Podcast appearances and mentions of Liberty Bell

Vandaag bespreken we het boek Over vrijheid van Timothy Snyder. We kregen deze Nederlandse vertaling van de uitgever Balans. Dank je wel. Wat een geweldig boek. Nadat we eerder het boek Over tierannie van Snyder lazen en hebben besproken was dit boek andere koek. Dit boek van 380 pagina's koste meer moeite om te lezen door de andere stijl, maar dat maakte het zeker geen slechter boek. Door het boek ben ik me gaan realiseren hoe belangrijk vrijheid is en wat dit inhoud voor verschillende mensen. Verder leerde ik het belangrijke verschil tussen negatieve en positieve vrijheid, vrijheid van vs vrijheid om. Hierbij erken ik dat ik zelf veel geluk heb gehad met de hoeveel vrijheid die ik mijn leven heb gekregen, door de plek waar en de tijd waarin ik ben geboren. Timonthy Snyder is hoogleraar geschiedenis aan Yale en medewerkers van het Instituut voor Menswetenschappen in Wenen. Door zijn onderzoek van Duitsland in de tweede wereldoorlog en de USSR, zijn tijd die hij verbleef in Oekranie, Polen en Rusland geeft hij interessante ervaringen uit de praktijk en vergelijkt dit regelmatig met de toestand en het effect op de VS. Hierbij komt de VS er meestal niet positief uit. Het boek is opgebouwd rondom de vijf elementen die voor Snyder cruciaal zijn voor vrijheid van de mens. Inleiding: Vrijheid Soevereiniteit Onvoorspelbaarheid Mobiliteit Feitelijkheid Solidariteit Besluit: Bestuur Voorwoord Vrijheid is niet alleen de afwezigheid van het kwade, maar de aanwezigheid van het goede. Met dit boek probeert Snyder om vrijheid te definiëren. Of we vrij zijn of wordden, hangt vooral af van de daden van anderen. soevereiniteit - aangeleerde vermogen om keuzes te maken; onvoorspelbaarheid - de kracht om natuurlijke regelmatigheden in te zetten voor persoonlijk doeleinden; mobiliteit - het vermogen om je op basis van bepaalde waarden door ruimte en tijd te bewegen; feitelijkheid - de mogelijkheid om grip te krijgen op de wereld en haar te veranderen; solidariteit - de erkenning dat iedereen recht heeft op vrijheid. Een soeverein persoon combineert zelfgekozen waarde met de buitenwereld om iets nieuws te scheppen. Denkers: Frantz Fanon, Vaclav Havel, Leszak Kolakowski, Edith Stein en Simone Weil. Inleiding: Vrijheid Het hoofdstuk begint met een verhaal over de Liberty Bell. Snyder laat zien dat vrijheid niet hetzelfde is als een overheid die zich nergens mee mag bemoeien. Het inruilen van vrijheid voor veiligheid, met meer toezicht en bewaking. Op p41 wordt oligarchische overwinning van Trump genoemd, met hulp van Poetin en geld (te weinig belasting betalen op de erfenis). Vrijheid van meningsuiting is ook positief, een persoonlijke keuze. Vrije wil is een kwestie van karakter. Soevereiniteit Het verschil tussen Leib en Körper (Edith Stein - Eerste Wereldoorlog) We vergaren zelf kennis wanneer we anderen erkennen. Politieke systemen die op gericht zijn op vrijheid om doen het beter dan die gericht zijn op vrijheid van. p60 Het lichaam zien als bron van winst (de gezondheidszorg in de VS). Stein het belang van empathie om vrij te zijn. Vrijheid begint met soevereiniteit en soevereiniteit heeft met lichamen te maken. Iedere vrije volwassene heeft als kind veelvuldig hulp gehad. Moederschap hoort bij vrijheid. Onvoorspelbaarheid Havel: onvrijheid staat gelijk aan voorspelbaarheid. Door samen te werken scheppen mensen onvoorspelbaarheid en vreugde in de wereld. Vrije mensen zijn voorspelbaar voor zichzelf, maar onvoorspelbaar voor autoriteiten en machines. Machines worden gebouwd voor waarschijnlijkheid en maken mensen onvrij. De libertariërs uit Silicon Valley houden ons een nieuwe wereld voor, om dan te zeggen dat er geen alternatieven zijn (Ai), en dat we daarmee ons leven naar een scherm hebben verplaatst. Aristoteles: wanneer we oordelen over welke waarde van toepassing is in welke situatie, dan oen we wat juist is.

Hello everyone and welcome to the WDW Mainstreet podcast. Pull up your stool with John and Doug as they discuss all of the latest news from around Walt Disney World and their worlds. John headed to Walt Disney World and gave us a little update. Doug headed down to the Borgata in Atlantic City and had a wonderful dinner at Angeline. The big news is Muppets is closing for good, how are the guys feeling about it? Pizza Rizzo also closing and we also lost Mama Melrose sad. Other stories DVC is also making changes, what are the guy's thoughts?  Piston Peak National Park is on its way and the sad closing of Tom Sawyer's Island, and the beautiful Liberty Bell are both leaving sadly. GEO 82 Lounge opens, New Food and Drinks around Animal Kingdom, plus so much more. So, grab yourself a cold one, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Coffee Talks, Liberty Bell Sketches, and Designing with PurposeIn this episode, Kurt and Jamie dive into various topics from their morning coffee routines to architectural sketches of the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia. They discuss the importance of site orientation, design interpretation, and the evolving role of architects in preserving heritage while embracing innovation. The duo also reflects on their experiences with students and share insights on meaningful architectural design.00:00 Launching the Rocket00:38 Jamie's Rant01:34 Coffee Talk08:11 Current Events and COAD Zine12:05 Sketch Time: Liberty Bell Center24:09 Architectural Reflections and Preservation30:32 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsSend Feedback :) Support the showBuy some Coffee! Support the Show!https://ko-fi.com/coffeesketchpodcast/shop Our Links Follow Jamie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/falloutstudio/ Follow Kurt on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kurtneiswender/ Kurt's Practice - https://www.instagram.com/urbancolabarchitecture/ Coffee Sketch on Twitter - https://twitter.com/coffeesketch Jamie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/falloutstudio Kurt on Twitter - https://twitter.com/kurtneiswender

In this segment, I examine the notion that there was something remarkably Christian about America's founding era. Last week, I fact-checked Charlie Kirk's viral video defense of the belief that America was founded as a Christian nation in the legal sense. Most of what Kirk had to say was irrelevant or incorrect. Today, I consider an overview of moral and religious failings during the founding era. Along with guests Jemar Tisby, Mark Noll, George Marsden, Caleb Campbell, and Aaron Cowan, I contradict Charlie Kirk's call to return to America's Christian roots. In fact, those roots don't seem very Christian when one considers the injustice and atrocities throughout the historical record.From the segment: "With slavery, treachery, mass murder, betrayal and theft embedded in the legacy of the nation, what does it matter how many times a Supreme Being is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence or if the Liberty Bell has Leviticus on it?"Written and produced by Warren ThrockmortonMusic provided by Earl's Taco Shack, Jonathan Swaim, and Jonus Fair  

Hey Slaycaters, get ready for a truly disorienting case that you won't soon forget.  When Judith Lois Bradford Smith accompanied her husband, Jeff, to a pharmaceutical conference in Philadelphia the plan was to mix business with pleasure.   While Jeff attended the conference, Judith was to enjoy a day of sightseeing in Philly, including visits to Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell.  But when it was time to meet back up — Judith was nowhere to be found.  Thus begins a case that starts as a mysterious vanishing and ends up as a homicide over 600 miles away in North Carolina.   We'll save the gory details and our theories as to what happened for the show… but just know, there's a lot of bad folks out there and beware!  As always, thanks for Slaycating with us and stay safe out in them streets! Every week you are not a subscriber, you're getting LESS Kim. You know you want Kim's weekly bonus episodes about cases, life's craziness, and more, don't you? And ad-free listening?  Subscribe to SLAYCATION PLUS and get MORE KIM and LESS ADS for less than the cost of a skein a yarn for the whole month - and get a 7-day free trial - in Apple Podcasts or Spotify or ⁠⁠https://plus.slaycation.wtf/supporters/pricing⁠⁠  Are you seeing the shenanigans at our special SLAYCATERS ONLY group? Interact with Adam, Kim and Jerry, get more info on mysterious cases, and  behind-the-scenes stories, photos, and more from your favorite true crime Throuple at FACEBOOK GROUP: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/SlaycatersOnly Are you rocking your Vay-Slay merch?  Ready for a killer summer?  Top quality ‘Pack Your Body Bags" tote bags, as well as Slaycation T-shirts, towels, sandals, fanny packs, stickers and more available at:  ⁠⁠https://plus.slaycation.wtf/collections/all⁠⁠ Want to learn more about the show and host? ⁠⁠www.slaycation.wtf⁠⁠ EMAIL:  info@slaycation.wtf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities.5 Vocabulary WordsAttraction (noun): A feature or place that draws visitors due to its interesting or enjoyable qualities. Example Sentences: Disneyland is a major attraction for families seeking entertainment and adventure.The local zoo is a popular attraction for those interested in wildlife and conservation.Historical tours of the city's old district are a favorite attraction for history enthusiasts.Historical Site (noun phrase): A location that holds historical significance due to past events or historical figures associated with it.Example Sentences: The Gettysburg battlefield is a historical site where a pivotal Civil War battle took place.Visiting historical sites like Colonial Williamsburg offers a glimpse into life during the 18th century.The Liberty Bell is a historical site representing American independence and freedom.Scenic (adjective): Providing or relating to attractive views or landscapes, often associated with natural beauty. Example Sentences: The scenic drive through the Rocky Mountains offers breathtaking views of rugged terrain and wildlife.Many tourists visit the coast for its scenic beaches and picturesque sunsets.The park's scenic overlooks provide excellent spots for photography and enjoying the natural surroundings.Preservation (noun): The act of maintaining and protecting historical sites, landmarks, or natural resources to ensure they remain intact for future generations.Example Sentences: The preservation of historic buildings in downtown is crucial for maintaining the city's heritage.Environmental organizations focus on the preservation of national parks and endangered species.Efforts in the preservation of cultural artifacts help educate the public about past civilizations.Iconic (adjective): Widely recognized and admired as a representative symbol of a particular place or concept.Example Sentences: The Hollywood Sign is an iconic symbol of the entertainment industry and Los Angeles.The Lincoln Memorial is an iconic landmark that represents the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.The Chicago Bean, officially known as Cloud Gate, has become an iconic piece of public art in Millennium Park.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsThe United States boasts a diverse array of iconic landmarks and tourist destinations that captivate visitors from around the world. From the towering skyscrapers of New York City to the serene beauty of the Grand Canyon, the country offers something for everyone. Historical sites, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Lincoln Memorial, stand as testaments to America's rich heritage. Preservation efforts ensure that these treasures remain intact for future generations to appreciate. Scenic wonders, including the Pacific Coast Highway and the Rocky Mountains, provide breathtaking backdrops for outdoor adventures. These attractions not only draw millions of tourists each year but also serve as symbols of America's iconic identity and culture.If you want to sign up for the free daily English vocabulary newsletter, go towww.daily

Buckle up for another unhinged ride with the Tower Gang crew! This week, we dive headfirst into the Misfit Patriot meltdown—crypto scams, gay dating profiles, and a Liberty Bell tattoo that's pure nightmare fuel. Is he an op or just a grift genius? We've got theories. Then, Toad's doppelgänger (a satanic snack reviewer with buckteeth) steals the show—purple laces, Baphomet ratings, and a milk soda taste test that's oddly hypnotic. Plus, we decode Black Twitter rants, marvel at bamboo toilet paper, and question why Michelle Obama's podcast flopped harder than a lead balloon. Oh, and Toad's dick saga? You'll wish you could unhear it.JOIN THE PATREON FOR AD FREE & BONUS CONTENT (PRE AND POST SHOW)Tower Gang | The REAL most offensive podcast on the internet! | Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TowerGangNEW RACIST MERCH WEEKLY!Tower Gang | Racist Merch - TopLobsta.com https://www.toplobsta.com/pages/towergangFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:TOWER GANG POD:Tower Gang / Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TowerGangTower Gang / YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@towergangpodTower Gang / Rumble https://rumble.com/c/TowerGangPod(@TowerGangPod) / X https://x.com/TowerGangPod(@towergangpodcast) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/towergangpodcast/TowerGangLayneEdits / Rumble https://rumble.com/user/TowerGangLayneEditsCLINT RUSSELL:(@LibertyLockPod) / X https://x.com/LibertyLockPod(@libertylockdown) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/libertylockdown/Liberty Lockdown / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/LibertyLockdownLiberty Lockdown / Merch - TopLobsta.com https://www.toplobsta.com/pages/liberty-lockdownTOPLOBSTA:(@TopLobsta) / X https://x.com/TopLobsta(@TopLobsta) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/toplobsta/TopLobsta.com / Merch https://www.toplobsta.com/Nephilim Death Squad / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NephilimDeathSquadNephilimDeathSquad / Rumble https://rumble.com/user/NephilimDeathSquadJOSE GALISON:(@TowerGangJose) / X https://x.com/TowerGangJose(@jose.galison) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jose.galison/No Way, Jose! / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@nowayjose2020No Way, Jose! / Rumble https://rumble.com/c/NoWayJoseTOAD:(@TowerGangToad) / X https://x.com/TowerGangToadBettor Off Dead - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OffDeadBettorToad | All Links https://linktr.ee/towergangtoadCOLE: (@TowerGangCole) / X https://x.com/TowerGangColeTYLER:LPR / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastReviewLibertarian Podcast Review / Rumble https://rumble.com/c/LPRpod review (@tylerjanke) / X https://x.com/tylerjankeLAYNE:Layney

Buckle up for another unhinged ride with the Tower Gang crew! This week, we dive headfirst into the Misfit Patriot meltdown—crypto scams, gay dating profiles, and a Liberty Bell tattoo that's pure nightmare fuel. Is he an op or just a grift genius? We've got theories. Then, Toad's doppelgänger (a satanic snack reviewer with buckteeth) steals the show—purple laces, Baphomet ratings, and a milk soda taste test that's oddly hypnotic. Plus, we decode Black Twitter rants, marvel at bamboo toilet paper, and question why Michelle Obama's podcast flopped harder than a lead balloon. Oh, and Toad's dick saga? You'll wish you could unhear it.JOIN THE PATREON FOR AD FREE & BONUS CONTENT (PRE AND POST SHOW)Tower Gang | The REAL most offensive podcast on the internet! | Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TowerGangNEW RACIST MERCH WEEKLY!Tower Gang | Racist Merch - TopLobsta.com https://www.toplobsta.com/pages/towergangFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:TOWER GANG POD:Tower Gang / Patreon https://www.patreon.com/TowerGangTower Gang / YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@towergangpodTower Gang / Rumble https://rumble.com/c/TowerGangPod(@TowerGangPod) / X https://x.com/TowerGangPod(@towergangpodcast) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/towergangpodcast/TowerGangLayneEdits / Rumble https://rumble.com/user/TowerGangLayneEditsCLINT RUSSELL:(@LibertyLockPod) / X https://x.com/LibertyLockPod(@libertylockdown) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/libertylockdown/Liberty Lockdown / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/LibertyLockdownLiberty Lockdown / Merch - TopLobsta.com https://www.toplobsta.com/pages/liberty-lockdownTOPLOBSTA:(@TopLobsta) / X https://x.com/TopLobsta(@TopLobsta) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/toplobsta/TopLobsta.com / Merch https://www.toplobsta.com/Nephilim Death Squad / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@NephilimDeathSquadNephilimDeathSquad / Rumble https://rumble.com/user/NephilimDeathSquadJOSE GALISON:(@TowerGangJose) / X https://x.com/TowerGangJose(@jose.galison) / Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jose.galison/No Way, Jose! / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@nowayjose2020No Way, Jose! / Rumble https://rumble.com/c/NoWayJoseTOAD:(@TowerGangToad) / X https://x.com/TowerGangToadBettor Off Dead - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OffDeadBettorToad | All Links https://linktr.ee/towergangtoadCOLE: (@TowerGangCole) / X https://x.com/TowerGangColeTYLER:LPR / YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@PodcastReviewLibertarian Podcast Review / Rumble https://rumble.com/c/LPRpod review (@tylerjanke) / X https://x.com/tylerjankeLAYNE:Layney

This week… Elected officials took steps towards more reliable transportation for both buses and ferries. Big changes are coming to one of Seattle’s oldest parks. And a mysterious heist played out in north Seattle this weekend, when someone tried to steal a replica of the Liberty Bell. Arts reporter Jas Keimig and KUOW Director of Community Engagement Zaki Hamid are here to break down the week. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Funeral Service Insider, we discuss the Succession Planning Roundtable, a preview of the next column from Steve Lang, and get updates on the continued push to legalize alkaline hydrolysis in Indiana. Mishandled remains in Illinois, and unclaimed remains sorted. A creative columbarium initiative in Nebraska and a Liberty Bell lost and found.   

Taco Bell Is the Most Creative Fast Food Restaurant—But At What Cost? Taco Bell is the fast-food chain that isn't afraid to get weird. Over the years, they've served up bold (and sometimes questionable) menu items like the Naked Chicken Chalupa, the Firecracker Burrito, and even a Kit Kat Quesadilla. But alongside its reputation for creativity, Taco Bell has a messy history—food recalls, bizarre marketing stunts, and legal battles that only Taco Bell could pull off. In this episode, comedian Priya Pappu joins me to unpack the history of America's most inventive fast-food chain. We dive into how Taco Bell was founded, its strangest discontinued items, its failed upscale spin-off, and the time it got sued for serving horse meat in Europe (yikes). We also check Yelp reviews for the Taco Bell we visited—because people have some thoughts. Also, VyVy Nguyen is back and here to read a fan-submitted What's Going On Over There from the show's Discord server! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to WATCH this episode! IN THIS EPISODE: ✔️ Taco Bell's Origins – Started by a guy named Bell, but not a taco in sight ✔️ The Strangest Menu Items – From Cheetos burritos to Pop Rocks-style tacos ✔️ Marketing Stunts & PR Disasters – They tried to “buy” the Liberty Bell?? ✔️ Healthier Than You Think? – The surprising facts about Taco Bell's menu ✔️ Lawsuits & Recalls – E. coli outbreaks, metal shavings, & food safety scares ✔️ Yelp Chaos – Unhinged customer reviews of the Taco Bell we ate at

3pm: John’s Having Dinner with Tom Tonight // Replica of Liberty Bell worth $100k found after theft from Seattle cemetery // History of the original liberty bell // The Tinder Box of NATO Expansion // John calls the Metropolitan Grill to see if his picture is still on the wall

Luke and Andrew have a big update on the Liberty Bell replica that was stolen from Andrew's neighborhood. They also discuss some of the hottest acts coming soon to their local casino and the bad commercials that promote them. Plus, Luke is rolling the dice with a new barbershop or possibly hair salon. 

Honda has decided to build its next civic in the United States due to Trump’s tariffs. A parking enforcement officer in Seattle recovered a replica of the Liberty Bell that is worth a fortune. // LongForm: GUEST: Local business owner Dave Meinert // Quick Hit: Washington State Rep. Jim Walsh is calling on the DOJ to investigate Washington’s voter roles.

After Romania, one night in Rome.By FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.When our ancestor committed the first murder, was it rage, or fear that drove them to the deed?(Evening near the Metropole, Roma, Italia)"I think you've done well," Riki congratulated me as she terminated her phone call. Word had come down that her replacement was on the way. Our profile had been updated back at State and they clearly wanted to bring in the 'real professionals'. There also had been a miscommunication. I was far too stressed to be reasonable now.Some undeserving smuck was about to be at the receiving end of my wrath for no better reason than I was at my limit of accepting any further alterations to my life. In hindsight, I was being totally irrational. At that moment in time, I didn't care whose day I was ruining. Sometimes I can be a jerk and an idiot at the same time.The US State Department apparently thought I couldn't dictate who was, or wasn't, a member of 'Unit L', we now had our own designation within Javiera's expanding task-force. The government had a random name generator for this shit and we got the letter 'L'. Maybe that device didn't think we were going to last long enough to matter. Anyway, I took the phone and hit redial. Riki gave me an 'I'm puzzled' look."Who am I talking to?" I inquired."Ms, who are you?" he demanded, since my caller ID said Riki and, unless I used my high, squeaky voice, I obviously sounded like a guy."I'm Cáel Nyilas. Who is this?" I replied."I'm Bill A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. What seems to be the problem, Mr. Nyilas?" He was rather uptight about the call-back."Since we are working together, why don't you call me Cáel?" I politely requested. "I'll call you Willy.""My name is Bill, but you can call me Director Miller," he corrected me. "The reason for your call is?""It is Willy, or Dick; your choice," I countered. "I don't call my boss 'Director' and I worship the ground she walks on. You are not even in her league. Also, I've had bad experiences with guys named Bill which are too painful to explain right now."That was true. One was friend taking a shower and leaving me alone with his mother. The other was early on in my career when I confused a girl named Bonnie with her real name 'Bill'. I was my own personal 'The Crying Game'. I didn't handle that episode well."Besides, I didn't call to discuss name-calling. I want to know how many agents work for you.""What does that have to do with anything?" he grumbled."You are quick with the questions while painfully bereft of answers," I snorted. "Don't make me Google this too.""Over two thousand," he stopped being a total ass. "Is there anything else I can tell you that Miss Martin should have been able to tell you?" Ooops, Back to being an ass."Riki's being physically restrained from taking her phone back by some of my educationally-challenged, illegal alien, unskilled labor force of questionable loyalty," I outrageously lied. It was an odious habit of mine that I'd cultivated vigorously over the past few weeks. "Two thousand humans, thanks. Is Riki's replacement a guy, or a girl? Wait, who cares? Just send their picture and I'll let you know where to send their replacement.""Are you threatening my people?" he simmered."No. That would make me an uncooperative and nefarious nuisance," I evaded. "Of course, when a person sticks their hand into a functioning garbage disposal, you don't blame the device. You blame the moron who stuck their hand in." From the perspective of our relationship, I was the garbage disposal."That definitely sounds like a threat," he responded. He was going to stick his hand in anyway."Your inability to comprehend the nuances possible with the English language is not why I called and not something I feel I can educate you about, given my current time constraints. Just have one of your insipid flunkies send me the picture. I need to purchase duct tape and an out-of-the-way storage space," I informed him."By the way, in the spirit of legal chicanery, could you tell me how long it will take for Riki Martin's name to come back up in the rotation? Let's figure 36 hours between each hot-shot leaving DC and their eventual inability to return phone calls," I wanted to make sure he knew I was taunting his pompous self. (Me being pompous and unhelpful didn't cross my mind at that moment.)"Let me make myself clear, Mr. Nyilas," he repeated. "Not only can you not dictate terms to the US government, you are not even the team's designated leader." I wasn't? Fuck him. I had tons of useless members of the Alphabet Mafia in front of my name, all loudly proclaiming my numerous accolades.Of everyone on the team, I had the most: NOHIO (Number One House Ishara Official), HCIESI-NDI, (Havenstone Commercial Investments Executive Services' Intern -- New Directive Initiative, I didn't make that one up, I swear), MEH (Magyarorszag es Erdely Hercege) and UHAUL (Unpaid Honcho Assigned to Unit L). I liked that last one, so that was how I was going to sign off on all my reports now."First off, I AM in charge, Willy. Without me, there is no Unit L. I quit, and then what? In case you missed it, I can't be drafted or threatened by you. If you think you can replace me, please do so right now and let me get back to my life -- you know, the thing that actually puts money in my pocket.Besides, I am not refusing to take anyone you see fit to put on MY team. I'm just not going to tell you where I'm going to take them to. I suspect they are adults and can find their way home, eventually, Willy.""Mr. Nyilas, you are an unbelievably fortunate amateur and novice intellectual in a situation that demands experience and professionalism. It is time for you to step back and let the people who know what they are doing take over. Just play your part and we'll make sure you get due credit for following orders and behaving," he unleashed his fair-smelling bile."I am following your orders; your procedures dictate that a member of the State Department will be on this team," I kept my calm. "As one of the people who actually has experience with this situation, I'm letting you know how things work in the field. Every person you send will be misplaced, thus you will have to send someone else. Alerting you to the need to stay on top of your job -- sending someone else -- sounds to me like common sense advice in this circumstance.""That is not going to happen, Nyilas. If something happens, " he got out."Willy, duct tape is plentiful and cheap. Kidnapping -- thus hostage keeping -- is virtually a religion in Southern Italy. And though I am already wired into the local criminal underground, I'm just not going to be able to help you, or them. I'll make up some implausible excuses as the need arises. So now you know the score. The next move is yours," I smiled."The next words out of your mouth had better be 'I'll behave', or the State Department will revoke your passport and have stern words with the Republic of Ireland over your diplomatic status," Willy warned me."I'll behave," I fibbed. Riki snatched the phone out of my hand."Sir -- Director Miller, I want you to know I had nothing to do with Mr. Nyilas' tirade," Riki apologized. "He stole my phone.""I did." and "oww!" I hollered in the background. "She ground her heel into my instep. the fiery little minx." I was propping up her excuse because I owed her for verbally taking a dump on her boss, the ass-heap back in Romania. Riki punched me."Ms. Martin, do we need to reconsider your employment, or can we rely on you to re-organize Unit L before Ms. McCauley (her replacement) arrives?" Willy lectured."Director Miller, ""Call him Big Willy," I whispered to her. "He loves that 'Big Willy' style."This time she hit me in the thigh. My ballistic vest had gotten in the way of her first hit, but she was a quick learner."How can you know a song from 1997, yet not know that Russia invaded Georgia in 2008?" Riki put her hand over the phone and hissed at me."Ah," Pamela teased. "Somebody is a Will Smith fan." Riki looked away.I wasn't sure what to make of the Will Smith -- Ricky Martin combo forming in my mind. Will was one of my manly icons. Hey, he was a stud, scored numerous hotties in his film career and married Jada Pinkett Smith. What's not to love? Growing up, I wanted to be like Will Smith. When/if I ever finished growing up, I wanted to be like George Clooney."Director Miller," Riki tried again. "He's lying. From my personal observations and with supporting personality profiles provided by other members of the task force, I can guarantee you that Mr. Nyilas is unreliable and untrustworthy. Sir, I've watched Romani males hide their wallets and their daughters when he walks by." Okay, wasn't that last bit a lie?"that last bit a lie?es hide their wallets and their daughters when he walks by. provided by other members However, unless she has been cross-trained as a waitress at a gang-affiliated nightclub, a day-care worker for the criminally insane, plus consistently wins at Texas hold 'em, she's going to be out of her element here.""No sir, but Mr. Nyilas likes me, I'm not sure why," she glared at me. I poked her in the boob to help clarify the matter. Riki slapped my hand. Virginia punched me in the shoulder. I decided to poke Virginia in her ballistic-covered breast, hoping she was jealous for the attention. I was wrong. They both hit me again.Had this been sexual harassment, they would have hated this job and despised me. Since this was me being my painfully childish self, well, I was still annoying, but also adorable. Put it this way: if a woman could not only pepper spray a man making cat-calls at her, and was even encouraged to do so, wouldn't that de-stress the situation?"Director Miller, I don't want to stay on this assignment, yet I'd be remiss if I didn't explain some of the numerous pitfalls of working with Unit L. Every one of them is comfortable being a walking arsenal. I'm on my way to have a ballistic vest tailored for me because I'm the only one in the unit without one. I have no doubt that any of them could kill me with their bare hands in less than 5 seconds if they so desired," she explained."You would think they would want a more effective combatant with them," Miller grew icy, suspecting duplicity on Riki's part -- moron. She looked at me over the phone."Sir, I think they like me because I know I don't belong in a firefight. They can count on me to cower behind cover while the bullets are flying. That allows the rest to kill unimpeded by having to keep an eye on me," she said.Pause."One of them did show me how to recognize and start various grenades. She said if I was ever the last one alive, it would give me 'options'."Pause."Ms. Martin, don't cancel your flight back to DC yet. I'm going to give Ms. Castello a call to see what her assessment of the situation is," Willy allowed. "Good-bye.""I can't believe I talked him into making me stay with you people," Riki moaned.Our little caravan was slowing to a stop outside the Metropole Hotel. It was Hana's choice for a Roman meeting location. A restaurant and a hotel room, all in one location. Rachel and Wiesława were ahead of us, checking things out. Hana had informed us that the Illuminati had two people watching her. This was going to be my last bit of time with Rachel for a while.(Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch, )Two new members of House Ishara were on their way to Rome. They'd be joined by two members of the House Guard of Andraste from Britain. The two Isharans were the first members of the House Guard of Ishara in over a thousand years. I didn't expect them to be the martial equals of Rachel, or Charlotte. Not yet. And anyway, that didn't matter. What mattered to me was that they'd volunteered for the task and Buffy felt they were the best we had.Another nomadic pack of House Hylonome Amazons had taken in the traumatized Zola. She had to stay in Romanian until the authorities finished up her part of the investigation. A mixed group from House Živa and Ishara (led by Helena) would handle security for Professor Loma, his family and the Lovasz sisters during their trip to New York.Aliz, his wife, was officially in House Ishara's custody. That was my best play at making sure she avoided summary justice for her 'betrayal' of House Hylonome. The whole group would be handed over to House Epona as soon as the Romanians cleared them for foreign travel. It helped my case that Aliz appreciated my warnings about the danger that both families were in from House Illuyankamunus.The occult nitpicking that allowed me to leverage this maneuver was accomplished by me doing yet another rarely done feat. In the name of Alkonyka Lovasz, House Ishara was sponsoring a new Amazon house. I could testify to the existence and matronage of the Goddess SzélAnya (without her permission), which was one of the stepping stones for acceptance.Vincent was going to stay in Germany for two days, then he was off to his home and daughters in Arlington Virginia, with a long convalescence and a rumored promotion. Mona and Tiger Lily were already on their way to New York as honor guard for Charlotte's body, courtesy of the US Air Force. The Amazons needed the USAF to do it because that was the only way we could get the Romanians to release her body.The Hylonome dead, they would be buried in a private plot after all the autopsies were done. I was absolutely sure the Hylonome would steal the bodies in due time and give them a 'proper' burial. Of the Mycenaeans, Red and one of his buddies still remained at large. Of Ajax's half-brother, Teucer, and the other previously wounded Greek warrior, there was no sign. Kwen and the other POWs remained in Romania to face a laundry list of charges. Her fate was unknown to me.My bodyguard was reduced, yet no one minded. The twin reasoning was that the Black Hand in Italy would provide some protection for me. The other was that I was in the birthplace of the Condottieri. Selena's sources strongly suspected that their HQ was close to Rome itself. I could have had more security by recruiting among the 'natives'.Various sources, some inside Italy, had suggested that the Carabinieri, Italy's military police force, had 'offered' to provide some protection. That was prompted by events surrounding my visits to Budapest  and  Mindszent, Hungary and the 'action' south of Miercurea Ciuc, Romania (no one wanted to call it a battle, even though the fight involved over 1000 Romanian Land Forces troops and half a squadron of the Romanian Air Force).My refusal of the offer caused a 'disruption'. This was a polite way of saying the Italians did not want me to enter their country. I wasn't being a jerk this time. Selena and Aunt Briana were both of the opinion that the Condo's recruited heavily from European military and paramilitary units -- particularly Western Europe. And that not all their 'new hires' had left active duty either.A peculiar circumstance then developed. The pretext for denying me entry was undercut by Hungary and Romania erasing me from their official investigation. I wasn't a threat (despite the burnt landscape and tombstones sprouting up in my wake.) Romania didn't want me to stay, Hungary decided they didn't want me back -- at the moment -- and the US/UK/Ireland were telling the Italians that I was a peach, or whatever implied that in diplomatic speech.There was a compromise finally reached by Riki and shadow forces that I couldn't put names to. I could come to Italy as long as my itinerary was relayed to Carabinieri. We could keep our side arms in holsters and our big guns as long as they weren't on our persons. I could go around without a Carabinieri bodyguard as long as I ignored them floating around me at a discreet distance. A liaison officer would meet me at the hotel to maintain the illusion that I was just a paranoid tourist.Delilah had to touch base with the British again, probably for the same reasons that the US wanted to replace Riki. While both Delilah and Chaz were military and seconded to MI-6, they weren't considered Intelligence Experts by the people at the helm. For that matter, they weren't even sure how Delilah had ended up at my side, killing multi-national terrorists in three separate countries inside of one month. That was very cinematic, not realistic. The idea of governments with shadow operatives 'sanctioning' people was not something that anyone in the 'know' wanted to talk about.Whether it was before the media, a US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, or a UK Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Select Committee this wasn't what these Department Heads wanted to discuss. Less anyone forget, my Congress and my President didn't, umm, get along.In my favor, I was an orphan from New Hampshire, both my US Senators were women and I'd worked on their campaigns or dated some of their volunteers. It might do me some good to call Dr. Kimberly Geisler at Bolingbrook to see what she could do politically. All that could wait.(Finishing Up)Selena Jovanović had the first of our two dark blue Alfa Romeo 159s, the one that disgorged Rachel and Wiesława. She, Saku and Odette would circle the block in case there was any trouble. Pamela had the driver's seat in my car. No one wanted me or Odette to drive because we didn't understand urban Italian street etiquette. It was Virginia, me and Riki in the backseat with Chaz up front with Pamela.Rachel gave the preliminary order to disembark. That meant the lobby was partially clear -- there were armed types about that seemed to be either Carabinieri, or understandable private security. Rome wasn't as dangerous as Mexico City (kidnap-wise), but events in London, Budapest and the Hungarian and Romanian countryside were putting people on edge. And those with enough money could buy some emotional comfort in the form of armed private contractors.Chaz took his H and K UMP-45, stock folded, out of the bag at his feet and secured it inside the right-side of his jacket. Three spare clips went inside a harness on his left. It was dreamlike as Virginia and I went through a similar, less heavily armed process. For FBI Girl, it was a 'carry-on' with flash-bang, concussion and smoke grenades, plus a few extra clips/mags for everyone.For me, it was a tomahawk, a second Gloc-22 and a bullet for everyone in the hotel, if that became necessary. As the car came to a stop in front of the main doors, I worked my way over Riki so that I would be the second person to exit the car. Chaz would be the first. Virginia got out on her side. Pamela would stay at the wheel -- Riki had an appointment with a tailor to keep.I felt it then, that sympathetic spiritual harmony I was one-third of. I looked up into the 'clear' Rome night. There she was, Bellatrix, the Amazon star in the Constellation of Orion. According to the Egyptian Rite, the Weave of Fate was nearly invisible by day, but by night, you could make out its strands in the motion of the stars. That was not something Alal had ever truly mastered. Still,I had a new phone since the charred remains of my old one were in some evidence locker in Budapest by now. That didn't mean I wanted to use it. I was getting squirrely about people I didn't want finding me, finding me. Chaz was in the lead, I was in the middle and Virginia covered my back. Rachel caught sight of us, gave a quick nod, and then she and Wiesława went for the elevators.Rachel would want to check out Hana's room before I got there -- if I got there. I called Odette."Hey Babe," Odette beamed excitement my way. She was in Rome and we had a guaranteed 24 hour layover. For a girl who thought her great adventure in life was going to end up being a high school trip to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell, she was in Nirvana."Hey to you too, Odette. I need a favor," I began."Sure," she chirped."In five minutes from, right now make sure Sakuniyas comes to see me and Hana in the restaurant by herself," I requested. Odette hesitated, taking in her knowledge of 'Cáel-speak'."No problemo Jeffe," she answered. She knew I was in some undefined trouble. We both knew that her body language would convey that unease to Saku, which was what I needed. See, I had a plan. I tapped Chaz, slowing him and thus allowing Virginia to bunch up with us."Do either one of you remember the movie 

Der Zürcher Club Zukunft muss nach 20 Jahren die Rauchmaschine abschalten, den Bass runterdrehen und die Türen schliessen. Sounds! Electronica-Head John Bürgin reflektiert mit Zukunft-Gründer Alex Dallas über die Anfänge und das Ende des Clubs an der Langstrasse. +++ PLAYLIST +++ · 21:54 – TAKEN AWAY von MOODYMANN · 21:44 – DISCOGEDANKEN von KLAUS JOHANN GROBE · 21:40 – PRRRDY von BIG ZIS · 21:27 – NIMM MINI HAND von KALABRESE & RUMPELORCHESTER · 21:17 – LIBERTY BELL von DARKSIDE · 21:07 – JUST WANNA VIBE von EVELINN TROUBLE

In this powerful episode of the "Fellowship of Kingdom Professionals" podcast, Michael A. Blue delves into the biblical concept of Jubilee—a 50th-year celebration of divine restoration and release, where ancestral lands and properties return to their original owners. Drawing from the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus, Michael unveils how Jubilee symbolizes both personal redemption and a call for Kingdom professionals to reclaim every field of society for God. Using resonant metaphors like the Liberty Bell, he connects this ancient practice to the Great Commission, portraying it as a modern-day Jubilee trumpet call. Be inspired and challenged to become an agent of Jubilee, championing liberty and restoration in all aspects of creation. New podcast episodes are available every Monday wherever you listen to podcasts. Stay connected to all things Fellowship of Kingdom Professionals and connect to other Kingdom Professionals by joining our Facebook Group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/MABlueFKP. To bring FKP to your locale, ministry, school, business, etc., or to learn more, contact us by email,  FKProfessionals@gmail.com.

Ch.3 Liberty Bell Day by Bob Van Dyne

Unlock the secrets of Magic Kingdom with us as we explore the enchanting tales and intriguing trivia behind one of Disney's most iconic parks. Ever wondered about the story behind the Liberty Bell at Liberty Square, or how the Liberty Tree found its home six miles from where it stood? We're sharing captivating stories like these, alongside quirky anecdotes about Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, inspired by Washington Irving's home, and the mysterious silhouette of Ichabod Crane himself. Join us as we navigate through the historical and architectural wonders that make Magic Kingdom a truly timeless experience.In this whimsical episode, we're spilling the beans on the fascinating decisions made by Michael Eisner, who even involved his teenage son in the creative process for attractions like Star Tours and Splash Mountain. Discover the surprising origins of Splash Mountain's name, and how it has a curious connection to the movie "Splash." Plus, get ready for some trivia, including the story behind Fort Langhorne and a playful tidbit about Rosita from the Tiki Room. We'll also touch upon the mystical Society of Explorers and Adventurers and their links to Big Thunder Mountain, rounding off with a nod to the Tiki Room's groundbreaking role in the evolution of audio animatronics. Don't miss this episode packed with Disney magic and lore!Send us a textSupport the show

On July 4th, 2026, in fact, all that year, America's Liberty Bell and all its brothers and sisters in every state will be ringing out loud and clear to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  There are many stories surrounding the original Liberty Bell, its crack, and its many renditions both here and abroad, as well as how it is perceived with love and respect by most Americans. It was first given the name 'The Liberty Bell" by the abolishionist movement as they fought for their freedom, and the women's Liberty Bell, which they called the Justuce Bell, was there when they cheered the passage of the 19th amendment giving them the vote. It was there behind the head of Abraham Lincoln as he lay in an open casket on his final trip home.  The story of the Liberty Bell is OUR story, and a big part of what makes America special.  Check out our two new 1001 podcasts (1001True Crime From Another Time and 1001 Stories From The Gilded Age) wherever you listen topodcasts as well as at our new website www.bestof1001stories.com. Don't forget to visit www.tomlovesthelibertybell.com to discover the location and story of the Liberty Bell in your state.,and plan now to give it a ring between now and July 4th, 2026. (Yes, Hawaii, you are there too).

Stephen oversees Baldi Management Group (BMG), an airport concessions and management consulting company that manages restaurants in Reagan National Airport, JFK International Airport and Dulles International Airport. Established in 2008, BMG operates various food and beverage outlets, including franchises like Dunkin’ Donuts, Potbelly, and Smashburger. Stephen is an alumnus of Georgetown University, where he was a Community Scholar and student-athlete. He attributes his success to mentorship and now mentors young people, aiming to provide growth opportunities within his company. As founder-led company, Stephen has formed connections with other DC-based founder-led restaurants like Founding Famers and Timber Pizza as well as with larger national brands. About 15-20% of BMG's customers are employees from the airport itself. Stephen is a strong advocate of mentorship and helping employees grow and advance within an organization, even if it means the employee leaving the organization for a better opportunity. QUOTES “My commitment to making meaningful connections with people comes from way back then when I was forced to do it, not only because of who I am but my circumstances and I've tried to carry that out through my career and my life.” (Stephen) “There's something different about a founder-led company, because you've built it.” (Stephen)“Airports are a wonderful place to work. Once you end up in this ecosystem, it's hard to walk away.” (Stephen)“(In airports), the passengers are dynamic. We get to meet and connect with them all. We have the privilege of participating in whatever journey people are on every day and the following day, we get a whole new group of people.” (Stephen) “The (airport concessions and restaurant industry) is about an $8 billion a year industry nationally but the industry is controlled by about 20 key companies. It's a small ecosystem.” (Stephen) “Operating a streetside restaurant versus a restaurant in an airport is a completely different sport. The speed, the requirements, the logistical challenges (of being an in airport), all of our crewmembers have to go through background checks. Unless you're a serious player, you're not trying to participate in airports.” (Stephen) “We encourage our crewmembers just to meet people where they are. It may be the 50th time you've welcomed someone to our restaurant but it's the first time you've spoken to the person in front of you. You should be additive to their experience and not add additional stress or complications.” (Stephen) “We welcome the chaos. When it's raining and snowing outside and your flights are delayed, we kind of welcome that because that means we get to hang out with you a little bit longer.” (Stephen) “If I bring in someone as a front line worker who's pouring coffee, if they're still pouring coffee in three years, both them and the organization has done something wrong. We want to scale people up.” (Stephen)  TRANSCRIPT 00:01.9900:01.99vigorbrandingHey folks, welcome to Fork Tales, and I’m excited. Today’s guest is Stephen Baldi He’s the founder and president of Baldi Management Group. Baldy Management Group is an airport concessions and management consulting company. It’s a mouthful there. ah Manages concessions in Reagan National Airport, JFK International Airport, and Dulles International Airport. Stephen, welcome to Fork Tales, and thank you so much for joining us.00:25.82Stephen BaldiMichael, thank you for having me. I’m looking forward to the conversation.00:29.01vigorbrandingSo for those that don’t know, all of these are located in the sort of DC Metro, Baltimore or down at DC Metro area, right?00:36.21Stephen BaldiCorrect.00:37.04vigorbrandingYeah.00:37.19Stephen BaldiYeah, even though Philadelphia is my hometown, I’ve been in Washington DC for almost 30 years. um So this is home base for us.00:46.37vigorbrandingyeah Well, you you you know, I have a little trick question because that was going to be my first question. Are you still a Philly sports fan? I mean, do you bleed Eagle Green?00:53.03Stephen Baldiif If you cut me, it would be nothing but green. I live in Washington, DC.00:56.48vigorbrandingOK, beautiful.00:57.88Stephen BaldiMy heart is in Philadelphia.00:59.81vigorbrandingBeautiful, beautiful. Wow. There’s, there’s guys, I don’t even know what they call themselves these days. these’s The commanders, the Washington football club.01:04.91Stephen Baldioh The Washington football team, they’re all.01:05.40vigorbrandingI mean, they’re just, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just, it’s irrelevant. It’s irrelevant.01:10.11Stephen BaldiYeah, Michael, my family would disown me if anything other than my ah zip code changed as far as my hometown affiliation.01:10.06vigorbrandingSo that’s fantastic. Hey, it’s awesome. You got to bring, I had a gentleman come in, uh, from, uh, Oregon last week to speak to a bunch of advertising agencies from North America. We hosted them in Philadelphia and this guy was so excited. He was, he, he, he came from there, but he was Philly through and through. So everything in his presentation tied back to a Philly icon, something about Philadelphia that was iconic. And, you know, ah in our company, we’re,01:44.34vigorbrandingWe’re very proud that we’re an independent advertising agencies. We have an agency called Vigor and an agency called Quench. Vigor’s restaurant branding. Quench is food and beverage marketing. And the whole thing was around independence and how it’s how important it is.01:57.06vigorbrandingAnd he had all these great icons from like Nick Foles to, ah you know, ah Mike Schmidt to the Fanatic to, I mean, Will Smith.02:07.11vigorbrandingI mean, he just went through all the Philadelphia stuff, you know, the Liberty Bell and everything else. and So it was cool. It was cool.02:11.77Stephen Baldium I love it. I’ll tell you an interesting story about Nick Foles. So I had a really good feeling about our Super Bowl run, even though you know Carson Wentz, who was leading as the MVP that year, went down. And the Friday before the Super Bowl, something told me to go online and buy a Nick Foles autograph helmet.02:33.57vigorbrandingWow.02:34.10Stephen BaldiAnd I did. Now, I did not expedite the shipping, Michael. So it was not in my possession on Monday after we had won the Super Bowl. And many of my friends said that helmet’s never going to show up, but it did.02:47.65Stephen BaldiSo I bought it for $99.02:47.77vigorbrandingThat’s awesome.02:49.77Stephen BaldiAnd I can tell you, it’s it’s worth a lot more than that.02:51.92vigorbrandingThat’s awesome. Yeah, it’s worth a lot to people in Philadelphia. So it’s fantastic. And the pride of that city runs deep. So alright, so tell us about Baldy enter Management Group and what it does what inspired you to get into the airport concession games. I mean, you started I think in residential property, right?03:06.90Stephen BaldiI did. I started in residential property management in 2002. And I started in airports in 2005. And it was all kind of serendipitous. I had a really ah prickly history before starting in 2002.03:23.22Stephen Baldiat Kettler Management, which managed tax credit properties, but also Class A luxury communities.03:29.04vigorbrandingOkay.03:29.23Stephen BaldiAnd I had a tenant coming to my office. And she said, Steven, I see you engaging with the residents and how you handle issues. And I think you should be doing more. And I thought to myself, like this woman doesn’t know me.03:39.92Stephen BaldiYeah, I just fixed her fireplace. But who are you to come in my office and tell me what I should be doing? And at the time, I was making $22,000 a year with a Georgetown degree. And the job that they wanted me to interview for paid $85,000 a year.03:54.21vigorbrandingwow03:54.39Stephen BaldiSo as you can assume, Michael, goal I took the interview, I got the job. And so for three years, I worked in development for Westfield, which most people know as shopping mall developers, they have an airport division.04:05.82vigorbrandingHmm. Ah.04:07.99Stephen BaldiAnd so I was responsible for the redevelopment of national airport here in Washington, DC from 2005. to 2008. And then I leveraged a relationship with OTG Management, which has a very large presence at Philadelphia International, um into a joint venture relationship and actually launched the company, BMG, in 2008. And two thousand and eight and it’s we’ve not looked back since.04:31.36vigorbrandingThat’s fantastic. you know It’s funny. I really i don’t know you. we’re We’re really talking for the first time. I can tell right away, like youre you have a positive attitude, and I can tell you’re engaging. And so I could see how someone would see you in action and be like, hey, you know you you could do more. like You can be a part of something bigger. And it’s obviously what’s happened, which is it’s awesome. I’m a big proponent of attitude. I mean, i I love to know where people went to school. I mean, if you if I interview you, I want to see your brains on the table.04:58.39vigorbrandingBut I really want to know what your personality is like. I want to know about your attitude. I want to know ah how ah how much of a ah person you are that wants to win and be engaging and help people. And it’s ah like it comes through with you right away.05:09.91vigorbrandingAnd that’s ah it’s cool.05:10.18Stephen BaldiI appreciate that.05:11.03vigorbrandingnow it’s it’s05:11.32Stephen BaldiYeah, i’ll I’ll take it back if you if you want me to. So ah back in 1988, I was turning 13 and I begged my mom for a pair of Air Jordan sneakers.05:24.58Stephen BaldiAnd you’ll remember when Gordon’s first came out, ah they were the first shoe over a hundred dollars.05:25.72vigorbrandingOh, yeah.05:29.85vigorbrandingOh, yes, they were.05:30.36Stephen Baldiyeah I grew up in a upper lower class household and it was a stretch for my mom to purchase these shoes.05:31.49vigorbrandingYep.05:37.09vigorbrandingMm hmm.05:38.21Stephen BaldiBut I begged her and I begged her and I begged her and and she ended up buying them for me. And she said, you know, I just want you to be safe. Well, you probably can assume where the story goes. Within like a month of getting these sneakers, I was an attempted robbery, and I acted very violently to defend myself, and it resulted in me getting expelled from the school that I was at.05:59.94Stephen BaldiAnd as a punishment, ah rather than letting me play basketball for the entire summer, my mom forced me to go to the reading math and basketball clinic at Friend Central, which is a very prominent independent school on the main line of Philadelphia.06:14.39vigorbrandingMm hmm.06:14.96Stephen BaldiAnd that decision changed my life. um I went from living in a predominantly all-Black neighborhood to a private school that I was the only Black male in my class.06:25.11vigorbrandingWow.06:25.74Stephen BaldiAnd what it did was it changed my perspective of what was accessible. like I had never seen a computer before.06:31.75vigorbrandingRight.06:32.14Stephen BaldiAnd at this school, there was in a computer lab where we could sit down and navigate things.06:34.40vigorbrandingYeah.06:36.15Stephen BaldiAnd so going to Friends Central, having my mom make that leap of faith changed my trajectory in many ways. I matriculated from there to Georgetown University here in Washington, DC, which is how I got.06:48.20Stephen Baldito Washington DC. So I am a super Philadelphia sports fan, because not only am I from Philly, but Allen Iverson was my classmate at Georgetown University.06:51.93vigorbrandingThat’s awesome.06:55.50vigorbrandingIs that right?06:56.61Stephen BaldiYeah, we were the same class.06:56.89vigorbrandingWow.06:57.61Stephen BaldiAnd so, yeah, very cool.06:58.33vigorbrandingThat’s so cool. Yeah.07:00.38Stephen BaldiAnd so maya my commitment to making meaningful connections with people comes from way back then when I was forced to do it, not only because of who I am, but my circumstances.07:00.74vigorbrandingAI. It’s legendary.07:12.75Stephen BaldiAnd I’ve tried to carry that out through my career and my life.07:15.84vigorbrandingThat’s fantastic. what a great That’s great. That’s a great story. you know it’s like It’s funny that on the Air Jordans, at that time, when they came out, and I can follow you on that. i know you You nailed it. You said the first sneaker that was over $100. My dad had ah this like mom and pop retail sporting store. We sold mostly like hockey stuff. We were from Hershey, Pennsylvania.07:35.39vigorbrandingAnd I was working in a store in in Camp Hill and outside of Hershey. It’s up in the West Shore, they call it. Anyway, long story short, I was in the mall and we sold some sneakers and the Air Jordans came out and we had them on the wall.07:48.37vigorbrandingAnd it was like, it was insane. $100 for a pair of sneakers.07:52.08Stephen BaldiYeah.07:52.28vigorbrandingAnd I mean, like, whereas I’ll say the average then was probably like on the high end was probably like 50, 55.07:57.40Stephen BaldiYeah, for sure.07:58.58vigorbrandingAnd this went right to 100. And it was funny, my dad, maybe that’s where I started learning about, and I really did learn a lot about marketing, working in retail, because you have to talk to people, you have to sell. And I think that’s the most important skill a person can learn. Communicating with people and learning how to sell, like, you know, at least present yourself, right? So I put these sneakers at the very top. I said, dad, you know what? ah I said, everybody wants the Air Jordans. Most people can’t afford them.08:21.42vigorbrandingbut everyone wants to come and look at it. So I always sell them the white, the white, men’s the body they’re like but you know, so for every one Air Jordan, I saw, I used to sell like 30 other pairs of shoes.08:25.49Stephen Baldiah yeah08:30.65vigorbrandingYou know what I mean?08:31.05Stephen BaldiIt’s been up in the store. It’s like a newspaper. People don’t necessarily want just the newspaper, at least the retailer does it, but they come in to buy the newspaper and then they buy the water, the soda, the candy.08:33.13vigorbrandingThat’s right.08:39.73vigorbrandingThat’s right. yeah I lured them in with the Air Jordans. I think we had like five parrot the most. I mean, we couldn’t afford, you know, it’s a little mom pop store.08:46.41Stephen BaldiProbably two sizes.08:47.56vigorbrandingYeah, right. That’s exactly right. So that’s funny. So okay, you talked about sports and and and you know, Philly and all that you you pride yourself on um being a local company and playing in front of the home crowd.08:58.99vigorbrandingTalk a little bit about the the local connection in DC that you have.09:02.34Stephen BaldiYeah, so I’ll tell you, when you fly into most airports, what people don’t automatically see, but being a former developer, I understand that any airport authority, when you land in their airport, they want you to know what city you are in.09:18.24Stephen BaldiSo national brands are extremely important. So you’ll have your Dunkin’ Donuts. You’ll have your Pop-Belly’s, which are ah franchises that we operate.09:22.12vigorbrandingMm hmm.09:25.89Stephen BaldiBut every airport wants you to have a sense of place. So when you fly into Philadelphia Airport, you’ll have a Jim Stakes, because that’s you know historical to that region.09:34.38vigorbrandingYeah.09:34.93Stephen BaldiWhen you fly into National Airport here, or Dallas International, you’ll have your South Blocks, which is an ASE base. com concept here in the DC.09:45.49Stephen BaldiYou’ll have Ben’s Chili Bowl, which has been around since the 60s.09:45.90vigorbrandingMm hmm. Mm hmm.09:49.41Stephen BaldiAnd so we’ve prided ourselves from identifying and connecting with other founder-led brands, because I’m a founder. And nothing against a hired gun.09:56.93vigorbrandingMm hmm.09:58.81Stephen BaldiI know they are often effective at their job. But there’s something different about a founder-led company because you’ve built it.10:06.95vigorbrandingYeah.10:07.27Stephen Baldiit probably has more ah meaning to you behind just the bottom line um results that you drive. It’s personal.10:15.52vigorbrandingYeah.10:15.69Stephen BaldiAnd so we’ve developed very deep relationships with companies like founding farmers, with timber pizza, who are all local based companies here. And we expect to continue to grow it, not just in this region that we’re in, but as we grow into other markets to do the same.10:30.68vigorbrandingYeah, that’s that’s fantastic. And you nailed it. I mean, like, I’m a founder, I’m an entrepreneur. And you know, and ah again, wonderful folks that that work with me, I’m very, very, very lucky. But you know, for for most people, it’s their job, you know, their career, and and hopefully there’s a sense of of a family and a real relationship.10:49.53vigorbrandingBut for me, it’s my life. I mean, i am I am defined personally by this, which is probably pretty shallow.10:51.05Stephen Baldiright10:54.86vigorbrandingI mean, i mean look, um I love my daughters. I’m a dad. I’m ah a husband. I love my family with all my heart, but I feel like I’m defined by my company and the what I’ve built. and and all of that And I just, you know, so again, I don’t know if that’s a bad thing or a good thing or whatever, but it’s just, it’s ah it’s a lot deeper, right?11:11.93vigorbrandingWhen you found something and ah it’s it’s a lot deeper, everyone thinks it has to do with like money and stuff, and it really doesn’t.11:12.49Stephen BaldiRight. For sure.11:17.73vigorbrandingIt’s a it’s really about, you know, sort of like your life’s life’s work. and You know, you know, I get I get the most excitement out of seeing the growth of the folks in the company. ah It’s great to see the brands grow and the companies grow.11:30.42vigorbrandingBut I really get a kick out of of seeing the folks that have been here a long time and and all that. So anyway, that’s just that’s me.11:35.91Stephen Baldiright11:36.26vigorbrandingBut I just I totally I totally concur with what you’re saying as far as the founder led. I mean, that’s that’s fantastic.11:41.40Stephen BaldiYeah, at some point as a founder, you most likely had to put something at risk that meant something to you.11:47.14vigorbrandingYeah.11:47.50Stephen BaldiWhether it’s personal guaranteeing, first leverage to build the company or, you know, having to bail it out because you run into a pandemic, which we all face back in 2020.11:47.75vigorbrandingOh, yeah. Yeah.11:55.18vigorbrandingAll right.11:57.80Stephen Baldium Oftentimes you can’t just walk from that business and matriculate to another W2 position because this is yours. And so I love when I can connect with founders.12:04.69vigorbrandingYeah.12:07.41Stephen BaldiI’ll work with non-founders also, but there’s something unique about the journey we’ve all been on.12:09.54vigorbrandingSure.12:11.88vigorbrandingYeah, absolutely. So let’s let’s talk a little bit. I just so folks know, I mean, what’s really cool about this conversation is I, ah you know, with vigor, we work with restaurant brands, right?12:22.32vigorbrandingSo we’re very familiar with restaurant brands. And you you have brands like Potbelly, Smashburger. You said founding farmers soon to come. ah Timber Pizza, Dunkin, I mean, some some household names.12:33.94vigorbrandingI don’t know if I’m um yeah any ants.12:34.26Stephen BaldiOn the end, don’t forget on the end, this is what else we have.12:35.99vigorbrandingNo, I can’t actually. Yeah, we actually worked on any answers. We have an agency called quench that a branding agency, Food and Beverage, that that actually worked with Auntie Anne’s because they started here in Lancaster.12:40.96Stephen BaldiOkay.12:45.88vigorbrandinghu Yeah, and I got to meet Anne Byler in the beginning.12:45.98Stephen BaldiThey did.12:48.81vigorbrandingSo, Auntie Anne is actually a person and she’s a wonderful lady and It was a really really awesome to meet her and and and what a she was so she’s a very philanthropic lady very very ah ah Generous and very successful very so she’s got a phenomenal story as well. But so yeah, I certainly won’t leave the auntie hands out But you so you have all these great brands um Talk a little bit about I mean, you know, you said somewhere founded by they you know the founders and all that what’s it like to to manage all these different brands and13:18.00Stephen BaldiI’ll tell you, it’s a dynamic environment. Airports are a wonderful place to do business. Again, I share with you briefly how I matriculated into them, but once you end up in this kind of ecosystem, it’s hard to walk away.13:33.35Stephen BaldiWe get the privilege of serving the traveling public every day. And what’s special about that are the passengers are dynamic. There are people who are going on business trips. There are people who are going on vacations. There are people who are going to be celebrated and there are people who are going to, you know,13:51.28Stephen Baldiusher people off into a transition of life. And we get to meet and connect with them all. And so I tell our crew members that we have the privilege of participating in whatever journey people are on every day.14:03.68Stephen BaldiAnd then the following day, we get a whole new group of people coming through.14:06.48vigorbrandingyeah yeah14:07.36Stephen BaldiSo that’s dynamic in the industries are small. I will tell you it’s about a $8 billion industry nationally in the United States, food and beverage and airports.14:14.57vigorbrandingYeah. Yeah.14:19.40Stephen BaldiBut the industry is really controlled by about 20 key companies. And within those 20 companies, you probably have 50 total key players.14:23.32vigorbrandingyeah14:27.50Stephen BaldiAnd so we know each other. you know You typically don’t leave the industry. Your business card may change. So you may go from company to company, but it’s a small ecosystem. And so I’ve enjoyed being in the industry now.14:40.58Stephen Baldi18 years. I started when I was two. ah But it’s a buy it’s been an extraordinary 18 years, except for some of the challenges like COVID. But you know for the people who were able and blessed to push through it, I think we have a different perspective on what we can be and what we should be in the businesses that we lead. To your point,15:00.50Stephen Baldium being defined by your business is not necessarily shallow, but there’s levels, there’s there’s depth to what we do.15:08.62vigorbrandingYeah.15:08.91Stephen BaldiAnd I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to swim in those depths ah for many years.15:14.41vigorbrandingThat’s awesome. We’ll get to COVID in a second, but I want to go back to airports. ah I’ll say, fortunately or unfortunately, I’m a customer. I’m in an airport every single week. So when you’re describing the people you see there, it’s like, yeah.15:21.70Stephen BaldiAwesome.15:24.71vigorbrandingI mean, you know there’s it’s every single walk of life. Everyone seems to have a higher level of stress.15:30.65Stephen Baldiyeah15:30.77vigorbrandingEveryone’s in a hurry, even when they’re not, or even worse, if someone’s really not in a hurry and they’re walking slow in the airport, that can actually be more frustrating and stressful. but ah So how do you how do you deal with that chaos? I mean, you got all these people that are amped up and nervous and they have anxiety or whatever, and then all of a sudden you’ve got to serve them and take them, you know, and represent these great brands and and and actually make the stuff and and in a and a fast time because they’re always running late, even if they’re not, they just think they’re always stressed.15:56.04Stephen BaldiRight.15:59.20vigorbrandingTalk about airport concessions. Talk about that chaos.16:02.08Stephen BaldiYeah, so you meet people where they are. And I will tell you, operating a street-side restaurant versus an airport, it’s a completely different sport.16:09.79vigorbrandingI cannot imagine.16:10.73Stephen BaldiI tell ah these founder-led companies when they’re thinking about matriculating in the airports, I tell them you know it’s like playing high school varsity basketball.16:10.80vigorbrandingyeah16:19.70Stephen BaldiAnd then you get drafted to the and NBA, like the speed, the requirements, you know, we have to go through the logistical um challenges of having every box that comes into your restaurant scan.16:20.40vigorbrandingYeah. Yeah. Yeah.16:31.21Stephen BaldiLike Cisco’s not pulling up to our back door and delivering our ground beef for Smashburger.16:31.53vigorbrandingYeah.16:34.05vigorbrandingRight.16:35.85Stephen BaldiLike it’s going through an X-ray, just like your luggage is.16:38.86vigorbrandingYeah.16:39.39Stephen Baldium All of our crew members have to go through a 10 year federal background check.16:44.03vigorbrandingSure.16:44.19Stephen Baldium There’s complexities to the business, which are to our challenge. But to me, it’s also kind of to our benefit, Michael, because it reduces my competition. Because unless you’re a serious player, you’re not trying to participate in airports.16:54.14vigorbrandingMhm.16:56.81Stephen BaldiAnd so for me, understanding those barriers and be able to navigate them are great. But from a day to day operation standpoint, We encourage our crew members just to meet people where they are.17:07.93Stephen Baldium It may be the 50th time you’ve welcomed someone to our restaurant, but it’s the first time you’ve spoken to the person that’s in front of you. And again, you don’t know if they’re going on vacation or they’re going to a celebration of life to send a family member home.17:16.31vigorbrandingright17:22.96Stephen BaldiRegardless, you should be additive to their experience and not adding additional stress or complications. Just try to deliver them fast, friendly, exceptional,17:34.09Stephen Baldiservice because that’s our standard. That is our vision for the company, which is being exceptional is our standard. It’s not something that happens intermittently.17:42.84vigorbrandingAll right.17:44.59Stephen BaldiIt happens all the time. And so we welcome the chaos.17:45.78vigorbrandingYeah.17:48.05Stephen BaldiYou know, when it’s raining and snowing outside, even though your flights are delayed, we kind of welcome that because that means you get to hang out with you a little bit longer.17:54.78vigorbrandingYeah. Yeah.17:55.63Stephen BaldiSo as long as we’re not canceling flights, if they’re just delayed, that’s kind of our sweet spot.18:00.01vigorbrandingThere you go.18:00.65Stephen BaldiSo we welcome it all.18:02.58vigorbrandingThat’s awesome. You know, you you said something really interesting. So as I mentioned, Vigor is our agency that that does branding and marketing for restaurants. I know, and it’s not, you know, it’s common knowledge that turnover and and employees in the restaurant industry is like the biggest hassle, right? and Everyone’s dealing with that that turnover. But you just said something. they They have to go through this long, arduous process to get through. So do you find that you have, I’ll say, maybe better better qualified, better quality,18:32.38vigorbrandingah team members in your restaurants?18:34.64Stephen BaldiI would tell you that our hourly and even our salary leadership ah on some levels, they’re more committed because it is a personal investment to get through the process.18:39.98vigorbrandingMm-hmm.18:45.54Stephen BaldiAnd so, you know, typical food and beverage turnover is anywhere from 100 to 150%. And only ours is closer to like 30.18:51.64vigorbrandingRight.18:54.91vigorbrandingthat’s hey That’s fantastic. I never thought that that would have never dawned on me that that would be ah an unfair advantage. you know It’s funny, like yeah I was telling someone the other day, you know the higher the barrier to entry in business, actually the better the business is because you don’t have just everybody and anybody competing.19:12.66vigorbrandingSo you you have a higher barrier of entry.19:13.25Stephen BaldiCorrect.19:15.58vigorbrandingum And with that, you have you sort of have ah have a capture to a degree ah group of people, right? ah But the one thing that is interesting, I think if I remember correctly, I think there’s like 30%, I’ll say of ah if it’s a Dunkin Donuts on the street corner, 30% of their their ah customers will probably repeat, right?19:35.43vigorbrandingah you You are not, I mean, you know you might have the same business guy that flies every Thursday out to you know wherever,19:37.58Stephen BaldiNo?19:40.80Stephen Baldiwe have We’ll have our Michaels.19:41.81vigorbrandingYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.19:42.16Stephen BaldiWe have our Michaels.19:43.59vigorbrandingI’ll hit your place and at the airport get a coffee on the way out, but that’s it. Yeah, that’s it. So that’s.19:48.43Stephen BaldiI will tell you, though, we do have outside of the the traveling public, we do have recurring customers who are the people who work at the airport. I mean, at National and Dulles Airport, you get anywhere from five thousand to ten thousand employees that are there every day.19:56.97vigorbrandingNo, that makes sense. Sure.20:03.65Stephen BaldiAnd so ah they are also extremely important to us.20:03.75vigorbrandingMm hmm. Hey, they got to eat and drink, right?20:07.86Stephen BaldiThey got to eat and drink and they have to do it fast.20:09.70vigorbrandingRight. That’s right.20:10.84Stephen BaldiWell, we have different incentives to get them in and out, but they are our recurring customers and they’re about 15 to 20 percent of our business.20:15.10vigorbrandingYeah, that makes sense. Hey, going back to the old mall days that I was talking about the sneakers, I sold a lot of sneakers to people that worked in the mall, not many Air Jordans, but a lot of the, you know, a lot of the lower end sneakers.20:22.26Stephen BaldiYeah, for sure.20:27.36vigorbrandingSo, we talked to you hit on earlier and I know we, we inevitably, hopefully one day we, we don’t, and we don’t have to talk about, we always go back and talking about COVID and, uh, you know,20:35.54Stephen BaldiOh, yeah.20:37.21vigorbrandingOne of our companies and our holding company is a company called Varsity. And Varsity does retirement communities around the country, we market retirement companies. Well, that that industry shut down. I mean, no one was going, no one was visiting, and people were sick. It was bad. Restaurants, another one of our our agencies, right? We marketed restaurants. No one was going. It was basically shut down. you know Your hospitality Uh, and your restaurants, I mean, and your travel, I mean, you’re, you’re combining it all and how, talk about that a little bit.21:06.75vigorbrandingI mean, you were hit from both ends.21:07.11Stephen BaldiOh, I had the privilege of double dipping.21:11.81vigorbrandingYeah.21:11.93Stephen BaldiSo we were in hospitality beverage, but we were also in travel.21:12.41vigorbrandingIn turmoil.21:15.47vigorbrandingYeah.21:16.03Stephen BaldiAnd so I remember very specifically on March 11th, 2020, President Trump came on television and he announced a 30-day travel ban to Europe.21:27.16vigorbrandingMm-hmm.21:28.65Stephen BaldiAnd at the time, ah most people only thought about the impact of air traffic travel to Europe, places like London, Paris.21:37.58vigorbrandingright21:38.31Stephen BaldiBut I anticipated that this was really the big moment for our industry.21:43.00vigorbrandingRight.21:43.21Stephen BaldiI know a lot of people associate kind of their aha moment with COVID becoming a significant thing when the NBA shut down and more importantly, when the NCAA tournament shut down.21:53.85Stephen BaldiBut that announcement on March 11th signified for me that things were about to change for my business.21:58.60vigorbrandingYeah.21:58.72Stephen BaldiNow, I didn’t know it was going to be 18 months.22:02.21vigorbrandingRight.22:02.55Stephen Baldium But within about two weeks, we lost 85% of our top line revenue. And so on March 18, we shut the company down for 18 months. um And it was a challenge to what we talked about earlier, where a lot of my identity was tied up in this company that I built.22:20.39Stephen BaldiWell, there was no company to have an identity he tied to. And so for me as a leader, It really pushed me during that time to redefine who I was in that moment and who I was going to aspire to be if we were privileged enough to come out of it. And we did. We’ve come out very strong, stronger than actually we went in. um We actually sold 35% of the business last year to some strategic, but then also some individual investors. And so I’ve had the privilege of surrounding myself where before I was the only voice in the room and now there are many.22:55.69vigorbrandingRight.22:55.77Stephen BaldiAnd it presents some unique challenges, but also some extraordinary opportunities for me to low to learn and grow from other individuals and institutions that have built companies to scale, not all in food and beverage, many not.23:10.17Stephen Baldium But it’s really given me the opportunity to become a better leader um and to take our company into the next five to 10 years of what we will be.23:20.35vigorbrandingThat’s fantastic. you know i the the The COVID obviously affected everybody. It affected everybody in different ways. and like For us for a business, it was and it was really interesting in that you know because we have several different agencies in our holding company, it was sort of a little bit of a like a mutual fund where one or two stocks could be really down, but then others can be up. Our CPG agency, Quench,23:40.72vigorbrandingyou know we’ We’re doing we’re doing brands national brands like you know Sunmade Raise and Stark Institute. To me, COVID, to to that to that company and those brands, COVID was like the greatest sampling program in the history of Earth. i mean If you put it in a package back then, it was on a shelf. People bought it. They stuck it in their pantries. They ate it. They bought more of it. i mean They couldn’t get enough of it. i mean It was just ah an insane time.24:01.94vigorbrandingfor those companies. and then the other the The negative side obviously was the restaurants and everything else. i mean It’s a really interesting time. and and you know You said about how you it can define things. the other thing One of the other things we did was we took adversity. We had all these CEOs that were like, what is everyone doing? i mean like you you know This just happened. It was unprecedented. What is everybody else doing? so We thought, well,24:23.89vigorbrandingAll right, we’re not making i mean and and again it’s not we’re not making revenue businesses down, but we still have these relationships. They’re our clients. So what can we do? So it wasn’t my idea, but one of our guys said, hey, let’s create sort of a round table. of that And our agency is called Varsity. So we called it the Varsity Round Table. So we got all these CEOs that were just like,24:41.34vigorbrandingWhat’s everyone doing? And they were able to talk and it was so successful that we did it the next week. And then they talked more and then more and more CEOs jumped in. They weren’t even our clients and became this open source sharing that has now been, we are on about, I think it’s like 250th.24:58.49vigorbrandingroundt We’ve been doing them every week since the first month of COVID.25:04.38Stephen BaldiWow, impressive.25:05.19vigorbrandingAnd what’s done for a company, for us, i mean again we don’t make any money from it. And it wasn’t about that. It was just a place for people to really vent and help. And now we have speakers come in and talk, and everyone’s obviously well beyond COVID.25:16.71vigorbrandingBut it’s really allowed us to be a thought leader and assist these folks. And you know at the end of the day, it’s what it’s all about. And I know a big thing for you is is mentorship, right? I mean, you know talk about giving back. you want you Do you want to talk a little bit about that?25:27.81Stephen BaldiYeah, I’ll talk about that but I’ll also talk similarly to your roundtable so in February of 2020 I had the privilege of joining the organization YPO, which is Young President Organization, which is very similar to what you define there’s 35.25:42.82Stephen Baldi1,000 YPO members globally. And it’s really for business leaders who have decided that they want to walk towards betterment as a person, as a leader, as a family member, as someone contributing to their community in partnership with other leaders.25:58.55Stephen BaldiAnd so I am in the Washington DC Baltimore chapter here ah in the region.25:58.93vigorbrandingMm hmm.26:04.18Stephen BaldiAnd I’m in leadership. And I can tell you that organization was really critical in me navigating everything that I had to go through ah during COVID.26:14.98Stephen BaldiNow, we didn’t we didn’t meet weekly, um but we do meet monthly in a small group of seven to 10 people, and we have forum.26:15.26vigorbrandingSure.26:19.82vigorbrandingMonthly forum.26:22.81Stephen BaldiAnd, oh, there you go.26:22.85vigorbrandingI didn’t know I’m i’m YPO, too. I didn’t know your IPO. Yeah, I’ve been.26:25.92Stephen BaldiYeah!26:26.21vigorbrandingYeah.26:27.01Stephen BaldiSo YDO is really what sustained me during COVID.26:27.03vigorbrandingSo Oh.26:29.86Stephen Baldium And I’m privileged to be on the ladder now in leadership.26:32.72vigorbrandingDo for you.26:35.01Stephen BaldiAnd so, yeah, as far as mentorship, when I started the company, you know it was a priority for me to give opportunity to underrepresented populations. um Now, as I started to grow the company, my focus started to turn inward, Michael, if I’m being honest. And you know the beginning of 2020, it was difficult for anybody to tell me that I wasn’t the shit. I built this company from zero to something much larger than I had ever aspired to as a young person.27:04.34vigorbrandingRight.27:06.68Stephen Baldium But COVID took all of that away.27:08.81vigorbrandingYeah.27:09.14Stephen BaldiAnd so what it reminded me of is that there was a mission that I started this company with. And it was something that I needed to recommit to when we reopened.27:19.90Stephen BaldiAnd so now um we’re really pouring into our crew members um When I hire someone, specifically, let’s take Dunkin Donuts.27:30.76Stephen BaldiIf I bring in someone as a frontline worker that’s pouring coffee, if they’re still pouring coffee for us in three years, both them and the organization has done something wrong.27:34.59vigorbrandingMmhmm.27:41.17Stephen Baldium We want to scale people up. It is not cost effective for us to have people in the same position for multiple years. So if we’re not scaling someone up to take on additional responsibility inside our company and sometimes even outside of our company, then we’ve done something wrong. you know My mentor told me a good leader ah expects or wants people to leave. A great leader expects them to.28:08.64vigorbrandingYeah.28:09.01Stephen BaldiAnd so either they’re leaving the position that we’re hiring them for or they’re leaving to go to another organization. But either way, we have to invest in our hourly crew members because we can’t afford not to.28:20.86vigorbrandingYeah.28:21.76Stephen BaldiAnd so that’s something that we really communicate out and share out. to our community and our organization and people know that we’re gonna invest in them in ways that other companies might not to and we feel like that gives us a competitive advantage and as a leader it makes me feel a good about not only our bottom line results but also the success that we can feel. I have a manager who’s been with us for eight years.28:46.57Stephen BaldiHer name is Marta. And she started as a single unit manager. And now she’s a multi-airport director.28:53.24vigorbrandingawesome.28:53.39Stephen BaldiAnd to see her growth and to understand the impact that that has has had on her family is tremendous. And I want to do that a hundred times over.29:00.50vigorbrandingSure.29:00.79Stephen BaldiAnd I have the privilege of being able to do that as a leader of our company.29:01.01vigorbrandingYeah.29:04.70vigorbrandingand And think of it this way, I mean, and that’s what’s so great about this country, I’ll say is like, you were making whatever $22,000 a year, I think you had free room or board or whatever you were managing, right?29:12.60Stephen BaldiI did.29:13.65vigorbrandingSo you you’re probably like, I’m getting by, this is okay. And look, you and you know, obviously, you’re you’re very well educated, you have a great drive and personality, but you you created a a huge company. And that’s, that’s, that’s really super cool, really super cool.29:25.90Stephen BaldiWell, Michael, I can tell you specifically in that first year, 2002, I made $19,117 and 43 cents. I can tell you that specifically because that W2 still sits on my desk.29:36.80Stephen BaldiI have it framed.29:36.84vigorbrandingYeah, yeah.29:37.68Stephen BaldiI look at it every day just to remind me of where all of this started and where now we’ve grown the company to I’m, I’m extremely proud.29:45.15vigorbrandingYeah. And you know, you mentioned YPO and I’ve been very privileged to be in that organization for, gosh, I think at least 20 some years.29:53.06Stephen BaldiSo you joined when you were 17.29:54.45vigorbrandingYeah, no, but yeah, it’s one of those things, is we you know, it used to kick you out when you’re 50. In fact, I did, I got the rocking chair and showed up at the front door.30:02.59Stephen BaldiOh, there you go.30:03.68vigorbrandingYeah, that was the thing. And then they decided to have YPO Gold, WPO and all that. stuff So I stayed in and now we’re like a forum for life. So my guys, we meet once a month and we are together. ah we A lot of it’s virtual because these guys, a lot of it, we’re retired and stuff.30:15.91vigorbrandingSo um I’m old. I mean, the it’s YPO o Gold, but I always say it’s Silent G, you know, YPO old. So, but it’s a, it was the greatest thing I’ve ever done for me.30:26.29vigorbrandingMaybe a better husband, better father, better businessman, a better employer, better ah a friend. I mean, and I i mean that.30:32.27Stephen Baldiand human30:33.29vigorbrandingYeah. It’s just a better human. And I think a lot of people see it from the outside and think it’s all, it’s a bunch of guys didn’t talk about how many cars they have and where they want vacation. It’s not that at all.30:40.24Stephen BaldiIt’s not that it’s a transformational community, you know, having a high trust network is invaluable.30:40.92vigorbrandingYou know, it’s, you know, it’s a, it is, it is.30:47.41vigorbrandingYep. Yeah. Someone’s got your back, right? You can always pick up that phone and call your, one of your folks and just, they got your back. No, that’s yeah.30:54.39Stephen BaldiAnd it’s nobody, and it’s nobody, nothing, never. And to have that level of confidentiality is special.30:57.03vigorbrandingThat’s right. Yep. Yeah. Yeah, that’s that’s awesome. That’s all good for you. I had no idea. That’s fantastic. um So, but now I’m going to do a little ploy here. You got to go and you should go to Austin this year to the food and beverage round table.31:10.60vigorbrandingI mean, if you can check it out, it’ll be, I think it’s in in January, you know, I’ll probably be speaking there, but you should go.31:14.55Stephen BaldiOK.31:16.84vigorbrandingI mean, you know, I’d love to meet you in person. It’d be fantastic.31:18.67Stephen BaldiYeah, I’d love that.31:18.88vigorbrandingAnyway, so could we do,31:20.42Stephen BaldiMaybe we’ll be celebrating a Phillies World Series by then.31:22.74vigorbrandingOh man, you’re making me nervous. um I hope so. I hope you’re right. I hope you’re right. But our company, we do it we do an annual food and beverage trends report every year. We’ve been doing them for like, jeez, 15, 16 years. And so a lot of times we launched it at the food and beverage round table. So it’s always really cool stuff.31:40.96Stephen BaldiAwesome, send me an invite and I’ll be there.31:41.00vigorbrandingum Yeah. All right. Well, definitely. I’ll make sure you get it after this, after our conversation here. So, okay. When you go to a restaurant, you you have a choice between human interaction or self ordering kiosks. I know that, you know, you guys need to be really ah high speed, efficient and all that. What what do you, what do you prefer?31:58.57Stephen BaldiWell, it depends, right? Deploying technology is a strategy that ah should be done with intention and asking the question, and then what, right?32:12.55Stephen Baldium I will tell you a story. So the first time we experimented with self ordering technology was in 2008 at JFK airport terminal five.32:24.65Stephen BaldiAnd we deployed at the time iPads um at our Dunkin Donuts because we thought, you know, technology is moving in this way and it’s fun and it’s cool, but nobody wants to walk up to a counter and order a coffee by pressing buttons.32:29.75vigorbrandingMm-hmm. Yep.32:39.85vigorbrandingMm-hmm.32:44.46Stephen BaldiYou know, communicating to a cashier, ah medium cream and sugar takes about 15 seconds. When you are forcing someone to press hot coffee, then medium, then sugar, then extra sugar, like that’s just, we found that that was a ah strategy that wasn’t ah successfully deployed at that time.32:58.57vigorbrandingwho33:05.34Stephen Baldinow That was back in 2008. I will say trends have matured since then and so there is an opportunity to have self ordering technology at a place like Dunkin Donuts and people have learned to navigate it quickly. um You have hot buttons for certain high usage items and so I say to people all the time because my friends question me, whenever they see an iPad, they assume that that means that that technology has taken someone’s job. And what I try to educate people on is that you know if you deploy technology in a intentional way, in a smart way, it allows you to redirect33:45.29Stephen Baldiwhat you would have otherwise spent on front of house and the back of house.33:46.57vigorbrandingMm33:49.72Stephen BaldiOr maybe you’re deploying it at a ah leadership level that’s multi-unit capable.33:49.78vigorbrandinghmm.33:55.24Stephen BaldiAnd so it’s not necessarily ah replacing jobs, but allowing savvy business leaders to take that investment and redeploy it in other ways. I will tell you that the benefit is you know technology doesn’t call out. Sometimes you have to reboot the system, but it always upsells. It always asks you if you want a dessert and always ask you if you want to package your burger with fries. And so to be able to grow your top line ticket, ah that’s only going to drive bottom line outcomes, which allows a business owner like me to look at expansion, to go into other cities, to be able to bring other people along with us because the business is growing. And so there’s opportunity beyond just taking someone’s order. And so34:40.31Stephen BaldiTechnology is something you have to look at in parallel kind of decision making. But I enjoy it. There’s some concepts that it resonates more significantly than others. But I think there’s a balance and there needs to be a balance of both going forward. I don’t think we’re ever going to have an industry that is exclusively technology or self ordering driven. um And I think you go in with a bunch of assumptions, you understand how your customers respond to it, and then you be agile enough to adjust appropriately.35:08.96vigorbrandingYeah, I mean, it makes a lot of sense. And i I concur. I mean, you know, I don’t want to wait in a massive line, especially from an airport. But, you know, just ordering, pre-ordering and all that kind of stuff isn’t all that funny either.35:19.32vigorbrandingSo it’s just you with that happy balance. You know, I do like talking to somebody and, you know, because I talk a lot, I guess. But plus, I always ask for some ice in my coffee just a little bit. I don’t want nice coffee.35:27.30Stephen BaldiThere you go.35:27.67vigorbrandingSo it’s a little tough to explain to an iPad, you know, so very soft.35:31.57Stephen BaldiTo drop it into a couple of cubes, yeah.35:32.20vigorbrandingWhoops. Yeah. Yeah. I don’t want to burn my, burn my mouth. So now I know you have at least one daughter, correct?35:38.70Stephen BaldiI’d have two daughters and a son.35:39.87vigorbrandingTwo daughters. right All right. Sorry. There we go.35:41.61Stephen Baldi26, 25, and eight.35:41.75vigorbrandingThis will be great then. Wow. Wow.35:45.67Stephen BaldiI started over, Michael.35:45.74vigorbrandingA little gap here.35:46.59Stephen BaldiI started over.35:47.16vigorbrandingYou had a little gap here.35:48.55Stephen Baldihad I had a couple of gap years.35:48.93vigorbrandingA couple of gap years. i well so I have two daughters, 26 as of last week and coming coming up on 29. The reason I bring up these families is you know we all know we love all our kids the same.36:01.78Stephen BaldiNo, we don’t.36:01.79vigorbrandingBut on any but okay but on any given day on any given day, depending on the phone call, depending on the visit, there’s certainly ones that we like other better than others.36:02.97Stephen BaldiNo, we don’t.36:09.94vigorbrandingMichael Alex, it happens it back and forth all the time, just in case you’re listening. Those are my daughters. um36:14.34Stephen BaldiLove it.36:15.04vigorbrandingso you know, we talked about pot belly, we talked about smash burger, we talked about dunking, we talked about timber, we talked about founding farmers, am I missing any any ends?36:25.21Stephen BaldiThere you go.36:27.03vigorbrandingWhich one?36:27.28Stephen BaldiIt’s the end. Yeah.36:27.84vigorbrandingWhich one’s your favorite? What’s your favorite kid there?36:29.64Stephen BaldiMy favorite. Wow. You’re going to force me to say that.36:33.77vigorbrandingYeah, yeah.36:34.15Stephen BaldiWell, I will tell you, because I don’t know if any of our franchisors are going to listen to this part. I love them all equally, and I am privileged to be able to operate them. I will tell you the one that probably um sits deeply in my soul as a person ah is probably Dunkin’ Donuts.36:55.45vigorbrandingNice.36:55.85Stephen Baldiand And I’ll tell you Dunkin’ Donuts because when I was growing up ah in Southwest Philadelphia off of Cobbs Creek Parkway, I had family that lived out by the airport. And in order to get into that area of the city, you have to travel on Cobbs Creek Parkway.37:11.63Stephen BaldiAnd there’s a Dunkin Donuts on the corner of Cobbs Creek Parkway and I can’t remember the cross street, but it’s been there for close to probably 30 or 40 years. I’m 48 and I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t there. And I remember seeing that Dunkin Donuts and thinking how rich that franchisee must be to have that score.37:30.65Stephen BaldiNow I know that owning a single franchise is not necessarily a path to generational wealth, but it did, that Dunkin Donuts did put in my mind like what was possible.37:40.22vigorbrandingYeah, that’s cool.37:40.70Stephen Baldium And so to be able to be now a 14 year franchisee of that brand, um which is our longest franchise relationship, it’s pretty special.37:46.48vigorbrandingSuper.37:50.20vigorbrandingThat’s cool. And you know, I’ll say this from the, from the branding side of the world. Uh, what a phenomenal job. I mean, Duncan’s been around forever. I mean, at one point time it was getting a little tired. It was sort of just fading in the woodwork.38:01.35vigorbrandingAnd we know, I mean, all these brands, I mean, they come on strong. They’re, they’re always started somewhere. There’s this regional thing. And then they become these big brands and is they, they struggle to stay relevant.38:10.04Stephen BaldiRight?38:12.62vigorbrandingRight. And I think Duncan has just done a remarkable job.38:16.08Stephen BaldiWe have, yeah.38:16.24vigorbrandingof staying relevant i mean from their graphic design from their marketing their branding to their advertising and all the cool stuff they’ve done that you did you did they blew it away they they absolutely did and yep38:22.42Stephen BaldiI mean, we had the best Super Bowl commercial in my opinion. I mean, Ben Affleck and J.Lo, they did their thing. And Mark Wahlberg, it like it was it was a beautiful commercial.38:33.65vigorbrandingYeah, and you know, it just shows like when you have passion for something, and those guys certainly have passion for for for that part of the world and ah from the Boston area. I just think it’s it was exceptional. In fact, ironically, we have at at our holding company level, Pavone Group, we have the longest running, okay, this is no kidding, the longest running Super Bowl commercial voting mechanism called spotbowl.com.38:56.66vigorbrandingSo every year we get38:57.28Stephen BaldiOK.38:59.26vigorbrandingyou know, thousands and thousands and thousands of votes from around the world, and people vote for their favorite Super Bowl commercial as it’s being played, as the game is being played. And then the the national media outlets reach out to us, and then we tell them the results.39:13.08vigorbrandingAnd Dunkin Donuts was was certainly a stellar winner.39:13.26Stephen BaldiOK.39:16.02Stephen BaldiIt was and had to be at the top.39:17.26vigorbrandingYeah, it was awesome.39:17.88Stephen BaldiCome on out. Tell me Michael it was at the top.39:19.04vigorbrandingYeah, yeah. It was, well, I’m looking over here at my guy that runs it. it was It was the top one. Yeah, it was, it definitely was.39:24.42Stephen BaldiIt was, it I thought it was.39:25.10vigorbrandingOh, yeah, yeah, yeah.39:25.89Stephen BaldiThere you go. Thank you for, thank you for phoning your friend and getting confirmation.39:26.59vigorbrandingIt was it was awesome.39:29.55Stephen BaldiIt was a pretty special advertising.39:31.41vigorbrandingYeah.39:31.85Stephen BaldiAnd yeah, I didn’t get a chance to order my Duncan jumpsuit, but I’m sure it’s in the mail somewhere.39:36.72vigorbrandingYeah, there you go. there That’s that that everything.39:38.41Stephen BaldiMaybe Duncan corporate will see this and they’ll send me one.39:38.96vigorbrandingAlthough. yeah Yeah, all the merch, everything they did around that was super cool. and the take the outtakes from the39:43.99Stephen BaldiSuper cool.39:46.35vigorbrandingyou know It’s funny too because when it comes to this marketing stuff, like it used to be just a TV spot. and The reason I looked over to ask Dave, Dave’s the guy you spoke to. He’s the one that that kind of heads up this podcast. He’s also the one that really runs Spopple. We’ve been doing this so long that In the beginning, we didn’t know anything.40:03.48vigorbrandingIn other words, they would the game it was all about the game. The game was played. And then people realized, well, people love the commercials. So we never knew, like like you and everybody else, we just sit there and watch the game, cut the commercial. Oh, it’s a commercial for fill in the blank.40:15.61vigorbrandingNow, they release the commercials to us ahead of time.40:15.73Stephen BaldiYeah.40:18.45vigorbrandingThey tell us what it’s about. They send us outtakes. They give us information. Because they realize it, because it’s a couple million dollars for 30 seconds, that they need to get as much juice out of the you know squeeze as much juice out of this as possible so they want to know they put stuff online they do teasers and it’s it’s turned into a an event unto itself and uh we’re really proud to have been a part of it so it’s kind of funny that you brought that up that’s cool stuff all40:39.58Stephen BaldiYeah. Now I will tell you my all time favorite Super Bowl commercial.40:44.35vigorbrandingright uh40:45.67Stephen BaldiNow I remember the star, but I don’t even remember the brand.40:49.95vigorbranding-oh40:50.06Stephen BaldiRemember the the commercial with the kid and the Star Wars mask and he was going around zapping things and he went and he zapped the car and the car started.40:55.24vigorbrandingVolkswagen. Yeah. Yeah.40:58.28Stephen BaldiThat was my all-time favorite more commercial.40:58.46vigorbrandingYeah. Yeah. Yeah. That’s great. Yeah. That was ah that was a Volkswagen spot. That was a fantastic spot.41:03.91Stephen BaldiFantastic commercial.41:03.93vigorbrandingIt was a fantastic. You know, I’ll i’ll tell you mine next. i’m I’m a simp and I, you know, ah the Budweiser commercials and41:11.83Stephen BaldiOh yeah.41:13.17vigorbrandingThere was one though in particular where the guy, you know, he raises these horses and it goes on to be a Clydesdale and it it takes off and the horse leaves and there’s a parade. And I almost get choked up thinking about it.41:24.28vigorbrandingIt was so well done. There’s a parade, the guy standing there to parade and the horse sees him, breaks away, chases him down on the road. Oh my gosh. It was, it was, I had to do a live TV commercial. I had to do a live segment on the news about the the best TV spot and and they they, you know, they played it and I wasn’t expecting them to play it.41:40.60vigorbrandingI’m like, I had tears going down my face.41:42.56Stephen BaldiOh, you got emotional.41:42.51vigorbrandingI’m like, That’s my favorite.41:43.64Stephen BaldiOh, look at you.41:45.41vigorbrandingI still get emotional. i think but i think it I think it was the best all-time i mean story. It was just cute. so anyway That’s right, man.41:50.70Stephen BaldiAnd the best story always wins, Michael. Best story always wins.41:53.25vigorbrandingThat’s right. right yeah Yeah, you know, we always tell people a brand is a promise, ah but you have to tell a story. You have to draw a motion, make them laugh, make them cry, make them feel something about your brand. And that’s how you break through. And it’s always important, you know, a lot of times clients will say stuff, um you know, hey we just want to sell more, we got to do this, we got to do that. And and really it comes down to ah the fact that you’ve you got to do great creative to break through to get people’s attention.42:19.09vigorbrandingSo, well, I have a couple more questions for you and I want to hit them for sure.42:21.03Stephen BaldiOkay.42:22.25vigorbrandingSo now look, ah we talked about the airports you’re in, in the in the in the greater DC area, some of the most, I mean, they’re they’re busy, they’re they’re important, they’re huge. Other airports, I mean, you have great concessions in those airports.42:34.37vigorbrandingOther airports that you think have great concessions in the country?42:37.16Stephen BaldiYeah, I will tell you, Atlanta, one of the busiest airports in the world, definitely in this country.42:42.95vigorbrandingOh yeah, oh yeah. yeah42:45.86Stephen Baldium And then Houston, Orlando, Chicago, Charlotte, these are all markets that we kind of look at.42:49.80vigorbrandingMm hmm. Oh yeah.42:54.54vigorbrandingMassive hubs.42:56.51Stephen Baldium It’s important for us to be in high demand airport systems, because you never know how the world’s going to,43:02.80vigorbrandingYeah.43:05.21Stephen Baldirespond. And Morgan Hausl is one of the people who I look to for kind of strategic direction.43:12.04vigorbrandingMm hmm.43:13.49Stephen BaldiI’m thinking about my business. And one thing he always says is that as a business leader, if you’re only planning for the risk and threats that you can predict, you’re probably missing the biggest one.43:24.90vigorbrandingOh, yeah.43:25.41Stephen Baldium And so how we kind of shelter ourselves from that is we go into high demand markets. So even if an airline, a legacy airline like an American or United or a Delta or a Southwest ah decides that they no longer want to operate in that market, there’ll be another legacy carrier chomping at the bit together.43:44.09vigorbrandingSure.43:44.40Stephen BaldiAnd so that’s one of our strategy when we’re looking to grow nationally is to look at high demand airport markets.43:44.77vigorbrandingSure. Mm hmm.43:51.29Stephen BaldiAnd those are just a few that I named.43:53.58vigorbrandingI’m a big fan of Morgan has effect. We have him speaking at our, at our YPO. He’s, he’s one of, I think he might even be next month’s speaker. So I’m really, really, are you really, that’s all his book.44:00.64Stephen Baldiah We’re bringing them in on the 13th of November. Yeah.44:04.00vigorbrandingHis book’s incredible. Incredible. I made my daughter’s read it. So, um, what’s next for balding management group. And mean we talked about in other airports. What’s, what’s next for you? What’s what’s your vision? Where are you were are you hoping to go?44:13.26Stephen Baldimy My vision is to grow the tent and plant trees that I may never even know their shade, um because that’s when I think a community and when a business is thriving is when you’re willing to do things that you might not be able to see to fruition. And so we’re trying to build a company, not trying, we are building a company that will rise the tide for all the boats. I want to create another 20, 25 stories just like mine.44:41.46vigorbrandingYeah.44:41.62Stephen Baldium I can invest and grow my company so that it’s beneficial and creates generational wealth for me, but I also have the opportunity to listen to the individuals whose stories might not necessarily be taken to the top because they’re not fully formed or well articulated.44:59.34Stephen BaldiI try to look for those people, because I was once that person.45:00.66vigorbrandingyeah45:02.15Stephen BaldiI was the property manager in the office, and Cynthia Garber came and tapped me on the shoulder, which she did not have to do.45:02.50vigorbrandingyep45:08.96Stephen BaldiAnd so I’m trying to identify those voices in our companies, the people in leadership, but also the people who we don’t necessarily identify with immediately, because a lot of our workforce our ESL where English is a second language.45:24.24Stephen BaldiAnd so verbal communication is a challenge, but I don’t want that to get in the way of us knowing or ide

It wasn't meant to be extraordinary—a simple casting of metal forged to mark time and announce gatherings. Yet, it seemed destined for something far greater from the moment it arrived. Shipped across the ocean, cracked, recast, and ultimately silenced, this humble creation would witness the birth of a nation and become a silent voice for freedom. It endured through wars, protests, and celebrations, growing into a symbol of resilience and hope. Let's explore how the Liberty Bell, an iconic piece of history, came to embody the spirit of a country. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/ringing-true-the-liberty-bell-and-the-spirit-of-a-nation/  Genealogy Clips Podcast https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Free Genealogy Lookups https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings https://ancestralfindings.com/support #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Philadelphia is famous for its colonial and revolutionary buildings and artifacts, but Philadelphia existed long before the Liberty Bell was first rung, and its history extends well beyond the American Revolution.This book presents a comprehensive portrait of the city, from the region's original Lenape inhabitants to the myriad of residents in the twenty-first century. pcntv.com/donate pcntv.com/membership-signup pcntv.com

If myths are wisdom stories and cultural dreamings rather than superstitions, what might an updated American mythology be like? One that helps us heal the crack in the Liberty Bell of the national heart? That stories how we can be together here while protecting and renewing the land itself? That helps us reach higher psychological maturity and responsibility? Blog: "Let's Repair the Liberty Bell."Chalquist.com

The fate of our favorite plant hangs in the balance as America decides whether to elect a woman committed to legalizing cannabis federally and de-scheduling it out of the Controlled Substances Act, or a guy who openly admires a murderous dictator's approach to the Drug War,,, and by the way didn't lift a finger to stop the 1 million weed arrests that happened during his four years in office. Cry all you want MAGA weed bros, but thems the facts. As you will hear in this interview with Chris Goldstein, a longtime weed activist who's been arrested on federal charges for leading a massive monthly smoke out next to the Liberty Bell, once planted weed on the lawn of the statehouse in New Jersey, and oh yeah, earlier this year, sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris to talk cannabis reform in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.  Please light one up, have a listen, and then make sure you're registered to vote. PATREON Please support Great Moments in Weed HIstory on Patreon. Supporters get exclusive access to video versions of this podcast and private seshes, plus cool rewards like a signed book. And it truly helps us make the best show possible  EPISODE ARCHIVE Visit our podcast feed for 120+ episodes of Great Moments in Weed History, and subscribe now to get a new weekly podcast every Weednesday.

Dementia is a family disease that affects not just the afflicted person but everyone who loves, depends on, and cares for her. Alzheimer's and related diseases don't kill off their victims right away but instead drains them over years of their ability to think or do or even really be themselves. Watching that happen is horrifying and tests caregivers. Writer Will Doolittle knows this. Seven and one half years ago his wife Bella was diagnosed with Alzheimer and told she probably had eight years to live. He writes about how the disease has changed their lives. Rosemary's family care for her 98-year-old mother who is slowly disappearing. Ruth Fish is a nurse practitioner who offer support and hope and sees the bright spots for families like Doolittle's and Armao's. Will Doolittle is 64. He met his wife, Bella, when he was 13 and living in Saranac Lake, and she came over from Lake Placid to see her boyfriend, Dave, who was one of Will's best friends. Bella was 15. Will worked at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, his family's business, as a teenager, and then again after college and some time abroad. In 1986, he was living in Lake Placid,, working on the newspaper there, when he went into the Lake Placid bar P.J. O'Neill's and, after pushing through a crowd, saw a bartender he thought he recognized. "I think I know you," he said to Bella. "Yeah? Half the guys in here think they know me," she said. Before long  they were seeing each other. After several months, Will moved into the apartment in Saranac Lake where Bella lived with her two children, Travis and Ginny, who were 8 and 7.  Will and Bella got married in April of 1990, and the family moved the next year to Malone, where Will worked as the editor of the local paper, the Telegram.  Bella commuted to Saranac Lake to continue working as a photographer for the Enterprise, then took a job as a bartender at a notorious biker bar in Malone.  They moved to Glens Falls in the fall of 1993, where Will had taken a job as an editor at the Post-Star. He worked as night, Sunday, features, editorial page and special projects editor — not all at once — over the next 29 years, retiring in January of 2022 to stay home and take care of Bella full-time.  Bella worked various jobs and finished her undergraduate degree, then got a master's and a teaching certificate while she was working full time as a domestic violence counselor at Catholic Charities.  Will and Bella adopted their son Zo in 1990 and daughter Tam a couple of years later.  Bella took a job as a teacher and administrator for the Ticonderoga branch campus of North Country Community College but was forced to retire in 2018 after informing the college in 2017 she had been diagnosed with Alzheimers.   Will was able to keep working for a few years but eventually had to stop. He is now writing a memoir that will include what's happening with my life now with Bella. He also writes a Substack column about that which you can read here: https://kentingley.substack.com/ Ruth E. Fish is a certified family nurse practitioner with more than 35 years of experience in internal medicine and geriatrics. She is an educator for the Center for Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease at the Glens Falls NY Hospital. She holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from SUNY Plattsburgh and a master's from the Medical College of Virginia at Richmond in Family Nurse Practice and Community Healthy. She has been awarded the Warren County Bar Association's Liberty Bell prize for work helping adult reach physical and neuron-cognitive wellness. A nurse beloved by patients she also has an extensive volunteer history including helping refugees coming into her community. 

Dementia is a family disease that affects not just the afflicted person but everyone who loves, depends on, and cares for her. Alzheimer's and related diseases don't kill off their victims right away but instead drains them over years of their ability to think or do or even really be themselves. Watching that happen is horrifying and tests caregivers. Writer Will Doolittle knows this. Seven and one half years ago his wife Bella was diagnosed with Alzheimer and told she probably had eight years to live. He writes about how the disease has changed their lives. Rosemary's family care for her 98-year-old mother who is slowly disappearing. Ruth Fish is a nurse practitioner who offer support and hope and sees the bright spots for families like Doolittle's and Armao's. Will Doolittle is 64. He met his wife, Bella, when he was 13 and living in Saranac Lake, and she came over from Lake Placid to see her boyfriend, Dave, who was one of Will's best friends. Bella was 15. Will worked at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, his family's business, as a teenager, and then again after college and some time abroad. In 1986, he was living in Lake Placid,, working on the newspaper there, when he went into the Lake Placid bar P.J. O'Neill's and, after pushing through a crowd, saw a bartender he thought he recognized. "I think I know you," he said to Bella. "Yeah? Half the guys in here think they know me," she said. Before long they were seeing each other. After several months, Will moved into the apartment in Saranac Lake where Bella lived with her two children, Travis and Ginny, who were 8 and 7. Will and Bella got married in April of 1990, and the family moved the next year to Malone, where Will worked as the editor of the local paper, the Telegram. Bella commuted to Saranac Lake to continue working as a photographer for the Enterprise, then took a job as a bartender at a notorious biker bar in Malone. They moved to Glens Falls in the fall of 1993, where Will had taken a job as an editor at the Post-Star. He worked as night, Sunday, features, editorial page and special projects editor — not all at once — over the next 29 years, retiring in January of 2022 to stay home and take care of Bella full-time. Bella worked various jobs and finished her undergraduate degree, then got a master's and a teaching certificate while she was working full time as a domestic violence counselor at Catholic Charities. Will and Bella adopted their son Zo in 1990 and daughter Tam a couple of years later. Bella took a job as a teacher and administrator for the Ticonderoga branch campus of North Country Community College but was forced to retire in 2018 after informing the college in 2017 she had been diagnosed with Alzheimers. Will was able to keep working for a few years but eventually had to stop. He is now writing a memoir that will include what's happening with my life now with Bella. He also writes a Substack column about that which you can read here: https://kentingley.substack.com/ Ruth E. Fish is a certified family nurse practitioner with more than 35 years of experience in internal medicine and geriatrics. She is an educator for the Center for Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease at the Glens Falls NY Hospital. She holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from SUNY Plattsburgh and a master's from the Medical College of Virginia at Richmond in Family Nurse Practice and Community Healthy. She has been awarded the Warren County Bar Association's Liberty Bell prize for work helping adult reach physical and neuron-cognitive wellness. A nurse beloved by patients she also has an extensive volunteer history including helping refugees coming into her community.

Eddie continues his conversation with Liberty, a former Jehovahs Witness and victim of rape. Topics covered include shunning, scripture twisting and self-examination. Eddie RomanSearch N Rescue book

Nate Bell is an outspoken Never Trump conservative and has been politically homeless since 2016. A lifelong Republican until 2015, Nate served in the Arkansas State House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 where he chaired the State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee, served as House Chair of the Legislative Audit Subcommittee on State Agencies, and as House co-chair of the Joint Committee on Constitutional Amendments. After 3 terms in office, Nate chose not to seek re-election, but he remains politically active and stirs up “good trouble.” He and his wife of 34 years live sustainably and off-grid on 225 wilderness acres in a unique home they built themselves. They have 2 grown daughters and one grandson. Tune in for a conversation with Nate Bell that will nudge you to think deeper about your political choices.

Dana Carvey is an immensely talented and funny comedian. Sadly, Master of Disguise fails in almost every conceivable way to showcase that. It is loaded with one-note jokes and costumes that range from idiotic to absurdly racist. Thus, despite being a mild success financially, it failed to launch his career to the next level. Worse, Master of Disguise was despised by critics, narrowly avoiding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes by the slimmest of margins—it's a 1%. Audiences were also not in on the gags. And who can blame them? Most of the jokes far extend their welcome, and most of the absurd disguises do too. You'll barely laugh, you may cry, and you'll certainly never think of turtles the same. Now, sit back, blend in with an Oktoberfest from Reformation Brewery, and prepare to steal the Liberty Bell! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are open-hand slapping evil doers and screaming, "Who's your Daddy?"! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – 1,000 Faces... And Not A Single Clue! (0:00) Lingering Questions – For a movie centered around elaborate costumes, most of them are stupid. But which is the worst? (37:22) The "Turtle Club" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (52:05) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Notorious Flops with an all-time stinker Leonard Part Six! (1:03:57) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

The 33rd annual Jerusalem Puppet Festival opens tonight. This year's festival opens at the Liberty Bell park and includes dozens of local  and international productions. Reporter Arieh O'Sullivan spoke about puppets and the festival with Shahar Marom, artistic director of the Train Theatre and the Jerusalem Puppet Festival. (photo: courtesy) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to stand face-to-face with the legendary Walt Disney himself? In our latest episode, we uncover the groundbreaking arrival of the first-ever Walt Disney animatronic figure, set to make its grand debut alongside the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction at Disneyland. We share our excitement and discuss the ongoing need for Tomorrowland improvements. Plus, we delve into Disney's California Adventure, where a brand-new Coco boat ride and a significant expansion of Avengers Campus are on the horizon, doubling its size and introducing two thrilling new attractions. Tune in to hear our mixed feelings about Marvel's recent direction and what this means for Disney fans and locals alike.Get ready for some magical updates at Magic Kingdom, designed to keep pace with Epic Universe! We reveal the introduction of two Cars-inspired attractions in Frontierland, promising fresh experiences without duplicating Radiator Springs Racer from DCA. Speculation is rife about the possible reimagining of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the potential removal of Rivers of America and the Liberty Bell. The long-awaited Villains-inspired land, set to possibly be located behind the Haunted Mansion, finally gets a confirmation. While some of us have reservations about the villains, we can't deny the excitement and new dimension this will bring to the park's lineup. Join us as we explore what these thrilling expansions mean for Disney enthusiasts everywhere.Please Check Out Our Links Below: Our Sponsor:www.mainstreettravelco.com Email Us:circleofparks@gmail.com Our Website:www.circleofparks.com Facebook:www.facebook.com/circleofparks Instagram:www.instagram.com/circleofparks X:www.x.com/circleofparks Products we use: Our equipmentMicrophones: https://amzn.to/3T61oD5 Recorder: https://amzn.to/3Ibl4iuBluetooth Adapter: https://amzn.to/4a2MIufMicrophone Stand: https://amzn.to/3wrOrdSGoPro: https://amzn.to/3uT6RUlCable Organization: https://amzn.to/49oQAFUhttps://amzn.to/4bKe7CJhttps://amzn.to/3T5T1HEHeadphones: https://amzn.to/42S5FgG   Our Favorite Disney Books:Buying Disney's World: https://amzn.to/3T6z57AThe Disney Story: https://amzn.to/3T8j0hHThe Wonders of Walt Disney World: https://amzn.to/3wrLVErMeet the Disney Brothers: https://amzn.to/42RqxodPresenting Disneyland: https://amzn.to/3uIUqdISend us a Text Message.Support the Show.

After Dark with Hosts Rob & Andrew – Radicals supporting Hamas desecrated Washington DC's Union Station and a replica of the Liberty Bell, and nothing was done. This came on the heels of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking before a joint session of Congress. During his speech, he called those supporting Hamas “useful idiots,” falling for the propaganda of Iran. “Bibi, Bibi, We're not done! The intifada has just begun!”

Vice President Kamala Harris and more than 30 Capitol Hill lawmakers are not planning to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress today, claiming Republicans are using Netanyahu as a prop for political purposes. Meanwhile, outside pro-Palestinian protesters burn the American flag and vandalize The Liberty Bell. What or WHO Defines Terrorism? Guest: Sara Gonzales

This episode is sponsroed by Better Help. Content Advisory: This episode contains conversation about sexual assault. Please listen with care.  Former Michigan State University and ex-USA Gymnastics Larry Nassar is serving upwards of 175 years in prison after admitting to molesting some of the nation's top gymnasts for years under the guise of medical treatment. But while he rots in prison, the athletes he preyed upon are moving mountains to prevent more Larry Nassars from walking freely through the world. Grace French is one of those movers and shakers. The founder of the Army of Survivors movement, Grace has dedicated her life to changing the culture of sport, consent, and institutional accountability to make sure that no one has to endure sexual violence or abuse. She joins us in this episode to discuss her story, her advocacy work, and what it will take to keep more predators from infiltrating the culture of sports.   Show notes: Sexual assault is not your fault. If you need to talk, reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at any time at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org, that's R-A-I-N-N dot O-R-G. About Grace French: Grace French is a dancer, marketer, strategist, and founder. Grace is the President and Founder of The Army of Survivors. Her passion for dance lives on through her students that she coaches at a nationally recognized youth studio in Canton, Michigan. As a survivor of the now defamed Michigan State University doctor, Grace has dedicated her life to changing the culture of sport, consent, and institutional accountability to make sure that no one has to endure sexual violence or abuse. Her work in survivors' rights and advocacy for athletes' rights has been globally recognized, leading her to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 to urge the passage of a Worldwide Survivor Bill of Rights. She serves as an Advisory Board member for Safe Sport International as well as the International Safeguard for Children in Sport. Grace has worked on the expert advisory committees for several global projects with the likes of FIFA, the International Olympic Committee, World Players Associations, and the Sports & Rights Alliance. Grace is the recipient of the 2023 "Women who Shape the State" award, a 2022 Liberty Bell award from the Michigan Bar Association, one of the recipients of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2018 ESPYs, as well as a 2018 Glamour Women of the Year awardee. Grace received her BBA at University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. For more information, follow online and social media at: https://thearmyofsurvivors.org/ @thearmyofsurvivors (IG/Facebook)  @survivorsarmy (twitter) @gfrench555 (Insagram/Facebook) @gracewashere_ (Twitter)   Also…let it be known that: The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.   Check out our lovely sponsors Join ‘A Little Bit Culty' on Patreon Get poppin' fresh ALBC Swag Support the pod and smash this link Cult awareness and recovery resources Watch Sarah's TEDTalk   CREDITS:  Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames Production Partner: Citizens of Sound Producer: Will Retherford Writer & Co-Creator: Jess Tardy Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin  

The Liberty Bell tolled to celebrate the Declaration of Independence on this day in 1776. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Day in Legal History: Black Sox Scandal Jury SelectionOn July 5, 1921, jury selection commenced for one of the most infamous trials in baseball history: the Chicago "Black Sox" trial. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox, including the legendary "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, stood accused of conspiring to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The scandal shocked the nation, casting a shadow over America's beloved pastime and questioning the integrity of the sport.The players were charged with accepting bribes from gamblers in exchange for intentionally losing the series. The trial attracted immense public and media attention, with fans eagerly following every development. Despite compelling evidence and confessions from some players, the jury ultimately acquitted all eight defendants.However, the acquittal did not mean exoneration in the eyes of baseball's governing bodies. Newly appointed Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis took decisive action to restore the sport's integrity. On August 3, 1921, Landis issued a lifetime ban on all eight players involved in the scandal, regardless of the trial's outcome.The "Black Sox" trial remains a significant moment in legal and sports history, illustrating the complex interplay between law, ethics, and professional sports. The trial's legacy endures, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of corruption and the importance of maintaining trust in public institutions.A federal judge rejected Boehringer Ingelheim's attempt to block the Biden administration's Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which aims to reduce prescription drug costs. Chief Judge Michael P. Shea ruled against all of Boehringer Ingelheim's claims, stating the program is constitutional. The case centered on whether the Inflation Reduction Act's provision forcing drug companies to agree to a maximum fair price for selected drugs violates constitutional rights.Boehringer Ingelheim argued that the program infringed on the First Amendment (compelled speech), Fifth Amendment (due process and takings clauses), Eighth Amendment (excessive fines), the Administrative Procedure Act, and the unconstitutional conditions doctrine. However, Judge Shea determined that participation in Medicare and Medicaid is voluntary, even if economically incentivized, and the federal government can place conditions on participation in its programs. He clarified that Boehringer Ingelheim was not deprived of property interest since it had the option to withdraw before any data submission was required.Regarding the First Amendment claim, Shea found no support in precedent, likening required communications to standard price regulations. On the Eighth Amendment claim, he noted that Boehringer Ingelheim could not demonstrate a likelihood of success as the argument was novel and lacked precedent.The case, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, highlights ongoing legal challenges to the Biden administration's health plan, specifically targeting the reduction of high drug prices under the Inflation Reduction Act. The key issue here is the First Amendment argument, which was a central but unsupported claim in this case. Judge Shea's ruling emphasized that required communications for regulatory compliance do not constitute compelled speech under the First Amendment.Judge Tosses Boehringer Bid to Block Biden Drug Price PlanThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) faced a significant legal challenge when a Texas federal judge halted its rule banning noncompete clauses across the U.S. Judge Ada Brown sided with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a Texas tax firm, arguing that the FTC exceeded its authority. This decision, following recent Supreme Court rulings limiting agency powers, underscores the difficulties the FTC may encounter in implementing new regulations.The FTC's noncompete rule, which was to take effect on September 4, would have impacted around 30 million U.S. workers by prohibiting noncompete clauses that restrict job mobility within the same industry. FTC Chair Lina Khan has been advocating for broader antitrust regulation, including labor markets, but faced opposition from major business groups.This rule, adopted in April with a narrow 3-2 vote, was a rare move for the FTC, which has traditionally addressed competition issues through legal actions rather than broad rulemaking. Despite the FTC's assertion that it has the authority to issue such a rule, Brown ruled that the FTC Act of 1914 does not permit the agency to create substantive rules on unfair competition.Legal experts noted that the FTC's limited history with rulemaking poses challenges for the agency, especially in light of recent Supreme Court decisions that reduce judicial deference to regulatory interpretations. This context complicates the FTC's efforts to enforce the noncompete ban, potentially leading to further legal battles.Brown's ruling referenced the recent Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the Chevron deference principle, further complicating regulatory actions by the FTC. While this particular decision was limited to the plaintiffs in the case, it sets a precedent that could hinder future FTC regulations.FTC Noncompete Ban Freeze Signals Tough Legal Road for AgencyUS judge partially blocks FTC ban on worker noncompete agreements | ReutersA liberal group, Accountable.US, filed a complaint with the Washington DC Attorney General alleging that the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI), a nonprofit organization employing former White House Chief-of-Staff Mark Meadows, improperly funneled money to cover Meadows' legal bills related to investigations into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The complaint states that CPI gave a $1.2 million grant to Personnel Policy Operations (PPO), another nonprofit, which then transferred $1.1 million to the Constitutional Rights Defense Fund to fund legal defenses for Trump allies, including Meadows.Accountable.US argues that CPI's actions violate its nonprofit status, which requires operations to benefit the public, not partisan operatives. The complaint calls for the dissolution of CPI and PPO, claiming they serve private interests rather than public purposes. The DC Attorney General has the authority to dissolve nonprofits that fail to operate in the public interest.CPI, a key organization in conservative circles preparing for a potential second Trump administration, paid Meadows a substantial salary in 2022. The complaint underscores that nonprofits must not engage in political campaigning or private benefit operations to maintain their tax-exempt status. Additionally, another liberal group, Campaign for Accountability, previously filed a similar complaint with the IRS against CPI.The takeaway here is the requirement for nonprofits to operate for public benefit to retain tax-exempt status. This case raises questions about whether CPI and PPO violated these rules by financially supporting Meadows and other Trump allies.Mark Meadows Nonprofit Funneled Cash for Legal Bills, Group SaysA $170 million legal fee request from lawyers at Grant & Eisenhofer and three other firms remains unresolved after a Brooklyn federal judge rejected their antitrust settlement with Visa and Mastercard. The settlement, following nearly 20 years of litigation, aimed to reduce the interchange fees merchants pay for credit card transactions. Visa and Mastercard would have paid up to $113.3 million and $56.6 million, respectively, to cover the legal fees if the settlement was approved.Judge Margo Brodie ruled that the settlement did not sufficiently address the merchants' concerns, despite agreeing with the fee request terms. She argued that Visa and Mastercard could withstand a more substantial settlement, noting that merchants paid $100 billion in interchange fees in 2023 alone. The proposed agreement would have marginally reduced swipe fees and imposed caps for five years but still required merchants to honor all Visa and Mastercard transactions.The ruling means lawyers must renegotiate better terms with Visa and Mastercard, extending the timeline for any resolution. Despite rejecting the settlement, Brodie's decision cannot be appealed and would be difficult to overturn.Opposition to the settlement came from major retailers and trade groups, who deemed it inadequate. The National Retail Federation, while not yet addressing the legal fee request, expressed broader concerns over the deal.In related legal fee news, Tesla and the legal team that voided Elon Musk's $56 billion stock options will argue over compensation, with the plaintiffs seeking around $7 billion, contrasting Tesla's suggestion of $13.6 million. Additionally, firms involved in a $48 million settlement with Progressive over undervalued wrecked cars seek up to $16 million in fees, and Hagens Berman and Cohen Milstein were awarded $51.6 million in a chicken price-fixing case.Legal Fee Tracker: Lawyers' $170 million payday in limbo in credit card swipe fee case | ReutersThis week's closing theme is by John Philip Sousa.This week's closing theme features the renowned American composer and conductor, John Philip Sousa. Known as "The March King," Sousa is celebrated for his extraordinary contributions to military and patriotic music. Born in Washington, D.C., in 1854, Sousa's career spanned more than five decades, during which he composed over 130 marches, as well as numerous operettas, suites, songs, and waltzes. His music epitomizes the spirit and vibrancy of American patriotism, making him a household name and a significant figure in American music history.Sousa began his musical journey at a young age, joining the U.S. Marine Band as an apprentice when he was only 13. He later became the band's conductor, elevating its status to the finest military band in the country. After leaving the Marine Band, Sousa formed his own civilian band, which gained international fame and toured extensively. His impact on American music extends beyond composition; he also championed music education and the development of the sousaphone, a marching band instrument named in his honor.Today, we highlight one of his most famous marches, "The Liberty Bell." Composed in 1893, this piece is instantly recognizable and has been used in various contexts, including as the theme for the British comedy series "Monty Python's Flying Circus." "The Liberty Bell" was originally intended for an operetta that never came to fruition, but it found new life as a standalone march. The piece is a perfect example of Sousa's ability to blend melodic ingenuity with rousing rhythmic patterns, capturing the essence of American optimism and pride. The title was inspired by a suggestion from Sousa's wife after they saw a picture of the Liberty Bell in a magazine.Without further ado, enjoy "The Liberty Bell" by John Philip Sousa. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Ryan and Julie discuss top patriotic and historical travel destinations in the United States, sharing personal experiences and tips for visiting these iconic American sites.Washington D.C.Many attractions are free, including Smithsonian museums and monumentsNeed reservations for some sites like Capitol toursGreat public transportation systemVery hot in summerPhiladelphia, PAHome to Independence National Historical Park, Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin MuseumMore walkable than D.C.Reading Market recommended for foodNew York CityHistorical sites from colonial era through present dayRecommended: Tenement Museum for immigrant historyBalance historical sites with other NYC attractionsBoston, MAFreedom Trail highlights Revolutionary War sitesVery walkable cityGreat starting point for New England tourMount Rushmore and Crazy Horse MemorialIconic monuments in South DakotaGateway to exploring national parks in western U.S.Colonial WilliamsburgImmersive historical reenactment experienceCan be combined with Busch Gardens theme parkGettysburg and other Civil War sitesInteractive experiences bring history to lifeTravel Planning Tips:Work with travel advisors to create custom itinerariesConsider guided tours for historical destinationsBalance historical sites with other attractionsContact Info: Julie@CreatingMagicVacations.com Ryan@CreatingMagicVacations.comNext Episode: Discussing what to do with 3 vacation days based on listener input~~~~~~~Grab Ryan's free download for planning the ultimate family all-inclusive vacation: https://bit.ly/allinclusivevacationtoptipsGrab Julie's free download for a baby and toddler vacation packing list: https://bit.ly/babytoddlerpackinglistReady to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Contact Ryan at ryan@creatingmagicvacations.com Contact Julie at julie@creatingmagicvacations.com Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page! Please share the show with your travel buddies!! Click this link and share the show! Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!

Saying “Let freedom ring” can sound trite with many different interpretations, depending on the listener and the agenda of the listener. However, freedom is extremely valuable and if it is taken away, it becomes even more valuable. Our country has had many patriots who fought long and hard for our freedoms. Sure, America has faced its share of mistakes through the centuries, but the founders demonstrated such wisdom in crafting declarations that provided freedom and included checks and balances to protect our freedoms. We need to continue to fight hard to protect our history and our freedom. There are so many areas we could cover in a podcast about our freedoms, but we will focus here on just a few as we are reminded of the rich legacy and privileges we enjoy that were fought hard and long for. So let freedom ring! *Get the free download in the article of the "Bill of Rights." Full article here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/let-freedom-ring/ Get our weekly articles & downloads here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter 

On America's bicentennial, a remarkable Israeli rescue mission spreads the message of liberty throughout the world. Click here to read Rabbi Soloveichik's essay about the Liberty Bell.

Join us as we chat about our recent trip to Philly.   Learn some tips on seeing the historical sites. We found some great places for Happy Hour and  the famous Philly Cheesesteak.   Here are  the links to the places we talked about  Her Place Restaurant - https://www.herplacephilly.com PJ Clarks- https://pjclarkes.com/location/philadelphia/ Curio Hotel - https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/phlqqqq-the-logan-philadelphia/ Liberty Bell- https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/stories-libertybell.htm Independence Square- https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/independencesquarebuildings.htm Wolly Mammoth Bar - https://woollymammothphilly.com/index.html Reading Ternimal Market - https://readingterminalmarket.org    

In most cities, this podcast is worthless. But in Philadelphia, it's worth 50 bucks. Scarlet Witch answers many questions about Philly commodities and historical locations in this episode. The next topic in City of Brotherly Shove Month is Fallen (1998).

About Jaclyn Strominger My brief story, since graduating college, I have always found and been successful my corporate careers. However, something was always nagging at me, I was not really being fulfilled. I found my passion for helping others transform when I stared coaching and training team members. Further, when I began coaching other entrepreneurs to help them grow their business, I truly found my calling. At the core, Leap to your Success focuses on the LEAP Foundation; Leveraging Communication, Energy, Action and Performance. Thought process we complete action plans that include mindset exercises that truly transform individuals and businesses. I have had many incredible interviews and most podcasters are intrigued with our focus on vision, core values, mindset and accountability that leads businesses and individuals to act and grow into their vision! http://leaptoyoursuccess.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JaclynStrominger/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jstrominger/ ------------------------------------------------------ Collabpalooza Solopreneur Automation Summit https://collabpalooza.com When It Worked Podcast https://getoffthedamnphone.com/podcast 00:00:00 When It Worked  Podcast Welcomes Jacqueline Strominger 00:00:21 Queue Up Questions, Poll Audience 00:01:30 Vessels Canoe, Kayak, Ski Boat, Surfboard 00:03:23 Covergirl, Revlon, Cockapoo, Liberty Bell, National Treasure 00:05:43 Black Sandwich With Bacon Lettuce Tomato And Anchovies 00:06:56 Kathy Comic Strip Reveals Baby Girl Reveal 00:09:27 Burn Lifeline, Lock In Sweden 00:09:57 Spanish Naming Conventions For Artists 00:10:57 Cinephile Devoted, Knowledgeable Fan Of Movies 00:12:35 Jacklyn, Daffy Duck, Elma, Rabbit 00:13:47 Porky Pig Vs Rabbit 00:15:50 Forest Whitaker Won Oscar For Portraying Dictator In Rwanda 00:16:42 Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Congo Dictators 00:18:06 Ocampos Dramas, Jacqueline Stromanger Praises 00:18:35 Leap To Success Why It Started 00:20:13 Rebooting, Defining Mission, And Gaining Momentum 00:21:52 Get Unstuck, Take Big Leap 00:25:54 Mission Statements Drive Business Success 00:27:45 Step By Step Guide For Jump Starts 00:28:11 Unpack And Move Clients Forward 00:29:18 Top 10 Core Values For Success 00:31:07 Chat

In this episode, Jared & Stephen discuss getting DENIED, going skydiving and testing out a "new camera," nearly getting arrested at the Liberty Bell & much more! Text us with any thoughts and questions regarding this episode at 313-710-9729. This is RAWtalk Episode 097!

We come out of break with ‘Out Where The Wild Things Are' by Luke Combs, the song that Gio thinks he got duped listening to. We turned our attention to the Knicks and Julius Randle and surgery still being on the table. They beat the Sixers in Philadelphia and Spike Eskin was there ringing the Sixers Liberty Bell. C-Lo returns for an update but first Gio said this has been a slow week, probably because the kids are home. Spike was at the Sixers game ringing the Liberty Bell and then the Knicks beat them. Hal Steinbrenner talked about still looking to improve the team but nothing is imminent. Gio said, on paper, this is the worst Mets rotation. A caller said Evan Roberts claims to have never BBQ'd.

Hour 1 Jerry is in for Boomer today so it's Gio & Jerry. We start with the news of Kodai Senga's injury and how baseball players are always injured and how frustrating it is for fans. Gio said the Mets have given no reason for the fans to care this year. Jerry disagrees and says there's intrigue for him. Gio thinks the Mets will win 75-80 games but there are no expectations. The MLB uniforms continue to be a discussion point as you can see their privates through their see through pants. C-Lo is here for his first update but first we talked about his Aruba hoodie that screams tourism. We heard from Senga through his interpreter. The Knicks beat the Sixers 110-96 in Philly. In the final segment of the hour, Gio was enjoying the lyrics to Luke Combs' ‘Where The Wild Things Are'. Gio was disappointed to read that it was not about Combs' brother, just some random guy.  Hour 2 We come out of break with ‘Out Where The Wild Things Are' by Luke Combs, the song that Gio thinks he got duped listening to. We turned our attention to the Knicks and Julius Randle and surgery still being on the table. They beat the Sixers in Philadelphia and Spike Eskin was there ringing the Sixers Liberty Bell. C-Lo returns for an update but first Gio said this has been a slow week, probably because the kids are home. Spike was at the Sixers game ringing the Liberty Bell and then the Knicks beat them. Hal Steinbrenner talked about still looking to improve the team but nothing is imminent. Gio said, on paper, this is the worst Mets rotation. A caller said Evan Roberts claims to have never BBQ'd.  Hour 3 A couple at the Mavericks game called Kevin Durant a ‘bitch' when he came out of the locker room for shootaround. He approached them and was nice enough to tell security not to throw them out. The loser guy said, ‘I have a podcast'. C-Lo returns for an update, but first Fat Perez called in while traveling in Virginia. In the final segment of the hour, C-Lo gets to actually do his update and starts with the Knicks win in Philly last night. Kodai Senga is going to miss the start of the season, and Jerry wonders why the Mets wouldn't sign a guy like Jordan Montgomery. Tiger Woods' son did not do great at his qualifying event, but he was being followed and he really needed more security at the event for him.  Hour 4 We talked about the Mets season and the first series which is at home against the Brewers, in what Gio is calling a ‘David Stearns revenge spot'. Gio wonders if fans will want to go to that Brewers series if it's cold, as it surely will be. A caller compares Steve Cohen to a ‘two pump chump'. A caller said Evan Roberts has made it by having his in-laws live with him. He has a chef and a constant hall pass to go to games. C-Lo is here for his final update of the day and starts with talk of Blake Snell and the Yankees. The Moment of The Day involves the terrible new MLB uniforms where you can see the players' junk. In the final segment of the week, Peter Schwartz has a ‘long snapping son' and is going to do his college commitment live on our show next week.

Did you know a verse of Leviticus 25 is written on the Liberty Bell? What does that have to do with Luke 4 and Isaiah 61? 

The inalienable right to “the pursuit of happiness” is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, but what exactly does that phrase mean? While Americans today may associate it with the right to own land, opulence or some other act of acquisition, many prominent founders understood it to mean something quite different. In this episode National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen returns to the show to give us the full story and discuss his new book The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.  The Pursuit of Happiness will be available on February 13 via all major publishers. Click here to pre-order your copy, find out more about the book, and see Jeffrey Rosen's upcoming speaking engagements. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out Jeffrey's previous appearance on our show in The Road to Now #211, The Constitution w/ Jeffrey Rosen.   Highlighted Resources from the National Constitution Center –The Interactive Constitution (also available as an app in the apple and android app stores) –We The People with Jeffrey Rosen podcast (available anywhere you get The Road to Now) –Educational Video Series If you're in Philadelphia, you can visit the National Constitution Center, which is located just steps from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Click here to plan your visit! This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.  

We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors This week, from 2021: Whitechapel Bell Foundry dates back to 1570, and was the factory in which Big Ben and the Liberty Bell were made. But it shut in 2017, and a fight for its future has been raging ever since.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

The story of the Liberty Bell is far more confusing than we imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.