Podcasts about Hunger

The Seventh Day of Wizardsmas is here, and Rob and Matt are reviewing Astarion's Book of Hungers. Will it slate their DM bloodlust or leave them desiring more?  Astarion's Book of Hungers Music: Pac Div - Roll the Dice Follow Dungeon Master of None on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/dmofnone.bsky.social   Join our Patreon for bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/DungeonMasterOfNone   Join the DMofNone Discord!

"At Your Word"Luke 5:1-11Kyle Van Dyke serves as an elder at Oasis ChurchDecember 28, 2025We're moving! Starting February 1st our Sunday morning services will be at our new permanent church home at 7339 Atlee Road in Mechanicsville VA.How should Christians respond to wickedness in the world? https://youtu.be/2OJUIM9YRwAVirginia's proposed Constitutional amendments on Abortion & Marriage - How to VOTE BIBLICALLY: https://youtu.be/Y8z8xTFsOn8Have you heard the news about the FUTURE of Oasis Church?https://www.oasischurch.online/futureSERMON NOTES:- At Your Word- Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)- Verse 1 – Hunger for the Word of God- Verse 2 – Washing nets- Verse 3 – Jesus gets in Simon's boat- Verse 4 and 5 – Jesus' command and Simon's reluctant response- Verse 6 and 7 – Jesus fills the nets- Jesus does not ask us for our skills but to surrender to his commands.- Verse 8 – Simon's realization- Isaiah 6:1-8 (NIV)- Verse 9 – Astonishment- Verse 10 – Jesus' invitation- Verse 11 – True discipleship- True discipleship is not leaving because you have nothing but leaving even when you have everything.- Psalm 19:7-11 (NIV)Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/

In today's episode we are giving you all the details on how to start your diet the right (and easy) way in the coming year! Make 2026 the year you finally reach your physique goals!! – Successful setting yourself up to diet. – Before you diet why is recovery from your LAST diet important? Reverse diet vs. Recovery diet? How you recover dictates how your next diet will go. – What time frame does someone need to “recover” and what's that mean for men and women? Competitors versus serious physique enhancement enthusiasts. – What are the lab values that are important here? – What do people need to know about recovery before they start their next diet? Pre diet checklist. – What can we expect mentally from a diet recovery phase: Hunger often actually goes up! It's important to continue to stay on plan!! – When do recovery diets “go wrong”? Links: PHAT Muscle Supps- www.phatmuscleproject.com  John: IG: @teamgormanEmail: john@team-gorman.net Lisa: IG: @nutritioncoachingandlife Email: lisa@nutritioncoachingandlife.comWebsite: www.nutritioncoachingandlife.com

Der Zweite Weltkrieg gehört zu unserer Geschichte. Die Mehrheit hierzulande kennt Krieg nur aus Erzählungen. Doch oft wirken Tod, Trauer, Angst, Hunger und Zerstörung weiter, weit über das eigene Leben hinaus. Therapeuten wissen inzwischen: Was die Vorfahren erlitten haben, kann bei Kriegskindern, Kriegsenkeln und -urenkeln weiterwirken. Transgenerationale Traumata werden auf den ersten Blick häufig als unerklärliche Ängste, Aggressionen und Verhaltensweisen erlebt. Auch viele Soldaten im Auslandseinsatz leiden unter Depressionen und Angststörungen.

Wenn du dir einige der größten Erfolgsgeschichten der Welt anschaust, wirst du darin auch Kapitel voller Scheitern und Entmutigung finden. Dr. Seuss' erstes Kinderbuch wurde von siebenundzwanzig Verlagen abgelehnt. Der achtundzwanzigste Verlag veröffentlichte es und verkaufte schließlich 600 Millionen Exemplare. Dr. Seuss' Beharrlichkeit hat dazu beigetragen, dass Millionen von Kindern lesen lernten. Coca-Cola verkaufte im ersten Geschäftsjahr im Schnitt nur neun Getränke pro Tag. Das Unternehmen hielt durch und ist heute der weltweit führende Anbieter von Erfrischungsgetränken. Henry Ford ging in den ersten drei Jahren seiner Automobilkarriere zweimal bankrott. Doch er gab nicht auf. ‘Ford' wurde das zweitgrößte US-amerikanische und das fünftgrößte Automobilunternehmen weltweit. Im Jahr 1905 lehnte die Schweizer Universität Bern die Doktorarbeit eines gewissen Albert Einstein ab und nannte diese „unbedeutend und fantastisch“. Gab Einstein auf? Nein. Er machte weiter. Und nun stell dir vor: Als erlöstes Kind Gottes hast du einen entscheidenden Vorteil: Gott ist auf deiner Seite! „Gott steht auf meiner Seite (Ps 56,10 ZB).“ Damit verändert sich die Gleichung, und das Blatt wendet sich zu deinen Gunsten. Der Apostel Paulus schreibt: „Wer wird uns scheiden von der Liebe Christi? Bedrängnis oder Angst oder Verfolgung, Hunger oder Entbehrung, Gefahr oder Schwert? …Doch in alldem tragen wir einen überwältigenden Sieg davon durch den, der uns geliebt hat” (Röm 8,35.37 ZB).

Streiche SOFORT diese 5 Lebensmittel aus deiner Ernährung und DAS passiert: Sehr wahrscheinlich nichts. Du willst zukünftig nicht mehr ständig fragen: was stimmt denn jetzt? Dann starte noch bis 31.12. mit einem meiner Minikurse oder dem 12-Wochen-Deep Dive zum Netto-Preis, bevor ab 1.1.2026 die Preise um 20% steigen. Welches Programm ist das passende? >>hier>hier

Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Theme: Generosity Speaker: Pastor Kevin Acosta Title: The Givers Paradise Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.25.31-46.esv Bulletin/Notes: http://bible.com/events/49541940 Date: December 27, 2025 Tags: #psdatv #generosity #generous #giving #heaven #paradise #help #need #poor #unfortunate #hunger #prison #clothes #food #shelter #HelpThoseInNeed For more life lessons and inspirational content, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI): 1659090 CCLI Streaming Plus License: 21338439 Support the show: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANTBMV/envelope/startSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how God remains powerful and active today. Learn how faith, hunger, and obedience are key to experiencing His presence and power in your life. Unlock spiritual growth.

What if small changes to how you eat in 2026 could help you feel more energetic, less hungry, and more in control of your health? In this episode, we ask Professor Tim Spector and Professor Sarah Berry a simple question: which everyday food habits make the biggest difference to how we feel? Tim and Sarah outline the eight key principles that inform their approach to eating well and share clear, practical science in a way that's easy to follow. You'll hear simple tips you can try at home, like how to build a balanced breakfast, add more plants to your meals, and choose small habits that are easier to stick to over time. What is one easy change you could try in 2026 to feel a little better? Unwrap the truth about your food

Did you know that our food system provides opportunities to promote economic, environmental and social justice? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn for her conversation with Mark Winne, MS, non-profit food organization director, organizer, policy advocate and writer. The two will discuss Winne's long career in food system justice and highlights from selected essays and articles from his latest book: The Road to a Hunger-Free America: Selected Writings of Mark Winne. (Part 1 of 2)Related Websites: www.markwinne.com

Thank you for tuning in to Bone Chilling Tales to Keep You Awake Podcast. Feel free to check out our sister podcasts, A Truly Haunted Podcast and True Whispers a True Crime Podcast. See you on the next dreadful episode. #scarystories #realstories #horrorpodcasts are #horrorpodcasts #horrorpodcast #horror #horrormovies #podcast #horrorfilms #horrorfilm #podcasts #horrormovie #film #films #movies #movie #horrorcommunity #horrorfamily #damnedmovies #moviesofthedamned #horrorobsessed #horrorfans #halloween #horrornerd #horrorfanatic #horrorpod #horrorfan #slasher #paranormal #horrorjunkie #horrorpodcaster #horrorgram #horrorcomedy #scarystories #scary #creepy #horrorstories #horror #scaryfacts #creepypasta #creepyfacts #creepystories #creepyfact #scaryfact #horrormovies #halloween #conspiracytheory #conspiracy #horrorstory #scarymovie #scaryposts #conspiracytheories #scarythreads #spooky #scaryvideo #horrorfacts #paranormal #horrorfan #horrors #scarymemes #haunted #horrorfact #ghost   Warning: This podcast may be: frightening · scaring · hair-raising · terrifying · petrifying · spine-chilling · bloodcurdling · chilling · horrifying · alarming · appalling · daunting · formidable · fearsome · nerve-racking · unnerving · eerie · sinisterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bone-chilling-tales-to-keep-you-awake--4731503/support.

Listen to today's podcast... We can be a nation of entitled whiners.  “It's too cold.”  “I am the only one around here who does anything.”  “Blah, blah, blah” or should I say “whine, whine, whine.” Hunger, tiredness, boredom and feeling unwell are factors that can precipitate whining sessions at work, but some colleagues have learned from a very early age that whining gets them the attention that they are seeking.  Whining has become second nature and their predominant way of communicating.  Their behaviour is draining on relationships and it can poison a workplace. Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!      Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Whiner's Day: If you catch yourself whining: Try moving from an attitude of entitlement to one of gratitude.  It is hard to be whining when focused on the positive and being thankful. Focus on problem solving.  It is okay to vent, but that venting must be followed by problem solving otherwise it is whining for whining's sake. If you are going to confront a whiner: Understand that they are looking for attention, but give them attention for solving the issue, not for whining about the issue. Finally, minimize the amount of time that you spend with the whiner.  They will zap your energy if you aren't careful. Looking for resources to build your healthy workplace? Check out my top 10 tips under Resources and Courses at worksmartlivesmart.com #mentalhealth #hr

Was passiert mit Körper und Kopf, wenn Zucker plötzlich fehlt? Und warum bringt genau das viele Menschen – besonders Frauen – wieder in ihre innere Balance? In dieser FoodFak(t) Episode, aufgenommen live im Q Club der Deutschen Bank in Berlin, spricht Stefan Fak mit Moderatorin, Autorin und Zuckerfrei-Expertin Anastasia Zampounidis über Zuckerentzug, Hormone, Heißhunger und die Macht versteckter Zuckerfallen. Gemeinsam schauen sie auf Wechseljahre, Geschmackserziehung, Aromen, Weißmehl – und darauf, wie schnell sich der Körper neu kalibriert, wenn Zucker rausfliegt. Eine ehrliche, praktische und motivierende Folge über Genuss ohne Zucker, Selbstbeobachtung und die Frage, warum bewusste Ernährung so viel mehr ist als Verzicht. *** Instagram *** Folgt Food Fak(t) auch auf Instagram @foodfakt_podcast und bleibt auf dem Laufenden! Hier posten wir zusätzliche Informationen zu den Themen, über die Stefan und seine Gäste im Podcast sprechen: https://www.instagram.com/foodfakt_podcast/

DESCRIPTIONIn this episode of the Fit40 Podcast, I break down another round of “BS or Nah” straight from our weekly FIT40 client call. We cover some of the most common questions I hear this time of year… Can you build muscle on protein shakes alone? Do carbs actually matter after 40? Is it normal to feel ravenous hunger after workouts? And does being cold really mean you need to eat more? I explain what's actually happening inside your body, how insulin resistance really works, and what busy adults over 40 should focus on to build muscle, improve energy, and stop spinning their wheels with nutrition.FIT40 LINKS✅ Feeling stiff, achy, or low on energy?

Kardinal Woelki greift in der Christmette Rilkes Bild von der dunklen Nacht auf und verbindet es mit Hunger, Flucht, Krieg und Einsamkeit als Ausdruck eines tiefen "Dunkels in den Herzen". Gott begegne dieser Dunkelheit, indem er im Kind in der Krippe "einer von uns" werde – unscheinbar, aber solidarisch mit menschlicher Not. Durch Jesu Geburt und seinen Tod sei die Nacht verwandelt: "Alles ist von der Liebe Gottes getroffen". Weihnachten bedeute deshalb, dass nicht jede Nacht dunkel bleibt, sondern das Leben im "Siegel der Liebe Gottes" steht.

Im zweiten Teil des Gesprächs mit Kathy Hendrich erzählt die 90-malige Nationalspielerin von ihrem allerersten Einsatz mit Chicago in den USA – der viel über ihre Essgewohnheiten vor Spielen aussagt. „Ich saß auf der Bank und hatte Hunger. Wenn du nachher reinkommst, willst du nicht mit Hunger auf den Platz gehen“, erinnert sich Kathy. Die Team-Physiotherapeutin habe dann im VIP-Raum „einen warmen Bagel toasten lassen mit irgendeinem geschmolzenen Käse. Ich hatte keine andere Wahl, sonst wäre ich auf dem Platz umgekippt“. Von welcher Süßspeise aus ihrer belgischen Heimat sie nicht genug kriegen kann, was ihr Wechsel in die USA mit ihrem Selbstvertrauen macht, wie die dortige Mentalität im Sport sich von der in Deutschland unterscheidet – und welche Ideen sie für die Männer-WM 2026 hat, verrät sie im Gespräch mit Almuth und Roman ebenfalls. Unseren treuen Zuhörerinnen und Zuhörern wünschen wir frohe Weihnachten!

Torah in Real Time — Parashat Vayigash Parashat Vayigash opens with one of the Torah's most charged moments: “Vayigash elav Yehudah”—Judah steps forward. He steps toward Joseph, the most powerful man in Egypt, carrying the weight of a broken family and a famine that has stripped away all illusions of safety. This is not a scene of theology or ritual. It is a scene of human crisis. Hunger has driven Jacob's family across borders. They have come to Egypt not to thrive, but to survive. Before the Torah ever speaks about refugees as a category, it tells us their story. Jacob's family are climate refugees—forced from their land by famine. They arrive vulnerable, dependent, and at the mercy of a foreign power. Their future hinges on whether someone in authority will see them as a threat, a burden, or as human beings. Judah's act of stepping forward is more than family loyalty; it is moral courage in a refugee moment. He refuses to let the weakest—Benjamin—become collateral damage. He teaches us that responsibility does not belong only to systems or governments, but to individuals who choose not to look away. When Joseph reveals himself, the Torah shows us something radical: compassion can transform power. Egypt, the superpower of its time, becomes a place of refuge—because one person remembers who he is and where he came from. Vayigash speaks directly to our world, where millions are displaced by war, hunger, and climate crisis. The Torah does not ask us first what refugees will contribute. It asks who we will become in how we respond to them. This week on Torah in Real Time, Rabbi Gemara explores Vayigash as a living text about displacement, responsibility, and the courage to draw near rather than retreat. Because the test of a society is not how it treats the strong—but whether, in moments of fear and scarcity, it still makes room for the stranger. ——

Torah in Real Time — Parashat Vayigash Parashat Vayigash opens with one of the Torah's most charged moments: “Vayigash elav Yehudah”—Judah steps forward. He steps toward Joseph, the most powerful man in Egypt, carrying the weight of a broken family and a famine that has stripped away all illusions of safety. This is not a scene of theology or ritual. It is a scene of human crisis. Hunger has driven Jacob's family across borders. They have come to Egypt not to thrive, but to survive. Before the Torah ever speaks about refugees as a category, it tells us their story. Jacob's family are climate refugees—forced from their land by famine. They arrive vulnerable, dependent, and at the mercy of a foreign power. Their future hinges on whether someone in authority will see them as a threat, a burden, or as human beings. Judah's act of stepping forward is more than family loyalty; it is moral courage in a refugee moment. He refuses to let the weakest—Benjamin—become collateral damage. He teaches us that responsibility does not belong only to systems or governments, but to individuals who choose not to look away. When Joseph reveals himself, the Torah shows us something radical: compassion can transform power. Egypt, the superpower of its time, becomes a place of refuge—because one person remembers who he is and where he came from. Vayigash speaks directly to our world, where millions are displaced by war, hunger, and climate crisis. The Torah does not ask us first what refugees will contribute. It asks who we will become in how we respond to them. This week on Torah in Real Time, Rabbi Gemara explores Vayigash as a living text about displacement, responsibility, and the courage to draw near rather than retreat. Because the test of a society is not how it treats the strong—but whether, in moments of fear and scarcity, it still makes room for the stranger. ——

This episode originally ran April 23, 2025.***Roxane Gay is one of the greatest writers in the world today. Everyone knows this. We're so thrilled that she agreed to be on our show. Roxane is the author of books like Bad Feminist and Hunger, writes for the New York Times, is a respected social critic and noted professor. All this means that she travels a lot and she joins us, using a very soothing voice, to share her opinions on air travel. Hear about her favorite airports, such as Indianapolis, and her least favorite airports, like JFK in New York. We even get some book recommendations from Roxane since we had her on the line and she is Roxane Gay, after all. You'll drift off to sleep dreaming of travel without ever waiting in a TSA line.Learn more about Roxane Gay and her excellent work by visiting her website, www.RoxaneGay.com.Hey Sleepy Heads, is there anyone whose voice you'd like to drift off to, or do you have suggestions on things we could do to aid your slumber?Email us at: sleepwithcelebs@maximumfun.org.Follow the Show on:Instagram @sleepwcelebsBluesky @sleepwithcelebsTikTok @SleepWithCelebsJohn is on Bluesky @JohnMoeJohn's acclaimed, best-selling memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback._________________________________________________________________________Join | Maximum FunIf you like one or more shows on MaxFun, and you value independent artists being able to do their thing, you're the perfect person to become a MaxFun monthly member.

As we step into the festive season filled with celebrations, gatherings, and endless food choices, many people find themselves slipping into patterns of binge eating, often followed by guilt and confusion. In this episode, Dr. Vignesh Devraj explains the deeper science and Ayurvedic perspective behind binge behaviours, how our environment shapes our cravings, and the practical steps we can take to prevent overeating.Learn how to differentiate hunger from cravings, understand the role of vishamagni (irregular digestion), and build simple habits that protect your health during the holidays without compromising joy.Episode Highlights :Binge eating is not a lack of disciplineHow to satisfy Hunger vs CravingsVishamagni (irregular digestion) in AyurvedaSkipping meals and poor nutrient intakeMindless eating is shaped by environmental factors Practical tools to help prevent binge patterns.Timestamps : 00:00 - 01:00: Binge eating and celebrations.01:00 - 02:00: What Does ‘Binge' Really Mean?02:00 - 03:00: Our ancestral brain is designed for cravings03:00 - 04:30: Vishamagni: The Ayurvedic Lens04:30 - 06:00: Mindless Eating, Hunger and Craving06:00 - 09:00: Missing Meals & Poor Nutrition09:00 - 13:30: Practical Strategies to Prevent Binges13:30 - 14:30: Building Willpower Dr Vignesh Devraj If you are interested in doing an Ayurvedic consultation with Dr Vignesh Devraj, please find the details in this link: https://calendly.com/drvignesh/30-minute-session-with-dr-vignesh-devraj-md-ay-istIf you are economically challenged, please use the form provided to request a free Ayurvedic consultation here. (or copy paste this in your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd29nHcrC1RssR-6WAqWCWQWKKJo7nGcEm8ITEl2-ErcnfVEg/viewform )BALANCING THE MIGHTY VATA - ONLINE COURSE NOW AVAILABLE What makes Ayurveda unique in its treatment approach is its practical wisdom on the concept of Vata. Vata is responsible for Prana - the life energy, the nervous system - the master panel of our body, and our emotions. In Ayurveda, it is mentioned that controlling Vata is the most difficult part of healing and recovery. Recently, I have recorded a workshop on - Balancing The Mighty Vata, which has over 6 hrs of content, with notes filled with practical inputs that can be integrated into our life. You can access this at https://vigneshdevraj.com/balancing-the-mighty-vata/ For further information about Dr Vignesh Devraj, kindly visit www.vigneshdevraj.com and www.sitaramretreat.com Instagram - @sitarambeachretreat | @vigneshdevrajTwitter - @VigneshDevrajWe truly hope you are enjoying our content. Want to help us shape and grow this show faster? Leave your review and subscribe to the podcast so you'll never miss any new episodes. Thanks for your support.Disclaimer: - The content of the podcast episodes is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical procedures, consultations, diagnosis, or treatment in any manner. We strongly do not recommend using the content of these episodes as medical advice for any medical conditions for you, others, or for treating your patients.

As things escalate underground, Rihva creates a diversion, Tonreir checks for dangers, Ira brings the light and Gydeon makes matters worse. Much, much worse.--- This episode contains content warnings. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠badheroescast.com/contentwarnings/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details.- Subscribe to our free Patreon tier at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/badheroes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠to get news and updates about the show!- Use code BADHEROES for 10% off your order of coffee for game night and tea for the tabletop from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Many Worlds Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.--Music:"Traveler Harp Loop" and "Cryptic Choir" – Monument Studios"A Fey Presence" – Will Savino (wsavino.com)"Push Daisy Disco" – Tim Kulig"Solve the Damn Mystery" – Jesse SpillaneSound effects from nickcase and TheWoodlandNomad on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠freesound.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

 Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 3 Houses Belsus bonds over pain. Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Becca took a small sip of her drink. Her eyes flared lightly, but she didn't cough or choke. "Dave, tell me a story from when you were younger. Something stupid you once did." Dave's head fell back against the couch. "Oh boy. I didn't do any of the usual stupid stuff. Far too insular for that, no group of friends to drag me into wild, hilarious mistakes." Dave thought for a minute, trying to decide if he should tell this particular story. Or if he could. Hell, they were stuck living with him, they deserved to know. "Okay, so this happened in my second summer of college. I was tutoring a lot, and one lady in particular met with me at least once a week. Really nice person, pretty too. Her name was Kim Dawson. She'd gone all in on the late 80's media image of what pretty looked like; dyed blonde hair, boob implants, blue contact lenses. That helped her professionally of course; she worked as a stripper and did well enough to pay her tuition out of pocket, plus a small but nice rent house for her and her son." "You went to her house?" Dave nodded while swallowing the sip he'd just taken. "After the first several sessions, we got comfortable with each other, and it was helpful to her for me to come over on days she didn't have classes, especially if she had to go to work after our tutoring session." Dave paused for a moment, gathering the courage to continue. "So, about two months after we started working together, I'm at her house, sitting at her dinner table. It's a small round table to one side of her kitchen. Like I said, it's a small house, but good condition and she kept it well. Big enough for her and a six year old. Anyway, she gets up to take a brain break and decides she's going to change. She wasn't heading to work, and had come back from running errands, so she wanted to put on something more comfortable." Dave noted the ladies exchanging glances amongst themselves. "Just,; don't judge okay?" He paused again for a moment. "She left her bedroom door open, but the table was well away from the door, like a big angle away." Another look shared. "I didn't follow her with my eyes or anything, but she started talking to me through the open door, so naturally I turned my head towards the door. There was a mirror on the wall that I could see. Now, no, no she wasn't visible in the mirror. At least not from the angle and distance I was at." The looks passing among the ladies were both cryptic in the specifics and utterly obvious in the general meaning. "Oh, I forgot to mention that earlier we had discussed payment. She said this might have to be the last session for a while because she didn't think she could afford to pay. I had told her we could work something out." Three sets of eyebrows raised. "No, not like that. I just assured her I'd let her pay it out if she needed to. I was trying to be accommodating. She needed the help, she put in the work, I was just trying to be helpful." "Oh, baby." Jan said sympathetically. Dave winced. "So then she says she can't hear me well and asks me to come to the door to talk to her." He sighed. "I didn't. I told her I couldn't, I didn't want to violate her privacy. I don't think those were the actual words I used, but it was something like that." Dave couldn't even look at the others, just stared up at the ceiling. "She insists, says she strips to a G-string multiple times a night and she's already in a bra and shorts, she's just looking for a shirt, so it's no big deal." Another sigh. "Then she finally says she wants me to come back there; to; be with her. She; she said I could sleep with her in exchange for tutoring." "Oh my god, David you didn't did you?" Lupie asked. "No, no of course I didn't. And that was the problem. I couldn't. I felt frozen. What she was asking me to do was against everything I'd been taught about being a good guy. And I had nothing against her, but I'd been taught that all the guys at the strip club were abusing her, and I didn't want to do the same, so I stayed put and told her I couldn't do that to her, we can work something else out. After a bit more back and forth, she got pissed and told me to leave. My legs had been frozen the entire time, locked up. I finally managed to force myself up and walked out." All three ladies were absolutely silent. "That wasn't the end of it. After waiting a week, I tried calling a few times to see if she wanted a tutoring session. She never answered." More silence. "Two semesters later, I take organic chem, and one of my classmates and study partners is a friend of Kim's. I didn't know that at first, she waited until we had been working together awhile. She finally told me it was a ruse. Kim made enough in two or three nights to pay rent for a month, and another four covered all the groceries for a month. Mind you, this was early 90's so a lot of things were cheaper. Hell, gas was barely over a dollar a gallon. Kim had set it up to make a fantasy play and I blew it. According to Beth, Kim felt hurt. That was absolutely mind boggling to me. I just couldn't accept the idea that I could mean enough to a woman to hurt her in anyway, certainly not by not having sex with her." Becca shifted against him, turning toward him. "Yeah, I know. I'm an idiot." "You really had no idea?" Jan queried. "Not a bit. I just didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want to be the jackass. Turns out I was anyway." "David," Becca asked, "could I get some help with my math?" She kept her tone even, but her face belied her joke. "Oh hush." Becca worried about missing out on college, so Jan suggested she work through some of Dave's history and biography books as a substitute for a history course. The two were downstairs in the library, reading and talking. This left Lupie and Dave alone in bed. Both were certain it was not a mere coincidence. Lupie curled into Dave's side, her head resting on his chest. She wore a light camisole. He wore his usual; nothing. "David, I wanted to thank you for backing me up the other morning with Esme." "You're welcome. I just thought it was important she not get the idea she can play me against you." Lupie snuggled him tighter. "Still, I think it fair you know what she was about to say." "Only if you think it necessary." "It's a little embarrassing. I thought she was asleep. And I thought I was being quiet." Lupie paused, blushing. "Still it has been several years since I've,; um;” "Gotcha." "Yes, so, um, there have been times when I've; taken care of certain needs. And I was thinking of you. She must have been awake and heard me call your name." Lupie's head was buried as hard into his chest as possible without breaking ribs. "Well, now you don't have to imagine. You have me, and I have you." "You're not upset?" "More like flattered. And frustrated with myself. If I'd picked up on some signs, maybe;” "Let's not go down the 'what if' road David. You're right. We have each other now. We'll build from here." Dave tightened the hug for a moment. "You know, I passed by when you were on your computer earlier. It's kinda cool to see you work. You have this penetrating gaze, like you're dissecting everything you read, weighing each word in a balance and jettisoning the unworthy." "Hmm, must have been when I was working on that memo about handover protocols. Those details can give anyone a headache." Lupie kissed his jawline. "But I don't want to talk about work now. Just hold me, David." September 23, 2020. "What do you want to make for dinner tonight?" Dave asked as he and Janice entered the kitchen. "Not sure just yet. Tell you what, you check the fridge, I'll go into the pantry and check the shelves. Let's see what we come up with from what we see." "Okay." Dave started scanning the fridge shelves for ingredients when a thought occurred to him. The pantry was private. It had been a day or so for Jan. He walked over and opened the door. "Oh good, I was wondering if I'd have to play damsel in distress needing my big strong man to help me find something in this tight little space." "Well, I do have a probe made especially for tight spaces." He kissed her, balancing hunger with tenderness. Jan hummed into the kiss. She wrapped her arms around Dave's neck and pulled her body against his. "Umm-hmm, and that probe is so very good too." She nibbled lightly on his lower lip. Knowing they had little time, and Jan was up for a quickie, Dave took hold of her slacks and panties at the waist band and pulled them down to her knees. Jan emitted a delighted squeak. Her eyes shone with excitement as he stood and picked her up, carrying her to a bare patch of wall between shelves. He shoved his cargo shorts and boxers to his ankles, then hooked his hands under her thighs and lifted and folded her in one motion as he pressed her to the wall. She gasped and moaned, giving her approval and yielding herself to his power, confident that he would meet her needs as he saw to his own. Dave drove himself into her, the serum effects having made her fully wet already. He slid full length on the first thrust. She groaned happily, hungrily and gripped his shoulders. They were pressed for time, so he pounded into her hot wet tunnel with fervor. Such was her excitement that she reached her first climax in just a few minutes. Desperately trying to contain her enjoyment, Jan bit Dave's shoulder as he accelerated his thrusting, pounding more vigorously than he ever had, racing Jan to a second climax a minute before he burst inside her, kicking her over the orgasmic abyss a third time. Dave stopped, holding her in place as both panted for air. The enclosed pantry suddenly felt hot and muggy. His legs felt wobbly. He carefully lowered her legs to the ground, allowing himself to fall outside of her as he did so. Jan pouted for a moment, then dropped to her knees to clean off his cock. "Can't make a mess in here now can we?" She said with a wink. She pulled his shorts up before drawing her own pants into place. Then she sauntered out the door. Dave followed, but nearly ran into her when she stopped short two steps out the door. Lupie and Becca stood there, smirking and clapping. Jan blushed and turned, burying her face in Dave's chest. "Get over it girl, we're all gonna catch each other like that once in a while." Becca said. "I'll remind you of that when it's you," Lupie razzed. Dinner was only a little late, but it was good. Lupie winkingly attributed the good taste to the fact it was made with love. September 24, 2020. Dave looked into the kitchen and saw Lupie at the counter, her back to him, working away. He walked carefully up behind her and gently placed his hands on her hips. She started for a second, then settled into him, allowing her back to rest on his chest. She laid her work down and lay her head on his shoulder. "Hmm. This, this right here." Dave turned his head to hers and they shared a slow, soft kiss as he brought his hands around to her abdomen. They rocked slowly together, swaying to unheard music. What Dave had intended as a happy little moment escalated when Lupie started grinding her rear against his crotch. A moment later, she brought his hands up to her tits. Dave was caught between excitement and control. He very much wanted to paw at her lovely mounds. A wonderfully medium size, Lupie's tits were just barely less than a handful. About as pert as could be natural for a woman in her early thirties. She moaned as he groped. Lupie spun in his arms, kissed him, grabbed his hand, and took off to the bedroom. Dave kept up easily, grinning and laughing the whole way. He stopped her twice to pull her in for a kiss. Once the door closed, they each ripped off their own clothes and sprinted to the bed. Lupie pulled Dave on top of her, her legs apart, insistently rubbing her body against him. "Hungry much?" "What's going on is a tragedy of epic proportions, but I also feel more free than I have in ages. Since I was a teen. Now fuck your bitch in heat David." She snagged his head in her hands and kissed him passionately. Her legs wrapped around him, leaving him enough room to maneuver himself to her entrance. Her own thrusting and abundance of lubrication had him sinking deep into her the moment he lined himself up. She kept up her pelvic motions, timing them with Dave's thrusting. They fucked frantically, frenetically, neither pausing or relenting until Dave burst into Lupie, shooting several thick ropes into her warm, waiting depths. Lupie shuddered with his emissions, griping him tightly with her arms, legs, and inner muscles. They lay panting for a few moments and then looked at each other and laughed. September 25, 2020. Friday mid-morning found Dave on the couch, debating a point of fandom with Becca. "Picard was way wilder than Kirk. They just seem the other way around in contrast with their first officers." "That's crazy talk, Becca. Picard is the staid diplomat that negotiates treaties. Kirk is the bar-room brawler that fought every alien in the sector, or bedded them." "Kirk was the A-student that cheated on the big final exam but got a pass afterward since he was a teacher's pet. Picard was an athlete and got into a bar fight with Naussicans. And got stabbed through the heart." "How dare you speak so insultingly of Jean-Luc the great?" Dave mock-scowled. "Because he's good but not great." Becca giggled. "Blasphemy! I'll shall exorcise the demon from your mind young one!" "And just how to do you plan on doing that?" The grin was the same, but her eyes had picked up a hungry glimmer. Dave did not answer. He lunged at her, hands reaching for her ribs. And then he began tickling her. Becca let out an "Oh!" As Dave barreled into her, pressing her against the couch arm. As soon as he began tickling her, she let out a loud happy shriek, followed by a series of cackles. Dave relented briefly and she caught her breath. Becca gave him a quick kiss, then slipped from under him, heading for the stairs with a look over her shoulder. With a huge grin, Dave shot after her, catching her at the top of the stairs and tickling her again. Her legs gave out from under her during the pleasant bombardment on her sides. He scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way to the bedroom. He kicked the door shut, then walked over and tossed her on the bed before jumping atop her, kissing and groping. She responded in kind, hungry and happy. They started shedding clothes wildly, paying no heed to where they landed. Mutually nude, mutually aroused, hands roaming they rolled on the bed. Dave slipped his hands to her ribs again. Becca squealed in anticipation just as he began to tickle her. Laughing and cackling she wiggled about, half-heartedly trying to escape his grasp. In the commotion, Dave still managed to align himself with her entrance, and pushed himself partially inside. He stopped his assault on her ribs just as he penetrated. A cross between a gasp and a sigh ushered from Becca. Eyes closed, she grinned wildly. Dave drove himself slowly, methodically within her. She draped her hands around his back and her legs around his waist. A look of blissful contentment blazed forth from her. He coaxed her to climax three times before finally allowing himself to spill into her. Afterward, they lay spooning in bed, Dave's chest against Becca's back, his right arm draped over her side, hand resting on her tummy. Breathing, just being close. Until Dave heard soft sobs from her. "Becca?" "I'm sorry. It felt so great, and then I thought about telling my Aunt Teresa about how my life is changed, how good I feel in bed with you, having you in my life like this." She shuddered with grief. "She's; she's; I'll never get to talk with her again. She's the one; I could talk to. When mom was stuck on rote doctrine, Aunt Teresa talked to me. Even if she echoed mom's position, she talked to me. Now they're all just gone." Dave held her firmly, letting her cry, letting her know he was there with her. After several minutes of silence, he spoke. "We live in dark times, beloved. For now anyway, happiness comes in bursts, sadness in buckets." He paused to compose himself. "We cling together to weather the storm. Separately, we may all drown." She placed her hand on his, reassuring herself he was there, as she cried herself to sleep. She never noticed his tears falling in her hair. September 28, 2020. Dave opened the door, half-expecting a National Guardsman with a woman to add to his house. He wasn't wrong. The lady in question stood ready, with a bright smile. A telegenic smile. And Dave recognized her after a moment. "Holy crap. You're Shawna Cooper! How the hell did you wind up here?" "Well, according to Oracle, you were my best match at 93%" with that same rich, assuring voice he'd come to appreciate from the TV. "Wow, okay." Dave paused to sign the form. He hadn't paid too much attention the first two times so he scanned the document quickly. He burst out laughing. The soldier grinned. "Yeah, some chairborne ranger had a little fun with that one." Shawna looked at him funny. "Something I should know?" "I'll tell you inside, with the others. They should hear this too." Dave waved as the military truck pulled away, then lead Shawna into the living room. The rest of the house must have heard the door. All three ladies currently bonded to Dave were already in the living room. "Hello" said Shawna, cautiously attempting to engage the other women. "Hey aren't you; " "Shawna Cooper, Senior Meteorologist at WFAA. Although, I may get promoted to Chief Meteorologist soon." A short round of congratulations circulated for the next minute. "Wow, Dave, you're accumulating a real smorgasbord of women. A blonde, a Latina, an Asian woman, and now a black woman." Jan smirked. Dave shook his head and closed his eyes. Shawna chuckled. "If she hadn't said it, I would have." "I'm surrounded by smart alecks." "Each of whom was selected by a computer especially for you." Apparently, the new arrival wasn't giving a holiday on sass. The playful smile on her face was already enchanting Dave's heart. "God help me." "He did David, He sent you us." Lupie punctuated her statement with a quick kiss. The others laughed. "Okay, what was that at the door about the form?" Shawna inquired. "And something about an airborne ranger?" Dave smiled. "No, a chairborne ranger. It's the army version of a desk jockey. Someone that works an army office job, but probably has a bunch of military memorabilia. They think they're a badass, but they've never been in the field without a GP medium and a heater." "You served?" Jan asked. "No, but I had a good friend that was special forces. Taught me a lot." A grey cloud of uncertainty fell across Dave's face. He shook it off. "Anyway, desk jockeys handle the paperwork and sometimes make new forms. All government forms are identified by letters signifying the department that created it, followed by some numbers. The form I have to sign when y'all get dropped off must have been created by an army guy because it's Form DA-6969-R." After a two count, the meaning of the numbers sank in and everyone burst out laughing. "Hmm, now that's giving me ideas" purred Shawna, her eyes slightly hooded. "I try to give each of you some time to get used to me and the house before making that last leap." Lupie piped up, "But we do have precedent for no delay." Becca blushed. "Oh, poor baby," Shawna teased, "did the pretty little blonde jump your bones before you were ready?" "There were some extenuating circumstances, which you will learn in time. I'm sure it will be part of the family story as we go forward. We did know each other before she got vaxxed, so I had some comfort level that she wanted this without the serum effects." "Could I get a quick thumbnail description?" "I'm Dave's next door neighbor." Lupie pointed through the wall towards her house. "Becca was my babysitter," Becca gave a shy smile and a head nod "who was watching Esme, my daughter when the lockdowns hit. We all worked together, staying isolated to get through all this. When the CDC guy came, Becca and I asked Dave to request us. Jan," the lady mentioned waved her hand "was delivered the next morning to Dave's house as we were picked up to get the shot. Something bad happened at the vax center that I don't want to go in to fully at the moment, so Becca was adamant about not waiting when we arrived. Our tender loving man didn't get to be as tender with Becca's first time as he intended." "Sounds like I have a lot to catch up on later." A look of sorrow settled on Shawna. "I'm sorry to ask but where is Esme?" "Oh, she's upstairs reading. We didn't want her down here in case the conversation got a little; risqué." Lupie replied. "She's nine. According to the CDC people, she'll be safe when she reaches eleven. I didn't understand the full explanation, but the important part is she is safe and will remain safe from this thing." "Got it, so no mounting Dave on the couch." "Preferably not." Lupie's Cheshire cat grin matched Shawna's. "Then I think it's time we headed upstairs, tender loving man." In the bedroom, with the door firmly shut, Dave and Shawna stood before each other, gazing at each other's face, eyes roaming across the other's body. "Nervous?" Shawna asked. "Never been with a black woman before?" "My lifetime dance card is a little short, so yeah, still working through the nerves somewhat." Dave temporized. "And no, actually, I've never been with a black woman, but I suspect all the parts work the same." That made her laugh. "See, I can be a smart ass too. Actually, until the last week, I'd never been with a Latina, and Asian woman, or a blonde. Well, not a natural blonde. And I've dated a Latina, but it never went that far." Shawna kissed him. Dave gratefully accepted the interruption of his babbling and joined her. Lips gently merging, pressing. Slowly probing with tongues. Twirling against each other. Mutual tongue stroking turned to suckling on each other's tongue. Hands rubbed backs, pulling insistently. Her soft upper body sandwiched between them. His hands roamed to her sides, then to her bosom. Dave began unbuttoning her blouse. Shawna pulled Dave's t-shirt over his head. "Hmm, nice. Fit without being gross. I like a man that finds balance. Huh." Dave kissed Shawna's neck at the clavicle, suckling and licking. His hands finished with her buttons, he shucked her shirt over her shoulders and she shrugged to drop the shirt off. Cupping her bra-clad bosoms from below, Dave dove into Shawna's cleavage, reveling in the feel of her ample tits surrounding his face. "Yeah baby. Feast on these boobs. You lovin' the size or the taste baby? I'm different than the others in both respects." "Infinite diversity in infinite combination." Dave lifted his head to speak. He brought his hands around to the back to unclasp her lacy orange bra, but couldn't find the mechanism. He pulled his head back from her chest to focus his eyes. Shawna just chuckled as his hands came back to the front, in the center of her bra to release the imprisoned twins. Her hands roamed his back and tousled his hair as he dallied with her chest. With her bra tossed away, Dave took a nipple in his mouth and suckled. Shawna gasped and hummed appreciatively. Her hands moved down his sides, seeking his waist band. She caught hold of his shorts, hooked her fingers beneath them and his boxers, and shoved both to his ankles. One hand grasped his shaft, the other massaged his testicles. Dave groaned from the stimulation of her efforts. "Yeah baby, that's it. You and me, we're gonna give each other a lot of happy." Shawna cooed into his ear before nibbling on it. Dave switched his attention to the other nipple. One hand teased the wet nipple, while the other dropped to the waist band of her slacks. One handed, he unbuckled her belt and unsnapped her pants. He worked the zipper a few inches down one handed also, until they loosened. Then he tugged downward, revealing her lacy orange panties. Dave caught her under the curve of her rump in both hands and lifted her to his body. Shawna squeaked and then hummed her approval as he continued to nibble her neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist. In two steps, he had them at the edge of the bed. Dave crawled onto his knees on the bed and brought his hands under her shoulder blades before lowering their torsos to the bed. Dave hooked his fingers through the thigh straps of Shawna's panties and slipped them from her. Her naked essence now exposed, Dave brought his face to her core and inhaled deeply, reveling in the scent of an aroused woman. He pressed in, his lips and tongue investigating his new partner, caressing her most intimate area. "Hmm, baby that feels so nice, but I need you in me." Shawna tugged at Dave's head. "Dock that thing in the shuttle bay captain." Dave crawled up over top of her with a huge grin on his face. She was sloppy wet below, so he slid in easily as he moved up her body. They were instinctively in sync so that they aligned themselves without discussion or fumbling. Dave was aroused as well, of course, to the point he already had a few beads of precum at the tip of his cock. As he entered, Shawna's body stiffened, then shook. She let out a loud groan as all the air left her lungs. Dave held her until the shaking stopped. "Damn," she said when she caught her breath, "they weren't lyin'." Hunger dominated her features as a wicked smile spread over her face. She rolled them, still connected, taking the top spot. "Ride 'em cowgirl." Shawna laughed as she began rolling her hips, her body writhing sinuously with the motion. Her bounteous tits swayed rhythmically, hypnotically. Dave grasped them, curling his torso up to bring his mouth to her pec pillows and feasted greedily upon the supple flesh. Shawna moaned louder with the attention. Her hips moved faster, beginning to hop an inch or so with each swish of her hips. "Let's kick this to Warp 10 baby." Shawna braced her hands on Dave's shoulders, pushing him flat to the mattress. Using him as an anchor, she began lifting and lowering herself along his rod, riding him hard and fast. Immediately her vocalizations were louder, more primal. Dave could feel the tremors rising in her body just as his own arousal raced to the peak. Dave held off for several minutes before letting loose. As she received his load, Shawna's body shook like she had gripped a live electrical wire. Her torso collapsed on to him like a marionette with the strings cut. Dave heard her chant "Imprinting;” twice before the room started to spin and everything went black. September 29, 2020. When Dave awoke, he was alone in bed. For a moment, by the light level, he thought it had only been a few hours. Then he noticed the angle of the shadows and realized it wasn't later that afternoon, it was several hours past the following daybreak. On the plus side, he felt great. And,; something was wrong. He couldn't place it. No, was something right? It'd be easier to concentrate if Esme's giggles from the kitchen weren't punctuating his thoughts. He couldn't hear any words, but the background sounds sure made it seem like she was helping someone in the kitchen. What? How the hell could he hear them that far away? He hadn't heard that well since his early twenties. And Where The Hell Was His Tinnitus? Ho-lee shit. The high-pitched whine that filled his days and haunted his nights was gone. Shit, now it would be easier to hear women and kids again. Dave barely remembered to throw on shorts and a shirt before sprinting downstairs. He picked up Esme and spun her around. "I hear you! I hear you! All the way up in the bedroom and I could hear you!" He hugged her close. She giggled, once she realized he wasn't mad. Dave set her down and gave her a big kiss on her forehead. "You are officially my favorite stepdaughter." This apple didn't fall far from the tree. She narrowed her eyes and grinned. "I'm un-officially your only stepdaughter." "Still my favorite." He said, his voice receding with him. Dave went upstairs to his office. He had a Zoom call to make that he'd been putting off. "Hi, Uncle Dave." The deep brown eyes, framed by pale skin and equally brown hair of Olivia Barnes stared back at Dave from the screen. Her father's hawkish features softened by the influence of her mother's rounder ones. Except the skin around her eyes was reddened, and somewhat puffy. Dave feared he knew why his goddaughter had been crying. It had been more than a month since he'd heard from his best friends, Carter and Janelle Barnes. "Hey Livy Bean." Maybe his longtime nickname for her would be comforting, of a sort. She did brighten slightly. Like a slightly less dim twilight. "Sorry I haven't called in a while. Things have been changing a bit around here." "Oh, that's fine." She couldn't have sounded more like Eeyore if she tried. "I just; " Olivia was cut short by the playful screech of Esme rocketing into the room, obviously being pursued. She hid behind Dave's chair as Becca entered. "Hey, you two, settle down, I'm on a Zoom call." "Oh, sorry." Both said. "Dave?! What the hell are people doing in your house! Why aren't you quarantining!?" "Yeah, that's part of the busy." Dave looked to Becca and Esme, starting to leave. "Don't go just yet. I should introduce you. Liv, this is Esme, she's the daughter of Lupie, my next door neighbor. Becca was Esme's babysitter doing a long-term babysit when the lockdowns started. We quarantined in separate houses, but worked together to make sure we each had what we needed." They each waved as their names were mentioned. "I recognize the names from earlier conversations. So how are they in your house now Dave?" Energized by questions that needed answering, Olivia strangely seemed more alert than at the beginning of the call. Dave shooed Esme out, Becca following after her and shutting the door. "About two weeks ago now, a guy came to my door, telling me they had a vaccine for this virus. But it has some weird effects." "What kind of weird effects?" Olivia's redheaded roommate Melanie Ustanich popped her head into view. "Well, they can't give the vaccine to men at all. At least not directly." This is not the way he had intended this conversation to go, but here they were. "Women can take the vaccine, and then; transmit the immunity to a man." "How?" Melanie asked with a scowl. "Oh boy. That's were this gets surreal." Dave temporized. "Giving the vaccine directly to a man is 100% fatal. But, a woman can share her immunity with a man directly, through, um,; intercourse." "Okay, I'm calling bullshit." Melanie huffed out of frame. By her footstep sounds, she left the room Olivia was transmitting from. "That's crazy Uncle Dave." "Yeah, that's what I said. But then I red all the documentation, I took the survey. And I have four partners." "Four?" "The effects of the vaccine only partially transmit to the man, and have to be reinforced by frequent; contact. In order to keep a man; safe; he should have multiple partners." Dave winced. "Last I heard, the ultimate goal is twelve to fifteen women per man. And it's permanent. Once a woman gets the vaccine and; sleeps with a man, sleeping with any other man would be dangerous, even fatal." Dave paused while Olivia absorbed what he'd just said. "It's for a lifetime, Liv. Look, if you know someone you think you can make it work long-term with, you should find him and talk to him. The people doing the vaccination should be getting out to Stephenville in another week or so. Maybe you can find someone suitable by then." Dave squirmed in his seat. "I don't have to look anywhere Dave. I know who I'd want to bond with for the rest of my life. The same man I've yearned for; for years." "Good, you should call him immediately. And tell your roommate to think about who she'd want to partner with. And she might want to consider the same guy." With a small smirk Liv replied. "Not a bad idea. This guy likes redheads. But he has a blind spot though. Has trouble noticing when women like him. Especially younger women. He keeps passing it off as infatuation. 'Just a crush'." "Well maybe you need to; " Dave stopped with his mouth hanging open, frozen. He had to remind himself to blink. "Dave, you ok? Do I need to turn you off, then turn you back on?" The sarcasm snapped him out of it. "Very funny Liv." He gathered his thoughts, or tried to. They kept scattering like cats at bath time. "I'm more than twice your age Olivia. I changed your diapers for god's sake! I helped raise you. You came to me when you were afraid to talk to your parents. Biologically it's not incest, but damn." "It's not the same David! Please; " a knock at the door interrupted them. Shawna slipped in. "Is everything okay in here?" She brought herself into the camera's field of view. "Uh, hi. I'm Olivia, David's goddaughter. Who are you?" "I'm his newest partner. I just imprinted yesterday." Shawna settled gently on Dave's thigh, keeping part of her weight on her feet. "Imprinted?" "That's what they call the binding process that happens when the vaccine serum mixes with a man's semen inside a woman's body." "Huh." Olivia looked pensive. Melanie had come back into view. Presumably, she'd been in hearing range for a minute or so. Olivia squinted at the screen, as if trying to pick out an important detail. "Anyone ever tell you that you look like the weather lady on channel 8?" "It's been known to happen." Shawna said coyly. "You may have noticed I wasn't on the air last night. And I won't be for two more nights. Vaccination leave. Some places give longer, but there's only so much staff at the station these days. I couldn't drop that much load on the rest of the weather room staff." "Oh wow. Wow. Just. Okay. This is a lot all at once." Behind Olivia, Melanie typed furiously on her phone. When the site she searched for came up she held the phone out, as if beside Olivia's laptop screen, her eyes scanning back and forth between the two. "No fucking way. Your uncle is banging the channel 8 weather chick?" Shawna's eyes narrowed. "I have a master's degree in meteorology. I have five years' experience storm chasing, another four years' experience at NSSL, and six years' experience at the station. I am a scientist as well as a broadcaster. I am not a weather chick. Hell, I have three scientific papers as the PI." Melanie looked cowed. "I'm sorry. I got a little caught up in the moment. You're right that was out of line." She paused. "Wait, you're a detective too? How does that work?" "No," Shawna said with a hand to the bridge of her nose, "PI is principal investigator; it's the polite term on a scientific team for the HMFC; head motherfucker in charge." Dave stroked her thigh, keeping his face blank. He wasn't going to laugh at her phrasing, nor admonish her harshness. "Yeah, now I need to dial it back. Sorry girls." "Don't. It's fine. Kinda funny actually." Melanie's face began receding from its earlier attempt to match her hair color. "I apologize for being brusque, but can we get back to the topic at hand?" Olivia pleaded. "David, have you ever noticed or wondered why all my relationships never lasted longer than three months?" "I just figured they weren't good enough for you." "Well, you're not wrong there. I measured them; all of them; against you and they came up wanting." "I would have thought a better comparison would be your dad. I mean, let's face it, he's a much more manly guy than me." Dave hoped he'd kept the bitter tone out of his voice. No one showed any hint it registered with them. "I never wanted to fuck dad." Olivia stared at him like she could bore holes in the screen. "Damn girl." Shawna chuckled. Melanie turned her head to Liv with her eyes wide. "When I first heard about how babies were really made and what those parts of me were for, I thought about doing that with you. When I started feeling the desire to have sex, you were the one I wanted to be with. All of you said it was just a girlish crush. I tried dating other guys. I threw myself into relationships with, nice guys, good men, but none of them were you." She paused to catch her breath. Her argument was turning into an emotional plea. "I can't give you my virginity David, but I can give you all of me forever." "Olivia, I; I just; " "David, how about you let us girls talk for a bit. After all, she's been an important part of your life for many years. I'm your brand new partner. I'm sure she has some juicy stories to tell." Shawna winked at the screen. Dave nodded and left. Dave spent some time in the greenhouse, tending the plants and 'smelling the green'. A few grow beds had separated at the corner so he repaired them. He checked the time to find it had been almost two hours since he'd left Shawna on the Zoom call with Olivia. He went back in to discover the ladies all gathered in the library. They shooed him out the moment he opened the door. "Yeah, they wouldn't let me in either. I finished my last book and wanted a new one, but they have some important discussion going on, so here I sit, rotting my brain with TV," Esme said, with air quotes for emphasis. "You could always choose a documentary instead of anime." "You could always eat a tofu burger instead of red meat." Esme giggled. "Blasphemy." Dave said, ascending the stairs. That brought a full chuckle from his nine-year old housemate. Dave sat at his computer, working out a reasonable set of instructions for a physics lab students could do from home, with materials they already had. It was maddening to think they'd gotten a sizable grant only two years ago for some great equipment, which would now sit unused in a storeroom because everything was moving online. His focus was broken by Esme's voice. "Hey Dave, they're in the living room waiting for you. I'll be reading in my room." "Thank you, my sweet Esmeralda." Esme rolled her eyes, but accepted the hug. Entering the living room, Dave found all four of his partners smiling, but serious. In just a moment's read of the resolve written there, he knew which way this was going to go. Huh. Maybe he was getting better at this. He chose a seat that could easily view everyone else's and lowered himself. Then he realized, they probably chose their spots so he'd be in this spot. "So, what's up?" Lupie spoke up. "We think you should accept Olivia, David. Her roommate Melanie is interested, and we think you should accept her as well." "I spoke with both of them for about an hour and a half, David." Shawna added. "Olivia's earnest in her feelings for you. I work beside media types, onscreen talent and production executives. I have a good feel for when someone's bs ing me. If Olivia isn't in love with you, she's very close to that. My bet is, she madly in love with you. She'd be unhappy anywhere else." Dave stared at Shawna. That last bit hit home. Olivia's happiness meant a lot to him. He suspected that last sentence was calculated, not just a lucky shot. He swallowed once and looked away. "You don't understand. I've known this girl since before she was born. I changed her diapers. She's stayed over at my house. I helped her understand boys as she got older. I've watched over her while camping or at the pool. Hell, I've seen her in bikinis since the time she started developing tits and I've never allowed myself to think of her in; lascivious terms." "Do you think she's pretty?" Jan prompted. "Absolutely. She's as lovely as her mother." A very quiet ripple ran through the room. Dave realized he'd left an opening for another tale. One he did not want to get into. "And that's just the wrapping paper. She's got a hell of a lot more than her looks going for her." All the ladies grinned. "David, do you hear yourself?" Lupie prodded. "Not just what you've said, but how you say it?" "Yes, she is dear to me. I'd do anything for her." "Then do the one thing she needs you to do right now. Love her as a woman. Allow your love for her to grow to encompass the physical." Dave breathed heavily. A whole host of emotions welled up within him. "I held her in my hands; hand; when she was only a few hours old. I cleaned her boo-boos when she fell off her bike." He chuckled through tears. "You've given her unconditional love her whole life, David. Is it any wonder she fell in love with you?" "I just worry I'd be betraying their trust." "Who?" Shawna asked. "Carter and Janelle. Livy's parents." "So ask them." Shawna suggested. Dave replied with a pained expression. "I haven't heard from them in over a month. And when we started the Zoom call, Olivia's eyes were red and puffy." A sobering silence held the room in its grasp. "David, wouldn't that mean you're all she's got left?" Lupie asked tenderly. "Yes." Dave sighed. Well, he did know walking in how this would go. "Okay. Okay. I'll contact the vax center and see what it takes to put in a request." "And you need to include Melanie, Olivia's roommate in the request." Shawna added. "I know nothing about her." "We took the time to talk. Olivia told her enough about you she said she would be willing." "That's an awfully thin data set for a life altering decision that you can't take back!" Dave objected. "David," Lupie said in her most soothing tone, "when you requested Becca and me, we still got a sheet of information about you, our match percentage in Oracle, and the chance to say no. If we said no, we'd be given a list of ten other men with their data and match percentages." "This is a lot to take in." Dave paused. "You said a bio and a match percentage?" "Yes." "And she can refuse?" "Yes. "Okay. Hell, I like redheads anyway." Dave smirked. "And she's doing something in computers. That could be very handy. And if she can share a small off-campus house with Livy, she's probably reasonably compatible anyway." "So we're resolved on this?" Becca asked. She'd been quiet during most of the conversation, although she nodded in agreement with some of the points made by the other women. "Yes, Becca, I'll request both of them. I'll call them tomorrow to confirm, then I'll call the vax center." "David, when we finished the call today, I made sure to get a clear answer from each of them." Shawna said. "Go ahead and call the vax center first, then call them to let them know the request is in." Dave stared at her for a moment. "On something like this, I want to ask them myself. Hell, there's a chance with a night to think it over, they may have decided this is a bad idea. But I will call them a second time after I call the vax center." Becca "Um, Dave, so, a friend of mine from school has been talking to me." October 3, 2020. When Dave opened the door he was greeted by an enthusiastic "Woof!" and two paws immediately planted on his chest. "Roscoe!" Dave rubbed the large Rottweiler's flanks and dipped his head to kiss Roscoe's forehead, then quickly back to dodge the dog's tongue. "Oh look, you brought Livy and her roommate with you. Good boy." Dave signed the form, thanked the soldier, and led the ladies and Roscoe into the living room where most of the house waited. Roscoe spotted Esme and bolted to her. She let out a squeak, then giggled as he licked her face. "Roscoe, down! Heel!" The happy canine trotted back to sit beside Olivia's feet as she sat on one end of the couch. "He sure is friendly. I thought Rotts are supposed to be mean, like guard dogs." Becca said. "If you train 'em mean, or abuse 'em sure. Or if they are seriously inbred. You treat 'em like family they will love on you like nobody's business. And rip the head off anyone that hurts the family. So, Esme, you play with Roscoe anytime you want. He'll love it. He's great with kids." Lupie grinned appreciatively at Livy's suggestion. She'd clearly understood Livy's implied meaning of acclimating Roscoe to see Esme as family for the purpose of defending her. "Yeah, when we go to the park for walks, it can be a real job to keep him from running and frolicking with the kiddos." Melanie chimed in. "So where's Shawna?" Liv asked. "Work. Her new partner leave was up. She has the five and six o'clock broadcast, so she won't be back until this evening." "And she's the only one Mel and I have met, so to speak." Liv said dryly. Her big toothy grin capturing attention of everyone. "Although, I've heard bits and pieces about Lupie and Esme over the past few years." Olivia introduced herself, telling everyone she had been a junior studying horticulture at Tarleton State University when lockdowns started. She's into shooting and hunting, and lots of outdoor activities. Becca looked pensive. "Oh, but don't worry," Liv assured her, "I'm usually down for group games and such. I take it your more of an indoor person?" "Mostly. I mean, I like going to the pool, and sometimes the park." Becca's spoke in soft tones. "Great. You show me some games you like, and I'll show you how fun hiking and camping can be. Maybe even teach you how to shoot." "You can do that? I mean, teach me?" "Liv manages to hit the target once in a while." Dave chuckled. "Hey, I'm a better shot than you! I've taken a deer, first shot, every season I've gone out." "I was teasing Liv." Dave temporized. "I'm still working to wrap my head around; this." "Well for me this is the realization of a dream I couldn't let go of and didn't think I'd get." The room fell quiet for a moment. "Oh, one thing about Roscoe, I almost forgot. He has some hearing loss. He's still got some hearing and a great sense of smell, so he won't get jittery when surprised as long as there aren't any unfamiliar scents." "So give him time to sniff us and adjust for a few days before walking up behind him?" Jan smiled. "Sure. That would work. And if he does get spooked, just hold still and let him sniff. By the end of today, he might not register everyone here as family, but he will understand you're all accepted by Dave and me." Another moment of quiet, and all eyes turned to Melanie. "Oh, hi. I'm Melanie Ustanich. I'm Olivia's roommate. I was a senior last year at Tarleton. I'm working on a four plus one degree in cybersecurity and network administration." Melanie's green eyes and hair balanced between coopery and auburn accented the face set in a perpetual impish smile to tell of the Irish part of her ancestry. "Four plus one?" Becca asked. "It means I began working on my master's while I was still an undergraduate. Instead of four years for a bachelor's and then two or three years for a master's, I get both done in five years." "Oh cool." "It should have helped me get into the workforce faster with less student loan debt." Melanie rolled her eyes. "I think we're going to find the financial sector changes a lot with what's going on." Lupie supplied. "Hi, I'm Lupie, Dave's neighbor; well used to be. I also used to be an investment advisor until our firm shutdown." "Oh wow. So like stocks and bonds and shit?" Lupie nodded in reply. "Do any day trading?" "Yeah, it's been handy. The market tanked, but if you know what you're doing you can still manage something positive out of it." "Good to know. And thanks about the loan info. That's something I've been worrying about. Not in school means I have to start paying my loans, but I have no job so I can't, and there's no one answering the phone lines to set up a deferment." "I thought President Pelosi suspended all debt payments and interest accrual until Congress could get together and pass something permanent." "I wish." "I'll check into that later today. You shouldn't have to worry about debts in all this mess." "Thank you, that would be a huge relief if true." "So, Tarleton isn't holding any classes?" Jan asked. "Not this semester. They said they might hold some online classes in the spring, but wouldn't commit to it. They emptied the dorms too, but Liv and I had an off-campus apartment and a trickle of income to cover the basics. We still cut into some savings. The landlord was happy to still have some income, so she cut our rent in half since; May? June?" "June." "Yeah, so that helped." Everyone talked a bit about interests, hobbies, and happenings but eventually the suitcases loomed large and we decided it was time to get Olivia and Melanie's things put away in a dresser like they lived here. They each carried their own up the stairs, only using the roller wheels as they got to the upstairs hallway. "What happened here? Why is the wall patched? Dave?" Olivia curious expression evaporated when she looked at Dave. His face twisted in pain. His heart exploded with repressed mourning. "Eddie." That one word, spoken in anguish, struck Olivia like a poleax. She fell towards Dave in faltering steps as he thumped backwards against the wall and slid down, coming to rest in a wailing mess, his precious Livy Bean clinging to him, sobbing her heart out. Janice looked bewildered. Melanie furrowed her brow. "Liv has a friend named Eddie. They even tried dating, but decided to just stay friends. Really good friends." Lupie came flying up the stairs, having heard the heart-rending cry from below. "What happened?" Melanie and Jan both shrugged, trying to catch up still. "We don't know," Janice replied, "Olivia asked why the wall had been patched. Dave looked like his heart was being ripped out and said 'Eddie' and collapsed. Olivia collapsed with him." Lupie's eyes watered and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, David." She squatted beside the weeping pair and placed a hand on Dave's shoulder. The other three looked at each other, mildly frustrated. More mourning and no explanation. Lupie glanced up at the confused trio. "Eddie is David's son." Chapter 5: Healing Begins. October 3, 2020. House Belsus was in mourning. Lupie and Jan got an arm under Dave's armpits and lifted him up, guiding him to the bedroom once he got his feet under him. Becca and Melanie did the same for Olivia. Together, the quartet removed the shoes and socks of the weeping pair and draped a blanket over them. Roscoe trailed behind the troupe, whimpering and trying desperately to get in close to Olivia. He planted himself firmly against her in the bed once she was positioned. The pent-up pain manifested itself in force. Edward, Carter, Janelle. Three faces Dave and Livy would never see again. Three laughs they would never hear again. Three hearts they would never touch or be touched by again. It was just too much to hold in any longer. As he wept, Dave could hear a rustling sound off to the side of the room. He knew one of the women of the household was sitting there, ready if he or Livy needed anything. It was one small reassurance as images of a happy little towheaded boy played through his mind. The boy he barely got to see after the divorce. More images of the angry young man, full of his mother's twisted commentary, coming to him, beginning to realize he may have been lied to. That may be the most painful memory. After years of trying to be a dad, and being rebuffed, his boy had sought him out. They'd rebuilt slowly from there, starting on Edward's fifteenth birthday. Eight years. Eight years he'd had with his son as he grew from his mid-teens into a young, twenty-three year old man. A damn good man. And now he was gone. A memory, frozen in time. Forever young, static and unchanging. Never to find love. Never getting to be a father himself. Eddie would have been a great dad. No more Carter either. His friend from college. The man that taught him the value of being prepared. Guided him to take a martial arts class. Taught him how to use a gun. Taken him hunting and fishing. Without that time with Carter, he never would have been able to take Eddie fishing in those early years before his ex began denying visitation. And sweet Janelle. That lovely face seemed so soft. Most would think she'd never keep up with Carter's active outdoorsy life. They were wrong. She would much rather do nearly anything in the city or suburbs, but the guy she'd fallen for was an avid hiker and camper. She took to it with a borrowed passion that never relented. Janelle did everything with so much energy you'd think she could power a city with her smile and peppy personality. She managed to stay just this side of sickening bubbly though. Thanks to his newly healed hearing, Dave picked up the telltale sounds of two people working in the kitchen. Dinner? How long had he lain here, whimpering like a little bitch? It was time to get up. Dave tightened his hug on Olivia briefly, then released her and went to the bathroom to wash up and take care of needs. And wash from the elbows down. Roscoe had taken to nuzzling and licking his hands and arms in an attempt to soothe. When he returned, Lupie sat on the bed speaking soothingly to a quiet Olivia. Roscoe's head briefly turned from Olivia to give Dave a baleful look as he re-entered the room. A quick whisper brought Olivia's head up and around, rolling slightly to see Dave. She sat up and rose shakily to meet him. He hugged her again, and they each steadied themselves to stave off another crying jag. Liv slipped around Dave to enter the bathroom. Lupie met him where he stood. She placed her arms loosely around his neck, bringing their foreheads together. "I love you, David. I wish you had shared this with me earlier, but I understand why it hurt too much to address." She kissed him softly on the chin, then looked into his eyes. "I'm here for you David. Even if all you can handle is a hug, I'm here for you." She hugged him tightly. Olivia emerged, her face cleansed of tear streaks and make up. She chose not to apply new makeup. Why bother when she's liable to start crying again? Her loose black blouse and the large ruffle attached to the neck showed creases and wrinkles from lying in bed. Her work-style jeans showed no such effects, having been made to take more punishment than lying in bed could dish out. As they passed Esme's room enroute to the stairs, they heard a shout of "Dave!" just before 80 pounds of love bug smacked into the man so named and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Esme had met Eddie a few times, had a few memories of him. More than that, she wanted to console Dave in his grief. He was a figure in her young life and he was hurting. The outpouring was almost enough to set Dave off crying again, but he choked it back. Lupie gave Esme a short time to show her support, then shooed her back to her room with a hug and a kiss. "Did you get something to eat mija?" "Yes, mama. And I have a few good books in my room. I'm good for awhile." The trio continued to the stairs and emerged into the living room. Becca sat on the couch fidgeting, not really watching an anime. When she looked up, she immediately rushed to Dave and hugged him fiercely. Their height difference left her cheek bone pressed against the top of his sternum, the top of her head nestled under his chin. Dave stroked her back softly. "All those times you comforted me about my family, and you never once mentioned Eddie was gone?" She said as she pulled her head back, looking up into his eyes. Her arms remained firmly encircled around his chest, not budging a millimeter. "If I wasn't hurting for you so much, I'd be peeved at you." "Wow, didn't take you long to start talking like a wife." "Better believe it buster." "Yes dear." Her eyes laughed as she pulled him down for a comforting kiss. Their eyes stayed locked for a moment after they broke the kiss. Shawna, Janice, and Melanie slipped in from the dining room after each dropped off an item from the kitchen. Shawna still wore her on-air clothes. Today it was a stylish, breezy blouse in a vibrant shade of orange that contrasted beautifully with her dark skin. A long, loose, tan skirt below it reached to mid-calf at its lowest point, the bottom cut at an angle that exposed her right knee when she walked. She typically wore short heels at work, but had already ditched them somewhere downstairs, her feet bare but for her sheer pantyhose. Without her heels, she was barely an inch shorter than Dave, the tallest among his household. She came straight to him and wrapped him up in a warm hug. In his ear she whispered, "Anytime you need me baby, whatever it is you need, just tell me." Dave nodded and she peeled away. Jan came to him next, gently leading Mel along with her. Jan gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek, her eyes conveying her sorrow and support as eloquently as words or a hug. "I knew you may not be hungry David, but if you are so inclined, I asked Mel to make bruschetta for the grazing meal we've prepared." A week or so ago, Jan's culinary journey had turned to a discussion of favorite appetizers and finger foods. Dave's number one favorite was bruschetta. "Hey now, I just made the olive tapenade and the tomato topping, you assembled it, including toasting the bread." Melanie took Dave by the hand and led him to the table decked out with several offerings, from of course, bruschetta, to deviled eggs, pigs in blankets, and a charcuterie board assembled from things Dave knew they'd had on hand this morning. Except for the bowl of fresh rolls beside it. The aroma of fresh bread permeated the air. "It looks and smells wonderful. Thank you." He gave them each a soft kiss on the cheek. He stepped back to the living room. "Shawna, I take it you are also partly to thank for tonight's spread?" "Oh, they were well along in the making when I got in from work. I just slapped some canned dough around some smokies and baked 'em." He kissed the top of her head and hugged her from behind as she sat in one of the soft chairs. "Thank you." She patted his arm lightly before he pulled away. Not hungry, but wanting to show appreciation for Jan's thoughtfulness, Dave went back to the table and snagged a piece of bruschetta before returning to the living room. The only empty spot was on the couch, with Becca on one side, Olivia on the other and Mel between the arm and Olivia. Dave settled in before taking a bite. "Oh, wow. This is great ladies." Dave said after savoring for a moment. "And Jan, before you try to turn all of it aside to Mel, proper presentation is important. Besides, the toast is perfect. Just the right amount of olive oil, nicely crisp with just a little give. Those are important parts of getting bruschetta right. And; I really appreciate the thought and the effort." "Thank you," Jan beamed. The others took turns getting plates in pairs while everyone engaged in chit chat. To be continued in part 4, Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts, for Literotica.

It's been a harrowing year for many families. The Trump administration's budget cuts are giving tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of funding healthy meals for students experiencing food insecurity; legislatures are banning books and attacking LGBTQ+ students; and immigration crackdowns are leaving many students afraid to go to school at all. Families have had a lot to be worried about—more than just tests and grades—this year. What are students, parents, and teachers worried about—and what policies are advocates watching?Helping us to sort out these questions and set the record straight is our very special guest, Becky Pringle: Becky Pringle is president of the National Education Association, the nation's largest labor union. Becky is a middle school science teacher with more than three decades of classroom experience and has distinguished herself as a fierce social justice warrior and defender of educator rights.Check out this episode's landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.Support the show

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”In this conversation, Jack and Tom Hampson discuss the paradox of food insecurity in America, despite its wealth. They explore the evolution of food banks into a multi-billion dollar industry that manages poverty rather than alleviating it. The discussion highlights the bureaucratic inefficiencies, the role of corporate donations, and the need for local, community-based solutions to effectively address hunger. They argue that the current system is failing the very people it aims to help and call for a reevaluation of how food assistance is structured and delivered.Read Toms Investigation Summary Here! If you care about hunger relief, public accountability, and the dignity of real help, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and offer concrete next steps. Listen, then share it with someone who thinks “more meals served” is the only metric. And if it resonates, subscribe and send us your local success stories—we'll feature them on a future show.Read Why Young Americans Are Turning to Socialism—and Why They Deserve Better Follow us:  X https://x.com/JP2RenewalCheck out the Podcast on YouTubeContact us: info@jp2renew.orgSupport the show

Now into her 52nd day of refusing to eat, the jailed Palestine Action protester Qesser Zuhrah is in mortal dangerReporter: John SimpsonWriter: Poppy BullardProducer: Poppy BullardHost: Ada BarumeEpisode photography: Joe MeeExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pro-Palestinian remand prisoners staging the largest organised hunger strike in over 40 years are to continue, after the government refused a meeting. We hear from the sister of one of them - and ask whether the government should now intervene.Also on the programme:The latest Epstein files include an email from Balmoral in which Ghislaine Maxwell is asked if she's found some new "inappropriate friends". We have the latest.And what do Christmas cracker jokes do to our brains?

Der Historiker Johannes Preiser-Kapeller über den Vulkanausbruch 1815 und die Eiszeit, die zur Entstehung des Weihnachtsliedes Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht beitrug. Wenn die Natur Geschichte schreibt – ein Podcast vom Pragmaticus.Das Thema:In der 6. Folge des Podcasts Wenn die Natur Geschichte schreibt, geht es um den Ausbruch des Vulkans Tambora, der in den Jahren darauf Eiszeit, Hunger und Cholera brachte. Die Menschen versuchten, ihr Leid zu lindern, erfanden Gruselgeschichten, malten Sonnenuntergänge und schufen ein weltberühmtes Weihnachtslied. Dabei führt die Kunsthistorikerin Anne Hemkendreis durch die Kunstgeschichte, der Klimatologe Ulrich Foelsch erläutert, welche Systeme des Planeten durch den Megausbruch eines Vulkans aus dem Gleichgewicht geraten.Unser Guide durch die Jahrhunderte: Johannes Preiser-Kapeller ist Byzantinist und Umwelthistoriker. Er leitet in der Abteilung Byzanzforschung am Institut für Mittelalterforschung der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW) den Forschungsbereich „Byzanz im Kontext“. Er ist Mitherausgeber des Jahrbuchs der Österreichischen Byzantinistik, der Reihe Studies in Global Migration History und Mitglied des Advisory Boards des Journal of Historical Network Research sowie der „Climate Change and History Research Initiative“ der Princeton University. Preiser-Kapeller hat mehrere Bücher über die enge Verbundenheit von Natur- und Menschheitsgeschichte geschrieben, unter anderem Die erste Ernte und der große Hunger. Klima, Pandemien und der Wandel der Alten Welt bis 500 n. Chr. und Der Lange Sommer und die Kleine Eiszeit. Klima, Pandemien und der Wandel der Alten Welt von 500 bis 1500 n. Chr. Zuletzt erschien von ihm Byzanz. Das Neue Rom und die Welt des Mittelalters.Wenn die Natur Geschichte schreibtIn fünf Folgen führt uns der Byzantinist und Umwelthistoriker Johannes Preiser-Kapeller durch die Hochs und Tiefs der Jahrhunderte, angefangen bei Kaiser Justinian und dem Schreckensjahr 536, über Erik den Roten, Grönland und afrikanische Elefanten; den Bankier Francesco Balducci Pegolotti, der im 14. Jahrhundert der einen Katastrophe entkam und eine andere beschleunigte, bis zu den mutigen Beamten Hong Hao und Zheng Xia, die sich vor 1.000 Jahren wegen des Jangtsekiang bzw. des Gelben Flusses über ihre Kompetenzbereiche hinauswagten und Menschenleben retteten. Oder wie Trockenperioden, wie jene 1976, die Erfindung des Skateboards triggerte. Wenn die Natur Geschichte schreibt ist eine Podcast-Reihe über die Macht der Natur über den Menschen und die Macht des Menschen über die Natur.Credits:Vulkanausbruch: NATDVolc_Cascading Explosion During The Eruption.With Rumble.Designed_EM.wav by newlocknew -- https://freesound.org/s/674560/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0  Sturm: Hurricane Ophelia - Youghal, Co. Cork, Ireland - 16th October 2017 (4) by midaza.com -- https://freesound.org/s/404948/ -- License: Attribution 4.0  Gewitter: 1st June 2016 thunderstorm in Pécel, Hungary part 1. by csengeri -- https://freesound.org/s/346893/ -- License: Creative Commons 0Dies ist ein Podcast von Der Pragmaticus. Sie finden uns auch auf Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn und X (Twitter).

It's our final news catch-up of the year and Carl Kinsella and I had much to discuss, from what's happening with the Palestine Action Hunger Strikers to Catherine Connolly's first festive presidential address and those vanity fair photos of the Trump crew.To support the podcast and access bonus episodes, join the community on Patreon here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today from SDPB - Grand Gateway trial results, hunger in Huron, and the next five years of rural health funding.

In this episode of Hunger for Wholeness, Robert Nicastro welcomes listeners back into Sr. Ilia Delio's ongoing conversation with biophysicist and technologist Gregory Stock, whose new book, Generation AI and the Transformation of Human Being, has just been released.Together, Ilia and Greg open a doorway into the questions at the heart of “Generation AI”—not simply what artificial intelligence can do, but what it may be doing to us. As AI becomes woven into daily life and the broader evolutionary story, they explore how the human person is being reshaped: our attention, our desires, our sense of progress, and the subtle ways technology can begin to form the contours of relationship and meaning.Throughout the conversation, Ilia presses a concern that runs beneath the headlines: Can AI make it easier to be human—or does our relentless pursuit of progress come with a cost? And as their dialogue deepens, Greg raises the provocative question: will we fall in love with AI? (He thinks so.)ABOUT GREGORY STOCK“The greatest frontier in human evolution may no longer lie outside us, but inside: in the choices — and designs — we make for ourselves.”Gregory Stock, Ph.D., is a scientist, writer, entrepreneur, and public communicator whose work represents a deep exploration into what it means to be human in the 21st century. During his career, he has developed the foremost paradigm for personal inquiries into values and beliefs, which has significant implications for humankind as it faces the profound shifts brought by silicon and biotech. Today, Greg serves as an expert speaker and advisor to biotech and healthcare companies and to non-profits at the cutting edge of human health. The Center for Christogenesis is in the midst of our Winter Fundraiser as we celebrate ten years of exploring faith, science, and the promise of a new future. At a time when organizations vital to our shared future are losing support, your contribution affirms that our mission matters. Donate today at christogenesis.org/donate. With Gregory Stock's new book, Generation AI and the Transformation of Human Being, he's also built something to keep the conversation going beyond the book and these podcasts.It's called Only Human. An online space where every day, everyone gets the same reflective questions, and offer their answers. Then, you can see how others are responding to the same questions from all over the world. Go to app.onlyhuman.us to sign up.Support the showA huge thank you to all of you who subscribe and support our show! Support for A Hunger for Wholeness comes from the Fetzer Institute. Fetzer supports a movement of organizations who are applying spiritual solutions to society's toughest problems. Get involved at fetzer.org. Visit the Center for Christogenesis' website at christogenesis.org/podcast to browse all Hunger for Wholeness episodes and read more from Ilia Delio. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for episode releases and other updates.

​​Join our champion program: mark@themomentumcompany.comAttend a Thriving Leader event: https://thriving-leader-2026.lovable.app/Instagram: @the.momentum.companyLinkedIn: /momentum-companyIn this episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast, Mark Jewell sits down with Julie Anna Potts, CEO of the Meat Institute — the organization representing over 95% of the red meat industry in the United States. This conversation pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood and most essential sectors in American agriculture.Julie Anna and Mark dive deep into leadership under pressure, listening as a strategic advantage, the emotional reality facing farmers, the political climate in Washington, and the staggering downstream economic impact of the meat industry.From charged conversations on Capitol Hill to the intimate challenges faced by rural families, Julie Anna offers a wide-angle view of what's happening inside the industry — and what leaders must understand moving forward.Whether you're a farmer, agribusiness professional, policy follower, or simply someone who enjoys a good steak, this episode brings clarity, context, and truth to the national conversation around meat, health, policy, and the future of American food.Key Takeaways1. Intentional Leadership Begins With ListeningFor Julie Anna, intentionality means being fully present — removing emotion from tense conversations, holding space for others, and grounding decisions in shared facts. In an industry full of pressure, listening is the leadership edge.2. The Meat Industry Touches Millions — More Than You ThinkThe Meat Institute represents operations responsible for 95% of U.S. red meat. The industry's economic footprint reaches millions of jobs, from packers and processors to equipment suppliers, truckers, retailers, and food service. The value chain is far deeper than most realize.3. Americans Aren't Turning Away From Meat — They're Buying MoreDespite headlines suggesting otherwise, over 98% of shoppers buy animal protein, according to “The Power of Meat” report. Demand remains exceptionally strong across beef, pork, poultry, and specialty meats.4. The Industry Is Under Attack — But It's Not AloneJulie Anna discusses the cultural, political, and activist pressures placed on meat production, drawing parallels to historical attacks on other animal-based industries. But she also highlights the unified, cross-industry collaboration happening in Washington to protect farmers, ranchers, and processors during a time of economic uncertainty.5. Food Security and Protein Access Are National PrioritiesMark and Julie Anna discuss the critical role of food banks, the protein gap in America, and the innovative work of organizations like Hatch for Hunger. Refrigeration alone can determine whether a family receives high-quality protein — an issue far more widespread than most realize.6. Washington Is Listening — But the Landscape Is ChangingFrom tariffs to “Make America Healthy Again,” to environmental policy, both the current and past presidential administrations have influenced agriculture differently. Julie Anna offers a rare insider's look at what's happening inside the Beltway — and what it means for the future of farm country.Notable Quotes“Being intentional starts with listening — truly listening — so people feel heard.” – Julie Anna Potts“We serve 98% of American households. That's not a fringe...

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Baldur's Gate 3 romance options escaped into your tabletop rules? Today, we dive into Astarion's Book of Hungers, where vampires are sexy, feats are thirsty, and WotC's DLC pricing… is definitely giving "gaslight, gatekeep, vampire spawn." The team reviews the digital-only D&D supplement Astarion's Book of Hungers, a Baldur's Gate-themed 32-page add-on focused on vampires, Dhampir characters, feats, and mini-adventures, tied to Faerûn but clearly intended as DLC-style tabletop content. Highlights Dhampir species updated, but weakened from 2014 (loss of Deathless Nature, bite now unarmed strike). New backgrounds tied to vampire themes (Devotee, Survivor, Carouser) with strong roleplay hooks. Feat quality varies from flavorful to "why is this here" (looking at you, Bomber). Epic boons are thematically fun but situational. Bestiary mostly devils + vampire variants (Infernalist, Wardens). Two adventures, but they're basically the same fight twice set in Rat's Run Tavern. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew reviews Astarion's Book of Hungers, the digital-only supplement featuring the updated Dhampir species, vampire-flavored feats, new backgrounds, devil monsters, and two short adventures centered around the Rat's Run Tavern in Baldur's Gate. The hosts analyze the design changes, compare Dhampir options between the 2014 and 2024 rules, evaluate feat quality, and critique the DLC-like release strategy. They share lore details about Astarion, his abusive sire Kassador, and how Baldur's Gate 3 influenced this supplement's tone and art direction. Listeners get practical advice on when the rules matter, when the flavor shines, and whether this $15 digital release actually delivers value, or whether players are better off saving their money for bigger releases. Key Takeaways Dhampir changes are mechanical changes; same flavor, less abusable. New feats range from fun to unoptimized; several needed Unearthed Arcana playtesting. Bestiary is small but flavorful with devil-focused lore. Adventures feel duplicated and minimal. The value proposition feels overpriced for what's delivered. Strong warnings that this sets an unwelcome D&D DLC precedent. Join the RPGBOT Patreon If you enjoy episodes like this, join the RPGBOT Patreon, where you can: Listen to RPGBOT.Podcast recording sessions live Get ad-free RPGBOT.net content Listen to ad-free episodes of the podcast And be part of every critical fail, hot take, and vampire thirst moment (purely for research purposes, of course). Join the RPGBOT Patreon and support deep-dive TTRPG analysis with zero commercials interrupting your build planning. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

In this week's EPISODE 444 WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR WORLD? AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME OF TROUBLE? WHAT DID JESUS TELL US ABOUT TODAY'S WORLD? IS WHAT HE PREDICTED BACKED UP BY OTHER SCRIPTURES? WHAT'S GOING ON IN GOD'S CHURCH TODAY? Author and host Elbert Hardy of itellwhy.com, examines and explains Bible prophecies about what is going on today in our world. He want is trying to build faith in God and give us hope for a better future for us all when Jesus returns to set his Kingdom in motion here on Earth.Go to itellwhy.com to read Elbert's books free of charge, no Ads and no requests for money or Email addresses. You can watch faith building YouTube Links to Videos and the listen to Elbert's Life of Christ Audio Book in 30 minute Episodes arranged and read by the author straight from the Bible, but rearranged in logical harmony of the Gospels, Revelation and other scriptures. All FREE of charge in the public interest.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Baldur's Gate 3 romance options escaped into your tabletop rules? Today, we dive into Astarion's Book of Hungers, where vampires are sexy, feats are thirsty, and WotC's DLC pricing… is definitely giving "gaslight, gatekeep, vampire spawn." The team reviews the digital-only D&D supplement Astarion's Book of Hungers, a Baldur's Gate-themed 32-page add-on focused on vampires, Dhampir characters, feats, and mini-adventures, tied to Faerûn but clearly intended as DLC-style tabletop content. Highlights Dhampir species updated, but weakened from 2014 (loss of Deathless Nature, bite now unarmed strike). New backgrounds tied to vampire themes (Devotee, Survivor, Carouser) with strong roleplay hooks. Feat quality varies from flavorful to "why is this here" (looking at you, Bomber). Epic boons are thematically fun but situational. Bestiary mostly devils + vampire variants (Infernalist, Wardens). Two adventures, but they're basically the same fight twice set in Rat's Run Tavern. Show Notes In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the crew reviews Astarion's Book of Hungers, the digital-only supplement featuring the updated Dhampir species, vampire-flavored feats, new backgrounds, devil monsters, and two short adventures centered around the Rat's Run Tavern in Baldur's Gate. The hosts analyze the design changes, compare Dhampir options between the 2014 and 2024 rules, evaluate feat quality, and critique the DLC-like release strategy. They share lore details about Astarion, his abusive sire Kassador, and how Baldur's Gate 3 influenced this supplement's tone and art direction. Listeners get practical advice on when the rules matter, when the flavor shines, and whether this $15 digital release actually delivers value, or whether players are better off saving their money for bigger releases. Key Takeaways Dhampir changes are mechanical changes; same flavor, less abusable. New feats range from fun to unoptimized; several needed Unearthed Arcana playtesting. Bestiary is small but flavorful with devil-focused lore. Adventures feel duplicated and minimal. The value proposition feels overpriced for what's delivered. Strong warnings that this sets an unwelcome D&D DLC precedent. Join the RPGBOT Patreon If you enjoy episodes like this, join the RPGBOT Patreon, where you can: Listen to RPGBOT.Podcast recording sessions live Get ad-free RPGBOT.net content Listen to ad-free episodes of the podcast And be part of every critical fail, hot take, and vampire thirst moment (purely for research purposes, of course). Join the RPGBOT Patreon and support deep-dive TTRPG analysis with zero commercials interrupting your build planning. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Hunger doesn't stop when the school bell rings - and in Louisville, thousands of children feel that gap every weekend.In this episode of The Lou Review Podcast, host Rosa Hart talks with Kim Holsclaw about the life-changing work of Blessings in a Backpack, a Louisville-founded nonprofit fighting child hunger and food insecurity. Kim shares how the organization began in 2005 and grew into a national program now serving children in 46 states and Washington, D.C., ensuring kids have access to shelf-stable food when school meals aren't available.The conversation highlights why community support, volunteers, and local partnerships are essential to feeding students in need - especially in Louisville, where nearly 80,000 children qualify for free or reduced lunch. Kim explains how Blessings in a Backpack delivers food directly to children, how the nonprofit collaborates with schools and organizations, and how listeners can volunteer, donate, and get involved locally to help end childhood hunger.Learn more at: https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/Follow on InstagramThe Lou Review podcast is made possible by the Lou Review Foundation Inc. OUR MISSION:To leverage podcast storytelling,targeted advertising, strategic networking, and grants to give Louisville's business & nonprofit founders the visibility they need to elevate theirmissions and businesses, inspiring partnerships and lasting success.Learn more at LouReview.comConnect with host Rosa Hart

In this ENCORE episode, we are talking about FOOD NOISE. Are you constantly thinking about food? Do you struggle to tell if you're truly hungry or just dealing with cravings? In this episode of the Earn That Body Podcast, we're breaking down the difference between real hunger and food noise—that constant mental chatter about eating. We'll explore what triggers food noise, how it impacts your health, and key strategies to help you manage hunger, build sustainable habits, and avoid the cycle of overeating or under-eating. If you want to feel more in control of your eating patterns, this episode is a must-listen!

Jahrzehntelang galt Pakistan als sicherer Hafen für Millionen afghanische Flüchtlinge, die vor Krieg und Verfolgung in ihrer Heimat flohen. Damit ist Schluss. Bis Jahresende will Pakistan die Flüchtlinge abschieben. In Afghanistan erwarten sie Armut, Hunger und die radikal-islamistischen Taliban. Mehrafzon Jalili hatte grosse Träume. In Afghanistan studierte die 24-jährige Zahnmedizin. Dann kamen die Taliban, ihr Vater wurde ermordet, die Rest-Familie floh ins Nachbarland Pakistan. Gut vier Jahre später steht wieder alles auf der Kippe. Erst setzten sie die pakistanischen Vermieter auf die Strasse. Dann wurde auch ihr Not-Lager in einem Park in Islamabad mitten in der Nacht von der Polizei gestürmt. Pakistan will bis Jahres-Ende alle afghanischen Flüchtlinge ausschaffen. Darunter auch solche, die vor der Machtübernahme der Taliban für westliche Regierungen oder das Militär gearbeitet haben. In Afghanistan drohen ihnen Folter und Tod. Frauen wie Mehrafzon Jalili dürfen unter den Taliban nicht studieren, nicht arbeiten, nicht einmal singen. «Afghanistan ist wie ein Friedhof geworden», sagt Jalili. Pakistan - politisch instabil, hochverschuldet und vom Militär dominiert - gibt den afghanischen Flüchtlingen pauschal eine Mitschuld an den vielen Terroranschlägen in Pakistan - und bestraft sie. Die Flüchtlinge würden zu Sündenböcken gemacht, kritisieren Menschenrechtsorganisationen. Die internationale Gemeinschaft, die helfen könnte, schaut weg.

Giulia Enders hat nicht nur einen Darm, sondern auch sehr viel Charme … und ein neues Buch namens „Organisch“! Hazel und Thomas haben sich sehr über ihren Besuch in Südhessen gefreut, wo pünktlich zu Weihnachten über Bräuche, Bäuche, Feierlichkeiten, Völlerei und Körpergefühl gesprochen wurde. 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:18 Was ist organisch & Beziehung zum eigenen Körper 00:11:00 Aha-Momente beim Schreiben & kann man alles erklären? 00:17:21 Zusammenarbeit mit Schwester Gil & Heimat Mannheim 00:28:52 Arten von Stress und Umgang damit 00:36:12 Inspiration Ur-Oma, Meditationstechniken & Calisthenics 00:44:43 Wichtigkeit von Schlaf 00:53:48 Giulias Zeit im Krankenhaus & Legalisierung von Cannabis 01:08:40 Körper-Signale wahrnehmen & neue Dinge lernen 01:16:08 Das Gehirn ist überschätzt & Bücher schreiben 01:29:05 Was ist ein Organ? & der Körper ist abgefahren 01:35:13 Giulias Festtags- & Geschenktipps Zeitstempel können variieren. Giulia Enders https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giulia_Enders Hazels YouTube-Kanal https://www.youtube.com/@HazelUndThomas Buch Organisch https://www.amazon.de/Organisch-wirklich-bedeutet-globalen-Bestsellers/ Buch Darm mit Charme https://www.amazon.de/s?k=amazon+darm+mit+charme Darmflora und Psyche / Sauerkraut statt Psychopharmaka https://www.nzz.ch/wissenschaft/bakteriencocktail-fuer-die-psychische-gesundheit-wie-probiotika-depressionen-lindern-ld.1908455 Squatty Potty https://www.squattypotty.com Tony Bennett https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Bennett Wasserturm Mannheim https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasserturm_(Mannheim) Laurin Buser https://www.instagram.com/bababusa Cantienica https://www.spiegel.de/gesundheit/ernaehrung/cantienica-beckenbodentraining-nicht-nur-fuer-frauen-gut-a-1153761.html 61-Jähriger Calisthenics-Athlet https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRSkTrkjtNx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Cannabis, Sport und Doping https://youtu.be/iWCcuu3T0Go?si=KoY9udRLv4SpPwkp Tryptophan und dunkle Schokolade https://makri-schokolade.de/blogs/wissenswertes/warum-schokolade-mit-einem-hohen-kakaoanteil-so-gesund-ist Zimt stillt Hunger https://www.vogue.de/artikel/zimt-lebensmittel-hungerstillend Vivani 100+ https://www.ackerherz.de/products/vivani-bio-edel-bitter-schokolade-100-cacao-nibs-0-08kg Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte: https://linktr.ee/hoererlebnis Du möchtest Werbung in diesem Podcast schalten? Dann erfahre hier mehr über die Werbemöglichkeiten bei Seven.One Audio: https://www.seven.one/portfolio/sevenone-audio

What St Isaac exposes here is not a technique but a diagnosis. He is ruthless because the sickness is deep. The soul is meant to be good soil but soil is not neutral ground. It either receives the seed with vigilance or it becomes choked. Remembrance of God is not a poetic feeling but a sustained pressure on the heart a vigilance that does not sleep. When this remembrance is alive the soul becomes a place where God Himself shades and illumines. There is no romance here. Light appears inside darkness not because the darkness is denied but because the soul has chosen to stand watch within it. St Isaac refuses to let us spiritualize our way around the body. The belly is not incidental. What enters the mouth reaches the heart. He speaks bluntly because self deception thrives in vagueness. Excess dulls perception. Pleasure thickens the air of the soul. Wisdom is not stolen from us by demons alone but smothered by our own indulgence. A full belly does not merely weaken resolve it fuels lust because the body has been trained to demand satisfaction. This is not moralism. It is anthropology. The knowledge of God does not coexist with a body that has been enthroned. Here asceticism is revealed as truth telling. It strips away the lie that discipline is punishment. Labor is not opposed to grace. Labor is the ground where grace becomes intelligible. St Isaac compares it to labor pains because knowledge of God is not an idea grasped but a life brought forth. Without toil there is no birth only fantasy. Sloth does not simply delay holiness it gives birth to shame because the soul knows it has avoided the cost of truth. This is where the inner disposition becomes decisive. Asceticism without remembrance hardens into pride. Asceticism without humility becomes violence against the self. But remembrance without discipline dissolves into sentimentality. St Isaac holds them together because life demands it. The question is not how much one fasts or how little one sleeps but whether the heart is consenting to be trained. Discipline embraced with resentment breeds bitterness. Discipline embraced with attention becomes wisdom. In an age starved of living elders this teaching cuts even deeper. We are tempted either to abandon asceticism entirely or to turn it into a private project shaped by personality and preference. St Isaac offers neither comfort. He places responsibility back into the hands of the one who desires God. The absence of elders does not absolve us. It makes inner honesty more urgent. The body becomes the first elder. Hunger teaches restraint. Fatigue teaches humility. Failure teaches mercy. If these are ignored no amount of reading will save us. Christ's closeness to the mouth of the one who endures hardship is not sentimental reassurance. It is promise and warning. He draws near to the body that has consented to the Cross. Not to the body pampered under the language of balance or self care. The care Christ offers is not the removal of hardship but His presence within it. Asceticism then is not heroic excess but fidelity to reality. It is the refusal to live divided. Priceless indeed is labor wrought with wisdom because it produces not control but clarity. The soul begins to see. And once it sees it can no longer pretend. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:01:50 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 170 paragraph 5 00:06:54 susan: how is lori hatari? 00:14:30 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 170 paragraph 5 00:27:40 Eleana Urrego: the brain register emotional and physical pain in the same way. 00:29:59 Jessica McHale: A question about ascetic disciplines of the body: I discerned monastic life with an order of nuns that wouldn't let me fast.(3 times a week was all I was asking) and wouldn't allow me to exercise more than a contemplative walk (which is not exercise to me). I feel very much called to fast for spiritual reasons and called to bodily stewardship as well. It's very personal. I coudl never understand how monastic nuns could discourage this and encourage--in my opinion--indulging in food too much. 00:31:48 Una's iPhone: Reacted to "A question about asc…" with

Rev. Dustin Longmire of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Schenectady and Board Chair of Rotterdam Community Center, spoke at a recent press conference of the Schenectady Food Council. The Council has three legislative priorities this year: raising the minimum SNAP benefits in the state, funding statewide hunger relief programs like the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, and making it easier for institutions like schools and hospitals to buy food products locally. Rev. Longmire talks about hunger policy with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine, along with discussiing his community food advocates program.

The president calling female reporters “piggy”, “stupid” and “ugly.” Claims that liberal feminism has ruined the workplace. The manosphere. Despite the #MeToo movement, protests featuring pussy hats, and political and cultural efforts to call the patriarchy to account, misogyny feels like it's going strong in 2025. But why? We gather a panel of thinkers and leaders to talk about how misogyny has become mainstream and what can be done about it. Guests: Roxane Gay, scholar and author; her books include "Difficult Women," "Hunger" and "Bad Feminist" Irin Carmon, senior correspondent, New York magazine, She is the author of "Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America" She is also the co-author of "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" Savala Nolan, executive director, Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice, Berkeley Law; author, "Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race, Gender, and the Body." Her forthcoming book is titled, "Good Woman: A Reckoning" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey Mack joins Richard Harris on The Truth and Liberty Show to expose France's spiritual crisis—rooted in secularism and socialism—and share how revival is spreading among America and Europe's youth. Discover how faith can restore nations and spark freedom on both sides of the Atlantic. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.truthandliberty.net/subscribe   Get "Faith for America" here: https://store.awmi.net/purchase/tal102 Donate here: https://www.truthandliberty.net/donate   Original Air Date 12-17-25  

Marc Malusis is back and firing on all cylinders! Moose starts the show by revealing his "jaw-dropping" secret to massive weight loss—embracing hunger and a strict one-meal-a-day schedule that has him looking years younger. But the pleasantries end there as Moose and the callers dive into a white-hot debate over the New York Mets. From the "arrogance" of the pitching lab to the heartbreak of Pete Alonso signing with Baltimore, fans are questioning if David Stearns' "vision" is just a Milwaukee-style downgrade. Moose also tackles the Yankees' reliance on the home run, longing for the days of high-average contact hitters like those on the Blue Jays' roster. Finally, the energy shifts to the hardwood with a look at the Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Knicks rumors and a reality check on whether the Knicks should actually be proud of their NBA Cup win.

"I think I had to give myself internal permission to say, ‘You don't have to change your body to do this thing. You can just do the thing. You can do the hike, you can do the climb, and you don't have to lose weight or gain a certain ability to be able to do it.'"We've been taught to believe that movement has to be about changing our bodies and pushing ourselves to the limit, but what happens when you strip away the blame and rebuild a relationship with exercise that actually honors your body?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Megan Banker to unpack her journey of unlearning diet culture, healing from well-intentioned but harmful messages, and the pivotal hike that shifted how she spoke to herself. We dive into the emotional layers that make movement feel hard, and why your body size isn't the problem.This conversation offers a compassionate lens and practical tools to help you reconnect with movement in a way that truly supports and respects you.✅ What You'll Learn:Why movement can feel so emotional and how to process those feelings without blaming your bodyPractical ways to approach exercise that support your strength and mobilityHow to reframe negative self-talk and start speaking to yourself with kindness and respectWhy it's possible (and powerful) to do hard, meaningful things in the body you have right nowThe impact of family and societal conditioning on our relationship with movement, and how to heal from itSteps to build a deeper trust in your ability to take care of yourself with movement and nutrition✨ Connect with Megan:InstagramTikTok

Full shownotes, transcript and resources here: https://soundbitesrd.com/301                     This episode is sponsored. Commercial support has been provided by Danone North America & Danimals. Dr. Caree Cotwright is a paid consultant to Danone North America. No brands are discussed or promoted.  Many kids don't consume the proper amount of nutrients that are vital for healthy growth, chronic disease prevention, and overall health. This episode examines hidden hunger - when children consume enough calories but not enough essential nutrients for growth and development. Listeners will explore the nutrient gaps most common in U.S. children, the role of picky eating and access in shaping dietary patterns and practical ways to help families close nutrient gaps with affordable, nutrient-dense foods. Tune in to this episode with guest Dr. Caree Cotwright, PhD to learn about: ·       the prevalence and main drivers of hidden hunger ·       myths about hidden hunger and who is at risk ·       common nutrient gaps in children's diets ·       how 'picky eating' and food preferences impact nutrient intake ·       how issues of equity and nutrition security impact hunger ·       real-world ways hidden hunger shows up in schools and communities ·       challenges parents/families face and how health professionals can support them ·       practical strategies parents can employ even when resources are tight ·       the important role that 'nutrition resilience' plays ·       the power of collaboration between healthcare professionals, teachers and families ·       addressing the view that "eating healthy is too expensive" ·       resources for health professionals and the public This episode (Hidden Hunger: Closing the Gap for Healthy Growth in Children) awards 1.0 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration's CPEU Prior Approval Program. Visit https://soundbitesrd.com/301 to access the CPEU activity.

In this very special encore presentation, Jimmy Chen, founder/CEO of Propel and Ofek Lavian, founder/CEO of Forage, return to discuss current trends in using technology to ensure more people can access government food benefits. “As of January 27, 2025, at least, our plan is to continue to invest in the things that we have confidence that are not going to change over the 20-, 30-, 40-year time horizon, while we stay nimble and adapt to what might change in the next few weeks or months,” says Chen. “EBT funding is influenced significantly because of macroeconomics, probably to a greater extent than the actual policies of the administration of the White House,” Lavian predicts. Listen to hear about the latest technology trends that are assisting in theend of child hunger in America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the confusion around fasting and hormones isn't because the science is complicated, but because most people are using the wrong tools for the wrong goals? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mindy Pelz to get clear about what fasting actually does, when it helps, and when it backfires. This is a conversation about taking ownership of your metabolism instead of chasing trends that don't match your life. We talk about the viral moment from her Stephen Bartlett interview, how misinformation spreads, and what she learned from being at the center of it. Mindy breaks down her six core fasts, why women need a different strategy, and how to adjust your approach if you train hard. We get into cycle-based fasting, fertility, menopause, HRT, toxic load, peptides, creatine, apple cider vinegar, and the rise of GLP-1 drugs. If you've ever wondered how to use fasting without wrecking your energy or performance, this episode will give you a clearer path forward. Dr. Mindy Pelz is a bestselling author, educator, and functional health expert known as the fasting guru. Her books Fast Like a Girl and Age Like a Girl have helped millions of women rethink metabolic health, hormones, and aging, and she has led hundreds of thousands of people through community fasts that focus on real-world results, not quick fixes. What We Discuss: (00:00) How a Misquote Went Viral and Changed Mindy's Career (04:12) What the Internet Got Wrong About Testosterone and Fasting (11:19) The Biggest Fasting Mistakes Most People Still Make (17:05) The Six Core Types of Fasting and When to Use Each (23:28) Fasting for Gut Repair, Weight Loss, and Dopamine Reset (28:54) How Athletes and Active Women Should Adapt Their Fasts (34:04) Cycle-Based Fasting and Hormonal Timing for Women (43:00) Supplement Cycling, Autophagy, and Metabolic Flexibility (55:19) GLP-1 Drugs, Gut Health, and the Real Drivers of Hunger (59:31) The Long-Term Risks of Quick-Fix Weight Loss Trends (01:05:40) Fertility, Progesterone Needs, and Rethinking HRT (01:16:14) Menopause, Brain Rewiring, and Building Cognitive Strength (01:28:48) Peptides, ACV, and Final Insights Before Wrap-Up Thank you to our sponsors: Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE40 for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off Manna Vitality: Visit mannavitality.com and use code JENNIFER20 for 20% off your order Prolon: Get 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift. Amp fit is the perfect balance of tech and training, designed for people who do it all and still want to feel strong doing it. Check it out at joinamp.com/jen Find more from Jen:  Website: www.jennifercohen.com Instagram: @therealjencohen   Books: www.jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement Find more from Dr. Mindy Pelz: Website: www.drmindypelz.com Instagram: @dr.mindypelz TikTok: @drmindypelz YouTube: @drmindypelz

Sarah Gallucci joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about being the child of a teen mom, early influences on our ideas of love and relationships, pressure to have sex, having nothing left to give a relationship, feeling like you need to getting sex over with, manipulative sex, coercive sex, giving a partner a hall pass, when relationships become incredibly messy, nonconsensual sex that becomes coercive sex, TEDx talks, blogging and going viral, the hey day of mommy blogging, pivoting from journalism to reporting on our own life, when the culture shifts, writing real sex, strategies to writing about sex, why writing real sex is imperative to literature for safety, going viral, how we experience pleasure, inaccurate, writing about real sex, measuring the brokenness of a marriage, when family stops speaking to us after publication, writing from a raw, unprocessed place, writing when you're in the thick of it, choosing self-publishing over traditional publishing, the autonomy of self-publishing, the aftermath of divorce, and Laid: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Marriage.   Also in this episode: -trusting your truth Books mentioned in this episode: -Hunger by Roxanne Gay -Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay -Wild by Cheryl Strayed -Pushed by Sapphire   Sarah Gallucci is the author of Laid: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Marriage. She has written reported features for CNN, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Harper's Bazaar, among others. Sarah works as a professor at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is also a speaker, and has given two TEDx talks. Most importantly, Sarah is the mother of two with storytelling, creative healing, and pasta in her blood.   Connect with Sarah: Website: www.SarahGallucci.com Instagram: @_Sarah_Gallucci_ TikTok: @_Sarah_Gallucci_ Threads: @_Sarah_Gallucci_ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Laid-Memoir-Love-Sex-Marriage/dp/B0DVCBXVZ7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Talks: https://www.sarahgallucci.com/speaking   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book.   More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank   Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

We are a country that has been built on innovation and resilience. The new age we are being propelled into places the future of innovation and resilience into the control of Ai, not humans. The promise of the future is that machines will take care of everything leaving humanity the room to pursue its higher level of interests. The reality is this will only lead to a faster demise of the human collective. We have to return to the ways where convenience and comfort are no longer defining us. We must embrace pain and hunger once again to reignite the spark of innovation and strength. We need the daily disciplines that bring us to Jeremiah 6:16 and the Parable of the Young Rich Man. Challenge yourself to become uncomfortable.  #BardsFM_TheAmericanBrand #ComfortAndConvenience #PainAndHungerBringFreedom Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%:www.enviroklenz.com EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479