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Fluent Fiction - Italian: Tuscany's Vineyards: A Legacy of Love and Resilience Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-05-13-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole sorgeva dolcemente sopra le colline verdeggianti della Toscana.En: The sun rose gently over the lush hills of Toscana.It: Era primavera, e il profumo della terra fresca mescolato a quello dei grappoli d'uva inondava l'aria.En: It was spring, and the scent of fresh earth mixed with the aroma of grape clusters filled the air.It: Marco, con il cuore colmo di preoccupazione, osservava il vigneto che si estendeva davanti a lui.En: Marco, with his heart full of worry, watched the vineyard stretching out before him.It: Quella terra apparteneva alla sua famiglia da generazioni.En: That land had belonged to his family for generations.It: Era il suo orgoglio e la sua responsabilità.En: It was his pride and his responsibility.It: Il festival del vino stava per iniziare.En: The wine festival was about to start.It: L'atmosfera era elettrizzante: tavoli coperti di tovaglie rosse, musica vivace e risate dei visitatori.En: The atmosphere was electrifying: tables covered with red tablecloths, lively music, and the laughter of visitors.It: Marco, però, non riusciva a rilassarsi.En: Marco, however, couldn't relax.It: I debiti del vigneto erano enormi e minacciavano di distruggerlo.En: The vineyard's debts were enormous and threatened to destroy it.It: Giulia, sua sorella, aveva cercato di convincerlo a vendere.En: Giulia, his sister, had tried to convince him to sell.It: "Marco, dobbiamo essere realistici," diceva.En: "Marco, we have to be realistic," she said.It: "Se vendiamo, possiamo ricominciare altrove."En: "If we sell, we can start anew elsewhere."It: Ma Marco rifiutava.En: But Marco refused.It: La sola idea di vendere la terra che il loro padre aveva amato era insopportabile.En: The mere idea of selling the land that their father had loved was unbearable.It: Voleva salvare il vigneto, nonostante le difficoltà.En: He wanted to save the vineyard, despite the difficulties.It: Sapeva che l'approvazione del padre contava ancora troppo per lui.En: He knew that his father's approval still mattered too much to him.It: Desiderava vedere quell'orgoglio nei suoi occhi ancora una volta.En: He longed to see that pride in his eyes once more.It: Luca, uno dei vicini, aveva già fatto un'offerta.En: Luca, one of the neighbors, had already made an offer.It: Era un uomo pragmatico e determinato a espandere i suoi possedimenti.En: He was a pragmatic man determined to expand his holdings.It: "Vendimi il vigneto, Marco," aveva detto.En: "Sell me the vineyard, Marco," he had said.It: "Ti offro un buon prezzo."En: "I'm offering you a good price."It: Marco era combattuto.En: Marco was torn.It: Esitava tra il loan bancario rischioso e l'investitore misterioso che aveva contattato.En: He hesitated between the risky bank loan and the mysterious investor he had contacted.It: Mancavano poche ore all'inizio del festival e alla sua decisione.En: Only a few hours remained before the festival and his decision.It: Con il tramonto che dipingeva il cielo di tonalità arancioni e scarlatte, Marco camminava tra i filari di viti.En: With the sunset painting the sky in shades of orange and scarlet, Marco walked among the rows of vines.It: Qui trovava pace e riflessione.En: Here he found peace and reflection.It: E in quel momento, sotto la luce dorata, ebbe un'epifania.En: And in that moment, under the golden light, he had an epiphany.It: Capì che doveva seguire il suo cuore, fidarsi della sua intuizione.En: He realized he had to follow his heart, trust his intuition.It: Condotto dall'ispirazione del momento, salì sul palco durante il festival, con Giulia e Luca che osservavano curiosi.En: Driven by the inspiration of the moment, he climbed onto the stage during the festival, with Giulia and Luca watching curiously.It: "Amici, vicini, famiglia!"En: "Friends, neighbors, family!"It: esclamò Marco, la sua voce risuonava nell'aria serena.En: exclaimed Marco, his voice resonating in the serene air.It: "Ho preso una decisione.En: "I've made a decision.It: Non venderò il vigneto.En: I will not sell the vineyard.It: Ho deciso di collaborare con un nuovo investitore."En: I've decided to collaborate with a new investor."It: La folla fu sorpresa, ma subito iniziò ad applaudire.En: The crowd was surprised, but soon began to applaud.It: Giulia, colpita, si avvicinò al fratello e lo abbracciò.En: Giulia, moved, came closer to her brother and hugged him.It: "So che papà sarebbe orgoglioso," gli sussurrò.En: "I know Dad would be proud," she whispered to him.It: Nonostante le incertezze, la comunità si unì attorno a Marco, offrendogli supporto.En: Despite the uncertainties, the community rallied around Marco, offering him support.It: Il festival di quell'anno non fu solo una celebrazione del vino, ma anche della resilienza di una famiglia legata alla propria terra.En: That year's festival was not only a celebration of wine, but also of the resilience of a family tied to their land.It: Marco aveva imparato che onorare la tradizione non significava rimanere bloccati nel passato.En: Marco had learned that honoring tradition did not mean being stuck in the past.It: Poteva innovare e rispettare le radici allo stesso tempo.En: He could innovate and respect his roots at the same time.It: E così, con il cuore più leggero e la mente più chiara, guardò avanti, verso le sfide e le gioie che il futuro avrebbe portato.En: And so, with a lighter heart and a clearer mind, he looked ahead, to the challenges and joys the future would bring. Vocabulary Words:the vineyard: il vignetothe pride: l'orgogliothe responsibility: la responsabilitàenormous: enormithe debts: i debitithe laughter: le risateto sell: vendereunbearable: insopportabilethe approval: l'approvazionepragmatic: pragmaticoto expand: espanderethe holdings: i possedimentitorn: combattutothe risk: il rischiothe investor: l'investitorethe epiphany: l'epifaniato trust: fidarsithe intuition: l'intuizionethe stage: il palcoto collaborate: collaborarethe crowd: la follato applaud: applaudiremoved: commossothe support: il supportothe resilience: la resilienzato innovate: innovarethe roots: le radicithe sunset: il tramontoto bear: sopportarethe challenges: le sfide

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Fluent Fiction - Italian: Embracing Pasqua: Finding Joy in Tuscany's Slower Lanes Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-04-02-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole brillava sul cielo azzurro sopra le colline toscane.En: The sun shone in the blue sky above the Tuscan hills.It: Fiorivano fiori selvatici, e l'aria era piena del profumo di primavera.En: Wildflowers were blooming, and the air was filled with the scent of spring.It: Alessandra si trovava in una piccola stanza piena di luce, un po' annoiata.En: Alessandra found herself in a small, light-filled room, a bit bored.It: Guardava fuori dalla finestra, sognando le strade che si snodavano tra gli ulivi e i vigneti.En: She looked out the window, dreaming of the roads that wound among the olive trees and vineyards.It: Accanto a lei c'era Bruno, suo fratello maggiore, un uomo robusto con un sorriso tranquillo.En: Next to her was Bruno, her older brother, a robust man with a calm smile.It: "Devi riposare," diceva lui con tono gentile ma fermo.En: "You need to rest," he said with a gentle yet firm tone.It: "Non sei pronta per la bicicletta ancora."En: "You're not ready for the bicycle yet."It: "Ma Pasqua è tra pochi giorni!"En: "But Pasqua is in a few days!"It: esclamò Alessandra, la voce un miscuglio di impazienza e desiderio.En: exclaimed Alessandra, her voice a mix of impatience and longing.It: "Voglio andare in bicicletta con voi."En: "I want to go cycling with you."It: Giovanna entrò nella stanza, portando un mazzo di fiori selvatici.En: Giovanna entered the room, bringing a bouquet of wildflowers.It: Lei era sempre solare, con un sorriso che illumina la stanza.En: She was always cheerful, with a smile that lit up the room.It: "Alessandra, possiamo avere una Pasqua bellissima anche a piedi o in macchina," disse, posando i fiori sul tavolo accanto al letto.En: "Alessandra, we can have a beautiful Pasqua even on foot or by car," she said, placing the flowers on the table next to the bed.It: "La tua salute è più importante."En: "Your health is more important."It: Alessandra sospirò, frustrata.En: Alessandra sighed, frustrated.It: Non era abituata a fermarsi.En: She wasn't used to stopping.It: Sentiva il bisogno di muoversi, di sentire il vento tra i capelli.En: She felt the need to move, to feel the wind in her hair.It: "So che avete ragione," ammise.En: "I know you're right," she admitted.It: "Ma è difficile."En: "But it's difficult."It: Nei giorni seguenti, Alessandra tentò diverse volte di mettersi in piedi, ignorando il dolore alla gamba.En: In the following days, Alessandra tried several times to stand up, ignoring the pain in her leg.It: Ma un pomeriggio, mentre cercava di riprendere l'equilibrio, un dolore acuto la fece cadere sulla sedia.En: But one afternoon, while trying to regain her balance, a sharp pain made her fall onto the chair.It: Si rese conto, con amarezza, che stava peggiorando la sua guarigione.En: She realized, with bitterness, that she was worsening her recovery.It: La sera stessa, durante la cena, Alessandra prese una decisione.En: That same evening, during dinner, Alessandra made a decision.It: "Andrò alla Pasqua in macchina," annunciò con determinazione.En: "I'll go to Pasqua by car," she announced with determination.It: Bruno e Giovanna la guardarono con approvazione.En: Bruno and Giovanna looked at her with approval.It: "Ma guiderò io la macchina del supporto," aggiunse sorridendo.En: "But I'll drive the support car," she added, smiling.It: "Così sarò in giro con voi e non perderò il panorama."En: "That way I'll be around with you and won't miss the scenery."It: Finalmente, il giorno di Pasqua arrivò.En: Finally, the day of Pasqua arrived.It: Le colline erano vestite di verde e i rami degli ulivi ondeggiavano gentilmente.En: The hills were dressed in green, and the olive tree branches swayed gently.It: Alessandra salì sulla macchina di supporto con Bruno e Giovanna.En: Alessandra got into the support car with Bruno and Giovanna.It: Anche senza pedalare, sentì la gioia di essere parte della tradizione.En: Even without pedaling, she felt the joy of being part of the tradition.It: Mentre percorrevano le vie della campagna, Alessandra osservava i paesaggi infiniti della Toscana, riconoscendo la bellezza del momento.En: As they traveled through the countryside roads, Alessandra observed the endless landscapes of Tuscany, recognizing the beauty of the moment.It: Le risate di Bruno e Giovanna riempivano l'aria, e Alessandra si sentì finalmente in pace.En: The laughter of Bruno and Giovanna filled the air, and Alessandra finally felt at peace.It: Aveva capito che a volte la lentezza è un dono, un'opportunità per apprezzare le cose che spesso diamo per scontate.En: She had realized that sometimes slowness is a gift, an opportunity to appreciate the things we often take for granted.It: "E la prossima volta," Alessandra pensò con un sorriso, "tornerò in bicicletta."En: "And next time," Alessandra thought with a smile, "I'll be back on the bicycle." Vocabulary Words:the countryside: la campagnathe wind: il ventoto rest: riposarecalm smile: sorriso tranquillocheerful: solarefrustrated: frustratadreaming: sognandothe scenery: il panoramato ignore: ignoraresharp pain: dolore acutoblooming: fiorivanobitterly: con amarezzadetermination: determinazioneapproval: approvazionegentle: gentileto sway: ondeggiavanothe scent: il profumoto wind: si snodavanoendless: infinitoopportunity: opportunitàto appreciate: apprezzareto fill: riempivanoto realize: rendersi contorobust: robustohills: le collinevineyards: i vignetithe balance: l'equilibrioto pedal: pedalareto drive: guidarethe bouquet: il mazzo

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Lost in the Shadows of Santuario: An Unexpected Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-03-20-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole brillava attraverso le foglie verdi del Santuario della Verna, ridisegnando ombre danzanti sul sentiero.En: The sun shone through the green leaves of the Santuario della Verna, casting dancing shadows on the path.It: Gianna e Lorenzo camminavano fianco a fianco.En: Gianna and Lorenzo walked side by side.It: Gianna, con un sorriso deciso sul viso, avanzava con passi sicuri.En: Gianna, with a determined smile on her face, advanced with confident steps.It: Lorenzo, curioso ma un po' preoccupato, la seguiva con attenzione.En: Lorenzo, curious but a bit worried, followed her attentively.It: "Guarda che bello questo posto," disse Gianna entusiasta, indicando gli alberi maestosi intorno a loro.En: "Look how beautiful this place is," said Gianna enthusiastically, pointing out the majestic trees around them.It: "So che la natura qui è speciale.En: "I know the nature here is special.It: Ci sono tante cose da scoprire."En: There are so many things to discover."It: Lorenzo annuì, osservando i segnali sul percorso.En: Lorenzo nodded, observing the signs on the path.It: Sembrava tutto un po' strano.En: Everything seemed a bit strange.It: "Sei sicura che questo sia il sentiero giusto?"En: "Are you sure this is the right path?"It: chiese, cercando di capire meglio le frecce colorate.En: he asked, trying to make sense of the colored arrows.It: "Certo!"En: "Of course!"It: rispose Gianna con convinzione.En: replied Gianna confidently.It: Voleva impressionare Lorenzo con il suo spirito avventuroso.En: She wanted to impress Lorenzo with her adventurous spirit.It: "Credo che questo ci porterà a vedere il panorama migliore."En: "I believe this will take us to see the best view."It: Proseguirono camminando, il mormorio degli uccelli accompagnava i loro passi.En: They continued walking, the murmur of birds accompanying their steps.It: Il sentiero divenne sempre più stretto e ripido.En: The path became increasingly narrow and steep.It: Lorenzo guardava intorno con crescente sospetto.En: Lorenzo looked around with growing suspicion.It: "Forse questo non è esattamente un sentiero turistico," mormorò con cautela.En: "Maybe this isn't exactly a tourist trail," he murmured cautiously.It: Gianna, però, non si fermava.En: However, Gianna didn't stop.It: "Dai, ci stiamo divertendo!"En: "Come on, we're having fun!"It: esclamò mentre scavalcava un tronco caduto.En: she exclaimed as she climbed over a fallen log.It: Ma il paesaggio cambiava velocemente.En: But the landscape changed quickly.It: Gianna e Lorenzo si trovarono di fronte a una ripida discesa.En: Gianna and Lorenzo found themselves facing a steep descent.It: Il cuore di Gianna batteva forte.En: Gianna's heart was pounding.It: "Oh," sussurrò, realizzando di non sapere più dove fossero.En: "Oh," she whispered, realizing she no longer knew where they were.It: Lorenzo sospirò, leggermente sollevato.En: Lorenzo sighed, slightly relieved.It: "Penso che ci siamo persi," disse ridendo.En: "I think we're lost," he said, laughing.It: "Ma non preoccuparti, ce la faremo."En: "But don't worry, we'll make it."It: Con calma, decisero di tornare sui loro passi.En: Calmly, they decided to retrace their steps.It: Questa volta, era Lorenzo a prendere l'iniziativa.En: This time, it was Lorenzo who took the initiative.It: Con attenzione, seguivano tracce di sentiero conosciuto.En: Carefully, they followed traces of familiar trails.It: Gianna osservava, imparando a fidarsi delle intuizioni di Lorenzo.En: Gianna watched, learning to trust Lorenzo's instincts.It: Finalmente, raggiunsero una radura familiare.En: Finally, they reached a familiar clearing.It: La vista dell'uscita del bosco li fece sorridere entrambi.En: The sight of the forest's exit made them both smile.It: "Sai, sono felice che abbiamo fatto questa avventura," disse Gianna, guardando Lorenzo con un nuovo rispetto.En: "You know, I'm glad we had this adventure," said Gianna, looking at Lorenzo with new respect.It: "Ho imparato molto grazie a te."En: "I learned a lot thanks to you."It: Lorenzo, con un sorriso gentile, rispose: "Ed io ho imparato che a volte è bello lasciarsi andare, senza pensare troppo."En: Lorenzo, with a gentle smile, replied, "And I've learned that sometimes it's nice to let go, without overthinking."It: Raggiunsero l'inizio del sentiero con il sole che tramontava dietro le colline.En: They reached the start of the path with the sun setting behind the hills.It: Il bosco tornò silenzioso, mentre lasciavano il Santuario della Verna alle spalle, con un legame più forte e un'avventura da ricordare.En: The forest returned to silence, as they left the Santuario della Verna behind, with a stronger bond and an adventure to remember. Vocabulary Words:the path: il sentierothe shadow: l'ombradetermined: decisocurious: curiosothe tree: l'alberothe sign: il segnalestrange: stranoto impress: impressionarethe murmur: il mormorionarrow: strettosteep: ripidothe suspicion: il sospettoto climb: scavalcarethe landscape: il paesaggiothe descent: la discesato whisper: sussurrarerelieved: sollevatoto retrace: tornarethe initiative: l'iniziativato follow: seguirethe instinct: l'intuizionethe clearing: la radurato smile: sorridereto let go: lasciarsi andareto overthink: pensare troppoto accompany: accompagnareto realize: realizzareto sigh: sospirarecalmly: con calmato learn: imparare

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unveiling Secrets: The Heartwarming Tale of Freelancer's Home Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-03-09-22-34-01-it Story Transcript:It: Nell'aria di Roma, in un pomeriggio di primavera, il caffè "Freelancer's Home" era un rifugio.En: In the air of Roma, on a spring afternoon, the café "Freelancer's Home" was a refuge.It: Il profumo del caffè e dei fiori di stagione invadeva il locale.En: The aroma of coffee and seasonal flowers filled the place.It: Luca sedeva al suo solito tavolo accanto alla finestra.En: Luca sat at his usual table next to the window.It: Era un giovane scrittore freelance, sempre in cerca di storie nuove.En: He was a young freelance writer, always searching for new stories.It: Quel giorno, trovò qualcosa fuori dall'ordinario: un pacco misterioso abbandonato sul tavolo accanto al suo.En: That day, he found something out of the ordinary: a mysterious package left behind on the table next to his.It: Il pacco era piccolo, avvolto in carta marrone e sigillato con uno spago semplice.En: The package was small, wrapped in brown paper and sealed with a simple string.It: Accanto al pacco, un biglietto: "Chi cerca la verità, trova il passato."En: Next to the package, a note read: "Who seeks the truth, finds the past."It: Luca mise giù la sua tazza di caffè e fissò il pacco.En: Luca put down his cup of coffee and stared at the package.It: Chi poteva averlo lasciato lì?En: Who could have left it there?It: E perché?En: And why?It: Luca decise di indagare.En: Luca decided to investigate.It: Prima di tutto, si avvicinò al bancone, dove Giovanna, la proprietaria del caffè, serviva i clienti con il suo tipico sorriso caloroso.En: First, he approached the counter, where Giovanna, the owner of the café, was serving customers with her typical warm smile.It: "Giovanna," chiese Luca, "hai visto chi ha lasciato questo pacco?"En: "Giovanna," Luca asked, "did you see who left this package?"It: Giovanna abbassò lo sguardo, visibilmente a disagio.En: Giovanna looked down, visibly uneasy.It: "Non ho idea," rispose evasivamente, evitando di incrociare lo sguardo di Luca.En: "I have no idea," she replied evasively, avoiding Luca's gaze.It: Non convinto, Luca si rivolse a Marcello, il silenzioso artista che trascorreva ore a disegnare nel caffè.En: Unconvinced, Luca turned to Marcello, the silent artist who spent hours drawing in the café.It: Marcello era lì, chino sul suo taccuino.En: Marcello was there, bent over his sketchbook.It: Alla sua domanda, Marcello fece solo spallucce, ma Luca notò un leggero tremore nella sua mano.En: When asked, Marcello just shrugged, but Luca noticed a slight tremor in his hand.It: La determinazione di Luca si fuse con curiosità.En: Luca's determination fused with curiosity.It: Iniziò a osservare Giovanna e Marcello più da vicino nei giorni seguenti.En: He began to observe Giovanna and Marcello more closely in the following days.It: Un giorno, mentre studiava il pacco nella sua stanza, scoprì un simbolo inciso sotto l'involucro, un segno che collegava Giovanna e Marcello alla storia del caffè.En: One day, while examining the package in his room, he discovered a symbol engraved underneath the wrapping, a sign that linked Giovanna and Marcello to the café's history.It: Decise che era giunto il momento di affrontarli.En: He decided it was time to confront them.It: Tornato al caffè, Luca trovò Giovanna e Marcello insieme, seduti in un angolo tranquillo.En: Back at the café, Luca found Giovanna and Marcello together, sitting in a quiet corner.It: "So che il pacco è legato a voi," disse Luca, con una voce ferma ma gentile.En: "I know the package is connected to you," said Luca, with a voice firm yet gentle.It: Dopo un momento di silenzio, Giovanna sospirò pesantemente.En: After a moment of silence, Giovanna sighed heavily.It: "Va bene, meriti di sapere la verità," ammise.En: "Alright, you deserve to know the truth," she admitted.It: "Questo caffè ha una storia che pochi conoscono."En: "This café has a story that few know."It: Giovanna spiegò che anni fa, lei e Marcello erano coinvolti in un incidente che aveva portato alla chiusura di un altro caffè, un evento che avevano sempre tenuto segreto.En: Giovanna explained that years ago, she and Marcello were involved in an incident that led to the closure of another café, an event they had always kept secret.It: Marcello aggiunse: "Abbiamo vissuto con questo peso troppo a lungo.En: Marcello added, "We have lived with this burden for too long.It: È tempo di fare pace con il passato."En: It's time to make peace with the past."It: Con il cuore più leggero, Giovanna raccontò la storia pubblicamente, rendendo il "Freelancer's Home" un luogo rinato, dove i clienti venivano per ascoltare le storie celate tra quelle mura.En: With a lighter heart, Giovanna told the story publicly, making the "Freelancer's Home" a reborn place where customers came to hear the stories hidden within those walls.It: Luca scrisse il suo articolo, stimolando una rinnovata curiosità nel caffè.En: Luca wrote his article, sparking renewed curiosity in the café.It: Luca scoprì una nuova fiducia nelle sue abilità investigative, imparando il valore delle storie nascoste.En: Luca discovered a new confidence in his investigative abilities, learning the value of hidden stories.It: Giovanna accettò il suo passato con un sorriso sereno, e Marcello ritrovò la pace.En: Giovanna embraced her past with a serene smile, and Marcello found peace.It: Il caffè, ora più affollato che mai, divenne un simbolo di verità e rinascita, proprio come la primavera che sbocciava attorno a loro.En: The café, now busier than ever, became a symbol of truth and rebirth, just like the spring blossoming around them. Vocabulary Words:the aroma: l'aromathe refuge: il rifugiothe package: il paccothe string: lo spagothe note: il bigliettoto stare: fissarethe counter: il banconeuneasy: a disagioevasive: evasivothe gaze: lo sguardothe sketchbook: il taccuinothe tremor: il tremorethe determination: la determinazioneto observe: osservareto examine: studiareengraved: incisothe wrapping: l'involucroto confront: affrontarethe truth: la veritàto sigh: sospirarethe incident: l'incidentesecret: segretoto burden: il pesopeace: la paceto spark: stimolarerenewed: rinnovatoconfidence: la fiduciainvestigative: investigativehidden: nascosterebirth: la rinascita

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unmasking Destiny: Giulia's Carnevale Treasure Hunt Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-03-07-23-34-01-it Story Transcript:It: La piazza San Marco risplendeva sotto il cielo invernale, coperta da un manto di voci e maschere colorate.En: La piazza San Marco glistened under the winter sky, covered by a blanket of voices and colorful masks.It: Era il Carnevale di Venezia, un momento magico in cui sogni e realtà si fondono.En: It was the Carnevale di Venezia, a magical moment when dreams and reality blend together.It: Giulia si aggirava nervosamente, il suo sguardo cercava tra la folla.En: Giulia wandered nervously, her gaze searching through the crowd.It: Doveva trovare quel medaglione, l'ultima traccia lasciata dalla nonna.En: She had to find that medallion, the last trace left by her grandmother.It: Il cuore le batteva forte mentre si faceva largo tra i costumi sgargianti e i suoni festosi.En: Her heart was pounding as she made her way through the flamboyant costumes and festive sounds.It: "Non ti preoccupare, Giulia," disse Alessandro, il suo amico buffo e sempre ottimista.En: "Don't worry, Giulia," said Alessandro, her funny and always optimistic friend.It: "Conosciamo queste strade.En: "We know these streets.It: Troveremo il tuo tesoro."En: We'll find your treasure."It: Ma Giulia era ansiosa.En: But Giulia was anxious.It: Anche con l'aiuto di Alessandro, sembrava un'impresa impossibile.En: Even with Alessandro's help, it seemed like an impossible task.It: Proprio mentre cominciava a perdere la speranza, un uomo mascherato si avvicinò.En: Just as she began to lose hope, a masked man approached.It: "Sei Giulia, vero?"En: "You're Giulia, right?"It: chiese, svelando il suo volto sorridente.En: he asked, revealing his smiling face.It: Era Luca, un perfetto sconosciuto, ma con uno sguardo gentile.En: It was Luca, a perfect stranger, but with a kind look.It: "So cosa cerchi."En: "I know what you're looking for."It: Giulia lo guardò con sospetto.En: Giulia looked at him suspiciously.It: "Come fai a saperlo?"En: "How do you know?"It: domandò.En: she asked.It: "Conoscevo tua nonna.En: "I knew your grandmother.It: Mi ha parlato di te," rispose Luca.En: She told me about you," replied Luca.It: "Posso aiutarti, ma avrei bisogno di un piccolo favore."En: "I can help you, but I would need a small favor."It: Giulia esitò.En: Giulia hesitated.It: Poteva fidarsi?En: Could she trust him?It: Alessandro la affiancò.En: Alessandro came alongside her.It: "Sei sicura?"En: "Are you sure?"It: mormorò.En: he murmured.It: Ma c'era qualcosa in Luca che ispirava fiducia, un legame invisibile che sembrava conoscere.En: But there was something about Luca that inspired trust, an invisible bond that seemed familiar.It: Mentre camminavano insieme, la folla si faceva più densa.En: As they walked together, the crowd grew thicker.It: All'improvviso, Giulia vide il medaglione tra le mani di un uomo in costume.En: Suddenly, Giulia saw the medallion in the hands of a man in costume.It: Si precipitò verso di lui, convinta che fosse quello vero.En: She rushed towards him, convinced it was the real one.It: Ma incontrando lo sguardo dell'uomo, scoprì la verità: era solo una copia.En: But meeting the man's gaze, she discovered the truth: it was just a copy.It: Delusa, Giulia tornò da Luca, ormai persuasa che lui avesse la risposta.En: Disappointed, Giulia returned to Luca, now persuaded that he had the answer.It: "Dimmi dov'è", implorò.En: "Tell me where it is," she implored.It: Luca annuì.En: Luca nodded.It: "Lo sapevo che avresti capito.En: "I knew you would understand.It: Vieni con me."En: Come with me."It: Condotti da Luca, si diressero verso una bottega d'arte, nascosta dietro le calli.En: Led by Luca, they headed towards an art shop, hidden behind the calli.It: Lì, dietro un piccolo quadro, c'era il vero medaglione.En: There, behind a small painting, was the real medallion.It: Giulia lo prese tra le mani, il cuore colmo di pace.En: Giulia took it in her hands, her heart filled with peace.It: Luca sorrideva dolcemente.En: Luca smiled softly.It: "Tua nonna voleva che fossi tu a trovarlo."En: "Your grandmother wanted you to find it."It: Tornando nella piazza, adesso più serena, Giulia capì quanto fossero preziosi i legami.En: Returning to the square, now more serene, Giulia realized how precious bonds are.It: Aveva trovato non solo un cimelio, ma anche una nuova connessione con chi la circondava.En: She had found not only a keepsake, but also a new connection with those around her.It: Il Carnevale continuava, e così anche la sua nuova avventura di vita, insieme ai suoi amici.En: The Carnevale continued, and so did her new adventure of life, along with her friends. Vocabulary Words:the square: la piazzato glisten: risplendereblanket: mantothe grandmother: la nonnato wander: aggirarsigaze: sguardothe heart: il cuoreflamboyant: sgargiantethe treasure: il tesoromasked: mascheratostranger: sconosciutothe bond: il legameto nod: annuirethick: densocostume: costumeto rush: precipitarsithe truth: la veritàcopy: copiadisappointed: delusopersuaded: persuasato implore: implorarethe art shop: la bottega d'artethe alleyways: le callito reveal: svelareto inspire: ispirarefamiliar: familiareto discover: scoprireto hesitate: esitareto trust: fidarsikeepsake: cimelio

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Finding Voice: Luca's Courageous Step in a Family Feast Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-02-08-23-34-01-it Story Transcript:It: Luca osservava il caos intorno a sé nella trattoria, mentre il profumo del ragù riempiva l'aria.En: Luca observed the chaos around him in the trattoria, while the aroma of ragù filled the air.It: Le pareti erano coperte di quadri, opere di artisti locali, che riflettevano la bellezza di Firenze.En: The walls were covered with paintings, works by local artists, reflecting the beauty of Firenze.It: Era inverno, ma il calore della cucina riempiva la stanza.En: It was winter, but the warmth from the kitchen filled the room.It: La gente rideva, i bambini correvano tra i tavoli.En: People were laughing, children ran between tables.It: Per la famiglia di Luca, la cena non era solo un pasto: era un rito, un momento di unione.En: For Luca's family, dinner was not just a meal: it was a ritual, a moment of togetherness.It: Ma lui si sentiva isolato.En: But he felt isolated.It: Giulia, sua sorella, rideva mentre raccontava una storia divertente.En: Giulia, his sister, laughed as she recounted a funny story.It: Era sempre lei a portare leggerezza.En: She was always the one to bring lightness.It: Marco, il fratello, la superstar della famiglia, sedeva al centro, raccontando aneddoti del suo ultimo viaggio.En: Marco, the brother, the family's superstar, sat in the center, sharing anecdotes from his latest trip.It: Luca sentiva il solito nodo di amarezza.En: Luca felt the usual lump of bitterness.It: Era stanco di essere invisibile.En: He was tired of being invisible.It: “Luca, tutto bene?” chiese Giulia, guardandolo negli occhi.En: “Luca, are you okay?” Giulia asked, looking him in the eyes.It: Luca annuì, ma dentro, sapeva che doveva parlare.En: Luca nodded, but inside, he knew he had to speak.It: La sua carriera di architetto andava bene, ma a casa non si sentiva mai abbastanza.En: His career as an architect was going well, but at home, he never felt enough.It: I suoi progetti erano ammirati ovunque, tranne che a quel tavolo.En: His projects were admired everywhere, except at that table.It: Le maschere di Carnevale sulle pareti sembravano sorridere beffardamente.En: The Carnevale masks on the walls seemed to smile mockingly.It: Luca pensò di alzarsi, lasciare quella cena.En: Luca thought about getting up and leaving that dinner.It: Ma restò.En: But he stayed.It: Doveva restare.En: He had to stay.It: Doveva parlare.En: He had to speak.It: Mentre la conversazione continuava, trovò il suo momento.En: As the conversation continued, he found his moment.It: Approfittando di un attimo di silenzio, mentre un cameriere serviva la pasta, Luca si schiarì la voce.En: Taking advantage of a moment of silence, while a waiter served the pasta, Luca cleared his throat.It: “Devo dire una cosa.” Tutti si girarono verso di lui, sorpresi.En: “I have to say something.” Everyone turned towards him, surprised.It: Il rumore nella trattoria sembrò svanire.En: The noise in the trattoria seemed to vanish.It: “Mi sento messo da parte,” continuò Luca.En: “I feel left out,” Luca continued.It: “So che ammirate Marco, ma io ho bisogno che vediate anche me.” Ci fu un momento di shock.En: “I know you admire Marco, but I need you to see me too.” There was a moment of shock.It: Marco parve sul punto di rispondere, ma Giulia lo fermò con uno sguardo.En: Marco seemed about to respond, but Giulia stopped him with a look.It: “Ascoltiamolo,” disse gentilmente.En: “Let's listen to him,” she said gently.It: Il silenzio divenne man mano empatia.En: The silence gradually turned into empathy.It: La madre di Luca prese la sua mano.En: Luca's mother took his hand.It: “Non avevamo capito,” mormorò.En: “We didn't understand,” she murmured.It: Marco, inaspettatamente, si fece avanti come mediatore.En: Unexpectedly, Marco stepped forward as a mediator.It: “Non era nostra intenzione, Luca.En: “It wasn't our intention, Luca.It: Hai ragione.En: You're right.It: Facciamo di meglio.” La cena continuò, ma tutto sembrava diverso.En: We'll do better.” The dinner continued, but everything felt different.It: Parlare apertamente aveva rotto un muro invisibile.En: Speaking openly had broken an invisible wall.It: Luca sentì una leggerezza nuova, un calore che aveva sempre desiderato.En: Luca felt a new lightness, a warmth he had always desired.It: Mentre la serata proseguiva, tutti parteciparono a una conversazione più inclusiva.En: As the evening went on, everyone participated in a more inclusive conversation.It: Le luci delle candele brillavano sugli occhi della famiglia che finalmente vedeva Luca.En: The candlelight shone in the eyes of a family that finally saw Luca.It: E mentre uscivano nella notte fiorentina fredda, Luca si sentì parte di qualcosa di più grande.En: And as they stepped out into the cold Fiorentina night, Luca felt part of something greater.It: Finalmente, la famiglia di Luca era unita, forte come mai prima.En: Finally, Luca's family was united, stronger than ever before.It: E Luca camminava fianco a fianco con Marco e Giulia, sentendo finalmente di appartenere.En: And Luca walked side by side with Marco and Giulia, finally feeling that he belonged. Vocabulary Words:chaos: il caospaintings: i quadriartists: gli artistiaroma: il profumowarmth: il caloreritual: il ritotogetherness: l'unioneisolated: isolatofunny story: una storia divertentelightness: la leggerezzasuperstar: la superstaranecdotes: gli aneddotilump: il nodobitterness: l'amarezzainvisible: invisibilecareer: la carrieraarchitect: l'architettoprojects: i progettimockingly: beffardamentemoment of silence: un attimo di silenziowaiter: il cameriereshock: lo shockempathy: l'empatiamediator: il mediatoreintention: l'intenzioneinvisible wall: un muro invisibilecandlelight: le luci delle candelefamily: la famigliabelonging: appartenereFiorentina night: la notte fiorentina

So, you built this, huh? I certainly must have, at some point. All by yourself. I highly doubt. You just considerably know yourself well to have brought yourself here— Or not. Let's just say, I really uh— Fuck, I blacked out, Tied one on the night before. Oh, God. And the day before— Oh, well. Hello, t there. I—uh— And the night before the day before. Christ. All I'm saying is, for this audition you're going to want to keep it classy. Keep it—classy. Let the games begin! In those pants I could make you into anything In these jeans it seems there may indeed be a reason to meet me, and maybe Just maybe If we're playing the same game. You may see me, And we will play together— For eternity. What exact the fuck game are you playing with this guy? I don't remember. Drunken Posers. FUCHK. I hate this game' I love this GAME. Jett How am I supposed to find this tiny Drew Barrymore, before 6 o clock tonight You're going to have to find a way— You might try here What Or here What! How am I supposed to know which kid she is You'll remember her—she'll remember you Yeah, whatever Oh, and another thing— She'll be so cute you want to die. Oh god Hey kid. I've got some new for ya -“[a very tiny Drew Barry otte screams at the top of her lungs] Rig it in time, bro And right in timbre TIMBRE Look, this has been moved up the ladder some. Excuse me? Chain of command. Are you telling me, that I somehow outrank— This fool. This fool. Ugh. In the Illuminati? *shrugs* She outranks me. Dang, dude. What are you gonna do? Nothing, I guess. That's not an answer. SUNNI! What. WHAT HAPPENED?! I don't know. That is NOT an answer. We wear black in winter. Well, at least I got the dress code right… Welcome To New York. We wear black in winter. Walk at a fast pace into oncoming traffic. Every. Single. Thing. Is a— Speeding Silver— Bullet. (If you catch it, [you can]try to paint it gold. Toucan Sam I will tell you- I will tell you— I will tell you again. You don't exist, It's moot that I don't exist. It's that I'm extract l. L l It's that I'm extinct Okay, look; this is— not what you're used to. What am I used to? You're a Piglet. Eeyore. Where's Pooh? Probably with Tigger. Well. Well. I guess it's just—us—then. … … [beat] (A long, heavy pause for dramatic effect) F—-ck this is awkward. Producer foods: P B & J Check. And almond butter. Nice. This is horrible. But here it goes. What is. Here it goes: Noodles. Check. soy sauce? Yessir. Steak. Check. Scissors. Check. [beat] Uh. Mau5. WHAT CHICKEN. why does he have a cat named chicken! We're about to find out. What are the scissors for? Exit, exit now. Why? FUDGE. HOT FUDGE. Damn, Dillon. wtf. Flashback: (Listening to Dillon Francis on heavy rotation at acid-level synesthesia) *smacks lisp* @9@ lol okay ***smacks lips*** Does this taste sweet to you? I still see that one cereal box and get reminded of Dillon Francis a lot. Facts. Ketchup. Facts. Vanilla Soy Milk Correct. Out of all the comedians I studied, Jay Pharoah was my new favorite. Yes, my new favorite comedian. There were the old favorites— The classics, if you will. You know Bernie Mac, Kat Williams, Robin Williams— And this, by the way, is in no particular order— Eddie Murphy Cedric— (Sorry I thought you were dead, broh.) Cereal. Yup. Two kinds! Teriyaki—for the noodles? Did I not mention that with the soy sauce already? It should be maybe like included with the soy sauce. No, its seperate. Dane Cook. Really dawg, come on. Richard Pryor. Titans, broh, titans. PERCIUS Yo. NO. NOO—NO. Shut up. I gotta tell you something. *screaming girlie* NO. Shut up! I told you all along. No you didn't! She—cannot—be trusted! You encouraged it! You—don't tell me what I did— You did that! You just worry about what you did— What I did?! What you've done!! What— Oh god. Oh jeez. Oh, shit, son!! I gotta get goin. Wait, you're right: where is Liz? Good question. This is not safe. This cannot be safe. It's not safe. This is not KOSHER. What's it matter to you? It SO matters. Are you a Jew, now? It might suit me at this point. Or eventually, it may. What's that supposed to mean. Quiet, Liz. We're almost finished. Finished with what. Just one more *strap* Oh, great another— Shh. DOCTOR! DOCTOR. Nobody can hear you. Oh! But they will. They won't. And why not?! Because, you're a cartoon character; and even if you weren't. What are you talking about?! I'm Liz Lemon! Yes—that is—semi-correct. Semi correct?! It is fully correct! Elizabeth Lemon would be fully correct— by definition. What—what are you doing? Preparing for takeoff. Takeoff?! Where are you sending me. Takeoff from The Migos feels a small pull in his heart, and a ringing in his ears, as he becomes the first living Migo to be mentioned in the festival project. Huh. {Enter The Multiverse} First of all, his Skrillex impression l— Spot on. Because yes, As we all know— Those of us who were there to watch Skrillex Personally sign on to The Illuminati Via Justin Bieber— Nothing so quite remarkably Brought back its pungent memory— The song that in one phrase, Both started and ended it all, Than Jay Pharoh's own memorandum, A representation by impression, Of this particular sound, Known lovingly otherwise as “Skrillex” And however, was the Pause What in the fuck did I just see. Oh, that's just Skrillex . I knew it was you. Yes, yes you did… Okay— Now. Now where are you going to go? I don't know. That's not an answer. Oh god. Right. It's just a bodiless fuckin Like an orb. That's what you'd call that? I'd call it more of like A florecent, gellatenous— Presently, yes— Blob, of sorts. Oh shit. This bitch said “bomb” and Kamala in the same sentence. lol. Yikes. She finna be famous, on accident. Probably on purpose, but if it was gonna be on accident— it'd be because of that. You right. Man, I'm fuckin ba— —ked. kettle chips. I love those. How are they kettle chips if they're baked. *shrugs* I dunno. Damn. Alright. That nigga is fine as fuck. Dont we all know it. Get him the fuck out of my face. Whatchu mean?! It's eye candy. I don't eat candy! Unless it's spelled with a k and made of letters! Okay Alright —and even then and only then will I eat it if I am inexplicably drunk or in any other way otherwise intoxicated. Ok, damn. Ok Sunnï. Now, get that nugga out of my eyesight. He's not He's not technically “in your eyesight” EVEN MY PERIPHERIAL. Ok. AND NY FORESIGHT, and my HINDSIGHT OK. Ok Sunnï. AND MY FORESKIN, AND MY FOREHEAD AND NY FORESHADOWING— LOOK. JUST GET HIM OUT OF MY LIFE OUT OF LIFE the whole life OUT MY LIFE. Ok. On it. Two minutes to wrap this up Before the fast of the century Falls flat on its face Like the rice noodles I'm about to stuff your face with Pronto the moment You arrive back in your body Where am I now? At a rave. (In the bathtub) Which is—accurate? Which isn't? [A Cult Classic] Around 1:30 we rendezvous Until, that is, This posts, with the rest of them And as of then, We'll meet again, At another time (Set no reminders) Cameras flash and shines the diamond. Is that it? Yeah, I thinks so. Are you sure? I mean, produce stuff. Peppers, onions, whatever. —are you sure? Yeah, that's it. Are you serious? What? What's wrong. Where's the Jimmy Fallon's? What?! (They're gonna kill me for this) Playtoy, plaything Gets old real l quick It's love, not lust Gets home round ten Get up round 6 Makes the round. Wraps a towel around his head Writes love on her arm It's a real nice story, If you're surviving the apocalypse. Lips, lips, yeah Lipstick, lipstick Golden charriots And Blondish wigs sis Since when did you get hip Since hip replacement No birthday presents; But it's too late, isn't it? It really is, it really is It's too late, isn't it It really is, it really is —but, it's too late, isn't it. I want you to watch this. What is it. Not sure yet. Uhm, okay: See you later. What, you're not going to watch it with me? You're gonna need a professional fluffer. Call my agent and my lawyer. Aren't they the same guy? What?! NO! *shrugs* What the fuck is wrong with everybody! Sorry imm late! Hey tigger. Tigger. It is I. Where's Pooh. How should I know? We thought he was with you. Who is we —? Us, And what do I look like—his keeper? Do the Charlie Brown. What?! Do the Charlie Brown! What? Like wawahwahwa?? No! Idiot! The dance. The what. Do the dance?! I don't know what that is. What. What the fuck. I thought you was supposed to be funny. I am! I was. But you don't know how to Charlie Brown I know how to Charlie Brown! I just did the “wahwahwa” That's the teacher! Man, shut up! You—what?! There's a dance! I didn't know there's a dance! What the fuck, man. You lose, dawg. What do you want from me?! Hold on! Boss. What?! He don't know how to do the Charlie Brown. What. I said. That nigga don't know how do to the Charlie Brown?! He say he don't! Man— Man!!! I said! Shoot that nigga! Jay Pharoh, another notable SNL alumni, however From the wonder years in which I had really never watched, but only glossed under in curiosity— Just so happened to be the definitive test of my overall attraction to members of my own “race” classification— And an incredible impressionist— Maybe even the best, ever. But here, let me explain the first part. I realized that simply, watching his performance , That I was certainly not— Nor might I ever be— Attracted to black men. Yes, indeed. Jay Pharoh stood as the equivalent of The girl the gay guy kisses passionately in order attempt to achieve arousal from such an act, by this, I mean: That I watched this stand up performance as a straight female, fellow performer, and sapiosexual— In knowing and understanding that, I was watching this man, as I had many others, Doing something I found incredibly attractive— Actually, almost irresistible— Performance art; Live performance art— Better yet, Stand up comedy, which I have yet to have fully broken the code—meaning that this act— An illusive mystery to me as to how exactly it is practiced; Whereas with music the viel has since been lifted— There still exists a certain type of magic in the act of performing stand up comedy, especially to large audiences. And so, in the sense that Jay Pharoh—a notable SNL alumni, an incredible performer and with the added bonus of being an extremely attractive and accomplished fellow l— There should be some kind of —you know— Erotic spark involved in watching this performance;such as the young gay man uses his willing perceivably attractive female friend as a practice test in order to better understand his own identity and circumstance, so was this Not entirely on purpose— But actually, hy complete accident, and Just as the young gay might realize upon kissing his female friend— I realized this: Jay Pharoh to me was an incredibly beautiful human being— So incredibly beautiful, in fact, that several times during his performance— I actually wanted to cry. Cry actual tears— And while I realized that this man, As beautiful as he was— Physically, and spiritually— Aesthetically, and otherwise— Hitting all the marks in all the places that he should, There was one thing that made it feel as if, In anything at all in the world, We were incompatible. Not to say that I could put myself into the category of upper echelon women to compete over such an admired person at all— But only finally realizing something important about myself, that just so happened to be as important as the formerly unsure gay's sexuality is to him; My attraction to black men did not exist. Like I said, it was bad— Or at least, it sounds bad. But now I finally get it. This man, Who had everything I could dream of and more, Who happened to be in peak shape, At the height of his career, And incredible in every single possible way— Who was, So beautiful, in fact, inside and out— That I nearly did cry— Still wasn't someone I wanted to have sex with. Case solved. Of course, this man can do much better. That's far beyond the point; And, If there is a point at all to any of this, it's that Gender, and sexuality, and attraction are still In this time Just as much of a mystery to humanity as it's ever been, and as much as it'll ever be The theory of genetic attraction so far is entirely existent only in my mind— or perhaps even, hidden somewhere deeply in secret within my genetic code, as the closer I age toward my own maternal peak, the more spacific the traits in the opposite sex which dictate what I am and am not or will or will not be attracted to sexually. Does that make me a racist any more than a homosexual's explicit desires to see a same-gendered person over the opposite makes them a mysognoist or otherwise? #karmageddon And while I've struggled in my cellibacy to adapt to a changing world, realizing that my viewpoints and beliefs, my code of ethics and even my own morals have become somewhat obsolete that, I'm forced to recon, alongside with my non-binary assignment, that the need to procreate as a female, a natural phenomenon and this desire for change within the current genetic predisposition Is something like homosexuality, in that My particular genetic code And the particular genetic code of my potential mate rests with the knowledge that my own intrinsic sexual attraction or converse aversion to one determination over another is in part due to the structure of evolution within our species with the higher purpose of creating offspring more likely to survive and succeed within the world's consistently changing climate—sociologically and otherwise. What in the fuck does this have to do with comedy?! Nothing, this is the equivalent of the recently self-realized gay man having an overaggrandized and theatrical coming-out So what are you coming out with exactly? I don't know. I just like white dudes. That's it? Yeah. . . . #floatingfastdays [The Festival Project ™] That's it?! Yeah. “I like white dudes.” Only white dudes. That's all you were trying to say? Not trying to say. I said it. Like, scientifically, and shit. Are you serious? I want one. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

So, you built this, huh? I certainly must have, at some point. All by yourself. I highly doubt. You just considerably know yourself well to have brought yourself here— Or not. Let's just say, I really uh— Fuck, I blacked out, Tied one on the night before. Oh, God. And the day before— Oh, well. Hello, t there. I—uh— And the night before the day before. Christ. All I'm saying is, for this audition you're going to want to keep it classy. Keep it—classy. Let the games begin! In those pants I could make you into anything In these jeans it seems there may indeed be a reason to meet me, and maybe Just maybe If we're playing the same game. You may see me, And we will play together— For eternity. What exact the fuck game are you playing with this guy? I don't remember. Drunken Posers. FUCHK. I hate this game' I love this GAME. Jett How am I supposed to find this tiny Drew Barrymore, before 6 o clock tonight You're going to have to find a way— You might try here What Or here What! How am I supposed to know which kid she is You'll remember her—she'll remember you Yeah, whatever Oh, and another thing— She'll be so cute you want to die. Oh god Hey kid. I've got some new for ya -“[a very tiny Drew Barry otte screams at the top of her lungs] Rig it in time, bro And right in timbre TIMBRE Look, this has been moved up the ladder some. Excuse me? Chain of command. Are you telling me, that I somehow outrank— This fool. This fool. Ugh. In the Illuminati? *shrugs* She outranks me. Dang, dude. What are you gonna do? Nothing, I guess. That's not an answer. SUNNI! What. WHAT HAPPENED?! I don't know. That is NOT an answer. We wear black in winter. Well, at least I got the dress code right… Welcome To New York. We wear black in winter. Walk at a fast pace into oncoming traffic. Every. Single. Thing. Is a— Speeding Silver— Bullet. (If you catch it, [you can]try to paint it gold. Toucan Sam I will tell you- I will tell you— I will tell you again. You don't exist, It's moot that I don't exist. It's that I'm extract l. L l It's that I'm extinct Okay, look; this is— not what you're used to. What am I used to? You're a Piglet. Eeyore. Where's Pooh? Probably with Tigger. Well. Well. I guess it's just—us—then. … … [beat] (A long, heavy pause for dramatic effect) F—-ck this is awkward. Producer foods: P B & J Check. And almond butter. Nice. This is horrible. But here it goes. What is. Here it goes: Noodles. Check. soy sauce? Yessir. Steak. Check. Scissors. Check. [beat] Uh. Mau5. WHAT CHICKEN. why does he have a cat named chicken! We're about to find out. What are the scissors for? Exit, exit now. Why? FUDGE. HOT FUDGE. Damn, Dillon. wtf. Flashback: (Listening to Dillon Francis on heavy rotation at acid-level synesthesia) *smacks lisp* @9@ lol okay ***smacks lips*** Does this taste sweet to you? I still see that one cereal box and get reminded of Dillon Francis a lot. Facts. Ketchup. Facts. Vanilla Soy Milk Correct. Out of all the comedians I studied, Jay Pharoah was my new favorite. Yes, my new favorite comedian. There were the old favorites— The classics, if you will. You know Bernie Mac, Kat Williams, Robin Williams— And this, by the way, is in no particular order— Eddie Murphy Cedric— (Sorry I thought you were dead, broh.) Cereal. Yup. Two kinds! Teriyaki—for the noodles? Did I not mention that with the soy sauce already? It should be maybe like included with the soy sauce. No, its seperate. Dane Cook. Really dawg, come on. Richard Pryor. Titans, broh, titans. PERCIUS Yo. NO. NOO—NO. Shut up. I gotta tell you something. *screaming girlie* NO. Shut up! I told you all along. No you didn't! She—cannot—be trusted! You encouraged it! You—don't tell me what I did— You did that! You just worry about what you did— What I did?! What you've done!! What— Oh god. Oh jeez. Oh, shit, son!! I gotta get goin. Wait, you're right: where is Liz? Good question. This is not safe. This cannot be safe. It's not safe. This is not KOSHER. What's it matter to you? It SO matters. Are you a Jew, now? It might suit me at this point. Or eventually, it may. What's that supposed to mean. Quiet, Liz. We're almost finished. Finished with what. Just one more *strap* Oh, great another— Shh. DOCTOR! DOCTOR. Nobody can hear you. Oh! But they will. They won't. And why not?! Because, you're a cartoon character; and even if you weren't. What are you talking about?! I'm Liz Lemon! Yes—that is—semi-correct. Semi correct?! It is fully correct! Elizabeth Lemon would be fully correct— by definition. What—what are you doing? Preparing for takeoff. Takeoff?! Where are you sending me. Takeoff from The Migos feels a small pull in his heart, and a ringing in his ears, as he becomes the first living Migo to be mentioned in the festival project. Huh. {Enter The Multiverse} First of all, his Skrillex impression l— Spot on. Because yes, As we all know— Those of us who were there to watch Skrillex Personally sign on to The Illuminati Via Justin Bieber— Nothing so quite remarkably Brought back its pungent memory— The song that in one phrase, Both started and ended it all, Than Jay Pharoh's own memorandum, A representation by impression, Of this particular sound, Known lovingly otherwise as “Skrillex” And however, was the Pause What in the fuck did I just see. Oh, that's just Skrillex . I knew it was you. Yes, yes you did… Okay— Now. Now where are you going to go? I don't know. That's not an answer. Oh god. Right. It's just a bodiless fuckin Like an orb. That's what you'd call that? I'd call it more of like A florecent, gellatenous— Presently, yes— Blob, of sorts. Oh shit. This bitch said “bomb” and Kamala in the same sentence. lol. Yikes. She finna be famous, on accident. Probably on purpose, but if it was gonna be on accident— it'd be because of that. You right. Man, I'm fuckin ba— —ked. kettle chips. I love those. How are they kettle chips if they're baked. *shrugs* I dunno. Damn. Alright. That nigga is fine as fuck. Dont we all know it. Get him the fuck out of my face. Whatchu mean?! It's eye candy. I don't eat candy! Unless it's spelled with a k and made of letters! Okay Alright —and even then and only then will I eat it if I am inexplicably drunk or in any other way otherwise intoxicated. Ok, damn. Ok Sunnï. Now, get that nugga out of my eyesight. He's not He's not technically “in your eyesight” EVEN MY PERIPHERIAL. Ok. AND NY FORESIGHT, and my HINDSIGHT OK. Ok Sunnï. AND MY FORESKIN, AND MY FOREHEAD AND NY FORESHADOWING— LOOK. JUST GET HIM OUT OF MY LIFE OUT OF LIFE the whole life OUT MY LIFE. Ok. On it. Two minutes to wrap this up Before the fast of the century Falls flat on its face Like the rice noodles I'm about to stuff your face with Pronto the moment You arrive back in your body Where am I now? At a rave. (In the bathtub) Which is—accurate? Which isn't? [A Cult Classic] Around 1:30 we rendezvous Until, that is, This posts, with the rest of them And as of then, We'll meet again, At another time (Set no reminders) Cameras flash and shines the diamond. Is that it? Yeah, I thinks so. Are you sure? I mean, produce stuff. Peppers, onions, whatever. —are you sure? Yeah, that's it. Are you serious? What? What's wrong. Where's the Jimmy Fallon's? What?! (They're gonna kill me for this) Playtoy, plaything Gets old real l quick It's love, not lust Gets home round ten Get up round 6 Makes the round. Wraps a towel around his head Writes love on her arm It's a real nice story, If you're surviving the apocalypse. Lips, lips, yeah Lipstick, lipstick Golden charriots And Blondish wigs sis Since when did you get hip Since hip replacement No birthday presents; But it's too late, isn't it? It really is, it really is It's too late, isn't it It really is, it really is —but, it's too late, isn't it. I want you to watch this. What is it. Not sure yet. Uhm, okay: See you later. What, you're not going to watch it with me? You're gonna need a professional fluffer. Call my agent and my lawyer. Aren't they the same guy? What?! NO! *shrugs* What the fuck is wrong with everybody! Sorry imm late! Hey tigger. Tigger. It is I. Where's Pooh. How should I know? We thought he was with you. Who is we —? Us, And what do I look like—his keeper? Do the Charlie Brown. What?! Do the Charlie Brown! What? Like wawahwahwa?? No! Idiot! The dance. The what. Do the dance?! I don't know what that is. What. What the fuck. I thought you was supposed to be funny. I am! I was. But you don't know how to Charlie Brown I know how to Charlie Brown! I just did the “wahwahwa” That's the teacher! Man, shut up! You—what?! There's a dance! I didn't know there's a dance! What the fuck, man. You lose, dawg. What do you want from me?! Hold on! Boss. What?! He don't know how to do the Charlie Brown. What. I said. That nigga don't know how do to the Charlie Brown?! He say he don't! Man— Man!!! I said! Shoot that nigga! Jay Pharoh, another notable SNL alumni, however From the wonder years in which I had really never watched, but only glossed under in curiosity— Just so happened to be the definitive test of my overall attraction to members of my own “race” classification— And an incredible impressionist— Maybe even the best, ever. But here, let me explain the first part. I realized that simply, watching his performance , That I was certainly not— Nor might I ever be— Attracted to black men. Yes, indeed. Jay Pharoh stood as the equivalent of The girl the gay guy kisses passionately in order attempt to achieve arousal from such an act, by this, I mean: That I watched this stand up performance as a straight female, fellow performer, and sapiosexual— In knowing and understanding that, I was watching this man, as I had many others, Doing something I found incredibly attractive— Actually, almost irresistible— Performance art; Live performance art— Better yet, Stand up comedy, which I have yet to have fully broken the code—meaning that this act— An illusive mystery to me as to how exactly it is practiced; Whereas with music the viel has since been lifted— There still exists a certain type of magic in the act of performing stand up comedy, especially to large audiences. And so, in the sense that Jay Pharoh—a notable SNL alumni, an incredible performer and with the added bonus of being an extremely attractive and accomplished fellow l— There should be some kind of —you know— Erotic spark involved in watching this performance;such as the young gay man uses his willing perceivably attractive female friend as a practice test in order to better understand his own identity and circumstance, so was this Not entirely on purpose— But actually, hy complete accident, and Just as the young gay might realize upon kissing his female friend— I realized this: Jay Pharoh to me was an incredibly beautiful human being— So incredibly beautiful, in fact, that several times during his performance— I actually wanted to cry. Cry actual tears— And while I realized that this man, As beautiful as he was— Physically, and spiritually— Aesthetically, and otherwise— Hitting all the marks in all the places that he should, There was one thing that made it feel as if, In anything at all in the world, We were incompatible. Not to say that I could put myself into the category of upper echelon women to compete over such an admired person at all— But only finally realizing something important about myself, that just so happened to be as important as the formerly unsure gay's sexuality is to him; My attraction to black men did not exist. Like I said, it was bad— Or at least, it sounds bad. But now I finally get it. This man, Who had everything I could dream of and more, Who happened to be in peak shape, At the height of his career, And incredible in every single possible way— Who was, So beautiful, in fact, inside and out— That I nearly did cry— Still wasn't someone I wanted to have sex with. Case solved. Of course, this man can do much better. That's far beyond the point; And, If there is a point at all to any of this, it's that Gender, and sexuality, and attraction are still In this time Just as much of a mystery to humanity as it's ever been, and as much as it'll ever be The theory of genetic attraction so far is entirely existent only in my mind— or perhaps even, hidden somewhere deeply in secret within my genetic code, as the closer I age toward my own maternal peak, the more spacific the traits in the opposite sex which dictate what I am and am not or will or will not be attracted to sexually. Does that make me a racist any more than a homosexual's explicit desires to see a same-gendered person over the opposite makes them a mysognoist or otherwise? #karmageddon And while I've struggled in my cellibacy to adapt to a changing world, realizing that my viewpoints and beliefs, my code of ethics and even my own morals have become somewhat obsolete that, I'm forced to recon, alongside with my non-binary assignment, that the need to procreate as a female, a natural phenomenon and this desire for change within the current genetic predisposition Is something like homosexuality, in that My particular genetic code And the particular genetic code of my potential mate rests with the knowledge that my own intrinsic sexual attraction or converse aversion to one determination over another is in part due to the structure of evolution within our species with the higher purpose of creating offspring more likely to survive and succeed within the world's consistently changing climate—sociologically and otherwise. What in the fuck does this have to do with comedy?! Nothing, this is the equivalent of the recently self-realized gay man having an overaggrandized and theatrical coming-out So what are you coming out with exactly? I don't know. I just like white dudes. That's it? Yeah. . . . #floatingfastdays [The Festival Project ™] That's it?! Yeah. “I like white dudes.” Only white dudes. That's all you were trying to say? Not trying to say. I said it. Like, scientifically, and shit. Are you serious? I want one. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © C

So, you built this, huh? I certainly must have, at some point. All by yourself. I highly doubt. You just considerably know yourself well to have brought yourself here— Or not. Let's just say, I really uh— Fuck, I blacked out, Tied one on the night before. Oh, God. And the day before— Oh, well. Hello, t there. I—uh— And the night before the day before. Christ. All I'm saying is, for this audition you're going to want to keep it classy. Keep it—classy. Let the games begin! In those pants I could make you into anything In these jeans it seems there may indeed be a reason to meet me, and maybe Just maybe If we're playing the same game. You may see me, And we will play together— For eternity. What exact the fuck game are you playing with this guy? I don't remember. Drunken Posers. FUCHK. I hate this game' I love this GAME. Jett How am I supposed to find this tiny Drew Barrymore, before 6 o clock tonight You're going to have to find a way— You might try here What Or here What! How am I supposed to know which kid she is You'll remember her—she'll remember you Yeah, whatever Oh, and another thing— She'll be so cute you want to die. Oh god Hey kid. I've got some new for ya -“[a very tiny Drew Barry otte screams at the top of her lungs] Rig it in time, bro And right in timbre TIMBRE Look, this has been moved up the ladder some. Excuse me? Chain of command. Are you telling me, that I somehow outrank— This fool. This fool. Ugh. In the Illuminati? *shrugs* She outranks me. Dang, dude. What are you gonna do? Nothing, I guess. That's not an answer. SUNNI! What. WHAT HAPPENED?! I don't know. That is NOT an answer. We wear black in winter. Well, at least I got the dress code right… Welcome To New York. We wear black in winter. Walk at a fast pace into oncoming traffic. Every. Single. Thing. Is a— Speeding Silver— Bullet. (If you catch it, [you can]try to paint it gold. Toucan Sam I will tell you- I will tell you— I will tell you again. You don't exist, It's moot that I don't exist. It's that I'm extract l. L l It's that I'm extinct Okay, look; this is— not what you're used to. What am I used to? You're a Piglet. Eeyore. Where's Pooh? Probably with Tigger. Well. Well. I guess it's just—us—then. … … [beat] (A long, heavy pause for dramatic effect) F—-ck this is awkward. Producer foods: P B & J Check. And almond butter. Nice. This is horrible. But here it goes. What is. Here it goes: Noodles. Check. soy sauce? Yessir. Steak. Check. Scissors. Check. [beat] Uh. Mau5. WHAT CHICKEN. why does he have a cat named chicken! We're about to find out. What are the scissors for? Exit, exit now. Why? FUDGE. HOT FUDGE. Damn, Dillon. wtf. Flashback: (Listening to Dillon Francis on heavy rotation at acid-level synesthesia) *smacks lisp* @9@ lol okay ***smacks lips*** Does this taste sweet to you? I still see that one cereal box and get reminded of Dillon Francis a lot. Facts. Ketchup. Facts. Vanilla Soy Milk Correct. Out of all the comedians I studied, Jay Pharoah was my new favorite. Yes, my new favorite comedian. There were the old favorites— The classics, if you will. You know Bernie Mac, Kat Williams, Robin Williams— And this, by the way, is in no particular order— Eddie Murphy Cedric— (Sorry I thought you were dead, broh.) Cereal. Yup. Two kinds! Teriyaki—for the noodles? Did I not mention that with the soy sauce already? It should be maybe like included with the soy sauce. No, its seperate. Dane Cook. Really dawg, come on. Richard Pryor. Titans, broh, titans. PERCIUS Yo. NO. NOO—NO. Shut up. I gotta tell you something. *screaming girlie* NO. Shut up! I told you all along. No you didn't! She—cannot—be trusted! You encouraged it! You—don't tell me what I did— You did that! You just worry about what you did— What I did?! What you've done!! What— Oh god. Oh jeez. Oh, shit, son!! I gotta get goin. Wait, you're right: where is Liz? Good question. This is not safe. This cannot be safe. It's not safe. This is not KOSHER. What's it matter to you? It SO matters. Are you a Jew, now? It might suit me at this point. Or eventually, it may. What's that supposed to mean. Quiet, Liz. We're almost finished. Finished with what. Just one more *strap* Oh, great another— Shh. DOCTOR! DOCTOR. Nobody can hear you. Oh! But they will. They won't. And why not?! Because, you're a cartoon character; and even if you weren't. What are you talking about?! I'm Liz Lemon! Yes—that is—semi-correct. Semi correct?! It is fully correct! Elizabeth Lemon would be fully correct— by definition. What—what are you doing? Preparing for takeoff. Takeoff?! Where are you sending me. Takeoff from The Migos feels a small pull in his heart, and a ringing in his ears, as he becomes the first living Migo to be mentioned in the festival project. Huh. {Enter The Multiverse} First of all, his Skrillex impression l— Spot on. Because yes, As we all know— Those of us who were there to watch Skrillex Personally sign on to The Illuminati Via Justin Bieber— Nothing so quite remarkably Brought back its pungent memory— The song that in one phrase, Both started and ended it all, Than Jay Pharoh's own memorandum, A representation by impression, Of this particular sound, Known lovingly otherwise as “Skrillex” And however, was the Pause What in the fuck did I just see. Oh, that's just Skrillex . I knew it was you. Yes, yes you did… Okay— Now. Now where are you going to go? I don't know. That's not an answer. Oh god. Right. It's just a bodiless fuckin Like an orb. That's what you'd call that? I'd call it more of like A florecent, gellatenous— Presently, yes— Blob, of sorts. Oh shit. This bitch said “bomb” and Kamala in the same sentence. lol. Yikes. She finna be famous, on accident. Probably on purpose, but if it was gonna be on accident— it'd be because of that. You right. Man, I'm fuckin ba— —ked. kettle chips. I love those. How are they kettle chips if they're baked. *shrugs* I dunno. Damn. Alright. That nigga is fine as fuck. Dont we all know it. Get him the fuck out of my face. Whatchu mean?! It's eye candy. I don't eat candy! Unless it's spelled with a k and made of letters! Okay Alright —and even then and only then will I eat it if I am inexplicably drunk or in any other way otherwise intoxicated. Ok, damn. Ok Sunnï. Now, get that nugga out of my eyesight. He's not He's not technically “in your eyesight” EVEN MY PERIPHERIAL. Ok. AND NY FORESIGHT, and my HINDSIGHT OK. Ok Sunnï. AND MY FORESKIN, AND MY FOREHEAD AND NY FORESHADOWING— LOOK. JUST GET HIM OUT OF MY LIFE OUT OF LIFE the whole life OUT MY LIFE. Ok. On it. Two minutes to wrap this up Before the fast of the century Falls flat on its face Like the rice noodles I'm about to stuff your face with Pronto the moment You arrive back in your body Where am I now? At a rave. (In the bathtub) Which is—accurate? Which isn't? [A Cult Classic] Around 1:30 we rendezvous Until, that is, This posts, with the rest of them And as of then, We'll meet again, At another time (Set no reminders) Cameras flash and shines the diamond. Is that it? Yeah, I thinks so. Are you sure? I mean, produce stuff. Peppers, onions, whatever. —are you sure? Yeah, that's it. Are you serious? What? What's wrong. Where's the Jimmy Fallon's? What?! (They're gonna kill me for this) Playtoy, plaything Gets old real l quick It's love, not lust Gets home round ten Get up round 6 Makes the round. Wraps a towel around his head Writes love on her arm It's a real nice story, If you're surviving the apocalypse. Lips, lips, yeah Lipstick, lipstick Golden charriots And Blondish wigs sis Since when did you get hip Since hip replacement No birthday presents; But it's too late, isn't it? It really is, it really is It's too late, isn't it It really is, it really is —but, it's too late, isn't it. I want you to watch this. What is it. Not sure yet. Uhm, okay: See you later. What, you're not going to watch it with me? You're gonna need a professional fluffer. Call my agent and my lawyer. Aren't they the same guy? What?! NO! *shrugs* What the fuck is wrong with everybody! Sorry imm late! Hey tigger. Tigger. It is I. Where's Pooh. How should I know? We thought he was with you. Who is we —? Us, And what do I look like—his keeper? Do the Charlie Brown. What?! Do the Charlie Brown! What? Like wawahwahwa?? No! Idiot! The dance. The what. Do the dance?! I don't know what that is. What. What the fuck. I thought you was supposed to be funny. I am! I was. But you don't know how to Charlie Brown I know how to Charlie Brown! I just did the “wahwahwa” That's the teacher! Man, shut up! You—what?! There's a dance! I didn't know there's a dance! What the fuck, man. You lose, dawg. What do you want from me?! Hold on! Boss. What?! He don't know how to do the Charlie Brown. What. I said. That nigga don't know how do to the Charlie Brown?! He say he don't! Man— Man!!! I said! Shoot that nigga! Jay Pharoh, another notable SNL alumni, however From the wonder years in which I had really never watched, but only glossed under in curiosity— Just so happened to be the definitive test of my overall attraction to members of my own “race” classification— And an incredible impressionist— Maybe even the best, ever. But here, let me explain the first part. I realized that simply, watching his performance , That I was certainly not— Nor might I ever be— Attracted to black men. Yes, indeed. Jay Pharoh stood as the equivalent of The girl the gay guy kisses passionately in order attempt to achieve arousal from such an act, by this, I mean: That I watched this stand up performance as a straight female, fellow performer, and sapiosexual— In knowing and understanding that, I was watching this man, as I had many others, Doing something I found incredibly attractive— Actually, almost irresistible— Performance art; Live performance art— Better yet, Stand up comedy, which I have yet to have fully broken the code—meaning that this act— An illusive mystery to me as to how exactly it is practiced; Whereas with music the viel has since been lifted— There still exists a certain type of magic in the act of performing stand up comedy, especially to large audiences. And so, in the sense that Jay Pharoh—a notable SNL alumni, an incredible performer and with the added bonus of being an extremely attractive and accomplished fellow l— There should be some kind of —you know— Erotic spark involved in watching this performance;such as the young gay man uses his willing perceivably attractive female friend as a practice test in order to better understand his own identity and circumstance, so was this Not entirely on purpose— But actually, hy complete accident, and Just as the young gay might realize upon kissing his female friend— I realized this: Jay Pharoh to me was an incredibly beautiful human being— So incredibly beautiful, in fact, that several times during his performance— I actually wanted to cry. Cry actual tears— And while I realized that this man, As beautiful as he was— Physically, and spiritually— Aesthetically, and otherwise— Hitting all the marks in all the places that he should, There was one thing that made it feel as if, In anything at all in the world, We were incompatible. Not to say that I could put myself into the category of upper echelon women to compete over such an admired person at all— But only finally realizing something important about myself, that just so happened to be as important as the formerly unsure gay's sexuality is to him; My attraction to black men did not exist. Like I said, it was bad— Or at least, it sounds bad. But now I finally get it. This man, Who had everything I could dream of and more, Who happened to be in peak shape, At the height of his career, And incredible in every single possible way— Who was, So beautiful, in fact, inside and out— That I nearly did cry— Still wasn't someone I wanted to have sex with. Case solved. Of course, this man can do much better. That's far beyond the point; And, If there is a point at all to any of this, it's that Gender, and sexuality, and attraction are still In this time Just as much of a mystery to humanity as it's ever been, and as much as it'll ever be The theory of genetic attraction so far is entirely existent only in my mind— or perhaps even, hidden somewhere deeply in secret within my genetic code, as the closer I age toward my own maternal peak, the more spacific the traits in the opposite sex which dictate what I am and am not or will or will not be attracted to sexually. Does that make me a racist any more than a homosexual's explicit desires to see a same-gendered person over the opposite makes them a mysognoist or otherwise? #karmageddon And while I've struggled in my cellibacy to adapt to a changing world, realizing that my viewpoints and beliefs, my code of ethics and even my own morals have become somewhat obsolete that, I'm forced to recon, alongside with my non-binary assignment, that the need to procreate as a female, a natural phenomenon and this desire for change within the current genetic predisposition Is something like homosexuality, in that My particular genetic code And the particular genetic code of my potential mate rests with the knowledge that my own intrinsic sexual attraction or converse aversion to one determination over another is in part due to the structure of evolution within our species with the higher purpose of creating offspring more likely to survive and succeed within the world's consistently changing climate—sociologically and otherwise. What in the fuck does this have to do with comedy?! Nothing, this is the equivalent of the recently self-realized gay man having an overaggrandized and theatrical coming-out So what are you coming out with exactly? I don't know. I just like white dudes. That's it? Yeah. . . . #floatingfastdays [The Festival Project ™] That's it?! Yeah. “I like white dudes.” Only white dudes. That's all you were trying to say? Not trying to say. I said it. Like, scientifically, and shit. Are you serious? I want one. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Autumn Reconciliation: A Sibling's Journey to Forgiveness Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/autumn-reconciliation-a-siblings-journey-to-forgiveness Story Transcript:It: Il vento fresco dell'autunno sibilava tra gli alberi del bosco fitto ai piedi degli Appennini.En: The fresh autumn wind whistled through the trees of the dense forest at the foot of the Appennini.It: Le foglie cadevano, coprendo il suolo in un tappeto di colori vivaci: ambra, arancione e cremisi.En: The leaves fell, covering the ground in a carpet of vibrant colors: amber, orange, and crimson.It: Giorgio camminava lungo il sentiero stretto e tortuoso, con le mani infilate nelle tasche.En: Giorgio walked along the narrow and winding path, with his hands tucked in his pockets.It: Il suo cuore era pesante.En: His heart was heavy.It: Livia lo aspettava all'ingresso della loro vecchia casa.En: Livia awaited him at the entrance of their old house.It: Quando Giorgio vide Livia, qualcosa in lui si spezzò.En: When Giorgio saw Livia, something in him broke.It: Livia lo fissò con occhi pieni di emozioni contrastanti.En: Livia stared at him with eyes full of conflicting emotions.It: "Ciao, Livia," disse Giorgio con voce incerta.En: "Hi, Livia," said Giorgio with an uncertain voice.It: Livia incrociò le braccia.En: Livia crossed her arms.It: "Hai trovato il tempo di tornare, finalmente?"En: "You finally found time to come back?"It: Giorgio sospirò.En: Giorgio sighed.It: "Livia, mi dispiace.En: "Livia, I'm sorry.It: So di aver sbagliato a lasciarti sola con papà.En: I know I was wrong to leave you alone with dad.It: Ma dobbiamo parlare di lui adesso."En: But we need to talk about him now."It: Livia guardò verso gli alberi, cercando di nascondere le lacrime.En: Livia looked toward the trees, trying to hide her tears.It: "Mi hai lasciata qui a gestire tutto da sola, Giorgio.En: "You left me here to handle everything by myself, Giorgio.It: Non puoi semplicemente tornare e pretendere di risolvere tutto."En: You can't just come back and expect to fix everything."It: Giorgio si fermò e guardò il cielo, come se cercasse forza.En: Giorgio stopped and looked at the sky, as if seeking strength.It: "Non è facile per me ammetterlo, ma sono andato via perché avevo paura, non ero pronto.En: "It's not easy for me to admit it, but I left because I was afraid, I wasn't ready.It: La città... mi ha travolto.En: The city... overwhelmed me.It: Ma adesso voglio essere qui.En: But now I want to be here.It: Dobbiamo decidere insieme per la salute di papà."En: We need to decide together for dad's health."It: Livia lo guardò intensamente.En: Livia looked at him intently.It: "Perché ora, Giorgio?En: "Why now, Giorgio?It: Perché ti importa adesso?"En: Why do you care now?"It: Giorgio si avvicinò a lei, la voce tremante.En: Giorgio approached her, his voice trembling.It: "Perché ho capito che niente è più importante della famiglia.En: "Because I realized that nothing is more important than family.It: Ho bisogno del tuo perdono, Livia, e papà ha bisogno di noi."En: I need your forgiveness, Livia, and dad needs us."It: Le parole di Giorgio galleggiarono nell'aria fresca del bosco prima di sprofondare nel cuore di Livia.En: Giorgio's words floated in the fresh forest air before sinking into Livia's heart.It: Sentiva la rabbia svanire lentamente.En: She felt the anger slowly fade away.It: La discussione si intensificò, i termini riaffioravano come onde tempestose.En: The discussion intensified, terms resurfacing like stormy waves.It: "Non è stato facile anche per me," confessò Giorgio.En: "It wasn't easy for me either," Giorgio confessed.It: "Non ti ho mai detto quanto mi mancaste entrambi... quanto volevo tornare."En: "I never told you how much I missed you both... how much I wanted to come back."It: Livia annuì lentamente.En: Livia nodded slowly.It: "Forse... possiamo pianificare insieme.En: "Maybe... we can plan together.It: E prendersi cura di papà come avrebbe voluto."En: And take care of dad as he would have wanted."It: Giorgio sorrise, sollevato.En: Giorgio smiled, relieved.It: Si avvicinarono, il suono delle foglie croccanti sotto i piedi accompagnava i loro passi verso una comprensione reciproca.En: They moved closer, the sound of crunchy leaves beneath their feet accompanying their steps toward mutual understanding.It: Decisero di fare un piano che rispettasse le vite di entrambi, impegnandosi a non lasciare che la distanza li separasse di nuovo.En: They decided to make a plan that respected both of their lives, committing to not letting distance separate them again.It: Il sole calava dietro le montagne, dipingendo il cielo con sfumature dorate.En: The sun set behind the mountains, painting the sky with golden hues.It: Giorgio e Livia, finalmente riconciliati, sapevano che il loro cammino insieme era appena iniziato.En: Giorgio and Livia, finally reconciled, knew that their journey together was just beginning.It: Il bosco, testimone silenzioso delle loro emozioni, sembrava rasserenarsi insieme a loro.En: The forest, a silent witness to their emotions, seemed to calm along with them. Vocabulary Words:the wind: il ventoto whistle: sibilarethe forest: il boscodense: fittothe leaves: le fogliethe carpet: il tappetovibrant: vivaciamber: ambracrimson: cremisinarrow: strettowinding: tortuosoto tuck: infilareto await: aspettarethe path: il sentieroto sigh: sospirareto confess: confessareintently: intensamentetrembling: tremanteforgiveness: il perdonoto float: galleggiareto sink: sprofondareto fade: svanirestormy: tempestoseto nod: annuireto plan: pianificareto take care: prendersi curathe crunch: il suono croccanteto accompany: accompagnareto commit: impegnarsishade: sfumatura

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Vanished Art: A Summer Drama in Milan's Artistic Haven Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/vanished-art-a-summer-drama-in-milans-artistic-haven Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore della calda estate milanese, lungo i canali del quartiere Navigli, il sole tramontava lentamente, illuminando di arancio le acque che scorrevano placide.En: In the heart of the hot Milanese summer, along the canals of the Navigli district, the sun set slowly, painting the gently flowing waters orange.It: Il quartiere era un mosaico vivente di caffè vibranti, negozi variopinti e artisti occupati a preparare le loro opere.En: The neighborhood was a living mosaic of vibrant cafes, colorful shops, and artists busy preparing their works.It: Tra questi artisti c'era Beatrice, il cui cuore batteva all'impazzata.En: Among these artists was Beatrice, whose heart raced frantically.It: La sua mostra si avvicinava sempre di più e c'era un problema enorme: l'opera principale del suo lavoro era sparita.En: Her exhibit was fast approaching, and there was a huge problem: the main piece of her work had disappeared.It: Si trovava nel suo studio una settimana fa, poi, svanita nel nulla.En: It had been in her studio a week ago, then vanished into thin air.It: Beatrice non poteva crederci.En: Beatrice couldn't believe it.It: Era un incubo in piena realtà.En: It was a nightmare in full reality.It: Accanto a lei, nervoso quanto lei, c'era Silvio, il suo fedele assistente.En: Beside her, just as nervous, was Silvio, her faithful assistant.It: Aveva lavorato instancabilmente per aiutare Beatrice, ma sentiva che i suoi sforzi non erano mai veramente apprezzati.En: He had worked tirelessly to help Beatrice but felt his efforts were never truly appreciated.It: E poi c'era Lorenzo, un artista in difficoltà.En: And then there was Lorenzo, a struggling artist.It: Guardava Beatrice e sentiva dentro di sé un senso di ingiustizia.En: He watched Beatrice and felt a sense of injustice inside him.It: Lui non era stato invitato a esporre, e, sebbene sapesse che non era giusto, il suo cuore era pesante di invidia.En: He hadn't been invited to exhibit, and although he knew it wasn't right, his heart was heavy with envy.It: Mentre la tensione cresceva, Beatrice pensava a chi poteva chiedere aiuto.En: As the tension grew, Beatrice thought about whom she could ask for help.It: Doveva fidarsi?En: Should she trust someone?It: Doveva fare tutto da sola?En: Should she do it all by herself?It: Nel frattempo, Lorenzo lottava con la sua coscienza.En: Meanwhile, Lorenzo wrestled with his conscience.It: Era tentato di lasciare Beatrice fallire, ma sapeva che non era corretto.En: He was tempted to let Beatrice fail, but he knew it wasn't right.It: Silvio, frustrato, era indeciso se continuare a sopportare in silenzio o finalmente dire quello che sentiva.En: Silvio, frustrated, was undecided about whether to continue enduring in silence or finally speak his mind.It: Il tempo correva e la pressione aumentava.En: Time was running out, and the pressure was mounting.It: Beatrice, presa dalla disperazione, decise di affrontare Lorenzo.En: Driven by desperation, Beatrice decided to confront Lorenzo.It: "So che sai qualcosa," dichiarò lei, con una voce ferma e tremante.En: "I know you know something," she declared, her voice firm yet trembling.It: Lorenzo vacillò, il nodo della gelosia stretto in gola.En: Lorenzo faltered, the knot of jealousy tight in his throat.It: Ma prima che potesse rispondere, Silvio esplose: "Basta!En: But before he could respond, Silvio burst out: "Enough!It: Sono stufo di stare zitto.En: I'm tired of staying silent.It: Beatrice, so dove si trova il pezzo.En: Beatrice, I know where the piece is.It: Era nel magazzino, tra le mie cose!En: It was in the storeroom, among my things!"It: "Tutti si fermarono, il tempo sembrò sospeso.En: Everyone stopped; time seemed to stand still.It: Beatrice guardò Silvio con sorpresa e sollievo.En: Beatrice looked at Silvio with surprise and relief.It: "Perché non me l'hai detto prima?En: "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"It: " chiese lei, colma di gratitudine e un po' di rimprovero.En: she asked, full of gratitude and a bit of reproach.It: Silvio abbassò lo sguardo, la tensione finalmente sciolta.En: Silvio lowered his gaze, tension finally released.It: "Ero arrabbiato e.En: "I was angry and...It: volevo essere visto anch'io," confessò.En: I wanted to be seen too," he confessed.It: Con il pezzo ritrovato, Beatrice era pronta per l'esposizione.En: With the piece found, Beatrice was ready for the exhibition.It: La serata si rivelò un successo e, dopo il caos e le emozioni, comprese quanto fosse importante conoscere e apprezzare chi camminava con lei nel cammino artistico.En: The evening turned out to be a success, and after the chaos and emotions, she understood how important it was to know and appreciate those who walked with her on her artistic journey.It: Alla fine, Lorenzo decise di mettere da parte la sua gelosia e dedicarsi alla sua arte per crescere.En: In the end, Lorenzo decided to set aside his jealousy and focus on his art to grow.It: Silvio, da parte sua, trovò il coraggio di esprimere le sue aspirazioni, e con l'attenzione affettuosa di Beatrice, iniziò a sentirsi valorizzato.En: Silvio, on his part, found the courage to express his aspirations, and with Beatrice's affectionate attention, he began to feel valued.It: Sul Naviglio, in quella serata d'estate, l'atmosfera era perfetta, cercando un futuro pieno di nuove possibilità.En: On the Naviglio, that summer evening, the atmosphere was perfect, paving the way for a future full of new possibilities. Vocabulary Words:the heart: il cuorethe summer: l'estatethe canal: il canalethe neighborhood: il quartierethe mosaic: il mosaicothe cafe: il caffèthe shops: i negozithe artist: l'artistathe piece: il pezzothe studio: lo studiothe nightmare: l'incubothe reality: la realtàthe assistant: l'assistentethe effort: lo sforzothe injustice: l'ingiustiziathe envy: l'invidiathe tension: la tensionethe conscience: la coscienzathe pressure: la pressionethe desperation: la disperazionethe jealousy: la gelosiathe silence: il silenziothe relief: il sollievothe gratitude: la gratitudinethe reproach: il rimproverothe confession: la confessionethe exhibition: l'esposizionethe success: il successothe chaos: il caosthe emotion: l'emozione

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unleashing Bonds: A Ferragosto Adventure on the Amalfi Coast Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/unleashing-bonds-a-ferragosto-adventure-on-the-amalfi-coast Story Transcript:It: Lungo la splendida Costiera Amalfitana, in un'estate calda e vivace, Luca e Sofia erano in vacanza con un gruppo di amici.En: Along the beautiful Amalfi Coast, during a hot and lively summer, Luca and Sofia were on vacation with a group of friends.It: Il sole brillava forte, e il profumo dei limoni riempiva l'aria mentre le onde si infrangevano dolcemente contro la riva.En: The sun shone brightly, and the scent of lemons filled the air as the waves gently lapped against the shore.It: Era Ferragosto, un giorno speciale per celebrare con amici e famiglia.En: It was Ferragosto, a special day to celebrate with friends and family.It: Sofia era preoccupata.En: Sofia was worried.It: Aveva perso qualcosa di prezioso, un braccialetto che le aveva regalato sua nonna.En: She had lost something precious, a bracelet her grandmother had given her.It: Non voleva chiedere aiuto, ma l'agitazione cresceva.En: She didn't want to ask for help, but her agitation grew.It: Luca, un ragazzo perspicace ma spesso distante, notò la tristezza negli occhi di Sofia.En: Luca, a perceptive but often distant young man, noticed the sadness in Sofia's eyes.It: "Sofia, tutto bene?"En: "Sofia, is everything okay?"It: chiese Luca con attenzione.En: Luca asked with concern.It: "Sì, sì, tutto bene," rispose Sofia, cercando di nascondere la sua vulnerabilità con un sorriso.En: "Yes, yes, everything's fine," Sofia replied, trying to hide her vulnerability with a smile.It: Luca percepì la barriera di Sofia.En: Luca sensed Sofia's barrier.It: Desiderava aiutarla e conoscerla meglio.En: He wanted to help her and get to know her better.It: Decise di agire, anche se rischiava di creare un po' di tensione.En: He decided to take action, even if it risked causing a bit of tension.It: Organizzò il gruppo di amici, proponendo un gioco: una caccia al tesoro per tutta la città.En: He gathered the group of friends and suggested a game: a treasure hunt throughout the town.It: Le strade erano piene di turisti e i colori vivaci delle case facevano da cornice all'euforia del Ferragosto.En: The streets were full of tourists, and the vibrant colors of the houses framed the euphoria of Ferragosto.It: Sofia era riluttante all'inizio, ma, vedendo l'entusiasmo degli amici, accettò di unirsi alla ricerca.En: Sofia was reluctant at first, but seeing the enthusiasm of her friends, she agreed to join the search.It: Mentre il gruppo si sparpagliava, Luca si avvicinò a Sofia.En: As the group scattered, Luca approached Sofia.It: "So che hai perso qualcosa di importante.En: "I know you've lost something important.It: Vorrei aiutarti a ritrovarlo," disse con sincerità.En: I'd like to help you find it," he said sincerely.It: Sofia si fermò, guardando Luca.En: Sofia paused, looking at Luca.It: In quel momento, decise di abbassare la propria difesa.En: In that moment, she decided to lower her guard.It: "È un braccialetto, quello di mia nonna.En: "It's a bracelet, my grandmother's.It: Ha un grande valore affettivo."En: It has great sentimental value."It: La confessione di Sofia cambiò l'atmosfera.En: Sofia's confession changed the atmosphere.It: Gli amici, tutti uniti, iniziarono a cercare con maggiore serietà.En: The friends, all united, began searching with more seriousness.It: La condivisione di Sofia la fece sentire più leggera, e Luca, sentendosi più connesso al gruppo, orchestrò un piano per cercare nei vicoli principali e nei luoghi più affollati.En: Sofia's sharing made her feel lighter, and Luca, feeling more connected to the group, orchestrated a plan to search in the main alleyways and the most crowded places.It: Finalmente, durante la festa di Ferragosto, tra musica e risate, uno degli amici trovò il braccialetto nel parco, tra l'erba vicino a una panchina.En: Finally, during the Ferragosto celebration, amidst music and laughter, one of the friends found the bracelet in the park, in the grass near a bench.It: Con un grido di gioia, lo restituì a Sofia, che gli occhi colmi di gratitudine e commozione abbracciò Luca, sorridendo.En: With a joyful shout, he returned it to Sofia, who, eyes full of gratitude and emotion, embraced Luca, smiling.It: Quella sera, mentre le stelle illuminavano il cielo sopra di loro, la compagnia festeggiava il ritrovamento e l'amicizia.En: That evening, as the stars illuminated the sky above them, the group celebrated the finding and their friendship.It: Sofia capì il valore della comunità e dell'aiuto reciproco, mentre Luca si sentì finalmente parte di qualcosa di speciale.En: Sofia understood the value of community and mutual support, while Luca felt he was finally part of something special.It: Tra di loro era nata una nuova amicizia, profonda e sincera.En: A new friendship had formed between them, deep and sincere. Vocabulary Words:the coast: la costieralively: vivacethe scent: il profumoto lap: infrangersithe shore: la rivaprecious: preziosothe bracelet: il braccialettoagitation: l'agitazioneperceptive: perspicacedistant: distantethe sadness: la tristezzato hide: nasconderevulnerability: la vulnerabilitàthe barrier: la barrierato risk: rischiarea bit of tension: un po' di tensioneto scatter: sparpagliarsireluctant: riluttantethe encounter: il incontrothe confession: la confessioneto orchestrate: orchestrarethe main alleyways: i vicoli principalicrowded: affollatothe park: il parcothe grass: l'erbathe bench: la panchinathe gratitude: la gratitudinethe emotion: la commozionethe stars: le stellethe community: la comunità

We want things...but the truth is, if we were good enough to have what we desire we would already have itSo how do we actually bridge that gap? Let's Dive IN!!Click here: To Schedule One on One Call With Greg and the Team 

Joined by Itso Babulaidze, an undefeated Georgian mixed martial artists. Itso talks about his professional MMA career start after moving to US from Georgia, his latest Ring of Combat championship bout victory, Merab Dvalishvili, training with Sean Brady, fighting at PFL, future UFC plans and more.  შემოგვიერთდა დაუმარცხებელი MMA-ს მებრძოლი იცო ბაბულაიძე. იცო საუბრობს მის პროფესიონალურ კარიერის დასაწყისზე ამერიკაში ჩასვლის შემდეგ, მის ბოლო Ring of Combat-ის საჩემპიონო ორთაბრძოლის გამარჯვებაზე, მერაბ დვალიშვილზე, შონ ბრეიდისთან ვარჯიშზე, PFL-ზე, და მის UFC-ის სამომავლო გეგმებზე. https://www.facebook.com/FightHopPod⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/fighthoppodcast/⁠ Special thanks to Anchor for distributing our podcast, and www.getsadze.ge for Channel art logos. Fight Hop is available on the following podcast platforms. Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5MhlTYMLGEYUMhXtio2JRr?nd=1⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fight-hop/id1532960353⁠ Anchor: ⁠https://anchor.fm/fighthop⁠ Google Podcasts: ⁠https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8zMDZiMWQ5Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==⁠ Breaker: ⁠https://www.breaker.audio/fight-hop⁠ Overcast: ⁠https://overcast.fm/itunes1532960353/fight-hop⁠ PocketCasts: ⁠https://pca.st/wp4v5gbw⁠ RadioPublic: ⁠https://radiopublic.com/fight-hop-WJA04e⁠ Follow us on twitter ⁠https://twitter.com/sTaLgio⁠ & ⁠https://twitter.com/RomiTsente⁠

Episode Highlights With Corban David JenaiHow we've exchanged depth of connection with breadth of connection and how this has affected our mental healthThe importance of leaning into the experience you have of another person in your own body and how this is transformationalThe importance of intuition and how to tune into itSo much of the wounds we've experienced in life are relational and often need to be healed in relationship with othersHow he learned to tune into his intuition again after years of ignoring it and even being hostile to itChildhood trauma can often lead to an ignoring of intuition and a mental pathway of assuming the abuser is correct because it's necessary for survivalHow this concept is especially helpful in our relationship with our childrenResources We MentionHopeGuideHow We Heal PodcastHis Website - Corban David Jenai

Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.About the guest author:MATT SEDILLO, the first poet on the Page One Podcast, is being hailed by historians and journalists as the "best political poet in America." He has written two collections of poetry, CITY ON THE SECOND FLOOR and MOWING LEAVES OF GRASS, which are currently being taught in several California colleges. Matt Sedillo has also been described as "the poet laureate of the struggle" by academics, poets, and journalists. He has appeared on CSPAN and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and other publications, in addition to traveling the world to speak at major conferences, forums, and universities including Cambridge. His Three Act Poem structure has been taught at UCLA and Occidental College. Sedillo is currently the Literary Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, where he leads weekly writing workshops. He is currently at work on a book-length poem “Elon Musk Must Be Stopped.” He lives in Los Angeles.He has given us permission to share his poem “PILGRIM”Pilgrim by Matt SedilloSee, some were born to summer homesAnd palatial grovesWhere pain was only to ever unfoldFrom the pages of Secret GardensWhere the Red Fern GrowsBut not ISee, I come from the stockOf starry-eyed astronautsWho greet the night skyWith big dreams and wide eyesAlways RunningDown the Devil's HighwayThrough Occupied AmericaOn the way back toThe House on Mango StreetAnd all those other booksYou didn't want us to readRaised on handballOff the back wallOf a panaderiaBornEast the riverPost Mendez vs WestminsterOne generation removedFrom the redlinesAnd diplomas signedThat those dreamsIn that skinNeed not applySee, I come from struggleAnd if my story offends youThat is only ‘cause you made the mistake of seeking your reflectionIn my self-portraitSee, thisWell this may not be about youBecause while some were bornTo the common coreWhose reflected facesGraced the pagesOf doctrines to discover And ages to be explored Where old world hardships Crashed against new shores New EnglandNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkFor others pushed offTurtle IslandAztlanDo not call this brown skinImmigrantChild of the sunSon of the conquestMexicano bloodRunning through the veinsOf the eastside of Los AngelesDo not tell himIn what native tongueHis song would best be sungDo not tell meWho I am‘Cause I was raised just like youMiseducated in some of thoseVery same schoolsOff lessons and legendsOf honest injuns and Christian pilgrimsAnd a nation of immigrantsAll united in freedomThat is until they pulled asideMy white friendPointed directly at meAnd said ScottI judge you by the company you keepAnd you spend your time with thisAnd that's the same old story since 1846The adventures of Uncle SamThe stick-up manHey wetbackShow me your papersNow give me your laborThe Melting PotWas never meant for the handsThat clean itThe American dreamHas always come at the expenseOf those who tucked it inAnd you don't know that ‘Cause you don't teach itCould write you a bookBut you won't read itSo you know whatThis is about youAnd 1492And the Treaty of GuadalupeCalifornia MissionsAnd Arizona schoolsAnd these racistsThat try to erase usAs we raise their kidsIn cities that bear our namesBut you're going to learnSomething today‘Cause from FerdinandTo minutemanFrom ArpaioTo AlamoFrom Popol VuhTo Yo Soy JoaquinTo the Indian that still lives in meFrom Mexico 68To the missing 43They tried to bury usThey didn't know we were seedsFrom Cananea mineTo Delano strike From the Plan De AyalaEmiliano ZapataJoaquin MurrietaLas AdelitasBrown BeretsAnd ZapatistasFrom Richard NixonTo the Third NapoleonFrom PeckinpahTo HoustonFrom Lone Star RepublicTo Christopher ColumbusAll the way downTo Donald f—g TrumpWe didn't cross the bordersThe borders crossed usWho you calling immigrantPilgrim? About the host:Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.If you have a first page you'd like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I'm opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they're currently writing. If your page is chosen, you'll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One's master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes.If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Happy holidays! Be well and keep reading!In service with love,~Holly~ Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast, where master storytellers discuss the stories and struggles behind the critical first page of their books. If you liked this episode, please share it on social, leave a review on your favorite podcast players and tell your friends! I hope you enjoy this labor of love as much as I love hosting, producing, and editing it. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my newsletter at www.hollylynnpayne.com with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. For the love of books and writers,Holly Lynn Payne@hollylynnpaynewww.hollylynnpayne.com

Its here. Didn't take too long. Part two and you find out why it cut off the way that it did. Always something with fto nerd talkThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5479019/advertisement

What's up, dudes? Christmas Podcast Day 2023 is fast approaching! That's right! This November 1st you'll be able to listen to an entire Band Aid super group's worth of Christmas podcasts! The theme is the Charles Dickens masterpiece "A Christmas Carol!" You'll hear about movies, tv show episodes, music, games, radio plays, and anything else you can imagine all on November 1st! Make sure to check out Christmaspodcasts.com to listen to all the amazing episodes and start your season right! It's #ChristmasPodcastDay this November 1st! After Halloween is doneIt's time to start the Christmas funYes my friends it's Christmas podcast dayNovember 1st is the day you needTo check your favorite podcast feedAnd join the fun on Christmas podcast dayAll your favorite Christmas showsAre releasing brand new episodes Some may say that it's too soonBut they're lucky we don't do it in June. So come along and have a laughAs we talk carols, films, and craftsAnd other things from the merriest holidayFa la la la it's Christmas podcast dayThere are so many Christmas showsSome you might not even knowYou might a new favorite And take some time to savor itSo listen on your computer or phone At work the gym commuting or home. A new tradition that is here to stayTell everyone it's Christmas podcastJoin in the fun on Christmas podcast Download every one on Christmas podcast dayGet in the sleigh, it's Christmas podcast day!Lyrics by Tim BabbMusic by Al YankovicVocals by Tim Babb and Gerry DCheck us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Discovering the Correct Way to Enjoy Italian Coffee Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/discovering-the-correct-way-to-enjoy-italian-coffee Story Transcript:It: Era una calda giornata estiva a Roma.En: It was a hot summer day in Rome.It: Giovanni, un giovane appassionato di caffè, si trovava nella vivace Piazza Navona in cerca di una pausa rinfrescante.En: Giovanni, a young coffee enthusiast, was in the bustling Piazza Navona looking for a refreshing break.It: Si avvicinò a un accogliente bar all'angolo della piazza, deciso a soddisfare la sua sete di espresso.En: He walked up to a cozy café on the corner of the square, determined to satisfy his thirst for espresso.It: Giovanni entrò nel bar e si sedette al bancone, gli occhi che brillavano già all'idea dell'aroma del caffè.En: Giovanni entered the bar and sat down at the counter, his eyes already shining at the idea of the coffee aroma.It: Il cameriere si avvicinò con uno sguardo gentile e chiese: "Cosa posso offrirti, signore?"En: The waiter came up with a kind look and asked: "What can I offer you, sir?"It: "Mi piacerebbe un semplice espresso, per favore", rispose Giovanni con un sorriso.En: "I'd like a simple espresso, please," replied Giovanni with a smile.It: Il cameriere annuì e si allontanò per preparare la bevanda.En: The waiter nodded and left to prepare the drink.It: Nel frattempo, Giovanni guardò intorno, ammirando l'atmosfera animata della piazza.En: Meanwhile, Giovanni looked around, admiring the lively atmosphere of the square.It: Presto, gli fu consegnata una tazza posata sul bancone, ma rimase sbalordito quando vide cosa c'era dentro.En: Soon, he was handed a cup set on the counter, but he was stunned when he saw what was inside.It: La tazza era enorme, quasi quanto una ciotola, e il caffè era sormontato da una montagna di latte schiumoso come se fosse un cappuccino.En: The cup was huge, almost as big as a bowl, and the coffee was topped with a mountain of frothy milk like a cappuccino.It: Giovanni rimase confuso e cercò di spiegare al cameriere che aveva chiesto solo un espresso.En: Giovanni was confused and tried to explain to the waiter that he had only asked for an espresso.It: "Scusi, ma c'è stato un errore.En: "Sorry, but there was a mistake.It: Io volevo un semplice espresso, non un cappuccino", disse Giovanni con gentilezza, sperando di poter risolvere la situazione.En: I wanted a simple espresso, not a cappuccino", said Giovanni kindly, hoping to resolve the situation.It: Il cameriere lo guardò per un attimo e poi sorrise.En: The waiter looked at him for a moment and then smiled.It: "So che può sembrare strano, signore, ma questa è la nostra interpretazione del vero caffè italiano.En: "I know it sounds strange, sir, but this is our interpretation of real Italian coffee.It: È il modo "corretto" di servirlo qui a Roma."En: It's the 'correct' way to serve it here in Rome."It: Giovanni rimase ancora più perplesso, chiedendosi se il cameriere stesse scherzando.En: Giovanni was even more perplexed, wondering if the waiter was joking.It: Ma guardando intorno al bar, notò che molte altre persone bevevano cappuccini enormi come il suo.En: But looking around the bar, he noticed that many other people were drinking huge cappuccinos like his.It: Si rese conto che aveva bisogno di prendere una decisione: accettare quella strana variante o insistere per un espresso come desiderava.En: He realized that he needed to make a decision: accept that strange variant or insist on an espresso as he wished.It: Con un brivido di rassegnazione, Giovanni prese il cappuccino gigante tra le mani.En: With a shiver of resignation, Giovanni took the giant cappuccino in his hands.It: Era talmente grande che delle gocce di latte schiumoso gli finirono addosso.En: It was so big that drops of frothy milk ended up on it.It: Sorridendo imbarazzato, guardò la sua amica Sofia, seduta accanto a lui, che era scoppiata a ridere.En: Smiling sheepishly, he looked at his friend Sofia, sitting next to him, who had burst out laughing.It: Giovanni sorseggiò il cappuccino, cercando di capire ciò che tutti quei romani vedevano in quella scelta di caffè bizzarra.En: Giovanni sipped his cappuccino, trying to understand what all those Romans saw in that bizarre choice of coffee.It: Si sentì quasi soffocare dalla schiuma, ma decise di tentare di gustare quella nuova esperienza.En: He almost felt suffocated by the foam, but decided to try and enjoy this new experience.It: Man mano che bevve, iniziò a scoprire che il cappuccino era in realtà sorprendentemente buono.En: As he drank, he began to discover that the cappuccino was actually surprisingly good.It: La combinazione di caffè e latte schiumoso si fondava nell'aroma perfetto.En: The combination of coffee and frothy milk blended into the perfect aroma.It: Cominciò persino ad apprezzare la montagna di schiuma che donava una dolcezza extra al caffè.En: He even began to like the mountain of foam that gave the coffee extra sweetness.It: Sofia non poté fare a meno di ridere ancora di più mentre osservava l'espressione mista di confusione e piacere di Giovanni.En: Sofia couldn't help but laugh even more as she observed Giovanni's mixed expression of confusion and pleasure.It: Alla fine, dopo aver sorseggiato fino all'ultima goccia, Giovanni tornò a guardare il cameriere e sorrise.En: Finally, after sipping every last drop, Giovanni looked back at the waiter and smiled.It: "Sa, aveva ragione", disse.En: "You know, he was right," she said.It: "Questo cappuccino gigante è davvero delizioso.En: "This giant cappuccino is really delicious.It: Grazie per avermi aperto gli occhi".En: Thanks for opening my eyes."It: Il cameriere sorrise di nuovo, felice di aver conquistato un nuovo appassionato di caffè.En: The waiter smiled again, happy to have won over a new coffee lover.It: Giovanni si alzò dal bancone, ancora sorridendo, e si unì a Sofia nel ridere di quanto questa piccola avventura caffettiera si fosse rivelata sorprendente.En: Giovanni stood up from the counter, still smiling, and joined Sofia in laughing at how amazing this little coffee-making adventure had turned out to be.It: Serbò quel ricordo per il resto della sua vita come una delle sue esperienze più strane e divertenti.En: He kept that memory for the rest of his life as one of his strangest and funniest experiences.It: E da quel giorno in poi, Giovanni non si preoccupò più di ordinare l'espresso "tradizionale", sapeva che il caffè poteva essere scoperto in modi straordinari.En: And from that day on, Giovanni no longer bothered to order "traditional" espresso, he knew that coffee could be discovered in extraordinary ways. Vocabulary Words:Rome: RomaGiovanni: Giovannicoffee: caffèPiazza Navona: Piazza Navonaespresso: espressocafé: barcounter: banconewaiter: camerieresmile: sorrisodrink: bevandamistake: errorecappuccino: cappuccinoconfused: confusoexplain: spiegareinterpretation: interpretazionereal: verocorrect: correttoserve: servirloperplexed: perplessodecide: decidereaccept: accettarevariant: varianteinsist: insisteregiant: giganteexperience: esperienzablend: fondereextra: extrapleasure: piacerelaugh: ridere

So glad we've almost made itSo sad they had to fade itEverybody wants to rule the worldI can't stand this indecisionMarried with a lack of visionEverybody wants to rule the worldSay that you'll never never never never need itOne headline why believe it?Everybody wants to rule the worldAll for freedom and for pleasureNothing ever lasts foreverEverybody wants to rule the world

Co-hosts Tricia and John debrief a podcast with Dr. Dan Dworkis to discuss the insights and techniques that he has about making decisions under pressure and how he prepares himself to be able to function better in high pressure situations. Download the model and the episode transcript herehttps://episodes.everylittlemodel.com/s2ep4Download the Every Little Model APP herehttps://everylittlemodel.glideapp.io/dl/6471c6Resourceshttps://www.emergencymind.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emergency-mind-podcast/id1480163086https://icenetblog.royalcollege.ca/2022/11/01/futureofmeded-the-itso-model-to-optimize-systems-based-medical-education-and-patient-care/?amp=1

In this episode, John and Tricia explore the ITSO Matrix created by Dr. Dan Dworkis. They discuss how this model helps people make decisions under pressure and understand how they need to prepare themselves and their organizations to be able to function better under high pressure situations.Download the model and the episode transcript herehttps://episodes.everylittlemodel.com/s2ep4Download the Every Little Model APP herehttps://everylittlemodel.glideapp.io/dl/6471c6Resourceshttps://www.emergencymind.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-emergency-mind-podcast/id1480163086https://icenetblog.royalcollege.ca/2022/11/01/futureofmeded-the-itso-model-to-optimize-systems-based-medical-education-and-patient-care/?amp=1

Is there a template for an email marketing campaign that will guarantee you don't keep going around in circles but instead successfully move your readers towards the ultimate goal of buying from you? Yep, there is. And it's the one we use in all our email campaigns. Not just the ones we use ourselves, but the ones we teach all our members inside The League. Ready to find out what it is so you can start using it in all your email campaigns? SOME EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: (0:10) Want to make your sales from your email marketing? Grab our Click Tricks.(4:28) Introducing the SVVC formula.(6:50) The Seed phase.(7:36) Throw an idea and let people run with it.(9:34) The Validate phase.(11:20) The Verification phase.(12:53) The Close phase.(13:39) One email campaign = one action.(14:39) Always find fresh ways of using the SVVC formula.(17:04) Subject line of the week.Want to get more sales from your email marketing?We put a little something together for you. It's really cool and it's FREE (yes, it's cool and free – we're nice like that). If you want to make more sales from your email marketing, you need more clicks on the things that you're selling!That's why we're giving you 12 creative ways to help you get more clicks in every email you send. It's a FREE download, and it's called Click Tricks. You can grab it here. Introducing the SVVC formula All our email marketing campaigns are different. But they have the same four-part foundational formula at their core. What's worth pointing out is that we're talking about four phases here - not four emails. You could cover these four phases in one email if you wanted. Or write 10 emails out of it.What's key is that you use all the phases and in this order. So if you ever feel like your email marketing (or even your social media) is not leading anyone in one specific direction, this formula will allow you to move people from one place to the next. Because the ultimate goal is for people to buy from you, right? So here with go - introducing the SVVC formula. The Seed (S) phaseThe first part of the formula (the S in the acronym) is the Seed phase. This is where you're going to plant a seed or, in other words, throw down your initial marketing hook.We usually do this with a short email where we'll just say we're doing something and invite people to go and check out the link. And typically, our hyper responders will be the ones who go and see what it's all about because generally speaking, people are wary of clicking on links 'blind' (i.e. with no information). Then maybe in the following email, we'll share a little more information about what they'll find in that link. But in this phase, it's a blind invitation - we're not telling them why the offer is important or what is going to do for them.Throw an idea and let people run with itSo let's say we're running a 5-day flash sale campaign made up of 8 emails. In the first couple of emails, we'll share very little information. Effectively, we just throw something over and sit back to watch what happens - we share an idea and let people run with it. Normally, the initial email has one of our highest click-through rates over the course of a campaign because lots of people are intrigued by blind curiosity and find it interesting. But

I have recently finished Jen Sincero's book, You Are a Badass. One of the chapters in the book is on The Almighty Decision, and I wanted to dive into this topic for this episode. One of the things I talk with my clients about is the three-step process of decision-making. Those steps are:1)    Give yourself a limited amount of time to explore options. 2)    Make a decision based on the information you've gathered AND what your gut is telling you. If the two disagree, ALWAYS go with your gut. 3)    Decide you have made the right decision. No waffling, second-guessing, or changing your mind. Have your own back as to the decision you made.  Why does this matter? So many people take FOREVER to make a decision… sometimes, even over small, fairly inconsequential things. Decision-making is a muscle, and the more you exercise that muscle, the stronger and more dependable it will become. In my work as a career coach, job search coach, and Master Resume Writer, here are some of the indecisions I see clients grapple with: -Should I leave my current employer and go elsewhere, or should I stay? -Am I qualified to apply for this position? -Should I ask for a promotion and/or raise? -Is my dissatisfaction with my career path – or just my current employer? -Should I make a career pivot or completely reinvent my career?-Should I reach out to X for help with my job search? -Should I stay employed, or start my own business? -Should I fully retire, or just downshift to a less stressful, more rewarding job? Of course, there are hundreds of micro-decisions I help my clients with, but these are some of the big ones.  What are some of the decisions you might make in other areas of your life? -I WILL lose XXX pounds. -I WILL begin an exercise program. -I WILL eat healthier. -I WILL begin dating again. -I WILL buy a home. -I WILL stop smoking/drinking/doing drugs. -I WILL clean out the clutter in my home. -I WILL make new friends. -I WILL learn how to do XXX.  In her book, Jen Sincero tells the story of Henry Ford, who was determined to have all eight cylinders of the engine cast in one block. His engineers told him he was crazy – it couldn't be done. They came back sometime later, with even more evidence that it couldn't be done. Henry Ford rejected their “evidence,” and ordered them back to the drawing board. Of course, they eventually figured it out by creating the V-8 engine like the workhorse I had in my 1970 Ford Torino. (Let's not talk about the gas mileage, but man could she GO.) Sincero's point? “So often, we pretend we've made a decision, when what we've really done is signed up to try until it gets too uncomfortable.  What do you have to be willing to withstand in order to truly make a decision? -Family and friends laughing at you, questioning your decision, expecting you to fail -Deciding to avoid/minimize your interaction with others who don't support your decision – at least for now -Avoiding social media, print, or other content that presents evidence that your decision is the wrong one, doomed to failure -Recognizing that your own doubts are merely your primitive brain, trying to protect you from the certain death you'll face as a result of your decision (“nothing has gone wrong”)  What steps will you need to take to develop this muscle? -Deciding ahead of time what you will do each day towards making your decision a reality – then doing the things even when you REALLY, REALLY don't want to -Willingness to be uncomfortable – sometimes VERY uncomfortable -Becoming comfortable with “failure,” and reframing it as “learning opportunities” that show you one more way NOT to achieve your goal-Training your brain to resist immediate pleasure in favor of your big picture  Here, then, are Jen Sincero's tips for decision-making: 1.    Want it badYou have to want it more than the alternative. As she says, “You need to have a ten-ton gorilla of desire behind your decision or else you'll wimp out the second things get hard.” This requires you to be honest with yourself about what you really want to do, not what you think you should do – and believe it is available to you regardless of any evidence to the contrary. 2.    Get good at itSo many people have terror around decision-making because they are so afraid of making the “wrong” decision. This is where waffling, making hasty decisions just to get it over with, and choosing to do nothing come into play. (By the way, choosing to do nothing IS a decision.) A good strategy is to begin practicing on small decisions…making them quickly and changing them slowly. We're not talking about making hasty decisions here, but rather gathering the facts as quickly and efficiently as possible to be able to MOVE FORWARD. Also – give yourself a deadline for making the decision. Finally – quit telling people (and yourself) that you are terrible at making decisions. Talk about confusing the universe! 3.    Eliminate the negotiation processDecisions are simply not up for negotiation. Remember what I said at the outset – have your own back. The decision-making process is an excellent opportunity for you to improve your relationship with the most important person in your life – YOU. As you have your own back on decisions you make, you begin to trust yourself more and more. Not only that – others will notice that you are following through on your decisions, and THEY will begin to trust you, as well. Let's say you have decided to buy a vacation home on the beach by a certain date. You know how much money you need in the bank…and a friend comes along with an invitation to go to Bali for two weeks. Of COURSE, Bali sounds wonderful – who wouldn't want to go there? But you decided to buy a vacation home on the beach by a certain date. You KNOW that going to Bali will delay your ability to buy that home. SO…you have your own back about your vacation home-buying decision. You thank your friend profusely and tell her that you hope she'll ask the next time she wants to travel. But this time…you have decided to become a vacation homeowner! 4.    Stick like glueIt takes tenacity…stick-to-it-iveness…to achieve your goals. I like the analogy of giving birth. I clearly remember, when I was in about hour 12 of trying to exit a 10-pound, 1 ounce, human out of my body, that I told my then-husband, “I can't do this anymore.” His response? “You don't have any choice, Lesa.” And he was right; I had no choice but to see this child-having decision through to the birth. Let's have this same sense of “you don't have any choice” with other decisions in our lives. Focus on the result you desire, recognize that the inevitable bumps and bruises along the way are supposed to happen, and STAY THE COURSE. I love this quote from Sincero: “In order to change your life and start living a new one that you've never lived before, your faith in miracles, and yourself, must be greater than your fear. However easy or rough your birthing process is, you have to be willing to fall down, get up, look stupid, cry, laugh, make a mess, clean it up, and not stop until you get there. NO MATTER WHAT.” 5.    Love yourselfBecause you can do ANYTHING. And it's much easier to get there by loving on yourself along the way than by hating on yourself.  So, I invite you to make a decision TODAY. It can be a small one…or it can be you, finally getting off that non-existent fence and making a decision about something big. And congratulate yourself for changing your life forever. Because in the process of making that decision and going through the necessary steps to realize your goal, you will be forever changed. Way to go, you!  Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you're worth.  If you're ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2    

Adelaide podcaster, Leesa Scanlan, is shining the spotlight on mental health Anxiety and depression get talked about a lot but it's taking a South Australian podcaster, Leesa Scanlan, to bring a dose of gentle, frank reality to the high tide and low tide of mental health. We start our discussion about mental health in the SA Drink Of The Week segment, which features a beer from Shapeshifter Brewing Company. And we bring our discussion home in the Musical Pilgrimage, with a new song by Rhys Howlett. You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of wine? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We're here to serve! The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for News and Current Affairs in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards. And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It's an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we'll add you to the list: podcast@theadelaideshow.com.au If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store - The Adelaide Show Shop. We'd greatly appreciate it. And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here's our index of all episode in one concise page Please note that in this episode we will discuss mental health and all that it entails. Some time we will talk about suicide and self harm, if this is triggering for you please take a moment to decide if you should continue to listen. If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help now, call triple zero (000). You can also call  Lifeline  on 13 11 14 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other helplines available in Australia include Mens help line (24/7)- 1300 78 99 78 BeyondBlue (24/7)- 1300 22 46 36 Sane Australia (10am-10pm)- 1800 18 72 63 Suicide Call Back Service (24/7)- 1300 659 467 Running Sheet: The High Tide And Low Tide Of Mental Health 00:00:00 Intro Introduction to the show. 00:03:00 SA Drink Of The Week This week's SA Drink Of The Week is Fading Light by Shapeshifter Brewing Company. In preparing for our chat, I've been thinking about your comments about diving on a recent episode. You said diving was the great escape from issues and worry because it's just you and your breathing and the ocean. It made me wonder if drinking has become my "diving". I've always prided myself on drinking for the flavour, not for the buzz, but during the time of Covid I think I've started using alcohol as a pressure relief valve. I'm not saying diving and drinking are similar - beyond their relief they bring to stress and worry. Ultimately, diving leaves you fitter and healthier, drinking just leaves your body with a little extra work to do in processing alcohol. So I am dropping the SA Drink Of The Week as a permanent segment on this podcast. It will still appear when I have an amazing drink to share, but I want to model a lifestyle in which drinking is something done as a pleasureable and mindful activity, not as a medicinal "necessity" or a fait accompli when people get together. I'm not throwing the bottle out with the bath water, I'm simply severing the ties of habit. 00:13:43 Leesa Scanlan The host of fellow South Australian Podcast, High Tide Low Tide, is Leesa Scanlan. Leesa and her guests talk about all things mental health because in Australia, one in five people have a diagnosed mental health condition and nine Australians die from suicide every single day. Having been diagnosed with depression and anxiety more than 16 years ago Leesa truly understands the power there is in being able to share your story, not only for the person themselves but for every single person listening and relating to parts of it. And her storytelling is disarmingly frank and insightful, which is why she's joining us today. Leesa, the blurb for your podcast says: This podcast is for the one person who needs to hear it today. What do you mean by that? How do you define Mental Health? Do you think it's possible to have "perfect" mental health? RUOK Day happened recently and for the first time I saw some cynical push back on social media - things like, if one more person asks me if I'm okay, I'm gonna punch them. Can you understand that? I've read parts of your diaries, Leesa, starting when you were age 7. Well, to be clear, I've watch you read them on your Instagram feed. Have you always been reflective? Socrates is believed to have said, "the unexamined life is not worth living" and it makes me wonder, is there a fine line between healthily reflecting on our lives and obsessively being consumed by mulling things over and over again and getting stuck? Leesa, the reason I wanted to get you on The Adelaide Show was episode 10 of your podcast in which you talk us through your lived experience of dealing with mental health, especially the way it manifested itself as cutting. I had known that cutting is a thing but your explanation was so clear, this action which I had never been able to process, became understandable. Can you define cutting and why it worked as a solution for you at various times in your life? You lived in Indonesia for six years, during which time your work with tourist ventures and diving gave you enough money to survive on, I think you say you basically you were poor while living in Indonesia. This gives us a chance to ask the $64 question, literally: were you able to be poor and happy? Was any happiness due to being poor or due to working in an enjoyable industry? I want to return to diving, mentioned during the SA Drink Of The Week segment, would you say diving just brings symptomatic relief to mental health issues, or does it actually help change things in an ongoing way? Finally, you have an episode in which you list 10 tactics for helping to cope with mental health issues. Could you share a few of them to finish off our chat? 01:04:11 Musical Pilgrimage In the musical pilgrimage, we have  Dutch Cream Potatoes, by Rhys Howlett. Rescue Dogs is a collection of songs that Rhys has written over the past 10 years.  And Dutch Cream Potatoes is a perfect song for this episode because it touches on the weight and endurance of sad memories, and the healing power of walks on the beach. In the lyrics, Rhys writes: Sometimes the best of intentions can lead to the saddest outcomesAnd I don't work hard but I laugh a lot and the thing about walks on the beach that I loveIs how storms will pass, when you're out in the open you can see the blue skyIf it's off in the distance at least you can see itAnd wait just a minute you'll be walking right in itSo maybe when people feel isolated it's a matter of getting out into the openTo breathe in the sky, to stop asking why and start asking how, to make things better And another lyric that seems poignant: I think a lot about patterns of behaviourHow factory settings restore when we're troubled and stressed You can buy and stream Rescue Dogs and other albums on Rhys Howlett's Bandcamp page.Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As entrepreneurs and CEOs we all want to hire A-Players. However, so many people simply accept the status quo, always waiting for a ‘better time' to hire. Usually this happens in one of two ways - continuing to manage the workload yourself because it seems like the simple option or bringing on support in an ad hoc way and crossing your fingers. So in today's episode, I'm cutting through these limiting stories and sharing why they might be costing you.Dive in to hear:The reality of doing it all yourself is not sustainable and band-aid solutions don't fix anythingHow your belief that hiring is difficult is actually costing you and your businessWhy the best time to learn how to hire well is before you need itSo if you know hiring is in your future, or if you're already long overdue and you're craving finally getting some space and time back - this episode will help shift your thinking re the risks and costs to both your business and yourself by not investing in learning how to make great hiring decisions. As the saying goes…learn it once, execute it many times. The time is now - jump in.LINKS:If you know it's time to learn the art of hiring so you can hire rockstars, check out Hiring Mastery - starts again in October 2022https://paulamaidens.com/hiring-mastery/Got questions? Book a free 15 Minute Call into Paula's diary to chat about Hiring Masteryhttps://bookme.name/PaulaMaidensConsulting/hiring-mastery-discovery-callWhere to find Paula: Website:https://paulamaidens.comInstagram:@paulamaidensconsulting Facebook: @paulamaidensbuildingawesometeams

In the first of three of the Summer series of episodes of the Better Presentations More Sales podcast I'm sharing five top presentation tipsRemember your presentation needs to engage, educate, enthuse and to a degree entertain your audience and ideally you need to enjoy delivering it because that will help your audience enjoy receiving itSo here are the five top presentation tips:Start with them not you – avoid falling into the trap as most people do of using the start of their presentation to talk about themselves, their company etc..Think of slides as a prompt not a script that far too many presentations contain slides that are full of words, written in sentences. Start with one word on a slide and see if you can keep the words below 10 on each slideOne of the hardest things all presenters is to avoid running over on time. There is a solution. When you are practising your full presentation, at presentation pace, aim to deliver that practice run in 80% of the allocated timeAt the end of your presentation make sure you tell your audience what you want them to do next, and subtly hint at that throughout the presentation. If you going to have a Q&A then bring it in before your final summary and have a couple of rhetorical questions up your sleeve in case no one asks any questions to kickstart the Q&APrepare well, prepare well in advance so that you give yourself the maximum time to deliver a really great presentation and combine that with practice, maybe three or four practice run throughs. I normally don't time my first practice run through as I'm just wanting to see how the presentation flows and I'll be stopping and starting to make notes and adjustments as I go. On the second run through I will time it and then I'll be ready to make decisions about taking content out if I overrun that 80% rule. My third run through is usually the final presentation, but I might just enough for one if I had any doubts about the way it flowsThis is episode 227 of the Better Presentations More Sales podcast -  the previous 226 episodes are available on your usual podcast app or you can listen and download them via this link. To find out how more about how I can help you deliver confident, impactful, memorable and action inducing presentations in 2022 please follow this linkBefore you book any training or coaching with me it is important for you to be sure that I'm the right person for you or your team so let's have a 15-20 minute informal no obligation no fee chat on Zoom. Simply click on this link to make that happen.If you would like the chance to be sent by me a copy of my book : 12 Business Lessons from Running an UltraMarathon simply leave a review for the podcast, take a screenshot and email it to me at podcast@trevorleemedia.co.uk - don't forget to include your name and postal address. If you've already left a review - thanks very much - simply screenshot the one you already left and send it to me. Thanks for listening. If you like the show please do leave a review via your podcast app. or comment on Linked In or share with others. Any / all of those actions would be much appreciated.

In this episode I share tips and ideas to show you how to practice your presentation to increase your chances of presentation or sales pitch successSo why practice?Firstly it will increase your confidence overall because you will feel more familiar with the presentation and more comfortable about delivering itSecondly practising will help you get the timing right, this is really important if you have a set amount of time such as 10 or 20 or 30 minutesThirdly practising will help ensure that you focus on the purpose of your presentation and that it flows because the more it flows the easier it will be your audience to absorb itSo why don't people practice?The three most common excuses I hear are:I haven't got enough time – my answer is:  so clearly the presentation or pitch is of no importance to youPractising feels false I don't like role-play – this is not role-play this is serious practiceI've been presenting for years I don't need to practice – but professional golfers who have been playing longer than you have been presenting still practiceSo how to practice?I advocate three run-throughs as follows:In run-through number one don't time it, don't record it and don't deliver it standing in front of a mirror! Stop frequently and make notes because almost certainly you will have something that is missing, or something that needs taking out, or something that is in the wrong place. This run through literally is a walk-through and will take quite a while.Time the second run through and try to go at presentation pace and make sure you use your voice as you would during the actual delivery. You may need to take notes if things are in the wrong order and aim to finish in around 80 to 85% of the allocated time. Take off a couple of minutes for the notes that you've made whilst going through it but if you have missed the time target then you have to get rid of some of the content.Run-through number three is at presentation pace all the way through. You should be feeling comfortable with the flow, the content should be right and you should be able to deliver in that 80 to 85% time zone.Team presentations will take longer to practice, particularly the handovers which you don't to look ad feel clunky in any wayThis is episode 225 of the Better Presentations More Sales podcast -  the previous 224 episodes are available on your usual podcast app or you can listen and download them via this link. To find out how more about how I can help you deliver confident, impactful, memorable and action inducing presentations in 2022 please follow this linkBefore you book any training or coaching with me it is important for you to be sure that I'm the right person for you or your team so let's have a 15-20 minute informal no obligation no fee chat on Zoom. Simply click on this link to make that happen.If would like the chance to be sent by me a copy of my book : 12 Business Lessons from Running an UltraMarathon simply leave a review for the podcast, take a screenshot and email it to at podcast@trevorleemedia.co.uk - don't forget to include your name and postal address. If you've already left a review - thanks very much - simply screenshot the one you already left and send it to me. Thanks for listening. If you like the show please do leave a review via your podcast app. or comment on Linked In or share with others. Any / all of those actions would be much appreciated.

Love Prawns: for Neill Blomkamp's District 9(Tribute to When You're Gone by Shawn Mendes)**Original written by Jonah Shy, Scott Harris, & Shawn Mendes*Awesome cover by Adam Christopher Lyrics:It's really hard to appreciate your body until you've lost itSo oh oh Finally appreciate the transformation inside yourself Once you have survived deep physical torment So ohThese PrawnsKnow Earth lifeThe way that captives doIt's sadly, too complicatedFor humansThrough their skullsTo get this concept throughNeed to treat Prawns better than pawnsLove PrawnsLife on Earth is tricky Definitely mad, humans have goneYes, you gottaStay strongForced encampment stinksWhen it's by creature's whose empathy's long goneReplaced with wicked viewsKeep an eye out for the mothershipHope kept in the midstOf the gunfire's spitThankful for clevernessexherted through Survival tactic winsOver evil's brewsNeed to treat Prawns better than pawnsNever realized there could be so many side effects from black ooze…Prawns outsmart the cruelestBut keep it undercover Going about their cuesSo ohThese PrawnsKnow Earth lifeThe way that hostages doIt's sadly, too complicatedFor humansThrough their skullsTo get this concept throughTreat Prawns better than pawnsLove PrawnsLife on Earth is sticky Mad, humans have goneYes, you gottaStay strongForced isolation stinksWhen it's by creatures whose empathy's long goneReplaced with wicked viewsKeep an eye out for the mothershipHope kept in the midstOf the gunfire's spitSo thankful for clevernessexherted through Survival tactic winsOver evil's brewsNeed to treat Prawns better than pawnsSome creatures, it's unrealHow cruel of a world that they're wanting But never stop dreaming Keep watching over the habits of your captors Don't give up on escape No matter how narcissistic, malevolent, or crazy Need to treat Prawns better than pawnsSome creatures, it's unrealHow cruel of a world that they're wanting Please never stop dreaming Keep watching after the habits of your captors Don't give up on escape No matter how egocentric, malevolent, or power hungryNeed to treat Prawns better than pawnsLove PrawnsLife on Earth is tricky Mad, humans have goneYes, you gottaStay strongForced encampment stinks When it's by creatures whose empathy's long goneReplaced with wicked viewsKeep an eye out for the mothership Hope kept in the midstOf the gunfire's spitSo thankful for clevernessexherted through Survival tactic winsOver evil's brewsNeed to treat Prawns better than pawns(Need to treat Prawns better than pawns)EndTribute by Melissa Smith:- Melzy of Wonderland on Youtube- Mel's Music on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Castbox, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Facebook &- Melissa_Martinek_Smith on Instagram (AKA: MelsMusic)

Dominic Pirone building a multi million dollar DJ business, having fun, and paying his bills doing it!  Dom knows how to generate traffic and leads with his headlines.  And then he asks what his customers want and he sells it to him.  Dom and his team may have just mastered the online marketing game.  He delivers ridiculous nuggets and tons of value.  LISTEN AND LEARN!Find Dom on IG @breakthedamninternet and https://www.cratehackers.com/Administrative: (See episode transcript below)WATCH this episode here: Table Rush Talk Show.Check out the Tools For A Good Life Summit here: Virtually and FOR FREE https://bit.ly/ToolsForAGoodLifeSummitStart podcasting!  These are the best mobile mic's for IOS and Android phones.  You can literally take them anywhere on the fly.Get the Shure MV88 mobile mic for IOS,  https://amzn.to/3z2NrIJGet the Shure MV88+ for  mobile mic for Android  https://amzn.to/3ly8SNjSee more resources at https://belove.media/resourcesEmail me: contact@belove.mediaFor social Media:      https://www.instagram.com/mrmischaz/https://www.facebook.com/MischaZvegintzovSubscribe and share to help spread the love for a better world!As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Transcript: Mischa Zvegintzov Welcome, everybody to the table rush talk show where we interview entrepreneurs, who are building real businesses, making real money doing what they love, and helping their customer at the highest level possible. I'm so excited to to interview and bring on Dominic Perone, aka DOM. Yes. Am I saying that right? Dominic Pirone You are you are? Yes. Mischa Zvegintzov Thank you. Yeah, indeed. Fantastic. So Dom, you, you currently you you are building a real business. You are making real money. You are having fun doing what you love. And you are helping. mobile DJ specifically wedding DJs. At the highest level possible. Is that an accurate statement? Dominic Pirone That is accurate? Yes. We just crossed the seven figures Mark, we launched our business in the middle of the pandemic, the time when the DJ and events industry, you are hit the hardest. And you know, I can't even believe what's happening, honestly. But hopefully, I can share some value with you and your audience on how we got there. Mischa Zvegintzov Yeah, fantastic. So let's start with how are you helping this this wedding DJ, I've got some challenges up well, I'm going to look over here from time to time and reference and reference some challenges, but you have developed a way to, to I saw something that you wrote, and it was awesome. A, we did our part to help revive an entire industry that's building back stronger. Right. And I love this, smashing the concept of the corny wedding DJ and I'm uplifting the mobile DJ space. So they can stop playing the damn Chicken Dance and start entertaining. Dominic Pirone Stop playing it stop playing it many DJs are listening. Yeah, you got to play. Yeah, man. So okay, so basically, we, we Okay, about five years ago, four or five years ago, I started getting this bug in my ear about internet marketing. And that really came from Tim Ferriss. And, you know, living that whole four hour workweek life I was like, oh, yeah, I'm gonna smash this online thing, you know? Yeah. Oh, a little bit. I know. very naive. How much work it would take. I created a workweek. Mischa Zvegintzov I love that. Okay. Dominic Pirone Yeah. So Little did I know that a lot of things have changed since the four hour workweek, I still love that book. It's so great. And it ruins you, you know, with that idea that that's possible. But then, so I created something called me my brother actually, I had just gotten to learn how to DJ weddings thanks to my brother. I moved back in with my parents five years ago, because and was so burned out from my traditional marketing job. I was I was marketing for chiropractors and nutritionists and I loved it but at the end of the day, I was just building somebody else's business it was very demanding. And it just it wasn't going to get me to where I wanted to go. So question in Mischa Zvegintzov that regard. Yeah, like if I can interrupt Are you is this internet marketing so your Is this where you start getting your roots in the internet marketing is by helping that okay, cool. Dominic Pirone Yeah, it started to learn. I'm really you know, I'm self taught myself email marketing and stuff, but I around this time as well. I started learning Facebook ads and Instagram ads, but not yet really funnels. So I believe me and my brother end up having this great idea for the end. Interactive DJ masterclass right. And you know, our idea is every you know, every wedding DJ wants to be interactive, and go out there and show them the line dances and this and do the cha cha slide and the cupid shuffle, right? Turns out that's a bloody lie. That was not accurate at all. I really did not understand what the DJs wanted at the time. And but it had it not been for that. You know, I wouldn't be where I'm at now. So sometimes you have to learn those hard lessons and never assume what your niche wants. So, you know, I put a lot of work in I learned the perfect webinar script. Here I go, you know, launch this the interactive DJ masterclass, I automated it right away didn't do it live on definitely not what Russell suggests suggests. I sold my first $300 Course I was over the moon. I'm going to be an internet millionaire. And then the next day this guy Mike's mobile DJ service, I'll never forget it corniest looking neon logo I've ever seen in my life. He says man, I already know all this stuff. I want my money back the next day, right? I was like I was crushed. Crushed. But he and all along. You know these haters will come along. And I love haters, haters, really, they turn me into beast mode, right? So I just the way he phrased it and the way he asked for his money back and he thought he knew everything. I was like, I'm gonna show this mother effort. Okay, so fast forward. I ended up serving my audience cannot tell you how important it is to survey your dang audience, especially when you strike out. Okay, so I surveyed my audience, and I basically asked them, What do you guys need and want? And almost always they're going to tell you more leads more bookings. Right. Mischa Zvegintzov Can I ask you a question? Yeah, sure. How did you ask that question to them? What was the delivery man? Yes. Yeah, Dominic Pirone just Survey Monkey. Honestly, don't a Survey Monkey. And I also had, I think I had a Facebook group at the time, too. Let me let me back it up here. Here's how I did it. Okay, so the very next thing I did, the very next thing I did was I ran a giveaway. I literally bought this little controller, which is what a DJ uses to mix music. I bought a controller. And I $75 I ran a contest giveaway. Using King sumo calm. It's like a, you know, giveaway software. Okay. And I was like, let me just get some emails and whatnot. I did this soft. I did this challenge, did some Facebook ads to this giveaway and got like 300 leads, right emails. Yeah. But during that giveaway, I also put in there a survey. And I surveyed these people, what do you need? Or want? What's your biggest pain point? What do you hate? You know, I have some survey questions. I can give you guys in the future. But it'd be amazing. Yeah, but all let me just give it to you now. So I always ask. I always ask, you know, what are your biggest? Literally, I asked, What are the biggest external struggles external? What are the biggest externally like desires that you have? Okay, why? Why do you want to achieve this? And what are the biggest internal barriers that are keeping you from getting there? What are the biggest external barriers from getting from keeping you from getting there? And I give them examples? Internal would be yourself. Internal would be stress, internal self confidence issues. Mischa Zvegintzov So yeah, that's amazing. So you are saying, What's your biggest? So you're giving so you're asking just like you said, right? Because a lot of times you'll heal people heal, people will say, ask them what are their biggest internal barriers, right. But then what that person is really doing is asking it in a totally different way. Right. So I love your like, I asked him, quote, what are your biggest interior internal barriers and quote, right, here's what ninja turtle barrier is an Dominic Pirone example. Yes. Because they may not fully understand that question. And in turn, totally, Oh, okay. Like a mental block or like this or that. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah. So, and I always like surveys sound boring. So you got to make them fun. So I created the, you know, this is years later, but I created the music organization sucks survey, right? This topic sucks. We want you to vent please bent and like, I want the emotional pain, the agony, the dreams, the desires, the eye, you need to you need to stop doing boring surveys. And I realized that after doing many boring surveys, and you need to bring it to life and you need to get inside that person's head. And when I did that, that's when I found out oh, what they really want is to understand how to take control of their own lead generation and Not have to rely on these directory sites. Not gonna mention any names but there's two, two or three big ones in the in the wedding space that are just like there's tons of adverts. Like every every listing on the directory is a sponsored ad. It's ridiculous. don't control your own future there they control. So, so then. So then I created from that basically I created profitable social media marketing for wedding DJs, which eventually became known as booked solid. Now through building this little group, oh, and also I surveyed Hey, would you like a $300 program? Or would you like a small monthly program? And I found out he just love monthly programs, which is great. Because recurring revenue, right? Okay. Yeah. So that was exciting. And these are just, I'm not saying this is this is going to be true for every niche. In fact, one of the biggest problems I would say is we have been bad about offering higher end offers. But so from just but anyway, from the membership, I created this membership, and I made it $30 A month and I taught them how to make, you know, grab your own leads from the wedding space from brides and grooms and convert them into bookings. And so I have this little baby group. This is called you know, profitable social media marketing for wedding DJs. That's, that's what came up in the survey. I just called it that. Okay, I love it. Through creating that group. I then met Joe bun. And Joe Bowen is probably one of the biggest speakers in the wedding DJ space. If you are a wedding DJ, and you've been to any of the conferences, you would know who this is, I get the word that he is starting to wants to put something together called the DJs vault. I reached out to him, I invited him to my group, my membership at the time, he wants to talk to him because he wants to promote his himself, right? Yes. And through that, he started asking me Hey, what are you doing here? Could you help me with, you know, bringing the DJ ball to life? And I still hadn't really achieved any success, right? You know, just a few $100 a month from 30 members. Mischa Zvegintzov But is your mind blown at this moment? Are you like, oh my god, this is what oh, yeah, I'm Dominic Pirone excited. But I'm like, awesome. Got it. I got it. I got to deliver the goods. Right. Yeah. So. So anyway, I started doing Facebook ads, getting people into a Facebook group, we do the perfect webinar model and we do $20,000 for a low cost membership. The first night and I am like, over the moon, right. This is this is almost three years ago. Okay? Our life is change. I cried. He cried. It was only $20,000. I actually made it I actually recorded that whole that whole launch. And I'll cherish that for the my entire life. As people are buying, you know, the ticker is up to like three or $400 on I'm like, oh, yeah, there. We're raking it in baby. We're raking it in you know. Anyway. But that was the start of something amazing. And, and so Joe really, he's built up six offices in five different states in the wedding DJ space. And that's very rare for an entertainer to do that to have franchises almost. Okay. And so he just in the DJ ball, he taught people how to really build market, sell and hire their DJs you know, and hire DJs for their mobile DJ business. very complimentary. And it was awesome, right? Yeah. Then last year, alright, not last year. 2020 worst year ever. I'm like, going through all this. You know, I'm depressed. I'm lethargic. I am gaming just to try to keep my mind clear. I think I think my life's over. Weddings are over events are over. Everything is built up in the wedding space. We are done. I am dead. Right? And at that two years ago, I was I was you know sued by creditors for creditors. I mean, they are one their money. I think I'm going to jail. But I refuse to go bankrupt because I just think that's you know, easy way out. I don't necessarily you know, I didn't have to do that because I was starting to make money. Mischa Zvegintzov Yeah. Can I Can I say something? Can you will you tell me how much debt Well you tell the audience just Dominic Pirone Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Over $500,000 in debt at one point. Mischa Zvegintzov That was not mortgage debt. Dominic Pirone No, no, I have an SUV at 22% interest. I mean, I was getting raked over the coals bro. Just Just lots of bad business deals gone wrong. Lots of borrowing money. I'm like a friggin idiot. But literally that became one of the best things I ever did because I had to learn funnels and inner you know, proper internet marketing where I could not lose any money. I could not because I literally had no money to borrow. I had to be profitable from Mischa Zvegintzov so yeah, yeah. doesn't 20 year like Dominic Pirone 2020 I mean, thinks it started to to look up and then march, march 2020. And now it's coming crashing down now, like there was light at the end of the tunnel and now it's coming crashing down. Because I owe you so much uncertainty. Mischa Zvegintzov So you were you like went through this bottom $500,000 in debt crashes or deals come off like tap out, I got to make money, you start making money, you're Dominic Pirone on your money start talking to the creditors. Hey, man, I'm okay, you I'll pay you Mischa Zvegintzov back. Right? It's all good. And then then why? Exactly? Dominic Pirone Major scope, you know, crashing of the Spirit. And people start to cancel their memberships. Right? Me and Joe are freaking out. Right? They're canceling. But it wasn't everybody wasn't everybody. And, and what I learned is we had so many members at that point that hey, you do have some security with recurring revenue? You know, you do because you're so diversified. Yeah. And so, you know, there's again, I would say like, I love memberships. I love recurring revenue, it gives you stability. And when you have, I think at the time, we had 1000 members, you know, we had some some stability now that some of that dropped, right. But what Mischa Zvegintzov I love the point you said and I want to re emphasize which you have made clear a couple of times or hinted towards it and made clear to it. You're like, hey, if your customer doesn't want membership, don't give a membership. Like, yeah, if they want to, if they want it, deliver it. And in a perfect world. Hurray. My audience who I'm serving they want membership because it's a great and provide some stability. Yes, that's yeah, Dominic Pirone the DJ, the mobile DJ market is conditioned to subscription services they have and you've been a DJ in the past, you know, like, there's, there are services out there, you subscribe to these services. 4050 $60 a month, and you get music. Right. So, so this was kind of, we wanted to kind of model it on that and we got, you know, so. So that's why I think it was successful. Yeah, um, yeah. Okay, so I think my life's over. Everything's coming crashing down. You know, I'm about to find another job. I'm about to find like a job. And I'm like, I'm not happy that right I am depressed, AF like serious issues. Not happy, not fun. So then we, we have this guy named Aaron come on the DJ Hall and talk about because so many DJs have downtime. There's no weddings happening. There's nothing happening. But people are starting to find live streaming, streaming your DJ sets and stuff like that. And now they have some time to, to start doing things that they didn't have time before, which is organizing music. So Aaron comes on and talks about organizing your music on the DJs vault. And it's very well attended much more attended than other webinars, right. And so and then Joe's, like, Hey, this guy wants to sell something. It's called perfect DJ playlists, and he just wants to charge $5 a month, and can you help him just like, you know, let's just do like a little affiliate thing. So I put out a survey. And I ask, What do you think I asked? Well, first, I asked, What is your biggest barrier to? Excuse me? What in your opinion, what would make you a better DJ? And to my surprise, I thought they were gonna say scratching bar. Yeah, exactly. Be you know, beat matching, mixing, click mixing, whatever, all those fancy techniques, to my surprise, the mobile DJ market, aka the wedding, you know, wedding DJs, private event, DJs. They said music organization far and wide. And I was like, what? Okay, so then I took I did that quick little survey in a Facebook group. I took that feedback, and I created a in depth survey. And I asked them all of these emotional questions, right? I asked them, I can actually Mischa Zvegintzov pull it up. It's, it's Yeah, please do good. I Dominic Pirone mean, literally from this one survey. From this one survey, I got an idea for an ad. A survey gave me the data for the hook for the ad, which then became, you know, one of our million dollar ads, basically, and I'll see if I can find it. But basically what I asked was, you know, why? Being having disorganized music and create what we call crates, folders of music, but let's say you have a 90s crate, an 880s Crane, a wedding crate, these are folders of organized music, so he knew exactly what to play next. So I asked him, How does being disorganized affect your DJ and one guy said this term Serato face so Serato is the big DJ program in the DJ his face, that's the main one that people use. And what a lot of face means is you're looking for your next song, right? The song is about to end you need to mix into your next song. And you're digging, you're searching through disorganized folders of music trying to find your next song. Right. And so we we took this idea and ran with it, we made Joe sweating on our video. You know, do you have Serato face or you know, sweating finding the next song. And this ad took off like a rocket we had. We were getting 50 cent leads in 2020, which is unheard of. And I was like, I started freaking out. I literally drove to Nashville because I knew this product wasn't ready to be launched perfect was called perfect DJ playlist at the time. I drove out to Nashville. And we had seven days to put together some sexy kind of offer. I knew oh my god, people are really interested in this topic. We already have 500 signups in the first day from an SEO right. I was like, oh my god, I have to go Joe, I one of my biggest fears as an internet marketer is to have a big webinar or challenge and people hate it and you get stoned to death. Right? So yes. So I'm freaking out. I'm going to Nashville, me and Erin turned perfect digit playlist into what became crate hackers. And we did a webinar, we had 1500 people on live the first night we had over 3500 registrants. Yeah, this is in 2020. And we murdered it, you know, it was a 50 at least a $50,000. Launch night. But that that was recurring revenue, right? So we were just super profitable. And all we were selling was these stupid little lists, like lists of suggested songs, right? PDFs, literally PDFs of song suggestions. So we know the minimum viable product, let's put it that way minimum, viable product, but what people wanted. And what we realize is people needed community at that time. So they needed community and they needed something to do and this membership, it started as a membership and didn't even start a software became, you know, that community of people, we had over 700 people join our 750 join that first night and we're all shuck. We're a real shock. Mischa Zvegintzov To your Facebook group. They're joining your community into your Facebook group. Exactly. Wow, you joking, like, Well, wait a minute, like this? I know. I know. Yeah. Dominic Pirone But yeah, and really, none of that would have happened had we not did those those surveys, you know, none of it would have happened without that, you know, just really understanding your audience, you got to understand them, and you got to understand them in all the different areas that they're having. Right? They have problems with marketing, they have problems with hiring, they have problems with sales, they have problems with organic music organization, you can serve you can become the the the category King in any of these little niches, but you got to understand them. And then in my opinion, you have to bring that to life and show that pain and the result that you're going to, you know, bring to them in the ad. And then the first 30 seconds. Mischa Zvegintzov I love that, can we I haven't an idea. I'm thinking I might I think it might be worth and we'll edit out the pause so let's why don't we just take a minute why don't you find that survey? I think it would be so such Yeah, and this value to be able to reference that and so you are a big believer in surveys still to this day like that's what Dominic Pirone oh yeah. Okay, I'm doing I'm doing let me show you that. So I'm doing a search a challenge right now this this coming week. Okay, and oh, if I could just share my screen. Mischa Zvegintzov Oh, yeah, let me let me go to there we go. Let's see. Does that allow Oh, let's see. Here we go. Yeah, there we go. Okay, cool. Dominic Pirone Okay, so here's so right now we're doing the thing go to create hackers.com/stankey Eliminate stinky old crates and organize the gold standard bangers. He can't wait to play in 2022. And we always do funny ads and honestly, funny ads are they get shared the most again, like the most they get commented on the most and funny ads bring in the coolest people, people who have a sense of humor or are people people who work with mad? I want to work with anybody who cannot, you know, can't laugh and think they're too too cool to laugh and I'm just like, all the worst people. Mischa Zvegintzov Yeah, if they're offended by the state did challenge slash stanky. Like, no way you're not our guy anyway. Right. Exactly. Dominic Pirone Exactly. Yeah. And then you know, it takes a certain type of person to admit to these problems and the DJ in the DJ space. It's filled with ego. It So we don't want anybody that has a giant ego this, you know, our community is just not for them our community is, is one of sharing and one of fun and one of people that know they can do better. So Mischa Zvegintzov you know what I love? Right now, what, what I'm hearing from you is is not only have you niched down to alright, you know it's a DJ and in the wedding space, what have you or wedding slash sorority frat parties slash, slash? Bar Mitzvah, whatever. Right? But you're also saying, low ego. You're like, I, we want these attributes of that person niching down even more. So you're like, we don't want every freakin DJ in the space. We want the ones that meet this criteria. Dominic Pirone Oh, yeah. Yeah, exactly. So that would be 111 suggestion, especially for people in a crowded, niche or crowded area is you could become the funny blank of that niche. You could become the whatever verb you know, in that niche, if that makes sense. Yeah. A perfect example of that is there's a guy named I forgot what his name is. It's Kyle something. But he's a moto. Motivational speaker. That's that's a comedian immediate Mischa Zvegintzov love. Kyle sees. Yeah, amazing. Yeah. Dominic Pirone So it's like, Mischa Zvegintzov a perfect example Dominic Pirone of hey, the personal motivation niche is extremely crowded. So he comes in and offer something different new opportunity, right. Not an improvement offer. Right? So yes, yeah. Yeah. So Mischa Zvegintzov quick side note, did you go to one of his ELLs or do any of us? No, Dominic Pirone no, I just, I just, I've only ever, like seen his videos, and I maybe paid $20 for like a documentary. I haven't dove deep into that. But Cool. Mischa Zvegintzov Cool. But yeah, he's his his and his videos are genius, man. He's really He's Oh, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Okay. Anyway, Dominic Pirone all of that can be reverse engineered. And, you know, again, I have the background of being a Facebook marketer, first, well, marketer, traditional marketer, who became Facebook marketer, who then became a funnel marketer. And what I really want people to understand is, I would suggest that people understand how to run their own ads, because we live in a very, we live in a time where you have to be able to grab and convert people's attention. We're going full on tick tock attention spans in this society. Right? And to get people into your funnel, you better be able to grab their attention and not just grab their attention that's overused. Mischa Zvegintzov Speak to them like to speak to that. Right? Like, hey, my person I'm speaking directly to you. So they see it. Right under Dominic Pirone present. Yeah, exactly. And so this this is I'll just show you I'm going to show you how I how I survey inside of a funnel. I always survey every time when in doubt, survey. Love. And I'll show you how I do it. So this is the this is the video we're running right now.  You have your banners turned into Clangers. A little. challenge feels fresh and fruity, fresh. No foul smell a loud air freshener that has a long lasting effect. It's not the smell of fresh trees. We're getting to your hard drive. Not just that. You get some notice freshness. But special. Join the threshing challenge, a three day intensive tours to help you find the freshest music space is limited to this. Register today. Mischa Zvegintzov This is amazing. anybody listening on the podcast, go to the show notes. Click on watch interviews, watch the interviews or whatever I like having there and you've got to watch this like he dog here is giving the keys to the kingdom. Like no. Okay. Dominic Pirone Well, let me just so let's let's let's show you, I'll even show you inside our ad account. How about that? So basically, I just fired up that ad that video right? Okay. Yeah, so we've got one that's doing pretty good. We got 25 That Mischa Zvegintzov ad drives them to the funnel, right or the landing page or your we can call it different things. Dominic Pirone But again, everything is reverse engineered from this one ad if I don't have a great idea for an ad, I don't even bother with the funnel or the shower. So it's hook. Right? Tired of playing the same old hits, right? Find that funny that's gonna grab their attention, whatever whatever it creates a little stale been meaning to freshen them up. Okay, so that's it. pinpoint pinpoint, right? All based on survey in their surveys people tell us and I'll show you that soon I swear. Okay, yeah, tell us the reason I joined the software is because I feel like I'm playing the same old thing over and over again. So we did the freshen up your crates challenge, right? Yes. And again, add, you know, same headline video, they're gonna click learn more, they're gonna go to here, videos right here, everything is congruent. And big call to action, right? Join the free challenge, big call to action join a call to action, the next thing that's going to happen is they're going to upgrade to VIP. We've we do three day challenges. And we've had a lot of success with $27 $37.40 $7 upsells for VIP access and recordings. This little sales video, you guys can funnel hack this. But yeah, and one. So one thing I'm doing because we have this software is they are going to just give everybody my information there. Yeah. But they're going to click Continue. And I'm doing this new thing where they can literally when they're check checking out and buying VIP they can buy or they can add on our software as a bump for $15 for the first month. And so that's a new thing I'm testing out, we've already have a 20 to 30%, you know, uptick? And people taking that which is pretty awesome. Yes, yes. And then on the thank you page, we always have a video and we tell them exactly what to do next, add a reminder to your calendar of choice. Join our Facebook group, take our music organization survey, right. And I'll just show you some of these questions. So fantastic. So we put this on the thank you page, and we put this in emails as well. So they're going to get an email now that they've registered, and they're going to be told to take the survey dammit. Mischa Zvegintzov Okay, so let me interject before you go down this survey. Sure. You come up with an idea for an ad, how you have to reverse Dominic Pirone engineering, it's your funnel will, you know will not work? Truly, unless you can. The ads have to work. That's that's in my opinion, obviously. So people have organic traffic, but but just think about if you're just sending this to your email, right? Yeah, the email list the the headline, the subject line needs to be sick, right? So I'm gonna put it tired of playing the same old hits becomes my subject line, that becomes my headline becomes the top, you know, that becomes the hook for everything. Okay, it really when you have the right messaging at the beginning, I just I literally use the same script for inside of our emails inside of our ads. And inside of our sales videos. This this text that you see right here is literally our VSL it's our it's it's the script that we're going to send an emails, it's what sells amongst joining the challenge, it can all be reused and simplified. Mischa Zvegintzov That is amazing. And any listener, watch her right now. Could you imagine what this would do to your business if you started implementing this strategy? Right? Like I'm listening to this going? This is a powerful strategy to to if you're not right, I mean, there's plenty of ways to do it. But I love this, this insight. And yeah, I mean, you're you're breaking it down for us your method but works for you what you're having success with. It's pretty awesome. Okay. To the thank you for that to the now we're staring at the looking at graciously you are showing us I will even say that. Your survey, so walk us through it. Here we go. Yeah, so music Dominic Pirone organization sucks survey, right? It's not just a survey. It's a music organization socks, you know, that you can even call it a VIP session. I've called it a bent session, I did a survey for two women about cramps. And I was like, this is not just a survey. This is a I want you to think go off, right? Yeah, man, that's when you get the juicy stuff. Right. So Mischa Zvegintzov you're amazing. And you're a genius. I'm just gonna say it right now. Dominic Pirone Thank you. Yeah, lots of credible. Well, I got out you know, I got to thank people like Russell Brunson, obviously, the Clickfunnels family, but I also have to think, what's his name, Brian Levey. The Ask method was, was crucial and just understanding the I already knew the importance of surveys. But after I read his stuff, I was like, Man, I you know, this, this is the cheat code. In my opinion surveys are the cheat code and literally gives you all the juice, you know? Yeah. Mischa Zvegintzov I just want to say something that anybody watching can listen to the interview with Molly Mandel. Berg. I interviewed this, this this amazing woman in her 30s She's got a great six figure business. She's cheap. She runs it out of a converted Sprinter van that she drives across, you know the country just Live in this really empowered life, if you like that kind of life, I'm not gonna say it's for everybody. But that's kind of the vision that she had. She's executing on it. You know, she, but she referenced the Ryan love ask the Ask method. She's, and she is like the surveys. And he created this really cool survey as well. And I, I think it's to have it twice mentioned twice in succession. I'm like, That's yeah, it's Dominic Pirone it's key, because he also suggests, and this was crucial for our business. Anytime somebody joins great hackers, we immediately survey them and ask, why did you join? Which ad? Did you like? What resonated with you? Why didn't you know what problems are you having with music organization? How is this hurting your performance, so on and so forth? So that was something I learned from him. As soon as they join. That's the perfect time to survey people and ask them, why did you join? What problem are you trying to solve Mischa Zvegintzov anyway? Do you want to show me that? Do we want to go through that? That survey real quick, and then we'll move on we keep keep on bouncing around it. Okay, so let's see. I think this is a great learning are we hyped it up? Good now? Right. Like everyone's like, show it to us, David? Dominic Pirone Yeah. The first thing I tried to do is just get them to answer very simple questions at the beginning here. So I want to know, are they part time full time? Do they have other DJs work for them? Or are they a club DJ? Right? There's it's really two different niches. Mischa Zvegintzov Okay, love it. Yes. Dominic Pirone This way, I'm getting to see who is in our challenge. Who are we talking to mostly? The next thing I tried to do is something fun, get some juice on them, right confession time? How many songs would you estimate you currently have? Right? It's okay. No judgement. I make them funny. Put some personality in it. Don't you know, don't make it a boring thing. Okay, so like, I'll put a you know, so basically, this is understanding how much songs how many songs do they actually have for him? Yeah, here's this funny answer. You don't even want to know, aka an absurd amount. AKA I'm a music hoarder, right? Mischa Zvegintzov Yes, right. Like I've got, I've got zip or not, I've got gig drives or terabyte drives all over my house. Dominic Pirone Yeah, exactly. Yeah, Mischa Zvegintzov right, right. Dominic Pirone How do you feel music organization sorting music into crates by bpm? That means beats per minute, by key of the song would help your DJing so we and I always put this Please explain. I always do open ended questions. Do not do club do not just do multiple choice questions. Oh my God, you will get you will get survey data that is completely useless. And Mischa Zvegintzov I would rather have a tender. Yeah, I'd rather Dominic Pirone have 10 people explain in depth the problems that they're having, instead of getting 1000 multiple choice. How would it how would music organization help me? It would help a lot, right. That doesn't help me at all. Mischa Zvegintzov Right? Yeah. Like if there's Yeah, it would help me because one, I would feel like now I'm not going to be in that time crunch getting whatever face you said what's the face? Yeah. Serato face? Yeah, the panic face like, yeah, Dominic Pirone we have other terms to DJ Doom, scrolling, right, your doom scrolling for your next song before the song runs out. We came up with music hoarding. We give these problems a very funny name. That's another tip. Find the problem and give it a funny name. And people will remember it forever. Every time somebody is DJing in the future, and they start searching for next song. They're gonna think of us when they're panicky, panic Lee panicky, that panicky search for the next song. They're gonna think of us because we just be like, Oh, Mischa Zvegintzov I've got Doom face. I got that. Dominic Pirone Right, right. Right, exactly. But you know, this is good. Thanks, man. Yeah, so I find how do you feel music organization would help your DJing How does having a disorganized library hurt your performance? Please explain. So this is where I got that Serato face thing. And this one question made us a million dollars basically. Got us to seven figures. And you know, and we're gonna I mean, our everything is subscription. So we are looking at you know, we basically have a seven figure a year situation on our hands, which is awesome. We're very blessed by Mischa Zvegintzov that. But it's the perfect customer of the person that is that everybody's having fun, thriving, growing like it's literally win win win. It's the dream scenario, right? Like, you're amazing. Yeah. Dominic Pirone Yeah, we have 3000 paying subscribers right now. And it's really just the start. We haven't even you know, gone into. That's only the US basically so We're very excited about the scalability and of the software. Congrats the hardest part. Thank you. Thank you. But a long room coming. What's the hardest part of music organization? What takes the longest? In other words, why aren't you doing it? Please explain. Please explain. Please explain. Please explain. Right, please. Mischa Zvegintzov Yes. Dominic Pirone What have you tried in the past to help with music organization? How do you go about making your current playlists and crates? Which program do you use this is? So we understand? Do we have you know, Serato users? Do we have virtual DJ users? And then some other basic questions, but really, those first ones are the are the key, right? I'm basically asking them how do you feel music organization would help your DJing? Right, that's get hitting, hinting on those internal barriers. How does having a Server NAS library hurt your performance? Again, internal barriers? What's the hardest part of music organization? What takes the longest external barriers lies? All the time? Right? Yes. And then we already know, what we're going to talk about with the vehicle, the current vehicle is we give we give them the vehicle, the new vehicle, the new opportunity with our software to organize their stuff. This is vehicle related, right? What have you tried in the past in the past to help with music organization, please? Mischa Zvegintzov I want to say something right here right now. anybody listening? Like, if you're like, This is DJ, what does this have to do with me? Like you just were handed the keys to the kingdom? Anybody in any business that's trying to maybe that's not at your level? Or maybe they are at your level and are want and are not implementing the tools that you have? You just literally showed a tool set that somebody can use to catapult their business to another level if they're not implementing what you just showed us? Or if you're new in the game, like, hey, here you go. Here's, here's although this was about DJing. Pay attention to like, find out your perfect customers blank, blank, internal, external, what's the vehicle? What are the problems with the old vehicle? And in app or tools? There's so many different ways to say it, right? Dominic Pirone Absolutely. Yeah. And then I just want to show you, Misha, here. You're ready for the real gold. Here we go. Here we go. Buckle up, everybody. We have had 1000 DJs fill out the survey. 1000. So And this just shows like most of our guys are part time mobile DJs. That's the exact right person that we want. Part time here, and I just want to show you here we got this. Mischa Zvegintzov Did you say part time or full time mobile DJ? Dominic Pirone Uh, let's see. So it looks like for almost 50% of our guys are mobile part time mobile DJs. Okay, cool. Yeah, so 20% are full timers. But just just look at the juice we're getting here. How do you feel music organization would help your DJing please explain sorting through the blue in my library and having great songs more easily available and ready to mix. That word bloat? I can literally I already have 1000 ideas for an ad, right? You're bloated. To your DJ, just make it funny, Mischa Zvegintzov right? Oh my god. Dominic Pirone But so it's, it's we, we overcomplicate everything, it does not need to be complicated. Do the juicy survey and just get these words. So blue irony. I'm gonna write that down right after this interview. It would help with smoother transitions and keep on track throughout the night. It would help in my sets with mixing alone. Knowing what to play next means one DJ better than the rest. Okay, so now I know. Being organized means mixing better, which means you're better than the other DJs. That's a thing that they want. Right? Yeah. Again, that ego right play on that. Oh, extremely important. I've got over two terabytes of files on hand. I'm always trying to get my grades on point with clean mixes, and it's not as easy as it looks, your service would be perfect for me. So we're finding out they know they understand. Yes, that is too much music. I can't organize all of this stuff, right? Mischa Zvegintzov Like there is too much right? Sometimes too many choices are not a good thing, either. It's funny, I've just been really a lot of I've been a lot of what I'm hearing is like, Stop, narrow down the choices. And I even think in my own life. I'm like, we like get rid of all the external BS choices like find the two that what are the two choices like get overwhelmed, right? I don't know if that you relate to that at all. Dominic Pirone Absolutely. Absolutely. I had to do that because I was there. It's just you have to nail down that perfect person for us. It is part timers, part timers. know that they have a lot to learn part timers have crappy day jobs that they want to get rid of. They are in the most pain full timers we can serve them but they're not our ideals. full timers already are making money they're already doing what they like they kind of think they know it all already so they're not like a part timers trying to get rid of their ups job. You know, those are the guys who will. They will be your raving customers forever. Look at this one. I just got another idea for an ad. Anytime I don't have ideas for ads or my next challenge. I just read this this survey. It would be like God giving you the cheat code to life. I can make a whole funny video about that. Mischa Zvegintzov Oh my god. I love that. What was the one you said keep on track like he could have totally coming off track right? Like you could. Oh, this is so juicy. Dominic Pirone Wow. Yeah. So these guys are literally giving you Oh, here we go. Who wants to have wrinkles on your face while you're searching for the next song just gave me another idea. Book. Wrinkly Face DJ trying to Old man, you know, he's all stressed out Mischa Zvegintzov God. That is that. Oh my god, are you kidding me? And there's Dominic Pirone 1000 there's 1000 responses that Mischa Zvegintzov surveys, surveys surveys. So and yeah, allegedly, Dominic Pirone proper proper surveying, you got to make it funny, you know, and and you got to dig and people will give you that juicy information. I just did a survey. I'm going to be launching a product to help women with cramps. My girlfriend suffers from horrible cramping. Okay. During that time of the month, you know, and I want to help her because, yeah, nobody, nobody wants an unhappy girlfriend. And I'm saying anyway, so I I did a new survey. And I asked them I you know, this is a vent session. This is not a survey. This is a vent session. How does make How do your cramps make you feel? It feels like I'm being stabbed in the stomach. It feels like my uterus is beating me up. Right? I'm gonna take all of those things that they're telling me and just convert it into a funny video. Oh my gosh, the hug uterus beating? Yeah, exactly. Mischa Zvegintzov So okay, you you're inspired, the girlfriends suffers through bad cramps at that time of the month. And you're like, Well, yeah, like, I want to, you're the woman I love. Let's make this better. So you're inspired to? Yeah, find a solution. And so you say I'm gonna make a survey? And then and then what are you like Facebook ads to drive responses? Or who are you? Who are you pushing that service? Yeah, go. Yeah. So, Dominic Pirone ah, I'll show you my funnel here. Okay, I'm just giving it all the way. I'm just giving it all. Mischa Zvegintzov Did you know what you're gonna have the best four years of your life? The universe is just like, I just want to help backing to give back. God. Thanks, man. Thanks. Yeah. Dominic Pirone So I was dating a girl a couple of years ago. And she started raving about these earrings, right? These ones on the tree here. And she ended up breaking up with me for some of those financial stress reasons. Well, no, it was there was a combination of things. Anyway, we're still friends today. But okay, good. She she was you know, we off about these earrings, asking her friends where they got on blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I, you know, we figured out where to buy them from. And I put together a free plus shipping funnel. It's called Emperor CU is my little e commerce brand that I experiment with. But through this funnel, I've you know, I've literally made we've, we've sold almost $100,000 of these earrings. Wow. And so I have a list and I can I just sent an email to them to find out Mischa Zvegintzov what that is ridiculous. But But here's Dominic Pirone here's, here's what I would do. If I was you guys. If I'm just starting out, I would put together a contest giveaway. Go on to King sumo calm and just learn King Sumo. It's so easy, super easy to put together a little contest giveaway. And what I would do is give away some cool thing that your ideal niche wants. And as a part of the contest, first they got to give me their email address, right? So easy leads, it's always gonna be some of the easiest leads you're ever going to generate through these contests, giveaways using Facebook, Instagram ads, tick tock ads, blah, blah, blah. But to give giving them you're going to give them more points for doing things. So you're going to get grab their email, you're going to grab their instant, you know, have them follow you on Instagram, have them follow subscribe to you on YouTube, and then give them a lot of points to take a survey. That is actually the most important thing, in my opinion. So that's what I would do if you're just starting out and you don't have a list. I love it. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And I have done that in the past. Mischa Zvegintzov Hey, really quick. I hate to do this to you. My computer just seized up. So I am going to um, I, I is it is everything working on your end? Like when you're looking at the Zoom meeting? Oh, yeah. Okay, good, good, good, good, good, good. You know, we'll just keep going, I'm gonna I'm gonna trust that it's all that it's all. That's that it's all working. And I'll edit this part out so. So that's super cool. The tell me the name of the of the of the of the tool. Again, this surveyed King sumo Dominic Pirone King sumo.com. There's another one up viral up viral is another good one. I would say King Sumo is the easiest. And it's also going to be the most affordable but up viral gives you you know, a free 14 day trial and Mischa Zvegintzov makes it easy as well. So perfect. Done. This is so so good. Thank you for your nuggets. And thank you for the Dominic Pirone I hope it inspires people who are really want to do this and are just kind of stuck. You know, it's like, I've experienced that I've experienced that for years. You know, and it's just, this is one of the keys that really helped me with breakthroughs. Mischa Zvegintzov Oh, cool. Fantastic. And I just want to say really quick, again, anybody listening myself? Right? How, like, imagine if you implemented one or two of the simple things that you just told us. I mean, the revenue increase the lead increase, or if you are just starting away to, you could literally build a survey. Click, send it out, in build a business. I'm sort of speechless. I'm just listening. Right? I did. Yeah. I Dominic Pirone mean, we're taught we're taught as marketers, here's, here's one thing I'll say we're taught as marketers to market to the result that people want, right? Yeah. Which is good. That's true. But what I would say is find out like every, for example, everybody wants time, freedom. They want to be not everybody. But you know, certain people want to be their own boss, right? Yes. That's good. That's good. I would say reverse it a little bit and be like, Don't you hate this? Horrible boss number one, horrible boss number two. Horrible, you're getting bills in the in the mail, and you're drowning in debt? Right? It's like bringing those pain points to life in a funny way. And it's going to give everything more bite. Yes. Find those, those problems on those pain points. And just, I mean, literally, I you know, that video I showed you earlier, we shot it on my iPhone, and it took us literally 30 minutes, not even 20 minutes. And it's kind of trashy, honestly. And guess what it costs us cost us absolutely nothing to make. Maybe $100 for the editor to put it together. So it doesn't have to be these huge productions either. Yeah. Mischa Zvegintzov Yeah. Very cool. Yeah. Um, I want to touch on two things. And then I'm gonna let you get back to building your empire. And serving DJs at the highest level, which clearly you are, right, I love this. This is so good. So I'm just taking, I want to ask you about mentorship really quickly. And then I'm going to also ask you about you had referenced earlier that you had no high end offers, but but I know you're up to some things in that regard. So I want to talk about that. And I just want to tell everybody listening right now, go to crate hackers.com forward slash fresh and you can see the most recent challenge that you have, and it's very cool. And then you can also see some information about Joe bun, who you referenced as well as Aaron Taylor. I'm curious who's the tall one which is the tall trailers the tall Erin trailers is tall this 610 I believe that's a big dude what? Yeah, gosh. So yeah, everybody go to crate hackers comm forward slash Stankey or crate hackers comm forward slash fresh and you can see the most recent cool marketing that DOM and his company have going on you and I met through what's called the two C CX, the two comma club x, which is Yeah, Russell Bronson's high end. It's it's a higher end coaching program. Tell me about the value of that to you or mentorship people call it different things. Call it investing in yourself mentorship, networking all tell me tell me about that. Dominic Pirone Yeah, I mean, so you don't know what you don't know, right? And like I was just on there earlier today, showing them my funnel, and they gave me some really good suggestions. You know, me like I personally build all these funnels, I write all these ads, sometimes I just don't see something that could be hiding in plain day. So you have to, you have to have that coaching to give you that exterior viewpoint on maybe what you're missing, right? Yeah, yeah. But before, before I was able to afford, you know, GCC x, which totally worth the investment, it's, I was actually a part of it last year, and, you know, couldn't float the payments very long. And so I had to drop out. And then I rejoined, because they made it even sexier than it was last year. Yes. And, but before that, I did the one funnel away challenge three times until it's sunk into my thick skull, I would definitely recommend checking out Stephen Larson's all of his stuff. His one, what I really learned from him is that some of the most effective marketing you're ever going to do is throwing rocks at the enemies. So the enemies can be the external barriers, they can be the internal barriers, they can be the vehicle barriers, right. And that can be brought to life in a very fun way. Yes. And that is one guy that I absolutely love. Got to meet him a couple times. And yeah, it's just, you know, you just can't do this. You're by yourself. I mean, even if it's just one of my rituals is I go to here in Atlanta, Georgia, we have a big Korean population in Duluth, Duluth, Georgia, and they have these things called Korean spas, and you go in and there's like, 10 different types of saunas, a charcoal sauna, and this sauna, and Steam Sauna. Anyway, all I do is I go in there, I sweat my butt off, I get away from technology, I just read a book, read a book that's going to help me solve this next problem. Even that is a as a type of mentorship, it's helping you get out of your, it's helping you take a step back and work, you know, like, give you the ideas to attack the next day as an example. That's been a huge, that was a big thing that I did while I was in my funk my funky states. Live that Dominic Pirone is hell and you know, not sure what to do next. And you know, you got to keep moving you got to Dominic Pirone give you you know, you gotta have you have to invest in learning about this stuff. You know, I bought all the Pedro downs challenge stuff. I did, you know, I bought the 2020 I bought the 2021 version, like it's just, you just got to do it to stay ahead again, it's gonna be worth it as long as you put it to put it into use. Mischa Zvegintzov So, yeah, it's fun for you. Yeah. I mean, clearly, yeah, Dominic Pirone I don't do anything. Now. That's not fun. You know. It's, you know, life is too short for that I've experienced having no fun and it's not fun for me. So then the other the other thing is, is when you are putting out content that is fun, and funny and energetic, and that you're gonna attract the right people. And I can't say enough about that our community would die for us. Like, we just had a party to celebrate the holidays. And, you know, to the founders, we wanted to celebrate our two comum right to calm on achieving that, and we had 750 DJs on Twitch live just watching this live streaming party was one of the best best times I've ever had. So, you know, it's like, at the end of the day, when you hone in everything Russel teaches us and create that movement. It'll take some work, but any, but you will become very well known in your little weird niche. And people will, you know, do anything for you. So Mischa Zvegintzov that's amazing. Well, yeah, I love it. I love the fortitude, the tenacity, the the willingness to serve, the willingness to grow, the willingness to learn. Yeah, yeah, consistency and fortitude. Dominic Pirone Yeah, yeah, you gotta, you gotta have all those things. One of my favorite books, if anybody's looking for a book recommendation, I read this as much as possible. It's called The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Okay, yep, absolutely love that book. You know, sometimes, honestly, the hardest. It's what somebody refers to as the dark work, you got to put the dark work in and ride that struggle bus here and there before before we get to the breakthroughs, and yes, that's where, you know, the training leading up to the boxing match is where you're going to be that's where winners are made. So, Mischa Zvegintzov hey, yeah, that's so good. I like how fun is it that your clients were celebrating your success? key word. Dominic Pirone We didn't tell them the number. We didn't tell them that whole part. We really didn't want to celebrate just our community being awesome. But yeah, it was like we had so much fun that night we, Mischa Zvegintzov yeah, the community success, right? Yeah. It's like, hey, it's it's again, that win win win. I think, to me, that's the dream that that I've, I've been in jobs in my youth where it wasn't Win, win win. And those are painful, right? So you can as an entrepreneur to have win wins beautiful. Yeah, I'm Dominic Pirone not again, I'm not saying that memberships are going to be for everybody. But Russell Brunson does say if you don't have recurring revenue, you don't have a business. And Frank Kern talks about memberships. And what's his name, Dan Kennedy, what's Dan Kennedy, the legend talks about, you know, recurring revenue and things like that. The other the other cool thing about a community is, you're always gonna have that constant feedback on what content to create. So I don't even hate the idea of, if you're having trouble nailing down a high ticket offer, I would suggest start with a membership. And just get people in there, have them create content, then use that to reverse engineer, take all the sexiest content out of your membership and just make your high end product. Then, right, so now you have the best of both worlds, you have a high ticket offer, and you have a recurring product. And from our membership, we found our developer, he's a DJ, who is a wizard, software engineer. He helped us design our software. So we started as a membership. And now we're a software with a membership component. So that wouldn't have happened without a membership solution. Mischa Zvegintzov Very cool. When you say, start a membership, and then have your audience create content. Yeah. Tell me tell me that. That's what you mean. Have them clear content? Yeah. Dominic Pirone So I'll use the the prior example. So I tried to sell those $300 course. I didn't do it properly. So that was that was one thing. So I took a step back, I repackaged my offer. I got people on another webinar, and I relaunched a program, the profitable social media marketing for wedding DJs, right. And I gave them all these bonuses made it a sick offer. And it's only $30 a month, right? And so people joined it. Okay. Now, every week, then I was doing trainings, trainings, trainings, but now I understand them more I understand. They're guiding me on what they want to hear inside my membership. Hey, we need to learn about this. We want to learn about YouTube ads, we want to learn about Google ads, right? Okay, good. So I'm gonna do that training, make all that content. Now I can pull that content out, create little low end offers, I could take that content and repackage it and make it a 997 course a $2,000, you know, or $5,000 in person event. Does that make sense? So yeah, totally. I love it. It allowed me to just get people in, start making some money, make sure you know, you got to be able to like make money, too. You might have a great niche and a great idea. But if you aren't making money, there's not good. Yeah, I mean, ideally, you have recurring revenue. Anyway. So. So you know, that's, it's important. Mischa Zvegintzov Yeah, that you explained you answered. Very well. Yeah. Beautiful answer. Thank you so much. Yeah. Dominic Pirone And for me, I am not a, I'm an educator, but I do. I'm not good at coaching people. So I hate one on one coaching calls. I don't hate it, but I'm just not good at it. And so, you know, we have zero, like, if you look at my calendar, I have nothing on it. And that's how I like I like to do I like to recruit provide solutions for masses, amount mass amounts of people. And I like, my time to work on those solutions. I don't you know, I'm not a coach, we will have coaching in the future. But I am not that. People who likes to coach and want to coach Well, you know, we'll send our community to them. So for people who aren't into coaching, they hate agency stuff. Which suggests I would suggest, you know, like, I've just been so happy with this model creating recurring membership products, that I can mark it my own dang self and own myself, you know, Mischa Zvegintzov so it's beautiful. It's a that's beautiful. That's good. Because not everybody wants to be a coach and it can feel like when you're in embedded in your niche that you're that that's the way it is when it's like no wait a minute. There are Dominic Pirone I mean, their coaching coaching can be awesome, right? Like, I know, I know some coaches who charge people $5,000 a month, you know, And I just like that that model is awesome. And you're gonna make a boatload of money, and no, but your time, it's gonna require your time as well. And that's okay if that's what you're into. But for me, that wasn't working for me, the agency thing never worked. For me, that's just not how my brain works, right? Like, I'm a creative, I'm a, you know, I'm a entrepreneur or a problem solver. I'm not necessarily a business operator. So that's where also linking up with guys who are those things really helped. So my tall guy, Aaron trailer, he came up with a lot of this software, and he's a great business operator, that frees me up to just do ads, and just write and more ads and more ideas. And what's the next challenge, right? If I was having to handle all those other things, it takes away from my creative brainpower to figure out these other solutions. Our next challenge. Our next webinar, our next big promotion. So Mischa Zvegintzov what a gift to have those two guys as partners. Oh, yes. Yes, that's amazing. Yeah. Yeah. Fantastic. And I wanted to touch on quick. You have, you have a higher end offer now, which seems like it's gonna be a lot of fun. You're gonna perhaps, or maybe this was in creation? You're in creation mode on this, but we're still figuring it out. Yeah. Teaching some teaching people how to get the book. Right. Exactly. Is that what's going on? Hands on? hands on training, right? Yeah, yeah, that's Dominic Pirone right. So in the future, we're going to be doing in person events for between, you know, one to $5, or even $5,000. We're gonna fly people out and have people shadow Joe, to see how his business operates. And how they can do the same thing in their business. We're still dialing that in, we're also going to do private parties. So that for those big stream parties, we're gonna offer, hey, 10, people can buy a VIP ticket and come party with us live, you don't have to watch it on the stream, and just come find out with you know, some of your favorite DJs and things like that. And then we might do a conference in the future. But again, red ocean, people don't love. Well, there's a lot of DJ conferences. And so we would have to figure out a fun spin on that. So yeah. And also putting on an event is a lot of work. And that doesn't, doesn't necessarily interest me. So yeah, I'm not trying to be lazy. I'm just I know where am I? Yeah, exactly. Yes. Mischa Zvegintzov Yeah, it sounds like the next person you get to work with perhaps is going to be the is going to be the event person, right? That's like, oh, my gosh, I love that. Let's, how come we don't have the 10 people out here for stream for the for the stream? You know, why is that not up? Like? Let's do that? Yeah. I, I, I want to be cognizant of time. And I, I think, I think we are going to need to do in six months. And interview number two, because I can't wait to see where you are in six months. And then or maybe even sooner. I don't know. All the years are so generous with what with with what you expect. Go ahead. Yeah, Dominic Pirone yeah, man, I'm in a unique position where I'm in. And I'm not marketing to internet marketers. So I don't mind showing you this stuff. Like, it's just we're in this very this unique niche. And you know, so it's been, it's been awesome. So yeah, I would love to show you Yeah, so our other membership, the DJ is vault is going to be crossing the 250 or the seven figure mark here in February. That program has been around for going on three years now. So it's all been building up. It all takes, you know, takes a while and you're especially when you when you commit to the membership model. You know, it's not, but that it all pays off. So Mischa Zvegintzov yeah, yeah. Like lead in, hang in there. The ups and the downs. Keep keep keep keep going. I want to know, before, before we end did we did we get to cover everything you were hoping to cover? Or? Yeah, I'll get that we missed or what's the one final thing you're like, hey, if I could leave you with anything. I'm going to leave you with this. Dominic Pirone Yeah. What I what I would really like to say to everybody is when you look at the word funnel, don't forget the word. The three letters F U N fun, needs to be put into the funnel. So whether that be you know, funny ads, whether that be for your next webinar, first of all, don't ever use webinar as a word. You know, it's got to be a training. It's got to be an experience. It's Gotta be, you cannot make things boring because like, you're up against tick tock, you're up against YouTubers, which some of the top YouTubers are unreal people to follow. They'll give you a ton of ideas on Mr. Beast airac these guys are crazy good at grabbing attention, right? But you're up against them, right? If you're advertising on YouTube, you're literally going up against those people who could easily pull your their, you know, your ideal person's attention away. So you better be a better have some fun with stuff. You better be in their face. Bold, funny if that's your style, bold, if that's your style, right? It's like, use your g

If you're showing up today, something tells me that you've had your head down in the trenches and business for quite some time. And you know what? That's okay. That's why this week's Powerback® is about creating intentional time to work on your business - not just in itSo a couple of tips:First and foremost, block in time for yourself in your own calendarSecondly, get out of your office - it is essential for you to change your atmosphere go somewhere that inspires you, somewhere where you feel creativeAnd last but not least, no rules, this is not the time to figure out the hows the whens and all the nitty-gritty detailsLook, your business is relying on you to grow to the level that you see and feel; and let's be honest ​​if you're not working on the business, the business is not going to grow to where you know that it could be!---RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODEFollow me on TikTok for daily advice on how to underdo your business: taking your Powerback®, how to trust yourself, and how to grow your business to the level that you see and you feel so deeply and clearly.Head on over to LauraAura.com to find out more about The BrandstarterTM Course, Brand Reviews, Powerback Sessions, and the freshly launched PowerbackTM Course. CONNECT WITH LAURAAURAInstagram: @thatlauraauraFacebook: @thatlauraauraTwitter: @thatlauraauraWebsite: LauraAura.comTHANK YOU, GUTSY TRIBE!We love, love, love to read your comments, feedback, and reviews. If you haven't yet, drop us one below! Your review might even get highlighted within one of our gutsy love posts or on our website.

In this episode, I unpack the rhetorical themes behind the 60 sec script for my upcoming fundraiser. These principles can be replicated for almost any situation: public speaking, selling, recruiting, asking for a raise, etc. Enjoy!Copied below is the script for anyone that's interested in reading it:A lot of us right now are experiencing a return to freedom.We're going to restaurants, some of us are traveling again, and we're seeing friends and family that we haven't seen in a really long time.That being said, there's still an entire people group, though, that won't experience this same freedom that we will - I'm talking about victims of human trafficking.And I don't know about you guys, but it's tough for me to go about my life as normal, knowing that these people are suffering. That's why, this November, I'm gonna do something I've never done before in order to raise awareness and money to help these people…I'm gonna run 50 freakin' miles.I'm calling this run the #freedomfifty and you can participate in 3 ways:Invest $50 into our campaign to help bring relief to victimsRun with me virtuallyRun with me here in DC for part or all of itSo my question to you is: are you willing to jump in on this fight with us? We'd love to have you. Find the details below!Follow the fundraiser on Instagram: @itsjakesavage

We follow up with Chris on the last episode where Paul clarified his faithDoes following Jesus abandoning people who don't meet the clique/look/need for the moment?What is actual ministry vs the “show”What does it mean to actually follow Jesus, Christians?What does it mean to be a LEADER in a church/religion/spiritual movementWhere in the Bible does it say a priest/pastor is supposed to be a “celebrity?”How Do We Support People in Difficult Jobs? PoliceTeachersVeterans / solidersWhere are the support structures here for these peopleSocial Media “power of anonymity”The meaning of true loveWhat should we really lean on?Better Communications between people in relationships, especially emotional ones (starts at minute 35)It's better when we are togethercommunicate. Collaborate, graduate. CO= togetherBe honest when a relationship is new, where do I see this going?,Where am I ok with it going? Am I ready for this?Leverage the nature of the relationship to make it more inclusive (mutual respect)Dealing with the child withinTangent- can anything be read to be sexy/soothing?-Sleep stories/sexy voices-The Tall Ship in Boston-The North End in Boston is amazing, especially when watching a soccer championshipActive listening“You haven't heard me!”Engaging with their soulYou fully understand what is being said and why they said itSo you can constructively respondCollaboration results for allYou have to WANT & WILL to listen otherwise you never will actually hear them / decisiveness resultsAsk questions, learn about themNot projecting onto othersWe can't read minds Aligning words and actions (starts at 1 hour in)Some people are good at one or the other but not necessarily bothMaintaining a healthy/positive masculine feminine energy balanceAcknowledging the differences between the sexes & energiesDean Lewis from Australia knows love songs!Apparently I look like Jason Stratham!A New COJE Group Restaurant is coming to Boston Seaport!Hot White PantsI can rock hot white pants, why don't you?Confidence and the pressure on womenWhat was the actual most popular size for women in the eyes of men?Confidence is everythingLove yourself, you are a lot more special than you thinkYour physical posture can mentally affect youBONUS Sleep / Meditation Story from Paul at 1 hour 37 MinutesWe love you! Give use 5 star ratings please. Thank you for listening.

PROUD OF YOU :D (Tribute to good 4 you by Olivia Rodrigo)**The beautiful original to ‘good 4 you' (performed by Olivia Rodrigo) was written by both Daniel Nigro and Olivia Rodrigo. ** Madly in love with the original song? Then watch Rain Paris as she brilliantly morphs ‘good 4 you' into a fantastic rock cover on YouTube!***Finally, I'm sending out tons and loads of massive thank you's through the airwaves to Miles, to Oliver, and to their entire family for:-inspiring this tribute, -encouraging my music, &-consistently saving my life and easily becoming my favorite superheroes ❣️❣️❣️Lyrics:So proud of you You've changed my life Made it truly worth livingDespite the nanny title, Always treated me like familyFor your family, I would die:Even freeze or burn (burn)Thankful for youTeaching you teaches me about myselfDigressing, keep on daydreaming about your futures' potential As you grow up to be men, please don't forget me, Miles and Oliver!!!So proud of youIn my life, you're a blessing, worthySweet enough to share your glassThankful for youLike Sonic: you're speedy, clever Energy like a huge rocket's blast You've redefined, my quality timeRunning, I'll keep chasing after youMiles: so imaginative, and super creative I dig itSo proud of you~Thankful for youLearning your alphabet and how to countDriving that Hotwheels car, on and off ramps, in your parking garage For both of you, I'm tuning into Boss Baby, Baby Shark, PJ Masks, plus LucaSo proud of you,You bring out the sunlight within meDecember's special, cause it's the birthday month for me & Oli The reason I write songs about you:Despite pain's nags, is cause I love you!!!! I hope you never feel the kinds of pains my body has had to suffer through So proud of youIn my life, you're a blessing, worthyAlways sweet enough to share your glassThankful for youLike Sonic you're speedy, clever Energy like a huge rocket's blast You've redefined, my quality timeRunning, I'll keep chasing after youOliver: you're so bright, well spoken, and artisticI dig itI'm so proud of youMiles~Oliver~Sounds cheesy, but you're motivational When you're next to me, I'm stunned by your observations, whoah…Crazy, I know, but you're life saving, soEvery day, I think of you both as my guardian angels!Sounds cheesy, but you're motivational When you're next to me, I'm stunned by your observations, whoah…It's crazy, I know, but you're life saving, soEvery day I think of you both as super heroes!So proud of youIn my life, you're a blessing, worthyAlways sweet enough to share your glassThankful for youLike Sonic you're speedy, clever Oliver's as sugary sweet as any empath You've redefined, my quality timeRunning, I'll keep chasing after youOliver: you're so bright, well spoken, and artistic I dig itI'm so proud of youThankful for you You've changed my life Made it truly worth livingEndTribute by Melissa Smith:-Melzy of Wonderland on Youtube -Mel's Music on Spreaker, Spotify,Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Castbox, Deezer, Podcast Addict, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Podchaser, Facebook &Melissa_Martinek_Smith on Instagram (AKA: MelsMusic)

Isaiah 42:5This is what God the Lord says – the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on itSo far we've seen that the promised Servant will be just, faithful, gentle and will bring hope to the world. That sounds amazing! He's exactly what our unjust, fickle, hostile, cynical world needs. But maybe it's just too good to be true. How can we be sure? How could the people of Isaiah's day – facing the prospect of judgement and exile – be certain that God really would send them such a wonderful rescuer? Here in v.5 is God's answer.We can be confident that this Servant will come, and will be as wonderful as has been promised, because God's word is powerful and trustworthy. The God who makes this promise – to Isaiah and to us - is the creator. Everything that exists exists because he made it. He spoke, and galaxies appeared, oceans were tamed, land emerged which produced plants that produced fruit to feed the creatures that his word brought to life.  God knows how to make things happen just by speaking.  And he is not only the creator but the sustainer. He gives life and breath to his people. Generations of descendants of Adam and Eve have walked the earth since God first spoke. Each one had life and breath only because God decided that they would. He sustains and provides for his people throughout history.  If this God has a plan to rescue his people, he will certainly carry it out. If he says he will send them the Servant that they need, then he will surely do it.So today let's thank the God who has given us life and breath and all good things. And let's praise him that he alone is mighty, creating and sustaining us by the power of his words.

EquilibriumMaybe even equipoise.It’s in the balance.* * *Equanimity, the fourth and last of the immeasurables of Buddhism:1. Metta (loving kindness)2. Karuna (compassion)3. Mudita (sympathetic joy or empathy)4. Upekkha (equanimity)Upekkha. Has the ring of authenticity to it, doesn’t it? Equanimity, not so much. Too familiar, too ordinary. Besides, nobody really knows what it means. Note how much more authoritative it sounds when we use the Sanskrit? Brings to mind the Peter Sellers scene in The Naked Truth where, trying to pass for Irish in a pub in order to buy a bomb from the IRA says, “Well, we always have the Gaelic…” and launching into a monologue is immediately punched in the nose and thrown out of the bar. Fake accent of an Englishman the dead giveaway.This tendency — to rely heavily on jargonspeak — has a similar deleterious effect in any category of discourse, and can be especially disingenuous in dharma dialog. It sets up an “us and them” dichotomy, whether intended or not. It tends to imply that the speaker possesses greater knowledge, more expertise — at least in her or his own estimation — and therefore presumably the listener is rendered lesser in that regard. It leverages the faux asymmetry of the relationship. Zen is, or should be, the great equalizer.The implication is that, by boldly brandishing the Zen vernacular, I must have mastered its deeper meaning. This is why we have to keep reminding ourselves that we do not master Zen — in any language — it masters us. Far better to de-mystify any discussion, eliminating jargon wherever possible, and to rely on our own, direct experience — and plain language — to explore the true meaning of these ancient teachings. We teach each other Buddhism, as Matsuoka Roshi often said.Equanimity brings to mind other terms derived from the same root, such as equipoise, and equilibrium. The good thing about these terms is that they imply something physical, rather than emotional, or mental. The first two syllables derive from “equal,” and the dictionary definitions all refer to balance. So all three would have some connection to the Sanskrit samadhi, one of the more frequently mentioned jargon terms in Buddhism.In zazen, if we sit still enough for long enough, we begin to experience equipoise in our upright seated posture, coming into perfect alignment with gravity. All forces of mass and weight come to center around the spine, like the cables supporting a digital cell tower. When we hit that sweet spot in the middle of our stomach, it is as if we are floating off the cushion — free falling. Equilibrium ensues, affecting mental clarity and emotional composure. Eventually equanimity manifests even in the social sphere, where relationships with others benefit from less friction and conflict.If we regard equanimity, along with loving kindness, compassion, and empathy, as essentially immeasurable, they connect to Master Dogen’s closing lines in Jijuyu Zammai (Self-fulfilling Samadhi):Hundreds of things all manifest original practice from the original faceIt is impossible to measureKnow that even if all the buddhas of the ten directionsAs innumerable as the sands of the GangesExert their strength and with the Buddha’s wisdomTry to measure the merits of one person’s zazenThey will not be able to fully comprehend itSo what is truly immeasurable is the whole of the effect, the merit, of zazen. Zen claims to transmit Buddha’s meditation, the very same process that took place that night under the Bodhi tree some two-and-a-half millennia ago. We all have all the same equipment to work with that he had, after all — the toolkit comes with birth as a human being. We also enjoy relatively supportive causes and conditions, the circumstances of contemporary life, including exposure to the buddha-dharma, and access to training in meditation. As Hakuin Zenji asks toward the end of Zazen Wasan (Song of Zazen), “What is there outside us? What is there we lack?”He goes on to claim that “Nirvana is openly shown to our eyes. This earth where we stand is the pure Lotus Land and this very body the body of Buddha.” A bit hard to swallow, in the light of our self-effacing self-doubt, which at its worse becomes the life sentence of self-loathing. Nobody said this would be easy.Bringing our focus back to zazen, I think it is critical to recognize and accept that the immeasurables of this excellent method are also the most important aspects. It matters less how regularly we sit in meditation, how frequently, how long we sit, et cetera. Whatever measurable parameters we may put around it, the most important is that we simply never give up, as Matsuoka Roshi always reminded us.The downside to setting up strict regimens around zazen — as we are prone to do around working out, aerobics, and other activities that we expect to show results — is that the results of zazen are not so obvious. And, just as with any goal-oriented activity, if and when we do not live up to our own expectations, we are naturally disappointed, may become discouraged, and tend to reaffirm our own self-criticizing proclivity, proving that we are the failure we always suspected we were.Better to sit without expectations, but without abandoning our aspiration to something that cannot be so simply expressed as a measurable goal. This does not mean that we do not set reasonable benchmarks to assure enough depth of experience that we give zazen a legitimate chance to work its magic. But the immeasurable of the qualitative dimension of the experience takes precedence and priority over any quantifiable dimension.Which brings us back to the old cliché, “Just sit.” This overworked expression is not a cavalier or flip comment meant to dismiss any consideration of the serious issues that we face, including actual mental and chemical imbalances that we may be dealing with, but to suggest that when we do sit, we just sit, rather than engaging in daydreaming, planning, ruminating over the past, et cetera.If we turn up the intensity knob, sitting “more” in the qualitative sense when we are actually sitting, then we begin to manifest the true meaning of “just sit.” Would it were so simple. But of course we find that just sitting includes the full panoply of monkey-mind machinations, the impertinent imprecations of negative thinking on steroids, as well as the more trivial but distracting push-you pull-me of everyday tedium, those mundane but persistent weasels of samsara ripping our flesh. It is difficult to feel equanimous on the Titanic. The ship is definitely going down, and it doesn’t matter that the lifeboats are made in Japan. Zen is American as apple pie.The gateway drug to equanimity is patience. If we can come to practice patience on the cushion — patience with our situation in this imperfect world, and patience with the monkey’s inept attempts to cope with it — we may find our way clear to the equilibrium, the equipoise, the equanimity that is at the heart of all the clamor, clutter, and seeming chaos. It is all floating in samadhi. Time to release our grip on our imagined reality, so as to float in the equanimity of Zen.* * *Elliston Roshi is guiding teacher of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center and abbot of the Silent Thunder Order. He is also a gallery-represented fine artist expressing his Zen through visual poetry, or “music to the eyes.”UnMind is a production of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center in Atlanta, Georgia and the Silent Thunder Order. You can support these teachings by PayPal to donate@STorder.org. Gassho.Producer: Kyōsaku Jon Mitchell

In this Holy Week / Birthday episode of Mornings with Mel, Melissa Faisst walks us through the story of Mary of Bethany and teaches us how to WASTE our life upon Jesus.Right before Jesus was to go to the cross, this little girl took her most costly possession, her past, her present, and her future, and she poured it out at His feet. And Jesus asks us to do the same. Others will call it a waste, but when we realize what we gain in Him, we know it is always with itSo if you are feeling the invitation to truly give it all to God, then this episode is for you!// The Mornings with Mel PodcastA Daily Devotional for Christians where every morning, Monday-Friday we open up the Bible together seeking to know God, love Jesus & live our life with Christ.Each day, your host, Melissa Faisst from Ronnie and Mel Ministries, will take you through a passage in the Bible, help you apply it to you life, and help you grow in your love for Jesus.We want to be ones with unshakeable faith, and that is only possible by knowing and spending time with our Savior Jesus Christ.So together, let's seek to know & love Him more each morning. Thanks for joining in with us here at the Mornings with Mel Podcast.And we would love to hear how this podcast is helping you in your walk with God, so make sure to let us know in the reviews.If you don't have a Bible for yourself, here are Mel's faves! For women  & For men!For free Christian Resources to help you find God & walk with Jesus in your everyday life, make sure to check out our website or our YouTube Channel here!We are a non-profit and none of this would be possible without our ministry partners. So to give a tax-deductible gift to our ministry, you can support this podcast here!Make sure you are connected with us on Instagram at @ronnieandmel . And make sure to tag us in if you ever share this podcast!And be sure to check out our Christian Clothing & Lifestyle Brand MARKD Collective here!Also, if you are struggling & need help, click here to see  if Christian Counseling may be right for you!Love & Blessings, Mel Support the show (https://ronnieandmel.com/giving)

Unapologetic Hustle (UH 1901) Jerrod Collins_ITSO Vegan_Studio 21

Unapologetic Hustle (Ep - 1812) Jerrod Collins ITSO Vegan Studio 21

Here is the setting: the people are rejoicing over the newness of the message and the Kingdom of God. The barriers are being torn down and they are excited about being allowed in where they thought only special people could go. They are excited about healings and deliverance, a new life made available. The disciples are exploring these developments with the teachings of Jesus and are being overwhelmed with the newness and excitement of it all.  The Pharisees see their very existence threatened.  And Jesus is not condemning or unloving, he just continues to share the deep and cutting truth that hinders people from experiencing the love and healing power of God.  At stake is the basic understanding of who God is, and the result of wondering if all they have done in life is of any value at all. This conflicts with their views on power, authority, wealth, position, culture, even God's decree of their special status in the world, whether the Romans knew it or not.  Jesus is not being unkind, but his love for them all does not allow him to be dishonest in confronting the dominant sins in their lives. And his knowledge of God does not allow them to hide their sins behind their assumed religious façade, which permits them to secretly hide their sins: see 1 John 2:16So what Jesus is helping them do, is to peel back the onion skins of their lives:You know what happens when you do this? It eventually brings out the tears! (Peel onion

Incentivising Sales People is a real can of wormsPay them too much for little work and get little work out of themReward them too little and you demotivate themCap their earnings and you cap their work and salesGive them a blank cheque and the business cannot afford itSo what do you do?Well thankfully we have Andy Neal from Astute Sales Solutions join Dave and Marie to discuss his top tips on how you can get the right balance.Dave and Marie bring in their experiences to Andy so its not all focused on how great Sales people are and as a result this podcast is a well rounded view on how you can motivate all players and not just the Sales Team but the Sales Team feel like they get a good deal.What are your experiences in Sales and Sales Incentives?

"GQP" (to the tune of Naughty By Nature's "O.P.P.")QAnon – tinfoil onAlternative facts, y’all GQP, well, let me explain itThen try splainin’ it to meBecause I don’t even understand itBeen hearin’ ‘bout some Democrats worshipping the devilPut him number one on speed dialWas in the room when they was talkin’ to him on speaker phoneHe said it was Dan, but that shit is a hoaxAin’t no Dan ever said black lives matter, check itDon’t even think about pullin’ that Danny Glover sh*tHell noI once saw Glover eatin’ hot dogs at a rodeoYeah, I called security on that suspicious mofoWhen confronted, he yelled, “I’m Danny f*ckin’ Glover!”Whatever, I still think it’s a code for Blacky BlackerNo, that name ain’t got nothin’ to do with the color of the freak’s skinI’m just like a genius at obvious observationsSo, speaking of obvious, Dan had to be SatanI mean, I think I read it somewhere in RevelationIt was in that one verse of that other chapter thingThere were letters forming words – was like hearing God singHe sounded like Celine Dion – only much manlierYeah, GQP – all the facts are here You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)Who’s down with GQP? (Ev’ry hillbilly)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)Who’s down with GQP? (All hillbillies) Not only are Democrats about devil worshipThey spend all twenty-seven hours a day running the sex trafficIt doesn’t matter what time it is – they’ll be in their carHumping their steering wheels with their sticks – even during rush hourBlasting the Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and Barry White to the maxWith chaos all around them, they just relaxConstruction workers will give them all of these funny looksThey’ll point toward the drivers; grab a cone; and do some bigly pelvic thrustsLaughing; shouting, “As Yoda would say, ‘See doctor, he must’”On Fridays, they put a mannequin in the seat with themThey have lots of packs of smokes by their sides for when they’re all donePeople pass by; glance back; with a WTF look on their faceKids cry; parents cover eyes; say, “Go to your happy place”This causes tons of accidents ev’ry single dayThey say, “Don’t drink and drive,” but how about don’t f*ck your car today?You see, that’s what sex trafficking is, people – that’s the full truthConfused? Yeah, the lib’ral media sure fooled youDon’t be like Democrats – f*ck cars during devil worshipCome on, that’s some sick ass sh*t You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)Who’s down with GQP? (Every loony)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)Who’s down with GQP? (All the loonies) That brings us to my man, Donald TrumpAll this devil worshipping and sex trafficking – only he can end itThe chosen one, even though he may not be perfectLike the second coming of Jesus, just the polar oppositeTrump will have no problem bringing down the Hollywood corruptionAll those elitists, making donations, jumping on couchesHe will expose the lamestream media for what they areA bunch of educated people with fancy wordsTrump may not look like a savior, but believe me, he isFrom clip-on ties to his orange tone – even his hair is realNow some of yous will probably say, “Hey, he’s a criminal”“Lies, adultery, he has probably even killed”Well, to that I say, “Whoa, hold up there, Dan-so-not-the-man”“So what if ev’ry day he breaks all of the Commandments?”“Rules are to be broken” – that’s in the Bible, now check itSo, why would God write all that if he didn’t want this sh*t?Look, Jesus was a rebel, so is Trump – times sevenJC had his twelve disciples; Trump has seventy-four millionBoth have worn a robe, but Trump has added a hoodHe turns everything to sh*t that was once good You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)Who’s down with GQP? (Every Hawley)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)You down with GQP? (Yeah, we dummies)Who’s down with GQP? (All the Hawleys) Off to jail! Bookshttps://www.amazon.com/Craig-Rozniecki/e/B00JBQ95LO Bloghttps://thekind-heartedsmartaleck.blogspot.com/ Twitterhttps://twitter.com/CraigRozniecki

At the beginning of 2020 if we had talked about presentations we would have no doubt been thinking of speaking at an event, maybe showing up with a laptop to a client meeting, in our team together in the conference room to give them some sort of business briefingAt the end of 2020 we are largely communicating virtually and as such are presentations have probably grown considerably with most of them being virtual if not all of  them from internal meetings, to client pitches, product demos, elevator pitches at networking events etc...What remains apparent though is that the vast majority of presenters are okay, they do a decent job but that's about itSo my question is: 'Do you want to move out of the pack and become a standout, even an awesome, presenter?'If you do then here are six things to help you achieve that:Keep the words off your slides – set yourself a goal of having a maximum of six or seven words per slide – ideally one or two – remember your slide should be a prompt not a scriptUse your voice – it's a very powerful tool when you are presentingOnly deliver content that the audience wants not the content that you wantBe confident and enthusiastic without being overwhelming but importantly give the impression you are enjoying delivering your presentationPrepare well – the structure content and flow of your presentation – be a ruthless editorPractice – using the kit and getting the timing right – remember to deliver in practice in 80-85% of your allocated timeIf you are listening to this podcast before 15:30PM GMT on Wednesday, December 16th you can still join my end of year ‘Top sales and presenting tipster 2021' webinar sharing the best tips from this year's awesome podcast guestsHere is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tdiVB6PSQeu8-VC8Pr1VLg

i still ❤️ love you, FABIO!❣️ (Parody of Staccato by Tory Lanez)Original song written by: One Umbrella Records Inc.*please note: this song was handcrafted for artists and art lovers everywhere!Also: a huge & deeply heartfelt thanks to Fabio Napoleoni & AJA for creating the art pieces pictured in the cover photo for this song, and to Dr. Ann Malloy for nurturing my love for art when I needed it most! [Art pictured in cover photo: Cloud 9 heart sculpture was created by Fabio Napoleoni, who can be found found @ The Fascination St. Fine Art, and ‘van Gogh Never Boldly Went’ was created by AJA, who can be found @ SagittariusGallery]‘i still love you, FABIO’ lyrics: Lovin’ these artists, Like Starry Night by Van GoghThey taught me to seeLike Mona Lisa’s smile, yoGo big if you’re BaroqueCanvas with sculpturesLords and ladies, portraits posedMagritte’s coffin makin’ funPaintin’ for the world, still influential They’re so crazy artistic Make me happy cry thoughGreen hair, dyin, I met Mr. NapoleoniHe talked to me, gave me hope, I still love you, Fabio!Thanks to archeologists, we gots Scrolls from the Dead SeasEgyptians known for their pyramids and Sphinx, seeHow again can they create n’ recreate new trends?Luck ain’t all it takes: hard work n’ creativity Venus still remembered by BotticelliAnd when it comes to love, sculpt AphroditeI saw an Odalisque; She was ornate, yeaShe was beautiful With elongated legsMasterpieces derived from next to nothingThey worked with less, but they made way, way moreRenaissance alive, it’s got no off switch Whistler’s Nocturne rocks,We still remember itWe still remember itSo we still talk about himFrom Rembrandt to Picasso, they keep me musically inspiredThey steal the crown, like Monet to ManetSalvador’s Dali’s clocks keep meltin’ my mind outSay: artists cooler than KelvinMeaning so full, already explodin’, world known In fact, luckier than any 4 leafed cloverArt swirls, brighten this existence: But who am I? A writerLovin’ these artists, Like Starry Night by Van GoghThey taught me to seeLike Mona Lisa’s smile, yoGo big if you’re BaroqueCanvas & with sculpturesLords and ladies, portraits posedMagritte’s coffin makin’ funPaintin’ for the world, still influential They’re so crazy artistic Make me happy cry thoughGreen hair, dyin, I met Mr. NapoleoniHe talked to me, gave me hope, I still love you, Fabio!From Bosch to Bach,The Rococo to Leonardo Da VinciScultpures from Greece, sometimes Hellenistically Hemingway, Twain, and Fitzgerald, wrote entertainingly Early brushstrokes rough Others smooth, blotchy, or pressed down tentatively Teardrops fall down on paper, but mix in perfectly Say, Goya’s macabre, sure, So’s Edgar Allan Poe Readin’ DostoevskyWatchin’ Jordan Peterson lectures To be a true collector, you gotta get:Three pieces of the same artists work,Cause two’s just called a setDivine pearls for eyes, feastin’ upon, so impressedBy Michelangelo, Donatello, Andy WarholIt’s agreed, human expressOur regrets, enchantments, And our threats, our threats,Through art, we disect pains from this life, onto the nextSay, stars shine the brightest,In a world full of darknessTo make a difference, Show off your essence artistically! Lovin’ these artists, Like Starry Night by Van GoghThey taught me to seeLike Mona Lisa’s smile, yoGo big if you’re BaroqueCanvas & with sculpturesLords and ladies, portraits posedMagritte’s coffin makin’ funPaintin’ for the world, still influential They’re so crazy artistic Make me happy cry thoughGreen hair, dyin, I met Mr. NapoleoniHe talked to me, gave me hope, I still love you, Fabio!Written by: Melissa Smith (AKA Melzy of Wonderland on Youtube, & Mel’s Music on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Facebook, and everywhere else)

“Yuge” (to the tune of Better Than Ezra’s “Good”)Walking around his houseLooking for a mirror to check its sizeSearching for signs of growth but it’s not looking good Maybe he’s just not too sureOr maybe he’s forgetfulBy the looks of itSo he closed his eyes, held a sausage, and said Aha, it’s yuge, this I promise youAha, it’s so yugeAha, it’s yuge, this I promise youAha, it’s so yugeYuge, yuge, yuge, yuge, yuge, yuge Running around the houseLooking for another uncracked mirrorSearching for signs of growth but it’s not looking good Maybe he’ll watch pornOr take some ViagraOr maybe he’ll launch bigly wars on them allHe’s just not too sure, but he is too proudHe’s just not too sure, but he is too proud, and said Aha, it’s yuge, this I promise youAha, it’s so yugeAha, it’s yuge, this I promise youAha, it’s so yugeSo yuge Aha, it’s yuge, this I promise youAha, it’s so yugeAha, it’s yuge, this I promise youAha, it’s so yuge Aha, yeah, it is so yuge, yeah, it is so yuge Bookshttps://www.amazon.com/Craig-Rozniecki/e/B00JBQ95LO Bloghttps://thekind-heartedsmartaleck.blogspot.com/ Twitterhttps://twitter.com/CraigRozniecki

Is Election Fraud really a thing? Should we be worried? Well Election 2020 Puts The Constitution to the Testhttps://youtu.be/dpovnrHu56sThe Left is Trying to Steal The ElectionSocial Media is Silencing US#StopTheSteal #SecureTheVoteThey have planned this from the beginning.Republicans DO NOT Accept this!Social Media is in on itMSM is in on itSo what does the Constitution Say About this?What do you do if there is massive Voter Fraud on this scale?We Discuss this and more on The #Qiew #GoRighthttps://www.spreaker.com/user/9922149/is-election-fraud-really-a-thing-should-

What is your relationship with money?Do you always feel like there's not enough? Do you feel if it were around more often you would be happier?How do you feel when you charge clients for your services? Are you charging your worth? Do you know you should be charging more? These are the topics we will be diving into on this episode of the Awaken Your Business Podcast.What you will learn:How to find your money storyHow to release your money baggageWhat actions you need to take to overcome fearHow to charge your worth and feel good about itSo who is Chella Diaz...Chella knew at a very young age she was different from the other kids. She was able to see and feel things other kids could not. She didn’t want to stand out so she put her gifts to sleep. She was married for 17 years and has two sons. For over 10 years, Chella has been on her spiritual journey. The list of certifications and programs she has completed is quite extensive but to include a few — Reiki Master, Reiki Teacher, Starlight Energy and her most recent which brought all her certifications together in a powerful way 9th Dimension Healing Energy. Chella has been hosting workshops for women to help them master their money skills.You can connect with Chella here on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/chella.diaz/If you want to join other heart-centered business owners to start connected and collaborating, come join us in the serving circle with the link below:https://www.facebook.com/groups/theservingcircle

I was so excited to sit down and chat with my fellow online business owner and my go-to numbers girl, Jamie Trull! Not only has she had massive growth and success in her business in 2020, but she's also found ways to give back to her community 10-fold. While Jamie is an expert at numbers and finances, she isn't your typical CPA. In our conversation on the podcast, we talked about:How to pivot your message when you know your audience needs have changedHow to show up confidently - even when you don't know every single thing there is to know about your topicWays to push past those excuses for not trying something and just go for itSo if you're in the market for a financial guru who's down to earth and makes understanding your business numbers that much easier, you'll love today's conversation with Jamie!Launch YOUR Podcast in 30 days! The toolkit I wish I had when I started podcasting. "The Ultimate Podcast Launch Toolkit" https://toolkit.krystalproffitt.com/

Could you imagine having twenty businesses that all did well? Then imagine your health declines so rapidly that you spendYears in the hospital. Changing his diet to be the best it can be didn't do itSo what did save Dan? Find out in this episode!Cheers,Ian Tolson PS- Call or text if you need me 720-422-0539

The head of Eskom’s Transmission division has outlined some of the progress being made to establish an Independent Transmission System Operator (ITSO) but has also warned that full separation will take time and will also require major policy, legislative and regulatory changes. The creation of the ITSO is seen as key to levelling the playing field between Eskom power stations and independent power producers (IPPs) and had, thus, been identified as a priority by the Department of Public Enterprises in its ‘Roadmap for Eskom in a Reformed Electricity Supply Industry’, published in November. The roadmap envisaged functional unbundling of Eskom Transmission by December 2020 and full legal separation of the ITSO as a subsidiary of Eskom by December 2021. Eskom had since highlighted the legal and financial risks associated with full legal separation and had instead received support for a divisionalisation plan that would delay legal separation until about 2024. Speaking during a webinar on Friday, Eskom Transmission CEO Segomoco Scheppers said that a ringfenced transmission structure was already in place and that the unit had also started piloting a “market operator concept” internally, through which Eskom power stations would compete to supply electricity. Market rules and processes had been defined and internal day-ahead and balancing markets were operational. “A market operator is being piloted internally to gauge how the ITSO could support competition between Eskom power stations and we will be looking to see whether we can open up the mechanism to external parties, which would be the ideal,” Scheppers said during the event, which was hosted jointly by Nedbank, EE Business Intelligence and the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering. He stressed, however, that many internal and external steps were still required to fully transition to a market system, including the introduction, by government, of a formal policy that had been tested with stakeholders. Market rules and codes would also have to be approved, including how to deal with existing pricing subsidies and legacy costs. Amendments would also need to be made to legislation and the prevailing regulatory model. Scheepers said that, at this stage, it was envisaged that the ITSO would initially incorporate four main functions, including a central purchasing agency (CPA). The CPA, which replaces the Single Buyer Office, would maintain long- and short-term system reliability by purchasing capacity and managing legacy commitments in terms of the Eskom fleet and the historical IPP contracts. He defined the CPA as a “transitional” mechanism ahead of the creation of a market through which generators could sell power and customers could buy it. Nevertheless, he warned that the arrangement might need to be in place for a sustained period. The other three functions of the ITSO would include: a market operator that developed and administered dynamic markets with the intention of supporting competition and customer choice; the system operator, which would continue to manage the real-time balancing of the electricity system and, increasingly, procure ancillary services so as to ensure a quick supply or demand response to any network instability; and the network service provider, to plan, build and maintain the physical network and ensure fair and open access to sellers and buyers of electricity. “There are still a number of issues that have to be done, including finalising a pricing design that is aligned with a future electricity system, as the fully bundled electricity tariff is no longer appropriate. We believe it’s going to be necessary to unbundle it so it is clear what is the energy and what is the network charge.” The information technology platform to support power trading would also have to be developed. “Further engagements are also needed on what is an appropriate industry policy,” he added, noting that government would ultimately have to make...

https://youtu.be/-p2HoQ2MQCA Let him take it all 2 Sam 19:24-30 That mephibosheth didn't care for himself shows that he was truly mourning the loss of the king- Says a lot- The king asks, since he was so supportive, why didn't he go with him? Mephibosheth says that he was deceived- someone tricked him- and left him behind. The dude was Ziba. So now- Mephibosheth honors the king- Says you didn't kill all my fathers house (Jonathan) so what can I say? You were kind to me- So David says- you and Ziba divide the land- and Mephibosheth basically says- that fact that you are back as my king is back- that's enough for me- Ziba can have it all. It means nothing to me- because I have what I need- My kingIt's a great heart- A heart that says- I've got my king- you take everything else30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”Mephibosheth just wanted his king Nothing else- Needed nothing elseThere's an song that says Just give me Jesus- Nothing else-needed or desiredBut for many people they want Jesus plus something- or someone- It aint enoughOur hearts should be “let him take it all” but that Him- Is King Jesus- and he can have it all Jesus can Take my Desires Mephibosheth was a man- He was the son of Jonathan- he probably wanted stuff- land- influence etc. He was lame- but he was still a man. But in that moment- He didn't want itLand meant wealth. It meant influence. It meant prestige. He gave it up- Let Ziba have it-I have my king- I need nothing else.Now David wasn't God but the parallel I'm drawing here should be clear- Our desire should be for our king more than any earthly posessionPsalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself also in the Lord,And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.Most people struggle with this- They want Jesus plus something- Jesus is not enoughPsalm 73:25  Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. Is that your heart? Is Jesus enough? Or do you have a list of what it will take?Mephibosheth didn't desire the possession of land- or what Ziba had- he had been in mourning- not cutting hair-caring for feet- I don't care about myself- I want my king! Let him have it ALLIsaiah 26:9  With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.What does it mean to you?Is that where your heart is at? Jesus you can have it all? You're my king? Or is it more? Because if there is something you value more than him in your heart- he'll ask you to lay it down before him before you can pick it up again- he wants your full allegiance.Paul said this- Philippians 1:21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.To paul- death was a gain- to die was counted as a win- the ultimate gain- to dieWe get upset if we don't get invited to a bbq and end friendships over itSo completely emotionally fragile to the point of personal destruction and relationship painBecause we don't want Jesus more than anything- we're ruled by our desires of our flesh!Philippians 3:8  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain ChristHave you counted it all loss? Your relationships, jobs, stuff, houses, cars, toys etc. Its ok to have that stuff- you just can have the stuff have you- count it as LOSS compared to ChristSay “Lord- even if never, I'll still serve you” Even if I get treated poorly- have you said to Jesus “Let him take it all” including your desires- to only have a desire for Jesus- nothing else.Because if your desire is for Jesus- you'll never be thirsty- you will always have what you needLet him take it all- all my desires- I onl...

https://youtu.be/-p2HoQ2MQCA Let him take it all 2 Sam 19:24-30 That mephibosheth didn’t care for himself shows that he was truly mourning the loss of the king- Says a lot- The king asks, since he was so supportive, why didn’t he go with him? Mephibosheth says that he was deceived- someone tricked him- and left him behind. The dude was Ziba. So now- Mephibosheth honors the king- Says you didn’t kill all my fathers house (Jonathan) so what can I say? You were kind to me- So David says- you and Ziba divide the land- and Mephibosheth basically says- that fact that you are back as my king is back- that’s enough for me- Ziba can have it all. It means nothing to me- because I have what I need- My kingIt’s a great heart- A heart that says- I’ve got my king- you take everything else30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”Mephibosheth just wanted his king Nothing else- Needed nothing elseThere’s an song that says Just give me Jesus- Nothing else-needed or desiredBut for many people they want Jesus plus something- or someone- It aint enoughOur hearts should be “let him take it all” but that Him- Is King Jesus- and he can have it all Jesus can Take my Desires Mephibosheth was a man- He was the son of Jonathan- he probably wanted stuff- land- influence etc. He was lame- but he was still a man. But in that moment- He didn’t want itLand meant wealth. It meant influence. It meant prestige. He gave it up- Let Ziba have it-I have my king- I need nothing else.Now David wasn’t God but the parallel I’m drawing here should be clear- Our desire should be for our king more than any earthly posessionPsalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself also in the Lord,And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.Most people struggle with this- They want Jesus plus something- Jesus is not enoughPsalm 73:25  Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. Is that your heart? Is Jesus enough? Or do you have a list of what it will take?Mephibosheth didn’t desire the possession of land- or what Ziba had- he had been in mourning- not cutting hair-caring for feet- I don’t care about myself- I want my king! Let him have it ALLIsaiah 26:9  With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.What does it mean to you?Is that where your heart is at? Jesus you can have it all? You’re my king? Or is it more? Because if there is something you value more than him in your heart- he’ll ask you to lay it down before him before you can pick it up again- he wants your full allegiance.Paul said this- Philippians 1:21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.To paul- death was a gain- to die was counted as a win- the ultimate gain- to dieWe get upset if we don’t get invited to a bbq and end friendships over itSo completely emotionally fragile to the point of personal destruction and relationship painBecause we don’t want Jesus more than anything- we’re ruled by our desires of our flesh!Philippians 3:8  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain ChristHave you counted it all loss? Your relationships, jobs, stuff, houses, cars, toys etc. Its ok to have that stuff- you just can have the stuff have you- count it as LOSS compared to ChristSay “Lord- even if never, I’ll still serve you” Even if I get treated poorly- have you said to Jesus “Let him take it all” including your desires- to only have a desire for Jesus- nothing else.Because if your desire is for Jesus- you’ll never be thirsty- you will always have what you needLet him take it all- all my desires- I onl...

Welcome to Episode 17 of Talkin' Toowoomba brought to by Southern Queensland Country Tourism. We chat to the CEO Peter Homan about the importance for supporting all the different types of business we have in our own back yard by exploring Toowoomba and our greater region for ourselves . And with restrictions lifting again from last Saturday we spoke to a couple of local cafes that have been able to reopen their doors.Kingfisher Cafe and Restaurant in Spring St, and The Chocolate Cottage Cafe in Highfields, both who are so glad to be open and trading again.Please share this podcast , we are all about supporting and building this great community and are proud to be a part of. itSo lets get on with the show.In News of the Week“Campgrounds controlled by TR Council that will re-open include:Bowenville Recreation Reserve, BowenvilleSwinging Bridge Park, CooyarYarraman Weir Park, YarramanClifton Recreation Reserve, CliftonCecil Plains Caravan Park, Cecil PlainsYarramalong Weir, PampasLake Cressbrook, Crows NestPlease adhere to relevant Queensland Health requirements with a maximum gathering of twenty persons permitted under Stage Two easing of restrictionsApparently, I'm a closet pen lover so I could not go past telling you all about Wedneday the 10th of JuneIn 1943 the Bíró brothers, László and György, became owners of US Patent 2,390,636 – better known around the world as the ball point pen. The Hungarian inventors’ new pen, inspired by the quick-drying inks used by professional printers, was as remarkable as the first fountain pen had been the century before. Ball Point Pen Day celebrates these intrepid inventors, and the often indelible mark they’ve left on the world at large.We are currently seeking further participation in “Toowoomba’s Own” podcast, Talkin’ ToowoombaWe are all about what is happening and current in Toowoomba, aimed at residents and travellers within our region, showcasing LOCAL, festivals & events, places to eat, attractions, produce, businesses, news, and community announcements. So if want to be part of this podcast contact us via FB or email info@sjamedia.com.au.Show Produced | SJA Media

Welcome to Episode 17 of Talkin' Toowoomba brought to by Southern Queensland Country Tourism. We chat to the CEO Peter Homan about the importance for supporting all the different types of business we have in our own back yard by exploring Toowoomba and our greater region for ourselves . And with restrictions lifting again from last Saturday we spoke to a couple of local cafes that have been able to reopen their doors.Kingfisher Cafe and Restaurant in Spring St, and The Chocolate Cottage Cafe in Highfields, both who are so glad to be open and trading again.Please share this podcast , we are all about supporting and building this great community and are proud to be a part of. itSo lets get on with the show.In News of the Week“Campgrounds controlled by TR Council that will re-open include:Bowenville Recreation Reserve, BowenvilleSwinging Bridge Park, CooyarYarraman Weir Park, YarramanClifton Recreation Reserve, CliftonCecil Plains Caravan Park, Cecil PlainsYarramalong Weir, PampasLake Cressbrook, Crows NestPlease adhere to relevant Queensland Health requirements with a maximum gathering of twenty persons permitted under Stage Two easing of restrictionsApparently, I'm a closet pen lover so I could not go past telling you all about Wedneday the 10th of JuneIn 1943 the Bíró brothers, László and György, became owners of US Patent 2,390,636 – better known around the world as the ball point pen. The Hungarian inventors’ new pen, inspired by the quick-drying inks used by professional printers, was as remarkable as the first fountain pen had been the century before. Ball Point Pen Day celebrates these intrepid inventors, and the often indelible mark they’ve left on the world at large.We are currently seeking further participation in “Toowoomba’s Own” podcast, Talkin’ ToowoombaWe are all about what is happening and current in Toowoomba, aimed at residents and travellers within our region, showcasing LOCAL, festivals & events, places to eat, attractions, produce, businesses, news, and community announcements. So if want to be part of this podcast contact us via FB or email info@sjamedia.com.au.Show Produced | SJA Media

Have you ever tried to practice mindfulness at home… and gotten crazy frustrated when your kids suddenly found every excuse under the sun to push your buttons?!Or maybe you’ve sat down to meditate, and 3 seconds later been bombarded with snack requests and phone pings… then completely lost your cool?!Can you relate? Me too. Mindfulness can feel out of reach when you’ve got a to-do list as long as your arm and kids pulling you in all directions...But today’s guest, Fleur Chambers, is here to show us how a few simple reframes can help you find more moments of peace and zen in amongst the crazy.Fleur is a mindfulness and meditation teacher and creator of The Happy Habit app, who has supported over 600,000 people in 30 different countries to feel happier from the inside out.Her insights and realistic, real-mum strategies will inspire you to take action and prioritise your self-care — even if you’re used to putting yourself last, and even if you’re a recovering perfectionist.So what’s this conversation REALLY about?What a meditation practice looks like when you’ve got 3 kids (LOVE what she shares here!)Are your expectations killing your chance at inner calm? Here’s how to let them goWhy “zen bliss” is NOT the goal of meditation“If I can’t meditate properly, what’s the point?” and other ways that mums sabotage themselvesIt’s okay if meditation feels really hard… here’s how to get betterThe deathbed realisation that meditation can help us avoidDo you actually *like* yourself? If not, here's how meditation can helpHow to stop getting so distractedPowerful ways to strengthen your neural pathwaysHow Fleur hit rock bottom… and how she worked her way out of itSo if you’re after a no-BS conversation about what mindfulness REALLY looks like amongst the hubbub of daily life, and how to free yourself from crippling high standards and perfectionism, then press play — this one’s for you.Links:Fleur’s websiteFleur’s meditations on the Insight Timer appThe Happy Habit appThe Conversations With Lisa playlistContinue the conversation with Lisa:Instagram | FacebookYou can quote me on that:“We need to get better at flexing our self-care muscle, and gifting ourselves the time we need to prioritise it.” - Lisa CorduffWant to help me out?Leave a review (um, and a hefty handful of stars!) here.

Randy Byrne is the CEO of Transformational Scientific Marketing, a highly focused, B2B marketing consultancy specialising in scientific products and services. Below is the adapted transcript from the Marketing Science Podcast recording.Welcome to another edition of the marketing science podcast. The podcast for sales and marketing professionals working within science, engineering and health care don't forget to subscribe on Spotify iTunes or wherever you normally listen to a podcast. My name is Frank Barker the head of marketing at AZoNetwork, where you can also subscribe.I'm joined by my guest this week who is a sales and marketing leader and an expert in a subject matter today having worked in analytical instrumentation and selling scientific equipment for over twenty-five years. He's currently the CEO of transformational scientific marketing, it's Mr Randy Byrne.FRANKY: Randy how are you doing today?RANDY: I'm well Franky how are you?FRANKY: I'm excellent thanks Randy - I'm currently held up in a makeshift recording studio in my basement, so I can't complain. How is the mood currently in the US? Is it business as usual, or are we still getting over the shock of social isolation?RANDY: I think many people are still frankly, in the state of shock given the current circumstances. But I've always said we know when we're getting past some of the difficult times we start seeing more encouraging and uplifting stories and we're starting to see that now. I think people are you know they batten down the hatches and making the most of the circumstances that we're currently under show well and everybody believes are certainly much better days ahead hopefully sooner rather than laterFRANKY: Great to stay optimistic and keep a positive mindset. Now, you've been around sales and marketing for a long time and have years' of experience, so how would you compare this current pandemic to any previous crises that you have worked through.RANDY: Well unlike anything that I've seen, and I've been around a long time right when I joined the workforce although I didn't really realize it at the time was a it was last century and was in the middle of a rip recession, a rather bad one, I didn't really understand it - for me it was normal when I joined the work force.But we got through that and then there was a boom time and then we have been through a couple of other ones change then of course the unanimous even there the difficult times of two thousand eight. I think 2008-2009 telling was very difficult for the scientific industry; this is much more different because it just came on much more sudden.I think people were much more prepared a number the company I was in the timing two thousand eight was budgeting under the assumption that there would be hard times and nine and two thousand eight two thousand nine that was correct so this should be much more shocking dramatic and impactful and we're still frankly in the in the middle of itSo it remains to be seen how we will get through it, but it's been quite disruptive in many ways, everybody having to work from home to business and closing down which didn't happen in the last major recession so this one has been much more dramatic with workers being affected pressure boil dropping stock markets plummeting and then of course the desire to stay healthy so that this one has been circling the worst I've experiencedFRANKY: So I certainly think there's been a shock of people not knowing necessarily what to do but you are brought in to help companies so what advice would you give right now it's a company faced with the challenges that lie aheadRANDY: It may take a while before industries and companies recover but there will be great days ahead and some companies take the tractor cutting the marketing as a first approach.For me it's a matter of planning for the future having a little bit more about a long term horizon and the same is true on them the marketing side to continue planning for when we come out of this so that they're in more top of mind in in potential customers mind and they found a way to well no benefit the most early on coming out of the year the tough timesFRANKY: Yes, indeed the knee jerk reaction we see many companies make is an awful mistake - but we've also seen the flip side of that where companies are taking advantage of the downtime looking for opportunities within virtual events, webinars, podcasts and other online digital content. We've even seen our neighbours just down the road today in Manchester at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, the GEIC.They have academics working from home but now they're actually able to say right well let's create some content and let us run a series of webinars and run a program that people from all over the world can take advantage of and learn about this wonderful material. So, this is something that would have been a nice to do just two or three months ago, but now people are being forced to put more eggs in this online digital basket.Now Randy, you mentioned before that you consume a lot of content online with us webinars virtual events, podcasts etc. but where do you see the future or the importance of online content especially during such testing times?RANDY: Back when the last recession happened the company was with at the time had a number of well we have we had a marketing budget cuts as well and some of the activities were kept they do weren't going to be done with the one thing we were left with.We were fortunate enough to really have a weapon our program in place we can a doubled and tripled down on webinars and it we just did something like I think was about ninety one of ninety webinars in the English language let alone non English language ones that where eight and it had a very important unintended benefit.We were into them at the time with the scientific staff and the scientific staff had more time on their hands to jump into them became a little bit of a friendly competition. So they started volunteering more. I'm subjective to it but the so that was great on the one hand but on the other hand our company the appearance of being much more active in the market place because we were promoting these primarily by email marketing as you mentioned they were directed towards a country they were in the English language, they were essentially global and we came out of that year after doing it was almost a crushing workload from a weapon are standpoint what will all of this information was good valuable scientific information it was all recorded for use for years to come party time ledge and but again the unintended consequence was we came through it with many companies you know potential customers looking at us as an instrument wishing well, these guys are even more active during an incredibly tough time, the truth was we have our own pain but we did get through it. So, it's the next area where it's just becoming so convenient to take in new information that I see it exploding in in popularity in many different industries.FRANKY: Yes, for me it's the same on the train every day just like yourself in the car on the daily commute it's so easy to access content on your chosen topic without sports or finance so news entertainment or marketing even. With services like Spotify and aCast on iTunes, it's never been easier to download and listen to your favorite shows on the go. As a podcast producer right now we are seeing the flip side of that and how easy it is for people to create audio content for podcasts.I think it's something like a million podcasts out there now so it's never been easier to get your content out in audio format.So the next question is about resistance to change; now bearing in mind that people don't usually change unless they're forced to - a case in point working from home and collaborating online following covid nineteen but how resistant to change our sales and marketing leaders within Science companies.RANDY: Long-tenured leaders in Science companies especially smaller companies tend to have come from either the scientific or engineering or product development upbringing - just in these types of companies which often based on product innovation but these days it's much harder of a you know there's a lot more competition the same products are more often in the minds of customers they're separated by inches not miles anymore.I've run into a number of people that have MBAs but the troubling thing with an MBA from twenty thirty years ago is it hardly prepares one for the market in marketing realities of today.Sure it's certainly not a question of intelligence in our industry it's more a matter of relevance. I've heard people say frankly that marketing is change more in the last five years under previous fifty and I would say I think it's perhaps even more than that and it's even accelerating.You know for many hard-working people in this industry, they often focus on their core strengths are always mentioning the product is in line in the next great product feature. Scientific Instruments and applications and to a large degree the modern marketing world has just progressed too fast for them to keep up with. So resistance to change for those reasons is certainly it holds back some companies in terms of the what's available to them in in terms of marketing.FRANKY: Excellent so I've got a quote from your good self when we were both at the INBOUND 2016 Hubspot conference over in Boston Massachusetts a quote in which you said: The customer is in charge of the buying process.A quote that has aged very well over the last four years you also mention that companies are now separated by inches which moves me on to my next question – In 2020 just how do companies differentiate themselves and how have scientific manufacturers evolved over time given such a competitive landscapeIt's moved through the customer satisfaction, customer support phase and then focus on applications but it is moving in the direction of customer experience and you know how is the customer using this equipment?Plus one of the most important things that influence your skills in marketing is being able to communicate the problems are solved by using apparatus in the laboratory in the science field focusing on the customer needs as opposed to I mean when I grew up in this industry was all about features and benefits and talking about our product midway we show good and but these days Frank the if customers if companies are surviving product rule pretty good quality.It's the companies that are orienting themselves to what the problems are that the customer is looking to solve and talking to those issues that they are getting. I hate mentioning to be well placed for the for the future, because clearly it's not just about the product it's much more about the customer and what is going to help the customers are working life in investing in these kinds of productsFRANKY: Absolutely so I couldn't agree more that the customer experience is paramount is absolutely everything which is going to change tack now. We're gonna discuss sales and marketing so what when recruiting your new marketing department what skills do now recruit for in 2020.RANDY: first before looking for candidates what are the company challenges and how they best solved. I use a pressure shifting through kind of a myriad of digital marketing channels and capabilities and then agree on one of their ideal skill sets is it we need more competence in terms of email marketing is it or is it content marketing research social media and I think youIf a company selling an established relatively mature technology that's a market leader in that space and if they have an external field sales team that model lends itself. You mentioned earlier HubSpot the inbound marketing approach is ideal for companies like that so I would look for somebody strong with everything surrounding the inbound marketing concept: search engine optimization, website optimization and lead generation is going to be important for them - so somebody with a background in those areas would be more preferable.I've heard the phrase used by I didn't quite get but they refer to as a transient market and that is that the shape of the team consists of all the the digital marketing disciplines I was mentioning before kind of across the top of the T - but then it's the depth of knowledge she really kind of like what's been wrestled with in sales in this industry for years basically what are you looking for mission when companies say they want to recruit a digital marketing person.It's understanding the balance between looking for a generalist, a Jack of all trades but a master of none versus do we want to specialise towards a narrower set of capabilities. I'm knowledgeable in those areas and I think that people are not terribly familiar with what's happening in digital marketing these days. I see too many companies make the mistake of just hiring somebody but not really understanding the need to match the skill set to the needs of the business.FRANKY: Interesting what you mention about generalists v specialists, certainly how I see it working within an agency where we have a huge range of specialists – I draw on our in-house experience of our SEO Team, the Video team, Google Ads, Content Team etc. I sit in the middle as a central midfielder or a quarter back for you guys across the pond, just coordinating things and project managing.OK so now moving on, applying that theme but in a sales context what do you look for when hiring a modern-day sales professionalRANDY: I read a quote recently from the CEO of Microsoft I think it put things in perspective he said in much more eloquent words than I could but it really hit home in terms of what I look for I think it's someone that has a recorded a growth mindset for versus fixed mindset and the simplest way to explain it would be people that are learn-it-alls versus know-it-alls meaning no matter what stage of your career these days the people that are intellectually curious are striving to learn and certainly in sales that's critical as well…Because it's no longer just about the product. Those lifetime learners certainly if its good enough for the CEO of Microsoft, I think it's just as applicable in in our industry as well there's so much to learn to be super successful these days, so much about the customer there's no way somebody can not be in this industry and just walk into it and be great at it they have to work at it over a long period of time and continue working at it so that those would be what I would look for in a modern sales professional.FRANKY: Excellent so interesting that you mention characteristics and we echo that when we hire for salespeople. We actively seek for coachability and empathy so they can just put themselves in people's shoes and understand their feelings and their emotions - also of course recruiting for learning and hunger and having that sort of fight of the dog inside of them.So, moving on to our next question how important is outsourcing for the modern marketing department?RANDY: Actually, critical in in a world changing this fast there's just no way that the typically resourced marketing department can stay up to date with taking care of the short term needs of the business as well as keeping up with all of the changes going on. We talk search engine optimization or marketing automation and social media it's just changing too fast for the small staff to be experts in all these different areas. The really successful marketers have very good networks to tap into to supplement their own resources which usually are never enough to take care of all the expectations that people have for them for the business so they need to work with companies that are strong and have depth of knowledge in many of these different areas is absolutely critical to a marketing team successFRANKY: I couldn't agree more it's the skilled generalist versus specialist all over again except this time they're outsourcing to an external company or agency.So moving swiftly on we're gonna talk shop - bit of a key question but I won't apologize for that because we are talking about marketing and specifically what is your favorite martech piece of softwareRANDY: For me it's Webex, Brain Shark and Survey Monkey and these are three tech tools that I was lucky enough to be involved with in the early days to these organizations so they have the staying power and they've grown into people that get involved with the right technologies if they do stand the test of time in a long somebody's cloud technologies. They just keep getting better and better features and become much more powerful and so that's one way to work on this job involves being able in to intervene in marketing not necessarily from our own great ideas but just the start the good technology tools cheaper vomiting and suddenly you have capabilities that you didn't even know about when you invest in the technology.In the time we're going through now with web conferencing there's a lot of suppliers out there Webex just happens to be one that I will use, but there's plenty of other choices out there for you you know whether it's even remote demos of equipment to companies that have the root of the field resources in place. That technology is just getting better and better and I think will become even more popular in a lasting way after current circumstances. Brain Shark is a sales enablement tool but it can be used for so much more than that it.I can say Frank you have never been in an organization where anybody said yeah communication is great there but I I've been able to use brain shark as a tool to drastically help communication around the world. When the CEO wants to send out a message, a tool like brain shark can help do that but it can be used in many functions within the company.And finally, Survey Monkey went from a free sample survey tools through which not necessarily free now there might still be a free version but the ability to find out what customers are thinking as opposed to guessing and it is incredibly important as we move more and more into a customer experience with the world show those are the three of my favorite tools.FRANKY: Great stuff! so I'm gonna move on now to talk about alignment specifically between sales and marketing so allow me to paint a brief picture - Marketing puts on a webinar or a trade show or an eBook which generates lots and lots of downloads, engagement, marketing qualified leads and then passes them all over to sales. Sales then turns around and says yeah these leads are a load of crap. When in reality well I think we know that marketing qualified leads and sales qualified leads are completely different. I think anyone passing more than 10-20% tops of the leads across and calling them sales qualified needs to re-examine the sort lead scoring strategy. But what does it mean to you the alignment between sales and marketing.RANDY: For me as well the word alignment means an awful lot,I think it's marketing organizations moving away from and I think most have that I've seen in B2B the danger well it's all about you know kind of subjective aesthetics its market is being much better with being data driven but a lot of the KPI metrics have to be in line with driving the success of sales.That's not their only responsibility but when marketing people can talk about the sales process and quality of leads and actually measure these things in an agreed way with sales and this is what I find missing in a lot of organizations: they haven't done the basic groundwork or planning for what sales and marketing really means.It's a shame we still have two groups blaming each other that - fortunately the companies I work with in recent years have just haven't been like that and are evolving as I said the consulting part of me more often than not in in the small to midsize companies will still operate in that way.I'm a bit shocked frankly in this day and age that companies are still sending all their leads to field salespeople as qualified because the cost of sales in this business is quite high. I don't know who any generation social scientific companies that are still throwing everything on your responsibility often already overloaded field sales team.It is a subject for another podcast about how to go about lead qualifying - it takes four telephone calls actually to reach somebody. What's really happening is that I actually listened some companies it can't be easily generate leads strange quantities but if there are no so called passive leads like into wells when you throw them to a field sales organization the reality is from full sales organizations are calling people once at most and not changing after the rest - You'll never get will never solve that by not having measurements in place and they're still work for me a surprising amount of companies that are still doing it what I would change is in a very out of date way.FRANKY: We're always advising clients to put the necessary tracking software on the website so they can see where the initial touchpoint was from the initial referral campaign all the way through to marketing and sales qualified leads all the way as it becomes a more and more qualified opportunity eventually to becoming… the end game is a closed won piece of business, a revenue generating opportunity that all gets tracked within the CRM.It is a thing of beauty when you get things set up - you're able to automate the small processes which enables you to scale and grow but you know equally as important in fact is to put the lead scoring in place. Just think if you pass 100% of your leads through to the sales team as opposed to maybe only the top ten or twenty percent of really qualified sales leads then you're going to get a lot of friction between the two sales and marketing camps.Okay so just before we wrap up last question - how is the role of the trade show evolved over the last five years how does that compare against virtual events the virtual webinars and things which are becoming more prominent. There's a lot of talk around how they're going to replace them but surely there's no substitute for meeting somebody and shaking their hand seeing the whites of their eyes and developing that relationship that you can only get in person.RANDY: absolutely sure I think it's a good it's going to be a rebalancing and and you mentioned Wednesday night I I think in in some respects sales will be I'm home as affected or perhaps you were affected by exactly what you said that watching the sales process depending on what the sales process is will be conducted remotely and you know whether it's presentations or perhaps more companies will give a shot to trying product demos if their products lend themselves to that kind of thing.I think we will see more of that to me it's it's clear that they will be more of a transition to digital types of activities but it's not going to go in off from zero percent to a hundred percent you know there's just gonna push more people in that direction but as you said you still need the people interaction is everybody should people buy from people and they're still important roles for sales and down so I to me we're going to have to see how it all plays out.FRANKY: Excellent, a great note on which to end the show. Randy thank you very much for your time, your expertise and your insightsRANDY: My pleasure Frank, a pleasure to speak with you as always - have a great day.OUTRO: Thank you Randy for sharing your insights and a big thank you to you the listener for tuning in and don't forget to subscribe in iTunes Spotify or Deezer and AZoNetwork dot com, or where you usually listen to podcasts.Join us next week where we will be joined by Alex Cairns the M.D. of Move Marketing and Dr Ian book who is the CEO of AZoNetwork. We'll see you then - thanks for listening. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fadumo and Lipa present 'I Think She’s Offside', a podcast all about under-represented conversations in sport. In this takeover episode they are joined by sports presenter and model Anita Jones to discuss the women they can’t wait to see smash it at the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and get into everything from podium finishes to periods, and the Paralympics. 00:06 - Who's who? 01:26 - What does the Olympics mean to us? 03:28 - Marion Jones, the rise and fall 04:50 - 50/50 Representation 08:30 - "You can be an Olympian in anything now..." 09:35 - Bouldering "real life Spider men and women" 10:50 - Where would we represent? 12:40 - "Don't sleep on the Paralympics" 15:00 - The powerful stories behind the female athletes 15:56 - Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce 18:00 - "women bleed - get over it" 19:00 - Endometriosis and Olympians Presented by Fadumo Olow and Lipa Nessa (@sheisoffside) and joined by guest Anita Jones (@AnitaNnekaJones) Produced by Paul Carlin, Ally McCrae & Ross Semple Senior Producers are Kirsty Drain & Paul McFadyen Exec Producer is Anthony Browne Original Pilot Material is a podcast for BBC Sounds from the team behind BBC The Social, the award winning new talent platform from BBC Scotland. Live in the UK and want to pitch an idea? originalpilotmaterial.thesocial@bbc.co.uk

Bounce wit it drop wit itLean wit it rock wit itSnap wit itAll my ladies pop yo backs wit itDo it do it do it do itYou know the world be rockin to it to itSo do it do it do it to it

Hello...So it's episode 18 and if you're a listener you might notice that there was no episode 17. We did record it but the audio was of such poor quality that we decided to not put it out and use some clips in this episode. So yeah, it might happen from time to time, that's what happens when 2 inept humans attempt anything slightly technical. In last week's episode we decided that as the weather in the UK is terrible, we would watch 2 bad weather movies. Coming up in Ep 18Anything GoesAlbert thinks he could take on Arnie and we complain at how bad we are at podcastingBad Weather Double BillWe use a clip from last week to show which 2 bad weather films we picked and then we discuss them as usual. We'll then pick a theme and 2 films to watch next weekStitch-UpListen to find out who got stitched up last week and what they had to watchWe then pick our stitch up films for each other for next weekAnd that's itSo thank you to anyone that listens and is mildly entertained by our moronic discussions, we will always do our best to release episodes but sometimes real life gets in the way. 

https://youtu.be/bIjcCT9HYl0 In this episode we're going to talk about hiring a financial advisor and one questionYou should never hire a financial advisor without asking firstThis is the only one aio financialSeries with Bill and Jason we discuss personal financial issues including insuranceinvestments retirement planning estate planning and taxesLittle of everything Letta anything to do with personal financesAbsolutely. Well, thank you for joining us heresothe questionWill just get right into it that you should never hire a financial adviser without asking first is how do they get compensated?for what they do for you, sothere's a lot of IguessMystery about this within the industry for a lot of clientsSo it's not always transparent as far as how your advisor is getting paidAnd so we want to kind of break it down for you the different ways that advisors get paidWhat we believe is the best way to go and what you should look forAnd then just kind of get into some of those details with you to help you make that decisionSo when you're looking for an advisor, you can make a well informed decisionYeah, that's a great question is how they're getting compensated and there's three main types of advisors. There are fee onlyFiduciary financial planners who are getting compensated only by the clientsthere are Commission brokers or Commission advisors who are much more common than fee only and they're gettingCompensated by the products. They're selling to clients andthen there's a mix this fee based orCommission and feeAdvisers who are getting some of both they're getting a fee from the client. Plus they're getting compensated from the products. They're sellingyeah, and so as you might guess thethe way that you're probably going to be mostAs an advisor is if you're getting a flat feeto manage the account or to manage their entire financial plan andYou don't get paid for specific products because in the financial industry certain products pay a much highercommission than othersSo for example an annuity versus a CD a lot of timesYou'll see an advisor use an annuity in place of a CD or something similar to itthe annuity will pay a huge Commission the CD next to nothing if anything about soThat that's the type of thing that you want to be consideringBecause it may make a big difference to that advisor as far as what they recommend for you now both might be sort ofOkay, but how do you know that?They're really making that decision based onWhat's best for you versus what's going to earn them a higher paycheck at the end of the month, soyeah, and in addition tothe unbiasness if you're compensated differently for different products, there's also just theTransparency of it. It's not really clear in most cases how much theadvisor is gettingcompensated by selling you a CD versus an annuity versus a bond fund versusYou know other products there can be upfrontCommissions that they get paid there can be ongoingPayments that they're receiving for this products for the productsThere could be penaltiesif you get out of the product like an annuity ahead of time that you might not be aware of so that they're gettingCompensated no matter what once you you've gotten into itSo the unbiasness, but also just how much it is so the fee only advisors they're charging you a fee it's very clearHow much it is it's their only compensation. There's no otherKickbacks for referrals or any other compensation that's given to themYeah, exactly. Soyou know something else too to bring up we were kind of looking at stats on this so out of about300,000 financial advisors and financial planners in the US Oh only somewhere around17% are on the fee only basis, soIt's not the most commonI guess scenario out thereSo if you currently have an advisor, it's definitely worth looking into to see how they're getting paidAnd definitely if you're you know shopping for a new one or the first financial planner that you've worked withIt's important to understand thatBefore you assign any s...

The phrase “release to production” conjures a very specific set of thoughts and even emotions for folks who live, breath, and work with technology. Some of those thoughts and feelings are positive, while others are fraught with conflict. At the same time, those of us who are active in our religious community experience a different kind of “release to production” - releasing our children to the production environment of our faiths, whether that is teaching abroad, missionary work, or adult religious education that takes our young adult across the globe. And like our IT-based production release experiences, we watch our kids transition into chaotic systems, where parental observability is minimal even as the probability of encountering unknown-unknown error types grows. In this episode, Leon and Josh to look at what our IT discipline can teach us about how to make this phase of the parental production cycle easier. Listen or read the transcript below. Leon: 00:00 Welcome to our podcast where we talk about the interesting, frustrating and inspiring experiences we have as people with strongly held religious views working in corporate IT. We're not here to preach or teach you our religion. We're here to explore ways we make our career as IT professionals mesh or at least not conflict with our religious life. This is Technically Religious. Josh: 00:21 The phrase release to production causes a very specific set of thoughts and even emotions for folks who live, breathe and work with technology. Some of those thoughts and feelings are positive while others are fraught with conflict. At the same time, those of us who are active in our religious community experience a different kind of release to production. Releasing our children to the production environment of our faiths, whether that is teaching abroad missionary work or adult religious education that takes our young adults across the globe and like our it based production release experiences. We watch our kids transition and to chaotic systems, where parental observability is minimal, even as the probability of encountering unknown, unknown error types grows. In this episode, we're going to look at what our IT discipline can teach us about how to make this phase of parental production cycle easier. I'm Josh Biggley and the other voice you're going to hear on this episode is Leon Adato. Leon: 01:19 Hello everyone. Josh: 01:20 Hey Leon. Um, so as we always start our podcasts, uh, let's do a little shameless self promotion if you don't mind. Leon: 01:27 I, I never mind shameless anything and self-promotion either. So, uh, I'm Leon Adato as you said, I'm a Head Geek at SolarWinds. Uh, you can find me on the Twitters @LeonAdator. I also blog and pontificate on my website www.adatosystems.com. And my particular religious worldview is Orthodox Jewish. Leon: 01:52 Fantastic. And for those who are new to our podcast, I'm Josh Biggley. I'm a Senior Engineer of Enterprise Monitoring. You can find me on the twitters, um, @jbiggley. You can find my faith transitions community at www.faithtransitions.ca, where you will be redirected to our Facebook group. Um, I am currently a post Mormon transitioning into being an ex Mormon. That's where we start. So, uh, Leon, we've both had some, uh, some challenges, um, that I think have precipitated where we're at with this particular episode. Leon: 02:28 Yes. Josh: 02:28 Um, and as we were having the discussion, I was thinking I do love poetry. Uh, I mean, uh, it's a wonderful thing. I, I found a poem by Robert Burns is from 1786, uh, entitled "To a Mouse". And I, I'd love to, I'd love to have someone else read a portion of that because you know, the, to get the Robert Burns from 1786 just right, uh, is important. So let's listen to that now before we begin. Poetry Reading: 03:00 [Thick Scottish Brogue accent]. Poetry Reading: 03:00 But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy! New Speaker: 03:17 All right. So I love that particular, uh, part of the poem, you know, this, uh, Robert Burns wrote this poem, um, after plowing a field. And, uh, as he was going along, he noticed that he tore up the, the den, uh, of a mouse and, and that caused him to reflect on it and write this poem. And for us, we have these, these plans that we lay out, we, and we spend so much time invested in them and then the chaos of the world grabs a hold of them and tears apart. Leon: 03:53 Right. And there's a few things I like about this that first of all, the poetry is, is heart stopping. It's just amazing. And, um, but I also like the fact that Robert Burns was plowing his field. He was doing a very normal sort of work-based activity and yet he was also bringing his other, I'll use the word higher, I don't mean it in any sort of, you know, uh, value statement way, but he was using a more thoughtful part of himself to it. You know, how many people are mowing lawn or you know, just walking through, you know, a cut through and they knock over it, you know, a nest of some kind or whatever and it's like, yeah, whatever, and you know, move on. But here, this really obviously caused him some real introspection. And I think that that is a wonderful analog to, uh, what we do as people with a religious, moral or ethical point of view as we go through our it lives is that we, we don't divorce one from the other. And that sometimes moments within our regular work day lives cause us this, this reflection. I think it's important to, to clarify that when we talk about releasing to production, you know, tongue in cheek, because we're talking about our kids. This isn't just, you know, kids going off to college or getting a job or growing up, although it is those things. But it's particular to folks who live a, who live in a faith-based lifestyle. Um, you know, there's some very specific things that I think our kids do that kids from a more secular background don't. For example, uh, you know, my kids went to either yeshiva or seminary after high school, you know, or going to go, or in the process of going. And you'll hear more about that later. Um, you know, that's, uh, one or two or three years of purely religious education, not indoctrination. It's, you know, real deep dive into the, um, philosophy, theology, you know, asking a lot of questions, challenging the thinking that they'd grown up with learning the rest of the story kind of stuff. And there's also, you know, depending on your faith, there's mission work, there's a student exchange programs, there's teaching abroad, there's, you know, gap year programs, all of which send our kids away. But not, again, not in the way that I think at least I think of a secular experience, what my secular experience was, which was you graduated from high school, you went to college, uh, or maybe a trade school or whatever it is, and you got a job and, and you had your life. But that's not really what we're talking about. We're talking about really releasing to a different kind of production system. Josh: 06:38 You know, and it's interesting, I find that a lot of people are starting to embrace this. Maybe alternative -- is that the right word for it? New Speaker: 06:47 It is. Yeah. It's another option that I think wasn't considered by our parents when we were growing up. If you happen to be of a certain age. Josh: 06:56 Yeah. When my daughter graduated from high school last year, she was not the only person in her graduating class who was taking a gap year and who was doing something during that gap year. Going to work during gap here, you hear about that a lot, but taking that gap here and doing what my daughter did, which was go to Haiti, um, during the, you know, period of civil unrest that was going on, that was, that was interesting. Leon: 07:28 My son... Leon: 07:30 It might have been interesting for her, but I'm sure it was interesting in a whole different way for you and your wife. Josh: 07:35 It was uh, uh, we should talk about that in the future. It was a, it was a very, yes. Interesting is a good word for it. You know, and my son is a, is my son is on a mission right now. He comes home in a couple of weeks, which we're super excited about, but I, a bunch of kids took, took a year off, you know, one went to France, one went to Brazil as part of the Rotary Exchange program. So I, I'm courageous. I'm, I'm excited for this future generation in my graduating class, which wasn't nearly as large as my daughters. I think I had 45 or 50 kids in my graduating class, but I was the only one who was going off to do something other than go to college or university or go to work. So I, it is, it is a very unique thing that we have because of our faith. There's a problem here though, and I, I, I do want to talk about this. So, you know, having grown up, um, having grown up Mormon, in fact, we just had some friends, uh, some friends, uh, uh, family members of friends, I guess is the right way to put it. Who stopped by unexpectedly and they said, "Oh, by the way, we know your son Noah, you know. We're from Utah. Here's how we know Noah. We met him while he was there." And so we got to talking about their family and they said to us, "Well, our son is, is and has just proposed to his, his girlfriend, they're going to get married." Well, when you're a Mormon, you know that at 18 you become eligible to go on a mission. And so we said, oh, he didn't serve a mission. Now this, this couple doesn't know that we're no longer practicing Mormons. And you could just, you could see that just that flicker of disappointment in their eyes because, uh, there's that. "Yeah, we're from Utah and we know that our kids are supposed to go." So Leon, let's talk about what happens when, when we spend our entire lives trying to launch our children with their support... Leon: 09:36 right. Josh: 09:37 ...into, into a specific path and the T-minus plan fails. Leon: 09:43 Right. And, and I liked your phrasing. You know that it's a launch plan and T-Minus, and you know, remember that the, the astronauts in the capsule are not unwilling participants in this. They're, they're just as engaged in trajectory and speed and velocity. They may not be the final arbiter of some of those things, but they are absolutely involved in those plans in our kids. While they may not be the, the final arbiter of how they get where they're going or how quickly they get where they're going or whatever, they're active participants in helping plot the course. Um, so I like, I just liked the phrasing. I think that's really good. And Yeah, let's talk about when things don't go. So, I think that if things don't go as planned, uh, the first question, at least that I'm thinking is, "Did I, you know, was this a failure on my part to plan at all, you know, correctly, appropriately? What did I miss?" I, I think that that's, as a parent maybe sometimes your first go to what, what did I do wrong? You know? Josh: 10:46 I think that makes you a good parent. Leon: 10:49 Oh, really? Good. Really good. I know, New Speaker: 10:57 No doubt. Leon: 10:58 Um, yeah, but if that is the one criteria that the self doubt, then absolutely I have, I have piles and piles of good parenting. Yeah. Josh: 11:09 Well, and I think that's important though when we look at our, when we look at our children and we try to ask ourselves, why didn't things go to plan? We immediately look at ourselves mostly because we can, we can change ourselves. We can't change our children. We can sit them down and we can lecture them for hours on end, but about 15 minutes and they're just going to stop listening. You know? I... New Speaker: 11:35 If you get that much, that's where. Josh: 11:36 I was. I was hoping for a good day. Uh, yeah. I, I love the phrase "Analysis Paralysis". It's something that I hear an awful lot at work, especially as we're using all the Buzz Word Bingo, key phrases, right? Agile and DevOps. And I've heard a new one the other day DevSecOps and I'm like, now we're just making upwards. It's great. Leon: 11:59 If you're playing along at home. Right? And you haven't downloaded the beat. You can download the Bingo card from TechnicallyReligious.com. Josh: 12:06 Um, but I, I think that we can get to that point where we look at sort of the look at our lives and the lives of our children. We expect them to do with some very rigid things. Josh: 12:15 And when they don't, w things start to fall apart. We doubt ourselves. We doubt our children. To me, that feels a disingenuous to the art of raising children. Going back to, you know, to the Bible, right? Cain and Abel, uh, you know, Adam and eve have these two kids can enable, you know, great kids grew up while together. And then, you know, one day Cain kills Abel. Did, did Adam and Eve, you know, did they see that coming? Or they're like, "What do we do wrong?" Leon: 12:42 Right. Josh: 12:45 "Geez, maybe we shouldn't have left the garden!?!" Uh, you know, Leon: 12:49 [Laughter] Maybe that, yeah, that was, that was an unplanned, that was, that was its own, you know, production, early release to production issue. Yep. Leon: 12:57 Um, here's... Josh: 12:58 That's what happens when, when Alpha goes to prod, although it worked out really well, so... Leon: 13:03 Yeah, well, it can, but it also can not. Um, and there's even, there's even a question there, just if we're going to invoke Cain and Able that, that, um, Cain may not have understood. Look, Abel was the first person to die at all. He may not have understood that killing was a thing. Um, and in the original Hebrew, uh, the precursor to that moment is they were out in the fields and Cain said to Abel "And Cain rose up and slew Abel" There's, there's a missing, there's no texts there. Now as, uh, a person with two brothers. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I know I have a good, I could make some good guesses about what Cain said to Abel, that would cause Cain to lash out. You know, it caused that conflict to occur. Um, however, we don't have textual, uh, textual evidence of it. But the point is, is that, um, again, that probably wasn't, uh, Adam and Chava, to use the Hebrew names. Um, wasn't their plan for, uh, what their kids were gonna grow up to be or to do. Um, Josh: 14:27 What, what about, what about the attributes of our children though? Leon: 14:30 Yeah. Josh: 14:30 I mean, oftentimes we look at our kids and we want to see the very best than them, but if our kids don't follow our plan, and I will admit, I am one of those kids that did not follow my parent's plan. In fact, uh, after I got home from Las Vegas, I explicitly things to, uh, I want to say to make my parents upset. But when my parents said, don't do, I, I went ahead and did it. So when they said, hey, you know, you shouldn't get married at 21, I was like, no, I'm getting married at 21. Hey, you shouldn't go. You know, you should not go to a school, um, to do that. Oh yeah, no, I'm going to go to school and I'm going to work full time. Uh, I mean, we're going to tell the story a little later, but it's just, does that mean that word? Well, what does that mean about our kids? What, what does that mean about me? I'm, I'm gonna lay it down on the couch now. And you can tell me. Leon: 15:24 Right. So I think there's a, there's two aspects of that. First of all, um, I think as parents we also put way too much stock in this moment. This is the formative moment. If I don't get this right as a parent, it's all downhill from there. Leon, she's going into kindergarten. I know, but it's everything hinges on her getting into the right kindergarten and her learning her abcs, she was slow to walk. You know, we have to make up for that! I think she's gonna do play time just fine. You know, I, I think that sometimes we, we forget that, you know, as much as we have recovered from, you know, setbacks and failures, both big and small and our lives, our kids are going to also, and, uh, there's, you know, and the hard part is because we're sort of passive observers of it, there's a quote, um, Elizabeth Stone said it, uh, "Making the decision to have a child. It is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." And I think that sums up not just the experience of parenting for, for some folks, but also the, the level of pressure that I think that we, we feel we put upon ourselves that, you know, again, that kindergarten moment has to be perfect because it's my heart there that you're dealing with. But the fact is is that our kids are far more resilient than an internal organ. Um, usually, mostly mostly, at least I choose. So that's the first piece. I think the second piece is they are often more capable than we recognize because when we see them, we see the totality of our experience with, with them from their first moments until this moment. And we, we experience all of those at the same time. So it's hard to remember that the person standing before you now is a relatively capable near adult depending on how old they are, who is tougher than most of the times we give them credit for being simply because we're also seeing them in diapers as we are watching them drive away in the car. Um, so I think, I think those two things are always at work in the head of a, in the head of a parent as there again, quote unquote launching their child. Um, I think there's another though that that comes up, at least for me, when things don't go according to plan, which is, you know, I begin to wonder after I've doubted myself, I begin to doubt my kid. Does it mean that they weren't committed, that they gave up too easily? Um, you know, nobody wants a snowflake millennial for a child. Uh, even if our children millennial, we certainly don't want them to be un-resilient. Um, or worse, we worry that maybe they're not taking it seriously or even worse than that, that their being utterly dismissive and disrespectful to our effort. Not to mention our money. Like, yeah, whatever, you know, they're sending me halfway across the world, but I can always come back. It's no big deal. They got, they can cover it. Josh: 18:33 Right, right, they've got the platinum card. Right. Leon: 18:35 Right, right. It's just money. So you know, and you've spent months, you know, trying to get the, you know, doing the school paperwork and doing the, like you've done all that stuff and all of a sudden it doesn't, doesn't go as you expected it to. And you know, there's a lot of those feelings that sort of swirl around. Josh: 18:55 Yeah. I, I do want to address something about kindergarten. So my daughter is starting university this week in kindergarten. So in Ontario there was junior kindergarten. She was three and a half when she started because her birthday is later in the year. She almost got kicked out of kindergarten because she would not talk and she refused to leave her little cubby where she hung her coat. She would sit in that and would not participate. And the school called us and said, hey, like maybe this isn't the right thing for her. Maybe, maybe she shouldn't be at school right now. This, this is the girl who hopped on a plane and flew to Haiti. This is the girl who when they said, we might have to send you home from Haiti because you know, there's civil unrest. There is literally writing in the streets. It was like, no, no, no, I'm not going. And now she's headed off to university and I would have never imagined it. So yes, my daughter was a snowflake in junior kindergarten. I get it. Leon: 20:04 [laughing] Josh: 20:06 ...because they don't stay that way. New Speaker: 20:07 Yeah. And psychologists will call that a telescoping. When you look at your three year old who's eating paste and saying, oh, it's never gonna. And it's like, no, don't telescope. It's okay. The fact that they do it now doesn't mean that they're always doing it. Or as another great parenting educator, Barbara Coloroso said, um, "I've never yet seen a high school senior walk down the graduation aisle with the shoes on the wrong feet unless it was on purpose." You don't need to tell your kids to put the shoes on the right feet. They can figure that part out for themselves. Josh: 20:40 I, I, so I have, I have another story. If you know when you have lots of children. I have four. When you have lots of children, you have lots stories. Yes. I have a son who suffers from the, how did we put it? "Anything is possible when you don't know what you're doing"-itis. Leon: 20:59 Right. I've worked for managers who suffer from it also. So it's a fairly common uh, affliction. Josh: 21:04 Yeah. It, it's, it's surprising and to, to be fair, part of the, the beauty of youth is that you have no sweet clue what you can't do because you've never tried to do it. But some times the things that you're trying to do are so wonderfully outlandish that you probably should not do them. I...in my own life, I wanted to be a lawyer. In fact, I still would love to be a lawyer. That whole going to school for four years and then having to go to law school for two or three years and then having to article for another three or four years just does not appeal to me. I go figure, I kind of like making money, uh, and, and eating. Leon: 21:50 I was going to say, it's not the money part, it's the eating steady part you become kind of addicted to. Josh: 21:56 I have. I have, yeah. My, my waistline can attest to that. So all, all through high school I was planning on being a lawyer. So I got to my, my senior year and in Ontario at the time. You went to grade 13 which was a college, a university prep year. So as I'm entering my, my university prep here, my guidance counselor calls me in and says, Hey, you know Josh, I'm looking at your, your transcript, you've got all the IT courses that we offer and you know, what do you plan on doing? I said, well, I'm going to be a lawyer. So good, but if that doesn't work out, maybe I'll do IT. And he said, well, you know, you really need to take math. I said, no, no, no. I got all the math credits I need. I, as I look, I know I'm going to be a lawyer. I would not be on this podcast if I was a lawyer. Leon: 22:53 True. True. As much as I, as much as I have, I enjoy our friendship. It wouldn't be that it wouldn't be Technically Religious anymore. Josh: 23:00 That's right. Yeah. It would just be awkward at that point. So I mean, I did it the hard way. I, I didn't take math. I'm also, although I like math now, I did not like math in high school. I was a little hesitant to admit to liking math, but I do like math and I really struggled. I mean, I wanted to be in IT as my backup plan. I didn't realize it was going to become my primary plan, but I really hated math and I hated the math learning experience. Leon: 23:35 Sure. So I just want to, I want to frame some of this, you know, talking about your son and, um, you know, his belief that he can do anything, even if he doesn't have sort of the basic background, I think is a good analog to you wanting to be in IT and not liking math. But I think that lots of folks who are in it come at it from different directions. We know that. And, uh, math can be a challenge. And I think that there's sort of three ways that you can look at addressing it. Like, how do we address problems in IT? So there's sort of the, the easy way, which is to learn everything about that problem. Right. I know that sounds like the hard way, but learning it upfront is actually the easy way. Whether you're going to a vendor course or you're taking a training class or whatever it is, learning it, you know, from start to finish in that order is the easy way. The hardware is actually learning as you go, you know, and trying to do at school of hard knocks and you know, crashing it and rebuilding it and crashing and rebuilding it and you know, not knowing what you don't know and finding out six months later that you actually spec'ed the systems incorrectly and you have to go back to your director and ask for more money because you did it wrong the first time or whatever. Like all that, that is the hard way to go. I think there's a, there's a smart way to go, which is using tools to compensate for our gaps and knowing that, having humility to know when to use those. So, uh, you know, for example, uh, I'm, I'm, I like networking and I am fairly good at networking, but like Cisco Nexus devices are a whole other class of networking that was not there when I initially got my CCNA and Routing and Switching and, uh, trying to manage your monitor those devices is really challenging. But there's, there are tools that can show me what's wrong with a Nexus installation so that I can get past those gaps in knowledge and skill and experience without the hard knocks and without having to take, you know, three months of classes just to get up to speed on it. Josh: 25:47 Hmm. Interesting. Uh, I, I am also afraid of, uh, of the Nexus. It, it, to me, I see one of those large spaghetti, horrible monsters with a billion arms. And that's all I can think of when I think of an axis. Leon: 26:01 Right. It's the not invisible flying spaghetti monster. Yep. Josh: 26:04 Not Invisible at all. It's actually kind of horrifying. Uh, so if, if we were to then like, maybe modify this for people like me. Yep. Um, how would I handle this today? What would the advice be to Josh from 1995-ish? Leon: 26:24 Yeah. Right. Josh: 26:25 Oh Dang. I'm old. ...from 1995-ish. Leon: 26:30 [Laughter]. Josh: 26:30 And explain how, how I can be successful in it. Um, even though I didn't like math. Leon: 26:38 Okay. So I think that, um, again, easy way, hard way, smart way. The easy to go learn it. Now, part of the problem is that you didn't have the math credits in high school to get into a school immediately that had it, you know, like you couldn't have hacked the coursework. Um, but you know, in America we have, you know, community colleges, sort of those smaller local colleges that are easier to get into. And a great way to get a leg up on stuff is just to take a community college set of community college courses one or two years and get into it and get those skills up and then transition to a more, um, challenging school where you're gonna get the depth experience. Josh: 27:21 Oh, nice. Yeah. So, and in Canada we call those a two and two. Right? So you do a two year of college and the Canada college is different than university and then there is a matriculation agreement where you can get into usually third year, um, provided that you successfully completed the coursework in the first two years. Leon: 27:40 Right. So that's, that would be the easy way. The hard way would be not to go to college at all and not to get any training, but just to open your own IT business and uh, learn as you go, you know, break things as you go and probably fail that business and then you get into IT. Having had all that wonderful painful experience, that would be the hard way. Right? Josh: 28:06 Yeah. I, I did it kind of that way. I mean, I didn't start a business, but I got married at 21 had an instant family, was, my wife was pregnant a month later I went to school, worked midnights, um, and then got a job working 60 hours a week while trying to get my MCSE. Is that hard? Leon: 28:24 Okay. That's, there's hard and then there's heart failure. Josh: 28:28 Okay. Leon: 28:28 And that's, yeah. Josh: 28:30 Okay. Heart, heart failure. It is then! Leon: 28:31 One order of myocardial infarction please. Coming up! Yeah. So yeah, that's, that would have been the really hard way. Um, and some of us do that and I think that there's, again, the smart way that in between way, which is, um, as much as we say that IT requires math, it doesn't require all math. It requires a very specific set of math that if you take a little bit of time to understand the area of IT you want to get into, then you can focus on just learning the math you need for that area. Right. Josh: 29:09 I'm a, I'm a big fan of that model. I wish that my 18 year old self could have a discussion with my 40 (ahem!) year old self and I could say, look, you can do this now. I get it when I was 18, things like Khan Academy or, uh, you know, Code Camp didn't exist. But wow, kids today, if, if you know the thing that you want, the thing that gets you really excited about math and it's not going and taking trigonometry then learn the math that gets you geeked. For me it's statistics. I really love stats. Leon: 29:46 Right. And I think that that's another thing that, um, you know, the difference between non young adult, our non young adult kids is that, you know, what are they gonna have to do this Algebra?!? Because it's ninth grade curriculum and you're going to do it. I don't have another answer. This, this is stupid. I'm never gonna use it. Can't argue for or against that, but it's still in a curriculum and you're going to do it like that is the parenting conversation. But with our young adults, we can say, look, if you love this thing, if you love doing this thing, whether it's it or business or whatever, there's going to be math involved. But you just have to learn that. But if you love this thing, you're going to love the math that goes along with it. And if you don't love it, at least you're going to tolerate it. So being monitoring Geeks, both you and I, you know, math is also not my strong suit. It's not something that I naturally gravitate toward the way that some of the other voices we have on the show, like Doug, you know, Doug Johnson who really does love math, you know, that's, that's a different, that's a different thing that love of pure math. But I really enjoy the math that I get to do when I'm scripting, when I'm pulling statistics out of devices for monitoring, when I'm building new visualizations. That math really gets me going because I know what I'm doing with it because it has an application. Um, so that's, you know, that's what we can say to our adult or young adult kids is even if you think you don't like it from school, "Uhhh, it really bad!" The fact is that you will like it because it's part of the thing that you're telling me that you like, Leon: 31:25 We know you can't listen to our podcast all day. So out of respect for your time, we've broken this particular conversation up, come back next week and we'll continue our conversation. Doug Johnson: 31:34 Thanks for making time for us this week to hear more of technically religious visit our website, technically religious.com where you can find our other episodes, leave us ideas for future discussions and connect to us on social media. Leon: 31:47 Test in dev?! Not me! I test in prod!! What can possibly go wrong? Josh: 31:54 Narrator: Apparently, a lot. Nobody was surprised.

https://youtu.be/T2EXLJwPOUI In this episode, we review the video from Dave Ramsey about The 3 Basic Money Skills You Need To Know Review. He talks about spending, saving and giving. Here is the transcript for this episode: There's really three basic money skills, so giving saving and spending, okaySo in this video, we're going to review Dave Ramsey's video onthe three basic money skills that everybody needs to know and soYou know just saw the clip there where he's introducing it. And so we just wanted to kind of give our thoughts on itSo he's sort of outlined it so it's the the saving while the spending I guesshe says first spending saving and giving so kind of those three areas andAt the beginning of the video. Basically it's prompted by a caller who isWanting to buy a new car he saved up enough to where he can afford to pay for it in cashHe's got you know emergency reserved saved up and all thatso he's doing fine financially beats having a hard time, you know parting with the money, soso it's it's one of those things that I think we we do see as financial planners, you know sometimesSomebody is just kind of out of balance in one of those areas and it can kind of wreak havoc on their financial situationwell, or you get used to a certain lifestyle, I meanI remember even personally just being in school and not spending anything or being in inyou know out of the country and just had minimal resources and it's hard to adjust sometimes toSpending quite a bit or I mean they could work with sizingYeah, you know you can be somebody who yeah, you know who's used to spending a lot of money?Maybe you have a change in your financial situationAnd now you got to put the brakes on it that can be a tough situation the saving, you knowSome people are just kind of natural savers, you knowthey they're happy to put money away and some people it's it's a real chore and then giving I meanThat's one of those things that I thinkKind of really adds purpose to your your life in generalYou know, what what you do with you know, what you have is a big part of itYeah, I agree in giving is I mean it might be giving to charities and supporting organizationsbut where I see it with clients more is giving tokids or giving to family members and and there isLimits or if you want to be conscious of that and it feels goodSupporting someone but you also don't want to enable them or there's balances with that as wellOkaySo I guess next we'll watch another a little bit of this video where he kind of explains the the three different skillsLearning to enjoy money falls under spending learning to enjoy life with your moneyWhich is kind of what your questions about the second one saving?And learn to save money for emergencies for college for retirement to change your family tree to build wealthand learn to investYou learn to ride the investment waves like we've had in the stock market in the last couple weeksright andgivingthe power of generosity to completely change you when you learn to give asThe natural rhythm of your life it changes everythingAlright, so overall I would say it sounds like pretty good adviceIt's it's very general and maybe a little bit of an oversimplification of some, you know, kind of more complexinternal thoughts and emotions that you know, we all have but I meanIt's a good way to kind of look at it and balancing different different things and that that's you knowCertainly part of what we try to do as financial planners. Just help people find that right balanceso, you know, we we certainly have clients where theyHave more than enough money to spend on splurge as if they want to or you knowTake a trip or whatever it is, and they have a really hard time of letting that goThere's there's always kind of that fear of, you know, can I can I afford to do this?What if some you know something comes up?So, you know being able to kind of balance that and then something else you talked about in the video is how giving can sometimesHelp youJustif...

The Oscars are a week away and we have something to say about itSo many people have given up on the Oscars, let me rephrase, so many people have said they have given up on the Oscars but you know they still check. Even if you don't watch, you check the next day or keep track on Twitter.​ So that's what we're talking about this week. When did we get into the Oscars, when did we stop watching, and what do we think of this year's Best Picture nominees.

Our hearty adventurers head out into the foothills of the Itso mountains in search of the Boss Goblin who is terrorizing the town of Wight. Then the record skips as the recording software dropped a beat. Next thing we know the party is in some Goblin caves doing what adventurers do best. Zagzam and a shiney? What's all this about?

Who To Listen To When Your Marriage Is In Trouble - The Dr. Joe ShowThe moment people hear that your marriage is in trouble, you get deluged with every sort of opinion, recommendation, and idea that people can come up with.Most of it is bad.Some of it is motivated by good intentions. However, if the ones who give the advice love you, they most likely aren't very happy with your spouse. Therefore, their viewpoint is skewed against him/her and very much toward protecting you (and maybe toward damaging your spouse). Others who aren't so close think their advice valid because of something they personally experienced or that they witnessed in another. That's enough for them to make judgments about you, your spouse, and your situation even when they know only a little of what's actually happening. These folks typically are adamant that you heed their counsel, although in reality their advice often is the OPPOSITE of what you should be doing. If you doubt that, post a problem on Facebook telling only the barest of information and watch how many people will tell you EXACTLY what you should do...It's scary...Even professional counselors may lead you astray IF:1) Your situation strikes one of their own emotional chords2) They decide to diagnose your spouse even though they've never met him/her (or had only limited exposure)3) They feel the easiest route to your "happiness" is to end the marriage rather than to fight for itSo, who do you listen to?In this program, Dr. Joe Beam and special guest Jim Pourteau discuss an actual occurrence on Facebook. Using it as the example, they explain why people tend to think their advice is valid and why you should be very careful about which advice you take. They guide you to sources that truly can help rather than leading you astray.If you're not looking only for people to verify what you WANT to do, but actually seeking help for your marriage problems, listen to this program.Also, check out free resources ranging from articles, eBooks, Podcasts, and more on www.MarriageHelper.com.

Who To Listen To When Your Marriage Is In Trouble - The Dr. Joe ShowThe moment people hear that your marriage is in trouble, you get deluged with every sort of opinion, recommendation, and idea that people can come up with.Most of it is bad.Some of it is motivated by good intentions. However, if the ones who give the advice love you, they most likely aren't very happy with your spouse. Therefore, their viewpoint is skewed against him/her and very much toward protecting you (and maybe toward damaging your spouse). Others who aren't so close think their advice valid because of something they personally experienced or that they witnessed in another. That's enough for them to make judgments about you, your spouse, and your situation even when they know only a little of what's actually happening. These folks typically are adamant that you heed their counsel, although in reality their advice often is the OPPOSITE of what you should be doing. If you doubt that, post a problem on Facebook telling only the barest of information and watch how many people will tell you EXACTLY what you should do...It's scary...Even professional counselors may lead you astray IF:1) Your situation strikes one of their own emotional chords2) They decide to diagnose your spouse even though they've never met him/her (or had only limited exposure)3) They feel the easiest route to your "happiness" is to end the marriage rather than to fight for itSo, who do you listen to?In this program, Dr. Joe Beam and special guest Jim Pourteau discuss an actual occurrence on Facebook. Using it as the example, they explain why people tend to think their advice is valid and why you should be very careful about which advice you take. They guide you to sources that truly can help rather than leading you astray.If you're not looking only for people to verify what you WANT to do, but actually seeking help for your marriage problems, listen to this program.Also, check out free resources ranging from articles, eBooks, Podcasts, and more on www.MarriageHelper.com.

Whether you have started a new job, moved to a different town, or created a social enterprise, at one time or another we have all felt some sense of being an outsider. In this week’s episode, Jerrid and Courtney embrace the role of the outsider and discuss how this position provides the perfect opportunity for innovation. As Jerrid defines it, outsiders in the social entrepreneurship world are people who are not of their industries before their social enterprise endeavors.“I get a kick out of being an outsider constantly. It allows me to be creative.” – Bill HicksA significant benefit of being an outsider is the potential for outside-the-box thinking. Outsiders tend not to have the preconceived notions that more experienced people in the field may possess. Industry insiders are by nature close to their professions and have an intimate view of the inner workings of their jobs. While this closeness reaps its rewards, it may also limit their ability to approach issues within their perspective fields from a fresh point of view. Thus, the need for the outsider.  In the social entrepreneurship world, the outsider is typically met with praise, but sometimes confusion may occur as well. On the one hand, outsiders may generate excitement as they disrupt the status quo and seek to remedy a social ill. On the other hand, the industry insiders may not take them as seriously due to the outsiders’ newness to the field. However, as outsiders become successful in their missions and generate profits, they become more respected by those who may have questioned their capabilities.You will never influence the world by being just like itSo, does it take an outsider to solve lofty problems? Maybe not always, but this was certainly the case in social entrepreneurial success stories Clean the World founded by Shawn Siepler and Recycle Across America founded by Mitch Hedlund. The owners of these social enterprises were very much outsiders when they started their respective businesses which may have given them the distance needed to bring their innovative solutions to life.

It's the 4th annual HORRORFEST! The month long tribute to all things horror! Movies, Video Games, TV, Comics, if it's horror its here! Kicking off Horrorfest, returning for his 3rd appearance is Cinemassacre's own JAMES ROLFE! James is back to talk about horror films. What are his favorite, what makes a good horror film, what are some newer horror movies he likes, what did he think of IT? So much to talk to James about including the Son of Monster Madness, how the AVGN videos has changed and what's on the horizon at Cinemassacre?

It's the 4th annual HORRORFEST! The month long tribute to all things horror! Movies, Video Games, TV, Comics, if it's horror its here! Kicking off Horrorfest, returning for his 3rd appearance is Cinemassacre's own JAMES ROLFE! James is back to talk about horror films. What are his favorite, what makes a good horror film, what are some newer horror movies he likes, what did he think of IT? So much to talk to James about including the Son of Monster Madness, how the AVGN videos has changed and what's on the horizon at Cinemassacre?

This is a black arts and culture site. We will be exploring the African Diaspora via the writing, performance, both musical and theatrical (film and stage), as well as the visual arts of Africans in the Diaspora and those influenced by these aesthetic forms of expression. I am interested in the political and social ramifications of art on society, specifically movements supported by these artists and their forebearers. It is my claim that the artists are the true revolutionaries, their work honest and filled with raw unedited passion. They are our true heroes. Ashay!  May 8th-14th is National Women's Health Week 1. We are joined in the studio by Karla Antoinette Baptiste, author "Dig in Your Heels, The Glamorous (And Not so Glamorous) Life of a Young Breast Cancer Survivor)". She will share information about the 5th Annual Conference: Breast Cancer & African Americans (BCAA) Conference, May 14, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Blvd., South San Francisco. It's a free event; online registration is available at http://tinyurl.com/2016BCAA. For more information contact 1.800.383.0941 or pratliff@stanford.edu. Conference includes the latest topics on breast cancer, hot buffet lunch, health resource fair, and much more. (It's sold out, however, go anyway, there will probably be a few no shows.) 2. Charles Johnson is joining us with cast:  Stuart Elwyn Hall, Desiree Rogers, Melvin Thompson from his latest play, "Ain't It So," at the MET in San Francisco Thursday-Saturday, May 12-14 with 2 performances 5/14: 2 & 8 p.m. at the Gough Street Playhouse, 1620 Gough (near Bush), SF. Visit wehavemet.org   

In Level 6 Lesson 16, we introduced the various usages of the suffix -겠-. The usages include showing your assumptions about something, your intention to do something, as well as asking the other person whether they would like to do something. In the form -(으)면 좋겠어요, you will find two grammatical structures: one is -(으)면, and the other is -겠-. The usage of -겠- in -(으)면 좋겠어요 is for expressing your assumption or expectation about something.1) -(으)면 = if2) -겠- = that would be …, I would …, they would … (assuming)3) 좋다 + -겠- = 좋겠어요 = it would be nice, I would like itSo together, -(으)면 좋겠어요 takes the meaning of “it would be nice if...” or “I would like it if …” and can be also used when you want to say “I hope …” or “I wish …”.You can use two different structures: one is Verb + -(으)면 좋겠어요 and the other is -(았/었/였)으면 좋겠어요. While one is in the present tense and the other is in the past tense, the meanings are very similar and identical in many cases. The past tense version (-(았/었/였)으면 좋겠어요) is similar to using the past tense after “I wish”, as in “I wish it would snow tomorrow.”Example빨리 끝나다 = to finish quickly빨리 끝나면 좋겠어요. = I hope this finishes quickly.= 빨리 끝났으면 좋겠어요. = I hope this finishes quickly.In English, there is a difference in meaning between “I hope” and “I wish”, but that difference can’t be expressed through the structure -((았/었/었)으)면 좋겠어요. In order to express the nuance “I wish... but I know it’s not”, you can use the structure, -(았/었/였)으면 좋았을 텐데(요) (it would have been nice if...) or -아/어/여서 아쉽네요 (too bad it’s …).What is 바라다?When you look up in the dictionary, the first word for the verb “to hope” will be 바라다 or 희망하다. While they are correct “translations”, it’s more natural to use -(으)면 좋겠어요. If you want to use 바라다 or 희망하다 you can use the structure -기를 바라다 or -기를 희망하다, but the sentence can often sound like written language.Sample Sentences1. 내일 사람들이 많이 왔으면 좋겠어요.= I hope many people will come tomorrow.= 내일 사람들이 많이 오면 좋겠어요.2. 비가 그쳤으면 좋겠어요.= I hope it stops raining.= 비가 그치면 좋겠어요.3. 제 선물, 마음에 들면 좋겠어요.= I hope you like my present.= 제 선물, 마음에 들었으면 좋겠어요.4. 효진 씨가 지각 안 했으면 좋겠어요.= I would like it if Hyojin wouldn’t be late for work.= I hope Hyojin isn’t late for work.= 효진 씨가 지각 안 하면 좋겠어요.5. 제가 20살이었으면 좋겠어요.= I wish I were 20 years old.

In Level 6 Lesson 16, we introduced the various usages of the suffix -겠-. The usages include showing your assumptions about something, your intention to do something, as well as asking the other person whether they would like to do something. In the form -(으)면 좋겠어요, you will find two grammatical structures: one is -(으)면, and the other is -겠-. The usage of -겠- in -(으)면 좋겠어요 is for expressing your assumption or expectation about something.1) -(으)면 = if2) -겠- = that would be …, I would …, they would … (assuming)3) 좋다 + -겠- = 좋겠어요 = it would be nice, I would like itSo together, -(으)면 좋겠어요 takes the meaning of “it would be nice if...” or “I would like it if …” and can be also used when you want to say “I hope …” or “I wish …”.You can use two different structures: one is Verb + -(으)면 좋겠어요 and the other is -(았/었/였)으면 좋겠어요. While one is in the present tense and the other is in the past tense, the meanings are very similar and identical in many cases. The past tense version (-(았/었/였)으면 좋겠어요) is similar to using the past tense after “I wish”, as in “I wish it would snow tomorrow.”Example빨리 끝나다 = to finish quickly빨리 끝나면 좋겠어요. = I hope this finishes quickly.= 빨리 끝났으면 좋겠어요. = I hope this finishes quickly.In English, there is a difference in meaning between “I hope” and “I wish”, but that difference can’t be expressed through the structure -((았/었/었)으)면 좋겠어요. In order to express the nuance “I wish... but I know it’s not”, you can use the structure, -(았/었/였)으면 좋았을 텐데(요) (it would have been nice if...) or -아/어/여서 아쉽네요 (too bad it’s …).What is 바라다?When you look up in the dictionary, the first word for the verb “to hope” will be 바라다 or 희망하다. While they are correct “translations”, it’s more natural to use -(으)면 좋겠어요. If you want to use 바라다 or 희망하다 you can use the structure -기를 바라다 or -기를 희망하다, but the sentence can often sound like written language.Sample Sentences1. 내일 사람들이 많이 왔으면 좋겠어요.= I hope many people will come tomorrow.= 내일 사람들이 많이 오면 좋겠어요.2. 비가 그쳤으면 좋겠어요.= I hope it stops raining.= 비가 그치면 좋겠어요.3. 제 선물, 마음에 들면 좋겠어요.= I hope you like my present.= 제 선물, 마음에 들었으면 좋겠어요.4. 효진 씨가 지각 안 했으면 좋겠어요.= I would like it if Hyojin wouldn’t be late for work.= I hope Hyojin isn’t late for work.= 효진 씨가 지각 안 하면 좋겠어요.5. 제가 20살이었으면 좋겠어요.= I wish I were 20 years old.