Podcast appearances and mentions of John Flanagan

What Books are Healthiest for Your Tween or Teen an Interview with Betsy Farquhar and Hayley Morell (Episode 293)   *Disclaimer: Some of this content is not intended for young audiences. Please use discretion.   Proverbs 4:7 NIV “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”   *Transcription Below*   Betsy Farquhar holds Masters degrees in Children's Literature and Information and Library Science. She taught middle and high school English, homeschooled her three children, and has served on many book award committees.   Hayley Morell loves reading, writing, trying new recipes, knitting, or chatting with her parrot. Hayley loves traveling and lived abroad in Europe and Asia. She and her husband and infant live in Wisconsin in an old house overflowing with books and are active in their local community.   Their Website, Book, and Social Media Handles: Instagram @redeemed_reader and Facebook: @redeemedreader   Thank you to our sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: What are some benefits of reading and why is it worthwhile to devote our time to curating a healthy diet of books? Can you elaborate on why the Young Adult or YA category is the most controversial? What is on your radar for genres or books that will require even more discernment in the future?   Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: 21. Promoting a Family Culture of Reading with Megan Kaeb 22. Inspiring Your Children to Become Readers, Part Two with Megan Kaeb 253. Low Tech Parenting with Erin Loechner 273. Wise Living: Why to Get Outside, and Travel, and Read Aloud with Amber O'Neal Johnston   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*‍   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:46) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today over 55 years later at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka.   Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over Central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com.   My guests for today are Betsy Farquhar and Haley Morrill, two of the four authors of this book, The Redeemed Reader, which is also the name of the website that they run together where they have thousands of book reviews for children and tweens and teens.   We all know that books are so powerful, so it's vitally important that we're discerning both for what we're intaking and the filters that we use to allow our children to engage with books in our home. We're going to sprinkle book recommendations throughout this episode, and you're also going to learn some surprising things, such as more details about the YA or young adult category. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Betsy and Haley.   Betsy Farquhar: (1:48 - 1:49) Thanks. It's good to be here.   Laura Dugger: (1:50 - 1:57) I would love to just start out hearing the way that the two of you found your way into the work that you get to do today.   Betsy Farquhar: (1:58 - 2:42) Mine started way back in the 1900s when I was in college. I did my senior thesis on children's literature, George MacDonald, and that led to a children's literature class my last semester, which led me to grad school with one of my now co-workers, but at the time fellow students and friends, and we got our master's in children's literature. And then rabbit trail, lots of detours, children, marriage. She and I started a blog back when those were cool and hip, and it was reviewing children's books and that was just for fun. And then we connected with Janie and Emily from Redeemed Reader. Through that blog venue, we were commenting on each other's blogs, and they brought us on board. And so here we are 15 years later.   Hayley Morell: (2:43 - 3:38) And for me, I was a high schooler. I was homeschooled. I loved reading.   So, I started my own blog back in the teenage years and I was always looking for book recommendations and came upon Redeemed Reader in the early days. I turned out they were looking for an intern. I started interning and at the end of my internship, Emily Witten, who was our founder, asked if I'd like to stay on.   And that was 14 or 15 years ago now. So, I was younger. And so, I had a period at college.   I studied at Boyce College. I worked in children's ministry and worked as a private tutor. So, a lot of interactions with children.   I was known as the babysitter with the book bag for a number of years. And now I've got my own little, and so I'm in the land of board books and happily working at Redeemed Reader.   Laura Dugger: (3:39 - 3:49) I love hearing that. And if people are watching this through video, can you both just say your name, so we know who's Betsy and who's Haley? I'm Haley.   Betsy Farquhar: (3:50 - 3:51) I'm Betsy.   Laura Dugger: (3:52 - 4:07) Okay, wonderful. Thank you for that. And at Redeemed Reader, I'm assuming you have so many book recommendations to try and read and review.   So, how do you even determine which books you are going to review?   Hayley Morell: (4:08 - 7:49) So, right now we are wrapping up one of the things we love doing, which is providing award coverage. In January is when the American Library Association announces their awards, and they like to recognize the best middle grade with the Newberry, the best picture books with the Caldecott, and then a number of other awards. We know that those books are going to be going into lots of libraries and schools.   And so, we like to provide coverage of that and review those books that we know parents are going to be seeing on shelves and wondering, is this a good book? Should we be reading this? What do we want to check out?   We also like to watch what is popular. What is causing discussion? So, several years ago, that was The Hunger Games.   And there was a lot of questions about dystopia. Should we be reading this? Is this helpful?   Do I want my teen reading The Hunger Games? More recently, some popular middle grade series like Keeper of the Lost Cities have had a lot of parents asking, what is this series? Is there anything I should know about?   And so, we try to have a balanced review. We review books that you're going to find at the library. We also like to review books that maybe you wouldn't know about.   So, a smaller Christian imprint, for example, we like to review that type of book to encourage readers to read widely, to read Christian authors, to read secular authors. We like books. And so, we each bring our own specialty to the team and experience.   Janie, who's our senior editor, is a children's author. She loves history. And so, as the community relations manager, I tend to handle review requests.   So, when somebody asks us, can you review this book? It's popular. Or I'm an author.   I wrote a book. Can you review it? I'll look at the book.   I'll look at how hard is it to get? We do try to review books that are easy to find, that you might find in your local library. But then I'll look at our team.   So, for Janie, if it is going to be a nonfiction history, let's say for a 10 to 12-year-old, I know that's going to be up her alley. Meanwhile, Betsy loves poetry. She loves nature, nonfiction.   Betsy is a very, I'd say you're one of our Renaissance people. And so, I know Betsy is going to be inclined towards maybe a novel and verse. And she also likes dealing with high school books.   You've got that teacher education background, where if it is an epic poem, Betsy is going to be our reviewer. Megan is our amazing picture book author. She's super creative, loves picture books.   Megan is who I turn to when I find a picture book. Meanwhile, I used to handle as I was the team member of the team and then turned into my 20s. So, I gravitated toward YA, and I still love a good YA fantasy.   But I am now in board book land and picture books. So, I have been expanding my reach. I do serve on our middle grade fiction, so I can help out with middle grades.   But each of us will flex in, flex out. Megan has a large family of boys. And so, if it's a boy book, she is a great person.   We love to send those to her to see if her boys like them. And that's, I could keep going because we love books, but that's a big snapshot.   Laura Dugger: (7:50 - 8:09) That's so helpful because you cover such a wide variety of books throughout your team. And as curators of book reviews, what questions are you most commonly receiving, both from young people and maybe their parents as well?   Hayley Morell: (8:12 - 9:22) I think we often get questions like, is this book clean? Is this book safe? And we like to kind of change that question.   And we like to say, why is the content in this book? Because that can be different, you know, depending on something that is in a picture book, which wouldn't be appropriate for an age, could be very appropriate for a YA book and a great discussion starter. So, it definitely depends on the content and what audience and what age of the audience we're dealing with.   So, we try to, as people ask us, well, is this safe or is this clean? Should I read this? We want to build discernment and encourage parents to interact, parents and educators to interact with our reviews.   And they know their reader. They know how their reader is going to receive a book. And what questions might come up.   And so, we like to help interact with that conversation. And then there's another kind of question we often get, which I'm going to let Betsy answer.   Betsy Farquhar: (9:23 - 10:10) The other question is, my kid likes blank kind of book or is blank kind of reader. What do I get for him or her? And so that, of course, can vary widely.   But people love to know what book is right for my family or my classroom or my child. And so, we try to write our reviews with that question in mind, not to make a blanket statement, you should all read this book, or nobody should read this book, but to give parents and educators enough information to make that decision for themselves. And then we started doing these reels on Instagram, where we're pretending we're answering a customer service phone call with questions we've been asked, right?   My son only likes video games, or my daughter doesn't want fantasy, but she reads these kinds of books. And so, we try to help people think that through.   Laura Dugger: (10:10 - 10:14) So, that's really how we continue.   Hayley Morell: (10:15 - 11:09) Sorry. And one more question that we often get because we are book reviewers is, will you review my book? And so, at that point, we do have a process.   We encourage people to submit a request. And it could be maybe a book they're curious about and would just like a review from us, or they're an author or a publisher. And so, in that case, we direct them to our review submission form.   And like I said before, we are definitely looking for books that are easy to find. That will encourage us to review a book, because while we love books that are like smaller imprints, et cetera, and we do try to provide coverage for that, we also are aware that a lot of our audience only has their library or their school library. And so, we are trying to do books that are easy to find and accessible for our readers.   Laura Dugger: (11:10 - 11:40) Okay, that's really helpful to hear what people are writing in and asking you about. And so, hearing the sweet spot from each team member, and then Betsy, how you mentioned people love to know what's right for my family. So, no, this won't fit every situation. But can you give examples of maybe books that the four of you find yourselves recommending quite a bit because they are ones that fit a wide range of people?   Betsy Farquhar: (11:41 - 13:39) Of course, we put a ton of recommendations in our book that came out in the fall. And those are sort of our most common recommendations. We have a place on our website called Starred Reviews.   And those are the best of the best in our mind of their genre. So, if you're looking for graphic novels, and you see a star on a graphic novel, it's because we think this is an amazing graphic novel. So, that's just a helpful framework, because of course, people are all over the map, right?   We're in the midst of whittling down our Book of the Year for this year. And we also have our Reader's Choice Book of the Year. And those books are ones we tend to recommend all the time.   So, I'm going to give you just some samples of what are on our Reader's Choice list, because that is a public list. And I can't reveal the 2025 releases we're considering for the other one. But for our Book of the Year for the Reader's Choice this year, we have The Found Boys by S. D. Smith.   We've got, I've got them all right here, Olivetti by Allie Millington. There's The Hiding Place: A Graphic Novel and the Watership Down: The Graphic Novel that are both really fun. People have really enjoyed them.   We've got the first book in The Dream Keeper Saga by Kathryn L. Butler. That's a Christian fantasy series. We've got Enemies in the Orchard, which is the novel in verse about World War II.   One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, which is another novel in verse about some Black pioneers going west on a wagon train. And that might be, oh, The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo. Kate DiCamillo is a super prolific author, and we do recommend her books often.   Her book, Ferris, was our Book of the Year last year. So, there's just a quick sampling of some middle grades' books. And middle grades, for people who don't know, that's the broad fourth through eighth grade age range.   You think of like ages 8 to 12. And they tend to be the broadest in audience. You can usually read those aloud to a younger audience, or even teenagers might find them enjoyable.   So, that's a good start.   Hayley Morell: (13:40 - 14:29) I do think one of the beauties of our team is that we've worked together for a long time. And we trust our team. And so, I will happily recommend a book that I haven't seen, but I know Betsy loved and reviewed.   And it's so fun reading the same books. So, like right now, since we're on award committees, we are seeing a lot of the same books and getting to talk about them. But I think it's one of our strengths that we each bring something to the table.   And I would say if someone really likes history, I'm going to look at what Janie has loved recently, because I know she is looking for those good new history books. And its so fun recommending books and getting to play to our strengths.   Laura Dugger: (14:31 - 16:16) And that comes out in book recommendations. When you're passionate about what you're reading, it's naturally contagious, I think. And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle.   This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different.   I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business.   Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them on 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship.   I'm curious, over the years, what character qualities have you noticed in people who are now adults, but they originally fell in love with reading in childhood?   Betsy Farquhar: (16:17 - 17:39) So, that's a pretty broad question. I would think, I'm just going to paint this with broad strokes. People who read typically are people who think, and especially in a day and age where we're bombarded with screens and soundbites all the time, if somebody can actually read an analog book from start to finish, then typically they're going to be able to think about ideas in a different way than people who are just existing on soundbites.   So, the ability to think is pretty critical. There's been a lot of studies that show that people who read also have better empathy. It's just a way we can sort of step into somebody else's shoes, especially if we're reading a story about somebody who perhaps lived in a different time period, or they're from a different ethnic background, or even if there's just a different socioeconomic level, it helps us understand the people on the other side a little bit better.   So, that kind of, this twin characteristics of empathy and thoughtfulness, I think are pretty common. We all go through seasons where we don't read as much, whether we're stressed or perhaps, my kids are in college and they were avid readers in high school, and they're not doing a lot of reading for fun right now, but they know how to read and they enjoy it. So, they'll probably come back to that in the future.   So, I think that's a helpful thing to remember, just because your eight-year-old loves reading, when he or she is 18, they may not be reading as much, and that's okay. They'll probably come back to it.   Hayley Morell: (17:40 - 17:53) And I've definitely seen that with younger siblings too, burning out and then all of a sudden back, asking for book recommendations. And it's fun to know that reading habits stick around.   Laura Dugger: (17:55 - 18:38) That's well said. And yet, even if they lie dormant for a while, they may be reawakened in adulthood. But I think I find it's less common for someone to fall in love with reading for their first time as an adult.   So, I think it's very beneficial as parents to cultivate or instill this love of reading in our children. And you two are the experts. So, I'd love to hear your take on this.   What are some of the benefits of reading? And why is it worthwhile to devote our time to curating a healthy diet of books, both for ourselves, but especially for our children?   Hayley Morell: (18:39 - 20:06) Betsy, I think you might've said this once, but I think it came up as we were talking about writing our book. As I have a small child who's just starting to notice pages and we're reading board books and he's trying to reach for it. I remember someone once said that reading to a very young child, they're not registering the story yet.   They might be registering the pictures. But the time that we're taking reading, when I read to him or when my husband gets home from work and they read one board book together, he's not really looking at the book as much as he's looking at our face and hearing our voice. And books are becoming something that we do together and that we do as a family.   And it's a way that we're building relationships. And I think that's a great encouragement to me to keep reading. And I have nieces and nephews who loved books.   And then that's something that we enjoy the story together and we'll laugh over silly stories and we'll read. But I think that it's something that as we want to like curate our collections but also think about how are we encouraging children to love reading. It's if they see us reading too and see us enjoying books and still picking up a book ourselves.   I'm not sure, Betsy, if you have anything that you would add to that.   Betsy Farquhar: (20:07 - 20:41) Well, I just think the better we read anything, the better equipped we are to read the story in the Bible because God revealed himself to us in a written book. And so, we're sort of flexing those muscles when we read. And the more we can engage with what we read, even if it's a picture book with a five-year-old, we're beginning that practice of developing discernment.   And that's part of discipling our children. So, I do think it's all part of the same picture. It's not going to look the same for every family but just working on developing those muscles of discernment and reading intelligently, that's going to go a long way.   Laura Dugger: (20:43 - 22:07) I love how you bring in the Bible that is so important. And I found myself even just this week at bedtime praying over our daughters that they would have a love for the written word because that is what God has gifted to us. And I love how the word became flesh and dwelt among us, but he is the original storyteller and has instilled that in each of us.   And I think just a very practical way at any age to help our children cultivate this love is by reading aloud. And we recently were on a family vacation and had a rental vehicle and we had a long drive-in front of us and listened to the radio for a while. But we also like this tradition of reading one book aloud on a vacation.   So, we remember our time in Florida from one year was a place to hang the moon and it was a different book this year, but I get car sick while we're driving. So, I couldn't read it aloud. So, our oldest daughter read it aloud for all of us.   And I realized how much attention and focus is required and imagination to paint these pictures of the characters in your mind. And I just thought, wow, there's so much learning that's going on even as the one listening to the book, not reading the actual words.   Betsy Farquhar: (22:09 - 22:15) And a place to hang the moon was our reader's choice favorite last year. So, lots of our readers have read that one.   Laura Dugger: (22:16 - 22:36) It's such a good one. And as wonderful as books are, they're also powerful and influential. So, as you've reiterated, discernment is required.   And I'd love for you to elaborate on why the young adult, or the YA category can be the most controversial.   Hayley Morell: (22:38 - 25:12) Young adult protagonists are often upper teenage years. And so, we like to say, as we mentioned in our book, no topic is out of bounds. And this means that there can be a lot going on and a lot of messiness.   We like to use that word as we're talking about that. And sometimes the messiness can be thought provoking. Sometimes it can be provocative.   And we have noticed often YA deals with questions of identity. Who am I? How do I relate to the world?   And that can look like lots of different things. It can include sexual identity, which can lead to a lot of conversations. But something that we like to lean into as we look at the YA genre is that in a world where everything is constantly shifting, as you have a teen and they're encountering conversations at school, conversations with peers, or using social media, having an ever-changing feed that I can look at my Instagram feed and it's going to look nothing like a teenager's Instagram feed.   Even if you're looking at the same account, the way that reels are coming, they're getting bombarded with messages. The messiest of books is static. And you both can look at that and read the cover, read what's going on, and talk about it.   And you both have the same place to have a conversation. And so, we like to lean into that when we're looking at YA books and realize they are powerful, but they're powerful conversation starters. And books like, Betsy recently read a book, and it's called Bright Red Fruit.   And it's a cautionary tale about a teenage girl who has a relationship with an older man that's predator. And he is taking advantage, trying to separate her that is an excellent conversation starter. It's not an easy book to read.   You're reading it, getting worried for this girl, but it's a great way to say, let's read this book and let's talk about what a healthy relationship looks like, because this is not healthy. So, we love YA books that can provoke conversations. And sometimes it might be you both looking at a book and going, you know, this doesn't seem helpful.   We don't need to finish this book. It's okay to stop reading a book and return it to the library.   Laura Dugger: (25:12 - 26:11) I completely agree. And even with that YA section, one of our daughters was just saying, when I go through that section of the library, it seems like every single book is about death. And it did provoke a good conversation from that.   But I think it was Sarah McKenzie who was the first person that I heard explain the difference between a middle grade novel or YA because from my understanding, middle grade isn't just for those grades. You even said younger ages can enjoy that and older. I have friends that only read middle grade novel now as adults.   So, it's not just your reading level, but YA has different rules on it where I think you said anything goes, any topic is allowed. So, it doesn't mean that YA is necessarily what you have to graduate to once you enter high school. Is that right?   Hayley Morell: (26:11 - 27:06) But yes, it's typically and the funny thing that you kind of leaned into it, some middle grade books definitely deal with coming of age or might even have a teenage protagonist, but it's written in a way that a 12 year old could read it and enjoy it. When you get into like the higher YA, it is more like young adults, people starting their own lives, having adventures, leaving home, going on quests. And like you said, bringing in some heavier topics.   Now we have seen since like in the last five years, a lot of books dealing with death and grieving that are hitting that middle grade genre too, which can be helpful. But at the same time, if you're just reading sad books, you might want to change your diet and find a fun, happy book too.   Laura Dugger: (27:07 - 27:31) Again, in a conversation like this, it has to be more general of a recommendation, but there's such a difference, I'm sure in YA for your 13-year-old versus your 18-year-old. So, for someone who does want to dip their toe into some YA books, do you have anyones that you find yourselves recommending again for that age group?   Betsy Farquhar: (27:32 - 28:42) I'll jump in here. We've got a couple of book lists on our site that are, have actual number ages attached to them. Thirteen books for 13-year-old boys is a great one for that younger teen audience.   But those tend to be, they're grappling with some coming-of-age issues, but they tend to be more adventure based in a sense and more fun. I think of the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. There's a little bit of language.   There's a little bit of romance, but it's very teen, young teen friendly. And its actually kind of a good picture of men being heroes and women are heroes in very, like the men are men, they're very masculine. And the women, even if they're part of the army, so to speak, they're still doing it in a feminine way.   So, it's just kind of a nice sort of entry into some of those conversations. But then if you fast forward, by the time teens are in their upper teens, they should be able to read adult books too. And so, you might find yourself reading something like Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, which is very much written for an adult market, but very accessible to teens if they're willing to grapple with some of those ideas.   But that book's going to be a lot heavier than a book for a 13-year-old.   Laura Dugger: (28:44 - 29:05) That's helpful just to have examples. And I think it's also helpful to put this into context by reflecting back through time. So, just in America, what have you learned about the trends and the changes in libraries, specifically over the past 75 years?   Betsy Farquhar: (29:06 - 31:30) So, I have a library degree too, so I love talking about libraries. In library science, we have a rule, it's called Ranganathan's Law, and it simply says every book is reader, which means that for every book out there, there's a reader out there. And libraries take that very seriously.   No book is off the table for a public library. We had an entire class on serving our community. So, the goal behind a public library has always been to serve the community in which it's placed.   Now that's changed a lot as our society has changed a lot. So, before World War II, most libraries were funded very locally, local taxes, they may have even been subscription-based, but after we have all these army vets coming back after World War II, they're going back to school later. We have this explosion of information access for people who can't get it.   So, the Library Services Act was the first one. We've had lots of iterations since then. Now it includes technology.   It started with giving federal dollars to rural libraries, and it's continued even to big cities now, but the focus is still on services for people who can't access them as easily. So, free Wi-Fi was a really big one before Wi-Fi was as broad spread. There are services for the blind and for other communities that might not be able to read as easily.   So, it's still sort of an information hub, but I think that makes us uncomfortable sometimes as Christians because our society has changed so much that we go into a library now and we're like, I would never read this book to my kid. Well, but your neighbor might, and the public library is not the parent of your child. The public library is serving the whole community.   So, go ahead and request them to stock some Christian books. A lot of them will buy the Christian books that you request because they want to serve you. You're part of their community.   So, I think we just have to remember that their goal is broader. My goal as a parent is far more niche than my public librarian's goal to serve her community. She's not my enemy.   Even if she's picking things for story time that I would never read to my children, it doesn't mean I have to ignore the library. I can love that those are image bearers. I can respectfully bring up my concerns, and I can suggest books and I can build a relationship with this fellow image bearer in my community.   It can be a great mission field. So, yes, libraries are continually evolving. That's why they now offer you can even check out sports equipment.   They're still trying to provide information and resources for the community.   Hayley Morell: (31:32 - 32:01) I just recommended or requested two books that were Christian picture books that aren't in our system. And one of our librarians helped me fill out the form explaining why I wanted them. And I just got a notification yesterday. Both are on hold for me and have been added to our library. So, it's exciting. If you don't ask, you don't know if you're going to get it. I honestly was surprised. I was like, oh, they actually got the books I wanted.   Laura Dugger: (32:02 - 32:56) It is so exciting when they do that. I love our local library, and the staff is just wonderful to work with. So, that's great encouragement for us to get to know them by name and have a relationship with them.   And just to zero in on that one piece after World War II, I think that's tied to what so many people call is it the golden age of children's literature where some people will say we only read books before a certain year, like mid-1900s. But I love that you guys review even modern books because it's not that it was all better back then. But I do think there's a piece of truth in it that libraries had to be so discerning back then with less funding.   And so maybe they had the best of the best available and then funds came in and we can have a wider range.   Betsy Farquhar: (32:56 - 33:40) There's so many factors here historically because we could really nerd out, but I won't. But what's also being reflected is simply printmaking technology because the ability to print paperbacks, paperbacks as like a thing weren't a thing until the 20th century. So, books were incredibly expensive.   You've got all those factors playing in too. So, not only are they getting different funding, but there is an explosion in printmaking technology that allows publishers to produce inexpensive books. And that allows families and libraries to buy more books.   It's not dissimilar to the way we have digital media now that's got its own sort of technology behind the distribution of the digital books. So, there's a lot of factors involved in that.   Laura Dugger: (33:41 - 34:03) That is fascinating. I'm glad you brought that up. And like I said, so helpful to look back.   But now if we're also looking forward, I'd really appreciate your perspective on where we're headed. So, what's on your radar for genres or books that may require even more discernment in the future?   Hayley Morell: (34:04 - 37:18) So, right now, romanticy is having a moment and that's a genre that is getting a lot of attention. There's a lot of marketing using that language. And I think it's really helpful to realize this is a marketing term.   So, Fourth Wing became very popular. That is a book that is for adults. It has a lot of explicit sex.   But it used the term romanticy and it sold very well. And so suddenly all books that are fantasy and have some romance are being called romanticy. And that could mean a lot of different things.   So, what we're seeing is this term that if it's used in the YA genre, we don't know what it means going into a book. It might mean a lot of focus on romance and some unhelpful sex. It also could mean a really fun fantasy that happens to have a romantic angle.   So, I recently gave a starred review to A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim. That's a Chinese fairy tale, beauty and the beast type story. And it is excellent.   One of the marketing terms that used was romanticy. And it just is a wonderful fantasy story that has this thread of romance perfectly appropriate for teen readers. But that is a term that we're currently aware of.   And this is a genre that we want to notice and take with a grain of salt. It's kind of a contrast on the other side. It's differentiating between romanticy has romance and then there's cozy fantasy, which is more cottage core, comfortable feeling.   It also could have sex. So, there's, as we run into this fantasy genre, there's a lot of things going on, but it's definitely having a moment. And it's just nice to know what's going on and what cozy fantasy is going to be focused on character development, like very like a shopkeeper who inherits a cottage with a garden and grows mushrooms.   That's cozy fantasy. Romanticy is a chosen one motif who's at some dramatic school. Dark academia is also having a moment where it's a lot of angst, a lot of little bit of horror.   And some of it can be done really well because it's popular. There's a lot of it out there. And so, some discernment is required as you're figuring out, is this a book for adults or is this a book for teens?   I think I would be cautious with books that are being marketed for adults as romanticy because you could run into some things that are meant for an adult audience and might not be helpful for that teenage reader of yours.   Betsy Farquhar: (37:18 - 38:06) The only other thing I'll add, and this is sort of a different approach, but we're seeing a lot of genre blending. It's getting harder to say this is a mystery or this is a fantasy, even this is a historical fiction story. So, I think genre fiction in general is kind of having a moment.   And when we say genre fiction, we really mean things like mystery, science fiction, romanticy, these sort of sub genres that are underneath the broader terms of realistic fiction or speculative fiction is an umbrella term that includes fantasy, dystopia, science fiction, magical realism, all the little niche downstream sort of sub genres. But we're seeing some really interesting things. It's going to be harder to automatically decide I like that genre, or I don't because they're just mixing and matching elements from all over the place.   Laura Dugger: (38:08 - 39:15) Mm-hmm. That is helpful. I had never heard of some of those things that you just mentioned, but also I'd love for you to respond after I shared this story.   I had a previous guest, Megan Cabe, who used to run a blog. It was called Young Book Love and she would review, I think, middle grade novels, maybe a little bit of YA, but she would say most topics are beneficial to read, even if they're difficult, what you all refer to as messy books. But she did provide extra caution and just said she strongly advised against explicit sexual content because those mental images have a way of sticking with us.   And I agree with her. I would also add sometimes what's not appropriate for our children is not appropriate for us either. And just a funny way to remember this, I had a loved one recently who just said, “You can't sugarcoat a turd. I'd love your take on all of that.”   Hayley Morell: (39:17 - 41:54) So, we like to use the term beyond ever after when we're dealing with this idea of what romance is helpful, what is not helpful. And like you said, the age of the reader comes into play because something that might be a good conversation point with your teen, let's say dealing with a first kiss, that is something that is good to be thinking about and be talking about having healthy conversations about what is God's design for sexuality. And as you are starting to notice the opposite sex and have feelings, what do we do with those?   And again and again, it's been shown that it is helpful to have these conversations because if we're not having a conversation about what is God's view and what does God want us to do with this, our young people are going to turn to the world, which is very happy to give them a lot of talk about sexuality, but some very different perspectives and answers that are focused on yourself, let's you do you versus no, what has God given us and how are we going to steward this?   So, one of the things that I like to, that we like to be aware of as we're reviewing at Redeemed Reader is, is this a 12-year-old reading this book? And if a 12-year-old is reading a book and in the book, a 12-year-old is having a crush and it's kissing, we don't want our 12-year-olds kissing. That's not that helpful yet.   I mean, that's, that's quite young and yes, in some cultures you might, but not yet. However, if this is a book about an 18-year-old on a high school trip, like Becky Dean has some really fun YA romances that are appropriate for teens, then dealing with what is it like dating? What is it like dealing with these emotions and chemistry that can be really well done for an 18-year-old?   But like you said, we want to be aware of our imaginations. We want to be aware of what we're able to handle. And for someone, maybe reading those romances is fun and helpful.   For another, it might be unhelpful. And I think that comes down to as a reader growing discernment and knowing what you are able to read that will still be edifying.   Betsy Farquhar: (41:56 - 42:55) I'm going to piggyback a little bit. I, I agree that there, we look to scripture for what the standards are, and the Bible is not describing sexual activity in sordid detail. So, it's probably a good idea for us not to be wallowing in the same sorts of things.   And I think the same thing is true for language. In fact, it's easier to ignore profanity in a book you're reading versus listening to it. I mean, if we immerse ourselves in audio books that have, that are littered with profanity, it's going to stick in our head differently than if we're just reading it on the page.   And I think sexual activity; there are some similar dynamics at play. Obviously, a visual scene is going to be probably stick with us even more than a written scene. But either way, you know, that's part of discernment is what is my imagination doing with this?   And the overall picture of my reading diet. Is this all I'm reading? Is this what my thoughts are going towards?   Are they pointing me back to Christ? Are they promoting some helpful conversation? Or is it just sort of my guilty pleasure? Well, that should be maybe a sign.   Laura Dugger: (43:21 - 43:45) Some love stories are described as squeaky clean. But when it comes to the world of Christian romance, what are some helpful questions that we can be asking our tween or teen? And what are some healthy considerations for filtering books that we're going to allow to be consumed in our home?   Hayley Morell: (43:47 - 47:15) So, it's interesting. I think each genre of romance can have its own pitfalls. And I know I really appreciate the authors who are writing clean, squeaky-clean stories.   And as I've read them and consumed them, one of the things I've noticed is that it is clean. There's no question of something being clean. But at the same time, if the only thing we're reading, going back to having a balanced book diet, is a squeaky-clean story, I don't think that's helpful because it doesn't show an accurate view of the world.   And we want to be preparing our tweens and teens for a world where, yes, there is a happily ever after. Yes, we have the fairy tale wedding, or we have an imagination that is sparked by boy meets girl. But then what happens next?   And we live in a fallen world. And so, we have to work on relationships. We have to work on communicating.   And sometimes squeaky clean can lean so far into being safe that it doesn't actually show what it is like to have a relationship with the opposite sex. I think of one story I read and it's very superficial, playful. Snarky is often something I've noticed in the squeaky clean because we don't, we have to have some form of banter.   And so, it's perpetual sarcasm and no physical touch. But then suddenly our protagonists marry and now they're still being snarky and not touching. And as an adult, I look at that and go, that is not an accurate portrayal of what it looks like to have a romance and to have marriage.   And so, we love to ask, what are the relationships like in this book? And if that's in a middle grade novel, one of the things we love seeing is are they showing a healthy family? Are they showing parents that like being together?   Because that's at a middle grade level is you're sparking that imagination. What is our protagonist seeing as the adults around them are having relationships? Do the adults like to be together?   I just was reading a really sweet, Betsy, I think you read it. But Will's Race for Home is a story about this boy and westward expansion. And so, it's when the Oklahoma, Oklahoma land rush opens up.   And there's the sweetest time where he talks about how he knows his father loves his mother because his father will look at his mother and she will blush. And it's the sweetest age-appropriate picture of what romance looks like when you're a 12-year-old looking at your parents. And I think that type of thing can be a really healthy way of having these conversations versus having a diet that is just squeaky clean and yet might actually be showing an inaccurate portrayal of what it's like to have relationships in a fallen world.   Laura Dugger: (47:16 - 47:30) Well, let's get specific on another type of book as well. How do you advise parents to think critically on what age is appropriate to consume what you mentioned earlier, the Hunger Games or a book like that?   Betsy Farquhar: (47:31 - 49:44) Ooh, pick me. I love these kind of books. I'll read anything.   And I tend to get tasked with books that are difficult sometimes. Although many of us on our team read them and we do talk about these behind the scenes. So, when you're thinking about the age your child is and when they're ready for any book, but especially a popular one, I think part of that is our job as parents is always to be watching our children, to be students of our children.   How are they consuming media in general? What kind of video games? What kind of movies?   Are they on social media? What is their media diet like? And how are they handling that?   And if they're showing discernment in general, and they're kind of grappling with issues and ideas, then they're going to be ready for a book like the Hunger Games sooner than a child who's just blindly taking it all in. There's no magic age where you say, ooh, you're 12, you can read the Hunger Games. A lot depends on what that child's already displayed.   And I think dystopia are the books where there's some apocalyptic future and there's usually an autocratic governor or government system or it's futuresque. But they're really great books about bringing up big questions about how society works and the nature of authority and even the nature of anarchy. And they're just such great discussion starters.   But if your child isn't able to have those kinds of conversations yet, they're going to miss the forest for the trees and it's going to be all shock value. But I'm going to add a big caveat. If it's really popular and you think your child is maybe ready, maybe not quite, I would probably go ahead and read it with him or her if all of the peers are reading it.   Because I would rather my child have that conversation with me than with their friend. Or at least have it with me first before they read it with their friends. Even if we skip parts, maybe it's a book that you feel like we can't read chapter 12 for whatever reason.   Be honest with your child and say, you know what? This book has a scene I'm really uncomfortable with. Maybe give a brief summary.   We're going to keep going. But engage with your children over what is popular. I think that is the number one takeaway because they're going to find answers somewhere.   We want it to be from us.   Laura Dugger: (49:46 - 50:52) That is good. And that's why I appreciate the redeemed reader because you're putting in all this work for us because we can't pre-read everything. But when we're faced with a situation like that, it is helpful that we can choose to read some with them.   And another angle, I just love a few of your quotes in the book. First, on page 76, you write, If Genesis were made into a true-to-the-book movie, the Redeemed Reader team would not allow our children to watch it. We might abstain as well.   And then you go on for page 111 and you say, the best tool we can give our growing readers is God's word. The more they know and understand the Bible, the better equipped they will be to think discerningly, to recognize error, and to know how the Bible handles the same issues. So, will you just elaborate on this wisdom and advise us on how and why to encourage our children to read the Bible, even though it is messy?   Betsy Farquhar: (50:53 - 52:58) Well, it is a messy book, but thankfully, it's not only a messy book. I mean, if it were a movie, we have nudity very quickly. Then we have rebellion against God, and then we have murder.   And before you know it, six chapters in, the world is so bad that God is sending a flood to destroy it. So, it must have been really bad. But the Bible isn't giving us all those details.   And I think that is a big piece of the picture when it comes to discernment in literature. The Bible is not shy about telling us that people sinned. I mean, our heroes, David, infidelity, murder, you know, most of the famous people in the Bible did something egregiously wrong and sinful.   And yet the whole story of the Bible is God redeeming his people. We're all sinners. And there is hope because of Christ.   None of us can make it without Christ. And so, in the Bible, you're seeing both the mess and the hope. You're seeing God's answer to this problem.   And so, as we read scripture with our kids, one of the things that is helpful is we know what sin is. It's rebellion against God. It includes everything from sexual activity outside of marriage to gossip and pride and sort of the easy sins, right?   They're all sin. So, I think that's one thing that comes across when we're studying God's word. We also see Christ.   And when we then turn to a book, just a regular fiction book or even a nonfiction book, is the book also labeling sin as sin or at least a mistake? Or is it glorifying it? How is it handling it compared to how we know scripture handles it?   Is there any hope in the book? And where is that hope found? Are they just praying to the universe?   We're seeing universe capitalized all over the place now as sort of this amorphous deity. Well, that's not hopeful. I don't want to pray to Jupiter.   You know, we have a God who cares about us. And so just getting your kids to sort of reckon with the differences between how a book is portraying hope and judgment versus how scripture portrays it, that's going to take them a long way.   Laura Dugger: (53:01 - 53:23) That's fantastic. And your book lists at the end of each chapter are reason enough to purchase the book. But I'm sure that you've encountered additional titles since your publication date that you also enjoy.   So, will you share a handful of book recommendations, maybe some from each of those sweet spots again from your team?   Hayley Morell: (53:24 - 54:03) For young adults, we've actually mentioned both of the ones that I would add. They both have received starred reviews. A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim.   Excellent fantasy for young adults. And then Bright Red Fruit by Sophia O'Heo. And that one is a discussion starter.   It is a messy book, but it's an excellent book for its audience. Those would be two young adult fantasies. We see a lot of young adult fantasies.   So, but I would have loved to include those in the book. We just read them later.   Betsy Farquhar: (54:03 - 55:03) So, quick correction, Bright Red Fruit's not a fantasy, but it is it is. Oh, I apologize. That's fine.   It's a discussion starter. And that usually means that there's something in there you need to know about before you read it. As a parent, I would recommend doing your homework on that book.   It's a really good book to read with your daughters, but you might want to pre-read it first. Middle grade, that's our biggest bucket. Because it's the most it's got the widest audience reach and it's just so fun.   So, some of the ones that we've really liked, The Teacher of Nomadland by Daniel Nayeri. He is a Christian author. He won the National Book Award for this book for young people's literature and a Newbery Honor.   It's fantastic. It's a story about World War II. Benny on the Case by Wesley King is a really lovely mystery that features the protagonist has mosaic down syndrome, and it's just not very common to read books with different disabilities represented.   So, that's just a really sweet story. Lots of fun.   Hayley Morell: (55:04 - 55:05) It's a great audio book too.   Betsy Farquhar: (55:06 - 56:40) Yes. Song of the Stone Tiger, another Christian author, Glenn McCarty. It's a kind of a mix of realistic fiction and fantasy.   So, it's fun. A new one that we like. And then I'll leave you with one more.   I actually have it right here. So, for those who are watching this, they can see it. It's called Radiant by Vonda Michaud-Nelson.   And it's a novel in verse, but a beautiful picture of what it means to love your neighbor. So, The Sword by Marty Murkowski from New Growth Press. It's kind of a family devotional resource.   It was the World Magazine Book of the Year. We gave it a starred review as well. The Amazing Generation is a book for kids by the same author as The Anxious Generation.   So, that book is like a super bestseller for adults. This is kind of taking that idea and helping kids know how not to be the anxious generation, right? How they can be the amazing generation.   The World Entire is a nonfiction, maybe technically a picture book, but it's really long. And it's for this audience. And it's a true story about World War II, about a rescue.   I think it was set in Portugal. And then a graphic novel that's nonfiction. I'm trying to cover all your different genres here.   This is How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Meadez. It's about his father and how he emigrated or escaped from Cuba. But it's a graphic novel.   So, there's a lot of visual interest. So, that's a really interesting background for kids who are hearing a lot of headlines about places like Cuba. And they're like, what's really going on?   A book like that can help them understand just some of the nuance behind the headlines.   Hayley Morell: (56:41 - 58:51) One of the things about middle grades as we talk about books is that middle grade is the age where readers are just exploding. And while you might have been able to keep up with your reader, then they hit 10 or 12 years old, and you give them a stack of books and they're reading them and asking for more. So, we definitely have a lot of middle grade reviews.   Picture books, though, are another place that we just love. And there's been some recent ones that we looked at and got, oh, this would be so good for the book. Something like Tuesday's Bear by Alexander Davis.   It's this beautiful story based on a true historical event. Unclaimed luggage is where, you know, if a suitcase gets lost, what happens to the contents? Well, one family had an idea, and Alexandra tells it through the story of this little bear who gets lost and then is found.   It's the most beautiful story. As a Christian, you can see a lot of very true themes running through it. And it's a delight to read aloud.   Wild Honey from the Moon by Kenneth Craigel. It's a story about a mother shrew whose little boy is sick, and she is going to do anything, even if it means traveling all the way to the moon to get some wild honey. It's a very imaginative story.   Beautiful pictures. A couple sneak peek that are going to just, these reviews are just going up. Iguanodon's Horn by Sean Rubin.   We've loved Bolivar, it was a graphic novel he did about a dinosaur. You can tell he likes dinosaurs. This is an amazing nonfiction picture book.   And for our Christian readers, this is a book about dinosaurs that doesn't have evolution. And I think you're going to love it. One more. His Grace is Enough. This is like Dr. Zeus type rhyming. Melissa Kruger wrote it.   It's a Christian book and it's a wonderful reminder for children. When you are dealing with sin, God's grace is enough. And I think you'll find if you read this, you'll be repeating the stanzas to yourself and encouraged as you read.   Laura Dugger: (58:54 - 59:41) I love having book lists. And if any other listeners are like me, we'll finish this episode and go ahead and put a bunch of books on hold at the library, which is always so convenient. And I'm sure a lot of people aren't able to take notes right now.   Maybe they're driving or working out as they're listening to this. But I love that every episode on The Savvy Sauce now has a transcript available. So, if anybody wants these book lists, you can go to the show notes page, either on our website or click on your podcast app and the transcript is available there.   So, thank you for all those wonderful recommendations. And do you have any other helpful tips to give us as parents if we're trying to navigate this well?   Betsy Farquhar: (59:42 - 1:00:26) Yes, start at birth and start not just reading with your kids, but asking them questions. They don't, it doesn't have to be a lengthy discussion. Is Piglet a good friend to poo?   You know, if you're reading Winnie the Pooh or if you're an Elephant and Piggy fan, like my kids were. Do you think Gerald should share his ice cream with Piggy? You can just pause in the middle of the story and just get them thinking, right?   So then when you get to the Hunger Games, you can say, what did you think of the ending? Would you have liked it to end differently? Those are great open-ended questions that get people talking and engaging and that you're often running.   If you can just think, I need to engage with my kids over what we're reading, then almost any book can be a discussion starter.   Laura Dugger: (1:00:27 - 1:00:33) Well, where can we go after this conversation to find more of your book recommendations?   Betsy Farquhar: (1:00:35 - 1:01:29) I'll do this one. Redeemedreader, alloneword.com is our website. And then we're super creative.   Our Facebook is exactly the same. Redeemedreader, alloneword. Our Instagram is redeemed underscore reader.   That's kind of a long story. But if you Google Redeemed Reader, you'll find us. And then the best way, oh yes, of course our book, which is also called The Redeemed Reader.   We're so original. But the best way to experience Redeemed Reader, other than the book, is through our weekly newsletter, which Haley curates and she does a fantastic job. But there's where you'll get the latest reviews.   We put in links for other places around the web that you might find interesting, different bookish news. Haley does a really fun book trivia with picture books. So, we like to think that it's going to make your inbox a happy place.   It's not a marketing email.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:30 - 1:01:50) I love that. We will provide links to all of that in the show notes for today's episode. And you two are already familiar.   We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for both of you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Betsy Farquhar: (1:01:52 - 1:03:03) So, as a business owner and a mom and a wife, it's probably not a surprise that I love my planner, but I've been through a lot of planners in my day, and I have very specific requirements. It needs to be bound, not coil bound. There's a certain size.   I mean, I have issues. I should say I have high standards for my planner. The single best feature in my current planner is that it forces me to break down my to do list between my life to do and my work to do.   And that was a game changer for me because I am wearing a lot of hats as most women are these days. And so, I limit myself to the number of bullet points that I'm given in the planner so that my work doesn't overtake my family life. It tends to be that way, sadly, more than the other way around.   Usually, my family life is not overtaking the work life, but it just it just gives me a chance to articulate each week. You know, I've got a birthday coming up that I need to plan for or I need to make sure my I mean, I graduated my youngest last year from high school, but the senior year in high school has a lot of deadlines. And so, it just helped me prioritize those milestones for my family and not let work get in the way.   Love that.   Laura Dugger: (1:03:03 - 1:03:04) What's the name of your planner?   Betsy Farquhar: (1:03:04 - 1:03:17) It's called the commit 30. I know there are other planners that do the same sort of thing, but I love having a weekly spread and I just love breaking it out between life to do and work to do.   Laura Dugger: (1:03:18 - 1:03:20) Absolutely. That sounds amazing. I love it.   Hayley Morell: (1:03:21 - 1:05:10) And my savvy sauce, I was going to say, Betsy is the planner and Betsy, I know you wouldn't appreciate this is spiral bound. So, I echo having a planner is a great way for me to just sort through all my thoughts, put them down and organize what needs to get done. But my savvy sauce is related to tech habits.   And as we were getting ready for our first, my husband and I were talking about how could we be mindful with our phone usage? And I have to thank Betsy for recommending Andy Crouch's, The Tech-Wise Family. Love that book.   And one of the things that we decided to do was to create a charging station downstairs in our house. And when I am not working where I need my phone for authentication or sending a voice message or being on the phone, if I'm not actively working, my phone lives on its charger. And that's been a struggle for me.   I have to admit the moment I had a child, anxiety kicked in. And for the first month, the phone was on me because that's what I needed to have a little security blanket. But I've been learning to leave my phone behind.   And then I'm not tempted to pick it up and scroll. And I feel like a child again because I get to the middle of the afternoon. And since I haven't been distracting myself, I've been getting things done. And all of a sudden I'm like; it's two o'clock and it's not dinner time yet. I have all of this time because I've created some more time by using the phone as a tool. But not having it right present and honestly, just distracting myself with it.   Laura Dugger: (1:05:12 - 1:05:48) That is a good, savvy tip. I love both of those. And you two have such warm and engaging personalities.   And I love those benefits that you were talking about for people who are readers. I experienced all of that through both of you today. And you're so wise and discerning yourselves.   And I am just beyond grateful that the Lord gifted you with your intellect, but also this passion for reviewing these resources. You're benefiting so many parents and children alike.   So, thank you for the work that you do. And thank you for being my guests.   Betsy Farquhar: (1:05:49 - 1:05:57) Thank you for having us. It is all from the Lord. Anything we have that's wise and worth taking away.   The credit should go to him, of course.   Hayley Morell: (1:05:58 - 1:06:00) Ame

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Chief and Jim started off with the Bears win and the packers loss. Then about how getting season tickets on any sport has changed for the better??. John Flanagan comes on about the Murders around the world. Audre ends with the status of education today.

Dr John Flanagan, GP at Suffolk Street Surgery joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

Matt sat down with Symon to find out what his involvement is with the Florida Consortium whilst answering some of the questions that fans had following the interview that John Flanagan carried out with BBC Radio Sheffield.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr John Flanagan, GP at Suffolk Street Surgery joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

On the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet discusses the current Media and Marketing landscape in Japan with John Flanagan, President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. John has 30 plus years experience in the Media industry in Japan and has seen it evolve, including the rise of streaming services and the current advances in AI technologies. John also has extensive marketing experience and has some great advice for foreign business leaders looking to effectively market to Japanese audiences.In this episode you will hear:About the unique marketing landscape in JapanThe importance of understanding your target marketHow the media industry is currently evolvingThe importance of good storytelling when it comes to marketingSome of the challenges facing streaming services in Japan and globallyAbout John Flanagan:John Flanagan is President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. Flanagan is a media professional with over 30 years' experience in Japan. His career highlights include launching J:COM and running marketing at 20th Century Fox and iTunes in Japan. Flanagan also teaches marketing part time at Japan's largest MBA school, GLOBIS University. He graduated from Colorado College, which included one year's study at Waseda University in Tokyo. Flanagan later attended INSEAD.Connect with John Flanagan:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnflanaganasiaA+E Networks Website: https://jp.aenetworks.com/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ “Doin' the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

Luister naar het audiobook 'De hinderlaag bij Sorato', deel 18 van de spannende internationale bestsellerserie 'De Grijze Jager' van John Flanagan. Uitgegeven door Gottmer Spreker: Ellen van Rossum

A study exclusively reported on by EWTN News reveals religious institutions and dioceses are spending big dollars to help pay off the student loan debts of their priests and religious – Montse Alvarado reports on the details and we delve into the topic with The Labouré Society's John Flanagan and Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN. Roselle Reyes examines how work visas and green cards can be a stumbling block to the U.S.' reliance on foreign-born priests serving in parishes. Athletes, missionaries, and a former Olympian are bringing the light of Christ to the 2024 Paris games – Mark Irons reports. We sit down with Luke Russert, author of “Look for Me There”, to hear how he leaned on his Catholic faith amid the sudden loss of his father, broadcast legend Tim Russert.

Send your your thoughts, opinions or feedback on any topics discussed on our podcastsIt has been a busy week of football action, and Friday night saw a number of interesting ties in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division as well as a full round of fixtures in the First Division. Meanwhile, in Norwich, the Republic of Ireland Women's Team faced England in a Euro 2025 qualifier.The latest episode of the Extratime.com Voice Notes podcast, hosted by Oisín Langan, provides a round-up of all of Friday night's action and reflections from reporters at some of the games.With three Irish teams in midweek European action, there was a reduced number of matches in the Men's Premier Division, but fewer games certainly did not mean less drama, and there were plenty of moments of magic across the evening.In Dalymount Park, with newly appointed Republic of Ireland Men's Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson as an interested spectator, Sligo Rovers (playing with 10 men for almost an hour after Stephen Mallon was shown a second yellow card) claimed a 2-0 victory over Bohemians courtesy of an Ellis Chapman brace.The second goal for the Bit o' Red was a memorable one and sealed a third win on the bounce for John Russell's side, following recent victories over defending champions Shamrock Rovers and second-place Derry City. Extratime.com's Patrick O'Connor was reporting from Phibsboro, and he spoke to Oisín on the podcast.Meanwhile, Paul Corcoran joined Oisín from Eamon Deacy Park in Galway, where there was joy too for the other team in the West as John Caulfield's Galway United defeated an in-form Waterford side by one goal to nil.The Blues had started well since the mid-season break with two victories and two clean sheets against Dundalk and St. Pat's, but a 24th-minute goal from Patrick Hickey - his first of the season - was the difference between the sides in Galway. Both teams have impressed in their first season back in the top flight, and as it stands, Waterford occupy third spot in the league table with Galway United in fifth (although The Tribesmen do have a game in hand).It proved to be a great night for those in maroon and white as Galway FC women's star Julie-Ann Russell scored Ireland's only goal at Carrow Road - one that will be important for the team's seeding for the playoffs.Elsewhere, the night's only other Premier Division clash saw the league's bottom two sides meet in what was billed as one of the biggest-ever Louth Derbies.Both Dundalk and Drogheda United are battling to avoid relegation, and this match took on huge significance with both teams seeking to secure a valuable three points. Dundalk, having succumbed to two successive defeats, knew that a win would extend the gap between themselves and their neighbours to five points, whilst for Kevin Doherty's side, a win would see them leapfrog the Lilywhites.The game produced six goals, and former Dundalk captain John Flanagan, who was on co-commentary duty for LOI TV, gives us his thoughts on the game in this week's Voice Notes podcast.Oisín also caught up with Extratime.com's Ronan MacNamara, who was in Tolka Park on Thursday night as Shelbourne made a long-awaited return to European action.After 18 years without a game in a European Competition, the Reds hosted St. Joseph's of Gibraltar. Damien Duff's side emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline, with goals from Mark Coyle and Will Jarvis. The Reds got off to a dream start with Coyle's goal coming after just 27 seconds.Having conceded a corner approaching the end of the first half, the sides were level at the break, but a Will Jarvis spot-kick in the 57th minute earned The Reds an important win. This resSupport the Show.

Navigating Conflict and Embracing VulnerabilityIn this special Mens Health Month episode, I'm joined by John Flanagan, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and certified Gottman therapist. Today, we're focusing on important aspects of men's mental health.We break down myths about men and emotional expression, explore the importance of creating supportive environments, and share practical advice on how to talk about feelings. We also explore how conflict can strengthen relationships and why validation is key to effective communication.Key PointsDebunking Myths about Men's EmotionsJohn challenges the idea that men struggle to talk about their feelings: "I think men are very capable of engaging in conversations about what's going on in their world and inside them. It's not about a genetic flaw; it's about creating environments that encourage such conversations."Creating Supportive EnvironmentsWe discuss how to foster spaces that encourage men to share their emotions and feel safe doing so.The Role of ValidationUnderstanding how to validate someone's feelings without agreeing with them: "You can validate and be connected or be right and be alone. Validation is about acknowledging the person's experience."Conflict as a ToolDiscover how conflict can help you understand your partner better and strengthen your relationship.Practical AdviceGet actionable tips on fostering better communication and emotional expression, including the use of open-ended questions and creating safe spaces for emotional conversations.Repairing RelationshipsLearn why making repairs after conflicts is crucial and how to do it effectively.Community SupportExplore ways to find support in your community, even outside of therapy.Featured Quotes"I think men are very capable of engaging in conversations about what's going on in their world and inside them. It's not about a genetic flaw; it's about creating environments that encourage such conversations."John Flanagan"You can validate and be connected or be right and be alone. Validation is about acknowledging the person's experience."About your guest John has an extensive history working with and supporting individuals and couples since completing his Bachelor of Social Work in 1988 and later a Masters in Gestalt Therapy and certification in Gottman Couples Therapy.John is one of the first two Certified Gottman Couple Therapists in Australia - and only two Australians to hold the title of Certified Gottman Couple Therapist, Advanced Clinical Trainer and Consultant. Not only does John provide the accredited training for all of the Gottman Levels in Australia, he also facilitates many other trainings to professionals, key note speaking to groups as well as being a co author of '365 Simple Ideas to Improve your Relationship'John regularly has clients seek his services from all around the world.ResourcesGottman card deck app - on smartphoneBooks 7 principles to make marriage work by John Gottman8 Dates bookJohn Gottman, PhD and Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD. Doug Abrams and Rachel Carlton Abrams, MDCome as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life Emily NagoskiFight Right How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman and Dr. John Gottman...

• Remembering the late John Flanagan who passed away last week. John was a building contractor, developer, politician, community activist, family man and a founding Director of Midlands 103. The tribute will feature audio of John speaking to Midlands 103 on Life and Times from 2005. • Colin Donnery Director of Turas Nua reflects on the ongoing success of the organisation that delivers the National Employment Service for 13 counties in the south of Ireland, and the Local Area Employment Service for Laois and Offaly, on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. • CEO Guaranteed Irish Brid O'Connell as the national organisation championing indigenous and international businesses in Ireland celebrate their 50th anniversary. Guaranteed Irish now supports a network of 2,000+ member businesses, employing more than 120,000 people across Ireland, generating an annual combined Irish turnover of more than €14.5bn. • A top up of €5,000 for some businesses under the Increased Cost of Business scheme? Will it be sufficient to prevent closures? • The Offaly Job Fair return on 15th June 2024

"Vocations Focus" is a segment of Morning Light heard the first and third Thursday of each month. Today, Jim & Mary Ellen Nourse interview John Flanagan, Executive Director of Laboure' Society. What does this group have to do with vocations? Tune in and find out! Learn more at their website: https://rescuevocations.org     

This week on Geek Force, the Squad dives headfirst into the post-apocalyptic world of Bethesda's "Fallout" now streaming on Prime Video. Ray and Cat have lined up some fantasy book series that are must-reads! Get lost in N.K. Jemisin's magical "The Fifth Season" and embark on heroic adventures with John Flanagan's "Ranger's Apprentice." Ray shares his thrilling experiences in the eerie darkness of "Alan Wake 2" - it's a journey you don't want to miss! And Marlin brings us the chilling realities behind Netflix's "Baby Reindeer." Creepy and unbelievably true!Tune in for a geek-packed episode that spans from fantastical worlds to real-life mysteries!

On this edition of the Voice Notes podcast with Oisin Langan, we hear from:Pat O'Connor reports on Shels 1-0 over Pats from Tolka ParkNoel King talks about Dundalk's win over BohsAnalysis from John Flanagan on the game in Oriel ParkMacdara Ferris talks to Stephen Bradley and Ollie HorganBarry Murphy lauds Galway United after their 1-1 with Shamrock RoversSupport the Show.

On this edition of the Voice Notes podcast with Oisin Langan, we hear from:Damien Duff questions FarrellBarry Murphy on Shels v Rovers and the return of the KingAlan Keane on Sligo Rovers draw with Galway and season expectationsJohn Flanagan on how Pats can bounce back from Derry defeatSupport the Show.

On this week's episode of The extratime Football Podcast, Luke Jordan is joined by former Dundalk captain John Flanagan(0:24) On Part One of the show, Luke is joined by Donal Ryan and Macdara Ferris as the lads discuss the action from the Premier Division from the past week. Macdara was in Richmond Park to see St. Patrick's Athletic grab the victory over rivals Shamrock Rovers and Macdara gives his verdict on the action. Leon Pohls is once again a discussion point as the Rovers number one made another error which led to the Pats winner.Donal talks about the lateness of the postponement in The Showgrounds over the weather warning and the closure of Turners Cross indefinitely from the Munster FA which will cause disruption for Cork City.The lads review the first series of games and discuss whether Shelbourne have the credentials to make a title charge this season or is it too early to call still. (30:25) On Part Two, Luke and Donal are joined by former Dundalk captain John Flanagan. ‘Flano' discusses the sacking of Dundalk legend Stephen O'Donnell after over two years in charge of the Lilywhites. The lads delve into what went wrong for O'Donnell at the club after two successful seasons. How much of the blame lies with the former midfielder? Has the off-field issues caused the issues on the pitch this season? Where do Dundalk go from here? Support the show

Discover how Destination Marketing Organizations are stepping into the future with Amplify's John Flanagan as our Monday Momentum ignites a discussion that could redefine your next adventure. Amplify isn't just changing the game; they're reshaping an entire industry by merging the prowess of Online Travel Agencies with DMO websites and other online platforms—think of it as the ultimate travel hack for your local explorations. As we unravel the knots in short-term rental taxation and pinpoint ways for DMOs to tap into this goldmine, you'll find yourself at the intersection of innovation and practicality, where every bit of untapped revenue is a missed opportunity for enhancing tourist experiences.Strap in for a journey through the dynamic landscapes of One West Tourism Alliance and Visit Mesa, where marketing is not just a strategy but an art form, painting destinations with vibrant strokes of ingenuity. We're not just talking shop; we're redefining the traveler's roadmap by advocating for the presence of compliant short-term rentals on DMO sites. It's about painting a complete picture for the traveler, showcasing the vibrant tapestry of local stays and attractions. As we dissect the evolution of DMO and OTA relationships, we'll reveal the once missed chances now captured in our quest to bring you the full spectrum of travel possibilities. Tune in and let's set the stage for your next unforgettable escapade.

This week, Mike Carroll raps poetic about the role a mouse book played in his literary life. We talked about Redwall by Brian Jacques, volume 1 of 22; them mice sure get up to mischief! How does Redwall by Brian Jacques hold up? Co-hosted: Nic Hoffmann and Mike Carroll   "One of TIME Magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time   The book that inspired a legend—the first novel in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga. Welcome to Mossflower Wood, where the gentle mice have gathered to celebrate a year of peace and abundance. All is well…until a sinister shadow falls across the ancient stone abbey of Redwall. It is rumored that Cluny is coming—Cluny, the terrible one-eyed rat and his savage horde—Cluny, who has vowed to conquer Redwall Abbey! The only hope for the besieged mice lies in the lost sword of the legendary Martin the Warrior. And so begins the epic quest of a bumbling young apprentice—a courageous mouse who would rise up, fight back…and become a legend himself.   Perfect for fans of T. A. Barron's Merlin saga, John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, and J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. “The medieval world of Redwall Abbey—where gallant mouse warriors triumph over evil invaders—has truly become the stuff of legend.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer" - From the Firebird Publishing book summary

As we celebrate a landmark 250 episodes of Champions Mojo, I'm thrilled to bring you an intimate conversation with a figure who has not just coached me, but also shaped the destinies of countless swimmers—legendary Nations Capital coach John Flanagan. Reconnecting with John, who has spent over five decades mentoring swimmers from the grassroot levels to the elite masters, we unearth the profound impact he has had on the sport and on the lives he's touched. His life, rich with wisdom, weave a narrative that demonstrates how discipline and excellence transcend the pool, influencing every aspect of our lives.We invite you to please support Champions Mojo  by sharing your thoughts on iTunes. Join us in cultivating a community that thrives on motivation, learning, and the passion for going the extra mile, both in swimming and the waters of life.

What a mental 72 hours that was in the LOI as Friday's fixtures were decimated by the Dublin snow while Sligo Rovers demolition of Dundalk was one of THE headlines from Monday's matches. We cover it all on this week's podcast!  FAI Cup-winning captain with Dundalk, John Flanagan joins us to give his viewpoint on the Lilywhites dreadful start to the campaign and calls for Stephen O'Donnell to be sacked.  Also, hear why Gary Reilly won't be washing John Russell's feet. Another weird and wonderful edition of the pod sponsored by QuinnAv.ie

We're so lucky to have some great guests with us today to discuss being an entrepreneur in the LA / SoCal area and so much more.  The panelists are also content partners.  Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from sponsoring our mission, spreading the word about the work we do and collaborating with us on content like this.John Flanagan & Jonathan Clough | Co-Owners of a Tropical Plant BoutiqueIntro: A tropical plant boutique specializing in unique plants and workshops.Voyage Story: http://voyagela.com/interview/inspiring-conversations-with-john-jonathan-flanagan-clough-of-the-fauns-daughter/Website: www.thefaunsdaughter.comYelp: The Faun's DaughterInstagram: @thefaunsdaughterDaisi Pollard Sepulveda | ModelpreneurIntro: I'm a modelpreneur: I identify opportunities that are unique to me as a model and leverage them into businesses, partnerships, investments and other opportunities.Shoutout Story: https://shoutoutla.com/meet-daisi-pollard-sepulveda-modelpreneur/Website: www.DaisiPollard.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DAISIJOPOLLARDInstagram: www.instagram.com/daisijoEmily Phelps | Event Producer & Content DesignerIntro: I work in event production and I create magic for my brands and clients.Voyage Story: http://voyagela.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-emily-phelps-of-artmingo-events/Website: www.artmingo.comInstagram: emilygphelpsOther: @artmingoevents on IGKat Jones | PR ProfessionalIntro: I run a PR firm focused on brands, companies and people who are breaking the mold on how we consume entertainment.Voyage Story: http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-kat-jones-motiv-pr-pasadena/Website: www.motivpr.comInstagram: @thekatjonesOther: @motivpr

We're back with the third installment of the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan -- ominously titled, The Icebound Land. The series follows Will, apprentice to the ranger Halt, who works with a cast of characters to battle evil forces in the country of Araluen and beyond. In the third book, we follow Will and Evanlyn, aka Araluen's Princess Cassandra, as they try to escape their Skandian kidnappers, while Halt and Horace race through the land of Gallica to rescue them.  We talk about how Horace is a himbo, Halt is too OP, and Jarl Erak has a kinda good, kinda sucky redemption arc. We also dig into some thorny political messages, like how monarchs seem to always be great and Araluen, aka Medieval England, always seems to be better than other countries. Our links: Instagram Twitter YouTube Music credit: Theme song by Ella Rowen Elevator Music bossa nova background music ( Version 60s) by Lesfm via Pixabay

In this week's action-packed edition of Extratime.com's League of Ireland Voice Notes podcast, host Oisin Langan is joined by a stellar line-up of guests to discuss the latest happenings in the world of Irish football. Billy Dennehy celebrates the Kingdom's historic first victory in the League of Ireland, as they triumphed 3-2 over Athlone Town in an exhilarating away match.Jon Daly discusses fine-tuning his team and the potential for a permanent managerial role with St Pats, as he navigates the dynamics of the league.Retired defender Colin Hawkins discusses the performances of Jamie Forrester and Mason Melia. Hawkins delves into Forrester's enchanting skills on the field and how Mason Melia became Pats youngest player to feature in the league.Aaron Greene shares insights on Trevor Clarke's performance, the victory over UCD, and the anticipation surrounding the upcoming match against St Pats.John Flanagan recounts the riveting and action-packed ending at Oriel. He shares his perspective on the dramatic events that unfolded, leaving fans on the edge of their seats and Cork City fans' hearts broken.Lastly, former professional footballer and current coach Dave Rogers discusses the ongoing rebuilding process for Finn Harps. Support the show

On the latest Voice Notes with Oisin Langan - Dinny Corcoran on the Dublin Derby- Gareth McGlynn on Derry's defeat- John Flanagan  and Mark Rossiter on Sligo Rover's win in Dundalk- Colin Healy on his sides unacceptable effort against Saint Pats- Plus Keith Treacy, Tim Clancy and Jake MulraneySupport the show

Part One: (00:22) Luke Jordan and Macdara Ferris welcome back Oisin Langan to the Extratime.com podcast as they discuss the latest round of action in the SSE Airtricity League and chat their favourite goals witnessed live in the LOI. Part Two: (27:21)Former Dundalk and Drogheda player John Flanagan joins the lads this week to chat all things Dundalk on and off the field. They talk about the potential of more Multi-Club Ownership models happening in the league in the future and LOITV commentary. Part Three: (1:04:24)The lads preview the Dublin Derby Friday night, Virgin Media first LOI game and we plug the ‘best addition to the league this season' the Extratime.com League of Ireland Voice Notes podcast. Support the show

In this special Extratime.com LOI Voice Notes podcast we hear from:(00:58) Colin Healy and Macdara Ferris after a dramatic night in Tallaght Stadium(05:40) John Flanagan tells us about a lively encounter on and off the pitch at Oriel Park as Dundalk beat Shels 2-1(07:36) Owen Heary was at Dalymount Park to watch Bohs get back to winning ways against Drogheda United(09:35) Alan Keane describes how Sligo Rovers beat St Pats 2-1(14:20) Alan Reynolds talks about Derry City's 4-0 victory at UCD.Support the show

Welcome along to our first League of Ireland Voice Notes with Oisin Langan. On this week's Voice Notes, Oisin talks to Keith Treacy about Pats draw with Derry and looks ahead to Sligo Rovers versus Shamrock Rovers, John Flanagan on Dundalk's 1-1 draw with UCD, Joe Gamble talks about Cork City's 2-1 loss to Bohemians, and Andrew Morrissey from Radio Kerry on Kerry's opening night defeat to Cobh Ramblers. In addition to that we hear from Tim Clancy and Ruairdhi Higgins on their sides performances on Friday night. Support the show

“REAL” TALKLauren Madewell: The lack of ways to verify guests on Airbnb is concerning"Frankly, every bit of it is concerning. So you're getting their name and you're getting their cell phone number. Thank God you're getting their cell phone but you're getting a masked email. You're not getting their address. You have no way to verify their identity. You are trusting that this listing company, this tech company, Airbnb, has fully verified their identity and said, it's cool. It's cool. Everything's good."David Krauss: Create a voice for vacation rental on the boards                    "I think that's fundamentally the area of opportunity is to be proactive, not let this conversation kind of happen without engagement, but in terms of the CVBs and the boards and the DMOs, generally speaking, I think that the more that accommodation option is valued and seen as a valuable contributor and a complimentary activity, I think that's where the conversations are productive."John Flanagan: Regulations are actually good, restrictive bans are not"One thing that I think that I would impress upon anyone listening is that regulations are not a bad thing. We actually want regulations from both the supplier side and the operator side in our industry. The threat to what we're trying to do for travel and short-term rentals is restrictive bans and restrictions on short-term rentals. The reasons that those things come into fruition and happen is because of a lack of education on what a real professional operator does and a lack of regulation is standardization." This episode is brought to you by our Premiere Brand Sponsor, Casago, along with Co-Sponsors, Guest Ranger and Good Neighbor Tech.Special thanks to Rev & Research, Presenting Sponsor of Alex & Annie's List Connect with our guests below:David Krauss | Lauren Madewell | John FlanaganConnect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.com If you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: The Real Women Of Vacation Rentals, make sure to visit our socials, leave us a like, a comment, or share our content with the crowd! Don't forget to subscribe!LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

On today's episode, we're featuring our recent panel at DESTICON, a virtual conference that brought together tourism and hospitality professionals from the DMO (Destination marketing organization) space. In our session, we discussed how professional managers can work with their DMOs and CVBs to promote responsible tourism. (DMO = designated marketing organization and CVB = convention visitor's bureau. These organizations are typically funded by local and state tourism dollars, and exist to promote tourism to the destination.) There's plenty of confusion as to what the difference is between our product and what Airbnb is as a company. Lauren Madewell, David Krauss, and John Flanagan represent different sides of our industry – and collectively, we attack the biggest questions and misconceptions.Don't miss this episode of Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals – it's an important one!“REAL” TALKLauren Madewell: The lack of ways to verify guests on Airbnb is concerning"Frankly, every bit of it is concerning. So you're getting their name and you're getting their cell phone number. Thank God you're getting their cell phone but you're getting a masked email. You're not getting their address. You have no way to verify their identity. You are trusting that this listing company, this tech company, Airbnb, has fully verified their identity and said, it's cool. It's cool. Everything's good."David Krauss: Create a voice for vacation rental on the boards                    "I think that's fundamentally the area of opportunity is to be proactive, not let this conversation kind of happen without engagement, but in terms of the CVBs and the boards and the DMOs, generally speaking, I think that the more that accommodation option is valued and seen as a valuable contributor and a complimentary activity, I think that's where the conversations are productive."John Flanagan: Regulations are actually good, restrictive bans are not"One thing that I think that I would impress upon anyone listening is that regulations are not a bad thing. We actually want regulations from both the supplier side and the operator side in our industry. The threat to what we're trying to do for travel and short-term rentals is restrictive bans and restrictions on short-term rentals. The reasons that those things come into fruition and happen is because of a lack of education on what a real professional operator does and a lack of regulation is standardization."This episode is brought to you by our Premiere Brand Sponsor, Casago, along with Co-Sponsors, Guest Ranger and Good Neighbor Tech.Special thanks to Rev & Research, Presenting Sponsor of Alex & Annie's List Connect with our guests below:David Krauss | Lauren Madewell | John FlanaganConnect with Alex and Annie and get more real vacation rental goodness:Alex Husner | Annie HolcombeAlexAndAnniePodcast.comIf you enjoyed this episode of ALEX & ANNIE: T

In this Follow the Leader episode, John Flanagan, President & CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay joins Mike Fazio, CEO of Workforce180 for a conversation about regional workforce challenges and opportunities. John also discusses his career journey and how he became a workforce leader. 

If you know us at all, you know we're HUGE readers. We love love love to read and each year we have a reading goal we love to try and hit. We've done past episodes on our favorite books and business books (Ep 70 and Ep 196) as well as an episode on tips to be a better reader (Episode 213), and on today's show, we're hitting you with our top 5 favorite books we read in 2022. --------------------------------- Shownotes:  https://theheartuniversity.com/306-our-favorite-books-we-read-in-2022 --------------------------------- Instagram Bio Freebie: www.theheartuniversity.com/bio --------------------------------- The Heart Shop: www.theheartuniversity.com/apparel --------------------------------- Honeybook: share.honeybook.com/heart In addition to a FREE 7-day trial, get 50% off your first year of HoneyBook, a $200 value!! --------------------------------- Lindsey's:    The Rose Code by Kate Quinn: https://amzn.to/3huOq1P The Hating Game by Sally Thorne: https://amzn.to/3HOGPpp Take Back Your Family by Jefferson Bethke: https://amzn.to/3FG9jiF A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken: https://amzn.to/3PIuhly  Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover: https://amzn.to/3Yyri3a --------------------------------- Evie's:   Beyond Success by Brian Biro: https://amzn.to/3hHf3QW  Ranger's Apprentice Series by John Flanagan: https://amzn.to/3G0xARB The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson: https://amzn.to/3HP0fdM Keep your Love On by Danny Silk: https://amzn.to/3hyl0jc Anne of Green Gables series: https://amzn.to/3V5orvt   --------------------------------- If you want to connect with us and other listeners in the Heart and Hustle community join our Facebook group here. --------------------------------- PODCAST10 for 10% off anything from The Shop! www.theheartuniversity.com/shop --------------------------------- Follow along: www.instagram.com/mrslindseyroman www.instagram.com/evierupp www.instagram.com/theheartuniversity  

Naomi helps her widowed daughter-in-law Ruth snag a wealthy landowner by convincing her to 'lie at his feet.' Never heard that expression before? Neither had Ruth. Featuring Lizzie Calogero, Debbie Dereader, John Flanagan, Ally Johnson, John Mercer. Music by Sam Bivins. An Apocrypha Media production.

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: 18 fantastic books that listeners want to Press into your hands! Get out your Library hold list! As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  New: we are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). These are generated by AI, so they may not be perfectly accurate, but we want to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 2:05 - Darling Girl by Liz Michalski (pressed by Jenny) 5:05 - An American Radical by Tamer Elnoury (pressed by Kenzie) 6:57 - A Week in Winter by Marcia Willett (Amazon link) (pressed by Michael) 10:04 - The Ranger's Apprentice: Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (pressed by Mary) 12:10 - Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Cho (pressed by Michelle) 14:02 - A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske (pressed by Kimberley) 16:03 - Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke 16:43 - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (pressed by Andrea) 21:23 - The Binding by Bridget Collins (pressed by Brianna) 23:59 - The World Gives Way by Marissa Levien (pressed by Tara) 26:12 - The Hunting Wives by May Cobb (pressed by Ashley) 28:14 - In the Shelter by Padraig O'Tuama (pressed by Abigail) 30:17 - The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne 30:48 - The Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury (pressed by Rachel) 33:44 - When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill (pressed by Elise) 35:52 - Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott (pressed by Lexy) 38:14 - Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane (pressed by Lynette) 41:57 - The Hearts and Daggers Podcast 42:00 - The House at the Edge of Night by Catherine Banner (pressed by Holly)  42:10 - Holly's Instagram @birdbrainbooks 44:08 - The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende  45:53 - The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova (pressed by Amy) 47:47 - Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu (pressed by Courtny) 47:59 - The Novel Neighbor  52:35 - Currently Reading Patreon Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading

John Flanagan, CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay, joins the program to share reflections and thoughts from Q1 of 2022, and discuss how CareerSource Tampa Bay is meeting the current workforce challenges.  

MEDIA TRANSFORMATION Curious about the transformation period of media entertainment? John Flanagan of A+E Networks Japan sits down to chat about the current trends in terrestrial channels and pay-TV. The analysis of how the upsurge of streaming platforms is forcing networks to "think outside the box" to increase revenue and what A+E has accomplished during the pandemic is fascinating! John came to Japan with the JET program and worked as a reporter for the Japan Times. He returned in 1995 with a business degree to work in the media industry.

John Flanagan is a General Manager Japan and Regional Head of Programming and Marketing Asia at A+E Networks Japan G.K. Mr. Flanagan has been in Japan for 30 years. Originally, he is from Denver, Colorado in the United States. He studied Political Economy for his undergraduate degree and was at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. He has been based in Media and Marketing for his career in Japan. Mr. Flanagan has a long history with Japan, as he was born in Tokyo because his father was a Professor of Japanese Political Science, but they returned to the US when Mr. Flanagan was 2 years old. In 1985, he returned to Japan as his college had an exchange opportunity with Waseda University and he did an exchange in the third year of his college. He went back to the US to graduate college and looked for ways to come back to Japan, he says one of the easiest ways to come back was through the well-known JET Programme. Mr. Flanagan applied to the JET programme in the first year it started, and he was placed to the sister state of Colorado which is Yamagata. The JET programme was his first exposure to Japanese work life which led to a career in Japan.   One thing Mr. Flanagan remarked was that the office location is very important in Japan, which is different from the US. In the US, people are more used to driving to work so location is not so important and it's alright to have an office in the suburbs. In Japan, people rely on the trains so location needs to be central so people can get into the office. Mr. Flanagan also remarks that the Japanese style of working is much more risk averse than the Western style. He emphasizes its important to understand why the people are so risk-averse, he cites an example of a colleague who revealed to him that he had made a mistake in the past and it is like a black X in his career. Traditionally, Japanese people are employed for life, so it is easier to be very risk-averse, not make many mistakes and have a nice stable paycheque for the rest of your working life. Mr. Flanagan talks about the Japanese old-school system is typically to hide mistakes from upper management because it can be common to be publicly scolded for smaller mistakes. He tries to keep a positive, open culture so people come to him when there is a mistake that has been made and he asks them what they learned and how the mistake can be rectified.   Mr. Flanagan would give someone coming into Japan from headquarters for 3-5 years a lot of advice. He says that what helped him the most was understanding the Japanese culture and language. Being patient is another thing that he felt was important and he overcame this by asking questions. Sometimes due to the cultural aspect, people do not want to seem too critical or point out faults, yet they may be trying to say something indirectly. It can take some time to grasp this and try and understand the point or hint someone is trying to make. In Japan, harmony is more important than truth which can be seen as all aspects of business and culture. Sometimes people coming from headquarters are told to do things in the same manner as they are done in that country and that won't necessarily work in Japan. Trying to learn the language, the culture and enjoying the food can bring you closer to your staff. Trying to pick up the nuances of Japanese culture can be difficult to grasp for some people so being patient with that is helpful. A challenge that Mr. Flanagan found that the time to take a decision is longer in Japan and trying to understand that there is more convincing and more nuanc

A mob of Sodomites demands to have their way with a man's angelic house guests. Featuring Lizzie Calogero, John Flanagan, Jason Harris, John Mercer, Joe Paulino, Nican Robinson, and Terrance Smith. Music by Sam Bivins. An Apocrypha Media production.

Join Sarina Fazan on this episode of "On the Record" as she speaks to John Flanagan, the CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay, and Kay Jefferson, Vice President of Business and Community Development. The mission of CareerSource Tampa Bay is to help local residents access resources they need to make career advancements. The organization is committed to be there when "talent meets opportunity" for every job seeker looking to fulfill career aspirations. John and Kay discuss the importance of supporting economic development in the Tampa Bay region.

The first Extratime.com Friday Podcast is here and it is jam packed with content to kick start your day so sit back, get a cuppa and hit play. Three Irish teams faced European games opposition in the 3rd round of the Europa Conference League qualifiers in the hope of progression to the play-offs. Graham Gartland reviews Shamrock Rovers 2-0 away win (3:01) while John Flanagan talks about the Dundalk's clash against Vitesse (8:45). Oisin Langan also chats to Dundalk manager Vinny Perth (6:59). The All-Ireland semi-finals take place on the weekend and ex-Mayo manager Stephen Rochford previews the Mayo / Dublin men's clash (16:26) while All Ireland winner with Mayo Sinéad Stagg looks ahead to the Women's All Ireland semi-finals between Mayo / Dublin and Meath / Cork (34:22). With the English Premier League returning this weekend, Extratime.com reporter talks to Oisin about the Irish players we can look out for (46:20). As always please rate, comment and subscribe on any platform you choose to listen to the podcast! You can also contact the show on Twitter at @extratimeNews or @oisinlangan. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/extratimecom)

In this episode of Vacation and Short-Term Rental Titans, Andrew Boldt (co-founder of SUPERHOG) has the pleasure of chatting with John Flanagan, the Head of US Sales and Client Success at Kigo. Founded in 2008 and acquired by RealPage in 2014, Kigo is designed to maximize revenue and streamline operations. It allows vacation rental managers and owners to spend less time managing more properties. Andrew explores what motivates John, how he got started in the vacation rental industry, and with both being keen sportsman, the effect that sports had on teaching John how to be an effective and inspiring leader. John gives us his thoughts on the shift of traditional long-term rental businesses to the short-term rental sector and how Kigo can help with that transition and many more valuable insights.

After Adam and Eve share a little fruit they discover that sex is naughty… and so much better than before! Featuring Debbie Dereader, John Flanagan, John Mercer, and Joe Paulino. Music by Sam Bivins. An Apocrypha Media production. Follow Pulp Scripture wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, John Flanagan, Vice President of Operations at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y., discussed the evolution of telehealth for pediatric care and the $30 million renovation project the hospital is planning in the coming years. He also shared 3 tips for emerging leaders in the healthcare industry to grow their network.

In this episode, John Flanagan, Vice President of Operations at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y., discussed the evolution of telehealth for pediatric care and the $30 million renovation project the hospital is planning in the coming years. He also shared 3 tips for emerging leaders in the healthcare industry to grow their network.

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Luke is joined by Sam Elliott, who works with the National League, to discuss the latest results from the FA cup second round involving National League sides and also the results from the league.  Chris gives us his thoughts on the sacking of Curzon Ashton boss John Flanagan and also speaks to FC Halifax striker Matty Koslyo after there FA cup tie against AFC Wimbledon.  Rob catches up with Ebbsfleet boss Garry Hill and we have our Step 3 focus on Stourbridge. Also we find out who has won Jon Parkin's book ''Feed the Beast'' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Luke is joined by Sam Elliott, who works with the National League, to discuss the latest results from the FA cup second round involving National League sides and also the results from the three National League divisions. Chris gives us his thoughts on the sacking of Curzon Ashton boss John Flanagan and also speaks to FC Halifax striker Matty Koslyo after there FA cup tie against AFC Wimbledon. Rob catches up with Ebbsfleet boss Garry Hill and we have our Step 3 focus on Stourbridge. Also we find out who has won Jon Parkin's book ''Feed the Beast'' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria aka Vicky-Vic from Brisbane, Australia is our guest for Episode 36, and the first episode of 2017. Victoria is a Registered Nurse as well as a gamer, cosplayer and more.  Recorded back in August, Vicky and I cover a number of fandoms. We talk about Final Fantasy before delving into how she's just now getting into Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural. We then jump to Firefly before talking about The Rangers Apprentice book series by John Flanagan before she talks about how she got into costuming and cosplay. You can find Vicky at: https://www.facebook.com/vickyviccosplay/ https://www.instagram.com/__vickyvic/