Podcasts about Northern Lights

This week The Boys discuss watches, quickly disappearing fads and MORTAL COMBAT as they take on chapter twenty of the Northern Lights! It's gonna be a slobberknocker! Join our Patreon and get access to our Patreon exclusive show "Films Cool!" for as little as $3 a month!https://www.patreon.com/twodustyboysEmail us at twodustyboys@gmail.comDon't forget to rate, review, and leave a comment for us on the platform of your choice. Thanks! We love you!Content warning: Not Safe for work or children... unless they're coolIntro and outro music provided by, respectively:"I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"I Got a Stick Feat James Gavins" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Send a textIt's a very special episode today because my guest is someone I really do love, even though I've only known him for a matter of weeks. His name is Einar Thorsteinsson, and he was the wonderful, wonderful guide on my recent trip to Iceland in January. This trip was a first for me, not only because I'd never been to Iceland before, but also because I was hosting the trip - having partnered with Explore Worldwide for a Thrive Solo trip for single women. There were 13 of us from the UK, the Netherlands, and the US, and we had a truly fabulous and really quite special 5 days, not least because we had Einar as our most brilliant, brilliant guide. To put it in context, Einar is a 67 year old, very happily married man with five adult children, and he was given us lot as his group - but I like to think that he loved us as much as we loved him!In this conversation, Einar talks about how and why he became a tour guide for Explore in his retirement years, he talks all about Iceland and why he loves it, and he describes the trip that we did in the south of the country which included waterfalls, beaches, and the Northern Lights. Einar also dishes the dirt on what it was like to be in charge of an unruly group of single women! I bloody love this man, and I know you will too.02:15 Special Guest: Einar Thorsteinsson04:58 Einar's Background and Career07:48 The Iceland Trip Experience13:03 Exploring Iceland's Natural Wonders24:58 Group Dynamics and Reflections31:09 The Magic of the Northern Lights33:47 Magical Night Under the Northern Lights35:25 Managing Expectations for the Northern Lights38:11 Exploring Iceland's Natural Wonders40:59 The Wild Beauty of Iceland's Black Beach44:11 Final Day Adventures and Reflections45:22 Looking Forward to Future Iceland Adventures57:39 Conclusion and Farewell Support the showBuy my book, SHINY HAPPY SINGLES (UK) / THRIVE SOLO (US & Canada) at: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/book Join my membership community for single women, Thrive Solo: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/thrivesolo Download my FREE PDF 'Top 10 Comebacks for the MostAnnoying Questions Single Women Get Asked' Go to: https://www.lucymeggeson.com/comebacks Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivesolowithlucymeggeson Join my private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1870817913309222/?ref=share Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivesolowithlucymeggeson/ Email me: lucy@lucymeggeson.com And thank you so much for listening!

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Mysteries of the Aurora: Unraveling Tromsø's Northern Lights Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-24-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Tromsø lå under en stjerneklar himmel.En: Tromsø lay under a starry sky.No: Den kalde vinternatten omfavnet byen som lå mellom fjell og fjorder, stille og magisk.En: The cold winter night embraced the city nestled between mountains and fjords, quiet and magical.No: Sigrid, en dedikert astrofysiker, sto utenfor et lite observatorium.En: Sigrid, a dedicated astrophysicist, stood outside a small observatory.No: Hennes øyne var festet på himmelen, alltid på jakt etter det uventede i nordlysets dans.En: Her eyes were fixed on the sky, always searching for the unexpected in the dance of the northern lights.No: Hun var fascinert av de siste ukers hendelser.En: She was fascinated by recent weeks' events.No: Aurora borealis hadde vist seg med uvanlige mønstre, svingte og bølget i farger Sigrid aldri hadde sett før.En: Aurora borealis had appeared with unusual patterns, swirling and waving in colors Sigrid had never seen before.No: Det var som om nattehimmelen lekte kunstner, men ingen forstod hvorfor.En: It was as if the night sky was playing artist, but no one understood why.No: Ved hennes side sto Eirik, en erfaren guide med en kjærlighet for naturens undere.En: By her side stood Eirik, an experienced guide with a love for nature's wonders.No: Han hadde sett nordlys mange ganger før, men dette var annerledes.En: He had seen the northern lights many times before, but this was different.No: «Er du sikker på at det er noe nytt?En: "Are you sure it's something new?"No: » spurte han, lett skeptisk.En: he asked, slightly skeptical.No: «Ja, jeg er sikker.En: "Yes, I'm sure.No: Jeg har aldri sett noe slikt i de ti årene jeg har forsket her oppe,» svarte Sigrid bestemt.En: I've never seen anything like this in the ten years I've been researching up here," Sigrid answered decisively.No: Hun visste at for å løse dette mysteriet, måtte hun dra lenger ut, bort fra byens lys.En: She knew that to solve this mystery, she needed to go further out, away from the city's lights.No: De to bestemte seg for å sette opp spesialutstyr på et avsidesliggende, men utsatt område.En: The two decided to set up specialized equipment in a remote, but exposed area.No: Det var risikabelt.En: It was risky.No: Været var uforutsigbart, og ressursene deres var knappe.En: The weather was unpredictable, and their resources were scarce.No: Men Sigrids nysgjerrighet og pågangsmot var sterke drivkrefter.En: But Sigrid's curiosity and determination were strong driving forces.No: I dagene som fulgte, førte flere tunge stormer til at arbeidet deres ble forsinket.En: In the days that followed, several heavy storms delayed their work.No: Lokalsamfunnet så skeptisk på deres innsats.En: The local community looked skeptically at their efforts.No: Noen mente dette bare var en midlertidig raritet, uten betydning.En: Some believed this was just a temporary oddity, without significance.No: Likevel, Sigrid var fast bestemt på å forstå.En: Nevertheless, Sigrid was determined to understand.No: Så en natt, midt under en voldsom solstorm, fikk de en gyllen mulighet.En: Then one night, in the midst of a violent solar storm, they got a golden opportunity.No: Nordlyset eksploderte over himmelen i en forestilling som overgått alt annet.En: The northern lights exploded over the sky in a display that surpassed anything else.No: Fargene danset intenst, på tvers av himmelen i et mønster så intrikat som et vevd teppe.En: The colors danced intensely, across the sky in a pattern as intricate as a woven tapestry.No: Eirik sto ved Sigrids side, og stirret målløst opp.En: Eirik stood by Sigrid's side, staring in awe.No: «Dette er det vakreste jeg noen gang har sett,» sa han stille, forbauset over naturens storslagenhet.En: "This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," he said quietly, amazed by nature's grandeur.No: Sigrid og Eirik jobbet gjennom natten, samlet verdifulle data ved hjelp av utstyret deres.En: Sigrid and Eirik worked through the night, collecting valuable data using their equipment.No: De visste at dette var en enestående mulighet.En: They knew this was a unique opportunity.No: Da lyset sakte ebbet ut, hadde de sikret en skatten av informasjon.En: As the light slowly faded, they had secured a treasure trove of information.No: I dagene etter delte Sigrid sine funn med samfunnet.En: In the days following, Sigrid shared her findings with the community.No: De nye dataene kastet lys over sammenhenger mellom solaktivitet og nordlyset, noe som ga ny forståelse for forskere verden rundt.En: The new data shed light on the connections between solar activity and the northern lights, providing new understanding for scientists worldwide.No: Gradvis vant hun respekt og tillit fra byens innbyggere.En: Gradually, she gained respect and trust from the town's residents.No: Eirik, dypt imponert over Sigrids arbeid, begynte å se vitenskapen i et annet lys.En: Eirik, deeply impressed by Sigrid's work, began to see science in a different light.No: Sammen utforsket de fortsatt himmelens mysterier, nå med større anerkjennelse og støtte fra samfunnet.En: Together, they continued to explore the mysteries of the sky, now with greater recognition and support from the community.No: På denne måten, mens dagslyset sakte vendte tilbake til Tromsø, hadde de ikke bare løst et mysterium, men også funnet en sterkere forbindelse til hverandre og de vidunderlige omgivelsene de var en del av.En: In this way, as daylight slowly returned to Tromsø, they had not only solved a mystery but had also found a stronger connection to each other and the wonderful surroundings they were a part of. Vocabulary Words:starry: stjerneklarembraced: omfavnetnestled: som låastrophysicist: astrofysikerobservatory: observatoriumunexpected: uventedefascinated: fascinertswirling: svingteskeptical: skeptiskdecisively: bestemtmystery: mysterietexposed: utsattunpredictable: uforutsigbartscarce: knappecuriosity: nysgjerrighetdetermination: pågangsmotoddity: raritetsignificance: betydningviolent: voldsomdisplay: forestillingintricate: intrikatwoven: vevdawe: målløstgrandeur: storslagenhetvaluable: verdifullefaded: ebbettreasure trove: skattenunderstanding: forståelserecognition: anerkjennelsesurroundings: omgivelser

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Choosing Wisdom Over Pride: A Winter's Transformation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-02-24-23-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Det var en klar vinternatt i Jukkasjärvi.En: It was a clear winter night in Jukkasjärvi.Sv: Stjärnorna glittrade över snötäckta vidder.En: The stars glittered over the snow-covered expanses.Sv: Vid det magnifika Icehotel bodde Lars, Signe och Björn.En: At the magnificent Icehotel lived Lars, Signe, and Björn.Sv: Hotellet var som en dröm, med rum helt gjorda av snö och is.En: The hotel was like a dream, with rooms entirely made of snow and ice.Sv: Det mjuka ljuset från norrskenet dansade över himlen och gav liv åt de isiga skulpturerna.En: The soft light from the Northern Lights danced across the sky, bringing life to the icy sculptures.Sv: Allt var stilla, nästan magiskt.En: Everything was still, almost magical.Sv: Lars hade alltid älskat vintern.En: Lars had always loved winter.Sv: Han var en entusiastisk skidåkare, men en nylig skidolycka hade satt stopp för hans äventyr.En: He was an enthusiastic skier, but a recent skiing accident had put a stop to his adventures.Sv: Nu vilade han med benet i bandage.En: Now he rested with his leg in a cast.Sv: Signe, hans trogna barndomsvän, var där för att hjälpa.En: Signe, his loyal childhood friend, was there to help.Sv: Hon passade på att följa med Lars, trots hans envishet.En: She took the opportunity to accompany Lars, despite his stubbornness.Sv: Hon var praktisk och brydde sig alltid om hans välbefinnande.En: She was practical and always cared about his well-being.Sv: Björn, en erfaren skidguide som kände fjällen utan och innan, hade räddat honom från olycksplatsen.En: Björn, an experienced skiing guide who knew the mountains inside out, had rescued him from the accident site.Sv: Han var lugn, vis och alltid redo att ge goda råd.En: He was calm, wise, and always ready to give good advice.Sv: Men Lars var otålig.En: But Lars was impatient.Sv: Han ville tillbaka till backarna så snart som möjligt.En: He wanted to get back on the slopes as soon as possible.Sv: En kall morgon satt de tillsammans i en varm isbar.En: One cold morning, they sat together in a warm ice bar.Sv: Björn såg Lars i ögonen och sa, "Du måste ta det lugnt, Lars.En: Björn looked Lars in the eyes and said, "You need to take it easy, Lars.Sv: Om du skyndar dig kan du göra mer skada."En: If you rush, you could do more harm."Sv: Signe nickade.En: Signe nodded.Sv: "Jag håller med.En: "I agree.Sv: Det finns annat du kan göra här än att åka skidor."En: There are other things you can do here than skiing."Sv: Men Lars tänkte på friheten i att susa nerför bergen, vinden mot ansiktet.En: But Lars thought of the freedom of racing down the mountains, the wind against his face.Sv: Han kämpade med sin inre konflikt.En: He struggled with his internal conflict.Sv: Skulle han lyssna på sina vänner, eller ignorera dem och ge sig ut?En: Should he listen to his friends, or ignore them and set out?Sv: En dag stod Lars på toppen av en nybörjarbacke, ensam för ett ögonblick.En: One day, Lars stood at the top of a beginner slope, alone for a moment.Sv: Hans hjärta slog snabbt.En: His heart beat quickly.Sv: Smärtan i benet var skarp men hans stolthet var ännu starkare.En: The pain in his leg was sharp, but his pride was even stronger.Sv: Skulle han våga sig ner, eller lyssna till sitt bättre omdöme?En: Would he dare to go down, or listen to his better judgment?Sv: Då kom Signe och Björn upp bredvid honom.En: Then Signe and Björn came up beside him.Sv: De sa ingenting, men deras närvaro talade tydligt.En: They said nothing, but their presence spoke volumes.Sv: Lars tog ett djupt andetag och vände sig om.En: Lars took a deep breath and turned around.Sv: I det ögonblicket valde han klokheten över stoltheten.En: In that moment, he chose wisdom over pride.Sv: Beslutet fyllde honom med en oväntad lättnad.En: The decision filled him with an unexpected relief.Sv: De gick långsamt ner från backen.En: They slowly walked down from the slope.Sv: Istället för att åka skidor, började Lars uppskatta vinterlandskapets skönhet runt Icehotel.En: Instead of skiing, Lars began to appreciate the winter landscape's beauty around Icehotel.Sv: Han upptäckte glädjen i att bara vara där, tillsammans med sina vänner.En: He discovered the joy in simply being there, together with his friends.Sv: De promenerade längs snöiga stigar och beundrade isskulpturer.En: They walked along snowy paths and admired ice sculptures.Sv: De drack varm lingondricka och skrattade åt minnen.En: They drank warm lingonberry juice and laughed over memories.Sv: Genom att välja att lyssna på sina vänner hade Lars förändrats.En: By choosing to listen to his friends, Lars had changed.Sv: Han insåg att vintern erbjöd så mycket mer än bara snabba åkturer nerför backen.En: He realized that winter offered so much more than just fast rides down the slope.Sv: Nu såg han världen med nya ögon, fylld med tacksamhet.En: Now he saw the world with new eyes, filled with gratitude.Sv: I denna fridfulla vintertillvaro, omgiven av vänner och med hjärtat öppet för nya upplevelser, fann Lars en ny sorts lycka.En: In this peaceful winter existence, surrounded by friends and with his heart open to new experiences, Lars found a new kind of happiness.Sv: Och det var kanske den största upptäckten av alla.En: And perhaps that was the greatest discovery of all. Vocabulary Words:glittered: glittradeexpanses: viddermagnificent: magnifikasculptures: skulpturerenthusiastic: entusiastiskadventure: äventyrcast: bandageloyal: trognastubbornness: envishetwell-being: välbefinnandeexperienced: erfarenguide: skidguiderescue: räddadeimpatient: otåligslope: backeharm: skadafreedom: frihetinternal: inreconflict: konfliktmoment: ögonblickpride: stolthetjudgment: omdömepresence: närvarowisdom: klokhetenrelief: lättnadadmired: beundradegratitude: tacksamhetexistence: tillvaroexperiences: upplevelserhappiness: lycka

Michael Schultz is a wildlife, aurora, and landscape photographer based in Alaska, where vast wilderness and glowing winter skies shape both his life and his work. Featured by National Geographic, Michael is widely recognised for his expertise in photographing the Northern Lights and capturing remote landscapes that feel raw, quiet, and deeply immersive.   Originally drawn to the outdoors rather than photography, Michael found the camera became a way to preserve emotional experiences rather than simply record locations. His work is rooted in honest storytelling, natural light, and a strong connection to place—focusing on how landscapes feel, not just how they look.   In this episode, Michael shares his journey from avid outdoorsman to full-time professional photographer and workshop leader. He discusses the challenges and rewards of long exposure photography, especially in extreme Arctic conditions, and how photographing aurora requires patience, presence, and technical precision.   Michael also reflects on leading small-group photography workshops through Alaska and beyond, helping photographers slow down, connect with nature, and create meaningful images rather than chasing trends. He explores the impact of social media and AI on photography, and why authentic experiences and real human connections remain central to his creative philosophy.   This conversation offers insight into photographing some of the most spectacular natural phenomena on Earth, while staying grounded in purpose, presence, and storytelling. I hope you enjoy the show! You can find Michael's work here: Website: https://www.facetheoutdoorsphotography.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelschultzphotography/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FaceTheOutdoorsAuroraViewingLodge YouTube.com: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwjwLnVQMeEyNs85h4MLHpQ     Listen to this and other episodes wherever you find your podcasts or on https://grantswinbournephotography.com/lpw-podcast Or subscribe to my YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@grantswinbournephotography   Theme music: Liturgy Of The Street by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com   #MichaelSchultz #NorthernLightsPhotography #AuroraPhotography #AlaskaPhotography #LandscapePhotography #WildlifePhotography #LongExposure #NaturePhotography #PhotographyWorkshops #NationalGeographic

Trailer for The Kind Snowman and the Starlight IglooBedtime Story & Guided Meditation Adventure from Mrs. Sweet DreamsThis is the trailer for the longer version available with a Mrs. Sweet Dreams subscription. In this gentle winter‑night episode, Mrs. Sweet Dreams guides children through a peaceful, heartwarming story about kindness, courage, and emotional calm, featuring Nolan the Snowman — a magical snow guardian with a glowing heart of warmth.The snow is quiet tonight, but something is whispering. When Nolan senses worry carried on the wind, he begins a slow and mindful journey through a snowy world of shimmering starlight to help whoever is in need.Your child will meet:✨ Nolan, the kind snowman who listens with his heart✨ Pippa, a nervous little penguin learning to trust her brave breath✨ Baja, a wise polar bear in the singing ice caves✨ A sky filled with swirling Northern Lights that need soothingTogether, they follow glowing clues into icy caverns, still their breath to calm magical mist, and help restore the warmth of the Star Crystal — the shining heart of Pippa's igloo village.This episode gently weaves in guided meditation themes to help children unwind:✔ Slow, comforting breath cues✔ Feeling fear without judgment✔ Calming the body to calm the world✔ Mindful listening✔ Emotional safety✔ Cozy winter imagery that helps children relax for sleepBy the end of the story, the igloos glow warmly again, the Northern Lights rest peacefully across the sky, and children drift into dreams knowing — like Nolan — that kindness, gentleness, and stillness live within them too.A perfect bedtime story for winter nights, anxious moments, or anytime a child needs reassurance and calm.

Hello gang, welcome to the program today. On this extended program, we also tape a live segment for "A day in the Life" where we highlight meetings and catch people up on observations. Preston Gaylor comes on during the last hour, and we move to the independent channel as directed by management when going over. Here is the program playlist, and thanks so much for listening!Set 1:Artist: Graham Lynch; Title: Air of Solitude; Duration: 02:25; Year: 2012; Album: Sound SketchesArtist: Graham Lynch; Title: Watching the Thames; Duration: 01:54; Year: 2012; Album: Sound SketchesArtist: Graham Lynch; Title: Garden with Midnight Owl; Duration: 01:19; Year: 2012; Album: Sound SketchesArtist: Graham Lynch; Title: Summer Dance; Duration: 01:28; Year: 2012; Album: Sound SketchesArtist: Graham Lynch; Title: Stormrider; Duration: 01:55; Year: 2012; Album: Sound SketchesArtist: Graham Lynch; Title: Absence; Duration: 02:39; Year: 2012; Album: Sound SketchesSet 2:Artist: Ion; Title: Future Forever; Duration: 09:11; Year: 2007; Album: Future ForeverArtist: Ion; Title: Minerva; Duration: 05:14; Year: 2007; Album: Future ForeverArtist: Ion; Title: Flying Over Blue Waters; Duration: 05:22; Year: 2007; Album: Future ForeverArtist: Ion; Title: Soylent Green Part 2; Duration: 05:53; Year: 2007; Album: Future ForeverSet 3:Artist: Cleveland Wehle; Title: Clare Island; Duration: 06:49; Year: 2009; Album: Solace - Music for Deep RelaxationArtist: Cleveland Wehle; Title: Hannah's Pond; Duration: 10:17; Year: 2009; Album: Solace - Music for Deep RelaxationArtist: Cleveland Wehle; Title: Solace - Return; Duration: 02:26; Year: 2009; Album: Solace - Music for Deep RelaxationArtist: Cleveland Wehle; Title: Moon Garden; Duration: 02:57; Year: 2009; Album: Solace - Music for Deep RelaxationArtist: Jj Heller; Title: Grow; Duration: 03:10; Year: 2007; Album: The Pretty & the PlainArtist: Jj Heller; Title: When You Come Back; Duration: 01:25; Year: 2007; Album: The Pretty & the PlainArtist: Jj Heller; Title: Why Is It Colder; Duration: 03:30; Year: 2007; Album: The Pretty & the PlainArtist: Jj Heller; Title: You Tell Me So; Duration: 03:12; Year: 2007; Album: The Pretty & the PlainArtist: Mannheim Steamroller; Title: Catching Snowflakes On Your Tongue; Duration: 03:48; Album: Christmas SongArtist: Mannheim Steamroller; Title: Masters in This Hall; Duration: 02:39; Album: Christmas SongArtist: Mannheim Steamroller; Title: Above the Northern Lights; Duration: 04:16; Album: Christmas SongArtist: Mannheim Steamroller; Title: Christmas Lullaby (feat. Olivia Newton-John); Duration: 03:46; Album: Christmas SongSet 4:Artist: Gopal; Title: Dawn at the Temple; Duration: 02:33; Year: 2010; Album: Depth of my HeartArtist: Gopal; Title: Where Sky and Ocean Meet; Duration: 03:40; Year: 2010; Album: Depth of my HeartArtist: Gopal; Title: Depth of My Heart; Duration: 03:41; Year: 2010; Album: Depth of my HeartThis will complete today's program, thanks so much for listening!

If your mind feels restless at night or your body won't fully relax, this guided sleep hypnosis is designed for you. Set beneath the glow of the Northern Lights, this session uses progressive muscle relaxation and gentle sleep talk-down techniques to release tension and quiet anxious thoughts. The pacing is slow and steady, with intentional pauses that help your nervous system settle naturally. Ideal before bed after a stressful day, this journey leaves you calmer, lighter, and ready to drift into deep, restorative sleep.

The Cardigans' bassist Magnus Sveningsson joins me from Sweden! The hitmakers behind "Lovefool" had a lot of 90's success, and were featured on many 90's movie soundtracks. Magnus and I discuss his metal roots, the Northern Lights, Sweden & Canada's similarities, introduce our cats, 90210, his solo projects, and some hockey talk.

《今天應該很高興》電影團隊訪問5：黃秋生【One Guest Talk】(02.19.2026) 主持：Regent / Maggie少有的港產西片，全片在加拿大多倫多取景。電影將於15/1在香港獻映，美加亦會於2月春節上映。♛ 黃秋生×譚耀文×楊詩敏×李綺虹×鮑起靜 共譜加國移民心靈群像♛ 入圍【金馬獎】最佳男配角 黃秋生♛ 入選【香港亞洲電影節】隆重呈獻單元 亞洲首映♛ 入選【溫哥華國際電影節】Northern Lights單元♛ 入選【多倫多亞洲國際電影節】監製｜#徐寶華 李麗琪導演｜#楊永光 演員｜#黃秋生 譚耀文 楊詩敏 李綺虹 鮑起靜@finch.and.midland.movie.hk@finchandmidlandthemovie今天應該很高興 FinchAndMidland#溫哥華podcast #廣東話 #廣東話podcast #onenighttalk #onenightalk604 #oneguesttalk 加入 ONT 討論台與主持展開激情對話：t.me/onenighttalk604linktr.ee/Onenighttalkwww.threads.net/@onenighttalk604

This week The Boys drop bars on bears while they discuss chapter nineteen of Northern Lights! Join our Patreon and get access to our Patreon exclusive show "Films Cool!" for as little as $3 a month!https://www.patreon.com/twodustyboysEmail us at twodustyboys@gmail.comDon't forget to rate, review, and leave a comment for us on the platform of your choice. Thanks! We love you!Content warning: Not Safe for work or children... unless they're coolIntro and outro music provided by, respectively:"I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"I Got a Stick Feat James Gavins" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

The alleged affair between DHS Sec. Kristi Noem and her advisor Corey Lewandowski is reportedly making life hell for their staffers, President Obama backpedaled after telling a podcaster that aliens are real, and you should think twice before taking nutrition advice from the chatbot on the new HHS website. Beloved actress Jennifer Garner knows how to live life to the fullest, whether it's taking her mom to Canada to see the Northern Lights, or enjoying the unique pleasures of a snow day in New York City. Watch the Season Two premiere of “The Last Thing He Told Me” this Friday on AppleTV.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skandinavian Folklore and Feast Days.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Syv Slags Kaker. (or, Seven Sorts of  Cookies)December 22nd – Evening, Five Days LaterJorunn said, “Well, Gunnar, we are back at our starting point, and this concludes the tour. We got off to a rough start on the first day, but since then, I have enjoyed spending time with you. After my mom got divorced, I stopped dating. Sure, I went out in mixed groups with my friends, but I cannot remember the last time I went somewhere, by myself, with a man. The divorce made me lose all confidence and trust in men. Why enter a relationship, and give my heart to a man, knowing it is going to fail? My father hurt my mother and me so badly, that neither of us have recovered. You were so wonderful to me this week, and showed me that not all men are like my father.”Jorunn looked at me with pleading eyes, “I don’t want this tour to end. I don’t want you to leave. Can you please stay in Oslo at least a few more days?”Jorunn didn’t want me to go. And I didn’t want to leave her either. I replied, “Jorunn, I cannot think of anyone or any place I would rather be than here in Oslo, with you.”Jorunn said, “It’s still early enough that we may be able to find seating without a reservation. I know a great place for seafood.”“Lead on,” I replied.Jorunn and I discussed the now-completed tour while enjoying a delicious dinner at a small kafé. I offered suggestions for the tour, but otherwise let her know I enjoyed seeing Norway, and I told her what a wonderful guide she was. After returning to America, I promised to recommend her tours to everyone I knew.As I looked over the dessert menu, I asked Jorunn, “I’m willing to stay a few more days. Are there any other Norwegian Christmas traditions or activities worth doing over the next few days?”“If you put down that dessert menu, there is one called Syv Slags Kaker. I baked seven kinds of cookies to celebrate Jul. If you come to my house, we can have coffee and you can sample all seven kinds.”“That sounds great,” I replied. Jorunn was inviting me to her home. She was beautiful and funny, and I admit I developed fantasies about her as I watched her vlog videos back in the nursing home. Heck, I even created new fantasies over the last week. She was much warmer toward me at the end of the tour. In Tromsø, we shared a blanket as we rode in a sleigh pulled by an actual reindeer. But after the Nutcracker ballet, I held back and did not cross any lines. Could a 56-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have a sexual relationship? I managed to keep up with Jorunn all week and didn’t see any reason not to. I reached below the table to carefully re-position myself before standing up.We made our way to the Train Station and rode to Jorunn’s neighborhood. As we walked to her house, I noticed many homes with a lighted star in one of the windows.“What are those stars,” I asked.“They are a tradition in Norway. A star is lit on the first Sunday of Advent to help guide the Three Wise Men.”We stopped in front of a modest house. There was no star in the window, but I saw sheaves of oats hung from one of the trees. I was familiar with the tradition of putting out something for the birds in the frigid days of December. As we stepped inside, I was suddenly surprised. “Hi, Mom! I would like you to meet Gunnar Larsen.”“Good evening, Mr. Larsen. Jorunn has been sending me text messages all week about your exciting travels. I hope you enjoyed your tour. My name is Leah.”This was not what I expected. I hoped to be alone with Jorunn. The family resemblance was striking and quite apparent. Leah’s straight hair was a bit shorter than Jorunn’s but matched her daughter’s pure blonde color. Her blue eyes stood out from her attractive face. She was wearing a multi-colored Norwegian Dale sweater and green trousers. I possessed absolutely no experience telling how old Norwegian women are. She must be in her forties but looked younger.I said, “I enjoyed Jorunn’s tour very much. Your daughter is quite talented in many ways. Please, call me Gunnar.”Jorunn said, “Gunnar was asking about other Jul traditions and activities here in Norway over Christmas. I thought Syv Slags Kaker would be a good one, and your cookies are the best ones in Oslo. I’ll make us some coffee.”Leah looked at me, “Please sit Gunnar. How much longer will you be staying in Norway?”I replied, “About two more weeks. I wanted to celebrate the New Year here before returning to America.”I talked about the completed tour, and she seemed interested enough that I rambled on.“I really enjoyed visiting Lillehammer. It brought back memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, probably my favorite one. The music was fantastic, and the woman who sang the Olympic Hymn at the opening ceremony possessed such a wonderful voice.”Leah replied, “Her name is Sissel Kyrkjebø. She is still extremely popular today, and we consider her a national treasure. I was 18 at the time, and worked at those Olympics.”“I’d love to hear more about that,” I replied. “It was nice to see many of the venues still being used. I also enjoyed the Olympic Museum in Maihaugen, which told the history of the 1994 Olympics. I was surprised to learn that Norway has won more Olympic medals than any other country. But the highlight for me was riding the chairlift to the top of the Lysgårdsbakkene ski jump. The views were amazing. I can’t imagine anyone being brave enough to make such a jump.”“I agree with you on that!” laughed Leah.I continued, “We also flew to Tromsø, and I got to see the Northern Lights. We can sometimes see them in southern Minnesota, but they were much more impressive here with the clear Norwegian air. Jorunn and I took a ride in a sleigh, pulled by actual reindeer. Reindeer are much larger than I thought. We visited a Sami farm, where we ate reindeer stew and learned about the Sami culture.”“I’ve never been, but I hear it’s really fun,” replied Leah.“Bærums Verk was also a highlight. You may already know that the town dates to the 1600s. I loved the old buildings and cobbled streets. Although the Christmas Market was small, I found it unique, with artisans selling handmade crafts. It was nice to see the old crafts like glassblowing, ironwork, and woodworking.”Jorunn returned with a large tray, holding coffee and cookies, and we began sampling.Leah asked, “Did you take Gunnar to Pepperkakebyen in Bergen? It’s a marvelous gingerbread village in my hometown. There are over 200 small gingerbread houses, and with the tiny lights turned on, it looks so real.”Jorunn replied, “A week goes by quickly, mamma. There is only so much time. The gingerbread houses are very nice, and I have fond memories of going there with you.”As we continued talking and munching cookies, I looked around at the decorations. There was an advent calendar, wreaths, angels, gnomes called nisse, hearts, stars, and candles. The decorations looked more natural, perhaps a bit less commercialized than in America. There was a real tree, complete with its wonderful pine smell, a star at the top, garland, tinsel, ornaments, and white lights.I looked at Leah, “I noticed that you don’t have a Christmas star in the window as many of the other houses do.”Leah replied, “I found my former husband in bed with another woman. I immediately divorced him. Among the many things he took from Jorunn and I, was our Christmas Star.”Leah sounded deeply hurt and from more than just the missing star. After tasting the last of the seven cookies, Leah asked how I liked them. “The waffle-like Krumkaker was probably my favorite. We tried making them in Minnesota, but yours turned out so much better. And, of course, the Pepperkaker gingerbread stars were great.” I held up another cookie and said, “I don’t know the name of this one, but it was also excellent.”Leah replied, “That one is Serinakaker, a Norwegian butter cookie.”I realized the inevitable, “It is getting late. Thank you both, Leah and Jorunn, for a wonderful evening. I need to get back to my hotel and figure out what to do over the next few days.”I saw Jorunn look at her mother, who nodded. As I stood up, Leah did too. “Nonsense, Gunnar. I won’t have it. Come, spend Christmas with Jorunn and me! Nearly everything in Oslo shuts down in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and stays closed until the 27th. No restaurants or shops will be open. I have an unused bedroom upstairs. Come celebrate Jul with us.”I caught the signal between mother and daughter and wondered if this was pre-planned. But spending Christmas alone in my hotel sounded almost as bad as spending it alone in the nursing home. It was an easy decision. “I accept.”Leah said, “Good. I’ll stop by your hotel tomorrow and help you move your things. Perhaps we can have lunch as well at one of the restaurants along Karl Johans gate.”“It would be my pleasure, ” I replied. “Let’s say, about 11:00 AM”Little Christmas EveDecember 23rd - MorningIt was December 23rd, known in Norway as Lille Julaften. Spending Christmas with Leah and Jorunn created a problem for me. I needed to find at least one Christmas present for each, just in case they bought a gift for me. I got up early and headed out to search. Reflecting on last night, and indeed, the last week, it ended up being far simpler than I feared. I soon found a gift for each, along with reusable cloth gift bags in Christmas colors.I heard a knock on my hotel door and opened it. Leah stood there, holding a coat over her arm. She was wearing a traditional Norwegian folk costume called a bunad. Her blonde hair, simply styled, was highlighted by two attractive braids.I smiled and said, “What a pleasant surprise. You look like you just stepped out of a fairy tale.”She looked past me into the messy room, then took a step toward me and surprised me with a kiss on my cheek. She stepped back and started laughing. “It didn’t work. I am a fairy tale princess, but you are still a frog! It looks like we have some work to do cleaning up your lily pad.”As Leah entered the room, I said, “I already packed a small bag, enough for a few days.”Leah walked over to the pile of clothes from my week-long trip. She picked up a shirt and sniffed it. Then she pulled a wool sweater out from the pile. “Keep your wool sweaters away from the rest of your dirty clothes. Wool is harder to clean and may pick up the smell. Let me see what else you packed.”Leah dumped out my small gym bag onto the bed and then began tossing things aside. “This won’t do. We need to take all of your clothes back to my house and wash them.”Fond memories returned. Whenever we went on a trip, Solveig would always dump out my suitcase and re-load it with other clothes. Solvieg would also pick out clothes for me to wear whenever we dressed to go out to weddings or a party.Leah said, “Don’t expect me to wash them for you. I have other things to do to get ready for Christmas. You’ll have enough free time you can wash them yourself. We will gather everything up after we come back from lunch.”What a woman! I can see where Jorunn inherited her strong personality. We left my hotel, and Leah took me to one of her favorite kafés. As we walked, Leah’s bunad drew eyes, and attracted smiles, as if she were a magnet. As we waited for our food, I asked Leah about her bunad.Leah replied, “I don’t get to wear my bunad very often. I usually wear it for National Day in May, and for weddings and baptisms, but I haven’t been to many of those lately. Christmas is also an acceptable time to wear it.”Leah wore the traditional white blouse with a silver neckpin. Her vest was bright red with a handmade breastplate. Her navy skirt was trimmed with intricate embroidery, and covered in front by a white apron. Around her waist and running down the front was a decorative handwoven belt.“I grew up east of Bergen, in the Hardanger region, so my bunad is in the Hardanger style. While details may vary, you can tell where someone is from by which style of bunad they are wearing. It would not be proper to choose a bunad from a different region simply because you prefer a different color.”“That’s a lovely silver brooch you have on. It looks very old.”“It was my grandmother’s. Norwegians have a spiritual connection to silver, and silver brooches are handed down for many generations. One day, it will be Jorunn’s.”The food was excellent. I have not eaten a bad meal here in Norway. Leah was a great conversationalist, and she freely shared her humor and wit. Her stories from the 1994 Olympics were fascinating, and even though Jorunn and I were just there, I wanted to go back. I learned Leah worked as a radiology technician at a local hospital here in Oslo and took the entire holiday off. The meal finished too quickly, and we returned to my hotel.As we gathered my assorted clothing, I saw one of my socks on the floor, so I walked around Leah to pick it up. Turning quickly, I found myself face-to-face with her. We stared at each other for a moment, then moved at the same time. Our lips came together, and we kissed. Not a gentle kiss, but a passionate one, long and deep. Intentions were clear on both sides.We separated. Leah said, “I have not had sex since divorcing my husband nearly three years ago. That bastard took away more than my Christmas Star, he took away my trust in men. I am forty-seven years old. I never go out on dates, because I’m afraid to open my heart again to another man. Jorunn texted me every night for the past week and would send short videos she took during the day. She kept repeating how much fun she was having with you, and how nice a man you are. I know it sounds funny, but after watching and reading what Jorunn sent me, I feel like I already know you, and have made it past the first date. I know you lost the woman you loved. I cannot replace her in your heart, but if you are ready, I would like to share mine.”This was unexpected. “When I was in Minnesota, I watched Jorunn’s vlog almost every night. She is so sweet and funny and does such an excellent job. Even though I never met Jorunn, I felt like I knew her. To use your dating analogy, it’s one of the reasons I picked her as a tour guide. I felt comfortable with Jorunn and was too afraid to trust another tour company. When I came to Norway, I left my past behind. It is time for me to find something, or someone, to love.”Our bodies came together, and our lips re-joined. Any fears of rejection vanished as I locked my lips onto those of this beautiful Norwegian woman. Our tongues danced with each other, while our hands moved quickly over each other’s bodies.“Help me take off my bunad,” pleaded Leah.Together, we unclasped, unbuckled, unbuttoned, and untied, removing one layer at a time of the intricate bunad and laying it over a chair. It was like slowly opening the best Christmas present I have ever gotten, as more of Leah’s body slowly revealed itself to me. Her breasts were small, but firm, and went well with her slender frame. I forgot how delicate a woman’s features are, and Leah’s body was perfect in every way. Below her waist, I found a mound of pure blonde hair, barely darker than the color on her head.“I have no other words, you are truly a gorgeous woman, Leah.”“Thank you, Gunnar. Now it’s my turn to have fun.”Leah approached me. With small steps, she moved gracefully. She lifted my pullover shirt, pausing as it obscured my eyes. “Don’t take your shirt off. Just enjoy the sensations.” In the darkness, her fingers teasingly played with the hairs on my chest. A fingernail flicked back and forth over my nipple, drawing it to an erection. Moving lower, Leah unbuckled my trousers and slid them down, taking my knickers with them. I was not yet erect, but moving rapidly in that direction. Cool fingers wrapped around my cock and lifted, while a single fingernail twirled against my ball sack. Her tongue dragged across the tip of my cock. Then, Leah’s hands moved behind me to cup and squeeze my bum cheeks. Her warm breath washed over my cock.Leah stood and pulled my shirt the rest of the way off, and I stepped out of my trousers. We remained like this, both naked, looking longingly at each other. Leah reached up and touched my hair. “You have just a touch of grey. I like that. Few mature men are as blessed as you, with a firm, lean body. I see all kinds of patients. You look like a forty-year-old.”I suppose that was one benefit of eating the low-fat, low-sugar, and tasteless nursing home food. I lost nearly thirty pounds. “I am older than I look, and you should know that I had a stroke two years ago. I am doing much better, but still have a balance issue, and sometimes slur my words."Slurring your words might just be because you have a lazy tongue. Perhaps we can find a way to fix that later.”For a moment, I wondered what she meant, then hoped my notions might come true. Leah dropped to her knees directly in front of me and ran a finger along my nearly erect shaft. “It feels so nice to touch a real one again. What a lovely cock you have.”I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t have a very large penis.”Leah laughed, “Anything more than a mouthful is just wasted. Now let’s begin. I will say a Norwegian word, and you repeat it. Listen carefully to my pronunciation and maybe we can fix your American accent.”Leah said, “Penis.” Then she grabbed my cock with her right hand.This might be fun, so I replied, “Penis!”Leah whispered, “Rub.” Then she began gently sliding her hand along my shaft. Without any lubrication, there was quite a bit of friction.I replied, “Rub!”Leah said, “Lick.” Leah extended her tongue, and starting near the base, began leaving wet trails along each side of my glistening cock. The warm softness of her tongue brought me to full erection.It felt fantastic, and I gasped out, “Lick!”Leah said, “Suck.” She opened her mouth wide and took in the head of my cock, using her tongue to tease the underside. Bringing her lips together, I felt the insides of her mouth pressing inward and squeezing tightly against me. When her suction began, she pulled the head of my cock deeper into her mouth. Leah’s head pulled back ever so slightly, allowing her soft lips to glide over me until my cock was almost freed. But not quite. Using the extra room, Leah teased my opening with the tip of her tongue. From the way her tongue easily twirled around, I was certain I contributed my pre-cum.Then her suction pulled me deeper into her mouth. She look

Skandinavian Folklore and Feast Days.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Syv Slags Kaker. (or, Seven Sorts of  Cookies)December 22nd – Evening, Five Days LaterJorunn said, “Well, Gunnar, we are back at our starting point, and this concludes the tour. We got off to a rough start on the first day, but since then, I have enjoyed spending time with you. After my mom got divorced, I stopped dating. Sure, I went out in mixed groups with my friends, but I cannot remember the last time I went somewhere, by myself, with a man. The divorce made me lose all confidence and trust in men. Why enter a relationship, and give my heart to a man, knowing it is going to fail? My father hurt my mother and me so badly, that neither of us have recovered. You were so wonderful to me this week, and showed me that not all men are like my father.”Jorunn looked at me with pleading eyes, “I don’t want this tour to end. I don’t want you to leave. Can you please stay in Oslo at least a few more days?”Jorunn didn’t want me to go. And I didn’t want to leave her either. I replied, “Jorunn, I cannot think of anyone or any place I would rather be than here in Oslo, with you.”Jorunn said, “It’s still early enough that we may be able to find seating without a reservation. I know a great place for seafood.”“Lead on,” I replied.Jorunn and I discussed the now-completed tour while enjoying a delicious dinner at a small kafé. I offered suggestions for the tour, but otherwise let her know I enjoyed seeing Norway, and I told her what a wonderful guide she was. After returning to America, I promised to recommend her tours to everyone I knew.As I looked over the dessert menu, I asked Jorunn, “I’m willing to stay a few more days. Are there any other Norwegian Christmas traditions or activities worth doing over the next few days?”“If you put down that dessert menu, there is one called Syv Slags Kaker. I baked seven kinds of cookies to celebrate Jul. If you come to my house, we can have coffee and you can sample all seven kinds.”“That sounds great,” I replied. Jorunn was inviting me to her home. She was beautiful and funny, and I admit I developed fantasies about her as I watched her vlog videos back in the nursing home. Heck, I even created new fantasies over the last week. She was much warmer toward me at the end of the tour. In Tromsø, we shared a blanket as we rode in a sleigh pulled by an actual reindeer. But after the Nutcracker ballet, I held back and did not cross any lines. Could a 56-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have a sexual relationship? I managed to keep up with Jorunn all week and didn’t see any reason not to. I reached below the table to carefully re-position myself before standing up.We made our way to the Train Station and rode to Jorunn’s neighborhood. As we walked to her house, I noticed many homes with a lighted star in one of the windows.“What are those stars,” I asked.“They are a tradition in Norway. A star is lit on the first Sunday of Advent to help guide the Three Wise Men.”We stopped in front of a modest house. There was no star in the window, but I saw sheaves of oats hung from one of the trees. I was familiar with the tradition of putting out something for the birds in the frigid days of December. As we stepped inside, I was suddenly surprised. “Hi, Mom! I would like you to meet Gunnar Larsen.”“Good evening, Mr. Larsen. Jorunn has been sending me text messages all week about your exciting travels. I hope you enjoyed your tour. My name is Leah.”This was not what I expected. I hoped to be alone with Jorunn. The family resemblance was striking and quite apparent. Leah’s straight hair was a bit shorter than Jorunn’s but matched her daughter’s pure blonde color. Her blue eyes stood out from her attractive face. She was wearing a multi-colored Norwegian Dale sweater and green trousers. I possessed absolutely no experience telling how old Norwegian women are. She must be in her forties but looked younger.I said, “I enjoyed Jorunn’s tour very much. Your daughter is quite talented in many ways. Please, call me Gunnar.”Jorunn said, “Gunnar was asking about other Jul traditions and activities here in Norway over Christmas. I thought Syv Slags Kaker would be a good one, and your cookies are the best ones in Oslo. I’ll make us some coffee.”Leah looked at me, “Please sit Gunnar. How much longer will you be staying in Norway?”I replied, “About two more weeks. I wanted to celebrate the New Year here before returning to America.”I talked about the completed tour, and she seemed interested enough that I rambled on.“I really enjoyed visiting Lillehammer. It brought back memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, probably my favorite one. The music was fantastic, and the woman who sang the Olympic Hymn at the opening ceremony possessed such a wonderful voice.”Leah replied, “Her name is Sissel Kyrkjebø. She is still extremely popular today, and we consider her a national treasure. I was 18 at the time, and worked at those Olympics.”“I’d love to hear more about that,” I replied. “It was nice to see many of the venues still being used. I also enjoyed the Olympic Museum in Maihaugen, which told the history of the 1994 Olympics. I was surprised to learn that Norway has won more Olympic medals than any other country. But the highlight for me was riding the chairlift to the top of the Lysgårdsbakkene ski jump. The views were amazing. I can’t imagine anyone being brave enough to make such a jump.”“I agree with you on that!” laughed Leah.I continued, “We also flew to Tromsø, and I got to see the Northern Lights. We can sometimes see them in southern Minnesota, but they were much more impressive here with the clear Norwegian air. Jorunn and I took a ride in a sleigh, pulled by actual reindeer. Reindeer are much larger than I thought. We visited a Sami farm, where we ate reindeer stew and learned about the Sami culture.”“I’ve never been, but I hear it’s really fun,” replied Leah.“Bærums Verk was also a highlight. You may already know that the town dates to the 1600s. I loved the old buildings and cobbled streets. Although the Christmas Market was small, I found it unique, with artisans selling handmade crafts. It was nice to see the old crafts like glassblowing, ironwork, and woodworking.”Jorunn returned with a large tray, holding coffee and cookies, and we began sampling.Leah asked, “Did you take Gunnar to Pepperkakebyen in Bergen? It’s a marvelous gingerbread village in my hometown. There are over 200 small gingerbread houses, and with the tiny lights turned on, it looks so real.”Jorunn replied, “A week goes by quickly, mamma. There is only so much time. The gingerbread houses are very nice, and I have fond memories of going there with you.”As we continued talking and munching cookies, I looked around at the decorations. There was an advent calendar, wreaths, angels, gnomes called nisse, hearts, stars, and candles. The decorations looked more natural, perhaps a bit less commercialized than in America. There was a real tree, complete with its wonderful pine smell, a star at the top, garland, tinsel, ornaments, and white lights.I looked at Leah, “I noticed that you don’t have a Christmas star in the window as many of the other houses do.”Leah replied, “I found my former husband in bed with another woman. I immediately divorced him. Among the many things he took from Jorunn and I, was our Christmas Star.”Leah sounded deeply hurt and from more than just the missing star. After tasting the last of the seven cookies, Leah asked how I liked them. “The waffle-like Krumkaker was probably my favorite. We tried making them in Minnesota, but yours turned out so much better. And, of course, the Pepperkaker gingerbread stars were great.” I held up another cookie and said, “I don’t know the name of this one, but it was also excellent.”Leah replied, “That one is Serinakaker, a Norwegian butter cookie.”I realized the inevitable, “It is getting late. Thank you both, Leah and Jorunn, for a wonderful evening. I need to get back to my hotel and figure out what to do over the next few days.”I saw Jorunn look at her mother, who nodded. As I stood up, Leah did too. “Nonsense, Gunnar. I won’t have it. Come, spend Christmas with Jorunn and me! Nearly everything in Oslo shuts down in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and stays closed until the 27th. No restaurants or shops will be open. I have an unused bedroom upstairs. Come celebrate Jul with us.”I caught the signal between mother and daughter and wondered if this was pre-planned. But spending Christmas alone in my hotel sounded almost as bad as spending it alone in the nursing home. It was an easy decision. “I accept.”Leah said, “Good. I’ll stop by your hotel tomorrow and help you move your things. Perhaps we can have lunch as well at one of the restaurants along Karl Johans gate.”“It would be my pleasure, ” I replied. “Let’s say, about 11:00 AM”Little Christmas EveDecember 23rd - MorningIt was December 23rd, known in Norway as Lille Julaften. Spending Christmas with Leah and Jorunn created a problem for me. I needed to find at least one Christmas present for each, just in case they bought a gift for me. I got up early and headed out to search. Reflecting on last night, and indeed, the last week, it ended up being far simpler than I feared. I soon found a gift for each, along with reusable cloth gift bags in Christmas colors.I heard a knock on my hotel door and opened it. Leah stood there, holding a coat over her arm. She was wearing a traditional Norwegian folk costume called a bunad. Her blonde hair, simply styled, was highlighted by two attractive braids.I smiled and said, “What a pleasant surprise. You look like you just stepped out of a fairy tale.”She looked past me into the messy room, then took a step toward me and surprised me with a kiss on my cheek. She stepped back and started laughing. “It didn’t work. I am a fairy tale princess, but you are still a frog! It looks like we have some work to do cleaning up your lily pad.”As Leah entered the room, I said, “I already packed a small bag, enough for a few days.”Leah walked over to the pile of clothes from my week-long trip. She picked up a shirt and sniffed it. Then she pulled a wool sweater out from the pile. “Keep your wool sweaters away from the rest of your dirty clothes. Wool is harder to clean and may pick up the smell. Let me see what else you packed.”Leah dumped out my small gym bag onto the bed and then began tossing things aside. “This won’t do. We need to take all of your clothes back to my house and wash them.”Fond memories returned. Whenever we went on a trip, Solveig would always dump out my suitcase and re-load it with other clothes. Solvieg would also pick out clothes for me to wear whenever we dressed to go out to weddings or a party.Leah said, “Don’t expect me to wash them for you. I have other things to do to get ready for Christmas. You’ll have enough free time you can wash them yourself. We will gather everything up after we come back from lunch.”What a woman! I can see where Jorunn inherited her strong personality. We left my hotel, and Leah took me to one of her favorite kafés. As we walked, Leah’s bunad drew eyes, and attracted smiles, as if she were a magnet. As we waited for our food, I asked Leah about her bunad.Leah replied, “I don’t get to wear my bunad very often. I usually wear it for National Day in May, and for weddings and baptisms, but I haven’t been to many of those lately. Christmas is also an acceptable time to wear it.”Leah wore the traditional white blouse with a silver neckpin. Her vest was bright red with a handmade breastplate. Her navy skirt was trimmed with intricate embroidery, and covered in front by a white apron. Around her waist and running down the front was a decorative handwoven belt.“I grew up east of Bergen, in the Hardanger region, so my bunad is in the Hardanger style. While details may vary, you can tell where someone is from by which style of bunad they are wearing. It would not be proper to choose a bunad from a different region simply because you prefer a different color.”“That’s a lovely silver brooch you have on. It looks very old.”“It was my grandmother’s. Norwegians have a spiritual connection to silver, and silver brooches are handed down for many generations. One day, it will be Jorunn’s.”The food was excellent. I have not eaten a bad meal here in Norway. Leah was a great conversationalist, and she freely shared her humor and wit. Her stories from the 1994 Olympics were fascinating, and even though Jorunn and I were just there, I wanted to go back. I learned Leah worked as a radiology technician at a local hospital here in Oslo and took the entire holiday off. The meal finished too quickly, and we returned to my hotel.As we gathered my assorted clothing, I saw one of my socks on the floor, so I walked around Leah to pick it up. Turning quickly, I found myself face-to-face with her. We stared at each other for a moment, then moved at the same time. Our lips came together, and we kissed. Not a gentle kiss, but a passionate one, long and deep. Intentions were clear on both sides.We separated. Leah said, “I have not had sex since divorcing my husband nearly three years ago. That bastard took away more than my Christmas Star, he took away my trust in men. I am forty-seven years old. I never go out on dates, because I’m afraid to open my heart again to another man. Jorunn texted me every night for the past week and would send short videos she took during the day. She kept repeating how much fun she was having with you, and how nice a man you are. I know it sounds funny, but after watching and reading what Jorunn sent me, I feel like I already know you, and have made it past the first date. I know you lost the woman you loved. I cannot replace her in your heart, but if you are ready, I would like to share mine.”This was unexpected. “When I was in Minnesota, I watched Jorunn’s vlog almost every night. She is so sweet and funny and does such an excellent job. Even though I never met Jorunn, I felt like I knew her. To use your dating analogy, it’s one of the reasons I picked her as a tour guide. I felt comfortable with Jorunn and was too afraid to trust another tour company. When I came to Norway, I left my past behind. It is time for me to find something, or someone, to love.”Our bodies came together, and our lips re-joined. Any fears of rejection vanished as I locked my lips onto those of this beautiful Norwegian woman. Our tongues danced with each other, while our hands moved quickly over each other’s bodies.“Help me take off my bunad,” pleaded Leah.Together, we unclasped, unbuckled, unbuttoned, and untied, removing one layer at a time of the intricate bunad and laying it over a chair. It was like slowly opening the best Christmas present I have ever gotten, as more of Leah’s body slowly revealed itself to me. Her breasts were small, but firm, and went well with her slender frame. I forgot how delicate a woman’s features are, and Leah’s body was perfect in every way. Below her waist, I found a mound of pure blonde hair, barely darker than the color on her head.“I have no other words, you are truly a gorgeous woman, Leah.”“Thank you, Gunnar. Now it’s my turn to have fun.”Leah approached me. With small steps, she moved gracefully. She lifted my pullover shirt, pausing as it obscured my eyes. “Don’t take your shirt off. Just enjoy the sensations.” In the darkness, her fingers teasingly played with the hairs on my chest. A fingernail flicked back and forth over my nipple, drawing it to an erection. Moving lower, Leah unbuckled my trousers and slid them down, taking my knickers with them. I was not yet erect, but moving rapidly in that direction. Cool fingers wrapped around my cock and lifted, while a single fingernail twirled against my ball sack. Her tongue dragged across the tip of my cock. Then, Leah’s hands moved behind me to cup and squeeze my bum cheeks. Her warm breath washed over my cock.Leah stood and pulled my shirt the rest of the way off, and I stepped out of my trousers. We remained like this, both naked, looking longingly at each other. Leah reached up and touched my hair. “You have just a touch of grey. I like that. Few mature men are as blessed as you, with a firm, lean body. I see all kinds of patients. You look like a forty-year-old.”I suppose that was one benefit of eating the low-fat, low-sugar, and tasteless nursing home food. I lost nearly thirty pounds. “I am older than I look, and you should know that I had a stroke two years ago. I am doing much better, but still have a balance issue, and sometimes slur my words."Slurring your words might just be because you have a lazy tongue. Perhaps we can find a way to fix that later.”For a moment, I wondered what she meant, then hoped my notions might come true. Leah dropped to her knees directly in front of me and ran a finger along my nearly erect shaft. “It feels so nice to touch a real one again. What a lovely cock you have.”I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t have a very large penis.”Leah laughed, “Anything more than a mouthful is just wasted. Now let’s begin. I will say a Norwegian word, and you repeat it. Listen carefully to my pronunciation and maybe we can fix your American accent.”Leah said, “Penis.” Then she grabbed my cock with her right hand.This might be fun, so I replied, “Penis!”Leah whispered, “Rub.” Then she began gently sliding her hand along my shaft. Without any lubrication, there was quite a bit of friction.I replied, “Rub!”Leah said, “Lick.” Leah extended her tongue, and starting near the base, began leaving wet trails along each side of my glistening cock. The warm softness of her tongue brought me to full erection.It felt fantastic, and I gasped out, “Lick!”Leah said, “Suck.” She opened her mouth wide and took in the head of my cock, using her tongue to tease the underside. Bringing her lips together, I felt the insides of her mouth pressing inward and squeezing tightly against me. When her suction began, she pulled the head of my cock deeper into her mouth. Leah’s head pulled back ever so slightly, allowing her soft lips to glide over me until my cock was almost freed. But not quite. Using the extra room, Leah teased my opening with the tip of her tongue. From the way her tongue easily twirled around, I was certain I contributed my pre-cum.Then her suction pulled me deeper into her mouth. She look

Skandinavian Folklore and Feast Days.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Syv Slags Kaker. (or, Seven Sorts of  Cookies)December 22nd – Evening, Five Days LaterJorunn said, “Well, Gunnar, we are back at our starting point, and this concludes the tour. We got off to a rough start on the first day, but since then, I have enjoyed spending time with you. After my mom got divorced, I stopped dating. Sure, I went out in mixed groups with my friends, but I cannot remember the last time I went somewhere, by myself, with a man. The divorce made me lose all confidence and trust in men. Why enter a relationship, and give my heart to a man, knowing it is going to fail? My father hurt my mother and me so badly, that neither of us have recovered. You were so wonderful to me this week, and showed me that not all men are like my father.”Jorunn looked at me with pleading eyes, “I don’t want this tour to end. I don’t want you to leave. Can you please stay in Oslo at least a few more days?”Jorunn didn’t want me to go. And I didn’t want to leave her either. I replied, “Jorunn, I cannot think of anyone or any place I would rather be than here in Oslo, with you.”Jorunn said, “It’s still early enough that we may be able to find seating without a reservation. I know a great place for seafood.”“Lead on,” I replied.Jorunn and I discussed the now-completed tour while enjoying a delicious dinner at a small kafé. I offered suggestions for the tour, but otherwise let her know I enjoyed seeing Norway, and I told her what a wonderful guide she was. After returning to America, I promised to recommend her tours to everyone I knew.As I looked over the dessert menu, I asked Jorunn, “I’m willing to stay a few more days. Are there any other Norwegian Christmas traditions or activities worth doing over the next few days?”“If you put down that dessert menu, there is one called Syv Slags Kaker. I baked seven kinds of cookies to celebrate Jul. If you come to my house, we can have coffee and you can sample all seven kinds.”“That sounds great,” I replied. Jorunn was inviting me to her home. She was beautiful and funny, and I admit I developed fantasies about her as I watched her vlog videos back in the nursing home. Heck, I even created new fantasies over the last week. She was much warmer toward me at the end of the tour. In Tromsø, we shared a blanket as we rode in a sleigh pulled by an actual reindeer. But after the Nutcracker ballet, I held back and did not cross any lines. Could a 56-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have a sexual relationship? I managed to keep up with Jorunn all week and didn’t see any reason not to. I reached below the table to carefully re-position myself before standing up.We made our way to the Train Station and rode to Jorunn’s neighborhood. As we walked to her house, I noticed many homes with a lighted star in one of the windows.“What are those stars,” I asked.“They are a tradition in Norway. A star is lit on the first Sunday of Advent to help guide the Three Wise Men.”We stopped in front of a modest house. There was no star in the window, but I saw sheaves of oats hung from one of the trees. I was familiar with the tradition of putting out something for the birds in the frigid days of December. As we stepped inside, I was suddenly surprised. “Hi, Mom! I would like you to meet Gunnar Larsen.”“Good evening, Mr. Larsen. Jorunn has been sending me text messages all week about your exciting travels. I hope you enjoyed your tour. My name is Leah.”This was not what I expected. I hoped to be alone with Jorunn. The family resemblance was striking and quite apparent. Leah’s straight hair was a bit shorter than Jorunn’s but matched her daughter’s pure blonde color. Her blue eyes stood out from her attractive face. She was wearing a multi-colored Norwegian Dale sweater and green trousers. I possessed absolutely no experience telling how old Norwegian women are. She must be in her forties but looked younger.I said, “I enjoyed Jorunn’s tour very much. Your daughter is quite talented in many ways. Please, call me Gunnar.”Jorunn said, “Gunnar was asking about other Jul traditions and activities here in Norway over Christmas. I thought Syv Slags Kaker would be a good one, and your cookies are the best ones in Oslo. I’ll make us some coffee.”Leah looked at me, “Please sit Gunnar. How much longer will you be staying in Norway?”I replied, “About two more weeks. I wanted to celebrate the New Year here before returning to America.”I talked about the completed tour, and she seemed interested enough that I rambled on.“I really enjoyed visiting Lillehammer. It brought back memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, probably my favorite one. The music was fantastic, and the woman who sang the Olympic Hymn at the opening ceremony possessed such a wonderful voice.”Leah replied, “Her name is Sissel Kyrkjebø. She is still extremely popular today, and we consider her a national treasure. I was 18 at the time, and worked at those Olympics.”“I’d love to hear more about that,” I replied. “It was nice to see many of the venues still being used. I also enjoyed the Olympic Museum in Maihaugen, which told the history of the 1994 Olympics. I was surprised to learn that Norway has won more Olympic medals than any other country. But the highlight for me was riding the chairlift to the top of the Lysgårdsbakkene ski jump. The views were amazing. I can’t imagine anyone being brave enough to make such a jump.”“I agree with you on that!” laughed Leah.I continued, “We also flew to Tromsø, and I got to see the Northern Lights. We can sometimes see them in southern Minnesota, but they were much more impressive here with the clear Norwegian air. Jorunn and I took a ride in a sleigh, pulled by actual reindeer. Reindeer are much larger than I thought. We visited a Sami farm, where we ate reindeer stew and learned about the Sami culture.”“I’ve never been, but I hear it’s really fun,” replied Leah.“Bærums Verk was also a highlight. You may already know that the town dates to the 1600s. I loved the old buildings and cobbled streets. Although the Christmas Market was small, I found it unique, with artisans selling handmade crafts. It was nice to see the old crafts like glassblowing, ironwork, and woodworking.”Jorunn returned with a large tray, holding coffee and cookies, and we began sampling.Leah asked, “Did you take Gunnar to Pepperkakebyen in Bergen? It’s a marvelous gingerbread village in my hometown. There are over 200 small gingerbread houses, and with the tiny lights turned on, it looks so real.”Jorunn replied, “A week goes by quickly, mamma. There is only so much time. The gingerbread houses are very nice, and I have fond memories of going there with you.”As we continued talking and munching cookies, I looked around at the decorations. There was an advent calendar, wreaths, angels, gnomes called nisse, hearts, stars, and candles. The decorations looked more natural, perhaps a bit less commercialized than in America. There was a real tree, complete with its wonderful pine smell, a star at the top, garland, tinsel, ornaments, and white lights.I looked at Leah, “I noticed that you don’t have a Christmas star in the window as many of the other houses do.”Leah replied, “I found my former husband in bed with another woman. I immediately divorced him. Among the many things he took from Jorunn and I, was our Christmas Star.”Leah sounded deeply hurt and from more than just the missing star. After tasting the last of the seven cookies, Leah asked how I liked them. “The waffle-like Krumkaker was probably my favorite. We tried making them in Minnesota, but yours turned out so much better. And, of course, the Pepperkaker gingerbread stars were great.” I held up another cookie and said, “I don’t know the name of this one, but it was also excellent.”Leah replied, “That one is Serinakaker, a Norwegian butter cookie.”I realized the inevitable, “It is getting late. Thank you both, Leah and Jorunn, for a wonderful evening. I need to get back to my hotel and figure out what to do over the next few days.”I saw Jorunn look at her mother, who nodded. As I stood up, Leah did too. “Nonsense, Gunnar. I won’t have it. Come, spend Christmas with Jorunn and me! Nearly everything in Oslo shuts down in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and stays closed until the 27th. No restaurants or shops will be open. I have an unused bedroom upstairs. Come celebrate Jul with us.”I caught the signal between mother and daughter and wondered if this was pre-planned. But spending Christmas alone in my hotel sounded almost as bad as spending it alone in the nursing home. It was an easy decision. “I accept.”Leah said, “Good. I’ll stop by your hotel tomorrow and help you move your things. Perhaps we can have lunch as well at one of the restaurants along Karl Johans gate.”“It would be my pleasure, ” I replied. “Let’s say, about 11:00 AM”Little Christmas EveDecember 23rd - MorningIt was December 23rd, known in Norway as Lille Julaften. Spending Christmas with Leah and Jorunn created a problem for me. I needed to find at least one Christmas present for each, just in case they bought a gift for me. I got up early and headed out to search. Reflecting on last night, and indeed, the last week, it ended up being far simpler than I feared. I soon found a gift for each, along with reusable cloth gift bags in Christmas colors.I heard a knock on my hotel door and opened it. Leah stood there, holding a coat over her arm. She was wearing a traditional Norwegian folk costume called a bunad. Her blonde hair, simply styled, was highlighted by two attractive braids.I smiled and said, “What a pleasant surprise. You look like you just stepped out of a fairy tale.”She looked past me into the messy room, then took a step toward me and surprised me with a kiss on my cheek. She stepped back and started laughing. “It didn’t work. I am a fairy tale princess, but you are still a frog! It looks like we have some work to do cleaning up your lily pad.”As Leah entered the room, I said, “I already packed a small bag, enough for a few days.”Leah walked over to the pile of clothes from my week-long trip. She picked up a shirt and sniffed it. Then she pulled a wool sweater out from the pile. “Keep your wool sweaters away from the rest of your dirty clothes. Wool is harder to clean and may pick up the smell. Let me see what else you packed.”Leah dumped out my small gym bag onto the bed and then began tossing things aside. “This won’t do. We need to take all of your clothes back to my house and wash them.”Fond memories returned. Whenever we went on a trip, Solveig would always dump out my suitcase and re-load it with other clothes. Solvieg would also pick out clothes for me to wear whenever we dressed to go out to weddings or a party.Leah said, “Don’t expect me to wash them for you. I have other things to do to get ready for Christmas. You’ll have enough free time you can wash them yourself. We will gather everything up after we come back from lunch.”What a woman! I can see where Jorunn inherited her strong personality. We left my hotel, and Leah took me to one of her favorite kafés. As we walked, Leah’s bunad drew eyes, and attracted smiles, as if she were a magnet. As we waited for our food, I asked Leah about her bunad.Leah replied, “I don’t get to wear my bunad very often. I usually wear it for National Day in May, and for weddings and baptisms, but I haven’t been to many of those lately. Christmas is also an acceptable time to wear it.”Leah wore the traditional white blouse with a silver neckpin. Her vest was bright red with a handmade breastplate. Her navy skirt was trimmed with intricate embroidery, and covered in front by a white apron. Around her waist and running down the front was a decorative handwoven belt.“I grew up east of Bergen, in the Hardanger region, so my bunad is in the Hardanger style. While details may vary, you can tell where someone is from by which style of bunad they are wearing. It would not be proper to choose a bunad from a different region simply because you prefer a different color.”“That’s a lovely silver brooch you have on. It looks very old.”“It was my grandmother’s. Norwegians have a spiritual connection to silver, and silver brooches are handed down for many generations. One day, it will be Jorunn’s.”The food was excellent. I have not eaten a bad meal here in Norway. Leah was a great conversationalist, and she freely shared her humor and wit. Her stories from the 1994 Olympics were fascinating, and even though Jorunn and I were just there, I wanted to go back. I learned Leah worked as a radiology technician at a local hospital here in Oslo and took the entire holiday off. The meal finished too quickly, and we returned to my hotel.As we gathered my assorted clothing, I saw one of my socks on the floor, so I walked around Leah to pick it up. Turning quickly, I found myself face-to-face with her. We stared at each other for a moment, then moved at the same time. Our lips came together, and we kissed. Not a gentle kiss, but a passionate one, long and deep. Intentions were clear on both sides.We separated. Leah said, “I have not had sex since divorcing my husband nearly three years ago. That bastard took away more than my Christmas Star, he took away my trust in men. I am forty-seven years old. I never go out on dates, because I’m afraid to open my heart again to another man. Jorunn texted me every night for the past week and would send short videos she took during the day. She kept repeating how much fun she was having with you, and how nice a man you are. I know it sounds funny, but after watching and reading what Jorunn sent me, I feel like I already know you, and have made it past the first date. I know you lost the woman you loved. I cannot replace her in your heart, but if you are ready, I would like to share mine.”This was unexpected. “When I was in Minnesota, I watched Jorunn’s vlog almost every night. She is so sweet and funny and does such an excellent job. Even though I never met Jorunn, I felt like I knew her. To use your dating analogy, it’s one of the reasons I picked her as a tour guide. I felt comfortable with Jorunn and was too afraid to trust another tour company. When I came to Norway, I left my past behind. It is time for me to find something, or someone, to love.”Our bodies came together, and our lips re-joined. Any fears of rejection vanished as I locked my lips onto those of this beautiful Norwegian woman. Our tongues danced with each other, while our hands moved quickly over each other’s bodies.“Help me take off my bunad,” pleaded Leah.Together, we unclasped, unbuckled, unbuttoned, and untied, removing one layer at a time of the intricate bunad and laying it over a chair. It was like slowly opening the best Christmas present I have ever gotten, as more of Leah’s body slowly revealed itself to me. Her breasts were small, but firm, and went well with her slender frame. I forgot how delicate a woman’s features are, and Leah’s body was perfect in every way. Below her waist, I found a mound of pure blonde hair, barely darker than the color on her head.“I have no other words, you are truly a gorgeous woman, Leah.”“Thank you, Gunnar. Now it’s my turn to have fun.”Leah approached me. With small steps, she moved gracefully. She lifted my pullover shirt, pausing as it obscured my eyes. “Don’t take your shirt off. Just enjoy the sensations.” In the darkness, her fingers teasingly played with the hairs on my chest. A fingernail flicked back and forth over my nipple, drawing it to an erection. Moving lower, Leah unbuckled my trousers and slid them down, taking my knickers with them. I was not yet erect, but moving rapidly in that direction. Cool fingers wrapped around my cock and lifted, while a single fingernail twirled against my ball sack. Her tongue dragged across the tip of my cock. Then, Leah’s hands moved behind me to cup and squeeze my bum cheeks. Her warm breath washed over my cock.Leah stood and pulled my shirt the rest of the way off, and I stepped out of my trousers. We remained like this, both naked, looking longingly at each other. Leah reached up and touched my hair. “You have just a touch of grey. I like that. Few mature men are as blessed as you, with a firm, lean body. I see all kinds of patients. You look like a forty-year-old.”I suppose that was one benefit of eating the low-fat, low-sugar, and tasteless nursing home food. I lost nearly thirty pounds. “I am older than I look, and you should know that I had a stroke two years ago. I am doing much better, but still have a balance issue, and sometimes slur my words."Slurring your words might just be because you have a lazy tongue. Perhaps we can find a way to fix that later.”For a moment, I wondered what she meant, then hoped my notions might come true. Leah dropped to her knees directly in front of me and ran a finger along my nearly erect shaft. “It feels so nice to touch a real one again. What a lovely cock you have.”I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t have a very large penis.”Leah laughed, “Anything more than a mouthful is just wasted. Now let’s begin. I will say a Norwegian word, and you repeat it. Listen carefully to my pronunciation and maybe we can fix your American accent.”Leah said, “Penis.” Then she grabbed my cock with her right hand.This might be fun, so I replied, “Penis!”Leah whispered, “Rub.” Then she began gently sliding her hand along my shaft. Without any lubrication, there was quite a bit of friction.I replied, “Rub!”Leah said, “Lick.” Leah extended her tongue, and starting near the base, began leaving wet trails along each side of my glistening cock. The warm softness of her tongue brought me to full erection.It felt fantastic, and I gasped out, “Lick!”Leah said, “Suck.” She opened her mouth wide and took in the head of my cock, using her tongue to tease the underside. Bringing her lips together, I felt the insides of her mouth pressing inward and squeezing tightly against me. When her suction began, she pulled the head of my cock deeper into her mouth. Leah’s head pulled back ever so slightly, allowing her soft lips to glide over me until my cock was almost freed. But not quite. Using the extra room, Leah teased my opening with the tip of her tongue. From the way her tongue easily twirled around, I was certain I contributed my pre-cum.Then her suction pulled me deeper into her mouth. She look

Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Northern Lights of Connection: Finding Love in Lapland Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-02-11-23-34-02-he Story Transcript:He: בין הפתיתים הנופלים בלפלנד, אנשיה מצאו חפץ משותף במבטיהם.En: Among the falling ptitim in Lapland, its people found a common object in their gazes.He: טובא הכתבת שמה את יומנה בצד, הסתכלה מעבר לשולחן העץ הגדול.En: Tova, the journalist, set her diary aside and looked across the large wooden table.He: אצו על החלונות פתיתי שלג, והעצים מחוץ לבקתה הכפופה נראו כחמשוּת חיורית בלילה שחור.En: Snowflakes scurried on the windows, and the trees outside the bent cabin looked like pale arms in the black night.He: אליאור, המדריך, עמד במרכז החדר והנחה את המשתתפים בנשימות עמוקות.En: Elior, the guide, stood in the center of the room and instructed the participants in deep breathing.He: לבנה, עוזרתו הנמרצת, הכינה תה צמחי חם למשתתפים.En: Levana, his energetic assistant, prepared hot herbal tea for the participants.He: בין ההנחיות והשתיקה, אליאור העביר עין לעבר טובא, שחיפשה קשר מעבר למילים המודפסות.En: Between the instructions and the silence, Elior glanced at Tova, who was searching for a connection beyond the printed words.He: עיניה היו חלון לחלומותיה, והיא חיפשה משהו אמיתי.En: Her eyes were a window to her dreams, and she was looking for something real.He: יום ולנטיין התקרב, והמתח בעבודה הכביד על כל אחד בסודו.En: Valentine's Day was approaching, and the work stress weighed secretly on each of them.He: טובא היתה צריכה לכתוב על חוויות יוצאות דופן, בעוד אליאור נאבק לשמר שקט פנימי עבור משתתפיו.En: Tova needed to write about extraordinary experiences, while Elior struggled to maintain inner peace for his participants.He: גם לבנה, שעבדה בצמוד לאליאור, הרגישה לעיתים שהעבודה השתלטה על חייה האישיים.En: Even Levana, who worked closely with Elior, sometimes felt that work had taken over her personal life.He: לילה אחד, השמיים ערכו מופע אורורה בוראליס מרהיב.En: One night, the sky put on a magnificent Aurora Borealis display.He: האורות ריצדו על השלג הקפוא ויצרו אווירה קסומה.En: The lights danced on the frozen snow, creating a magical atmosphere.He: טובא ואליאור יצאו החוצה, והשתהו מתחת למופע הזה.En: Tova and Elior went outside and lingered under this spectacle.He: "הלילה הזה קסום," אמרה טובא בשקט, "אבל אני מחפשת משהו שימשיך גם אחרי שהאורות יעברו.En: "This night is magical," Tova said softly, "but I'm looking for something to continue even after the lights pass."He: " אליאור השיב לה בחיוך חם: "אולי אנחנו יכולים להיות משהו אמיתי כאן".En: Elior replied with a warm smile: "Maybe we can be something real here."He: ברגע הזה, לבנה הבחינה במתרחש מרחוק וגם היא הבינה כי יצטרך איזון בחייה האישיים.En: At that moment, Levana noticed what was happening from afar and realized that she, too, needed balance in her personal life.He: טובא ידעה שעליה לשים את האמת האישית שלה מעבר לכותבת שהיא.En: Tova knew she had to place her personal truth beyond just being a writer.He: היא סיפרה לאליאור על חלומותיה ודאגותיה, והוא השיב במילים שלו, בסיפורים על יוגה ותקווה למציאות שלווה יותר.En: She shared her dreams and concerns with Elior, and he responded with his words, with stories of yoga and hopes for a more peaceful reality.He: לבסוף, טובא הכלילה את מסעה הרומנטי הבלתי צפוי במאמרה, בו היא סיפרה על ההתרחשות הפנימית שקרתה לה בלפלנד.En: In the end, Tova included her unexpected romantic journey in her article, where she recounted the internal occurrence that happened to her in Lapland.He: אליאור החליט להשקיע יותר זמן במערכות היחסים שבחייו, מכיר בכך שאושר אישי תורם להצלחה מקצועית.En: Elior decided to invest more time in the relationships in his life, recognizing that personal happiness contributes to professional success.He: כך, בין שלג, אורעים ורצון אמיתי, התהוותה חברות חדשה—משותפת ואינטימית יותר ממה שהם דמיינו.En: Thus, between snow, lights, and genuine desire, a new friendship formed—more mutual and intimate than they imagined.He: על רקע אור האורורה הבוהק, טובא ואליאור גילו שהלב יכול לשחק תפקיד ראשון אפילו במקומות הקרים ביותר.En: Against the backdrop of the shining Aurora, Tova and Elior discovered that the heart can play a leading role even in the coldest places. Vocabulary Words:ptitim: פתיתיםgazes: מבטיהםscurried: אצוpale: חיוריתbent: הכפופהglanced: העביר עיןaurora borealis: אורורה בוראליסspectacle: מופעlinger: השתהוmagical: קסוםwarm smile: חיוך חםbalance: איזוןbeyond: מעבר לconcerns: דאגותיהrecounted: סיפרה עלinternal occurrence: התרחשות פנימיתinvest: להשקיעmutual: משותפתintimate: אינטימיתbackdrop: רקעleading role: תפקיד ראשוןapproaching: התקרבobject: חפץparticipants: משתתפיםinstructions: הנחיותherbal tea: תה צמחיstruggle: נאבקmaintain: לשמרpersonal truth: האמת האישיתrealize: להביןBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Aurora Adventures: Teamwork Triumphs in Arctic Expedition Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2026-02-11-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 北极光的微光下，冰雪覆盖的冻原显得神秘而宁静。En: Under the dim light of the Northern Lights, the snow-covered tundra appeared mysterious and tranquil.Zh: 在这片无边无际的白色世界里，魏、莲和明三位学生展开了一次令人激动的科研考察。En: In this boundless white world, three students, Wei, Lian, and Ming, embarked on an exciting scientific expedition.Zh: 魏是这次考察的领队，En: Wei was the leader of this expedition.Zh: 他是一个聪明勤奋的学生，总是希望能通过成功的研究赢得教授的认可。En: He was an intelligent and diligent student, always hoping to gain his professor's approval through successful research.Zh: 莲活泼好动，充满好奇心，这次她肩负着用相机记录整个旅程。En: Lian, lively and active, was filled with curiosity and tasked with documenting the entire journey with her camera.Zh: 明则沉静而敏锐，在恶劣环境下有着令人称赞的生存技巧，En: Ming, on the other hand, was calm and sharp, possessing admirable survival skills in harsh environments.Zh: 他希望能借此次机会证明自己的能力。En: He hoped to use this opportunity to prove his abilities.Zh: 天寒地冻，北方的寒风如刀一般刮来，团队的每一步都充满挑战。En: In the freezing cold, the northern wind cut like a knife, making every step a challenge for the team.Zh: 魏心里默念着研究计划，他知道在这片极地上能完美完成任务是多么不易。En: Wei silently recited the research plan in his mind, knowing how difficult it was to perfectly complete the task in this polar region.Zh: 临近春节，他一心想要成功完成这项研究，带着满意的数据回家过年。En: With the Spring Festival approaching, he was determined to successfully finish the research and return home with satisfying data to celebrate the New Year.Zh: 然而，他们的研究设备在抵达目的地没多久就发生了故障。En: However, their research equipment malfunctioned shortly after arriving at the destination.Zh: 寒风呼啸，设备的灯光忽明忽暗，显示屏上出现了让人担忧的讯号。En: The cold wind howled, the equipment's lights flickered, and troubling signals appeared on the display.Zh: 魏不得不面临一个困难的选择：是继续冒险完成研究，还是撤退以保证团队的安全？En: Wei was faced with a difficult choice: to continue taking risks to complete the research or retreat to ensure the team's safety.Zh: “我有办法。”明说，他的声音带着坚定。En: "I have an idea," Ming said, his voice firm.Zh: 莲则拍拍魏的肩膀，“我们一起解决，总会有办法的。”En: Lian patted Wei's shoulder, "We'll solve this together; we'll find a way."Zh: 在风雪中，明仔细检查着设备，用他在野外生存中的知识和灵巧的手修复损坏的部分。En: In the wind and snow, Ming carefully examined the equipment, using his field survival knowledge and skillful hands to repair the damaged parts.Zh: 莲则在一旁记录着，给予他们鼓励。En: Lian recorded everything nearby, offering encouragement.Zh: 魏屏住呼吸，祈祷着设备能够重新运作。En: Wei held his breath, praying for the equipment to function again.Zh: 经过几小时的努力，设备的灯光再次亮起，显示屏上的数据更新完整。En: After hours of effort, the equipment's lights came back on, and the data on the display updated completely.Zh: 三个人都松了一口气，他们成功采集到了重要的研究数据。En: All three sighed in relief; they had successfully collected crucial research data.Zh: 就在除夕夜的那一天，魏、莲和明围坐在帐篷中，北极光在他们头顶跳跃。En: On the day of New Year's Eve, Wei, Lian, and Ming gathered inside a tent, with the Northern Lights dancing overhead.Zh: 虽然远在北极，他们却以中国人特有的热情迎接新年的到来。En: Although far in the Arctic, they welcomed the New Year with the unique passion of Zhongguo ren.Zh: 这次的考察让魏明白了一个重要的道理：信任与合作是成功的关键。En: This expedition taught Wei an important lesson: trust and cooperation are keys to success.Zh: 他看着身边的伙伴，心里满是温暖与感激。En: Looking at his companions beside him, his heart was full of warmth and gratitude.Zh: 魏坚定了自己的信心，更加坚信将来的每一次挑战都有他们共同面对。En: Wei strengthened his confidence, more assured that they would face every future challenge together.Zh: 北极的夜空如同一幅美丽的画卷，新年的钟声在他们心中敲响，团队的凝聚力让冻原的寒冷都变得温暖。En: The Arctic night sky was like a beautiful painting, the New Year's bells ringing in their hearts, and the team's solidarity made the tundra's coldness seem warm.Zh: 这个与众不同的新年，注定要在他们的记忆中留下深刻的印记。En: This unique New Year was destined to leave a deep imprint in their memories. Vocabulary Words:dim: 微光下tundra: 冻原mysterious: 神秘tranquil: 宁静boundless: 无边无际embarked: 展开expedition: 考察intelligent: 聪明diligent: 勤奋approval: 认可documenting: 记录malfunctioned: 故障howled: 呼啸retreat: 撤退examined: 检查carefully: 仔细field survival: 野外生存encouragement: 鼓励breathtaking: 屏住呼吸crucial: 重要passion: 热情cooperation: 合作solidarity: 凝聚力harsh: 恶劣knife: 刀display: 显示屏signals: 讯号firm: 坚定praying: 祈祷confidence: 信心

Guest:Dr Alexandra Ruth Fogg, Postdoctoral Fellow in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Finding Northern Lights: A Creative Journey in Lofoten Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-09-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Snøfnugg dalte sakte ned over Lofoten, og skapte et eventyrlig vinterlandskap.En: Snowflakes drifted slowly down over Lofoten, creating an enchanting winter landscape.No: Ingrid sto ved vinduet i den koselige hytta, og betraktet de mektige fjellene som strakte seg mot himmelen.En: Ingrid stood by the window in the cozy cabin, gazing at the majestic mountains reaching towards the sky.No: Hun var spent.En: She was excited.No: Denne team-building turen var viktig for henne.En: This team-building trip was important to her.No: Hun ønsket å imponere Lars, den kreative seniormedarbeideren hun så opp til.En: She wanted to impress Lars, the creative senior colleague she looked up to.No: Lars satt i sofaen med en varm kopp kakao.En: Lars sat on the sofa with a warm cup of cocoa.No: Han så ut til å nyte den avslappede atmosfæren.En: He seemed to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.No: "Det handler om å finne inspirasjon i omgivelsene," sa han ofte.En: "It's about finding inspiration in your surroundings," he often said.No: Ingrid beundret hans evne til å se skjønnhet og potensial i alt.En: Ingrid admired his ability to see beauty and potential in everything.No: Men hun følte også at hun trengte å vise at hun kunne bidra med noe unikt.En: But she also felt she needed to show she could contribute something unique.No: Sofia, lagets leder, organiserte aktiviteter.En: Sofia, the team leader, organized activities.No: Hun var en naturlig megler, alltid i stand til å balansere teamets forskjellige personligheter.En: She was a natural mediator, always able to balance the team's different personalities.No: "La oss gå en tur," foreslo hun.En: "Let's go for a walk," she suggested.No: Teamet kledde seg i varme jakker og gikk ut i det kalde været.En: The team dressed in warm jackets and ventured out into the cold weather.No: Ingrid bestemte seg for å vandre litt alene, i håp om å finne noe spesielt som kunne inspirere hennes neste prosjekt.En: Ingrid decided to wander a bit alone, hoping to find something special that could inspire her next project.No: Mens hun gikk langs den iskalde kysten, så hun nordlyset begynne å danse på himmelen.En: As she walked along the icy coast, she saw the Northern Lights beginning to dance in the sky.No: Fargene var magiske, smaragdgrønne, purpur og rosa som fløt sammen.En: The colors were magical, emerald green, purple, and pink blending together.No: Da hun så opp, fikk hun en idé.En: As she looked up, she got an idea.No: Hvorfor ikke bruke denne naturlige skjønnheten i hennes design?En: Why not use this natural beauty in her design?No: Tilbake ved leirbålet den kvelden, delte Ingrid sin visjon.En: Back at the campfire that evening, Ingrid shared her vision.No: "Se for dere et bygg," begynte hun, "inspirert av nordlyset.En: "Imagine a building," she began, "inspired by the Northern Lights.No: Formen er flytende, som lyset, med farger som reflekteres i glass og metall.En: The form is fluid, like the light, with colors reflected in glass and metal."No: "Lars, som satt ved siden av henne, så opp med interesse.En: Lars, sitting next to her, looked up with interest.No: "Det er friskt," sa han, tydelig imponert.En: "It's fresh," he said, clearly impressed.No: "Dine ideer er virkelig kreative, Ingrid.En: "Your ideas are truly creative, Ingrid."No: "Sofia smilte stolt.En: Sofia smiled proudly.No: "Dette er akkurat hva vi trenger.En: "This is exactly what we need.No: En ny retning.En: A new direction."No: "Ingrid følte seg lettet.En: Ingrid felt relieved.No: Hun hadde gjort det.En: She had done it.No: Hun hadde vist seg selv som en ressurs.En: She had proven herself a valuable resource.No: Hun lærte viktigheten av å balansere struktur og kreativitet.En: She learned the importance of balancing structure and creativity.No: I det øyeblikket, forstå hun at det var mulig å være organisert og samtidig la kreativiteten få blomstre.En: At that moment, she understood that it was possible to be organized while letting creativity flourish.No: De avsluttet kvelden med latter og gode samtaler.En: They ended the evening with laughter and good conversations.No: Mens de så nordlyset danse over himmelen, visste Ingrid at hun hadde funnet både inspirasjon og mot.En: As they watched the Northern Lights dance across the sky, Ingrid knew she had found both inspiration and courage.No: Hun var klar for nye eventyr, med tro på sine egne evner.En: She was ready for new adventures, with confidence in her own abilities. Vocabulary Words:drifted: dalteenchanting: eventyrliggazing: betraktetmajestic: mektigeimpress: imponeremediator: meglerventure: vandretwander: vandreinspiration: inspirasjonemerald: smaragdgrønneblending: fløtfluid: flytendeform: formenresource: ressursbalance: balansereflourish: blomstreadventures: eventyrcourage: motablities: evnerlandscape: landskapunique: uniktrelaxed: avslappedecontribute: bidrapotential: potensialmagical: magiskereflected: reflektereslight: lysetcreative: kreativecabin: hyttaproject: prosjekt

In this week's Grow Guides, we're taking a trip through cannabis history and breaking down the most iconic strains of all time. The genetics that shaped modern growing, breeding, and consumption as we know it. We talk through legendary names like Skunk #1, Northern Lights, Haze, and Afghani, before moving into modern classics such as White Widow, OG Kush, Chemdawg, and Sour Diesel. We also cover AK-47, Blueberry, Durban Poison, and Gorilla Glue #4, looking at where they came from, why they stood out, and how their influence is still felt in today's genetics. This episode isn't about hype or marketing, it's about why these strains mattered. We discuss stability, flavour lineage, flavour, effects, and how each of these cultivars helped push growing techniques and breeding forward. Whether you've grown them, smoked them, or only heard the names whispered with reverence, this episode gives proper context to the strains that built the foundations of modern cannabis culture. As always, join us on Percy's Grow Room if you want to learn more, get help with your grow, or hang out with thousands of growers just like you. Join our community here:

This week, we're honored to welcome Brian Kuchinski, founder of Peaceful Ponds and a lifelong seeker of beauty, meaning, and connection through nature. Known for helping people “find their zen” by recreating waterfalls, streams, and tranquil outdoor spaces, Brian's work is deeply tied to the way he lives his life, guided by inspiration, gratitude, and action.Brian takes us on a powerful journey that begins with a spontaneous family trip to Iceland and unfolds into something far deeper. What starts as a story about chasing waterfalls and the Northern Lights becomes a reflection on listening to the universe, recognizing moments of awe, and trusting the quiet nudges that invite us into adventure. Along the way, Brian shares how travel, nature, and coincidence have repeatedly aligned in ways that feel anything but accidental.At the heart of this conversation is Brian's experience with profound loss, the death of his son, Xander, and how that loss reshaped his understanding of purpose, love, and gratitude. He opens up about the “Xander miracles” that continue to show up in his life, the healing paths he's walked, and the simple but life changing truth that now guides him. The universe wants us to be happy, and gratitude is the key.In this episode, we explore inspired wanderlust, the healing power of nature, turning inspiration into action, and what it means to live fully even after deep heartbreak. Join us for a moving, honest conversation about choosing awe over fear, finding peace in unexpected places, and making it happen, one dream at a time.

Many thanks to Doug Bell for sharing his passion for fruit wines. Our conversation on where the winery is, its history, the products available, and even plans for the future... is all here. You will find that there are great stories in the journey and what they offer. You will learn how the project got its name, and know that over a million visitors have been welcomed. Maybe Prince George BC is your next destination?

Welcome to Trusty Trivia! Each Thursday you get to play a Trivia game with the Trusty Narrator! Have fun seeing if you can answer these three questions, Smartypants!

This week the episode is a vlog, and it's up on Youtube, all about my trip to Finland!! Check it out here This was my first real vacation in two years—no work, no laptop, just pure adventure—and I couldn't have picked a better place than Finland

There's a lot of advice about traveling to Iceland, and not all of it is helpful. In this podcast episode, I'm breaking down five common Iceland travel myths that end up quietly costing travelers time, money, and energy. From unrealistic expectations about weather to misunderstandings around driving and seasons, this episode will help you spot the assumptions that derail trips before they even begin. The 5 Iceland Travel Myths That Mislead Visitors Myth 1: “Iceland is always freezing cold” Iceland has a reputation for being brutally cold, but that's not actually true year-round — or even most of the time. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, temperatures are often milder than people expect, especially along the coast. The bigger challenge for travelers is usually wind and changing weather, not extreme cold. When people assume “freezing,” they often overpack or misunderstand what conditions they're really preparing for. Myth 2: “You need extreme winter clothing” Many travelers assume they need expedition-level gear just to survive Iceland, which leads to overpacking and overspending. In reality, what matters most is layering properly, not wearing the heaviest gear possible. Waterproof and windproof layers are far more important than bulky items. Dressing smartly, not excessively, makes travel easier, more comfortable, and more flexible. Myth 3: “Winter driving is too dangerous for tourists” Winter driving in Iceland isn't automatically dangerous, but it does require preparation and realistic expectations. Many visitors drive safely every winter by choosing appropriate vehicles, monitoring weather forecasts, and adjusting their plans when needed. Conditions vary significantly by region and day, which is why flexibility and local awareness matter more than fear. The real risk comes from underestimating the conditions, not from driving itself. Myth 4: “It's completely dark in Iceland during winter” While daylight hours are shorter in winter, Iceland is not in total darkness. Even around the winter solstice, there are several hours of daylight, including long twilight periods. Many travelers are surprised by how usable the day still feels — especially when plans are adjusted to match daylight windows. Understanding how daylight actually works makes winter travel far less intimidating. Myth 5: “You can only see the Northern Lights in winter” Winter is the most popular season for Northern Lights viewing, but it's not the only time they appear. The aurora can be visible in late fall and early spring as well — whenever skies are dark enough and solar activity cooperates. The key factors are darkness, clear skies, and patience, not just the season itself. This myth often causes people to unnecessarily limit their travel options. The Real Issue: Assumptions, Not Bad Decisions Most Iceland travel mistakes aren't about bad decisions, they're about bad assumptions. When travelers rely on oversimplified advice or viral content, they often plan trips that don't match reality. Once those assumptions are corrected, Iceland becomes far easier and more enjoyable to explore. Plan Iceland With Clarity, Not Guesswork If you're planning a trip to Iceland and feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information, I want to invite you to my Live Iceland Trip Planning Workshop happening on January 31st, 2026. It's the first workshop of the year and is especially helpful if you're planning a trip for 2026 or beyond and want a strong head start. This is a live, interactive workshop where I walk you through how to plan your trip realistically — from driving distances and timing, to choosing the right season, and building an itinerary that actually works. You'll also be able to ask me your questions in real time, which is honestly one of the most valuable parts. I also do a giveaway at the end of the workshop, including Iceland-related prizes. One of those prizes is a one-on-one video trip consultation with me, which is usually fully booked since I only open a few slots each year. If you want clarity, confidence, and a solid plan instead of stress, you can find all the details and sign up using the link in the show notes or here

This week The Boys attempt to go up, up, and away to discuss chapter eighteen of Northern Lights! Join our Patreon and get access to our Patreon exclusive show "Films Cool!" for as little as $3 a month!https://www.patreon.com/twodustyboysEmail us at twodustyboys@gmail.comDon't forget to rate, review, and leave a comment for us on the platform of your choice. Thanks! We love you!Content warning: Not Safe for work or children... unless they're coolIntro and outro music provided by, respectively:"I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"I Got a Stick Feat James Gavins" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Welcome to episode 86 of The Longest Turn Board Gaming Podcast! It has been awhile, but we are back talking about board games. We talk about games we've been playing lately, favorite new to us games in 2025, and games we're excited about in 2026.00:00:00 - IntroGames Played Lately:00:04:34 - Orleans: The Plague00:14:42 - Ticket to Ride: Northern Lights00:22:43 - Alibis00:27:57 - Clank!: Catacombs - Underworld00:35:29 - Thunder Road: Vendetta00:40:29 Best New to us games in 2025:00:41:22 - Kevin's #5 - Railroad Tiles00:44:10 - Tyler's #5 - Marrakesh00:46:48 - Kevin's #4 - Hot Streak00:48:47 - Tyler's #4 - Fellowship of the Ring: The Trick Taking Game00:50:07 - Kevin's #3 - The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth00:52:51 - Tyler's #3 - Railroad Tiles00:55:05 - Kevin's #2 - Moon Colony Bloodbath00:58:28 - Tyler's #2 - Moon Colony Bloodbath00:59:05 - Kevin's #1 - Star Trek: Captain's Chair01:05:42 - Tyler's #1 - Magical Athlete01:11:09 - Honorable MentionsResafa, Evacuation, Aldebaran Duel, Etherstone, Evenfall, Regicide Legacy, Fishing01:17:44. - Excited for in 2026:Star Trek: Captain's Chair - To Boldly Go, 2nd ContactScythe/Expeditions - Expansion & Duel gameBrass: PittsburghAscension: LegendsOrlojHorror on the Orient ExpressRevenantAndromeda's Edge: Genesis01:39:20 - OuttakesJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/F4kX3Faxxf Other links : https://linktr.ee/LongestturnAffiliate codes: GameNerdz Support us on Buy Me a Coffee!

In this conversation, I sit down with student Gloria Andison to talk about her journey painting the Northern Lights in watercolor. Gloria shares how she transitioned from acrylic to watercolor, what it took to let go of control, and how learning to paint with atmosphere helped her express light, mood, and movement more freely. We talk about trusting water, embracing softness, and finding confidence through an expressive approach to landscape painting. This is a thoughtful, inspiring conversation for artists interested in atmosphere, emotion, and growth in watercolor. This conversation reflects ideas explored in my Atmospheric Landscapes course, which focuses on light, mood, and expressive simplicity in watercolor. Website     Facebook Page 

Come with us to the land of fire and ice for a week in Iceland - in the dead of winter! On this wintry adventure we go to Snæfellsnes Peninsula, The South Coast, The Blue Lagoon, on an epic Northern Lights chasing tour in the middle of the night, and even saw some real lava! This episode is full of tips for visiting Iceland in the winter, how to navigate stormy roads, and how to plan for this finicky destination during the dark, winter season.We HIGHLY recommend: These two items from Amazon for your winter Iceland trip: ⁠Heated Jacket⁠ and ⁠Hand Warmers⁠, but check out our whole ⁠Winter Travel Packing List on Amazon⁠ for more suggestions!Hotels we stayed at: - Upscale stylish hotel downtown - Great private room on Rainbow road - In Hofn near Vatnajökull National Park - Big guest house with nice rooms and a restaurant (with a breakfast buffet!) on siteThis trip was booked entirely off tours, check out our ⁠Iceland Experiences Viator list⁠ for all the tours we did + more we couldn't fit into our schedule!Find great flight deals to Iceland by signing up for ⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shop: ⁠⁠Trip Itineraries⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Hello Beautiful, I'm so grateful you're here with me.

012026 7 MIN Why Are We Getting Northern Lights In The USA Continuously? by Kate Dalley

Hello Beautiful, I'm so grateful you're here with me.

This week The Boys discuss chapter an action-packed chapter seventeen of Northern Lights! Apologies, they call it chapter sixteen all episode. They're not good at their jobs.Join our Patreon and get access to our Patreon exclusive show "Films Cool!" for as little as $3 a month!https://www.patreon.com/twodustyboysEmail us at twodustyboys@gmail.comDon't forget to rate, review, and leave a comment for us on the platform of your choice. Thanks! We love you!Content warning: Not Safe for work or children... unless they're coolIntro and outro music provided by, respectively:"I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"I Got a Stick Feat James Gavins" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Russell and Beau give their thoughts on the latest MLS offseason newsTimestamps00:00 Intro05:43 MLS Kit Leaks Discussion21:30 Sporting Kansas City Valuation and Financial Insights26:39 Ownership Changes in MLS28:16 Teams That Need New Management29:52 The Impact of Ownership on Team Dynamics33:37 Upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup39:10 Challenges for MLS Teams in International Competitions58:51 Facundo Torres and MLS News01:06:04 Player Transfers and Their Impact01:15:37 The Psychology of Penalty Kicks01:22:19 Northern Lights and Final Thoughts

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Greenland Europe is ditching its softly softly approach to Trump A never ending queue hospitals where waits are getting worse Northern Lights illuminate UK skies in hues of pink and green Just bad luck The teenage cousins living with inoperable brain tumours Greenland will stay Greenland, former Trump adviser declares France makes first interception targeting small boat crossings to UK Wetherby furniture firm Moores collapses into administration Texts between Donald Trump, Jonas St re, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Rutte I do not want to reconcile with my family, says Brooklyn Beckham Conservative Senedd politician kicked out of party for Reform talks

Thousands gathered for Bob Weir's memorial in Civic Center Plaza. Valentino, the legendary Italian fashion designer has passed away at 93. Zootopia is now the highest grossing animated film of all time. Meghan Markle's Netflix show has been cancelled - shocking. The gang is enjoying SF Bay Coffee. The 49ers lost, and The Bills coach got fired. Indiana Hoosiers won the National Championships. Did you catch the Northern Lights last night? It's National Disk Jockey Day, and here's why! Plus, a little about Uranus and new emojis!

Hour 1: Thousands gathered for Bob Weir's memorial in Civic Center Plaza. Valentino, the legendary Italian fashion designer has passed away at 93. Zootopia is now the highest grossing animated film of all time. Meghan Markle's Netflix show has been cancelled - shocking. The gang is enjoying SF Bay Coffee. The 49ers lost, and The Bills coach got fired. Indiana Hoosiers won the National Championships. Did you catch the Northern Lights last night? It's National Disk Jockey Day, and here's why! Plus, a little about Uranus and new emojis! Hour 2: Netflix's ‘Star Search' reboots tonight. Is being discovered still a thing? Lamar Odom was arrested for a DUI in Vegas. Would Michael B. Jordan exist without Michael Jordan? Simu Liu talks about the shame of chasing his dreams. Sarah is sharing her opinions on the new Matt Damon and Ben Affleck movie. Matt Damon is giving a peak behind the curtain of the Netflix strategy. Shorts weather?! In January?! California. The e-bike drama continues. An AI powered robocop is helping with traffic in China. Greenland is in the news. (51:43) Hour 3: Charlie Puth is a great follow on social media. Brooklyn Beckham does “not want to reconcile” with Victoria and David Beckham. Is cancelling your parents a rude trend or an important step to peace? This is the conversation of the day. The newest Game of Thrones spin-off has Sarah and Bob drooling. Are parents today too soft, or are kids jerks? Things have really changed over the years. (1:33:02) Hour 4: Green Day is set to open the Super Bowl here in the Bay Area. A Metallica residency at The Sphere is in the works. Are more Spheres on the way? Happy birthday, Dolly Parton! K-pop Demon Hunters' hit song has surpassed 1B streams. The Most Interesting Man In The World has quite the resume. Being a parent really dulls your gag reflex, huh! BTW: Zebras are jerks. Plus, do you recognize these iconic sounds? (2:14:46)

A round-up of the main headlines in Sweden on January 20th 2026. You can hear more reports on our homepage www.radiosweden.se, or in the app Sveriges Radio. Presenter and producer: Michael Walsh

Frances McCarthy, Education and outreach officer at MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork, discusses last night's view of the Northern lights in parts of Ireland.

A solar storm was predicted to hit Earth between Monday night and Tuesday morning making it possible to see the Northern Lights as far south as Alabama. Jim Ryan, ABC News Correspondent, talks about the storm and if there are more chances to see the lights.

In this powerful holiday edition of The All About Nothing podcast, Barrett Gruber and Bill Kimler explore the deepening divide in American society. Starting with a recap of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the hosts analyze the political rhetoric surrounding the holiday, including a "clockwork" prediction about SC Attorney General Alan Wilson's messaging.The conversation takes a hard turn into the Minneapolis protests and the controversial role of ICE, with the hosts questioning the training and tactics of agents they describe as "Donald Trump's Gestapo."Later, the show tackles the staggering wealth disparity in America. They break down why the "average" net worth for a 54-year-old has hit $1.4 million and how outliers like Elon Musk fundamentally distort our understanding of the typical American's financial reality. The episode wraps with a look at NFL coaching changes, the upcoming Super Bowl, and a rare moment of wonder discussing the Northern Lights.Key Topics: #MLKDay2026 #AlanWilson #ICEProtests #MinneapolisNews #WealthGap #ElonMusk #NFLCoaching #SuperBowl2026 #AllAboutNothingPodcastBarrett Gruber | LinktreeBill Kimler | LinktreeThe All About Nothing: Podcast | LinktreeBlack White Blue in the South | Instagram, Facebook | LinktreeClick here for Episode Show Notes!As always, "The All About Nothing: Podcast" is owned and distributed by BIG Media LLC!Check out our network of fantastic podcasts!Click Here to see available advertising packages!Click Here for information on the "Fair Use Copyright Notice" for this podcast.Mentioned in this episode:ZJZ Designs - St Patrick's Day ShirtsZJZ DesignsBIG Media Copyright 2026BIG Media LLC

Why does knocking your elbow unleash a distinctive "funny bone" jolt? Are we born with a sense of thirst? What are we seeing when we see things glow under ultraviolet? Why do our minds cling tightly to bad experiences? How do phones see the Northern Lights, even when we cannot? And do the planets in our solar system all move in the same direction? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Why does knocking your elbow unleash a distinctive "funny bone" jolt? Are we born with a sense of thirst? What are we seeing when we see things glow under ultraviolet? Why do our minds cling tightly to bad experiences? How do phones see the Northern Lights, even when we cannot? And do the planets in our solar system all move in the same direction? Dr Chris Smith and Clarence Ford have the answers... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

Thanks to the powerful force that is Lake Michigan and the urban heat island that is Chicago, the city has witnessed some unusual and extreme weather events. Last episode was about lake-effect snow and a phrase you hear all the time: “Cooler by the lake.” But Chicago weather definitely gets stranger than that. We're talking thundersnow, water spouts and even space weather. Why do these weather events happen, what makes them unusual and how can you have a little fun (safely!) when they come around? We talk with Jeff Frame, a teaching professor in the Department of Climate, Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Today's show is a trifecta where we get Norris, Devon, and Jer all in the studio at once talking local stuff.  Here's the rundown: 01:43 - Shout out to Northern Lights 02:35 - There are some maybe possible Detroit People Mover expansion routes shared with the public. Where would you want to see it go? 11:17 - A fake CEO fools some in the media  19:00 - Responding to listener questions: Where is Gov. Whitmer on hot issues? She seems oddly silent lately. Feedback as always: dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211. Saturday coffee and conversation event: https://www.facebook.com/events/850409107962992 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DailyDetroit Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942 Or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Yhv8nSylVWxlZilRhi4X9?si=df538dae2e144431  

“Stop and think, why am I having this reaction? And observe instead of being in it.” In this episode, Nick speaks with Lybi Ma about the importance of embracing all emotions, including those that are often deemed negative. They emphasize the need to sit with and process feelings rather than suppressing them, highlighting that experiencing emotions is a natural part of life. What to listen for: It’s important to feel all emotions, not just the positive ones. Emotional acceptance is crucial for mental well-being. Processing emotions can be a daily practice. You don’t have to dwell on feelings forever; it’s about acknowledgment. Sharing feelings with others can foster a deeper connection and greater understanding. “We spend a lot of time negating half of our emotions. We want to feel happy and not depressed or not anxious, or we don’t want to feel anger. Feel these things.” Avoiding “negative” emotions actually gives them more power over us Emotions like anger, sadness, and anxiety are signals, not flaws Trying to feel only happy creates emotional suppression, not healing Feeling emotions fully helps them move through instead of getting stuck Emotional wholeness comes from allowing all feelings, not just the pleasant ones “People stop breathing when they’re tense and in the moment of being reactive to an unhappy situation. And when you stop breathing, cortisol goes up, and you become alert, and you’re looking for the predator. Just breathe and let your body work it out.” Tension often causes shallow or stopped breathing without us realizing it Holding the breath signals danger, triggering a cortisol stress response The body goes into survival mode, scanning for threats that may not exist Slow, intentional breathing helps calm the nervous system naturally Sometimes regulation isn't mental—it's physical: breathe and let the body reset About Lybi Ma Lybi is the executive editor of Psychology Today. In addition to producing the print magazine, she also edits its website and blog platform, which hosts more than nine hundred authors, academic researchers, and journalists. She edited a Psychology Today book series covering topics such as anger, food addiction, and bipolar disorder. She has a blended family of five adult children and lives with her husband in Westchester, New York. Her newest book, HOW TO BE LESS MISERABLE, is available now from Blackstone Publishing. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/lybi-ma https://www.linkedin.com/in/lybi-ma-b982941/ https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-hb9q?variant=46150345883786 Resources: Interested in starting your own podcast or need help with one you already have? https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/podcasting-services/ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe on iTunes and give us a 5-Star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindset-and-self-mastery-show/id1604262089 Listen to other episodes here: https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/ Watch Clips and highlights: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1tCM7KTe3hrq_-UAa6GHA Guest Inquiries right here: podcasts@themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com Your Friends at “The Mindset & Self-Mastery Show” Click Here To View The Episode Transcript Nick McGowan (00:00.971)Hello and welcome to the Mindset and Self Mastery Show. I’m your host, Nick McGowan. Today on the show we have Libby, how you doing today? Lybi Ma (00:10.338)Good. Thank you for having me. Nick McGowan (00:13.233)Absolutely, I’m excited that you’re here. I told you, I thought you were gonna be really academic and I think you’re gonna be able to tie that in with being an actual human. And I’m excited with all this. So why don’t you get us started? Yes, thank you. Thank you for breathing air with the rest of us. Why don’t you get this started? Tell us what you do for a living and what’s one thing most people don’t know about you that’s maybe a little odd or bizarre? Lybi Ma (00:25.121)breathing. Lybi Ma (00:38.39)I am the executive editor at Psychology Today, and I’ve been there for quite a few decades. Not gonna tell you completely because I don’t want you to know my age. And something that, well, the thing about me is that we take my ex-husband on vacation with us. There you go. Nick McGowan (01:06.644)So I appreciate that you basically just hold the mic there, like about to drop it and like, what do you want to do with this? I feel like there are people that would be like, and here’s some context to it. So I’ve got to ask what, what do you mean? How does that work? Does he physically go with you or is he like in a box? Okay. Lybi Ma (01:22.222)Yeah, he’s, he comes with us. He shows up. We had three weddings in 13 months between my second husband and me. And they’re grown kids. And he came to my stepkids’ weddings and they call him Uncle Carl. Nick McGowan (01:44.628)Cool. That’s really awesome. That is an odd thing that I, unfortunately that I think most people don’t experience. Yeah. Well, this is, this is a good thing to start on too. Cause I’ve actually had this conversation with somebody recently where they’re like, yeah, I’ve got a young kid and the mom and I don’t really, we don’t work, but we work really well together for the kid. Lybi Ma (01:54.211)I gave you one, didn’t I? I gave you one. Nick McGowan (02:10.919)And that was really important. Like I could see him almost like put his foot in the ground. Like this is what we’re doing specifically for a child. That’s not how I grew up. Like my mom and dad, they’re still basically like a town or two apart from each other. They’ll see each other at a bar somewhere and like snarl at each other. Like I am 41 years old, calm down. It’s been a long ass time. However, my dad and his ex-wife are great friends because of the relationship that they had and all that. My dad actually… Lybi Ma (02:29.613)Okay. Nick McGowan (02:40.827)met her husband, shook his hand with a hundred dollar bill and said, thank you. It’s your turn. I’m like, the kahones on that man for that. But that’s an interesting thing that you can actually have that. Now I would imagine, look, you work for psychology today. You’ve probably done a lot of work on yourself and through your relationships and healed through things. But can you give us a little bit of context of like how the heck that works? Lybi Ma (02:48.59)I like that. That’s funny. Lybi Ma (03:07.8)So in the beginning when I first got divorced, I thought, I’m never speaking to this person again. And that lasted for a little while. And I actually worked through his second wife. I needed her to pick up the kids. So as you know, we had a very friendly situation. And I thought, well, this is not really good for the kids. So I think I better. start being more amenable to the whole thing. And I got this job and it helped me. This job, I read a lot of information. Constance Ahrens did research. She did a good book on divorced kids. And basically divorced kids can do well if The parents get along and there’s no conflict in their household. And as long as each parent has a good relationship with the child, they’re probably going to do well. And I will have to say that my children did very well. So yeah, it worked out. And yeah, and it also helps when you have a person like my ex-husband who is very amiable. He wants to be friendly and he has a crazy romance with my husband, a bromance, sorry, not romance, a bromance. They have a thing going on. So there you go. Nick McGowan (04:28.454)awesome. Nick McGowan (04:48.86)Ha Nick McGowan (04:54.473)Which you probably didn’t think like we’re getting a divorce at some point I’ll be married again and he’ll be great friends with my then husband. Like could you have written that you know? Lybi Ma (05:01.13)No, no, I had no idea. No idea. No. Getting along is better. Yeah. Nick McGowan (05:06.097)Yeah. That’s interesting. Yeah. But I, I find it interesting how sometimes we, people can say, there was this period of time and then a period of lapse. And then I realized this thing and then another period and here we are. There was a lot of time in between then and this conversation right now. And even the times where I’m sure you were super frustrated, upset, pissed the whole nine and then maybe I could do things different. And I think sometimes we blow past that because Lybi Ma (05:33.25)Yeah. Nick McGowan (05:39.312)Maybe context isn’t always important in all the situations. However, I want to say it’s pretty much always super important. And that’s really what the purpose of the show is to be able to kind of talk about those tough times. Like you went through a divorce, but you saw it as I’m going to help with the kids. And this is more important for my kids. And now you’re seeing your kids in action from the result of what you guys have done. It’s really hard for people to see the stuff that they need to work on and be open to that, especially when they’re in a really, really difficult time going through it. or post divorce or something like that. Now, how does that tie into the work that you’ve done and worked with for maybe just a couple decades? Don’t need to know your age. But being able to actually go through that stuff on your own and then literally work with psychology today and the psychologists and other people doing important work and you being a researcher yourself. Lybi Ma (06:33.026)Well, I’ll be honest with you. First of all, I’m not a researcher. take the researcher’s information and try to put it in accessible language so that people can relate. So you see all this information coming through and everything makes a whole lot of sense. Nick McGowan (06:53.02)sense. Lybi Ma (07:02.38)And I started to apply it to my own life. And it was very helpful. I became a wiser person because I work at this magazine. Yeah. Nick McGowan (07:15.751)Sure. Were there things that you can kind of look back to? Like kind of hovering around the same topic here, because I know it’s important, divorce kids and families and all that, but for you to be able to look back to and say, you know, if I wasn’t in the job that I am in, I probably would have been in different spot because you learn certain things because of the information you were seeing coming to you. And then just putting it into action. Like, is there anything that really stands out to you? Like, if I didn’t learn this. Lybi Ma (07:23.95)huh. Nick McGowan (07:45.233)I didn’t learn it this way, it would have all been different. Lybi Ma (07:48.259)Well, I think that when I was younger and the kids were little, I was newly divorced. I fought with life quite a bit. And I think that is a main message in my book is fighting with life, it just doesn’t work. We have to plug on and not fight with it. I turn to, also turn to, you know, spiritual thought a little bit like Buddhism. Buddhists accept things. This is how it is. So let’s just take this. You can’t change it. So let’s just try to make it work. Work with what you have. So that’s what I did. I worked with what I had. So I take a little bit of psychology and I mix it. My family. Nick McGowan (08:56.134)Little bit of this, little bit of that. Lybi Ma (08:57.198)Yeah, right. My family comes from the Tibetan, Ching Hai Plateau. And it is, Ching Hai is next door to Tibet. And actually, my grandfather was a trader, he had a donkey, and he put all his tea and shoelaces and whatever, know, spices on his Nick McGowan (09:26.704)Yeah. Lybi Ma (09:27.032)donkey and then he would go back and forth from Tibet to Qinghai. And they are, and these people in that area, there’s Tibetan Buddhists and they’re also Hui. The Hui are Chinese Muslims, which my family are Chinese Muslims. They come from that area and they’re very similar. They have a very similar sort of way of thinking. and acceptance is a big part of it. And that didn’t work out. So we better turn over here and see if this is gonna work out. That’s the way it is. Nick McGowan (10:09.637)You yeah. So let’s, let’s talk about that for a bit. Cause that does tie into even just being miserable or not miserable, let alone less miserable. So if we think of like, it’s funny cause I struggle with that at times. I, I curse like a fucking cartoon at different times. Like this thing doesn’t work. I’m like, just making noises and shit. And my partner on the other hand will go completely calm, silent almost and just methodical. Lybi Ma (10:22.67)Yeah, right. Nick McGowan (10:42.717)And it’s a thing that’s, I believe is actually part of her design, how she is. And I can get up at E and Nancy and all that. But then there are also layers to this where there’s trauma involved. There are different experiences, even things back to how our parents related to things. Like my parents would throw their arms up in the air about things. And I learned, I guess I do that. Like I get upset and pissed and like throw my arms up and flail. And my body still reacts at times that way where it’s like, yo, calm down. It’s totally fine. Being able to accept a thing. Lybi Ma (10:57.44)Nick McGowan (11:13.172)in the split second and then start to move in a different direction can be harder for people because of the things that they’ve gone through and even the way that they are. But how have you found to be able to work within the way that you best operate to say, all right, well, I can find acceptance and I can move on from here. Because I think that’s really where, that’s where the change happens is those macro moments where we actually do something. Cause it’s easy for you and I to shoot the shit and talk about this stuff. Lybi Ma (11:22.881)yeah, certainly. Nick McGowan (11:42.073)But it’s in that moment where you’re like, and how you don’t do that. You know what I mean? Lybi Ma (11:42.126)Yeah. Lybi Ma (11:48.493)You know, I never had a moment of epiphany. It just sort of moved along in the right direction. So I’m not going to say, wow, I had this aha that I had to accept things in life. No, was in my mind, I was hanging this guy up by his toes for a long time. So, and I don’t think there’s wrong, there’s anything wrong with doing that. if you have to feel it, then feel it. We spend a lot of time negating half our emotions. And that is something quite important and well studied. We want to feel happy and not depressed or not anxious or Nick McGowan (12:19.897)Yeah. Nick McGowan (12:36.866)Yeah. Lybi Ma (12:46.362)We don’t want to feel anger or I don’t know. Well, you feel these things and okay, feel them. It doesn’t mean that you’re going to lash out and burn a car. No, you’re just going to feel them. Sit there and feel it and watch it. Watch it. Nick McGowan (12:57.507)Yeah. Lybi Ma (13:05.102)with you and then okay well I gotta get up and cook dinner for the family so I gotta get moving here so I’m not gonna sit here and dwell about it. Maybe I’ll make an appointment and that’s another therapy tool. Make an appointment. If you need to feel crummy then okay I felt crummy at 4 30 to 5. I’m gonna do the same thing tomorrow 4 30 to 5 and I’m gonna Nick McGowan (13:13.365)Yeah. Yeah. Lybi Ma (13:33.772)sit with my feelings and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. Nick McGowan (13:36.109)Yeah. Nick McGowan (13:40.544)I’m right there with you. I think it’s important for us to feel that stuff where if you think about where we’re at right now, almost 2026 with technology and the amount of information, like we see all these things like social media, for example, you hop on, you see somebody doing this big thing, but you don’t have the context of all the other things that have happened before that or even 20 minutes before that when they’re screaming at somebody to get out of their way in the grocery store or whatever. And it’s like, This is what I said to you, I appreciate you being human because that moment where you’re like, this really hurts. I still got to make dinner for these people. We all got to eat tonight. Let me do that. And let me not also then just drag that out. And I find having the amount of conversations I have with people on the podcast and outside of that with clients, just random people that I come into contact with, it’s always interesting to me how somebody will, we want to always put up a better face than what’s really going on. Lybi Ma (14:17.102)Yeah Nick McGowan (14:38.499)And you also don’t want to just be completely shitty and just the world is on fire and totally. people have seemed to have a hard time finding equanimity within themselves to then be able to have a conversation outside of that. And it sounds to me like what you’ve experienced that a lot of us have, where it’s like over the course of time, the rock just gets smoother because the water was going over it. You finally go, okay, it’s been six months. I’ve been upset about this for so long, but some people still. Lybi Ma (15:05.486)Exactly. Nick McGowan (15:07.296)they still just keep going with that hatred for it, which I guess is kind of a different topic. But your book with being less miserable. Lybi Ma (15:15.404)No, think hatred is, no, hatred is important. I mean, if you’re gonna wallow in it, that’s probably not good, but sometimes anger, good anger used constructively will make you do things that are important in life. But hating people outright, I don’t know. I’m not too sure about that. Nick McGowan (15:25.954)Yeah. Nick McGowan (15:35.394)Yeah. Nick McGowan (15:43.811)Yeah, there are enough of those people that are sitting in an office. The rest of the government shut down right now. yeah, it’s interesting because I think that’s where I was headed with the wallowing in it. Like any of this, you don’t want to wallow in it, but you do need to sit in it. Like I’ve had conversations with people that they have a really hard time. It’s like the stove is too hot to even get close to touch it. And then there are other people that like they can put their entire body on it. Lybi Ma (15:50.894)my goodness. Nick McGowan (16:13.142)They can roll around on it like a bed of needles almost, you know, and just sit there. I find that that’s an interesting thing because that’s part of maybe their design, but also they’ve gotten to a point, some of them, where they go, look, I can’t do anything outside of the stuff that’s happening. So I can only do something with what I have here. So why waste my time anymore? Like they’ve wallowed enough or they’ve gone through enough of it. Lybi Ma (16:36.031)Right, right, right, right. Yeah. Nick McGowan (16:40.054)But how does this tie back into the stuff that you talk about specifically with miserable? Like that was part of the reason why I wanted to have you on here. was like, the word miserable is one of those things where there’s not really anything pleasant to it. It’s just fucking miserable. Like here we are. Lybi Ma (16:54.638)It’s the truth. Because we put the Western society puts a lot of weight on happiness. Happiness has to be a goal. And everybody runs around with their bucket lists and they have to do this and that to be happy. Well, no. Sure, you’re gonna go and see the Northern Lights. That’s nice. And you’re gonna be happy. But then you come down to your set level of mood that is well studied. We go up, we come down. grumpy people are in a certain spot. More upbeat people are up here and they move higher, but they always move down to their set level. And that is a hedonic adaptation. We just come back down to where. where we are in life. So the word happiness is not on my book cover because, you know, it’s, we should feel okay about not being happy all the time. That’s all there is to it. We’re not going to reach that crazy happiness all the time. It’s just not, I don’t think that’s realistic. I would rather be. Nick McGowan (18:22.177)Great. Lybi Ma (18:23.02)I want to be practical. And the other part is when we judge how we feel, I’m not happy, I must be a loser. any time you judge this feeling that you’re having, well, guess what? People have studied that and you kind of feel worse. You feel worse because you’re judging it. Nick McGowan (18:25.141)Yeah. Lybi Ma (18:50.766)It’s a funny thing. Yeah, I think it was came from UC Berkeley, researchers there. Yeah, you’re gonna sit there and say things about yourself that are not true. You’re making them up really. You’re gonna feel worse. So I don’t think we should try to be happy all the time. We can just. Nick McGowan (18:51.403)Yeah. Lybi Ma (19:18.604)be practical and just own up to all these things that we feel and not judge them. Nick McGowan (19:26.305)Obviously easier said than done for a good chunk of people. But that is, it’s such a critical piece where it’s like, if we, if we spend that time, like I know I’ve done this personally, where being angry or upset about something, you feel like you’re being active in it, but you’re just being animated in it. And you just keep going deeper and deeper down. I would spiral in that many, many years ago. And then learning from it, you go, Yeah, you can reach a point where you go, I’m just kind of bored with this. And this doesn’t make any sense to do this anymore. So why would I do that? But we do see stuff where people are talking about all the success that they had and the 15 year overnight success sort of situations where it’s like, if this person’s happy constantly, cause that’s all they post or whatever. And stepping outside of that, actually being within ourselves. I’d love that you’d said that you’re more in the country than you are with everybody else and being by yourself and being away from people, I would imagine you then have more time to actually be able to say, how do I feel right now? And do what you want with it instead of saying, well, I’m told I need to do something different, you know? Lybi Ma (20:39.95)Right, right. Well, who’s telling you to do it, first of all? Which one? I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. Nick McGowan (20:44.794)Yeah, well, sometimes it’s, Yeah. One of the voices, one of the many up there. So what actually led you to start the process to write the book? Did you just get so frustrated within yourself of like, have to put this out there? Did this kind of come up organically? Lybi Ma (20:55.69)Yeah, I don’t know. Lybi Ma (21:07.944)No, well, you know, I got over my… Lybi Ma (21:17.366)negative feelings about divorce and all that. And I moved on and plugged on. So that was good. I just, every time I read a new piece of research, I would squirrel it away. And I thought, yeah, that goes with the feelings that I had back then of being miserable. So I would squirrel it away. And then when COVID happened, I watched people. and they were interesting to watch. Some people did very well. Some people did very poorly. And I don’t want to get into a conversation about the introvert and the extrovert, whatever. I’m just talking about emotions and sitting with them generally, because even introverts need people. We’re all social. So that’s not really part of what I’m talking about. I just watched all of it and I thought, you know what, I think I have enough information here to write a book. So COVID sort of pushed me a little bit. Nick McGowan (22:31.231)Thanks, COVID. Yeah. Lybi Ma (22:32.398)I guess so. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know about that. Yeah, people were, I watched people and they had a lot of, you know, negative reaction to a negative thing that was happening. They were told to stay at home and then, and then get into a loop of bad feelings. It just went on and on and on. And I found that the thoughts that they had were quite irrational. And that is something also well studied. The brain is not very logical. It also has a very negative bias. are evolved into thinking negatively. Yeah, ancient man needed to be worried about predators and being eaten. They needed to be alert. is that a bad thing around the corner that’s going to eat me? Well, we the human brain has not changed that much. And we still do it. did that person insult me? And we got Nick McGowan (23:56.958)Yeah. Lybi Ma (23:57.535)And then you start doing this thing and it’s very, very not rational. It’s not positive. It’s pretty negative. And you just keep going in this distorted fashion. these negative things have a lasting impression and positive things are less important. And there was an interesting study where researchers Nick McGowan (24:03.496)Yeah. Lybi Ma (24:27.102)showed study subjects photographs. people on a roller coaster maybe or something neutral like a hairdryer and a gun pointed at you and people remember the gun. So negative things have a lasting impression. And this bias that we have, it makes sure that we hold on to our insults and grievances. We do a lot of things in our head that are irrational. Jump to conclusions, my date hated me, a fortune teller. Why would they even call me back anyway? Mind read. Nick McGowan (25:09.854)Yeah. Lybi Ma (25:22.39)I know that you’re thinking about me and it’s bad, all or nothing. I will not be happy until the end of time. Those sort of things. We do these things over and over and over to ourselves. really it doesn’t seem to be helping. Nick McGowan (25:44.625)No, but we all, I think, are somewhat addicted to it. And we don’t think that other people go through it. It’s almost like when we say, well, this person’s looking at me or what are they thinking about me? They’re probably not. And if they did, they noticed something and then they’re thinking about themselves. Like, I had that same jacket. Do I look like an asshole in that jacket? Is that me? And they’re off thinking about themselves. Meanwhile, both of them are like, my God, what are they thinking? Lybi Ma (25:49.761)Yeah, yeah. Lybi Ma (25:59.139)That you’re right. Lybi Ma (26:09.368)They’re so right. You are so right. They’re too busy thinking about themselves like we are too busy thinking about ourselves. It’s just we’re worried about how we look, how we appear. Did I say that? was it stupid? Did I sound stupid? whatever. Nick McGowan (26:19.911)Yeah. Nick McGowan (26:27.71)I think there’s a bit of a caveat though, because there are also times where we can grow from that stuff, because we can say, the situation in this whatever office or this call or whatever didn’t go the way that I wanted to, what could I have done differently? Like sort of watching game tape in a sense on yourself, but not beating yourself up with it and not in every single situation. Lybi Ma (26:51.278)Yeah, that part. Nick McGowan (26:54.235)Yeah, and being like, all right, well, what can I learn from this? What can I do a little differently? There’s a power within that, but then also removing the nonsensical shit. I’ve gotten to the point where I probably talk to myself more so than I did before and be like, easy there, asshole, calm down. Because like, random noises will come from other rooms, it seems, in the back of my head. Like, you can’t do that. You look like an asshole, that jacket. I’m like, shut up. Like, let me just kind of go. But being able to understand that there’s a balance to learning and growing and being able to review things and say, could I do a little differently? And beating yourself up can be a razor’s edge. But what kind of advice do you give for people that are trying to figure that stuff out? And they obviously don’t want to be miserable, but they’re also sort of addicted to that feeling of it because they’re so used to it, you know? Lybi Ma (27:50.062)One of the main things that I’ve read We have to be more aware that we’re doing it. and speak to ourselves. maybe in the third person. Libby’s doing that again. She’s disappointed and it’s turning into this thing. And now that distorted thinking is taken off. Okay, Libby, stop that. We have to be aware and point it out. So great research from University of Michigan. Nick McGowan (28:12.177)Yep. Lybi Ma (28:35.15)you observe. And that’s Buddhist to me. You observe this thought and meditation is a little like that. there’s a thought, watch it go by. That’s nice. Whatever. It’s a thought. It’s not real. And a lot of times our thoughts lie to us. So don’t do it. at least if you if you keep doing it, know that you’re doing and then in addition to that, you label it. So if it’s a feeling, well, Libby is angry at not right now because XYZ happened and she’s going to hold on to this grievance and nurse that grievance until whenever. Okay, that’s nice. You know, you’re doing that again. So We label how we feel. I’m feeling sad right now. That’s good. I’m feeling angry right now. And talk to yourself a little bit, but not in a, you say, beat yourself up mode. And then you turn to self-sabotage. So you want to numb yourself. It goes into this cycle of… Nick McGowan (30:02.747)Yeah, vicious cycle. Lybi Ma (30:04.502)Yeah, yeah, turns into a cycle. You beat yourself up and it leads leads to this negativity and you’re not very nice to yourself. So that’s another thing. Self-compassion is very important. Water research on that. You want to count right. You want to be compassionate to your to ourselves and breathe while you’re being compassionate. Nick McGowan (30:21.915)Yeah, grace with ourselves even. Lybi Ma (30:34.626)People stop breathing and when they’re tense and in the moment of being reactive to an unhappy situation and when you stop breathing, well, cortisol goes up and you become alert and you’re looking for the predator. No, you know what? Just breathe and let your body work it out. It’s not bad. Nick McGowan (30:36.815)Yeah. Nick McGowan (30:52.165)Yeah. Nick McGowan (31:03.226)I love this sort of stuff. I love that we’re able to get into this because I know there are other, I don’t want to talk bad about any podcasts or other people’s interviews or anything like that. But there are conversations out there that are very surfacey where it can talk about, yeah, you want to be aware and you want to look at these things and then do some with it. You want to show grace to yourself. And we also need to talk about when it’s really difficult to do that because even in like the moment you just said where you stopped breathing. scientifically, that takes oxygen away from your blood. Your blood is no longer moving oxygen through the rest of your fucking body. And your brain is a part of that. So it’s like science-wise, that makes sense. I think there’s also a balance of not just saying, I’m aware of this thing and if I’m shitty again, then so be it. I’m aware of it. It’s doing something with it, not beating yourself up and still being able to understand that I can’t bypass this. Lybi Ma (31:37.538)Right. Nick McGowan (32:02.521)Because I think that’s where the happiness stuff comes in. If you’re feeling bad, just go be happy. cool, great. Fuck the trauma and all the other nonsense that I absolutely need to process out of my body. Let me just go be happy. And then you go be happy and you do a thing and you go, like you said earlier, right back to your own little status quo and you go, shit, I am still a miserable bastard. What do I do from here? Let me look for another happy thing. And you’re like, off to do it again. Just bypassing the bullshit, you know? Lybi Ma (32:10.574)I Lybi Ma (32:28.846)Right. doesn’t really, you always go back to where you were. Nick McGowan (32:37.294)Yeah, awareness is such a big thing that my logical and smart-ass mind thinks, well, that makes total sense to me. Because if you’re not aware, how the fuck are you aware? Like if you don’t know a thing’s there, you can’t do anything about it. But that’s really when the work begins. Like you’re aware and you go, I’m aware of this feeling. And I’m glad that you brought up the next part of that being naming it. That is really difficult for a lot of people to name. Lybi Ma (32:41.046)Yeah. Nick McGowan (33:05.24)what their emotion is. They go, I’m just angry. Really, maybe you’re grieving or maybe you’re really upset that’s not just anger, but it’s a betrayal that happened or something like that. And actually being able to call what it is instead of just going, just a sticker almost. You’re like, and I’m shitty right now and push it off to the next thing and just move along instead of actually doing that work. But that, I don’t know. I feel like I can go. Lybi Ma (33:29.944)Right. Nick McGowan (33:32.557)deep with it because that’s where systems come into play that tell us, don’t do this, just keep working, just keep hustling, keep grinding, keep blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It makes me almost just wanna fucking throw up in my mouth every time I even think about it. Cause it’s like, we are hurting ourselves, we’re hurting each other and we’re perpetuating it because none of us are just going, time out. Give me a fucking second. What is this? What am I feeling? So talk to us about how the book relates to that. Lybi Ma (34:02.349)Lybi Ma (34:06.018)Sitting with our emotions, you mean? Nick McGowan (34:08.677)And understanding like if you’re feeling miserable and being less miserable is still taking away that but it’s not bypassing it. It’s not letting you bypass it. Lybi Ma (34:17.386)No, no, you have to feel what you feel. Otherwise, it’s not true. You have this feeling and it’s a true feeling and you should feel it. once you do that, you let yourself do that, you will probably break through a bit more to get beyond and be less miserable. You know, you will probably thank yourself. I do. I do. You know, it’s an interesting thing. My husband and I don’t fight very often, but we’ve been through tense, you know, when you move and all that stuff. And yeah, it’s not easy. And I can catch myself. Oh, wait, I’m being reactive at this moment. And I’ll just stop and think, wow, that’s interesting. I’m doing it. I’m doing it at this very moment. And I start talking out loud. all right, hang with me for a minute here while I think about why I’m having this reaction. Why am I having this reaction? What is bringing this up? Nick McGowan (35:39.383)Yeah. Lybi Ma (35:46.219)I think we need to stop because you start spinning in that in a certain direction of negativity and you might as well just stop it and just ask yourself, what’s what is this and observe and instead of being in it, just step outside and and look at it. Yeah. Nick McGowan (35:54.274)Yeah. Nick McGowan (36:07.256)and look at it. Yeah. Huh. And that’s, that’s a simple, like incredible thing though, to say live in the moment, like, hold on, give me a second. I’m feeling something. Let me work through this and come back to you. it’s almost like having a conversation, a heated conversation and saying, I need a second and stepping away. That could be really, really difficult for a lot of people in that moment because you’re so in it, but If you think about any time you’ve ever said that, even to yourself or to your husband or anybody else. Lybi Ma (36:40.942)Mm-hmm. Nick McGowan (36:45.816)Probably most every single time they’ve respected it. Lybi Ma (36:49.686)Yes. Yes, you’re not, you’re not trying to run from the situation. You’re just trying to understand what’s going on inside yourself. And a lot of times when you’re in a fight with a partner or someone, usually it’s person closest to you, because they’re the ones who are gonna forgive you. But usually it’s just sort of, you know, not, it isn’t about that moment. It’s about something else. Something else is going on. Yeah, it brings up some, yeah, go ahead. Nick McGowan (37:33.815)And it’s not… Yeah. It’s not just those people. We often will take it out on the people we love because they’re the closest and they know us the most. And yes, you said they will forgive us, but that doesn’t give us a license to abuse the shit out of them because you’re angry that somebody took the last fucking piece of bread at whatever grocery store or whatever happened earlier. And you’re like, God damn the person closest to me. It’s like, but what do they do? what? Yeah. Lybi Ma (37:51.246)to do that. Lybi Ma (38:00.303)Yeah. Lybi Ma (38:04.682)nothing. They’re just standing there. They’re standing there. I don’t know. They’re just standing there. Yeah. I think one another way to, since you’re looking for ways to counter it, I mean, you know, there’s many things to do, you start being more mindful. So I try to call out my reactivity with being mindful, breathe, I write things down. Nick McGowan (38:10.327)Yeah. Lybi Ma (38:34.67)And I try to be grateful in the moment. You’re having a fight and I try to be grateful to the person I’m fighting with. If you show them grace and your self grace and you’ll get through the dumb fight, whatever it was that you’re, and just go with the flow of things. I don’t mean lay down and just die. What I mean is, Nick McGowan (38:44.47)Sure. Yeah. Nick McGowan (38:54.548)Yeah. Lybi Ma (39:04.301)You. get into the flow of life. And there’s been quite a lot of work on the topic of flow for decades. we move with what is happening. Flow is more complicated than that. mean, it has to do with… Nick McGowan (39:13.056)Yeah. Nick McGowan (39:26.208)Yeah. Lybi Ma (39:33.132)being very, very engaged in what you’re doing. So a writer would feel flow when they’re writing or the piano player is really into the music or even listening to music, you running, you get in the flow, but you can apply the flow theory into life, everyday life. Just go with it. I think that’s important. Nick McGowan (39:58.038)That’s really important. And I appreciate that you point out these things that in some ways, and as I said earlier, there are other conversations that get real surfacey and they go, yeah, go with the flow. Cool. Let’s stop there. Just go with the flow. Being able to be mindful, to talk about these things, even with the gratitude. Like I’ve heard for years and years, people are like, just be grateful and gratitude this and gratitude that and have a gratitude journal, blah, blah, blah. It’s like all those things can be good and helpful if they are good and helpful. If you’re just being Lybi Ma (40:24.192)Right. Nick McGowan (40:25.065)grateful and you’re like, I fucking had this and God, I’m grateful for it. But even in that moment of being grateful that you have a partner to be able to argue with and, and yeah. And then that’ll automatically just disarm you a little bit. Like even as you’re saying that I’m picturing it and picturing, you know, me with my partner arguing about whatever. And to think of that, I just want to hug her because I love her. I love that I have the partner to be able to Lybi Ma (40:29.518)All right. Lybi Ma (40:35.778)Right? A lot of people don’t. Lybi Ma (40:42.755)Yeah. Nick McGowan (40:53.737)bitch can complain about things with or whatever. And it’s like, if we can be aware of that and actually show the grace and do the thing in the moment, instead of just saying, just be grateful and gratitude this and gratitude that. It’s like, fuck your gratitude unless you’re actually gonna do something with it. Because then it’s the moment, that moment right there where you do something with it instead of just saying, well, I’m just gonna go back to my old ways and just be kind of shitty about it. So for the people that are trying to be less miserable. Lybi Ma (41:09.23)Ha Nick McGowan (41:23.375)or trying to just wrap their head around how they can give themselves grace and kind of work through life at their pace instead of just what the rest of the world tells us we should do. What’s your advice for somebody that’s on their path towards self mastery? Lybi Ma (41:40.275)Give yourself a break, please. Good Lord. I don’t know why we have to be so hard on ourselves. And we run around looking for solutions to everything. Well, sometimes, you know, life does work out. It does work out. And I think we don’t have to make it harder. Nick McGowan (41:42.793)Nice. Lybi Ma (42:09.774)We make it harder, we fight with life, and I think we can watch it a little. Doesn’t mean that we should not be proactive and move forward and reach our goals, but we can calm down a bit about how we treat ourselves, and you will be less miserable. Nick McGowan (42:35.093)I love that, especially like the come down. Like that’s the vibe I got like right off the bat. Chill out, give yourself a break. Just relax. It’s not the end of the world. And yeah, just chill out. Lybi Ma (42:39.95)Yeah. It isn’t. It is not the end of the world. Bad things do happen and it feels like it’s going to be the end of the world, but actually things do work out. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Right. Nick McGowan (42:55.379)Yeah, divorces. You know, the people that have gone through it, you understand that. I had different people when I got a divorce, they were like, man, I was in bad shape for years. And I was like, well, that sucks. I don’t want to go through that. And I’m like, well, I didn’t get a, I didn’t get married to get a divorce, but I didn’t get a divorce to die. So, and I’m thankful it happened. I mean, I wish her the best, but I wouldn’t have my partner now. I wouldn’t have my business and all the other things that have come from it. Lybi Ma (43:06.296)Right, right. Lybi Ma (43:14.927)Right. Nick McGowan (43:24.777)But I want to touch on something you pointed out where it’s like, give yourself a break, the things will work out and things happen. I was actually sort of joking, but sort of like, this is just a mind fuck of a thing with my coach recently, where I understand that the right things happen at the right times. Always. It’s actually an affirmation of mine. It’s the anxiety before and the anxiety after that exact one moment. Because that one moment is where like, these things happen at the right time. Like, look. Lybi Ma (43:50.828)Okay. Nick McGowan (43:54.45)And I’ve seen it happen. Like it lines up where it’s like, I couldn’t have scripted this. God was like, this is how this thing’s going to work. And it’s like, that’s incredible. But there’s anxiety for the 98 % before and all the other stuff after it, where it’s like that one moment. But that one moment happens and happens more often than not, know? So it’s just a weird little situation that we can get lost in all the other minutia of it. Lybi Ma (44:17.825)Right, right. Nick McGowan (44:23.912)So I appreciate you being as real as you are. I’m like, just calm down, chill out. It’ll be okay. Lybi Ma (44:24.152)Right. It’s gonna be okay. I wish I told my, knew that when I was younger. It’s gonna be okay. It will be. Nick McGowan (44:36.616)Yeah. Hmm. Yeah. And just like, if you could go back and talk to your 18 year old self, what would you say? And I think most people probably say it with a fist and then shake them a little bit with whatever, like whatever you’re going to do, don’t. but that’s what this podcast is for. Like, let’s talk about these things because we’re all going through it. Like, let’s not shy away from that. We all go through this stuff. So, Libby, I really appreciate you being on today. I appreciate the work that you’re doing. Lybi Ma (44:51.224)Hahaha Lybi Ma (45:03.894)All right. Nick McGowan (45:05.208)and you’re putting out the books that you are and just that you’re able to work with that information that’s coming to you and help spread that out and being as real as you are. So thank you for being here. Of course, and before I let you go, where can people find you and where can they connect with you? And of course, where can they get the book? Lybi Ma (45:14.882)Thank you. Lybi Ma (45:22.478)Well, of course, I’m on Psychology Today. You’ll find me there on the website. And you’ll find my book on the, you know, any major source like Amazon or Barnes & Noble, that sort of thing. Nick McGowan (45:44.541)Perfect. And I’ll have some of those links in the show notes too. So again, thank you so much for being with us today. Appreciate it. Lybi Ma (45:50.933)Thank you.

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1. Cultural Debate on Santa Claus UK museum’s guidance to “decolonize” Father Christmas. Santa is criticized for being “too white” and “too male.” Suggests changes like: Santa working alongside elves to show equality. Mrs. (Mother) Christmas taking a more prominent role. Removing the “naughty or nice” list, which is framed as colonial and judgmental. Links these ideas to broader critiques of patriarchy, colonialism, and Christianity, portraying them as part of a “woke” agenda. 2. Child Rescue Operations U.S. law enforcement Operation Northern Lights, which has recovered 43 missing children in Florida and surrounding states. Highlights risks these children faced (human trafficking, exploitation, domestic violence). Frames the current administration as proactive compared to the previous one, which is accused of neglecting child safety for political reasons tied to immigration. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.