Podcasts about The Lord of the Rings

Are you ready to dive into a thrilling sci-fi world? Want to uncover the chilling secrets of an alien invasion? I'm excited to welcome Aaron Ryan, a passionate author and self-proclaimed Lord of the Rings geek, to today's episode. Aaron's vivid storytelling, inspired by cinematic masterpieces like Aliens, brings a unique musicality to his gripping narratives. We'll explore his Dissonance series, a four-book series that began as a trilogy and expanded with a prequel, set in a post-apocalyptic 2042. Aaron shares insights into his creative process and the thematic depth of human conflict in his work. He reads an excerpt from his novel, Dissonance, where Cameron Shipley recalls the day the world was ravaged by telepathic gorgons during their devastating 2026 invasion. IN THIS EPISODE: (01:51) Explanation of tetralogy versus quadrilogy, with tetralogy being the correct term for four books, distinct from quadrilogy for movies (02:56) Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien and Aliens, crafts Sci-Fi thriller narratives driven by speculative, scientifically creative concepts (04:22) Discussion on authors crossing genres, explanation of Dissonance as a theme (08:40) Ryan describes incorporating musicality in writing, inspired by the Alien's soundtrack (13:53) Ryan reads an excerpt from Dissonance describing Cameron Shipley recalling the 2026 Alien invasion by Gorgons      KEY TAKEAWAYS: Aaron Ryan's Dissonance series, a gripping sci-fi thriller tetralogy, explores a post-apocalyptic world after a 2026 alien invasion by telepathic Gorgons, blending intense action with themes of human dissonance and survival. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien and films like Aliens, Ryan crafts a vivid world-building narrative, using weaponized frequencies and a musicality in writing to enhance thrilling scenes, such as those in Dissonance. Dissonance is being adapted into a Screenplay for platforms like Netflix, with its telepathic paralytic Gorgons and weaponized frequencies, highlighting its pulse-pounding storytelling and terrifying alien encounters. Subscribe to Reenita's Storytelling Den on Substack for free/ You will also be eligible for other extras, such as exclusive content from podcast guests, short stories, exclusive fiction, and more! https://substack.com/@reenitahora   FICTION CREDITS: Written and read by Aaron Ryan  GUEST RESOURCES: Aaron Ryan Author - Website  Dissonance Alien Invasion Saga - Website Aaron Ryan - LinkedIn Author & Speaker Aaron Ryan - Facebook Business Page Author Aaron Ryan - Twitter Author Aaron Ryan (@authoraaronryan) • Instagram photos and videos Author Aaron Ryan - Pinterest  HOST RESOURCES Website LinkedIn  Tiktok  Instagram  Facebook  Twitter (X)  Substack  Threads  LinkTree   BIO: Aaron Ryan, a Washington-based author, lives with his wife, two sons, a dog, a cat, and finches, and writes the Dissonance series, Forecast, The Superhero Anomaly, and business books. Inspired by a second-grade novella, his diverse experiences as a voiceover artist, musician, and more fuel his unique storytelling. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/true-fiction-project/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Exciting news from Nicole: Best Friends is BACK and 1) now on Headgum, 2) with FULL VIDEO EPISODES! Enter the pantheon of best friendship and check out Nicole and Sasheer's first episode back, available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And Subscribe to the Best Friends YouTube channel (@NicoleandSasheer) for video episodes. New episodes every Wednesday.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on indie games with an interview with William Pugh of Crows Crows Crows, one of the principal developers of The Stanley Parable. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Podcast breakdown: 1:06 Interview 1:04:15 Break 1:04:49 Outro Issues covered: his way in, modding for Mario and fan games, blaming our parents, planning to work for Valve, seeing a format for drama and small teams, turning "we'll see" into "whoopie!", being young when you start, early success and having to learn, being your own boss in indie, watching others, therapy, the crush in the industry, market share and Steam, misguided and unsustainable investment, hoping you can ride your past success after gaps in release, mansion success vs terrace house success, remote development living at home, using... nontraditional game development tools, production: the hardest part, a negative learning experience, killing yourselves for the game, "indie developers are certifiably nuts," intelligence and humor, working for the flowchart of it all, going from a console port to adding more and more content and expanding out to be a multi-platform release, a check that's difficult to cash, finding ways to subvert and surprise, a great trailer and setting a trend, day to day iteration on an anthology, not locking things behind meta gates but changing that up in the sequel, bringing in the bucket, maintaining the original and lovingly adding using the parts you have, having confidence, drawing the line when co-creators are happy, validating your own feelings through playtest, trusting in your own taste, team dynamics and having team members get a say, building and having to throw away, the pressure of the first 15 minutes, grabbing attention and compelling to play more... across the game, subverting the mental map, the impact on future work, edging into new areas, having to overdeliver on expectations and at a high level, needing to hit by the time it arrives, reverse-engineering the game development career, getting good advice, spending the time for the quality, seeing the player, not knowing how you'd extend it, really knowing their parameters, interpreting player feelings, the uselessness of focus-testing, overdoing it on the risk aversion. Games, people, and influences mentioned or discussed: Team Fortress 2, Portal, Davey Wreden, Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and the Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist, Accounting/Accounting+, Valve, Left 4 Dead, Mario (series), Nintendo, Macromedia Director, Garry's Mod, Narbacular Drop, DigiPen, The Lord of the Rings, Microsoft, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fez, Spelunky, Skype, Dropbox, MSPaint, Google Docs, Chet Faliszek, Indie Game: The Movie, Mark Rein, PlayStation 4, Karla Zimonja, LucasArts, Outer Wilds, Kirk Hamilton, Aaron Evers, Mark Garcia.  Next time: ... TBA! Twitch: timlongojr  Discord  DevGameClub@gmail.com 

Another FUN episode where we get to geek out with one of our podcast buddies, Cookie! He's been MIA from our nerd world for a while because he and his wife recently had a baby, and that's a time consuming task! Join us for a meandering conversation through the world of Tolkien -- from the books, to the films, and to Jasmin winning a speech tournament for speaking Elvish in college! Let's jump right in to Lord of the Rings: Two Towers.   TRACKLIST: 1:20 - A re-introduction to Cookie from Just A Little Podcast 9:54 - Geek of the Week 30:53 - Cookie tells us why Lord of the Rings: Two Towers is one of his favorite films of all time   You can follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram or if you would like to support us you can donate to our KoFi.

Hello friends and welcome to The Five By! Your quatriweekly source of rapid-fire board game reviews. 00:00 Meeple Lady - Introduction 00:53 Jose - Innovation Ultimate (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/388367/innovation-ultimate) 05:44 Aaron - Almanac: The Dragon Road (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/278783/almanac-the-dragon-road) 11:10 Justin - Tower Up (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/393307/tower-up) 16:17 Amanda - The Lord of The Rings: Fate of the Fellowship (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/436217/the-lord-of-the-rings-fate-of-the-fellowship) 20:53 Meeple Lady - Rats of Wistar (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/387780/rats-of-wistar) 25:47 John - Outro

“‘Rope!’ muttered Sam[wise Gamgee]. ‘I knew I’d want it, if I hadn’t got it!’” Sam knew in the Lord of the Rings that the quest would fail without rope, but he was inadvertently commenting on how civilization owes its existence to this three-strand tool. Humans first made rope 50,000 years ago and one of its earliest contributions to the rise of civilization was as a tool for domesticating animals for milk, meat, and work. ncient Egyptians were experts at making strong, three-strand rope from the halfa grass along the banks of the Nile. Rope allowed them to haul two-and-a-half ton limestone blocks to build the pyramids. They also used rope to tie together the planks of their graceful vessels that sailed without the need of a single nail. The Austronesian peoples spread across the islands of the Pacific in the most impressive and daring series of oceanic voyages in human history. And they did it using fast catamaran and outrigger boats held together with coconut fiber rope. Today’s guest is Tim Queeny, author of Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization. We look at the past, present, and future of this critical piece of technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 29, 1954. After years of struggle for its author, the first installment of JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is published in Britain. This episode originally aired in 2022.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can we get a Kia Ora, darling?New Zealand isn't just Lord of the Rings scenery and sheep. It's got gorgeous queer vibes, strong legal protections, and cities that range from cozy and artsy to full-blown fab with ferry rides to wine islands. We break down the top 5 cities for LGBTQ+ retirement in NZ with real costs, real vibes, and real queer perks.Ready to float through Middle Earth in style? Let's go global gay with this week's Queer Money®!Takeaways:

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game, Grounded 2 Premiere, Co-Op Kaiju Horror Cooking Premiere, New Comics This Week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Birds Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y30LAj502mY&list=RDY30LAj502mY&start_radio=1 Episode Description Podcasters are Evelyn and Robert Lewis Special Hobbit Hosts are Evelyn Mykelrose and Amy Redman Edited by Evelyn Lewis Produced by Comic Canary, Evelyn Lewis, and Robert Lewis Follow us: http://tolkienaboutit.com/ Patreon: Tolkien About It Podcast Facebook: Tolkien About It Twitter: @TolkienPod

We're still talking movie locations on this episode of the Fan2Fan Podcast! Bernie and Pete continue their cinematic road trip through some iconic filming locations in movie history. From the lighthouse in John Carpenter's The Fog to the eerie Amityville house, they share the places they'd love to check out...or have already visited! They dive into hotspots like the Dawn of the Dead mall and the Exorcist steps, the X-Men mansion, Lord of the Rings' New Zealand landscapes, and even Platform 9¾ from Harry Potter. These are real-world spots where movie magic lives on! For more info about the Fan2Fan Podcast, visit https://fan2fan.libsyn.com

We apologise for some minor sound quality issues this week. We hope you enjoy the pod all the same!   This week join Conor, Lauren and Dana as they discuss their Play Con 2025 highlights, including TTRPGs, big group games and some hot new releases. Conor has been throwing it back playing a game painted so beautifully that all other games are ruined for him, with Foundations of Rome. Lauren is casting aside life, youth, and rest, in her new quest for the eternal - glory! with Eternal Decks. Dana has been the one yelling 'Go Mum!' and has bet her bottom dollar that this was the game of the con, with Hot Streak.  We also cover some major gaming news, question of the pod, and round it out with what has us fired up!  Timestamps: What we've been playing [0:05:11] Foundations of Rome [0:37:40] Eternal Decks [0:43:22] Hot Streak [0:50:42] Question of the Pod [1:07:43] Fired up [1:23:17] This week's Question of the Pod: How do you deal with the post-convention blues? Has this episode left you with a thirst for more? Here are all the games that we discussed: QE Commodities Expansion - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/360699/qe-commodities  Fate of the Fellowship - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/436217/the-lord-of-the-rings-fate-of-the-fellowship  Pergola - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/424573/pergola  Meadow - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/314491/meadow  Ito - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/327778/ito  The Vibe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/426692/the-vibe  Guards of Atlantis II - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/267609/guards-of-atlantis-ii  Fishing - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/419195/fishing  Pitch Car - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150/pitchcar  Foundations of Rome - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284189/foundations-of-rome  Eternal Decks - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/424981/eternal-decks  Hot Streak - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/446497/hot-streak    PODCAST SPONSORS Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Advent Games and More Than Meeples.  Advent Games is an Australian online board game store based in Sydney, NSW.  http://www.adventgames.com.au/ More Than Meeples is an Australian retail and online game store based in Brisbane, QLD. https://morethanmeeples.com.au/ PATREON Hey there, BBQ fans! Guess what? We've got a Patreon! By joining, you'll unlock exclusive content, gain access to a members-only section of our Discord where you can help shape the show, and so much more. At the Board Game BBQ Podcast, we're passionate about what we do and promise to keep the fun and shenanigans rolling. We're so grateful for your support! But if you'd like to chip in from just USD$5 a month, click the link to check out our Patreon page. We're committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive community, and you all make it special.  https://www.patreon.com/BoardGameBBQ   SOCIALS Support the podcast and join the community! https://linktr.ee/BoardGameBBQ  LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-board-game-bbq-podcast/id1515192971 LISTEN ON SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/4VZjYJV1E3AWND62urWlP9

Just when you thought the Lord of the Rings product train had run out of steam, Weta workshop has more. Bill Hickman has more.

This is an episode of Becoming the Main Character, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts. ---- Sponsors:⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠The Classical Society.com⁠ - ⁠⁠TakeoverPod.Supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - All premium content for just $7/month ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠GainsInBulk.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 20% off instantized creatine and more⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠Speechify.com/ben⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code Ben for 15% off Speechify premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Founders Podcast⁠⁠ ---- Stay In Touch - Sign up for our newsletter at ⁠⁠takeoverpod.com⁠⁠ - Twitter/X - ⁠⁠@BenWilsonTweets⁠⁠ - Instagram - ⁠⁠@HTTOTW⁠

The battle of Helm's Deep is over; the battle for Middle-earth is about to begin.Enjoy our podcast review of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (2002), directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, and Viggo Mortensen! Chris and Altaf once again relate to the dynamic of Frodo and Sam, and we dive deep into the "logistics and bureaucracy" when faced with crisis against evil.Support the showPodcast theme song by Jaron Jon - https://www.instagram.com/jaron.jon/VIDEO PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@moviesthatchangedusREACTION CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/nicedudemovienightMERCH: https://nicedudemovienight.com/PATREON (early access, exclusive podcasts and polls): https://www.patreon.com/moviesthatchangedusTWITTER: https://twitter.com/nicedudemoviesINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/moviesthatchangedusBUSINESS INQUIRIES: alex@risingsunsagency.com

Question for you. What does the White City and your life have in common? Of course, you'll remember the White City is straight out of J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Interestingly, between the White City and another city, Osgiliath, there's a lot in common with your life. Let's look. Read More ... For more resources and tools that inspire and equip you to live well using God's Word in practical ways each day, visit the Alive and Active Life website.

Quaranteam-Northwest: Part 5 Lab work. Based on a post by Break The Bar. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.   Time went quickly, but also seemed to go nowhere at all; only three days after the final demise of the house we'd moved the RVs four times and I decided we needed to figure out something at least semi-permanent. Even a week in the same spot would be preferable to constant movement. The space where my house had stood was now full of stacks and pallets of supplies, and Vanessa had a crew of almost two dozen of her 'gorillas' working to erect what would become the first of a dozen temporary bunkhouses for the incoming construction workers. She still seemed to be the only foreman on site, so I went looking for Vanessa. I found her at the water truck, splashing some water onto the back of her neck as she took a quick break. It had turned even hotter over the week, spring slipping fully into summer, and we were all starting to boil when we were outside. I'd quickly abandoned the feeling of needing to 'dress up' for everyone and I was down to athletic shorts and one of my sleeveless workout shirts; one of the few that were still 'mine' considering both Erica and Ivy had taken to wearing them as well. Vanessa was the boss however and had to set the example for the rest of the crew, so she was still wearing the jeans, long-sleeved t-shirt and her reflective vest of a dutiful construction foreman. "Hey, got a second?" I asked. "Oh, hey Harrison," she said, looking up as she continued splashing water onto the back of her neck. "Sorry I haven't come to check with you and the girls today, we had three more loads this morning of barracks pilings I had to get sorted, and the fucking surveyors are still bitching about not knowing where the sewage lines are going to come onto the property, as if I can fucking answer that question for them or something." "When's your Dad supposed to finally get on site?" I asked. Her father was supposed to be the General Manager of the entire construction project, but so far I had yet to have seen him. "Fuck, a few days still at least," Vanessa sighed. "I'm getting tired as shit of the phone tag." "Well, sorry if this is a big ask and causes you more headaches; any chance we could project ahead a bit and figure out where we can stash the RVs and everything where we're not going to need to move them for a while? Moving everything around is annoying by itself, but I've also noticed some of your guys are spending a lot of time wandering by the RVs whenever the girls are outside." "Fucking gorillas," Vanessa grunted and grimaced. "I mean, on the one hand, I get it; they are either cooped up in the motel or here working. I'm not exactly thrilled with the situation either. But they could keep it in their fucking pants too, ya know?" "Look, if we can find a spot, the way I see it we can use the RVs and Containers to set up a yard for us that's blocked from view. Then we can have some privacy and not feel cooped up in the RVs, and your guys aren't tempted to let their eyes wander," I said. "I figure it's a win-win." Vanessa smiled and patted my arm. "Harri, as long as you keep the fucking indoors, I'll see what I can do about getting you guys some more privacy." "What do you mean?" I asked, suddenly a little worried that Erica and I might have gotten caught at the Willow tree after all, or that maybe a surveyor had wandered up near the Spring without us hearing. "Nothing, nothing," Vanessa said. "I just; you know we can see the RVs rocking a bit, right? And I don't know who it is, but someone over in your camp is a screamer. We can hear her when she really gets going. Once the guys even gave you a standing ovation." "Fuck," I coughed, shaking my head. "I'm sorry. I think it's something to do with the vaccine. I've had more sex in the last four days than I have in the last four years. Honestly, I don't even know how I'm doing it; I ain't old, but I'm not a teenager either." "Well, god bless the vaccine I guess," Vanessa smirked. "And good for you. Just do me a favor and keep it inside the RVs 'till we can get you that privacy. We don't need the entire site shutting down to listen to you fucking your girlfriends." I shook my head again with a self-deprecating smirk. "Um, deal. I hope." That made Vanessa chuckle, and we parted ways for the afternoon. The next day, she came back in the morning and explained the plan she had worked out with the Surveyors and one of the tree-clearing crews. By mid-afternoon, a new swathe of the back end of the hill was bare of trees, and a bulldozer scooped dirt into the holes left by ripped-up stumps. By the time Vanessa left that evening, two of the storage containers had been shifted around by the 'gorillas' and positioned in an L-shape for us in the new location, and Leo and I moved the RVs to form the other two sides of a square. When Vanessa came by the next morning we'd hung up some old, heavy blankets at the corners to maximize our privacy, busted out the lawn chairs and barbecue, and were on our way to turning the space into an outdoor living room. Leo and I even went so far as to rig up an old bell we'd salvaged from the barn on a wooden post with a metal knocker on a string to serve as a doorbell. Erica was the one to answer Vanessa's ring of the bell, and she swept aside the blanket curtain. "Welcome to Casa de Black," she declared. "Jesus," Vanessa said, walking into our new home base. "You guys didn't want to wait, did you?" "Why would we?" Leo asked. "We don't know how long we're going to be living like this, so might as well make the most of it." Leo had decided to make one last addition to our current set-up, and had pulled a loose slab of wood from the container holding all his tools and was carving 'Speak Friend and Enter' into it the makeshift sign with his handheld angle grinder. He'd already been talking about using his torch to burn the wood before giving it a clear lacquer coat. "What can we do for you, Vanessa?" I asked. "Need some breakfast?" "Actually?" Vanessa chewed on the inside of her cheek for a second and peeked back outside the yard. "Breakfast would be fucking great. They're feeding us at the motel, but it's been the same instant oatmeal every fucking morning." "Well, we've yet to have our egg hookup dry out on us," I said. Old Mrs. Branston lived about fifteen minutes down the highway and had been selling eggs to three generations of my family; through the pandemic and quarantine we'd set up a system where I called ahead and she dropped off two dozen eggs at the end of her driveway, and I left a ten dollar bill in her mailbox. "How do you like them? I think I'm getting pretty good at using the grill with a frying pan." We hosted Vanessa for about fifteen minutes as I fried her up some over-easy eggs and some toast to go with it, and she started devouring the first two so quickly that I put another two in the pan for her immediately. While I cooked, she shared the most recent gossip running through the construction crews. "So the latest group to come in said they got tested four times before even leaving the airport," she said around a mouthful. "They were basically flown into Portland, put in little hygienic pods inside the terminals until they'd tested negative all four times, then escorted to military transports. I guess the army is our taxi service or something, and there are members of the national guard currently standing watch at all of the motels. It's kind of fucked up and feels like a prison, honestly. We're not even supposed to mingle outside with each other, despite the fact that we all work together here all day." "Who's feeding you all?" Danielle asked. "Just the people already working out there seems like a lot." "Some catering service is making these prepackaged meals," Vanessa said. "The breakfasts are shit, and the lunches are whatever. The dinners are Okay though; microwavable, and waiting for us when we get off shift." "Have you heard anything else out there about the vaccine?" I asked. "Hmm-Hmm," Vanessa shook her head. "But I mean, I spend my time working." "I'm still not seeing much online," Leo said. "Little whispers on social media, but then it disappears before it gets going." "That's kinda fucked up," Erica said. "We know it's real. The government must be censoring the information or something. "Well, whenever it happens, I don't know what I'll do," Vanessa sighed. "I like working too much, being my own woman. I bring in more cash in a year than almost every other person I graduated high school with, I've been doing it for years, and I don't have any debts. I can't just get tied down to some guy." "You would be surprised, Vanessa," Ivy spoke up. "I am this way too, no? I left home to make my way, and I am happy doing it. But now I am happy here, and am also safe from the sickness. It is not how I saw my life going, but c'est la vie, non?" Vanessa shrugged, and we moved on to some other topics until her radio squawked and she had to run off back to her work. By lunchtime I'd already done another two quick guides into the hills for the surveyors and Leo had gotten his nerd-sign carved out and torched, and he was spray lacquering it outside the yard with a facemask and safety goggles on to cut the strong fumes. He stopped the sprayer when he saw me approaching and stepped away from the sign. "Hey, you able to help me out with hanging this tonight?" he asked me. "Of course," I said. "I gotta help you fly your nerd flag somehow." "Yeah, says the guy with the Lord of the Rings concept art cycling as his desktop screen," Leo rolled his eyes. "It's for my work," I said. "Top-notch inspiration." And then I realized I hadn't opened my laptop in days; not since I'd finished the questionnaire that had led to Erica choosing me. And Ivy for that matter. I hadn't checked emails, I hadn't reached out to contacts. Fuck, I hadn't even sent in my last work-for-hire backgrounds. "Whatever," Leo laughed and punched me in the arm. "Look, when you go in there, just know it wasn't my idea, Okay? I only helped them move the stuff." "What does that mean?" I asked. "You'll see," Leo said cryptically. I ducked through the blanket door and immediately saw what Leo was talking about. Space had been cleared in the center of our sheltered yard for three of the heavy Adirondack deck chairs, and laying in those chairs were Danielle, Erica and Ivy. Each of them was wearing a bikini and were glistening with sunscreen and sweat from the sun as they tanned. They had a Bluetooth speaker playing songs from their phones; I suspected Erica was trying to convince the younger two women of the virtues of mid-2000s pop punk. "Oh, good," Erica said, grinning as she saw me coming into the yard. She lifted her glass. "Um, excuse me, waiter? We could use a top-up, please." I snorted and shook my head, walking over. All three of the women were in two-piece swimsuits, though I suspected Danielle and Ivy's were possibly part of their stripping gear rather than actual bikinis. Both of their suits were more string than fabric and left little to the imagination. Erica's was a bit more conservative, though really not by that much because of her swathe of cleavage. "What are we drinking today, ladies?" I asked. "I made up a pitcher of sangria," Erica said. "It's in the fridge in our place. You would be the absolute love of my life if you were to go get it for us, please?" "I thought I already was the love of your life?" I asked with a smile. "You are," Erica smiled back. "But this will get you to the front of the line for my next life, too. How about that?" "Does that go for all of you?" I asked. "Absolutely," Ivy grinned. "I think I could definitely do worse," Danielle grinned. "But I think Leo might have something to say about that." "Harri can take my brother," Erica chuckled. "Don't worry, Danni. Just sell your future soul to Harri, what's the worst that could happen?" "Fine. My future love life for a refill of sangria," Danielle giggled. I fetched the pitcher and poured for the three women, unable to wipe the grin from my lips as I watched and listened to them bantering back and forth happily. By mid-afternoon, the tanning was over and after a quick fuck in the RV Erica and I were lounging in the Adirondacks, each of us with a sketchbook in hand. "What are you working on?" I asked. "I know you've been as frustrated as I have over the last month." "A tattoo design for Ivy," Erica said, her brow creased as she tapped her pencil against her lips thoughtfully. "Now that I have a future canvas, I feel like I can concentrate again. Plus the sex helps a lot." You laughed and nodded. "Got your creative juices flowing, huh?" "Got all my juices flowing, baby," she grinned at me. "What about you? I've got Ivy, and Danielle wants me to design something for her now, too. What's got you drawing again?" I smiled a little and shrugged. "Just figured out my muse," I said. "And what's that?" she asked. "Come on, don't be shy." I turned my sketchbook around so that Erica could see the portrait I had been sketching of her. She looked at it and blushed, biting her lower lip. "Just the most beautiful thing in the world," I told her. "You know," Erica said. "It kinda looks like you're drawing me naked." "That's cause I'm drawing you from the shoulders up," I said. "Yeah, but would you?" she asked. "Would I what? Draw you naked?" "Or Ivy?" "Are you asking me to draw you like one of my French girls?" I asked. Erica barked out a laugh at the reference and threw her pencil at me. "Yes, maybe I am," she said. "Now give me back my pencil." "You threw it at me," I said, fetching it off the ground. "Come and get it." We ended up in each other's arms and making out, me halfway to taking her back into the RV for round two, when someone rang the doorbell. "Who is it?" I shouted over the wall. "It's me," Vanessa called and ducked through the blanket door without waiting for a response. "Sorry, but we've got a problem," she said. "I think I'm going to need you down at the road again." "Fuck," I said. "Is it Kara?" "It's a lot more than that bitch," Vanessa said. I changed and this time Vanessa drove us both down in her company-branded pickup truck. Erica, having already staked her claim on me in front of Kara in her eyes, decided to hang back and let Ivy finish what I'd started. I was sure sending me away with that picture in my mind was done on purpose. As we were nearing the bottom of the driveway, I could hear the noise of the protest through the closed windows and over the engine of the truck. "Fuck me," I said. "Yeah," Vanessa nodded. The end of the driveway was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, blocking traffic. They were three rows deep and singing a protest chant. Every single one of them was dressed in bright colors, showing their allegiance to the Band and proudly shouting for all they were worth. Opposing them, about ten feet up the drive, was a slim, single row of burly construction workers just watching the protest happen. "Those guys really can't let themselves get baited," I said. "If something happens, it doesn't matter who said what or what can hold up in court. There'll be big, scary motherfuckers showing up wanting to do some damage and I don't think your boys are ready for that." "I know, I already told them," Vanessa said. "But I'll tell them again. You'd be surprised how much threatening someone's big, fat bonus checks can keep them calm and focused." We got out of the truck and I walked down to the line of workers, rubbing at the stubble on my chin as I considered the protestors. There were easily fifty of them blocking the driveway, and there was already a backup of two flatbed trucks on the highway, plus a half dozen cars that looked more like they just wanted to get by rather than come in. Another thirty or so protestors were strung out on either side of the highway in both directions, holding up signs and doing the organizational things to keep the protestors going. "Pretty good turnout," I said offhandedly. "A lot bigger than last time." "When was the last time?" Vanessa asked. "Five years ago," I said. "Kara tried to sue for an injunction on my father's Will, and about a dozen protestors showed up to the courthouse the day she got shot down." "Any chance they'll get tired and go home?" Vanessa asked. I scanned the crowd and the vehicles parked up and down the highway. I already knew there were about thirty military-age males in the protest, and I could see people opening the backs of vans where I spotted supply caches of water and food. I could also see the determination on the faces of the crowd, and hear the declarations of a couple of different women holding loudspeakers. The rhetoric, and emotions, were ramped up more than usual. The anti-government hate was high, and now that they knew they weren't fighting Me but rather the Government it seemed to steel their resolve. "Not a shot," I said. I stepped forward and the shouting got louder. Likely every single person in that crowd knew who I was, while I had no idea who most of them were. But with every step I took, they shouted louder. Finally, halfway between the lines, they seemed to be at a fever pitch and I just stopped and waited. They kept going for a good five minutes before Kara pushed her way through and walked up to me, masked behind those bandanas again. "I told you this would happen," Kara said over the shouting and chanting. "You didn't think I could do it, but look at us. Look at us, Harrison! We will not let this happen to our land." "Kara," I said loudly. "How do you think this ends?" "Only one way," Kara shouted. "The Feds surrender to our rightful claim, and stop their colonization efforts, and we take back what's ours." "This is dangerous, Kara," I said, gesturing at the crowd. "What?" she shouted back. "I said this is dangerous, Kara," I shouted. "Every person here is in danger." "Are you threatening us?" Kara shouted, playing it up for the crowd behind her. "Going to kill us, like your family has done for generations?" "Jesus fuck," I said, shaking my head. "Kara, this doesn't end the way you think it does. I'm going to pray for you, honest to God." Kara just held up her middle finger at me, pointed her other at Vanessa behind me, and turned and walked away to the cheers of her people. I shrugged and went back to Vanessa. "Yeah, they aren't leaving," I said. "I already called my Dad," Vanessa said. "He's coming down and will want to meet with you." "Sure," I nodded. "If they let him through." About thirty minutes later the protesters were still going strong, and another three flatbeds with either supplies or heavy machinery were backed up on the highway, along with dozens of cars. Vanessa was doing as much as she could to keep her workers at least a dozen yards away from the crowd of protestors; the last thing she wanted was for them to need to get quarantined waiting on a half dozen new tests. Or worse, actually catch something. I did my best to help her juggle phones, calling various General Foremen to get incoming trucks rerouted to staging areas and to keep those that were stuck in the traffic in their cabs or else they couldn't enter the site. Eventually she got a call, spoke quickly and then hung up. "Harri, this might be a big ask, but could you do me a favor?" she asked. "The government paid me a lot of money for my land and doing favors," I said. "But you've gone out of your way plenty for me and Leo and the girls. Favors come free to you, Vee." She rolled her eyes. "Who told you my brothers call me that?" "No one, just felt natural," I chuckled. "I call Erica 'E' sometimes, and I'm sure I'll end up calling Ivy 'I've' at some point." "Alright, well, 'H,'" she said. "My dad is parked down at the edge of the property on the highway and doesn't want to get too close to the traffic. Could you hike out to him and bring him back?" "Sure," I said. I looked up at the sun and then out at the woods. "Um, from here... it's probably faster if I grab an ATV. Would he be squeamish about riding double with me?" Vanessa snorted. "He probably wouldn't be, but he's also got a gut the size of your ATVs so it would be a tight fit." "Alright, guess we're hiking. I can rough it and reach him in about twenty minutes," I said. "I'll take a smoother way back for him, so we'll get here in under an hour." "Got it, I'll let him know you're on your way. Thanks," she said, patting my arm. "Try to take it easy on him, he growls like a bear but he's still my Dad." "Hey, he's the big man in charge. Gotta keep him happy or else I'll find myself with the worst workers for my house, right?" "Very true," she laughed. I started hiking back up the driveway a little ways, and then diverted into the woods, hoping that the protestors would miss that I was skirting away from them. I was very glad I had changed from my lounging around clothes; rough jeans and my hiking boots were a lot sturdier in the rocky bush than athletic shorts and sandals. The raucousness of the protestors was quickly muffled by the forest to a dull roar, and it felt good to get away from them. It was weird. After spending months in isolation with Leo and Erica, we'd been getting used to so many people around again with the workers and adding Ivy and Danielle to our weird little family dynamic. But a crowd like that, all packed together? That was exactly what the quarantine orders were warning against. "Harrison!" My name cut through the muffle of the trees and shrubs, and I turned and saw Kara quickly jogging through the woods to catch up with me. "Kara, what the fuck are you doing? You're trespassing," I said. "So throw me off your land," Kara said, coming to a stop about ten feet from me and putting her hands on her hips. "Oh wait, that's right, it's not your land anymore." I rolled my eyes. "You can take off the bandanas if you want. We're fine this far apart." She did so, pulling them down to hang around her neck. Kara was still as beautiful as the day we'd broken up, though she'd grown up a lot. Where I was such a mix that it was hard to tell I had any Native American in my bloodstream, she had that classic warm skin tone and thick black hair. She'd been taking care of herself well, fit and a little thinner than Erica was, but with a similar strong jawline to my girlfriend. Her lips were as full as I remembered though, and I could almost feel her kissing me again like all those years ago behind the corner of the biology classroom in high school, or laying out in the back of my old beater pickup under the stars. "What's going on, Harri?" she asked me. "I thought we'd at least hit a status quo or something." "Oh, the one where you file a lawsuit against me every couple of years, and the judge shuts you down, but I keep having to rack up legal fees?" "No," she said. "Well, sort of. I thought we were keeping things above board. No games, no gimmicks. Not getting historical." I grimaced. "Well, we did," I said. "So what the fuck?" she said, throwing her arms wide. "What the fuck is all of this?" "Kara, think about it for one fucking second without your prejudice. Imagine I'm not just doing this as a 'Fuck You' from my family tree to the Band," I said. "A week ago I wouldn't have thought any of this would be happening. A week ago I was happily living my life and would have stayed that way straight through the end of the world if I had to. Do you seriously think I've done this on some whim?" "Why, then? What are they doing? What are they offering you?" she demanded. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I said. "And even if you did, I think you're too far into this already to walk it back with your people." "Try me," she said. "If you ever cared about me,” "Stop," I interrupted her. "You've used that line twice on me before, Kara. You used it when you broke up with me, and you used it again right after my father died. That line didn't work when I was at some of the lowest points in my life; do you seriously think I'll respond well to that here?" She grimaced, and I saw the realization in her eyes that I was right. That she had used that line before, and it had been pretty fucked up for her to do that. "I'm sorry," she said, and only partially through gritted teeth. "I shouldn't have done that." "Thank you," I said. My heart was pounding in my chest and I felt like I was in combat, just having this verbal sparring contest with her. I fucking hated her, but I also still knew she was the first girl I'd ever loved. The one that had broken my heart. The one that 'got away.' "Just explain it to me," Kara said, trying to be more even about it. "Please." I took a moment to breathe deeply. I wasn't barred from telling her anything. I'd tried to warn her when she'd shown up at the driveway before, but the thought of all those protestors at risk for the virus pushed me over the edge of trying to warn her again. "Kara, the government gave me the choice of accepting a huge payout for the land, or them kicking me out and taking it by eminent domain. Either way, they were going to take it and take it fast. I could either ride it, or die fighting it." "So what are they doing with it?" she asked. "Building homes," I said. "A whole gated community, it sounds like. Part of my payout was housing for myself, Leo and Valerie." "What the fuck? Why do they want a gated community way out here?" she asked. "Worst-case scenario shit," I said. "You mean the pandemic?" she asked. "Are you for fucking serious?" "Serious enough that my house got bulldozed a couple days ago," I said. "Gone. Like it was never even there." "This can't be real," Kara said. "This is absurd." "I told you that you wouldn't believe me," I said. "Well, if you were too much of a cunt to stop them, we will," Kara said, steeling herself again. "We'll have the local news down here by tomorrow, and if the Feds show up we'll have national news coverage by the end of the week." I had to try one more time. "Kara, this doesn't end the way you want it to. You're a dreamer, and I loved that about you when we were teens, but you know the real world doesn't just work like that." Kara narrowed her eyes. "Where are you going right now?" "What does that matter?" I asked. "Because I just followed you out into the woods after your little construction girlfriend was talking to you," she said. "She's not my girlfriend," I rolled my eyes. "Tell her that. She's flirting with you hard enough," Kara said. "I can see her doing it." "Even if she was, what does that have to do with you?" I asked. I knew I'd landed a blow because she got angry again. "Nothing," she said. "But I still want to know what you're doing." "I don't have to tell you that, Kara," I said. "I don't answer to you, I don't owe you anything, and I don't worship the ground you walk on. All I've got to say now is that you should go send all those people home, and hope that you haven't organized some super-spreader event here. For all the shit you've given me and my family, I don't want to see them all dead. I don't want to see you dead." Kara raised her bandanas again. "We're fighting the good fight. We're on the right side of this, Harrison. You're not." She turned and started walking back towards the road. "Fuck me," I sighed, shaking my head. That woman could still push my buttons almost fifteen years later. I pressed through the forest, making for the edge of the property and then diverting towards the road. When I reached it, I found a white and brown heavy pickup identical to Vanessa's idling on the gravel shoulder. The big guy in the driver's seat rolled down his window a crack. "What's up?" "I'm Harrison Black," I said. Another guy got out of the passenger seat and came around, slapping the hood. "Head on back to the motel," he said to the man in the truck. "I'll catch a ride back with my daughter." The guy in the truck nodded and waited for us both to back away before pulling a U-Turn and taking off down the highway. "So, you're the land guy, eh?" the man said, turning and offering me his hand. He was exactly as Vanessa had described; portly to the point of obese, with a gruff exterior that spoke of years handling his business in a rough industry and getting shit done. "I am," I said, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. "Your daughter has been fantastic to work with. Helpful and on task, and she keeps her guys in line." "I have no doubt," he said. "She grew up bossing her older brothers around and got the best of her mother and me. I'm Brent Peters, by the way. I'm sure we'll be speaking every once in a while through this project." "Good to meet you, sir," I said. "And I'm sure we will." I led Brent into the brush and got us through the roughest part until I could get us to one of the more used trails. It got a lot easier for him there, and once he had a chance to catch his breath he seemed to actually enjoy the chance to stretch his legs. He didn't know, or at least wasn't forthcoming, with any more information than Vanessa had been able to give about what was going on, but he did enjoy hearing about the sordid history of the land, my family and the Band. It took a little longer than I'd thought it would to get back to the driveway, Brent needing a couple of breaks, but we made it eventually. Vanessa grinned when she saw her father in a way that made me think she was going to run to him and hug him, but she never made the move. I had to assume that was a hard-trained response from her years working with the man; hugging your pops on a job site would probably lead to taking a lot of shit from your coworkers. Brent quickly got updated on the last hour of developments from Vanessa, and I saw his managerial side take over. Soon the line of construction workers were twenty yards back from the protestors, and he was stride-waddling forward with a medical mask stretched over his face. Kara met him halfway, and whatever they said seemed to go about as well as the talks I'd had with her myself. Again, she ended it by showing off for the protestors by giving him the double-birds. "Well, that went well," Brent sighed as he came back. "You were right, Harrison. They're stuck in. Wouldn't even help us get those trucks room to move or get out of the way of traffic." "She feels like she's got leverage," I guessed. "And they haven't had that on us for years now." "Well, I've officially done what I can," Brent said. "Time to do what every good GM does when shit like this happens." He took out his phone and started walking up the driveway away from Vanessa and me. "What's that?" I asked. "Call the client and tell them to un-fuck the situation," Vanessa smirked. The rest of the afternoon and evening was a long fucking day. There was no good way to get the workers on site off of it, and no good way to get new ones on, so Leo and I ended up walking several groups through the trails to get to the road in places out of sight of the protestors. And since the big crew vans were parked on site, Brent ended up getting access to school buses to come and pick up his guys. The second to last bus dropped off a dozen men who would take over watching the driveway and the protestors overnight; we'd already seen them breaking out tents and lanterns to hold their vigil; and the last bus out had Brent and Vanessa on board. "Client will be by in the morning," Brent said, and winked at me. "Don't you worry, bucko. You hold down the home front tonight, and the cavalry will be here in no time." "You got it," I said. "But whoever is coming, I suggest you make sure they know to take this seriously. The Band is riled up, and now they smell blood in the water. This isn't going away easily." "I'll pass that on to the Lieutenant Colonel," Brent nodded. He shook my hand again and stepped onto the bus. "See you tomorrow, H," Vanessa grinned at me. "Not if I see you first, Vee," I chuckled. She stepped up into the bus and I heard her voice raise immediately. "Alright, you Gorillas. Grab your fuckin' seats and stay there. I swear to Christ if one of you pisses me off, I'll confiscate your fuckin' dinner, got it?" I laughed, and could see the construction workers grinning in their seats as the bus did a three-point turn and pulled away. The sun was getting low when I finally hiked out of the bush and back into view of our little compound. Erica was waiting for me with a smile and a plate of stir fry. "What's the word, Harri?" "They're still down there," I said. "There are some workers keeping an eye on the driveway. Could you throw on a big pot of coffee for me and dig one of the thermoses out of storage?" "Harri, if they've got some of their workers down there, it's not your job to supervise. I'm sure Vanessa and her Dad left someone in charge." "They did," I said. "And I'm not going down there. I'm staying up here." I shoveled the stir fry down, relishing in the spicy kick Erica liked to cook with. Inside our little compound I gave Ivy a kiss, apologizing that I wouldn't be seeing her in bed for the night. Then I went to the storage container closest to my RV. The one with my gun safe. "What's the word?" Leo asked me when he found me. I had a lantern flashlight on and was loading rounds into my father's Model 700. "Jesus, Harri. What the fuck?" I doubted he was commenting on me loading the Remington hunting rifle. We'd used it plenty when we were hunting during deer season; it was a solid, reliable tool. No, I knew he was reacting to the other firearms I had out. My M9 was already holstered on my hip, a copy of my service sidearm that had served me so well through my tour and as an MP, and my DDM4V1 was laid out, waiting for me to do a quick check it was still in good order. "Just taking precautions," I said. I was already trying to get into the right mindset. "What does that even mean? What are you doing?" "There's about a hundred protesters down there, last I counted. More keep arriving," I told Leo, loading the last round into the 700 and checking the safety before setting it down. I fished a handful more.308's out of the ammo box in the safe and fed them into the bandolier shoulder strap for the hunting rifle. "Problem is, they're pissed off. Not just about the construction, but at all the other shit going on right now. And pissed-off people do dumb shit." "So what, you're going to go all Alamo on us?" Leo asked. "For real, Harri. Nothing's going to happen. They're down there, we're up here." "Leo," I said. "I'm not asking you to do anything you don't want to. The Bear shotgun is in my RV. Do me a favor and keep it handy tonight. If I miss something, I'd rather you have it than not." "Harri,” "Dude, just stop," I said. I'd finished with the.308s and started taking apart the DDM4V1 and giving it a quick clean. It was a budget purchase that I'd made prioritizing reliability over flashy shit, and the 'scary one' in my collection when it came to civilians. Erica hadn't even liked the idea of me owning it when we gave her the tour of my firearms and taught her the safety protocols for them. Leo had only ever fired it once. Both of the siblings had said the same thing; 'If you have the rifles and shotguns and the handgun, why do you need a machine gun?' This sort of thing was why I needed it. And it wasn't a 'machine gun.' "I'm not planning, or hoping, to kill someone tonight. If I have to use the DDM4 or my sidearm, something has gotten really fucked," I said. "But I'm also not taking any chances. Sometime tonight, there's going to be people sneaking up into the construction yard to cause mischief, and they aren't going to know the difference between the construction yard and where we're living. Maybe they hear us and they stay clear, or maybe they don't. I'm not taking that chance." Leo watched me cleaning my rifle, and glanced out at the darkening sky, and then back to me. "What should I do?" he asked. A wave of relief washed over me; it had been years since I'd served, and every instinct I had was telling me to do what I was doing, but that civilian part of my brain was second-guessing everything. Leo agreeing told me I was being logical, even if he didn't like it or I turned out to be wrong. "Just be with the girls tonight," I said. "I can handle the yard, you stay with them. Think of it like a shitty tower defense game. If I do my job, you'll never have to do anything." He nodded and left me to my work. Surprisingly, it was Danielle who came to see me next. "What can I do to help?" she asked. Her Australian accent was sounding stronger, the California valley girl part of it dropping with her serious demeanor. "Nothing, I've got it," I said. She'd caught me as I was strapping on my ghillie suit; another item that Leo and Erica had found silly to own considering we didn't need it for hunting deer. It had honestly been more of a gag item in my collection than anything until tonight. "Harrison, I'll remind you that my Dad was military, yeah?" she said. "I grew up outside the city. I know how to work a firearm." I took a breath and looked at her. Even at night, by the light of a lantern, she looked like an elven beauty despite the cutoff denim shorts and zippered knit sweater. "Can you handle a handgun?" I asked. "I've shot the head of an Eastern Brown from ten paces away when it was threatening to bite my dog," she said. "I assume that's a snake?" "A fucking poisonous one," Danielle said. "Alright," I nodded. "Under the passenger seat of my truck is a gun case with my pop's old 1911 and a couple of magazines. Hang on to it for tonight. Try not to freak out Erica or Ivy, and if you hear shots tonight don't let Leo come looking for me, let alone Erica and Ivy. If they leave the RVs it'll just make things worse." "Okay," she said with a serious nod, then stepped towards me, hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks." "For what?" I asked as she stepped back. "For being the man I figured you were," she said. "Leo's all mine and I'm happy with that, but like I told you; you remind me of all the good parts of my Dad. I'm glad I have Leo and you around." She left to fetch the pistol, and I finished strapping on the ghillie suit and slung my two rifles over my shoulders and closed the gun safe. When I was finished slamming the storage container closed, I turned around to find Ivy and Erica both looking at me with their arms crossed. "Both of you, huh?" I asked. "Yes, both of us," Erica said. "United front," Ivy said. "Look,” "Shut up, Harrison," Erica said, and then they were both hugging me while being careful around the firearms. "Just be careful." "Extra careful," Ivy said, burying her face into the strings of the ghillie suit in my chest and then immediately pulling back with a wince. "Ugh, this smells terrible." "Yeah, well it's not exactly the sort of thing you clean very often," I shrugged. "Whatever," Erica said and kissed me. Ivy kissed me as well, looking at me with those big eyes of hers with concern. "So you're not going to try and convince me this isn't necessary?" I asked. "Wouldn't do anything except lead to a fight we couldn't win," Erica said. "You're too stubborn not to do it." "And too brave," Ivy added. "That too," Erica smiled sadly. Then she handed me the big thermos of coffee. "Come back to us in one piece." "I will," I said. "Don't worry. But if you two hear anything tonight, if there's any gunfire, don't come looking for me. Just stay in the RVs and hunker down from the windows. If you come looking for me, you'll add more danger and not take it away, alright?" They both agreed, though I could tell Erica didn't like it. I could only imagine her sprinting across the construction yard, bullets flying everywhere, screaming my name as she worried I'd been shot. Hell, she'd probably pick me up and carry me to safety if it were true, but she'd also likely never get to me in the first place if things were that bad. I kissed them both again, then stalked off into the night. I ended up settling into a nook on the side of the hill to the south of the construction yard, with a clear view of about two-thirds of the yard and most importantly the RV compound. I unslung my rifles and carefully positioned myself in a comfortable prone position I was going to be able to manage for a long time. I'd never gone through Sniper training, but I'd picked up enough from my Bootcamp, talking with other soldiers and from movies to know a thing or two; not to mention years of hunting. So I cracked the thermos and took a sip of the hot, strong coffee, and started my watch. I saw them moving through the trees at around 02:30 in the morning down on the east side of the yard near the driveway. They must have skirted around the construction worker picket line and followed the driveway up, but they were still in the shadows so I couldn't tell how many there were, or what they were carrying. The only reason I spotted them early at all was because someone was flicking a flashlight up occasionally. I had the 700 cradled in my arms, and I slowly rolled into position but didn't sight down the scope yet. I didn't have any night vision gear, and while the simple Leopold scope easily gave me the range to tag anything moving down there, I wouldn't know what I was hitting. They stopped at the edge of the tree line, and I could only imagine the nerves they were feeling looking out over the open area. There were seven portables set up holding various offices now, and half a dozen big crew vans that had been left behind for the night along with some of the company pickup trucks. The pilings and supplies to erect the bigger barracks were also looming in the big, open space. "Just take a look and leave," I muttered quietly to myself, willing whoever was down there to not make this worse than it could be. Five minutes went by before a figure began to creep out of the tree line, crossing the rise of the hill and slipping towards the yard. From the distance I was at, I couldn't see them clearly enough other than to tell they were probably wearing a backpack; not a big deal in and of itself, but my training was screaming at me. 'Anything' meant anything. That backpack could hold weapons, or communications equipment, or even an I E D. I sighted in on the figure. It was a man, military age but young. I couldn't see much of his face between the black bandana over his nose and mouth and a ball cap backwards on his head. My finger tightened just a fraction on the trigger when I saw the flash of metal in his hand, but my hesitation saved his life; he was carrying a can of spray paint. He reached what he thought was the shelter of the first building; and it was shelter if he thought a guard was patrolling inside the yard. But I wasn't inside the yard, and instead I was looking at him dead on along the length of the building as he took off his backpack and then turned, motioning back towards the tree line. A half dozen more figures began quickly creeping across the hillside. I had a choice; if that backpack was full of spray-paint and that was all they were there to do, it would be annoying vandalism at worst as long

Protect Your Retirement W/ a PHYSICAL Gold IRA https://www.sgtreportgold.com/ CALL( 877) 646-5347 - Noble Gold is Who I Trust   Paul List the author of Mount Doom: The Prophecy of Tolkien Revealed joins me for a gripping conversation about the very real and present danger of a satanic AI takeover of humanity. Paul details how what we are living through right now was revealed through the genius of JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This is a must hear, must share discussion about the battle for our souls. Thanks for tuning in.   Get the book, Read Mount Doom! https://www.readmountdoom.com/   Limitless Life Nootropics - GET Your Peptides HERE: https://www.limitlesslifenootropics.com/SGT15 SHOP Peptides, use SGT15 for 15% off   Remove MAC codes, heavy metals, graphene oxide & nanotech from your blood w/ MaterPeace: https://masterpeacebyhcs.com/?ref=4094 https://rumble.com/embed/v6uevzq/?pub=2peuz

Exploring "The Treasure of God" from A Course in Miracles Chapter 8, I share the profound revelation that WE are God's only treasure - not money or worldly things, but us. Through Jesus's retelling of the prodigal son story and my reflection on how movies like The Matrix, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings all feature "savior of the world" themes, I realized we're all meant to be saviors through joining with the Holy Spirit and seeing Christ in everyone. The key to moving from confusion to clarity is accepting that EVERYONE is equally valuable to God - from the worst person imaginable to Mother Teresa - and understanding that God's will is our will, there's no separation. Our function is to create and extend love in whatever form that takes, whether cooking a meal or teaching a class, and when we accept our true value as God's treasure, we can finally live in the peace and freedom that is our birthright! To learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Course in Miracles⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Powerofloveministry.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For the transcript of this episode and more please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LivingACourseinMiracles.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Let's always remember we are God's PERFECT treasure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rumbling bellies be gone! Ash and Tilly are on a quest to deconstruct the ingredients of the famous Lembas Bread from Lord of the Rings. One bite might be enough to fill one man's belly, but its not enough for the AMT team. Our fantasy archaeologists have reached out to experimental archaeologist, Caroline Nicolay (Pario Gallico) to help solve the riddle of the Elven snack. In this episode, they discuss the importance of food in fantasy, Iron Age food practices, and, of course, Discworld…Books mentionedLord of the Rings (J.R.R.Tolkien)Wee Free Men (Terry Pratchett)Nanny Ogg's Cookbook (Terry Pratchett)The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)Legends and Lattes (Travis Baldree)Fellowship of Bakers and Magic (J. Penner)The House Witch (Delemhach)Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carrol)LinksCaroline's WebsiteCaroline's InstagramContactEmail: andmytrowel@gmail.comInstagram: @‌and.my.trowelTranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/49ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN StoreAffiliatesMotion

Rory accidentally finds himself on a nudist beach while Drew's making DIY sunscreen with AI. And if that wasn't crazy enough, this episode is a full live teardown of Midjourney video loops and end frame control—features built for creating cinematic AI video workflows. Drew and Rory show how to use loops, start/end frames, and extended keyframes to build seamless sequences, plus what to avoid so you don't burn through credits.You'll also learn:✓ Keyframe Extensions – chaining multiple shots for longer, smoother videos✓ JSON Prompting – precision timing and motion control (with live tests)✓ Runway Act Two – motion capture updates and creative comparisons✓ Midjourney Style Explorer & V8 Preview – what's next for AI-driven video creationWhether you're a creative director, designer, marketer, or experimenting with AI video workflows, you'll get practical prompts, iteration techniques, and creative hacks to level up your Midjourney results.Watch now to see how these new features work, what to avoid, and how to produce cinematic AI videos faster.---MJ:FH Buddy (GPT)https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68755521d2348191a5ea8f6457412d51-mj-fh-buddy---⏱️ Midjourney Fast Hour00:00 – Intro & accidental nudist beach adventure02:50 – DIY sunscreen & unexpected AI life hacks07:00 – Midjourney video update overview (looping, 720p, start/end frames)10:20 – Upscalers, Magnific precision, and V8 development focus15:30 – Personalization codes & base model quality debate17:30 – Custom GPT for Midjourney knowledge recall21:10 – Mood boards, micro-styles, and avoiding “homogenous AI look”24:40 – Style Explorer, aesthetic preference survey, and upcoming features27:10 – Live first-frame/last-frame keyframe testing38:30 – Loop functionality and extended multi-keyframe workflows45:40 – Iterative prompting lessons and fixing motion quirks53:30 – JSON prompting explained and social-ready video hacks58:00 – Runway Act Two motion capture tests and impressions01:07:30 – Sloth race cars, Trump in Lord of the Rings & other AI absurdities01:09:40 – Key takeaways and what's coming next

Curtis Matsko turned a pink diary and a garage startup into a $180 million leather-goods empire - then doubled it year after year by unleashing what he calls “founder magic.” He shares how leaning into your strengths and embracing the unknown can turn every setback into a launchpad for growth.Curtis Matsko is the CEO and co-founder of Portland Leather Goods, one of North America's fastest-growing DTC and retail brands. A self-described “over-educated jerk” who never held a real job beyond three days, he's built his business on pattern recognition, calculated risks, and unapologetic authenticity.Mariana Patiño, PA/EA at Portland Leather Goods, jumps in to share what it's like being Curtis' right hand - juggling the logistics, capturing his lightning-fast ideas, and turning his wild energy into every project's secret sauce.We talk about: ◽️ Why “10× is easier than 2×”—and how big-vision thinking sidesteps incremental bottlenecks. ◽️ How to pour gas on your strengths instead of wasting time fixing weaknesses. ◽️ The profit math behind scaling both direct-to-consumer and a 30-store footprint. ◽️ Why the clearest path isn't yours - and how to find magic in uncharted territory. ◽️ How founder-led storytelling becomes your ultimate competitive advantage. ◽️ The secret role of Mariana, his “energy multiplier,” in rapid iteration and team chemistry.Whether you're launching your first venture or leading a mature organization, you'll walk away with a new playbook for bold growth, real-talk storytelling, and the magic that happens when you refuel your superpowers.Chapters00:00 – Focus on Your Strengths (Intro Teaser)00:21 – Podcast Intro & What to Expect  00:35 – Meet Curtis Matsko, CEO of Portland Leather Goods  01:39 – From Garage Origins to a $180M Business  03:22 – The Three-Day Box Boy Job & Pivot to Lifeguarding  07:04 – Authenticity in Founder-Led Storytelling  10:15 – The Disruptive Influence Backstory  13:15 – Balancing “Rush” vs. “Long-Haul” Vision  16:49 – Pattern Recognition & On-the-Fly Problem Solving  20:00 – Why 10× Is Easier Than 2× (Mindset Shift)  23:49 – Scaling Online & Retail: Profit Math Revealed  26:24 – Crafting Compelling Presentations (55-Minute Talks)  31:13 – Calculated Risk: Worst-Case Scenarios & Learning Fast  37:48 – Double Down on Strengths & Team Synergy  40:54 – Introducing Mariana Patiño!44:37 – Surprises, Gratitude & Final Takeaways  Connect with Jeff Abracen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffabracen/]If you are or know a disruptive influencer who would make a great guest, we'd love to hear from you. Every Like, Share, Subscription and Review means a lot.Cover art by Daniel DevoyMusic by Stephen Voyce©2024 The Disruptive Influence Podcast - Jeff Abracen

Is Superman Woke—or Just Wonderfully Human?   Can a superhero cut through the world's chaos better than a political debate or another sermon? New York Times columnist David French and Christianity Today editor-in-chief Russell Moore explore why Superman still strikes a cultural nerve—especially in the age of outrage and “wokeness” debates. From his immigrant origins to the often-overlooked theme of adoption, they unpack how James Gunn's 2025 reboot revives timeless questions about identity, belonging, moral courage, and kindness. This conversation is more than capes and kryptonite—it's a surprising, thoughtful, and even fun look at the stories shaping who we are.   (00:00) - Exploring the Resonance of Superhero Myths (07:24) - Fun That Connects To Deeper Needs (10:10) - A Jewish Immigrant's Myth (15:40) - Exploring James Gunn's Superman 2025 (23:06) - Is Superman Woke?  (27:04) - Kindness as a Countercultural Value (34:11) - Parenting With Superheroes and Morals (51:09) - Credits   Donate to Redeeming Babel   Resources mentioned in this episode: Russell Moore's article Why Superman Matters David French's column Kindness Is MAGA Kryptonite J.R.R. Tolkien's On Fairy Stories J.R.R. Tolkien's eucatastrophe (an essay) C.S. Lewis' “True Myth”: The Myth That Became Fact C.S. Lewis' Reviews of Lord of the Rings (veil of familiarity) Grant Morrison's Super Gods Official Trailer: Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Sonny Bunch's article How to Decide If You Want to Watch ‘Superman' A short interview with Superman's creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster (video) Übermensch Explained: the Meaning of Nietzsche's ‘Superman' The Times interview James Gunn: Some people will take offence at my new Superman Read Deuteronomy 17:16-17 (NLT) Social Commentary in The Office Wonder Woman vol. 5 Annual #1 Batman & Superman share their real names (video) Relevant Magazine: What the Superman Backlash Says About American Masculinity   More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads   More From Russell Moore: Sign up for Russell Moore's weekly newsletter Moore to the Point Listen to The Russell Moore Show (podcast)   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   Sign up: Redeeming Babel Newsletter

The Company of the Rings resolves to make a stand against overwhelming odds. Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Tonight we get more up close and personal with a troll since anyone since Bilbo, and this one is all out of talking purses. Probably. Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Corey returns from Mythmoot to discuss how Gandalf defies the horde of orcs outside the chamber and assesses their odds -- which are not great. Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

Tonight we discuss the development and nature of the Prologue to the LOTR. Join us on the Signum University Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/szXMFAv

How Peter Jackson's Hobbit films made one subtle change that had profound implications. We explore the opening of the movie The Hobbit, an Unexpected Journey, and compare it to the chapter in JRR Tolkien's classic children's book, The Hobbit. We will see how a seemingly-small change in the prologue shifts the entire story away from Tolkien's tale.Share this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/224Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Reading GuideDownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Deals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Want to sponsor the Lore of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Our Sponsors:* Visit Oscha Slings and use my code LOTRPOD for 10% off: https://oschaslings.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome back! In this (not so) minisode, Kaley and Taylor kick-off the season by discussing the cast announcements for the new HBO Harry Potter Series, and give an outline for the season's plan to discuss all things The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

How Peter Jackson's Hobbit films made one subtle change that had profound implications. We explore the opening of the movie The Hobbit, an Unexpected Journey, and compare it to the chapter in JRR Tolkien's classic children's book, The Hobbit. We will see how a seemingly-small change in the prologue shifts the entire story away from Tolkien's tale.Share this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/224Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Reading GuideDownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Deals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Want to sponsor the Lore of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Our Sponsors:* Visit Oscha Slings and use my code LOTRPOD for 10% off: https://oschaslings.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

'The Diplomat' and ‘No Time To Die' star Rory Kinnear joins the show. Over lamb and English asparagus, Rory reflects on losing his father Roy Kinnear at a young age, and how he keeps his memory alive for his own children. He shares stories about his bond with Dame Judi Dench, honoring his late sister, and joining the 'Lord of the Rings' universe. This episode was recorded at Lasdun at the National Theatre on London's South Bank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this QHHT Hypnosis session, we enter those realms in a vivid way . My client travels through his past life journey to a realm of Fairies, Pixies, Dryads, Dwarves, Dragon Folk, Elfins, and even Vampires. (Yes, a race of vampires revealed themselves for the first time in one of my sessions)This regression shows us a dimension where ancient magic coexists with advanced technology. It's a fusion of mythical timelines, and off-world civilizations. Honestly, this session felt like a cross between Lord of the Rings and a high-frequency sci-fi soul awakening. I'd love to see this on Netflix! My client explored three incarnations, each unfolding different aspects of his soul journey, mission on Earth, and soul contracts with these mystical beings. I'll be sharing each lifetime as a separate episode, so stay tuned for the full timeline.I absolutely loved guiding him through this deep and sacred experience—and I hope it activates something powerful in you as well.Thank you for listening. Let the remembrance begin.#Higherrealms #elfins #qhht #qhhthypnosis #dolorescannonqhht #dolorescannon #pastlifejourney #soulsearching #quantumhealing #elves #elementalsMayra Rath is a spiritual hypnotherapist specializing in Past Life Regression Therapy and QHHT Hypnosis. With over 26 years of experience, she has guided countless individuals through transformative journeys into their past lives, helping them uncover deep-rooted patterns and heal emotional wounds and traumas connected to previous incarnations.Based in Los Angeles, Mayra conducts sessions through her private practice, Soul Signs Hypnosis, both in-person and remotely. In addition to working with clients, she offers a comprehensive Past Life Regression Training Course and frequently shares her expertise through public lectures on the profound subject of past lives.For Bookings: Soul Signs Hypnosis Website: https://www.soulsigns.netSocial Media:TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@soulsignshypnosisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul_signs_hypnosis/?hl=en Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1009959799420939 PODCAST: Past Lives with Mayra Rath (Apple & Spotify)Mayra Rath is a Spiritual Hypnotherapist specializing in Past Life Regression Therapy and QHHT Hypnosis. With over 25 years of experience, she has guided countless individuals through transformative journeys into their past lives, helping them uncover deep-rooted patterns and heal emotional wounds and traumas connected to previous incarnations.Based in Los Angeles, Mayra conducts sessions through her private practice, Soul Signs Hypnosis, both in-person and remotely.Connect with me Website: https://www.soulsigns.netSocial Media:TIKTOK:@SoulSignsHypnosisInstagram:@SoulSignsHypnosisFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1009959799420939 Youtube: @SoulSignsHypnosisPODCAST: Past Lives with Mayra Rath (Apple & Spotify)#pastlivespodcast #starseedmeaning #starseedactivations #qhhtpractitioner #qhhtsessions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sidebars finally get to let loose at the long-awaited Festival of Aeriseth, in their attempts to get access to the Ruler on High! There are dress-ups, schemes, heists, and the return of a familiar antagonist! Don't miss the fun.(Go to Scotland! Mustard!) Featuring:Erika Jayne as Taryn GrimKasia Wayfinder as Granny SabinkaSeverin Gourley as Dexter Clementineand Julz Burgisser as DMVisit www.fateofisen.com to learn more.Fate of Isen is one of the Feedspot top D&D podcasts in the world! Check out Feedspot here.If you like the show, please feel free to follow us on social media (@fateofisen) or support us on Patreon! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Intro, outro, and recap music by freesound user, Tyops, and ambient sound by TabletopAudio.com

Jace chats with Sci-Fi author S.G. Blaise about her book series, The Last Lumenian. To simply call it Sci-Fi sells the series short though. Drawing inspiration from beloved properties like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones, to name a few, this incredible immersive world blends many elements of well-known pop culture hits to bring a flavor that is uniquely it's own. S.G. touches on the origins of the series, talks about her extensive and exhaustive work building the foundation for the series and how she keeps a balance between, action, adventure and romance.   Plus, S.G. talks about the first foray into another medium for her universe with the Hollow Healer animated feature debuting its trailer at SDCC 2025. Additionally, there will be a special fan activation showcasing the Hollow Healer as well as a booth were you can meet S.G, get her autograph or even buy books from the series you may be missing. Also, SDCC would not be complete for fand of The Last Lumenian without as panel. Details for all the events are below and be sure top visit the website and sign up for that newsletter!   Booth information - #2020, exclusive cover of the Hollow Healer comic and animated poster are available for purchase. World debut of the Hollow Healer Trailer to be shown oin Thursday,.   Off-Site Activation - Thursday, July 24 at Sidebar Nightclub (536 Market St). From 12pm-4pm with S.G. in attendance form 12-1 PM   Panel - Friday, July 25, “Worlds Collide” 4pm-5pm in the Marriott Marquis Grand 11 & 12, Panelist include S.G. Blaise (Lilac Grove Entertainment), David Baxter (Larger Than Life Prods), Lesley Worton (Tongal), Heidi MacDonald (The Beat), Kris Longo (Modern Fanatic/Panick Publishing).

After The Independence Day After Tomorrow, director Roland Emmerich thought he could do no wrong. (He must've forgotten about Godzilla.) So he made a prehistoric Lord of the Rings knockoff called 10,000 B.C. — is it mammoth-sized fun, or an anachronistic mess? Plus: Kahmeela got along fine with THE LUCKIEST MAN IN THE WORLD, Robin and Sean are in favor of this SUPERMAN fella and Robin liked OH, HI. And some podcast recommendations for your summer listening!

We're talking movie locations on this episode of the Fan2Fan Podcast! Bernie and Pete take a cinematic road trip through some iconic filming locations in movie history. From the lighthouse in John Carpenter's The Fog to the eerie Amityville house, they share the places they'd love to check out...or have already visited! They dive into hotspots like the Dawn of the Dead mall and the Exorcist steps, the X-Men mansion, Lord of the Rings' New Zealand landscapes, and even Platform 9¾ from Harry Potter. These are real-world spots where movie magic lives on! For more info about the Fan2Fan Podcast, visit https://fan2fan.libsyn.com

Zachary Hagin, an emerging voice in the realm of Christian fantasy literature, joins T.S. Wright to delve into the fascinating world of storytelling that intertwines faith and imagination. The episode kicks off with a vibrant discussion about the genre, drawing parallels with literary giants like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, while Hagin shares his personal journey of writing the Eternity series. They explore the delicate balance between crafting compelling narratives and conveying profound truths, emphasizing that the struggle between good and evil is not just a narrative device but a reflection of the human experience. With a humorous nod to the binge-worthy nature of epic tales, the conversation weaves through Hagin's creative process and the moral dilemmas faced by his characters, particularly in his upcoming work, Aisha's Secret. Ultimately, this episode offers listeners a refreshing perspective on how fantasy can serve as a modern parable, inviting them to reflect on their own paths to truth and the transformative power of storytelling._____________________________________________Check Out These Amazing LinksBe sure to check out Zachary Hagen's Links:To buy his books:Eternity's End: Hagen, Zachary: 9798334612983: Books - Amazon.caTo visit Zachary's website:Zachary Hagen WritesVisit our website to learn more about Kingdom Cross Roads Podcast as well as the entire GCC Global ministries. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation. www.kcrpodcast.comDelving into the enchanting world of Christian fantasy literature, this episode of Kingdom Crossroads takes listeners on a captivating journey alongside host T.S. Wright and author Zachary Hagin. They explore the intricate tapestry that weaves faith and imagination together, highlighting the compelling narratives found within classics like J.R.R. Tolkien's *The Lord of the Rings* and C.S. Lewis's *The Chronicles of Narnia*. Hagin, a passionate storyteller, brings his own experiences to the table, discussing his journey as a writer and the driving force behind his *Eternity* series. He reflects on the importance of storytelling in conveying moral truths, emphasizing that the battle between good and evil is a timeless theme resonating with audiences across generations. The conversation meanders through Hagin's creative process, touching on the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from one series to another, revealing the depth of character development and the emotional investment required in crafting such narratives. As they sip metaphorical cups of tea and share anecdotes, the atmosphere remains light and engaging, making complex themes accessible without sacrificing depth.The duo dives deeper into the heart of Hagin's latest project, *Aisha's Secret*, a refreshing take on the Aladdin tale that juxtaposes truth and deception within a fantasy framework. Hagin artfully illustrates how the protagonist grapples with the weight of her choices, embodying a broader struggle many face in their spiritual lives. The discussion reveals that while the narrative may not overtly mention God, the underlying theme of...

Send us a textThe Four Horsemen Ride: Life Is Just A Fantasy For Author#author #fantasy #fourhorsemen #lotr #newbook When reality isn't enough, you build your universe. That's precisely what J.F. Monroe did with the Legacy of the Four trilogy, creating a world where ancient powers walk among us and destiny can be rewritten by the courage of the human heart.A lifelong devotee of fantasy fiction, Monroe crafts stories that blend epic adventure with deeply personal journeys. Her writing draws inspiration from the character-driven narratives of "The Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter," the high stakes of "The Hunger Games," and the intricate plotting of Christopher Nolan's films. These influences combine in her work to create stories where even the most extraordinary characters feel remarkably real.At the heart of Monroe's storytelling philosophy lies a simple truth: the most powerful magic comes from human connection. Her characters—whether they're vessels for ancient powers or loyal companions with four legs—face struggles that resonate with readers long after they turn the last page. She crafts protagonists who aren't just extraordinary in their abilities but also in their capacity for growth, love, and sacrifice.Website: https://www.jfmonroebookshelf.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jf.monroe/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jf.monroeLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/j-f-monroe/Thanks for tuning in, please be sure to click that subscribe button and give this a thumbs up!!Email: thevibesbroadcast@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/listen_to_the_vibes_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevibesbroadcastnetworkLinktree: https://linktr.ee/the_vibes_broadcastTikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeuTVRv2/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheVibesBrdcstTruth: https://truthsocial.com/@KoyoteFor all our social media and other links, go to: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/the_vibes_broadcastPlease subscribe, like, and share!

In this episode, we begin to wrap up the Return of the King Deep Dive series with two easy-going chapters and a lot of fun hypothetical talk. In case you missed it, Jay and Grant are almost at 100 episodes! If you have any suggestions on what you'd like to hear next, contact us below!
Lord of the Rings director wants to resurrect extinct giant flightless birdThe Saxon CrossCheck us out on Goodreads:Grant: www.goodreads.com/user/show/175355524-grant-mulderJay: www.goodreads.com/user/show/61189862-jay-benedictContact us at exploringmiddleearthpod@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram! @exploringmiddle_earthFollow us on X! @ExpMiddleEarth https://twitter.com/ExpMiddleEarthConnect with us on myspace: https://myspace.com/exploringmiddle-earthMusic: Adventure (remaster) by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Tolkien believes that his method of translation-by-sense “perhaps needs some defence”; Alan and James know their method of podcasting requires a lot of defense. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we misplace our Babel fish in the second half of Appendix F from The Lord of the Rings, on translation. Tolkien speaks to the reader directly, gives us a fantastic analogy with Arthur and Camelot, and provides comic relief in the form of Hobbit names. We wonder how ‘amused' Denethor really was, realize that someone just wasn't Goodenough, and speculate about Dwarvish interpolation again. Also, Odo from DS9 gets a mention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Toon'd In!, Jim Cummings welcomes the legendary, lovable, and endlessly versatile Sean Astin—the iconic actor behind unforgettable roles like Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, Mikey in The Goonies, Rudy, and the voice of Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012), among many others!From Middle-Earth to mutant sewer lairs, Sean takes us through the highs, the heart, and the humor of a career that spans decades across film, TV, and voiceover. Hear what it was like bringing depth to beloved characters, stepping into iconic franchises, and growing up in a Hollywood legacy—plus some hilarious behind-the-scenes moments you won't want to miss.

Saddle up for the inaugural episode of Dragon Dialogues! In this series the vassals will be going on deep dives into Dragon Lore in the world of Terros. Join Kevin (nuncle Kevin), Michael (Khal Wadege), Hannah (the winged shadow), and … Continue reading →

How an unsuspecting, comfortable hobbit became the host of a party of dwarves and a burglar of a dragon: Today we explore chapter 1 of JRR Tolkien's classic story: The Hobbit or There and Back Again.Share this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/223Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Reading GuideDownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Deals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Want to sponsor the Lore of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Our Sponsors:* Visit Oscha Slings and use my code LOTRPOD for 10% off: https://oschaslings.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How an unsuspecting, comfortable hobbit became the host of a party of dwarves and a burglar of a dragon: Today we explore chapter 1 of JRR Tolkien's classic story: The Hobbit or There and Back Again.Share this episode using this link:ringspodcast.com/223Who are you?Please tell me a little about you: ringspodcast.com/surveyWander Farther: A Free Reading GuideDownload my FREE guide for reading Tolkien's Silmarillion: https://ringspodcast.kit.com/a982347493Deals for you, my fellow wandererExclusive discount for Lore of the Rings Listeners: 25% off your entire order at Manly Bands. Details at https://www.ringspodcast.com/p/rings/Want to sponsor the Lore of the Rings?Sponsor rates, details, and inquires hereSupport Lore of the Rings with a donationAbout the Lore of the Rings PodcastContact the show, donate, and find past episodes: ringspodcast.comEmbark on an immersive journey through the captivating realms of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, where the epic sagas of the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, the Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales, and more come to life. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Tolkien's masterful storytelling, drawing intriguing comparisons between his literary works and the cinematic adaptations crafted by Peter Jackson. Be at the forefront of the latest developments as we explore the highly anticipated Rings of Power series from Amazon. Prepare to be enthralled as we uncover hidden connections, untold tales, and delve into the depths of Middle-earth lore. Tune in now and become part of our fellowship on this extraordinary journey!This podcast is not affiliated with the Tolkien Estate.Our Sponsors:* Visit Oscha Slings and use my code LOTRPOD for 10% off: https://oschaslings.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/ringspodcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jon is joined in studio by MN Rep. Max Rymer, Kathryn Johnson, and AK Kamara to cover a full plate of topics including a convicted murderer scheduled for release, Gov. Walz's comments on a podcast, and Omar Fateh's campaign videos.

Today we have a special Sillysode. Our prompt comes from Kelly A-"THANKSGIVING DINNER- pot luck style but the guests are twilight (humans, vampires, wolves)and LOTR characters- what are everyone's signature dishes"We craft the PERFECT seating chart, if we do say so ourselves. Support the showSimply CaptivatingCheck it out on Patreon.com/wbahpodcast for only $5 wbahpodcast.com_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_Want to help support the Podcast? Consider becoming a Patron!www.patreon.com/wbahpodcastAdvertise with us!Just shoot us an email over to wbahpodcast@gmail.comSnag yourself some WBAH Merch!teespring.com/stores/wbah-podcast-store_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-Come Do Yoga With Macy:patreon.com/macyaniseyogaCharm by Charlye MichelleAncestor Oil and Fire Scrying Sessionscharmbycharlye.comPlay The Sims With Charlyetwitch.tv/charlye_withawhyTwitter @charlyewithawhyOur Video EditorEldrich Kitchenm.youtube.com/channel/UC_CwBrVMhqezVz_fog716Ow_-_-_-_-_-...

The Elves speak in a more gracious and antique style; James thinks there's an old joke in there somewhere. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as we begin our two-episode exploration of Appendix F to The Lord of the Rings, and the languages of Middle-earth take center stage. Pengoloð shows up again, someone is trying to gloss over Thingol's linguistic genocide, and Galadriel has her scribes everywhere. We discuss Tolkien's gripe with translations a week early, give another shout-out to Círdan and wonder (but not for long) about Entish pillow talk. Also, Weber bread makes an unexpected appearance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode T-Bob and Chief join Big T and Arian to dive into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien. Known as the author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, the guys talk about who Tolkien was, what inspired him, and how his love of languages, mythology, and faith shows up in the stories that he wrote. They unpack some of the big themes in his books — like power, friendship and loss. Plus, we get into philosophy, a baseball season update, the Mountain Dew Conspiracy theory, the recent viral golf course fight and much more. Enjoy! (00:01:26) T-Bob and Chief (00:13:24) Philosophy (00:22:11) Baseball (00:41:18) Mountain Dew Conspiracy (00:48:21) Grok (01:07:47) Canada golf fight (01:16:21) NFL Running Backs (01:29:41) J.R.R. Tolkien (02:32:00) NFLYou can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/macrodosing

MUSICA content creator in the U.K. isolated Ozzy Osbourne's live vocals from his final performance of "Mama, I'm Coming Home" last Saturday. You can hear how emotional it was for him to sing it. It brought many in the audience to tears. https://loudwire.com/ozzy-osbourne-isolated-vocals-farewell-concert/ It'll be 40 years this Sunday since Live Aid made music history. And while over 75 artists performed, there are some pretty BIG names that turned down the invite. https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/music/artists-who-refused-to-play-live-aid Nicki Minaj has been GOING OFF on Jay-Z in a series of social media posts. And it seems to be all about the money. https://brobible.com/culture/article/nicki-minaj-jay-z-megan-thee-stallion/ Wolfgang Van Halen's Mammoth will drop their third album, 'The End', on October 24th. https://blabbermouth.net/news/wolfgang-van-halen-announces-third-mammoth-album-the-end-shares-the-spell-single RIP: Founding Monster Magnet drummer Tim Cronin has passed at 63 after a battle with the neurodegenerative disease ALS. https://blabbermouth.net/news/founding-monster-magnet-drummer-tim-cronin-dies-after-battle-with-als TVNetflix's Queer Eye is coming to an end after 10 seasons. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/queer-eye-end-netflix-season-10-1236450911/ EA Sports College Football 26 is here … It's game time for college football fans. EA Sports College Football 26 officially drops today (Thursday). This year's edition builds on the super success of last year's version, with over 2800 new plays, real-life coaches, and a revamped transfer portal that adds more drama to Dynasty Mode. Gamers will see more mascots, traditions, and game day vibes. This thing is supposedly everything fans loved last year – just bigger and better. The next installment of Ryan Murphy's Netflix series 'Monster' will focus on Lizzie Borden, who was accused of murdering her parents with an ax in 1892. https://consequence.net/2025/07/monster-season-4-lizzie-borden-ryan-murphy/ Check out the Season 2 trailer for "Wednesday". Part one of the hit Netflix series premieres Aug. 6. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/wednesday-season-2-part-1-trailer-jenna-ortega-emma-myers-1236309892/ MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS:There's a new "Night at the Museum" movie in the works. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/night-at-the-museum-movie-in-the-works-1236310340/ Possible new couple alert? Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp have reportedly formed a strong connection and have been meeting frequently. https://www.realitytea.com/2025/07/09/angelina-jolie-johnny-depp-meeting-close/ RICH PEOPLE MONEY NEWSJJ Watt and his wife, Kealia Ohai, are helping the victims of the Texas flooding disaster. https://people.com/jj-watt-and-wife-kealia-donate-usd100-000-to-texas-restaurant-11768135 Peter Jackson will always be associated with "The Lord of the Rings", but maybe he should have been part of the "Jurassic Park" franchise instead. Because his latest project involves reviving an extinct species. But at least it's not a dinosaur. https://ew.com/lord-of-the-rings-director-peter-jackson-wants-to-revive-extinct-bird-11768897 MISCBreakthrough Barbies … Mattel has introduced its first Barbie with Type 1 diabetes. The doll, created in collaboration with Breakthrough T1D, features realistic medical accessories such as an insulin pump, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), heart-shaped medical tape, and a smartphone displaying a CGM app. She's wearing a blue polka dot outfit, symbolizing diabetes awareness. https://www.today.com/health/type-1-diabetes-barbie-doll-rcna217696 AND FINALLYSuper box office … Where will Superman land on the list of all-time superhero movies?Other notables on the list include the 1989 original Batman at number 6, Black Panther at number 10, The Incredibles at number 11 and the original X-Men movie at number 18. AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES!Follow us @RizzShow @MoonValjeanHere @KingScottRules @LernVsRadio @IamRafeWilliams - Check out King Scott's Linktr.ee/kingscottrules + band @FreeThe2SG and Check out Moon's bands GREEK FIRE @GreekFire GOLDFINGER @GoldfingerMusic THE TEENAGE DIRTBAGS @TheTeenageDbags and Lern's band @LaneNarrows ⁠http://www.1057thepoint.com/RizzSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Critique of Hollywood and Media Bias: Cruz argues that the NYT list prioritizes political messaging over storytelling and entertainment. He claims the list reflects elitist, left-leaning Hollywood values and ignores popular, inspirational, or patriotic films. Alternative Film List: Cruz presents his own list of 30 films from the past 25 years that he believes are more representative of quality cinema. His selections include: Gladiator, The Patriot, A Beautiful Mind, Lord of the Rings, Saving Private Ryan, American Sniper, Hidden Figures, Top Gun: Maverick, and Avatar. He emphasizes true stories, war films, musicals, and movies with strong moral or patriotic themes. Personal Movie Preferences: Cruz shares his favorite films (The Princess Bride, The Godfather, Scarface, Fletch), and discusses his love for musicals and classic comedies. He recounts personal anecdotes, including taking his mother to Broadway shows and watching Saving Private Ryan and Dallas Buyers Club. Cultural Commentary: The conversation touches on broader cultural issues, such as the disconnect between Hollywood and everyday Americans, the importance of storytelling, and the role of cinema in shaping public perception. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and the Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. Thanks for Listening #seanhannity #hannity #marklevin #levin #charliekirk #megynkelly #tucker #tuckercarlson #glennbeck #benshapiro #shapiro #trump #sexton #bucksexton#rushlimbaugh #limbaugh #whitehouse #senate #congress #thehouse #democrats#republicans #conservative #senator #congressman #congressmen #congresswoman #capitol #president #vicepresident #POTUS #presidentoftheunitedstatesofamerica#SCOTUS #Supremecourt #DonaldTrump #PresidentDonaldTrump #DT #TedCruz #Benferguson #Verdict #justicecorrupted #UnwokeHowtoDefeatCulturalMarxisminAmericaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.