Podcasts about mum

Geoff and Marie's Good Life: Part 11Going DancingThey meet Mia's mum and rethink their terms and conditions.Based on posts by Only In My Mind, in 15 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.My name is Geoff. If you are reading my stories in chronological order you will know that my wife and I are both retired and involved, sexually, with several of her friends. One in particular, Angie, is so close to us that we have invited her to be a third person in our relationship and, to that end, we are planning a Star Wars themed ceremony to celebrate our union in front of family and friends.Gone Dancing.This account begins one Thursday, when our grandson had invited a friend's mum to visit us after school. Colin, said grandson, had asked us if he could invite Mia, a school friend, to our wedding as his plus-one. I agreed, on condition that her mum was okay with Mia attending and approved of her choice of outfit. As we were having our costumes designed and made by students at the local university's fashion design faculty, at our expense, I had veto rights and I thought Mia's choice was fine. But still, if Mia's mum thought that her daughter's costume would be inappropriate, they would have to agree on something else. That was why I wanted to meet them both.Mia's mum, well, she had told Colin that she wanted to talk to us because she was a little confused. I assumed that was because Colin had asked her daughter to accompany him to a wedding involving three people, with the participants and guests dressed in Sci-Fi characters' costumes. I respected the lady for wanting to know a little more about us under the circumstances, before she consented.Anyway, that was only one issue I faced that Thursday. The other was that the previous evening Lucy, an unhappily married artist in her early sixties, had offered herself to me as a free-use fuck-toy. Oddly enough, it took the three women to persuade me to accept her offer; I know; You would have snapped her hand off if it had been you; I'm a worrier, so I didn't.The thing is, the girls (their words) suggested that Lucy wanted to help me to explore my inner self. As a retired materials science researcher, that wasn't something that came naturally to me: as an artist, it was what Lucy tried to do whenever she could. Eventually, of course, I caved and the following hour or so found her bound and gagged, tortured with vibrators, nipple clamps, heat, cold and whips before I finally had sex with her, twice. Fortunately, she loved it. Unfortunately Marie, my wife, found my apparent excesses disturbing. That morning, she seemed as though she was still trying to come to terms with why.Marie seemed subdued as we ate breakfast. "Are we okay?" I asked, hesitantly, uncertain as to whether I'd strayed over some obvious boundary the previous evening."WE are fine," she tried to reassure me. "I, on the other hand, am finding that I'm not nearly as sexually secure as I try to try to pretend."I took a leaf out of Ronan Keating's book, or his songbook anyway. Oh, come on; 'You say it best when you say nothing at all'. Surely? Never mind. I sat quietly waiting for my wife to gather her thoughts.Her eyes filled with tears. I stood, took her hand and led her to the living room. I sat her on the sofa and cuddled up next to her. "When you're ready, I'm here for you," I told her. "You don't have to, but I hope you trust me enough to share whatever it is that's troubling you."She gave a brave little smile as she took a tissue from the box on the coffee table. "It's such a long time ago. It felt like it happened to someone else, until Lucy described what you did to her: Then something just felt so wrong. I realized, only this morning, what it was."I didn't feel so flippant now. But she was happy to talk without prompting, so I let her set her own pace.Taking a deep breath, she resumed her explanation. "We were both about ten or eleven. My cousin Paul and me. We were just playing together in the garden one summer and he found some twine. We were comfortable with each other so I let him tie my hands behind my back and he tickled me. It was awful. I cried. Then he touched me, because he could. I couldn't stop him. I was bound and totally helpless. I started to scream and he let me go. I never told anyone and, by the time I met you, he was dead. He had joined the forces; a Para. He died in the Falklands."Marie wiped her eyes. "It was wrong but, if he'd said he was sorry, I'd have forgiven him. We were only kids. But, without realizing it, I've carried that memory, buried, for years." She look apologetically at me. "I'm sorry, Geoff. When Lucy described how helpless she felt, it reminded me of that experience. I don't think I can do it."I shook my head. She didn't understand. "Marie. What I did with Lucy was for her. Yes, I went further than I would usually have been comfortable with, but I made sure that she had opportunities to back out or stop at any time. She didn't." This was important to me. I knelt in front of Marie and looked her in the eye. "If I never do that again, I won't care. If it disturbs you, it will never be repeated. But I will never ask any of you to let me do anything that would hurt you. Lucy wants to do it again. Angie is desperate to try. Sam might enjoy something similar, so might Megan. But you, my love, you don't, so I don't want you to. It's that simple.""You aren't disappointed?" She seemed surprised."Not at all." I thought for a moment. "Well, yes; a little." Marie's eyes started to fill up again so I carried on, hurriedly. "I'm disappointed that you think I'd feel like that. I will never expect you to do anything you don't want to. I will always accept "No" as a complete answer. No need to justify or explain. Are you reassured?""I think so. I think that I feel better for telling you too.""What about the others?" I decided that while we were having this conversation it was the right time to set boundaries.She understood. "I think I was worried that you doing this, with them, would normalize it. That you'd do it to me without thinking, or worse, resent me for rejecting you." She looked at with genuine concern. "You wouldn't; would you?""Never. I know who you are and I think I've come to know what you like. By all means let's test our limits, but never to the point where one of us is unhappy. Are we agreed?"She seemed much happier. "Agreed. And, to be clear, you are free to do anything the other girls ask you to. It was Lucy who bragged about what you did, not you. And she obviously relished every second." Marie pondered for a moment. "Well, afterwards, possibly not during," she grinned.We sat for a little while then went back to the kitchen, where I made us both a fresh cup of tea to replace the drinks that had cooled while we'd talked. We were just finishing the washing up when my phone rang. It was Mike. I'd offered to pay for him to take his wife and sister in law to the pub the previous night to spy on Lucy's fuckwit husband. I'd forgotten that he'd promised an update that morning. I told my wife that I'd explain later and hit the 'Answer call' icon. As Lucy was Marie's friend it seemed only fair she heard our conversation. I switched my phone to speaker."Good morning Mike. Marie is here with me and you are on speaker. Hung over at all?" We heard a snort of laughter."You should know, when you're involved with two women then obviously you get twice as much supervision. So no," he replied.Marie looked enquiringly at me. "Mike, Marie is just finding out that I asked you to do some spying for me. Tell us, was Eddie there?""He was. And the group he was with were an obnoxious crew. Loud, foul mouthed boors the lot of them. Not just the men either."Marie and I shared a look. "So he plays darts with women too?""Darts?" Mike sounded surprised. "Who mentioned darts? They don't even have a dartboard in The Fox and Hounds.""Well," I explained. "Eddie told his wife, a friend of ours, that Wednesday night is now his darts night.""Sorry Geoff," Mike replied. "The only double top your mate was interested in was bulging out of the low cut blouse belonging to the tarty looking slapper he was buying drinks for all night."Whatever vestiges of guilt I'd felt for including Lucy in our 'language classes' evaporated instantly.I needed to be certain. "Are you sure it was Eddie?""I thought you might ask, so I took a photo of my two best girls and made sure that my target was clearly visible behind them. I'm sending it now." A picture of two pleasant looking women in their forties popped on my screen. Marie and I both recognized Lucy's husband in the background. We didn't recognize the plain, big titted woman with her arm around his neck."Asshole!" Marie growled. I was puzzled. Lucy was admittedly at least fifteen years older than the woman with her arm around Eddie but she (Lucy) was slimmer, prettier and, from personal experience, a sexual dynamo. Why the Hell was Eddie rejecting sex with Lucy while he's all over the pooch in the pub?I reminded Mike that he and his ladies were invited to our wedding and suggested that they look on-line for costume ideas. I warned him that some had already been chosen but they had all of the film and TV franchises to choose from, so duplication shouldn't be an issue. He promised to send me images once they'd made their minds up. Becky, his wife, was excited to be invited and wanted to do something similar for their shared lover, Ruth, though Harry Potter was more their style.I reminded him to text his bank details so that I could pay my dues and, after we said our goodbyes, I turned to Marie. "Why?" Was all I said. She understood perfectly."I know Lucy is my friend but; That other woman, she's;” I was impressed. It takes a lot to render my wife speechless.I had to ask. "Has Lucy ever said anything to make you think that there are some er, activities, that are off limits?""For God's sake, Geoff!" She retorted. "Only last night she offered herself to you as a free-use fuck-doll. She's always been sexually adventurous." She looked puzzled. "I can't begin to imagine what that busty blob has that Lucy hasn't."Neither could I, so we shelved that conversation for later and turned our attention to preparing for our guests that evening. After changing the bedding from the previous evening's entertainment, we sat and decided on our menus for the coming week. A quick check to see if any store-cupboard items needed replenishing and we were off to our local supermarket. Marie hit the sea-food counter while I dawdled in the wine aisle. There was an offer on, so I loaded up on some old favorites and added a couple of bottles I'd not tried before. An Alvarinho vinho verde from Portugal caught my eye. It seemed an ideal partner for that evening's seafood dish. Into the trolley it went."What?" I tried to look innocent when Marie caught up with me. "There's twenty percent off. The more I buy, the more we save." She shook her head and guided me gently, but firmly, to the produce aisle. We returned home without further incident.Angie joined us after lunch and we worked happily together prepping for our evening meal. There would be six of us at the table, but we made sure that there would be some leftovers for Linda, our daughter. She was taking the opportunity to use her early finish to get her hair done while Colin ate with us.Short grain rice, seafood, onion, peppers, garlic and peas. Fish stock, tomatoes, chorizo and a pinch of saffron. All laid out ready for Marie to cook. It was her turn, once we'd had a chat with our visitors."Angie?" I asked, to get her attention.She looked up from cleaning a piece of squid. "Yes dear?" We were being unusually domesticated so her mischievous grin was probably warranted.I know you helped me cook breakfast, but you've never invited us to eat at your place. Do you cook or what?"I noticed that my wife was now concentrating very intently on de-veining a prawn, suspiciously so."I can cook," Angie admitted. I could tell that there was a 'but' about to make an appearance. "Quite well, in fact. But." Yes! I knew it was coming. "I get really bitchy if someone is helping in my kitchen and they don't do exactly as I say.""But you're okay doing this?" I persisted."Of course." She seemed to find the question rather ridiculous. "You ask me to rinse this; I'll rinse it. We're fine. But: In my kitchen, if I ask you to brown some onion in a pan, I expect you to use the correct pan, the right amount of the right sort of oil and to produce perfectly sliced onion cooked to precisely the right color exactly when I need it. Otherwise I tend to get a bit cross." She looked a little uncomfortable. "I know. That makes me sound like Gordon Ramsey with tits, but it's how I am."Marie was trying to keep a straight face but eventually surrendered. "I once tried to help her prepare a meal to impress her first husband's boss and his wife. I was slicing some carrots and the julienne were slightly different sizes. She threw them in the bin and we nearly came to blows. In the end I just did the washing up and let her highness rule the kitchen. It wasn't worth the grief." Marie reached across and hugged her friend. "I still love you though. Even after that." They were both laughing as we finished off and tidied up.We sat and watched some more of our Star Wars episodes while we waited for Mia's mum to arrive with the two teens. Exactly on schedule, the front door burst open and Colin bawled, "Hi everybody. We're here!" Marie went to greet our visitors while Angie and I turned off the TV and stood ready to meet Mia and her mum for the first time.Colin booled in first, dragging a tall, pretty teenage girl by the hand. "This is Mia," he informed us. "This is my grandad," he pointed me out to his friend. "And this is Grangie," he said proudly. "They're all really clever, but Grangie is especially smart." He dropped his voice to a hoarse whisper. "She's why your mum wants to meet. I think we're best off keeping out of the way." He dragged her away to the study giving her little chance to say anything but a squeaked, "Hi" before they disappeared.Marie ushered a buxom woman in her late thirties, an amazon, think Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones, into the room and they both stood for a moment, presumably wondering where the kids were. Marie collected her wits. "Wendy, this is my husband Geoff." I nodded a welcome. "And this is our special friend Angie." Angie copied my greeting. "Obviously, this is Mia's mum, Wendy."Now the introductions were done, Marie asked if Wendy wanted a drink and we all decided on a cup of tea. Angie was anxious to help, she isn't at her best in situations like this, so it fell to me to entertain our guest. We chatted about the two kids and I took the opportunity to size up our new acquaintance. That was probably a rather Freudian slip. Wendy was a big lady. Not obese, even plump would be a misdescription; it just seemed as though there was a lot of her. She seemed to relax as we spoke. Colin was obviously comfortable in our home, the noises from the kitchen were reassuringly domestic and I made it a point not to stare at her magnificent bosom.She was, in fact, a rather attractive woman. Pleasant, open features, a nice smile, long brown hair past her shoulders and, as I may have implied, spectacularly large tits. I made a mental note to ask Marie what cup size she thought Wendy required: purely for reporting purposes, of course. The other thing of note was that she was at least as tall as me; probably an inch or more taller.Marie bustled in carrying a tray with four cups and Angie followed with a plate bearing biscuits and cakes. Marie excused herself for a moment while she went to remind Colin to make sure his guest was properly catered for. Apparently they assured her that they were fine and would raid the kitchen once homework was done.Marie looked to me. Right; I was elected spokesman. "So Wendy," I began, settling back in my seat to seem less intense. "Colin has invited Mia to be his plus one at our ceremony and you are wondering what's going on. Is that a fair summary?"She took a sip of her tea before she replied. "I'm sure you can see why that is. I don't mean to pry but Mia's welfare has to be my priority."Neither of the girls seemed inclined to contribute yet so I soldiered on. "Angie here has been my wife's closest friend, since before we were married. I've always been fond of her too. But recently," I looked at the girls, they seemed happy with my approach. "Our feelings have intensified and we both regard her as being more than just a friend. We realized that we are both emotionally attached to her, and her to us." I paused to make sure that Wendy was on the same page, or at least not stricken with horror. In the absence of any expression of disgust, I continued. "We want to declare our affection publicly and formalize, as best we can within the law, our new relationship. Marie and I have already had a traditional wedding; so has Angela; twice, in fact. We decided that a themed ceremony might be more entertaining for us and our guests."She seemed interested rather than appalled so I kept going. "Hence Colin's invitation to Mia to accompany him in a costume to fit in with our Star Wars theme." I decided that was a good place to stop for feedback."So this 'ceremony' that Colin has invited my daughter to is to acknowledge you two, a legally married couple, inviting you, Angela, into your relationship?" She paused, gazing thoughtfully at us all. "That's so lovely. I wish more people would open themselves up to their feelings like that." Her smile as she spoke illuminated the room."Does that mean you are okay with Mia attending with Colin?" Marie asked. "They will be the youngest ones there."Wendy was dismissive. "Colin is a lovely polite lad. His mother seems nice and I'm not getting any worrying vibes from any of you. I'm happy and Mia seems keen to be there.""Has she discussed her outfit?" That was me."Her dad was a fan of the films, so I think I've seen them all. Most of the costumes are fairly tame, and the one Mia showed me, the white stretch suit, is no more revealing than the tight joggers and crop tops girls her age wear every weekend to go shopping." She looked a little wistful.I glanced at my wife and got an almost imperceptible nod in reply. "Wendy. If you'd like, we'd be happy to extend the invitation to you too; if you don't think Mia would think you were being a third wheel on their date.""Who would I go as?" She snorted. "Jabba the Hutt? I mean, look at me."We did. She was tall, broad shouldered but proportioned, with an actual waistline. Her long hair and feminine features rather mitigated her size. Did I mention her boobs? She had a lovely complexion too. All in all she was a big sexy woman who didn't see what we did.Angie said what I was just beginning to consider. "Cara Dune," she blurted out. Then, putting her hand to her mouth, she looked to me to rescue her. Wendy seemed nonplussed."We're part way through watching some TV spinoffs," I explained. "Angie and I admit to being Sci-Fi nerds. One of the female characters, Cara Dune, is a powerfully built woman. Let Marie show you the costume she has chosen already while Angie finds some Cara images. Meanwhile, I'll go and check on the kids."I left the three women scrolling through their phones and sought out the two teenagers in the study. I made sure they heard me coming; I wasn't trying to catch them having a quiet cuddle. In reality, they were both reading studiously when I opened the door. I smiled to myself. Colin's book was upside down. I pointed and made circle motion with my finger. He looked puzzled then down at his book and blushed. "Drat! Mia, we've been busted."I shook my head and tapped the side of my nose. "Be sensible and be discreet. That's all we expect. Now do you want anything in the kitchen?"They both declined so I left them to their 'reading'. I left the door open, just to make a point.Back in the living room, the three women were happily comparing notes. Wendy loved the idea of Mia in white and Colin in black. She was amazed at the warrior costume Marie had chosen and how similar in principle it was to Cara Dune's. She was obviously intrigued by our idea."The thing is," Wendy said, hesitantly. "I'm not sure that I can really afford two costumes. Not this intricate, anyway.""Sweetheart, that's not your problem," Angie reassured her. "I'm paying for everyone's costume. We're having them all individually made at my expense. You just have to turn up to get measured."Wendy wasn't convinced. "You don't want

In today's episode Ang talks with Susan Bennett, a chartered financial planner specializing in divorce financial planning. Susan shares expert insights on the importance of financial advice during and after divorce, focusing on long-term planning for income, housing, children's expenses, and pensions. They discuss the emotional aspects of divorce finances and the benefits of having a financial neutral to help both parties reach amicable agreements. Susan also explains Advanta Wealth's specialist divorce proposition, offering fixed-price financial planning packages to help those navigating the financial challenges of divorce with empathy and clarity.   (00:00) Introduction to Susan (01:02) Financial Planning During Divorce (01:16) Guest Introduction: Susan Bennett (03:13) The Importance of Financial Advice in Divorce (07:22) Building Financial Models for Clients (19:34) The Role of Financial Neutrals (23:26) Financial Considerations During Divorce (27:00) Emotional Support in Divorce (28:36) Common Financial Mistakes in Divorce (29:54) Pension and Inheritance in Divorce (31:54) Personalized Financial Planning (34:54) Advanta's Divorce Support Services (39:02) Conclusion and Final Thoughts KEY TAKEAWAYS Early financial planning in divorce helps reduce fear and leads to better long-term outcomes.   Modeling different financial scenarios provides clarity for decisions on housing, income, and children's needs.   Pensions and future retirement funding are often overlooked but crucial to secure financial stability post-divorce.   Divorce financial advice should be empathetic and tailored to individual lifestyles and needs. BEST MOMENTS   "Fear around money was huge... what price do you put on that emotional peace of mind?"   "You don't really want your lifestyle to be compromised... everyone is completely unique."   "If everybody could get to a stage to do it amicably, life would be quite different."   "People not being open and honest makes it very difficult to get the best results for them." EPISODE LINKS Advanta Wealth on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/advanta-wealth-ltd/ Advanta Wealth's specialist divorce proposition offering independent financial advice with fixed-price packages for divorce planning. Visit https://www.advantawealth.co.uk/services/divorce/ Susan on LinkedIn https://uk.linkedin.com/in/susanbennett3   Use the link below to sign up to the TalkingParents App. 30 Day FREE trial available alongside a completely FREE option too!   https://talkingparents.com/dirhm   If you enjoy this podcast here is the link to the book 'Do I Really H*te Men?'. It's packed with actionable and inspirational content to help you think, feel, heal and create your beautiful life that you deserve!   UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068789107 USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1068789107   Exciting news! I now have four powerful and affordable course downloads available in my Patreon Shop—starting at just £20. Each one is designed to help you take meaningful steps forward in your healing and growth journey.  

Rach is in full dance Mum mode and is blown away with how organised the other Mum's are because gluing rhinestones onto socks is not what she signed up for!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone is excited to see the new piece of pottery that Mum has made - it's a glug jug! But when Maddie accidentally breaks a piece of the jug, she doesn't know what to do. Should she try to cover it up, or should she just tell mum?

Geoff and Marie's Good Life: Part 10Technology and Medicine.Advancements can be good and bad.Based on posts by Only In My Mind, in 15 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.I was standing in front of another of Lucy's works, 'The Girls', trying to decide which element was Marie when I felt an arm slide around my waist. I looked to find my favorite artist alongside me. I bent down, intending to kiss her forehead but she had other ideas. Her arm snaked around my neck and pulled me into a full on passionate kiss. Marie looked on from across the gallery, amused."There," Lucy said, sounding slightly frustrated. "I suppose that will have to keep me going until Wednesday." She strode off to talk to my wife.Jen, who had been admiring the work next to me gave me an old fashioned look. "I'm definitely not going to ask, but if you ever feel the need to explain?""I'm not sure that I can," I admitted. "If you really want to know, then ask the artist," I pointed to Lucy, still chatting to my wife. "to explain the meaning behind that work." I pointed to the one I'd found so compelling. "Be sure to tell her who you and Peter are first though."I moved on. Now that I'd realized the symbolism behind the older paintings, I found the dystopian themes of an abusive marriage disturbing. Great for a goth student bedsit. Not for our living room. I loved the other stuff though, and tried to find one that was still for sale.I found my wife examining some of the other artists' works on display. Even to my untrained eyes, none were in the same league as Lucy's. I put my arm around Marie's waist and kissed her cheek. "Hi. I'm an artist's muse. Fancy a coffee? If I ever get any etchings you'll be the first to get an invitation to come up and see them.""You should be ashamed of yourself," she protested. "You're wearing a wedding ring.""It's fine. My wife is a beautiful, successful, confident woman. She knows that I'd never abandon her for an art gallery groupie.She checked her watch. Yes, we're both that old. "Well this groupie wants her caffeine fix, and you're paying. Let's round the others up and we'll go. I'll see if Lucy wants to join us too."She did, and fifteen minutes later found the five of us round a table in our favorite little café. Lucy was fascinated by pictures of First Nation art that Peter had taken in Toronto. I could see her absorbing the way the indigenous artists portrayed movement and space. I suspected that a disentangled Lucy might be open to expanding her geographical horizons shortly.Then Jen asked about 'that' picture, Friday, four thirty. Lucy looked to me and then Marie. "They know," she said quietly. "It was the day and time of my release." Marie and I both saw the double entendre, even if Lucy didn't intend it.Lucy looked at my wife, who just smiled and nodded. She took a deep breath. "My husband has changed. He drinks, gambles and lies to me. He treated me like his whore for a while but at least I got laid. Now he can't even have sex with me. He blamed me for being too old and wrinkly, you know, down there, to be sexually attractive." Jen gasped in surprise. Today Lucy was wearing heels, a mid-thigh skirt and a blouse that only just hinted at uncontained tits beneath it. In short, she was a knockout.Our son looked at her in disbelief. "Your husband says that You are the reason he can't get it up?" Lucy nodded. "Then the man's an idiot," Peter concluded."But what does that have to do with the painting?" Jen asked, still confused.Glancing at me, Lucy explained. "I told Geoff, in the pub, what Eddie had said when he rejected me: 'Who'd want to stick their cock in a wrinkly old snatch like yours?' And Geoff told me to show him and he would tell me, honestly, if it was true. So I did; I showed him. He told me that my snatch was perfect and then he touched it. And he cuddled me, and I came. All my best friends were there and they saw me have the best orgasm I can remember, just sitting on Geoff's lap as he touched me. That happened one Friday at four thirty. That's what I painted."Jen stared open mouthed for a full minute as she unpacked Lucy's story. "Jesus!" She eventually exclaimed, "I'm going to the wrong pubs.""Lucy omitted to tell you we were with a small group of friends in a private room," Marie explained."Then I need new friends," Jen decided out loud. Peter just laughed.He looked at me. "In a way, I can understand. She was hurting. You knew it wasn't her fault. You did what you needed to do to make it better. Weren't you worried that mum would;” He stopped in mid-sentence. "But she was there; wasn't she? She could have stopped you. But she didn't because;” He thought it through. "Because she doesn't care. No! That's the wrong word. She does care about you and her friends but she isn't threatened by Angie or Lucy so she just didn't mind."Jen broke in. "That explains the kiss in the gallery. You were aiming for a platonic kiss and Lucy turned it into a full-on lip-smacker. But I saw Marie had seen you and wasn't a bit bothered. I did wonder."My wife added her contribution. "I didn't want to have to tell him, but I suppose he ought to know: it's his super-power. He just likes women; not lusts after, he just genuinely likes them, and most women respond. He's so used to it that he's never really noticed. For example; when we went to any of his company's staff parties, leaving do's or awards nights, all his female colleagues would hug him. No-one else really, just him. Not 'making a point in front of his wife' hugs, just real affection. So, when Lucy was sad, he had to help. It took nothing from me and he made my friend happy. It was actually quite moving."I find, at times like this, silence is an effective strategy. Apparently, Lucy doesn't. "My husband had rejected me," she said, wistfully. "My friends were there for me, but Geoff just held me. He treated me like a person. Not damaged, but lied to. He showed me that I was still desirable, but not in a predatory way. I fell in love with him then."I admit to being a little taken aback, even though Marie had told me how much Lucy, and the others, had appreciated what I'd done. But looking at Lucy, I couldn't reject her the way that Eddie had. I reached across the table for her hand. "I love you too, Lucy," I told her, truthfully. She squeezed my hand and smiled in reply"Bloody Hell, mum." Peter laughed. "Just how many of your friends has he worked his super-power on?"Marie looked thoughtful. "Well, Angie and Lucy obviously, there's Jo and Samantha, not Kate so much, or Megan; probably Sue and Margie and of course Jane." She looked at me for confirmation. That sounded about right. "That would be seven then," she concluded.Jen and Peter shared a stunned look. Our son recovered first. "I have so many questions that I honestly don't know where to start.Jen butted in. "I've no idea who these women are, but why not Kate and Megan?"Marie looked at me for support. I just held my hands up. After all, I'm only the empath with a cock. My wife replied thus, "Well, Kate admitted that while she really enjoyed the spooning afterwards, mainly it was the sex that made her day rather than romance; and Megan's already happily married."Peter was struggling to catch up. "You mean you've actually had sex with all seven of these women?""Not exactly," I protested. "I've only touched Lucy that once and I've done nothing with Jane.""You kissed her in the sex shop," Marie pointed out, unhelpfully to my way of thinking. "And again in the car when you dropped her off at home. I think you suggested that it was to give her some motivation when she tried out the polyurethane cock you bought for her." I cringed at the look Peter gave me."Oh, yes." added Lucy as I winced in anticipation at whatever she was going to contribute next. "I've already agreed to do a cast of his thingy so that Jane can have a full size replica. We thought a signed limited edition run would be fun. I'll definitely want one too. I can make the initial mold when it's my turn on Wednesday." She squeezed my hand. "I could feel it in your pants when I sat on your lap. I can't wait to actually see it," she added, excitedly.I looked up and noticed the café was starting to fill up. So far no-one appeared to have noticed the bizarre conversation at our table but that was unlikely to continue, so I suggested that we leave before we were evicted. Of course, Pete and Jen needed to see the painting again, now that they understood its genesis, so we trooped back to the gallery, the younger couple giving me odd sideways glances when they thought I wasn't looking. I sighed. There would be more questions tonight.The questions, of course, started much earlier than that. As we walked back home Peter strolled alongside me while Marie dropped back to keep Jen company."Is this a kind of mid-life crisis?" he asked."I hope so," I replied. "That would mean that I'd survive to about a hundred and thirty or so.""But dad: eight women.""Peter. This wasn't my idea. I'd never cheat on your mum so, when she suggested that we do this, I refused. I can't deny that they are lovely women, each different in their own way, but I refused because I was convinced this insane idea could wreck our marriage."Our son didn't look convinced.I continued. "Look. There are things that I can't tell you; personal things that the girls shared with each other and then with me. It broke your mum's heart to compare their lives with hers. But the one thing that was missing for all of them was sex. They don't expect it every night; just often enough to reassure them that they're still sexual beings. But they are independent too; Megan being a special case. They didn't want to accommodate to new partners sharing their lives and their beds, so your mum came up with this idea.""And you get to have sex with them all," Peter observed. "Isn't mum going to get jealous eventually?""Do you think that never occurred to me?" I replied. "We think we've found a solution. Ask your mum if you really need to know. But." I stopped walking and turned to him. "I truly don't regret what we have done. If, at some time in the future I realize this was what ended our marriage, that will be the time for regret. But you were there; you heard Lucy's story; you saw the painting that our shared experience inspired in her. Do you want me to wish that had never happened? That she stayed with that drunken, abusive idiot? Because now I guarantee she will have moved out before this year is over. Because another man, one that actually cared about her, told her the truth. She's lovely and she deserves to be happy and I'm glad that your mum was selfless enough to make that happen." I took a deep breath. I wasn't angry at Peter, but my passionate outburst surprised even me.By now Marie and Jen had caught up with us. "Thank you darling." Marie took my hand and kissed it. "After all of your fretting, I'm glad that you finally understand how much you've helped my friends already." She addressed Peter and Jen. "We weren't sure whether to share the whole story with you, but Linda knows, and you accepted Angie so readily that it seemed only fair that you should know too."We started walking again. Jen spoke next. "I'm sorry if this sounds judgmental, Marie, but I can't imagine knowing that Peter was sleeping with one of my friends. I think it would destroy me.""Oh, I understand, dear," my wife replied gently. "I would have felt the same at your age. Geoffrey still does." She squeezed my hand affectionately. "But you have to realize; these aren't just casual acquaintances. These women, 'the girls', are my closest friends; almost family. Seeing Geoff with them doesn't threaten me. It's beautiful. Watching them respond to my man, knowing the pleasure they are feeling but never, for a second, believing that they would try to steal my husband or that he would abandon me for one of them.""But you said one of the other women was happily married?" Jen reminded us. I decided to let my wife take that one."She is," Marie replied, her eyes filling up. "To a really wonderful man too." She glanced at Jen. "He knows and approves of his wife's visits but, again, he knows she won't leave him for Geoff. But that's all I'm prepared to say; and that's probably too much."We carried on walking, closer together, as my wife continued. "Perhaps I can explain it like this." She sighed. "Imagine you are struggling to cope financially; you see family and friends in the same straits. But you can't afford to share what little you have. That's how fidelity felt when we were younger. Other women threatened my security." She lifted my hand in hers and pressed it to her tit. "But now, I feel secure. It's as though your dad represents stability rather than a potential loss. The women he's with aren't taking anything from me; it's more like they are just guests at our table. They arrive, we chat, they dine and, at the end of the evening, they leave, content. We all cherish the time together and I've lost nothing." She looked intently at Jen. "Does that make sense?""When you say that you all cherish your time together;” Jen ventured. Peter seemed reluctant to hear his mum's reply."Yes, that was our solution. Geoff, quite understandably, had no interest in sharing me with his male friends, and nor will I ever ask, but he was probably correct about one thing: I don't think that I would have been able to cope with him sleeping with my friends while I sat alone. So we share. Sometimes in the same bed, sometimes in separate rooms." She gave one of her brilliant smiles. "I'd forgotten just how good it felt to be with another woman."Peter groaned. "So it's not just Angela then, mum?""No," she replied brightly. "In fact, Angie's a special case. We've decided that, as our betrothed, either of us can have sex with her whenever we want. With the others it always has to be as part of our regular evenings when we share." She giggled. "We call them our language classes."The rest of the walk home was subdued. Peter and Jen walked together talking quietly while Marie and I cheerfully discussed taking them out for a meal that evening.We picked up some farmhouse bread and a selection of cheeses from the deli on the way home for a quick and simple lunch. As we settled around the kitchen table Peter asked if he could add one observation to the chat we'd had walking home. We agreed, of course."Jen and I discussed what you'd told us, and we're honored that you trusted us to be open. You're my parents and I love you and Jen loves you both too. What you are doing sounds insane but, dad made it obvious you haven't done this lightly, on a whim. And, more than anything, Lucy's story really touched the pair of us. So, while I have no plans to follow in your footsteps, dad, Jen and I both pray that we are as secure in our love for each other at your age as you two obviously are."Marie reached across and touched both of their hands. "Thank you, both of you, for not judging us. We love you too," she told them, sincerely. I stood and walked round the table pulling Pete up for a man hug, finding that Jen was stood waiting for her turn when we'd finished.We spent most of the afternoon chatting about Canada and how much they had enjoyed their time there. By the time I got back from collecting Colin from school, Angie had returned and was sitting on the sofa talking to Jen."Grandad. Mum knows about Aunty Angela doesn't she?" He asked as we walked through the front door."Yes. She was surprised at first, but she seems okay with it now," I told him. His face lit up with mischief."Hi Uncle Pete, Aunty Jen, grandma." He called, walking in from the hall. He gave a wicked grin. "Hi Grangie," he yelled, throwing himself onto her lap. She hugged him, stunned at first by her new title, then burst into tears."Bloody Hell," I heard Peter mutter. "Dad's super-power seems to have skipped a generation. But Colin's definitely got it.""It hasn't skipped anything," Jen whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. "You have it too. Your only problem is that I'm not the woman your mum is." I resolved to speak to Marie about that. Peter does take after me in build, and male pattern hair loss and yes, we share nerdy interests. But Jen is a wonderful woman. She is intelligent, elegant, attractive rather than classically beautiful and with a warm personality that fills the room. I love her like one of my own and I won't have her belittle herself like that.I stood and watched as Colin reassured himself that 'Grangie' was crying happy tears, thinking to myself that the little charmer was probably more likely to get an Aston Martin than I was. Good for him. He'd probably deserve it too.I packed him off to do his homework: Photosynthesis tonight. He showed me his worksheet. His task was to use the words in the box to fill the gaps in the description of the process. He went through it as we talked, noticing that Carbon Monoxide was in there as a trap for the unwary. He was back in ten minutes and straight into deep discussion with his uncle.I gestured to Marie to follow me into the kitchen and told her what Jen had said. "Silly girl," my wife said. "She's perfect for Peter. Bullying my husband into screwing my mates hardly qualifies me as a role model for women in general." Her voice softened. "She's right though about one thing; Peter is a lot like you were at his age. The lucky girl." Marie kissed me gently on the lips and went back to our guests.I couldn't be bothered to start cooking that afternoon so I sent a text to Linda to meet us at the pub at half past five and I'd treat us all to a bar meal, but she replied to say that she would come straight to ours so we would only need two cars. That's a logistics planner at work.We had just finished off our meals when two young people greeted us. It was Adrian and Emily. She noticed me glancing at her neck and shook her head, smiling. Tonight she was here as his girlfriend, not his submissive sex slave.Adrian explained that they had waited until we'd finished eating but would understand if we felt that they were still intruding on a family moment. When we explained to Peter and Jen that our two young friends were part of our wedding planning team; they were keen for them to join us.Emily sat with Marie and Peter to talk about fabricating some lightweight body armor for my wife's costume. Colin joined them; partly as a fan of the Mandalorian, partly because I think he had an instant crush on Emily.Meanwhile, Angie and Jen were in deep discussion with Adrian about their own costumes. In both groups phones were brandished, numbers exchanged and images shared. I saw Adrian examine one picture quite closely, look over at me thoughtfully and smile. Linda, who was sitting next to me, was intrigued. "What was that?""Well, love. As far as I can tell, my outfit selection has been approved. Have you and Mike discussed costumes? I did tell you it was a Star Wars themed celebration."She shrugged dismissively. "We'll pop into that fancy-dress shop in town. They'll have something that will do."Not a chance," I told her. I leant across the table to check something with Marie and then turned back to my daughter. I showed her a picture of Bo Katan, my wife's character, on my phone. "This will be your mum's outfit. She'd like you to wear something similar, as her supporter.""Where the hell will I find something like that?" She exclaimed.I pointed across the table. "Adrian's actually in his second year of a costume design course. Angie has agreed to underwrite all the materials costs for our ceremony so he's been able to persuade several of his course mates to take part because we have a range of amazing outfits for them to design and create but at no cost to them." I patted Linda's hand. "Tell Mike to pick anything he thinks looks cool, subject to some constraints; No bad guys and full face coverings and masks are probably impractical. Other than that, we'll get him measured for whatever takes his fancy.""X-Wing pilot.""What?" I didn't see that coming."Obviously, I'll ask him but I'm absolutely sure that's what he'll choose." Linda seemed very certain. "Does it meet your criteria?"I considered. Simple, colorful flight-suit and a helmet. "If that's what he wants, I'm sure it will be fine. Can Colin and Mia choose their own outfits or do you want to be involved?"

This week on Daily Blue, Weekly: Bluey gets fat shamed, Mum bullies her kid online, Gabes movie idea & Tipping comp winner announced! -If you need help with organising a loan get in contact with our friends at PK Mortgages:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pkmortgages.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠Or book a phone appointment here: https://form.jotform.com/250557547269872USE CODE: 'DailyBlue' For 10% off at Papa Macros! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.papamacros.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Georgina Fuller who has been a journalist for over 20 years. She mostly writes for national newspapers, like The Times, The Telegraph, The Eye, and magazines. Her subjects are broadly lifestyle topics, including parenting, travel and neurodiversity.Georgina talks about how she started out in journalism, and how originally she worked on business to business articles, writing about trends in the workplace, HR, and interviews, whereas now, being freelance she can write about all sorts of different and wonderful things.She also shares how she started writing first person articles; writing about her personal experiences. Writing about life without her Mum, and then about her brothers' schizophrenia and death, and subsequently about her own autistic son she has touched so many other people's lives. Because of her job, she has had access to people who are skilled and experienced in the fields of health she has been talking about. Georgina loves the fact that the world is beginning to open up and talking about, challenging and changing the stigmas surrounding mental health. Sharing her own experiences starts conversations with others.We also talk about the trend with the rise in social media, for editors looking for stories that draw ‘clicks', ie click bait. Although Georgina doesn't like it, sadly working in journalism today it's something you can't really ignore. Not surprisingly, Georgina has many great stories, some of which she shares. She also shares how at times she also receives negative responses – and how she deals with them. To contact Georgina:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georginafullerwriter/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-fuller-6b785913/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009800910804If you would like to contact me, you can visit my website: https://scottmedia.uk/ or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

In this episode of the Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985, we move on to Scandinavia. Starting off in Denmark, we looked for Lego, noticed the size of the Little Mermaid, and enjoyed spending time in Copenhagen. From Denmark it was a short ferry ride to Sweden, and while my Dad and I muse that we don't have many strong memories from our time there, my Mum's diary does the heavy lifting contributing details about our time in some seaside islands, followed by Stockholm, and an intriguing visit to a timber mill area. Finally, we chat about how much we loved Norway, including time in Oslo, the fjords and playing badminton in Bergen. This is the fifth part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts. A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it. Links: Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348 Listen to Part 2 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 351 - https://notaballerina.com/351 Listen to Part 3 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 355 - https://notaballerina.com/355 Listen to Part 4 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 359 - https://notaballerina.com/359 Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/359 Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, I am joined by Animal Communicator, Clare Metcalf. Clare was formally "trained" in Animal Communication (or rather, as she says, reminded of her innate abilities) by world renowned Animal Communicator and author Amelia Kinkade. 20+ years later , Clare has become the FIRST and so far, ONLY UK OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF MIRACLES CERTIFIED INTERSPECIES TRANSLATOR (i.e. Animal Communicator)! And at the time one of only 4 globally. Over the years Clare has developed her own style of communicating with all life forms at a deep, soul level having trained with many teachers and travelled to spend time with shamanic workers, indigenous teachers and storytellers; though, she points out, the wisest teachers have always been the animals themselves. At the end of 2024 Clare published her first book: Conversations with Bentley, the Cosmic, Conservationist Cat, a 12 year journey of communications with a black cat in Heaven, his messages to his Mum about everlasting life and love, advice on living your truest life and his concern for conservation and the planet. Clare's dream is to enlighten all animal lovers with regard to Animal Communication (or Interspecies Telepathic Communication) and to provide practical help, advice and guidance to enable all species to live together in harmony. If you want to re-learn how to do it for yourself, please check out on one of Clare's workshops.To connect with Clare:www.freespiritanimalcare.co.uk(There's a free ebook on the home page.) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claremetcalfanimalcommunicator https://www.facebook.com/groups/interspecieswisdom free group for animal lovers. No upsetting imagery allowed.https://www.facebook.com/groups/2915065081988904 (Free group for my book, Conversations with Bentley)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claremetcalfanimalcommunicator/To connect with me:Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @didyoubringthehummusFor more info on my Public Speaking 101 program: ⁠https://www.didyoubringthehummus.com/publicspeakingforactivists⁠Contact me here or send me an email at info@didyoubringthehummus.comSign up for meditation sessions hereSign up for The Vegan Voyage, to sponsor the podcast, book meditations packages, or sign up for my Public Speaking program hereJoin my Podcast Fan Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/didyoubringthehummus/To be a guest on the podcast: https://www.didyoubringthehummus.com/beaguest©2025 Kimberly Winters - Did You Bring the Hummus LLCTheme Song ©2020 JP Winters ⁠@musicbyjpw⁠

Geoff and Marie's Good Life: Part 9Lucy's TurnGeoff finally gets more quality time with Lucy.Based on posts by Only In My Mind, in 15 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.I was bringing in the bedsheets from the washing line when my lovelies got home. Colin was inside doing his art homework alone as I'm afraid that art isn't my forté. From the way Angie bounced up the path like a tall, supple Tigger, I assumed that their mission had been successful. Marie followed behind at a more stately pace, but I could tell by her expression that she was pleased."Geoff! It's perfect," Angie enthused. "Show him, Marie!"Marie finally caught up with our friend. "She's not wrong, Geoffrey," she admitted. "The moment we saw it, we knew that was the one." She felt into her handbag and took out a small square box."Just like you and me then," I reminded her, kissing the top of her head."You'll get anywhere saying things like that, you smooth devil," my wife smiled as she showed me our purchase."So what happens now?" I asked. It appeared that they were in the dark too. Did we give her it now, like an engagement ring? Or wait until the ceremony, like a wedding ring?I decided. I took Angie's left hand and dropped to one knee. "Angela, you have added a new thread to the tapestry of our lives. Will you agree to be my betrothed?"Marie was quick to respond. She took her friend's hand from me and turned Angie towards her. "Angela, you have been my closest friend for decades, will you now be my betrothed?""Oh! God! Yes! Thank you. I love you both so much," wailed Angie, hopping up and down in floods of happy tears.Marie held out the ring they had chosen and bought together and together my wife and I slipped it onto the fourth finger of Angie's left hand. As I'd suggested, they had chosen something called a Russian Ring, made of three interwoven strands of different shades of gold. It was perfect. I resolved to get my little Mediterranean goddess a matching necklace.There was the sound of applause from behind us and we turned, rather startled, truth to be told, to find Colin beaming at us, the drawing in his hand forgotten."I think you're supposed to kiss her now, Grandma, Grandad," he observed. We couldn't fault his grasp of etiquette so we did; very chastely and properly with no tongues."Mum's gonna go proper monkey poo this time," he predicted, quite astutely. "Glad I'm not the one that has to tell her." He smiled, congratulated us all and then asked for our opinions of his drawing. We were all impressed, both by his artwork and his attitude and told him so. He disappeared happily back inside to put his drawing safely in his bag."He's not wrong about Linda," I pointed out. "I was thinking about this while I was running and I think I should take her out for tea tomorrow and tell her about our, er; does 'new situation' sound about right?""Thank God!" Marie breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't think she'd accept this updated version of 'the talk' from me. Anyway, I did the one about boys, boobs and periods, now it's your turn."I went and switched the oven on and chose a bottle of wine as I waited for it to reach 180°C. I'd picked up a bottle of Ribeiro in our local supermarket and a Spanish white seemed to fit nicely with the ingredients so I parked it in the fridge to chill.I got the tray with the onions, tomatoes, garlic cloves and potatoes and glugged over a little olive oil before putting it all in the oven for twenty minutes and then went off to see my girls. Angie had calmed down and they were trying to decide her outfit for our ceremony."What about Padme's rainbow dress?" I suggested. I'd had nothing urgent after lunch and had done some research. Angie gave me a long appraising look and typed 'padme rainbow' into the search engine on her phone. She selected 'images' and then studied the screen intently for longer than I expected. Still silent, she showed Marie the dress. "He's a clever old sod, really, isn't he?" My beloved observed. "That's beautiful, and it's perfect for your body shape."Angie agreed. "That's it. I was considering Rey's outfit but this is better. This is the one I want.""You can actually buy these on-line," I offered."Not a chance!" Retorted Angie. Marie looked as puzzled as me at how emphatic Angie's response was. "I'm sure that some are okay," Angie conceded. "But I've seen too many instances on Facebook where the seller shows an image of the original but what actually arrives looks like it was sewn in the dark from old curtains by an arthritic chimp. I want it to look just like that picture.""But at least you'll know how much it is going to cost, dear," Marie said. "Who knows how much your student friends will have to pay to find a fabric like that?""Don't care," Said a defiant Angie. "I can afford whatever I want and it's my money after all."Marie leaned in for a kiss. "We'll contribute too. We always intended to.""No. Thank you, but no." Angie was adamant. "You bought me that beautiful ring. I realize that it would be rude to offer to pay for that, but everything else; everything," she stressed that last word, "is on me."My wife and I shared another look of surprise at our friend's determined outburst. "But Ange," Marie began."Everything, Marie. You've been so kind to me for so long. And these last few weeks;” She teared up again. "You really don't know, do you?"I shrugged. We were into Donald Rumsfeld territory here with 'unknown unknowns' and I didn't think that this was the moment to dive down that particular rabbit hole."You know that apartment I live in?" Angie asked. We did. It was in a massive, tastefully converted, Victorian building near the university. "Don't you think it's rather large and expensive for just one person?" We both just did some head wobbles, shoulder shakes and comme ci, comme ça, hand gestures to indicate that we had wondered but."It's not that expensive," she continued, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Not for me, anyway. You see." She paused for effect. "I own the entire building. A lettings management company deals with renting the other apartments; I just live off the income. I only do the consultancy work for you know who," she tapped the side of her nose. "to stop me getting bored and my brain shutting down." She was winding me up because she knew I suspected that she was some kind of spook."Don't worry about the cost," she said cheerfully. "I can afford it. Last time I checked I had over two million pounds just in my savings accounts."She looked gleefully at the expressions on our faces. "And, once we're officially joined, I'm changing my will to leave it all to you and your kids. Colin certainly won't need a student loan when he goes to Uni.""Angie, darling. There's no need," Marie protested."Who else then?" Angie challenged her. "You two are the closest I've had to a family since I ditched that last useless waste of DNA. I've had more fun, romance, sex and affection from you two lunatics in the last six weeks than from both my husbands combined over two decades."Marie looked helplessly at me. I knew exactly what to do. I leaned forward. "Angie?" I said softly, taking her hand in mine."Yes, Geoff?" She replied, returning my loving gaze."Please can I have an Aston Martin DB12?"We collapsed in each other's arms in fits of giggles. Marie swiped me fondly across the head. "You nutcase. Get back in the kitchen and get our tea ready."I checked, and the potatoes were starting to cook, so I laid the chicken and chorizo slices on top, added the herbs and spices and put the tray back in the oven. "Alexa, set a timer for twenty minutes." Then I went off in search of Colin.I told him that I needed a private chat with his mum. "You think?" Was his smart-ass response. Sometimes he makes me so proud.Anyway, he texted one of his friends and persuaded her to wangle an invite to go over straight from school the following evening to do their homework together. Linda would collect him around seven."So Colin. Mia. Is she nice?""Yes Grandad. She's nice. No Grandad, she's not my girlfriend. We're only thirteen but we get on just fine as friends." Hell. The kid's more mature than half of the lads I used to play rugby with.We chatted some more until Alexa's alarm went off and I hit the kitchen again. Dropped the sliced peppers into the tray, a good mix up and back in for the last twenty minutes.I was starting to set the table when Marie and Angie came in to take over and chased me away to watch the news on TV. Angie had already taken her ring off and had decided to keep it in its box until they were with their friends. Then Marie intended to propose again in front of them all. It sounded lovely and I would have liked to see it, but I'd agreed that this was their moment.Linda arrived on time and about ten minutes later we sat down to eat. She'd called to collect a baguette on the way home as I'd asked and we used it to mop up the juices from our plates. The wine paired well; even Colin agreed, though he only got a sip of his mum's. Perhaps, when he's sixteen, Linda will let him have a glass with his meals.After we'd finished, the ladies declared that they would clear the table as I'd done all of the cooking. It had hardly been a chore but I wasn't about to argue. Instead, I went and asked Colin if he was okay with Aunty Angie being, well, betrothed to Grandma and Grandad.He thought carefully for a while. "Is anyone going to get hurt?"It was a reasonable question. "I hope not. But it's always possible. Even two people who love each other can eventually drift apart.""But you're all happy now?" He persisted. "You all want this?""Yes. All of us." I confirmed."What will I call her then?" He asked.That hadn't occurred to me. "Whatever you and Angie decide. That seems the fairest to me."His face lit up. "When you've told mum, I'm going to ask Aunty Angie if I can call her; Grangie." He announced triumphantly. There were still tears of laughter streaming down my face when the women joined us five minutes later. They all looked suspiciously at the pair of us."You had to be there," I told them, then we cracked up again.Before Linda and Colin left I told her that, as Colin had a homework date the following day, earning a glare from him, I'd treat her to a meal after work as we'd both be on our own. I suggested a Thai in town and we agreed to meet there at five fifteen. She looked warily at me, but I'd been practicing my innocent expression and gave nothing away. Certainly, nothing had been said that evening to suggest there was a problem.Angie saw them off with us and then said her own goodbyes. I copped a feel of her bum as we kissed, well, we're engaged now, or something. Marie must have shared my sentiment only she went for a tit. I slapped her hand gently. "Enough of that. She'll never get away if you start on her nipples." They both reluctantly agreed and then there was just the two of us again."Are we being silly, Geoff? Starting a new way of living? At our age? Is this just desperation?" It wasn't like Marie to second guess herself.I hugged her to me. "I don't think so. We have time, money and our health. The kids are okay so this is our opportunity to be us. Not teacher, boss, researcher, mum or dad; just us. If this is what makes both of us happy, why fight it? You promised, if we reach a place where you're uncomfortable, then you'll tell me. I promise you the same. So let's go and see what's out there.""Tell you what," she replied pulling me closer. "Get the rest of that wine and I'll sit on your lap and we'll finish it while we cuddle then, maybe, an early night?"I was up early next morning. We did make love the night before and it was slow, sensual and fulfilling. We'd both slept like babies.When I'd finished in the bathroom, Marie was looking at her phone. "That was a text from Peter. He and Jen are coming back from Canada on Monday and thought they might stop in to see us on the way back home." She looked worried. "Do we tell them? Or just Pete? But then how do we tell Pete without Jen hearing? Do we insist he keeps it a secret from her? ""We need to make a choice," I told her. "We're telling Linda because she deserves to know the unconventional relationship that Colin will see when Angie is here. Pete isn't in that position but, I think that if Linda knows then her brother should too. And I also think that, if Pete knows, it would be unfair to expect him to keep it from Jen. I'm not sure about discussing the rest of the girls with him; I'm tempted to tell Linda because she'll get suspicious if we're never free to look after Colin on Wednesdays if she wants to go out with Mike or if she has to work late."That's fair. I'll tell Pete that they are welcome to stay and we're looking forward to seeing them. But, Geoff?""Yes?""For pity's sake, will you move the toy box out of the playroom and make sure there's no lube or condoms left in the drawers?""I'll do it now."The rest of the day was quite mundane. Breakfast, grocery shopping, coffee at home and then a walk to the park. "I think I'm happy, Geoff," my wife announced as we strolled. "Not just content; actually happy. My friends have you in their lives, I'm even closer to them than ever and Angie," Marie's voice choked. "I've never seen her so alive. Thank you."I wasn't even tempted to be flippant. "Thank you too. It's strange, but making love to your friends seems to have brought me closer to you. I'm just so relieved you aren't jealous. You aren't are you?"She considered. "No. Truthfully; not at all. What about you?""No. Me neither. In fact, I know you have a bit of a thing for Sue, and it's, I dunno, sweet."She punched me playfully. "I still like Sam though," she admitted."So, now you have both, and me and Angie too."She gave a big happy sigh and we turned and made our way home.The weather was still fine so Marie set off at ten to four to walk to the Black Swan to meet her friends. I red for half an hour and then caught the bus into town. Linda could drop me back off at home on the way to collect Colin from Mia's house.I'd reserved a table and waited at the bar for Linda. She rushed in, all flustered, only two minutes late. "It's okay," I told her. "We're not running to a timetable here."Sorry, Dad," she apologized. "Isn't there always some clown who decides that half past four on a Friday afternoon is the perfect time to start making urgent phone calls?""Is it settled?" I asked her. "Or do you need ten minutes to make some more calls of your own?""God, no!" She laughed. "I'll start working for free after finishing time when my boss stops checking her watch when folk arrive in the morning with just minutes to spare."The waiter saw that my guest had arrived and invited us to follow him to our table. The place was quiet that early so he gave us a place with a nice view over the river."Is your job getting you down?" I asked. She worked in the distribution office for a large retailer."No, the work is fine, the people are great, it's just that our boss is so insecure in her abilities that she sticks rigidly to corporate policy, and it sometimes gets in the way of actual work.""Go on," I invited her. We didn't get to chat like this as much as I'd like."Okay. So: There are six people in our office; two men, four women. We lost both of the guys for a full day on Tuesday to go on a gender harassment awareness course. One's gay and the other is a fifty year old sweetheart. They could have done effectively the same course on-line in an hour but no, she had to make sure that her boss saw our guys in person to make her look good." She gave an exaggerated sigh. "Those lads get more grief from us girls than they'd ever; Oh! It's so frustrating.""I know," I sympathized. "I regarded part of my role as lab manager as insulating the people who actually generated income from stupid policies like that. I'd do what the law required but, if an adult technician doesn't know that it's not okay to touch a colleagues bum, no matter how cute or pert it is, a course isn't enough; a dismissal is much more effective. It solves the immediate issue and also serves 'pour encourager les autres' as your Great Gran would have said. An object lesson to the others," I said in reply to her unspoken question.We chatted in the same vein as we looked through the menu and had just finished our deliberations when our waiter appeared.We ordered spring rolls and prawn toast, I ordered a pork massaman, Linda chose a chicken panang and we decided to share a green papaya salad.

From the Show Floor: Our Destination D23 Experience Recap Over Labor Day Weekend, we were blessed to get to head to the Walt Disney World Resort for an amazing event discussing many aspects of Disney. And this week, we're telling you all about it as we bring you From the Show Floor: Our Destination D23 Experience Recap. We share many of the details from the 3-Day event at The Most Magical Place On Earth. We'll tell you some of our favorite moments and what to expect if you're thinking about attending one of these spectacular conferences in the future.  But Destination D23 wasn't the only fun thing we got to check out over the weekend. We also attended our first-ever Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. We'll share the details of that and our visit to the brand new pirate-themed tavern at Magic Kingdom. That's right, we visited the Beak & Barrel, as well. We'll discuss a lot about that brand new spot for a little swashbuckling eating & drinking fun. Disney Stories of the Week Once we complete the From the Show Floor: Our Destination D23 Experience Recap portion of the show, it's time for the Disney Stories of the Week. In this episode, we tell you when you'll have your last opportunity to enjoy some prehistoric fun at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park. And we share when you'll be able to experience Mum, Dad, Bingo & Bluey on the big screen. Certainly, that's not all. As always, we wrap it all up with tips that might help you on your next Disney vacation.   If you have any comments, questions, or requests to cover a particular topic, please feel free to Contact Us!   We also invite you to join the positive fun in our Hyperion Adventurers Facebook Group as well as our Hyperion Mornings on YouTube for a daily dose of live positive chat!   In case you're looking to take a magical trip, be sure to visit our favorite Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Nate with Main Street and More Travel will give you concierge-level service planning for your next vacation. Be sure to tell him, “Tom & Michelle sent me!”   Thanks for listening! Cheers!  

What do you do when you feel out of alignment in life? How do you turn inwards and make decisions that make sense for you- when they might not make sense to others? In this episode, I’m joined by Renee Moore, the founder of CINCH Skin, for an honest conversation about courage, clarity, and giving yourself permission to evolve your own metrics of success. We discuss what you need to stop doing in order to grow- not only in business but also in life. Renee shares her behind-the-scenes journey of launching CINCH into Priceline, the very big decision to later pull the range from shelves, and the lessons that came with facing problems and failures head on. We dive into the realities of navigating anxiety, finding self-connection and alignment, and redefining what success really looks like- especially as a busy Mum. Listen ad free and access extra weekly episodes here: apple.co/iam Shop Cinch here: https://cinchskin.com/collections/shop-all Follow Cinch here: https://www.instagram.com/cinchskin/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Mum's The Word, Georgia Jones is joined by Michelle Kennedy, the founder and CEO of Peanut, one of the fastest-growing social networking apps for women.After her experience as deputy CEO at Badoo and an inaugural board member at Bumble, Michelle saw the power of online connection and realised mums, women, and parents needed their own safe space to share, support, and find community.The result? Peanut, a platform designed to make sure no woman ever feels alone.Georgia and Michelle chat about:

Let's face it – we all want to get the most out of life. We want to reap a harvest. And in fact, that's exactly what God wants for our lives, too. He promises us an abundant harvest. And yet so often, life feels more like a drought than anything else.  In those times, we're left asking ourselves … So, where's my harvest? Generational Sin Well, welcome to Christianityworks again this week and we are starting a new series called, "Reaping God's Harvest in My Life". What is it that you want out of your life? Health, happiness, family, a job, career, a reasonable level of comfort, joy and peace, we want our kids to grow up and be happy, we want to have a happy fulfilling marriage, we want to have friends, we want to have balance, we want to have a good life, don't we? We have different variations, we have different permutations; the things that you are going to enjoy in your life, well, maybe I won't enjoy in mine and vice versa, because we are different people, we come from different backgrounds, in different circumstances and different outcomes will satisfy us. But there are the basics aren't there; the things that I spoke about before that we all want in our life? We want a life of significance, we want a life where we're part of a family, we're part of a group, we've got friends, we've got joy and peace. Those things are important to us and we expect to put in the effort and to reap the reward. We expect to reap some sort of harvest from all the hard work. What sort of harvest, is a different question, sometimes we get our expectations and our desires and our needs out of whack. You know, I spent a lot of my time before I became a Christian, chasing money and success and career. All of those things are good things, but when we get them out of balance, when they become the main thing; when they dominate above all the other good things in life, well, then we can end up looking for the wrong things, striving for the wrong things, hurting other people to get there and we reap a harvest, that frankly, is the harvest of our own selfishness. On the other hand, if we do good, if we get up every day and say, “Well, you know something, God, I know I'm not perfect, I know I am going to make some mistakes but my heart, Lord, my heart is to follow you today. My heart is just to do good things for other people and for myself.” Well, we get up and do that every day and we are going to reap, by and large, a good harvest. Well, over these next four weeks, today and the following three weeks, we are going to take a balanced look at "reaping God's harvest in our lives". The problem is that most people can't really describe what that harvest looks like; exactly what do we want? Let's just take a look at our own lives today. The bits where we don't have a harvest, you know, normally look across our lives and there are some areas where we are getting a great harvest – the results are good, they're satisfying, they're fulfilling – but so often there are one or two areas in our lives and we look at them and we go, “Wow! You know, I'm not getting a harvest here, in fact, I'm nowhere near to getting a harvest and I've made such a mess of my life. I'm never going to reap God's harvest in that area. Why would God ever even bother with me? No, God's harvest isn't for me. No! Harvest? No. it's a drought, it‘s parched, it's hopeless, it's devastating. The dam is empty, the crops are dead.” We can have such deeply entrenched patterns of behaviour that they rob us of the harvest. Sometimes we take on the weaknesses of our parents. We might have generational sin. A man, whose father was a gambler, may well end up being a gambler. A person, whose parent was alcoholic, could end up being an alcoholic. We take on the good traits and the bad traits of our parents and sometimes we look at our circumstances and we look at our failures and we think, “Aw, it can never work.” We are going to look today at the story of Isaac in Genesis chapter 26. If you've got a Bible, grab it, open it. It's right at the front of the Bible; the 26th chapter of the first book of the Bible and it's a story about Isaac, the son of Abraham and what he did in the middle of such a drought, this is what it says: Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines. And God appeared to Isaac and said, “Look, don't go on down to Egypt; settle in this land that I'll show you. Stay here as an alien and I'll be with you and I'll bless you because to you and your descendants I'll give these lands and I'll fulfill the promise that I made to your father, Abraham. I'll make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and I'll give your offspring all these lands and all the nations of the earth will gain blessing for themselves through your offspring, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge and my commandments, my statutes and my laws. So Isaac settled in Gerar and when the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She's my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She's my wife,” thinking, “Well, she is so good looking, the man of the place might kill me because of Rebecca, because she is so good looking.” When Isaac had been there for a long time, King Abimelech of the Philistines looked out of his window and saw Isaac cuddling his wife Rebecca and Abimelech called Isaac in and said, “She's your wife, isn't she; why did you say that she is my sister?” and Isaac said to him, “Well, you know, I thought I might get killed because of her,” and Abimelech said, “What have you done to us? One of the people might easily have slept with you're wife and you would have put guilt on us all.” So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Who ever touches this man or his wife will be put to death.” Well, Isaac sowed some seed in the land and that same year, he reaped a hundred fold. So here's Isaac, he's in a land that's not his own; he wants to run off to Egypt because Egypt seems to be much more prosperous and God comes to him and says, “No, stay here, I've got a promise on your life and this is your land, stay here as an alien”. So Isaac makes the decision to stay. It can't have been an easy decision; there was a drought, there was a famine and he stays in this land. But then he makes a huge blunder. He puts his wife out there and what a dangerous thing to do, this is something that his father, Abraham, did twice to his Mum. Unbelievable! Imagine, putting your wife out there, saying, “She's my sister.” Someone else could have taken her and slept with her. We man are supposed to protect our wives and he blows it, completely; he just repeats the generational sin of his father. He is in a land that's got a drought that's not his own, life is an absolute mess and then it says, “Isaac sowed seed in that land.” That's amazing! We are going to look at what happened when Isaac sowed the seed.   Sow the Seed We all want the most out of life, don't we? And sometimes the odds are stacked against us. Like that story we were looking at – the story of Isaac. Here was Isaac in a land that wasn't his own and his dad had made some serious mistakes and Isaac was just reliving those; that same pattern of generational sin that so often happens in our lives. We seem as though we can't control it, so dad has made a mess of his life, in a sense, and the drought is causing a famine. There's no harvest, there's no … How can there possibly be a blessing for Isaac, yet God promised him a blessing? God appeared to him and said: Look, don't go down to Egypt, stay here; stay here as an alien and I'll be with you and I'll bless you because to you and your descendants, I will give these lands and I'll fill it and you'll be blessed. When you look at that, you know you see God making a promise to bless you on the one hand and then you look at your own circumstances; the circumstances of where we live, our own failures and we think: there's no harvest, there can never be a harvest. Isaac was in the middle of a drought and a famine. He deceived the King, he hung his wife out to dry, he made a big mistake. I don't know what he was thinking, but he did something radical, in the middle of that mess. It says in Genesis 26, verse 12: Isaac sowed seed in that land and in that same year he reaped a hundred fold. Now farmers don't sow seeds when there's a drought. You know, when there's a drought, they look and they wait for rains and they wait for rains, because if you just put seed in dry land and there's a drought, not only won't you get a crop but you've wasted all the money that you've spent on the seed. So we think about that – it was a radical thing. I don't know how much the seed cost but in a famine, in a drought, you can bet your life it would have been really expensive. So here's this reckless thing, where he just takes the seed which cost him a lot of money and he puts it in the ground. The business risk, well, if you or I were doing it, would we have done it? Probably not; and the drought is so depressing. I mean, I have never been part of a farming community, but I know from what I've read and spoken to people who have lived in farming communities – when there's a drought going on, it's really depressing on the whole community and here it wasn't just a drought, it was a famine. People were starving and Isaac was planning to go somewhere else; to run away – to Egypt. It's not unreasonable he wanted to run away from the drought, but God said, “No, I've got a plan for you here, stay in the famine, stay in the drought,” and sometimes God calls us to stay. The thing that Isaac got right is he obeyed God. That tug in his heart; that word from God – he'd made a key decision to stay – probably against his better judgement. Ok, great – he stays. I've got a promise – “I'll bless you here”, says God and then what? Well, he makes this huge blunder; he lies to the King about his wife and she could have been taken to bed by someone else, frankly. So you've got the drought, you've got "I want to run away", you've got "God says stay", you've got this blunder, probably because of what dad handed down to me. You reckon he was confused? He should have failed; he blew it but God had made him a promise. God had said, “Stay here and I will bless you.” So Isaac – we see it in verse 12 – Isaac sowed his seed in the land. Takes a lot of faith to put seed in the ground when there's a drought. Even if there wasn't a drought, it's still an act of faith. You know, a farmer puts seed in the ground, there could be locusts, there could be drought, there could be flood, there could be fire, there could be disease. It takes faith to put seed in the ground, especially in a drought, and even when you've blown it. So what happens? Isaac sows the seed in that land and in that same year he reaps a hundred fold – the Lord blessed him and he became rich – he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy. He had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. Now the Philistines had stopped up and filled with the earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham. And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Get away from us. You've just become too powerful for us.” So what happens? He takes one seed, he plants it in a drought and he gets a hundred back. He takes two seeds, he plants them in a drought, he gets two hundred back. He takes a hundred thousand seeds and plants them in a drought and he gets a hundred times a hundred thousand back. And you read the rest of that chapter, chapter 26 – God just kept blessing him – He blessed his socks off and his son Jacob as well. Sometimes we think, “You know, I'm carrying sin around, I'm carrying this thing around, it might be sexual, it might be gambling, it might be any sort of other addiction and we know that it's been handed down from our parents – it's sad but true. And we think, “Oh, God can never bless me. I can never break this and I look around and I see this famine and this drought and things around me are going badly.” God's promise is to bless us! God is a God of blessing. But the promise didn't grow a harvest until Isaac planted the seed during the drought. Let me say that again. The promise didn't grow a harvest until Isaac planted the seed during the drought. So what's in that for us? Maybe you are looking around at a situation of drought and famine and failure and sin? What's in this story for us?   What's in it for Us? Well, we have been looking at this story of young Isaac, who was living in a drought and a famine and he made a mess of his own circumstances and he should have had failure written all over him. He wanted to run away from it all and now God says, "stay". Someone today is listening, maybe it's you, and today you want to run away from your circumstances and every now and then God does call us onto something new. Every now and then God says, “It's time to leave this church and go to another; it's time to sell this house and move on to another but most of the time God wants us to bloom where He has planted us. If God is calling you to go - go! But if He is telling you to stay – stay! And if your "go" is maybe leaving your wife or your husband or your children, let me tell you, God is not calling you to do that. There are some very extreme circumstances and I say this with all compassion because I have traveled the road of divorce; that's where I came to meet Christ. There are some very extreme circumstances of violence and abuse and God's plan isn't for us to be in those – I'm not talking about those. But so often we replace the ‘until death us do part' with ‘until something better comes along.' And we think, “Oh, well maybe God means for me to move on?” No, God does not! God wants us, most of the time, to stay where we are and to be a blessing to those people around us. And so, here we saw Isaac stayed where God wanted him, even though there was a drought; even though he went on to make a huge blunder with his wife. And there are so many circumstances in our marriages, in our jobs, in our church or in anything, where we would look at them through human eyes and we think, “They're never going to change - this is never going to get better,” but we see things in the natural but God's not natural – God is supernatural and supernatural literally means "above natural". He is so far beyond natural and He sees – He sees our circumstances, not from the natural perspective, not from the human perspective but from God's perspective; from the supernatural perspective. And God is a God of the harvest; God is a God of blessing and sometimes we have to do what Isaac did and stay in that place even through there's a drought and a famine and stay in that place even though we go on to make mistakes, and just plant some seed. One that is absolutely, one hundred percent for certain - if we do it God's way, whether it's to stay or to go – if we follow God's call, we will make boo-boos along the way, you know, we will make some mistakes but God honours those who honour Him. If God says, “I know you've got a famine in your land. I know your circumstances are just rotten and awful, but I want you to stay there, amidst that drought and famine and if we stay we honour God. God sees that, God honours what's in our hearts and He forgives what we do with our hands. God is a good God. Ok, so we stay, we do it God's way, then what? Then we plant seed in the drought, in the face of our own failure. Boy, is that counter intuitive or what? We want to give up by now but God says, “Plant seed.” Seed? What is seed like? Well, maybe you're in a job; in your work situation and you just hate your boss. I know that's a strong word but some people do. The boss is so oppressive, so unfair; promoting other people around you, victimising you and all we want to do is run away and God says, "No, actually, I'd like you to stay here. This is where I've planted you.” How can we plant good seed? Well, we can excel, we can say, “You know, I'm going to work hard anyway; I'm going to bless that person anyway. I'm going to do so well at this job, in the face of what this boss is doing to me, people are going to sit up and notice.” We can sow good seed into bad situations. Or in a marriage; maybe your husband or your wife is driving you nuts. There's pain and there's tears and there's anguish and we can say, “Well, I'm just going to ditch them,” but God's calling us to say, “No, stay here and sow good seed.” We can try and run away or we can stay and sow good seed. We can be the best husband or the best wife that we can possibly be. We can choose to bless and to honour and to love our husbands and wives. We can just be such wonderful people amidst the most difficult circumstances. Sowing seed is always a step of faith because we can't see the harvest when we sow the seed. Maybe your finances are a mess – your credit cards are up to the limit, the overdraft is up to the limit - and we just hear God saying, “Just stay there and become a good steward; cut back and become a good steward; cut back, manage your finances, give to the poor,” and I bet you that God will ask you to sow. Now sometimes when our finances are bad and we just think we have to save it all and we just have to stockpile it all and pay the debt off but I've seen it happen, time and time again – when God deals with our finances – one of the first things He does is calls us to give off the top, to Him; to the poor. It's about sowing seed and seed is a scary thing to sow because we can't see the harvest and we have to pay for the seed to sow it, before the harvest comes along – it is a step of faith. God is calling us to listen to Him; to obey Him, to take risks that He calls us to take, which aren't really risks but they look like risks, in faith. Isaac sowed seed and reaped a hundred fold. That's a lot! He couldn't control the weather. You and I can't control the outcomes, all we can do is to stay in the place that God's calling us to and sow the seed and it's God that gives the increase, it's God that brought the rains, it's God that blessed Isaac's step of obedience and faith. In our ministry – you know, in this ministry of Christianityworks - when we started taking programs to air, we had to sow seed. We had to start recording and producing programs before even one station had said, “Yes, we'll take the programs.” We had to spend money that, I'll tell you, we didn't have a lot of it, but we knew God was calling us to this. We knew that this venture was God's venture and God has blessed it so wonderfully and blessed so many lives through it but if we hadn't sown the seed, the harvest wouldn't have come. God gives the increase; it's His harvest. It might be our drought and our famine and our failure and our fear, but it is God's opportunity to be God and God's promise is to bless us. God doesn't just say, “Go out there on your own and do it,” God says, “Here's where I want you to do it and this is the sort of seed I want you to sow.” God is so personal. You know, when I pray and I ask Him, “Lord, what seed can I sow into this relationship?” Bang! He always, straightaway says, “Do this or do that,” and sometimes it doesn't make sense but we sow the seed and God blesses us. You see, it's in the middle of the drought that God wants to sow the seed, and the harvest is His. God is the God of the harvest. Is that scary to you? It is to me and I think it should be some days because faith ... we don't need faith if it's easy but the harvest that comes from faith, the blessing that comes from faith, the enormous, hundredfold increase that comes when we sow the seed that God calls us to, in the drought that God calls us to, well, that's an awesome blessing and it's God's blessing. That's God's plan!

Back from holiday and there's too much to pack in! The wrong Bra  A new term Walking to school age? Bridlington holiday!  Music in the car!  Silent driver? Mum and noise!  Shouting at Alexa Change gear Mum! Medicate with music  The Corrs  A perfect evening Go Ape Motivational Scott Crab fishing  bwtbpod@gmail.com Join our Patreon for exclusive episodes and early access here! https://www.patreon.com/bwtbpod A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you want a very loud frog for a pet? The children in this story do, and even manage to catch one, but they know their Mum won't be happy. So they set him free and encourage him to go on a quest asking questions to each animal he meets. Listen to this funny story told by ace storyteller Amy Douglas, and laugh out loud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Outlouders, it's that time of the week again. Parenting Out Loud is back in your ears to start your weekend right. Each week, Monique Bowley, Amelia Lester and Stacey Hicks unpack the zeitgeist through the unique lens of being a parent. On today's show: Father’s Day is tomorrow and there's been a distinct shift in its marketing. Amelia unpacks what’s changed and why. Bluey: adorable? Absolutely. But is this the kids' TV show that's also making us feel… bad? Welcome to the Bluey Inadequacy Complex. Monz explains all. Plus, ❤️

Excellent news, friends. We're back with another episode of Parenting Out Loud. Father’s Day is tomorrow and there's been a distinct shift in its marketing. Amelia unpacks what’s changed and why. Bluey: adorable? Absolutely. But is this the kids' TV show that's also making us feel… bad? Welcome to the Bluey Inadequacy Complex. Monz explains all. Plus, ❤️

A helping hand from the Bank of Mum and Dad can leave first-home buyers more than $1 million better off in retirement. RNZ and Simplicity economist Shamubeel Eaqub ran the numbers comparing the outlook for a young person whose parents could give them $100,000 to help buy a house, to that of someone who had to save their full deposit themselves. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Lisa Owen.

On this episode (a follow up to previous episode: Autism Mum Humiliated By Security Guard in Dublin Supermarket) we heard from a Mum with 3 children with additional needs who discovered a "miracle treatment" that her children's lives.

Geoff and Marie's Good Life: Part 6An Academy of Coitus.Marie's friends take turns to visit her and her husband.Based on posts by Only In My Mind, in 15 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.When we heard voices from the other bedroom we got up and followed the others downstairs. Marie and Jo were laughing together when we arrived in the kitchen, so lesbian love hadn't offended Jo too much. Marie looked at Kate as we entered. "Hi babe. How was it for you?"Kate smiled at her friend. "I just need to get laid so much. Now I feel so good that I can't find the words to describe it."Marie looked at me. "And what about you?""A gentleman never tells," I said. "Other than to compliment you on your choice of friends. I have enjoyed this evening immensely; but I'm wondering how you ladies would like to end it. Shall I take a quick shower while you pour me a glass of wine and decide?" And I left them to it.I was back downstairs in less than ten minutes, intrigued as to Jo and Kates' decision. Were they orgasmed out, did they want to play together or did they want to try a foursome?Marie passed me a glass of wine as I joined them. I took a sip as Marie explained that the girls couldn't decide what to do for the rest of the evening. She saw the look on my face and grinned at her friends. "Mr. Smarty Pants here obviously has some ideas." She turned to me. "Go on then. What are you thinking.""It might be better if I showed you," I suggested. I put my glass on the kitchen table and walked across to Jo. I kissed her firmly on the lips and then untied the belt on her dressing gown, allowing it to fall open. I reclaimed my wine glass and, after dipping my index finger into the ruby liquid, anointed her nipples with wine. I bent to lick it off as she stood, mesmerized, as her friends watched me."It's my belief that our Jo is a closet exhibitionist," I explained. "I think that she would enjoy an audience while I fuck her bent over the kitchen table."Jo didn't say anything but her pupils dilated even further and she licked her lips while Marie and Kate considered my words. "Is that true, Jo?" My wife purred as she approached her friend. "Do you really want Kate and I to watch while my husband fucks you over my kitchen table?"I saw a flush spread down Jo's neck down to the top of her chest. Fuck! She wasn't even this turned on while I was actually doing her!"You dirty, dirty girl." Now Kate had joined in. "I bet you even expect Marie to touch you while her husband's banging you. Is that right?"Jo was breathing heavily now. I stepped behind her and slipped the gown off her shoulders and cupped her tits as it fell to the floor. "I think that we all know what's going to happen now," I whispered in her ear. "Lean forwards with both hands on the table and don't move." I looked at the other two women. "Take your seats ladies. The show is about to start."Jo took a single step to reach the table and silently bent at the waist to lean against it. She still hadn't said a word. I stood behind her and slipped my hand between her thighs. I couldn't believe how wet she felt. "You've never done this before. Am I right?" She shook her head. ""How long have you wanted to be fucked senseless while other people have watched you?""I was on holiday in Amsterdam, before I met Patrick. There was a group of us and we got high and found a live sex show." Her voice was soft and wistful. "Everyone else thought it was a hoot but," she paused as she remembered that night. "But I watched that woman on the stage as her lover penetrated her and it was the most arousing sight I'd ever seen. I wanted to be her; to do that; to be so free."Now she sounded sad as she continued. "But life's not like that, is it? I didn't want to be a prostitute or a stripper: I just wanted to be able to do what she did, even just once."I slipped off my own dressing gown. "Will this do, Jo? It's only an audience of two, but they are going to sit and watch you being fucked. Two of your very closest friends are going to watch you take my cock. Will that do for a start? Then you can fantasize about doing it with a different audience next time."She had already come at least three times with me that evening and God alone knows what Marie had done to her, so she was already aroused when we started this game. I also had an agenda of my own that this was playing quite nicely towards. I glanced at Marie and Kate to see them staring at my cock as I placed it at Jo's entrance. Jo gasped as she realized that the game was about to get real.I slipped gradually inside her and used my hands on her hips to embed myself balls deep. Marie decided to help her friend's fantasy as I started to pump back and forth. "Look Kate. Look at how Geoff's cock is slipping in and out of Jo's cunt. Look how wet and shiny he is."Kate was genuinely excited too. "This is the first time that I've ever seen two people having sex in real life," she said, breathlessly. "This is so fucking hot. Jo you dirty bitch.""Is this what you wanted Jo?" I murmured in her ear. Two of your best friends watching while one of their husbands fucks you?""Oh, yes," she groaned. "I've wanted to do something like this for so long.""Ask Marie what it's like, watching you fucking her husband on her kitchen table," I told her."Is it, oh!" She gasped. "Marie. Is it hot watching; Oh!" Another gasp."It's beautiful, babe." Marie reassured her. "I can see his cock slipping in and out of you. It's really sexy. Maybe." My wife paused for effect. "Maybe another time you could let us watch him take you up your bum. Would you like that, you dirty girl?"Jo couldn't answer. It didn't take long before I could feel her internal muscles starting to grip as she approached her climax. She was making cute little moans in time to my thrusts and they were getting louder and more urgent every passing second. Eventually she threw her head back and cried out as she hit a massive orgasm. I kept on thrusting trying to fuck her through it, but she was spent. We helped her to a chair and left her to recover.I smiled and looked at Kate. "You next. Take up the position." Then I turned to Marie. "I don't know what you're grinning at. Line up next to her." The two women looked nonplussed for a moment, then hurried to take up position side by side in front of me. I stood for a moment wondering how this could be. Only a couple of months ago I was convinced that my wife had gone off sex, and off me. Then I had a bit of an episode when she was berating our daughter's sex life, and here we were; she and her friend are bent over the kitchen table presenting their naked backsides to me while a spent friend recovers from yet another orgasm as she watches. I was sure that there was a life lesson in there somewhere but, on the other hand, there were two naked ladies anxious to be serviced, so I decided to put existential angst on the back burner and make the most of it.I decided to take my wife first as she hadn't had any cock at all that evening, unless I counted one of the rubber ones from the naughty shop. Either way she sighed gratefully as I guided my cock into her lovely moist tunnel. "Hi honey. I'm home," I warbled as we moved together. I tried to keep count as I stroked into her. After ten, I dismounted. "I'm just popping next door," I explained as I pushed my cock into Kate. They both giggled. Ten strokes into Kate as I admired her shapely bum and then back to Marie. For the next ten minutes all you could have heard in the kitchen was the sound of my belly slapping into the buttocks of the two lovely women in front of me, punctuated by the moans as we all got closer.I was glad when Kate came first, as I was getting close myself and I really wanted to finish inside my wife. As it happened, I couldn't hold back and I spent my load into Marie before she was ready. Jo came to the rescue though, and while I was trying as hard as I could to keep going before my erection subsided, she knelt by my wife and started to rub Marie's clit. Marie was completely unprepared for it and only lasted a minute longer before she succumbed to the inevitable and gracefully collapsed onto the table giggling quietly to herself.That seemed to be an appropriate moment to bring the evening to a close, so Jo and Kate each retired to one of the en-suites for a shower before they got dressed and joined us back downstairs. It struck me that this should have felt really awkward, but it didn't; honestly. We all kissed, rather chastely under the circumstances and we wished them a safe journey home as they left together.I looked at Marie as we held hands at the door. "Well babe." I said. "Are we still a couple?"She cuddled up close. "Nothing that you did or said tonight made me anything but proud," she said. "I asked you to make my friends happy, and you did. I know that every time you make love to them you form an attachment. That's 'cos you're a big softie really; and I love you all the more for it. Let's go to bed. I want to hold you even if you can't make love again." As it happened, I could.On Thursday we had a bit of a lie in {that's married people talk for having morning sex) and then we had a light breakfast as Marie was meeting Jane for lunch. We chatted about the night before, but didn't break our promise to the girls to keep the intimate details private. I was reassured now that Marie seemed comfortable watching me have sex with her friends and I was relaxed about her lesbian quid pro quo. I admit that I was uneasy about something, though. Everything that I had been brought up to believe told me this was wrong. I was still troubled by this cultural indoctrination even though I had no logical explanation for why I was supposed to feel guilty for making two friends happy. Fuck it. I love my wife, and her friends deserve physical affection.Anyway, we changed the beds and put the soiled sheets in to wash then went to get the weekly shopping. After we'd packed everything away Marie went to meet Jane while I went to the pub for lunch. I'd decided I'd had a good workout the previous evening and deserved a treat.Marie was preparing a tagine for tea when I got home; just the two of us tonight, Colin had football practice. "Hello love," I said as I gave her a kiss. "How was your lunch date?""It was okay," Marie said thoughtfully. "Jane enjoys your flirting and she understands that I wasn't offended by her playing along. But." I wondered what was coming next. "But, I'm sorry Geoff," she said hurriedly. "She's just such an awful gossip. She told me things in confidence that I had no need to know, about people who'd be terribly embarrassed if they found out what she was saying about them. I tried to call her out on it but she doesn't seem to care."There's no way that I can invite her to meet the girls; She'd be forever pestering a solicitor, a nurse and a copper for juicy titbits, and I know your suspicions about Angie's;  activities. And if she ever found out about our language classes, it would be all over town in an hour."I was actually relieved. Yes, Jane was attractive and yes, she was young enough to be our daughter, but there was something comfortable about our arrangement with Marie's friends. Even now, I can't really explain it, but somehow it was okay for me to help my wife's friends, but screwing a friend of mine would cross a line. I think that I may be even more broken than I realized.On Friday Marie asked if it was okay if Angie stayed for the weekend. They had enjoyed our previous dance evening so much that they wanted to do it again, if I was willing. Was I ever! I rang to arrange for a taxi that evening and asked if Ken was free. He'd taken us the last time we went out together and I rather enjoyed his company. I have to admit that I was looking forward to finding out if my companions' behavior that night had any; repercussions in his own marital relations.That afternoon, I picked Colin up from school and we discussed his homework, population dynamics and how women's reproductive choices could affect prosperity and economic growth. It was interesting and we lost track of time until his gran called him for his tea. We sat with him and chatted while he ate. We'd decided to eat out later with Angie. Colin's ears pricked up when we explained why we weren't eating with him. "Oh," he said. "Will mum be acting all weird again on the way home then?"Marie explained to him that she and Angie were very good friends and loved each other very much. But his mum had misunderstood and thought that meant that Gran didn't love me anymore. She reassured Colin that she loved his grandad more than ever and we both wanted Angie to have people in her life that cared for her; so we were happy for her to come and stay and spend time with us both.Colin gave me a very thoughtful look before he went to finish his homework. Marie and I glanced meaningfully at each other, shrugged and went to get showered and changed.Angie arrived just after six, as I was on the phone to Linda. Angie dashed into the study to give Colin a hug while I called upstairs to tell Marie that Linda was on her way home from work and would be with us to collect Colin in quarter of an hour. Angie grabbed her case from near the door to go and get changed upstairs as Marie came down to meet her. Colin came out of the study to show me his homework, and he watched as the two friends met and gave each other a loving hug, and a passionate kiss."Oops," said Colin. "Good job Mum missed that. She'd have seriously got her knickers in a twist." We just grinned at each other and then went to sit in the kitchen so he could show me his work. It was a thoughtful piece that contrasted, in a thirteen year old's words, the importance of women to an economy and their lower status in too many societies. Open minded and empathetic, he was going to be a real catch when he grew up. That decided me: I needed to have a long chat with his mum.By the time Linda arrived we were all downstairs. The girls looked stunning. Marie was in a long dark blue dress with a scooped neck, showing her amazing cleavage. Angie was in a long burgundy dress with a split to mid-thigh. Their makeup was subtle but they glowed.Me? Really? Okay: I was in a blue two-piece suit, a shade darker than my wife's dress. I thought it would be nice to coordinate with both my girls so I put on a burgundy silk tie, with an Eldridge knot, to match Angie's dress. Smart brown shoes completed the ensemble, as though anyone would be looking at me!Linda followed the voices to the kitchen when she arrived. Marie and her friend were raiding my wine rack for a nice white to chill in time for our return home. "Wow! Mum, Angie, you both look amazing."My wife waited for a second, probably to see if there were any judgmental caveats to follow before she replied. "Thank you love. That's very nice of you to say so. Your Dad and I really enjoyed our last dance night with Angie, so we thought it would be nice to do it more often."Colin and I joined them in the kitchen as she was speaking and I stood between Marie and her friend with an arm around both of their waists. "Aren't I the luckiest man?" I gave Marie a peck on the cheek and then did the same to Angie. I looked squarely at Linda. "Two gorgeous women all to myself tonight." Linda flushed and I swear I heard Colin snort behind me.The three women went into the living room to chat, while Colin and I tried to find a nice wine for later. In the end, Colin chose a Pinot Grigio for us;  he said that he thought we might enjoy the white pear and lychee taste;  so we put a bottle in the fridge. Seeing as we were already in the kitchen, I took one of my 'special' tablets, making sure that Colin didn't see me. It was one thing telling Colin that Marie and I loved Auntie Angie: I wasn't about to explain that I was taking an erection enhancing drug so that I could have sex with them both all night!Anyway, Linda and Colin left without any drama just as our taxi pulled up. Marie went through her checklist for me. "Have you got your wallet, door keys, handkerchief?"I probably looked a bit insulted. "Yes dear," I sighed."Have you taken your tablet?" Marie asked. Angie gave me a look; at my groin."Yes dear.""Did you remember the condoms?" She fell about laughing. "Oh Geoff. The look on your face."I smiled. "Come on you daft bat. We're not getting any younger."The girls walked together towards the taxi and, as I locked up, I heard a squeal of joy from Angie. "Geoff! You complete genius. You got Ken to drive us." She all but skipped down the driveway and threw her arms around the poor man's neck. "Ken! You're my favorite cabbie. I'm so pleased to see you again." She demonstrated her sincerity by planting a big kiss on his mouth. I'm as certain as I can be that there was tongue involved.I looked at my wife. "I bet you're pleased to see Ken too." She nodded shyly. "I imagine he's your favorite cabbie as well." She just smiled. It seemed to be my night for sighing. "So go and show Ken how glad you are that he's our driver tonight." To her credit, she gave me a lovely hug first and then went to give Ken a big kiss. He also got the bonus of a lovely bosom pressed up against him, as well as a damn good look down a damn fine cleavage.We set off for the country hotel hosting the dinner dance, with me in the front with Ken and my two ladies plotting in the seat behind us. "Do you remember us Ken?" I asked."Vividly." He replied, apparently surprised that I should even have asked."You mentioned, as you dropped us off last time, something about your wife, er, may perhaps be going to benefit from the experience," I said, rather hesitantly.He looked both embarrassed and rather smug. "Er, well yes. She 'benefitted' twice that night and once again the next morning.""Oh, Ken!" Came a chorus from the rear seats."You naughty saucepot," said Angie. Ken smirked. "So did you do it up her bum?" Angie continued conversationally. It was fascinating watching his satisfied expression morph into a rictus of terror as he recalled how Angie had tormented me the first time that he drove us. "Well?" She persisted. "Do you sometimes go 'in' the 'out' door?""You know you're going to have to answer her, don't you?" I observed, as kindly as I could, when I saw his hesitation. "She's relentless, especially when she's interrogating someone about sex.""N, No," he stammered eventually. "We've never done that.""Me neither," she said wistfully. "She has." She meant Marie. "The luck bitch. Do you think Geoff would do me up the bum, if I ask him nicely?""Do women actually like that sort of thing?" He asked warily."Well I don't know, do I?" She was getting a little testy now. "I just admitted that I've never done it. You'll have to ask Mrs. Smuggy McSmugface here."Marie spared him having to ask. "It was an odd feeling," she volunteered cheerfully. "And it felt very naughty." She thought for a moment. "I did have a massive orgasm though. We're definitely going to do it again, but next time we'll prepare better, so that we can do it bareback." She sat back in her seat and looked fondly at her best friend. "I'm sure Geoff would love to do yours too. Shopping trip tomorrow? To get some enema kits?"Ken looked me helplessly. "Are they always like this?"I gave his question some serious thought. "Individually, no; together, sometimes but together with the prospect of sex; always!"I heard some more whispering behind me and I was sure one of the women murmured, "We'll keep that for the trip home." The dirty laughs that followed convinced me that they were on a hyper tonight and, I'm not sure if you'd noticed, they haven't had a drop to drink yet!We drove more or less in silence for the rest of the journey. It wasn't far. I knew the return trip was likely to be; challenging; but I didn't say anything to Ken. No need to alarm him prematurely after all.When we arrived at the hotel, the girls stayed in the back of the taxi until Ken realized that they were waiting for him to open the doors for them. Angie was sitting on the driver's side so he let her out first. I swear that I saw her rub her hand along the front of his trousers as she got out. She bobbed down and looked across to Marie, still sitting behind my seat, "I think Ken enjoyed our company."The poor man walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Marie and stood to attention with a look of resignation on his face as Marie stepped out and 'accidentally' stroked his groin too. She grinned across the cab roof at her friend and said, "Perhaps we should talk about something else on the way home. Do tell us you'll be driving us back tonight, Ken.""Er, Yes Madam, The gentleman insisted.""Oh goody! We love our little chats," Marie beamed.I paid our fare, with a generous tip, and clapped him gently on the shoulder. "It's only a ten minute drive," I told him. "It probably won't be too bad. Probably."

Join us for an incredibly inspiring episode with Nick Prefontaine, who shares his astonishing journey of recovery after a severe skiing accident left him with a grim prognosis: never walking, talking or eating on his own again. Just ninety days later, Nick not only walked but ran out of the hospital!Discover the powerful STEP System Nick developed, an acronym for Support, Trust, Energy and Persistence, which he used to make his full recovery and now teaches to help others navigate their own trauma, life challenges and crises, empowering them to thrive.In this interview, Nick delves into the critical role of mindset, the impact of internal conflict (including a surprising connection to his voice issues and the throat chakra) and why taking "the next step," no matter how small, builds unstoppable momentum. He shares vital lessons on self-healing, the body's natural ability to recover and how to harness your inner voice for profound transformation.Tune in to hear Nick's compelling story of resilience and gain actionable insights to apply the STEP System to your own life's obstacles.00:00 Introduction 01:33 The accident that changed his life05:32 Mum's critical intervention07:59 S for support08:17 T for trust09:44 E for energy12:03 P for persistence17:48 Inner voice29:48 Tip for healingNick's Bio Nick Prefontaine was told that he was probably not going to be able to walk, talk or eat on his own ever again, after a skiing accident. Yet, less than 90 days later, he not only walked but ran out of the hospital. Nick developed The STEP system to help people get through their own trauma, life challenge or crisis and enable them to thrive for the rest of their lives.Connect with Nick https://nickprefontaine.comhttps://www.facebook.com/nick.prefontaine.7 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickprefontaineWho am I?Sarah is a highly sought-after Holistic Health and Healing Coach, International Speaker and the Author of HEAL YOURSELF.She's also a Multi-Award-Winning Entrepreneur and Award Winning Host of the popular health-focused podcast, Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins. As a former Registered Nurse with over twenty years of medical experience, Sarah brings a unique, integrative perspective to her work. Sarah's expertise spans from self-healing multiple chronic health issues to supporting clients in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, empowering them to achieve vibrant, lasting health and transformative wellness.www-sarahdawkins.com

It's summer 2023 and ahead of the release of his epic new album 'Last Man Dancing' we had the delicious Jake Shears joining us for a spot of dinner. Mum served up turbot and samphire for main with poached pears for pud. Jake told us all about the various places he lived while growing up - including the island his family moved to off the coast of Seattle where it's inhabited by foot long Banana Slugs (Google it, they're gross!) - the beautiful and moving story of his best friend who inspired the hit song ‘Mary' and drinking the mysterious ‘magic tonic' purple drinks with the locals on Bourbon Street in his second home of New Orleans - a must do apparently! Jake we absolutely LOVE your fabulous new album can't wait to have you round for Friday night chicken soup again soon! Jake also has a brilliant podcast called Queer The Music which celebrates LGBTQ+ anthems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is part of the AI Summary series covering the AI Search Manual chapter by chapter. Chapter 6 traces the evolution of information retrieval from simple lexical matching to today's neural systems that power generative search.We start with the foundations of inverted indexes and lexical search, which drove early SEO practices like exact keyword targeting. The episode then explores the rise of embeddings, where meaning is captured in vector space, enabling systems to connect related terms and concepts beyond surface-level matches.We discuss how Google now embeds not just words and documents but entire websites, authors, entities, and users, creating a high-dimensional map of relevance. The introduction of transformers, BERT, GPT, and later MUM reshaped retrieval into a multimodal and multilingual process, capable of reasoning across text, images, and more. We also cover Muvera, a breakthrough in scaling multi-vector retrieval efficiently, and why embeddings have become the universal language of AI-driven search.For brands, the shift is clear: content visibility depends on semantic alignment, structured depth, and occupying the right neighborhoods in embedding space so that generative systems surface your work in synthesized answers.Read the full chapter at ipullrank.com/ai-search-manual

The first week in September is Jean Hailes Women's Health Week - Australia's largest event dedicated to the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and gender-diverse people. To celebrate and support Women's Health week in the bush, we'd like you to meet a very special Mum, who was interviewed by the Flying Doctor Podcast back in 2022! Kate Napier lived on a remote cattle station and was expecting her second child. She was supposed to move into town four weeks early, but life got in the way and a week out from her due date, she went into labour and was more than 150km from the hospital. The journey of the labour and then the arrival of Lilly was challenging in more ways than one.++++Thanks so much for listening to the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners and those we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends.Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. Please join the conversation at our Facebook Group called the Flying Doctor Podcast Community Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm hanging out with Brittany Anderson, who's not only a mum of three but also an accountability coach who really gets what it feels like to juggle all the things. We talk about the reality of motherhood, the importance of keeping yourself in the mix, and why the little wins matter just as much as the big ones. Brittany has such a way of making goal setting and follow through feel doable, and I think you're going to love this conversation.Highlights:(05:20) Mum life never goes to plan - and that's ok(12:45) Your wins don't have to be big to matter(19:30) Accountability groups change the game for entrepreneurs(27:10) Failing forward is still progress worth celebrating(36:00) Our kids often teach us more than we teach them(46:15) Investing in yourself is never selfish - it's necessaryFind out more about Brittany: WebsiteLinkedInInstagram Qualia Mind - click hereCoupon Code: SHOCKANDYALL (15% off any purchase)Visit Nicole's on demand fitness platform for live weekly classes and a recorded library of yoga, strength training, guided audio meditations and mobility (Kinstretch) classes, as well: https://www.sweatandstillness.comGrab Nicole's bestselling children's book and enter your email for A FREE GIFT: https://www.yolkedbook.comFind Nicole on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nicolesciacca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenicolesciaccaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesciaccayoga/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X8PPWCQa2werd4unex1eAPractice yoga with Nicole in person in Santa Monica, CA at Aviator Nation Ride. Get the App to book in: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aviator-nation-ride/id1610561929Book a discovery call or virtual assessment with Nicole here: https://www.calendly.com/nicolesciaccaThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

This was a special live recording at Airdrie Library for their Killers & Coffee series back in July with Dawn from Scottish Murders.Trigger warning: We do discuss suicide in this episode. In this episode, Dawn tells the heartbreaking story of the murder of Aileen Printie in Edinburgh back in 1981. Aileen was found murdered in her bedroom, discovered by her Mum and sister in  August of 1981 in the Longstone area of Edinburgh.  She was only 31 years old. We also talk about the 80's, sunbeds and what to do when you're bored working in a call centre! Send us a text - we'd love to hear your thoughts about this episode & if there are any cases youd like us to cover please get in touch Hosted by & Researched & written by Marti Jeremiah-Shelley & Effie McDonald Edited & Produced by Erin Ferguson https://www.instagram.com/erinfaudio/ Since 2023 ( earlier episodes are badly edited by us!) Theme Music Vampire Strut by Joybean @AudioJungle Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mumsmysteriesandmurder/You can also support the pod and buy us a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/mumsmysteriesandmurderAnd we would love it if you could give us a cheeky review & subscribe to make sure you don't miss an episode.

Send us a textIn this week's episode of Thrive Solo, my guest is the wonderful Caroline Young, author of 'Single And Psycho: How Pop Culture Created The Unstable Single Woman.'Although single herself, Caroline is Mum to an almost-one-year old boy, whose father she co-parents and lives with.During our conversation, Caroline explores the societal and pop culture stereotypes of single women, sharing insights from her book and her personal experiences. We discuss characters from movies such as Fatal Attraction and Bridget Jones' Diary, and other shows that depict single women as unstable, crazy, or desperate. We also talk about the pressure women face regarding marriage and children, and the resilience required to break these stereotypes. Caroline also shares her journey of becoming a mother later in life and how this transition changed her societal visibility. 02:14 Guest Introduction: Caroline Young05:01 Caroline's Unique Family Dynamics06:43 Writing 'Single and Psycho'08:48 Exploring Pop Culture Stereotypes10:28 Relating to Pop Culture Characters19:22 Themes and Takeaways from her book27:51 Visibility and Perception Changes30:35 Struggles with Invisibility30:59 Rebecca Traister's Perspective on Marriage31:58 American vs. UK Views on Marriage34:14 Deciding to Try IVF Again34:41 Advice for Women Considering Solo Motherhood37:00 Enjoying Solo Motherhood38:53 Celebrating Single Women's Complexity and Resilience40:23 Backlash Against Single and Childless Women45:01 Caroline's Online Dating Experiences47:32 The Impact of Having a Baby on Her Thoughts Around Relationships48:37 Final Thoughts and Book Highlights53:24 Embracing Aging and Motherhood in Your Forties54:58 Conclusion and Contact Information Support the showPre-Order my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Download my FREE PDF 'The Top 10 Answers To The Most Irritating Questions That Single People Get Asked On The Regular...& How To (Devilishly) Respond'? Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/questions Join the waitlist for my membership, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Interested in my 1-1 Coaching? Work with me HERE: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/workwithme Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Katie got her kids picked up by a taxi who massively overcharged them. So she did what all angry Mum's do after a couple of wines and marched outside and gave him a piece of her mind!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode Lachy sits down with guest hosts Lea (Edan's Mum), Brooke, Haley and Raven (Edan's sisters) as well as Denzel (Edan's Nephew). Edan does not know that I have done this. This is as much a surprise for you as it is for her.Follow us on socials:IG: https://www.instagram.com/nobodyaskedpodcast__/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nobodyaskedpodcast1Watch FULL EPISODES on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NobodyAskedPodJoin the Nobody Asked Secret Headquarters Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19QXHhHEGt/Send us a question, story or words of affirmation through the FAN MAIL LINK here: https://forms.gle/GQk7RFUb7AHLMYvM600:00-01:55 Meet Edan's Family01:55-06:15 Growing Up With Edan06:15-07:15 Aunty Edan07:15-09:45 The Netball Story09:45-15:45 Edan as a Sister15:45-20:35 Edan's Special Skills20:45-28:10 Edan's Performance History28:15 FINAL MESSAGES TO EDAN Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever found yourself suddenly in the role of caring for someone you love, without a roadmap for what that really means? In this episode of It's a Mindset, I sit down with Casey Beros, award-winning health journalist, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and one of Australia's leading medical MCs. For two decades, Casey has been translating complex science into practical strategies that empower everyday people to live healthier, happier lives. But it was becoming the primary carer for her beloved dad that changed everything. That experience inspired her heartfelt new book, Next of Kin, a compassionate and practical “what to expect when you're expecting to care for someone you love.” Part memoir, part guide, it's a much-needed companion for navigating the emotional and often overwhelming toll of care. As a mum of two herself, Casey understands firsthand the unique strain of the sandwich generation, caring for ageing parents while raising children and trying to maintain a sense of self. She brings honesty, humour, and deep compassion to this conversation. For me, this episode was a reminder of how important it is to prepare for the inevitable, the loss of our parents, and how caring can challenge everything from our routines to our sense of self. My biggest takeaway? The most meaningful thing we can do is spend time with the people we love, and when we align to one clear purpose, it sustains us even when times are tough. Key Episode Takeaways The toll of care not only on the carer, but on those around them as well. Why it can feel impossible to maintain wellbeing routines while caring for someone with acute needs. The most meaningful time is always the time spent with those you love. How having one thing that is uniquely yours, your purpose, can create greater alignment and sustain you through difficult seasons. About the Guest Casey Beros is an award-winning health journalist, bestselling author, keynote speaker and one of Australia's leading medical MC's. She has spent the last 20 years asking our brightest minds how we can all live happier, healthier lives. Along the way she found some answers, and she shares them with the Australian public in a way that's both steeped in science and delightfully entertaining. She has hosted TV programs for the ABC and Channel 10, and written for many of our leading digital publications. She has a superhuman ability to translate complex science into practical and actionable strategies that empower the most important person in the health journey - you. Being the primary carer for her beloved Dad was the catalyst for Casey to write her new book Next Of Kin - a 'what to expect when you're expecting' to become a carer for someone you love. A heartfelt companion, it's a practical and compassionate guide to navigating the complex, emotional and challenging world of care. Mum to two little girls, Casey is Australia's self-proclaimed parallel parking champion and knows the words to more pop songs than is probably normal. Show Resources Learn more about Casey's new book, Next of Kin - HERE Check out Casey's website - HERE Follow Casey on Instagram - HERE Follow the Podcast Host, Emma Lagerlow on Instagram - HERE Learn more about 1:1 coaching with Emma - HERE If you LOVED the episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @caseyberos. Yours in Care and Compassion, Emma, X.

Howdy toonfans! This week we watched some shows from this stupid little landmass we call Blightingham. Bananaman, a show starring The Goodies, and Superted, a show starring that one guy from It Ain't Half Hot, Mum. So you can tell this episode is gonna be full of references to things everyone gets.---Music by Vidazen.carrd.co

Joel reveals his second piece of life-changing “I can't believe this hasn't been invented yet” technology - he's onto a winner with this one. Hannah also reminds him of the time they had to take Wilde to work with them. Tricky for any parent - especially when the workplace is a festival, Mum's got a speech on childcare to do (ironic), and Dad's been sprung with a main-stage comedy performance.Email: Hello@NeverEverPod.comInstagram: @NeverEverPodTikTok: @nevereverpodThis episode contains explicit language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all listeners.Thanks for listening. Please subscribe and leave a five star review!

So excited for this. I got to chat with supermodel and proud Dunghutti woman Samantha Harris about her new memoir, Role Model. Samantha opens up about her journey from pageants to the world stage, the sacrifices her Mum made, and what it means to take up space in the fashion industry as an Indigenous woman. Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respect to Elders past and present. LINKS Follow @itsmattymills on Instagram Follow @brooke.blurton on Instagram Follow @sam_harris on Instagram Follow @novapodcastsofficial on Instagram CREDITSHosts: Brooke Blurton and Matty MillsGuest: Samantha HarrisExecutive Producer: Rachael HartEditor: Adrian WaltonManaging Producer: Ricardo BardonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen Ad Free & Access Weekly Bonus Episodes Here: apple.co/iam A personal catch up unpacking Mum life moments, unexpected conversations and a new way of manifesting instead of ruminating See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Mum's The Word goes LIVE from the Exchange at Big Feastival 2025, as Georgia Jones is joined by model, TV presenter, and co-host of the hit comedy podcast Never Have I Ever, Hannah Cooper-Dommett.In this heartfelt and hilarious chat, Hannah opens up about the reality of juggling motherhood with caring for her mum, who continues to need ongoing support following a brain tumour diagnosis. She shares how she imagined entering motherhood with her mum by her side and how she's learned to navigate a different reality while also working closely with Brain Tumour Support.Of course, it wouldn't be a live Mum's The Word episode without plenty of laughs! Georgia and Hannah dive into:

Food - certain dishes - maybe an old family recipe - has a way of reminding us about different people, different times, in our lives. In other words, it can be used to create memories and that is one of the things that Anna Cameron has set out to do with her cookbook - Just a Mum's Kitchen. Anna is no stranger to sharing - she already has a popular blog and over 250,000 followers on social media - testament she would say to recipes that are not just tasty but accessible and as she explains to Kathryn, virtually fail safe.

Spirit Switchboard Episode #123 Aug. 29th, 2025 Part 1: Generational Alien DNA Guest: Asria Beckham Ready to uncover your ancestry on a cosmic level? In this riveting premiere of our three-part series, Asria Beckham, veteran intuitive researcher and founder of Ascension Through Connection, will deliver jaw-dropping revelations about Generational Alien DNA. But the real cosmic illumination? This week, Asria sits down with Kerrilynn and her Mum to unveil their DNA results live, raw and unfiltered! Join the chat, and let's explore what it means to carry Alien DNA—together. Guest Bio: After witnessing a starship materialize during a sacred personal moment, Asria's life and mission were forever transformed. This experience ignited her calling to serve as a bridge between worlds—helping others align with their soul contracts, star origins, and multidimensional gifts. Through one-to-one sessions and group offerings, she holds safe space for those navigating awakening, ascension, and remembrance. Asria also shares her extraordinary human journey as a survivor of Sexual child abuse (SCA), grooming, and demonic encounters. With fierce compassion and authenticity, she supports others in reclaiming their voice, healing trauma, and reconnecting with their light. Her work unites the cosmic with the deeply personal, offering guidance for both soul evolution and emotional healing. Whether you're at the start of your journey or deepening your path, Asria stands as a devoted guide, activator, and soul ally—here to support your return to who you truly are. Alien/ Star Being DNA Transmission and Multidimensional Guide Asria is widely known for her Galactic DNA Translator & Multidimensional Guide, where she identifies galactic lineages and frequency imprints that support personal ascension. These sessions weave together intuitive transmissions, spiritual guidance, and light-coded insight—helping individuals remember their soul's origin and connect with their cosmic support teams. Having worked with over 80 extraterrestrial species, Asria channels their wisdom into grounded, empowering language for everyday integration. Public Appearances & Media Features Asria has been featured on The Shaun Attwood Channel, where she shared powerful insights into galactic contact, energy attacks, and awakening in the modern world. She also appeared on Lady D's Channel, offering guidance on off-world communication, psychic protection, and navigating high-frequency energies. Her candid, activating presence on both platforms has inspired countless viewers to explore their own multidimensionality and spiritual sovereignty. YouTube & Teachings Asria hosts the YouTube channel Ascension Through Connection (youtube.com/@AsriaBeckham), a hub for channelled transmissions, Star Being insights, and soul-guided teachings. The channel provides regular cosmic updates, intuitive tools, and empowering messages for those on the path of spiritual remembrance, multidimensional awareness, and galactic connection. Guest Links: WEBSITE: www.ascensionthroughconnection.com Instagram: @AsriaOfficial Youtube: @AsriaOfficial TikTok: @AsriaOfficial Facebook: @AsriaOfficial Host links: http://www.kerrilynnshellhorn.com https://linktr.ee/kerrilynn.shellhorn Message from Kerrilynn: I want to hear from you! I want to hear about your ghost stories, paranormal adventures and occurrences. I would also love your show suggestions to cover in the future. Email me at kerrilynn.shellhorn@gmail.com. If you enjoy the content on the channel please like, subscribe and share. My deepest gratitude to you all! A formal disclaimer: The opinions and information presented or expressed by guests on Spirit Switchboard are not necessarily those of the Host or the United Public Radio Network/UFO Paranormal Radio Network and its producers. As always Spirit Switchboard strives to hold space for open, respectful dialogue with show guests and listeners.

Joel and Hannah took Wilde to “little-kickers” football - a first for all involved. Wilde didn't have the right kit, and neither did Mum & Dad… but at least ChatGPT says Wilde is going to be tall enough to be a pro athlete! Also, Joel runs through some of the things that, in 2025, he can't believe haven't been invented yet. Plot twist: they have been.Email: Hello@NeverEverPod.comInstagram: @NeverEverPodTikTok: @nevereverpodThis episode contains explicit language and adult themes that may not be suitable for all listeners.Thanks for listening. Please subscribe and leave a five star review!

“Mum, can I  pleeeeeaaaaase go to the beach? Everyoneis going!”How many times you've heard your children raising  the seemingly  magic wand of ‘everyone'?When there's a need to  give more weight to a request or desire, the use of ‘everyone' becomes frequent. Where is this coming from?I invite you to explore it together. When we lived in tribal times we couldn't survive without the tribe.Our psyche remembers the necessity of the group. We still need our “tribe” . We need  communities.Let's look at this dynamic  of “everyone” from both child and parent's point of views. When we grow up, we might forget that things are not the same.The fear of loneliness plays role in the  culture of everyone. The question we need to ask is how we can develop our own voice to allow our sovereignty and how can we  give ourselves  permission to trust it.In our fear of isolation, we allow the power of others to take over our own. During the course of our lives,  we might  join groups without really checking if they suit us. Suzuki sensei's words “Man is a son of his environment” guides us to see the reflections in groups. When we become a part of a group the group becomes our environment. As adults we can teach ourselves toinquire and investigate before we say ‘yes' to the notion of everyone. Can you find in your heart the courage to think differently.You don't have to shout it loudly; there's enough noise in the world.Your voice  will be reflected in your actions, in your smile, in the way you walk and talk, in your listening. Step by step you create a new culture; one that substitutes the‘culture of everyone'. And the beauty in it is that by this you inspire others to do the same. And all of you create a new container of listening, respecting, curious of each other without the need to always agree.I feel that we are ready for it. As a matter of fact we don't have much choice but doing it. It's not whose voice is louder. It's who is more loving in the deep sense of the word. When I was  first introduced to Suzuki Talent Education, Ithought that in the future this will become a main stream education. After  more than 50 years I realised it wasn't the case.When I see children, parents and teachers who come to my studio and to the workshops and events around the world, I'm reminded over and over again that the group and the time together creates a huge change that lasts until the next time we meet. Now I see it doesn't have to be a main stream way in order to have an impact on  so many people.If you wish to support the podcast by donating, please click the PayPal link ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/PayPal-Souloist ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Thank You for your generosity.Find us on:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Face Book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠Link to "Nurtured by love" / Shinichi Suzuki⁠

Today is a very special episode of Small Talk, chatting to the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Camilla and Marc, Camilla Freeman Topper, about the impact of their 'Ovaries: Let's Talk About Them" campaign. Camilla speaks to her career, how fashion and advocacy can work hand-in-hand, research into women's health and how important this campaign is after losing her Mum to Ovarian cancer as a child. #OvariesTalkAboutThem is now a movement that exists for all women and people with ovaries worldwide. It's 2025 and there is still no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and millions of women are diagnosed when it is too late. The time to make a change is now. One step left. One year left – to get the world's first DNA based early detection test for ovarian cancer to clinical trials. Join the conversation, buy a t-shirt or make a donation and help make this test a reality. LINK TO PURCHASE MERCHANDISE: www.camillaandmarc.com LINK TO DONATE TO THE RESEARCH DIRECTLY:  https://www.camillaandmarc.com/products/donation

ABOUT THIS PODCAST:Houses vs units… which one really makes the better investment?

This week on Mum's The Word, Kelsey Parker is joined by the incredible Natasha Baker OBE - Paralympic champion, equestrian trailblazer, and now, proud mum.From her childhood dream of riding to glory, to winning double gold in London 2012 in front of a home crowd, Natasha's story is nothing short of inspiring. But her journey goes beyond medals. Kelsey and Natasha chat about:✨ What it was like giving birth as a disabled mum

Kids don’t hold back, and today we proved it. From writing breakup notes in crayon to telling Santa he can’t be Santa if he was once a baby, the savage honesty was next level. Ricki shared how her daughter dropped the F-bomb in perfect context, and Blackers’ kids have whole notes apps full of zingers like “girls can’t be Santa.” Listeners called in with their own from “you look old, Mum” to “you’re so fat and cuddly.” Honestly, kids could run a roast battle and win every round.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa McGrillis is an actor. Born in Carlisle to Irish parents, Lisa grew up surrounded by family, food, and humour - three things that still shape her life today. She studied drama in Newcastle, got her start in regional theatre, and had her London breakthrough when Lee Hall's Pitman Painters transferred to the National Theatre. Since then, she's become a familiar face on stage and screen, from Mum alongside Lesley Manville to her current role as the gloriously over-the-top Valerie in Rivals. When she's not filming in Bristol or learning lines, Lisa is at home in London with her husband, also an actor, and their two children. Food is central to her family life, a connection that runs deep thanks to her Austrian grandmother — “Big Nanny” — whose recipes still inspire Lisa's cooking today. In this episode, Claire arrives at Lisa's London home to cook one of those beloved family dishes: chicken schnitzel with Big Nanny's potato salad. Together they peel, chop, and bread the chicken while reminiscing about Lisa's roots, the chaos of raising kids, life on a busy TV set, and the joys (and nerves) of performing live theatre. There's also a well-stocked fridge to explore, some very handy kitchen gadgets courtesy of Lisa's dad, and a celebratory glass of Crémant to toast the cooking session. The result? A comforting family meal with a side of laughter, memories, and a glimpse into the real life of an actor balancing stage, screen, and supper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A little taster of our first holiday special for you. You can listen in full by signing up at https://www.patreon.com/thecidershedIt's late May 1986, Jethro, David, Neil and Phil are getting the hay in at Brookfield.Brian and Jenny have converted The Rookeries into holiday cottages although their first family may be arriving a LITTLE early. Peggy and her Mum watch on.David has agreed to go away with Sophie Barlow to Paris and then the South of France.Caroline has an 'English Food' event coming up at Grey Gables.Nelson receives an unexpected guest at his wine bar.As you might be able to tell, we bloody loved this omnibus.Lots of love.TCSProduced by Matthew WeirTo help us out with a lovely worded 5 star review hit the link below. Then scroll down to ‘Ratings and Reviews' and a little further below that is ‘Write a Review' (this is so much nicer than just tapping the stars

From unqualified therapists planting false memories in vulnerable people and an obsession with labels to ‘therapy boasting' on Hinge and the weaponisation of ‘therapy speak', we deep-dive into the dark side of the therapy boom. Plus, what makes a good therapist, and can AI offer an accessible alternative to what has become a luxury? We hope you enjoy this special bonus hunnies, we'll be back with our usual Thursday pop culture debrief tomorrow!We love hearing from you, DM us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@straightuppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, email at ⁠⁠hello@straightuppodcast.co.uk⁠ and follow us on TikTok @straightuppod too!Recs:Dangerous Memories podcast My therapist told me Mum had abused me. She hadn't, TimesThe therapist who planted false memories, Pandora Sykes, SubstackHow the language of therapy took over dating, NYTNobody has a personality anymore, SubstackOpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns users not to trust ChatGPT agent with sensitive or personal data, Decoder Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here's How It Happens, NYTHe Had a Mental Breakdown Talking to ChatGPT. Then Police Killed Him, Rolling StoneWhat does bad therapy actually look like? StylistCan AI therapists really be an alternative to human help? BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jess talks with fine jeweller and experienced instructor April Dace about her upcoming three-day in-person masterclass in Brighton (2nd - 4th October 2025). Designed for intermediate to advanced jewellers, the course focuses on creating a stunning Tiara wedding band with five claws - a perfect project to refine your stone setting skills and elevate your engagement ring designs. April shares what students can expect, from shaping and fitting rings for stones to creating precise settings, soldering, and claw work. While the project will be completed in silver during the class, the techniques apply directly to gold work, repairs, and developing your own collection. With only eight spaces available, this is a rare chance for personalised feedback and hands-on learning in a relaxed, inspiring Brighton studio. We also discuss the benefits of in-person training, tips to prepare for the course, and how mastering fine jewellery techniques can boost your business's profitability. Can't make it to Brighton? April's online masterclass , featuring an additional project, opens for enrolment in September. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, expand your portfolio, or add high-value pieces to your offering, this episode will inspire you to take your stone setting to the next level. More info and enrol on the Masterclass in Brighton in October 2025 https://www.jewellersacademybrighton.com/collections/masterclasses/products/tiara-wedding-band-masterclass-3-days-advanced-stone-setting-with-april-dace Can't make it to Brighton? Check out the online Masterclass course https://www.jewellersacademy.com/masterclass   About April April Dace is a jewellery designer, maker and repairer based in Norfolk. After 4 years studying jewellery at university and 5 years working in jewellery workshops around East Anglia, April took the leap to become her own boss working on her bespoke jewellery business, April Dace Jewellery back in 2020, and she's never looked back! April is Mum to twins and is embracing this chapter of her career as a working Mum! She currently works on jewellery commissions from her home workshop, as well as being a bench jeweller carrying out repairs at a local jewellers a few days a week. https://www.aprildacejewellery.com/ https://www.instagram.com/aprildacejewellery/

We're travelling back to autumn 2021 and the start of series 12 where fellow foodie and Hollywood superstar, Stanley Tucci joined us. Mum had just come back from her holidays and I had just had my third baby! Stanley talks to us about growing up in New York, filming his TV show ‘Searching For Italy' & his fight against cancer. He celebrates his mother's cooking (& her famous lunchbox lunches!) & reveals his less than fine dining experience with Meryl Streep. Stanley's food memoir ‘Taste' is fantastic and is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

78.2 HuskToday's episode has been sponsored by Territory is the new novella from Dan Howarth.In a remote Finnish hunting community, darkness and the cold hold the villagers close. As a pack of wolves threaten the village's future, grief-stricken hunter Jari must unite the population to reclaim their territory.Old feuds and dark habits rear their heads as Jari tries to lead the villagers through their toughest season, but it soon becomes clear that not everyone will survive the winter.Territory is available on 10 June.HuskThere's something strange in the way grandpa's ageing. His skin is flaking. Mum's upset. The nightmares won't stop coming.Written by Daniel Willcocks (https://danielwillcocks.com/)Narrated by James Barnett AKA Jimmy Horrors (https://www.jamesbarnettcreative.com)Edited by Karl Hughes (https://twitter.com/karlhughes)With music by Nul Tiel Records (https://nultielrecords.com)And Thom Robson (https://www.thomrobsonmusic.com/)The episode illustration was provided by Luke Spooner of Carrion House (https://carrionhouse.com/)And sound effects provided by Freesound.orgA quick thanks to our community managers, Joshua Boucher and Jasmine ArchAnd Carolyn O'Brien for helping with our submission reading.And to Ben Errington for spooking the neighbours with the content demons he raises with his copy of the Social Media Necronomicon.Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author and award-winning podcaster of dark fiction. He is an author coach, founder and CEO of Activated Authors; one quarter of digital story studio, Hawk & Cleaver; co-founder of iTunes-busting fiction podcast, ‘The Other Stories‘;' CEO of horror imprint, Devil's Rock Publishing; and the host of the ‘Activated Authors‘ podcast.Dan is furiously passionate about creativity and productivity. He has written 60+ books since 2015 for himself and on behalf of ghostwriting clients. His mission in life is to activate creatives and authors to ensure they keep their creative flames and passions burning in a sustainable, positive, and healthy way.James Barnett is the producer of the Night's End podcast. A short story fiction podcast with tales of horror and the paranormal. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. You can also catch other works of his at www.jamesbarnettcreative.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.