Podcasts about Japan

Three college friends playing with a Ouija board in 1990 claim a spirit told them the story of a murderous entity called The Bye Bye Man — but the real origin of the legend is far more fascinating than the fiction.*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*IN THIS EPISODE: Once you learn his name, he preys on you. What is the reality behind the Bye Bye Man? Is the movie last year really a true story, or is it only loosely based on real events? Or is it entirely fiction despite being promoted as a true story? (The Truth Behind The Bye Bye Man) *** Recently released Pentagon papers indicate that in 2004, an unknown, 45-foot long object played cat and mouse with the U.S. Navy off the coast of California. And did so for several days. But can we believe the Pentagon papers are the real deal? (UFO's Stalk Navy Ships) *** The Denver Airport; it has been plagued by incredibly strange theories since it opened. (The Denver Airport Conspiracy) *** For some it can be fun staying with grandma. For others it can be a terrifying experience. (Strange Incidents at Grandma's House) *** In Japan there are reports of a sinister spirit – one that is eternally hungry… and to satisfy its hunger, it makes you ravenous with insatiable hunger as well. (Hungry Ghosts of Japan) *** Even seasoned police officers working on a military base can have the wits frightened out of them when they come across the paranormal. (Night School) *** Having a fine pedigree means nothing if you murder someone in cold blood – just ask the 7th Earl of Lucan, if you can find him. (Lord Lucan: Wanted For Murder) *** One of our Weirdo family members shares what he once saw in a cemetery in South Africa. (British Solider In The Mist) *** On July 8, 1878, one of the strangest murder plots in Pennsylvania history began with the purchase of four insurance policies – and ended with a lingering spirit that still haunts a local churchyard to this day. (The Blue-Eyed Six Murder) *** She was a housewife, who turned killer – then vanished without a trace. Now, over 40 years later, Sharon Kinne's whereabouts remain unknown. (Sharon Kinne: The Murdering Housewife) *** Leo Frank was imprisoned and lynched for the murder of Mary Phagan – but was he truly guilty of the crime? (The Lynching of Leo Frank) ***A phantom-like creature torments a young boy at his aunt's house. (Glaring Red Eyes)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:10.443 = Show Open00:04:03.332 = The Truth Behind ‘The Bye Bye Man'00:17:40.430 = Glaring Red Eyes ***00:23:28.248 = UFOs Stalk Navy Ships00:27:53.362 = Grandma's House00:29:38.913 = Lord Lucan, Wanted For Murder00:33:48.978 = Hungry Ghosts of Japan00:42:53.536 = British Soldier in the Mist ***00:45:12.018 = Night School00:47:06.455 = The Denver Airport Conspiracy00:54:10.214 = The Lynching of Leo Frank01:31:38.861 = Blue Eyed Six Murder ***01:38:46.748 = Show Outro*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakHELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…https://WeirdDarkness.com/MUSIC = Songs and Videos by our Weird Darkness punk band, #DarkWeirdnesshttps://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harmhttps://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Denver Airport Conspiracy” by Orrin Grey for The Line Up: http://bit.ly/2YHVRol“British Soldier In The Myst” by Ken Fyfe, submitted directly to Weird Darkness“Those Glaring Red Eyes” by SB at PhantomsAndMonsters.com: http://bit.ly/2E8wkvd“UFOs Stalk Navy Ships” by Paul Seaburn for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/2RScZWW“The Truth Behind The Bye Bye Man” by Benjamin Radford for the Skeptical Inquirer: http://bit.ly/2PhacFl“Night School” posted at Ghosts N Ghouls: (website no longer exists)“Lord Lucan: Wanted For Murder” by Doug MacGowan for Historic Mysteries: http://bit.ly/2PffmBx“Hungry Ghosts of Japan” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: http://bit.ly/38vsDgY“Strange Incidents at Grandma's House” by Toni Dorland for My Haunted Life Too: http://bit.ly/2LPcUzI“The Lynching of Leo Frank” posted at The Unredacted: http://bit.ly/2YGvHCs“The Blue-Eyed Six Murder” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2LOktGR=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: August 28, 2018EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/ByeByeManABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: #WeirdDarkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.

This week, we get into the history, craft, and techniques of homemade Ramen with the brilliant author, Sho Spaeth. We talk about its origins in Japan, the introduction of ramen to the US, and the recent innovation that gave rise to what we know as instant ramen. We learn about the five elements that  go into a bowl of ramen: broth, tare, fat, noodles, and toppings, and how these have been refined over the years to create endless variations, including the kind that can be enjoyed in our own homes. Sho Spaeth is the author of Homemade Ramen. He left us his recipe for Niboshi Shoyu Ramen.Head to our YouTube channel to watch our interview with Sho Spaeth. Subscribe so you don't miss anything!Broadcast dates for this episode:March 13, 2026 (originally aired)Your support is a special ingredient in helping to make The Splendid Table. Donate todayWhen you shop using our links, we earn a small commission. It's a great way to support public media at no extra cost to you.

I seldom give focus to money in this podcast, and this episode has nothing to do with making more or managing your money. It's on how we make meaning of money, which may dictate more about your money situation than anything else. And to that degree we are looking at how you feel about your money, more than whatever your situation may be. We all likely know people with lots of money who stress about it far more than some with very little. My guest in this episode helped me reposition how I think about money. Long ago we exchanged goods and service with each other. Today we do the same thing, but the exchange happens through money instead of the direct product or service. But of greater focus we are looking at our attitude towards money. My guest in this episode is a self-help legend and celebrity in Japan where he's sold nearly 9 million books about this topic. Ken Honda is the author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money. But it's not money Ken is concerned about, it's your happy soul. This is why he has most of his own country following him, and now is claiming hearts around the world, including now, America. He joined me via Zoom from somewhere near Tokyo and we just had a super sweet time together. Ken ultimately endorsed my book, “What Drives You, for the Japanese market. I think you'll find a significant paradigm shift in your perspective on money and a new hope for feeling better about it. I did. Truly. There are products and services we don't want to spend money on. Such as, we don't want to give $1,000 to a car mechanic to fix something that went wrong on our car. So we give the mechanic money with sad feelings. Sad energy. And the mechanic is on the receiving end of getting sad money. Would you like to change this perspective, as the customer and the mechanic? Ken is going to help. We start off addressing the common negative feelings many people have towards money, and turn it on its head. It's not money we are upset with. It's really the work we don't like and aren't proud of, that we are doing to earn money. It's more about how we are earning our money than the money itself. I think you will be so stoked with this episode you'll want to share it with everyone you know. Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's word of the day is ‘relief' as in Team USA as in World Baseball Classic as in Team Italy as in thank you. With Team Italy's big win over Mexico on Wednesday night, USA is through to the quarterfinals. Now we have it all set: USA vs Canada, Dominican Republic vs Korea, Japan vs Venezuela, Italy vs Puerto Rico! Let me try and better explain the plan with the USA, why Mark DeRosa said the things he did, why the lineup was set like it was. How about Tarik Skubal? It was preplanned! Did you watch Sandy pitch? Expectations low? (23:50) What's the latest on the New York Giants co-owner who was in the Epstein Files? He's trying to move his shares to a trust for his children. Interesting. (30:40) The Browns stadium build has hit a snag! Let me explain this one. (38:20) It's Oscar time! I cannot wait! Here are my predictions! (44:40) There still isn't a new deal in WNBA. Deadline has passed. No deal. (49:40) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From a dam that killed 450 people to ghost passengers vanishing mid-ride across Japan, March 12 is darker than your morning coffee. | The Morning Weird Darkness*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.EPISODE PAGE: https://WeirdDarkness.com/MWD20260312NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of #WeirdDarkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice.

Today's word of the day is ‘relief' as in Team USA as in World Baseball Classic as in Team Italy as in thank you. With Team Italy's big win over Mexico on Wednesday night, USA is through to the quarterfinals. Now we have it all set: USA vs Canada, Dominican Republic vs Korea, Japan vs Venezuela, Italy vs Puerto Rico! Let me try and better explain the plan with the USA, why Mark DeRosa said the things he did, why the lineup was set like it was. How about Tarik Skubal? It was preplanned! Did you watch Sandy pitch? Expectations low? (23:50) What's the latest on the New York Giants co-owner who was in the Epstein Files? He's trying to move his shares to a trust for his children. Interesting. (30:40) The Browns stadium build has hit a snag! Let me explain this one. (38:20) It's Oscar time! I cannot wait! Here are my predictions! (44:40) There still isn't a new deal in WNBA. Deadline has passed. No deal. (49:40) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're coming to you live from Matthew's ruined kitchen to discuss a breaded and fried meat sandwich created with great pounding force. (so. much. pounding.) As we take a break from felling trees and grilling we chat about Iowa Skinnies, Minnesota Fatties and exhausted exhaust fans before bestowing new job titles onto Producer Abby which were all news to her. ATK's How to Make Pork Tenderloin SandwichIowa Skinny Sandwich RecipeMatthew's Now but Wow! - Letter from Japan by Marie Kondo  Support Spilled Milk Podcast!Molly's SubstackMatthew's Bands: Early to the Airport and Twilight DinersProducer Abby's WebsiteListen to our spinoff show Dire DesiresJoin our reddit Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Louis-Vincent Gave, founder and CEO of Gavekal Research, joins Julia to break down the three prices that drive every investment decision — the dollar, the 10-year treasury, and oil — and why right now all three are flashing red. With the Strait of Hormuz under threat, Louis explains why he sees oil heading toward $120 and why that number breaks the global economy. He makes the case that the traditional 60/40 portfolio is dead and should be replaced with 60% equities, 20% precious metals, and 20% energy. He reveals why the Chinese renminbi is the most undervalued asset on the planet, why China already won the trade war, and why the US is in greater danger of crushing its allies than itself. One of the most thought-provoking macro conversations you'll hear this year.Links: https://web.gavekal.com/https://x.com/gave_vincentTimestamps: 0:00 Intro and welcome 01:22 The 3 prices that drive everything: dollar, 10-year, oil 2:38 Oil went from $65 to $85 — but Louis fears $120-150 4:08 Why the oil futures curve isn't pricing in a prolonged crisis 5:06 Dollar bear market — why the rebound won't last 6:28 "If truth is the first casualty of war, bonds are a close second" 6:53 The binary outcome on Iran — both scenarios are bad for bonds 7:51 Regime change = Berlin Wall moment — but real rates explode 9:44 "Tails I lose, heads I don't win" — the bond market trap 11:33 $100 oil and Trump's political predicament 13:41 Trump wanted lower energy — "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" 14:06 Why $100 oil is "right pocket, left pocket" for the US 15:58 The real victims: Europe, Taiwan, Korea, Japan 17:23 90% of Hormuz oil heads east — not to the US 18:39 Missing 15 million barrels: prices skyrocket or demand collapses 20:28 Why energy is the best hedge for your portfolio right now 21:50 The new portfolio: 60% equities, 20% precious metals, 20% energy 22:07 The four quadrants framework explained 25:40 Why the 60/40 portfolio is officially dead 27:52 Gold is NOT an inflation hedge — what it actually is 28:37 Why central banks started buying gold after Russia asset seizure 30:08 Western retail has completely missed the gold bull market 31:32 The broken equation: US treasuries no longer equal commodities 32:59 The next shift — stockpiling physical commodities 33:15 "I'm bearish on the dollar and treasuries — but the US has pocket aces" 34:38 Four pillars: fundamentals, momentum, positioning, valuation 36:40 Where Louis sees opportunity: Chile, Brazil, China, South Africa 37:21 China for beginners — the biggest misconceptions 39:05 China's growth miracle — it wasn't central planning 42:06 The Hunger Games of capitalism 44:24 How China really views the Iran war — purely economic 46:46 The most underappreciated macro theme right now 48:19 "Stupidly, stupidly undervalued" — the renminbi slam dunk trade 50:41 Why China kept the RMB artificially low for 8 years 51:49 The weaponization of China's own savings52:35 "China went to the gym" — why it could stand up to Trump 54:18 Who won the trade war? 56:12 The one risk keeping Louis up at night 57:08 "$120 oil breaks stuff" — the number to watch

First, we'll go to Malaysia to hear about the Toyol this week.  When cash starts vanishing, a young family assumes stress, forgetfulness or maybe even betrayal are at the root. Then their six-year-old points to the ceiling and whispers about “the little boy” who comes at night and whole new series of possibilities unfolds.  Then we travel to Japan to learn about the Nure-Onna. An American couple follows the sound of cries to find a bundled infant on a lonely riverbank. Or did they? Lynze has three tales this week. Her first is full of sorrow and strange moments around a mirror. Then we revisit The Rake, a creature not regularly covered here. Lastly, a college student needs a place to stay for one week when he finds a good deal. Maybe the deal is too good to be true?  Wet Hot Bad Magic Summer Camp 2026: Have you heard?! We have some amazing friends joining us at camp! Astonishing Legends and True Crime Campfire will both be bringing their shows to the live stage this summer! If you want to see them and us, get your tickets at badmagicproductions.com  Do you want to get all of our episodes a WEEK early, ad free? Want to help us support amazing charities? Join us on Patreon! Want to be a Patron? Get episodes AD-FREE, listen and watch before they are released to anyone else, bonus episodes, a 20% merch discount, additional content, and more! Learn more by visiting: https://www.patreon.com/scaredtodeathpodcast. Send stories to mystory@scaredtodeathpodcast.com Send everything else to info@scaredtodeathpodcast.com Please rate, review, and subscribe anywhere you listen. Thank you for listening! Follow the show on social media: @scaredtodeathpodcast on Facebook and IG and TT Website: https://www.badmagicproductions.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scaredtodeathpodcast Instagram: https://bit.ly/2miPLf5 Mailing Address: Scared to Death c/o Timesuck Podcast PO Box 3891 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816 Opening Sumerian protection spell (adapted): "Whether thou art a ghost that hath come from the earth, or a phantom of night that hath no home… or one that lieth dead in the desert… or a ghost unburied… or a demon or a ghoul… Whatever thou be until thou art removed… thou shalt find here no water to drink… Thou shalt not stretch forth thy hand to our own… Into our house enter thou not. Through our fence, breakthrough thou not… we are protected though we may be frightened. Our life you may not steal, though we may feel SCARED TO DEATH." Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scared to Death ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Overnight, the Pentagon said it “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying ships, raising further jitters about the global impact of the war in Iran. Fifteen years after a tsunami caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan is restarting reactors. And our correspondent meets Jafar Panahi, the Iranian director whose film is nominated for two Oscars this weekend.Guests and host:Rachana Shanbhogue, business and finance editorNoah Sneider, East Asia bureau chiefAndrew Miller, “Back Story” columnistRosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Iran, oil prices, Donald Trump, Strait of Hormuz, Brent crude, International Energy Agency, RussiaJapan, nuclear, Fukushima, tepcoOscars, “It Was Just An Accident”, Jafar PanahiListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's your favourite POWER SPOT?! What kind of SPEEDY JAPANESE would you like in your vocabulary locker? Let us known in the comments! 8:39.89840:23.105 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overnight, the Pentagon said it “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying ships, raising further jitters about the global impact of the war in Iran. Fifteen years after a tsunami caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan is restarting reactors. And our correspondent meets Jafar Panahi, the Iranian director whose film is nominated for two Oscars this weekend.Guests and host:Rachana Shanbhogue, business and finance editorNoah Sneider, East Asia bureau chiefAndrew Miller, “Back Story” columnistRosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Iran, oil prices, Donald Trump, Strait of Hormuz, Brent crude, International Energy Agency, RussiaJapan, nuclear, Fukushima, tepcoOscars, “It Was Just An Accident”, Jafar PanahiListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah Hughes

Geoff Downes joins me on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to talk Asia, YES, Icon, and the emotional weight of legacy.Fresh back from Japan with Asia, Geoff reflects on revisiting the legendary Asia in Asia era — performing the original 1983 set — and how it feels playing those songs now, without John Wetton. We also dive into the upcoming YES UK tour, where the band will perform 1971's Fragile in its entirety, and Geoff shares how he approaches the album's iconic solos and epics — including the surprising reality of opening with “Roundabout.”Plus: Geoff discusses the Icon “Lexicon” retrospective, what he misses most about writing with John Wetton, and he confirms that the new Yes album is recorded, finished, and delivered.If you're heading to see Yes on the UK tour, drop your memories (and your favourite Downes moments) in the comments.Become a Patron for exclusive videos and join the Now Spinning Arms virtual pub twice a month.Become a Patron (free trial -cancel anytime)https://www.patreon.com/nowspinningNow Spinning Magazine Storehttps://burningshed.com/store/now-spinning-magazineVisit the Now Spinning Magazine Merch Shophttps://nowspinningmagazine.co.uk/

Many of us feel like we're drowning in invisible complexity. So I wanted to hit pause and ask a simple question: What are 1-3 decisions that could dramatically simplify my life in 2026? To explore that, I invited five long-time listener favorites: Maria Popova, Morgan Housel, Cal Newport, Craig Mod, and Debbie Millman.This episode is brought to you by:Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: Shopify.com/timHelix Sleep premium mattresses: HelixSleep.com/TimTimestamps:Intro: [00:00:00]Maria Popova [00:01:49]Morgan Housel [00:04:40]Cal Newport [00:12:20]Craig Mod [00:24:04]Debbie Millman [00:33:08] More about today's guests:Maria Popova (@mariapopova) thinks and writes about our search for meaning, lensed sometimes through science and philosophy, sometimes through poetry and children's books, always through wonder. She is the creator of The Marginalian (born in 2006 under the name Brain Pickings), which is included in the Library of Congress permanent digital archive of culturally valuable materials. Her books and projects include Traversal, The Universe in Verse, Figuring, The Coziest Place on the Moon, and An Almanac of Birds: 100 Divinations for Uncertain Days.Morgan Housel (@morganhousel) is a partner at The Collaborative Fund. His book The Psychology of Money has sold more than three million copies and has been translated into 53 languages. Morgan is also the author of Same As Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes and The Art of Spending Money.Cal Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, where he is also a founding member of the Center for Digital Ethics. In addition to his academic work, Newport is a New York Times bestselling author who writes for a general audience about the intersection of technology, productivity, and culture. His books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. He is also a contributor to The New Yorker and hosts the popular Deep Questions podcast. His latest book is Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.Craig Mod (@craigmod) is a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo and Kamakura, Japan. He is the author of Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa. He also writes the newsletters Roden and Ridgeline and has contributed to The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired, and more. Debbie Millman (@debbiemillman) has been named one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company and one of the most influential designers working today by Graphic Design USA. She is the host of Design Matters—a great show and one of the world's longest-running podcasts. She is also chair of the Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, editorial director of Print magazine, a Harvard Business School Case Study, and a member of the board of directors at the Joyful Heart Foundation.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How did World War II break out in Asia in 1937? Why did Mao Zedong and his fellow communists live in caves after the Long March? How did the notorious Nanjing Massacre occur? ** Binge all six episodes of the series on Chairman Mao by joining the Empire Club today at ⁠empirepoduk.com⁠. ** Anita and William are joined once again by Rana Mitter, author of China's War with Japan 1937-1945, The Struggle for Survival (or Forgotten Ally, China's World War II), and Modern China: A Very Short Introduction. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Editor: Adam Thornton Researcher: Imogen Marriott Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris Producer: Anouska Lewis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The conversation starts with bizarre reality TV experiences and a story about being cast as an extra in Eastbound & Down. From there it spirals into taxidermy raccoons, weird internet culture, and the most ridiculous Japanese game shows ever created.Everything taste better with hot salt!! (only for mouth holes)go to https://firecracker.farm and find your flavor and hotness level and use code MILK to save some moneyLet's level up your nicotine routine with Lucy. Go to https://Lucy.co/PIE and use promo code (PIE) to get 20% off your first order. Lucy has a 30-day refund policy if you change your mindLevel up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code [PIE] at https://www.turtlebeach.com/PIE! #turtlebeachpod

In-sauna testical covers are being banned in Japan. Tourist arrested after kidnapping and torturing a flamingo at The Flamingo in Las Vegas. Police warn there are corcodiles everywhere after major flooding in Australia.Weird AF News is the only daily weird news podcast in the world. Weird news 5 days/week and on Friday it's only Floridaman. SUPPORT by joining the Weird AF News Patreon http://patreon.com/weirdafnews - OR buy Jonesy a coffee at http://buymeacoffee.com/funnyjones Buy MERCH: https://weirdafnews.merchmake.com/ - Check out the official website https://WeirdAFnews.com and FOLLOW host Jonesy at http://instagram.com/funnyjones - wants Jonesy to come perform standup comedy in your city? Fill out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvYbm8Wgz3Oc2KSDg0-C6EtSlx369bvi7xdUpx_7UNGA_fIw/viewform

Kaizoku ou ni ore wa naru! Today around the world, millions of fans who love Japan's hit manga/anime series, One Piece, are rejoicing for many reasons, including today's release of the live-action series season 2 on Netflix. Why do so many fans love these comical, earnest adventures of Captain Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates? Episode sponsors Firebreak by Kathy Tyers Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo The Hole-Man by Dan Daetz The Lorehaven Authorship Mission update New at Lorehaven: our book quest into fantasy Embergold Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Quotes and notes The hit manga just reached 600 million, matching Superman After 1,170+ chapters and nearly 30 years, creator Eiichiro Oda's pirates-with-powers story is sailing toward its final arcs. The popular anime is ending hiatus to resume in April. And today Netflix is christening the live series Season 2, after 2023's Season 1 happily broke the “anime to live-action curse.” Oh, and this just in: last week Oda and crew made the meme come true. He really did write down the answer to “what is the One Piece,” the treasure sought by every pirate. He locked this in a chest, buried it deep in the sea, and initiated a great fan-pirate era. But spoiler alert: I think I know the secret of the One Piece. And by the end of this episode, I shall spell out my grand fan theory. Mission update New at Lorehaven: our book quest into fantasy Embergold Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild The Mugiwara (Straw Hat) Pirates of One Piece, with friends from Fishman Island. 1. One Piece plots with deep heroic ambition. Plot summary: Luffy sets his goal of becoming king of the pirates. He recruits a crew with other goals, yet following him as captain. Over many years and arcs, their goals all begin to come together. It's a celebration of labor, pain, reward, and growing to maturity. So it's like “follow your dream” but much longer, deeper, complex. After all, dreams/goals lead to disloyalty, idolatry, and overwork. One day I had to stop watching One Piece for good reason. Why? I had been overworked and needed more rest than ambition. Altogether it's a reminder of the great adventure that's often hard. In a world of “you're great as you are,” this is a worthy challenge. 2. One Piece recruits a nakama pirate crew. And yet this story isn't just about individuals with selfish interests. Everyone in the Straw Hat pirate crew grows in their relationships. It's much like a “found family” but not without natural family bonds. Some of them have deep childhood trauma and must find healing. Villains also have tragic pasts, but are also evil and must go down. Trauma is serious, death is permanent, and personal loss will sting. Many fans (myself included) find this “wacky realism” refreshing. Oda wisely avoids and mocks the idea of romance among the crew. And also wisely, the live-action series reflects all of these themes. That's one reason One Piece LA broke the live-action-anime curse. 3. One Piece sails to fantastical new worlds. Fans praise Oda's worldbuilding that is indeed massively creative. Fantasy meets sci-fi meets horror, in land, sky, and deep oceans. Each island brings new crises and often many evil leaders to fight. Thus, Luffy and the Straw Hats have toppled multiple dictatorships. It's all part of Luffy's strong views of loyalty to friends and freedom. And now the Straw Hat Jolly Roger flag appears in real Some fans recoil from Oda's art style, reflecting well in the anime. Characters often have wacky proportions, heavy on caricature. And alas, manga/anime is fond of “comedic” nudity/sexual imagery. Yet with cautions, you can now enjoy this story in many art forms. BONUS: has Stephen found the One Piece? Some fans believe the One Piece is more of a traditional treasure. Others claim a metaphor, e.g. “the friends we made along the way.” But I think the series has given us plenty of clues to identify it. For the treasure chest, Oda wrote, “As for the One Piece, it is …” If fans found the buried paper, they'd read: (continued in episode!) Com station Top question for listeners What's your favorite crazy story with wild action and heroic heart? Next on Fantastical Truth Adaptations. Sometimes we act like we don't like them. But sometimes we do. And sometimes each new version of a story—book to film or TV show—changes the original but adds something new and amazing. So next week, we'll explore the pros and cons of adaptation, whether it's One Piece, or The Pendragon Cycle, or the latest superhero retelling.

Join Craig & Mezza as they interview Steve Hogarth & Richard Barbieri and look back on their collective work as a duo. James Levey, Paul McMillan, Gary Page & Nathan Page are on hand to provide additional questions and insights.Chat includes the origins of the "Not the weapon, but the hand" album, the proposed tour, writing and composition processes, the H Band, Richards memories of Japan and details about his forthcoming album "Hauntings". For more info, or to pre order visit https://burningshed.com/store/richardbarbieri

This episode of Two Shot Tuesday begins under some very questionable conditions.Barry Nixon is just emerging from a bout with the latest round of “new COVID,” Jason Reilly is running on fumes after a late night at Crown & Dragon, and we somehow decided this was the perfect moment to record.From there we cover Jason hosting a conference at the Wigwam Resort in Arizona, letting ChatGPT introduce his boss on stage, Barry discovering an old-school bodybuilding gym (Titan Gym) in Fort Lauderdale, and Jason preparing to fly to Japan for a quick film shoot.Coffee, whiskey, travel stories, AI chaos, and a few laughs along the way on a rare morning record of Two Shot Tuesday.

Get MORE Bad Friends at our Patreon!! https://www.patreon.com/c/badfriends Thank you to our Sponsors: Factor, Talkspace, Shopify, Hims & QUO • Factor: Head to https://factormeals.com/badfriends50off and use code badfriends50off to get 50 percent off and free breakfast for a year. • Talkspace: As a listener of this podcast, you'll get $80 off of your first month with Talkspace when you go to https://Talkspace.com/badfriends and enter promo code SPACE80. • Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/badfriends • Hims: For simple, online access to personalized and affordable care for Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/BADFRIENDS. • QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://Quo.com/BADFRIENDS 0:00 Uncomfortably Close4:30 Private Dinner & Small Fries10:00 Redneck Olympics16:00 Starstruck by Spider-Man21:00 Ain't Nothin' But a Octagon27:30 We Hate Cool People35:30 Japan & The Scan37:00 Doomscrolling44:00 How Big Do Beers Get?49:00 Memorizing Lines55:00 The Sneaky Nakamara1:00:00 Boston Dynamics1:04:00 New Dog, New Tricks YouTube Subscribe: http://bit.ly/BadFriendsYouTube Audio Subscribe: https://apple.co/31Jsvr2 Merch: http://badfriendsmerch.com More Bobby Lee TigerBelly: https://www.youtube.com/tigerbelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyleelive Twitter: https://twitter.com/bobbyleelive Tickets: https://bobbylee.live More Andrew Santino Whiskey Ginger: https://www.youtube.com/andrewsantinowhiskeyginger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheetosantino Twitter: https://Twitter.com/cheetosantino Tickets: http://www.andrewsantino.com More Fancy SOS VHS: https://www.youtube.com/@7EQUIS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancyb.1 More Bad Friends iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-friends/id1496265971 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badfriendspod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/badfriends_pod Official Website: http://badfriendspod.com/ Opening Credits and Branding: https://www.instagram.com/joseph_faria & https://www.instagram.com/jenna_sunday Credit Sequence Music: http://bit.ly/RocomMusic // https://www.instagram.com/rocom Character Design: https://www.instagram.com/jeffreymyles Bad Friends Mosaic Sign: https://www.instagram.com/tedmunzmosaicart Produced by: 7EQUIS https://www.7equis.com/ Podcast Producer: Andrés Rosende This video contains paid promotion. #bobbylee #andrewsantino #badfriends #sponsored #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's word of the day is ‘juggernaut' as in Team USA as in WBC as in Dominican Republic as in Japan as in walk offs as in homers as in magic! The World Baseball Classic has been incredible. Everything about it. From the crowds to the moments to the players. All of it! (9:45) Is Tarik Skubal going to pitch again? What happened to one start and gone? (18:40) Bryce Harper talks. People listen. But should they? Why did he say this about the WBC? (24:10) Bruce Meyer continues to comment on a lockout coming. Why is he saying this every chance he gets? (31:31) Review: The Voice of Hind Rajab. (36:02) Miles Mikolas says the MLBPA should not defend Jurickson Profar. Said he made multiple mistakes and he's got the money to defend himself. (41:30) Went to Sloan on Friday. Did a PTFO. More Clippers drama! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On March 9, a soldier in the Philippine jungle kept a thirty-year war going on sheer loyalty alone, a cannibal in Germany discovered his hobby wasn't technically illegal, and someone in Baltimore set out punch and balloons for time travelers who never showed up. | The Morning Weird Darkness*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.EPISODE PAGE: https://WeirdDarkness.com/MWD20260309NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of #WeirdDarkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice.

Today's word of the day is ‘juggernaut' as in Team USA as in WBC as in Dominican Republic as in Japan as in walk offs as in homers as in magic! The World Baseball Classic has been incredible. Everything about it. From the crowds to the moments to the players. All of it! (9:45) Is Tarik Skubal going to pitch again? What happened to one start and gone? (18:40) Bryce Harper talks. People listen. But should they? Why did he say this about the WBC? (24:10) Bruce Meyer continues to comment on a lockout coming. Why is he saying this every chance he gets? (31:31) Review: The Voice of Hind Rajab. (36:02) Miles Mikolas says the MLBPA should not defend Jurickson Profar. Said he made multiple mistakes and he's got the money to defend himself. (41:30) Went to Sloan on Friday. Did a PTFO. More Clippers drama! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2. The Loss of Sacrifice and the Shadow of the Pacific War The debaters contrast the modern era with the Pacific War (1941-1945), noting that Pearl Harbor provided an immediate, unifying rationale for total war. During that time, there was no doubt regarding the mission to defeat Japan and Germany, and the nation embraced a spirit of sacrifice. Germanicus points to the film *They Were Expendable* as an artifact of a time when martyrdom bound the people together in a shared national identity. Today, however, he argues that the sacred narrative has been "hollowed out" and corrupted by leaders who use it for manipulation. Modern Americans, described as increasingly narcissistic, have lost the memory of what it means to be part of something larger than themselves. Furthermore, the U.S. has transitioned into a society that prefers striking from afar via technology rather than engaging in "boots on the ground" combat. This leads to a dangerous disconnect: while the leadership feels "in command pushing buttons," they are oblivious to the fact that they may be losing the war, repeating the failures of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Without a clear U.S. war aim, the military appears to be merely executing an Israeli mission to degrade Iran, leaving the American public without a sense of purpose or a defined end to the hostilities. (3)1944 OKINAWA

The World Baseball Classic is off the charts this year, and it's not even halfway done! In this episode, we break down all the must-watch moments and biggest storylines so far: Team Japan punches their ticket to Miami, dominating Pool C with a relentless lineup and unforgettable performances. Team Korea pulls off an insane 3-way tiebreaker over Australia—7-2 in the 9th inning, ending in a celebration you have to hear to believe. Team Dominican Republic is redefining fun in baseball, playing with energy, flair, and pure excitement. Forget the “old way”—this is baseball made for the fans! Team USA sits 2-0 entering a massive clash against Team Mexico, fighting to break a 20-year losing streak in the WBC rivalry. Gunnar Henderson, Paul Skenes, and the squad bring intensity, emotion, and unforgettable highlights. We also recap the other top teams, key players, and pool play drama, including Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, and more. Whether you're a hardcore fan or just tuning in for thrilling baseball, this episode has everything: historic rivalries, clutch plays, and a behind-the-scenes look at the excitement you can't see on TV. Tune in, subscribe, and get ready for all the WBC highlights, analysis, and stories that make this tournament one of the greatest spectacles in sports. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 01:49 WBC Updates 14:00 USA vs Mexico 20:15 Team Japan 31:30 Upcoming WBC 34:00 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last time we spoke about the end of the battle of khalkin gol. In the summer of 1939, the Nomonhan Incident escalated into a major border conflict between Soviet-Mongolian forces and Japan's Kwantung Army along the Halha River. Despite Japanese successes in July, Zhukov launched a decisive offensive on August 20. Under cover of darkness, Soviet troops crossed the river, unleashing over 200 bombers and intense artillery barrages that devastated Japanese positions. Zhukov's northern, central, and southern forces encircled General Komatsubara's 23rd Division, supported by Manchukuoan units. Fierce fighting ensued: the southern flank collapsed under Colonel Potapov's armor, while the northern Fui Heights held briefly before falling to relentless assaults, including flame-throwing tanks. Failed Japanese counterattacks on August 24 resulted in heavy losses, with regiments shattered by superior Soviet firepower and tactics. By August 25, encircled pockets were systematically eliminated, leading to the annihilation of the Japanese 6th Army. The defeat, coinciding with the Hitler-Stalin Pact, forced Japan to negotiate a ceasefire on September 15-16, redrawing borders. Zhukov's victory exposed Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare, influencing future strategies and deterring further northern expansion.   #192 The Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Despite the fact this technically will go into future events, I thought it was important we talk about a key moment in Sino history. Even though the battle of changkufeng and khalkin gol were not part of the second sino-Japanese war, their outcomes certainly would affect it.  Policymaking by the Soviet Union alone was not the primary factor in ending Moscow's diplomatic isolation in the late 1930s. After the Munich Conference signaled the failure of the popular front/united front approach, Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hitler, and Poland's Józef Beck unintentionally strengthened Joseph Stalin's position in early 1939. Once the strategic cards were in his hands, Stalin capitalized on them. His handling of negotiations with Britain and France, as well as with Germany, from April to August was deft and effective. The spring and summer negotiations among the European powers are well documented and have been examined from many angles. In May 1939, while Stalin seemed to have the upper hand in Europe, yet before Hitler had signaled that a German–Soviet agreement might be possible, the Nomonhan incident erupted, a conflict initiated and escalated by the Kwantung Army. For a few months, the prospect of a Soviet–Japanese war revived concerns in Moscow about a two-front conflict. Reviewing Soviet talks with Britain, France, and Germany in the spring and summer of 1939 from an East Asian perspective sheds fresh light on the events that led to the German–Soviet Nonaggression Pact and, more broadly, to the outbreak of World War II. The second week of May marked the start of fighting at Nomonhan, during which negotiations between Germany and the USSR barely advanced beyond mutual scrutiny. Moscow signaled that an understanding with Nazi Germany might be possible. Notably, on May 4, the removal of Maksim Litvinov as foreign commissar and his replacement by Vyacheslav Molotov suggested a shift in approach. Litvinov, an urbane diplomat of Jewish origin and married to an Englishwoman, had been the leading Soviet proponent of the united-front policy and a steadfast critic of Nazi Germany. If a settlement with Hitler was sought, Litvinov was an unsuitable figure to lead the effort. Molotov, though with limited international experience, carried weight as chairman of the Council of Ministers and, more importantly, as one of Stalin's closest lieutenants. This personnel change seemed to accomplish its aim in Berlin, where the press was instructed on May 5 to halt polemical attacks on the Soviet Union and Bolshevism. On the same day, Karl Schnurre, head of the German Foreign Ministry's East European trade section, told Soviet chargé d'affaires Georgi Astakhov that Skoda, the German-controlled Czech arms manufacturer, would honor existing arms contracts with Russia. Astakhov asked whether, with Litvinov's departure, Germany might resume negotiations for a trade treaty Berlin had halted months earlier. By May 17, during discussions with Schnurre, Astakhov asserted that "there were no conflicts in foreign policy between Germany and the Soviet Union and that there was no reason for enmity between the two countries," and that Britain and France's negotiations appeared unpromising. The next day, Ribbentrop personally instructed Schulenburg to green-light trade talks. Molotov, however, insisted that a "political basis" for economic negotiations had to be established first. Suspicion remained high on both sides. Stalin feared Berlin might use reports of German–Soviet talks to destabilize a potential triple alliance with Britain and France; Hitler feared Stalin might use such reports to entice Tokyo away from an anti-German pact. The attempt to form a tripartite military alliance among Germany, Italy, and Japan foundered over divergent aims: Berlin targeted Britain and France; Tokyo aimed at the Soviet Union. Yet talks persisted through August 1939, with Japanese efforts to draw Germany into an anti-Soviet alignment continually reported to Moscow by Richard Sorge. Hitler and Mussolini, frustrated by Japanese objections, first concluded the bilateral Pact of Steel on May 22. The next day, Hitler, addressing his generals, stressed the inevitability of war with Poland and warned that opposition from Britain would be crushed militarily. He then hinted that Russia might "prove disinterested in the destruction of Poland," suggesting closer ties with Japan if Moscow opposed Germany. The exchange was quickly leaked to the press. Five days later, the first pitched battle of the Nomonhan campaign began. Although Hitler's timing with the Yamagata detachment's foray was coincidental, Moscow may have found the coincidence ominous. Despite the inducement of Molotov's call for a political basis before economic talks, Hitler and Ribbentrop did not immediately respond. On June 14, Astakhov signaled to Parvan Draganov, Bulgaria's ambassador in Berlin, that the USSR faced three options: ally with Britain and France, continue inconclusive talks with them, or align with Germany, the latter being closest to Soviet desires. Draganov relayed to the German Foreign Ministry that Moscow preferred a non-aggression agreement if Germany would pledge not to attack the Soviet Union. Two days later, Schulenburg told Astakhov that Germany recognized the link between economic and political relations and was prepared for far-reaching talks, a view echoed by Ribbentrop. The situation remained tangled: the Soviets pursued overt talks with Britain and France, while Stalin sought to maximize Soviet leverage. Chamberlain's stance toward Moscow remained wary but recognized a "psychological value" to an Anglo–Soviet rapprochement, tempered by his insistence on a hard bargain. American ambassador William C. Bullitt urged London to avoid the appearance of pursuing the Soviets, a view that resonated with Chamberlain's own distrust. Public confidence in a real Anglo–Soviet alliance remained low. By July 19, cabinet minutes show Chamberlain could not quite believe a genuine Russia–Germany alliance was possible, though he recognized the necessity of negotiations with Moscow to deter Hitler and to mollify an increasingly skeptical British public. Despite reservations, both sides kept the talks alive. Stalin's own bargaining style, with swift Soviet replies but frequent questions and demands, often produced delays. Molotov pressed on questions such as whether Britain and France would pledge to defend the Baltic states, intervene if Japan attacked the USSR, or join in opposing Germany if Hitler pressured Poland or Romania. These considerations were not trivial; they produced extended deliberations. On July 23, Molotov demanded that plans for coordinated military action among the three powers be fleshed out before a political pact. Britain and France accepted most political terms, and an Anglo-French military mission arrived in Moscow on August 11. The British commander, Admiral Sir Reginald Plunket-Ernle-Erle-Drax, conducted staff talks but could not conclude a military agreement. The French counterpart, General Joseph Doumenc, could sign but not bind his government. By then, Hitler had set August 26 as the date for war with Poland. With that looming, Hitler pressed for Soviet neutrality, or closer cooperation. In July and August, secret German–Soviet negotiations favored the Germans, who pressed for a rapid settlement and made most concessions. Yet Stalin benefited from keeping the British and French engaged, creating leverage against Hitler and safeguarding a potential Anglo–Soviet option as a fallback. To lengthen the talks and avoid immediate resolution, Moscow emphasized the Polish issue. Voroshilov demanded the Red Army be allowed to operate through Polish territory to defend Poland, a demand Warsaw would never accept. Moscow even floated a provocative plan: if Britain and France could compel Poland to permit Baltic State naval operations, the Western fleets would occupy Baltic ports, an idea that would have been militarily perilous and diplomatically explosive. Despite this, Stalin sought an agreement with Germany. Through Richard Sorge's intelligence, Moscow knew Tokyo aimed to avoid large-scale war with the USSR, and Moscow pressed for a German–Soviet settlement, including a nonaggression pact and measures to influence Japan to ease Sino–Japanese tensions. On August 16, Ribbentrop instructed Schulenburg to urge Molotov and Stalin toward a nonaggression pact and to coordinate with Japan. Stalin signaled willingness, and August 23–24 saw the drafting of the pact and the collapse of the Soviet and Japanese resistance elsewhere. That night, in a memorandum of Ribbentrop's staff, seven topics were summarized, with Soviet–Japanese relations and Molotov's insistence that Berlin demonstrate good faith standing out. Ribbentrop reiterated his willingness to influence Japan for a more favorable Soviet–Japanese relationship, and Stalin's reply indicated a path toward a détente in the East alongside the European agreement: "M. Stalin replied that the Soviet Union indeed desired an improvement in its relations with Japan, but that there were limits to its patience with regard to Japanese provocations. If Japan desired war she could have it. The Soviet Union was not afraid of it and was prepared for it. If Japan desired peace—so much the better! M. Stalin considered the assistance of Germany in bringing about an improvement in Soviet-Japanese relations as useful, but he did not want the Japanese to get the impression that the initiative in this direction had been taken by the Soviet Union."  Second, the assertion that the Soviet Union was prepared for and unafraid of war with Japan is an overstatement, though Stalin certainly had grounds for optimism regarding the battlefield situation and the broader East Asian strategic balance. It is notable that, despite the USSR's immediate diplomatic and military gains against Japan, Stalin remained anxious to conceal from Tokyo any peace initiative that originated in Moscow. That stance suggests that Tokyo or Hsinking might read such openness as a sign of Soviet weakness or confidence overextended. The Japanese danger, it would seem, did not disappear from Stalin's mind. Even at the height of his diplomatic coup, Stalin was determined not to burn bridges prematurely. On August 21, while he urged Hitler to send Ribbentrop to Moscow, he did not sever talks with Britain and France. Voroshilov requested a temporary postponement on the grounds that Soviet delegation officers were needed for autumn maneuvers. It was not until August 25, after Britain reiterated its resolve to stand by Poland despite the German–Soviet pact, that Stalin sent the Anglo–French military mission home. Fortified by the nonaggression pact, which he hoped would deter Britain and France from action, Hitler unleashed his army on Poland on September 1. Two days later, as Zhukov's First Army Group was completing its operations at Nomonhan, Hitler faced a setback when Britain and France declared war. Hitler had hoped to finish Poland quickly in 1939 and avoid fighting Britain and France until 1940. World War II in Europe had begun. The Soviet–Japanese conflict at Nomonhan was not the sole, nor even the principal, factor prompting Stalin to conclude an alliance with Hitler. Standing aside from a European war that could fracture the major capitalist powers might have been reason enough. Yet the conflict with Japan in the East was also a factor in Stalin's calculations, a dimension that has received relatively little attention in standard accounts of the outbreak of the war. This East Asian focus seeks to clarify the record without proposing a revolutionary reinterpretation of Soviet foreign policy; rather, it adds an important piece often overlooked in the "origins of the Second World War" puzzle, helping to reduce the overall confusion. The German–Soviet agreement provided for the Soviet occupation of the eastern half of Poland soon after Germany's invasion. On September 3, just forty-eight hours after the invasion and on the day Britain and France declared war, Ribbentrop urged Moscow to invade Poland from the east. Yet, for two more weeks, Poland's eastern frontier remained inviolate; Soviet divisions waited at the border, as most Polish forces were engaged against Germany. The German inquiries about the timing of the Soviet invasion continued, but the Red Army did not move. This inactivity is often attributed to Stalin's caution and suspicion, but that caution extended beyond Europe. Throughout early September, sporadic ground and air combat continued at Nomonhan, including significant activity by Kwantung Army forces on September 8–9, and large-scale air engagements on September 1–2, 4–5, and 14–15. Not until September 15 was the Molotov–Togo cease-fire arrangement finalized, to take effect on September 16. The very next morning, September 17, the Red Army crossed the Polish frontier into a country collapsed at its feet. It appears that Stalin wanted to ensure that fighting on his eastern flank had concluded before engaging in Western battles, avoiding a two-front war. Through such policies, Stalin avoided the disaster of a two-front war. Each principal in the 1939 diplomatic maneuvering pursued distinct objectives. The British sought an arrangement with the USSR that would deter Hitler from attacking Poland and, if deterred, bind Moscow to the Anglo–French alliance. Hitler sought an alliance with the USSR to deter Britain and France from aiding Poland and, if they did aid Poland, to secure Soviet neutrality. Japan sought a military alliance with Germany against the USSR, or failing that, stronger Anti-Comintern ties. Stalin aimed for an outcome in which Germany would fight the Western democracies, leaving him freedom to operate in both the West and East; failing that, he sought military reassurance from Britain and France in case he had to confront Germany. Of the four, only Stalin achieved his primary objective. Hitler secured his secondary objective; the British and Japanese failed to realize theirs. Stalin won the diplomatic contest in 1939. Yet, as diplomats gave way to generals, the display of German military power in Poland and in Western Europe soon eclipsed Stalin's diplomatic triumph. By playing Germany against Britain and France, Stalin gained leverage and a potential fallback, but at the cost of unleashing a devastating European war. As with the aftermath of the Portsmouth Treaty in 1905, Russo-Japanese relations improved rapidly after hostilities ceased at Nomonhan. The Molotov–Togo agreement of September 15 and the local truces arranged around Nomonhan on September 19 were observed scrupulously by both sides. On October 27, the two nations settled another long-standing dispute by agreeing to mutual release of fishing boats detained on charges of illegal fishing in each other's territorial waters. On November 6, the USSR appointed Konstantin Smetanin as ambassador to Tokyo, replacing the previous fourteen-month tenure of a chargé d'affaires. Smetanin's first meeting with the new Japanese foreign minister, Nomura Kichisaburö, in November 1939 attracted broad, favorable coverage in the Japanese press. In a break with routine diplomatic practice, Nomura delivered a draft proposal for a new fisheries agreement and a memo outlining the functioning of the joint border commission to be established in the Nomonhan area before Smetanin presented his credentials. On December 31, an agreement finalizing Manchukuo's payment to the USSR for the sale of the Chinese Eastern Railway was reached, and the Soviet–Japanese Fisheries Convention was renewed for 1940. In due course, the boundary near Nomonhan was formally redefined. A November 1939 agreement between Molotov and Togo established a mixed border commission representing the four parties to the dispute. After protracted negotiations, the border commission completed its redemarcation on June 14, 1941, with new border markers erected in August 1941. The resulting boundary largely followed the Soviet–MPR position, lying ten to twelve miles east of the Halha River. With that, the Nomonhan incident was officially closed.  Kwantung Army and Red Army leaders alike sought to "teach a lesson" to their foe at Nomonhan. The refrain recurs in documents and memoirs from both sides, "we must teach them a lesson." The incident provided lessons for both sides, but not all were well learned. For the Red Army, the lessons of Nomonhan intertwined with the laurels of victory, gratifying but sometimes distracting. Georgy Zhukov grasped the experience of modern warfare that summer, gaining more than a raised profile: command experience, confidence, and a set of hallmarks he would employ later. He demonstrated the ability to grasp complex strategic problems quickly, decisive crisis leadership, meticulous attention to logistics and deception, patience in building superior strength before striking at the enemy's weakest point, and the coordination of massed artillery, tanks, mechanized infantry, and tactical air power in large-scale double envelopment. These capabilities informed his actions at Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, and ultimately Berlin. It is tempting to wonder how Zhukov might have fared in the crucial autumn and winter of 1941 without Nomonhan, or whether he would have been entrusted with the Moscow front in 1941 had he not distinguished himself at Nomonhan. Yet the Soviet High Command overlooked an important lesson. Despite Zhukov's successes with independent tank formations and mechanized infantry, the command misapplied Spanish Civil War-era experience by disbanding armored divisions and redistributing tanks to infantry units to serve as support. It was not until after Germany demonstrated tank warfare in 1940 that the Soviets began reconstituting armored divisions and corps, a process still incomplete when the 1941 invasion began. The Red Army's performance at Nomonhan went largely unseen in the West. Western intelligence and military establishments largely believed the Red Army was fundamentally rotten, a view reinforced by the battlefield's remoteness and by both sides' reluctance to publicize the defeat. The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war in Europe drew attention away from Nomonhan, and the later Finnish Winter War reinforced negative Western judgments of Soviet military capability. U.S. military attaché Raymond Faymonville observed that the Soviets, anticipating a quick victory over Finland, relied on hastily summoned reserves ill-suited for winter fighting—an assessment that led some to judge the Red Army by its performance at Nomonhan. Even in Washington, this view persisted; Hitler reportedly called the Red Army "a paralytic on crutches" after Finland and then ordered invasion planning in 1941. Defeat can be a stronger teacher than victory. Because Nomonhan was a limited war, Japan's defeat was likewise limited, and its impact on Tokyo did not immediately recalibrate Japanese assessments. Yet Nomonhan did force Japan to revise its estimation of Soviet strength: the Imperial Army abandoned its strategic Plan Eight-B and adopted a more defensive posture toward the Soviet Union. An official inquiry into the debacle, submitted November 29, 1939, recognized Soviet superiority in materiel and firepower and urged Japan to bolster its own capabilities. The Kwantung Army's leadership, chastened, returned to the frontier with a more realistic sense of capability, even as the Army Ministry and AGS failed to translate lessons into policy. The enduring tendency toward gekokujo, the dominance of local and mid-level officers over central authority, remained persistent, and Tokyo did not fully purge it after Nomonhan. The Kwantung Army's operatives who helped drive the Nomonhan episode resurfaced in key posts at Imperial General Headquarters, contributing to Japan's 1941 decision to go to war. The defeat of the Kwantung Army at Nomonhan, together with the Stalin–Hitler pact and the outbreak of war in Europe, triggered a reorientation of Japanese strategy and foreign policy. The new government, led by the politically inexperienced and cautious General Abe Nobuyuki, pursued a conservative foreign policy. Chiang Kai-shek's retreat to Chongqing left the Chinese war at a stalemate: the Japanese Expeditionary Army could still inflict defeats on Chinese nationalist forces, but it had no viable path to a decisive victory. China remained Japan's principal focus. Still, the option of cutting Soviet aid to China and of moving north into Outer Mongolia and Siberia was discredited in Tokyo by the August 1939 double defeat. Northward expansion never again regained its ascendancy, though it briefly resurfaced in mid-1941 after Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. Germany's alliance with the USSR during Nomonhan was viewed by Tokyo as a betrayal, cooling German–Japanese relations. Japan also stepped back from its confrontation with Britain over Tientsin. Tokyo recognized that the European war represented a momentous development that could reshape East Asia, as World War I had reshaped it before. The short-lived Abe government (September–December 1939) and its successor under Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa (December 1939–July 1940) adopted a cautious wait-and-see attitude toward the European war. That stance shifted in the summer of 1940, however, after Germany's successes in the West. With Germany's conquest of France and the Low Countries and Britain's fight for survival, Tokyo reassessed the global balance of power. Less than a year after Zhukov had effectively blocked further Japanese expansion northward, Hitler's victories seemed to open a southern expansion path. The prospect of seizing the resource-rich colonies in Southeast Asia, Dutch, French, and British and, more importantly, resolving the China problem in Japan's favor, tempted many in Tokyo. If Western aid to Chiang Kai-shek, channeled through Hong Kong, French Indochina, and Burma could be cut off, some in Tokyo believed Chiang might abandon resistance. If not, Japan could launch new operations against Chiang from Indochina and Burma, effectively turning China's southern flank. To facilitate a southward advance, Japan sought closer alignment with Germany and the USSR. Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka brought Japan into the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, in the hope of neutralizing the United States, and concluded a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union to secure calm in the north. Because of the European military situation, only the United States could check Japan's southward expansion. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared determined to do so and confident that he could. If the Manchurian incident and the Stimson Doctrine strained U.S.–Japanese relations, and the China War and U.S. aid to Chiang Kai-shek deepened mutual resentment, it was Japan's decision to press south against French, British, and Dutch colonies, and Roosevelt's resolve to prevent such a move, that put the two nations on a collision course. The dust had barely settled on the Mongolian plains following the Nomonhan ceasefire when the ripples of that distant conflict began to reshape the broader theater of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The defeat at Nomonhan in August 1939, coupled with the shocking revelation of the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, delivered a profound strategic blow to Japan's imperial ambitions. No longer could Tokyo entertain serious notions of a "northern advance" into Soviet territory, a strategy that had long tantalized military planners as a means to secure resources and buffer against communism. Instead, the Kwantung Army's humiliation exposed glaring deficiencies in Japanese mechanized warfare, logistics, and intelligence, forcing a pivot southward. This reorientation not only cooled tensions with the Soviet Union but also allowed Japan to redirect its military focus toward the protracted stalemate in China. As we transition from the border clashes of the north to the heartland tensions in central China, it's essential to trace how these events propelled Japan toward the brink of a major offensive in Hunan Province, setting the stage for what would become a critical confrontation. In the immediate aftermath of Nomonhan, Japan's military high command grappled with the implications of their setback. The Kwantung Army, once a symbol of unchecked aggression, was compelled to adopt a defensive posture along the Manchurian-Soviet border. The ceasefire agreement, formalized on September 15-16, 1939, effectively neutralized the northern front, freeing up significant resources and manpower that had been tied down in the escalating border skirmishes. This was no small relief; the Nomonhan campaign had drained Japanese forces, with estimates of over 18,000 casualties and the near-total annihilation of the 23rd Division. The psychological impact was equally severe, shattering the myth of Japanese invincibility against a modern, mechanized opponent. Georgy Zhukov's masterful use of combined arms—tanks, artillery, and air power—highlighted Japan's vulnerabilities, prompting internal reviews that urged reforms in tank production, artillery doctrine, and supply chains. Yet, these lessons were slow to implement, and in the short term, the primary benefit was the opportunity to consolidate efforts elsewhere. For Japan, "elsewhere" meant China, where the war had devolved into a grinding attrition since the fall of Wuhan in October 1938. The capture of Wuhan, a major transportation hub and temporary capital of the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek, had been hailed as a turning point. Japanese forces, under the command of General Shunroku Hata, had pushed deep into central China, aiming to decapitate Chinese resistance. However, Chiang's strategic retreat to Chongqing transformed the conflict into a war of endurance. Nationalist forces, bolstered by guerrilla tactics and international aid, harassed Japanese supply lines and prevented a decisive knockout blow. By mid-1939, Japan controlled vast swaths of eastern and northern China, including key cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, but the cost was immense: stretched logistics, mounting casualties, and an inability to fully pacify occupied territories. The Nomonhan defeat exacerbated these issues by underscoring the limits of Japan's military overextension. With the northern threat abated, Tokyo's Army General Staff saw an opening to intensify operations in China, hoping to force Chiang to the negotiating table before global events further complicated the picture. The diplomatic fallout from Nomonhan and the Hitler-Stalin Pact further influenced this shift. Japan's betrayal by Germany, its nominal ally under the Anti-Comintern Pact—fostered distrust and isolation. Tokyo's flirtations with a full Axis alliance stalled, as the pact with Moscow revealed Hitler's willingness to prioritize European gains over Asian solidarity. This isolation prompted Japan to reassess its priorities, emphasizing self-reliance in China while eyeing opportunistic expansions elsewhere. Domestically, the Hiranuma cabinet collapsed in August 1939 amid the diplomatic shock, paving the way for the more cautious Abe Nobuyuki government. Abe's administration, though short-lived, signaled a temporary de-escalation in aggressive posturing, but the underlying imperative to resolve the "China Incident" persisted. Japanese strategists believed that capturing additional strategic points in central China could sever Chiang's lifelines, particularly the routes funneling aid from the Soviet Union and the West via Burma and Indochina. The seismic shifts triggered by Nomonhan compelled Japan to fundamentally readjust its China policy and war plans, marking a pivotal transition from overambitious northern dreams to a more focused, albeit desperate, campaign in the south. With the Kwantung Army's defeat fresh in mind, Tokyo's Imperial General Headquarters initiated a comprehensive strategic review in late August 1939. The once-dominant "Northern Advance" doctrine, which envisioned rapid conquests into Siberia for resources like oil and minerals, was officially shelved. In its place emerged a "Southern Advance" framework, prioritizing the consolidation of gains in China and potential expansions into Southeast Asia. This pivot was not merely tactical; it reflected a profound policy recalibration aimed at ending the quagmire in China, where two years of war had yielded territorial control but no decisive victory over Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists. Central to this readjustment was a renewed emphasis on economic and military self-sufficiency. The Nomonhan debacle had exposed Japan's vulnerabilities in mechanized warfare, leading to urgent reforms in industrial production. Tank manufacturing was ramped up, with designs influenced by observed Soviet models, and artillery stockpiles were bolstered to match the firepower discrepancies seen on the Mongolian steppes. Logistically, the Army General Staff prioritized streamlining supply lines in China, recognizing that prolonged engagements demanded better resource allocation. Politically, the Abe Nobuyuki cabinet, installed in September 1939, adopted a "wait-and-see" approach toward Europe but aggressively pursued diplomatic maneuvers to isolate China. Efforts to negotiate with Wang Jingwei's puppet regime in Nanjing intensified, aiming to undermine Chiang's legitimacy and splinter Chinese resistance. Japan also pressured Vichy France for concessions in Indochina, seeking to choke off aid routes to Chongqing. War plans evolved accordingly, shifting from broad-front offensives to targeted strikes designed to disrupt Chinese command and supply networks. The China Expeditionary Army, under General Yasuji Okamura, was restructured to emphasize mobility and combined arms operations, drawing partial lessons from Zhukov's tactics. Intelligence operations were enhanced, with greater focus on infiltrating Nationalist strongholds in central provinces. By early September, plans coalesced around a major push into Hunan Province, a vital crossroads linking northern and southern China. Hunan's river systems and rail lines made it a linchpin for Chinese logistics, funneling men and materiel to the front lines. Japanese strategists identified key urban centers in the region as critical objectives, believing their capture could sever Chiang's western supply corridors and force a strategic retreat. This readjustment was not without internal friction. Hardliners in the military lamented the abandonment of northern ambitions, but the reality of Soviet strength—and the neutrality pacts that followed—left little room for debate. Economically, Japan ramped up exploitation of occupied Chinese territories, extracting coal, iron, and rice to fuel the war machine. Diplomatically, Tokyo sought to mend fences with the Soviets through the 1941 Neutrality Pact, ensuring northern security while eyes turned south. Yet, these changes brewed tension with the United States, whose embargoes on scrap metal and oil threatened to cripple Japan's ambitions. As autumn approached, the stage was set for a bold gambit in central China. Japanese divisions massed along the Yangtze River, poised to strike at the heart of Hunan's defenses. Intelligence reports hinted at Chinese preparations, with Xue Yue's forces fortifying positions around a major provincial hub. The air thickened with anticipation of a clash that could tip the balance in the interminable war—a test of Japan's revamped strategies against a resilient foe determined to hold the line. What unfolded would reveal whether Tokyo's post-Nomonhan pivot could deliver the breakthrough so desperately needed, or if it would merely prolong the bloody stalemate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In 1939, the Nomonhan Incident saw Soviet forces under Georgy Zhukov decisively defeat Japan's Kwantung Army at Khalkin Gol, exposing Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare. This setback, coupled with the Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact, shattered Japan's northern expansion plans and prompted a strategic pivot southward. Diplomatic maneuvers involving Stalin, Hitler, Britain, France, and Japan reshaped alliances, leading to the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact in 1941. Japan refocused on China, intensifying operations in Hunan Province to isolate Chiang Kai-shek.   

In the final hour, Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes reacted to the latest Bears and NFL news as the legal tampering period has opened. After that, they discussed how Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki is having a terrific performance in the World Baseball Classic and how he's beloved in his native Japan.

Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes discussed how Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki is having a terrific performance in the World Baseball Classic and how he's beloved in his native Japan.

So far in the 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic, the teams that we have come to expect positive results from are holding up their end of the bargain. With Team USA, Japan and the Dominican Republic all proving to be who we thought they were, pool play has seemed like just a tune-up for these powerhouses. On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down all the action from the WBC this past weekend, which saw the United States handle Great Britain and Brazil with the help of the superstar friendship duo of team captain Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper. While the USA squad might not look like they're having as much fun as other teams on the field, their businesslike approach appears to keep them in the mindset of winning gold or bust for this tournament. Later, Jake and Jordan recap the other pool play from the tourney, which includes Masataka Yoshida returning to the form for Team Japan that made him such a coveted bat by the Boston Red Sox when he first came to the States. They then get into the incredible first-ever walk-off wins in the tournament that saw an emotional Puerto Rico crowd celebrate their home victory against Panama. 1:29 - The Opener: Team USA's impressive weekend 17:57 - The importance of the WBC 27:14 - Judge & Harper friendship 35:25 - Korea advances in thriller 45:26 - Japan in cruise control 50:11 - Turbo Mode: All the action from the tourney Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

Jason explores a powerful leadership insight he encountered during a trip to Japan: a problem is actually a problem. While many leaders like to frame problems as "opportunities," Jason explains why this mindset can sometimes dilute the urgency needed to solve real issues on construction projects. He shares how both perspectives can be valuable but only when applied correctly. Problems can indeed become opportunities for improvement, but only if teams identify, discuss, and solve them before they impact the work. If problems are ignored, hidden, or delayed, they quickly become serious risks that affect schedules, trade partners, and the wellbeing of workers. What you'll learn in this episode: Why calling every problem an "opportunity" can sometimes reduce urgency. The difference between productive problem-solving and ignoring real issues. How great project teams surface and solve problems early. Why hidden problems create major risks for schedules and trade partners. The importance of building a culture that welcomes problem identification. The Toyota mindset: problems aren't bad failing to see them is. Leadership isn't about avoiding problems. It's about creating systems where problems are quickly exposed and solved. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode.  And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two

The crew discusses the electric atmosphere at the World Baseball Classic, where packed crowds and passionate fans have made the event feel like October baseball. That leads to a debate about the tournament's mercy rule and whether something like that belongs in professional sports. They also break down the tournament favorites—Japan, USA, and Dominican Republic—as the competition heats up in the next rounds. The conversation then shifts to the Miami Marlins and the challenge of building a fanbase in Miami, sparking a larger discussion about parity in Major League Baseball and how spending big—similar to NIL in college sports—has become essential for teams that want to win.

NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 14:00 (JST), March 09

NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 23:00 (JST), March 09

NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 03:00 (JST), March 10

In this episode, our hosts, Evan, Lexie and Paul briefly discuss the outcome from the first ever PRO fit model show in Japan. They also address some "hate" comments pertaining to fit model on recent posts. Is this division a "joke?" Is this division "bad for the sport of bodybuilding?" See what our hosts have to say about some of these rather controversial comments circulating the internet right now. 

In this episode of the Urban Valor Podcast, we sit down with a World War II Army veteran who survived one of the deadliest moments of the European campaign...the Rhine River crossing! And later walked through a liberated Nazi death camp! At just 19 years old, Paul A. Groves was drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned as an infantry messenger with E Company, 89th Infantry Division under General Patton. In January 1945, he landed in France before pushing toward the Rhine River — one of the final and most dangerous barriers into Nazi Germany.At 2:00 AM, his unit loaded into boats under darkness.Halfway across, German machine guns opened fire.His company commander was killed.His first sergeant was killed.Then the boat exploded.Thrown into the freezing river under direct fire, Paul became the only Soldier from his boat to survive.As American forces advanced into Germany, he helped liberate a Nazi concentration camp — describing the smell of death before they ever saw it.After surviving the Rhine and witnessing the camps, Paul was told he would likely be sent to invade Japan. Then the atomic bomb was dropped.Now over 100 years old, he reflects on combat, fear, survival, and what General Patton meant when he said a Soldier must learn to hate the enemy.This is a firsthand WWII testimony from one of the last living soldiers of that generation.

Send a textTank Abbott's WCW years in Part 2 of our exclusive interview on theMMA History Podcast. From negotiating with Eric Bischoff over Vince McMahon, training at the Power Plant under legends like Paul Orndorff and Dusty Rhodes, to wild angles like the jacket-on-a-pole brawl with Big Al (yes, that knife moment at SuperBrawl 2000), Tank spills the unfiltered truth on backstage politics, his near-title run, and clashes with icons like Goldberg and Sid Vicious.Fact: Tank debuted in WCW on December 13, 1999, as a legit UFC heavyweight (with wins over Yoji Anjo and Hugo Duarte) brought in to feud with Goldberg, but navigated a rollercoaster of mutinies and mishaps until his 2000 release.0:00 MMA history podcast intro  0:32 Joey Venti's guest introduction 0:48 interview start 2:14 Tank Abbott vs Yoji Anjo 7:12 Tank Abbott being a large draw in UFC 11:50 experience fighting in Japan 15:09 Tank Abbott vs Hugo Duarte 21:39 dedicating fight to Frank Sinatra 22:45 never called out by Rickson Gracie25:11 Tank Abbott vs Pedro Rizzo27:12 incident with Pat Smith 29:28 relationship with Jeff Blatnick30:51 thoughts on Joe Rogan 36:12 rumored fight with Butterbean 37:27 issues before Frank Mir fight 41:18 where the term “Mixed martial arts” came from 46:32 Eddie Ruiz update 48:25 conversations with WCW 59:05 training at the WCW power plant 1:01:27 locker room attitude towards wrestlers 1:05:10 introduction during WCW taping 1:08:19 pushback from the WCW locker room 1:10:36 cutting a Promo on Bill Goldberg 1:12:18 plugs/ promotions 1:14:02 grabbing owner of Chicago Black Hawks 1:15:22 issues with Bob Probert 1:16:20 issues with Terry Taylor 1:19:40 advice from Sid Vicious 1:23:05 false rumors of winning WCW Title 1:28:43 Doug Dillinger 1:29:05 Jerry Flynn 1:29:33 Mark Madden 1:29:52 Chris Cruz 1:31:28 false rumored match with Mark Coleman 1:32:20 pulling out knife during match with Big Al  1:43:40 questioned before match by the locker room 1:46:11 losing wresting match to David Arquette 1:47:38 Tank Abbott vs Goldberg 1:51:32 introduced to the ICP 1:53:36 staying in shape during WCW 1:55:31 being a fan of 3 Count 1:58:44 drinking with the ICP1:59:56 released from WCW 2:02:20 dealings with Bob Sapp 2:03:26 interview wrap up 2:11:39 outro/closing thoughtsPlease follow our channels on Follow the MMA History Team on Instagram: MMA Detective Mike Davis @mikedavis632 Co Host Joey Venti @aj_ventitreRecords Keeper-  Andrew Mendoza @ambidexstressSocial Media Manager Andy Campbell  @martial_mindset_Thumbnails Julio Macedo  @juliosemacentoInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-powerMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: Cutthroatmma@gmail.com / ph#: 773-491-5052 #MMA #UFC #NHB #MixedMartialArts #MMADetective #MikeDavis #MMAHistory #OldSchoolMMA #MMAPodcast #fightpodcast Thank You for your supportSupport the show

Matt and Eric head to Japan for the fifth JAMES BOND flick, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE - which would be Sean Connery's final Bond...until money lures him back a few years later. It's Bond vs. Blofeld in a battle to the save the world from nuking out! 

The World Baseball Classic is off to a riveting start, with Japan, the D.R. and the U.S. asserting their dominance. Elsewhere, Cuba (2-0) is trying to reclaim its premier standing and don't look past the fun-loving, espresso-chugging Italy squad. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first quarter of 2026 still has three weeks to go, but the assumptions and friend group of the People's Republic of China has changed dramatically.Recent changes in the assumptions concerning Venezuela, Iran, Japan, and other nations will impact the national security concerns of the West's greatest challenger on the world stage.Returning to the Midrats Podcast today from 5-6 PM Eastern to discuss will be Dean Cheng.Dean is a Non-resident Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and Non-resident Fellow, George Washington University Space Policy Institute.He recently retired after 14 years with the Heritage Foundation, where he was a senior research fellow on Chinese political and security affairs, and wrote on various aspects of Chinese foreign and defense policy.Prior to joining the Heritage Foundation, he was a senior analyst with the China Studies Division (previously, Project Asia) at CNA from 2001-2009. Before joining CNA, he was a senior analyst with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) from 1996-2001. From 1993-1995, he was an analyst with the US Congress' Office of Technology Assessment in the International Security and Space Division, where he studied the Chinese defense industrial complex.He is the author of the book Cyber Dragon: Inside China's Information Warfare and Cyber Operations (NY: Praeger Publishing, 2016), as well as a number of papers and book chapters examining various aspects of Chinese security affairs.Show LinksDean Cheng's article on Chinese military purgesAn Army at Dawn, by Rick AtkinsonChina's HQ‑9B Defense System Under ScrutinySummaryIn this episode, Dean Cheng discusses China's strategic posture, military reforms, cyber capabilities, and the implications of recent global events on China's long-term plans. We explore China's economic outlook, military modernization, regional influence, and the impact of purges within the PLA.Chapters00:00: Introduction and Context of Global Tensions03:01: China's Strategic Position and Five-Year Plan07:07: Defense Spending and Global Security Concerns10:05: China's Vulnerabilities and Energy Security11:44: Military Purges and Leadership Control18:22: Military Readiness and Combat Experience23:27: Testing Chinese Military Equipment in Conflicts28:45: Global Arms Market and Strategic Alliances30:24: Military Culture and Learning from Underperformance32:57: Training and Realistic Combat Experience35:40: Cyber Warfare and Electronic Warfare Concerns38:05: Regional Conflicts and China's Diplomatic Stance40:46: China's Image and Political Warfare44:48: Shifts in Global Alliances and Economic Influence47:34: The Importance of Economic Engagement50:25: China's Diplomatic Approach to Neighbors54:16: Cyber Threats and Infrastructure Vulnerabilities

Join us to hear from renowned historian Frank Dikötter, who offers a commanding history recasting how communists seized power in China. In April 1927, soldiers and detectives descended upon the Russian Embassy in Beijing, revolvers drawn. An hour later, they emerged with a trove of documents, some of them partly damaged by Russians who had tried quickly to destroy them. In these singed and soggy papers was proof that Moscow, despite agreeing three years earlier not to “propagate communistic doctrines,” had, in fact, sent what amounts to millions in today's dollars—along with shiploads of arms and advisors—to support nothing less than a revolution in China.  These findings are hardly ever mentioned by historians—until now. Dikötter says the history of modern China has long been framed as an organic enterprise, wherein Communists mobilized the “peasants,” took land from the rich and redistributed it to the poor. Drawing on the Beijing raid as well as several other overlooked archives, Dikötter's new book Red Dawn Over China reveals how unlikely a communist victory actually was, had it not been for massive financial and military support from the Soviet Union; a brutal war of occupation by Japan; severe miscalculations by the United States; and—most of all—the Communist Party's unflinching will to conquer at all costs. Dikötter reveals how what began in 1921 with 13 delegates in a dusty room led to a red flag being raised over the Forbidden City in 1949, forever altering the course of history for a quarter of humanity and shaping the global balance of power as we know it today.  About the Speaker: Frank Dikötter is the Milias Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also Chair Professor of Humanities at the University of Hong Kong. His books have changed the way historians view China, from the classic The Discourse of Race in Modern China to his award-winning People's Trilogy, a series of books that document the lives of ordinary people under Mao: Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe; The Tragedy of Liberation: A History of the Chinese Revolution, 1945-1957; and The Cultural Revolution: A People's History, 1962-1976. An Asia-Pacific Affairs Member-led Forum program. Forums and chapters at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Organizer: Lillian K NakagawaNotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tenacious Thoughts Podcast | Sheila WoodwardIn this episode of the Tenacious Thoughts Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Sheila Woodward — best-selling author, entrepreneur, and one of the powerhouse women helping lead one of the most influential women's movements today.Sheila's story is the definition of tenacity.She went from a small-town upbringing to traveling the world, building businesses, designing fashion featured on runways in Japan, and ultimately becoming a multimillionaire entrepreneur creating impact for women across the country.Today, Sheila works closely with Stormy Wellington, serving as her booking agent and helping lead the growth of the Awakening Event, which has generated over $10 million in ticket sales and continues to transform the lives of thousands of women.She also plays a major role in the powerful community Girl, Hold My Hand, where women come together to connect, grow, and support each other through entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development.But what makes Sheila's story truly powerful is her honesty about the road it took to get there.In her best-selling book Married But Single: Confessions of a Military Wife, Sheila opens up about the raw and real side of her journey — navigating marriage, independence, identity, and the complicated realities of relationships while building a life of her own.This conversation dives into:• Reinvention• Resilience• Courage• Entrepreneurship• Building a life bigger than the one you were born intoIf you've ever felt called to break out of the box you came from and create something extraordinary, this episode is for you.

What should he be thinking about? What should he watch out for? Also - two more bonus calls on the topic of Japan real estate property investments - don't go away after the first call!

7. The Devastating Aftermath The firebombing results in 105,000 deaths, surpassing the destruction in Dresden and Hamburg. LeMay's success validates his tactical gamble, leading to the systematic burning of other Japanese cities throughout the summer. Scott notes that this conventional campaign had already crippled Japan before the atomic bomb. (16)1946 TOKYO

In these interview segments, James M. Scott discusses his book *Black Snow*, which chronicles the American air campaign against Japan during World War II. (9)In these interview segments, James M. Scott discusses his book *Black Snow*, which chronicles the American air campaign against Japan during World War II. (9)1923 TOKYO AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

2. The Failure of Precision BombingPrecision bombing fails due to Japan's notorious weather, violent jet streams, and B-29 mechanical issues. Scott details the challenges of 3,000-mile roundtrip missions and the growing debate over shifting from pinpoint targets to the firebombing of cities, a strategy already employed by the British in Europe. (11)1944 TOKYO

It's EV News Briefly for Saturday 07 March 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyVW SHOWS WORKERS NINTH-GEN GOLF PLANVolkswagen has given Wolfsburg workers a first look at the ninth-generation Golf, expected to carry the ID Golf name and built on VW Group's new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). From summer 2027, current combustion-engine Golf production shifts to Mexico, freeing Wolfsburg to retool for the ID Golf and an electric VW T-Roc successor.STELLANTIS CUTS ELECTRIC VAN PRICES TO DIESEL LEVELStellantis Pro One is running a European campaign until end of June that matches the purchase price of eight battery-electric vans to their diesel equivalents across compact and mid-size segments. The offer directly closes gaps such as the €7,150 difference between the Opel Combo Cargo Electric and its diesel counterpart, testing whether price parity alone will push fleets to commit.TESLA EYES 400-STALL SUPERCHARGER SITE IN YERMOTesla is planning a 400-stall V4 Supercharger station in Yermo, California on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, which would more than double the current record of 164 stalls. The site would be built in six phases as part of a wider retail hub called Eddie World 2, with Phase 1 delivering 72 stalls breaking ground in 2026.UBER BACKS POD HOME CHARGING SUBSCRIPTION FOR DRIVERSUber has partnered with Pod in the UK to offer drivers a home EV charger subscription for £25 per month over three years, with no upfront cost, a lifetime warranty, and potential cash rewards of up to £170 a year through smart charging. The offer arrives as Uber expands its Uber Electric category to eight new UK cities including Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds.BYD SURGES IN GERMANY AND UKBYD registrations surged 1,550% year-on-year in Germany in February to 3,053 vehicles, while also rising 83% in the UK to 2,154 units and tripling in Spain to 3,003 registrations. The gains come as BYD ramps up its first European plant in Hungary, built partly to sidestep EU tariffs on Chinese-imported EVs imposed in October 2024.NIO SHIFTS EUROPE TO DISTRIBUTORSNio is overhauling its European operations by switching from direct sales to a distributor-led model in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, while retaining direct sales only in Norway. The restructure, moving from a country-led to a function-led organisation, has already seen Nio Germany general manager David Sultzer step down.MILENCE OPENS 400 KW TRUCK CHARGING HUB IN GHENTMilence, backed by Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and Traton, has opened a 400 kW HGV charging hub at the Volvo Trucks plant in Ghent, its fourth Belgian site, positioned on the TEN-T North Sea–Mediterranean freight corridor. A second phase will add Megawatt Charging System infrastructure, targeting charge times of 30 to 45 minutes for large HGV batteries.UK ADDED TO EU PLANS FOR EV PRODUCTION LIMITSThe European Commission's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) will open EU manufacturing subsidies to up to 40 "trusted partner" nations including the UK and Japan, following lobbying by UK business secretary Peter Kyle after fears that Nissan's Sunderland plant could close under earlier exclusionary proposals. The IAA also targets lifting manufacturing's share of EU GDP from 14.3% to 20% by 2035, though US firms are expected to be excluded due to American public procurement restrictions.ETHIOPIA'S EV IMPORT SHARE JUMPS AFTER ICE BANAfter Ethiopia banned ICE vehicle imports in 2024 and cut EV import duties, EVs rose from under 1% to around 6% of all vehicle imports, surpassing the reported global average of roughly 4%. The government is driving electrification as energy sovereignty, aided by low electricity costs of around $0.10 per kWh and a tiered tariff structure that exempts domestically assembled EV kits from import tax entirely.ORBÁN'S BATTERY BET HITS A DOWNTURNHungary has attracted approximately €26 billion in foreign EV battery investment, mainly from South Korean and Chinese manufacturers, but battery output has fallen during a prolonged sector downturn weeks before the April 12 national election. The strategy faces additional political pressure after a news investigation into health and safety violations at Samsung SDI's factory undermined the narrative around foreign-capital-led industrialisation.QUEENSLAND PUSHES UNDER-16 BAN FOR E-MOBILITYA Queensland parliamentary inquiry has tabled 28 recommendations including a ban on under-16s riding e-bikes and personal mobility devices, prompted by 12 e-mobility deaths and over 6,300 emergency department presentations in the state last year. Key proposals also include requiring at least a learner car licence to ride, cutting footpath speed limits to 10 km/h, and reclassifying any device capable of exceeding 25 km/h as a motorcycle.