Podcasts about internally

The real performance unlock is when you can stay in flow even when everything is off track.Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

ADHD & Self-Awareness: Understanding Your Unique BrainCarmen (voice-over): Hey everyone, it's Carmen here from Authentically ADHD. Have you ever felt like you just don't know yourself? Like your brain is a mystery you can't solve? (I see your hand – yes, you too!) You're not alone. Today we're talking about ADHD and self-awareness – what that even means, why it's so tricky for us ADHDers, and how to start building trust in ourselves anyway. We'll go deep into the science, share real-life stories (hey, I'm no exception!), and even throw in a little humor – because sometimes laughing at our quirks is the best medicine.Quick overview: In this episode, I'll explain why ADHD makes self-awareness hard (from executive functions to time blindness), how that struggle feels (frustration, self-doubt, and those emotional roller coasters), and then dive into practical strategies for building self-trust and insight. I'll break it down into tips for teens and adults, since our brains and lives can be a bit different. Ready? Let's go!Why ADHD Brains Struggle with Self-AwarenessFirst, let's define what we mean by self-awareness. Simply put, it's your ability to self-reflect, self-evaluate, and think about your own thinking. Think of it as the “brain's mirror” – it lets you see your behaviors, emotions, and thoughts clearly, and learn from them. In psychology terms, it's often called metacognition. Researchers note that self-awareness is a key executive function – basically one of our brain's management skills. Unfortunately, ADHD often comes with executive function challenges, and yes, self-awareness is one of those tricky pieces.Dr. Russell Barkley, a leading ADHD researcher, actually puts it bluntly: ADHD is a disorder of self-regulation. We struggle to “adult” not because we're lazy or bad, but because the brain skills that manage ourselves were delayed or impaired. In fact, Barkley's team points out that ADHD involves deficits in things like self-restraint, self-awareness, self-control of emotion, and self-motivation. In other words, our internal “boss” is weaker. Kristen Carder – another expert and host of the I Have ADHD podcast – explains it simply: “ADHD is a disorder of self-regulation… we struggle to focus because our executive functions are deficient, and we can't regulate ourselves properly.”.Let's break down the key brain reasons behind this:Deficient Executive Functions (EFs): Executive functions are like the brain's CEO, planning tasks and managing actions. In ADHD, these are on the lower side. One of the six main EFs is exactly self-awareness (along with inhibition, working memory, etc.). Because ADHDers often have impaired EFs, our ability to notice and reflect on ourselves is less mature. Barkley even describes ADHD as a sort of “self-regulation deficit disorder,” meaning most EF skills are lagging. This isn't your fault – it's how the ADHD brain developed.Weak Working Memory: Working memory is your mental scratchpad – it holds pieces of information so you can use them in the moment. With ADHD, working memory (especially visual/spatial memory) often underperforms. Kristen Carder highlights this: our working memory should help us understand where we are in time and space, but ADHD brains tend to live too much in the “right now”. We literally forget what just happened or where we put things in seconds! This weak working memory means we struggle to recall past actions or project future consequences – both of which are vital for self-awareness.Time Blindness: Related to working memory is a phenomenon you've probably heard: time blindness. Dr. Barkley calls ADHD a “nearsightedness to the future.” He explains that people with ADHD are great at the “now,” but tend to lose track of time and future planning. On a practical level, this means deadlines sneak up on us, and we hyperfocus on immediate tasks without realizing how long they take. As one occupational therapist blog put it, ADHD time blindness is a “consistent inability to stay aware of time and consider the future in the present moment”. If you feel like hours can vanish in a blink – like you just started watching Netflix and suddenly it's midnight – that's the classic ADHD time warp. Without a good sense of past vs. future, it's tough to reflect on what really happened or plan for what will happen, hurting our self-awareness.Emotional & Cognitive Overload: Let's not forget emotional regulation, a cousin to self-awareness. ADHD often comes with intense emotions. A study describes ADHDers having overactive amygdalas (emotion centers) and underactive frontal cortex (self-control center). The result? We feel things more strongly and have a harder time stepping back. When an emotional wave hits, self-reflection goes out the window. (Ever snapped at a loved one then immediately felt guilty but couldn't explain why? Welcome to ADHD emotions.) When our emotions are surging and our working memory is full of racing thoughts, self-monitoring simply doesn't happen. It's like trying to inspect your car while it's driving 100 mph – hard to do!To sum up: Our ADHD brains often have weaker mental checking-stations. We're built to do (and do lots of things at once!), but not naturally built to watch ourselves doing it. This combination of EF deficits, fuzzy time perception, and big feelings makes self-awareness elusive. It's not a character flaw – it's brain wiring. And understanding this fact can be a huge relief. As Kristen Carder gently reminds us, “It's not because you're lazy or dumb, it's because your executive function skills are deficient.”When Self-Awareness Lags: Frustration and Self-DoubtBecause of these brain differences, not being very self-aware in ADHD can lead to some painful and confusing feelings. Let's be real: it's frustrating. You make the same mistakes over and over (feeding the dog after work instead of before, again!), and you can't put your finger on why. Kristen Carder admits that “making the same mistakes over and over… is in part because of lack of self-awareness”. You might constantly feel, “Why do I keep doing this?” and blame yourself for “not paying attention” or being “careless.”This frustration often spirals into self-doubt. If you're always confused about how you ended up here, it's easy to start thinking there's something wrong with you. People with ADHD commonly internalize shame. Maybe your teacher said you were lazy, or your boss has yelled “just focus!” one too many times. Dr. Saline notes that ADHDers often have more self-criticism and have to work extra hard to develop metacognition. If you've tried and failed at organizing or remembering, you may feel like you should know better – even though, neuro-scientifically, your brain literally struggles in those areas.Worse, poor self-awareness can feed into emotional turmoil. The Verywell Mind article on ADHD emotional dysregulation points out that intense emotions and ADHD create “self-doubt and uncertainty surrounding your feelings.” Imagine overreacting to something small (a spilled coffee feels like the end of the world) and afterward thinking “Am I crazy? Why do I feel this strongly? Am I making too much out of nothing?” Your brain's amygdala fires off a storm, and then your frontal lobe struggles to calm it. All this leads to a painful cycle: you feel overwhelmed, regret your reaction, then start doubting if your emotions were valid at all.On the flip side, others see you acting impulsive or scattered and often misinterpret you. They might label you “irresponsible” or “unmotivated,” which hurts. For example, in school a student with ADHD might frequently miss deadlines or seem to procrastinate, not because they don't care, but because “they have difficulty estimating how much time has passed or how long a task will take”. Teachers sometimes think that's willful misbehavior, not realizing it's our brains. Or maybe friends get annoyed because you interrupt conversations (you had about a million ideas to share, didn't you?), or your partner thinks you're aloof when really you're just lost in thought. The gap between the internal experience (“I'm overwhelmed and panicked!”) and the external behavior (“She doesn't care”) is real, and that gap fuels frustration.In short, struggling with self-awareness often looks like: repeating mistakes, feeling confused and anxious about your own actions, and battling guilt or self-criticism when others misread your ADHD traits. It's emotionally draining. But here's the hopeful flip side: knowing the “why” can help you reframe these feelings. When you realize it's ADHD wiring, you can start treating yourself with compassion instead of blame. Recognizing that your brain is just wired differently – not “wrong” – is the first big step to building trust in yourself.AD BREAKInside vs. Outside: Living with ADHD from Both SidesLet's take a quick look at that inside/outside story. Internally, ADHD brains are a whirlwind of thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Externally, people might see the aftermath and misunderstand it. Some examples:Inside (Internal Experience): You're juggling thoughts about work deadlines, why your crush hasn't texted back, the groceries you forgot, and that song stuck in your head. You feel an urge to do something about something but aren't sure what. Maybe an emotion flares – frustration, excitement, anxiety – and your body reacts (heart races, hands fidget). Time feels like fluid: one minute into an activity, 5 minutes have passed; five minutes later, 2 hours have gone by. You might think, “I know I had an important task – what happened to that?!” or “I had a burst of creativity at 3 am – why couldn't I use that during the day?”Outside (Behavior Others See): From the outside, that might look like you spaced out during a meeting, then suddenly snapped at a coworker. Or you were hyper-focused on organizing your bookshelves, only to snap back when someone asked where your homework is. Friends might say, “She was so quiet earlier, now she's yelling about nothing” or “He started cleaning the house at 2 a.m. again!” Partners might feel like they live with someone who's unpredictable – one moment “present,” the next moment distant or distracted. Teachers sometimes see kids with ADHD as unruly or lazy: a student might rush through a test carelessly because they felt they needed to finish fast, and the teacher hears “she didn't do her work carefully.”This mismatch can be heartbreaking. People might not realize that inside your head, you were frantically trying to tie clues together or waiting for your brain to slow down. Kristen Carder reminds us: self-awareness is uncomfortable for ADHDers – it “might bring up a lot of shame and guilt”. It's understandable – we often feel like we should be better, and when we aren't, it stings.Remember, though: the gap isn't your fault, it's the ADHD wiring. Educational research shows that behaviors we label as “misbehavior” (like missing deadlines or rushing through work) are actually symptoms of impaired time-processing in ADHD. The good news is, once we understand this gap, we can start bridging it with communication and strategies (more on that next). For now, know that you're not alone in feeling misunderstood, and it doesn't mean something is wrong with you. Your brain is doing its best with the tools it's given.ADSPractical Strategies: Building Self-Trust and AwarenessOkay, let's get practical. How do we strengthen that elusive self-awareness muscle and learn to trust our ADHD brains? We'll tackle this in two parts: tips for teens and tips for adults. (If you're a teen, skip to the teen section; if you're an adult, flip to the adult section.)For Teens with ADHDAs a teenager, life is hectic for anyone, and ADHD adds its own roller coaster. Many of you might feel like nobody gets how chaotic it is. Here are some tips:Keep a daily “self-check” routine. Set a reminder on your phone or watch. Twice a day (maybe mid-school and after school), take a minute: How am I feeling right now? What have I been doing? Even just a quick note (writing, texting to yourself, or voice memo) can anchor you to the present. One idea: use emojis in your calendar to rate your mood or energy. This builds metacognition. For example, put a

The opposite of imposter syndrome isn't confidence. Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

How are you going to remind yourself of the reframe?Part 1 of this series: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achieversPart 2: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-c0aPart 3: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-59cPart 4: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-508Part 5: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-5cbPart 6: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-671——— Coffee Chat - one-off brainstorm about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contactRead client testimonials: https://poojavcoaching.com/testimonials-page

How is this a win-win?Part 1 of this series: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achieversPart 2: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-c0aPart 3: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-59cPart 4: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-508Part 5: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-5cbCoffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

What is the lose-lose framing your brain has come up with?Part 1 of this series: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achieversPart 2: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-c0aPart 3: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-59cPart 4: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achievers-508Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

This episode goes on many tangents, but to give it a bit of context, shares part of the story of the first 6 months of 2025, which have been so so hard. I actually created a reel on Instagram which you can see here which gives more context.While things were very challenging, personally and professionally I noticed my mind wasn't my friend any more and in fact, became an enemy. Yes, as the #1 best selling author of Magnificent Mindset, and a qualified mindset coach, mine was not in a good place. But from those challenges we rise! In this episode I share - what I've done to go from wanting to give up, doubt, worry and struggle to making as much in July as I have in the previous 3 months combined - how vision boards help your creativity - how we brush things under the carpet And so much more! It's passionate, sweary and very raw! Enjoy! If you'd love to learn more about the work I do, check out my website here. If you have any takeaways or learnings please do drop me an email tara@thebestcoachingcompany.com or drop me a DM on Instagram. I always love to hear your thoughts on each episode! You can find me here.  See you next week for another episode! Don't forget to subscribe and leave a rating or review so more people can find this podcast, and if it helped you today, please do share with someone who could benefit from it.  Keep thriving! 

This calms my brain down so fast

Jeff Halevy has lived many lives. After surviving a childhood brain tumor and living with undiagnosed PTSD, he poured himself into achievement – becoming an award-winning, multi-exit entrepreneur in health, wellness, and technology. He built businesses at the intersection of fitness and behavior change, served as a correspondent for NBC's Today Show, hosted the internationally syndicated Workout From Within with Jeff Halevy, and advised on Michelle Obama's “Let's Move!” campaign. Outwardly, he was thriving. Internally, he was struggling.The pressure to produce and the need to stay in motion became unsustainable. Jeff eventually hit a spiritual bottom that forced him to reassess how he was living – redefining how he channeled his energy and passion in a healthier, more sustainable way. Not long after that shift, tragedy struck: his wife died by suicide following severe mental health challenges compounded by postpartum, leaving Jeff to raise two young children alone.In this conversation, Jeff shares the pain and trauma that shaped him, the emotional cost of high achievement, and how fatherhood became the anchor that kept him grounded. He also reflects on how his journey – through undiagnosed trauma, success, loss, and recovery – inspired the founding of Continuum, where he now serves as founder and CEO. Continuum is a luxury wellness club that uses biometric data and AI to deliver individualized, precision-based wellness – with the mission to make the practice of wellness as precise and intentional as the practice of medicine.This episode is about trauma, sobriety, grief, and turning pain into purpose: how one man's healing journey became the blueprint for helping others.Topics include:Emergency brain surgery as a teenager and its lasting psychological impactLiving with undiagnosed PTSD while building a wellness careerWhen overachievement becomes survival – and how that is not sustainableLosing his wife to suicide and raising two infants aloneBuilding and exiting multiple companies in fitness and healthFounding Continuum: precision wellness through biometric data and AIHow Jeff has come to view success through the lens of fatherhood and being emotionally present For more information about Jeff's new wellness company, Continuum, please click here: ContinuumConnect with Zachttps://www.instagram.com/zwclark/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-c-746b96254/https://www.tiktok.com/@zacwclarkhttps://www.strava.com/athletes/55697553https://twitter.com/zacwclarkIf you or anyone you know is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact Release:(914) 588-6564releaserecovery.com@releaserecovery

Where are YOU, relative to all the stuff happening in your brain?

And do this instead.Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

(HOUR 2) Are you motivated internally or externally? - July 13th, 2025

Marketing is easy to understand as a Marketer, duh. But to other departments (like Finance, Ops, Sales, etc.), it can be hard to get them to understand WHY your company needs Marketing.  Enter: Steve Stano, a Marketing leader in the financial services space. Sure, not everyone is a Marketer, but he's here to break down how you can get everyone on board, in the loop, and up to date about what Marketing can do.  What does data have to do with it? Turns out, data should be the reason you do anything. You need the numbers to back it up. And as Marketers, it's our job to paint the picture so others understand why we do things.  Plus, what's smarter ABM? We talk about how account-based marketing tactics are evolving based on buying signals and behavior. Whether you're a Marketer at a large company or at a startup, this is the episode for you.  Follow Steve: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevestano/ Follow Daniel: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themarketingmillennials/featured Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Dmurr68 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murray-marketing Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com

Building A Better World for ErosIn 13 parts, By BradentonLarry - Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.Don could hear Evelyn off to his right, encouraging her new friend to fuck her harder, as he felt India rocking against him, her hands now on his lower back. He began to fuck India harder and faster, gradually building up the tempo until he was driving into her with rapid short strokes and she was groaning in a steady, staccato rhythm of rising passion. Then she was crying out underneath him as her cunt clenched tightly on his cock, milking it as he kept shoving into her. Don went on fucking India as she came and came again.When he finally let up, she fell back on the bed, her arms and legs spread-eagled and a happy smile on her beautiful face. He kissed her again, and she asked, "How am I supposed to do the orgy now?"Don laughed and said, "I know you'll find a way, and everyone will remember how amazing you were.""This is true," she smiled at him. "Now, go fuck someone else with that beautiful cock of yours."Don quickly kissed her one more time and looked around. The studly blond was now on his knees with his arms wrapped around Evelyn, who had her arms and legs holding him as she rode up and down on that very thick pole of his. Don walked on his knees until he was behind Evelyn, he leaned in and kissed her shoulder, and asked, "Having fun?""Uh huh!" she grunted.Don smiled and got a bit closer, pushing his cock into position. The blond caught on and held Evelyn still long enough that Don could push the fat and slippery head of his cock up into the tight grip of Evelyn's ass."God, fuck yes!" Evelyn said, quite loudly. Then she and the muscular man in front of her went back to raising her up and down, now on two hard cocks. It wasn't long before she was gasping and shuddering, her cunt and ass squeezing and releasing on those cocks.She was still sandwiched between them, when she managed to say, "Don, this is Adam; Adam, Don. Baby, I think I'm going to need to have Adam fuck my ass next."Seeing that another fellow, was in the wings watching Evelyn with obvious lust and a raging hard on that was quite long, but nowhere as thick as Adam's, Don kissed Evelyn's shoulder again, and said, "Show 'em a good time, baby!""Oh, you know it!" she laughed.Don managed to have sex with another ten women that night, though he only came twice, all while keeping an eye on Evelyn as she threw herself into the orgy. It was closer to morning and the orgy was definitely on its last legs, when Don was reclining against a sleeping Lavinia's soft ass and watched a young Latino man pull out of Evelyn's mouth and spray a prodigious amount of white cum all over her face and tits. After she had sucked any leftovers from him, but without wiping any of the cum off her, Evelyn crawled over to give Don a deep kiss.Laughing, he wiped up some of the cum that was now on his face and fed it to her. Then, without a word, she curled up in his arms and they fell asleep."After waking up and getting cleaned up, we took Lavinia home and then came back to the Resort to figure out what we were going to do next.""Wait a minute," Toshia interrupted for the first time in a while. "What do you mean you took Lavinia home? You make it sound like it was just like going next door.""Oh, yeah, well, remember what I said about India taking me to her home? It turns out that if you're in physical contact with someone, and no one else is looking, you can bring them along when you teleport. They didn't tell us we could do that, but we each worked it out. I did it with Jess, and Evelyn got a ring like mine with her Argent mission, too, so she was able to bring Lavinia with her to the Resort.""That's bloody convenient!""Yeah it is," Don grinned.Once they were back at the Resort, Don made his proposal that they work together to develop a couple of places that were related, both spatially and conceptually. Evelyn thought this was a fun idea, and they launched into a couple of days of tossing ideas back and forth, which was, naturally enough, punctuated by quite a few sex breaks. It was Evelyn who came up with the game of pointing out people for the other to have sex with, which Don agreed was a great idea. When one of them said "imperator" and indicated someone, the other had to go play, assuming the person, or, as Don was quick to suggest, persons, were willing, which they almost always were.When they had their grand idea sorted out, they turned to the question of where to situate their project. They thought it didn't really make sense to add what they had in mind to the Resort or Rendezvous, and they didn't particularly want a high-traffic area, but they didn't want it exactly isolated either. So, when they found themselves having wandered out to the Riverboat dock, Don looked across the river and said, "What about over there?""In the forest?" Evelyn frowned thoughtfully as she looked at the wooded hills that rose on the far side of the river."Yeah, it's close to the Resort, but people would have to go out of their way to get to it.""But how would they get to it?""We could put a bridge in, up there, out of the way of the Riverboat turning around," he waved his hand to the right."Easier said than done," she mused."Is it?" Don asked as he started toward the far edge of the dock area, upriver. He called up his menu and selected the "Builder" option. He noticed that there was now a slight reddish tint to the entire dock area, but that the ground just beyond was tinted a light green, though that was a bit hard to see where there was grass. Don imagined a nice flagstone walkway extending from the edge of the dock area and up alongside the river, and then, suddenly, it was there."Holy fuck!" Evelyn laughed.Grinning, Don started along his new walkway and continued adding to it until he came to a spot he thought would be good for the bridge. He had seen the Riverboat turn around and head downriver several times and he was confident it never came this far. He turned his walkway toward the river, and exited Builder mode. Turning to Evelyn with a broad smile, he said, "Your turn."Don watched as Evelyn looked at the river, frowning slightly in concentration. Then there was a sturdy wooden bridge spanning the water. This was replaced a moment later by a red brick expanse, and then a metal and stone one complete with fancy streetlamps."Nice!" he grinned. "Let's test it and make sure we don't get wet.""Are you questioning my imagining skills?""Not at all!" Don laughed. "I'm just not sure how much I trust this whole system.""You think maybe Pamela's just setting us up for a practical joke?""Would it really surprise you if she was?""That's fair," she shrugged. By then they were halfway across the river, and Evelyn said, "'Seems sturdy enough.""Indeed," nodded Don. "You imagine good work.""Okay, your turn," she said as they reached the far side."Oh, I'm walkway guy, now?""I just thought the two walkways should match.""Oh, that's good thinking, but put in some of those lamps along the way.""Okay, but give me a minute to put some in on the other side."Soon, they were standing in a small clearing in roughly the place Don had indicated from the dock across the river. He asked, "How about here?""Sure," she smiled. "How should we begin, though?""Well, how about with this?" Don smiled as a little tent-pavilion appeared before them. Resembling the kind of spread one might imagine at a sheik's oasis, there were dozens of soft pillows surrounding a little fountain spraying sparkling water, and several platters heaped with berries and fruit. Off to the side was a wide hammock strung between two trees. "You know, a base camp for when we want a break.""Nice, but how long do you think this will take?""Do you really think this is the kind of thing either of is going to not want to spend at least several days getting just right?""Yeah, true," she smiled. "Now then, what about all these trees?""We could build around them, or, " Don stopped when he noticed that a big swath of trees, at least a dozen, had already disappeared under Evelyn's gaze. "Or, yeah, just get rid of them."The project went rather quickly the rest of that first day. They each had a project that was particularly theirs, though they each gave the other helpful suggestions, and they shared a project in the middle that served as a bridge (literally and metaphorically) between the other two. Evelyn started with a big columnar building on the upriver end of the clearing they made, and Don set up a sprawling plaza at the downriver end. The next day and the day after that they focused on the area in the middle, working on that until they were happy with the result. Then they went back to their individual projects.Along the way, of course, they took breaks, both playing and talking. They got caught up on each other's adventures and spent hours talking about all the strange things they'd experienced in Eros. Each night they would walk into the Resort for some more social play, except for the night when India came out to see what they were up to. She was quite pleased with what they had accomplished so far and promised to come visit again when they were done. The three of them wound up talking for hours that night, around a campfire Evelyn conjured up, as well as having sex until they could stay awake no longer.Although he knew India tended to prefer men, Don was quite content to take something of a backseat that night, letting Evelyn clearly achieve one of her goals. Licking her clit and slowly fucking India with her entire hand, bringing India to a loud, long, intense orgasm, or more accurately a sustained series of them, while Don held India in his arms, squeezing her tits tightly as she begged him to, definitely seemed to count as rocking India's world. Of course, Don got plenty of attention that night too, including his all-time favorite session of getting head from two gorgeous women at the same time. It truly was a wonderful night.Then, on the seventh day, they had another visitor.Don was putting some finishing touches on the broad park that now spread out on the slope between their project and the river. He had made long, winding paths that made their way slowly to the water, where he had put a dock and a couple of rowboats. Along the paths were secluded little niches with padded benches, and one with a large round bed. He had also put in glowing-orb lamps, which resembled the light balls that illuminated the elven forest, to light the way at night. He was standing near the top of his park, trying to imagine it at night, when he heard a voice behind him saying, "Very nice work, Don."He turned to smile at Pamela, who was wearing her black robe but with the hood down."Thank you," he grinned. "I'm pretty happy with it.""Would you like to show me what else you've done?""Sure!" He gestured up the path that led to his end of the project. "Let's start with the Shelonda-center.""That's what you're calling it?""Well, it's just a nickname, but I thought it was appropriate."He led her through a gate that resembled a Japanese torii gate and into a wide garden that surrounded a very Japanese-looking building with wood and paper panels that could be slid open or closed as desired. The building itself was quite large, and itself surrounded a huge open-air courtyard complete with four fountains and a central platform. All the floors in the four sides of the building and on that central platform had soft, padded mats. Here and there were racks of martial arts weapons, as well as protective sparring gear."Here, I plan to both study and teach kung fu and aikido, adapting both for Eros. I also want to explore the limits of sexuality here in Eros. There's a thing back home called tantric sex, which is supposed to be amazing, and it seems to me that one might be able to do great things with that here. None of this is about violence, of course, but about developing one's sense of self and physicality here, which has great potential that few people seem to appreciate.""Interesting," Pamela nodded with a Mona Lisa smile.They passed through the building on the far side, then through the other side of the garden until they came to a small amphitheater cut into the hillside."Welcome to our school," Don gestured. "Both Evelyn and I are academics by nature and, while there isn't much use for Earth history here, Evelyn's field is philosophy, and there is so much work to do in that area here, particularly in ethics."Don led Pamela up a slope to show her the big pavilion at the center of the Academy. Everything was open to the air, though there were vertical screens that could be moved to create spaces with some degree of privacy. There were chalkboards and white boards with comfortable light chairs that could be rearranged easily, and, as Don and Evelyn had made sure, were quite useful for sex purposes. Don was particularly pleased with the large, round, backless, somewhat-stool-like seats Evelyn had created that were particularly good for having him sit on while Evelyn straddled him, kneeling. His memory of her smiling at him as she rode up and down on him while he kissed, sucked, and nibbled at her nipples while squeezing her ass in his hands was one of his favorites of the "construction" process."Not only can Evelyn and I, and anyone else who wants to, use this space to do philosophy or anything else, but it can be used to live out any schoolroom fantasies someone might have.""Very nice," Pamela nodded.Don led her on until they stood before a towering column, which Don proudly called, "Evelyn's masterpiece, the Library!"Entering through a wide doorway which had no doors, they came to a comfortable lobby that surrounded the central part of the library, a circular shelving system that held millions of books, both on the outside curve and on the slightly more secluded inner curve. The main column of shelves rose four stories, and two of them were here without break, with wheeled ladders enabling access to the higher books. The whole thing was surrounded by a curving wall of glass. A gradual ramp winding around the outside of the lobby and reading area ran up to the second floor and then the third. Here on the second and third floors there were niches and even a couple of secret reading chambers. Everywhere it was easy to find somewhere cozy to read or indulge in some play. Continuing up the ramp, they came to the fourth floor, which was actually five stories up."The books on this floor are all erotica, Evelyn says, and the shelves are actually a maze," Don grinned. "At the center is a big orgy bed! She wants to set up a regular library-orgy night somehow."Don led Pamela up to the next level, the roof. Here there was another pavilion, with a wide central opening, to let in the sun or allow a view of the night sky, and no walls. Everywhere you looked there was a spectacular panoramic view of the rolling, forested hills or the river and the Resort. There were couches, chairs and tables arranged so people could read or socialize freely as they saw fit. In the center, on a platform with five steps, looking very much like an altar, was a very large round bed. Don completely forgot to tell Pamela that the entire surface of the pavilion over their heads would glow at night, as would that of the school pavilion below.It was here that they finally found Evelyn, adjusting the arrangement of furniture. She smiled broadly and welcomed Pamela, who said, "This is very well done. You should both be very proud.""Thank you," Evelyn grinned. "Did you show her the maze, lover?""I told her about it," Don laughed."I was inspired by the Dark Labyrinth," Evelyn said. "And we got the idea for this bed and platform from India.""Do you mind telling me how you got all the books?" Pamela asked.Evelyn shrugged, "Oh, well, that was actually a lot easier than I expected. I visualized the whole setup and then specified that the shelves were filled with unique copies of books in English. There was, well, there is a lot of crap in the collection, but I made the library responsive to whatever you're looking for. If you're looking for a particular translation of Plato's Republic, for instance, you'll find it.""But why have all the other books, then?" Pamela asked.Don shook his head and Evelyn frowned at Pamela as if she were suddenly very thick.Don, who had been down this road before, decided to jump in, saying, "There's something both soothing and erotic about being surrounded by books. Many people, including Evelyn and myself," he emphasized, in Evelyn's direction, "have deep emotional ties to libraries.""I see," Pamela said thoughtfully. "And there is a library in the Manor.""Yes," Evelyn nodded, "but you have to go through the Manor to get to it, and two libraries in Eros isn't too many - not at all.""And it goes so well with the theme of everything else we've done here," added Don."True," Pamela nodded. "So, what do you call all of this, then?""We decided to call the whole complex 'The Academy,'" Evelyn said, obviously hoping Pamela would ask her why.Instead, the dark woman frowned momentarily in concentration and said, "Done." Pamela seemed quite obvious to the expression of obvious disappointment on Evelyn's face, and instead said,Task Seven.

When Nathan Winters led a supply chain team earlier in his career, he noticed something that would shape his leadership style: “The credibility you get by the operating leaders when they see you out in the field… is incredibly important.” Whether visiting customers, walking a manufacturing floor, or sitting in on operating meetings, Winters found that physical presence fostered trust—and that trust gave finance a real seat at the table.Today, as CFO of Zebra Technologies, Winters continues to emphasize business partnership grounded in proximity to operations. In the four years since he stepped into the CFO seat, Zebra has weathered post-COVID surges, global supply chain disruptions, and enterprise restructuring. The company's product footprint—often “hidden in plain sight,” from grocery checkout scanners to hospital wristbands—has expanded to include robotics and machine vision, Winters tells us.He's also broadened his own remit, taking on IT and cybersecurity leadership, including oversight of both the CIO and CISO. In that time, Zebra has reduced China-based production from 80% to 30% and introduced new AI capabilities like “Zebra Companion” to automate shelf management for retailers. Internally, Zebra launched a private LLM instance—“Z-GPT”—to streamline tasks from expense report queries to sales presentations.“Your job isn't to just close the books,” Winters tells us. “If you're not analyzing… finding new ways to think about things… you're getting passed up.” At Zebra, finance is not just a control function—it's a strategic force embedded in every operational stride.

When your brain gets STUCK Below The Line, it's the mental equivalent of having an autoimmune disease.Part 1 of this series: https://poojav.substack.com/p/the-biggest-mistake-high-achieversCoffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

Where is your brain right now?

We don't really block people. We block parts of ourselves we don't know how to face. Every time you press “block,” you're engaging in a ritual—one that masquerades as empowerment but may, in truth, reflect a deeper spiritual amnesia. 

We don't really block people. We block parts of ourselves we don't know how to face. Every time you press “block,” you're engaging in a ritual—one that masquerades as empowerment but may, in truth, reflect a deeper spiritual amnesia.

Is your brain Above The Line or Below The Line?Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

How has the media distorted Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas attacks? In this powerful conversation from AJC Global Forum 2025, award-winning journalist and former AP correspondent Matti Friedman breaks down the media bias, misinformation, and double standards shaping global coverage of Israel. Moderated by AJC Chief Communications and Strategy Officer Belle Etra Yoeli, this episode explores how skewed narratives have taken hold in the media, in a climate of activist journalism. A must-listen for anyone concerned with truth in journalism, Israel advocacy, and combating disinformation in today's media landscape. Take Action: Take 15 seconds and urge your elected leaders to send a clear, united message: We stand with Israel. Take action now. Resources: Global Forum 2025 session with Matti Friedman:: Watch the full video. Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  John Spencer's Key Takeaways After the 12-Day War: Air Supremacy, Intelligence, and Deterrence Iran's Secret Nuclear Program and What Comes Next in the Iranian Regime vs. Israel War Why Israel Had No Choice: Inside the Defensive Strike That Shook Iran's Nuclear Program Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman: I've had the privilege of interviewing journalism colleague Matti Friedman: twice on this podcast. In 2022, Matti took listeners behind the scenes of Jerusalem's AP bureau where he had worked between 2006 and 2011 and shared some insight on what happens when news outlets try to oversimplify the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Then in 2023, I got to sit down with Matti in Jerusalem to talk about his latest book on Leonard Cohen and how the 1973 Yom Kippur War was a turning point both for the singer and for Israel.  Earlier this year, Matti came to New York for AJC Global Forum 2025, and sat down with Belle Yoeli, AJC Chief Strategy and Communications Officer. They rehashed some of what we discussed before, but against an entirely different backdrop: post-October 7. For this week's episode, we bring you a portion of that conversation.  Belle Yoeli:   Hi, everyone. Great to see all of you. Thank you so much for being here. Matti, thank you for being here.  Matti Friedman:   Thanks for having me.  Belle Yoeli:   As you can tell by zero empty seats in this room, you have a lot of fans, and unless you want to open with anything, I'm going to jump right in. Okay, great.  So for those of you who don't know, in September 2024 Matti wrote a piece in The Free Press that is a really great foundation for today's discussion. In When We Started to Lie, Matti, you reflect on two pieces that you had written in 2015 about issues of media coverage of Israel during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. And this piece basically talked about the conclusions you drew and how they've evolved since October 7. We're gonna get to those conclusions, but first, I'm hoping you can describe for everyone what were the issues of media coverage of Israel that you first identified based on the experience in 2014? Matti Friedman:   First of all, thanks so much for having me here, and thanks for all of the amazing work that you guys are doing. So it's a real honor for me. I was a reporter for the AP, between 2006 and the very end of 2011, in Jerusalem. I was a reporter and editor. The AP, of course, as you know, is the American news agency. It's the world's largest news organization, according to the AP, according to Reuters, it's Reuters. One of them is probably right, but it's a big deal in the news world.  And I had an inside view inside one of the biggest AP bureaus. In fact, the AP's biggest International Bureau, which was in Jerusalem. So I can try to sketch the problems that I saw as a reporter there. It would take me seven or eight hours, and apparently we only have four or five hours for this lunch, so I have to keep it short. But I would say there are two main problems. We often get very involved. When we talk about problems with coverage of Israel. We get involved with very micro issues like, you call it a settlement. I call it a neighborhood. Rockets, you know, the Nakba, issues of terminology. But in fact, there are two major problems that are much bigger, and because they're bigger, they're often harder to see. One of the things that I noticed at the Bureau was the scale of coverage of Israel. So at the time that I was at the AP, again, between 2006 and the very end of 2011 we had about 40 full time staffers covering Israel. That's print reporters like me, stills photographers, TV crews. Israel, as most of you probably know, is a very small country. As a percentage of the world's surface, Israel is 1/100 of 1% of the surface of the world, and as a percentage of the land mass of the Arab world, Israel is 1/5 of 1%. 0.2%.  And we had 40 people covering it.  And just as a point of comparison, that was dramatically more people than we had at the time covering China. There are about 10 million people today in Israel proper, in China, there are 1.3 billion. We had more people in Israel than we had in China. We had more people in Israel than we had in India, which is another country of about 1.3 billion people. We had more people in Israel than we had in all of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. That's 50 something countries. So we had more people in Israel than we had in all of those countries combined. And sometimes I say that to Jews, I say we covered Israel more than we covered China, and people just stare at me blankly, because it's Israel. So of course, that makes perfect sense.  I happen to think Israel is the most important country in the world because I live there. But if the news is meant to be a rational analysis of events on planet Earth, you cannot cover Israel more than you cover the continent of Africa. It just doesn't make any sense. So one of the things that first jumped out at me– actually, that's making me sound smarter than I am. It didn't jump out at me at first. It took a couple of years. And I just started realizing that it was very strange that the world's largest organization had its largest international bureau in the State of Israel, which is a very small country, very small conflict in numeric terms. And yet there was this intense global focus on it that made people think that it was the most important story in the world. And it definitely occupies a place in the American political imagination that is not comparable to any other international conflict.  So that's one part of the problem. That was the scope, the other part was the context. And it took me a while to figure this out, but the coverage of Israel is framed as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict is defined in those terms, the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and everyone in this room has heard it discussed in those terms. Sometimes we discuss it in those terms, and that is because the news folks have framed the conflict in those terms. So at the AP bureau in Jerusalem, every single day, we had to write a story that was called, in the jargon of the Bureau, Is-Pals, Israelis, Palestinians. And it was the daily wrap of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. So what Netanyahu said, what Abbas said, rockets, settlers, Hamas, you know, whatever, the problem is that there isn't an Israeli=Palestinian conflict. And I know that sounds crazy, because everyone thinks there is.  And of course, we're seeing conflicts play out in the most tragic way right now in Gaza. But most of Israel's wars have not been fought against Palestinians. Israel has unfortunately fought wars against Egyptians and Jordanians and Lebanese and Iraqis. And Israel's most important enemy at the moment, is Iran, right? The Iranians are not Palestinian. The Iranians are not Arab. They're Muslim, but they're not Arab. So clearly, there is a broader regional conflict that's going on that is not an Israeli Palestinian conflict, and we've seen it in the past year. If we had a satellite in space looking down and just following the paths of ballistic missiles and rockets fired at Israel. Like a photograph of these red trails of rockets fired at Israel. You'd see rockets being fired from Iraq and from Yemen and from Lebanon and from Gaza and from Iran. You'd see the contours of a regional conflict.  And if you understand it's a regional conflict, then you understand the way Israelis see it. There are in the Arab world, 300 million people, almost all of them Muslim. And in one corner of that world, there are 7 million Jews, who are Israelis. And if we zoom out even farther to the level of the Islamic world, we'll see that there are 2 billion people in the Islamic world. There's some argument about the numbers, but it's roughly a quarter of the world's population. And in one corner of that world there, there are 7 million Israeli Jews. The entire Jewish population on planet Earth is a lot smaller than the population of Cairo.  So the idea that this is an Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Israelis are the stronger side, where Israelis are the dominant actor, and where Israelis are, let's face it, the bad guy in the story, that's a fictional presentation of a story that actually works in a completely different way. So if you take a small story and make it seem big. If you take a complicated regional story and you make it seem like a very small local story involving only Israelis and Palestinians, then you get the highly simplified but very emotive narrative that everyone is being subjected to now. And you get this portrayal of a villainous country called Israel that really looms in the liberal imagination of the West as an embodiment of the worst possible qualities of the age. Belle Yoeli:   Wow. So already you were seeing these issues when you were reporter, earlier on. But like this, some of this was before and since, since productive edge. This is over 10 years ago, and here we are. So October 7 happens. You already know these issues exist. You've identified them. How would you describe because obviously we have a lot of feelings about this, but like, strictly as a journalist, how would you describe the coverage that you've seen since during October 7, in its aftermath? Is it just these issues? Have they? Have they expanded? Are there new issues in play? What's your analysis? Matti Friedman:   The coverage has been great. I really have very I have no criticism of it. I think it's very accurate. I think that I, in a way, I was lucky to have been through what I went through 10 or 15 years ago, and I wasn't blindsided on October 7, as many people were, many people, quite naturally, don't pay close attention to this. And even people who are sympathetic to Israel, I think, were not necessarily convinced that my argument about the press was right. And I think many people thought it was overstated.  And you can read those articles from 2014 one was in tablet and one was in the Atlantic, but it's basically the two chapters of the same argument. And unfortunately, I think that those the essays, they stand up. In fact, if you don't really look at the date of the essays, they kind of seem that they could have been written in the past year and a half. And I'm not happy about that. I think that's and I certainly wrote them in hopes that they would somehow make things better. But the issues that I saw in the press 15 years ago have only been exacerbated since then. And October seven didn't invent the wheel. The issues were pre existing, but it took everything that I saw and kind of supercharged it.  So if I talked about ideological conformity in the bureaus that has been that has become much more extreme. A guy like me, I was hired in 2006 at the AP. I'm an Israeli of center left political leanings. Hiring me was not a problem in 22,006 by the time I left the AP, at the end of 2011 I'm pretty sure someone like me would not have been hired because my views, which are again, very centrist Israeli views, were really beyond the pale by the time that I left the AP, and certainly, and certainly today, the thing has really moved what I saw happening at the AP. And I hate picking on the AP because they were just unfortunate enough to hire me. That was their only error, but what I'm saying about them is true of a whole new. Was heard. It's true of the Times and CNN and the BBC, the news industry really works kind of as a it has a herd mentality. What happened was that news decisions were increasingly being made by people who are not interested in explanatory journalism. They were activists. Activists had moved into the key positions in the Bureau, and they had a very different idea of what press coverage was supposed to do. I would say, and I tried to explain it in that article for the free press, when I approach a news story, when I approach the profession of journalism, the question that I'm asking is, what's going on? That's the question I think you're supposed to ask, what's going on? How can I explain it in a way that's as accurate as as possible? The question that was increasingly being asked was not what's going on. The question was, who does this serve? That's an activist question. So when you look at a story, you don't ask, is it true, or is it not true? You ask, who's it going to help? Is it going to help the good guys, or is it going to help the bad guys?  So if Israel in the story is the villain, then a story that makes Israel seem reasonable, reasonable or rational or sympathetic needs to be played down to the extent possible or made to disappear. And I can give you an example from my own experience.  At the very end of 2008 two reporters in my bureau, people who I know, learned of a very dramatic peace offer that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had made to the Palestinians. So Olmert, who was the prime minister at the time, had made a very far reaching offer that was supposed to see a Palestinian state in all of Gaza, most of the West Bank, with land swaps for territory that Israel was going to retain, and a very far reaching international consortium agreement to run the Old City of Jerusalem. Was a very dramatic. It was so far reaching, I think that Israelis probably wouldn't have supported it. But it was offered to the Palestinian side, and the Palestinians rejected it as insufficient. And two of our reporters knew about this, and they'd seen a map of the offer. And this was obviously a pretty big story for a bureau that had as the thrust of its coverage the peace process.  The two reporters who had the story were ordered to drop it, they were not allowed to cover the story. And there were different explanations. And they didn't, by the way, AP did not publish the story at the time, even though we were the first to have it. Eventually, it kind of came out and in other ways, through other news organizations. But we knew at first. Why were we not allowed to cover it? Because it would have made the Israelis who we were trying to villainize and demonize, it would have made Israel seem like it was trying to solve the conflict on kind of reasonable lines, which, of course, was true at that time. So that story would have upended the thrust of our news coverage. So it had to be made to go away, even though it was true, it would have helped the wrong people. And that question of who does this serve has destroyed, I want to say all, but much, of what used to be mainstream news coverage, and it's not just where Israel is concerned.  You can look at a story like the mental health of President Biden, right. Something's going on with Biden at the end of his term. It's a huge global news story, and the press, by and large, won't touch it, because why? I mean, it's true, right? We're all seeing that it's true, but why can't you touch it? Because it would help the wrong people. It would help the Republicans who in the press are the people who you are not supposed to help.  The origins of COVID, right? We heard one story about that. The true story seems to be a different story. And there are many other examples of stories that are reported because they help the right people, or not reported because they would help the wrong people. And I saw this thinking really come into action in Israel 10 or 15 years ago, and unfortunately, it's really spread to include the whole mainstream press scene and really kill it.  I mean, essentially, anyone interested in trying to get a solid sense of what's going on, we have very few options. There's not a lot, there's not a lot out there. So that's the broader conclusion that I drew from what I thought at the time was just a very small malfunction involving Israel coverage. But Israel coverage ends up being a symptom of something much bigger, as Jews often are the symptom of something much bigger that's going on.  So my problems in the AP bureau 15 years ago were really a kind of maybe a canary in the coal mine, or a whiff of something much bigger that we were all going to see happen, which is the transformation of the important liberal institutions of the west into kind of activist arms of a very radical ideology that has as its goal the transformation of the west into something else. And that's true of the press, and it's true of NGO world, places like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which were one thing 30 years ago and are something very different today. And it's also true of big parts of the academy. It's true of places like Columbia and places like Harvard, they still have the logo, they still have the name, but they serve a different purpose, and I just happen to be on the ground floor of it as a reporter. Belle Yoeli:   So obviously, this concept of who does this serve, and this activist journalism is deeply concerning, and you actually mentioned a couple other areas, academia, obviously we're in that a lot right now in terms of what's going on campus. So I guess a couple of questions on that. First of all, think about this very practically, tachlis, in the day to day.  I'm a journalist, and I go to write about what's happening in Gaza. What would you say is, if you had to throw out a percentage, are all of them aware of this activist journalist tendency? Or you think it's like, like intentional for many of them, or it's sort of they've been educated that way, and it's their worldview in such a way that they don't even know that they're not reporting the news in a very biased way. Does that make sense? Matti Friedman:   Totally. I think that many people in the journalism world today view their job as not as explaining a complicated situation, but as swaying people toward the correct political conclusion. Journalism is power, and the power has to be wielded in support of justice. Now, justice is very slippery, and, you know, choosing who's in the right is very, very slippery, and that's how journalism gets into a lot of trouble. Instead of just trying to explain what's going on and then leave, you're supposed to leave the politics and the activism to other people. Politics and activism are very important.  But unless everyone can agree on what is going on, it's impossible to choose the kind of act, the kind of activism that would be useful. So when the journalists become activists, then no one can understand what's what's going on, because the story itself is fake, and there are many, many examples of it. But you know, returning to what you asked about, about October 7, and reporting post October 7, you can really see it happen. The massacres of October 7 were very problematic for the ideological strain that now controls a lot of the press, because it's counterintuitive. You're not supposed to sympathize with Israelis.  And yet, there were a few weeks after October 7 when they were forced to because the nature of the atrocities were so heinous that they could not be ignored. So you had the press covering what happened on October 7, but you could feel it. As someone who knows that scene, you could feel there was a lot of discomfort. There was a lot of discomfort. It wasn't their comfort zone, and you knew that within a few weeks, maybe a month, it was gonna snap back at the first opportunity.  When did it snap back? In the story of the Al Ahli hospital strike. If you remember that a few weeks in, there's a massive global story that Israel has rocketed Hospital in Gaza and killed about 500 people and and then you can see the kind of the comfort the comfort zone return, because the story that the press is primed to cover is a story about villainous Israelis victimizing innocent Palestinians, and now, now we're back. Okay. Now Israel's rocketing hospital. The problem was that it hadn't happened, and it was that a lot of stories don't happen, and they're allowed to stand.  But this story was so far from the truth that even the people involved couldn't make it work, and it had to be retracted, but it was basically too late. And then as soon as the Israeli ground offensive got into swing in Gaza, then the story really becomes the same old story, which is a story of Israel victimizing Palestinians for no reason. And you'll never see Hamas militants in uniform in Gaza. You just see dead civilians, and you'll see the aftermath of a rocket strike when the, you know, when an Israeli F16 takes out the launcher, but you will never see the strike. Which is the way it's worked in Gaza since the very end of 2008 which is when the first really bad round of violence in Gaza happens, which is when I'm at the AP.  As far as I know, I was the first staffer to erase information from the story, because we were threatened by Hamas, which happened at the very end of 2008. We had a great reporter in Gaza, a Palestinian who had always been really an excellent reporter. We had a detail in a story. The detail was a crucial one. It was that Hamas fighters were dressed as civilians and were being counted as civilians in the death toll, an important thing to know, that went out in an AP story. The reporter called me a few hours later. It was clear that someone had spoken to him, and he told me, I was on the desk in Jerusalem, so I was kind of writing the story from the main bureau in Jerusalem. And he said, Matti, you have to take that detail out of the story. And it was clear that someone had threatened him. I took the detail out of the story. I suggested to our editors that we note in an Editor's Note that we were now complying with Hamas censorship. I was overruled, and from that point in time, the AP, like all of its sister organizations, collaborates with Hamas censorship in Gaza.  What does that mean? You'll see a lot of dead civilians, and you won't see dead militants. You won't have a clear idea of what the Hamas military strategy is. And this is the kicker, the center of the coverage will be a number, a casualty number, that is provided to the press by something called the Gaza health ministry, which is Hamas. And we've been doing that since 2008, and it's a way of basically settling the story before you get into any other information. Because when you put, you know, when you say 50 Palestinians were killed, and one Israeli on a given day, it doesn't matter what else you say. The numbers kind of tell their own story, and it's a way of settling the story with something that sounds like a concrete statistic. And the statistic is being, you know, given to us by one of the combatant sides. But because the reporters sympathize with that side, they're happy to play along. So since 2008, certainly since 2014 when we had another serious war in Gaza, the press has not been covering Gaza, the press has been essentially an amplifier for one of the most poisonous ideologies on Earth. Hamas has figured out how to make the press amplify its messaging rather than covering Hamas. There are no Western reporters in Gaza. All of the reporters in Gaza are Palestinians, and those people fall into three categories. Some of them identify with Hamas. Some of them are intimidated by Hamas and won't cross Hamas, which makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't want to cross Hamas either. So either. And the third category is people who actually belong to Hamas. That's where the information from Gaza is coming from. And if you're credulous, then of course, you're going to get a story that makes Israel look pretty bad. Belle Yoeli:   So this is very depressing. That's okay. It's very helpful, very depressing. But on that note, I would ask you so whether, because you spoke about this problem in terms, of, of course, the coverage of Israel, but that it's it's also more widespread you talk, you spoke about President Biden in your article, you name other examples of how this sort of activist journalism is affecting everything we read. So what should everyone in this room be reading, truly, from your opinion. This is Matti's opinion. But if you want to you want to get information from our news and not activist journalism, obviously The Free Press, perhaps. But are there other sites or outlets that you think are getting this more down the line, or at least better than some, some better than others?  Matti Friedman:   No, it's just The Free Press. No. I mean, it's a question that I also wrestle with. I haven't given up on everyone, and even in publications that have, I think, largely lost the plot, you'll still find good stuff on occasion. So I try to keep my eye on certain reporters whose name I know. I often ask not just on Israel, but on anything, does this reporter speak the language of the country that they're covering? You'd be shocked at how rare that is for Americans. A lot of the people covering Ukraine have no idea what language they speak in Ukraine, and just as someone who covers Israel, I'm aware of the low level of knowledge that many of the Western reporters have. You'll find really good stuff still in the Atlantic. The Atlantic has managed, against steep odds, to maintain its equilibrium amid all this. The New Yorker, unfortunately, less so, but you'll still see, on occasion, things that are good. And there are certain reporters who are, you know, you can trust. Isabel Kirchner, who writes for The New York Times, is an old colleague of mine from the Jerusalem report. She's excellent, and they're just people who are doing their job. But by and large, you have to be very, very suspicious of absolutely everything that you read and see. And I'm not saying that as someone who I'm not happy to say that, and I certainly don't identify with, you know, the term fake news, as it has been pushed by President Trump.  I think that fake news is, you know, for those guys, is an attempt to avoid scrutiny. They're trying to, you know, neuter the watchdog so that they can get away with whatever they want. I don't think that crowd is interested in good press coverage. Unfortunately, the term fake news sticks because it's true. That's why it has worked. And the press, instead of helping people navigate the blizzard of disinformation that we're all in, they've joined it. People who are confused about what's going on, should be able to open up the New York Times or go to the AP and figure out what's going on, but because, and I saw it happen, instead of covering the circus, the reporters became dancing bears in the circus. So no one can make heads or tails of anything. So we need to be very careful.  Most headlines that are out there are out there to generate outrage, because that's the most predictable generator of clicks, which is the, we're in a click economy. So I actually think that the less time you spend following headlines and daily news, the better off you'll be. Because you can follow the daily news for a year, and by the end of the year, you'll just be deranged. You'll just be crazy and very angry.  If you take that time and use it to read books about, you know, bitten by people who are knowledgeable, or read longer form essays that are, you know, that are obviously less likely to be very simplistic, although not, you know, it's not completely impossible that they will be. I think that's time, that's time better spent. Unfortunately, much of the industry is kind of gone. And we're in an interesting kind of interim moment where it's clear that the old news industry is basically dead and that something new has to happen. And those new things are happening. I mean, The Free Press is part of a new thing that's happening. It's not big enough to really move the needle in a dramatic way yet, but it might be, and I think we all have to hope that new institutions emerge to fill the vacuum.  The old institutions, and I say this with sorrow, and I think that this also might be true of a lot of the academic institutions. They can't be saved. They can't be saved. So if people think that writing an editor, a letter to the editor of the New York Times is going to help. It's not going to help. Sometimes people say, Why don't we just get the top people in the news industry and bring them to Israel and show them the truth? Doesn't help. It's not about knowing or not knowing. They define the profession differently.  So it's not about a lack of information. The institutions have changed, and it's kind of irrevocable at this point, and we need new institutions, and one of them is The Free Press, and it's a great model of what to do when faced with fading institutions. By the way, the greatest model of all time in that regard is Zionism. That's what Zionism is. There's a guy in Vienna in 1890 something, and his moment is incredibly contemporary. There's an amazing biography of Herzl called Herzl by Amos Elon. It's an amazing book. If you haven't read it, you should read it, because his moment in cosmopolitan Vienna sounds exactly like now. It's shockingly current. He's in this friendly city. He's a reporter for the New York Times, basically of the Austro Hungarian empire, and he's assimilated, and he's got a Christmas tree in his house, and his son isn't circumcised, and he thinks everything is basically great. And then the light changes.  He notices that something has changed in Vienna, and the discourse about Jews changes, and like in a Hollywood movie, the light changes. And he doesn't try to he doesn't start a campaign against antisemitism. He doesn't get on social media and kind of rail against unfair coverage. He sits down in a hotel room in Paris and he writes this pamphlet called the Jewish state, and I literally flew from that state yesterday. So there's a Zionist model where you look at a failing world and you think about radical solutions that involve creation. And I think we're there. And I think Herzl's model is a good one at a dark time you need real creativity. Belle Yoeli:   Thank God you found the inspiration there, because I was really, I was really starting to worry. No, in all seriousness, Matti, the saying that these institutions can't be saved. I mean the consequences of this, not just for us as pro-Israel, pro-Jewish advocates, but for our country, for the world, the countries that we come from are tremendous.  And the way we've been dealing with this issue and thinking about how, how can you change hearts and minds of individuals about Israel, about the Jewish people, if everything that they're reading is so damaging and most of what they're reading is so damaging and basically saying there's very little that we can do about that. So I am going to push you to dream big with us. We're an advocacy organization. AJC is an advocacy organization. So if you had unlimited resources, right, if you really wanted to make change in this area, to me, it sounds like you're saying we basically need 15 Free Presses or the new institutions to really take on this way. What would you do? What would you do to try to make it so that news media were more like the old days? Matti Friedman:   Anyone who wants unlimited resources should not go into journalism. I have found that my resources remain limited. I'll give you an answer that is probably not what you're expecting or not what you want here. I think that the fight can't be won. I think that antisemitism can't be defeated. And I think that resources that are poured into it are resources wasted. And of course, I think that people need legal protection, and they need, you know, lawyers who can protect people from discrimination and from defamation. That's very important. But I know that when people are presented with a problem like antisemitism, which is so disturbing and it's really rocking the world of everyone in this room, and certainly, you know, children and grandchildren, you have a problem and you want to address it, right? You have a really bad rash on your arm. You want the rash to go away, and you're willing to do almost anything to make it go away. This has always been with us. It's always been with us.  And you know, we recently celebrated the Seder, and we read in the Seder, in the Haggadah, l'chol dor vador, omdim aleinu l'chaloteinu. Which is, in every generation, they come at us to destroy us. And it's an incredibly depressing worldview. Okay, it's not the way I wanted to see the world when I grew up in Toronto in the 1990s. But in our tradition, we have this idea that this is always gonna be around. And the question is, what do you do? Do you let other people define you? Do you make your identity the fight against the people who hate you? And I think that's a dead end.  This crisis is hitting the Jewish people at a moment when many of us don't know who we are, and I think that's why it's hitting so hard. For my grandfather, who was a standard New York Jew, garment industry, Lower East Side, poor union guy. This would not have shaken him, because he just assumed that this was the world like this. The term Jewish identity was not one he ever heard, because it wasn't an issue or something that had to be taught. So if I had unlimited resources, what I would do is I would make sure that young Jewish people have access to the riches of Jewish civilization, I would, you know, institute a program that would allow any young Jewish person to be fluent in Hebrew by the time they finish college. Why is that so important? Why is that such an amazing key?  Because if you're fluent in Hebrew, you can open a Tanakh, or you can open a prayer book if you want. Or you can watch Fauda or you can get on a plane to Israel and hit on Israeli guys. Hebrew is the key to Jewish life, and if you have it, a whole world will open up. And it's not one that antisemites can interfere with. It does not depend on the goodwill of our neighbors. It's all about us and what we're doing with ourselves. And I think that if you're rooted in Jewish tradition, and I'm not saying becoming religious, I'm just saying, diving into the riches of Jewish tradition, whether it's history or gemara or Israel, or whatever, if you're if you're deep in there enough, then the other stuff doesn't go away, but it becomes less important.  It won't be solved because it can't be solved, but it will fade into the background. And if we make the center of identity the fight against antisemitism, they've won. Why should they be the center of our identity? For a young person who's looking for some way of living or some deep kind of guide to life, the fight against antisemitism is not going to do it, and philanthropy is not going to do it. We come from the wisest and one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and many of us don't know how to open the door to that civilization, and that's in our hands. And if we're not doing it, it's not the fault of the antisemites. It's our own fault. So if I had unlimited resources, which, again, it's not, it's not going to happen unless I make a career change, that's where I would be putting my effort. Internally and not externally.  Belle Yoeli:   You did find the inspiration, though, again, by pushing Jewish identity, and we appreciate that. It's come up a lot in this conversation, this question about how we fight antisemitism, investing in Jewish identity and who we are, and at the same time, what do we do about it? And I think all of you heard Ted in a different context last night, say, we can hold two things, two thoughts at the same time, right? Two things can be true at the same time. And I think for me, what I took out of this, in addition to your excellent insights, is that that's exactly what we have to be doing.  At AJC, we have to be engaging in this advocacy to stand up for the Jewish people and the State of Israel. But that's not the only piece of the puzzle. Of course, we have to be investing in Jewish identity. That's why we bring so many young people to this conference. Of course, we need to be investing in Jewish education. That's not necessarily what AJC is doing, the bulk of our work, but it's a lot of what the Jewish community is doing, and these pieces have to go together. And I want to thank you for raising that up for us, and again, for everything that you said. Thank you all so much for being here. Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in as John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, breaks down Israel's high-stakes strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure and the U.S. decision to enter the fight. 

Host Josias Links:NEW BOOK LINK YouTube video podcast link: https://linktr.ee/podcastandpoetrybookMorgans linkshttps://morganbstudio.comhttps://www.instagram.com/morganbstudio/https://www.youtube.com/@allislove-mb

Because holiday weekends can be weirdly high-pressure.Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

First ask: How can I do this without tradeoffs?Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

2025 East meets West Conference RecordingCorporates, showing their true colors without airs and graces or any pretense Until recently many corporates have been major supporters of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, not in the least in the funding of civil society groups world wide. Internally, they included these DEI values in the DNA of their companies. The recent US legislation and legal decisions have forced them to re-evaluate these policies. Some just dropped their DEI values, others reaffirmed their DEI beliefs and developed new activities that they consider to allow them to continue their support. We will focus on these corporate players and how they have reacted to the new situation. You will hear from corporate insiders how these key players have not forsaken their existing DEI focus and try to continue to keep playing their major role. Panelists:- Elisabeth Dal-Bianco, Communication Operations Manager at IKEA, Austria- Réka R. Artner, Head of BOLD Community at Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Austria- Hannes Mösenbacher, Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at Raiffeisen Bank International, Austria- Matt Foster, Director of Inclusion and Impact at Ogilvy, The United Kingdommoderated by Katja Kreiner, People Management at RDB, Austria

Not your limits overall as a person. Just the limits of your current operating model.Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

Is it the job, or is it your own mental operating model?Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

Hey there, welcome back to Authentically ADHD! I'm so glad you pressed play on this episode today, because its on a topic that when I learned it, i found out it was the work i never knew i was missing and this skill has given me so much more access to my authentic self. Today, we're diving into a big, messy, important topic: self-trust – or as I like to call it, the tangled web of self-trust. Now, if you just chuckled nervously or sighed "ugh, self-trust...", you're in the right place. Stick around for the next 25 minutes, and we'll untangle this web together with a healthy dose of honesty, humor, and hope.Host (conversational): So, self-trust. Raise your hand if you've ever said something like, "I can't trust myself to do anything right!" (I'm raising mine high, by the way). Maybe you promised yourself you'd start that project well before the deadline, only to find yourself pulling an all-nighter again. Or you swore you'd not forget your friend's birthday this time, and then... whoops, you did – again. If any of this rings a bell, you are so not alone. In fact, one ADHD coach bluntly observed: "This is the truth about ADHD and self-trust: it doesn't exist. ADHD adults don't trust themselves at all. Our self-concept begins to erode pretty early in life". Ouch, right? That sounds harsh, but for many of us it feels true. Our confidence in ourselves got pretty banged up over the years.Host (relatable anecdote): I want to start with a little story here. Picture late-diagnosed me a few years back, before I knew I had ADHD. Every morning I'd pep-talk myself: "Today, I'm gonna get everything on my to-do list done. I got this." And every evening I'd go to bed thinking, "I screwed it up again. What is wrong with me?" I remember once triple-booking my Saturday because Past Me didn't trust Future Me to actually remember my plans – I figured at least one of those events I'd flake on, so better to have backups!

They are:

On this episode of Divine Union, Nicola explores how play can be a portal back to vibrancy and confidence, especially in the face of challenge or rejection. Whether you're navigating heartbreak, business setbacks, or tension in relationships, play does wonders for your internal state and relationally. Internally, it lifts your energy. Relationally, it can create a soft space for reflection, open up connection, and help shift heavier dynamics with lightness and care. In this episode, you'll learn more about how to use play to make shifts within and within relational dynamics so you can stay connected to your own power and joy while moving through challenge. If you're craving more joy, ease, and emotional resilience in how you show up, this one's for you.Mentioned in this episode: The Communication Codes. Nicola's new self-led course all about mastering the language of connection to deepen intimacy, influence, and impact in all of your relationships.​Nicola's Website: nicolanavon.comSubscribe to her NewsletterInstagram: @nicolanavonYouTube Channel: @nicolanavonBecause we love to reward effort, email a screenshot of your review of Divine Union to info@nicolanavon.com to receive a free gift. Looking to start your own podcast?Nicola's Top Podcast Tools:Power Up Podcasting CourseBuzzsprout Podcast Hosting Platform*Nicola is an Affiliate for these productsBy accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Nicole Navon, or used by Nicole Navon with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use of this Podcast may be made, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission, or editing.This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or dam...

“My brain is...”Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

Employee Mindset vs. Asset MindsetCoffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

Tell me if you ever go through this sequence of events…Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

Southgate Campus

06-20-25 - Crackdown Emails On Our Sloppy Kitchen - Our Sales Staff Is Having A Slump Buster Sale Internally Not Knowing What It Means - Passion Shooting At Desert Ridge Has Us Wondering If Love Or Hate Causes More MurdersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

06-20-25 - Crackdown Emails On Our Sloppy Kitchen - Our Sales Staff Is Having A Slump Buster Sale Internally Not Knowing What It Means - Passion Shooting At Desert Ridge Has Us Wondering If Love Or Hate Causes More MurdersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

But I think I was right.Coffee Chat - one-off coaching about your situation, no strings attached: https://calendly.com/pooja-venkatraman/coffee-chatConsult Call - let's talk about working together in a full coaching engagement: https://poojavcoaching.com/contact——— 

Internal data science teams face a unique challenge - they're providing an invisible service that only gets noticed when something goes wrong. This puts data scientists in the awkward position of having to market themselves within their own organization, without any marketing training.In this episode, Dr. Peter Prevos joins Dr. Genevieve Hayes to share how he applied his PhD research in services marketing to transform his water utility's data team from "report writers" to strategic partners by positioning data science as "Insights-as-a-Service."This episode explains:Why treating data science as "Customer Satisfaction Engineering" rather than technical implementation shifts everything about team effectiveness [08:19]How understanding both the financial and psychological "price" users pay for insights leads to dramatically better adoption [14:36]The treasure hunt technique that transformed how stakeholders discover and engage with available data resources [18:17]Why the mantra "99% of business problems don't need machine learning" can paradoxically increase your data science impact [22:29]Guest BioDr Peter Prevos is a water engineer and manages the data science function at a water utility in regional Victoria. He runs leading courses in data science for water professionals, holds an MBA and a PhD in business, and is the author of numerous books about data science and magic.LinksConnect with Peter on LinkedInA Brief Guide to Providing Insights as a Service (IaaS)Connect with Genevieve on LinkedInBe among the first to hear about the release of each new podcast episode by signing up HERE

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1072: Ferrari eases off the EV pedal, LAZ Parking launches a game-changing 50,000-charger rollout, and TikTok's AI influencers threaten to upend the creator economy. Show Notes with links:Welcome to the franchise side, Benji Urra! A seasoned dealer since 1985, Benji is entering the franchise world after nearly 40 years in the independent auto business.He acquired Bravo Nissan of Victoria, TX, from Bravo Autos' Raymond Palacios and Alex Flores.Even the prancing horse isn't immune to the EV slowdown. Ferrari is postponing its second electric vehicle—originally planned for 2026—by at least two years, signaling ongoing hesitance in the high-performance luxury EV market.Ferrari's first EV, a larger, atypical model co-designed by ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive, will debut in October with 2026 deliveries starting at over $500,000; it's seen more as a symbolic milestone than a volume play.Internally, the second EV is viewed as the true strategic launch, with targets of 5,000–6,000 units over five years.That second model has now been delayed twice, with no real demand yet from Ferrari's core enthusiast base.The delay also gives Ferrari time to refine its proprietary EV tech while competitors like Lamborghini, Porsche, and Maserati similarly reevaluate or scale back their EV timelines.“Real, sustainable demand is non-existent for an electric sports car,” said a source close to the matter.In one of the largest EV infrastructure deployments in North America, LAZ Parking is installing 50,000 Level 2 chargers at its facilities—bringing EV access directly into the daily routines of city dwellers and commuters.The rollout spans over 4,000 locations across 43 states and 536 cities, integrating charging into where people live, work, and park.LAZ is partnering with Epic Charging and Autel Energy, with Autel providing the preferred hardware for the project.The initiative avoids the highway model of fast-charging stops, instead embedding EV access into residential and urban life.TikTok is stepping deeper into the AI marketing game, unveiling new tools that let brands generate influencer-style videos using synthetic avatars—potentially redefining who gets paid to promote.The Symphony AI ads platform now lets advertisers create virtual avatars that model clothes, demo apps, and showcase products.These avatars mimic human influencers in both look and behavior, offering content at scale without contracts or shoot days.For brands, it means lower costs and fasteJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

(0:00) Mazz opens The Baseball Hour discussing whether Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer should be playing in this weekend’s game against the Yankees. (16:11) Mazz discusses the Red Sox development of their top prospects. Plus, callers weigh in. (25:17) Mazz and Joon Lee discuss the relationship between Alex Cora and the front office of the Red Sox. (37:15) Final thoughts from Mazz on The Baseball Hour.

After what's seemed like years of waiting for their offence to arrive, over the last month the Blue Jays seem to have figured out how to hit and score runs. They're flying high, playing like one of the absolute best teams in baseball despite a rotation in shambles beyond the front three. This week we look at how internal improvements have powered their offensive outburst, and where improvements still need to be made in order to fix the pitching staff and weather the storms that surely lie ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textIn this episode we interview Kellie Cummings, a seasoned communications consultant with deep experience leading comms through crisis—most notably during the 2008 global financial collapse. She now helps organizations strengthen their internal trust through intentional, meaningful communication practices.What you'll learn in this episode:Why trust erodes silently inside companies—and how to detect itThe neuroscience of trust and how oxytocin plays a role in teamworkHow psychological safety depends on closing the gap between voice and choiceTactical strategies to encourage awe and kindness in remote environmentsHow high-trust teams impact brand, content quality, and customer resonanceThe link between segmentation, empathy, and trust-driven marketing

Welcome to a special solocast episode of Build a Better Agency! In this midyear trend report, hosts Drew McLellan and Danyel Newcom McLellan dig deep into the evolving landscape facing agency owners in 2025. Leveraging data, global industry perspectives, and hands-on agency experience, Drew and Danyel break down what's really impacting agencies right now and what to keep your eye on as the year unfolds. This episode covers the biggest drivers reshaping the agency world—from economic and political disruptions to shifting client and employee expectations. Drew and Danyel explore findings from the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, including the global “crisis of grievance,” and detail the unique opportunities and obligations business leaders face as the most trusted type of institution. They reveal how financial trends, M&A activity, and even compensation expectations are shifting, providing a realistic look at growth, profitability, and future planning. You'll also hear a candid analysis of client dynamics and new business trends: increased buyer skepticism and demand for transparency, shorter contract terms, and the rising importance of social proof and niche expertise in attracting and retaining accounts. Internally, the episode explores changing workforce norms, a renewed focus on employee development and mental health, and innovative staffing strategies to increase agility and resilience. Rounding out the conversation, Drew and Danyel highlight where agencies are finding success—including the explosive impact of AI, new roles like creative technologists, the resurgence of retro campaigns, and the growing power of influencer and creator marketing. Whether you're preparing your agency for exit, acquisition, or simply striving to thrive during uncertain times, this action-packed episode provides practical, actionable insights to help you build a stronger, more sustainable business. Don't miss the chance to regroup, refocus, and get energized for what's ahead! A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Navigating economic and political uncertainty in agency operations Building and maintaining trust with clients and employees Shifting trends in agency growth, profitability, and M&A activity The rising importance of transparency and authenticity with clients Harnessing outside validation and social proof for new business Leveraging innovation, partnerships, and flexible team structures Embracing AI and data-driven insights as core agency strengths

Who should Minnesota Timberwolves keep around internally; Should the Timberwolves keep the kids around; How close are the Timberwolves from being the Thunder; Plus the Twins are getting some key players back in Seattle and more on Reusse Unchained.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who should Minnesota Timberwolves keep around internally; Should the Timberwolves keep the kids around; How close are the Timberwolves from being the Thunder; Plus the Twins are getting some key players back in Seattle and more on Reusse Unchained.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.Health Affairs' Jeff Byers welcomes Senior Editor Michael Gerber back to the program to discuss the Food and Drug Administration's recent announcement to scale a generative artificial intelligence across its center in the future.Health Affairs released their first Insider trend report. The report focuses on AI in health care and you can get full access to this report by becoming an Insider. Insiders also will receive access to our June 17 event on risk adjustment trends and our July 7 event featuring a wrap-up of the recent Supreme Court session.Related Links:FDA's plan to roll out AI agencywide raises questions (Axios)PRESS RELEASE: FDA Announces Completion of First AI-Assisted Scientific Review Pilot and Aggressive Agency-Wide AI Rollout Timeline Subscribe to UnitedHealthcare's Community & State newsletter.

As usual, after Anthony write anything, he narrates it for you exclusively in the Lounge RSS feed. This time, he wrote about the how the Lakers view Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura internally and the back-and-forth about trading them taking place as the offseason nears. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wilder Woods is the solo project of Bear Rinehart, the lead singer of multi-plantinum, Grammy-nominated, Billboard award winning, multiple Dove award-winning mega rock band NEEDTOBREATHE. We chat with Bear about how his prolific creative output forced his hand on starting Wilder Woods, juggling not only creating but performing with 2 drastically different projects, setting goals and intentions, knowing the path to those goals, internal perception of success and not only allowing things to unfold in their own time but enjoying them for what they are, and a whole lot more.Get more access and support this show by subscribing to our Patreon, right here.Links:Wilder WoodsNEEDTOBREATHEp 60 - Lori McKennaNatalie HembyAnderson EastDaniel Tashian“The War of Art”Ep 27 - Mary GauthierEp 16 - Rodney CrowellBob Seger - Shame on the MoonJim ScottRyan TedderDrew HolcombEp 59 - Tyler RamseyPearl JamThe KillersTame ImpalaClick here to watch this conversation on YouTube.Social Media:The Other 22 Hours InstagramThe Other 22 Hours TikTokMichaela Anne InstagramAaron Shafer-Haiss InstagramAll music written, performed, and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Become a subscribing member on our Patreon to gain more inside access including exclusive content, workshops, the chance to have your questions answered by our upcoming guests, and more.