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S5 Ep 19 of The Awake Space Podcast explores how spirituality (and other subjects) leave people open to manipulation and scams. Your host Laurie Rivers has been a professional astrologer since 1998 and brings her 3 decades of experience to the table to help you understand how not to get scammed or sucked into a delusional spiral with AI, Social Media and even psychic hotlines.Tracy St. Croix is this week's guest, she brings her experience, wisdom and humor to share her experience on psychic hotlines. Laurie and Tracy have a humorous conversation while setting the record straight, then explain how they came up with a solution to help their clients who have questions or need a quick touch base. Show Links:Awake Space Patreon supports the podcast and keeps it ad free. Join HERE for resources and juicy discounts (and access to Laurie's new quick connect link)Tracy St. Croix for outstanding psychic mediumship for life and business. Click HereUpcoming Events with Laurie:Laurie & Matilda See Stuff May 31st - Astrologer Laurie Rivers and Medium Matilda join forces yet again to get your through the second half of 2025 - Get Your Tickets HERE2026 Year Ahead Predictions with Laurie Rivers - June 21 2025. Join Laurie for a month by month walk through and q&a about 2026 to help you prepare and make the most of the energy. (Patrons save 50% go to the member discount collection for your code) - Book HereChapters00:00 Astrological Insights and Systemic Change02:33 The Role of AI in Spirituality05:34 New Moon in Gemini: Crafting Your Future12:59 Exploring AI in Spirituality and Divination15:46 The Limitations of AI in Intuitive Practices18:49 The Dangers of Mirroring and Cognitive Bias22:07 The Evolution of Astrological Interpretation24:59 The Role of Human Insight in Astrology28:03 Ethics in Divination and Psychic Readings29:17 Patron Shout Outs and Community Appreciation31:21 Navigating Psychic Hotlines and Co-Creating Solutions31:34 Exploring Psychic Hotlines34:36 The Reality of Psychic Readings37:23 Client Management and Expectations40:09 Lessons from the Hotline Experience43:13 Navigating Emotional Intelligence in Readings46:04 The Role of Intuition in Psychic Work48:56 Innovating Psychic Services51:51 Creating Accessible Guidance53:33 Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Psychic Services59:55 The Role of Intuition in Client Interactions01:07:21 Balancing Personal Well-being with Professional Service01:14:34 Innovating Psychic Services for Modern Needs01:15:25 Balancing Work and Personal Time01:16:50 Authenticity and Integrity in Readings01:18:16 The Importance of Community in Spiritual Work01:18:53 Evening Sessions and Client Needs01:20:34 Quick Touch Base Sessions01:21:30 Exploring Spirituality and Business01:23:30 Learning from Experience and Mentorship01:27:21 Training and Synthesis in Readings01:29:01 Navigating Client Expectations01:37:17 Innovating Spiritual Services01:38:23 Introduction and Upcoming Events01:40:15 Astrological Predictions and Global Events01:48:19 Intense Global Climate and Political Changes01:51:57 Personal Well-being and Conclusion
Culture is often touted as a core driver of organizational success, yet few leaders truly grasp how it is shaped—not by slogans or aspirational values on posters, but by the subtle signals of what is tolerated every single day. Allowing destructive behaviors, even passively, sends a clear message to your team about what is truly acceptable, gradually eroding performance and morale from within. The "silent killers" of team performance don't announce themselves; rather, they creep in quietly, undermining collaboration, excellence, and engagement. This episode shines a spotlight on three such destructive yet easily overlooked threats: mediocrity, passive resistance, and poor communication. Understanding and proactively confronting these factors is essential for anyone seeking to build a high-performing, resilient culture. Leaders who are willing to audit their own tolerance levels, set clear standards, and address dysfunction early position their teams—and themselves—for sustainable success. Timestamped Overview [00:00:00] Why Culture Is Shaped by What Leaders Tolerate[00:02:08] Understanding Service Offerings: Leader Growth Mastermind and 1:1 Coaching[00:10:33] Support Options for Team and Executive Leadership Development[00:11:21] Silent Killer #1: Tolerating Mediocrity—How Low Standards Become the Norm[00:15:02] Setting Standards and Holding People Accountable (Without Being a Jerk)[00:15:45] Silent Killer #2: Tolerating Passive Resistance—Detecting Hidden Disengagement[00:17:11] Strategies to Address Passive Resistance and Foster Psychological Safety[00:19:55] Silent Killer #3: Tolerating Poor Communication—The Ripple Effect of Ambiguity[00:20:55] Over-Communicating in Uncertain Times & The Mirroring Method[00:23:19] Mirroring in Communication: Ensuring True Understanding[00:23:50] Recap: The Three Silent Killers and Your Role in Culture Auditing[00:24:33] Self-Reflection for Leaders: Are You Reinforcing or Eroding Standards?[00:24:55] How to Support the Podcast and Spread Peak Performance Leadership Mentioned Resources Leader Growth Mastermind1:1 CoachingBook a Clarity CallNever Split the Difference by Chris Voss For the full complete show notes check out our website: https://leaddontboss.com/345
In this episode of Recovery for the Narcissist, Dr. Eric Perry explores the complex and often misunderstood phenomenon of mirroring in narcissistic relationships. This episode dives into how mirroring can create the illusion of deep connection—while quietly eroding authenticity, trust, and emotional intimacy.Dr. Perry unpacks the psychological roots of mirroring, tracing it from early childhood development to its manipulative adaptation in adulthood. He explains how individuals with narcissistic tendencies often use mirroring—consciously or unconsciously—as a way to build connection, avoid rejection, and emotionally survive within relationships.Listeners will learn about:The origins of mirroring and how it forms in childhoodHow narcissistic individuals use mirroring to create rapid emotional closenessWhy mirroring feels like connection at first—but leads to disconnection over timeThe emotional toll of being mirrored instead of truly seenPractical steps to recognize mirroring patterns and rebuild real, honest connectionDr. Perry offers clear and compassionate guidance for those who find themselves stuck in cycles of performative connection. Whether you have used mirroring to feel accepted or have been on the receiving end of it, this episode provides insight, validation, and a path forward.Tune in to discover how moving from imitation to authenticity can heal your relationships—from shallow and performative to grounded and real. Through honest self-reflection and small acts of vulnerability, true intimacy becomes possible—not by becoming who someone wants you to be, but by becoming more fully yourself.Connect with Dr. Perry: https://drericperry.comOwn Your Stuff Online Coaching Group: https://drericperry.com/ownyourstuffEmpathy Awakening Workshop: https://drericperry.com/empathyawakeningDisclaimer: The content contained in this podcast is for general information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should not rely on the information provided for their own health needs. All specific questions should be presented to your own healthcare provider. Listening to this podcast in no way creates a professional/working relationship between the listener and the host. If at any time you have an emergency while listening, please contact your local emergency center immediately.
Stay sharp, sound confident, and speak with impact — even when you're put on the spot.Communicating clearly is challenging enough when there's time to prepare. But in most situations — whether in meetings, casual conversations, or high-stakes moments — we rarely have the luxury of scripting our words. We must think and speak in real time.Spontaneous communication is a daily challenge, yet few of us receive formal training in how to handle it with poise and confidence. So how can we stay composed and communicate effectively when put on the spot? Drawing on years of experience, our expert coaches — including a sports broadcaster, FBI negotiator, UN interpreter, game show host, NFL referee, and Sotheby's auctioneer — share their final pieces of advice to help answer that question.In this special episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, the Spontaneous Speaking miniseries concludes with powerful tools, frameworks, and tips for staying calm, organizing your thoughts, and speaking with clarity under pressure. Matt Abrahams shares practical strategies and exercises designed to help you build lasting habits and sharpen your impromptu speaking skills.Whether you tend to freeze when caught off guard or simply want to express your ideas more effectively on the fly, this final installment will equip you to not only think fast — but speak smart.Episode Reference Links:Chris Voss - Former FBI Negotiator, Keynote SpeakerChris Voss's Book: Empathy and Understanding In Business Annabelle Williams - Paralympic Champion, Sports BroadcasterGiampaolo Bianchi - United Nations InterpreterBrad Rogers - NFL Referee, ProfessorPhyllis Kao - Sotheby's AuctioneerPeter D Sagal - Game Show Host, AuthorConnect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:56) - The Power of Structure (05:48) - Expert Tip: Trust Yourself (06:09) - Expert Tip: Project Confidence & Provide Value (07:48) - Expert Tip: Ask for What You Need & Visualization (10:15) - Expert Tip: Review & Reflect (12:15) - Expert Tip: Use an Encouraging Tone (12:36) - Expert Tip: Turn Observation into Storytelling (14:29) - Conclusion ********This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.
In this episode, Simon Goode breaks down active listening into three levels: building initial connection through body language and basic responses, using coregulation and summarizing to help others feel truly heard, and practicing genuine curiosity to foster reciprocal change in conversations. He shares practical tips, like using open and closed questions, mirroring, and mindful summaries, to improve everyday listening skills. Simon also emphasizes the power of approaching conversations with an open, nonjudgmental mindset to deepen understanding and drive positive change in conflict situations.---------------TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Improving Listening Skills Strategies05:48 Effective Distress Listening Techniques08:48 Effective Listening with Open Questions10:58 Effective Communication Through Mirroring13:10 Summary Options: Short or Long18:49 Embracing Subjective Narratives in Conflict20:14 Levels of Active Listening SkillsClick here to send me a quick message via FanMailSupport the showThank you so much for listening! I'd love to know what you think and connect. website: simongoode.com email: podcast@simongoode.com
Today, we are joined by Joe Navarro.For 25 years, Joe Navarro served as an FBI agent specializing in counterintelligence and behavioral assessment. Since retiring, he has authored 14 books in 32 languages dealing with human behavior and body language. Through his experience working with CEOs and senior leaders of major global organizations he is highly sought out for his expertise on leadership, influence, and the behavioral qualities that drive more effective leaders and in turn happier, more productive workforces.Joe earned his Master of Arts degree from Salve Regina University and lectured annually for a decade at the Harvard Business School. He sits on the Global Advisory Board of The Libra Group, supporting its Executive Team and Board of Directors. He provides strategic guidance to the group that is active in aviation, energy, hospitality, real estate, shipping, and diversified investments worldwide.In this episode, we explore the foundational elements of nonverbal communication and how developing stronger observation skills can transform your personal and professional interactions. Key topics include:The difference between merely looking and truly observing human behaviorWhy feet are often the most honest part of the body in revealing true intentionsHow to recognize clusters of nonverbal cues that signal emotional statesThe importance of identifying baseline behaviors versus changes triggered by specific stimuliPractical techniques for developing stronger observation skills in everyday lifeJoe Navarro's Book: "What Every BODY is Saying"https://a.co/d/2wGxP3h Website: www.jnforensics.com -Website and live online programs: http://ims-online.com Blog: https://blog.ims-online.com/ Podcast: https://ims-online.com/podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesgood/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlesgood99Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(01:30) Tool: Developing Curiosity as the Foundation of Observation(03:30) Technique: Learning to Be a Paid Observer in Any Environment(05:45) Tip: Understanding How Nonverbal Communication Science Has Evolved(09:10) Tool: Transforming from Looking to Detailed Observation(12:45) Technique: Training Your Brain Through Continuous Practice(15:00) Tip: Why Feet Reveal Our Most Honest Intentions(18:30) Tool: Recognizing Gravity-Defined Behaviors of Excitement(21:00) Technique: Reading Comfort Levels Through Synchrony and Mirroring(24:50) Tip: Watching for Behavioral Clusters Instead of Single Tells(25:40) Tool: Differentiating Between Baselines and Idiosyncratic Behaviors(27:20) Conclusion#CharlesGood #JoeNavarro #TheGoodLeadershipPodcast #BodyLanguage #NonverbalCommunication #FBI #BehavioralAssessment #HumanBehavior #ObservationSkills #InterrogationTechniques #EmotionalIntelligence #BodyLanguageExpert #FBIProfiling #LeadershipCommunication #ConflictResolution #PeopleReading #NegotiationSkills #TruthDetection #MicroExpressions #BehavioralPatterns
Assertiveness isn't a tick-box skill or a one-size-fits-all tone. In this episode, Helen and Sarah unpack 5 common “assertiveness watch-outs” — sneaky habits that can undermine your message without you even realising it. Whether you tend to over-explain, over-apologize, or overdo your energy, you'll walk away with practical tools to lead more effectively.00:00 What is assertiveness? 05:05 What's your assertiveness watch out? 07:30 Mistake 1 - Too much talking 09:17 Assertive statements 12:51 Mistake 2 - Over-caveating 15:40 Using 'I' statements17:07 Mistake 3 - All about me 19:26 Directing conversations21:17 Mistake 4 - Energy overloads 23:34 Mirroring enough25:39 The robot riskFor questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.comMore ways to learn about Squiggly Careers:
Happy May, Badass Babe! Kelly shares the energetic leaks that are going on BTS, no matter how much strategy you are implementing, and how to clean it up to multiply your money with ease this month! Tune in today! Join Fcking KNOWN here: 2 Week Mini Mind Free Course: $10-$30k Money Multiplier Blueprint Apply to MTSU Mastermind Join Money Multiplier Membership Connect on Instagram
Message from Jarrett Stephens on May 4, 2025
President Donald Trump unveiled a budget blueprint on Friday. Plus, despite additions, some GOP senators slammed his defense budget for being too stingy.USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey talks about Stephen A. Smith as Democrats grapple with celebrity populism.A new policy means zero tolerance for visa holders.President Trump says he's revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status.USA TODAY Sports Columnist Dan Wolken discusses a renewed interest in aftercare for retired racehorses.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Mikah Sargent demonstrates how to use iPhone mirroring, a powerful feature that allows you to control your iPhone directly from your Mac. This detailed walkthrough covers setup, requirements, and practical applications of this impressive Continuity feature that keeps your devices connected. Setting up iPhone mirroring - Learn how to access the app through the dock or Spotlight search, and the initial setup process requiring passcode verification on both devices. System requirements - Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, must be signed into the same Apple ID, positioned within 30 feet of each other, and running macOS Sequoia (or later) and iOS 18 (or later). Interface navigation - Mikah demonstrates how to use the trackpad to navigate, access the app switcher, and return to the home screen using the menu bar at the top. App interaction - Right-clicking apps provides additional options like converting apps to widgets or accessing app shortcuts that would normally require tap-and-hold gestures on iPhone. Notification management - See how iPhone notifications appear on your Mac and how to customize which app notifications are displayed. File transfers - The feature enables drag-and-drop functionality for moving photos, documents, and other files between your Mac and iPhone. Privacy benefits - Your iPhone stays locked during mirroring, and the iPhone screen doesn't display what you're doing on the Mac side. Multiple iPhone support - You can connect several iPhones to one Mac, though only one can be used at a time. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
Mikah Sargent demonstrates how to use iPhone mirroring, a powerful feature that allows you to control your iPhone directly from your Mac. This detailed walkthrough covers setup, requirements, and practical applications of this impressive Continuity feature that keeps your devices connected. Setting up iPhone mirroring - Learn how to access the app through the dock or Spotlight search, and the initial setup process requiring passcode verification on both devices. System requirements - Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, must be signed into the same Apple ID, positioned within 30 feet of each other, and running macOS Sequoia (or later) and iOS 18 (or later). Interface navigation - Mikah demonstrates how to use the trackpad to navigate, access the app switcher, and return to the home screen using the menu bar at the top. App interaction - Right-clicking apps provides additional options like converting apps to widgets or accessing app shortcuts that would normally require tap-and-hold gestures on iPhone. Notification management - See how iPhone notifications appear on your Mac and how to customize which app notifications are displayed. File transfers - The feature enables drag-and-drop functionality for moving photos, documents, and other files between your Mac and iPhone. Privacy benefits - Your iPhone stays locked during mirroring, and the iPhone screen doesn't display what you're doing on the Mac side. Multiple iPhone support - You can connect several iPhones to one Mac, though only one can be used at a time. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
Mikah Sargent demonstrates how to use iPhone mirroring, a powerful feature that allows you to control your iPhone directly from your Mac. This detailed walkthrough covers setup, requirements, and practical applications of this impressive Continuity feature that keeps your devices connected. Setting up iPhone mirroring - Learn how to access the app through the dock or Spotlight search, and the initial setup process requiring passcode verification on both devices. System requirements - Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, must be signed into the same Apple ID, positioned within 30 feet of each other, and running macOS Sequoia (or later) and iOS 18 (or later). Interface navigation - Mikah demonstrates how to use the trackpad to navigate, access the app switcher, and return to the home screen using the menu bar at the top. App interaction - Right-clicking apps provides additional options like converting apps to widgets or accessing app shortcuts that would normally require tap-and-hold gestures on iPhone. Notification management - See how iPhone notifications appear on your Mac and how to customize which app notifications are displayed. File transfers - The feature enables drag-and-drop functionality for moving photos, documents, and other files between your Mac and iPhone. Privacy benefits - Your iPhone stays locked during mirroring, and the iPhone screen doesn't display what you're doing on the Mac side. Multiple iPhone support - You can connect several iPhones to one Mac, though only one can be used at a time. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Mac at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-mac Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
Jordan and Leticia interview arts journalist and playwright Kelundra Smith about the cultural landscape of theatre criticism and what it means to tell authentic Black stories.
When Karen Sjoblom relocated to her Midwest birthplace after her daughter left for college, she anticipated exciting possibilities. Instead, she found herself on an unexpected pilgrimage through past trauma, family fractures, and rigid generational expectations. That's when she discovered she'd have to cross through a wilderness of pain if she wanted to reach her own promised land.Mirroring the biblical Exodus in which the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt—a place familiar but enslaving—Sjoblom's reflections on her healing journey illumine the unique losses, lies, and failings we can stumble on, especially at midlife. And yet, they also point to healthier beliefs, relationships, and possibilities to carry us forward.With humor, hope, and hard-won wisdom, Gone for Goodwill help you:Understand the healing reasons for your desert seasonsTrust that God is a good guide who wants to redeem your painWalk in authentic freedom from the pain of what's been to the promise of what might beSjoblom poignantly captures the exhilaration of new beginnings, the longing for what's left behind, the grief over our wandering years, and the truths required to leave “Egypt” behind. A good God does indeed allow hard journeys, but there's redemption on the other side: renewed trust in his character, freedom from the past, and knowledge that it's never too late to embark on a soul-healing expedition. As Sjoblom demonstrates, when we stay with the lessons until the lessons are learned, God enables us to release our wounds and losses so they're gone—for good.For more information about Karen visit https://www.karensjoblom.com
Over the last few years, state lawmakers in Georgia and across the country have filed hundreds of bills focused on the transgender community. Even as Georgia and other Republican-led states have already passed laws dealing with bathrooms, sports, medical treatment and IDs, the bills keep coming. On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a look at what's happening in Georgia and how Democrats are responding. Plus, Georgia Republicans' civil litigation overhaul has been signed into law and we look ahead to the 2026 midterms as the field for Senate and Governor races starts to take shape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Over the last few years, state lawmakers in Georgia and across the country have filed hundreds of bills focused on the transgender community. Even as Georgia and other Republican-led states have already passed laws dealing with bathrooms, sports, medical treatment and IDs, the bills keep coming. On this week's episode of "Plugged In," hosts Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali take a look at what's happening in Georgia and how Democrats are responding. Plus, Georgia Republicans' civil litigation overhaul has been signed into law and we look ahead to the 2026 midterms as the field for Senate and Governor races starts to take shape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot.Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with plenty of time to prepare what we want to say. But for most of our communication, there's no time to plan, practice, or perfect — we have to respond in the moment.Spontaneous communication is a part of our everyday lives, but few of us have been trained to handle these impromptu situations with confidence. What does it take to flow, not freeze, when put on the spot? This special three-part series turns to experts for guidance, from a sports commentator, FBI hostage negotiator, and UN translator to a game show host, NFL referee and Sotheby's auctioneer.Part 1: Preparation and MindsetDiscover how to prepare for the unpredictable, manage anxiety, and find the right headspace for success.Part 2: Mastering the MomentLearn to stay present, read the room, and use techniques like mirroring and pacing to connect with your audience.Part 3: When Things Go WrongFind out how to recover from inevitable mishaps and keep moving forward with confidence, turning mistakes into gold.In addition to insight-packed discussions, this Think Fast, Talk Smart miniseries offers practical exercises and homework assignments to help you implement what you've learned. Whether you draw blanks when put on the spot or simply want to articulate your thoughts more clearly in the moment, these episodes will transform how you think — and speak — on your feet.Episode Reference Links:Chris Voss - Former FBI Negotiator, Keynote SpeakerChris Voss's Book: Empathy and Understanding In Business Annabelle Williams - Paralympic Champion, Sports BroadcasterGiampaolo Bianchi - United Nations InterpreterBrad Rogers - NFL Referee, ProfessorPhyllis Kao - Sotheby's AuctioneerPeter D Sagal - Game Show Host, AuthorConnect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:42) - Focus on What's Next, Not What Went Wrong (04:40) - Failure with Confidence (06:45) - Flexibility Over a Fixed Plan (08:28) - Staying Cool in Public Slip-Ups (10:36) - Using Laughter to Reset (13:05) - Gracefully Correcting Yourself (14:42) - Staying Calm Under Pressure (19:40) - Listener Exercises on Reflecting to Improve (21:56) - Conclusion *****Stay up to date on the next great discovery at Stanford by signing up for the Stanford ReportBecome a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.
Sean Houchins-McCallum is the top-ranked climber on the Tension Board 2. We talked about growing up in Iowa, his obsession with board climbing, his insane training schedule, his ultimate board project, why we haven't seen V15+ on the boards, projecting tactics, how changing his diet allowed him to jump up two grades, his home made pre-workout, TB2 vs. outdoor bouldering, dream lines, and much more.Rúngne:rungne.info/nuggetUse code “NUGGET” for 10% off storewide.Arc'teryx:Women's climbing clothingMen's climbing clothingCheck out the NEW Kragg Collection.Maui Nui Venison:mauinuivenison.com/NUGGETThe healthiest red meat on the planet. Wild harvested and responsibly sourced. Mad Rock:madrock.comUse code “NUGGET10” at checkout for 10% off your next order. Become a Patron:patreon.com/thenuggetclimbingWe are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:Michael Roy and Mark and Julie CalhounShow Notes: thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/sean-houchins-mccallumNuggets:(00:00:00) – Intro(00:01:16) – Unsynthesized(00:04:50) – Sending every classic in 4 months(00:07:02) – Limit projects every day(00:09:31) – Sean vs. Noah Wheeler(00:11:36) – Is boarding its own sport?(00:16:04) – Becoming a board climber(00:17:30) – Sean's ultimate board proj (You've Seen the Butcher at 65º)(00:19:10) – Board tactics(00:21:28) – Why aren't there V15s or harder on boards?(00:26:14) – Getting outside(00:27:45) – Sean's dimensions(00:29:24) – Sean's warms up(00:34:07) – A typical week(00:36:52) – Sean's projecting tactics(00:40:42) – 2 months on(00:46:52) – Does Sean train his strengths?(00:54:20) – Sean's weaknesses(00:57:19) – The Spray layout(01:01:41) – TB1 vs. TB2(01:02:49) – Mirroring climbs & the leaderboard(01:07:05) – Intimidating holds on the TB2(01:10:19) – Go-to shoes(01:11:36) – Working & setting(01:17:11) – Outdoor goals(01:18:55) – Jumping up 2 grades after changing his diet(01:26:52) – TB2 vs. outside(01:31:57) – New board companies(01:34:59) – Sport climbing feature(01:38:59) – Dream lines(01:40:17) – Rapid fire questions(02:00:53) – How Low Can You Go?
In today's teaching, we return to the empty tomb in Luke 24 to rediscover the power of Jesus' words when everything else feels lost. Through the stories of Bonhoeffer, Polycarp, and the women at the tomb, we're reminded that resurrection hope doesn't begin when everything is fixed—it begins when we remember what Jesus has already said. If you're feeling weary, uncertain, or walking through a valley, we invite you to cling to the unshakable promises of the Risen Christ.
This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot.Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with plenty of time to prepare what we want to say. But for most of our communication, there's no time to plan, practice, or perfect — we have to respond in the moment.Spontaneous communication is a part of our everyday lives, but few of us have been trained to handle these impromptu situations with confidence. What does it take to flow, not freeze, when put on the spot? This special three-part series turns to experts for guidance, from a sports commentator, FBI hostage negotiator, and UN translator to a game show host, NFL referee and Sotheby's auctioneer.Part 1: Preparation and MindsetDiscover how to prepare for the unpredictable, manage anxiety, and find the right headspace for success.Part 2: Mastering the MomentLearn to stay present, read the room, and use techniques like mirroring and pacing to connect with your audience.Part 3: When Things Go WrongFind out how to recover from inevitable mishaps and keep moving forward with confidence, turning mistakes into gold.In addition to insight-packed discussions, this Think Fast, Talk Smart miniseries offers practical exercises and homework assignments to help you implement what you've learned. Whether you draw blanks when put on the spot or simply want to articulate your thoughts more clearly in the moment, these episodes will transform how you think — and speak — on your feet.Episode Reference Links:Chris Voss - Former FBI Negotiator, Keynote SpeakerChris Voss's Book: Empathy and Understanding In Business Annabelle Williams - Paralympic Champion, Sports BroadcasterGiampaolo Bianchi - United Nations InterpreterBrad Rogers - NFL Referee, ProfessorPhyllis Kao - Sotheby's AuctioneerPeter D Sagal - Game Show Host, AuthorConnect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (04:12) - Pressure and Preparation (06:03) - Cognitive Load and Focus (08:47) - Speaking with Clarity (10:25) - Building Instinct Through Practice (12:29) - Overthinking vs. Acting Fast (14:09) - Staying Present Under Pressure (14:49) - Make It About the Audience (15:50) - Handling Public Scrutiny (17:54) - Physical Rituals to Manage Nerves (19:27) - Grounding Techniques Before Speaking (22:01) - Listener Exercises for Better Speaking (25:18) - Conclusion *****Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the Stanford ReportBecome a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.
Jared and Jason break down the keys to selling to anyone: Mirroring, signaling, and authenticity.
In today's episode we look at mirroring, also called mimicry. This behavior often start in our infancy and can become an unconscious aspect of our behavior. But, too often in recovery a pattern of conscious imitation becomes a tool of manipulation used to maintain control of people, conversations and situations. American psychologist Joyce Brothers once said "Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery."
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into Jerusalem not as a coming king, but as THE King—humble, unexpected, and unlike anything the crowd hoped for. In this teaching, Jason unpacks how the colt, the cheers, and even creation reveal who Jesus truly is. But five days later, the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” cries “Crucify him.” Why? Because Jesus refuses to be the King we want—He insists on being the King we need.
On today's edition of Family Talk, Gary Bauer continues his conversation with Kirk Cameron about the new faith-based children's show called, Adventures with Iggy and Mr. Kirk. They explore how this innovative children's program is helping families instill biblical values in an entertainment-saturated culture. Learn how Iggy and Mr. Kirk's adventures are inspiring a new generation of kids to grow in wisdom and faith. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29
Are you looking for wholesome entertainment that nurtures your child's Christian faith? On today's edition of Family Talk, Gary Bauer welcomes actor Kirk Cameron to discuss Iggy and Mr. Kirk, a new children's series where a lovable iguana learns biblical values through engaging adventures. Discover how this charming show is capturing children's imaginations while teaching timeless truths about forgiveness and character. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29
The last days before the Great Hunt.Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.“Can the scorpion ever stop being a scorpion? “"Do we get our legally permitted weaponry back?" The bishop still held my hand."Sure. If it makes you feel better.""I would like to meet your people then," he gave my paw one last shake then released me. "Shall we go?""I will have someone take you to your car. I want to briefly meet with the President, of Havenstone, then I'll join you in the garage. We'll drive over to JIKIT and I'll make the introductions. Good enough?""That is acceptable," he nodded."What about you two?" I regarded the nun and the Swiss Super-soldier. The nun remained vigilant, and silent. The Swiss' eyes flickered to his boss before settling back on me."It is what I volunteered for," he stated firmly."Okay. Please never say I didn't give you a chance to take the sane way out. Also, Bishop Nicolö, circumstances have conspired to up my prospective wedding date to January 1st.""That will be more difficult. Why the change?" he remained grim."We are having twins. By March, this will be very visible.""That is, unfortunate," he shook his head."You have no idea," and then a brainstorm. "And I am curious about resurrecting the Order of the Dragon, the Societas Draconistarum." Technically that meant 'Society of the Dragonists' which was more appropriate than the literal Ordo Draconis."Precisely how do you plan to recreate a crusading Christian Order which was the purview of the Hungarian monarchs?" he didn't sound the least skeptical, just curious."I have billions of euros to fund such a thing," I winked. "Of far greater critical importance, I know where I can find the supernatural guidance and spiritual imperative for such an organization.""You are going to produce a dragon?" his eyes grew larger even as he fought down his fear. Good man. He was adaptive. He'd need to be."I never said such a thing. That would make me sound crazy," I smiled broadly. "Besides, when I say 'dragon', you think 'devil' and that's way too pedestrian for where we are going.""I am not a moral relativist.""Neither am I. I'm out to save lives and nurture the drive in the human spirit to reach for freedom, love and liberty. As you might imagine, I'm pretty freaking outnumbered.""I think you are crazy," he re-evaluated things."I just might be. In all honesty, you should back out now. Take your two compadres back to 25 East 39th Street (the Holy See's Permanent Observer Offices to the UN in NYC) and report 'Mission Failure'. You'll most likely live longer," I reasoned."I am not afraid to die," Sister Rafaela Sophia finally voiced an opinion."That's idiotic," I scoffed before the bishop could reprimand her for opening her mouth. "You should be.""My soul is in God's hands," she set her jaw."Does he talk to you?" I countered."His message is clear.""Not what I asked. I asked if he specifically directed you to toss your life fruitlessly away as an object lesson for the reckless, or careless?""This is uncalled for," Nicolö intervened."Nope. I bet you a phone call to my Brother to physically restore your bishopric that there are four people in this room who have murdered in cold blood," I kept eye contact with the nun, "and she's the odd one out. Right Juanita?""Yes, Ishara," Juanita slipped up. Her spycraft, like mine, needed work."You were in the military?" the bishop asked my bodyguard."Was? I am. Right now," she related. "I will be until I die."That earned me looks from the three Catholics."She is loyal," Nicolö nodded slightly toward her, referring to Juanita's declaration."Huh? To me? Nope. She's loyal to my office, which we shan't get into right now. Back to you, Sister Rafaela Sophia. Are you out to be a martyr, or has some saint, or angel, given you a directive the other two seem to be unaware of which causes you to devalue your life?""I am devoted to the One True God, Christ, our Savior," and Juanita snorted, "and the Virgin Mary," the nun stated firmly. "I don't hear voices in my head.""Juanita, that was rude. Apologize to our guest," I kept looking forward."No." Well, fuck you too."Gun," I commanded. I held out my left hand."What? No. I will not give you one of my guns," she resisted."Juanita, give me your primary weapon, or I will ask Pamela to beat you up the moment I depart for the Great Hunt. After yesterday's stunt, you know she will," I threatened. Fair, I was not. She drew a Glock-20 and handed it to me. I went through the routine, dropped the magazine then ejected the round before opening the door.Oh look, there were four SD chicks outside, ready to escort my visitors downstairs. I didn't even need to waste a phone call. It wasn't like the conference room wasn't being monitored."Excuse me," I took a half step out the door then hurled all three items down the hall. Looking back at Juanita. "Go fetch.""Fuck you," she snapped."And insulting her faith was as degrading to both her faith and her as me doing this to you is degrading to you right now," I lectured her. "It is important to her, therefore it is important to me because she is my guest in the same way it is important to me that I let my bodyguard do her job without being a total asshole all the time. Now go get your God-damn weapon," I barked. Off she went. I left the door open."Now Sister Rafaela Sophia, the point of all this is: I don't give a crap if you are willing to die for God. In fact, that makes you less than worthless to me and the team. I want to know if you are willing to put other motherfuckers in the ground so that Bishop Nicolá, or Mathias, might get to keep doing their jobs.""Murder is a sin," she declared."Go home," I sighed while shaking my head."She answers to me, the Church and God, not you, Mr. Nyilas," the bishop stepped forward."Then you can go home too," I shrugged. "I'm not asking for remorseless killers. I'm asking for people willing to kill to get the hard work done and best of all, for people who know the difference.""Everyone on JIKIT is a professional soldier, or killer?" he asked."No, but the ones who aren't don't carry guns and know to get down when things get funky," I bantered."I vouch for her," he insisted. Juanita came running back into the room."Cool beans. I don't know you either.""You apparently know my service history," he volleyed."Yeah. Ten years a foreigner in the service of France, then you went straight into a university which turns out Jesuits," I riposted."What turned your life around?" he evaded. That was okay. I'd gotten what I wanted. I was willing to bet he had read every bit of public information about me and it was rumored the heavy Catholic membership in the FBI had its benefits to the Church as well. Not so much as to give them insight into JIKIT, but,"Someone risked their life for me. It's been pretty much downhill from there," I confessed. It was the truth. After Katrina gave me the life line on Day Two, it had all spiraled to the revelation of my heritage, Dad's death, Summer Camp, the Hamptons, Romania and Aya's kidnapping."A person, a soldier, died saving my life," the bishop empathized. "Her story is similar. She seeks redemption. She is not suicidal. I am staking both our lives on it."Did he mean him and Mathias, or him and me? I wasn't certain. Still, it was good enough for now. I'd gotten a look at their emotional make up, even the relatively quiet Swiss."Very well," I agreed. "I have to go see the President about my new job description. I'll catch up with you at your car." To the SD team leader, "Take them to the garage. I will join the group of you very soon.""Yes Ishara," she nodded. I exited the room, Juanita in tow. Two SD entered. I was gone before the Papal team left. Upstairs we went, with one last chore to discharge. I had to check on Ms. French to be absolutely freaking sure it was Shawnee, because anyone else would spell disaster.{8:30 am, Monday, September 8th. Last day}A Room full of asistants:Well, there it was, the office of the Executive Director to the President, and not 'Executive Assistant', because this was Katrina's final 'fuck you, no, just her final 'fuck you' before the Great Hunt got underway. I shouldn't assume things, dang it!Anyway, according to the gray-haired matron running gatekeeper to the Office of the President, this was where I was supposed to show up. I shot Juanita a worried look. She glanced my way and shrugged, momentarily willing to not give me shit about the past 24 hours because where I was situated would determine how easily she could do her job.In we went. In the suite were three desks, the 'big' desk situated at the far end of the office space and two far more modest ones on either side of the entryway. The room expanded beyond the chokepoint formed by the two closest desks into a cluttered area. The walls were cluttered with inset bookshelves and portraits of women. Facing one another were a loveseat on my left with bookend plush chairs in an 'L' facing and a full sofa on the right. There were end tables at the ends of the sofa and the corners between the loveseat and each chair.As the door opened, I hadn't knock as this was my office, or so it seemed, the occupants, who had all been sitting in quiet conversation in the central section, began reacting. Oh look ~ Constanza! I nearly had a heart attack before I realized there were three other Amazons also in the room. Sadly, none were behind the 'big desk', so I couldn't tell who was in charge. Two of the other three choices weren't too much better. First off,"Ishara," Marilynn Saint John stood to greet me. I'd last seen her when I'd dedicated her grandmother's (Hayden's) spirit to the halls of my ancestors, not hers, after forcing the political crisis leading to Hayden's suicide ~ her taking herself to the cliffs and in doing so, destroying the Amazon Cult of Blood Purity. Marilynne was clearly still bitter with me. Umm, I could still incite passion in women I hadn't slept with, yet, woot?"Cáel," the senior-most and only friendly face in the room spoke next. Thank goodness it was Beyoncé Vincennes, Head of House Hanwasuit and House Ishara ally."Cáel Ishara," the third individual was deferential which I wasn't sure how to take as the last time I'd encountered her, yeah, things hadn't gone well either."Beyoncé," I started off with a smile. From there, I had to figure out, ah, Beyoncé's eyes flickered to Constanza then Sabia. I knew Marilynn, with her young age, had the least seniority, "Constanza, Sabia, Marilynn. How's tricks?"Glum faces by everyone except Beyoncé. I didn't ask about Sabia's particular well-being. It had been months since I'd beaten her into the mats of the Full-blooded gym. She'd attacked Yasmin, the Brazilian Hottie and my Brazilian Jujutsu sparring buddy, and I'd retaliated by ambushed her when she turned her back on us. Besides, she'd been giving me shit before I even could see straight.Constanza was minus her left eye because of her dire insult to me. If she wasn't capable of working, she wouldn't be here. If she appreciated my 'mercy' in sparing her life ~ her insult was worthy of her death ~ Constanza hid it well. I hadn't spared her expecting a change of heart. I hadn't felt words alone warranted anyone's death. I was a big boy and could take a few insults. House Ishara, as represented by me, could care less. These days, my sisters would be less understanding despite them knowing my heart."Constanza Landau of House Jaya and Marilynn Saint John of House Anahit are Assistants to President Shawnee French," Beyoncé eased things along, "so will be working closely with us, at least for the short term. Sabia Noel of House Guabancex, who I now think you know as well, has joined you as the other 'Assistant' to the 'Executive Director to the President', (that would make me an 'adept', but adept at what?), and since two of the three Regents are unfamiliar with the workings of Havenstone proper, Shawnee has asked me to perform in that role."Beyoncé was, or had been, Havenstone HQ's CFO (Chief Financial Officer). From what I was quickly piecing together, she would essentially be making all the day-to-day decisions concerning the running of Havenstone (how the Host made the majority of its money) until the Regents got up to speed.Only Buffy had actual experience with the New York office and, from what she had told me, solely within Executive Services. While ES knew 'who' did what inside Havenstone, they weren't aware precisely how those Amazons got their jobs done. That would have been an impossible task. Katrina could do it, but she knew it was beyond the ability of most of us 'mere mortals'. Since we were currently at war, the Host needed Katrina completely focused on her duties as Chief Spy-mistress, not baby-sitting the adults.Shawnee indeed had much gravitas among the other House Heads. Not only had she risen up to lead a First House, she had performed heroically during the final days of the last Secret War. Afterwards she had moved into the realm of Amazon jurisprudence and mediation. Until yesterday, she had lived in a House Arinniti freehold in Minnesota's Great Lakes region thus her desire for the 'Training Wheels' period.The Regency would not rule through telecommunication (the upper echelons feared being eavesdropped upon beyond the standard Amazon (read: paranoid) levels) and Havenstone: New York was the center best situated for the current war-fighting operations, so here she lived. I was sure a team from Executive Services was buying, outfitting/spy-proofing and fortifying a dwelling suitable for the President of a Fortune 500 company. Hayden's home would remain the domicile of Sydney thus Marilynn.The same rigmarole would be done for Rhada and Buffy (though I imaged Buffy would bitch endlessly). Publically, they were VP's of a company worth hundreds of billions of dollars and they had to present the public trappings of such leaders.Why did the Amazons do this ~ unmask their leadership to public exposure? Legal-simple: they could request and expect all levels of public and private security for their executives who happened to also be important officials of the Host. Certainly not all executives at Havenstone were officeholders, House Heads, or House Apprentices, but the high level of competence which permitted one often led to the other.Beyonce:As an example: Beyoncé wasn't the most 'bad-ass' lethal chick in House Hanwasuit. As she was preparing to be casted, her intelligence, creativity and diligence at her future craft, finances, was noted by the Host and the members of her House. In due time her name was circulated as Apprentice and the elders approved. When her elder cousin, the prior House Head, took herself to the cliffs, Beyoncé assumed the top spot. Beyoncé wasn't even one of that woman's three daughters.Mirroring her advancement in her House was her advancement in Havenstone's Accounting, Acquisitions and Banking Divisions until she was appointed CFO Havenstone HQ ~ the supreme financial authority inside Havenstone, though the individual regional branches had a greater degree of autonomy than you might normally expect from a 21st century conglomerate, or a Bronze Age autocracy.I had to constantly remind myself, despite the near-constant feuding, Amazons exhibited a phenomenally higher level of trust than I'd ever found in any other society I'd ever witnessed, or read about, before. Though technically Beyoncé could have gone to President Hayden to enforce her decisions ~ or now the Regency ~ she was far more diplomatic in her approach in dealing with the other 'continental' CEO's and CFO's.That meant she had to wrangle the aspirations and resources from:North America (including Latin America, the 'Canadian Arctic' and the North Pacific Ocean),South America (includes both the South Atlantic and South Pacific as far as Samoa),Europe (mostly Central Europe these days plus Antarctica, the 'Russian' Arctic and the North Atlantic),Africa (mostly West-central Africa),India (the subcontinent plus the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean) and,Southeast Asia (which includes Australia)All of which suggested Havenstone hadn't redrawn the Amazons' geographic demarcations since the late 19th century. As an example, an East African venture, say in Tanzania, was as likely to be under the purview of Havenstone: India (due to its control over the Indian Ocean) as Havenstone: Africa (which traditionally had no East Coast holdings due to their constant struggles versus the Arabic slave trade).Returning to Beyoncé: initially she had held the proper 'conservative' (aka man-hating) mindset. My behavior during that first Board Meeting began to change her opinion of me and the New Directive. After the Archery Range incident, Beyoncé became a vocal proponent of the New Directive and faced challenges within her ranks. House Heads do not have to accept challenges and Beyoncé didn't, reasoning with her detractors they had no alternatives save the 'Old Ways' which spelled doom for the Amazon Race.Bing-bang-boom ~ I became the Head of a resurrected House Ishara by the Will of the Ancestors and Beyoncé was vindicated. Not necessarily in the New Directive, but in her support of me thus the rebirth of a sister First House. The purge following High Priestess' Hayden's death was her ultimate absolution. The Ancestors and Destiny had spoken and shown Beyoncé had been piloting House Hanwasuit along the proper course all along.Back to my current circumstances:Oh, why was I Assistant to the Executive Director to the President? It gave me direct access to the finances of Havenstone which was a critical leg of the war-fighting stool ~ people, morale, money and equipment. As Chief Diplomat, I helped with all four of those in varying degrees, allied troops, allied victories, allied bank accounts and allied armaments.The Great Khan, my spiritual 'Blood-Brother', was ramping up his logistic support for my Amazons in Africa, Asia and the Americas. We were 'Allies in the Struggle' and he wasn't going to wait for the Condottieri to begin coordinating with the Seven Pillars to declare them to be his enemies. They were already fighting the Amazons and 9 Clans, his allies, so their fates were sealed.In Japan, my Amazons provided small yet highly effective strike groups which the Ninja families furnished all the support services for. Everything from food to bullets to medical attention as needed. Without reservation, we shared their death-grapple with the Seven Pillars.From the dispatches I was getting back from my family members and envoys in Japan, we were making serious diplomatic inroads with the Ninja. Once again, it was the Amazons shocking capacity for violence as well as their fanaticism, professionalism and proficiency which all impressed our hosts and terrified our enemies, and this from people of a philosophical mindset which had them historically battling samurai.The Black Lotus were running around like rhesus monkeys on crack cocaine unleashed in a China Shop and given RPG's. While the Amazons couldn't help them in China, Indochina & Thailand ~ the Khanate could and was. The Amazons were of more help in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, where the Black Lotus and Amazons were going everywhere on the offensive against the Seven Pillars while the normal tight cohesion and iron-clad confidence, traits which made the 7P's so dangerous ~ were shaken by their horrendous losses in the 'Homeland' aka Mainland China.Less we forget, the 'military intelligence' wing of their organization had been decimated by the Khanate's Anthrax attack due to members of the Earth & Sky sacrificing themselves by being injected with the toxin then allowing themselves to be captured, which always ended in torture and death.Furthermore, the People's Republic of China, while having a scary 18% of the population either captured, imprisoned, dead, or displaced due to the Khanate invasion, that had come with the loss of 63% of their landmass (they had lost all of Nei Mongol, Ningxia & Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Regions, Qinghai and Gansu as well as 90% of Yunnan, 80% of Sichuan and 20% of Shaanxi provinces) to the Khanate and the 'abomination' that was a free Tibet.Then came the Russian 'stab in the back' which entailed the loss of another 10% of their people falling under foreign dominion as well as losing 8% of their most industrialized territory, Manchuria (Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces ~ the Nei Mongol portion of 'Manchuria' was in the Khanate's greedy clutches, from the viewpoint of a Seven P's warrior).Don't get me wrong, they weren't about to throw in the towel. If anything, they were becoming more dedicated to trying harder, digging deep into their knowledge of every atrocity, inhumanity and perversion now deemed necessary to re-chart history back onto its 'correct' path. It was this willingness to act in an even greater sociopathic manner which was being used against them. After all, the 7P's had plenty of proxy allies, who were starting to get really nervous about what their paymasters were now asking them to do,We Amazons were getting some extra special help too. The Booth-gan (Do not call them Thuggee ~ the confederate 9 Clan member based out of India though long since ensconced within various Hindi enclaves across the Globe) had created an all-female group of ultra-fanatical Kali-devotees ~ a gift for the upcoming battle fomented by the Will of the Goddess herself.While Aya was our Queen and the Regency would rule until she wished to assume command of the Amazon People, the nuts-and-bolts of the Host's activities were handled by Saint Marie as Golden Mare (our Minister of War) (technically she held the top spot due to our State of War, though no Golden Mare had ever exercised such authority over a Queen (and she definitely believed Aya was our Queen)), Katrina (as Minister of Intelligence and Security), Beyoncé (as Havenstone (the multinational corporation) ~ our Treasurer/Economic Tsarina) and me (our Foreign Minister).Saint Marie had decided to forgo a public face in order to better facilitate her moving around to various battle fronts and holding clandestine meetings with her junior regional commanders. Her Havenstone corporate title was 'Chief of Security Training and Certification'. As an extra level of deception, the head of Security Services wasn't even a Director-level position, instead being folded into the duties of the Office of the President.To my current circumstances ~ I had been given Constanza's house name which could only mean she wasn't currently assigned to the Security Detail; a fact that couldn't have made her bad attitude any better. Marilynn had completely lost her way as an Amazon when I first met her, burying her pain and confusion in endless partying and intoxicants. I believed only her grandmother's status as High Priestess kept her from the severest of reprimands, or death. I didn't even know what Marilynn's caste was. Sabia,"While I'm sure you are both far more qualified than I, precisely how did you two get these jobs?" I had to ask my two non-coworkers. Constanza glowered. Marilynn flinched."I have an in depth knowledge of Havenstone security procedures and resources," Constanza replied."Shawnee requested me," was Marilynn's comeback. "I also have intimate knowledge of the City of New York and its environs.""Actually, Buffy Ishara recommended you both to Shawnee," Beyoncé corrected their misconceptions. I knew the score. I'd be working intimately with the tight community around the President (Shawnee) and Vice Presidents (Buffy & Rhada). Buffy wanted me to be surrounded by women who hated my guts, so I wouldn't end up boinking them. It rarely worked that way. All too often ladies who hated my still-beating heart ended up punishing me with sex. I wasn't sure why that happened, but it did."Beyoncé, didn't the Chief Diplomat of the Host have her own office? I'm pretty sure Troika had one before her unfortunate collision with Saint Marie," I felt entitled to inquire."Do you feel you've earned that office space?" she riposted."Oh, fuck no!" I waved my hands one over the other to accentuate my denial. "I was just wondering where I could stick Juanita while I'm hanging around, here.""She has the desk right outside the door, Cáel," Beyoncé smiled knowingly. "So there is no way you can sneak past her.""Oh," I grunted. "Buffy again?""No. Pamela Pile put in that particular request.""Oh, Sweet Mother of God, now she is conspiring against me too?""Yes. Some of us realize the greatest hazard to your health is yourself, Ishara," Beyoncé chided me. "We'd like to keep you around, so we listen to those charged with that nigh impossible task.""Is she going to be hanging around the office often?" Constanza asked, either myself, Juanita, or Beyoncé; I wasn't sure. She = Pamela."Please, Constanza," I attempted to intervene, "don't make Pamela kill you. It will upset Mona." Constanza's scowl was accentuated by the eyepatch covering her ruined left socket, the one Pamela had carved out when Constanza had insulted me and House Ishara on our first day of rebirth. I didn't tell Juanita this, because Juanita might just shoot Constanza over the insult before Pamela got a chance to finish the job.The tension was palatable."Mona and I have talked, about Romania, and other things," Constanza grudgingly allowed. It took me a second to realize there was a hidden meaning to what she said. Mona was part of my personal Security Detail bodyguard unit. If she felt Constanza, the woman who had raised her after her birth-mother had died, was a threat to me, she'd feel duty-bound to snuff Constanza first. Amazons were hard-ass bitches alright and I think Mona had made that clear."I hope things can improve between us," I offered to Constanza. "Beyoncé, I just stopped in to say 'hey'. I'm off to JIKIT and I've got three of the Pope's people waiting on me in the garage so,""Vice President Varma requested a moment of your time," Beyoncé smirked. "She is in 2604.""Who?""Vice President Rhada Varma, a moment of your time, alone?" she clarified."Sure thing," I backed out of the office. Once I had some space, I turned to Juanita. "Give me three minutes then bust in and say, I don't know, a tsunami is about to overwhelm the city, or something. Otherwise, I won't get out for at least an hour and I think I've put the Bishop and his people through enough delays as it is.""Are you actually asking me to stop you from having an in-office liaison?" she studied me intently as we walked in the direction of Rhada's office."Yes. It's not likely to happen often, believe me.""Oh, I do, in that you won't ask me to do it often," she grumbled. I'd deal with Juanita's morale problem later. Right now, I had to gird my loins so they wouldn't do anything else with Rhada. I had work to do, damn it!Rhada was sitting at her desk, working on something, stylus raised up so she could chew on the end. Her hair was pulled back in a half-ponytail, the type that captured the rear half of the hair in a ponytail while leaving the front and bangs free to flow down. Rhada's blouse was white & billowy and, as I was soon to discover, her pants were ultra-tight and contour hugging."Mr. Nyilas," she greeted me. "I would like a moment of your time," she relayed what I already knew. She was more than a tad nervous to boot."Vice President Varma," I started off."When in private you may call me Rhada," she interrupted."Rhada, you look more ravishing than ever."That got up her and coming around her desk, which revealed her ultra-tight pants with no sign of her wearing underwear. Yikes! My cock was preparing to do what a cock was meant to do and I just didn't have the time, Really!"Do you have any time?" she let her bosom heave."Not today, ugh," I groaned. See, Rhada took the stylus and dragged it down her chin, throat and in between her bountiful mounds.All of which exposed the top of her black bra."Are you sure, Master?" she enticed me by turning around and then leaning over her desk, point that ass in my direction. My mouth began salivating and my groin ached. I found myself quick-stepping to her and giving those buttocks two firm slaps, one on each cheek."No, damn it, though I'm going to make you pay for this when I get back," I rumbled."Master will make me wait?" she taunted me."That will cost you even more," I growled. "I have business which simply won't wait and here is my captive teasing me with the treasures of her flesh. Bad, war captive," I spanked her yet again, hard. "Bad!" and I spanked her a fourth time. With each beating, Rhada gasped in pain and then exhaled in pleasure."If I've been bad, Master must be extra harsh with me when he returns in triumph from the Great Hunt," she gloated. Rhada had gotten what she wanted, which was another affirmation of my lust for her and our 'game'. I could provide her the release she so desperately craved while allowing her the safety of remaining in the Amazon fold. It was a perfect pairing, for her.I had other problems, such as all the other baby mamas in my life plus the extra-marital affairs I was contemplating. I still took the moments we had to snuggle with Rhada, her grinding that tush into my rod while I held both her arms tightly to her side while raining kisses down onto her neck and head."Sir! A giant tsunami is approaching the city!" Juanita exploded through the door."What?" I coughed. I had a face full of hair."Huh?" Rhada pushed up and away from me. I let her go."Right now," Juanita insisted. She really needed to stop taking me so seriously when I gave her such advice."Really?" from Rhada. She shot me a curious look so I shrugged. What else was I supposed to do with such a flimsy lie forcing our separation? At least I got out of there on time?{9:50 am, Monday, September 8th ~ Last day}(JKIT HQ)"Is this a common occurrence?" Sister Rafaela Sophia whispered to the closest woman, who happened to be Wiesława, the Polish Amazon. Since she hadn't arrived with us from Havenstone, the nun might have assumed she was with the 'Americans', or British."What?" Wiesława responded evenly."Weapons combat, they look real," the nun clarified."They are real. We always practice with real weapons.""Really?""Of course," Wiesława smiled at her. "We believe a few cuts and scrapes now will save lives when the true tests come.""Oh, you are with, Havenstone?" Rafaela clued in."Yes. I am Wiesława of House Živa. I am currently assigned to Unit L, Cáel's unit within JIKIT," she offered her hand to shake. Despite being a full-blooded Amazon from a freehold, her 'human' skills were progressing nicely. The nun shook it."I am Sister Rafaela Sophia of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that is a Roman Catholic Religious Order." Pause. "Do you hate Catholics too?""Yes. We have lived beside your people for many centuries and found your clergy to be much more dangerous than your pagan predecessors. Still, Cáel thinks you can be relied on and he's proven we can trust outsider women, which I was raised to believe was unlikely, and outsider men, which was basically anathema, so I'm willing to set aside my prejudices and judge you as an individual," the Pole imparted."Outsider men?" Rafaela mumbled."Well, yes," Wiesława smirked. "You are a nun, right?""Yes.""So you set aside the World of Men to live mostly among women, right?""Not entirely," the nun chose her words carefully. "We still rely on priests for religious rights and of course obey the life teachings of Christ and follow the leadership of his Holiness, the Pope, a man.""No one is perfect," the Amazon bantered back."Do you know the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ?" Rafaela ventured into dangerous waters."Yes. He was the semi-historical Son of your supposed One True God. We are not monotheists. We are Polytheists. Živa is my House's matron Goddess. It is also the name of the first woman to lead the House, her birth name surrendered to Destiny so all the daughters who came afterwards would be equals.""Oh, is Mr. Nyilas also pagan?" she inquired."I am unsure. From what I have been told, he has commended the spirit of his fallen father to your Jesus in a sacred ceremony then, in the presence of your Trinity and the Goddess Ishara, brought in new members to his House. I suspect he may be both," Wiesława reasoned. "Why don't you ask him?""Because he's fighting for his life?" Rafaela looked my way.See, the entire time their discussion had been going on, I had been sparring in a spare room at JIKIT HQ with Estere Abed, the Hashashin assassin (rather redundant ~ like saying the Sahara Desert). I had two tomahawks while she had a scimitar and curved dagger. While we sparred using the furniture as obstacles, Agent-86 was briefing me on various World events to get my input.Addison Stuart (CIA) and Lady Fathom Worthington-Burke (MI-6) were having a chat with Bishop Nicolé de Santis, verifying for themselves he was worth adding to the team. Juanita was having a similar discussion with Rikki Martin (US State Department) concerning my earlier encounter with the Papal team. Nicolé's buddy, Wachtmeister Mathias Bosshart of the Swiss Guard, was getting acquainted with the other security personnel.In comparison, those two had it easy. Both men were in their elements. Nicolé was a spook who pretended to be a diplomat for the Pope and was well acquainted with terms like 'deniable assets', 'plausible deniability' and your direct superior referring to requests concerning your identity/diplomatic status by saying 'I never heard of him and if I had, I have no idea what he was doing when you caught him doing what I don't know what he was doing', or something like that.Mathias was in the company of military-security specialists, brother professionals who were introducing him to his 'sister' professionals. Our Homeland Security gang were almost entirely former military by now. They got along with our JSOC folks and both had gained a limited acceptance with the Amazon security contingent.They bonded over the fact they were forced to work with really shady characters ~ the 9 Clans menagerie ~ who didn't always appreciate JIKIT operational security. Without going into particulars, the Wachtmeister was given the impression the abnormal was the norm and if you didn't think there was a 'down-side' to being able to carry your personally favorite bang-bang (the SG 552-2P Commando in his case) with some serious attachments (read: grenade launcher) around in downtown Manhattan, you probably didn't belong on this team.Back in the room,"He's not fighting for his life," Estere laughed. "He is fighting for mine.""Right," I responded sarcastically. We went through a flurry of exchanges, ending up with me kicking a chair at her. Estere stepped over it, colliding with me.I blocked her dagger, disarmed her scimitar and,"You are dead," she panted down at me, smiling. I was on my back, her straddling me. She had a belt-knife to my throat. I hadn't see her draw it. The scimitar 'disarm' had been a distraction."Woot!" I exhaled."But you're dead," Sister Rafaela misunderstood my good humor."He survived a minute and thirty-four seconds more today than his previous record," Estere responded. She slithered off of me, doing my arousal no good whatsoever, then offered me a hand up."And that's better?""He's a rank amateur with a few months on the job. I've been training to kill people for nearly two decades," Estere smiled. "Care to have a go?""With him, or you?""Either," Estere offered."I don't have a knife, or any hand weapons," she stated."We'll need to remedy that," Wiesława stated. "You should at least carry a knife.""Really? Why?""It is a nearly universal tool," I verbally stepped up. "Even if you are disarmed, you should be able to find one relatively easily, people are less likely to miss a stolen knife than a purloined gun, and a concealed blade could come in handy.""Do you train in knife-work?" Rafaela eye-balled me."Absolutely. It is part of my culture," I grinned."Okay. Can we spar, hand-to-hand?""Sure," I nodded. I put my tomahawks in their harnesses then put my harnesses aside. Estere gave me a wink before giving us the fighting space."So," Rafaela began to circle, "are you Christian?""By your definition, or mine?""By the definition of the Catholic Church."Oh cool, she went for a Savate stance. This was going to get ugly.My "no," was followed by her kick and my block, lunge and grapple. She wasn't nearly as good as Felix. I had her down and in a choke hold within fifteen seconds.Perhaps she thought I'd take it easy on her. She tapped out. I released her, retreated and flowed back to my boxing stance. It took her a moment to realize this was 'practice', not 'an interview'. She hadn't failed in anyone's eyes. We were both doing this to get better."See, I really, truly believe I have talked to supernatural entities ~ some who are considered divinities," I continued. This time she was more careful, trading jabs and blocks with me. "They don't claim to be the One True God. I believe in such a thing, but I also believe having been given the Message, Humanity has been left to muddle things out for ourselves."Whoops, she popped me one."The Woman-Thing this morning?""Yep," I evaded another flurry. She got cocky and I landed three blows, dropping her to the ground. I didn't help her up. Instead, I withdrew and let her get back up on her own before deciding if she wanted to continue. She did."I believe I've seen dragons and ghosts. I have felt legions of my ancestors give me quiet encouragement when I needed it. I know the dead have been brought back to life," I came at her. This time we both went for body blows, knees, elbows and fists. She was not SD-caliber and she needed to be. I grappled and she was forced to tap out again. After she regained her feet, she held up a hand for a pause."Do you believe any of that?" she addressed Estere."I am an adherent of Ismaili Islam yet nothing Cáel has encountered is contrary to my belief system. The Universe is a complex place and the Divine Light is often seen through a fractured lenses," she counseled the nun."Among the escapees were lawyer Francisco Luemba, Catholic Priest Raul Tati, economist Belchior Lanso Tati and former policeman Benjamin Fuca who are serving jail sentences of between three and six years each for supposed links to the rebel group FLEC (Frente para a Libertaé'o do Enclave de Cabinda), which carried out the attack on the Togolese football team at the start of the Africa Cup of Nations in January, 2010," Agent-86 read off yet another bit of global minutia."We need to get to them," I half turned. Sister Rafaela punched me in the gut and I folded up."Oh!" she gasped. "I'm sorry.""Okay," I mumbled. I had to keep with the plan. "Those men. We need to contact our Coils people in Kinshasa and the Warden of the Mountain Ways ('she' was the Amazon Host's leader of Africa ~ in the ancient times, the mountain ways had been the routes of southern vulnerability for the Amazon tribe thus the name).""Okay," both Agent-86 and Estere answered."Why?" 86 added."The Coils and the Host have had a serious problem with no nation in Africa giving them even back room recognition so we are going to take over our own country, Cabinda. It's been struggling to be free of Angola since 1975 and, by latest estimates, we've got strike elements of over 2,000 Amazons ready and waiting next door in Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.""So you are going to go to war with Angola?" Estere frowned. "Don't we have enough enemies?""Au contraire," I grinned wickedly. "The resistance movement is genuine," I ticked off my points, "they have tons of offshore oil, and after we set off some spectacular explosions in the two main Angolan ports which are just down the coast, we allow global panic to bully the UN into intervening before the Angolan military launch an effective counter-offensive ~ considering the Angolan Armed Forces (I'd been reading up on a ton of CIA & MI-6 briefings) will most likely involve attrition warfare since they can't beat us in a stand-up fight.""They, the Angolans, have no overland access, they are separated by 60 kilometers of territory belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo over some sad ass roads Plus the Congo River itself which is freaking huge by the time it gets that close to the Atlantic, Cabinda rests on the Atlantic Ocean by the way. No bridges. The Angolan Navy is anemic. Let me think."I began pacing."Hmm, they have no paratroopers though they have some Special Forces, we will need to hit as many of them in the barracks as we can. Their last invasion was from the north, overland, from the Republic of the Congo, in 1975, not likely to happen this time, though I may have my 'Brother' weasel up a battalion of Indian paratroopers to act as convincing peacekeepers after the initial take over.""Perhaps we can recruit some Vietnamese. I'm sure they'll love fighting in someone else's jungle for a change. We'll need some of 'our' guys to seize the port of Soyo, it is on the wrong side of the river, but has the major refinery the Cabindans will need. Since the entire surrounding province are the same ethnic make-up as the Cabindans, we'll have to take that too.""Man-o-man, I bet by the time this is over they'll really wish they'd given little Cabinda independence back in 1975. As for their other refinery, it is in their capital, Luanda, a few big explosions there too will get the markets jittery. Check that ~ the complete and utter destruction of their major petroleum facility will create a stampede for Peace," I continued. I walked over as our resident computer intelligence genius worked his magic."Blowing things up, you mean killing people," the nun blanched."Yes. This is what I do," I spared her a sympathetic glance. "I've got a madman roaming around in my head who provides me truly epic military advice which normally, but not always, means blowing shit up and killing folks. Welcome to the team," then as the data appeared, "Holy Shit! Did they build their oil refinery in the midst of their ghetto?" I was staggered. The refinery in Soyo was isolated from the town so it could be easily (and safely) seized. It was the one in Luanda which was the 'Holy Shit' site."It looks that way," Agent-86 agreed nonplussed. "Hmm, yeah, here is the port facility then your neighborhood of shoddily constructed one- and two-story dwellings between the refinery and the inland storage tanks, the perimeter barrier appears to be a chain link fence. I'd hate to be their Chief of Security.""Oh yeah," I choked. Estere slipped around to get a look."Whoops," she snorted."What are these people thinking?" I continued. "The whole shebang is exposed to the northern quarter of the city. The storage tanks have residential dwellings on all four sides with numerous side streets. Two teams with RPGs and four rounds apiece, Holy Crap. Sorry Sister.""But I want to save lives," she sputtered."Limiting the collateral damage could be pretty tough," Estere frowned. She toggled throw a series of maps to multiple pictures."Oh, look (dripping sarcasm); they light up the refinery at night. You can sit off the coast in a speed boat under cover of darkness and attack from there," she noted."Damn. Those are a lot of lights," Agent-86 agreed."24-7 operation," I suspected."We will need some experts," the government agent nodded."Or we are going to kill a fuck-load of innocent people. Not just the workers, but can you imagine a fire spreading to those neighborhoods? Shit," I muttered."You can't seriously be contemplating doing something like this," the nun sputtered. "It is inhumane. Think of the families, the children.""Lady, yes I am. Do you have any idea what the Human Rights record of the Angolan Army in Cabinda is? It is truly horrific and in case you missed it, one of the guys in dire need of rescuing by me, due to him being a huge rebel leader who has managed to escape, is also a Catholic priest. He's going to be part of the new government we are going to install once we kill a few hundred Angolans ~ mostly soldiers (more like well over a thousand).""We are going to kill a few hundred so a few hundred thousand can live free, democratic lives without worrying about the local police and political establishment torturing and murdering them. It is all part of the plan.""I think I need to talk with the Bishop.""Hang on. Let me finish," I forestalled her. "He'll get briefed along with everyone else. After all, it is a majority Roman Catholic country as is Angola, so I'm sure your guy can be of immense help.""The people you are putting at risk don't deserve this," she protested."They never do," I nodded in agreement with her. "It rarely stops terrible crap from happening to them though."I felt sorry for the Sister. She thought the Bishop was going to put a stop to this. Poor girl; he was going to do the exact opposite. See, the two competing forces at play here were a communistic kleptocracy (currently ruling Angola) and Catholic liberation theology united with a Cabindan national identity dating back to 1885. At stake was 900,000 barrels a day of petroleum. That was a bunch of funding for somebody. Last I checked, the state run energy conglomerate had misplaced $32 billion, in just three years.Mind you, the Coils of the Serpent and the Amazon Host didn't want to help the People of Cabinda out of the goodness of their hearts either. They wanted cover for the importation of weapons and other war-fighting material so they could kill the Condottieri in Africa. If the rebel leaders-turned-legitimate government didn't play ball well, the Coils were in the 'assassinating people' business and somewhere along the line the survivors would figure out keeping 'us' happy kept them alive. Problem solved.It was Bishop Nicolé de Santis' job to facilitate that understanding. If certain people with Vatican credentials explained the 'facts of life' to the new regime a lot more lives could be saved, Catholic lives. In turn, he could work to make sure the new group in power wasn't nearly as corrupt as the gang we were tossing out. Better education and quality of life, improved infrastructure & security and a nice shiny cathedral, or two.We, as in JIKIT and our component members, didn't want to rule the country and dominate the people's lives. We needed the ports and the airfields with a blind eye turned to our skullduggery. Sure, there would be future considerations. Amazons and Coil members would be fighting and dying for these people's freedom ~ public recognition definitely not required. No; the Amazons wanted to be left alone in their deep jungle homes which was an isolation they basically already had. This was a future chit which said 'don't come looking'.The Coils? Let's just say in the future Cabinda would have embassies around the globe and if occasionally they wanted someone to slip through under diplomatic cover ~ they were good for it. And if the Cabindans ever needed help in the future they knew they had friends in dark places who were now invested in Cabinda's survival. It was a win-win-win, unless you were an Angolan big-wig, or one of their foot-soldier currently serving in Cabinda. Amazons weren't big on taking prisoners, or even giving the opposition the option of giving up.For me, it wasn't lunch yet and here I was plotting to overthrow yet another government in yet another country ~ though in only two, small provinces this time. Thank the Goddess I had the rest of the week
Kara's message this week is from Luke 15-- the story we know as the Prodigal Son. But it's not just a story about one lost son. It's a story about two very different kinds of people-- both equally in need of grace. Kara's message will challenge your assumptions, soften your heart, and help you experience the grace of God in a deeper way-- not just so you can receive it, but so you can mirror it. Because grace isn't something we hoard... It's something we pass on. If you've ever wondered how God could welcome certain people... or if you've ever doubted that He could still welcome you-- this message is for you.
Empowered Relationship Podcast: Your Relationship Resource And Guide
About this Episode Every relationship experiences moments of disconnection. These instances, often referred to as ruptures, can feel alarming, especially when they seem to happen all too frequently. But what if conflict wasn't something to dread but rather an opportunity for growth and deeper connection? The problem many face is not the rupture itself but the lack of repair. Learning how to artfully navigate these reparative processes can transform conflicts from mounting resentment to meaningful growth. Are you ready to redefine how you view and handle conflicts in your relationships? In this episode, we delve into the heart of using a trauma-informed approach to repair relationships. Through a blend of therapeutic insights and practical techniques, the conversation sheds light on the dynamics of conflict and the importance of repair to foster genuine connection and intimacy. By tapping into our own inner resources and acknowledging our shared vulnerabilities, listeners can learn to transform challenges into powerful moments of healing, growth, and reconnection. Esin Pinarli is a holistic psychotherapist and relationship expert specializing in IMAGO therapy, brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic practices, and psychodrama. Through an integrative experiential approach, she helps individuals and couples suffering from anxiety, depression, addiction, codependency, trauma, and relational attachment issues to navigate life's challenges so they can become fully alive, supported, and whole. Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. Episode Highlights 07:16 Understanding rupture and repair in relationships. 10:11 The role of conflict and repair in intimate connections. 13:38 Navigating disconnection using a trauma-informed approach. 17:06 Recognizing trauma response patterns in relationships. 23:28 Importance of reflecting and regulating responses. 25:43 Mirroring and attuning as steps in the repair process. 30:54 Nurturing vulnerability for deeper intimacy. 34:27 Cultivating empathy and understanding within partnerships. 35:24 Collaboration and accountability in healing relationship dynamics. 39:20 Handling simultaneous activation in partner dynamics. 42:47 Techniques for achieving regulation and calm. 45:56 Exploring creative solutions in conflict resolution. Mentioned Huberman Lab ERP 276: Understanding The Need For Both Self-Regulation And Co-Regulation In Relationship – An interview With Deb Dana Evolve in Love (program) Connect with Esin Pinarli Websites: eternalwellnesscounseling.com Instagram: instagram.com/esinpinarli_lcsw Connect with Dr. Jessica Higgins Facebook: facebook.com/EmpoweredRelationship Instagram: instagram.com/drjessicahiggins Podcast: drjessicahiggins.com/podcasts/ Pinterest: pinterest.com/EmpowerRelation LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drjessicahiggins Twitter: @DrJessHiggins Website: drjessicahiggins.com Email: jessica@drjessicahiggins.com If you have a topic you would like it to be discussed, please contact us by clicking on the “Ask Dr. Jessica Higgins” button here. Thank you so much for your interest in improving your relationship. Also, I would so appreciate your honest rating and review. Please leave a review by clicking here. Thank you! *With Amazon Affiliate Links, I may earn a few cents from Amazon, if you purchase the book from this link.
In today's teaching, Jason dives into the concept of courage, drawing inspiration from the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. Much like the lion, many of us know courage is necessary in our lives, but we often struggle to find it. Jesus' journey to Jerusalem in Luke 13 serves as a powerful example of courage in the face of threats, bullies, and the unknown. Through examining Jesus' responses to the threats from Herod, His confrontation with bullies, and His embrace of sacrifice despite the future pain ahead, Jason challenges us to reflect on our own courage. He reminds us that real peace requires courage, and that God is always on the side of the oppressed. Will we choose to be peacekeepers or peacemakers, embracing the courage that Jesus modeled for us?
In episode 232 of our SAP on Azure video podcast we talk about Microsoft Fabric and SAP. Some episodes back we started to talk about SAP and the integration in Fabric using Open Mirroring. One of the key highlights there was the platform aspect. Fabric allows partners to plug into the Open Mirroring concept and bring their solutions. In following episodes we had already partners like dab and Simplement joining us, talking about their solution. Today we want to continue to look at partners who extend the integration of SAP solutions into Fabric. Interdobs and powerdobs are interesting partners in this regards, because they designed a Datasphere-based open mirroring service offering. To tell us more about their solutions, I am happy to have Ronald, Ernst, Tim and Martijn from Interdobs with us today. Find all the links mentioned here: https://www.saponazurepodcast.de/episode232Reach out to us for any feedback / questions:* Robert Boban: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rboban/* Goran Condric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorancondric/* Holger Bruchelt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holger-bruchelt/ #Microsoft #SAP #Azure #SAPonAzure #Data #Datasphere #MSFabric
Who are the people we gravitate toward? And who do we tend to overlook? In today's teaching, we examine Jesus' radical teaching in Luke 6:17-26 to see who is truly blessed in the kingdom of God. While the world values success, wealth, and influence, Jesus flips the script—declaring the poor, the hungry, and the persecuted as blessed. We'll explore how this challenges our natural biases, the way we interact with others, and how we can mirror Jesus' upside-down values in our own lives. Are we willing to step outside our comfort zones to love and engage with those society often dismisses?
In this episode, Stephen explores the concept of mimicking, also known as mirroring—often used in sales and relationship-building. However, for dyslexics, this behavior can go beyond a strategy and become a way to fit in, sometimes at the cost of personal identity. Stephen shares his personal experiences of how mimicking has shaped his work and relationships, highlighting both its benefits and challenges. He encourages listeners to become aware of their own mirroring tendencies and question whether they align with their true selves. Tune in for this insightful discussion!TakeawaysMimicking (or Mirroring) Helps Build Connections – This technique is often used in sales and relationships to make others feel more comfortable.Dyslexics May Use Mimicking as a Coping Mechanism -- Many dyslexics, including Stephen, have unconsciously developed this skill to fit in and reduce social anxiety.It Can Lead to a Loss of Identity – Constantly mirroring others may create a disconnect between your true self and the persona you present to the world.Awareness is Key – Recognizing when and why you mimic can help you decide whether it serves you or if it's masking your authentic self.Balancing Adaptability and Authenticity – While mimicking can introduce new experiences and positive habits, it's important to ensure it doesn't compromise who you truly are.Personal Growth Comes from Self-Reflection – Becoming mindful of these behaviors can help you feel more confident and grounded in your true identity.A Simple but Powerful Tool – Mimicking can be useful when done intentionally, but understanding its impact on your self-perception is crucial.KeywordsMimicking, Mirroring, Dyslexia and identity, Social adaptation, Fitting in, Building connections, Sales techniques, Relationship dynamics, Self-awareness, Coping mechanisms, Authenticity vs. adaptation, Personal growth, Social anxiety, Workplace behavior, Behavioral patterns, ADHD, adults with dyslexia, support for adults.If you want to find out more visit:truthaboutdyslexia.comJoin our Facebook Groupfacebook.com/groups/adultdyslexia
What does Catholic theology have to offer the field of counseling psychology? Catholic psychologist Dr. Greg Bottaro joins me to explore the concept of the "blueprint of the human being" according to Catholic thought, emphasizing that we are made in the image of God, which inherently involves a relational aspect. Dr. Bottaro outlines five essential marks of relationship that shape our identity: being made in God's image, being formed in relationships, experiencing wounds in relationships, finding healing through relationships, and ultimately being destined for eternal relationship with God.We discuss how these principles extend into family life and the ideal structures for nurturing healthy relationships. I ask Dr. Bottaro about the common perception that Catholicism promotes repression, and he offers a nuanced perspective, highlighting the importance of authentic human experience and the developmental journey toward becoming our best selves in right relation with all things.Throughout our dialogue, we aim to uncover how understanding our relational nature can lead to deeper healing and growth, both personally and within our families. This episode invites listeners to reflect on their own relationships and the transformative power of connection in the context of faith and psychology.Dr. Greg Bottaro is a Catholic psychologist, founder of the CatholicPsych Institute and creator of the CatholicPsych Model of Applied Personalism (CPMAP). He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Institute for the Psychological Sciences, and works to integrate Catholic philosophy and theology with relevant psychology. He leads the CatholicPsych Institute's mission to, "Create a Catholic Standard for Mental Health."Before becoming a psychologist, Dr. Bottaro discerned a religious vocation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFRs). He lived in the Bronx for four years following the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. Under the mentorship of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, this experience formed him in the spirituality of Abandonment to Divine Providence, which he now integrates with his model of psychology, along with the discernment of God's will he learned from Fr. Benedict.In 2012, Dr. Bottaro returned to New York as a psychologist and founded the CatholicPsych Institute, which has continued to grow and serve clients around the world. Most recently he launched the CPMAP Certification to train others in their model of integrated accompaniment.He lives in Connecticut with his wife Barbra and their seven children. 00:00 Start[00:02:09] Catholic view of human being.[00:07:42] Eternal relationship and purpose.[00:08:14] The blueprint of the person.[00:15:48] Transcending space and time.[00:18:06] Inner goodness and relationships.[00:21:39] Corrective emotional experiences in relationships.[00:25:10] Objective truth and beauty.[00:30:31] The path to moral action.[00:33:25] Integrated approach to healing.[00:38:35] Communication skills for children.[00:41:29] Mirroring in parenting.[00:48:02] Growth through therapeutic experiences.[00:52:57] Purgatory as God's mercy.[00:54:05] Mercy in life and death.[00:58:57] Suffering and knowledge in purgatory.[01:03:39] Trust in God's mercy.[01:06:30] Loving God Through Neighborly Actions.[01:10:33] Marriage and maturity challenges.[01:15:57] Transcendent relationships in therapy.[01:18:58] Gender craze impact on families.ROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.TALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.ORGANIFI: Take 20% off Organifi with code SOMETHERAPIST.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.SHOW NOTES & transcript with help from SwellAI.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission. ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.Have a question for me? Looking to go deeper and discuss these ideas with other listeners? Join my Locals community! 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Today's teaching focuses on Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, as recorded in Luke 4:1-13. Temptation is something we all face, and whether we give in or stand strong, the consequences are real. But how did Jesus resist temptation? And what can His example teach us about standing firm in our faith? Join us as we learn how to mirror Jesus' overcoming of temptation and find strength to resist the forces that try to lead us astray.
This week we are exploring how the voices and influences in our lives—whether they be from social media, newsfeeds, political affiliations, or even friends—shape our worldview and ultimately guide our paths. We are looking at Luke 6:39-49 to help us reflect on how following the wrong voices can lead us into destructive patterns, and how critical it is to intentionally examine the voices that we listen to daily. We hope today's teaching encourages you to take a closer look at the voices shaping your own life and take practical steps toward following Jesus more intentionally.
Join the JKL Media Reviews team as they dive into Severance Season 2, Episode 7 Chikhai Bardo' Hosts Karen, Jesse, Lou, and special guest Brian dissect this highly emotional episode, exploring its themes of backstory, present story, and the heavy use of flashbacks. The panel discusses the heartbreaking moments, eerie atmosphere, and game-changing revelations revolving around characters like Mark, Gemma, and Dr. Mauer. They also delve into the episode's technical brilliance, including cinematography, acting, and thematic elements. Don't miss this in-depth analysis of one of the standout episodes of Severance! 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:25 Co-host Introductions and Banter 00:49 Discussion on Episode Structure and Flashbacks 02:12 Brian's Insights on 'Lincoln in The Bardo' 03:43 Lou's Take on the Episode's Cinematography 04:34 Jesse's Emotional Response to the Episode 06:26 Theories on Lumen's Experiments and Intentions 10:12 Speculations on Mark and Gemma's Relationship 23:14 Comparisons to Other Shows and Final Thoughts 45:40 Analyzing Character Motivations 48:09 Visual and Thematic Elements 51:28 Symbolism and Mirroring 53:29 Speculations and Theories 56:33 Emotional Impact and Final Thoughts 01:19:41 Podcast Information and Closing Remarks
Easily access and unify your data for analytics and AI—no matter where it lives. With OneLake in Microsoft Fabric, you can connect to data across multiple clouds, databases, and formats without duplication. Use the OneLake catalog to quickly find and interact with your data, and let Copilot in Fabric help you transform and analyze it effortlessly. Eliminate barriers to working with your data using Shortcuts to virtualize external sources and Mirroring to keep databases and warehouses in sync—all without ETL. For deeper integration, leverage Data Factory's 180+ connectors to bring in structured, unstructured, and real-time streaming data at scale. Maraki Ketema from the Microsoft Fabric team shows how to combine these methods, ensuring fast, reliable access to quality data for analytics and AI workloads. ► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Access data wherever it lives 00:42 - Microsoft Fabric background 01:17 - Manage data with Microsoft Fabric 03:04 - Low latency 03:34 - How Shortcuts work 06:41 - Mirroring 08:10 - Open mirroring 08:40 - Low friction ways to bring data in 09:32 - Data Factory in Microsoft Fabric 10:52 - Build out your data flow 11:49 - Use built-in AI to ask questions of data 12:56 - OneLake catalog 13:36 - Data security & compliance 15:10 - Additional options to bring data in 15:42 - Wrap up ► Link References Watch our show on Real-Time Intelligence at https://aka.ms/MechanicsRTI Check out Open Mirroring at https://aka.ms/FabricOpenMirroring ► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics? As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft. • Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftMechanicsSeries • Talk with other IT Pros, join us on the Microsoft Tech Community: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-mechanics-blog/bg-p/MicrosoftMechanicsBlog • Watch or listen from anywhere, subscribe to our podcast: https://microsoftmechanics.libsyn.com/podcast ► Keep getting this insider knowledge, join us on social: • Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSFTMechanics • Share knowledge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft-mechanics/ • Enjoy us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msftmechanics/ • Loosen up with us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@msftmechanics
This episode is a call out, call back, and call forward all in one. If you've set big goals but keep looking the other way—getting caught up in distractions, other people's business, or your own limiting beliefs—this is your wake-up call. Your results (or lack of them) are showing you exactly what you're obsessed with right now. In this episode, I break down why getting obsessed with your vision, your desires, and where you're going is non-negotiable if you want to collapse time and actually get there. Because your subconscious isn't working against you—it's just mirroring what you're feeding it. Let's make sure it's reflecting the reality you actually want. And if you're ready to stop staying stuck and actually move faster in your business, this is exactly what we do inside The Aligned Woman in Business Membership. No more sitting in confusion, overthinking, or stalling out. You literally have me in your back pocket, ready to help you shift in real-time so you can keep momentum, take action, and create the results you want. Join us!
In this episode of Grace Hill Church's podcast, we explore one of Jesus' most challenging commands: love your enemies (Luke 6:27-36). This radical, self-sacrificing love isn't based on feelings but on action—breaking cycles of retaliation and mirroring Christ's heart. In a culture driven by division and outrage, Jesus calls His followers to embody costly love, not the cheap, conditional love the world offers. Tune in to this week's teaching to consider the life-changing power of loving your enemies—because in doing so, you'll never look more like Jesus.
In this episode we're exploring something that hits on a deeper level. I'll be discussing how your social media is likely mirroring your fertility mindset - the way you are experiencing and seeing your fertility. Not only is this showing you what you're focusing on but it's also showing you what might be going on beneath the surface -on a subconscious level. I want to encourage you to see how what is going on within you, is being reflected in your external world, and social media is the perfect example of this. We are also talking about the importance of monitoring what you allow into your energetic field when it comes to your social media - while we have touched on this in a previous episode, I've got a few things to add today! I hope this episode serves you well! If you enjoy this one, I'd be so grateful for a review of the podcast! As always, sending a lotta love and reminding you to expect miracles!
In today's episode we see, once again, the 144,000 being sealed in their forehead and the rapture of the church. Mirroring exactly what was depicted in chapter 7. We're also given a glimpse into the destiny of the wicked during the period of God's wrath.Book of Revelation Narration: Christopher GlynIf you're interested in the script notes and reference materials from today's episode, visit my website and click on the Membership tab.Website:www.ancientconspiracies.netFB:facebook.com/groups/ancientconspiraciesFollow me on Instagram and Truth Social: @ancientconspiracies.
Ancient views often linked suffering to divine judgment: poverty, captivity, blindness, and oppression were seen as consequences of sin or divine abandonment. But today, we see how Jesus challenged this in Luke 4: 18-27 by proclaiming Himself as the one who came to set the oppressed free and bring healing to all— not just the chosen few. His message was initially met with applause, but this soon turned to rage as He shared Biblical stories that confronted their assumptions. Jesus' radical inclusivity remains just as challenging today. Join us for this powerful teaching on the messy, missional mercy of Jesus and how we are called to live it out today. *In this episode, we address real-life examples of mercy in action—stories of outreach, justice, and love in our communities. Some of the stories have been removed from this version of the teaching out of respect for their privacy.*
On a special episode of the Crewcast, two of the developers of 1000xResist (Remy Siu, Creative Director and Pinki Li, Narrative Designer) speak to us about their journey from performance art to game development and how they came to create this sci-fi narrative adventure. Pick up 1000xResist on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, and Nintendo Switch: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1675830/1000xRESIST/ iTunes Page: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/noclip/id1385062988 RSS Feed: http://noclippodcast.libsyn.com/rss Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5XYk92ubrXpvPVk1lin4VB?si=JRAcPnlvQ0-YJWU9XiW9pg Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/noclippodcast Watch our docs: https://youtube.com/noclipvideo Crewcast channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/noclippodcast Learn About Noclip: https://www.noclip.video Become a Patron and get early access to new episodes: https://www.patreon.com/noclip Follow @noclipvideo on Twitter Chapters: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:03:14 - Thanking our supporters! 0:04:17 - Remy & Pinki's History in Arts & Game Dev 0:08:14 - Working on the Stage vs the Game Engine 0:14:54 - Funding a Project Like 1000xResist 0:22:02 - The Original Direction of 1000xResist 0:36:50 - Building A Narrative That Builds Itself 0:40:20 - !! Spoiler Warning !! 0:41:20 - Generational Trauma as Worldbuilding 0:45:30 - Chapter 7's Hong Kong 0:51:21 - Only-Child Parenthood 0:54:24 - Voice Acting 1:00:11 - The Origins of Hekki Grace 1:03:54 - How the Occupants Speak 1:06:00 - Mirroring the Real World in 1000xResist 1:09:15 - What's Next for Sunset Visitor? 1:18:40 - Sign Off
In this conversation, we'll reflect on how the light of Jesus guides us in three key areas:1. Spiritual Formation over Ideological Formation – Choosing to be shaped by God's truth instead of cultural trends.2. Embrace over Exclusion – Reflecting Jesus' inclusive love, welcoming people of all backgrounds into our community.3. Jesus over Everything – Ensuring that Jesus remains the center of our lives and the light we reflect.
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Acclaimed writer HELENA ECHLIN joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss CLEVER LITTLE THING, her new psychological thriller! Charlotte's daughter Stella is sensitive and brilliant, perhaps even a genius, but a recent change in her behavior has alarmed her mother. She's mirroring her babvsitter's personality … but the babysitter is dead. This story taps into so many intriguing concepts, including the question of whether parents know their children better than anyone else. We talk about those DNA connections, and even the spiritual and emotional ones, but what happens when a parent needs more help? Are we failures? What stops us as mothers from tapping into our instincts? We talk about neurodivergent children whose brains work differently than what is considered typical. What if one parent celebrates those differences and the other does NOT? Do children always know when anger and grief is simmering beneath the surface … and is that a huge source of stress for them? Should we show anger? WOW we tackle all the big topics with Helena, plus the thrills!!!! Join us!!You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!
Every day, life reflects the areas that require spiritual transformation. It's our job to recognize these and understand that everything we experience is meant to teach us and help us become the person we are meant to become. Join us in this episode of Spiritually Hungry as we discuss the world as our spiritual mirror for change.
This episode is brought to you by Ollie, Lifeforce, and Lumebox. Relationships, communication, and intimacy are the cornerstones of meaningful connections in our lives, yet they often present some of our greatest challenges. In today's episode, leading experts explore the keys to fostering deeper relationships, improving communication, and creating lasting intimacy, offering practical tools to transform how we connect with those we love. Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, we bring you a special compilation episode featuring Dhru's conversations with experts on relationships, connection, and intimacy. Drs. John and Julie Gottman discuss the importance of recognizing what your partner is doing right. They also highlight key findings from a seven-year study on happiness, including how to turn toward your partner and implement bids for connection. Dr. Emily Morse explains why scheduling intimacy—even if it feels like a chore—is crucial for maintaining a healthy relationship. She also dives into the "Three T's of Communication" and how to initiate conversations about intimacy. Esther Perel shares why letting go of the need to be right is essential, along with strategies to overcome the overwhelming feeling of disconnect when your partner doesn't see your point of view. She breaks down how all fights connect to core pillars and offers tips on practicing mirroring for better understanding. If you're ready to enhance your relationships and improve your communication and intimacy, this episode is a must-listen! In this episode, Dhru and his guests dive into: Evidence that your partner is doing things right (2:00) Seven-year study on happiness and turning toward your partner (3:10) Bid for connection and how to implement it (6:18) Interdependence versus independence (16:12) Scheduling intimacy (20:35) Who should initiate the conversation (23:35) The 3 T's of communication: Timing, Tone, and Turf (25:15) Mirroring what you heard (29:15) Initiating the conversation and carrying the burden (33:25) The need to be right (39:52) The overwhelming feeling of disconnect (42:57) Catching yourself, listening, and mirroring (46:32) The core pillars: What all fights are about (53:15) Final thoughts (56:30) Drs. John and Julia Gottman have studied over 3,000 couples and through their research have found the secrets to successful partnerships. The Gottmans help give individuals the tools they need to listen and connect with their partner while providing a safe space for conversation and growth without criticism or contempt. Dr. Emily Morse is the host of the award-winning number one sexuality podcast, Sex With Emily, which has been on the air for nearly two decades. Esther Perel is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author, and is recognized as one of today's most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular podcast Where Should We Begin? and How's Work? Also mentioned: Why Nobody Is Having Great Sex & How To Make it Amazing with Dr. Emily Morse 4 Big Signs That a Relationship Won't Last and the Latest Science on Creating Love with Drs. Julie and John Gottman Why Some Relationships Don't Last With Esther Perel This episode is brought to you by Ollie, Lifeforce, and Lumebox. Want to give your dog the best in clean eating? Take the online quiz and introduce Ollie to your pet. Right now, Ollie is offering 60% off your first box of meals when you subscribe today! Just head to Ollie.com, use the code DHRU and you'll get 60% off your first box of meals in your subscription. Right now, you can save $250 on your first diagnostic and get personalized suggestions. Optimize your longevity and track your progress; go to mylifeforce.com/dhru! Lumebox is offering my community 50% off their portable Red Light device for Black Friday! Just go to thelumebox.com/dhru to get your device. Sale ends 12/2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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