Podcasts about Kotter

The Time Riders: Part 15 Modern Servitude Compared To Ancient. Based on a post by BiscuitHammer, in 16 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Mooredale Secondary. Becky was pinching her eyes as she listened to one of her students try to explain how light was both a wave and a particle. He was saying 'umm...' so often that she began to think she was listening to the Prime Minister. Well, that wasn't fair, the PM was a Gen X'er, it was kind of their thing and all of them did it, with a few notable exceptions. "Thank you, Cory, please sit down before you hurt yourself," she sighed, sitting up straight while the students all snickered at Cory. He sat, blushing. Becky put her glasses back on. She didn't need them, but she thought it helped with the image she meant to convey. "People, I gave you this assignment over two weeks ago, and you need to be able to articulate this on your final exam. Does anyone know how to answer this question?" Becky groaned inwardly when Gina Felton put her hand up. She gestured resignedly for the student to stand. "Light acts or can be measured as a particle or a wave depending on when and how you try to observe it," the smarmy student began. Becky, along with most of the students, just shut their eyes. The bell didn't ring soon enough for Becky's liking, but she needed to get these twerps out of here. "Don't forget, assignments on radiation due tomorrow!" she called after them while they all hurried out of the classroom. She wished she actually kept a bottle of whiskey in her desk drawer sometimes. Mark had avoided looking at her as he left, as if trying to dodge a velociraptor. Thank God she couldn't get out of eventually giving him a passing grade, because he definitely didn't deserve anything more than a Z-minus. "Another day with the peerless minds of the future?" she heard Kay drawl from the door. "Don't worry, babe, moron students have always been a thing. Do you know about a TV show called 'Welcome Back, Kotter'?" "Yeah, I used to watch reruns of it with my dad was I was little," Becky sighed, shaking her head. "These kids aren't funny enough to be Sweathogs, though." "Maybe, but you get through to the ones that count," the older woman said, strolling in and pulling a chair around to sit in backward, straddling the seat and resting her arms on the back. "They can't all be thick as shit, can they?" "Most of them are in your classes too, so you have the same info I do," muttered the blonde, removing her glasses and rubbing her temples. "They really took it out of me today, I can't wait to get back home so that Nanu can f' She pursed her mouth shut and stopped talking. She looked at Kay, who was smiling slyly. "I knew it," the teacher breathed, wagging a finger. "You do have something going on with Nanu, you're bi, Fischer." "Fine," Becky said, rolling her eyes. "It's preferable to having everyone thinking that I'm boffing Simmons in any event." "None of the gals would blame you," Kay said coyly, smirking. "Besides, if you're looking after that Nanu girl for the rest of her life, looking after you is the least she can do." "Gross, Kay," Becky said, frowning. "She didn't trade in being a slave to become a prostitute. I want her to thrive." "Just keep her from singing," laughed her co-worker. "Ya' gonna bring her out again to our next bitching fest?" "She'll want to go, as long as there's food and Zeppli," Becky said, standing now. She needed to get out of here. "We have a play date this Friday, actually, with my profs from university." "Oh, wow, you mean the Viking god and the zillionaire heiress you told us about?" Kay queried. "Lucky bitch. Can you take pics?" "Probably not the sort of visit one takes pics of, or at least doesn't share," Becky pointed out, gathering up her things from the desk. "It's going to blow Nanu away, I'm pretty sure." "Ya' wouldn't need to be Nanu the slave to be blown away, trust me," Kay pointed out. "In any event, don't forget the audit tomorrow. The suits are coming in to make sure we're teaching the right way and being inclusive about grades." "I am so fucked;” Becky grumbled, stuffing her cellphone in her purse. Home. "So what new and exciting things did you do today?" Becky asked as she sat Nanu down for dinner. They were trying meatloaf in gravy tonight, along with mashed potatoes and steamed carrots. Nanu was almost drooling as she looked at the food. "I tried some of your toys out," Nanu said, waiting while Becky put butter on the carrots. "I got scared and quit after trying to use one of them." "Let me guess, the egg?" Becky mused, smirking. Nanu nodded. "I thought that one might freak you out. Don't worry, I'll show you how to use all of them safely, and then you'll love them. What else did you get up to?" "I followed your instructions about using the lapp-topp," Nanu continued, poking the mashed potatoes with her fork. It smelled good, but looked like lumpy white shit. How strange. But Mistress had them on her plate too, so Nanu was clearly missing something. "I looked at pictures of Kana-da, and of Rome, and of my home;” "Rome probably doesn't look anything like you remember it," Becky said, sitting down finally and pouring wine for each of them. It was actually Falernian wine she'd brought back with Mark from their initial visit to Imperial Rome, where they'd first met Nanu. She intended to bring a bottle or two along for the playdate on Friday. Nanu nodded. "It is all ruins. The mighty Romans have fallen. They were not as strong as they thought. Who destroyed them, Mistress?" Becky shrugged as she began to eat. She had made sure Nanu could use her cutlery properly, and Nanu watched her for cues about how to proceed. "It was a slow decline, my love, over a few hundred years. But there were nomadic tribes called Huns who began the fall, and then the people of Germania finished it, the tribes you call Goths." Nanu made a face. "The tall, smelly straw-heads? They made Rome fall? Where are they today?" Becky didn't know quite how to answer that question. Did she talk about Germany and the Third Reich? Would that make sense to Nanu? Or the fact that they were the industrial engine of Europe? She almost laughed at the thought of trying to explain 'goth' subculture to Nanu. "What is this called, Mistress?" Nanu asked, masticating on a mouthful of food. She tapped with the fork at the steaming brown mass on her plate. "It's very good, if hot." "Meatloaf," Becky replied. "It's the ground-up meat of a cow and pig, held together with oats and egg, that baked in my oven. It's like a meat cake covered in gravy." "Gray-vee;” Nanu said, looking at the sauce curiously. It occurred to Becky that Nanu had no analogue for gravy in her own era, and Becky had no damn idea when gravy had been invented. She'd just ask two people she was certain would know when she saw them on Friday. She swore those two knew everything. "I like everyone we have met so far, Mistress," Nanu said, resuming eating. "Even Steve, after he let me try his fire chicken. That hurt so bad overnight, Mistress." "I know, baby, and he won't do it again," Becky assured her. "The next time you eat hot wings, it'll be because you like them and want to. He's probably just glad to know he's not on your grudge list." Nanu nodded. "I had an invideo list when I lived in Rome." "That doesn't surprise me," Becky chuckled. "You wrote down the names of people who pissed you off so that you take revenge one day?" "Well, no," Nanu admitted, blushing a little. "I was a slave, I didn't have a stylus or any parchment or things to write on. When I was mad at someone, or they hurt me and I was crying, I'd lie in my straw and I'd close my eyes and whisper their name into my palm to help me remember it." "Did that work?" "No, I usually forgot," the Egyptian girl grumbled. "My memory is shit." "I'm sorry," Becky said, snickering and trying to control herself. "I promise you, my love, I'm not laughing at you. You just have a funny way of saying things." Nanu sniffed indignantly and continued eating her food. At least food understood her and didn't mock her. Except for the burning chicken. She'd be whispering into her palm about it that night, for sure. Friday morning, finally. "Should I be nervous, Mistress?" Nanu asked while Becky was setting out her clothes, humming to herself. Nanu still didn't have the hang of coordinating her outfits, and left to her own judgement, she usually ended up looking like a crazy homeless person. Ergo, Becky was in charge of dressing her for when they went out. "Even I'm a little nervous, but I always am when I see my profs," the blonde told her, smiling. "It's been about three years since I last got together with them, we met up at a certain club. But I'm also feeling excited. I always have the time of my life when I'm with them." "You're the only person I know of who's ever felt that way about their teachers, then," Nanu said, sitting naked on the bed and watching. "Except for maybe M-ark, but he gets to fuck you." "Just wait until you meet my teachers, then," Becky replied, smiling slyly as she held up a shirt for Nanu to wear. Fifteen minutes later. "This is not the same direction we went to meet your other friends," Nanu observed, looking out the window as they drove. There were fewer of the giant buildings, the so-called 'sky-scrapers', and many of the domiciles were larger, more ornate, with larger spans of grass than at other houses she'd seen. "Do wealthy farmers live in these places?" Becky snickered. Since the area they were driving through was not overly urban, with buildings heaped on top of buildings, Nanu thought they were visiting a rural area. Affluent suburbs like this must have felt strange. "No, wealthy people live in places like this, but they're not farmers. These are like the villas of wealthy Romans, I guess, like the Flavians. They're politicians, lawyers, merchants;” "Do your teachers live here?" Nanu asked. "No, not quite," Becky said, still driving and wondering what Nanu would think when they reached their destination. "It's hard to describe, just wait and see." They continued driving until they turned onto the Bridle Path, and Nanu was gazing in wonder at all the endless trees that concealed the neighborhood from public view. They began passing houses, all of which were affluent, of course, but weren't much more impressive than the ones they'd passed to get here. Then they began reaching the oldest estates, and Nanu's eyes grew wide. The lots grew in size, and sometimes she almost couldn't see the houses. Endless grass and trees, and the houses Nanu could see were huge. Becky was feeling a tingle of excitement as she turned up a long, winding driveway, lined with trees. Some carefully arranged rocks at the entrance had the letters of a word carved into them, but Nanu only caught a glimpse of it as they turned. BLACKWELL "Was that word in the big letters a name, Mistress?" she asked. Becky nodded. She hadn't been here for some years. "The family name is Blackwell. This place is over a hundred years old." "Black; weh;” Nanu said slowly. Nanu was staring at all the trees and the extensive lawn with its topiary when Becky got her attention. "Here we are, darling." Nanu's eyes widened when she saw what they were approaching. The long, massive building was made of gleaming white stone, stretching a long way in either direction. A great fountain in the middle of the black road greeted them, and they circled around it to stop in front of the place. "I no longer think you are wealthy, Mistress," Nanu murmured, gaping out her window as Becky turned off her car, sitting still for several seconds and staring at the steering wheel. The blonde took a breath. "Okay; I'm ready;” "Quid est?" Nanu asked. Mistress had been speaking her dreadful En-gush. "Sorry, honey," Becky said, squeezing Nanu's hand. "I was just getting myself ready;” She got out of the car while Nanu tried to unbuckle herself. Becky came around and opened her door, letting Nanu out before they turned and walked up the short flight of marble stairs to the big white doors. Someone was already waiting for them, a serious-looking woman in grey clothes. "Is that one of your teachers?" Nanu asked quietly as she held Becky's hand. "She looks like a teacher." "Miss Fischer, welcome," the woman said, smiling and nodding her head. "I am Tatyana, seneschal for Mr. and Mrs. DeBourne." "Thank you, Tatyana," Becky said, coming up the stairs. "Please, call me Becky, and this is Nanu." "Hello, Nanu," Tatyana said, smiling. "Hi," Nanu said, remembering how to greet someone and holding up her hand to wave. "Nanu doesn't speak English, we communicate in Latin," Becky explained. Nanu figured her Mistress was telling the stern woman how she didn't speak En-gush, so she just listened quietly. "Then you will need to be my translator, since I confess that aside from English, I only speak Russian, and no Latin," Tatyana replied, gesturing for them to enter and then following. They stopped in the grand foyer, and Nanu was Uhking around, her jaw almost on the floor. "I'm sorry if we're early, I didn't want to compete with traffic," Becky confessed, handing the seneschal a bag in which she was carrying two bottles. "And I've always been terrified of being late where the profs are concerned, so better to be early. I brought some wine I thought they might enjoy." Tatyana nodded. "They are in a virtual conference call at the moment. I have standing orders to make you both as comfortable as possible until they greet you. Let me call the staff, and we'll get started." Nanu watched as the stern woman brought her wrist up to her face and spoke quietly into some device wrapped around it. She then put her wrist down and waited patiently. Nanu was still looking all around, as if her head was on a swivel. The ceilings were so very tall! Everything was white, with gilding. The giant staircase at the back of the entrance hall was flanked by two huge suits of armour, each of them holding a menacing weapon. Nanu resisted the urge to hide behind her Mistress. What kind of teachers were these? Soon, she heard people approaching, and then they were assembling behind Tatyana. When they'd all fallen into place, Tatyana began introductions. "Right, as you lot might have heard, Mr. and Mrs. DeBourne have some special guests today. "I would like to introduce Ms. Rebecca Fischer, and her friend, Nanu." "Welcome," they all said in unison, nodding, except for two women in strange black dresses trimmed in white, who did a graceful little bow that also bent their knees. "Miss Fischer, I'll let my people introduce themselves," Tatyana said, gesturing to the staff. Becky stepped forward, bringing Nanu with her, and she started at one end of the line. "My name's Dave, senior landscaper," the gruff looking man said, shaking Becky's hand. He was positively ancient by Nanu's assessment, bald on top with greyish hair on the sides of his head and his moustache and beard. He looked rugged and tough for a grandfather. Next up, she greeted a young and handsome black man. "I am Yolatunde, but please, call me Tunde," he said, shaking her hand. "I am the junior landscaper." "Please call me Becky," the blonde said, smiling. She felt Nanu tugging on her arm and looked down at her. "They have a Nubian slave?" the Egyptian girl asked, hardly able to keep the wonder out of her voice. Becky chose to not try and address this issue right now, and would simply have to see to it before Nanu said anything awkward. The woman she now stood in front of was tall, rangy and strongly built. She had her dirty blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, and her denim overalls did little to hide her curves or her large bust. Her hazel eyes reflected her good-natured smirk. "Andrea, mechanic, plumber, and electrician for the estate." "Can I call you if I ever need my plumbing flushed?" Becky asked as she shook Andrea's hand, feeling something pass between them. Andrea laughed heartily. Yes, this girl would be fun indeed. Nanu seemed in awe of how imposing this woman's build was, not unlike a gladiatrix from Rome, but taller. "Glenda, estate chauffeuse," said another woman, smartly dressed in a grey outfit and wearing an odd little cap Nanu couldn't quite figure out. "If you need to go anywhere while you're staying with us, don't even think of driving yourself, I'll take care of it. It's how the bosses would want it." "Don't I know it," Becky laughed, moving down the line. She shook hands with Marie, a slight, frizzy-haired woman in glasses who was the botanist and gardener for the estate. She had a French accent, and Becky was relieved she'd kept up with her French, not only because she was afraid the profs would quiz her. "Hey, I'm Ari," said a smartly dressed young man with dark hair and eyes and tan features. He was handsome, for sure, but he gave off a gay vibe. "Cybersecurity for the estate. You won't mind if I lock your phone down while you're here, will you? For your own protection as much as anything. It's a good idea to be behind our firewall." "Do what you need to do, Ari, I know it's what the profs would want," Becky said, readily handing over her phone to him. Next in line was a sturdy woman wearing an apron and looking like she'd just come from the kitchen. "Theresa," she said pleasantly. "Estate chef and sommelier. The pleasure is mine, and just let me know what your culinary preferences are." "I'm willing to bet you're going to be Nanu's new favorite person," Becky replied, smirking down at Nanu, who heard her name but had no idea what was going on. She'd just have to wait for her Mistress to tell her. "Hi, I'm Trilby, senior housekeeper," said one of the women in the black dresses. She had light brown hair and was wearing strange things over her eyes. They reminded Nanu of the 'glasses' her Mistress sometimes wore, but these obscured the woman's eyes from view. "If you're staying' over, I'll be seeing to your sleeping arrangements." "Well, I doubt we are this time, but if that changes, you'll be the first to know," Becky said readily. She hadn't been to Blackwell Manor in some years, so the idea appealed to her. Lastly, they greeted an enthusiastic young woman, in another black outfit, but it was markedly different from the one the taller girl wore. This outfit was short and tight, and Nanu ended up staring right at the girl's big tits, which were in her face. Her legs were also visible, and if she moved just right, Nanu was sure she could see her undergarments. "Hi, I'm Valentina, junior housekeeper, but just call me Val," the girl chirped, smiling brightly. Her dark brown hair was worn in a bob, and her brown eyes radiated cheerfulness. Nanu wasn't certain but she also looked like she might have cat ears on top of her head. What was this creature? "Just call me Becky, please, I'm only Miss Fischer when I'm in trouble with your bosses," Becky said, shaking her hand. "And hopefully I'll manage to avoid that with the profs today." "That all depends on how you answer certain questions, Miss Fischer," Tatyana almost seemed to quip, making several staff members chuckle. What on earth was that about? She didn't like feeling paranoid around the profs. "Right," Tatyana announced, turning to look at her staff. "Carry on with your normal routines; if I have need of any of you, I'll call for you. Dismissed." Everyone nodded and then dispersed, leaving Tatyana with Becky and Nanu. The only other one who remained behind was Theresa, and she waited patiently. Nanu was once again, looking around the huge foyer, Uhking at everything. "Hopefully your hosts won't be detained too long," Tatyana said, checking her watch. "Perhaps some food or coffee while you're waiting?" Becky now looked down at Nanu. "Honey, Theresa here is the archimagirus for the estate. She is asking if you would like to eat while we wait for my teachers." The tiny girl nodded readily. Theresa smiled and bent over slightly, her hands on her knees. This girl Nanu was adorable! "Nanu, what would you like to eat?" Nanu figured out what was being asked, and she had her answer ready. "Ba-lo;” she said missing a beat. Theresa looked at Jenny for a moment. "Ba-lo?" "Bologna," Becky sighed, shaking her head. "It is, without question, her favorite food, believe me." "But I can make just about anything she likes," Theresa pointed out, seeming confused. "Why would she just want something as simple as that?" "We don't have taste buds like she does," Becky explained, while Nanu opened her mouth and pointed inside it, then smiled and licked her lips while rubbing her tummy. She looked like Nibbles the Mouse from old Tom and Jerry cartoons. "I think she's addicted to nitrates and preservatives, despite what havoc they wreak on her digestive tract. She was an actual slave where she comes from, so I'm pretty sure she has an iodine deficiency, she loves salt." "Oh, the poor thing," Theresa cooed, taking Nanu by the hand and leading her toward the small dining room. "In that case, I'll give her all the bologna she wants." "Ba-lo," Nanu said readily, willing to let this unknown person take her anywhere if she was going to get fed. Becky walked along behind, along with Tatyana, who watched intently. "A very interesting life you lead, Miss Fischer," the seneschal mused. "Tatyana, I wouldn't even know where to begin these days;” Becky sighed. Thirty minutes later. Nanu was still sitting at the table, eating happily and drinking milk while Becky and Theresa sat with her, the latter watching with no small amount of fascination. "Goodness, she can certainly pack it away for such a little thing," Theresa mused. "I daresay she might give the lord of the manor or his son Alex a run for their money. Does she have two hollow legs?" "She's not a slave anymore, so I stressed to her that she's always welcome to eat as much as she wants," Becky said, still feeling a certain morbid fascination in watching Nanu plow through everything she was offered. "Sometimes I just forget exactly what she's capable of." "Well, as long as she doesn't explode and poor Val and Trilby have to clean her up," Theresa said. "She ate that whole slab of organic bologna I brought out, and now she's killing my brisket." "And less than a week ago, she thought cow meat was a lowly peasant food," Becky sighed, eating her own croissant and having a coffee. It was still breakfast after all, but Nanu's metabolism knew no time zones. "I have yet to find a food she won't eat. She literally destroyed an entire pound of suicide wings the other night at a pub, even though it just about blew her head off. She's kind of relentless." "Good morning, Miss Fischer," said a very elderly gentleman in a clipped but friendly English accent as he entered the room. "It has been some years, hasn't it?" "Oh my goodness, Mister Winson," Becky said happily as she stood up and hugged the new arrival. Nanu even paused and looked up from her brisket to see what was happening. She put down her food and stood up, coming around the table now. She was trying to remember the manners Becky had taught her. Since she'd been a slave and had to stand when, well, anyone was in the room, it wasn't that hard for her to keep in mind. "It's so good to see you again, sir!" "It is good to see you as well, my dear, but please, call me Jordan," the man said, returning the hug. "I'm retired now, and simply a member of the family, so I'm told." "Okay, but call me Becky, then, or at least Rebecca," she replied, smiling up at him. She hadn't seen Jordan in many years, but he seemed the same as ever, crisp and dignified. She turned to Nanu and gestured for her to come closer. "Nanu, come here and say hello, this man is named Jordan." "Jor-dah," the tiny girl repeated as she walked right up to Jordan and hugged him, just as she'd seen her Mistress do. "Oh, hello," Jordan said, somewhat surprised by the greeting, but adapting to it readily. Theresa, who was standing nearby, couldn't resist letting out an 'Awe!' sound at the sight. "It's very nice to meet you, young lady." "Sorry, she doesn't speak English, we communicate in Latin," Becky explained as Nanu finally finished the hug. She helped Jordan sit while Nanu returned to her seat and continued showing the brisket who was in charge. "I admit, my conversational Latin is about as rusty as my joints, but I'll endeavor to make myself understood," Jordan said while Theresa served him some tea. They discussed Nanu's phony background for some time, with other staff members occasionally coming in and out. Nanu seemed very taken with Val's tits, and made no bones about it. Val giggled as Nanu bent over in her chair and tried to look up her skirt. Nanu seemed to have finally been sated when Tatyana came back into the room, smiling. "Your hosts are finally out of their meeting now and ready to receive you, Miss Fischer. If you would both please follow me;” Becky thanked Theresa for the food (Nanu hugged her), and then excused herself from Jordan before following Tatyana out of the informal dining room. They went back through the long halls, arriving at the grand foyer again. Tatyana then took them up the stairs. Nanu only tripped twice, because she was so busy Uhking at everything around her. Up to the third floor they went, and Tatyana led them toward a lounge. The seneschal stopped outside the room and nodded her head. "If you have any needs, Mr. and Mrs. DeBourne will make sure we see to them. It's been a pleasure, Miss Fischer." Becky nodded and watched as Tatyana turned and left. She took another deep breath and then took hold of the doorknob, opening the door and walking in, gesturing for Nanu to wait in the hall for a moment. The Egyptian girl nodded and stood still. "Rebecca Nightingale Fischer!" chimed a heavenly voice, making Becky squeal with delight. She trotted up and threw herself into the bronze-haired beauty's embrace, laughing in relief. How she'd missed these hugs. "It is so good to see you again, my dear!" "It's so good to see you both as well," Becky breathed, feeling her eyes sting at the sight of the two people who'd had more of an influence on her than anyone else in her life, her parents included. Karen DeBourne's hypnotic golden eyes shone with happiness. Next to her towered her husband, his electric blue eyes holding her spellbound. He cast a shadow over her, because he was so tall and so muscular. "I left Nanu in the hallway for a sec, just in case I started crying. May I get her?" The huge blond man nodded. Becky went back to the door and gestured for Nanu to come in, her smile a reassuring one. Nanu took her hand and came into the room, looking around, but a split second later, she dropped to her knees, her hands pressed to the floor and her head hung. She was almost shaking and they could hear her gasping and mumbling. "Nanu?" Becky said, very confused by the reaction. She got it; meeting The DeBournes for the first time, especially Michael DeBourne, could be intimidating, since he was almost seven feet tall and solid muscle. But this was a rather extreme reaction, and Becky hadn't expected it. "Nanu, are you okay?" Nanu kept mumbling, but she was trembling almost violently, refusing to look up. "You're speaking to her in Latin," the tall, bronze-haired woman said. Becky nodded. "She doesn't speak English, and I don't speak her native tongue, but she speaks Latin, so that's how we communicate," she said, still not at all sure what was going on. Was Nanu that frightened? "You said she's Egyptian, yes?" Karen asked. Becky nodded. Karen stepped forward slightly and then spoke. "Nanu, alraja' alwuquf." The tiny girl didn't comply with the request to stand, just trembling harder and still mumbling. "Well, she doesn't speak Arabic," Karen mused, her finger under her chin. Becky seemed at a loss, which did not go unnoticed by her hosts. She looked up at her husband. "Not Arabic." Mike nodded and took over, his voice deep and commanding. "Nanu, I want you to stand up." At hearing her native Coptic tongue, Nanu paused in her mumbling, going silent. She even stopped trembling. Slowly, very slowly, she pushed herself off her hands, getting to her knees and then rising to her feet. She resolutely kept her head down, though, looking at the floor. "Look up at us, Nanu," the huge man said. Nanu slowly lifted her head, and her light hazel eyes were brittle with fear, but also sheer awe. Her vision was filled with the sight of these two unfathomably tall and beautiful beings, the likes of which she had never conceived of. Even her Mistress was downright plain compared to them. Her mouth moved, but no sound came out. "So we need to speak Coptic to her and not Arabic," Karen concluded, observing the girl. "She must be from a very remote part of Egypt indeed." "Oh my God," Becky groaned in exasperation, looking at the ceiling and almost stomping her foot. "Am I the only person I know who doesn't speak this dead language?" Karen looked up at her husband. "Coptic, and not liturgically, and Latin. Rather odd, I daresay." She looked at Becky now. "That must be taxing for you both, needing to speak in Latin to make it in an English world." "You don't know the half of it, Lady Prof," Becky admitted. "I've never seen her react like that before, and she terrified of almost anything she can't eat." Karen now stepped directly in front of Nanu, knelt and took the tiny girl's hands in hers. Nanu's eyes snapped wide open at the contact, her pupils shrinking in little more than pinholes. "Nanu," Karen said softly, smiling as she spoke in Coptic. "Welcome to our home. I am so happy that you are here." Nanu heard Becky call out in panic while her eyes rolled up into her head and she crumpled to the floor. A few minutes later. "Well, you weren't kidding about the extreme reaction to things," Mike mused as he and Becky watched while Karen was sitting on the long chesterfield with Nanu lying on her, the Egyptian girl's head in her lap. She hadn't quite come to yet, and Karen was stroking her hair gently. "Any idea what that was about?" Becky was somewhat reticent to answer, since she wasn't even sure what to say. She finally decided that she needed to be honest. "I; well, this is going to sound ridic, but I think she thinks you're gods." Karen looked up from the couch, one of her eyebrows raised. "You're right, Rebecca, that does indeed sound 'ridic'. What impossibly remote corner of Egypt could she possibly come from where polytheistic beliefs still hold sway?" "It's; hard and weird to explain," Becky confessed rather lamely. At that moment, Valentina came in, and she was holding a small silver tray with an array of food on it. She handed it to Mike, curtsied, and exited the room. The huge man brought the tray to his wife, who examined the contents for a moment before picking up a rolled-up piece of Theresa's homemade bologna. She held it under Nanu's nose. "Even better than smelling salts," Becky muttered as she heard Nanu sniff something, and even before she'd opened her eyes, she leaned forward enough to take the proffered meat in her mouth. "Ba-lo;” she said somewhat dazedly, chewing away. Becky and Mike watched as Nanu ate the bologna while Karen just stroked her hair. It was some moments before Nanu looked up and realized where she was, scrambling off her host's lap, and prostrating herself on the floor, trembling and mumbling again. Karen and Mike looked at one another while Becky sighed and bent down to gently haul Nanu to her feet. She still wouldn't look at them, though. "We didn't mean to interrupt, Rebecca, please resume," Mike said. "Why does she think we're gods?" Here we go. "Well, she's never seen anyone quite like either of you, physically," Becky began. "And where she's from, there's' She felt a little tickle in her throat and she coughed rather harshly. "Are you quite all right, darling?" the gorgeous matriarch asked, curious. "Sorry," Becky rasped, waving it off. "I felt the tickle earlier in my throat when I was drinking coffee. Your chef Theresa put chicory in it, didn't she?" "She's been known to, yes," Karen confirmed, nodding. "Do you have an allergy?" "A very mild reaction, but sometimes it can flare up," the blonde said, puzzled. "Anyway, I' She paused to take another breath, her throat was still scratchy. The more she wanted to say something, the more she felt the itch. What on earth? "Could I; possibly borrow a piece of paper and a writing implement?" she asked. Karen walked over to a small credenza in the corner and returned with a small steno pad and pencil. Nanu was still staring at the two terrifying and wondrous beings, her mouth dry and her eyes rather wet. Karen handed the paper and pencil to Becky, who tried to write something. The tip of the pencil broke off. Karen tilted her head for a moment and then returned to her desk, coming back with a fountain pen, offering it to her guest. Becky pressed it to the paper, but the ink just spilled out of the tip, flooding the small square of paper. "Goodness," Karen said, quickly ducking low and putting another, larger page of paper she'd brought back under the steno pad, catching any ink that rolled off and threatened to stain her priceless rug. "Michael, perchance can Rebecca use your Rubus? I left mine back in the office." The giant man pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket and handed it to Becky, having unlocked it. Karen had already carefully taken the steno pad and fountain pen from her guest, walking them over to a small waste basket to safely dispose of them. Becky intended to use the text or document function to explain herself, but Mike's device winked out. "I think the battery just died," she said, handing it back to him. "Entirely." "What did I tell your father about having these batteries made in Guangzhou?" Mike asked as he looked down at his wife while putting the Rubus back in his pocket. "They skimp on the lithium, meaning the wiring degrades at least fifty percent more quickly." "Duly noted, your lordship," Karen sighed, shaking her head. "Yet another thing to bring up to the board at the next meeting. New batteries from elsewhere will mean tweaking the programming. That will cause some grumbling. I'm sorry, Rebecca, you were saying?" Becky seemed somewhat irked. She walked over to one of the window looking out over the back lot and leaned in, breathing on it. She'd try to write it there. Surely condensation would be her friend? "Those windows are thermochromic, my dear," Karen mentioned, still watching. "Not only are they slightly warm, but they have a coating on them that prevents condensation buildup, generally." "Nanu?" Becky called, snapping the smaller girl out of her trance. Nanu glanced at her Mistress and Becky beckoned her over with a finger. The blonde down and whispered in her ear. "Nanu, please tell them that you are from Imperial Rome." "No," Nanu whispered back, shaking her head and sounding very nervous. "They won't believe me, and they'll punish me. Please, Mistress, don't make me do it;” "Rebecca," Mike called over, his deep voice commanding but also kind and reassuring. "There's no need, just come back over here, please." Becky stood up and returned to stand with her professors again, holding Nanu's hand. The Egyptian girl had gone back to averting her gaze, looking at the floor. They both just stood there, as if letting school headmasters assess them. "She can't tell us," Karen mused aloud, but obviously talking to her husband. "It almost defies Bohm Interpretation." Becky had heard the term, but had no idea what it meant in this context. They weren't talking to her in any event. She just listened and waited. "The harder she tries, the more it hurts, and any attempt is stymied," Mike agreed. "Things that seem completely coincidental are all entangled. Who knew about the chicory?" "And we happened to be in the lounge where we installed some of the first thermochromic windows," Karen added. "No chance for condensation and finger-writing." She looked back at the waste basked. "Damn, I really liked that pen, too." Holy shit, Becky thought, almost shuddering at a realization. Am I encountering time lock? I'm not allowed to tell them? Will the fucking universe kill me before it lets me? There was something so inherently unfair about this in her eyes. Not that she couldn't tell them, but the fact that Mike and Karen DeBourne, two of the most amazing people and gifted physicists walking the planet, were not meant to know about her time traveling. The two people she desperately wanted to share this with more than anything, and it wasn't meant to be. When she looked up at them, she felt a stinging in her eyes. "I'm; I'm sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "Will you hate me if I ask you to stop inquiring about Nanu and myself?" She sighed in relief as Karen stepped forward and pulled her into a warm embrace. She may have been disappointed, but at least she could stop trying, for now. Nanu looked up when she felt the movement, seeing her Mistress being hugged. Her eyes went wider than dinner plates when she saw the goddess with the golden eyes take her Mistress' face in her hands and then kiss her, deeply. The giant god with the golden hair and the eyes the color of the sea reached down and kept her from falling on her ass as the strength left her legs. She goggled up at him, stunned beyond speech as he smiled down at her. Slowly, Nanu turned her head to look over at her Mistress again, who was still kissing the tall, bronze-haired goddess. It was no chaste or even reverent kiss, it was; lewd, it was. Becky groaned as Karen's tongue began to tangle with hers. Nanu gasped in utter shock. Was her Mistress tongue-fucking the goddess? Nanu let out an unintelligible sound of confusion, and this caused Karen and Becky to finally break the kiss. Still holding one another, they looked over and down at her, smiling warmly. "She seems overwhelmed," Karen mused. "She's never seen anyone kiss a goddess before," Becky said, smirking. "Not even me. That sure got her attention. I give it three seconds before her competitive jealousy kicks in." "Well, it won't do to have jealous guests in my house," Karen chimed, her voice music in Nanu's ears. The Egyptian girl had heard those lovely tones once before, during a conversation over her Mistress' magic talking box a few days ago. Mistress had been speaking to the goddess! The god and goddess were Mistress' teachers she was referring to! "And here we go again," Becky sighed as Nanu wilted in Mike's arms, seeming to faint for a second time. And probably not the last time today. A little bit later. Nanu was sitting on the giant bed, in the giant room, looking around. She seemed to have not noticed that she was completely naked, as was Becky, who had just finished undressing. The room was unlike anything she had ever seen or even conceived of. "The gods sleep in here?" she asked in a tiny voice. There we have it, Becky realized. She really does believe they're gods. Then again, I was the tallest woman she'd ever seen before she met Karen. And Mike, well; what do I do about it? Do I try to persuade her that they're not gods? That could take forever, and she'll fight it. I can't encourage it, so maybe just leave it and let her work it out for herself? Working things out for herself seemed to be Nanu's MO, so that what Becky decided on. She finally nodded. "They sleep here, yes." "You were kissing the goddess," Nanu breathed, looking at Becky in wonder. "She was kissing you. Mistress, have you; have you fucked these gods before?" Becky just nodded again. Nanu thought about that, her eyes roaming over the expansive floor in front of her, and then at her own naked body. "And I; do these gods intend to fuck me?" This brought a smile to Becky's lovely face. "If that is what you desire, my love. I told you several times this past week, we came to have fun with my teachers, and having sex with them was actually what I meant." "Your teachers are the gods themselves," Nanu murmured. "Are all teachers gods in your world?" "Not even close," Becky said, shaking her head. "But nobody had a bigger influence on my life and who I became than these two." "Well of course, they're gods," reasoned the Egyptian girl, almost frowning because she felt strange explaining the perfectly obvious to her Mistress. "What; what happens if I fuck these gods?" "Well, you cum, probably harder than you ever have in your life," Becky replied. "What did you expect to happen?" "I won't become a god myself?" Nanu asked. "I haven't yet." "What if I let the sun god cum in me?" pressed the former slave-girl. "Will I have a demigod childlike Hercules, who the Romans worshipped?" Becky just laughed and pulled Nanu to her feet. The smaller girl seemed justifiably hesitant, but Becky led her over to the large door off to one side of the room and into an enormous and sumptuous bathing chamber. Nanu's eyes were everywhere, trying to take it all in, but she stopped dead upon seeing who awaited them. It was the gods, and they were also naked. The goddess, the one her Mistress referred to as 'Karen', was a glorious sight to behold. She was even taller than Mistress, and her tits were larger, standing proudly on her chest. They were each as large or larger than Nanu's head. Her body was flawless, with a single strip of trimmed coppery hair crowning the mound just over her cunt. She had the same long dancer's legs that Nanu did. Her golden eyes were intimidating and at the same time very welcoming. Whoever she was looking at just had to choose which was applicable to them. Nanu trembled almost in fear at the sight of the god, though. He was immeasurably tall to her, she barely reached his chest. He was more powerfully built than any man or even statue she'd ever laid eyes on, with muscles bulging everywhere. He had a small waist under his huge torso, and his cock was frighteningly large, even though it was soft. The muscles of his legs were bigger around than Nanu's chest. Had her Mistress really fucked that god? Had she really fucked that cock? His eyes were the color of a fearsome sea, but they were looking at her now with a kind expression she found strangely comforting in one who must have been a god of war and conquest, not just a sun god. "Has Nanu experienced a hot tub yet?" Karen asked, smiling pleasantly. "Nope," Becky replied, shaking her head. "Not on my watch, anyway. I don't think they had the ability or technology where she comes from." "Be frank about this next question, Rebecca," the goddess continued, gesturing to the large tub set into the floor. "Will she want to participate in our planned debauchery?" That made Becky laugh. "Trust me, Lady Prof, once she decides she's in, there'll be no stopping her. She's a complete sex fiend, it's kinda scary. Honestly, we should just dive into it, and she'll watch until she feels left out, and then insist on getting involved." "Excellent," Karen said as she let her husband escort her into the tub. "Shall I see to Nanu while you give my husband his due greeting?" "Never thought you'd ask, Lady Prof," Becky breathed, heading to the tub and clambering in. She had Nanu by the hand, but the smaller girl seemed hesitant. Becky released her and went to Mike, slipping into his titan arms. Karen, meanwhile stood in front of Nanu, smiling at her. "Come, Nanu," the goddess said in Latin, holding out her arms. "Come to me." Trembling but unable to disobey, Nanu stepped forward and put her hands in the goddess'. She allowed herself to be led down into the humming, churning water, her eyes still fixed on Karen's. Whereas the water reached Karen's waist, it was almost up to Nanu's tits when she was standing in the center. She felt the warm water bubbling around her, and it would have fascinated her if she hadn't been held by the gaze of the goddess. "Do you want me to kiss you?" Karen asked. Nanu nodded almost imperceptibly, her heart thundering in her chest. Karen pulled her close, until their tits were squashed together. Nanu's eyes went wide as the goddess pressed her soft lips to hers, kissing her deeply. Nanu's eyes closed now, and she slowly brought her hands up to embrace the deity. It was unlike anything she'd ever felt before, even with her Mistress. Her mind just melted away. She felt her tongue tangling with the goddess', and realized she was actively kissing Karen back. Mistress had already told her that they'd come here to fuck these two, these gods, who were apparently her teachers. As much as she revered Re-be-kah, she seemed to have underestimated her still, since not everyone was allowed to fuck gods. And she was now allowed to? Nanu began to kiss back harder, surrendering to her innate desire and eagerness. She felt her tits pressing into the goddess', her nipples jabbing and scraping, getting very hard. The goddess slowly moved backward, taking Nanu with her, until she was sitting down, and pulled Nanu into her lap. Nanu rested on her thighs as they kept kissing, tongues exploring and tangling. Nanu whimpered in pleasure as Karen's hands began to roam around her body, caressing and exploring. The kiss broke long enough for them to look into one another's eyes, and Nanu was almost panting, a long string of glistening saliva drooping between their tongues. She felt the goddess' hands reach her ass, taking hold of her cheeks and squirming. Karen smiled and spoke in that enchanting voice. "Do you want to play with my tits, my dear?" Nanu nodded and leaned back just far enough to see the goddess' tits, which were larger than even Mistress'. Nanu couldn't remember ever seeing tits so big on any woman, unless they were enormously fat and floppy. This was something totally different, and Nanu was enthralled by the sight that awaited her. These divine tits were large and full, soft and firm, standing up and with dusky nipples begging to be kissed and sucked on. And Nanu would oblige. "Hmm, very nice," the goddess purred as Nanu leaned down and took one of the nipples inside her mouth, sucking and swirling her tongue around it. Karen gently clasped and cradled Nanu's head, letting her experiment. She felt the tiny girl bit and tug gently, which gave her a shiver. "You must enjoy making love to girls, yes?" she asked in Latin. Nanu just nodded, enveloped in this being's warm arms, almost feeling like she was suckling. She remembered practicing with her sister Kiya so very long ago back in dusty little Akhmim. She never could have guessed she'd be doing it now on a goddess. Her eyes opened as she heard a moan come from nearby, a moan she recognized as that of her Mistress. She looked over and stared dumbly, somehow remembering to keep suckling while watching Re-be-kah servicing the war god. Mistress was on her knees in the tub, while the god was leaning back against the edge, and she had his enormous, hard cock in her hand. She stroked the shaft while her lips were sealed around it, and she was bobbing back and forth, making an effort to push farther down its length with each movement. Nanu seized up and groaned as one of the goddess' hands glided down her body and under her ass, finding her cuntlips and stroking gently. "She looks good doing that, doesn't she, Nanu?" the goddess asked, smiling slyly. She stroked gently along her lover's nether lips, teasing her and making Nanu tremble in her lap. Nanu was having a hard time remembering to keep sucking and licking, but she somehow endured. "Would you like to try?" Nanu was whimpering, but she nodded. "Tag, DeBourne," Karen said, reaching out her hand to touch Mike's. "Nanu wants a whirl at the beast." "Do you mind, Rebecca?" the giant man asked, looking down at the woman currently pleasuring him. "Hmm, not at all, sir," Becky replied, popping her mouth off and smiling up at him, still stroking with her hand. "Don't want my jaw to get sore too early, after all." She stood and moved back, while Karen peeled Nanu off her lap. Despite expressing a desire to switch, Nanu seemed nervous, and Becky knelt in the water and took her face in her hands, smiling gently and whispering against her lips. "It's okay, my love," she said. "This is part of your new world, after all." Nanu nodded and moved over to the war god while Becky took her place, sliding into Karen's lap. Unlike Nanu, she wasn't perched on it, but managed to slip one of her legs back behind Karen's ass, and soon their pussies were pressed together while they embraced one another. They smiled before resuming the kiss they'd shared in the study, but even more deep and passionate now. "Hmm, God, I've missed this," Becky mumbled, her tongue dancing wetly with Karen's. Their tits squashed, and they squirmed against each other, reconnecting. It had been too long since they'd made love. The last time they'd been able to meet up had simply been in a café, no chance to get naughty there. "We have too," Karen replied, exploring Becky's mouth. They remembered what the other liked, and their rhythm fell easily into place. "And you need to promise to visit more often, my love." "We will," Becky said, her heart fluttering. These two had meant so much to her. They'd first met her when she was simply a precocious teenager in high school, attending an institution they were considering sending their son to once he had left his Montessori. They'd been impressed by her grasp of science and had sponsored her readily, leading to many opportunities she might never have had, no matter how much her grades might have earned them. She even studied abroad for a few summers on their dime, going to Stanford, Oxford, and Lucerne. And then they'd made sure that she had a place at the university, and got into all the Science classes she desired. She had always had the biggest crush on them both, and by now she thought she was madly in love with them. She became their lover, even while they were her instructors. They opened her eyes to so many things. And they'd inspired her. She knew she wanted to teach young minds, to give those young people the same passion and opportunities she'd been given. Once she had her degree that allowed her to teach, she took a job at a local high school, and the place was happy to have her as their principal science teacher. It turned out to not be as much fun as she had anticipated, with teenage students proving boring and reticent. Some years of this had made her feel worn down. If it hadn't been for Mark and his Holmes Field Device these past few weeks, she might have simply droned on, feeling the passion for teaching fizzle out of her. And now she found herself back here, with Nanu, and everything seemed wonderful again. She pulled Karen tighter into her embrace, kissed her harder, and felt their cuntlips mingling and slithering beneath the foaming water. "Hmm, your breath still smells like roses," Becky panted as they made out and made love. "Those rose pastilles are so wonderful. Please let me lick you, please;” Karen nodded and they broke the kiss, with Becky sidling backward off her lap and getting on her knees. Karen now leaned back, resting her amazing ass on the edge and spreading her legs wide enough for Becky to kneel between them. She gazed in quiet delight at her professor's cunt, so wet and inviting, shaved completely smooth except for the tightly trimmed strip above, the lips perfect and even. Karen DeBourne was absolutely flawless. Becky leaned in and began kissing, wasting no time in pleasuring the older woman. She kissed and lapped, shivering as she remembered this taste. A memory of her first time doing this flooded back to her, and she reveled in the scent and slick arousal of her teacher-lover. She dragged her tongue up the twat before flicking it against Karen's nub, making her tremble and sigh, one of her hands coming to rest on the back of her former student's head. Nanu was frowning now, having gotten (somewhat) over her intimidation and was trying to massage the god's massive tool. Her fingers didn't even wrap around it, and she had to use both hands in a motion together to slide up and down its length. She leaned in and pressed the tip of her tongue against the swollen head, bewildered about how her Mistress had fit the damn thing

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Christina and guest Criss Moody continue exploring what it means to lead people, not just processes, through change.Picking up where Part 1 left off, this episode dives deeper into the human side of leadership: how emotions, empathy, and psychological safety influence whether change succeeds or falls apart.Criss shares insights from her research on the Bridges Transition Model and Kotter's Leading Change, emphasizing that transformation isn't just about strategy or structure, it's about connection. When leaders take time to earn trust, validate emotions, and communicate the “why” behind every shift, they cultivate lasting buy-in and resilience across their teams.We unpack what it looks like to navigate resistance, build environments where people feel safe to speak up, and use empathy as a leadership superpower, not a weakness.In this episode:Why psychological safety is the foundation for effective changeHow empathy strengthens communication and trustThe difference between addressing emotions and being ruled by themThe unique challenges military leaders face when leading changeHow to leverage emotional intelligence and structure together for lasting impactCriss also shares how women can embrace their natural strengths, empathy, collaboration, and emotional awareness, as superpowers that elevate modern leadership.Whether you're leading through policy shifts, organizational restructuring, or culture change, this episode will remind you that the most effective leadership begins with heart.RESOURCES:Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading Change. Harvard Business Review Press.Bridges, W., & Bridges, S. (2016). Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change(4th ed.). Da Capo Lifelong Books.Criss Moody Research Paper:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-tAmIMdUaU8g9v_FZT310Eoh4drDVlL/view?usp=sharingJoin the Strong and Resilient Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/336774597179247SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode84Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogiMore about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart PodcastHey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

A key problem in empirically oriented research, especially inductive and abductive work, is figuring out which theoretical lens or scaffold to apply to uncover novel insights. In other words, which theory should you use? We discuss a few heuristics scholars can draw on to reach a higher level of scholarly maturity, namely disposition, empirical salience, outcome definition, skepticism, and reflexivity. Episode reading list Recker, J. (2021). Scientific Research in Information Systems: A Beginner's Guide (2nd ed.). Springer. Quine, W. V. O. (1961). Two Dogmas of Empiricism. In W. V. O. Quine (Ed.), From a Logical Point of View (pp. 20-46). Cambridge University Press. Duhem, P. (1998). Physical Theory and Experiment. In M. Curd & J. A. Cover (Eds.), Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues (pp. 257-279). Norton. Popper, K. R. (1959). The Logic of Scientific Discovery. Basic Books. Glikson, E., & Woolley, A. W. (2020). Human Trust in Artificial Intelligence: Review of Empirical Research. Academy of Management Annals, 14(2), 627-660. Recker, J., Zeiss, R., & Mueller, M. (2024). iRepair or I Repair? A Dialectical Process Analysis of Control Enactment on the iPhone Repair Aftermarket. MIS Quarterly, 48(1), 321-346. Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading Change. Harvard Business School Press. Kerr, N. L. (1998). HARKing: Hypothesizing After the Results are Known. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2(3), 196-217. Lindberg, A., Berente, N., Howison, J., & Lyytinen, K. (2024). Discursive Modulation in Open Source Software: How Communities Shape Novelty and Complexity. MIS Quarterly, 48(4), 1395-1422. Lindberg, A., Berente, N., Gaskin, J., & Lyytinen, K. (2016). Coordinating Interdependencies in Online Communities: A Study of an Open Source Software Project. Information Systems Research, 27(4), 751-772. Chandar, B. (2025): AI and Labor Markets: What We Know and Don't Know. https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/news/ai-and-labor-markets-what-we-know-and-dont-know/.

MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeJoin me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Jared Kotter (https://x.com/Jaredkotter), the former middle school teacher who accomplished the seemingly impossible: launching a drywall business and scaling it to $1.7 million in revenue in just 10 months!Jared shares the unorthodox approach he took, leveraging his background as a college athlete and LDS missionary to develop unique sales skills. Instead of buying equipment or hiring crews, Jared established a powerful model: acting as an account manager and commissioned salesman for his brother's company, Canvas drywall, earning a 50% split of the net profit.He breaks down how he uses Construction Monitor to source high-end custom homes and reveals his secret method for closing deals at three times the average rate. This strategy involves doing things that don't scale, namely, showing up in person to measure jobs, which allows him to build immediate trust with the home builder.We also discuss why he views this successful venture as a stepping stone and how leveraging your unfair advantage is crucial for entrepreneurial success.Questions This Episode Answers:How can you achieve $1.7 million in revenue with no experience in a trade industry?What is the simple sales secret sauce that leads to a 3x closing rate in construction?How do you find and approach high-quality, high-margin construction leads for new builds?What is a fair net profit split when selling and managing fulfillment for a service business partner?How does focusing on good fulfillment immediately create recurring revenue in the contracting world?__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 – Intro: From teacher to $1.7M drywall business00:42 – What is a drywall business & how Jared earns 50% profit02:30 – Leaving teaching to build financial freedom05:40 – Early side hustles before launching drywall07:05 – How the drywall model works with almost no labor08:10 – Finding high-end clients through construction permits10:30 – Cold-calling builders & landing first deals12:55 – Managing projects and understanding the 50/50 split15:15 – Using drywall as a stepping stone to bigger goals22:30 – Prepping for launch & funding startup with Christmas lights27:15 – Tracking leads manually and learning sales discipline29:20 – Secret to closing 3x more deals: meeting clients on-site39:10 – Final lesson: Find your unfair advantage and start

David Kotter is CEO and President of both the Hybrid Debt Fund and Integrity Capital, LLC, managing over $2 billion in funding in the commercial finance space. With a background spanning the secondary debt markets and commercial origination, Kotter is known for his innovative “hybrid debt” structure—blending lender security with investor upside—while helping clients bridge funding gaps in today's challenging CRE market. David's path from entrepreneurial hustles (medical kits, landscaping) to launching Integrity Capital while still in college, focusing on commercial debt origination and now running a fund that holds and manages private credit paper itself. The difference between primary market (origination/lending directly to developers) and secondary market (buying distressed or performing debt from other lenders); why Kotter migrated his focus to origination for deeper client relationships and resilience across market cycles. How the Hybrid Debt Fund works: funding up to 85–90% of a project, then participating in 30–35% of profits, offering speed and flexibility to developers, while providing “debt with equity-like upside” to investors. Why commercial lending is a field for those with tenacity and resilience; how internships and analytical roles are a strong entry point, and why success is a blend of sales grit, analytical rigor, and networking at the highest levels. Honest discussion of market cycles: post-2022 “fog mode” in CRE, what signals the sector is thawing as of late 2025, and why office, older multifamily, and hospitality have the most distress—but no “tsunami” of deals or crash expected. Breaking into commercial finance requires hands-on exposure, industry mentors, and a willingness to plow through long, complex, often uncertain deals—those who persist can earn $300K+ within several years. The debt+equity hybrid model gives developers flexibility and investors returns otherwise unavailable from traditional lenders—a timely solution as banks retrench and equity gets expensive. Commercial real estate is about to regain momentum after a period of stasis; the best operators are adapting, not waiting for “vulture” moments or a 2008-style crash. “Smart capital structure = survival. In 2008, great projects died because capital disappeared. In 2025, Hybrid Debt Fund is bridging the gap banks left behind.” “We provide operators with fast, flexible capital and offer investors security with upside—solving real market friction.” “Tenacity and relationship-building are essential; CRE brokering success comes to those who can solve complex problems and persist through slow, challenging cycles.” integrity-capital.com ✖️✖️✖️✖️

GGACP marks the recent 50th anniversary of ABC's "Welcome Back Kotter" (September 9, 1975) with this ENCORE of an 2020 interview with Rock ‘n' Roll Hall of Famer and The Lovin' Spoonful founder (and singer-composer of the "Welcome Back, Kotter" theme song!) John Sebastian. In this episode, John entertains Gilbert and Frank with anecdotes about Cass Elliott, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon and Jim Morrison and reveals the stories and inspirations behind hits like “Daydream,” “Summer in the City,” and “Do You Believe in Magic?” Also, Groucho co-hosts “Music Scene,” Richard Pryor plays the Cafe Au Go Go, Art Garfunkel nails a Spoonful cover version and John remembers legendary bandmate Zal Yanovsky. PLUS: Vivian Vance! “What's Up, Tiger Lily?” John plays Woodstock! Boris Karloff plays Captain Hook! And Ed Sullivan introduces the “American Beatles”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you have to record an episode twice due to a technical issue the first time? You end up with a lot of slap happy ridiculousness, including some impromptu "Words with Nerds."Come roll some r's, hit some hard g's, and keep your k's in line in this really strange installment of Going Terribly.Other discussion topics may include:- Sailor talk: innovative or ignorant?- Cereal boxes as a regular form of learning- What is your favorite high school book, and did you ever finish it?- Ukulele hunts- How does one grease up one's Kotter?

Join us for a conversation with Vanessa Akhtar, Kotter's Head of Consulting and Managing Director, and co-author of Change: How Organizations Create Hard-to-Imagine Results Despite Uncertain and Volatile Times. We examine how reshoring affects organizations beyond logistics, how to measure the success of reshoring or other operational transformations, how to engage employees during times of uncertainty, and how to prepare teams for transitions that may otherwise spark fear or resistance. This conversation reveals proven change management tactics that can turn uncertainties into opportunities.Sponsored By:

In this episode of Next Level Change Success, Therese answers the most common—and often misunderstood—questions about change management. From defining what it really is, to explaining why it exists, to comparing accreditations like Prosci and Kotter, Therese brings clarity to a discipline that can often feel complex and confusing. With her signature practical style, she frames change as the bridge between current and future states, reminding listeners that the real power of change lies in how people experience it. Therese also offers candid advice on breaking into the field of change management, including practical entry points, the skills that matter most, and the resilience required to thrive. She shares why self-awareness, energy management, and belief systems are just as critical as any tool or framework. Whether you're a project manager, HR professional, or someone curious about change, this episode delivers insights you can apply immediately to grow your career and lead with purpose. Blog post references: The Change Management Process Looking for a career in Change? Here's how Why is Change Management important?

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Dave Kotter is the CEO and President of Hybrid Debt Fund and Integrity Capital LLC, with over $2 billion in funded loans. He specializes in private credit solutions that bridge the gap between traditional bank financing and equity, offering innovative stretch senior loans that provide higher leverage while allowing sponsors to retain more control and equity upside.    

In dieser Episode lade ich dich ein, die berühmte Kübler-Ross-Kurve und das Modell von John P. Kotter neu zu betrachten – mit offenem Blick und systemischem Denken. Du erfährst, warum Phasenmodelle oft mehr blockieren als helfen, und was es wirklich braucht, um Wandel in Organisationen wirksam zu begleiten. Wenn du systemisch arbeitest oder denkst, wirst du dich hier wiederfinden – kritisch, klar und inspiriert. Wenn du mehr zu mir oder zu meinem Business erfahren möchtest, dann schaue hier: https://www.servicearchitekt.com

Dave shares his incredible experience in the investment community around some options that many may know about for avenues to build growth. A great discussion around his two incredible organizations that can be options for wealth building.

Actress Melonie Haller is poised for stardom after appearing in the television series "Welcome Back, Kotter" and a pictorial in the March 1980 edition of Playboy; eager for her next role, she goes to a party in the Hamptons that takes a violent turn. This Week's Sponsors: Quince - Go to Quince.com/think for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Function Health - Visit functionhealth.com/ITHINK and use giftcode ITHINKNOT100 at sign-up. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership  Pacagen - Head to pacagen.com/THINK and use promo code THINK for an extra 15% off and an exclusive gift at checkout.  Blissy - Go to blissy.com/ITHINKNOTPOD and use code ITHINKNOTPOD to get 60 nights risk-free and an additional 30% off!  HungryRoot - Head to hungryroot.com/ithinknot and use code ITHINKNOT to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life. 

O Manhã Brasil desta quinta (3), com o jornalista Mauro Lopes como âncora, tem os seguintes destaques: 1) Fim da “guerra”: a cúpula do governo e do PT ordena o fim dos ataques de parte da militância do partido e do PSOL ao Congresso e especialmente a Hugo Motta; 2) Governo irá ressarcir os aposentados vítimas das fraudes do INSS numa parcela única e por fora das regras do arcabouço, comprovando que o Estado tem dinheiro quando o governo querPessoas convidadas:Daniel Cara, um educador, cientista político, filiado ao PSOL. Professor na Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo e membro do Comitê Diretivo da Campanha Nacional pelo Direito à Educação.Pedro Lima Vasconcellos, historiador, teólogo e filósofo, professor da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. Autor de diversos livros, entres eles “A questão palestina - a nervura religiosa da catástrofe”, em pré-lançamento (Kotter,2025)

O Manhã Brasil desta quinta (3), com o jornalista Mauro Lopes como âncora, tem os seguintes destaques: 1) Fim da “guerra”: a cúpula do governo e do PT ordena o fim dos ataques de parte da militância do partido e do PSOL ao Congresso e especialmente a Hugo Motta; 2) Governo irá ressarcir os aposentados vítimas das fraudes do INSS numa parcela única e por fora das regras do arcabouço, comprovando que o Estado tem dinheiro quando o governo querPessoas convidadas:Daniel Cara, um educador, cientista político, filiado ao PSOL. Professor na Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo e membro do Comitê Diretivo da Campanha Nacional pelo Direito à Educação.Pedro Lima Vasconcellos, historiador, teólogo e filósofo, professor da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. Autor de diversos livros, entres eles “A questão palestina - a nervura religiosa da catástrofe”, em pré-lançamento (Kotter,2025)

What does it take to unlock capital in a system full of red tape, landmines, and outdated institutions? In this episode of The Value Creators Podcast, Hunter Hastings is joined by Dave Kotter, CEO of Integrity Capital and founder of the Hybrid Debt Fund. Dave pulls back the curtain on commercial real estate financing, innovative lending structures, and how technology—especially AI—is transforming capital flows.From high-net-worth investors to B2B borrowers, Kotter explains why relationships are the key product, not interest rates. He shares how Integrity Capital designs financing that works for the future—faster, more flexible, and centered on the entrepreneur.Key insights include:How to unlock capital through advisory-based lending modelsHow debt innovation is reshaping the role of banksHow AI, alternative platforms, and decentralization are democratizing investmentWhether you're raising funds, deploying capital, or building a financing venture, this is an essential guide to value creation in the modern financial ecosystem.Resources:➡️ Learn What They Didn't Teach You In Business School: The Value Creators Online Business CourseLearn more about Integrity CapitalLearn more about Hybrid Debt FundConnect with Dave Kotter on LinkedInConnect with Hunter Hastings on LinkedInSubscribe to The Value Creators on Substack

Viver apesar da guerra. Apesar das mortes. Apesar da dor.  É nesse “viver apesar de” que Cesar Rossilho e o escritor Marcos Pamplona constroem o pilar que sustenta as histórias de O tigre e outros contos, publicado em 2024, pela Kotter Editorial. Sete contos entrelaçados esculpem o passado de Cesar Rossilho, empresário que sonhava ser artista. Originalmente contratado como ghost-writer, Marcos Pamplona reconstruiu ficcionalmente a vida real do personagem a partir de informações fornecidas pelo próprio. Surge assim uma inusitada autoficção, onde a autoria foi revelada por decisão de Cesar, resultando na assinatura 'Cesar Rossilho por Marcos Pamplona'." Para conversar sobre a obra, vamos receber Marcos Pamplona para uma conversa sobre a obra.Sobre o convidado:Marcos Pamplona nasceu em Curitiba, em 1964. Cursou Letras na Universidade Federal do Paraná. Trabalhou até 2004 como roteirista e redator publicitário, tendo conquistado diversos prêmios internacionais, entre eles o Leão de Cannes e o Grand Prix no New York Film Festival. A partir de 2005 dedicou-se exclusivamente à literatura. É escritor e editor. Seus poemas foram selecionados em três edições do Prêmio Off Flip de Literatura, integrando as coletâneas de 2006, 2008 e 2010. Publicou o livro de poemas Tranverso ( Kotter Editorial, 2016), o livro de crônicas Ninguém nos Salvará de Nós (Kotter, 2021), e O Anjo da Incerteza, também de crônicas (Arte& Letra, 2023). Desde 2019 vive em Lisboa, onde, além de exercer a atividade de editor, escreve crônicas para o Jornal Plural, nascidas de suas andanças pelas terras portuguesas.Veja na versão em vídeo:https://youtube.com/live/EEphnekL0GM

Tri-state League CEO Scott Simpson, along with Stephanie Cuevas, SVP of Federal Government Affairs for the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, share how they're hitting the ground running on the advocacy front for credit unions out West amid regulatory chaos.  Also, with the craziness surrounding, well, everything, Michael, Natasha, and Producer Zach take a breath and discuss childhood TV memories. Is "Welcome Back, Kotter" referenced? Of course it is!

You've probably heard "leadership versus management" debates many times, but Kristen and Mike break it down in a way that actually makes sense. This isn't about which one is better - spoiler alert: you need both. Instead, they explore how these distinct skill sets work together and why understanding the difference can transform your career. From Confucius to Navy SEALs, they share practical insights on when to lead people versus manage systems, common myths that trip up even experienced professionals, and why the best leaders toggle between both modes throughout their day. If you've ever wondered whether you're managing when you should be leading (or vice versa), this episode will give you the clarity to know which hat to wear when.Highlights:The Core Distinction: Leadership = vision and inspiration ("why" and "what"). Management = operations and execution ("how")Kotter's Framework: Leadership establishes direction, aligns people, motivates. Management plans/budgets, organizes/staffs, controls/problem-solvesWhy Both Matter: Successful leaders toggle between both modes throughout their dayLeadership can be learned through study and practice - you're not born with itCommon Myths Debunked: Leadership isn't higher status than management, you can lead from any role, both require ongoing developmentThe Coaching Approach: Keeps you focused on vision and mentorship while avoiding micromanagementManaging Systems, Leading People: Manage processes, lead and inspire the people within themContinuous Growth: Leadership development is lifelong, requiring constant learning and self-reflectionLinks & Resources Mentioned:Start With Why by Simon SinekGood to Great by Jim CollinsTurn the Ship Around by Captain L. David MarquetThe Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay StanierExtreme Ownership by Jocko WillinkUnreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraPodcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.comInstagram: @loveleaderpodFollow us on LinkedIn!Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/ Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

5pm: Bill Gates to donate 99% of wealth to Gates Foundation, which will shut down by 2045 // Biden blames Kamala’s loss on sexism // Today in History // 1976 - The theme song from “Welcome Back, Kotter” is the #1 song in America // Letters 

Richard Brenner: Skipping the Vision, How Not to Introduce Kanban Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Richard shares an important learning experience from introducing Kanban to teams using a top-down approach. Without clearly articulating why the change was needed, team members questioned what they were doing wrong that necessitated change. Richard found himself unable to connect the organizational vision to the methodology shift, leading to resistance. He emphasizes the importance of first understanding the problem before applying Scrum or Kanban, defining what success looks like, and involving people early in the change process. Richard also recommends thorough contracting with client organizations to assess their current state and understand who is trying to change what, and why. In this episode, we refer to Kotter's book Leading Change. Self-reflection Question: How might your change initiatives be improved by spending more time defining the "why" before introducing new methodologies? [Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

National Tater day.  Entertainment from 1992.  Eiffel Tower opened, US buys Virgin Islands, Canada's 10th Province.  Todays birthdays - Lefty Frizzell, Shirley Jones, Richard Chamberlain, Christopher Walken, Gabe Kaplan, Tommy Heath, Rhea Pearlman, Tony Cox, Ewan MacGregor.  Salina died.Intro - God did good - Dianna Corcoran   https://www.diannacorcoran.com/The Tater song - Tater Tot  Mark VerbeckSave the best for last - Vanessa WilliamsIs there life out there - Reba McEntire  Birthdays - In da club - 50 Cent   https://www.50cent.com/If you've got the money - Lefty FrizzellPartridge Family tv themeWelcome Back Kotter tv theme867-5309 Jenny - Tommy TutoneCheers tv spoofDreaming of you - SalinaExit - One more drink - Cody Joe Hodges   https://codyjoehodges.com/homecountryundergroundradio.comhttps://www.coolcasts.cooolmedia.com/show/history-factoids-about-today/

In this special episode, we take a nostalgic look back at the early recordings that sparked our popular movie review format. This episode is a fun compilation of guests sharing their favorite school-related movies and TV shows, along with their thoughts on what's realistic — and what's not — about those stories. Our guests represent voices from across the country, including Pennsylvania, Utah, Texas, Missouri, Montana, Arizona, Wisconsin, California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Kentucky, New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Rhode Island. Each guest answered two key questions: What is your favorite school-related TV show or movie? What is unrealistic about that movie or TV show?   The answers ranged from heartwarming classics to laugh-out-loud comedies and inspiring dramas. Here's a breakdown of the most mentioned titles:   School of Rock - 6 mentions Abbott Elementary - 4 mentions Remember the Titans - 2 mentions Grease - 2 mentions The Sound of Music - 1 mention Dead Poets Society - 1 mention Home Alone - 1 mention Annie - 1 mention Welcome Back, Kotter - 1 mention Dangerous Minds - 1 mention Summer School - 1 mention Top Gun - 1 mention Stand and Deliver - 1 mention To Sir, With Love - 1 mention Ferris Bueller's Day Off - 1 mention Fast Times at Ridgemont High - 1 mention Most Likely to Succeed - 1 mention Gilmore Girls - 1 mention Glee - 1 mention The Long Game - 1 mention A Christmas Story - 1 mention Billy Madison - 1 mention The OC - 1 mention The Breakfast Club - 1 mention I Love Lucy - 1 mention Friday Night Lights - 1 mention Yesterday - 1 mention Old School - 1 mention Boston Public - 1 mention Freedom Writers - 1 mention Ted Lasso - 1 mention Back to School - 1 mention   Whether you're a fan of inspiring educators, unforgettable student antics, or heartwarming school stories, this episode is packed with entertaining insights from guests who know education best. Tune in to hear what your peers are watching and maybe add a few new titles to your must-watch list!       Connect with host, Kevin Stoller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/     Episode 224 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.     For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

Everyone is talking about minerals these days, but how can you optimize your body's utilization of those minerals? On this episode of Vitality Radio, Jared and Amanda Kotter, our homeopathic consultant, delve into the world of cell salts, a lesser-known aspect of homeopathy. They discuss the differences between cell salts and traditional homeopathic remedies and highlight their safety and ease of use. You'll learn about the role of minerals in cellular health and how cell salts can help your body get the full benefit of minerals from diet and supplements. The conversation covers the utilization of cell salts for various concerns including anemia, skin issues, digestion, and more!Products:Ollois Cell SaltsAdditional Information:#509: New! Vitality Nutrition Homeopathic Consultations with Amanda KotterTo schedule your Homeopathy Consultation with Amanda:Email Amanda@vitalitynutrition.comCall/Text 801-388-4133Visit the podcast website here: VitalityRadio.comYou can follow @vitalitynutritionbountiful and @vitalityradio on Instagram, or Vitality Radio and Vitality Nutrition on Facebook. Join us also in the Vitality Radio Podcast Listener Community on Facebook. Shop the products that Jared mentions at vitalitynutrition.com. Let us know your thoughts about this episode using the hashtag #vitalityradio and please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Thank you!Just a reminder that this podcast is for educational purposes only. The FDA has not evaluated the podcast. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The advice given is not intended to replace the advice of your medical professional.

In this week's episode of Geeksters! the boys start off talking about their week. Ed talks about seeing the movie “Saturn 3” plus his physical and digital movie purchases. Shawn talked about watching the old series “Welcome Back, Kotter” plus his recent physical and digital movie purchases. Then we bring … Continue reading → The post Geeksters – Episode 530 first appeared on Words with Geeks. The post Geeksters – Episode 530 appeared first on Words with Geeks.

Vision makes us come alive. Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones coming to life symbolizes the power of God's Spirit to bring new life to what seems dead and hopeless. God provides vision that revives us. And so what is the vision for our personal lives that we pursue? What about our community? Vision requires a compelling vision and then the need to inspire people to pursue it (Kotter).

We are introducing something new at Vitality Nutrition - Homeopathic Consultations! On this episode of Vitality Radio, Jared introduces his dear friend Amanda Kotter who will be offering these consultations for you. Amanda is certified in homeopathy and herbalism and she will be available to help guide you through the use of homeopathy for any challenges you may be facing with your health, or simply teach you how to incorporate homeopathy into your overall wellness journey. We are so blessed and excited to have Amanda join our team and we can't wait to hear how this opportunity benefits you and your family.Additional Information:To schedule your Homeopathy Consultation with Amanda:Email Amanda@vitalitynutrition.comCall/Text 801-388-4133Visit the podcast website here: VitalityRadio.comYou can follow @vitalitynutritionbountiful and @vitalityradio on Instagram, or Vitality Radio and Vitality Nutrition on Facebook. Join us also in the Vitality Radio Podcast Listener Community on Facebook. Shop the products that Jared mentions at vitalitynutrition.com. Let us know your thoughts about this episode using the hashtag #vitalityradio and please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Thank you!Just a reminder that this podcast is for educational purposes only. The FDA has not evaluated the podcast. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The advice given is not intended to replace the advice of your medical professional.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, brought to YOU by the ⁠⁠InsightsEDU⁠⁠ 2025 conference& Ellucian LIVE 2025 YOUR guest is ⁠⁠Rachel Rosenfeldt, Executive Director & Head of Training Services, Kotter YOUR cohost is Roy de Vries⁠, Learning Innovator, ⁠aNewSpring YOUR host is ⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ How does Kotter approach training in today's volatile environment? How do they make training stick across different modalities? What is the "change muscle" & how is it developed? Why is personalized learning becoming increasingly important? How do organizations measure the impact of learning & development? What does the future of learning look like? Listen in to #EdUp Do YOU want to accelerate YOUR professional development? Do YOU want to get exclusive early access to ad-free episodes, extended episodes, bonus episodes, original content, invites to special events, & more? Do YOU want to get all this while helping to sustain EdUp? Then ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TODAY⁠⁠ - $19.99/month or $199.99/year (Save 17%)! Want to get YOUR organization to pay for YOUR subscription? Email ⁠⁠⁠EdUp@edupexperience.com Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp! Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠ ● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The EdUp Experience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We make education YOUR business!

Drake made her Broadway debut in the 1975 Leslie Lee's play The First Breeze of Summer and the following year appeared in Great Performances production. She later was regular cast member on the two short-lived sitcoms: Snip (1976) and Sanford Arms (1977). During her career, Drake appeared in more than 70 films and television series. She made her big screen debut in 1975 appearing in films Report to the Commissioner and Friday Foster, and in 1977 had supporting role opposite Richard Pryor in the comedy film Which Way Is Up?. In 1979 she co-starred in the miniseries Backstairs at the White House and the made-for-television movie The Cracker Factory. She made guest-starring appearances on television series such as Good Times, Welcome Back, Kotter, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, Highway to Heaven, Thirtysomething, L.A. Law, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Steve Harvey Show, The Parent 'Hood and The Bernie Mac Show. Drake appeared in films such as The Last Married Couple in America (1980), Xanadu (1980), Oh, God! Book II (1980), First Monday in October (1981), Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986), Alien Nation (1988), House Party (1990), Across the Tracks (1991), Boomerang (1992), Jason's Lyric (1994), Space Jam (1996), How to Be a Player (1997), Anywhere But Here (1999), Leprechaun in the Hood (2000), Friday After Next (2002), Wild Hogs (2007) and Influence (2020). Drake appeared in the 1980 made-for-television drama Scared Straight! Another Story, the 1987 thriller Billionaire Boys Club, and the 1989 miniseries The Women of Brewster Place. She was regular cast member in the 1990 short-lived sitcom New Attitude. From 1989 to 1993 she had recurring role on A Different World playing Velma Gaines and later had recurring roles on Martin and Another Bad Creation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This session provides essential insights into managing employee performance and navigating organizational change effectively. It emphasizes frameworks, evaluation methods, and strategies to align organizational goals with individual contributions. Key Topics Covered Performance Management: Aligning goals, behaviors, and results through tools like Management by Objectives (MBO) and performance appraisals. Evaluation Methods: Techniques such as graphic rating scales, forced distribution, and behavioral observation scales to assess employee performance. Change Management Models: Frameworks like Lewin's Change Model, Kotter's Eight Steps, and Action Research for implementing and sustaining organizational change. Types of Change: Developmental (process enhancements), transitional (new systems), and transformational (radical overhauls). Team Dynamics: Leveraging Tuckman's stages of team formation and OD interventions to improve collaboration and resolve conflicts. Role Clarity: Using tools like the RACI Matrix to define responsibilities during change initiatives. This session equips HR professionals with actionable frameworks and techniques to foster performance excellence and effectively manage organizational transformations.

What is your favorite school related tv show or movie? In this episode, we feature our annual compilation of interviews conducted at the EDSpaces conference in Houston. This year, with a twist of breaking down the best tv show and movies related to education! Our guests were asked two key questions: What is your favorite school related tv show or movie? What is unrealistic about that movie or tv show?   The guest list includes 3 people from Pennsylvania, 2 from Utah, 5 from Texas, 5 from Missouri, 2 from Montana, 3 from Arizona, 2 from Wisconsin, 3 from California, 2 from Florida, 1 from the states of Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Kentucky, New York, Connecticut, Minnesota and Rhode Island.   Here are the tallies for each of the movies mentioned:   School of Rock - 6 Abbott Elementary - 4 Remember the Titans - 2 Grease - 2 The Sound of Music - 1 Dead Poets Society - 1 Home Alone - 1 Annie - 1 Welcome Back, Kotter - 1 Dangerous Minds - 1 Summer School - 1 Top Gun - 1 Stand and Deliver - 1 To Sir, With Love - 1 Ferris Bueller's Day Off - 1 Fast Times at Ridgemont High - 1 Most Likely to Suceed - 1 Gilmore Girls - 1 Glee - 1 The Long Game - 1 A Christmas Story - 1 Billy Madison - 1 The OC - 1 The Breakfast Club - 1 I Love Lucy - 1 Friday Lights - 1 Yesterday - 1 Old School - 1 Boston Public - 1 Freedom Writers - 1 Ted Lasso - 1 Back to School - 1 Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/. For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/ Episode 210 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.      For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

Send us a textEvery organization faces the challenge of accelerating change. We help you turn that challenge into an opportunity.Kotter pioneered the science of change through decades of Harvard research and real-world experience. Transformation powered by Kotter gets to the heart of business problems quickly – delivering new levels of performance, leadership, and teamwork.Accelerated Transformation. Strategy Execution. Leadership Development. Powered by Kotter.Laurin's LInkedInScale 2 The Top with Dr. Lyman Montgomery Welcome to Scale 2 the Top," the essential podcast for business leaders and HR...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

In hour 3, Chris plays some media reaction to yesterday's Oval Office meeting between Trump and Biden, who just last week was calling Trump Hitler! Now it's Welcome Back, Kotter? For more coverage on the issues that matter to you, download the WMAL app, visit WMAL.com or tune in love on WMAL-FM 105.9 from 9:00am-12:00pm Monday-Friday  To join the conversation, check us out on X @WMAL and @ChrisPlanteShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back, friend! Today, we're taking a walk down memory lane—yes, there's a nod to Welcome Back, Kotter—but more importantly, we're diving into a topic that's been on my heart: creating spaces for real, honest collaboration and connection. I'm pulling back the curtain on Collaborate, the annual event we've hosted for the past three years. This isn't your average conference. It's not about the sizzle, the glam, or the Instagram-worthy moments. Collaborate is about deep, meaningful conversations, vulnerability, and growth—both personal and professional. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The Magic of Collaborate: Discover what makes Collaborate a transformative experience. Hint: it's not about the venue or the photo ops; it's about the connections and the “magic” of real conversations. Why Vulnerability is a Game-Changer: Learn how being open and honest can unlock growth in both life and business. April shares how vulnerability—once a “hard pass” for her—has become a cornerstone of meaningful leadership and collaboration. Overcoming Limiting Narratives: Hear powerful stories of attendees who faced their fears—like accents, self-doubt, or past failures—and how the community turned those perceived weaknesses into strengths. The Power of Me Too: Understand the profound impact of shared struggles and how hearing “me too” can dissolve shame and inspire action. Building a 3-Year Vision: Explore how the event integrates personal growth with actionable strategies to help attendees design a vision for their life and business. Key Moments: Introduction to Collaborate: Not about the sizzle, but about creating a space for community and real connection. Why “magic” is the only word that fits the experience. Vulnerability in safe spaces: How Collaborate fosters honest conversations that break down barriers. The power of “me too”: Stories of shared fears and how they became strengths. Mike's call to action: “The world needs this. How do WE bring this out in the world?” Quotes from the Episode: “This isn't about the sizzle. The world has enough sizzle. It's about real connection, real growth, and locking arms with people who care about you.” — April Garcia “The power of vulnerability isn't in showing weakness; it's in creating connection and understanding.” — April Garcia “When you share your struggles, you might just help someone else realize they're not alone either.” — April Garcia Why Collaborate Matters: For Business Owners: It's not just about growing revenue but about growing yourself so you can scale sustainably without losing what matters most. For Leaders and Teams: Collaborate provides a blueprint for creating spaces where vulnerability is a strength, not a liability. For Everyone Feeling Stuck: Whether it's self-doubt, burnout, or fear of failure, Collaborate helps uncover the narratives holding you back and replaces them with strength and support. Action Steps for Listeners: Find Your Community: Seek out a space where you can be real, vulnerable, and supported. It doesn't have to be Collaborate—but make it a priority to find your tribe. Reflect on Your Narratives: What stories are you telling yourself that might be holding you back? Write them down and challenge their truth. Create a Vision: Take 30 minutes to outline your 3-year vision for life and business. What's your next bold move? Share Your Struggles: Start a real conversation with someone you trust. You might just find the power of “me too.”   --------------------------- Want to be part of a transformative experience for entrepreneurs and leaders?

Mariah Parsons, Host of Retention Chronicles and Head of Marketing at Malomo is joined by Alyssa (Lissy) Kotter, the Founder and CEO of Lissy Skincare, a brand specializing in acne and fungal acne-safe skincare products. Lissy shares her background as an esthetician and her struggles with acne, which led her to create a line of products that cleared her skin. The brand's flagship product, the Mandelic serum, launched in 2022 and has been highly effective. Lissy discusses the challenges of developing fungal acne-safe products, the importance of customer experience, and the role of TikTok in driving sales and customer retention. She also hints at an upcoming moisturizer launch and plans for Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions. Episode Timestamps 1:48 Lissy's Background and Skincare Brand Lissy introduces herself as the founder of Lissy Skincare, a brand focused on acne and fungal acne-safe skincare. Lissy explains the brand's mission to create products that are safe for acne-prone skin, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Mariah asks Lissy to explain the difference between typical acne and fungal acne. Lissy describes typical acne as lesions that come to a head and heal, while fungal acne is an overgrowth of yeast on the skin that looks like flesh-colored bumps and does not react to typical acne treatments. 21:55 Lissy's Journey to Founding Lissy Skincare Lissy shares her background as an esthetician and her struggles with acne since middle school. Lissy discusses her decision to attend esthetician school to learn how to clear up her own acne and help others. Despite her training and using various skincare products and treatments, Lissy's acne persisted, leading to a teacher's concern about her job prospects. Lissy's research into fungal acne triggers and her frustration with finding fungal acne-safe products inspired her to create her own skincare line. 22:11 Product Development and Launch Lissy describes the process of developing Lissy Skincare products, starting with the Mandelic serum. The Mandelic serum cleared Lissy's acne and fungal acne within days, leading to the brand's launch in 2022. Lissy explains the importance of ensuring all products are fungal acne-safe and safe for pregnancy. The brand has since added three more products: a Hydrating Serum, a Vitamin C serum, and a cleanser, all of which are fungal acne-safe. 22:27 Customer Experience and Retention Strategies Mariah and Lissy discuss the importance of customer experience and retention in e-commerce. Lissy acknowledges the need to improve customer experience and mentions her team's efforts to provide excellent customer service. Lissy highlights the role of TikTok in driving sales and the challenges of not having customer emails from TikTok shop. The brand uses email flows, social media, and a subscription model to retain customers and encourage repeat purchases. 22:46 TikTok Strategy and Paid Advertising Lissy shares the success of TikTok shop in driving viral videos and sales for Lissy Skincare. Despite the saturation of TikTok shop, Lissy continues to post videos and engage with customers on the platform. The brand has recently started experimenting with paid advertising on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to diversify its marketing efforts. Lissy emphasizes the importance of video content for selling products and sharing customer testimonials. 40:08 Future Plans and Final Thoughts Lissy teases the upcoming launch of a moisturizer on October 24, which has been in development for almost a year. The moisturizer is a significant product for the brand, as it is challenging to find fungal acne-safe moisturizers. Lissy mentions plans for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to attract more customers. Mariah wraps up the episode by congratulating Lissy on her upcoming launch and thanking her for sharing her journey and insights.

Send us your thoughtsIn this episode of CFO 4.0, Hannah Munro, Managing Director of itas, shares her extensive experience in financial transformation and project implementation. Learn how to ensure the success of your next financial transformation project by following best practices and avoiding common pitfalls. Here's what you'll discover in this episode:A refresher on Kotter's Change Cycle and how it applies to financial transformation projects.Pre-implementation activities Insights on dealing with team resistance, capacity management, and team buy-in.Key phases of successful financial system implementationTraining and testing tips to ensure smooth onboarding and successful adoption of new systems.The importance of data migration and how to ensure accuracy in your new system.How to navigate the go-live phase with a proactive approach and risk management.FAQs on common concerns like hiring external resources, testing schedules, and building super users.Links mentioned: September FTL: Ensuring a Successful Finance Systems Implementation ProjectRevisit previous Financial Transformation Live  sessions CFO 4.0 Monthly BriefingFinancial Transformation Live Feedback survey Explore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here. Subscribe to our Podcast!

Craig Kotter has been in the business for 22 years! He has built to the top of the top twice and has also been apart of the corporate side.He will go through the different phases and how to move from the launch part of the business to actually building a sustainable business. 

Pop Goes The Actor: a mini-season about thespians who tried (and sometimes succeeded at!) being pop musicians. In our premiere episode, we're talking about Jeff Conaway (Taxi), Donny Most (Happy Days), Esther Rolle (Good Times), Ted Knight (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs (Welcome Back, Kotter) -- as well as smorgasbords of grunting, when a stew has all the right ingredients and yet no taste, how long vaudeville literacy persisted, perceptions of the primetime monoculture, and all the places pop songs think we should be boinking. Grab a Tab and rotary-dial into our latest ep! Intro and outro by David Gregory Byrne, and special thanks to Amanda. For more information/to become a patron of the show, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES Episode 27: Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser, "She's Like The Wind" Episode 111: Bruce Willis And Don Johnson (with special guests Dan and Tracie!) Beats Around The Bush Single: The Hip-Hop-to-Acting Pipeline Do Call It A Comeback, Episode 7: Footnotes and Odd Lots

Melody Anderson  is a Canadian actress, social worker and public speaker specializing in the impact of addiction on families. As an actress, her most high-profile role was playing Dale Arden in the 1980 adaptation of Flash Gordon. She later starred in the 1986 film Firewalker, with Chuck Norris.  Melody's first national exposure was as a guest star in the 1977 series Logan's Run and as a "Sweathog" in a 1977 episode of Welcome Back, Kotter. She made numerous guest appearances on television, including Archie Bunker's Place, Battlestar Galactica, Dallas, T. J. Hooker, CHiPs, the pilot episode of The A-Team and The Fall Guy. She had recurring roles on St. Elsewhere and Jake and the Fatman. She was the female lead of the NBC 1983 series Manimal. She was a guest star in the Murder, She Wrote episode "Prediction: Murder" in 1989. Melody is licensed in California as a Certified EMDR Clinician/Therapist  and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York and California. She facilitates therapy groups at several treatment centers in the Los Angeles area.  An international lecturer and media spokesperson on addictions and the family, she has made presentations on substance abuse and other mental health-related areas of study   Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (please Subscribe)

Navigating and managing change is key to a collaborative's journey, but it's also one of the most challenging as each partner's relationship, personal history, and ability to participate in change can vary. Differences in how partners navigate change, if not recognized and explored, can make it difficult for the collaborative to  achieve meaningful progress towards shared goals.How does one lead and navigate through these varying responses to change? In this new podcast episode, we explore this question and more with Dr. Nicole Caridad Ralston and Ileana Ortiz from the racial equity consulting firm Beloved Community.They have created a curriculum on navigating change, and we discuss the variety of skills needed to both lead and support change efforts, including:Why self-awareness is a critical part of working through change, including understanding one's own history with and gut reaction to changeHow to work through change while centering anti-racism and anti-oppressionWhy it's important to understand that change is both “head work” and “heart work”Why capacity building can be necessary to support your team or collaborative to work through changeResources and FootnotesFull transcript for this episode available at collectiveimpactforum.orgBeloved CommunityBarbara Trautlein – Change IntelligenceWhite Supremacy CultureAnother CIF episode featuring Beloved Community: How Community Leads the Way with Participatory Action Research (PAR)From Dr. Nicole Caridad Ralston, here are some reflection questions for a change management process:How will you free up time and energy to focus on the change process? Where can you delegate projects or shift/share power?Who are the key people who can work with you to facilitate the change process?Who are the key influencers who need to embrace the vision and/or be included in the discussion and planning process?What permissions need to be secured? From whom?Who are the people/groups most affected by the proposed changes? What impact will each face?What can you do to help people embrace the change?How will you strengthen relationships during the change process?From Dr. Nicole Caridad Ralston, here are more commonly used change management frameworks:Lewin's Change Management Model:Main Principles: Lewin's model, based on the Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze stages, emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological resistance to change. The unfreeze stage aims to create awareness and challenge existing mindsets. The change stage introduces new behaviors, and the refreeze stage solidifies the new norm.McKinsey 7-S Model:Main Principles: The 7-S Model focuses on the interconnection of seven elements: Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style, and Staff. Alignment across these elements is essential for successful change.ADKAR:Main Principles: ADKAR focuses on individual change adoption through stages: Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement. It recognizes the psychological journey individuals undergo during change.Bridges Transition Model:Main Principles: The Bridges Model emphasizes managing emotional transitions during change through stages: Endings, Neutral Zone, and New Beginnings.Kotter's 8-Step Model:Main Principles: Kotter's model outlines eight steps for successful change, emphasizing leadership's role in setting direction, creating urgency, and anchoring changes.More on Collective ImpactInfographic: What is Collective Impact?Resource List: Getting Started in Collective ImpactThe Intro music, entitled “Running,” was composed by Rafael Krux, and can be found here and is licensed under CC: By 4.0.The outro music, entitled “Deliberate Thought,” was composed by Kevin Macleod. Licensed under CC: By.Have a question related to collaborative work that you'd like to have discussed on the podcast? Contact us at: https://www.collectiveimpactforum.org/contact-us/

Fred is lovingly known as Gopher by his millions of fans around the world who watched him became for 9 years in the 1970s hit series The Love Boat. But, before Fred became well known as an actor, he went to "Phillips Exeter Academy" with David Eisenhower. Later, he became David's best man when he married Julie Nixon. Then, Fred entered "Harvard University" at Cambridge, Massachusetts and graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor's Degree in English. Fred is a well-educated man and can speak fluently in both French and Arabic. Before he joined the cast of The Love Boat, Fred did guest shots on many shows, including Love, American Style, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Phyllis (with Cloris Leachman) & Welcome Back, Kotter (with John Travolta). Then, came other guest spots on TV shows and a couple of movies, while still on The Love Boat. Fred Grandy was destined to become more than just an actor. In 1986, he decided to run for Congressman as a Republican for the state of Iowa, and won. He received 3,000 votes. He served 4 consecutive terms (1986-1995). While in Congress, he was very much involved with Agriculture, Education, Workforce, Standards of Official Conduct, House Ways and Means. In 1994, he went ahead and entered the Governor's race but lost to his opponent, Terry Branstad. In 1995, he became both President and CEO for "Goodwill Industries", a position he held until 2000. Fred even became a political commentator on National Public Radio. He has also, as a guest, taught at the "University of Maryland" (School of Public Affairs) about non-profit organizations.   Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)

Part 4 of 4. My guest for this week's episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. He has also been a professor and researcher at Cambridge for more than 15 years. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. The company applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.

Part 3 of 4. My guest for this week's episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.

Part 2 of 4. My guest today is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and Founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene-targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types.

Part 1 of 4. My guest for this week's episode is Mark Kotter, neurosurgeon, stem cell biologist, and CEO and founder of bit.bio. Bit.bio is an award-winning human synthetic biology company providing human cells for research, drug discovery, and cell therapy. Bit.bio applies a patented safe harbor gene targeting approach to inducibly express transcription factor combinations that reprogram human-induced pluripotent stem cells into highly defined and mature human cell types. Bit.bio spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2016 and has since raised approximately $200 million from Arch Ventures, Foresight Capital, Milky Way, Charles River Laboratories, National Resilience, Tencent, and Pulau Capital, among others.

Magnitude 3.0 earthquake 2 miles from South Pasadena, CA · 3:05 PM. Robin tells us the story of how she went from house sitting a cat to owning the cat, she also tells us about her other pets. GUEST: Steve Gregory - Thieves are now targeting fire hydrants across Los Angeles County. Gambling and such //Gabe Kaplan what is his current age // Welcome back Kotter.

Welcome to the Girls Gone Hallmark podcast, where your hosts Megan and Wendy take on the beloved "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" franchise all summer long. In today's new episode, your favorite Hallmark podcast duo review episodes 1-5 from 2014. If you're new to the series or it's a favorite, come along and chat about the charming characters, heartfelt moments, and the signature Hallmark magic that captivated audiences for years. See the Signed, Sealed, Delivered SUMMER schedule here Are you watching "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" for the first time? Email us at meganandwendy@gmail.com or let's talk about it in the Girls Gone Hallmark Facebook Group! We Need Your 5-STAR Ratings and Reviews Spotify Podcast listeners: Spotify allows listeners to rate podcast episodes. Once you listen to a podcast for at least 30 seconds, you get the option to rate it between one and five stars. Return to the podcast's main page and tap the star icon. Then, tap submit. About "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" Episode 1 The title of episode 1 is called "Time to Start Livin.' First premiered on Sunday April 20, 2014 Scott Smith directed. Scott went on to direct 5 total episodes of the one season of Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Writers: Martha Williamson and Brandi Harkonen  Co-Stars:  Valerie Harper appears as Theresa Capodiamonte. She's probably best known for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Rhoda” and "Valerie." Harper passed in 2019 at the age of 80. Christine Willes appears as Vivian Lasseter. She has 103 acting credits and was last seen on Hallmark in “Guiding Emily.” About "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" Episode 2 The title of episode 2 is called "To Whom It May Concern." First premiered on Sunday, April 27, 2014 Director: Scott Smith Writers: Martha Williamson and Brandi Harkonen  Co-Stars:  Valerie Harper returns as Theresa Capodiamonte. Joel Berg appears as Corporal Benjamin 'Buzz' Parker. Joel has just 15 acting credits and this was his only appearance on Hallmark. Rami Kahlon plays Samila (adult). She has 29 acting credits and has only appeared on Hallmark in this project. About "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" Episode 3 Episode 3 is called "Soulmates." First premiered on Sunday, May 4, 2014 Directed by Kevin Fair. He has 44 directing credits. Since this episode in 2014, he has gone on to direct 10 SSD movies, plus some Hallmark fan favorites like “Taking a Shot at Love,” “Always Amore,” “3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost,” and most recently “Legend of the Lost Locket.” Writers: Martha Williamson, Brandi Harkonen, and Dawn DeKeyser. Co-stars: Della Reese as Cora Brandt. She's probably best known for her 211 episodes of “Touched By an Angel” but also appeared on other classic series like “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “Night Court,” “227,” “Picket Fences,” “Designing Women” and so many more. These two episodes of Signed, Sealed, Delivered were her very last projects. Della Reese passed in 2017 at the age of 86. Emilie Ullerup plays adult Marie. Emilie went on to play Bree O'Brien in 55 episodes of “Chesapeake Shores” as well as other Hallmark movies like “Don't Forget I Love You” and “Retreat to You.” Greyston Holt plays adult Sam. He also appeared in 12 episodes of “Chesapeake Shores” as Jay Ross. About "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" Episode 4 Episode 4 is titled "The Masterpiece." First premiered on Sunday, May 11, 2014 Director: Kevin Fair Writers: Martha Williamson, Jeff Eckerle, and Marilyn Osborn Co-stars: Della Reese returns as Cora Brandt. Paul McGillion as dad Henry Barrett. Paul has been in several Hallmark projects including “Christmas in Tahoe” and “An Unexpected Christmas” from 2021. Kate Corbett as widowed wife Sarah. Kate has previously appeared in 23 episodes of “Good Witch” as Eve. About "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" Episode 5 Episode 5 is titled "The Edge of Forever" First premiered on Sunday, May 18, 2014