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Welcome back! We're easing back into the swing of things after our summer holidays with a bit of “cucumber season” fare. It's our regularly scheduled programming, just a little bit…sillier. This week, we take a peek into the world's first “sourdough library” with Karl De Smedt, head of the Puratos Sourdough Institute. Karl gives us a taste of his unconventional career preserving breadmaking biodiversity and explains why the starters in his library are a little like Europeans themselves. Plus: we learn why the Aalborg Zoo in Denmark is encouraging people to bring in unwanted pets and how Dominic “gave” Daniel Radcliffe his career(!). You can take a virtual tour of the Puratos sourdough library here and check out Karl on Instagram here. And if you want to find out more about the Stop Killing Games campaign, watch this video. This podcast was brought to you in cooperation with Euranet Plus, the leading radio network for EU news. But it's contributions from listeners that truly make it all possible—we could not continue to make the show without you! If you like what we do, you can chip in to help us cover our production costs at patreon.com/europeanspodcast (in many different currencies), or you can gift a donation to a superfan. We'd also love it if you could tell two friends about this podcast. We think two feels like a reasonable number. This week's Inspiration Station recommendations are two books, Patrick Radden Keefe's spellbinding history of the Troubles, “Say Nothing,” and the novel “Second Best” by French author David Foenkinos. 00:00:00 First things first: WTF is up with strawberry pasta in Poland? 00:04:25 Good Week: The Stop Killing Games movement 00:16:01 Bad Week: The pets of Aalborg, Denmark 00:25:47 Interview: Karl De Smedt gives us permission to eat more bread 00:41:50 The Inspiration Station: “Say Nothing” by Patrick Radden Keefe and “Second Best” by David Foenkinos 00:46:57 Happy Ending: Jellyfish believed extinct makes Scottish comeback Producers: Morgan Childs and Wojciech Oleksiak Mixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak Music: Jim Barne and Mariska Martina YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram | Mastodon | hello@europeanspodcast.com
Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr Lectionary: 416The Saint of the day is Saint Maximilian Mary KolbeSaint Maximilian Mary Kolbe's Story “I don't know what's going to become of you!” How many parents have said that? Maximilian Mary Kolbe's reaction was, “I prayed very hard to Our Lady to tell me what would happen to me. She appeared, holding in her hands two crowns, one white, one red. She asked if I would like to have them—one was for purity, the other for martyrdom. I said, ‘I choose both.' She smiled and disappeared.” After that he was not the same. He entered the minor seminary of the Conventual Franciscans in Lvív–then Poland, now Ukraine—near his birthplace, and at 16 became a novice. Though Maximilian later achieved doctorates in philosophy and theology, he was deeply interested in science, even drawing plans for rocket ships. Ordained at 24, Maximilian saw religious indifference as the deadliest poison of the day. His mission was to combat it. He had already founded the Militia of the Immaculata, whose aim was to fight evil with the witness of the good life, prayer, work, and suffering. He dreamed of and then founded Knight of the Immaculata, a religious magazine under Mary's protection to preach the Good News to all nations. For the work of publication he established a “City of the Immaculata”—Niepokalanow—which housed 700 of his Franciscan brothers. He later founded another one in Nagasaki, Japan. Both the Militia and the magazine ultimately reached the one-million mark in members and subscribers. His love of God was daily filtered through devotion to Mary. In 1939, the Nazi panzers overran Poland with deadly speed. Niepokalanow was severely bombed. Kolbe and his friars were arrested, then released in less than three months, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. In 1941, Fr. Kolbe was arrested again. The Nazis' purpose was to liquidate the select ones, the leaders. The end came quickly, three months later in Auschwitz, after terrible beatings and humiliations. A prisoner had escaped. The commandant announced that 10 men would die. He relished walking along the ranks. “This one. That one.” As they were being marched away to the starvation bunkers, Number 16670 dared to step from the line. “I would like to take that man's place. He has a wife and children.”“Who are you?”“A priest.” No name, no mention of fame. Silence. The commandant, dumbfounded, perhaps with a fleeting thought of history, kicked Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek out of line and ordered Fr. Kolbe to go with the nine. In the “block of death” they were ordered to strip naked, and their slow starvation began in darkness. But there was no screaming—the prisoners sang. By the eve of the Assumption, four were left alive. The jailer came to finish Kolbe off as he sat in a corner praying. He lifted his fleshless arm to receive the bite of the hypodermic needle. It was filled with carbolic acid. They burned his body with all the others. Fr. Kolbe was beatified in 1971 and canonized in 1982. Reflection Father Kolbe's death was not a sudden, last-minute act of heroism. His whole life had been a preparation. His holiness was a limitless, passionate desire to convert the whole world to God. And his beloved Immaculata was his inspiration. Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe is a Patron Saint of: AddictsRecovery from drug addiction Learn about Kolbe House Prison Ministry! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media
The US president reportedly told European leaders that his goal for the summit was to secure a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. Poland's president, Karol Nawrocki, was one of the Nato leaders on the call with the Donald Trump. We'll hear from his foreign policy advisor, Marcin Przydacz.Also on the programme: Lebanon's president Joseph Aoun has warned against foreign interference in the country's affairs during a visit by a senior Iranian official, as his government takes steps towards disarming Hezbollah; and we'll hear about one project in Australia that's hoping to ease the world's rare earth bottleneck.(Photo: US President Donald Trump delivers a speech as he hosts an event at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, in Washington, DC, USA, 13 August 2025. Credit: WILL OLIVER/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
Released just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Ernst Lubitsch's TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942) combined farce and thrills in Nazi-occupied Poland. A satire that was once considered "too soon" has aged into one of the great anti-fascists landmarks of cinema. PLUS: Remembering the golden age of "Twitter comedians." PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/136400200
The Bangkok Podcast | Conversations on Life in Thailand's Buzzing Capital
While Greg is travelling in Canada, Ed interviews old friend of the podcast Jonathan about his recent trip to Europe. Jon and his Thai wife Poom spent a couple weeks on vacation, first in Paris and then in Poland. Jon begins talking about the multicultural nature of Paris, something he's familiar with as a native New Yorker. He and his wife revelled in Paris's famous street culture: streets are very walkable, cafes abound, and sights are aplenty. In fact, Jon's only worry was being ID'd as an American, leading to a funny story about his and his wife attempting to look European. Listen in for the details. Ed asks about the safety of Paris, something it's not known for, and Jon admitted to being apprehensive but admits that at least on this trip, they never felt uncomfortable. On to Poland! Ed asks if there was an immediate difference between France and Poland, and Jon noted that both are very European and that he did not feel straight away as if he was in a different world. However, one difference was that Poland appeared to be less multicultural, causing he and his wife to be a little more self-conscious. But the Poles were friendly, and surprisingly, he and his wife found an excellent Thai restaurant in Krakow. Who would have guessed? Jon reveals his true colors as a Bangkoker when he admits that after two weeks of the Old World, he was more than ready to return to the Big Mango. Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
The All Whites have added world number 37 Poland to a playing schedule that already had two other top-40 ranked sides locked in for the build-up to next year's FIFA World Cup.
Zbigniew Brzezinski was a key architect of the Soviet Union's demise, which ended the Cold War. A child of Warsaw—the heart of central Europe's bloodlands—Brzezinski turned his fierce resentment at his homeland's razing by Nazi Germany and the Red Army into a lifelong quest for liberty. Born the year that Joseph Stalin consolidated power, and dying a few months into Donald Trump's first presidency, Brzezinski was shaped by and in turn shaped the global power struggles of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. As counsel to US presidents from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama, and chief foreign policy figure of the late 1970s under Jimmy Carter, Brzezinski converted his acclaim as a Sovietologist into Washington power. With Henry Kissinger, his lifelong rival with whom he had a fraught on-off relationship, he personified the new breed of foreign-born scholar who thrived in America's “Cold War University”—and who ousted Washington's gentlemanly class of WASPs who had run US foreign policy for so long.Brzezinski's impact, aided by his unusual friendship with the Polish-born John Paul II, sprang from his knowledge of Moscow's “Achilles heel”—the fact that its nationalities, such as the Ukrainians, and satellite states, including Poland, yearned to shake off Moscow's grip. Neither a hawk nor a dove, Brzezinski was a biting critic of George W. Bush's Iraq War and an early endorser of Obama. Because he went against the DC grain of joining factions, and was on occasion willing to drop Democrats for Republicans, Brzezinski is something of history's orphan. His historic role has been greatly underweighted. In the almost cinematic arc of his life can be found the grand narrative of the American century and great power struggle that followed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Zbigniew Brzezinski was a key architect of the Soviet Union's demise, which ended the Cold War. A child of Warsaw—the heart of central Europe's bloodlands—Brzezinski turned his fierce resentment at his homeland's razing by Nazi Germany and the Red Army into a lifelong quest for liberty. Born the year that Joseph Stalin consolidated power, and dying a few months into Donald Trump's first presidency, Brzezinski was shaped by and in turn shaped the global power struggles of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. As counsel to US presidents from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama, and chief foreign policy figure of the late 1970s under Jimmy Carter, Brzezinski converted his acclaim as a Sovietologist into Washington power. With Henry Kissinger, his lifelong rival with whom he had a fraught on-off relationship, he personified the new breed of foreign-born scholar who thrived in America's “Cold War University”—and who ousted Washington's gentlemanly class of WASPs who had run US foreign policy for so long.Brzezinski's impact, aided by his unusual friendship with the Polish-born John Paul II, sprang from his knowledge of Moscow's “Achilles heel”—the fact that its nationalities, such as the Ukrainians, and satellite states, including Poland, yearned to shake off Moscow's grip. Neither a hawk nor a dove, Brzezinski was a biting critic of George W. Bush's Iraq War and an early endorser of Obama. Because he went against the DC grain of joining factions, and was on occasion willing to drop Democrats for Republicans, Brzezinski is something of history's orphan. His historic role has been greatly underweighted. In the almost cinematic arc of his life can be found the grand narrative of the American century and great power struggle that followed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
Zbigniew Brzezinski was a key architect of the Soviet Union's demise, which ended the Cold War. A child of Warsaw—the heart of central Europe's bloodlands—Brzezinski turned his fierce resentment at his homeland's razing by Nazi Germany and the Red Army into a lifelong quest for liberty. Born the year that Joseph Stalin consolidated power, and dying a few months into Donald Trump's first presidency, Brzezinski was shaped by and in turn shaped the global power struggles of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. As counsel to US presidents from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama, and chief foreign policy figure of the late 1970s under Jimmy Carter, Brzezinski converted his acclaim as a Sovietologist into Washington power. With Henry Kissinger, his lifelong rival with whom he had a fraught on-off relationship, he personified the new breed of foreign-born scholar who thrived in America's “Cold War University”—and who ousted Washington's gentlemanly class of WASPs who had run US foreign policy for so long.Brzezinski's impact, aided by his unusual friendship with the Polish-born John Paul II, sprang from his knowledge of Moscow's “Achilles heel”—the fact that its nationalities, such as the Ukrainians, and satellite states, including Poland, yearned to shake off Moscow's grip. Neither a hawk nor a dove, Brzezinski was a biting critic of George W. Bush's Iraq War and an early endorser of Obama. Because he went against the DC grain of joining factions, and was on occasion willing to drop Democrats for Republicans, Brzezinski is something of history's orphan. His historic role has been greatly underweighted. In the almost cinematic arc of his life can be found the grand narrative of the American century and great power struggle that followed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography
Zbigniew Brzezinski was a key architect of the Soviet Union's demise, which ended the Cold War. A child of Warsaw—the heart of central Europe's bloodlands—Brzezinski turned his fierce resentment at his homeland's razing by Nazi Germany and the Red Army into a lifelong quest for liberty. Born the year that Joseph Stalin consolidated power, and dying a few months into Donald Trump's first presidency, Brzezinski was shaped by and in turn shaped the global power struggles of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. As counsel to US presidents from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama, and chief foreign policy figure of the late 1970s under Jimmy Carter, Brzezinski converted his acclaim as a Sovietologist into Washington power. With Henry Kissinger, his lifelong rival with whom he had a fraught on-off relationship, he personified the new breed of foreign-born scholar who thrived in America's “Cold War University”—and who ousted Washington's gentlemanly class of WASPs who had run US foreign policy for so long.Brzezinski's impact, aided by his unusual friendship with the Polish-born John Paul II, sprang from his knowledge of Moscow's “Achilles heel”—the fact that its nationalities, such as the Ukrainians, and satellite states, including Poland, yearned to shake off Moscow's grip. Neither a hawk nor a dove, Brzezinski was a biting critic of George W. Bush's Iraq War and an early endorser of Obama. Because he went against the DC grain of joining factions, and was on occasion willing to drop Democrats for Republicans, Brzezinski is something of history's orphan. His historic role has been greatly underweighted. In the almost cinematic arc of his life can be found the grand narrative of the American century and great power struggle that followed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/national-security
In the early 17th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth stood as one of Europe's largest and most formidable states, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. By 1618, its territory had expanded to twice the size of France, thanks to military victories against Muscovy during the chaotic “Time of Troubles.” But that glory also came at the cost of internal stagnation and decay. The Commonwealth's political system was both its strength and its fatal flaw. Proudly self-identified as a “Christian Republic,” it operated under a unique elective monarchy where power was shared between the king, the Senate, and the Chamber of Envoys (Sejm), which with time would cease all progress Travel to Thailand with me here Check out our sister podcast the Mystery of Everything Coffee Collab With The Lore Lodge COFFEE Bonus episodes as well as ad-free episodes on Patreon. Find us on Instagram. Join us on Discord. Submit your relatives on our website Podcast Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Breeann Poland, Director of Marketing and Communications at Mecum auctions, shares a high-energy look into her journey from motorcycle racing to leading a global auction powerhouse. Continuously seeking new challenges, we explore Mecum's evolving brand and its drive to engage younger audiences through entertainment and inclusiveness. Breeann shares personal stories, from her eclectic music taste to her passion for empowering women in motorsports. It's a fast-paced conversation that blends business insight with bold personality and her subtle mention of world domination.Connect with Breeann here:https://www.facebook.com/breeann.polandhttps://www.instagram.com/breetashski_/Connect with Red Line Oil: www.redline.com Connect with Mecum Auctions: www.Mecum.com Connect with JP Emerson: www.jpemerson.comOlivia “Liv” Harper, PR, Marketing, & Distribution Executive: www.jpemerson.comFor more podcasts on cars, check out Ford Mustang: The Early Years Podcast at www.TheMustangPodcast.com, on Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcastsFor more information about sponsorship or advertising on The JP Emerson Show or podcast launch services, contact Doug Sandler at doug@turnkeypodcast.com or visit www.turnkeypodcast.com
Hello to you listening in Woodbine, Georgia!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.Maybe like me you endlessly churn old stories in your head: what you would have said, could have said, or should have said. Gets me nowhere. So, I'm learning how to shift out of my endlessly churning mindset with a farming tip. My maternal grandfather left his home in a small Polish village and came to this country as a teenager seeking a better life than the farm he grew up on. Here's what he used to say: “Diane, there's no profit in plowing the same furrow twice. Forgive. Forget. Let go. Harvest what's ahead of you.”Question: What about you? What's your best tip for letting go of what no longer works?You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, arrange a free, no-sales Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack. Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
Welcome back to the second week of Reviewed to Death's International Series! This week, Marcus and Luke pack their bags and head to Poland for the 2022 horror film, Hellhole (original title: Ostatnia wieczerza, or "Last Supper"). Get ready for a remote monastery, missing women, and some seriously unsettling secrets.Follow us @reviewedtodeathLeave us a review!– it helps new listeners find us!Follow Viggy @viggyparrhamptonwww.viggyhampton.comMusic:Home Sweet Home from Sweet Home by Masaya MatsuraDai mi te noc, music by Slawomir Sokolowski, lyrics by Andrzej Sobczak, perfromed by BolterSounds effects provided by PixabayAll additional music provided by Groove Witness - www.groovewitness.usCreate your podcast today! #madeonzencasterRead our companion written reviews - imgur.com/user/trojaSpaceBandit
The leaders of Europe's largest military and economic powers have issued a statement, saying that Ukraine must play a role in peace talks, ahead of a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Sergie Marvov, former member of parliament for Vladimir Putin's United Russia party tells our programme that Russia will demand that European troops cannot be stationed in Ukraine following any ceasefire deal. Also in the programme: Mo Salah criticizes UEFA after the killing of Palestinian footballer Suleiman Obeid during an Israeli strike in Gaza. We get the reaction of the Palestinian national football team manager Ehab Abu Jazar; and amid a deadlock over global negotiations to end single use plastics, we hear from John Chweya, President of the Kenya National Waste Pickers Welfare Association.Picture: Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk walk to attend a joint press conference following a meeting of the 'Coalition of the willing' at the Mariinskyi Palace, the official residence of the president of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, 10 May 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Credit: SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
Did WWII really start in 1931 in Asia? Yes, it pretty much did - ten years before Pearl Harbor. Today, we investigate how and why the Japanese Empire attacked itself – and how that led to war with China and beyond! We are joined by expert historian, Quin Cho (Archival Researcher for https://www.pacificatrocities.org/). Quin has literally written the book on this: The Kwantung Army and the Japanese Occupation of Manchuria, available from September 2025. This is the second of three episodes in Dad & Me's series on modern Japan. Check out the photos from our research trip on https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/ After the end theme music, you'll find these questions: When did World War II begin for the USA? When did World War II begin in Europe? In Asia-Pacific, war began between Japan and which country? How did Japan fake an attack on the Japanese-owned railway in Manchurian, in north-east China in 1931? Which country faked an attack against Poland in 1939? Why do you think these countries choose to fake an attack by the other side? Here's our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media: dadandmelovehistory.com - here, you can also listen to episodes. We also strongly recommend the family-friendly History Detective podcast, as advertised in our pod. Check out historydetectivepodcast.com! For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad's World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad's first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II. Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app! Podcast cover art by Molly Austin All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2025 © BBC
Video link to this conversation: https://youtu.be/1zQ1rSDUUVEA Balcony in Kazimierz: A Candid Conversation on Jews, Poland, and Post-Holocaust MemoryIn this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, I sit with Naomi Seidman on the balcony of our apartment rental in Kazimierz—the historic Jewish district of Kraków, Poland—for an unscripted conversation about Jewish memory, return, and identity.Together, we reflect on what it means for Jews to come back to Poland after the Holocaust. Are we tourists or pilgrims? Survivors by inheritance or outsiders looking in? How do we process the tension between grief, history, and belonging? What responsibilities—if any—come with being second- or third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors?Some of the most moving moments of this video were actually recorded off-camera with a hot mic—raw, vulnerable, and unfiltered. We decided to share them because they speak to the kind of honest, searching conversations I believe matter most.
En la 1418-a E_elsendo el la 10.08.2025 ĉe www.pola-retradio.org: • En la enkonduka parto de la elsendo ni lakone kaj retrorigarde informas pri kelkaj historiaj eventoj en Pollando kaj la mondo ligitaj kun la 10-a de aŭgusto. En la hodiaŭaj aktualaĵoj ni informas pri debatintaj en Pollando sismologoj, pri sukcesoj de polaj lernantoj en matematika olimpiko en Aŭstralio, pri koncertoj de pola muziko „Focus on Poland” dum Internacia Festivalo en Edinburgo. • En la scienctema rubriko ni okupiĝas pri pneŭmatikoj sur niaj aŭtovojoj kaj kiel rubaĵo en riveroj kaj maroj, estas signifa fonto de mikroplasto. • Retrorigarde ni prezentas du sonscenojn el la Faka Forumo dum la 110-a UK – teknike ne plej kvalitajn – pri AIS kaj laboro de IFEF. Krome ni mencias nomojn de la nunjaraj premiitoj en la Belartaj Konkursoj de UEA. • Por komunaj muzikaj momentoj ni elektis fragmenton de la kanzono „Vi estas maro” por la teksto de William Auld, kiun kantas J. Seduikyte. La programinformon akompanas reta foto rilatanta al la temo de nia scienca bulteno. • En unuopaj rubrikoj de nia paĝo eblas konsulti la paralele legeblajn kaj aŭdeblajn tekstojn el niaj elsendoj, kio estas tradicio de nia Redakcio ekde 2003. La elsendo estas aŭdebla en jutubo ĉe la adreso: https://www.youtube.com/results?q=pola+retradio&sp=CAI%253D I.a. pere de jutubo, konforme al individua bezono, eblas rapidigi aŭ malrapidigi la parolritmon de la sondokumentoj, transsalti al iu serĉata fragmento de la elsendo.
Friends of the Rosary,Every month of August, we honor the two martyrs of the holocaust of Auschwitz, St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Teresa Benedicta.Today, August 9, is the memorial day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942), also known as St. Edith Stein.Born into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland), she became an influential philosopher, lecturing at major German universities.A brilliant intellectual and doctorate in philosophy, she converted in 1922 and entered the Discalced Carmelites, captivated by the autobiography of Teresa of Avila, taking the name Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.After reading my life of Teresa of Avila, Edith Stein exclaimed: "This is the truth!"She was arrested by the Nazi regime in 1942, along with all Catholics of Jewish extraction, and transported by cattle train to the death camp of Auschwitz, along with her sister Rosa, also a Catholic. She died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942.Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta in 1987 and canonized her in 1998.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• August 9, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET
In this quick episode Gemini and ADM One go over everything that been going down far for Summer 2025. Battle For Free Passage has been completed and we have to Congradulate JReign from USA, Chederac from Poland, and Dj Pad from South Korea as they will be heading out to London to Battle it out at Portablist Lounge. You can follow @BeatGeekUK and head over to www.portablistlounge.com for More Info on whats going on in September.The Beatjunkie Scratch League is ready to end Season One of their Scratch League as the Final Four Cutters go head to head in July. DMC has some announcements for the USA Finals coming up in Berkley. BiteSize, Santi, and Netwerk will be duking it out for the DMC Open. Also KidRD3 will be defending against Shimeeze, Chris Kuts, Izloh, The Beat Molester, and JP Gunnz. Battle Season is defintly in full effect! You can join us for Round 3 on July 12th at The Beatjunkies Institute of Sound in Glendale to see who is Crowned Champion. Mad Love to Lost Tone Pros, Open Format, Jesse Dean, Scratch Break, and Jetpack Bags for Helping put this whole thing together.As always you can follow us on IG @Tables_4_Two and give the Beatjunkies a follow as well @BeatjunkieIOS for info on all of their events going down at the school. To Enroll or take a Tour of the IOS pull up to the Battle or check out their schedule online at:https://www.beatjunkiesound.com All the Beats that we used durning the Promos were from Swiftstyle's Phrase Looper with you can download for FREE on his website below:https://scratchbreak.com/collections/loopers/products/phrase-looper-swiftstyleBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tables-4-two--4366150/support.
June 2025 Dante's New SouthBenheart: Ben is a living testimony of a dream come true: from childhood between Morocco and Italy, through technical discoveries and dramatic trials, to rebirth and the founding of a brand that fuses hearts, craftsmanship and style. Benheart is not just fashion, but a life statement - combining heart and craftsmanship, with strong roots in Florence and global vision.www.benheart.it/?srsltid=AfmBOopJp1pzGmdew4Qc2oMvNo-0p7wLlIeJm9uVh_ETAUOWT1j-ilAdWaqas Khwaja is the Ellen Douglass Leyburn Professor of English at Agnes Scott College where he teaches courses in Postcolonial literature, British Romanticism, Empire Narratives, Victorian Novel, and Creative Writing. He has published four collections of poetry, Hold Your Breath, No One Waits for the Train, Mariam's Lament, and Six Geese from a Tomb at Medum, a literary travelogue about his experiences as a fellow of the International Writers Program, University of Iowa, and three edited anthologies of Pakistani literature. He served as translation editor (and contributor) for Modern Poetry of Pakistan, showcasing translations of poems by 44 poets from Pakistan's national and regional languages, and has guest-edited special issues on Pakistani Literature and poetry for the Journal of Commonwealth and Postcolonial Studies and Atlanta Review. A bilingual edition of one of his collections, No One Waits for the Train, was published as Nadie espera el tren in Madrid, Spain, in 2024.www.agnesscott.edu/directory/faculty/khwaja-waqas.htmlJoseph Saul Portillo After dedicating 25 years to Christian ministry and cultivating a successful career in business operations, Joseph Saul Portillo turned inward to explore his artistic calling, embarking on a new chapter in Fine Art Photography. Today, Joseph Saul is a Creative Producer and Digital Artist based in Rome, Georgia, whose evocative work in pictorial portraiture has earned him international acclaim as a Master of Light Photographer. His award-winning style, marked by emotional depth and artistic precision, has led to collaborations across film, music, and education projects. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Rome International Film Festival and on the Advisory Board for Georgia Highlands College's Digital Media and Communications program.www.josephsaulart.comWiktor Miesok was and raised in Poland, he relocated to Norway in 2012, drawn by a longing for Tolkienian mystical landscapes. Though he seeks inspiration in the silence and raw, untamed nature of the North, he remains stubbornly Eastern European at heart.An engineer by trade, he has a passion for storytelling and fiction that explores the human condition and its potential for both good and evil.His latest novel, and the first serious foray into fiction, tells the story of a young man in1980s East Germany who, in his search for freedom, ends up in a Soviet penal colony and becomes entangled in the ruthless criminal underworld.www.thegrimseries.comwww.youtube.com/@grim.hustleAdditional Music Provided by: Dr, Fubbs: www.tiktok.com/@doctorfubbs?lang=enJustin Johnson: www.justinjohnsonlive.comOur Advertisers:Lucid House Press: www.lucidhousepublishing.comWhispers of the Flight: www.amazon.com/Whispers-Flight-Voyage-Cosmic-Unity-ebook/dp/B0DB3TLY43The Crown: www.thecrownbrasstown.comBright Hill Press: www.brighthillpress.orgWe Deeply Appreciate:UCLA Extension Writing Program: www.uclaextension.eduMercer University Press: www.mupress.orgAlain Johannes for the original score in this show: www.alainjohannes.comThe host, Clifford Brooks', The Draw of Broken Eyes & Whirling Metaphysics, Athena Departs, and Old Gods are available everywhere books are sold. Find them all here: www.cliffbrooks.com/how-to-orderCheck out his Teachable courses, The Working Writer and Adulting with Autism, here: brooks-sessions.teachable.com
Almost didn't get this solo episode recorded. Been a rough week. But think I might get some relief after seeing a doctor here in Gdańsk. In this ep, I talk about a recent sauna experience—who I met there and why the interaction impacted me. One of them was a 19-year old from Ukraine. So I asked if she had any friends who'd been killed in the war. And what she told me is something I'll always remember. War is hell.
Disclaimer: This conversation with Mr. Ajay Bisaria was recorded on August 6, 2025 and reflects the information available to us at that time. Any developments that occurred after the recording date have not been covered by the guest or the host.Episode 120 of The Prakhar Gupta Xperience features Ajay Bisaria.Ajay Bisaria is a former Indian diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Canada (2020–2022) and Pakistan (2017–2020), and as Ambassador to Poland and Lithuania. He was an aide to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004, contributing to major policy initiatives. Over his 35-year career in the Indian Foreign Service, he specialized in India's relations with Eurasia, including Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia. Academically, he holds degrees from St. Stephen's College, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, and Princeton University. Currently, he is a strategic advisor and Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, advising global businesses on geopolitics, governance, and international strategy.This is what we talked about:00:00 - Intro00:53 - Trump calls India a "Dead Economy"09:21 - Are We in a Tariff War?12:11 - India–U.S. Relations History15:14 - Is Pakistan a New Ally?24:25 - Failures of Indian Media28:17 - Impact of 50% Tariff31:12 - Ambassador vs High Commissioner35:26 - Pakistan as a Paradox38:31 - Collapse of Diplomacy Talks42:25 - Why Pakistan is Different47:28 - Pakistan's Denial of Terrorism50:42 - Indus Water Treaty Basics1:04:09 - Trump's Issue with BRICS1:06:22 - China's Global Rise1:10:39 - Could Bangladesh Betray India?1:14:21 - Complexity of Global Diplomacy1:17:12 - India–Russia Friendship1:18:54 - India's Non-Alignment Advantage1:19:18 - Final Question for Prakhar
Although the music of Polish composer Zygmunt Noskowski (1846–1909) is less well known than that of his teacher (Stanisław Moniuszko) and his students (Karol Szymanowski and Mieczysław Karłowicz), Noskowski was nonetheless the primary exponent of modern symphonic music in Poland for most of the 19th century; he also introduced the idea of the symphonic poem to colleagues who would follow in his footsteps. Raymond Bisha introduces a programme of his Third Symphony and the symphonic poem The Steppe, Op. 66, which blends sweeping Romanticism with Polish folk spirit. The symphony is a journey through the seasons, while The Steppe evokes Poland's vast landscapes with colourful hints of Borodin's In the Steppes of Central Asia.
Most traders try to fix their results by forcing more discipline or tweaking their strategy. But real consistency starts deeper—with how you see yourself. In this episode, Agnieszka is joined by Greg Singleton to explore the foundational concept of Trader Identity—the often-overlooked root of trading success. Together, they discuss how your beliefs and values influence every trading decision, why identity drives behavior (and how to change it), how misalignment in your lifestyle creates sabotage and practical ways to start becoming the trader you want to be—today. If you've ever felt stuck, inconsistent, or like you're getting in your own way… this conversation is the breakthrough you didn't know you needed.
Dhruv Agrawal is CEO and president of Aether Biomedical. Discover Dhruv's unique journey from studying medicine in New Delhi to creating life-changing bionic limbs. Under his leadership, Aether Biomedical has achieved significant milestones, including CE certification and FDA registration for its Zeus V1 bionic limb. Dhruv shares his personal story of transitioning from medical school to MedTech innovation, the obstacles faced and lessons learned as a young entrepreneur, and the hope and inspiration of seeing Aether's prosthetics transform lives, especially in war-torn regions. Guest links: https://www.aetherbiomedical.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/aether-biomedical | https://www.instagram.com/aether_biomedical/ Charity supported: ASPCA Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com. PRODUCTION CREDITS Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen Producer: Velentium Medical EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 061 - Dhruv Agrawal Dhruv Agrawal [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of The Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and today I'm excited to introduce you to my guest, Dhruv Agrawal. Dhruv is the CEO and president of the management board of Aither Biomedical. He studied medicine in New Delhi before dropping out to pursue a bachelor's in business management. He also has a postgraduate diploma in Medical Device Development Regulatory Affairs from University of California Irvine, and a Master's in Data Science from the University of London. Under his leadership, Aither Biomedical has achieved CE certification and FDA registration for the Zeus V1 bionic limb, and established distribution across nine European countries, the US, and India. Additionally, Aither has raised over 12.5 million US dollars in private capital from leading VCs and has been a part of multiple European grants and research programs for an additional 6.5 million US dollars in non-dilutive capital. All right. Well, thank you so much for being here. Welcome to the show. I'm so excited to speak with you today. [00:01:49] Dhruv Agrawal: it's a pleasure to be here, Lindsey. Thank you so much for inviting me. [00:01:52] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course, of course. Well, I would love, if you wouldn't mind just starting by sharing a little bit about yourself and your background and what led you to Med Tech. [00:02:02] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, absolutely. So I'm Dhruv Agrawal. I'm the CEO of Aither Biomedical. We are a company based out of Poznan in Poland, so on the western part of Poland. It's a little bit chilly here. As a company, we are a team of about 55 people right now, currently present in the US, Europe, Middle East, as well as India. And we focus on making bionic hands for upper limb amputees. [00:02:25] Lindsey Dinneen: Amazing. Yes. So I wanna get into everything amazing that your company does, but going back for just a little bit, in your own personal history, can you share a little bit about maybe growing up and what experiences led you to think, "Hey, in the future, maybe I wanna do X, Y, and Z." [00:02:43] Dhruv Agrawal: Mm-hmm. So first of all, entrepreneurship was never a plan for me. I didn't even knew that there was a thing called an entrepreneur until I was easily into high school. Both my parents are doctors. My dad's a pediatrician, mom's a gynecologist, and as it happens in India, if your parents are doctors, you kind of know that you have to become a doctor as well. So I went to the coaching classes to pre, to prepare for medical entrance examinations. I actually met my co-founder there about 10 years ago. We both got into medical school. I was generally comfortable with medicine, you know, growing up in a hospital with doctor parents around. So I was generally comfortable in a clinical setting, but I realized that I was much more interested in the technological aspect of medicine rather than the clinical aspect of it. And that was when I was getting into the second year of my university. And luckily my dad, for my 18th birthday, bought me a 3D printer, like a very simple 3D printer from China as my 18th birthday gift. 'cause I was really wanting to get into that world. And that's where the story begins. So even till today, my dad jokingly says that that's the worst gift he has ever bought for me, because that made me drop out of medical school. [00:03:57] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh no. Okay, so you were given this gift and you started, I imagine, tinkering with it, learning how to use it. So tell me about that. [00:04:06] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, the thing with my co-founder as well, even though we went to the same medical university, we were not really friends in the first year. We were just colleagues. But when I got this 3D printer, it was like one of those things that you assemble, you get a kit and you assemble. And I was asking around people in my university and they were like, "Come on, what are you doing? Like, I don't wanna come to your apartment to assemble a 3D printer." And my co-founder was the first one who said yes to coming down and assembling that printer with me. So that's how our friendship essentially started in the university, even though we had known each other for three years by that point. And then we started, of course, by very basic things like printing mobile phone covers and key chains and we were just in awe with the fact that I have something in my room, in a studio apartment, where I can just build physical things, right? And this was back in 2018, so 3D printer was not such a consumer product where, you know, if it was of course used in industry, but it was not something that you would imagine having at your home, at least not in India. And then we actually found out that there's a society called Enable, which is an NGO that makes very simple basic prosthetic designs for kids. So we started by printing those and started going to some amputee clinics around and trialing that out with patients, just purely out of technical curiosity. We didn't really had a draw towards amputation, so to speak. We were more driven by the technical curiosity of, you know, it sounds interesting to make a prostatic hand. So that was the beginning. And then slowly, slowly things happened very organically that we went from wanting to 3D print basic things to starting a biomedical innovation club in our university, to incorporating a company in India, then to coming all the way over to Poland and now having 55 people. [00:05:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Holy cow. That's an amazing story. Thank you for sharing about that. So, okay, so, so you started off with this curiosity, like, "Hey, let's see what we could do with this printer and, and how we can make it work for people." And I love that your initial pull with it was to actually provide something that does help people. So that's obviously a core value, something that you hold very dear. So can you speak a little bit more, did you have sort of any personal experience or within your family or what led you to say, "You know what, hey, I've got this really cool tool at my disposal. Let me start using it by actually doing something that helps others." [00:06:27] Dhruv Agrawal: I mean, the honest answer, I would love to say I had some personal experience, but the honest answer is no, not, not really. I don't have one of those stories where I can tell you that, like I met an amputee 15 years ago, 20 years ago, and have had that motivation for that time. It was just pure technical curiosity to begin with. But of course, as we started building basic devices and giving it out to people and seeing the response of what a very simple, you know, $50 thing can do for a person who's missing a limb in an impoverished family in a village in India, that's a very powerful thing. So at that point, we realized that we started getting more and more close to upper limb amputation as a field, as a clinical specialty within itself. Of course, both me and my co-founder coming from medical school growing up in family of medicals, we've always had it in our heart to work in the clinical side of things. We've always liked working around, helping people get healthier and better. But amputation specifically was an area that we were very lucky that we found as an area of interest that developed within the both of us. [00:07:31] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, of course. Okay, so, so you started printing these limbs, and then you realized, "Oh my goodness, there's such a need for this. There's so much opportunity here to really help people." So, so tell me a little bit about the evolution over time of how you have made it better and better, more technologically advanced, more ergonomic, all the things that go into that. Can you speak a little bit to that learning curve and process? [00:07:56] Dhruv Agrawal: Mm-hmm. Yeah, it was a very long learning curve because not only did, me and my co-founder had zero background in business. We were 18-year-old, 19-year-old kids, right? We were just teenagers and we really had no idea what we wanted to do. And not only that, we also were not engineers, so we didn't have any engineering experience or expertise either. So everything that we did in the very beginning, at least, was self-taught. I just knew I had an inclination towards electronics and programming. My co-founder was much more towards mechanical CAD design and things like that. So we started learning these courses for free on edX and Coursera and all these, you know, MOOC platforms. And that's how we built up the very first prototype of the product by getting some small grants here and there in India. Of course, the situation is very different right now. We have R&D team of 30 people, very experienced, a few PhDs here and there. So I don't really design anymore in my day-to-day life, but that's how we started. And same was the side of the journey of coming from India to Poland. Again, that was not something that was planned at all. We had no experience in business. We had no experience in raising funding or raising money and things like that. We just learned on the go, applied to over a hundred different programs 'cause most of the investors said no to us back then in 2018 to funding 'cause why would they say yes? And we looked at like, "Okay, can we get some grants and things like that?" Applied to over a hundred programs. Luckily got selected in this program in Poland, which was like a $50,000 program back in 2018 and decided, "Yeah, let's try that place out." And came to Poland. I literally came with a backpack with stuff for two months 'cause there was a plan, come for the grant, stay for two months, go back to my family in India, and it's been seven years since then. [00:09:44] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, there you go. Oh my goodness. That's great. So Poland, and you get along it sounds like just fine. Excellent. Excellent. Okay, so, I really appreciate you sharing about, especially, you were both so young and but so eager. It sounds like just, "Yes, let's learn, let's develop the skills that we need to along the way." I would imagine though, coming into it, perhaps that young and not having as much business experience, or, or any really in, in the past, I-- something that I really admired when I was kind of looking through your LinkedIn profile was when you post, a lot of times you share stories about areas that, that may be considered I, I guess mistakes or stumbling blocks or things that, that you've overcome on your path. And I would love if you would share maybe just a couple of things that come to mind, as an early founder, because your story is amazing and unique, but there are lots of other founders too who find themselves in similar situations where they're like, "Whoof, I've got this great idea. I know what I want, but here's maybe what I should look out for to avoid." could you share a little bit about that? [00:10:49] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the first thing is mistakes are unavoidable, right? it doesn't matter whether you're coming from a background of a medical school dropout, or if you have 10, 15, 20 years of corporate experience and things like that. 'Cause I do find myself thinking a lot about, you know, wouldn't it have been better if I would've graduated and then did a MBA and then started a company? Yes, it might have been better, but the things that I deal with in my day-to-day life in the startup, I don't think this is taught anywhere. So the first and foremost thing, which is of importance, is that mistakes are unavoidable. It's okay to make mistakes. The biggest learning that I have is mistakes are unavoidable, but it's up to you to be decisive enough to pivot as quickly as possible. So don't look back at the mistakes that we have made, because one of the worst things that we have done in this company, or where we have failed the most, or where we have seen that like, "Ah, this is where we could have done things better," are not about making a wrong decision. They were just about being indecisive and being in a dilemma for a long, long time. It would've been far better if we would've made certain decisions quickly, gotten feedback and quickly pivoted, instead of just being in a dilemma and trying to balance two sides for a long time period. An example of that would be when we launched the first version of our product into the market, we realized that we had made some errors from the point of view of what should be the feature set in this product. And so, for example, the product was available only in a medium size hand in terms of the dimensions, but majority of the market is for a small size hand. So at that point we couldn't really just miniaturize things because there's a physical limitation. So at that point we had to make a decision of do we scrap this thing completely and build a new hand from scratch that starts with a small hand and then has a medium sized option as a grow up? Or do we continue to work on the medium sized hand, and then launch a small sized hand separately? Finally, we decided to do the second option. But looking back again, I, I don't think it would've been better or worse either way. I think both of these options are fair. It's just the fact that we spent over nine months going back and forth between, "Okay, let's continue putting our efforts in energy into the medium sized that we have right now" versus, "Okay, this month we are now suddenly feeling, ah, that's not gonna work out. Let's start building the second version." So that dilemma of indecision is probably the worst thing that you can do. Just make a decision, own up to it, move on. If it works out, great, if it not, if it doesn't work out, you're gonna have learnings and you'll be stronger at the end of the day. So that's, I would be an I would say would be an example of one of the key errors that we made. [00:13:23] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Well, thank you for being willing to share that, and that's such valuable advice and feedback. And so, as you recognize this and go, "Okay, so that didn't work as planned, or in the way that I would prefer," what did you end up deciding? How do you go now, moving forward, when you are in a position of "I have a major decision to make. I feel like both options have value and merit." How do you end up deciding, "Okay, I I'm not gonna leave this just in this hazy middle ground, I'm gonna make a decision." How do you go about that now differently? [00:13:54] Dhruv Agrawal: I think the first and foremost thing that entrepreneurs, or anybody who wants to build a new product, or anybody who just wants to build something new, is be very, very, very honest with yourself about, "Am I solving a real problem?" As founders, as creators, as developers, it is so easy to go into that mindset of you find a problem that you can relate to or you somehow think that this is a real problem. It doesn't matter what feedback you're going to get. You're going to convert that feedback, or create a narrative or story from that feedback, that is going to align with the impression that you have built in your own head about what the real problem is. So one thing that we really do right now is just focus on problem market fit at the very early stages of launching a new software, building a new product, building the next version of the hand, or whatever else we do is really try to question, "Are we solving a real problem?" And in a completely unbiased manner, "Do people agree with me that I am solving a real problem?" So that's what I would say would be a primary thing that we do differently right now. Of course at this point, we start getting users involved much earlier into our development process. That is something that we did not do in the past, and hence the surprise that we got at that point. So we start involving users, different stakeholders, and things like that much earlier, but at the same time, I would say that it's not to say that I would penalize myself for the historical decisions that I took. We did the best that we could potentially with the resources that were available at that point. Now we have much more resources so we can do all these things. So don't feel pressured to do everything on day one. You know, start with something, move forward and build that maturity as you grow. [00:15:38] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, I love that. That's excellent advice. Thank you for sharing. Yeah, so you know that's a great segue and I love the fact that you were talking about the end user and the importance. And it's so funny because of course, ultimately your goal is to help these end users and improve their quality of life and whatnot. But to your point, it does get easy to get so bogged down in the details of what you're creating and innovating that perhaps you forget sort of the bigger picture at times. So, speaking of these end users, can you share any stories that might stand out to you as really reinforcing to you that, "Hey, gosh, I am in the right industry, doing the right thing at the right time." [00:16:17] Dhruv Agrawal: Yeah, no, absolutely. So we have had many phenomenal end users that have reiterated our belief in the product that we are building, the problems that we are solving, the company, and the organization that we are building as a whole. I mean, generally speaking, patients change their devices every three to five years, and that's really our entry point of getting a device into the hands of the patients. But even with those, a patient is using another prosthetic device, they start using ours, they will see a step change in the functionality, and that's always empowering. But the most interesting stories are where we have really seen patients who, for example, congenital amputees tried a prosthetic device 10 years ago, 15 years ago, and then made a decision to live their life without any prosthetic device. So got used to a life for 15, 20, 25 years of living a life without a prosthetic device, just with an amputated limb or a limb difference. And then, we come in with our product, they see it, they use it, and they are ready to adopt that again. And that's a much powerful validation for us because somebody who has used a device, looked at all the advancements over the last two decades, decided actively decided to not use any of those advancements, and looks at our product and says, "Ah, this really solves the problems that I was waiting for someone to solve for the last two decades." Like we had this situation with a very famous Polish guy, Marek Kamiński, who is the youngest Polish person to go to both poles, North Pole and the South Pole, and he's a bilateral amputee on legs and he has a unilateral amputation to one arm. He has not used a prosthetic device in, I think 15 or 20 years, something like that. So for a very long timeframe. He met with an ambassador of ours and was finally convinced after 15 long years to give another try. And we fitted him over three months ago and he's been performing phenomenally with the device and he's so happy with that. So those are the moments that really give us more confidence or give us a boost of confidence in the product that we are building and the company that we are building. [00:18:19] Lindsey Dinneen: That's incredible. Wow. What a story. Yeah, and I love hearing those kinds of stories and that just to reinforce, " Hey, you really are making a difference." And I'm sure that helps on the days that are a little bit harder, a little trickier, you know, it helps to have that to hold onto, so you know your impact goes so far beyond even the places that you've mentioned before. I was reading about how you've worked with the Open Dialogue Foundation and there's been some work in Ukraine, and I'm wondering if you could share a little bit about perhaps that collaboration, and or some of the other exciting collaborations you have going on with these amazing organizations all over the world. [00:18:54] Dhruv Agrawal: Absolutely. I mean, the work that we do in Ukraine is something which is very close to our heart and what you just mentioned a moment ago, it's exactly that type of work that keeps us going on the hardest of days. I have so many amazing stories from the patients who have been fitted with our device 'cause at this point in the last year or so, we have already fitted over a hundred patients with our bionic hands in Ukraine. We primarily work with Superhumans, which is NGO based out of Kyiv, a great place, really the mecca for prosthetics at this point, I would say. They're doing a phenomenal job of getting these patients in, rehabilitating them, fitting them with our device and then training them on how to use the device. In fact, even supporting them in the post rehabilitation, acquainting them to back to the real world as well. And we send teams of doctors from the US, from Poland, to Ukraine to actually fit these devices to patients. And we have had a lot of success stories come out of it. We have people who have amputations, even at the level of shoulder who are amputated all the way up to the shoulder or four quarter amputation, and they are successfully able to live a independent life with our device. I think the best story that I've had, or the part that really made me tear up, was when one of the soldiers got fitted with our device and his really, really big wish was to be able to do the first, to dance with his wife, with both hands. And I got to see that and it was, it was the most amazing feeling ever. [00:20:20] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh my goodness. Yes. I don't know how you couldn't just have the waterfall start with that kind of story. That's incredible. Thank you for sharing about that. So, as you look toward the company's future and your own, what are you excited about moving forward? [00:20:34] Dhruv Agrawal: I mean, we are currently in the process of getting a new version of our hand in the market, which has all the learnings of the last four years or so. So we are definitely really excited about that. You have to keep in mind when we launched the first product, we didn't even have enough money to-- because prosthetics are expensive-- so we didn't really have had enough money to buy our competitor devices, or the devices from the past to look around to see, touch, feel, how they are built. Everything that we built was purely out of our imagination and based on what we could find on the internet. And, you know, go visit a doctor who fits these devices, have that 10, 15 minutes to look around that device, and so on and so on. I mean, four years later, now we have the experience of fitting close to seven, 800 patients with our device. All that feedback that has gone into the next version product that we are gonna be building. So very excited about that. We continue to develop the software platform, so we are not just a company that is focused on providing a device to the patient, but we provide an entire software platform that's like a digital twin for the patient. So it supports the patients throughout their end-to-end journey. Because it's not just about giving a device to the patient, but it's all about can we improve their quality of life? Can the patient pick up a glass of water? Can he tie his shoelaces? Can he water a plant? Can he do the activities that he really wants to do? And from that perspective, the software platform that we continue to build focuses on things like adherence, occupational therapy, physical therapy, monitoring of the usage of the device. Because the thing in prosthetics industry is, the day you give the device to the patient is not the day you have won the battle. That's the day the battle actually begins, 'cause now it's all about making sure that you deliver on the promise of helping him get better quality of life. [00:22:20] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure that's an exciting challenge, but it's a continually evolving challenge too. And there's probably variations, I would imagine, on people embracing the technology a little bit differently and how you handle all that. Yeah. Excellent. Well that is a very exciting future and it's so much fun to hear about, and you know, you've had a great career so far. I'm sure it's wildly different than what you may have imagined as a kid. But what a cool gift that you're bringing to the world. You've been recognized quite a bit. You're 30 under 30 for Europe, and you've been involved in lots of different cool organizations. You've been a TEDx speaker. What are some of those moments like, have they been surreal? Is it just like, "Oh, thank you." Just confirmation that, hey, you are on the right tracker. What are those kinds of moments like for you? [00:23:08] Dhruv Agrawal: I mean, definitely the first round of funding that we raised in Poland was was a huge check mark for us, because it's that moment at which you realize, "Ah, somebody wants to give me money and somebody wants to give me a quarter of a million dollars." I've never seen that much money together on a single bank account or in any way, shape or form, right? I come from a normal middle class family. We don't have that. So, that was definitely the first micro checkpoint, let's say. I mean, both the things that you mentioned, the TEDx thing, the Forbes 30 Under 30 thing, coming from a background in India where these things are really important, although they're not so important for me as a person, but they're much more important for some reason to my parents and to society. It is a different place. We put a lot of emphasis on these types of things. So from six, seven years ago, looking at these lists coming out or looking at, "Oh, this cool guy spoke on a TEDx talk, sending him an email about, 'Do you want to be an advisor in my company? I'll give you 5% shares,'" and so on and so on, to actually doing those things by yourself, that's definitely pretty well as well. But again, at the end of the day, there is nothing better than seeing a new patient get fitted with the hand, seeing the reaction of their family members. They have a daughter, they have a son who they hold their hand for the first time. They hug their wife. I mean, just, just being around amputees and patients who use your device, something that you built and that helps them get better at their daily life, that's, I would say, the most rewarding thing ever. [00:24:39] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, of course. That's, that's wonderful. Yeah. So, oh my goodness, this is so great and very inspirational, but pivoting the conversation a little bit just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars-- speaking of those wonderful sums of money-- to teach a masterclass on anything you want. It can be something within your industry, but doesn't have to be, what would you choose to teach? [00:25:03] Dhruv Agrawal: I have two topics in mind. One is I would probably teach a masterclass on pitching, especially for first time founders. I think that is something which I'm good at, and we have obviously raised a pretty decent amount of capital up 'till now. So that would be the one thing that I would say. So kind of a combination of pitching and starting a startup for the first time, especially in the field of hardware, medical devices, things like that. And the second thing that I would really like to talk about is just probably trying to put my thoughts together and making a masterclass on how to never give up, because I think that that's a very underrated quality. But that's a very important quality. There have been complex times in the history of our company where we have felt that like, "Ah, this might be it." But it's all about what you do in those moments and how you go beyond those. I think it's all about that. [00:25:47] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. And how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:25:53] Dhruv Agrawal: Just as a positive change maker. I really would like all these patients that we are helping and giving these devices to. I, I just want to be a small part of their lives. Just as I was part of the life of the veteran who got married, I, I just wanna ha have those small moments club together amongst these different individuals that we are privileged to work with. [00:26:13] Lindsey Dinneen: Hmm. Yes, of course. Wonderful. And then final question, what is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:26:22] Dhruv Agrawal: Oh, that's very simple. Patients getting fitted with our device. Today we see a patient getting fitted with our device, and that smile on their face and things like that. And, you know, that's even much bigger, much more interesting in Ukraine because many times when you go to these hospitals, and when I go to these hospitals in Ukraine, you have to understand that these people have gone through a lot. These soldiers who are putting their body on the line for their country. There, of course, there's a certain sort of low morale that they have when they're amputated and when they're in these hospitals and things like that where they don't really think that there is ever a possibility for them to regain something back. And you go in there and you show them a bionic hand, and they're not sure if this thing works, and you put the electrodes on them and they open the hand or close it for the first time, and then you suddenly see those expressions change from like, "Ah, what has happened to me?" to, "Oh, what can I achieve?" That is also an amazing feeling. [00:27:16] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Oh, I love that. What an amazing gift to be able to help somebody bridge that gap and witness it. How cool is that? Oh, well, I think this is incredible. I am so grateful for you and your co-founder for starting this company and just being able to give so many people hope and new life, really, just a new way of experiencing life. So thank you for all of the incredible work you're doing. I'm so excited to continue to follow your work, support your work, as I'm sure all of our listeners are as well. So, gosh, I just really appreciate you sharing all of your advice and stories and wisdom with us. So thanks again so much for being here. [00:27:55] Dhruv Agrawal: Of course, Lindsey, thank so much for having me. [00:27:56] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course, of course. And we are honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is dedicated to preventing animal cruelty in the United States. We really appreciate you choosing that organization to support and thank you just again, so very much for your time here today. I just wish you continued success as you work to change lives for a better world. And thank you also so much to our listeners, and if you're feeling as inspired as I am right now, I'd love it if you share this episode with a colleague or two and we'll catch you next time. [00:28:43] Ben Trombold: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium. Velentium is a full-service CDMO with 100% in-house capability to design, develop, and manufacture medical devices from class two wearables to class three active implantable medical devices. Velentium specializes in active implantables, leads, programmers, and accessories across a wide range of indications, such as neuromodulation, deep brain stimulation, cardiac management, and diabetes management. Velentium's core competencies include electrical, firmware, and mechanical design, mobile apps, embedded cybersecurity, human factors and usability, automated test systems, systems engineering, and contract manufacturing. Velentium works with clients worldwide, from startups seeking funding to established Fortune 100 companies. Visit velentium.com to explore your next step in medical device development.
In episode 299 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Andrew Hill. Andy is is the Founder of UTurnBack2Basics. Based in Norfolk, Uturn creates outdoor experiences designed for people to reconnect with the fundamentals of life - self-awareness, survival skills, and personal growth. Their mission is to support individuals from all walks of life, with a strong focus on veterans and vulnerable individuals, helping them build resilience, develop essential skills, and rediscover a sense of purpose through the outdoors. Their workshops cover topics such as shelter building, campfire cooking, water purification, setting up camp, using varying types of equipment, hikes, groups, leadership skills, team building, retreat, and expeditions to build friendships. Andy served in the military and found peace and clarity in nature after leaving. UTB2B was built on the belief that outdoors has the power to heal. Having faced the challenges of adapting to a civilian life, Andy created this initiative to help others who may be struggling, providing a space where his clients can reconnect, rebuild, and move forward with confidence. In this episode, we discuss the genesis of Uturn, why he started it, the service it provides to men and women who access it and the various programmes it offers. We also discuss the trips they have done so far, including to the likes of Norway, Sweden, Normandy in France and upcoming trips to Malaysia and Poland. For Andy's mental health journey we discuss his diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which developed after he had a serious fall and broke his neck and back. Two weeks after the accident, he began experiencing seizures, at its worst, 16 seizures a day. After doctors initially struggled to diagnose the problem, they concluded that the seizures were caused by suppressed trauma over his life, which caused his brain to shut down. He had to use a wheelchair for 18 months and was told he'd never walk or work again. Thankfully, he defied that prognosis and began to work on his physical and mental recovery. Unfortunately, during this time, he claims he was domestically abused by his partner. Then, in 2020, he was diagnosed for the first time with testicular cancer. He had surgery to remove one testicle and one bout of chemotherapy. Eight months later, he was diagnosed again with testicular cancer as the cancer had not been fully removed the first time. Then in December 2024, the cancer had spread into his lymph nodes and he received targeted chemo to treat them. When he was diagnosed with cancer the second time, he left that abusive relationship, despite knowing he'd be homeless, and still went through the cancer treatment for five months because he said he knew he'd be less vulnerable living on the streets than living in his home with his partner. He became suicidal and made plans to take his own life. He was just about to do it before something stopped him, and from there he began his recovery journey. We discuss all of these experiences, going through the family court system, recovery and how Uturn has been at the heart of that. As always, #itsokaytovent You can find out more about UTurnBack2Basics here: https://www.u-turnback2basics.co.uk/ You can follow them on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uturnback2basics/ Support Us: Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpuk PayPal: paypal.me/freddiec1994?country.x=GB&locale.x=en_GB Merchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shop Music: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk TRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains a deep discussion about suicide, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.
At the Datacloud Global Congress 2025 in Cannes, Olivier Micheli, President and CEO of privately held Data4, discussed the group's €21.5 billion (US$24.5 billion) investment pipeline, Europe's digital infrastructure outlook, and the company's positioning amid rising global competition. Micheli acknowledged the geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties that have shaped the industry in early 2025 but emphasised that fundamental demand drivers remain strong. “In the last five or six months, the world has changed a lot. It creates uncertainty. Customers sign 10–15-year contracts, and they need certainty,” Micheli said. “However, data volumes continue to double every three years, business cloud is growing, and generative AI is still a strong driver. So, overall, the demand for data centres remains very robust.” Micheli confirmed that Data4's current development programme is backed by a committed €21.5 billion (US$24.5 billion) capital plan, one of the largest among European operators. Roughly €15 billion (US$17.1 billion) of that amount will be invested in France, with the remainder allocated across existing markets including Spain, Italy, Poland, and Greece. “France offers significant competitive advantages. It has available power, low carbon emissions due to nuclear generation, and lower electricity costs compared to Germany or Italy,” Micheli said. “We are focusing our capital on existing markets and building both capacity and resilience.” The company's current rollout includes a 500MW digital hub in the southern Paris region. This comprises the established Paris 1 campus (250MW) and a new Paris 3 site (250MW), forming one of the largest digital clusters in Europe. A separate gigawatt-scale project in northern France is also underway, with construction planned through to the 2030s. Additionally, Micheli addressed the challenges Europe faces in attracting and supporting AI infrastructure, particularly in comparison to North America. “For the training part of generative AI, you need access to cheap and available power. In the US, you get that in one to three years. In many parts of Europe, it takes five to ten years,” he said. “So the AI workloads are going to the US. But Europe still needs infrastructure to support its 500 million citizens.” While AI training workloads may remain in North America, Micheli argued that inference workloads and broader cloud services must reside in Europe to serve local user bases and ensure data compliance. Micheli was cautious about data centres being officially recognised as an “electricity-intensive industry,” which could lead to increased regulation. “The sector is growing faster than others and will be one of the top consumers of power globally,” he said. “We must be careful. If the industry is classified as a utility, it could face heavy regulation — and regulation often limits innovation.” Sustainability remains one of the core pillars of Data4's corporate strategy. Micheli described several initiatives underway to reduce the environmental footprint of the company's operations. A notable innovation is the use of algae farms to absorb CO₂ and reuse waste heat from data centres. Elsewhere, data sovereignty is emerging as a central issue in Europe's digital agenda. Micheli underlined that a distributed and competitive infrastructure network is essential to support the continent's ambition for digital independence. “Europe must have the best infrastructure across all its markets — not just in one location,” he said. “It's a critical component of sovereignty.” He also noted that as regulatory requirements for data localisation increase, the demand for local infrastructure will only grow — both from public institutions and private sector clients. Asked whether an initial public offering (IPO) was on the horizon, Micheli said Data4 is not currently considering a listing but acknowledged that it could be a longer-term possibility. “At the moment, no — we're in a high-growth phase and need the flexibility to invest,” he said. “Once we are more stabilised, when we're perhaps at €20 or €30 billion market cap, then it may become relevant.” He also commented on the broader industry trend: “A lot of platforms are becoming too large for traditional private equity. Public markets might be the next step to monetise those assets.”
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Angel Studios https://Angel.com/ToddJoin the Angel Guild today and stream Testament, a powerful new series featuring the retelling of the book of Acts. Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bizable https://GoBizable.comUntie your business exposure from your personal exposure with BiZABLE. Schedule your FREE consultation at GoBizAble.com today. Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/toddThe new GOLDEN AGE is here! Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comBe confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to KnowYourRiskPodcast.com today. Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddLISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeRussia Hoax: Hearts and Minds Before Judges and Juries; Poland Says No to Voluntarily being Conquered; On Mozambique: Try Not Caring…Episode Links:NEW: NBC “News” segment on DOJ opening of Russiagate grand jury probe. The “reporter” apprises the viewer that:John Solomon: Here is what case looks like.69% Agree: ‘RussiaGate' Requires Accountability. In the wake of revelations about the so-called “RussiaGate” scandal, more than two-thirds of voters agree with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that there must be “accountability” for any crimes committed. The moment the New York Times won a Pulitzer Prize for its Russiagate reporting. Mark Mazzetti says that “we still have no idea how this story will end,” a not-so-subtle nod to the possible removal of Trump.Instead of being an existential threat to Trump, the story is an existential threat to the reputation of the Times.Indicting Trump, a progressive fantasy since 2017And here it is: Devin Nunes calls for an investigation into the Mueller team — naming all 19 members as co-conspirators in a coordinated plot to overthrow the United States government, starting with Mueller himself.Poland have just sworn in their new PresidentHe believes in National SovereigntyHe believes in Protecting BordersHe promotes Family Values andHe is unashamedly Pro-ChristianThe Polish people are celebrating they won't become like the UKMuslims in Britain are crying “Islamophobia” online over the massive media coverage of a horrific rape of a 8-years-old white British girl. Many Muslims are outraged because the rapist's identity — a Pakistani Muslim asylum seeker — was not kept hidden from the public.ISIS soldiers behead Christians in Mozambique, burning church and homes: 'Silent genocideIslamic State affiliates burning churches, beheading Christians in Africa's Mozambique, CongoPastor Redmond Wandera at Real Life Ministries
In our first episode since the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss are joined by Brian Nygaard to recap a busy week of racing during this in-between period before attention turns to the third and final grand tour of the season, the Vuelta a España, gets underway later this month. The week's news has been dominated by the confirmation that Remco Evenepoel will leave Soudal-Quick Step before the end of his contract, transferring to the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe squad at the end of the year. What does it mean for Remco, but also his current and future teams? We recap the racing from the Clasica San Sebastian to the Tour of Poland plus events in northern Spain and France. Then we look back to the Tour de France and get Brian's perspective on Jonas Vingegaard's performance. The Dane is the outstanding favourite for a Pogačar-free Vuelta but is it time for him to accept that the Tour is out of his reach unless the Slovenian is absent? EPISODE SPONSORS Saily If you are travelling abroad and want to reduce or even eliminate roaming charges you need an eSim from Saily, brought to you by the creators of NordVPN. Download the SAILY app and use our code cycling at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase. Or go to saily.com/cycling for full details Indeed If you are looking to hire someone for your company, maybe the best way isn't to search for a candidate but to match with Indeed. Go to indeed.com/cycle now to get a £100 sponsored job credit and get matched with the perfect candidate fast. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.
In this episode of the weekly show Patrick Broe and Benji Naesen recap the news in the world of cycling.*Exclusive deals from our trusted partners*
Ayya Karunika explains the importance of wise attention and why and how to develop it based on the teachings of the Buddha. Talk given on 3 October 2024. Bhikkhuni Ayya Kārunikā is currently the senior resident monastic at Santi Forest Monastery, NSW, Australia and the spiritual director for New Zealand Bhikkhuni Sangha Trust, Hamilton. She has been in monastic life for over 14 years and she received her full ordination as a bhikkhunī in 2014 at Dhammasara Nuns monastery in Western Australia where she lived and trained for over a decade with Ajahn Hāsapaññā. She has been a student of Ajahn Brahm and Ajahn Brahmali for over 2 decades. Ayya Kārunikā is able to articulate the Buddhist teachings in a way that is practical and comprehensible to people of all ages and has experience in conducting retreats for both adults and youth. While she has a PhD in Microbiology and worked as a scientist, she has also been the building project manager for the construction of the Dhammasara Nuns Monastery main building complex and has worked with many volunteers over the years. Ayya Kārunikā was born in Sri Lanka but has been living and working in Australia for over 2 decades. She has a passion to share her experience and knowledge and loves working with people and also doing creative projects. She is dedicated to supporting the growth of Bhikkhunis around the world and is currently involved in projects to support the establishment of places for Bhikkhunis in Theravada forest tradition in Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Sri Lanka. Please visit the Santi Forest Youtube Channel and Santi Forest Monastery website Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube
Composer, Percussionist, and Educator Michael Udow returns to talk about his year in Poland for a Fulbright Fellowship and what life was like there in the early 1970s (01:55), his path to getting to Michigan (including teaching at UMKC) and how he further developed an excellent program at Ann Arbor (11:55), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of travel, great books, the Detroit Red Wings, and great artists and art (44:45).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film Sorry, Baby (01:14:00).Michael Udow Links:Part 1 with Michael UdowMichael Udow's HomepagePercussion Pedagogy - Michael UdowPrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Dan Piccolo in 2020Other Links:Boguslaw SchaefferHerbert BrünKrzysztof PendereckiWitold LutoslawskiPersephassa - Iannis Xenakis“Ionisation” - Edgard VaréseRita BlittRobert AltmanKeiko AbeCharlie OwenRussell HartenbergerBob BeckerAnthony Di SanzaTeaching Percussion - Gary CookArtful Noise - Thomas SiweCellist in Exile: A Portrait of Pablo Casals - Bernard TaperMusicophilia - Oliver SacksGordie HoweWe Come to the River - Hans Werner HenzeGiuseppe ArcimboldoRaves:Sorry, Baby IMDB page
Paul Thomas presents UV Radio 406 - Live from Sunrise Festival in Poland by Paul Thomas
Łukasz Jabkowski and Maciej Grzegorczyk, attorneys at law at Kanga, reveal how they're preparing for MiCA amid Poland's delayed local law and strict AML oversight. From Travel Rule compliance to market abuse prevention, this episode is a must-hear for CASPs navigating high-risk jurisdictions.
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INTRO (00:23): Kathleen opens the show drinking an Atomic Duck American IPA from Able Baker Brewing. She reviews her weekend doing shows at The Venetian in Las Vegas, playing video poker and people watching the Backstreet Army around the Sphere. TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her “Day Drinking Tour.” COURT NEWS (25:18): Kathleen shares news announcing that Stevie Nicks is rescheduling tour dates after fracturing her shoulder, and Jelly Roll participated in WWE's Summer Slam. TASTING MENU (1:44): Kathleen samples Olive Garden Creamy Garlic Dressing, Snak Club Tajin Mango Rings, and Heart of the Desert Garlic & Green Chile Pistachios. UPDATES ( 34:35): Kathleen shares updates on Ghislaine Maxwell has been transferred to Elizabeth Holmes' Texas prison, Bed Bath & Beyond is back, and Zuckerberg expands is Hawaiian compound by 1,000 acres. HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT (52:20): Kathleen reveals that a Medieval knight's full skeleton is found under an old ice cream parlor in Poland, and there's been a breakthrough in the hunt for Hitler's Amber Room. FRONT PAGE PUB NEWS (1:02:25): Kathleen shares articles on the youngest serial killer known in history, Disney and Universal are dethroned as top theme parks in the US, Matt Rife buys the haunted Annabelle doll, Starbucks tells corporate staff in North America to come back to the office, a monkey gang is running a smartphone scam in Bali, La Quinta is rolling out 100% virtual check-in, High Noon Seltzers had a production issue on current inventory, American burger chains are ranked, NYC isn't the most expensive city to visit, Elon has a controversial tunnel breaking ground in Nashville, TOURONS (55:55): Kathleen reports on a drunk Wyoming traveler to steals an airport golf cart and takes a destructive joyride, a Yellowstone tourist walked across a forbidden zone in flip-flops, and a tourist shocks onlookers after lifting up an ancient piece of Greek marble. SAINT OF THE WEEK (1:42:49): Kathleen reads about St. Florian, the Patron Saint of firefighters and brewers. WHAT ARE WE WATCHING (30:22): Kathleen recommends watching “Leanne” on Netflix, and “Trainwreck: Storm Area 51” on Netflix.
G and Luke are back with a post-Tour update - and things are a little different to how they were a few years back. Plenty of family time for the boys and also a lot of big cycling news to catch up on: a brilliant Tour de Frances Femmes victor, a huge move for Remco (#littlebastard) and a big win for Luke's boys, Decathlon-AG2R, in Poland. G's next up at the Tour of Germany and then the countdown begins to Tour of Britain... and his final ever professional race. The boys will be back next week - but Emma and Manon will be back before that with a deeper dive into Tour de France Femmes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Daily Halacha Podcast - Daily Halacha By Rabbi Eli J. Mansour
We are to begin our day, each day of our lives, by expressing our gratitude to Hashem for all the blessings He has granted us. Immediately upon awakening, we recite "Modeh Ani," thanking Hashem for restoring our souls, and we are then required to recite a series of Berachot known as "Birkot Ha'shahar" – the morning blessings. These Berachot thank Hashem for our ability to open our eyes to see, the ability to get out of bed and walk, and other basic functions of the body. They also thank Hashem for spiritual blessings, such as His having chosen us and given us the Torah. As parents, we know how much it means when a child expresses gratitude. The more our children acknowledge what we do for them and thank us, the more we want to do for them. But when children act ungratefully, and do not thank their parents, the parents will be less inclined to give them what they want. We are Hashem's children, and we owe Him an enormous debt of gratitude for the countless blessings He gives us each day, starting with life itself. The more we thank Him for the blessings we have received, the more He will continue blessing us. We therefore thank Hashem each morning for some of the precious gifts that He has given us. Rav Natrunai Gaon (9 th century, Babylonia) traces the origins of the Birkot Ha'shahar to the obligation to recite one hundred Berachot each day. This obligation was taught as a "Halacha Le'Moshe Mi'Sinai" – a law that Moshe heard at Mount Sinai and has since been transmitted orally from one generation to the next. In ancient times, there were no fixed Berachot, and everyone was expected to recite Berachot on his own, until reaching a total of one hundred each day. However, without a fixed text of Berachot, and without specific Berachot required at certain times and on certain occasions, people became lax, and failed to recite the obligatory one hundred Berachot. In fact, the Midrash relates that when a devastating plague ravaged the Jewish Nation during the time of King David, killing one hundred people a day, King David determined that this was caused by the people's failure to fulfill this obligation of reciting one hundred Berachot every day. He therefore issued an edict to ensure that people recite the required number of Berachot, and the plague suddenly stopped. Still, this obligation was not always fulfilled. Therefore, the Ansheh Kenesset Ha'gedola (Men of the Great Assembly), a group of scholars and prophets that was formed at the beginning of the Second Commonwealth, established fixed Berachot that we are required to recite every day, thus ensuring that we recite one hundred blessings over the course of the day. Included in these Berachot are the eighteen Birkot Ha'shahar that we must recite each morning. Indeed, the Shulhan Aruch discusses the Birkot Ha'shahar in the same Siman (chapter) in which he mentions the obligation to recite one hundred Berachot each day – indicating that, as Rav Natrunai Gaon explained, the Birkot Ha'shahar are related to this obligation. They were instituted to help ensure that a person recites the required amount of Berachot every day. As mentioned earlier, underlying the requirement of Birkot Ha'shahar is our debt of gratitude to Hashem. Not surprisingly, we find a close connection between the obligation to recite one hundred Berachot each day and the concept of gratitude. First, the 100 th chapter of Tehillim is the chapter "Mizmor Le'toda" – the song which was sung to express gratitude to Hashem, thus establishing an association between the number 100 and gratitude. And, the first two letters of the word "Modim" ("We thank") are Mem and Vav, which together in Gematria equal 46 – the Siman in the Shulhan Aruch that speaks of the obligation of one hundred Berachot. We might wonder, why is it necessary to recite these Berachot each and every day? Why does it not suffice for us to occasionally praise and thank Hashem for all He gives us and does for us? An important answer to this question is offered by the Rashba (Rav Shlomo Ben Aderet, Barcelona, Spain, 1235-1310). He writes that every morning, we must see ourselves as born anew. As the verse says (Echa 3:23), "Hadashim La'bekarim, Rabba Emunatecha" – G-d performs great kindnesses for us each and every morning by restoring our consciousness, by giving us a new day, showing us His trust in our capacity to achieve and accomplish. Yesterday's blessings do not suffice today, because today we have been created anew, and so we must express gratitude to G-d anew. The Berachot that comprise Birkot Ha'shahar thank Hashem for many things – such as our vision, our ability to stand up straight and walk, our clothing, our having been chosen by Hashem – but does not appear to be exhaustive. Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1868) raised the question of why the Sages did not institute a Beracha thanking Hashem for the ability to speak. It goes without saying that the faculty of speech is one of the human being's most important capabilities. In fact, the Torah says that when G-d created Adam, He infused within Him "Nishmat Haim" – "a living soul" (Bereshit 2:7), and Targum Onkelos translates this expression to mean "Ru'ah Memalela" – "a spirit that speaks." The power of speech can be said to be our defining characteristic, the quality that distinguishes the human being from other creatures in the animal kingdom. Why, then, do we not have a special blessing thanking Hashem for this most precious gift? An answer to this question appears in the work Petah Ha'debir by Rav Binyamin Pontremoli (Turkey, d. 1784). He notes the aforementioned verse, and Onkelos' translation, which teaches us that the faculty of speech is a function of the Neshama, the human soul. Now the Sages instituted as one of the Birkot Ha'shahar a special Beracha thanking Hashem for the soul which He has given us – the blessing of "Elokai Neshama." Hence, as the ability to speak stems from the Neshama, this Beracha which thanks Hashem for giving us our soul also thanks Hashem for the power of speech. (It would thus seem that if parents have a child who, G-d forbid, is not developing the ability to speak, or struggles with speech issues, they should have special intention when reciting the Beracha of "Elokai Neshama," and have in mind the child's soul through which they wish that he develop the faculty of speech.) Moreover, Rav David Abudarham (Spain, 14 th century), in explaining the Beracha of "Elokai Neshama," cites the verse in Tehillim (115:17), "Lo Ha'metim Yehalelu Y-ah" – "It is not the dead that will praise G-d." Once a person's soul is taken, he is no longer able to express Hashem's praises. Rav Abudarham notes the implication of this verse that the primary purpose of speech is to praise G-d. (This is indicated in the text of "Elokai Neshama," in which we say, "As long as the soul is within me, I give thanks before You…") Accordingly, it stands to reason that when we recite "Elokai Neshama" and give thanks to Hashem for giving us a soul, this includes an expression of gratitude for our ability to speak. A second answer to this question was offered by Rav Shmuel Alexander Unsdorfer (1920-2002), who explained that we express gratitude for the faculty of speech by reciting Birkat Ha'Torah – the blessing over Torah learning. The Misva of learning Torah includes the obligation to speak words of Torah and to transmit them to others, and so when we thank Hashem for this precious Misva, we automatically thank Him also for the gift of speech. A different question was asked regarding the omission of the faculty of hearing from the Birkot Ha'shahar. Clearly, our hearing is exceedingly important. In fact, if somebody injured another person and caused him to lose his hearing, he must pay compensation for the damages. Why, then, is this capability not included in our morning blessings? One answer given is that the ability to hear is included in the Beracha of "Ha'noten La'sechvi Bina Le'havhin Ben Yom U'ben Layla" – thanking Hashem for granting the rooster the knowledge to crow in the morning, thus waking people up. Of course, the rooster's crow is effective in waking people only because of the ability to hear, and so this Beracha implicitly expresses gratitude for the sense of hearing. Another answer is that the morning blessings thank Hashem only for those abilities which we lost, as it were, during the night when we slept, and were restored in the morning. Thus, for example, we thank Hashem for restoring our vision after our eyes were closed throughout the night, and for allowing us to get out of bed, stand upright and walk, after we spent the night lying down. Our sense of hearing, however, is unaffected by sleep; we can still hear while sleeping, and so this capability is not included in Birkot Ha'shahar. (Interestingly, the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in his work Mi'kavse'el, cites a Rabbi who wanted to apply this theory to explain why we do not recite a Beracha over the ability to speak. This Rabbi noted that some people talk in their sleep, and so this capability is not technically "lost" at night, such that we should give thanks for it when we wake up in the morning. The Ben Ish Hai dismissed this answer, noting that some people sleepwalk, and yet we still recite each morning the Beracha of "Ha'mechin Mis'adeh Gaber," thanking Hashem for the ability to walk. One might, however, distinguish between talking in one's sleep and sleepwalking, as a person who sleepwalks is not actually sleeping as he walks, whereas those who talk in their sleep really are still asleep and have not woken up to talk.) The Sefer Hasidim (Rabbenu Yehuda Ha'hasid, Germany, 1150-1217) writes that he once met an exceptionally pious individual who recited additional blessings each morning, thanking Hashem for each and every part of the body, and the Sefer Hasidim expressed great admiration for this practice. He noted the verse in Tehillim (84:3), "Libi U'bsari Yeranenu El Kel Hai" – "My heart and my flesh shall sing praise to the living G-d" – implying that each and every part of the body which functions properly is a sufficient reason to give praise to Hashem. A different verse in Tehillim (35:10) states, "Kol Asmotai Tomarna, Hashem Mi Kamocha" – "All my bones shall declare: G-d, who is like you?" Indeed, it is worthwhile to express our gratitude to the Almighty for each and every limb and organ in the body. The Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806), in his commentary to Sefer Hasidim, asserts that this righteous man could not have actually recited additional Berachot, for a Beracha that was not instituted by the Sages constitutes a Beracha Le'batala – a Beracha recited in vain, which is forbidden. Undoubtedly, this man expressed his gratitude to Hashem for all his working body parts without reciting formal Berachot. By contrast, Rav Meir Mazuz (1945-2025) suggested that this righteous man followed the opinion that one is permitted to create his own Beracha to give praise to Hashem. In any event, the truth is that we do not need additional Berachot – formal or informal – to express our gratitude to Hashem for everything in our body that works properly. The Tur (Rabbenu Yaakov Ben Asher, Spain, 1270-1340) notes that in the Beracha of "Asher Yasar," which one recites after using the restroom, we say that Hashem created "Halulim Halulim" (hollow spaces in the body). The Gematria of the word "Halulim," the Tur observes, is 124, and we recite this word twice, for a total of 248 – the number of limbs and organs in a person's body. This expression, then, alludes to all our body parts. Thus, when we recite "Asher Yasar," we give thanks to Hashem not only for the wondrous ability to eliminate the waste from our body, but also for each and every body part. The Rishonim (Medieval scholars) debate the question of whether a person recites a Beracha that is not applicable to him, because he unfortunately does not have the ability for which that Beracha gives thanks. For example, does a blind person recite the Beracha of "Poke'ah Ivrim," in which we thank Hashem for the gift of vision? The Rambam (Hilchot Tefila 7:7-8) writes explicitly that a person recites each of these Berachot only after performing the action referred to by that Beracha. For example, after standing upright, one recites the Beracha of "Zokef Kefufim" ("Who makes the bent upright"), and after getting dressed, one recites the Beracha of "Malbish Arumim" ("Who clothes the naked"). The Rambam writes that if, for whatever reason, a person did not experience that which a given Beracha speaks of, then he does not recite that Beracha. In the Rambam's opinion, the Birkot Ha'shahar resemble the Berachot recited over food, which one recites only when eating. By the same token, one recites each of the morning blessings only after receiving the benefit for which each blessing gives praise. The Shulhan Aruch follows this opinion. By contrast, the Kolbo (anonymous work from the period of the Rishonim), citing several of the Geonim, writes that every person recites all the Birkot Ha'shahar, regardless of whether or not he personally experiences these phenomena. According to this opinion, the morning blessings express gratitude not for one's personal experience, but rather for the general phenomena mentioned by these Berachot. Even if one is not, Heaven forbid, able to see, for example, he still recites the Beracha of "Poke'ah Ivrim" to praise Hashem for the phenomenon of vision. Common practice follows this view of the Kolbo. One of the interesting questions asked regarding the Birkot Ha'shahar relates to the Halachic principle that applies in situations of a "Beracha Semucha La'haveratah" – a Beracha which is recited immediately following another Beracha. Normally, when a Beracha is recited right after another Beracha, it does not begin with the word "Baruch." Thus, for example, the text of Birkat Ha'mazon consists of four Berachot recited in immediate succession of one another, and thus only the first Beracha begins with "Baruch." The three subsequent Berachot are covered, so-to-speak, by the "Baruch" which begins the first Beracha, and so they do not require the introductory word "Baruch." In the Amida prayer, too, only the first Beracha begins with the word "Baruch," whereas all the subsequent Berachot do not, because they are recited immediately after the first Beracha. When it comes to Birkot Ha'shahar, however, the blessings all begin with the word "Baruch," despite the fact that they are recited as a series of Berachot, one right after the other. Tosafot in Masechet Berachot (46) offer two answers. First, they explain, unlike the blessings of Birkat Ha'mazon and the Amida, the blessings of Birkot Ha'shahar were not instituted as a series of Berachot. The Sages did not require reciting them together in a particular sequence. As we saw, the Rambam maintained that one recites each Beracha as he experiences the phenomenon referred to by each Beracha, and the Rambam writes explicitly that there is no set order for these Berachot. The rule of "Beracha Semucha La'haveratah," Tosafot write, applies only to a series of Berachot which were instituted to be recited together in a particular order, and so it does not apply to Birkot Ha'shahar. Secondly, Tosafot suggest, this rule applies only to relatively lengthy Berachot, such as the Berachot of Birkat Ha'mazon and the Amida. The Birkot Ha'shahar, however, are very brief, and thus they require the introduction of "Baruch Ata Hashem." A person should not unnecessarily get involved in other matters before reciting the Birkot Ha'shahar. Ideally, the Hesed La'alafim (Rav Eliezer Papo, 1785-1827) writes, the first words that come out of a person's mouth in the morning should be words of praise and gratitude to Hashem. One should not write text messages, make phone calls and the like before reciting the morning blessings. The Kaf Ha'haim (Rav Yaakov Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Jerusalem, 1870-1939) warns that according to the Kabbalah, unnecessarily delaying the recitation of Birkot Ha'shahar has the effect of allowing the Kelipot (negative spiritual energies) access to the person's soul, which can cause great harm. One should not be doing anything else while reciting a Beracha. This applies not only to Birkot Ha'shahar, but to all blessings that we recite. The Ben Ish Hai writes that "Lo Tiheyeh Ka'zot Be'Yisrael" – it should never happen that a Jew recites a Beracha while being involved in some other activity. And the Ben Ish Hai laments the fact that many people make this mistake. One common example is Netilat Yadayim – many people mistakenly recite the Beracha while drying their hands. One must ensure not to begin reciting the Beracha of "Al Netilat Yadayim" until after he finished drying his hands. Another common mistake is people reciting Birkot Ha'shahar while rushing to get to shul. This is improper. One should recite a Beracha while standing in place and doing nothing else, focusing his attention fully on the Beracha. The Taz (Rav David Ha'levi Segal, Poland, 1586-1667) writes that one who recites a Beracha while performing other activities is included in the Torah's harsh warnings against serving Hashem "Be'keri" – in a casual, haphazard manner, without focus and attentiveness. Rav Chaim Brim (1922-2002) tells that he once went to visit Rav Moshe Yehoshua Landau in the middle of the night. Rav Landau was in the restroom when he arrived, and so he waited. When Rav Landau came out, he recited the Beracha of "Asher Yasar" without realizing that he was being watched. Rav Brim said that at 2am, without realizing that anyone was around, Rav Landau recited "Asher Yasar" with greater concentration and emotion than most people have while reciting Ne'ila in the synagogue on Yom Kippur. We start our day by thanking Hashem for all the great blessings He has granted us. I had the occasion during my trips to Israel to visit Israeli soldiers who, unfortunately, sustained injuries that necessitated the amputation of limbs. They do not have the ability that the rest of having to easily get out of bed and move about. We need to appreciate these great blessings that Hashem gives us anew each morning, and try, as much as possible, to recite the Berachot with thought and concentration, truly appreciating all that Hashem does for us.
Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about BookTok, Publishers Marketplace, and Briet. Then, stick around for a chat with Ania Ahlborn!Ania Ahlborn is a Polish-American author known for her work in the horror and thriller genres. Born in Ciechanów, Poland, she moved to the United States when she was young.Ahlborn began her writing career by self-publishing her first novel, Seed, before gaining recognition for her distinctive voice in horror. Her novels often explore dark and psychological themes, captivating readers with her ability to create chilling atmospheres and complex characters.One of her notable works, "Brother," garnered attention for its intense narrative and psychological depth. Her storytelling style often blends elements of psychological horror, suspense, and a keen understanding of the dark intricacies of human nature.She has earned praise for her contributions to both the horror and psychological thriller genres, and her novels have resonated with readers who appreciate atmospheric, character-driven, no-holds-barred fiction.Originally hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, she has lived in Portland, Oregon and Greenville, South Carolina. She currently resides outside of Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband, son, and standard schnauzers.
What happens when someone holds a Bible for the very first time?In this episode of the 55:11 Podcast, Dirk Smith and Brooke Kehl sit down with Darryl Willis, Clyde Slimp, and John Mark Smith to reflect on their recent journey through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia.What began as a Bible distribution trip turned into something more—a series of powerful, personal moments that reminded them just how deeply God is at work across Eastern Europe.From conversations with local pastors to unexpected encounters with everyday people, this episode offers a glimpse into the impact of God's Word and the hope it brings—one Bible, one heart at a time.This isn't just a story about Bibles. It's about people, purpose, and the power of saying yes to God. You'll want to watch this one.Follow us on: PRAY.COMShow Notes:Follow us on: PRAY.COMConnect with EEM:EEM WebsiteEEM FacebookEEM LinkedInEEM InstagramEEM Media
This episode features a conversation with Kevin Cloud and Lisa Kenner Grissom about their new musical: Vilna: A Resistance Story. VILNA: A RESISTANCE STORY is an exciting new musical about Vitka Kempner, a 19-year-old Jewish girl who inspired the heroic Jewish resistance movement in the Vilna ghetto during the Holocaust. After the Nazis invade Poland, a fierce and fearless Vitka escapes to the free, bohemian city of Vilna, Lithuania where she meets a group of young artists—led by visionary poet Abba Kovner—and inspires them to form a resistance. But when the Nazis invade and confine Jews to the ghetto, Vitka and the group must find creative ways to fight back. With the Nazis bearing down, they make a daring escape to the forest where Vitka blows up a Nazi train—the first act of sabotage by a Jewish partisan in WWII—paving the way for their return to reclaim their beloved city. With a vibrant klezmer-influenced pop score, VILNA tells a forgotten and inspiring story that speaks to our times. This episode features the songs “Vilna, My Vilna", performed by Samantha Massell, Greg Lafollette, and the Ensemble of Vilna: A Resistance Story, as well as “Sheep to the Slaughter” performed by Kyle Anderson and the Ensemble of Vilna: A Resistance Story. Connect with Vilna: A Resistance Story: Website: https://www.vilnamusical.com/ Instagram: @vilnamusical Connect with Kevin Cloud: Website: https://www.kevincloud.co/ Instagram: @kevincloudkc Connect with Lisa Kenner Grissom: Website: http://lisakennergrissom.com/ Instagram: @lisa_kenner_grissom_ Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org Pauls's personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa's personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The FRL crew talks about one of the craziest team races of all time and what CP learned in Florida. Send in user submissions and questions to FRLsubmissions@flosports.tv. (0:00) U17 Worlds recap (10:33) Poland senior tournament recap (16:45) what Christian learned at the Coach's Convention including lineups, rule changes, NIL, and more (43:18) Gabe Arnold staying at Iowa (45:15) Sidakov will likely be at Worlds 46:38) questions from friends Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today just talks to Shaun Walker. Shaun worked as a reporter in Moscow for more than a decade starting in 2007, first for The Independent and later for The Guardian. He now lives in Warsaw, Poland, where he is the Central and Eastern Europe correspondent for The Guardian, and mostly covers the war in Ukraine. Besides his many articles for The Guardian and other media outlets, he's also the author of The Long Hangover: Putin's New Russia and The Ghost of the Past. He's here this week to discuss his newest book which tells the story of decades of painstaking effort to select, train, and deploy a very small number of highly-effective spies all across the world, and their successes and failures at infiltrating Russia's greatest adversaries for years at a time. Connect with Shaun:Twitter/X: @shaunwalker7Check out the book, The Illegals: Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West, here. https://a.co/d/82GyXptConnect with Spycraft 101:Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: shop.spycraft101.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.History by MailWho knew? Not me! Learn something new every month. Use code JUSTIN10 for 10% off your subscription.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show
Started the week off with El Salvador banning term limits, and then Mexico's ongoing headache with drug cartel corruption. Also we had dozens of people dying in fuel riots in Angola, Gary Busey pleads guilty to sexual assault, Diddy wants bail, Hamas condemned by Arab league, Russia earthquake, and dozens of young South Africans die in botched ritualistic circumcisions. Music: Kings of Leon/"Back Down South"
Ralph and the crew spend the whole hour with Omer Bartov, professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University, who grew up in a Zionist home, lived the first half of his life in Israel, served in the I.D.F. as a soldier and officer and is the author a New York Times op-ed entitled “I'm a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It.” Plus, Ralph pays tribute to legendary Washington Post reporter, Morton Mintz.Omer Bartov is a professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University. He has written widely on modern Germany, France, the Holocaust, and representations of war and genocide. He is the author of the Mirrors of Destruction: War, Genocide, and Modern Identity, and the forthcoming book, Israel: What Went Wrong?, and he's penned a New York Times op-ed entitled “I'm a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It.”I published an op-ed in November 2023, and I said there were war crimes, clearly, crimes against humanity, and this will become genocide if it's not stopped. And the Biden administration at the time did nothing. President Biden could have stopped that within two weeks. The Israeli military machine cannot function for more than two or three weeks without constant supply of munitions, without constant supply of financial help, and most importantly, without a diplomatic Iron Dome, especially in the Security Council.Professor Omer BartovIf you say that you are shutting down speech because of anti-Semitism, who are the people who are pushing that? It must be all kinds of Jewish interests that are pushing that. And in that sense, this false campaign against anti-Semitism – some of whose leaders are people with pretty good anti-Semitic credentials themselves – is the best way to raise, to promote and incite anti-Semitism.Professor Omer BartovThere's no moral responsibility, there's no empathy being shown, and much of the population shares that view. To me, as someone who was raised in Israel, spent half of my life there, served four years in the army, to see my own society (including some of my friends) show this kind of moral callousness is frankly quite heartbreaking. And I have to say, it's the result of a long process. It's not only a response to October 7th, it's the result of six decades of occupation, of thinking of Palestinians as not really people who have any right to have rights or any right to health, to security. And in that sense, that long-term occupation has corrupted much of Israeli society. And maybe the most surprising thing is that there's still extraordinary people there who are fighting against that, but their numbers are diminishing, not growing.Professor Omer BartovMorton Mintz was hands-down the greatest consumer reporter of his generation. He opened up one field after another because he had a special sense of newsworthiness that other reporters and editors didn't have. He opened up the coverage of the pharmaceutical industry. He opened up the coverage of the auto industry. And he did so with such formidable documentation and research that other reporters started following the same subject area. So he was a pioneer.Ralph NaderNews 8/1/25* Crusading environmental lawyer Steven Donziger has published a new report in the left-wing outlet Orinoco Tribune on the undercount of the dead in Gaza. In this piece, Donziger uses the statistical model laid out by the prestigious medical journal The Lancet in their 2024 study on the Israeli military campaign, which found the direct and indirect death toll could be as high as 186,000. The Lancet study found that as many as 732 Gazans died every day from these direct and indirect causes. Multiplied by the 594 days the conflict has dragged on, this would equate to a death toll of 434,800, or 20.7% of the enclave's population. As Donziger notes, “If the same level of killing and indirect death that took place in Gaza…happened in the United States proportional to population, roughly 70 million Americans would have been killed.”* In more Gaza news, the Guardian reports that, “On Saturday night, the…IDF…intercepted and boarded the Handala, an aid ship that attempted to reach Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition…According to the coalition, IDF soldiers beat and choked…labor activist Chris Smalls.” The severity of the attack on Christian Smalls – founder of the independent Amazon Labor Union (ALU) – caused international outcry. From the Guardian report, “Smalls was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals. They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back.” The incident also drew criticism for another reason: Smalls was the only Black person on board the Handala. While 21 members of the Flotilla group were detained, in their words ”abducted,” “This level of force was not used.” It is unclear why this level of force was used against Smalls and Smalls alone, other than the color of his skin.* Yet more tragic news from Gaza concerns the death of Odeh Hadalin, the 31-year-old Palestinian activist and English teacher featured in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. Al Jazeera reports that footage taken by Israeli human rights group B'Tselem “appears to show [Israeli settler Yinon] Levi opening fire on Hadalin during a confrontation in the village [of Umm al-Kheir, south of Hebron].” Levi, already sanctioned by the European Union and the United States over past attacks on Palestinians, reportedly told witnesses he was “glad about it.” Despite all of this, an Israeli court has released Levi on house arrest. Basel Adra, who co-directed No Other Land with Yuval Abraham, wrote “This is how Israel erases us — one life at a time.”* One positive development is in progress however. According to the Embassy of France in the United States, "France is prepared to fully recognize the State of Palestine, and will do so in September." French recognition of the Palestinian state, will If it ultimately comes to pass, have major ramifications on the world stage. While 147 member states of the United Nations have recognized Palestine, only 10 out of 27 EU countries have done so, mostly former Eastern Bloc states like Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, along with the former country of Czechoslovakia. The modern country of Slovakia has reaffirmed their recognition; Czechia has not. In 2024, several more European nations extended recognition, including Norway, Slovenia, Ireland and Spain. France however would tip the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to a 3-2 majority in recognition of Palestine, along with Russia and China. Moreover, AP reports the United Kingdom is now saying they will “recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza,” among other conditions. If this happens, The permanent members of the Security Council would be split 4-1, with the United States as the lone holdout. This would be nothing short of an international relations sea change on the question of Palestine.* In some more positive foreign policy news, Jeremy Corbyn's new party in the U.K. is getting started with a bang. According to the man himself, over 600,000 people have signed up to register with the new party, which describes itself as “a new kind of political party. One that is rooted in our communities, trade unions and social movements. One that builds power in all regions and nations. One that belongs to you.” Polls show this new party in the lead among Britons aged 18-24 and Corbyn leading Labour Party leader Keir Starmer by “Almost Every Metric,” among members of the rightwing populist Reform Party. That said, the Reform Party is still projected to win an overwhelming victory compared to all other parties in the next elections, though those are not expected to be held until 2029.* In Congress, Bernie Sanders forced a vote Wednesday on two new Senate resolutions to block arms transfers to Israel. Resolution 34 would “prohibit the U.S.-taxpayer financed $675.7 million sale of 201 MK 83 1,000-pound bombs; 4,799 BLU-110A/B General Purpose 1,000-pound bombs; 1,500 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits for MK 83 bombs; 3,500 JDAM guidance kits for MK 83 bombs; and related logistics and technical support services,” while Resolution 41 would “prohibit the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles.” These resolutions got the support of 27 Senators, a new record and a majority of the Democratic Senate Caucus, but still far, far short of even a simple Senate majority. Perhaps a more portentous development is that Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene this week became the first Republican in Congress to call the crisis in Gaza a “genocide,” according to the Hill. It remains to be seen whether this will help break the dam on that side of the aisle.* In New York City, new polling shows stunning results for Zohran Mamdani. The new poll conducted by Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions shows Zohran dominating the 5-way race, earning 50% and beating out the other four candidates combined. Mamdani does even better in head-to-head matches against disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo and corruption-dogged incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. The crosstabs are even more astonishing. Despite the breathless and baseless accusations of antisemitism, Zohran is winning 67% of Jews under age 45 and a whopping 85% of men ages 18-34. This second number is key as Democrats struggle to attract young men. One warning sign: a recent Pew poll shows Republicans with an 18-point lead among men in the Gen Z cohort.* In an ominous challenge to the separation of church and state, the Hill reports President Donald Trump released a memo Monday allowing federal employees to “attempt to persuade co-workers about why their religious beliefs are ‘correct.'” This memo cites “crosses, crucifixes and mezuzah,” as displays of religious indicia that should not result in disciplinary action. This bizarre and constitutionally dubious policy seems likely to lead to workplace discord.* In more Trump news, CBS reports Trump has ousted “Two top Justice Department antitrust officials.” According to sources, two deputies to Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, who leads DOJ antitrust efforts, were “placed on administrative leave last week and fired on Monday for insubordination.” These two figures are Roger Alford, principal deputy assistant attorney general, and Bill Rinner, deputy assistant attorney general and head of merger enforcement. It is not clear why exactly Alford and Rinner were pushed out, but there has apparently been substantial strife within the administration over the antitrust cases against T-Mobile and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. AAG Slater is also overseeing antitrust lawsuits against Capital One, Apple, Google, and other major companies.* Finally, Wired reports the small Pacific island nation of Tuvalu is planning the first migration of an entire country. Tuvalu, which could be completely submerged by rising sea levels within the next 25 years, is seeking to resettle 280 Tuvaluans in Australia each year. This climate-driven mass migration is a stark sign of things to come if the international community continues to dither or deny the reality of the oncoming climate catastrophe. Today Tuvalu, tomorrow the world.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Special Tisha B'av episode: A recording of a live lecture delivered in May 2025 at the Shappell's Darche Noam Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, on the topic of the first Nazi death camp at Chelmno, near Lodz, Poland. The story of the daring escape attempts from this extermination site, and the escapees efforts at spreading the word to their brethren in nearby ghettos in order to sound the alarm regarding the Nazi implementation of the Final Solution. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: yehuda@yehudageberer.com