Podcasts about Mita

In this episode of the Flux News podcast, Group CEO, Greg Newman, Harry Campion-Evans from Onyx Markets, and Geek in the Seat, Mita Chaturvedi, analyse the past week in the oil market. Greg, Harry, and Mita break down the shifting dynamics in crude markets following the latest OPEC output announcements and Saudi crude allocations. They examine how sentiment flipped from bearish to cautiously bullish, with a focus on the impact of geopolitical risks and physical oil fundamentals - including refinery margins and regional supply signals. The team take a detailed look at the 25-delta risk reversal, implications of volatility normalisation, and what the narrowing put-call skew is telling us about trader positioning. They also cover why hedge fund flows are subdued, how Brent/Dubai spreads are reacting to supply concerns, and the recent rally in Singapore VLSFO time spreads. The Officials also call in to weigh in on Saudi allocations, spot markets, and the North Sea.Want to trade? Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the pros express views with relative value trades, uncorrelated contracts, and smart positioning. This episode is rich in education for newer traders, and deep enough for veterans hunting asymmetric opportunities. All the trades discussed are live on Onyx Markets, where you can practice, simulate, or dive in. Visit https://onyxmarkets.co.uk/

Uma bandeira de cartões, uma fintech ou uma empresa de tecnologia? O episódio #212 do programa Mídia e Marketing recebe Carla Mita, vice-presidente de marketing da Visa no Brasil. A conversa aborda a evolução do posicionamento da Visa, que nasceu como uma empresa de cartões e hoje se define como uma companhia de tecnologia. Carla também discute as estratégias de marketing da marca, como a personalização da experiência do cliente, a criação de momentos memoráveis por meio de patrocínios esportivos e a adaptação da comunicação para alcançar novas gerações.

Prem Mita De Bhagwan Se Doori : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Prem Mita De Bhagwan Se Doori : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

Prem Mita De Bhagwan Se Doori : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Satsang

As season 4 wraps up, Mita and Nadeem pick the the ones they loved along with the ones they loathed. They also introduce the theme for Season 5 and and share the Jellicle movie for episode 1. 

For the season 4 finale, Nadeem chooses Ingmar Bergman's enigmatic "Persona" for his wild card and the last movie review. Mita compares one of the most complex films ever made to "Runaway Bride". 

Rangimarie "Marnie" Dougall-Mita is a professional basketball player for the Wellington Saints, content creator, and someone who's been on a powerful journey of self-discovery. Honestly, could have yarned to Marnie for a couple more hours – it's almost like he runs his own podcast (check it out, Yarns with Marns). In this episode, we unpack the defining moments that have shaped him — from a devastating knee injury that left him sidelined and spiraling mentally, to rebuilding himself through self-development, vulnerability, and spiritual growth. Marnie opens up about the pressure of performing in pro sport, the weight of identity, and what it took to start showing up more authentically in his life and online. We talk about what it means to process childhood wounds, and how he's learning to share his truth through content. Whether you're into sport, self-discovery, or just love hearing people reflect with honesty — this is a special kōrero with someone who's still evolving in real time. Please check out our awesome sponsors and use code BTS20 for 20% off all Moana Road products!  Moana Road – https://moanaroad.co.nz/ Kaboose Media – https://www.kaboosemedia.co.nz/ Marnie Insta – https://www.instagram.com/marnie_mita/ Noa Woolloff Insta – https://www.instagram.com/noawoolloff/ Beyond the Surface Insta – https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_surfacenz/ Beyond the Surface YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@beyondthesurfacenz Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4ZArq1WSsV1pMID1dkHbBL?si=ae3f007dd7794cde    

Mita gets a little gay with her last movie choice when she picks the true-crime fantasy "Heavenly Creatures" for the next movie review. Mita and Nadeem also talk about Nadeem's favourite topic: incest. 

LIVE from Transform 2025 in Las Vegas!Mita Mallick is a change maker with a track record of transforming culture and business. She gives innovative, culturally resonant ideas a voice and serves customers and communities with purpose. She's had an extensive career as a multicultural marketer in the beauty and consumer goods space, being a fierce advocate for including and representing Black and Brown communities. Her book, “Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workspace” is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best seller. She also has a new book coming out, The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses.We dug into:The current state of affairs when it comes to DEI and what we should be focusing on in our workplaces.Building genuine engagement and community on LinkedIn to accelerate your career.How candidates can stand out in this market.New book: The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses- who is for/about?Go ahead and pre-order Mita's second book: The Devil Emails at Midnight: What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses by Mita MallickConnect with Mita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mita-mallick-2b165822/Live from Transform 2025, we're bringing you an exclusive podcast series packed with insights from some of the brightest minds in hiring, talent strategy, and workforce transformation!In this series, we've got incredible guests from Okta, Tubi, Edelman, Greenhouse, Findem, and more, sharing how top organizations are rethinking hiring, culture, and talent acquisition in today's fast-changing world.Greenhouse combines a structured, data-driven hiring approach with AI-embedded workflows that empower recruiters to focus on strategic, high-impact work. From sourcing top talent to personalizing the candidate experience, Greenhouse streamlines and optimizes the entire hiring process. This ensures that every hire is the right hire—eliminating bias, creating fairness, and helping teams make smarter, faster decisions. Over 7,500 companies, including HubSpot, Duolingo, and J.D. Power, trust Greenhouse to build better teams and turn talent into a strategic advantage.Want to learn how today's top companies are winning the talent game? Tune in now and visit Greenhouse.com to transform the way you hire.Thanks for listening. Please follow us on Instagram @NHPTalent and X @AdamJPosner. Visit www.thePOZcast.com for all episodes. 

It's the end of "antaksahri" and Nadeem has to pick a movie that starts with "H". He chooses the 1996 cult classic, "La Haine", for the next movie review. Mita and Nadeem talk "And Just Like That..." and NOT "Anora". 

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today' show: ·        There's a cherry blossom-themed cocktail competition coming your way, sponsored by High Road Spirits Importers. In with the details is Jennifer Nellis, the Mid-Atlantic market manager for High Road Spirits, and competition finalists  John Cooper, the general manager at D.C.'s Vagabond Kitchen & Bar and the bar manager at Prost, Lucy Valenti, the bar manager at the  Residents Café & Bar, and Kevin Cornejo,the beverage director at Mita;                                                                          ·        Our good buddy, Danny Lledó, is the talented chef/owner of the Michelin-starred Taller del Xiquet, where  awesome Mediterranean-inspired dishes rule.  ChefDanny is in today with a preview of his upcoming Easter menu; ·        Recent budget cuts by the feds have put a harsh spotlight on the increasingly difficult task of feeding folks living on the margins.  Kate Urbank, site director for Food Rescue US – DC , is in with info about Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7–13 -- and local activities that will help raise awareness and save tens of thousands of pounds of food for folks in need; ·        Another good friend of the show is in. D.C. restaurateur Hakan Ilhan (Brasserie Liberté, Ottoman Taverna, Il Piatto, Al Dente, and more) gives us the 411 on his newest restaurant,  Alara, an hommage to cuisine from Turkey, Greece and the Levant.                                          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today' show:   ·         There's a cherry blossom-themed cocktail competition coming your way, sponsored by High Road Spirits Importers. In with the details is Jennifer Nellis, the Mid-Atlantic market manager for High Road Spirits, and competition finalists  John Cooper, the general manager at D.C.'s Vagabond Kitchen & Bar and the bar manager at Prost, Lucy Valenti, the bar manager at the  Residents Café & Bar, and Kevin Cornejo, the beverage director at Mita;                                                                          ·         Our good buddy, Danny Lledó, is the talented chef/owner of the Michelin-starred Taller del Xiquet, where  awesome Mediterranean-inspired dishes rule.  Chef Danny is in today with a preview of his upcoming Easter menu;   ·         Recent budget cuts by the feds have put a harsh spotlight on the increasingly difficult task of feeding folks living on the margins.  Kate Urbank, site director for Food Rescue US – DC , is in with info about Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7–13 --  and local activities that will help raise awareness and save tens of thousands of pounds of food for folks in need;   ·         Another good friend of the show is in. D.C. restaurateur Hakan Ilhan (Brasserie Liberté, Ottoman Taverna, Il Piatto, Al Dente, and more) gives us the 411 on his newest restaurant,  Alara, an hommage to cuisine from Turkey, Greece and the Levant.                                           Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today' show: ·        There's a cherry blossom-themed cocktail competition coming your way, sponsored by High Road Spirits Importers. In with the details is Jennifer Nellis, the Mid-Atlantic market manager for High Road Spirits, and competition finalists  John Cooper, the general manager at D.C.'s Vagabond Kitchen & Bar and the bar manager at Prost, Lucy Valenti, the bar manager at the  Residents Café & Bar, and Kevin Cornejo,the beverage director at Mita;                                                                          ·        Our good buddy, Danny Lledó, is the talented chef/owner of the Michelin-starred Taller del Xiquet, where  awesome Mediterranean-inspired dishes rule.  ChefDanny is in today with a preview of his upcoming Easter menu; ·        Recent budget cuts by the feds have put a harsh spotlight on the increasingly difficult task of feeding folks living on the margins.  Kate Urbank, site director for Food Rescue US – DC , is in with info about Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7–13 -- and local activities that will help raise awareness and save tens of thousands of pounds of food for folks in need; ·        Another good friend of the show is in. D.C. restaurateur Hakan Ilhan (Brasserie Liberté, Ottoman Taverna, Il Piatto, Al Dente, and more) gives us the 411 on his newest restaurant,  Alara, an hommage to cuisine from Turkey, Greece and the Levant.                                          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today' show:   ·         There's a cherry blossom-themed cocktail competition coming your way, sponsored by High Road Spirits Importers. In with the details is Jennifer Nellis, the Mid-Atlantic market manager for High Road Spirits, and competition finalists  John Cooper, the general manager at D.C.'s Vagabond Kitchen & Bar and the bar manager at Prost, Lucy Valenti, the bar manager at the  Residents Café & Bar, and Kevin Cornejo, the beverage director at Mita;                                                                          ·         Our good buddy, Danny Lledó, is the talented chef/owner of the Michelin-starred Taller del Xiquet, where  awesome Mediterranean-inspired dishes rule.  Chef Danny is in today with a preview of his upcoming Easter menu;   ·         Recent budget cuts by the feds have put a harsh spotlight on the increasingly difficult task of feeding folks living on the margins.  Kate Urbank, site director for Food Rescue US – DC , is in with info about Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7–13 --  and local activities that will help raise awareness and save tens of thousands of pounds of food for folks in need;   ·         Another good friend of the show is in. D.C. restaurateur Hakan Ilhan (Brasserie Liberté, Ottoman Taverna, Il Piatto, Al Dente, and more) gives us the 411 on his newest restaurant,  Alara, an hommage to cuisine from Turkey, Greece and the Levant.                                           Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Al término del primer trimestre del año, hay señales de que la inflación seguirá sobre 5% y la consecuencia es que la Junta del Emisor no siga bajando su tasa, que sigue alta en 9,50%

En el aniversario de la compra de Alaska a Rusia por parte de Estados Unidos, hacemos una ruta por sus principales destinos, entre montañas nevadas, alces, osos… Una naturaleza salvaje que deja sin aliento.

Spring has sprung and Nadeem goes all the way back to the 80's when tasked with picking a movie that starts with "K". This week, he and Mita are doing a movie review of "Kiss Of The Spider Woman". In case you were wondering, the Spider Woman is not related to the Spider Man. 

Mushroom season is upon us but how do you know what to look for? Ecologist Ruben Mita has written a guide to all of the typical mushrooms you will find in various parts of the country. The guide includes edible favourites like porcini, the good old white field mushroom - but also the psychedelics and the poisonous. There are also the weird ones - the stinkhorns like a red claw coming out of the ground - and the bird's nest fungi. Ruben has degrees in Ecology, English and Music from Victoria University.

It's not really up for debate that the “Neon” Nike Air Max 95 is the best version of the Air Max 95 that's ever released. But what are the other great colorways worth celebrating? How good is Atmos' “Beast Pack”? What about insidery pairs like the Mita flip on the Sergio Lozano prototype? Co-hosts Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty break down a ranked list of the best Air Max 95s of all time in this episode. Also, they catch up on sneaker news like the leak of the Adidas AE 2, the frenzied drop of the “Cool Grey” Air Jordan 9, and the F1 endorsement deal between Lewis Hamilton and Nike that never happened. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a new week and a new movie! The antakshari Gods' gave Mita a "G" and she picked the 1997 dark comedy, "Grosse Pointe Blank" for the next movie review. For the first time, Nadeem has nothing to say. Kinda. 

It's Oscar Sunday! Mita and Nadeem discuss the snores, the snubs and the (genuine) surprises. If that wasn't enough, there's also a movie review! Mita chooses 1962's "The Manchurian Candidate" when tasked with picking a movie that starts with "M". 

February 27, 2025 ~ Michigan faces a transportation funding crisis after 2026, despite significant investments in roads and bridges over the past five years through the Governor's bonding program and the federal Infrastructure Investments & Jobs Act (IIJA). Lance Binoniemi, vice president of Government Affairs for MITA, joins Guy and Lloyd to discuss securing sustainable funding requires bipartisan commitment.

Nadeem was in a jolly mood and when tasked with picking a movie that starts with "R", he chose the laugh-a-minute "Requiem For A Dream" for the next movie review. Mita and Nadeem rank this years Best Picture nominees. 

Onyx Research Associates Mita Chaturvedi and Vincent Wu, and Research Analyst Oliver Feore discuss the price direction and positioning in the oil market over the past week.This week, the team discusses trends in the oil market using Onyx's positioning data, specifically looking at Brent/Dubai and Northwest European naphtha swaps amid rising uncertainty in the market. They highlight the impact of a potential peace deal regarding the war in Ukraine and OPEC+'s supply decision. At the time of writing, Brent futures have seen more support, rising above the $76/bbl handle.The market appears to be a waiting game at present, with traders taking a cautious stance due to the rising uncertainty. Oliver covers the latest positioning changes in ICE Brent alongside the more timely changes in Onyx's CTA positioning model across the benchmark futures contracts. Vincent dives into Onyx's proprietary data for insights into the front-month Brent/Dubai contract, looking at the contract's open interest, price volatility and positioning data to create a narrative for sentiment this week. Mita then covers the front-month Northwest European naphtha market, where this week's support has come with day-on-day fluctuations in open interest, with trade houses appearing particularly active. Finally, the team gives their Brent forecasts for the end of Q1, highlighting what they think will be an important driver of the market.  https://linktr.ee/onyxcapitalgroup Follow us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@worldofoilderivativesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyx-capitalgroup/X: https://x.com/Onyx__EdgeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onyxcgroupInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/onyxcgroup/

It's Mita's turn to pick, and when tasked with picking a movie that starts with "T", she goes all camp and picks Gus Van Sant's "To Die For" for the next movie review. Nadeem and movie do the unexpected: they watch a bunch of other movies. 

La coctelería en hoteles de lujo es la temática de este Episodio 76, donde tuve el privilegio de grabar desde la hermosa playa de Punta Mita, específicamente en el Hotel St. Regis.Aquí, me acompaña uno de los más reconocidos bartenders de México: Mica Rousseau para revelar los secretos que hacen de la coctelería en entornos de lujo una experiencia inigualable. A lo largo de la charla, platicamos de la importancia de la presentación y cómo los hoteles de prestigio ofrecen un toque de distinción a sus clientes.Mica comparte valiosos consejos, anécdotas exclusivas y nos regala una visión privilegiada de lo que implica crear cócteles memorables.Además, exploramos la forma en que el ambiente costero de Punta Mita se fusiona con la elegancia del St. Regis, elevando el concepto de servicio y hospitalidad.Si buscas inspiración para tu próxima escapada de lujo o simplemente eres un entusiasta de la coctelería, este episodio es un imperdible que te hará querer brindar en cada playa paradisiaca.Un abrazo!

Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion Let's get weird. The buds bring in friendo Conner De Mita to discuss two classic cinema FREAKS, David Lynch and David Cronenberg, ranking their favorites from those weirdos, and some real hardcore Rammstein discussion

It's another "S" this week and Mita goes for the left field and chooses the Rock Hudson starrer, "Seconds" for the next movie review. Mita ad Nadeem review the many other movies they watched this week. 

We'd love your feedback! What resonated for you in this episode? What do you want more of?When you finally realize that you are being abused in your relationship and that your partner is a narcissist, it can hit you like a ton of bricks.In this episode, I have a conversation with Mita Begum on her experience of realizing that she had been in two different abusive relationships after watching a video on Tik Tok and what she did to start getting her power back before even leaving her relationship.  She shares the steps she continues to take as she heals and helps other women heal and find their power.We also talk about:How domestic violence does not discriminate and how she did not fit the “picture” of a victimHow your family of origin and culture can make you more vulnerable to finding an abusive relationshipThe difficulties of breaking a trauma bond and what helped for herTips to finding your power and sense of selfAbout Mita:Mita is a passionate advocate for personal growth and empowerment, holding certifications as a Life Coach, Mindset Coach, and Domestic Violence and Abuse Specialist. She is the founder of Glowing Beyond, where she helps individuals reconnect with their mind, body, and soul while guiding abuse survivors to reclaim their power and transition into healthier, thriving lifestyles.With 16 years of experience as a makeup artist, including working as a celebrity makeup artist for clients like four-time Olympic gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser, Mita's expertise extends to empowering women through both inner and outer transformation. Her work has been featured in magazines, multiple podcasts, and community platforms.As the host of The Glowing Beyond Show, Mita shares her journey of overcoming depression, anxiety, and abuse throughRegister HEREI want to help you jumpstart your healing process, no matter where you are on your healing journey, with evidence- based practices that I have seen work for survivors in this new, transformative workshop.This workshop is for you if: You have survived an abusive relationship and set the goal to move forward on your healing journey in 2025. Whether you are in the thick Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpcIf you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/ Where to find more from Rising Beyond:Rising Beyond FacebookRising Beyond LinkedInRising Beyond Pinterest If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7Enjoy some of our freebies! Choosing Your Battles Freebie Canned Responses Freebie Mic Drop Moments Freebie ...

Nadeem's been waiting since 1996 for this one. Tasked with picking a movie that starts wth "S", Nadeem picks Mike Leigh's Palm D'Or winning, "Secrets & Lies" for the next movie review. It's also Oscar nomination day! Nadeem and Mita dissect the good, the bad and the ugly of the 2025 Oscar race. 

With Harry Tchilinguirian away, Vincent Wu hosts today's episode of Oil Insights and discusses the latest oil market developments with Onyx Research Associates Martha Dowding and Mita Chaturvedi.They discuss Trump's day one executive actions in relation to energy, including his declaration of a national energy emergency and intention to fill up the SPR. The team also discuss the potential impact of tariffs on the global petrochemicals trade, as well as the Houthis lifting the "ban" on international vessels transiting the Red Sea, in light of the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hama. For this week's crystal ball moment, Mita, Martha, and Vincent debate whether Brent will end the quarter trading over $80/bbl.https://linktr.ee/onyxcapitalgroupFollow us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@worldofoilderivativesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyx-capitalgroup/X: https://x.com/Onyx__EdgeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onyxcgroupInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/onyxcgroup/

Welcome to 2025: New you, old you, but always improving! I'm kicking off the year with my right-hand woman, Deseray Cummings, from the stunning shores of Punta de Mita, Mexico. Together, we share our takes on New Year pressure —breaking down why resolutions can sometimes backfire and how to shift the focus to sustainable habits that truly nourish your body and mind. Spoiler: it's not about 75-day challenges or burning yourself out!Deseray and I also answer your community questions about setting boundaries, practicing self-kindness, and finding balance in a world that demands “all or nothing.” From prioritizing sleep to embracing the messy ups and downs of life (hello, hormones!), we're serving up real talk and practical advice to help you feel your best. Plus, we're sharing a sneak peek at exciting new updates for the Tone It Up app and how to win a dreamy wellness retreat. Let go of the pressure, and start your year with grace and intention—you've got this!(00:00:00) Introductions(00:00:50) Ditching Perfection for Sustainable Growth(00:09:32) How to Improve Your Sleep Habits & Set Better Boundaries(00:16:51) 2025 Motto: Be KindClick here for full show notesGuest Info:• Instagram: @_deserayResources:• Start a conversation in your The Big Silence merch: thebigsilence.com/collections/shop-all• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing • Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need• Thank you to our partners! Go to thebigsilence.com/partners for special offers for our listenersDonate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.Producer, Bobby Goldstein.The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.Mentioned in this episode:Timeline Longevity | Timeline is offering 10% off your first order of Mitopure. Go to timeline.com/TBS.Act + Acre | Visit ActandAcre.com and take the quiz on their website to see what hair & scalp system is right for you. Use code TBS20 for 20% off your purchase.

It's only apropos this week that when Mita was tasked with picking a movie that starts with "A", she chose the Donald Trump biopic "The Apprentice" for the next movie review. No oranges were harmed in the recording of this podcast. 

RAB RAUL ASKENAZI- LA POSICION AL DECIR EL SHEMA ISRAEL A LA MITA by TALMUD TORA MONTE SINAI

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the "Embracing Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 60, with guest, Mita Mallick. Does your workplace refer to you and your colleagues as one happy family? We're exploring why this language may not be beneficial for the individual.      Mita is renowned for her transformative impact in the corporate world and is currently spearheading inclusion, equity, and impact at Carta. Her writing has graced the pages of Fast Company, the New York Post, and Business Insider and her book, Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace, has been celebrated as a top business read.   This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 60: Debunking Corporate Myths to Transform Your Workplace.   Key Discussion Points: 00:59 The Concept of Family in the Workplace: Your work colleagues are not your family. This analogy can be harmful in a capitalistic society where the main goal is revenue. 03:18 Compassionate Leadership in a Pragmatic Workplace: There needs to be a balance between caring for other people at work, especially if you are a leader, and at the same time acknowledging that you (and everybody else) are expendable. 05:08 Weaponising the Family Analogy in the Workplace: Early in your career especially, the family analogy can be weaponised. 06:40 Understanding the Language Used in Corporate: On one hand the family analogy is used to create a sense of community at work and something for people to rally around and on the other hand it can be abused.   In Summary: Mita Mallick urges us to not buy into the family analogy at work because everyone is ultimately expendable. She emphasizes the importance of clear boundaries and realistic expectations.   Resources from this episode: Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths To Transform Your Workplace by Mita Mallick Follow Mita on Linkedin.   Ready to make a change? → If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals.  Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com. → If you are ready to leave corporate or you want to start a profitable side brilliance but you're unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.  Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.   Connect with your hosts: Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website. Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website. Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website. _________ Produced by Ideablossoms  

Mita goes for the trifecta (foreign language, old, black and white), when tasked with picking a movie that starts with "R" and chooses Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon" for the next movie review. It's also  Golden Globe night and Mita and Nadeem have some opinions. 

Happy New Year! To ring in 2025, Nadeem decided to bend the rules. When tasked with picking a film that starts with "T", Nadeem choose the Pedro Almodóvar's "Todo Sobre Mi Madre", which you might know as "All About My Mother" for the next movie review. Mita and Nadeem see one final movie in 2024. 

Tasked with picking a movie that starts with "T", Mita picks Sean Baker's "Tangerine", but with some sweet talking, Nadeem convinces her to pick his 2017 "The Florida Project" for the next movie review. Mita agrees...but she never forgets...

'Tis the season of giving and knowing how much Mita loves war movies, and tasked with picking one that starts with "F",  Nadeem picks Stanley Kubrick's seminal "Full Metal Jacket" for the next movie review. Little did he know, the decision would backfire on him...

Mita goes niche when picking another movie that starts with "S". This time, she picks Todd Haynes 1995 drama, "Safe" for the next movie review. It's also finally award season, and Mita and Nadeem dissect the 2025 Golden Globe nominees. 

The verdict is in: Mita picks the courtroom drama "The Verdict" for the next movie review when tasked with picking a movie that starts with "V". Taylor makes another appearance, but we'll allow it this time. 

Nadeem was in a mood, so when tasked with picking a film that starts with "I", he went for 2000's "In The Mood For Love". Mita loves Glen Powell.

This episode we go back to the continent for a bit to see how things are going.  Hint:  not well.  While Yamato was building its new bureaucratic state, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla were battling it out while the Tang empire and their ambitions loomed over them all.  Yamato is about to get pulled into the conflicts, but before that, let's look at what was happening from the point of view of the various penninsular polities. This episode goes back over some of the information in Episodes 107 and 109, but mainly to place it in context of what was happening in Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla as opposed to simply viewing it from the rise of the Tang Empire or the occasional mentions in the Nihon Shoki.  Much of it relies on what we have in the Samguk Sagi, the Korean annals of the Three Kingdoms. For more, check out our blogpost: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-115 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is Episode 115: Red Banquets, Fashion Disasters, and Other Continental Adventures It was the year 642, and the hall was decked out in the finest, with banners hung and tables set.  The scene was awash in gold and silk and silver.  The guests were no less opulently adorned: The crème de la crème of Burana, aka Pyongyang, capital of the state of Goguryeo.  The tables were piled high with food, and there was a low murmur as the assembled guests talked quietly as they waited for their host. These guests were among the highest nobles in the land.  180 members of the most powerful families.  As they mingled, they talked.  Much of it was gossip, the currency of court politicians everywhere. They discussed who was up and down in the constant fight for favor.  Who had made a misstep, or was seen talking to the wrong person?  Or how about that time that someone wore the wrong clothes, or misspoke in court? Other conversations focused outward, on the threats from beyond the border.  But the majority of conversation had to do with their host, a striking individual. The murmurs continued as they waited for him to arrive..  Yeon Gaesomun was a hard-liner, pushing his agenda for stronger defenses against Tang encroachment.  That might be understandable for someone stationed out east, as he had been, but the King himself and his supporters felt that relations needed a more diplomatic touch.  Now that Gaesomun was back in the capital of Pyongyang, would he change his approach? The conversation continued apace as people ate and drank.  The whole time they remained blissfully unaware of what was happening just outside.  Drowned out by the sound of the banquet, troops were quietly assembling just outside, girding themselves for what would soon be an irrevocable step forward.  As orders came down the line, they drew their weapons, and then they burst through the doors… Last episode we talked through much of the Hakuchi era, from 650 to 654.  This episode I want to finish out the era, in order to do so we're once again going to touch on what was happening over on the continent. Some of these events we've talked about already: Last time we did a deep dive into this subject, back in Episode 104, we focused primarily on the Tang dynasty and its rise.  We also talked somewhat about Yamato's conflicts with Tang, Goguryeo, and others in Episode 107.  But at this point it's useful to go back and put that Continental narrative together a little bit more clearly, to set the stage for what will be happening in Yamato in the next reign after Karu. This episode we are going to go back over some of that info, but I want to center the narrative a bit more on the peninsula, rather than on the Tang dynasty. As you may recall, the Tang dynasty started in approximately 618, taking over from the Sui.  By 628, the Tang had defeated the Gökturks, and they continued to expand.  They conquered Turpan and Gaochang, in the Western Regions, and their control over the Silk Road was substantial, opening up tremendous trade routes that brought in wealth and more.  The capital of Chang'an became a true center of learning, and the government instituted a national university that was attended by elites from both in and outside the empire. This episode, though, we are going to focus more on the area of the Korean and Liaodong peninsulas, where the countries of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla contended with each other.  Goguryeo was the largest and perhaps even the most powerful of the three, but it was also on the border with the Tang empire, who were nothing to sneeze at given their own string of military victories.  So Goguryeo was beset from all sides, and needed a sizeable force on their western border.  Everything was in a tenuous balance, of sorts. When it came to the Tang empire, Goguryeo walked a delicate line.  On the one hand, they wanted access to the trade goods and the knowledge that was accumulating in the Tang empire and making it the envy of most other nations in the region.  On the other hand, they had to be constantly on the lookout for a possible invasion, and so needed to show their strength.  This wasn't without some confidence.  After all, Goguryeo had defeated attempts by the Sui dynasty to invade, and so they had proved up to the challenge—at least so far. In 619, on the eve of the Tang dynasty's founding, King Yeongnyu of Goguryeo, whose personal name was Geonmu, sent a tribute mission to the Tang, to encourage good relations.  By 622, Goguryeo was responding to the Tang dynasty's request to return soldiers captured during the attempted invasions by the Sui.  They kept sending missions on an annual basis, playing the part of a friendly tributary. Further on the peninsula, Baekje and Silla were likewise reaching out to the Tang dynasty, similarly hungry for the trade goods available in the markets of Chang'an.  Baekje, sitting on the coast of the Bohai sea, had direct routes to the mainland; to both the Yellow river and Yangzi river deltas.  They may not have had an overland border, but the sea was open to them. Silla, on the other hand, was not so quite so fortunate.  They were mainly situated on the east side of the peninsula, and though they had some access through the Han river, near modern Seoul, their access was constantly threatened by both Baekje and Goguryeo.  In 626, a Silla mission to the Tang complained about this very thing, claiming that Goguryeo was attacking them.  In response, the Tang requested peace, and Goguryeo apologized and backed down.  That said, it is unclear if the Tang would have taken much action.  They were, at that point, more focused on the Gökturks and others.  That military action ended with the defeat of the Gökturks in 628, however, a victory for which Goguryeo sent congratulations.  One has to imagine, however, that the congratulations were a bit mixed.  After all, without the Gökturks to hold their attention, what was to keep the Tang dynasty from looking at further conquest? The question of how to react to the Tang Empire seems to be one that split the Goguryeo court.  Some members of the court wanted to appease the giant on their doorstep, with offers of tribute and nominal submission, with the goal of making it clear that they were not a threat and that military conquest was unnecessary.  They could all live in harmony, one with the other.  To that end, they would not want to be too blatant about building up their forces or defenses in an act that could be seen as a prelude to military action.  On the other side were the hard-liners: members of the court that felt that they had to maintain a strong military defense against the likely possibility of a Tang offensive.  To these hawks, military strength was the deterrent, as power only truly respected power.  To be seen as weak and submissive would be to seem vulnerable, and an easy target. Still, there seems to have been relative, if uneasy, peace for a time.  Goguryeo continued to build their relation as a tributary state, and most of the action seems to have actually been taking place in the peninsula.  For Silla, 632 was a banner year, as Queen Seondeok came to the throne.  She was the eldest daughter of her father, who had no sons to inherit, and so she came to the throne.  She is said to have been quite intelligent, and the Samguk Sagi gives various accounts of her Holmsian powers of deduction.  For example, upon seeing a picture of flowers, she immediately concluded that, though they were beautiful, they had no fragrance.  She noted the lack of bees and butterflies around the flowers, and based on that observation she deduced that the flowers must have no scent to attract them. Queen Seondeok would oversee Silla in a time when they were growing closer to the Tang and also seeing increased pressure from Baekje and Goguryeo.  We mentioned how, in 626, Goguryeo had blocked Silla's mission to the Tang court.  Then, in 636, a Baekje general led 500 troops to Mt. Doksan, to attack the Silla position there.  Two years later, Silla defeated Goguryeo troops outside Jiljung Fortress. This wasn't constant warfare, but it did mean that the armies had to be on a constant wartime footing.  You never knew when your neighbor might sense a moment of weakness and try to take advantage of it.  Of course, as the old adage goes, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.  Baekje and Goguryeo were more directly on the Tang Empire's borders.  And so we see Silla cultivating a special relationship with the Tang. This is nothing new, by the way.  Various dynasties in the Yellow River basin had used similar tactics for generations.  Immediate border countries were often treated more severely, with threats of punitive expeditions if they did not fall in line or give themselves over completely to become a direct vassal of the empire.  Countries just beyond the border were often treated with a lighter touch, luring them into complacency and even friendship with access to elite trade goods, and more.  As borders shifted, so too did the relationship between the empire and those on its borders. Goguryeo and Baekje fell into the former category, while Silla seems to have been in the latter—at least for now.  And yet all three were still trying to get what they could.   In 640, Seondeok sent her sons to enroll in the Guoxue, or National University, that Tang Taizong had set up in Chang'an.  This university had gathered Confucian scholars from all corners of the world.  The school is described as having some 1200 bays, with 3,260 students.  Besides Silla, Goguryeo and Baekje also sent their princes, who mingled with elites from Gaochang, Turpan, and elsewhere.  It was opportunities like this that made Chang'an so attractive: a place where the elites of Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje, could mingle with the members of the Tang Court and the western regions, beyond, sharing ideas and learning about the wider world. The following year, in 641, there are two items of note.  One is the inspection by Chen Dade of the Tang-Goguryeo border.  We talked about this back in episode XXX.  Under the pretense of a diplomatic mission, Dade arrived at the border with numerous gifts of silk, presenting them to the various fortress commanders and then asking to be shown around.  The Commanders were more than happy to show Dade their impressive fortifications, and they were exceedingly polite, but little did they know that Dade's true purpose was to scout for weaknesses in Goguryeo's defensive line.  His report back to Tang Taizong would be critical in what was to come. Also in this year, King Uija of Baekje came to the throne.  We talked about how Uija had sent his son, Prince Pung, to Yamato, and we've touched on him a few times here and there.  Uija was clearly a proponent of the alliance with Yamato, and, as we'll see, he was no friend to Silla.  The following year, in 642, Ujia's forces attacked Silla, capturing 40 strongholds, and pushing Silla's expanding borders back to the Nakdong river, retaking much of the area that had been under the control of the various Kara, or Gaya, confederacy.  This likely included places like Nimna and Ara, though we can't know for certain.  We do know that Baekje forces took Taeya fortress in the south of the peninsula, which gives us an idea of the extent of Baekje's victories. In response to Baekje's brazen attacks, Silla went  to a seemingly unlikely ally.  They reached out to Goguryeo.  In fact, they sent none other than Kim Ch'unch'u. Kim Ch'unch'u was the grandson of the 25th king of Silla, King Jinji.  Though his father, Kim Yonsu, had lost any claim to the throne when King Jinji was overthrown, he was still of “seonggol”, or “Sacred” bone rank, a concept somewhat similar to the kabane of Yamato, though in this case the “Sacred bone rank” indicated nobles specifically descended from the royal family.  These would have likely been the various Royal Princes and their families in the Yamato hierarchy.  Kim Ch'unch'u, in particular, seems to have been well regarded by the Silla court of his day, and since his own daughter had been killed by Baekje, he had a personal stake in the matter.  And so he led the embassy to Goguryeo's capital at Pyongyang to request that they send troops to aid Silla. There was only one problem.  Goguryeo was still fuming about territory that they had lost to Silla many years ago.  They agreed to send troops, but only if Silla would agree to a little quid pro quo.  Silla would need to return the Chungnyung pass and cede everything northwest of it back to Goguryeo.  This would return much of Goguryeo's territory north of the Han river and modern Seoul. Kim Ch'unch'u  rebuked their offer, calling it a threat against Silla.  This angered King Yeongnyu, and Kim Ch'unch'u was jailed for his disrespect.  Ch'unch'u was able to get word out of his imprisonment, however, and Queen Seondeok sent what the Samguk Sagi calls a “Death Squad” of 10,000 soldiers with the aim of breaking him out of prison.  As soon as Goguryeo heard that these troops were on the move, they decided that holding onto Ch'unch'u wouldn't be worth it, and they released him rather than fight.  Kim Ch'unch'u was returned safely, but without the support that he wanted. That said, there may have been other things going on in Goguryeo. The pro-appeasement camp and the hard-liners were fuming, and things in the court were coming to a head.  The two sides pulled against each other in the way that they shaped policy.  For the most part, King Yeongnyu was pro-appeasement, but there were powerful figures in the hard-liner camp, such as Yeon Gaesomun.  At 46 years old, he was a descendant of at least two previous “Magniji” court officials—a title roughly equivalent to that of a Prime Minister, and one of the most powerful roles a non-royal court noble could aspire to.  Gaesomun himself was the Western Governor, directly responsible for the fortresses that defended the border with the territory of the Tang Empire.  As such, it is little wonder that he may have been a bit more focused on the threat that they posed, and he likely held the loyalty of not a few troops. And perhaps this is why King Yeongnyu started to suspect him of being a problem, and why he plotted to have him killed.  Word of the King's plot reached Gaesomun, however, and he decided to take matters into his own hands. Returning to Pyongyang in 642, Gaesomun let it be known that he was throwing a lavish banquet to celebrate his rise to the position of Eastern governor.  He invited over one hundred of the opposing court nobles under this pretence.  But that is all it was. When the nobles had gathered at the banquet site, Gaesomun struck.  He had loyal forces rush in and kill all of his opponents, and then, before an alarm could sound, he rushed his troops over to the palace and murdered King Yeongnyu.  It was the Goguryeo's own Red Wedding, and it would hold a particular place of infamy in Korean history, which said  that the troops dismembered the corpse and discarded it without ceremony. In place of King Yeongnyu, Gaesomun propped up Yeongnyu's nephew, King Bojang.  Gaesomun then appointed himself the Dae Magniji, the Great Prime Minister, or perhaps more fittingly “Generalissimo”.  Though King Bojang sat upon the throne there was no question that it was Gaesomun who now ruled Goguryeo. Gaesomun's legacy is complicated.  Under the Confucian values of the time, many early historians vilified him for murdering the king, and blamed him and his harsh policies for the eventual downfall of the kingdom.  He is portrayed as a man lusting after power. We are given examples of his harsh demeanor, and the Annals state that when he got off of his horse he had high ranking nobles and military officials lie on the ground so that he could step on them, rather than touching the ground.  Of course, some of this we should likely take with a grain of salt, given the Chroniclers' generally dim view of him in general.   On the other hand, some modern histories believe that he wanted Goguryeo to take a tougher stance against the Tang.  Early Korean nationalists rehabilitated him, exalting him for taking such a hard stance against the Tang, or, in their eyes, China.  I suspect that he was a little of both.  A tyrant and a despot—as many rulers of the time were—but also dedicated to the defense of his nation. We mentioned this briefly back in Episode 107, but I wanted to touch on it here in more detail as it really leads to where we want to discuss.  A very brief mention of this lies in the Nihon Shoki, where it says that “Irikasumi” the “Prime Minister” of Goguryeo slew the king and over 180 others.  For the most part it tracks, though it does say that it happened in 641, which may easily just be a simple scribal error. The general narrative from here is that the Tang dynasty used Gaesomun's usurpation as a pretext for war against Goguryeo, but the narrative seems a bit more complex, and when we are reading we should keep in mind that none of the players in this drama knew the outcome beforehand.  And so, as is often the case, things are quite as straightforward as they may seem when we zoom out and take a look at the macro level of historical events, where we've already decide what events we believe to be important and which were less so, often based on knowing the outcomes.  Of course, the Chroniclers would have had similar narratives, but they were still trying to catalogue the events of each year as best they could. And that brings us to the year 643.  In this year, Silla went to the Tang dynasty to ask them for assistance against both Baekje and Goguryeo, who were planning to cut off Silla's access to the Tang court.  Tang Taizong agreed to help, but only if Silla would accept a Tang official who would come and oversee Silla.  Taizong's reasoning is given, which follows a typically misogynistic logic:  “Because your country has a woman as a ruler, neighboring states belittle it.  As you have lost the authority of the ruler, thus inviting the enemy to attack, no year will enjoy peace.”  He basically said that Silla needed a big strong man to help out, and he was willing to send someone—along with troops—to do just that.  Of course, I think we can all see how that was likely to end up, and any thoughts Silla had of being an equal partner in such an arrangement were nothing more than fantasies.  Tang Taizong was agreeing to assist, if Silla became a protectorate of the Tang court. The Silla envoy, for his part, took a very political stance.  No doubt knowing just how bad this was for Silla, but not wanting to disrespect the Tang emperor, whose assistance they still needed, he acknowledged the emperor's words without accepting the terms, returning without the promised help, but also without completely subordinating his country to the Tang empire. Although the troops were not forthcoming, the envoy's mission still had a positive impact.  Having heard that the envoy was traveling to the Tang court, King Uija of Baekje proactively withdrew the troops he had that were planning to attack with Goguryeo and cut off Silla's access to Chang'an.  Thus, Silla's corridor was maintained. Goguryeo, for their part, continued to attack Silla's border, but even though Gaesomun was one of the hard-liners when it came to Goguryeo-Tang relations, his initial envoys to the Tang court took a conciliatory stance towards the Tang empire.  Gaesomun promoted Daoism over Buddhism, and had his emissaries request and bring back 8 Daoist sages from the Tang court. Many historians feel that this was actually something of a show.  Sure, they would get knowledge and learning from the sages, but more importantly was to put the Tang at ease and hopefully allow Goguryeo a chance to annex Silla before the Tang war machine got up and running.  For their part, the Tang were already considering their next moves against Goguryeo, with some suggesting that they use proxies, like the Khitan and the Malgal, to make an attack.  Emperor Taizong's advisors suggested that the best course of action would be to lull Goguryeo into a false sense of security prior to a massive assault.  And so there were no major attacks that year. In 644, however, the Tang sent a message to Baekje and Goguryeo that they would need to stop invading Silla, and that if they didn't do so, the Tang would attack.  Gaesomun was actually leading troops in an attack on Silla when news of the messenger arrived at Goguryeo's court in Pyongyang.  Gaesomun's response was that he was simply trying to reclaim the territory that Silla had previously stolen from them many years earlier.  Along with their excuses, they sent along gold and 50 hostages from the Goguryeo court, but they were refused by the Tang.  It was probably pretty clear at this point that things were coming to a head—and diplomatic relations finally broke down in 645. That year the Tang dynasty—in conjunction with Silla, the Samguk Sagi tells us—launched a massive invasion of Goguryeo.  The pretext of which was, as I mentioned, Gaesomun's usurpation of the throne, but let's not kid ourselves:  The Tang dynasty were not shy about pushing out their borders. The Tang troops, who had been preparing for the past year, invaded in a two prong attack.  An overland attack struck at Gaemo—modern Shenyang—while naval forces landed on the Liaodong peninsula.  These forces initially swept through the border fortresses along the Liaodong penninsula with seeming ease.  Remember Chen Dade and his little factfinding mission?  No doubt all of his work came in quite handy.   Things were going well, and Tang Taizong himself joined the campaign. Still, each fortress took time, so that even though the invasion started in April, they reached Ansi by June. We are told that Goguryeo had amassed over 150,000 forces at Mt. Jipul, near Ansi, a walled fortress town with an estimated population of around 100,000.  Those numbers may be exaggerations, but the context is clear:  This was not just a small fortress and Goguryeo sent a lot of troops to reinforce the area. On the other side, Goguryeo was facing odds that were probably more like 3 to 1, with a massive Tang invasion force, which, since they had split, were attacking from two different directions.  Sure enough, the Tang were able to catch the defenders out of position, with the troops that had crossed the sea assaulting from the front while the overland forces attacked Goguryeo's rear.  It is estimated that over 50,000 Goguryeo troops were killed or captured in the battle. And that left only the fortress of Ansi, with a garrison of maybe 5,000 troops, to face the Tang, who had otherwise swept through previous defenses in relatively short order.  It would have been understandable had they capitulated.  There were still other fortresses between the Tang armies and the capital of Goguryeo at Pyongyang, not to mention the extremely mountainous terrain between the Liaodong and Korean peninsulas.  And yet, the Ansi garrison refused to give in.  The Tang forces, for their part, knew they could not leave an enemy to their rear, and so rather than continuing on, they set a siege to the fortress town. Although we are told that the Tang forces brought siege engines with them, the garrison at Ansi held out.  In fact, they held out for three months, and fall was beginning to turn to winter.  Winter in northeast Asia would bring snow and mud.  Furthermore, the Tang supply lines themselves were fairly long at this point.  Eventually, the defenders won out, and the Tang forces turned back.  On the march back towards Chang'an, Tang Taizong and his troops were caught in an early winter blizzard, which killed more of the soldiers.  Emperor Taizong founded Minzhong Temple—known today as Fayuan Temple, in modern Beijing—to commemorate his fallen soldiers. Although the Tang forces retreated, it is hard to say that Goguryeo was truly victorious in the outcome of the war.  Many Gogouryeo troops perished in the fighting, while Tang could now regroup.  Goguryeo was unlikely to be a major and immediate threat to Silla, as they would need to continue to maintain troops and rebuild the fortresses taken by the Tang, but that didn't mean that Silla was off the hook, either. Through this all, Baekje had taken the opportunity to harass Silla's western border.  They sent wave after wave against Silla, whose forces in that area were under the command of general Kim Yusin.  The Samguk Sagi mentions that his forces would turn back one attack, and he'd be almost back home, when another attack would come and he would have to go back out.  In one particularly poignant moment, he even got so close as to see his house, but he could not stop, and so he marched straight past the gates as he prepared to repel yet another invasion from Baekje. Winter brought a pause to the fighting, and in 646, things seem to have been relatively calm, if still quite tense, as all sides recovered from the events of the previous year.  Nonetheless, this is seen as the start of what is known as the Goguyreo-Tang war, a series of conflicts that would continue for approximately the next 20 years.  Goguryeo, for their part, attempted to normalize relations with the Tang, even sending two women—specifically the Annals state that they were two beautiful women—as a peace offering.  Tang Taizong politely refused them, however, claiming he wouldn't dare to separate them from their families.  In reality, he was rebuilding his forces, preparing for another assault, but that would take time.  In the meantime, diplomatic channels remained open, which really demonstrates the political situation in general, at the time.  Even if two sides were attacking one another, diplomatic envoys were still being exchanged.  Furthermore, though the trade routes may have been slightly less stable, trade continued, regardless.  The following year, 647, Emperor Taizong launched fresh assaults against Goguryeo.  This time, rather than a larger army, he instead had them focus on small-scale attacks that would weaken the kingdom of Goguryeo, forcing them to constantly be on guard and to pour resources into supporting their borders.  At the same time, Silla suffered tragedy as Queen Seondeok died, and Queen Chindeok took the throne.  Later in that year, Baekje troops attacked three Silla fortresses.  They were pushed back, but the Silla troops took heavy casualties.  As we can see, the fighting continued throughout the peninsula. Meanwhile, over on the Japanese archipelago, they were busy incorporating the new reforms.  Envoys from Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo would continue to travel to the Yamato court, which one imagines made for some rather tense State dinners. The year after that, in 648, while Tang forces continued to harass Goguryeo, Baekje attacked and took ten Silla fortresses.  Upon hearing this, Silla general Kim Yusin rallied the troops, counterattacked, and destroyed the invading forces.  Silla's Prince Ch'unch'u himself, the one who had previously gone to Goguryeo to ask for support against Baekje, traveled to the Tang court in Chang'an.  There he requested assistance against Baekje's continual harassment of Silla's borders. It is unclear how firmly Baekje and Goguryeo were allied together and coordinating attacks, but  it does seem clear that they were aligned in their goals.  Baekje may not have been in direct conflict with the Tang, but their attacks on Silla likely kept Silla from further harassing Goguryeo, who was actively involved in defending against Tang attacks.  So whether there were formal treaties or not, lines were drawn, but these were still independent states with their own goals and aspirations. And so, when Ch'unch'u's ship was returning from Chang'an and ran into a Goguryeo patrol, one can understand their apprehension.  Ch'unch'u was known to Goguryeo, and if we was captured it is unlikely that he would live long enough to be rescued by an elite Silla death squad once again.  And so, his men devised a plan, and a man named On Kunhae put on the clothes of a high official—possibly Ch'unch'u's own.  When the Goguryeo patrol captured the ship, they killed him, believing he was a Silla noble or at least an important envoy.  Unbeknownst to them, Ch'unch'u himself had been transferred to a smaller, less assuming ship, which quietly made its way past the patrol and back to Silla controlled territory. And so, once again, we see us how dangerous things were getting at this point.  Travel was risky at the best of times, but now, with the possibility of being intercepted by a hostile country's forces, who knew what might happen. Hostilities continued until 649.  That year, Tang Taizong passed away, and shortly before he did, he pulled back the troops.  His death only brought a brief pause, however, as his son and heir, Tang Gaozong, took the throne and would launch his own series of wars against both Goguryeo and Baekje.  In 650, Gaozong received Prince Kim Ch'unch'u once again as an ambassador from Silla, this time with a poem penned by Queen Chindeok herself.  In the form of poetic verse, she asked for help against Baekje, who had continued their attacks.  Throughout the previous year attacks had continued back and forth.  Silla general Kim Yusin again managed to push back and defeat the Baekje forces, but one can only imagine the toll this was taking on Silla's ability to defend itself over time.  This was the content of the note.  Prior to this, Silla really had gone all in on strengthening their ties with the Tang dynasty, going so far as to institute Tang court dress—both in their robes and caps.  This point had been specifically negotiated by Prince Ch'unch'u with the previous emperor, Tang Taizong.  It sounds as if Silla was trying to have the Tang court recognize their own court nobles and put themselves in a place to receive Tang court rank, though how, exactly, they received said rank is unclear—did it come from the Tang or was it granted by the Queen of Silla. Either way, it was clearly seen by other nations—or at least Yamato—as an unwelcome statement.  In 651, Silla envoys arrived at Tsukushi—modern day Kyushu—wearing their new Tang style clothing and they were turned away.  Specifically the Dazaifu sent them back claiming that they weren't dressed as envoys from Silla should be.  On top of this, we are told that Kose no Omi then suggested that *rather than go to war* over this, they should just make a show of force when the envoys came back.  And let me reiterate that: according to the Nihon Shoki this was such an affront that Yamato was considering whether they should launch a punitive military strike against Silla for sporting the wrong fit.  Talk about a fashion disaster! In the end, they took Kose no Omi's advice, which was that the next time Silla arrived they would have ships lined up all along the Seto Inland Sea as the envoys made their way to Yamato so that there was no doubt in the envoys' minds about just what Yamato could do. This is a great demonstration of how something we might consider innocuous was clearly a Big Deal for the people at the time.  I suspect that there were at least two possible reasons for why this was, besides just considering themselves the arbiters of fashion.  For one, remember that Yamato considered Silla to be subordinate to them, at least in their worldview.  Just like they had been concerned about at least maintaining the fiction that Nimna was still an active and independent entity, this broke the illusion that Silla was a tributary of Yamato. At the same time, it may have just been that they were putting on airs and it was seen as impersonating and even speaking for the Tang court.  After all, if a Tang envoy showed up, I doubt that Yamato would turn them away. In either instance, we can see the lines being drawn, with Silla taking a clear stance in connecting themselves with the Tang court while Goguryeo, Baekje, and even Yamato were still in contact with them, but from a more independent capacity.  In 652, for instance, we know that Goguryeo again sent tribute to the Tang court, no doubt in an attempt to normalize relations.  Still, the alliances were firming up. In 653 we have two items of interest:  one from the Samguk Sagi and one from the Nihon Shoki.  In the Samguk Sagi it explicitly mentions that Baekje and Wa formed an alliance.  This is significant in that the Samguk Sagi really doesn't mention Wa nearly as often as we would expect it to, while the Nihon Shoki is constantly discussing Baekje and Yamato relations.  I imagine that there must have been a significant escalation of Wa involvement around this time for the Samguk Sagi to mention it. On the other hand, the Nihon Shoki doesn't really mention it.  Sure, there are annual tributes mentioned from Baekje and Silla—and occasionally Goguryeo—but they were more focused on another event: an embassy that the Yamato court sent to the Tang dynasty.  This was the first embassy to be sent in some time—at least according to the Nihon Shoki—but it was quite the affair.  Two ships were prepared.  The first ship was led by Kishi no Nagani and his assistant, Kishi no Koma, along with the envoy, Nunobara no Mita.  They were accompanied by numerous students and student priesets, all sons of court nobility, including Jou'e, the son of none other than Nakatomi no Kamatari the “Naidaijin” or central prime minister.  In total, there were 121 people on board the ship. The other ship was led by Takada no Nemaro and his assistant, Kamori no Womaro, as well as their accompanying envoy, Hashi no Yatsute.  Along with various students, they had 120 on board the ship.  Two ships, each with an individual in charge of the particular embassy, meant that even if they met with an accident along the way, they would have someone to carry on the mission.  And that foresight proved unfortunately necessary when the ship carrying Takada no Nemaro sank in the straits of Takashima off the coast of Satsuma.  The ship went down and only five men survived, largely by lashing themselves to a plank and drifting ashore at Takashima island.  There, one of the survivors, Kadobe no Kogane, gathered bamboo and made a raft, by which they made it to Shitojishima.  They surived six days and nights without any food, but they made it.  When he heard about it, the sovereign congratulated Kogane and rewarded him with rank and various presents for his work to bring people back home. Another mission, launched the following year, shows that being lost at sea wasn't the only danger for international travelers back in the day.  In the 2nd month of 654, Takamuku no Kuromaro led another embassy to the Tang court.  He was the Controlling Envoy, though the Chief Ambassador was Kahabe no Maro, assisted by Yenichi no Kusushi, a name that Aston suggests translates to something like “Doctor Yenishi”.  A list of other names are given as well of those who were also on the mission.  More sobering is the outcome of the mission, where we are told what happened to everyone.  Though they reached the Tang court, not everyone would make it back.  According to the author Yuki no Hakatoko—an interesting tidbit in that they seem to be giving us the author of one of the accounts that they used in the compilation of the Nihon Shoki, and we'll come back to him in a later episode—according to Hakatoko, the student priest Enmyou died in Tang, while the student priests Chisou and Chikoku both died at sea.  Another person named Chisou, but using different characters, returned in a Silla ship in 690.  Gakusho died in Tang and Gitsu died at sea.  Joye returned in 665 in the ship of Liu Tekao.  And then others—about 12 total—along with two individuals who were considered Japanese born abroad, came back in 654 with returning envoys.  We are even told that Takamuku no Kuromaro, one of the figures who helped set up the government and played a major role in diplomatic relations with the continent, passed away on this mission as well. So going on one of these missions may have given you some awesome opportunities to see the world like nobody else, but they were anything but guaranteed.  For many people, it was a one way ticket, and we should keep that in mind when we hear about the people going on them. There were other intricacies to deal with as well—including navigating the pathways to the Tang court.  You may remember that Yamato was allied with Baekje in some way.  And yet the 654 mission we are told went by way of Silla and then anchored in Laichou, on the Shandong peninsula.  Later that same year, the previous mission, with Kishi no Nagani and others, returned to Yamato escoted by envoys from both Silla and Baekje.  While the narrative largely focuses on what they obtained, one imagines there were probably some tensions in all of that.  After all, just a year before we are told that Baekje and allied with Wa—which is to say Yamato—against Silla.  So had Silla not yet heard about the alliance?  Or was that just considered par for the course at the time? The year 654 would have more direct considerations for all concerned, however.  In that year, Queen Chindeok of Silla died, as did Karu of Yamato.  In Silla, the new King was none other than Prince Kim Ch'unch'u, known to history as King Muyeol.  As we touched on, earlier, Ch'unch'u was intimately familiar with the Tang court and had spoken directly with the Tang emperor, so this likely only further cemented ties between the Tang and Silla.  Meanwhile, in Yamato, Queen Takara Hime, aka Kyougyoku Tennou -slash- Saimei Tennou, was re-ascending the throne, rather than making way for Prince Naka no Oe, a truly interesting state of affairs. Moving forward, the alliances would continue to solidify, though diplomatic missions would continue to travel between the various countries.  After all, they didn't exactly have many other means of communicating with each other—no email or telephones back then. Tang Gaozong would continue to attack and harass Goguryeo, though Yeon Gaesomun would continue to fend off attacks, while Baekje and Silla would continue their struggles as well.  Both Goguryeo and Baekje would ally against Silla, who in turn would call upon the might of the Tang empire.  All in all, it was a time of great conflict, generally known as the Tang-Goguryeo War, and it was a long-term conflict punctuated with times of peace in betwetween the various offensives.   Yamato was less directly involved, but still affected.  After all, they were closely aligned with Baekje, and they had to wonder what would happen if Silla came out victorious.  Would they be cut off from the continent entirely?  Or would they be forced into a new state of having to send tribute to Silla as an inferior country if they wanted access to continental goods and knowledge?  While we know how it played out, today, at the time the outcomes were far from certain. All of that will continue to provide a backdrop for the second reign of Takara Hime, aka Saimei Tennou.  A part of me wonders if this wasn't also part of the reason to move the capital back into Asuka, in the Nara Basin.  I imagine that a capital sitting on the edge of the water, relatively speaking, while good for trade and foreign relations, also felt rather exposed if anyone were to sail a fleet down the Seto Inland Sea.  Or it may have just been a return to the more familiar lands of Asuka. As conflict on the continent continued to escalate, Yamato would not be able to stay unaffected.  The question is whether or not they would be ready when and if anything came their way.  It was a tense period, certainly. And we'll get more into that as we move forward in the next episode with the second reign of Takara-hime, aka Saimei Tennou. Until then thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.   Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

Mita was feeling holier than thou when she had to pick a movie that starts with "D". So, she went with Satyajit Ray's "Devi" for the next movie review. Nadeem has a new "Rocky Aur Rani". 

Following spooky season, Nadeem must pick a movie that starts with an "S" or "Z" sound. So, he opts for the later and chooses the political thriller from 1969, "Z" for the next movie review. Mita and Nadeem get into it about Marvel and movie goers. 

In recognition of Diwali, we are re-airing this episode, which features a conversation between Jennifer Brown and Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity and Impact at Carta.  Jennifer and Mita discuss the importance of authentic and accurate representation of diverse cultures in the media. The conversation stemmed from a LinkedIn post by Mita about her reaction to the Diwali episode of And Just Like That, a revival of the HBO television series Sex and the City. Mita breaks down the episode, which was described in a Vogue article as a “messy tangle of misnomers and misappropriation.” Mita also discusses the exhaustion many people from marginalized communities feel, and what allies can do to help.

It's the end of spooky season, so when tasked with picking a movie that starts with "D", Mita chooses 1988's "Dead Ringers". A movie that would fit better in creepy season.