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In the first installment of Through Art's Open Door, I chatted with Broadway actress Jennafer Newberry Peery, who plays Glinda in Wicked on Broadway. Jennafer shares what it's really like to perform in one of the most beloved musicals in the world while balancing family life, motherhood, and the demands of eight-show weeks. We explore art as a spiritual practice, the courage it takes to remain tender in a world that rewards efficiency, and why changing our minds may be one of the bravest acts of justice available to us. Jennafer reflects on the works of art that have become thin places in her own life–from film and poetry to sunsets, theater, and holding her daughter in her arms. Whether you're an artist, a parent, a person of faith, or simply someone longing to reconnect with wonder, this conversation offers an invitation to notice the beauty that is already speaking to you. Works of Art Mentioned Arrival (2016) Hamnet "There Is Something" poem by Ted Loder "On the Nature of Daylight" by Max Richter Resources & Links Preorder Art Is How God Loves Us Follow Jennafer Newberry Peery on Instagram: Instagram Sacred Salon: An Evening of Music and Conversation in New York City Other launch events I'd love to hear about the works of art that have become thin places in your own life. In fact, we are doing a call for guest-post submissions over on Substack. You can learn more and submit yours by visiting: https://artistsforjoy.org/artsopendoor
This Day in Legal History: Kennedy Signs the Equal Pay ActOn this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, the first federal statute aimed directly at sex-based wage discrimination. The law took the form of an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which meant that it slid into an existing enforcement framework run by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor — a deliberate choice that bypassed the need to build new institutional machinery and harnessed thirty years of FLSA caselaw and habits of compliance. The legal hook is the Act's “equal pay for equal work” command: employers may not pay employees of one sex less than employees of the opposite sex for jobs requiring “equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions.”Four affirmative defenses are written into the text — a seniority system, a merit system, a system measuring earnings by quantity or quality of production, or “any other factor other than sex” — and that fourth catch-all has done more work in litigation than the other three combined, shaping how courts evaluate market-based, education-based, and prior-salary-based pay differentials decades later. The wage gap at the moment Kennedy signed was about 59 cents on the dollar; six decades on, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics's standard measure, it sits closer to 84 cents. That tells you something about how a clean, structurally well-designed statute can still leave a lot of the work undone, because the gap is and always was about more than identical pairs of jobs at the same employer.The Equal Pay Act is not the whole story of American workplace-equality law; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and a long line of state-law analogues do much of the modern enforcement work. But June 10, 1963 is the day Congress, with the President's signature, said for the first time that paying a woman less than a man for the same work was unlawful, full stop. Everything that has followed in this corner of the law has been built on top of that sentence.The Federal Circuit on Monday affirmed a Delaware district court judgment invalidating four Purdue Pharma patents covering an abuse-deterrent, low-toxicity version of the opioid OxyContin, in a decision the patent bar has been waiting on for months. The case is Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Epic Pharma LLC. The patents covered Purdue's reformulation of OxyContin to make the pills crush-resistant and to reduce a manufacturing impurity, and the asserted innovation grew, the company said, out of its discovery of the source of a particular toxic impurity that had previously eluded chemists at competing labs. Purdue's argument on appeal was, in essence, that the discovery of the impurity's source was itself nonobvious, and that the resulting patents inherited that nonobviousness. The Federal Circuit said no.The panel held that the relevant obviousness inquiry asks whether the claimed reformulation — not the discovery that motivated it — would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention, and that once the prior art is taken into account, the answer is yes. The practical consequence of the ruling is large. It opens the door wider for generic abuse-deterrent OxyContin alternatives and clarifies a doctrinal point pharmaceutical companies have been pressing on for years: a hard-won research insight does not, on its own, automatically save a patent from obviousness if the resulting product was within the prior art's reach. Purdue's options now are a rehearing petition at the Federal Circuit, a cert petition at the Supreme Court (which the company has already pursued in a related case last spring), or quiet acceptance. Expect a cert petition. Expect the cert petition to be denied. Watch the generic-drug filings that follow.Fed. Circ. Panel Backs Invalidation Of OxyContin PatentThe plaintiffs in the Eastern District of Virginia lawsuit over the Trump administration's $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” — a story we covered earlier htis week— went back to Judge Leonie Brinkema on Tuesday and asked for permission to conduct limited discovery into whether the Justice Department's recent representation that it would stop work on the fund is a real commitment or a litigation convenience.The plaintiffs' problem is straightforward: acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has filed papers saying the program is “not going forward,” but President Trump publicly described the fund last week as a “great idea” that many Republicans support, and the executive order that created the fund has not been formally rescinded. From a litigation-strategy standpoint, the plaintiffs do not want to walk away from a live case on the strength of a DOJ filing, accept dismissal as moot, and then find out three months later that the fund has been quietly resurrected under a different name.Judge Brinkema has a hearing scheduled for Friday, June 12, on whether to extend the temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction. The Tuesday filing teed up the broader mootness fight that will dominate Friday's hearing: when does a federal agency's promise to stop doing something actually deprive a court of jurisdiction to enjoin the underlying program, and what discovery, if any, is a plaintiff entitled to before that determination is made. The doctrine here — voluntary cessation, capable of repetition yet evading review, and the heavy burden the Supreme Court has placed on the party claiming mootness — favors the plaintiffs procedurally. Whether Brinkema agrees on Friday is the question to watch.‘Anti-weaponization' fund challengers question its demise – Roll CallSCOTUSblog's John Elwood walked through a useful relist roundup on Tuesday, and the four cases sitting in the relist pile are worth flagging because each of them touches a different load-bearing wall in federal practice. The first is a prolonged-detention challenge to immigration custody under Section 1226(c). The ACLU is asking the Court to clarify that very long mandatory-detention periods trigger procedural due process review under the Mathews v. Eldridge balancing test, picking up on the Second Circuit's willingness to do so. The second is Newberry v. Texas, a case where Texas itself has confessed error — a rare procedural posture in which the State agrees the defendant should win — and the question is what the Court does when the parties on both sides ask for the same remedy. The third is Kian v. Florida, a Sixth Amendment challenge to the use of six-person juries in serious felony cases, on the theory that the historical understanding of “jury” in the founding era assumed twelve and that the Court's mid-twentieth-century cases approving six-person juries were wrong on the originalist analysis. The fourth is Maxwell v. Thomas, a federal habeas case asking whether the First Step Act‘s halfway-house and home-confinement provisions are properly enforceable through 28 U.S.C. § 2241 habeas petitions, an issue with a real circuit split. None of these have been granted yet — they are relists, which means at least one Justice is interested but the Court has not yet decided whether to hear them — but the mix is the part to watch: it tells you what the Justices are circling without committing to. Expect at least one of these to be granted before the term ends.A random assortment of relists: prolonged detention, confessions of error, small juries, and new rules on habeas | SCOTUSblog This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
The new high-tech organic vegetable processor Harvest Singularity is building their facility in Newberry, targeting 2027 completion. Mayor Tim Marden on positive growth in the City. Plus, Gov. DeSantis has called a Special Legislative Session to deal with a much-debated property tax reduction proposal, with substantial impact to local governments. And what's next in the governor's race.
Father's Fest is Newberry's celebration of all-things dads, family, and friendship. Live entertainment, food, outdoor experiences, and attractions. Newberry City Manager Jordan Marlowe on Father's Fest, coming June 27th, the Saturday after Father's Day
The people of Texas spoke loudly that they want the Save Act, and representatives that truly make change happen in DC. US House Rep. Kat Cammack on primaries, and the no-friends approach to reverse entrenched lefty ideology. Plus, new AG in Newberry and smart growth.
On this Friends of Old Town edition of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael and Brady Cloven are joined at Hideaway Café by Stephanie Novak — owner of Ritual Spa at the George Washington Hotel and Coven Salon on Millwood Avenue — for a wide-ranging chat about pampering, pirates, and a packed June in Old Town Winchester. Steph shares what's behind Ritual Spa's nearly-two-year run inside the historic GW (lymphatic drainage, customized facials, hot tub access, and 24/7 online gift certificates) and how its sister salon Coven brings the "wilder and edgy" side. Then Brady runs through everything coming up downtown — the newly (almost) completed childhood literacy mural by the splash pad, First Friday's return, Hop Blossom, KidzFest, Juneteenth, and the laser-light VA 250 Downtown Jubilee. Plus an honest update on why the splash pad is sidelined for the summer and what Friends of Old Town is doing about it. WHO'S ON THIS EPISODE Brady Cloven — Executive Director, Friends of Old Town Winchester Steph Novak — Owner, Ritual Spa (at the George Washington Hotel) and Coven Salon (on Millwood Avenue) IN THIS EPISODE Hideaway Café check-in + the new castle exhibit at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum Meet Steph — how Ritual Spa came to live inside the historic GW Hotel What's on offer — massage, facials, and access to the hotel pool and hot tub Why a great facial can be just as relaxing as a massage Specialty massage — lymphatic drainage, zero balancing, and post-surgical healing For people who don't love being touched — how a good service provider makes it work 24/7 online gift certificates (and why you can't buy one at the front desk) Coven Salon — hair, lashes, permanent cosmetics, massage, facials, and a whole lot of social media chaos Hours and websites for both locations The new childhood literacy mural by the splash pad — a year in the making New public art guidelines for Old Town — the lasting win behind the mural Meet artist Annalise Buono, plus local collaborators Jill Savry and Alyssa Ruby The next mural at Taylor Pavilion — "past, present, performance" — open call Why the splash pad is closed this summer (and what's being planned in its place) First Friday returns June 5th — band, Artist Alley, vendor fair, Sip and Stroll Hop Blossom on June 6th + the Newberry building after-party KidzFest June 13th — dunk tank, free ice cream, free kids meals, and 30 vendors Juneteenth weekend with Hood Love VA 250 Downtown Jubilee — an all-day July 4th event with three laser-light shows Main Street Masterpieces — local artists in vacant storefronts Memorial Day weekend drone show at Jim Barnett Park (250 drones) New downtown openings — Revival Vintage, Winchester Tavern, Please Boutique, Mood and Moss OLD TOWN WINCHESTER — JUNE AT A GLANCE First Friday — Friday, June 5 • 5 PM onward • Raised on Analog 6:30–8 PM • Artist Alley curated by Tin Top Art • Moon Phase vendor fair Sip and Stroll Hop Blossom (13th annual) — Saturday, June 6 • Newberry building hosts the after-party with live music and merch Kids Fest — Saturday, June 13 • 30 vendors • dunk tank • face painting • street performers • free ice cream from Uncle Beehive's (first 200 kids) • free kids meals from Snow White Grill (first 200) Juneteenth weekend — Saturday, June 20 • event hosted by Hood Love (details on social) Memorial Day weekend — Jim Barnett Park drone show (250 drones) — follow Winchester City Parks on Facebook for weather updates VA 250 Downtown Jubilee — July 4 • all-day event • three 20-minute laser-light shows LINKS & RESOURCES Ritual Spa: theritualspawinchester.com Coven Salon: thecovensalon.com Friends of Old Town: friendsofoldtown.org Friends of Old Town on Facebook: "Friends of Old Town" Friends of Old Town on Instagram: @friendsofoldtownwinc Taylor Pavilion mural — open call for submissions (details on friendsofoldtown.org) Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum — castle exhibit running all summer Winchester City Parks on Facebook — drone show updates THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday
Discover why Newberry Springs is much more than just a quick pit stop on your road trip through the high desert. In this episode, Chamber Officer/Ambassador and entrepreneur Karla Claus shares her insider secrets on the historic Route 66 landmarks, hidden petroglyphs, and local gems that will make this town a must-visit multi-day destination. Tune in to learn how to plan your perfect getaway and support the small businesses that are putting this vibrant community on the map. DISCUSSION00:00 Promoting Newberry Springs tourism04:48 Creating a visitor center and park08:07 Exploring Newberry Springs attractions13:05 Starting a Route 66 tour business15:01 Launching a lakeside wedding business17:40 Promoting Newberry Springs tourismLEARN MORENewberry Springs Chamber of Commerce: https://newberryspringschamber.comRoute 66 Tours CA: https://Route66toursca.comDiscover Newberry Springs: https://discovernewberrysprings.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamber/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSKarla Claus, Route 66 Tours CA, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#KarlaClaus #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterviewMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Ghost Town Road | Country Artist Ryan Bodine Talks Newberry Springs & Route 66. Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In this episode, we're in Newberry Springs, California, to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Route 66 and the community's lively “Birthday Bash.” Today's guest is local legend Ryan Bodine, a fourth-generation Newberry Springs native and rising country western singer-songwriter. Ryan shares stories about his deep family roots in the high desert, how his upbringing and the tight-knit local community inspired his music—including his debut album, "Ghost Town Road"—and the unlikely journey from introverted guitarist to Nashville recording artist. Get ready for an inspiring conversation about heritage, the power of music, and the connections that tie us to the places—and people—that shape our stories.DISCUSSIONIntroduction and SettingRyan Bodine's Family Roots and Community ConnectionChanges in the Community and Their Influence on MusicBeginning in Music: Family Influence and Personal MotivationsTransition to Performing and SongwritingCurrent Career, Motivations, and AchievementsCommunity Reception and SupportInsights Into the Making of Ghost Town Road and SongwritingAudience Impact and Multigenerational AppealHistory and Legacy of the Family HomeNewberry Springs Landmarks and Local HistoryWays to Find Ryan Bodine's Music and Support His CareerLEARN MORERyan Bodine: https://www.ryanbodine.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natalie.bodine.5Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanbodine.music YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8YhR5pkCMe95xXSDC2cdANEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSRyan Bodine, Ghost Town Road, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#RyanBodine #GhostTownRoad #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview My Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Kolejną część amerykańskiej przygody rozpoczęliśmy w Parku Narodowym Grand Teton. Choć leży w sąsiedztwie słynniejszego Yellowstone, oferuje bardziej kameralne, górskie krajobrazy i jeziora polodowcowe. Drogą nr 89 dojechaliśmy do Parku Narodowego Yellowstone.To przede wszystkim geotermia: gejzery, fumarole, gorące źródła, bulgoczące błota, zapach siarki oraz intensywne barwy wyglądające jak dzieło abstrakcyjnego malarza. Do tego jezioro Yellowstone, po jeziorze Titicaca drugie najwyżej położone jezioro słodkowodne na Ziemi, rzeka Yellowstone i wodospady, a także bizony, niedźwiedzie i wilki. Z kolei na naszej trasie znalazły się Pomniki Narodowe: Craters of the Moon i Newberry, oferujące wulkaniczne krajobrazy oraz John Day Fossil Beds, jedno z najbardziej bogatych w skamieniałości miejsc na świecie.Gościem Jerzego Jopa była Danuta Rasała.
What Books are Healthiest for Your Tween or Teen an Interview with Betsy Farquhar and Hayley Morell (Episode 293) *Disclaimer: Some of this content is not intended for young audiences. Please use discretion. Proverbs 4:7 NIV “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” *Transcription Below* Betsy Farquhar holds Masters degrees in Children's Literature and Information and Library Science. She taught middle and high school English, homeschooled her three children, and has served on many book award committees. Hayley Morell loves reading, writing, trying new recipes, knitting, or chatting with her parrot. Hayley loves traveling and lived abroad in Europe and Asia. She and her husband and infant live in Wisconsin in an old house overflowing with books and are active in their local community. Their Website, Book, and Social Media Handles: Instagram @redeemed_reader and Facebook: @redeemedreader Thank you to our sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka Questions and Topics We Cover: What are some benefits of reading and why is it worthwhile to devote our time to curating a healthy diet of books? Can you elaborate on why the Young Adult or YA category is the most controversial? What is on your radar for genres or books that will require even more discernment in the future? Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: 21. Promoting a Family Culture of Reading with Megan Kaeb 22. Inspiring Your Children to Become Readers, Part Two with Megan Kaeb 253. Low Tech Parenting with Erin Loechner 273. Wise Living: Why to Get Outside, and Travel, and Read Aloud with Amber O'Neal Johnston Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” *Transcription* Music: (0:00 – 0:11) Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:46) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today over 55 years later at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over Central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com. My guests for today are Betsy Farquhar and Haley Morrill, two of the four authors of this book, The Redeemed Reader, which is also the name of the website that they run together where they have thousands of book reviews for children and tweens and teens. We all know that books are so powerful, so it's vitally important that we're discerning both for what we're intaking and the filters that we use to allow our children to engage with books in our home. We're going to sprinkle book recommendations throughout this episode, and you're also going to learn some surprising things, such as more details about the YA or young adult category. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Betsy and Haley. Betsy Farquhar: (1:48 - 1:49) Thanks. It's good to be here. Laura Dugger: (1:50 - 1:57) I would love to just start out hearing the way that the two of you found your way into the work that you get to do today. Betsy Farquhar: (1:58 - 2:42) Mine started way back in the 1900s when I was in college. I did my senior thesis on children's literature, George MacDonald, and that led to a children's literature class my last semester, which led me to grad school with one of my now co-workers, but at the time fellow students and friends, and we got our master's in children's literature. And then rabbit trail, lots of detours, children, marriage. She and I started a blog back when those were cool and hip, and it was reviewing children's books and that was just for fun. And then we connected with Janie and Emily from Redeemed Reader. Through that blog venue, we were commenting on each other's blogs, and they brought us on board. And so here we are 15 years later. Hayley Morell: (2:43 - 3:38) And for me, I was a high schooler. I was homeschooled. I loved reading. So, I started my own blog back in the teenage years and I was always looking for book recommendations and came upon Redeemed Reader in the early days. I turned out they were looking for an intern. I started interning and at the end of my internship, Emily Witten, who was our founder, asked if I'd like to stay on. And that was 14 or 15 years ago now. So, I was younger. And so, I had a period at college. I studied at Boyce College. I worked in children's ministry and worked as a private tutor. So, a lot of interactions with children. I was known as the babysitter with the book bag for a number of years. And now I've got my own little, and so I'm in the land of board books and happily working at Redeemed Reader. Laura Dugger: (3:39 - 3:49) I love hearing that. And if people are watching this through video, can you both just say your name, so we know who's Betsy and who's Haley? I'm Haley. Betsy Farquhar: (3:50 - 3:51) I'm Betsy. Laura Dugger: (3:52 - 4:07) Okay, wonderful. Thank you for that. And at Redeemed Reader, I'm assuming you have so many book recommendations to try and read and review. So, how do you even determine which books you are going to review? Hayley Morell: (4:08 - 7:49) So, right now we are wrapping up one of the things we love doing, which is providing award coverage. In January is when the American Library Association announces their awards, and they like to recognize the best middle grade with the Newberry, the best picture books with the Caldecott, and then a number of other awards. We know that those books are going to be going into lots of libraries and schools. And so, we like to provide coverage of that and review those books that we know parents are going to be seeing on shelves and wondering, is this a good book? Should we be reading this? What do we want to check out? We also like to watch what is popular. What is causing discussion? So, several years ago, that was The Hunger Games. And there was a lot of questions about dystopia. Should we be reading this? Is this helpful? Do I want my teen reading The Hunger Games? More recently, some popular middle grade series like Keeper of the Lost Cities have had a lot of parents asking, what is this series? Is there anything I should know about? And so, we try to have a balanced review. We review books that you're going to find at the library. We also like to review books that maybe you wouldn't know about. So, a smaller Christian imprint, for example, we like to review that type of book to encourage readers to read widely, to read Christian authors, to read secular authors. We like books. And so, we each bring our own specialty to the team and experience. Janie, who's our senior editor, is a children's author. She loves history. And so, as the community relations manager, I tend to handle review requests. So, when somebody asks us, can you review this book? It's popular. Or I'm an author. I wrote a book. Can you review it? I'll look at the book. I'll look at how hard is it to get? We do try to review books that are easy to find, that you might find in your local library. But then I'll look at our team. So, for Janie, if it is going to be a nonfiction history, let's say for a 10 to 12-year-old, I know that's going to be up her alley. Meanwhile, Betsy loves poetry. She loves nature, nonfiction. Betsy is a very, I'd say you're one of our Renaissance people. And so, I know Betsy is going to be inclined towards maybe a novel and verse. And she also likes dealing with high school books. You've got that teacher education background, where if it is an epic poem, Betsy is going to be our reviewer. Megan is our amazing picture book author. She's super creative, loves picture books. Megan is who I turn to when I find a picture book. Meanwhile, I used to handle as I was the team member of the team and then turned into my 20s. So, I gravitated toward YA, and I still love a good YA fantasy. But I am now in board book land and picture books. So, I have been expanding my reach. I do serve on our middle grade fiction, so I can help out with middle grades. But each of us will flex in, flex out. Megan has a large family of boys. And so, if it's a boy book, she is a great person. We love to send those to her to see if her boys like them. And that's, I could keep going because we love books, but that's a big snapshot. Laura Dugger: (7:50 - 8:09) That's so helpful because you cover such a wide variety of books throughout your team. And as curators of book reviews, what questions are you most commonly receiving, both from young people and maybe their parents as well? Hayley Morell: (8:12 - 9:22) I think we often get questions like, is this book clean? Is this book safe? And we like to kind of change that question. And we like to say, why is the content in this book? Because that can be different, you know, depending on something that is in a picture book, which wouldn't be appropriate for an age, could be very appropriate for a YA book and a great discussion starter. So, it definitely depends on the content and what audience and what age of the audience we're dealing with. So, we try to, as people ask us, well, is this safe or is this clean? Should I read this? We want to build discernment and encourage parents to interact, parents and educators to interact with our reviews. And they know their reader. They know how their reader is going to receive a book. And what questions might come up. And so, we like to help interact with that conversation. And then there's another kind of question we often get, which I'm going to let Betsy answer. Betsy Farquhar: (9:23 - 10:10) The other question is, my kid likes blank kind of book or is blank kind of reader. What do I get for him or her? And so that, of course, can vary widely. But people love to know what book is right for my family or my classroom or my child. And so, we try to write our reviews with that question in mind, not to make a blanket statement, you should all read this book, or nobody should read this book, but to give parents and educators enough information to make that decision for themselves. And then we started doing these reels on Instagram, where we're pretending we're answering a customer service phone call with questions we've been asked, right? My son only likes video games, or my daughter doesn't want fantasy, but she reads these kinds of books. And so, we try to help people think that through. Laura Dugger: (10:10 - 10:14) So, that's really how we continue. Hayley Morell: (10:15 - 11:09) Sorry. And one more question that we often get because we are book reviewers is, will you review my book? And so, at that point, we do have a process. We encourage people to submit a request. And it could be maybe a book they're curious about and would just like a review from us, or they're an author or a publisher. And so, in that case, we direct them to our review submission form. And like I said before, we are definitely looking for books that are easy to find. That will encourage us to review a book, because while we love books that are like smaller imprints, et cetera, and we do try to provide coverage for that, we also are aware that a lot of our audience only has their library or their school library. And so, we are trying to do books that are easy to find and accessible for our readers. Laura Dugger: (11:10 - 11:40) Okay, that's really helpful to hear what people are writing in and asking you about. And so, hearing the sweet spot from each team member, and then Betsy, how you mentioned people love to know what's right for my family. So, no, this won't fit every situation. But can you give examples of maybe books that the four of you find yourselves recommending quite a bit because they are ones that fit a wide range of people? Betsy Farquhar: (11:41 - 13:39) Of course, we put a ton of recommendations in our book that came out in the fall. And those are sort of our most common recommendations. We have a place on our website called Starred Reviews. And those are the best of the best in our mind of their genre. So, if you're looking for graphic novels, and you see a star on a graphic novel, it's because we think this is an amazing graphic novel. So, that's just a helpful framework, because of course, people are all over the map, right? We're in the midst of whittling down our Book of the Year for this year. And we also have our Reader's Choice Book of the Year. And those books are ones we tend to recommend all the time. So, I'm going to give you just some samples of what are on our Reader's Choice list, because that is a public list. And I can't reveal the 2025 releases we're considering for the other one. But for our Book of the Year for the Reader's Choice this year, we have The Found Boys by S. D. Smith. We've got, I've got them all right here, Olivetti by Allie Millington. There's The Hiding Place: A Graphic Novel and the Watership Down: The Graphic Novel that are both really fun. People have really enjoyed them. We've got the first book in The Dream Keeper Saga by Kathryn L. Butler. That's a Christian fantasy series. We've got Enemies in the Orchard, which is the novel in verse about World War II. One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, which is another novel in verse about some Black pioneers going west on a wagon train. And that might be, oh, The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo. Kate DiCamillo is a super prolific author, and we do recommend her books often. Her book, Ferris, was our Book of the Year last year. So, there's just a quick sampling of some middle grades' books. And middle grades, for people who don't know, that's the broad fourth through eighth grade age range. You think of like ages 8 to 12. And they tend to be the broadest in audience. You can usually read those aloud to a younger audience, or even teenagers might find them enjoyable. So, that's a good start. Hayley Morell: (13:40 - 14:29) I do think one of the beauties of our team is that we've worked together for a long time. And we trust our team. And so, I will happily recommend a book that I haven't seen, but I know Betsy loved and reviewed. And it's so fun reading the same books. So, like right now, since we're on award committees, we are seeing a lot of the same books and getting to talk about them. But I think it's one of our strengths that we each bring something to the table. And I would say if someone really likes history, I'm going to look at what Janie has loved recently, because I know she is looking for those good new history books. And its so fun recommending books and getting to play to our strengths. Laura Dugger: (14:31 - 16:16) And that comes out in book recommendations. When you're passionate about what you're reading, it's naturally contagious, I think. And now a brief message from our sponsor. Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago. If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different. I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business. Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them on 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship. I'm curious, over the years, what character qualities have you noticed in people who are now adults, but they originally fell in love with reading in childhood? Betsy Farquhar: (16:17 - 17:39) So, that's a pretty broad question. I would think, I'm just going to paint this with broad strokes. People who read typically are people who think, and especially in a day and age where we're bombarded with screens and soundbites all the time, if somebody can actually read an analog book from start to finish, then typically they're going to be able to think about ideas in a different way than people who are just existing on soundbites. So, the ability to think is pretty critical. There's been a lot of studies that show that people who read also have better empathy. It's just a way we can sort of step into somebody else's shoes, especially if we're reading a story about somebody who perhaps lived in a different time period, or they're from a different ethnic background, or even if there's just a different socioeconomic level, it helps us understand the people on the other side a little bit better. So, that kind of, this twin characteristics of empathy and thoughtfulness, I think are pretty common. We all go through seasons where we don't read as much, whether we're stressed or perhaps, my kids are in college and they were avid readers in high school, and they're not doing a lot of reading for fun right now, but they know how to read and they enjoy it. So, they'll probably come back to that in the future. So, I think that's a helpful thing to remember, just because your eight-year-old loves reading, when he or she is 18, they may not be reading as much, and that's okay. They'll probably come back to it. Hayley Morell: (17:40 - 17:53) And I've definitely seen that with younger siblings too, burning out and then all of a sudden back, asking for book recommendations. And it's fun to know that reading habits stick around. Laura Dugger: (17:55 - 18:38) That's well said. And yet, even if they lie dormant for a while, they may be reawakened in adulthood. But I think I find it's less common for someone to fall in love with reading for their first time as an adult. So, I think it's very beneficial as parents to cultivate or instill this love of reading in our children. And you two are the experts. So, I'd love to hear your take on this. What are some of the benefits of reading? And why is it worthwhile to devote our time to curating a healthy diet of books, both for ourselves, but especially for our children? Hayley Morell: (18:39 - 20:06) Betsy, I think you might've said this once, but I think it came up as we were talking about writing our book. As I have a small child who's just starting to notice pages and we're reading board books and he's trying to reach for it. I remember someone once said that reading to a very young child, they're not registering the story yet. They might be registering the pictures. But the time that we're taking reading, when I read to him or when my husband gets home from work and they read one board book together, he's not really looking at the book as much as he's looking at our face and hearing our voice. And books are becoming something that we do together and that we do as a family. And it's a way that we're building relationships. And I think that's a great encouragement to me to keep reading. And I have nieces and nephews who loved books. And then that's something that we enjoy the story together and we'll laugh over silly stories and we'll read. But I think that it's something that as we want to like curate our collections but also think about how are we encouraging children to love reading. It's if they see us reading too and see us enjoying books and still picking up a book ourselves. I'm not sure, Betsy, if you have anything that you would add to that. Betsy Farquhar: (20:07 - 20:41) Well, I just think the better we read anything, the better equipped we are to read the story in the Bible because God revealed himself to us in a written book. And so, we're sort of flexing those muscles when we read. And the more we can engage with what we read, even if it's a picture book with a five-year-old, we're beginning that practice of developing discernment. And that's part of discipling our children. So, I do think it's all part of the same picture. It's not going to look the same for every family but just working on developing those muscles of discernment and reading intelligently, that's going to go a long way. Laura Dugger: (20:43 - 22:07) I love how you bring in the Bible that is so important. And I found myself even just this week at bedtime praying over our daughters that they would have a love for the written word because that is what God has gifted to us. And I love how the word became flesh and dwelt among us, but he is the original storyteller and has instilled that in each of us. And I think just a very practical way at any age to help our children cultivate this love is by reading aloud. And we recently were on a family vacation and had a rental vehicle and we had a long drive-in front of us and listened to the radio for a while. But we also like this tradition of reading one book aloud on a vacation. So, we remember our time in Florida from one year was a place to hang the moon and it was a different book this year, but I get car sick while we're driving. So, I couldn't read it aloud. So, our oldest daughter read it aloud for all of us. And I realized how much attention and focus is required and imagination to paint these pictures of the characters in your mind. And I just thought, wow, there's so much learning that's going on even as the one listening to the book, not reading the actual words. Betsy Farquhar: (22:09 - 22:15) And a place to hang the moon was our reader's choice favorite last year. So, lots of our readers have read that one. Laura Dugger: (22:16 - 22:36) It's such a good one. And as wonderful as books are, they're also powerful and influential. So, as you've reiterated, discernment is required. And I'd love for you to elaborate on why the young adult, or the YA category can be the most controversial. Hayley Morell: (22:38 - 25:12) Young adult protagonists are often upper teenage years. And so, we like to say, as we mentioned in our book, no topic is out of bounds. And this means that there can be a lot going on and a lot of messiness. We like to use that word as we're talking about that. And sometimes the messiness can be thought provoking. Sometimes it can be provocative. And we have noticed often YA deals with questions of identity. Who am I? How do I relate to the world? And that can look like lots of different things. It can include sexual identity, which can lead to a lot of conversations. But something that we like to lean into as we look at the YA genre is that in a world where everything is constantly shifting, as you have a teen and they're encountering conversations at school, conversations with peers, or using social media, having an ever-changing feed that I can look at my Instagram feed and it's going to look nothing like a teenager's Instagram feed. Even if you're looking at the same account, the way that reels are coming, they're getting bombarded with messages. The messiest of books is static. And you both can look at that and read the cover, read what's going on, and talk about it. And you both have the same place to have a conversation. And so, we like to lean into that when we're looking at YA books and realize they are powerful, but they're powerful conversation starters. And books like, Betsy recently read a book, and it's called Bright Red Fruit. And it's a cautionary tale about a teenage girl who has a relationship with an older man that's predator. And he is taking advantage, trying to separate her that is an excellent conversation starter. It's not an easy book to read. You're reading it, getting worried for this girl, but it's a great way to say, let's read this book and let's talk about what a healthy relationship looks like, because this is not healthy. So, we love YA books that can provoke conversations. And sometimes it might be you both looking at a book and going, you know, this doesn't seem helpful. We don't need to finish this book. It's okay to stop reading a book and return it to the library. Laura Dugger: (25:12 - 26:11) I completely agree. And even with that YA section, one of our daughters was just saying, when I go through that section of the library, it seems like every single book is about death. And it did provoke a good conversation from that. But I think it was Sarah McKenzie who was the first person that I heard explain the difference between a middle grade novel or YA because from my understanding, middle grade isn't just for those grades. You even said younger ages can enjoy that and older. I have friends that only read middle grade novel now as adults. So, it's not just your reading level, but YA has different rules on it where I think you said anything goes, any topic is allowed. So, it doesn't mean that YA is necessarily what you have to graduate to once you enter high school. Is that right? Hayley Morell: (26:11 - 27:06) But yes, it's typically and the funny thing that you kind of leaned into it, some middle grade books definitely deal with coming of age or might even have a teenage protagonist, but it's written in a way that a 12 year old could read it and enjoy it. When you get into like the higher YA, it is more like young adults, people starting their own lives, having adventures, leaving home, going on quests. And like you said, bringing in some heavier topics. Now we have seen since like in the last five years, a lot of books dealing with death and grieving that are hitting that middle grade genre too, which can be helpful. But at the same time, if you're just reading sad books, you might want to change your diet and find a fun, happy book too. Laura Dugger: (27:07 - 27:31) Again, in a conversation like this, it has to be more general of a recommendation, but there's such a difference, I'm sure in YA for your 13-year-old versus your 18-year-old. So, for someone who does want to dip their toe into some YA books, do you have anyones that you find yourselves recommending again for that age group? Betsy Farquhar: (27:32 - 28:42) I'll jump in here. We've got a couple of book lists on our site that are, have actual number ages attached to them. Thirteen books for 13-year-old boys is a great one for that younger teen audience. But those tend to be, they're grappling with some coming-of-age issues, but they tend to be more adventure based in a sense and more fun. I think of the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. There's a little bit of language. There's a little bit of romance, but it's very teen, young teen friendly. And its actually kind of a good picture of men being heroes and women are heroes in very, like the men are men, they're very masculine. And the women, even if they're part of the army, so to speak, they're still doing it in a feminine way. So, it's just kind of a nice sort of entry into some of those conversations. But then if you fast forward, by the time teens are in their upper teens, they should be able to read adult books too. And so, you might find yourself reading something like Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, which is very much written for an adult market, but very accessible to teens if they're willing to grapple with some of those ideas. But that book's going to be a lot heavier than a book for a 13-year-old. Laura Dugger: (28:44 - 29:05) That's helpful just to have examples. And I think it's also helpful to put this into context by reflecting back through time. So, just in America, what have you learned about the trends and the changes in libraries, specifically over the past 75 years? Betsy Farquhar: (29:06 - 31:30) So, I have a library degree too, so I love talking about libraries. In library science, we have a rule, it's called Ranganathan's Law, and it simply says every book is reader, which means that for every book out there, there's a reader out there. And libraries take that very seriously. No book is off the table for a public library. We had an entire class on serving our community. So, the goal behind a public library has always been to serve the community in which it's placed. Now that's changed a lot as our society has changed a lot. So, before World War II, most libraries were funded very locally, local taxes, they may have even been subscription-based, but after we have all these army vets coming back after World War II, they're going back to school later. We have this explosion of information access for people who can't get it. So, the Library Services Act was the first one. We've had lots of iterations since then. Now it includes technology. It started with giving federal dollars to rural libraries, and it's continued even to big cities now, but the focus is still on services for people who can't access them as easily. So, free Wi-Fi was a really big one before Wi-Fi was as broad spread. There are services for the blind and for other communities that might not be able to read as easily. So, it's still sort of an information hub, but I think that makes us uncomfortable sometimes as Christians because our society has changed so much that we go into a library now and we're like, I would never read this book to my kid. Well, but your neighbor might, and the public library is not the parent of your child. The public library is serving the whole community. So, go ahead and request them to stock some Christian books. A lot of them will buy the Christian books that you request because they want to serve you. You're part of their community. So, I think we just have to remember that their goal is broader. My goal as a parent is far more niche than my public librarian's goal to serve her community. She's not my enemy. Even if she's picking things for story time that I would never read to my children, it doesn't mean I have to ignore the library. I can love that those are image bearers. I can respectfully bring up my concerns, and I can suggest books and I can build a relationship with this fellow image bearer in my community. It can be a great mission field. So, yes, libraries are continually evolving. That's why they now offer you can even check out sports equipment. They're still trying to provide information and resources for the community. Hayley Morell: (31:32 - 32:01) I just recommended or requested two books that were Christian picture books that aren't in our system. And one of our librarians helped me fill out the form explaining why I wanted them. And I just got a notification yesterday. Both are on hold for me and have been added to our library. So, it's exciting. If you don't ask, you don't know if you're going to get it. I honestly was surprised. I was like, oh, they actually got the books I wanted. Laura Dugger: (32:02 - 32:56) It is so exciting when they do that. I love our local library, and the staff is just wonderful to work with. So, that's great encouragement for us to get to know them by name and have a relationship with them. And just to zero in on that one piece after World War II, I think that's tied to what so many people call is it the golden age of children's literature where some people will say we only read books before a certain year, like mid-1900s. But I love that you guys review even modern books because it's not that it was all better back then. But I do think there's a piece of truth in it that libraries had to be so discerning back then with less funding. And so maybe they had the best of the best available and then funds came in and we can have a wider range. Betsy Farquhar: (32:56 - 33:40) There's so many factors here historically because we could really nerd out, but I won't. But what's also being reflected is simply printmaking technology because the ability to print paperbacks, paperbacks as like a thing weren't a thing until the 20th century. So, books were incredibly expensive. You've got all those factors playing in too. So, not only are they getting different funding, but there is an explosion in printmaking technology that allows publishers to produce inexpensive books. And that allows families and libraries to buy more books. It's not dissimilar to the way we have digital media now that's got its own sort of technology behind the distribution of the digital books. So, there's a lot of factors involved in that. Laura Dugger: (33:41 - 34:03) That is fascinating. I'm glad you brought that up. And like I said, so helpful to look back. But now if we're also looking forward, I'd really appreciate your perspective on where we're headed. So, what's on your radar for genres or books that may require even more discernment in the future? Hayley Morell: (34:04 - 37:18) So, right now, romanticy is having a moment and that's a genre that is getting a lot of attention. There's a lot of marketing using that language. And I think it's really helpful to realize this is a marketing term. So, Fourth Wing became very popular. That is a book that is for adults. It has a lot of explicit sex. But it used the term romanticy and it sold very well. And so suddenly all books that are fantasy and have some romance are being called romanticy. And that could mean a lot of different things. So, what we're seeing is this term that if it's used in the YA genre, we don't know what it means going into a book. It might mean a lot of focus on romance and some unhelpful sex. It also could mean a really fun fantasy that happens to have a romantic angle. So, I recently gave a starred review to A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim. That's a Chinese fairy tale, beauty and the beast type story. And it is excellent. One of the marketing terms that used was romanticy. And it just is a wonderful fantasy story that has this thread of romance perfectly appropriate for teen readers. But that is a term that we're currently aware of. And this is a genre that we want to notice and take with a grain of salt. It's kind of a contrast on the other side. It's differentiating between romanticy has romance and then there's cozy fantasy, which is more cottage core, comfortable feeling. It also could have sex. So, there's, as we run into this fantasy genre, there's a lot of things going on, but it's definitely having a moment. And it's just nice to know what's going on and what cozy fantasy is going to be focused on character development, like very like a shopkeeper who inherits a cottage with a garden and grows mushrooms. That's cozy fantasy. Romanticy is a chosen one motif who's at some dramatic school. Dark academia is also having a moment where it's a lot of angst, a lot of little bit of horror. And some of it can be done really well because it's popular. There's a lot of it out there. And so, some discernment is required as you're figuring out, is this a book for adults or is this a book for teens? I think I would be cautious with books that are being marketed for adults as romanticy because you could run into some things that are meant for an adult audience and might not be helpful for that teenage reader of yours. Betsy Farquhar: (37:18 - 38:06) The only other thing I'll add, and this is sort of a different approach, but we're seeing a lot of genre blending. It's getting harder to say this is a mystery or this is a fantasy, even this is a historical fiction story. So, I think genre fiction in general is kind of having a moment. And when we say genre fiction, we really mean things like mystery, science fiction, romanticy, these sort of sub genres that are underneath the broader terms of realistic fiction or speculative fiction is an umbrella term that includes fantasy, dystopia, science fiction, magical realism, all the little niche downstream sort of sub genres. But we're seeing some really interesting things. It's going to be harder to automatically decide I like that genre, or I don't because they're just mixing and matching elements from all over the place. Laura Dugger: (38:08 - 39:15) Mm-hmm. That is helpful. I had never heard of some of those things that you just mentioned, but also I'd love for you to respond after I shared this story. I had a previous guest, Megan Cabe, who used to run a blog. It was called Young Book Love and she would review, I think, middle grade novels, maybe a little bit of YA, but she would say most topics are beneficial to read, even if they're difficult, what you all refer to as messy books. But she did provide extra caution and just said she strongly advised against explicit sexual content because those mental images have a way of sticking with us. And I agree with her. I would also add sometimes what's not appropriate for our children is not appropriate for us either. And just a funny way to remember this, I had a loved one recently who just said, “You can't sugarcoat a turd. I'd love your take on all of that.” Hayley Morell: (39:17 - 41:54) So, we like to use the term beyond ever after when we're dealing with this idea of what romance is helpful, what is not helpful. And like you said, the age of the reader comes into play because something that might be a good conversation point with your teen, let's say dealing with a first kiss, that is something that is good to be thinking about and be talking about having healthy conversations about what is God's design for sexuality. And as you are starting to notice the opposite sex and have feelings, what do we do with those? And again and again, it's been shown that it is helpful to have these conversations because if we're not having a conversation about what is God's view and what does God want us to do with this, our young people are going to turn to the world, which is very happy to give them a lot of talk about sexuality, but some very different perspectives and answers that are focused on yourself, let's you do you versus no, what has God given us and how are we going to steward this? So, one of the things that I like to, that we like to be aware of as we're reviewing at Redeemed Reader is, is this a 12-year-old reading this book? And if a 12-year-old is reading a book and in the book, a 12-year-old is having a crush and it's kissing, we don't want our 12-year-olds kissing. That's not that helpful yet. I mean, that's, that's quite young and yes, in some cultures you might, but not yet. However, if this is a book about an 18-year-old on a high school trip, like Becky Dean has some really fun YA romances that are appropriate for teens, then dealing with what is it like dating? What is it like dealing with these emotions and chemistry that can be really well done for an 18-year-old? But like you said, we want to be aware of our imaginations. We want to be aware of what we're able to handle. And for someone, maybe reading those romances is fun and helpful. For another, it might be unhelpful. And I think that comes down to as a reader growing discernment and knowing what you are able to read that will still be edifying. Betsy Farquhar: (41:56 - 42:55) I'm going to piggyback a little bit. I, I agree that there, we look to scripture for what the standards are, and the Bible is not describing sexual activity in sordid detail. So, it's probably a good idea for us not to be wallowing in the same sorts of things. And I think the same thing is true for language. In fact, it's easier to ignore profanity in a book you're reading versus listening to it. I mean, if we immerse ourselves in audio books that have, that are littered with profanity, it's going to stick in our head differently than if we're just reading it on the page. And I think sexual activity; there are some similar dynamics at play. Obviously, a visual scene is going to be probably stick with us even more than a written scene. But either way, you know, that's part of discernment is what is my imagination doing with this? And the overall picture of my reading diet. Is this all I'm reading? Is this what my thoughts are going towards? Are they pointing me back to Christ? Are they promoting some helpful conversation? Or is it just sort of my guilty pleasure? Well, that should be maybe a sign. Laura Dugger: (43:21 - 43:45) Some love stories are described as squeaky clean. But when it comes to the world of Christian romance, what are some helpful questions that we can be asking our tween or teen? And what are some healthy considerations for filtering books that we're going to allow to be consumed in our home? Hayley Morell: (43:47 - 47:15) So, it's interesting. I think each genre of romance can have its own pitfalls. And I know I really appreciate the authors who are writing clean, squeaky-clean stories. And as I've read them and consumed them, one of the things I've noticed is that it is clean. There's no question of something being clean. But at the same time, if the only thing we're reading, going back to having a balanced book diet, is a squeaky-clean story, I don't think that's helpful because it doesn't show an accurate view of the world. And we want to be preparing our tweens and teens for a world where, yes, there is a happily ever after. Yes, we have the fairy tale wedding, or we have an imagination that is sparked by boy meets girl. But then what happens next? And we live in a fallen world. And so, we have to work on relationships. We have to work on communicating. And sometimes squeaky clean can lean so far into being safe that it doesn't actually show what it is like to have a relationship with the opposite sex. I think of one story I read and it's very superficial, playful. Snarky is often something I've noticed in the squeaky clean because we don't, we have to have some form of banter. And so, it's perpetual sarcasm and no physical touch. But then suddenly our protagonists marry and now they're still being snarky and not touching. And as an adult, I look at that and go, that is not an accurate portrayal of what it looks like to have a romance and to have marriage. And so, we love to ask, what are the relationships like in this book? And if that's in a middle grade novel, one of the things we love seeing is are they showing a healthy family? Are they showing parents that like being together? Because that's at a middle grade level is you're sparking that imagination. What is our protagonist seeing as the adults around them are having relationships? Do the adults like to be together? I just was reading a really sweet, Betsy, I think you read it. But Will's Race for Home is a story about this boy and westward expansion. And so, it's when the Oklahoma, Oklahoma land rush opens up. And there's the sweetest time where he talks about how he knows his father loves his mother because his father will look at his mother and she will blush. And it's the sweetest age-appropriate picture of what romance looks like when you're a 12-year-old looking at your parents. And I think that type of thing can be a really healthy way of having these conversations versus having a diet that is just squeaky clean and yet might actually be showing an inaccurate portrayal of what it's like to have relationships in a fallen world. Laura Dugger: (47:16 - 47:30) Well, let's get specific on another type of book as well. How do you advise parents to think critically on what age is appropriate to consume what you mentioned earlier, the Hunger Games or a book like that? Betsy Farquhar: (47:31 - 49:44) Ooh, pick me. I love these kind of books. I'll read anything. And I tend to get tasked with books that are difficult sometimes. Although many of us on our team read them and we do talk about these behind the scenes. So, when you're thinking about the age your child is and when they're ready for any book, but especially a popular one, I think part of that is our job as parents is always to be watching our children, to be students of our children. How are they consuming media in general? What kind of video games? What kind of movies? Are they on social media? What is their media diet like? And how are they handling that? And if they're showing discernment in general, and they're kind of grappling with issues and ideas, then they're going to be ready for a book like the Hunger Games sooner than a child who's just blindly taking it all in. There's no magic age where you say, ooh, you're 12, you can read the Hunger Games. A lot depends on what that child's already displayed. And I think dystopia are the books where there's some apocalyptic future and there's usually an autocratic governor or government system or it's futuresque. But they're really great books about bringing up big questions about how society works and the nature of authority and even the nature of anarchy. And they're just such great discussion starters. But if your child isn't able to have those kinds of conversations yet, they're going to miss the forest for the trees and it's going to be all shock value. But I'm going to add a big caveat. If it's really popular and you think your child is maybe ready, maybe not quite, I would probably go ahead and read it with him or her if all of the peers are reading it. Because I would rather my child have that conversation with me than with their friend. Or at least have it with me first before they read it with their friends. Even if we skip parts, maybe it's a book that you feel like we can't read chapter 12 for whatever reason. Be honest with your child and say, you know what? This book has a scene I'm really uncomfortable with. Maybe give a brief summary. We're going to keep going. But engage with your children over what is popular. I think that is the number one takeaway because they're going to find answers somewhere. We want it to be from us. Laura Dugger: (49:46 - 50:52) That is good. And that's why I appreciate the redeemed reader because you're putting in all this work for us because we can't pre-read everything. But when we're faced with a situation like that, it is helpful that we can choose to read some with them. And another angle, I just love a few of your quotes in the book. First, on page 76, you write, If Genesis were made into a true-to-the-book movie, the Redeemed Reader team would not allow our children to watch it. We might abstain as well. And then you go on for page 111 and you say, the best tool we can give our growing readers is God's word. The more they know and understand the Bible, the better equipped they will be to think discerningly, to recognize error, and to know how the Bible handles the same issues. So, will you just elaborate on this wisdom and advise us on how and why to encourage our children to read the Bible, even though it is messy? Betsy Farquhar: (50:53 - 52:58) Well, it is a messy book, but thankfully, it's not only a messy book. I mean, if it were a movie, we have nudity very quickly. Then we have rebellion against God, and then we have murder. And before you know it, six chapters in, the world is so bad that God is sending a flood to destroy it. So, it must have been really bad. But the Bible isn't giving us all those details. And I think that is a big piece of the picture when it comes to discernment in literature. The Bible is not shy about telling us that people sinned. I mean, our heroes, David, infidelity, murder, you know, most of the famous people in the Bible did something egregiously wrong and sinful. And yet the whole story of the Bible is God redeeming his people. We're all sinners. And there is hope because of Christ. None of us can make it without Christ. And so, in the Bible, you're seeing both the mess and the hope. You're seeing God's answer to this problem. And so, as we read scripture with our kids, one of the things that is helpful is we know what sin is. It's rebellion against God. It includes everything from sexual activity outside of marriage to gossip and pride and sort of the easy sins, right? They're all sin. So, I think that's one thing that comes across when we're studying God's word. We also see Christ. And when we then turn to a book, just a regular fiction book or even a nonfiction book, is the book also labeling sin as sin or at least a mistake? Or is it glorifying it? How is it handling it compared to how we know scripture handles it? Is there any hope in the book? And where is that hope found? Are they just praying to the universe? We're seeing universe capitalized all over the place now as sort of this amorphous deity. Well, that's not hopeful. I don't want to pray to Jupiter. You know, we have a God who cares about us. And so just getting your kids to sort of reckon with the differences between how a book is portraying hope and judgment versus how scripture portrays it, that's going to take them a long way. Laura Dugger: (53:01 - 53:23) That's fantastic. And your book lists at the end of each chapter are reason enough to purchase the book. But I'm sure that you've encountered additional titles since your publication date that you also enjoy. So, will you share a handful of book recommendations, maybe some from each of those sweet spots again from your team? Hayley Morell: (53:24 - 54:03) For young adults, we've actually mentioned both of the ones that I would add. They both have received starred reviews. A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim. Excellent fantasy for young adults. And then Bright Red Fruit by Sophia O'Heo. And that one is a discussion starter. It is a messy book, but it's an excellent book for its audience. Those would be two young adult fantasies. We see a lot of young adult fantasies. So, but I would have loved to include those in the book. We just read them later. Betsy Farquhar: (54:03 - 55:03) So, quick correction, Bright Red Fruit's not a fantasy, but it is it is. Oh, I apologize. That's fine. It's a discussion starter. And that usually means that there's something in there you need to know about before you read it. As a parent, I would recommend doing your homework on that book. It's a really good book to read with your daughters, but you might want to pre-read it first. Middle grade, that's our biggest bucket. Because it's the most it's got the widest audience reach and it's just so fun. So, some of the ones that we've really liked, The Teacher of Nomadland by Daniel Nayeri. He is a Christian author. He won the National Book Award for this book for young people's literature and a Newbery Honor. It's fantastic. It's a story about World War II. Benny on the Case by Wesley King is a really lovely mystery that features the protagonist has mosaic down syndrome, and it's just not very common to read books with different disabilities represented. So, that's just a really sweet story. Lots of fun. Hayley Morell: (55:04 - 55:05) It's a great audio book too. Betsy Farquhar: (55:06 - 56:40) Yes. Song of the Stone Tiger, another Christian author, Glenn McCarty. It's a kind of a mix of realistic fiction and fantasy. So, it's fun. A new one that we like. And then I'll leave you with one more. I actually have it right here. So, for those who are watching this, they can see it. It's called Radiant by Vonda Michaud-Nelson. And it's a novel in verse, but a beautiful picture of what it means to love your neighbor. So, The Sword by Marty Murkowski from New Growth Press. It's kind of a family devotional resource. It was the World Magazine Book of the Year. We gave it a starred review as well. The Amazing Generation is a book for kids by the same author as The Anxious Generation. So, that book is like a super bestseller for adults. This is kind of taking that idea and helping kids know how not to be the anxious generation, right? How they can be the amazing generation. The World Entire is a nonfiction, maybe technically a picture book, but it's really long. And it's for this audience. And it's a true story about World War II, about a rescue. I think it was set in Portugal. And then a graphic novel that's nonfiction. I'm trying to cover all your different genres here. This is How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Meadez. It's about his father and how he emigrated or escaped from Cuba. But it's a graphic novel. So, there's a lot of visual interest. So, that's a really interesting background for kids who are hearing a lot of headlines about places like Cuba. And they're like, what's really going on? A book like that can help them understand just some of the nuance behind the headlines. Hayley Morell: (56:41 - 58:51) One of the things about middle grades as we talk about books is that middle grade is the age where readers are just exploding. And while you might have been able to keep up with your reader, then they hit 10 or 12 years old, and you give them a stack of books and they're reading them and asking for more. So, we definitely have a lot of middle grade reviews. Picture books, though, are another place that we just love. And there's been some recent ones that we looked at and got, oh, this would be so good for the book. Something like Tuesday's Bear by Alexander Davis. It's this beautiful story based on a true historical event. Unclaimed luggage is where, you know, if a suitcase gets lost, what happens to the contents? Well, one family had an idea, and Alexandra tells it through the story of this little bear who gets lost and then is found. It's the most beautiful story. As a Christian, you can see a lot of very true themes running through it. And it's a delight to read aloud. Wild Honey from the Moon by Kenneth Craigel. It's a story about a mother shrew whose little boy is sick, and she is going to do anything, even if it means traveling all the way to the moon to get some wild honey. It's a very imaginative story. Beautiful pictures. A couple sneak peek that are going to just, these reviews are just going up. Iguanodon's Horn by Sean Rubin. We've loved Bolivar, it was a graphic novel he did about a dinosaur. You can tell he likes dinosaurs. This is an amazing nonfiction picture book. And for our Christian readers, this is a book about dinosaurs that doesn't have evolution. And I think you're going to love it. One more. His Grace is Enough. This is like Dr. Zeus type rhyming. Melissa Kruger wrote it. It's a Christian book and it's a wonderful reminder for children. When you are dealing with sin, God's grace is enough. And I think you'll find if you read this, you'll be repeating the stanzas to yourself and encouraged as you read. Laura Dugger: (58:54 - 59:41) I love having book lists. And if any other listeners are like me, we'll finish this episode and go ahead and put a bunch of books on hold at the library, which is always so convenient. And I'm sure a lot of people aren't able to take notes right now. Maybe they're driving or working out as they're listening to this. But I love that every episode on The Savvy Sauce now has a transcript available. So, if anybody wants these book lists, you can go to the show notes page, either on our website or click on your podcast app and the transcript is available there. So, thank you for all those wonderful recommendations. And do you have any other helpful tips to give us as parents if we're trying to navigate this well? Betsy Farquhar: (59:42 - 1:00:26) Yes, start at birth and start not just reading with your kids, but asking them questions. They don't, it doesn't have to be a lengthy discussion. Is Piglet a good friend to poo? You know, if you're reading Winnie the Pooh or if you're an Elephant and Piggy fan, like my kids were. Do you think Gerald should share his ice cream with Piggy? You can just pause in the middle of the story and just get them thinking, right? So then when you get to the Hunger Games, you can say, what did you think of the ending? Would you have liked it to end differently? Those are great open-ended questions that get people talking and engaging and that you're often running. If you can just think, I need to engage with my kids over what we're reading, then almost any book can be a discussion starter. Laura Dugger: (1:00:27 - 1:00:33) Well, where can we go after this conversation to find more of your book recommendations? Betsy Farquhar: (1:00:35 - 1:01:29) I'll do this one. Redeemedreader, alloneword.com is our website. And then we're super creative. Our Facebook is exactly the same. Redeemedreader, alloneword. Our Instagram is redeemed underscore reader. That's kind of a long story. But if you Google Redeemed Reader, you'll find us. And then the best way, oh yes, of course our book, which is also called The Redeemed Reader. We're so original. But the best way to experience Redeemed Reader, other than the book, is through our weekly newsletter, which Haley curates and she does a fantastic job. But there's where you'll get the latest reviews. We put in links for other places around the web that you might find interesting, different bookish news. Haley does a really fun book trivia with picture books. So, we like to think that it's going to make your inbox a happy place. It's not a marketing email. Laura Dugger: (1:01:30 - 1:01:50) I love that. We will provide links to all of that in the show notes for today's episode. And you two are already familiar. We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for both of you today, what is your savvy sauce? Betsy Farquhar: (1:01:52 - 1:03:03) So, as a business owner and a mom and a wife, it's probably not a surprise that I love my planner, but I've been through a lot of planners in my day, and I have very specific requirements. It needs to be bound, not coil bound. There's a certain size. I mean, I have issues. I should say I have high standards for my planner. The single best feature in my current planner is that it forces me to break down my to do list between my life to do and my work to do. And that was a game changer for me because I am wearing a lot of hats as most women are these days. And so, I limit myself to the number of bullet points that I'm given in the planner so that my work doesn't overtake my family life. It tends to be that way, sadly, more than the other way around. Usually, my family life is not overtaking the work life, but it just it just gives me a chance to articulate each week. You know, I've got a birthday coming up that I need to plan for or I need to make sure my I mean, I graduated my youngest last year from high school, but the senior year in high school has a lot of deadlines. And so, it just helped me prioritize those milestones for my family and not let work get in the way. Love that. Laura Dugger: (1:03:03 - 1:03:04) What's the name of your planner? Betsy Farquhar: (1:03:04 - 1:03:17) It's called the commit 30. I know there are other planners that do the same sort of thing, but I love having a weekly spread and I just love breaking it out between life to do and work to do. Laura Dugger: (1:03:18 - 1:03:20) Absolutely. That sounds amazing. I love it. Hayley Morell: (1:03:21 - 1:05:10) And my savvy sauce, I was going to say, Betsy is the planner and Betsy, I know you wouldn't appreciate this is spiral bound. So, I echo having a planner is a great way for me to just sort through all my thoughts, put them down and organize what needs to get done. But my savvy sauce is related to tech habits. And as we were getting ready for our first, my husband and I were talking about how could we be mindful with our phone usage? And I have to thank Betsy for recommending Andy Crouch's, The Tech-Wise Family. Love that book. And one of the things that we decided to do was to create a charging station downstairs in our house. And when I am not working where I need my phone for authentication or sending a voice message or being on the phone, if I'm not actively working, my phone lives on its charger. And that's been a struggle for me. I have to admit the moment I had a child, anxiety kicked in. And for the first month, the phone was on me because that's what I needed to have a little security blanket. But I've been learning to leave my phone behind. And then I'm not tempted to pick it up and scroll. And I feel like a child again because I get to the middle of the afternoon. And since I haven't been distracting myself, I've been getting things done. And all of a sudden I'm like; it's two o'clock and it's not dinner time yet. I have all of this time because I've created some more time by using the phone as a tool. But not having it right present and honestly, just distracting myself with it. Laura Dugger: (1:05:12 - 1:05:48) That is a good, savvy tip. I love both of those. And you two have such warm and engaging personalities. And I love those benefits that you were talking about for people who are readers. I experienced all of that through both of you today. And you're so wise and discerning yourselves. And I am just beyond grateful that the Lord gifted you with your intellect, but also this passion for reviewing these resources. You're benefiting so many parents and children alike. So, thank you for the work that you do. And thank you for being my guests. Betsy Farquhar: (1:05:49 - 1:05:57) Thank you for having us. It is all from the Lord. Anything we have that's wise and worth taking away. The credit should go to him, of course. Hayley Morell: (1:05:58 - 1:06:00) Ame
Harry is back again to talk about the Taygetans and their role in helping us make the shift to the 5th density between now and 2027! It might sound strange, but it matches what most people and prophets of the kind have been saying for quite some time now! Stay Weird!To find Harry's books—> https://a.co/d/02G8i4dyTo Follow Us On Patreon—> https://www.patreon.com/c/MetaMysticsEmail Us!—> MetaMystics@yahoo.comSubscribe to our Youtube—> http://www.youtube.com/@MetaMysticsTo Follow Us On TikTok—> https://www.tiktok.com/@metamysticsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/meta-mystics--5795466/support.You Don't Know What You Don't Know!
With Commencement season upon us, the State System of Higher Education is sending thousands of graduates out into the workforce. Nearly 20,000 students are graduating from state system universities. Nearly 90% of the students are from Pennsylvania and most graduates stay in the state. Four-day school schedules are gaining in popularity across the country. Starting this fall, students at a Catholic secondary school in Williamsport, Lycoming County are joining the trend.The State Department of Health is working closely with health care providers in Lebanon County after three individuals were hospitalized with measles. The Office of State Inspector General has new office space in Forum Place in Harrisburg. State Inspector General Michelle Henry says the move allows her entire department to be located on one floor, as opposed to three.A state House committee is advancing a suite of six bills to combat child sex trafficking Wellspan Health has officially opened Wellspan Carlisle Hospital. It's the third new hospital Wellspan has opened this year following locations in Newberry and Shrewsbury, York County. York is being awarded $1.5 million to help city officials convert the vacant Dentsply Sirona property into affordable housing including 81 apartments, plus retail and office space. York's funding is part of a total of $10 million Governor Shapiro is awarding for affordable housing programs across the state.Who owns blighted homes in the city of Reading? The answer is often unclear. And it's hampering city officials from tracking down those owners and ultimately increasing the city's housing stock and tax base. You can learn more about this story on our website, here. And now it's time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot. Every Friday, I'll share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle. Today's bright spot is this: There's a new free online quiz to predict and plan for longevity. It's good timing, as the oldest millennials turn 45 this year - and the oldest Gen Xers are 60. What's your longevity score? Take the quiz and find out, in a story from NPR, linked here.
Humans have been exchanging tokens of friendship since before recorded history. From calling cards to Valentines to Christmas cards, the modern greeting card industry evolved. Research: “America’s First Christmas Card.” Albany Institute of History and Art. https://www.albanyinstitute.org/online-exhibition/50-objects/section/america-s-first-christmas-card Britannica Editors. "scarab". Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2014, https://www.britannica.com/topic/scarab Britannica Editors. "greeting card". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/greeting-card Brown, Ellen F. “Christmas, Inc.: A Brief History of the Holiday Card.” JSTOR Daily. Dec. 20, 2015. https://daily.jstor.org/history-christmas-card-holiday-card/ Chase, Ernest Dudley. “The Romance of Greeting Cards.” Rust Craft. Cambridge, MA. 1956. “Dali at Hallmark.” Hallmark Art Collection. https://www.hallmarkartcollection.com/creatively-thinking/stories/dali-at-hallmark/ “Esther Howland 1847.” Mount Holyoke. https://www.mtholyoke.edu/directory/alum/esther-howland Evans, Elaine Altman. “The Sacred Scarab, Occasional Paper.” McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. University of Tennessee. January 1, 1996. https://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/1996/01/01/sacred-scarab/ Greeting Card Association. “The History of Greeting Cards.” https://www.greetingcard.org/history/ Hanc, John. “The History of the Christmas Card.” Smithsonian. Dec. 9, 2015. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-christmas-card-180957487/ Henry, William E. “Art and Cultural Symbolism: A Psychological Study of Greeting Cards.” The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, vol. 6, no. 1, 1947, pp. 36–44. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/426176 Kavanagh, Marybeth. “Louis Prang, Father of the American Christmas Card.” The New York Historical. Dec. 19, 2012. https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/prang Koon, Wee Kek. “How ancient Chinese new year cards went from elites’ greetings to bribery instruments.” South China Morning Post. Jan. 31, 2026. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3341675/how-ancient-chinese-new-year-cards-went-elites-greetings-bribery-instruments?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article Korolkov, Maxim. “‘Greeting Tablets’ in Early China: Some Traits of the Communicative Etiquette of Officialdom in Light of Newly Excavated Inscriptions.” T’oung Pao, vol. 98, no. 4/5, 2012, pp. 295–348. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41725988 Lee, Ruth Webb. “A History of Valentines.” 1984. Newberry, Percy E. “Scarabs: An Introduction to the Study of Egyptian Seals and Signet Rings.” London. Archibald Constable and Co. Ltd. 1908. https://dn790001.ca.archive.org/0/items/scarabsintroduc00newbuoft/scarabsintroduc00newbuoft.pdf Purcell, Denise. “Authentic Messaging and Independent Makers Drive Greeting Cards' Next-Gen Relevance.” U.S. Chamber of Commerce. https://www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/launch-pad/greeting-card-next-gen-relevance#:~:text=The%20category%20is%20massive:%20According,card%20market%20at%20$7%20billion. Grafton, Samuel. “Holly Leaf and Copper Plate.” The North American Review, vol. 226, no. 6, 1928, pp. 660–64. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25110633 Shoichet, Catherine E. “This ‘visionary’ woman changed the way many Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day.” CNN. Feb. 14, 2024. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/13/style/esther-howland-valentines-card-history-cec Schmidt, Leigh Eric. “The Commercialization of the Calendar: American Holidays and the Culture of Consumption, 1870-1930.” The Journal of American History, vol. 78, no. 3, 1991, pp. 887–916. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2078795 Stupperich, Andy. “Art Education: Louis Prang's Christmas Card Competitions.” The Henry Ford Museum. January 29, 2026. https://www.thehenryford.org/collections/explore/articles/art-education-louis-prang%27s-christmas-card-competitions Terrell, Ellen. “Esther Howland and the Business of Love.” Library of Congress. March 23, 2016. https://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/2016/03/esther-howland-and-the-business-of-love/ “World's first printed Valentine's Card.” A History of the World. BBC. 2014. https://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/L1NM_6mWRymAMKXcRDlXJA Wright, Helena E. “A winning design: Prang’s Christmas card contests of the 1880s.” National Museum of American History. December 23, 2019. https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/winning-design-prangs-christmas-card-contests-1880s See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Harrison is an author of several books about the uncovering of the extra-terrestrial phenomenon. If you love uncovering hidden knowledge about our true nature in connection with the true nature of E.T.'s, you're in for a wild ride! Stay Weird!To Follow Us On Patreon—> https://www.patreon.com/c/MetaMysticsEmail Us!—> MetaMystics@yahoo.comSubscribe to our Youtube—> http://www.youtube.com/@MetaMysticsTo Follow Us On TikTok—> https://www.tiktok.com/@metamysticsGive us a follow on Instagram—> @MetaMystics111To find Harry's books—> https://a.co/d/02G8i4dyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cult-of-conspiracy--5700337/support.
Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today's episode, we're wrapping up our Newberry Springs journey with a visit to the stunning RJB Ranch. chats with Jean Bredelis, longtime ranch owner and horse lover, and Diane Yoder Bubier, equestrian, close friend, and author of Clyde's Forever Home and Cue's Forever Home.Together, they share tales of horse rescue, life on the land, and adventures on horseback through the breathtaking desert landscape. We'll talk about the peace and serenity found at the ranch, the stories behind their beloved animals, and how a deep connection to nature makes every day special. Plus, you'll learn how you can get your hands on their heartwarming books. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode from the serene and storied heart of Newberry Springs.DISCUSSIONThe Power of Rescue and Compassion: Jean's story of rescuing Clyde the Clydesdale and Cue the dog highlights not only the commitment required to give animals a forever home, but also the importance of educating about responsible animal care and its consequences (05:25).Lifelong Passions Shape Purpose: For both Jean and Diane, a passion for horses began early (or in the 30s for some!) and evolved into a life of riding, competing, and storytelling—reminding us that it's never too late to pursue what you love (06:23 and 06:31).Nature's Restorative Power: Jean shares that living and sleeping under the stars each night at the ranch with her husband, Ron, fosters serenity, wellness, and a deep connection to the land and to our well-being (08:03).LEARN MOREPick up your copy of Clyde's Forever Home at https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com/products/clydes-forever-home#, and Cue's Forever Home at https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com/products/cues-forever-home-rescuer-lady-jean NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSJean Bredelis, Diane Yoder Bubier, RJB Ranch, Clyde's Forever Home, Cue's Forever Home, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#JeanBredelis #DianeYoderBubier #RJBRanch #ClydesForeverHome #CuesForeverHome #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview My Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Harrison is an author of several books about the uncovering of the extra-terrestrial phenomenon. If you love uncovering hidden knowledge about our true nature in connection with the true nature of E.T.'s, you're in for a wild ride! Stay Weird!To Follow Us On Patreon—> https://www.patreon.com/c/MetaMysticsEmail Us!—> MetaMystics@yahoo.comSubscribe to our Youtube—> http://www.youtube.com/@MetaMysticsTo Follow Us On TikTok—> https://www.tiktok.com/@metamysticsGive us a follow on Instagram—> @MetaMystics111To find Harry's books—> https://a.co/d/02G8i4dyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/meta-mystics--5795466/support.You Don't Know What You Don't Know!
Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast! In this episode, we're back in Newberry Springs, California, to explore a unique cultural oasis just off the historic Route 66—the Bataar Camp. Joined by Umba Go, the founder of this Mongolian Yurt Camp, listeners will discover how Umba is sharing the authentic experience of Mongolian nomadic culture in the California desert. You'll hear about the inspiration behind the camp's name, the significance of yurts, and how the camp serves as both a gathering place for the Mongolian community and an inviting destination for travelers eager to enjoy the desert experience, try traditional foods, enjoy cultural games, and take part in upcoming events like the annual Mongolian-style festival. Whether you're fascinated by global traditions or seeking your next adventure, this episode offers a firsthand look at how one entrepreneur is building cultural bridges under the wide desert sky.DISCUSSIONCultural Immersion: Experience authentic Mongolian yurt living, taste traditional dishes like Buuz (meat dumplings), Khorkhog (Mongolian barbecue), Sharsan Uhriin Mah (fried beef), Buurunhii Mah (meatballs), Gampir (pancake), Boortsog (deep-fried dough), Tsuvian (flat noodles), and enjoy traditional games, archery, and even karaoke! (06:00, 08:23)Community & Events: The camp hosts unique events, including an annual Mongolian festival with music, dance, archery, and more. In 2028, they'll welcome Mongolian athletes for pre-Olympic training (10:16, 10:53).Family-Friendly Adventure: With activities for kids like tree planting and biking, plus comfortable yurts for families, Bataar Camp is an ideal getaway for creating lasting memories (09:07, 07:13).LEARN MOREConnect with Bataar CampWebsite: https://www.bataarcamp.com/Social: Find “Bataar Camp” on Instagram & FacebookNEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSBataar Camp, Mongolian Yurt Experience, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#BataarCamp #MongolianYurtExperience #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview My Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Newberry Springs Development: Off-Grid Living and Container Home Innovation on Route 66Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today's episode, Howard sits down in Newberry Springs with Steve Hamilton, a professional race car driver turned innovative entrepreneur, and founder of Ultimate Container Homes. After relocating from Chicago to California, Steve discovered a passion for building homes, businesses, and communities from repurposed shipping containers. Together, they discuss how container homes can reshape Newberry Springs, bringing sustainable living, business opportunities, and community revitalization along historic Route 66. You'll hear about the forward-thinking vision for affordable, off-grid living, the challenges (and excitement) of creating new communities, and how Steve's racing career helped fuel this unlikely journey. Whether you're curious about alternative housing, small-town transformation, or just love a great entrepreneurial story, this episode is packed with ideas and inspiration you won't want to miss!DISCUSSIONContainer Homes = Fast, Flexible, & Off-Grid Ready: Steve explained how fully self-sustainable container homes can be delivered and made livable within hours, complete with solar power, water solutions, and incinerating toilets. No grid required, and all for under $100,000.Community Revitalization: There's real potential for container-based communities and businesses to quickly rejuvenate towns like Newberry Springs—creating housing for all ages, business opportunities, and unique tourism destinations.Entrepreneurship Meets Impact: Steve's story highlights how innovation can directly benefit struggling local economies, providing housing, local jobs, and sustainable development.LEARN MORE To learn more about Ultimate Container Homes, visit their website at https://ultimatecontainerhomes.comor on these social sites: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563569520131Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultimatecontainerhome/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSSteve Hamilton, Ultimate Container Homes, Container Homes, Off-grid Living, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#SteveHamilton #UltimateContainerHomes #ContainerHomes #OffGridLiving #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview My Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
What if procrastination quietly wiped out your family’s entire life savings?
Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast! In today's episode, Howard sits down with Kristine Watson, the Queen Mother behind the National Route 66 Pageant, right from her home in Newberry Springs, California. Together, they explore the story behind this unique pageant that celebrates not only the rich history of Route 66 but also empowers women of all ages to become ambassadors for their communities and America's Mother Road. From the pageant's origins and its special centennial sashes to the differences between pageants and pinup contests, Kristine Watson shares heartfelt memories, community impact, and the vital role pageantry plays in spotlighting the many communities along Route 66, its history, and the local businesses and museums that keep its legacy alive. Whether you're a pageant fan or a Route 66 enthusiast, this episode promises inspiration, nostalgia, and a celebration of American history and adventure.DISCUSSIONCelebrating the Spirit of Route 66—Kristine shares the origins and special mission of the Miss Route 66 Pageant. From handcrafting unique centennial sashes using iconic Route 66 fabric to designing a one-of-a-kind crown, Kristine honors both the highway's legacy and the women who help keep its history aliveThe pageant is more than a competition—it's a movement. Contestants from babies to grandmothers don the crown and sash, returning to their home states to shine a light on the historical and cultural significance of Route 66 as community ambassadors. Pageantry with Purpose: The Miss Route 66 Pageant isn't just about crowns and sashes; it's a movement, rallying support for its preservation and local museums.Opportunities Across Generations: From infants to grandmothers (the oldest participant was 82!), this pageant is about inclusivity and providing women of all ages a platform to develop confidence, leadership, and ambassadorial skills.Community Impact: Titleholders engage in meaningful community service, collaborate with local chambers and Route 66 museums, and help revitalize businesses and attractions along the legendary highway—all while bringing attention to this historic route in its centennial year.LEARN MORETo learn more about the Miss Route 66 Pageant, visit their website at https://route66pageant.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Miss-Route-66-Pageant-100057346393714/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSKristine Watson, Miss Route 66 Pageant, Leadership, Community, Women Empowerment, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#KristineWatson #MissRoute66Pageant #Leadership #Community #WomenEmpowerment #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterview My Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast. In this special episode, Howard Fox sits down with John Burrill, a new full-time resident whose family has a long-time history in the Newberry Springs area, nestled in the heart of the Mojave Desert. Surrounded by stunning desert views under a rustic canopy, Howard and John Burrill discuss the rich family history that connects him to this land, dating back to 1915, and the legacy of Camp Cady—a site that has evolved from a Civil War-era fort and cattle ranch into a conservation area.Listeners will hear stories about the Mojave Road, historic trade routes, archery traditions, and ambitious plans for ecotourism and glamping that honor both the region's natural beauty and historical significance. John shares his vision for sustainable development and the importance of preserving the Mojave Desert's stories and spirit for future generations. Whether you're a history enthusiast, adventure seeker, or simply passionate about the outdoors, this episode invites you to explore the hidden treasures and enduring community of Newberry Springs.DISCUSSION00:00 Talking Route 66 and community03:29 Starting a glamping resort08:29 Talking about Newberry Springs geographic significance12:39 Interest in historical tourism13:55 Preserving Mojave Desert historySTART OF WALKABOUT WITH JOHN AND KARLA16:21 Exploring along the Mojave Trail18:06 Location of the first Camp Kady Monument21:36 Finding old wagon tracksLEARN MORETo follow John and learn more about his vision for historical tourism in Newberry Springs, visit his Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/wbranchstudios/YouTube resources that highlight John's family and their homestead adventures:https://youtu.be/np8u69YfSA8https://youtu.be/G9WsWNA76fYhttps://youtu.be/wkGqD-OktvICamp Cady Wildlife Area - https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Camp-Cady-WA.The Mojave Road & The Old Spanish Trail - https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-mojave-road-the-old-spanish-trail.htm.Mojave River & Lake Manix - https://digital-desert.com/lake-manix/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSJohn Burrill, wbranchstudios, Mojave Trail, Camp Cady, Glamping, Archery Golf, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#JohnBurrill #wbranchstudios #MojaveTrail #CampCady #Glamping, ArcheryGolf #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterviewMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Public Information Officer Lisa Saccacio on the arrest of a violent criminal and the search for more victims, and the bust of a suspect trafficking in drugs laced with fentanyl. Plus, applications for criminal victims' advocates internships now being taken, and the ‘tip-a-cop' events in Newberry and Gainesville benefitting Special Olympics.
The Feb issue of Nutrition in Clinical Practice includes a review article published by Drs. Carolyn Newberry and Lotanna Ezenekwe who are both positioned at Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Ezenekwe starts the podcast with a description of obesity rates in the US and the progress overtime. Dr. Newberry discusses medication management in the era of new anti-obesity drugs, endoscopic and surgical procedures for managing obesity. Common concerns from healthcare professionals are addressed and the role of personalized care in the future of obesity management are discussed. Business Corporate by Alex Menco | alexmenco.net Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US February 2025
On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 4, 2026: we look at the first South Carolina GOP debate that took place on April 1 in Newberry; we have highlights from the debate, as well as post-debate interviews from three of the four candidates; we also caught up with South Carolina GOP Chairman Drew McKissick before the candidates took the stage; and more!
Nicholas Daigle joins the show to talk about his book Genesis 6 and the Ozarks and the giant rabbit hole he fell into right in his own backyard. What started as a deep read through Genesis turned into a full-blown investigation into old newspaper accounts of seven-foot skeletons, spoke-wheel burials, and out-of-place Aztec pottery found in Ozark caves, all within 30 miles of his front door. Nick walks us through the finds of Sterling Newberry, a missionary Baptist pastor and amateur archaeologist who uncovered some seriously strange artifacts in the Springfield area in the 1930s, including burial mounds with sacrificial bowls, caves with signs of cannibalism, and a solstice alignment connecting a cave and a burial site. Then there's the story of Harry Starlight, an Osage chief who showed up at Newberry's door wanting a bear idol and offering to introduce him to the little people through a fire ritual. Newberry shut it down. The bones? Sent to the Smithsonian. The pottery? Gone. The mounds? Kids are jumping bikes off them. Welcome to the Ozarks and the hidden history of giants in the land. Want to listen to this episode and the backlog of more than 100 members-only episodes? Check out the vibrant community, extra episodes, and perks of being a Blurry Creatures member at https://blurrycreatures.com/pages/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast. We're back at the Newberry Springs Senior / Family Center—home to the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, and chatting with Ronnie Shaw, Director, and Karla Claus, Vice President, of the Chamber. They share the vibrant history, community pride, and behind-the-scenes stories that make Newberry Springs a must-visit destination along Route 66. Whether you're a road trip enthusiast, a festival lover, or just curious about hidden gems in America's heartland, this episode promises inspiration and a taste of all things Newberry Springs.DISCUSSIONIntroduction of Ronnie Shaw, director, and Karla Claus, vice president of the Newberry Springs Chamber of CommerceBackgrounds and Roles of the GuestsRonnie's history in Newberry Springs since 1993, and inspiration from Treasurer Rose BeardshearKarla's role as vice president - Coordinating festivals and performing volunteer duties, participating in outreach activities, and representing the Chamber at local eventsVisitor Experience and Common InquiriesMaps and information for hiking and travelAirbnb's recommendations to visit the Chamber and the local cafeMerchandising: T-shirts, water bottles, and local pistachios availableSignature Community EventsThe annual Newberry Springs Pistachio FestivalHeld on the first Saturday in NovemberApproximately 27–30 years runningRoute 66 Centennial, including a birthday bash and car show in MayLeadership Structure of the ChamberPresident: Renee KaminskyVice President: Karla ClausDirector: Ronnie ShawDirector: Keller HortonSecretary: Diane Yoder Bubier Treasurer: Rose Beardshear Volunteerism and Community SupportReliance on volunteers for organizing events like the Pistachio FestivalAmerican Legion's involvement in festival operationsLEARN MORETo learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Pistachio Festival, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/, https://discovernewberrysprings.com, or on these social sites:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSNewberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Pistachio Festival, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #PistachioFestival #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterviewMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Watch this episode ad-free by joining the ITBR Patreon! patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom-----This is an episode truly like no other, as I'm joined by spiritual guru, author and long-time universal truth-seeker: Harrison Viers Newberry. Never before have we had such extensive discussion on the increasingly real possibility that we may not be alone in the universe...From UFOs to lizard beings sent here thousands of years ago only to return in 2008... this one is a heck of a rabbit hole deep dive! Harrison also brings it back to the soul and self; and the importance of maintaining a strong spiritual balance.To learn more about Harrison and to check out his books, click the link below!https://www.amazon.com/stores/Harrison-Viers-Newberry/author/B0CR4CKWMW-----Follow ITBR on IG @ivorytowerboilerroom and TikTok @dr.andrewrimbyBe sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can watch video episodes of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ivorytowerboilerroomThanks to our following sponsors! To subscribe to The Gay and Lesbian Review visit glreview.org. Click Subscribe and enter promo code ITBRChoice to get a free issue with a subscription purchase. Follow them on IG @theglreview and TikTok @g_and_lrHead to Broadview Press, an independent academic publisher, for all your humanities related books. Use code ivorytower for 20% off your broadviewpress.com order. Follow them on IG @broadviewpress.Thanks to the ITBR team! Dr. Andrew Rimby (Host and Director), Mary DiPipi (Chief Contributor), and Sean Penta (Intern)
On Wednesday, April 1st, 2026, The Charlie James Show delivers a high-energy broadcast centered on President Trump's historic attendance at the Supreme Court and his upcoming 9:00 p.m. address regarding birthright citizenship and the conflict in Iran. The program features deep dives into South Carolina's political landscape, including the first GOP Gubernatorial debate in Newberry, insights from Representative Dianne Mitchell and Adam Morgan, and a passionate call to action for the June 9th primary. Listeners weigh in on the 14th Amendment and the push for closed primaries, while national headlines—ranging from the successful Artemis launch to the controversial release of NBA player Jaden Ivey—round out a fast-paced four hours of analysis and grassroots debate.
onight's high-stakes broadcast kicks off at 9:00 p.m. with President Trump's primetime address to the nation, where he is expected to double down on his controversial push to end birthright citizenship. This follows a chaotic morning at the Supreme Court, where the President's historic appearance at oral arguments left Democrats in a frenzy and further polarized the legal landscape. Shifting focus to the ground game, we'll explore why Republican voter drives in South Carolina often fly under the radar despite being active at local hubs like gun shows and churches. Finally, the political spotlight remains on the Palmetto State as the SC GOP hosts its first gubernatorial debate in Newberry, marking a critical kickoff for the 2026 election cycle.
The Magic of Newberry Springs: The Senior & Family Center, and the Drifting Sands CafeWelcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series podcast! In today's episode, we're recording from the heart of the community at the Newberry Springs Senior/Family Center and the beloved Drifting Sands Cafe. We're chatting with local volunteer, Kim Gregory. Kim shares her journey from Menifee to Newberry Springs, her involvement with the community center, and what makes this desert town such a warm and welcoming destination. Get ready to discover the people and places making this a Route 66 destination and must-visit spot on your next road trip!DICUSSIONIntroduction to Kim GregoryKim's Background and Move to Newberry SpringsKim's Involvement in the CommunityActivities at the Senior / Family Center and Drifting Sands CafeDaily life at the Community CenterCommunity Center and Cafe operating hoursWednesday–Saturday: 7 am–2 pmSunday: 7 am–3 pmThe Drifting Sands Cafe ExperienceCommunity Center Features and Thrift OpportunitiesThe Chamber of CommerceLiving in Newberry Springs & Why Visit Newberry Springs?Social Media and Contact InformationLEARN MORENewberry Springs Senior / Family Center, and Drifting Sands Cafe - 33383 Newberry RD Newberry Spgs CA 92365https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpgsSeniorCenterNewberry Springs Chamber of CommerceTo learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Pistachio Festival, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/ or on these social sites:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/The Mother Road e-Newsletter: https://motherroadnewsletter.com/newsletter/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSNewberry Springs Senior/Family Center, Drifting Sands Cafe, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#NewberrySpringsSeniorFamilyCenter #DriftingSandsCafe #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterviewMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
What would happen if you had a version of yourself available every morning that already knew your values, your blind spots, and the two or three things that actually need your attention today? In Episode 106 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez sits down with Joe Newberry, founder of ExecClone.com, to explore how AI is changing the way high-functioning leaders work. Joe brings a background in tech, finance, and sales leadership to a practical question most business owners avoid asking out loud: how much of what I do every day actually requires me? Joe tracked his own time and behaviors down to the minute across a 30-day period and found he was only hitting his top three strategic priorities about 40% of the time. The remaining 60% was consumed by what he calls the urgent box, fires, repetitive input requests, and administrative tasks that did not require his level of experience. That data became the foundation for Exec Clone. The conversation covers the core concept of building an AI "clone" as a leadership tool, including how the True Mirror operating system onboards a user with over 150 personality and values-based questions to create a digital Chief of Staff anchored in who you are and who you are trying to become. Erik and Joe discuss the difference between an AI that knows your most recent conversations and one that holds your past, present, and 10-year goals in memory at once. They explore the concept of emotional drift. The episode also addresses data security and Joe walks through how ExecClone handles sensitive personal data differently than most cloud-based AI agents, including the option to run the system on encrypted hardware shipped directly to the client. For agency owners and business leaders who are doing the work alongside their teams, this episode offers a grounded look at what it means to use AI not just as a productivity tool but as a real accountability partner.
Welcome to another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today's show, we're immersed in the fascinating history of Newberry Springs with community leaders from the Newberry Springs Economic Development Association - Historical Committee, Paul Deel, and Brian Fisher. Together, they share the legacy of Margaret Orcutt and her unique adobe home—complete with handmade blocks, historical gun ports, and even remnants of her greenhouse where she famously grew orchids.Paul shares personal stories about Margaret and the origins of her home, uncovering its dream as a sanctuary for unwed mothers and a community gathering space. Meanwhile, Brian takes us behind the scenes with the Newberry Springs Historical Committee, revealing the painstaking process of organizing Margaret's archives and bringing her true story to light.Whether you're a history buff, outdoor enthusiast, or just curious about the colorful characters that built this desert community, this episode offers a heartfelt look at preserving local heritage and the power of community. So settle in, and let's journey together through the stories that make Newberry Springs a remarkable stop on Route 66.DISCUSSION00:00 Margaret Orcutt's Desert Vision04:16 "Committee's Historical Cataloging Effort"09:19 "Route 66 Centennial Adventure"10:03 "Follow, Listen, Explore, Enjoy"LEARN MORETo learn more about NSEDA, visit their website at https://www.nseda.net/.To learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Pistachio Festival, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/ or on these social sites:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/Car & Driver: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15385694/mrs-orcutts-driveway-204-mph-on-a-double-nickel-road-page-1NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSPaul Deel, Brian Fisher, Mrs. Orcutt's Homestead, Mrs. Orcutt's Driveway, NSEDA, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#PaulDeel #BrianFisher #MrsOrcuttsHomestead #MrsOrcuttsDriveway #NSEDA #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterviewMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Series! In today's episode, we're joined by local community leader, Brian Fisher—affectionately known as Mr. Geocache—to explore the hidden stories and adventures of Newberry Springs, California.Tune in as Brian recounts his journey to this quiet desert community, describing its tranquil charm and the unique history that surrounds it. Discover how Brian, a retired Marine base worker turned passionate historian, is now at the forefront of efforts to preserve the fascinating past of Newberry Springs—including the tale of the cantankerous Mrs. Orcutt and her historic ranch.We also unravel the adventure and intrigue of geocaching—an international outdoor activity that has brought visitors from all over the world to explore Newberry Springs. Brian shares how geocaching, including his own cleverly designed gadget caches, is putting this desert town on the map for explorers and tourists alike.This episode offers a mix of history, personal stories, and outdoor excitement. Whether you love tracking down hidden treasures or simply want to learn more about this unique corner of California, don't miss today's journey into geocaching and grassroots preservation!DISCUSSION00:00 "Retiring to Newberry Springs"06:06 Mrs. Orcutt's Unique New Life09:22 Highway Development Landlock Issues12:01 "Highway Boosted Her Visitability"14:22 "Camping Misadventure with a 1978 Dodge Polara."22:10 "History & Geocaching Chat"LEARN MORETo learn more about NSEDA, visit their website at https://www.nseda.net/.To learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Pistachio Festival, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/ or on these social sites:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/Car & Driver: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15385694/mrs-orcutts-driveway-204-mph-on-a-double-nickel-road-page-1Geocaching: https://www.geocaching.com/. To get started, create a free geocaching account and download the official Geocaching® app or use a GPS device.NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSBrian Fisher, Mrs. Orcutt's Homestead, Geocaching, NSEDA, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, Route 66 Centennial, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#BrianFisher #MrsOrcuttsHomestead #Geocaching #NSEDA #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #Route66Centennial #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterviewMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Head coach Gavin Hickie joins the pod to talk about another outstanding season for Navy men's rugby, which is ranked second nationally going into the Division 1A national championship playoffs. We also talk to Navy football coach Brian Newberry about his plan to take over defensive play-calling duties. Newberry also discusses some of the recent promotions and hires he made.
Thanks for joining Jill Baughan today on Finding Joy ...No Matter What. Make a Joy Box for Someone You Care About: https://jillbaughan.com/joy-box/ Baughan, Jill. No Matter What: 90 Devotions for Experiencing Unexpected Joy in Tough Times. Our Daily Bread Publishers, 2025. https://www.amazon.com/Matter-What-Devotions-Experiencing-Unexpected/dp/1640703969/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?crid=2P84MZ9ZHR8GP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tntQJ9EM7blGaZoioVbqX6I_0yYOKo8tdykCW8iK-uAvkXQk9Ry0lpqv5B5AbILG2ukb9dFrb2IXoEgQqylefy1nbqk0864loTgd-KtpMP4.n3_3ScZp85susbWQjitYEXe9t2G22Lh_kSGcJ0-dWF8&dib_tag=se&keywords=jill+baughan+book&qid=1740769177&sprefix=jill+baughan%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-2-fkmr0 Newberry, Tommy. 40 Days to Living a Joy-Filled Life. Tyndale House Publishers, 2012. Connect with Jill: Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Website
On this episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series, we're continuing our series with Newberry Springs, California, a unique community nestled along the historic Route 66. We're speaking with locals and community leaders like Ton Forbes, an energetic force behind the Route 66 Centennial planning committee. Ton shares her journey from Orange County to becoming an integral part of Newberry Springs, describing what drew her to this vibrant, nature-filled desert town and how she became involved with its iconic landmarks, such as the Baghdad Cafe and the local garden club. Ton highlights the nostalgia, history, and small-town spirit that make Newberry Springs a must-visit, especially as the town gears up for an unforgettable centennial celebration of the “Mother Road.” Get ready to step back in time and experience the charm and community spirit that define Newberry Springs and Route 66.DISCUSSION00:00 "Route 66 Centennial Spotlight"04:35 "The Bagdad Cafe Movie, The Barn, Garden Club, and the Community"06:58 "Planning the May 2nd Birthday Bash, the Time-Traveling Car Show."09:42 Come Celebrate the Route 66 CentennialLEARN MORETo learn about Newberry Springs, CA, the Route 66 Big Birthday Bash, the Garden Club, and much more, visit the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce at https://newberryspringschamber.com/ or on these social sites:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewberrySpringsChamberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbsp_chamberofcommerce/To learn more about NSEDA, visit their website at https://www.nseda.net/.The Mother Road e-Newsletter: https://motherroadnewsletter.com/newsletter/The World Famous Historical Bagdad Café: https://bagdad-cafe-usa.com/ IMDB | Bagdad Café: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095801/NEXT STEPSVisit us at https://outdooradventureseries.com to like, comment, and share our episodes.KEYWORDSTon Forbes, The Barn, The Bagdad Cafe, Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, NSEDA, Route 66 Centennial, Wonder Hussy, Outdoor Adventure Series, Podcast Interview#TonForbes #TheBarn #TheBagdadCafe #NewberrySpringsChamberofCommerce #NSEDA #Route66Centennial #WonderHussy #OutdoorAdventureSeries #PodcastInterviewMy Favorite Podcast Tools: Production by DescriptHosting BuzzsproutShow Notes by CastmagicWebsite powered by PodpageBe a Podcast Guest by PodMatchBanner Customization by Nano Banana & Canva
Is Glinda's side of Wicked memory-based? And why is she so darn optimistic? This episode, Shoshana is joined by actor and singer Jennafer Newberry, best known for serving as the Glinda standby in the Broadway production of Wicked after previously playing Glinda on the national tour. In addition to her performing career, Newberry is also a musical theatre faculty member at the New York Film Academy. The main conversation dives into Glinda's character arc in Wicked, exploring the idea that the story may be Glinda's memory-based retelling of Elphaba's life. Shoshana and Newberry unpack Glinda's privileged optimism at Shiz University, the comic brilliance of “Popular,” and how songs like “Dancing Through Life,” “One Short Day,” and “Thank Goodness” reveal her gradual transformation. They also discuss the emotional weight of “For Good” and the leadership role Glinda ultimately steps into by the end of the story. In the “Why Is This So Good?” segment, they analyze “Agony” from Into the Woods, exploring how Stephen Sondheim uses humor, structure, and character to elevate the song into one of musical theater's great comedic duets. Music featured: “Popular” from Wicked “Dancing Through Life” from Wicked “One Short Day” from Wicked “Thank Goodness” from Wicked “For Good” from Wicked “Agony” from Into the Woods You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you'd like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong Be sure to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter at http://scenetosong.substack.com and consider supporting the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/scenetosong . The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.
In revelations, Harrison provides answers to questions we never knew to ask. He reveals the great secret we have kept from ourselves.Follow Harrison on IG: harrisonviersFollow Joseph Federico on IG: josephfedericoBuy Harrison Viers Newberry's books on Amazon: https://a.co/d/01VXUoEl
Listen as Diana Newberry shares the powerful Word of God in this series, "Who's Your Neighbor".
Listen as Diana Newberry shares the powerful Word of God in this series, "Who's Your Neighbor".
Buy back your time or stay stuck — Nathan Newberry reveals why most entrepreneurs unknowingly buy themselves a job instead of building a business. After leading sales teams past $1M/month, Nathan created the AI Freedom Method: a proven buyback principle that helps coaches and business owners escape the 10–30K plateau without burnout. Struggling to scale without sacrificing your life? Nathan breaks down the 4 core skills every entrepreneur must master, how to use AI and delegation to reclaim your freedom, why 95% of your focus should go to marketing and sales first, the time audit strategy that exposes hidden revenue leaks, and how to build systems that run even when you don't. Ideal for entrepreneurs and executives ready to stop being the bottleneck and start building a business that works without them. Nathan shares the exact productivity strategies and AI automation frameworks behind his 16-week transformation program.
Geoffrey Long of Long Story Farms joins Jason to talk about what it actually takes to build a working farmstead part-time, the real challenges of scaling production and finding local markets, and why he thinks a permanent storefront can do what farmers' markets can't. We also get into his philosophy around local economies, community resilience, and why he believes people with skills and agency are better positioned more than most for whatever comes next.Geoffrey Long runs Long Story Farms in Newberry, South Carolina, where he raises Jersey cows, pigs, laying hens, ducks, and turkeys on 130 acres while maintaining a nine-year-old food forest and holding down a full-time corporate job. He's also spent the last three years renovating a historic building on Main Street to open Farms on Main, a local food grocery and zero-waste refillery focused on low food miles and minimal packaging.instagram.com/longstoryfarmscfacebook.com/longstoryfarmsx.com/longstoryfarms
Clean Made Simple: Natural Toxin-Free Living with guest Beth Newberry, Advocate and Platinum Ambassador, Pure Haven Some of the most heavily-marketed and highly-recognized name brand consumer products today are formulated with toxic chemical ingredients. When these pollutants find their way into the air and water around us, they harm healthy ecosystems? How can we make non-toxic consumer product choices that are more earth-friendly? My guest, Beth Newberry, will help answer these questions and give practical tips for reading ingredient labels. Newberry is a Platinum Ambassador for Pure Haven. She started her foray into non-toxic living 16 years ago when her middle son, Liam was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. She began reading labels on her products and researching the ingredients and realized that many conventional products contain neurotoxins. This drove her passion to educate others on the same topic, and she began supporting more families with switching out to non-toxic alternatives. In addition to her work at Pure Haven, Newberry also chairs the Groundwater Protection Committee in her town of North Smithfield, Rhode Island. Consumers are making healthier choices with regards to food. Making healthier choices with respect to household cleaning and personal care product choices is a natural next step. INFORMATION RESOURCES Shop Pure Haven products through Wendy's portal to support the Story Walking Radio Hour https://purehavennontox.com/collections/body-care?share=wendyfachon Pure Haven bug off spray is a safe, non toxic insect-repelling spray. 4 fl oz. https://purehavennontox.com/products/bug-off-spray?share=wendyfachon Pure Haven body sunscreen lotion is reef-safe with non-nanoparticle zinc oxide, a physical sunblock that provides broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. 3 oz https://purehavennontox.com/products/body-sunscreen-lotion?share=wendyfachon Pure Haven boo boo stick is made with organic neem seed oil and organic tea tree essential oil for healing, pain-relief and antimicrobial treatment of cuts, scrapes and skin irritations. 0.5 oz https://purehavennontox.com/products/boo-boo-stick?share=wendyfachon Learn more from Beth Newberry on instagram https://www.instagram.com/clean_made_simple/ RELATED EPISODE Download Wendy's 2021 episode with guest Beth Newberry, Non-toxic Personal Care Choices for Clean Water https://dreamvisions7radio.com/non-toxic-personal-care Subscribe to Wendy's substack to receive notifications of new podcast and product releases -https://storywalkerwendy.substack.com/ Purchase Wendy's book, The Angel Heart - https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Heart-Wendy-Nadherny-Fachon/dp/1967270279/ref=sr_1_1 Read about DIPG: Eternal Hope Versus Terminal Corruption by Dean Fachon begin to uncover the truth about cancer - https://dipgbook.com/ Learn more at https://netwalkri.com email storywalkerwendy@gmail.com or call 401 529-6830. Connect with Wendy to order copies of Fiddlesticks, The Angel Heart or Storywalker Wild Plant Magic Cards. Subscribe to Wendy's blog Writing with Wendy at www.wendyfachon.blog. Join Wendy on facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/StoryWalkingRadio
In this special members preview episode, we explore powerful firsthand accounts from three individuals whose experiences stretch across Michigan, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Each witness shares deeply personal encounters that have stayed with them for decades, offering vivid glimpses into moments that changed how they view the woods forever.From the forests near Atlanta in Montmorency County, Michigan, one man reflects on a 1986 mushroom hunting trip that turned into an unforgettable encounter near a quiet creek. What began as a peaceful afternoon quickly became something far more profound, leaving him and his family questioning what they had witnessed.In Kentucky, a childhood turkey hunt along the Nolin River near Bear Creek became a moment that still stands crystal clear in memory. A presence only feet away. A sound that has never been forgotten. A split second that continues to echo years later.And in South Carolina, a lifelong outdoorsman shares experiences that began on his family's sprawling rural property in the 1970s and followed him into adulthood. A later hunting trip near Interstate 26 in Newberry County would deliver a sighting through a rifle scope that permanently altered his relationship with the outdoors.These accounts are thoughtful, detailed, and grounded in decades of lived experience. This preview only scratches the surface of what's shared in the full episode.Note: To get this full episode (and tomorrow's episode) early and ad-free then become a supporting member over at https://www.bigfootsocietypodcast.com OR become a Youtube member by tapping the JOIN button.
On Friday's show, Steve went live from Miami ahead of the baseball series against the Hurricanes this weekend. He hosted many callers from Arkansas, Miami and local highschools Hawthorne, Williston, and Newberry. Steve also talked on the upcoming game against Arkansas on College GameDay and the ranked softball matchup against UCLA.
Mentoring the next generation shouldn't feel dangerous… but in today's culture, even good intentions can be misunderstood.So how do you mentor kids without getting accused?In this powerful conversation with Jeff and Tina Newberry, we break down how to mentor safely, biblically, and with integrity, while protecting both the child and yourself. If you're a parent, pastor, coach, youth leader, or business owner pouring into the next generation, this episode is for you.We talk about:Why mentoring feels risky in today's cultureHealthy boundaries that protect everyoneWhy accountability partners matter more than mentorsThe 80/20 leadership principle that multiplies impactThe 7 lies Satan tells kids — and how to combat them with truthLeaving a legacy IN your kids, not just an inheritance FOR themIf you care about raising strong, grounded, kingdom leaders, don't miss this one.Follow I Like Birds for more real conversations on faith, leadership, and culture.Share this episode with one parent, mentor, or leader who needs it.Connect with Tina and Jeff Newberry here:https://www.raisingleadersforlife.com/Check out their courses here:https://leadersforlifecourses.thinkific.com/collectionsGet the book here:https://a.co/d/07iKakgD––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contactBook a paid 1 on 1 stategy call for your podcast: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/1-on-1-strategy-call-for-podcast-launch-and-growth Want to hear more about Zach's podcast coaching program: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/the-power-of-the-pod-discovery-call Launch, grow, and scale your podcast FREE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ADMIvLFDyAc?si=NN4kw-NOfzU7c3qc Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: https://www.gigsalad.com/zach_rippey-christian_comedian_speaker_alva
In today's episode, I sit down with Sarah Newberry Moore, a U.S. Olympian in Sailing, for an honest conversation about navigating change, both in sport and in life. We talk about what it means to evolve as an athlete and a human, especially when identity, goals, and capacity shift over time. Sarah shares her experiences with growth, self-awareness, and learning to listen more closely to her body and intuition. We explore the tension many athletes feel between pushing forward and pulling back, and how redefining success can open the door to more sustainable, fulfilling performance. This episode highlights the importance of adaptability, self-trust, and letting go of rigid expectations in favor of long-term health and alignment. This conversation is for anyone who's in a season of transition, whether that's stepping into a new role, rethinking their relationship with training, or simply trying to find steadiness amid change. It's a reminder that progress doesn't always look linear, and that practicing brave often means allowing yourself to grow into the next version of who you are. Connect with Sarah:
Most high-income earners assume their tax situation is handled once they hire a CPA and start filing. The return gets done, nothing breaks, and it's easy to believe that if something mattered, it would already be happening. But that assumption quietly costs people money. Not because they're reckless or aggressive, but because compliance gets mistaken for strategy, and basic leverage never gets activated. Zach Newberry works with business owners and real estate investors who earn well, and still find themselves on the wrong side of the tax game. What he sees over and over isn't missed loopholes or exotic strategies. It's small, obvious decisions that never get made: spending a few thousand dollars to unlock meaningful capital, revisiting structures that no longer fit, and using rules that already apply but are never deployed. His perspective reframes taxes as a capital allocation problem, not a paperwork exercise. Instead of focusing on what gets filed, he looks at what gets converted, dollars that would disappear versus dollars that stay in play for the next investment. In this episode, we talk about why small, inconvenient costs often unlock real leverage, where high earners miss money long before "strategy" even starts, and how rules like the Augusta Rule fit into real life when you understand how to use them. About the Guest Zachary Newberry is a CPA, tax planner, and entrepreneur who works primarily with business owners and real estate investors. His practice focuses on helping clients move beyond basic tax compliance and use the tax code intentionally — connecting entity structure, real estate, income timing, and planning decisions in a way that supports long-term wealth building. He works with real estate investors, real estate-centric businesses, small to mid-sized companies, and high-income individuals. In addition to tax preparation, Zach provides ongoing tax planning and advisory services, accounting and bookkeeping oversight, and strategic consulting for clients who want their tax decisions to function as part of their broader financial and investment strategy — not just something that gets filed once a year. Email Address - zach@newberrycpa.com Instagram - @newberrycpa Facebook Business Page - https://www.facebook.com/zachnewberrycpa Booking Link - https://go.oncehub.com/ZachNewberry About Your Host From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America's #1 Money Mentor with a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is the founder of The Money School™ and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier. His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works. Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans, delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.
Bonus Episode: This conversation originally aired on the Horse Person Podcast, hosted by Caroline Culbertson, and we're bringing it over to the In Stride feed for you to enjoy.In this episode of the Horse Person Podcast, Caroline sits down with equine veterinarian Dr. Erica Lacher to talk about where horse owners should (and shouldn't) spend their money when it comes to care and management. They cover everything from hoof care, tack and equipment to supplements, daily habits, and bodywork. Dr. Lacher explains how to build a smart, effective care plan without a high-performance budget.Dr. Erica Lacher is an equine veterinarian and the owner of Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic in Newberry, Florida. Known for her horse-first approach, she is passionate about educating owners, promoting long-term soundness, and helping horses have comfortable, successful careers through thoughtful management and informed care decisions.Want to hear more from the Horse Person Podcast? Hosted by Caroline Culbertson, the show creates a supportive space for curious, thoughtful conversations about the many realities of life with horses, without judgment. You can find the Horse Person Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.Want to hear more from Dr. Lacher? Her eight-part program, Horse Health Essentials, dives deeper into the everyday decisions that keep horses sound and thriving. Use code POD35 for 35% off and learn more at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health.