Podcasts about JIA

Every productivity guru will tell you the same thing: set realistic goals, or you're setting yourself up to fail. Jia Jiang did the opposite. He told the internet he'd sell 10,000 copies of his new book in 100 days, sold about 3,000, and is now going around calling it one of the best things he's ever done. He's not being delusional about it either. He'll tell you straight up that part of him wishes he'd hit the number. He just thinks failing loudly beats succeeding quietly, which might explain why only 9% of people who make a New Year's resolution actually stick to it. Most of us are setting goals to feel good for five minutes, not because we've figured out how to actually get there. In this episode, I sit down with Jia Jiang, the entrepreneur and speaker behind 100 Days of Rejection, a YouTube experiment that became a TED Talk with more than 10 million views. We talk about his new book, Easy Discipline, and how he turns huge, terrifying goals into something he can actually control day to day. If you have ever downgraded a goal so you wouldn't have to feel bad about missing it, Jia is about to make you rethink that entirely. Jia and I discuss: Why Jia deliberately sets goals so ambitious he is likely to miss them, and why a public near miss beats a comfortable target The one action goal: how to turn a big, uncontrollable ambition into a daily input you can fully control The inspiration index, the two numbers Jia tracks on every project, and why you need both the outcome and the input The Mover's Manual, and how changing his physical environment lets Jia get three to ten times more done in an afternoon Reverse AI: what happened when Jia started deliberately training himself the way AI models are trained The letter he wrote to Steven Bartlett after being turned down for Diary of a CEO, and why he published it anyway Key quotes "I'd rather fail my ambition publicly than letting it die inside privately." "When you are already rejected, you have nothing to lose. When you have nothing to lose, you have nothing to fear." Connect with Jia Jiang on Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and his website, read his newsletter on Substack, and check out his latest book Easy Discipline. If you enjoyed this episode, check out my chat with Google's Executive Productivity Advisor, Laura Mae Martin, on the practical strategies she uses to get more done in less time: https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/ruthless-prioritization-with-googles-executive-productivity-advisor-laura-mae-martin My latest book The Energy Game is out now. You can order a copy here: https://amzn.to/48ID29M Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha.substack.com/ Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au Credits: Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discipline gets a lot easier when you stop treating misery as proof that you're doing it right. AJ and Johnny sit down with author and rejection expert Jia Jiang to challenge the traditional idea that success requires endless willpower, grinding, and suffering. Jia explains his approach to “easy discipline”—reducing friction, making difficult work more enjoyable, and building routines around the things that naturally give you energy. You'll learn how to break the procrastination loop, use “repetition with variation” to avoid burnout, build momentum that makes consistency easier, and rethink failure and rejection as opportunities for creativity. Jia also shares lessons from his 100 Days of Rejection experiment and why lasting success starts with finding what moves you instead of blindly following someone else's blueprint. Episode Resources: https://www.jiajiang.com https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Discipline-Unconventional-Achieve-Ambitious/dp/1668093588 Chapters 00:00 – Why discipline doesn't have to feel hard06:15 – Make difficult goals easier and more enjoyable13:05 – What procrastination is trying to tell you19:15 – Removing friction from habits that don't stick25:30 – Repetition with variation beats boring repetition32:25 – The routine that helped Jia learn English36:35 – How to build a momentum loop42:00 – Finding value when your work isn't fun45:40 – Turning rejection and failure into opportunity49:10 – Stop following the script and find what moves you A Word From Our Sponsors Get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers by using promo code CHARM at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Shopify is where you go to start your business, and everything you need to sell is already there from day one. Start your free trial by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SHOPIFY.COM/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with top talent ready to help your business grow by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UPWORK.COM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Keywords discipline, procrastination, easy discipline, habits, motivation, consistency, rejection, fear of rejection, fear of failure, personal growth, self discipline, behavior change, momentum, willpower, productivity, goal setting, creativity, routines, mindset, confidence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know that feeling when you should ask for the raise, have the hard money conversation with your partner, or push back on a bad deal… and you just don't?  On today's episode, Jean Chatzky sits down with Jia Jiang, the guy behind the viral "100 Days of Rejection" experiment, and author of the new book, Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things.  Jia argues that lasting discipline comes from making hard things feel genuinely enjoyable, a lesson he learned firsthand while navigating undiagnosed ADHD. In this episode, Jean and Jia cover: Whether rejection therapy is actually a healthy way to build resilience What it means to love the process instead of just chasing the result The four principles of Easy Discipline — Enjoyment, Artistry, Systems, and Yourself — and how to apply them to your financial life Jean's new book, The Forever Paycheck, is now available for pre-order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along the way, they talk about the comfort of pets, the importance of finding friends who truly understand, why kids with invisible illnesses deserve to be believed, and the hope they've found through the Arthritis Foundation community. Whether you're raising a child with JIA, living with arthritis yourself, or simply want to better understand what these young patients experience, this conversation is a powerful reminder that no one has to face arthritis alone.  Episode at a glance: 00:00 Welcome and JIA Basics 01:05 Meet the Kids 02:38 Diagnosis Stories 06:49 Treatments and Trial Error 11:05 School Friends and Uveitis 15:41 Coping on Hard Days 20:26 Advice for Newly Diagnosed 23:33 What Adults Should Know 26:42 Final Thoughts and Foundation 29:51 Rapid Fire Favorite Books 33:41 Wrap Up and Goodbye Medical disclaimer:  All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Episode Sponsors Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your intuition isn't something you need to learn... but something you need to remember how to trust?In this episode of Ripples by Jia, we're talking about how to actually activate your intuition  not psychic abilities, not complicated spiritual practices, but your inner compass, inner voice, gut feeling, and connection to your heart.I see this constantly with my clients: people are incredibly intuitive, but they struggle to recognize their intuition in the moment. They question themselves, overthink, ask everyone else for advice, and only realize later..."I knew it."So how do you start catching your intuition in real time?The answer may be much simpler than you think.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why stillness and silence are essential for hearing your intuition✨ How to distinguish your intuition from the ego and "monkey mind"✨ Why your relationship with God / Source can deepen your inner guidance✨ What our mothers, grandmothers, and ancestors can teach us about intuition✨ How anxiety and overthinking can drown out your inner compass✨ How to rebuild trust in yourself✨ A simple practice for collecting evidence that your intuition is right✨ Why the answer ultimately has to come from withinYou don't need another person to tell you what you already know.You have a built-in guidance system.Your heart is your compass.The more you create space to listen, the more clearly you'll recognize the voice that's been there all along.And remember:We came here to thrive, not just to survive.If this episode resonates with you, leave me a comment and tell me:When do YOU feel most connected to your intuition?Like/ follow/ comment. Your feedback means the world to me. In gratitude and love,Jia  Gratitude Coffee- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/connectwithjiaWebsite-https://www.ripplesbyjia.com/Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ripplesbyjia/Youtube- www.youtube.com/@RipplesbyJia Substack:https://substack.com/@ripplesbyjia

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: United by Tradition: The Friendship That Weathered the Storm Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-08-09-22-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在夏日微风中，阳光洒在葱翠的稻田上，稻穗随着风儿轻轻摇曳。En: In the summer breeze, the sunlight scattered across the lush green rice fields, with daosui gently swaying with the wind.Zh: 魏站在稻田边，望着这片祖辈传下来的土地。En: Wei stood at the edge of the fields, looking at this land passed down from his ancestors.Zh: 他叹了一口气，心头却满是担忧。En: He sighed, filled with worry.Zh: 今年的雨水格外多，稻田的堤坝岌岌可危。En: This year's rain was especially abundant, and the rice field's embankment was in a precarious state.Zh: 离七夕节还有几天，村里的每户人家都在忙于准备，节庆的气氛愈加浓厚。En: There were a few days left until the Qixijie, and every household in the village was busy preparing, with the festive atmosphere growing stronger.Zh: 但魏的心思却全放在了稻田上。En: However, Wei was entirely focused on the rice fields.Zh: 他需要确保稻谷能安全渡过这场风雨，因此决定叫上他的两个好友——贾和田，帮助加固堤坝，保护他的稻谷。En: He needed to ensure the rice could safely weather the storm, so he decided to call on his two friends—Jia and Tian, to help reinforce the embankment and protect his crops.Zh: "贾，田，你们能帮忙吗？" 魏问道，希望自己的请求能得到老友的支持。En: "Jia, Tian, can you help?" Wei asked, hoping his request would be supported by his old friends.Zh: "当然，我们都明白这块地对你的重要性。" 贾点头答应。En: "Of course, we all understand how important this land is to you," Jia nodded in agreement.Zh: 田也在一旁笑了说："是啊，而且我们还可以一边干活一边谈谈节日准备。"En: Tian also smiled and said, "Yes, and we can talk about festival preparations as we work."Zh: 于是，他们一同在稻田边忙碌起来，加固土堤，确保水不侵入田中。En: So, they busily worked on reinforcing the earth embankments, ensuring the water did not invade the fields.Zh: 夕阳渐渐西下，汗水浸湿了每个人的背，他们脸上却挂着振奋的微笑。En: As the sun gradually set in the west, sweat soaked each of their backs, but there was a vibrant smile on their faces.Zh: 到了七夕节当晚，一家人和朋友都聚在小空地上，彩灯在夜色中闪烁。En: By the evening of the Qixijie, family and friends gathered in a small open space, with colorful lights twinkling in the night.Zh: 空气中弥漫着稻田的气息和晚餐的香味，孩子们欢快地玩耍，围绕在大人身边。En: The air was filled with the scent of the rice fields and the aroma of dinner, while children played joyfully around the adults.Zh: 魏终于舒了一口气，心想着一切都如愿以偿。En: Wei finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking everything had gone as planned.Zh: 然而，就在这时，天边突然乌云密布，雷声滚滚而来。En: However, just then, dark clouds suddenly gathered at the horizon, with thunder rumbling.Zh: "我们必须快速行动！" 魏对贾和田喊道。En: "We must act quickly!" Wei shouted to Jia and Tian.Zh: 三人反应迅速，抓起工具飞奔至田边，在雨势最猛处筑起一座临时堤坝。En: The three responded swiftly, grabbing their tools and rushing to the field's edge, building a temporary embankment at the fiercest point of the rainstorm.Zh: 雨水如注，但他们三人齐心协力，始终没有让水漫过堤坝。En: The rain poured heavily, but the three worked in unison, never allowing the water to spill over the embankment.Zh: 终于，雨逐渐小下来了，乌云一丝丝散开，露出月光。En: Finally, the rain gradually subsided, and the clouds slowly parted, revealing the moonlight.Zh: 节日庆祝恢复如常，大家围着饭桌享用丰盛的晚餐。En: The festival celebrations resumed as usual, with everyone gathered around the table enjoying a sumptuous dinner.Zh: 天上挂着一弯残月，静静地望着地面上的欢乐场景。En: A crescent moon hung in the sky, quietly observing the joyful scene below.Zh: 魏看着周围这些关心他的人，心中感受到温暖。En: Wei looked at the people caring about him and felt warmth in his heart.Zh: 他明白，无论面临何种困境，都是这份友谊和传统让生活更加美好。En: He realized that no matter what hardships he faced, it was this friendship and tradition that made life more beautiful.Zh: 今年，魏不仅收获了稻子，也收获了一份珍贵的友情。En: This year, Wei not only harvested rice but also gained a precious friendship.Zh: 这份幽静的夜色中，他和家人朋友共度了一次难忘的七夕。En: In this tranquil night, he and his family and friends shared an unforgettable Qixi.Zh: 故事的结尾，魏微笑着，望向远方，心想：只要团结一心，所有风雨都能加以化解。En: At the story's end, Wei smiled as he looked into the distance, thinking: As long as we stand united, any storm can be overcome. Vocabulary Words:breeze: 微风sunlight: 阳光scattered: 洒lush: 葱翠swaying: 摇曳ancestors: 祖辈worry: 担忧abundant: 格外多embankment: 堤坝precarious: 岌岌可危festival: 节庆reinforce: 加固swiftly: 迅速soaked: 浸湿vibrant: 振奋twinkling: 闪烁aroma: 香味joyfully: 欢快地rumbling: 滚滚swiftly: 飞奔unison: 齐心协力subsided: 小下来sumptuous: 丰盛crescent: 弯hardships: 困境warmth: 温暖tradition: 传统precious: 珍贵的tranquil: 幽静end: 结尾

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: A Gift from the Heart: Ming's Qixi Festival Surprise Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-08-08-22-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个炎热的夏天，阳光洒在繁华的城市市场上。En: On a hot summer day, the sunlight spilled over the bustling city market.Zh: 明穿过热闹的人群，心里有些紧张。En: Ming moved through the lively crowd, feeling a bit nervous.Zh: 今天是七夕节，一个表达爱意的重要日子。En: Today was Qixi Festival, an important day for expressing affection.Zh: 他希望能找到一件特别的礼物，送给他心仪的朋友佳。En: He hoped to find a special gift for the friend he admired, Jia.Zh: 市场喧闹而忙碌。En: The market was noisy and busy.Zh: 各种小摊位上，五彩缤纷的饰品，精美的小玩意，琳琅满目。En: Various stalls displayed a dazzling array of colorful accessories and exquisite trinkets.Zh: 空气中弥漫着美味的街头小吃香味，还有小贩们的叫卖声和顾客们的讨价还价声。En: The air was filled with the aroma of delicious street food, along with the calls of vendors and the sounds of customers haggling.Zh: 明时不时被人群推来推去，稍显迷失。En: Ming was occasionally jostled by the crowd, feeling somewhat lost.Zh: 明的朋友李曾说过，佳喜欢那些有故事的小东西。En: Ming's friend Li once mentioned that Jia liked items with stories.Zh: 但市场里东西太多，明不知道怎么挑选。En: But there were so many things in the market that Ming didn't know how to choose.Zh: 他走到一个卖手工艺品的摊位前，摊主向他推荐了几款项链和手链。En: He approached a stall selling handicrafts, and the vendor recommended several necklaces and bracelets.Zh: 它们都很漂亮，但明觉得不够特别。En: They were all beautiful, but Ming felt they weren't special enough.Zh: 他犹豫地走开，心中的不安愈发地强烈。En: Hesitantly, he walked away, with his anxiety growing stronger.Zh: 正当他准备放弃时，他无意间瞥见一个小摊位。En: Just as he was about to give up, he unintentionally caught sight of a small stall.Zh: 摊位上摆着一个精巧的手工雕刻品，是一只栩栩如生的小猫。En: On the stall was a delicate handcrafted sculpture of a lifelike little cat.Zh: 而这只小猫正让明想起了当初和佳一起在公园喂养流浪猫的美好时光。En: This cat reminded Ming of the wonderful times he and Jia had when they used to feed stray cats in the park.Zh: 看到这只小猫，他的心突然明亮起来。En: Seeing this little cat, his heart suddenly brightened.Zh: 明小心翼翼地买下这个小雕刻，怀着忐忑不安的心情，他去找佳。En: Ming carefully bought the small sculpture, feeling both nervous and hopeful, he went to find Jia.Zh: 在一个安静的街角，他将手中的小猫递给她，说：“佳，这是送给你的。En: On a quiet street corner, he handed the little cat to her and said, "Jia, this is for you.Zh: 它让我想起了我们的回忆。En: It reminds me of our memories.Zh: 我一直想让你知道，我喜欢你，很久了。En: I've always wanted you to know, I like you, and have for a long time."Zh: ”佳愣了一下，然后露出灿烂的微笑。En: Jia was taken aback for a moment, then broke into a radiant smile.Zh: 她接过小猫，说：“谢谢你，明。En: She accepted the little cat and said, "Thank you, Ming.Zh: 我也喜欢你。En: I like you too."Zh: ”她的回答如同夏日微风，抚平了明心里的所有不安。En: Her response was like a gentle summer breeze, calming all of Ming's anxieties.Zh: 从那天起，明不再是那个含蓄的自己。En: From that day on, Ming was no longer his reserved self.Zh: 他变得自信，对自己的感情不再遮遮掩掩。En: He became confident and no longer concealed his feelings.Zh: 在这座城市的喧闹之中，明和佳一起走过市场，他们的笑声在街道上久久回荡。En: In the midst of the city's hustle and bustle, Ming and Jia walked through the market together, their laughter echoing down the streets for a long time. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 繁华affection: 爱意dazzling: 五彩缤纷exquisite: 精美trinkets: 小玩意aroma: 香味vendors: 小贩haggling: 讨价还价jostled: 推来推去handicrafts: 手工艺品stall: 摊位hesitantly: 犹豫地anxiety: 不安unintentionally: 无意间sculpture: 雕刻品lifelike: 栩栩如生stray: 流浪brightened: 明亮radiant: 灿烂的reserved: 含蓄concealed: 遮遮掩掩hustle: 喧闹admired: 心仪memories: 回忆gentle: 微风calming: 抚平echoing: 回荡confident: 自信expression: 表达delicate: 精巧

Walk through a crowded airport or packed stadium and something remarkable happens. Thousands of people weave around each other without collisions, almost as if everyone is reading everyone else's mind. Yet no one is directing traffic. So how does your brain constantly predict where complete strangers are about to move—and why does it work so well? (https://www.nature.com/articles/nature08260) Rejection stings. Whether it's being turned down for a job, ignored after asking someone out, or hearing "no" when you were hoping for "yes," most of us spend a lot of energy trying to avoid it. But what if that's exactly backward? What if deliberately seeking rejection could make you more confident, more successful, and surprisingly happier? Jia Jiang decided to test that idea by intentionally getting rejected 100 times in 100 days. What happened changed the course of his life—and it may change the way you think about rejection forever. Jia is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author. His TED Talk has been viewed more than 11 million times, and he is author of the book Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things (https://amzn.to/4feqHOq). Every couple argues. The real challenge is to understand what those fights are actually about. The disagreement over dirty dishes, money, or who's late again is often just the surface of something much deeper. Once you understand what's really driving those recurring arguments, everything changes. Relationship therapist Kim Polinder explains why couples keep having the same fights, how to stop damaging each other in the process, and what healthy conflict really looks like. Kim has helped hundreds of thousands of people through her work online (https://www.youtube.com/@engineeringlovepodcast) and is author of Why We Fight: A Transformative Road Map to Healing Conflict in Any Relationship. (https://amzn.to/45nZ1AF). Your signature probably wasn't always a scribble. When you first learned to sign your name, you likely wrote every letter carefully and neatly. So why do almost everyone's signature eventually become an indecipherable scrawl? It turns out there's an interesting psychological reason behind that evolution—and it says more about you than you might think. https://www.wired.com/story/is-your-wobbly-illegible-touchscreen-signature-still-you/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joey came in upset with his son Cruz, because Cruz keeps sending his sister Jia to ask for favors. You won't believe why they wanted to do chores late at night. Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey came in upset with his son Cruz, because Cruz keeps sending his sister Jia to ask for favors. You won't believe why they wanted to do chores late at night. Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey came in upset with his son Cruz, because Cruz keeps sending his sister Jia to ask for favors. You won't believe why they wanted to do chores late at night. Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey came in upset with his son Cruz, because Cruz keeps sending his sister Jia to ask for favors. You won't believe why they wanted to do chores late at night. Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Jia Jiang: Easy Discipline Jia Jiang is an award-winning speaker, entrepreneur, and the bestselling author of Rejection Proof. His TED Talk is among the top 1% most viewed of all time, and he has spoken to over 400,000 people worldwide. He is also the creator of Rejection Therapy, a platform designed to help people overcome fear and build resilience, and is the author of Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things (Amazon, Bookshop)*. No pain, no gain. We've all heard that before – and it's true that one way to achieve is through a lot of pain. Good news: there are other ways, too. In this conversation, Jia and I explore how to harness the ambition you already have through easy discipline. Key Points Pain tolerance is admired and celebrated. When greatness comes through pain, our society cheers it. When greatness comes through loving work, we are suspicious. Hard discipline and easy discipline both produce results, but easy discipline does so with more joy and sustainability. Ambitious people often suffer from High Eyes, Low Hands Disease. Higher ambitions create higher expectations that make a gap seem harder to transcend. In the game of Catan, it's not the lucky players that win; it's the most active players. Professional learning follows the same pattern. The momentum loop is the practice of early action generating greater fuel for later action. Even wrong movements are almost always superior to standing still. Resources Mentioned Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things by Jia Jiang (Amazon, Bookshop)* Jia Jiang's speaking Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Change Your Behavior, with BJ Fogg (episode 507) How to Get Out of a Rut, with Anne-Laure Le Cunff (episode 747) How to Help People Flourish, with Marcus Buckingham (episode 778) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

We had a lot of laughs! Join us and Susan Lee as we gossip about her newest release, K-Drama, Keebs and the epic US tour she's about to embark on. See You at the Sunset, releases on 8/11. After being fired, Jia seeks escape in the form of a trip to her grandmother's senior living village. This is her happy place, spending time with people 50 years her senior who are living their best, 3:00 p.m.-happy-hour lives. Then Henry Shin arrives – the man who'd just fired her. He's as surprised as she is angry. As the summer continues, the chemistry between them ignites. But what will happen when the real world comes calling? #heahotseat #SusanLee #SeeYouAtTheSunset #romcom #podcast #authorsontheair #larkbrennan #SarahAndre #romancebooks #romancenovelsofinsta #authorinterview #authorsofinstagram #pamstack Susan Lee is a USA Today bestselling author of both young adult and adult romantic comedies. Her work has been featured in national outlets such as Buzzfeed, NPR, People Magazine and Pop Sugar. Kirkus Reviews calls Susan's voice “honest, fresh and thoughtful”. You can find her at https://www.susanleewrites.com/ https://www.threads.com/@susanleewrites https://www.instagram.com/susanleewrites Find Your Author Hosts: Sarah Andre at https://sarahandre.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahAndreNovels IG https://www.instagram.com/sarahandrenovels/ Lark Brennan at https://www.larkbrennan.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarkBrennan/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/larkbrennan/ YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/43tWnZy

We had a lot of laughs! Join us and Susan Lee as we gossip about her newest release, K-Drama, Keebs and the epic US tour she's about to embark on. See You at the Sunset, releases on 8/11. After being fired, Jia seeks escape in the form of a trip to her grandmother's senior living village. This is her happy place, spending time with people 50 years her senior who are living their best, 3:00 p.m.-happy-hour lives. Then Henry Shin arrives – the man who'd just fired her. He's as surprised as she is angry. As the summer continues, the chemistry between them ignites. But what will happen when the real world comes calling? #heahotseat #SusanLee #SeeYouAtTheSunset #romcom #podcast #authorsontheair #larkbrennan #SarahAndre #romancebooks #romancenovelsofinsta #authorinterview #authorsofinstagram #pamstack Susan Lee is a USA Today bestselling author of both young adult and adult romantic comedies. Her work has been featured in national outlets such as Buzzfeed, NPR, People Magazine and Pop Sugar. Kirkus Reviews calls Susan's voice “honest, fresh and thoughtful”. You can find her at https://www.susanleewrites.com/ https://www.threads.com/@susanleewrites https://www.instagram.com/susanleewrites Find Your Author Hosts: Sarah Andre at https://sarahandre.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahAndreNovels IG https://www.instagram.com/sarahandrenovels/ Lark Brennan at https://www.larkbrennan.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarkBrennan/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/larkbrennan/ YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/43tWnZy

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Canvas of Tranquility: Finding Inspiration in Nature's Embrace Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-07-26-07-38-19-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 초여름의 햇살이 숲속 작은 오두막 창문을 통해 부드럽게 들어왔다.En: The early summer sunlight gently streamed through the window of a small cabin in the forest.Ko: 오두막은 고요한 숲속에 자리 잡고 있었고, 자연의 소리만이 들렸다.En: The cabin was nestled in a tranquil woodland, where only the sounds of nature could be heard.Ko: 민준은 이런 곳에서 마음을 가다듬고 싶었다.En: Minjun wanted to calm his mind in such a place.Ko: 여름 학교 미술 과제를 완성해야 했지만, 불안감에 시작조차 하지 못하고 있었다.En: He needed to complete a summer school art assignment, but anxiety kept him from even starting.Ko: "민준아, 너무 심각하게 생각하지 마," 친구 지아가 말했다.En: "Minjunah, don't think too seriously," his friend Jia said.Ko: 대현도 걱정스런 얼굴로 "맞아. 그냥 네가 느끼는 대로 해봐,"라고 덧붙였다.En: Daehyun also added with a concerned look, "That's right. Just go with what you feel."Ko: 그러나 민준은 완벽하지 않으면 안 된다는 압박감에 사로잡혀 있었다.En: However, Minjun was trapped under the pressure that it had to be perfect.Ko: 그래서 민준은 주말을 이 조용한 오두막에서 보내기로 했다.En: So, Minjun decided to spend the weekend in this quiet cabin.Ko: 조금은 두려웠지만, 그는 마음속 깊은 곳에서 무언가 변화가 필요하다고 느꼈다.En: Though a little afraid, he felt deep inside that a change was needed.Ko: 첫날 밤, 민준은 하얀 캔버스 앞에 앉아 있었다.En: On the first night, Minjun sat in front of a blank canvas.Ko: 손은 붓을 잡고 있었지만, 그림을 그릴 자신이 없었다.En: His hand was holding a brush, but he lacked the confidence to paint.Ko: 창밖에 나무들이 그림을 그리는 듯 바람에 흔들리고 있었다.En: Outside the window, trees were swaying in the wind as if they were painting a picture.Ko: 민준은 눈을 감고 그 소리에 귀를 기울였다. 자연이 말하는 듯했다.En: Minjun closed his eyes and listened to the sound. It felt like nature was speaking.Ko: 다음 날 아침, 민준은 숲속 산책을 갔다.En: The next morning, Minjun took a walk in the forest.Ko: 새들이 지저귀고, 햇살이 잎사귀를 뚫고 내려왔다.En: Birds were chirping, and sunlight pierced through the leaves.Ko: 그 순간, 자연의 생생한 모습이 그의 마음속에 살아났다.En: In that moment, the vivid presence of nature came alive in his heart.Ko: 민준은 바로 캔버스로 돌아와 자신의 느낌을 그려내기 시작했다.En: Minjun immediately returned to the canvas and began to capture his feelings.Ko: 고요한 숲의 풍경과 햇살의 부드러움, 그리고 새들의 생명력 있는 움직임이 그의 작품 속에 녹아들었다.En: The serene landscape of the forest, the softness of the sunlight, and the lively movements of the birds were absorbed into his work.Ko: 민준의 손은 더 이상 주저하지 않았다. 그날 밤, 그는 자신의 작품을 완성했다.En: Minjun's hand hesitated no longer. That night, he completed his piece.Ko: 여름 학교가 끝난 후, 민준은 그의 작품을 선생님과 친구들 앞에 발표했다.En: After summer school ended, Minjun presented his work to the teacher and his friends.Ko: 모두가 그의 작품을 보고 감탄했다.En: Everyone admired his piece.Ko: 선생님은 "네가 본 세계를 잘 담아냈구나,"라고 칭찬했다.En: The teacher praised, "You have captured the world you saw beautifully."Ko: 민준은 처음으로 자랑스러움을 느꼈다.En: For the first time, Minjun felt proud.Ko: 그 순간 민준은 깨달았다. 완벽함이 아닌, 오롯이 자신만의 시선과 느낌이 중요하다는 것을.En: In that moment, Minjun realized that it wasn't about perfection but rather the importance of his own perspective and feelings.Ko: 그는 웃으며 말했다. "처음으로 진짜 내 마음을 그렸어요."En: He smiled and said, "For the first time, I truly painted my heart."Ko: 다시 돌아온 오두막의 조용함이 지금도 위로가 되어주는 것 같았다.En: The quietness of the cabin, which had comforted him, still seemed to offer solace.Ko: 이제 민준은 자신감을 얻었다.En: Now, Minjun had gained confidence.Ko: 무언가 특별한 것을 위해서가 아니라, 그저 앞을 보며 나아가기로 결심했다.En: He resolved to move forward, not for something special, but simply to face what's ahead.Ko: 오두막의 추억은 그에게 더 큰 용기를 주었다.En: The memories of the cabin gave him even greater courage. Vocabulary Words:gently: 부드럽게tranquil: 고요한nestled: 자리 잡고 있었다anxiety: 불안감hesitated: 주저했다pierced: 뚫고 내려왔다captured: 담아냈구나solace: 위로vivid: 생생한absorbed: 녹아들었다concerned: 걱정스런confidence: 자신감perspective: 시선quietness: 조용함resolve: 결심했다memories: 추억chirping: 지저귀고swaying: 흔들리고 있었다canvas: 캔버스blank: 하얀presented: 발표했다admired: 감탄했다praised: 칭찬했다presence: 모습forest: 숲softness: 부드러움complete: 완성hesitate: 주저assignment: 과제feelings: 느낌

What if the most powerful magic you have was never outside of you?In today's episode of Ripples by Jia, we're diving into a topic I have intentionally avoided for a long time: spell work, energy manipulation, and the true power of creation.Across social media, we are constantly seeing teachings around love spells, money spells, cord cuttings, honey jars, freezer spells, glamour magic, and different forms of manifestation through external tools.But what if the greatest spell you ever cast is already within you?Your words.Your beliefs.Your imagination.Your energy.In this episode, I share my perspective on why I do not personally consent to spell work and why I believe true transformation comes through transmutation, self-awareness, prayer, conscious creation, and alignment with your highest self.Whether you are exploring spirituality, manifestation, energy healing, or your own personal awakening, this conversation is an invitation to remember:You are the magic. You are the creator. You are the tool you have been searching for.Thank you for being here and supporting Ripples by Jia. I read every comment myself, and I am so grateful to share this journey with you.Keep thriving — because we came here to thrive, not just survive.

In this episode, we welcome Jia Hou, a global business leader who has spent the past fourteen years helping industrial companies grow across Europe and Asia. Drawing on her experience spanning markets, organizations and regional businesses, Jia shares why business challenges are rarely just about culture. Instead, they are about leading across different business realities, decision-making logics and systems of execution.HighlightsThe discussion begins with the concept of "China Speed"—a term that has attracted increasing attention in Europe. Jia challenges the common assumption that it is simply about moving faster. Instead, she explains that different business systems are optimized for different priorities. While one system may value planning, predictability and risk reduction, another is designed to experiment quickly, iterate and respond to uncertainty. Neither approach is inherently better; they simply solve different problems.This leads to a broader conversation about leadership in today's increasingly complex world. As organizations span countries, functions and disciplines, leaders are constantly bringing together people with different assumptions, incentives and ways of making decisions. In this environment, leadership is becoming less about having the right answers and more about creating the conditions where different perspectives can contribute to better decisions.Throughout the conversation, Jia returns to the importance of curiosity—not just about different cultures, but about understanding why people, markets and organizations operate the way they do. Rather than trying to convince others to think alike, effective leaders seek to understand what each group is optimizing for and help them move towards a shared outcome.Another powerful insight is the distinction between communication and translation. Leadership is not simply about communicating strategy clearly. It is about translating between different value systems, business realities and perspectives so that people develop a shared understanding, even when they approach the same challenge from different starting points.Together, Martin, Gerrit and Jia also explore why alignment is often more fragile than it appears. People may leave a meeting believing they are aligned, while carrying very different interpretations of the same strategy. Genuine alignment requires meaningful dialogue, diverse perspectives and the willingness to surface assumptions before they become obstacles to execution.The conversation concludes by reflecting on the capabilities leaders need in an increasingly uncertain world. Jia highlights three qualities that stand out: curiosity, pattern recognition, and sense-making. As complexity continues to grow, perhaps the greatest contribution a leader can make is not to provide certainty, but to help others make sense of uncertainty together.Connect with Jia HouPlease connect with via her LinkedIn Jia HouAbout Second CrackMore information about us and our work is available on our website: secondcrackleadership.com. Contact us now to explore how we can support your leadership development in a company-wide initiative or with individual executive coaching: hello@secondcrackleadership.com.Connect with us on LinkedIn:Martin Aldergård Gerrit Pelzer

Kaylee Hottle interpretó a una joven huérfana sorda llamada Jia en la exitosa película de 2021 y su secuela de 2024.

Kelly leans into the discomfort with Jia Jiang, author of “Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things.” You may have heard of Jia, as his story has been told in numerous books on how to successfully handle adversity through a concept called “Rejection Therapy.” Over 100 days, Jia put himself in a position to […]

Most people assume that if a goal is hard to achieve, getting there has to feel hard too. We tend to believe that extraordinary results require extraordinary suffering.But my guest says the secret to success isn't gritting your teeth; it's making the path enjoyable. His name is Jia Jiang, and in his new book, Easy Discipline, he argues that consistency comes from designing your work and your life so that doing the right thing becomes something you actually want to do. Today on the show, Jia explains the difference between hard and easy discipline, why "eating bitterness" isn't the best way to go after your ambitions, and how to make your work feel more like play without lowering your standards. Along the way, we discuss Soviet hockey, Japanese tea ceremonies, rejection therapy, one-action goals, and the power of pursuing aims that are an expression of who you are.Resources Related to the PodcastJia's previous book: Rejection TherapyJia's 100 Days of Rejection Therapy videos, including asking for a "burger refill"AoM Article: Motivation Over DisciplineAoM Podcast #954: The Feel-Good Method of ProductivityConnect With Jia JiangJia on SubstackJia's websiteJia on LinkedIn0:00 Introduction to the AOM Podcast0:41 Introducing Jia Jiang and Easy Discipline1:36 Welcome Jia Jiang / The Myth of Sisyphus6:05 Hard Discipline vs. Easy Discipline9:36 Eating Bitterness10:44 Soviet Hockey: Tarasov vs. Tikhonov16:02 The EASY Framework: Enjoyment31:02 Artistry and Ichi-go Ichi-e33:54 Systems and One Action Goals41:22 Repetition with Variation44:18 Why: Being True to Yourself52:33 Where to Find Jia Jiang's WorkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey Team! I've been on a bit of a break this summer, but I wanted to help celebrate International ADHD Awareness Day by dropping a new episode. We often think that achieving big things requires feeling miserable during the process. We buy into the myth that if a task isn't agonizing, it isn't worth the time we put into it. My guest today is Jia Jiang, an expert in rejection resilience, a Duke MBA graduate, and the founder of Wuju Learning. After stepping away from a stable corporate career at Dell and LinkedIn to launch a tech startup, Jia realized his deepest bottleneck wasn't a lack of talent, but a profound fear of rejection. Fueled with this insight, he launched 100 Days of Rejection Therapy and filmed himself requesting absurd things from strangers daily. And this is actually when I first came across Jia 11 years ago, so it was quite the treat to get to talk with him and learn about his new book, Easy Discipline. Jia brings a unique lens to the table because he's battled his own severe, late-understood ADHD and procrastination loops since growing up in Beijing when ADHD just wasn't considered a thing. In this episode, we talk about shifting away from transactional, anxiety-inducing task completion and moving toward what he calls the "Artist Mindset." We also break down how masking and over-indexing on how other people perceive us turns into a form of self-sabotage, where we pre-reject ourselves before we even give our true traits a chance. Jia's Easy Ambition substack- https://substack.com/@jiajiang Jia's New Book- Easy Discipline: An Unconventional Way to Achieve Ambitious Things If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at HackingYourADHD.com/303 YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/y835cnrk Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HackingYourADHD This Episode's Top Tips Stop declaring war on your own brain by trying to grind through tasks using sheer willpower. Willpower is a finite biological resource that inevitably runs out, and relying on it just triggers a cycle of broken resolutions and self-blame. Instead, shift your strategy to working with your human nature by building environment-based systems that remove structural friction from the start. If your daily routine constantly feels like Sisyphus endlessly pushing a heavy boulder up a mountain, you are fighting psychological gravity. Instead of forcing yourself through tasks with external pressure, anchor the process in intrinsic enjoyment so the activity becomes your default state. When you flip the physics this way, the boulder starts rolling downhill, meaning it actually takes more active energy to stop your momentum than to keep going. Masking and over-analyzing how others perceive you creates an intense cognitive tension that completely paralyzes the ADHD brain. Break out of this by adopting the "Artist Mindset"—reframing stressful interactions or projects not as rigid transactions where you need approval, but as unreplicable opportunities to express your authentic presence. Focusing on full creative expression in the moment completely bypasses the perfectionism trap and lowers social anxiety.  

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Capturing Memories and Nerves on the Great Wall Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-07-13-22-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在夏日明媚的阳光下，长城在雾气缭绕的山峰间蜿蜒盘旋。En: Under the bright summer sun, the Great Wall winds and spirals between the misty peaks.Zh: 作为旅行者的天堂，魏、兰和佳乘着假期来到这里。En: It's a paradise for travelers, and Wei, Lan, and Jia came here for a holiday.Zh: 魏是个开朗又略显笨拙的旅行者，兴奋地想要打卡每一个文化地标。En: Wei is an enthusiastic yet somewhat clumsy traveler, eager to tick off every cultural landmark.Zh: 他有个小心愿：在长城上拍一张完美的自拍，给他的粉丝分享这个珍贵的瞬间。En: He has a small wish: to take a perfect selfie on the Great Wall and share this precious moment with his followers.Zh: 尽管心里对高度有些畏惧，魏在心里给自己鼓劲，全力表现得毫不畏惧。En: Despite his slight fear of heights, Wei psyched himself up inside, determined to appear fearless.Zh: 当他们爬上长城时，游客们川流不息。En: As they climbed up the Great Wall, the tourists flowed like a stream.Zh: 魏拿出他的手机，准备拍照。En: Wei took out his phone to prepare for a photo.Zh: 然而，人多的地方太拥挤，让他难以专心。En: However, the crowd was too dense, making it hard for him to focus.Zh: 他心里想着：“要不硬着头皮去人少的地方试试？”En: He thought to himself, "Should I just brace myself and try in a less crowded spot?"Zh: 于是，魏决定走到长城一个较空旷的角落。En: So, Wei decided to move to a more open corner of the Great Wall.Zh: 他努力控制住自己的紧张，深吸一口气。En: He tried to control his nerves and took a deep breath.Zh: 终于，他发现了一个绝佳的背景：无边的青山，辉煌的城墙，景色如画。En: Finally, he found an excellent background: endless green hills, the magnificent wall, and scenery like a painting.Zh: 正当魏准备按下快门，一阵突如其来的大风让他站不稳，手机几乎脱手。En: Just when Wei was about to press the shutter, a sudden strong wind made him lose his balance, and the phone almost slipped from his hand.Zh: 多亏了兰，她及时伸手，把手机牢牢抓住。En: Thanks to Lan, who swiftly extended her hand and firmly caught the phone.Zh: “谢谢你，兰！”魏心有余悸地笑着说。En: "Thank you, Lan!" Wei said with a relieved smile.Zh: 最终，魏拍到了那张照片。En: In the end, Wei captured the photo.Zh: 虽然没达到心目中的完美，但却捕捉到了那惊险一刻的真实表情。En: Though it didn't reach his idea of perfection, it captured the genuine expression of that thrilling moment.Zh: 意外的是，这张照片比任何完美的自拍都要吸引粉丝的目光。En: Unexpectedly, this photo attracted his followers' attention more than any perfect selfie could.Zh: 通过这次经历，魏明白了照片背后的真实与记忆更为珍贵。En: Through this experience, Wei realized that the authenticity and memories behind a photo are more precious.Zh: 他不再纠结完美的抓拍，而是珍惜每一次旅行中的美好瞬间。En: He no longer frets over capturing the perfect shot but cherishes every beautiful moment during his travels.Zh: 在回程的车上，魏、兰和佳看着照片，笑得格外开心。En: On the ride back, Wei, Lan, and Jia looked at the photos, laughing with joy.Zh: 在长城上，魏不仅记录下了风景，更收获了朋友间的珍贵回忆和人生的新领悟。En: On the Great Wall, Wei not only recorded the scenery but also harvested precious memories with friends and gained new insights into life. Vocabulary Words:spirals: 盘旋paradise: 天堂enthusiastic: 开朗clumsy: 笨拙landmark: 地标precious: 珍贵fearless: 毫不畏惧flowed: 川流不息dense: 拥挤brace: 硬着头皮nerves: 紧张magnificent: 辉煌shutter: 快门extended: 伸手firmly: 牢牢balance: 站不稳relieved: 心有余悸genuine: 真实thrilling: 惊险authenticity: 真实fret: 纠结cherishes: 珍惜harvested: 收获insights: 领悟misty: 雾气缭绕eager: 兴奋slight: 略显captured: 捕捉gained: 获得snapshot: 抓拍

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Friendship's Brushstrokes: Finding Inspiration at Lianhuachi Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-07-10-07-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 夏天的莲花池热闹非凡。En: The lianhuachi in summer is lively and bustling.Zh: 蓝天白云下，五颜六色的莲花在微风中轻轻摇曳。En: Under the blue sky and white clouds, colorful lotus flowers sway gently in the breeze.Zh: 空气中飘散着音乐和美食的香气，雾气似的热浪让一切都显得朦胧。En: The air is filled with the scent of music and delicious food, and the fog-like heat waves make everything appear hazy.Zh: 雷是一位勤奋的画家。En: Lei is a diligent painter.Zh: 可惜最近他摔断了腿，行动不便。En: Unfortunately, he recently broke his leg, making it difficult for him to get around.Zh: 他非常想去莲花池参加艺术节，寻找新的绘画灵感。En: He very much wants to go to the lianhuachi for the art festival to seek new inspiration for his paintings.Zh: 不过，他担心自己的伤腿会让这次旅行变得困难。En: However, he is worried that his injured leg will make the trip difficult.Zh: 看到雷愁眉不展，他的两个好朋友，明和佳，来到了他的身边。En: Seeing Lei worried and unhappy, his two good friends, Ming and Jia, came to his aid.Zh: 明是一个乐观的朋友，总是很小心。En: Ming is an optimistic friend who is always very careful.Zh: 他对雷说：“我会用轮椅推着你去，不用担心。En: He said to Lei, "I will push you in a wheelchair, don't worry."Zh: ”佳则不同，总是勇敢地鼓励大家去挑战。En: Jia, on the other hand, is always courageously encouraging everyone to take on challenges.Zh: 她拍着雷的肩膀说：“你不能错过这种机会，这些景色会给你新的灵感！En: She patted Lei's shoulder and said, "You can't miss this opportunity; these sights will give you new inspiration!"Zh: ”在朋友的支持和鼓励下，雷接受了他们的帮助。En: With the support and encouragement of his friends, Lei accepted their help.Zh: 明推着雷，佳则在一旁协助。En: Ming pushed Lei, while Jia assisted alongside.Zh: 一路上，雷尽管感到有些疲惫和疼痛，但朋友们的支持让他心生力量。En: Along the way, although Lei felt somewhat tired and in pain, the support from his friends gave him strength.Zh: 到了莲花池，那里热闹非凡。En: When they reached the lianhuachi, it was bustling with activity.Zh: 街头小吃摊位的香味、欢快的音乐，还有人们的笑声，到处洋溢着节日的气息。En: The aroma of street food stalls, the cheerful music, and the laughter of people filled the air with a festive atmosphere.Zh: 正当雷有些累的时候，太阳开始下山。En: Just when Lei was feeling a bit tired, the sun began to set.Zh: 夕阳映照在湖面上，水光跳跃，满池莲花被染成金色。En: The sunset reflected on the surface of the lake, with the light dancing on the water, and the entire pool of lotus flowers turned golden.Zh: 这一刻，雷的眼中充满了光芒。En: At that moment, Lei's eyes were filled with light.Zh: 他静静地看着这一切，脑中慢慢浮现出一幅新的画面。En: He quietly took in the scene, and a new image slowly emerged in his mind.Zh: 这将是一幅充满力量与美丽的画作，他心里激动不已。En: It would be a painting full of strength and beauty, and he was filled with excitement.Zh: 明和佳看到雷的脸上洋溢着笑容，也感到非常高兴。En: Ming and Jia saw the smile on Lei's face and felt very happy too.Zh: “我们成功了！En: "We did it!Zh: 你找到了灵感了。En: You found your inspiration," Jia said excitedly.Zh: ”佳兴奋地说。En: In the end, Lei learned an important lesson: seeking help from friends does not diminish his independence; instead, it broadens his possibilities.Zh: 最后，雷学到了一件重要的事情：寻求朋友的帮助并不会削弱他的独立性，反而拓宽了他的可能性。En: He believes that no matter how great the difficulty he faces, as long as he has friends by his side, he can overcome anything.Zh: 他相信，无论遇到多大的困难，只要有朋友在身边，他都能战胜。En: As night fell, the three of them sat together by the lianhuachi, relaxed and happily enjoying their time together.Zh: 夜幕降临，三人一起坐在莲花池边，轻松愉快地享受着属于他们的时光。En: Lei knew that his wish had been fulfilled.Zh: 雷知道，他的心愿实现了，他获得了新的灵感，也赢得了比画作更重要的东西——朋友的支持与爱。En: He had gained new inspiration and achieved something more important than a painting—the support and love of his friends. Vocabulary Words:lively: 热闹非凡bustling: 热闹非凡sway: 轻轻摇曳breeze: 微风hazy: 朦胧diligent: 勤奋broken: 摔断inspiration: 灵感injured: 伤optimistic: 乐观wheelchair: 轮椅courageously: 勇敢地opportunity: 机会support: 支持encouragement: 鼓励strength: 力量activity: 活动aroma: 香味festive: 节日的sunset: 夕阳golden: 金色excited: 激动possibilities: 可能性overcome: 战胜fulfilled: 实现independence: 独立性broaden: 拓宽relaxed: 轻松achieved: 赢得wish: 心愿

Democratizing Global Private Credit: AI Underwriting and Receivables Financing with Zach MarksIn a recent episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur Podcast, host Josh Elledge sat down with Zach Marks, the Co-Founder and CEO of Jia, to dissect the systemic financial bottlenecks that restrict capital access for small-to-mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) across emerging economies. Zach, a global fintech innovator with a deep understanding of localized relationship dynamics and cross-border capital streams, details how legacy banking frameworks impose a staggering $6 trillion financing gap on underserved markets. This conversation provides an essential strategic guide for institutional investors, international founders, and financial technology executives looking to leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence and blockchain-backed liquidity pools to eliminate predatory lending and build transparent, highly automated capital distribution networks.The Architecture of Inclusive Finance: Processing Unstructured Data and Scaling Collateral-Free UnderwritingTraditional commercial banks in emerging sectors like Southeast Asia frequently strangle the scale of high-performing suppliers by relying on archaic, manual credit checks and rigid collateral mandates that small business owners simply cannot satisfy. Zach Marks explains that this systemic banking failure forces critical operations, such as regional snack manufacturers or agricultural wholesalers, to navigate 60-to-120-day invoice delays from corporate buyers without any cushion for cash flow management. When companies are unable to bridge the gap between delivering raw goods and receiving payments, they are routinely locked out of market expansion or driven into high-risk, unvetted private credit arrangements that carry opaque pricing and severe threats to their core business equipment. True operational scale is achieved when an enterprise bypasses centralized banking bureaucracies entirely, relying on tech-forward invoice financing platforms that convert outstanding receivables into immediate, fluid operating capital.Optimizing credit risk assessments and driving immediate underwriting velocity at scale requires an absolute commitment to integrating AI-powered document intelligence into backend compliance workflows. Many international financial institutions struggle to serve the mid-market segment effectively because they lack the administrative infrastructure to process messy, unstructured transactional data like scanned invoices, physical receipts, and fragmented bank statements. Real-world capital optimization is unlocked when a fintech ecosystem deploys advanced machine learning models to analyze this documentation in minutes, enabling automated credit decisions without sacrificing strict underwriting standards. This digital efficiency allows capital providers to review high volumes of application data, securely approving and delivering short-term liquidity funds to creditworthy business owners within a fractional 30-minute window.Furthermore, maintaining a premium global footprint and attracting top-tier institutional capital demands that financial platforms build resilient financing pipelines that pair secure on-chain ledger technology with deeply localized human support. Integrating decentralized blockchain infrastructure allows global investors to participate in secure, high-yield liquidity pools, democratizing access to private credit markets that were historically restricted to ultra-high-net-worth entities. However, technology alone cannot scale adoption in relational, cross-border markets where trust and human transparency remain the primary drivers of corporate validation. When an organization synthesizes a cutting-edge digital tech stack with a diverse, localized workforce that respects regional communication and cultural nuances, it successfully future-proofs its operations. This holistic approach converts international finance from an elite, exclusionary system into an accessible, highly structured asset class designed to predictably multiply market equity.About Zach MarksZach Marks is the Co-Founder and CEO of Jia, a disruptive financial technology pioneer, and a seasoned emerging-market strategist. Drawing from a diverse global background in team building and multi-cultural operations, Zach specializes in engineering automated, high-velocity lending solutions that empower small-to-mid-sized enterprises. He is a prominent fintech thought leader focused on dismantling systemic capital bottlenecks, optimizing international private credit distribution, and lecturing on the tactical use of AI and blockchain technology to drive inclusive economic valuation.About JiaJia is an elite fintech platform and alternative credit provider engineered to maximize financial access for underserved small businesses across emerging markets. The company specializes in delivering automated receivables-based invoicing solutions, AI-powered document intelligence, and blockchain-backed private credit infrastructure to eliminate predatory lending debt. Through transparent, collateral-free financing blueprints and structured technology licensing frameworks, Jia enables mid-market suppliers to optimize their cash flow velocity and safely scale their regional enterprise market share.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeJia Official Website: jia.phZach Marks on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zachmarksKey Episode HighlightsThe Emerging Market Credit Gap: Deconstructing the hidden operational bottlenecks that impose a $6 trillion financing deficit on global small businesses.Receivables-Based Capital Velocity: Implementing automated invoice financing to unlock immediate operational cash flow without asset-backed collateral mandates.AI Underwriting for Unstructured Data: Leveraging machine learning algorithms to instantly analyze messy physical invoices and bank statements for rapid credit decisions.On-Chain Global Liquidity Pools: Utilizing blockchain infrastructure to democratize private credit and connect international capital markets directly with localized SMEs.The Relationship-Tech Paradigm: Balancing advanced automated tech stacks with local human support desks to build authentic brand trust in relational economies.ConclusionThe conversation with Zach Marks reinforces that scaling inclusive global finance requires an intentional balance of advanced technological innovation and highly transparent corporate governance. By implementing rigorous AI data analysis, eliminating predatory fee structures, and ruthlessly protecting human-centric connection points, business leaders can transform a volatile, capital-starved environment into a highly organized, self-sustaining financial ecosystem.More from The Thoughtful Entrepreneur

Life will always be filled with choices. Choices become the place where we have decided where we want to be with God and self. Our choices require that our intentions be directed towards the details and a conviction of knowing that no matter what choices we have to make, we must declare that "I CHOOSE ME." Choosing me allows us to choose God, who chose us all first. We are God's first love, and when we know such a love, no matter what choices we have to make, CHOOSING ME will always display the glory of God! Join Dr. Jia today for her uplifting and encouraging message.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unmasking Betrayal: Wen's Unexpected Festival Investigation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-06-18-22-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 在一个阳光明媚的春日，公司里充满了忙碌和期待。En: On a sunny spring day, the company was filled with busyness and anticipation.Zh: 办公室里，一切都在为即将到来的端午节做准备。En: In the office, everything was being prepared for the upcoming Duanwu Festival.Zh: 粽子的香气在空气中弥漫，五颜六色的装饰让人眼前一亮。En: The aroma of zongzi permeated the air, and the colorful decorations were eye-catching.Zh: 然而，在这欢乐的氛围中，文心里却充满了担忧。En: However, amidst this joyful atmosphere, Wen was filled with worry.Zh: 几周前，公司服务器里一些重要文件失踪了。En: A few weeks ago, some important files vanished from the company's servers.Zh: 文件的消失不仅对项目发展造成威胁，也让文陷入了困境。En: The disappearance of these files not only threatened the project's development but also put Wen in a predicament.Zh: 作为项目经理，文是唯一最近刚获得访问这些敏感文件权限的人。她的上司也因此对她表示怀疑。En: As the project manager, Wen was the only one who had recently gained access to these sensitive files, which led her superior to suspect her.Zh: 文知道她必须解决这个谜团，保护自己的名誉和团队的声誉。En: Wen knew she had to solve this mystery to protect her reputation and the reputation of her team.Zh: 但如何查明真相并不容易。En: But uncovering the truth was not easy.Zh: 于是，她找到了贾。En: So, she sought out Jia.Zh: 贾是公司的IT专家，技术高超却有些神秘。En: Jia, the company's IT expert, was highly skilled yet somewhat mysterious.Zh: 文半信半疑，但她明白必须冒险。En: Wen was skeptical, but she understood she had to take the risk.Zh: 贾迅速同意帮助文。En: Jia quickly agreed to help Wen.Zh: 他们选择在午休时间偷偷调查，以免被发觉。En: They chose to investigate secretly during lunchtime to avoid being noticed.Zh: 贾利用他的技术经验，很快找到了文件被盗取时的日志记录。En: Jia, utilizing his technical expertise, soon found the log records from when the files were stolen.Zh: 他的发现指向了一台办公室里的电脑。En: His discovery pointed to a computer in the office.Zh: 节日当天，办公室充满了欢声笑语。En: On the festival day, the office was filled with laughter and joy.Zh: 此时，文和贾找到机会，偷偷检查那台电脑。En: At this moment, Wen and Jia seized the opportunity to check that computer.Zh: 结果让他们大吃一惊，文件的窃贼竟然是人人喜爱的销售主管——梁。En: The result shocked them—the culprit was the beloved sales director, Liang.Zh: 他那迷人的微笑和四处传播的八卦让人们难以怀疑他。En: His charming smile and widespread gossip made it hard for people to suspect him.Zh: 梁悄悄地从办公室的角落窃取信息，意在将公司数据出售给竞争对手获利。En: Liang had secretly stolen information from a corner of the office, intending to sell the company's data to competitors for profit.Zh: 在众人沉浸于粽子和节日欢庆时，文与贾揭露了真相。En: While everyone was immersed in zongzi and festival celebrations, Wen and Jia revealed the truth.Zh: 梁被当场揭穿，整个公司都震惊了。En: Liang was unmasked on the spot, leaving the entire company stunned.Zh: 上司对文道歉，并承诺加强安全措施，以防止此类事件再次发生。En: Wen's superior apologized to her and promised to strengthen security measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.Zh: 故事的结尾，文恢复了名誉，也因此对人际关系有了更敏锐的判断能力。En: At the story's end, Wen regained her reputation and gained a sharper judgment of interpersonal relationships.Zh: 她明白了信任和直觉的重要性。En: She understood the importance of trust and intuition.Zh: 在这次事件后，她决定更加坚韧，而不是轻易被旁人的怀疑动摇。En: After this incident, she decided to be more resilient rather than easily swayed by others' doubts.Zh: 办公室里春意盎然，而文，已然学会更好地迎接每一个挑战。En: The office was filled with the vitality of spring, and Wen had learned to better face every challenge. Vocabulary Words:anticipation: 期待permeated: 弥漫vanished: 失踪predicament: 困境sensitive: 敏感superior: 上司mystery: 谜团reputation: 名誉uncovering: 查明skeptical: 半信半疑discovery: 发现culprit: 窃贼beloved: 喜爱的gossip: 八卦swayed: 动摇intuition: 直觉resilient: 坚韧charming: 迷人的corner: 角落competitors: 竞争对手immersed: 沉浸unmasked: 揭穿stunned: 震惊strengthen: 加强interpersonal: 人际judgment: 判断vitality: 春意盎然busyness: 忙碌eye-catching: 眼前一亮challenges: 挑战

The 2026 ACR Guidelines for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) are here, and lead author Dr. Karen Onel joins us to unpack the key updates shaping pediatric rheumatology care. From a biologics-first approach in systemic JIA to more individualized treatment pathways for non-systemic disease, the new recommendations emphasize earlier intervention, faster treatment tailoring, and risk-based decision-making. Dr. Onel also discusses the guidelines' broader focus on mental health, physical activity, rehabilitation, and the challenges of growing up with a chronic illness. More than an update to treatment algorithms, these guidelines reflect a fundamental shift in philosophy—one that puts the whole child, not just the diagnosis, at the center of care. 

Zach Marks talks about AI-driven finance and the future of small-business lending. Zach is co-founder and CEO of Jia, a company focused on expanding access to capital for small businesses in emerging markets. He works at the intersection of AI, finance, and economic opportunity, helping businesses gain access to funding. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? https://Everyday-MBA.com/guest Do you want to advertise on the show? https://Everyday-MBA.com/advertise

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Unlocking History: A Journey Across the Great Wall Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-06-01-07-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 炽热的夏日里，长城在阳光下宛如一条巨大蜿蜒的龙，横跨大地。En: In the scorching summer sun, the Changcheng, or the Great Wall, stretches across the land like a gigantic, winding dragon.Zh: 游客们川流不息，喧闹声中隐约能听见不远处的龙舟节庆祝活动声。En: Streams of tourists come and go, and amidst the noise, the sounds of nearby Longzhouwu Festival celebrations can be faintly heard.Zh: 今天的文化交流项目中，三位角色扮演着不同的角色。En: In today's cultural exchange program, three characters take on different roles.Zh: 小雨是一个对历史充满热情的学生，她渴望向大家展示她的文化遗产之美。En: Xiaoyu is a student passionate about history, eager to showcase the beauty of her cultural heritage.Zh: 明则是一个充满怀疑的参与者，他对古代和现代文化的比较充满好奇。En: Ming is a skeptical participant, curious about the comparison between ancient and modern culture.Zh: 佳是活动的组织者，她努力让整个团队保持着浓厚的兴趣。En: Jia, the organizer of the event, works hard to maintain the group's strong interest.Zh: 小雨带着一群参加交流项目的游客，走在古老的长城上。En: Xiaoyu leads a group of tourists participating in the exchange program, walking along the ancient Great Wall.Zh: 她兴奋地讲解每一块石头的历史，与此处冲锋陷阵的战士们的故事。En: She excitedly explains the history of each stone and the stories of the warriors who fought here.Zh: 然而，明时不时打断她的话，他总是将古代的事情与现代科技一一对比，让小雨开始怀疑自己的讲解方式。En: However, Ming frequently interrupts her, always comparing ancient events with modern technology, causing Xiaoyu to doubt her approach.Zh: 山风清爽，迎面吹来。En: A refreshing mountain breeze blows in.Zh: 为了调和气氛，小雨决定让明带领一段讲解。En: To ease the atmosphere, Xiaoyu decides to let Ming lead a portion of the explanation.Zh: 明虽犹豫，但还是答应了，他开始和其他游客分享他的观点："现代世界带来了巨大的改变，可这个古老的长城还能给我们什么启示呢？En: Although hesitant, Ming agrees, and he begins to share his perspective with the other tourists: "The modern world has brought about great changes, but what insights can this ancient Great Wall still provide us?"Zh: "走到长城的一座古老烽火台上，明停下来说道：“站在这里，我能感受到古代士兵在此保家卫国的坚定。En: Upon reaching an ancient beacon tower on the Great Wall, Ming stops and says, "Standing here, I can feel the determination of ancient soldiers defending their homeland."Zh: ”他环顾四周，感悟着脚下的历史，这一刻他的疑虑渐渐消散，内心被无限的敬意填满。En: He looks around, contemplating the history beneath his feet, and in that moment, his doubts gradually dissipate, his heart filled with boundless respect.Zh: 活动结束后，明对小雨说道：“我对古代文化有了新的理解，谢谢你。En: After the activity, Ming says to Xiaoyu, "I have a new understanding of ancient culture, thank you."Zh: ”小雨由衷地微笑，安心了。En: Xiaoyu smiles sincerely, feeling relieved.Zh: 通过这次的体验，小雨更加自信能够有效传达她对文化的骄傲；而明则意识到历史的价值，愿意在未来更多地探索这些承载着古老故事的地方。En: Through this experience, Xiaoyu gains more confidence in effectively conveying her pride in her culture, while Ming realizes the value of history and is willing to explore these places filled with ancient stories more in the future.Zh: 佳看着两人，不禁会心一笑，欣慰于这次难忘的文化交流之旅。En: Watching the two of them, Jia can't help but smile, content with this unforgettable cultural exchange journey.Zh: 明亮的天际线吞没了夕阳，长城依旧静静伫立着，仿佛在述说着更多未尽的历史篇章。En: The bright skyline swallows the sunset, and the Great Wall still stands quietly, seemingly telling more untold stories of history. Vocabulary Words:scorching: 炽热的gigantic: 巨大winding: 蜿蜒beacon: 烽火台faintly: 隐约skeptical: 怀疑heritage: 遗产eager: 渴望organizer: 组织者participant: 参与者contemplating: 感悟着perspective: 观点insights: 启示determination: 坚定convey: 传达boundless: 无限relieved: 安心cultural: 文化curious: 好奇ancient: 古老modern: 现代breeze: 山风doubt: 疑虑sincerely: 由衷pride: 骄傲unforgettable: 难忘journey: 旅overwhelm: 填满amidst: 中shimmering: 明亮

We're joined by Jia (you may know them as @JiaAnimalSelfies), a Pittsburgh creator with roots in Chengdu, Sichuan, and a deep love for the kind of food that doesn't apologize for being specific. Jia shares their family's path from China to Pittsburgh, including stories shaped by the Cultural Revolution, immigration, and the restaurant work that helped make education possible. We talk about what “secret menu” really means, why it exists, and how to explore it without treating culture like a dare. For anyone chasing authentic Sichuan cuisine in Pittsburgh, Jia defines what mala actually is, how to prep your stomach before hot pot, and how sesame oil and soy milk fit into the tradition. Jia drops a smart Squirrel Hill hack for finding QR-code promos and ordering off-menu through delivery apps, plus local recommendations including dry hot pot at Little Corner Grill House and late-night options when the shift ends after midnight. If you like Pittsburgh food podcasts, Asian American stories, and real tips you can use tonight, hit play and come hungry. Subscribe to The Pittsburgh Dish, share this with a friend who always orders the same thing, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Support the show

Joey's ex-wife said their daughter Jia is saying Michael Jackson's famous "HEE-HEEEE" phrase around the house too much, and it's driving her crazy. Was there a phrase you made your kids stop saying, or one you said growing up? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey's ex-wife said their daughter Jia is saying Michael Jackson's famous "HEE-HEEEE" phrase around the house too much, and it's driving her crazy. Was there a phrase you made your kids stop saying, or one you said growing up? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey's ex-wife said their daughter Jia is saying Michael Jackson's famous "HEE-HEEEE" phrase around the house too much, and it's driving her crazy. Was there a phrase you made your kids stop saying, or one you said growing up? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

What's a recession indicator you've noticed?Lately, one answer keeps resurfacing online: "You can see celebrities' ribs again." And as unserious as that sounds at first, history suggests it may not be entirely wrong.In this episode, I dive into Ozempic, recession aesthetics, quiet luxury, heroin chic, and the return of thinness as a cultural ideal. From celebrity weight loss trends to the politics of appetite, I explore how beauty standards shift during periods of economic anxiety, social instability, and cultural fear- and why women's bodies so often become the place where those anxieties are projected.Are. You. Ready?****************Sources & References: Bordo, Susan. Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body. University of California Press, 1993.Bourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Translated by Richard Nice, Harvard University Press, 1984.Debord, Guy. The Society of the Spectacle. Zone Books, 1994.Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books, 1995.Foxcroft, Louise. Calories & Corsets: A History of Dieting Over 2,000 Years. Profile Books, 2011.Rose, Nikolas. Governing the Soul: The Shaping of the Private Self. Free Association Books, 1999.Stearns, Peter N. Fat History: Bodies and Beauty in the Modern West. New York University Press, 2002.Strings, Sabrina. Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia. NYU Press, 2019.Tolentino, Jia. Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion. Random House, 2019.Veblen, Thorstein. The Theory of the Leisure Class. Oxford University Press, 2007.Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. Harper Perennial, 2002.Additional reporting and cultural analysis referenced throughout the episode includes coverage of Ozempic and Wegovy, celebrity weight loss culture, recession aesthetics, heroin chic and 1990s fashion culture, wellness culture, self-optimization, and digital body surveillance from contemporary journalism, academic commentary, and media analysis.****************Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show!Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282Spotify Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA****************Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!YouTube:@beautyunlockedspodcasthourTikTok:tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod****************Intro/Outro Music:“Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

Stuttering occurs in every culture with a spoken language. So why do many communities treat it as a source of shame? Two speech-language pathologists and a comedian help Anita question cultural assumptions about stuttering and explore the growing movement to embrace speech diversity.Meet the guests:- Dr. Derek Daniels, licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and associate professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University, shares his own experience of stuttering and what we know about what causes stuttering- Jia Bin, doctoral student at Michigan State University, talks about growing up in rural China with a stutter and what she's hoping to bring back to the stuttering community there- Nina G, comedian and author of "Stutterer, Interrupted: The Comedian Who Almost Didn't Happen," explains why she decided to embrace her dream of doing stand-up and shares how her stuttering has impacted romantic and platonic relationshipsDig Deeper:Follow Nina G's comedy on InstagramJia on stuttering as a superpowerStuttering content on YouTube by Courtland Crain and Matice AhnjamineNational Stuttering Association websiteRead the transcript | Review the podcast on your preferred platformFollow Embodied on Instagram Leave a message for EmbodiedPlease note: This episode originally published March 31, 2023.Updates: You can learn more about Jia's work at the Spartan Stuttering Lab here. You can learn more about National Stuttering Awareness Week here. Nina G is in the midst of the making the comedy docu-special: Comedians with Disabilities Act: Going Beyond The Punchlines. 

Jia, her little brother Jihoon, and a Zumba-loving medium must stop a dokkaebi, a goblin-like creature from Korean Mythology. (It may involve some K-Pop.) | Goblin Games (A Korean Mythology Adventure) was written by Keri Griggs and directed by Keri Griggs and Brian Tanner. The cast included Jisoo Shin as Jia, Sylvia Shin as Mom, Jaden Choi as Jihoon, Jared Hendricks as Jake, Brian Tanner as Bernard, and Taehyeon Kim as Dokkaebi. | The sound team was led by Trent Reimschussel and Dan Carlisle, with engineering by Gracie Davis, Kiplin Merrill, and Trent Reimschussel; dialogue editing by James Call and Luke Gunnerson; sound design by Jim Cassler, Dallin Jeppsen, Kiplin Merrill, and Cameron Rhodes; music editing by Hannah Evans, Aaron Findlay, Taehyeon Kim, and Cameron Rhodes; and mixing by Jim Cassler, and Luke Gunnerson. | This episode was produced by Brian Tanner, Keri Griggs, Wendy Folsom, and Sam Payne. The Kaboom writing team includes Kay Hendrickson, Garrett Gunnell, Keri Griggs, and Paige Jensen-Rutter. Our theme music was written by Sam Clawson. All Kaboom original art was created by Adrian Walsh, and Ikaika Kamimoto is our marketing manager. | For more great storytelling for families check out our companion podcast The Apple Seed, available wherever you get your podcasts. Kaboom is a production of BYUradio.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Serendipitous Trails: A Journey Beyond GPS Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-04-27-22-34-01-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 张家界国家森林公园在春天是一个美丽的地方。En: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in spring is a beautiful place.Zh: 天蓝如洗，树木青翠，鸟儿在空中飞翔。En: The sky is clear blue, the trees are lush green, and birds fly through the air.Zh: 五一劳动节，许多人利用假期去旅行，享受大自然的美好。En: During the May Day Labor Day, many people make use of the holiday to travel and enjoy the wonders of nature.Zh: 勇，梅和佳一起计划了一次徒步旅行。En: Yong, Mei, and Jia planned a hiking trip together.Zh: 勇自信满满地说：“我有一张地图，保证我们走最好的路线。”En: Yong, full of confidence, said, "I have a map and guarantee we'll take the best route."Zh: 这张地图是勇自己画的，但其实已经过时了。En: The map was one he had drawn himself, but it was actually outdated.Zh: “勇，你确定要用这张地图吗？”梅皱着眉头问，“我们可以用GPS啊，更加准确。”En: "Yong, are you sure you want to use this map?" Mei asked with a frown, "We can use GPS; it's more accurate."Zh: “不，我们要有冒险精神！”勇挥舞着地图说，“相信我吧，这会很有趣。”En: "No, we need a sense of adventure!" Yong said, waving the map, "Trust me, this will be fun."Zh: 于是，他们出发了。En: So, they set off.Zh: 一路上，树林葱茏，野花芬芳。En: Along the way, the forest was lush, and wildflowers were fragrant.Zh: 勇一路带领，指点江山。En: Yong led the way, confidently narrating the journey.Zh: 但不久后，他们发现情况有些不对劲。En: But soon, they realized something was off.Zh: “这地方看起来不像地图上说的。”佳笑着说，“你确定这对吗，勇？”En: "This place doesn't look like it does on the map," Jia said with a laugh, "Are you sure about this, Yong?"Zh: 勇停下脚步，看了看地图，再看看四周。En: Yong stopped to look at the map and then at the surroundings.Zh: 他心里有点慌，但脸上依旧强作镇定。En: He was a bit flustered inside but appeared to maintain his composure.Zh: “当然，这只是一个特别的转弯。”En: "Of course, it's just a special turn."Zh: 但“特别的转弯”越来越多。En: But there were more and more "special turns."Zh: 他们越走越深，逐渐偏离了热门的游览路线。En: They walked deeper and deeper, gradually straying from the popular tourist routes.Zh: 梅再次建议看看手机，但勇固执地摇摇头。En: Mei suggested again that they check the phone, but Yong stubbornly shook his head.Zh: 他不愿认输，只想带来一场非同寻常的旅行。En: He didn't want to admit defeat; he just wanted to provide an extraordinary trip.Zh: 突然，他们来到一处僻静的山谷。En: Suddenly, they arrived at a secluded valley.Zh: 眼前有一处美丽的瀑布，水流如银带，阳光透过水雾形成彩虹，景色如梦如幻。En: Before their eyes was a beautiful waterfall, the water flowing like a silver ribbon, and sunlight creating a rainbow through the mist, a scene as dreamlike as a fantasy.Zh: “哇，这真是意外的惊喜！”梅惊叹着，“这地方地图上也没有啊！”En: "Wow, this really is an unexpected surprise!" Mei exclaimed, "This place isn't on the map either!"Zh: 勇也惊讶地说：“看来我的地图还是有点用处的吧。”En: Yong also exclaimed in surprise, "Looks like my map is somewhat useful."Zh: 大家都笑了，佳拍拍勇的肩膀说：“有时候，错误的路也能带来惊喜。”En: Everyone laughed, and Jia patted Yong on the shoulder, saying, "Sometimes, a wrong path can also bring surprises."Zh: 在这片未被开发的美景前，他们心情舒畅。En: In front of this undeveloped beauty, they felt at ease.Zh: 尽管已经偏离了计划，但这次冒险让他们更加亲近。En: Although they had deviated from their original plan, this adventure brought them closer together.Zh: 勇也明白，有时候依靠朋友，享受旅途中的不确定性同样重要。En: Yong also understood that sometimes depending on friends and enjoying the uncertainties of the journey is equally important.Zh: 天色渐晚，他们带着笑声，回想起这场特别的旅行。En: As it grew late, they carried their laughter, reminiscing about this special trip.Zh: 勇开始明白，旅程本身就是一种发现的乐趣。En: Yong began to realize that the journey itself is a joy of discovery.Zh: 而梅和佳也感受到友谊的珍贵。En: Mei and Jia also felt the preciousness of friendship.Zh: 那天，他们三人成为朋友们中最有故事可说的人。En: That day, they became the friends with the most stories to tell.Zh: 张家界的这次旅程，将永远留在他们的记忆中，成为他们美好回忆的一部分。En: The Zhangjiajie trip would forever remain in their memories, becoming a part of their cherished recollections. Vocabulary Words:lush: 葱茏fragrant: 芬芳frown: 皱眉adventure: 冒险confidence: 自信stubbornly: 固执地outdated: 过时composure: 镇定extraordinary: 非同寻常secluded: 僻静waterfall: 瀑布rainbow: 彩虹mist: 水雾undeveloped: 未开发deviated: 偏离cherished: 美好reminiscing: 回想narrating: 指点江山plan: 计划guarantee: 保证explore: 探索discovery: 发现intrigued: 好奇straying: 偏离surroundings: 四周unexpected: 意外preciousness: 珍贵uncommon: 不寻常intuition: 直觉nurture: 滋养

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Springtime Adventures: A Blossoming Bond in the Garden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-04-26-07-38-19-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 每年春天，月和佳都会去附近的中国植物园。En: Every spring, Yue and Jia visit the nearby Chinese botanical garden.Zh: 这一年，他们决定参观一个特别的稀有植物展览。En: This year, they decided to see a special exhibition of rare plants.Zh: 展览在一个玻璃墙的展馆里，阳光透过玻璃洒在各种奇特的植物上，显得格外耀眼。En: The exhibition was held in a pavilion with glass walls, where sunlight streamed through, casting a dazzling light on an array of exotic plants.Zh: 月对植物充满了好奇，En: Yue was filled with curiosity about the plants.Zh: 她边走边兴奋地说："看这些植物多有趣！"En: As she walked, she excitedly said, "Look at how interesting these plants are!"Zh: 佳跟在她身后，小声提醒："记得这里有‘禁止触摸'的规定。"En: Jia, following behind her, quietly reminded her, "Remember, there's a 'Do Not Touch' rule here."Zh: 月点点头，但她的眼睛已经被一株造型奇特的植物吸引住了。En: Yue nodded, but her eyes were already drawn to a uniquely shaped plant.Zh: 这株植物的叶子像一把把小扇子，在阳光下泛着微微的光泽。En: Its leaves looked like small fans, shimmering slightly under the sunlight.Zh: 月不由自主地靠近观察，她还蹲下来仔细端详。En: Unable to resist, Yue moved closer to observe it and even crouched down to examine it closely.Zh: 佳拉了拉她的衣角："小心点，别靠得太近。"En: Jia tugged at her sleeve, saying, "Be careful, don't get too close."Zh: 月笑笑，心里却忍不住想再近一点。En: Yue smiled but couldn't help wanting to get a little closer.Zh: 就在她慢慢伸出手时，她不小心碰到了一个小牌子，牌子立刻晃了晃。En: Just as she slowly reached out her hand, she accidentally bumped a small sign, which wobbled immediately.Zh: 牌子晃动的瞬间，那株植物也开始轻轻摇晃，似乎就要倒下来。En: As the sign wobbled, the plant also began to sway gently, as if it was about to fall.Zh: 佳立刻紧张地盯着，准备随时拯救月。En: Jia immediately watched nervously, ready to rescue Yue at any moment.Zh: 幸运的是，植物只是摇了摇，最终稳稳地挺立在原地。En: Fortunately, the plant just swayed a bit but ultimately stood firmly in place.Zh: 月的脸一下子红了，她连忙站起来，战战兢兢地对周围低声说："对不起，对不起，是我不小心。"En: Yue's face turned red, and she hurriedly stood up, sheepishly apologizing to those around her, "Sorry, sorry, it was an accident."Zh: 佳无奈地叹了口气，拉着月快步走出了展览。En: Jia sighed helplessly and swiftly led Yue out of the exhibition.Zh: 一出展馆，月和佳对视了一眼，然后大笑起来。En: As soon as they exited the pavilion, Yue and Jia exchanged glances and then burst into laughter.Zh: 佳摇头说："你总是这样，但我知道你不是故意的。"En: Jia shook her head and said, "You're always like this, but I know you didn't mean it."Zh: 月点头，说："下次我会小心点，远距离欣赏它们的美。"En: Yue nodded and said, "Next time, I'll be more careful and admire them from a distance."Zh: 他们走在阳光明媚的植物园小径上，感受着春天的温暖。En: They walked along the sunlit paths of the botanical garden, feeling the warmth of spring.Zh: 尽管有惊无险，他们都知道这一趟植物园之旅将成为一次难忘的回忆。En: Despite the minor scare, they both knew this trip to the botanical garden would become an unforgettable memory.Zh: 在那个阳光灿烂的季节，他们不仅看到了美丽的植物，也领悟到了尊重自然之美的方法。En: In that bright sunny season, they not only saw beautiful plants but also learned a way to appreciate the beauty of nature with respect. Vocabulary Words:botanical: 植物exhibition: 展览pavilion: 展馆dazzling: 耀眼exotic: 奇特curiosity: 好奇cautiously: 小心点unique: 造型奇特shimmering: 光泽examine: 端详slightly: 微微bumped: 碰到wobbled: 晃了sway: 摇晃nervously: 紧张地firmly: 稳稳地sheepishly: 战战兢兢地apologizing: 对不起exchanged: 对视glances: 眼burst: 大笑admire: 欣赏unforgettable: 难忘的memory: 回忆appreciate: 领悟到respect: 尊重quietly: 小声resist: 不由自主地rescue: 拯救fortunate: 幸运

Why does looking "effortless" cost so much?In this episode, I'm breaking down the myth of low-maintenance beauty and why "natural" is often anything but. From aristocrats who had other people do the work for them to today's hyper-curated "clean girl" aesthetic, what looks effortless is usually carefully constructed behind the scenes. I'll get into how this illusion became a class signal, who it actually benefits, and who gets left out.Because in beauty culture, effort doesn't disappear...it just gets edited out.Are. You. Ready?****************Sources & Further Reading:Class, Taste, and BeautyBourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste (Harvard University Press).Lemire, Beverly. Dress, Culture and Commerce (Palgrave Macmillan).History of Beauty & CosmeticsPeiss, Kathy. Hope in a Jar: The Making of America's Beauty Culture (Metropolitan Books).Jones, Geoffrey. Beauty Imagined (Oxford University Press).Beauty, Labor, and SociologyWolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth (HarperCollins).Waring, Marilyn. If Women Counted (University of Toronto Press).Modern Beauty & Digital CultureTolentino, Jia. Trick Mirror (Random House).Elias, Ana Sofia et al. Aesthetic Labour (Palgrave Macmillan).****************Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show!Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282Spotify Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA****************Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!YouTube:@beautyunlockedspodcasthourTikTok:tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod****************Intro/Outro Music:“Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

It is not often that I see a child with possible rheumatologic disease in the pediatric ER. What to ask, what to check for and what labs to order are always important things to think about. That is why I asked Dr. Robert Lowe to come on the show and discuss the management of those patients. Dr. Lowe Advice on Labs to order when suspecting Rheumatological condition: For suspected JIA. Most important to confirm joint swelling on physical exam AND a history of one or more joints being swollen continuously for 6 weeks or longer. Systemic JIA (only 15% of kids with JIA) ESR and CRP are both elevated like you would see with an infection or with inflammatory bowel disease with the added presence of significant joint swelling and daily recurring high fevers (>102F usually) without other symptoms of infection for Systemic JIA. For other systemic autoimmune disease High ESR with normal or near normal CRP can suggest the presence of another systemic autoimmune disease such as SLE D-dimer Ferritin LDH UA with Random protein to Cr ratio Dont order ANA and instead check ONLY the following: ·  Double Stranded DNA (dsDNA) Ab, ·  Smith antibody (not Smooth muscle antibody), ·  Ribonuclear protein Ab (RNP Ab), ·  SSA and SSB Abs (Sjogrens syndrome antibodies)     Please consider contributing to PEM Rules at https://ko-fi.com/pemrules And check out www.pemrules.com  Copyright PEM Rules LLC DISCLAIMER By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use these resources as medical advice to treat any medical conditions in either yourself or others, including, but not limited to, patients that you are treating. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast or website. Under no circumstances shall PEM Rules, the PEM Rules podcast or any guests or affiliated entities be responsible for damages arising from their use. This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including, but not limited to, establishing "standard of care" in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the website or in the podcast.

Joey's daughter, Jia, finally gets her iPad back after being punished last week. What did she learn? What did YOU learn from what you remember? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey's daughter, Jia, finally gets her iPad back after being punished last week. What did she learn? What did YOU learn from what you remember? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey's daughter, Jia, finally gets her iPad back after being punished last week. What did she learn? What did YOU learn from what you remember? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey received a DM about how his daughter Jia shouldn't be pumping gas because that's a BOY job. What are your thoughts on the conversation? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey received a DM about how his daughter Jia shouldn't be pumping gas because that's a BOY job. What are your thoughts on the conversation? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey received a DM about how his daughter Jia shouldn't be pumping gas because that's a BOY job. What are your thoughts on the conversation? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey is in a pickle figuring out what to save for. Which party should he throw for his daughter Jia? What did you do and how much did it cost? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey is in a pickle figuring out what to save for. Which party should he throw for his daughter Jia? What did you do and how much did it cost? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess

Joey is in a pickle figuring out what to save for. Which party should he throw for his daughter Jia? What did you do and how much did it cost? Follow us on socials! @themorningmess