Podcasts about mortals

Erick is stepping away for some time. His mom just got diagnosed with cancer, so he wants to spend more time and bandwidth on her. And I'm moving to Costa Rica this month! In 2 1/2 weeks, so it is cray-cray over here.  Fresh new episodes will arrive in February (with a little bit of a revamp) and a special series on getting back to your writing or creative practice after grief, loss, addiction, or big life stress, but do look for some bonus episodes from the road. Went to Breitenbush, Portland (Powell's), Seattle, Write in the Harbor writing conference in Gig Harbor, WA (*heart*), sold a car, rented the house, cancelling services, buying foreign auto insurance, washing ten years of dirt off of all the things we stored outside, tricking out the FJ Cruiser for the drive, buying special dog beds and storage for the vehicle, inspection and minor repairs today. Movers on Monday. Cleaners on Thursday. Walk on bark and blinds for upstairs, too. Saying Goodbyes.  crossing the border at Tijuana, driving thru Baja California, taking ferry to Mazatlan; spending some time in Oaxaca with a friend What are you reading?   Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy) We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something (Amie McNee) (resource tip)*** Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: Follow my drive to Costa Rica on Instagram! #puravidabound  And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.  

Surrounded by the Lords of Doom, Sanction sits as a testament to endurance. It has been held by every major faction in Krynn's history, so let's take a deeper look at this integral port city. You can buy Age of Mortals here: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/557/age-of-mortals-3-5?affiliate_id=50797 https://youtu.be/9bMF0ncsuv0 Transcript Cold Open It was once held by the Dragonarmies and even features three temples and volcanoes, but in the Age of Mortals, it has taken a drastic turn. Intro Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today I am going to talk about Sanction. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga YouTube members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron, you can even pick up Dragonlance media using my affiliate links in the description below. I am referencing The Atlas of the Dragonlance World, the Tales of the Lance Boxed Set, The Dragonlance Fifth Age Dramatic Supplement Game, and War of the Lance & Age of Mortals sourcebooks for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below! Discussion On the northeastern shores of the New Sea, ringed by the jagged Khalkist Mountains and overshadowed by three howling volcanoes, stands a city whose very foundations tremble with fire. A city of lava-choked streets, ancient temples, hidden tunnels, and the beating heart of the Dragonarmies. This is Sanction—the City of Doom. Long before its name became synonymous with darkness, Sanction was a sturdy mountain town guarded by cliffs and blessed with a natural harbor sheltered by stone. It served as the eastern anchor of the Solamnic trade road, moving granite from its quarries and tar from its pits to the wider world. The Khalkist Mountains hemmed it in on three sides. Only two passes were widely known: North, through the plains of Estwilde, and East, along the road to Neraka. Yet mountain villagers whispered of a third path—a hidden trail climbing high across the shoulders of the peaks later known as the Lords of Doom. But everything changed when those mountains awakened. After the Cataclysm, the land convulsed. New chasms tore open. The sea surged inland to create the New Sea itself. And three monstrous volcanoes burst from the earth: the Northwest peak, Mount Thunderhorn, the Northeast peak, Mount Ashkir, and the Southeast peak, Mount Grishnor. Together, they towered nearly 4,000 feet above the city and even above the local Doom Range of the Khalkists. By 287 AC—sixty-five years before the War of the Lance—they were already active, spewing ash and fire into the sky as the stolen eggs of the metallic dragons were secreted into their fiery bowels. Whether the Cataclysm awakened them or created them outright remains a mystery. But their presence reshaped the city—and doomed it. By the time the Companions arrived, Sanction was a furnace. Widening streams of lava threaded directly through the city. Stone bridges arched over molten rivers. The air grew thick with fumes—hot enough that breath itself burned. What little flat ground remained was packed with misery and desperation. The streets were a maze of twisting alleys lined with: ancient warehouses near the docks, hastily built structures toward the east, brothels, slave markets, and slums, and rotting timber houses beside smoke-scoured stone. The central district—split in half by a major lava flow—was a sprawling slum and a favored haunt of the Dragonarmy troops. And above it all, three temples loomed on the volcanic slopes like the dark gods watching their sacrifice. When the Dragonarmies seized Sanction, they expanded far beyond the city's limits, raising three enormous military encampments on the mountainsides to the east: The Southern Camp with around 6,000 goblins, hobgoblins, and humans, and 500 tents. It was Hellishly hot, overcrowded, and chaotic. The Eastern Camp featured approximately 820 ogres, minotaurs, trolls, and hill giants, and 120 large tents, and it was a brutal, dangerous, but less crowded force. The Northern Camp featured approximately 3,000 draconians, and 230 tents, and was strict, orderly, and disciplined. These forces more than replaced the half of Sanction's original population that fled the volcanic devastation. The city was now the principal port and fortress of the Dragonarmies, surrounded by a ship blockade and fiercely guarded passes. And the true heart of that dark power lay within the three temples. On the slopes of the volcanoes stood three massive structures, each rising above the slums and smoke: The Temple of Huerzyd — The White Temple in the Northwest. It was the only pre-Cataclysmic temple in Sanction that was dedicated originally to the true gods. It was abandoned, neglected, and avoided by the Dragonarmies. It was secretly the heart of Shadowpeople culture. And below the temple, the Shadowpeople carved a labyrinth of rooms featuring 12 chambers, the great Shadowhall, six clan caverns, mushroom farms for sustenance, and three trapped tunnel passages extending under Sanction. These hidden ways allowed them to spy, assist prisoners, and ultimately save dragon eggs from corruption. The Temple of Duerghast — The Black Fortress in the Southeast, was dedicated post-Cataclysm to a false god of human sacrifice. Its upper levels included an arena, cages, and bloodsport chambers. The lower levels had cells, torture rooms, and execution chambers. The Dragonarmies repurposed it seamlessly. Shadowpeople carved tunnels behind one row of cells to rescue captives. Duerghast was a fortress of cruelty—perfect for tyranny. The Temple of Luerkhisis — The Dragon's Head is in the Northeast. It is the largest and most infamous temple. It is cut into the volcano in the shape of a vast dragon's head. This was the center of Takhisis's power in Sanction. Ariakas resided here during the War of the Lance, in a suite complete with a map room. After Ariakas's death, Kitiara took over his chambers and command. The upper levels held worship halls, libraries, and quarters converted for military use. But its darkest secret lay hidden in the bowels of the temple: The Chambers of Corruption Here, in five guarded rooms, the eggs of good dragons were perverted through dark rituals. In the sixth chamber, amid roaring firepots, stood the Altar of Corruption itself—the cradle of the draconians. And from here, a tunnel—known only to the Shadowpeople—crossed a bridge above the volcanic fire into the Cavern of the Old One, eldest and wisest of their race. Without these tunnels, the metallic dragons would never have been freed. Even after the war, Sanction remained a desperate, volcanic ruin filled with criminals, mercenaries, and the stern memory of tyranny. But after the Chaos War, a stranger arrived. A man cloaked in secrecy and resolve: Hogan Bight. Through means never fully explained—magic, pact, or sheer audacity—he calmed the volcanoes. Eruptions lessened. Lava flows shrank. And Sanction slowly became livable. Bight united wharf rats, ex-soldiers, sailors, and desperate citizens into a disciplined force. He brought law, order, and the beginnings of prosperity. Until Mina and the One God swept across Ansalon. Sanction fell again. Bight vanished. And the people suffered under divine tyranny. When the War of Souls ended, Hogan Bight returned—alive but changed—and resumed leadership of the battered, resilient city. Modern Sanction is a contradiction: It was born of fire, yet clinging to hope. It's surrounded by mountains, yet tied to the sea. It was defined by tyranny, yet strives for freedom. And it is scarred by tunnels, temples, and molten rivers, yet continuously is rebuilt. Its harbor remains fortified by natural cliffs. Its streets still wind through ash and stone. And the Lords of Doom continue to watch, eternal and ever-threatening. But Sanction survives. It always survives. From a peaceful trade town to a volcanic wasteland…from the laboratory of the Dragonarmies to the refuge of the Shadowpeople…from tyranny to reform, from fall to rise, again and again…Sanction endures as one of Ansalon's most dramatic stories of destruction and defiance. In the shadow of the Lords of Doom, The City of Doom refuses to die. Outro And that is all I have to say about Sanction. What do you think of this port city? Will evil ever reclaim it? And finally, will it have any import in the years following the Age of Mortals? Leave a comment below. I would like to invite you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos, and click the like button. It all helps other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching — this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga, and until next time, remember: Come along, Solostaran, I'll help. We old men have to stick together. Too bad you're such a damn fool.

Kingsdale talks to a werewolf, Saza talks to a vampire, and the group forms the inklings of a heist.  “Mortals confuse the hell out of me.”   Intro/outro music: Western Adventures (Without Orchestra) from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com   Music: Western Cowboy Ride from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com   Follow us on: Instagram: @thewanderinggamernetwork Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYgJnrAWDkXzoi6FqmlAhUg Twitch: wandering_gamers Website: https://wanderinggamer.wixsite.com/wanderinggamer   Thanks for listening, and keep wandering!

With Gareth Myles and Ted Salmon Join us on Mewe RSS Link: https://techaddicts.libsyn.com/rss Direct Download | iTunes | YouTube Music | Stitcher | Tunein | Spotify  Amazon | Pocket Casts | Castbox | PodHubUK News Linux Mint 22.3 Codenamed "Zena", Planned for Christmas 2025 Seagate's latest breakthrough ushers in the age of 55TB or even 69TB hard drives - and it isn't stopping there GEEKOM's New Powerhouse Laptop Duo is Headed to Markets this December Can Starlink be blocked? Scary Chinese simulation shows 1,000 drones can jam satellite internet Microsoft loses bid to ban license reselling as UK court gives it the thumbs up Crucial no longer selling RAM to Mortals after 30 Years Banters: Knocking out a Quick Bant Black Friday pick ups Reolink Doorbell  INIU Powerbank Nothing Phone (3) TCL NxtPaper 60 Ultra Google listing says Android PC OS, 'Aluminium,' will have 'AI at the core' Lenovo reveals the truth: Android PCs have "limited desktop features" Thomson Streaming 270UK Bargain Basement: Best UK deals and tech on sale we have spotted Koorui 34" WQHD 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor (34E6UC) Roxel Vogue Portable DAB/DAB+ FM Radio & Wireless Speaker SoundCore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker  POWER BANK 20000mAh PD20W Fast Charging USB C 22.5W Portable Charger Powerbank  Anker USB-C Hub, 10-in-1 Monitor Stand  Denon DP29FE2 Record Player for Vinyl Records RedThunder K95 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Main Show URL: http://www.techaddicts.uk | PodHubUK Contact:: gareth@techaddicts.uk | @techaddictsuk Gareth - @garethmyles | Mastodon | Blusky | garethmyles.com | Gareth's Ko-Fi Ted - tedsalmon.com | Ted's PayPal | Mastodon | Ted's AmazonYouTube: Tech Addicts  

What do startup founders, CEOs of multinationals and Harvard professors have in common? They can all name a book that has changed how they live, think or lead. In this annual roundup episode, look for your new read (or a gift for that hard-to-buy for person on your list) from the recommendations of the world's top thinkers and change makers. Our annual books roundup collects books that have transformed how some of the top global leaders manage teams, get inspired, and make things happen. This year's recommendations include fresh takes on classic business books, histories, time-honored works of literature, and new favorites that can change how you build and lead.  About this episode:  Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/2025-book-recommendations-leaders Books and leaders in this episode: Books to deepen your understanding of the world -Angela Odour Lungati, Ushahidi Book: The Power of Geography, Tim Marshall -Sherry Madera ,CEO, CDP Book: Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets, Paula DiPerna -Sanjeev Mankotia, CEO, Gaeastar Book: Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, Walter Isaacson -Jumana Al Hashat, CEO and co-founder, Voltaire.aiBook: The Message, Ta-Nehisi Coates -Alicia Chong Rodriguez, founder, Bloomer Tech Book: The Vagina Business, Marina Gerner Books to understand the moment we're in -Nathan Metenier, co-director, Youth Climate Justice fund Book: Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, Naomi Klein -Steven Pinker, Harvard cognitive psychologist and author Book: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World, David Deutsch Books to teach you more about yourself -Kian Katanforoosh, CEO, Workera Book: The Molecule of More, Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long -Diallo Powell is the CEO and Co-Founder, Stak Mobility Book: It's Sid Bernstein Calling, Arthur Aaron -Liz Centoni, Cisco Book: The Courage to Be Disliked Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi Books to inform how you'll lead -Adam Grant, author and Wharton organizational psychologist Book: Calling In, Loretta J. Ross Book: Validation, Caroline Flack -Alfred Stern, CEO, OMV Book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck -Ayumi Moore Aoki, Who, Not How Books that help you meet the moment-Mohit Joshi, CEO, Tech Mahindra Book; Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman -Nadya Okamoto, Founder, August Book: Pleasure Activism, The Politics of Feeling Good, Adrienne Maree Brown -David Steinbach, CIO, Hines Author: Viktor Frankl  

GREETINGS, MORTALS! Enjoy a SPECIAL interlude episode—an adaptation of this month's FORECAST from the Scriptorium, PLUS an interview with SAINT NICHOLAS! Aye, my Yuletide Adventure cometh to the podcast this year!So enjoy these magickal predictions, dispensed FOR FREE! With bonus commentary, that those who merely read, shall NE'ER EXPERIENCE. & hopefully come Christmastide, we shall have a packet of PROPER PODCASTS to unleash as an especial Yule gift!Be sure to join our Scriptorium at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.wizworldlive.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join me as I review The Search for Magic edited by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman live! Share your thoughts on this first Tales of the War of Souls anthology, released by Wizards of the Coast on October 1, 2001. You can buy a copy here: https://amzn.to/3LVbXrD  https://youtube.com/live/JZ6gg6EWS2I About The Search for Magic This is the first anthology to tie in to the bestselling War of Souls trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It contains 11 stories, written by well-known Dragonlance authors, that elaborate on the characters and locations from the War of Souls trilogy. The stories link to the ongoing saga through the time frames of the main characters. Contents: Introduction “All for a Pint” by Brian Murphy “The End” by Nancy Varian Berberick “The Lost Sea” by Linda P. Baker “Some Assembly Required” by Nick O’ Donohoe “Go with the Floe” by Paul B. Thompson “The Great Gully Dwarf Climacteric of 40 S.C.” by Jeff Crook “Bond” by Kevin T. Stein “A Twist of the Knife” by Jean Rabe “Hunger” by Richard A. Knaak “Product Given for Services Rendered” by Don Perrin “Dragon’s Throat” by Donald J. Bingle Review Intro Welcome to another DragonLance Saga review episode. It is Kirinor, Frostkolt the 3rd. My name is Adam and today I am going to give you my review of The Search for Magic edited by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron. You can even pick up Dragonlance media using my affiliate links. This is my perspective only, and if you have any thoughts or disagree with mine, I invite you to share them in YouTube chat. Review All For a Pint by Brian Murphy Stynmar, wizard, White robe Grantheous, wizard, Red robe Fetlin, apprentice Gerald, archmagus, Black robe This was a delightful tale about two mages, former white and red robes, who decided to make a profile, and improve the nature of those who consumed it, by casting a spell on beer. This spell is meant to improve one’s disposition, but they had to test various strengths of the spell. One had minotaurs tickle fighting each other. Another had a aman mooning them then running down the street. They finally perfected the spell, and it was stolen from them that night! THey chased who they believed stole it and it led to a warehouse where the thief talked with a black robed wizard and entered it. The two wizards and their apprentice went into a nearby tavern and had a frew pints before bursting into the door, but the beer they were drinking was their own. They felt wonderful, and after kissing the barmaid, they left ready to break down the warehouse door. As they charged the door, the wizard opened it, causing them to run and roll into the warehouse. The old wizard ended up being their former master, and he scolded them for using the remaining magic to effect beer. To punish them he cast the spell over Palanthas' well, and the entire city had a full day of peace, happiness, and brotherly love. The two mages seemed to learn their lesson, and that was the story. It reminded me of an old short story from the original Tales collection where a kender puts a love potion into Otik's ale and it ends with a love fest in the Inn of the Last Home. It was a nice entry into this collection. The End by Nancy Varian Berberick Jai Windwild, apprentice librarian Annalisse Elmgrace, librarian Marshall Medan Gilthas, puppet king Emeth Windwild, Jai's father, member of the resistance Marise Windwild, Jai's mother Stanach Hammerfell This is about the final days of the Qualinesti. It is focused on a librarian’s assistant Jai, who has spent his young career reading and cataloging the histories of the Quelinesti nation. His master, librarian Annalisse, sees Jai as the best of her assistants. He leaves one night for dinner when his father tells him that they must leave Qualinost. Their relatives are dying and they should all travel to them. In truth, he is part of the resistance and the Dark Knights are close to capturing him, so he arranged this trip. Jai doesn't want to go, but sees no option of staying because he would be caught, tortured and killed. He returns to this library and tells Annalisse where he’s going but that he will be back. When they leave that night, they are stopped as a Dark Knight is waiting on the road. They are teleported and wake in a dwarven tunnel. Stanach Hammerfell greets Jai and leads him down the tunnel toward Thorbadin. He is alone, and doesn't know where everyone else is. Stanach tells him they are with the dwarves, and explains these tunnels were the idea of the Thane and Gilthas. Qualinost is going to fall, sooner rather than later, and the people need safe passage out of Qualinesti. Jai doesn't care and insists on leaving to record the end of Qualinost. Eventually Sanach relents and lets the young elf go, as they are nearing the exit of the tunnel, Annalise's voice is heard directing Dark Knights. It turned out that she bargained for the safety of the library and gave up the plan of the elves leaving and the tunnels under Qualinesti. Stanach and Jai fight them, capture Annalisse and Stanach says that he will wait for Jai. Jai ends up heading home. It reminds me of World War 2 when Nazi Germany was rounding up Jews, Gays, Blacks and anyone they deemed weak. That is what the Dark Knight represents and while going back to Qualinost to witness its end sounds like the height of foolishness, I can understand one’s passion for their home and wanting to be there, even as the world falls apart. The Lost Sea by Linda P. Baker Captain Effram I am torn about this story. For one, it’s written really well. But for another, I don't like the main character at all. This is about Captain Effram, he lives in Tarsis and has built a boat. Tarsis has been landlocked since the Cataclysm, so he is ridiculed by everyone in town for building a ship. The children come and taunt and tease him, and he runs them off, further ruining his reputation among the townsfolk. Then one day a storm came, and it kept raining, and only Effram wore the appropriate clothing for a rain storm and was mocked for it. Then the water began to build on the ground, and soon his ship began to float! He took it out in this massive blinding night storm and was nearly swept out to sea, but managed to turn it back toward Tarsis to see people climbing the ships in the old bay that were repurposed for homes, trying to survive the weather and oncoming seawater. They leapt down toward Effram's ship, and slowly, reluctantly, he turned to bring more people onto his ship. Even as there were more to save, he raced the boar to the docks, and in the massive storm told them to get out. When he turned back to the sea, he saw a woman leap into the ocean, screaming for help, he turned away from her, and sailed into the sea. This character who wanted to be respected and appreciated by the townsfolk, didn’t even want to save them, then abandoned others. His cruelty in their fate was less human and more monstrous. Something I didn't enjoy reading at all. The strength of our species is that when push comes to shove, regardless of any other factor, we help one another. Survival is built into our DNA. It is the aberrant among us that would turn and walk away from someone facing death, when you could save them, yet Effram did just that. The people jibing him did not equal a justified death, and it simply bothered me. Some Assembly Required by Nick o'Donohoe Sorter, gnome Franni, kender The story begins with a gnome named Sorter working in the great repository, sorting the thousands of volumes of gnomish manuals. It showcases a typical day in Mount Nevermind for gnomes, and leads to a Kender named Franni asking a series of questions to Sorter about the books. Later there is a book avalanche and they are afraid the kender was under them, but after clearing it up, they saw no kender, but a few books were missing. So Soter decided he would go after the Kender. He packed traveling clothing and headed out to the closest town with smoke ascending to the sky. A warehouse was burned down and children who were working the warehouse were having a grand time. THey said a Kender came by and burned the warehouse down. The elders told him that the kender left toward their neighboring town, and that the kender should stay there. The gnome went on to the next town which was covered in mud. Its children were also enjoying the destroyed warehouse. Apparently there is fierce trade competition so all these villages suggest visiting the next, to recreate the destruction they experience. The gnome continued on to find the kender in the third village constructing a siege machine. The gnome ended up helping him and it summarily destroyed the town, as all gnome inventions are prone to do. The town leadership paid them to go to the next few towns and create some machines for them and off the gnome and kender went with an idea for a massive Solamnic knife machine. It was a silly story that illustrated the dire consequences of gnomish technology and the curiosity and free spiritedness of Kneder and the wildly dangerous combination of them both together. Go with the Floe by Paul B. Thompson Raegel Mixun, mixundantalus Balic Persayer, captain Wheeler, gnome Slipper, gnome Excellent Continental Ice Project Artagor, pirate captain This was a fun story about two snake oil salesmen who regularly conned people and were caught in a con by a ship captain and marooned on the icewall. Destined to die there, with the cold nearly doing the task, they were awoken by the terrible and loud sound of gnomish machinery! The gnomes took them aboard their great ice cutting wheels and entered Nevermind South. A temporary camp where the gnomes could cut miles of glacier ice and transport it to Sancrist. Stunned by the audacity of the gnomes but happy to be alive, the two men go with the gnomes. They end up breaking the miles size glacier off and use the wheel machines to paddle it north. As they pass Enstar, pirates come about and try to rob them, but the gnomes have no treasure, only tools and the two con men have nothing of value. Frustrated, the pirate captain decides to kill the two, but a cyclone is building off the coast and hits suddenly. The iceberg is dashed to the shore of Enstar and breaks to pieces. Ruining the gnomes’ plans, but industrious as ever, they get back to work, collecting gear and coming up with new plans. The con men approach a town, talk about the ice that’s on the shore and sell it, and they convince the people to pay for the ice! Then they decide to help the gnomes and make a living selling ice across Ansalon. Again, just a silly and fun story that was way more entertaining than I expected it to be. The Great Gully Dwarf Climacteric of 40 S.C. by Jeff Crook Dr. Palaver, gnome Morgrify Pinchpocket, kender Whortleberry Pinchpocket, kender, Morgrify's cousin Gulps Bulps Shadow Dragon The story begins with two Kender running from a mob. They break into the gnomish district and burst into a gnomes home where he was staying late. The gnome, Dr. Palaver is asked to cure Morgrify's cousin, Whortleberry. He is an afflicted kender and it seemed to have come upon him very recently in a tunnel under Palantha filled with Gully Dwarves. The gnome said that he can cure his cousin but they need to face the fear that caused the affliction. They must return to the sewers post haste! The kender and gnome all head to the sewer. They eventually discovered gully dwarves and a massive hole that was supposed to be scary, but it just contained another gully dwarf from the Bulp clan, rather than the Gulps from earlier. He led them to the scariest place he knew of, a shadow dragon! The dragon had been making the Aghar make smoke for it to consume, or it would consume them. It breathed its terrifying smoke, blinding and disorienting everyone, and the kender quickly had Whort drink the heroic potion that doctor gnome said would cure his fright. He drank it and sunbeams, rainbows and spring flowers sprang from every orifice on his body, forcing the dragon back into its lair. He began taunting it finally able to speak, and his fear subsided, he dragged the gnome and Mordrify to the surface, but the spring scented flowers were too much for the Aghar and they fled in mass into the city, killing pets and one homeless man before running off into the docks, sinking ships and killing themselves and fish. It was a massive cacophony, and in the end Whort brought the gnome doctor and his uncle to another gnome doctor to cure their blindness. This was a silly story, but I am now thinking this whole collection is just about Kender, Gully Dwarves or Gnomes. Bond by Kevin T. Stein Karn, scout Blood, Karn's Wulfbunde Brek Arana Canus, bond between wolf and man Jaren Syllany The Forsaken, former Wulfbunde from previous story This is a disjoined tale that is a sequel to an even more disjointed tale about the Wulfbunde, apparently in the Age of Might, The Dark Queen gave power to men who followed Canus? And could form bonds with wolves. In the aftermath of the Chaos War, they hunted teh agents of chaos. The previous story has a Wulfbunde kill his wolf rather than see him consumed by Chaos and he became The Forgotten, though in that story he was condemned to the Abyss, if memory serves. Now he is out and terrorizing the land around the Lords of Doom. The five scout Wulfbunde are now hunting him, though he is incredibly powerful. We are presented with Karn, a scout and his wolf blood. They have an uneasy relationship, and he actually beats the wolf, which bugs the shit out of me. If you share a bond with something, you don't physically assault or abuse that something. Period. And in general, violence against animals is verboten for most people. So they go after the Forgotten, have bunch of awkward moments between Blood and Karn that I do not fully understand as the writing is not much better than the last short story, and Blood ends up breathing in The Forgottens face, making him kinda go crazy then start crying, I imagine for the absence of his wolf. And Karn reflects that the Dark cannot break the bond between a man and his wolf. This could all have been so much better if they were more clear in the writing about what the hell is going on. It's frustrating. A Twist of the Knife by Jean Rabe Shiv, male assassin, Safford Risana, woman, Solamnic Knight Redlant Fever This is a wonderful short story about an assassin named Shiv that was hired by Dark Knights to find and eliminate a Solamnic knight that is healing plagued villagers around Neraka. The former knight, a woman named Risana, actually deserted the knights after they were ambushed by dark knights. She was thought to be killed, and just walked away. Decided to heal others rather than kill them. This however created a myth in the area about Solamnic Knights and has some locals leaving to join them, and turn against the Dark Knights. So Shiv was t o eliminate her. He saw her tend wounded and saw that she truly cared about this, and it endeared her to him. They continued from village to village traveling together, even fighting off assassins that were sent to kill her, thinking Shiv was dead or taking too long. He would fight for her at first because she was his mark, but later because he respected her. In the end, he deserted his contract and swore to protect her until he died. I really loved that this old assassin could be touched by a woman who had a singleminded purpose, not for gods or oaths, but because it’s what she was passionate about. I really enjoyed the story. Jean Rabe is really growing on me with these short stories of hers. Hunger by Richard A. Knaak Master Brudas, Bozak Ruins of Krolus Sable, Black Dragon Drek, Baaz Molgar, Baaz Gruun, Baaz Oh man, this was fun. It's about the souls of the dead who were stealing magic from magical items and casters before the War of Souls on behalf of Takhisis. A Bozak and three baaz were searching for magical artifacts for Sable, the black dragon overlord in a sunken ruined city of Krolus. The Baaz were excavating the site as the Bozak was dreaming of finding items of power that he could leave Sable’s service. He tries to emulate the Aurak draconians he admired and relished his ability to cast spells even though they have been failing recently. The bozak returns with knowledge of a cavern and Brudas the bozak goes to investigate. He finds a bracelet of Chemosh with two black gems. It allows him to see the undead ghosts that are all around him, begging for power. Over the next few days it drives him near insane. Whenever he tries to cast a spell to banish or dispel the undead, they take the power, ruining the spell. He orders the Baaz to throw the gems away that were in the bracelet and it makes him unable to see the ghosts. But he can still imagine them, and feel them. How oh so many of them were around him, pleading. He chases the gems down and drowns. The baaz return to Sable and deliver the bracelet, and Sable is pleased, but cannot see the hoards of spirits around her, taking her magic as well as the bracelets. It’s so wonderfully creepy to think of the unseen spirits stealing your essence, and that of your items. Such a cool set up for the War of Souls. Knaak did a great job with this story. Product Given for Services Rendered by Don Perrin Gnash, dark knight brothers, disserters Yarl, dark knight brothers, deserters Flannery, old man in robes Digger Cutterstone, dwarf This was a wonderful tale about two brothers who turned in their parents, who were clerics of Paladine, to the Knights of Takhisis and came upon an old man in robes and a dwarf. They were burying the dead and taking their weapons and armor. They offered to share their supper with the brothers and told them that they commended the souls of the dead to the gods and in return took the swords and armor and melted them into steel coins for the bank of palanthas. They wanted to do the same for the Knights of Takhisis but did not know the burial rites. The brothers pulled weapons on them and started to rob them, but the old man offered to split the money with them if they helped by telling them how to comment the souls to Takhisis. The brothers flippantly told them, and then the priest did it to them, and they dropped dead. It turned out that they were skeletons the old man was trying to destroy and take their armor. Once he learned the rite, he could do the same to others. Such an interesting twist and tale about the aftermath of battle and the creation of steel as a currency. Dragon's Throat by Donald Bingle Finderkeeper Rumpleton, kender Gimmie Glacier Vern Hasterck, Knight of Takhisis Commander Bodar, Ice Nomad Thrak D.Nar, Ice Nomad Garn, Ice Nomad This is an interesting tale about the Icewall Glacier being the primary character, and everyone else secondary. The glacier grows north, then melts south revealing objects that were left in the ice from wars or travelers who never made it across. This ends up being a pilgrimage site for Kender, but in the Age of Mortals, Dark Knights also would travel the area in southern Plains of Dust. One day a kender named Finderkeeper Rumpleton passed through and found a strangely shaped object, instantly claiming it as Irda Magic. This sent the other kender in a frenzy of questions and nearby Dark Knights demanding the object. THey chased the Kender across the glacier till he believed he lost them, and stumbled across an ice nomad and his sons who were hunting wooly mammoths. They helped the kender for the night then when the dark knights showed up again, helped him run from them. They led them to a valley that would floor periodically and one of the sons went to help it along as the Dark knights were camping in the valley during their pursuit. It flooded the valley, consuming the son as well, but the Dark Knight Commander escaped and continued pursuit, eventually catching up to the kender and nomads. They fought as best they could but the Dark knight overwhelmed the nomads, killing them, but eventually got stuck in some mud, freezing to death as he was trying to cut his own legs off to get out. This was all relayed to the nomad clan by a bard, who was the kender. It’s more of an environmental tale of the natural dangers of a living glacier, and I for one enjoyed that approach. This was an interesting collection, with a few really good stories. If you are a Dragonlance fan, I would recommend you taking the time to read this anthology. Outro And that's it for my review of The Search for Magic edited by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. What did you think of the anthology? Did you connect with any of these stories? And finally, what is your favorite anthology in Dragonlance? Feel free to email me at info@dlsaga.com or leave a comment below. I would like to thank Creator Patron Aaron Hardy and Developer Patron Chris Androu! I would also like to take a moment and remind you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos and click the like button. This all goes to help other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).

Let's explore Godshome deep into the Khalkist Mountains, where mist-choked vales and impossible geography hide this sacred and dangerous location on Krynn. You can buy The Atlas of the Dragonlance World here: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/182424/atlas-of-the-dragonlance-world-1e?affiliate_id=50797 https://youtu.be/7Hq7F2dGtOo Transcript Cold Open Today we journey deep into the Khalkist Mountains, where mist-choked vales and impossible geography hide one of the most sacred—and most dangerous—locations on all of Krynn. Intro Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today I am going to talk about Godshome. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga YouTube members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron, you can even pick up Dragonlance media using my affiliate links in the description below. I am referencing The Odyssey of Gilthanas, The Atlas of the Dragonlance World, and War of the Lance sourcebooks for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below! Discussion In ancient ages, “Godshome” referred to two different sacred sites: the first was The City of Godshome. A vast pilgrimage center, a city-within-a-city, shaped like a great wheel of fifteen districts. Each district served the worshipers of a different deity, all radiating outward from the enormous Great Temple of the Stars, which contained cathedrals for all twenty-one major gods. Before Istar's rise, every devout worshiper in Ansalon dreamed of making the pilgrimage here at least once. Each district was self-contained—with its own inns, temples, shops, and residences. But access was tightly controlled: one gate in the outer wall, and passage between districts only through the Great Temple—and only with approval from its high priest, the Worshipful Master of the Stars. Yet not every deity maintained a district. The gods of Nature—Habbakuk, Chislev, and Zeboim—kept their holy sites elsewhere, far from the city's walls. The gods of Magic likewise had no temples here, for every journey to a Tower of High Sorcery was a pilgrimage of its own. The second reference was Godshome Vale. Hidden deep in the Khalkists, this secret valley was the true holy site. Only those chosen by the gods—and approved by priests in the city—could find the trail leading to it. Even then, the path would twist back into the foothills unless the gods allowed the pilgrim to pass. For the worthy, the gods themselves administered tests—tests of devotion, character, and divine purpose. Many died attempting them. But those who survived emerged in a bowl-shaped valley surrounded entirely by sheer cliff walls. At its center stood twenty-one colossal stones representing the gods, encircling a perfect disc of polished black stone that reflected the sky, constellations, and moons of Krynn—regardless of the time of day. This was the place where the gods revealed themselves. As Istar's Kingpriests grew in ambition, they sought to centralize all worship in their gleaming capital. They taxed the pilgrim roads to Godshome, let banditry flourish, and built temples meant to overshadow the Great Temple of the Stars. In the final century before the Cataclysm, the propaganda campaign succeeded. Many now viewed Godshome as corrupt, fraudulent, or blasphemous—though it was Istar's own meddling that created this perception. Finally, the Kingpriest ordered the legions of Istar to march on the city. For nearly twenty years, the priests and holy warriors of Godshome held out, uniting across pantheons in a desperate defense of their sacred home. And then—one night—they vanished. Every one of them. Without a trace. Istar's armies entered the silent city at dawn. Hours later… the Cataclysm struck. A fiery mountain struck Ansalon causing tidal waves and massive earthquakes. The city collapsed, thousands of soldiers died, and only a handful survived to speak of what became of Godshome. Since that day, the city has remained a haunted ruin. Ghostly soldiers wander the shattered districts, eternally searching for their vanished priests. Adventurers report treasures scattered through the rubble—but none of the great sacred artifacts have ever been recovered. While the city lay in ruin, the true Godshome, the vale hidden in the mountains, remained a place of divine power. When the Heroes of the Lance journeyed toward Neraka, the befuddled wizard Fizban led them through the Khalkists, where supernatural wonders lurked: ancient bridges of vallenwood, miraculous golden spans of magic, and yes—entrances to the legendary Glitterpalace, the fabled home of Paladine. Within its crystal-walled halls were the three great divine tests: first, The Test of Wisdom, in the heart of a volcano, second was The Test of Valor, in the ghostly remains of Vingaard Keep, and third was The Test of the Heart, on a moorland plateau overlooking Kalaman. Each test revealed merely a possible path to defeating Takhisis—not the path they would ultimately walk. Whether or not the Companions took that road, they eventually reached Godshome Vale. And here they witnessed revelation. The polished black stone reflected the sky, moons, and constellations… including those normally invisible, like Nuitari. All except the constellations of Paladine and Takhisis, which were absent. As the party reached the center, the truth was revealed: Fizban vanished, and the constellation of Paladine appeared. The god stood among them. And here, Flint Fireforge's journey ended. Flint died in Godshome Vale and Paladine escorted him personally into the afterlife. Godshome is woven into some of Krynn's greatest myths: Huma Dragonbane once brought the first Dragonlance here to be blessed with the divine power needed to oppose Takhisis. Many Solamnic traditions record Godshome as a place of hope, prophecy, and revelation in dark times. In the Age of Despair, it stood as a solitary note of divine presence when the gods were thought gone forever. And in every age, explorers whispered of a hidden entrance to Glitterpalace somewhere within Godshome itself—a shifting doorway that appears only to the favored of Paladine. After the Chaos War, everything changed. The gods departed. And Godshome Vale… broke. The evergreen forests blackened. The moss turned to ash. The sacred stones vanished. The polished black disc cracked like broken glass. And yet—the surface still reflects a distorted image of the new moon that rose after the gods' departure. It is a place of memory, of echoes, of a severed connection between Krynn and the divine. It is also a place of sorrow. When Jasper Fireforge and Iryl Songbrook sought evidence of the gods' return, Godshome nearly broke Jasper's spirit. In the shattered valley they confronted grief—and a doomed Knight of the Skull who sought to restore Takhisis through honorable combat. No blessing came. No voice whispered from the heavens. The gods remained silent. Godshome had become a grave. Today, whether in the Age of Mortals or after the gods’ eventual return, Godshome remains one of the most sacred and enigmatic places on Krynn: A valley of divine reflection, A site of revelation and death, A place where mortals saw the gods face-to-face, The threshold of Paladine's Glitterpalace, And a ruin haunted by both spirits and memory. Few find it. Fewer survive it. But all who stand in Godshome stand in the shadow of the gods themselves. Outro And that is all I have to say about Godshome. What do you think of this home of the gods? Have you ever included it in your home campaigns? And finally, do you think it still holds power after the War of Souls? Leave a comment below. I would like to invite you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos, and click the like button. It all helps other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching — this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga, and until next time, remember: I know now, after I've had time to think, that what Laurana did was right. She had to go, or her love would have been meaningless.

We spend some time with Dr. Kristin Lyerly as we wind down for the week. As we prepare hunker down for the winter we talk with author Laura Bird. She recommends reading as a good way to get through the cold snowy weather. To read she points to: "How to Winter" by Kari Leibowitz, "Aflame" by Pico Iyer, "Wintering" by Katherine May, "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, "Seasoning" by Angela Clutton, "Strata: Stories from Deep Time" by Laura Poppick, "Meditations for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman and "Beyond Anxiety" by Martha Beck. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

To mark the recent release of the second Wicked film, for this week's episode we're revisiting my 2020 interview with Dee Michel, author of the book Friends of Dorothy: Why Gay Boys and Gay Men Love the Wizard of Oz. Dee's book is an in-depth examination of queer Oz fandom, which for him has its roots in happy memories of watching the movie with his dad. Dee grew up in the 1950s with the threat of the red scare looming over his family — his parents met at a Communist Party meeting, and there was the constant threat that the family would be exposed. Added to the general chaos of the time was the discovery that his father was gay, and Dee's own struggle to find his place in the world.And before we get to that, a quick heads up that I have a new YouTube video coming this weekend about the powerful gay magic behind The Wizard of Oz and Wicked. Check out my videos at youtube.com/mattbaume.

Today, Ben sits down with fellow Catholic financial planners Nick Orenduff and Charlie Horonzy for a rich roundtable on what it truly means to live a generous, ordered, and faith-centered life. Together, they wrestle with the tension between self-giving and self-preservation—how to pour ourselves out for God, family, and community without crossing into burnout or misplaced busyness. Nick reflects on the daily discipline of keeping God first, family second, and career third, while Charlie shares how prayer, discernment, and spirituality help him know when to say yes or no to new commitments. The trio also explore how seasons of life shape our ability to serve, how financial boundaries mirror spiritual ones, and why surrendering control is often the most faithful form of stewardship. Woven through their conversation is a deep trust that God's providence can transform even our limitations into grace. By the end, Ben, Nick, and Charlie invite listeners to view their time, money, and energy not as burdens to manage, but as sacred resources to be aligned with God's will—one prayerful decision at a time.Key Takeaways:• A well-ordered life begins by placing God first, family second, and career third—a framework that helps align all other decisions.• True generosity doesn't mean saying yes to everything; it means discerning where God is actually calling you to give.• The way we serve changes as our responsibilities shift—young parents, for example, are called to focus more deeply on family.• Offering our struggles and discomfort to God transforms them into acts of love and participation in His plan.• Recognizing life's brevity encourages intentionality about how we spend our weeks and years.• Our careers, finances, and families are not possessions to control but gifts to steward in loving obedience.Key Timestamps:(01:55) – Balancing Work and Life(07:53) – Trusting God and Letting Go(10:03) – Family Dynamics and Communication(17:42) – Seasons of Life and Service(20:24) – Balancing Volunteering and Personal Boundaries(23:47) –  Navigating Life's Noise and Staying Focused on God(31:46) – The Value of Time and Living IntentionallyMentions:Website: https://www.focusedupfinancial.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-horonzy-cfp%C2%AE-cpa-8802b910/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusedUpFinancial# Website: https://www.planmember.com/advisor/?bk=NOrenduff LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-ross-orenduff-cfp%C2%AE-a45a7524b/ Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanThe Practice of the Presence of God by Brother LawrenceMore of Catholic Money Mastermind:Catholic Money Mastermind Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.Are you looking to hire an advisor? Browse our members.https://catholicfinancialplanners.com/members/Are you a Financial Advisor who is serious about the Catholic Faith? Join our network and email info@catholicfinancialplanners.com

Let's learn all about the location and history of the heart of Takhisis' empire in Krynn, the evil city of Neraka. You can buy the Dragonlance Campaign Setting here: https://www.dmsguild.com/en/product/28592/dragonlance-campaign-setting-3-5?affiliate_id=50797 https://youtu.be/OB6Z2cN37Ag Transcript Cold Open In the shadowed heart of the Khalkist Mountains… where the land cracks open like wounds in the earth… lies a city whispered in fear across all Ansalon. Intro Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today I am going to talk about Neraka. I would like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga YouTube members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron by following the links in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance media using my affiliate links. I am referencing DL14 Dragons of Triumph, The Atlas of the Dragonlance World, Tales of the Lance boxed set, War of the Lance, and Dragonlance Campaign Setting sourcebooks for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below! Discussion Neraka lies cradled in a high valley of the Khalkist Mountains, a region infamous for its barren peaks, volcanic scars, and broken, fissured plains. The Plains of Neraka stretch outward like a scar, a yellow-brown wasteland cracked with hundreds of crevasses. Some belch sulfurous smoke or even pillars of flame. Others simply yawn open into darkness. Even the roads leading to Neraka were carved by slaves—fine stone highways that bridge fissures and cut through the hostile terrain toward three major destinations: Sanction to the south, Estwilde to the north, and the scattered mountain tracks to the east and west. The mountains around the city are harsh and dry. Streams vanish into dust, thunderstorms turn the proud roads into rivers of mud, and the volcanic peaks sometimes smoke with an ominous glow. Travelers claim the very land seems hostile… almost alive. It's here—amid harsh rock and sulfur—where Takhisis chose to plant the seed of her empire. The name Neraka is older than the Cataclysm. Long before humans settled the valley, the High Ogres ruled a northern city called Narakid. Humans took the land long before 1300 PC… but when the fiery mountain fell during the Cataclysm, that early Neraka vanished beneath destruction. Centuries later—after the world was broken—settlers found something strange in an isolated glade: a twisted root of stone, all that remained of the Kingpriest's temple from Istar. When they built a settlement around it, they believed that they had rediscovered the original Neraka. But they were wrong. That root had been planted there—intentionally—by Takhisis. In the second century after the Cataclysm, the Dark Queen chose this glade as the birthplace of her return. From the stone root grew the Temple of Darkness, a sprawling, organic, unnatural structure that would become the beating heart of her new empire. And around that temple grew a new Neraka… the Neraka the world would come to fear. Neraka is divided like rings around a wound: 1. The Outer Bailey. The outermost ring is a maze of chaos—dense streets jammed with brothels, slave pens, ramshackle huts, open markets, foul-smelling alleys, and mobs of desperate or dangerous people. Goblins haggle with ogres. Human criminals brush shoulders with mercenaries. And the Dark Knights' barracks stand neatly just beyond the squalor, an unsettling reminder that order here comes only from fear. 2. The Inner Bailey. Inside the first walls, buildings press tightly together under the shadow of watchtowers. Smithies, supply stores, military workshops, and housing for the Dragonarmies fill these cramped quarters. Each army maintains its own heavily guarded district. Rivalries run hot, and even in the city’s prime, fights between soldiers were so common that Takhisis's personal troops often had to break them up. 3. The Heart of the City. At the center once stood the terrible Temple of Darkness—a massive, living fortress where the Dragon Highlords met under the watchful gaze of the Queen of Darkness. After the War of the Lance, the temple collapsed inward, disappearing into a vast sinkhole. Its blackened stones litter the southern valley, poisonous to life even centuries later. Nothing grows where the temple fell—just bleeding rock and sulfurous fumes, a wound on Krynn that refuses to heal. Beneath all three layers lies the Undercity: a spiderweb of caves, tunnels, sewers, and catacombs. It connects the outer districts, inner quarters, and even the forgotten dungeons beneath the Temple. Many use the Undercity to avoid guards—but horrors lurk below, remnants of experiments, monsters, and things twisted by the temple's dark magic. During the Age of Despair, Neraka became the shining—if grotesque—capital of Takhisis's Dragon Empire. Criminals, mercenaries, cultists, and the desperate flocked there. Under Ariakas, the Dragon Highlord, the first Dragonarmies took shape here. By 348 AC, the city pulsed with soldiers, draconians, ogres, goblins, spies, and slaves. Riches from early victories in the War of the Lance poured in. Streets overflowed. Crime flourished. Rival armies brawled openly. And yet—strict order remained whenever the Highlords commanded. This was the heart of the Queen of Darkness herself. The center of evil on Ansalon. And it all came crashing down in 352 AC. When the Whitestone Army closed in, the Heroes of the Lance infiltrated the city. They reached the Temple of Darkness… and destroyed it from within, triggering chaos. The Dragonarmies turned on one another in a frenzy for control, shattering the city in the process. Neraka burned. Its armies scattered. Its goddess vanished. After Takhisis's defeat, Neraka remained a haven for evil—but without unity. The Dark Knights, newly formed and led from Storm's Keep, mostly ignored the broken city. A Lord Mayor ruled for a time… until the rise of Mirielle Abrena. After the Chaos War, she seized Neraka by force, executed the mayor, and declared herself Governor-General. Under Abrena, Neraka again rose in power—until her assassination. Morham Targonne then moved the Knight's capital to Jelek, sending Neraka into decline. But after the War of Souls, the Dark Knights returned once more. Neraka is—once again—their seat of power, grim as ever. Neraka teems with factions: The Nerakan Guard, led by Captain Joras Gelt, maintains harsh order outside the temple grounds. The Red Watch, Blue Watch, Green Regiment, and Black Guard—elite units of sivaks, kapaks, and bozaks—defend the Dragonarmies' interests. The Hidden Light, an underground resistance led by Talent Orren and Lute the Pawnbroker, fights quietly against the influence of darkness. The population is a volatile mix: humans, draconians, ogres, goblins, dwarves, minotaurs, and even the occasional giant. Trade is thriving but grim—slaves, mercenaries, weapons, stolen goods, and black-market items flowing between Sanction, Khur, and Zhakar. Neraka remains a symbol of tyranny and ambition. Its streets are dangerous. Its politics are ruthless. Its shadow stretches across all of Taman Busuk. And yet… it is alive. A boiling cauldron of power, violence, and fear—waiting for history to turn once more. Where darkness gathers, Neraka stands. Outro And that is all I have to say about Neraka. What do you think of this center of evil? Have you ever played the War of the Lance campaign and invaded Neraka? And do you think the town will ever rise again as a center of evil might in the Age of Mortals? Leave a comment below. I would like to invite you to subscribe to this YouTube channel, ring the bell to get notified about upcoming videos, and click the like button. It all helps other Dragonlance fans learn about this channel and its content. Thank you for watching — this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga, and until next time, remember: It is the spirit of the game, not the letter of the rules, which is important.

Oliver Burkeman is a bestselling author, journalist, and the mind behind “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals” and “Meditations for Mortals.” We explore our broken relationship with time and Oliver's philosophy of imperfectionism, which dismantles the delusion that productivity is a moral imperative. Oliver explains why we're all chasing an infinite backlog, how perfectionism keeps us from doing the work, the path from overwhelm to agency, why acceptance isn't resignation, and the mystical energy of completion. Along the way, Oliver diagnoses my biggest malfunction and exposes an uncomfortable truth about my people-pleasing tendencies. Oliver's work is vital. And this conversation might just change your life. Enjoy!  Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up  Today's Sponsors: Momentous: High-caliber human performance products for sleep, focus, longevity, and more. For listeners of the show, Momentous is offering up to 35% off your first order

You know that phrase, "We compare our insides to other people's outsides"? We're bombarded with others' achievements but see less of the steps – internal and external – it took to get there. These days, we feel an increased pressure to achieve, to pursue greatness. We reach for this mythical, impossible standard. Drawing from his book, Meditations for Mortals, Burkeman believes that if you accept the fact that you will never "get there," you can actually start making good choices that lead to a meaningful life. Through this guiding philosophy, Burkeman calls "imperfectionism," we can tackle challenges in our daily lives: our finite time, the lure of distraction, the impossibility of doing anything perfectly, the feeling that the world is spinning out of control. How can we embrace our limitations? Or make good decisions when there's always too much to do? How do we shed the illusion that life will really begin as soon as we can "get on top of everything"? Pulling from the fields of philosophy, religion, literature, psychology, and self-help, Burkeman explores a combination of practical tools and daily shifts in perspective. Burkeman offers a way to embrace our mortality, to in fact find solace and inspiration in it. In anxiety-inducing times, Burkeman believes that holding back in life is a guarantee for anguish, while living in just one moment at a time is the solution for getting to the things that matter most to you. Oliver Burkeman worked for many years at The Guardian, where he wrote a popular weekly column on psychology, "This Column Will Change Your Life." His books include the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. Buy the Book Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts Elliott Bay Book Company

A neglected Georgian house, shutters still, poplars trees surround it, whispering. Downstairs is a row of servant bells to call servants. One has a mysterious name and is reputed to ring when no one is there. Rumour speaks of a hooded figure and an owl; the corridors mutter with sounds of pipes, disconnected wires, and something harder to dismiss. By night, faces seem to change in the mirror; but by day, the rooms are ordinary. Servants won't stay there and then the owner organises an investigation, a ghost hunt, if you like. A society of guest who are to keep their counsel until Twelfth Night, listening for what remains and for the presence that speaks when the house is empty. First published as the Christmas number of All the Year Round (December 1859), a collaborative sequence framed and partly written by Charles Dickens. This reading includes Dickens's chapters: “The Mortals in the House” and “The Ghost in Master B.'s Room.” Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was a British novelist and social critic, author of Oliver Twist, Bleak House, and Great Expectations. He edited Household Words and All the Year Round, helping to make the Victorian Christmas ghost story a tradition. Join Our Podia Community for 100s of Ad Free Ghost Stories www.classicghost.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GREETINGS, MORTALS! Enjoy another interlude episode—an adaptation of this month's FORECAST from the Scriptorium! Magickal predictions, dispensed FOR FREE! With bonus commentary, that those who merely read, shall NE'ER EXPERIENCE. I shall publish these each month, 'til Wintertide, when hopefully we shall have a packet of PROPER PODCASTS to unleash as an especial Yule gift!Be sure to join our Scriptorium at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.wizworldlive.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 Flawed Female Leads with guest Heather Snodgrass PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price.) Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details.  Write in the Harbor conference is coming up (2 presentations to prep for) feeling some feelings lately about the finality of the move and the recognition of Last Times I Will See/Do ...    (Erick):  running google ads and qualifying potential clients polishing stories up for omnibus edition   What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:  None of This is True (Lisa Jewell) Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy) We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something (Amie McNee) Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick:  • Summer of Night (Dan Simmons) My Favorite Thing is Monsters (gn) Batman: The Long Halloween (gn) Flash Fiction America: 73 Very Short Stories Heather: authorheathersnodgrass.com  Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: Hi! My name is Heather Snodgrass. I have always had a love for novels, movies, and the creative arts. I attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2007 as an actor and have pursued different avenues to bring stories to life.  I currently live with my husband, JD, and dogs, in Colorado, but I have lived in many places and I enjoy traveling. I also enjoy playing video games and gardening. Like Ariana, I have a playlist for everything I do and I love to have people make me a playlist about themselves when they meet. I am more than happy to share mine with anyone interested. Unapologetic female leads: In a time when we're drawn to flawed characters; the Real is coming through. Personal growth journey Tips for writing strong women without bashing men: Draw from personal experience, and talk to men and women Is a women punished more than a man for doing things? Ask a societal question and asking the character What makes a human strong? A Love Letter to Reading And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

You've been chasing the next thing all day... the next task, the next goal, the next version of enough.This session is for those moments when your mind won't stop listing what still needs to be done. For the nights when you can't let yourself rest until everything feels complete.“Meditations for Mortals” isn't about perfection... it's about permission. Layered harmonies, gentle breath cues, and a poetic rhythm guide you to release the weight of unfinished things and soften into stillness.As you listen, you'll feel tension melt from your body, thoughts quiet in rhythm with your breath, and peace rise where striving once lived.By the end, you won't need to finish anything... you'll simply rest, already enough.

Matthew Bannister onThe actor Prunella Scales, best known for playing Sybil in the TV comedy Fawlty Towers. Her son Samuel West reflects on her long career and happy marriage to fellow actor Timothy West. Gillian Tindall, the writer who pioneered the technique of exploring history through the portal of a particular house or area. Roger Smith, who co-founded and ran the Great Outdoors Challenge, encouraging thousands to walk across Scotland.Anthony Grey, the novelist and journalist who was held in solitary confinement for over two years by Red Guards during China's Cultural Revolution.Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn TansleyARCHIVE USED: Great Canal Journeys Series 1 Episode 1, Channel 4, 10/03/2014; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 05/06/1992; Suppose I Lose It, BBC Radio 4, 16/05/2016; A Question of Attribution, BBC Two, 20/10/1991; Fawlty Towers: Series 1: The Hotel Inspectors, BBC Two, 10/10/1975; Fawlty Towers: Series 2: The Psychiatrist, BBC Two, 26/02/1979; Fawlty Towers: Series 2: Basil the Rat, BBC Two, 25/10/1979; Fawlty Towers: Series 1: The Builders, BBC Two, 26/09/1975; Fawlty Towers: Series 2: Communication Problems, BBC Two, 19/02/1979; BBC News, BBC Radio 4, 26/11/1968; Anthony Grey To Be Released: Mother Waits, BBC News, 03/10/1963; Anthony Grey Released: Mother Hears News, News, 04/10/1963; Radio Newsreel, BBC World Service, 12/10/1969; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 01/11/1969; Anthony Grey: One Man's Freedom, One Pair of Eyes, BBC Two, 26/06/1971; Return to Peking, BBC Two, 12/12/1988; Voices from a French Village, BBC Radio 4, 29/05/1996; Robert Elms, BBC Radio London, 05/09/2016; Bricks and Mortals, BBC Radio 4, 18/05/2005; The Adventure Show, BBC Two Scotland, 03/08/2008; Scotland Outdoors - A Coast to Coast Backpack Challenge, Beekeeping in Kinross and the Capercaillie of Speyside, BBC Radio Scotland, 24/05/2025;

Listen to author and critic Erica Wagner in conversation with Florence Knapp, writer of “The Names”, her debut novel published by Phoenix in 2025, and recently published in French by JC Lattès. In her novel, Florence Knapp tells the story of a family marked by domestic abuse and explores the theme of identity—what a name means to someone and how it defines a person. As the conversation unfolds, Florence Knapp mentions her literary influences and the rejection of her first manuscript.As part of the Rendez-vous littéraires rue Cambon [Literary Rendezvous at Rue Cambon], the podcast “les Rencontres” highlights first time women novelists.(00:00) Introduction(00:56) Presentation of Florence Knapp and her novel “The Names” by Erica Wagner(03:57) On the author's path to becoming a writer(05:08) On her interest in paper piecing(06:27) The rejection of her first manuscript(08:58) On the challenges she encountered writing “The Names”(10:09) The publication process of her novel(13:17) Reading an extract of “The Names” by Florence Knapp(16:31) The writing process of her novel(19:09) On how craftsmanship inspires her(20:40) The difficulty to write about domestic abuse(23:34) On her literary influences(25:58) The reception of the book(28:36) The ending questionnaire of “Les Rencontres”Florence Knapp, The Names © The Orion Publishing Group, 2025Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanCopyright © 2021 by Oliver BurkemanUsed by permission of Farrar, Straus and GirouxAll Rights ReservedCharlotte's Web © 1952 by E.B. White, courtesy of HarperCollins PublishersThe Man Who Mistook His Wife For A HatCopyright © 1985, Oliver SacksAll Rights ReservedLittle Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, copyright © 2017 by Celeste NgPublished by Penguin Random House US

Listen to author and critic Erica Wagner in conversation with Florence Knapp, writer of “The Names”, her debut novel published by Phoenix in 2025, and recently published in French by JC Lattès. In her novel, Florence Knapp tells the story of a family marked by domestic abuse and explores the theme of identity—what a name means to someone and how it defines a person. As the conversation unfolds, Florence Knapp mentions her literary influences and the rejection of her first manuscript.As part of the Rendez-vous littéraires rue Cambon [Literary Rendezvous at Rue Cambon], the podcast “les Rencontres” highlights first time women novelists.(00:00) Introduction(00:56) Presentation of Florence Knapp and her novel “The Names” by Erica Wagner(03:57) On the author's path to becoming a writer(05:08) On her interest in paper piecing(06:27) The rejection of her first manuscript(08:58) On the challenges she encountered writing “The Names”(10:09) The publication process of her novel(13:17) Reading an extract of “The Names” by Florence Knapp(16:31) The writing process of her novel(19:09) On how craftsmanship inspires her(20:40) The difficulty to write about domestic abuse(23:34) On her literary influences(25:58) The reception of the book(28:36) The ending questionnaire of “Les Rencontres”Florence Knapp, The Names © The Orion Publishing Group, 2025Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanCopyright © 2021 by Oliver BurkemanUsed by permission of Farrar, Straus and GirouxAll Rights ReservedCharlotte's Web © 1952 by E.B. White, courtesy of HarperCollins PublishersThe Man Who Mistook His Wife For A HatCopyright © 1985, Oliver SacksAll Rights ReservedLittle Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, copyright © 2017 by Celeste NgPublished by Penguin Random House US

How POV Affects Your Story PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price.) Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details.  Write in the Harbor conference is coming up (2 presentations to prep for) feeling some feelings lately about the finality of the move and the recognition of Last Times I Will See/Do ...  Also having some "Get over it" feelings about not showing up online. I used to show up more in pictures and words on social media and blogged (wrote a lot of personal essays), and since I've become a published author (Erick):  running google ads and qualifying potential clients polishing stories up for omnibus edition Ghost Story Weekend (Newport) What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:   The Witch of Willow Sound Wild Dark Shore (Charlotte McConaghy) Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick:  • Summer of Night (Dan Simmons) My Favorite Thing is Monsters (gn)   Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: POV = promise: what intimacy, information, and bias will the reader get? • 1st = interiority + voice; close 3rd = balance of interior/exterior; omniscient = scope + theme. The camera test: what can the narrator see/know/believe in this scene? • Ban anything they couldn't realistically perceive; use misbeliefs to create tension. Distance is a dial, not a switch: • Zoom in (sensory, thought-beat, micro-movements) for emotion; zoom out (summary, context) for pace/theme. POV shifts = scene breaks + reason: • Change only to add net new conflict, clue, or consequence. Track continuity of diction and metaphor. Try this: rewrite a 200-word scene in 1st, close 3rd, and omniscient. • Ask: which version delivers the most tension, clarity, and theme resonance?   And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

TLDR  EA is a community where time tracking is already very common and yet most people I talk to don't because It's too much work (when using toggl, clockify, ...) It's not accurate enough (when using RescueTime, rize, ...) I built https://donethat.ai that solves both of these with AI as part of AIM's Founding to Give program. It's live on Product Hunt today, please support it. You should probably track your time I'd argue that for most people, your time is your most valuable resource.[1] Even though your day has 24 hours, eight of those are already used up for sleep, another eight probably for social life, gym, food prep and eating, life admin, commute, leaving max eight hours to have impact. Oliver Burkeman argues in his recent book Meditations for Mortals that eight is still too high - most high impact work gets done in four hours [...] ---Outline:(00:11) TLDR(00:40) You should probably track your time(02:21) It just got easier--- First published: October 14th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/wt8gKaH9usKy3LQmK/you-should-probably-track-your-time-and-it-just-got-easier --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

Write in @ FFWC23@gmail.com we need those questions!On this weeks War Council we talk the week 6 battles, with those winners and losers.   we also make our week 7 Pick em and talk News all while i have NO voice! im sooo sorry Mortals.

Main Topic:  Finding Voice and Author Identity Through Social Media, with guest Anne Abel. PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Also, the Planner Plays and Monthly Reflections are always free for all members on my Patreon page. But I don't list them as Public", so click correct tier for updated links, dates, and cancellations.  Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Magic Mind Mental Performance Shot and Sleep Shot. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 ***   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price.) Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details.  Write in the Harbor conference is coming up  (Erick):  running google ads and qualifying potential clients polishing stories up for omnibus edition Anne: book launch  What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:    Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick:  Down the River Unto the Sea (Walter Moseley) Summer of Night (Dan Simmons)   Anne's Read: YellowFace, Entitlement (Aman) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes: Anne's IG page: instagram.com/annesimaabel   Memoir and social media are the same to me in terms of what I'm posting; openly share about mental health (that how I began); by sharing stories and share hope Shorter the better (video on IG and TikTok). 3 minutes max.  Innovation and Hope TED Talk, social media opened up my world (origin story, transformation, be proud of); ideas: say YES; do your best  Reels, hook, social media isn't writing -- talk about what excites you instead of focusing on writer's block.  Just do your best.   And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

(Valerie): launching my four-month book coaching container Aligned Author TODAY. The price is drastically cut this week (it's $667 off the regular price, and for 24 hours only starting now, the paid in full price -- with an extra whole month of coaching for free and ANOTHER LIVE discount on top-- is $1333 for FIVE months of coaching. The price will never be this low again. There is also a monthly payment option. Go to valerieihsan.com/alignedauthor for all the details. The replay to last night's masterclass The Alchemy of Memory is up for another 24 hours, and then it goes away, along with the LIVE Launch price. Aligned Author officially starts on Wednesday, October 22nd, so the special Launch price will be in affect only until then. Secret podcast is in the works (it's actually a secret memoir). Working on two at the same time (in true Generator, Aries, Futurist fashion): Pura Vida Bound project chronicling our move to Costa Rica (never written a live memoir before), and this secret one that I'm not ready to talk about. getting rid of furniture and starting to paint inside this week; Ali's been working on touching up the paint outside and painting the fascia boards for under the new gutters. Hired the shipping company, our shipping pickup date is December 15 (a Monday), and then we'll leave after that. Getting ready for our going away party, doubling as Rental Ready date. Write in the Harbor conference is coming up (still need to rental a place for that!) (Erick):  What are you reading? Valerie:  Just finished:    Sounds Like Love (Ashley Poston) Creative Act (Rick Rubin)  (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman;  Erick: Voice of the Fire (Alan Moore) Lost in the Dark (Brad Weismann) Gettysburg: The Last Invasion   Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1:  Tidbit #2:    Segment 3 (Main Topic):   Notes:   And don't forget: Go to valerieihsan.com to schedule a free consultation to see if Aligned Author is right for you.   Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance   Find Us:   Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)

What if the key to a meaningful life isn't doing more—but doing less, with intention? In this powerful conversation, Michael and Megan talk with Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals, about the myths of productivity, the illusion of control, and why accepting our finite nature might be the best thing we can do for our peace, purpose, and productivity.Memorable Quotes“It's the relaxation of now I can just do the things that matter the most… I can just sort of dive in because I'm no longer trying to make all my actions feel like they are part of some process of eventually getting to total domination of my time and perfect optimization.”“You are being confronted again with this ridiculous thing that it is to be a human—which is to be capable of imagining basically an infinite amount of possibilities and eventualities, but ultimately being a sort of finite material animal and having to choose only some of them.”“Almost everybody who is trying to sort of optimize themselves into absolute control, you know, they're not succeeding. Life is miserable and they're letting people down all over the place.”“There isn't any system or philosophy or approach or sports nutrition drink that is going to enable you to sort of win the battle with human limitation… Now, we figure out how to flourish in absolutely fantastic and wonderfully meaningful and interesting and lucrative ways within those limitations rather than running away from them.”“There's a way of going with the flow that is actually more constructive and productive as well as more peaceful and meaningful.”“I really found that just sort of expecting discomfort from things that matter to me—whether that is a piece of work or an aspect of relationships or parenting—just knowing that it's going to feel uncomfortable sometimes because it's bringing me to my edge and my limitations makes a huge, huge difference.”“A lot of our productivity is the result of anxiety. And I would like to live a productive life for other reasons.”Key TakeawaysRadical Acceptance is Key. Once you stop trying to win the battle with your human limitations, everything changes.Distraction is Avoidance in Disguise. Most often, we're dodging discomfort—and the way out lies in tolerating discomfort.Optimization is Not Salvation. We think we can problem-solve our lives, but tools and systems will always fall short. They're meant to augment, not make us infinite.Meaning is Here, Now. The moments that build a life don't happen  when everything is done—but in the doing itself.Resources4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanMeditations for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanThe Imperfectionist (Newsletter)Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/571YmI5h_CsThis episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Author Oliver Burkeman shares how to be effective while accepting our limitsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast, we're welcoming Barry Ritholtz. He's co-founder, chairman, and chief investment officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, a firm that was launched in 2013. He's the creator and host of Masters in Business, one of the earliest finance-related podcasts. He also regularly posts on The Big Picture, where he's been covering everything investing related since 2003. He is the author of Bailout Nation, and his latest book, How Not to Invest: The Ideas, Numbers, and Behaviors That Destroy Wealth—and How to Avoid Them, has just been published.Background and BooksBarry Ritholtz LinkedInRitholtz Wealth ManagementBailout Nation: How Greed and Easy Money Corrupted Wall Street and Shook the World Economy, with New Post-Crisis UpdateHow Not to Invest: The ideas, numbers, and behavior that destroy wealth—and how to avoid themPodcasts and MoreMasters in Business podcastThe Big Picture“Masters in Business - Ray Dalio Full Show,” Masters in Business podcast, Nov. 30, 2018“An Interview With Ken Feinberg: Masters in Business,” Masters in Business podcast, Oct. 9, 2015“MiB: Charley Ellis on Rethinking Investing,” Masters in Business podcast, Feb. 21, 2025“Why Fear Is an Investor's Worst Enemy” by Samantha Lamas from the 2017 Morningstar ETF Conference, Morningstar.com, Sept. 12, 2017“Rabbithole: What Do People Get Wrong About Money?” The Big Picture, March 10, 2025“It's Been 40 Years Since Our Cover Story Declared ‘The Death of Equities,' ” by Peter Coy, Bloomberg, Aug. 13, 2019ReadingsWinning the Loser's Game: Timeless Strategies for Successful Investing, Eighth Edition, by Charles D. EllisExpert Political Judgment: How Good Is It? How Can We Know?, by Philip E. TetlockFour Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver BurkemanPrinciples, by Ray Dalio

Oliver Burkeman is a British writer and former Guardian columnist best known for Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, exploring how accepting life's limits beats chasing productivity hacks.We recorded this right before Oliver's show, crammed into his dressing room at the Assembly Rooms. It's intimate, honest, and very Origin Story: where did these ideas come from, and how do they shape a life you're proud of? Oliver (author of 4,000 Weeks) takes us past productivity hacks to acceptance, attention, and the power of choosing enough.In this episodeThe efficiency trap: why getting faster just attracts more work“Life task”: finding your next right thing with the resources you actually havePlanning that breathes (navigation, not micromanagement)Daily-ish over streaks—the kinder path to consistencyHobbies done for their own sake (the case for atelic joy)Attention over productivity: designing a week that actually feels goodAI, inboxes, and why “caught up” is a myth--Tell me in the comments: what would you cut this week if you truly accepted you'll never be on top of everything?Support the showEarly access & bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/davidmcintoshjrFollow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmcintoshjr

In this episode of The Puck, Jim Baer sits down with acclaimed author and journalist Oliver Burkeman, whose books Four Thousand Weeks and The Antidote have reshaped how we think about time, productivity, and perfectionism. Oliver introduces ideas from his forthcoming book Meditations for Mortals, exploring how embracing our human limitations—rather than denying them—opens the path to deeper meaning and accomplishment. From the illusion of “getting on top of everything,” to the paradox of slowing down in a productivity-obsessed culture, Oliver offers insights drawn from philosophy, spirituality, and his own journey. Together, Jim and Oliver reflect on mortality, imperfectionism, and how practices like patience, Sabbath rest, and journaling can help us live saner, more fulfilling lives.

GREETINGS, MORTALS! Enjoy another interlude episode—an adaptation of this month's FORECAST from the Scriptorium! Magickal predictions, dispensed FOR FREE! With bonus commentary, that those who merely read, shall NE'ER EXPERIENCE. I shall publish these each month, 'til Wintertide, when hopefully we shall have a packet of PROPER PODCASTS to unleash as an especial Yule gift!Be sure to join our Scriptorium at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blog.wizworldlive.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Oliver Burkeman is a journalist, author and former “productivity geek.” His bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals outlines a saner approach to managing your time in a world of never-ending demands and distractions.  On this week's episode of Everyday Better, Oliver explains why all of the tools and techniques meant to save us time and maximize our productivity ultimately make us feel more stressed and short on time. Oliver argues that the only time management technique that works involves recognizing that you'll never feel on top of things. But once you accept that, you can actually start crossing things off of your to-do list—and he has strategies for how to do that as well. If you liked this episode, check out Leah's exercise for taking control of your calendar through “time crafting.”Follow Leah Smart and Oliver Burkeman on LinkedIn.

What if you were declared dead—only to wake up alive? In this haunting episode of The Mortals, I'm Nathan Morris, your guide through life's darkest edges, uncovering a true story that defies logic. Dive into the chilling mystery of a person pronounced deceased, placed in a coffin, and then shockingly revived, as if pulled back by an unseen force. As a mortician, I've seen death's finality, and as a musician, I've felt its echoes in my songs—but this tale left me questioning everything. What happened in those lost moments? Was it a medical miracle, or something beyond our understanding? Join me to explore this eerie encounter and the whispers of the unknown. If this story grips you, share your thoughts or your own unexplainable experiences in the comments. Find more shadows at nathanmorrismusic.com. #NearDeath #TrueMystery #ParanormalThe Mortals Podcast is sponsored by Descript: https://get.descript.com/mortals Try POPPY AI: https://tr.ee/EIaE14______________________________

Patreon backer Alex brings you this special episode that I had a really hard time coming up with a name for, which might explain why this post, the recording and the file name are all different! If you're enjoying the show, why not consider supporting it on Patreon? You'll get access to lots of new bonus content, including my other podcast, Patron Deities! Thanks to Ray Otus for our thumbnail image. The intro music is a clip from "Solve the Damn Mystery" by Jesse Spillane, used under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

The British author and journalist Oliver Burkeman has spent decades pondering what it means to live a meaningful life, both in his former Guardian column “This Column WIll Change Your Life” and across several books—most recently, Meditations for Mortals, out in paperback this October. That's why he brings a healthy dose of skepticism to so-called “time management” systems and productivity hacks as a means toward true fulfillment. Burkeman's compelled by the notion that, rather than being separate from time, human beings are time. If people faced the reality of their limited time on the planet head on, he believes there's a real chance to experience greater, more engaged feelings of aliveness.On the episode—our Season 12 kick-off—Burkeman discusses why he's eschewing  perfectionism and finding unexpected liberation in the premise that, to some extent, the worst has already happened, and the best may still be ahead.Special thanks to our Season 11 presenting sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes:Oliver Burkeman[4:26] “Meditations for Mortals” (2024)[6:48] Donald Winnicott[7:46] Martin Heidegger[7:46] "Technics and Civilization" (2010)[7:46] “Being and Time” (1927)[7:46] “Time Warrior” (2011)[7:46] “Time Surfing” (2017)[7:46] “Anti-Time Management” (2022)[10:14] Medieval peasants[10:14] “The 4-Hour Workweek”[13:18] Alicja Kwade[19:23] “Ichi-go, ichi-e” (“one time, one meeting”)[22:00] Eckhart Tolle[22:36] Agnes Martin[23:28] “The Road Not Taken”[40:03] “This Column Will Change Your Life”[51:00] Nicholas Carr[51:00] Clay Shirky[53:40] Jennifer Roberts[59:04] Pomodoro Technique [59:13] Kanban[1:01:33] James Hollis[1:02:40] Alfred Adler[1:02:40] “The Courage to Be Disliked” (2024)[1:06:24] Stoicism

What if you didn't have to finish everything to finally rest? In this Meditations for Mortals sleep hypnosis, inspired by Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks, you'll be guided to set aside the endless to-do list and surrender into peace.This session is an invitation to let go of striving, to accept that tonight you are already enough, and to drift into effortless sleep. Safe, seen, and free — this is where rest begins.

Two people died... and came back with chilling stories of ghostly voices guiding them from the brink. In this gripping episode of The Mortals, we dive into the terrifying near-death experiences of Monique Garrett, a nurse who collapsed in a haunted hospital basement in Detroit, and Luis Benavidez, a chef trapped in a deadly kitchen fire in San Antonio. Both were clinically dead for minutes—Monique for 7, Luis for over 4—yet survived against all odds after mysterious figures spoke to them with cryptic messages of purpose. Who were these spectral saviors? Were they guardians tied to these tragic places, or something else entirely? Join host Nathan Morris as we unravel these real, bone-chilling accounts of survival and the unexplainable.

In this captivating episode, "Story of the Gods" takes you to the heart of Central Africa, to the land of the Boloki people where life was once endless. Journey with us back to a time before death, when the great god Njambe descended to Earth with a monumental test. In his hands, he held two bundles: one contained the ultimate gift of eternal life, and the other, the glittering treasures of the world.Join us as we recount the pivotal decision that sealed the fate of all humanity. Will the villagers choose the timeless promise of immortality, or will they be swayed by the dazzling allure of mortal riches? Discover the profound consequences of their choice, the bittersweet arrival of mortality, and the timeless lesson of Njambe's test.This is more than a story—it's a warning from the past about the price of desire and the value of what we truly cherish. Tune in to "The Choice of Mortals" and explore the moment when a single decision changed the world forever.

Welcome to a chilling episode of The Mortals, where we dive into the raw edges of life, death, and the unexplainable. In "Whispers in the Silence," host Nathan Morris uncovers two true near-death experiences that will leave you questioning reality. First, meet Zack Clements, a teenage athlete whose heart stopped for 20 minutes—only to return with a haunting vision. Then, follow firefighter Jake White, trapped in a burning collapse, guided by a mysterious voice to survive against all odds. Were these miracles, or something beyond our understanding? Join us as we explore these stories of survival and the whispers that pulled them back from the brink.

Welcome to a chilling double feature on The Mortals with Nathan Morris, where we dive into the raw, unexplainable edges of life and death. In this episode, 'Whispers from Beyond: Two Lives Returned,' we uncover two true stories of near-death experiences that defy science. First, travel to Soviet Georgia in 1976, where Dr. George Rodonaia died for over 45 minutes after a tragic accident, only to return with a message from his deceased brother. Then, step into Berlin in 2003, where journalist Christine Maier flatlined for 30 minutes and faced her father's silent question from beyond. How did they survive? Who—or what—brought them back?Join us as we explore these haunting tales of survival, mystery, and the unknown. If you've ever experienced something unexplainable—a near-death moment or a mysterious intervention—share your story with The Mortals community. Subscribe now for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday, and hit the bell for notifications so you don't miss a single chill. Become a member for early access, bonus content, and exclusive behind-the-scenes at nathanmorrismusic.comThe Mortals Podcast is sponsored by Descript: https://get.descript.com/mortals Try POPPY AI: https://tr.ee/EIaE14______________________________

Dive into the shadows of life's rawest moments with The Mortals. In this gripping episode, we uncover the haunting true stories of two men—Franz Reichelt and Walter Griggs—who faced death in extraordinary ways. In 1912 Paris, Franz, a grief-driven tailor, leaps from the Eiffel Tower with a self-made parachute suit, desperate to defy gravity and honor a lost brother, only to meet a tragic fate. Decades later, in 1991 Miami, Walter, a lonely data clerk, survives a deadly inferno in the DuPont Building, guided by a mysterious voice no one else hears. These chilling tales explore the razor-thin line between life and death, the unseen forces that might intervene, and the relentless human spirit in the face of despair.Join host Nathan Morris as we unravel these stories of ambition, loss, and survival. Have you ever felt a whisper in your darkest moment? Share your story with us. Hit that subscribe button, turn on notifications, and step into the unknown with The Mortals.The Mortals Podcast is sponsored by Descript:⁠⁠ https://get.descript.com/mortals ⁠⁠Try POPPY AI: ⁠⁠https://tr.ee/EIaE14⁠⁠______________________________

Welcome to The Mortals, where we tear down the walls between life, death, and the chilling unknown. In this haunting episode, "Frozen, Forgotten... and Still Breathing," we dive into two true, lesser-known survival stories that defy all logic. First, journey to a frozen creek bed in Utah, 1981, where a young woman is found frozen solid—legally dead—yet somehow breathes again. Then, venture into the shadowy forests of British Columbia, 2019, where a hiker vanishes for days, only to reappear miles away, guided by a mysterious voice in the trees. How did they survive against impossible odds? What unseen force pulled them back from the brink? Join host Nathan Morris as we explore these bone-chilling tales of near-death and unexplainable intervention.

Today Chris raises the question expressed in the title of this episode. Enthusiasts for Artificial Intelligence promise that chatbots will make everyone more efficient and productive--even novelists and scholars. But is that really possible considering what history's most famous creatives tell us about how they went about their work? People who've looked into their daily routines such as Oliver Burkeman (author of, Four Thousand Weeks, Time Management for Mortals) and Mason Currey (author of, Daily Rituals) inform us that people like Charles Darwin and Flannery O'Connor only worked 3 to 4 hours a day on the things we remember them for. The rest of the time they did other things--mostly unrelated. So, would they have gotten more done with the help of artificial intelligence? The Pugs have their doubts. Tune in and find out why. Support the Theology Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8 Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/ Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/ Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Today Chris raises the question expressed in the title of this episode. Enthusiasts for Artificial Intelligence promise that chatbots will make everyone more efficient and productive--even novelists and scholars. But is that really possible considering what history's most famous creatives tell us about how they went about their work? People who've looked into their daily routines such as Oliver Burkeman (author of, Four Thousand Weeks, Time Management for Mortals) and Mason Currey (author of, Daily Rituals) inform us that people like Charles Darwin and Flannery O'Connor only worked 3 to 4 hours a day on the things we remember them for. The rest of the time they did other things--mostly unrelated. So, would they have gotten more done with the help of artificial intelligence? The Pugs have their doubts. Tune in and find out why.Support the Theology Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Welcome to a chilling episode of The Mortals, where we tear down the walls between life and death to uncover real stories of survival against impossible odds. In "Jaws of the Wild & Sands of Fate," we dive into two harrowing tales that will leave you questioning the forces that decide who lives and who doesn't. First, journey to the gator-infested swamps of Florida, where a wildlife photographer faces a nightmare attack that costs him dearly. Then, trek into the slot canyons of Utah, where a romantic hike turns deadly as quicksand threatens to swallow a life whole. How did they survive? Was it luck, will, or something beyond understanding? Join host Nathan Morris as we explore these gripping accounts, peeling back the layers of terror and mystery.

Dive into the chilling unknown with The Mortals as we uncover two true stories of survival against impossible odds. On July 7, 2005, a London commuter faces the terror of the 7/7 bombings deep underground, while on December 26, 2004, a fisherman in Aceh, Indonesia, battles the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. How did they endure when everything seemed lost? These lesser-known accounts will leave you questioning the forces that guide us through life's darkest moments. Join host Nathan Morris for tales of near-death and mysterious intervention that linger long after the episode ends.