Podcasts about Kleenex

In this week's episode, Don shares how he was bullied and picked on for most of his life. Don't pull out the Kleenex just yet. The challenges he faced as a young man actually molded him into a more confident, unapologetic gent. Listen as he lays out how he tapped into the anger and resentment to become a more determined, authentic individual – both character traits he uses today to get shit done.Clean Eatz - www.cleaneatz.comBonseye Marketing - www.bonseyeonline.comFounderz Lounge - www.thefounderzlounge.comhttps://instagram.com/donvarady https://instagram.com/stevebon8https://instagram.com/thefounderzlounge https://instagram.com/founderzlounge Clean Eatz - http://www.cleaneatz.comBonseye Marketing - http://www.bonseyeonline.comFounderz Lounge - http://www.thefounderzlounge.com

Cass, just trying to live his life with Bix on Yavin IV, is marked as a “messenger” by a mysterious Force Healer; soon after, he and Wil return to Ghorman to target Dedra Meero. The Ghorman people are kettled into the town square by Imperial Forces, which quickly turns into the Ghorman Massacre - a heartbreaking event we found impossible not to connect to current events in Gaza. And, last but not least, Mon publicly denounces Palpatine and flees Coruscant with Cass's help, cementing her - and his - role as a Rebel leader.This penultimate arc is as heavy as it is beautiful. Get the Kleenex ready.- Where To Find Us -Web: ⁠GlitterJaw.com⁠⁠Bluesky: @DistantEchoespod.bsky.socialInstagram: ⁠⁠@DistantEchoesSW⁠⁠TikTok: @DistantEchoesPod⁠Email: ⁠DistantEchoesSW@gmail.com⁠- Theme Music -失望した by EVA -⁠ https://joshlis.bandcamp.com⁠⁠Promoted by ⁠⁠@RoyaltyFreePlanet⁠⁠Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 ⁠⁠http://bit.ly/RFP_CClicense⁠- Sources -"The Making of Andor: The Sounds of Ghorman," Amy Richau, starwars.com/news/andor-season-2-sounds-of-ghorman"Syril Karn is Andor's Tragedy of Male Rage," Evan Romano, menshealth.com/entertainment/a64701359/andor-season-2-syril-karn-male-rage"Every Easter Egg + Hidden Detail in ‘Andor' Season 2," George & Josh Bate, theholofiles.com/2025/05/14/every-easter-egg-hidden-detail-in-andor-season-2All audio clips are used under Fair Use and belong to their respective copyright owners.

We call them "Botox" but there's really 6 different botulinum toxins now - Botox was the first one and so its name is like "Kleenex" for tissues.  But Xeomin, Dysport, Jeuveau, Daxxify, and now Letybo are all competing for a piece of the lucrative market.  It turns out that the industry leader Botox might not be the best "Botox" after all.  Tune in to find out which product wins the prize for the fastest onset and the longest duration botulinum toxin.  

This week, Shat the Movies finally kneels before Zod—and listener Chris Lloyd—by reviewing Superman II (1980), the sequel that gave us Terrence Stamp's immortal sneer, Margot Kidder's bathrobe thirst, and Christopher Reeve's blue-eyed beefcake perfection. This episode dives headfirst into the Donner vs. Lester debate, asks how much ejaculate the Fortress of Solitude can handle, and questions Lois Lane's true intentions once Clark Kent drops the glasses—and the powers. Gene and Big D examine everything from Superman's bizarre morality and dubious revenge tactics to the wildly impractical Phantom Zone prison system. They also debate if memory-wiping kisses and cellophane logos deserve a place in superhero canon and why Perry White's newsroom features a threatening photo of Bill Cosby. Whether you're team “Mormon Dad Superman” or “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex,” this episode delivers laughs, awkward truths, and more than a few inappropriate questions about Kryptonian sex. Plot Summary After banishing Kryptonian rebels General Zod, Ursa, and Non to the Phantom Zone, Superman continues his life as Clark Kent—until a hydrogen bomb explosion in space releases the trio. Landing on Earth, they gain Superman's powers from the yellow sun and quickly set their sights on global domination. Meanwhile, Lois Lane grows suspicious of Clark's identity, prompting him to reveal his secret and sacrifice his powers to be with her. But when Zod and his cronies begin wreaking havoc—and Lex Luthor joins their side—Superman must reclaim his abilities and protect humanity. The final showdown brings the villains to the Fortress of Solitude, where Superman uses brains over brawn to save the world, while also redefining the meaning of romantic boundaries with a memory-erasing kiss. Subscribe Now Android: https://www.shatpod.com/android Apple/iTunes: https://www.shatpod.com/apple Help Support the Podcast Contact Us: https://www.shatpod.com/contact Commission Movie: https://www.shatpod.com/support Support with Paypal: https://www.shatpod.com/paypal Support With Venmo: https://www.shatpod.com/venmo Shop Merchandise: https://www.shatpod.com/shop Theme Song - Die Hard by Guyz Nite: https://www.facebook.com/guyznite

What if being the first in your category made you the Kleenex of your market? And how do you turn that into a lasting advantage? In this episode, we talk to Dean McIntyre, president of Ayrsonics and CEO of the McIntyre Group, about building a brand that stands out in the competitive world of acoustic products. Dean shares why they diversified, how they pivoted during economic downturns, and how they're bringing manufacturing back to North America to build a more resilient business.

Gold Rush in Finland… iSpace crashes on moon… Japan needs bidness time… Banned Baby names… www.blazetv.com/jeffy Promo code Jeffy…PETA sent some stuff… Landfill Bitcoin headline lied…Email:ChewingTheFat@theblaze.comMarty and Meryl Marrying?... New Black Panther… Amanpour, America like going to N Korea… Who Died Today: Nicole Croisille 88 / Marc Moran WTF Podcast 16… NBA / NHL championship series update... NBA team sponsorship revenue up…Kleenex being sold to a Brazilian company… Guest: Brian Boone Uncle John's Action Packed Bathroom Reader Amazon.com : uncle john's bathroom reader 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is an ode to female friendships and the bonds forged through being active together. The original hosts of the show—Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell—chat with three duos of gals who met through AMR programs and events. It's a feel-good, make-you-laugh episode, perfect for keeping you company on an hour+ workout. (Here's the throwback video Dimity mentions— have Kleenex handy!)   When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR.We appreciate your—and their—support!   GU for it: Get 20% off with code AMR2520at GUenergy.com thru 6/30/25   Use code INF-AMR to get a gift card good for your next purchase at Selkirk.com   Get 20% off, plus free shipping, on all IQBAR products by texting AMR to 64-000 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alfie shares host story of resilience! Get your Kleenex.

Plus: The maker of Kleenex nears a roughly $3.5 billion sale of its international tissue business. And gaming fans around the world are lining up to get their hands on Nintendo's first new console in eight years. Kate Bullivant hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past two decades, Bret Taylor has quietly helped shape the arc of Silicon Valley.From co-creating Google Maps to steering Facebook, Salesforce, and OpenAI, he's been behind some of the most consequential products in tech. Now, with his new company Sierra, he's starting from zero—again.In this conversation, Bret opens up about how founders navigate identity, why the best ideas often come from everyday friction, and how staying relentlessly focused can unlock real momentum in AI.Guest: Bret Taylor, Co-Founder of SierraChapters:00:00 Trailer00:49 Introduction01:57 Saving OpenAI09:15 Overwhelming yet capable of a lot13:36 Father and founder16:49 History is written by the victors22:13 How you price matters35:58 Stickiest piece of software49:48 The first realtime social network55:34 Facebook CTO who rewrote Google Maps1:02:10 Least known, most impressive1:11:39 The best way to predict the future1:16:22 Most personally passionate1:21:22 Currency of reputation1:27:17 Away from work1:28:35 Who Sierra is hiring1:28:58 What “grit” means to Bret1:29:18 OutroMentioned in this episode: Google Maps, Salesforce, OpenAI ChatGPT, Meta Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Google, Marissa Mayer, Excite, MSN, AltaVista, Amazon, Harvey, Airbnb, Coinbase, Apple, John Doerr, Cursor, Codeium Windsurf, Perplexity, xAI, Kleenex, Amazon Web Services (AWS), FriendFeed, Tumblr, Kevin Gibbs, Google Maps, Yelp, Trulia, iOS App Store, Blackberry, Facebook Messenger, Marvel Avengers, Slack, Quip, Leonardo da Vinci, Clay Bavor, Microsoft, Eric Schmidt, Alan Kay, Brian Armstrong, Brian Chesky, Shopify, SiriusXM, Patrick CollisonLinks:Connect with Bret TaylorXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

With a Trumpdate that includes a great conversation with Newt Gingrich, entitled anger at Southwest Airlines, a great idea by Turkey, my ire at a box of Kleenex and more, this podcast has everything you'll ever need in life.

You say "Kleenex," but do you really mean tissue? This week, Anna and Kristy dive into the quirky world of brand names that have become part of our everyday language—even when we're grabbing the off-brand version. From Q-tips to Band-Aids, we spill which products we'll go generic on... and which ones we'll never betray. Plus, we unpack the surprisingly tricky side of becoming too famous (lookin' at you, Yo-Yo

Nick Kroll (Big Mouth, Adults, I Don't Understand You) is a comedian, showrunner, and producer. Nick joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he turned down the opportunity to kiss Dax's wife, calling dibs on a celebrity brand sponsorship with Kleenex, and longing to be an undeniable casting choice. Nick and Dax talk about how he feels that Big Mouth is now the longest running series on Netflix, how his wife is such a supportive guide for what brings him joy professionally, and what it was like producing a cross-country intervention for his best friend. Nick explains his motivation to speak honestly about his family in his standup, how Adults celebrates the great tradition of real comedy folks making a show together in NYC, and Coach Steve gets to meet Hermium Permium while Frito gets to meet Hormone Monster.Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elias Makos welcomes back Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, and Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies. A Quebec City bar sparked outrage after posting a job ad on Facebook seeking a barmaid who was not “woke,” pro-Liberal, pro-CAQ, or supportive of COVID-19 health measures A new Leger poll shows that 61% of Quebecers now support lowering the legal blood alcohol limit for driving from 0.08% to 0.05% Elbows up! Except if you're the Canada Pension Plan. The CPP fund’s U.S. exposure has grown to 47%, despite calls for it to increase investments at home

À l'occasion de sa revue de presse en l'absence de Paul Arcand, jeudi, Valérie Lebeuf traite d'un sujet pour le moins particulier: le rationnement des Kleenex au CHUM. C'est sous la plume de Patrick Lagacé, chroniqueur à La Presse et animateur au 98.5, qu'on apprend qu'il y a effectivement «eu des coupes dans la distribution de papier-mouchoir dans certains secteurs de l’hôpital». Deux médecins de l'établissement montréalais se sont confiés à notre collègue et lui ont confirmé qu'ils utilisaient maintenant du papier hygiénique, ou du papier brun. Bref, ils n'ont plus accès aux boîtes de Kleenex. Pas idéal, surtout quand ils doivent annoncer de mauvaises nouvelles, comme un cancer, à leurs patients... Autres sujets abordés Fusillade devant un musée juif à Washington, deux jeunes employés de l'ambassade israélienne ont été tués, un suspect arrêté, il aurait crié libérer la Palestine lors de son arrestation. Le premier ministre Mark Carney dit être intéressé par le Dôme d'or de Donald Trump, mais la priorité de son gouvernement demeure l'économie. Et la menace d'une grève dans le secteur de la construction inquiète les PME et les consommateurs. Voir https://www.cogecomedia.com/vie-privee pour notre politique de vie privée

In this episode of EpiPod, we're diving into everything you'd want to know about neffy with Dr. Nicole Chase. She is an MD out of Minneapolis who is board-certified in Allergy, Immunology and Pediatrics.It's so exciting to finally have new research and tools rolling out in the allergy world, but changing up your family's emergency allergy action plan with a new medication naturally bubbles up a deluge of questions... and maybe even some uncertainty!What is the science behind how a needless device delivers epinephrine during anaphylaxis? What are the guidelines for weight, age, temperature and dosage? Will this be more affordable than an auto-injector? Why are some practices embracing it and others urging patients and parents to stick with the autoinjector program? Dr. Chase answers all of these and more... and doesn't shy away from any of the gray area as she tackles all of our questions head-on. Whether you're a parent or have an allergy yourself, you're going to want to stick around for the hope Dr. Chase offers about the future of allergy treatment (spoiler... keep the Kleenex handy!) neffy ⁠Prescribing Information⁠neffy ⁠Action Plan⁠Speak with your healthcare provider about neffy and see neffy's important safety information at ⁠www.neffy.com⁠.Thank you to ⁠⁠Abe's Muffins⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Lorissa's Kitchen⁠⁠ for sponsoring this EpiSode of EpiPod.CONNECT WITH US:Follow EpiPod on⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠⁠To connect with Danielle - click⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠To connect with Sarah - click⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠CODES + LINKS:Lorissa's Kitchen – Shop⁠⁠⁠ ⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code: EPIPOD for 15% offInchBug – Shop⁠⁠ ⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠ with code: EPIPOD25TelyRx – Order ⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠ with code: EPIPOD for 20% off****A box of 2 epipens is $299.99 – $240 with the code!Well Too Wipes – Shop⁠⁠ ⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠ with code: EPIPOD20 Music by ⁠Bryce Cain Band⁠ & other various artists

Tres voces, cero filtro y un montón de cosas que no deberías googlear en el trabajo.Esto es Nortcast 417: dientes rotos, furros caros y piropazos que deberían ser patrimonio cultural. Dale play!(00:00)

Texas sized crucifixes, uniform playground sports, using airplane tables for an office desk.  The guys work their way around the world and might have just become a religion podcast. Follow Sebastian: @SebastianComedy Follow Pete: @PeteCorreale To watch the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/PeteAndSebastianYouTube⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to follow the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/PeteAndSebastian⁠⁠⁠ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/PeteAndSebastian⁠⁠⁠ For Sebastian's tour dates, go to: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.sebastianlive.com/⁠⁠⁠ For Pete's tour dates, go to: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.petecorreale.com/⁠ Go to https://shopify.com/thecast today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life can be unpredictable—but your response doesn't have to be. Join host Sharon Sayler and Certified Empowerment Coach Laurie Lawson for a heartening and practical conversation on navigating life's twists and turns through the power of self-care.In this uplifting episode, Sharon and Laurie dive into how to pause, reflect, and prioritize your well-being when life feels overwhelming. From managing emotions to strengthening your support system, Sharon and Laurie shares actionable strategies to stay grounded, resilient, and joyful. Whether you're facing personal challenges, a caregiver, facing personal challenges, or simply seeking more balance in your day-to-day life, this episode offers real tools to help you thrive—not just survive. Highlights Include:03:36 – Reframing Surprises and Challenges07:49 – Maintaining Friendships and Support Systems16:00 – The Value of Listening and Coaching20:59 – Handling Surprises and Staying Balanced24:05 – Discovering the Miracle Morning Routine25:34 – Personalizing Your Morning Routine26:14 – Finding Your Happy Place
...and much more!Meet Our Guest:
 Laurie Lawson, PCC, CEC is a highly respected empowerment coach who helps individuals navigate transformation and become the CEOs of their own lives. With expertise in uncovering hidden strengths and turning challenges into growth opportunities, Laurie brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. She holds numerous coaching certifications and has served in key leadership and media roles, including Past President of ICF NYC, Executive Producer of The Coaching Game TV Show, and Co-Host of Coach Chat Radio and Meaning in Madness. Learn more at www.laurielawson-elj.com.Share this link with your loved ones and let's spread the knowledge together: www.UnderstandingAutoimmune.com/Curveball_2025* Please note: The information presented in this show is not meant to diagnose, prevent, or treat autoimmune diseases or any other illnesses or disorders. It is essential to consult with a physician or other trained medical and healthcare professionals for personalized advice. The content provided on UnderstandingAutoimmune.com, Life Interrupted Radio.com, and The Autoimmune Hour is purely for educational purposes and reflects opinions only. We aim to offer various choices and perspectives to help you embark on a journey towards better health. We encourage you to take charge of your health and seek appropriate, personalized, professional advice.
This show is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical, legal, or personal condition. Please consult qualified professionals for individual advice. Visit UnderstandingAutoimmune.com and LifeInterruptedRadio.com for more information.Note: Any brands mentioned by our guest(s) are used as generic terms for specific groups of like items (like Coke for soda, Kleenex for tissue) and do not claim that any brand(s) cause injury, disease, or specific cases of autoimmune.©2025 Sharon Sayler and UnderstandingAutoimmune.comPlease SUBSCRIBE and join us in visualizing endless possibilities!———————All materials including videos on The Autoimmune Hour, The Autoimmune Show and UnderstandingAutoimmune.com are the copyright of Competitive Edge Communications.For more videos and podcasts, visit https://www.UnderstandingAutoimmune.com.The Autoimmune Hour's mission is to inspire you through others' courageous stories, autoimmune and others' professional opinions, encouragement, and laughter so that together you can unleash your unlimited potential regardless of your diagnosis!More at https://understandingautoimmune.com/website-disclaimerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-autoimmune-hour--2935987/support.

Some world leaders are under the microscope for some party favours that were left on the table with media watching.  Reid Stefanson is a champion hockey player with the Nottingham Panthers and is in studio this morning.  Bryan Lotocki reviews the new A-24 studio film: Warfare, and Dave and Tyler play Rock Paper Scissors for Summer of Sound Passes!Get the VIDEO VERSION of the Podcast HERE!!!! @TylerCarrfm@Energy106fmTyler Carr on Tik Tok

Get out the Kleenex, hankies, or whatever you use to wipe away your tears: It's the last episode of this season of Shred With Shifty, a media event more consequential and profound than the finales of White Lotus and Severance combined. But there'll be some tears of joy, too, because on this episode, Chris Shiflett talks with one of country music's greatest players: Vince Gill. Gill's illustrious solo career speaks for itself, and he's played with everyone from Reba McEntire and Patty Loveless to Ricky Skaggs and Dolly Parton. He even stepped into the Eagles after Glenn Frey's death in 2017. His singing prowess is matched by his grace and precision on the fretboard, skills which are on display on the melodic solo for “One More Last Chance.” He used the same blackguard 1953 Fender Telecaster that you see in this interview to record the lead, although he might not play the solo the exact way he did back in 1992. Tune in to learn how Gill dialed his clean tone with a tip from Roy Nichols, why he loves early blackguard Telecasters and doesn't love shredders, and why you never want to be the best player during a studio session. If you're able to help, here are some charities aimed at assisting musicians affected by the fires in L.A:  https://guitarcenterfoundation.org https://www.cciarts.org/relief.htmlhttps://www.musiciansfoundation.org https://fireaidla.org https://www.musicares.org https://www.sweetrelief.org Full Video Episodes: http://volume.com/shifty  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1690423642 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4B8BSR0l78qwUKJ5gOGIWb iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shred-with-shifty-116270551/ Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shred-with-shifty/PC:1001071314 Follow Chris Shiflett: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisshiflettmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shifty71 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris.shiflett Twitter: https://twitter.com/chrisshiflett71 Website: http://www.chrisshiflettmusic.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5tv5SsSRqR7uLtpKZgcRrg?si=26kWS1v2RYaE4sS7KnHpag Producer: Jason Shadrick Executive Producers: Brady Sadler and Jake Brennan for Double Elvis Engineering support by Matt Tahaney and Matt Beaudion Video Editor: Addison Sauvan Graphic Design: Megan Pralle Special thanks to Jon Romeo, Michelle Yoon, Chris Peterson, Greg Nacron, and the entire Volume.com crew.

One of the best gifts you can give your mom is the gift of your guitar music — a gift from your heart and your strings! In this episode, Marlene describes how to play the heartfelt ballad Mother Like Mine by The Band Perry - have a box of Kleenex handy for your performance! Plus, here's a few more Mother's Day themed song inspirations: The Best Day, Mom and Mother Mother, Thank You Mom and Wind Beneath My Wings Start Your Free 7-day YoGuitar Video Library Trial! Join our Guitar Tips Community! Our next community jam session is 5/21, don't miss out! Marlene's Guitar Courses & Learning Resources YoGuitar Video Library Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!  Coaching Sessions Marlene's Tips For Guitar Playing Success book Thursday Tips blog Thank you to our sponsor! GatorCo.com   Available on... @YouTube @applepodcasts @applemusic @spotify  @spotifypodcasts  #MothersDay #mom #songsformom #MotherLikeMine #guitar #learnguitar #playguitar #guitartips #guitarpodcast  Credits: Creator, Host, Producer: Marlene Hutchinson This podcast was made possible in part by: Gator Cases I Create Sound - For help getting your best sound go to www.icreatesound.com

Send us a textToilet paper, tampons, tissues, and... TikTok? In this episode of Creator Economy Live, Keith and Brendan sit down with Megan Narcisi and Lauren Staff from Kimberly-Clark—home to household brands like Huggies, Kleenex, and Kotex—to talk about what it really takes to make everyday products pop on social. From wild agency stories to building a center of excellence in a corporate giant, they spill all. Plus, we dive into LinkedIn's influencer glow-up, Meta's new ad features, and the AI cat that hijacked Quinta Brunson's feed. Want to get all this content and MORE in person? Then you need to be at Creator Economy Live East, heading to NYC August 5-6. Use code CELPOD20 for 20% off your ticket, and the first 500 brands go free! 

Hello Brave friends! May is Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month and, as you probably know by now, my son Ryan has Prader-Willi Syndrome. He's 21, almost 22, and today we are re-releasing episode number 100 from Season 3, in which I shared the story of how we told Ryan about his diagnosis. And after the story, I have the joy and the privilege of interviewing Ryan, but go grab a Kleenex because, as you will hear, he ends up interviewing me. So thank you for being here and I hope you enjoy listening to this re-release from a few years ago in celebration of Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month.Find full episodes from Season 7 and clips from Season 8 on Youtube here.Find our first book from We Are Brave Together here.Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys. JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here. Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here. Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can't get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook. Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here. Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance! Disclaimer

Sign up for the FREE Masterclass- How to Build a 7-Figure Group Practice → https://mccancemethod.com/webinar-free-masterclass-from-solo-to-superteam/ In this episode, I'm diving deep into why it's not just okay but essential to keep at least 40% of the session fee in your group practice. I know this topic can bring up some discomfort, but I want you to walk into interviews with absolute conviction about the value you're offering. This isn't just about money—it's about the incredible infrastructure, support, and team culture you're providing. So let's unpack exactly what that 40% covers, how to communicate it confidently, and even how you can increase your profit margin with smart hiring decisions.Make sure to bring your paper and pen because this episode is full of actionable tips!Here are some key points in this episode:[01:10] Why therapists often fall into group practice by accident and the money mindset that holds them back[04:50] How to confidently explain what therapists get in return for the 60/40 split[07:56] The importance of showing up with conviction in interviews and how that energy attracts your dream team[09:23] A full breakdown of what you offer (office, admin, marketing, software, and more) that justifies your cut[12:29] Why Jane App is a game-changer and how it supports your growth[17:37] How hiring pre-licensed or practicum students can instantly increase your profit margin[24:11] Why being in a group practice boosts therapist credibility and conversion ratesHere's what therapists get when you keep 40% of the session fee:A fully furnished office, including rent, utilities, and all furnishingsOffice supplies (e.g., Kleenex, printer access, tea, paper)Full client referral pipeline through marketing and advertisingPaid headshots and Psychology Today profilePractice management software (Jane App) includedAdmin support for cancellations, follow-ups, and schedulingCredit card processing fees coveredPeer consultation (led by you initially, later self-sustaining)Monthly team meetings (on Zoom or in person)Optional trainings or guest speakers at team meetingsA strong, collaborative team culture and communityNo stress: therapists get to just do therapy and go homeLinks From The Episode:Here is the janeapp link for one free month on us! (Use Coupon: MCCANCE1MO)→ https://meet.jane.app/nicole-mccance-ambassador/ Follow me on Instagram, @nicole.mccanncemethod. If this episode provided you with value and inspiration, please leave a review and DM to let me know. Click here: https://www.instagram.com/nicole.mccancemethod Join the FREE private community for therapists: Expand your Psychotherapy Practice → https://www.facebook.com/groups/947689352498639 Sign up for the FREE Masterclass- How to Build a 7-Figure Group Practice→ https://mccancemethod.com/webinar-free-masterclass-from-solo-to-superteam/

A Deep Dive Into the Social Struggles of Living with Life-Changing ConditionsIn this episode of the Autoimmune Hour, host Sharon Sayler welcomes Dan Janal to discuss a refreshing perspective on chronic illnesses, particularly cancer. Dan, who has experienced the challenges of a rare, incurable form of blood cancer, shares his journey of moving beyond the label of a cancer survivor or warrior. He reframes his story from one of mere survival to thriving despite his diagnosis. They cover a range of topics including the power of mindset, the importance of supportive caregivers, and practical advice for living a fulfilling life with a chronic condition. Dan also offers insights from his upcoming book 'Reframing Cancer: New Perspectives on Hope, Healing, and Happiness.' Tune in for inspiration, resilience, and an empowering conversation on living fully, no matter the diagnosis including:• Reframing Cancer: A Chronic Condition• The Power of Positive Attitude• Navigating Conversations About Illness• The Importance of Acknowledging Emotions• The Role of Caregivers• Effective Communication Strategies and more...More About Our Guest: Dan Janal is a marketing expert, book coach and ghostwriter who helps professionals stand out by turning their stories into powerful books. After being diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer, he chose to reframe his experience—and found purpose in the process. Now, he shares his journey to inspire hope, healing, and fresh perspectives on reframing cancer from a death sentence into a meaningful life. Learn more at ReframingCancer.comShare this link with family and friends: www.UnderstandingAutoimmune.com/Dan-2025Please note: The information presented in this show is not meant to diagnose, prevent, or treat autoimmune diseases or any other illnesses or disorders. It is essential to consult with a physician or other trained medical and healthcare professionals for personalized advice. The content provided on UnderstandingAutoimmune.com, Life Interrupted Radio.com, and The Autoimmune Hour is purely for educational purposes and reflects opinions only. We aim to offer various choices and perspectives to help you embark on a journey towards better health. We encourage you to take charge of your health and seek appropriate, personalized, professional advice.Note: Any brands mentioned by our guest(s) are used as generic terms for specific groups of like items (like Coke for soda, Kleenex for tissue) and do not claim that any brand(s) cause injury, disease, or specific cases of autoimmune.©2025 Sharon Sayler and UnderstandingAutoimmune.comPlease SUBSCRIBE and join us in visualizing endless possibilities!—————All materials including videos on The Autoimmune Hour, The Autoimmune Show and UnderstandingAutoimmune.com are the copyright of Competitive Edge Communications.For more videos and podcasts, visit https://www.UnderstandingAutoimmune.com.The Autoimmune Hour's mission is to inspire you through others' courageous stories, autoimmune and others' professional opinions, encouragement, and laughter so that together you can unleash your unlimited potential regardless of your diagnosis!Disclaimer: The information provided on The Autoimmune Hour is only for educational and informational purposes. Always seek sound professional advice on your own. The show does not replace medical professionals. I am not a medical professional. In this interview, our guests are not acting as medical professionals, nor are we acting as legal, emotional, or religious professionals, and are not giving medical, legal, spiritual, or emotional advice. Seek sound advice from your professionals, as we are all different with specific situations. With this interview, we are talking about other people's research and our own anecdotal experiences, including those of and with clients, listeners, and friends.More at https://understandingautoimmune.com/website-disclaimer Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-autoimmune-hour--2935987/support.

In this week's episode, we're talking doors closing, prices rising, and common sense disappearing. From Shein and Temu playing the tariff game (as if the quality was ever worth it), to luxury brands getting exposed by China for basically AliExpress-ing us all. We also unpack people taking out payment plans to stand in the desert at Coachella, and Zeus Network stars are learning that reality TV fame doesn't translate to Hollywood fame. Plus, a serious turn with the FSU shooting and Luigi Mangione's charges in the unaliving of a healthcare CEO. Oh, and Kash Doll out here wiping her nose with a $20 like it's Kleenex—because flex culture is getting weird and won't survive the next decade. Personal IG: @ItsWista Podcast IG: @WordsWithWista

Rick Sherak, CEO of Exokinetics, shares his incredible journey from serving as an Air Force officer to leading a company that develops transformative mobility devices. He discusses the importance of leadership, sales psychology, and creating compassionate company culture. Rick's passion shines through as he recounts heartwarming stories of how Exokinetics' Zeen device has profoundly improved the lives of people with mobility challenges, including children with cerebral palsy.   Guest links: https://gozeen.com/ | https://vimeo.com/1011399920 | https://vimeo.com/856975581/9994ad1cb8?share=copy Charity supported: Project ELEVATE Mobility Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com.  PRODUCTION CREDITS Host: Lindsey Dinneen Editing: Marketing Wise Producer: Velentium   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 053 - Rick Sherak [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello and welcome back to another episode of The Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and I am so excited to introduce you to my guest today, Rick Sherak. After serving as an Air Force officer, Rick spent over 25 years in the medical diagnostic industry as a commercial and product development executive. Leveraging his broad leadership and medical domain experience, he became CEO of Exokinetics in March 2024 to lead the company into its next expansion phase of market awareness and revenue growth.  Alrighty. Well, welcome, Rick, to the show. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm so excited to speak with you. [00:01:30] Rick Sherak: Well, it's nice to meet you, Lindsey, and I'm glad to speak with you today as well. Should be fun. [00:01:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Excellent. Well, I would love if you would start by sharing a little bit about yourself and your background and what led you to MedTech. [00:01:45] Rick Sherak: Sure. Well, so I currently live just outside of Philadelphia with my wife and our four dogs. We just recently moved here from Boston, so we've had to quickly become Philadelphia Eagles fans. Go birds. We love it here. And my background is kind of interesting, a little bit diverse. I started off my career as an Air Force officer. I tried to follow my dad in his fighter pilot footsteps. Got almost there, but I had a medical disqualification, so I had to do a land based job, but really enjoyed the Air Force. It was a great way to pay for my college and to serve my country and also to learn leadership. It was like a masterclass in leadership. Talking about getting thrown into the leadership fire, and as a young 22 year old, lead a group of people on a mission, motivate everyone, and get everyone producing at their highest capacity. So that was a great way to start. But after I got out of the Air Force, I really wanted to go back to my roots, and that's in the sciences. I've always loved the sciences, especially the biological sciences. I have a degree in biological science from Baylor University. So out of the military, I was looking for an opportunity to use my interest in something that would support my family. So I started with Abbott Laboratories. And Abbott Laboratories, back in the day, was a Fortune 100 company, one of the up and coming medtech companies, had a pharmaceutical arm, but I belonged to the medical diagnostics side of it. And it was great. They, at the time, were hiring a bunch of ex military officers to be their field sales people and none of us knew how to sell. We were all out of either the Air Force, Army, Navy or Marines, but we learned quick. We understood, you know, there's the hill we have to take, but I really respected Abbott because they trained us not only how to sell, but how to sell with integrity, right? And they also, you know, they had 200 products that we had to learn and become masters at because we were selling to hospitals and medical laboratory clinicians, etcetera. But it was a great way to start my career, and I truly found that I loved it. One, I enjoyed the sales aspect. It was fun helping people solve problems with our products, and ultimately, help the patients get the best care right from their diagnostics. But two, it also taught me that I was pretty good at it. I did very well at Abbott. I promoted several times and won some national awards. And as a result, I was recruited away by another medtech company, which was a early stage organization called Ventana Medical Systems. I intended to be there for three years and learn everything I could and then expand my career. I was there for 15 years. And we had a ball. We took this little medical diagnostic company that came up with a transformative device that would automate very complicated processes in the pathology laboratory environment. So it was disruptive technology. We were going out there with something no one had ever seen before. And I joined them pre IPO. So we went public and then we started churning and burning and impressing Wall Street every quarter so that we can up our value. 15 short years later we sold the company to Roche Diagnostics. So what a great exit and just a wonderful experience and developing my leadership cause I was management as I quickly was filling levels as we were growing. But what a wonderful ride, that's something to see, somebody with an early vision to take it step by step to a wonderful exit. But we helped a lot of people, we became a market leader in immunohistochemistry automation, and it just truly was a great experience. But after Ventana, I wanted to do something a little different. So I stepped into the world of startups. I spent about 12 years in the startup world, worked for four startups, two of which died, which happens a lot in that environment. And then the other couple did pretty well. I really enjoyed it because now I was helping people on the oncology diagnostic side of medtech. So each startup had a unique laboratory technology that would better predict the patient outcome to a particular chemotherapy or targeted immunotherapy for their cancer. So, the whole purpose was to see how can we get better predictive value so that these patients don't have to suffer unnecessarily with the wrong drug. So that, again, was just a wonderful opportunity for me because more than not, I would come into these startups and have to create the commercial organization from scratch. That means I had to hire my own national sales team, my own marketing team, my own customer service team and logistics team to handle very delicate samples. But I loved it. It, it enabled me to take everything I learned from the air force, from Abbott, from Ventana and apply it to a small company environment. And I found that it was addictive, and that's why I stayed in it for many years. But then I did another turn and I took a sidestep because I loved also, has always been kind of a frustrated engineer. I joined an engineering company that just focused on design development of medical devices, and they hired me because of my diagnostic domain experience. And I went out and found early stage companies and brought them to this engineering firm so we could take the novel technologies from these companies and make them into a product that could be commercialized. So I did that for several years. Long story short today, I'm in a completely different type of medical device environment. I'm the CEO of Exokinetics, and Exokinetics is a very unique organization in that we decided to look at the mobility device market and fill the gap, because unfortunately people with mobility challenges are basically regulated to either wheelchairs or walkers or electronic scooters, all of which have significant problems to their health because they're not using their body in many cases. And fall prevalence-- people with walkers-- oh, it's just such a shame. There's over 50, 000 emergency room visits a year of people falling with their walkers. So anyways, Exokinetics has developed a very unique mobility device that gives people a lot more freedom. and safety in their daily challenges with mobility. So, sorry, it's kind of long. [00:08:44] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh, I loved it. No, I so appreciate it. Thank you for talking us through all of that. That was great. And so many questions, but I'll try to start at the end a little bit and then probably work my way back. But yeah, so, okay. So I'd love to hear more about the company that you are now involved in and this device. But I'd love to take it back a little bit further and say, what made you aware of this challenge existing that there isn't a great solution in the marketplace, or not maybe more updated options. So what made you aware of that challenge and then decide, "Okay, I think I have the tools, resources, ideas to fix it, to address it"? [00:09:25] Rick Sherak: It's a great question. I, one, I was not aware, right? I was not aware of the challenges. However, a buddy of mine, we go to the same church, you know, we're in a men's group, we're a bunch of old guys hanging out talking about stuff. And he was doing some investment investing into early stage or startup medical diagnostic companies. A very generous individual, and he knew of my background and he goes, "Rick," he goes, "I'm looking at this company. I'm not sure I want to invest, but maybe you can look at it with me." So I did some free consulting for him, he's my friend. And then he kept dragging me to this company to their board meetings. Right. And I'm going, "Hey, this is great," and I give him my advice because, because it was new for me. And that's how I found out, Lindsey, about the challenges that people with mobility issues have, is that the status quo now is, oh, you have Parkinson's, or you have cerebral palsy, or you've had a stroke. Put those people in a wheelchair and just let them live their life at that level. And I didn't realize how horrible that is for many of these people because they still have utility of their legs, right? But when you're confined to a wheelchair for long term, your legs will naturally atrophy, right? And become so weak that they won't be able to use them anymore. So what struck me, as mission driven, was that this company invented with their own engineers, this device that not only promotes people with mobility issues to use their body, but to use their body effectively moving around horizontally around the world, but also vertically. It enables them to go from a seated position to a standing position. And for us, for you and I, we're thinking, "Well, yeah that's pretty good." For them, that is a game changer being able to go from seated position to standing and then walk from that position all without the fear of falling. So, it really touched my heart as I learned more and more about the company and I kept giving more and more time to them. So eventually I was pulled aside and they said, "Rick, what's your appetite for running this company because we need to grow it and we need to get out there and help more people." So lo and behold, I've been here for almost a year. February 1st is my anniversary and it's been a great ride. I just love it. I have a passionate team, mostly of young people. I love it. I couldn't script better people, more compassionate, more caring. All of our customers are suffering in some way or another. Even our elderly customers that are just bad knees, bad hips, bad endurance, our device is perfect for them. So, yeah, you know, we're having fun. [00:12:27] Lindsey Dinneen: That's great. Well, yeah. Thanks for sharing a little bit about that too. And so, as you've stepped into this leadership role that you weren't necessarily anticipating was your next right thing, what were some of the challenges? Because you've had an amazing career, and like you've said at the beginning, you were learning leadership skills all throughout and you've had many iterations of different ways of approaching medtech, with the industry. But now as CEO, that's another thing. And so I'm curious, how was that transition to step into this leadership role and take it on? [00:13:03] Rick Sherak: No. And it has been different in many ways, but it's also very similar in others, right? Because in my opinion, leadership, really the definition from my perspective is that a good leader motivates effectively a group of people, talented people, and usually very diverse group of people, pulls them all together to accomplish an overall mission or goal, right? And it's it. That's the part I wouldn't say that's easy about my job now as a CEO, but it's natural and I love motivating my people. I'm a big fan of management by walking around and I try to talk to all my employees at least every day or every other day just to see what's going on, not only in the business side of things, but also in their personal side of things. I, I assume that nobody's going to respect me unless I earn it. And, I just wanna make sure that I'm leading by example and I'm the guy that either gets to the office first or leaves the office last, just trying to make sure that I'm there for my people when they need me. What is different, Lindsey, is that I am struggling with delegation because I want to do it all myself, right? And I know better. It takes me a long time to dye this hair white because I'm not that old, but just know better. But it's a struggle because you have to allow others to get things done and especially in a small company like this. We were still very early stage. People are wearing a lot of hats and I just have to allow them to go and give them the best guidance I can and then press on to the next thing, right? [00:14:49] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. So, it sounds like you've been very intentional building a company culture that reflects the values that you care about, of course, and also reflects compassion, because you mentioned, your customers, for instance, are all folks that are in a difficult, challenging place. So how do you feel the importance blends from really intentionally cultivating a culture that is this empathic, creative problem solving, just really good culture, it sounds like, to how that affects how you basically present to the world who you are. [00:15:28] Rick Sherak: Yeah, well, no, that's a great question. So where our challenge is that our customer base is so broad, right? And like you said, all of our customers in our DTC business-- that's about 40 percent of our business is direct to consumer, right? But we have other customers, distributors. We have hospitals that use our device, physical therapy, occupational therapy, neurological research, you know, things like that. But the key, I think, from our perspective, is we want people to realize that, hey, we don't have 20 products, right, that we've gotten from other folks. We have designed and developed a very new and transformative device that only came about because we had our own internal engineers, and we've listened to what is needed out there to help people live a better, more free, more independent and active lifestyle. So, you know, interestingly, when we broadcast ourselves out there, I hope that people realize that, "Wow, this is not just a company selling something new, they design and develop this with their own people," right? There's a lot of love in our products, and people can tell because each one of our products is handmade, and it's customized to the individual ordering it by their weight, how much they weigh, and how tall they are, so we can adjust everything for them. And I tell you it's a lot of fun because some people literally take the time when they get their Zeen-- that's the name of our product, Zeen-- but they'll write us these wonderful notes on how this device has just transformed the way that they engage with their world. And, when you sit back and you go, "Hey, what difference are we making today?" Wow. That's why I think I have such a motivated group of people because every day we're talking to these wonderful, courageous individuals that have lost a big part of their ability to live effectively in the world and they're looking for something new, something meaningful and something that's going to help them. And when we can provide that it's just wonderful, very rewarding. [00:17:52] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Just to know the impact that you're making and able to make. And so the days that get really tough or frustrating or whatever, you can still hold onto this anchor of, "But we're making a difference. We know that." [00:18:07] Rick Sherak: And we see it. We have visitors come to the factory just about every week. Maybe two or three visitors will come and they'll try it out. Try out the Zeen to say, "Hey, I saw it on social media, just want to try it. You guys are local." And that's when we really get that, that visceral customer experience, right? It's just crazy, Lindsey. I've seen people come in, bent over sitting on this little electric scooter with a joystick. And they come in and they just look broken, right? And then we get them into a Zeen, and then they're all of a sudden their spine starting to straighten, right? They start sitting up, and then we slowly and compassionately show them how the device works and everything, but we make sure that they feel safe and that they trust. And as soon as we get that go ahead, which often you just see it in their eyes, then we'll engage the levers and the Zeen will lift that person with-- it's kind of like a big bicycle seat under them. It lifts up with this non motorized lift mechanism, that we invented, up to 75 percent of a person's body weight. So now they go from the seating position to standing. Now, many of these people can't do that on their own. They can't extend their legs from seating to standing. They need other people to grab them and lift them, right? But now Zeen lifts them. Now they're standing. And again, it's just phenomenal because this person that came in on this scooter bent over is now standing. They're putting weight on their legs. They're stimulating their brain because there's weight on their legs. Right now, neural connections are starting to flow again, and their spine straightens, and they stand tall, and when they take those first steps, often it's very slow, just tiny little steps. But then we just leave them be, and we talk to their family that came with them, and we go get something to drink, get some snacks, start chatting, and just let them be. And it's amazing, you can just see their brains working, and their legs moving faster and faster. I've seen people barely moving at the beginning, and at the end, they're cruising, we call it the lap, they go around the office, around all the desks and everything, and everybody's clapping, you know. It's amazing. [00:20:28] Lindsey Dinneen: Wow. [00:20:28] Rick Sherak: It's so cool! I'm not trying to overstate it, but this is our daily life. So I'm just very happy and pleased that my background has led me here. It's a great way to finish my career. I want to stay here for as long as I can. Hopefully it'll be many years because I enjoy every day of it. [00:20:52] Lindsey Dinneen: Wow. That's incredible. Yeah, and thank you for sharing those stories. I was just imagining that, that laugh and how amazing. [00:21:00] Rick Sherak: It is so cool. [00:21:03] Lindsey Dinneen: Can't possibly get old. Just witnessing joy and hope, honestly, even hope alone is... [00:21:10] Rick Sherak: One of the best is this father comes in with his twin boys. And the boys have cerebral palsy. It's a disease that you get from birth, right? And their legs are just not good. They have no balance at all. And the father brings them in. He carries them because they don't even have a mobility device that really works for them, except for walkers, like an old person walker, right? But he carries them in, he puts them on the, in the lobby, and we bring over the Zeens, and these little boys are the cutest things you've ever seen. They're just, they're twins, they're chatty, they're so excited. We get them into the device, and their first few steps, it's like I said before, we're just tiny, tiny. But then they built their trust. And at the end of the visit, these boys were running. I mean, they were digging in with their little legs, fully supported, fully trusting the device and their hands were in the air waving. And their dad is just like tears. He's just like gushing. He's going, "One, I've never seen my sons run before. Two, they've never moved without their hands either holding a walker or crawling on the floor." He goes, "These boys are running around with their hands in there in the air." And they're saying, "Hey, look, Daddy, my hands are in the air. I don't need to use my hands." Of course, we have Kleenex boxes all over the office. [00:22:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. I'm pretty sure you'd have to, it's just part of the the office supplies. [00:22:42] Rick Sherak: Exactly. Yeah. We have a Costco membership for regular shipment of Kleenex. Yeah. [00:22:49] Lindsey Dinneen: That's amazing. Oh, thank you so much for sharing that story. That's incredible... [00:22:53] Rick Sherak: Oh, yeah. [00:22:54] Lindsey Dinneen: ...just for a father's heart. [00:22:56] Rick Sherak: Oh, it's just so amazing. Yeah, it's so amazing. [00:23:00] Lindsey Dinneen: So this is all incredibly exciting just the way it is right now, but I imagine there are future plans. Can you share a little bit about what's next? What are you excited about as you move forward? [00:23:12] Rick Sherak: Well, what's really exciting is our growth potential, right? So again, the Zeen is a very unique device, but it fits so many different segments of populations. Like we've been talking about people with chronic illness. That is our core group, right? We work with people with Parkinson's, MS, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, ataxia, you know, just about anything like that where people have strength, balance, or endurance issues. The other part that we're really excited about this year is that we didn't realize until those boys, how much our Zeen would help in the pediatric environment. So now we're making a very concerted effort going after the children's hospital physical therapy groups, showing them the amazing utility of a Zeen. And also because it's so adjustable, a person, a child can get into a Zeen early, let's say at the age of seven, and it could actually stay and grow with them until they're 14 or 15 years old. The whole thing adjusts up. So we're very excited about that market space. And we're also introducing the Zeen to luxury senior centers, because so many of our Zeen customers are just elderly people that don't want to give up, that have this incredible determination to either maintain or regain their mobility. Their knees hurt, their hips hurt, their endurance is down. So that's another avenue that we're introducing ourselves to, primarily through social media and publications through PR. But we're hoping this new awareness will get more Zeens out there. Our goal is really awareness. And that's one of the reasons that you and I are talking. I want to get out there as much as possible and let people know that there's other alternatives out there for their loved ones or for themselves if they have mobility challenges. And please check us out. We have a really cool website, a lot of videos, a lot of testimonials, and we just love helping people. And we're very fair in business. Our product is not cheap, but we give most customers a 14 day minimum home trial, and we say, "Use it a lot, as much as you can to make sure it's a good fit." If you don't like it, money back. So we try to be as fair as possible to make sure it's a good fit. [00:25:39] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, that sounds good. Yeah. And so for any of our listeners that are, you know, going to go and check out the website, just make sure you have your own stash of Kleenex. Oh man. [00:25:54] Rick Sherak: And every time we sell a Zeen, it comes with a virtual training session. So it's a one on one with one of my specialists. And I tell you, these folks are the best. So the best trainers and they're just the most delightful people, right? And they're like you. They're virtual, but you feel like they're right there with you. So we do virtual training for every one of our customers. And, it gives us that opportunity to see people eye to eye and to ensure that they understand their new tool and how to use it and how to, like I mentioned before, how to trust it, and realize that they're not going to fall, that they can move again, and they can do it safely. [00:26:34] Lindsey Dinneen: Amazing. Well, gosh, thank you so much for sharing about the company and... [00:26:38] Rick Sherak: Yeah. [00:26:39] Lindsey Dinneen: ...the device and the lives that it's impacting. And I just, I love learning about this. I'm so excited about the work that you're doing. So thank you for putting in the work. It's not easy. Startup world is difficult and especially medtech, but you've done it. So good job. [00:26:56] Rick Sherak: Well, and this is also interesting for me because it's manufacturing. Before, I didn't have to manage manufacturing. So manufacturing is a whole different beast with getting your parts, getting them ordered in time 'cause everything has to be built just right. This is like a high end super bike, you know, has the latest in technology for aluminum framing and engineering leverage. So that's a challenge for sure. But the other thing I wanted to plug real quick, Lindsey, if you don't mind, is again, we're a premium priced product, but we're not covered under insurance plans right now. That means Medicare or Medicaid. So, part of our outreach is we've created a foundation. It's a nonprofit foundation so that if we can find donors that want to support, the money goes into our foundation, and we take applicants and we provide grants for up to half the cost of a Zeen through the foundation. The other half is on the people that are trying to buy it. And, it's so interesting. Talking about putting skin in the game, right? People call and say, "Geez, I just can't swing that amount of money." Well, let's talk about the foundation, but you have to come up with half. And that creates such a-- it's such a partnership, and they're so excited. They'll be emailing my folks going, "Hey, I was able to raise 500 through a crowdfund! I just got to keep going!" And we're going, "Yeah, keep going!" And as soon as we hit that halfway mark, the foundation kicks in and covers it. So again, I just want to put a plug out there so that we can help very deserving people that just financially need a little support. Yeah. [00:28:37] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. So that's a great way for even listeners to get involved, even if they don't necessarily personally need the device, but donating to this incredible cause, that would be awesome too. [00:28:48] Rick Sherak: Anything would be so appreciated. [00:28:50] Lindsey Dinneen: Great. Yes, absolutely. Well, okay. So pivoting the conversation a little bit just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars to teach a master class on anything you want. It can be within your industry currently, it could be about anything. What would you choose to teach? [00:29:13] Rick Sherak: You know, that's funny that you said that. I live right next to Villanova University, and a lot of my neighbors are professors there. And one of our best friends that lives a few houses down she's in the business ethics department. And she even said, she goes, "Rick, have you ever thought about teaching?" And I said, "You know, I've never really been a teacher." But if I were to teach, the thing I would love to do would be to capture over all these years of me being in this industry, the nuances of the psychology of sales. Because people think of sales as, "Oh, you're trying to trick people into buying, right?" Turn that completely upside down to, you're trying to assist people to buy. Because people really, when they're looking at your product, they want it. But they need help. They're counting on you to help them in that process. And it's a psychological bond when you're talking to somebody and you have a product and they have a need and you're trying to find that, that perfect combination, right? So that they feel, "Hey, this is great for me. It's worth every penny because I see the value." Versus having them feel, "Oh man, I'm going to get ripped off." So I would love to go down that path. I think that's so interesting because people are people, and salespeople, the best ones I've ever seen, like I mentioned before, are compassionate and caring, but they're also pleasantly persistent, right? And they just, they go, they listen and they say, "All right, but let's keep moving down the path." And people that are on the buying side truly want that. They want that partnership, that walking side by side down that path to purchase, because sometimes they're not courageous enough to buy just by themselves. So, to destigmatize sales would be kind of fun. [00:31:13] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. That would be great. That'd be a great masterclass too, just to really dive into some of that, and yeah, to put a different perspective on your role and you're helping somebody to achieve what their goals are, to be honest. [00:31:26] Rick Sherak: Absolutely. [00:31:27] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. [00:31:28] Rick Sherak: Absolutely. And we've all had those good experiences, and we've all had those bad experiences. [00:31:32] Lindsey Dinneen: Definitely. Definitely. So how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:31:40] Rick Sherak: You know, that, that's interesting because I love to read. My morning time is my reading time. That's my time. It's me and my two collies. They're also early risers. The pugs, the two pugs, no, they'll sleep in with their mother. But in my reading and in my studies, essentially, I think it all boils down to at the end of the day, when the curtain starts coming down, wouldn't it be nice, when you're out, you're no longer here and people look back and they just say, "You know what? That guy or that lady really genuinely cared about other people." I think authenticity and being genuine is something I would love to be remembered for. And it's not easy, because sometimes you're not authentic to yourself, yet to others. [00:32:29] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. [00:32:32] Rick Sherak: But especially at this stage in my life, I just see caring for people is just amazing. Talking about, if everybody cared a little bit more for each other, it might be a different place. [00:32:43] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. And having the courage to be authentic and honest can sometimes also be, it does come with a little bit of vulnerability. So I love that. [00:32:55] Rick Sherak: Oh yeah. Oh my gosh. You know, it's all about, if you're just so lucky to have a little bit of grace, a little bit of wisdom, but like you said, a lot of courage. That's when it all means something, right? Cool. Oh. [00:33:10] Lindsey Dinneen: I know. What is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:33:22] Rick Sherak: Well, you know, funny because we've been talking about leadership and sales. I just got to tell you a quick story because it always makes me smile. As I mentioned before, I was an Air Force officer and all of a sudden I jump out of the Air Force into a sales role with a medical diagnostic company. And, I just went through training. I got assigned to my territory. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I'm a Colorado boy. So Baton Rouge, Louisiana was a little bit different for me, but the company moved me down there, and I started my sales career. And my, my customers were all hospitals and clinical laboratories in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and the Bayou South, all those little towns in there. And I didn't realize it until after I started, but my territory was made out of the accounts the other sales people didn't want. [00:34:16] Lindsey Dinneen: Oh. [00:34:17] Rick Sherak: So the guys that were there, they cherry pick the good accounts, and the ones they didn't want, they made into my territory, right? The new guy. But I went in, I was dialed in. I had my brochures. I knew all my product knowledge. And I'd make appointments and I'd sit in front of these lab managers and these clinical influencers. And these lovely people, they would sit there. They would be so kind. They'd have their arms crossed. I go through my spiel and then they just look at me and they say, "Thank you, Rick, for coming. I'm not interested at this time." I go, "Okay." So this went on, Lindsey, for six months at every single hospital or clinical laboratory. I was like on the bottom of the sales list. I couldn't get anybody to buy anything. And it was like, it was so funny. And this is what makes me laugh. I'll never forget. I was down in south of Lafayette, and I was sitting in front of this lab manager and I've seen him every three weeks like clock work, right? And I'd always bring in new information, recap what we discussed before, and asked for the business. And he'd always say, "No, I'm not interested." But about six months in, he just looked at me and I got through my spiel. And he goes, "Rick," he goes, "Are you just going to keep showing up every three weeks?" And I said, "Yes, sir." And he says, "Look," and I mean, he's going, "Well, I'm not buying anything from you." And I said, "Yes, sir. But I, I truly feel that my products are the best products that you could use in your laboratory to make you more successful and to give your patients the best diagnostic information to help them fight their disease." Because it was mostly oncology focused. And he just looked at me and he goes, "You truly believe that?" I said, "Yes sir, I truly believe and I'm going to keep coming back until you believe." And he just sits back and he, I'll never forget this, he unfolded his arms, put his hands on the table and he goes, "Well, okay, then let me see what you got." And it was awesome. Lindsey, I swear there was like some underground communication channel because every hospital or clinical laboratory started listening to me after about six months. It was weird. And then another six months, I was on top of the sales rolls, and I had turned my territory around and we were just having a ball. But it was that persistence, it was just in the caring. I just cared. I was convinced my products were better, and he appreciated that. And, it, it was a fun, it makes me smile today because there's nothing like seeing somebody say, "Well, you know what, I trust you enough to listen to you now." [00:37:06] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Wow, that's awesome. They really had to go through that know, like, and trust you cycle or a journey. [00:37:15] Rick Sherak: These are long term Louisianians. I'm coming in as an outsider, too. So that was, I had to prove myself. But they are the one most wonderful people. Before I got promoted out of that territory, I used to show up at least once every, maybe two months, per hospital with all these crawfish and a big old pot and a boiler and I would be out in the parking lot. I'd be boiling crawfish and I called the lab and I'd say, "Hey guys, I got crawfish!" And they go, "Oh, Rick has crawfish!" And they all come out and we'd all eat crawfish. That's how you do it in Louisiana. It was a good time. [00:37:54] Lindsey Dinneen: Very cool. Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing about that. And just in general, being so willing to share so much of your story. I really appreciate it. I loved getting an opportunity to learn about you and your background and your heart for MedTech, your heart for the people that you're serving. So thank you. I know days aren't always a walk in the park as much fun as I know you're having, but I know you have good days and bad days. So thank you again so much for joining me. [00:38:19] Rick Sherak: Thank you, Lindsey. [00:38:20] Lindsey Dinneen: And I just wish you the most continued success as you continue to work to change lives for a better world. And just also thanks to our listeners for tuning in. And if you're feeling as inspired as I am, I'd love it if you'd share this episode with a colleague or two and we'll catch you next time. [00:38:40] Ben Trombold: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium. Velentium is a full-service CDMO with 100% in-house capability to design, develop, and manufacture medical devices from class two wearables to class three active implantable medical devices. Velentium specializes in active implantables, leads, programmers, and accessories across a wide range of indications, such as neuromodulation, deep brain stimulation, cardiac management, and diabetes management. Velentium's core competencies include electrical, firmware, and mechanical design, mobile apps, embedded cybersecurity, human factors and usability, automated test systems, systems engineering, and contract manufacturing. Velentium works with clients worldwide, from startups seeking funding to established Fortune 100 companies. Visit velentium.com to explore your next step in medical device development.

Chapter 15: Tim & Stephanie go on a date, and some hard truths are revealed.By LiminallySpaced. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.It was a Wednesday night, and I was sweating.The windows of my car were opaque with thick, wet fog from labored breaths, and my grunts mingled with high pitched squeals of pleasure as my hard cock drove in and out of Stephanie's tight, slick cunt.Stephanie was the girl who lived upstairs, my step sister's best friend, the older girl who tortured me all through puberty. Now here she was in my back seat, bent over with her ass in the air, panties pulled to the side, moaning in delight as her tight body consumed my cock over and over.Body always moving, slithering and gyrating, her moans and cries of pleasure made my dick even harder if it was possible. Tonight her moans were louder, throatier, as it was the first time I had ever fucked her from behind, and my thick cock was pressing into depths of her cunt neither of us had ever felt before.Her cunt milked me. Her moans encouraged me. The vision of this statuesque beauty folded in half, writhing in front of me as I sunk my cock into her, her ass flared out to a perfect heart shape, put me over the edge.As if she knew, her voice cut through the steam with a dusky, exhausted "Cum for me, Timmy, cum for me!" and that was all it took. My balls jerked and shuddered, my cock began to pulse wildly, and with one final, deep push my dams broke. I erupted in a guttural growl as geyser after geyser of hot cum shot up into Stephanie's body.It had been a hell of a week so far.Last saturday, after receiving the incredible strip tease and world-rocking blowjob Stephanie gifted me as a graduation present, I had asked Stephanie if she would go out on a date with me. We had been hooking up for weeks, and it was incredibly fun, but in that moment of post-nut clarity I realized there was something missing.Earlier that day I had gone to lunch with my best friend Tara. I had learned the night before (in shockingly explicit detail) that Tara was in a relationship with Sarah, the girl who lived next door to me and also happened to be my longest teenage crush. But unexpectedly, at lunch Tara admitted to me that they weren't just hooking up with each other, they were actually dating.Tara had hooked up with plenty of people, male and female, but I had never known her to be in an actual relationship. When I saw how happy she was in this new experience, how fulfilling she found it, I honestly got a little jealous.I began to think about my relationship with Stephanie. It was messy, it was confusing, it was sexual, but was there anything more there? I felt like I might be falling for her; I had to know if it was more than just sex. I had to know if she possibly felt the same.So I just blurted it out.By the way her eyebrows arched I could tell I caught her off guard; kneeling on the floor with what seemed like a pint of my cum dripping down her naked chest, my question gave Stephanie pause. She looked at me for a moment, inspecting me, silently interrogating whether or not I was joking.Without answering, Stephanie chuckled. Sighing, she got up, leaned forward, and kissed me."You're cute, Timmy," she said before padding off in search of a towel to clean up.I sat there alone, my sticky dick cooling in the night air, trying to figure out what the fuck just happened.The ride home was quiet. There was no tension, just a quiet calm. She rode with her back to the door, her feet propped up on my thigh. It used to feel like a move of dominance when she did this, but now it felt more loving. My hand rested on her leg, rubbing her bare ankles gently. It was nice."Where did you guys go last night?" I asked, trying not to betray the pang of jealousy I felt."Where did who go last night?" She answered flatly."Alexa was in a pretty clear state of disrepair this morning, I just assumed you guys went out partying after I left."There was a long silence.I looked over at Stephanie, and she had a saddened expression on her face."Stephanie?" I asked, trying to bring her back to Earth."Nah, I was home all night," she said with sigh, "I don't know where she went."Something was going on between them, but I had no idea what. Stephanie seemed surprised to learn Alexa had gone out without her.I parked in the shadows by our building and turned the car off."Thanks for tonight," I said as Stephanie sat up. She kissed me quick before exiting the car, giving my balls a soft squeeze. As she leaned toward the door I finally spoke up."Wait," I said, before she could disappear. She turned back toward me. "When can we do this again?" I asked, with a slight desperation to my tone."Like I said, Timmy," she smiled, "school's out."I skipped church the following day. With all that was going on with Stephanie I was definitely not ready to see Christine again yet. The pastor's daughter had hungrily sucked my life out through my cock not too long ago, with an implication that it wasn't just a one-time thing. I was not ready to deal with that yet.Truth was I Did want it to happen again, but between her desire to resist temptation, and my budding relationship with Stephanie, it didn't seem like a good idea for either of us. As far as I was concerned my cock belonged to Stephanie right now, and I didn't want to hurt her.Besides, I don't even know if I would have had anything left for Christine after what Stephanie had been doing to me. We had two weeks left before Stephanie left for college, and we were determined to make them count. School was out, alright, but boy was I learning a lot.Stephanie didn't have work on Sunday, but her parents had errands to run, so on the pretense of going out for a run I slipped up the back stairs to Stephanie's unit, and managed to give her two loads of cum before they got home.Monday I picked her up from work, and minutes after I arrived I was on my knees. I ate her cunt till I heard that short-short-long reverie of her orgasm, and then she rode me hard and milked out another white explosion with her freshly-pleasured cunt.Tuesday she wasn't closing up the store, so when I picked her up she asked that we "take the long way home," which translated into a slow, languid session of road head that ended with Stephanie getting a mouthful of my hot jizz that she gleefully swallowed down.Wednesday was a bit trickier. Neither of us had anything on the books, so she told her parents she was going to the mall, and I told my step mom Kelly I was going to Tara's. I picked her up at a predetermined spot, and we went out to The Spot for the hot, sweaty fuckfest described above where I took her from behind for the first time.It had so far been a week of intense carnal pleasures, but as I pulled my softening cock out of her well-fucked cunt, I just couldn't get one thing out of my mind."So, have you given any thought about what I said the other night?" I said between sweaty, ragged breaths.She unfolded from her coital position and slumped back against the back door, her tits heaving as she huffed and puffed herself."About what?" She said, clearly pretending she didn't remember."About going out on a date."After a moment of contemplation she crawled over to me, her tits swinging seductively. "Why, you wanna take me to the movies so I can suck you off in the back row of the theater?" She purred, dipping her head down and taking my slick, softening cock back into her mouth to suckle on."No, no," I laughed, pulling her off my sore, swollen manhood, "I just, I wanna spend time with you."She laughed."It's not like we just met, Timmy," she laughed, "Plus, do you know how much of your cum I've had inside me this week? I'd say we know each other pretty well!""I know, and don't get me wrong, I love this," I chuckled, the laughter quickly dissipating to something more sincere, "but, do you remember when you asked me what I wanted? Well nothing has changed. In fact I mean it even more now. I want, more.""You just want to fuck me in the ass, don't you?" She said seductively, deflecting my statement"No!" I said with an exasperated laugh, "I want You. I want to take you out on a date. A Real date."Stephanie's demeanor changed."I'm gonna be gone in less than two weeks, Tim," she said, finally matching my own sincerity, "I'm going to college, you're going to college, it doesn't make sense for this to be anything more than it already is.""I'm not asking for next week, or next month, or next year, Stephanie," I said honestly, "I'm just asking for right now. And right now what I want is to take you on a date."She smiled meekly."And if ass stuff is on the table still after that, sure, I'd love to fuck you in the ass!" I joked. She laughed heartily and slapped me on the legShe looked at me for a moment, then looked away, almost embarrassed."Oh boy, this is a bad idea," she said under her breath before looking back at me and saying "sure, Tim, you can take me on a date."My face broke into a huge grin. She tried to stifle a smile of her own but did a terrible job of it.I leaned in, and she pulled me close for a long kiss. My cock hardened as our bodies mingled. I gently slipped back inside her perfect cunt, and we gripped each other tight as we made slow, passionate love. Soon her orgasm washed over her, and as that wonderful chorus of hers began, so did my own orgasm; as those two short moans escaped her lips my balls pulled up towards my body, and with her final, long moan the spring inside me snapped, and I once again filled her body with my seed.We decided on dinner Friday night, and agreed it was a good idea to take Thursday off to recharge ourselves. I was excited. Nervous. Most importantly I needed someone to talk to about all this. So I picked up a pizza and went over to Tara's.We laughed, we caught up; it felt good. Of course our conversation veered toward the sexual, as it always did, and all of a sudden I felt the room get very hot, and my pants start to tighten, as Tara regaled me with the details of how she fucked Sarah with a strap on for the first time the other night. I had witnessed the two of them lick each other to orgasm with my own eyes, but even so, the thought of my best friend fucking my biggest crush with a thick strap on dildo brought my soldier to attention.Not to be outdone, I saw her tale of sapphic penetration and raised her the story of my graduation present. Now it was Tara's turn to squirm, her legs rubbing together, her finger getting lost in the hem of her shirt, her breath getting ever so shallow. As I told her the details of my messy finish on Stephanie's chest, I saw Tara's demeanor change. The pale, flat of her chest that was visible under the cut-wide neck of her heavy metal t-shirt began to flush, and she started to fidget, as though she was trying to shoo away some unwanted feeling."Well, what about your dare?" She said finally, after a long, thick silence.At lunch with Tara last weekend, during a game of truth or dare, she had dared me to take a video of me and Stephanie fucking and send it to her. In her mind it was evening the playing field since I had seen her and Sarah fucking the night before. My horny, hormone-adled brain seemed to agree to that logic, and amazingly I said I'd do it.I had all but forgotten about it until Tara mentioned it."I don't know, Tara," I said, trying to navigate the thick tension in the room, "I don't think it's right.""I didn't know you were such a chicken, Miller" she chuckled, a devilish smile on her face."I know what you're trying to do, Satan," I said, playfully making the sign of the cross with my index fingers, "but things are going really well with Stephanie, and I don't want to ruin it."Fair's fair, you know," she said with a mock sadness."I know," I responded, then dropped my tone into sincerity, "I just can't have any more deception between us.""Fine, fine, I understand," she said with a long sigh. "It's too bad," she continued as I took a sip of my own drink, "I bet you look great when you fuck."I choked, I sputtered, and ended up with most of my mouthful of drink on the front of my shirt.Tara burst out laughing, and after a minute to catch my breath I joined her.This girl was something else.Friday rolled around and I was nervous. Nervous and excited. Sure, Stephanie and I had spent plenty of time exploring each others' bodies at this point, but we hadn't just sat and talked like two normal people for a very long time.I was looking forward to it.I tried to make myself look presentable and adult, doing my best to hide the fact that I was just a dumb, horny 18 year old. I chose slacks and a nice shirt with a blazer, but stopped short of going full tie. I thought I looked pretty good, all things considered.While putting the finishing touches on in the bathroom, I glanced out the window toward Sarah's. The room was dark. I wondered where she was. I wondered where Tara was, and if they were there together.Suddenly her light popped on. Caught in the middle of a giggle fit, Sarah tumbled into view. Following close behind her, equally overcome with giggles, was Tara.I was transfixed as the two beauties drew close to each other, embraced, and began softly kissing between fits of laughter.I felt my balls begin to tingle, and blood rush toward my cock.The two fell onto the bed, and then Sarah pushed herself up and pulled off her loose-fitting sweater. Her hand reached back and popped the clasp on her bra.My hand drifted toward my zipper,no!Snapping myself out of it, I shook it off, left the bathroom, and turned off the light. Tonight was about me and Stephanie.

In this enlightening episode of The Autoimmune Hour, host Sharon Sayler welcomes naturopathic digestive disease expert Dr. Ilana Gurevich. Dive deep into the fascinating connections between the gut microbiome and autoimmune health, discover how your gut could actually be your 'first brain,' and learn about the emerging field of psychobiotics, and more... Dr. Gurevich shares her holistic approaches to treating digestive issues, along with practical tips for maintaining a healthy microbiome through diet and lifestyle changes. Tune in to uncover the powerful impact of fermented foods, and understand how your gut health could be influencing your overall wellbeing and more including:03:26 Understanding the Immune System and GI Tract06:26 The Role of the Microbiome in Food Allergies10:06 Tips for a Healthy Microbiome25:08 The Role of Stress in Chronic Disease28:57 Gut Health: Red Flags and Functional Issues34:10 Fecal Microbiota Transplants: A New Frontier38:27 The Microbiome and Mental HealthMore About Out Guest: Ilana Gurevich, ND, LAC, MSOM, is a naturopathic digestive disease expert and founder of Open Wellness PDX and Co-host of the fantastic podcast TurdNerds  https://www.turdnerdspod.com/With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Gurevich practices holistic approaches to help restore your body's natural ability to heal, when traditional methods have failed to treat and improve the underlying cause of your pain or disease. If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis, Dr. Gurevich provides quality treatment options to help improve your symptoms and overall health. She works alongside each patient, with them having an active role in their health care, to find the best solution for their needs. Everyone's body works in unique ways, so Dr. Gurevich develops custom treatment plans that address your whole-person. She is a board-certified naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist. Her specialties include Western and Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and nutrition education. Find out more at openwellnesspdx.com and find her podcast Turd Nerds at https://www.turdnerdspod.comShare this link with family and friends: www.UnderstandingAutoimmune.com/Gut-2025Please note: The information presented in this show is not meant to diagnose, prevent, or treat autoimmune diseases or any other illnesses or disorders. It is essential to consult with a physician or other trained medical and healthcare professionals for personalized advice. The content provided on UnderstandingAutoimmune.com, Life Interrupted Radio.com, and The Autoimmune Hour is purely for educational purposes and reflects opinions only. We aim to offer various choices and perspectives to help you embark on a journey towards better health. We encourage you to take charge of your health and seek appropriate, personalized, professional advice.Note: Any brands mentioned by our guest(s) are used as generic terms for specific groups of like items (like Coke for soda, Kleenex for tissue) and do not claim that any brand(s) cause injury, disease, or specific cases of autoimmune.©2025 Sharon Sayler and UnderstandingAutoimmune.comPlease FOLLOW and join us as we explore endless possibilities!—————All materials including videos on The Autoimmune Hour, The Autoimmune Show and UnderstandingAutoimmune.com are the copyright of Competitive Edge Communications.For more videos and podcasts, visit https://www.UnderstandingAutoimmune.com.The Autoimmune Hour's mission is to inspire you through others' courageous stories, autoimmune and others' professional opinions, encouragement, and laughter so that together you can unleash your unlimited potential regardless of your diagnosis!Disclaimer: The information provided on The Autoimmune Hour is only for educational and informational purposes. Always seek sound professional advice on your own. The show does not replace medical professionals. I am not a medical professional. In this interview, our guests are not acting as medical professionals, nor are we acting as legal, emotional, or religious professionals, and are not giving medical, legal, spiritual, or emotional advice. Seek sound advice from your professionals, as we are all different with specific situations. With this interview, we are talking about other people's research and our own anecdotal experiences, including those of and with clients, listeners, and friends.More at https://understandingautoimmune.com/website-disclaimer Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-autoimmune-hour--2935987/support.

Get this whole, show FREE on Patreon! Click HERE for a 7-day free trialBen Glaze and EZ lean into fair-use laws to present a WEEKLY review of one of America's top radio shows. Heard all across the US on about 30 radio stations, The Free Beer and Hot Wings Show has grown steadily since it's inception in the late 1990's.In this FULL show on Patreon!Topics:*Ben discovered that the crew at FBHW are posting "best of" segments, that are anything but "best of."*The audience is signing up to be "fancy idiota" to hear silly voices and laughing.*Free Beer is not aware that the "L" in the word, "folks," is silent.*The "FBHW Report" once again featured the playing of clips with little to no response to what was featured.*EZ makes the point that FBHW are being foolish by referencing EZ on their show...but they cannot help themselves.*Hot Wings has a problem with Kleenex boxes*Stamps dot com can't be happy with their ad placement on the program*Maitland is doing ad reads and boy are they AWKWARD*Free Beer still cannot correctly pronounce the word, "origin."*Free Beer cannot correctly pronounce Tom Segura's last name.*EZ and Ben investigate Maitland's discussion about how, "There's nothing more fun than getting ready in a bathrobe."*All poor Free Beer wanted to do was talk Michigan / Michigan State basketball, and got nothing from Hot Wings.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-eric-zane-show-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mercurio D. Rivera joins us to discuss the first nine stories in the short story collection The Best of Larry Niven, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Stories discussed: "Becalmed in Hell" (5:10), "Bordered in Black" (17:54), "Neutron Star" (26:35), "The Soft Weapon" (38:16), "The Jigsaw Man" (56:27), "The Deadlier Weapon" (1:02:55), "All the Myriad Ways" (1:08:16), "Not Long Before the End" (1:19:48), "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" (1:28:01). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warning: We had to reset the "Days Since Bluey Made Me Cry" calendar back to ZERO after this one. This week we discuss "Dragon" an episode that proving that even with itchy jocks, Bandit's got some serious artistic skills are way better than ours. We'll be diving deep into all the heartwarming moments that had us reaching for the Kleenex. Plus, Cherin shares her two favorite moments, both of which have a delicious nods to food because, of course they do.And stick around because we just might take a quick detour into the world of Peppa Pig (what? how? better listen and see)So grab some paper, crayons and some bowtie pasta and let's dive in.-------------------Thanks for listening, be sure to subscribe so you know when new episodes drop. You can also watch our recap now on YouTube. We

In this week's bonus episode, Dylan Jones shares his entrepreneurial journey, which includes serving in the Air Force, a Master's degree in business analytics, a failed software business, and a brand new consumer packaged goods business that draws on his knowledge of military working dogs—most importantly that it can be a challenge to keep military dogs (and pets) hydrated. Jones came up with a solution and started selling it at farmers markets where he would simply announce, “Hey, I have Gatorade for dogs.” That drove interest and sales, but not enough to make money. And when his wife delivered their second child, Jones started thinking about maybe selling out his inventory and looking for a job. But then, at one of the last farmers markets he planned to attend, he ran into an investor. That led to a conversation, an investment, a reformulation, a rebrand as Lyx, and a product that is now rolling out with big aspirations, especially for a solopreneur. As Jones puts it, “We want to be the Kleenex or the Google or the Apple of dog hydration.”

Fish at 6 | New #Cowboys 'Kleenex Rule'? Top 10 Takes from Frisco ✭ SUBSCRIBE to the NEW Fish Report Podcast here: https://www.dspmediaonline.com/show/the-dallas-cowboys-fish-report/ ✭ STRAIGHT DOPE. NO BULLSH. ✭ ✭ UNCLE FISH STORE https://shorturl.at/gJPS2 ✭ FISH SPORTS GEAR www.fishsportsnetwork.com Listen on the Go, 24/7! Download the NEW Fan Stream Sports APP on iOS and Android! Follow FISH on X: @FishSports #DallasCowboysReport Cowboys Country https://athlonsports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-country/ #cowboys #dallascowboys #cowboysnation #cowboysrumors #cowboyscanfan #dallascowboysreport #dallascowboysnews #dallascowboystrainingcamp #nfl #preseason

Fish at 6 | New #Cowboys 'Kleenex Rule'? Top 10 Takes from Frisco ✭ SUBSCRIBE to the NEW Fish Report Podcast here: https://www.dspmediaonline.com/show/the-dallas-cowboys-fish-report/ ✭ STRAIGHT DOPE. NO BULLSH. ✭ ✭ UNCLE FISH STORE https://shorturl.at/gJPS2 ✭ FISH SPORTS GEAR www.fishsportsnetwork.com Listen on the Go, 24/7! Download the NEW Fan Stream Sports APP on iOS and Android! Follow FISH on X: @FishSports #DallasCowboysReport Cowboys Country https://athlonsports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/cowboys-country/ #cowboys #dallascowboys #cowboysnation #cowboysrumors #cowboyscanfan #dallascowboysreport #dallascowboysnews #dallascowboystrainingcamp #nfl #preseason

Some products are so successful they become snynonymous with their whole category — nobody asks for a facial tissue, they ask for a Kleenex, you know? Today's episode is, at least in part, about two of those products. First, The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy joins the show to chart the rise and fall of the Roomba, the robot vacuum that practically invented the category and yet seems to have been left behind. Can iRobot get its robot back on its feet? After that, Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn discusses the state of e-readers, what it's like to always be "the best non-Amazon option," and what we all want from devices that aren't our smartphone. Finally, The Verge's Chris Welch helps us answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11, or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about which TV you should buy in 2025. It's a complicated question, but there are answers. Further reading: From CNN: The secret military technology inside the household vacuum robot iRobot announces eight new robot vacuums iRobot tells investors its future is in doubt Will iRobot's reinvention of the Roomba be at the expense of its history of innovation? Amazon wants to map your home, so it bought iRobot The death of the Amazon deal could mean goodbye iRobot iRobot's founder is working on a new kind of home robot Michael Tamblyn's website Kobo announces its first color e-readers The best ereader to buy right now Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The Alan Cox Show

Brook Lynn vs Lulu--are there any winners in this battle? Some fine emoting, but still wishing we could fast forward to the part where everyone in the house is weeping. Which would make Kleenex the winner? And very exciting to see Buenos Aires! Looks a bit like Spoon Island? Plus, let's face it, the only way Anna is successfully springing Charlotte is if Valentin has already decided to hand her off. Jason should be aware of her shortcomings. Maybe he is. Of course he is. So Charlotte will be back in Port Charles! Which Charlotte will it be? Loving daughter? Diabolical robot? Either way--exciting! Now, Jordan and Isaiah--exciting? Shouldn't it be? Gia and Keisha did find the idea of spaghetti exciting, so that's something. And what does Sidwell have in store for Alexis? Why hasn't anyone sent out the memo to all of the women of Port Charles that Sidwell is bad news? Also, probably best just to decline any invitations to Spoon Island, Alexis. It's no Buenos Aires. #mauricebenard  #kellythiebaud #rogerhowarth #maurawest #steveburton #delirious #tshirtgiveaway #barshampoo #daydrinkingwithsethmeyers #hillstreetblues #kinshriner #saveava #nicholaschavez #savediane #afterlife #rickygervais #stonewallkitchen #hallandoates #superstore #freaksandgeeks #waitingonafriend #memyselfi #freefallin #alanarkin #newgirl #lamornemorris #whosgonnarideyourwildhorses #maneater #whippingpost #colonoscopy #takethenap #alleymills #billylibby #chickadee #fortgorgeous #robertgossett #daydrinkingwithsethandlizzo #marcuscoloma #useastaplegun #riptwitch #ripepiphany #ripsonyaeddy  #waywardchickadee #barshampoo #ripmiffy #lovedogs #justinebateman #brookeshields #neilgaiman #dnice #cq #deborahcox #malcolmjamalwarner #lume #godzillaminusone #ripjacklynzeman #jasonmomoa #adambelanoff #thecloser #majorcrimes #wings #murphybrown #thecosbyshow #pinkalicious #ripbillymiller #ripmatthewperry #riptylerchristopher #riplesliecharleson #ripandrebraugher #ripjohnnywactor #dutchbarnvodka #chadduell #rickygervaisrobot

In this episode of No Hacks Podcast, host Sani chats with Kevin Henrikson, an entrepreneur and engineering leader whose journey began on a pig farm. Kevin co-founded Acompli, sold it to Microsoft in just 18 months, and helped turn it into Outlook Mobile. He explains how to move fast without sacrificing quality, why your first-time user experience (“Kleenex user”) is so crucial, and how to adopt an “advisor” mindset inside big companies. If you're looking to master the MVP philosophy, leverage AI for higher productivity, and cultivate a curiosity-driven mindset, this is the episode for you.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Ship Early, Learn Fast“If everyone loves your MVP, you shipped too late.”Kleenex Users MatterYou only get one shot at a first impression—make it count.Advisor Mode Post-AcquisitionOffer ideas without bulldozing existing culture.AI as a ‘First Pass'Use automation to handle repetitive or initial drafts, then refine with human expertise.MEMORABLE QUOTES:“If everyone loves your MVP, you shipped too late.”“Your first-time user is like a Kleenex—you only get that fresh perspective once.”“Be an advisor, not a disruptor, when you join a big company.”SHOW NOTES & TIMESTAMPS:[00:00:00] Introduction[00:00:10] Kevin's Background[00:00:22] Early Career in Tech[00:02:49] Rapid Decision-Making & Mindset[00:05:01] MVP Philosophy & “Kleenex Users”[00:08:21] Starting vs. Scaling[00:11:56] The Acompli Story[00:14:42] Post-Acquisition Life[00:20:14] AI, Automation & the Future[00:27:23] Rapid-Fire Q&A[00:33:00] Final Insights & Wrap-Up[00:43:42] End of EpisodeCALL TO ACTION:Connect with Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinhenrikson/Subscribe to Kevin's newsletter (Founder Mode): https://foundermode.kit.com/Share Your Takeaway: Tag @nohackspod with your favorite insight!---If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend!No Hacks websiteYouTubeLinkedInInstagram

Episode 186 of Pudding On The Wrist.  In which your faithful deejay and psychic friend, Frozen Lazuras, spins choice cuts from Rose McDowell, Spinanes, Ursula K. Le Guin, Divorcer, Here We Go Magic, The Delicates, Kleenex, and so many more.

This podcast comes with a warning…. Lots of tears shed as I dive into the last few weeks of walking a long road of my moms health taking a turn. You may not be facing losing someone but maybe you feel like your losing your grip and about to plummet into the abyss. If so, join me with a box of Kleenex and let's talk about how we can let go and know God is holding onto us even when we don't feel like we can hold on.

What if a simple box of Kleenex or a stack of Expo markers could change a classroom?

In this episode of Black & A Half, Silas and Samantha dive into the world of self-confidence, good lighting, and the unexpected depth of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show. They break down the art of callbacks, the power of four key questions for stress management, and even debate the hidden dangers of using toilet paper as Kleenex. Thought-provoking, hilarious, and full of surprises—this one's got it all. Tune in now!

"Chaos is chaos, and you're NOT crazy!

Al and Codey talk about Mini Mini Farm Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:01:33: What Have We Been Up To 00:11:26: I Know What You Released Last Month 00:13:57: Game News 00:28:37: New Games 00:41:43: Other News 00:56:24: Mini Mini Farm 01:33:42: Outro Links Piczel Cross: Rune Factory Release Date Space Sprouts Release Date Luma Island: Pirates Ranch of Rivershine “1.7” Update Horticular: Frozen Frontier Melobot: A Last Song OST Sky Harvest Pheonix Labs Layoffs ConcernedApe NPR Interview Reuters Cozy Gaming Interactive Article Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello farmers, and welcome to another episode of the harvest season. My name is Al, (0:00:36) Codey: And my name is Cody! (0:00:37) Al: and we are here today to talk about cottagecore games. (0:00:42) Codey: Oh woo! (0:00:44) Al: It’s like a pack of wolves. (0:00:50) Codey: I’m never gonna un-hear that now. (0:00:51) Al: We this episode, we are going to talk about many, many farm because apparently we’re doing two (0:00:59) Al: mobile games in a row because you did Animal Crossing last week. And then we’re doing many, (0:01:00) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:01:04) Codey: Yeah. (0:01:05) Codey: Yeah. (0:01:06) Al: many farm this week. And yeah, I just realized that today. I was like, Oh, yeah, (0:01:08) Codey: Yes, I forgot about that. (0:01:13) Al: two in a row. Interesting. Oh, well, we’re making Cody work for their title of (0:01:19) Al: mobile correspondent. (0:01:20) Codey: Yep, I’m here for it. For sure. And I am still actively playing mobile games. (0:01:21) Al: Before that, well, yes, so before that we have news, I’m going to overview the (0:01:31) Al: January releases because it’s now February. But first of all, Cody, what have you been up to? (0:01:36) Codey: Um, so, uh, definitely been playing many, many farm. Um, because of the last episode. (0:01:42) Al: Oh yeah, that’s what MMF stands for. (0:01:44) Codey: Yeah. (0:01:44) Al: I was like, what’s MMF? (0:01:45) Al: Many, many fun, of course. (0:01:46) Codey: And many, many farm. (0:01:48) Codey: Um, because of Johnny, I am now cursed to be playing Animal Crossing pocket camp. (0:01:54) Al: A game which you hadn’t played for the podcast, you know, playing (0:01:59) Al: because of the podcast. (0:02:00) Codey: Correct. (0:02:01) Al: Oops. (0:02:02) Codey: Um, I had played it when it was like not the complete. (0:02:06) Codey: Like paid version. (0:02:06) Codey: Um, but because we were talking about it and I saw that it was like cheap and then it was possibly going to become less cheap. (0:02:14) Codey: And I’ve been doing really well with budgeting lately. (0:02:16) Codey: I was like, you know what? (0:02:18) Codey: I can, I can afford 10 bucks. (0:02:18) Codey: So, and I don’t, I don’t know. (0:02:20) Al: Yes. Do we have the actual date? I know that it’s very soon, or it’s, like, just in the (0:02:26) Al: past, but it wasn’t when the podcast episode came out. (0:02:30) Codey: And unfortunately I have now bought it. (0:02:32) Codey: So I have no way of checking because I’m pretty sure. (0:02:35) Al: Ah, it was the 31st of January. So, if you bought it when the last episode came out, (0:02:36) Codey: Okay. (0:02:38) Codey: So now it is what? (0:02:38) Codey: 20 bucks. (0:02:42) Al: or the two days after that, you were good. Otherwise, sorry, too late. And now it’s, yeah, $20. (0:02:48) Codey: So, I’ve been playing that. I’ve also been playing, still been playing Honeygrove, still (0:02:58) Codey: really sucked into Honeygrove. And I, you know, it’s so funny because we, whenever we would (0:03:01) Al: You’re just playing all the mobile games. (0:03:06) Codey: cover them before, it’s like, yay, I can uninstall it now. And the last couple ones, I’ve been (0:03:12) Codey: like, oh, no, I want to keep playing this. So, yeah, I do. (0:03:14) Al: Mm-hmm, oops. (0:03:19) Codey: But it’s nice because I’m, you know, nearing the end, the other thing, quote unquote, I’ve been (0:03:24) Codey: doing is is a PhD. And it is crunch time for sure now. So I pretty much like, I’m doing a lot of (0:03:34) Codey: stuff all the time. If I’m not doing specimens, I’m writing if I’m not doing that, either of those (0:03:40) Codey: two things I’m like, I’m always doing something. So this, this gives me a nice little like, okay, (0:03:46) Codey: I’m gonna sit down for like a half an hour and just like (0:03:48) Al: Mm, are you rotating through them or? (0:03:48) Codey: brain off play these silly little games. Yeah, so every (0:03:56) Codey: well, I guess I’m also playing too many games. I’m also playing (0:04:02) Codey: Pokemon TCG pocket and the new thing just released. And so I (0:04:08) Codey: always check that first. Let me look at my guess. I always (0:04:11) Codey: check that first. And then I do honeygrove because I can like (0:04:14) Codey: send everything off, like my little bees off on their (0:04:17) Codey: or expeditions. (0:04:18) Codey: And then I do pocket camp and then I do mini, mini farm for a little bit. (0:04:23) Codey: And then if for whatever reason, I am bored after that, um, or not (0:04:28) Codey: sucked into mini, mini farm, uh, I have my cross-stitch coloring out. (0:04:30) Al: Hmm (0:04:33) Codey: But yeah, that’s, that’s my, my, my brain off time now. (0:04:33) Al: Fair enough (0:04:40) Codey: Was it? (0:04:40) Al: Nice, I have been playing a lot of Pokemon. (0:04:45) Al: So I think last time we talked, Cody, (0:04:47) Al: I was just nearly finished, (0:04:47) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:04:50) Al: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. (0:04:51) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:04:53) Al: I have now finished that, thank goodness. (0:04:54) Codey: Okay. (0:04:55) Codey: Yeah, you’re free. (0:04:57) Al: So that one’s done. (0:04:59) Al: And I was going to kind of maybe stop there, (0:05:02) Al: but then I was like, no, I need to do Let’s Go as well. (0:05:05) Al: So I did the Let’s Go Pokedex, (0:05:08) Al: and I rushed through. (0:05:10) Al: Uh, another save because I hadn’t recreated my Pokemon. (0:05:15) Al: Let’s go Pikachu save. (0:05:18) Al: So I did that. (0:05:18) Al: So that now is done. (0:05:19) Al: So all of my home DEXs are done except sword and shield. (0:05:25) Al: So I’ve got the let’s go one. (0:05:27) Al: I’ve got brilliant diamond, shining pearl. (0:05:29) Al: I’ve got let’s go. (0:05:30) Al: Arceus and I’ve got all this scarlet and violet ones. (0:05:32) Al: They’re all done. (0:05:33) Al: I haven’t done the sword and shield ones. (0:05:35) Al: Um, and I now have a post game. (0:05:40) Al: Save of every Pokemon Switch game, except shield. (0:05:45) Al: So I’ve recreated all my saves, except that. (0:05:46) Codey: Okay. Wow. (0:05:49) Al: And I have done a professor Oak challenge now of every pair of games, except can you (0:05:55) Al: guess? (0:05:56) Al: No, no, there’s certain shield. (0:05:56) Codey: Brilliant. I’m in shining girl. Oh, I don’t know. Okay. Okay. (0:06:03) Al: So, so at some point, I would like to do a professor Oak challenge in shield. (0:06:10) Al: Uh, and that does all three of those things. (0:06:12) Al: It does a professor Oak challenge in, in that series of games. (0:06:16) Al: It basically completes my home pocket X, right? (0:06:19) Al: Cause you’re catching everything anyway. (0:06:22) Al: Um, and it, it then me, it will mean I have a shield save in post game as well. (0:06:27) Al: But I don’t think I’m going to do that now because I’m worried I might burn out on Pokemon. (0:06:31) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:06:35) Al: And we don’t know yet when the new games coming out. (0:06:38) Al: I don’t expect it to come out until- (0:06:40) Al: november but we don’t know for certain and I don’t want them to be like come out and like me (0:06:46) Al: spend the next month doing this and then they come out and then I burn out and I’m like okay (0:06:50) Al: I’m done with pokemon for like six months and then they come out and say oh legends za is actually (0:06:57) Al: coming out in April and I’m like oh no that is really soon so uh but I’m also worried that they (0:07:05) Al: might do the release of pokemon for the home decks very soon and yeah sure I don’t- (0:07:10) Al: need to do it as soon as it’s done of course I don’t need to but I will feel the drive to (0:07:15) Al: do it at that point so I’m like do I actually just do the home decks just now and then leave (0:07:21) Al: the professor oak challenge for another time but then why why not just do the professor oak challenge (0:07:28) Al: but then I’m also the reason I was playing those games in January was because there weren’t any (0:07:32) Al: games coming out that I was planning on playing for the podcast and now we have a billion of them (0:07:35) Codey: Yeah, but it would be really inefficient to not just do it, do them together. (0:07:38) Al: them coming out in February and March. (0:07:40) Al: I’m probably going to just wait and do it all at the same time, probably next January. (0:07:54) Codey: yep. yep. (0:07:57) Al: Because January does tend to be quite a quiet period, but I guess that depends on when ZA (0:08:04) Al: comes out. (0:08:05) Al: Because if ZA comes out in November, I’m probably not going to want to do a Professor Oak challenge (0:08:08) Al: of SHIELD. (0:08:10) Al: In January, so maybe, maybe I’ll just wait till Pokemon Day and they’ll all they will almost definitely tell us the release date then right like there’s no way they’re not going to do that. (0:08:22) Al: That reminds me, we want to do Pokemon Day predictions. (0:08:26) Codey: Oh, okay, okay. (0:08:28) Al: And Pokemon Day reactions greenhouse episode that gets us to this month. (0:08:29) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:08:33) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:08:39) Al: so (0:08:40) Al: all that to say I have played a lot of pokemon in the last month and a half a lot a lot a lot (0:08:48) Al: of pokemon and I think like maybe like 120 hours over the last month and a half we’ve just pokemon (0:08:56) Codey: Mm hmm. I’m shocked. (0:08:58) Al: still not found a brilliant diamond shining pearl (0:09:02) Al: still a big big fan of let’s go great games love them second best pokemon game (0:09:11) Codey: Yeah, I really have been wanting to go back and replay. I have Eevee, but I also have (0:09:17) Al: Mm-hmm. Yes, fair, fair, fair. So yeah, I’m probably Pokémon’d out for now, but we’ll see. (0:09:21) Codey: else going on. So, yep. (0:09:30) Al: I’ve also been keeping up with Harvestmen, Home Sweet Home. Look at me actually playing a farming (0:09:36) Al: game a little bit a day. What a crazy idea. I know. So I’m now in chapter five, enjoying that. (0:09:37) Codey: Wow not guzzling (0:09:40) Codey: - I’m done. (0:09:44) Al: I don’t know. (0:09:45) Al: I don’t know what to do with that. (0:09:47) Al: Yeah, actually, yeah, no, I will. (0:09:49) Al: I’m enjoying it. (0:09:51) Al: I’m enjoying playing this game. (0:09:52) Al: This is a fun game. (0:09:53) Codey: Mm-hmm. (0:09:54) Al: It still has issues. (0:09:56) Al: Absolutely. (0:09:58) Al: The Cloud Save still not working for me two months later. (0:10:02) Codey: I’m shocked. (0:10:04) Al: But controller support has made it playable. (0:10:07) Al: And it’s actually fun. (0:10:10) Al: It’s no Stardew Valley. (0:10:11) Al: I don’t care about the characters as much. (0:10:14) Al: But there’s a lot to like about it. (0:10:16) Al: and I’m hopeful for… (0:10:17) Al: and I have also started playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure, which I did play when it came to Apple Arcade, so I played it for about a month and enjoyed it. (0:10:33) Al: But then I was like, I am so fed up with playing on the touchscreen and let me tell you, playing with the controller infinitely better. So good! (0:10:37) Codey: Yeah. Okay. (0:10:41) Al: So I’ve been playing on my Steam Deck, I know that I know some people who are playing on… (0:10:47) Al: which may or may not come up in a future episode, but yeah, no, it’s a good game. It is way better than it had any right to be. (0:10:50) Codey: - Ooh. (0:11:02) Al: I completely forgot until I started the game how the game starts and I’m like, I just love… it’s so ridiculous that it basically starts with a plane crash. (0:11:11) Al: Because who would expect that in a Hello Kitty game? Alright, I think that’s everything. That’s what we’ve been… (0:11:17) Al: We are going to continue the new segment, the month’s releases and the previous month’s releases. We’re going to talk about last month’s releases. (0:11:18) Codey: Oh, woo. Oww, ow, ow, ow. (0:11:31) Codey: Last month’s what what was released last month? I got you (0:11:36) Al: Listeners, write in and tell us what this segment should be called, this monthly segment. What released last month? (0:11:44) Al: January 2025 edition. Or should it be fae- (0:11:47) Al: Maybe the 2025 edition, because last month would be January, but it’s like what would (0:11:51) Al: have- what released last month? (0:11:53) Codey: What are you what do you call it so like in? (0:11:57) Codey: Start in stardivale correlate whatever when you go to sleep, and there’s like that recap screen (0:12:02) Al: This summary… (0:12:03) Codey: That’s all you call it. That’s all it’s called (0:12:07) Al: He gla-la… (0:12:07) Codey: Like the daily summary listeners. Let us know (0:12:10) Al: I don’t know… (0:12:11) Codey: What do you call that screen like when it tells you what you did for the day how much all your stuff sold? (0:12:16) Codey: I think that whatever that is called is what this segment should be called because it’s like we just fell asleep on January (0:12:23) Codey: And we’re waking up and it’s February, but let’s like think about the things that occurred last last month (0:12:30) Al: I’m really struggling to Google this. (0:12:31) Codey: Don’t work yeah, don’t worry about looking it up. They got a listeners have to tell us (0:12:35) Al: Okay, so January, what released in January? (0:12:41) Al: We have four releases in January 2025. (0:12:44) Al: We got Harvest Hills, releasing mid-January the 15th. (0:12:48) Al: We got Into the Emberlands, Not Wonderful, released on the 20th of January when we had (0:12:54) Al: Hello Kitty Island Adventure on Steam and Switch that released on the 30th of January. (0:12:58) Al: my little life which is our first (0:13:01) Al: game of Rusty’s Like or as a developer of Rusty’s retirement is calling them bottom of the screen game (0:13:06) Codey: boss game which he he like talked it up on the um on blue sky he like was like y’all (0:13:06) Al: and that released on the 31st of January. So a kind of (0:13:17) Codey: should get this game and now i’m looking at it oh it’s only five dollars and 39 cents (0:13:24) Al: Yeah, it is dangerous. (0:13:25) Codey: oh no it’s only it’s only windows oh I almost clicked it y’all I almost we good okay i’m (0:13:34) Codey: I wish. (0:13:36) Codey: Let it be not just Windows, my little life developer. (0:13:39) Codey: I want to play this game. (0:13:40) Codey: Thank you. (0:13:42) Al: Yeah, so that’s the January releases, wild that I’m about to say this, but that’s a (0:13:47) Al: quiet month. Four games is a quiet month, apparently. (0:13:51) Codey: Yeah, not a lot going on. (0:13:57) Al: Okay, so we’ve now got a bunch of news. We’re going to start with the gaming news. So first (0:14:04) Al: up we have Pixel Cross Renfractory, they have announced a release date for this. So this is (0:14:09) Al: like the pixel cross Stodio seasons. (0:14:12) Al: It’s a Picross type game, but not Picross because Nintendo on the trademark to that kind of. (0:14:21) Al: Yeah, you do your nonograms. I think that’s what the generic term people have been using, (0:14:27) Al: nonograms. You do your nonograms and in the story seasons one, it like built up a farm (0:14:34) Al: in the background as you do it. Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know if they’ve shown (0:14:36) Codey: is that is that what it is because it also says customize like in this trailer they say customize (0:14:40) Al: and I’ll see you next time. (0:14:42) Al: Yeah. (0:14:43) Codey: your farm and I don’t and it like looks like you choose what like where things are placed and so (0:14:50) Codey: that was one that was my only question was like I mean it’s coming some when it comes out folks (0:14:55) Codey: can tell me unless people have been playing I don’t know if there’s a dummy (0:14:57) Al: I don’t, I, yeah, oh, interesting. (0:15:01) Al: So it does look like you can change things in this one. (0:15:03) Al: So I’m pretty sure on the story of seasons one, (0:15:06) Al: you just saw the farm build up and things grow (0:15:09) Al: and you didn’t have any control over how it looked, (0:15:12) Al: but you’re right, it does. (0:15:13) Al: So it says customize your farm (0:15:14) Al: and it shows different animals or monsters. (0:15:17) Al: And then it shows you actually selecting (0:15:19) Al: what weapon you want your character to have, (0:15:21) Al: including a massive lollipop as an option. (0:15:25) Al: So yeah, it looks like it’s more in depth. (0:15:28) Codey: Well, I’m wondering if it’s just like you can control what it looks like in the background (0:15:34) Codey: while you are, yeah. (0:15:34) Al: I think that, yeah, I think that’s all it is. (0:15:36) Al: I don’t think you’re actually doing any farming (0:15:39) Al: or any battling, that just happens in the background (0:15:41) Al: as you’re doing it, but in the story seasons one, (0:15:44) Al: I’m pretty sure you couldn’t change how it looked. (0:15:46) Codey: is it like learn how to do a carrot by doing a carrot learn how to plant (0:15:52) Codey: carrots I like okay (0:15:52) Al: It wasn’t even that much in the study seasons when it was literally, you do stuff and things grow in the background you weren’t really. (0:16:00) Al: Yeah, there was nothing else. (0:16:02) Codey: Sounds good. Some people are probably jumping for joy that (0:16:06) Codey: there’s a new across game coming out. New an Autogram coming (0:16:10) Al: nonagram yeah yes yeah anyway space sprouts have announced that they’re (0:16:13) Codey: it’s like Kleenex. It’s like people say get a Kleenex but (0:16:17) Codey: that’s a brand. (0:16:21) Al: releasing on the 31st of March (0:16:24) Codey: Mm-hmm. They’re also participating in Steam’s next fest, so… (0:16:28) Al: Cody who isn’t (0:16:30) Codey: Oh, okay, fine. They’re also moving on to the next part. Uh, I guess the only thing… (0:16:33) Al: I mean I’d like I just I find the steam next fest stuff so funny because it’s (0:16:40) Al: it doesn’t really mean anything it’s like it’s it’s like it’s like being part of (0:16:45) Al: a sale right you can still do a sale whenever you want you can put your price (0:16:48) Al: down whatever but it’s like if you do it at a specific time you might get on a (0:16:50) Codey: Right. But that’s the thing, like there’s a specific list that they’ll get clicked on. (0:16:52) Al: list (0:16:55) Al: but the list is too long (0:16:58) Codey: Okay, but like not every it is still selective, right? Like not hashtag not everyone gets on the (0:17:02) Al: no I don’t I don’t think so I think anyone even get in the list (0:17:03) Codey: list. Well, anyways, that’s from February 27 to March 3. But they are also looking for playtesters. (0:17:12) Codey: So if you go to the show notes, go to the Steam page, etc, etc, you can figure out how to become (0:17:18) Codey: on my playtester for space sprout. (0:17:20) Al: Whoo! Yeah, what was this game again? I can’t… Oh yeah, it was like the 2D space. It was like, (0:17:28) Al: yeah, I’m not describing that very well. But yeah, it was a 2D world where you’re floating around, (0:17:30) Codey: Mm-hmm (0:17:33) Codey: 2D floating in space. Yeah (0:17:36) Al: yeah. Yeah, I’m very interested in this one. I wonder how it’s going to feel playing (0:17:42) Al: farming in 0G. Although it does look like some of it has gravity, and some of it has gravity, (0:17:44) Codey: Mm-hmm. I mean it’s interesting. (0:17:50) Codey: Well, if I learned anything from the Martian, farming in 0G contains the recycling of human waste. (0:17:58) Codey: So, very excited for that. (0:18:00) Al: for sure next we have a free update coming to luma island and this is called pirates (0:18:12) Codey: With an excolate your boy, pirates! (0:18:15) Al: just pirates um it’s literally called luma island pirates what uh although I don’t think (0:18:22) Al: the exclamation mark is actually part of the title because later down they say what’s coming (0:18:26) Al: in Luma Island Pirates without the exclamation mark. (0:18:29) Codey: Uh, I choose to believe, yes. (0:18:30) Al: Don’t you always? (0:18:32) Al: So this brings a pirate themed zone with new minigames, a new temple, traps and enemies, a new profession. (0:18:44) Al: Johnny and Dallin I think, they both play it. They’ll be excited about a new profession. (0:18:51) Al: A full screen map, that’s definitely something it needed. I was annoyed about not having the full screen map. (0:18:56) Al: three new game modes, (0:18:58) Al: including (0:19:00) Al: hero mode and cozy mode. (0:19:02) Al: I wonder what the third mode is. (0:19:04) Al: I love how they’d say three modes (0:19:04) Codey: I’m curious what the new profession is. (0:19:06) Al: and they mentioned two of them. (0:19:10) Codey: Is it piracy? (0:19:12) Al: Oh, interesting. Yeah, that’s a good point. (0:19:14) Al: It could be. (0:19:14) Codey: Like goats? (0:19:16) Al: Even if not actually, (0:19:18) Al: piracy definitely could be related to that. (0:19:20) Codey: Or like treasure hunting? (0:19:20) Al: Yeah, that is a good point. (0:19:22) Al: Yeah, well they do have a treasure hunter one already, I’m pretty sure. (0:19:26) Codey: Okay, so it is piracy. (0:19:28) Codey: Destroy this city and loot the people. (0:19:30) Al: Maybe. You never know. You never know. Also, new outfits, quests, NPCs, Lumas, powers, (0:19:34) Codey: Mutiny, mutiny your own. (0:19:38) Codey: I’m very curious. (0:19:44) Al: bonuses, and achievements. Yes, yeah, that is a free update. That is not a DLC. That (0:19:46) Codey: Ooh, that’s a lot of content in a free update. (0:19:52) Codey: Yeah. (0:19:53) Al: is a free update. Coming soon. No date yet. Coming soon. (0:19:58) Al: Speaking of updates. (0:20:00) Al: RiverShine have announced their 1.7 update. (0:20:05) Al: This is called Azure Coast Trail. (0:20:08) Codey: what? No, say it, say it how you say it again. Oh, that’s so cool. We just say Azure. I like (0:20:08) Al: Azure. (0:20:09) Al: Azure. (0:20:10) Al: How would you say it? (0:20:13) Al: Azure. (0:20:14) Al: Oh, no, Azure. (0:20:18) Codey: your way of saying it. Continue. (0:20:20) Codey: you. (0:20:21) Codey: You’re welcome. (0:20:21) Codey: You’re welcome. (0:20:21) Al: Thank you. (0:20:25) Al: This brings new competitions, horses, music, accessories, and loading screens. (0:20:30) Codey: Oh, whoo, the loading screens look really good, like the the art. (0:20:35) Codey: I mean, I’m betting that they have like a ton of humans that love this game (0:20:39) Codey: and just are like, take here, take my art. (0:20:41) Codey: The loading screens look really cool. (0:20:43) Codey: And the new horse is like a cool new wild horse species. (0:20:48) Codey: I almost look I. (0:20:48) Al: Rabi Rabbi Kano, Rabbi Rabbi Rabbi Kano, I think Rabbi Kano. (0:20:55) Codey: Let me it’s probably something like Robicano or Robic Robicano or something. (0:21:00) Codey: Um, yeah, I didn’t look up to see if those are actually like a thing. (0:21:06) Codey: I almost did and then I didn’t. (0:21:07) Codey: Oh, yep. (0:21:08) Codey: They’re a type of Arabian horse. (0:21:10) Al: rare horse coat color pattern that features white. (0:21:15) Codey: Oh, so it’s just a whatever. (0:21:17) Codey: It’s they’re really cute. (0:21:21) Codey: Yeah, and they also announced that the next update is going to introduce (0:21:27) Codey: a new character and that is the veterinarian. (0:21:30) Codey: Also introduce, you know, care for your horse. (0:21:34) Codey: So different, you know, that care like they might maybe they get sick. (0:21:39) Codey: Maybe they have certain nutritional needs and you didn’t need to make sure (0:21:43) Codey: you meet them. (0:21:44) Codey: I’m not entirely this is all just me. (0:21:46) Codey: Just I don’t know. (0:21:47) Codey: Just like trying to like think of what it could be, but that’s cool. (0:21:52) Codey: I’m all for it. (0:21:53) Codey: Can I be the veterinarian? (0:21:58) Codey: Aww. (0:22:01) Codey: We need a game where you’re like the veterinarian. (0:22:03) Codey: We don’t have that. (0:22:04) Al: Go make it. (0:22:05) Codey: No, I’m good. (0:22:06) Codey: Someone should make it though. (0:22:08) Codey: Or like a wildlife biologist. (0:22:08) Al: Let us know. (0:22:11) Codey: I don’t know. (0:22:12) Al: Is that not just research story? (0:22:14) Codey: Go play research. (0:22:16) Al: I mean, tell me if I’m wrong, you’re the one that’s played it. (0:22:17) Codey: No, I’m trying to. (0:22:18) Codey: Yeah, no, I’m trying to think of like, no, (0:22:20) Codey: like a game where you’re a rehabber. (0:22:22) Codey: Where you rehabilitate wild animals that people bring to you. (0:22:25) Codey: I think the only issue with that is that it’s sad because they die. (0:22:28) Codey: die, but hey. (0:22:30) Codey: There was a Bluey episode about a bird dying, so it’s okay these days. (0:22:36) Al: Blue can do anything. (0:22:38) Codey: Bluey did it. That means it’s child approved. (0:22:42) Al: Let me tell you, right, me and Craig watch Blue together, (0:22:46) Al: and he’ll be sitting and laughing at the jokes and watching it and stuff, (0:22:48) Al: and then I’ll just be sitting behind him, just sobbing. (0:22:50) Codey: stopping. Yeah. Yeah, I just just finished it. And it I am (0:22:52) Al: Like, “Oh, no, what is happening? What’s the doing to me?” (0:23:00) Codey: upset. And I need more. I watched all of it. Thanks. I’ve, (0:23:04) Al: Nice. Well done. (0:23:07) Codey: I just I crave distraction in the background while I run (0:23:11) Codey: meaningless analysis. They’re not meaningless analysis. They’re (0:23:14) Codey: just tedious analysis correction. But yeah, cool that (0:23:21) Codey: give me a game mode where I can play as the veterinarian and I (0:23:24) Codey: will play this game. Developers if you’re like, man, what do (0:23:26) Al: I mean, I feel like that’s just a whole different game, not just a different game mode, but… (0:23:31) Codey: people want these days? I bet a vet mode like a vet game would (0:23:37) Codey: crush. Yep. And I would pay probably $30 for it. So if it (0:23:39) Al: There’s at least one person who would buy it, that’s for sure. (0:23:45) Codey: takes more than $30 to make. I’m out. (0:23:48) Al: I’m not even promising there’d be two people because I’m not sure who the second person (0:23:50) Codey: Listeners. Let me know. Can you contribute $30 we can offer $60 (0:23:53) Al: would do it for the podcast. (0:23:57) Al: I’m sure there are I mean, look, if you could make a game for $60 you’d be rolling in it. (0:24:02) Codey: to developers. There’d be a lot of really bad games. Yeah. (0:24:14) Al: For sure for you. (0:24:15) Al: Well, yeah, you probably can make a game for $60. (0:24:18) Al: Absolutely dreadful. (0:24:21) Al: Just a Skinner box. (0:24:22) Al: All right. (0:24:24) Al: Next we have Particular have announced a free update and a paid DLC. (0:24:33) Al: They’re both releasing on the same day, 28th of February, and the paid DLC Frozen Frontier (0:24:39) Al: has a new story, world quests, new items and creatures. (0:24:45) Al: written snowshoe hair. Is that a creature? (0:24:47) Codey: Yeah, yeah, they specifically say snowshoe hair well, that is just one that they blurbed (0:24:48) Al: Is that a creature that’s there? Just one creature. (0:24:55) Al: blurb. No, I know what you mean. That’s a great example of verification. (0:24:55) Codey: It could be (0:24:59) Codey: Where did that word come from it is keep going I’m gonna look up what that where that came from (0:25:05) Codey: - Um. (0:25:07) Al: And the free update includes new creatures, some temp mechanics. What do you mean by that? (0:25:14) Codey: - Temperature, sorry. (0:25:15) Al: Oh, temperature was like temporary mechanics. Yes, temporary temperature mechanics, snow, (0:25:16) Codey: Now, (0:25:22) Al: And then obviously, quality of life improvements. (0:25:26) Codey: Yeah, so they both yeah, they both kind of include like, adding snow as a as a thing that you can see in the game. But one just adds like a whole new world. Also, I wanted to note that they say on in the beginning of this show notes, whatever, what is this called, like a, thank you. (0:25:48) Al: release notes or well it’s not really release notes because it’s not released (0:25:51) Codey: It’s a (0:25:51) Al: teaser (0:25:54) Codey: Teaser, they say… (0:25:56) Codey: “As spring arrives in the northern hemisphere, we’re not quite done with the cold weather. We got you southern hemisphere folks.” (0:26:02) Codey: Correction. We are also not ready for spring. (0:26:08) Codey: The United States weather predicting rodent has proclaimed that there are six more weeks of winter. (0:26:16) Codey: So, yeah, we’re not ready. (0:26:18) Al: Do I need to tap the sign? Seasons aren’t universal, Cody. (0:26:20) Codey: What’s the sign? (0:26:26) Codey: They specifically say “As spring arrives in the northern hemisphere.” (0:26:28) Al: Seasons aren’t universal in the northern hemisphere, Cody. (0:26:32) Codey: There’s six more weeks of winter. I don’t know what to tell you. (0:26:35) Al: Look, okay, so not every country has the same definitions of seasons. Not every country even (0:26:41) Al: has four seasons, and certainly not every country is going to listen to America when they say that (0:26:46) Al: that a rodent has decided it’s- (0:26:49) Codey: Okay, there’s like certain things that they should listen to us on and the majority of (0:26:54) Codey: things that other countries should just ignore Americans on, especially these days. (0:27:00) Codey: But one thing y’all should really listen to is our, our groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, (0:27:07) Codey: who is an immortal groundhog that has bespake unto the cultists or whomstever and told them (0:27:18) Codey: in Groundhog E’s! (0:27:20) Codey: There will be six more weeks of winter and a bunch of people just went. (0:27:22) Al: Yeah, I have watched Groundhog Day. I do know the idea behind it. (0:27:27) Al: Finally, in the game news in bit, we have MeloBot, a last song, have released their (0:27:34) Al: original soundtrack on Steam. It is $12.99 on its own, or it’s also included in the Deluxe (0:27:42) Al: Edition for which is more expensive. It’s actually a really good deal if you get the (0:27:46) Codey: Oh, whoo. Yeah. (0:27:49) Al: deluxe edition, though, right? Because it’s like… (0:27:52) Al: 20 quid for the game. I’m back into pounds here because you confused me with your whole (0:27:57) Al: dollars. 20 quid for the game or is it 25 quid for the 25 dollars for the game? (0:27:58) Codey: - Yeah, sorry, I put dollars, I put US dollars. (0:28:00) Codey: $13. (0:28:04) Codey: $25 for the deluxe edition and then $13 if, (0:28:08) Codey: for just the soundtrack. (0:28:10) Al: Yeah. Well, how much is the base game is that is that $20 then? (0:28:13) Codey: - Man, I didn’t look at that. (0:28:14) Codey: Let me look. (0:28:16) Al: See, it is 20 quid or 10 and 10 quid for 20 or 27 quid. (0:28:22) Codey: Oh I had it wrong! The game is 25. The bundle that includes the digital deluxe upgrade is 35. (0:28:22) Al: Ah. (0:28:32) Al: OK, so it’s still a good deal, but it’s not as good a deal. (0:28:35) Codey: You save 8%. (0:28:37) Al: All righty, so that is the game news. (0:28:41) Al: We also have two new games announced. (0:28:43) Al: Well, kind of. (0:28:44) Al: One of them is a new game. (0:28:44) Codey: - In quotes. (0:28:46) Al: One of them is actually two that are not– (0:28:50) Al: should we talk about the one that’s actually new first? (0:28:52) Al: So that is Sky Harvest. (0:28:52) Codey: - Yes. (0:28:57) Al: The blurb for this one is, “Armed with hand-me-down tools (0:29:01) Al: and some cash. (0:29:03) Al: You begin your new life as the chief farmer, a position your (0:29:07) Al: grandfather once excelled in. Can you honor his legacy and (0:29:10) Al: transform the overgrown, untamed and desolate floating island (0:29:14) Al: into a flourishing farm abundant with produce? (0:29:19) Codey: produce is weird in that trailer was was grandfather sleeping (0:29:26) Al: I didn’t actually watch the trailer give me two seconds. No, he did (0:29:33) Al: Again, yeah, no he did (0:29:36) Codey: so as a child you come upon your grand your beloved grandfather deceased at the (0:29:44) Al: Dead, at the kitchen table, reading his hopes and dreams. (0:29:47) Codey: kitchen table with (0:29:49) Codey: a book in front of him. (0:29:53) Codey: The book says, if I wish I could have gone back one last time and it’s got like a ticket and then it shows you taking that ticket and going and honoring his legacy. (0:30:04) Al: This is how this is how I know that he’s dead because if he’s not dead that is horrific. You’ve just stolen his ticket (0:30:05) Codey: But like, (0:30:12) Al: The one thing he wanted to do you’ve stolen his ticket and gone without him (0:30:16) Al: Let waited a while because you’ve grown a beard now. You’re an adult now (0:30:16) Codey: also, (0:30:20) Codey: Yeah, there’s a whole beard, a mustache, wild. (0:30:21) Al: Goodness me. That’s dreadful (0:30:23) Al: You (0:30:24) Codey: But like, if I came upon my grandmother deceased, (0:30:29) Codey: I say this because my grandfather is already deceased. (0:30:34) Codey: If I came upon my grandmother deceased, and (0:30:37) Codey: I don’t care what’s in front of her, I’m not looking at that. (0:30:42) Al: Yeah, he just like rests his head on his grandfather’s dead arm and sheds one singular tear before stealing his ticket, his boat ticket. (0:30:45) Codey: And then… (laughs) (0:30:50) Codey: I don’t know how beloved that grandfather was, if that’s your reaction, my guy. (0:30:55) Codey: Anyway, this is me just… (laughs) (0:30:56) Al: One, he’s one tear’s worth a little bit. (0:31:00) Codey: Alright, this looks cool though. So you’re on floating islands, you’re flying around with a jetpack, you can manage a restaurant. (0:31:07) Codey: It just says manage a restaurant, but it just shows you telling the person what the one meal that you guys are making in the day is. (0:31:20) Codey: Not what restaurants do. (0:31:23) Codey: And it’s a really bad restaurant. (0:31:24) Al: It’s what really bad restaurants. (0:31:28) Codey: And then it also says make friends, and then there’s a dog with a scroll in its mouth, so I’m guessing you befriend a dog. (0:31:36) Codey: And unfortunately that wasn’t in the trailer, it was in this thing. (0:31:40) Al: I mean the trailer didn’t show you much, lesbian. (0:31:43) Codey: Right, the trailer was very teaser-y, but underneath that, on the post, they have… (0:31:50) Codey: I watched that video where there’s a dog 10 times to see… I wanted to see more of the dog. (0:31:59) Codey: What kind of dog is it? All that. (0:32:03) Codey: It’s definitely a tricolor something, but other than that, no. (0:32:08) Al: So I will say I’m not particularly enamored by the graphics in this game. (0:32:17) Al: Not that it looks bad, it’s very definitely trying to look how it looks, I think. (0:32:23) Al: What I find a bit weird is the graphics of the game and the graphics of the heads-up display, (0:32:30) Al: like the menus and stuff, they feel like they’re from different games. (0:32:31) Codey: Mm hmm. Yeah, like they had two different people designing those, (0:32:38) Codey: and one understood the assignment and one didn’t. (0:32:38) Al: Yeah. Yeah, so it’s a little bit weird. Very, very. I do like the flying. The flying looks fun. (0:32:45) Codey: The character also looks lanky. This is a tall character. (0:32:53) Codey: Yeah. Mm hmm. Cosine. I don’t. (0:32:57) Al: Yeah, I don’t know what else to say. That looks interesting. I love how it calls it sky farming (0:33:01) Codey: It’s farming, but in the sky. Or are we? Are you farming the sky? (0:33:04) Al: when it’s just farming. (0:33:08) Al: In the sky? Okay. No, no, no, no, it’s just you’re on a sky island. Which I feel like this whole (0:33:12) Codey: Like is there part you’re like collecting the sky? (0:33:16) Codey: You don’t know that. What if they what if you collect the sky? (0:33:21) Al: let’s this game has sky islands was a fun idea five years ago and now half the games are doing (0:33:26) Al: it. Which is I guess the problem with game development, right? It was even before that (0:33:30) Codey: It’s the tears of the kingdom like. (0:33:35) Al: people were doing it. They didn’t. (0:33:38) Al: No, I know. Yeah, yeah. No, I get it. I feel like this could be possibly interesting. (0:33:46) Al: I’m not really sure what it’s… The flying is the thing that is most interesting to me, (0:33:51) Al: but other than that, I’m not really sure what it is that they’re doing that’s unique, (0:33:54) Al: which is always the problem with cottagecore games is why should I play you over Stardew? (0:34:01) Codey: I think that’s correct. I think like that’s the thing about this is it’s just to get your (0:34:06) Codey: attention and we will continue. It’s not like I saw this and I’m like, yep, not going to play (0:34:11) Codey: that because there’s not a lot here. I want to, I want to see more. They’re going to probably (0:34:15) Codey: release more. And so far they just say Q2 2025 in the trailer. (0:34:16) Al: Yep. Yeah, where did you see Q2? I just see 2025. Oh, in the trailer, okay. Because on (0:34:28) Al: Steam just says 2025. Okay, I will update my list then. I didn’t pay attention to the (0:34:31) Codey: Yeah, he didn’t watch the trailer. (0:34:38) Al: trailer, there’s a difference there. All right, we also have the brand new and exciting (0:34:39) Codey: Oh, my bad. I get that though. (0:34:47) Al: Harvest Moon, Skytree Village, and The Lost Valley are for some reason coming to Switch. (0:34:55) Al: The good thing about this is it is a bundle, so it’s like you’re not buying the game separately, (0:35:00) Al: which is good, because my word that would be not worth any sort of money. I’m not sure who (0:35:06) Al: wants these games. It’s like they went, “Oh, when we did…” Because they worked with… (0:35:09) Codey: Yeah, so you– (0:35:16) Al: Because the rights are complicated to the old Harvest Moon games, right? So they’ve done some, (0:35:22) Al: they released the original Harvest Moon on, what’s it called, Nintendo Switch Online, (0:35:31) Al: and they had to do that in collaboration with Marvelous, because Marvelous owned the game, (0:35:36) Al: but they owned the name, and so they had to both agree to that. Anyway, whatever, it doesn’t matter. (0:35:41) Al: And I feel like that combined with Marvelous redoing a wonderful… (0:35:46) Al: life has made them go, “Oh, people like when we remake Harvest Moon games and knock on which ones (0:35:55) Al: is it that people actually want to play, because I guarantee you it’s not Skytree Village in The (0:35:59) Al: Lost Valley.” (0:36:00) Codey: - Yeah, I will say, okay, so two things. (0:36:04) Codey: First of all, I looked, so one social media user, (0:36:08) Codey: to your question of who’s asking for this, (0:36:10) Codey: one social media user named Chrissy said, (0:36:13) Codey: “Cozy gamers have really been winning lately.” (0:36:16) Al: I wonder whether that person has ever actually played either of these. (0:36:16) Codey: To which another, (0:36:23) Codey: to which another user said, (0:36:25) Codey: “These games are more like a loss.” (0:36:28) Al: The funny thing is they did the whole, “Oh, we’re going to announce an announcement.” (0:36:34) Al: And they were like, “Oh, we’ve got an exciting announcement coming for you.” (0:36:34) Codey: Yeah (0:36:37) Al: And you’re like, “Okay, fine.” (0:36:40) Al: And then they did this and people were like, “Really? (0:36:43) Al: That was your… (0:36:44) Al: Please tell me this wasn’t everything.” (0:36:46) Al: Because it’s just, they’re like, I am not the sort of person who just hates on Harvest (0:36:50) Al: Moon, you know, Natsume, Harvest Moon games for the sake of it. (0:36:54) Al: You know, I am literally playing Harvestman, Home Sweet Home, as we’re recording. (0:36:58) Al: The podcast, right? And I’ve talked about how I like that. I’ve talked about how I like the ideas (0:37:02) Al: in One World and Winds of Anthos. I think they’re very interesting and I think that they’re very (0:37:07) Al: close to legitimately having a good game. These games are not that. These games are just bad. (0:37:10) Codey: Mm hmm. This ain’t it chief. Yeah, I will say so. I was listening to another podcast (0:37:22) Codey: about metal music lately and they were talking about I had there’s a point fault. Stay with (0:37:27) Al: I look forward to it. (0:37:28) Codey: me. They were talking about how this one band re like, is republishing like re thank you (0:37:37) Al: - Remastered. (0:37:38) Codey: remastering. (0:37:40) Codey: I think they’re actually just straight up rerecording an (0:37:42) Codey: entire album and like reproducing it. (0:37:42) Al: - Oh, okay. (0:37:44) Al: They’re Taylor-swifting it. (0:37:45) Codey: Basically, they are that’s the they literally made a joke about (0:37:49) Codey: that and they had the same question like what who’s asking (0:37:53) Codey: for this and a bunch of people on social media were like, (0:37:56) Codey: ah, this is thanks, but I’d rather have no music, etc, etc. (0:38:00) Codey: But they actually said they made a really good point, which (0:38:02) Codey: is if there are people who have not played these games or (0:38:07) Codey: listen to this music or whatever. (0:38:10) Codey: Kind of an introduction to that to that content for them (0:38:13) Codey: because there might be people who have heard of this Harvest (0:38:17) Codey: Moon thing, but they haven’t really played it yet or whatever (0:38:22) Codey: and then maybe they see this bundle and they’re like, oh (0:38:24) Codey: wow, there’s two of them in here. (0:38:26) Al: They’re first and last Harvest Moon games (0:38:27) Codey: And so it’s not. (0:38:30) Codey: Well, yeah, so that’s the thing. (0:38:31) Codey: So I mean that they were talking about an actually good album (0:38:35) Codey: versus– (0:38:35) Al: Yes, I think that’s that is the key difference here Cody (0:38:39) Al: I think like I am NOT against remakes. I think remakes can be really good (0:38:40) Codey: - Yeah. (0:38:43) Al: I think I’m doing a wonderful life last year was good because that is a very beloved game (0:38:43) Codey: Yeah. (0:38:47) Al: That is a lot of people’s first farming game (0:38:51) Al: And you just have to listen to Kevin for five minutes to know how much some people were waiting for that (0:38:55) Al: Nobody has that about (0:38:56) Codey: Oh, yeah. That’s fair. (0:38:56) Al: these games. (0:38:59) Codey: Yeah, I I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but, uh, yeah, (0:39:04) Codey: I think that the thing is that it’s not just if they’re not being remade (0:39:08) Codey: or or bundled in for the switch for the fans. (0:39:14) Al: No. This is the problem is there aren’t games that Natsume can nostalgia grab on. (0:39:15) Codey: It’s to try and get new people into the into the fandom. (0:39:26) Al: Because they’re all owned by Marvelous. They only own the name. And Marvelous aren’t going to do (0:39:33) Al: anything about it. I think it was very different when they did the original on Nintendo Switch (0:39:38) Al: Online because that is the actual original game. They’re just porting. (0:39:44) Al: It’s not even porting. It’s literally just an emulator. They’re just literally allowing (0:39:51) Al: the game to run on it. And that’s very different to remaking games. And there’s no way Marvelous (0:40:00) Al: have remade multiple. They remade Friends of Mineral Town, which was a fun one to do. They (0:40:05) Al: remade A Wonderful Life. I can’t remember if they’ve done any other remakes recently. (0:40:10) Codey: Yeah, I don’t know, because I’m not ever going to touch it, so. (0:40:14) Al: They want to jump on the bandwagon. They have to just release bad games again. (0:40:20) Al: This is the thing. So many people have this be in their bonnet about Natsume and they’re like, (0:40:25) Al: oh, they’re just jumping on the name and using it to sell bad games. And yeah, that’s kind of true. (0:40:31) Al: Or at least it was kind of true. I do think now they’re actually getting better and they’re (0:40:36) Al: actually trying to make good games. They’re getting there. But the problem is that releasing (0:40:42) Al: they’re bad games again. (0:40:44) Al: They’re not going to convince anybody that they’re doing anything other than money-grabbing. (0:40:44) Codey: Yeah, it’s like there’s someone at the company that remembers when all these games first (0:40:55) Codey: came out and like the hype the hype of it and they’re trying to like regain that the (0:41:01) Codey: glory days and the it’s sometimes you just got to let things go and like when Bluey and (0:41:08) Codey: Bingo had to get rid of a bunch of their stuffies. Yeah. (0:41:10) Al: Oh, we watched that the other day. That was a good episode. (0:41:17) Al: Yeah, it’s painful to watch what they’re doing, because it’s like one step forward, 73 steps (0:41:24) Al: back. Like, I just… Why do this? And I… Oh, goodness. Yes, right. (0:41:24) Codey: like the American government. So we have some other people one year forward 73 years backwards. (0:41:40) Al: So… Yeah, a section we don’t often have, because normally it’s just game updates and (0:41:41) Codey: We have some other news. Uh-huh. Oh. (0:41:47) Al: occasionally new games, we do have the other news section. So we have three pieces of other (0:41:53) Al: news to talk about. The first one is super… Let’s start off with the negative one, shall we? (0:41:54) Codey: You got to be more specific. Oh, oh, you’re right. You’re right. You’re right. I needed. (0:42:01) Al: There’s only one negative one. Okay. (0:42:04) Codey: I had to look through it again. Yeah. (0:42:10) Al: So Phoenix Labs, the developers of Fae Farm and Dauntless, and were creating other games (0:42:15) Al: until last year when they laid off almost everybody who was working on any game other (0:42:20) Al: than Fae Farm and Dauntless have now laid off almost everybody else. Huzzah! (0:42:26) Codey: - Yay. (0:42:27) Al: They’re like, “What’s the point in a game studio that makes games? (0:42:30) Al: We don’t want to make games. We don’t even want to continue making our existing games.” (0:42:34) Codey: Yeah, you don’t have yeah, but you know, they really said, the developer said, quote, It’s unfortunate, but necessary. (0:42:44) Codey: Yeah, so I did do a dive into this, more than just like, just the top of the of the article or whatever I start, I really got into reading this article and like kind of looking at some stuff because I was just like, what is going on here? (0:42:45) Al: Yeah, I guess the games aren’t failing then. (0:43:00) Al: - Were you rage reading? (0:43:02) Al: Were you rage reading? (0:43:04) Codey: I was so after basically, the developer, the Phoenix lab, whom’s ever the whole the whole Phoenix lab people. Correct. Thank you. You’re so good with the words today. So they, they were, they were acquired by a blockchain company called forte labs. (0:43:14) Al: the company. What can I say? I’m on a roll. Words is my whole thing. (0:43:30) Codey: And when they were acquired, they then laid off (0:43:34) Codey: as you already mentioned 160 people and quote the new owner (0:43:39) Codey: reportedly pressed developers to draft methods for integrating (0:43:44) Codey: blockchain technology in its games for the purpose of buying (0:43:49) Codey: and selling and trading in game goods, according to former (0:43:52) Codey: employees. So the crypto market has has joined games y’all. (0:43:58) Codey: Uh. (0:43:58) Al: are we back on NFTs? I thought we killed NFTs like four years ago, what are you doing? (0:43:59) Codey: Yeah. (0:44:04) Codey: NFTs and crypto, man, they’re here to stay, I guess. (0:44:08) Al: Well no, crypto isn’t dead, but come on, when was the last time you heard about NFTs? (0:44:14) Al: Especially in games, they’re so 2022. (0:44:18) Codey: I believe Ascentient Cheeto recently gave more NFTs. (0:44:24) Codey: Continuing on, apparently after releasing Dauntless, (0:44:28) Codey: they were “criticized by players for its new in-app monetization design,” (0:44:32) Codey: which was probably the blockchain, (0:44:34) Codey: but erasing previous progression with the new Awakening update. (0:44:38) Codey: So they had an update and it released, it erased all the previous progression. (0:44:38) Al: Oh no! No! What?! (0:44:42) Codey: The game still has an overwhelmingly negative number of reviews on Steam. (0:44:49) Al: I miss that happening. I wasn’t really aware of this very much. I was aware of it when (0:44:50) Codey: And the… (0:44:54) Al: it initially released because it was like, “Oh, it’s gonna kill Monster Hunter.” And (0:44:56) Codey: Yeah. (0:45:00) Codey: It did not. (0:45:02) Codey: It really had it was nowhere new (0:45:04) Codey: because when it first launched, there were probably about 3200 concurrent players like people playing at the same time online. (0:45:12) Codey: Nowadays, it’s only ever around about 150 people. (0:45:18) Codey: So yeah, not sure what they’re doing. (0:45:22) Codey: I would suggest well, I guess I would I would say that I would suggest them to back off the blockchain, but they are literally owned and acquired by a blockchain company. (0:45:32) Codey: So I don’t think that’s going to happen. (0:45:36) Codey: So I’m not not really sure what this means for Fae Farm. (0:45:41) Al: What I find really funny is like, so I think crypto is most often a scam. (0:45:48) Al: I do think there are some interesting applications for blockchain as a concept. (0:45:56) Al: NFTs is not it. (0:46:01) Al: It has never been it, even on their own. (0:46:04) Al: And then when people started putting them into games, I was like, I don’t even know why. (0:46:10) Codey: I mean, I feel like it’s to try and like have an introduction. (0:46:11) Al: Like, what is happening, and why would you do this? (0:46:18) Codey: It’s like when they put smoking in movies so that they would get more smokers, right? (0:46:23) Codey: It’s like a, it’s a, it’s a possible way to normalize something. (0:46:26) Al: It’s like the Transformers series for selling more Transformers. (0:46:29) Codey: Yeah. (0:46:31) Codey: Uh, which it’ll probably have a small, well, it would have a small bump if it wasn’t for (0:46:38) Codey: uh, cozy gamers. (0:46:40) Codey: Cause I don’t think cozy gamers are the people or, or monster hunters style players. (0:46:46) Codey: I, you really gotta go for like the call of duty people. (0:46:48) Codey: I feel like they, they would do NFTs because they basically, that’s basically all they (0:46:53) Codey: do with their, uh, skins and stuff on all the, all the guns and whatever. (0:47:00) Codey: So like, it’s not monster hunter people, uh, with dauntless and then cozy games with fave (0:47:08) Codey: farm. (0:47:10) Codey: It’

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit smokeempodcast.substack.comSarah and Nancy discuss the Atlantic story “The Anti-Social Century,” about how much of modern life is being lived in isolation. They talk about eating alone, parasocial relationships, and why Sarah feels completely nailed by the data point that “the typical female pet owner spends more time actively engaged with her pet than she spends in face-to-face contact with friends of her own species.”Also discussed:* Okay, we'll talk about that thing Elon did* Is the blue/gold dress the metaphor of our times?* Trump is the candidate Americans built brick-by-brick* Who did Nancy write-in for president 2024? This guy…* Gotta agree with Sarah's old roommate on the Kleenex thing* Shark Tank love* McLuhan: “Every augmentation is an amputation”* Sarah finds listening to Jon Ronson is “deeply edifying”* Nancy is impressed — again! — with the concept “skin hunger”* Someone admits to watching Rock of Love* Character.ai: Let us know if you're using it!* Late-breaking Oscar nominationsPlus, the generosity of David Lynch's dreamscapes, “let me sell you a solution to a problem you didn't know you had,” Sarah requests you send her postcards stating your favorite hm-hm-hm, and much more!

Let's grab the Kleenex and reveal a repackaged Christmas gift of freedom. Independence and peace are yours to be claimed. Feel the faith as you both build and witness history. Let's stop being afraid and boldly reveal the truth. Ultimate freedom lies in faith. No longer a slave to fear, God breaks chains and freedom floods your soul. Possessions, vanity and the noise of life. The 40k foot view offers a different perspective. Immense beauty amid the purpose of God's design. Surrender is not a complicated thing. Feel the breath of peace within the moment. Respect you body, mind and soul. Finding who you truly are. Peace and freedom are already within us. Surrender is not from weakness, but from strength. Some news on the new book. Dissidents, Sparta and the pool of angry people within a sanctuary city. Both Sparta and the Athenians were funded by Persia. Making all roads lead to Rome. The Great Wall is there to keep people in. The Chinese genius strategy. The King James conundrum. Admission and evidence all came together in the end. It's going to be a bumpy ass ride from here. Our faith and actions will reveal the truth.

1034. First, we look at how writers should use trademarked terms like "Kleenex" and "Google," including when to capitalize them and how to avoid legal pitfalls. Then, we look at the way the word "thank" evolved alongside changing social conventions — who got thanked and why, and how the word itself evolved.  The trademark segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn. The "thank you" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of "Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com.