POPULARITY
Categories
32 episodes with life after
15 episodes with life after
8 episodes with life after
34 episodes with life after
14 episodes with life after
14 episodes with life after
10 episodes with life after
6 episodes with life after
7 episodes with life after
9 episodes with life after
7 episodes with life after
4 episodes with life after
8 episodes with life after
7 episodes with life after
6 episodes with life after
12 episodes with life after
4 episodes with life after
3 episodes with life after
6 episodes with life after
6 episodes with life after
4 episodes with life after
7 episodes with life after
4 episodes with life after
3 episodes with life after
18 episodes with life after
4 episodes with life after
5 episodes with life after
The Roman pattern didn't end with Rome. It just kept running at a smaller scale.Everywhere the Western Empire had held together — Hispania, Gaul, North Africa, Italy, Britain — the political form gave out, but the substance didn't disappear. It fragmented, reassembled, and kept running the same three-part pattern at a new scale: money weakens the center, borders get harder to defend, and power drifts from institutions to individuals. That's the kill chain. And every post-Roman kingdom ran it, in slightly different form, over the next three centuries.By 800 AD, a Frankish king was crowned Emperor of the Romans by a pope who was still running what was left of Roman administration. 324 years after the "fall." The empire hadn't come back. It had been transformed — Roman memory fused with post-Roman military and economic power, held together by the Church.This is the finale of the "Life After the Fall of Rome" series. It's the synthesis of every argument the series has made: what actually happens when a civilization ends. And it's the setup for what comes next — because the Roman pattern didn't start with the fall. It started centuries earlier in the Republic. That's where we're going next.CHAPTERS:00:00 The Roman Pattern Didn't End with Rome02:03 Money, Borders, Power: The Three Fault Lines08:32 Visigothic Hispania: Religion as a Political Wall15:06 Frankish Gaul: The Most Successful Adaptation22:27 North Africa: Vandals, Byzantines, and Arabs28:13 Lombard Italy: Decentralization as Survival33:23 Anglo-Saxon Britain: The Frontier That Collapsed First38:21 The Papacy: How the Church Kept the Substance41:13 The Byzantine East: The Roman System That Survived47:38 800 AD: Charlemagne Becomes Emperor of the Romans51:24 The Modern Question: Money, Borders, Power Today1:00:33 Where the Pattern Started: The RepublicSOURCESPeter Heather — The Fall of the Roman Empire (2006) — the argument that barbarian kingdoms were assembled from Roman parts, not opposed to RomeMary Beard — the "lights went out" version of the fall was largely invented by later generationsBrian Ward-Perkins — The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization (2005) — the archaeological evidence for material collapse, especially in BritainProcopius — History of the Wars — Belisarius's secretary, firsthand witness to the Vandal War and Justinian's Italian campaignsThe Corpus Juris Civilis (Justinian Code, compiled 530s) — the surviving Roman legal framework
FMX pioneer Matt Buyten joins the Whiskey Throttle Show to talk about his incredible career, the rise of freestyle motocross, X Games, Nitro Circus, and the life-changing crash that left him paralyzed. From unforgettable stories to hard earned perspective, this is an episode you won't want to miss.---Hey guys! If you like our content, show your support by leaving a LIKE, a COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE! It'll really help us out, and if you REALLY like our stuff, hit the NOTIFICATION BELL button so you never miss a post from us!Cheers! • Ping & the WTM Crew---Click the link below and get you some killer threads!WTM MERCH!! - https://www.whiskeythr...Check out our website and socials to stay updated on what we do next!Whiskey Throttle Media Website:https://whiskeythrottlmedia.comWTM Instagram: @whiskeythrottlemediaTimestamps:00:00 Intro & Show Sponsors02:43 Welcome Matt Buyten03:47 Life After the Accident08:41 Motocross Risks & Mental Health11:51 Seven X Games Gold Medals12:37 Has X Games Lost Its Magic?20:55 Growing Up in Carson City, Nevada23:25 Buyten Family History & Dutch Roots29:12 How Motocross Became an Obsession35:17 Discovering Freestyle Motocross37:13 Ready to Quit Before the Big Break40:44 The X Games Qualifier That Changed Everything48:21 Winning His First X Games Gold53:02 Building the Ultimate Step-Up Bike56:40 Colby Raha & The Evolution of Big Air57:28 The Nevada Freestyle Crew01:00:19 Surviving 24 Years in Freestyle Motocross01:08:18 Riding Smarter & Managing Risk01:13:18 Breaking Down the Step-Up Rivalries01:18:52 Mid-Show Break01:27:08 Life After Freestyle & Monster Jam01:32:48 Becoming a Monster Jam Driver01:40:58 Chasing New Challenges01:47:34 Recovering From Paralysis01:53:50 Learning to Accept Help02:01:30 Why He Still Loves Motocross02:08:44 Goals for the Future02:16:12 Favorite Tracks & Riding Style02:23:30 Current Motocross Talk02:28:25 Final Sponsors02:42:19 Closing Thoughts
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith. Interview Purpose The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change. This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking. Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career. Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity. 2. Turning Fear into Fuel Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus. Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success. 3. Competition Is Not the Enemy Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character. Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability. 4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs: Lifestyle inflation Supporting others without boundaries Delegating financial decisions without understanding them Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning. Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness. 5. Mentorship and Environment Matter Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership. Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes. 6. Preparing for Life After the Dream Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports. Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose. 7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality Smith draws a direct parallel between: Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience. Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own. Notable Quotes “I turned my fear into fire.” “There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.” “I treated every season like it was my last.” “You don’t want to owe. You want to own.” “Don’t be scared of competition.” “The gain outweighs the strain.” “Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.” Overall Message Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making. His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones. #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bill Ackman built one of the most closely watched hedge funds on Wall Street; when he speaks, markets move. Literally. Today, he joins Nicole to break down the opportunities he's seeing in the market, which companies are in his portfolio, and what could trigger the next 2008. Bill walks Nicole through his investing playbook, the biggest mistake new investors make, and whether we're in an AI bubble. Then, Nicole and Bill play a rapid-fire round of Bullish or Bearish where Bill gives his takes on gold, Bitcoin, Chipotle, Starbucks, T-bills, Trump, and Mamdani. Bill also gets personal about his inheritance plans for his four daughters, what he actually thinks makes someone successful in business, and whether he would run for office. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Follow Bill Ackman on X Learn about Pershing Square Here's what Nicole covers with Bill: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:14 Bill Ackman on the State of the Economy Right Now 03:00 Who Wins the AI Race: OpenAI vs. Anthropic vs. SpaceX 04:31 Why a Great Business Is Like a Bond 05:56 Is the Stock Market Too Expensive Right Now? 07:01 Where to Put Your First $1,0000 7:39 Inside Pershing Square's 12-15 Stock Portfolio 09:22 Democratizing Hedge Funds with PSUS 10:39 Buying Stocks at a Discount 11:18 Apple's Innovation Problem and Life After the iPhone 12:33 The Best Advice for New Investors 14:06 Are We in an AI Bubble? 16:46 Predicting the Future and the Next Financial Crisis 17:52 Why You Should Never Borrow Against Your Stocks 19:20 Carl Icahn's Billion-Dollar Leverage Cautionary Tale 20:16 The Worst Investing Advice He's Ever Heard 23:00 Fixing the Retirement Crisis 25:48 Bullish or Bearish: Gold, Bitcoin, Chipotle, Starbucks, Trump and Mamdani 33:30 What It's Like When Your Tweets Move Markets 35:15 Would Ackman Ever Run for Mayor of NYC? 38:01 The World He Wants for His Four Daughters (and His Inheritance Plan) 42:25 The Real Formula for Success in Business 44:21 Bill Ackman's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.
The Roman Empire didn't really fall. It just changed its uniform.In September of 590, Rome was down to 30,000 people rattling around inside a city built for a million. The Lombards were at the gates. No army, no treasury, no functioning administration. Just one man — Gregory, the new pope — negotiating with the Lombards, feeding the city out of church granaries, and paying the soldiers with church silver. The Empire couldn't do any of it anymore. The Church could.That's the moment the transfer completes. Not through conquest or revolution — through vacancy. The Church had spent two centuries growing inside the Roman administrative apparatus: adopting the Roman geographic grid, seating bishops as civil judges, running the grain supply. When the political form gave out, the substance migrated to the institution still doing the work.This is Episode 5 of the "Life After the Fall of Rome" series — the capstone argument. The evidence is hiding in plain sight: Christian basilicas are literally repurposed Roman civic buildings. Church vocabulary (diocese, parish, pontiff, cardinal) is Roman administrative terminology. Western property law still runs on Justinian's Code. The Catholic Church is the longest-continuously-operating Roman institution on Earth.▶️ START HERE — Episode 1: "Rome Didn't Fall" https://youtu.be/iHvJUx1cNSQ?si=E2RiiMtquuar9N6t▶️ Full playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtUC344qk-mpdez1lz7Gd6kLrhehvVX_E▶️ Vatican companion episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdksZGOXVeY#FallOfRome #CatholicChurch #RomanEmpire #PopeGregory #ChurchHistory #TheRomanPatternCHAPTERS:00:00 Rome Didn't Fall — It Just Changed Its Uniform02:05 Rome Was Held Together by Administration, Not Armies05:35 313 AD: Constantine Integrates the Church07:40 The Church Adopts the Roman Grid09:02 Bishops Take Over Governance12:03 The Monasteries as Rome's Backup Drives14:53 Gregory the Great and the Lombards at the Gates (590)18:11 Why the Barbarian Kings Needed the Church23:09 The Evidence Hiding in Plain Sight24:33 Political Forms Change — Substance Migrates
The 3 time award winning #Devon&TheDuke is back! WWE and TNA Hall of Famer Devon Dudley and award-winning media specialist Duke Loves Rasslin return for Episode 78, and this week, the nergy is off the charts. Joining the fellas is none other than the powerhouse herself, the #1 Fit Mommy, Ajiea Lee Hargrave!Ajiea brings her signature fire, seamlessly blending in with Devon and Duke's classic banter while dropping absolute gems, hilarious stories, and deep, heartfelt truths.Here is what is on deck in this must-listen episode:Duke's Weekly Gripe Session: Devon officially declares that Duke needs a little bit of Jesus in his life because he simply cannot stop complaining about CM Punk and Cody Rhodes.An Elite Resume: Ajiea details her incredible, multi-faceted journey from dominating as a former NCAA Champion Gymnast and Personal Trainer to her rewarding work as an Elder Care Specialist and her reigning status as the #1 Fit Mommy.The Tonight Show Manifestation: How Ajiea went from being the president of the Jimmy Fallon fan club during her college days to actually standing on the stage of The Tonight Show alongside Jimmy himself!Star-Studded Training Sessions: Ajiea talks about training one of her favorite vocalists Tiny from the legendary R&B group Xscape, being a massive fan of Tiny's husband, T.I., and working directly with their daughter.Overcoming the Odds: In a deeply personal and moving moment, Ajiea opens up about her journey as a survivor of sexual assault and how she found her strength.Real-Talk Parenting Boundaries: How her own childhood experiences shaped her parenting style, including a strict "no sleepovers" rule for her daughter. Devon instantly agrees, sharing how he applies the exact same protective boundaries with his own kids.Standing Strong Against the Trolls: Ajiea shares a heartfelt thank you to Devon and Duke for stepping up and defending her when racist online trolls tried to harass her in late 2025.Life After the Fed: What is next on the horizon for Ajiea after her departure from WWE?Folding Duke Like a Pretzel? Find out what led to Ajiea threatening to turn The Duke into a human pretzel! And Much, Much More!Listen Now: Don't miss a single second of the chemistry, the laughter, and the raw honesty of this episode. Subscribe, rate, and review the Devon & The Duke Podcast on your favorite streaming app!Who do you want to see step into the ring—or the guest chair—next to face off with you and Devon?** Shop better hydration today. Visit & use the promo code DukeLovesRasslin to save on your next order! ****All views expressed are that of those expressing them. Pull Up Your Skinny Jeans if you don't like it! **
Howard Robertson had every reason to go down the wrong path. His parents died. His siblings were in the streets. But instead of following them he chose corrections — and over a 22 year career from the late 1970s to the early 2000s he rose from correctional officer to captain to deputy warden to warden of Rikers Island — the largest and most violent jail in America. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Howard pulls back the curtain on everything — from his brutal upbringing to what made him choose corrections to what Rikers Island looked like from the inside during its most violent era to the notorious inmates he encountered to how programs reduced violence to how politicians destroyed what it could have been to the problems with closing it and what the future of Rikers Island really looks like. _____________________________________________ #rikersisland #jail #truecrimestories _____________________________________________ Thank you to FACTOR & GLD for sponsoring this episode: Factor: Head to http://factormeals.com/lockedin50off and use code lockedin50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). _____________________________________________ GLD: New customers get 40% Off with code LOCKEDIN at https://www.gld.com/ _____________________________________________ Connect with Howard Robertson: https://www.amazon.com/Student-Game-Become-Unstoppable-Smarts/dp/1977283896 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Howard Robertson's Unlikely Journey 01:12 Overcoming Tragedy and Choices 02:29 Early Mindset: Learning from Role Models 03:53 Shooting for the Moon: Mentorship & Goals 05:02 Rising Above Average Through Hard Work 07:01 Is Drive Innate or Learned? 07:42 Family, Bad Paths, and Purpose 08:03 Helping Inmates and Preventing Recidivism 09:36 From Speaking to Writing: Reaching Youth 10:16 Authenticity in Storytelling: Why the Book Matters 11:01 Personal Stories: Bullying, Friendship, and Impact 13:02 How the Past Shapes Leadership Style 14:47 Navigating Street Ties Inside Rikers 18:00 Inmate Politics and Safe Resolutions 21:22 Respect, Boundaries & Saying No 23:40 Life Lessons and Staying Clean 24:43 Sponsor Segment: Factor Meals 27:40 Entering Corrections: Career Choice 29:34 Knowing the Community: Double-Edged Sword 30:14 Respect, Fairness, and Avoiding Violence 32:00 Overcrowding, Programs, and Jail Services 34:49 Correctional Culture: Then and Now 36:32 Political Changes & Rikers' Decline 41:13 Burough Jails, Funding, and Flawed Solutions 44:43 Sponsor Segment: GLD Chains 45:56 Corrections Leadership & Barriers to Progression 47:13 Mass Incarceration, Bad Policy, and Population Issues 51:01 Physical Conditions & Racial Makeup 54:35 Bail, Releases, and Systemic Injustice 56:39 Promotions, Process & Rules of the System 01:00:31 Programs: Entertainment and Violence Reduction 01:03:35 The Winner's Dorm: Transforming Inmates 01:04:41 Solitary Confinement: Problems & Alternatives 01:08:06 Expanding Special Housing and Culture Change 01:10:44 Medical, Mental Health, and Malingering 01:13:36 Mental Health, Career Impact and Life After 01:14:50 Defining Real Success for Youth 01:15:55 Numbers that Shock: Mass Incarceration 01:17:00 Notorious and Celebrity Inmates 01:18:36 Retirement, New Mission, and Legacy 01:18:56 Biggest Takeaways: Excuse-Free Success 01:19:56 Book Recommendation & Final Thoughts _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Everywhere Rome fell, civilization transformed. In Britain, it stopped.That's not a myth. That's what actually happened. Everywhere else the empire fell — Gaul, Hispania, Italy, North Africa — the barbarian successor kingdoms absorbed Roman administration and kept the machine running. The Franks kept Roman law. The Visigoths kept the Christian church. The Ostrogoths kept the Senate and the aqueducts. Even the Vandals in North Africa kept Roman urban life going.In Britain, none of that happened. The Roman garrisons pulled out in 407. The emperor told the Britons to defend themselves in 410. And when the Anglo-Saxons arrived, they didn't do what every other post-Roman successor group did. They didn't inherit. They built wooden halls next to abandoned Roman villas and let the villas fall down. Latin didn't evolve into a Romance language the way it did in Gaul and Hispania — it just vanished. Christianity didn't survive the transition — Pope Gregory the Great had to send Augustine of Canterbury in 597 to start over from pagan ground. Cities didn't get built on top of the old Roman ones — they got built somewhere else while Colchester sat empty for centuries.This is Episode 4 of the "Life After the Fall of Rome" series. Britain is the comparison case for the whole thesis. Everywhere else Rome fell, it transformed. Britain is the exception that proves the rule — the one place where the Hollywood version of the fall (villas abandoned, libraries lost, languages disappeared, lights actually going out) turned out to be true. And the reason it happened is quieter and more dangerous than any invasion narrative: successors who chose not to inherit.The barbarians didn't destroy Roman Britain. Roman Britain was already failing on its own. What the Anglo-Saxons did was build something entirely different on top of it — a new culture with no interest in preserving what came before. That indifference, more than any battle, is what real collapse actually looks like.If you're new to the series, start with Episode 1 ("Rome Didn't Fall — Here's What Actually Happened") linked below.
Lito Villanueva went from a junior Air Force cyber specialist to a military contractor in Afghanistan, a special operations communications expert, and eventually a volunteer supporting teams near the front lines of the war in Ukraine.In this episode, of Urban Valor, Lito shares the uncensored story of leaving the U.S. Air Force after two years, landing a $164,500 Afghanistan contractor job at 21, surviving daily mortar attacks at FOB Shank—better known as “Rocket City”—and entering the hidden world of special operations, C4ISR, military communications, drones, intelligence, surveillance, and kinetic strike operations.He also opens up about the psychological cost of war, witnessing lethal operations, returning home disconnected from civilian life, battling depression, and finding a new sense of purpose through veteran suicide prevention and humanitarian work.Years later, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Lito entered the country alone with humanitarian aid and eventually joined a team that needed his expertise in tactical communications, blue-force tracking, intelligence organization, and battlefield command-and-control systems.
Aryan Brotherhood leader, Michael Thompson, reveals what life was really like inside California's most violent prisons — from Old Folsom and San Quentin to the rise of The Brand, prison gang politics, violence, survival, and ultimately walking away. In this explosive interview, he breaks down how the Aryan Brotherhood gained power behind the walls, how prison gangs controlled money, drugs, alcohol, protection, and violence, and why the California prison system of the 1970s was unlike anything seen today. He also opens up about growing up on a Native reservation, being recruited inside prison, surviving brutal conflicts, getting shot multiple times, building influence within the AB, and the moment he decided to leave that life behind. This is a rare inside look at the Aryan Brotherhood, Old Folsom Prison, prison gang history, redemption, and the reality of surviving decades behind bars. Go Support Michael! YouTube: @michaelskythompson Book: https://a.co/d/0cfbYgLn This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Cash App! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/1ekoiacn #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit https://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Superpower! Head to https://superpower.com and use code CONNECT at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod #AryanBrotherhood #PrisonStories #FolsomPrison #PrisonGangs #TrueCrime #TheBrand #CaliforniaPrisons #SanQuentin #PrisonInterview #TrueCrimePodcast Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Opening: Gangs and Violence in Prison 01:17 Michael Thompson's Background & Aryan Brotherhood 02:53 Prison System Changes Over Time 04:40 California's Prison Expansion & Crime Trends 06:08 Race, Gang Control, and Prison Culture 09:13 Growing Up on a Native American Reservation 14:09 Survival, Community, and Formative Years 21:50 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cash App 23:15 Transition: Institutional Life & Youth Ranch 27:03 Joining the Aryan Brotherhood: Gangs in 70s Prisons 33:59 Violence, Rackets, and Organized Crime Inside 41:44 Weapons and Survival in Prison 44:04 This Episode Is Sponsored By Superpower 45:27 Folsom's Culture of Violence 53:10 Structure and Economics of the Aryan Brotherhood 01:05:04 Building the Brand: Racketeering & Operations 01:13:47 Evolution of White Supremacy and Expansion 01:23:09 Moving to San Quentin & Gang Alliances 01:36:18 Forming the Commission: Running the Organization 01:46:13 Stepping Away: Moral Dilemmas and Defection 01:55:15 Testimony, Cooperation, and Attempts on His Life 02:09:41 Life After the Brand and Modern Incarcerations 02:18:28 Release, Challenges, and Reflections 02:27:32 Life After Prison & Giving Back 02:32:31 Memoir, Advocacy, and Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Let us know what you think!Security Halt's Med Group - https://zcform.com/QA5QsClick the link for a FREE consultation with My Med Team to see how we can help. What if your business could change lives beyond the products it sells?In Episode 448 of the Security Halt! Podcast, Deny Caballero sits down with Marine Corps veteran and entrepreneur Sean Abrusci, founder of Abrusci's Coffee, to discuss how purpose, service, and entrepreneurship can continue long after military service ends.Sean shares his journey from serving in the Marine Corps to building a coffee company with a mission far greater than selling coffee. By partnering with nonprofits and supporting organizations that serve veterans and communities around the world, he has built a business model centered on impact rather than profit alone. Together, Deny and Sean discuss military transition, finding purpose after service, Warrior Rising, nonprofit partnerships, and how veterans can build businesses that create meaningful change.Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or searching for your next mission after the military, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration. Listen now. Follow the show. Share this with the veteran or entrepreneur who needs to hear it. Chapters:00:00 Intro – Meet Sean Abruscis of Abruscis Coffee 01:00 Why Sean Joined the Marine Corps 03:15 Conquering Self-Doubt and Military Challenges 04:20 Boot Camp and Earning the Eagle, Globe & Anchor 06:00 Preparing for War During the Afghanistan Surge 08:15 Life in the Fleet and Learning from Combat Veterans 10:00 Leadership Lessons and Brotherhood in the Marines 13:10 Deployment to Sangin, Afghanistan 16:00 Camp Leatherneck and the Reality of Combat 19:30 IEDs, Complacency, and Staying Alive 23:50 Second Deployment and the Transition to a Peacetime Marine Corps 27:00 Leaving the Marines and Finding a New Mission 29:00 Losing Friends to Veteran Suicide 30:15 The Amazon Trip That Changed Everything 33:00 Discovering Purpose Beyond Military Service 35:30 How Coffee Became a Mission Instead of Just a Business 37:15 Building Community Through Coffee and Supporting Nonprofits 40:00 Why Relationships Beat Resumes in Business 41:20 How Warrior Rising Helped Build Abruscis Coffee 46:15 Warrior Rising's Veteran Entrepreneur Pitch Competition 49:30 Why Veteran Entrepreneurs Need Community 52:00 Advice for Veterans Starting a Business 53:30 Where to Find Abruscis Coffee 54:10 Final Thoughts on Purpose, Service, and Life After the Military Sponsored by: Transcend Use my referral link to book a consultation for Peptide Therapy http://transcendcompany.com/DenyCaballero Pure Liberty Labs Use Code: SECURITY_HALT_10 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purelibertylabs/ Website: https://purelibertylabs.com/ PRECISION WELLNESS GROUP Use code: Security Halt Podcast 25 Website: https://www.precisionwellnessgroup.com/ WARRIOR RISING Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearewarriorrising/?hl=en Website: https://warriorrising.org/ Donate Today: https://warriorrising.org/?form=donate SPECIAL FORCES FOUNDATION Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/specialforcesfoundation_/ Website: https://specialforcesfoundation.org/ Request Help: https://specialforcesfoundation.org/get-support/ Security Halt Mediahttps://www.securityhaltmedia.com/Instagram: @securityhaltX: @SecurityHaltTik Tok: @security.halt.podSupport the showProduced by Security Halt Media
Rome wasn't killed by its enemies. It was killed by a rescue.Everyone knows the fall of Rome — 476, the last emperor, the barbarian king, the lights going out. Almost nobody knows what happened when the Eastern Empire under Justinian tried to take Italy back. The Gothic Wars of 535-554 emptied the peninsula. Milan — one of the great cities of the north — was leveled, its men slaughtered, its women and children enslaved. Rome itself was besieged over and over. The aqueducts were cut for the first time in the city's history. And the Plague of Justinian rode the exact same roads Belisarius had reopened for trade, killing perhaps a third of the Mediterranean world.By the time Justinian declared victory in 554, Rome held maybe 50,000 people — down from hundreds of thousands under Theodoric. There was almost no one left to govern. So the Pope started doing it. Not because God willed it — because no one else was left standing.This is Episode 3 of the "Life After the Fall of Rome" series. We're going to follow the 20-year kill chain from Justinian's decision to reconquer Italy through Belisarius's early successes, the sieges, Milan's destruction, the plague, the Gothic king Totila appealing directly to Italians against their supposed "liberators," and the arrival of the Lombards in 568 who found an Italy that 20 years of Byzantine reconquest had prepared for them.The barbarians took the crown in 476. The Eastern Empire took the civilization in 554. And the pattern is closer to an operating manual for every rescue operation that's ever been launched: when a government tries to restore something that no longer exists, it doesn't bring back the past — it destroys what's left.If you're new, start with Episode 1 ("Rome Didn't Fall — Here's What Actually Happened") and Episode 2 ("Theoderic: The Goth Who Kept Rome Alive for 33 Years") linked below.
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith. Interview Purpose The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change. This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking. Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career. Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity. 2. Turning Fear into Fuel Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus. Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success. 3. Competition Is Not the Enemy Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character. Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability. 4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs: Lifestyle inflation Supporting others without boundaries Delegating financial decisions without understanding them Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning. Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness. 5. Mentorship and Environment Matter Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership. Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes. 6. Preparing for Life After the Dream Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports. Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose. 7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality Smith draws a direct parallel between: Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience. Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own. Notable Quotes “I turned my fear into fire.” “There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.” “I treated every season like it was my last.” “You don’t want to owe. You want to own.” “Don’t be scared of competition.” “The gain outweighs the strain.” “Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.” Overall Message Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making. His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones. #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith. Interview Purpose The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change. This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking. Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career. Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity. 2. Turning Fear into Fuel Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus. Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success. 3. Competition Is Not the Enemy Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character. Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability. 4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs: Lifestyle inflation Supporting others without boundaries Delegating financial decisions without understanding them Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning. Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness. 5. Mentorship and Environment Matter Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership. Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes. 6. Preparing for Life After the Dream Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports. Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose. 7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality Smith draws a direct parallel between: Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience. Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own. Notable Quotes “I turned my fear into fire.” “There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.” “I treated every season like it was my last.” “You don’t want to owe. You want to own.” “Don’t be scared of competition.” “The gain outweighs the strain.” “Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.” Overall Message Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making. His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones. #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The last Roman wasn't Roman.When Rome "fell" in 476, almost nothing actually changed. The Senate still met. The law still applied. The grain still came in from Sicily. A Gothic general named Odoacer ran Italy for 17 years using the same Roman bureaucracy that had always been there — and then a man named Theoderic crossed the Alps from Constantinople and built something even stranger: a Gothic kingdom that governed Rome more competently than the last six Western emperors combined.This is Episode 2 of the "Life After the Fall of Rome" series. We're going to follow Theoderic's 33-year experiment — a Roman senator writing the West's most important philosophical text from inside a Gothic prison cell, a Gothic king minting coins in the Senate's name, two parallel systems (Roman civilian apparatus, Gothic military class) held together by one man's force of personality — and watch how it all came apart not when the "barbarians" arrived, but when the empire took it back. Justinian's reconquest did more damage to Rome than every barbarian invasion combined.The barbarians didn't destroy Rome. They tried to become it. The tragedy is that by the time they tried, the system was already so broken that even the most capable outsiders could only slow the collapse.If you're new, start with last week's episode "Rome Didn't Fall — Here's What Actually Happened" linked below.
Former CME floor trader and RCM co-founder Bobby “Yogi” Schwartz joins Jeff to close out our Chicago month and walks through a wild career arc: from generational hog pit roots to dominating the Nasdaq futures pit during the dot-com bubble, then building prop firms, arbing minis vs. big contracts, and eventually stepping into Hollywood film finance before returning to launch RCM. Bobby shares vivid floor stories: badges, hand signals, full-contact fights, and multi-million-dollar errors, while explaining how open outcry actually worked, why Chicago produced so many elite prop traders, and how the e‑mini revolution rewired the futures landscape. He breaks down building and backing 100+ traders, deploying early “gray box” tech, and structuring option and index arb trades that bridged futures, ETFs, and cash baskets.The conversation then shifts to what RCM does today: multi-FCM clearing, outsourced trading, ETF and mutual fund infrastructure, ag and global trade finance, and navigating the explosion of new DCMs, prediction markets, and perps. Along the way, Bobby drops Hollywood war stories, Chicago steakhouse lore, and a candid look at where derivatives trading is headed next.Chapters:00:00-01:12=Intro01:13-10:06=From Yogi's Jacket to a Generational Life on the CME Floor10:07–20:20 = Inside the Nasdaq Pit: Dot‑Com Vol, E‑Mini Arbs, and Human Algos20:21–31:36 = From Floor to Screens: Building Prop Firms and Hollywood Film Arbs31:37–41:42 = Hollywood Trades: Indie Film, Oscar Winners, and Risk Like a Trader41:43–58:06 = Building RCM: Clearing, Outsourced Trading, ETFs, Ag, and China58:07–01:10:47 = Chicago War Stories: Pit Fights, Steakhouse Nights, and Trader Royalty01:10:48-01:17:51 = Life After the Pit: Chicago NightsHow Chicago Became the World's Options, Vol, and Derivatives Capital (with Cboe's Rob Hocking & Mandy Xu)Inside $2B of Chicago Real Estate: Tommy Choi on Housing, Migration, and Millennialsrcmalternatives.comDon't forget to subscribe toThe Derivative, follow us on Twitter at@rcmAlts andsign-up for our blog digest.Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, business, or tax advice. All opinions expressed by podcast participants are solely their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of RCM Alternatives, their affiliates, or companies featured. Due to industry regulations, participants on this podcast are instructed not to make specific trade recommendations, nor reference past or potential profits. And listeners are reminded that managed futures, commodity trading, and other alternative investments are complex and carry a risk of substantial losses. As such, they are not suitable for all investors. For more information, visitwww.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer
SPONSORS: 1) DOSE: Head to dosedaily.co/JULIAN or enter JULIAN to get 35% off your first subscription. 2) AMENTARA: Go to amentara.com/go/julian and use Code: JDP22 for 22% off your first purchase. JOIN PATREON FOR EARLY UNCENSORED EPISODE RELEASES: https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey CLIPPERS DISCORD: https://discord.gg/8QmWEKJ3BT (***TIMESTAMPS in Description Below) ~ Robert J. O'Neill is a former U.S. Navy SEAL (1996–2012) and SEAL Team Six leader, widely recognized for his role in clandestine military operations. During his career, he participated in over 400 combat missions across four theaters of war, including the rescue of Captain Phillips and the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. ROBERT'S LINKS: IG: https://www.instagram.com/mchooyah/ BUY HIS BOOK: https://rjoapparel.com/ X: https://x.com/mchooyah?lang=en PODCAST: https://www.instagram.com/theoperatorpodcast/ FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 0:00 - Bin Laden Raid, Body Cam, Pakistan 20:08 - Pakistan Both Sides, Why Rob Became Marine, Charlie Sheen Script 30:26 - Hell Week Quitter, Woman Found Bin Laden, Last Call Before Mission 44:15 - Secret Helicopters, Delta Force is Legit, Maduro Capture, China Lying 58:48 - Drones Are Horrifying, Forgotten War Kosovo, Back to Church 1:07:57 - Panic Contagious, Ibogaine Treatments, PT5D, Entering Bin Laden's House 1:28:31 - I K*lled Osama, Pakistani Live Tweeting, Arriving w/ Body Story 1:38:10 - Bin Laden Location, Gaddafi fake out, 1 Thing Rob loves about Hillary 1:51:07 - Bohemian Grove Declined, Nothing Created in DC, We Are Burning Books 1:57:40 - How Rob Sees War, The Awakening Iraq, When Rob Knew They'd Lose 2:08:21 - Rescued Marcus Luttrell, CIA Saves Sources, Can't Conquer Afghanistan 2:19:55 - Joining Navy SEAL Team 6, Military Officers Can't Win, Red Tape Everywhere 2:28:06 - Joined Six on Whim, Combat Like Skydiving 2:40:23 - Kids Changed Everything, Goodbye Before Mission, Humanity Ruins Everything 2:46:53 - How Rob went Public, Writing The Operator, Germany on 9/11 3:01:11 - Bin Laden Detractor Discrepancies, Life After the Fact 3:13:42 - Brent Tucker Litigation False Claims 3:19:04 - Rob's Work CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 439 - Robert O'Neill Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With U.S. debt now exceeding 100% of GDP, Senator Cynthia Lummis argues the country can't afford to ignore Bitcoin. In this Bitcoin Magazine podcast conversation with host Spencer Nichols, she lays out why a strategic Bitcoin reserve could be America's "Louisiana Purchase moment" and how holding it long term might meaningfully reduce the national debt. She also breaks down the Clarity Act timeline and the legislation racing through Congress.
Cafecito con LALSA (Latin American Law Student Association) is a student run podcast where traditional and non-traditional law students come together to share their unique journeys through law school. Hear the voices of minority students as they discuss their challenges and triumphs, and listen to diverse perspectives on a wide range of topics. Tune in for a dynamic conversation that reflects the rich tapestry of the Widener Law Commonwealth student experience. What does it take to navigate law school leadership, build a tight-knit community, and pass the bar exam on your first try? Former LALSA President Kim Diaz joins current president Natalie Solano to break it all down. From the highs and lows of organizing impactful community events to the exact study schedule that led to a 100% LALSA bar passage rate, Kim shares invaluable tips for current law students. Tune in for a powerful conversation about representation, the Latina grind mindset, and learning to give yourself grace along the way. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 01:38 - Time as LALSA President 03:49 - Deciding to Run for President 06:12 - Goals for the Organization 09:42 - Rewards & Challenges of Leadership 12:50 - Advice for Student Leaders 18:22 - Bar Exam Preparation 21:47 - Bar Study Structure & Resources 26:19 - Managing Stress During Bar Prep 29:58 - Top 3 Tips for 3Ls Preparing for the Bar 33:10 - Summer Focus and Repetition 35:50 - Individualized Focus & Post-Grad Isolation 38:30 - Life After the Bar & Latina Representation 41:00 - Closing Thoughts & Advice to 1L Self Late Night in the Library is the side of law school you won't find a textbook for. Produced by Widener Law Commonwealth, this student-run podcast dives into pit conversations, library whispers, and the lessons learned outside the classroom. We talk with students about getting through tough semesters, finding their footing, and the small moments that end up defining law school. Honest and unfiltered, this series centers real student voices and real conversations. Widener University Commonwealth Law School is the Pennsylvania capital's only law school, with four specialized centers of legal scholarship through its Law & Government Institute, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, Business Advising Program, and Center for Equity and Justice. Widener Law Commonwealth offers an exceptional learning experience that is personal, practical, and professional. Visit commonwealthlaw.widener.edu for more information. Transcript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z9vvg9MJJ1L9CvCjZHqt9fW0nRF-Bmt8/view?usp=sharing Music Credit: "Late Night Crush" by Netuno https://www.pond5.com/royalty-free-music/item/312639960-late-night-crush-short-intro-dance-upbeat-house-urban-party
Rome didn't fall. It contracted.The conventional story — barbarians at the gates, fire in the Forum, the lights going out on Western civilization — is structurally wrong. What actually killed the Roman world wasn't invasion. It was hollowing. The institutions stayed in place. The authority drained out of them. And by 550 AD, a merchant sailing from Constantinople to Massilia (modern Marseille) still found ports, still saw Roman-style customs officials, and still walked past aqueducts that worked — even though the empire underwriting all of it was already gone.This is the first episode in the new "Life After the Fall of Rome" series. We're zooming in on what life actually looked like after 476. The cities that survived (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Massilia) versus the ones that died (Trier, most of Britain). The Pirenne thesis on Mediterranean trade. A day in the life of a craftsman in southern Gaul in 550 AD. The collapse in Britain — the only place in the post-Roman West where the bottom genuinely dropped out. And finally, the institution that quietly absorbed everything the empire left behind: the Catholic Church.If you've watched the full "Roman Pattern" catalog up to this point — currency debasement, border failure, the auction of the state — this episode is the payoff. We've spent a year on the diagnosis. This is what came next.
Learn how a childhood near-death experience sparked a lifelong search for spiritual meaning in life and death. About the guest: My guest Sally Dukes has been a small business owner, psychotherapist, editor, and middle school teacher and she is also the author of a newly published memoir titled drummer girl: A Story of Life After… Continue reading Ep. 552 Drummer Girl: How a Child’s Near-Death Experience Changed Her Life
Support the Show & Shop DayxDay Apparel Here: https://dayxdayapparel.com/ What happens when you've achieved everything the world tells you should make you happy but you still feel completely empty inside?In this episode of the Rollercoaster Podcast, I sit down with Keith Hale, entrepreneur, author, and men's mental health advocate, who shares the story of the day he attempted to take his own life.From the outside, Keith looked successful. He had built businesses, accumulated wealth, and lived the life many people dream about. But behind closed doors, he was battling feelings of unworthiness, loneliness, and a deep sense that no one truly saw him.Keith takes us inside the moments leading up to his suicide attempt, the spiritual experience he had while sitting in that garage, and how surviving that day completely transformed his relationship with God, himself, and his purpose in life.We also dive into the identity crisis facing so many men today, the dangers of tying self-worth to success, and why vulnerability may be the key to healing.If you've ever struggled with your mental health, questioned your purpose, or felt like you had to carry the weight of the world alone, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.In this episode:The breaking point that led him to attempt taking his own lifeWhy success, money, and achievement couldn't fill the emptiness he felt insideHow a neighbor unknowingly helped save his lifeWhy so many men suffer in silence and never ask for helpThe powerful spiritual experience that stopped him from ending his lifeHow faith, vulnerability, and surrender helped him rebuild his identityKey Moments:00:00 The Success That Hid the Pain04:05 The Fear of Looking Weak08:03 The Moment God Showed Up11:25 Why God Let It Happen14:23 The Pain Behind Success18:11 The Voice That Lies to You22:01 Buying 10 Luxury Cars25:31 Who Are You Really?28:28 Life After the Suicide Attempt30:04 How God Answers Prayers32:29 A Message for Anyone Suicidal35:12 What He's Grateful He Didn't Miss36:03 The Purpose He Almost Lost ForeverConnect with Me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.hall/
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith. Interview Purpose The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change. This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking. Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career. Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity. 2. Turning Fear into Fuel Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus. Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success. 3. Competition Is Not the Enemy Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character. Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability. 4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs: Lifestyle inflation Supporting others without boundaries Delegating financial decisions without understanding them Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning. Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness. 5. Mentorship and Environment Matter Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership. Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes. 6. Preparing for Life After the Dream Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports. Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose. 7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality Smith draws a direct parallel between: Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience. Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own. Notable Quotes “I turned my fear into fire.” “There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.” “I treated every season like it was my last.” “You don’t want to owe. You want to own.” “Don’t be scared of competition.” “The gain outweighs the strain.” “Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.” Overall Message Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making. His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones. #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith. Interview Purpose The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change. This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking. Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career. Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity. 2. Turning Fear into Fuel Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus. Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success. 3. Competition Is Not the Enemy Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character. Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability. 4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs: Lifestyle inflation Supporting others without boundaries Delegating financial decisions without understanding them Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning. Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness. 5. Mentorship and Environment Matter Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership. Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes. 6. Preparing for Life After the Dream Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports. Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose. 7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality Smith draws a direct parallel between: Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience. Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own. Notable Quotes “I turned my fear into fire.” “There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.” “I treated every season like it was my last.” “You don’t want to owe. You want to own.” “Don’t be scared of competition.” “The gain outweighs the strain.” “Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.” Overall Message Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making. His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones. #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Keith O'Palick spent 24 years with the NYPD — rising from beat cop to plain clothes officer in Chinatown to detective handling murder investigations and high profile cases. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Keith pulls back the curtain on what it really looks like inside the NYPD — from stopping robberies undercover in Chinatown to working homicide investigations in Midtown before transitioning to the DA's office where he worked protective detail during the Trump trial. He breaks down the truth about New York City safety, why cops do perp walks and whether that will ever change, how detectives manage massive caseloads, and why Rikers Island will never close no matter what politicians say. _____________________________________________ #NYPD #TrueCrime #newyorkcity _____________________________________________ Connect with Keith O'Palick: Website: https://www.kopinvestigations.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keith.opalick/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLNM7RCG?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2P37RZCM562NNWMBXTPZ&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2P37RZCM562NNWMBXTPZ&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2P37RZCM562NNWMBXTPZ&bestFormat=true&csmig=1&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGn63jIRsGPGC4zobZdkhXB-SHKDcjFTYKdqG3saWzaiQ25l7-mRZ5W9bxxfAo_aem_eQi9Wpvz6EQIYg2i5R6Wrw&utm_content=link_in_bio&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ig _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Keith Opalik: 20+ Years NYPD 00:24 Growing Up in NYC & The Road to Policing 01:21 Why He Chose the NYPD 03:20 Family, Roots & Early Influences 04:44 What Pulled Him Into Law Enforcement 07:12 How His Parents Reacted to "I'm Becoming a Cop" 08:55 Should Future Cops Go to College? 10:26 Day One: His First Assignment on the Force 12:48 Going Plainclothes 15:00 Undercover: The Taxi Cab Sting Tactics 19:13 Policing a City That Never Stops Changing 22:01 The Admin Battles Nobody Warns You About 26:13 Promotions, Politics & Internal Affairs 29:36 First Detective Case (And the Media Circus) 32:01 Working the Media as a Detective 34:38 Leaks, Pressure & High-Profile Cases 38:08 Why Some Cases Go Viral 42:22 Midtown vs. Every Other Precinct 45:57 The Crimes That Made Headlines 51:39 Perp Walks: The Truth Behind the Cameras 01:00:04 Caseloads, Staffing & Cop Burnout 01:09:43 Can a Cop Actually Have a Family Life? 01:14:54 Leaving for the DA's Office & Executive Protection 01:21:50 Inside Trump Trial Security 01:25:12 America's Political Divide From the Inside 01:28:57 Is NYC Still Safe? The Post-COVID Reality 01:36:39 Rikers Island & What's Broken in US Prisons 01:44:46 Retirement & Life After the Badge 01:49:37 Hard Lessons, Mental Health & Moving Forward _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sherrell Dorsey joins Carrie Kerpen to share her journey of transforming a newsletter into a data-driven media company that highlights Black innovation, underrepresented founders, and the business stories that traditional media overlooked. This episode explores founder burnout, media entrepreneurship, data as a business asset, market timing, team leadership, and the emotional complexity of selling a company.This episode is sponsored by Theory Planning Partners. Theory Planning Partners helps founders and business owners make smarter decisions around wealth, financial planning, and life after exit. Learn more at www.theoryplanning.com.3:35 - How The Plug Got Started8:38 - Deciding to Build Something Bigger 12:46 - Bootstrapping & Building the Data Product17:08 - Founder to CEO: Leading a Team21:12 - Recognizing It Was Time to Exit29:20 - Finding a Buyer & Shopping the Deal 29:59 - Communicating the Sale to the Team33:36 - Life After the Exit38:19 - Knowing You're a Zero-to-One Founder41:27 - What's Next: Climate Tech
Multi-sport training secrets, Olympic mindset shifts, and the art of balancing endurance sports—discover how to build unstoppable athletic versatility. Elevate your coaching or racing with power-packed tips from an Olympian who breaks all the rules. World-class athlete Anna Gibson joins Dirk on Endurance Unlimited to share her roller-coaster journey from track running and alpine skiing to trail, skimo, and elite gravel and mountain biking—often flipping the script on traditional training wisdom. You'll get actionable insights into how being a multi-sport athlete can supercharge your competitive edge, why chasing curiosity fuels elite performance, and how to strategically blend volume, intensity, and rest when balancing several disciplines at once. Chapters: 00:00 – Anna Gibson's Olympic Skimo Leap: The Unexpected Journey 01:46 – Building a Multi-Sport Engine: Running, Skiing, and Biking 03:54 – Life After the Olympics: Motivation, Mental Health & Reset 06:47 – From Alpine and Nordic to Trail: Early Athletic Foundations 10:30 – Closet Skimo Training and the Road to Team USA 12:26 – Saying Yes: Olympic Skimo Commitment and Qualification 15:17 – The Role of Camps and Community in Rising Fast 17:01 – Blending Training: Off-Season Recovery and Rapid Skill Development 19:44 – Confidence, Resilience, and Takeaways From Multi-Sport Racing 21:45 – Optimizing Cross-Training: Interplay Between Running, Biking & Skiing 24:18 – Future Goals: Big Mountain Events and Staying Curious 28:06 – Challenging Specialization: Lessons From Racing and Experimenting 29:55 – Leadville 100 Prep: Structure, Weaknesses, and Training Philosophy 35:39 – Sponsorships and Career Balance in a Multi-Sport Life 38:08 – Managing Workouts, Recovery, and Strength Across Disciplines 43:19 – Coaching Multi-Sport Athletes and Advice for Beginners 46:30 – Embracing Uncertainty, Staying Curious, and the Road Ahead
Jose Ramos grew up the son of a cop, served in the military, and joined the NYPD to follow in his father's footsteps. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jose breaks down how it all fell apart — from getting shot multiple times by a fellow officer he trained, to becoming corrupt, to spending 3 years in solitary confinement on Rikers Island before being sentenced to over 14 years in prison. He opens up about operating barbershops in his precinct, renting space to a drug dealer who eventually flipped and set him up, getting jammed up in the NYPD ticketing scandal, and the quota system nobody in the department wants to talk about. He also shares what it was really like surviving prison as a former cop — and how he found redemption on the other side. _____________________________________________ #NYPD #RikersIsland #policecorruption _____________________________________________ Thank you to INCOGNI for sponsoring this episode: Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code IANBICK at https://incogni.com/ianbick to get 60% off annual plans. _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 From NYPD Officer to Rikers Island Inmate — Jose's Full Story 02:31 Growing Up and the Family Influences That Led Him to the NYPD 05:47 Military Service and How It Shaped the Cop He Became 09:00 His Early Years on the NYPD — What the Job Was Really Like 14:45 The Shooting Incident That Changed His Career Forever 20:02 Life After the Shooting — What Nobody Prepared Him For 23:31 The Truth About NYPD Quotas — What Officers Are Actually Told 26:46 Ticket Fixing and the NYPD Culture Nobody Wants to Talk About 31:40 The Barbershop Dealings That Set Everything in Motion 40:00 The Arrest the Charges and What the Justice System Did to Him 48:00 Inside Rikers Island — Solitary Confinement and the Systemic Failures Nobody Talks About 01:00:01 The Trial His Conviction and the Family That Kept Him Going 01:10:01 Surviving Prison — How He Adapted to General Population 01:18:00 What It's Really Like Being a Cop Locked Up With the People You Once Arrested 01:27:29 Release Readjustment and What Life Looks Like After Everything 01:31:09 What He Thinks About the NYPD Today and What Needs to Change _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jose Ramos grew up the son of a cop, served in the military, and joined the NYPD to follow in his father's footsteps. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jose breaks down how it all fell apart — from getting shot multiple times by a fellow officer he trained, to becoming corrupt, to spending 3 years in solitary confinement on Rikers Island before being sentenced to over 14 years in prison. He opens up about operating barbershops in his precinct, renting space to a drug dealer who eventually flipped and set him up, getting jammed up in the NYPD ticketing scandal, and the quota system nobody in the department wants to talk about. He also shares what it was really like surviving prison as a former cop — and how he found redemption on the other side. _____________________________________________ #NYPD #RikersIsland #policecorruption _____________________________________________ Thank you to INCOGNI for sponsoring this episode: Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code IANBICK at https://incogni.com/ianbick to get 60% off annual plans. _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 From NYPD Officer to Rikers Island Inmate — Jose's Full Story 02:31 Growing Up and the Family Influences That Led Him to the NYPD 05:47 Military Service and How It Shaped the Cop He Became 09:00 His Early Years on the NYPD — What the Job Was Really Like 14:45 The Shooting Incident That Changed His Career Forever 20:02 Life After the Shooting — What Nobody Prepared Him For 23:31 The Truth About NYPD Quotas — What Officers Are Actually Told 26:46 Ticket Fixing and the NYPD Culture Nobody Wants to Talk About 31:40 The Barbershop Dealings That Set Everything in Motion 40:00 The Arrest the Charges and What the Justice System Did to Him 48:00 Inside Rikers Island — Solitary Confinement and the Systemic Failures Nobody Talks About 01:00:01 The Trial His Conviction and the Family That Kept Him Going 01:10:01 Surviving Prison — How He Adapted to General Population 01:18:00 What It's Really Like Being a Cop Locked Up With the People You Once Arrested 01:27:29 Release Readjustment and What Life Looks Like After Everything 01:31:09 What He Thinks About the NYPD Today and What Needs to Change _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Seamus McElearney spent years as an FBI agent doing what nobody had done in over a hundred years — he flipped a made man inside the DeCavalcante crime family. The same family the world knows as the real life inspiration behind The Sopranos. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Seamus breaks down exactly how he did it and what happened next. What followed was one of the most remarkable chain reactions in FBI history — flipping one mobster led to three more cooperating witnesses, then a captain, then an acting boss. By the end Seamus and his team had solved eleven murders, convicted seventy one defendants and completely dismantled the DeCavalcante crime family. He also led the takedown of the Colombo and Bonanno families — arresting 120 members and associates including the top leadership of both organizations. _____________________________________________ #TheSopranos #FBI #organizedcrime _____________________________________________ Connect with Seamus McElearney: Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.com/Flipping-Capo-Dismantled-Real-Sopranos/dp/B0DWHS2YVS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seamus-mcelearney _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 The FBI Agent Who Took Down the Real Sopranos — Seamus's Story 00:20 Growing Up in the Bronx — How It Shaped the Agent He Became 02:56 The Education and Early Career That Led Him to the FBI 04:34 What FBI Selection and Training Actually Look Like From the Inside 07:58 Back to New York — Learning the City and His First Real Cases 09:21 His First Organized Crime Assignment and What It Really Looked Like 10:58 How It All Started — The Robbery and Murder That Opened the Case 13:03 The Witnesses Who Came Forward and How He Built the Investigation 15:39 Wiretaps Decoding Mob Communication and Recording the Evidence That Changed Everything 20:24 When the Arrests Began — Taking Down an Entire Crime Family 21:26 How He Built Enough Trust to Flip an Actual Made Man 25:36 The Domino Effect — How One Cooperator Brought Down an Entire Organization 30:33 Surveillance Searches and the Murders They Uncovered Along the Way 36:51 Preparing for Trial — The Challenge of Actually Convicting Mob Members 45:01 Inside the Courtroom — What It's Really Like Prosecuting Organized Crime 53:49 How Mob Investigation Tactics Have Evolved and Why It Matters 01:03:38 The Major Busts and How Technology Changed Organized Crime Forever 01:10:11 Why the Mob Never Dies and How Modern Gambling Keeps Them Alive 01:13:41 The Real Mob vs The Sopranos — What the Show Got Right and Wrong 01:20:14 Life After the Mob — Gangs Fraud and What Came Next 01:24:09 Retirement and the Private Sector — What Life Looks Like After the FBI 01:26:47 The Lessons From a Career Spent Taking Down America's Most Dangerous Criminals 01:32:17 The Ethics of Using Cooperators — Where the Line Really Is 01:33:02 Why Mob Cooperators Are Going Public and What It Means 01:33:37 Final Thoughts and His Book — What He Wants You to Know _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Seamus McElearney spent years as an FBI agent doing what nobody had done in over a hundred years — he flipped a made man inside the DeCavalcante crime family. The same family the world knows as the real life inspiration behind The Sopranos. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Seamus breaks down exactly how he did it and what happened next. What followed was one of the most remarkable chain reactions in FBI history — flipping one mobster led to three more cooperating witnesses, then a captain, then an acting boss. By the end Seamus and his team had solved eleven murders, convicted seventy one defendants and completely dismantled the DeCavalcante crime family. He also led the takedown of the Colombo and Bonanno families — arresting 120 members and associates including the top leadership of both organizations. _____________________________________________ #TheSopranos #FBI #organizedcrime _____________________________________________ Connect with Seamus McElearney: Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.com/Flipping-Capo-Dismantled-Real-Sopranos/dp/B0DWHS2YVS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seamus-mcelearney _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 The FBI Agent Who Took Down the Real Sopranos — Seamus's Story 00:20 Growing Up in the Bronx — How It Shaped the Agent He Became 02:56 The Education and Early Career That Led Him to the FBI 04:34 What FBI Selection and Training Actually Look Like From the Inside 07:58 Back to New York — Learning the City and His First Real Cases 09:21 His First Organized Crime Assignment and What It Really Looked Like 10:58 How It All Started — The Robbery and Murder That Opened the Case 13:03 The Witnesses Who Came Forward and How He Built the Investigation 15:39 Wiretaps Decoding Mob Communication and Recording the Evidence That Changed Everything 20:24 When the Arrests Began — Taking Down an Entire Crime Family 21:26 How He Built Enough Trust to Flip an Actual Made Man 25:36 The Domino Effect — How One Cooperator Brought Down an Entire Organization 30:33 Surveillance Searches and the Murders They Uncovered Along the Way 36:51 Preparing for Trial — The Challenge of Actually Convicting Mob Members 45:01 Inside the Courtroom — What It's Really Like Prosecuting Organized Crime 53:49 How Mob Investigation Tactics Have Evolved and Why It Matters 01:03:38 The Major Busts and How Technology Changed Organized Crime Forever 01:10:11 Why the Mob Never Dies and How Modern Gambling Keeps Them Alive 01:13:41 The Real Mob vs The Sopranos — What the Show Got Right and Wrong 01:20:14 Life After the Mob — Gangs Fraud and What Came Next 01:24:09 Retirement and the Private Sector — What Life Looks Like After the FBI 01:26:47 The Lessons From a Career Spent Taking Down America's Most Dangerous Criminals 01:32:17 The Ethics of Using Cooperators — Where the Line Really Is 01:33:02 Why Mob Cooperators Are Going Public and What It Means 01:33:37 Final Thoughts and His Book — What He Wants You to Know _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen recount Finnish corporal Aimo Koivunen's March 18, 1944 ordeal during the Continuation War: leading a seven-man long-range ski reconnaissance patrol in Soviet-controlled Lapland at −20°C, he collapses under exhaustion during a Soviet encirclement and, unable to dose properly with mittens on, swallows the patrol's full bottle of Pervitin—30 tablets (90 mg) of methamphetamine. After a brief surge, he develops psychosis, is disarmed by teammates, and skis on “autopilot,” later waking alone after covering about 100 km. He mistakenly skis through a Soviet camp, burns down a cabin by lighting a fire on the floor, survives on pine buds, steps on a landmine, and spends a week in a ditch before rescue in early April—two and a half weeks later—with a 200 bpm resting heart rate, 43 kg body weight, and frostbite requiring toe amputations. The episode adds WWII stimulant history and argues war repeatedly pushes armies toward chemical solutions. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:28 Lapland Night Chase 02:28 Pervitin Decision 03:21 Finland Versus USSR 07:07 Aimo Early Life 11:43 Elite Ski Scouts 15:43 Ambush And Escape 21:00 What Is Pervitin 26:14 Pervitin Kicks In 27:24 Psychosis Takes Hold 30:17 Disarmed and Blackout Skiing 31:43 Autopilot Navigation West 34:48 Soviet Camp Close Call 36:16 Cabin Fire Hallucinations 37:10 Crash Hunger and Landmine 38:51 Week in the Ditch 40:31 Rescue and Aftermath 43:02 Life After the War 44:02 Story Published and Legacy 45:26 War and Drugs Through History 48:40 Limits of Human Will 50:29 Closing and Listener Support Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ REFERENCES Koivunen, Aimo — Personal memoir account published in Kansa Taisteli (1978). Wikipedia — "Aimo Koivunen." Grokipedia — "Aimo Koivunen." Commonplace Fun Facts — English translation of Koivunen's memoir excerpts. Ohler, Norman — Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich (2016). Wikipedia — "Otto Friedrich Ranke." Wikipedia — "Pervitin" and "Drug Policy of Nazi Germany." Yle (Finnish Broadcasting Company). MyHeritage / Geni — Genealogical records. Wikipedia — "Long-range reconnaissance patrol" and "Detached Battalion 4." Finnish Army Jaeger Brigade / Bushcraft USA — rakovalkea and kaukopartio equipment. PMC / Brieflands — stimulant psychosis research. PNAS / Nature Neuroscience — spatial navigation neuroscience. History.com / VA History — Vietnam and Civil War drug history. Wikipedia — "Winter War." WFYI / HyperWar — Finnish mobilization 1939. History of Finland — Wikipedia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Send us Fan MailAlex Rutledge and Redbone welcome Kentucky Headhunters co-founder Richard Young straight from a tomato plant run in Glasgow, Kentucky. Richard delivers a masterclass in Southern storytelling — from brother Fred's midnight tractor rides and his collection of 50 antique machines with only 4 batteries, to the band's history-making leap from a Kentucky holler to Sweden Rock Festival (opening three slots before Queen) and sold-out UK arena runs alongside Blackstone Cherry. We also get into turkey hunting on the creek, a surprise bear sighting, and cousin Johnny's electric-bike stealth hunting strategy. After Richard heads off for tomato plants, Alex breaks down a monster spring turkey season — 29 gobblers called in across five states — plus a deep dive into Missouri's #2 national turkey harvest ranking. The show wraps with a full wild turkey recipe segment: BBQ breast with Cajun Injector, brine techniques, and Chick-fil-A-style turkey nuggets. The Kentucky Headhunters play Salem, Arkansas' Fulton County Homecoming (77 years strong) this Saturday night.Chapter Markers1:29 – Intro & Kentucky Headhunters Coming to Salem, AR1:55 – Richard Young Joins: Farm Life, Fred's Tractors & Garden Stories15:04 – Kentucky Headhunters Go International: Conquering Sweden Rock & the UK24:47 – Richard's Turkey Hunt, Bears on the Farm & Electric Bike Hunting29:46 – Wrapping Up with Richard Young30:57 – Life After the Spotlight: Alex & Redbone Reflect34:00 – Alex's Spring Turkey Season: 29 Gobblers in 5 StatesMissouri Hunting Heritage Federation:https://www.mhhf.us/To follow American Roots Outdoors Podcast:https://www.facebook.com/groups/448812356525413To learn more about American Roots Outdoors:https://americanrootsoutdoors.com/https://www.facebook.com/AmericanRootsOutdoors/To follow Alex Rutledge:https://www.facebook.com/americanrootsalex/To follow Wayne Lach:https://www.facebook.com/wayne.lach.5To follow Mike Crase:https://www.facebook.com/mike.crase
In honor of Mother's Day, get $200 off a new Dear FoundHer... Forum membership through the month of May. Join the community built for women business owners over 40 who are building real businesses on their own terms. JOIN US INSIDE HERE, no code necessary to save.A group of executives walked into a room, and Leah knew exactly who mattered.Dear FoundHer host Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Leah Solivan to talk partnership marketing, founder visibility, and one of the clearest business growth stories from Taskrabbit's path to acquisition. Leah built Taskrabbit from a Boston apartment with no MBA, no startup network, and no idea how venture funding worked. What she had was an idea she refused to stop talking about and the discipline to do the unsexy groundwork for years before the right opportunity arrived. That is the entire lesson of this episode, and it applies to every woman building something right now.This conversation is for women founders who are tired of being told to run ads, chase virality, or wait for the perfect moment. Leah's story proves that partnership marketing is not a tactic. It is a long game built on real relationships, real data, and showing up consistently in the right markets before you ever get the right meeting.Taskrabbit's sale to IKEA started with one lucky opening, but the deal did not happen because of luck alone. It happened because Leah spent years trying to get on IKEA's radar, knew her numbers cold, and was ready when one person in a room of eight finally mattered. Taskrabbit was already operating in London, one of IKEA's largest markets, and a quarter of its jobs were IKEA furniture assembly. Founder visibility is not about being everywhere. It is about being undeniable when it counts.If you are a woman founder wondering whether the quiet, unglamorous work is moving anything forward, this episode will answer that. Building relationships in business the right way is slow. It compounds in a way quick wins often do not.Episode Breakdown:00:00 From IBM Engineer to Taskrabbit Founder: Leah Solivan's Origin Story03:33 Why Talking About Your Idea Is the First Step in Partnership Marketing08:57 Rebranding From Run My Errand to Taskrabbit11:09 How Leah Validated the Taskrabbit Concept Before Raising Money13:23 Raising a Startup's First Round of Funding With No Business Background19:40 Scaling a Business City by City and the Decision to Go International21:26 Building Trust in a Gig Economy Marketplace24:56 The IKEA Partnership That Led to an Acquisition28:49 Life After the Exit: Investing, Podcasting, and What Comes Next31:03 Three Actionable Tips for First-Time FoundersConnect with Leah Solivan:Follow Leah on InstagramConnect with Leah on LinkedInFollow Leah on XSubscribe to The FoundHer Files Substack: http://foundherfiles.substack.comFree Forum Open House + Networking Session Come see what's inside the Dear FoundHer Forum SAVE YOUR SEAT https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/q2forumopenhouse Join THE networking community for women business owners over forty, The Dear FoundHer... Forum Follow Dear FoundHer... on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundherPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Romans 7:18-19 highlights the inner struggle every believer faces between sinful desires and the desire to honor God. In this devotional, Aaron D’Anthony Brown challenges Christians to honestly evaluate whether they may be sabotaging their own spiritual growth, relationships, or progress in life. Rather than always blaming circumstances or other people, believers are encouraged to practice self-awareness, humility, and accountability as they confront patterns of unhealthy thinking and behavior. This devotional reminds readers that spiritual maturity begins with honest reflection and repentance. The Apostle Paul openly acknowledged his battle with sin, showing believers the importance of recognizing personal weaknesses instead of excusing them. Through humility, accountability, and dependence on God, Christians can stop getting in their own way and begin pursuing the righteous life God calls them to live. Highlights Romans 7 reveals the ongoing battle between flesh and spirit. Self-awareness is the first step toward personal and spiritual growth. Pride can prevent believers from recognizing harmful behaviors. Accountability helps sharpen and strengthen Christian character. Excusing sinful habits leads to self-sabotage and spiritual stagnation. Humility allows believers to receive correction and grow in wisdom. God calls Christians to actively confront and reject sinful patterns. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Are You Getting in Your Own Way? By Aaron D’Anthony BrownBible Reading:“For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” (Romans 7:18-19, CSB) There’s a certain question we should ask ourselves every now and again: Am I getting in my own way? When we don’t get the outcomes we want in life, blaming our circumstances and other people comes naturally enough. What doesn’t happen as frequently as it should is looking at the man in the mirror. Recently, I remember talking to a fellow young man about our desire for marriage. Well, we went out to lunch with women from our church. Something we both wanted. For one reason or another, this getting-to-know-you experience led him to talk about an extremely embarrassing incident. Now, who in their right mind would share that on a first date? Or take, for instance, a buddy of mine who is encountering deep financial strain. The more anyone tries to encourage him, the more he pushes back with a 'woe-is-me' attitude. He seems to want more negativity to fuel what he already exhibits. These guys are not alone. I’ve battled with my own negative thinking and dwelling. Perhaps you, too, are sabotaging your own success. So, ask yourself, “Am I getting in my own way?” Intersecting Faith & Life: After you ask yourself this important question, the answer should be yes. If not, the following steps are especially for you. Build self-awareness. The reason Paul was able to write those particular verses in Romans is that he developed some measure of self-awareness. He may not have completely understood why he behaved the way he did, aside from citing his sinful nature, but he understood something was wrong and wrote about it. He acknowledged the problem, and acknowledgment is the first step to finding a solution. If you want to build self-awareness in your own life, spend some time pausing and reflecting. Yes, this does mean sitting with your thoughts and not your phone. Question yourself about why you do certain things and not others. The better you know yourself, the more you’ll be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Develop humility. Humility is underrated and uncommon. So many of us think we have it, yet fail to recognize just how prideful we are. A good way to measure this virtue is to observe how you handle people who disagree with you. Not just the non-believers, but those people you perceive as less (or more) Christian than you. Have they ever proven you wrong about something? When did that last happen? Is it good that you haven’t been wrong since? Have people around you to call you out. Having agreement is nice, but if iron is to sharpen iron, then disagreement is essential. Encouraging one another is nice, but we can do so at the expense of others. Instead of seeking to appease those around us, let’s hold each other accountable and do our best to help others reflect Christ. If you know you’re a sinner, act like it. Some of us will openly call ourselves sinners in the abstract on any given Sunday, but on other days of the week, we justify our sinful behavior. People know that they practice poor communication, but don’t change it. Overeat but don’t change it. Say that they’re lazy, but don’t change it. Does God take sin seriously? If you say yes, don’t say, "He made you that way." Recognize that He hates sin, and try your best to hate it as well. Hate the self-sabotage and do something righteous instead. Further Reading (and Listening): “Wanna Be Happy?” by Kirk Franklin Galatians 5:17 James 1:14-15 Matthew 26:41 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
On an ordinary night in Billings, Montana, 33-year-old Paul Harris was enjoying a drink at a local bar when a lighthearted prank involving a bicycle spiraled out of control. What started as harmless fun between acquaintances triggered explosive rage in Ezdeth Highley. She waited outside in the darkness and stabbed Paul three times, killing him in an instant. Kelly Jennings uncovers every chilling detail: the seemingly innocent joke that ignited the violence, the troubled background of the perpetrator, the devastating toll on Paul's family and friends, and the shocking courtroom outcome that left many questioning justice.Timestamps06:49 Tension in the Bar10:18 The Prank Gone Wrong17:22 The Aftermath of Violence19:30 Understanding the Criminal22:01 The Cycle of Crime29:34 Consequences of Release34:44 Life After the Murder36:54 Transformation or Manipulation?
In this episode, former Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Scott Karl traces his path from Carlsbad standout to big league starter to financial advisor. He swaps stories with Jeff about Bandon Dunes and his move from California to Lake Norman, then dives into his career, getting a last-minute shot after the '94 strike, surviving as a finesse pitcher in a power era, facing legends like Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Sammy Sosa, and taking the mound during the 1998 home run chase. Scott shares how he lost roughly 70% of his portfolio in the dot-com bust while still playing, what it taught him about risk and advisors, and how it pushed him into wealth management. He explains why many athletes blow through life-changing money, how he builds portfolios with buffered ETFs, structured notes, and private credit, and how he manages expectations around upside, downside, and liquidity. The conversation widens to NIL, parents effectively betting travel-ball costs on scholarships, and the risk of turning college sports into a money race. Scott also talks about raising two Division I volleyball players, the mental side of high performance, and how those lessons carry into investing, before closing with his favorite baseball cities and parks, from Wrigley day games to the old Jake in Cleveland and nostalgic nights at Dodger Stadium. SEND IT!Chapters:00:00-02:21=Intro02:22-09:59= Private Jets, Bandon Dunes, and the Road from Carlsbad to the Big Leagues10:00-24:09= Facing Maddux and the Big Unit: Velocity, Wiffle Balls, and the Rise of the 100-MPH Era24:10-34:12= From Million-Dollar Contracts to Going Broke: Why Pro Athletes Struggle with Money34:13-44:17= Making a Short Career Last a Lifetime: Contracts, Risk Math, and Smoother Portfolios44:18-56:31= Buffers, Structured Notes, and Private Credit: Building Smoother Rides Through Rough Markets56:32-01:05:47= First Responders vs. Second Responders: Buffers, Managed Futures, and Protecting the Downside01:05:48-01:14:25= NIL, Transfers, and Pandora's Box: How College Sports Turned into a Money Game01:14:26-01:22:28= From Youth Sports to Life After the Game: Parenting, Perspective, and Baseball's Best Cities01:22:28-01:27:57= Gibsons, Wrigley Day Games, and Why Petco Might Be Baseball's Best ParkFrom the Episode: PIVOT PODCAST (Caleb Williams podcast episode)https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qO6oXmftTn8Jl4Ru3R4Mg?si=kzx-UJ_YTe25pDr8mNHfAQ&nd=1&dlsi=4cc9da8589d542a2Follow along with Scott and Silverleaf WM on LinkedIn and be sure to check out silverleafwealth.com for more information!Don't forget to subscribe toThe Derivative, follow us on Twitter at@rcmAlts andsign-up for our blog digest.Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, business, or tax advice. All opinions expressed by podcast participants are solely their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of RCM Alternatives, their affiliates, or companies featured. Due to industry regulations, participants on this podcast are instructed not to make specific trade recommendations, nor reference past or potential profits. And listeners are reminded that managed futures, commodity trading, and other alternative investments are complex and carry a risk of substantial losses. As such, they are not suitable for all investors. For more information, visitwww.rcmalternatives.com/disclaimer
In this raw and unfiltered interview, Polo Cisneros breaks down how he built a multi-year career in the cocaine trade — and how the COVID-19 pandemic created the perfect storm for him to make over $1 million in record time. From supply shortages and skyrocketing prices to underground business strategies, Polo explains how the streets really work behind the scenes. He shares how he avoided prison for nearly two decades, the mindset that kept him alive, and why he ultimately walked away from the game. This isn't a glorified story — it's a real look at the risks, the money, and the consequences of life in the drug trade. In this episode: -How COVID changed the drug market overnight -Turning 1 kilo into massive profit -The strategy behind wholesale vs street-level dealing -Why he avoided violence and stayed under the radar -The moment he knew it was time to quit -The hidden costs of the lifestyle IG: https://www.instagram.com/get_yours_1000 Podcast: @Allways_In_Motion Website: https://allwaysinmotionproductions.com/ Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Meet Polo Cisneros 02:46 Building a Steady Coke Business 06:54 Learning the Game in New York & Jersey 09:29 Barbering, Connections & Learning to Press 13:37 Raw Product, Customers & Quality Control 15:19 Caribbean vs. Mexican Supply Routes 17:39 Colorado Grow & the Houston Connection 22:00 Walking Away From Bigger Cartel Ties 24:49 Growing the Business & Reinvesting in Logistics 28:18 Monthly Profit, Family Life & Staying Low-Key 31:13 Stash Spots, Driving Rules & Managing Risk 38:20 College Towns, Shore Towns & Out-of-State Customers 41:39 Molly, Club Drugs & Changing Trends 43:16 COVID Coke Shortage Changes Everything 45:01 Turning One Brick Into Ten 47:00 Making $2 Million During Lockdown 52:19 The Market Crashes & Going Legit 01:14:03 Filmmaking, Arrest, and Life After the Game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What if the success you spent three decades building disappeared overnight — and the hardest part wasn't the money, but knowing who you were without it? In this honest, unhurried episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O'Sullivan is joined by Scott Proposki — photographer, entrepreneur, author, and business coach based in Boston, Massachusetts. For nearly three decades, Scott built one of the most recognisable event photography businesses in North America: 52 people, eight-figure revenue, and a client list that included National Geographic, the White House, Sports Illustrated, and the NFL. Then 2020 arrived, and almost overnight, it was gone. Scott and Cathleen explore what it really costs to stop being the craftsperson and become the CEO, why growing fast can quietly hollow out the thing you loved, how depression after business loss is a grief that doesn't get enough airtime, and what a single conversation with a coach unlocked in his next chapter. They also go deep on his ADHD diagnosis in his early fifties, how understanding it reshaped the way he works and leads, and why his current lifestyle business — intentionally small, deeply profitable, and accessible from the Swiss Alps — is more aligned with who he actually is than the empire ever was. This is a conversation that will ask you to pause before you hit grow again and sit with the question Cathleen raises at the very start: is the size of your business, your ambition, your pace — something you actually chose? Or did you just keep going because stopping felt like failure? Episode Timeline: 00:00:00 The Cost of Becoming CEO 00:04:33 Introduction to Scott Proposki 00:07:02 The Blueberry Muffin Problem 00:12:42 Learning Leadership by Proximity 00:17:49 How You Show Up for the People You Lead 00:20:14 The Bigger Boat Trap 00:25:27 When COVID Took It All 00:29:24 Depression, Doubt, the Silence Underneath 00:34:02 The Conversation That Cracked Something Open 00:35:42 Life After the Empire 00:41:52 Helping Creators Build Profitable Businesses 00:44:50 Forty Levers, Not One Fix 00:48:19 The Compounding Power of Small Gains 00:55:11 ADHD, the Camera, the Superpower of Focus 01:04:25 The Five-Year Vision 01:09:22 One Step When You Feel Stuck Key Takeaway: Becoming the CEO Means Leaving the Craft Behind: Scaling a business often means stepping away from the work that made you good in the first place. That shift needs to be a conscious choice, not something you drift into without noticing. Losing a Business Is a Grief Most People Don't Name: When the business disappeared, so did the identity, purpose, and daily rhythm built around it. Naming that loss for what it is makes rebuilding possible — pushing through without acknowledging it makes it harder. Profit Is a Strategy, Not a Side Effect: Most small business owners are busy without being profitable. Small improvements across multiple areas of a business compound quickly — and cost-cutting, unlike new revenue, goes straight to the bottom line. Own Your List Before the Platform Disappears: Social platforms can vanish or shut you out overnight. An organic email list built on consistent, genuine storytelling is one of the most durable assets a small business can hold. Choose Your Boat Size Before You Start Rowing: The most important question isn't how big you can grow — it's what size business supports the life you actually want. Answering that honestly before you scale can save years of chasing the wrong thing. About Scott Proposki: Scott Proposki is a business coach, photographer, and author based in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Over nearly three decades, he built one of North America's leading event photography businesses — working with clients including National Geographic, the White House, Sports Illustrated, HBO, and Microsoft — before scaling to a team of 52. When COVID-19 effectively ended the events industry overnight, Scott lost the business he had spent his career building and spent the years that followed rebuilding with far greater intentionality. He is the author of multiple books including Camera Focus (2019) and Focus on the Profits, and the founder of the Camera Focus Method — a structured coaching framework that helps photographers and creative entrepreneurs build businesses that are genuinely profitable, not just busy. Connect with Scott Proposki: Website: https://businessfocusmethod.com Website: https://scottproposki.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottproposki Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottproposki/ Connect with Cathleen O'Sullivan: Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-osullivan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LegendaryLeaderswithCathleenOS FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS.
Reid Davenport (he/him) is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Reid talks about disability rights, medical ableism and the things that shape how society values disabled lives. They talk about Reid's powerful film “Life After” and the issues it raises about the value of a person's autonomy, the intersectionality of race and disability and the supports people need to live meaningful lives. To learn more about Reid Davenport visit: https://www.reiddavenport.com/ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info Transcripts are available on Apple Podcasts.
SummaryJoin Jasmine Neely as she interviews Tiffany Pittman and Macey Butler, two former TopCats, as they share their experiences, memorable moments like Super Bowl 50, and life after pro cheerleading. Discover insights into dedication, community, and embracing imperfection in this inspiring episode.Chapters00:00 Celebrating 30 Years of the TopCats02:37 Personal Journeys: From Aspiring Dancers to TopCats05:29 Adjusting to the TopCats Dance Style08:14 Memorable Moments: The NFC Championship Experience11:05 Fitness and Nutrition: Balancing Performance and Health14:00 The Impact of Weigh-Ins and Body Image on Cheerleaders26:44 Fueling the Passion: Snacks and Energy During Auditions31:04 Navigating the Audition Process: Length and Support35:30 Life After the TopCats: Career Paths and Aspirations39:54 Embracing Change: Moving to Spain and Cultural Adjustments47:23 Empowering the Next Generation: Lessons for Our Children51:04 Motivation Through Life Changes53:31 The Role of Parenthood in Motivation55:57 Embracing Imperfection57:41 Memorable Moments in the NFL01:06:04 Community Engagement and Impact01:09:10 Advice for Future GenerationsFollow @theprofessionalcheerleader on Instagram and thepro.cheerleader on TikTok and stay tuned for more pro dance audition tips and class announcements. Follow Tiffany Pittman @Tiffanypittmanglobal and Macey Butler @maceystrickbutler
In this PART 2 episode, Mundo returns to tell the next chapter of his unbelievable story. After years as a high-ranking Mexican Mafia member involved in multiple murders and violent operations, he describes the religious experience he had in jail that changed the course of his life. What follows is a shocking account of becoming a secret informant while still surrounded by fugitives, gang politics, drugs, and murder. Mundo explains how he began working with law enforcement, why he felt driven to help bring down the same organization he once served, and how his undercover role pulled him deeper into danger. He talks about working around figures like Joe Morgan, Alfie, and Sailor, the chaos of double lives, cartel-connected drug operations, bank robberies, contract killings, and the moment everything began closing in on him again. He also reflects on the cost of that life, his Christian faith, witness protection, and how he later became a trainer and consultant for law enforcement. The conversation closes with a deep look at the Mexican Mafia today, its structure, cartel ties, Sureño influence, and how prison gang power still shapes the streets. This is a raw, intense interview about violence, betrayal, redemption, and survival from someone who lived at the center of it. For Part 1 go to https://youtu.be/BjPka7eDvoc Go Support Mundo! Books: https://www.policeandfirepublishing.com/ YouTube: @convictsandcops Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Mundo-Vince-Romo/dp/B07MMP45GC Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Recap & Introduction to Mundo's Story 02:00 High Standing in the Mexican Mafia 04:00 Religious Experience and Departure 08:00 Facing the Organization & Seeking Redemption 13:00 Decision to Go Undercover 18:00 First Steps as an Informant 22:00 Working with Sailor & Early Undercover Operations 28:00 Navigating the Dope Game Undercover 37:00 Bank Robberies and Growing Paranoia 45:00 Contract Killings & Legal Troubles 51:00 Plea Deals and Testifying Against Joe Morgan 56:00 Witness Protection & Life After the Gang 01:03:00 Mexican Mafia Structure Today 01:10:00 Modern Cartel Connections 01:18:00 Personal Life, Faith, and Final Reflections 01:21:00 Books, Resources, and Closing Inspiration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Episode SummaryIn this episode, Morgan sits down with former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou to explore the real world of espionage, influence, and high-stakes decision making.John shares his journey from leading counterterrorism operations after 9/11 to exposing the CIA's torture program ultimately serving time in prison for speaking out. He breaks down what most people get wrong about influence, revealing that trust and human psychology not coercion are the true drivers of persuasion. The conversation dives into how intelligence agencies actually recruit people, the role of vulnerability, and why relationships are the foundation of influence. John also shares powerful insights from his time in prison, including how he applied CIA strategies to survive and build authority in a high-risk environment.This episode is a deep look into human behavior, power, and the real psychology behind influence and trust.0:00 Intro 0:55 Meet John Kiriakou 2:10 CIA Career & Whistleblowing 4:00 The Truth About Influence 6:22 Building Trust vs Coercion 10:04 The Psychology of Recruitment 12:52 Money, Power & Motivation 17:17 Profiling & Human Behavior 21:16 Building Rapport & Trust 17:55 Dreamfest 28:34 Confidence & Adaptability 31:33 Influence in Real Life 35:00 Networking & Opportunity 38:17 Confidence & Fear 43:17 Leadership & Decision Making 45:18 Environment & Success 50:32 Identity & Human Nature 53:49 Espionage & Global Power 1:02:04 Epstein & Intelligence Agencies 1:05:15 Prison Experience & Survival 1:09:10 Power, Respect & Strategy 1:12:12 Building Confidence 1:16:04 Adaptability as a Skill 1:19:16 Life After the CIA 1:22:07 Where to Find John 1:23:28 Dreamfest Reminder 1:23:58 Final AdviceJohn Kiriakou is a former CIA officer, counterterrorism expert, and whistleblower.He served nearly 15 years in the CIA, including leading counterterrorism operations in Pakistan following the 9/11 attacks. In 2007, he publicly exposed the CIA's torture program, becoming the first U.S. official to confirm its existence.John was later charged and served time in prison, where he applied his intelligence training to navigate and survive the system. Today, he is an author, speaker, and podcast host, sharing insights on geopolitics, intelligence, and human behavior.
Former Navy SEAL and CrossFit Games legend Josh Bridges joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share his incredible journey from wrestling phenom to BUD/S, elite operator, and top CrossFit athlete. He opens up about fatherhood with a newborn and teenagers, navigating identity after leaving the Teams and pro competition, the power of not quitting, and how he's adapted his training for long-term strength and capability. Raw stories on grit, brotherhood, purpose, and staying dangerous through every season of life. A must-watch for anyone chasing mental toughness and real-world readiness.Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S.
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith. Interview Purpose The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change. This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking. Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career. Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity. 2. Turning Fear into Fuel Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus. Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success. 3. Competition Is Not the Enemy Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character. Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability. 4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs: Lifestyle inflation Supporting others without boundaries Delegating financial decisions without understanding them Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning. Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness. 5. Mentorship and Environment Matter Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership. Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes. 6. Preparing for Life After the Dream Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports. Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose. 7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality Smith draws a direct parallel between: Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience. Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own. Notable Quotes “I turned my fear into fire.” “There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.” “I treated every season like it was my last.” “You don’t want to owe. You want to own.” “Don’t be scared of competition.” “The gain outweighs the strain.” “Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.” Overall Message Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making. His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones. #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith. Interview Purpose The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change. This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking. Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career. Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity. 2. Turning Fear into Fuel Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus. Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success. 3. Competition Is Not the Enemy Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character. Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability. 4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs: Lifestyle inflation Supporting others without boundaries Delegating financial decisions without understanding them Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning. Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness. 5. Mentorship and Environment Matter Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership. Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes. 6. Preparing for Life After the Dream Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports. Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose. 7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality Smith draws a direct parallel between: Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience. Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own. Notable Quotes “I turned my fear into fire.” “There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.” “I treated every season like it was my last.” “You don’t want to owe. You want to own.” “Don’t be scared of competition.” “The gain outweighs the strain.” “Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.” Overall Message Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making. His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones. #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
She drowned… left her body… and encountered Heaven in a way that changed everything. In this powerful episode, Teresa Roybal shares her real near-death experience, her search for truth, and how pain led her into a life-changing relationship with God. Watch now and discover how your pain could actually be your pathway to purpose.If you've ever struggled with fear, confusion, or wondered if God is real—this conversation is for you. Teresa opens up about her supernatural encounter, spiritual transformation, and the process of finding healing through surrender.
Mike Morgan joins Locked In with Ian Bick to share his journey from growing up as the son of a New York firefighter to becoming a police officer in two of America's toughest cities. After starting out as an accountant, Mike realized it wasn't his passion and moved to Atlanta, where he spent 10 years policing one of the most violent cities in the country before returning to New York for nearly 20 more years on the job. In this episode, he opens up about the realities of law enforcement, the trauma that built up over decades, and the dark, haunting moments that stayed with him long after the job. Mike also shares how everything eventually caught up to him, what finally broke him, and how he turned to psychedelics in an attempt to heal and rebuild his life. _____________________________________________ #PoliceStory #AtlantaPolice #NYPD #LawEnforcement #TrueCrime #CopLife #CrimeStories #LockedInPodcast _____________________________________________ Connect with Mike Morgan: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheResilientWarriorNation/featured Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresilientwarrior5778 Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1965971334?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_9GXQBVAG55SDHSE14Z3F&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_9GXQBVAG55SDHSE14Z3F&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_9GXQBVAG55SDHSE14Z3F&bestFormat=true Website: https://theresilientwarriornation.com _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 From Family Life to Law Enforcement (Full Story) 07:43 Choosing to Become a Police Officer 13:19 Policing in Atlanta: The Reality of the Job 21:19 Early Trauma & First Experiences on Duty 33:33 Delivering Death Notifications & Coping with Loss 40:33 Violence, Survival & Mental Health as a Cop 47:47 Dangerous Calls & Motorcycle Patrol Stories 55:28 Family Struggles & Life Outside the Job 01:05:44 Most Memorable Calls & Traumatic Moments 01:12:27 The Call That Changed Everything 01:18:02 Injury, Identity Crisis & Life After the Job 01:25:59 Psychedelic Healing & Recovery Journey 01:32:54 Finding Purpose After Trauma 01:41:01 Addiction, Recovery & Speaking Out 01:53:41 Ibogaine Experience & Confronting Childhood Trauma 02:07:44 Healing, Empathy & Breaking the Cycle 02:13:05 Life Today, Book & Lessons Learned _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Stay informed on current events, visit www.NaturalNews.com - Dioxin Testing and Product Safety (0:11) - Life After the Blockade and Oil Market Manipulation (1:56) - Interview with Mike Adams and Product Testing (3:10) - Impact of Dioxin Exposure and Testing Methodology (10:39) - Product Testing Results and Preparedness (35:28) - Life After the Blockade: Economic and Social Implications (39:16) - Oil Market Manipulation and Economic Impact (39:41) - Interview with Steve Quayle: Genetic Armageddon and AI (1:02:38) - Ancient Symbols and Their Connection to Modern Events (1:08:38) - Preparation for Future Challenges (1:19:18) - Peak Human Population and Mass Extermination (1:20:15) - Replacement of Human Beings by Hybrids (1:22:11) - Secret Labs and Human Incubatoriums (1:23:11) - Historical Figures and Demonic Entities (1:25:30) - Alien Disclosure and Stargates (1:27:24) - Hybridization and Genetic Engineering (1:37:02) - AI and Entity Intelligence (1:40:37) - Spiritual Warfare and End Days (1:52:34) - Yellowstone Park and Extremophiles (1:55:29) - Sponsorship and Product Promotion (1:59:08) Watch more independent videos at http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport ▶️ Support our mission by shopping at the Health Ranger Store - https://www.healthrangerstore.com ▶️ Check out exclusive deals and special offers at https://rangerdeals.com ▶️ Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html Watch more exclusive videos here:
Homily from the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Life AFTER his life WITH. Some great stories tell us an important piece of information: where are they now? In our autobiography, after we have experienced "the return"; after we have experienced grace, how do we live? What does our "bonus chapter" look like? What is in our Epilogue? Mass Readings from March 22, 2026: Ezekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 130:1-8Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
