Podcasts about Homecoming

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by this past Saturday's biggest winner in Nazim Sadykhov and heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane in the wake of Jon Jones' retirement. Fresh off his acting debut in the new Netflix film K.O., Gane reflects on the surreal experience of being a movie star — and how choreographed fight scenes compare to the real violence of the Octagon. He also weighs in on Jon Jones' legacy and what the future holds for Ciryl now that Tom Aspinall has been elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion. Jim and Matt begin to unpack the action from this past Saturday's UFC Fight Night card before the fighting pride of Azerbaijan himself, Nazim Sadykhov calls in to reflect on the surreal feeling of winning in front of a roaring hometown crowd in Baku.

Send us a textThe Sandman, BWT, Tyler, and Oliver discuss Haks friendship with Todd, Fonzie, and Scorp. Haks birthday, Hardcore Homecoming 2005, and all things you gotta understand.0:54 - Intro/Haks casino day wit the boys3:23 - Hak's birthday7:50 - NHL Stanley Cup recap 13:10 - NBA Finals talk16:56 - Hardcore Homecoming 2005 recap1:23:17 - Listener questions1:33:50 - Cane of the week/Toast of the weekEpisode recorded 6/19/25

It's been five years since our first visit to Yellowstone National Park, and our return trip this spring was a whole different experience! If you're planning a trip to Yellowstone or just love hearing about epic RV journeys, this is an episode you won't want to miss! *Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member and get your first month for $3 *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ *Get all the details about Homecoming 2025 here: https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Support our Sponsors: *https://liquifiedrv.com/ * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com Get 25% Off RV Life Pro here: https://my.rvlife.com/bill/signup/3?s=rvtw&coupon=QE7KAHVF3E 00:00 Introduction 02:26 Planning Your Yellowstone Trip 03:13 Journey from Grand Teton to Yellowstone 04:16 West Yellowstone Campground Experience 07:13 Exploring West Yellowstone Town 15:05 Dining in West Yellowstone 21:11 Yellowstone National Park Overview 22:51 Exploring the Southwest Quadrant 29:53 Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin 37:00 Staying at Fishing Bridge Campground 47:30 Magical Moments at Fishing Bridge 55:02 Wildlife Adventures in Hayden Valley 58:02 Meeting Fellow Travelers in Yellowstone 59:31 Canyon Area and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone 01:03:13 Dining and Lodging in Yellowstone 01:06:07 Norris Geyser Basin 01:11:05 Date Night at Mammoth 01:19:44 Exiting Through the East Entrance 01:23:21 Tanks 01:36:38 Outro   Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID  437726– Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE.

Perhaps the most universal place to collect and deepen attention is the breath.  This meditation begins with an intentional breath that calms the nervous system, and then opens to a clear, intimate presence with our natural breathing. With breath as our home base, we practice returning again and again when the mind becomes distracted. As presence grows, we can let the breath be in the foreground, and include whatever waves of life come and go.  This brings a quiet mind, and a peaceful, happy heart.

The Honorable Nicole Khoury from the class of 1999 is a rock star, both behind the bench and on stage. By day, she is a judge for the Toledo Municipal Court, and by night and on weekends she is the lead vocalist for the band Arctic Clam, which performs at many venues in the Midwest, including at Hillsdale College’s Homecoming. ------ Informative. Inspirational. Uplifting. Those are the goals of the White and Blue podcast. We are here to tell the interesting stories of Hillsdale College alumni, who number more than 15,000 strong. Our guests will share about their time and experiences while on campus, and also the impact they have had on the world since graduating. What makes the Hillsdale College graduate unique? We will explore that question and more, including how alumni have impacted the past, present, and future of the College. Won’t you join us?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, an RV brand is up for sale, and Jason has thoughts on why RVers should come together to purchase it, as well as what the company should do to turn a profit. Plus, the See America Podcast is back! Jason sits down with Brooks Smothers, the new host of the show, to talk about travel, why he wanted to reboot See America, and so much more. Subscribe to the See America Podcast HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/see-america/id1479148682 Join Brooks on the RV Out West Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rv-out-west/id1555183465 *Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member and get your first month for $3 *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ *Get all the details about Homecoming 2025 here: https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Support our Sponsors: *Get your bottle of Liquified RV Toilet Treatment: https://liquifiedrv.com * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Use code RVMILES15 to get 15% off Travelfi here: https://travlfi.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Ad+Read&utm_campaign=RV+Miles+YouTube+Ad+Read 00:00 Introduction 02:03 Lance Campers up for sale 12:41 Reviving the See America Podcast 24:09 Exploring Roadside Attractions 41:40 Introducing the Impact of Historical Events on Kids 42:20 The Power of Podcasts in Enhancing Travel Experiences 43:36 Memorials and Their Emotional Impact 45:29 Exploring Unique and Impactful Destinations 47:34 Exciting Upcoming Episodes and Personal Stories 52:04 RV Out West Podcast and Pacific Northwest Destinations 54:43 Air Quality Issues and Neighborly Annoyances 01:01:07 Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Airstream 01:07:35 Mayflies: A Pesky Problem 01:12:55 Disney's National Park Themed Land 01:14:39 Wrapping Up

In this episode of your favorite smart home podcast, your host wraps up all the Apple Home news following WWDC25. We walk through iOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26 to see all the new smart home features. Outside of WWDC, we go hands on with the Govee lamp post light that works with Matter.Send us your HomeKit questions and recommendations with the hashtag homekitinsider. Tweet and follow our hosts at:@andrew_osu on Twitter@andrewohara941 on ThreadsEmail us hereSponsored by:NordLayer: Get an exclusive offer of up to 22% off NordLayer yearly plans plus 10% on top with the coupon code homekit-10HomeKit Insider YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the HomeKit Insider YouTube Channel and watch our episodes every week! Click here to subscribe.Links from the showCarPlay Apple Home features in iOS 26tvOS 26 New FeaturesGovee Lamp Post LightThose interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com

TEACHING SLIDES

What if the thing you've been chasing… has actually been chasing you?The journey of Psalm 23 ends not with our searching, God's lavish welcome home. A seat at His table. A feast in the presence of your enemies. A life marked by goodness, mercy, and deep belonging.This message explores the longing behind every longing—the ache to be home with God. It's about rest, joy, and a Shepherd who won't stop coming after you until you're safe at home.

Mandatory minicamp for the Carolina Panthers has begun — and questions have inevitably come to the fore: Who's healthy? How is this all-of-a-sudden crowded receiving room shaking out? And is any Carolina homecoming — either for cornerback Stephon Gilmore or linebacker Germaine Pratt or cornerback Jaire Alexander — on the horizon? Charlotte Observer reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow are here to break down such questions in their latest podcast episode of Processing Blue. And for those needing a succinct catch-up on all things Panthers ... this is the place for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Midsummer Mysteries: Linnea's Journey to Family Rediscovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-06-11-22-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Solen stringde sina varma strålar över det stora familjehuset i den lilla svenska byn.En: The sun cast its warm rays over the large family house in the small Swedish village.Sv: Trädgården var pyntad med färgglada dekorationer och doften av vilda blommor fyllde luften.En: The garden was adorned with colorful decorations, and the scent of wildflowers filled the air.Sv: Det var Midsommar, och hela familjen hade samlats för att fira.En: It was Midsummer, and the whole family had gathered to celebrate.Sv: Mitt i allt detta stod Linnea, som känt sig lite frånkopplad från familjen sedan hon flyttade till storstaden.En: Amidst it all stood Linnea, who had felt a bit disconnected from the family since she moved to the big city.Sv: Inne i huset rådde en behaglig kaos.En: Inside the house, there was a pleasant chaos.Sv: Barn sprang omkring, vuxna skrattade och pratade högt.En: Children ran around, adults laughed and talked loudly.Sv: Linnea kände en viss oro.En: Linnea felt a certain anxiety.Sv: Det var hennes första riktiga sommar tillbaka hemma, och hon ville så gärna bli accepterad och betrodd som den ansvarsfulla vuxna hon blivit.En: It was her first real summer back home, and she genuinely wanted to be accepted and trusted as the responsible adult she had become.Sv: Men så hände det oväntade—farmors gamla silverbrosch var borta.En: But then the unexpected happened—grandmother's old silver brooch was gone.Sv: Broschen var älskad och hade gått i arv i generationer.En: The brooch was beloved and had been passed down through generations.Sv: Underbara minnen kopplades till det glänsande smycket.En: Wonderful memories were linked to the shiny piece of jewelry.Sv: "Är det någon som sett broschen?"En: "Has anyone seen the brooch?"Sv: ropade Linnea över sorlet.En: Linnea called over the din.Sv: Snart flög frågor och spekulationer genom rummet.En: Soon, questions and speculations flew through the room.Sv: Var det farmor som hade städat undan den, eller kanske någon annan som lagt den på ett säkert ställe?En: Was it grandmother who had tidied it away, or perhaps someone else who had put it in a safe place?Sv: Linnea tog på sig att finna den.En: Linnea took it upon herself to find it.Sv: Hon bestämde sig för att prata med alla släktingar, börja med att retracera kärlekens väg hos de små barnen som gärna lekte klä-ut sig.En: She decided to talk to all the relatives, starting by retracing the path of affection with the little children who loved to play dress-up.Sv: Till hennes förskräckelse fick hon höra av hennes kusin Karin, att hennes lillebror Erik hade haft broschen när han lekte prinsessa.En: To her dismay, she heard from her cousin Karin that her little brother Erik had had the brooch when he played princess.Sv: Ett känslomässigt pussel började formas.En: An emotional puzzle began to form.Sv: Linnea följde spår utomhus och upptäckte att Erik varit i trädgården.En: Linnea followed tracks outside and discovered that Erik had been in the garden.Sv: Hon gick runt bland blommor och buskar och frågade Erik.En: She moved around the flowers and bushes and asked Erik.Sv: Han tittade skamset ner i marken.En: He looked shamefully down at the ground.Sv: "Jag hade den bara för en stund," mumlade han.En: "I only had it for a moment," he mumbled.Sv: Efter flera minuters letande hittade Linnea en liten blank del som stack upp ur jorden mitt i blomrabatten.En: After several minutes of searching, Linnea found a small shiny part sticking up from the soil in the middle of the flower bed.Sv: Där låg den, farmors älskade brosch, lite jordig men i gott skick!En: There it was, grandmother's beloved brooch, a bit dirty but in good condition!Sv: Med broschen i handen kände Linnea en otrolig lättnad.En: With the brooch in hand, Linnea felt incredible relief.Sv: Med snabba steg rusade hon tillbaka till huset.En: With quick steps, she rushed back into the house.Sv: "Jag hittade den!"En: "I found it!"Sv: ropade hon glatt, och en våg av lättnad strålade runt i rummet.En: she shouted joyfully, and a wave of relief radiated through the room.Sv: När de senare samlades runt bordet för den stora midsommartoasten, hängde farmors brosch på plats hos Linnéa.En: Later, when they gathered around the table for the grand Midsummer toast, grandmother's brooch hung in its place on Linnea.Sv: Hon insåg då något viktigt—det handlade aldrig om att bevisa något.En: She realized something important then—it was never about proving anything.Sv: Det var kärleken och banden till familjen som verkligen betydde något.En: It was the love and connections with the family that truly mattered.Sv: Plötsligt kändes allt mer hemma igen, och hon förstod att hon alltid hörde till i denna brokiga och älskvärda samling av folk.En: Suddenly, everything felt more like home again, and she understood that she always belonged to this motley and lovable group of people.Sv: Och så, under Midsommarnattens ljus, log Linnea när skratten och sångerna blandades med löftet om nya minnen tillsammans.En: And so, under the light of the Midsummer night, Linnea smiled as the laughter and songs mingled with the promise of new memories together. Vocabulary Words:cast: stringdeadorned: pyntadscent: doftenwildflowers: vilda blommordisconnected: frånkoppladchaos: kaosanxiety: ororesponsible: ansvarsfullaunexpected: oväntadebrooch: broschpassed down: gått i arvbeloved: älskadspeculations: spekulationerretracing: retraceradismay: förskräckelsepuzzle: pusseltracks: spårdiscovered: upptäckteshamefully: skamsetmumbled: mumladeshiny: glänsanderadiated: stråladegrand: storatoast: midsommartoastenproved: bevisaconnections: bandenmotley: brokigamingled: blandadespromise: löftetgathered: samlades

Dr. Thema starts this week's episode with an original poem to Heal the Healers. She then describes specific strategies for reducing the distress caused by comparing yourself to others. To learn more, check out her books Homecoming, Reclaim Yourself, and Matters of the Heart. The intro and outro music are by Joy Jones.

Greetings, bucketheads!We are heading to Ryloth for a Syndulla family reunion...and stealing and blowing up Imperial Starships! Strap on your buckets, let's go!Please follow the show at:Mando_Vision on Twitter and Instagram. Email: MandoVisionTom@gmail.comPlease, like, subscribe and share the show with your friends on all of your favorite podcast platforms and if you can take the time to write a 5-Star review, it will be read on the show! Thank for all the support, please stay safe and take care of each other. Music by Dirty Sweet and used with permission.All audio clips from any “Star Wars” material is copyright of Disney Enterprises Inc. and is only used for the sole purpose of promotion of Disney property and to provide context for talking points. Mando Vision is copyright Thomas Pritchard 2025. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This is a guided somatic activation where you'll be guided to move through your body.Please ensure you have space to move before listening/practicing this activation.In Yoga we often say ROOT TO RISE — and the same principle goes for expanding our capacity, we need to start from the ground up.This episode is supported by⁠ The Practice⁠ — a 24/7 portal of breathwork, yin yoga, tapping, and somatic recalibration designed to support the real CEO: your nervous system.Inside, you'll find embodiment practices, energetic resets, a monthly live Homecoming class, seasonal challenges, and a monthly cosmic weather forecast — all for €11/month.Come home to yourself, anytime. Come say hey over on IG ⁠⁠@its_ninachin⁠⁠ ⁠

When you have a good story to tell, why not invite the world?For our Lost In Belfast series finale, we convene in the Titanic Hotel's grand vaulted hall, where the ill-fated ship was designed. Hundreds have gathered from across local communities and from around the globe for the Belfast International Homecoming—civic leaders, elected officials, business executives, investors, entrepreneurs, culture makers…and two peripatetic podcasters.Co-host and a Belfast Homecoming Ambassador himself, John Lee spoke with the event's creator Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, a former Lord Mayor, long-time publisher, and Irish Stew alum and Connla McCann, who organizes this and many other high-profile events on both sides of the Atlantic as co-founder and director of Aisling Events.We glean their insights on the purpose, evolution, outcomes, and future of this much anticipated annual event (returning Sept. 25, 2025), and grab soundbites from Dan Dennehy--VP Council for American Ireland Relations, Bryan O'Dwyer, a New York lawyer dedicated to advancing Ireland's cause in the United States, and Smuggling Nun Poitín's Maura Clare, another past Irish Stew guest and a 2024 Belfast Homecoming Ambassador.We also heard about the Homecoming's sister event, the New York New Belfast Luncheon Conference, coming to the stately New York Athletic Club on Thurs., June 12. See the link below for last-minute tickets!So, we are lost no more—we found our way home to Belfast.We thank Tourism Ireland for all their support and Máirtín and Connla for inviting us to the Belfast Homecoming!Links2025 New York New Belfast Conference - Thu, Jun 122025 Belfast International Homecoming - Thu, Sep 25Aisling EventsMáirtín Ó MuilleoirLinkedInTwitter/XFacebookEarlier Irish Stew episodeConnla McCannLinkedInFacebookEpisode Details: Season 7, Episode 21; Total Episode Count: 124

Grab your tastiest sandwich and try not to spoil Twin Peaks as we return to Deep Space 9 with an all-DS9 extravaganza. We're talking about the opening three-parter of season two of Deep Space Nine which, unlike the Augment three-parter of Enterprise we covered (Episode Title- We Have Wrath of Khan at Home), we're discussing and placing on the Big List as one single entry and not three seperate ones. Watch as in ‘The Homecoming,' Kira goes off to rescue Bajor's greatest resistance fighter and gets no end of grief for it, then we see that Odo has an actual friend while Kira has one of those awkward naked dreams while uncovering Bajoran nationalists in ‘The Circle' and then the simmering Bajoran nonsence ends up in some Die Hard antics on the Station as our heroes must endure ‘The Siege' where this should hopefully wrap up. No Vedek Winn's were harmed during the making of these episodes for which we are deeply sorry.EPISODES DISCUSSED: ‘The Homecoming' (11:25), ‘The Circle' (35:11) and ‘The Siege' (56:11)This used to be a TNG episode, Bajoran nonsense, Twin Peaks references (some spoilers removed) the DS9 novel mentioned last episode, Odo pranking Quark, Miles prefers Sisko with no beard, the Return of Grappler Zorn and a digression into G.I.Joe, Frank Langella aka Skeletor, Sisko's better at the ‘We're with Starfleet, we don't lie' than Wesley, Odo has a friend-an actual friend (cue references to ‘The Inbetweeners', Vedek Winn would unapologetically tweet ‘Thoughts and Prayers', The Prime Directive is poorly written legislation, we do a Die-Hard, Bashir would have a pith helmet, Deep Space Nine still working out what it can do and it feels that the Bajor stuff falls by the wayside with much larger threats, Krim wants to be Sisko's big rival, this is all too neat in resolution.

Grab your tastiest sandwich and try not to spoil Twin Peaks as we return to Deep Space 9 with an all-DS9 extravaganza. We're talking about the opening three-parter of season two of Deep Space Nine which, unlike the Augment three-parter of Enterprise we covered (in "We Have Wrath of Khan at Home"), we're discussing and placing on the Big List as one single entry and not three seperate ones. Watch as in ‘The Homecoming,' Kira goes off to rescue Bajor's greatest resistance fighter and gets no end of grief for it, then we see that Odo has an actual friend while Kira has one of those awkward naked dreams while uncovering Bajoran nationalists in ‘The Circle' and then the simmering Bajoran nonsence ends up in some Die Hard antics on the Station as our heroes must endure ‘The Siege' where this should hopefully wrap up. No Vedek Winn's were harmed during the making of these episodes for which we are deeply sorry. The post 75. The Hero of the Bajoran Resistance first appeared on Nerd & Tie Network.

In this episode of RV Miles, we dive into one of our now-favorite national parks: Grand Teton National Park, and the charming town of Jackson, Wyoming. We cover our stay in the Alpine, Wyoming area and our experiences in the park, including the breathtaking scenery and wildlife. We share some tips on local dining, and unique shops, and more. Join us as we traverse the beauty and excitement of the Tetons!   *Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member and get ONE MONTH FREE  at https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get all the details about Homecoming 2025 here: https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Support our Sponsors: *Win a free RV with @LiquifiedRV here: https://liquifiedrv.com/RVMilesRVGiveaway * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Use code RVMILES15 to get 15% off Travelfi here: https://travlfi.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Ad+Read&utm_campaign=RV+Miles+YouTube+Ad+Read 00:00 Introduction 01:41 Reflections on Time and Travel 03:00 Settling Back Home 10:28 Exploring Jackson Hole and Alpine, Wyoming 12:05 Dispersed Camping at Palisades Reservoir 14:54 Alpine Valley RV Resort 22:45 Dining and Shopping in Jackson 40:45 National Museum of Wildlife Art 45:45 Exploring Grand Teton Visitor Centers 50:57 Hiking and Scenic Drives 54:43 Colter Bay and Jackson Lake 57:48 Mormon Row and Storm Encounter 01:05:51 Fresh Tank/Black Tank 01:25:00 Conclusion

Actor Danny Dyer became a household name when he joined the cast of EastEnders as Mick Carter, landlord of the Queen Victoria pub. He recently stole the show from some stiff competition playing Freddie Jones in the television adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel Rivals which won him a Royal Television Society Award for Best Supporting Actor.Danny was born in Custom House, East London in 1977. He loved drama at school and, with his teacher's encouragement, he signed up for after-school classes in north London which were run by a charity called Wac Arts. When he was 14 he was cast in the television drama Prime Suspect 3 alongside Helen Mirren and David Thewlis. He went on to star in a series of films including Human Traffic and Football Factory. In 2000 he played the waiter in Harold Pinter's new play Celebration and went on to appear in two other productions by the playwright - No Man's Land and The Homecoming.In 2013 he took over the Queen Vic and his performances earned him three National Television Awards. He appeared on the BBC genealogy programme Who Do you think you Are? in 2016 and discovered he was descended from King Edward III and related to Thomas Cromwell. Danny lives in Essex with his wife Jo. They have three children and three grandchildren.DISC ONE: Slave to Love - Bryan Ferry DISC TWO: Rebel Yell - Billy Idol DISC THREE: Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson DISC FOUR: Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd DISC FIVE: Playing with Knives - Bizarre Inc DISC SIX: Columbia - Oasis DISC SEVEN: Nebraska - Lucy Rose DISC EIGHT: Wicked Game - Chris Isaak BOOK CHOICE: Ray Mears Essential Bushcraft: A Handbook of Survival LUXURY ITEM: A Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Playing with Knives - Bizarre Inc Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Paula McGinley

TEACHING SLIDES SERMON REFLECTIONS

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Rediscovering Roots: A Homecoming to Jerusalem's Western Wall Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2025-06-08-22-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: החיים בירושלים תמיד מתחילים עם קרן שמש חמה.En: Life in Jerusalem always begins with a warm ray of sunshine.He: אבן הזהב של הכותל המערבי נראית כאילו היא לוהטת באור השמש.En: The golden stone of the Western Wall looks as if it's burning in the sunlight.He: חודש יוני כבר בעיצומו, והקיץ שולט בעיר הקודש.En: The month of June is already in full swing, and summer rules the city of holiness.He: אנשים רבים התאספו במקום הקדוש, כל אחד עם תפילותיו ורגעיו השקטים.En: Many people have gathered at the sacred site, each with their prayers and quiet moments.He: אביב חזר לישראל לאחר כמה שנים של לימודים בחו"ל.En: Aviv has returned to Israel after several years of studying abroad.He: הוא התגעגע לבית, למשפחה, במיוחד לימי הילדות שבילה כאן, בכותל, עם הוריו וסבו.En: He missed home, family, and especially the childhood days he spent here, at the Wall, with his parents and grandfather.He: הוא חולם על חיבור מחודש לשורשים ולעברו.En: He dreams of reconnecting with his roots and past.He: היום הוא פוגש את נועה, בת דודתו, שהוקרה בליבה את כל מסורת המשפחה.En: Today he is meeting Noa, his cousin, who holds dearly in her heart the entire family tradition.He: היא חיה בירושלים, והמקום הפך להיות חלק מחייה היומיומיים.En: She lives in Jerusalem, and the place has become part of her daily life.He: היא חיכתה לו בקצה הכיכר, מחייכת, אורחי רוח הקיץ נשפכים על פניה.En: She waited for him at the edge of the plaza, smiling, the summer's gentle breeze touching her face.He: "שלום, אביב", היא אמרה בחום, "ברוך שובך!En: "Hello, Aviv," she said warmly, "welcome back!"He: ""שלום, נועה", אביב ענה, מרגיש קצת זר, אך גם מלא תקווה.En: "Hello, Noa," Aviv responded, feeling a bit like a stranger, yet full of hope.He: הם הולכים יחד לכיוון הכותל.En: They walk together toward the Wall.He: נועה תמיד אהבה ללמד את אביב על המנהגים והמסורות של המשפחה.En: Noa always loved teaching Aviv about the family customs and traditions.He: היא מציעה לו להניח ידיים על האבנים ולהתפלל.En: She suggests he place his hands on the stones and pray.He: היא מספרת לו על שורשים ומשמעות, על מקום מיוחד זה.En: She tells him about roots and meaning, about this special place.He: אביב מהסס.En: Aviv hesitates.He: הוא מרגיש כאילו הזמן בחו"ל הרחיק אותו מהזהות שהייתה לו פעם.En: He feels as though his time abroad distanced him from the identity he once had.He: אבל הוא יודע שעליו לנסות.En: But he knows he must try.He: לנסות להתחבר.En: Try to reconnect.He: הוא מסתכל על האנשים סביבו, שומע את קולות התפילה, ונושם עמוק.En: He looks at the people around him, hears the sounds of prayer, and takes a deep breath.He: הוא מניח יד על האבנים הקרות והמרגישות חיות תחת מגעו.En: He places his hand on the cold stones that feel alive under his touch.He: הוא מתפלל.En: He prays.He: פתאום, בין הרעש והשקט, הוא מרגיש זיקה עמוקה, חיבור לרגע הזה, למשפחה שלו ולכל התרבות שהוא הגיע ממנה.En: Suddenly, amidst the noise and silence, he feels a deep connection, a bond to this moment, to his family, and to the entire culture he came from.He: זהו רגע של הארה.En: It's a moment of enlightenment.He: הוא לוחש את שמות בני המשפחה בתפילתו, מרגיש את העבר וההווה במעין התפוצצות רגשות.En: He whispers the names of his family members in his prayer, feeling the past and present in a kind of emotional explosion.He: לאחר כמה רגעים, הוא פותח את עיניו.En: After a few moments, he opens his eyes.He: נועה מביטה בו בהבנה ובהשתתפות.En: Noa looks at him with understanding and empathy.He: "הבנתי עכשיו מה כל הטקסים והמסורות הללו באמת מתכוונים עבורי", אמר לה באושר ובעיניים נוצצות.En: "I understand now what all these rituals and traditions truly mean for me," he told her with happiness and sparkling eyes.He: נועה חייכה.En: Noa smiled.He: "אני שמחה לשמוע.En: "I'm glad to hear that.He: זהו מקום חשוב.En: It's an important place.He: עבורך, עבור המשפחה".En: For you, for the family."He: ביחד, הם הולכים לאט, סופגים את השקט ואת קולות התרנגולים מרחוק.En: Together, they walk slowly, absorbing the silence and the distant sounds of roosters.He: הם מתכננים להמשיך לחקור את שורשיהם, את המסורת המשפחתית.En: They plan to continue exploring their roots, the family tradition.He: הם מרגישים אחדות מחודשת.En: They feel a renewed unity.He: חבורת המשפחה שנאספה מחכה להם בצד.En: The gathered family group waits for them on the side.He: המפגש הופך לחגיגה של אחדות ושל חמלה.En: The meeting turns into a celebration of unity and compassion.He: אביב מרגיש שהוא חזר לא רק לבית, אלא גם לליבו שלו.En: Aviv feels that he has returned not only home but also to his own heart. Vocabulary Words:ray: קרןsacred: קדושabroad: חו"לreconnecting: חיבור מחודשtradition: מסורתedge: קצהstranger: זרdistanced: הרחיקidentity: זהותrituals: טקסיםenlightenment: הארהcompassion: חמלהbond: זיקהgathered: התאספוprayers: תפילותcustoms: מנהגיםhesitates: מהססrenewed: מחודשתabsorbing: סופגיםsparkling: נוצצותconnection: חיבורunity: אחדותexplosion: התפוצצותempathy: השתתפותplaza: כיכרcompassion: חמלהdescent: ירידהoverpowering: שולטBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

In this episode of Tank Talks, we delve into the grassroots movement that's turning heads across Canada's innovation ecosystem: Toronto Tech Week. Joining us are two of the powerhouse organizers behind the festival: Julia Baird of Golden Ventures and Taha Hossain of Daybreak Studio. With Collision saying goodbye to Toronto, Julia and Taha stepped up to fill the void, co-creating a decentralized, nonprofit, and radically inclusive tech festival that's rallying an entire city.From organizing 200+ events across 24 neighbourhoods to collaborating with giants like Shopify and Google Cloud, Julia and Taha break down how Toronto Tech Week came to life, what makes it truly different from traditional tech conferences, and why it matters so much to Canada's next generation of founders, investors, and builders.* What's the future of community in tech?* How do you run a 5-day, 200+ event festival without a central committee?* Can a city-scale tech festival really be open-source and inclusive?How Toronto Tech Week Was Born (00:02:37)* Why Collision's exit left more than just a calendar gap* The spontaneous conversations that sparked a movement* What it took to rally 40+ early partners and full-city supportDecentralized by Design: What Makes This Festival Different (00:04:50)* The open-source structure and why it works* Student-led, VC-supported, builder-run: a new way to “conference”* Why side events became the main eventSocial Media & The Rise of Momentum (00:08:50)* How Toby Lutke, Twitter, and memes helped launch the idea* Rallying the community with retro vibes and real voices* Why the diversity of events is by design, not accidentDesigning the Streetcar-Inspired Website (00:11:13)* Taha's inspiration from his Toronto commute* Gamifying city navigation with local flavour* How retro tech, TTC lines, and nostalgia created an authentic experienceLogistics of a 24-Neighbourhood Tech Week (00:17:44)* The hidden support of the City of Toronto* Navigating across the city on foot, by bike, or by subway* Why decentralization adds to the magicBuilding a Global Platform from a Local Base (00:25:08)* How CDL and other partners brought international attention* The snowball effect of global participation* Why leaders like ​Chamath Palihapitiya, Geoffrey Hinton & Harley Finkelstein matterWhat to Expect: From Hinton to Homecoming (00:17:44)* Previewing the biggest events, from BetaKit Town Hall to Netflix's CTO* What excites Julia and Taha most on the calendar* How every community, from AI to CPG, is representedHosting an Event? Here's How (00:34:27)* How the event application process works* What types of events are welcomed (hint: all of them)* How organizers can tap into tools, space, and city supportThe Ripple Effects: Why This Matters (00:31:22)* Why Canadians are everywhere but rarely recognized* Why Toronto Tech Week is a "homecoming" for global talent* How this might plant seeds for the next wave of innovationAdvice for Founders & Attendees (00:35:58)* Why Toronto is the easiest place to make real friendships* What the organizers hope every visitor walks away with* How optimism and belief drive long-term impactAs cities everywhere chase the next big tech event, Toronto may have just found the blueprint: open, grassroots, volunteer-led, and deeply local. Will other ecosystems follow its lead?Toronto Tech Week is a weeklong, citywide collection of events to connect and celebrate the tech community. Happening on June 23-27, 2025, it's an open platform for anyone to join or host events to showcase Toronto globally as a city where anything is possible.About Julia BairdJulia Baird is the Head of Platform & Operations at Golden Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund based in Toronto. She's also one of the founding organizers behind Toronto Tech Week. Julia brings deep experience supporting startups and venture ecosystems and has been instrumental in building the strategic partnerships that power this new community-first festival. When she's not coordinating 200+ events, she's championing Canadian tech talent and empowering founders to scale their impact.About Taha HossainTaha Hossain is the founder of Daybreak Studio, a design and technology studio based in Toronto that partners with high-growth startups to craft impactful brand, product, and web experiences. As one of the founding organizers of Toronto Tech Week, Taha led the creative direction behind its now-iconic streetcar-inspired website and brand identity. His work blends playful design with deep cultural context, making tech feel approachable, authentic, and unmistakably Toronto.Connect with Julia Baird on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliabaird/Connect with Taha Hossain on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahahossain/Visit the Toronto Tech Week website: https://www.torontotechweek.com/Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

In this episode of the Specialty Match podcast, Ryan and Sam welcome Dee from Homecoming Matcha to discuss her journey in the matcha industry. Dee shares her background, the vision behind her brand, and the importance of authenticity in matcha branding. The conversation explores the challenges of sourcing matcha, the impact of tariffs, and the products Dee plans to launch. They also discuss community engagement strategies and the future of the matcha industry, emphasizing the need for transparency and sustainability.https://www.homecomingmatcha.com/

With Malacca captured, another part of Afonso de Albuquerque's great plan to conquor the Indian Ocean falls into place. With a King's ransom he returns to India - but his journey will be filled with danger. PLEASE LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS!  Flash Point History YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYmTYuan0fSGccYXBxc8cA Contribute on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FPHx Leave some feedback: flashpointhistory@gmail.com Follow along on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FLASHPOINTHX/ Engage on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlashpointHx

In this teaching, Evangelist Elias Perez shares his experiences and insights on faith, gratitude, and the importance of upholding spiritual standards. He reflects on his time away on a mission, expresses gratitude for his family and community, and emphasizes the significance of maintaining sound doctrine and unity within the church. The lesson also touches on the challenges of cultural conversations, the nature of humanity, and the essential role of prayer in living a life aligned with God's standards. In this episode, Evangelist Perez discusses the importance of living as new creatures in Christ and the challenges of upholding spiritual standards in daily life. He emphasizes that these standards are not merely rules but a way of life that requires consistency and commitment. The teaching explores the call to deeper faith, the unchanging nature of God's standards, and the cultural challenges faced by believers today. He encourages listeners to uphold these standards for themselves and future generations, highlighting the significance of prayer and integrity in their spiritual journey.Evangelist Elias Perez | June 3, 2025The Fountain Apostolic Churchone_ (2025)Learn more at tfachurch.com/plusChapters:00:00 Homecoming and Gratitude03:02 The Standard of Faith06:08 Upholding Doctrine and Truth09:00 Cultural Conversations and Unity11:57 The Nature of Humanity and Standards15:06 Defining the Standard of Living18:04 The Importance of Prayer in Upholding Standards20:58 Measuring Up to the Standard24:01 Affirmation and Leadership Standards26:48 Living as New Creatures in Christ29:16 The Challenge of Upholding Standards32:23 The Call to More: Standards in Faith35:44 The Unchanging Standard of God39:41 Cultural Challenges and the Gospel Standard43:31 Upholding the Standard for Future Generations

Dr. Thema describes aspects of emotional/psychological abuse and provides pointers for healing and recovery. A reading is shared from the book Dear Artist by Jaiya John. To learn more about healing, check out Dr. Thema's books Homecoming, Reclaim Yourself, and the latest best seller Matters of the Heart.

The Season 5 Finale of the Kokomo Press Podcast is here and it's a banger of an episode to end on before Summer Break!Host Jordan Grainger and Co-Host Cortni Richardson are in studio together and joined by two very familiar faces on the panel.Hypocrisy Jones aka Jordan Bell and Sean D. are both here in studio and it's a sort of Homecoming for the gang. Sean D. is fresh off a full weekend of paid standup comedy gigs so he's ready to keep the laughs going.Bell hasn't been on the Podcast since December but after taking a step back from his online obligations, he's ready to clear the air on a ton of fun topics!Topics for the podcast include but are not limited to: P. Diddy, Modern Parenting, Bidets, Trump, Kid Rock, Elon Musk, Kanye's New Song, Dealing with Grief, Mental Health, Beauty Standards, Food Stamps, and even Wax Candle Melts!!!Every topic possible was broached and you're not going to want to miss this insanely ADHD Episode of the Kokomo Press Podcast!!!@thekokomopress on YouTube, Facebook, and instagram.Jordan Grainger is @ultrajoyed on twitter, facebook, and tiktok.Jordan Bell is @hypocrisy_jones on all major platforms.Cortni Richardson is @cortni88 on instagram and @cortni_lean on twitter.Brian West is @veinypeckerpete on twitter and @westjr.brian on instagram.

Teaching from Luke 5:1-11 by Bro. Landon Smith. Homecoming 2025.

Send a question or message to On Your Flight Today You never really know who's sitting next to you on your flight today. For nearly two decades, it might've been Gary Quesenberry, a Federal Air Marshal living a life most of us only glimpse in movies, quietly protecting passengers from threats at 30K feet.His career began in the intense aftermath of 9/11 and took him nearly 2.5 million miles through the skies, blending in with the passengers while staying constantly alert.In this episode, Gary takes us deep inside that hidden world - how the Air Marshal Service evolved post-9/11, how agents operate under deep cover, hiding in plain sight, and what it takes to stay laser-focused while blending in as just another face on the flight. We even get into that infamous moment involving a Kardashian that put the spotlight exactly where it wasn't supposed to be.Gary breaks down some of the biggest misconceptions about the job, what the role is really like versus what Hollywood leads us to believe and how the truth is often far less glamorous, but far more compelling.Gary shares how his experiences led to him writing a series of personal safety guides and how he's now channeling years of real-world tension into fiction, with his debut action packed  thriller Homecoming.Whether you're in aviation, security, or just captivated by the hidden heroes who quietly protect us, Gary's story unfolds like a true-life thriller filled with insight, unexpected twists, and the unwavering dedication of a true patriot. It's a reminder that some of the most important work happens far from the spotlight and often, right beside us.---------------This episode of On Your Flight Today is brought to you by IFECtiv, an inflight entertainment and connectivity consulting company. Dedicated to elevating the aviation industry's inflight entertainment products and experiences for airlines and suppliers. Visit www.IFECtiv.aero to learn more! Thank you for tuning in. Don't forget to subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you'll never miss an episode. By signing up for our newsletter, you're not only staying in the loop with the latest news, updates and exclusive content, you're also helping us continue to bring you more great content. Your support means everything to us. Sign up today at www.onyourflighttoday.com and thank you for being part of our community. DisclaimerThe views expressed by guests are their own and don't necessarily reflect those of On Your Flight Today, its host, IFECtiv LLC, or affiliates. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not professional advice. On Your Flight Today does not verify guest statements and is not responsible for errors or omissions.www.onyourflighttoday.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/onyourflighttoday

Your next chance to win is tomorrow at 7:20am!

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Even though the Trump Administration has eliminated recognizing cultural heritage months, we are still celebrating diversity and inclusion here at APEX Express and KPFA. We believe in lifting up people's voices and tonight on APEX Express the Powerleegirls are focusing on “Asian American Children's book authors”. Powerleegirl hosts Miko Lee and daughter Jalena Keane-Lee speak with: Michele Wong McSween, Gloria Huang, and Andrea Wang   AAPINH Month Children's Books part 1 transcript Opening: [00:00:00] Apex Express Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the Apex Express.   Ayame Keane-Lee: [00:00:49] Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Even though the Trump administration has eliminated recognizing cultural heritage months, we are still celebrating diversity and inclusion. Here at Apex Express and KPFA, we believe in lifting up people's voices. And tonight on Apex Express, the PowerLeeGirls are focusing on Asian American Children's book authors. PowerLeeGirl hosts Miko Lee and daughter Jalena Keane-Lee. Speak with Michele Wong McSween, Gloria Huang and Andrea Wang. Thanks for joining us tonight on Apex Express. Enjoy the show.   Miko Lee: [00:01:21] Welcome, Michele Wong McSween to Apex Express.    Michele Wong McSween: [00:01:26] Thank you, Miko. It's nice to be here.    Miko Lee: [00:01:28] I'm really happy to talk with you about your whole children's series, Gordon & Li Li, which is absolutely adorable. I wanna start very first with a personal question that I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?   Michele Wong McSween: [00:01:45] I would say my people are really my family starting with, my great, great grandparents who came here down to my grandparents, my parents, and onto my children because, to me family is. The reason why I created Gordon & Li Li in the first place, it was really to bridge that connection for my children. I didn't grow up feeling that connected with my culture because as a fourth generation Chinese American, I was really in the belief that I'm American. Why do I need to know anything about my culture? Why do I need to speak Chinese? I never learned. As a sidebar to that, I never learned to speak Chinese and it didn't really hit me until I had my own kids that I was really doing a disservice to not only my kids, but to myself. my people are my family. I do this for my kids. I do this to almost apologize to my parents for being so, Disrespectful to my amazing culture and I do it for the families who really want to connect and bridge that gap for their own children and for themselves.    Miko Lee: [00:02:53] And what legacy do you carry with you?    Michele Wong McSween: [00:02:55] Again, my family. My, great grandparents. Really. Started our family's legacy with the hard work and the prejudices and all the things that they endured so that we could have a better life. And I've always felt that it is my responsibility to teach my own kids about the sacrifices that were made and not to make them feel guilty, but to just make them appreciate that we are here. Because of the the blood, sweat, and tears that their ancestors did for them. And so we are, eternally grateful for that. I think it's important for us to continue that legacy of always doing our best, being kind and doing what we can do to further the experience of not just our family, but the people in our community that we connect with and to the greater world.    Miko Lee: [00:03:43] when you were growing up, were your parents speaking with you in Chinese and did you hear about your great grandparents and their legacy? Was that part of your upbringing?    Michele Wong McSween: [00:03:52] I heard about my great grandparents in the stories that my mom told us, but to be quite honest, I wasn't receptive to really digging deep in my cultural understanding of. my great-grandfather and what he went through. I know mom, I know he came over in 19 whatever. I know he brought over all these young sons from his village, but I really didn't fully take it in and. No, I didn't hear Chinese spoken in the house much. The only time my parents spoke it was to each other so that we didn't know what they were talking about. They had like this secret code, language. My experience with my language was not, That positive. we did attempt to go to Chinese school only to be teased by all the other kids because we didn't speak it. It didn't end up well. my mom ended up pulling us out and so no, we were really not connected all that much to the language.   Miko Lee: [00:04:48] I can really relate to what you're saying. As a fifth generation Chinese American, and my parents their ancestors came from different provinces, so their dialects were so different that they even spoke to each other in English. 'cause they couldn't understand each other in Chinese. So it happens so often. Yeah. Yeah. And so I really relate to that. I'm wondering if there was an epiphany in your life or a time where you thought, oh, I. I wish I knew more of those stories about my ancestors or was there some catalyst for you that changed?   Michele Wong McSween: [00:05:17] All of this really kind of happened when I moved to New York. I, you know, raised in Sacramento, went to college in the Bay Area, lived in San Francisco for a while with a job, and then I eventually moved to New York. And it wasn't until I came to New York and I met Asians or Chinese Americans like me that actually spoke Chinese and they knew about cool stuff to do in Chinatown. It really opened my eyes to this new cool world of the Chinese culture because I really experienced Chinatown for the first time when I moved to New York. And it was just so incredible to see all these people, living together in this community. And they all looked the same. But here's the thing, they all spoke Chinese, or the majority of them spoke Chinese. So when I went to Chinatown and they would look at me and speak to me in Chinese and I would give them this blank stare. They would just look at me like, oh my gosh, she doesn't even speak her own language. And it kind of made me feel bad. And this was really the first time that it dawned on me that, oh wow, I, I kind of feel like something's missing. And then it really hit me when I had my kids, because they're half Chinese and I thought, oh my gosh, wait a minute, if I'm their last connection to the Chinese culture and I don't speak the language. They have no chance of learning anything about their language they couldn't go that deep into their culture if I didn't learn about it. So that really sparked this whole, Gordon & Li Li journey of learning and discovering language and culture for my kids.    Miko Lee: [00:06:51] Share more about that. How, what happened actually, what was the inspiration for creating the Children's book series?    Michele Wong McSween: [00:06:58] It was really my children, I really felt that it was my responsibility to teach them about their culture and language and, if I didn't know the language, then I better learn it. So I enrolled all of us in different Mandarin courses. They had this, I found this really cute kids' Mandarin class. I went to adult Mandarin classes and I chose Mandarin because that was the approved official language in China. I am from Taishan, My parents spoke Taishanese, but I thought, well, if Mandarin's the official language, I should choose that one probably so that my kids will have at least a better chance at maybe some better jobs in the future or connecting with, the billion people that speak it. I thought Mandarin would be the way to go. When I started going to these classes and I just realized, wow, this is really hard, not just to learn the language, but to learn Mandarin Chinese, because we're not just talking about learning how to say the four different tones. We're talking about reading these characters that if you look at a Chinese character, you have absolutely no idea what it sounds like if you're, if you're learning Spanish or French or German, you can see the letters and kind of sound it out a little bit. But with Chinese characters. No chance. So I found it extremely difficult and I realized, wow, I really need to support my kids more because if I am going to be the one that's going to be bridging this connection for them, I need to learn more and I need to find some more resources to help us. when we would have bedtime story time, that whole routine. That was always the favorite time of my kids to be really, quiet and they would really absorb what I was saying, or we would talk about our days or just talk about funny things and I realized, wow, these books that they love and we have to read over and over and over again. this is the way that they're going to get the information. And I started searching high and low for these books. back in 2006, they didn't exist. and so I realized if they didn't exist and I really wanted them for my kids, then I needed to create them. That's the impetus, is there was nothing out there and I really wanted it so badly that I had to create it myself.   Miko Lee: [00:09:09] Oh, I love that. And I understand you started out self-publishing. Can you talk a little bit about that journey?    Michele Wong McSween: [00:09:15] I'm glad I didn't know what I know today because it was really hard. luckily I had, A friend who used to work for a toy company, it was all through connections. there was nothing really on Google about it. there was no Amazon print on demand. There were none of these companies that provide these services like today. So I just kept asking questions. Hey, do you know a toy manufacturer in China that maybe prints books? Do you know a company that could help me? get my books to the states. Do you know an illustrator that can help me illustrate my books? Because I had gone to fashion design school, but I had not learned to illustrate characters or things in a book. So asking questions and not being afraid to ask the questions was really how I was able to do it because, Without the help of friends and family, I wouldn't have been able to do this. I had all my friends look at my books, show them to their kids. I had my kids look at them, and I kind of just figured it out as I went along. Ultimately when I did publish my first book, I had so much support from my kids' schools. To read the books there, I had support from a local play space for kids that we would go to. I really leaned on my community to help me, get the books out there, or actually it was just one at the time. Two years later I self-published two more books. So I had three in total. no one tells you that when you self-publish a book, the easy part is actually creating it. The hard part is what comes after that, which is the pr, the marketing, the pounding, the pavement, knocking on the doors to ask people to buy your books, and that was really hard for me. I would just take my books in a bag and I would explain my story to people and I would show them my books. sometimes they would say, okay, I'll take one of each, or Okay, we'll try it out. and slowly but surely they would reorder from me. I just slowly, slowly built up, a whole Roster of bookstores and I kept doing events in New York.    I started doing events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and through that I gained some following, some fans and people would tell their friends about me. they would give them to their nieces they would give them to their cousin's kids, or, things like that. I knew that I had to do it because my ultimate goal was to have Scholastic be my publisher. That was my ultimate goal. Because they are the publisher that I grew up with, that I love that I connected with, that I was so excited to get their book club, little flyer. I would check off every book that I wanted. And my mom never said no. She always let me get every single book I wanted. I realize now that that's what really Created the love of books for me is just having access to them and, going to the libraries and seeing all these books on the bookshelves and being able to take them out and read them on the spot. And then if I loved them enough, I would check them out and take them home and read them over and over. So it was really, my experience, having that love for books that I thought, oh gosh, it would be a dream. To have Scholastic become my publisher. So after 10 long years of events and community outreach and selling to these bookstores, I finally thought, okay, I've sold, about 17,000, 18,000 books. Maybe, maybe now I can take my series to them. I also had created an app. Maybe I can take this to them and show them what I've done. Maybe they'll be interested in acquiring me. And I got an appointment with the editor and I pitched my books on my app and within a couple of days they offered to acquire my books, which was my dream come true. So anyway, that was a very long story for how self-publishing really is and how ultimately it really helped my dream come true.    Miko Lee: [00:13:08] Now your books are on this Scholastic book, fair Circuit, right?    Michele Wong McSween: [00:13:13] Yes, they are. Well, it's actually just one book. They took the three books, which were everyday Words. Count in Mandarin and learn animals in Mandarin. They took all three books and they put them in one big compilation book, which is called My First Mandarin Words with Gordon & Li Li. So it's a bigger book. It's a bigger board book. Still very, very sturdy and it's a great, starter book for any family because it has those three first themes that were the first themes that I taught my own boys, and I think. It just, it's very natural for kids to want to learn how to count. animals were, and my kids were animal lovers, so I knew that that's what would keep them interested in learning Mandarin because they actually loved the topic. So, yes, my first mandarin words with Gordon & Li Li does live on Scholastics big roster.   Miko Lee: [00:14:01] Fun. Your dream come true. I love it. Yeah. Thanks. And you were speaking earlier about your background in fashion design. Has there been any impact of your fashion design background on your voice as a children's book author?   Michele Wong McSween: [00:14:14] I don't know if my background as a fashion designer has had any impact on my voice. I think it's had an impact on how I imagined my books and how I color my books and how I designed them because of working with, you know, color palettes and, and putting together collections I can visually see and, can anticipate. Because I have that background, I can kind of anticipate what a customer might want. And also, you know, speaking with people at my events and seeing what kids gravitate to, that also helps. But I think there's so much more to being an author than just writing the books. You know, when I go to my events, I have a table display, I have setups, I have props, I have, I actually now have a, a small. Capsule of merchandise because I missed designing clothes. So I have a teeny collection of, you know, sweaters, hoodies, onesies, a tote bag, and plushies   Miko Lee: [00:15:04] they're super cute by the way.    Michele Wong McSween: [00:15:06] Oh, thank you. So, you know, fashion has come in in different ways and I think having that background has really helped. kind of become who they are    Miko Lee: [00:15:17] Can you tell us about the latest book in the series, which is Gordon and Li Li All About Me. Can you tell a little bit about your latest?   Michele Wong McSween: [00:15:25] Gordon & Li Li All About Me is really, it's, to me, it's. I think my most fun interactive book because it really gets kids and parents up and out of their chairs, out of their seats and moving around. And you know, as a parent, I always would think about the kind of books that my kids would gravitate towards. What would they want to read and what as a parent would I want to read with my kids? Because really reading is all about connection with your kids. That's what I loved about books is it gave me a way to connect with my kids. And so a book about body parts to me is just a really fun way to be animated and get up and move around and you can tickle and, and squeeze and shake it around and dance around. And, you know, having three boys, my house was just like a big energy ball. So I knew that this book would be a really fun one for families and I have two nieces and a nephew, and I now, they're my new target market testers, and they just loved it. They had so much fun pointing to their body parts and the book ends with head, shoulders, knees, and toes in English and in Mandarin. And so of course. Every kid knows head, shoulders, knees, and toes in English. So we sing that. We get up, we point to our pottered parts, we shake it around, we dance around. And then the fun part is teaching them head, shoulders, knees, and toes in Mandarin because they're already familiar with the song. It's not scary to learn something in Mandarin. It just kind of naturally happens. And so I think the All About Me book is just a really fun way to connect with kids. I've actually launched it at a couple of events already and the response to the book has been overwhelming. I was at the Brooklyn Children's Museum and even the president of the museum came and did the head shoulders. Knees and toes, songs with us. It was so much fun. Everybody was dancing around and having a great time. So I'm just really, really excited for people to pick up this book and really learn about the body. It's, you know, body positivity, it's body awareness, and it's just a great way to connect with your kids.   Miko Lee: [00:17:31] So fun. I, I saw that you're recently at the Asian American Book Con. Can you talk a little bit about that experience?    Michele Wong McSween: [00:17:38] Oh, that was great. That was the first of its kind and. I led the entire author segment of it. I would say individual authors. There were, there were, publishing companies that brought in their own authors, but I was responsible for bringing in the independent authors. And so I think we had about eight of us. There were Indian, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, and we all came together for this one really special day of celebrating our voices and lifting each other up. And there was so much energy and so much positivity in that event, and I. Actually was just thinking about reaching out to the organizers last year and seeing if we could maybe do, part two? So, I'm glad you brought that up. It was a really positive experience.    Miko Lee: [00:18:27] So we're celebrating the end of Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian month. Can you tell us why this month is important to you?    Michele Wong McSween: [00:18:36] When you have something designated and set aside as, this is the month that we're going to be celebrating Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander heritage all month long, I think it kind of perks up. People's ears and they think, oh wow, this is a great opportunity for me to see what's happening in my community. I think it just brings the awareness to. The broader community and ultimately the world. And I think when we learn about each other and each other's cultures, it brings us closer together and makes us realize that we're really not that different from each other. And I think when there are so many events happening now it peaks the interest of people in the neighborhood that might otherwise not know about it and it can, really bring us closer together as a community.   Miko Lee: [00:19:27] Michelle Wong McSween, thank you so much for joining me on Apex Express. It's great to hear more about you and about your latest book Gordon & Li Li and the entire series. Thank you so much.    Michele Wong McSween: [00:19:39] Thank you, Miko   Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:19:40] Thank you all so much for joining us. I'm here with Gloria l Huang, author of Kaya of the Ocean. Thank you so much for joining us, Gloria.    Gloria Huang: [00:19:48] Oh, thanks so much for having me here.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:19:50] So first off, one question that we're asking all of our guests on our show tonight is, who are your people? However you identify, you know, your community, your ancestors, and what legacy do you carry with you?    Gloria Huang: [00:20:01] Oh, that's such a good question. So I am my heritage is Chinese. My parents were born in China and then grew up in Taiwan. And I myself was actually born in Canada. But then moved the states pretty young and and American Canadian dual citizen and now, but I, my heritage plays a lot into my. Kind of my worldview. It really shaped, how I grew up and how I saw things. And so it features very prominently in my writing and in my stories as you could probably tell from Kaya the ocean.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:20:34] Yes. And I love the book so much. It was such a    Gloria Huang: [00:20:37] thank you,    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:20:38] amazing read. And I'm also half Chinese and love the ocean. Just love the beach so much and have always felt such a connection with the water. I don't wanna give away too much things about the book, but I was wondering if you could talk about your inspiration for writing it and a little bit about, setting and everything.   Gloria Huang: [00:20:56] Of course. So the inspiration for the book actually started I came up with the idea when the world was first emerging from the pandemic and I was seeing a lot of people obviously experiencing a lot of anxiety, but a lot of children very close to me in my life. And they were experiencing it for the first time, which was can be so difficult. I remember when it happened to me and there's just this tendency to. Worry that there's something wrong with you or that you've done something and you feel so alone. And so I remember standing by the ocean one night actually and thinking that I'd really love to write a book about a girl who is struggling with. The anxiety just to be able to send a message to all these kids that there's nothing wrong with them. They're not alone and really all parts of who they are. Even the parts they might not love so much are important parts of these amazing, beautiful, complicated people. They are. So that was the inspiration for that part of the story, the setting. I was very inspired. As you mentioned, the ocean is a huge inspiration to me. It actually comes into my mind, a lot of my stories and someone pointed that out once and I was like, you're right, it does. And I think part of it is that I love the ocean. I love the beach. I love being there, but I'm also so in awe of this powerful thing that, you know, where we know so little about it. It is. There's so much mystery to it. It can look so beautiful on the surface and be so dangerous underneath. I love it as a metaphor. I love it as a part of nature. So I think that was a huge part of why I wanted to incorporate that, especially because I think it also plays well into the metaphor for how some people experience anxiety and you can be calm on the surface, but so much is happening underneath.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:22:29] Absolutely. Yeah. Those interplay with each other and are metaphors for each other in such a beautiful way, mirror the experience. Yeah. I wanted to talk a little bit more about anxiety and particular, as a young Asian American girl the cultural specificity of having anxiety as a young Asian American woman.    Gloria Huang: [00:22:46] Yes I definitely think it's no coincidence. I think that anxiety often goes hand in hand with perfectionism and pressure and I, many people feel that kind of pressure, but certainly a young Asian girl especially with immigrant parents, will feel specific kind of pressure. And so I was really trying to portray that, Somebody once said to me, they were like, oh, I really like how Kaya on the surface seems so put together. She's, got really good grades. She works really hard at school. She's close to her parents, but there's all this going on underneath. And I actually think that's not unusual in terms of that experience for Asian American children of immigrants, and especially if you're female I was really trying to. Tease that out. And then in addition I think there's a tendency, and this might exist in other cultures as well, but in Asian culture, at least in my family history there's a tendency not to really want to talk about mental health. There was a, there's a joke in my family that my parents thought anything could be solved with good sleep and good nutrition, like anytime you had any problem. And I think that there is a, there's a. resistance to feeling like your child can be struggling in a way you can't help them. So I, really wanted to touch on that, part of the cultural pressures at play in kaya's life.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:23:59] And you did so beautifully and it was very relatable, as a anxious Asian girly. And also just, the discussion of big feelings and somehow, having inklings that you may be more powerful than you even realize, but the kind of like emotions that come with that too.    Gloria Huang: [00:24:15] Yes. I think that's a huge part of it is that like when you experience these huge feelings they feel powerful, know, in a negative way. But what I was really trying to get at was, there is also power in accepting these parts of yourself and realizing that They can make up this powerful being that you are, even if you might not love them in that moment.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:24:34] Yeah. I felt very seen by the book and I, couldn't help but wonder wow, what would it have been like if I had read this when I was, 13 or 12 or kind of Closer to the age of the characters in the book.   Gloria Huang: [00:24:45] Thank you so much for saying that it actually means a lot because a lot of my motivation when I do write these books is to write for people who are either of that age or, wish they had a book like that at that age, which is also how I feel a lot about books nowadays and oh, I, I'm so glad that exists. I wish that had been around when I was that age.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:25:03] Yes. Were there any books that really set an example for you that either you read, maybe when you were, in the young adult. Age range or that you've read now as an adult where you're like, okay, this is definitely the audience that I wanna be writing for.   Gloria Huang: [00:25:17] Definitely. I actually love this question 'cause I'm a big reader and so I love talking about books . When I was a kid, middle grade books were my gateway into my love of reading. So I still remember a lot of my favorite books, but I would say a recent book, it's actually maybe not that recent now, it's maybe a couple years old, but a book that really. Had an effect on the middle grade book was when you trap a tiger by Tae Keller and it explores. The kind of Korean experience, but also through the prism of kind of understanding generational grief. And it was just so beautifully done and really made an impact on me. So that was one recently that I thought was really powerful. And, I was like, this is an important book. This is definitely a book I would've loved as a child. When I was younger and I was reading books, there were three books that meant a lot to me. One was called the true confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and it was like a swashbuckling adventure story starring a girl, which was, at that time not very common. And it was, it meant, it was so earth shattering to me to be able to see a female character in that role. So that was great. There's a book called. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. And it's an adventure story and it also stars. The main character is a very strong female character and Tuck everlasting, which I just think is a beautiful book. It's also female characters. Now I'm saying it out loud. They are all female main characters. And all about, existentialism and adventure and things that, it was important for me to see. Female characters exploring. But I did also wanna say that when I was reading middle grade books, some of my favorite books included a series called, babysitters Club, which I think that they've redone now as a graphic novel. And that was actually really important, not necessarily for the stories, but because there's a character named Claudia Kishi who. Was a Japanese American character and she absolutely shattered the minds of, I think all kids that age were Asian descent and female in reading these books because there just wasn't a character like her before that, she was so cool and artistic but she had immigrant parents and she had a sister who was very good at math and they didn't get along and she loved junk food and she was. So incredibly nuanced and it was just not something that we saw back then. So that really inspired me, I think, to want to add to the diversity of voices. And thankfully there are many more diverse voices now than when I was reading.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:27:30] I love that. And I also feel like books that you read at that age, they stay with you forever.   Gloria Huang: [00:27:35] They really do.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:27:35] And they shape so much of like your worldview and your friendships. And I'm curious, 'cause I know the book was released this year in January. Mm-hmm. So what has it been like for you on your book tour and what's been some other responses that you've heard? I.    Gloria Huang: [00:27:48] It's been really great. It was so exciting to do the book launch and then just the amount of support from the writing community from, my, my kind of network, my agents and my publisher and editor. And also just readers. It's been really great. But one thing I think I wasn't expecting to love quite so much, not because I was expecting to not love it. I just said, it occurred to me that I would feel this way is getting feedback from, child readers is amazing because, I think as writers we love feedback no matter what. And if it's positive feedback, that's even better. But having a child reach out and as some of my friends will send a video of their. Children reacting to the book or they'll, their, let their child type out a text messages and just to hear how the book hits with them and to hear their excitement or to hear that they were moved or to have them want to know what happens next. It meant so much to me because it was, they're the target audience and to have them feel seen in that way was just, it's just the ultimate kind of powerful feeling.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:28:51] That is so sweet. Oh my gosh. I can only imagine. And so you're talking about the young readers. Yes. But I'm also curious if you have any advice or thoughts for young writers who might be wanting to share and get similar stories out to the world?   Gloria Huang: [00:29:05] Yeah I definitely do. And one of the. Experiences I've had that's been great is I've been doing, some school visits and I go and I talk about the book, but I actually talk about the writing process. And when I do that, I really talk to the kids. As if they're writers. The one of the first questions I ask is, hold up your hand. If you love writing or you think you want me, you might wanna be a writer someday. And a lot of hands go up and I tell them like, what the publishing process is, what are, the different genre options, what you might wanna consider, how you come up with an idea, how you sit down and write it, how you reach out to an agent. And I am surprised at how. Intensely, they're hanging onto every word and they're insightful questions after it. It shows me that a lot of them are really thinking about this. I think for one of the school visits, I remember someone held up her hand and she said what is the youngest age I. Someone has been able to be published. And I thought that was great. Because they're so inspired and you can tell that, that they're thinking for the first time this is a possibility. I have all kinds of advice during the school visits, the main piece of advice is really. Just that it can be a tough industry. writing is a very isolated process usually. There's a lot of kind of obstacles and there's a lot of gatekeeping. And so I tell 'em that the most important thing they can do is just keep pushing through and not to let any, setbacks stop them, because the ultimate goal is to reach even just one person.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:30:24] Absolutely. And what kind of advice do you give around learning how to hone your own voice and also having discipline when it comes to an artistic practice?   Gloria Huang: [00:30:33] Yeah, I think that's such a great question. And I was gonna say this piece of advice is probably more for I. Older writers, but adult writers, I guess I should say. The one thing that I've really been thinking about having published a middle grade book is the very specific and unique experience of writing for middle grade audiences. I think a lot of my friends who write for older audience groups, young adults, adults, They have their own challenges, but one of the things that is different is when they're writing, they are writing for the same target audience. That's also the decision makers. So generally, adults and young adults are picking their own books, and they're speaking to someone who will. Ultimately be the ones to pick up the books where when you're writing for middle grade audiences they're not usually the decision makers. at bookstores, they may or may not be in charge of which book they buy, in. Schools, usually it's a librarian or a teacher. So in some ways you're writing for one audience, but you're also writing a subject matter that you're hoping the decision makers will decide is worthy to put in front of your ultimate readers. So that's one challenge. And then the other challenge is I think middle grade audiences are so. fascinating because they're going through this amazingly unusual time in their lives, whether it's eventful and there's new experiences and that can be exciting, but also scary. So there's a lot to mind in terms of topics, but they are also a mixture of being very sophisticated readers who are on the cusp of being teens. And so there's a healthy dose of, skepticism, but they're still young enough that they. Believe in magic, at least in the literary world. So you, there's a lot of room to play with that. But they also. They sound different. They speak differently than adults. So it's important to get the dialogue, for me I, turn to children in my life, including my own, just to do a check to make sure that the dialogue sounds authentic and something that, people, that kids would say. So a lot of thoughts there, but I think, I've been thinking a lot about middle grade and writing for middle grade, and what a unique experience it is.   Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:32:26] Yeah, that's such a good point about the decision maker and having the multiple audiences, and I'm sure sometimes the decision makers are reading the books too, right? Or reading it with their kids or what have you. For your personal writing practice, are there any upcoming projects that you can share with us? And how do you stay inspired for what I imagine is like the long haul of writing something.    Gloria Huang: [00:32:45] I'm happiest when I have like several projects in the pipeline. So as soon as I am done a book or it's, outta my hands, it's with my agents or my editors. I'm looking to write another book. And I think sometimes I probably overwhelm my amazing book before agents. 'cause I'm like, I'm ready to start another story. And they're like, we're still looking at the book you just sent us. But I, that's very much how. I am happiest. I would definitely say that everybody finds their own rhythm. I'm in some writers groups and some people are incredibly fast drafters and just need multiple projects at a time. And some people are like, no, I need to work on one project and I need to have it to perfection and I'm gonna work on it for a year or two. And I think whatever works for the individual artist, I think is the best kind of process for them. But yes, for me it's very much about having multiple projects. I think I'm most inspired when I have different projects going at the same time. finding your own rhythm, I think is my advice.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:33:40] kaya of the ocean has, strong themes and storylines about, myths, mythology, Chinese mythology, and goddesses. I'm curious if you wanna talk any more about that and then also if that shows up in any of the other projects you're working on    Gloria Huang: [00:33:54] Yes, the Chinese mythological water goddess that features. Pretty prominently in Kaya of the Ocean is Matsu. And I find her to be such a fascinating character. She is a real goddess who's worshiped still in Asia. I think. Fishermen often will, pray to her for safe passage when they go out on the water. And my father told me about her when I was younger he told me like the side stories and I thought that was really interesting. But it was only when I started thinking about this book that I thought, I'd love to, I'd love to incorporate her. I hadn't heard about her too much in, in the fictional world, even though I knew she was still like a revered goddess. But I thought it was so cool that she was this strong. I. Strong female figure in a space that didn't always have that, hundreds of years ago. And so I dove into her story a little bit and found out, the story is that she was once a human child who loved to read and then she was afraid of swimming in water until she was older and then she drowned, saving, trying to save some relatives and it was interesting 'cause I'd already started plotting out Kaya and writing Kaya. And so much of her story wove easily into what I had already come up with. Like there, I think she has two sidekicks that were one time enemies that she, made into her friends and I'd already had Kaya written with two friends, Naomi and Ana. So I, there was just so much that I felt was kismet. And it was really fun to be able to weave that story together and fictionalize it. But I think it was also meaningful for me to be able to do that because. When I was younger, I loved reading Greek mythology. the stories are beautiful and they've been redone in beautiful ways, but it definitely was an area where I didn't necessarily see myself reflected. As part of my goal to add to the diversity of voices, I really wanted to feature Chinese mythology and bring those stories in so that. Kids can either see themselves reflected in those stories and or understand a new kind of set of mythology and learn about a new culture.   Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:35:46] Yes. I'm so glad you put it that way because it is, it's such a privilege to have access to, our own I. Cultural stories and knowledge through these, like fun and modern interpretations. Definitely. So I'm so glad that this can provide that.    Gloria Huang: [00:36:00] Oh, thank you. I did realize I didn't answer your other question, which is does it feature my other works? Which so I have sold another middle grade novel and I'm, it's not announced yet. I'm hoping to announce it soon. And I have some other. Books. I'm working on a young adult novel so far. They have not featured Chinese mythology, but I do definitely have a type that my most of my books tend to be contemporary settings, but with elements of speculative. Fantasy, just like the light touch of that and sometimes a little bit of historical elements as well. So they, they definitely all have that similar motif, but so far chi of the ocean is the only one to feature a Chinese mythological goddess.   Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:36:43] Thank you so much for sharing that. I love that. And I really love the relationship that Kaya had with her two friends and just and then also like the cousin that comes and just capturing like the banter amongst, amongst the girls.    Gloria Huang: [00:36:56] Thank you so much. that was really important to me, I think because at the stage that Kaia is in her life the loves of her life really are her two friends, Naomi and Ana, and they feature very prominently in how she learns to cope with her anxiety and her symptoms of anxiety. And so I really, I think that I really wanted to center her their friendship as much as possible. So I'm I'm glad that you saw it that way too.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:37:19] Yeah. And I feel like, I mean, it truly is the most important relationship. And so it's nice when works of fiction and yeah, works of fiction, can reflect that in such a beautiful way. I know you mentioned that you have daughters or have children?    Gloria Huang: [00:37:32] I do, yes. I have a son and a daughter. And my daughter actually was quite involved because when I first started writing Kaya, I think she was exactly of the age that she would be the target reader group. And so she actually helped Beta read it. She provided a lot of feedback. She became like a cheerleader. She was definitely involved in the process and I think that was really exciting for her. my son became of the reading age once it came out, so he reads it and he's a big fan too,   Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:00] that's so sweet. I love that your daughter was part of the editing process too. That's amazing.    Gloria Huang: [00:38:04] Yeah. Yeah. She loves writing and always says she wants to be a writer herself, so it was really special that she got to be part of this and see it up close.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:13] Oh wow. Do you think you would do any collaborative projects with her in the future?   Gloria Huang: [00:38:16] It's so funny that you say that. She always suggests that. And then sometimes they'll actually start a Google doc and they'll say, let's write a story together. And we all have, of course, very different writing styles. And then at some point they both actually usually just start reading what I'm writing. And at that point I'm like, this is not collaborative. You have to write as well. So we've had a couple of false starts, but that's always a joke that we're gonna do that together.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:39] that's so sweet. What else is upcoming for you? I know this is, Asian American and native Hawaiian Pacific Islander month right now, and the episode will come out towards the end of May. So if there's anything else coming up from you for this month or for June or the summer. Yeah. We'd love to hear what you have going on.    Gloria Huang: [00:38:57] Oh, yeah. Today actually Kaya's audio book was released people can listen to it. It was narrated by this amazing, narrator, Cindy K. And so anywhere you find audio books is available. And that was really cool. I've listened to a little bit of it and you, when you write, you hear the words in your head one way, and then it's amazing to hear like another artist do their take on it. So that's really cool. I will be at the Bay Area book Festival at the end of the month of May. There. Doing like different panels and I'll be on a panel. it's about Fantastical Worlds. I'm really excited about that. hopefully we'll be able to announce this other book soon. As you, you may know publishing is a very long lead time it will be a while before it's released, but I think the hope is to release it during, a API month as well just not this year. And working on a young adult novel that hopefully we can go on submission with at some point. But it's an exciting time for sure.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:39:51] Wow, that does sound so exciting. I can't wait to hear about your new projects and to continue to read the work that you put out into the world. Is there anything else that you'd like to discuss or talk about?   Gloria Huang: [00:40:01] I think just to say a thank you to you for, having me on here and reading Kaya of the Ocean and really anyone who's been interested in joining Kaya and her friends on their journey. It's just, it's so amazing, I think, to create these characters that become real to you, and then have them become real to other people. I don't have the words to describe how meaningful it is to me, but thank you.    Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:40:24] Thank you for letting us join into the world of Kaya for a little bit 'cause it was very fun and healing and all of the amazing things. And thanks so much for joining us today on Apex Express.    Gloria Huang: [00:40:36] For sure. Thanks so much.   Miko Lee: [00:40:38] Welcome, Andrea Wang, award-winning children's book author to Apex Express.    Andrea Wang: [00:40:43] Thank you, Miko. I'm so happy to be here.    Miko Lee: [00:40:46] Happy to have you. I'd love to start first with a personal question, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?   Andrea Wang: [00:40:57] My people are from China. My mother's family belonged to an ethnic minority, called the Haka or the Kaja people, and she and her siblings were. A military family, and we're each born in a different province. And when the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, they went to Taiwan where she grew up and immigrated to the United States in 1965 or 1966. My father's family are from Guangdong Province, and so I'm Cantonese on that side, although I don't speak any Cantonese. And he went to Hong Kong after the Chinese Civil War. So I am the daughter of Chinese immigrants, second generation Chinese American.    Miko Lee: [00:42:01] And what legacy do you carry with you?   Andrea Wang:[00:42:03]  I carry the legacy of their stories, both the ones that I know and the ones that I don't know yet.    Miko Lee: [00:42:12] Ooh. It sounds like there's lots of juicy things for you still to discover. That is fun.    Andrea Wang: [00:42:16] Yes.    Miko Lee: [00:42:17] Today we're talking about your new book, watercress, can you share what the audience, what the book is about, and then what is your inspiration for this book?    Andrea Wang: [00:42:25] So the book is about a Chinese American girl who is growing up in rural Ohio and her parents spot watercress growing in a ditch by the side of the road, and they immediately pull over and make her enter older brother, get out of the car and get down into the ditch with them and collect this. Vegetable, but to her it's a weed. And so when they serve it to her and her family at dinner, she really is unhappy about this and. For her, picking food out of a ditch has a really different meaning than it does to her parents who survived a lot of hardship in China. And it's not until her mom tells her a story about her childhood growing up in China and spoiler alert, loses a sibling to the famine that the girl begins to understand and better appreciate her parents, her culture, and her heritage.   Miko Lee: [00:43:29] And the inspiration for this book.    Andrea Wang: [00:43:32] So the inspiration is largely my own life. this is a semi autobiographical story. The memory of picking watercress by the side of the road was just something that I couldn't forget, I don't know why this memory continued to haunt me into adulthood. And then after my mom passed away, I started writing down, memories and stories of being with my family in order to maintain a connection to her. When I wrote this, at first it was a personal essay and it just wasn't working. I would put it away and I would occasionally take it out and I would put it away and take it out and work on it again. And it wasn't until I decided to pursue writing for young people that I completely changed the manuscript from a personal essay into a picture book. But at that point it still wasn't working. It was in third person and it wasn't very personal It took me several more years to figure out the heart of the story for me. So it was largely based on my own memories and my mother's childhood stories that she shared with me.   Miko Lee: [00:44:39] Can you share more about the power of memory and the artistic process? 'cause you've written many books and in different genres as well, but can you talk a little bit more about memory and its impact on your work?   Andrea Wang: [00:44:52] Yeah, that's a great question. I tend to write primarily for myself. And to figure out how I felt about certain experiences, how they've changed me, to try and process things I feel like I remember a lot about my childhood. parts of it are very vivid and I like to go back to those. Moments that have stuck with me all these years and explore what it means to me. Like I'm just very curious about why I remember certain things watercress was largely my way of processing my childhood feelings of shame about my family and my culture. I have leaned into that and am still writing stories about identity and the struggle to find our identity. Memory has a lot to do with it. I put myself in every single book.    Miko Lee: [00:45:45] Ooh, that's so interesting. And you're talking a little bit about shame and overcoming that. I'm wondering if you could speak more on, if you feel like memories hold the power to heal.    Andrea Wang: [00:45:56] I firmly believe that memories hold the power to heal. I think that writing watercress and talking about these feelings has really helped me, , heal from, that sort of trauma of not feeling like I belonged as a kid and also that I may have been. Not the nicest kid to my parents, not the most filial, right? And so writing this story was, as I say in the author's note, sort of an apology and a love letter to my parents. So it's been very healing and healing to hear about from all the. People who have read the book and had it resonate with them, the things that they regretted in their lives and hoped to, heal as well.    Miko Lee: [00:46:42] Oh, have you heard that story a lot from adult readers?   Andrea Wang: [00:46:46] I have. They will often tell me about the things that their parents did that embarrassed them. A lot of foraging stories, but also stories about, relatives and ancestors who were sharecroppers or indigenous peoples. And it's just been fascinating how many people connect to the story on different levels. There is that theme of poverty. I think recognizing. That's not often talked about in children's books, I think makes people feel very seen.   Miko Lee: [00:47:14] Yeah. That feeling of shame is really showcased by the illustrator Jason Chin. I mean your young you character kind of has a grumpy look on their face. And it was just so fun. Even in the book notes, Jason Chin, the illustrator, writes about how he combined both the western and eastern style of art, but also his similar cross-cultural background. I'm wondering when you very first saw the artwork and this was kind of young you did anything surprise you by it?    Andrea Wang: [00:47:42] I mean, it's amazing, gorgeous artwork and I was really struck by how he dealt with the flashbacks because when I sold this manuscript, I. Had no idea how an illustrator would deal with how interior it is and, , and how they would tackle those flashbacks. And there's one spread where on the left hand side of the page, it shows the main character's current time and then it morphs across the gutter of the book into. The moms past and her childhood memories in China, and it was just exquisite is really the only way to describe it. It was, it's just brilliant, and amazing. We don't, as picture book authors typically get to work with our illustrators. We often do not have contact with them through the making of a picture book. But in this case. Our editors said since it was such a personal story for me, that he, , felt that Jason and I should collaborate. And so I provided photos, family photos, photos of Ohio, lots of different, , source materials to Jason and would talk to him about the feelings that young me in the book went through. And so the fact that, he was able to take all of that and put it on the page, it was just. Spectacular.    Miko Lee: [00:49:01] Oh, that's so fun. I also understand that you love mythical creatures as you I, and one of your children's books is the Nian Monster, which I love. I'm wondering what is your favorite mythical creature and why?   Andrea Wang: [00:49:15] I. Have been sort of fascinated with the qilin, the, or they call it the Chinese unicorn. Right. Although it looks very different from what we think of a, a European unicorn looks like. Yes. And I think it's because they're supposed to be this really benevolent, creature and Have all sorts of powers and I would love to do more research about the qilin and, you know, incorporate that into a book someday.   Miko Lee: [00:49:42] Ooh, fun. Next book. I love it. you have so many books and I'm really curious about your upcoming book Worthy about Joseph Pierce. I love these as Helen Zia talks about these. MIH moments that are missing in history. And Joseph Pierce was the highest ranking Chinese American man who fought in the Civil War. Some people might recognize this picture of this Chinese American guy in a kind of civil war, uniform. Can you tell us one, when is the book being released and a little bit more about it?    Andrea Wang: [00:50:11] Sure. The book is being released on September 9th, 2025, and it is. A picture book, which we typically think of as for younger readers, but it is 64 pages. So you know, it's an all ages picture book. I think my editor and I would like to say, and it is the story of a Chinese boy born in the, First half of the 18 hundreds in China in Guangdong province, and was sold by his father to an American ship captain named Amos Peck. the reasons for that are, lost to time, right? He left no primary sources behind, there was so much going on in China at the time. Famine war, you know, all of these, Difficult things that his father probably sold him in order to keep the rest of the family alive and as well as give him the opportunity to have a better life. And he did end up in Connecticut. He was raised with the captain's, siblings and sent to school and treated almost like a member of the family except for the fact that he was. Clearly Chinese and there were very few Chinese people in, Connecticut at that time. he joined the Union Army when he came of age and was able to leverage his service into gaining citizenship, which really people of color, weren't really able to do successfully back then. And so. He gained a citizenship. He married, he had a family. He was able to own property and accomplish all these amazing things. Sort of right before the Chinese exclusion Act was, enacted. So he was a very brave guy.    Miko Lee: [00:51:45] It's a wild story and you sent me on a little bit of a rabbit hole, which is fun. Just, looking at Ruth Ann, McCune's. historical piece that there were 10 different Chinese American men in the Civil War, but he was exceptional because he rose to such high ranks. And I just think it's so interesting that, in the 1880 census, he registered as Chinese. But then after the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, he listed his race as Japanese in the 1890 census. but he was racialized as white so that he could buy property and everything. Yeah. Can you just talk a little bit about that, like talk about code switching? He like literally changed his race,    Andrea Wang: [00:52:26] right. And people at that time could not tell the difference. Similar to now, people often can't tell different Asian, ethnicities apart. Right. I found actual newspaper articles where Joseph Pierce was interviewed about the battles, that the United States was having with Japan or the battles that Japan was having. He was asked his opinion on what the Japanese government was doing because he told these reporters he was Japanese and that was really the only clue that I had that he, Was code switching that after the Chinese exclusion Act was passed, he felt like he needed to protect himself and his family and he must have cut off his cue because otherwise, you know, that would've identified him immediately as Chinese. So that went into the book. I think it's a powerful moment, right, where he's doing what he has to do to survive and ensure his protection and his family's safety,   Miko Lee: [00:53:25] You have a, a really interesting background. Just having No really, I mean, having done all these different things and I, you know, I think you have a science background too, right? Can you talk about the times that we're living in right now, the political times that we're living in, where our government is banning books that don't align with certain conservative ideologies, where right now certain words are forbodden suddenly. And can you talk a little bit about how that impacts you as a children's book author?    Andrea Wang: [00:53:59] it is very disheartening and discouraging that the current climate is against, people who look like me or other people of color. And as a children's book author, we are experiencing a huge decrease in the number of teachers and librarians who are asking us to come and visit schools, to talk to students, which is horrible because. These young people are the ones who need to learn from books, right? Knowledge is power. And if we are not keeping them informed, then we are doing them a disservice. I think the attacks on our freedom to read are really unjust. and. personally as an author of color, I understand that books like Worthy may end up on some of these banned book lists because it does talk about racism. but these are the stories that we need now, and I'm going to continue writing these stories about the Hidden History, And to talk about these difficult subjects that I think kids understand on some level. but if they're not reading about it in books, then it's hard to spark a conversation with, educators or adults about it. So I think these books that I'm writing, that many of my friends and other children's book authors are writing are providing that. Sort of gateway to talk about, the topics that are so important right now.    Miko Lee: [00:55:29] Thank you so much for sharing, and thank you so much for being on Apex Express today. We appreciate your voice and the work that you're putting out there in the world. Is there anything else you'd like to say?   Andrea Wang: [00:55:39] you know, there's so much to say, I think just to. Stand up for what we all believe in and to, I encourage people to stand up for their intellectual freedom and that of their children.   Miko Lee: [00:55:56] Thank you, Andrea Wang. I appreciate hearing from you and hearing your voice and seeing your work out there in the world.    Andrea Wang: [00:56:03] Thank you so much, Miko. It was a pleasure.   Miko Lee: [00:56:05] Please check out our website, kpfa.org. To find out more about our show tonight. We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating and sharing your visions with the world because your voices are important. Apex Express is created by Miko Lee, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preti Mangala-Shekar, Swati Rayasam, Aisa Villarosa, Estella Owoimaha-Church, Gabriel Tanglao, Cheryl Truong and Ayame Keane-Lee.   The post APEX Express – 5.29.25 AAPI Children's Books appeared first on KPFA.

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Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Reuniting in Barcelona: A Love Story Overcoming Distance Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-05-27-22-34-01-ca Story Transcript:Ca: El soroll dels rodaments de les maletes omplia els passadissos de l'aeroport de Barcelona-El Prat.En: The noise of the luggage wheels filled the corridors of the Barcelona-El Prat airport.Ca: Els anuncis ressonaven en l'aire, mentre el sol de primavera travessava les grans finestres de vidre, il·luminant les cares plenes d'esperança i anticipació dels passatgers.En: The announcements resonated in the air, while the spring sun passed through the large glass windows, illuminating the hopeful and anticipatory faces of the passengers.Ca: La Laia estava nerviosa, però també commoguda.En: Laia was nervous, but also moved.Ca: Després d'un any sencer dedicat a un projecte d'investigació a l'estranger, finalment tornava a casa.En: After an entire year dedicated to a research project abroad, she was finally returning home.Ca: El seu cor bategava ràpidament mentre l'avió tocava terra, i al cap només tenia un pensament: veure en Marc.En: Her heart beat quickly as the plane touched down, and she had only one thought in mind: seeing Marc.Ca: Però, què passaria després de tant temps?En: But what would happen after such a long time?Ca: Havia canviat alguna cosa entre ells?En: Had anything changed between them?Ca: A la terminal d'arribades, en Marc esperava.En: In the arrivals terminal, Marc was waiting.Ca: Mirava impacientment la pantalla amb les arribades, el seu cor també bategant de nervis.En: He impatiently watched the arrivals screen, his heart also beating with nerves.Ca: S'havia imaginat aquest moment una i mil vegades, però ara, amb la Laia tan a prop, se sentia nerviós.En: He had imagined this moment a thousand and one times, but now, with Laia so close, he felt nervous.Ca: L'absència havia afectat la seva relació?En: Had the absence affected their relationship?Ca: Al cap d'uns moments eterns, la porta s'obrí i la Laia va aparèixer entre la multitud.En: After what felt like eternal moments, the door opened and Laia appeared among the crowd.Ca: En veure-la, en Marc sentí una barreja d'alegria i temor.En: Upon seeing her, Marc felt a mixture of joy and fear.Ca: La Laia, amb un somriure a la cara, es dirigí cap a ell amb decisió.En: Laia, with a smile on her face, walked towards him with determination.Ca: "Marc!En: "Marc!Ca: ", va cridar ella, i els seus ulls brillaven amb llàgrimes de felicitat.En: ", she shouted, her eyes shining with tears of happiness.Ca: S'abraçaren fortament, sentint l'escalfor de l'altre, deixant enrere el temps de separació.En: They embraced tightly, feeling each other's warmth, leaving the time of separation behind.Ca: "No saps com t'he trobat a faltar", va xiuxiuejar en Marc.En: "You don't know how much I've missed you," Marc whispered.Ca: Es donà compte, en aquell moment, que la seva ansietat es dissolia.En: He realized, in that moment, that his anxiety was dissolving.Ca: La presència de la Laia li transmetia confiança i calidesa.En: Laia's presence filled him with confidence and warmth.Ca: Els dos es miraren als ulls i somrigueren en recordar moments divertits que havien viscut abans.En: They both looked into each other's eyes and smiled as they remembered the fun times they had shared before.Ca: Aquelles barreres que temien semblaven fonedisses.En: Those barriers they had feared seemed to melt away.Ca: "Res ha canviat, Laia.En: "Nothing has changed, Laia.Ca: Som nosaltres", va dir en Marc, mentre li acariciava la cara.En: It's us," Marc said, gently caressing her face.Ca: La Laia assentí, sentint que la seva bondat i amor eren tan ferms com sempre.En: Laia nodded, feeling that her kindness and love were as strong as ever.Ca: Els mesos de separació no havien afectat el cor dels dos.En: The months of separation had not affected their hearts.Ca: Finalment, agafaren el camí a casa, còmodes en el silenci còmplice que només els vells amics i amants poden compartir.En: Finally, they took the road home, comfortable in the companionable silence that only old friends and lovers can share.Ca: Els seus cors bategaven al mateix ritme, sabent que l'amor és més poderós que la distància.En: Their hearts beat in sync, knowing that love is more powerful than distance. Vocabulary Words:the noise: el sorollthe wheels: els rodamentsthe corridors: els passadissosthe announcements: els anuncisto resonate: ressonarthe passengers: els passatgersthe research project: el projecte d'investigacióabroad: a l'estrangerto feel moved: sentir-se commogut/commogudato touch down: tocar terrathe arrivals terminal: la terminal d'arribadesto wait: esperarthe screen: la pantallathe absence: l'absènciathe crowd: la multitudthe mixture: la barrejato embrace: abraçarthe warmth: l'escalforto whisper: xiuxiuejarthe anxiety: l'ansietatto dissolve: dissoldrethe presence: la presènciato caress: acariciarthe kindness: la bondatto nod: assentirthe silence: el silencithe barriers: les barreresto melt away: fondre'sthe fun times: els moments divertitspowerful: poderós/poderosa

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Homecoming: Reconnecting with Family on Norway's Big Day Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-05-27-22-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Oslo Gardermoen Internasjonale Lufthavn var full av liv.En: Oslo Gardermoen Internasjonale Lufthavn was full of life.No: Reisende kom og gikk, og den lyse luften bar lyden av mange språk.En: Travelers came and went, and the bright air carried the sound of many languages.No: Utenfor var Oslo kledd til fest.En: Outside, Oslo was dressed to celebrate.No: Våren hadde kommet, og byen var pyntet med norske flagg og blomster, klar for feiring av den store dagen, Grunnlovsdagen den 17. mai.En: Spring had arrived, and the city was adorned with Norwegian flags and flowers, ready for the celebration of the big day, Constitution Day on May 17th.No: Oskar steg ut av flyet og kjente umiddelbart den kalde, men friske norske luften.En: Oskar stepped off the plane and immediately felt the cold, yet fresh Norwegian air.No: Han trakk pusten dypt.En: He took a deep breath.No: Det var mange år siden han hadde vært hjemme.En: It had been many years since he had been home.No: Han hadde bodd i utlandet lenge, og nå var han endelig tilbake.En: He had lived abroad for a long time, and now he was finally back.No: Spenning og nervøsitet kjempet om kontrollen inni ham.En: Excitement and nervousness battled for control inside him.No: Oskar fikk bagasjen sin og gikk videre mot utgangen.En: Oskar retrieved his luggage and headed towards the exit.No: I mengden lette han etter de kjente ansiktene.En: In the crowd, he searched for the familiar faces.No: Der, litt bortenfor, sto Elin.En: There, a little further away, stood Elin.No: Hun hadde holdt opp et lite skilt med navnet hans.En: She was holding up a small sign with his name on it.No: Ved siden av henne sto Sofia, niesa hans.En: Next to her stood Sofia, his niece.No: Oskar smilte, men hjertet hamret.En: Oskar smiled, but his heart was pounding.No: Elin så ham først, smilte varmt og vinket ham over.En: Elin saw him first, smiled warmly, and waved him over.No: "Hei, Oskar!" ropte Elin og ga ham en klem som straks fjernet noe av uroen han bar i brystet.En: "Hi, Oskar!" shouted Elin and gave him a hug that immediately removed some of the uneasiness he carried in his chest.No: "Vi har savnet deg," la hun til og trakk seg litt tilbake for å studere ham.En: "We've missed you," she added, stepping back a little to study him.No: "Jeg har savnet dere også," svarte Oskar oppriktig, men med en anelse av tvil.En: "I've missed you too," replied Oskar sincerely, but with a hint of doubt.No: De satte kursen mot Oslo sentrum, og atmosfæren var allerede fylt med forventning.En: They set course for downtown Oslo, and the atmosphere was already filled with anticipation.No: Folk kledd i bunad vandret i gatene, barn hadde små flagg, og lyden av musikk hang i luften.En: People dressed in bunad strolled through the streets, children held small flags, and the sound of music lingered in the air.No: Oskar prøvde å ta alt innover seg, kjenne på forbindelsen som han håpet fortsatt var der.En: Oskar tried to take it all in, feel the connection he hoped was still there.No: Da dagen for familiegjenforeningen kom, var det en sann fest.En: When the day for the family reunion arrived, it was a true celebration.No: Hele familien samlet seg i en leilighet i nærheten av paraden.En: The whole family gathered in an apartment near the parade.No: Latter blandet seg med lyden av glade stemmer og musikk fra gatene utenfor.En: Laughter mingled with the sound of happy voices and music from the streets outside.No: Men Oskar følte seg fremdeles litt distansert.En: But Oskar still felt a bit distanced.No: Inne i stuen satte alle seg etter hvert rundt bordet.En: In the living room, everyone eventually sat around the table.No: Det var da Elin grep sjansen og satte seg ved siden av ham.En: It was then that Elin seized the opportunity and sat next to him.No: "Du vet," begynte hun forsiktig, "det har vært tøft å holde familien samlet, spesielt uten deg her."En: "You know," she began cautiously, "it's been tough keeping the family together, especially without you here."No: Oskar så på henne, og så noen av de samme usikkerhetene han følte.En: Oskar looked at her and saw some of the same insecurities he felt.No: "Jeg har også slitt," sa han ærlig.En: "I've been struggling too," he said honestly.No: "Jeg har følt meg som en fremmed noen ganger, selv med dere."En: "I've felt like a stranger sometimes, even with you all."No: Elin nikket forståelsesfullt.En: Elin nodded understandingly.No: "Men vi er alle her for hverandre.En: "But we are all here for each other.No: Det er aldri for sent å komme tilbake."En: It's never too late to come back."No: Det var som om en tung stein ble løftet fra skuldrene hans.En: It was as if a heavy stone was lifted from his shoulders.No: Oskar smilte, og med en lettelse som skyllet over ham, fant han seg selv å lene seg inn i det allerede gryende fellesskapet.En: Oskar smiled, and with a sense of relief washing over him, he found himself leaning into the already blossoming community.No: Sammen gikk de ut for å se paraden.En: Together they went out to see the parade.No: Som 17. mai toget gled forbi med glade mennesker og levende musikk, lot Oskar alle sine bekymringer smelte bort.En: As the 17. mai parade passed by with joyful people and lively music, Oskar let all his worries melt away.No: Der, omgitt av familien sin, kledd i bondesønns bunader og latter, kjente han til slutt at han hørte hjemme igjen.En: There, surrounded by his family, dressed in bondesønn bunader and laughter, he finally felt that he belonged again.No: For første gang på lenge følte han forbindelsen - ikke bare til landet og kulturen, men til dem han elsket.En: For the first time in a long time, he felt the connection—not just to the country and culture, but to those he loved.No: Kvelden kom med fyrverkeri som lyste opp den norske nattehimmelen, og mens Oskar sto der, omfavnet av familien, visste han at han hadde funnet veien hjem.En: The evening came with fireworks lighting up the Norwegian night sky, and as Oskar stood there, embraced by his family, he knew he had found his way home.No: Endringene i livet hans gjorde ham til hvem han er, men familien var alltid hans grunnvoll.En: The changes in his life had made him who he is, but the family had always been his foundation.No: De lo og feiret, og han visste at forbindelsen alltid hadde vært der, og alltid ville være.En: They laughed and celebrated, and he knew the connection had always been there and always would be. Vocabulary Words:adorned: pyntetretrieved: fikkuneasiness: uroensincerely: oppriktiglingered: hanganticipation: forventningstrolled: vandretbouquet: blomsterapartment: leilighetmingled: blandetdistanced: distansertseized: grepinsecurities: usikkerhetenestranger: fremmedunderstandingly: forståelsesfulltblossoming: gryendeparade: paradenjoyful: gladebonded: bondesønnsfireworks: fyrverkeriembraced: omfavnetfoundation: grunnvollcelebration: feiringnervousness: nervøsitetbattled: kjempetconnection: forbindelsenrelief: lettelsecontrol: kontrollenatmosphere: atmosfærenopportunity: sjansen

In this episode, we look at the challenges of RV life - are we being sold a false bill of goods, or is it really just as easy as the ads would make you believe? The reality is somewhere in the middle, and we share our thoughts on the challenges and benefits of RV travel.    *Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member and get ONE MONTH FREE  at https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get all the details about Homecoming 2025 here: https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Support our Sponsors: *Win a free RV with @LiquifiedRV here: https://liquifiedrv.com/RVMilesRVGiveaway * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Use code RVMILES15 to get 15% off Travelfi here: https://travlfi.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Ad+Read&utm_campaign=RV+Miles+YouTube+Ad+Read 00:00 Introduction  01:34 Camping at Devil's Tower National Monument 04:41 Journey Across Wyoming 08:00 Challenges of RV Life 19:57 The RV Buying Process 21:04 Planning Your RV Trip 30:03 The Cost of Eating Out While Traveling 32:04 Driving Considerations for RV Trips 35:08 Campground Dynamics and Social Interactions 41:10 Weather Challenges and Preparation 45:17 Family Dynamics on the Road 49:57 Final Thoughts on RV Life 53:44 Upcoming Events  54:55 Tanks  

- The Tampa Bay Rays take two-of-three from the Houston Astros at home.- Recap TB series- Homecoming for Isaac Paredes- Great second major league start from Colton Gordon- Sweeper had a lot of break and great command- Brandon Walter with a HUGE outing for Houston- Bullpen meltdown- The Astros' offense struck out 28 total times this series- Jake Meyers continues his offensive surge- The Rays' offense gets to Hunter Brown- SEA Preview- Houston at home: 15-9 l Seattle away: 15-9- Ronel Blanco's elbow soreness- What's next for Houston's rotation?- Yordan Alvarez talks to the media- Much, much, more!YouTube link: https://youtube.com/live/Gow77jYlhgU0:00 Intro 4:00 AL West standings: Astros 25-24 5:46 Game 1 (W 4-3) 11:56 Game 2 (L 3-2) 19:07 Game 3 (L 8-4) 28:46 Overall Thoughts 28:53 Isaac Paredes/Jake Meyers offensive surge 35:15 28 strikeouts this series 35:31 Bullpen struggled 36:03 Gordon/Walter with great outings 37:36 SEA Preview 37:45 George Kirby vs. Lance McCullers Jr. 41:57 Emerson Hancock vs. Ryan Gusto 45:40 Brayan Woo vs. Framber Valdez 49:55 Luis Castillo vs. TBA 53:46 Yordan Alvarez still not 100% 1:02:27 Ronel Blanco's elbow discomfortHave you subscribed to the Full Seam Ahead YouTube Channel yet? Make sure to hit that subscribe button and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Astros news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and much more all year long!

After the crisis he's been going through, Suave could use a change of scenery, so the whole team decides to go on a trip to Puerto Rico. It's Suave's first time back since he was a child to the island where his mother was born and raised— a moment he used to fantasize about in prison. There he reconnects with family who come from a long lineage of survivors… and of Santería practitioners. A spiritual belief his mother always believed would be linked to his salvation.Season 2 of Suave was made possible by The Mellon Foundation. Mellon makes grants to support the visionaries and communities that unlock the power of the arts and humanities to help connect us all. More at mellon.org. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Suave and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus.

Bonus Episode - The Armchair ExplorerHello and welcome to this week's episode! I've got something a little different—and very exciting—for you. Today, I'm sharing a powerful episode from The Armchair Explorer, hosted by my good friend Aaron Millar. It is called "IMMERSION: Homecoming: Chief Joseph's Promise and the Flight of the Nez Perce" from the Hidden Trails of Oregon Series.The episode is called Homecoming, and it tells a moving story about the Native American tribes of Eastern Oregon—specifically, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. It uncovers a nearly forgotten chapter of history involving two chiefs and a sacred promise to bring their people home.The Armchair Explorer is a phenomenal travel podcast that blends immersive audio, rich storytelling, and a deep sense of human connection and adventure. It's a huge inspiration to me, and I think you'll find yourself transported by the vivid way these stories are told. I am absolutely delighted to share this episode today, as quality content is the most important aspect, and Aaron has that in abundance with his podcast.See the shownotes below for all the links to the Armchair Explorer Podcast and everything mentioned in the episode. You have to check in to Aaron's podcast like I do every week!So sit back, relax, and let this journey take you somewhere unforgettable. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.ShownotesWelcome back to the Hidden Trails of Oregon! In the first episode of our new season, host Aaron Millar heads to the eastern edge of the state, far from the bustle of coastal cities and the craggy heights of the Cascade Mountains.We're going on location in the traditional lands of the Nez Perce to uncover a piece of history unknown to most outsiders. In the late 19th century, the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce tribe were driven from their homeland. 200 warriors, protecting hundreds more women and children, fought for five days against 520 US soldiers. Their leader, before surrendering, promised his people that one day they would come home. After nearly 200 years, his promise may just be starting to come true. This is a unique story of generational resilience, cultural preservation, and the ongoing work for recognition and ancestral lands. RESOURCESTo plan your next Oregon adventure:traveloregon.comAdventure Along With The Hidden Trails of Oregon - https://traveloregon.com/plan-your-trip/destinations/lakes-reservoirs/adventure-along-with-the-hidden-trails-of-oregon-podcast/Visiting the Nez Perce Homeland and the Tamkaliks Celebration powwow:wallowanezperce.orgLocal and cultural history at the Josephy Library: library.josephy.orgThank you to our guests: Bobbie Conner, Rich Wandschneider, Jacey Sohappy, and Nancy Crenshaw.CREDITSThis series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find out more at armchair-productions.comBrian Thacker: pre-productionCharles Tyrie: assistant audio editingJason Paton: writing, recording, mixing, sound designAaron Millar: host, writing, executive producerLearn more about your ad choices. Visit

Join us on a journey from Breckenridge, Colorado to Park City, Utah!  This episode of RV Miles is packed with adventure, from boondocking to one of the best campground amenities ever. We share our experiences at the serene McCoy Flats boondocking spot and the exciting Rome Echo Island RV Resort with its unique ropes course and zip lines.   Shout-out to RV Today Magazine for featuring our RV adventures: https://rvtoday.com/   *Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member and get ONE MONTH FREE  at https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers *Get all the details about Homecoming 2025 here: https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Support our Sponsors: *Win a free RV with @LiquifiedRV here: https://liquifiedrv.com/RVMilesRVGiveaway * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 Get 25% Off RV Life Pro here: https://my.rvlife.com/bill/signup/3?s=rvtw&coupon=QE7KAHVF3E *Use code RVMILES15 to get 15% off Travelfi here: https://travlfi.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Ad+Read&utm_campaign=RV+Miles+YouTube+Ad+Read *Use code RVMILES at https://rvmattress.com/rvmiles to upgrade to a real mattress for your RV at 30% off!  

Welcome back to the Hidden Trails of Oregon! In the first episode of our new season, host Aaron Millar heads to the eastern edge of the state, far from the bustle of coastal cities and the craggy heights of the cascade mountains. We're going on location in the traditional lands of the Nez Perce to uncover a piece of history unknown to most outsiders. In the late 19th century, the Wallowa Band of the Nez Perce tribe were driven from their homeland. 200 warriors, protecting hundreds more women and children, fought for five days against 520 US soldiers. Their leader, before surrendering, promised his people that one day they would come home. After nearly 200 years, his promise may just be starting to come true. This is a unique story of generational resilience, cultural preservation, and the ongoing work for recognition and ancestral lands. RESOURCES To plan your next Oregon adventure:traveloregon.com Visiting the Nez Perce Homeland and the Tamkaliks Celebration powwow:wallowanezperce.org Local and cultural history at the Josephy Library:library.josephy.org Thank you to our guests: Bobbie Conner, Rich Wandschneider, Jacey Sohappy, and Nancy Crenshaw. CREDITS This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find out more at armchair-productions.com Brian Thacker: pre production Charles Tyrie: assistant audio editing Jason Paton: writing, recording, mixing, sound design Aaron Millar: host, writing, executive producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are live at the RV Miles High Desert Hangout eating fresh fried beignets thanks to our friends at The Route of it All and recapping our time in Breckenridge, including staying at Tiger Run Resort, where to eat, what to do, ski conditions, and more.  Follow our Beignet-making friends Scott and Alicia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therouteofitall/ *Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member and get ONE MONTH FREE  at https://rvmiles.com/milemarkers. You'll also get exclusive content and discounts to future Hangouts and HOMECOMING events.  *Get all the details about Homecoming 2025 here: https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Support our Sponsors: *Win a free RV with @LiquifiedRV here: https://liquifiedrv.com/RVMilesRVGiveaway * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Use code RVMILES15 to get 15% off Travelfi here: https://travlfi.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Ad+Read&utm_campaign=RV+Miles+YouTube+Ad+Read *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 00:00 Introduction 03:38 Breckenridge, Colorado 04:56 Skiing in Breckenridge 06:15 Tiger Run RV Resort Overview 09:23 Challenges and Costs of Skiing 14:55 Beignets! 19:51 Final Thoughts on Tiger Run RV Resort 26:43 Exploring Breckenridge: Activities and Dining 33:16 RV Miles Community and Events 34:40 Army Corps of Engineers Campground Closures 38:27 New RV Company: Axiom RV 41:00 Echo Island Campground: A Familiar Place 44:11 Campground Amenities and Activities 46:53 Conclusion

The gang's all back together for McKinley High's Homecoming! Yes, it's a reunion with the original Glee Club members! Jenna and Kevin have loads of personal memories from shooting this special episode, including the mood on the set with everyone back, how Naya Rivera felt having to perform Ariana Grande's "Problem" (IYKYK), meeting the newbies, the actor that fell flat on his face during their "Take On Me" number and so much more! For fun, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes clips that you won't find anywhere else, be sure to follow us on Instagram @andthatswhatyoureallymissedpod! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is brought to you by Redefining Wealth LIVE. Join me for the transformational experience that will challenge the way you think about success, wealth, and well-being. Redefining Wealth LIVE is where purpose-driven individuals come together to gain clarity, alignment, and momentum in creating lives that truly reflect their values. If you're ready to break free from default thinking and step into a more fulfilled, abundant life, don't miss this event. In this REMIND episode of Redefining Wealth from 2023, I'm joined by the extraordinary Dr. Thema Bryant—author, psychologist, minister, sacred artist, and host of the Homecoming Podcast. As I redefine love and healing in this new season of life, Dr. Thema's work has been a guiding light, especially through her transformative book Homecoming. Together, we explore the concept of “coming home to yourself”—what it means personally and professionally—and why healing is not a race but a deeply individual journey. Dr. Thema shares wisdom on reconnecting with your truth, embracing joy, and overcoming fear and trauma to reclaim your full, authentic self. If you're in a season of transition, seeking deeper healing, or ready to show up as your whole self, this episode will speak directly to your soul.   Questions to Reflect on as You Listen:

In his final year in office, President Jimmy Carter was forced to navigate crisis after crisis, as American hostages remained captive in Iran and news broke of his brother Billy's shady deal-making with Libya. Despite losing the 1980 election to Republican Ronald Reagan in a landslide, Carter quickly embarked on a remarkable post-presidential career devoted to advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy around the world. When Carter died in late 2024 at age 100, he left a legacy of service that reshaped what it meant to be a former President in the modern era.Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.