Podcasts about mtp

Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season is here, and the Missing the Point crew unloads on one of the most chaotic weeks the league has seen in years. Dave, Mike, Bobby, and Rayshawn break down the fallout from a Week 15 that completely reshaped the playoff picture and may have permanently altered multiple franchises. It starts with the injuries. The ACL gods showed no mercy. Patrick Mahomes is done for the season, ending the Chiefs’ playoff hopes in brutal fashion. Micah Parsons goes down, ripping the heart out of Green Bay’s defense. Davante Adams, Devin Neal, and several other key contributors leave games early, forcing contenders to scramble as the season enters its final stretch. The crew debates whether this was bad luck, bad field conditions, or just the inevitable price of a longer and more violent NFL season. Then comes the moment that broke everyone’s brain. Philip Rivers is back. The Colts are handing the offense to a quarterback who retired years ago, and the crew reacts with disbelief, laughter, and real football analysis. Is this desperation or genius. Can Rivers still read defenses. Can he survive a hit. And what does this say about the Colts’ confidence in the rest of their roster. From there, the episode hits the Cowboys’ slow collapse, the Chiefs being mathematically cooked, the Ravens living dangerously on the playoff bubble, and the Panthers, Texans, and Steelers trying to survive December football. The Patriots winning streak came to an end, thanks to a dreadful defenseive preformance in the second half vs the Bills, while the Broncos continue to look like the most complete team in the league. The episode closes with a full breakdown of the Real BK Top 10 Power Rankings heading into Week 16. Texans, Chargers, Jaguars, 49ers, Bears, Seahawks, Patriots, Bills, Rams, and Broncos. Every spot is debated, every rise and fall explained, and no team is safe from criticism. If you want real NFL conversations, sharp humor, and power rankings that actually react to what happens on the field, this episode delivers. Follow Missing the Point:Website: https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPodX: https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPod

Full Episode - Trump Is Exhibiting 25th Amendment Behavior + How To Get Money Out Of Politics For Good Chuck Todd takes a hard look at Donald Trump’s increasingly egregious behavior and the growing questions surrounding his cognitive fitness for the presidency, sparked by a recent post that crossed a line even for many on the right. He asks what would happen if any other public figure behaved this way, why similar concerns about Biden’s decline were openly discussed while Trump’s are often brushed aside, and whether the country is getting a straight story about the former president’s health. With no clear guardrails, no apparent filters, and staff either unable or unwilling to intervene, the episode raises uncomfortable but urgent questions about judgment, accountability, and risk. Then, Jeff Clements, CEO of American Promise joins Chuck for a deep dive into one of the most consequential—and misunderstood—threats to American democracy: money in politics. Clements argues that today’s campaign finance dysfunction isn’t a failure of legislation but a court-created crisis, tracing how Supreme Court rulings turned money into speech, opened massive loopholes, and shifted lawmaking power from Congress to the judiciary. From McCain-Feingold to super PACs, the conversation unpacks why courts have repeatedly blocked reform efforts and why the problem isn’t free speech itself, but the unchecked amplification that allows wealth to drown out everyone else. The discussion turns to whether a constitutional amendment is the only viable path forward, how such an amendment could reclaim authority from the courts, and what it would take to build support across 38 states. Drawing parallels to the Gilded Age and the founders’ obsession with corruption, Clements explains why Americans broadly understand the system is broken—even if it’s hard to make campaign finance a voting issue. In a moment of democratic crisis, he makes the case that meaningful reform is still possible, and that restoring political equality could become a rare point of unity in a deeply polarized era. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 book recommendations for political junkies and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Money in politics has gotten out of control 03:45 North Carolina senate race will likely cost a billion dollars 04:30 One outside group can spend more than both campaigns combined 05:00 An amendment is the only way get campaign finance past judiciary 05:45 The judiciary has legislated campaign finance from the bench 07:30 Does the latest outrage over Trump’s Reiner tweet mean anything? 08:30 Trump’s post was a bridge too far for even some on the right 09:00 If any of us posted that, it would cost us jobs, relationships & more 10:30 At what point is Trump’s behavior 25th amendment type alarming? 11:15 Either his staff said something & he ignored it, or nobody said anything 12:15 Biden’s mental decline was apparent 14:00 Judging Trump’s mental decline is harder due to erratic behavior 17:15 It’s possible Trump feared one of his supporters murdered Reiner 18:00 Having a president with no filter should concern every American 19:15 You have to wonder if Trump is all there, all the time 21:00 We aren’t getting a straight story about Trump’s health 22:30 Concerns people on the right had about Biden, are happening w/Trump 23:45 Trump’s behavior is bad for the country & the Republican party 25:00 Voters will punish the GOP if they feel Trump’s decline was covered up 26:45 This story is only going to get worse as time goes on 28:30 New polling out on voters opinions & thoughts on corruption 29:15 What voters think corruption actually means 32:15 The voters are more sophisticated on corruption than politicians are 33:30 Large majorities thought government serves the rich & businesses 35:00 There’s an appetite for government & democracy reform 36:15 Majority of independents saw corruption in both Trump & Biden admins 37:30 Framing issues through lens of corruption could resonate 38:45 Connecting affordability to corruption could be very effective 46:00 Jeff Clements joins the Chuck ToddCast 47:15 Constitutional amendment the only way to get money out of politics? 48:30 Campaign finance problems are a “court created crisis” 50:00 The Supreme Court created all the campaign finance loopholes 50:45 If money wasn’t speech, is McCain-Feingold good legislation? 51:30 Money will always “find a way” in politics 54:45 Courts have stood in the way of campaign finance reform 55:15 How to word an amendment to take this power away from judiciary 59:00 Is there a first amendment argument against amplification? 1:00:00 Money in politics isn’t a free speech issue, it’s an amplification issue 1:04:30 Maine had a $5000 limit on PACs, was knocked down by courts 1:05:15 Courts ruled that money can’t corrupt when it’s clear they can 1:06:45 Court could rule that limits apply to PACs & campaigns, or rule no limits 1:07:45 The court has created many contradictions in campaign finance 1:08:45 A court ruling won’t fix the problem, an amendment would 1:09:15 Most campaign finance law has been written by judiciary 1:11:00 It’s difficult to make campaign finance a voting issue 1:13:15 The American people understand that the system is corrupted 1:17:15 There are many similarities between the Gilded Age & now 1:18:45 We’ll should see see several amendments in the next decade 1:20:15 Need 38 states for amendment, what’s the biggest hurdle? 1:21:30 A states rights argument would be very persuasive to legislatures 1:23:00 Free speech doesn’t mean you get to drown out everyone else 1:26:00 Money equaling speech has made money equal power 1:29:00 The founders were obsessed with corruption, led to the revolution 1:30:00 Limiting campaign finance is perceived to help the left over the right 1:33:15 Could a presidential candidate galvanize the debate? 1:33:45 The president & governors have no constitutional role in the process 1:36:00 The goal is to leave a well-informed electorate & building support 1:37:15 Are there any super wealthy donors who support these reforms? 1:39:15 This is a crisis for our democracy but could create an opportunity 1:41:00 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jeff Clements 1:42:30 ToddCast Top 5 books for your reading list 1:43:00 #5 The Drift by Kevin Hassett 1:46:30 #4 Mark Twain by Ron Chernow 1:48:30 #3 The Barn by Wright Thompson 1:50:00 #2 107 Days by Kamala Harris 1:52:30 #1 Fateful Hours by Volker Ullrich 1:55:00 Ask Chuck 1:55:15 Appreciation for the quick reaction videos/pods 1:58:15 Omission of “Citizen Kang” from Simpsons time machine segment 2:00:00 Could a Democrat win the Florida senate race? 2:04:00 Why don’t reporters challenge Trump to his face about his behavior? 2:10:45 Why haven’t Democrats leaned into breaking up big monopolies? 2:15:45 How has interview prep changed from MTP to now?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd takes a hard look at Donald Trump’s increasingly egregious behavior and the growing questions surrounding his cognitive fitness for the presidency, sparked by a recent post that crossed a line even for many on the right. He asks what would happen if any other public figure behaved this way, why similar concerns about Biden’s decline were openly discussed while Trump’s are often brushed aside, and whether the country is getting a straight story about the former president’s health. With no clear guardrails, no apparent filters, and staff either unable or unwilling to intervene, the episode raises uncomfortable but urgent questions about judgment, accountability, and risk. He also examines recent polling on the issue of corruption, and why it could be a potent electoral issue if messaged correctly. Finally, Chuck gives his ToddCast Top 5 book recommendations for political junkies and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/CHUCK for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Money in politics has gotten out of control 03:45 North Carolina senate race will likely cost a billion dollars 04:30 One outside group can spend more than both campaigns combined 05:00 An amendment is the only way get campaign finance past judiciary 05:45 The judiciary has legislated campaign finance from the bench 07:30 Does the latest outrage over Trump’s Reiner tweet mean anything? 08:30 Trump’s post was a bridge too far for even some on the right 09:00 If any of us posted that, it would cost us jobs, relationships & more 10:30 At what point is Trump’s behavior 25th amendment type alarming? 11:15 Either his staff said something & he ignored it, or nobody said anything 12:15 Biden’s mental decline was apparent 14:00 Judging Trump’s mental decline is harder due to erratic behavior 17:15 It’s possible Trump feared one of his supporters murdered Reiner 18:00 Having a president with no filter should concern every American 19:15 You have to wonder if Trump is all there, all the time 21:00 We aren’t getting a straight story about Trump’s health 22:30 Concerns people on the right had about Biden, are happening w/Trump 23:45 Trump’s behavior is bad for the country & the Republican party 25:00 Voters will punish the GOP if they feel Trump’s decline was covered up 26:45 This story is only going to get worse as time goes on 28:30 New polling out on voters opinions & thoughts on corruption 29:15 What voters think corruption actually means 32:15 The voters are more sophisticated on corruption than politicians are 33:30 Large majorities thought government serves the rich & businesses 35:00 There’s an appetite for government & democracy reform 36:15 Majority of independents saw corruption in both Trump & Biden admins 37:30 Framing issues through lens of corruption could resonate 38:45 Connecting affordability to corruption could be very effective 45:45 ToddCast Top 5 books for your reading list 46:15 #5 The Drift by Kevin Hassett 49:45 #4 Mark Twain by Ron Chernow 51:45 #3 The Barn by Wright Thompson 53:15 #2 107 Days by Kamala Harris 55:45 #1 Fateful Hours by Volker Ullrich 58:15 Ask Chuck 58:30 Appreciation for the quick reaction videos/pods 1:01:30 Omission of “Citizen Kang” from Simpsons time machine segment 1:03:15 Could a Democrat win the Florida senate race? 1:07:15 Why don’t reporters challenge Trump to his face about his behavior? 1:14:00 Why haven’t Democrats leaned into breaking up big monopolies? 1:19:00 How has interview prep changed from MTP to now?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The whole crew is back as Week 15 arrives. Dave, Mike, Bobby, and Rayshawn react to one of the strangest NFL stories in years. The Colts are bringing back Philip Rivers. The crew explains why Indianapolis turned to a quarterback who last played when TikTok was still optional and why this move could change the AFC playoff race. New England stays on top. Ten wins in a row. The Patriots look like a complete team. The crew breaks down Drake Maye’s growth, Vrabel’s command of the roster, and the defense that keeps winning important downs. They also look at how the Patriots match up with the Broncos, Bills, and Rams as the postseason gets closer. Dallas hits another wall. The Lions knock them down again. The crew debates whether the Cowboys have any real chance to sneak into the playoffs or if this season has reached the point of no return. Detroit looks confident, physical, and built for December football. Cross offs expand again as the Jets, Titans, Saints, Raiders, Cardinals, Giants, Commanders, Falcons, and Vikings all fall fully out of the playoff picture. The crew debates which bubble teams are next and which ones still have a small chance to survive. Every team in the Real BK Power Rankings gets a clear breakdown. The Chargers and Jaguars keep pace. The 49ers, Bears, and Packers remain dangerous. The Seahawks, Bills, and Rams climb at the right time. The Broncos keep winning close games. The Patriots stay at number one with a complete roster and real momentum. This episode gives sharp analysis, clear opinions, and quick humor as the league heads into the final stretch of the season. 00:00 The Shocking Return of Philip Rivers to the Indianapolis Colts 08:12 Dallas Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes Dim After Lions Loss 19:20 Uncrossing the Jags and Debating Playoff Bubble Teams 25:13 Bengals, Ravens, and the Future of Tomlin and Harbaugh 39:36 The Houston Texans Emerge as a Surprising Playoff Dark Horse 48:52 Why the Houston Texans Are a Nightmare Matchup for the Patriots 01:01:14 Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson Lead the Chicago Bears’ Resurgence 01:18:25 Jordan Love, Sam Darnold, and the Evolving NFL Quarterback Landscape 01:29:57 AFC Showdown, Patriots vs. Bills and Playoff Implications Stay connected with MTP.YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPodX: https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPodWebsite: https://www.mtpshow.com

This week on Missing the Point, Dave Clarke and Bob Kelly deliver a full, detailed breakdown of the NFL landscape as Week 14 of the 2025 season begins. This is one of the most in-depth power-ranking episodes of the year, packed with analysis of team performance, quarterback play, coaching decisions, playoff odds, and the shifting tiers across the AFC and NFC. Dave and Bobby open with the NFL Coaching Hot Seat Rankings, a list shaped by performance, roster construction, and midseason collapses. Pete Carroll leads the list after another stagnant week from the Raiders. Jonathan Gannon remains under pressure in Arizona. Raheem Morris faces major questions in Atlanta after another disappointing loss. Kevin Stefanski’s offense continues to underperform in Cleveland. Zac Taylor rounds out the five as Cincinnati searches for stability with Burrow returning. They also break down honorable mentions including Mike McDaniel, Mike Tomlin, and Jim Harbaugh and what each needs to do to stay off the list. The show moves into the official MTP Cross-Off List, covering teams already eliminated from serious playoff discussion: Jets, Titans, Saints, Dolphins, Browns, Raiders, Cardinals, Giants, and Commanders. Dave and Bobby explain why each team reached this point, focusing on quarterback regression, defensive breakdowns, coaching issues, and roster health. They follow with possible Week 14 cross-offs such as the Falcons, Vikings, Bengals, Steelers, and Chiefs, with a segment on how late-season collapses start and what trends signal a team is finished. Dave and Bobby then break down the biggest stories of Week 13 and how they reshape the league entering Week 14. They evaluate every major contender: • Why the Patriots continue to look like the best team in football, powered by Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel’s discipline, and a top-five defense• How the Bears have become one of the NFC’s most complete teams with wins over the Eagles and a rising defense• A look at why the Broncos keep winning tight games and whether they’re built for playoff football• The Rams’ surprising loss to Carolina and what it means for the NFC West• Why the Bills’ dominant win over Pittsburgh shows they’re hitting their stride at the right time• The Seahawks’ rebound after blowing out Minnesota• The Lions sliding in and out of top-seven status after a loss to the Packers• The Jaguars returning to form behind strong run game and defense• The Colts missing a huge opportunity against Houston and how that affects playoff seeding• How the Panthers have quietly re-entered the playoff discussion in the NFC They close with the full BK Top Ten Power Rankings heading into Week 14: Patriots (10-2) Bears (9-3) Broncos (10-2) Rams (9-3) 49ers (9-4) Bills (8-4) Lions (7-5) Seahawks (9-3) Jaguars (8-4) Cowboys (6-5-1) / Packers (8-3-1) / Eagles (8-4) / Colts (8-4) Dave and Bobby finish with predictions for Week 14, discussion on playoff tiebreakers, and which teams control their path. They also revisit the Patriots, Eagles, Cowboys, Broncos, Steelers, Chiefs, Lions, and Bears and lay out what each must fix before December ends.   Follow the show:Website: https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter (X): https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPodContact: craig@mtpshow.com

It is Thanksgiving week in the NFL and Dave Clarke and Bob Kelly bring you a full breakdown of every major storyline shaping Week 13. This episode covers the biggest Thanksgiving matchups, the updated NFL Power Rankings, and the teams making real playoff pushes as the season hits the final stretch. Dave and Bobby open with a full reaction to the Cowboys stunning comeback win over the Eagles. They analyze Dak Prescott’s best game of the season, the defensive impact of Quinnen Williams, and the Cowboys offensive changes that helped them erase a 21 to 0 deficit. They also cover the continued struggles for Philadelphia, key fourth down decisions, and how Dallas changed the NFC picture with one victory. The conversation shifts to the Chicago Bears and their move into the top tier of the NFL. Dave and Bobby discuss Caleb Williams’ growth in big moments, the Bears defense outperforming expectations, and how Chicago continues to win close games. They also look ahead to tough matchups with the Eagles and Steelers and evaluate if the Bears are built for a playoff run or if this is a hot stretch that could cool off. The show moves into a full Thanksgiving week preview that includes the Lions, Packers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Vikings, Seahawks, and Giants. Dave and Bobby play Guess the Lines, identify the best value picks, and call out the games that will impact seeding in both conferences. They also compare the latest Vegas odds with their own projections to show where the markets are missing. The heart of the episode is the updated NFL Power Rankings. The Patriots stay at number one after another strong week. Dave and Bobby explain why Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel continue to lead one of the most efficient teams in the league. They review movement across the top ten, including the Broncos, Colts, Rams, Eagles, Lions, Bears, and Seahawks. They also highlight the teams officially crossed off, the teams still fighting for a wild card spot, and the organizations that need major changes after Thanksgiving. This episode is packed with NFL analysis, playoff predictions, team breakdowns, injury updates, coaching evaluations, and reactions to the most important games of the season. If you follow the Patriots, Cowboys, Bears, Lions, Eagles, Chiefs, or any playoff contender, this is the Thanksgiving football show you need. Follow Missing the Point for more NFL coverage, Patriots analysis, weekly power rankings, and reactions to every major game. Website: mtpshow.comYouTube: youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter: twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: facebook.com/MTPPodContact: craig@mtpshow.com

The New England Patriots are officially the best team in football — at least according to the MTP Power Rankings. After an 8th straight win, a 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dave Clarke, Mike Marcangelo, and Bob Kelly break down what’s making this Patriots team click, and how their rookie core might be changing the AFC picture. The crew opens with a full breakdown of Drake Maye’s biggest win yet, dissecting how he overcame early mistakes and heavy pressure to throw two touchdowns and lead a methodical offense against one of the league’s top defenses. They highlight TreVeyon Henderson’s monster breakout, with touchdown runs of 55 and 69 yards, and rookie Kyle Williams’ 72-yard catch-and-run that changed the game’s momentum. The defense came through in the clutch, forcing a late stop and setting up Henderson’s game-sealing run. Meanwhile, Stefon Diggs’ onside kick recovery sealed the deal as New England stayed perfect on the road (5-0) and improved to 8-2, their best start since 2019. Dave praises Mike Vrabel’s discipline and game management, noting how New England’s coaching edge shows up late in close games. Mike calls it “the most balanced Patriots team since the early Belichick era,” while Bobby argues that the team’s newfound big-play ability makes them more dangerous than anyone expected. Then it’s time for this week’s Real BK Top 10 Power Rankings, with the Patriots taking over the #1 spot for the first time this season, followed by the Lions, Eagles, Rams, and Colts rounding out the top five. The Bucs slide after their loss, while the Bears make their debut in the top 10 thanks to Caleb Williams’ continued development and Matt Eberflus’ steady leadership. Other storylines this week include Brian Daboll’s firing in New York, as the Giants officially hit reset after another loss, and the continued chaos across the league’s middle tier. The guys debate whether the Jaguars are still playoff material, whether Bo Nix’s Broncos are for real at 8-2, and whether the Bills’ drop to 9th signals a late-season regression. The group also revisits Drake Maye’s improvement in Year 2, the Patriots’ emerging rookie class, and the ripple effect of Vrabel’s coaching turnaround. Dave and Mike debate whether this team is truly built for a deep playoff run, while Bobby jokes that he’s “ready to plan the Super Bowl parade.” Elsewhere, the conversation shifts to teams in crisis — the Commanders’ season collapse, the Steelers’ offensive meltdown, and Jordan Love’s inconsistency dragging down the Packers. They agree to officially cross off multiple teams, including the Giants, Titans, Jets, and Raiders, and predict who might be next if the Cowboys can’t beat Las Vegas this weekend. It’s another loaded week of laughs, arguments, and unfiltered football talk — MTP Power Rankings style. Follow & Subscribe:Website – https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube – https://youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter (X) – https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram – https://instagram.com/MTP_podFacebook – https://facebook.com/MTPPod

The ETF/ABS Magellan Travel Index was announced and premiered at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok in 2024 by founder, João Paulo Peixoto. The professor has recently moved into the #1 position on both the NM and MTP lists. The professor joins us on the ETF to provide an update on the MTI. You can learn more about the MTI by clicking here. Please remember the Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held in Bangkok from October 22-25 in 2026. You can join and use code BANGKOK to save. Click here to join this event!

Is the accounting talent shortage your biggest problem—or your biggest opportunity? In this episode of Pulse of the Practice (2025, E19), hosts Mo Arbas and Paul Miller sit down with L. Gary Boomer—founder, visionary, and strategist at Boomer Consulting—to unpack how AI, advisory services, and a new business model will redefine CPA firms by 2026.Boomer explains why the next five years could deliver a century's worth of technology change, and how firm leaders can turn anxiety and burnout into momentum with mindset, purpose, and process. You'll learn the concrete steps to move from compliance to high‑value advisory, ditch the hour‑based model for results‑driven pricing, and build an Agenic Workforce that scales expertise with AI "agents," staff‑on‑demand, and fractional C‑suite talent.What you'll learn:How to pivot from tax/audit compliance to recurring, scalable Client Advisory Services (CAS) clients actually valueThe business case for value pricing vs. billable hours—and why clients buy outcomes, not timeThe EXO (Exponential Organizations) framework applied to CPA firms: staff‑on‑demand, community, algorithms, and moreBoomer's prediction for 2026: why the "labor shortage" worry will be replaced by super‑workers augmented by AIA practical talent strategy: onboard grads directly into advisory, use coaching (not just mentoring), and implement the 3×3 relationship ruleTech you can use now: AI note‑taking/meeting tools (Fathom/Otter) and Google's NotebookLM for knowledge capture, training, and faster knowledge transferHow to clean data, document processes, and build internal knowledge bases so AI actually worksThe leadership shift: set a massively transformative purpose (MTP), align clients and staff to your vision, and create a cadence of continuous improvementIf you're a managing partner, CAS leader, or firm owner ready to modernize your practice, this conversation is your roadmap to healthier margins, happier teams, and stickier client relationships.Subscribe for more practical playbooks on modern firm leadership, AI adoption, CAS growth, and pricing strategy—and share this episode with a partner who's still billing by the hour.Keywords: accounting firm transformation, CPA firm strategy, Client Advisory Services, CAS, AI in accounting, accounting burnout, talent shortage accounting, value pricing for CPAs, Boomer Consulting, Gary Boomer, EXO framework, Agenic Workforce, NotebookLM, meeting AI tools, fractional CFO/COO/CIO, accounting firm processes, shift from compliance to advisory

The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and the league looks completely different. MTP Power Rankings hosts Dave Clarke and Bob Kelly are here to break down every blockbuster trade, every questionable move, and every new contender as we head into Week 10 of the 2025 NFL season. The Jets blew it up in dramatic fashion — Sauce Gardner traded to the Colts, Quinnen Williams shipped to the Cowboys, and Breece Hall rumored to be the next big name on the move. Dave calls it the biggest in-season rebuild in years, while Bobby questions whether either trade actually moves the needle. Did the Colts overpay for star power? Can Quinnen Williams fix a Cowboys defense that just got embarrassed by the Cardinals? The guys also break down the rest of the trade deadline deals: Rashid Shaheed heads to the Seahawks to give Sam Darnold more speed on offense to pair with Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jakobi Meyers heads to Jacksonville, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling brings veteran experience to the Steelers offense. Dave argues that Pittsburgh made one of the smartest under-the-radar moves of the deadline, while Bobby calls it “too little, too late.” Then, it’s on to the rankings — and there’s a major shakeup at the top.The Buffalo Bills reclaim the #1 spot after a statement win over the Kansas City Chiefs, dominating on both sides of the ball. The Buccaneers and Eagles stay steady at two and three, while the Patriots continue to climb behind Drake Maye’s control and maturity under Mike Vrabel’s leadership. The Rams, Colts, and Lions round out a competitive top tier, while teams like the Broncos and Seahawks are quietly building resumes that can’t be ignored. The Bears are another story — shocking the Bengals in what Dave calls “the craziest game of the season.” They praise Caleb Williams for his ability to deliver under pressure and highlight DJ Moore’s near-touchdown that flipped the game. But Bobby doesn’t let the special teams off the hook, calling their kickoff coverage “unacceptable.” Both agree Chicago’s arrow is pointing up, but they still need cleaner execution to stay in playoff contention. Other topics include the Packers’ embarrassing loss to the Panthers, Steelers’ defensive turnaround, and Bo Nix’s underrated run in Denver. The guys agree this season feels more unpredictable than ever, with few dominant teams and plenty of parity across the league. Dave also takes aim at the officiating inconsistencies and revisits the debate over the “tush push” — calling for a rule change after too many controversial calls. By the end of the episode, every team gets its place: contenders, pretenders, and those officially crossed off for the season. Follow & Subscribe:Website – https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube – https://youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter (X) – https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram – https://instagram.com/MTP_podFacebook – https://facebook.com/MTPPod

MTP Boston returns with Rayshawn Buchanan and Mike Marcangelo breaking down everything happening in Boston sports as the Celtics fight for rhythm and the Patriots keep finding ways to win. The Boston Celtics are off to a 3-4 start, and while their defense ranks third in the NBA, the offense remains inconsistent. Mike points to improved perimeter coverage and effort, while Rayshawn calls out what’s holding them back — rebounding and half-court execution. They break down Jalen Brown’s streaky scoring, Derrick White’s struggles from deep, and how Neemias Queta has quietly become one of Boston’s most reliable players. Queta’s toughness, rebounding, and shot-blocking have earned him a larger role, while Xavier Tillman’s versatility continues to give the rotation some flexibility against bigger lineups. The hosts debate whether Anfernee Simons should take on a larger offensive role to boost second-unit scoring. Rayshawn argues that Simons adds the tempo and shot creation Boston’s offense needs, while Mike warns that defensive lapses could cost them against playoff-caliber teams. Both agree that Boston’s offense often stalls late in games, especially when transition opportunities disappear. They discuss the team’s identity post-Porzingis and Horford, emphasizing how this younger, more athletic roster is built to play faster but still needs consistency on the boards. Rayshawn believes the Celtics can string together wins if they recommit to rebounding and off-ball movement. Mike sees potential but says the margin for error in the East is thin. Then it’s on to Foxborough. The New England Patriots, led by Mike Vrabel, have won five straight and now sit at 7-2, looking like a real AFC contender. Drake Maye continues to impress with his poise, mobility, and control. Stefon Diggshas transformed the passing game, and Trevion Henderson’s emergence adds explosiveness to the run game. The hosts debate how Rhamondre Stevenson’s return could change the backfield balance and how Vrabel’s leadership has restored accountability across the roster. Rayshawn praises the Patriots’ undefeated road record, while Mike highlights how Vrabel has reignited a winning culture built on toughness and smart football. They close with NFL  Week 10 predictions, including matchups like Patriots vs Buccaneers, Vikings vs Ravens, Rams vs 49ers, and Eagles vs Packers. Follow & Subscribe:Website – https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube – https://youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter (X) – https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram – https://instagram.com/MTP_podFacebook – https://facebook.com/MTPPod

Welcome back to MTP, where hosts David Clarke and Robert Kelly deliver the original, unfiltered NFL Power Rankings you can count on as we enter Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season. With playoff spots in sight and trade-deadline hype building, this episode reveals which teams are for real, which are fading fast, and how the national landscape is shifting.  

Recently, Midnight Terrors was contacted by the representative of a new horror film called Killer Content! The film has just been released to Prime and other VOD platforms! In celebration the film's release...Kevin and Roy were lucky enough to get to screen the film and also sit down with the writer/director of Killer Content...Chris St. Croix! Tune in as we chat about all things Killer Content...how the film came to be, what the process was for creating such an intricate story, and what viewers can expect from the film! Major shoutout to Chris for being awesome and a fantastic guest to chat with! Killer Content is available now on all platforms! Everybody be sure to go rent and purchase the film to show your support! Link to purchase the film:Watch Killer Content | Prime VideoCheck out MTP's Linktree:midnightterrorspodcast | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season is here, and Dave Clarke and Mike Marcangelo deliver a fresh dose of hard truth in the MTP Power Rankings. They break down every major storyline across the league — from the Detroit Lions’ climb to #1 and the Patriots’ return to the Top 10 to the latest NFL trade-deadline rumors shaking up contender lists.

Midnight Terrors is back with an all-new episode today!! First up, tune in as Roy picks a movie that he has mentioned a few times in the history of MTP! This week, it's Roy's pick of Nicole Kidman's 2001 horror movie...The Others! What did your co-hosts think of this movie? Was Kevin sold on this one? Find out now on episode 141 of The Midnight Terrors Podcast!Check out Roy's articles on TBM Horror!Check out our socials on Linktree:midnightterrorspodcast | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

The New England Patriots are back on top. After a 25-16 victory over the New Orleans Saints, MTP Boston hosts Michael Marcangelo and Rayshawn Buchanan dive deep into the Patriots’ return to first place in the AFC East and what it means for the rest of the 2025 NFL season. We with a heated discussion on the officiating controversy that overshadowed the win. Michael and Rayshawn call out several questionable pass interference calls that swung momentum and fueled speculation about whether sports betting and officiating integrity are becoming a real issue for the NFL. They debate whether referees are being influenced by league partnerships with betting sponsors and discuss the league’s inconsistent enforcement of penalties and discipline for players and officials. Next, the hosts turn to Drake Maye’s continued development under Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels. Maye delivered another sharp, composed performance — spreading the ball across multiple receivers, showcasing pocket awareness, and making the right reads at the right times. Rayshawn calls it Maye’s “most complete game as a pro,” while Mike highlights his leadership and poise late in drives. The offense finally looks balanced, with Maye’s growing chemistry with Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Hunter Henry giving the team multiple options in the passing game. Then comes the backfield debate. TreVeyon Henderson’s performance has been a bright spot, but questions remain about whether he’s ready to be a true workhorse back. Should the Patriots stay patient or explore trade options before the deadline? Rayshawn and Mike weigh in on potential moves; including trading Rhamondre Stevenson for Breece Hall or a defensive difference-maker like Chase Young. Rayshawn doubts the Jets would ever deal Hall to New England, but both agree the team is closer than anyone expected to legitimate contention.   The conversation expands to playoff potential, with both hosts projecting that New England can reach 11 or even 12 wins if the team stays disciplined and avoids self-inflicted mistakes. They praise Vrabel’s influence on the defense, Christian Gonzalez’s return to form, and the leadership shift inside the locker room. The Patriots finally feel relevant again in the AFC playoff picture; but can they sustain it? Michael and Rayshawn also discuss NFL Week 6 predictions around the league, including upcoming matchups like Titans vs. Patriots, Rams vs. Jaguars, and Chiefs vs. Raiders. They react to the Titans’ recent coaching shake-up, preview the Patriots’ upcoming trip to Nashville, and wonder whether Vrabel’s revenge game will live up to the hype. Follow & Subscribe:Website: https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter (X): https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPodEmail: craig@mtpshow.com

MTP Power Rankings – Week 6 is Over, Week 7 Begins! Dave Clarke and Bobby Kelly are back to break down a chaotic NFL landscape. Coaching firings. Trade rumors. Quarterback shakeups. And for the first time since 2021 — the New England Patriots are back in the Top 10. The MTP crew dives into every major storyline shaping Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season.

NFL Week 6 Power Rankings are here. Dave Clarke, Bobby Kelly, and Mike Marcangelo bring a full breakdown of the biggest NFL stories from Week 5 and a deep look at where every team stands heading into Week 6. They open with league headlines: Joe Flacco’s trade to the Bengals, Baker Mayfield’s rising MVP odds, and growing questions about the Chiefs and Chargers. The guys dissect how Cincinnati plans to stay afloat without Joe Burrow until late November, and whether the Browns made a mistake giving up on Flacco. Then it’s time for our teams: • The Patriots (3-2) earn a statement win against the Bills, marking Drake Maye’s biggest moment yet. Mike calls it the team’s best victory since Brady left, praising Bill Belichick’s leadership, Mike Vrabel’s defensive turnaround, and Christian Gonzalez’s return.• The Cowboys (2-2-1) knock off the Jets and look better than expected. Bobby and Dave argue over their playoff chances and how much the defense can really carry them.• The Bears (2-2) hit their bye week with questions at quarterback but optimism on defense. Dave remains patient; Mike and Bobby, not so much. They also go deep on the Cross-Off segment — officially eliminating the Saints from playoff contention after another tough loss — and debate whether the Jets, Titans, Browns, and Ravens are next. Then, it’s on to the Honorable Mentions and the BK Top 10 Power Rankings, where the Jaguars, Colts, and Buccaneers continue to rise, and the Chiefs drop out of the top 10 for the first time in years. Key talking points:• Joe Flacco’s impact in Cincinnati• Baker Mayfield’s MVP candidacy• Drake Maye’s growth and Patriots’ playoff path• Chiefs’ midseason struggles and defensive breakdowns• Colts and Bucs’ surprise success• Jaguars, Lions, and Eagles continue to dominate• Which AFC teams are legit playoff threats If you want the smartest, funniest, and most passionate NFL power rankings show on the internet, this is it. Follow Us:Website: https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter (X): https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPodEmail: craig@mtpshow.com

The Boston Red Sox are out of the playoffs after another painful October exit, and the New England Patriots just flipped the AFC conversation with a dramatic 23-20 Monday Night Football win in Buffalo. Rayshawn and Mike go all in on both stories, giving you the most detailed breakdown of where Boston sports stand and what comes next. We open with the Red Sox collapse against the New York Yankees, dissecting every mistake and missed opportunity. Game 2 was defined by defensive breakdowns and costly fielding errors that flipped momentum. Boston’s lineup struck out 12 times in the clincher, exposing a top-heavy order that couldn’t produce in clutch moments. Garrett Crochet gave the team a chance on the mound, but questionable bullpen decisions — including Connelly Early’s quick hook — raised eyebrows. We debate whether the Rafael Devers trade, made to reshape the lineup, ended up hurting the team in this short series, and what it says about Boston’s long-term strategy. Then we take on the Alex Cora question head-on. Is he still the right manager to lead this roster forward, or is a reset overdue? From there, we map out a full offseason blueprint. Boston needs more than tweaks — they need cornerstone moves. We spotlight free-agent and trade targets like Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber, and Pete Alonso, each of whom would immediately transform the lineup’s power and consistency. We also break down key internal decisions: how Jarren Duran’s speed and upside factor into their future plans, whether Wilyer Abreu should be part of the team’s core or trade bait, and how Trevor Story’s health and defense could stabilize the infield. We discuss why Roman Anthony’s development is crucial and why the bullpen must be rebuilt with reliable depth and a clear closer to anchor late-inning leads. The Red Sox can’t afford another “bridge year.” This offseason must be aggressive, decisive, and focused on competing in 2026. Then we shift to football, where Drake Maye’s breakout game has the Patriots fan base buzzing. In just his fifth career start, Maye went toe-to-toe with Josh Allen and came out on top, delivering clutch throws in high-pressure moments and showing major growth in pocket presence and decision-making. Stefon Diggs proved why he’s still a top-tier wide receiver, posting another 100-yard performance and opening up the offense for others. Hunter Henry continues to shine as a reliable red-zone weapon, while rookie running back Treyvion Henderson showed why he could become a cornerstone piece of the offense. We break down how offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has adjusted the scheme around Maye’s strengths and what that means for the rest of the season. Looking ahead, we discuss how New England must take advantage of Maye’s rookie contract window, why finding a legitimate WR2 is a top priority, and which players — like A.J. Brown or Chris Olave — could be ideal trade or free-agent targets. We also preview the Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, a classic trap game that could derail the team’s momentum if they’re not prepared. With a young franchise quarterback, an elite receiver, and a defense that can still compete, the Patriots are building something real — and this win in Buffalo could be the moment that turns their season around. Website: https://www.mtpshow.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPod Twitter: https://twitter.com/MTP_pod Instagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_pod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_pod Facebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPod Email: craig@mtpshow.com

Midnight Terrors is back with an all-new episode! After a few weeks of craziness, Kevin and Roy are back for another horror movie discussion! This week, it's Kevin's pick and a movie that seems to be lost in the shuffle a bit amongst the horror genre! This week, tune in as Kevin and Roy sit down to discuss the creepy as can be 2005 sleeper horror movie...The Exorcism of Emily Rose! What did your co-hosts think of this movie? How scary is this movie 20 years removed from its release? Find out now on episode 140 of The Midnight Terrors Podcast!Check out Roy's articles on TBM Horror!Check out MTP's socials on Linktree:midnightterrorspodcast | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

It’s Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season and Missing the Point is back with the most comprehensive, unfiltered Power Rankings and NFL analysis anywhere. Hosts Dave Clarke, Bob Kelly, and Rayshawn Buchanan bring you the latest on injuries, coaching changes, fantasy football impact, and who’s rising or falling in the league.

Boston sports are heating up again and Missing the Point is here with the most in-depth, unfiltered breakdown anywhere. Hosts Mike Marcangelo and Rayshawn Buchanan cover every angle of the week’s biggest stories across MLB, NFL, and the NBA. ⚾ Boston Red Sox Playoff SurgeThe Red Sox are back in October baseball after years of mediocrity, thanks to a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win over Detroit. Mike and Rayshawn preview the AL Wild Card showdown with the New York Yankees, analyzing key matchups, bullpen strategy, and the impact of the controversial Rafael Devers trade. With Aroldis Chapman revitalized as a late-inning stopper, this could be Boston’s most dangerous team in years.

Today's guest is Romain Tourillon. Romain is a sports physiotherapist and researcher specializing in the foot–ankle complex, with clinical leadership at the Swiss Olympic Medical Center, La Tour Hospital (Geneva). His PhD at Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne examined foot muscle strength and sport performance. It's important to train the lower legs in athletes, but the question is what type of training is best, especially when it comes to working the toes and forefoot, versus more general calf and shin work. In this episode, Romain discusses his research on forefoot biomechanics and performance. He shares training that boosted MTP (big-toe) flexion strength ~28% in trained athletes and explains how stronger forefeet enhance sprinting, cutting, and jumping via better force transmission and stability. We also cover injury prevention, targeted foot/ankle exercises, challenges in measuring toe strength, and where 3D analyses may take the field— with practical takeaways for coaches and athletes throughout. Today's episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength and the Just Fly Sports Online Courses Check out the newest mini-course, Sprint Drills Reloaded on how to maximize sprint drills, their specific strength development, building of major sprint actions, along with better integration of sprint drills into sprinting technique. The special intro sale ends July 1st. (https://justflysports.thinkific.com/courses/sprint-drills-reloaded) Use code “justfly10” for 10% off the Vert Trainer Use code “justfly20” for 20% off of LILA Exogen Wearable resistance gear at www.lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 0:00 Building a PhD Protocol from Real-Life Training 4:46 Using Everyday Objects to Innovate Foot Training 8:16 Surface Texture and Proprioception in Barefoot Work 11:27 Breaking Down Romain's PhD Research on the Forefoot 16:22 Gym and Home-Based Protocols for MTP Flexion 22:11 Measuring Toe and Forefoot Strength Accurately 31:20 Mobility of the Forefoot and Its Role in Force Production 37:31 Results: How 8 Weeks of Forefoot Training Changed Performance 43:54 Explaining the Improvements in Cutting, Jumping, and Sprinting 53:01 Linking Forefoot Strength to Ankle Stability and Injury Prevention 58:23 Isolated Toe Training vs. Global Foot and Calf Training 1:15:09 Designing General Foot-Ankle Programs for Teams Actionable Takeaways 0:00 – Building a PhD Protocol from Real-Life Training Romain developed his research exercises by first experimenting on himself to understand their feel, intensity, and weaknesses. Test new foot or ankle drills on yourself first to refine cues and feel. Note the sensations and difficulties athletes might face before implementing. Use self-testing to build better communication and progression strategies. 4:46 – Using Everyday Objects to Innovate Foot Training The “foot bridge” concept came from standing barefoot on two bricks, showing that creative setups can unlock new sensations without expensive tools. Incorporate simple props like bricks or angled boards to change foot loading. Create small balance challenges to engage the toes and arches differently. Use low-cost, adaptable tools to spark innovation in foot training. 8:16 – Surface Texture and Proprioception in Barefoot Work Different surfaces alter how foot muscles activate, making proprioception a key training variable. Rotate athletes between rough, smooth, and dampened surfaces to shift activation. Use barefoot drills regularly to strengthen sensory feedback from the toes. Treat surface texture as a deliberate tool to adjust difficulty and stimulus. 11:27 – Breaking Down Romain's PhD Research on the Forefoot Romain studied how forefoot strength training impacts sprinting, cutting, and jumping performance. Add structured toe flexion and forefoot drills to comple...

Missing the Point returns with your official NFL Week 4 Power Rankings episode, hosted by Dave Clarke, Bob Kelly, and Rayshawn Buchanan.  The hosts debate the top 10 teams heading into Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season, including where teams like the Eagles, Bills, Chargers, and Commanders stand in the national conversation. This episode dives deep into both offensive and defensive trends, quarterback development, and roster concerns that are already reshaping the playoff picture.

On this episode of Missing the Point, hosts Michael Marcangelo and Rayshawn Buchanan deliver an unfiltered deep dive into the New England Patriots' Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The guys rip into the Patriots’ offensive struggles, focusing on questionable coaching decisions, misuse of key players like Rhamondre Stevenson and Stefon Diggs, and the lack of identity in the red zone. They react to another sloppy home performance and address the growing frustration among fans with how Drake Maye is being developed under center. Rayshawn calls out the team’s failure to generate a pass rush, noting the glaring absence of Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots’ inability to sack Aaron Rodgers despite 23 dropbacks.  Mike demands urgency and accountability, especially at home where the team’s record since Tom Brady’s departure remains abysmal. Then it’s on to Week 4: the New England Patriots vs. the Carolina Panthers. The hosts break down the Panthers’ recent win over the Falcons, discuss the threat of Carolina’s run game, and debate what the Patriots need to do to avoid a 1-3 start. The guys even float a potential trade for tight end Kyle Pitts—would a fifth-rounder and Austin Hooper get it done? You’ll also get predictions for a stacked NFL Week 4 slate, including: Giants benching Russell Wilson Ravens vs. Chiefs 49ers vs. Jaguars Colts vs. Rams Bengals vs. Broncos Chargers vs. Giants And more! Timestamps: 00:00 Unpacking the Patriots’ Catastrophic Week 3 Loss to the Steelers 07:09 Analyzing Drake Maye’s Turnovers and the Team’s Undisciplined Home Losses 22:08 Why the Patriots’ Pass Rush Failed and Coaching Decisions Matter 27:36 Breaking Down the Panthers Matchup and a Bold Kyle Pitts Trade Idea 36:33 Our Expert Picks for the Early Slate of NFL Week 4 Matchups 41:52 Analyzing Key Mid-Day Games and Surprising Upsets in NFL Week 4 49:58 Final Predictions for NFL Week 4’s Marquee Matchups and Prime Time Games

Creating 3D assets can be daunting, but does it have to be? Mahima and Rakesh are on a quest to democratize 3D content creation with AssetGen, a foundation model for 3D. They discuss the challenges of training such a model given the scarcity of available data and how large language models have unlocked key solutions. As if that weren't enough, they're also tackling the ambitious goal of generating entire worlds from a simple prompt. Tune in to learn more! Got feedback? Send it to us on Threads (https://threads.net/@metatechpod), Instagram (https://instagram.com/metatechpod) and don't forget to follow our host Pascal (https://mastodon.social/@passy, https://threads.net/@passy_, @passy.bsky.social). Fancy working with us? Check out https://www.metacareers.com/. Links Horizon Worlds Desktop Editor: https://developers.meta.com/horizon-worlds/advanced-tools  Horizon Worlds Studio: https://developers.meta.com/horizon-worlds/studio/application Meta Ray-Ban Display: https://www.meta.com/gb/ai-glasses/meta-ray-ban-display/  MTP 77 - How to build a human-computer interface for everyone: https://engineering.fb.com/2025/08/04/virtual-reality/building-a-human-computer-interface-for-everyone-meta-tech-podcast/  Timestamps Intro 0:06 Introduction Mahima 1:39 Introduction Rakesh 2:57 Team mission 3:26 Why is 3D content hard to create? 5:15 The Metaverse 7:49 Tooling vision in Horizon Worlds 10:31 AssetGen Architecture 15:27 Consolidating models 18:25 From assets to worlds 19:22 Time to generate 24:46 Feedback loop 26:41 What's the market for AssetGen 29:49 What's available today? 31:26 What's next? 32:11 Outro 35:24

Midnight Terrors is back with a highly anticipated episode! After years of this movie coming up on the show and in personal conversations...we are finally tackling one of most talked about movies within our camp/MTP Family! This week, Roy picks the movie and gets Kevin to finally sit down to discuss none other than 2005's hidden gem...The Descent! What did your co-hosts think of this movie? Was the hype accurate for Kevin with this one? Does Roy champion this movie? Find out now on episode 139 of The Midnight Terrors Podcast!Check out Roy's articles on TBM Horror:R. Jacob's Honeycut - TBM HorrorCheck out all of MTP's socials/links:midnightterrorspodcast | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

The 2025 NFL season is off and running—and the first week delivered shockers, statement wins, and early warning signs. On this episode of Missing the Point, Dave Clarke and Rayshawn Buchanan reveal our first official NFL Power Rankings of the year, breaking down the top 10 teams after one full slate of games. At the top, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like a team on a mission, while Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills proved they’re still contenders. The Ravens, Packers, and Chargers all delivered major Week 1 performances to round out the top 5, while the Chiefs, Rams, and Bengals showed flashes but raised questions. Meanwhile, the Bears are in freefall, with rookie QB JJ McCarthy already generating buzz   We go deep on:

Shawn Tierney meets up with Michael Bowne of PI to learn what IO-Link is, how it works, and when to use it in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: The Automation Podcast, Episode 246 Show Notes: To learn about our online and in-person training courses please visit TheAutomationSchool.com. Read the transcript on The Automation Blog: (automatically generated) Shawn Tierney (Host): Thank you for tuning back in to the automation podcast. My name is Shawn Tierney from Insights in Automation. And this week on the show, we have a special guest, somebody who hasn’t been on in four years. We have Michael Bone from PI. They’re the folks who manage technologies like PROFINET and IO Link. And Michael’s come on this week to talk specifically about IO Link. We’re gonna talk about what it is. We’re gonna talk about when you should use it, and we’re gonna talk about the technical details of IO Link, like, all the things, like, engineering minds like to know about. So I think you guys are gonna enjoy this. It took about two to three hours to edit this one, and I really enjoyed going back through it. You know, we recorded it, I think, four weeks ago. So I hadn’t seen it in four weeks, but I really did enjoy it. I really think you guys will enjoy it too. And that brings up another point. Organizations like PI and ISA and other organizations, they’re not vendors. They don’t sell stuff. Right? And so this episode is not sponsored by a vendor. And, you know, as I was going through it yesterday, I was like, you know, there’s a lot of great slides in here. I wanna share it with the public. So I’ve decided to sponsor this episode myself, and I’ll use this as an opportunity to tell you a little bit about my company and the automation blog, the automation school, and the content I have planned to release this fall, including content on these products right here, all focused on IO Link. And I just actually did a live stream with these, products in front of me. I’ll be doing more tomorrow, and I’ll be adding lessons to my, courses as well on these products. So in any case, but before we get to that, let’s go ahead and jump right into the show and hear from Michael and learn all about IO Link. I wanna welcome back Michael to the show. It has been four years. He was last on in podcast 76, back in September 2021. So just going on four years. Michael, thank you for coming back on the show. If you could, a lot of people may not remember four years ago. Mhmm. So before we jump into your presentation, which which I am so excited about talking about IO Link again. But before we jump into that, could you please tell me a little bit about yourself and a little Michael Bowne (PI): bit about PI? Yeah. Sure. First of all, my pleasure, to be back on on the podcast. It was a lot, a lot of fun. I remember that back in in 2021, and, I’m glad to be be back doing it again. I started with PI North America in 2011 as the technical marketing director. And since 2016, I’ve been the executive director running the show and chairman of the board since last year. I, have the, let’s say, pleasure to serve as the deputy chairman of PI on a global scale since 2015, and I come from a prior to working for PI, I worked for a sensor manufacturer who had some interfaces on there that that brought me an introduct to to Profibus and Profinet. And before that, I studied, physics and and math at at Penn State University. Just, really quick for those. I’m I’m sure many of you are familiar with with PI, but, it was started in the late eighties. Half a dozen companies and universities got together, and they wrote the PROFIBUS spec, and that evolved into the into into PROFIBUS DP and PROFIBUS PA for process automation in the early two thousands. PROFINET came under the umbrella. And the reason I bring all this up is because there are some newer technologies under our umbrella that I I think the audience might wanna know about. Of course, EyeLink is is the one that we’ll talk about today, and that was in 02/2009. But there are some others like Umlocks, which is a location tracking standard. There’s one called MTP, module type package, NOAA, NAMR open architecture, also under our umbrella. And, basically, what we do is promote, maintain, write the specs, turn them into standards, and the work on those specs is done in working groups, which are staffed by volunteers, engineers from member companies. They donate their time to to develop the specs, for these technologies we have under our umbrella. And we’re a little bit unique in that we’re decentralized. So we have competence centers and test labs and training centers located throughout the world. It’s not all just in one headquarter kind of place, and they’re all independent. But they have a contract or quality of services agreement with PI that says, hey. If you have a question about the technologies, go to a competent center. If you want further training, go to a training center. If you want to to test the device, go to a test lab. And then they are all working with regional PI associations of which we PI North America is one of them. We were founded in 1994 by a guy by the name of Mike Bryant. At that time, we were called Probibus Trade Organization. And we are the and now I didn’t come up with this this name. We are the North American Rio League. This is a an IO Link designation, a regional IO Link interest group, which means that we have a a separate contract and and quality of services agreement with the IO Link community to to promote and and work with members, specifically for IO Link here in in North America. And we’re nonprofit, member supported. I got nothing. So you’re talking about products and and and stuff at the beginning. I got nothing to sell today. We’re we’re working solely on on technology. Shawn Tierney (Host): You know, I do wanna throw out there, though, you have a great update every month about all the new products that fall in the buckets of IO Link, PROFINET, PROFIBUS, and a lot of those new products across our IO Link. So while they may not have products of their own, they do keep the, industry up to date on who’s joining up and signing up, for these new these you know, the jump on board and release new products that, that, you know, meet these specifications. And you know what? Maybe you’re not using PROFINET because you’re using brand x or y. You still probably use an IO Link. So Oh, that’s for sure. Very interesting very interesting updates that you publish every month and, as a blog. And, I know when I was doing the news for a couple years, I would always, go to your site to look for new updates. Michael Bowne (PI): Cool. Yeah. Yeah. I guess, I got a slide on that at the end, but the the you’re referring to the, the PROFINews. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yes. The PROFINews. Yeah. Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. That’s a that’s that’s been a baby and a labor of love, for a while now. And and, oh, man, it’s it’s it’s incredible because every month, the most when we track this kind of stuff, obviously, the most popular article is the new products. Well, because that’s what, right, that’s what people want is the stuff they can buy, the stuff they can use. Yeah. Yeah. That’s and we got another one coming out next week, and every month, we we push that out, and it’s always half a dozen or a dozen new products, half of which are are IO Link. I mean, it’s just growing like crazy. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And you guys have had some good articles. I think you had a great series, and I’m now I’m stretching it. So stretching the old memory here. I thought you had a great series on on, MTP, which I really enjoyed. Did did I remember that correctly? Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. We we try and, you know, we try and get some editorial content in there. It’s it calls it falls into, like, three main buckets. What’s new products? What are new trainings and events that are coming up? And then and then some editorial content. I think I think what we’re driving at is I think we need to do maybe an MTP podcast here at some point in the down the road. Shawn Tierney (Host): Probably. Yeah. Down the road. Definitely. Definitely. I I’m still you know, I still have a very casual understanding of it. But, let me throw it back to you because I kinda jumped in and interrupted your your your, update. Michael Bowne (PI): No. It’s good. It saves it saves us at the end when when that slide, we can just just jump over it. Now we’ve we’ve got it covered, and it’s and it’s an and it’s an important one. But you kinda you kinda gave me a nice lead into the to the next one, which talks about, the Ireland community. And I’ll start from the bottom, work my way up as being fieldbus independent. Shawn Tierney (Host): I just wanna break in here for a moment and thank you folks in the audience who’ve signed up for my membership program. Really, really appreciate you all. Eighteen months ago, after reviewing ten plus years of being on YouTube, you know, it was pretty obvious that there’s no real revenue on YouTube. I mean, it comes in at maybe 1% of my monthly expenses. And so that ad revenue there is just not something to rely on going forward because it’s not something that’s been reliable in the past. And so I set up the membership program both on YouTube and at the automationblog.com. And I wanna thank all of you who signed up. I, we have a $5 tier, which I know most people sign up at, and then we have a couple other higher tiers. And so I just wanted to thank you all for doing that. You are actually the membership program’s probably 3% of my monthly, revenue. And so that’s, you know, one or two times more, than, what the YouTube revenue was. So thank you all for that. And I hope that, some of you who are not part of the membership program will consider becoming a member, supporting my work so I can do videos that are not always sponsored videos. Now I love sponsored videos. I love it when a vendor sends me a piece of hardware and then sits down with me and teach me how to use it so I can create a video ad free and share with you on how to use that product, or maybe they just come on the podcast and sponsor it to make it ad free so we can tell their story about their product or service. And I I will continue to do that going forward, but I would really also like to do more audience generated type of, content. So content where you generate the idea and say, Shawn, why don’t you try this? Or, Shawn, why don’t you do this? And a lot of those topics that the audience wants to see, they’re not necessarily topics that the vendor wants to promote with advertising dollars. Okay? And so that’s the whole purpose of the, membership program. Like I said, right now, it’s around 3% of my monthly income comes from and I’m talking about the business income, not my personal income, the business income. 3% of what the business needs to, to move forward and pay its bills every month. But, still, I that that, you know, so many of you have decided to jump in and support me. I just wanted to stop and say thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. And if you’re not part of the membership program and you’re doing financially well, please consider if you enjoy. This is episode two forty six of the automation podcast. Every episode has been free. The audio has been free for all 246 of them. And most of those episodes I funded myself just by well, you can understand how you fund something when you don’t have the income coming in. But in any case, if you enjoy it, please consider becoming a member, and we can branch out and do other things together. And with that, let’s go ahead and jump back into this week’s episode and learn more about IO Link. Michael Bowne (PI): So like you said, yeah. I mean, organizationally, the IO Link community came to PI in 2009 and organizationally under PI because we have the infrastructure for working groups and and IP policies and contracts and things like that. But the IO Link community has their own steering committee, and from the from the outset and from every IO Link event that we do and everything that we do is is independent of, of any Profibus or Profinet stuff. And we try really, really hard to maintain that independence, no matter what vendor you’re using. And there, at this point, we’ve got 500 companies in the IO Link community, and it’s really just growing by by leaps and bounds. So we kinda track this stuff by nodes and all the IO Link companies. They send their node count to an independent auditor, collects the counts, and gives us back an an an anonymous total. So we don’t know where or who is selling them, but we get the total. And you can just see this this hockey stick exponential growth. Particularly in 2023, there was some supply chain over purchasing that that went on. I mean, that’s like we’re looking at a a growth rate of 89% there, which is obviously unsustainable. But still, last year, 9,700,000 nodes were added. Again, because it’s field bus independent, it really has no competitor. And that’s what’s kinda cool about IO Link. I mean, you wanna do and and you don’t need to choose a field bus and therefore get IO Link. You can use any field bus or industrial container protocol, and IO Link works with it. Shawn Tierney (Host): You know, I wanna just, mention for the audio listeners. If we go back to 2012, it looks like we’re probably at the 1,000,000 mark or below it. And as you go to, you know, 2022, you look like you’re 35,700,000. Is that 2022 or 2023? Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. That’s the 2022. Exactly. 35,700,000.0. Yeah. Shawn Tierney (Host): And then at, the end of twenty twenty three, we’re at 51.6. So you talked about that, you know, overbuying. And then at the end of 2024, we’re at 61,300,000.0. So you can just see from, you know, 2022 to, 2024, you went from 35 to 61. So the adoption, like you said, it’s a hockey stick. The adoption has really picked up. And I think you you hit the nail on the head because it is fieldbus independent. It’s a way to just get more information out of our devices, like sensors and photo eyes, you know, and it’s just you know? I mean, though, these chipsets that come in these, devices now are just amazing. Michael Bowne (PI): And that’s what, I mean, that’s what the whole point of this is. You’re you’re not gonna put a $5 ethernet chip, like, enter $5 ethernet interface on a $15 proximity sensor. But computing and memory has gotten really, really small and really, really cheap that it’s on just about everything. And so this proximity sensor not only can tell you if, like, for example, let’s say it’s on a conveyor belt. It cannot only tell you if the box is there or not, but it can tell you how many blue boxes would buy or how many red boxes would buy or if the box that’s going by is off kilter or or misaligned or something like that. But how do you get that data out in in inexpensively, and here we are. IO Link is is the way to do it. Shawn Tierney (Host): I’m sad to see a lot of these sensors too come with humidity, temperature, and all these other things should be like, really? I can get that out of my Michael Bowne (PI): photo eye. But yeah. Multivariable. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. You know, traditionally, with an analog interface, how did you get that? You couldn’t get it. Mhmm. But now with a digital interface, which is what we’re talking about, digitalization in the last meter, now you can get that informate that data, that information, and do some pretty cool stuff with it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yes. You can. Yeah. I’ll talk Michael Bowne (PI): a little bit about the architecture a little bit here to kind of get a little bit into the technical side of things about how IO Link works, but it they’re kind of some main devices, and that’s the IO Link masters and the IO Link devices. And these IO Link masters are available for we have here 16 different industrial Ethernet or field bus systems. 21 manufacturers offer central PLC, like an IO Link master built into the backplane of the PLC if you so desired. And the number of devices that so that hockey stick we showed before is just exploding. I mean, we’ve got 60 something million sold, and we have tens of thousands of unique IO Link devices from hundreds of different device manufacturers that have implemented this interface. And for those that if there’s anybody on the podcast that wants to do this and add this to their sensors, there are a number of different companies that help with, product design, either with the chips, the transceivers, the software stacks, and then a number of companies that help provide technical support in order to do that. So an IO Link system kind of is made up of four parts. Like I said, you have the IO Link master. That’s the gateway between the IO Link devices, the IO Link interface, and the higher level communication system, such as the fieldbus or the in industrial Ethernet protocol or backplane. You have the devices. This is the exciting part. Your sensors, your switch gears, your valves, your signal lamps, maybe some simple actuators, whatever the case may be. You’ve got a IO Link cable, just a three wire unshielded, super simple connection between the master and the devices. And then every device has an IODD or IO Link device description file, and I’ll explain how that gets used to engineer and parameterize the IO Link system and the and the devices. And what this kind of enables you know, traditionally, communication only reached the IO level. You had connection between the PLCs and the and the the the IO, and then it kinda stopped there because all those sensors and actuators were not accessible. They were analog, and you got your one process data. You brought process signal, and that’s where it ended. But with IO Link, what we do is we enable that communication bidirectional, cyclic and acyclic, and that’s the cool part, all the way from higher level systems, not only to the PLC or especially from the PLC, but down all the way down to the simple sensors and actuators, which are now accessible. And you kinda touched on this before where these chipsets have gotten really, really smart and really, really powerful. And it’s not that the it’s not that any of these use cases that are that are being solved with IO Link that none of them are new. What’s new is the ease with which they can be solved. So because you can get all this extra data out, things like OEE, showing things like downtime tracking, track and trace, predictive maintenance, for example, remote monitoring, recipe management, SPC, all these things. It’s not that these use cases are now being solved. The you know, we’ve we’ve been doing this for a long, long time. It’s just the ease with which because because it’s a standard and because all this stuff is standardized in how it gets from the the the device to the master and upwards to the controller, it just makes it easier. If you spend all your effort trying to gather and collect and sanitize the data because every device is different and, you know, that’s just that’s just a mess, and the ROI disappears really fast on any kind of project to do that. But if we have a standard on how to do that, then we make it very, very easy to do, and everything can come in, quite nicely. And and and it just and it just works a whole lot easier. You start getting access to that data. And so what we’re starting to see is connections being made. You know, you talk about the the flattening of the traditional automation hierarchy where now not only is that IO block or that sensor connected to a to a PLC, but it’s got some extra data. Like you said, like, this little photo I might have a a a temperature or a a moisture, you know, sensor also in there, just because it’s part of the the chipset. But the PLC don’t care about that. He just wants to know about the, you know, the information from the photo eye. So what do you do with all this extra beautiful information that isn’t necessarily processed data? Well, maybe the MES wants to know about that. So how do you get that? And in a running factory, in a brownfield environment, rule number one is don’t touch the running PLC. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. Michael Bowne (PI): And rule number two is see rule number one. That thing is running, and any minute of downtime costs more than any one thing on the on the factory floor. Shawn Tierney (Host): Before we go on, I did wanna break in here and tell you a little bit about my website, theautomationschool.com, where I do my online training. I also do in person training. And you probably don’t know that that all started back in 2014 with a Kickstarter I ran for my first PLC basics course. At the time, it was called microprogrammable controller basics, and I ended up changing it just the PLC basics. But in any case, since then, I’ve had added a dozen courses on a various number of topics, and you’ll find them all at the automationschool.com. But what I really wanted to talk to you about is why. Why did I do that? Well, I had spent twenty five years as a certified authorized Rockwell Automation distributor specialist covering PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, MES, and other stuff too. Right? And I knew from visiting, customers in the plant every single workday, almost every workday, that there was a real need for affordable training. So the first thing is, you know, large companies have large expensive, large paychecks, and lots of overhead, so they gotta charge a lot. Right? And so that was a problem because a lot of the people I was working with, you know, the controls engineers, automation engineers, high end electricians and technicians, they had to fund their training themselves. Their company was sort of like, no. We trained this guy back in the nineties, and then he will have to get a better job. So we’re not spending money on training. And so all these people were having to train themselves, and it was unaffordable to either, you know, buy the the, vendors courses. Or even if the the company did have training dollars, it was unaffordable to send them away for a week to a $3,000 course somewhere halfway across the country, probably $3,000 worth of travel and hotels too. Right? And then they go where without one of their smartest guys, right, one of their best people, because you you that’s usually who you’re gonna train and and uplift through the through the organization. Either people are doing good on the lower level, you wanna bring them up and train them on automation. And so that’s why I started the the, automationschool.com because of the the try to provide I knew the the courses would never be Hollywood quality. I mean, this isn’t Hollywood quality. Right? But I knew it could be helpful and and, you know, be affordable by just filming them in my garage. Right? And, you know, picking up some used equipment and putting together the episodes. And the site has grown so much. We have thousands of, students from over a 150 countries. We have hundreds of, vendors we work with. But the other thing I did is, is made up by one’s own forever. Right? So more like an ebook or an audiobook or an m p three album. Right? And the reason I did that and I understand why the vendors don’t do that because they’re like, well, they’ll sign up one guy in the I and e shop, and he’ll share his password for everybody. You know, that could happen. Right? People could rob a bank too. But I’m like, you know, most people, when they buy a course and I saw this. I was on an independent platform for a while, and on that platform, they showed you how the progress of every student. Most people buy the course well before they’re ready to take it. And I’m like, I’m not gonna charge people a monthly fee or only give them access to to a short window if, you know, they have good intentions now, but it takes them a while to actually free up their schedule to get into the course and take it. So that’s why my courses are buy one’s own forever. And it can you know, as they grow, the price goes up because I’m adding more and more content, and I do split them out and make cheaper versions over time. But, those people who buy in early, they get the like, my s seven course. Like, I think it originally came out at 40 or $50, and now it’s $200 because I’ve added so much to it over the years. But in any case, same with ControlLogix and CompactLogix. And then the other thing too is I want them to be able to take it more than once. Right? So if you take a let’s say you take a ControlLogix course. Right? You don’t use it for a couple years, you probably gonna have to take it again. And I don’t want you to feel like you have to pay a monthly fee to do that. It’s like an ebook or an m p three album. You bought it. You bought access to it, I guess I should say, and now it’s yours. Right? And the other thing too is I support my students personally. Okay? So I check the website every day for questions, every work day. I should say, you know, I do take Sundays off. So in any case, if you’re if it’s a work day, though, and I’m working, I’m not on vacation or traveling for business, I’m up there. I’m answering questions. And I should say, even when I’m traveling on business, I’m I’m on there answering questions. So although if I don’t have any hardware, there’s some questions you can’t ask. Right? I guess I should have said some questions you can’t answer. But in any case, I just wanted to share that with you. Theautomationschool.com, a high quality online courses, five star rated, buy once, own forever, and guess what? I’m updating all the PLC courses, and if you already own or buy one of the existing PLC courses, you not only get the updated lessons that get added to that course, you get the new course completely free. So I’m not gonna charge you for just an updated version of a class on the same core on the same product. Right? That would be kinda silly in my opinion. So, I hope you guys appreciate that. Again, if you didn’t know any of this, if you have any questions, if you go over to the automationschool.com, at the very top of the site, you’ll see links to contact me, set up a meeting, leave me a voice mail, fill out a form. You know, I have many ways you can get in touch with me. And if you have multiple people you wanna sign up, I do have multiple seat discounts starting at three seats. And, I do actually work with a number of Fortune 500 companies who, you know, enroll maybe 10 people at a time to get that discount. And you know what? Unlike the big vendors, if somebody you sign somebody up and they all take the courses, I’ll let you replace that person for free of charge. You don’t have to pay anything extra. If you sign up Joe and he decides to quit or leave or not to learn, you can put Bob in his place. That’s not a problem. Now I have said some situations where the same spot kept getting replaced or replaced or replaced. At some point, I do charge a maintenance fee to to switch the names out. And then, hey. Look. If Joe leaves and he took, you know, two out of three courses, I’ll prorate refilling that seat with the new person. Right? So whatever percentage of the lessons he took versus the total number of lessons, I’ll prorate it. So, you know, we’ve had number of cases where somebody goes through half of the content then leaves, so we can reset that seat for half price. And I that’s something you won’t find, any major vendors doing as well. So if you have any questions about that, reach out to me over at the automation school dot com. And with that said, let’s jump right back into this week’s episode of the automation podcast. Michael Bowne (PI): In a brownfield installation, what we’re seeing these these cool little edge gateways, And what they’ll do is they’ll grab the bus, they’ll collect some data, and pump it out the other side via, you know, maybe an IT protocol that that the IT guys wanna know about or, you know, like an MQTT or an OPC UA. Of course, in a in a greenfield, in a new installation where you’ve got a brand new PLC, yeah, get the data there. That guy has all the brains, has all the all the information in one ply in all in one place, so get it from the PLC. But in Brownfield, I the edge gateways, even some IO Link masters are being put on the market that have not only an industrial Ethernet interface, you know, just on one port, on the same port, industrial Ethernet interface for control, but that interface will also speak like a higher level IT protocol like an MQTT or an OPC UA, so you can get it even from the IO Link master that data is is accessible. So the different ways to get it, and, and that’s kind of the whole point is is getting that data from the sensors to the to the master and then further upwards. Shawn Tierney (Host): We actually covered a product on the show that had two ports. It had one for your fieldbus Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. And then it Shawn Tierney (Host): had a separate one for your IT or your IOT or your MQTT, which I thought was so inventive too because now the control system gets its data, and it’s under control. But reporting wise, you know, that’s kind of the best of both both worlds. You don’t have to have two sensors. You can send it to data both ways. And, yeah, just it’s the way you can do with these things and, you know, a lot of the sensors you probably have out there, I’ve noticed that some vendors, every sensor they sell is IO Link. So Yeah. You may already have it installed and not know it because the price difference to add it to some products. Once you get up to the fanciest sensors, of course, not the simplest sensors, but once you get up to the fanciest sensors, it’s it’s, you know, there’s a lot of horsepower in that chipset. So, you know, they can add IO Link for for pennies on the dollar. So very interesting stuff, though. Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. That’s that’s a good point. And and, you know, of course, we could spend all day talking about IT, OT, and the segmentation of networks and all who’s who owns the IP addresses. And we I mean, that’s a whole separate topic. But in cases like that, yeah, it’s cool. You got a separate port. IT can do what they want on their one port. And if but, hey, don’t touch me in the control realm because Mhmm. This is my this is my realm. And and you bring up another good point, and that’s kind of there’s a I don’t I don’t wanna say that, you know, there’s there isn’t, like, a thick black line between, okay, this sensor is simple, therefore, should have IO link, or this sensor is complex, therefore, should have its own industrial Ethernet, interface. There’s almost a little bit of a gray area, but you’re right. I mean Mhmm. We kinda leave it up to the vendors to decide. Hey. My thing needs the horsepower that and it’s so complex that I need something like, like, an industrial Ethernet protocol. But, oh, you know what? This other central line is tailored for low cost, and so, therefore, I’m gonna put IO Link on it. But that’s, you know, that’s up to them to to decide. So when we talk about IO Link in terms of benefits, we kinda like to make the analogy with USB because everybody knows USB. You got your USB cable. You plug it into your computer on one end. On the other end, you plug it into your you know, you plug your mouse in or you plug your keyboard in, and you plug your key your printer in. Automatically, it it uses the same cable. It’s always the same. Everything everybody’s using that interface, and we kinda see the same thing with IO Link where it’s just a unified, unshielded three wire sensor cable, and it can use be used with all IO Link devices. Up until now, you know, if you had smart devices, right, memory and computing power is smaller and cheaper. Up until now, to get that extra information out, you would need multiple cables. The wiring is time consuming. It’s expensive. They’re large, costly to to install and maintain. But But with iolink, you just you just plug it in. It’s a simple m 12 plug, and then you don’t have all these spare parts of different cable types. It’s just one cable and, easy to maintain, thin, flexible. I’ve got a I’ve got an example here I’d like to highlight, and I’ll try and talk through it for those that are that are listening instead of instead of viewing. This is an example of 256 IOs via 16 fieldbus modules. So, like, fieldbus like remote IOs or whatever the case may be. So we’re connecting them to a PLC out in the field. And to do that, we would need 16 fieldbus modules in order to do that. These are just let’s let’s call them simple DI, you know, digital input proximity sensors. Mhmm. Shawn Tierney (Host): Mhmm. Michael Bowne (PI): With IO Link, we can do that via just one fieldbus module. So that’s just one IP address or one IO Link master. So already you’re cutting out 15 of those more expensive devices. And then we use what are called so called IO Link hubs, which bring those DI signals, put it all on one IO Link connection, put it into IO Link master, and send it out the other side. And with that, we can connect if you imagine these 272 IOs as shown here via just one fieldbus module. So it’s showing just huge, huge, huge savings simply on cost alone, due to the wiring. And, that that one cable, it fits all sensor types. So simple sensors, like a proximity sensor all the way up to complex devices like pressure, temperature, signal lamps, and even simple actuators all use the same IO Link cable. Shawn Tierney (Host): So where an IO Link device would be giving you not just on or off, but a lot of other information and some of that analog information. If all you had was a dumb device, well, now I can put 16 of them or so, you know, some number of them together Mhmm. Bring them into a hub. And each since each device only has an on or off, where a regular IO Link device would have lots of other information, you can now just join them all together and say, okay. Here we go. Here’s inputs one through x. Michael Bowne (PI): It’s, almost like multiplexing, put it all together on one and then Mhmm. Pump it out the other side. Yeah. Shawn Tierney (Host): Perfect. Michael Bowne (PI): The other way we relate IO Link to USB is kind of in the the identification and parameterization. So if we look at how you plug your printer into your computer, you plug it in, and automatically, your computer says, oh, okay. I know that that’s a HP something something desk check printer and and okay. How do you wanna do you wanna do color or black and white? Do you wanna do full duplex? Do you wanna do back and white, back and front on on the printing? And the same is true for for IO Link. So you plug in that IO Link sensor into your IO Link master. It reads it. It says, hey. The dialing says, hey. This is who I am. This is my type. This is my serial number. Every device has a vendor ID and a device ID. And then the IO Link master goes up and gets the IODD file, and I’ll show that here in a little bit, and then you can start that parametrization. And it’s just like it’s just like a USB. It’s it’s, no special knowledge is required. You can format changes very, very easily. You can even do them on the fly, for example, with an HMI on the on the machine. And, the identification methods make sure that you don’t plug in a wrong device into an IO Nialink port, which could stop the machine. It’ll it’ll it’ll recognize that and prevent, incorrect connections. It allows you to exchange devices very easily of the same type or the the same same manufacturer, same same device. So just like USB, it it it kinda works in that way. And then the other way, it’s kind of like USBs in the diagnostics, and this is a really, really powerful part of IO Link. So when your printer says, I’m out of paper or I’m out of toner or there’s a paper jam, it sends that signal, standardized signal to the to the computer, to your computer, your PC, and you know exactly what what to do, how to fix your your printer, why your printer isn’t working the same as true for IO Link. We’ve standardized these diagnostics. So this is a, a photo eye saying, hey, under voltage or over temperature or the the window on the photo eye has gotten dirty, so signal quality is deteriorating. So we standardized all this, so that these diagnostics all come in the same way, and, you can, you know, fix any any problem as fast as possible to to to, minimize downtime. And in the case of things like signal quality, hey. The the the window’s getting dirty. This enables things like preventative maintenance. Oh, I know I’m going into a planned shutdown next week. Now’s the time to go out and clean those sensors kind of thing, because I know that they’re I know that the signal’s going is deteriorating. So some cool things like that, that wouldn’t be possible with a traditional analog signal, which we’re showing here. And it also makes really no sense. I mean, in this example, what we’re showing here is a generic this is a pre pressure sensor. You know, it does its measurement. It then does some amplification, and then to stabilize the signal, it does an a to d, puts it into a micro, which does some temperature compensation linearization. But then, traditionally, prior to IO Link, what you do is then do another data a to send it out via zero to 10 volts or four to 20 milliamps, whatever, into the into a, an a to d card on the backplane of the PLC, I mean, this is just this is just crazy. It’s it’s time consuming. It’s, the the signal is still susceptible to interference. The the analog inputs on the cards on the PLC are expensive. There’s manual calibration of the signal. But with IO Link, it just makes sense. You take that signal right from the micro, pump it out digitally via an IO Link inexpensive interface to your, to your IO. And, we use that unshielded three wire inexpensive cable, Shawn Tierney (Host): and Michael Bowne (PI): then you get all those parameters and diagnostics. And, really, that’s the point of using IO Link is all that extra data, all that extra information that that comes along with the the process data. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And so those of you who are listening, I mean, what we saw there was to to shoot out a four to 20 milliamp signal or zero to 10 volt signal, it had to convert it from the digital value that was inside the device to analog, then I have to pump it out. And, you know, we always have to worry about noise and, you know, shielding and all that, you know, depending on the length of the run. And then in the PLC analog card, it’s converting it from analog back to digital, so you have that zero to 32,000 value or zero to 64,000, whatever your PLC does. And so IO Link does eliminate that. It eliminates the noise of your traditional analog. And I know I’ve met so many customers say we have no noise issues on our analog, and that’s great. But not everybody’s in that same boat. So you’re eliminating that d to a and then a to d, and that’s that’s you’re keeping everything digital. So you’re not only getting a cleaner, more accurate value from your device, you’re also getting all those additional pieces of information and the ability to be maybe configured to products. Some of these products need to be changed based on the type of product they’re sensing, you know, the type of fluid going through, the recipe that’s being drawn, the lighting, the colors. So all those different things, you you know, with a typical analog signal, you’re not gonna be able to send back and do a configuration to it. So, go ahead. Back to you, Michael. Michael Bowne (PI): No. You’re right. Exactly. We we have I I took this line out of this deck for the for, you know, for for brevity, but we show examples of of particularly food and bev, right, where you have batches, different I’m running a different batch. I’m running a different product. I need a different label on the on the bottle or whatever I’m running through the the the machine. You reconfigure that via the HMI. It sends all that stuff down to the sensors. Okay. Now I know I’m looking for I should be sensing this instead of this. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. It could be a clear bottle sensor, the clear bottle detector that the bottles change colors. So it’s has a different setting, or it could be background suppression depending on the color of the product. You need a different setting or a color sensor. Maybe you’re making different products and the different colors, and so, you know, all this is now configurable through your PLC, through your control system, through your HMI, which I just think is so cool. Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. It’s it’s it’s super cool. Alright. Let’s get a little bit technical here. I think for some of the engineers, that might be nice. The IO Link signal and 24 volt power supply, like like we talked about before, it’s it’s an m 12 connector. So you’ve got five pins. Your pin one is your high, pin three is your low, and then pin four is your CQ line. That’s that’s where the IO Link digital signal lives. It’s serial. It’s bidirectional. It’s point to point. And then we also have on that same pin four, if you so desired, you could also parameterize your device via IO Link, set it all up, and then put it in what’s known as a CO mode or simple IO mode. And I’ll show that on the next slide too if maybe you’ve just got a digital IO, that you want a fast switching interface. So pins one and three are our power. Pins two and five are freely assignable. So for example, if you wanted to use that pin four for your IO Link signal and then separately have your own DI or DQ line, you could do that using a three wire, four wire, five wire cable. And then what’s cool also in IO Link and we’re starting to see this more and more is we call this port class b, same m 12 connector, same five pins, but pins two and five provide a separate power supply for additional power because and this is cool. We’re starting to see more and more IO link just, like, simple actuators Mhmm. On the market. And that’s really neat. So let’s say you’ve got some simple linear actuator, not not a complex, you know, driver, you know, or motor or something like that, but a a simple linear actuator. You can drive that via IO Link if you just gotta move something really, you know, maybe maybe even within connected to the same ports, on the master as some other sensors, and so you can do that logic in the master itself, you know, simple simple stuff like that. But that’s also possible with IO Link where you can drive it, not just sense it, but also actuate it with with IO Link. So that’s that’s some cool stuff that’s coming down the line. Shawn Tierney (Host): You know, and I found that all the IO Link devices I had here, they came with the SIO mode already set up. So I was able to use the photo eyes and the proxies and all the other devices just as simple IO devices and without even touching the IO Link side of it, which I think is cool because, you know, in in many cases, you just need a photo eye to get up and running. Right? Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. And that’s and that’s how they come out of the box. So out of the box, it’s in that CO mode. And I think you you kinda touched on this before. Maybe many customers have IO Link devices Yeah. On their machine. They don’t even know it Mhmm. Shawn Tierney (Host): Because they Michael Bowne (PI): took it out of the box. They needed that photo. They plugged it in and away they went. But there’s also that all all that extra stuff. If they wanted to, they could get down into the IO Link part of it. Mhmm. Maybe to reparameterize it, or what if you got to change, you still wanna use the CO mode. You just want that digital input. What if you wanna change the switching distance, for example, something like that? I don’t want it to switch at one meter. I want it to switch at two meters or whatever. So all that all that can be configured via IO Link. So on the if we if we talk about the the IO Link communication itself, there are three transmission speeds, comms one, two, and three. Comm one is 4.8 kilobits per second. COM two is 38.4 kilobits per second, and COM three is 230.4 kilobits per second. IO Link masters support all three comm modes, but devices are free to choose based on what they’re sending. If it’s temperature, maybe you don’t need COM three because that’s changing more slowly than something like like like we’re talking about a proximity sensor, which may want to send that a little bit more quickly and uses that that COM three mode. Many, many devices use COM three mode because still two hundred two hundred thirty kilobits per second, that’s, you know, that’s not gonna that’s not gonna kill you. And then a typical cycle time, because this is the question we get all the time, is what kind of cycle time can be achieved? It’s about a millisecond at at com three. So if you’re, you know, trying to go submillisecond, you know, maybe IO Link is not is not the solution at that point. But for many, many applications, that one millisecond cycle time can can, can accomplish whatever they need to. And then what’s cool is that from the EyeLink master’s perspective, it’ll have eight or 16 sensors connected to it. Each device can be set independently. So on this port this device, I’m talking at this comm rate and this cycle time. This other port number two, I’m speaking at a different transmission speed and a different cycle time and so on and so forth, you know, so that you’re not sending data unnecessarily that is simply just being sent for the purposes of being sent. And that’s and that’s pretty cool. Shawn Tierney (Host): And a lot of times, you don’t because you’re not reading a digital on off, you don’t the speed, you’re you’re actually getting a value, and that value a lot of times your PLC is not gonna be running faster than a millisecond scan time. So if you’re getting your value updated, you know, faster than the PLC, then that’s a then then that’s really what you need. Do you know how fast is your PLC running? How fast can your program controller use that value? And, you know, I’d be hard pressed to see a lot of applications where they’re breaking that one millisecond update rate. The other thing too is just because we’re talking at the speed doesn’t mean the actual calculation is even possible in a millisecond. So, you know, temperature changes, things that that sensors there’s limit limitations to the physical world. You know? And, you know, I I don’t know if anybody’s ever said this to you before, Michael, but when I first saw the whole comm thing, I thought that was confusing because having grown up with PCs, I always thought of comp one, comp two, comp one group. Right? And these are really just bought what I would call from the old days, sewer rates. Right? Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. Exactly. Shawn Tierney (Host): Exactly. Insight why why they is it just maybe because it was the standard started overseas or any idea why they went with CALM? Michael Bowne (PI): I’m not gonna lie to you. That’s the first time I’ve gotten that question. Shawn Tierney (Host): Really? Okay. Michael Bowne (PI): Why they’re called that yeah. Let’s just let’s just rewrite this. They call it BOD one, BOD two, BOD three. Shawn Tierney (Host): I know. It’s just so weird. But, anyways, sorry sorry, audience. I just have Michael Bowne (PI): That’s a good one. That’s a good one. Nope. I’ll take that one back. Alright. So IO Link data comes in a couple different flavors. You have your process data. That’s your bread and butter, what you’re using to run the run the factory. Transmitted cyclically in a Telegram, the the data size is defined by the device, and it can be up to 32 bytes for each device, both input and output. Along with that comes a value bit indicating whether the process data is valid or invalid, and this can be transmitted is transmitted cyclically with the the process data. And then you have things that happen acyclically. These would be device data like parameters, identification data, diagnostic information, and these happen on request of the IO Link master. Obviously, a lot of that happens during startup, but also can happen during runtime if, as shown here on the slide with the with the last case, events can be error messages. So the the, the device will set a flag. Hey. There’s a short circuit or so, and then the the master can pull that device for more information, more diagnostic information, based on that event flag that’s that’s set by the set by the device. And so, the the question we always get at this point is, how do I make this all work? How do I integrate this stuff into my into my plant? Shawn Tierney (Host): Before we go any further, I did wanna jump back and tell you about a service I’m doing that I don’t think I’ve talked about very much, and it’s comes in two different flavors. First of all, I’ve actually had some vendors and companies reach out to me and say, Shawn, I know you don’t wanna travel all around the country with all your equipment. Right? That’s not what you do, but we want you to come out and teach us something. Would you come out and do a lecture? We’ll set up our own equipment. And, can you come out and just run us through some of the products and teach us some of your knowledge, and you don’t have to worry about bringing all the equipment with you. And so that’s something I really don’t talk about much, but I do wanna tell you that if you’re looking for training and you need it on-site, of course, you do have to pay for my travel time. But if you do want me to come out for a day or two days or for a week and do training on any of the products I train online now. Now if you want me to come out and do training on a product I don’t already have a curriculum on, I can’t do it. The building the curriculum is where all of my costs is on the training. Right? I shouldn’t say that. The web service in in in the back end does cost something every month as well, but most of the time it goes into and that’s really what being self employed is it’s time. Right? Most of the time goes into build building the curriculum. So if you have a need for somebody like Shawn, we can’t do a webinar. We can’t do a Teams meeting. We we can’t do online training. We want you to come out. And, again, I just got a call on this yesterday. Yes. I can do that. As long as the curriculum I’m gonna teach you is something I already have existing. And, I’m not gonna hand out lab books. We can buy you lab books if you want. People sell great lab books for $80.90 dollars a pop. If you want lab books, I’d be more than happy to include that in the quote. But in any case, I that’s one thing I do. The other thing I’ve been doing with vendors is they’ve hired me to come out and interview them at their trade show. So, usually, what happens is somebody will sponsor a podcast for $5.99. They’ll come on. We’ll do the interview. I’ll edit it all up. I’ll put their links in. We’ll talk about the thumbnail, and then we’ll release it ad free. Right? And so that covers my cost of producing that episode roughly. Right? We just raised it from $4.99 to $5.99 because most of the shows were were actually upside down on, so we need to raise it a little bit to make sure we’re covering our cost. But in any case, sometimes vendors have, you know, they have their own trade show, and they may have all of their product specialists there. And they’re like, hey, Shawn. We would like to do six or seven interviews at the trade show. Would you come out and actually record them there? We’ll pay your flight. We’ll pay your hotel and your expenses to get there and back. And so that’s another thing I haven’t talked about much that I’m doing. I’m working with some, you know, top five vendors to do that, and I’ve done it in the past. And so I did wanna explain it to you if you’re a vendor listening or if you are, talking to your vendor, like, you should have Shawn come out and interview all your people. You have them all in one place. Let them know that they can contact me about doing that. Again, you can contact me at theautomationblog.com, LinkedIn, YouTube, theautomationschool.com, pretty much any way you want. You can write me snail mail if you want. But in any case, I do wanna share that, and we also have in person training. I think I’ve talked to you guys about this quite a bit. We do custom in person training for as little as two people, $900 a day up to four people. And so if you wanna get some people in here, we can actually do Allen Bradley and Siemens in two days back to back. One day Allen Bradley, one day Siemens. So if you wanna learn two PLCs in two days back to back now I do have somebody ask me, hey, Shawn. Where’s your schedule of upcoming courses? And back in my previous life of twenty five years, we were always trying to sign people up and then canceling, you know, events and classes because, we wouldn’t get enough people to meet the vendors minimum. So I don’t wanna do that. So I don’t have actually any dates now. I have been talking with doing a intensive POC boot camp, but, you know, I just got so much things going on in my life right now that I don’t think I could pull that together this fall. But in any case, if you need some training, you wanna send your people here, we can even start at, like, noontime and then end the final day at noontime so you can get your flights and travel and all that. We’re one hour away from Albany, New York, and that’s a great little airport to fly in and out of. Actually, I’m flying out of it in November. They’ll go to a trade show, to interview vendors, vendors, product people. But in any case, I just wanna break in. There’s something about my company. I don’t think I ever talked to you guys about much, and so I just wanted to insert it here since I’m sponsoring this episode and eating the cost to produce it. I wanted to share that with you. And now, I won’t be back until the end of the show, so please enjoy the rest of this episode. Send any feedback you have to me, and, we’ll talk to you at the end of the show. Michael Bowne (PI): And it kinda works like this. So you have your IO Link device, which has an IODD file, which we mentioned earlier, that gets ingested by a parameterization tool. The parameterization tool comes with the IO Link master. Could be a separate piece of software. In some cases, could be a web page built into the IO Link master itself. Depends on depends on the vendor. But then what happens after that, how that data goes from the IO Link master to the controller, the PLC, is fieldbus specific. So you have your own, fieldbus file, you know, GSD or EDS or ESI, whatever the case may be, which is ingested by the engineering tool of the of the PLC and kind of outside way outside the scope of of of IO Link. And so the EDS file, the GSD file, and and that is the that data then gets sent via fieldbus, and that’s the sum of all the IO Link device data from all the ports on the IO Link master, where that IO Link communication as as defined by the IODD file, configures the port for the master and for the devices. And so an IODD file is provided by the devices, and every device manufacturer must provide an IODD for their device. It can be downloaded from the IODD finder, which is a website, and, it it describes what the entire device does. It describes the process data length, the process data structure, the parameter the name of the parameters, what range to expect, the data types, the addresses of the parameters in the in the in the indexes and subindexes. It can talk about GUI information, pages on which a parameter shall be displayed, names of parameter pages, all this kind of stuff is in an IODD file. It’s a it’s a zip file where you have that IODD as an XML. So that’s how we format the file. So it’s it’s both and this is the key part, both machine readable and and human readable. It’s got a little picture of the device, picture of the manufacturer logo. And with your permission, maybe I can show the IODD finder. It’s, ioddfinder.io-link.com. Mhmm. Looks simple enough. Let’s say we wanna look at a I’m gonna type in something here. Max ref. Let’s pick this. So this is just a this is a reference design, not an actual product that that, an end user would employ in their in their factory, but a reference design of something that maybe a device manufacturer would use. And it’s shows the manufacturer name, the article name number, the product name, the device ID. All that stuff is ingested by the parameterization tool, which then uses that information to go up to this IODD finder and grab the IODD file shown here, which can be downloaded if you wanted to look at it yourself. But in the past few years, we implemented what’s called an IODD viewer, which is pretty cool, which takes that nice XML file and parses it. So in human readable form, if you wanted to compare quickly, hey. I’m an end user. I wanna compare the IODD file from device vendor a to device vendor b to kinda see what kind of features they have. You could do that all very easily, and that’s shown here in the IODD viewer. What’s really what’s really neat about this IODD finder is that it has two ways it it it gets accessed. That’s this website that I just showed here. So as in humans are are accessing it, but it’s also accessible via API. And we we track the the traffic to the Audi divider, and the vast, vast majority of the traffic comes via API. So these are IO Link masters that just had a device connected to them. Parameter is I’m sorry. Parameterization tool that has a you know, or connected to the IO Link master that had device connected them. They go up to the AudiD finder, and they pull down that IODD file for the device that was just connected so that now they they can be, configured. And that’s really, really cool stuff. So all these IODD files are in one spot, in one database up there for for viewing or via the IODD viewer or for access from any number of IO Link tools out there. Shawn Tierney (Host): So when we’re talking about API access, we’re talking about the tool we’re using to configure the master. So it could be a web page built into the master, or it could be a separate software program. Do I have that correct? Michael Bowne (PI): Yeah. Right. So the parameterization tool, yeah, is usually is usually a software package that’ll run on your computer connecting to your, IO Link master that parameterizes the IO Link master. Yeah. Shawn Tierney (Host): Excellent. Or Michael Bowne (PI): through the network somehow. Maybe through the network. Yeah. Goes out and grabs that IODD file from the IODD finder to, you know, to parameterize that port in that device. Shawn Tierney (Host): Which is excellent because in previous iterations of smart networks and smart devices, you always have to go searching a vendor’s website, and then people would get the wrong file, and then I would be in the field saying this is never gonna work because you get the wrong device file. If they can’t give you the right device file, you’ll never get it to work. You know? And so this is much better having the organization have everybody require everybody who has IO Link to put their IODD files in the one place so everybody can always find it. And so the software tools can find it automatically for you, which is just a huge a huge change versus what we went through in the nineties. Michael Bowne (PI): Exactly. We came on a CD or something or what I mean, God only knows. I’m gonna switch gears a little bit here, talk about two topics subtopics within the IO Link domain, and one of them is IO Link wireless. This is, what we call is bridging the gap. So it’s an IEC standard, six eleven thirty nine as of November 2023, Shawn Tierney (Host): and Michael Bowne (PI): it’s enabling connections that simply weren’t possible before for IO Link. And in an example here, we’re showing a a smart machine tool where the IO Link sensor is integrated into the chuck of the lathe. Now that guy is spinning at 6,000 RPMs. That connection simply couldn’t be possible couldn’t be done any other way than with IO Link wireless or, let’s say, independent movers. So you’ve seen these moving systems where you’ve got the either floating or on a on a rail the other track systems exactly. If you integrate the smarts of IO Link onto the movers themselves instead of using, SCARA or Delta robots to do the to I mean, that’s you’re saving huge amounts of cost Mhmm. That way if the if those guys can move on their own, and they use IO Link wireless to do that. Slip rings where certainly sending power, is is well known, but sometimes communication can be tricky via slip ring. Mhmm. Yeah. End of arm tooling, like robot robot end of arms where you have a you’re gonna change the tool at the end of the arm. It’s more lightweight, saving on on robot cost that way. Less fewer lighter robots can be used, but it’s it’s, it’s cool. It the architecture looks pretty much the same, where you have your field level, your IO, and instead of wired connections, it’s it’s simply a wireless connection. Is that wired? It’s it’s wireless. And and what’s different about IO Link Wireless is that it was built for industry. So I think in the past, people have been burned by wireless technologies that made some promises that didn’t maybe you know, they they couldn’t meet the the the the the rigorous environment and and requirements of of industry, but that was different. It was built for industry from the start. So it uses the two point two point four gig license free ISM band. And what we do is a is this frequency hopping so that we use the same IO link, you know, data structure. We do this frequency hopping, and it’s it’s a cycle of five milliseconds. So you’re not going to get that one millisecond time that you get via wired IO link. We do a five millisecond cycle time, and then it’s using this frequency hopping method. It’s basically cable grade, connection, 10 to the minus nine error probability. You can have hundreds of wireless devices in a machine, and it’s deterministic. It’s designed it is designed from the outside for both for control, of course, but, of course, also for for monitoring and maybe, like, a brownfield. You wanna you can’t get IO Link to a sensor or something that you can maybe use IO Link wireless to get access to some some hard to reach sensor. Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, you know, I thought that I think this is so

In this week’s episode of Missing the Point, Mike Marcangelo and Rayshawn Buchanan break down a tough Patriots loss to the Raiders and dive deep into what it means moving forward. The guys take a hard look at Drake Maye’s performance, where he showed flashes of potential but also struggled under questionable play calling and poor situational decisions. They debate whether Josh McDaniels’ offensive strategy held the team back, why TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson weren’t used enough, and how Carlton Davis’ defensive lapses exposed the Patriots secondary. The conversation shifts to broader roster challenges, including the absence of Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams’ growing role, and the surprising release of Jabrill Peppers. Can Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff establish a winning culture with this group, or is the lack of depth already showing cracks? Outside of Foxborough, the guys turn their attention to the AFC East, where the Miami Dolphins stumbled badly in Week 1 against the Giants. Rayshawn questions whether Mike McDaniel’s job could already be on the line, while Mike considers how long ownership will stay patient. They also break down Tua Tagovailoa’s inconsistency, Tyreek Hill’s fading explosiveness, and whether Jaylen Waddle can truly become a reliable weapon. The episode even touches on Lamar Jackson’s James Harden-like reputation in big games, Josh Allen’s playoff struggles, and the never-ending debate over Tom Brady’s legacy as a “winner” vs. a “talent.” This is a no-holds-barred look at coaching decisions, roster construction, and the big-picture direction of two of the NFL’s most talked-about franchises. If you’re a New England Patriots fan, Miami Dolphins skeptic, or just love hard-hitting football talk, this is an episode you can’t miss. 00:00 – Patriots lose to Raiders in Week 1: immediate reactions03:45 – Drake Maye’s debut performance: flashes of promise and rookie mistakes08:20 – Josh McDaniels’ play calling under fire: lack of offensive balance12:10 – Why Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson need more touches16:35 – Carlton Davis struggles in coverage without Christian Gonzalez21:05 – Jabrill Peppers’ release and what it means for the Patriots secondary26:50 – Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff outcoached in Week 1 loss32:15 – Are the Patriots already facing roster depth problems?37:40 – Miami Dolphins upset by Giants: is Mike McDaniel on the hot seat?42:55 – Tua Tagovailoa’s inconsistency and Tyreek Hill’s fading explosiveness47:30 – Can Jaylen Waddle step up as Miami’s true WR1?51:45 – Lamar Jackson compared to James Harden in big moments56:20 – Josh Allen’s playoff struggles and AFC competition outlook1:01:05 – Tom Brady’s legacy: generational winner vs. generational talent1:05:50 – Patriots vs Dolphins Week 2 preview: bold predictions Stay connected with Missing the Point:Website: https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPodTwitter (X): https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPodContact: craig@mtpshow.com

The New England Patriots are starting fresh in 2025, with Mike Vrabel taking over as head coach and Drake Maye stepping into his second year as the franchise quarterback. In this annual Missing the Point Patriots Season Preview, host Mike Marcangelo is joined by MassLive’s own Karen Guregian (@kguregian) to break down what fans should really expect this season. This detailed conversation covers: Mike Vrabel’s leadership style and how it differs from Bill Belichick’s final years How Josh McDaniels’ return shapes the offensive identity Karen’s exclusive interview with Ernie Adams and why “you can’t win if you can’t block” Why the team moved on from Jabrill Peppers despite his physical style Stefon Diggs’ potential impact and why his role may resemble DeAndre Hopkins’ WR2 success in Houston Updates on Christian Gonzalez’s injury and how it affects the defense Concerns over offensive line depth and how it could determine the season’s success The role of rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson as an explosive third-down weapon WR Efton Chism’s impressive preseason and where he fits into a crowded receiver room Karen also gives a game-by-game prediction, landing on a 9-8 finish and explaining what that record really means in today’s AFC. If you’re a Patriots fan looking for real insight—not hype—this episode is your go-to preview for the 2025 season. Connect with Karen Guregian on X: @kguregian Follow Missing the Point:

The 2025 NFL season is almost here, and Missing the Point is back with one of our most anticipated episodes of the year: our full-season NFL prediction special. Hosts Mike Marcangelo, Dave Clarke, Robert Kelly, and Rayshawn Buchanan take you division by division, team by team, and award by award—breaking down exactly how we see the 2025 season playing out from Week 1 to the playoffs. We start with NFC and AFC win-loss projections, debating everything from the Dallas Cowboys' shocking decision to trade Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, to whether Lamar Jackson is primed for an MVP season, and how  Caleb Williams will fare under pressure in Chicago. This isn’t just hot takes for clicks—every prediction is backed by roster analysis, coaching matchups, schedule strength, and the chaos only the NFL can deliver. This episode covers: Full 2025 NFL win-loss predictions for every team in all eight divisions The new “steal system” that lets us compete with the so-called NFL experts A deep dive into the Micah Parsons trade fallout and Jerry Jones' legacy Why Lamar Jackson is our consensus MVP pick T.J. Watt, Saquon Barkley, and Trey Henderson headline our award ballots Why we expect Kevin Stefanski to be the first coach fired Coaching redemption for Matt LaFleur in Green Bay A debate over the most overrated and underrated teams in 2025 Whether you're prepping for your fantasy draft, laying down your futures bets, or just want the smartest NFL takes heading into the 2025 season, this is the episode you don't want to miss.00:00 – Introduction: Meet the Missing the Point Podcast Crew & What to Expect This NFL Season 03:15 – 2025 NFL Prediction Recap: What We Got Right & Wrong 06:30 – Setting the Rules: How Our NFL Prediction Game Works 09:00 – AFC North Predictions: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Browns Analysis & Record Projections  18:45 – NFC North Deep Dive: Packers, Bears, Lions, Vikings – Impact of the Micah Parsons Trade 28:00 – NFC North Team-by-Team Debates: Can the Packers Dominate? Are the Bears Ready to Surprise? 36:20 – AFC South Preview: Texans, Jaguars, Titans, Colts – Rookie QBs & Coaching Changes 45:10 – NFC South Breakdown: Panthers, Falcons, Buccaneers, Saints – Who’s the Dark Horse? 54:00 – AFC East Showdown: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets – Josh Allen’s MVP Chances & Tua’s Health 1:04:30 – NFC East Predictions: Eagles, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders – Can Philly Repeat? Dallas in Trouble? 1:15:00 – AFC West Power Rankings: Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Raiders – Mahomes vs. the Field 1:23:00 – NFC West Analysis: 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, Cardinals – Can San Francisco Stay on Top? 1:32:00 – Bold NFL Award Picks: MVP, Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year 1:38:00 – Hot Seat Watch: First NFL Coach Fired in 2025? 1:41:00 – Fantasy Football Implications: Sleeper Picks & Busts to Avoid 1:45:00 – Super Bowl Predictions & Playoff Bracket Breakdown 1:50:00 – Final Thoughts: Biggest Surprises, Upsets

This episode explains why every business needs an MTP slogan, what it means for employees, what it signals to customers, and how leaders can create one. Practical examples make this a must-listen for any organization.Host: Paul FalavolitoConnect with me on your favorite platform: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Substack, BlueSky, Threads, DiscordFree Leadership Resources: www.paulfalavolito.comBooks by Paul FalavolitoThe 7 Minute Leadership Handbook: bit.ly/48J8zFGThe Leadership Academy: https://bit.ly/4lnT1PfThe 7 Minute Leadership Survival Guide: https://bit.ly/4ij0g8yOfficial 7 Minute Leadership MerchGrab exclusive gear and more: linktr.ee/paulfalavolitoPartners & DiscountsFlying Eyes Optics – Best aviator sunglasses on the marketGet 10% off with code: PFAVShop now: flyingeyesoptics.comGatsby Shoes – Dress sneakers built for leaders on the moveUse my affiliate link for 10% off: Gatsby ShoesSubscribe & Listen to My Podcasts:The 7 Minute Leadership Podcast1 PAPA FOXTROT – General Aviation PodcastThe DailyPfav

Actually, you don't even need a basket to start a morning time routine and to use this family-style approach to learning.  It doesn't even have to happen in the morning time!  In this week's episode, Carrie answers the most FAQ about starting a morning time basket and about how to simplify your already existent morning time routine.  Whether you are new to this idea of Morning Basket or you have been using Morning Time for years, you will love the simple explanations and practical suggestions given in this episode.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up and join Carrie for little coffee break.Do you want FREE Morning Time Plans (MTP) delivered to your inbox every month?  Then subscribe to www.coffeewithcarrie.org.  This year's MTP focus on Character Traits, godly habits, and proper etiquette. https://coffeewithcarrie.org/Did you miss the FREE Morning Time Plans (MTP) the past three years?  You can order them at www.coffeewithcarrie.org.  All three ebooks are in the STORE.If you want to print and bind the ebook, go to Humble Heart Press.  Get 10% of your order with the discount code:  COFFEE10 https://www.humbleheartpress.com/homeschool-publishing-partnersCheck out sponsor, Eat2Explore!  Explore the world through the culinary arts and turn your kitchen into your classroom. https://eat2explore.com/Support the showAttend the Bloom & Blossom: West Coast Conference in San Diego, October 10th & 11th. Register at https://www.christinacarpenter.org/bloom-and-blossom-conference. I'll be there! Come join me and friends! Purchase Homeschooling High School: A Handbook for Christian Education.Purchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee): Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably. Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session: Coffee With Carrie Join The Coffee House, Coffee With Carrie Premium Membership. Join Today! Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter and blog at https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.

The gloves are off in Part 2 of our NFL offseason power rankings.Dave Clarke, Bob Kelly, and Rayshawn Buchanan pick up right where we left off last week after torching the league’s bottom 12. Now we’re getting into that middle-to-upper tier — teams that could swing either way in 2025. Contenders in the making, pretenders in disguise… we’re calling them out. We kick things off with the Seattle Seahawks at 19. Sam Darnold’s running the show, Cooper Kupp’s in town, and Mike Macdonald’s defense is going to have to keep this thing from falling apart while the offense figures it out. From there, it’s a ride through breakout candidates like Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona, a 49ers team that lives or dies on Christian McCaffrey’s legs, and a Pittsburgh Steelers squad that suddenly has Rodgers, Ramsey, and DK Metcalf but still has to survive that brutal schedule. We talk Caleb Williams’ rookie year in Chicago, why Houston might be better than people think (if Mixon and Nico can stay healthy), and how Kevin O’Connell somehow keeps the Vikings relevant even with a rookie QB. Denver’s defense looks terrifying, Jim Harbaugh might be the missing piece for the Chargers, and the Jordan Love debate rages on in Green Bay. You’ll hear plenty of “are you serious?” moments, QB ranking fights, and some very real questions about coaches like Kyle Shanahan and Mike Tomlin. Agree, disagree, yell at us on Twitter — it’s all part of the fun. Follow and contact:Website: https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@MTPPodX: https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram: https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook: https://facebook.com/MTPPodEmail: craig@mtpshow.com

Shawn Tierney meets up with Tom Weingartner of PI (Profibus Profinet International) to learn about PROFINET and System Redundancy in this episode of The Automation Podcast. For any links related to this episode, check out the “Show Notes” located below the video. Watch The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: Listen to The Automation Podcast from The Automation Blog: The Automation Podcast, Episode 244 Show Notes: Special thanks to Tom Weingartner for coming on the show, and to Siemens for sponsoring this episode so we could release it ad free on all platforms! To learn more PROFINET, see the below links: PROFINET One-Day Training Slide Deck PROFINET One-Day Training Class Dates IO-Link Workshop Dates PROFINET University Certified Network Engineer Course Read the transcript on The Automation Blog: (automatically generated) Shawn Tierney (Host): Welcome back to the automation podcast. My name is Shawn Tierney from Insights and Automation, and I wanna thank you for tuning back in this week. Now on this show, I actually had the opportunity to sit down with Thomas Weingoner from PI to learn all about PROFINET. I actually reached out to him because I had some product vendors who wanted me to cover their s two features in their products, and I thought it would be first it’d be better to actually sit down and get a refresh on what s two is. It’s been five years since we’ve had a PROFINET expert on, so I figured now would be a good time before we start getting into how those features are used in different products. So with that said, I also wanna mention that Siemens has sponsored the episode, so it will be completely ad free. I love it when vendor sponsor the shows. Not only do we get the breakeven on the show itself, we also get to release it ad free and make the video free as well. So thank you, Siemens. If you see anybody from Siemens, thank them for sponsoring the Automation Podcast. As a matter of fact, thank any vendor who’s ever sponsored any of our shows. We really appreciate them. One final PSA that I wanna throw out there is that, speaking like I talked about this yesterday on my show, Automation Tech Talk, As we’ve seen with the Ethernet POCs we’re talking about, a lot of micro POCs that were $250 ten years ago are now $400. Right? That’s a lot of inflation, right, for various reasons. Right? And so one of the things I did this summer is I took a look at my P and L, my pros profit and loss statements, and I just can’t hold my prices where they are and be profitable. Right? So if I’m not breaking even, the company goes out of business, and we’ll have no more episodes of the show. So how does this affect you? If you are a student over at the automation school, you have until mid September to do any upgrades or purchase any, courses at the 2020 prices. Alright? So I I don’t wanna raise the prices. I’ve tried as long as I can, but at some point, you have to give in to what the prices are that your vendors are charging you, and you have to raise the prices. So, all my courses are buy one, sell them forever, so this does not affect anybody who’s enrolled in a course. Actually, all of you folks rolled in my PLC courses, I see it updates every week now. So and those who get the ultimate bundles, you’re seeing new lessons added to the new courses because you get that preorder access plus some additional stuff. So in any case but, again, I wanna reiterate, if you’re a vendor who has an old balance or if you are a student who wants to buy a new course, please, make your plans in the next couple of weeks because in mid September, I do have to raise the prices. So I just wanna throw that PSA out there. I know a lot of people don’t get to the end of the show. That’s what I wanted to do at the beginning. So with that said, let’s jump right into this week’s podcast and learn all about Profinet. I wanna welcome to the show, Tom from Profibus, Profinet North America. Tom, I really wanna just thank you for coming on the show. I reached out to you to ask about ask you to come on to to talk to us about this topic. But before we jump in, could you, first tell the audience a little bit about yourself? Tom Weingartner (PI): Yeah. Sure. Absolutely, Shawn. I’m gonna jump to the next slide then and and let everyone know. As Shawn said, my name is Tom, Tom Weingartner, and I am the technical marketing director at PI North America. I have a fairly broad set of experiences ranging from ASIC hardware and software design, and and then I’ve moved into things like, avionic systems design. But it seemed like no no matter what I was working on, it it always centered around communication and control. That’s actually how I got into industrial Ethernet, and I branched out into, you know, from protocols like MIL standard fifteen fifty three and and airing four twenty nine to other serial based protocols like PROFIBUS and MODBUS. And, of course, that naturally led to PROFINET and the other Ethernet based protocols. I I also spent quite a few years developing time sensitive networking solutions. But now I focus specifically on PROFINET and its related technologies. And so with that, I will jump into the the presentation here. And and, now that you know a little bit about me, let let me tell you a little bit about our organization. We are PROFIBUS and PROFINET International or PI for short. We are the global organization that created PROFIBUS and PROFINET, and we continue to maintain and promote these open communication standards. The organization started back in 1989 with PROFIBUS, followed by PROFINET in the early two thousands. Next came IO Link, a communication technology for the last meter, and that was followed by OmLux, a communication technology for wireless location tracking. And now, most recently, MTP or module type package. And this is a communication technology for easier, more flexible integration of process automation equipment. Now we have grown worldwide to 24 regional PI associations, 57 competent centers, eight test labs, and 31 training centers. It’s important to remember that we are a global organization because if you’re a global manufacturer, chances are there’s PROFINET support in the country in which you’re located, and you can get that support in the country’s native language. In the, lower right part of the slide here, we are showing our technologies under the PI umbrella. And I really wanted to point out that these, these technologies all the technologies within PI umbrella are supported by a set of working groups. And these working groups are made up of participants from member companies, and they are the ones that actually create and update the various standards and specifications. Also, any of these working groups are open to any member company. So, PI North America is one of the 24 regional PI associations, and we were founded in 1994. We are a nonprofit member supported organization where we think globally and act locally. So here in North America, we are supported by our local competence centers, training centers, and test labs. And and competence centers, provide technical support for things like protocol, interoperability, and installation type questions. Training centers provide educational services for things like training courses and hands on lab work. And test labs are, well, just that. They are labs that provide testing services and device certification. So any member company can be any combination of these three. You can see here if you’re looking at the slide, that the Profi interface center is all three, where we have JCOM Automation is both a competent center and a training center. And here in North in North America, we are pleased to have HMS as a training center and Phoenix Contact also as a competent center. Now one thing I would like to point out to everyone is that what you should be aware of is that every PROFINET, device must be certified. So if you make a PROFINET device, you need to go to a test lab to get it certified. And here in North America, you certify devices at the PROFINETERFACE center. So I think it’s important to begin our discussion today by talking about the impact digital transformation has had on factory networks. There has been an explosion of devices in manufacturing facilities, and it’s not uncommon for car manufacturers to have over 50,000 Ethernet nodes in just one of their factories. Large production cells can have over a thousand Ethernet nodes in them. But the point is is that all of these nodes increase the amount of traffic automation devices must handle. It’s not unrealistic for a device to have to deal with over 2,000 messages while it’s operating, while it’s trying to do its job. And emerging technologies like automated guided vehicles add a level of dynamics to the network architecture because they’re constantly entering and leaving various production cells located in different areas of the factory. And, of course, as these factories become more and more flexible, networks must support adding and removing devices while the factory is operating. And so in response to this digital transformation, we have gone from rigid hierarchical systems using field buses to industrial Ethernet based networks where any device can be connected to any other device. This means devices at the field level can be connected to devices at the process control level, the production level, even even the operations level and above. But this doesn’t mean that the requirements for determinism, redundancy, safety, and security are any less on a converged network. It means you need to have a network technology that supports these requirements, and this is where PROFINET comes in. So to understand PROFINET, I I think it’s instructive here to start with the OSI model since the OSI model defines networking. And, of course, PROFINET is a networking technology. The OSI model is divided into seven layers as I’m sure we are all familiar with by now, starting with the physical layer. And this is where we get access to the wire, internal electrical signals into bits. Layer two is the data link layer, and this is where we turn bits into bytes that make up an Ethernet frame. Layer three is the network layer, and this is where we turn Ethernet frames into IP packets. So I like to think about Ethernet frames being switched around a local area network, and IP packets being routed around a wide area network like the Internet. And so the next layer up is the transport layer, and this is where we turn IP packets into TCP or UDP datagrams. These datagrams are used based on the type of connection needed to route IP packets. TCP datagrams are connection based, and UDP datagrams are connectionless. But, really, regardless of the type of connection, we typically go straight up to layer seven, the application layer. And this is where PROFINET lives, along with all the other Ethernet based protocols you may be familiar with, like HTTP, FTP, SNMP, and and so on. So then what exactly is PROFINET, and and what challenges is it trying to overcome? The most obvious challenge is environmental. We need to operate in a wide range of harsh environments, and, obviously, we need to be deterministic, meaning we need to guarantee data delivery. But we have to do this in the presence of IT traffic or non real time applications like web servers. We also can’t operate in a vacuum. We need to operate in a local area network and support getting data to wide area networks and up into the cloud. And so to overcome these challenges, PROFINET uses communication channels for speed and determinism. It uses standard unmodified Ethernet, so multiple protocols can coexist on the same wire. We didn’t have this with field buses. Right? It was one protocol, one wire. But most importantly, PROFINET is an OT protocol running at the application layer so that it can maintain real time data exchange, provide alarms and diagnostics to keep automation equipment running, and support topologies for reliable communication. So we can think of PROFINET as separating traffic into a real time channel and a non real time channel. That mess messages with a particular ether type that’s actually eighty eight ninety two, and the number doesn’t matter. But the point here is that the the the real time channel, is is where all PROFINET messages with that ether type go into. And any other ether type, they go into the non real time channel. So we use the non real time channel for acyclic data exchange, and we use the real time channel for cyclic data exchange. So cyclic data exchange with synchronization, we we classify this as time critical. And without synchronization, it is classified as real time. But, really, the point here is that this is how we can use the same standard unmodified Ethernet for PROFINET as we can for any other IT protocol. All messages living together, coexisting on the same wire. So we take this a step further here and and look at the real time channel and and the non real time channel, and and these are combined together into a concept that we call an application relation. So think of an application relation as a network connection for doing both acyclic and cyclic data exchange, and we do this between controllers and devices. This network connection consists of three different types of information to be exchanged, and we call these types of information communication relations. So on the lower left part of the slide, you can see here that we have something called a a record data communication relation, and it’s essentially the non real time channel for acyclic data exchange to pass information like configuration, security, and diagnostics. The IO data communication relation is part of the real time channel for doing this cyclic data exchange that we need to do to periodically update controller and device IO data. And finally, we have the alarm communication relation. So this is also part of the real time channel, because, what we need to do here is it it’s used for alerting the controller to device false as soon as they occur or when they get resolved. Now on the right part of the slide, is we can see some use cases for, application relations, and and these use cases are are either a single application relations for controller to device communication, and we have an optional application relation here for doing dynamic reconfiguration. We also use an application relation for something we call shared device, and, of course, why we are here today and talking about applications relations is actually because of system redundancy. And so we’ll get, into these use cases in more detail here in a moment. But first, I wanted to point out that when we talk about messages being non real time, real time, or time critical, what we’re really doing is specifying a level of network performance. Non real time performance has cycle times above one hundred milliseconds, but we also use this term to indicate that a message may have no cycle time at all. In other words, acyclic data exchange. Real time performance has cycle times in the one to ten millisecond range, but really that range can extend up to one hundred milliseconds. So time critical performance has cycle times less than a millisecond, and it’s not uncommon to have cycle times around two hundred and fifty microseconds or less. Most applications are either real time or non real time, while high performance applications are considered time critical. These applications use time synchronization to guarantee data arrives exactly when needed, but we also must ensure that the network is open to any Ethernet traffic. So in order to achieve time critical performance here, and we do this for the most demanding applications like high speed motion control. And so what we did is we added four features to basic PROFINET here, and and we call this PROFINET ISOCRANESS real time or PROFINET IRT. These added features are synchronization, node arrival time, scheduling, and time critical domains. Now IRT has been around since 02/2004, but in the future, PROFINET will move to a new set of I triple e Ethernet standards called time sensitive networking or TSN. PROFINET over TSN will actually have the same functionality and performance as PROFINET IRT, but we’ll be able to scale to faster and faster, networks and and as bandwidth is is increasing. So this chart shows the differences between PROFINET, RT, IRT, and TSN. And the main difference is, obviously, synchronization. And these other features that, guarantee data arrives exactly when needed. Notice in in the under the, PROFINET IRT column here that that, the bandwidth for PROFINET IRT is a 100 mil a 100 megabits per second. And the bandwidth for PROFINET RT and TSN are scalable. Also, for those device manufacturers out there looking to add PROFINET IRT to their products, there are lots of ASICs and other solutions available in the market with IRT capability. Alright. So let’s take a minute here to summarize all of this. We have a a single infrastructure for doing real time data exchange along with non real time information exchange. PROFINET uses the same infrastructure as any Ethernet network. Machines that speak PROFINET do so, using network connections called application relations, and these messages coexist with all other messages so information can pass from devices to machines, to factories, to the cloud, and back. And so if you take away nothing else from this podcast today, it is the word coexistence. PROFINET coexists with all other protocols on the wire. So let’s start talking a little bit here about the main topic, system redundancy and and and why we got into talking about PROFINET at all. Right? I mean, what why do we need system redundancy and things like like, application relations and dynamic reconfiguration? Well, it’s because one of the things we’re pretty proud of with PROFINET is not only the depth of its capabilities, but also the breadth of its capabilities. And with the lines blurring between what’s factory automation, what’s process automation, and what’s motion control, we are seeing all three types of automation appearing in a single installation. So we wanna make sure PROFINET meets requirements across the entire range of industrial automation. So let’s start out here by looking at the differences between process automation versus factory automation, and then we’ll get into the details. First off, process signals typically change slower on the order of hundreds of milliseconds versus tens of milliseconds in factory automation. And process signals often need to travel longer distances and potentially into hazardous or explosive areas. Now with process plants operating twenty four seven, three sixty five, system must systems must provide high availability and support changes while the plant is in production. This is where system redundancy and dynamic reconfiguration come in. We’ll discuss these again here in in just a minute. I just wanted to finish off this slide with saying that an estop is usually not possible because while you can turn off the automation, that’s not necessarily gonna stop the chemical reaction or whatever from proceeding. Sensors and actuators and process automation are also more complex. Typically, we call them field instruments. And process plants have many, many, many more IO, tens of thousands of IO, usually controlled by a DCS. And so when we talk about system redundancy, I actually like to call it scalable system redundancy because it isn’t just one thing. This is where we add components to the network for increasing the level of system availability. So there are four possibilities, s one, s two, and r one, r two. The letter indicates if there are single or redundant network access points, and the number indicates how many application relations are supported by each network access point. So think of the network access point as a physical interface to the network. And from our earlier discussion, think of an application relation as a network connection between a controller and a device. So you have s one has, single network access points. Right? So each device has single network access points with one application relation connected to one controller. S two is where we also have single network access points, but with two application relations now connected to different controllers. R one is where we have redundant network access points, but each one of these redundant network access points only has one application relation, but those are connected to different controllers. And finally, we could kinda go over the top here with r two, and and here’s where we have redundant network access points with two application relations connected to different controllers. Shawn Tierney (Host): You know, I wanna just stop here and talk about s two. And for the people who are listening, which I know is about a quarter of you guys out there, think of s two is you have a primary controller and a secondary controller. If you’re seeing the screen, you can see I’m reading the the slide. But you have your two primary and secondary controllers. Right? So you have one of each, and, primary controller has the, application one, and secondary has application resource number two. And each device that’s connected on the Ethernet has both the one and two. So you went maybe you have a rack of IO out there. It needs to talk to both the primary controller and the secondary controller. And so to me, that is kinda like your classic redundant PLC system where you have two PLCs and you have a bunch of IO, and each piece of IO has to talk to both the primary and the secondary. So if the primary goes down, the secondary can take over. And so I think that’s why there’s so much interest in s two because that kinda is that that that classic example. Now, Tom, let me turn it back to you. Would you say I’m right on that? Or Tom Weingartner (PI): Spot on. I mean, I think it’s great, and and and really kinda emphasizing the point that there’s that one physical connection on the network access point, but now we have two connections in that physical, access point there. Right? So so you can then have one of those connections go to the primary controller and the other one to the secondary controller. And in case one of those controllers fails, the device still can get the information it needs. So, yep, that that’s how we do that. And and, just a little bit finer point on r one, if you think about it, it’s s two, but now all we’ve done is we’ve split the physical interface. So one of the physical interfaces has has, one of the connections, and the other physical interface has a has the other connection. So you really kinda have, the same level of redundant functionality here, backup functionality with the secondary controller, but here you’re using, multiple physical interfaces. Shawn Tierney (Host): Now let me ask you about that. So as I look at our one, right, it seems like they connect to port let’s I’ll just call it port one on each device to switch number one, which in this case would be the green switch, and port number two of each device to the switch number two, which is the blue switch. Would that be typical to have separate switches, one a different switch for each port? Tom Weingartner (PI): It it it doesn’t have to. Right? I I I think we chose to show it like this for simplicity kinda to Shawn Tierney (Host): Oh, I don’t care. Tom Weingartner (PI): Emphasize the point that, okay. Here’s the second port going to the secondary controller. Here’s the first port going to the primary controller. And we just wanted to emphasize that point. Because sometimes these these, diagrams can be, a bit confusing. And you Shawn Tierney (Host): may have an application that doesn’t require redundant switches depending on the maybe the MTBF of the of the switch itself or your failure mode on your IO. Okay. I’m with you. Go ahead. Tom Weingartner (PI): Yep. Yep. Good. Good. Good. Alright. So, I think that’s some excellent detail on that. And so, if you wouldn’t mind or don’t have any other questions, let’s let’s move on to the the, the the next slide. So you can see in that previous slide how system redundancy supports high availability by increasing system availability using these network access points and application relations. But we can also support high availability by using network redundancy. And the way PROFINET supports network redundancy is through the use of ring topologies, and we call this media redundancy. The reason we use rings is because if a cable breaks or the physical connection, somehow breaks as well or or even a device fails, the network can revert back to a line topology keeping the system operational. However, supporting network redundancy with rings means we can’t use protocols typically used in IT networks like, STP and RSTP. And this is because, STP and RSTP actually prevent network redundancy by blocking redundant paths in order to keep frames from circulating forever in the network. And so in order for PROFINET to support rings, we need a way to prevent frames from circulating forever in the network. And to do this, we use a protocol called the media redundancy protocol or MRP. MRP uses one media redundancy manager for each ring, and the rest, of the devices are called media redundancy clients. Managers are typically controllers or PROFINET switches, and clients are typically the devices in the network. So the way it works is this. A manager periodically sends test frames, around the network here to check the integrity of the ring. If the manager doesn’t get the test frame back, there’s a failure somewhere in the ring. And so the manager then notifies the clients about this failure, and then the manager sets the network to operate as a line topology until, the failure is repaired. Right? And so that’s how we can get, network redundancy with our media redundancy protocol. Alright. So now you you can see how system redundancy and media redundancy both support high availability. System redundancy does this by increasing system availability, Walmart. Media redundancy does this by increasing network availability. Obviously, you can use one without the other, but by combining system redundancy and media redundancy, we can increase the overall system reliability. For example, here we are showing different topologies for s one and s two, and these are similar to the the the topologies that were on the previous slide. So, if you notice here that, for s one, we can only have media redundancy because there isn’t a secondary controller to provide system redundancy. S two is where we combine system redundancy and media redundancy by adding an MRP ring. But I wanted to point out here that that even though we’re showing this MRP ring as as as a possible topology, there really are other topologies possible. It really depends on the level of of system reliability you’re trying to achieve. And so, likewise, on on this next slide here, we are showing two topologies for adding media redundancy to r one and r two. And so for r one, we’ve chosen, again, probably for simplistic, simplicity’s sake, we we add an MRP ring for each redundant network access point. With for r two, we do the same thing here. We also have an MRP ring for each redundant network access point, but we also add a third MRP ring for the controllers. Now this is really just to try to emphasize the point that you can, you you can really, come up with just about any topology possible, but it because it really depends on the number of ports on each device and the number of switches in the network and, again, your overall system reliability requirements. So in order to keep process plants operating twenty four seven three sixty five, dynamic reconfiguration is another use case for application relations. And so this is where we can add or remove devices on the fly while the plant is in production. Because if you think about it, typically, when there is a new configuration for the PLC, the PLC first has to go into stop mode. It needs to then re receive the configuration, and then it can go back into run mode. Well, this doesn’t work in process automation because we’re trying to operate twenty four seven three sixty five. So with dynamic reconfiguration, the controller continues operating with its current application relation while it sets up a new application relation. Right? I mean, again, it’s it’s really trying to get this a a new network connection established. So then the the the controller then switches over to the new application relation after the new configuration is validated. Once we have this validation and the configuration’s good, the controller removes the old application relations and continues operating all while staying in run mode. Pretty handy pretty handy stuff here for for supporting high availability. Now one last topic regarding system redundancy and dynamic reconfiguration, because these two PROFINET capabilities are compatible with a new technology called single pair Ethernet, and this provides power and data over just two wires. This version of Ethernet is now part of the I triple e eight zero two dot three standard referred to as 10 base t one l. So 10 base t one l is the non intrinsically saved version of two wire Ethernet. To support intrinsic safety, 10 base t one l was enhanced by an additional standard called Ethernet APL or advanced physical layer. So when we combine PROFINET with this Ethernet APL version of 10 base t one l, we simply call it PROFINET over APL. It not only provides power and data over the same two wires, but also supports long cable runs up to a kilometer, 10 megabit per second communication speeds, and can be used in all hazardous areas. So intrinsic safety is achieved by ensuring both the Ethernet signals and power on the wire are within explosion safe levels. And even with all this, system redundancy and dynamic reconfiguration work seamlessly with this new technology we call PROFINET over APL. Now one thing I’d like to close with here is a is a final thought regarding a new technology I think I think everyone should become aware of here. I mean, it’s emerging in the market. It’s it’s quite new, and it’s a technology called MTP or module type package. And so this is a technology being applied first here to, use cases considered to be a hybrid of both process automation and factory automation. So what MTP does is it applies OPC UA information models to create standardized, non proprietary application level descriptions for automation equipment. And so what these descriptions do is they simplify the communication, between equipment and the control system, and it does this by modularizing the process into more manageable pieces. So really, the point is to construct a factory with modular equipment to simplify integration and allow for better flexibility should changes be required. Now with the help of the process orchestration layer and this OPC UA connectivity, MTP enabled equipment can plug and operate, reducing the time to commission a process or make changes to that process. This is pretty cutting edge stuff. I think you’re gonna find and hear a lot more about NTP in the near future. Alright. So it’s time to wrap things up with a summary of all the resources you can use to learn even more about PROFINET. One of the things you can do here is you can get access to the PROFINET one day training class slide deck by going to profinet2025.com, entering your email, and downloading the slides in PDF format. And what’s really handy is that all of the links in the PDF are live, so information is just a click away. We also have our website, us.profinet.com. It has white papers, application stories, webinars, and documentation, including access to all of the standards and specifications. This is truly your one stop shop for locating everything about PROFINET. Now we do our PROFINET one day training classes and IO link workshops all over The US and parts of Canada. So if you are interested in attending one of these, you can always find the next city we are going to by clicking on the training links at the bottom of the slide. Shawn Tierney (Host): Hey, guys. Shawn here. I just wanted to jump in for a minute for the audio audience to give you that website. It’s us.profinet.com/0dtc or oscardeltatangocharlie. So that’s the website. And I also went and pulled up the website, which if you’re watching, you can see here. But for those listening, these one day PROFINET courses are coming to Phoenix, Arizona, August 26, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 10, Newark and New York City, September 25, Greenville, South Carolina, October 7, Detroit, Michigan, October 23, Portland, Oregon, November 4, and Houston, Texas, November 18. So with that said, let’s jump back into the show. Tom Weingartner (PI): Alan, one of our most popular resources is Profinet University. This website structures information into little courses, and you can proceed through them at your own pace. You can go lesson by lesson, or you can jump around. You can even decide which course to take based on a difficulty tag. Definitely make sure to check out this resource. We do have lots of great, webinars on on the, on on the website, and they’re archived on the website. Now some of these webinars, they they rehash what we covered today, but in other cases, they expand on what we covered today. But in either case, make sure you share these webinars with your colleagues, especially if they’re interested in any one of the topics that we have listed on the slide. And finally, the certified network engineer course is the next logical step if you would like to dive deeper into the technical details of PROFINET. It is a week long in Johnson City, Tennessee, and it features hands on lab work. And if you would like us to provide training to eight or more students, we can even come to your site. If you would like more details about any of this, please head to the website to learn more. And with that, Chai, I think that is, my last slide and, covered the topics that I think we wanted some to cover today. Shawn Tierney (Host): Yeah. And I just wanna point out that to you guys, this, training goes out through all around The US. I definitely recommend getting up there. If you’re using PROFINET and you wanna get some training, they usually fill the room, like, you know, 50 to a 100 people. And, it’s you know, they do this every year. So check those dates out. If you need to get some hands on with PROFINET, I would definitely check out those. And, of course, we’ll have all the links in the description. I also wanna thank Tom for that slide. Really defining s one versus s two versus r one and r two. You know, a lot of people say we have s two compatibility. A matter of fact, we’re gonna be looking at some products that have s two compatibility here in the future. And, you know, just trying to understand what that means. Right? You know, when somebody just says s two, it’s like, what does that mean? So I really if that slide really doesn’t for you guys listening, I thought that slide really kinda lays it out, kinda gives you, like, alright. This is what it means. And, so in in in my from my perspective, that’s like it’s you’re supporting redundant controllers. Right? And so if you have an s two setup of redundant, seamless controllers that or CPUs, then you’ll be that product will support that. And that’s important. Right? Because if you had a product that didn’t support it, it’s not gonna work with your application. So I thought that and the the Ethernet APL is such a big deal in process because I you know, the the distance, right, and the fact that it’s it’s, intrinsically safe and supports all those zones and and areas and whatnot, that is, and everybody everybody all the instrumentation people are all over. Right? The, the, the Rosemonts, the fishes, the, the endless houses, everybody is is on that working group. We’ve covered that on the news show many times, and, just very interesting to see where that goes, but I think it’s gonna take over that part of the industry. So, but, Tom, was there anything else you want to cover in today’s show? Tom Weingartner (PI): No. I I think that that really, puts puts a a fine finale on on on this here. I I do wanted to maybe emphasize that, you you know, that point about network redundancy being compatible with, system redundancy. So, you know, you can really hone in on what your system reliability requirements are. And and also with with this this, PROFINET over APL piece of it, completely compatible with with PROFINET, in in of itself. And and, also, you don’t have to worry about it not supporting, system redundancy or or anything of of the like, whether, you know, you you wanted to get, redundant even redundant devices out there. So, that’s that’s, I think that’s that’s about it. Shawn Tierney (Host): Alright. Well, I again, thank you so much for coming on. We look forward to trying out some of these s two profanet devices in the near future. But with that, I I really wanted to have you on first to kinda lay the groundwork for us, and, really appreciate it. Tom Weingartner (PI): No problem. Thank you for having me. Shawn Tierney (Host): Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that episode. I did. I enjoyed sitting down with Tom, getting up to date on all those different products, and it’s great to know they have all these free hands on training days coming across United States. And, you know, what a great refresher from the original 2020 presentation that we had somebody from Siemens do. So I really appreciate Tom coming on. And speaking of Siemens, so thankful they sponsored this episode so we could release it ad free and make the video free to everybody. Please, if you see Siemens or any of the vendors who sponsor our episodes, please tell them to thank you from us. It really helps us keep the show going. Speaking of keeping the show going, just a reminder, if you’re a student or a vendor, price increases will hit mid September. So if you’re a student, you wanna buy another course, now is the time to do it. If you’re a vendor and you have a existing balance, you will want to schedule those podcasts before mid September or else you’ll be subject to the price increase. So with that said, I also wanna remind you I have a new podcast, automation tech talk. I’m reusing the old automation new news headlines podcast. So if you already subscribed to that, you’re just gonna get in the new the new show for free. It’s also on the automation blog, on YouTube, on LinkedIn. So I’m doing it as a live stream every lunchtime, just talking about what I learned, in that last week, you know, little tidbits here and there. And I wanna hear from you guys too. A matter of fact, I already had Giovanni come on and do an interview with me. So at one point, I’ll schedule that as a lunchtime podcast for automation tech talk. Again, it still shows up as automation news headlines, I think. So at some point, I’ll have to find time to edit that to change the name. But in any case, with that, I think I’ve covered everything. I wanna thank you guys for tuning in. Really appreciate you. You’re the best audience in the podcast world or the video world, you know, whatever you wanna look at it as, but I really appreciate you all. Please feel free to send me emails, write to me, leave comments. I love to hear from you guys, and I just wanna wish you all good health and happiness. And until next time, my friends, peace. Until next time, Peace ✌️  If you enjoyed this content, please give it a Like, and consider Sharing a link to it as that is the best way for us to grow our audience, which in turn allows us to produce more content

The NFL preseason is here. Missing the Point hosts Dave Clarke and Bob Kelly open Part 1 of our 2025 NFL Power Rankings and stack the league with clear tiers and firm takes. We start at the bottom with the Cleveland Browns. A crowded quarterback room, Myles Garrett trade chatter, and a roster in flux shape the outlook. We explain what a successful season looks like and why the floor matters more than the ceiling right now. Next, the New Orleans Saints. An aging core and tight cap space create real questions. We outline the path back to league average and the moves that would change their range of outcomes. Then it is Carolina and Tennessee. Bryce Young’s leadership versus Cam Ward’s upside. We weigh schedule, protection, and weapons, and set fair benchmarks for Year 1 progress. The New York Giants come next. Russell Wilson leads a reset against one of the toughest slates in the league. The defense must steal games while the offense finds itself. We set realistic expectations. We hit the Indianapolis Colts and Anthony Richardson. The ceiling is obvious. The turnover risk is, too. We map the development plan and what the coaching staff must emphasize for a jump. The New York Jets get a hard look. A top defense and Breece Hall can carry stretches. Justin Fields needs efficient answers on early downs. We define the passing benchmarks that unlock a playoff push. Miami’s range is wide. Tua Tagovailoa’s health and Mike McDaniel’s adjustments determine the story. We detail the fixes that stabilize the offense and keep them in the hunt. Jacksonville hinges on Trevor Lawrence. Protection and timing routes are the swing factors. We explain how a few small improvements flip close games. New England should look cleaner under Mike Vrabel. Fewer penalties. Better situational football. Drake Maye’s growth sets the cap on the win total. We lay out a credible band of outcomes. Dallas rounds out Part 1. Dak Prescott’s ceiling, Micah Parsons’ impact, and a reworked receiver room with George Pickens change the math. We explain how the Cowboys beat expectations. Part 2 lands next week with our Top 16 and playoff tiers. Subscribe and send us your Top 10. Website https://www.mtpshow.comYouTube https://youtube.com/@MTPPodX https://twitter.com/MTP_podInstagram https://instagram.com/MTP_podTikTok https://tiktok.com/@MTP_podFacebook https://facebook.com/MTPPodEmail craig@mtpshow.com

In Episode 220 of Manufacturing Hub, we welcome back Caleb Flanigan to explore one of the most critical yet least understood topics in the evolution of smart manufacturing: MTP (Module Type Package), MCP (Machine Context Protocol), and how they are becoming essential enablers of safe and scalable AI adoption on the factory floor.Throughout this deep-dive episode, we uncover how these emerging standards form the backbone of adaptive plants: facilities capable of safely orchestrating decisions between humans, machines, and AI models. From OPC UA and AutomationML to edge computing and LLM-driven control systems, Caleb explains the architecture, mindset shifts, and implementation considerations that make this vision a reality.Key topics covered include:Why traditional SCADA and MES architectures are not AI-readyThe real-world value of MTP in legacy Brownfield plantsHow Siemens' Machine Proxy App and OPC UA servers act as translators between AI models and legacy PLCsDifferences between machine states, control interfaces, and orchestrated services in modular manufacturingWhy CLI skills and edge computing are foundational for the modern control engineerHow to pitch digital transformation and AI investments to hesitant executivesWe also touch on organizational psychology, how internal champions get ignored without executive alignment, and the grim future for manufacturers still betting on ice cube relays.Whether you're a plant engineer, systems integrator, or digital transformation leader, this conversation offers a bold but practical look at how to safely integrate AI into manufacturing control environments: starting with protocols and principles, not just hype.

State Rep. Jon Rosenthal discusses Texas Democrats' fight to prevent Republican redistricting. MTP challenges Lindsey Graham's lies. Financial insecurity is widespread.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

State Rep. Jon Rosenthal discusses Texas Democrats' fight to prevent Republican redistricting. MTP challenges Lindsey Graham's lies. Financial insecurity is widespread.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

MTP's Kristen Welker calls out Speaker Johnson. Bessent admits Trump tax scam is a 'backdoor for privatizing Social Security'. Neil Aquino discusses a new rally as well as the redistricting fiasco.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.* MTP's Kristen Welker calls out Speaker Johnson on his Hamas lie promoted by genocidal Netanyahu: Meet The Press's Kristen Welker did not allow Speaker Johnson to get away with the lie parroted by genocidal Netanyahu about Hamas stealing food. It's Netanyahu and… To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

In this episode of the Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben Carnes sits down with Marc Nudelberg—former college football coach and founder of On The Ball—to explore the principles behind consistent, high-level performance. Drawing from his experiences at programs like Florida State and Cincinnati, Marc explains why simplicity beats complexity, how culture can make or break a team, and why most businesses are failing when it comes to real leadership development.The conversation dives into athlete identity, the dangers of tying your worth to your title, and the difference between feedback in football vs. feedback in business. Marc also shares tactical ways entrepreneurs and coaches can build sustainable habits using the “1% better every day” philosophy—without burning out or chasing perfection.TimeTopic1:10 | Marc's coaching and entrepreneurial journey3:00 | Why he left college football despite success5:10 | Special teams = leadership bootcamp7:00 | The hidden culture behind Florida State's national title10:00 | Identity shifts and the cost of chasing success15:00 | Why most athletes (and coaches) struggle with identity18:00 | What business gets wrong about leadership + training21:00 | The importance of visibility and feedback loops25:00 | How solo entrepreneurs can use AI (like ChatGPT!) as a coach28:00 | What “1% better every day” really means in practice30:00 | Avoiding burnout and perfectionism through minimum standards33:30 | Applying time + mindset management for MTP coaches37:00 | The 3 priorities every coach-entrepreneur must schedule40:00 | How to hold others accountable without sacrificing care42:00 | Marc's advice to his younger self: Be obsessively curiousAre you an ATHLETE looking to take your training to the next level? Check out our website to learn more about 1-on-1 training opportunities:mentaltrainingplan.com/athletesAre you a COACH looking for an affordable year-round mental performance training program? Check out the MTP Academy available through our website:mentaltrainingplan.com/academy

What's it really like to go through MTP Certification? In this episode, you'll hear directly from Coach Danny Tippett — the very first coach to complete the program.Danny shares:Why he decided to pursue mental performance trainingHow the tools helped him coach his son, lead a middle school football team, and improve his own anxietyWhat the certification process was likeHow he's now applying MTP tools in sports like cheerleading, volleyball, and footballWhy every coach should have this in their toolbox — even if it's not their main roleWhether you're a coach, trainer, or someone who wants to make a bigger impact — this episode gives you a clear picture of what's possible when you get MTP Certified.

If you're a coach who believes in the power of the mental game — and you're ready to start teaching it — this episode is for you.MTP founder Ben Carnes breaks down exactly what MTP Certification is, who it's for, and how it equips you to start leading 1-on-1 coaching and team workshops right away.You'll hear:The story behind how the MTP system was builtWhat makes MTP Certification different from any other mental training programHow certified coaches are using this to serve athletes in their schools or build their own coaching businessWhat tools, training, and support you'll walk away withAnd why now is the best time to join the missionWhether you're a trainer, team coach, AD, or just someone who wants to make a lasting impact… this is the launchpad you've been waiting for.

The NBA offseason just got a whole lot crazier. In this week's episode of Missing the Point, Dave Clarke, Mike Marcangelo, and Bob Kelly react to a whirlwind week in the NBA, starting with the Oklahoma City Thunder winning their first-ever NBA Championship; a massive statement from a young, homegrown team that might be built to dominate for years.Meanwhile in Boston, the Celtics have begun a dramatic reset. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the entire season due to a torn Achilles, the team has reportedly traded away both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to create financial flexibility. Is the Celtics' title window officially closed, or is this just a temporary step back?We also dig into a growing and alarming trend across the league: the spike in Achilles tendon injuries. From Tatum to Tyrese Haliburton, players are dropping at an unprecedented rate. Is it the schedule? The shoes? The load management era? We examine what's behind the issue; and whether the NBA needs to take immediate action.Then, stay tuned as we react live to the 2025 NBA Draft, breaking down the biggest picks, surprises, and what it means for the league's future.

The Boston Red Sox just traded away Rafael Devers, and the city is in shock. In this episode of Missing the Point, hosts Rayshawn Buchanan and Michael Marcangelo dive into one of the most controversial moves in recent MLB history: sending Devers to the San Francisco Giants. They break down why this deal feels like a salary dump, what it says about the Red Sox front office's priorities, and how it compares to the infamous trades of Mookie Betts, Nomar Garciaparra, and Xander Bogaerts. Is this rock bottom for Red Sox Nation? Are we entering a new era of hopelessness at Fenway?Then it's time for NBA Finals Game 6, where the Oklahoma City Thunder are on the verge of winning their first NBA championship. The guys analyze Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP-level postseason, Tyrese Haliburton's shocking collapse, and how this young OKC squad is building a true dynasty. We also touch on the Boston Celtics' offseason strategy, including trade scenarios for Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis' health, and why Michigan's Danny Wolfcould be a draft-day steal.Don't forget to follow us across all platforms:

And to top off all the new episodes of MTP, it's return of the Spooky Bestie Series! That's right...Jules and Kevin are back with a new movie discussion for their Spooky Bestie Series! This time around, it's Kevin's pick that the best friend duo dives into! Tune in as these two best friends and co-hosts sit down to discuss 1998's cult classic...Urban Legend! What did your co-hosts think of this movie? Is this an underrated horror gem from the 90's that you should see? Find out now on episode 129 of The Midnight Terrors Podcast!

On this episode of Missing the Point, Dave Clarke and Mike Marcangelo break down one of the biggest media shakeups in modern basketball: Inside the NBA is moving from TNT to ESPN. What does this mean for the most beloved sports show in TV history? Will ESPN let Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaq, and Kenny do their thing—or will they butcher the format with hot takes and overproduced segments? The guys also debate whether Stephen A. Smith will join the cast—and if so, will he respect the legacy or hijack it?Then we dive into the Knicks' shocking firing of Tom Thibodeau after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. Could this be about a potential Kevin Durant trade? Plus, we break down Joe Mazzulla's coaching issues in Boston, why Jayson Tatum's injury may close the Celtics' title window, and whether it's time for a rebuild.Also on the docket:Anthony Edwards' polarizing playoff performanceRudy Gobert's future in MinnesotaKevin Durant trade speculationNBA Finals preview: Thunder vs. PacersWhy Halliburton might struggle vs. OKC's lengthCan Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead OKC to a title?This is one of our most wide-ranging and unfiltered episodes yet—no networks, no fluff, just real basketball talk.

On this week's episode of Missing the Point, hosts Dave Clarke, Rayshawn Buchanan, Mike Marcangelo, and Bob Kelly deliver an unfiltered and in-depth breakdown of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. From the Western Conference Finals to the Celtics' crushing playoff exit, we're covering all the biggest headlines in professional basketball.We begin in the West, where the Oklahoma City Thunder continue their incredible postseason run after a dominant Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing at an MVP level and key role players like Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren stepping up, the Thunder might just be the favorites to win it all. We also evaluate Anthony Edwards' playoff struggles and what Minnesota needs to adjust to stay competitive.Over in the East, the Indiana Pacers shocked the New York Knicks with a wild Game 1 comeback. The crew discusses Tyrese Haliburton's evolution into a franchise cornerstone, the Knicks' late-game collapse, and how this thrilling series could play out.Then, it's time for a brutally honest postmortem on the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum's devastating ankle injury, Joe Mazzulla's controversial coaching decisions, and the looming financial pressure on Boston's roster all come under scrutiny. Is it time to blow it up or regroup for another run?Whether you're a Celtics fan, a Thunder believer, or just a diehard NBA junkie, this is the playoff reaction episode you don't want to miss.