Podcasts about Launch

What if burnout, overthinking, and emotional exhaustion aren't mindset problems—but system failures?In this powerful episode of Mindset Mastery Moments, Dr. Alisa Whyte sits down with Micov Bogdan, a human system architect who challenges everything we've been taught about healing, performance, and personal growth. This conversation moves beyond motivation and mindset hacks and dives into identity-level transformation—where emotional baggage, internal friction, and subconscious sabotage are not managed, but deleted.You'll hear why coping has become a socially acceptable addiction, how high performers unknowingly use productivity as emotional armor, and why calm—not hustle—is the real power move. This episode exposes why traditional self-help often keeps people stuck in cycles of effort without freedom and what it truly takes to rebuild your internal system from the ground up.If you're high-functioning but exhausted… successful but restless… productive yet unfulfilled—this conversation will disrupt you in the best way.This isn't about doing more. It's about finally removing what no longer belongs.

We're back with our first weekly roundup of 2026! This week we discuss Lighter token launch, Walmart's crypto strategy with OnePay, Erebor's $350m raise, what to expect in 2026 & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- "Mantle Global Hackathon 2025 is live! Running from Oct 22 to Dec 31, Mantle invites builders to design the future of Real-World Assets (RWAs) on its modular L2 stack. Key Highlights: - $150,000 Prize Pool + Grants & Incubation opportunities - Access to Bybit's 7M+ verified users - Judges from Bybit Ventures, Spartan, Animoca Brands - 6 Tracks: RWA/RealFi, DeFi, AI, ZK, Infra, GameFi Join the Hackathon: https://www.hackquest.io/vi/hackathons/Mantle-Global-Hackathon-2025" -- GEODNET is the world's largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Uniswap's Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap's powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (06:16) Lighter's Token Launch (13:36) Walmart's Crypto Strategy with OnePay (19:09) Erebor Raises $350m At a $4b Valuation (23:22) Ads (Mantle, Geodnet, Uniswap) (25:45) The Clarity Act (36:20) What To Expect In 2026 (43:32) Content of The Week -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Welcome to the 2026 season!

PR is NOT a luxury. It's survival.In this episode, global PR strategist Ebony Porter Eay reveals the truth about being seen, being trusted, and being remembered in an overcrowded digital world.If you've ever wondered why your business isn't growing… why your following doesn't convert… or why your story isn't landing the way it should — this conversation gives you the blueprint.Ebony breaks down the difference between being visible and being strategically visible, how to build trust in the media, how to protect your reputation, and how to rebuild after a public setback.She also shares the mindset shifts behind crisis management, authorship, credibility, and longevity in business.This is a masterclass in perception, brand leadership, and protecting your peace while pursuing your purpose.Timestamps00:00 — “It's Okay Not to Have a Million Followers”00:07 — PR vs Publicity: What Being “Strategically Seen” Really Means00:14 — Why PR Is NOT Optional Anymore00:20 — Bill Gates' PR Philosophy00:32 — The Diddy Question00:49 — Authenticity vs What's Best for Your Business00:56 — Stop Comparing Yourself to Social Media02:02 — Welcome to Inside the Vault02:15 — Visibility: The Currency Money Can't Buy02:43 — Meet Ebony Porter Ike03:31 — Why Most Entrepreneurs Misunderstand PR04:10 — What PR Really Does for a Business04:49 — Every Major Company Has a PR Partner — Here's Why05:05 — Who Is Ebony Porter Ike?06:00 — PR Isn't Optional: The Real Reason07:01 — Why People Think PR Is a Luxury08:00 — Why Ebony Rejects Clients Who Aren't Ready08:48 — Strategy vs Vanity PR09:35 — The Problem With Wanting “Looks” but Having No Offer10:23 — How to Stay Ready for Major Media Opportunities11:02 — The #1 Mistake in Visibility12:00 — Authenticity vs Professionalism in the Spotlight13:08 — How Public Figures Must Move Differently14:02 — Why Public Figures Need Counsel Before Speaking14:46 — Coinology: Money, Media & Mindset15:25 — Your Pain Is Where Your Millions Hide16:14 — The “Talented Tenth” of Today17:02 — Studying the DNA of Success18:10 — Failing in Public vs Failing in Private19:08 — Crisis Management 101 20:15 — Why Every Successful Person Needs a Crisis Manager21:05 — Turning Visibility Into Financial Success21:45 — The Biggest Interview Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make22:58 — Relatability > Perfection24:07 — How Beyoncé's Transparency Shifted Her Brand25:22 — Can the “It Factor” Be Bought?26:04 — Mastery Over Popularity27:06 — Credibility After the Pandemic28:02 — Why Books Are Still the Ultimate Credibility Tool29:17 — How to Launch a Book the Right Way30:08 — Why Authors Fail (and How to Fix It)31:01 — The Real Purpose of a Book in Business32:00 — How to Relaunch a Book That Flopped33:17 — Ebony's Biggest Brand Deals34:12 — The DNA of Closing Multi-Million Dollar Deals35:41 — The Real “It Factor” Explained37:10 — When Founders Aren't the Face: How to Pivot38:36 — Ebony's Personal Story: Leaving Corporate40:01 — When Your Dream Doesn't Match Your Life41:04 — Surviving Betrayals and Staying the Course42:05 — Faith, Purpose & Calling43:21 — Legacy, Family & Global Expansion45:00 — What Wealth Really Looks Like46:18 — Peace > Money47:11 — How to Break Into PR the Right Way48:36 — Create What People Need — Not What You Want to Sell49:43 — Ebony's Biggest Money Mistake50:30 — The Danger of Scaling Too Fast52:02 — The #1 Hire Every Business Needs53:06 — The Best Money Ebony Ever Spent54:12 — Faith as the Foundation of Entrepreneurship56:02 — How to Know If You're Ready for PR57:33 — Why Ebony Loves Working With Underdogs58:42 — The Diddy Question (Part Two)1:02:05 — Can We Restore People Instead of Cancelling Them?1:05:08 — Advice to 18-Year-Old Ebony1:07:08 — Final Wisdom: Go at Your Own Pace1:08:03 — Where to Find Ebony Porter Ike1:09:24 — Closing the VaultAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's episode, I share some big news about the future of this podcast. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere - yes, I'm still your business coach. But a whole new era is upon us! READ MORE HERE****To share any comments/message regarding this podcast,  go to KimberlyBrock.com/blog and scroll down to the form or DM me on Instagram Here✅ GET MY ULTIMATE LIST of of all my recommended TOOLS & APPS HERE! -FREE IKIGAI GUIDE (to discover your business purpose) -16-Step BUSINESS STARTER'S CHECKLIST -FREE VIDEO MASTERCLASS: Stop Flailing & Start Growing!

Jimmy Kimmel Claims Trump Is Coming To Slaughter Americans As Desperate Democrats Attempt To Launch George Floyd 2.0 After A Women Was Killed In Minnesota After She Ran Over An ICE Agent! Leftist NGOs Now Launching Violent Uprisings Nationwide

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Andrew Hopper, Lead Pastor of Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina. Planted in 2012 with just 30 people, Mercy Hill has grown into a multi-campus, fast-growing church known for its gospel clarity and sending culture. In this conversation, Andrew shares why adoption and foster care have become central expressions of Mercy Hill's mission—and how those practices flow directly out of the gospel. He also unpacks the heart behind his book, Chosen: Building Your Family the Way God Builds His. Is your church unsure how to engage big social needs without drifting from the gospel? Are you looking for a way to mobilize people beyond church walls while keeping discipleship front and center? Andrew offers a clear framework for doing both. Doing good as a sign of the kingdom. // Andrew addresses a common tension churches feel between community engagement and disciple-making. Mercy Hill refuses to treat these as competing priorities. Acts of service—whether foster care, adoption, or family restoration—are not the kingdom itself but signposts pointing to it. Meeting tangible needs creates openings for gospel conversations. These ministries don't replace evangelism; they amplify it by demonstrating the heart of God in visible ways. A church’s collective heartbeat. // Mercy Hill's deep involvement in adoption, foster care, and family restoration didn't start as a top-down strategy but emerged organically from the gifts and passions within the church. Many leaders and members have adopted children themselves, shaping the church's collective heartbeat. Rather than attempting to address every social issue, Mercy Hill chose to focus deeply on a few—believing churches are most effective when they lean into the specific good works God has prepared for them. This focus has mobilized hundreds of families and created a powerful witness in their community. Rope-holding and shared responsibility. // Not everyone is called to adopt or foster, but everyone can hold the rope. Drawing from the William Carey analogy, Mercy Hill equips members to support families on the front lines through prayer, childcare, meals, financial help, and presence. Over time, they've learned that rope-holding works best when built on existing relationships rather than formal assignments. The goal is to ensure no family fights alone in what Andrew describes as intense spiritual warfare. Big vision with baby steps. // Mercy Hill isn't afraid to cast a bold vision—whether for global missions, adoption, or church planting—but they pair that vision with accessible next steps. Prayer nights, giving opportunities, short-term service, and relational support allow people to grow into greater obedience over time. High challenge without guilt creates healthy discipleship. Why Andrew wrote Chosen. // Andrew wrote Chosen: Building Your Family the Way God Builds His not to promote a program, but to give churches a theological foundation for engaging adoption and foster care. The book weaves together Andrew's family story, Mercy Hill's journey, and a deeply gospel-centered motivation rooted in Scripture. Designed to be used individually or in groups, Chosen includes discussion questions and practical guidance for churches or small groups wanting to explore this calling in community. Andrew's prayer is that the book would catalyze thousands of Christian families to participate meaningfully in caring for vulnerable children and families. Gospel-driven motivation. // Underneath everything is Andrew's conviction that gospel motivation outlasts guilt. Behavior rooted in grace goes further than behavior driven by pressure. Adopted people adopt people. Chosen people choose people. That theological clarity fuels Mercy Hill's sending culture, their community impact, and their ongoing growth. To explore Andrew's resources on adoption, foster care, and grab his book, Chosen, visit andrewphopper.com/chosen or follow him on Instagram @andrewphopper. You can learn more about Mercy Hill Church at mercyhillchurch.com. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. We have got a multi-time guest on, and you know what that means. That means that I really respect, deeply admire, and want you to listen up, and today is no exception. Excited to have Andrew Hopper with us. He is the lead pastor of a church that they should be following, that you should be following. He’s a lead pastor of Mercy Hill Church with five locations, if I’m counting correctly, in North Carolina, and is repeatedly one of the fastest growing churches in the country. I love this church on many levels. They’re centered on the gospel and have a radical commitment to sending people to the nations. They have a desire to make disciples and multiply churches. Andrew, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Andrew Hopper — Man, I’m so pumped to be here. Love the podcast. Really appreciate it, man.Rich Birch — Yeah, I’m honored that you would come back. For folks that that don’t know Mercy Hill, give me a bit of a kind of an update. Tell us a little bit about the church.Andrew Hopper — Yeah.Rich Birch — Maybe update us from last time you were on.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, man. So just real quick, planted in 2012. We had 30 people, all you know kind of young professional age, and man, just really believe that God could do something incredible ah through, you know just through our our open hands, and he did.Andrew Hopper — And so it’s been 13 years. It’s crazy. We’ve been sort of pushing the same boulder up the same mountain for 13 years, just flywheel kind of concept and keep pushing. And ah the Lord has done an incredible thing, like you said, five campuses. And man, just moved into a new home and hub. That was from last time we had a chance. That’s been really great. Andrew Hopper — We were in a rented location for a long time as our main like broadcast campus. We’re a video-based multi-site. And so um it’s ah it was a three or four-year journey to raise the money and build this new facility. But we’re in, and the Lord has really blessed that with tons of new people, highest baptisms, sent ones, first time guest numbers, all everything that we’ve done. This has been a, you know, we’ve gone been on a ride – praise God for that. It’s it’s, um, it’s for his sake and his renown, but this year has been unlike the others. So it’s been…Rich Birch — Yeah, you were saying beforehand, it’s like 30 or something like 30 some percent year over year growth. That’s insane to keep up with.Andrew Hopper — It is man. And the, and the giving does not, uh, you know, the giving doesn’t happen.Rich Birch — Reflect that yet.Andrew Hopper — So it’s, it’s like, we’re trying to do ministry on a budget of a church that’s 3000, but a church that’s running 4,500. And it’s like, how do you do that effectively without killing everybody?Rich Birch — Nice.Andrew Hopper — All your staff, I mean, so, but we’re, we’re learning, man, we’re figuring it out. It’s fun. We got, we just planted our sixth church. So that’s apart from the campuses. This is first time, Rich, we’ve planted a church in our own city.Rich Birch — Oh, nice. That’s cool.Andrew Hopper — It’s been really, a really cool dynamic and it’s been fun. He’s doing great. Man, it was a college student that we met when he was 19 years old at North Carolina AT&T 10 years later. He’s an elder here. He’s done a lot of different things. And man, he goes and plants a new church in Greensboro about five minutes from one of our campuses and they’re doing great.Rich Birch — Wow. Yeah, that’s so good. Well, the thing, there’s lots I love about Mercy Hill, but one of the things that I’ve loved about your church from the you know the chance we’ve had to journey a little bit over the years about it is you just have real clarity around the mission, this idea of making disciples, multiplying churches. It’s like that has been rock solid from the beginning. When you think about we want churches to have discipleship at its core, this idea of a church that actually grows people up in their relationship with Christ. What matters most at the foundation? How are you keeping that so foundational to you know what’s happening at Mercy Hill?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I think um I think that we always sort of bought into kind of what we see in Acts 2 as a little bit of a flywheel. We call it gather, group, give, go. A lot of churches have something like that.Andrew Hopper — The the difference, I think, at Mercy Hill a little bit than what I see ah in in in a lot of churches that we help mentor and coach is that 2020 hit and everybody was like, man, what is a church? What is discipleship? What are we going to do now? And and people were kind of… And I do think it was and it wasn’t, you know, it wasn’t just me. I mean, our, you know, our executive pastor Bobby, he was really integral in this. We sort of really doubled down on no, I kind of think the church is going to come back. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And I kind of think what we were doing is sort of what our church is set up to do. It kind of a brand thing. We are sort of a big box sending brand. And that, you know, for us, when we look at Acts 2, we’re like, dude, the gathering, there’s no more there’s no more important hour for discipleship and evangelism. And I know there’s a lot of things written against that. And people are kind of almost like downplaying it. Andrew Hopper — We’re just like, man, we just don’t believe it. We believe people need to be in a group. You know, we they need generosity is lead step in discipleship, give. And we got to teach people that there’s a mission bigger than themselves. And if we do that, it’s going to funnel more people into the gathering. Andrew Hopper — So I think fundamentally what I would say, we need to get, you know, we could talk about our value, you know we can talk about values to gospel and [inaudible] identity, but I think landing on you know, it’s very hard now to, to not get a word salad book form or thing. When you ask somebody, how are you making disciples? It can just be like…Rich Birch — Right. Very vacuous. Who knows what that means? Yeah.Andrew Hopper — For us, it’s just been a very clear, simple process.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — Like, man, we believe if someone is in the gathering, if they’re in relationship, if they’re being pushed on generosity, and if they’re living for a mission bigger than themselves, that’s a current of maturity that will move them. They just get in the stream, they’ll move.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It’s so good.Andrew Hopper — that’s kind of So you know for us, I think that’s as, you know we’ve we’ve tried to simplify things there.Rich Birch — Yeah. And, and your last episode, I’ve pointed a ton of people to it, uh, to really, and we really unpack a lot of what you talked about there in more detail.Andrew Hopper — Right. Yeah.Rich Birch — You’re going to want to go back and, uh, and listen to that. You’ve reached as a church, you’ve reached a lot of people who don’t grow up in church that it’s like, there’s a lot of people who are there. You know, we used to say we ain’t your mama’s church, but mama didn’t go to church, you know? So, you know, and it’s been a long time that people were there. What challenges have you seen, you know, helping move people from curiosity into real ongoing discipleship? So like, I think there are, we’re seeing a swell of attendance across the country. People are like, oh, I’m kind of interested in this, but we got to move them from just, oh, this is something interesting to like, oh, I’m actually want to grow my relationship with Jesus.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I mean, and it’s it’s funny too, Rich, you probably have a better bird’s eye view of this than I do. But I feel like churches that have been faithfully growing for like the last 10 years, they’re not really doing a lot different now. Or even though there’s this big swell happening, what I do think is that some churches have sort of decided like, oh, clarity does matter.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah, that’s true.Andrew Hopper — And don’t try to be friends with the culture. We’re going to speak in and be prophetic. And, you know, even even to the you know Proverbs 25:26 says, you know, there’s there there’s no there’s no benefit in a muddied spring. You know, it’s like you got to be sort of you got to figure out if we’re going to be clear.Andrew Hopper — So, I you know, for me, I think like and you’re right, we do reach most of the people that we reach that are in the camp that you’re talking about our college age. We reach a lot of people, though, ah that are, you know, they’re they’re coming back to the faith because they’re a southerner.Rich Birch — Sure.Andrew Hopper — You know, they they kind of they kind of were, you know, they they did have some church in their background. They’re coming back. Their kids are not only born, but they’re realizing they’re sinners and they don’t have answers. They’re trying to figure that out.Rich Birch — Right. Right.Andrew Hopper — They’re coming back to church.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, I think the biggest thing that moves people from like interest into a decision point is just being very clear on this is what the gospel is. This is the life it compels you to. Are you going to be in or out?Andrew Hopper — One of the things we say at Mercy Hill a lot is like, man, if you’re if you’re just intrigued, you know, if you’re interested, you’re not going to stay at Mercy Hill because we’re never going to let you, you’re going to get pushed every week. And it’s like, man, people are not really in or like that. I’m not going to do that. You know, they’re just like, no I’m not going to sit here and get like pushed every single week on something I don’t really… And the flip side is when people say, all right, you know what? Stake in the ground. I’m in.Rich Birch — Yeah, we’re doing this, yep.Andrew Hopper — I wanna look like this, I want to build my life on this. It’s like, well, now, you know, it’s it’s man, I’m hopefully, you know, putting tools in the belt every single week to live that life.Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah, it’s good. I do think there was a time where people wandered into our churches where I don’t think that happens as much anymore. I think people, when they arrive, they come with questions, with live active questions that they’re trying to wrestle with, kind of regardless of where they’re they’re at in their journey.Andrew Hopper — Yeah.Rich Birch — And they’re what you to your point around, you know, there’s no benefit in a muddy stream. People aren’t looking for anything that sounds like, well, what do you think? Because the reason why they’re there is because they’re asking questions. And so, you know, they’re they’re looking for clarity, like I think you’re saying. Rich Birch — Well one of the things I love about your church is there’s a high commitment to, you’re you’re you’re tearing down what I think is a false dichotomy. Sometimes I think when churches come to this idea of outreach or making a difference in their community, there’s this there can be this gap or false dichotomy between doing good in our communities and making disciples. Like we gave that up at some point. We were like, you can’t, you know, we can’t do both of those things for some reason. Why, why did we do that? Why did we, as churches say, we can’t both make a difference in our communities and also make disciples?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I think it’s, I actually have a lot of sympathy for the fundamentalist leaning. I know it sounds a little bit weird. Rich Birch — No, that’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Churches that led from the, you know, from the good do good in your city kind of thing. I don’t think they’re right, but I do have sympathy for that because I understand how quickly that sort of, you know, is so hijacked by liberal, by theological liberalism to where it’s finally man we’re digging wells and wherever but we’re not talking about who the true source of living water is. Like we don’t want to be offensive we just want to do good without speaking the whole you know you know live your life as a Christian only use words if necessary, whatever, you know. And and I so I understand why people kind of fled and have fled that.Andrew Hopper — Like, you know, I’ve even had our church before when I when I talk about adoption or we we have a ministry, and a ministry called No More Spectators. We’re like moving people towards community ministry. And we had people kind of going on like, oh, my gosh, this seems like a sign of like churches start going this way and then they lose the gospel.Andrew Hopper — And I’m like, well, the reason you’re kind of feeling like that is because a lot of churches have done that. You know, you’re not [inaudible] like that just out of nowhere. Now, of course, I think it’s a little bit immature and we’ve got to push through. The way we talk about it, Rich, is, man, we want to do good in our community as signs of the kingdom coming.Andrew Hopper — They are not building the kingdom. You know, if we go repaint a house or house a homeless person, one day that person would parted with that house, whether they, you know, get messed up and leave or whether they do great and then would die one day, you know.Andrew Hopper — Or, if we have, ah you know, if we go and, and you know, we’re going to, for example, we have ah ah a family in our church that they need a ramp built because, man, the the brother is struggling with MS and he’s, they’re they’re fighting it like Christians do. We’re going to go do that. You know, we’re going to go build that ramp. That ramp’s going to rot and die one, you know, rot and rot away one day. And, you know, whether it’s 100 years from now or whatever.Andrew Hopper — Like it’s not literally the kingdom. But when the outside world sees us engage and, you know, our church will talk about this primarily when we think about community ministry, we think about it in terms of adoption, foster care and families count, which I can talk to you about. I think it’s bringing a sign of the kingdom that is to the community around us to say, hey, this is not the gospel. But it sure points to the gospel. Rich Birch — Right, right.Andrew Hopper — You know, it’s a pretty good signpost of like, yeah, there’s a kingdom coming where kids aren’t separated from their parents, you know. And and so that’s kind of the way that we think about, it’s not, you know, it’s not the kingdom. It’s a sign of the kingdom that is coming.Rich Birch — Yeah, let’s let’s dive in. So adoptions, foster care, families count. These are not small issues. Like you started with like putting a ramp on, painting somebody – those are like, okay, I can organize my head around that. And then we jump to what I think are obviously significant. How, it can be easy, I think, for church leaders it can be easy where, you know, we got a lot of fish to fry in our own backyard. When you see big problems like that, help us unpack that. Why do you as a lead pastor, why are you passionate about these issues? Why are these the things that you’ve chosen?Andrew Hopper — I think it’s, man, I think it’s great. I mean if you can’t if you don’t mind I’ll go back and give you a little bit of context. I’m a context [inaudible]… Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. Let’s do it. Yeah. Andrew Hopper — …number one so I always want to frame it in where we’ve been. But the short answer to the question is I think that every church because it is made up of individual believers that have individual gift matrix, you know they’re they’re gifted the church is gifted in a unique way because the people which are the church are gifted in a unique way, right? Andrew Hopper — And so to me, you know, slapping, you know, a top down every single church has to to manifest signs of the kingdom in X way, which, for for example, I’m not to pick on it, but like, you know, the whole diversity church kind of movement. I love you know, if that’s your brand, that’s awesome. That’s great. Go, go bring signs of the kingdom in that area. But you know what people do is they take their thing and then slap it on every single church. You know, this is the sign of the kingdom that you have to manifest.Andrew Hopper — I don’t think that. It takes every kind of church to reach a city because there’s all you know, there’s every kind of people in the city. Right? For us, though, and I think for a lot of churches that that maybe are are made up a little bit like we are, I think there is a lot of meat on the bone for adoption, foster care, families count ministry. And I think churches could be greatly helped by latching on to maybe, you know, something in particular, maybe this, maybe this specifically. How we got there, Rich, was we had we had, you know, huge movement in our church in 2019. I was very convicted.Andrew Hopper — Some of the exponential stuff was coming out, you know, mobilizing people outside the walls of the church. And I really was, man, I was just really affected by that. And I don’t want the dichotomy, you know, I don’t want, well, you your people serve in the church and not outside the church. It’s like, no, most people serve outside the church. If you watch them, they are serving inside the church as well. It’s it’s like a it’s like, man, you know, just just because serving inside the church is not the finish line, don’t demonize it because it is a starting place.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — So it’s like, I don’t like that kind of whole thing. But but it did affect me to say, OK, what are we doing to push to the outside? So we we we did a thing. You would have loved this, man. But it except for the fact that it didn’t really work that good. OK, it was awesome.Andrew Hopper — It was, we still have the domain name – nomorespectators.com – I had the tagline: Jesus didn’t die to create spectators. He died to create servants, not spectators, workers, not watchers. We, man, you could go to nomorespectators.com and, you know, it was like, it was like a funnel for all of these community ministry opportunities in our city. So it was, you know, people from the housing, you know, authority type stuff would post things. And it was, it was all this kind of, it had a bunch of stuff in it. Andrew Hopper — In the end of the day, great idea. It was a little too complex. Our people latched on to the foster care, pregnancy network, you know, ended up being families count, Guardian ad Litem and adoption. So our guy that was over all that at the time our sending director, which is hard for me to have a good idea that ends up dying hard, okay that’s just tough for me.Rich Birch — You had a great sticky statement and everything. Come on.Andrew Hopper — I’m the king of sunken cost bias. Okay. Like, I’m like, dude. And so finally around 2020, he came to me and he said, bro, I know this is hard for you. Cause it was like a two year initiative. He’s like, this is hard. He said, No More Spectators needs to just turn into Chosen. And it needs to be like, you had this idea for 30 different things. It just, this needs to be our niche, man. You know, we we don’t do a lot of these other things, but we do this really well.Andrew Hopper — And it was hard for me. Ultimately, it was great wisdom by them, not me. And we started going down that road. And partly, I think it’s because, Rich, is heart is near to my heart. I have an adopted daughter. A lot of our staff have adopted kids. We just have a guy right now. Our associate director of first impressions at the Rich campus is in Texas right now, you know, bringing their daughter home.Andrew Hopper — I mean, so it’s just, and so it’s sort of started to morph into, and the the the big thing I’ll say, and I, you know, I’ve been talking a lot here, but the big thing I’ll say is, if you think about the way I just ah described all that, it doesn’t start with the need in the community. It starts with the gift matrix of the church. The poor we will always have with us. Like there there is no there’s no scenario until Jesus comes back that there’s no kids that need to be adopted, you know.Rich Birch — Right, right.Andrew Hopper — And it’s just the reality of it. And so there’s always going to be need in the community. It’s more about, okay, what are the Ephesians 2:10 works that your church, because the church is made up of people who are individually called, what are the you know what are those works that God has set out for your church? Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, so for us, we just felt like, dude, this is a a heartbeat thing. Our people got more, they get more fired up. The greatest thing I’ve ever been able to mobilize our people for prayer for is go to the abortion clinic and pray. I mean, a thousand people on their face in the pavement. It’s like, it just strikes a chord with our church and who we are. So we wanna run after that.Rich Birch — Yeah. Well, I love that. And we’re going to dig out a bunch of this, but let’s think about it first from a perspective of somebody who’s maybe attended your church. They just started. They’re they’re relatively new, you know. The idea of something as weighty as adoption or foster care, that’s a big ask. And you know when you yeah how do I experience that as someone who’s just new? What are some ways that I could get plugged in? What does that look like? That, that, cause I, I’m hard, it’s hard to imagine that I go from zero to, to, you know, adoption, you know, how do I end up or flying to Texas to, you know, pick up a kid. That’s a lot. Help me understand. How are you, cause I know you guys are so good at moving people along from kind of where they are to where you’re hoping to – what’s that look like? What’s the kind of, how do you bring people along in this?Andrew Hopper — Man, totally. I think you’re right. I think it’s a combination of big vision on one end and then baby steps on the other. But the big vision matters.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — Like we don’t want to be scared of the big vision. So, you know, for example, our weekender process, which I know you talked about some, you know, that weekender process, you know, people literally for years, we would give them a passport application in the weekender process. Because we’re like you’re at this church you’re probably going to be overseas at some point on a mission trip. And so to me it’s like people are like dude that probably scares the crap out of people. And it’s like well, I mean we want to make sure they know what they’re getting into, you know. We’re not telling them they got to do that tomorrow… Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — …but that is the, and then and then there’s all these baby steps, right? Like hey come to you know, every February we do Sent weekend. Come to the prayer night. Like that’s a baby step. That’s not you getting on a plane to go to Nepal. But you know hey we’re doing this missions offering at the end of the year, like maybe get you know. So there’s all these I would say that our the way we think about Chosen ministry, which again: adoption, foster care, families count, and rope holding, which is a big part of this discussion… Rich Birch — Okay. Andrew Hopper —…is that way. It’s big vision on the front end so we’re never going to tell somebody, hey you know, I know you could never do this. Like I’ll never…I think people can do it and they should. Or or you know more Christians than are should. At the same time we’re also not guilting anybody. Like so I’m I you know the the first thing I’ll tell people is like, hey, you know we start talking about adoption. I always say always say, hey, we have not lined up a bunch of little kids in the lobby for you to take one home today, okay. And then I’ll tell them, that’s next week.Rich Birch — That’s great.Andrew Hopper — Okay, so yeah but and we we try hard to like put some levity in it. Man, we’re not everybody’s not going to do that. In fact, a minority, of a small minority is going to do it. But everyone can be involved and there are baby steps.Andrew Hopper — So we try to highlight giving, man. Like if you someone adopts from Mercy Hill, we pay 25% of their adoption. Okay.Rich Birch — Wow. Yep.Andrew Hopper — If they’re a member and they’re in a community group, they get 25%. All right, well, you know, we’re going to connect that. Like, man, you you are never going to adopt. You feel like that’s, but it’s like, well, I give $100 a month to the church. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — Well, hey, what? You know, you’re you are you are supporting.Rich Birch — We’re making a difference.Andrew Hopper — We do parents night out, you know, for all of our foster and adoptive parents. We do it quarterly. It’s like, hey, those are opportunities to come and serve, man. You can serve the meal you can do. We do rope holding, which I know we’ll probably talk about. But but the the idea of rope holding is just like, man, I’m not going to do this, but I can be in the corner for somebody. They’re in my community group. I want to be their first call if they need a babysitter or they need, you know, a gift card, or whatever they need.Andrew Hopper — So I think, man, we try to do big vision. You know, we’re going we’re going to set a huge vision, you know, for 2030 for 2030. Actually, we just hit our vision for 2025, which is 200 adoptive or foster families. There’s a lot of ways people can be involved with it.Rich Birch — So good. There’s, I think thing I would encourage friends who are listening in, you really should be following Mercy Hill, Andrew, because I do think you’re a very unique communicator where you, and you just described it. And I think to you, it’s just like, that’s just what you do. But this idea of like, you’re calling people to a high bar, but you’re not leveraging shame, guilt. you know, it’s, and I think so many times our language can kind of lean in that direction. Or we can, if we really are trying to push people towards something, or we can just undersell the vision. You know We can be like, oh, it’s not that it’s not that big of a deal. You know It’s not for everybody. So I would encourage people to listen in.Rich Birch — Talk to me about rope holding. How is that, what’s that look like? Unpack what that looks like a little bit.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, so rope so the the the rope-holding analogy, which a lot of your listeners probably gonna already know this, but you know William Carey, Andrew Fuller, William Carey, father of modern missions, he’s he he he makes the statement, “I’ll dangle at the end of the rope in the pit, if you’ll hold the rope,” talking to Fuller. And Fuller held the rope for him. Like, you know, Carey the mission field, Fuller’s raising money, preaching sermons, organizing mission boards. So that’s kind of the picture. Right.Andrew Hopper — So we say, all right, not everybody is going to go down into the pit of foster care adoption, even even families count. I mean, these are these are massive spiritual warfare battlegrounds you know um which is one of the reasons why our church wants to be involved so much. I mean you if you want to talk about getting to the you can do all the rhetoric in the world, brother, you want to get to the very bottom of societal issues, you you be involved in somebody’s story that’s trying that’s trying to get their kids back from the foster care system. You’re trying to help them with that. I mean, every you could fatherlessness, poverty, drug abuse. I mean, everything you can think, you know.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — So this this is just spiritual war. So what we tell people is like, hey, man. If we got people that are mobilizing for for adoption and foster care, we better have people in their corne,r because the enemy is going to bring his war machine.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And we see it all the time. I mean, you’re going to see, you know, a family steps in to adopt and you’re going to start seeing them, you know, there can be sickness. They can have marital problems. They can have financial things that come up. They can begin to believe lies, frustrations. I mean, There’s just so they can become, you know, their their heart can start getting hard toward the system. I mean, there’s so many things that come at them. And so what we say is we need people in their corner, right. Andrew Hopper — Now, it’s funny because like the way our church has operated was at first we said, all right, we’re going to we’re going to do, you know, the the community group is going hold the rope for the people. And and that that was fine. The problem is when we really kicked off this ministry, so many people got involved that it became overwhelming to the group. So we said we got to start this… Rich Birch — Right. Andrew Hopper — …rope holding ministry. The rope holder ministry is good. It’s like, what does a rope holder do? They kind of do whatever the person needs them to do. Rich Birch — Right. Andrew Hopper — So there are examples of the rope holding ministry going really well, where it’s like, hey, man, they’re they’re helping with ah child care with the other kids when they’re going to foster care appointments in court. And or, hey, we’re we’re helping you do some things around the house whenever you’re overseas doing your adoption, which is going to put you three weeks in country. You know, there are some good examples like that. Andrew Hopper — But the other thing that we’ve learned is, you know, foster care and adoption families that are that are walking through this, they’re going through a very trying time. And to just pair them with somebody they don’t know and say, hey, look, here’s your supporter, it can be a little bit like, oh, that’s awesome, and then they never reach out to them.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — They never reach out – the rope holder’s ready.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — But it’s just like, dude, I don’t I don’t know you. And this is a hard time.Rich Birch — Who are you? Yeah, yeah.Andrew Hopper — And so what we’re trying to figure out now as we reboot that rope holder idea is, you know, how how do you kind of integrate relationships they’ve already had? Almost like, hey, do you have this massive pool of people called rope holders? Or when an adoptive family comes up, you say to them, hey, who can we shoulder tap, rope holder for you.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — And then we’ll train them.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s cool. Yeah.Andrew Hopper — But not have this pool, but say for you, we’ll put them in. So that’s kind of what we’re, so as part of our reboot for 2030, you know, that’s sort of what’s in our mind right now.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool.Andrew Hopper — We have a whole playbook for the way we’ve done it, which anybody, you know, if anybody wants any of those things, they can go to AndrewPHopper.com/chosen. And I can send you any of that stuff we have, but on the rope holder side, you know, just full transparency, we’re still, you know, kind of, of you know, and I’m sure it’ll always be that way that we make an improvement.Rich Birch — Yeah, always trying to make it better. Yeah. And I want to, yeah, at some point in this journey, you decided, hey, we’ve got to put this vision and framework into writing, like we and you actually ended up writing a book, and friends who are listening in, I want to encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. Listen, we’re almost half an hour in. I know you’re interested in this. This is the kind of thing you, Andrew’s a trusted leader. He’s, I’ve had a chance to take a peek at the book. This will be super helpful for you. But, but that’s a lot of effort to put this together into a book. What pushed you from just leading this ministry to ultimately saying, hey, I want to capture this into a resource that could help other people?Andrew Hopper — Well, you know, Rich, I never really saw myself as like a writer, just like a practitioner, man. Let’s just keep keep working on the thing and going.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And truthfully, I got approached. Hey, would you have any interest in writing? You know, New Growth Press is the one that’s editing this book and putting it out. And it was funny, though, because the second I was asked, I was like, man, I know what we should do [inaudible] that should be what we should do. It’s it’s our it’s it’s my story’s family story with our special needs child that we’ve adopted. It’s our church’s journey. But more important than either of those two things, it’s a grounding in the gospel-centered motivation. Because I think that is what is so important. We don’t do guilt motivation. And you know, cute kids and sad, cute kids and and sad stories are good reasons, but they you need a great reason, because it’s hard. Rich Birch — That’s good. Yep.Andrew Hopper — You know, and the great reason is of course, adopted people adopt people. And so we delve way into the helplessness of our spiritual condition, how God adopted us and then how, you know, that provides a deep motivation for us to go and do the same for others.Rich Birch — Can you unpack that a little bit more? Because I think this is, ah to me, a core part of the book that I think is really helpful. Even if you’re maybe listening in, you’re thinking, okay, I’m not sure adoption or foster care is necessarily the thing, but you unpack this idea of gospel rather than guilt. And can you talk us through, you know, how, yeah, just talk us through that part, that concept a bit more. Just double click on that a little bit.Andrew Hopper — Yeah. So, you know, when we think about behaviors that flow from the Christian life, there’s really only two ways to think about it, right? Like one of them is we try to do things in order that God would approve of us, you know, that he would, you know, he would, ah he would, he would let us in his family, you know, those those types of things. And we, you know, this is for a lot of Baptistic world, which I am, this was kind of like, wow, this is really revolutionary, but that was 20 years ago – Keller and all that. You know, we just started understanding what more of a gospel center motivation. Andrew Hopper — Of course, the other way to think about Christian behaviors is you are part of the family because of what Christ has done for you. And the family has a culture. The family works a certain way. There’s fruit that will pop out in your life, not so that you can gain entrance into the vine. That’s not how it works. Like, ah you know, you don’t you don’t produce fruit to get in the vine. You produce fruit because you’re in the vine. Andrew Hopper — And so, you know, when we think about like like Titus 2, for example, we think about how the grace of God appears to all men, teaching us not just salvation, but teaching us to obey his commands. So there’s something about salvation that and is inherent to the gospel-centered motivation of of of going out, living the Christian life. You know, it’s it’s kind of the John Bunyan idea when they said, man, if you, you know, if you keep preaching this gospel message, people are going to do whatever they want to do. And he said, no, if I keep preaching this gospel message, people are going to do whatever God wants them to do. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — You know, and so I think what we’ve done in this book is just say, hey, that that is true universally in our Christian life. Like if I’m not tithing and I’m stingy, I can do motivation in two ways. Number one, how dare you, you piece of trash that you never, you know why would you never give? Look what God, you know, blah blah blah, blah, blah, guilt, guilt, shame, shame. Right. Andrew Hopper — Of course, the other way to say is like, man, what kind of riches has God given you in the gospel? And what kind of inheritance do you now have as a son of the king? It’s like, all right, that’s powerful, you know, and it will it will take us places that guilt never can. Guilt will work for a while. You can put fire under somebody and it’ll move them. But if you put it in them, they’ll run through a wall, you know. Rich Birch — So true.Andrew Hopper — And so it’s like it’s like, hey, OK, so you could do it with all these different things. We’ve tried to take this book and do that with adoption to say, all right.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — We know James 1:27, we need to care for the fatherless and the orphan. We understand. I mean, dude, there ain’t, when you talk about metaphors, there’s two big ones, marriage and adoption, you know? And so if you want to do adoption well, we can do it from two motivations. One motivation is look how many kids need. That’s all and that’s all true. That moves my heart. You know, look, can you believe this story of this kid? And that’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Of course, you could do guilt, too. Like, how dare you, you know, have this nice, happy family and not go adopt a little poor orphan kid. You know, you could do guilt. All those things will be fine. They’ll put fire under you a little bit. But if you want to put the fire in someone that is going to carry them through the long haul of all this stuff, I think it’s better to start with: All right. There’s kids that need to be chosen. Were you chosen?Andrew Hopper — You know, so like one of the you know, one I’ll give you an example. We know of a family here in the tribe. They’ve got an awesome son that is 20-something years old, kids got Down syndrome, and they adopted him from Ecuador. And his story was one day a carpenter was working on this building and he heard cries coming out of a dump, like a trash heap. This child had just been born and been left you know with his deformities had just been left for the dumpster. Andrew Hopper — And they brought him to the orphanage. And next thing you know, you know about three or four years later, he got adopted by this family that we know. And that family’s father, he said, Eddie’s story is my story. I was pulled from a trash heap by a carpenter. And if you it’s like that is powerful. Rich Birch — Right. Yes.Andrew Hopper — You know, when you start thinking about, man, in my sin, I was one who had no part and parcel in the kingdom of God. I was headlong in rebellion. I had rejected. I was not a son. And God lavished his love upon me, that I would be called his child. And if if that has happened to me spiritually, how could I not want to do that? Or at least help those. you know I’m not saying that’s a call for everybody, but be involved in others that are doing that as well.Andrew Hopper — And so that’s what we say. Adopted people, adopt people, chosen people, choose people. And hey, I didn’t answer your last question. Rich Birch — That’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Okay. Your last question was, why did we write the book? Very simply, I think more people just need to think about what I just said. You know, and I think churches do. And I think that if, you know, a lot of churches have adoption-minded people and a little bit of of fuel in that fire might create some really cool ministry in that church. And this book lays really well for being like, man, make it a small group resource for eight weeks. You know, it’s got questions at the end of each chapter.Andrew Hopper — Like my my prayer is that this book would catalyze tens of thousands of Christian adoptions. Rich Birch — Wow. Andrew Hopper — And that’s why we wrote the book.Rich Birch — Yeah. It’s and I thought the same thing as I was looking through it, that this would be a great resource for a small group, a great resource as a staff training thing. Because again, I think there’s two things happening on two levels. From my perspective, there’s what you’re actually talking about – adoption, but then there’s how you talk about it. And I think even both of those, I think could be interesting as a as a staff team to kind of unpack and think about. How do we ensure that what we’re doing is so gospel-infused. That’s part of why i love you as a communicator. I think you do such a good job on that. It’s just fantastic. So I would strongly encourage people to pick it up.Rich Birch — Help me understand the connection. So Mercy Hill is known for, or at least from my perspective, known as a sending church. You know, the thing, one of the and I’ve told again, I told you this before, you’re the first church leader I’ve ever bumped into that has connected new here guests to number of missionaries sent. This like idea of like this funnel of how do we move people all the way along to that? I think that’s incredible. How does that kind of sending culture and adoption, how does that fit together? How does that help kind of fuel the flywheel of what’s happening at Mercy Hill?Andrew Hopper — Well, you you helped me think about this when you came and did our one day for our for our Breaking Barriers group, you know, for the pastoral trainings that we do. Because in your church growth book, you talk about how, ah you know, community ministry is used as an evangelism tool. I’m not, I’m probably butchering the way you talk about it.Rich Birch — Yep. Yep. Oh, that’s good. Yep. That’s great.Andrew Hopper — That was like a big light bulb for me because because we we definitely do that, but we have not leveraged the communications of that.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And so, um you know, for us now, what we’re trying to really think about is how does our adoption of foster care ministry and rope holding and families count ministry, how does that create open? We call them open doors, right? Rich Birch — Yep.Andrew Hopper — Like, how does it create open doors, questions in the community, where people come in? And we’ve seen it. You know, so like when we’re talking about the sending culture, that pipeline starts when new people get interested in faith, they get interested in church.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, like, for example, we we had a guy, we just did a historic video. Man, he’s saved, baptized, serving now, ah or, you know, family, young family, prototypical Mercy Hill guy, like, man, just you know blue collar heart, white collar job, just that. I mean, just everything we talk about. Right. He’s our he’s kind of our guy. And the way he got connected was his boss had signed up to be a rope holder. And it just blew his mind. Like, why would a guy take limited time and go help these families? I mean, he of course, he thought it was a good thing. But it really intrigued them. Andrew Hopper — And so we’ve tried to we’re trying to leverage more of the communication side. It’s tricky. You don’t want to be like, hey, look at us you know in the community. At the same time, I’m like, man, this year, you know when we’re going to do a pretty significant upgrade to some of the there our foster care system has, there’s a house that has a backyard and the backyard is where families come to play with kids, play with their kids they’re trying to get back from the foster care.Rich Birch — Right. Yep.Andrew Hopper — And we’ve said like, you know what, man, if these parents are putting in, that needs to be like the best, the best backyard, and you know?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, absolutely. 100%.Andrew Hopper — And so, you know, we’re, we’re going to do a significant investment in some, you know, whatever…Rich Birch — Play structures and yeah. Andrew Hopper — …like a, you know, whatever, like a pergola type thing. They’re going put a shed out there. All going to connect it, pavers, all that stuff is what we want to do. And, you know, we’re, we’re looking at that and I’m going like, yeah, I mean, I get it. Like you don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, but at the same time, that’s not for us. That’s for people that are interested to say like, why would a church do that? You know, like why do they care so much?Andrew Hopper — And it’s because, Hey, sign of the kingdom. We want to build families through adoption. We want to restore families through foster care and families count. This is part of that. So we’ve tried to we’ve tried to use it as a way. And I would really encourage church leaders to think about that. Like, hey, is your community ministry actually an evangelism strategy?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, that’s good. Love that. And yeah, I would encourage you continue to encourage you to think through those things because I do think that there’s, we’ve seen that there’s huge opportunity for folks who don’t normally attend church. They’re interested the way I’ve said in other contexts is they see it as a good thing. We see it as a God thing. We’re not going to fight them over the semantics of it at the front end. Because like you say it’s it’s the kingdom puncturing through that grabs their attention and you’re like oh what what you know what’s going on there? It’s a first step – how do we encourage those people? Rich Birch — Like on that backyard project, I no doubt if you’re rallying a bunch of guys to go work there, I know that there are guys in your church who have friends who they could invite who don’t attend church who maybe would never walk in your church who’d say, hey, will you come and work for a Saturday for a couple hours and swing a hammer and help us do this thing? Let me explain what this is about.They absolutely would show up, right? 100% they’d show up and and they’ll get intrigued by that. And they’ll be like, oh, what’s going on there? That’s that’s fantastic. Rich Birch — Well, friends, unabashedly, I want you to pick up copies of, not just a copy, copies of this book. So where do we want to send people to pick up copies, that sort of thing?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, man, they can just go to andrewphopper.com/chosen. Rich Birch — Perfect. Yep.Andrew Hopper — The book’s out so they can pick up a copy. I mean, it’s also just like on Amazon or whatever, but that link will take you straight to New Growth Press.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — So, yeah, man, would love it. Would love to hear from anybody who’s using it well in a church context um to catalyze Christian adoption.Rich Birch — Love it. Anything else you want to share just as we close and how can people track, go to the website, other places we want to send them as we close up today.Andrew Hopper — Also on Instagram, we have a lot of stuff on Instagram, andrewphopper on Instagram. Yeah, the last thing I would say as a closing thought, Rich, is you know, the Christian adoption boom has sort of happened 20 years ago. People started talking about this a lot more. And now you can feel in some of the podcast world and all that, there’s a bit of a backlash, not not to don’t do it, but also like, hey, no one told us how hard this was going to be. Andrew Hopper — You’re dealing with traumatic situations, kids that have been brought, you know, I mean, it’s, it’s crazy. One thing I try to do in this book is I try to say, Hey, that’s not a good reason to take our ball and go home, you know.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — Instead we just need to try to shoot as straight as we can. And I do that in this book, man. It is hard. It’s you’re on the front lines of spiritual war. I mean, it’s almost like, dude, the, the, the greatest transfer of faith from one generation to another happens in the home. We love it when adults get saved. I get that. But let’s be honest. Statistically, where does it normally happen? Right. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kids. Andrew Hopper — And so if you got a home that’s broken apart, that Christians are trying to put back together, what did we think Satan was going to do? You know, and so instead of taking our ball and going home, let’s just call it what it is, and then ask the Lord to steel our spine… Rich Birch — That’s good. Andrew Hopper — …and to move forward with the mission. So, yeah, man, I’d love for people to pick it up. And I appreciate the time to talk about it today.Rich Birch — Andrew, thanks so much. Appreciate you. Just want to honor you for the work you do. You’re a great leader. And I love how God’s using you and your church to make a difference. Thanks for being on the show today.Andrew Hopper — Thanks, brother.

Two seasoned podcasters; Staci Millard from Small Business School and Kristina Bartold-Sorgota from Community are sitting down to give you the full truth behind why starting a podcast was one of the best investments they ever made in their businesses.Getting return on your podcast investment is about more than landing paid ad partnerships. Staci and Kristina pull back the curtain on their podcasting strategy and how they use podcasting to grow their businesses and their networks. They break down:Why a podcast can be your most valuable top-of-funnel content.How to use podcasting as a networking hack.The ROI of building relationships through podcast interviews.How to avoid common mistakes that drain your time and impact.The benefits of solo vs guest episodes.The secret to making your podcast searchable, shareable, and bingeable.Launch strategies that actually get your show noticed — yes, even without a huge following.Whether you podcasting without feeling much progress or you're dreaming about getting your voice and your business more visible, this episode is the case for you to start podcasting!Connect with Staci: InstagramSmall Business School PodcastThrive AccountingMentioned in Episode:Find Your Next Bestseller on Faire and get 10% off with the code ‘HIGHVIBE10'Mini MicShould I do Solo vs Guest Podcast Episodes?Episode with Kelsey Reidl: Rank on ChatGPTJoin the High Vibe Women Online CommunitySend me a text!Making Good: Small Business Marketing PodcastMaking Good helps you do better marketing so you can make a bigger impact. If you're...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFor Your Information: • Host your podcast on Buzzsprout! •Join The High Vibe Women Online Community! • Join our favourite scheduling platform Later • FLODESK Affiliate Code | 25% off your first year! Don't forget to come say hi to us on Instagram @thesocialsnippet, join the Weekly Snippet or follow us on any social media platform! Website . Instagram . Facebook . Linkedin

Launch into 2026 with a soaring, ultimately uplifting mix for your run! Donations, Merchandise, Newsletter, more: https://www.podrunner.com Steve Boyett - Groovelectric: Downloadable Soul https://www.groovelectric.com PLAYLIST 01. Synkronic - Funny Thing 02. Lumidelic - Good Old Days (Ruben Hadland Remix) 03. Fabio Carminati - Human (Nicolas Barnes Remix) 04. Trevayne - The Spirit Beckons 05. AD 86 - I Don't Care 06. Airsand, TuraniQa - Sharm 07. Aeikus - Stardrift 08. Kikkx - Lali 09. Rex Stax, Lizwi - Lion (Sarab & Hunter TN Remix) 10. Karatsaya - Mourni (Dub Mix) 11. Saccoman - Distant Planet (Carl Clarks x Tom Franke Remix) 12. Joy Kitikonti - Joydontstop (Jack Mazzoni Remix) (Extended Mix) 13. Dennis Pedersen - Santiago  14. Andy Woldman - Forget to Remember (James Rae Remix) 15. Andy Jay Powell & DJ Fait - Light From Behind (Uplifting Dub Mix) 16. Vince Forwards - Nublado == Please support these artists == Podrunner is a registered trademark of Podrunner LLC. Music copyright © or CC the respective artists. All other material ©2006, 2026 by Podrunner LLC. For personal use only. Any unauthorized reproduction, editing, exhibition, sale, rental, exchange, public performance, or broadcast of this audio is prohibited. No part of Podrunner or its website and associated content may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems.

Today's show features: - JB Burnett, Executive General Manager of Preston Automotive Group - Justin Lasky, Business Manager at Lexus of North Hills This episode is brought to you by: Stream Companies – Stream Companies is a full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled advertising agency that drives measurable results through performance marketing, creative and content development, and proprietary AdTech solutions. Our innovative platforms, including the Retail Ready platform and Integrated Marketing Cloud, empower brands to optimize performance and accelerate growth. To learn more, visit StreamCompanies.com. Dealer Video Excellence Challenge, presented by Covideo – enter the contest by submitting your videos for your chance to win $1,000 and 3 months of Covideo access here: https://2tqce38uozv.typeform.com/to/KEOuOixJ — Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com

In episode 554 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers celebrate the launch of the How Many Dudes demo and the surprise explosion past 50,000 wishlists. They break down what worked, from shipping the demo during the Steam winter sale to leaning hard into YouTube Shorts, influencers, and community momentum. he episode wraps with reflections on resilience, creative momentum, and why 2026 just might be the Year of the Dude.Support How Many Dudes!Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudesTrailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpISteam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes00:00 Cold Open00:33 Introduction and Welcome01:52 The Launch Strategy for 'How Many Dudes'05:44 Initial Reception and Growth of the Demo11:38 Influencer Impact and Community Engagement17:34 Viral Success and Peak Player Engagement23:50 The Power of Community Influence26:49 Tracking Player Engagement and Growth30:32 Comparing Demo Performance and Market Trends31:50 Understanding Wishlist Dynamics35:37 Designing an Engaging Demo Experience40:05 Exploring Game Mechanics and Combinatorial Play45:38 Seasonal Models and Game Dynamics47:00 Naming the Year: 202647:43 Creative Year Themes and Predictions54:18 Reflections on Resilience and Moving ForwardTo stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. Finally, if you'd like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net. ★ Support this podcast ★

Ang's setting goals. Chris is setting themes. Same year, very different strategies, and a few personal bangers for the year ahead. Let the planning begin. CALL 1-774-462-5667 Boost This Episode: Grab Sats with River!⚡ Strike Makes it Quick it Grab Sats in 100s of Countries Boost with FountainWeb Zap This Episode: Web Zap the Show However you Want!Become a Member:Monthly Jupiter.Party Discount - Only for The Launch!Annual Jupiter.Party Discount - Launch Exclusive! Show Notes: Video Version: Domicile Debates | Launch 49 - YouTubeYearly Themes Instead of Resolutions Escapees Mail Service - Domicile & ResidencyInformed Delivery - Mail & Package Notifications | USPSThe Theme System JournalA Drug Den Fixer Upper You can VisualizeSword-wielding man offers 'squatter removal' service in Bay Area - YouTubeSword-wielding man offers 'squatter removal' service in Bay AreaMusic: Nowhere Anywhere By: Survival Guide

Danielle McWaters is the creative force behind Designsake Studio and co-founder of Sardine Eyewear, building brands with intention, strategy, and joy. In this episode, she joins Kara to share how she's creating meaningful, lasting brands while navigating the challenges of launching product-based businesses. They dive into brand positioning, strategy, customer experience, and how to grow sustainably without losing integrity. Danielle also explores personal evolution, reconnecting with your creativity, and embracing whimsy in life and work. If you're building a brand, craving more creativity, or leading with purpose, this episode is packed with inspiration. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Danielle McWaters and Her Ventures 03:12 Career Path and the Launch of Designsake Studio 05:59 Transitioning to Eyewear: The Birth of Sardin 08:52 The Importance of Positioning in Branding 12:07 The Role of Strategy in Business Success 14:59 Navigating Brand Identity and Consumer Connection 18:01 The Challenge of Balancing Sales and Strategy 21:03 The Essence of Brand Purpose and Integrity 23:55 The Need for Whimsy and Individuality in Fashion 26:53 Embracing Change and Self-Expression 29:43 Reflecting on Childhood Imagination and Creativity 31:28 Embracing Whimsy and Authenticity in Style 33:13 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Identity 36:38 The Importance of Internal Validation 39:49 Choosing Agency and Direction in Life 41:34 Building a Purpose-Driven Business 47:01 Navigating Product Development and Sustainability 54:50 Rapid Fire Reflections and Personal Insights he Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if this season isn't asking you to push harder, but to care for yourself more intentionally?In this episode, we explore what it looks like to slow down and tune back into your body, your energy, and your intuition. It's a gentle conversation about redefining success, honoring quieter seasons, and trusting your timing, especially when life looks full on the outside but feels misaligned underneath.We talk about self-investment in the same way many women think about med-spa visits, collagen, skincare, and hormone health, not as vanity, but as long-term care. The kind that supports you from the inside out. The kind that helps you feel grounded, clear, and more like yourself again.This episode is for the woman who wants to understand what's happening in her body, listen more closely to what she actually needs, and choose alignment over constant pressure. It's a reminder that rest is information, clarity comes in stillness, and taking care of yourself is never falling behind.Press play when you're walking, driving, or taking a moment just for you, and subscribe so you're the first to hear what's coming next this season. Want to be a guest? If you have a mentor moment that could inspire someone else DM us GUEST on Instagram, or Apply to be a guest here: https://www.workingwomenmentor.com/applyConnect with our community on: https://www.instagram.com/workingwomenmentor/

→ Get Shade's Book https://www.shadezahrai.com/bigtrust ←↓What if your self-doubt wasn't a flaw—but a clue?In this powerful episode, behavioral strategist and award-winning leadership expert Shadé Zahrai shares the 3 psychological traps that sabotage success—and how to break free.This conversation blends research, real talk, and practical tools to help you stop overthinking and start moving forward—confidently.Click >>PLAY

Launch of Lamarvelous News. Down the Rabbit Hole. Morons in the News. What We Are Doing Wrong.   Predictions for 2026. Everyone Needs a Laugh. Saved by the Restaurant Employee.   Talkback Callers. Can You Believe This? “Lost”   New Year’s Superstitions. From the Vault.

This week on Catalyst Tammy chats with Parisa Zander, a seasoned professional in the tech industry who recently retired after a successful career spanning nearly three decades at companies like Meta, Samsung and Microsoft. Parisa discusses the challenges of being a woman in tech, the importance of finding one's voice, and the values that guide her leadership style, including honesty, empathy, and the need for fun in the workplace. She also emphasizes that to truly understand your customer you need to go to them and set time aside for real-world testing. How else will you see how people across the country are actually engaging with your product? Please note that the views expressed may not necessarily be those of NTT DATALinks: Parisa Zander - LinkedIn Learn more about Launch by NTT DATASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you go from endless side projects to building a 7-figure business you love?The answer isn't a marketing hack, or even an app idea — it's community.In this video, Steve P. Young takes you behind the scenes of his entrepreneurial journey — from launching his first app while working full-time, to quitting his corporate job, to scaling App Masters into a global business.You'll discover how joining the right community changed everything — and how starting his own mastermind (that later became the App Founders Community) became the foundation for long-term success.You'll Learn:✅ The real reason community accelerates success faster than any marketing hack✅ How to find and join a community that supports your goals✅ Why mentorship and collaboration beat “solo hustle” every time✅ The framework Steve used to grow from $0 → 7 figuresYou can also watch this video here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKlscFzwNnA

Get Access to Dielle's 5 Day Training that starts on January 19: How To Hit $250k, $500k, and $1M in 2026 In this episode, Ashley, Dielle's Mastermind Client, shares her journey as a mastermind client, discussing the evolution of her offers, mindset, and the importance of having a supportive coach. The conversation delves into the dynamics of the coach-client relationship, the significance of sticking with one coach, and the challenges of offer abandonment. They explore the value of community support, self-trust, and the resources available within the mastermind to help clients achieve their business goals. The episode concludes with insights on the investment in coaching and the transformative power of a dedicated coaching relationship. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mastermind Success 02:09 The Coach-Client Dynamic 06:13 Navigating Offer Abandonment 10:01 The Importance of Sticking with One Coach 13:52 The Power of a Supportive Community 18:00 Building Self-Trust and Agency 22:05 The Role of Feedback in Growth 25:53 Resources and Tools for Success 30:08 In-Person Events and Community Building 34:06 Investment and Value of Coaching 37:56 Conclusion and Call to Action Connect With Ashley: https://systemsoverstress.co  Ashley's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@systemsoverstress 

In this energizing New Year's episode, Heather and Nicole kick off the season with bold updates from Elevate, including a brand-new guided curriculum and a daily private podcast to help photographers stay inspired and focused. They dive into the power of belief, consistency, and building confidence by staying close to positive influence. If you've ever doubted yourself or needed a simple framework for success, this episode is your sign to lean into proximity and possibility. Key Takeaways: A new guided Elevate curriculum makes it easier for photographers to grow with as little as one hour per week. Launch of Elevate Daily, a private podcast with 1–5 minute mindset shifts and inspiration to stay aligned. The concept of "proximity to belief" can dramatically improve confidence and outcomes. Members are already reporting major sales wins by shifting how they think, including $5,000+ weeks. Your belief system fuels your success—and if you don't yet have belief, you can borrow it from someone who does. How to Support the Podcast: Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review. If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people. Join our next free coaching workshop: www.getcoachedbyheather.com Connect: Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

This episode opens the year with one of the most consequential—and complicated—weeks in GLP-1 obesity medicine. We break down three stories that, taken together, reveal why patients are increasingly reading past headlines and demanding accountability from the industry. First, we examine early-phase trial data from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, after headlines claimed its experimental INHBE-targeting therapy “nearly doubled” the weight loss of Zepbound. We walk through what the data actually showed, why the comparison was misleading, how trial design and dosing matter, and why Phase 1 results should never be treated as superiority claims. Next, we turn to a major access milestone: the official launch of oral Wegovy, the first FDA-approved GLP-1 pill for obesity from Novo Nordisk. We discuss how this pill differs from compounded oral semaglutide, why its pricing strategy is so disruptive, and what this launch means for people who have avoided injectable medications. We also explore how direct-to-consumer access, telehealth partnerships, and retail pharmacy distribution signal a broader shift in how obesity care is being delivered. Finally, we address the most ironic—and uncomfortable—story of the week: manufacturing quality concerns involving branded Wegovy pens, reported to include biological particulate matter, at the same time Novo Nordisk continues a years-long public and legal campaign against compounded GLP-1 medications on safety grounds. We discuss FDA inspection history, the acquisition of Catalent, and why credibility depends on consistency—especially when millions of patients are paying close attention. This episode isn't anti-pharma or pharma-friendly. It's patient-first. And it asks a simple question: Who do we trust when science, marketing, access, and manufacturing all collide at once? Episode Timestamps 00:00 — Why this first episode of 2026 matters 02:10 — Hair found in Wegovy pens and why patients notice hypocrisy 06:15 — Arrowhead trial headlines vs. what the data actually shows 11:40 — Why tirzepatide dosing and trial design matter 17:30 — What INHBE targeting may actually be good for (and what it's not) 21:45 — Sponsor: SHED and access pathways for obesity care 25:10 — Oral Wegovy officially launches: what's different this time 30:20 — How the Wegovy pill works and why bioavailability matters 35:40 — Pricing, telehealth, Costco, and direct-to-consumer access 41:50 — Why pills lower barriers for millions of patients 46:10 — Manufacturing quality, Catalent, and FDA citations 52:30 — Why safety arguments against compounding are being scrutinized 58:40 — Zooming out: access, accountability, and patient trust 1:02:00 — Final thoughts and what to watch next Topics Covered GLP-1 trial hype vs. real-world context Phase 1 data limitations and headline inflation Tirzepatide dosing and misleading comparisons Oral Wegovy vs. compounded oral semaglutide GLP-1 pill pricing and insurance implications Direct-to-consumer pharma and telehealth disruption Manufacturing quality and FDA oversight Compounding pharmacies and healthcare system resilience Patient trust, transparency, and credibility in obesity medicine Useful Links & Resources On The Pen Links & Advocacy: https://otplinks.com Sponsor – SHED (use code OTP25): https://tryshed.com FDA Drug Safety & Recalls: https://www.fda.gov/drugs Follow On The Pen: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@onthepen Substack: https://onthepen.substack.com Support the Show If this episode helped you better understand what's really happening in obesity medicine: Leave a 5-star rating and review Hit Subscribe so you don't miss future episodes Join us live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12pm Eastern on YouTube Patients deserve clarity. That's what we're here for. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

00:45 – Welcome to Talking in Cars and kickoff of the January 2026 ARC 01:20 – Overview of Arc 86: V'Ger Rebirth and the Excelsior launch 02:10 – Introduction to the new Challenge Track system 03:00 – Easy vs. Hard daily tasks and how early milestones work 04:15 – Hostile rotations, crewing considerations, and daily cadence 05:30 – Weekly schedule breakdown for Gorn, Hurok, and Silent hostiles 06:45 – Crew restrictions and the Strange New Worlds apex barrier penalty 08:05 – Recommended crewing strategies for G7 and sub-G7 players 09:30 – Free-to-play accessibility and milestones 1–5 10:45 – Unlocking the Excelsior and tier-based daily mechanics 12:00 – Massive damage scaling and the new PvE damage meta 13:30 – Elite Challenge Credits and Excelsior progression loop 15:25 – Legendary milestone requirements and near-perfect participation 17:05 – Launch-week catch-up mechanics and gifted challenge points 19:10 – Challenge Track vs. Battle Pass clarification 21:10 – Rewards overview: faction credits, Forbidden Tech, and banners 23:30 – Sigma faction credits value and refinery math 25:40 – Cost-to-value discussion of the $20 legendary unlock 28:20 – Free-to-play ship sourcing timeline and long-term value 32:40 – Officer spotlight: Uhura and Sulu roles and effectiveness 36:30 – Prototype Forbidden Tech overview and sourcing paths 40:00 – Critical analysis of Prototype Forbidden Tech value 45:15 – Mid-ops experience changes and alliance considerations 47:40 – Final Q&A, reminders, and show wrap-up

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This special episode comes directly from an inspiring day at the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) in Toronto, where the global launch of the Smart Start program was celebrated through a landmark symposium titled Music and the Mind: A Smart Start to Early Childhood Education. The event focused on the transformative role of music in early childhood learning and development. Educators, researchers, policymakers, and arts advocates gathered in Koerner Hall in Toronto to explore how music influences the developing brain, supports emotional and social growth, and enhances early learning well beyond songs and rhythm. The symposium also examined the evolving role of technology and artificial intelligence in education and creativity. Smart Start is the Royal Conservatory of Music's early childhood music program, designed for young learners at the very beginning of their musical journey. Grounded in research on child development and learning science, the program uses play-based, developmentally appropriate activities to nurture musical skills alongside cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Smart Start is about more than learning music—it supports whole-child development through music. For more background on how the program was developed, listen to the previous episode featuring Alexander Brose, President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music: https://www.theartandscienceoflearning.com/blogsidebysidee/124-music-amp-neuroscience-the-royal-conservatory-of-musics-innovative-approach-to-early-childhood-education-alexander-brose The day opened with a powerful keynote from Renée Fleming, celebrated soprano and author of Music and Mind, who spoke about the impact of music and music therapy on health and wellbeing. She invited the audience to sing together in harmony—setting the tone for a day centered on connection, research, and shared experience. Alexander Brose, President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music, welcomed attendees and shared the story behind Smart Start's creation and development. Throughout the day, internationally recognized voices from across disciplines contributed to panels and discussions on music, neuroscience, education, creativity, and innovation. Speakers and panelists included Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Raffi, the beloved children's singer-songwriter, Steve Paikin, the award-winning journalist, Eric Radford, Olympic figure skater and composer, and many more. The symposium also featured hands-on learning experiences led by Catherine West, pedagogy leader and early childhood education specialist, allowing participants to experience Smart Start exactly as children would in a learning environment. This episode brings the symposium to life through three in-depth interviews with key speakers: • Dr. Indre Viskontas – Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of San Francisco, musician, and host of the Inquiring Minds podcast, discussing the neuroscience of music and learning • Kevin Chan – Senior Director at META, exploring the connections between creativity, technology, AI, and education • Dr. Sean Hutchins – Director of Research at The Royal Conservatory of Music and co-developer of the Smart Start curriculum, unpacking the research and educational thinking behind the program Together, these conversations offer a rich picture of why Smart Start matters and how early, play-based music education can help develop cognitive skills, emotional regulation, creativity, and problem-solving abilities, setting children up to become lifelong learners. Dive in to revisit the ideas, insights, and inspiration from the Music and the Mind symposium, celebrating the global launch of the Royal Conservatory of Music's Smart Start program. Links: Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Neuroscience: https://www.rcmusic.com/about-us/rcm-neuroscience Music and the Mind Symposium (October 31st 2025): https://www.rcmusic.com/about-us/news/global-launch-of-rcm-early-childhood-music

Overview: Tune into our very first 2026 episode of Launch Financial as we welcome the New Year and discuss setting financial goals and resolutions for the year ahead. The markets kicked off the year strong and we will continue to watch for economic indicators as we head into January. Show Notes:   

In this episode of HomeKit Insider, Andrew O'Hara gears up for CES 2026, sharing insights on the latest smart home innovations. He discusses the schedule and events leading up to CES, including media-only unveilings and third-party events. Andrew highlights exciting new products, such as Matter-enabled cameras, Roomba's Matter support, and innovative smart home devices from brands like Samsung, Govee, and Hisense. He also shares his personal experiences and preparations for the show.Send us your HomeKit questions and recommendations with the hashtag homekitinsider. Tweet and follow our hosts at:@andrew_osu on Twitter@andrewohara941 on ThreadsEmail me hereSponsored by:Notion Agent: Try Notion, now with Notion Agent, at: https://notion.com/homekitCopilot Money:  Limited-time: Get 26% off your first year when you sign up at copilot.money and use coupon code HOMEKIT! **(new users only, web only)HomeKit Insider YouTube ChannelSubscribe to the HomeKit Insider YouTube Channel and watch our episodes every week! Click here to subscribe.Links from the showMatter cameras are coming (CyberModStudio)Roomba expands Matter supportThose interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com

What does real confidence actually look like when the pressure is on?In this powerful episode of Mindset Mastery Moments, Dr. Alisa sits down with Simone Knego—international keynote speaker, bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and creator of the REAL Method—for a grounded, no-fluff conversation on identity, resilience, and unshakeable confidence.Simone shares how confidence isn't about performance or perfection, but about perspective. From summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro to raising six children while building a global platform, she unpacks how high achievers can stop shrinking, rewrite the internal narrative, and lead authentically—without burning out or losing themselves.This episode dives into:The difference between performative confidence and real confidenceHow identity shapes leadership and decision-makingTurning pressure into purposeLetting go of self-doubt without waiting for external validationThe mindset shift required to step into your next levelIf you're a high achiever navigating growth, leadership, or reinvention, this conversation will challenge how you see yourself—and what's possible next.

In this episode, I sit down with Carrie Green, founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association, to unpack what really goes into a successful launch in today's online business landscape. We take an honest look at her recent launches, including what worked, what didn't, and the lessons she's learned by launching again and again in a fast-moving space.We talk about the role of ads in boosting visibility and growth, why introducing paid elements earlier can strengthen a launch, and how maintaining your energy across multi-session experiences is just as important as your strategy behind the scenes. Carrie also shares how she uses urgency and scarcity without pressure, while building systems that make each launch feel more effortless over time.We also explore why testing and adapting is essential for traction, and how Carrie leans into systems and AI to simplify content creation and delivery—especially when balancing live sessions, community engagement, and personal well-being.3 Key Takeaways:1. Launch strategies are living, breathing things — not one-and-done blueprintsCarrie reminded me that no two launches are the same, and what worked last time might need tweaking next time. Staying curious, testing ideas, and adapting your approach is where real evolution happens.2. Paid elements and strategic urgency matter earlyWhen I introduce paid elements earlier in a launch — instead of waiting until the very end — it can validate demand and build momentum. Combining that with thoughtful urgency and clear deadlines helps people make decisions without feeling pressured.3. Systems and energy management are launch superpowersGetting clear on repeatable systems — from content planning to AI-assisted drafting — doesn't just make launches easier, it protects your energy. And in launch land, saving your energy = staying present with your audience.LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODEConnect with Carrie Green on Website, Instagram, FacebookConnect with Teresa on Website, (Grow, Launch, Sell), Sign up to Teresa's email list

*Book a free strategy call with Shannon here.https://secondactsuccess.co/230Ready to finally start a business in 2026 instead of just talking about it? In this first episode of the year, business coach and host Shannon Russell walks you through a simple, realistic 90-day Q1 plan to launch your business by March 31, 2026. If you've been sitting on a business idea, dreaming about quitting your 9–5, or wanting to add a new offer to your existing business, this pep-talk-meets-strategy session is your green light.You'll learn how to turn your idea into a clear business concept, validate it with real people, and set up the core foundations of your business in the first quarter of the year, without burning out or trying to do everything at once. Shannon breaks Q1 into three focused months so you can move from “someday” to “it's happening” with a step-by-step roadmap.This episode of the Second Act Success Podcast is a must-listen! In this episode, you'll learn:How to use Q1 2026 as your launch season (and why the first 90 days matter so much)The three questions that define your business idea and ideal clientA simple validation strategy so you know people will pay for your offerHow to break your giant to-do list into micro action steps you can actually finishA 90-day goal-setting framework to keep you on track through January, February, and MarchIf you're a woman in a 9–5 job, a busy mom, or an early-stage entrepreneur who wants to start an online business in 2026, this episode will give you the clarity, confidence, and practical steps to get moving in Q1—so by the end of the year, you're running the business you've been dreaming about.Download my free 90-Day Sprint Planner *Get the full show notes here!Leave a review for the Second Act Success Podcast here.******** Book a free Strategy Call with Shannon Watch the free How To Start a Business Training Download the free Career to Business Roadmap Join the Second Act Accelerator Read Shannon's Book - Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life ➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok Home Chef Meal Delivery - (free shipping & $4.99 per serving) Flodesk Email Marketing - (25% off your first year) Stitch Fix Personal Stylist - ($25 off your first order) Buzzsprout Podcast Hosting - ($20 off) Podmatch Guesting (*Some affiliate links in...

Ready for a season that actually makes parenting, homeschooling, and supporting your child easier? We're kicking off season six with a clear promise: weekly, expert-driven conversations that turn overwhelm into action for families of struggling learners—homeschoolers and classroom parents alike.In 2026, you'll hear from experts around the world on topics relevant to kids with learning struggles and special needs as well as curriculum choices and support for all types of students. Starting with homeschooling guru Christy Faith, we've got a lineup you won't want to miss. For example, occupational therapist Sarah Collins returns with practical strategies for executive function and sensory processing—think sensory diets that fit real lives, smoother transitions, and routines that build independence without battles.We go deep on writing and thinking with Andrew Pudewa, exploring how background knowledge fuels expression and how breaking skills into tiny steps wires stronger pathways. Expect concrete takeaways for reluctant writers, from copywork and oral narration to deliberate practice that sticks. Scientist and autism expert Dr. Teresa Lyons brings a sharp, evidence-first lens to epigenetics, nutrition, and supplements, cutting through social media noise so you can make decisions with clarity and care.You'll also get a no-nonsense guide to choosing methods and reading curricula by fit, not hype—what each approach does well, where the gaps are, and how to supplement at home. We tackle technology and the brain with balanced guardrails: when screens help, when they hinder, and how to protect attention, sleep, and deep work. And we widen the lens with survivalist Timber Cleghorn on fear, faith, and resilience, connecting outdoor grit to everyday parenting courage.We're back to weekly drops, launching a monthly newsletter packed with free PDFs and guides, and hitting conferences across the country to meet you in person. Subscribe now, share with a friend who needs practical hope, and leave a quick review to help more parents find tools that work. What topic should we tackle next? Email us at BrainyMoms@gmail.comABOUT US:The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore. Dr. Amy and her co-host Sandy Zamalis (& sometimes Dr. Jody Jedlicka or Teri Miller, MS PSY) have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media! CONNECT WITH US:Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

Send us a textWhat should students actually be doing, saying, and thinking in math class? In this episode, I break down this essential question and shifts the focus away from pacing guides, tests, and compliance—and back to student thinking. If you want math class to feel alive, engaging, and meaningful, this conversation sets the stage.So how do we make this happen consistently? The answer isn't more strategies or better worksheets—it's a routine. This segment breaks down how Word Problem Workshop provides a predictable structure (Launch, Grapple, Share, Discuss, Reflect) that reliably gets students doing, talking, and thinking about math without relying on scripted lessons or high-level curriculum materials.

SpaceX flew Starship five times in 2025. The first three flights lost their ships during ascent. A fourth ship exploded on the test stand. Then Flights 10 and 11 succeeded, proving Block 2 works. Meanwhile, SpaceX is constructing Giga Bays in Texas and Florida to build 80-meter Block 4 boosters, preparing five launch pads across two states, and developing barge transport to ship vehicles from Starbase to Kennedy Space Center. Flight 12 with Block 3 hardware is next.

Siqi was the CEO of a hot startup doing $20M a year. Then COVID hit. Overnight, revenue went to zero. He had to lay off 95% of his staff. In the chaos of trying to save the company using broken spreadsheets, he found his next big idea: Runway.But the path wasn't a straight line. Siqi spent four years building the product before fully launching. In this episode, he breaks down why product taste matters more than A/B testing, and the insane viral launch strategy that overwhelmed his sales team and generated $1M ARR in a single month.Why You Should ListenHow a viral marketing campaign added $1M ARR in just 30 days.Why "user love" is a trap.Why it took 4 years of building in the dark to create the "Figma for Finance."How to mentally survive losing 95% of your revenue and staff overnight.Why startups are a test of stamina, not intelligence.Keywordsstartup podcast, startup podcast for founders, product market fit, viral marketing, fintech, financial modeling, finding pmf, startup growth, founder stories, Siqi Chen00:00:00 Intro00:04:09 The COVID Crash: From $20M to $0 ARR00:20:36 The V1 Trap: Great UI, Zero Willingness to Pay00:36:25 The 4 Year Build: Comparing to Figma and Notion00:46:53 The Viral Time Locked Jacket Launch00:53:04 Adding 1M ARR in 30 Days00:53:45 The PMF MomentSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupDaniel Rotman built Pretty Litter into a $300M+ revenue juggernaut by doing something most founders won't: going all-in on an unsexy product. In this episode, he breaks down how a single innovation in kitty litter unlocked a billion-dollar outcome—with just $1M raised and a 12-person team.For DTC founders scaling from 7 to 9 figures...How to win in overlooked categories (and why sexy products attract deadly competition)Why kitty litter was the perfect subscription productThe secret to high-margin DTC logistics (and how silica unlocked DTC viability)Daniel's media buying strategy in year 1 that drove $750K soloHow Pretty Litter used smart ops, lean hiring, and brand positioning to build a moatWho this is for: Founders, growth leads, and marketers looking to scale profitably and avoid the DTC hype trapsWhat to steal:The underdog category playbookRetention-driven brand buildingThe ops strategy behind $300M revenue and 12 employees#DTCGrowth #SubscriptionBusiness #RetentionMarketing #BootstrapStartup #EcommerceStrategy #ConsumerBrands #FoundersJourney #LeanStartup #ProductInnovation #BrandBuilding #UnsexyProducts #ScalingUp #StartupExit #PetCareIndustry #MarketingTactics00:00 – Introduction: The Power of Unsexy Products 04:41 – The Loss That Sparked Pretty Litter 16:41 – The Health Monitoring Breakthrough 20:25 – From Idea to Launch in 6 Months 23:44 – $750K Year One, Solo Founder 25:33 – Why Daniel Said No to VC 30:20 – Year-by-Year Revenue Growth to $300M+ 36:00 – How Unsexy Built a Moat and Killed the CopycatsSubscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletter

In this week's POSC Podcast, Pastor Putnam launches a faith-stretching vision for 2026 with a clear and compelling mandate: Just Reach One—because one is worth it. Drawing from Luke 15 and other Gospel accounts, this message centers on the heart of Jesus for individuals, reminding us that crowds never distracted Him from the value of a single soul. With conviction and pastoral clarity, Pastor Putnam challenges the modern obsession with numbers, popularity, and platforms, emphasizing that Jesus was never impressed by crowds—He was moved by people. From the lost sheep in the wilderness, to the Samaritan woman at the well, to the demon-possessed man delivered after a stormy crossing, Scripture repeatedly reveals a Savior who stops, goes out of His way, and pays any cost to reach just one person. This episode calls the church beyond Sunday services and programs into lifestyle evangelism—a daily, personal obedience flowing out of a surrendered relationship with Jesus Christ. Evangelism, Pastor Putnam explains, is not a title, a microphone, or a method; its availability. While only God can save, heal, and transform, every believer has a responsibility to go, to love, and to reach. As heaven celebrates one repentant sinner, this message invites each listener to align their priorities with heaven's joy. Whether it's a neighbor, coworker, family member, or stranger, God is still asking His people to leave the 99 and pursue the one who matters deeply to Him. This sermon will stir your faith, challenge your comfort, and refocus your mission—because the world is reached one conversation, one prayer, and one act of obedience at a time. One is worth it. To hear more about what God is doing in Sheboygan County and beyond, visit us at posc.church.

"Send me a text"To learn more about the group coaching click here: https://creativethirst.com/group/ You've got your supplement manufacturer lined up, your ingredients sourced, your packaging designed. You think you're ready to launch. But you're building on quicksand.Most supplement founders obsess over the wrong things pre-launch. They focus on COGs, fulfillment partners, SKU count, and pricing strategy while completely ignoring the one thing that actually determines success: supplement buying psychology.In this episode, you'll discover why supplements don't sell like other products, what the "dual-mind problem" is and why it changes everything about how you market, and the four forces (Desire, Hope, Trust, and Belief) that drive every supplement purchase.If you're pre-launch or early stage and your conversion rates are terrible despite having a great product, this episode reveals the foundation you're missing. Because you're not in the supplement business. You're in the supplement buying psychology business.To learn more about the group coaching click here: https://creativethirst.com/group/ If you're interested in working with me and my team to improve your supplement business. You can learn more at my website https://creativethirst.com Click here to grab your copy of the Health Supplement Ad Swipe Guide. Discover what really works in funnel marketing Need help increasing sales on your own? Click here Stuck at $1 - $5M in revenue? Click Here Case Study on how Creative Thirst added over $200,000 for one supplement brand

2026 is officially the year of the blockbuster. Eammonn Dignam breaks down the essential release dates, starting with Resident Evil Requiem on February 27, 2026, featuring the return of Leon S. Kennedy and newcomer Grace Ashcroft. We look at 007 First Light, the James Bond origin story from the developers of Hitman, which has been delayed to May 27, 2026. Finally, we discuss the juggernaut: Grand Theft Auto VI, locked in for November 19, 2026. Plus, the silver screen is getting a gaming takeover with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Mortal Kombat II, and Street Fighter all hitting theaters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SILICON VALLEY KINGMAKER Colleague Keach Hagey, The Optimist. At Stanford, Altman co-founded Loopt, a location-sharing app that won him a meeting with Steve Jobs and a spot in the App Store launch. While Loopt was not a commercial success, the experience taught Altman that his true talent lay in investing and spotting future trends rather than coding. He eventually succeeded Paul Graham as president of Y Combinator, becoming a powerful figure in Silicon Valley who could convince skeptics like Peter Thiel to back his visions. NUMBER 15 SEPTEMBER 1952

THE FATAL 1930 LAUNCH AND INEVITABLE TRAGEDY Colleague S.C. Gwynne. Gwynne argues that the fatal 1930 launch was rushed so Thompson could arrive in India as the new Viceroy and return for an imperial conference. Despite warnings about the rotting cover and storms, the ship flew too low, leading to a tragedy Gwynne characterizes as inevitable. NUMBER 4

GS#468 December 23, 2014 As we begin our 21st year of the Golf Smarter podcast, we go back to the episode that kicked off our 10th.  Jamie Zimron changes the conversation from the mental aspect of improvement to the physical. What's more important to a successful golf swing, lower body movement or upper body? Strength or flexibility?If you have a question about whether or not Fred is using any of the methods, equipment or apps we've discussed, or if you'd like to share a comment about what you've heard in this or any other episode, please write because Fred will get back to you. Either write to golfsmarterpodcast@gmail.com or click on the Hey Fred button, at golfsmarter.com

Ron Garret left JPL for a 100-person startup he'd just discovered on Usenet. Four a.m. alarms. Burbank to San Jose on Southwest. A rented room in Susan Wojcicki's house. He expected the search engine engineering and instead he got asked to build ad serving. In Java and with JSPs and no syntax highlighting and no delimiter balancing. Launch week was a stampede and then a window on his screen fills with declines. Numbers he can't explain. Some of them look… real. How do you even name what's happening?    This episode is about creating Google AdWords. Building the machine that prints money, while trying not to get crushed in the gears. Episode Page Support The Show Subscribe To The Podcast Join The Newsletter  

Kick off the new year with intention and clarity.As we wave goodbye to 2025 and step boldly into 2026, Mack & Ria Story guide you through a reflective exercise designed to help you audit your habits, celebrate your wins, and set the stage for transformative change.With a common sense approach, this episode breaks down five essential questions to help you declutter your life, amplify what works, and embrace new possibilities. This 30-minute session will provide you with a mental roadmap to help you get more out of the year ahead.#motivation #inspiration #reflection #success #successtips

Dr. Tom Curran testifies to the fruits of his word from last year, “farewell.” Tom shares quotes inspiring his launch into the New Year on topics, such as: acknowledging the must-do, finding direction and being transformed.

Hey guys, the newest episode of the year is the last episode we recorded last year! Dylan joins Chris and TL as they talk about their favorite launches, and talk more about Metroid and Token Fighters. 

Before setting your 2026 business goals, you need to answer this question so that you work towards a business you actually love and achieves YOUR definition of success. READ MORE HERE✅ GET MY ULTIMATE LIST of of all my recommended TOOLS & APPS HERE! -FREE IKIGAI GUIDE (to discover your business purpose) -16-Step BUSINESS STARTER'S CHECKLIST -FREE VIDEO MASTERCLASS: Stop Flailing & Start Growing!

Send me a Text Message!In this episode, Mike and Angie come in hot with the hard launch of Angie Kitko. After a year that stripped everything down to the studs — financially, emotionally, spiritually — they're stepping into 2026 with clarity, courage, and co-leadership. This conversation marks the first in a ten-part series documenting their collapse, rebirth, and return to power. If you've ever lost everything and wondered what's next, this series is your mirror.Key Takeaways2025 Was a Spiritual Battleground It was a year of contraction, endings, and ego death — personally and collectively.2026 Is the Year of the Fire Horse It's a 1-year in numerology — a fresh start, a new beginning, and the perfect energy to rise.Angie's Voice Is No Longer Optional What used to be whispers behind the scenes is now full-on leadership. The lid's off.Depth Over Reach Is the New Metric They're not here to scale — they're here to transform, one soul at a time.This Podcast Series Is a Rebirth This is part 1 of a 10-part journey through collapse, repair, awakening, and emergence.Notable Quotes“2025 was a battleground… she curb-stomped a bunch of bitches.”“We're teaching on a much smaller scale — but we're teaching more deeply and more powerfully.”“You're the only person I've ever felt the kind of love from that I feel from animals.”“If money controls your nervous system, you're money's bitch.”“This is the hard launch of Angie Kitko.”Call to Action

The discussion centers on the complexity of modern marketing and the need to simplify it. Scott emphasizes the importance of human connection and storytelling over technical jargon. They argue that overcomplicating marketing with tech stacks and AI-generated content can dilute the human element, leading to inefficiency and reduced trust. Molly agrees, highlighting the need for a well-defined marketing message and strategic tech use. They stress the importance of maintaining a personal touch and being nimble, especially for smaller companies. The conversation concludes with a call to focus on human-centric marketing to build trust and achieve success. Action Items [ ] Use an AI/program to summarize this Ask Molly conversation and produce a concise summary of key points[ ] Publish another Ask Molly episode shortly and notify listeners when it is available[ ] Launch and publish the new podcast series 'Business Beatitudes' and promote it to listeners Outline Simplifying Marketing Complexity Scott introduces the podcast, emphasizing the goal of simplifying marketing to help companies succeed.Scott expresses frustration with the complexity of marketing conversations, likening it to needing a decoder ring.The discussion highlights the overwhelming amount of information and the tendency to ignore it due to inundation.Scott stresses the importance of connecting with individuals through the principles of know, like, and trust. The Role of Human Element in Marketing Scott argues that marketing should be simplified to focus on personal connections and human elements.The conversation touches on the importance of storytelling and creating a personal brand for companies.Scott believes that the market depends on companies to succeed and that simplifying marketing can lead to tremendous success.The discussion emphasizes the need for companies to be human and relatable in their marketing efforts. Challenges of Modern Marketing Technologies Scott and Molly discuss the complexity of the marketing tech stack and its impact on progress.Molly explains how the focus on technology can lead to neglecting the core marketing message and customer engagement.The conversation highlights the inefficiency of spending too much time on technology integration without making progress in marketing.Molly suggests that companies should focus on specific and strategic technology purchases and address needs as they arise. Balancing Technology and Human Touch Scott and Molly discuss the importance of maintaining a balance between technology and human interaction in marketing.Molly emphasizes the need for a well-defined marketing message and foundation to avoid chaos and inefficiency.The conversation touches on the challenges of working with large companies and their slower decision-making processes.Scott and Molly agree that smaller companies have an advantage in being nimble and quick to implement changes. Impact of AI on Marketing Scott and Molly discuss the role of AI in marketing and its potential to remove the human element.Molly shares an example of how AI can quickly generate marketing content but lacks the personal touch.The conversation highlights the importance of editing and personalizing AI-generated content to maintain authenticity.Scott expresses concern that over-reliance on AI could lead to a lack of trust and engagement from customers. The Importance of Human Connection in Marketing Scott and Molly agree that the human element is crucial in marketing and should not be replaced by technology.The...

STARSHIP: THE FULLY REUSABLE ARCHITECTURE FOR MARS Colleague Eric Berger. At Boca Chica, Texas, SpaceX transformed a swamp into "Starbase," a modern rocket factory for the Starship and Super Heavy launch system. Starship represents the endgame of Musk's vision: a fully reusable rocket larger than the Saturn V, designed to be caught by "chopstick" arms on the launch tower to eliminate landing legs and speed up reuse. The plan involves orbital refueling and launching fleets of ships every two years to transport massive amounts of cargo, serving as a "Grand Central Station" for deep space colonization. NUMBER 8 1921 FRANCE