Podcasts about Merf

Send us a textIn this juicy, gear-loving episode, Chrystal and Merf sit down with Rin Musick—award-winning road warrior, longtime adult retail expert, and current Brand Ambassador for Sportsheets. Together, they dive into fat-positive and accessible design in the world of BDSM and sex gear, including the now-iconic Plus-Size Doggy Style Strap and the groundbreaking Pivot Collection.This episode is overflowing with laughs, sex-nerd joy, and real talk about body diversity, kink, and pleasure innovation for every body. Rin shares how Sportsheets is reimagining what inclusive intimacy tools can look like—and how fat folks, disabled babes, and kinky cuties are finally being centered in design.

Send us a textChrystal's out, which means Merf and Asherlee are left unsupervised—and naturally, chaos ensues. But beneath the laughter, we get real. We talk about fat liberation, therapy fails, the touch-deprivation epidemic, and how cuddle therapy can be healing AF. Plus, Asherlee opens up about launching a fat-friendly medical provider directory in the Pacific Northwest, her journey into cuddle therapy, and her newest adventure: relationship coaching. Spoiler alert: it's all about connection. Also… pulverized clits? You just gotta listen.In this episode, we discuss:Fat liberation in healthcare spacesHow cuddle therapy became a callingThe ethics and boundaries of professional platonic touchCreating a fat-positive medical provider directoryAsherlee's path to relationship coachingThe wild new version of the magic wandWhy touch, intimacy, and connection are revolutionaryHosts:

Send us a textChrystal and Merf welcome the incomparable Marie Denee, founder of The Curvy Fashionista, for a real-talk episode packed with fashion, fire, and fat joy. Marie shares her journey from launching a blog in 2008 to becoming one of the most respected voices in plus-size media. We dive into fashion industry pitfalls, the power of representation (yes, including steamy werewolf smut), and how Marie's pushing boundaries with her growing digital empire. This one is full of laughs, inspiration, and a whole lot of truth. Plus, find out which sex toy brand has Marie feeling fancy.

Send us a textChrystal and Merf are back with a bold and juicy new episode diving into Fat Con 2025, kink exploration, and radical fat liberation.

In today's episode, in honor of Open That Bottle Night 2025 (which is tomorrow night!), we taste TWO, one of a kind wines, that we'll never have the opportunity to taste again. Ever. These two wines Shelley and Phil blended and bottled in January of 2024 during their Northstar Blending Experience. We highly recommend putting this experience on your bucket list. Now, go grab your OWN wine that you've been holding on to and taste along with us! Happy#Friday! #ItsWineTime! #CheersingWines this episode:2022 WTF Phil's Blend (N/A)2022 Merry Christmas Merlot (N/A)A HUGE thanks to our sponsors: Elsom Cellars, Pilgrim's Market and CDA Gourmet!Pilgrim's Market: Check out Pilgrim's Market for an expansive selection of fine wines with wine club prices EVERY day and weekly complimentary tastings and just up the street from CDA Gourmet! Visit pilgrimsmarket.com or call 208-676-9730!Elsom Cellars: Good times are meant to be shared and so are great grapes and great wines! Since 2006, Elsom Cellars has been producing brilliant Washington wines. For more information about Elsom Wines, please visit http://www.elsomcellars.com CDA Gourmet: Are you looking to elevate your kitchen? You need to check out CDA Gourmet! Located in Midtown Coeur d'Alene, just down the street from Pilgrim's Market, CDA Gourmet offers a diverse mix of flavor enhancing product as well as the tools to make it all happen. Visit https://www.cdagourmet.com for more information or  call 208-551-2364. CDA Gourmet: Your kitchen elevatedAnd of course, a HUGE thank you to Tod Hornby who wrote and recorded our official Wine Time Fridays theme music. Please visit https://todhornby.com to see what Tod is up to!The Eternal Wine Wine Words of the Week - AssemblageAssemblage is a French term referring to the process of blending wines from different grape varieties, vineyards, or vintages to create the final wine.Eternal Wine: Are you a Rhone Ranger or just really love Syrah? Then you need to check out Eternal Wine! Their focus is on single vineyard Rhone valley wines in Washington State. Also check out their Drink Washington State brand of approachable wines! Visit https://eternalwine.com for more information or simply call 509-240-6258. Eternal Wine: Drink Wine, Be Happy.Mentions: Northstar, David "Merf" Merfeld, Danielle, Rotary on the Rocks, Kevin Olsoneberg, John Freeman, Waterbrook, Browne Family Vineyards, Do Epic Shit, Cinda Allen, Palencia Winery, Dineen Vineyards.Have a listen to our time with Dottie and John on Episode 096!Products used in this episode: The One Wine Glass and Boomerang Two-Step Corkscrew Wine Opener with Built-In Foil Cutter & Bottle Opener.Please find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WineTimeFridays), Twitter (@VintageTweets), Instagram (@WineTimeFridays) on our YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@winetimefridays and on Threads, which is @winetimefridays. You can also “Follow” Phil on Vivino. His profile name is Phil Anderson and will probably “Follow” you back! 

The new year is not yet a week old, and there are already tons of local stories to catch up on. Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins producer Paul Karolyi to speculate about Mayor Mike Johnston's new hire to help shape the future of downtown, Bill Mosher, including his connections with the Colorado Convention Center scandal of 2018. They also preview the 2026 governor's race now that AG Phil Weiser has thrown the first official hat into the ring, discuss the recent attack on a TV journalist in Grand Junction, and look back on former President Jimmy Carter's fascinating legacy in Denver. And of course, our first round of wins and fails of 2025. Paul mentioned this piece by Colorado Politics reporter Marianne Goodland and the fate of Merf's hot sauces.  What do you think local journalists' role in covering Trump 2.0? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Följ med när vi pratar om hur man överlever ett arbetspass på över 40 timmar, Polska bröllop som spårar ur på det bästa sättet och vad som egentligen är världens sämsta pizza.Tack alla ni som skickat in veckans historier: Kornelia Johansson, Niklas Stejjan, Henrik (Extra på Patreon), Jörgen Saldert och Filip MalmstenOch extra mycket tack till er som skickat bidrag via våra Swish: Martina Jansson, Anne Tysnes, Jonna Broberg, Pelle Eriksson, Helen Andersson och Erik Ekstrand! Hjältar är ni!Glöm inte att trycka på följknappen i din podspelare och gå gärna in och diskutera veckans avsnitt på våra sociala medier och om du lyssnar via Spotify kan även delta i våra olika omröstningar. Fred, kärlek och Fernet.Medverkande: Jesper Borgenstrand, Charlie Petrelius, Henrik Olsen, Jens FrithiofssonStöd oss på Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HantparestaurangSwish: 1234 8689 64 - Hänt På ABFölj oss: FB: Hänt På Restaurang / Insta: Restaurangliv / TikTok: Hänt På Restaurang / Threads: RestauranglivMaila in din egen historia till: jesper@hantparestaurang.seSponsor / Annonsering: sponsor@hantparestaurang.seMusik:Henrik Olsen - HPR ThemeThe Daniel Caine Orchestra - The Incredible HulkLjud från:SF - Jönssonligan & Dynamit-Harry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I veckans avsnitt så pratar jag om merförsäljning – det snabbaste sättet att öka försäljningen! Du får höra hur de mest framgångsrika företagen använder sig av merförsäljning och hur du kan dra nytta av upselling och cross-selling för att ta din försäljning till nästa nivå. In och lyssna, nu kör vi!   Vill du veta mer om min säljutbildning The Academy? Läs mer här: https://www.closersonly.se/theacademy 

Send us a Text Message.Ever wondered what it takes to challenge societal norms and gain recognition for advocating fat acceptance? Meet Tigress Osborn, the Executive Director of NAAFA, who has recently made it to Time Magazine's prestigious Health 100 list. Join us for an invigorating conversation as Tigress shares her personal journey in combating size discrimination, the thrill of being spotlighted in Time, and the vital role of fat-positive language in mainstream media.Our deep dive into the pervasive impact of size discrimination uncovers heartfelt anecdotes from Tigress and other fat activists. From microaggressions in everyday settings to the importance of representation and allyship, we discuss the social barriers that fat individuals face and the collective efforts needed to dismantle these biases. Hear about the photo shoot that brought the community together and the significance of allies in amplifying the voices of those affected by size discrimination.In our final segments, we celebrate the strides made in body size representation and systemic change. Learn about Pinterest's innovative initiatives for inclusivity, the success of NAAFA's fundraising campaigns, and advocacy efforts in legislation and healthcare. Merf joins us for closing remarks filled with personal stories and empowering messages, emphasizing the importance of uplifting language. Discover how to connect with NAAFA and our community, and support the ongoing fight for fat liberation. Don't miss this compelling episode of Big Sexy Chat!https://time.com/6967232/tigress-osborn/Support the Show.BigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

I veckans avsnitt av Noll till 100 pratar vi om hur man ska tänka kring produktutbudet för ett D2C varumärke.0.45 min - Ett av de största misstagen ett D2C brand kan göra. 3.15 min - Fokus på sin core och add-ons.6.00 min - Merförsäljning: fysisk vs e-handel.10.45 min - Problem som kan uppstå: Cashflow och lager.18.40 min - Tankar kring hyllvärmare och relaterade produkter22.40 min - Om att lösa problem och exempel från Shark Tank.25.00 min - När ska D2C varumärken introducera nya produkter?28.30 min - Exempel på bolag som framgångsrikt har lyckats bredda sig bortom sin första core produkt.33.32 min - Exempel på bolag som inte är specialiserade till en produkt. 38.48 min - Add ons, kompletterande produkter som gör nytta.41.50 min - If you confuse you lose; hur ska man tänka kring för många val?46.40 min - Så lyckas du som frilansande konsult.Här hittar du Fedja & Jacob:https://se.linkedin.com/in/porobic https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobwibomwesterberg/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered if those high-end sex toys are really the key to unlocking uncharted territories of pleasure? Well, buckle up, because we've got the lowdown on the latest gadgets from We-Vibe and Womanizer that might just revolutionize your Valentine's Day—and every steamy session thereafter. Your favorite trio, Chrystal, Merf, and the ever-efficient Asherlee, bring you unfiltered insights and hearty laughs as we dissect everything from the "USS Orgasm" to app-controlled titillators that could make even the most stoic of us blush.This episode isn't just about getting off; it's a treasure trove of practical knowledge—think of it as your sexy, savvy friend who's not afraid to spill the tea on durability and discreet operation. We share our personal escapades with these toys, evaluating everything from their whisper-quiet motors to their splash-proof prowess. And for those moments when you're cursing at finicky charging ports, we've got you covered with some life-pro tips because, let's face it, nothing kills the mood like a vibrator that won't buzz to life.As we wrap up, we can't help but rave about the Womanizer vibes that left us reeling with their magnetic charging marvels and lingering climaxes. If you've been eyeing up a sensual present for that special someone—or yourself (no judgment here)—this chat might just tip the scales. So, pull up a chair, pop in those earbuds, and join our candid convo; you might just find your next guilty pleasure or, dare we say, a new best friend for your bedside drawer.Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

I veckans avsnitt diskuterar vi love is blind och utmaningarna när fysisk attraktion saknas, hur man sätter gränser gällande ekonomin från början, hur man avgör vems efternamn man tar, ifall man behöver döpa barnen med enkla namn för att underlätta för dom, när man dejtar någon som själ hemma hos en, ifall killar snappar upp när tjejer försöker hinta om vilken present de vill ha och mycket merFölj oss på instagram @Sagdetbara! Följ även @sdbevents för att höra om kommande eventsSupport till showen http://supporter.acast.com/sagdetbara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you ready to take your intimate moments to a whole new level? This episode promises a fun and open discussion about our favorite sex toys and aids. From the unassuming yet miraculous coconut oil that Merf swears by, to the infamously named but game-changing "Womanizer", we've got plenty of tips and tricks to enhance your pleasure. We also discuss the importance of skincare, given the high concentration of nerve endings in certain areas, and dive into a frank discussion about vaginal health. Ever wondered how the sex toy industry has evolved over the years? We have a fascinating chat about the progression from a male-dominated industry to one that is more inclusive towards women. We explore some innovative toys, like the Satisfy-R Top Secret, a wearable vibrator with cutting-edge features, and the iconic rabbit vibrator, beloved by many thanks to "Sex and the City". Plus, we chat about the often-overlooked importance of lube, especially for those with larger labia.But what good are sex toys without proper maintenance? We shed light on this often overlooked aspect, discussing the importance of using medical-grade silicone and how to avoid your toys melting into each other. We also give some handy tips on how to clean glass toys, along with delving into the benefits of sensation play. We wrap up by discussing the need for accessible sex toys suitable for different body sizes and disabilities. Because pleasure is for everyone. So, join us, Chrystal and Merf, as we share our love for these aids and how they can change your intimate life for the better.Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

How often do you find yourself grappling with societal pressures about body image or worrying about the implications of taking diabetes medication? If these questions resonate with you, then our latest episode of Big Sexy Chat is right up your alley. We don't shy away from the hard stuff, in fact, we dive right into a poignant discussion about Metformin and Ozempic, and their potential ramifications. Merf offers insights from his personal experiences with these medications, and we go as far as dissecting the controversies and lawsuits surrounding Ozempic—an eye-opening segment, to say the least.But it's not all pharmaceutical talk, we have some exciting news to share! In January, we're partnering with FatCon and Pucks aplenty for a live event in Seattle. What a joy it is to anticipate being in the same room again, sharing our stories and experiences. Of course, the safety of our community is paramount, so we stress the importance of vaccination and mask-wearing for all attendees. This event, we hope, is a beacon of optimism for all of us craving that human connection after a challenging couple of years.From discussions about microaggressions to extolling the virtues of Liberator's plus-size furniture for sex, we cover a lot of ground in this episode. Can you imagine the comfort and flexibility of sex furniture that actually caters to larger bodies? It's about time! We also emphasize the importance of supporting small businesses and friends' ventures, not necessarily with money but by sharing their content and spreading the word. So, join us for this enlightening chat, and don't forget to follow, like, and subscribe to Big Sexy Chat. You won't want to miss out!****************Visit our sponsor https://bbwxxxadventures.com/ to go on your own adventures, today!Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

I veckans avsnitt diskuterar vi ifall det går att ha separata sovrum men en fungerande kärleksrelation, grabbar som för anteckningar på sexpartners, ifall man får slå en person som snarkar för att det är störande, ifall de finns en praxis mot att gå på spa med ett gäng grabbar, varför kvinnor tycker det är en ick att sova middag, ifall det är racial profiling att inte kunna skilja på två svarta män, dejta som introvert och mycket merFölj vår youtube kanal där vi släpper ett avsnitt varje söndag samt vår instagram och tiktok @sagdetbaraSupport till showen http://supporter.acast.com/sagdetbara. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Jeff Musgrave // #GeriOnICE // www.ptonice.com  In today's episode of the PT on ICE Daily Show, Modern Management of the Older Adult lead faculty Jeff Musgrave discussed several strategies that can be employed to achieve intensity, which is crucial for cognitive changes. These strategies, including increasing load, decreasing rest, and increasing work time or volume, are part of physical training and can drive metabolic adaptation and enhance cognitive benefits. By challenging the muscles and cardiovascular system through increased load, individuals can experience improved cognitive function. Similarly, reducing rest periods allows for a more continuous and demanding workout, while increasing work time or volume extends the overall duration or amount of exercise performed. All of these strategies contribute to increasing the intensity of the workout, which is essential for promoting cognitive changes. Incorporating a dual motor task and cognitive layer during exercise can further enhance cognition. This can be achieved by integrating activities that require both physical movement and cognitive engagement. For instance, one way to introduce a dual motor task is by having individuals hold two cups and transfer water from one cup to the other while walking. This adds complexity to the exercise and challenges both the motor and cognitive systems. Additionally, engaging in mental tasks like answering questions or performing mental math while exercising can also enhance cognition. Starting with simple preference questions and gradually progressing to more challenging cognitive tasks can create a cognitive load while individuals focus on the physical activity, leading to cognitive changes. It is crucial to control the intensity of physical training by adjusting factors such as load, rest, work time, or volume to ensure the desired cognitive benefits are achieved. Shifting exercise sessions to a busy environment can introduce cognitive load and improve cognition. Instead of conducting sessions in a quiet one-on-one room, it can be beneficial to move to a busy clinic space, a bustling hospital hallway, or even an outdoor setting with unpredictable elements. Exposing individuals to a busier environment adds a cognitive challenge to their physical activities, such as skating or walking. This cognitive load stimulates cognitive changes and enhances the cognitive benefits of training. It effectively adds a cognitive layer to the exercise session and promotes neuroplasticity. Furthermore, incorporating a dual motor task, such as moving water back and forth, and asking cognitive questions like preference inquiries or mental math can further amplify the cognitive benefits of the exercise session. Overall, integrating a busy environment and cognitive tasks into exercise sessions can be a valuable strategy for improving cognition. Take a listen to learn how to better serve this population of patients & athletes. If you're looking to learn more about live courses designed to better serve older adults in physical therapy or our online physical therapy courses, check our entire list of continuing education courses for physical therapy including our physical therapy certifications by checking out our website. Don't forget about all of our FREE eBooks, prebuilt workshops, free CEUs, and other physical therapy continuing education on our Resources tab. EPISODE TRANSCRIPTION 00:00 INTROWhat's up everybody, welcome back to the PT on ICE Daily Show. Before we jump into today's episode, let's chat about Jane, our show sponsor. Jane makes the Daily Show possible and is the practice management software that so many folks here at ICE utilize. The team at Jane knows how important it is for your patients to get the care they need and with this in mind, they've made it really easy and convenient for patients to book online. One tip that has worked well for a lot of practices is to make the booking button on your website prominent so patients can't miss it. Once clicked, they get redirected to a beautifully branded online booking site and from there, the entire booking process only takes around two minutes. After booking an appointment, patients get access to a secure portal where they can conveniently manage their appointments and payment details, add themselves to a waitlist, opt in to text and email reminders and fill out their intake form. If you all are curious to learn more about online booking with Jane, head over to jane.app slash physical therapy, book their one-on-one demo with a member of their team and if you're sure to use the code ICEPT1MO when you sign up, that gives you a one month grace period that gets applied to your new account. Thanks everybody. Enjoy today's show.  01:33 DR. JEFF MUSGRAVE, PT, DPTAll right. PT on the ICE Daily Show. Welcome. This is Wednesday. This means it is Geri on ICE talking about all things, topics to help make your care for your older adults as good as possible to really set yourself apart as an expert with older adults. What we're going to be talking about today is exercise that improves cognition. There are a couple different types of exercise training that is really superior for improving cognition for older adults and we're going to talk about what those are and then how to incorporate them into your care. Before we get to that, just a quick rundown of what we've got going on in the older adult division. If you were hoping to catch the next cohort of Essential Foundations, that'll be starting in August, August 9th. If you're looking to get your advanced concepts, if you've already taken Essential Foundations looking for that next step, that'll be October 12th. Next opportunity to see us live, you've got three opportunities in July. We're going to be in Connecticut, Georgia, and Idaho this month. If you have been itching to see us on the road, get to do some of these fun labs and things that you've probably seen on social media, book your seat, come see us. We're going to be all over the place as we do 2023. Many of our older adults are worried about their cognition. They may already be experiencing cognitive changes. Maybe they've got just mild cognitive impairment. They don't have an official diagnosis. Maybe they've got early stages of cognitive change all the way to advanced dementia. It's not uncommon for us to be treating community dwelling older adults or older adults in an institutional setting that have experienced some cognitive changes. When we're thinking about our exercise interventions and how to prioritize, making physical change while keeping in mind we know there's a cognitive component. Sometimes a cognitive component ends up being more critical than the physical component for some of our older adults. We're talking about safety. We're talking about independence and their ability to manage their home environment, for example. This can be huge. The reality is a lot of us don't know where to start when we're thinking about how do I do both get the physical training piece and keep in mind they've got some big cognitive impairments on board that I'm concerned about. There was a 2019 article titled, Preferred Type of Exercise for Cognition Enhancement in Older Adults. It did just this. It broke down what types of exercise we should be focused on. Once you get through this article, and I'll share it in the caption as well if you want to look it up yourself, but there were two types of exercise that we're going to cover. The third thing we're going to do is just talk about the practicality of how to get those cognitive changes for our older adults in our sessions. The first type of training that was most beneficial for driving cognitive enhancement was a category called physical training. If you're familiar with CrossFit or not, I'm going to describe a workout to you that would be very squarely in this component of physical training. So MERF, very common Memorial Day workout done to honor a fallen soldier. The workout is one mile run. We've got 100 pushups. I'm sorry, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats. So that would very much squarely fit into the grunt workout. You're grinding. It's a long workout with high metabolic demand. So the first category was physical training that was intense. High intensity physical training was the number one thing that they found was beneficial for enhancing cognition for older adults. So many of our patients are not going to be doing MERF. So the question is, what's this look like clinically? So any workout that's using compound functional movements and you're moving at high intensity where you've controlled the work rest ratio, you've controlled the number of repetitions or the volume, and you've controlled the pace, you can modulate to get up to high intensity. But high intensity training is superior for cognitive enhancement. So for a patient that may be doing a remom, every minute we're doing different activities. We've controlled the amount of work and rest time. The patient is going to pace that themselves. So say minute one, we're doing 10 sit to stands. Then the next minute we're going to do carries over and back across the room with the weight that's challenging. So there's maybe 10, 15 seconds of rest. And on the third minute, maybe we're going to be doing some supported jumping. So grunt work type movements. There's not a whole lot of thought involved. Hold this walk, stand up, sit down, put your hands here, jump. Very simple, basic activities, but their nature of them being compound functional movements where we've controlled rest, we're going to drive intensity and we're going to drive metabolic adaptation, which was key for enhancing cognitive benefits in training. So that's what we want to be thinking about. Category one, physical training. They found that the change happened because of changes in the metabolic system and hitting intensity was key. So high intensity grunt work style training improves cognition. That's good news. That follows right in line often with what we're trying to do with our older adults because we know most of them are sedentary and need physical training. They need to be stronger. They need higher cardiovascular capacities to really keep themselves on a healthy trajectory as they age. So the second type of training that was beneficial for enhancing cognition was a category they just called motor training. So a good example of this would be a Turkish getup. So maybe you've never done a Turkish getup, but if you can imagine yourself laying on your back, you've got one arm pointed at the sky with the weight in your hand. You're going to move from lying on your back all the way up to standing with the weight overhead. You're going to be balancing the weight the entire time and then going all the way back down to lying on your back. That would be an example of motor training. It's a complex task. There's actually 14 steps in a Turkish getup for just one side. A lot to think about, lots of positions to hit, complex movement, a novel task for a lot of people in general, but especially older adults getting up and down off the floor without using an arm, but also adding load and having to balance that weight makes it complex from a motor training standpoint. So maybe our older adults are not doing Turkish getups. Some definitely can. There are research articles that have shown that older adults can do Turkish getups and it's beneficial for them, but maybe a more practical example for a lot of us would be working on floor transfers. Many of our patients need to work on getting up and down off the floor, doing that where we're working around a cranky joint, a knee, a shoulder, maybe a hip that is super stiff or doing this at a novel environment. Maybe we take them outside on the grass where maybe they don't have furniture or they've got limited furniture where we've just created a complex, novel task. It's motor training that's complex and that's what's going to drive cognitive adaptation. This motor control category, the driving factor was complexity and it was direct neuroplasticity. So directly impacting neuroplasticity when we do complex motor tasks. So getting up and down from the ground in a different environment would be a great way to drive neuroplasticity directly. So we've got these two categories. We've got high intensity physical training and then we've got high complexity motor training. Those are the two different avenues we can use with exercise to improve cognition for older adults. So the question is, well, what do we do? Which one is most important? And if you've been around the ICE community very long, you've probably heard this before. Or if you're new to following along with the journey here on what we're doing with our clinical approach, you're going to know the answer to this. And that is and not or. We want to do both. So we want to be greedy when it comes to our patients. We want to give them the maximal benefit, the maximal value out of every single session. And we can do that by driving intensity while driving complexity of task. And the easiest way to do that is a strategy we call layering. So a good example of this would be, say we want to drive intensity with gait training. Lots of great ways to do this. We can put a gait belt on our patient and hang on to it and add some resistance that way. We can do the same thing with a resistance band. We can throw a weighted vest. We can have them hold weights. Gait training just got much more intense at whatever resistance is appropriate to challenge our patient by just adding resistance to that walking. So we've already achieved intensity there. So how do we add this motor training piece? How do we add complexity to also enhance cognition at the same time? Lots of different ways to do this. You could do a weighted vest and maybe we've got someone with two cups in their hand and they're transitioning water from one to the other while they're walking. Man, we've just layered on a dual motor task while we're hitting intensity with a vest. Another great example, we can ask simple preference questions. That's usually an easy way to ease in on the cognitive load. Just ask them some random questions that sound like conversation. You may already be doing this, adding a cognitive layer and not realize it, but asking them questions while they're concentrating adds a cognitive component. We can scale that up. We can ask for mental math while someone is doing intense gait training. That can be super beneficial. We can ask, what's your favorite color? We can ask them to subtract three from 74 out loud while they're walking under intensity. We can move them to novel environment. There are lots of different ways we can add that in. You want to control the two things you've got to do to put these things together. For physical training, you've got to control intensity. You can increase load, you can decrease rest, you can increase work time or volume. All those things will help you reach intensity, which is crucial for cognitive changes. The second piece is adding a dual motor task like we talked about the water back and forth. You can add the cognitive layer by asking questions, preference questions, mental math, those type of things. Moving them into a busy environment. Maybe you have your sessions in a quiet one-on-one room. Maybe you move out into busy clinic space or into busy hospital hallway, or maybe you're in home health and you can take someone outside or into busier environment where there's unpredictable things and there's some cognitive load on just skating and keeping yourself safe. That's another great way to add cognition. That's what I've got for you, team. You want to hit intensity through physical training. You want to add complexity with motor training. The third thing is you want to add layers. You want to layer up your intensity and cognitive difficulty as much as possible to get the most bang for your buck, especially when there are cognitive deficits on board. If anyone's got any cool strategies, layering tips, tricks, things they've done that they found fun and beneficial, or you've just got questions or comments, drop them. I'd love to see those and interact with you. I hope that was helpful for someone out there. Have a great rest of your Wednesday, team. See you later.  14:52 OUTROHey, thanks for tuning in to the PT on Ice Daily Show. If you enjoyed this content, head on over to iTunes and leave us a review. Be sure to check us out on Facebook and Instagram at the Institute of Clinical Excellence. If you're interested in getting plugged into more ICE content on a weekly basis while earning CUs from home, check out our virtual ICE online mentorship program at ptonice.com. While you're there, sign up for our Hump Day Hustling newsletter for a free email every Wednesday morning with our top five research articles and social media posts that we think are worth reading. 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Eva and the boys Make Waves.. discussing garage bands, the culinary delights of international touring, and using pre-recorded tracks in a live setting. We also get a visit from the band mascot "Merf"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready for an empowering and entertaining conversation exploring the world of body positivity and self-love? Join your favorite hosts, Crystal and Merf, as we discuss the crucial work of the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) in advocating for fat people's rights, particularly in the medical field. We also tackle the pressing issues of fat-phobia, discrimination in the workplace, and the power of holding people accountable for their fat-phobic comments and actions.In this episode, we also dive into the impact of Twitter's new blue checkmark policy on marginalized communities and the questionable motives behind Metta's association with it. But don't worry, we keep things light with a hilarious take on how people in San Jose are reacting to Elon Musk. Additionally, we explore the fascinating worlds of hair, plus-size fashion, and fetishes. From H&M's recent move to offer clothing in size 3X and 4X online but not in stores to the psychology behind fetishism and the prospect of creating an OnlyFans account for foot and penis evaluations, we've got it all covered!Lastly, let's talk about self-care and body image. We share some valuable strategies for managing negative body image thoughts, and we even review the We-Vibe Nova sex toy! As always, we're here to keep you connected with Big Sexy Chat and our upcoming events. You won't want to miss this engaging, empowering, and downright entertaining episode. So, sit back, relax, and let's dive into another incredible episode of Big Sexy Chat!Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

The hiatus is over! We're back and going deep in it... deep into updating about why we went on a brief hiatus in April, deep into grief, deep into emotions, and finally deep into an exciting new vibe of the week! We discuss cancer, abortion, death, and prostate play. We like to keep you on your toes. Adulting sucks. We missed you. We are back in the saddle.Merf gives us a review of the Vector 2 by We-vibe.  She and her husband loved it. They give it 4.5 stars out of 5. The charger was the only thing they did not like. 4.5

This week's host, Moe Roddy, is joined by world-renowned naval architect Merf Owen of Owen Clarke Design. Merf is a "hands-on sailor-designer," with 250,000 miles of offshore sailing experience - including a climbing/sailing expedition above the Arctic Circle - and is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects. Hear what opened Merf's eyes to wanderlust, how he got interested in yacht design, his favorite boats he designed, what makes a strong boat and a strong design team, and how the people you meet can propel you forward in your career and in life. Learn more about Merf at OwenClarkeDesign.com

Can you stand the heat? It takes a lot of gastrointestinal fortitude to taste test dozens of local hot sauces, but that's what we did — all to narrow it down to five top contenders: Sauce Leopard, Merf's, Oso Rojo, Danny Cash, and The Heat. Each one deserves a shot at being named the best hot sauce in Denver, but only one will win! Our state politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins newsletter editor Adrian González and producer Paul Karolyi to rate our contenders on heat level, flavor, and versatility before they pick the best of the best.  For even more food news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: New Era Colorado  Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discussed Aubrey's newest book "You just need to lose weight, and 19 other myths about fat people."Merf and I had the absolute honor of interviewing Aubrey Gordon - also known as "Your Fat Friend" and co-host of the wildly popular podcast, "Maintenance Phase."Thank you, Aubrey. We had a blast and hope you did, too.Merf starts off by describing to Aubrey why she loved the style of her new book, "You Just Need to Lose Weight."  We loved her writing style, how the chapters were broken down, and the definitions of various words we use in our community, and we REALLY loved the reflective questions Aubrey created. (Not to mention SO MANY citations and research in her book.) It is truly a fat person's RESOURCE GUIDE.We hear a fabulous story about Merf and her boss who asked their executive team (and her work) if anyone has been reading anything that really made them think and Merf suggest Aubrey's new book! I (Chrystal) ask Aubrey how come she did not include the "Fat Girls Give Better Blow Jobs" myth in her book.  And that led to a discussion about how we fats get hypersexualized and desexualized at the exact same time. Hyper-fetishized and also meet people who will not be seen with us in the same breath. We got to have a discussion about Aubrey meeting Lindy West recently and we both agreed that Lindy is 100% absolutely without pretense and funny as hell. We discussed the FOREVER question about when and who should we engage with when it comes to "concern trolls" and other anti-fat jerks on the internet or out in the wild. Merf asks Aubrey how the podcast Maintenance Phase and her books have impacted Aburey's personal life. We have a bit of fun discussing ways we would TRULY like to "glorify obesity" if that were actually possible. Would we want free drinks? Free First Class upgrades on airlines. Cutsies in line at Disneyland?  Aubrey feels COLD HARD CASH is the way to go with the perks of glorifying obesity. (Hopefully, you can read my sarcasm here. We need a sarcasm FONT!)Aubrey enlightens us about why she prefers the term 'anti-fat' over 'fatphobia.'I ask Aubrey (and Merf) if they have any pithy replies when faced with anti-fatness out in the wild.  (People with actually diagnosed phobias already have enough stigma to deal with.) We have a meaningful discussion about HOW WE CAN AFFECT change and not just bitch about the B.M.I.

How to raise kids that are not fat-phobic assholes. Thanks to Jen McLellan, the founder of Plus Mommy, PlusBirth.com, and the creator of Plus Mommy Podcast for her amazing interview.Asherlee stepped in to help me interview Jen while Merf was off having a few fun days in Atascadero. Thanks, Adherlee. We discussed so many topics about getting competent health care for your kids. Jen and Asherlee give some really great advice for dealing with your kids' healthcare providers. We also discuss the new (garbage) AAP guidelines and what trash they are. We asked Jen how she handles the grandparents and aunties/uncles to NOT fat shame and NOT talk about bodies of any size. #boundariesaresexyHow does Jen handle it when her son asks about her fat body and so much more.Jen feels there is some hope for younger doctors that are just coming out of medical school. She talks with and interviews them and she does see a glimmer of hope with the new doctors who want to offer health care to marginalized communities, empathic health care to people in fat bodies, Jen got to interview Mary Lambert here>> https://plusmommy.com/mary-lambert/Here is a link to Mary Lambert's 4-week babe camp:https://everybodyisababe.teachable.com/Mary's Weight Neutral Provider Spreadsheet. Great tool. We also asked Jen which is her favorite sex toy at the end of the episode. Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

Linnea Marie can be described as an enthusiastic advocate for self-love and sex positivity. She is a Board Certified Educator and Clinical Sexuality Coach. Throughout the years Linnea has empowered the masses with knowledge of sex, sexuality, relationships, anatomy, and pleasure products. She is able to share her knowledge through her coaching services, classes, parties, and social platforms. Her ultimate goal is to encourage, educate, and sprinkle sex-positive inclusive information everywhere. For more information, products, and bookings check out www.exxxiteme.com.IG: @ex.x.xitemeTwitter:  @ exxxiteme Facebook: exxxiteme Email: info@exxxiteme.com You can use the code BIGSEXY  for 15% off Linnea's website:  www.exxxiteme.comLinnea, Merf, and I discussed destigmatizing the use of lubricant. It improves ALL kinds of sex.  And, #1 is ALWAYS consent.We discuss how most of us are just regular ol people and not Gold Medal athletes of sex like porn stars are.  So, please do not expect us to be able to do all the stuff you see in porn right off the bat. Linnea answers WHERE to start with sex toys if you are new to them.We discuss sex toys for rad fat babes. She gives great tips. Linnea really loves the NOVA2 by WeVibe.For a more affordable option, she loves the Satisfyer 2 because of the long handle, air suction system,  and vibration.We discussed how if your partner is anxious around sex toys, remind them that the toy is a team member. NOT competition. We also discuss the Liberator pillows and furniture. They have a line for babes of size and they REALLY hold up to larger bodies. We all three love Liberator and all of their products. BE INTENTIONAL about your sex life. PLAN date nights. When you are an adult, nothing happens spontaneously when you are an adult. Do not leave your sex life to chance. PLAN your sex nights and date nights. Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and our community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

Season 2 - We are very excited to publish our first podcast of 2023. Full of fat and Sassy information and opinions.The first half, Merf and I interview each other so you all can get to know us better. I definitely learned lots of new stuff about Merf! She learned I do not drink coffee! Blasphemy, I know.We rage, I mean discuss, the b.s. going on with Ozempic and Wegovy.  (Celebrities using it for vanity purposes and leaving diabetics to have to figure out how to get meds they need for living.)We also rage about the American Academy of Pediatrics suggesting diet drugs for kids between 2 and 13. Weight loss surgery for kids 13 and higher. We are both grossed out about the harm they are going to cause. Kids need unconditional love, not to be body shamed.Then we launch into our listener email. The author is 50 and wants dating while fat advice.  Asherlee, our editor, mentioned there is an app for people of size that are dating. It's called Woo Plus.At the end, Merf tells us all about an $85 toy she really does not like!Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and your community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

Corey Berrier: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Successful Life Podcast. I am your host, Corey Berrier, and I am here with my man John Ellis. What's up, John?  John Ellis: Hey, good afternoon. Good to see you, my man. Oh, likewise. I'm glad to be here.  Corey Berrier: I'm glad to have you. So, John, I, you know what? You can introduce yourself far better than I can introduce you. Corey Berrier: So could you just tell everybody a little bit about yourself and some exciting things that you're we're gonna talk about  John Ellis: today? Oh, absolutely. So again, my name is John Ellis. I've been in the H V A C industry for about 43 years now, so I've seen a lot of changes come and go and. I am a recovering contractor. John Ellis: I had a H V A C business in California, and I'd like to say it took me 13 steps to get over that hump because I loved being a contractor. Don't get me wrong it, what a great experience. I've had a wonderful opportunity to work with a lot of great developers and other trades. And in, in that though, I, my truck said SoCal air dynamics. John Ellis: performance contracting. So I was doing performance contracting way before it was cool. And. I specialized in high performance installation and systems and design. I was an Air balance technician. I was a hers reader. I'm a level one thermo for doing thermal imaging. I am an i a Q specialist. I'm an economizer specialist. John Ellis: And I was commissioning leads, buildings, and I was running maintenance and service, you know, Calls as well, your normal everyday day-to-day kind of H V A C type stuff. So, but in that I had some wonderful opportunities, worked for some amazing people. I have some great mentors that helped coach me and bring me up in the mechanical aspect. John Ellis: But then I crossed over into the building science and I was able to have some wonderful mentors in that and then into the indoor air quality realm of. Just some wonderful associates and mentors to help me in that. And so, wonderful opportunity. Fast forward we went ahead and sold off the business. John Ellis: We moved. I am in a lovely New Mexico, Northern New Mexico. I live in a cabin in the woods, completely different way of life. I have absolutely no mechanical and so I'm on a bunch of different forums and people say, Hey what kind of thermostat do you like? So I show my. because , we chopped down trees and cut wood. John Ellis: And so d different way of life. But that being said, I did start a consulting business and it's called Dynamic Air Consulting. [00:02:30] And in that business I work with clients that are severely respiratory or immunocompromised. So when my clients come to me, so keep in mind I've been doing indoor air quality a very high level for a very long time, along with all the other stuff that I've learned and they all. John Ellis: Together. And so my customers come to me with cystic fibrosis that's a death sentence. Although they've made great strides, C O p D, they're gonna die from that. Lung transplant recipients tie  Corey Berrier: some, tie something together for me really quick. I didn't mean to interrupt you. Well, I guess I didn't mean to. Corey Berrier: No worries interrupt you. No. So this is the, like a residential I I have to use it in the frame point that I can. So this is just like a normal person would call you with these issues? Is that what you're saying?  John Ellis: Or are you saying a company would and I. . So it worked, it worked a different way. Because I put myself out there as that person, I got a lot of calls and most of the time it was a family with with a family member or themselves, or especially children who had a wide variety of problems. John Ellis: Once I got into that field and really started putting into practice, Creating solutions for those types of clients. The word got out and I didn't have to advertise. I mean, it was 100% referral based. So when I talk about cystic fibrosis, that's about as severe as you get, or a lung transplant recipient. John Ellis: I mean, the biggest thing is that they don't reject that organ that they've. A environment that's conduces of healing and an overall wellbeing. And so then oncology, immunology debilitating asthmas all the way down to seasonal, you know, garden variety allergies were my types of clients. John Ellis: And in, in that, I use that opportunity to work with contractors to come in the. Use all my testing equipment, create a process of discovery, work our way out of a structure or a building, working with a family specific to their needs. And then we come up with a scope of work and then of course it's up to them to bid it because I can't know all marketplaces across 50 states in Canada. John Ellis: But that gives them an opportunity to really underst. How to go in and diagnose and create a solution for a specific type of client. So it's a wonderful opportunity. And then I've got the, just the amazing the amazing pleasure of teaching indoor air quality for Dyke and Amana Goodman. John Ellis: Now, they approached me about four years ago and said, John, we understand that you've been doing this for a while, and we want to create a curriculum [00:05:00] for the h. H V A C, industry specific, and I said, I am absolutely your guy, but I will not stand in front of a group of people and sell products because that's what everybody else does. John Ellis: And I said, it's gotta be the nuts and bolts in science behind indoor air quality, which include building science, building forensics, and I A Q from an mechanical point of view. Built for our industry. And they said, let's get started. So it took about a year to develop the curriculum and get it through the processes, which until you start doing this for a big company like Dyke And getting it through legal was fun, John Ellis: But we got there. So I've been presenting this curriculum all over the United States and Canada. It's been very well received and contractors are putting it to. And it is just amazing. And so then I also am a business coach and field service trainer for the new flat ray. So love them or hate. it works, and there's a lot of pushback on, on our methodology, but I have a, an opportunity to go in the field, work with contractors. John Ellis: I'm a business coach and field service trainer, and we get into their books. We look at what's working, what isn't working, which technicians are profitable, who needs help, the overall processes. First and foremost, we are not. Pricing company. We are a software and process development company. John Ellis: We work with the contractors', existing pricing, and then we take it from there and help them increase revenue, create consistency across all levels, whether you're an a service technician, whether you're selling equipment maintenance technicians. We handle warranties. And so we, we create a process. John Ellis: and it absolutely works. And in that with the founder Rodney Coop, I was able, With him to create the very first and only in our industry, a building science and indoor air quality menu pricing system. And it's a module and guys are absolutely killing it out there. We put it through beta testing. It's been up and running for a little over a year now, and guys are just having great success. John Ellis: So that's a, it's a wonderful opportunity to cross over into me getting into the field, helping con con contractors be profitable in their everyday business, but also develop a indoor air quality division or process within their company. [00:07:30] Fantastic opportunity. And then I work with a, I work with an OEM and I've been working on a product development for the last year, and we've got something coming out hopefully in the next few months. John Ellis: That's just fantastic. And it is just ba back to basics. It's Merf 16 mechanical filtration, outrageous performance data behind it with like a three year filter life and a very low static drop. And all the numbers are growing favorable for us. And so that's gonna be launching here pretty quick. John Ellis: Dude,  Corey Berrier: You've been a busy. Like, when do you find time to sleep in that cabin? . .  John Ellis: Holy cow. Hey. My, my and the wonderful thing, my wife gets to travel with me, we're empty nesters. She does some different work that she's able to work remotely. She's actually been an actress for 22 years in Sag after, so when we're home she does a little acting projects. John Ellis: I dabble in that too, so it's really fun. Last year a movie came out, and this is a selfless plug, so don't mind me. It's just but it's called Apache Junction with Trace Atkins and. , we got to film it here in New Mexico and they put a shotgun in my hand and I got to do a full blown Western movie shootout with the main actors, and they threw a stick of dynamite and I got blown up. John Ellis: So if I never do another thing and for the rest of my life, I am a happy guy. , that's like the coolest scene you could have  Corey Berrier: that's unbelievable. And so I, I don't have that cool of an experience, but I was in. . I was filmed in Oceans 11. Wow. It never came out. But I wasn't extra, I was not what you said, I was not anybody, but I was a paid extra in the movie and I had no idea. Corey Berrier: I didn't know what Oceans 11 was at the time. I was just out in Vegas just having fun. But your experience sounds like it was  John Ellis: like unbeliev. That's so cool. It was really neat. Yeah. And we've been blessed to meet through my wife and doing some project. We met some good friends out here, and they're like, Hey, we're doing this movie. John Ellis: You want to come along? It's absolutely. Yeah. And they're like hey, you know what? One of the guys didn't show up. You wanna be in a shootout? It's don't have to ask me twice. But anyway, it's I dabble, so it's a hobby and I am just happy as can be to be able to do something like, That's incredible. John Ellis: Yeah.  Corey Berrier: I always thought it was interesting how how actors even get into character, get into different character. You've gotta have a certain mindset to be able to do that. And it's just  John Ellis: fascinating to me.[00:10:00] It is. And Yeah. Yeah. A lot of respect goes to a actors, you see 'em on TV and, you hear the backstory and, certain actors get in trouble and you think, oh you know what? John Ellis: But you know what, there is a lot that goes into it. I got to work with Liam on a short one, and that guy. , the, I've got a certain set of skills, , from taking what a neat guy. And he is 100% focused on his craft. And it's a, it's really neat to see some people that, you know, that, that are really into their craft. John Ellis: And so the, I digress anyway, .  Corey Berrier: Wow, that's fascinating. Alright, so let's get back into this. So you did mention you mentioned the methodology. I think you were talking about a new. , you mentioned people that, some people don't agree with that. Tell me more about that.  John Ellis: Sure. And again, so you'll love it or leave it, it doesn't matter. John Ellis: All I know is it works and with my experience working with contractors across the United States and it does bigger small community. These big cities, it doesn't matter. It works. So let's break that down a little bit. And it's not to spend too much time on it, but because I know this is not a a marketing show, but anyway so let's say a contractor is I is selling let's use an outdoor capacitor for a condensing unit. John Ellis: Okay? That's simple enough. And let's say they sell that for 250. . Okay. And it's okay, that, I've seen it run the whole gamut of pricing across, different markets are different and okay. That's. . And so I like to call that our cheeseburger. And so you're gonna sell that cheeseburger for $250. John Ellis: You sold it yesterday for 250. You'll sell it tomorrow a week from now, and three weeks a year from now. You know, borrowing any price increases, you're gonna sell that cheeseburger for 250 bucks. But what if your client is a lobster or a filet mignon kind of person and you don't have that on your menu? John Ellis: How many are you gonna. Zero. Zero. So what we've done is we've taken your base pricing. If you are selling a cheeseburger for 250 bucks, let's start there. And then we have an algorithm that will build our menu and we use five choices. It will build up to the filet, yong and lobster, right? And and then let's say our top option is $1,400. John, how can you sleep at night and sell a capacitor for $1,400? It's whoa. Wait. I am not selling a capacitor for $250. I am selling a platinum [00:12:30] service that includes a capacitor, and you always do more. You never do less. And so we go into what we call a wire termination service. John Ellis: We will cut all those bear stay connectors off and we will put shielded connectors. Hey. If the magnetic Conor's got a little pit in it, guess what? We'll go ahead and change that. We'll go ahead and clean the evaporator coral, we'll pull it apart, and do that service. We always do more and build that value in that service. John Ellis: But if you never offered that on your day to. Demand service calls, you'll never sell it. And we're showing on a national average that 50% of your clients will wanna buy more than a cheeseburger if you only have it on the menu. And it's amazing. So the part that gets people a little riled up is we. John Ellis: Fully scripted, and we use what's called linguistic psychology and verbal packages. And this is where we lose people. So in, instead of calling a magnetic contact or a magnetic contactor, we call it a voltage distribution system. We call it what it does. And the system that it works in, it's in voltage, it distributes the electricity, right? John Ellis: So that keeps people off of Google. off of eBay, off of YouTube. And if they wanna know, we'll tell them. Fascinating. And it's not to be dishonest. When you go, when you go to a homeowner and you're talking about a maged contactor or a capacitor or whatever it may be, that's all Japanese to them. John Ellis: So why not call it what it does in the system it works in? And if they really wanna know, we'll tell them because our system is built on honesty, integrity, and common sense. We're not here to bamboozle anybody. We just wanna have a conversation. At the end of the day,  Corey Berrier: if you're providing the service that customer enjoys, they enjoy you coming to their house twice a year to. Corey Berrier: The unit, if they enjoy you doing the things that you mentioned, that's what they're paying for. They're paying for the service, as you mentioned. They're not paying for the equipment, they're not paying for all those things. But I wanna make one of the point, so I love that you, that you said it like that because to keep people off of Google. Corey Berrier: Why? People may think when they hear that that's shady. It's not really shady because what's really happening there is you're actually giving them more [00:15:00] clarity by keeping them, not looking up everything that everybody else looks up. In other words, you're keeping their, because what happens, right? Corey Berrier: You get a lot of people, not me, but let's just say your foot starts hurting for some people, they're gonna Google it, right? And they're gonna read all the things that talk about your foot, and by the end, They're gonna have a broken foot that's had, it's got gangrene because they read a bunch of articles that make no sense. Corey Berrier: Right. And that's what you're saying. You're keeping people from  John Ellis: muddying up what you're  Corey Berrier: trying to accomplish, which is to provide them with a product and service that is superior to everybody else.  John Ellis: Here's the biggest thing behind that and this is where. Industry has ended up, we commoditize parts. John Ellis: So if I said, Mr. Corey, this is all you need a capacitor, what don't you need? If this is all you need, what don't you need? , you don't need me. So we wanna put the value back on the contractor. You are the value, you are the commodity, not the part, but that's where our industry has ended up. We commoditize parts and then we get lost in a sea of people who are trying. John Ellis: Sell the cheapest parts. So if I'm not important, and now it's just a numbers game, I'm buy 50,000 capacitors and get 'em for next to nothing, and so that's where I'm gonna make my money. It's like, no, you need to make your money on being the best service provider you possibly can. H V A C, techno technicians, what do they do? John Ellis: They fix stuff, so let 'em fix stuff and then that's right. We'll just have them follow a process, put a menu in front of the customer and allow them to choose the level of service they want. Because typically we'd go into that and say, Hey, Mr. And Mrs. Homan, you gotta back capacitor. It's 250 bucks. John Ellis: Take it or leave it. We just back them into a corner and they don't have any say in the, in, in the matter. You know, millions of dollars change hands every day in the restaurant. by giving you a menu and allowing you to choose the cheeseburger or the filet mig yong. That's right. It's no different. And it's a wonderful experience. John Ellis: We perceived value comes up. And when you allow the con the customer to make a choice on their level of service, sales resistance drops way down because you're not pushing them into a corner. We don't like to be pushed into a corner as human beings. And that's some of our. [00:17:30] Yeah, dude.  Corey Berrier: I mean, anybody that just has lived on this earth in the last couple of years has felt like they've been pushed into a corner at some point, right? Corey Berrier: So just, you can think about that as the same thing. And you're right, people, and people don't like feeling like they're being sold to. And when you say you've got a, you've got to, you've got a bad this, you've gotta do this. It does make people defensive.  John Ellis: A hundred percent it does. So that's that's our basic philosophy for demand service. We've got a wonderful process for maintenance agreements as well. I'm putting together, I'm gonna be speaking at the H V A C symposium here in a few weeks in Florida, Brian ORs group, and I'm gonna be speaking on maintenance agreements. John Ellis: Now, last two years, I've been talking heavy on indoor air quality, but I'm changing it up a little bit, historically. Maintenance agreements have lost money. We look at it as a lost leader, right? We look at it for customer retention and relationship. We hope to get that demand service right and then eventually at the end of that lifespan of that customer. John Ellis: We'll get the equipment change out hopefully, and so what we did, so let's look at let's say you charged $240 for a maintenance agreement that includes two visits, one in the spring and one in the fall before winter, right? So one before summer, one before winter. So at $240, I, and you may not know this, or the listen, listeners may not know this, on average across the United States. John Ellis: It cost a contractor $250. Now, some markets are different to put a truck in a driveway for 45 minutes. Now what is that, that's the truck, whether you own it outright or you're making payments, the maintenance on the truck, the technician, the windshield time fuel, having a fully stocked truck with parts, and the benefits package for that technician. John Ellis: When you add all those up, it's about 250 bucks to put a truck in a drive. for 45 minutes. So if you're doing $240 on a maintenance agreement for two visits, that's $120 a visit. You've already lost $130 before you even left the shop. And then if they only go in and do the maintenance, go through their checklist, do the maintenance and leave without. John Ellis: Having added services, let's say you've got 1800 service agreements at, and so at the end of the year on those 1800 service agreement, based on the numbers that I justed, now, those numbers are subjective. They changed, that's [00:20:00] $468,000 a year that you've lost by having a maintenance agreement. Oh, well, John, we're gonna get, we're gonna get that we're gonna get that equipment. John Ellis: Okay, let's look at that. Let's say you get a piece of equipment or a new customer acquisition and their equipment's three years old, and so 10 years down the line, it might be time to change that. And so at losing that $260 annual, by the time you get down to where you're gonna change the equipment, you've eaten up all the profit that would've been in there. John Ellis: That's $2,600. By the time that 10 years is done, you've eaten up that profit. So really if unless you understand the numbers and follow that you've just broken even, or maybe made a little bit of money on that equipment change out, cuz 25, 20 $600, it's a lot of money. And that could, that, depending on where your margins are, that could be all the profit you had in that change out. John Ellis: So we have a process that allows you to get positive invoices. Off of every ticket, and it's a process one, a maintenance. A maintenance call is probably the most relaxed and the most stress-free call you could ever do with a client because it's casual. They haven't been without he. Speeding or cooling for a few days and are at their wit's end, or worried about what it's gonna cost. John Ellis: But if you go in and do a maintenance and spring something on 'em, woo, just about knock my thing, spring something on em, the sales resistance is gonna go through the roof. So you have to set the table and you do that from the time the CSR sets the the appointment all the way to you and the call, and then being able to see value added opportunities. John Ellis: So people are most concerned about failures or no safety. And then the second thing they're most concerned about is failures. And then the third thing that comes way down into the 30% percentile is like sundries accessories, bolt-ons, add-ons, anything like that. So it's important to understand and just have that conversation. John Ellis: Hey, what brings us out here today? You're here to do a maintenance. Fantastic. Mind if I come in, ah, show me a round the thermostat unit. Hey just to clarify, did anybody ever tell you what all's entailed in our maintenance visit today? They may have looked at it when they first signed up. So here's a story. John Ellis: I was in Minnesota and I was riding with a brand new maintenance tech. He just got his truck, his first day in the truck, and he's riding [00:22:30] along with me, right? And we go to the call and I said I said here's what we're gonna do. I'm gonna run this call. You watch me. So I start going through. John Ellis: My scripting. And we get through we get through it and it's Hey, did anybody ever tell you what's all involved in our maintenance? Her phone rings. She's Hey, just a minute. She answers the phone and she says, Hey, can I call you back in just a little bit? The filter guys are here. John Ellis: Yeah. Wow. The filter guys. So our industry our the marketplace thinks that we're a bunch of filter changers and, but filter. I'm a filter changer. So we have to build that value. And so it's like, you know what? Today we're gonna go through your mechanical system, your performance system, and your safety systems of the equipment. John Ellis: We wanna make sure everything's running the best it can, and we here at Dynamic Air believe that safety is no acc. For you and your family, that is always our top priority, and we wanna kind of help ensure that you're not overpaying on your utility bills with the performance of the system. Hey, by the way, how's everything been running or working? John Ellis: Any strange noises sounds, any comfort issues hotter. Cold. So you ask that que and you know what they're gonna tell you. If they don't, that's fine. You know what we get all the time. Oh, everything's been working just fine. Oh, that's good. Good to hear. Glad to hear that. Hey, you know what? I know you said everything's been working just fine, but if I were to come across something that is of a concern that could cause. John Ellis: a breakdown in the upcoming heating or cooling season. What would you like me to do about that? And then they're gonna calm down a little bit. Well, yeah, I'd like you to tell me about it. Well, we are here for a preventative maintenance, right? And so what I just did is I set the table every step of the way. John Ellis: One, now they know that I'm not just there to change a filter and, you and every company's different. Are you doing combustion analyzing? Are you checking all the electrical components? Are you checking function? Are you checking airflow? Are you doing visual inspections on everything? So it's gonna be different, but that's a lot more than just changing a filter. John Ellis: And then two, I set the table for letting him know when I'm done, if I find something, you gave me permission to come back and. And I'm not just bringing it on 'em. And then so you do your maintenance and again, based on honesty, integrity, competence, and training. You go through it, you look and always look for those value added. John Ellis: I'm a firm believer that every system should have surge [00:25:00] protection on them. and then looking at the, you know, the performance part. You look at the blower, it doesn't take a whole lot to do a pull and clean on a blower, and that's an added service. But then you come back and you say, Hey, Mr. And Mrs. John Ellis: Homeowner. I just did your maintenance and everything is running pretty well. However, I am a little concerned. I did find a fault in , whatever that may be. Your com, your your exhaust removal system. It's operating outside of manufacturer specifications. It could cause you a problem in the upcoming heating season. John Ellis: Hey, I got several options. You like to go over those now, let their yeses BS and their nos be. Makes sense. Hundred percent. And then you show 'em. You show 'em the options. And so what does that do? One, one, they're already relaxed. They're not uptight because it's a maintenance call. You already told 'em what you're gonna do every step of the way. John Ellis: And so if it's of a concern to them, it's a convenience thing. Yeah. We can take care of it now, or you can wait till it breaks down. On the coldest day when you call us and I've got 50 calls, I may or may not be able to get. . And so that's the whole process. And then we took it a step further to introduce the conversation about indoor air quality. John Ellis: I got one more question. Is there anybody in the home that has allergies, asthmas, bronchial, or respiratory issues that we need to know about? And they're gonna say yes or no. Oh, you know what? Little Johnny has asthma and some certain times of the year it aggravates. I'm really sorry to hear that. John Ellis: And I feel for you. You know what? Our company's running a special right now while I'm doing my maintenance, I can run a 30 minute air assessment, and this just lets us know if there's any pollutants in the air that we need to be concerned about. It's free. Is that something you're interested in? John Ellis: Free. Everybody likes free. Everybody likes, so depending on what kind of equipment you have. I work with a company called Air Advice. You set up the monitor, you go. your thing in 30 minutes, it it sends a report to your phone. And then as you're having that conversation with the customer about what your findings are, it's oh, by the way, I got that report back. John Ellis: We'd like to go over that now based on some national averages from the E P A, the National Lung Association and the National Heart Association. Some of your pollutant levels are a little concerning, but don't worry, we have some options to take care of that. Would you like to go over those now so it's not high? John Ellis: Right. Go ahead. Yeah  Corey Berrier: and if you think about that very situation, right? That nobody should ever feel bad about having that conversation with that customer [00:27:30] ever. Right? And what I'm saying is a lot of the guys do feel like they're that, that would be a sales pitch, right? Some people may hear this and think that's a sales pitch. Corey Berrier: I hear that. And I feel like you have you've totally executed a sales process. you. And I love that you get the book, customer buy-in because I think that's absolutely key. Because if people give you permission to tell them whatever it is that you need to tell them, they can't be upset with you. Corey Berrier: They can't be upset when you tell 'em whatever they told you, they could, you could tell them. And so I think that's really key, right? I think it's super key.  John Ellis: It is. . And that's also gaining customer confidence in your abil ability too. And that, that's just part of our process. John Ellis: And it's now I've been doing it a long time and some contractors stumble over it. But once you learn the scripting, it becomes very did it sound like I was robotic? I made it very conversational. That was a. So just getting comfortable with it, making it your own stepping in and out of the script, but always getting back to it is something that takes a little bit of practice, but it's it's really neat. Corey Berrier: And making it, a little customizable, as you said, making it your own, I think super important because I think Scripps work. But I also think once you learn the script, like you do, need to tweak it on your own. I'm not saying change the process or change the script, but as you did, and as you use your language patterns and your tonality with me,  John Ellis: that was your  Corey Berrier: version of the script. Corey Berrier: And people need to get their own version  John Ellis: of it so it feels good. . Yeah. And very conversational. A hundred percent. Yeah. It should always be a conversation. And if,  Corey Berrier: and like you said, it's a yes or no, que if you ask 'em a yes or no question, if the answer's no, it's cool. Like, yeah, you shouldn't feel bad. Corey Berrier: You shouldn't have, you shouldn't feel like I've gotta sell them something before I leave. No it's you're really gonna ruin a customer if that's how you feel.  John Ellis: But if you don't ask, you don't get. So by, by setting the table, having the conversation, bringing them we're showing about 50% of maintenance calls can be converted. John Ellis: I mentioned the one kid out and I call 'em a kid cuz you're a brand new maintenance tech. And by the way, maintenance techs are starting to become a thing because more and more companies. Because you have a service tech and a service tech. One, the technician is anticipating making a certain amount of money. John Ellis: And so then you've got a younger technician who's learning the ropes. They tend to get put on. to maintenance calls which is fine. I mean, that gets 'em real [00:30:00] comfortable with the equipment and everything that's involved with that. But then, a certain, maintenance tech wants, a service tech wants to make a certain amount of money and there's an opportunity when doing service because hey, they, they called you, something's broke, you're gonna go and fix it, and they're gonna buy something from you That's given. John Ellis: And so their commission. Base on those service calls is a given where a maintenance tech typically doesn't have that opportunity because they're coming up. But with our process, it gives a maintenance technician the opportunity to actually increase value in the maintenance call, convert that to a positive ticket, and now they can be commission based as well. John Ellis: And so that company in Minnesota, they've got three or four young maintenance techs that are just killing it out. and they're getting commission and the revenue from the maintenance department is almost catching up to service department. Another reason we have maintenances, and this is an old school of thought, is when you your exit strategy, Hey, we're, you know what I'm older now and I'm thinking about selling my business. John Ellis: It used to be the school of thought. How many maintenance agreements do you have? And that, that was tied into the value of your. . They don't even look at that now, do they? It's not really it's not really that way now. It could be a small part of it, but not the same kind of weight it had many years ago. John Ellis: So if you look at your company, departmental wall, wise, you've got a service department that better be profitable. You've got an installation department that should be very profitable. You've got a sales department that's profitable and then you've got the elephant in the room, the maintenance department that's losing money and hemorrhaging. John Ellis: And so they take money from the other three departments to prop them up. And so if you look at that overall, that would devalue your. But if you've got a maintenance company that's just rocking and catching up to your service department and is standing on its own and profitable, that changes the game. John Ellis: Absolutely changes the game.  Corey Berrier: Alright, so let me ask you this. So the numbers, and I'm just curious because you mentioned maintenance techs and service techs. So when you mentioned that I think it was 500 some dollars, Was it 500 bucks per tech or something a year? I can't remember the numbers you just said. Corey Berrier: Well,  John Ellis: based the numbers are they're arbitrary based on what different companies sell their maintenance agreements for. And I've seen companies I, and the reason I use the numbers, I, cuz I've worked with companies who sell their maintenance agreements for $240 for two visits. And so once you start Yeah. John Ellis: A lot of them [00:32:30] breaking. Yeah. And based on the cost of putting a.  Corey Berrier: Here's what I was wondering. So I was just wondering what the I was really just wondering like how much of a difference are you seeing in like a maintenance tech, the out, how much you would have to pay a maintenance tech with a different, maybe different type truck. Corey Berrier: I don't know. Do the numbers change that much, I guess is what I'm asking?  John Ellis: Between a maintenance tech and a service tech. A service tech gets his. because something is broken, A customer is feeling pain and they call you. And so you know you're gonna go there and you're going to charge that customer for a repair. John Ellis: So the revenue is almost guaranteed. Whatever that may look for Sure look like at if your customer's only sell selling cheeseburgers, hey, you know what? I'm gonna go sell a cheeseburger, whatever that may. Sure. But a maintenance tech goes there and they're gonna go through a routine maintenance. John Ellis: And historically our industry doesn't look at that with the same opportunity. as a service call. And so for then, let's use silly numbers. So let's say you've got a good maintenance tech. He's got a few years, he's an apprentice, 15 bucks an hour, but you've got a top level service guy that's making 30, $35 an hour, but he be, and he's running, 10 calls a day. John Ellis: All those 10 calls should yield a certain amount of money. So you're bringing in $2,400 a day on the truck. But if you're sending a maintenance tech out, To a maintenance call and not able to convert that, you're losing money no matter what you're paying the all right.  Corey Berrier: Yeah. So I think where I was trying, my brain was trying to draw the line was that 15 and 35. Corey Berrier: I was just trying to understand what the difference was and how much you pay each person. But you helped un, you helped paint that picture really well because now you. That makes total sense. And you're a hundred percent right. That maintenance guy is not even a threat. Right. He's not even a  John Ellis: threat. John Ellis: That's why it works. Right, and because of the way we've looked at maintenance agreements as a loss leader. through the years having a low level maintenance tech that's making lower dollar per hour makes sense. But when you give, when you train them and give them that opportunity, man, they just, they, they're like, yeah, they don't mind being a maintenance guy because they're making, now they're able to make, I was really referring  Corey Berrier: like, for the customer, like for the customer. Corey Berrier: Like it's a, it seems [00:35:00] like a super smart. To have the maintenance gotta go out instead of the service technician because it's an easier conversation and therefore they should be able to convert those tickets quicker than it being a service technician. That's what I was saying, right. . Well,  John Ellis: absolutely. And to your point, because I work with so many companies all over the United States. John Ellis: I've worked with companies who are holding 2000 maintenance agreements and they're really having trouble with the labor shortage of getting 'em all completed. So they're sell, they're sending out their top. Technician to do a maintenance. They feel belittled and they feel there's no opportunity here. John Ellis: So they're just like, we're, they're just turning 'em over. So you're paying a guy $35 and he's turning 'em over as fast as he can without following a process and looking for those opportunities just to get 'em all done. What a. What a lost opportunity that is. The they that's leaving a whole lot on the table. John Ellis: And again, I'm talking in general terms, it's so different. What happens in California is not the same in Georgia. And in New York, almost every call is a parking ticket. So they add that to their , they add that to their call right off the top. So we, I'm talking in very general terms, so I don't want anybody to think, oh, it's not that way in my marketplace, ver very true, but I'm looking at. John Ellis: Averages and trying to give a general description across lots of different marketplaces. And so there's a huge opportunity to be profitable in a maintenance department no matter what your marketplace is.  Corey Berrier: A hundred percent. But that makes total sense. And man, you really just kind of hit me between eyes with them trying to catch up with these maintenance agreements and. Corey Berrier: they're top people out. And I hadn't thought about how that top person feels, which is sort of embarrassing, right? I hadn't thought about how they feel when they go out to this crap call and they know it's a crap call. .  John Ellis: And they just burn it. They just burn it because they don't think there's an opportunity there to make their, their commission with that, that they would on a service call, based on, a dollar amount of the. John Ellis: Yeah, it's not worth  Corey Berrier: it to 'em. Like there's, there's not enough juice was it squeezed for juice from the, how they . I get you with that. You're squeezing, squeeze from the juice or juice for the squeeze or  John Ellis: something like that. . Yeah.  Corey Berrier: Holy cow. That's fascinating. All right, so I do want to I do want dig into I knew, [00:37:30] and you knew I was gonna ask you about this. Corey Berrier: You said recovery contractor. As we had a little bit of a conversation before the show. I'm a recovering alcoholic and I think that's actually what I said to you is I said it's interesting you got a name recovering contractor. Tell us a little bit about that journey, if you don't mind. John Ellis: Yeah, and and I used that term rather candidly because any contractor that a business owner knows, there's a lot of pains that come with. operating and owning a business and trying to be successful and all the things that come with that. But I and on a personal note, and I'm gonna be very transparent here, I was not always the guy that's on your screen today. John Ellis: And I had my struggles with alcohol and substance and and it took its toll. But by the grace of God, I was able to turn that all around and I've got 22. Sober and it's been the best 22 years of my life. And I was a young slinging, H V A C guy and out there just, running and gunning and having money come in. John Ellis: And I was partying it all away. But you know what there's a better way. And it was my turn. It was what I. Needed to do. And I realized that, and we all, we there's lots of things that come when we're talking about the big book in different ways and Bill, and Bill's book and, everybody's bottom is different and you gotta hit your bottom and. John Ellis: but you know what, it's very true that we all have a different bottom. And I was, like I said, I was running and gunning and partying, and I thought everything was fine. And oh, I'm different because I'm a functional drug addict. And it's until I wasn't, and it sneaks up on you. And it's been a journey and I'm not embarrassed to talk about it. John Ellis: And like working with younger people and helping them find their path and their journey. And everybody's a little different on how they get there. And and it's and it's fine. And yeah, it's been the best 22 years of my life, . So let  Corey Berrier: me ask you a question. If somebody's listening to this, right? Corey Berrier: Obviously people are listening to this, but. , if there's a listener that maybe is going through that early struggle or maybe they haven't hit that bottom yet, and maybe they are a HVAC contractor, maybe plumbing contractor probably. And and they're in a position where, you know, they are the business owner. Corey Berrier: So like lots of times we don't have too many people to go to, especially if you're still in addiction. What would you say? Does somebody that, that is struggling out there, what are some of the things that maybe you really, you know, if you'd have pulled your act together quicker, that maybe could have saved you time or could have saved you money or whatever it is. Corey Berrier: Cause I know there's some things in there.  John Ellis: [00:40:00] We could do a whole segment on this. That's a fair point, right? One, one you gotta identify, there's a. Until you admit there's a problem, there's not a problem. Two, you gotta want it and you gotta want it more than other people want it for you. And three, I think one of the biggest things is separating yourself from those people. John Ellis: And it's painful. And it could be family members, it could be a spouse that's just there for the party with you. And I know it just sounds brutal, but you have to separate yourself from that to give yourself a fighting. To heal and people heal differently. And so how you go about that is there's a ton of resources out there whether you want to go the recovery method from Bill, which is spiritual base, or you could go the other way. John Ellis: I used a program called Celebrate Recovery. It was based on 12 steps right out of the. and it was church based and it was a fantastic program. There's a lot of crossover and it's a, the healing process is the same. You have to go through, you gotta go through the process, the 12 steps or whatever that may be. John Ellis: And so that's again, so identifying, admitting you have a problem, you gotta want it more than other people want it for. , and then you've gotta get yourself away from, the sources, if you will and just dig in. And a again it happens faster and slower for different people, however they react to it. John Ellis: But it, it's wonderful and and I thought, I thought I was having a great time, because next thing 10 years goes by and I'm, man, that was a great time, , but now you're deep into your addiction. It's a journey. It  Corey Berrier: is for sure. And not an easy one. And I'm, I say that, it's not an easy one. Corey Berrier: It doesn't ha I'm not saying that it, that all of it's hard. But if you just do the steps and trust in whatever you trust in, take your foot off the gas, take your foot off. We'll let somebody else drive for a minute, which I had a problem with of course. That will change things for you. I've seen in my own life work, just even recently. John Ellis: Yeah, absolutely. So John,  Corey Berrier: this has been just an incredible conversation. I really, yeah, really appreciate you coming on today. If you could could you just tell everybody where they can find you, if you also wanna mention anything that you wanna mention, how they can get ahold of you or if you wanna, and if you wanna do any kind of giveaway or anything on the on here, you can do that as well. Corey Berrier: We didn't talk about that, but  John Ellis: be before we close out there, there's one other component that I wanna talk about, and that's my indoor air quality principles workshop that I do. It's [00:42:30] 16 hours of this , so 16 hours. But and it's two days. It's foundational and we take that deep dive, our, over the last two and a half some years with the onslaught of the pandemic. John Ellis: And I like to think. At the tail end of that. Now all this stuff came out of the works w woodworks and there was all kinds of manufacturers of gizmos and gadgets, making claims that were basically dangerous. And our marketplace, I think right now, has hit saturation. And those those products, if you will, and I'm not gonna say any names cuz I don't have to, and it doesn't matter where your beliefs are, I base everyth. John Ellis: That I talk about on, on science and reviews and scientific studies. But I think there's a void a vacuum, if you will, in our industry right now for something more tangible and real. And so that's I'd like to think that I'm in a position to fill that void with my I A Q workshop now. John Ellis: It has nothing to do with products. It is about finding a For a client that is in great need, the, there is a great need to serve our clients right now in this realm. And people being at home with the pandemic realize Hey, that wall looks dingy, let's paint it. Or you know what, I don't feel so good in my house because I'm not going out every day and maybe there's something going on. John Ellis: A again, because we're a process driven industry my. course teaches you a process to properly diagnose indoor air quality. It's a three step process. Investigate, analyze, and quote. See what I did there? Iaq Investa, analyze, quote, without a oh, so good, proper without a proper investigation or discovery process. John Ellis: You can't fix what you don't know. Only our industry has gone straight to the prescription. Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice. Okay, I got that. Alright. Quick question. Lemme ask you one quick  Corey Berrier: question on that. So do you think that's because of the flood of the pandemic, do you think? Corey Berrier: Or do you think it's just pure  John Ellis: neglect? It, it's a little bit of both. Unfortunately, marketing is a tricky beast and we're bombarded from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed with marketing. Our industry is no different and they make claims that are very exaggerated. John Ellis: And oh, our technology's been tested in a lab under. Very sterile, very unrealistic [00:45:00] conditions. And we're killing 99% of whatever you want it to be. And that's all they grab and they put that on their box and their marketing, but it's not in the real world. It is in a very controlled environment under unrealistic conditions that we would never duplicate at our client's house. John Ellis: And that's what they run with. And that's what we see and that's what we grab a hold of. So some of. Technology been around for a while. It took the pandemic and people being at home and really be because of, excuse me, because of covid. Hey, you know what I wanna be my, sorry. I didn't  Corey Berrier: mean to laugh. Corey Berrier: Yeah,  John Ellis: it covid. Yeah. Insert, go ahead. Sorry. Stop there. Not gonna, but and so we're prescription without diagnosis is mal. We go straight there. When anybody ever mentions indoor air quality, the first thing they want to do is go right to whatever the latest and greatest thing at the supply house that I can, they're having a sale on and I can make, $1,500 off of, but just by installing one. John Ellis: They're gonna do that unfortunately. They don't work and the homeowner's left unprotected. And I go into a deep discussion on this and I try to be very product agnostic, if you will. And I don't call them out by their product name, but I talk about the technology. The science behind the technology. John Ellis: I try to drive that bus right down the middle, but once you hear me talk about it you can connect the dots, but I try to be very clear about that. So we need to make decisions based on data and diagnostics. And create a solution for that client. Yes.  Corey Berrier: And I love that you, you said you, you look, if you don't ask questions, if you don't ask questions, if you don't diagnose you, you can't in good faith, give somebody a solution if you don't have all the facts. John Ellis: Our industry does it every day. I know every single. prescription without diagnosis. So that being said, we've created a process. We talk about building science, building forensics. We talk about I, I'm H V A C heavy. We talk about that. We talk about pollutants, how to identify testing tools, how to create a scope of work. John Ellis: It's a fully interaction, inter interaction class with worksheets and different scenarios. It really plays out. . and then with that and the I A Q module from the new flat rate, I got guys out there absolutely killing it and doing [00:47:30] right by their clients. So there's a couple things. John Ellis: I can just throw out there. Through Daikin, Amana Goodman and H V A C Learning Center is my. , Mr. Ama, the owner of Dyk, doesn't care whose equipment you sell. Quite frankly, I don't care whose equipment you sell. And so anybody can take this class and that's his olive branch. John Ellis: He, Mr. Ama, has very eloquently said, Hey, look, you know what? At the end of the day, it's just a metal box with a bunch of components and a bunch of wires and a motor. And it's the contractor that breathes life and brings it to life. And so he doesn't care if you're his first choice, second, third, he just wants to be at the table. John Ellis: And so he offers this con, this training through Dicon to anybody. And I've done Carrier and Lennox and you name it, and I've gone to their and talked about and taught this. it's class. So that's first and foremost. And so it's the H V A C learning center. You can google that. The new flat rate, easy. John Ellis: Google that. If it's something you're interested, love to have the conversation with, you hate it or love it, it works. So I'm gonna go ahead and do this. My phone number is five oh five six five two. 8, 1 1 9. I'll talk to anybody. I take calls from all over the United States all the time and Canada with questions. John Ellis: If you've got an I a Q client and you need some help with it, my pleasure. Or you got questions about system performance or how the new flat rate or how to create a process. I'm here for you. So pretty simple. That was, and then if you wanted to push that out, you can absolutely push that. Corey Berrier: Hundred percent. I really appreciate that my man. That was great. And my apologies for almost forgetting the I won't say the most important part, but I, yeah, I'm glad you reminded me of that last part, John. Thank you my friend. I really  John Ellis: appreciate you. Hey, thanks for having me. Happy New Year everybody. John Ellis: And again, I'm here to help. I just I'm in legacy mode now that ha having retired month once and coming out and just, passing knowledge down to the next generation. And I want, I just wanna see people be successful and do right by your clients. So thanks. There you go. John Ellis: Thank you, brother. I appreciate you. All right. Bye now. Bye-bye.   John Ellis  Dynamic Air Consulting dynamicairconsulting@aol.com www.thenewflatrate.com    Corey Berrier  www.coreyberrier.com  corey@coreyberrier.com    

Ikke gå inn i en ny periode av livet ditt uten å reflektere over disse kraftfulle spørsmålene. De kan hjelpe deg med å skyte rakettfart fremover - om du våger å være ærlig når du svarer på dem. Husk at du er den som kan gjøre skiftet du drømmer om i livet ditt. Kanskje dette er det perfekte tidspunktet? Akkurat her - akkurat nå?Mer inspirasjon?Last ned appen vår Heart Mentality 7 dager gratisGå til hjemmesiden Heart Mentality for å lære merFølg ossInstagram: @teamheartmentalityMarius: @mariussoerlieTim Rudi: @timrudiDel gjerne episoden på Instagram story og tagg @teamheartmentality hvis du digget denne episoden, så kan vi takke deg personlig :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Det er en ny periode foran oss. Hvordan møte den best mulig og være forberedt på det som kommer? Vi ønsker at du skal få de beste verktøyene i hverdagen, og derfor har vi invitert Anja Hammerseng-Edin til dagens episode. Hun deler sterke spørsmål som kan hjelpe deg med å stå bedre rustet i tiden fremover. Enjoy!Mer inspirasjon?Last ned appen vår Heart Mentality 7 dager gratisGå til hjemmesiden Heart Mentality for å lære merFølg ossInstagram: @teamheartmentalityMarius: @mariussoerlieTim Rudi: @timrudiDel gjerne episoden på Instagram story og tagg @teamheartmentality hvis du digget denne episoden, så kan vi takke deg personlig :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vi håper du unngår fellen den hvite tigeren gikk i når den ble flyttet til et nytt sted i dyreparken. Tim Rudi deler et gjennombrudd han har hatt om noe som holdt han tilbake, og avslutter med å dele noen tips for å finne mening i det du gjør. Mer inspirasjon?Last ned appen vår Heart Mentality 7 dager gratisGå til hjemmesiden Heart Mentality for å lære merFølg ossInstagram: @teamheartmentalityMarius: @mariussoerlieTim Rudi: @timrudiDel gjerne episoden på Instagram story og tagg @teamheartmentality hvis du digget denne episoden, så kan vi takke deg personlig :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey friends:This is our year-in-review podcast. Merf, Asherlee, and I talk about our HIGHLIGHTS of the COOL things that happened to various rad fatties in the world. Merf also prepared a "round robin" style set of questions that we all answered.She asked us our favorite episodes, our favorite guests, and new topics for 2023.I shared my PIE IN THE SKY list of my "dream" guests:Bridget Everett (Here is a link to Bridget's website.) http://www.bridgeteverett.net/And, here is the link to Bridget's show. For me, it's such a HIGHLIGHT because her character (loosely based on her life in Lawrence, KS) just exists in a fat body. The show is not about her being fat.  Her character does not hold back in any way. She LIVES a fully realized life without much attention paid to her body size. HALLELUJAH!The others on my list are Lizzo, Linnea (sex toys and fat bodies), Lizzy, Melissa McCarthy, Jack Black, Fat Joe, and Asherlee suggested Jana Schieding from Rutherford Falls. (I need to watch this show a.s.a.p.) I've heard and read they have very diverse characters including queer peeps and possibly someone who is non-binary. HOORAY for representation,  Oh and I believe most of the characters are Indigenous, I am excited to watch.In 2023 we want to have experts come on and educate us about P.C.O.S., Tigress and NAAFA to talk about their legislation goals and ways to make fat people a protected class like we are in San Francisco and a few other places in the U.S. We definitely need to get a sample of the Balldo so we can show it on our Big Sexy Chat YouTube channel. We are definitely going to get Sydney and Asherlee back on to discuss polyamory. The first episode about polyamory was fantastic and we are so grateful to Sydney for allowing us to interview her about it.We have so much to be grateful for. We have almost 17K downloads since our first episode on Feb. 14th. So much love and support from our fat community. Thanks a million. I am super grateful for Merf, Asherlee, Sydney, and Kadie. We have an amazing team. Big ups to all of the guests who were on this year. Thank you for making our podcast so interesting and fat positive.  Everyone loves the episode with Ragen Chastain and she teaches tactics and tricks for surviving Fatphobia during the holidays:  https://www.bigsexychat.com/surviving-fatphobia-during-the-holidays/Definitely, more from Ragen if we can. She is a font of knowledge about fat bodies. We are definitely going to add Medical Fat Phobia to our lineup of episodes for 2023. Big Sexy Fat Liberation was so so so great! Thank you to Sydney and Tigress for helping us with that episode and loved the NAAFA.ORG artwork from Bats Langley. Support the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and your community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

Tim Rudi får et spørsmål som treffer blink i coachingen med Marius. I tillegg kommer vi inn på et annet perspektiv som ga Tim Rudi den siste pushen til å legge på plass planen sin på vei mot å skrive sin første bok. Dette prosjektet skal gjennomføres i løpet av 2023, og derfor er det ekstra kult at vi kan ta med deg som lytter på reisen. Dette er andre del av en live coaching vi gjorde sammen i Heart Mentality appen vår, hvor vi jobber med personlig utvikling hver uke. Mer inspirasjon?Last ned appen vår Heart Mentality 7 dager gratisGå til hjemmesiden Heart Mentality for å lære merFølg ossInstagram: @teamheartmentalityMarius: @mariussoerlieTim Rudi: @timrudiDel gjerne episoden på Instagram story og tagg @teamheartmentality hvis du digget denne episoden, så kan vi takke deg personlig :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Rudi åpner opp og deler en spennende drøm. På veien har han møtt motstand. Hvordan bli en gjennomfører og øke sjansene for at drømmen skjer? Dette er første del av en live coaching vi gjorde sammen i Heart Mentality appen vår. I neste episode får du høre veien videre. Enjoy! Mer inspirasjon?Last ned appen vår Heart Mentality 7 dager gratisGå til hjemmesiden Heart Mentality for å lære merFølg ossInstagram: @teamheartmentalityMarius: @mariussoerlieTim Rudi: @timrudiDel gjerne episoden på Instagram story og tagg @teamheartmentality hvis du digget denne episoden, så kan vi takke deg personlig :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Når vi startet som kollegaer hadde vi to ulike utfordringer: den ene elsker samarbeid. Den andre er vant til å gjøre det meste selv. Hvordan har vi lært å spille på samme lag? Hvordan har vi klart å gjøre samarbeid til en styrke - og ikke en hindring fra å være på vårt beste? Marius åpner også opp om sin personlige utvikling, og hvor vanskelig det kan være å gjøre noe nytt - sammen med mennesker du er glad i. At det ikke er lett, men verdt å jobbe med. Mer om denne reisen får du høre i neste episode av podkasten! Takk for at du lytter. Mer inspirasjon?Last ned appen vår Heart Mentality 7 dager gratisGå til hjemmesiden Heart Mentality for å lære merFølg ossInstagram: @teamheartmentalityMarius: @mariussoerlieTim Rudi: @timrudiDel gjerne episoden på Instagram story og tagg @teamheartmentality hvis du digget denne episoden, så kan vi takke deg personlig :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vi har gått mye mot strømmen når vi startet selskapet vårt, Heart Mentality. Tim Rudi forteller hvordan arbeidsdagen har gått fra evige to-do-lister og andres forventninger, til å bli bevisst på hva som egentlig fungerer for han. Det var ikke det han trodde skulle være nøkkelen som ble svaret. Det ga han overraskende resultater etter en hel uke med intensiv jobb nå nylig. Lær mer om hvordan det å lytte og åpne opp for nye måter å gjøre ting på kan gjøre deg gladere - og mer fokusert på de viktige tingene i hverdagen. Enjoy! Mer inspirasjon?Last ned appen vår Heart Mentality 7 dager gratisGå til hjemmesiden Heart Mentality for å lære merFølg ossInstagram: @teamheartmentalityMarius: @mariussoerlieTim Rudi: @timrudiDel gjerne episoden på Instagram story og tagg @teamheartmentality hvis du digget denne episoden, så kan vi takke deg personlig :) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The always fabulous Fat Liberationist and Fat Activist Ragen Chastain joins Merf and me for a discussion about how to Survive Fatphobia (and your fatphobic friends and family) during the holidays. Sign up for her substack / newsletter.  It's fabulous,too! Help Ragen continue to do this important work!  https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/Become a Member of Ragen's blog DancesWithFat.orgIt is only $10 to become a member and take advantage of her specialoffers. But, you can also get so much INFO, Articles, and support evenif you do not buy a membership. I have personally joined or watched lots of her webinars and they areextremely helpful and full of great tips, tricks, stats, and support. I highly recommend them. Here is her link for her monthly online workshops. https://danceswithfat.org/monthly-online-workshops/Ragen's professional website (to book her for your University, Medical School, or for your company.)This is the link to the HAES Health Sheets Ragen and team created. Perfect for a very well-researched rebuttal to your doctor and family. https://haeshealthsheets.com/Ragen gives so many helpful coping tools and spicy comeback ideas that you will find extra funny or extra useful. (Or both.) Share this with all of the rad fatties in your life. This is such a useful podcast. You can even share it with your family so they have an idea of what to expect and help them to understand your boundaries around your body.I mentioned our podcast about 2 fat hysterectomies:  https://www.bigsexychat.com/heavy-duty-hysterectomies-special-guest-tigress-osborn/and me discussing how we survived the hysterectomies we both had recently. Overcoming Fat Shame is a super poignant and helpful podcast from us, too. Have you checked out our YouTube channel?  It includes our bloopers and my potty mouth!  https://www.bigsexychat.com/videos/We have another fantastic podcast all about Fat Liberation.  Liberator Bedroom Adventure Gear Liberator is known for making very high-quality sex furniture for your bedroom. www.Liberator.comSupport the showBigSexyChat.com appreciates you and your community. We do this for you, so if you ever have any ideas about a subject we can discuss for you, email us at Sexy@BigSexyChat.com.You can find us on Facebook and Instagram as BigSexyChat.Twitter (who knows how long we will stay there) is BigSexyChatPodCheck out our merch at www.BigSexyTees.com (credit to Toni Tails for setting this up for us!)Chrystal also sells sex toys via her website BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. Big thanks to our Sponsor Liberator Bedroom Adventures. We ADORE the products from Liberator. And, to be clear, we all loved their products even before they became a sponsor!

#SendMerfBoobsOn this episode of Big Sexy Chat, Chrystal was away so Merf and Asherlee (the Big Sexy Chat editor) played! They talked sex questions people are afraid to ask, Merf's special voice talents, giant hampsters, and so much more! Support the show

Help us by supporting our show with a $3 donation here:   https://www.bigsexychat.com/support/Special guest, Amazon Goddess Amandahttps://amazonamanda.com/We start off with a quick discussion of Merf marrying (again) her husband. The special news is that Merf and hubby were married by THE actual Kevin Smith of Clerk's fame. He was in the Sac area to promote Clerks 3 - which Merf loved.Then we welcomed our fab guest, Amazon Amanda. She tells us all about life as an Amazon. Fully clothed and sometimes scantily clothed, she smothers her clients. (Most of her clients are cis het men.) She gets paid to squash and smother. Sometimes her clients want to have their faces sat on. Others want their balls or penis squashed by her.  It's a super fun interview and she also just created a new brand of adult movies that are full of all kinds of bodies - including fat performers. Warning: Sharing her ADULT film site called BBW XXX Adventures. (In the adult film industry, they use the terms bbw and ssbbw.) She has FREE pics on the home page and also a membership page. So, be ready when/if you click over to her page. There are photos of beautiful fat people engaging in some extra sexy fun.https://bbwxxxadventures.com/It was a super energetic and fun interview with Amanda and we wish her ALL the success possible with both of her ventures.  If you are a fat babe, Amanda and her people are looking for more fat film stars. You can reach out to her via either of her sites.MERCH MERCH MERCH : You can also support our podcast when you buy our merchandise. We have mugs, t-shirts, and lots of FAT LIBERATION style products on our website  www.BigSexyTees.com (Shout out to Toni Tails for all of her artwork and help with all of these goodies!)We did a few other episodes about fat sex work, curvy dominatrixes, and sex furniture for fat babes here. Join our mailing list here:  http://www.BigSexyChat.com   We send 2 to 3 per month. Support the show

www.bigsexychat.comThis episode begins with a discussion between Merf and me about the movie  "The Whale.Merf and I share our takes on Brendan, the dreaded "fat suit" and all of the fat phobia that comes up for both of us thanks to this horrific movie. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to enter our giveaway for a liberatorsex blanket.  www.Liberator.comSo grateful to Ryan of All Lubed Up And Nowhere To Go.Fun conversations with Ryan about sex toy innovations like the BallDo, a toy for testicles. We discuss lube and the FDA with Ryan. And, Ryan also taught us a big about Fedora Fabrications who makes industrial (and beautiful) kink furniture that works for fat bodies, too!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNxjCBl3tbP7vKn0rE8qO5whttps://www.fedorafabrications.com/If you write a review on our website or the others, we will give you 5 extraentries into the giveaway.You can find out podcast on ALL of the places you listen to your favorite podcasts. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and other places at @bigsexychatand on Twitter, we are @bigsexychatpodSupport the show

I know this will not surprise anyone, but Merf & I are Sex Work Positive. We are going to discuss some sex work in this episode.(please write a review for us and get 5 extra entries into our next drawing. write it on any of the sites or on our own site here:   https://www.bigsexychat.com/reviews/ )Curvy kindergarten art teacher who has a "voluptuous" body is creating drama in her home town in New Jersey. This created an intense discussion on my Curvy Girl: Fat Liberation FB page:Comments about the Curvy Teacher on my FB page link.Merf and I went live to talk about Sugar and the butthole. I had NO idea sugar could help it. (Personally, I do worry about sugar near the vaginal opening.)Sugar and the butthole live video on our FB page link here.We also discussed the "Victoria's Secret song" by Jax. Jax called it in her song.  Victoria's Secret was "made up by a dude" in Ohio. For real. Both of these people are going VIRAL and I am so thrilled about that.HOT TOPIC: Sex Work and what it can mean for fat babes.Are fat sex workers or escorts treated differently?Curvaceous dominatrix interview. We discuss Cam girls, escorts, Only Fans, in-call, fetish work, and more. 'Feederism. Being a Feedee adult content. Giantess. Amazon sex workers. We discuss selling socks and undies and Merf tells us about her days selling very fragrant undergarments! Why do people hire sex workers? Is it because they want someone to do stuff they do not want to ask their partner to do? (Like out of too much "respect"  for the mother of their children?) There are likely 1,000,000 reasons why, honestly.When can we normalize, legalize, and even monetize (taxes - BLECK) sex work?  It is the oldest profession on the planet. Why are we not discussing this in our culture?Sex surrogates and other sex workers can be very helpful for people who have disabilities. They can also be helpful for people who are too shy to go out and date, so it can be easier to hire a person. Make it more transactional.Even celebrities hire sex workers. (Think Eddie Murphy getting canceled for it.)Listener Question:  Are Fat Sex Workers Treated Differently from thin or straight-sized sex workers?Most likely they are, is our guess, just because of the "Western Beauty Ideal."  We'd love to hear from our listeners if you have first or second-hand info about fat sex workers.Merf discusses the cam girl takeover at the AVN show in Las Vegas. The models do their shows during the trade show so if you go to AVN you get to watch!)Chrystal discussed the sex toy trade show and the models that are there. (And, that the male porn stars are often on the shorter side of like because an average size penis can look really big on a guy that is 5'4".) QUESTION:  Who would you like us to interview next? Email us at Sexy@bigsexychat.com and give us your ideas, please.Sex Toys, Fucking Machines, Queening Chair, Unicorn Cowgirl Saddle, Sybian, Sex Swings, discussion. www.BigSexyChat.com to go and join our newsletter.  Support the show

Fat Liberation Artwork designed by: @studiobatslangelyHappy Fat Liberation month.  Be sure to check out the artwork that Bats Langley created for NAAFA.org.  It's ahhhmazing! You can see it on the NAAFA.org page, btw.I hope you will sign up for our newsletter on our website:  www.BigSexyChat.com - we send out about 2 newsletters each month. Plus, we have a BRAND NEW sponsor (our first sponsor) and we are SO excited. More info soon!Fat Liberation Month August 2022Welcome my co-host, Merf. Our fab correspondent Sydney and the always fantastic, Tigress Osborn is our guest. (Tigress is the chair of NAAFA.org - The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.)  Minute 1:39 Merf's reply to the question “What does Fat Liberation Mean to You?” Merf mentioned that she is grateful for the diversity, it has improved her worldview, and opened her mind to beauty and culture that she may not have been exposed to her without the Fat Liberation Movement. Merf feels like the Fat Acceptance Movement has improved her mental health, physical health, and her entire life.  She struggled as a child and young adult to like her body. But, Fat Acceptance has helped her a lot. Minute: 3:30 Sydney tells us that she lived in a slim body for much of her childhood and as a young adult and then things changed after she had her partial hysterectomy.  But, Sydney had a Mom that was fat and VERY liberated.  Sydney was surrounded by liberated, beautiful, fat women as she grew up. So fat liberation for me now is more about making sure that I carry on one, the legacy of the women that brought me up, and two, that I make sure that that translates and, and pushes through for all of the other fat bodies that are, uh, feeling marginalized. Cause I refuse to carry this on forever. There's no need for any of us to feel marginalized in our bodies because of our bodies.Minute: 5:15  Chrystal (me) mentions the book "Fat Girls in Black Bodies" by Dr. Joy Cox. We highly recommend it!Minute: 6:30  Tigress begins to tell us about NAAFA.org. Tigress is the National Chair for the NAAFA.org and spends her days (and nights) educating and promoting Fat Liberation. Tigress has a goal to help NAAFA.org to become more intersectional going forward.Minute: 9:09 Fat Underground / Fat Liberation Manifesto (linked)  And, NAAFA.ORG has some of the histories of the Fat Liberation Movement here. Tigress discusses equity and equality. She mentions that she (we) needs MORE space sometimes or a larger chair and other accommodations and that should be considered equitable. (Not equality.) Minute 16: Chrystal (me) mentions that fat babes should NEVER take on "guilt" because airlines or restaurants are greedy and they are the ones who cram way too many seats into an airplane. That is about capitalism and NOT our bodies. The FAA is accepting comments about the airplane seats. Add your opinion.https://www.faa.gov/seat-size-commentsFat Liberation Movement is about dismantling systemic issues around fat bodies. Sydney recommends that we all CELEBRATE our bodies more help us as she feels that they do not care about our traumas. Tigress suggests that the more NAAFA.org does outreach to other organizations to let them know that "anti-fatness is racism."Minute 26:45 Chrystal discusses the Good Fatty/Bad Fatty issue I had to work through. I also admit that I believed a misconception that fat Black women got a pass as fat humans. Support the show

Current Events : Listener Questions : Hot TopicsVibe of the Week with Special Guest Marina Hayes (The Rose Vibe : link here.)(Marina is the founder and creator of www.PeridotRobes.com)Welcome Sydney the Fat_TroublemakrCurrent Events: We discuss how much we love the show on Netflix “How to Build a Sex Room” Melanie Rose is the host and she is the British Naughty Mary Poppins. Merf & Chrystal both LOVE IT! Netflix has a hit on its hands. Welcome Sydney out very own #Fat_Troublemakr 10:59 Sydney Time to talk about some serious things, but she wants to definitely try to talk about more fun topics, but right now, thanks to the Roe decision. Sydney goes over Contraception for people with a larger body. Emergency ContraceptivesPlan B, One Step designed to prevent pregnancyEfficacy decreases the more you weigh. 155lbs or more READ and RESEARCH before using this product. The pregnancy rate is higher in higher-weight humans. Ella is a NON-HORMONAL product that prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. Prescription drug. This drug loses effectiveness at 195lbs. Can be less effective when used with the pill, shot, or ring. What do we do if we are higher than 195lbs?Copper IUD. Emergency contraception and can work with all bodies. You have 120 hours (5 days) to have one installed to use in an emergency. Otherwise, it just serves as your regular b.c. IUS / IUD typically hormone-based.Depo-Provera Injection contains hormones. Injected every 3 months. Suppresses ovulation. Does not need to be adjusted for body weight. (Can contribute to bone loss, so be sure to check and research for yourself.)Vaginal Ring (size of a silver dollar)Removed and replaced every 3 weeks. (Hormone based.)Works for all body sizes. The PatchMust be under 198 lbsSterilization (Irreversible.)Some states require you to be married.  (barf)Birth Control PillAsk your health provider if efficacy is diminished due to higher weights. Barrier Methods Condoms (Assist in providing protection against S.T.I.'s) 26.07Lindley Ashline created an amazing resource for fat babesWonder woman created a very comprehensive guide to reproduction resources.Sydney calls it a “treasure trove” booklet. (Printable)29.45  Merf introduces the question from our listenerQuestion:  If you give oral sex, do you also want oral sex in return?Do you expect reciprocity33:44 Giving oral sex to your partner should leave you feeling beautiful and empowered. 35:14 Once you give a really good b.j., he will NEVER delete your phone number. EVER35:54 Some women do NOT like receiving oral sex37:00  How do you have a discussion about oral sex with your partner. 37:09  Eat it like it's your last meal on earth? Pretend you are porn stars and film each other so you can show your partner what you like. 38:28  Women get so much shame about the smell of our vulva/vagina.  Listener Question: Wanna hear it for sure.  the question is if you perform oral sex, Do you always want reciprocation? Do I always want it? Probably. I mean, I never, I always say I get outta bed in the morning for the possibility I might receive oral sex that day, but I don't always expect it cuz sometimes that it's like a, a gift I'm giving, you know, or I'm something special I'm doing for him, you know.50.47 Oral discussion with Marina Hayes, Merf, and me. VIBE of the week. Support the show

Welcome to Big Sexy Chat! We start off with a content warning about CNC. (Consensual Non-Consent)I explained why I missed a couple of weeks thanks to pneumonia. I'm better now. Merf:  It feels like the end of the world. ALL of the progress that we made have been erased.Chrystal knows 4 people who have checked themselves into a mental health facility. Life is dark right now. Merf gives us lots of great info about coping skills and all of us just trying to survive. (Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade, Covid, Massacre after massacre. Reversing Roe v. Wade is taking all of our rights and it includes people who are using IVF to try to have a baby. Trans people will be denied health care. People will continue to get abortions, but they will not be safe. Merf reminded me of the Debbie Reynolds discussion about having to carry a dead baby a few years before Roe v. Wade. HOPE: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson gives me hope. We need more justices who are in touch with Americans. We need more justices that will NOT force their religion and their beliefs on the rest of us. I finally saw the 10 million additional white women that voted for Trump the second time. Frightening. So many white young women were excited that Roe v. Wade, And, YOUNG WOMEN.  So gross. I saw them on the news and was so sad. WTAF? Merf tells a story about when she was at work making a presentation and presented to the people that there is sex trafficking in the Sacramento area.  Her audience was sure that there was no sex trafficking in their area.  WILD! Fat Babe ArmorChrystal starts the discussion about "performing feminity" and always makes an effort to look nice, look smiley, and be easy to approach. LIke Merf, I always want to smell great so we can dispel the "fat people are stinky" trope. Merf is focused on smelling good and looking approachable, too.  It's so common for all of us to prepare for battle. Many people are "afraid" of fat bodies and they often have this belief that we are MEAN or crabby. Merf and I both agree, that we are VERY nice at first and then if we get pissed off, it's ON!We talked about how my friend from Fat Brunch (who I believe they may be non-binary) talked about the next level that Black people experience.  They feel they perform being "respectable" due to being Black.  This is very common in marginalized communities due to White Supremacy. In our country, White is the default.  Black fat people who are non-binary or trans have to be in "fight or flight" mode 24/7 due to their skin color and the response they may receive from white peopleAt about 27 minutes, Merf tells an amazing story about her "butt arm" and an experience when she had an exchange with a woman who told her, at the time, she was fat - but she was the good kind of fat. ALL FAT BODIES deserve respect, dignity, and love. Small Fats, Large Fats, Super Fats, Infini- fats, and fat babes who have a mobility device  DESERVE ALL THE THINGS!Support the show

Bonus Episode: Merf interviews Tigress and me about our 2 Fat HysterectomiesBonus Episode: Heavy Duty HysterectomiesWelcome Tigress OsbornCreator of Full Figure Entertainment in Oakland, CA  Tigress now lives in Arizona.Fat Visibility and Fat Activism since 2008: If you are a fat person and enjoy some type of fat freedom fatties did not have before 2008, it's likely Tigress had her hand in it. (Along with a lot of other fabulous, loud, no shit style fat activists. Thank you Tigress and to the other 60 years worth of activists that have all been working hard for all of us.Content Warning:  Numbers mentioned. There is lots of discussion of blood and clots, because, well. It comes with the territory. This is not a SEXY episode, but we feel like it's an important story to tell. We are two fat women in our 40's (TO) and 50's (CB)We try our best to NOT use gendered language while discussing uteruses and hysterectomies. We are being mindful of our non-binary friends, two-spirit listeners, and trans friends. But, we do slip up or if you notice we slip up, please accept our apologies. (CB and Merf)4:27 Merf defines and describes the various types of hysterectomies. (CB :  I had a radical style which meant everything was removed, including my cervix.) I had 2 days to decide if I wanted mine. Tigress has a longer experience of dealing with her medical problems around getting her Hysterectomy.Myths and Misconceptions about Hysterectomies. Some of the things we grow up hearing about women who have hysterectomies - we dry up, our vaginas are no longer “good” or useful.Tigress brings up the tender feeling around going to the “women's health” departments where there are lots and lots pics of babies and moms and like everything to do with women's reproductive issues are such a fun, good time! NOT. And, not for everyone. Including, sometimes, not for Tigress. Having a hysterectomy gives you a lot to examine - and one of the big ones is that you never have the opportunity to have your own children. 7 minutes Tigress goes into her hysterectomy story. She started having a cycle at 11. (The same week she went to the “special talk” in grade school - Free To Be You And Me.) 10 minutes in we discuss some pretty gory stuff around all of the blood clots we have all dealt with. Clots that remind us of animal organs and aliens running down our legs.  Perimenopause is 10 years LONG and maybe a little less and maybe a little more. Tigress had some fibroids, an ablation, adhesions, PCOS, and possibly endometriosis. Same with Merf. Merf is currently dealing with PCOS, endo, and really want to have a hysterectomy, but is getting push back from her drs.RESOURCES:  Tigress and I both got a lot of support from Caring for our Fat Bodies on Facebook.  Fat Positive / Queer Positive Peri/Menopause on FB was also super helpful for both of us. Well moderated groups with lots of great information.  Adult Diapers I mention that fit my size 30 butt/hips/tummy. Amazon store called Solimo Store. They fit great and are extra comfy. No tightness around my thighs. Chrystal's surgery was done with the da Vinci robot, which has a great track record for working with fat babes, apparently. Tigress is the Chair of NAAFA.org  National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. If you can give, here is their link for a donation. Tigress was not in a work capacity for this interview.Support the show

Profanity Warning!  I drop a lot of F BOMBS because I am fed up with diet culture and the diet industry and how they work so hard to make us feel shitty about our bodies.  Also, we do get into a discussion about Anorexia and how Fat Babes can also have Anorexia, so content warning about Eating Disorders.We discuss body shame, shame about sex or feeling horny, shame about sex toys, shame about our ANYTHING, and EVERYTHING. We hope this podcast helps you to overcome your own fat shame.  We decided that we really needed to address the Buffalo and Uvalde (and other) massacres to hold space and we discuss how sad and made we have both been. Merf shares with us how important self-care is when the FUCKING WORLD IS ON FIRE!As always, Merf and I are pretty clear about how disgusted we are by the diet industry and this is a theme that runs through all of our episodes. We are both diet industry dropouts and we are unapologetically fat.  We are sex-positive, fat positive, sex work positive, anti-racist, and Black Lives Matter. We are PRO responsible gun ownership (and NO ONE needs to own an a.r. unless you are in the military) and so disgusted by how many children are murdered in our country by guns the murderer bought just hours before they go on their rampages.A friend of the show sent in a question about DATING WHILE FAT and how she often cancels dates right before they meet because she is anxious about the other person not approving of her body. She feels like she might be catfishing them, so she just doesn't show up.Merf and I share some tactics we have used to STOP apologizing for our bodies. I share a dating story about how I put it ALL OUT THERE on my dating profile along with my least favorite pics so my date would be happily surprised when I arrived. I also talk about what I say about SEX in my dating profile. (This was when my sweetie and I had a re-boot.)Merf has P.C.O.S. and she talks about her shame and guilt with her facial hair. Merf also shares how her anorexia screwed up her body permanently. It impacted her height (she should have been taller) and it also impacted her breast size. According to her doctors, she should have had larger cups.) We also talked about some femmes that rock their beards and I want to link to them here. These babes have hirsutism and some due to P.C.O.S.In the beginning, Merf also shares a book by Malcolm Gladwell she highly recommends. The book is called "Talking To Strangers" and Merf talks about it in the discussion and shares with us all about the theory and how it related to our country's obsession with guns. Malcolm's theory is called the "coupling theory." More info about coupling theory here. We have a couple of listener questions, some listener reviews and compliments, the VIBE of the WEEK and so much more.  So grateful to Celeste and the other wonderful reviews. We do this to help other fatties learn about the fat liberation movement. When we got Celeste's review, we both were tearful. VIBE OF THE WEEK! Merf LOVES her very rumbly Palm Power she bought at a local sex toy shop. The link to the Palm Power website is here. Merf and I are both fans of Rumbly vibrations. We also love it when our clients buy their sex toys for your local sex toy stores to help them stay in business. I do sell sex toys on my website www.BlissConnection.com but do not carry this one. THIS EPISODE is so very very good. We know we all have unique relationships with guilt and shame. It's complicated. Merf does talk about her experience Support the show

On this week's episode of Talking Tacos the boys are dead ass bussin, on god FR FR. Gen Z invades Meme of the Week™ and the boys aren't really sure what to make of the prototypical Gen Z douchebag with the dangly earrings and jhericurl-ish hair, but man does it make for good internet content. In our professional opinions, we suspect that this meme format will have very long legs. We have the last couple bottles of Merf's hot sauce to try this week and their streak continues with two winning sauces. Someone is actually nice to Matt, Bill explains why the Depp/Heard trial is akin to Tiger King, and Stone Takes Snaps. Plus…a possible redemption arc for the worst hot sauce we've ever tried; on the show or otherwise?? Tune in to find out. Special guest Pals returns!

Polyamory is our topic for this episode and we were so delighted to have Sydney on our podcast to help dispel Polyamory Myths. Sydney LIVES the polyamorous life. She has a husband she nests with. She has a wife who is her bestie and she is married to her, but they do not have sex. And, she has two male partners in her polycule. And, they all practice radical honesty - which is the key to almost all relationships. And, radical honesty is REQUIRED if you are polyamorous.  She very clearly describes it and shares with us how she LIVES this life. Some of you may remember Sydney from a Curvy Girl fashion show a few years back where she dressed as a bride. FABULOUS! She was a show-stopper.We had about 10 to 15 questions from listeners and friends and we went through the whole list of questions and asked her a few others.We had a discussion about compersion and jealousy and she shares her theories about jealousy and compersion. We discussed the fact that poly people come in all ages, all sizes, all skin colors. (Although Sydney would like to see more Black representation in the poly world soon, but we will get into that next time we interview Sydney and discuss Polyamoury 201.DO NOT UNICORN HUNT is very firm advice Sydney strongly believes can be damaging to the unicorn and cause some trauma. Be honest. Are you a swinger or poly? Be honest with yourself and your future partners.We discuss if people who are poly are kinky or not.Resources from Sydney:1. More Than Two  Author: Veaux, Franklin, Rickert, Eve2. PoleSecure Author:  Jessica Fern3. Love is Not Color Blind: Ruby Bouie Johnson4. Sydney also recommends a podcast and blog called Polyphia.blog.Happy Polydays with Leanne YauMerf, Sydney, and I are very married to the idea that none of us are in any place to judge how people live their lives. NO JUDGEMENT. If Polyamory is not for you,just move along. Polyamory requires ALOT of talking and communication. NO LIES. Radical honesty,no deception, no surprises.We also discussed the meaning of metamour, fluid bonded, polycule, processing, kitchen table polyamory, and so much more. Merf also recommended a book that is a recourse that discusses how poly relationshipshave been around longer than most of us and in hundreds of cultures. I will get that title and add it here, soon. Thanks a million to our guest Sydney for her time and expertise. Thanks to the best co-host, Merf and to our fabulous (and poly) editor, Asherlee.Our sponsor is my sex toy website:  www.Blissconnection.comSupport the show

In episode 71 the boys celebrate Doctor Dave's birthday by listening to him talk about the Big Lebowski for 38 uninterrupted minutes. His thesis, as it were, is that Donnie's death (24-year old spoiler alert) is the saddest and most pathetic death in cinema history. He's got a point. We also provide an extensive review of two sauces from Merf's, based in Colorado; the Electric Lime and Peaches and Scream. Merf, if you're listening, I can't find your shit on Instagram so tag yourself! We also talk about KISS coffins, planting a tree from yourself when you're dead, and just death in general for some reason. But it all comes full circle when we speculate on reincarnation as Scarlett Johannson's bicycle seat. But it's like…funny and stuff. Death and tacos! Tune in you bastards

Merf and I have a very necessary discussion about the pitiful showing of pron that includes fat babes that are NOT dehumanizing. Fortunately, some people are making it! In the intro, we discuss how  DISGUSTING the "don't say gay" bill that was put forth by the bigot and asshole Governor DeSantis in Florida.  Here is info from the AP about this bigoted antiquated bill :  AP Article I brought this topic up because that is ironic and hilarious how you have to say the word "Gay" every time you talk about the bill or write about bill, which means we are constantly saying GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY you idiot. Desantis is the new tRump. BARF!We also discuss again how SEX WORK IS REAL WORK and Merf and I strongly believe this. We are both sex work positive, sex-positive, and fat sex evangelists!  We interviewed my friend and pro dominatrix Mistress J and here is the link to episode 6:https://www.bigsexychat.com/interview-with-a-curvaceous-dominatrix/Our next interview-style episode is coming up. Episode 8 we will be joined by our friend Ru and she is going to educate all of us about Polyamory and the 100's of things we all get wrong about polyamory. Excited to hear all about it and be educated and entertained by Ru. She is always provocative, full of sass, and so smart. You will love her way of turning a phrase. She is hilarious. For Current Events, we discuss Gia Casey from The Breakfast Club podcast and radio show where she admitted to faking orgasms for 21 years with her husband DJ Envy! SHAKING MY HEAD. When you take an orgasm, you are setting yourself up for a lot of future disappointment.  (Not to mention that if you want to have a fabulous relationship, it's a good idea to not put them down in public. Save that stuff for private discussions. Your relationship will be much more enjoyable if you do not ever tear each down, but especially not in public or ON A PODCASTHOT TOPIC: We discuss the word "BBW" which seems to be pretty much only used in the porn industry now. Merf does explain the types of porn one can enjoy. She also shared some amazing resources with us and fat-positive porn producers.Fat Porn Resources and Twitter Handles Below:@shapeofbeautyxwww.shapeofbeauty.com @angelawhite@thebreemills@courtneytrouble @karlaxxxlaneWeight of Infidelity: https://www.puretaboo.com/en/video/puretaboo/The-Weight-of-Infidelity/131413We had a listener question about Role Playing and we have lots of fun ideas for our listeners and I admit my favorite fantasy for roleplaying! Vibe Of the Week:  The WomanizerMerf and I are both a fan of the suction and vibration from The Womanizer and The Satisfier. We also discuss the ridiculous name of said toy - Womanizer. UGG!I do sell these toys on my website:   http://www.BlissConnection.com and you can use the code BSC20 for 20% off. And, lastly, we have a giveaway of a Big Sexy Chat water bottle with a straw and a bottle of my favorite lube (30 ml) called Pjur. BEST Ever. No fragrance, no flavor, nothing that makes you sticky. Support the show

**Content Warning**Please note at the [44:00] minute mark, dieting and bodybuilding are briefly discussed. If these topics are a trigger for you, please take care of yourself and skip ahead to the minute mark [48:00]. http://www.MistressJStudios.comOur podcast website is http://www.BigSexyChat.com where you can find our other podcasts. My sex toy website is http://www.BlissConnection.comIn this episode, Merf and I interview my friend Mistress J about her career as a professional dominatrix. We had so many questions for Mistress J. Mistress J also tells us a bit of background on Bondassage.com and Elysium as taught to her by the creator and amazing human,  Ms. Jaeleen Bennis. We asked her about the following:Do clients ever just want to cuddle?What kinds of kinks and fetishes do your clients have.What type of session with your clients are your favorite?Why do people have a foot fetish or a tickle fetish?How long are your typical sessions?Do your clients sometimes want to talk instead of play?Are you dominant in your personal life? Have you always beenmore on the dom side?How did you get started in this industry?What kinds of toys and gear to you have for your submissives?This was such a fantastic interview. If you ever wanted to learn moreabout what actually happens in a session with a professional dominatrix,this is the perfect episode to tune in to. Merf, Mistress J, and I all agree that Sex Work is REAL WORK and that, personally,I feel that sex work should be legalized and normalized. It's been around since the beginningof time and it's not going anywhere. Let's make sure our sex workers are receivingbenefits like health insurance, disability, and social security benefits.We hope you enjoy our chat. It was a blast to chat with Mistress J. Support the show

Big Sexy Chat Podcast: Episode 5 we spend a lot of time talking about foreplay and our favorite lubricants. We discuss lubes for handies, piv, and best lube for anal sex. Merf tells us how much she is loving Lizzo's new reality show - and how their reality show formula is about building each other up and not tearing each other down. How refreshing. The show is called "Let's Hear It For the Big Grrrls."  Personally, I am loving the show, too.  I am 3 episodes in so far. And, I have seen a lot of people commenting on her show on FB and IG and so far I have not seen one negative review. We also discuss Lizzo's upcoming product called Yitty and it looks to be a collaboration between her and Fablestics and she is making sizes 6x to XS. She is making loungewear and something she is calling shapewear. Not really sure if it's designed to cinch you in or smooth you out. It officially drops on April 12th, so we will find out.We had a listener write it o ask us what to do about a lover who is not good at foreplay and she wants to know how to broach the topic with him without hurting their feelings. We have quite a bit of good advice and ideas for everyone who listens. I also talked about how much I loved the show "The Principles of Pleasure" on Netflix and how most of the people who were narrating seemed to be FAT BABES. (Not sure of their pronouns, so not guessing.)  There was one more straight-sized person narrating, too.  And, Emily Nagosek who writes fab books about pleasure for clitoris owners!We both wish all high school kids could be forced to watch this since it teaches  PLEASURE and not just  your typical SAFE SEX, DO NOT GET AN STD, DO NOT GET PREGNANT ridiculous education we get about sex in high school.Our next episode we are interviewing a friend of mine who is a professional Dominatrix, so if you have any questions for her, send them to Sexy@BigSexyChat.com  Be sure to follow us on FB, IG or Twitter.  We are BigSexyChat on FB and IG, but @bigsexychatpod on Twitter. And, feel free to email us to suggest other topics for our fat podcast! Support the show

Episode 4: Merf & I chit-chat about ENTHUSIASTIC  consent, BDSM, Kink, and all kinds of other fun. We also discuss Renee Zelwegget wearing a fat suit in her lastest fatphobic role.  I despise anyone wearing a fat suit. There are plenty of fat actors to hire. It's gross and should NEVERs be done - EVER. It's never ok. Thanks to a listener question, we had a fantastic discussion about fetishizing bodies; How to decide if your partner or date is fetishizing you are really into ALL of you?  We also chatted a bit about how sometimes people PREY on fat babes and choose to PREY on us because they think we are "easy" and will settle for any kind of attention. I get a little bit heated about this topic.  Never SETTLE! Fat Fetish? Is it ever ok?At the beginning of the episode, we discuss Ady Bryant's 10  year anniversary on SNL and her new voice role on the new show Human Resources. Merf also told us about the new show LIZZO is the creator of. It's a reality show where Lizzo and her team are interviewing other "Big Grrrl" dancers to be back up dancers on her tour. It is on Amazon Prime Video and there are 8 episodes. Excited to check it out as well as the new season of Bridgerton. Support the show

Episode 2 is here! Merf and I are getting in our groove. (I need to get the microphone closer to my mouth.) Are you too fat for lingerie? HELL NO!  We discuss why do people feel like they might be and how to get over that NOW. We mention some of our other fat activist friends like Marcy Cruz, Saucye West, and Substantia Jones of the Adipositivity Project. (So grateful to all of them for their activism.)You can find the Sex Sling on my website  www.BlissConnection.comWe LOVE Sportsheets brand sex toy products like the Plus Size Doggy Style Strap and the Sex Sling. Fat politics, fat phobia, the b.s. that went down with 50 Cent and Mary J Blige is just so upsetting. Support the show

Episode 1 : BigSexyChat.com  Reach out via email to Sexy@BigSexyChat.com We are two unapologetically rad fatties sitting around chewing the fat.Current EventsHot TopicsListener Email and QuestionsVibe of the Week (S*x toy reviews!) (Merf reviews the Unicorn.)We will talk about all things fat! Looking for more sex toys, appliances, furniture, vibrators that work and were designed for fat babes.Artwork by Les Toil  :Thank you to Les for the gorgeous logo!Support the show

This week we are covering the Prodigy mid season finale! We unpack a lot here, from Gywn's trauma, Rok-Tahk becoming a great engineer, Dal being a big purple himbo and of course, that teaser featuring ADMIRAL FRICKEN JANEWAY! Forrest airs some greviances about lack of Merf-andise, Katie loves that Janeway is dedicated to her crew and we all fall in love with Grjördslat and Trodo, the best ship on this show.

Hustlers! Today we welcome on the show singer/songwriter Andy Grammer, who talks to us about his evolution as an artist and how he has continued to be successful. We also welcome the legendary Brooke Burke on how her new fitness app, Brooke Burke Body, is making health and wellness more accessible for everyone. Finally, Kelly Schexnaildre, the founder of Merfs Condiments, tells us the inspiring story of how she has become the successful businesswoman that she is today. Presented in partnership with Merfs Condiments.

David George from MERF -Middle East Reformed Fellowship- presents the great work they do for The Lord in the Middle East.

The Reverend and the Reprobate talk with Jeremy Nunes who has finally gotten a webcam! Jeremy tells the Rev and Rep all about his new book "You Can't Write City Hall" and the star character Sandy Yount. Danley asks several questions about bidets which reveal some interesting secrets about Jeremy time as mayor, but most of all...Merf. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3jk4YHZ Check out Jeremy: https://www.jeremynunes.com See the Comedy Special: https://amzn.to/3gAhaCG Dynamite Drop In: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dynamite-drop-in/id1092360008 More from the Rev and Rep: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-reverend-and-the-reprobate/id1525591938

This conference is part two of the conference series, which started in May at the MCLE Annual Legal Services Conference, focusing on lessons that lead to action and sustainable long term change.  (July 21, 2021)     Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

Den enklaste försäljningen är merförsäljningen. Den kan också vara den mest lönsamma och ge andra positiva effekter för företaget. Vi pratar om fördelarna och hur du gör för att lyckas med merförsäljningen.

Varför skaffa nya kunder när man kan sälja mer till de man redan har? Vi pratar om den enklaste vägen till ökad försäljning - merförsäljningen. Vi ger fyra konkreta tips till hur du säljer mer till dina befintliga kunder. 

Det kryper i kroppen och du vill helst bara ha det överstökat, eller helst bara inte nämna det överhuvudtaget. Merförsäljning är något som är så självklart i andra branscher, men så laddat och jobbigt för många inom nagelbranschen. Vi vill kanske inte pracka på våra kunder mer produkter då vi redan är tacksamma för att kunden kommer och betalar för själva nagelbehandlingen. Men merförsäljning kan var helt avgörande för din business och något som gör att du helt plötsligt kan börja lägga undan lite pengar på sparande varje månad. I detta avsnitt ger inte bara vi våra bästa tips men också tre rävar i branschen som har lång erfarenhet av just merförsäljning och ser detta som en självklarhet!

It's time to finally deal with Darliss and Merf once and for all. And don't forget to enter our backstory contest. Just make up some details about our earlier days and we will pick a winner and expand the our storied past.

This episode features Dr. Steven Lu, DDS. Dr. Lu works to provide dental care to the under-served community in central California. In this episode he shares his path to and through dental school, his future plans as a practitioner, and about his life outside of dentistry. Dr. Lu is a sharp barber, marksman on call of duty, and an all around amazing person. Find out more about Dr. Lu, his Pre-dental mentoring services, and more on Instagram @Dentistrywithsteven, or Dentistrywithsteven.com. I hope you enjoy the episode, and cheers to the future! . Please like, comment, and share the episode so we can share Our Lives In Medicine with others. Also please follow our Instagram @Ourlivesinmedicine. Thank you again for listening, and supporting the podcast! . Intro: "Culdesac" by Merf. Soundcloud.com/michaelceratypebeat, Youtube via Basedmerf, Instagram @michaelceratypebeat Outro: "Hold On Beat" by aftrthght. Fanlink.to/aftrthghtmusic, Instagram @aftrthght. Artist streaming on Spotify . Interested in being a guest, or know someone who would? Shoot us a DM, tag that person in the comments, or send an email to Ourlivesinmedicine@gmail.com

This was a wild one, DJ Merf begins and ends the show with 30 min sets courtesy of Jack Daniels. Eric “ET” Tecosky joins to talk about his history in the bar & cocktail business, then drops a new drink recipe for staying at home during quarantine. The show gets its stripes when Last Comic Standing champ, Alonzo Bodden jumps in with LCS veteran, Mia Jackson, and STL based comic, Meredith Hopping for a Target Practice roast segment: Tiger King. After the group drops jokes, our surprise guest “Womack” singer of the band “Futurebirds” sings a cover of Joe Exotic’s hit “I Saw a Tiger”. Alonzo has to take off for his next show, we’re treated to the song “Killing Ground” off the album “Teamwork”, and the show closes with DJ Merf. Thank you to everyone for being a part of this pop up podcast, support all the guests today!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-are-live-with-chris-denman/message

Merf, born Martha Sue, grew up in a small, poor town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Fishing and shooting guns. Wearing cut-off shorts and jerseys. A tomboy. There were unspoken rules for how a girl was to dress and behave. A home-made yellow, gingham graduation dress served as a turning point and marked the beginning of feelings of confusion and the need to conform to gender rules. “All of the sudden, I felt that there was something wrong with me. I should want to wear this dress. I should want to put on makeup. I should want to do all of these things, and I just didn’t want to do any of those things.” After all, tomboys can’t grow up to be tom-men. Adolescent girls were expected to outgrow this “phase.” Before graduating high school, Merf set off for Buffalo, New York with dreams of becoming an Army medic. Despite passing all of tests, a psychologist probed Merf with personal questions concerning shaving and dressing habits. None one of this made any sense. It felt horrible, uncomfortable. Feeling singled out, once again Merf had the sense of wrong doing. Despite the passing of time and increased awareness, individuals still suffer discrimination and judgement. Although Merf is less afraid of physical violence, the threat remains. There has been some progress with the passage of laws to protect individuals’ rights, evolving language, and less shame. To move the collective conversation forward, we need to examine our beliefs of what we hold to be true. Why do we hold these beliefs? Do they serve us? Merf encourages us to listen to each other’s experiences. Feeling that butch and gender queer individuals were unwelcome most places, Merf found joy, community, comfort, and safety in the gay bars. Merf felt acceptance being surrounded by like individuals. Fear of AIDS and hate were rampant; few places felt safe. A dark time, drinking eased Merf’s discomfort and began a descent into alcoholism After being admitted to the ER, Merf pursued sobriety and recovery. Lacking clarity of thought, personal will, and internal strength, there was a safety net for Merf that offered treatment and assistance. Merf – by the virtue of being white – was not criminalized or imprisoned. Merf was lifted up. Given a chance. New York’s investment in Merf’s recovery was a saving grace. Merf went from recovery and five years on welfare to graduating from law school and becoming an award-winning attorney. Merf’s community and relationships were foundational to this success. While Merf lacked self-belief, the surrounding community was vocal with its unwavering belief. Institutionalized in a psychiatric ward without a shirt or shoes, on suicide watch, Merf received a visitor, an acquaintance, who said, “You’re going to do great things.” The most challenging aspect of Merf’s gender journey has been the shame associated with feeling different and trying to conform. Feeling failure in nearly every role, Merf has worked hard at letting go and embracing self-acceptance. Fear of violence has been challenging and has impacted life decisions and caused anxiety and feelings of violation. It’s been a gift to move through life as a man, as a woman, and in the spaces between. Life is quite different for Merf being treated as a man versus a woman. Merf is thankful for the unexpected kindness and communities that have been developed and strengthened through the conversations surrounding gender issues. Merf’s greatest hope is a world that is peaceful, loving, and kind and where all are treated respectfully. Where there is a place for everyone. “Be willing to awkward and have fun. Even when it’s painful. Try to find joy - no matter what. We can simultaneously hold pain, discomfort, shame, joy, excitement, and hope.” Resources Tedx Talk

Making knives and talking crap. Kevin Slattery of Kev's Forge (Instagram: @kevsforge) Mert Tansu of Tansu Knives (Instagram: @Tansu_knives) and Corin Urquhart from Artisan Supplies (Instagram: @corin_at_gameco)     Discussing Knifemaking in Australia and telling it as we see it.   intro/Outro track: "Fable (Metal Version)" - Adrian Von Ziegler

Vi snackar denna veckan om merförsäljning, hur du kan sälja in fler produkter, tillval och bilder!    00.00 Veckan som gått 12.30 Veckans ämne 34.20 Veckans fråga  

Martina Thuns redaktör Sofia Dalén observerar saker i vardagen som gör henne bitter, bitter, bitter. Nu stör hon sig på apoteken sedan monopolet upplöstes och personalen har börjat med MERFÖRSÄLJNING så fort man ska hämta ut medicin...

We're back for Season 3! Joined by Hotto, Jackson, and Merf, we talk about who we'd like to have on the pod and break down the major moves and teams of the NBA offseason. It's been a while, we're still trying to find our groove again.

We talk about Merf's future career at taco bell the best tips we have ever gotten on a job and the craziest things we've seen while working at stranger's houses. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/three_bs_podcast  Like us on Facebook: https://fb.me/TheThreeBsPodcast Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/threebspodcast  Support our show: https://anchor.fm/ThreeBsPodcast/support  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/3GIG/support

R.I.P. NIP. The Fro and The Flow come together to mourn over the loss of Duke Basketball, and discuss how they think Reddish, Zion, and R.J. will fare in the NBA next year plus more hoops talk. The two welcome Merf as a second time guest.

Merf Wines

För säljare, konsulter och försäljningschefer! Få er merförsäljning till B2b att lyfta! Alla pratar om att det är lättaste vägen att öka sin försäljning på och dessutom det billigaste. Men många gånger "är det mycket snack och liten verkstad" Så lyssna på detta avsnitt och få nya tips och idéer för hur ni i praktiken verkligen kan göra det. Kanske redan i morgon eller nästa vecka! Programledare: Richard Gradin som är säljcoach här på Säljcoachen och driver ett konsultbolag Crewcraft consulting med inriktning på medarbetarskap och grupputveckling. Han har också arbetat som säljare och säljchef på nationellt och internationellt under de senaste 20 åren. Programledare: Göran Vernersson, säljocach och utbildare här på Säljcoachen. Ser årligen 300-400 offerter från olika företag från alla typer av branscher. Utbildar också i formgivning och copy med fokus på säljande offerter. Säljcoachen AB är ett utbildningsföretag som stadde sin verksamhet 2009 och har 6 stycken säljcoacher. Vi har öppna säljkurser i Stockholm och Göteborg, och företagsanpassade säljutbildningar i hela Sverige för företag i alla branscher. Vår säljmetod är att sälja utan att "kränga " genom att coacha kunden till köp. www.saljcoachen.se

För chefer och kundtjänst - Lyssna på Säljcoachens tips om hur man kan få försök till merförsäljning i alla samtal utan att"kränga" eller vara "för på" vid inkommande samtal till kundtjänst. Vår metod är coacha kunden med rätt frågor som skapar intresse för våra produkter och tjänster. Frågan om merförsäljning måste uppfattas som en service från kunderna. I det här avsnittet går vi också igenom hur man kan få säljfokus och en säljkultur på kundtjänst. Programledare Christian Nilsson: Är utbildad personalvetare inom förändringsledning, ledarskap och coaching. Är nu chef på en kundtjänst inom teknisk support med 10 personer med B2B och B2C som kunder. Innan dess säljchef för 15 säljare inom eldistribution har även under ett par år jobbat på en kundtjänst. Programledare: Göran Vernersson, säljocach och utbildare på Säljcoachen. Har varit försäljningschef på 8 säljavdelningen och kundtjänter genom åren och kommer senast från Agria djurförsäkringar där jag jobbade med 16 säljledare och ca 120 säljare har även jobbat på Ledarna som är Sveriges fackförbud för chefer med fokus på coaching som ledarskapsverktyg Säljcoachen AB är ett utbildningsföretag som stadde sin verksamhet 2009 och har 6 stycken säljcoacher. Vi har öppna säljkurser i Stockholm och Göteborg, och företagsanpassade säljutbildningar i hela Sverige för företag i alla branscher. Vår säljmetod är att sälja utan att "kränga " genom att coacha kunden till köp. Se säljutbildning för kundtjänst på saljcoachen.se under företagsanpassade säljutbildningar

Randy Lemmon, KTRH's gardening expert, has advice to keep your lawn, trees, and garden in top shape year round. Randy talks Big Green Egg cooking with Troy and Merf.

Merförsäljning, merförsäljning och merförsäljning!!! Tänk Dig att du har kunskap och information om en produkt eller tjänst som du INTE informerar Din kund eller blivande kund bara för att Du fick en order. Generalknas och till snudd på tjänstefel. Daniel sorterar i merförsäljnings-träsket, vad är merförsäljning? Knyter Du ihop Dina relationer och kontakter med varandra?! Gör det så får Du se på möjligheter som uppkommer över tid.

Vad har hänt med tomaterna? Daniel Öhman och Malin Olofsson är tillbaka med nya delar i den prisbelönta serien Matens pris och granskar hur nyttiga grönsakerna egentligen är. Skriv ut: Kylskåpsguide om frukt och gröntNyheter: Sämre skydd, Branschens svar, Kritik mot EUHör mer: P1-morgon, P4 ExtraI mataffären gör vi val nästan dagligen. Det är här vi alla hamnar i dilemman. Vad ska vi äta? Vad är bra för mig? För miljön? För djuren? Och vad har vi råd till?Maten är idag på allas läppar. Åsikterna är många: så ska vi äta för att bli snygga, så ska vi äta för att rädda planeten, så ska vi äta för att vara trendiga.Det är lätt att hamna i total matkoma.Det här programmet granskar hur maten blir till, vad som döljer sig bakom röda prislappar och produktionssystem. Och nystar i den politik som driver vår konsumtion.I det här första programmet av fyra ska vi titta närmare på grönsaker Vi äter faktiskt mer och mer grönsaker nästan dubbelt så mycket per person som vi gjorde 1990. Att vi äter mer beror kanske på att vi är mer medvetna hur nyttiga de är. Men också på för att de kommersiella växtförädlarna tagit fram nya sorter som växer snabbare och ger större skördar. Och då blir ju grönsakerna billigare.Men det är något som hänt med innehållet i grönsaker när de förädlats för att ge så stor avkastning som möjligt och det är det som vi ska granska nu.Vi reser några mil norr om Göteborg i det lilla samhället Spekeröd. Härifrån driver Johnny Andreasson och hans fru Barbro Aidelsson fröfirman Runåbergs fröer.Sen starten 1982 har de specialiserat sig på att leta upp gamla och ovanliga ekologiska grönsakssorter som inte går att få tag på hos de stora fröfirmorna.De visar upp ett litet växthus Ja, det är inte så stort kanske 40 kvadratmeter. Vi provar väldigt många sorter hela tiden både nya gamla sorter från stora delar av världen. Vet inte varför men jag har en vurm för gamla sorter.Fröodlingen ser inte så mycket ut för världen så här på senhösten när jag besöker den. Inne i växthuset kämpar några tomater fortfarande för att leva vidare. Utanför är det mesta visset. Men rotar man runt lite på marken hittar man märkliga skapelser som fortfarande håller på att utveckla sina frön. En squash stor som en fotboll tillexempel. Det är en vintersquash. Den kan du lagra på kökshyllan hela vintern. Får jag tag i någonting så provar jag det. Och om det fungerar så förökar jag upp det. Många sorter som vi säljer har vi fått från kunder som har det från sina gamla farmor eller mormor och skickar till oss för de tycker vi ska prova det så en del fynd har vi gjort den vägen.De senaste hundra åren har växtförädlingen av frukter och grönsaker gått i rekordfart. Merparten av de plantor som fanns för 100 år sedan är nu borta eller utrotningshotade och den kommersiella växtförädlingen har koncentrerats till ett fåtal företag.Har det försvunnit mycket som inte går att få tag på i dag? Oj, ja massor, man ser i gamla frökataloger från sekelskiftet så fanns det ett otroligt sortiment. Vi tror att vi lever i bästa av tider men när det gäller variation på grönsaker så är det inte. Tyvärr är det så att de stora fröfirmorna inte är intresserade av att hålla liv i de här gamla sorterna dels för att de för yrkesodlingen ger sämre resultat i kvantitet  Där har det vuxit gammal gotländsk haverrotHavrerot? Inte havre utan haver. Det är en vit rot påminner lite om morot i formen. Gulvit gräddvit. Den absolut godaste roten ändå finns inte att köpa konstigt nog, vi har blindtestat på barnen flera gånger de föredrar haverroten.Morotssmak? Nej Påminner lite om svartrot i smakenSer det ni som att ni försöker rädda sorter som är på väg att försvinna? Ja den här sorten är vi helt ensamma om i hela världen slutar vi med den så finns det ingen som har den alls.Då försvinner den? Ja då försvinner den.Och han har lagt märke till något som borde intressera många ekologiska odlare. De äldre sorterna har ofta den fördelen är anpassade efter jordbruk där man inte använder så mycket konstgödsel och bekämpningsmedel så de är ofta tåligare, tål mindre näringsnivåer och tål torkperioder.Med tiden har Johnny blivit allt mer övertygad om att många äldre grönsakssorter inte bara är tåligare utan också nyttigare än grönsakerna du hittar i affären. Och då menar han inte bara att hans älskade haverrot är nyttigare än en morot utan att äldre sorter av våra vanligaste grönsaker som tomater gurkor och tomater var nyttigare än de är i dag. Den moderna förädlingen har gått ut på att öka kvantiteten framförallt och få så stora och jämna växter som möjligt. De här hybriderna som är framtagna för stor kvantitet. Annorlunda celluppbyggnad de innehåller mer vatten. Näringsvärdet har sjunkit katastrofalt de senaste trettio åren.Om det Johnny säger verkligen stämmer så finns det alltså en motsättning mellan att plantorna ska vara så nyttiga som möjligt och att de ska växa fort.Och han hävdar alltså att de äldre mer långsamväxande plantorna som han odlar är både tåligare mot skadeinsekter och sjukdomar, och nyttigare för oss att äta men den ger en lägre skörd än de kommersiellt odlade sorter du hittar i affären.I vår matkorg har vi grönsakerna som vi köper allra mest av i Sverige. Oavsett årstid är det gurka, tomat, paprika, sallad, lök och morot. Johnny har verkligen en poäng. Det ser ut som ett berg av grönsaker här i butiken men kollar man statistiken så är det bara några få som står för den stora majoriteten av vad vi köper.Det ser väldigt lika ut i alla butiker, samma produkter, i princip samma grönsaker.Man blir ju nästan chockad när man är på en lokal marknad i Grekland till exempel. Böjda gurkor. Knöliga tomater.Det här beror på att några få företag kontrollerar fröförädlingen. Några få sorter, de som för tillfället ger flest frukter, eller grönsaker per satsad krona, hamnar här i butiken.Vi konsumenter vill ju att grönsakerna ska vara billiga. För grönsaker är ju bra för oss har vi hörtAtt äta mycket grönsaker och frukt är nyttigt. En massa bra grejer händer när man äter grönsaker. Ditt immunförsvar stärks, du får lättare att gå ner i vikt om du är övervikt eller att inte gå upp i vikt om du är normalviktig. Din mage fungerar bättre och du minskar risken för en rad cancersorter och hjärtkärlsjukdomar.En del av innehållet i grönsaker, vitaminer, mineraler och fibrer är välkänt för de flesta av oss. Det här är näringsämnen som vi behöver för att överleva. De finns i grönsaker men också i spannmål och animalier.Men grönsaker och frukt innehåller också någonting som är svårt att få i sig på annat sätt.Fytokemikalierna är en del av plantornas immunförsvar. De skyddar plantorna mot angrepp av insekter, svampar och sjukdomar. Ofta sitter de i skalet och är kopplade till olika färgämnen.Det finns tusentals sådana här fytokemikalier. Antagligen känner vi inte till alla.På Stockholms universitet på ett labb för molykylär biovetenskap är docent Siamak Haghdoost gruppledare och han har tillsammans med sin doktorand Ali Pour Khavari studerat några av de här fytokemikalierna närmare.Det visar sig att fytokemikalierna inte bara skyddar plantorna utan när vi äter dem så skyddar de också oss.För att bevisa vilken effekt fytokemikalierna kan ha har Siamak Haghdoost utvecklat ett rätt enkelt test och det är det som jag ska göra nuEn av de mest potenta och mest studerade fytokemikalierna heter Lykopen. Den finns i vattenmelon och några andra frukter och grönsaker men framförallt i tomater. Lykopen om man tar ungefär 10 mg om dagen ser man att den har en effekt mot bröstcancer, mot matstrupcancer, prostatacancer, hjärt och kärlsjukdomar och mot inflammation.Så en riktigt bra grej med andra ord.Jag får cykla på en träningscykel i 18 minuter till det jag ska kolla nu är hur kroppen svarar på den stress det blir när jag cyklar hårt. När man tränar hårt särskilt när man inte är van att göra det utsätts kroppen för en så kallad oxidativ stress. Det här kan man mäta i blodet eller saliven. Lykopen å vissa andra fytokemikalier kan neutralisera den här stressen. Ta bort den. När vi äter de här fytokemikaleierna som egentligen är lite toxiska reagerar kroppen genom att producera visa komponenter i kroppen som gör att vi också är redo att ta hand om näringsgiver bakterier och virus, så att kroppen blir starkare.Testpersonerna som gjort det här testet ha druckit mellan 1 och 2 dl tomatjuice i tre veckor. Sen har de gjort om cykeltesten. Då mätte vi de här stressmarköreran som vi utvecklat här på labbet, man ser att bara cyklingen om man inte tränat på länge och tränar hårt så får du så här mycket ökning av den här DNA-skada men dricker man lykopen tomat juice, så försvinner nästan allt. All stress som bildas av hård träning försvinner på en gång slutar man dricka och tränar igen så går den upp dricker man igen så går den ner.Själv dricker jag två deciliter och effekten har varit påtaglig. Den oxidativa stressen som cyklingen utsatte min kropp för minskade till en tredjedel efter tre veckors tomatjuicedrickande.Det finns Lykopen i tablettform, men det har inte gett alls samma effekt som tomatjuice. Lykopenet är ett rött färgämne som framförallt finns i och i närheten av skalet på tomaterna.Det blir lättare tillgängligt i kroppen när tomaterna värms upp och mixas som i tomatjuice.Det går att få i sig lykopen från färska tomater också. Men då gäller det att man väljer rätt tomater.I butiken får man inga ledtrådar, man får bara veta om grönsakens ursprungsland.Men det spelar en stor roll vilken tomat vi väljer visare det sig när vi tittar närmare på tomaterna.Jag har åkt till Susanna Anderssons tomatodling i halländska Bua. Ungefär två tredjedelar av tomaterna som säljs i butikerna är sådana vanliga runda tomater som hon visar mig i sitt stora växthus.Fytokemikalier finns i många olika frukter bär och grönsaker, som blåbär, hallon, havtorn broccoli grönkål, ja alla grönbladiga grönsaker, lök, vitlök och en massa frukter innehåller också olika fytokemikalier som stärker vårt immunförsvar och skyddar mot många dödliga sjukdomar.Men vi håller oss för enkelhets skull kvar vid tomaterna och lykopenet som ju är en av de mest potenta fytkomeikalierna. Till skillnad från de flesta odlare vet Susanna Anderssons en del om lykopeninnehållet i sina tomater. Det spelar roll vilken tomat man väljer.  I Flavance var det mer än två gånger så mycket lykopen, som i Arvento, det vill säga vanlig rund tomat som också är odlad här.Det är stora skillnader? Ja det är jättestora skillnader.När Susanne lät Siamak Haghdoost på Stockholms Universitet testa fyra av hennes tomater visade det sig att den stora runda tomaten som hon odlar allra mest av var den som innehöll minst lykopen. För att få i sig lika mycket lykopen som i ett glas tomatjuice, skulle man behöva äta ett kilo av de här tomaterna, om dagen.Men den andra tomaten som hade mer än dubbelt så mycket lykopen som de hon säljer mest av heter Flavance, det är en vanligt stor rund tomat. Fast med en ovanligt vacker röd färg. Susanne pratar gärna om resultatet på undersökningen. Hon skrev till och med ett pressmeddelande. Men hittills är det bara en torghandlare som nappat. Han gillade den röda färgen.  Flavance säljer vi som torgtomat. Och där har vi givetvis informerat om att det är mer lykopen.Så varför odlar hon inte mer av den undrar jag. Har det med smaken att göra? Smakar den illa? Vi ska skära isär dela på tomaterna så ser du skillnad.När jag testar tomterna utan att veta vilken som är vilken visar det sig att tomaten som innehåller mest lykopen också är den godaste.Susanna håller med. Jag tycker nog när jag smakar Flavancen så tycker jag den smakar mer.Trots att den alltså är både en godare och nyttigare så har hon bara ett par rader av den tomaten i sitt växthus.Vad hindrar dig från att bara sälja de där på stortomater? Vi måste hitta köpare som är beredda att betala merFör de kostar mer? JaFör att de ger mindre? Hur mycket mindre per kvadratmeter? 56 kilo mindre.Ett normalt år får Susanne ut 50 kilo per kvadratmeter av sin storsäljare. Den lykopenrika Flavancetomaten är alltså drygt 10 procent dyrare att producera. Och det vill kunderna inte betala för. Det är bara en bråkdel av odlingen vi har.Skulle du vilja odla mer? Ja skulle jag viljaKommer ni ihåg fröodlaren Johnny Andreasson som vi träffade i början av programmet. Han sa ju precis det här. Att vill man ha hög avkastning alltså mest grönsaker per investerad krona - så blir grönsakerna inte lika nyttiga. Och hög avkastning är det som gäller för den kommersiella grönsaksodlingen. När handeln inte vill betala mer för nyttigare grönsaker är det antal kilo per satsad krona som gäller.Susanna erkänner motvilligt att samma sak gäller för henne. Det är ju så att vi måste få ihop företagen för det måste ge kilo också.Hur upplever du prispressen, är den stark? Ja det är den.Liksom de flesta grönsaks och fruktodlare köper Susanna sina plantor från specialiserade växtförädlare i Holland, bland de mest populära finns dotterbolag till globala jättar som Monsanto och Syngenta. Plantorna som tagits fram i en noggrann vetenskaplig process där man korsat olika sorter med varandra för att få fram grönsaker som bäst motsvarar kraven hos de kommersiella växtodlarna.Då handlar det inte om mer näringsrika grönsaker med fler fytokemikalier, säger Irene Mattisson som är nutritionist på livsmedelsverket. Växtförädling har man ju inte tittat så mycket på näringsinnehåll ofta går det kring avkastning och hållbarhet, kunna transportera och så och de egenskaperna istället för näringsinnehållSå ur näringsinnehåll har man tittat på fel saker? Man har inte tittat alls på näringsinnehållet utan hoppats att det ska vara oförändrat på annat så på det viset kan man säga fel saker för det är inte det som varit i fokus för fokus har varit avkastning och hållbarhet.Resultatet av den här ensidiga växtförädlingen går tydligt att se i forskningsrapporter där man jämfört de kommersiellt odlade grönsakerna, frukterna och bären med äldre eller vilda släktingar. I forskningsrapport efter rapport visar det sig att man i jakt på högre avkastning och tåligare frukter förädlat bort många av de viktiga fytokemikalierna.Utdrag:Hallon: Vi upptäckte att det genomsnittliga innehållet av fenoler en fytokemikalie I vilda hallon var mycket högre än i de odlade varianterna.Grönkål: Det var framförallt de traditionella gamla sorterna som innehåll höga koncentrationer av flavonider, en annan fytokemikalie.Tomater: Vilda tomater innehöll högre konventrationer än odlade tomater.Äggplanta: Växtförädlingen har resulterat i en minskning av innehållet av fenoler och vilda släktingar har högre innehåll än i de odlade äggplantorna.Det verkar alltså som att det är vår växtförädling som valt bort de sorter som har högst halter av de viktiga fytokemikalier. De som ska skydda oss mot cancer och hjärt- och kärlsjukdomar. Förädlingen spelar stor roll. Det säger Marie Olsson professor på institutionen för växtförädling vid Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet i Alnarp. Om man tittar på ett och samma växtslag, på broccoli eller olika typer av bär, så kan man nog räkna med att man har ett par hundra procent skillnad mellan de som är högst och lägst.Det är ju väldigt stora skillnader? Ja det är detMen behöver vi mer av de här ämnena då får vi inte i oss tillräckligt idag? Om man ser på de här medicinska undersökningarna när man jämför de som äter mycket och lite frukt och grönt och då ser man att de som äter mycket har en bättre hälsa och om man då tror att basen till det här åtminstone delvis är att man får i sig mer av de här ämnena så skulle det förmodligen innebära positiva effekter för folkhälsan om man kunde öka dem.När vi pratar med olika växtförädlare visar det sig att de är mycket väl medvetna om att de grönsaker och frukter de säljer inte är de nyttigaste. Men vissa av dem har faktiskt gjort försök att ta fram nyttigare varianter.Kommer ni ihåg den lykopenrika tomaten i Susanne Anderssons växthus. Flavance, den är framtagen av Monsanto ägda växtförädlaren De Ruiters.Det visar sig att De Ruiters, innan de köptes upp av Monsanto 2008, hade en liten satsning på tomater med mer lykopen.Men i dag tycks satsningen vara mer eller mindre nedlagd. Vi identifierade tomater som hade högre halt av lykopen, berättar Sharon Mac Gregor, en av Monsantos marknadschefer.Enligt henne lades satsningen ner för att man misslyckats att marknadsföra de lykopenrika tomaterna. Flavance finns inte en med i deras frökatalog. Vi upptäckte att vi inte kunde marknadsföra det till konsumenternaHon skyller på EU:s hårda regler, som gör det svårt att marknadsföra de lykopenrika tomaterna med hälsoargument om man inte kan bevisa det i dyra kliniska tester. Det är väldigt stränga legala riktlinjer om vad vi kan och vad vi inte kan säga och det är det största hindret.  Eftersom de lykopenrika tomaterna är dyrare blir det svårt för handeln att sälja dem. Handeln utövar högt tryck på hela leverantörskedjan på att leverera produkter som kostar lite. Och det kräver produkter med hög avkastning.Men hon säger också en annan sak, något som vi stött på tidigare i brunchen Det finns en fara. Om man hävdar att något är bra, så kan konsumenterna tro att de andra är dåligt även om det inte är det. Så det är alltid en fara, säger Sharon Mac Gregor.Jag berättar om de vetenskapliga studierna som visar att växtförädlingen gjort att grönsakerna inte är lika nyttiga som de är förr och undrar vilket ansvar Monsanto har för det här. Sharon har inte läst de här studierna men hon erkänner att det ofta finns en motsättning mellan högt näringsinnehåll och hög avkastning. Om en planta är särskilt näringsrik så kanske det kan innebära att den samtidigt har sämre avkastning och vara svårare att hantera.Det kommer alltid vara en kompromiss mellan näring och avkastning, säger hon.Men konsekvensen blir att det inte är de nyttigaste grönsakerna konsumenterna kan köpa i affären undrar jag? Det stämmer svarar Sharon MacGregor, på Monsanto.Vi är tillbaka på Johnny Andreassons gård i Spekeröd norr om Göteborg bredvid oss står en hög taggig växt, kardborrerot, smakar ungefär som kronärtskocka, ett gäng fåglar är där och pickar bort de mogna fröna.Det får de väl inte? Nej så jag måste nog ta dem innan de tömt dem.Att ändra på den moderna växtförädlingen skulle ha många fördelar inte bara för vår hälsa. Fytokemikalierna är ju som sagt en del av plantornas immunförsvar. Forskning har visat att högre halter av fytokemikalier ofta också betyder tåligare plantor, alltså att de klarar sig på mindre vatten och näring och utan bekämpningsmedel.Kanske är det därför som Johnny Andreassons gamla frösorter klarar sig så bra på hans ekologiska odling.Han tror det behövs fler oberoende fröodlare som han, annars är han rädd att de stora multinationella växtförädlarna kommer förstöra grönsakerna totalt i sin jakt på högre avkastning. Det är inte bra om all livsmedelsproduktion ligger i händerna på de företagenVarför är det så dumt? Därför att de har otrolig kontroll över hur vi ska leva och många anser att det vi är utsatt för nu är världens största biologiska experiment.Man skulle kunna tänka sig att fröodling är så långt i från aktivism som man kan tänka men det låter lite som du ser det som aktivistisk verksamhet? Man kämpar ju emot den stora överväldigande industrijordbruksgruppen.De tar ju över mer och mer det finns mycket revolutionärt att göra i odlingen också.Men vems fel är det här då?Frågar man de inblandade så skyller alla på alla, växtförädlarna som tar fram fröerna, odlarna som köper och odlar upp grönsakerna, grossisterna som köper av dem som sen säljer de till affärernaIngen anser att de har något ansvar egentligen.Sen till sist handlar det om de som har matkedjorna för det är de som bestämmer vilka produkter som ska finnas i butiken.Så vill de välja de nyttigaste grönsakerna så kan de det. Det kostar lite mer bara. Vårt ansvar är att se till att ha ett bra utbud av frukt och grönt att få upp konsumtionen av frukt och grönt det är vårt ansvar, säger Kristina Karlsson, dietist och Folkhälsoansvarig på Ica.Hon säger alltså att deras roll är att få folk att köpa mer frukt och grönt, helst så att alla äter ett halvt kilo om dagen. Att köpa in nyttigare grönsaker får bli en senare fråga. Det får vi göra när vi nått upp till 500 gram, men vi har långt dit kan jag säga.Liknande tankar har Anneli Bylund dietist och hållbarhetsstrateg på Coop. Det vi ska börja med är att äta 500 gram frukt och grönt varje dag. Det gör vi ju inte idag. Två av tio i Sverige äter så mycket, så om alla ökar lite granna så kanske vi inte skulle behöva ha superfoods. För det vi har här är bra.Daniel Månsson ansvarig för frukt och grönt på Axfood ser lite annorlunda på saker. Han tycker de fokuserat för lite på att köpa in de nyttigaste grönsakerna, och att de borde göra mer. Det skulle unna vara en förbättringspotential som vi borde titta över vissa sorter vet vi att de har lite högre lykopen och så där.Tror du konsumenterna känner till att det kan vara så stora variationer mellan sorter att det spelar roll vad vi väljer? Generellt sett tror jag inte det.Vems ansvar är det framförallt att se till att de grönsakerna vi konsumenter köper är de nyttigaste så att det inte är så att de blir mindre och mindre nyttiga för att man prioriterar hög avkastning? Det var en svår fråga. Vi är väl absolut delaktiga i det här och vi får väl titta på hur vi ska jobba med det här framöver. Malin Olofsson och Daniel Öhman daniel.ohman@sverigesradio.se  

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Welcome to the show dedicated to the artists and professionals that make Springfield, Illinois a melting pot of creativity and entertainment. Each episode is recorded at a different location featuring a brand new topic.    This episode features Merf from The Chive Illinois http://www.facebook.com/TheChiveIllinois?pnref=lhc thechiveillinois@gmail.com    If you've got a pulse and a passion... We want to hear from you!   -Bailey  lincolnslegendspodcast@gmail.com

This week we’ve got a different kind of show for you! No M.C. Ice, but instead a terrific interview with winemaker David “Merf” Merfeld from Northstar Winery in Walla Walla, Washington. This 43 minutes will give you a great perspective on the region through the eyes of a winemaker. Merf tells us all about the differences between the appellations, the grapes that thrive in the region, and why Washington is so unique. We hit on everything from soil, to wildlife, to distribution of Washington wines. A great perspective that we hope you enjoy! Thanks for listening! We can’t wait to hear from you!   If you’ve got a question you want us to answer, post it here or on Facebook or Twitter we’ll include it on the show! ____________________________________________________________________ Podcast music: “Café connection” by morgantj / CC BY 3.0, ©2009 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0)Map: Licensed under the Creativ [...]