Podcasts about Meaning

Brad Stulberg shares foundational principles for making the process of self-development more fun and fulfilling. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) What true excellence looks and feels like2) Why to stop chasing happiness—and what to focus on instead3) The best tool for building focus and concentrationSubscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1132 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT BRAD — Brad Stulberg researches, writes, and coaches on performance, well-being, and sustainable excellence. He is the bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness and Master of Change, and coauthor of Peak Performance. Stulberg regularly contributes to the New York Times and his work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic, among many other outlets. He serves as the co-host of the podcast “excellence, actually” and is on faculty at the University of Michigan. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina.• Book: The Way of Excellence: A Guide to True Greatness and Deep Satisfaction in a Chaotic World• Website: BradStulberg.com— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Study: “The comparison of Imagery ability in elite, sub-elite and non-elite swimmers” by P. Duarte-Mendes, et al.• Study: “Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One's Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity” by Adrian F. Ward, Kristen Duke, Ayelet Gneezy, and Maarten W. Bos• Book: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley• Book: The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr• Book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert Pirsig• Past episode: 164: Sustaining Your Peak and Avoiding Burnouts with Brad Stulberg• Past episode: 415: Pursuing Your Passion the Smart Way with Brad Stulberg• Past episode: 699: Redefining Success for More Fulfilling Days with Brad Stulberg— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Monarch.com. Get 50% off your first year on with the code AWESOME.• Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/better• Factor. Head to factormeals.com/beawesome50off and use the code beawesome50off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year. (New Factor subscribers only)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tayari Jones is one of the country's most gifted writers, and her newest, Kin, is sure to get everyone talking. Beautiful, wrenching and compelling, this is a period piece that takes place in the South around the 1950's and 60's. This is a book that will move you, and almost every sentence is a work of art. Finely crafted, Kin is one of our favorites this year and we were so pleased Tayari agreed to sit with us. We talk to her all about how she pulls off this book, and why it took her so long to get it done.  Join us! Find books mentioned on The Book Case: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop/story/book-case-podcast-reading-list-118433302 Books mentioned on this week's episode: Kin by Tayari JonesAn American Marriage by Tayari JonesSilver Sparrow by Tayari JonesThe Untelling by Tayari JonesLeaving Atlanta by Tayari JonesBeloved by Toni MorrisonSong of Solomon by Tony Morrison Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this revisited episode of The Observatory, while our hosts are globetrotting, Scott and LaRae share the transformative power of creativity, a fundamental aspect of human nature that enables self-discovery, emotional fulfillment, and the pursuit of meaning in life. Creativity is a universal capacity that allows us to express our authentic selves, connect with others, and find joy. Hear Brené Brown's perspective on creativity, how you can start to be creative, and how a bigger imagination prompts beautiful experiences.Timestamps[05:40] Brene Brown's perspective of creativity[07:00] Why are many humans not creative?[16:19] Having a bigger imagination that prompts beautiful experiences[18:34] The book: Mary Jane Wild by Brooke[22:43] Creating the internal landscape of you[23:21] Starting the journey to being creative[29:02] Where is your creativity showing up?[33:00] Allowing things to unfold naturally[39:34] The real meaning of abracadabra[44:51] Keep dreamingNotable quotes:“There is no such thing as creative people and non-creative people. There are only people who use their creativity and people who don't.” - Brene Brown [05:40]“The unused creativity stays inside of us because we are creating a life.” - LaRae Wright [21:48]“If you don't feel creative, this is a good place to start. Go into nature and observe.” - Scott Wright [22:54]“Open yourself up to the possibility that you don't have to know what you will do when you begin to do it. You are opening a space to allow yourself to create.” - Scott Wright [31:26]Relevant links:The book: The Gifts of ImperfectionThe book: Mary Jane WildSubscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

Jeff Galloway passed away on February 25, 2026 at age 80. He was a 1972 U.S. Olympian and the creator of the Run Walk Run method, the simple idea that made running feel possible for millions of people, from first time 5K runners to marathoners and ultrarunners.This episode starts with a short monologue about what Jeff's legacy means, and why inspiration is not always about being the fastest. Sometimes it is about making the sport accessible, lowering the fear, and giving people a repeatable way to show up. I also share a line that has stuck with me, “fill your dash,” the idea that everything we do lives in that small space between the year we are born and the year we die.Before the replay, I read a piece Jeff sent me, “A Philosophy of Running,” where he writes about meaning, community, and why endurance can change a life. Then I roll straight into our full conversation from Month of Jeff. We talk about the post-goal low after the Olympics, building a life around helping others run, the origins of Run Walk Run, and how Jeff kept refining his method through decades of coaching and data.Rest in peace, Mr. Galloway. Thanks for teaching the world that running can belong to everyone.Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffeeGarage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8abSubscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.comSupport this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutsideBuy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSFEmail me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.comWatch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outsideWebsite: www.Freeoutside.comInstagram: thefreeoutsidefacebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Is God’s law merely moral advice—or the creational structure that holds all things together? Pastor Nate Wright is joined by Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen to continue their Think Christianly series with “Think Christianly About Law (Part 1): The Meaning of Law, Natural Law, and Politics.” They argue that every “law word” of God orders creation, that all law is fundamentally religious (never neutral), and that removing God inevitably divinizes the state and fuels statism. They also challenge the appeal to “natural law” as common ground, calling Christians to recover the courage to speak God’s Word publicly—because from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things.

#445> To purchase the book: https://mosaicapress.com/product/moadim-with-meaning/?sld=seforimchatter > To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp status: https://wa.me/message/TI343XQHHMHPN1>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)Support the show

Managing an unsolvable existential problem - the " זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק" in every generation,

Pastor Nate Wright is joined by Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen to continue their Think Christianly series with “Think Christianly About Law (Part 1): The Meaning of Law, Natural Law, and Politics.

What if the loss you're carrying doesn't have a name — no death, no disaster, just a quiet, persistent ache that something was always missing? In this episode of Joy Lab, we'll look at Gate Four of our grief series: What We Expected But Did Not Receive. Drawing from Francis Weller's The Wild Edge of Sorrow, we'll explore the grief that comes from never being fully welcomed, seen, or celebrated for exactly who you are — a loss so subtle it often masquerades as personal failure. This episode offers a deeply compassionate and scientifically grounded look at why so many of us feel vaguely unfulfilled and how we can actually do something about it. Spoiler: it starts with grieving what you were owed. This episode is part of a 10-part series on grief. You can jump in here and circle back to Episode 248 when you're ready.   p.s. Find a Simple Joy practice for this episode right here at our blog.   About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible).   Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:  Instagram TikTok Linkedin Watch on YouTube   Full transcript here   Sources and Notes for this full grief series: Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.  Grief Series: Why We're Doing a 10-Part Series on Grief (And Why You Need It) [part 1, ep 248] Everything We Love, We Will Lose: Navigating the First Gate of Grief[part 2, ep 249] Welcoming Back the Parts of You That Have Not Known Love [part 3, ep 250] Why You Can't Escape the Sorrows of the World (and why that's a good thing) [part 4, ep 251] Imposter phenomenon series: Imposter Syndrome is a Myth (ep. 175) What Imposter Syndrome Really Is (ep. 176)  Backdraft: When Being Good to Yourself Feels Bad (ep. 29) Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller  "Something magical happens when we bear witness to each other in grief. Something alchemical. It transmutes the lead of our devastation into the gold of connection. Our own compassion is activated. Our souls are soothed. The narrow circle of our private pain expands and we recognize that we belong to each other. We take our rightful place in the web of interbeing and find refuge." -Mirabai Starr Beckes & Sbarra, Social baseline theory: State of the science and new directions. Access here Beckes, et al. (2011). Social Baseline Theory: The Role of Social Proximity in Emotion and Economy of Action. Access here Bunea et al. (2017). Early-life adversity and cortisol response to social stress: a meta-analysis. Access here. Eisma, et al. (2019). No pain, no gain: cross-lagged analyses of posttraumatic growth and anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief symptoms after loss. Access here  Kamis, et al. (2024). Childhood maltreatment associated with adolescent peer networks: Withdrawal, avoidance, and fragmentation. Access here  Lehrner, et al. (2014). Maternal PTSD associates with greater glucocorticoid sensitivity in offspring of Holocaust survivors. Access here  Hirschberger G. (2018). Collective Trauma an d the Social Construction of Meaning. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1441. Access here  Sheehy, et al. (2019). An examination of the relationship between shame, guilt and self-harm: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Access here  Strathearn, et al. (2020). Long-term Cognitive, Psychological, and Health Outcomes Associated With Child Abuse and Neglect. Access here  Yehuda et al. (1998). Vulnerability to posttraumatic stress disorder in adult offspring of Holocaust survivors.  Access here. Yehuda, et al. (2018). Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. Access here    Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. Please see our terms for more information. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

February 25th, 2026:  The History & Meaning of the Lenten Ember Days;  Ember Wednesday of Lent - Doing the Will of the Father;  You Might Have a Clean House, But Is God In It Now?;  Who Is My Mother, Who Are My Brethren?;  Jonah, Lent & Repentance;  The Fasts of Moses & Elijah Prefigure That of Christ

Is God’s law merely moral advice—or the creational structure that holds all things together? Pastor Nate Wright is joined by Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen to continue their Think Christianly series with “Think Christianly About Law (Part 1): The Meaning of Law, Natural Law, and Politics.” They argue that every “law word” of God orders creation, that all law is fundamentally religious (never neutral), and that removing God inevitably divinizes the state and fuels statism. They also challenge the appeal to “natural law” as common ground, calling Christians to recover the courage to speak God’s Word publicly—because from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things.

Is God’s law merely moral advice—or the creational structure that holds all things together? Pastor Nate Wright is joined by Dr. Joe Boot and Dr. Michael Thiessen to continue their Think Christianly series with “Think Christianly About Law (Part 1): The Meaning of Law, Natural Law, and Politics.” They argue that every “law word” of God orders creation, that all law is fundamentally religious (never neutral), and that removing God inevitably divinizes the state and fuels statism. They also challenge the appeal to “natural law” as common ground, calling Christians to recover the courage to speak God’s Word publicly—because from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things.

In this episode, Tommy Mello shares with Brian the story of how sheer grit, hard work, and strong relationships helped him build a company valued at $2B, A1 Garage Door Service. Tommy discusses his humble, blue-collar background, where he worked on a series of jobs including busing tables, lifeguarding, bartending, and flipping cars —until a roommate introduced him to the garage door industry. Tommy started there first as a painter, before becoming the “go-to guy” for multiple companies, and eventually launching his own business. He also shares how the relationships he developed with mentors and other important people in his life informed how he treats the employees at his own company. Tommy also discussed the strategies he has learned and used along the way, including the key performance indicators (KPIs) that help him to continue to create business success. YOU WILL LEARN: How to move from hustle to leadership by building systems, processes, and accountability. A simple KPI framework to reverse-engineer your budget and start the year with momentum. The four questions he uses to help create a superior, client-service experience every time, no matter the customer's budget. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies by Chet Holmes The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie NOTEWORTHY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE: “Profitability is the lifeblood of a company.” — Tommy Mello “If I could help you get to your goals, can you help me in return? But I'll make sure I show up first. And man, that worked wonders.” — Tommy Mello “We never say the word ‘expensive'. We say ‘top of the line.' We never say ‘cheapest'. We say ‘builder grade.” — Tommy Mello "I'm the best I've ever been, but the worst I'll ever be—because tomorrow I'm going to be 1% better.” — Tommy Mello “If I were to talk to my younger self, I would say, ‘Don't worry about what everyone else says. Don't be afraid of someone saying no. Don't be afraid of rejection. Don't worry. The only person you've got to worry about is yourself.'” — Tommy Mello Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most young men think they need more time.More information.More preparation.But you don't need another motivational podcast.You need structure.In this episode of the Bedros Keuilian Show, I break down the 7 things I'd do immediately if I were in my 20s again:Build your body.Kill your vices.Create financial momentum.Develop emotional control.Take radical responsibility.Define the partner you want and become the man she'd choose.Assign meaning to your life.Stop waiting to feel ready.Because if you don't build yourself first, you'll try to fill the void with women, money, and validation.Little boys chase attention.Men build value.Take imperfect action. Start now.DOMINATION DOWNLOADSTRAIGHT FROM THE DESK OF BEDROS KEUILIANYour weekly no B.S. newsletter to help you dominate in business and in lifehttps://bedroskeuilian.com/MAN UP SCALE BUNDLE: $29 (100% Goes to Charity)Get your Digital Man Up book + Audiobook + 2 Exclusive MASTERCLASSES & Support Shriners Children's Hospital. https://www.manuptribe.com/limited-offerREGISTER FOR THE LEGACY TRIBEGet the Life, Money, Meaning & Impact You Deservehttps://bedroskeuilian.com/legacytribeJOIN MY FREE 6-WEEK CHALLENGE:Transform into a Purpose-Driven Manhttps://bedroskeuilian.com/challengeTHE SQUIRE PROGRAM: A rite of Passage for Your Son as He Becomes a ManA Father and Son Experience That Will Be Remembered FOREVERhttps://squireprogram.com/registerTruLean Supplements | https://www.trulean.com/pages/bedrosGet 50% Off Trulean Subscribe & Save BundleUse Code: BEDROS Few Will Hunt Apparel | https://fewwillhunt.com/Get 20% Off Your Entire OrderUse Code: BEDROSOPEN A FIT BODY LOCATIONA High-Profit, Scalable Gym Franchise Opportunity Driven By Impacthttps://sales.fbbcfranchise.com/get-started?utm_source=bedrosPODCAST EPISODES:https://bedroskeuilian.com/podcast/STAY CONNECTED:Website | https://bedroskeuilian.com/Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/bedroskeuilian/LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bedroskeuilianTwitter | https://twitter.com/bedroskeuilian

Why do civilizations turn against their own greatness, and what happens when they do? In this episode of Context with Brad Harris, we trace the psychology of civilizational decline, from the Great Wall of China and the Apollo program to the Department of Justice's 2026 lawsuit against UCLA Medical School, asking why modern Western culture increasingly treats excellence as a moral threat. Drawing on Alain de Botton's book Status Anxiety and Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, we explore how status anxiety breeds resentment, how resentment disguises itself as compassion, and how institutions captured by this cycle begin to reward narrative over competence, with consequences that can be lethal. This episode builds on my previous episodes Which Humanity Survives and Layers of Meaning in Human History to ask: do we still have the civilizational courage to revere greatness? Follow me on X @bradcoleharris To listen ad-free and access lots of additional bonus episodes, join me on Patreon or subscribe directly through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Today, we are tackling the natural tension between the desire to make more money—getting a raise, finding financial stability—and the desire to have meaningful, purpose-driven work. We are diving into a fantastic listener question from Abdul, a front-end engineer with 10 years of experience who has hit a salary ceiling. He is trying to figure out how to pivot into higher-paying domains like backend or AI without making a risky leap that forces him to start over at the bottom rung.

In this episode of Makers & Mystics, Stephen Roach sits down with cultural critic, writer, and iconographer Jonathan Pageau to explore the state of contemporary storytelling and the enduring power of myth.Pageau, creator of The Symbolic World, explains how symbols operate beneath conscious awareness to shape imagination and culture. Together, they discuss why traditional narratives appear depleted, how propaganda differs from true myth, and why fairy tales continue to communicate truths modern culture struggles to articulate.The conversation turns toward artists and storytellers, what it means to create work rooted in beauty, transcendence, and enduring symbolic patterns rather than novelty or cynicism. The conversation also connects with the theme of The Breath and the Clay 2026 —what it means to make space: space in our art, in our imagination, and in our lives for transcendent meaning to take root.Jonathan Pageau will be our keynote presenter for this year's event in Winston-Salem, NC, March 20-22. http://www.thebreathandtheclay.com Send a textJoin Malcolm Guite, Jonathan Pageau, Stephen Roach, and so many others!http://www.thebreathandtheclay.comUse the code "mystic26" for a special podcast listener rate!Support the show Get Tickets to The Breath and The Clay 2026 featuring Malcolm Guite, Jon Guerra, and Jonathan Pageau! March 20-22 in Winston-Salem, NC. Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1

Memoir writing blurs the line between truth and imagination in this revealing conversation with Lily MacKenzie. We explore how creative writing techniques shape both fiction narrative and personal stories, as Lily explains her unique approach: "you lie in the service of the truth." The prolific author, with works published in over 170 venues, teaches writing dialogue, narrative structure, and storytelling techniques at the University of San Francisco's Fromm Institute for older adults. Discover why age matters, and doesn't matter, in the writing community, and what connects memoir to traditional storytelling. Hear an excerpt from Freefall: A Divine Comedy where Tilly, an installation artist approaching 60, confronts her anxieties about aging and finances in San Francisco.What You'll Learn in This Episode: How memoir writing employs storytelling techniques identical to fiction, including writing dialogue that reconstructs past conversations through imagination in writing and memory recreation.Why traditional narrative structure rules can be broken in favor of fragmented, non-chronological approaches that create compelling conversations between different life stages.The distinction, or lack thereof, between memoir writing and historical fiction, and how both genres recreate time periods through similar creative writing processes.How the writing community serves older adults by providing audience, connection, and purpose while preserving family legacies through literary arts.Subscribe to Reenita's Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymalCheck out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/TIMESTAMPS:  00:00 Memoir writing and the concept of lying in the service of truth with creative writing techniques03:30 Does age affect readership and character development in novels featuring women over 6005:51 Why writing community and memoir writing appeal to older demographics seeking legacy preservation07:07 Exploring narrative structure and making a comparison to historical fiction10:58 Inspiration behind the Freefall: A Divine Comedy novel about four women writers reuniting in Whistler and Venice15:09 Reading excerpt from Freefall: A Divine Comedy featuring installation artist Tilly confronting aging and financial anxietyKEY TAKEAWAYS: Memoir writing succeeds by "lying in the service of truth," using creative writing techniques like scene construction, imagery, and writing dialogue to recreate authentic experiences from imperfect memory recreation.Narrative structure doesn't require chronological order or traditional story arcs; fragmented approaches can create powerful juxtapositions between life stages, allowing pieces to "talk to each other or clash."Writing community for older adults serves multiple purposes beyond skill development, creating audiences for each other's stories and fostering connections through shared memoir writing experiences.ABOUT THE GUEST: Lily Iona MacKenzie has published poetry, essays, and short stories in over 170 venues. She's also published four novels: Fling!, Curva Peligrosa, Free Fall: A Divine Comedy, and The Ripening: A Canadian Girl Grows Up, a sequel to Free Fall and two poetry collections: All This and California Dreaming. Shanti Arts Publishing released her hybrid memoir Dreaming Myself into Old Age: One Woman's Search for Meaning on 9/19/23. She blogs at http://lilyionamackenzie.com and teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco's Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning.RESOURCES MENTIONED: Lily MacKenzie - WebsiteLily MacKenzie - LinkedInLily MacKenzie - FacebookLily MacKenzie - Business FacebookLily MacKenzie - TwitterLily MacKenzie - InstagramFree Fall - A Divine Comedy - Website Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/true-fiction-project/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

HOUR 2 - Bryce Eldridge breaks down Ron Washington’s early impact on his development. Mike Krukow loves how the Giants are winning for Tony Vitello and silencing the haters. Plus, we explain why this year’s Spring Training success means more than last year’s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part 1 of this two-part episode of Whiskey, Jazz & Leadership, host Galen Bingham welcomes the dynamic and inspiring Cherise Taylor, also known as the Chief Happiness Officer. Cherise shares her incredible journey from a career in library science to becoming a thought leader, keynote speaker, and advocate for emotional well-being and growth mindset. With a background in jazz vocals and a passion for helping others thrive, Cherise brings a unique perspective to leadership, creativity, and the power of connection. This episode dives into the parallels between jazz, leadership, and life—exploring how trust, improvisation, and boldness can create magic both on stage and in the boardroom. Cherise also reflects on her evolution as an entrepreneur, her love for music, and the lessons she's learned about finding joy and purpose in every moment.   Listen in as Cherise Reflects on: Her Journey: From library science to entrepreneurship and becoming the Chief Happiness Officer. The Power of Jazz: How improvisation and trust create magic in music and leadership. The Meaning of Happiness: Why emotional well-being and growth mindset are essential for success. The Connection Between Whiskey, Jazz, and Leadership: How boldness, creativity, and action drive impact. Her Musical Inspirations: Why Rochelle Ferrell's distinct style and boldness resonate deeply with her. What you drinking? Galen raises a glass of @buffalotracedistillery Buffalo Trace Bourbon, a rich and timeless classic that embodies the essence of strong foundations and bold collaboration—perfectly aligning with the leadership insights explored in this episode. On the other side of the table, Cherise keeps it crisp and refreshing with ice-cold water, a reflection of her commitment to clarity, balance, and staying grounded. Together, their choices set the stage for a conversation that's equal parts bold, refreshing, and deeply inspiring.   Want more? For four dollars a month, you can become a Patreon VIP. You'll get early access to every Part Two episode. A deep archive of exclusive conversations. Insight into who's coming next. And direct access to Galen himself.   Join the VIP circle today Click Here. Cheers to leadership that matters!

Ellie Taylor was a young mother when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Ellie, the host of the Version of Events podcast, joins me to discuss the physical and emotional toll of treatment and the meaning and the mechanics of suffering. Ellie and I shared a profound friendship with the late Jessica Olive Cash, and we discuss how pain strips us down to our truest selves and how it opens the door, as it did with Jessica and us, to belonging, compassion and community.Contact me at silverliningshandbookpod@gmail.comCheck out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:https://silverliningshandbook.com/Check out our Patreon to support the show at:https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbookJoin our Facebook Group at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-storeVisit The True Crime Times Substack at:https://truecrimemessenger.substack.comThe Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

HOUR 2 - Bryce Eldridge breaks down Ron Washington’s early impact on his development. Mike Krukow loves how the Giants are winning for Tony Vitello and silencing the haters. Plus, we explain why this year’s Spring Training success means more than last year’s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we explore the ancient code of hospitality through the story of Abraham and three mysterious visitors, one of whom reveals himself to be God. We learn about Sarah's disbelief and God's powerful question, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?', and reflect on how this applies to challenges in our own lives.Chapters00:00 Introduction & Study Guide00:23 Abraham's Unexpected Guests04:10 Sarah's Disbelief and God's Question06:29 The Meaning of God's Question

We are kicking off Season 3 with a brand new couple, Rachel and Mike. Unlike previous seasons, we are using an intensive therapy model, diving deep into their dynamic over a compressed timeframe. On paper, Rachel and Mike are a committed power couple running a successful business. But underneath, they are stuck in a painful anxious-avoidant cycle. Rachel has shifted from protesting for connection to silently shutting down to protect herself , while Mike, our avoidant partner, is emotionally completely alone, trying to "fix" her pain from the safety of his head. In this episode, we use the TEMPO model (Trigger, Emotion, Meaning, Protection, Organization) to unpack a recent conflict about family boundaries. We watch the cycle take over, and then pivot away from the surface fight down into the deep, unresolved grief and abandonment driving Rachel's fear. Follow Julie Menanno on social media @thesecurerelationship. For weekly homework assignments visit our website: The Secure Relationship Podcast Take Julie's Anxious Attachment Course: Anxious Attachment: Self-Work Course Purchase Julie's book Secure Love: Create a Relationship That Lasts a Lifetime.  

On today's show: Bill is annoyed that his oldest son will now be home every day after school. Is it true that high school sports teams work out as early as 5am?!? Good Vibes! What is the "tattlephone" and can we have one? The Group Chat: Isabelle was surprised to find kids at a local brewery. Alyssa's College of Knowledge! Plus, the reasons why nobody likes you at work and have you ever texted or used social media...while (punching the monkey?)

In this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ is joined by Dr. Paul Moser to discuss his book, God on Trial: Testing for the Divine. They explore why traditional philosophical arguments often fail to reveal the true nature of God and why the search for the divine requires a shift from intellectual spectacle to moral participation. Dr. Moser challenges the "spectator" approach to theology, arguing that God is not interested in satisfying human curiosity with miraculous signs or undeniable logic. He contends that God's primary goal is not merely to be believed in, but to be trusted and partnered with, specifically through the "Gethsemane struggle" of aligning human will with divine love. He advocates for a shift from demanding evidence from God to becoming evidence for God through righteous character. The conversation also covers the crucial difference between "gift-giver" theology and true relational intimacy, the role of the "fruit of the Spirit" as the tangible personality traits of God, and why effective prayer is less about asking for favors and more about becoming a "fellow worker" in God's redemptive plan.Make sure to check out Moser's book: God on Trial: Testing for the Divine

Do you take pleasure in other people's misfortune? Do you wish you were able to stop and enjoy the simpler things in life? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss the concepts of Schadenfreude or the Simple Pleasures. Thanks to listener Jon B. for suggesting this topic. Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com 

On February 17, 2026, Jesse Louis Jackson made transition at 84, marking a watershed chapter in four generations of African struggle for US and global power. Emerging from Africana Governance formations, Jackson leveraged two currencies—voter power and consumer power—to push US domestic and global Social Structures to have to negotiate with the organized oppressed. From Operations Breadbasket and PUSH to Rainbow Coalition Presidential campaigns of 1984 and 1988, Jackson utilized and tested every tactic available to oppressed people confronting entrenched Social Structures. In Class With Carr 311 interprets the meaning of Jackson's life and work as a case study in the possibilities and limits of Black self-determination, asking what it reveals about today's fragile and reshaping political order and what understanding him, it and ourselves demands of us now.Are you a member of Knarrative? If not, we invite you to join our community today by signing up at: https://www.knarrative.com. As a Knarrative subscriber, you'll gain immediate access to Knubia, our growing community of teachers, learners, thinkers, doers, artists, and creators. Together, we're making a generational commitment to our collective interests, work, and responsibilities. Join us at https://www.knarrative.com and download the Knubia app through your app store or by visiting https://community.knarrative.com.To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajorityMore from us:Follow on X: https://x.com/knarrative_https://x.com/inclasswithcarrFollow on Instagram IG / knarrative IG/ inclasswithcarr Follow Dr. Carr: https://www.drgregcarr.comhttps://x.com/AfricanaCarrFollow Karen Hunter: https://karenhuntershow.comhttps://x.com/karenhunter IG / karenhuntershowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can trauma become a catalyst for creative transformation? What lessons can indie authors learn from the music industry's turbulent journey through technological disruption? With Jack Williamson. In the intro, Why recipes for publishing success don't work and what to do instead [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; Why your book isn't selling: metadata [Novel Marketing Podcast]; Creating a successful author business [Fantasy Writers Toolshed Podcast]; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn. Today's show is sponsored by ProWritingAid, writing and editing software that goes way beyond just grammar and typo checking. With its detailed reports on how to improve your writing and integration with writing software, ProWritingAid will help you improve your book before you send it to an editor, agent or publisher. Check it out for free or get 15% off the premium edition at www.ProWritingAid.com/joanna This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jack Williamson is a psychotherapist, coach, and bestselling author who spent nearly two decades as a music industry executive. He's the founder of Music & You, his latest nonfiction book is Maybe You're The Problem, and he also writes romance under A.B. Jackson. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Finding post-traumatic growth and meaning after bereavement, and using tragedy as a catalyst for creative transformation Why your superpower can also be your Achilles heel, and how indie authors can overcome shiny object syndrome Three key lessons from the music industry: embracing change, thinking creatively about marketing, and managing pressure for better creativity The A, B, C technique for PR interviews and why marketing is storytelling through different mediums How to deal with judgment and shame around AI in the author community by understanding where people sit on the opinion-belief-conviction continuum Three AI developments coming from music to publishing: training clauses in contracts, one-click genre adaptation, and licensed AI-generated video adaptations You can find Jack at JackWilliamson.co.uk and his fiction work at ABJackson.com. Transcript of the interview with Jack Williamson Jo: Jack Williamson is a psychotherapist, coach, and bestselling author who spent nearly two decades as a music industry executive. He's the founder of Music & You, his latest nonfiction book is Maybe You're The Problem, and he also writes romance under A.B. Jackson. Welcome to the show. Jack: Thank you so much for having me, Jo. It's a real honour to be on your podcast after listening all of these years. Jo: I'm excited to talk to you. We have a lot to get into, but first up— Tell us a bit more about you and why get into writing books after years of working in music. Jack: I began my career at the turn of the millennium, basically, and I worked for George Michael and Mariah Carey's publicist, which I'm sure you can imagine was quite the introduction to the corporate world. From there I went on to do domestic and international marketing for a load of massive artists at Universal, so the equivalent of the top five publishers in the publishing world that we all work in. Then from there I had a bit of a challenge. In December 2015, I lost my brother, unfortunately to suicide. For any listener or any person that's gone through a traumatic event, it can really make you reassess everything, make you question life, make you question your purpose. When I went through that, I was thinking, well, what do I want to do? What do I want out of life? So I went on this journey for practically the next ten years. I retrained to be a psychotherapist. I created a bucket list—a list of all the things that I thought maybe my brother would've wanted to do but didn't do. One of the things was scatter his ashes at the Seven Wonders of the world. Then one of the items on my bucket list was to write a book. The pandemic hit. It was a challenge for all of us, as you've spoken about so much on this wonderful podcast. I thought, well, why not? Why not write this book that I've wanted to write? I didn't know when I was going to do it because I was always so busy, and then the pandemic happened and so I wrote a book. From there, listening to your wonderful podcast, I've learned so much and been to so many conferences and learned along the way. So now I've written five books and released three. Jo: That's fantastic. I mean, regular listeners to the show know that I talk about death and grief and all of this kind of thing, and it's interesting that you took your brother's ashes to the Seven Wonders of the world. Death can obviously be a very bad, negative thing for those left behind, but it seems like you were able to reframe your brother's experience and turn that into something more positive for your life rather than spiralling into something bad. So if people listening are feeling like something happens, whether it's that or other things— How can we reframe these seemingly life-ending situations in a more positive way? Jack: It is very hard and there's no one way to do it. I think as you always say, I never want to tell people what to do or what to think. I want to show them how to think and how they can approach things differently or from a different perspective. I can only speak from my journey, but we call it in therapeutic language, post-traumatic growth. It is, how do you define it so it doesn't define you? Because often when you have a bereavement of a loved one, a family member, it can be very traumatic, but how can you take meaning and find meaning in it? There's a beautiful book called Man's Search for Meaning, and the name of the author escapes me right now, but he says— Jo: Viktor Frankl. Jack: Yes. Everyone quotes it as one of their favourite books, and one of my favourite lines is, “Man can take everything away from you, apart from the ability to choose one thought over the other.” I think it's so true because we can make that choice to choose what to think. So in those moments when we are feeling bad, when we're feeling down, we want to honour our feelings, but we don't necessarily want to become them. We want to process that, work through, get the support system that we need. But again, try to find meaning, try to find purpose, try to understand what is going on, and then pay it forward. Irrespective of your belief system, we all yearn for purpose. We all yearn for being connected to something bigger than ourselves. If we can find that through bereavement maybe, or through a traumatic incident, then hopefully we can come through the other side and have that post-traumatic growth. Jo: I love that phrase, post-traumatic growth. That's so good. Obviously people think about post-traumatic anything as like PTSD—people immediately think a sort of stress disorder, like it's something that makes things even worse. I like that you reframed it in that way. Obviously I think the other thing is you took specific action. You didn't just think about it. You travelled, you retrained, you wrote books. So I think also it's not just thinking. In fact, thinking about things can sometimes make it worse if you think for too long, whereas taking an action I think can be very strong as well. Jack: Ultimately we are human beings as opposed to human doings, but actually being a human doing from time to time can be really helpful. Actually taking steps forward, doing things differently, using it as a platform to move forward and to do things that maybe you didn't before. When you are confronted with death, it can actually make you question your own mortality and actually question, am I just coasting along? Am I stuck in a rut? Could I be doing something differently? One of the things that bereavement, does is it holds a mirror up to ourselves and it makes us question, well, what do we want from our life? Are we here to procreate? Are we here to make a difference? Some of us can't procreate, or some of us choose not to procreate, but we can all make a difference. And it's, how do we do that? Where do we do that? When do we do that? Jo: That's interesting. I was thinking today about service and gratitude. I'm doing this Master's and I was reading some theology stuff today, and service and gratitude, I think if you are within a religious tradition, are a normal part of that kind of religious life. Whether it's service to God and gratitude to God, or service and gratitude to others. I was thinking that these two things, service and gratitude, can actually really help reframe things as well. Who can we serve? As authors, we're serving our readers and our community. What can we be grateful about? That's often our readers and our community as well. So I don't know, that helped me today—thinking about how we can reframe things, especially in the world we're in now where there's a lot of anger and grief and all kinds of things. Jack: That's what we've got to look at. We are here to serve. Again, that can take different shapes, different forms. Some of us work in the service industry. I provide a service as a psychotherapist, you serve your listeners with knowledge and information that you gather and dispense through the research you do or the guests you have on. We serve readers of the different genres that we write in. It's what ways can we serve, how can we serve? Again, I think we all, if we can and when we can, should pay it forward. Someone said this to me once in the music industry: be careful who you meet on the way up and how you treat them on the way up, because invariably you'll meet them on the way down. So if you can pay forward that kindness, if you can be kind, considerate, and treat people how you want to be treated, that is going to pay dividends in the long run. It may not come off straight away, but invariably it will come back to you in some way, shape, or form in a different way. Jo: I've often talked about social karma and karma in the Hindu sense—the things that you do come back to you in some other form. Possibly in another life, which I don't believe. In terms of, I guess, you didn't know what was going to happen to your brother, and so you make the most of the life that we have at the moment because things change and you just don't know how things are going to change. You talk about this in your book, Maybe You're The Problem, which is quite a confronting title. So just talk about your book, Maybe You're The Problem, and why you wrote that. Put it into context with the author community and why that might be useful. Jack: Thank you for flagging my book. I intentionally crossed out “maybe” on the merchandise I did as well, because in essence, we are our own problem. We can get in the way, and it's what happened to us when we grew up wasn't our fault, but what we do with it is our responsibility. We may have grown up in a certain period or a climate. We didn't necessarily choose to do that, but what we do with that as a result is up to us. So we can stay in our victimhood and we can blame our parents, or we can blame the generation we are in, or we can blame the city, the location—however, that is relinquishing your power. That is staying in a victim mindset rather than a survivor or a thriver mindset. So it's about how can we look at the different areas in our life. Whether that is conflict, whether that is imposter syndrome, whether that is the generation we're born into. We try to understand how that has shaped us and how we may be getting in our own way to stop us from growing, to stop us from expanding, and to see where our blind spots are, our limitations are, and how that may impact us. There's so much going on in the moment in the world, whether that is in the digital realm, whether that is in the geo-climate that we're in at the moment. Again, that's going to bring up a lot for us. How can we find solutions to those problems for us so that we continue to move forward rather than be restricted and hindered by them? Jo: Alright. Well let's get into some more specifics. You have been in the author community now for a while. You go to conferences and you are in the podcast community and all this kind of thing. What specific issues have you seen in the author community? Maybe around some of the things you've mentioned, or other things? How might we be able to deal with those? Jack: With authors, I think it is such a wonderful and unique industry that I have an honour and privilege of being a part of now. One of the main things I've learned is just how creative people are. Coming from a creative industry like the music industry, there is a lot of neurodivergence in the creative industries and in the author community. Whether that is autism, whether that is ADHD—that is a real asset to have as a superpower, but it can be an Achilles heel. So it's understanding—and I know that there is an overexposure of people labelling themselves as ADHD—but on the flip side to that, it's how can we look at what's going on for us? For ADHD, for example, there's a thing called shiny object syndrome. You've talked about this in the past, Joanna, where it's like a new thing comes along, be it TikTok, be it Substack, be it bespoke books, be it Shopify, et cetera. We can rush and quickly be like, “oh, let me do this, let me do that,” before we actually take the time to realise, is this right for me? Does this fit my author business? Does this fit where I'm at in my author journey? I think sometimes as authors, we need to not cave in to that shiny object syndrome and take a step back and think to ourselves, how does this serve me? How does this serve my career? How does this work for me if I'm looking at this as a career? If you're looking at it as a hobby, obviously it's a different lens to look through, but that's something that I would often make sure that we look at. One of the other things that really comes up is that in order for any of us to address our fears and anxieties, we need to make sure that we feel psychologically safe and to put ourselves in spaces and places where we feel seen, heard, and understood, which can help address some of the issues that I've just mentioned. Being in that emotionally regulated state when we are with someone we know and trust—so taking someone to a conference, taking someone to a space or a place where you feel that you can be seen, heard, and understood—can help us and allow us to embrace things that we perceive to be scary. That may be finding an author group, finding an online space where you can actually air and share your thoughts, your feelings, where you don't feel that you are being judged. Often it can be quite a judgmental space and place in the online world. So it's just finding your tribe and finding places where you can actually lean into that. So there'd be two things. Jo: I like the idea of the superpower and the Achilles heel because I also feel this when we are writing fiction. Our characters have strengths, but your fatal flaw is often related to your strength. Jack: Yes. Jo: For example, I know I am independent. One of the reasons I'm an independent author is because I'm super independent. But one of my greatest fears is being dependent. So I do lots of things to avoid being dependent on other people, which can lead me to almost damage myself by not asking for help or by trying to make sure that I control everything so I never have to ask anyone else to do something. I'm coming to terms with this as I get older. I feel like this is something we start to hit—I mean, as a woman after menopause—is this feeling of I might have to be dependent on people when I'm older. It's so interesting thinking about this and thinking— My independence is my strength. How can it also be my weakness? So what do you think about that? You're going to psychotherapist me now. Jack: I definitely won't, but it's interesting. Just talking about that, we all have wounds and we all have the shadow, as you've even written about in one of your books. And it's how that can come from a childhood wound where it's like we seek help and it's not given to us. So we create a belief system where I have to do everything myself because no one will help me. Or we may have rejection sensitivity, so we reject ourselves before others can reject us. So it's actually about trying, where we can, to honour our truths, honour that we may want to be independent, for example, but then realising that success leaves clues. I always say that if you are independent—and I definitely align a hundred percent with you, Joanna—I've had to work really hard myself in personal therapy and in business and life to realise that no human is an island and we can't all do this on our own. Yes, it's amazing with the AI agents now that can help us in a business capacity, but having those relationships that we can tap into—like you mentioned all of the people that you tap into—it's so important to have those. I always say that it's important to have three mentors: one person that's ahead of you (for me, that would be Katie Cross because she's someone that I find is an amazing author and we speak at least once a month); people that are at the same level as you that you can go on the journey together with (and I have an author group for that); and then someone that is perceived to be behind you or in a younger generation than you, because you can learn as much from them as they can learn from you. If you can actually tap into those people whilst honouring your independence, then it feels like you can still go on your own journey, but you can tap in and tap out as and when needed. Sacha Black will give you amazing insights, other people like Honor will give you amazing insights, but you can also provide that for them. So there's that safety of being able to do it on your own. But on the flip side, you still have those people that you can tap into as and when necessary as a sounding board, as information on how they were successful, and go from there. Jo: No, I like that. If you're new to the show, Sacha Black and Honor Raconteur have been on the show and they are indeed some of my best friends. So I appreciate that. I really like the idea of the three mentor idea. I just want to add to that because I do think people misunderstand the word mentor sometimes. You mentioned you speak to Katie Cross, but I've found that a lot of the mentors that I've had who are ahead of me have often been books. We mentioned the Viktor Frankl book, and if people don't know, he was Jewish and in the concentration camps and survived that. So it's a real survivor story. But to me, books have been mostly my mentors in terms of people who are ahead of me. We don't always need to speak to or be friends with our mentors. I think that's important too, right? Because I just get emails a lot that say, “Will you be my mentor?” And I don't think that's the point. Jack: Oh, I a hundred percent agree with you. If you don't have access to those mentors—like Oprah Winfrey is one of the people that I perceive as a mentor—I listen to podcasts, I read her books, I watch interviews. There is a way to absorb and acquire that information, and it doesn't have to be a direct relationship with them. It is someone that you can gain the knowledge and wisdom that they've imparted in whatever form you may consume it. Which is why I think it is important to have those three levels: that one that is above you that may be out of reach in terms of a human connection, but you can still access; then the people at the same level as you that you can have those relationships and grow with; and again, that one behind that you can help pave the way for them, but also learn from them as well. So a hundred percent agree that that mentor that you are looking for that may be ahead of you doesn't necessarily need to be someone that is in a real-world relationship. Jo: So let's just circle back to your music industry experience. You mentioned being on the sort of marketing team for some really big names in music, and I mean, it's kind of a sexy job really. It just sounds pretty cool, but of course the music industry has just as many challenges as publishing. What did you learn from working in the music industry that you think might be particularly useful for authors? Jack: The perception of reality was definitely a lot different. It does look sexy and glamorous, but the reality is similar to going to conferences. It's pretty much flight, hotel, and dark rooms with terrible air conditioning that you spend a lot of time in. So sorry to burst the illusion. But I mean, it does have its moments as well. There is so much I've learned over the years and there's probably three things that stand out the most. The first one was I entered the industry right at the height of the music industry. In 2000, 2001. That was when Napster really exploded and it decimated the music industry. It wiped half the value in the space of four years. Then the music industry was trying to shut it down, throwing legal, throwing everything at it, but it was like whack-a-mole. As soon as one went down such as Napster, ten others popped up like Kazaa. So you saw that the old guard wasn't willing to embrace change. They weren't willing to adapt. They assumed that people wanted the formats of CDs, vinyls, cassettes, and they were wrong. Yes, people wanted music, but they actually wanted the music. They didn't care about the format, they just wanted the access. So that was one of the really interesting things that I learned, because I was like, you have to embrace change. You can't ignore it. You can't push it away, push it aside, because it's coming whether you like it or not. I think thankfully the music industry has learned as AI's coming, because now you have to embrace it. There's a lot of legal issues that have been going on at the moment with rights, which you've covered about the Anthropic case and so on. It's such a challenge, and I just think that's the first one. The second one I learned was back in 2018. There was an artist I worked on called Freya Ridings. At that time I was working at an independent record label rather than one of the big three major record labels. She had great songs and we were up against one of the biggest periods of the year and trying to make noise. At the time, Love Island was the biggest TV show on, and everyone wanted to be on it in terms of getting their music synced in the scenes. We were just like, we are never going to compete. So we thought, we need to be clever here. We need to think differently. What we did is we found out what island the show was being recorded on, and we geo-targeted our ads just to that island because we knew the sync team were going to be on there. So we just went hard as nails, advertised relentlessly, and we knew that the sync people would then see the adverts. As a result of that, Freya got the sync. It became the biggest song that season on Love Island, back when it was popular. As a result of that, we built from there. We were like, right, we can't compete with the majors. We have to think differently. We need to do things differently. We need to be creative. It wasn't an easy pathway. That year there were only two other songs that were independent that reached the top 10. So we ended up becoming a third and the biggest song that year. The reason I'm saying that is we can't compete with the major publishers. But the beauty of the independent author community is because we have smaller budgets—most of us, not all of us, but most of us—we have to think differently. We have to make our bang for our buck go a lot further. So it's actually— How can we stay creative? How can we think differently? What can we do differently? So that would be the second thing. Then the third main lesson that I learned, and this is more on the creative side, is that pressure can often work against you, both in a business sense, but especially creativity. I've seen so many artists over the years have imposed deadlines on them to hand in their albums, and it's impacted the quality of their output. Once it's handed in, the stress and the pressure is off, and then you realise that actually those artists end up creating the best material that they have, and then they rush to put it on. Whether that's Mariah Carey's “We Belong Together,” Adele with her song “Hello,” Taylor Swift did the same with “Shake It Off”—they're just three examples. The reason is that pressure keeps us in our beta brainwave state, which is our rational, logical mind. For those of us that are authors that are writing fiction, or even if we are creating stories in our nonfiction work to deliver a point, we need to be in that creative mindset. So we need to be in the alpha and the gamma brain state. Because our body works on 90-minute cycles known as our ultradian rhythm, we need to make sure that we honour our cycle and work with that. If we go past that, our creativity and our productivity is going to go down between 60% and 40% respectively. So as authors, it's important—one, to apply the right amount of pressure; two, to work in breaks; and three, to know what kind of perspective we're looking at. Do we need to be rational and logical, or do we need to be creative? And then adjust the sails accordingly. Jo: That's all fantastic. I want to come back on the marketing thing first—around what you did with the strategic marketing there and the targeted ads to that island. That's just genius. I feel like a lot of us, myself included, we struggle to think creatively about marketing because it's not our natural state. Of course, you've done a lot of marketing, so maybe it comes more naturally to you. I think half the time we don't even use the word creative around marketing, when you're not a marketeer. What are some ways that we can break through our blocks around marketing and try to be more creative around that? Jack: I would challenge a lot of authors on that presumption, because as authors we're in essence storytellers, and to tell a story is creative. There's a great quote: “One death is a tragedy. A thousand deaths is a statistic.” If you can create a story, a compelling narrative about a death in the news, it's going to pull at the heartstrings of people. It's going to really resonate and get with them. Whereas if you are just quoting statistics, most people switch off because they become desensitised to it. So I think because we can tell stories, and that's the essence of what we do, it's how can we tell our story through the medium of social media? How can we tell a story through our creative ads that we then put out onto Facebook or TikTok or whatever platform that we're putting them out—BookBub, et cetera? How can we create a narrative that garners the attention? If we are looking at local media or traditional media, how can we do that? How can we get people to buy in to what we're selling? So it's about having different angles. For me with my new romance book, Stolen Moments, one of the stories I had that really has helped me get some coverage and PR is we recorded the songs next door to the Rolling Stones. Now that was very fortunate timing, very fortunate. But everyone's like, “Oh my God, you recorded next door to the Rolling Stones?” So it's like, well, how can you bring in these creative nuggets that help you to find a story? Again, marketing is in essence telling a story, albeit through different mediums and forms. So it's just how can you package that into a marketable product depending on the platform in which you're putting it out on. Jo: I think that's actually hilarious, by the way, because what you hit on there, as someone with a background in marketing, your story about “we recorded an album for the book next door to the Rolling Stones”—it's got nothing to do with the romance. Jack: Oh, the romance is that the pop star in the book writes and records songs. Jo: Yes, I realised that. But the fact is— For doing things like PR, it's the story behind the story. They don't care that you've written a romance. Jack: Yes. Jo: They're far more interested in you, the author, and other things. So I think what you just described there was a kind of PR hook that most of us don't even think about. Jack: I'm sure a lot of authors already know this, so it's a good reminder, and if you don't, it's great. It's called the A, B, C technique. When you get asked a question, you Answer the question. So that's A. You Build a bridge, and then you go to C, which is Covering one of your points. So whenever you get asked a question, have a list of things you want to get across in an interview. Then just make sure that you find that bridge between whatever the question is to cover off one of your points, and that's how you can do it. Because yes, you may be selling a story, like I said, about writing the songs, but then you can bridge it into actually covering and promoting whatever it is you're promoting. So I think that's always quite helpful to remember. Jo: Well, that's a good tip for things like coming on podcasts as well. I've had people on who don't do what you just mentioned and will just try and shoehorn things in in a more deliberate fashion, whereas other people, as you have just done with your romance there, bring it in while answering a question that actually helps other people. So I think that's the kind of thing we need to think about in marketing. Okay, so then let's come back to the embracing change, and as you mentioned, the AI stuff that's going on. I feel like there's so many “stories” around AI right now. There's a lot of stories being told on both sides—on the positive side, on the negative side—that people believe and buy into and may or may not be true. There's obviously a lot of anger. There's, I think, grief—a big thing that people might not even realise that they have. Can you talk about how authors might deal with what's coming up around the technological change around AI, and any of your personal thoughts as well? Jack: I was thinking about this a lot recently. I mean, I guess everyone is in their own ways and forms. One of the things that came up for me is we have genre expectations and we have generation expectations. When we look at genres, you will have different expectations from different genres. For romance, they want a happily ever after or a happy for now. For cosy mysteries, they expect the crime to be solved. So we as authors make sure we endeavour to meet those expectations. The challenge is that if we are looking at AI, we are all in our own generations. We might be in slightly different generations, but there are going to be different generation expectations from the Alpha generation that's coming up and the Beta generation that's just about to start this year or next year because they're going to come into the world where they don't know any different to AI. So they will have a different expectation than us. It will just be normal that there will be AI agents. It will just be normal that there are AI narrators. It will be normalised that AI will assist authors or assist everyone in doing their jobs. So again, it is a grieving period because we can long for what was, we can yearn for things that worked for us that no longer work for us—whether it's Facebook groups, whether it's the Kindle Rush. We can mourn the loss of that, but that's not coming back. I mean, sometimes there may be a resurgence, but essentially, we've got to embrace the change. We've got to understand that it's coming and it's going to bring up a lot of different emotions because you may have been beholden to one thing and you may be like, yes, I've now got my TikTok lives, and then all of a sudden TikTok goes away. I know Adam, when he was talking about it, he'll just find another platform. But there'll be a lot of people that are beholden to it and then they're like, what do I do now? So again, it's never survival of the fittest—it's survival of the most adaptable. I always use this metaphor where there are three people on three different boats. A storm comes. And the first, the optimist, is like, “Oh, it'll pass,” and does nothing. The pessimist complains about the storm and does nothing. But the realist will adjust the sails and use the storm to find its way to the other side, to get through. It's not going to be easy, but they're actually taking change and making change to get to where they need to go, rather than just expecting or complaining. I get it. We are not, and I hate the expression, “we're all in the same boat.” I call bleep on that. I'm not going to swear. We're not all in the same boat. We're all in the same storm, but different people are going through different things. For some, they can adjust and adapt really quickly like a speedboat. For others, they may be like Jack and Rose in the Titanic on that terrible prop where they're clinging to dear life and trying to get through the storm. So it's about how do I navigate this upcoming storm? What can I do within my control to get through the storm? For some it may be easier because they have the resources, or for some of us that love learning, it's easy to embrace change. For others that have a fear mindset and it's like, “Oh, something new, it's scary, I don't want to embrace it”—you are going to take longer. So you may not be the speedboat, but at some point we are going to have to embrace that change. Otherwise we're going to get left behind. So you need to look at that. Jo: The storm metaphor is interesting, and being in different boats. I feel I do struggle. I struggle with people who suddenly seem to be discovering the storm. I've been talking about AI now since 2016. That's a decade. Jack: Yes. Jo: Even ChatGPT has been around more than three years, and people come to me now and they're talking about stories that they've seen in the media that are just old now. Things have moved on so much. I feel like maybe I was on my boat and I looked through my telescope and I saw the storm. I've been talking about the storm and I've had my own moments of being in the middle of the storm. Now I definitely do struggle with people who just seem to have arrived without any knowledge of it before. I oscillate between being an optimist and a realist. I think I'm somewhere between the two, probably. But I think what is driving me a little crazy in the author community right now is judgment and shame. There are people who are judging other people, and there's shame felt by AI-curious or AI-positive people. So I want to help the people who feel shame in some way for trying new technology, but they still feel attacked. Then those people judge other authors for their choices to use technology. So how do you think we can deal with judgment and shame in the community? Which is a form of conflict, I guess. Jack: Of course. I think with that, there's another great PR quote: “If it bleeds, it leads.” Especially in this digital age, there's a lot of clickbait. So the more polarising, the more emotion-evoking the headline, the more likely you are to engage with that content—whether that is reading it or whether that's posting or retweeting, or whatever format you are consuming it on. So unfortunately, media has now become so much more polarising. It's dividing us rather than uniting us. So people are going to have stronger positions. There's so much even within this to look at. One is, you have to work out where people are on the continuum. Do they have an opinion on AI? Do they have a belief? Or do they have a conviction? Now you're not going to move someone that has a conviction about something, so it's not worth even engaging with them because they're immovable. Like they say, you shouldn't talk about sports, politics, and religion. There are certain subjects that may not be worth talking about, especially if they have a conviction. Because they may not even be able to agree to disagree. They may not be willing or able to hear you. So first and foremost, it's about understanding, well, where are those people sitting on the continuum of AI? Are they curious? Do they have an opinion, but they're open to hearing other opinions? Do they have a belief that could be changed or evolved if they find more information? That's where I think it is. It's not necessarily our jobs—even though you do an amazing job of it, Joanna—but a lot of people are undereducated on these issues or these new technologies. So in some cases it's just a case of a lack of education or them being undereducated. Hopefully in time they will become more and more educated. But again, it's how long is a piece of string? Will people catch up? Will they stay behind? Are they fearful? I guess because of social media, because of the media, as they say, if you can evoke fear in people, you can control them. You can control their perspectives. You can control their minds. So that's where we see it—a lot of people are operating from a fear mindset. So then that's when they project their vitriol in certain cases. If people want to believe a certain thing, that's their choice. I'm not here to tell people what to think. Like I said earlier, it's more about how to think. But I would just encourage people to find people that align with you. Do a sense test, like a litmus test, to find where they sit on the continuum and engage with those people that are open and have opinions or beliefs. But shy away or just avoid people that have convictions that maybe are the polar opposite of yours. Jo: It's funny, isn't it? We seem to be in a phase of history when I feel like you should be able to disagree with people and still be friends. Although, as you mentioned, there's certain members of my family where we just stay on topics of TV shows and movies or music, or what books are you reading? Like, we don't go anywhere near politics. So I do think that might be a rule also with the AI stuff. As you said, find a community, and there are plenty of AI-positive spaces now for people who do want to talk about this kind of stuff. I also think that, I don't know whether this is a tipping point this year, but certainly— I know people who are in bigger corporates where the message is now, “You need to embrace this stuff. It is now part of your job to learn how to use these AI tools.” So if that starts coming into people's day jobs, and also people who have, I don't know, kids at school or people at university who are embracing this more—I mean, maybe it is a generational thing. Jack: Yes. Look, there were so many people that were resistant to working from home, or corporations that were, and then the pandemic forced it. Now everyone's embraced it in some way, shape, or form. I mean, there are people that don't, but the majority of people—when something's forced on you, you have to adapt. So again, if those things are implemented in corporations, then you're going to see it. I'm seeing so many amazing new things in AI that have been implemented in the music industry that we'll see in the publishing industry coming down the road. That will scare a lot of people, but again, we have to embrace those things because they're coming and there's going to be an expectation—especially from the younger generations—that these things are available. So again, it's not first past the post, but if you can be ahead of the wave or at least on the wave, then you are going to reap the rewards. If you are behind the wave, you're going to get left behind. So that's my opinion. I'm not trying to encourage anyone to see from my lens, but at the same time, I do think that we need to be thinking differently. We need to always embrace change where we can, as we can, at the pace that we can. Jo: You mentioned there AI things coming down the road in the music industry. And now everyone's going, wait, what is coming? So tell us— What do you see ahead that you think might also shift into the author world? Jack: There are three things that I've seen. Two that have been implemented and one that's been talked about and worked on at the moment. The first, and this will be quite scary for people, is that major record labels—so think the major publishers on our side—they're all now putting clauses in their contracts that require the artists that sign with them to allow their works to be trained by their own AI models. So that is something that is now actually happening in record labels. I wouldn't be surprised, although I don't have insight into it, if Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, et cetera, are potentially doing the same with authors that sign to them. So that's going to become more standardised. So that is on the major side. But then on the creative side, there are two things that really excite me. The music AI platforms that we're hearing about, the stories that we've seen in the press, and it's the fact that with a click of a button, you can recreate a song into a different genre. I find it so fascinating because if you think about that—turning a pop song into a country song or a rap song into a dance song—the possibilities that we have as authors with our books, if we wish to do so, are amazing. I just think, for example, with your ARKANE series, Joanna, imagine clicking a button and just with one click you can take Morgan Sierra and turn her into a romantic lead in a romance book. Jo: See, it's so funny because I personally just can't imagine that because it's not something I would write. But I guess one example in the romance genre itself is I know plenty of romance authors who write a clean and a spicy version of the same story, right? It is already happening in that way. It's just not a one-click. Jack: Well, I think you can also look at it another way. I think one of the most famous examples is Twilight. With Twilight and Stephenie Meyer, if she had the foresight—and I'm not saying she didn't, just to clarify—but fan fiction is such a massive sub-genre of works. And obviously from Twilight came 50 Shades of Gray. Imagine if she had the licensing rights like the NFTs, where she could have made money off of every sale. So that you could then, through works that you create and give licence, earn a percentage of every release, every sale, every consumption unit of your works. There are just so many possibilities where you can create, adapt, have spinoffs that can then build out your world. Obviously, there may need to be an approval process in there for continuity and quality control because you want to make sure you're doing that, but I think that has such massive potential in publishing if we wish to do so. Or like I said, change characters. Like Robert Langdon's character in Dan Brown's books—no longer being the kind of thriller, but maybe being a killer instead. There's so many possibilities. It's just, again, how to think, not what to think—how to think differently and how we can use that. So that's the second of three. Jo: Oh, before you move on, you did mention NFTs and I've actually been reading about this again. So I'm usually five years early. That's the general rule. I started talking about NFTs in mid-2021, and obviously there was a crypto crash, it goes up and down, blah, blah, blah. But forget the crypto side—on the blockchain side, digital originality, and exactly what you said about saying like, where did this originate? This is now coming back in the AI world. It could be that I really was five years early. So amusingly—and I'm going to link to it in the notes because I did a “Why NFTs Are Exciting for Authors” solo episode, I think in 2022—it may be that the resurgence will happen in the next year, and all those people who said I was completely wrong, that this may be coming back. Digital originality I think is what we're talking about there. But so, okay, so what was the other thing? Jack: So the third one is the one that I'm most excited about, but I think will be the most scary for people. Obviously consumption changes and formats change. Like I said, in music I've seen it all the time—whether it's vinyl to cassettes, to CDs, to downloads, to streaming. Again, there's different consumption of the same format, and we see that with books as well, obviously—hardbacks, paperbacks, eBooks, audiobooks. Now with the rise of AI, AI narration has made audiobooks so much more accessible for people. I know that there are issues with certain people not wanting to do it, or certain platforms not allowing AI narration to be uploaded unless it's their own. The next step is what I'm most excited about. What I'm seeing now in the music industry is people licensing their image to then recreate that as music videos because music videos are so expensive. One of my friends just shot a music video for two million pounds. I don't think many authors would ever wish to spend that. If you can license your image and use AI to create a three-minute music video that looks epic and just as real as humanly possible, imagine if those artists—or if we go a step further, those actors—license their image to then be used to adapt our books into a TV series or a film. So that then we are in a position where that is another format of consumption alongside an audiobook, a paperback, an eBook, hardcover, special edition, and so on and so forth. It potentially has the opportunity to open us up to a whole new world. Because yes, there are adaptations of books that we're seeing at the moment, but for those of us that are trying to get our content into different formats, this can be a new pathway. I'm going to make a prediction here myself, Joanna. Jo: Mm-hmm. Jack: I would say in the next five to ten years, there will be a platform akin to a Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Apple Plus, where you can license the rights to an image of an actor or an actress. Then with the technology—and you may need people to help you adapt your book into a TV series or a film—that can then be consumed. I just think the possibilities are endless. I mean, again, I think of your character and I'm like, oh, what would it be if Angelina Jolie licensed her image and you could have her play the lead character in your ARKANE series? I mean, again, the possibilities potentially are endless here. Jo: Well, and on that, if people think this won't happen—1776, I don't know if you've seen this, it's just being teased at the moment. Darren Aronofsky has made an American revolutionary story all with AI. So this is being talked about at the moment. It's on YouTube at the moment. The AI video is just extraordinary already, so I totally agree with you. I think things are going to be quite weird for a while, and it will take a while to get used to. You mentioned coming into the music industry in 2000, 2001—I started my work before the internet, and then the internet came along and lots of things changed. I mean, anyone who's older than 40, 45-ish can remember what work was like without the internet. Now we are moving into a time where it'll be like, what was it like before AI? And I think we'll look back and go like, why the hell did we do that kind of thing? So it is a changing world, but yes, exciting times, right? I think the other thing that's happening right now, even to me, is that things are moving so fast. You can almost feel like a kind of whiplash with how much is changing. How do we deal with the fast pace of change while still trying to anchor ourselves in our writing practice and not going crazy? Jack: Again, it's that everything everywhere all at once—you can get lost and discombobulated. I always say be the tortoise, not the hare—because you don't want to fly and die. You want pace and grace. Everyone will have a different pace. For some marathon runners, they can run a five-minute mile, some can run an eight-minute mile, some can run a twelve-minute mile. It's about finding the pace that works for you. Every one of us have different commitments. Every one of us have different ways we view the industry—some as a hobby, some as a business. So it's about honouring your needs, your commitment. Some of us, as you've had people on the podcast, some people are carers. They have to care. Some people are parents. Some people don't have those commitments and so can devote more time and then actually learn more, change more as a result. So again, it's about finding your groove, finding your rhythm, honouring that, and again, showing up consistently. Because motivation may get you started, but it's habit and discipline that sees you through. Keep that discipline, keep that pace and grace. Be consistent in what you can do. And know where you're at. Don't compare and despair, because again, if you look at someone else, they may be ahead of you, but the race is only with yourself in the end. So you've got to just focus on where you are at and am I in a better place than I was yesterday? Am I working on my business as well as in my business? How am I doing that? When am I doing that? And what am I doing that for? If you can be asking yourself those questions and making sure you're staying true to yourself and not burning out, making sure that you are honouring your other commitments, then I think you are going at the pace that feels right for you. Jo: Brilliant. Jo: Where can people find you and your books and everything you do online? Jack: Thank you so much for having me on, Joanna, today. You can find me on JackWilliamson.co.uk for all my nonfiction books and therapy work. Then for my fiction work, it is ABJackson.com, or ABJacksonAuthor on Instagram and TikTok. Jo: Well, thanks so much for your time, Jack. That was great. Jack: Thank you so much. The post Post-Traumatic Growth, Creative Marketing, And Dealing With Change with Jack Williamson first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Citizenship allows you to vote, get a passport and run for office – and it's supposed to be a promise of protection, equality and belonging. But as immigration agents arrest and detain more American citizens, what if that promise is a myth? In a new book journalist Daisy Hernández dismantles the idea that citizenship is neutral, stable or fair. And she proposes that today it often replaces race a powerful instrument of exclusion. We talk to Hernández about her new book “Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth” and what she thinks real belonging might look like. Are you a noncitizen, or a U.S. citizen who's felt “lesser than?”  Guests: Daisy Hernández, author, "Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes life looks “right” on paper—but something inside quietly says, not anymore. In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, hosted by Sayan, we explore what it takes to listen to that inner tug without panic, and how to choose meaning over momentum. This conversation is for anyone at a crossroads—especially later in life—wondering if it's too risky to change direction. Diane shares how she left a successful, technical career and stepped into service with grieving families, discovering that fulfillment isn't a title… it's alignment. About the Guest: Diane Gansauer is a former nonprofit and government professional who made a major life shift toward service and storytelling. She's the author of Waypoints: From 400 Farewells and 3,000 Miles, inspired by memorial-life interviews and her long-distance trek from Mexico to Canada. Episode Chapter: 00:06:00 — When success looks fine, but your spirit disagrees 00:08:25 — The early creative tug Diane never fully lost 00:10:20 — “Small-p politics” and when the joy leaves the work 00:14:45 — Redefining success beyond income and resumes 00:18:10 — Fear of the unknown: why we silence the inner voice 00:19:33 — Feeling embraced after the leap into service 00:27:10 — 400 farewells, 3,000 miles, and the overlap of lessons Key Takeaways: If the “joy leaves,” don't ignore it—treat it as honest data, not failure. Success defined by others can look stable while slowly draining your inner life. Courage often grows after the first step, not before it. Service becomes sustainable when it matches both your heart and your skills. Start small: test one act of service and notice what feels quietly true. How to Connect With the Guest: This link will connect listeners to Diane's book on Amazon.com.   Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate. With over 6000+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.

In this episode, Andy and Dasa are joined by the show's Harvey Pekar - Daniel Warren Johnson - to hear the story of Andy's journey of golf and his search for meaning in golf and life. Andy shares personal stories, transformative experiences, and the deeper meanings he has found over the last 15 years.

There's a quiet crisis right now of men who are drifting and feel disconnected from life. There's a lot of possible reasons why, but it still creates incredible pain in their lives. But what if that pain and disconnection is NOT God's plan? Join me in the next episode of Catholic Life Coach For Men as Dr James Torkildson and I talk about this issue, and what men can do to find relief. God does have a plan for you. Using scripture, prayer, and action you can make real changes in your life. God wants you to have hope and peace! You can find Dr. T's book and information on his website: https://drtconsulting.org/ I'm happy to announce I have a book out and available! You can find it on Amazon (more options to come.)

In the start of our 11th year, episode 572 of The Perceptive Photographer, I dive back into a often discussed topic that every photographer eventually faces: conflicting critique. It is bound to happen to all of us. That moment when two thoughtful people look at the same photograph and see completely different things. One person calls it powerful and restrained. Another calls it distant and unresolved. Same image. Same moment. Completely different reactions. When that happens, it can shake your confidence. So I thought we might try to unpack why critique in a slightly different way and remind everyone at the start of this 11th year that not all feedback lives at the same level. Some comments are about taste. Others are about craft. And sometimes the disagreement reveals something deeper about seeing in the image. After all meaning isn't owned solely by the photographer. It's created in the encounter between the image and the viewer. My goal this week was to share a simple framework to help you filter critique: How does it relate to your original intent? Is it about structure or preference? Does it resonate when you sit quietly with your work? Most importantly, I explore how you can separate your identity from your photographs so that feedback becomes useful instead of personal. If you're navigating disagreement in your own work or with feedback from more than one source, I hope that you can think about critique not as contradiction, but as clarity emerging through differences. After all the goal isn't consensus, It's understanding.

In this episode, we wrap up the Beowulf portion of our "Life, Death, and Meaning with Beowulf and Boethius" study.Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/Sh85l-PlWqUBecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feedBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.

Ashwini Gangal shares about the importance of holding on to names.

In Episode 284 of Anecdotally Speaking, discover how the story you tell yourself shapes resilience, leadership and meaning at work. In this episode, Mark shares … The post 284 – The Meaning You Choose – Tsutomu Yamaguchi appeared first on Anecdote.

Dynasties are rare. Most teams rise, win for a season, and fade. A superstar retires. A coach leaves. The chemistry shifts. What once felt inevitable suddenly looks fragile. Sustained excellence is far harder than a single championship run — it requires standards that survive ego, systems that outlast individuals, and a culture strong enough to hold its shape under pressure. But a small handful of organizations manage to sustain excellence for decades — across generations, coaches, and changing eras. The real challenge isn't winning once; it's continuing to win as the faces change, the pressure intensifies, and expectations evolve — and understanding the kind of leadership that makes that possible.So here's the real question for leaders, founders, coaches, and executives: What creates sustained high performance—and how do you build a culture that wins not just once, but over generations?Welcome to Tuesdays with Morrisey. In the latest episode, host Adam Morrisey sits down with leadership consultant, speaker, and bestselling author James Kerr to explore what the legendary New Zealand All Blacks—and other elite teams—can teach us about leadership, identity, and legacy. Drawing from Kerr's global work across sport, business, and the military, the conversation dives into how culture is shaped, how identity becomes performance, and why the best teams think beyond the individual.Top takeaways…Success is often countercultural. Great teams and individuals stand out as a result of doing something different. Sometimes it's the simple and obvious things — showing up consistently, orienting toward service, lifting others up, or playing the long game. In the episode, James paraphrased Anna Karenina: “Dysfunctional teams are dysfunctional for all sorts of reasons; highly functional teams are highly functional for the same reasons.”The best teams — whether in sport, culture, or business — have shared identities, beliefs, and a sense of belonging. The All Blacks, for example, represent a nation and are committed to the idea that the team is bigger than the individual, captured in the players' effort to “leave the jersey better than you found it.” When you look at great teams and cultures, they usually share a common story, mission, vision, and values. James commented that “first we shape our story, and then our story shapes us.”Greatness often comes from humility and doing the little things right. The All Blacks have a practice of cleaning their own locker room after each game, known as “sweeping the sheds.” In each of our domains, there are things that seem small, but the true masters of the craft understand their importance.Meaning comes from deciding that something matters and then choosing to take responsibility for it. Whether at your job, in your fitness routine, or at home, there is a shift when you commit to a particular thing and own it. James gives the metaphor that levels of maturity and meaning are reflected in the number of keys on your keyring, representing the different things you are responsible for or looking after.Emotional regulation is leadership. This has been a consistent theme throughout the 65+ episodes of the podcast. In order to lead others, we must first lead ourselves, and in times of crisis, people often turn to the person who is the calmest. If we can't regulate ourselves, we risk repeating patterns and losing the ability to lead ourselves or others forward.Topics covered:Why the All Blacks are the most sustained high-performing team in historyCulture versus talent in elite performanceIdentity, story, and belonging in leadershipHumility and responsibility as cultural pillarsSweeping the sheds and servant leadershipThe haka as ritual, meaning, and psychological preparationCohesion as a competitive advantageSelf-regulation and calm under pressureLeadership as responsibilityCulture built through teamsContribution, meaning, and legacyLong-term thinking in sport, business, and lifeJames Kerr is an international leadership speaker, performance coach, and the bestselling author of Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life. He works with elite sports teams—from the Premier League to Formula One—alongside Wall Street firms, leading technology companies, and military units to build high-performance cultures. Through his work, he helps leaders translate vision into standards, purpose into practice, and culture into a sustained competitive advantage.

What is your purpose?We all need to figure out why we are here. When we do, we find direction for our lives. That becomes our purpose.Today, we start a week of quotes on purpose. You will hear three powerful quotes today to get us started on the road to figuring out our purpose in life.As always, I am so grateful to all of you who support the podcast! I do this show because of you. While I enjoy the quotes myself, I do this podcast because many of you who are looking for inspiration and impact from these quotes come back and listen to it on a consistent basis. Thanks to all of you for being a huge part of this journey! In order to help me keep this journey going, please consider becoming a supporter of the show. You can donate to the show by clicking on the link below. Support the showFor more information to help you on your road to becoming your best, check us out at SlamDunkSuccess.com or email me at scott@slamdunksuccess.com.Our new background music, starting with Episode 300, is "Pulse of Time - Corporate Rock" by TunePocket. Our background music for the first 5 years of the podcast was "Dance in the Sun" by Krisztian Vass.

Zdravo! V 300. epizodi sta nas obiskala Maja Prijatelj Videmšek in Boštjan Videmšek, ki sta nam skozi usodo Najin in Fatu (zadnjih dveh severnih belih nosoroginj) servirala brutalno lekcijo iz geopolitike in nas popeljala skozi "klavnico" neustavljivega napredka najbolj krute živalske vrste. Izvedeli smo, kako češki AK-47 in kitajske vraže o čudežnem prahu zlijejo v koktajl, ki je izbrisal (ne samo eno) živalsko vrsto. Naučimo se tudi da je afriška svetovna vojna kirva za smrti na desetine milijonov ljudi in tudi da so znanstveni dočakali biotehnološki čudež, ki pa so ga odnesle podnebne spremembe. Tragično. Za konec pa preprost plan za preživetje: beri, sprejemaj naravo in ne jej mesa.

“Serosanguineous Drainage in Modern Wound Care: Clinical Meaning, Operational Strategy, and Market Implications” isn't about basic definitions. It's about interpretation, precision, and performance.Clinically, serosanguineous drainage represents the delicate balance between inflammation and early tissue repair — a transitional phase where vigilance determines trajectory. Too much? Red flag. Too little? Also a question. Context is everything.Operationally, it drives decision-making. Dressing selection. Change frequency. Documentation standards. Supply chain forecasting. When clinicians interpret drainage correctly, outcomes improve and unnecessary costs drop. That's not theory — that's workflow intelligence.From a market standpoint, the conversation expands further. Advanced dressings, data-driven wound assessment tools, remote monitoring, and value-based reimbursement models all hinge on accurate interpretation of wound exudate characteristics. What looks like a minor clinical detail becomes a measurable performance metric in an outcomes-driven healthcare economy.In other words: drainage isn't just fluid — it's data.The future of wound care belongs to organizations that treat every clinical indicator as both a healing marker and a strategic lever.#WoundCareInnovation #HealthcareStrategy #ClinicalLeadership #ValueBasedCare #MedicalTechnology #HealthEconomics #AdvancedWoundCare #HealthcareOperations #MedTechInsights #QualityImprovement #EvidenceBasedPractice #HealthcareTrends

Kelli Thompson shows you how to break free from intimidation, hierarchy, and self-doubt.— YOU'LL LEARN — 1) Why over-admiring your coworkers could be undermining your progress2) The key to sustainable confidence3) How to identify and trust your “genius zone” Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1131 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT KELLI — Kelli Thompson is an award-winning leadership and executive coach, keynote speaker, and the critically-acclaimed author of Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck. In Kelli's two-decade career leading teams, she received industry awards for her ability to build programs that cultivated the pipeline of future leaders.Kelli has coached and trained thousands of leaders to lead with more clarity and confidence through her no BS, yet highly compassionate approach. Her corporate clients rave about the insightful, engaging and practical application of her training and speaking programs. • Book: Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck• LinkedIn: Kelli Rae Thompson• Program: Clarity and Confidence Collective• TEDxTalk: "How idolizing coworkers can hold you back" | | Kelli Thompson | TEDxOmaha• Website: KelliRaeThompson.com— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Monarch.com. Get 50% off your first year on with the code AWESOME.• Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/better• Factor. Head to factormeals.com/beawesome50off and use the code beawesome50off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year. (New Factor subscribers only)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we explore the 13 years of silence from God in Abram's life, leading to a new covenant that redefines his identity and the physical sign of circumcision. We also discuss why Abraham laughs at the seemingly impossible promise of a son through Sarah and God's unwavering commitment to His divine plan.https://study-companion.kit.com/0a352e0e64 Click link to download your free, weekly PDF Study Companion - stuff you won't find in Sunday school — real scholarship, surprising history, and sermons from voices outside your usual orbit. Chapters00:00 13 Years of Silence01:35 God's Covenant and Name Change06:52 The Meaning of Circumcision10:05 Sarah's Impossible Son15:53 Abraham's Act of Faith18:54 Commitment Beyond Understanding

Hello Beautiful, I'm so grateful you're here with me.

Today on Texas Matters: The old Spanish missions of San Antonio — 300 years of history, community memory and meaning. Joel Daniel Kitchens is the author of “San Antonio and Its Missions: Three Centuries of History, Memory and Heritage.”

Nick Jeffery read Robert Browning's The Ring and the Book, a Victorian epic poem about a murder mystery in 17th Century Italy, to test a theory. John Granger's best guess after surveying the chapter headings of Hallmarked Man last September was that, of all 77 sources for the 139 epigraphs in Strike8, Browning's poem was the most likely to hold a secret message or special meaning inside it. John had said something similar about another Browning poem and Ink Black Heart, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Aurora Leigh, and Nick had confirmed that through his own reading and confirmation by Rowling herself. He thought John's track record of spotting important epigraph sources merited a test reading.He published his findings on Friday in a post titled ‘The Ring and The Book – A Rowling Reading.' In brief, the murder in Browning's poem is a point-to-point model for the Ironbridge murder mystery in Hallmarked Man with characters in Rowling-Galbraith's book — most notably, Chloe Griffiths, Tyler Powell, and Ian Griffiths — having their astonishing equivalents in Ring. The less obvious but more important links between the two are in their implicit feminism and other messages: Both works critique abusive relationships and patriarchal power: Guido's control of Pompilia and Dino Longcaster's control of Decima Mullins. The legal system (Books 8–9 especially) is satirized as formalistic, pedantic, and often blind to moral reality. True justice requires personal moral intuition beyond mere evidence or procedure. The Pope's monologue (Book 10) weighs this tension most profoundly. In The Hallmarked Man the police are slow to act on new information gained by Strike and Robin and Farah Navabi manages to hoodwink the courts into escaping punishment for her part in Patterson's crimes.The Ring and The Book dramatizes the eternal struggle between good and evil. Pompilia embodies instinctive purity, sacrificial love, and spiritual insight despite her suffering. Guido represents sophisticated, calculating evil that twists morality to justify cruelty. Browning affirms that evil exists but that good can somehow arise from or shine through evil's consequences. In The Hallmarked Man evil is real, monstrous, and often cloaked in normalcy or power structures, but it can be exposed and defeated through persistence, intuition, and moral courage.Nick also discusses in this article the chiastic structure of Ring (!) and the ‘conversation' he heard between Robert Browning in this poem with Aurora Leigh, the masterpiece by his late wife. His ‘Rowling Reading' of Ring and the Book, consequently, will soon be a touchstone piece not only in Rowling Studies but Browning Studies as well (#ArmstrongBrowningLibraryAndMuseum @ Baylor). As they have done before with Nick's ‘Rowling Reading' articles. the Hogwarts Professor team recorded their conversation about the piece (listen to their discussions of I Capture the Castle and Aurora Leigh). Seven High Points of that Ring and the Book epigraph conversation include:* Nick's review of why Serious Strikers and Rowling Readers should read The Ring and the Book along with the story of his immersion in it;* John's explanation of why he was so confident that Browning's poem was a template of some kind for Hallmarked Man even though only six of Strike8's 139 epigraphs were taken from it;* Their survey of Rowling's previous work with epigraphs — Deathly Hallows and Casual Vacancy all the way to Running Grave and Hallmarked Man — for works with similar embedded-in-the-epigraph texts and those without one (or in which it hasn't yet been discovered);* Nick's discussion of Rowling's previous comments about epigraphs and her answer to the question, ‘Which Came First, the Epigraph or the Story?';* John's best guess pre-publication about the text that will be the epigraph source in Sleep Tight, Evangeline and which Strike text it will most resemble with its Whiskey Shambles title;* Nick's commitment to exploring Blue Oyster Cult epigraphs in Career of Evil to see if one of that band's albums, all of which supposedly had sci-fi themes and story continuity, served as a text-within-the-text for Strike3; and* John's suggestion that the relationship of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, a great love with a shared vocation, might be a point of reflection for Serious Strikers as a template for understanding the Strike-Ellacott partnership.Nick and John will be recording their group charting of Hallmarked Man's Part Eight this week with Sandy Hope and Ed Shardlow (and Presvytera Lois?), a survey of readers is in the works, and the long-awaited close look at the Strike series in light of the Cupid and Psyche myth draws ever nearer. Stay tuned!The Ten Questions, Epigraph Charting, and Links to Previous Epigraph Discussions Here and Elsewhere:The Ring and The Book – A Rowling Reading, Nick Jeffery, February 2026Intro to Epigraphs 101, John Granger, September 2022The Heart is Not About Emotions and Affection but the Human Spiritual Center, John Granger, October 2022A Rowling Reading of Aurora Leigh, Nick Jeffery, November 2025Beatrice Grove's Pillar Post Page at HogwartsProfessor.com* Scroll down for Prof Groves' posts about epigraphs and literary allusion in Cuckoo's Calling, The Silkworm, Troubled Blood, and Ink Black HeartLethal White: Ibsen's ‘Rosmersholm', John Granger, December 2018Rowling, Dylan Thomas, and the I Ching: Three Thoughts on Strike7's Epigraphs, John Granger, April 2023‘Deathly Hallows' and Penn's ‘Fruits of Solitude,' John Granger, October 2008The Aeschylus Epigraph in ‘Deathly Hallows,' John Granger, October 2008Maid of the Silver Sea Epigraphs: Louise Freeman Davis' Collected Posts, 2025The Faerie Queene Epigraphs in Troubled Blood* Scroll down the Troubled Blood Pillar Post for the Faerie Queene commentary by Beatrice Groves, Elizabeth Baird-Hardy and John GrangerRobert-Galbraith.com Posts about the Epigraphs in Each Book* Hallmarked Man's Epigraphs: The Poetry* Hallmarked Man's Epigraphs: The Prose* Scroll Down the site's ‘Features' Page for all the other Epigraph PostsAgents of Fortune: The Blue Oyster Cult Story, Martin Popoff, May 2016Pompilia: A Feminist Reading Of Robert Browning'S The Ring And The Book, Anne Brady, May 1988Roman Murder Mystery: The True Story of Pompilia, Derek Parker, January 2001Sleep Tight, Evangeline: Nick Jeffery and John Granger talk with Dimitra FimiHallmarked Man Epigraphs: The Tally SheetMatthew Arnold: 17 poems, 25 epigraphs, 6 from Merope: A Tragedy* 3, 17, 52, 103, 108, 110 (Merope), 21, 33, 68, 38, 97, 41, 45, 59, 58, 69, 73, 76, 80, 86, 96, 106, 119, 122, 124Robert Browning: 26 poems, 38 epigraphs including frontispiece, 6 from The Ring and the Book* 44, 75, 62, 64, 102, 118 (Ring and Book), frontispiece, 2, 9, 11, 107, 13, 16, 20, 26, 28, 32, 35, 37, 114, 39, 42, 93, 44, 75, 47, 51, 62, 64, 67, 116, 71, 77, 79, 84, 87, 120, 90, 91, 100, 102, 109, 118, 126A. E. Housman: 5 works, 25 poems, 28 epigraphs, 10 from Last Poems* 1, 5, 7, 53, 19, 92, 56, 65, 74, 105 (Last Poems), 23, 30, 34, 36, 40, 43, 46, 49, 57, 63, 78, 82, 89, 94, 98, 112, 115, 125John Oxenham: 1 work, 26 epigraphs* Parts 1-10, Epilogue, 15, 18, 22, 25, 27, 55, 60, 66, 83, 85, 88, 95, 111, 113, 127 (Maid of the Silver Sea)Albert Pike: 3 works (?), 22 epigraphs, 16 from Morals and Dogma* 4, 16, 12, 121 (Liturgy), 8, 10, 14, 29, 31, 48, 50, 54, 61, 70, 81, 99, 101 (Morals and Dogma), 24, 72 (Ancient and Accepted Rite?)Most epigraphs: Robert BrowningFrontispiece: Robert BrowningMost from one poem: Tie, Robert Browning 6 Ring and Book, Matthew Arnold 6 Merope: A TragedyMost from one novel: John Oxenham 26 Maid of the Silver SeaMost from one didactic or discursive argument: Albert Pike 22 (24?) Morals and DogmaConclusions: Ring and Book your best bet as template, Re-read Maid of the Silver Sea, read Merope: A TragedyTally Sheet of Epigraphs for Ink Black Heart:Poet: epigraph numbers, (total)* Christina Rossetti: 8, 14, 22, 24, 25, 35, 38, 50, 52, 54, 56, 84, 86, 90, 98, 103, 105, 107 (18)* Elizabeth Barrett Browning: 12, 21, 33, 39, 42, 45, 47, 58, 67, 71, 72, 82, 96, 101, 102, 104 (16; all but #s 21 and 58 from ‘Aurora Leigh')* Mary Elizabeth Coleridge: Book, 1, 18, 20, 49, 79, 81, 91, 93, 94, 106 (11)* Emily Dickinson: 11, 31, 53, 58, 59, 65, 70, 76, 99 (8)* Charlotte Mew: 16, 17, 40, 55, 66, 92, 95 (7)* Felicia Hemans: 6, 10, 15, 63, 100 (5)* Amy Levy: 7, 23, 32, 80, 85 (5)* Jean Ingelow: 9, 27, 29, 37, 64 (5)* LEL!: 62, 68, 69, 83 (4); see also Rossetti 52 ‘LEL')* Mary Tighe: 36 (Psyche), 43, 60, 88 (4)* Helen Hunt Jackson: 4, 87, 89 (3)* Joanna Baillie: 13, 21, 34 (3)* Augusta Webster: 44, 48, 51 (3)* Emily Pfeiffer: 3, 75 (2)* Charlotte Bronte: 19, 74 (2)* Adah Isaacs Menken: 30, 57 (2)* Constance Naden: 41, 46 (2)* Mathilda Blind: 61, 97 (2)* Mary Kendall: 73, 77 (2)* Martha Jane Jewsbury: 2 (‘To My Own Heart')* Anne Evans: 28* ‘Michael Field' (Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper): 78The Heart and Vision epigraphs in Ink Black Heart by chapter number:* Heart: 20, 106 (MEC); 21, 67; 52, 107; 68, 85; 2; 63, 80, 85; 17, 40, 55, 95 (Mew); 19, 74; 27; 30; 36, 60; 87 (23)* Vision: Frontispiece, 1, 49, 81 (MEC); 22, 25, 38, 90, 98 (CR); 59; 3; 34; 95; 57; 88; 48; 46 (17)Tally Sheet of Epigraphs for Cuckoo's Calling:* Frontispiece: Rossetti -- A Dirge* Prologue: Lucius Accius, Telephus* Part One: Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy* Part Two: Virgil, Aeneid* Part Three: Virgil, Aeneid* Part Four: Pliny the Elder, Historia Naturalis* Part Five: Virgil, Georgics* Epilogue: Horace, Odes* [Closing Poem: Tennyson, Ulysses]Brackets/Latch: 19th Century English poets (see Groves)Most epigraphs: Virgil (3); no other author has more than oneMost frequently referenced work: Aeneid (2), shades in UlyssesCenter of Chiasmus: Aeneid (true if ring has 5, 8, or 9 parts)Turtleback lines: Not evident in authors list, perhaps in meanings of specific epigraphsConclusions:* Read Aeneid to look for Cuckoo's parallels;* Study epigraphs to look for parallelsOnline Literature Review for ‘Epigraphs of Cuckoo's Calling:‘https://robert-galbraith.com/epigraphs-of-the-cuckoos-calling/* 2025 connecting the dots between epigraphs and chapter set to follow (generic)* No mention of Strike as Aeneashttps://strikefans.com/the-cuckoos-calling-epigraphs/* Reprinting of epigraphs without commentary* No mention of Strike as Aeneashttps://thesefilespod.com/blog/the-cuckoos-calling-epigraphs/* Includes a very helpful link to The Rowling Library and an article there about the ‘real world' crime serving as a template for the Landry murder* No mention of Strike as Aeneashttps://mugglenet.wpenginepowered.com/2017/09/literary-allusion-cuckoos-calling-part-1-christina-rossettis-dirge/* Brilliant discussion of the Rossetti poem but curiously without reference to resurrection meaning* No mention of Strike as Aeneashttps://mugglenet.wpenginepowered.com/2017/09/literary-allusion-cuckoos-calling-part-2-tennysons-ulysses/* Brilliant discussion of Strike as Ulysses* No mention of Strike as Aeneas, curious becauseh Virgil models Aeneas on UlyssesThe Ten Questions of This Conversation (Sort Of!)1, (Nick) So, John, I finally wrote up my findings about The Ring and the Book as the story template for Hallmarked Man's murder mystery and, as we did with my posts about Aurora Leigh and I Capture the Castle, let's talk about it, expanding on the correspondences between the Browning poem and Strike 8. The natural place to begin is with your guess about Ring and the Book being a template based on your tally of the Hallmarked Man epigraphs, a theory you shared on our first show post-publication. Can you explain your process and what made you so confident about Ring and the Book?2. (John) Looking at that tally, then, Arnold's Merope and Oxenham's Maid of the Silver Sea are quantitatively more likely equivalents to Aurora Leigh in Ink Black Heart, but the Browning frontispiece, number of his epigraphs, the hidden quality of the Ring and Book poem titles, and the relationship with Barrett Browning made it seem the most likely. That the poem is considered one of the great feminist tracts written by a man didn't hurt. I still want to go back to the Arnold poem, though, because of the centrality of his epigraphs in the center Parts and Oxenham deserves a re-read, too, or just a trip to Louise Freeman Davis site, the home of Oxenham Studies online. What struck me while reading your post, Nick, was in the correspondences you found between Ring and the Book and Hallmarked Man. Can you give us the highlights of that?3. (Nick) The Ironbridge murder mystery, then, is largely lifted from the death of Pompilia. Which is unusual isn't it? Has Rowling-Galbraith ever used her epigraphs to point to the template of her story?4. (John) I think, then, that at least four of the previous Strike novels give us the embedded template, per Beatrice Groves The White Divel and The Revenger's Tragedy (and even Hamlet) gives us important clues about The Silkworm crime, Rosmersholm and its incestuous backdrop inform the murder of Lethal White, the Janus deceiver in Faerie Queene should have been a give-away about the poisoner in Troubled Blood, and, as Rowling confirmed and you demonstrated Nick, Aurora Leigh is the working model for Ink Black Heart. I think the closest Rowling epigraph suggestions to story template was in the Rossetti poem that opens Cuckoo's Calling and the Aeschylus epigraph in Deathly Hallows. What has Rowling said, though, about her epigraph sources? Do they precede the novels or follow the writing?5. (Nick) So it's not one or the other, I think, that is, she has a template in mind and if the source doesn't have sufficient quotable pieces to serve a epigraphs for the whole book, she uses other sources from the genre in play or that highlight her central theme (cf., the Gray's Anatomy heart epigraphs in tandem with the hearty women Victorian poets in Ink Black). What I'm struck by here, though, is the shift in importance of epigraphs to Rowling-Galbraith. The numbers are startling, no, between Cuckoo and Hallmarked?6. (John) Not only do we see a jump from eight or nine epigraphs in Strike1 to 139 in Stike8, but Team Rowling is pushing readers to think more seriously about them by posting reviews of the epigraphs in each book, drawing the dot-to-dot correspondences. I confess the Strike novel whose epigraphs are not like the others, Nick, is Career of Evil and its Blue Oyster Cult lyrics. You've been reading a book about Blue Oyster Cult so I'll defer to you in this despite my great fondness for heavy metal groups with sci-fi themed lyrics...7. (Nick) What about the book we haven't got in hand, John: Sleep Tight, Evangeline? We have been told -- sort of! -- the title is from a 2014 song from an American blues band called ‘The Whiskey Shambles.' Which of the previous epigraph models Rowling has used, from Deathly Hallows to Hallmarked Man, do you think we'll be seeing in Strike9? What are your thoughts on that, especially as the best link we have for Sleep Tight, Evangeline is from a rock and blues band?8. (John) So I hope that we're going to see another Running Grave type epigraph experience in Evangeline, though Grave was unique among Rowling novels and their epigraphs in not having a story-book, poem, or play as its primary source. The I Ching, cannot be a story-template per se because it is a divination tool or means to reflection. Unless you think Pike's Morals and Dogmas Freemasonry encyclopedia qualifies as an equivalent of sorts to the I Ching? That's another outlier, isn't it?9. (Nick) To put a Fourth Generation focus on this, John, we should be looking for a technique that Serious Readers can use for Sleep Tight, Evangeline to hunt for the embedded source if its hidden as were Aurora Leigh and The Ring and the Book. You've found the ones no one else noticed in Ink Black Heart and Hallmarked Man, how did you do that and do you think the same method will work for Cuckoo and Career as well as Evangeline?10. (John) So, yes, I found them but you had the first confirmed by Mrs Murray and then connected the dots between the Browning poems and Rowling's work. If this method is going to work on Cuckoo, Career, and Evangeline it will have to involve a spotter and a shooter, though they can be the same person. The spotter technique is nothing but grunt work; chart the epigraphs used and spot the author most frequently referenced and the work of theirs most frequently cited. The shooter work is actually a lot more involved and interesting; tell us about your experiences with the two Browning's' epic poems, that thrill of discovering correspondences. Do you think that excitement is something Rowling is offering her readers a a treasure hunt or as a point of reflection in terms of meaning? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

A five-week study of nearly 200 working adults found that leisure crafting, using hobbies more intentionally, boosted creativity and meaning at work, often more strongly than benefits seen in participants' personal lives Creative activities like art, music, dance, and gaming are linked to younger-looking brain function, stronger connectivity, and greater mental flexibility Reading regularly strengthens brain function, delays cognitive decline, and may reduce Alzheimer's risk by up to five years, making it one of the most powerful, affordable habits for long-term mental health Cooking at home and free-form dancing both support brain and body health by improving mood, reducing stress, and encouraging you to experiment Being intentional with your health by improving your diet, moving more, and getting sunlight can boost your energy, focus, and resilience so you can fully enjoy the hobbies that bring you joy

This is a recording of a live guided meditation.  The meditation guide and the members of the public who joined the meditation used the Zoom platform.   Even though you are listening to this meditation as a recording rather than attending live, in the world of consciousness, there is no time or space. Meaning, regardless of when you listen, you are in a meditation with a large group of folks from different walks of life and places on the planet.Meditation Guide: Eric Hansen. Master Meditation Guide of Divine Spark Program.Eric's Meditation Guide Style: Clear, simple instruction is easy to follow, delivered in a kind voice. Balance of insightful perspectives and lighthearted humor gives you tools and support for finding balance and self-compassion.Content: Features these tools and techniques:Grounding (Earth connection) Releasing Centering Intentional Breathing Center of Head awareness Finding the energy flow of universal consciousness within you, then stepping into it 

Is The Greatest Shift in Christian Theology Going From Heaven to Earth?   Heaven isn't the point of the gospel—and N.T. Wright challenges the "accept Jesus and escape earth" narrative of Christianity. Curtis Chang talks with Wright, leading theologian and prolific author, about New Creation and his latest book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal, asking whether the Bible's promise is the Kingdom of God on earth—or simply going to heaven when you die. They examine the "royal priesthood" calling, what this means for life after death and suffering now, and the true purpose of Christian faith.   Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Learn more about George Fox Talks Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference   03:43 - The Continuity Between Old and New Testaments 05:05 - Reject Platonism and Embracing New Creation? 08:04 - A Vision More Demanding Than The "Ticket To Heaven" Gospel 13:48 - What Does This Mean For Grace, Works, and Human Vocation? 19:53 - Divergence on the Meaning of The Kingdom of God 27:24 - The Problem of Evil and the "Now and Not Yet" 34:59 - A Pastoral Response to Heaven-Focused Theology 40:41 - How Are Heaven and Earth Interlocking Realities? 47:59 - The Royal Priesthood: Humanity's Biblical Mandate 51:47 - Tom Wright's Future Projects and Reflections   Scriptures: Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV) - kingdom + priests reign on the earth Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) - royal priesthood Genesis 1-2 (ESV) - creation "very good"; humanity's vocation Revelation 21–22 (ESV) - new heaven/new earth; God dwelling with humanity Romans 12:2 (ESV) - renewing of the mind Romans 8:21–23 (ESV) - creation set free; redemption of bodies Malachi 3:1 + Isaiah 40:3 (ESV) - prepare the way; the Lord coming to his temple Psalm 8 (ESV) - humanity crowned with glory/honor; vocation Ephesians 4 (ESV) - new humanity; community ethics   Mentioned in This Episode: N.T. Wright's book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal N.T. Wright's book Surprised by Hope What is the Bar Kokhba Revolt? What is the Mishnah? "Teach Me, My God and King" (George Herbert / "The Elixir")  Tom Holland's book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World C.S. Lewis' book Miracles Scot McKnight's book Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire   More from N.T. Wright: N.T. Wright Online N.T. Wright's Speaking engagements N.T. Wright's books (Amazon)   Past Conversations with N.T. Wright: Good Faith ep. 207: N.T. Wright Explains Ephesians: The Church, Christian Nationalism, & the Armor of God Good Faith ep. 128: The Unseen Spiritual Powers Shaping Our World (with N.T. Wright)   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Krista Stepney shares powerful tactics for moving forward when fear has you feeling stuck.— YOU'LL LEARN — 1) How to identify and address the root causes of inaction2) How to take your power back from comparisons and self-doubt3) Two powerful scripts for when you're stuckSubscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1130 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT KRISTA — Krista D. Stepney is a leadership and business strategist, keynote speaker, and transformation advisor who helps leaders and everyday changemakers turn hesitation into momentum. With over 15 years of experience in operations, organizational leadership, and culture transformation, Krista blends research, faith, and lived experience to help others build a purposeful life and legacy.As the creator of The BOLDprint Method and the W.A.N.D. Methodology, she has coached executives, entrepreneurs, and everyday dreamers on overcoming fear, resisting comparison, and designing a personalized roadmap forward, even when the next step feels unclear.Her mission is simple: to help people get unstuck and move anyway, especially when it feels like the hardest thing to do.• Book: Move Anyway: A Guide for Overthinkers, Perfectionists, and Almost-Starters• Website: KristaStepney.com— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Study: Perfectionism Research by Vitale & Co.• Study: “Healthy Reflections: The Influence of Mirror Induced Self-Awareness on Taste Perceptions” by Ata Jami• Study: “Implementation Intentions and Goal Achievement: A Meta‐analysis of Effects and Processes” by Peter M. Gollwitzer and Paschal Sheeran• Book: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen• Book: Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones• Past episode: 015: David Allen, The World's Leading Authority on Productivity• Past episode: 798: How to Have Difficult Conversations about Race with Kwame Christian• Past episode: 1078: How to Stop Playing Small and Achieve Your Greatest Goals with Richard Medcalf— THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • Monarch.com. Get 50% off your first year on with the code AWESOME.• Shopify. Sign up for your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/better• Factor. Head to factormeals.com/beawesome50off and use the code beawesome50off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year. (New Factor subscribers only)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.