build out your world. Obviously, there may need to be an approval process in there for continuity and quality control because you want to make sure you're doing that, but I think that has such massive potential in publishing if we wish to do so. Or like I said, change characters. Like Robert Langdon's character in Dan Brown's books—no longer being the kind of thriller, but maybe being a killer instead. There's so many possibilities. It's just, again, how to think, not what to think—how to think differently and how we can use that. So that's the second of three. Jo: Oh, before you move on, you did mention NFTs and I've actually been reading about this again. So I'm usually five years early. That's the general rule. I started talking about NFTs in mid-2021, and obviously there was a crypto crash, it goes up and down, blah, blah, blah. But forget the crypto side—on the blockchain side, digital originality, and exactly what you said about saying like, where did this originate? This is now coming back in the AI world. It could be that I really was five years early. So amusingly—and I'm going to link to it in the notes because I did a “Why NFTs Are Exciting for Authors” solo episode, I think in 2022—it may be that the resurgence will happen in the next year, and all those people who said I was completely wrong, that this may be coming back. Digital originality I think is what we're talking about there. But so, okay, so what was the other thing? Jack: So the third one is the one that I'm most excited about, but I think will be the most scary for people. Obviously consumption changes and formats change. Like I said, in music I've seen it all the time—whether it's vinyl to cassettes, to CDs, to downloads, to streaming. Again, there's different consumption of the same format, and we see that with books as well, obviously—hardbacks, paperbacks, eBooks, audiobooks. Now with the rise of AI, AI narration has made audiobooks so much more accessible for people. I know that there are issues with certain people not wanting to do it, or certain platforms not allowing AI narration to be uploaded unless it's their own. The next step is what I'm most excited about. What I'm seeing now in the music industry is people licensing their image to then recreate that as music videos because music videos are so expensive. One of my friends just shot a music video for two million pounds. I don't think many authors would ever wish to spend that. If you can license your image and use AI to create a three-minute music video that looks epic and just as real as humanly possible, imagine if those artists—or if we go a step further, those actors—license their image to then be used to adapt our books into a TV series or a film. So that then we are in a position where that is another format of consumption alongside an audiobook, a paperback, an eBook, hardcover, special edition, and so on and so forth. It potentially has the opportunity to open us up to a whole new world. Because yes, there are adaptations of books that we're seeing at the moment, but for those of us that are trying to get our content into different formats, this can be a new pathway. I'm going to make a prediction here myself, Joanna. Jo: Mm-hmm. Jack: I would say in the next five to ten years, there will be a platform akin to a Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Apple Plus, where you can license the rights to an image of an actor or an actress. Then with the technology—and you may need people to help you adapt your book into a TV series or a film—that can then be consumed. I just think the possibilities are endless. I mean, again, I think of your character and I'm like, oh, what would it be if Angelina Jolie licensed her image and you could have her play the lead character in your ARKANE series? I mean, again, the possibilities potentially are endless here. Jo: Well, and on that, if people think this won't happen—1776, I don't know if you've seen this, it's just being teased at the moment. Darren Aronofsky has made an American revolutionary story all with AI. So this is being talked about at the moment. It's on YouTube at the moment. The AI video is just extraordinary already, so I totally agree with you. I think things are going to be quite weird for a while, and it will take a while to get used to. You mentioned coming into the music industry in 2000, 2001—I started my work before the internet, and then the internet came along and lots of things changed. I mean, anyone who's older than 40, 45-ish can remember what work was like without the internet. Now we are moving into a time where it'll be like, what was it like before AI? And I think we'll look back and go like, why the hell did we do that kind of thing? So it is a changing world, but yes, exciting times, right? I think the other thing that's happening right now, even to me, is that things are moving so fast. You can almost feel like a kind of whiplash with how much is changing. How do we deal with the fast pace of change while still trying to anchor ourselves in our writing practice and not going crazy? Jack: Again, it's that everything everywhere all at once—you can get lost and discombobulated. I always say be the tortoise, not the hare—because you don't want to fly and die. You want pace and grace. Everyone will have a different pace. For some marathon runners, they can run a five-minute mile, some can run an eight-minute mile, some can run a twelve-minute mile. It's about finding the pace that works for you. Every one of us have different commitments. Every one of us have different ways we view the industry—some as a hobby, some as a business. So it's about honouring your needs, your commitment. Some of us, as you've had people on the podcast, some people are carers. They have to care. Some people are parents. Some people don't have those commitments and so can devote more time and then actually learn more, change more as a result. So again, it's about finding your groove, finding your rhythm, honouring that, and again, showing up consistently. Because motivation may get you started, but it's habit and discipline that sees you through. Keep that discipline, keep that pace and grace. Be consistent in what you can do. And know where you're at. Don't compare and despair, because again, if you look at someone else, they may be ahead of you, but the race is only with yourself in the end. So you've got to just focus on where you are at and am I in a better place than I was yesterday? Am I working on my business as well as in my business? How am I doing that? When am I doing that? And what am I doing that for? If you can be asking yourself those questions and making sure you're staying true to yourself and not burning out, making sure that you are honouring your other commitments, then I think you are going at the pace that feels right for you. Jo: Brilliant. Jo: Where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Jack: Thank you so much for having me on, Joanna, today. You can find me on JackWilliamson.co.uk for all my nonfiction books and therapy work. Then for my fiction work, it is ABJackson.com, or ABJacksonAuthor on Instagram and TikTok. Jo: Well, thanks so much for your time, Jack. That was great. Jack: Thank you so much. The post Post-Traumatic Growth, Creative Marketing, And Dealing With Change with Jack Williamson first appeared on The Creative Penn.

The supreme being of classical theism is unlimited in power, knowledge, and goodness – a being distinct from the world, who creates it out of nothing and governs it from beyond. On this picture, we are not identical with God. God's consciousness is not our consciousness – and our identity is not theirs. That picture has long been challenged by schools of Hindu philosophy and, more recently, by Western philosophies of religion that reject traditional conceptions of God. In response to the problem of evil, some philosophers now argue that if there is a creator, then that creator must be limited in power. Advaita's challenge is more radical. It doesn't just revise the traditional conception of God – it dissolves it. Where classical theism draws a sharp distinction between God and the world, Advaita says that reality is non-dual. The divine is not something separate from us or from the universe, but the underlying reality that appears as both. To explore these competing visions of the supreme being, reality, and our place within it, I'm joined by three guests. Returning to The Panpsycast for the fifth time is Philip Goff, Professor of Philosophy at Durham University. As listeners will remember, Philip is the author of several brilliant books – including Galileo's Error and, more recently, Why? The Purpose of the Universe. David Godman is a leading author, best known for his work on the Hindu sage, Sri Ramana Maharshi. And last but not least, Miri Albahari is Senior Lecturer at The University of Western Australia – where her work explores the metaphysics and epistemology of Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta. What is gained – and what is lost – when God is no longer unlimited, or is no longer separate from the world? Can these alternatives still ground mind, meaning, and morality? And by what means could we come to know such a reality – and decide between these rival conceptions of God? This episode is generously supported by The John Templeton Foundation, through The Panpsychism and Pan(en)theism Project (62683). Links Philip Goff, Website David Godman, Website Miri Albahari, Website

Get Huel today with this exclusive offer for New Customers of 15% OFF with code alexoconnor at https://huel.com/alexoconnor (Minimum $50 purchase).Come to my UK tour: https://www.livenation.co.uk/alex-o-connor-tickets-adp1641612.For early, ad-free access to videos, and to support the channel, subscribe to my Substack: https://www.alexoconnor.com.-Swami Sarvapriyananda is a Hindu monk belonging to the Ramakrishna Order. He is the current resident Swami and Minister in Charge, of the Vedanta Society of New York.-TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Tour00:32 – An Intro to Hinduism and Advaita Vedanta14:31 – What Are the Upanishads22:08 – Where Do the Vedas (Scripture) Come From?29:02 – What Does “Upanishad” Mean?34:36 – What Do the Upanishads Teach Us?47:07 – What Is Brahman, or Ultimate Existence?1:02:52 – What Is the True Nature of Consciousness?1:08:15 – Non-Dualism in Advaita Vedanta1:18:34 – Why Isn't There Just One Big Consciousness?1:29:06 – What Is the Self?1:36:30 – Are Brahman and Atman the Same Thing?1:45:25 – What Does ‘God' Mean in Hinduism?1:49:07 – Does Hinduism Believe Other Religions Are Incorrect?

Pastor Paul was doing gospel outreach in Northern India when he was arrested by police and accused of "forcing" Hindus to convert to Christianity. He wasn't forcing anyone but only sharing with people who expressed a hunger to hear the truth. When police arrived, Paul and his coworkers weren't having a service or studying the Bible; they were eating a meal. Still, it was considered a crime. "Which god are you praying to?" police asked. Little did Pastor Paul know that his faith would be tested as he heard that question repeatedly over the coming weeks. Pastor Paul and his three gospel coworkers suffered tremendously in police custody. Police threatened them constantly, putting fear in their hearts. They were repeatedly offered freedom if they would only renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. Police put the four Christians in a filthy prison cell that also served as the police station latrine. They allowed a mob of radical Hindus to beat them. Paul prayed that God would strengthen him. "Lord, please help me not to fear their words because You are in charge of every situation," Pastor Paul prayed, "You controlled the lion's mouth when Daniel went inside." As Pastor Paul fervently prayed, the Lord provided him many opportunities to share his faith in Christ and the strength to stand firm against the enemy's schemes. Listen as he shares his prayer for a forgiving heart when police threatened to beat him, stories of times the Lord gave him moments of relief, and how God sustained him even when his coworkers renounced Christ and turned their backs on him. The Lord opened fellow prisoners' hearts to hear more about his faith as they watched Pastor Paul. Living out 1 Peter 3:15, he made the most of every opportunity to share the hope of Jesus Christ. Mistreatment and terrible prison conditions impacted Paul's health; he thought he was going to die. When his wife was finally allowed to visit, he assumed it would be the last time he saw her on earth. He encouraged her to continue forward with Christ and not turn back, even if he died in prison. Paul had two final requests as he cried out to the Lord: to see revival in Uttar Pradesh state, and for the Lord to allow another pastor to be arrested and come and encourage him in prison. Tune in next week to hear the rest of Pastor Paul's story and whether God answered his request. Pray this week for the Lord to give our brothers and sisters in India strength and courage to withstand Christian persecution and hold fast to their faith in spite of anti-conversion laws and unjust treatment by the Hindu nationalist government. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, Iran and Colombia, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Ralph welcomes, Robert Weissman co-president of Public Citizen, to discuss his Senate testimony about the many ways the Trump Administration's assault on fraud is itself fraudulent. Plus, Ralph informs us of a report from Aljazeera about the MK-84 weapon the IDF is using in Gaza that is designed to generate so much heat it literally vaporizes people.Robert Weissman is a staunch public interest advocate and activist, as well as an expert on a wide variety of issues ranging from corporate accountability and government transparency, to trade and globalization, to economic and regulatory policy. As the president of Public Citizen, he has spearheaded the effort to loosen the chokehold corporations and the wealthy have over our democracy.Every American should be worried about fraud. So it's fine for the committee to be talking about fraud, but it should be based on actual facts and what's actually happening, which is not what's going on with this focus on Minnesota… And without a doubt, if the concern is about fraud in the public or the private economy right now, the number one problem with fraud is the Trump administration.Robert WeissmanThanks to the Supreme Court decision on Presidential immunity, Trump believes (correctly) that he will not be held criminally accountable for anything that he does while he's President. And that is true so long as that Supreme Court decision stands. And I think it's fair to say that basically everyone who's working for him right now—who I think are committing all kinds of crimes, including through the sale of pardons and through the outrageous use of ICE in Minnesota and around the country—I think they expect they're going to get pardoned before he goes. So I think they think they too will be (and they're probably not wrong in expecting it) that they too will be immune from criminal prosecution (at least federal criminal prosecution) for any crimes they commit while they're in the administration.Robert WeissmanIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 2/13/26* Our top stories this week concern the Jeffrey Epstein case. According to POLITICO, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who, along with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has led the charge to release the Epstein files, “took to the House floor Tuesday and read aloud the names of six ‘wealthy, powerful men' whose names were originally redacted,” in the files. These names include billionaire Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner, Emirati shipping magnate Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and Italian politician Nicola Caputo, among other more mysterious figures like Salvatore Nuara and Leonic Leonov. Khanna used congressional representatives' unique power under the speech and debate clause to make these names public, after combing through the files personally along with Rep. Massie. Khanna added “if we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3 million files.”* Speaking of hiding names in the files, Axios reports that Representative Jamie Raskin stated that “when he searched President Trump's name in the unredacted Epstein files… it came up ‘more than a million times.'” The implication of this statement is clear: Trump's cronies in the Justice Department are covering up the extent of Trump's relationship and involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Another member of the administration, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, admitted under Senate questioning that he had lunch with Epstein on his island, along with his family, claiming he “could not recall” why they did. The administration is allowing members of Congress to view the unredacted files within certain hours via a database they describe as confusing, unreliable, and clunky.* Another surprising revelation from the files is that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries apparently solicited campaign donations from Epstein back in 2013. According to MSN, Epstein received a campaign solicitation via email from a fundraising firm touting Jeffries as “one of the rising stars in the New York Congressional delegation,” and offering Epstein “an opportunity to get to know Hakeem better.” Jeffries denies having any knowledge of this firm's outreach to Epstein and decried House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer's implication that he had any relationship with the late sexual predator and financier, calling Comer a “stone cold liar” and a “malignant clown.”* In non-Epstein related news from Capitol Hill, last week lawmakers held a hearing to probe the operations of autonomous taxi service Waymo. While Republicans chose to focus on Waymo's supposed ties to Chinese companies, Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts grilled the chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, on the company's reliance on workers abroad for key safety decisions. Peña admitted that while some operators are located in the US, others – who step in when robotaxis encounter “unusual situations” – work remotely from the Philippines. Markey called this “completely unacceptable,” emphasizing that these workers may need to react “in a split second” during dangerous scenarios. Waymo is just the latest company marketing its services as high tech and autonomous, but later revealed to be reliant on cheap foreign labor. This from Business Insider.* ICE lawlessness continues to roil Congress. Many Democrats are now sounding the alarm that Trump's immigration police – masked, armed, accountable directly to him and backed to the hilt by the administration – could be used as a tool to suppress voter turnout by conducting raids at or near polling locations, thereby scaring citizens into staying home. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said “Trump is trying to create a pretext to rig the election.” Murphy, along with some Senate Democratic allies, pushed leadership to demand that ICE be banned from polling sites as a condition of government shutdown negotiations, but leadership balked, per POLITICO. While such a scenario can sound far-fetched, Trump has “falsely and repeatedly claimed for more than a decade that millions of illegal immigrants vote in the U.S., arguing that was one factor in his 2020 loss,” and, just before the 2020 election, he pledged to send “sheriffs” and “law enforcement” to polling places.* Drop Site News' Jacqueline Sweet reports 70 organizations, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Unitarian, as well as civil rights, academic, legal, peace, and human rights groups, submitted a formal request to the National Security Division of the Justice Department seeking a “Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) investigation into Canary Mission.” Canary Mission is a shadowy, infamous group that tracks pro-Palestine activity on college campuses. In 2018, they appeared at the George Washington University wearing spooky masks in an attempt to intimidate the student government into voting down a BDS resolution. They failed. This latest letter comes on the heels of a Drop Site story from January that “showed among other things that Canary is operated in Israel by a large Israeli team.” As the letter notes, the Foreign Agent Registration Act “exists precisely to address this type of potential activity carried out in the United States for the benefit of a foreign country.”* In more news regarding pro-Palestine activism, last week, six defendants linked to Palestine Action, a direct action protest group in the United Kingdom, were acquitted of aggravated burglary in connection with an alleged break in at Elbit Systems, a defense firm with close ties to the Israeli military, in August 2024. The persecution of Palestine Action has gone far beyond normal law enforcement. Some activists have been in pre-trial detention for over 500 days, more than double the maximum limit set by the Crown Prosecution Service. The case of the Palestine Action protestors has drawn outcry from international human rights groups, including the United Nations and Human Rights Watch. As HRW notes, in July of last year, the British government declared Palestine Action a terrorist organization and have now detained over 2,700 protestors over infractions as minor as holding a sign reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” As of now, over 20 activists are still in detention awaiting trial, many beyond the legal limits, and the six acquitted activists may face retrial. But for now, the group has scored a major victory in the face of overwhelming odds.* Turning back to domestic news, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appears to have pulled off a fait accompli in her reelection campaign. Last year, former Representative Elise Stefanik dropped her bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination and sitting Rep. Mike Lawler declined to run. Now, Hochul's main primary opponent – Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado – has dropped his bid after Hochul secured the endorsements of New York City Mayor and political superstar Zohran Mamdani as well as the entirety of the New York Democratic congressional delegation. This from the New York Times. This is a stunning political feat for a Governor who won the narrowest gubernatorial election in the state since 1994 when she was last up in 2022. It now seems that Hochul will square off against Bruce Blakeman, the Trump-endorsed Republican executive of Nassau County in November.* Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the dynamic of the Mayoral race was upended this week by the last-minute decision of Councilmember Nithya Raman to throw her hat into the ring against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Raman, an urban planner by trade, chairs the Council's Housing and Homelessness Committee and has “built her political identity around tenant protections, homelessness policy and efforts to accelerate housing production,” per the Los Angeles Daily News. Raman was the first of several Councilmembers elected with DSA support and she has maintained a strong relationship with the local branch despite tensions with the national organization, primarily over Israel/Palestine issues. Bass, who won a narrow election against billionaire developer Rick Caruso in 2022, has faced harsh criticism over her handling of the devastating fires in 2025 and her inability to make significant progress on the city's homelessness crisis. However, Bass maintains the support of much of the city's Democratic establishment, including the unions and much of the City Council and Raman's late entry will make it difficult for her to consolidate majority support across the sprawling western metropolis.* Finally, in a David-and-Goliath tale, we turn to TJ Sabula, the UAW Local 600 Ford factory line worker who called Trump a “pedophile protector.” Infamously, the president retorted by giving Sabula the finger and mouthing, “F--- you.” Ironically, Trump also trotted out his iconic catchphrase “You're fired.” Well, Sabula was not fired – and in fact “has no discipline on his record,” – because he was protected by his union, per the Detroit News. In a recent address, UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson said “TJ, we got your back,” adding “In that moment, we saw what the president really thinks about working people…As UAW members, we speak truth to power. We don't just protect rights, we exercise them.” UAW President Shawn Fain, who has emerged as a firebrand leader of the revitalized labor movement, commented “That's a union brother who spoke up…He put his constitutional rights to work. He put his union rights to work.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe