Podcasts about Memorial Park

Jim Minge of "The Omaha Dispatch" and I pester Cake's John McCrea about their new album, the vibraslap, his unique singing style, and bringing their fun sound to Omaha on June 26th as part of the free concert and fireworks show at Memorial Park with Smokey Robinson.

Send us Fan MailCara Sullivan drops in to discuss her journey as a Theater Director, her role at Athens Creative Theater, and some upcoming shows including a Shakespeare in the Park production.  You can find info about upcoming shows at:https://www.accgov.com/646/ShowsBIO: Cara Rose Sullivan is the Program Specialist (Artistic Director) for Athens Creative Theatre. Cara holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from the East 15 Acting School at the University of Essex and a BFA in Musical Theatre from Young Harris College. A lifelong theatre artist, she has been in the performing arts since the age of seven and continues to find her greatest sense of home within the theatre community. Though new to the Athens arts scene, she is thrilled to collaborate with such a passionate creative community. Her recent directing credits include Sylvia, Stonewater Rapture, Sucker Punch, Appropriate (Co-Director), and most recently One Man, Two Guvnors with Athens Creative Theatre, among others. Outside of the theatre, Cara enjoys film, reading, and spending quiet time at home with her beloved dog, Hugo. She extends heartfelt gratitude to her parents, Jackie and Charlie, whose encouragement and presence at every performance have made this journey possible.About ACT: Athens Creative Theatre (ACT) has been a cornerstone of the Athens community for over 60 years, enriching lives through the power of performance and storytelling. Established in 1966 by University of Georgia Drama professor Jane Quinn, ACT began as part of UGA's Children's Theatre and Creative Dramatics classes. These early programs not only nurtured young talent but also provided invaluable hands-on training for graduate students pursuing master's degrees in Children's Theatre. Each student-director led a full production, featuring a child cast performing for young audiences—a tradition of mentorship and creativity that remains at the heart of ACT today.Since those humble beginnings, ACT has evolved into a vital cultural and educational asset in the Athens area. After being adopted by the City of Athens' Leisure Services Department, the theatre expanded its offerings beyond youth productions to include community and university participants. In 2004, Quinn Hall at Memorial Park was dedicated to Athens Creative Theatre and productions also take place at the beautifully restored Morton Theatre in Downtown Athens, where ACT continues to delight audiences with mainstage performances. Seasonally, ACT offers a diverse range of classes and workshops for a variety of ages. Every summer, the theatre hosts multiple theatre camps for students entering grades three through twelve, providing a fun and formative experience in the performing arts.ACT operates as a proud unit of the Arts Division within the Athens-Clarke County Department of Leisure Services. Despite receiving administrative and technical support, ACT thrives as a largely volunteer-driven organization. Community members are invited to contribute their talents in every aspect of theatre—actors, ushers, musicians, designers, builders, designers, choreography, directing, stage management, and front-of-house operations.The ACT team includes: Cara Rose Sullivan, Artistic Director and Program Specialist, Paige Baugher, Stage Manager and Program Leader, and Jeremy Miller, Scenic Artist.

Toledo Memorial Park will hold annual event at 9a May 25th. Before that American flags must be placed at each gravesite of a veteran and you can help. Details in the interview

Golf's Preeminent Birthday Podcast makes a triumphant return to celebrate Andy Johnson's 40th birthday. The birthday boy is a bit worse for the wear after a "full swing" on Saturday night, but has plenty of stories to share with Brendan after his weekend running a garage sale. Andy's garage sale was NOT the only family-first event on the schedule this week as the Fitzpatrick brothers took home the trophy at the Zurich Classic. Matt Fitzpatrick might have wins in back-to-back weeks, but his younger brother, Alex, now has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a spot in the upcoming PGA Championship thanks to a successful week in New Orleans. Andy and Brendan recap a chaotic finish to the PGA Tour's lone team event where it looked like nobody actually wanted to win before one of the best shots of the year from Matt Fitzpatrick on the 72nd hole. In non-Fitzpatrick takeaways, Andy is stunned to hear that Joseph LaMagna has sold off his Davis Thompson stock after a tough Sunday, and Tom Hoge was spotted at the casino late on Saturday night ahead of a t6 finish. After Brendan and KVV's special YouTube episode on Friday, Andy offers up his take on Jim Furyk leading Team USA at the 2027 Ryder Cup and wonders if Nick Saban would've legitimately been just as good of an option. Nelly Korda made her jump into the "temporary water feature" at Memorial Park - or as most people call it, a pool - after winning her second Chevron Championship and third major. Korda went wire-to-wire in Houston, but it remains to be seen if the event was a business success for the LPGA given broadcast constraints and what seemed like limited attendance. To top it all off, the much-anticipated pool jump was cut from the NBC broadcast and moved behind the Peacock paywall at the last minute. Paul Azinger made the most of his time on cable TV with Bob Papa this weekend while calling the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, filling PJ and Brendan with joy due to his one-liners. Retief Goosen held off a charging Stephen Ames and Zach Johnson to win the event. Lastly on the recap schedule, Andy's Event of the Week on the Legends Tour didn't go well for tournament host Ian Woosnam and questions arise about Henrik Stenson's inability to contend on the Euro's version of the Champions Tour. We will return on Wednesday to preview the return of the PGA Tour to the Blue Monster at Doral. Visit your local Golf Galaxy and download the Golf Galaxy mobile app today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A jet-lagged Andy is back in America and is joined by Shane Bacon for this Wednesday episode about slightly more than nothing. This wide-ranging conversation hits on dozens of important topics, such as the core values of Talor Gooch's new OKGC team, TGL's choice for 2026 Player of the Year, a Newark airport review, and a dramatic reading of this week's Legends Tour field in Barbados. There is actual golf discussed at some points, as Andy, Shane, and PJ dive into the Zurich Classic and the ridiculous teams competing for 400 FedEx Cup points and a two-year exemption this week in New Orleans. Shane offers his thoughts on the new pool at Memorial Park ahead of this week's Chevron and throws the gauntlet down on Nelly Korda's recent performance in major championships. In non-pro golf news, PJ recaps his day with the USGA at Winged Foot and his new GHIN before Shane brings us home with the story of his latest hole-in-one. If you made it this far in the description, congratulations! Also... why? Nevertheless, we hope you enjoy this episode!

Gary Williams opens the show by looking ahead to the Chevron Championship and discussing the challenge of building new traditions at Memorial Park while honoring the event's history. He also unveils the latest Club 5 rankings following The Masters and the RBC Heritage, with Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, and Cameron Young all making moves. Gary also previews the Zurich Classic and shares why the team event remains one of the most relatable weeks on the PGA TOUR schedule.Paige Mackenzie, Golf Channel analyst and former LPGA player, joins Gary to preview the Chevron Championship and discuss why Memorial Park could be a much better fit for the first women's major than previous venues. McKenzie explains how the course may finally reward the LPGA's longest hitters, including Nelly Korda, and why that could help produce a leaderboard filled with the game's biggest stars. She also dives into the larger issue of major championship setup in women's golf, why more top-ranked players need to contend on the biggest stages, and which Americans she expects to shine throughout the major season.Bill Fields, longtime golf writer and NBC Sports researcher, joins the show to discuss his new memoir, “A Quick Nine Before Dark: A Life in Golf.” Fields reflects on growing up in the Sandhills of North Carolina, the bond he shared with his father through golf, and the memorable people and places that shaped his life in the game. He also shares stories about Sam Snead, Raymond Floyd, Mid Pines, and covering the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, offering golf fans a thoughtful look at the history and humanity behind the sport.Gary wraps up the show with dogs and picks of the week for the upcoming tournaments. 5 Clubs airs on Golf Channel and SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (Channel 92).0:00 Chevron Championship9:39 Club 513:45 Paige Mackenzie 29:28 Bill Fields 41:40 Dogs & Picks of the WeekFOLLOW 5 Clubs: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5clubsgolf/X: https://x.com/5ClubsGolf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5ClubsGolf/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@5clubsgolf

Soly, Randy, TC and Cody preview the Chevron with a quick history lesson on the events origin as the tournament better known as the Dinah Shore, some of our favorite storylines headed into this year's event, Solheim Cup roster chatter, a look at some of the key holes at Memorial Park, and we close with our picks to win - and not to win, and some thoughts on the building of the pool on the 18th to replicate Poppie's pond.  Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro and Tournament History 12:00 - 2026 Chevron Storylines 56:00 - Solheim Cup roster standings 1:06:05 - Course preview 1:13:10 - picks to win and not to win 1:17:00 - the pool/pond Support our Sponsors: Titleist Gruns Pinehurst If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Nest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: No Laying Up's community of avid golfers. Nest members help us maintain our light commercial interruptions (3 minutes of ads per 90 minutes of content) and receive access to exclusive content, discounts in the pro shop, and an annual member gift. It's a $90 annual membership, and you can sign up or learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nolayingup.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the No Laying Up Newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://newsletter.nolayingup.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the No Laying Up Podcast channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLayingUpPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gary Williams opens the show by discussing the ambitious redevelopment of Cobbs Creek and why the project could become one of the most important public golf facilities in the country. He then shifts to the first women's major of the year, examining the current state of the LPGA, the value of star power versus depth, and why this week at Memorial Park Golf Course could be a major moment for the women's game.Josh Carpenter joins Gary to discuss his report that the PGA TOUR is moving away from Hawaii to begin the season, including the end of the event at the Plantation Course at Kapalua and what could happen with the Sony Open in Hawaii. Carpenter explains why the TOUR is making the change, what it could mean for the 2027 schedule, and how sponsors are reacting as uncertainty continues around LIV Golf and the possible return of players like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.Mel Reid previews this week's Chevron Championship and explains why Memorial Park is a much stronger venue than the tournament's recent home. Reid shares why she believes as many as 20 to 30 players could realistically win the championship, highlights contenders such as Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul, Hannah Green and Lydia Ko, and discusses the pressure that comes with being the face of women's golf.5 Clubs airs on Golf Channel and SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (Channel 92).0:00 Cobbs Creek Renovation6:28 LPGA's First Major 12:32 Josh Carpenter26:35 Mel Reid42:40 Final ThoughtsFOLLOW 5 Clubs: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5clubsgolf/X: https://x.com/5ClubsGolf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5ClubsGolf/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@5clubsgolf

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email. When the 2008 recession upended Eric Anderson's career, he never imagined the detour would lead to cemetery service. But that's where he found work that truly mattered. After walking through personal loss herself, his wife Megan joined him, bringing a heart for steady, compassionate guidance in life's hardest moments.Through prayer and perseverance, the Andersons were led to Thomasville, North Carolina, where they took on a big challenge: restoring Holly Hill Memorial Park. Brick by brick, conversation by conversation, they've rebuilt not just operations, but trust, compassion, and dignity in a final resting place rooted in community and love.To learn more about Holly Hill Memorial Park, visit their website: https://www.hollyhillcemetery.com/Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.comFamily Tales: A free printable, is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharingSupport the show

Brendan! joins The Boys for this Masters cleanup episode before jetting over to meet Andy in Scotland. Joseph immediately begins with some comments regarding his drive back to Atlanta alongside Brendan that featured 90s hip-hop and a spilled coffee in the precious GLS. From there, the trio wonder if Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler should just be the prohibitive Masters favorites for the next three or four years given their 1-2 finish this week without their "A games." There's also some debate about whether Rory has surpassed Phil Mickelson in the all-time rankings of golf. PJ and Joseph watched the final round back on TV and shared some thoughts on Russell Henley, Collin Morikawa, and Xander Schauffele that they didn't pick up on the ground on Sunday. The two also weigh in on the discourse surrounding the CBS broadcast, which was amplified even more by Kevin Kisner's comments making the rounds on X early Tuesday morning. Brendan then shifts the attention to the Schedule for the Week, beginning with a Signature Event at the RBC Heritage. Brendan openly states that there shouldn't be golf this week and sees the Heritage as a legacy event that will surely be impacted by the PGA Tour's ever-changing schedule and stance on wanting a piece of the monetary pie from the majors. He shares whispers from under the big tree at Augusta about these conversations and how big Tour sponsors may allocate their funds moving forward. With Andy out, PJ steps in and provides 5 Guys to Monitor This Week in Hilton Head, including one with an "unfair advantage" much like Rory allegedly had at ANGC. Joseph, PJ, and Brendan all make One-and-Done picks as Golf's Premier Gambling Podcast looks to stay hot after hitting a winner at the Masters. The "Event of the Year" is next on the schedule rundown with the Senior PGA Championship's move to April. PJ shares some important tee times and notable storylines for this year's event at The Concession, featuring the big debut of Rory (Sabbatini)! LIV Mexico City and the JM Eagle LA Championship are also previewed before moving on to the biggest news of the week so far: the installation of a pool on the 18th hole at Memorial Park. Brendan can't believe that the Chevron Championship is making its golf tournament all about a jump into some water and a friend of Joseph's was kind enough to provide photos of this small four-foot-deep pool next to the 18th green! FRIEDEGG discount code for 15% off at mobjak.com  Visit your local Golf Galaxy and download the Golf Galaxy mobile app.

Episode 437 of Boss Hog of Liberty is available now. Host voices are Jeremiah Morrell, Bones Harcourt, and Zach Burcham. Candidates for Henry County Council District 4 are the guests this week. Local business owner Joe Blackburn and Memorial Park Board member Levi Simmons are both seeking the Republican nomination. Great conversation about the future of the county. How will they solve the insurance puzzle for 2027? Will they favor new developments like data centers or manufacturing in their oversight position with the planning commission. Should the County be funding the completion of the Expo Center? And what is the future of Memorial Park and the Juvenile Detention center that sits alongside it? Next Episode records on Thursday April 16th. They will be interviewing the candidates for Henry County Prosecutor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A show for Veterans ... from Veterans .  Live from the USS Alabama Battleship at Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama

On this episode, we break down the 2026 Valero Texas Open. Everything you need to know, in 30 minutes or less. We discuss the uniqueness of this event and the host course, Memorial Park, we take a look at the key stats for who might perform well this week before diving into the top DFS Plays, Best Bets, and make our One and Done selection!Link to the Editable Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bGPiyXt4D06N6XEdoPz2AcbOZuhsFXGJpu0oTa7bQaM/edit?usp=sharing Link to sign up for Splash Sports to play other One and Done contests: https://app.splashsports.com/sign-up?referralCode=YL9ABQUse code MCONNOLLY88 on UnderDog to get your first deposit matched!https://t.co/FXNtrz6ZBpLink to Patreon: https://t.co/oKODToDCdOFor all of the best offers and promo codes for DFS sites, Player Props sites, and Sportsbooks, use my site at https://signupexpert.com/mikespicks Link to the Fantasy Corner Discord: https://discord.gg/bUCB6aqQed

We open tonight's pod with some thoughts on the news of another car crash involving Tiger Woods and what happens moving forward. Then it's on to Houston where, in a much needed feel-good finish, Gary Woodland wins on the PGA Tour two and a half years after undergoing brain surgery and just weeks after he disclosed recent struggles with PTSD.  We also pick a few players with rising and falling stock so far in 2026, offer our thoughts on Memorial Park and recap finishes on the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, and an interesting Article from Adam Schupak in GolfWeek which asked pros to weigh in on the one design change they'd like to see made at Augusta National. Time Stamps: 00:00 - Intro + Tiger Woods Accident 36:00 - Woodland's win in Houston 46:00 - Players with rising and falling stock on tour 1:02:30 - Memorial Park + News & Notes 1:14:30 - DP World Tour / LPGA Recap 1:34:00 - Schupak Article - survey on ANGC design changes Notes: Golf Digest - Article on history of ANGC changes:  Join us in our support of the Evans Scholars Foundation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://nolayingup.com/esf⁠ Support our Sponsors: Titleist Arccos SoFi If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Nest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: No Laying Up's community of avid golfers. Nest members help us maintain our light commercial interruptions (3 minutes of ads per 90 minutes of content) and receive access to exclusive content, discounts in the pro shop, and an annual member gift. It's a $90 annual membership, and you can sign up or learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nolayingup.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the No Laying Up Newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://newsletter.nolayingup.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the No Laying Up Podcast channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLayingUpPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gary Woodland captured the Texas Children's Houston Open with a closing 3-under 67 to finish at a tournament-record 21-under, winning by five shots over Nicolai Højgaard at Memorial Park for his first PGA Tour victory since 2019. The win — his fifth career title — caps a remarkable comeback following 2023 brain surgery and subsequent mental health challenges, as he totaled 26 birdies, led the field in strokes gained putting, and moved to No. 25 in the world ahead of the Masters Tournament. The episode also breaks down the latest developments involving Tiger Woods after his arrest in Florida tied to a rollover crash and misdemeanor charges, along with the launch of “Your Golf Tour,” a new YouTube-backed series created by Grant Horvat and the Bryan Bros.

Episode 435 of Boss Hog of Liberty is available now. Host voices are Jeremiah Morrell and Zach Burcham. The candidate series continues as we are joined by Northern District Commissioner Candidate Steve Dugger. The County Commissioners are the executive branch of county government. Topics include control ordinances like honey bees and dogs barking. What is the philosophy on land use issues, like data centers? Will Steve Dugger defer to the planning commission, or want to make his own decisions as a commissioner? We also have significant conversations around the future of Memorial Park and the youth detention center.  Next Episode records on Thursday April 2nd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tiger Woods made an unexpected "return" to "professional golf" on Tuesday night, so Andy and Brendan! once again went LIVE on YouTube in his honor. They initially react to LAGC's blowout win over Jupiter Links in Match 2 of the TGL Finals, ending Tiger's comeback early and sending Tom Sim packing until next season. There are takeaways from the second season of TGL, ideas for the league's future, and more questions about when we'll see Tiger next. Andy submits that the only question remaining should be whether Woods can make the cut at the Masters, not whether he can compete or even finish four days of competition. Speaking of Augusta, that's the next time Scottie Scheffler will play following a WD before this week's Houston Open. Houseplant #2 is arriving at the Scheffler household just in time for Scottie's latest attempt at a green jacket. Without the Sheriff in town, Brendan runs through some notables for this week's Tour event and breaks the news of Deputy Sam Burns's new job at Raising Cane's! Andy shares his 5 Guys to Monitor as we approach crunchtime for those not yet in the Masters field. Andy and Brendan end up with the same one-and-done pick for the wide-open setup at Memorial Park, but PJ ends up using a big gun to even things out. Elsewhere on the Schedule for the Week, the DP World Tour is leaning into the absurdity of DLF and has captivated Andy with an 18-hole flyover of perhaps the best course in the world. However, the "Event of the Week" has lost some shine as a podcast favorite is not playing in this year's Indian Open. Lastly, Brendan brings this rambling episode home with yet another Masters Fact of the Day with just two weeks to go until the first major of the year.

Gary Williams breaks down a packed Wednesday on 5 Clubs, starting with a recap of the TGL Finals and Tiger Woods' brief return. Plus, the latest on his Masters status and what to realistically expect heading into Augusta.From there, the focus shifts to the Houston Open and the growing list of players fighting to earn their way into the Masters field.Amy Rogers from Golf Channel joins from Houston to break down the “tournament within a tournament”, highlighting players on the Masters bubble, including those inside and just outside the Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. She dives into key names like Nicolai Højgaard, Pierceson Coody, and Rickie Fowler, what they need to do this week, and how the pressure of qualifying impacts performance. Amy also shares insight into the overall vibe on the ground in Houston, from players resetting after a busy stretch to others fine-tuning their games specifically for Augusta.Curt Byrum, Golf Channel analyst & former PGA TOUR winner, offers a player's perspective on Memorial Park and why the course setup favors longer hitters. He discusses how firm conditions, limited rough penalties, and scoring opportunities shape the leaderboard, and which players could take advantage. Curt also touches on Brooks Koepka's recent form, why his iron play and putting are trending, and what it takes mentally to compete this time of year with the Masters looming.Plus, Gary updates the Club 5 rankings, highlights Cam Young's rise to the top, and wraps with this week's picks, sleepers, storylines to watch, and dogs of the week. 5 Clubs airs live on Golf Channel and PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM Channel 92. 0:00 TGL Finals 4:55 Tiger returning to Augusta15:25 Amy Rogers25:55 Curt ByrumFOLLOW 5 Clubs: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5clubsgolf/X: https://x.com/5ClubsGolf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5ClubsGolf/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@5clubsgolf

On this episode of Out of Bounds, Josh Durso and Nate Sharman break down Fitzpatrick's win, react to storylines across the golf world — including pace-of-play frustrations, a difficult course setup, and viral moments from LIV Golf — and preview the Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park, where a reshuffled field without Scottie Scheffler sets the stage for picks and betting angles heading into the weekend.

Known industry investor Perry Sanders is "putting the band back together" and plans to offer a variety of Cajun and Creole staples like po'boys, red beans and rice, and boils at his new restaurant, Perriteaux's.

Will Doctor gives you the sharpest preview and card for this week's golf action at Memorial Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick had a good week at Valspar, and man that Innisbrook is a big boy course, and he and Rob look ahead to the Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park. Sponsored by Goldenwest Credit Union. 

Timestamps 0:00 - Welcome and Scheffler withdrawal news 0:01:10 - Rough start to the season recap 0:02:12 - Field breakdown without Scheffler 0:04:37 - Distance vs. all-around skillset debate 0:05:49 - Course conditions drier than recent years 0:07:36 - Memorial Park archetype breakdown 0:22:01 - Around the green stats and short grass 0:35:27 - Model breakdown and scoring projection 0:41:13 - Gotterup bet at 23-1 0:43:10 - Nikolai Hojgaard bet discussion 0:47:53 - Brooks Koepka as a live pick 0:50:29 - Sleepers/DFS/One and Done Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're trading the Florida palm trees for the world-class Texas-muni vibes of Memorial Park. Welcome to the 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open, where the "Texas Two-Step" begins and the road to Augusta gets a lot narrower. We kick things off by recapping a historic week at the Valspar Championship, where Matt Fitzpatrick rebounded from heartbreak at The PLAYERS to capture his first PGA Tour victory since 2023. We also grade Rory's Masters menu, talk futures for Augusta, preview the TGL Finals, and discuss Bryson's epic win in South Africa over John Rahm in the LIV Playoff. Inside the Episode: Joe and John dive deep into Memorial Park Golf Course to get you ready for the 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open: Agronomy & Conditions: How the overseeded conditions have changed how this course players since it moved to May. Defending the Title: Can Min Woo Lee repeat his record-breaking 20-under performance from last year, or will the course play tougher this time around? Model Projections: Data-driven insights focusing on SG: Off-the-Tee, Distance, Short Game, and Proximity from 200+ yards. Best Bets & Longshots: Our outright picks and sleepers to hoist the trophy in H-Town. If you're betting the Texas Children's Houston Open, this is the only preview you need.

0:00 — Welcome and Valspar recap 5:15 — Memorial Park course overview 7:00 — Scoring history and conditions 12:00 — Key course stats and demands 19:00 — Using the Betsperts tool 22:00 — Off the tee breakdown 25:00 — Approach shot analysis 30:00 — Short grass scrambling deep dive 37:00 — Around the green filters 43:00 — Rolling averages and DFS tips 46:00 — Novig promo and wrap-up   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode, we break down the 2026 Texas Children's Houston Open. Everything you need to know, in 30 minutes or less. We discuss the uniqueness of this event and the host course, Memorial Park, we take a look at the key stats for who might perform well this week before diving into the top DFS Plays, Best Bets, and make our One and Done selection!Link to the Editable Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bGPiyXt4D06N6XEdoPz2AcbOZuhsFXGJpu0oTa7bQaM/edit?usp=sharing Link to sign up for Splash Sports to play other One and Done contests: https://app.splashsports.com/sign-up?referralCode=YL9ABQUse code MCONNOLLY88 on UnderDog to get your first deposit matched!https://t.co/FXNtrz6ZBpLink to Patreon: https://t.co/oKODToDCdOFor all of the best offers and promo codes for DFS sites, Player Props sites, and Sportsbooks, use my site at https://signupexpert.com/mikespicks Link to the Fantasy Corner Discord: https://discord.gg/bUCB6aqQed

Send a textKatie Groke and Monica Bowser from Apex Park and Recreation District join us to talk about the various facilities and programs offered by Apex. They explain how Apex and the City of Arvada often work together, and how our two organizations also serve separate roles for the community. Included in this episode: All about Apex Park and Recreation District, including funding, district boundaries and leadershipWhat services the City provides (parks, trails and outdoor recreation) vs. what Apex provides (recreation centers and programming)The Apex Activated podcast that Katie and Monica host A quick rundown of Apex facilities and programming highlights including camps, leagues, classes, and active adult options Puzzle Hustle explained and why it has a fan culture New and upcoming projects like the outdoor archery range at the Apex CenterHow a 1999 IGA signed between Apex and the City established how the two organization work together News and upcoming events:The Arvada-Blunn Reservoir opens for the season on April 1The 21st annual Arvada Kite Festival is Sunday, April 12 at Stenger Sports ComplexUpdates to Ask Arvada, the City's online portal for submitting questions, concerns and feedbackWater saving programs through Resource Central and why early registration matters Stormwater improvement project at Memorial Park that includes trail detours and closures of two holes at Johnny Roberts Disc Golf Course Visit us at arvadaco.gov/podcast or email us at podcast@arvada.org.

New program will compost commercial food waste Commercial kitchens in Philipstown can now do what households have been doing for four years — recycle food waste rather than send it to landfills. Jeff Mikkelson, the advocacy chair of the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Philipstown Climate Smart Task Force, is spearheading a pilot initiative to fund food-scrap recycling for up to six businesses and organizations. Mikkelson said 17 of 50 local kitchens surveyed expressed interest in the pilot. The program, the first of its kind in Putnam County, is being funded by the Williams College Community Climate Fund in conjunction with the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), a nonprofit that works with Rethink Food Waste New York, overseen by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The first four participants are the Garrison Institute (which uses Fresh Company to cater its events), Haldane Central School District, Marble Meat Shop and Cold Spring Farmers' Market, Mikkelson said, with two more spots available for restaurants, caterers, nonprofits and other food services with commercial kitchens. The initial $6,000 grant will support the program for six months, he said. The program will provide collection bins and liners and pay for hauling the waste, which can include vegetables, meats, dairy, cheese, fish, seafood and commercial and biodegradable packaging. The scraps are collected by Sustainable Materials Management in Cortlandt Manor, which was founded by the family that owns CRP Sanitation. Michael Fiumara, the sales manager there, said 100 cubic yards of food waste typically will produce the same volume of compost. Most of the material is purchased in bulk by landscapers, garden centers and municipalities, but retail customers can buy 1-cubic-foot bags. Recycling Food Scraps at Home Philipstown's Climate Smart Task Force initiated Putnam County's first household food scrap recycling program in 2022, establishing a Saturday collection station at the town recycling center on Lane Gate Road. About 100 families joined during the first year, and enrollment has more than tripled since. What began as an eight-month pilot is now funded annually. The Village of Cold Spring joined the program in 2024 and installed a collection station on Kemble Avenue for Tuesday drop-offs. "We consistently fill two 64-gallon totes — about 17 cubic feet of food waste per week," said Village Trustee Laura Bozzi, who serves on the Climate Smart Task Force. She said the village may expand the program by adding more bins or a second drop-off day. Karen Ertl, a volunteer who helped establish the household food-scrap program, said 323 families are enrolled. She said that as many as 1,600 pounds of scraps are collected each week at the two stations and processed into compost at Sustainable Materials Management in Cortlandt Manor. To participate, residents can register at Philipstown Town Hall on weekdays or at the Cold Spring Farmers' Market on Saturdays. An optional $20 starter kit includes a countertop pail, storage/transport bin and compostable bags. Food scraps can be dropped at the Recycling Center on Lane Gate Road between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and at the Kemble Avenue site between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bread, rice, pasta, raw and cooked food, bones and seafood shells can be recycled, as can cut flowers, napkins, paper towels, wax paper, pet food, tea bags, coffee grounds, Popsicle sticks and wine corks. In Beacon, residents can drop food waste in containers at the Beacon Recreation Center (23 W. Center St.), Memorial Park or the Churchill Street parking lot near Hudson Valley Brewery. The program does not accept "compostable plastics," such as bin liners, bags, utensils or containers, unless they are made of bamboo. For more information, see dub.sh/beacon-food-scraps. Community Compost Co. offers residential pickup in Beacon starting at $26 per month or $281 per year. The...

Roads crews, first responders log long hours after bruising storms After the late January snowstorm dumped up to 18 inches on parts of the Highlands, Highway and Water Department staff in Beacon worked 993 hours of overtime clearing snow from roads, sidewalks and parking lots. That's not 993 for the season — that's 993 hours of overtime for one storm. By the time the snow was (mostly) cleared, the city was on the hook for nearly $70,000 in overtime pay. Superintendent Michael Manzi and the 19-person highway crew worked around the clock, and the Water Department added 10 more bodies. "It's all hands on deck," Manzi said this week. "Whether it's 3 inches or 20 inches, we attack it the same way." No winter around here is normal, he said, and this one has been anything but. The second big storm of 2026 — this one designated a blizzard by meteorologists because of its high winds — brought 10 to 14 more inches from Sunday (Feb. 22) into Monday. Until recently, repeated surges of Arctic air had also prolonged one of the region's deepest freezes in decades. Although less intense than the January snowfall, cleanup for the Sunday-to-Monday storm will push Beacon over the $90,000 it budgets each year for storm-related overtime. The City Council will consider a budget amendment to move funding around. "It's not catastrophic" to absorb, said City Administrator Chris White said, "but we do all hope it will stop snowing at this point." Another issue has been where to put the snow. Beacon workers have established "glaciers" near the wastewater treatment plant on Dennings Avenue and at Memorial Park. More snow is stored at the highway garage on Camp Beacon Road. "We probably moved several hundred truckloads of snow that would still be on Main Street, parking lots or at the end of cul-de-sacs," White said. A few miles down Route 9D, clearing the roads in Philipstown "went pretty smoothly," said Adam Hotaling, the town highway superintendent. Some roads were still "a little narrow" because of snow piled along the sides, but "we're working to widen them," he said. Snow cleared by Philipstown's crews gets piled at the highway department yard on Fishkill Road or the former town landfill on Lane Gate Road. Dutchess and Putnam counties enacted travel bans during both heavy storms. Area first responders reported a handful of issues, none of them serious. "We increased staffing levels for each storm to ensure adequate coverage," said Beacon Fire Chief Tom Lucchesi. "There were no significant snow-related accidents, rescues or incidents requiring unusual or operations." Cold Spring Fire Co. Chief Matt Steltz said the volunteer agency was well prepared for the storm and he was surprised when no calls came in, storm-related or otherwise. As a precaution, CSFC outfitted its all-wheel drive utility vehicle with firefighting capabilities including a water cannon and self-contained breathing apparatus and stationed it at 2nd Lt. Aaron Leonard's home. Capt. Nicholas Falcone of the Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps said attendants for both ambulances were on duty at the Cedar Steet station during the storm and responded to two calls. "Roads were very slippery even for our four-wheel drive vehicle," he said, adding that the Philipstown Highway Department was on call for the duration in case PVAC or the Garrison Volunteer Ambulance Corp needed assistance. Falcone said that at midnight on Tuesday, the PVAC assisted the North Highlands Fire Department in the rescue of a hiker who had been lost for eight hours in deep snow in the woods at Lake Surprise. The hiker was taken to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia. Officer-in-Charge Matt Jackson said the Cold Spring Police Department received few calls during the storm although one resident claimed that a snow removal company had damaged their property. Jackson also reported that on Tuesday morning a resident alerted an officer to an injured woodchuck lying in a snowbank near Lunn Terrace. The officer tra...

Salt Grass Trail Riders heading out tomorrow and will meet at Memorial Park next FridayUS Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan saved 165 children during 2025 4th of July floodsDavid and Chad from the BBQ Committee tell us cookoff will be more family friendly this year

Parks & Recreation Director Stacey Child and Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Tyler Wilkins highlight PAR tax investment over the past three years has improved Springville City. Early projects included a new gazebo at City Park that has quickly become a popular gathering space for performances and the farmers market, and significant upgrades along Dry Creek Trail, where an irrigation canal was piped to create new green space and a park with a pavilion. The award-winning Cherry Ridge Bike Park received added features and pavilions, while Memorial Park saw major enhancements, including wiffle ball fields, a walking path, the Al Curtis Plaza, and renovated tennis courts.  Additional investments supported improvements at the golf course, the library's summer reading program, and the new Fitness Park at the Clyde Recreation Center, featuring a timed 40-yard dash, ninja course, turf field, and adult fitness area.Major redevelopment continues around Springville High School, beginning with rebuilt ball fields at Bird Park and moving into the new Spring Acres Park phase, which includes a community pond with a walking trail, a 1.5-mile campus loop, six lit pickleball courts, and a multipurpose field. At Arts Park, a transformative amphitheater renovation—supported by a $1 million donation from McWane Ductile and a $750,000 Utah County grant—will add a permanent stage cover, new plaza space, public art installations, and expanded performance opportunities, with plans to unveil the improvements during Art City Days. Together, these projects represent nearly 40 enhancements that continue to expand recreation, arts, and community gathering opportunities throughout Springville.

Brainerd Public Utilities Director Paul Sandy and City Administrator Nick Broyles join to break down the city's upcoming galvanized water service line replacement project, including what homeowners need to know, how to check if their property is affected, and what the timeline looks like moving forward. We also cover a Public Works update, a Brainerd EDA update, and wrap up with details on a fun community event, the Community Open Skate at Memorial Park on February 7.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today - Wenatchee residents gathered at Memorial Park to protest President Trump’s strike on Venezuela, calling it a dangerous precedent for U.S. military intervention.Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sit with Visit Bentonville CEO Kalene Griffith to trace how a destination management approach turns visitor spending into daily life upgrades: better parks, a busier library, a thriving community center, and a steady calendar of film, cycling, art, and sports events that fill rooms and keep families out playing after dark. From Phillips Park and Lawrence Plaza to Memorial Park upgrades, Kaylene lays out how small, targeted investments add up to a livable, lovable city. Looking ahead to 2026, we explore a bold slate of priorities: a unified wellness story that connects spas, trails, and healthy dining; added cycling and sporting events, and more. The new destination master plan pairs resident feedback with a growth blueprint designed to protect what locals love while welcoming the world. If you care about sustainable growth, hospitality careers, and how tourism can raise quality of life, this is your playbook.Learn more at visitbentonville.comA New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn. You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

Tune in to a special bonus episode of Momus: The Podcast featuring a live recording from the launch of writer and critic Minh Nguyen's new book Memorial Park: Revisiting Vietnam (Art Metropole & Wendy's Subway, 2025). This event, co-presented by Art Metropole and Momus as part of the Momus Talks series, brought Nguyen into conversation with writer Tiana Reid to discuss writing about place, the personal as critical position, and how art criticism can open up broader cultural histories and experiences by “using art to write about something else.” More about the book from Wendy's Subway: “Driven by a diasporic curiosity that seeks discovery over dwelling on loss, Memorial Park avoids nostalgic idealism or reflexive condemnation. Instead, Nguyen takes seriously the legacy of Vietnamese liberation by naming what it has become—and what it has not. What emerges is a complex picture of the country today and a reflection on how we inherit and reckon with radical histories that shape our world.”Momus: The Podcast is edited by Jacob Irish, with production assistance from Rose Bouthillier and Chris Andrews.Thanks to this episode's sponsor Rabkin Foundation for supporting our work.Thanks to Minh Nguyen and Tiana Reid for their contribution to this season.

Preachers and Preaching is pleased to introduce Pastor Jeff Martin of Open Bible Baptist Church. Located just south of Memorial Park on Union Blvd. Pastor Jeff discusses his career with Colorado Springs Fire Department, the outreach of Open Bible Medical Clinic, and their recent preaching series. https://openbiblecares.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You will be blessed to hear the faith journey of Pastor Solomon Cepeda. Revival Springs International Church serves southern Colorado Springs – right across from Prospect Lake at Memorial Park. Jeff and Pastor Solomon talk about faith in business, church, evangelism, and discipleship! www.revivalspringsintl.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join host Al Mega as he chops it up with writer/creator Levi Skeen, the mind behind Galaxy Memorial Park, a bold and emotional tribute to fallen superheroes from across the galaxy. Hear the story behind the story, the cosmic inspirations, and why this isn't just a comic—it's a monument.

Episode 412 of Boss Hog of Liberty is out!  Jeremiah Morrell and Bones Harcourt are your hosts. Zach Burcham is working as your producer. City Council members Chad Malicoat and Shannon Thom are our guests. This is the first budget since the general assembly revamped the property tax system. How much does it change the county budget? And will property taxes actually reduce? Henry County has two big ticket issues ahead. Will the Juvenile Detention Center be re-opened? If a data center is located in Henry County, what would that do for the county budget? This week news broke about New Castle not pursuing Community Crossings money for roads this cycle. Communities are allowed to partner together, the hosts ask if it's possible to have Henry County provide matching dollars so that the available dollars could come into the community. Perhaps finally pave the roads inside Memorial Park, as they are not in the county, city, or state inventory.  Our program is community supported on Patreon. Do your part by chipping into the cause by donating monthly at any level at www.patreon.com/bosshogofliberty and receive even more BONUS coverage and content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The City of Forest Acres won a 2025 Achievement Award for its innovative development of the Gills Creek Memorial Park on a small and challenging property. City Administrator Shaun Greenwood talks about the city's vision for the park, the process of assembling parcels and funding, and the parks' community impact. Learn more: https://www.masc.sc/achievement-award/2025/10001-20000-category-city-forest-acres-gills-creek-memorial-park

Joyce talks about Boca Raton Council members deciding to build over a park that honored WW2 vets without consulting the community, DC Mayor gets the third degree from the Left after saying the National Guard has brought down crime in the area. Joyce also talks about the three branches of government, and how one branch continues to make rulings that take away the power of the others. Calls continue for the release of the Epstein files, things get thrown from the White House window, questions regarding President Trump's Health, Vaccines, safety, RFK and Bernie Sanders, and Trump to move Space command station from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Born and raised in Prince George, British Columbia, Serena Sanghera is a shining example of leadership, service, and community spirit.A proud graduate of the University of Northern British Columbia—where she finished at the top of her class—Serena is now pursuing her dream of becoming a physician. With applications to medical school underway, she is focused on a future devoted to healthcare, compassion, and improving the lives of others.Serena's deep roots in Prince George run through her family's long-standing entrepreneurial history in the city. Growing up surrounded by examples of resilience, hard work, and generosity instilled in her a strong sense of purpose—values she now channels into her own work and volunteerism.One of her greatest passions is advocating for individuals and families affected by Parkinson's disease. Serena plays a pivotal role in the local Parkinson's community, helping organize both the Prince George Parkinson SuperWalk and the Parkinson's Support Group. For her, this work extends far beyond event planning—it's about fostering connection, hope, and resilience. Through her leadership, she empowers others to access resources, strengthen self-management skills, and feel supported on their journey.On Saturday, September 6th, at 11:30am, the Prince George Parkinson SuperWalk will once again gather the community at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park. Serena is proud to help lead this event, which unites families, friends, and neighbours in a meaningful walk that raises awareness, critical funds, and, above all, hope. Every step supports the Parkinson Society BC, advancing research, advocacy, and programs that change lives.For Serena, the SuperWalk is not only about fundraising—it's about belonging. It's about showing the people of Prince George that they are not alone, that their stories matter, and that together, the community can make a difference.Her work with the Parkinson's community reflects the kind of physician she aspires to be: compassionate, driven, and deeply connected to the people she serves. Whether she's supporting local families, inspiring participants at the SuperWalk, or preparing for the next chapter in medicine, Serena lives out the values of perseverance, generosity, and leadership.In all she does, she continues to embody the very best of what it means to create positive change.

Last time we spoke about the fall of Shanghai. In October 1937 a small battalion led by Colonel Xie Jinyuan transformed the Sihang Warehouse into a fortress against the advancing Japanese army. These men, known as the "800 Heroes," became symbols of hope, rallying local citizens who provided vital support. Despite heavy casualties, they held out against overwhelming odds until a strategic retreat was ordered on November 1. As Japanese forces intensified their assaults, they breached the Chinese defenses and captured strategic positions along Suzhou Creek. The fighting was fierce, marked by desperate counterattacks from the besieged Chinese soldiers, who faced an unyielding enemy. By November 9, the Chinese faced a full retreat, their organized defenses collapsing into chaos as they fled the city. Desperate civilians sought refuge in the International Settlement but were met with hostility, exacerbating the terror of the moment. Amidst the turmoil, remaining forces continued to resist in pockets, holding out as long as possible. By November 11, Japanese troops raised their flag in the last stronghold, marking a grim victory.   #163 Crossing Nanjing's Rubicon Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Japanese were mopping up Shanghai, Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary on November 11th “I fear that they could threaten Nanjing”. Over In Shanghai, General Matsui Iwane was dealing with foreign correspondents, eager to learn what Japan's next move would be and to this he simply stated “For future developments, you had better ask Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek”. The correspondents were surprised by this response and pressed him further. He replied . “Chiang Kai-shek was reported to have predicted a five-year war, well, it might be that long. We don't know whether we will go to Nanjing or not. It all depends on Chiang.” At this point Shanghai was falling under Japanese control and now Matsui and his fellow field commanders were thinking, what's next? Nanjing was certainly the next objective. It was a common understanding amongst the Japanese leadership, that if the four main eastern cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing were lost, Chiang Kai-Shek's government would collapse. Three of these cities had been taken, Nanjing was dangling like fresh fruit. Matsui's staff believed the Chinese units departing Shanghai would mount a stand immediately west of the city, probably a defensive line running from Jiading to Huangduzhen. On the night of November 11th, Matsui issued a command to all units in the Shanghai area to advance west along the railway towards Nanjing. Their first objective would be a line extending from Taicang to Kunshan. Chiang Kai-Shek was not only reeling from military defeats, but also the gradual loss of his German allies. The Germans were increasingly aligning with the Japanese. Chiang Kai-Shek was looking for new external help, so he turned to the Soviets. It was a marriage of convenience, Chiang Kai-Shek signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR that year and wasted no time pleading for aircraft and pilots. Moscow began sending them before the ink touched the paper. 200 aircraft and pilots in return for some essential minerals, wolfram and tungsten. The Sino-Soviet friendship even drew in an unlikely source of support, Sir Winston Churchill. The Soviet envoy to the UK described how during a meeting with Churchill “he greatly praised our tactics in the Far East: maintenance of neutrality and simultaneous aid to China in weaponry.” Soviet pilots found themselves dispatched to Nanjing where they were briefed by Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, the deputy commander of the Soviet Air Force. “The Japanese armed forces are technically superior to the Chinese. The Chinese Air Force is a particular concern. Soviet pilots who have rushed to China's aid are currently in Nanjing. They are fighting valiantly.” Meanwhile back at Shanghai discipline and order that had characterized previous Chinese withdrawal had collapsed. Simply put, there were hundreds of thousands of men trying to retreat across the lower Yangtze region, it was a shitstorm. Many units had to disengage during combat with the enemy and scramble to pull out. Huang Qixiang, the deputy commander of the Chinese right flank in Shanghai, executed a strategic withdrawal moments before his command post succumbed to the advancing enemy forces. Just fifteen minutes after his departure, the area was overrun by Japanese troops. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, another general had to cross a creek, nearly drowning in the process. Rescued while barely clinging to life and drenched in icy water, he was welcomed by a peasant family who aided in his recovery before he resumed his arduous journey westward. The scale of this withdrawal, occurring both day and night, could hardly escape the enemy's notice, and its complexity made the operation increasingly difficult. The execution of the withdrawal exacerbated the situation significantly. Orders to abandon their positions started to trickle down immediately after the upper command made the decision. However, these orders reached the units in a disorganized manner. Many telephone lines had been sabotaged, and when soldiers were sent to relay the orders in person, they faced severe disruptions in the transportation network. Consequently, many units only became aware of the withdrawal when they witnessed the mass movements of their comrades heading westward. Upon realizing what was happening, many soldiers fled in a state of panic. There were no comprehensive plans outlining the retreat, no designated routes for the various units, nor any established timetables. The outcome was a chaotic scramble for survival. Soldiers who had fought side by side for three months suddenly found themselves competing against one another in a desperate race to escape. At bridges and other chokepoints, weary soldiers exhausted their last reserves of strength, brawling with their fellow troops to be the first to cross. Meanwhile, officers traveling in chauffeur-driven cars attempted to assert their rank to gain priority access to the roads, adding to the growing disorder that ensued. The massive army was hindered by its sheer size, resulting in miles of congested roads filled with men unable to move in any direction. This made them easy targets for Japanese aircraft, leading to a bloody cycle of repeated attacks. Planes adorned with the red Rising Sun insignia would emerge from the horizon, swooping down to strike at these vulnerable formations. As commander Chen Yiding recalled “The lack of organization and the gridlocked roads resulted in far more casualties than could have been avoided,”.  On November 12th, the newspaper Zhaongyang Ribao, published an editorial addressing the citizens of Nanjing, to remind them that tough times lay ahead now that Shanghai had fallen. The article stipulated they needed to prepare the city for the upcoming battle,  “Now, all the citizenry of the capital must fulfill their duty in a way that can serve as a model for the entire nation.” Nanjing in 1937 was a city touched by the war, but not enough to change the social fabric just yet. Cinema's remained open, the shopping arcade was crowded as usual, traffic was heavy along Zhongshan Road, order remained. Telephones remained on, except during air raids. Connections to the outside world functioned as they should, given this was the capital. The region had seen a good harvest in 1937, no one was going hungry. However as the front 200 miles away drew closer, bombing raids more frequent, fear of the enemy increased. Contact with the outside world gradually declined. By mid November the train link from Nanjing to Shanghai was severed.  While the fear amongst the populace increased, so did a newfound sense of common purpose against a common enemy. Poster calling for the Chinese to unite against the Japanese invaders were found throughout Nanjing. Residents were conscripted for various fortification efforts, with some receiving basic military training to help defend the city. Those who refused to cooperate faced severe penalties as “traitors,” while the majority willingly participated. Both military and civilian police were deployed throughout the city, diligently checking identities in an ongoing effort to root out spies and traitors. The authorities enforced a strict prohibition against discussing military matters in restaurants and other public venues. Then all the high ranking military officials and politicians families gradually began departing the city in secrecy. This was followed by said politicians and military officials. Twas not a good look. Nanjing soon saw its population decline from 1 million to half a million. Those who stayed behind were mainly the poor, or those anchored, like shopkeepers. Every day saw a steady stream of Nanjing citizens leaving the city over her main roads, fleeing into the countryside with carts full of belongings. On November 12th at 10am orders were issued for the Japanese to advance west. What had been a war of attrition, where inches of land were claimed with blood, suddenly it was a war of movement. As one Japanese soldier recalled “In the course of 50 days, I had moved only two miles. Now suddenly we were experiencing rapid advance”. As the Japanese came across small towns, they found large posters plastered on all the walls. These were all anti-japanese with some nationalist propaganda. The Japanese soldiers would tear them down and paint up their own messages “down with Chiang Kai-Shek!”.  Towns and cities west of Shanghai fell rapidly one after another, each succumbing to a grim pattern: swift conquest followed by widespread devastation. Jiading, a county seat with a population of approximately 30,000, succumbed to a prolonged siege. When the 10st division captured Jiading on November 13, after relentless shelling had leveled a third of the city, they began a massacre, indiscriminately killing nearly everyone in their path, men, women, and children alike. The battle and its aftermath resulted in over 8,000 casualties among the city's residents and surrounding countryside. One Japanese soldier referred to Jiading as “A city of death, in a mysteriously silent world in which the only sound was the tap of our own footsteps”.  On November 14, soldiers from the 9th Division reached Taicang, an ancient walled city designed to withstand lengthy sieges. As they crossed the 70-foot moat amid heavy fire, the Japanese troops confronted the formidable 20-foot-high city wall. After breaching the wall, their infantry swiftly entered the city and seized control. The destruction persisted long after the fighting ceased, with half of the city being devastated, including significant cultural institutions like the library, and salt and grain reserves were looted. It was as if the Japanese aimed to obliterate not just the material existence of the people but their spiritual foundation as well.  Casual cruelty marked the nature of warfare along the entire front, with few prisoners being taken. Ishii Seitaro, a soldier in the 13th Division's 26th Brigade, encountered a mass execution while marching alongside the Yangtze River. Several headless corpses floated nearby, yet three Chinese prisoners remained alive. A Japanese officer, personally overseeing the execution, wore a simple uniform, but the two ornate swords at his belt indicated his wealthy background. Approaching one prisoner, the officer dramatically drew one of the swords and brandished it through the air with exaggerated flair. In an almost theatrical display, he held it aloft, the blade trembling as if he were nervous. The prisoner, in stark contrast, exhibited an unnerving calmness as he knelt, awaiting his inevitable fate. The officer swung the sword down but failed to deliver a clean strike. Although he inflicted a deep gash to the prisoner's skull, it was not fatal. The prisoner collapsed, thrashing and emitting a prolonged scream that sent chills through those present. The officer, seemingly exhilarated by the anguish he caused, began wildly slashing at the figure until the screams subsided. Ishii turned away in horror, his mind swirling with confusion. Why were the Chinese being executed? Had they not surrendered?  Three months into the war's expansion to the Yangtze region, air raids had become an all too frequent menace in Nanjing. The first major raid came on August 15th and increased each week. On the night of August 27, approximately 30 bombs were dropped on Purple Mountain, specifically targeting the Memorial Park for Sun Yat-sen, aiming to hurt the morale of Nanjing's residents. As days melted into weeks and weeks stretched into months, the landscape of Nanjing transformed under the weight of war. Residents began constructing dugouts in courtyards, gardens, public squares, and even on streets. Foreigners painted their national flags on top of buildings and vehicles, attempting to avoid the risk of being machine-gunned by strafing aircraft. Each raid followed a predictable routine: sirens wailed loudly 20 to 30 minutes before the attack, signaling pedestrians to seek shelter and drivers to stop their engines. By the time a shorter warning sounded, the streets had to be cleared, leaving nothing to do but await the arrival of Japanese planes. Initially, the part-US-trained Chinese Air Force posed a considerable threat to Japanese bombers. The 4th and 5th Chinese Squadrons, stationed near Nanjing to defend the capital, achieved early success, reportedly downing six bombers during the first air raid on Nanjing. Much of the credit for these aerial victories belonged to Claire Chennault, a retired American Army Air Corps captain who had become an advisor to the Chinese Air Force, overseeing Nanjing's air defense. Chennault taught his pilots tactics he had developed in the US but had never fully implemented. His strategy was straightforward: three fighters would focus on one enemy bomber at a time. One would attack from above, another from below, while a third would hover in reserve to deliver the final blow if necessary. He instructed the Chinese pilots to target the engines rather than the fuselage, reasoning that any missed shots could hit the gas tanks located in the wing roots. This approach proved successful, leading to the loss of 54 Japanese planes within three days. For Chennault, it validated his belief that air superiority required a diverse range of aircraft, not just bombers. Nighttime raids, however, posed a greater challenge. Chennault, along with other commanders, sought solutions. Chinese General C.C. Wong, a German-trained artillery officer overseeing the country's anti-aircraft defenses, ensured that dozens of large Sperry searchlights were positioned throughout Nanjing in a grid pattern. This setup had a dual purpose: it would dazzle the Japanese bomber crews and highlight their planes in silhouette for Chinese fighters above to target. The bravery of the most skilled Chinese pilots occasionally gained media attention, making them local celebrities amidst an otherwise grim war environment. However, this bright moment faded quickly when the Japanese command decided to provide escorts for their bombers. Consequently, the elite of China's air force, its finest pilots and aircraft, were lost within weeks that fall. All air raids were brutal, but the worst assaults occurred at the end of September. As a radio broadcaster reported on September 25th “Gallons of civilian blood flowed today as Nanking endured three ferocious air raids”. In total, 96 Japanese sorties were launched on that day. Witnesses observed around a dozen Chinese aircraft retreating north across the Yangtze, initially believing they were fleeing, but some returned to confront the enemy. When Chinese fighters managed to down a Japanese bomber, the streets erupted in cheers as civilians momentarily forgot their fear. The primary aim of the September 25 attack appeared to be spreading terror among the civilian population. Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary that day  “The repeated Japanese air raids over the past several days have had no impact on our military installations. Instead, civilian property has sustained significant damage.” Around 20 bombs struck the Central Hospital, one of Nanjing's largest medical facilities, causing extensive destruction and prompting the evacuation of its staff. Two 1,000-pound bombs exploded nearby, leaving large craters. Had these bombs landed slightly closer, they could have resulted in mass casualties among the hospital's 100 patients, including a Japanese pilot who had been shot down earlier that month. The air raids at the end of September prompted protests from the Americans, British, and French governments to Japan. In response, Tokyo issued a statement on September 30, asserting that while they were not intentionally targeting non-combatants, it was “unavoidable” for achieving military objectives that military airfields and installations in and around Nanjing be bombed.   The battle for Jiashan was among the fiercest in the southern Yangtze delta campaign in November 1937. Although Jiashan was a moderately sized town straddling a crucial railway connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. For the Japanese, seizing Jiashan was imperative for their westward advance; without it, their military progress would be severely hampered. Jiashan had endured three days of relentless bombing by the Japanese Air Force, driving most residents to flee into the surrounding countryside. Only about 100 remained, those who were too old or too sick to escape, abandoned by family or friends who lacked the means to assist them. The Japanese troops brutally bayoneted nearly all of these individuals and buried them in a mass grave just outside the town's northern gate. Jiashan was captured by the 10th Army, a division fresh from victories and eager to engage in combat, unlike the weary forces of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force further north. With less than a week of combat experience, the 10th Army's soldiers were hungry for a fight. The martial spirit of the 10th Army was exemplified by its commander, Yanagawa Heisuke. Born near Nagasaki in 1879, he was among a group of retired officers called back to active service as the war in China escalated unexpectedly. Having served in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and taught at the Beijing Army College in 1918, Yanagawa had considerable experience in military affairs. However, his past exposure to China did not cultivate any empathy for the enemy. He was determined to push all the way to Nanjing, and once there, he intended to blanket the city in mustard gas and incendiaries until it capitulated. While Japanese commanders debated the value of capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were equally preoccupied with whether it was worth defending. Most military professionals viewed the situation as a lost cause from the start. After the fall of Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek summoned one of his top commanders, Chen Cheng, to Nanjing for discussions. “How can Nanjing be held?” Chen Cheng shot back “Are you ordering me to hold Nanjing?” Chiang replied “I am not”. Chen Cheng stated frankly, “I believe Nanjing should not be held at all.” By mid-November, Bai Chongxi, one of China's most respected generals, advocated for declaring Nanjing an open city. He argued that defending it was not only unnecessary but also impossible. All available forces had been deployed to Shanghai and were now exhausted. Furthermore, no reinforcements would be forthcoming if they made a stand in Nanjing. Instead of stubbornly clinging to fixed positions, he preferred a more flexible defensive strategy. Zhang Qun, Chiang's secretary, supported Bai's stance, believing that while Nanjing should ultimately be abandoned, political considerations were paramount. If the Chinese simply withdrew and allowed the Japanese to occupy the city, it would undermine China's position in any future negotiations. The Japanese would not be able to present themselves as victors who had triumphed in battle. Similarly, Chiang's chief military advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was against attempting to hold Nanjing. He deemed it “useless from a military perspective, suggesting it would be madness.” He warned that if Chiang forced his army into a decisive battle with their backs to the Yangtze River, “a disaster would probably be unavoidable.” Chiang's head of the operations bureau Liu Fei argued Nanjing could not be abandoned without a fight as it would crush the NRA's morale. He believed that defending the city could be managed with as few as 12 regiments, although 18 would be feasible. Most at the meeting agreed and Chiang understood Nanjing's international recognition necessitated some form of defense, doomed or not. A second meeting was formed whereupon, Tang Shengzhi, a general staff officer whose loyalties were, lets be honest very flip floppy. During the warlord era, he routinely switched sides, especially against Chiang Kai-Shek. At the meeting Tang stated in regards to Nanjing's international prominence and being the final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen “How can we face the spirit of the former president in heaven? We have no choice but to defend the capital to the death.” Chiang's commanders were all well aware of his intentions. The generalissimo was eager for a dramatic last stand in Nanjing to serve propaganda purposes, aiming to rally the nation and convey to the world that China was resolute in its fight against Japan. His commanders also recognized the rationale behind fighting for Nanjing; however, very few were inclined to embark on what seemed a likely suicide mission. The third meeting occurred the day after the second. Chiang opened by asking, as many anticipated, “Who is willing to shoulder the burden of defending Nanjing?” An awkward silence followed. Then Tang Shengzhi stepped forward. “Chairman, if no one else is willing, I will. I'm prepared to defend Nanjing and to hold it to the death.” Without hesitation, Chiang accepted his offer. “Good, the responsibility is yours.”A little refresher on Tang, he had played a role in Chiang Kai-shek's efforts to unify China by force in the 1920s, when the nation was a patchwork of fiefdoms. However, their relationship had soured on two occasions, forcing Tang into temporary exile, first to Japan and then to Hong Kong. The Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931 prompted a loose reconciliation, and since then, Tang had held several important positions, notably organizing war games simulating a Japanese assault on Nanjing. However Tang had often suffered from illness, and crucially, he had not led troops in the field against the Japanese since the onset of full-scale war that summer. Hailing from Hunan province, he was a typical provincial soldier and would likely face challenges commanding respect among elite divisions loyal solely to the central government in Nanjing. He was definitely not the first choice for such a significant task.  Amazingly, while tens of thousands of Chinese and Japanese were killing each other, while Japanese planes relentlessly bombarded Chinese cities including the capital, and while Japanese soldiers committed heinous atrocities against Chinese civilians, the two nations maintained diplomatic relations. China had a fully operational embassy in Tokyo, led by Xu Shiying, a 65-year-old diplomat. This surreal arrangement persisted because neither side was willing to officially declare war. In the fall of 1937, as Japanese armies were heavily engaged on two fronts within mainland China, Xu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirota Koki to propose a non-aggression treaty. The proposal was swiftly rejected in Nanjing. By November 1937, Xu was no longer at the forefront of events, and foreign observers shifted their focus from the capitals of the warring nations to Belgium. While large-scale battles raged along the lower Yangtze, representatives from 19 countries convened in Brussels to search for a way to end hostilities. Although China participated in the conference, Japan did not. Japan had received two invitations to join the talks, with its response to the second arriving in Brussels on November 12: a firm rejection. Japan asserted that it preferred direct bilateral negotiations with China, dismissing the Brussels conference held under the auspices of the Nine-Power Treaty, a pact signed in 1922 aimed at ensuring China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Japan argued that intervention by a collective body like the conference “would merely stir national sentiments in both countries and complicate efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.” The League of Nations had called for a Nine-Power conference a month earlier, which ultimately became a 19-power conference as other nations with interests in East Asia joined. From the outset, Japan opposed the assembly and was absent when the first plenary meeting commenced in Brussels on November 3. Japanese leaders feared that China might attempt to leverage the conference against Western powers, recalling how, in 1895, Japan had been denied its spoils following its first modern war with China due to the intervention of Russia, France, and Germany, who blocked Japan from claiming the strategic Liaodong Peninsula adjacent to Korea. China also exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward the conference. While Japan feared the potential outcomes, China was concerned about the lack of significant results. The proposal to transition discussions from the League of Nations, perceived as ineffective, to the even less authoritative Nine Powers, which lacked formal organization. Nonetheless, the Chinese chose to participate in Brussels, maintaining the pretense that something meaningful could be accomplished. Shortly after Japan's second rejection of the invitation, Wellington Koo made an impassioned plea in Brussels, stating, “Now that the door to conciliation and mediation has been slammed in your face by the latest reply of the Japanese Government, will you not decide to withhold supplies of war materials and credit to Japan and extend aid to China?” In reality, Koo understood that significant Western aid to China was highly unlikely, aside from token gestures. Previous international discussions had momentarily halted Japanese advances in the past; for instance, in 1932, Japanese troops had paused their movements in the Shanghai area just hours before the League of Nations General Assembly commenced. However, that was nearly six years earlier, and circumstances had changed dramatically since then. Rogue states had grown bolder, while democracies seemed increasingly timid. Thus, the Chinese agenda in Brussels was not primarily driven by hopes for substantial Western concessions. Instead, the delegates had been tasked by Nanjing to anticipate the post-conference landscape and to actively seek ways to encourage Europe and America to support Soviet military action against Japan.   China, long reliant on Germany as a diplomatic partner, increasingly felt betrayed, not just by Germany, but also by its fascist ally, Italy. Consequently, it began looking more favorably upon the Soviet Union, Japan's archrival in Northeast Asia, as its main source of international support. The Soviet Union exhibited a firmer stance than the Western democracies at the Brussels conference, joining China in advocating for collective security in Europe and Asia. On November 15th, a small group of officers from the 10th Army gathered for late-night discussions in an abandoned building north of Hangzhou Bay, where they would effectively decide the fate of China. Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the 10th Army, presided over the discussions. Fresh from the battlefield since the beginning of the month, he was eager to escalate the fight, a sentiment echoed among the others. It was an unusual meeting, where officers as low in rank as major were making decisions typically reserved for the highest echelons of political power. The agenda included a pivotal question: Should they adhere to Order No. 600 received from Tokyo a week prior, which instructed them to halt their advance along a line from Suzhou to Jiaxing? Or, should they disregard these explicit orders and push forward to seize Nanjing? While the Japanese Army had failed to completely annihilate the Chinese forces around Shanghai, there was a consensus that their adversary was now reeling from recent setbacks, presenting an opportune moment to strike decisively and secure a swift victory. The only remaining question was how aggressively to pursue this goal. Colonel Terada Masao, a senior staff officer within the 10th Army, spoke first. “The Chinese Army is currently retreating toward the capital. We should cross that line and pursue the enemy straight to Nanjing.” Major Iketani Hanjiro, a staff officer recently attached to the fast-moving 6th Division, then offered his input “From a tactical perspective, I completely agree with Terada that we should cross the line, but the decision to attack Nanjing should be considered not just tactically, but also politically. It's not that field commanders can't create a fait accompli to pressure our superiors in Tokyo. However, we must proceed with great caution”. A staff officer raised this question  “What if Tokyo orders us to pull back those smaller units?” Iketani responded “In that case, we will, of course, withdraw them to this side of the line”. Ultimately, Iketani's cautions were set aside, and Terada's aggressive approach prevailed. The majority agreed that the tactical circumstances presented a rare opportunity. Japanese troops in the Shanghai area were poised to advance west, not through small, individual skirmishes but with a substantial deployment of their forces. Officers estimated that if a decisive push was made immediately, Nanjing could fall into Japanese hands within 20 days. However Colonel Kawabe Torashiro, the newly appointed chief of the Army General Staff's Operations Section suddenly arrived at the theater. He was sent on a mission to assess whether the Central China Area Army should be granted greater operational freedom. It was well known in Tokyo that field officers were eager to capitalize on the momentum created by the collapse of Chinese defenses around Shanghai. Kawabe's task was to explore the possibility of allowing forces to cross the line from Suzhou to Jiaxing and move westward in pursuit of the retreating enemy. However, Kawabe was staunchly opposed to further military adventures in China. Kawabe was part of the dwindling faction of "China doves" within the Japanese military. As early as the summer of 1937, he had become alarmed by a letter from a civilian Japanese visitor to the Chinese mainland, warning that Japanese officers were attempting to engineer an “incident” with China to provoke open conflict. This would provide Japan with a pretext to expand its influence in northern China. Kawabe had attempted to alert his superiors, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. They had been lulled into a false sense of security by reports from China that dismissed all talk of war-mongering as baseless and alarmist. When he arrived to the front he stated “I am here to inspect conditions on the ground so that a final decision can be made on where to establish the operational restriction line”. Alongside him came General Akira Muto, recently appointed the commander of the Central China Area Army. He also happened to be one of the architects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Muto responded promptly: “The line currently stretches from Suzhou to Jiaxing, but we should consider crossing it. This will help us achieve our overall objectives in the theater.” Muto continued, arguing that the 10th Army should be permitted to advance to Huzhou, south of Lake Tai, effectively cutting off communications between Nanjing and the strategic city of Hangzhou. He further claimed that the Shanghai Expeditionary Force should be allowed to capture the vital city of Jiangyin, suggesting, perhaps overly optimistically, that its loss could lead to the fall of Chiang Kai-shek. Ultimately, Muto insisted, Nanjing should also be seized, which he asserted would bring an end to the war. Kawabe listened patiently, a practice he would repeat in the following days as other field officers echoed similar sentiments, eagerly expressing their desire to advance all the way to Nanjing. Yanagawa and his 10th Army exemplified this aggressive mindset. Nevertheless, just as the hawks within the Japanese military and the nation's political leadership appeared to be prevailing in the struggle over China policy, they faced unexpected challenges from a different direction. Germany, a power with ambiguous sympathies in East Asia, was quietly engaged in negotiations aimed at bringing peace. Oskar Trautmann, Germany's ambassador to China, had maintained an objective and neutral stance when he met with Chiang Kai-shek in early November to relay Japan's conditions for initiating peace talks. These conditions included extensive concessions in northern China, such as the withdrawal of all Chinese troops to a line south of Beijing and the establishment of a pro-Japanese regime in Inner Mongolia, bordering the Soviet-controlled Mongolian People's Republic. Chiang dismissed these demands outright, but Trautmann and his superiors in Beijing continued their top-secret efforts. Germany's motivation for seeking an end to the Sino-Japanese War was not rooted in a genuine love for peace, but rather in their embarrassment over witnessing their old Asian ally, China, fighting against their new partner, Japan. Herman Göring, president of the Reichstag and a leading figure in the Nazi party, told a Chinese visitor, “China and Japan are both friends of Germany. The Sino-Japanese War has put Germany between Scylla and Charybdis. That's why Germany is ready to seize the chance to become a mediator.” Germany also feared that a prolonged conflict in China could jeopardize its commercial interests in East Asia and weaken Japan's capacity to confront the Soviet Union, potentially freeing Moscow to allocate more resources to a fight in Europe. In essence, continued hostilities could significantly harm Germany. Japanese field commanders were frustrated by Germany's mediation efforts.  When news of Trautmann's mission leaked, the German diplomat faced severe criticism in the Chinese media, which deemed any negotiation with the "Japanese devils" unacceptable. Additionally, there was the matter of China's ties with the Soviet Union; employing a German mediator raised the possibility of cooperation among China, Japan, and Germany, potentially expanding the anti-Soviet bloc, which would, in turn, pressure Moscow to increase its support for China. By mid-November, however, the complexities of this diplomatic game started unraveling and then Japan took action. At 7:00 am on November 19, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. The main Chinese forces were retreating west of the line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, and this withdrawal was soon likely to spiral into a full-scale retreat. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Shanghai had fallen, and the Japanese forces pursued their fleeing enemy further west. However they had orders to halt, but would they? Officers from top down deliberating on the issue, with the vast majority pushing for a drive to Nanjing. They thought it represented the end objective of the conflict. They would all be very wrong. 

In this episode of "Building Texas Business," I sit down with Molly Voorhees, the president of Beck's Prime, Winfield's Chocolate Bar, and Agnes Cafe. Molly shares her journey from Silicon Valley back to her roots in Houston's culinary scene. She talks about how her passion for food and community has shaped her approach to running family-run businesses and the importance of customer service. We explore the challenges of maintaining a successful family business, emphasizing the importance of respecting individual expertise and fostering a collaborative environment. Molly discusses how she integrates technology into operations, which can be challenging for mid-sized companies. Her experiences provide insight into the practical hurdles of implementing new systems while maintaining efficiency. Molly also reflects on the entrepreneurial spirit in Texas, particularly in Houston, where local businesses benefit from a supportive community. She shares how this environment has been beneficial, despite the uncertainties and challenges in the business world. Her approach to leadership involves patience and listening to her team, allowing them to voice their opinions and ideas. The conversation also touches on the importance of authenticity and resilience in business. Molly shares how facing challenges early on, like financial struggles and an empty restaurant, taught her valuable lessons. She emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness in corporate culture and maintaining open dialogue about success and failure. As Molly looks forward to upcoming projects, she invites listeners to experience the culinary adventures that celebrate innovation and community. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS   Molly shares her journey from Silicon Valley back to Houston, taking on leadership roles in Beck's Prime, Winfield's Chocolate Bar, and Agnes Cafe, emphasizing her passion for food and community. The episode explores her innovative approach to maintaining high standards in Beck's Prime while expanding into the chocolate business, highlighting the importance of customer service and community connection. Listeners gain insights into managing a family-run business, where respecting individual expertise and fostering collaboration are essential for effective decision-making and business success. We discuss the integration of technology in operations, acknowledging the challenges faced by mid-sized companies and the potential for improved efficiency through technological advancements. The supportive entrepreneurial spirit in Houston is highlighted, showcasing how local businesses benefit from a community eager to see them succeed, even amidst ongoing challenges and uncertainties. Her reflections on entrepreneurship emphasize authenticity, resilience, and mental health awareness in corporate culture, encouraging open dialogue about success and failure. Excitement for upcoming projects is shared, inviting listeners to join in a culinary adventure that celebrates innovation and community in Houston's vibrant food scene. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller About Beck's Prime GUESTS Molly VoorheesAbout Molly TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode you will meet Molly Voorhees, president of Beck's Prime, winfield's Chocolate Bar and Agnes Cafe. Molly shares her passion for bringing people together over quality food and service and how, in difficult times, she looks for the next right thing to do to keep the company moving forward. Molly, I want to thank you for coming on Building Texas Business. Thanks for coming in today. Molly: Thank you for having me Excited to be here. Chris: So we have a lot to talk about with you because you cover a lot of areas. So let's start Just tell everyone kind of what it is you do, the companies that you're involved in and what they're known for. Molly: So we started Beck's Prime back in 1985. I was just 10 years old so I did not start it, but my dad, a lawyer, winn Campbell, and an operating partner, a guy named Mike Knapp, started it together. And really my dad, winn, loves food and grew up in the burger business in Dallas. Chris: Ok, what was the burger place in Dallas? Molly: It was golf. Chris: I've had lots of golf, yeah, so he was 14. Molly: He tells some fantastic stories about, you know, his first day on the job, cutting onions and being a human trash compactor and sort of all the love, and ended up getting a law degree. But always loved the food industry, always wanted to be in it and came up with the concept of Vex Prime in 1985. I convinced a lot of people to gamble with him and invest and that was the very first Vex Prime on Kirby. Chris: OK. Molly: I was 10, just kid watching, watching it all happen, while I, you know, played sports and did all the things you do and went to college, ended up in um tech out in silicon valley for a long time during the the boom and bust period okay and which was fun went to business school and then wanted to to come back and be in the restaurant industry and grow it. Food is fun. It's very personal. I had sold being in tech. You're not selling something that brings necessarily as much moment-to-moment joy as feeding people Okay, necessarily as much moment to moment joy as feeding people. And I really felt like with Beck's Prime we had something great and then it was time to grow it and so I've moved back here in 2006, back to Houston, and we started growing and building more Beck's Prime and then we took over the management five years ago, chocolate bar and rebranded that Winfield's chocolate bar and built a factory and new stores and now we're selling wholesale and corporate gifting. And then we have a little side concept that I did with a friend called Agnes. Chris: Okay. Molly: Agnes Cafe and Provisions. Chris: Oh, we're off the internet, right. And that was my crazy covid baby I was. Molly: I thought everyone wanted to get back to work and we needed to create jobs and he's desperate for community and the restaurant industry to come back. And there was a restaurant that had closed there and decided to open up a neighborhood cafe with a friend who was crazy enough to say yes when I brought her the idea and we opened Agnes four years ago in June and it is a local neighborhood favorite. Chris: That's great. That's great. So original inspiration, I guess obviously is your dad, and being exposed to the business Great. So original inspiration I guess obviously is your dad and being exposed to the business. What was it that got you to kind of branch into chocolate, because that's much different than kind of a full service meal concept. Well, in theory it was going to be easier. Molly: Famous last words. Famous last words. You know, I love how food brings people together and what we do at Beck's Prime is really hard, which is, you know, you walk up to the window or you drive through our drive-thru and I mean we are cut, grinding and patting all the burgers every day. Nothing's frozen. I mean we're cutting those French fries it is busy back there and we're going to get you a made from scratch meal in eight to ten minutes. And that's hard. So I thought, okay, let's be in the food business, but let's scoop ice cream and cut cakes and sell chocolate. Um, well, when we took the business, they weren't doing the highest quality version of that. So I was like, okay, well, I'm going to apply the Beck's Prime model to it and I'm going to make it all really high quality and we're going to make all of our own cakes and ice cream. And so now I've made it as hard or harder than go back to your roots. I mean, nothing is easy. Chris: Right Molly: But yeah, I think they're similar in the sense of how you manage a restaurant, all of the different services, and how you buy food and how you work on cleanliness and operations. So there's a lot of similarities. Chris: And, I would think, critically important to people you hire to be customer-facing. Right, to make that experience, the food's got to be great, but if the people aren't great as well, right, you have to get both right. Molly: Yeah, and there's actually some evidence that the people matter more than the food. So you'll be surprised the number of text messages I get and there's some science behind this too, not just anecdotal. But oh my gosh, that guy over at Memorial Park. Or the cute drive-thru cashier over there at Kirby who always gets my sandwich right and says, hello, I love her so much, she loves my dog. There's nothing about what they ate or if they enjoyed their meal or it tasted good. It's the people. So you know, I think that part we've done well, which is why we're still in business. Chris: So let's kind of go down that route a little bit. What is it that you have done? I guess it that you have done, I guess first at Beck's and now at Winfield chocolate to focus on getting the hiring right, the processes you put in place, what did mistakes you made that you learned from, kind of. To me that is the key to the kingdom and I think our listeners could learn a lot from what you've done to put such a good system in place to get the right people. Molly: So it's interesting. I think the basics matter right how we treat people every day. I think we've always done that really well inside of our team how we hire. So when we hire managers, we will never hire a general manager for a store. We will only hire an assistant manager and then they can move up to a general manager. But when we hire, we actually take a team member through a number of different steps. You know. Obviously they interview with our management team, they interview with other managers, they interview with the other managers, then they'll do a shadows shift where they'll come and work a shift with the team. So we're really trying to make sure we get people who see themselves working in our environment. Chris:Right. Molly: Right. If you don't, if you want to be a white tablecloth restaurant manager or employee, we're not the right place. So sometimes people will come and they'll spend a shadow shift with us and they don't want to be in the environment. And then we'll also ask them. We'll give them dinner passes and we'll say bring a loved one to lunch or dinner with you here. And we'll say bring a loved one to lunch or dinner with you here. And that test is does somebody who's close to you see you working here? Chris: Oh yeah. Molly: You know, and so we try to help employees find a couple touch points so that they know whether or not, culturally, we're a good fit for them. But from my perspective it's really interesting. I think we have incredibly loyal long-term team members who've been with us forever. If you ever go in one of our stores, you'll see these posters that celebrate, you know, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 years of with us. People are like, oh my gosh, those people have been with you for so long and I'm like, well, those are just the people on the poster that year. Right, and really I think it comes down to basic manners, boundaries, respect, helping each other. But just treating people as you would want to be treated goes a really long way. Chris: Yeah, like I said, that's the basics right, and to have that longevity in your industry is remarkable. Molly: Transparency, kind but also clear. Hey, this is how this needs to happen, Not having policies. We're not a big policy company. Chris: I love that because. I feel, the same way. I think. As soon as you create a policy, then all you're dealing with is all the reasons there should be an exception to the policy. Exactly so just treat people humanly, and humanely and reasonably. Molly: Yeah, and if we need to figure it out we will. But you know, if we had a policy that you know you can't take care of a customer if it's going to cost us more than $15. Let's say we had some limit, or something. And that would just be such a buffer. And it turns out the manager who's trying to take care of the customers all of a sudden handcuffed Right Right, and they just want the ability to do the right thing. Chris: Right. Molly: They're in the service business. People don't go into the service business unless you enjoy serving people. Chris: Well, and if you know, I think if you're watching your business, if someone's abusing a system, you'll see it and that's not a policy issue or lack of policy issue, that's a character issue, right, that surfaces, that you maybe didn't catch in the hiring process. I also like what you said because I think I'm hearing more of this in the corporate world the experimental part of the interview process where you you put someone in a skills assessment situation. So you said the shadow session or whatever. I know we're trying to do that and assessing skill. You know it's one thing to ask questions and be you know in a conversation, but people's skill sets matter in these jobs, right, that's how they're going to sink or swim. So I think that you've incorporated that is something that I see more and more people trying to do. Yeah, and I love to bring the loved one in. Molly: We try to do the same as well. Chris: It's like do something social with your spouse or significant other, because you're going to be away from them with us a lot. Molly: you're going to be away from them with us a lot they're going to spend more time with us than they are, you know, with you so? Do you see them and you know? Chris: okay with us, yeah do you like? Molly: do you like us? Yeah? Chris: so let's let's back up a little bit, because you mentioned, obviously, dad and a partner started VEX Prime. At some point you come in and kind of take over. What was that kind of transition? Molly: like it's still in transition. Chris: Okay so. Molly: I would say we certainly do not have a policy of nepotism in our business, policy of nepotism in our business, but to say that we don't have a lot of dads and daughters and family members and cousins and aunts and uncles all working together, we would have a long laugh. So my dad is still involved in the business. He's still a full-time lawyer. He's still a full-time lawyer and he is, you know, he helps us with all sorts of higher level finance, legal type ideas. I mean he's all over the map there, Our chief operating officer, Mike Knapp, the original partner. He's still working and he manages all of our managers and operating team. His daughter is our HR director and we have a marketing director who's been with us for almost 20 years and her husband is a project manager for us. So, and then on our you know extended family, I mean we really we have have tons and tons of family members working together and we actually view it as a real asset because we're all so passionate and deeply engaged in the business, because we're looking for it to be as best as it can be, but we are also, I would say, have investors from our community and our friends and family. We've raised a lot of money and so we are very careful because we're trying to make money for all of our investors. We have a fiduciary duty to that. So, I think in many ways, part of our culture is we are a family business, but we're not run like a family business at all Right. So how was it? I guess? Chris: you coming back in and you know I guess dad and his partner letting go of some things, and I mean you know, I know from experience. You know we have clients that go through this and I've had some guests on the podcast. You know everyone experienced a little different. What can you share about maybe some of the things that, looking back, probably could have done better or things that actually went well? ADVERT Hello friends, this is Chris Hanslick, your Building Texas business host. Did you know that Boyer Miller, the producer of this podcast, is a business law firm that works with entrepreneurs, corporations and business leaders? Our team of attorneys serve as strategic partners to businesses by providing legal guidance to organizations of all sizes. Get to know the firm at boyMillercom, and thanks for listening to the show. Molly: Yeah, I mean, I think one of the things I mean it's always hard and I think that there's an ebb and flow to it. And you know, one of the things I think we did really well and we still do really well is we stay in our lane and I think we're really good at the active debate and listening and having hard conversations but listening to each other's points and coming together to make a decision that is methodical and thoughtful, versus well, you know, it's going to be my way, or the highway, like we very rarely would let someone just take something and run with the decision. We're very consensus oriented but we also stay in our lane. So, if you know, I've probably my strongest background is in marketing. If I feel really passionate about something related to marketing and and I've got my reasons and I'm, you know, persuasively getting everyone on board everyone's gonna be like, okay, cool, cool, yeah, you got it, got it, you know. Or my dad's like the contract needs to read this way. You know, with the Cisco vendor, we're like, okay, cool, great, you got it. So I think one thing we've done well is we. We have a lot of people with very specific expertise and we're able to learn from each other, but not stomp on each other. And so, like Mike Knapp, who's our chief operating officer, and we have got some other great operators on our team they know how to run a restaurant. Well, if I go in there and tell them how to do it, like I'm way overstepping them my lane. Chris: Right. Molly: Right. But if I go in there and I'm like, hey, I noticed like this seemed inefficient, what's going on there? They'll either be like oh gosh, we got to go fix that, Thank you. Or well, this is why we're doing it this way and I can learn from that. Chris: I think there's a lot of humility in that for the whole team Right. Molly: Yeah, you know, or feedback, that happens. Chris: Yeah, you know, no egos. Molly: Yeah, I mean we all have egos. But yeah, I mean I can say to my dad, if we cross that out, we're never going to make this deal, Like, stop being a lawyer. Chris:Right. Molly: I mean you know how it goes. It's like there's always the lines there, but I think we do a good job of being honest, transparent, giving feedback and then, when we cross the line which family members can do, we do a good job of like coming back together. Chris: Good, so there's grace too, right. Molly: Forgiveness grace. That wasn't my best moment, I'm sorry. Chris: Yeah, okay, wasn't my best moment, I'm sorry, yeah, okay. So let's talk a little bit about you know you're, you've grown this business and you've added to it. What are you think about like technology or innovation? Are there things in that realm that you've implemented to kind of help either with the growth or, once the growth has happened, help kind of manage and make it more efficient? Molly: So I came from tech right in Silicon Valley, so it's like, okay, let's get some platforms on this business right. 2000 was the year, and so I've now been through a lot of point-of-sale changes and QuickBooks to Great Plains Accounting, all these Clover, uber, online ordering, and we have tended to actually be pretty early adopters. We probably had online ordering off your phone earlier than most companies in Houston, and it's interesting because they're so great and, in theory, they're going to make your life so much easier and everything is going to be faster and more efficient. I don't always feel that it has worked out that way. Oh okay, feel that it has worked out that way. Okay, you know, I think the layers, the layers can add just more work or buffer or time, even in how long it maybe takes to place an order. And I think we went through. If we go back a decade, I think that was the painful era of technology in the restaurant space, I think. Where we are now with some of the point of sale systems and how they're integrating, how can I let me explain this when a decade ago, or even five years ago, you would be in our restaurant and you would see we'd have our point of sale system, we'd have the drive-thru speaker, we'd have an Uber iPad, a DoorDash iPad, a Favor oh wait, favor called in and then paid with a real credit card. So just imagine. All of that is like just messy. Chris: And you'rust trying to keep up. Molly: Right, we're just coming at you and all we want to do is take the order, take your money and send you on the way with your food right. So, like that transaction, for us that 20 years ago was you walked up to the counter, you paid and you left. Now we've got all these things right and and if the DoorDash order comes in on this tablet, I've got to enter it in this system on the cash register, or it won't go to the kitchen and then the kitchen doesn't get a ticket. So it seems like, in theory, we should all love all of this. And for the consumer who's like beep, beep, beep. Chris: On the sofa at home, right. Molly: Great. It's great for them. For us, it's been hard, you know, and and it has taken a lot of time. And now what? What? My point with technology now is that all those systems are finally talking to each other, and so we were taking more orders through a single unit. There's less double entry. Chris: So technology is catching up right Kind of with the innovation, all the innovation of all that. Now technology is catching up, so it's integrated. Molly: And then behind the scenes is like how our accounting and everything flows over whether it's from our vendors that we're buying food from, and finally everything is catching up. But I think we all take for granted how easy that integration is, and when you're a mid-level size company, like we are, you don't have the financial resources to spend money on the consultants that you really need to hire to help you integrate that, and so it just can be hard. Yeah. Chris: Well, that's a great point, I think, with aspiring entrepreneurs, right, that you you've got to face these challenges and sometimes the only way through them is you know it's going to be extra time and hours on you to figure it out because you don't have the capital to just go hire a consultant to come fix it. And that's one of those lessons learned, right? It sounds easy, sounds fun, but when you're in the middle of it it's either you're going to do it or it's not going to happen yeah, and you get. Molly: I mean, there's so many great ideas out there and great technologies and great marketing ideas, but the the thought process around implementation and execution typically isn't thought through by many companies that we're partnering with. Right. You know, oh, you just do this, this and this, which is a trigger for all of us. We always laugh when we're in a meeting. It's like, oh, it's no problem to switch from this point of sale system, this point of sales, and we're like right they're never there. Chris: That's sweet they're never there past the sales delivery. Right, it's just like. Then they're gone. You're off to sell someone else, that employee will quit if if I say we're gonna switch yeah well, let's talk a little more about. I guess you know you're born and raised here. Becks started here Chocolate Bar. Winfields now, what are some of the advantages that you feel like that you've experienced as a result of being a Texas based? Molly: company. I think Texans are unique in that we embrace entrepreneurs. In Houston, I have, in particular, found this to be an incredibly warm and receptive and we believe in you, molly attitude. I'm out there hustling chocolate so hard. I'm out there selling to businesses and people want to see us succeed. It's not like being in a part of the country where I feel sometimes like well, we'll see if she can make that happen, where they kind of mock you, whereas here I feel like people are behind us and that's such a positive that happen. You know where they kind of mock you, whereas here I feel like people are behind us and that's such a positive place to work, whether it's people who you're partnering with or buying from you or, you know, just giving you money to go make it happen. Right, it's hard to make a business happen without the ability to raise money. Chris: Sure. Molly: And there's faith involved in someone giving you their money to go make something happen. I mean, you never know, right, right. Chris: No, it makes sense. I couldn't agree more. I don't think what you described as kind of that spirit of Houston, houstonia, just kind of a very entrepreneurial, very welcoming and supportive community, love to see others succeed. So you know, let's talk about the contrast of that as we sit here today, and you're in the middle of it, and you're in the middle of it. Molly: What are some of the headwinds that you are dealing with or that you kind of see around the corner, that you're trying to prepare for? You know, I think everything feels a tiny bit chaotic right now, and I think it doesn't matter. You know where you are on any sort of belief system as a business person, you're sort of like what's happening right? And I think our hr director always says this. She's like what's the next right thing to do? What's the next right? And I think, with all the challenges and headwinds, and I think, with all the challenges and headwinds which I have to just globally say I can't specifically mention I'm like, oh, I could be like, oh, the tariffs are this or that. Maybe the tariff goes away tomorrow. It's not really a worry, but it could be a worry. It's just the uncertainty. Yeah, and uncertainty can be a significant economic headwind. Uncertainty can be a significant economic headwind because when we go into uncertainty mode, we are stuck. And we just. It's like we're all of a sudden we're standing on the Galveston beaches and our feet are sinking in that squishy sand. That's so warm right now and lovely. Chris: And we literally can't come out of it we don't do anything. Molly: It creates paralysis. We just go into, like, and so I think what's hard as a leader and as a texan and as an entrepreneur, is to not let that stop us from making decisions and moving forward. Yeah, so I go back to my hr director and says okay, what's the next right thing I need to do? Chris: let that stop us from making decisions and moving forward. So I go back to my HR director and says, okay, what's the next right thing I need to do? Yeah Well, I mean, I think it's one good you have a partner, whether it's any officer or not, but someone that you can lean on and have that. What's great about that is it's simple right. It's how you eat the elephant right, one bite at a time. So big picture can be overwhelming, create a lot of uncertainty, could create paralysis. So, okay, let's go back to the basics and what's the next right step, right, and then maybe with one step, it's easier to take the second step which leads to the third step and all of a sudden you've built some momentum. Molly: Yeah, and you can do something with that. Chris: Yeah. Molly: But it is you know, and at the same time as you take the next step, you've got to kind of know where you're driving towards. Chris: Yeah, so let's talk a little bit about leadership styles, and how would you describe your leadership style? How do you think that's evolved over time? Molly: You know I think I'm not very patient and I think that's hard, and I think it's hard to probably work with me, because we all have a tendency of we've got a great idea. We wanted to have happened two weeks ago. Chris: Right. Molly: Right, not just, not just an idea. It's like oh, that's a great idea, why don't? Why aren't we already doing it? Chris: And why is it already? Why isn't it done already? Molly: Like what's the problem? And so I think one of the things I've really had to work on is patience as a leader, and it's far more fun to be part of a team with a patient leader versus a chaotic always and and I don't do this perfectly well, and so either. I would believe you if you said you did, yeah, you wouldn't you know me for half an hour and you can tell this, but I think I love being a leader that people can say no to now. I think I love being a leader that people can say no to now. I think, it's really hard sometimes to be. You can be the type of leader people can't say no to because they're scared of you or they don't want to say no. But when my team has now in a place where we're close enough and capable enough, where they can say molly, that is a great idea, and if we try to do that right now, we will fail yeah like, okay, I can be mature enough to hear that now and I appreciate you saying that. So I think, I think I don't want to stop pushing us, but I've tried to learn as a leader where kind of thinking of an organ? Right now right, which pedals I should be pushing harder on or less hard? Chris: I think you raise a great point, because I think it's like anything. I think if there's too much of one thing, it's not good. It's that statement of everything in moderation, and I think one of the challenges of a leader is to know when to push and when to back off. So you had to when to be a little forceful versus empathetic and, you know, maybe demonstrating some more grace. But every situation is a little different. So a good leader assesses it and go okay, what type of leadership does this moment call for? Yeah, and it's that awareness, almost right, and learning to be a little bit versatile, because I think if you're all one all the time, you're not going to be as successful as you want. To be right, you will be in some moments, but you're going to fail miserably in others. And again, that's much easier said than done in practice, right? Molly: I mean, it's much easier said than I don't know. You know, I'm so critical of my own leadership skills. It's hard to even walk in here right now and be positive. And yet I would say I'm doing so much better than I was, and, in part, I think it's having people around me who have helped coach me to be a better leader. I've hired coaches, or I have people who've helped me through how to handle certain situations. I think tools help. It's interesting Six months ago, about a year ago we implemented this easy calendar tool so we could watch our projects and hold each other a little more accountable, and we got so crazy. We got off of using that tool and the team was like, hey, can we bring that back? Oh yeah, why do we stop doing that? And so I think when you do have tools that help you as a leader lead, they can be really useful. If they become a way for you to stop having, I think, the productive conversations and you're just kind of using it as a checklist, I think it can be dangerous, but there's ways to use all this technology and tools out there to benefit us as leaders. Sure, and I think that's something I've learned to do a little bit better in recent years. Chris: Any anything you can point to. I always like to ask this is not the fun question but failure or mistake that you experienced or encountered, that you learned from that. You're like that was a growth moment. In hindsight, man, it felt terrible, whatever I look back. And what a growth moment for me, anything you can share there, because I always find that that's such a great learning and it hopefully dispels for listeners, right, because you feel like you're the only one out there failing and he's like, no, you're not. Molly: Oh my gosh, you're going to learn from it. Yeah, and I think you know there's so much shame we only talk about our successes or people only talk about their successes, right, or it's more fun. I mean, I don't want to walk around talking about all the things I've done wrong, and this was a little while ago and I rely on it now because not everything we try. We've just released product at Central Market in June. We just yeah, super exciting. Chris: A chocolate product, a chocolate bar. Molly: We've got truffles and boots and some go to Central Market and buy our products. But also at the airports in the market, we've got some great fun Texas themed products at Intercontinental Airport. So if you're going through the airports, buy some Winfield's chocolate. So you go out there and I'm so excited right now to tell you about this. Right, we're in these great new major retailers and we're in 12 Kroger's. Well, what I'm not telling you is I've been in 15 Kroger's and now we're in 12 because we only find those. I'm not going to tell you about the three that we're not in anymore because they're not. You know, the others are doing great. Go find us at the Buffalo Kroger or the West Gray, go find us at the airport, and I'm not going to come back and be like, well, that didn't work. They never bought from us again. Which is, you work so hard to make those deals happen and get out there in the world and there's so much hustle and it may just not work. So, going back in time, I had an investor and this was a decade ago and we had opened some stores in Dallas, some Bex Prime restaurants, and one of them had failed and we were going to close it and I mean, I was devastated, ashamed, sad, all of the things, and I'd gone out and raised $2 million and I had lost that money. It was over and I had to call our investors and let them know what had happened. Phil Plant, he says so you stubbed your toe for the first time. I was like I did. He's like, yeah, you're going to keep stubbing your toe if you keep at this long enough. Chris: If you keep trying hard enough, right? Molly: If you keep trying hard enough and you keep putting these projects together and businesses. He's like you're going to have some wins and you're gonna have some losses and you're gonna stub your toe but keep going. And it meant I can't. I'm gonna cry thinking about it. He's a really great person and but that meant so much to me in that moment because I mean I had failed big time. I had the. Chris: It didn't work, you know talk about the value of having the right people around you, right? Wow, that's pretty cool. Molly: You know and with Agnes I mean that restaurant took a solid two years to take off. You know I had to go borrow some money to keep it going and now it is a place where our community meets and people love it and then it is neighborhood joy and connection. I could not be more proud of it. But I'm telling you, walking into a restaurant on a Friday night, that you have opened and convince people to give you money to open, and there there's not a single soul in the place not a single soul. Very humbling. Chris: Right, you wanted to go walk the neighborhood streets, going, come on. Molly: Yeah, and so I think you know now with my team I can, we can take the wins and the losses with a little more grace. Chris: Yeah. Molly: You know well, that didn't work. What are we going to try next? Chris: Yeah Well, I think you know it sounds like part of the culture, right, is you said? The one thing about you said as a leader is people aren't afraid to tell you no. And it sounds like you've created a culture where people aren't afraid to fail and learn from it and keep going, and that's to me a sign of a really strong culture. Molly: Well, and it's okay to say like well, that sucked. I screwed that up pretty bad. Chris: Well, we're conditioned to, like I said, we don't talk about failures. I think we're conditioned that, oh, don't talk about that, because it's got to look like it looks on Facebook and everybody's smiling and happy when we know that's not reality. And so we can get past that and just be transparent. Molly: Yeah, authentic. Chris: I think the better off we're all. Molly: But don't you think being more authentic has happened as part of post-COVID? Chris: era. Molly: Don't you think people are more open about their wins and losses? Chris: I think, so I don't know. It's kind of the chicken or the egg. I think Brene Brown started talking about it a lot more and it caught on in the corporate world and that was happening pre-COVID but close to COVID, and then with that the world goes upside down. I don't think anybody knew what. So about uncertainty, no one knew. So I think it did create a feeling of I don't know what's next and this okay to be authentic. And as we started coming out of that, then there's a lot probably exposed more in the sports world about mental health and all that kind of just built on itself, where I think we're learning it's okay and it's more acceptable to be more authentic. Right, it's a good thing, it's a great thing. Molly: It's way more fun to live in this world. I think I'm not. Fun is not the right word, it's just grounding. Chris: Yeah. Molly: It's more real. Right, I meet more real people. Chris: Agreed, agreed. So well, let's turn to a little bit more of a light side, okay, okay, so what's your favorite vacations place? Molly: Oh my gosh. Well, I'm a, I love adventure. So you know, skiing, hiking, colorado one of those Texas and Colorado type people for sure Love going down to Galveston and fishing and being on the beaches down there, and then we love to scuba dive. So hit the Caribbean. Chris: Awesome, that's all great things. Molly: I can identify with that Stay out of the sun. Chris: You're in the food business, but, and so this is my favorite question to ask every guest Do you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue? Oh man Hardest question of the podcast. Molly: This is so hard that I might have to Gosh. You know I'm probably a barbecue person. I think I'm going to go. Chris: We have a lot of good barbecue around here. Look, it's a hard question for a reason we have a lot of good barbecue, a lot of good tex-mex. You know, I've even had people try to answer it by combining both there's not. Molly: you know, look at levi good, he's got his tex-ex and his barbecue. He's sort of doing it right, that's right, that's right. Chris: So well, I want to, you know, just wrap this up by saying thank you for coming on and sharing your journey, excited to see what you're doing. Obviously, we watched the Becks on Kirby get redone because we're right around the corner, but what you're doing with the windfield chocolate sounds exciting and uh. Hopefully, now people hear this, they'll know more about agnes and yeah, come to all of ours. Molly: You can do breakfast at agnes, lunch at beck's, dessert at windfields. Chris: You hit them all I like it, yeah, so there you go, uh kind of a full service yeah, integrated, you can do it. Them all love it it Well, Molly, thank you for coming on. Molly: Thank you for having me. Chris: Really appreciate you taking the time. Special Guest: Molly Voorhees.

On Tuesday's show: The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld an historic penalty against ExxonMobil for pollution at its Baytown oil refinery. We hear from the group behind the long-running lawsuit on behalf of those who lived near the plant.Also this hour: In April, Houston police called ICE agents on a woman who'd dialed 911 to report domestic abuse. We learn the details of that case and discuss the effect it might have on people's willingness to report crime.Then, the Chris Larkin ALS Act is now law and takes effect immediately. It allows some people under 65 to purchase Medicare supplement benefit plans. We talk with the Houstonian it's named for, Chris Larkin, about his journey with ALS and about the emotional moment in the legislature he credits with getting the bill passed.And we go on a walk through the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center in Memorial Park with writer Isobella Jade to learn how to connect with nature in the heart of the city -- and how doing just that helped her deal with a divorce after moving here to Houston, as she details in her book, Heart Trail.

Originally released in December 2024, I take a closer look at the unsettling case of 30-year-old Debra Melo, who vanished on June 20, 2000, under deeply suspicious circumstances. Debra had been trying to leave a controlling relationship with her husband, Luis Melo. According to him, they argued on the way home from her doctor's appointment in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and she asked to be let out of the car on busy Route 18. He claimed he returned to find her gone—but Debra's pocketbook, wallet, ID, and phone were left behind, something that made no sense to the people who knew her best.The episode features an interview with Steve Demoura, Debra's brother-in-law and a tireless advocate for her case. Together, they explore the emotional toll on the family, the eerie timing of her disappearance—just a week before Molly Bish went missing—and the haunting legacy of Taunton's Silver City Galleria Mall, a place tied to both memories and mystery.It's the first in a two-part series, and it's as much about justice and advocacy as it is about the crime itself.On Friday, June 20, 2025, we will gather at Memorial Park in Debra's hometown of Taunton, Mass, in remembrance of Debra, to share memories and a message of hope.Follow Where is Debra Melo on Facebook Boston 25 News coverage of the 25th anniversary of Debra's disappearance by Bob Ward, June 2025The Boston Globe's Cold Case Files by Emily Sweeney about Debra's case 25 years on Support the show: patreon.com/crimeofthetruestkind Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Wednesday episode focuses on two scandals currently unfolding across the sports world. Andy and Brendan! are disappointed to miss out on a First of the Month recording, but are fired up about the field construction for the Valero Texas Open. The field was expanded to 156 players with full status, but would need to shrink to 144 before allowing any alternates into the field. Andy wonders how players on major medicals, career money exemptions, or sponsor exemptions could reasonably jump an alternate such as Hayden Springer, who's currently ranked 78th in the FedEx Cup. From there, the two discuss some fallout from last week's Houston Open after seeing some unfounded criticism of Memorial Park. Picks are made for Valero, as PJ looks to stay hot following his winning selection of Dr. Chipinski. Brendan then prompts Andy for more thoughts on the torpedo bat "scandal" in baseball and how the technologically-advanced equipment can relate to golf. The Schedule for the Week is laid out with an ANWA preview, some LPGA scheduling thoughts, and some groundwork for LIV and Champs Tour discussions on Friday. In news, Dallas is in talks to get a TGL franchise, filling the Luka-sized hole in the city's heart, and Billy Boy picks up a new partner for the Zurich.

The gang is back. DB has bones to pick with Pat and the guys teach Matt Every a big lesson in golf betting as the PGA TOUR heads to Memorial Park for the Texas Children's Houston Open. The guys discuss their approach to the strange betting board, early outright leans for now, and a handful of Top 20s. *TJ Ryder Cup 2025 Experience | https://eliteeventsandtickets.net/tour-junkies/ *Join our DISCORD w/ over 1000+ golf loving, DFS & Betting fans | https://discord.gg/tourjunkies *Join BET THE NUMBER with code “TJ” at checkout & leverage the most powerful golf handicapping analytics site on the internet | https://www.betthenumbergolf.com/ *Get elite betting content vetted and served just the way you like it on SoBet. Make sure you use referral code "TJ2025" at sign up to get 1st month at $1 | https://sobet.io/register?referral_code=TJ&promo=TJ2025 *Get Deposit Bonus & Sign Up for UNDERDOG Pick em' & Best Ball Drafts | https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-tour-junkies *Sign up for the “Chalk Bomb” emails for free that hit your inboxes every Tuesday & Wednesday | https://www.tourjunkies.com/chalkbomb/ Linktree for social follows & more | https://linktr.ee/tourjunkies Enjoy more free golf betting content on the Tour Junkies website! | https://www.tourjunkies.com Leave an honest iTunes Review. DB & Pat love reading all of these. It improves the show. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tour-junkies-pga-tour-betting-dfs/id1047779421 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0c50TtMGTMxYY88p3KQeIK?si=J5eCzz1kQJ-StbOtlub7Ig Enjoy more free golf betting content on the Tour Junkies website! https://www.tourjunkies.com

The boys are bringing the DFS show back for the next couple of weeks leading up to Masters as the Milly Makers are right around the corner. DB & Pat discuss DFS observations and takeaways from Valspar, and guess at the chalk this week for Memorial Park. Plus, the guys make their selections in each range in search of a few good pivot options for this week's contests. *TJ Ryder Cup 2025 Experience | https://eliteeventsandtickets.net/tour-junkies/ *Join our DISCORD w/ over 1000+ golf loving, DFS & Betting fans | https://discord.gg/tourjunkies *Join BET THE NUMBER with code “TJ” at checkout & leverage the most powerful golf handicapping analytics site on the internet | https://www.betthenumbergolf.com/ *Get elite betting content vetted and served just the way you like it on SoBet. Make sure you use referral code "TJ2025" at sign up to get 1st month at $1 | https://sobet.io/register?referral_code=TJ&promo=TJ2025 *Get Deposit Bonus & Sign Up for UNDERDOG Pick em' & Best Ball Drafts | https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-tour-junkies *Sign up for the “Chalk Bomb” emails for free that hit your inboxes every Tuesday & Wednesday | https://www.tourjunkies.com/chalkbomb/ Linktree for social follows & more | https://linktr.ee/tourjunkies Enjoy more free golf betting content on the Tour Junkies website! | https://www.tourjunkies.com Leave an honest iTunes Review. DB & Pat love reading all of these. It improves the show. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tour-junkies-pga-tour-betting-dfs/id1047779421 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0c50TtMGTMxYY88p3KQeIK?si=J5eCzz1kQJ-StbOtlub7Ig Enjoy more free golf betting content on the Tour Junkies website! https://www.tourjunkies.com