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Against the paranoid backdrop of the Scottish witch trials, a murder plot involving King James and some of his lovers took place.To make matters more juicy, it centres around the Bonnie Earl of Moray, who is said to be the most handsome man in Scotland.How does this situation create a conflict of interests for King James VI & I?Joining Kate today is the wonderful Gareth Russell, author of Queen James: A New History About the Life and Loves of Britain's First King, James Stuart, to help us unravel this twisty and tantalising murder plot.This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.
Kyle has been hard at work race directing the Moray Coastal Trail 23 and 50 mile races at the weekend but he also ran the Ultra X Scotland 50k the week before - his first ultra in 2 years! Meanwhile, we also speak chat with Sports Dietitian Gemma Holloway & Moray Road Runner Lawrie Currie - 2 athletes who were competing at the Moray Coastal Trail 50 at the weekend! Lewis Walker email: Lewiswalker.performance@gmail.com Gemma Holloway IG Handle: @this_dietitian_runs
Lambhill, in the North of Glasgow, is home to a thriving community hub, built out of an old stable block on the edge of the Forth and Clyde canal. Mark went along to visit their community garden, and find out more about what goes on there.Rachel is on the banks of Loch Lomond to find out about the issues of litter along the busy stretch of the A82, and what the local people have been doing to tackle it.Auchindoun Castle in Moray has recently reopened after some careful masonry repairs. Mark meets with Historic Environment Scotland's District Architect for the North region, Mike Pendery, to find out more about what it takes to look after these remote ruins.Tarlair Outdoor Swimming Pool in the North East has been undergoing restoration for a number of years, but work has now been completed on the art deco pavilion. Mark met up with Pat Wain from the Friends of Tarlair community group to see the newly finished space, and find out more about the next stage of the restoration.A new multipurpose football stadium is in the planning stages in Dundee, but local people are concerned about the loss of old, established trees, and the impact this could have on the area's wildlife. Rachel met up with Violet Fraser, one of the campaigners against this development.Mountain rescue veteran, David ‘Heavy' Whalley, sadly passed away recently. He featured on the programme a number of times, and we pay tribute with a clip originally from 2015, where he joined Mark and Euan on a hike up Ben Wyvis.Midlothian Snow Sports has long been a hub for people with disabilities, or learning difficulties to come together and learn to ski. However, there has been a decline in uptake over recent years, which Disability Snowsport UK are hoping to change. Rachel went along to see what it is all about.Mark takes a wet and windy stroll along Coral Beach in Plockton, so called for its sand which is made up of calcified seaweed or maerl.
The Cairngorm Funicular Railway is back up and running after some extensive structural works. Mark took a trip up to the snow-covered peak with the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Limited, Tim Hurst, to find out what impact the funicular has for the mountain resort.Farmers and land managers are working together in Moray to investigate how they can tackle environmental challenges such as flooding and decline of biodiversity in the area. Rachel is with Ron Oliveira from Shempton Farms and Charlie Davis from Sylvestris Land Management at Balormie Marsh to hear how their efforts are going.Duke Christie is an artist and cabinet maker based in Moray, who has featured his work in galleries and design showcases across the world and is renowned for his unique use of fire. Mark met up with him at his workshop to learn more about his craft.Historic Environment Scotland recently granted Category A Listed Status to the Glasgow Central Mosque. The building was the first in Scotland to utilise Islamic architectural traditions, articulating these with Glasgow's typical red sandstone. Mark met up with Omar Afzal to hear more about the mosque's design and the important role the mosque plays in Glasgow's Muslim community.Rachel meets up with a colleague and regular Out of Doors contributor Linda Sinclair, after she has recently received a Police Scotland bravery award for her efforts in rescuing a woman from the sea in Orkney.Students from the Sculpture and Environmental Art course at Glasgow School of Art staged a pop-up exhibition at Lang Craigs in Dumbarton, utilising the landscape and environment in their installations. Rachel met up with the students to learn more about the inspiration for their projects and the history behind this transient exhibition.There have been reindeer on the slopes of Cairngorm for over 70 years, with the first animals being established in the area in 1952. Now, the centre has undergone significant renovations, moving into a purpose built centre, complete with paddocks and exhibitions. Mark met with Co-Director of the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre Tilly Smith to hear more about this project and how it feels to move the centre out from its original location - the front room of her house!David Atthowe of outdoor exploration company Reveal Nature is an expert in revealing some of the hidden markings and patterns of the world around us using the magic of UV light. Paul English went along to a late night tour in Bute Community Forest in Argyll to see some of this biofluorescence for himself
Mark Stephen visits Duke Christie at his studio in Moray
durée : 00:59:22 - Macondo Trio "Morayò" - par : Nicolas Pommaret - Après un premier EP homonyme en 2022, le Macondo Trio sort un nouvel album "Morayò" ("J'ai trouvé la joie" en yoruba), dans lequel se mêlent jazz, musiques du monde et fusion, ainsi que la perspective d'un monde parfait où l'écoute et le respect mutuel sont au cœur du projet.
Send us a message!The story comes full circle as we learn about Moirai's tragic origins and Daphne's tragic, short life. Generational trauma can be devastating and in this case, it definitely was. Read along to learn about what happens before Nox meets the Gray Matron. Music is by Alexander Nakarada.Support the show
We first saw Eddi Reader singing with the Gang Of Four on Whistle Test in 1982. This eventful pod traces her story from seven kids in a two-bedroom council flat (“me in the toilet with a guitar singing Your Cheating Heart”), to the Scottish folk clubs, busking with circus acrobats on the Left Bank, to radio jingles, life as a backing singer and the rapid rise of Fairground Attraction who reformed last year, 34 years after they split in 1990. It's highly entertaining from the kick-off, not least …. … snogging the Earl of Moray's son during Dylan at Blackbushe. … the jingles she sang on ‘80s radio ads. … what she learnt from Annie Lennox when touring with Eurythmics. … backing singer stage-wear etiquette. … performing Love Me Tender aged eight in the school classroom. … singing Three Drunken Maidens and Lord Franklin at the Irvine Folk Club, over the road from Amanda's Wet T-Shirt Night. … busking in Paris and the songs that pulled the most money (eg Tupelo Honey and All Along the Watchtower). … “men you put on the shoulder-pads for.” … what Billy Bragg called “a civilian”. … Chou Pahrot, Cado Belle, Café Jacques, Stone the Crows and other great lost Scottish bands. … Hamish Imlach's advice about how to project onstage. … how to use a pencil as a pop-shield. … and her Grandad “who loved his wife so much he nearly told her”. Eddi Reader tickets here: https://eddireader.co.uk/gigs/ Fairground Attraction's Beautiful Happening album: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Happening-Fairground-Attraction/dp/B0CZ7NMJYV https://eddireader.co.uk/Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We first saw Eddi Reader singing with the Gang Of Four on Whistle Test in 1982. This eventful pod traces her story from seven kids in a two-bedroom council flat (“me in the toilet with a guitar singing Your Cheating Heart”), to the Scottish folk clubs, busking with circus acrobats on the Left Bank, to radio jingles, life as a backing singer and the rapid rise of Fairground Attraction who reformed last year, 34 years after they split in 1990. It's highly entertaining from the kick-off, not least …. … snogging the Earl of Moray's son during Dylan at Blackbushe. … the jingles she sang on ‘80s radio ads. … what she learnt from Annie Lennox when touring with Eurythmics. … backing singer stage-wear etiquette. … performing Love Me Tender aged eight in the school classroom. … singing Three Drunken Maidens and Lord Franklin at the Irvine Folk Club, over the road from Amanda's Wet T-Shirt Night. … busking in Paris and the songs that pulled the most money (eg Tupelo Honey and All Along the Watchtower). … “men you put on the shoulder-pads for.” … what Billy Bragg called “a civilian”. … Chou Pahrot, Cado Belle, Café Jacques, Stone the Crows and other great lost Scottish bands. … Hamish Imlach's advice about how to project onstage. … how to use a pencil as a pop-shield. … and her Grandad “who loved his wife so much he nearly told her”. Eddi Reader tickets here: https://eddireader.co.uk/gigs/ Fairground Attraction's Beautiful Happening album: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Happening-Fairground-Attraction/dp/B0CZ7NMJYV https://eddireader.co.uk/Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We first saw Eddi Reader singing with the Gang Of Four on Whistle Test in 1982. This eventful pod traces her story from seven kids in a two-bedroom council flat (“me in the toilet with a guitar singing Your Cheating Heart”), to the Scottish folk clubs, busking with circus acrobats on the Left Bank, to radio jingles, life as a backing singer and the rapid rise of Fairground Attraction who reformed last year, 34 years after they split in 1990. It's highly entertaining from the kick-off, not least …. … snogging the Earl of Moray's son during Dylan at Blackbushe. … the jingles she sang on ‘80s radio ads. … what she learnt from Annie Lennox when touring with Eurythmics. … backing singer stage-wear etiquette. … performing Love Me Tender aged eight in the school classroom. … singing Three Drunken Maidens and Lord Franklin at the Irvine Folk Club, over the road from Amanda's Wet T-Shirt Night. … busking in Paris and the songs that pulled the most money (eg Tupelo Honey and All Along the Watchtower). … “men you put on the shoulder-pads for.” … what Billy Bragg called “a civilian”. … Chou Pahrot, Cado Belle, Café Jacques, Stone the Crows and other great lost Scottish bands. … Hamish Imlach's advice about how to project onstage. … how to use a pencil as a pop-shield. … and her Grandad “who loved his wife so much he nearly told her”. Eddi Reader tickets here: https://eddireader.co.uk/gigs/ Fairground Attraction's Beautiful Happening album: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Happening-Fairground-Attraction/dp/B0CZ7NMJYV https://eddireader.co.uk/Find out more about how to help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Send us a textThis episode explores the intersection of fate and free will, using the metaphor of the Greek goddesses of fate to illustrate personal journeys and choices. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences, confront limiting beliefs, and embrace the power of conscious decision-making.• The Moray: Three Fates and life phases • The cave as a metaphor for pre-life contracts • The importance of personal growth and evolution • Recognizing societal change and obstacles • The connection between financial beliefs and self-worth • By-passing limiting beliefs for personal empowerment • Making decisions aligned with true potential • Embracing the journey towards consciousness and changeWhat if your life's path was intricately woven by the hands of fate, yet still left room for the magic of free will to shape your journey? Join me, Lynn Louise, on the Cosmic Valkyrie Podcast as we unravel the mysteries of the three Greek goddesses of fate, the Moray, and their profound symbolism in our lives. We'll uncover how youth, maturity, and the end mirror the lunar phases and guide our human design. Discover the delicate dance between destiny and choice, as we explore the life contracts crafted before birth and the power we hold to alter our courses. We'll discuss how many women, despite extensive spiritual work, find themselves stuck, and how understanding the brain's role in decision-making can unlock the potential they seek.For those driven by the desire for growth and transformation, our conversation will challenge you to rethink your mindset and embrace evolution as the pathway to success. It's time to evaluate your satisfaction and recognize whether you're comfortable in complacency or ready to harness free will for transformative change. If you're determined to make a significant impact, both personally and professionally, let this episode be the catalyst for your evolution. Remember, your journey is ongoing, and only by pursuing continuous growth can you truly reclaim your place of influence and effect societal change.Lynn Louise has been helping coaches all over the world for over a decade. Her Evolution 10X Method combines Cosmic Wisdom, Brain Science, and Fundamentals in Business Strategy to help you quiet your mind, uplevel your consciousness, so you can implement the strategy you need for success with ease and flow. Lynn Louise is a Master Certified Hypnotist, Telepath, Shapeshifter, Multidimensional Traveler, and Coach driven by a powerful mission to help others. Her approach is unlike any other mentor's you have experienced. So, if you are ready to collapse timelines and create the business of your dreams - buckle up! For more information on how to work with her within her Mastermind: CLICK HERE
On this day in history, 23rd January 1570, James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray and regent for King James VI, was assassinated—the first head of government in history to be killed by a firearm. Discover how Moray, the illegitimate son of a king and half-brother to Mary, Queen of Scots, rose to power, ruled during turbulent times, and met a tragic end at the hands of a gunman in Linlithgow. What drove his enemies to such extremes? And what became of the infamous assassin? Dive into this gripping tale of power, revenge, and survival in a deadly political landscape. Don't miss the full story—listen now! #TudorHistory #MaryQueenOfScots #JamesVI #EarlOfMoray #ScottishHistory #RegentAssassination #OnThisDay #HistoricalDrama
Send us a textIn this episode of The Nourished Nervous System, I welcome back Dr. Pavini Moray, a somatic coach and author with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Moray introduces their new book, 'Tending the Bones: Reclaiming Pleasure After Transgenerational Sexual Trauma,' which guides readers through a 13-month somatic journey involving ancestral rituals and embodiment practices. The discussion highlights the significance of building relationships with well ancestors for healing, the transformative and connecting power of ritual, and the critical role of understanding and reclaiming pleasure. Dr. Moray explains how these practices are rooted in global traditions and how they address not just personal, but collective trauma. They also share insights about their research process, including learning from various ancestral healing technologies and spiritual traditions. Practical aspects of creating individualized, community-based healing are explored, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of both the personal and systemic impacts of sexual trauma and the pathways to recovery.In this episode:Pavini's Journey and New BookUnderstanding Transgenerational Sexual TraumaThe Role of Ritual in HealingThe Importance of Pleasure in HealingThe Power of Collective HealingExploring the 13-Month JourneyRelated Episode:Episode 48 - A Somatic Approach to Leadership and PowerConnect with Pavini:Website: https://www.pavinimoray.com/tendingthebones.htmlSubstack: https://pavinimoray.substack.com/aboutMy resources:Deep Rest MeditationNourished For Resilience Workbook Book a free Exploratory CallFind me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
And the Beat Goes On.Based on a post by FinalStand, in 13 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels. Tuesday night, in the asphalt-covered rear loading area of the Wal-Mart there was a Redneck throw down. Buck Tooney was wasting no time in cementing his leadership position over the White portion of our High School. His job was made more difficult by Darius' ruthless efficiency in allowing no other organizations, no matter how informal, to challenge his dominion. That translated over to Buck having to bust more heads to bring the 'rednecks' all in line.If that worked out, the city-Whites would be next. The problem for everyone else was the High School had been a succession of autocratic tyrannies for so long, it was difficult for the students to successfully even balkanize, much less unify. Everyone assumed another 'Darius' would eventually arise to restore a brutal school order; as long as 'he' was Black.That meant Buck needed a Black figurehead to parade in front of the 'establishment' to get things done. So far, no such person existed. Rashaan not only had the mistaken impression he could resist Buck, he was the Chief of Police's son; so not a prime candidate to be a figurehead for a criminal like Buck. Therefore he had to get Rashaan out of the way; figuratively speaking.Another problem for Buck was the school already had an existing Black criminal element. Darius had not been a part of it, but like so many other aspects of school society, when he told the leaders of the school subcultures to do something, or not to do something, he expected compliance. If not; pain would definitely follow. These characters weren't going to easily knuckle under to Buck Tooney though. After all, he'd been Darius' brother's 'boy', not the other way around.If anyone seriously thought Buck had returned to High School to be the Black Man's Bitch (again), they were clearly high, brain damaged, and/or delusional. I wouldn't have put money on who could have taken who in a Buck vs. Darius brawl; except Darius wouldn't have been lured into that kind of fight.Absent Darius, the school's Black community only had two confederates with sufficient intellect and charisma to lead the forces on that side of the racial divide. Sadly for the disciples of the Almighty BBC, both were women. Not only was Taliyah's mom the Mayor, she herself was co-Captain of one of the establishment's most recognized bodies; the Cheer Squad.The other was Jewel 'C. S.' Lafontanté. She was more infamous than famous, intelligent, un-aligned with any club, or activity, which awarded accolades, yet was overly endowed with a host of natural abilities as well as learned skills and talents. And, unlike Taliyah,; absent Darius; she felt the top spot was hers for the taking from the get go.Step one had been to sit at the feet of her mother and father, taking their counsel on the principles of asymmetric warfare, transforming weaknesses into strengths and how to locate, isolate and exploit the weaknesses of her enemies. Step two was accomplished Tuesday night when she and the rest of the Zulu Princess Posse jettisoned their boyfriends. From here on out, the ladies would be taking whatever cock they wanted. The times; they were a-changing.I had two more imminent problems with my life. The first was Riley Pasternak, Mayor Malik's aide and a woman I'd put my cock into; without my Mother's permission. By the way she kept licking absolutely everything off her fingertips at dinner Tuesday night while staring at me, I was sure she was expecting another performance.Before I could worry about how to finally put the brakes on my out of control sex drive, we had a caller at the gate; for me. It was Randi Leigh Upshaw. That was more than a tad unexpected. I'd stuck my cock in her, so I felt obliged to provide hospitality now that she came calling, but promised myself 'no sex'. We met on the porch.‘Hey, Vlad,' Randi Leigh appeared distracted and a bit distraught and couldn't meet my gaze.‘Hello, Randi Leigh. Care to sit down?' I motioned toward the porch swing.‘Sure,' she walked that way. It wasn't all that cold, she was in a team jacket, yet she still felt the need to wrap herself in her arms.‘What's going on?' I said once we'd taken our seats and swung back and forth twice.‘I; do you like Brandy?' she turned on me, putting a both her hands on my right forearm.‘Yes, I do,' I nodded. ‘Very much.'‘I can make you happier than she can,' bubbled forth from her lips.'What gives you that idea', seemed inappropriate so; ‘I thought you were happy with Rashaan,' was my second, and apparently equally bad, choice. Her look said it all: Rashaan wasn't getting the job done in a fundamental way.‘He's nothing like you,' she purred with the understated passion of an addict needing fix; me being the drug.‘Vlad, what is going on out here?' Mom called out. With Mom's propensity to sneak up on things like a Martian and listen in on conversations, this had to be a clue about something more. We both hopped out of the swing.‘This is Randi Leigh Upshaw. She's a; ah friend of Brandy and on the Cheer Squad. She's dating Rashaan Quinterre now.'‘Nice to meet you,' Mom was full with the feigned politeness, ‘Randi Leigh. I need a moment of Vlad's time, then I'll give him back.'She pulled me aside and back down the walk around porch until we were out of earshot then;‘Care to explain?'So I did; everything from the encounter in the Parking Lot to the Music Room banter, her going off in an epileptic seizure and ending with her here; now. Mom put her hand to her chin as she lowered her head slightly. Her far-off look dictated she wanted a few moments to think things through.‘With some girls; it goes straight to the brain like some allergic reaction,' she related. ‘In 1898, one of your ancestors was felled by a delirium and was cared for in a cat house in Dawson City. Three 'Ladies of the Evening' quickly fell to fighting over him and concluding with two fighting a duel with pistols in the middle of Front Street to decide who got 'their man'. Clearly some ladies can go a bit nuts over what your family has in your nut sack.'‘That's totally nu; crazy and unfair to poor Randi Leigh,' I frowned. I kicked at the planks on the porch for good measure.‘Didn't you just tell me she is gladly whoring herself out for Rashaan Quinterre? Do you think she's doing that for love?'‘What about Brandy? I don't want to cheat on her; any more than I've already cheated on her,' I muttered. Man, I sounded pathetic!‘Here's what you do,' my Mother stroked my cheek. ‘You tell Randi Leigh she had better become Brandy's #2 friend from here on out, or you won't have anything to do with her. You aren't going to cheat on Brandy, but Brandy might see a way to share you from time to time if she behaves. No more Big Black Cock for her though.'‘Okay,' I felt partially relieved. Now that I had a moment alone, I added, ‘What about Riley?'‘I got her.'‘You?'‘Yes. Me and your Da are going to take her to bed for some pulse-pounding, three-way action,' she grinned like an orca about to devour a baby seal.I had no idea Dad was so; kinky.‘Once I get your Da going, he's quite the animal,' Mom enlightened me. ‘I'll get me and Riley going in the bedroom. When he walks in, he'll protest; like he always does; then he'll come around and; ‘‘Enough, Mom,' I raised my hands. ‘Enough.'She laughed. I retreated to the semi-sanity of Randi Leigh who was waiting on me expectantly.‘Here are the rules,' I began ticking off my points, finger by finger.‘I'm Brandy's boyfriend. If you want to spend time with me you had better become Brandy's #2 best friend.'‘You don't sleep around with anyone else besides me and my brothers without clearing it with us first.'‘You don't pick fights with anyone unless you 'okay' it with myself, or my brothers first.'‘You break the rules three times and we never even talk with you; ever again.'That would have been the point I at which would have expected her to scoff at me at least, possibly slap me, or at least cry as a form of manipulation. Randi Leigh simply nodded. I walked her off the porch to her vehicle. We hugged, but didn't kiss. Afterwards I called Brandy and gave her the basics of what had gone down without explaining the toxic stew which lay behind it.I avoided my family the rest of the night; choosing to go to bed early instead. As I lay reclined on my back, staring out the tall window into the clear, highland night sky, I felt sick to my stomach. Slowly a revelation came to me. What my family had was definitely a curse, not a blessing because it was wed to a sense of conscience and responsibility.I had often thought about why Mom sought out Dad as the 'One' for her, but until that night, never really considered why he had chosen her to be his 'One'. Looking back, I realized it wouldn't have made sense until that point because I didn't have enough pieces of Mom's puzzle. I had the belief Dad sensed the intense pain within Mom's soul and nothing short of the grave, or what he had within him, could soothe her.By Mom's own admission, she was a Wild Child. She would have never settled down. Never had us kids. Never felt the love of a family if Dad hadn't decided to share his genetic curse with her. He'd loved her enough to become her lodestone; the center of her life and to take on all the pain such a position entailed.Everything I knew about my Dad suggested Mom was the Last type of woman he would have wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Dad liked his life calm, quiet and orderly. Mom was the polar opposite of those desires; impulsive, loud and chaotic. I didn't doubt his love for her in the slightest, yet my Father had sacrificed his dreams of tranquility to save my Mother.Why wasn't Mom furious with him over enslaving her to his cock; his magic sperm? She probably had been, once she figured out the family secret; for a short while. Then she realized the import his love had, saw the course her life was taking her down and what she obviously meant to him. But Mom being Mom; she still made him pay with her explosively eccentric behavior and her bizarre tutelage of his boys.And Dad had accepted it all as the price necessary to save my Mother's life; and that was that. Dad could have had any woman he wanted. Any Samsonov man could have. Why weren't we a clan of billionaires then? Why didn't we have oriental-style harems and dozens of mistresses on the side?Because we saw what we possessed as a curse; which we sometimes shared with truly crazy people to give them a real world focus for their lives so they wouldn't finally be consumed by their peculiar forms of madness. My hypothesis certainly fit what I knew about my kinfolk. I took that uneasy psychic compromise with me to my dreams.Wednesday.Wednesday morning, the storm clouds began to gather. The big news was Jewel Lafontanté had dumped Thomas 'Shaka' Sneed, Student Body President. Certain notorious Redneck troublemakers were either absent, or had shown up bruised and battered from last night's rumble with Buck's crew.That wasn't the only bruising going on. Rashaan had gone from one cheerleader to none, to two, to none once more; inside a week. The damage to both his ego and prestige was immense. Into the void stepped a rather brutal individual named Porter Walmsley, the Football Squad's Defensive Team Captain. While he was big, bad and Black, Taliyah and Brandy insisted his thick sausage was also very short; a definite deal-breaker when it came to BBC Mastery.Not to be outdone, Alonzo Hollingsworth, son of the richest (Black) man in Kingston made a play for Taliyah at lunch. He was long on talking solidarity while showing no solidarity with any of the other social 'front-runners'. Taliyah told him she'd 'think about it' in a blatant attempt to rile Mikhail. It didn't, which only soured her mood more.At practice, the Assistant Athletic Director (aka Coach Weasel, aka Coach George Wilcox), named Deon Manley Team Captain. He was (surprise, surprise) Black, in my position (Point Guard) and on record as performing sexual favors for the coach (letting the coach suck his cock).After practice, I got a message; via Brandy; that Jed Lee Earl wanted to talk with me and my brothers. She had to give me the 411. He was from one of Kingston's old White Rich families, led a clique of rich and 'almost rich' White kids and she thought he was gay. Most likely, with Buck on a rampage, he was looking for some 'muscle of his own,' she added with a giggle. I swatted her ass over that one.At least this time we avoided any name calling as we made our exit from school. Alexander was off to Ms. Blanchard's class. Mikhail took Kaja home on his KTM 690 Enduro R motorcycle without argument. I took Monique and Shaquille home (her house actually) with Vicky and Kaelyne tagging along. Brandy and Taliyah took Alondra and Noémie to their homes before the rendezvous at the Fonteneau mansion.The routine cycle resumed: homework, working out, showering, then a small amount of friend time before dinner. Unlike Tuesday, Mikhail was downright responsive to Taliyah; playful if not contrite. Taliyah countered by being friendly to Kaelyne and Vicky. I had my hands full with Brandy the entire time, so I was of no help.Vicky surprised us all by asking to learn a few wrestling and Sambo moves as we migrated to the backyard. I was 'nominated' to be her instructor. Things were complicated by her relative small size (5'2' / 157.5 cm) and mass (98 lbs. / 44.45 kg.). Figuring out all she really wanted to do was grab my cock, or nuts (both clothed) and pinch my nipples took all of thirty seconds.While tickling is not in your regularly accepted repertoire of wrestling moves, I had grown up with two brothers and plenty of young cousins. With my superior reach and strength, Vicky never stood a chance; so Kaelyne rushed in as well. When she proved unable to turn the tide (recall: I'm one of three; triplets), Brandy jumped me as well. This time I had the good sense to go down under their combined might, cry and beg for mercy.Thursday.With Brandy's acquiescence, if not outright permission, I gave Randi Leigh a blowjob opportunity before Home Room on Thursday. Mikhail was in the stall next to mine doing the exact same thing with Alondra. The difference was Alondra left with bounce in her stride and a smile on her face. Randi Leigh was fidgeting and uneasy.We missed Lunch Period, replacing it with a truncated orgy session which included Taliyah and Brandy plus Vantrice Kirby, Mia Ryker and Le 'Pearl' Yates. That left only Noémie Lucie Desdunes (in her case the middle name was a Creole thing) and Amber Lee Huffington, who were both in the B and T camp anyway. We could get them Saturday, or so the plotting went.The (Football) Coach and Principal decided since Friday was a 'home' game, we would have a 'memorial' service for Darius Pope; not that he had actually died, or anything; instead of the standard 'victory' party after the game. Apparently the Principal thought Brandy, as Darius' girlfriend, could help coordinate the function. Help as in work with the suddenly school-active Jewel Lafontanté.The other event was Hell Must Have Frozen Over and Satan had Klansmen shoveling coal like mad while he shivered in his igloo chateau; at least as far as the Kingston and Davis County social scene was concerned. The family of Gayle Fonteneau was invited to dinner at; the house of the Madam Mayor aka Dominique and Chinedu Malik.Her father had broken the hold the Fonteneau's had over the town which once bore their name; but now was Kingston, back in the late 1960's and early 70's, ushering an age of Black Supremacy into this burgh. It hadn't been an easy, or happy, transition either. Generations of Fonteneaus had treated the town as an extension of their own estate and hadn't welcomed the march of democratic progress.My Mom's rape, Uncle Theo's rampage of vengeance, and the resulting cover-up had severed the links between the Fonteneau Clan and the town of Kingston. That was the other, hidden, part of 'The Deal' which saw Uncle Theo going to a military school, not straight-out prison, for the punishment he'd visited on my mother's attackers.It could be argued Mom was now violating the 'corrupt' bargain between old Mayor Fox and Great Aunt Matilda. I also imagined neither ever thought their heirs would ever find 'common cause'. Both were now safely dead and if his daughter, Dominque, was bothered by this, she was doing the opposite of complaining.Had I realized how much Mom was sending Dominque's way, I would have been stunned. Had I realized how little of the Fonteneau fortune her support represented, I'd have cringed. The Fonteneau has been rife with eccentric, often wicked, geniuses for over two centuries.They'd invented and patented stuff, they swindled, robbed and stole from kinfolk, neighbors, towns, tribes, corporations and countries, and they invested that wealth with prescient ability. Unlike other famous American capitalists and industrialists, they hadn't felt obliged to build theater halls, university buildings, or jack-squat to remind the Rest Of The World how rich they'd become.No; they had miserly hoarded their wealth with one family member in each generation getting the lion's share along with the tacit understanding they took care of one another. That had equated to Great-Aunt Matilda being the inheritor in her generation, yet taking care of her sister's children as if they were her own.How much did 'we' have? Mom snorted and told me the Fonteneau never kept all their money in one place; in case something happened. Still, it wasn't like Uncle Cassius in that Indonesian prison didn't have his own 'resources' to keep him safe, or Uncle Theo kept evading prosecution based solely on his military training. Had either of those funds been traced back to our family, there could have been trouble; and those were just two examples of how Great-Aunt Matilda dispersed the family fortune.Anyway, I decided to bring Brandy along as my date/protective shielding. Mikhail laughingly suggested Alexander bring Ms. Blanchard. He suggested Vicky. I suggested Alondra. He scoffed. I suggested we'd need the distraction plus someone we could rely on to keep their mouth shut if something untoward happened (or, in Alondra's case, failed to understand the significance of).After 'dressing up', Mikhail and I had to double-back to school to pick up Brandy, Taliyah and Alondra for dinner. They, and about forty other students, had been shanghaied by Jewel into making the auditorium into a tribute to Darius Pope; odd since I imagined she despised the guy and rejoiced at his departure.‘Hey there,' Jewel greeted us as we entered the largely empty arena. ‘Vlad, is it? Mikhail?'Jewel was a tall (nearly 6 feet) woman with skin a soft shade of brown enhanced with coppery highlights. Currently her long, kinky black hair was worn braided with a mixture of beads and ribbons which 'clacked' when she moved. Her figure was dynamite, more a powerful Amazonian 'C' to Brandy's curvaceous 'D', but an ass just as scrumptious.Her lips were wide and her nose broad, but her most sensual quality, in my eyes, was her smoldering dark eyes; so dark they seemed totally devoid of an iris, yet keenly perceptive and subtly intelligent, surrounded by the longest, most natural-appearing eyelashes I'd ever witnessed.Today she was in a leather, electric blue mini-skirt, white knee socks and a long sleeved, skin-tight white shirt with the torso-sized images of a rampant phoenix and tiger facing one another on both front and back.‘Yes. Vladimir and Mikhail Samsonov, Ms. Lafontanté. A pleasure to meet you,' I stated since we'd never been formerly introduced. Likewise, I'd been raised a gentleman who waited for a lady to offer her hand to be shaken before a man shook it.She gave me an appraising, almost predatory, up-and-down gaze.‘Call me Jewel,' she extended me her hand.‘Vlad!' Brandy called out. Her someone must be trying to poach my Man sense must have gone off because I was definitely getting that sensation as her fingertips played across my fingers and palm before we shook hands. She had a confident, solid grip.‘Princess,' I was continuing to 'test drive' Brandy's pet name as I looked around Jewel.‘We are almost done,' Jewel shifted so as to interrupt my view (almost worked; but I was taller than she was).‘Let me help then,' I offered, even as I realized she hadn't let go of my hand yet.‘I'm planning on it,' she smirked, then released my hand and spun quickly around.‘Alright!' she addressed the room, the word accentuated with a sharp clap of her hands. ‘Let's finish getting those banners hung; Brandy?'Brandy was decidedly ignoring Jewel by throwing herself into my embrace and including an impressive, tongue-hungry lip-lock. 'Umm; tasty'. I kept her off the ground, so she decide to kick up both her legs until her heels almost touched her buttocks. When our mouths separated, she gave off a breathless giggle.‘Strawberry?' I questioned the flavor of her lip balm.‘Yes,' she grinned. With exaggerated slowness, Brandy turned to Jewel. ‘Almost done, Jefe?'‘So Jewel, I understand your regular cock wasn't getting the job done,' were the first words out of Mikhail's mouth; the Jackass! The assumption was he was referencing her dumping her last boyfriend; who was also here tonight.‘Mikhail!' Brandy gawked.‘Damn it, Mikhail,' I pivoted and glared at him.‘You auditioning for the job?' Jewel took a provocative pose. So much for the possibility of being offended. It was at times like this I didn't get women at all.‘I'm willing to put you in my rotation,' he bantered back courageously.‘What is mine, is mine. I don't share,' Jewel volleyed.‘You won't be the first Top Bitch I've had to deal with. Won't be the last,' he chuckled.‘Am I 'your type'?'‘Babe, you are hitting on all cylinders; you're smart, fierce, built like a true athlete; plus you think you are better than me,' he leered.‘I'm AM better than you, Samsonov.'‘By all means,' he took two steps her way. ‘Prove it.'‘Mikhail, we are here to retrieve our dates and go to dinner with our parents,' I reminded him. ‘Speaking of which; where are Taliyah and Alondra?'‘Which one of you is dating Alondra?' Jewel scoffed. With the way she said 'Alondra' she might as well have said 'The Chihuahua'. I put Brandy down.‘Alexander,' Brandy simmered. ‘They bonded over having a soul; unlike some people.' Gosh, that was awful feisty of Brandy. ‘Vlad, they went to get some colored light filters for the spotlights. They should be back soon.'‘Hey now,' I patted Brandy's ass. ‘Needless hostility isn't getting the work done.' I used that hand on the ass to press her against my hard-on to remind her of our primal connection.Her eyes flashed up, she gave me a salacious look, two hip wiggles, and then sauntered off to complete whatever project she was assigned. I tagged along because I both liked that ass and decided keeping close to her was my best bet to stay safe. Jewel directed Mikhail to help with something else. When Taliyah returned with Alondra and Misty Dawn in tow (along with several boxes of something), she immediately alerted to his distraction.She gave him no warning of her approach. Unfortunately for her, growing up triplets left us all a bit hyper-situationally aware and always ready for some rough and tumble, so Mikhail clued into the impending threat right before Taliyah repeated her Charlie Horse from Hell. Instead, he caught her blow, pulling her in and pinning one of her arms behind her back.‘Care to explain that?' Mikhail mused; 'that' being the incoming pain.‘I saw you scoping her out,' Taliyah sizzled.‘Well-duh,' he snorted, ‘but I wasn't touching, or anything.'‘You'd better not be.'‘Don't you have some work to do?' Jewel intervened.‘Yeah; if this Neanderthal would unhand me; ‘‘You going to take another swing at me?'‘You going to give me a reason to remind you to behave?' Taliyah snapped.‘Most likely,' my triplet shrugged then let her go.‘Come on Alondra,' Taliyah called over to the cheerleader. They went off to stack up the proper colored light filters by the various spot lights. The actual work would be done by the custodial staff sometime tomorrow.Soon enough we finished all our assignments. Jewel's No. 1 minion; a short, Sepia-complexioned, sharp-looking young lady named Dana Owens; checked off each completed item on her tablet as the group leaders reported to Jewel. She ran a very tight, almost scarily-so, regime. Notable absent were the student-athletes.Notably present was Jewel's ex-boyfriend, Shaka Sneed. He was handsome enough, chestnut-hued, slight acne-scarring along his cheeks with lighting-bolts cut on each side of his more-on-top, closer-cropped-on-the-side/back curly hair. He was right as 6' and broad enough in the chest and narrow enough in the hip to suggest he worked out once, or twice, a week, but his attempt to physically intimidate Mikhail was woefully ill-considered.His shiny, black tennis shoes, dark-grey slacks and black t-shirt were all top quality and tight enough to suggest he was 'aroused', but he was playing out of his league when comparing himself to any of us. Clearly not every BBC stud was packing a 10' Passion Piston inside his boxers and with all the hot chicks Jewel had assembled, it would have been pretty discernable it he'd had one.‘I don't like the way you were talking to Jewel,' he approached my brother as we were exiting the school.With so many polite replies to choose from and a proper dinner to get to; ‘What are you going to do about it?' we turned and regarded him.‘I; ah; ‘ Shaka stammered. Open, obvious defiance wasn't what he expected, despite some of the clear signs we Samsonovs weren't playing by the established rules.‘Listen up, Shaky,' Mikhail feigned annoyance, ‘I've got a dinner to go to. If all you are going to do is spit at me, I'm going to get to it. I'll catch up with you at lunch tomorrow and we'll settle Jewel's perceptions of your penile inadequacies then.'‘It is Shaka,' he insisted angrily.‘Whatever,' Mikhail shrugged.‘I'm going to inform Principal Jean-Georges of your threats,' Shaka pledged.‘What threats?' Mikhail gave a lopsided grin.‘You threatened to fight me at lunch tomorrow,' he looked left then right. We had quite a gathering. Since none of them looked ready to fight, it wasn't a problem.‘My exact words,' my triplet sounded bored, ‘we'll settle Jewel's perceptions of your penile inadequacies. Not once did I mention the words 'fight', punishment, or violence of any kind, Shaky.'‘It is Shaka!' he growled.‘It is Thomas,' Jewel announced in an amused tone. She'd been locking up.‘Shaky's real name is Thomas?' Mikhail's gaze settled on Jewel. ‘Why the fuck did he pick a shitty nickname like Shaky when he had a perfectly good name like Thomas to go by?'‘It Is Shaka; you pinhead!' Shaka shouted.‘Shaka? What kind of lame name is that?' Mikhail mocked him.‘It is Zulu, you dumbass cracker,' he glared.‘Why didn't you pick a more relevant name; like; Vlad, help me out here?' Mikhail's countenance lost all its humor.‘Like Agaja, Askia, Ewuare, or Samori?' I supplied some viable alternatives.‘Yeah; them. You know; West African war leaders you might have some relation to as opposed to a South African butcher who is as likely related to you as I am to Christopher Columbus, you dumbass nigger.'Silence.A White Boy had called a Black Man a 'nigger' and not just the 'n-word'.‘What did you call me?' Shaka puffed himself up.‘Whatever was the appropriate abusive racial insulting counter to 'cracker', pencil-dick,' Mikhail huffed.‘Say it.'‘Shaky.'‘You little bitch,' he said in a low voice.‘I promised we'd revisit your penile inadequacies at lunch tomorrow, Shaky, not now. If you are not going to 'jump', I've got a dinner to go to.'‘Chicken-shit.'‘I really don't have the time to go down the long list of all the things Jewel called you as she kicked you out of bed, Shaky; ‘ and then Shaka shoved him.‘That'll do, Pig. That'll do,' Mikhail chortled. He was getting ready to fight. We really didn't have the time to clean up this mess; I had no doubt Mikhail would destroy Shaka in ten seconds flat. The problem was we'd have to stick around and deal with the fallout which was time we didn't have.‘Enough,' Jewel intervened both verbally and vocally. She had two of her ladies backing her up. I had a firm hand on Mikhail's shoulder as a reminder we had to be elsewhere. ‘Shaka, I thought better of you,' she looked at her ex. ‘He's playing you.'‘You've been playing with him,' Shaka countered.‘Even if I was; which I was not (she wasn't?), I'm not your property, or your woman,' she sneered. ‘You are pathetic. I dumped you because I know I can do better.'Ouch! That was harsh.‘No; you can't,' Taliyah spoke up aka demarcating Mikhail. ‘Not while I'm standing.'‘Damn you, Jewel,' Shaka grabbed his former girl by the arm. ‘I; ‘And then she laid into him. I was pretty sure it was elbow to the solar plexus, a stomp on the instep and then an arm grab into judo flip, but head-over-heels Shaka went. I say 'pretty sure' because it was dusk and Jewel move freaky-fast. Shaka had been completely flipped over onto his back in that final, fluid move.Even though Jewel still had a painful hold of his wrist, it was clear Shaka was out of the fight. Any sane combatant would have stopped at that point. Not Jewel. Up came her foot and down came that heel on his crotch. Shaka hissed like a punctured Zeppelin. Every single guy who witnessed the blow recoiled instinctively in sympathetic agony as well. Not to be outdone though;‘I guess Shaka Zulu is now just another Bushman Brother,' Mikhail quipped jokingly.‘You are useless,' Taliyah began to drag him away.‘How is any of this my fault?' Mikhail laughed. ‘I didn't lay a hand on him.'‘You opened your fool-mouth,' she groused. She was dragging him off though.‘Alright everyone!' Jewel announced. ‘Time to go home.'Quickly enough there were only nine of us left standing there; Jewel, her six posse members, me and Brandy. Alondra had retreated with Taliyah and Mikhail. Shaka was still on the ground, hands cupping his tenderized privates.‘Yes?' Jewel tilted her head as she examined me.‘I'm hanging around to make sure Shaka makes it to his car okay.'‘I'll see to it.'‘I'll wait.'‘I said I'll see to it,' she reiterated as her eyes narrowed.‘Vlad, let's go,' Brandy tugged on my dress jacket.‘I heard you the first time, Ms. Lafontanté. You are also the one who put him in his current incapacitated condition, so I am going to stick around until I know he can take care of himself.'‘Do you think you can take me?' she shifted into a fighting stance; all subtle-like.‘I don't know. It isn't about me thinking I can beat you up. It is about not leaving any person at the mercy of those who would do them harm,' I explained coolly.‘Really?' she blinked.‘Really.'‘And if I tell you to get lost, or else?'I heard a car trunk shut rather gently; it was the 'click' of the lock engaging. Then came the crunch of the loose gravel on asphalt as my brother returned. Jewel's eyes shifted passed me, to him then back to me.‘You were stalling for time?'‘Pretty much,' I relaxed minutely.‘Here you go,' Mikhail handed me a padded, rattan practice broadsword. He had another broadsword plus a targe, a 20' diameter shield of Scottish origin).‘It is still seven on two odds.' from Jewel.‘We'll fight,' Brandy stated defensively.‘You and I ~' Taliyah directly addressed Jewel.‘Means nothing,' Jewel snorted. I could virtually see her work out the fight in her mind, going over and then discarding the various possibilities and resulting outcomes. Too many left her and hers with too many welts and bruises (rattan swords really sting) without a completely positive outcome.‘You don't even like him,' she motioned to the still moaning Shaka.‘That never matters,' Mikhail shrugged. ‘The moment you stomped on Shaky's peanuts, I knew Vlad wouldn't leave him here; at your mercy; so here we are.'‘Vlad?' Jewel searched my eyes for answers.‘Right is right and wrong is wrong,' I responded. ‘There is just and unjust punishment. You had every right to throw Mr. Sneed to the ground.'‘The heel to the groin was excessive,' I could hear myself channeling my Father. ‘At that point, he became a victim too. As my Brother said, I couldn't leave him at your mercy uncertain of your intentions.'‘So you do think you can take me,' she grinned like a Moray eel.‘I was really unsure until my Brother put this practice sword in my hand and returned to my side,' I related. ‘Even now, I'm not 100% positive. I've never witnessed your style of marital arts and you are certainly very good. Tha
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Grab your hot chocolate (or mulled wine!) and get into the festive spirit with our Christmas special as we meet some reindeer, talk Christmas trees and explore a small but mighty wood with huge value for nature in the snowy Cairngorms National Park. We discover fascinating reindeer facts with Tilly and friends at The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, and step into a winter wonderland at nearby Glencharnoch Wood with site manager Ross. We learn what makes a good Christmas tree, how the wood is helping to recover the old Caledonian pine forest of Scotland, why the site is so important to the community and which wildlife thrive here. You can also find out which tree can effectively clone itself, and is so tasty to insects that it developed the ability to shake them off! Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk Transcript You are listening to Woodland Walks, a podcast for the Woodland Trust presented by Adam Shaw. We protect and plant trees for people to enjoy, to fight climate change and to help wildlife thrive. Adam: Well, today I'm in the Cairngorms in Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic, the area is called – I'm going to give this a go - Am Monadh Ruadh. Apologies for my pronunciation there, but we are in the midst of a mountain range in the Highlands, of Scotland obviously. Generally we're about 1,000 metres high here but the higher peaks I'm told get to about 1,300 metres odd, which is going on for, I don't know, 4,500 foot or so. So this is a very dramatic landscape. We have rocky outcrops, boulders, steep cliffs. It's home to bird species such as the dotterel, snow bunting, the curlew and red grouse, as well as mammals such as mountain hare. But the reason of course we are here this Christmas is because it is also home to Britain's only herd, I think, of reindeer. Now, the reindeer herder is Tilly. She is the expert here and I've been braving, I am braving the snow and icy winds to be introduced to her and the herd. And from there after that, we're going to take a drive to what I'm told is an amazing wooded landscape of Caledonian pine to talk all things pine, and of course, all things Christmas trees. But first of all, let's meet Tilly, who looks after the reindeer. Adam: OK, we are recording. Tilly: That's good. OK. I'd better not say anything naughty then. Adam: I'll cut out any naughtiness, that's fine. Tilly: This is a bit of a rustly bag. It's more rustly than normal but never mind. Adam: What do the reindeer actually eat? Tilly: Well, so. We're now up in their natural habitat and we're looking across a nice heathery hillside with sedges as well. You can just see them poking through the snow and they'll pick away at the old heather of the year and the sedges. Adam: Right. Tilly: But we manage the herd and we like to feed them. So what I've got in my bag is some food for them, which they love. Adam: Right. And what's in your Santa sack of food now? Tilly: Oh, that's a secret. Adam: Oh, you can't tell me. Oh, God. Tilly: No, no. I can tell you. So it's a cereal mix and there is something similar to what you would feed sheep. Bit of barley, bit of sheep mix. Adam: That's awesome. So not mince pies and carrots? That's only reserved for Christmas Eve. That's probably not very good for them, I would have thought. Tilly: Yeah, no, I hate to say this, but reindeer don't actually eat carrots. Adam: Oh right okay, well, that's good to know. Tilly: But if ever children bring carrots for them, I never turn them away because we're very good at making carrot soup and carrot cake. Adam: Santa's helpers get the carrots. Tilly: And I'm absolutely certain that Santa eats all the mince pies, so all good. So anyway, come on through here. We're going now into a 1000-acre enclosure. It just hooks on there, that's perfect, it goes right across. We could actually once we get close to these visitors are coming off from a hill visit this morning. So you'll be pleased to hear that I am the boss. I'm Mrs. boss man and I've been with the reindeer for 43 years. Now, their lifespan is sort of 12 to 15 years, so I've gone through many generations. I've known many lovely reindeer and there's always a favourite and you would have seen some real characters there today. And you couldn't see them in better conditions. Anyway, do get yourself down and warm yourselves up. Oh, you've done very well to bring a little one like that today. Walker: He did pretty well until now! Tilly: You've done extremely well. Of course they have. He's got very red, a bit like Rudolph. The thing is there's just that wind, and it's the wind that drops the temperature, that chill factor. Adam: Yeah. So where are we going, Tilly? Tilly: So we're heading out towards what we call Silver Mount. They're not in here all year. Different times of year, sometimes they're all free range, some of them are free ranging, some are in here. Adam: When you speak about free range, literally they can go anywhere? Tilly: Yes they can. Adam: And they come back because they know where the food is? Tilly: Yes they do. They know where the food is, they sort of know where the home is, but they do wander out onto the high ground as well, more in the summertime. Adam: Right. And is that, I mean Scotland has different rules. There's a right to roam sort of rule here. Does that apply to reindeer? Is that the issue? Tilly: That is a moot point. Adam: Oh, really? We've hardly started and I've got into trouble. Tilly: No. Well, we lease 6000 acres, right? So we lease everything out to the skyline. Adam: So that's an extraordinary range for them. Tilly: It is an extraordinary range, but they know no bounds. I have to say reindeer sometimes do just pop over the boundary. Adam: And that causes problems with the neighbours? Tilly: Well, some like it, some aren't so keen. And we herd them as well, so we can herd them home. And we herd them by calling them. Adam: I was going to say, do you have a skidoo, or? Tilly: No, no. Absolutely no vehicular access on the hill. It's all by Shanks's pony, everywhere. Adam: Really. So you walk, and then you just ring a bell to herd them, or what do you do? Tilly: And you ‘loooooow, come on now!' and they come to us. Adam: Right. And so what was the call again? Tilly: ‘Looow, come on now!' Adam: Come on now, is that it? OK, very good. OK, I now move. Tilly: Yes. But hopefully they won't all come rushing from over there. Adam: I was going to say, yes, we've now called out the reindeer. Tilly: We've just joined a cow and calf here, who have just come down to the gate, and you can see just for yourself, they're completely benign. They're so docile and quiet. There's no sort of kicking or pushing or anything. They're very, very gentle creatures. Adam: And is that because they've been acclimatised because tourists come, or would that be their natural behaviour? Tilly: It is their natural behaviour, bearing in mind that reindeer have been domesticated for thousands of years. We're not looking at a wild animal here that's got tame. We're looking at a domesticated animal. Adam: Right. Tilly: It's probably more used to people than some of the reindeer up in the Arctic. So we have domestication embedded in their genetics. Adam: So what we're saying is, genetically, they're actually more docile. It's not because this particular reindeer is used to us. But originally then, if one goes back far enough, they were wilder? Tilly: Yes so, it's a really interesting process of domestication of reindeer, which happened in the Old World, so Russia, Scandinavia, inner Mongolia, outer Mongolia. And that is reindeer and many, many reindeer in these Arctic areas, are domesticated. They're not wild. Adam: And that started happening, do we have an idea when? Tilly: Probably about 10,000 years ago. But if you go to the New World, to Alaska and North Canada, exactly the same animal is called a caribou. Caribou are never domesticated. The indigenous people of these areas never embraced the herding and enclosing of reindeer, which was caribou, whereas in the Old World it became very, very important to the men, the people's survival. Adam: And then the caribou, do they have a different character? Tilly: Yes, they're wilder. And it's a little bit difficult to show today – you see quite strong colour variation in reindeer, which you don't see in caribou, and colour variation is man's influence on selecting for colour. So you'd get very light coloured ones, you'd get white ones in reindeer, you'd get very dark ones, but in caribou they're all the same, brownie-grey colour. Yeah, they felt that the white reindeer were important in the herd for whatever reasons, Germanic reasons or whatever. Interestingly, the Sámi - and I'm not sure if there could be a white one up in the herd here at the moment - describe them as lazy reindeer, the white ones. Adam: Why? Tilly: Well, I didn't know why until I worked out why white reindeer are often deaf. So they sleep, they don't get up when everybody else gets up and moves, and this white reindeer doesn't realise that the herd has left them. So they're not all deaf, but certain white ones are. Adam: Very important question, obvious but I didn't ask it to begin with because I'm a fool. Why are reindeer connected to Christmas? Tilly: Well, that's a really good question, because actually they think it stems from a poet called Clement C Moore, who wrote a poem in America, he had Scandinavian Germanic connections, called The Night Before Christmas, where Donder, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet, fly through the air with Saint Nick in the sleigh, the little Santa. Adam: Yeah. Tilly: But, so that really set the scene of eight reindeer and the sleigh, and that was based on the Norwegian God Odin, who had eight legs and strode through the sky with these eight legs and eight reindeer. Then we have Rudolph, who turns up, but he doesn't turn up until the time of prohibition in America. Adam: So Rudolph isn't in the original poem? Tilly: Absolutely not. Rudolph is an impostor. Adam: I didn't know that! Tilly: He, so he, it was a marketing exercise for a department store during alcohol prohibition. And it was Rudolph with his red nose, and his red nose is because of alcohol. Adam: Because he drank too much? So was it in favour of alcohol or was it going ‘what terrible thing happens to you when you drink'? Tilly: I'm not terribly sure. But anyway, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was the song, so that adds to it. And then along comes Coca-Cola who used a red and white Santa to promote Coca-Cola at Christmas time. So the red and white Santa is Coca-Cola. Adam: Right. And the red-nose reindeer is from alcohol and reindeer comes from an actual American poem, of which Rudolph wasn't part of anyway. That's all simple to understand then! Tilly: Exactly. Perfect. Adam: Well, we're moving up to some of the more exposed slopes. Tilly has gone ahead. I'm just going to catch up back with her, and ask how she started as one of UK's first reindeer herders. Well, certainly, one of our few reindeer experts. Tilly: I came up to volunteer and I met the keeper who was looking after the reindeer for Dr Lindgren, who was the lady who brought them in with her husband, Mr Utsi, and he was quite good looking. Adam: Is this a revelation you wish to make to them? Tilly: And the reindeer were endearing, and the mountains were superb, and so I married the keeper. Adam: Right, you did marry him! I thought you were telling me about another man other than your husband. Tilly: So I married Alan. We married in 1983 and I've been here ever since. Adam: And so the purpose of having reindeer here originally was what? Tilly: Ah, good question. Mr Utsi came here and was very taken by the landscape and the environment, the habitat, because it was so similar to his own home country of north Sweden. And he begged the question where are the reindeer? Why are there not reindeer here? And it was on that notion that he and his wife, Dr Lindgren, devoted the latter half of their lives to bringing reindeer back to Scotland. Adam: So that's interesting. So, it raises the difference of ecological or sort of natural question, of whether these are indigenous animals. Tilly: Yes. So it's an interesting idea. Certainly, the habitat's available for them and they live in their natural environment. But when they became extinct, or not extinct, but when they weren't in Scotland, some people say as recently as 600 years ago and some people say as long as 2,000 years ago. If it's 2,000 years ago, they're described as a past native. Adam: So OK, I didn't realise that, but is there any debate around whether they were originally - whatever originally is – Tilly: They were definitely here. Adam: So they are native? They're not sort of imported, they have died out and been brought back here. Tilly: Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, they were reintroduced, but how, what that time span is, some people say sooner than later, and Mr Utsi certainly identified this as a very suitable spot for them. Adam: Any idea why they might have died out? Do we know? Tilly: Probably a bit of climate change and also probably hunting. Very easy animal to hunt. Are you OK with this chitter chatter going on? Adam: Yes, it's all good, and a bit of, do you call it mooing? Tilly: Oh no, the reindeer aren't making any noise, they're clicking. Adam: Someone was mooing! Tilly : I think it was the people. Adam: I thought it was the reindeer making that noise. Tilly: Not at all. They're very silent. Adam: They'd have left this podcast thinking reindeer moo. Tilly: They would have. Exactly. No, they are really, really silent animals. Adam: There's a very large reindeer there coming down the road. Tilly: Oh, that's OK, that's Akubra, he'll do nothing to you at all. He's an absolute genuine reindeer. He's lovely. But he listened to the clicking as they walk. You can't hear it because of your headphones. Adam: OK, so I guess later on I'll put a microphone on a reindeer. That will be a first. One other thing I always imagined when you saw a set of antlers on a sort of grand Scottish mansion, I thought, oh well, they've killed that the reindeer. And actually, that's not true, is it? They fall off. Tilly: They do. You're absolutely right. Having it depends how you see the antlers. If the antlers are still on a skull, that animal has been killed and there's nothing wrong with that. There is a, you know, the animals need to be controlled. But you're also right. Antlers are lost every year and regrown again, so they cast their antlers and they regrow their antlers. So in a reindeer's life, if a reindeer is 10 years old, he will have just grown his 11th set of antlers. Adam: And the purpose of antlers is fighting? I'm a big girl, I'm a big boy, whatever. Tilly: Yeah, mainly for fighting, a weapon. So for the big breeding males, it's for claiming harem for females, so in the breeding season. And those big breeding bulls will actually lose their antlers around about now, their antlers will fall off and then they won't regrow their antlers until next spring, right? The females, little females like this, keep those boney antlers all winter and they use them for competing for food, so they can jab another reindeer and push it off and they can get into the food as a result. Adam: The other thing I can notice about some of them, but not the reindeer in front of us, but I think the one walking away, although this looks very bony, the other one has sort of felt on it, and what looks like blood. So what's going on there? Tilly: Yes. So they are the velvet antlers on the Christmas reindeer that have finished growing, but they don't lose the velvet properly and there is still potentially blood in the bone, as it were. Adam: So there's this sort of capillary underneath the felt. Tilly: Yes, exactly, because the antler's a really interesting appendage because it grows from the tip. It doesn't grow from the base, so the blood supply has to go all the way to the tip to grow. And the velvet skin carries that blood supply. Adam: Right. I see. So now the reindeer in front of us has no velvet so that can't grow. Tilly: And no blood supply. Exactly. And the only way she can grow, get more antlers or bigger antlers, is to lose the whole thing and grow it again next year. Yes. Adam: So any other serious facts we should note, to inform ourselves about reindeer? Tilly: Oh, lots of serious facts. So they're the only deer species where the males and the females grow antlers. Every other deer species, it's only the males that grow the antlers. They are the only deer species that's been domesticated by man. All the other species of deer, we're talking about 40 different species, are all truly wild animals. They can survive in the coldest parts of the world, so in the middle of Siberia, the temperature can go down to -72 and reindeer are still living there quite happily. Adam: It's cold today, but it's probably -2 or something. Tilly: Exactly. Yeah, yeah. Man cannot live in the Arctic without an animal to live by, and it's reindeer that he lives by. Man would never have gone into these areas. Obviously now they're all digging up, you know, getting the oil and the gas and everything. But indigenous man can only survive in these areas if he has reindeer as his farm animal of the north, so they're really important to the indigenous people of the north. Adam: And in that sort of role, then, you can clearly eat reindeer. Then what else does it provide us? Tilly: Absolutely. So it provides with meat. There are indigenous people that milk them in season. They have these tremendous coats that are used for covering tents and for people's, you know, clothing. And the antlers? Not now, but the antlers would have been used as tools in the past. Adam: And have you ever had reindeer milk? Tilly: I have tried, yes, we have milked the odd reindeer for one reason or another. It's very rich, very rich. Adam: You have! Rich, is that good or quite fatty? Is it drinkable? Tilly: That's good. Yeah, it's totally drinkable. Totally nice. Adam: Yeah, I think yaks or a drink made from yaks, which was disgusting, I found in Mongolia, but I really found it difficult. It wasn't my thing. Tilly: But it wasn't the fermented one, was it? Because in Mongolia they're into fermented mare's milk. Adam: That might be what I had. Tilly: And that is revolting. Adam: Yes, OK, that's maybe what I had. How unusual is reindeer milk then? Tilly: Yeah. It's got a very high fat content. They produce very little milk, because if you had a great big swinging under in in freezing conditions, you'd have ice cream, you wouldn't have milk. Adam: The other thing I noticed that we haven't talked about is their hooves which look quite large and they look, I mean just from a distance, quite mobile. Tilly: Yes. They are very, very, very flexible animals and their feet, their hooves are very big. Of course, for snow. Walking on the snow, spreading the weight, but also great shovels for digging. So they dig. You know, if you're in two feet, three feet of snow in north Sweden, you've got to get to the food underneath and to get to it, they need to dig. So they're great diggers. Adam: And your life now here. It's quite a change from where you grew up, I appreciate. Tilly: Certain years, a very rural life I had then. I have an equally country-wise life now. I will go to my grave with reindeer. They are my complete nutter passion. They are the most wonderful animals to be amongst, they put a smile on your face. They live in a beautiful area. They're just, they're just lovely animals and they give me a lot of pleasure. Yeah, yeah. Adam: Fantastic. And if people are in the Cairngorms and want to have their own trip to see the reindeer, they call the what? Tilly: They call the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. You could do it on the website, you can ring us up and they need to dress up. I'm sure you appreciate you, are your feet cold yet? Adam: No, look, I stopped off and bought extra thermals on my way. Tilly: Very good. Adam: Well, thank you very much. It's been a real treat, thank you very much. Tilly: Brilliant. Oh, well, thank you for coming. Adam: Well, I'm afraid I'm having to leave the reindeer behind because we're now heading to a little lower ground to see what I'm told is an amazing forest of Caledonian pine. And to learn a bit more about the trees and their relative, the other pine, which we all know as the Christmas tree. And we're off to meet a guy who looks after the Glencharnoch Wood in Carrbridge, near the River Spey and Dulnain. And now, despite it, it's a quite a small forest, I think. But despite that, it's quite well known for being really important, really big on biodiversity. And it's home to a number of species including, but not just them, but including the red squirrel and the crested tit. Ross: My name's Ross Watson. I'm the site manager for North Scotland for the Woodland Trust. Adam: Brilliant. Ross, we have come on an extraordinary day. It has snowed. It looks picturesque, chocolate box, shortbread box maybe, type stuff, so fantastic. So just tell me where we are. Ross: Well, we're in Glencharnoch wood. It's a wood that the Woodland Trust owns and it's part of a series of little woodlands on the back of Carrbridge between Carrbridge and the railway. And the Woodland Trust has had it for a number of years. It's a little site, only 36 acres, but it's a pine wood site and a really important pine wood site at that, in that it's a small part of much bigger Caledonian forests. Adam: OK. Well, I want to talk to you about pine wood, because I think it just sort of gets dismissed – ‘oh this pine wood, not important, not interesting'. Apart from Christmas, perhaps, when suddenly it becomes really important, but I want to unpack all of that with you, but just explain to you we're going to go on a little walk. Hopefully you know where you're going. Good. All right, so just explain a bit about where we're going, give me a sense of the pattern of where we're going. Ross: Absolutely. We're going to take a circular walk around the woodlands. The woodlands here, it's all about community. Everything we do here is around that tree. We're going to walk through a piece of land that's owned by the local authority and then go through our own land and onto privately owned land and then come back to our own land. And it really shows the connectivity of all these different habitats, all the different landowners. But really the path network is there for the community that's here and they are involved in practice as well. Adam: So. Pine wood. Yeah, it sort of gets bunched all together, and especially the Scots pine I hear a lot about. But there are there are big, big differences and varieties are there? Tell me a bit about them. Ross: The Scots pine we are walking through are really special species. That's the only native conifer in the UK, right? And that's why they're so special here. Really these Scots pine provide their own habitat all of their own. They're incredibly threatened. As a habitat in Scotland, we've got just a number of Caledonian pine inventory sites. We've got ancient woodlands, designated sites. Adam: Sorry, just to stop you - Caledonian pine, Scots pine, interchangeable words? Ross: Yeah, good point. The Great Wood of Caledon was the reference of the name of the forest that was here, the old, the original boreal forest that gradually reduced in size. Partly through climate change as the country became cooler and wetter, but also through human intervention through felling, fires, grazing, all that kind of thing. So now we tend to talk about Scots pine and Cally pine which can be fairly interchangeable, but the Cally pine tends to be the bigger, grander kind of granny pines, these really lovely old things you see in some of the landscapes. Adam: But that's sort of just the way people use the word. Technically, they're the same thing, but we refer to the Caledonian pine as the big grand ones, and it comes from… so I just want to make sure I understood what you said. The word Caledonian pine then comes from a Caledonian, a forest called Caledonia? Ross: Yeah, the Great Wood of Caledon. Adam: Isn't that a brilliant name? So mystical and it sort of talks of Tolkien and other worlds. Wow, wow. OK. So we have the great Scots pine, the Caledonian pine. If people have a general thing in their mind about pine trees, what is special about Caledonian pine? How that distinguishes from pines in other parts of the world. Ross: Well, Scots pine, as we're walking through this woodland, just now as you look up the trunks of the trees, as you look up the bark tends to go from a kind of grey-brown to a real kind of russety red, like a red squirrel colour. And that's a lot of the red squirrel camouflage comes from that, that rusty colour. So they're skittering around these treetops and they can be jumping around and they're nice and camouflaged because of that colour. So is that redness that you really see? But what we can see in here, a lot of these trees are very even age, it has been quite heavily thinned in the past, but then you come across a tree like this that's got a very deep crown. So you see there's live branches more than halfway down that tree, whereas there's a lot of these other trees - Adam: Yes, I was going to say it's weird that they've got no foliage until very high. Ross: Yeah, so this tree here, and foresters may call this a wolf tree, a tree that has occupied a space and it's just sat there and doesn't allow anything around it. Adam: It's called a wolf tree? Ross: Some people would refer to it as a wolf tree. What we would refer to that is it's a deep crown tree, not very imaginatively named, but a deep crown tree is really important here because of capercaillie. Now, capercaillie, you imagine a capercaillie's a big bird, a turkey-sized bird, almost waist height, a male capercaillie. And in the winter it will walk out across these branches and it will nibble away at some of the needles, and it will sit there and it will rely on that during deep snow for shelter, security, food. So without these deep crown trees, there isn't anywhere for them to go. So if you imagine a plantation, a very dense pine that are much denser than this and they don't have the chance for any deep crown trees. Then the opportunity for capercaillie here is much reduced. Adam: Right. So there's sort of, I mean, look the elephant in the room. Well, it's Christmas around the corner. People have Christmas trees. Sort of most people know anything about pine, it's because they have it in their house at Christmas. That's not a Scots pine. Ross: No, your traditional Christmas tree is a Nordmann fir. A fir tree tends to hold onto needles a little longer than a pine tree. And if you look after the pine, it will retain its needles, but quite often the pine trees will grow slightly too quickly, so it'll be a bit bare as a Christmas tree, whereas a fir tree is kind of hairy enough to be a good Christmas tree. Adam: Right. And do we have, do we have them planted in the UK as well? I mean just for commercial cropping? Ross: Yes, as a Christmas tree. Adam: Right. So the other thing, look, we're in a really lovely forest at the moment. We're the only ones here. But Scotland, the iconic pictures of Scotland, are bare, bare mountains, aren't they? They're not wooded, and yet I've always read that that's not how it used to be. It used to be a wooded part of the country. Why did it lose so much of its woodland? Ross: Well, it's looking back to, what, centuries ago as the climate became cooler and wetter, the tree line reduced in height. But more recently in the 1800s the Cultural Revolution created huge periods of felling where they needed this timber for industrialization. Trees from the woodlands near here were cut down, they were floated down to the river Spey and then out to Spey Bay and the Moray coast. They were used for underground water piping for ship's masts. Because these trees are, as you can feel today it's a cold place to be, they've grown very slowly. So because they're nice and straight as we can see, they are, the rings are very close together, so they're very sturdy. They're an ideal timber source. But then we start to look at deer numbers increasing and sheep numbers increasing. The more mouths on the hill meant that once you cut these trees down, it was much harder for the trees to come away again. And really, that's the landscape we're in now really. And when we're talking about those very large, deep crowned trees on open hillsides, these kind of granny pines are so picturesque, and really a lot of these trees, there was no timber value in them because they were already so crooked and they were left, and this is almost a remnant that's showcasing the old forest that once was standing there. Adam: A lot of times, site managers, they're trying to keep things steady in a way, I suppose. Just trying to maintain what's going, keep that going, that's hard enough. Is that the job here or do you have bigger plans? Are there, you know, times are changing? Ross: Well, this is one of eight woodlands I look after across the north of Scotland. Whenever we're doing anything, no matter what the scale of it, it's not just how do we keep the site going and kind of steady. It's about when we are doing work, how do we add value to that to make it better for the people that are living here? And how do we use that to continue to showcase these sites as the shop window for the Woodland Trust? Adam: And is the idea here to try and remove the non-Scots pine, so you'd have a pure Scots pine forest? Ross: Well, the Woodland Trust works on a on a threat basis really. So any tree is better than no tree, right? But if you have got a lot of spruce regeneration that's threatening this ancient wood then we need to begin to remove that. And that's been the case here. Adam: Sorry I'm pausing because there's a lovely spaniel who I can see wants me to throw a stick, but I won't throw the stick. Very cool dog. There we are. Sorry, we were saying yes, so any tree is better than no tree. But are the other trees a threat then or not? Ross: Well, the Norway spruce here has been seeding regeneration into the woodland areas and over the last few years we've cleared a lot of that and in some of these nice young spruce, we've been able to provide to the community for Christmas trees, which has been really handy. But all of that is gone now and we're left with this core of, of mature Norway spruce, that a number of them have started to snap so are becoming a safety issue for members of the public using footpaths next to it. But also there's an opportunity there where before that timber dies, we can extract it and it can be useful for the community. Adam: And you'd replace it with Scots pines. Ross: No, we're going to replace it predominantly with hazel and aspen. Because one of the slight concerns in having a single species stand, like we have here, where it's all Scots pine, is that there's only one species for the likes of red squirrels or the crossbills. And on a day like today we might hear crossbows coming over. There's only one species here for them, whereas if we're planting hazel, which is under-represented species here, that provides a different food for red squirrels in a different part of the woodland. And aspen is one of the most biodiverse species that we would have in this part of the world. And there are very, very few aspen. Adam: When you say it's the most biodiverse species, you mean it attracts biodiversity? Ross: Absolutely yes. In terms of the lower plant assemblage that's on there specifically and insects. And aspen, their Latin name is Populus tremula and the tremula comes from the oval shape on the leaf. Just in the slightest breeze, it's adapted that to try and shake off the insect burden because the leaves are so palatable for insects. Adam: So the shape of the leaf in wind - Ross: The shape of this stock of the leaf is oval. Adam: And that helps shift any insects. Ross: Yeah, yeah. Adam: It's interesting because aspen, in my ignorance, I associate with aspen in America, but it's a native UK tree. Ross: It is, yeah. And it will be one of the first colonisers after the Ice Age. That's, an aspen will have, the seed will have blown down as the ice is receding. But some of the aspen that are here now will be some of the oldest trees that exist in the UK and aspen generally now grows rhizomatously, so you'll see the roots through the forest and all of the suckers will pop out. And the aspen that we can see in the woodland today, they could have been here for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, and they've just, as the clone has marched through the landscape, it's just it's moved and colonised these different areas. They're fascinating trees. So when you look at some of the images in North America, you might see entire hillsides of aspen and that could all be the same tree essentially, they're amazing organisms. Adam: That's amazing. So it's sort of cloning really. Ross: Yeah, absolutely. Adam: That's amazing. And also I can see right on the Scots pine behind you, beautiful lichen, which is just a real sign of the air quality here, isn't it? I mean, it doesn't grow and it's just often further south. We do see lichen, obviously, but often I see a bit. This is everywhere. It's a real sign this is good land. Ross: Absolutely, yeah. Adam: Good land, good air. Wonderful. Well, I'm going to take another shot of our colleague down below. Hello. Wearing a lovely red hat, almost looks like Santa. And then we'll move on. So we're going uphill a bit, you might just hear the snow crunching under my boots. So this is amazing. A wolf peeking out from the woods, which adds to the fairy tale quality of all of this forest walk. This is not a real wolf. This is carved in wood. It looks really beautiful and it's covered in snow at the moment, which maybe is why I didn't spot it at first. So what's the story here? Ross: Well, the story here is that Carrbridge hosts the Scottish chainsaw carving competition every year at the end of August, and there are chainsaw artists coming from all over the world to compete here to do some incredibly elaborate carvings. They do benches and three-to-four-metre statues and it's absolutely incredible. Adam: This is very delicate that I'm surprised this would be done with a chainsaw. Ross: Yeah, it's a very specialist skill as you can see, and people have to be very artistic. You have to be very good with the saw, but also the bar of the saw is a specialist carving tool. But then they also can use all sorts of other implements to try and refine the artwork itself. And this is just one part of that much larger chainsaw carving trail that's in Carrbridge that really commemorates this annual event. Adam: Amazing. Well, we'll leave the wolf. It's got even a little dark nose. Amazing. A little dog, a real dog this time. Well, yes, just to prove it. We've just seen some reindeer. Obviously they're a type of deer. Are they as much of a problem as the normal red deer that we know about? So what's your view on them? Ross: Well, red deer, the numbers are extremely high in some places and in the Cairngorms, they're generally much better managed. But in other places where there just isn't that, that integration or the objectives are yet to be aligned with protected areas, the numbers in those places need to come down, but recognising that there are different objectives, there are different landowners who want to do different things with land. So in recognising and respecting those objectives, but generally, ideal numbers need to come down and they need to come down a lot in order for trees and woodland to recover. Adam: But that's deer in general, just because it's Christmas, I just have reindeer on the mind. You don't see many reindeer here. Or any reindeer here? Ross: No, you see them up in the Cairngorms, right? Adam: Right. Another pitstop. I see some lichen with some snow on it. I should turn them into Christmas cards. I won't, but that's what I should do. So if there was a sort of a final thought you wanted people to take away about this forest or about Caledonian pines you're trying to protect and grow here, what might that be? Ross: Well, for this woodland, and as I say, it's only 36 acres in size, it's a fairly small wood. But it's not to discount that, and we talk about the hundreds of ants nests, the crossbills, the crested tits, it's woodlands like this can punch way above their weight. But also woodlands like this connected together provide a much larger, integrated robust habitat. And it's just thinking along these lines that this, this woodland, although it has the A9 on one side, it's got roads on two other sides, it's got a forest adventure park there and to the other side, it feels like a woodland that could be squeezed, but it can also feel like a woodland that is a part of this much larger landscape and contributing to that. And I suppose in part it depends on how you view that, yeah. But the woodland is connected to its woodlands round about, so it's definitely playing its part and part of that recovery of the old Caledonian pine forest of Scotland, as small as it is. Adam: It's been a real treat for you to guide us through it on such a special snowy Christmas-y day. So thank you very much indeed. Ross: No problem. Adam: Well, it's been a fantastic day. Which leaves me just say from the land of reindeer and Caledonian pine, can I wish you a very happy, peaceful and joyous Christmas and New Year? And I do hope that wherever you are, you are able to share the joy of this season and that you'll join us in the New Year for lots more podcasts and tree adventures. Until then, from all of us in the Woodland Trust podcast team, to all of you, can we wish you a happy Christmas and a great New Year and of course, happy wanderings. Thank you for listening to the Woodland Trust Woodland Walks. Join us next month when Adam will be taking another walk in the company of Woodland Trust staff, partners and volunteers. And don't forget to subscribe to the series on iTunes or wherever you are listening. And do give us a review and a rating. If you want to find out more about our woods and those that are close to you, check out the Woodland Trust website. Just head to the visiting woods pages. Thank you.
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Comedian Che Durena joins Shannon and Figs. They discuss Figs getting the ick by a woman's feet, a Thanksgiving recap, why tape over the mouth could be a lifesaver for Figs, and more before getting into the stories including Che getting catfished twice in one day which eventually led to him settling down, getting beat up in his previous life as a boxer, a terrifying run-in with a shark while Scuba diving and so much more!Air Date: 12/03/24Support our sponsorsYoKratom.com - Click The Link To Get A $60 Kilo TodayYoDelta.com - Use promo code GAS for 25% off your order!**Send in your stories for Bad Dates, Bad Things, and Scary Things to...**thethingispodcast@gmail.comThe Thing Is... Airs every Tuesday, at 4PM ET on GaS Digital! The newest 20 episodes are always free, but if you want access to all the archives, watch live, chat live, access to the forums, and get the show days before it comes out everywhere else - you can subscribe now at gasdigital.com and use the code TTI to get 20% off your membership!Che Durena-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chedurena-Twitter: https://x.com/CheDurena-YouTube: @chedurenaShannon Lee-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonlee6982/Mike Figs-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comicmikefigs/YouTube: @comicmikefigsSubscribe On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC87Akt2Sq_-YEd_YrNpbS2QSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
'A Coorie Winter' is a story about getting cosy (or 'coorie') in the great outdoors during the Scottish winter months. We're heading to the Cairngorms National Park and the Moray Coast for stops in Aviemore, Tomintoul and Findhorn.In each location, we're trying another coorie winter activity, from hiking with reindeer on the Cairngorm plateau to sweating in a wood-fired sauna with sea views and star gazing at the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park. Things don't always go as planned, but that's part of any winter adventure to Scotland...Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and links to places I mention in this episode.Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Birch Grove Cabin. Book now at birchgrovecabin.co.uk and quote “Wild for Scotland” to get 10% off your stay from December to February 2024. Coming to Scotland? Start planning your trip to Scotland with my FREE Trip Planning Checklist. Get it here! Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotlandAlso check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!
Happy Satiated Saturday! When you're struggling with binging or restricting, all the power can feel like it is in the food. Like the food has some captivating hold that no matter your best attempts to break it, nothing seems to work. Often this is because your food coping mechanisms aren't about the food. So the more focus there is on the food, the further away you might feel from the root cause of your food behaviors. One root cause can be feeling like your ability to step into self leadership has been taken away. When you experience trauma, it can start to feel like you can't trust yourself or your body. Your trust starts to be put into diets, other practitioners, and eating strategies. They become the leader of you and your body. But, no one else lives in your body but you. You are the only one who will know what satiates you physically and emotionally. So the practice can be to put that trust back in yourself and become a leader of you. Stepping into self leadership is a practice of slowing down to hear all of your parts and then making a decision that feels in alignment with your present and future self. In this week's episode, I chat with Pavini Moray, author and Somatic Relationship Coach about: What is needed to explore and cultivate when stepping into a position of self leadershipThe presence of grief on this journey and any healing path sSomatic practices to start to connect with yourselfBreaking free from your lineageand so much more...You can also read the transcript to this week's episode here: https://www.stephaniemara.com/blog/self-leadership-and-grieve-past-selvesWith Compassion and Empathy, Stephanie Mara FoxKeep in touch with Pavini:Website: www.pavinimoray.com Substack:https://pavinimoray.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pavinicoakwellmoray/Books: How To Hold PowerTending the BonesSupport the showKeep in touch with Stephanie Mara:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_stephaniemara/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniemarafoxWebsite: https://www.stephaniemara.com/https://www.somaticeating.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephmara/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephaniemarafoxContact: support@stephaniemara.comSupport the show:Become a supporter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/809987/supportMy favorite water filter: https://www.pureeffectfilters.com/#a_aid=somaticeatingReceive 15% off my fave protein powder with code STEPHANIEMARA at checkout here: https://www.equipfoods.com/discount/STEPHANIEMARA?rfsn=7433250.c99684Use my Amazon Affiliate link when shopping on Amazon: https://amzn.to/448IyPl Special thanks to Bendsound for the music in this episode. www.bensound.co...
The Ancient Greek concept of Daimon leads us to the genius, and later to the Guardian Angel, and as of today Spirit Guides. The work of Plato, from an amnesiac soul to its self-realized spiritual ascension, is today spoken about in the form of star seeds and ascension mysteries. Helana Blavatsky's channeling of the ‘mysterious Indian', known as Moray, along with Koot Humi, and Alice Bailey's channeling of Djwal Khul, have taken us to the channeling of Ashtar by George van Tassel, or the various contacts made by Aleister Crowley of Lam, Aiwass, and the Red Lady, and further of every person today with a cell phone camera who channels interdimensional aliens. Crowley also famously ripped off the Golden Dawn society and then profited from its exploitation, commercializing his new product while promoting self-indulgence - instead of sacrifice - the killing of all old gods, and the placement of the self above all else. Considering his work with British intelligence it is curious how his conceptions of new age religion are also found within the post-modernist progressive movements of today. In fact, theosophists like CW Leadbeater, who showed young boys how to masturbate, Anna Kingsford, a huge woman's right activist, engaged in magical murder, claiming to be a psychic killer, and both Edward Maitland and Samuel Mathers, who advocated for a vegetarian diet and animal rights, all pushed the very foundational elements of modern progressivism and new age magic, even if by mere accident or misunderstanding. Contemporary frauds like David Wilcock advocate for the abolishment of due process of law, saying we should lock away all bad actors who will be defined by secret sources. And the outrageous science-fiction claims of Corey Goode have set back legitimately spiritual conversations and ufological investigation by maybe decades. From Paul Benowitz being driven mad by the military and intelligence community with fake alien stories, to Robert Short stealing George's Ashtar Command for commercialized sell, to the exploitation of naive and vulnerable frauds like Jordan Sather or senile frauds like Pete Peterson, we have seen the building of a DARK FLEET SPHERE BEING ALLIANCE OF BLUE CHICKENS AND SECRET SPACE PROGRAM SUPER SOLDIERS, a.k.a., the SDSSP, Super Duper Secret Space Program. -FULL ARCHIVE & RSS: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-secret-teachings Twitter: https://twitter.com/TST___Radio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesecretteachings WEBSITE (BOOKS, RESUBSCRIBE for early & ad-free show access): http://thesecretteachings.info Paypal: rdgable@yahoo.com CashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings-with-ryan-gable--5328407/support.
BREAKFAST - BRODIE COUNTRYFAREWebsite - https://www.brodiecountryfare.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brodiecfInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/brodiecf/Address - Brodie, By Forres IV36 2TDBRODIE CASTLE TOURWebsite - https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/brodie-castleFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/BrodieCastleNTSInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/brodiecastlents/Address - Brodie, Forres IV36 2TELUNCH – The Café at LOGIE STEADING @thecafeatlogiesteadingRIVER TUBING AND CLIFF JUMPING - ACE ADVENTURESWebsite - https://aceadventures.co.uk/Facebook - https://www.instagram.com/aceadventure/Instagram - https://www.facebook.com/AceAdventureAddress - Auchnagairn, Forres, IV36 2QLDINNER - OLD MILL INNWebsite - https://oldmillinnspeyside.co.uk/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/oldmillinnspeyside/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theoldmillinnbrodie/Address - 7 Brodie, Forres IV36 2TD, UKThanks for your ongoing support!http://paypal.me/TheROAMiesAlexa and RoryThe ROAMiesPlease subscribe, rate and share our podcast! Follow us at:http://www.TheROAMies.comThe ROAMies: Facebook and Instagram YouTube and Twitter.GET YOUR FIRMOO Glasses or Sunglasses Here: * 50% off code: QZGO50* Link: https://bit.ly/3RezRhz
In this episode, Dr. Larry J. Moray, Founder and President of My Orthodontist NC, shares his unique journey into orthodontics and his mission to increase access to affordable care. Dr. Moray discusses the role of technology, creative financing, and industry challenges in expanding care to underserved populations.
In this episode, Dr. Larry J. Moray, Founder and President of My Orthodontist NC, shares his unique journey into orthodontics and his mission to increase access to affordable care. Dr. Moray discusses the role of technology, creative financing, and industry challenges in expanding care to underserved populations.
https://morayspeyside.com/Website: http://www.morayspeyside.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MoraySpeysideFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoraySpeysideInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/MoraySpeyside/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQN0e5cKGJjHK5pgqESS_QwTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morayspeysideWebsite - https://covesealighthouse.co.ukFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/LossieLighthouse/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/covesealighthouse/Address – Covesea, Lossiemouth, IV31 6SPTelephone Number - 01343 810664Duffus Castle Website - https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/duffus-castle/Kula Coffee Hut Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KulaAtTheCastle/Address - Castle, Duffus, Elgin, IV30 5RHPICTISH FORT AND WELLWebsite - http://www.burghead.com/burghead-fort/Address – Fochabers, Moray, IV32 7PQCABLE CAFEInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cablecafe2024/Address – Burghead, Elgin, IV30 5RPWebsite - https://burgie.co.uk/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/burgiehouse/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/burgiehouse/Address - Woodside Croft, Burgie, Forres, Moray, IV36 2QUTelephone Number - 07984 315321Website - http://www.crownandanchorinn.co.uk/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/crownandanchorinnfindhorn/Address – Findhorn, Forres, IV36 3YFThanks for your ongoing support!http://paypal.me/TheROAMiesAlexa and RoryThe ROAMiesPlease subscribe, rate and share our podcast! Follow us at:http://www.TheROAMies.comThe ROAMies: Facebook and Instagram YouTube and Twitter.GET YOUR FIRMOO Glasses or Sunglasses Here: * 50% off code: QZGO50* Link: https://bit.ly/3RezRhz
Join the waitlist for our November 16th event, Illuminate Your Spirit Summary This conversation Shaye and Jayla have with Joelle Moray, M.S. NCC author of What are We doing? Radical Self Care for the Hustle Culture, highlights the need for curiosity and self-awareness in understanding and optimizing one's health and well-being. The conversation explores the negative effects of Hustle Culture on individuals' well-being and offers strategies for incorporating rest and self-care into busy lives. It emphasizes the importance of taking breaks, setting boundaries, and prioritizing mental and physical health. The conversation also highlights the benefits of active rest and the value of creating space for oneself. Overall, the conversation encourages individuals to challenge the hustle culture mindset and prioritize their well-being. Keywords functional medicine, coffee, adrenal glands, gut health, self-care, hustle culture, women in the corporate world, curiosity, self-awareness, hustle culture, leadership development, sense of community, rest, self-care, boundaries, mental health, physical health, active rest, space, well-being Takeaways Functional medicine can provide insights into optimizing health and well-being. Coffee can have a negative impact on adrenal gland function, especially when adrenal glands are already stressed. Prioritizing gut health and incorporating protein in the morning can improve sleep and energy levels. The hustle culture can lead to burnout and a lack of purpose, emphasizing the need for self-care and setting boundaries. Women face unique challenges in the corporate world, including inadequate maternity leave and the need for support during postpartum periods. Curiosity and self-awareness are essential in understanding and optimizing one's health and well-being. Hustle culture has both benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to recognize the negative effects it can have on our time, energy, and health. Taking breaks and incorporating rest into our daily lives is crucial for our well-being and productivity. Transitional times of day, such as waking up and before bed, are ideal for practicing active rest and grounding techniques. Active rest can include activities that fulfill us and bring us joy, such as gentle walks, reading, listening to podcasts, or engaging in creative hobbies. Prioritizing mental and physical health, setting boundaries, and creating space for ourselves are essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Challenging the notion that constant activity is the only path to productivity and success is important for our overall well-being and happiness. Challenges Faced by Women in the Corporate World Navigating the Hustle Culture and the Importance of Self-Care Incorporating Rest and Self-Care into Busy Lives The Power of Active Rest and Grounding Techniques "When your adrenal glands are not functioning properly, drinking coffee puts too much stress on your system." "There needs to be more information and support for girls going through puberty and understanding their hormonal changes." "There are all sorts of incredible benefits of what we get from the hustle culture. And there's also something we give." "I really dislike the phrase, you know, create a life you don't need a break from. I think that is a hustle culture thing." titlesSound Bites Chapters 00:00 Exploring Functional Medicine and Personalized Health 02:13 The Impact of Caffeine on Adrenal Glands 03:35 Listening to Your Body and Practicing Self-Care 08:40 The Dangers of Hustle Culture and Burnout 16:30 Finding Balance: Ambition and Self-Care 21:39 Navigating Hormones and Work-Life Balance 23:35 The Drawbacks of Hustle Culture 26:17 Prioritizing Rest and Self-Care 27:37 The Power of Active Rest 28:07 Setting Boundaries in Hustle Culture 37:26 Building a Supportive Community 46:14 Finding Balance in a Busy Lifestyle
Join the waitlist for our November 16th event, Illuminate Your Spirit Summary This conversation Shaye and Jayla have with Joelle Moray, M.S. NCC author of What are We doing? Radical Self Care for the Hustle Culture, highlights the need for curiosity and self-awareness in understanding and optimizing one's health and well-being. The conversation explores the negative effects of Hustle Culture on individuals' well-being and offers strategies for incorporating rest and self-care into busy lives. It emphasizes the importance of taking breaks, setting boundaries, and prioritizing mental and physical health. The conversation also highlights the benefits of active rest and the value of creating space for oneself. Overall, the conversation encourages individuals to challenge the hustle culture mindset and prioritize their well-being. Keywords functional medicine, coffee, adrenal glands, gut health, self-care, hustle culture, women in the corporate world, curiosity, self-awareness, hustle culture, leadership development, sense of community, rest, self-care, boundaries, mental health, physical health, active rest, space, well-being Takeaways Functional medicine can provide insights into optimizing health and well-being. Coffee can have a negative impact on adrenal gland function, especially when adrenal glands are already stressed. Prioritizing gut health and incorporating protein in the morning can improve sleep and energy levels. The hustle culture can lead to burnout and a lack of purpose, emphasizing the need for self-care and setting boundaries. Women face unique challenges in the corporate world, including inadequate maternity leave and the need for support during postpartum periods. Curiosity and self-awareness are essential in understanding and optimizing one's health and well-being. Hustle culture has both benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to recognize the negative effects it can have on our time, energy, and health. Taking breaks and incorporating rest into our daily lives is crucial for our well-being and productivity. Transitional times of day, such as waking up and before bed, are ideal for practicing active rest and grounding techniques. Active rest can include activities that fulfill us and bring us joy, such as gentle walks, reading, listening to podcasts, or engaging in creative hobbies. Prioritizing mental and physical health, setting boundaries, and creating space for ourselves are essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Challenging the notion that constant activity is the only path to productivity and success is important for our overall well-being and happiness. Challenges Faced by Women in the Corporate World Navigating the Hustle Culture and the Importance of Self-Care Incorporating Rest and Self-Care into Busy Lives The Power of Active Rest and Grounding Techniques "When your adrenal glands are not functioning properly, drinking coffee puts too much stress on your system." "There needs to be more information and support for girls going through puberty and understanding their hormonal changes." "There are all sorts of incredible benefits of what we get from the hustle culture. And there's also something we give." "I really dislike the phrase, you know, create a life you don't need a break from. I think that is a hustle culture thing." titlesSound Bites Chapters 00:00 Exploring Functional Medicine and Personalized Health 02:13 The Impact of Caffeine on Adrenal Glands 03:35 Listening to Your Body and Practicing Self-Care 08:40 The Dangers of Hustle Culture and Burnout 16:30 Finding Balance: Ambition and Self-Care 21:39 Navigating Hormones and Work-Life Balance 23:35 The Drawbacks of Hustle Culture 26:17 Prioritizing Rest and Self-Care 27:37 The Power of Active Rest 28:07 Setting Boundaries in Hustle Culture 37:26 Building a Supportive Community 46:14 Finding Balance in a Busy Lifestyle
Out of San Francisco, CA. Weivcast 025 features the Blends and Trends collective, and the Beat Lab collective. First hour with Candee Beats and the second with Moray Rivers.
EPISODE #1095 HEALING WITH SCALAR ENERGY Richard welcomes a pioneer in the field of energy healing to discuss how Scalar Light can heal you on a quantum level. Among Tom Paladino's remarkable claims: Scalar Light emitted continuously from the Sun of our Solar System, and all the Stars in the Universe. Scalar Light is the animating life force of all spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical activity in the Universe. Scalar Light is omnipresent and serves as the carrier wave of all intelligence and information in the Universe. GUEST: Tom Paladino is a scalar energy researcher with over 25 years of experience dedicated to developing healing techniques designed to help people worldwide recover from pathogenic infections and experience true vitality. Tom's journey began during his undergraduate studies, where he delved deep into the research of renowned scientists such as Hieronymus, Moray, Priore, and Nikola Tesla. Inspired by their work, he embarked on a mission to comprehend the mysteries of scalar energy-- an energy beyond the electromagnetic spectrum, known by various names such as prana, chi, or orgone. After years of dedicated study and experimentation, Tom Paladino developed Scalar Light, a unique healing technique harnessing the power of scalar energy. This method, which operates at the quantum level, shows promise in transmuting pathogens quickly and painlessly, potentially eliminating the root causes of various diseases. Scalar Light's applications are vast and versatile, offering healing programs tailored to target different sources of illness. Scalar Energy is Scalar Light emitted continuously from the Sun of our Solar System, and all the Stars in the Universe.Scalar Light is the animating life force of all spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical activity in the Universe. WEBSITE: https://www.scalarlight.com SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! HIMS - Making Healthy and Happy Easy to Achieve Sexual Health, Hair Loss, Mental Health, Weight Management START YOUR FREE ONLINE VISIT TODAY - HIMS dot com slash STRANGE https://www.HIMS.com/strange BECOME A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER!!! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm Three monthly subscriptions to choose from. Commercial Free Listening, Bonus Episodes and a Subscription to my monthly newsletter, InnerSanctum. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/
Ellen gets the ball rolling with dung beetles & Christian jaws away about the giant moray eel. We discuss tiny boots, field trips to the planetarium, The Mummy (1999), secret jaws, why moray eels make that face, teamwork on the reef, fact checking The Little Mermaid, and more.Links:For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!Follow Ellen on TikTok!
Ellen gets the ball rolling with dung beetles & Christian jaws away about the giant moray eel. We discuss tiny boots, field trips to the planetarium, The Mummy (1999), secret jaws, why moray eels make that face, teamwork on the reef, fact checking The Little Mermaid, and more.Links:For more information about us & our podcast, head over to our website!Follow Just the Zoo of Us on Threads, Facebook, Instagram & Discord!Follow Ellen on TikTok!
Episode 148 - all notes from the show can be found at www.zippingaroundtheworld.com on the home page. Scroll to find Episode 148. Don't forget to subscribe to the show! Tell your friends and social media. Help the show, at no cost to you! Use my travel credit card links. Leave me a comment on my website under the comments tab if you have ever used any of my travel tips or locations. Also, leave me a rating and kind comment in Itunes as well.
Mildred Moray Eel tries to discover the source of a loud noise that scared her friends.
This week Out of Doors is live from the village of Cullen in Moray.The village is popular with holiday makers over the summer months but it's home to a thriving community all year round. Mark went for a wander to hear more about what people are up to. And we're joined live by David McCubbin from Discover Cullen who tells us about what attracts visitors to the area.Rachel finds out that the Cullen we know now, is not the original Cullen. Two hundred years ago the village was demolished and rebuilt in its current location. She hears more from the local heritage group and visits an incredible model of Old Cullen.Its coastal location makes Cullen the ideal spot for sea swimming. We're joined live by members of the Wild Dookers swimming group before they head out for an early morning dip. And we catch up with them afterwards to hear about the benefits of a cold-water swim.Artist Rob Greenwood can often be found at the harbour or on the beach at Cullen sketching the wildlife and fishing boats. We chat to him about what inspires him about the area and challenge him to create a masterpiece during the programme.Rachel spends some time with local bird recorder Martin Cook in nearby Portknockie to see if they can spot some of the seabirds that the area is known for.We couldn't visit Cullen without tasting some Cullen Skink. The famous haddock and potato soup originates from the village, and we're joined by the current Cullen Skink champion, Kellie Spooner, to hear about the key to making a good Cullen Skink.As well as sea swimming, surfing and other water sports are popular along the coastline. Rachel heads out for a surfing lesson and hears what makes the area so good for taking to the water.A recent addition to the beach at Cullen is a wood-fired barrel sauna. Mark headed along for a dip in the sea so he could try it out and hear from owner Becky how it all came about.And regular visitors to the beach will know Andrew and his coffee van- he joins us to tell us about why he loves the village so much and provide us with some much needed coffee.
Today we're going to take a look at fresh water systems and specifically, how to decontaminate them through biological methods. Some of you may remember an interview I did with Tom Duncan about his floating wetlands and how they can be used to clean up excessive nutrients and pollutants back in season 1. Today I'll be expanding on that technique since it´s gained a lot of traction and floating islands are popping up all over the world to help deal with contaminated rivers, lakes, and ponds. I'll be sure to put a link to that interview in the show note on the website in case you missed it. For this episode I reached out to Galen Fulford, the managing director at Biomatrix Water, a biological technology company working on solutions for waterway and wastewater treatment based in Moray, Scotland. In this interview, Galen explains the science behind waterway contamination evaluation and the calculations they do to determine the restoration approach and techniques that are appropriate for each site. He also breaks down how their floating wetland systems work and how they compare and differ from traditional wetlands in the way they decontaminate water and provide habitat and sanctuaries for wildlife. We also explore the challenges that installing floating wetlands in urban environments can entail as well as some of the novel solutions in engineering that Biomatrix Water have developed to help their installations withstand events like floods and heavy contamination loads. This is a great episode for people who really want to understand the biology and engineering behind some of the most promising natural waterway remediation techniques being pioneered today. Make sure you listen all the way till the end too when Galen explains how these floating wetland systems are being applied to ecological sewage treatment and municipal water purification.
In this episode of "In the Key of Q," host Dan Hall interviews the talented queer musician Roderick Woodruff. Roderick, a Brooklyn-based singer with roots in Detroit, shares his journey of self-discovery and artistic expression. He recounts his childhood in a musical, church-going family in Detroit, his experiences of homophobia, and his eventual rejection of the music world after a confrontation with a high school music teacher. This rejection led him to acting, and later, to embracing his identity as a queer artist, channeling his experiences into his music and plays, including his off-Broadway show "A Boy's Room."Roderick discusses his latest album "The In-Between," which was inspired by his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, a breakup, and his personal growth. He also touches on the significance of queer spaces and the empowerment found in embracing one's identity against societal norms. The episode wraps up with Roderick recommending "Have You Lost Your Mind" as an introductory song to his music, highlighting its deep personal relevance and catchy nature.Roderick on InstagramRoderick Woodruff - Apple MusicRoderick Woodruff | SpotifyIn the Key of Q is a weekly podcast featuring inspiring Queer musicians from around the world as they share stories, inspirations and of course their music.Theme tune is by Paul Leonidou and many thanks to Moray for his continued support.The podcast can be reached on email with the main website here. Would you like to appear on the show? Or have an artist you'd like to recommend, please tell them to get in touch via email.Presenter and Producer Dan Hall is a documentary producer / director, and his showreel can be found here.
If you want to make a real impact in the world, you need to step into your leader self. To discuss how to do this, I'm joined by Pavini Moray, an author with over 30 years of experience as an educator, activist, somatic coach, and serial entrepreneur holding a Ph.D. in somatic psychology. Pavini supports humans and organizations in developing thriving relationships, and their perspective on leadership will truly change your life. Tune in this week to discover what it takes to become a leader that people love and respect and what it means to be a leader who holds their power ethically.Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/231 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
There are many ways that people perform gender, from clothing and hairstyle to how we talk or carry ourselves. When doing linguistic analysis of one aspect, such as someone's voice, it's useful to also consider the fuller picture such as what they're wearing and who they're talking with. In this episode, your host Gretchen McCulloch gets enthusiastic about how nonbinary people talk with Jacq Jones, who's a lecturer at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa / Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand. We talk about their research on how nonbinary and binary people make choices about how to perform gender using their voices and other variables like clothing, and later collaborating with one of their research participants to reflect on how it feels to have your personal voice and gender expression plotted on a chart. We also talk about linguistic geography, Canadian and New Zealand Englishes, and the secret plurality of R sounds in English and how you can figure out which one you have by poking yourself (gently!) with a toothpick. Click here for a link to this episode in your podcast player of choice: episodes.fm/1186056137/episode/dGFnOnNvdW5kY2xvdWQsMjAxMDp0cmFja3MvMTg1MzMwODQxMA== Or read the transcript here: lingthusiasm.com/post/753857624894849024/transcript-episode-83 Announcements: In this month's bonus episode we get enthusiastic about three of our favourite kinds of linguistic mixups: spoonerisms, mondegreens, and eggcorns! We talk about William Spooner, the Oxford prof from the 1800s that many spoonerisms are (falsely) attributed to, Lauren's very Australian 90s picture book of spoonerisms, the Scottish song "The Bonny Earl of Moray" which gave rise to the term mondegreen, why there are so many more mondegreens in older pop songs and folk songs than there are now, and how eggcorn is a double eggcorn (a mis-parsing of acorn, which itself is an eggcorn of oak-corn for akern). Join us on Patreon now to get access to this and 80+ other bonus episodes. You'll also get access to the Lingthusiasm Discord server where you can chat with other language nerds about your favourite linguistic mixups: patreon.com/posts/105461156 For links to things mentioned in this episode: lingthusiasm.com/post/753857305290915840/episode-93-how-nonbinary-and-binary-people-talk
Episode 220 comes hot when the season is starting to heat up - we chat about Megan's recent run @ the Night of the 10k's, Kyle recaps the Moray Coastal Trail 50 and Lewis has been on a weekend bender in Aberdeen! Remember to sign up to Scottish Running Week - www.scottishrunningweek.com Listen now!
In this episode, I welcome Pavini, a queer, trans human who utilizes their diverse background as a park ranger, Montessori teacher, sex therapist, and startup CEO to thrive in their current roles as a somatic coach, author, and advocate for embodying leadership to smash the patriarchal norms in the workplace. Pavini shares their journey through various professions, highlighting the impact of their Montessori education background on their teaching and writing. They discuss the importance of embodiment and somatic practices in leadership, self-care, navigating the workplace's power dynamics, and the ethical handling of power in leadership roles. The conversation also explores the radical act of embodying one's full humanity as a form of activism, especially for those in non-normative bodies, and the potential for embodied practice to contribute to dismantling systemic oppression. Pavini offers insight into managing one's nervous system at work, fostering generative conflict, and the dangers of flattening power in activist spaces. They suggest a simple yet profound self-love practice and share ways for listeners to engage with their work further.In this Episode: Embodying Power: What Power Feels Like Leadership Through the Lens of the Body Embodiment as Activism: Smashing the PatriarchyThe Power of Leadership and Responsibility Navigating Power Dynamics in Activist Spaces The Role of the Nervous System in Work and ConflictConnecting with Pavani: Resources and Final ThoughtsConnect with Pavini:www.pavinimoray.comGlitter Joyride is Pavini's new weekly substack and podcast celebrating being alive in late-stage capitalism. On InstagramMy resources:Deep Rest MeditationNourished For Resilience Workbook Book a free Exploratory CallFind me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
GUEST 1 OVERVIEW: Patrick Chalmers was born in Fife, central Scotland in 1966, spending most of his first two decades in Moray, further North. He studied engineering and French at Bath University and journalism at London's City University before starting as a freelance reporter in Brussels. In 1994, he joined Reuters, where he spent 11 years on postings in London, Kuala Lumpur and reporting assignments elsewhere. His topics included global climate change, world trade and various financial crashes and their impacts. Slowly, he learned something of the political threads joining them all. Grown disillusioned with the lack of balance at Reuters, he secured redundancy and moved to SW France. From there he wrote Fraudcast News, in 2012, a confessional critique of politics and journalism. Since then, his work has included freelancing for The Correspondent, among others. In 2017 he co-founded All Hands On, an independent filmmaker looking at people practising radically better politics for everyone. He's currently focused on how everyday individuals can learn the necessary skills to practise politics themselves, even in war zones such as Israel-Palestine. GUEST 2 OVERVIEW: Helen Patton leads the Patton Foundation in the USA and is organizing a significant D-Day event related to General Patton. https://thepattonfoundation.org
In our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast Helen Needham meets regenerative farmer Nikki Yoxall in the hills of Aberdeenshire. Nikki's cattle are outside all year round, moving from field to field as part of a system called mob grazing. She tells Helen about the benefits it has for the cattle and the land.In the last few years, there's been an explosion in the number of community run gardens across the country. These bring huge positives to those who look after and visit them. However, new research from Aberdeen University suggests that sometimes the pressures of running such a project can mount up. Rachel went to speak to Professor David Burslem to hear more.The theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week has been movement, and on Out of Doors, we love nothing better to help clear our heads than heading out for a walk. Mark went along to join a group doing just that with Moray based charity Nature 4 Health. They aim to connect people with nature, each other and themselves, and Mark hears from some of those taking part about the benefits they feel of being part of the group.A new project linking up poets with farmers to shine a light on growing food has been launched by the Gaia Foundation. It involves 10 poets around the UK who each spent time on farms in order to produce a new poem. For the Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham went to meet Edinburgh-based poet Iona Lee who was paired with Lauriston Agroecology Farm in the city. They went for a wander on a very wet day to chat about Iona's relationship with the natural world.Mark visits the National Trust for Scotland's St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve to see how the seabird colony there is faring.As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to an end, on Saturday we celebrate World Therapeutic Horticultural Day. One of the organisations involved is Trellis, who are based in Perth. We chat live to Fiona Thackeray, their chief executive officer, about what therapeutic gardening is and the different people they work with.If you're interested in climbing, you might want to check out a new BBC podcast. It's part of a series called Amazing Sports Stories and it's called Chasing Mountains. Rachel spoke to the presenters Joanna Jolly and Kathy Karlo who told her more about making the series and let her hear some clips.Have you ever heard of the term Everesting? The idea is simple, but the activity is incredibly tough. Cyclists pick a hill and ride repeats of it in a single activity until they climb the height of Mount Everest - 8,848m. It's something that musician Mark Bruce has become passionate about after struggling with his mental health. He told our Travelling Folk colleagues about his challenges, and we hear an excerpt where he talks about how extreme exercise saved him.And to round off Mental Health Awareness week, we take a moment to be mindful with a soundscape.
On Thursday this week campaigners gathered outside the Scottish Parliament to protest the proposed plans for a new powerline between Kintore and Tealing. SSEN Transmission says the upgrade is needed to meet net zero targets, while protestors say they haven't been properly consulted and the scheme will blight the countryside. Mark went along to speak to Thomas Nicoll from SSEN Transmission and some of the protestors from Angus Action Against Pylons and Save Our Mearns.TV Nature series Wild Isles was a big hit for the BBC last year. Much of it was filmed in Scotland and recently Rachel chatted to producer Alastair Fothergill for the Scotland Outdoors podcast. We hear an excerpt where he chats about how they filmed Orca hunting whales in Shetland.Later this month Ullapool is hosting Lugger Fest '24. It's the village's inaugural maritime festival of traditional boats and will feature talks, food, music plus the chance to get aboard the Luggers- small fishing boats that use a particular kind of sail. Dan Holland went along to find out more about what will be going on and explore one the luggers.Nikki and Ollie Lake are familiar faces to those who watch the BBC series This Farming Life. They farm near Dallas in Moray and have a rather interesting mix of animals including water buffalo and wallabies! Rachel went along to meet the couple and their marsupials to hear how they got started.Sunday 5th May is International Dawn Chorus Day so to mark the occasion we're joined live by renowned sound recordist Chris Watson. Chris tells us what makes the dawn chorus so special to record and we hear an excerpt of a recording he did in Glen Affric.A community owned woodland in Aberdeenshire with links to a famous Doric poet has become part of a major European study. It's being used as an example of how people can use what's on their doorstep to tackle big issues like climate change. Rachel went to visit while they were planting some trees.
The Somatic Leadership JourneyBio:Pavini Moray has started, failed, and succeeded in many businesses. A serial entrepreneur, they have built private practices, a worker collective, and a for-profit company. Pavini is a somatic leadership coach, specializing in helping relationships be easy. Moray holds an M.Ed in Montessori curriculum design, as well as a Ph.D. in Somatic Psychology. Pavini has authored, How to Hold Power: A Somatic Approach to Becoming a Leader People Love and Respect.Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pavinicoakwellmoray/Website: https://www.pavinimoray.com/Episode Highlights:In this episode, Pavini delves into their experiences of cultural disconnect, sharing personal stories of their childhood and how counterculture and punk music provided a sense of belonging and freedom. They discuss the importance of somatic approaches in leadership and personal growth.Childhood Incidents:As a child, Pavini's mother decided that Pavini should have a cultural education of experiencing the arts. As a single mother, cultural education was a luxury she had to prioritize and save for. Contrastingly, Pavini's dad had season tickets and a box at the opera. One night, when mother and child were at the opera, they noticed the dad sitting in his box in the theatre which was Pavini's first awareness of wealth disparity.In January 1986, Pavini's friends invited them to a punk party. While there, Pavini felt the difference between the world they lived in and the current world they were experiencing then. This experience set Pavini on a journey to find spaces of belonging.Cultural Influences:Pavini's purpose comes from living a life informed by pleasure, embodiment, and communication, tempered with transparency and kindness. Leadership Influence:In 2008, Pavini attended an activist camp and experienced the power of transparency and power sharing along with strong organization. This shaped their foundational beliefs about leadership, elderhood and the importance of structure. To date, Pavini cannot stand being in a poorly organized meeting and strives to incorporate elderhood into leadership since it increases the capacity of an entire community.Temperaments and Personality:Pavini believes they came into this world as a dancer, with a sense of awe, magic and connection to nature and spirit. Curiosity is also part of Pavini's temperament. As a child, and later as an adult Pavini developed both a playful and pragmatic side to their personality. Cultural Epiphanies:Pavini lived in Bulgaria in the 90s and experienced the Bulgarians' sense of powerlessness and hopelessness as shocking. Pavini recalls a time they went to the mayor asking for transportation for books that had traveled 10,000 miles around the world, and now required transportation for the last 200 miles to get them to the destination. The mayor said it was impossible, but Pavini was able to show him how doable it was when he opened his mind to possibility. When Pavini was working with a worker collective, a sense of anger at late meetings arose frequently. One of the people they worked with told Pavini that the time intolerance and anger was white supremacy and not all people understand time the same way.What Brings out the Best in Pavini?Pavini enjoys working in environments where they can laugh and be playful. Soapbox Moment:Pavini encourages us to be attuned. They recognize how vulnerable it can be when we open ourselves to attune with someone else's needs, feelings, desires, fears, and grief. Support the Show.
Moray Welsh is one of the UK's most distinguished musicians. In this podcast he describes his musical life's journey, how he came to meet and be championed by Benjamin Britten, studies with Rostropovich in Moscow and his time as Principal cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra.
GUEST OVERVIEW: Patrick Chalmers was born in Fife, central Scotland in 1966, spending most of his first two decades in Moray, further North. He studied engineering and French at Bath University and journalism at London's City University before starting as a freelance reporter in Brussels. In 1994, he joined Reuters, where he spent 11 years on postings in London, Kuala Lumpur and reporting assignments elsewhere. His topics included global climate change, world trade and various financial crashes and their impacts. Slowly, he learned something of the political threads joining them all. Grown disillusioned with the lack of balance at Reuters, he secured redundancy and moved to SW France. From there he wrote Fraudcast News, in 2012, a confessional critique of politics and journalism. Since then, his work has included freelancing for The Correspondent, among others. In 2017 he co-founded All Hands On, an independent film maker looking at people practising radically better politics for everyone. He's currently focused on how everyday individuals can learn the necessary skills to practise politics themselves, even in war zones such as Israel-Palestine.
In this week's Scotland Outdoors podcast, Mark visits what is believed to be the UK's largest urban farm. Lauriston Agroecology farm is on a hundred-acre site near Edinburgh Airport and is a hive of activity. Mark hears how the site has been developed so far.The Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie is well known for its polar bears, wildcats and over recent weeks, its monkeys. But as Rachel found out, it's also home to an important conservation breeding programme for leeches. Not perhaps the most attractive creatures, Rachel hears how the park look after them and why they are important.Minke Whales are found across the world and can be spotted in Scotland mainly between July and September. But despite their widespread population, we don't know much about their lifecycles. Mark meets up with Tim Awbery, a researcher at the Scottish Association for Marine Science to hear about how he's been carrying out his studies on these elusive whales.If you're interested in what whales and dolphins sound like, you might want to explore a new exhibition in Moray. Rachel went along to the Scottish Dolphin Centre at Spey Bay to take a listen to some of the fascinating sounds of cetaceans.And sticking with whale sounds, we chat live to Dr Denise Risch from the Scottish Association for Marine Science about a recent discovery revealing how baleen whales actually produce their haunting songs.McCaig's tower dominates the skyline above Oban. It's a well-known landmark but not much is actually known about the family for whom it was built. Mark visits the tower with local historian Bob McCulloch to hear more about it.Alford Valley Community Railway are currently working on restoring an old Aberdeen Tram that was found in Ellon. It was thought that all the trams were burned after the service was discontinued, so Mark was excited to visit and see the restoration work for himself.Pegasus Vaulting Group, based near Killiecrankie, involves highly skilled gymnasts performing on horseback. An incredibly skilled pastime, Rachel visits the group to see them try out their new vaulting simulator
This week's episode brings you a conversation with Joel H. Morris. His debut novel, All Our Yesterdays, releases next week, and it's the origin story of the famous lady featured in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Joel and I discussed his love of Shakespeare and how he became fascinated with one of the most studied female literary figures. Here's a description of Joel's novel: A propulsive and piercing debut, set ten years before the events of Shakespeare's historic play, about the ambition, power, and fate that define one of literature's most notorious figures: Lady Macbeth. Scotland, the 11th Century. Born in a noble household and granddaughter of a forgotten Scottish king, a young girl carries the guilt of her mother's death and the weight of an unknowable prophecy. When she is married, at fifteen, to the Mormaer of Moray, she experiences firsthand the violence of a sadistic husband and a kingdom constantly at war. To survive with her young son in a superstitious realm, she must rely on her own cunning and wit, especially when her husband's downfall inadvertently sets them free. Suspicious of the dark devices that may have led to his father's death, her son watches as his mother falls in love with the enigmatic thane Macbeth. Now a woman of stature, Lady Macbeth confronts a world of masculine power and secures the protection of her family. But the coronation of King Duncan and the political maneuvering of her cousin Macduff set her on a tragic course, one where her own success might mean embracing the very curse that haunts her and risking the child she loves. Purchase All Our Yesterdays on Amazon (affiliate). Check out Joel's website, and follow him on Instagram. Ways you can help the show: Join the Historical Fiction: Unpacked Podcast Group on Facebook! Be sure to visit my Instagram, Facebook, and website. Subscribe to my mailing list here. Follow the show on Instagram! Purchase Alison's historical novel, One Traveler (affiliate). Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, you help support my work without paying any more for the product. Thank you for your support!
Ever wondered how your body can guide you to become a more effective leader? If yes, then prepare to embark on an intriguing exploration of leadership through a somatic lens with our insightful guest, Pavini Moray, PhD. Paveni, a proponent of somatic leadership, takes us on her personal journey, unraveling the wisdom hidden within our bodies. Together, we delve into how body signals can be an untapped resource in making decisions, leading empathetically, and maintaining a genuine presence.We tread deeper waters as Pavini and I navigate the complex notion of power - its fluidity, its implications, and its inextricable connection to leadership. As we untangle the link between somatic awareness and neuroscience, we uncover how our physical reality can enhance our understanding and management of power. From discussing power dynamics in the workplace to the essential skill of effective listening, we underline the significance of HR professionals wielding their influence justly and for the collective good.Finally, we share our personal strategies for handling a flood of information at work, spotlighting authenticity and vulnerability as vital elements to forge deeper human connections. We circle back to Pavini's unique perspective on leadership, power dynamics, and the importance of empathy and communication. This episode winds down with Pavini sharing pivotal elements of her book, "How to Hold Power: A Somatic Approach to Becoming a Leader." Tune in, be inspired, and don't forget to check out our show notes for more information on her work.Support the showRebel HR is a podcast for HR professionals and leaders of people who are ready to make some disruption in the world of work. Please connect to continue the conversation! https://twitter.com/rebelhrguyhttps://www.facebook.com/rebelhrpodcasthttp://www.kyleroed.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-roed/
This is Pascale Heylar-Moray for Female Startup ClubHello everyone and welcome back to the show! It's Doone here - your host and hype girl.Today on the show we're chatting with Pascale from Grow My Money (previously known as Super Rewards). Did you know that in Australia 1 in 3 single women retire in poverty, and 1 in 6 women overall retire into poverty. That's a very scary and very real stat. Now there's multiple factors that play into that statistic but one of them has to do with our superannuation. If you're listening in from outside of Australia - superannuation is kind of like a 401k in America, or your state pension in the UK. Over the course of your career, your employee puts money into something you can't touch until you retire - and that money significantly grows over the course of 30+ years so that when you retire, you have a chunk of cash to live off. Simply put. And men retire with almost double the superannuation kitty than women do. And with that in mind Pascale wanted to do something about it. This is a real eye opener and I would love to know what you think about it - come and chat with us in the Facebook group.Let's get into todays' episode, this is Pascale for Female Startup ClubLINKS WE MENTION:Pascale's LinkedInSuper Rewards' LinkedInAtomic Habits Book AIA Vitality App Spriggy AppJoin the FSC CLUB & Ask Your Questions: www.facebook.com/groups/femalestartupclubJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.com Join our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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