Podcasts about natural sciences

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by ornithologist David Vander Pluym to explore a fascinating bird from Central America and South America: the Slate-throated Redstart—also known as the Slate-throated Whitestart.David is a graduate student at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science whose research focuses on bird ecology and migration. Before beginning graduate school, he spent years studying birds along the Colorado River in Arizona and California, and he now researches the remarkable altitudinal migration of the Slate-throated Redstart.Together, we discuss why this colorful bird may now be called the Slate-throated Whitestart, what scientists have learned about its behavior and habitat, and how birds can migrate not just across continents, but up and down mountains in response to changing seasons.Field Museum ornithologists and Curators of Birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ Pole and Amanda Pole for a fascinating conversation about tropical birds, mountain ecosystems, bird migration, evolution, bird taxonomy, and ornithological research.We also catch up with David about this year's Birds of a Feather March Madness Bird Tournament. As one of the LSU graduate students who helped vote throughout the competition, he shares his thoughts on one of the tournament's biggest fan favorites—the Club-winged Manakin—and his opinion might surprise you.Whether you're interested in bird migration, tropical birds, ornithology, bird evolution, scientific research, or discovering beautiful species you've never heard of, this episode is packed with fascinating bird science and unforgettable stories from the field.If you love birding, birdwatching, bird behavior, tropical birds, migration, ornithology, wildlife science, bird evolution, and nature podcasts, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky

For this episode, we're joined by Prosanta Chakrabarty, Director of Louisiana State University's Museum of Natural Science, where he is also the Fish Curator and a professor. Also joining us is Bruno Soares, Scientist and Adjunct Professor at the University of Regina in Canada. Dr. Soares holds a Collaborator-Professor appointment at the Federal University of Rio De Janeiro, in Brazil. They were here to talk about their recent publication in BioScience on the concept of type localities, and how their use can help make taxonomic research more equitable and efficient. 

Exact Sciences are things folks who consider themselves rational and logical assume can be trusted. And they would be, but scientists are only human, and some of them aren't even autistic, gasp! I had the privilege of pursuing an academic career in Natural Sciences, and there I found hard-working, dedicated professors, who would base their calculations on values with dubious origins, and reject valid findings to scoop the author's work and publish it as their own. In this scientific episode I will be joined by Dr. Mary Sims (pronouns: she/her), and together we will spill the tea about science shenanigans, and on the way, you might even learn some random details about atmospheric aerosols, vibrational spectroscopy and self-assambled monolayers. You can find Dr Mary Sims' podcast, Clinical Misfits on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network here.You can support Aut2Aut on Betterplace and Gofundme, or buy our #ActuallyAutistic designs in our print-on-demand shop. This will help prepped.to go on providing a platform for autistic folks to share locations' sensory info and service instructions.My cat Merlin has a message for you at the end of the episode.Mentioned in this episode:Dr. Mary Sims' podcast, Clinical Misfits [APCN please insert link here]My paper about the refractive index of Elemental CarbonMy paper about using the Vibrational Stark effect to investigate Self-Assambled MonolayersFafarman et al. 2010 about the effect of hydrogen bonding on the Star tuning rate. Correction: the numbers I'm referring to are not in a table but a chart in their supplementary material section.Where physicists upload their papers without peer review: arXiv.orgAut2Aut, the nonprofit I founded, providing free platforms and content by and for autistic peopleprepped.to is the website I created where autistic folks can upload and consult sensory info and service instructions about places, so folks can prep and script before going thereHow to support my nonprofitTheme music composed and produced by Lir Lutau Shahar (pronouns: he/fae/sea): YouTube, Soundcloud. For collaborations: lutaoshzh@gmail.com Follow Dr. Gal Schkolnik on LinkedIn, Mastodon or Tumblr

The Guide Post is joined by a very familiar face that's been gone for a minute...

Can music transform the brain and body? Recorded live at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, with 11-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan and MD Anderson neurosurgery assistant professor, concert pianist, and music medicine researcher Dr. Mei Rui for a conversation inspired by Rufus's classic “Tell Me Something Good.” Together they explore the neuroscience of rhythm, music as medicine, Chaka's early years in Chicago, the profound role music has played in connecting with her nonverbal nephew Tallon, and how emerging research may benefit neurodivergent communities. This episode was produced in partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Chaka Khan Foundation, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

If you've been underestimating just how political and opaque LA fisheries management truly is, recent bills reveal the game of influence and power at play behind the scenes. Join two Louisiana fishing guides and a fisheries scientist as they give you a peak behind the curtain...

In this episode of Two Bees in a Podcast, Amy Vu and Dr. Jamie Ellis discuss the Irish Honey Bee with Dr. Grace McCormack, Professor of Zoology in the School of Natural Sciences in the Ryan Institute at the University of Galway in Galway, Ireland. Check out our website: ⁠www.ufhoneybee.com⁠ for additional resources from today's episode. 

Most redfish populations are declining faster than we can keep up with, but the fix isn't as simple as placing blame on one culprit, whether that's the menhaden industry or elsewhere. When everyone agrees that overfishing, habitat loss, and changing ecosystems are key factors, why do some still aim to hijack redfish conservation conversations with contentious agendas? In this eye-opening episode, angling experts from Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia, and Texas reveal the truth about the real causes behind redfish declines—and why pointing fingers only delays solutions.

Dr. Martha Muñoz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University. Martha is an evolutionary biologist who is working to better understand how and why evolution proceeds unevenly across the tree of life. Some features and branches of organisms evolve really quickly, while others remain inert or nearly inert for millions of years. Martha's research is uncovering the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, and she has discovered that behavior is a key architect of evolution. For Martha, nature is a wonderful source of peace and inspiration for her research. When she's not working, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, seeing amazing views, and observing wildlife. She also spends her free time reading, going to museums, and visiting her family in New York City. She received her B.A. in biology from Boston University. Afterwards, Martha worked as a Fulbright Research Scholar at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid, Spain. She was awarded her Ph.D. in Organismic & Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University. Next, Martha conducted postdoctoral research in the Research School of Biology at The Australian National University and subsequently the Department of Biology at Duke University. Prior to accepting her current position at Yale University, Martha served on the faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech. Martha has received numerous awards and honors, including the Boston University Department of Biology's Distinguished Alumni 'Rising Star' Award, and a Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Naturalists. She was also named a 'Scientist to Watch' by The Scientist Magazine in 2019. In our interview, Martha shares more about her life and science.

With Eugenie taking a well-deserved break, Marcus Fernandez is joined by Dion Tabrett and Mike Bridger for an open discussion on some of the most common myths and misconceptions in homeopathy. Drawing on their clinical experience, they explore topics such as antidoting remedies with coffee or menthol, the use of single versus multiple remedies, and why potency selection is often about fine-tuning rather than strength. The conversation highlights the highly individual nature of homeopathic treatment and challenges many of the rigid rules that have persisted over the years. They also reflect on aggravations, the importance of practitioner experience in complex cases, and their perspectives on machine-made and pharmacy-made remedies. Episode Highlights: 02:59 - The Coffee and Mint Myth 05:50 - Individuality in Homeopathy 09:09 - What Are Your Remedy No-Nos? 11:53 - Machine-Made vs. Pharmacy Remedies 19:13 - Can Homeopathy Cause Harm? 27:41 - One Remedy at a Time? 30:44 - Not Every Case Is One Remedy 33:46 - Potency Considerations 35:59 - Potency Is Fine Tuning 39:19 - The Flexibility of LM Prescribing 41:53 - All She Had Was 6C 44:13 - Beyond Allopathic Thinking About my Guests: Dion Tabrett, MCH, MSc, is a British homeopath, educator, and author who graduated from the London College of Homoeopathy in 1992 and earned the Member of the College of Homoeopathy (MCH) qualification in 1994. He later obtained a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences and an MSc in Molecular Biology from the Open University, with studies focused on human anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Over his career, he has run clinics in Berkshire, Cornwall, Devon, London, and Bristol, and has taught undergraduate and postgraduate homeopathy in the UK and internationally, including in Ireland, Istanbul, and New York. Tabrett is known for his work in case analysis, materia medica, and organopathic medicine, and is the author of the 2017 book Burnett Rediscovered, which explores the clinical strategies and prescribing methods of the classical homeopath James Compton Burnett. Mike Bridger has been practising homeopathy for over 35 years and teaching for almost as long. He is the founder and principal of the Contemporary College of Homeopathy and lectures at other homeopathic colleges across the world. He has extensive experience working in medical centres, alongside GPs and health workers, which has led to his highly informed and integrative approach to practice. Mike is particularly interested in mental and emotional health issues and specialises in stress and burnout, and the related conditions such as heart and circulatory problems, depression, hormonal imbalances and chronic fatigue. He has also become well renowned for his in-depth knowledge on case mapping and remedy relationships. Find out more about Dion and Mike Website:  https://www.diontabrett.com/ https://www.conhom.com/ If you would like to support the Homeopathy Hangout Podcast, please consider making a donation by visiting www.EugenieKruger.com and click the DONATE button at the top of the site. Every donation about $10 will receive a shout-out on a future episode. Learn more about CHE Australia and its homeopathy training programs: https://chehomeopathy.com.au/ Join my Homeopathy Hangout Podcast Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelloHomies Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eugeniekrugerhomeopathy/ Here is the link to my free 30-minute Homeopathy@Home online course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqBUpxO4pZQ&t=438s Upon completion of the course - and if you live in Australia - you can join my Facebook group for free acute advice (you'll need to answer a couple of questions about the course upon request to join): www.facebook.com/groups/eughom              

This episode emphasizes the importance of honest conversation, responsible management, and anglers' role in fisheries management. With insight into the upcoming menhaden stock assessments and efforts to push meaningful policy changes, it's time to realign honest conversations about "bunker" and striped bass that don't cannibalize each other. Both deserve powerful advocacy and need fisheries reform. Don't be fooled by social media hype—get the facts, hear the truth, and understand what it truly takes to turn the tide. Guest experts include fly tyer Blaine Chocklett, guide Ray Jarvis, surfcaster Jake Hardy and industry professional Mike Hogan, all with decades of experience on the water chasing our beloved striped fish.

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you'll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Lisa Studnicki Hunt, Ph.D, Co-Founder and Board Member, GL CHEMTEC.   Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Lisa, covering:   How her passion for problem solving led her to cofound a CDMO straight out of grad school How, without an established industry network, she focused on developing her core skill set and immersing herself in a different culture Figuring things out day by day, while pursuing opportunities aligned with the company's long term vision Positioning the business as “innovation experts” to differentiate in a competitive and fragmented CRO and CDMO market How the pandemic accelerated demand and growth, ultimately leading to a well timed private equity deal The “misbehaving of the market” over the last few years, and how a Canadian CDMO is positioned amid geopolitical shifts involving the US and China   Lisa co-founded GL CHEMTEC INTERNATIONAL in 2002 and has played a key role in growing the organization across both operations and commercial functions for more than two decades.  She also now serves on several boards and is passionate about philanthropy and supporting non-profit organizations.   Lisa began her academic journey with a degree in Natural Sciences from John Abbott College. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science with Honours, with a minor in French, and a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Toronto. She later completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Organic Polymer Chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany.   Lisa has authored several scientific publications and holds multiple patents. Alongside her scientific credentials, Lisa has continued to build her commercial and business expertise. She earned her Professional Sales Designation from the Canadian Professional Sales Association in 2008, completed the E2: Entrepreneur's Edge course at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2009, attended Harvard Business School in 2015 under the guidance of renowned professor Clayton Christensen, and completed the Marketing Innovation course at MIT Sloan School of Management in 2017.   Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We'd also appreciate a positive rating!

The "Roadless Rule" has safeguarded millions of acres of wild national forests for nearly two decades. Now, this safeguard is under attack. Sean Cosgrove, a seasoned conservationist with over 20 years of expertise “in the arena” joined the podcast to discuss how powerful policies are under attack again, risking the very lands that provide your outdoor experiences, habitat for wildlife, and the health of our watersheds.

Redfish populations in Georgia are facing a crisis, and the clock is ticking. The state's current regulators are only offering minimal changes, despite decades of scientific evidence showing the fishery is struggling. Meanwhile, neighboring states are taking bold, aggressive steps to protect and rebuild their stocks, leaving Georgia's approach dangerously behind. Why? Because political pressure and bureaucratic inertia have stymied meaningful action, risking the future of one of the region's most treasured fisheries. In this episode, conservationist and Georgia fly shop owner Jared DiVincent joins host Tony Friedrich to recap behind-the-scenes battles over redfish regulations. They reveal how outdated management models, influenced by industry anecdotes and political favorites, threaten to turn Georgia's redfish fishery. Access the following link for more resources - click here for the Georgia Saltwater Anglers Association webpage and click here for One Hundred Miles Redfish Resources.

Jason Fertitta – CEO & Partner, Americana Partners Jason Fertitta shares how Americana Partners grew from a $2.6B breakaway team to a $13B+ enterprise by focusing on ownership, enterprise value, strategic acquisitions, and long-term growth. In Summary Many advisors view independence as the ultimate objective: a chance to gain control, improve economics, and build a business on their own terms. For Jason Fertitta, independence was only the beginning. Louis Diamond speaks with the CEO and Founding Partner of Americana Partners about the firm's evolution from a $2.6 billion breakaway team in 2019 to a national enterprise managing more than $13 billion today. The conversation explores the decisions that fueled that growth, the mindset required to build long-term enterprise value, and why Jason believes advisors should evaluate success through the lens of net worth rather than annual income. Along the way, they discuss recruiting, acquisitions, private equity, professional management, and the tradeoffs that come with building something intended to outlast its founders. The Storyline The independent channel has matured. A decade ago, many advisors pursued independence primarily for greater autonomy, higher payouts, and control over the client experience. Today, a growing number are approaching the decision differently—viewing independence as a platform for building enterprise value, attracting capital, completing acquisitions, and creating businesses that can scale beyond the founders themselves. Jason Fertitta's journey reflects that evolution. When he and his partners left Morgan Stanley in 2019, Americana launched with approximately $2.6B in client assets and a vision to build a nationally recognized wealth management firm. Seven years later, the firm oversees more than $13B, employs roughly 100 people, operates across multiple markets, has completed several acquisitions, and brought on Lovell Minnick Partners as its first institutional investor. Throughout the conversation, Jason offers a transparent look at the realities of enterprise building. That includes reinvesting profits rather than maximizing income, hiring professional management long before it feels necessary, embracing acquisitions as a growth strategy, and making decisions based on long-term value creation rather than short-term economics. For advisors considering what comes after independence, the episode provides a practical framework for thinking about ownership, scale, capital, and the future value of their business. About the Build, Grow & Transact Series for Advisors Build, Grow & Transact explores what happens after independence. The series features advisors and firm leaders who viewed independence not as a destination, but as the foundation for building something larger. Some launched firms from scratch. Others scaled through recruiting, acquisitions, or strategic partnerships. Many eventually faced decisions around capital, ownership, succession, or liquidity. While every story is different, they share a common thread: a willingness to think beyond the transition itself and focus on creating long-term enterprise value. Through candid conversations with founders, builders, and industry leaders, the series examines the decisions, tradeoffs, and lessons that come with growing an advisory business into an enduring enterprise. For advisors contemplating independence, actively building a firm, or considering what comes next, Build, Grow & Transact offers a look at the paths others have taken—and what they've learned along the way. > Download a transcript of this episode… Listen and Learn Highlights for Advisors Why did Americana grow from $2.6 billion to more than $13 billion? (06:16)Jason explains how a combination of organic growth, advisor recruiting, acquisitions, and long-term strategic planning helped accelerate the firm's expansion. Why do clients often do more business with independent advisors? (12:17)Jason shares his perspective on why clients frequently deepen relationships after an advisor leaves a wirehouse environment. What role have alternatives played in Americana's growth strategy? (14:40)The discussion explores how differentiated investment access can help advisors stand apart in an increasingly commoditized marketplace. When is it time to build a professional management team? (18:36)Jason explains why Americana invested heavily in leadership, operations, and infrastructure from the very beginning. Why did Americana bring in private equity capital? (25:16)A candid discussion about growth capital, M&A opportunities, and the decision to partner with Lovell Minnick Partners. How do you evaluate enterprise value versus annual income? (20:16)Jason offers one of the episode's most important lessons: building wealth through ownership can look very different than maximizing current compensation. What makes a successful acquisition target? (39:51)Jason outlines how Americana evaluates M&A opportunities and how acquisitions fit into the broader client experience. Is it better to build your own firm or join an existing platform? (45:40)The conversation closes with Jason's perspective on the trade-offs between launching independently and joining a scaled independent enterprise. Topics Covered Enterprise value creation Independence and ownership Organic growth strategies Advisor recruiting RIA acquisitions Private equity partnerships Professional management teams Alternative investments Family office services Building a national wealth management firm Key Takeaways Independence can be a starting point for building an enterprise rather than the final objective. Long-term wealth creation often stems from ownership and equity appreciation, not from maximizing annual income. Reinvesting profits into leadership, infrastructure, and talent can accelerate enterprise value. Organic growth and acquisitions can complement one another when supported by a clear strategy. Outside capital can be a growth catalyst when aligned with management's long-term vision. The most scalable firms are often built around client needs rather than predefined acquisition targets. Advisors have more options than ever before, ranging from building independently to joining established platforms. https://youtu.be/_12jZJFsi4U Quotable Moments “Even to this day, I don't make anywhere near the amount of income that I made when I was on Wall Street. But my net worth is up tenfold.” “If you want to create value for yourself and your partners and grow your balance sheet, you can do it in a much more tax-efficient way in the independent world.” “I've never thought about how much of the company I own. I've thought about what my slice is worth.” “We want to build something our children would be proud to say we helped create.” FAQs Why are more advisors viewing independence as a business-building opportunity? The independent channel increasingly offers opportunities to create enterprise value, pursue acquisitions, attract capital, and build scalable businesses beyond a traditional advisory practice. How can advisors increase the enterprise value of their firms? Enterprise value is often driven by factors such as growth, profitability, leadership depth, recurring revenue, client demographics, infrastructure, and scalability. What role does private equity play in wealth management firms? Private equity can provide capital, strategic guidance, operational expertise, and acquisition support while helping firms accelerate growth initiatives. How do RIAs use acquisitions to grow? Many firms use acquisitions to expand geographically, add specialized capabilities, deepen client services, and accelerate asset growth. Why are professional management teams becoming more common among RIAs? As firms scale, dedicated leadership across operations, finance, compliance, and business management enables advisors to focus more effectively on clients and growth. Is launching an independent firm always the best path? Not necessarily. Some advisors prefer to build their own enterprise, while others may achieve their goals more effectively by joining an established independent platform that already provides scale and infrastructure. The independent channel increasingly offers opportunities to create enterprise value, pursue acquisitions, attract capital, and build scalable businesses beyond a traditional advisory practice. Enterprise value is often driven by factors such as growth, profitability, leadership depth, recurring revenue, client demographics, infrastructure, and scalability. Private equity can provide capital, strategic guidance, operational expertise, and acquisition support while helping firms accelerate growth initiatives. Many firms use acquisitions to expand geographically, add specialized capabilities, deepen client services, and accelerate asset growth. As firms scale, dedicated leadership across operations, finance, compliance, and business management enables advisors to focus more effectively on clients and growth. Not necessarily. Some advisors prefer to build their own enterprise, while others may achieve their goals more effectively by joining an established independent platform that already provides scale and infrastructure. Related Resources From Ex-Morgan Stanley Advisor to One of the Biggest Breakaway Stories of 2019 with Jason Fertitta (Podcast Episode) Intentional Growth: How Top Advisors Build Businesses That Last (Article) M&A Readiness Assessment (Tool) Guest Bio Jason Fertitta Jason is currently Chief Executive Officer / Founding Partner of Americana Partners. Jason was a Managing Director in Morgan Stanley's Private Wealth Division for eleven years. He joined Morgan Stanley in 2008 after six years with Lehman Brothers High Net Worth Division. Prior to joining Lehman Brothers, Jason worked six years for Texas Direct. Jason serves on the Board of The Good Samaritan Foundation and Endowment and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Jason attended St. Edwards University in Austin. NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation. View the transcript of this episode… Build, Grow & Transact: Americana's $12B Path from Breakaway to Enterprise A conversation with Louis Diamond and Jason Fertitta, CEO & Partner at Americana Partners.      Louis Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is Build, Grow & Transact: Americana's $12B Path from Breakaway to Enterprise. It's a conversation with Jason Fertitta, CEO and partner of Americana Partners. I’m Louis Diamond, and this is the Diamond Podcast for financial advisors. Mindy Diamond: At Diamond Consultants, we help elite advisors identify the right environment for their businesses to thrive, whether that’s at a wirehouse, boutique, or independent firm. With nearly three decades of experience, we’ve guided thousands of advisors, and represented more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in assets transitioned. And each year, one in four advisors managing a billion dollars or more who change firms are our clients. Our process is education driven, and based on building relationships, starting as your strategic partner well before you’re even thinking of a move. To schedule a confidential conversation, call us at 908-879-1002. Wondering why advisors change firms and where they’re headed? Are transition deals going up or down? Those very questions and more inspired us to create our annual advisor transition report. It’s the award-winning data-driven resource designed for advisors that connects the dots between the motivations around movement, and the firm’s appetite for top talent. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make smart decisions. Download your copy at diamond-consultants.com/transitionreport. Louis Diamond: Independence is often viewed as the finish line. Break away, gain control, own the business, and enjoy the economics that come with it. But, for some advisors, going independent is just the beginning. That’s the idea behind this new series called Build, Grow, and Transact, featuring advisors who saw independence not as a destination, but as the first chapter of a business building story. And there will be some familiar names along the way, including our first guest who was on our show back in 2020, talking about what was at the time, one of the industry’s breakaway moves. That’s Jason Fertitta, CEO and founding partner of Americana Partners. When Jason and his partners left Morgan Stanley in 2019, they started Americana with approximately 2.6 billion in client assets, and a vision that extended well beyond becoming a successful independent firm. Today, Americana oversees more than 12 billion, has expanded nationally, completed multiple acquisitions, built out a professional management team, and brought on institutional capital to support its next phase of growth. What makes Jason’s perspective valuable that he’s now experienced independence through several different lenses as a breakaway advisor, as a founder, as a builder of enterprise value, and now as the leader of a firm, actively pursuing acquisitions and recruiting talent from across the industry. We talk about the decisions that fueled Americana’s growth, why Jason has always viewed the business through a long-term lens, what changed when private equity entered the picture, and why maximizing enterprise value often requires a very different mindset than maximizing current income. For advisors who think independence is a destination, Jason’s story offers a look at what can happen when it’s treated as a starting point instead, so let’s get to it. Jason, thanks for coming back on our show today. Jason Fertitta: Pleasure to be here. Thanks for inviting me. Louis Diamond: You got it. Yeah, you’re our first guest in our new subseries, so you should feel honored. And I’m honored too, because the last time we had you on the show, Americana was about a year old, you’re navigating COVID, and all those challenges. But, for listeners who may not remember the episode, can you give us a quick version of the origin story of Americana, and what the firm looked like when you first launched it? Jason Fertitta: Yeah, I believe if I’m remembering correctly, I was in Colorado talking to you guys, and it was right after we launched, so that was a fun but stressful time. I think at the time that we launched, it was certainly the road less traveled. Most teams go from one wirehouse to another. We had an entrepreneurial itch. There was 11 of us that started the firm. We actually launched the firm from this exact building that we’re in here, but all of this was under construction. We were in temporary space one floor below on card tables, and pizza boxes, and all the things that you can envision when you think of a startup. But, yeah, we weighed all of our options in terms of going from one firm to another, staying where we were, and had a lot of talks with ourselves, and our spouses, and they were all very supportive. When you do something like this, you’re certainly scratching the entrepreneurial itch that I think is required for somebody that wants to try and build their own company. And I think we’re all satisfying that itch in different ways. We all had a lot of other outside business interests. I’m passionate about the restaurant industry, because it’s what I grew up in as a kid. And so, had opened some restaurants with some chefs that I really admire, and were doing things like that to scratch the itch, but there’s no other way to do it than doing that in your profession. And so, we decided to launch the firm. We also just felt like Texas being such a wealthy state, there really wasn’t a regionally dominant RIA from here. There’s a lot of big RIAs in the Northeast, and the Northwest, and the West Coast. And we just felt like Texas was ready to hopefully be able to support the concept of launching it from the state, and then expanding it out regionally and nationally from here. Those are all thoughts in our heads and dreams and we’ve worked really hard to get to where we are, but I think we’re in a great spot right now for another leg of growth. Louis Diamond: Amazing. I would say that plan has certainly worked out. When you were on our show last in 2019, the firm was at about 2.6 billion at time of launch. And now, I saw in news articles and your ADV, it’s north of 12 billion, but I’m sure it’s even larger now. Can you walk through just what’s the makeup of the firm today? How many partners and advisors? What’s the profile of the end client? What markets are you in, in and around Texas or around the country? Jason Fertitta: Yeah, so today we’re roughly a hundred employees, right at 13 billion in AUM. I would say we have six offices, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Midland, Beverly Hills, and Nashville. We have about 30 advisors, 30 financial advisors, and our average account size I would say is right around $20 million. That’s not a rule, it’s just the way it is. We have some wonderful accounts that are two or three million, and we have some great accounts that are well over a billion. And in terms of the makeup of the firm, since the time we’ve spoken, and we’ll get into this later, but we have run in private equity, we have about nine families that are owners of the firm with us. It’s really families, private equity, and employees. That’s the cap table currently. Louis Diamond: Very cool. As far as building the firm geographically, for the offices of Texas, that makes sense to your earlier comment about wanting to build a Texas dominant or a regionally dominant firm. But, how’d you land in Beverly Hills and Nashville? That’s a little bit different. Jason Fertitta: Yeah, it is. I think so much of where we’re going is secondary to who we’re partnering with. I think we would go anywhere in the country if we had the right partner in that city. We’re not necessarily saying we have to be in Atlanta. Let’s find the right partners in Atlanta. It’s more about, we found the right partners in Atlanta, so we’re going to Atlanta. And you meet these people everywhere. Everyone has their own Rolodex inside of our firm. Sometimes it’s an employee here that has a relationship with someone that wants to break away and be part of an independent firm. Sometimes it’s me. There’s a lot of golf DNA in our firm, so we’ve met a ton of people through the incredible game of golf. In fact, last weekend we just hosted our first Americana Cub Golf Tournament where we took over an entire club, and invited 40 strategic invitations to people that could be helpful to our firm. I would say it’s really just networking, trying to find like-minded advisors that were very big at putting the client at the center of every decision you make. A lot of times you’ll come across of an advisor that financially looks really good on paper, but they’re maybe not always doing what’s right by the client. We run from those situations. We’d rather have a financial advisor that perhaps statistically is inferior to that other one on paper from a P&L perspective, but we feel like it’s doing what’s right by the client in the decisions. And that’s usually the main factor for us in seeking out the right partners. Louis Diamond: I love that. And one of the premises of this new subseries of ours is about growing, and then, of course, recognizing that value through some sort of monetization. To me, the star of your show is your insanely impressive growth, which I would assume comes from both organic means, and also from inorganic, whether through M&A, or recruiting teams from your predecessor firms, or from other wirehouses. Can you talk a little bit about the breakdown of the two growth channels, and how you pursue both, organic and then inorganic growth? Jason Fertitta: Yeah. Well, I think organic growth, the preference for anyone that’s in our sea, because you don’t have to pay for organic growth. It’s just you have to expose your platform to potential clients, and it has to be differentiated enough for them to move assets from another firm to yours. And I would tell you, I think we do a really good job at that. We’ve built an incredible platform that has, and enables a financial advisor to have all the same arrows in the quiver that a big firm has. We’ve got an incredible alts department. We’ve got an incredible CIO that produces great research. We got incredible in-house portfolio managers, both in the core equity space, but then also the municipal bond space. We have an incredible external manager platform that has everything from cash management on steroids, to venture capital investing, to co-investing, to direct investments into companies. We have this really great platform. We also recognize that we want to grow through M&A as well, because there’s only so much time in the day you’re not willing to add more employees and more like-minded advisors to grow. We do both, to your point, we absolutely do both, and they’re both equally as important. On the M&A side, I would say it’s been responsible for half of our AUM growth over the last seven years, and the other half has been organic. And I think as we get bigger and bigger, that number’s going to not stay consistent. I would say that if we could grow our AUM organically by 10% per year, and then do five to seven acquisitions a year, combination of RIAs and Wall Street lift outs, I think those are good goals for us, and we’re off to a good start in trying to achieve those goals. Louis Diamond: I think if you pull off even half of that, I think your private equity sponsors, and investors, and employees would be very happy. Can we double click into the organic growth side? How do you view whether your growth rate changing organically since leaving Morgan to start the RIA? And if it has changed, what do you think are the things that are responsible for the faster growth, or slower growth if it’s slower than when you’re at Morgan? Jason Fertitta: One of the interesting secrets about being independent versus inside of a big bank is I think your clients will actually do more business with you if you’re independent. I didn’t realize that until we went independent. I had heard that before, but I was like, that may or may not be true. But, when we went independent, and every time we recruit a team from a big bank, the same thing happens. It’s like the clients are like, “What took you so long?” They’ve very much, for the most part … Now, that’s not every client, but most clients, I think prefer to be serviced by an advisor that’s conflict bringing the independent channel. There are other clients that might have a big investment banking relationship with a big bank, or something like that, like a business reason for not leaving. But, in terms of just being able to service the client from an independent channel where you’re a legal fiduciary, I think all the interest is aligned from client to service provider, and I just think it’s easier to raise money in this channel than it is at a bank. Louis Diamond: And you really think the types of clients you work with or just clients in general, the difference maker is really the conflict-free advice. Obviously, it sounds good, but I would argue that when you were at Morgan Stanley, your team was one of the top teams in the country, you had an amazing reputation, you’re probably giving similar quality advice then than you were today. How has that really manifested itself? Jason Fertitta: I always say I think you can have a great experience at a firm that is perhaps not the most prestigious, great firm in the country if you’re with the right team. And I think you can also have a horrible experience at a firm with a great reputation if you’re with the wrong team. It is my belief the most important thing from the customer’s perspective is who you’re working with. I appreciate your comments about our team, and we work very hard to deserve the reputation that you’re talking about. But, I also think that when you’re in the independent world, some of the things the banks do very well is they have great investment platforms, and a lot of due diligence in their products. I think when you’re an independent firm, you’re obviously, you don’t immediately have all of those same intangibles that a big bank has. I think it was very important for us to invest heavily into those departments inside of our firm to where we could be on some equal footing with Wall Street firms, and we have been. We have raised a lot of money for alternative managers. I think alternatives are a huge secret sauce that an independent advisor needs to have access to, because in a world where the public markets are getting more efficient and more commoditized, it’s very challenging to grow organically the way that we have without some secret sauce. And I think the secret sauce lies within the alternatives, because it’s very hard to differentiate yourself if you’re just trying to optimize someone’s public equity portfolio, and improve where they sit on the efficient frontier. I think that’s just a tough challenge. But, if you can mix in some truly differentiated alternatives where access is a big component of the value proposition, then all of a sudden, you’re bringing your clients something special, and something that’s unique. Louis Diamond: I really like that perspective. I think you’re completely right. I’ve always heard people say investments are commoditized, and it’s all about advice and planning, but I think the way you framed it about the ALFA essentially being worked out of it, so it’s the access, and it’s what you’re doing different on the investment side outside of the more basic or commoditized stuff that’s a difference maker. When you launched the firm, and I believe still today, Americana hired Dynasty Financial Partners as your infrastructure partner. Now that you’re significantly larger, you’re seven years into your independent journey, how does the relationship with Dynasty change, if at all? What do they do for you that you benefit from differently today than when you first launched? Jason Fertitta: Yeah, it would’ve been impossible for us to do what we did without Dynasty’s help. Dynasty has delivered for us in a meaningful way and they continue to. They’re a great partner. We definitely are developing our own sea legs as well, just because you have to just by virtue of the size that you get to. But, Dynasty, I think, has been incredibly innovative in terms of launching an investment bank and bringing … Dynasty’s brought us deals, which is incredible. Just in addition to being an infrastructure partner, they’ve actually provided us deal flow. They’re also, because they’re working with so many firms, you get in all sorts of situations as an independent firm, and to have someone to pick up the phone and say, “Here’s what we’re dealing with.” And they’ll say, “Oh, here are the three things you need to do. You either need to do it like this or this.” Just a lot of experience within Dynasty. I don’t know if we’re Dynasty’s biggest client or not, but I would say we’re certainly in their top three. We are looking to continue that relationship, and always having a relationship with Dynasty, but I would describe it as evolving, because our revenue is up 6X in the last six years. Louis Diamond: Amazing. That makes complete sense. The needs of the business when you are leaving a big firm is got to get the clients over, got to build the plane before it can fly, and understand how to do X, Y, and Z, to now, it’s enterprise building, and optimizing, and growing inorganically, so that makes complete sense, and very cool to hear that Dynasty has evolved or morphed the relationship to meet you where you are now. And to me, I think a big part of that is hiring professional management. That’s always a question we get. When am I big enough? When’s the right time to hire professional management, whether it’s a full-time CEO, a CFO, a COO, et cetera. I know in your case, fairly early on you hired Ron Thacker who was a regional manager from Morgan Stanley. I saw recently you hired a CFO, so you’re really professionalizing the leadership ranks. When did you know it was the right time to build a professional management team, and how did you think about that evolution? Jason Fertitta: We knew from day one that’s what we wanted to do. I think when you go independent, there’s a couple of different schools of thought. One school of thought is I can go independent. I’m not going to really have a boss. I’ll be my own boss. I may or may not grow the business. I’m going to run it in a way that’s lean. I might be able to have a little bit more of a take home because there’s not a third hand in the cookie jar in terms of the bank, and it’s a great lifestyle. I think that’s one school of thought and I think that’s great. That was not our school of thought. Our school of thought is we had a belief that in this country, there’s going to emerge five to 10 regionally dominant RIAs, and these regionally dominant RIAs were going to enjoy economies of scale, and they were going to compete with Wall Street. And in order to do that, we had to reinvest a lot of our profit into our business through building this management team that you’re referencing. Even to this day, I don’t make anywhere near the amount of income that I made when I was on Wall Street, but I’m not, and it’s because we’re building equity value, and we’re building something that will last, and we reinvest a lot of our cash flow into professionalizing the management team, and then being able to deliver on that promise to the financial advisors that are here that you’re going to have a platform, that when you walk in the room, you’re going to be able to compete with Wall Street. And so, that’s always been our goal, which is not necessarily everybody’s goal when they go independent, because it’s a lifestyle decision really. I work way harder today than I worked when I was at a Wall Street firm. Louis Diamond: It’s so interesting. Two threads I want to tug on from what you said. The first one is I think just the comment you made that you’re making less today when the business is significantly larger than it was when you’re at Morgan Stanley, you’re working harder. I think even that dynamic is going to feel like a shock to a lot of people, right? If you’re working harder, the business is doing six times more revenue than it was at Morgan Stanley, that doesn’t seem like a fair trade. How do you think about that relative to the equity value that you’re amassing? Was that always the plan, or is that just something you’ve leaned into as the firm has grown and scaled? Jason Fertitta: Well, the third component you left out is my net worth is up 10X- Louis Diamond: There you go. Jason Fertitta: … whereas if I would’ve stayed at a Wall Street firm, and so are all the employees here. If it’s about that, I can tell you that we checked that box. Americana is very valuable, and we’re happy about that. It’s really just about how you want to create that, right? If you want to create it through income, and pay a lot of taxes along the way, stay at the Wall Street firm. But, if you want to create value for yourself and your partners, and grow your balance sheet, you can do it in a much more tax efficient way in the independent world. And I’m light years ahead of where I would’ve been if I would’ve stayed at a Wall Street firm. Louis Diamond: I think that’s the coolest realization I think someone can have, right? We always say it’s like, what do you value more? Is it the short-term liquidity, or certainty of getting a big upfront recruiting deal at ordinary income, or staying where you are and keep making your 50% payout, take advantage of your firm’s retire in place program? And for many people, that’s what they value. But, for you, I think you very clearly and transparently articulated that, yeah, I might make less, but what really matters is my net worth. It’s how much I’m actually netting for my family in the long run. For people who want to play the long game, really buy into that concept, it sounds like following your path would be ideal, but it may not be for everyone. Jason Fertitta: It’s a much better path, and I’m living proof of it, and not only am I living proof of it, all of my partners are here, and everybody that owns equity in Americana is living proof of it. Louis Diamond: Amazing. You said you’re working more now than when you’re at Morgan. How has your day-to-day, or day in the life changed? What types of activities are you doing more or less of, and how do you balance everything? Jason Fertitta: Yeah, it’s hard to balance everything, it is. But, I would say that one of the unique things about Americana is the founders are all financial advisors. We aren’t consultants that came out of the consulting world, we’re financial advisors. I’m still a financial advisor. I still cover clients. I would say a third of my time is actually covering the house accounts here with some of my original partners. A third of my time is firm related stuff, and then, a third of my time is M&A, and that’s not only M&A, but helping the advisors that are here grow their business also. And so, I come across a lot of leads and opportunities. I’m not really taking them for the house account book or myself. I’m finding the right advisors that I feel I could service the clients the best, and then I’m flipping them to them and sitting second chair and I’ve seen some amazing growth to their businesses by just being able to send them leads. Louis Diamond: Yeah. I think that’s always like the tug of war for … I think most founders of RIAs in this industry, they were advisors themselves. They were the rainmakers, or they still are, but there’s definitely some folks who, whether because of lack of time, or lose the spark or passion for working with clients, that they pivot to being full-time CEO, or we’ve even seen people go the other way where they say, “I was the CEO. I really just want to be an advisor, or just do M&A, and I’m going to hire a CEO.” It’s really cool to hear how you split up your time, and you’re able to do it all. And I’m sure it’s not perfect. I’m sure your family wishes they saw you more, and et cetera, but it sounds like you’re able to really pursue your different passions. Jason Fertitta: All those three activities are very fun, and they keep everyday interesting, and you don’t necessarily know at what points in the day you’re going to be working on which bucket, and there’s a lot of blend and overlap, but we spend a lot of time here working on behalf of our clients, and the firm, and every day is an adventure, but it's fun. It’s a blast. Louis Diamond: Absolutely. Well, let’s spend some time talking about your fairly recent capital raise. In October of 2024, Americana announced that PE firm Lovell Minnick Partners, the firm’s first outside institutional investor was coming in to take a majority stake in the firm. Can you take us back to that decision? I’m sure it’s still clearly vivid. Maybe talk through it, and when did you first start to think seriously about bringing in capital? Jason Fertitta: Yeah, so probably at the end of ’23, we looked down, and there was $100 million worth of potential M&A that was fairly actionable that we could do. And the other M&A events we did were small deals, 10, $20 million sometimes, but firms with three, 400 in AUM to 600 million in AUM. We were doing deals that size, and we’re just passing the hat, and saying, okay, to the families that were in our cap table and to ourselves, who wants to write a check? The cap table was changing all the time based on people’s buy-in and M&A transaction. But then, when you sit down, and you look at potentially $100 million of M&A, if every deal came through that you’re in conversations around, and we owned at the time 75% of the firm, the families owned 25. If all of that M&A were to have happened, we didn’t have $75 million as employees. We were facing dilution. And then, we went to the families and said, “Hey, we don’t mind being diluted, but we got to know that if all of these came through, you guys want to invest another 100 million into this business.” And that’s when they said, “Well, we can. All the deals that you’ve done so far have been accretive and great. But, our value add to you is not M&A. It’s not underwriting. It’s not how to take this firm from four billion to 12 billion or customers. Why don’t you contemplate bringing in an institutional partner to help you round first base and go to second and third?” And so, I called a good friend, a gentleman by the name of Jimmy Dunne, who’s legendary in the world of golf and business. He’s a vice chair at Piper Sandler. I explained the situation, and he said, “Well, this is going to sound self-serving, but I think you should hire me and my firm to run a process to find your partner.” Louis Diamond: Classic investment banker. Jason Fertitta: And we did, and he worked on a very small retainer, and a contingency fee, and they helped us get ready to show the firm to the institutional world, and that took nine to 12 months of hard work to get ready. They ran the process. I think we had 30 firms sign the NDA in the October of ’24 month that you mentioned. I think we had 20 offers. And during that year, we were getting to know a lot of the people that were going to be bidding on us, and we frankly were incredibly impressed by Lovell Minnick and their success that they have had in investing in the wealth space. We were always pulling for Lovell Minnick to compete and compete well, got to run an honest process and Lovell Minnick was not the high bid, but they were a very good and well-thought-out bid that was easy for us to understand on why they were where they were. And for us, it was about how can we create value from this point forward with the right partner to really grow the firm and scale it to where we wanted it to be? And so, that was the more important driving factor in our decision to sell to Lovell Minnick. Now, of course, we wanted to sell a minority piece, but the reality is, given the activity that we had in our M&A pipeline at the time, they were going to eventually get to majority anyway. And so, I may be skipping ahead a little bit in the podcast, but I know what some of the questions are going to contemplate, and our thought was, you’re in a better position to negotiate minority rights before the transaction than later. And so, we got all of that out on the table in our negotiations with our private equity partner, and then just got married immediately instead of had this weird period of where they ultimately were going to get to majority control through M&A, and then, you have this awkward moment where that shift happens after you’re already partners. Louis Diamond: Very interesting. Was it a hard decision to give up majority control over your baby? Jason Fertitta: Definitely a lot of self-reflecting on behalf of our team and everything, but I think where we came out with it, and I’m a big believer in this, is the people that really control the business are the people that control the relationships with the clients. Lovell Minnick knows that, and we’ve never had a decision in a year and a half that we don’t all arrive at the same place. We negotiate, we study, but they know that it’s not in their best interest to try and force the management team to do something that the management team is not in agreement on, because at the end of the day, we’re servicing all of these accounts. Look, we don’t see eye to eye exactly on everything, no partners do. But, we’re generally in the same zip code on everything, and we talk things through until we all arrive at the same place that this is in the best interest of the company. And I think a big part of why that works so well for us in Lovell Minnick, and I think this is very unique in the industry, it all goes back to we all own the same share class. We’re all in the foxhole together. We all sink or swim together. There’s no way one group can win and another group can lose. We all own the exact same security. Not only do we all own the exact same security, but our employees own it. The families that are in our cap table own it. And so, every decision comes from the standpoint of how do we make decisions to benefit that security? Louis Diamond: Makes sense. It’s still a tough decision, but you lay it out, make it seem like an easy decision with the conviction you have, I think the very pure motivation to make that leap. Aside from capital to fuel M&A, what are the other things that Lovell Minnick is doing for your business to help it? Jason Fertitta: Well, Lovell Minnick, and this is another thing that was impressive to us, they’re always the first institutional capital until what’s otherwise an entrepreneurial family-owned business. They’re not afraid of building the things that you have to build to get ready to scale. They’ve seen it in every investment they’ve made. And so, that was very refreshing to us, because frankly, we wanted the help. We wanted the expertise. We’re financial advisors at heart. Like a lot of private equity firms, LMP has this third party advisory relationships with industry people, and they’ve brought those people into our firm, several sit on the board of the firm today, and they’ve just been fantastic to work with. Some have more experience with FinTech, some have more experience with HR, some have more experience with actual investment platforms and product. Some have more experience in how to help clients optimize from a tax perspective. Some have family office experience. And so, we’ve really benefited from this group of people. And I would tell you that, since they came into our world, which is about 18 months ago, we have been building a lot of things that are about to be unveiled to not only our financial advisors, but our clients. And I think that the experience is just going to continue to get better for both of those segments. Louis Diamond: Very cool. Yeah, it seems like a great fit. And I meant to ask you before, because it’s such a cool, and I think still a fairly novel concept, but what was the thinking behind having nine families, their customers or clients come in, and buy some equity in the firm? Why’d you do that? And then what’s been the outcome of that? Jason Fertitta: It was more their idea than us after we launched the firm. And this goes back to my original comments about the clients want to do more business with you when you’re independent than when you’re inside the bank. And we have a lot of clients that are entrepreneurial. And so, I think when we explained to them the reasons why we were doing this, and the reasons why we’re so excited about it, they got excited about it too, some clients, most clients. And so, what they said was, “Yeah, we’re going to move our money to it, we’re excited about it, but if there’s an opportunity, we’d also like to own a piece of the firm.” And originally, when they said that, I didn’t know if they meant that they wanted us to give them, but they wrote a check. They all wrote checks. We set an arbitrary value of the firm in the first year after we launched it. And that wasn’t a whole lot of science behind the value. It’s basically what we would’ve been paid by walking across the street, and that was the original value. And they bought into the firm, and then, Lovell Minnick really thought it was a nice novel concept that they hadn’t seen before, and they’ve embraced it. When they invested, we brought another round of clients into the firm at that valuation. I think it’s really powerful, because what’s important for us in these families is that they’re all pillars of their respective communities and they’re spread across all over the country and Mexico. We have some incredibly good reputation, great business people in Mexico City, and Monterrey, and Los Angeles, and Midland, and Dallas, and Austin, and Houston. And we’re open to the concept of when we come into new markets, finding that pillar of the community, finding that family who people ask, “Well, what do you do with your money?” We want them to say, “Well, we own our own wealth management firm. He wants to have them call you and they’ll show you what we do with our money.” And that’s a powerful part of the organic growth and the flywheel. Louis Diamond: I absolutely love that. I oftentimes have clients, especially breakaway clients talk about how cool it would be to have a client or set of clients invest in their business. But, the reasons why, I love that as part of a very consistent, repeatable strategy of identifying key influencers essentially in different markets, and then having them come into the cap table. I would assume too, the dynamic of, “Oh, you should call Jason, he’s my financial advisor, he’s great,” to, “Hey, you should come in and meet my firm.” And I feel like clients are probably much more incentivized naturally to refer friends, family, et cetera. And just the power and dynamic of that referral is probably that much better than a referral from another happy customer who’s not an investor. Jason Fertitta: Exactly. When we’re looking at coming into a new city with a new partner, to the extent they have those clients in that community, and when they join us, we have a private equity partner that embraces that strategy and concept. When we’re talking to that Wall Street advisor, and they’re interested in our business model and our plan, I think that particular part of our business model is very differentiated and intriguing to them. Louis Diamond: Amazing. You mentioned in your last answer that you have, it sounds like you have some investors in Mexico, and that you’re serving families in Mexico and Latin America as well. Can you talk about adding that capability or the openness to go international? That’s clearly a big decision. It’s a different risk profile, different client needs. What was the thought process behind taking Americana, I guess, still in the Americas, but outside of America? Jason Fertitta: Yeah. Well, I think a lot of it is growing up in Texas, there’s a lot of wonderful families from Mexico whose kids and grandkids have moved here, and our children are going to school with their children, and they’re part of our community, and I think they’re a great part of our community. And so, I just started to notice how Wall Street treated this community as just one, right? And what we were able to do is cherry-pick a few families that we knew very well that are incredibly good reputations in the cities that they’re from, and their origins are from. And there’s a high desire on behalf of not only those families, but their friends to invest into the United States into our economy. And given that a lot of their children and grandchildren live in the US, these are families that have citizens and their family inside of the US and back home in Mexico. Most of these families, they’ve been going to our colleges. A lot of these families sit on the boards of Fortune 500 companies inside of the United States. These are families that are very easy to do due diligence on, and frankly, we have learned a lot from them. They’re very sophisticated families, and so, they’ve been amazing partners, and we use Bank of New York Pershing to custody a lot of these assets, and I think they’re increasingly becoming more interested in alternatives as part of their portfolios, because I think going back 15, 20 years ago, these families were mostly stocks, bonds, and cash. But, as they continue to build out their own family offices, they’re becoming more sophisticated and interested in alternatives, so it’s really been an exciting part of our firm. Louis Diamond: Did this expansion, does it scratch the itch to go into different Latin American countries in Europe and Asia, or is that not really part of the roadmap? Jason Fertitta: Well, it’s open to the concept. Like I said, the genesis of this for us was the fact that our children go to school with their children, and we got to know several families just through our social circles here in Texas. But, I don’t think that same phenomenon would exist in Europe, other Latin American countries per se, but we’re certainly open to it, and there’s a lot going on in Latin America. There’s a lot going on and a lot of potential, so we’re open to anything that increases the footprint in the right way for Americana. Louis Diamond: Great answer. Let’s go back a little bit to talk a little bit more about your M&A strategy. You merged with or acquired Boulevard Family Wealth, which was Matt Celenza’s firm. I think Matt was the first breakaway guest on our show, and an amazing advisor. You bought Goodpasture Gray in Nashville, and more recently you bought NRT Consulting. I think from my read, three different types of firms, different geographies. How do you think about the M&A strategy? Jason Fertitta: I feel like we’re building out a firm and departments in the firm, and each of those acquisitions goes into a different department of our firm. I think Matt Celenza and Boulevard are fantastic, and they’re really good at tax optimization strategies for families, and they’re really innovative there. That is a very hot topic with all of our clients. More and more families are getting smart about the fact that not only does it matter what your returns look like. What really matters is how much of those returns you get to keep. And so, Matt and his team are incredibly sophisticated and cutting edge on tax optimization, and that's proliferating throughout our firm right now, which is I think making us even better at what we can advise and provide to our clients. I would say that’s more in the family office service and tax planning part of our firm. Goodpasture Gray’s fantastic. WL who runs that firm, or did prior to the merger, I’ve known him for 30 years. He’s a longtime family friend. His clients are in Nashville, Santa Fe, and Texas. He and my father actually used to office together. And then, ironically, he hired Dynasty to represent him to find the right partner. That’s an example where full circle Dynasty brought him back and I hadn’t talked to him for decades, but we shared a bunch of fun stories about how I used to go up in college, and hang out with he and my dad in their office. That was a great full circle experience, but WL’s just a fantastic financial advisor that does what we’ve always done. He’s just a natural fit inside of our firm. And then NRT, Chris Ginsbach and his team, they’re unbelievable. They do bookkeeping services for families. They’re not signing tax returns, but the more sophisticated these families get, some of these families have 35, to 45, to 55 different LLCs that require bookkeeping services. He’s an accountant by training, so is everyone that works there. And I think that there’s a lot of cross-pollinating with our client base that wants bookkeeping services for their needs. With all of these different M&A events, it’s trying to meet or have the ability to meet your client at wherever their pain points are. And some of your client’s pain points are in bookkeeping and accounting. Some are in tax optimization, and some are just good old-fashioned financial advice and access. And all three of those acquisitions that you described are meeting that client in a different pain point, but they’re all pain points, and they’re all important. Louis Diamond: When you’re thinking about M&A, is it like you have, these are the three areas that we want to add to the firm? Next one, making it up, we want to add tax preparation. Are you then going out to find a firm that fits the bill, or is it more so just you’re selective with who you take on, and you look for a new capability, or just like an extreme alignment with how you’re already serving clients, and then, that’s what makes a compelling deal for you? Jason Fertitta: Yeah. Most of the time, we’re getting feedback from our clients on where they need help, and that is usually the spark that starts the fire on, okay, what if we added this? It’s really I would say more based on client feedback. We don’t have estate planning attorneys inside of Americana per se. We don’t have accountants that are signing people’s tax returns inside of Americana. We get a lot of interesting opportunities from accounting firms and estate planning firms. And so, I like how we have this great referral network in place with those industries. And so, I think we’d have to think long and hard about getting into those businesses per se. Louis Diamond: Makes sense. I feel like there’s probably a version of this story, your story, where you break away, you plot along, you’re happy to not have a boss anymore, clients are happy, maybe you get to like four or five billion in assets, and you call it a win, and just throw in coast mode, but clearly you didn’t do that. You went the opposite direction. What do you think drove the ambition to keep building towards something larger? What’s really sparking you and motivating you today maybe differently, or in a more defined way than it was when you first broke? Jason Fertitta: Yeah, I would say it’s not just me, it’s all the founders, and I think all the employees. I share this and not to sound corny about it. I think everyone here wants to try and build something that his or her children would say, “My parent was one of the founders and employees of Americana Partners.” It’s like, I think when you work at a bank, you definitely care about your brand that you’re building, but this is a whole next level of care about your brand. We really care about this brand, and we want it to outlast all of us. Louis Diamond: Love that. For a successful wirehouse advisor or team that’s sitting on a really nice practice maybe similar in size or in the same realm that you had back where you were in that world, and they’re thinking about maximizing their value, what advice would you offer? Do you think your story is an outlier, or do you think it’s doable by others if they follow certain advice or principles? Jason Fertitta: I would have a two-word answer. Call us. I’m kidding. I have a much longer answer. One of the things I really respected about a certain advisor, and if he’s listening to this, he’ll know exactly who he is, but I feel awkward saying his name. When I was contemplating going independent, I talked to an entrepreneur I really admire, and I called him, and I said, “Hey, we’re thinking about doing this.” And he said, “Look, I’m going to try and convince you to join our firm, and if you don’t end up doing that, it’s fine. There’ll be no hard feelings, because we ended up launching our own firm and I would never fault you for the decision if you wanted to do that with your team.” And we thought long and hard, we almost joined his firm. It was in a very different geography so we ended up launching our own firm. I would say that if you want to do it yourself, we would respond the same way. We would give you a high five, and wish you well, and say you’ve made a great decision, and we’d be pulling for you. If you want to spend more time with your clients, and less time in building the firm, we have the firm built, and it’s fantastic, and it wasn’t without blood, sweat and tears for seven years, and we can create a transaction that is economically the same or better as launching your own firm, and you have a voice, and you have a seat at the table, because we’re still small enough to where you can help shape the direction of this firm, and we want your input. The difference is that instead of spending a third of your time interacting with financial advisors the way I do, you could spend 90% of your time interacting with your clients, instead of a third, and be part of a firm that I think has great national prospects. But, I would never fault someone for doing it themselves, because that’s what we did, and that would be hypocritical. But, I really do think that this is a better path, even if you did it yourself, or if you did it with someone like us. I think you’re choosing two better options than what you currently have. Louis Diamond: I think it’s a great perspective, and I think it’s balanced and fair too. There’s plenty of people that I speak to where their passion is building. They want to be the next Americana, right? That’s what’s going to spark them and get them out of bed. They want to do M&A, they want to be the CEO, they want to really make their mark on the industry, and that’s fine. But, I do think there’s probably more advisors out there that would love to be part of something, and they’d love equity, and they’re passionate about different things than you were passionate about when you launched the firm. And the theory of a rising tide lifts all boats, it’s like, you can do this yourself or let’s just build something bigger and better together. And just getting comfortable with the theory of you’ll own a smaller piece of the pie, but the pie is much more valuable than owning 100% or 80% of something that’s less valuable, and is going to take you in a different direction personally. I always say we’re not in the business of making judgments for people. It’s up to them to define their goals, and then, we’ll help them execute on it. But, I really like that perspective. I agree, it’s not for everyone. What you did is extremely hard, it’s a risk, it’s a big swing. But, if you have the stomach for it, and you want to take the swing, to me there’s no better time to pursue that path than today. Jason Fertitta: I agree. And I could totally see a world over the next five years where some of these advisors that join us are bigger shareholders in this firm than me, and that would be great. Louis Diamond: Interesting. Jason Fertitta: I’m with you, not only do I agree with what you’re saying, to me, I’ve never thought about how much of this company do I own? I’ve thought about what is the percentage of the company that I own, and what is it worth? I could care less if it was 25%, 12.5%, 5%. What I care is, what is that slice worth? Louis Diamond: That’s a fun way to look at it. Jason, this has been really fun. This new series Build, Grow, and Transact, this is proof of concept, but we’re going to have to do a ton of these, because the richness of detail, and whenever we have breakaway guests, we’re talking to them in the beginning when they’re still finding their feet, everything’s new and fresh. They haven’t thought about or executed on M&A and taking on capital partners. But, I feel like this is the missing ingredient where it’s a playbook for how others can be better themselves, something to shoot towards. And I really appreciate your candor and transparency, and I’m very serious, we’ll have to do this again when you’re at 25 billion, and you have even more lessons, and I’m sure battle scars to share. Jason Fertitta: No doubt. I’m for sure open to doing that. And maybe in the meantime, I see the pictures behind your head there. I’d love to come visit you in Park City and hang out and ski, or play golf, or- Louis Diamond: You got it. Jason Fertitta: All right. Thanks for your time and thank you for having me. Louis Diamond: Thanks, Jason. Mindy Diamond: As a financial advisor, you hold yourself to the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and credibility. You are successful, because you take your professional responsibility seriously, and are dedicated to your clients, but are you living your best business life? Are your goals aligned with your firms, or could a better option exist? Should I Stay Or Should I Go is a book written with you in mind. It’s a self-guided journey that walks you through the key steps that we take with our advisor clients. This strategic thought process and roadmap to professional self-discovery is designed to help you ask the right questions, and think critically and objectively, whether you’re considering change or not. Learn how to get your copy at diamond-consultants.com/thebook. Build, Grow & Transact: Americana's $12B Path from Breakaway to Enterprise A conversation with Louis Diamond and Jason Fertitta, CEO & Partner at Americana Partners.      Louis Diamond: Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast series for financial advisors. Today’s episode is Build, Grow & Transact: Americana's $12B Path from Breakaway to Enterprise. It's a conversation with Jason Fertitta, CEO and partner of Americana Partners. I’m Louis Diamond, and this is the Diamond Podcast for financial advisors. Mindy Diamond: At Diamond Consultants, we help elite advisors identify the right environment for their businesses to thrive, whether that’s at a wirehouse, boutique, or independent firm. With nearly three decades of experience, we’ve guided thousands of advisors, and represented more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in assets transitioned. And each year, one in four advisors managing a billion dollars or more who change firms are our clients. Our process is education driven, and based on building relationships, starting as your strategic partner well before you’re even thinking of a move. To schedule a confidential conversation, call us at 908-879-1002. Wondering why advisors change firms and where they’re headed? Are transition deals going up or down? Those very questions and more inspired us to create our annual advisor transition report. It’s the award-winning data-driven resource designed for advisors that connects the dots between the motivations around movement, and the firm’s appetite for top talent. Arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make smart decisions. Download your copy at diamond-consultants.com/transitionreport. Louis Diamond: Independence is often viewed as the finish line. Break away, gain control, own the business, and enjoy the economics that come with it. But, for some advisors, going independent is just the beginning. That’s the idea behind this new series called Build, Grow, and Transact, featuring advisors who saw independence not as a destination, but as the first chapter of a business building story. And there will be some familiar names along the way, including our first guest who was on our show back in 2020, talking about what was at the time, one of the industry’s breakaway moves. That’s Jason Fertitta, CEO and foun

Episode 209

Dr. Chris Cormier joins us to reveal what many people miss about healing, how the body was designed to restore itself, and why simple daily habits could be the turning point to finally feeling better, from his book Feel Better Fast. (J2800_FFT)

Matt Bornstein speaks with Mirendil cofounders Behnam Neyshabur and Harsh Mehta about their vision for building self-accelerating AI. After leading research efforts at Google and Anthropic, the founders started Mirendil around a simple question: what happens when AI systems can meaningfully contribute to their own development? Rather than focusing solely on AI as a tool for productivity, they argue that the most important application may be accelerating scientific and technological progress itself. The conversation explores AI research, scaling laws, automated engineering, scientific discovery, and the challenges of building systems that can improve over time. They discuss the future of AI-assisted research, why they believe scientific progress remains bottlenecked by intelligence, and how more capable AI systems could help unlock advances across medicine, engineering, and the natural sciences.   Resources: Follow Behnam Neyshabur on X: https://x.com/bneyshabur?lang=en Follow Harsh Mehta on X: https://x.com/HarshMeh1a Follow Matt Bornstein on X: https://x.com/BornsteinMatt Check out everything a16z is doing with artificial intelligence here, including articles, projects, and more podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Betsy Vereckey is the author of the newly published memoir "Moving to My Dog's Hometown," which is a Kirkus-recommended pick and a finalist for Publisher's Weekly BookLife Prize. She started her writing career as a journalist for the Associated Press in Athens, Greece, and later worked for the AP in Louisville, Kentucky and in New York City. Her personal essays have appeared in "The New York Times'" Modern Love column, "The Boston Globe," "Food & Wine" magazine, and "New York Magazine." She volunteers at the Vermont Institute for Natural Science with injured birds, gives astrology readings and lives in a really old Vermont farmhouse with her husband and three crazy terriers. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsyvereckey/Substack: https://substack.com/@elizabetsyWebpage: https://betsyvereckey.comConnect and tag me at:https://www.instagram.com/realangelabradford/You can subscribe to my YouTube Channel herehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDU9L55higX03TQgq1IT_qQFeel free to leave a review on all major platforms to help get the word out and change more lives!

When a clothing manufacturer selects a high-quality fabric, he is usually concerned enough to make sure that good workmanship goes into the final product. In a similar way, the fabric of the creation tells us a lot about its Creator. Mathematics, more than anything else, reflects the fabric of the creation.Many scientists today are puzzled by the fact that the material world they study can be accurately described in mathematical equations. The falling of a stone or a feather, even the colors of a rainbow, all correspond to mathematical formulae. Even chaos has a mathematical description. One Nobel physicist was moved to write a paper entitled, “The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences.”Because mathematics so precisely describes reality, we can send a space probe billions of miles, on perfect target. Mathematics allow us to receive the pictures it returns to Earth using a transmitter no more powerful than a five-watt light bulb. As one science writer put it, scientists use mathematics as a wonderful gift but they have no idea why it works so well.Of course, creation scientists don't wonder why math works. They know that the creation is the work of an orderly and wise Creator Who was pleased with His final product. The precision of mathematics reflects the excellent quality of His fine workmanship.Genesis 1:31"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”Prayer: Dear Father, I praise You because You have truly, done all things well. Help me to be a better witness to Your excellent workmanship to those around me. In Jesus' Name. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

In this episode, hosts Chris and Mecca speak with Dr. Danny Longman and Dr. Colin Shaw about the mismatch between humans and modern built environments, exploring both the negative biological impacts of living in industrialized cities and the positive effects of spending time in nature. Dr Danny Longman graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA (Hons) in Natural Sciences (2005–08), followed by an MPhil (2008–09) and PhD (2011–14) in Human Evolution. He remained at Cambridge as a Postdoctoral Researcher (2015–19) before joining Loughborough University as a Lecturer. He has since been promoted to Senior Lecturer. Outside of work, Danny is a keen sportsman with a passion for ultra-endurance sport, nature, and travel. Dr. Colin Shaw graduated from the University of Western Ontario (Canada) with a BA (Hons) in Anthropology and Kinesiology (2000) and an MSc in Exercise Physiology (2000-02), then moved to the University of Cambridge, where he obtained an MPhil (2003-04) and a PhD (2004–08) in Biological Anthropology. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2008-2009), Penn State (2010-2011), and the University of Cambridge (2011-2015). He is now a Senior Lecturer at the University of Zurich. ------------------------------ Find the paper discussed in this episode: Longman, D.P. and Shaw, C.N. (2026), Homo sapiens, industrialisation and the environmental mismatch hypothesis. Biol Rev, 101: 580-601. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.70094 ------------------------------ Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and the Human Biology Association: Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org Chris Lynn, Co-Host, Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu Mecca E. Howe, Co-Host, E-mail: howemecca@gmail.com, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mecca-howe/

Censuses are not just for us humans because today marks the beginning of the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count with people being asked to look around this week to try find and document hedgehogs. Elaine O'Riordan is a researcher at the School of Natural Sciences in the University of Galway and the Lead Research on the Irish Hedgehog Survery.

Most fisheries are managed with a complicated web of science, industry, and politics... but what would it take to manage them in a utopian world? In this episode, fisheries scientist John Carlucci joins for a discussion about how industry collaboration, innovative research, and a human touch can define our approach to sustainable fishing.From growing up fishing in Connecticut to working at the Pelagic Fisheries Lab in Maine, John reveals the behind-the-scenes of tagging giant bluefin tuna, deciphering their age through otoliths, and the pivotal role industry partners play in collecting critical data. He illustrates how industry involvement isn't just incidental; it's the backbone of impactful science that informs management and rebuilds fish populations.

We’re being asked to take part in the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count. Jerry spoke to Elaine O’Riordan from the School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute at University of Galway.

In this episode, we will be joined by Dion, who will discuss his passion for Dr. J.C. Burnett's work on organ remedies in homeopathy. Dion aims to reintroduce Burnett's ideas to a new generation of homeopaths, and he will share his insights on how these remedies can be applied to modern-day practice. With his extensive knowledge and expertise, Dion will delve into the fascinating world of organ remedies and shed light on how they can be utilized to achieve optimal results for patients. Dion Tabrett is a well-respected homeopath who has been practicing for over 20 years. He began his journey in homeopathy by studying at the London College of Homoeopathy, where he graduated in 1992 with the Licentiate of the College of Homoeopathy (LCH) and continued with postgraduate studies. Dion has since received several accolades, including the award of Member of the College of Homoeopathy (MCH) in 1994. In addition to his homeopathic education, Dion also pursued a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences in 2003 and an MSc in Molecular Biology in 2007 from the Open University, with a focus on human anatomy, physiology, and pathology.  Dion has worked in various clinics across the UK, including Berkshire, Cornwall, Devon, London, and Bristol. He has also taught at numerous colleges and universities, including the London College of Homeopathy, Bristol College of Homeopathy, and the Centre of Homeopathic Education in London, where he currently works as the Clinical Skills and Casework module leader for the BSc course. Dion is known for his easy-going and approachable style of teaching, and his ability to inspire and educate students at all levels. Dion is also a self-confessed "Compton Burnett geek," and is the author of the book "Burnett Rediscovered," which explores the life and work of Dr. J.C. Burnett, a prominent British homeopath of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Dion's book aims to rekindle interest in Burnett's work and reintroduce his ideas to a new generation of homeopaths. Check out these episode highlights: 01:55 - How he first discovered homeopathy 05:40 - What is an organ remedy 11:33 - The process that takes place in writing his book called Burnett Rediscovered 14:39 - The importance of using organ remedies 21:14 - Dion's preference in prescribing organ remedies 25:17 - The myth surrounding nosodes 29:55 - Who was Francisco Xavier Eizayaga, and what was his homeopathic approach 37:52 - Dion's final message  Find out more about Dion Website: https://www.diontabrett.com/ Purchase Dion's book through Eugenie's Amazon Affiliate link to help support the Homeopathy Hangout podcast: https://amzn.to/3RAigj6 If you would like to support the Homeopathy Hangout Podcast, please consider making a donation by visiting www.EugenieKruger.com and click the DONATE button at the top of the site. Every donation about $10 will receive a shout-out on a future episode.   Join my Homeopathy Hangout Podcast Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelloHomies Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eugeniekrugerhomeopathy/   Here is the link to my free 30-minute Homeopathy@Home online course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqBUpxO4pZQ&t=438s   Upon completion of the course - and if you live in Australia - you can join my Facebook group for free acute advice (you'll need to answer a couple of questions about the course upon request to join): www.facebook.com/groups/eughom

When Lewis and Clark crossed the United States in the early 1800s, they recorded their wildlife observations along the way. Now, more than 200 years later, an expedition is following the same route and partnering with scientists across the U.S. to catalog animals and track the changes. Expedition leader Roland Kays joins Host Flora Lichtman to share some highlights. Plus, using cell phone data and GPS collars, ecologists were able to see how animals moved (or not) when people were around. Ecologist Ruth Oliver tells us about her findings. Guests: Dr. Roland Kays is research professor at NC State University and director of the Biodiversity & Earth Observation Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Dr. Ruth Oliver is an ecologist and assistant professor at UC Santa Barbara. Other episodes you may enjoy: Are Raccoons On The Road To Domestication? Teamwork Between Species Is The Key To Life Itself Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that's keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jenn and I have the distinct pleasure of covering the exhibit Botany of Nations, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, running from March 28th, 2026 through February 14th of 2027! The exhibit offers a culturally layered view of specific North American plants once collected during the famous expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.  More importantly, it beautifully centers the voices and perspectives of the Native Nations they came in contact with and explores how plants are portals- portals to lineage, stories, and traditional ecological knowledge. This is a major exhibit, one that is reframing the expedition of Lewis and Clark and seeing it through Indigenous perspectives, with a focus on the inter-relationships between plants and people. In the second half of this episode, we are joined by Dr. Enrique Salmon, where we talk about his perspective on why he agreed to co-curate this exhibit, what ‘plants as portals' means to him, and how he came to coin the term ‘Kincentricity.'Thanks so much for joining us, and enjoy Botany of Nations!Lots of Love. Episode Timestamps:Introduction: 00:15Interview: 12:10Show Notes:https://ansp.org/

Captain Cody Rubner provides an overview of two key topics in southeast fisheries.

Captain Bailey Short and Mario Campo host an open dialogue about red drum management in Louisiana.

Episode #147 - Jasmine BridgesSouth Bay native Jasmine Bridges has been known to dive headfirst into creative outlets. Early on, she did theater in primary school, later picked up a camera, and even performed competitively in Bachata and Latin Dance during college. Seeking a change of scenery and a "nomadic lifestyle," she left the Bay Area after her time at West Valley College to continue studying communications at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.After graduating, Jasmine worked in higher education, coordinating operations at the university's College of Natural Sciences. There, she fell in love with student mentorship, managing interns, and supporting faculty by anticipating the small, human details that keep a large operation running smoothly.Despite building a deeply rooted community in the desert, a persistent pull toward home eventually brought her back to San Jose. Returning required an intentional effort to reconnect, leading her out to local creative hubs like the Goodtime Bar run club, local galleries, and regional photography meetups. Now as Production Manager for Content, Bridges brings her background in photography, communications, operations management, and community-building to help shape the magazine.In this conversation, Bridges traces her journey from photography to event management and explains how her return to the South Bay inspired a renewed dedication to storytelling and uplifting local artists.Website: jazziebphotography.mypixieset.comInstagram: @jazziebphotographyLearn More: ⁠content-magazine.com⁠

On the Season 12 finale of National Treasure Hunt, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black are joined by Mike McKee, executive director of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, and Stephen Pierce, founder of America's Rising Son, to assess National Treasure's portrayal of Freemasonry. Do these brothers believe Ben Gates is a member of their fraternal organization? Is Agent Sadusky a good representation of the Freemasons? And what treasures can you find at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia? • Plan your visit to the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia at https://pamasonictemple.org/. • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, TX, happening Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 PM. Get your tickets here: https://my.hmns.org/67154/67155 • Tickets for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, happening Saturday, May 23, at 5:30 PM, are currently SOLD OUT. Keep an eye on this page in case new tickets become available: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/congressionalcemetery/national-treasure-hunt-s-heist-night • Order our new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Pooles-Secrets-Aubrey-Paris/dp/1959748394/, and leave a rating and review on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246259636-riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets). • Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/National-Treasure-Hunt-Short-Crazy/dp/1959748009. • National Treasure Hunt is now available as a video podcast! To watch video versions of this and future episodes, subscribe at www.youtube.com/@NTHuntPodcast. • Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. • To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast, and visit our Etsy store to find designs that celebrate your love of National Treasure: www.etsy.com/shop/NationalTreasurHunt/.

Join Captain Ray Jarvis of Massachusetts and Captain Ben Whalley of Maine as they chat fishing, tactics and changing tides for one of the Atlantic Ocean's most iconic fisheries.

Pau Delgadillo preaches for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, offering a reflection on sharing the love we've received: "Live in such a way that no one who meets you doubts they are loved. In a world that is beautiful and scary, let us ask ourselves a question: how am I passing that love on? Because the love we've received was never meant to stop with us."Paulina (Pau) Delgadillo is a storyteller with a big heart whose work helps others feel seen, understood, and inspired. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and raised on the Southwest Side of Chicago, she is passionate about immigration justice, environmental advocacy, and community organizing. She holds degrees in Natural Science and Theology from Dominican University and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union. Pau is the founder of Pau's Lighthouse, offering a variety of ministries including accompaniment and facilitation.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/05102026 to learn more about Pau, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review both popular and niche conspiracy theories that Riley Poole may have written about in his book "The Templar Treasure and Other Myths That Are True." In the process, they consider why topics ranging from cryptids to covert government activities are universally appealing and how these legends have had a community-building effect throughout history. • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Westport Museum for History and Culture in Westport, CT, happening Saturday, May 16, at 4:00 PM. Get your tickets here: https://westporthistory.org/event/32869/ • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, TX, happening Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 PM. Get your tickets here: https://my.hmns.org/67154/67155 • Tickets for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, happening Saturday, May 23, at 5:30 PM, are currently SOLD OUT. Keep an eye on this page in case new tickets become available: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/congressionalcemetery/national-treasure-hunt-s-heist-night • Order our new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Pooles-Secrets-Aubrey-Paris/dp/1959748394/, and leave a rating and review on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246259636-riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets). • Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/National-Treasure-Hunt-Short-Crazy/dp/1959748009. • National Treasure Hunt is now available as a video podcast! To watch video versions of this and future episodes, subscribe at www.youtube.com/@NTHuntPodcast. • Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. • To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast, and visit our Etsy store to find designs that celebrate your love of National Treasure: www.etsy.com/shop/NationalTreasurHunt/.

Everything isn't as it seems in the world of fisheries policy. What's happening right now in the Gulf is no exception.

In this episode of Beyond Rockets, Clark sits down with Brian Cook, President and CEO of Cook's Pest Control and Board Chairman of Cook Museum of Natural Science.Brian shares the story behind a fourth-generation family business that started in 1928 and how it evolved into something far beyond pest control. What began as a small internal training tool eventually grew into one of North Alabama's most impactful educational destinations.The conversation dives into:The legacy of Cook's Pest Control and what it means to carry it forwardHow the museum grew from a 5,000 sq ft space into a major regional attractionThe vision behind the 2019 museum launch and its rapid growth since openingWhy STEM education became a central focus and how the museum earned statewide recognitionDetails on the upcoming expansion that could nearly double the museum's sizeThe balance of running a growing company while leading a mission-driven nonprofitWith over 80,000 visitors annually and growing demand for deeper educational experiences, the museum is entering its next phase, one focused on scaling impact for future generations.Cook Museum of Natural Science: https://www.cookmuseum.orgCook's Pest Control: https://www.cookspest.comBeyond Rockets: https://www.beyondrockets.com

We have somehow racked up 200 episodes of this dang thing. We can't believe it either. We decided to use this celebratory episode to goof off with the guides and advocates who make this episode possible. Enjoy a launch and get ready to hop back on the fisheries policy train for episode 201.

In this "National Treasure in Real Life" episode, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review The Curse of Oak Island (Seasons 3 and 4) on the History Channel. Are the Lagina brothers and their team inching toward an understanding of what could be concealed on the Nova Scotia island? Will that understanding bring them closer to or push them further from National Treasure's Knights Templar lore? • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Westport Museum for History and Culture in Westport, CT, happening Saturday, May 16, at 4:00 PM. Get your tickets here: https://westporthistory.org/event/32869/ • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, TX, happening Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 PM. Get your tickets here: https://my.hmns.org/67154/67155 • Tickets for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, happening Saturday, May 23, at 5:30 PM, are currently SOLD OUT. Keep an eye on this page in case new tickets become available: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/congressionalcemetery/national-treasure-hunt-s-heist-night • Order our new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Pooles-Secrets-Aubrey-Paris/dp/1959748394/, and leave a rating and review on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246259636-riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets). • Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/National-Treasure-Hunt-Short-Crazy/dp/1959748009. • National Treasure Hunt is now available as a video podcast! To watch video versions of this and future episodes, subscribe at www.youtube.com/@NTHuntPodcast. • Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. • To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast, and visit our Etsy store to find designs that celebrate your love of National Treasure: www.etsy.com/shop/NationalTreasurHunt/.

EP199

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is filled with car chases, kidnappings, and fist fights, so how did the majority of the characters make it through their treasure hunt unscathed? Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black diagnose hero and villain injuries in the National Treasure sequel, ultimately concluding whether or not the characters could realistically participate in the rest of the movie. Their prediction about the fate of one character in particular could totally change the way we think about National Treasure 3! • It's your last chance to register for the first-ever National Treasure Hunt Tour in Philadelphia, PA, which will run on Saturday, May 9. Sign up here before registrations close on April 18: https://forms.gle/2jetZW1eXhtnQU1N6 • Tickets will soon be available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Westport Museum for History and Culture in Westport, CT, happening Saturday, May 16, at 4:00 PM. Keep an eye on this page for tickets: https://westporthistory.org/event/32869/ • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, TX, happening Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 PM. Get your tickets here: https://my.hmns.org/67154/67155 • Tickets for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, happening Saturday, May 23, at 5:30 PM, are currently SOLD OUT. Keep an eye on this page in case new tickets become available: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/congressionalcemetery/national-treasure-hunt-s-heist-night • Order our new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Pooles-Secrets-Aubrey-Paris/dp/1959748394/, and leave a rating and review on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246259636-riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets). • Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/National-Treasure-Hunt-Short-Crazy/dp/1959748009. • National Treasure Hunt is now available as a video podcast! To watch video versions of this and future episodes, subscribe at www.youtube.com/@NTHuntPodcast. • Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. • To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast, and visit our Etsy store to find designs that celebrate your love of National Treasure: www.etsy.com/shop/NationalTreasurHunt/.

Jake Austin Walker ("Liam Sadusky") joins co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black to reflect on his experience portraying Agent Sadusky's grandson in National Treasure: Edge of History. Learn about the role of music in the Disney+ show, how Liam and Myles nearly raided Billie's compound, and how a prop disaster threatened filming of the Graceland heist. Plus, how would Jess's relationships with Liam and Ethan have evolved if the show had gotten picked up for a second season? • Registrations are open for the first-ever National Treasure Hunt Tour in Philadelphia, PA, which will run on Saturday, May 9. Sign up here before all spots are filled: https://forms.gle/2jetZW1eXhtnQU1N6 • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, VA, happening Saturday, April 11, at 6:00 PM. Get your tickets here: https://www.jyfmuseums.org/events/programs-activities/heist-night • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, TX, happening Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 PM. Get your tickets here: https://my.hmns.org/67154/67155 • Order our new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Pooles-Secrets-Aubrey-Paris/dp/1959748394/, and leave a rating and review on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246259636-riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets). • Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/National-Treasure-Hunt-Short-Crazy/dp/1959748009. • National Treasure Hunt is now available as a video podcast! To watch video versions of this and future episodes, subscribe at www.youtube.com/@NTHuntPodcast. • Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. • To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast, and visit our Etsy store to find designs that celebrate your love of National Treasure: www.etsy.com/shop/NationalTreasurHunt/.

Before anyone gave the science of creation any thought, creation was a theological doctrine. In this 3-part series, Paul and Todd chat with theologians about the doctrine of creation and its importance to Christian theology. In part 2, the guys talk to Hans Madueme of Covenant College on what theology and the doctrine of creation are. Why is the doctrine of creation important to Christians? Find out in this episode of Let's Talk Creation!Materials Mentioned in this episodeDefending Sin: A Response to the Challenges of Evolution and the Natural Sciences by Hans Madueme https://a.co/d/0hNnZjqBAgainst Heresies by Irenaeushttps://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103.htm

In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, Lauren sits down with Dr. Amy Herring, Professor of Statistical Science and Dean of Natural Sciences at Duke University, to explore how biostatistics shapes real-world public health research. From her early interest in applying math to meaningful problems to her current work across a wide range of health topics, Dr. Herring shares what it really looks like to build a career at the intersection of data and impact. The conversation highlights how statisticians collaborate with scientists and clinicians to translate complex questions into usable evidence. Dr. Herring walks through examples from her work, including global health research on sepsis in Tanzania, where differences in patient populations challenged assumptions built from studies in the United States and Europe. These experiences reveal how context, culture, and data quality all influence the conclusions we draw. This episode also touches on what makes collaboration effective, why understanding how data are collected is just as important as analyzing them, and how the field of biostatistics is evolving as data become larger and more complex. For students and early-career professionals, Dr. Herring offers practical advice on staying curious, getting involved in real-world data collection, and finding meaning in work that is not always linear. Whether you are interested in data, global health, or interdisciplinary research, this episode offers a grounded look at how biostatistics helps answer some of public health's most challenging questions. A transcript of this episode will be available here soon. Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at CPH-GradAmbassador@uiowa.edu You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #biostatistics #statisticalscience #naturalscience #dukeuniversity #datacollection #globalhealth #research #iowacity

National Treasure: Edge of History ended after a ten-episode run, so what happened to Jess Valenzuela, Tasha Rivers, and their crew after they found the Pan-American treasure? Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black break down the characters' social media posts featured in the show's finale credits. Who achieved their career goals, who is stuck in the past, and which couples are still together? • It's your last chance to register for the spring 2026 National Treasure Hunt Tour in Washington, D.C., which will run on Saturday, April 25. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/X8GQzdvjpoqgeA9H7 • Registrations are now open for the first-ever National Treasure Hunt Tour in Philadelphia, PA, which will run on Saturday, May 9. Sign up here before all spots are filled: https://forms.gle/2jetZW1eXhtnQU1N6 • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg, VA, happening Saturday, April 11, at 6:00 PM. Get your tickets here: https://www.jyfmuseums.org/events/programs-activities/heist-night • Tickets are available for National Treasure Hunt's HEIST NIGHT event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, TX, happening Thursday, May 21, at 6:30 PM. Get your tickets here: https://my.hmns.org/67154/67155 • Order our new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Riley-Pooles-Secrets-Aubrey-Paris/dp/1959748394/, and leave a rating and review on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246259636-riley-poole-s-book-of-secrets). • Order our first book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/National-Treasure-Hunt-Short-Crazy/dp/1959748009. • National Treasure Hunt is now available as a video podcast! To watch video versions of this and future episodes, subscribe at www.youtube.com/@NTHuntPodcast. • Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, walking tour, books, and events can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. • To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon at www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast, and visit our Etsy store to find designs that celebrate your love of National Treasure: www.etsy.com/shop/NationalTreasurHunt/.

Dr. Lorraine Shikapwashya's journey is a powerful testament to resilience, courage, and unflappable purpose. In her early 20s, she made the bold decision to move from Zambia to the United States, leaving behind a professional role as a physician's assistant to begin again in a new country. Like many who start over, she was met with unexpected challenges—her credentials and experience were not immediately recognized in the way she had hoped. While this was both surprising and disheartening, it never defined her path. As she began building her life in the U.S., she also began building something even more meaningful—a family, a community, and a deep sense of belonging. While navigating a new culture and environment, she cultivated strong friendships and a faith-centered support system that became her “chosen family.” Though she deeply missed her loved ones in Africa, she created a network rooted in understanding, encouragement, and love. Her time at home raising her children was filled with purpose and joy, yet she remained driven by a desire to grow, learn, and re-enter the professional world. With remarkable determination, she returned to college as an adult learner, earning her Bachelor's degree from Mercy University and her Master's in Global Health from Northwestern University. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Bridgeport while balancing family life, community service, and working on impactful projects. She often reflects on waking at 3:00 a.m. each day to study—an experience she now holds with deep gratitude, as it shaped her strength, discipline, and vision. Today, as a faculty member in the School of Health and Natural Sciences at Mercy University, Dr. Shikapwashya brings her journey full circle. As a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), she is deeply committed to creating inclusive, engaging learning environments that reflect her global perspective and lived experiences. She is passionate about mentoring students, building meaningful community partnerships, and advancing global health initiatives across Cameroon, Zambia, and West Africa. Through her story, her work, and her unwavering dedication, Dr. Lorraine Shikapwashya continues to inspire and empower the next generation of global health leaders—reminding us all that with resilience, purpose, and heart, it is always possible to rise, rebuild, and thrive.

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by Dr. Nick Mason, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Curator of Birds at the Museum of Natural Science at LSU, for an in-depth and engaging conversation all about the fascinating Horned Lark.Widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts on Horned Larks, Nick brings incredible insight into this unique grassland bird—from its behavior and evolution to what makes it so special among North American birds. With strong ties to hosts John Bates and Shannon Hackett through LSU, this episode is filled with great stories, shared history, and plenty of laughs along the way.Perfect timing, too—the Horned Lark has just been named the ABA Bird of the Year, making this a must-listen for birders and nature lovers alike.If you're into birding, ornithology, migration, and bird conservation, this episode dives deep into one of the most overlooked yet remarkable birds in North America.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky

I've recently gained a lot of new followers, so for this week's episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I wanted to share with you my vast experience that I've had working as a wildlife biologist for nearly twenty years, so that you can fully understand what this field is like.My career has taken me all over the world, and I've been on all different kinds of adventures: from hiking the deserts of Utah to the top of Mount Kenya, and from flour beetles to forest elephants. I have worked across four different continents and in almost every type of organization that you can think of: the government, zoos, museums, universities, and alongside nonprofits.In this episode, I break down each one of the positions that I have had in the past, telling you what they're like and what I did, but more importantly, how I felt about the position emotionally, mentally, and what it did for my career.This is a comprehensive, yet fun overview of my journey. It's you and me hanging out, sharing the raw reality of these different places, so you can see the truth behind the resume. I do not shy away from discussing real challenges, like navigating toxic work environments and the “sink or swim” nature of graduate research. Chances are, you'll find it refreshing how I don't hold back, but also share how I pulled through.I started my wildlife career officially in 2003 when I graduated with my Bachelor's degree. My first position was an internship with the Bureau of Land Management in St. George, Utah, where I searched for water catchments to help wildlife combat drought and started some preliminary bat research in the Grand Canyon. This got me started in my wildlife career, but this was a challenging internship, and I almost quit!I'm so glad I didn't because that experience led me to a dream internship at Disney's Animal Kingdom, where I worked in a glass-walled lab doing endocrine research on the captive animals there, including African savanna elephants and the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin monkey. This was a total 180 from my experience in the desert! I loved Disney World and spent my days catching tamarin poop and helping to monitor elephant pregnancies. It was a supportive environment that showed me how much I loved combining science with outreach.From there, my journey took me to Kenya as an intern for the School for Field Studies, which was also enriching but challenging. Again, I almost quit! But here I showed that I could work at a field station internationally long-term, which was a major flex for my upcoming Ph.D. research. It also gave me the invaluable experience of publishing.My Kenya internship led me into a six-and-a-half-year Ph.D. program studying African forest elephants in Gabon. I loved my Ph.D., but each step was a mix of incredible highs like observing wild elephants for months on end in Central Africa and the lows of being lonely in a field station or figuring out how to do something that has never been done before! Here, I fully understood what scientific research was really all about.This episode is a must-listen to one if you are interested in going into wildlife fields, want to get to know me better, or are just curious to know what it's like to be a wildlife biologist!Specifically, we go over:How I landed my first “legit” field internship with the Bureau of Land Management in Utah and why it was so hard on meThe inside scoop on working at a world-class zoo and in Disney World, being a Reproductive Biology intern, including what it's like to catch cotton-top tamarin poop and monitor elephant pregnanciesWhat it's like to live in Kenya for a year, and in a remote field stationNavigating toxic work environments and almost quitting more than onceHow I got my first scientific publicationsA brief overview of my research on forest elephants in Gabon, the “sink or swim” reality of graduate school, and why I considered dropping down to a Master'sHow to study “disgust” in raccoons and why I drove around looking for roadkill carcassesMy seven-year postdoc at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, running global camera trap projects, and the birth of “The Fancy Scientist”How these 17 years of experience led me to leave the traditional research path to start my own business in science communication and career mentoringOther fun experiences, like seeing a tiger in the wild or watching a leatherback turtle lay eggsAnd MORE!Dream of being a wildlife biologist, zoologist, conservation biologist, or ecologist? Ready to turn your love of animals into a thriving career?

What happens when a Lutheran theologian who grew up reading UFO books and whose parents followed a Venusian contactee cult becomes one of the most rigorous thinkers at the intersection of space science and Christian theology? You get Ted Peters — and one of the most genuinely fun conversations I've had on the podcast. Ted coined the term astro theology and has spent decades asking what the discovery of extraterrestrial life would mean for our doctrines of creation, incarnation, and the common good. We get into why astrobiology is almost a religious science, the ethics of protecting microbial life on Europa, whether Jesus's incarnation is sufficient for the whole cosmos or if God might show up on other planets too, the Copernican fallacy hiding inside a lot of anti-anthropocentric arguments, what Christians should do if a UFO lands at the church potluck (hospitality, obviously), and why both ufologists and astrobiologists need to be at the same barbecue. If the government finally releases the files tomorrow, Ted is the person you want to call — and after this conversation, you'll understand why. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Ted Peters is a Lutheran theologian, professor emeritus at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and a senior fellow at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS). He coined the term astro theology to describe theological reflection on the implications of off-earth, non-human intelligence, and has spent decades at the frontier where Christian doctrine meets space science, artificial intelligence, and public ethics. His systematic theology, God — The World's Future, remains one of the most widely used constructive theology texts in graduate education. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including a volume on Astrotheology, and writes the Substack newsletter The Voice of Public Theology, where he engages with science, religion, global politics, and the impact of advancing technology for a broad public audience.   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join us at Theology Beer Camp, October 8-10, in Kansas City!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ONLINE LENT CLASS: Jesus in Galilee w/ John Dominic Crossan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth? And, what difference does it make? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This Lenten class ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠begins where all of Dr. John Dominic Crossan's has work begins: with history. What was actually happening in Galilee in the 20s CE? What did Herod Antipas' transformation of the "Sea of Galilee" into the commercial "Sea of Tiberias" mean for peasant fishing communities? Why did Jesus emerge from John's baptism movement proclaiming God's Rule through parables—and what made that medium so perfectly suited to that message? Only by understanding what Jesus' parables meant then can we wrestle with what they might demand of us now. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The class is donation-based, including 0, so join, get info, and join up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Donald L. Smith is the Distinguished James McGill Professor in the Department of Plant Science at McGill University. He is also CEO of BioFuelNet Canada, Head of Biomass Canada, and Head of the McGill Network for Innovation on Biofuels and Bioproduct. Don's research examines relationships between plants and the microbes that live in association with them, particularly in the roots. He and his collaborators have discovered evidence of signaling between plants and microbes, including microbial signaling that causes plants to grow better. They also uncovered that plants respond much more strongly to signals in the presence of drought or cold stress. Now they are expanding their investigations to examine a wide range of plant-associated microbes to better understand the signals they send and how they may impact plant health and resilience. Outside of the lab, Don loves to unwind and recharge by going on walks and reading great novels. He is also an avid traveler who enjoys blending work with trips to new places whenever possible, turning conferences and collaborations into opportunities to explore the world. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Acadia University and his PhD from the University of Guelph. Afterwards, he worked as an Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellow at Agriculture Canada before joining the faculty at McGill University in 1985. Over the course of his career, Don has received many awards and honors, including, the Clean50 award for contributions to sustainable development and clean capitalism in Canada and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, in this case for significant contributions to intelligent agriculture . He is also a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Agronomy, and he served as a Member of the Canada-US think tank on climate change and agriculture in North Eastern North America. In our interview, Don shares more about his life and science.