Podcasts about nurture

Do you ever feel like you have to choose between staying open and protecting your peace? Today's practice proves you don't have to choose at all. Welcome to Day 4 of our 7-day grounding meditation series. Today we use Prithvi Mudra — the earth mudra — as a physical anchor for a healthy boundary. By simply touching the thumb to the ring finger while letting the rest of the hand stay open and relaxed, this guided meditation offers a felt sense of what real protection can feel like: steady, not tense; boundaried, not closed off. Download this week's free Daily Reflection Journal → Receive Mary Meckley's weekly meditation journal, created to help you reflect, reset, and realign with each new series from The Daily Meditation Podcast. What You'll Learn in This Episode How to practice Prithvi Mudra (the earth mudra) and use it as a grounding anchor A simple way to identify where you need more protection in your life right now Why healthy boundaries don't require tension or force An ancient teaching from the Bhagavad Gita on steadiness as protection Who This Episode Is For Anyone who struggles with boundaries, feels easily overwhelmed by others' energy, or is searching for grounding mudras, protection meditation, or present moment awareness practices they can return to daily.

If you have ever felt fear in your body and then immediately made that fear mean something bad about you, this episode is for you. Vanessa explores fear not as something to conquer, transcend, or shame, but as something ancient, intelligent, protective, and deeply human. Through polyvagal theory, Buddhist psychology, the teaching of the first and second arrow, RAIN practice, and self-compassion, we look at what changes when we stop treating fear like the enemy. Healing is not becoming fearless; it is becoming less afraid of fear itself, so you can stay with yourself when it arrives.Reference Links:Stephen Porges — Polyvagal TheoryUse for: Polyvagal theory, autonomic regulation, and the nervous system's safety/danger responses.Link: https://www.stephenporges.com/Note: Stephen Porges developed polyvagal theory, which is referenced in the episode to explain why fear often arises before conscious thought can intervene.Polyvagal Institute — What Is Polyvagal Theory?Use for: Accessible overview of polyvagal theory and autonomic regulation.Link: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheoryNote: Helpful general explainer for producers/listeners who want a basic overview.Neuroception — Stephen Porges / Polyvagal TheoryUse for: Neuroception as the nervous system's subconscious detection of safety and threat.Link: https://www.stephenporges.com/Note: Use alongside Porges's work. If referencing neuroception specifically, describe it as the nervous system's below-conscious scanning for cues of safety or danger.Buddhist Teaching — The First and Second ArrowUse for: The teaching that pain may be unavoidable, but the suffering we add on top of pain can compound it.Link: https://blog.tarabrach.com/2017/08/the-wisdom-of-its-not-my-fault-finding.htmlNote: Tara Brach explains the first and second arrow in accessible language. In this episode, fear is the first arrow; shame about fear is often the second.Tara Brach — RAIN PracticeUse for: RAIN: Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture.Link: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/Note: Tara Brach describes RAIN as a mindfulness and compassion practice for working with difficult emotions.Jon Kabat-Zinn — MindfulnessUse for: Mindfulness as present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness.Link: https://www.mindful.org/jon-kabat-zinn-defining-mindfulness/Note: Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally.Jon Kabat-Zinn — Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)Use for: MBSR as an 8-week mindfulness-based program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn.Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3336928/Note: This source identifies MBSR as developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 and describes its use of mindfulness meditation to alleviate suffering.Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)Use for: MBCT as a mindfulness-based approach developed for relapse prevention in recurrent depression.Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2834575/Note: This article discusses MBCT and its evidence base, including reduced relapse rates in recurrent depression.MBCT — Segal, Williams, and TeasdaleUse for: MBCT's development by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale.Link: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/resources/spirituality-special-interest-group-publications-mark-williams-mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy.pdfNote: This PDF discusses MBCT's development and its use in preventing relapse and recurrence of depression.Rollo May — The Meaning of AnxietyUse for: Distinction between fear and anxiety; anxiety as a threat to something essential to the self.Link: https://open.baypath.edu/psy321book/chapter/c25p2/Note: This source quotes May's definition of anxiety as apprehension triggered by a threat to a value the individual holds essential to their existence as a personality.Dan Siegel — Window of ToleranceUse for: Window of tolerance as the zone where a person can process experience without becoming overwhelmed or shut down.Link: https://www.nicabm.com/trauma-how-to-help-your-clients-understand-their-window-of-tolerance/Note: This is a practical clinical explainer of Siegel's window of tolerance concept.Affect Labeling — Naming Emotions and Amygdala ActivityUse for: Research on how naming an emotion can reduce emotional reactivity.Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17576282/Note: Lieberman et al. found that affect labeling may diminish emotional reactivity through prefrontal-amygdala pathways.Affect Labeling and ReappraisalUse for: Additional research support that affect labeling is associated with decreased amygdala activity and reduced self-reported distress.Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3970015/Note: Useful follow-up source for the episode's point that naming fear can help interrupt total identification with fear.Jack Kornfield — Turning Toward Fear with CompassionUse for: Buddhist psychology, compassion, and turning toward difficult experience rather than abandoning ourselves.Link: https://jackkornfield.com/fear/Note: Use for the episode's discussion of meeting fear with presence and compassion rather than exile.Bodhisattva VowUse for: “All beings” as a compassion frame, including the frightened parts of ourselves.Link: https://tricycle.org/magazine/bodhisattva-vow/Note: Use gently and broadly. This supports the episode's point that compassion includes the frightened one inside us, not just others.Kristin Neff — Self-CompassionUse for: Self-compassion as self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.Link: https://self-compassion.org/what-is-self-compassion/Note: Supports the episode's discussion of bringing fear back into the circle of care rather than shaming it.Kristin Neff — Fierce Self-CompassionUse for: Fierce self-compassion as a boundary-setting, protective form of compassion.Link: https://self-compassion.org/blog/what-is-fierce-self-compassion/Note: Supports the distinction between tender self-compassion and fierce self-compassion.For educational purposes only. This isn't therapy.If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com.Additional ResourcesExplore: VanessaBennett.comBook: The Motherhood MythCommunity: Inner Compass CollectiveTraining: Inner Compass AcademyConnect with Inner CompassFollow on InstagramConnect with Vanessa Bennett:Follow on InstagramFollow on TikTokLearn more on SubstackConnect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedInSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Commander Rorke Denver, 14-year Navy SEAL veteran and author of Damn Few and Worth Dying For, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast for a powerful conversation on mental toughness, resilience, and leadership. He breaks down the nature vs. nurture debate around grit, shares how he raises tough kids by letting them struggle, and explains why doing hard things prepares you for life's inevitable challenges. Rorke opens up about his time leading SEAL platoons in Iraq and South America, the highs of elite team performance, the lows of being stuck on a ship, and how hunting has become his new brotherhood after transitioning out of the military. Honest, practical, and inspiring — this episode is packed with tools for building an unbreakable mindset.Join Dustin Diefenderfer, Founder of MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab and creator of the MTNTOUGH+ Fitness App in the top podcast for Mental Toughness and Mindset. (P.S.

Have you ever found yourself thinking, "Maybe my offer just isn't good enough?" I've been there many times. It's frustrating and can really rock your confidence. It's easy to think that if people aren't buying, the answer is to create something new or continue to tweak what you already have to offer. The problem is that cycle usually keeps you busy without bringing in more clients. In this episode of Doing Business Like a Woman, you'll learn why consistency builds trust, why a confused mind will almost always say no, and the five simple steps I use to help women entrepreneurs create more consistent clients without constantly reinventing their business. I share: A gentle reminder that not buying isn't the same as rejection Why consistency matters more than constant improvement How to nurture relationships that naturally lead to sales Why making direct offers is one of the greatest acts of service you can provide If you're tired of trying to reinvent the wheel and ready to build a business that creates consistent clients, this episode is for you. Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome01:10 - Why chasing the "perfect offer" keeps entrepreneurs stuck02:00 - Why storytelling builds stronger marketing and deeper connections03:00 - The biggest misconception about why people aren't buying04:00 - Understanding the buyer bell curve05:30 - Why your offer may already be good enough07:00 - Stop perfecting your offer and start improving your marketing08:45 - How repetition builds trust10:15 - Step 1: Get completely sold on the outcome you help clients achieve12:30 - Step 2: Commit to one clear message and communicate it consistently15:30 - Say the same thing to new people instead of different things to the same people16:20 - Step 3: Meet more new people with one clear message17:00 - Step 4: Nurture relationships instead of constantly chasing new leads18:00 - Why curiosity makes you a better marketer18:45 - How consistent messaging creates referrals and long-term trust19:15 - Step 5: Make direct offers with confidence21:00 - Recap of the five-step framework23:15 - Complimentary marketing evaluations and next steps24:20 - Marketing can be simple, enjoyable, and effective25:00 - Preview of the upcoming AI and Marketing series Stay Connected:

This summer we will preach through Psalm 93-105. While studying these Psalms, you will see several repeated themes. For example, this section (Psalms 93:1 and 104:1) begins and ends with the LORD clothed in splendor and majesty. From these passages, we will rejoice together as we worship the holy, majestic, glorious, eternal, righteous King of Kings as we declare His wondrous deeds throughout history.DNA Questions:DiscoverHow would you explain or describe God's holiness?Would the fact that He “sits enthroned upon the cherubim” affect your conversation?What role does the fact that He “loves justice” and is “a forgiving God” play?NurtureWhat facet of God's holiness (majesty, justice mercy) challenges your thoughts of Him the most?How have you experienced his forgiveness and loving correction?ActHow would you pray for the Holy Spirit to give you “eyes” to see the LORD as “Holy…Holy…Holy”?Does that change how you draw near to Him? If so, how?

Evolve while you sleep. These affirmations build a "can-do" growth mindset, ensuring you see every obstacle as a valuable opportunity for personal expansion. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app:  Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evolve while you sleep. These affirmations build a "can-do" growth mindset, ensuring you see every obstacle as a valuable opportunity for personal expansion. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app:  Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books change the way we see. Rhonda Roorda's In Their Own Voices did that for countless adoptive families, including our own here at ETC. In this episode, Rhonda returns to walk us through her debut memoir, Torn from the Root, and the four questions at its center: who was going to get hurt, what was it going to cost, who would be held accountable, and what hope could there be for repair. It is a tender, unflinching conversation about transracial adoption, the voice of the child within, and what it really takes to belong. Listener-care note: this episode includes honest discussion of trauma, abuse, and mental health within the context of transracial adoption. In this episode Why Rhonda turned the lens on her own story after decades of documenting others, and what it meant to listen to the little girl within her The four questions from her memoir that frame the whole conversation The history most adoptive families never hear, from the 1970 National Association of Black Social Workers statement to the research that shaped current policy How everyday language and labels shape a child's sense of identity and worth The difference between celebrating a child's culture and simply living near it A family "blueprint" approach to belonging, where every member is honored and advocated for What repair actually requires, starting with an honest audit of ourselves How nurture, in ETC terms, shows up in our words, our attention, and our follow-through Resources Torn from the Root: A Memoir of a Black Transracial Adoptee by Rhonda M. Roorda (Temple University Press). Pre-order available now, releasing July 2026. In Their Own Voices, In Their Parents' Voices, and In Their Siblings' Voices, the landmark trilogy Rhonda co-authored with Dr. Rita J. Simon In Their Voices: Black Americans on Transracial Adoption, Rhonda's award-winning solo work Rhonda M. Roorda's website: https://rhondamroorda.com Context referenced in the episode: the 1970 National Association of Black Social Workers position on transracial adoption, and the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act of 1994 with the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996 Chapters (00:00:04) - Rhonda Rorda on Transracial Adoption(00:07:12) - Transracial Adoption: A memoir(00:13:48) - Rhonda on Transracial Adoption(00:16:48) - Who Is Being Hurt in Transracial Adoption?(00:24:43) - In the Land of Adoptees: Language(00:28:53) - From A Commodity to the World(00:30:49) - Othering Transracial Adoptees(00:37:15) - What Would It Have Been Like to Experience A Real African Family?(00:46:40) - Adoption advocates speak out for equity(00:47:47) - Adoptees Speak Out About the Transracial Adoption System(00:53:59) - African American culture in the Netherlands(00:59:07) - Transracial Adoptions: The Need for Nurture(01:05:02) - Torn from the Root Review(01:12:53) - Telling My Story of the Transracial Adoption System(01:19:11) - From Here to Eternity(01:22:47) - Rhonda's Empowerment to Connect: Where Do We Go

Children who grow up in troubled circumstances―experiencing deprivation or instability, living in a dangerous neighborhood or an abusive family―are more prone to aggression, recklessness, and sexual promiscuity later in life. To most of us, the lesson is clear: adverse childhood conditions make human development go awry. In The Nature of Nurture: Rethinking Why and How Childhood Adversity Shapes Development (Harvard University Press, 2026), renowned developmental psychologist Jay Belsky challenges this interpretation and offers an exciting alternative based on Darwinian theory. There is no reason to assume, he points out, that the psychology of “well-behaved” people is normal while that of “antisocial” adults is aberrant. Instead, the supposedly dysfunctional behaviors correlated with childhood adversity could well be ingenious adaptations to harsh environments. If you are surrounded by danger and uncertainty, then being quick to lash out at potential threats and having lots of offspring at an early age are good ways to maximize your reproductive chances. From an evolutionary perspective, having just a few children and lavishing care on each works well in a stable world, but not in a perilous one. Belsky exposes the romanticism underlying our idealized notions that “natural” equals “good” and that nature intends to maximize human happiness and well-being. When instead we take seriously the fact that humans, too, have been shaped by evolutionary pressures, we can better understand why, how, and for whom childhood experience shapes later life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Join Alex and Dr. Alan Whitehead as they tackle the age-old debate in psychology explored in the film Gattaca (1997) — nature vs. nurture! The film was written and directed by Andrew Niccol and stars Ethan Hawke as Vincent, a man who was born normally (a shock, we know!) and predicted to die at 30 years old. He doesn't accept that fate based on his genes alone and vows to go to Titan by using Jude Law's Jerome Eugene Morrow's life, a man who was a genetic wunderkind. The film also stars Uma Thurman as Irene, Vincent's love interest (and Ethan's as well). Don't forget Ernest Borgnine and Alan Arkin! The central question of the film asks: are genes destiny or can fortune favor the experiences and determination of a life? The discussion also wonders what the point of all of this eugenics would actually be and why everyone is so interested in going to space. The best way to beat your genes? Swim out into the middle of the ocean! Check out Alan's workplace and sports consulting org: Mirthworks Institute Please leave your feedback on this post, the main site (cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com), on Facebook (@CinPsyPod), or Threads/Instagram (@cinemapsych_podcast). We'd love to hear from you! If you like this content, you might like my new Audible audiobook/course, A Psychologist Goes to the Movies, available now! It features six films that have been on this show, condensed into 25-30 min essays, researched and analyzed. Don't forget to check out our Paypal link to contribute to this podcast and keep the lights on! Don't forget to check out our MERCH STORE for some great merch with our logo and other designs! Legal stuff: 1. All film clips are used under Section 107 of Title 17 U.S.C. (fair use; no copyright infringement is intended). 2. Intro and outro music by half.cool ("Gemini"). Used under license. 3. Film reel sound effect by bone666138. Used under license CC-BY 3.0. Episode Transcription Go to this link to read a transcript generated by Whisper AI Large V3 Model. Disclaimer: It is not edited and may contain errors!

Children who grow up in troubled circumstances―experiencing deprivation or instability, living in a dangerous neighborhood or an abusive family―are more prone to aggression, recklessness, and sexual promiscuity later in life. To most of us, the lesson is clear: adverse childhood conditions make human development go awry. In The Nature of Nurture: Rethinking Why and How Childhood Adversity Shapes Development (Harvard University Press, 2026), renowned developmental psychologist Jay Belsky challenges this interpretation and offers an exciting alternative based on Darwinian theory. There is no reason to assume, he points out, that the psychology of “well-behaved” people is normal while that of “antisocial” adults is aberrant. Instead, the supposedly dysfunctional behaviors correlated with childhood adversity could well be ingenious adaptations to harsh environments. If you are surrounded by danger and uncertainty, then being quick to lash out at potential threats and having lots of offspring at an early age are good ways to maximize your reproductive chances. From an evolutionary perspective, having just a few children and lavishing care on each works well in a stable world, but not in a perilous one. Belsky exposes the romanticism underlying our idealized notions that “natural” equals “good” and that nature intends to maximize human happiness and well-being. When instead we take seriously the fact that humans, too, have been shaped by evolutionary pressures, we can better understand why, how, and for whom childhood experience shapes later life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

Children who grow up in troubled circumstances―experiencing deprivation or instability, living in a dangerous neighborhood or an abusive family―are more prone to aggression, recklessness, and sexual promiscuity later in life. To most of us, the lesson is clear: adverse childhood conditions make human development go awry. In The Nature of Nurture: Rethinking Why and How Childhood Adversity Shapes Development (Harvard University Press, 2026), renowned developmental psychologist Jay Belsky challenges this interpretation and offers an exciting alternative based on Darwinian theory. There is no reason to assume, he points out, that the psychology of “well-behaved” people is normal while that of “antisocial” adults is aberrant. Instead, the supposedly dysfunctional behaviors correlated with childhood adversity could well be ingenious adaptations to harsh environments. If you are surrounded by danger and uncertainty, then being quick to lash out at potential threats and having lots of offspring at an early age are good ways to maximize your reproductive chances. From an evolutionary perspective, having just a few children and lavishing care on each works well in a stable world, but not in a perilous one. Belsky exposes the romanticism underlying our idealized notions that “natural” equals “good” and that nature intends to maximize human happiness and well-being. When instead we take seriously the fact that humans, too, have been shaped by evolutionary pressures, we can better understand why, how, and for whom childhood experience shapes later life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/van-leer-institute

This summer we will preach through Psalm 93-105. While studying these Psalms, you will see several repeated themes. For example, this section (Psalms 93:1 and 104:1) begins and ends with the LORD clothed in splendor and majesty. From these passages, we will rejoice together as we worship the holy, majestic, glorious, eternal, righteous King of Kings as we declare His wondrous deeds throughout history. DNA Questions:Discover Are there songs of worship to the LORD that regularly come to mind? If so, why are they memorable? If not, what do you think is the reason? NurtureIn your life, would you equate His salvation with victory? If so, how? How is joy expressed in your life? Do you see your salvation as an end in itself or as His means of making His salvation known? ActWhere would you, like David, ask the LORD to “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation”? How could you be of help for someone who is struggling with a lack of joy in the LORD's salvation?

Episode 079 — I Nurture My Mind With Gentle Thoughts A gentle guided affirmation session focused on nurturing your mind with kind, compassionate inner dialogue. Learn to replace harsh self-talk with the same tenderness you offer those you love. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ SHOW NOTES ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Opening — Welcome & Introduction [01:15] Settling In — Breathing & Releasing [03:45] Affirmations — Gentle Inner Dialogue [06:30] Affirmations — Nourishing the Mind [08:15] Breathwork — Heart-Centered Breathing [09:15] Closing — Integration & Farewell ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ AFFIRMATIONS • I nurture my mind with gentle thoughts • I speak to myself the way I would speak to someone I love • My thoughts are becoming kinder every single day • I release the need to be harsh with myself • I fill my mind with thoughts that bring me peace • I am learning to pause before I judge myself • I give myself permission to think beautiful thoughts about who I am • My mind is a safe and loving place to be ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ TOPICS • Self-nurturing • Gentle inner dialogue • Mental kindness • Self-compassion • Replacing self-criticism • Mindful thought patterns • Breathwork for inner peace ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Listen daily for the best results. New episodes every day. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you are struggling, please reach out to a qualified therapist or counselor.DISCLAIMER

You built the funnel. You created the lead magnet. You set up the email sequence. So why isn't your funnel converting the way it used to? In this episode you'll discover how the rise of AI has fundamentally shifted the way your ideal client makes buying decisions, why the old Traffic to Lead Magnet to Nurture to Sale model is losing effectiveness, and exactly what the new buyer journey looks like so you can stop wondering why your system stopped working and start building something that actually fits how buyers are making decisions right now.

Formed & Called: Biblical Womanhood | Nurture by Dresden.Church

Hello Beautiful, I'm so grateful you're here with me. Your mental health deserves care, compassion, and attention. This meditation offers a nurturing space to slow down, release pressure, and reconnect with your inner strength and resilience. Perfect for stress management, anxiety relief, emotional wellness, self-care, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation. Love,

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This summer we will preach through Psalm 93-105. While studying these Psalms, you will see several repeated themes. For example, this section (Psalms 93:1 and 104:1) begins and ends with the LORD clothed in splendor and majesty. From these passages, we will rejoice together as we worship the holy, majestic, glorious, eternal, righteous King of Kings as we declare His wondrous deeds throughout history. DNA Questions:DiscoverWhat are your thoughts when Psalm 97 proclaims “The LORD reigns”? From this Psalm, how would you describe His reign? Does this truth comfort or convict you? Both? How? Nurture Has Psalm 97 enlarged your view of God? If so, how? Is your hatred of evil stronger when you see it in others or in yourself? Act How would an increased sense of the majesty, splendor, and holiness of the LORD lead you to love Him more and make sin (rebellion) less attractive? How does the fact that the LORD's light and joy have been “sown” in you increase your appreciation of Galatians 5:22 (The Fruit of the Spirit)?

Philosopher Stefan Molyneux advises a newlywed father facing abuse allegations against his own dad. As the caller works to set clear boundaries for his young family, Molyneux urges him to keep the child's wellbeing at the center and focus on creating a stable, nurturing home that leaves the old family dysfunction behind.GET FREEDOMAIN MERCH! https://shop.freedomain.com/SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxFollow me on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@freedomain1GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/FREEDOMAIN2026

#972 Ever wonder how a six-figure creator runs two businesses while letting AI handle the heavy lifting? In part 1 of this 2-part episode hosted by Brogan Williams, Destini Copp pulls back the curtain on exactly how she's doing it. Destini shares how she uses Claude, MCP connectors, and tools like Kit and ThriveCart to automate sales pages, emails, and event marketing, cutting what used to take hours down to minutes. She also breaks down her Creator's Growth Flywheel, a proven customer journey framework that takes audiences from total strangers to raving advocates, and explains why "modern lead magnets" like diagnostic tools and calculators are replacing the outdated PDF download. Whether you're just starting out or scaling an existing digital product business, this conversation is packed with practical AI strategies you can implement today! What we discuss with Destini: + AI automation for sales pages, emails, and checkouts + Using Claude with MCP connectors (Leadpages, ThriveCart, Kit) + The Creator's Growth Flywheel framework + Five stages: Attract, Engage, Nurture, Retain, Advocacy + Six-month newsletter research study findings + The "Mini Magazine Method" for newsletters + Why weekly newsletters tied to podcasts often fail + Modern lead magnets vs. outdated PDFs + Diagnostic tools and calculators as lead magnets + Creating niche lead magnets in 15-20 minutes with AI Thank you, Destini! Check out Part 2 of this episode. Check out Destini Copp at DestiniCopp.com. Watch the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠video podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much do our genes determine about our lives, and could they influence traits like risk-taking, antisocial behaviour or even violence? Ian Sample talks to Kathryn Paige Harden, a behavioural geneticist and professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin who studies how genetic factors shape human behaviour. In her book Original Sin she explores how nature and nurture combine to influence our likelihood of committing crimes, and asks whether the ‘cause' of our actions matters for how we think about culpability

SD Times editor-in-chief Dave Rubinstein and Barun Singh of tech talent company Andela discuss the impact of AI on nurturing future developers. Singh emphasizes that while AI automates coding basics, core knowledge and critical thinking are still essential. He highlights the importance of code review, planning, and security, which require senior experience. Singh believes colleges should focus on foundational knowledge, and boot camps remain relevant due to their immersive learning approach. He notes a shift towards retraining existing talent rather than just recruiting new workers. 

What comes to mind when you hear the word "Father"? For some, that word carries warmth and safety while for others, it carries wounds and questions. In this tender and powerful message, Pastor Jim unpacks two Father facets that have the potential to reshape the way you see God forever. Drawing from Matthew 6:9 and the heart of the Lord's Prayer, you'll discover that your heavenly Father is not merely a reflection of your earthly one . . . He is a "how much more" Father who expresses His nature through love, and His nurture through compassion, correction, and care. No matter what your experience with a father has been, this message will leave you with the life-changing assurance that if you're a long way off, He'll take the first step . . . and come running toward you.

This summer we will preach through Psalm 93-105. While studyingthese Psalms, you will see several repeated themes. For example, this section (Psalms 93:1 and 104:1) begins and ends with the LORD clothed in splendor and majesty. From these passages, we will rejoice together as we worship the holy, majestic, glorious, eternal, righteous King of Kings as we declare His wondrous deeds throughout history.DNA Questions:DiscoverWhat was the most joyful event in your life?Why was it the most joyful?How do you describe it to your friends?NurtureWhat word or phrases would you use describe worship?How would you explain who Jesus is to an unbeliever?Does your worship lead to witness of Him?ActRank these clauses from easiest to most difficult for you:To know Him leads me to rejoice in Him,To rejoice in Him leads me to love Him;To love Him leads me to worship Him,To worship Him leads me to witness of Him.

How much do our genes determine about our lives, and could they influence traits like risk-taking, antisocial behaviour or even violence? Ian Sample talks to Kathryn Paige Harden, a behavioural geneticist and professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin who studies how genetic factors shape human behaviour. In her book Original Sin she explores how nature and nurture combine to influence our likelihood of committing crimes, and asks whether the ‘cause' of our actions matters for how we think about culpability. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

In Episode 3, co-host Aimee Roberson (Chahta/Chikashsha) speaks with Alicia Moncada (Wayuu) and Avexnim Cojtí (Maya K'iche') about what it means to be Indigenous, how all of humanity has Indigenous roots, and the fierce love needed to care for and ensure the continuance of our cultures, communities, and connections to Mother Earth.Don't miss this conversation! Listen to “Fierce Love: Balancing Nurture and Defense of Our Communities.”

The Horror Short Film Director Roundtable is one of the most important things that we did at the Portland Horror Film Festival. It provided an elevated platform for horror short filmmakers. Oftentimes, this is ground zero for original horror ideas. Unless you are a Hollywood nepo-director, short film creation is where you learn your chops. I wanted to give these creatives an opportunity to share their experiences in making movies, both good and bad, so that we can all learn a little more about the craft. Life as a short filmmaker can be an experience in the shadows. Your films are rarely seen outside of film festivals, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This is where most creative minds hone their crafts. Take a simple concept and do it well. Do you have something scary or funny to tell? Is there an idea that has been lurking in the back of your brain that you have to give life to? A short film will give you the opportunity to learn production, editing, budgeting, and team management. It also places you in a community of people who are open to sharing their work with one another. That’s where the round table fits in. After our discussion, I told the group that, even though I wanted this discussion to be a forum for them to share their wins and losses with each other, I selfishly set up this talk so I could learn more about horror moviemaking. Nine years in on being a small horror press journalist, and I still feel like I am only scratching the surface about what a director has to do. Just how do you do it? These discussions give me more talking points and access to better questions to ask. The Portland Horror Film Festival is one of the best curated horror film festivals in the country. Not only do Gwen and Brian Callahan select some of the best horror short films for their festivals, but they also provide opportunities for short film alumni to showcase their feature films. One of the questions I asked in our roundtable discussion was, “How many of you are looking to be feature film directors?” All of them raised their hands (with the exception of Patrick Hogan, who has already directed a feature film). For these directors, here is some encouraging data. This year alone had FIVE directors who previously presented short films at either PHFF or the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival and later had their feature films shown at these festivals. Here are the PHFF Alumni filmmakers who presented a short film and then a feature: Anthony Cousins: Short Films – “The Bloody Ballad of Squirt Reynolds” and “Every Time We Meet for Ice Cream Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes” to Feature Films – Frogman (2023) and Frogman Returns (2026) Jeff Ferrell: Short Film – “Morella” to Feature Film – The Demonatrix (2026) Levi Buchannan: Short Film – “We Said Forever” to Feature Film Sitra Achra (2026) Krsy Fox: Short Film – “What the Spell” to Feature Film – Big Baby (2026) Masaki Nishiyama: Short Film “Smahorror” to Feature Film “The Invisible Half” (2026) Zack Ogle: Short Film “We Got a Monkey’s Paw” to Feature Film – It Needs Eyes (2025) Craig Ouellette: “Str$p” to Feature Film – Straight on Til Morning (2025) Andrew Bowser: Short Film – “Little Willy” to Feature Film – Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Evil (2022) Izzy Lee: “My Monster”, “Dark Signals”, “Rehomed” to Feature Film – House of Ashes (2024) Kenichi Ugana: Short Film – “Visitors” to Feature Film – Love Will Tear Us Apart (2023) Alice Maio Mackay: Short Film – “The Serpent’s Skin” to Feature Film T-Blockers (2023) Matthew John Lawrence: Short Film “Larry Gone Demon” to Feature Film – Uncle Peckerhead (2020) Justin Harding: Short Film “Kookie” to Feature Film – Making Monsters (2019) The PHFF Horror Short Film Director Roundtable Recording: Here is the roundtable discussion. It’s all about the lessons learned. The good, the bad, and the ridiculous. My past experience doing these round tables sometimes put the filmmakers on the spot, and I didn’t want this to be a “stump the directors” exercise. I prepared them with the following questions: Apart from financing, what was the biggest challenge in making your movie? What was the most interesting thing you learned while making this film? How many of you are filmmakers as a second career? What remains a mystery to you as a filmmaker that you think might be answered by one of your peers in this discussion? What piece of advice do you have for your fellow directors? This group really got into the discussion, and had the festival not started up, we could have gone on for quite a while longer. I had a great time, and I believe they did as well. The Horror Short Film Director Roundtable Films: Blindsided Directed by P. Patrick HoganStarring Crystal LoverroPortland Horror Film Festival: Winner of the Devil’s Discord (Best Sound Design) A blind schoolteacher struggles to survive through a nightmarish night when an alien spaceship crashes and unleashes a monstrous predator. This unique horror short film features an all-low-vision cast and places the audience in the POV of a blind protagonist who is only able to hear what happens around her. Director Statements: “Blindsided is a riveting short horror film that takes a unique narrative approach, providing audiences with an immersive glimpse into the harrowing experience of Maria, a blind woman confronting the most terrifying ordeal of her life. The horror remains unseen, both to her and the audience, heightening the suspense and reminding us that sometimes, the most terrifying things are the ones we don’t see coming… This is an innovative short film that ventures into uncharted territory within the horror genre. The narrative unfolds in a tranquil neighborhood, abruptly disrupted by a crashing alien spacecraft and the horrifying monster it unleashes into the night. However, what sets this film apart is the unique perspective from which the story is told – the POV of Maria, a blind schoolteacher living alone. Maria’s desperate struggle to evade the otherworldly predator, guided solely by what she hears, will provide an experience unlike any other horror short. Additionally, to promote diversity and inclusivity, in conjunction with our Disability Authenticity Consultant Vanni Le and Casting Director Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, all the characters in the film are played by low-vision actors, placing the spotlight on the often-overlooked talent within the low-vision community. We are very proud of Blindsided and look forward to enjoying it in theaters with an audience who doesn’t know what they are about to experience.” Scullion Written and Directed by Trevor GracianoStarring: Whitney Garner as “Samantha”, Cody Parr as “Greg”, and Jim Close as “The Maid” A playful couple test their household chore habits and unknowingly summon a vengeful presence. Director Statements: “We all carry habits inherited from our parents into adulthood. I grew up in a religious household where some of those habits were helpful, but many were not—and they've lingered in ways I don't welcome. Some habits fade with time, while others remain, quietly shaping us in the background. This film explores the struggle to break free from those ingrained patterns, and the imaginative consequences of what happens when they refuse to let go. *It's really just about how to load the communal dishwasher correctly.” Worst Thing You’ve Ever Done Directed by PJ GermainWritten by Autumn Palen and PJ GermainStarring: Brady Gentry, Benjamin Nowak, Bix Krieger, Charlie N. Townsend, Cailyn Rice, Ethan Ahn, Emma Smith Watts, and Erin Rae Kykendall HIGH SCHOOL REALLY SUCKS… and no one knows that better than best friends Aaron and Keith. So when they set out to crash the last graduation party of the summer, emotions fly high, and the culture clash of teenagers finds them playing a simple game that has dire consequences. Director’s Statement: “Before he passed, screenwriter Gil Dennis told me during my time at AFI, “Write what hurts.” That idea has stayed with me; it's the compass I use when choosing the stories I want to tell. When I first read Autumn Palen's original draft of Worst Thing You've Ever Done, it hurt. It transported me back to moments in my own adolescence; memories filled with shame, ridicule, and isolation. But what floored me was its third-act twist. It was something I'd never felt so viscerally in a short script. I knew I had to direct it. What began as a contained character piece evolved into something more personal. I rewrote the script to reflect my own lived experiences, with every character, every event drawn from real moments that left a mark. I wanted to take a character that I felt so intertwined with, and make him someone that the audience would really relate to before reaching the moment where everything changes; the blood-drenched punchline to the twisted joke these high school kids played on each other. I set it during the 90’s, as it was a period of transition for me as an 80’s kid, being on the cusp of the old and new world. I needed the film to be an exploration of adolescent loneliness which dealt with the complexity of the friendships and social hierarchies that often defined who we were at that fragile age. We weren’t quite kids anymore, but we weren’t adults yet either, so how did we approach the consequences of reckless behavior? My team and I knew that casting would make or break the film. To capture that truth, casting was everything. I reviewed over 6,000 submissions, narrowing it down to a callback of who I thought could embody the characters. I needed authenticity, so at that callback, I ditched the script and asked actors, in character, to describe moments like first dates or getting asked to prom. It revealed who leaped from the page and became real. A week before we were to start shooting, my original cinematographer had to back out due to a conflict with the TV series he was currently shooting, and months of planning began to crumble. In the days leading up to whether or not we were going to cancel the project entirely, my long-time collaborator and cinematographer Jeff Billings took on the task. We shot the film over 3 tireless days, and as any director knows, you plan as much as you can; however, the plan eventually goes out the window. So I played a game of pivoting and being malleable myself in order to get what we needed to tell the story. The film is a testament to all the parts working together for a singular goal, and my hope is that when that first music cue drops, the audience is strapped in and ready to ride the roller coaster to that final frame.” https://vimeo.com/1071562836/377ba7d361?fl=pl&fe=cm Cat and Mouse Written and Directed by Brady CatesStarring: Halima Kamara as “Michelle”, Collan Simmons as “Felix, and Ron LaprechtEdited by Luke Oleen Junk, and Hayley Frederick Michelle is caught in a killer’s sadistic and carefully orchestrated game. With danger closing in at every turn, Michelle must outwit and outlast her relentless pursuer. But as the night goes on, unsettling clues reveal that all may not be what it seems. This time, it's the mouse's turn to catch the cat. My Severed Arm Written and Directed by Casey de FremeryStarring: Olivia Rose Prince as “Sidney”, Ryan Romine as “Mason”, and Julia Linger as “Commercial Model”Portland Horror Film Festival: Funny Bone Award for Exceptional Horror Comedy A woman tries to escape a serial killer using DIY videos, but the internet won't stop trying to sell her things first. Director’s Statement: “My Severed Arm is a horror-comedy about a “final girl” who, after fleeing into a cabin in the woods, discovers that her greatest threat isn't the machete-wielding slasher outside—it's the barrage of unskippable ads and paywalls blocking her access to life-saving information. Trapped, bleeding, and desperate to repair the tools around her, she turns to YouTube—but instead of help, she's ambushed by holographic tutorials and polished commercial spokespeople invading the cabin like digital ghosts. The film began with a thought I couldn't shake: what if you had to listen to ads when calling 911? It was a joke at first, but one that felt eerily plausible five minutes into the future. I've learned so many practical things through platforms like YouTube, but over time, that access has been buried beneath monetization schemes, misinformation, and endless self-promotional detours. This story is my response to that frustration—exaggerated into a literal life-or-death scenario. Stylistically, I wanted to evoke the stark, grim energy of Evil Dead or Cabin in the Woods, but undercut it with the absurdity of consumer culture leaking into every moment. That blend of horror and comedy, physical space and digital intrusion, is what drives the tone. At its core, My Severed Arm is about survival—both in the horror-movie and digital sense. It's about what happens when urgency meets algorithm, when access to knowledge is shaped by incentive structures that don't care if you bleed out. The film asks: what good is information if it's hidden behind paywalls, pop-ups, and promo codes? But more than anything, I want the audience to laugh, cringe, and feel that creeping recognition that this isn't the future – it's the now.” Into The Stand Directed by Mackenzie Hamilton and Taylor FuchsWritten by Mackenzie HamiltonStarring: Sarah Rich as “Quinn”, Ariana Raygoza as “Rosa”, and Nick Dietrich Tree planters Quinn and Rosa return to camp for another summer in the wilderness. Rosa is newly sober, and Quinn is quietly anxious about how she'll handle the camp's hard-partying culture. At the welcome-back party, Rosa is tempted to drink, prompting Quinn to intervene. Shaken, Rosa heads into the forest to clear her head, but doesn't come back. When Quinn goes after her, she's met with eerie signs: strange noises, a mangled deer, and an odd light deep in the woods. As the forest closes in, Quinn questions if there is something else out there. Director’s Statement: The woods have always haunted me. Growing up in rural Vancouver Island, I would often cut through forest trails to reach friends’ houses. When it was night, we would meet in the middle of the trail to keep each other safe. Thankfully, we always found each other, but I frequently wondered what if we didn't? What if something else was out there, waiting in the darkness of the woods? Into the Stand is inspired by the many times I scared myself on those trails, letting my imagination run wild. Now that I'm older, my fears are centered around more tangible things, like navigating how to let go of people you love when you can't control what they're going through. This story is deeply informed by themes of sobriety, codependency, and how the urge to help someone can sometimes lead you somewhere dark. Ultimately, Into the Stand is a fun horror made in the community I grew up in with friends who helped bring it to life. My husband and I co-directed this short film, transforming the woods on my parents' farm into a tree-planting camp, and had a blast turning a familiar place into something eerie and cinematic. It's a scary film that is personal and full of heart, and I'm overjoyed to be telling stories in the places that shaped me. –Mackenzie Hamilton and Taylor Fuchs Nurture Written and Directed by Nick SnyderProduced by Sam SnyderStarring: Travis Bilenski as “Ren, and Kailey Rhodes as “Rose”Portland Horror Film Festival: Winner – Goule D’or Best Short On a remote Oregon farm, a couple grieving from a miscarriage finds hope in a mysterious flower. But as it heals her, the flower takes root in him. Nurture is a dialogue-free folk-horror fable about love, grief, and the consequences of taking too much from nature. Director’s Statement: NURTURE marks my return to narrative filmmaking after years of honing my craft in visual effects, motion design, and commercial work. Inspired by the Pacific Northwest and the quiet mythology of its forests, this dialogue-free folk horror short explores grief through the lens of a nature curse. Where grief deepens love and a curse demands sacrifice, NURTURE examines the dangerous hope that something broken can be restored without cost. Other Notable Horror Shorts from the Festival: There were 48 short films shown at the Festival, selected from over 500 submissions. Here are a few notable and favorite films that were also showing at the festival. Famous Directed by Rosita Lama MuvdiWritten by Jordan MonaghanStarring Jordan Monaghan “A young woman desperate for social media fame exploits her father's death to go viral. But the volatile world of internet stardom pushes her to the edge.” Punchy and poignant. Famous taps into the darkest desires of influencers desperate to get likes. Just how far will you go for a few more “likes and subscribes”? Jordan Monaghan chases likes the wrong way in “Famous” (2026) Favela Amarela (Brazil) Written and Directed by Nicolas Lobato and Tiago TuchuStarring Richard Abelha, Giselle Batista, and Sai “A student from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro joins the local drug militia to pay for college and uncovers an NGO linked to powerful politicians that hides dark rituals devoted to the King in Yellow.” I won’t be surprised if this stunning short film also plays at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. It is saturated in Brazilian culture, mixed with a heavy application of Cosmic Horror. Favela Amarela (2026) Wall Udder Written and Directed by Alexandra HaydenStarring Kevin Grady, Sawyer Fuller, and Bries Vannon “A dissatisfied woman confronts repressed feelings of malaise after her partner comes home smelling like milk.” Hysterically gag-inducingly funny! There is a double-punchline gag that brought the house down. Part of the Shorts Gone Wild block at PHFF, where the festival screens the zaniest submitted shorts. This did not disappoint. Ewwww! Who wants some milk? “Wall Udder” (2026) Tooth-Hurty! Directed by Jude MadonnaWritten by Katie SmallStarring Katie Small, Jude Madonna, Brook Hogan, and Tommy HardenPortland Horror Film Festival Winner: Abby Normal Award: For the exceptionally weird and disturbing “Lucy is a people-pleasing writer-photographer whose dream of being an artist remains just out of reach. A comment from her boyfriend about her teeth triggers Lucy to make an appointment for a dental checkup for the first time in years with the mysterious yet heavily advertised Big Smiles Dentistry.” Super clever! There should be more horror movies about trips to the dentist. This made my toes curl and had me in stitches, as well. Say Ahhh! Katie Small in “Tooth-Hurty!” (2026) CHÄIR Directed by Chris McInroyWritten by Chris McInroy and Carlos La RottaStarring Carlos LaRotta, Kim Lowery, and Chloe McInroy “Carl just wanted to sit down. The chair had other plans.” I am always a fan of Chris McInroy. He and Carlos do a crazy short film every year. I am in awe of how these guys make deadpan, silly, and super-gory original content. It won’t be long before they release a greatest-hits compilation, and I will be in line to buy it. This spoof on Ikea furniture assembly is a tribute to all of us who have struggled to assemble the Scandinavian furniture at home. Carlos LaRotta contemplates his struggles putting a chair together in “CHÄIR” (2026) The Bones Exist Directed by Kelsey Bollig and Matthew DuVallWritten by Matthew DuVallStarring: Alex Pena as “Manny”, Siya Maleki as “Diego”, Jack Campbell as “Don Rob”, Michael Manzako as “The Boy”, and Alex Bankler as the Utah Raptor.Portland Horror Film Festival Winner: Tompe L’oiel Award for Best Special Effects In the unforgiving wilderness of 1850s Alta California, a dwindling group of gold prospectors encounters a feral boy who forces the men to confront the horrors lurking in the woods and the sins of their past. This combines two of my favorite genres: Dinosaurs and Westerns. Perhaps not done since The Valley of Gwanji, The Bones Exists shows plenty of raptors hunting cowboys and does so convincingly. Bonus points for showing the most current understanding of raptors as feathered dinos. Munch Munch! “The Bones Exist” (2026) Flush (France) Written and Directed by Raphaël TreinerStarring Eléonore Gurrey as “Marianne” and Christophe Ntakabenura as “Ben” Abominable plumbing and violent deaths. MARIANNE, extremely pregnant, and BEN, a plumber and one-night stand, team up to survive an epic night and face the monsters of a building beset by an unknown evil. I am a sucker for the Trapped in a Bathroom trope, even going so far as to host a Crypticon horror panel on the topic. This film goes to the top (plumbing) shelf. This is Cosmic horror that brings all the icky, goopy, nasty elements you might expect from this theme is on full display. To think that an effective little romance element managed to sneak into the plot, and you have something unusually effective. I love it when the French go weird. Eléonore Gurrey and Christophe Ntakabenura are unlikely allies in “Flush” (2026)

Editor Sarah Affleck pulls back the curtain on one of filmmaking's most invisible—and essential—arts. From cutting reality television to shaping animated features at LAIKA and Pixar, Affleck traces her journey through the editing room while explaining why animation offers creative possibilities unlike any other medium.The conversation dives into her work on the acclaimed animated short Dear Upstairs Neighbors, exploring its painterly visual style, frantic creative energy, and the year-and-a-half process of transforming storyboards into a finished film. Along the way, Affleck discusses her love of Adobe Premiere, the unique relationship between editor and director, her unexpected stint editing The Brain That Wouldn't Die, and the challenge of finding the perfect comedic and emotional beats.She also reflects on the film's sold-out premiere at Tribeca, the painstaking craft behind every minute of animation, and her upcoming directorial project, Nurture. It's a fascinating look at storytelling from the perspective of the person who helps every film find its rhythm, voice, and soul.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

Editor Sarah Affleck pulls back the curtain on one of filmmaking's most invisible—and essential—arts. From cutting reality television to shaping animated features at LAIKA and Pixar, Affleck traces her journey through the editing room while explaining why animation offers creative possibilities unlike any other medium.The conversation dives into her work on the acclaimed animated short Dear Upstairs Neighbors, exploring its painterly visual style, frantic creative energy, and the year-and-a-half process of transforming storyboards into a finished film. Along the way, Affleck discusses her love of Adobe Premiere, the unique relationship between editor and director, her unexpected stint editing The Brain That Wouldn't Die, and the challenge of finding the perfect comedic and emotional beats.She also reflects on the film's sold-out premiere at Tribeca, the painstaking craft behind every minute of animation, and her upcoming directorial project, Nurture. It's a fascinating look at storytelling from the perspective of the person who helps every film find its rhythm, voice, and soul.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

Join Emily Bath as she shares mindset shifts, and best practices to help you intentionally grow and pour into a network both online and in person. Whether you currently have a small network or following, a limited social circle, little experience showing up online, or simply a desire to grow your confidence and influence, I truly believe you'll find this training incredibly helpful.Find us at hughandgrace.com  On Instagram @hughandgrace       On Facebook @HughandGrace   Email us at customercare@hughandgrace.com Music: Realize your dreams by Sergio Prosvirini

Dr. Peter Salerno is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and internationally recognized expert in personality science and pathological relationship dynamics. He specializes in the assessment of personality pathology and recovery from manipulative and coercive relationship abuse. He is the author of Cruelty by Nature, Traumatic Cognitive Dissonance, and The Nature and Nurture of Narcissism and was featured as an expert in the Hulu series Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil. His work integrates cutting-edge personality science with practical, trauma-informed education for survivors and clinicians. Today on the show we discuss how manipulation starts long before most people recognize it, the first internal signs that someone is distorting your reality, the difference between normal conflict and intentional abuse, why love bombing can become a psychological trap, how predators use speed, guilt, empathy and confusion to keep people stuck, why smart and successful people are not immune to being manipulated, and the first steps to rebuild your nervous system, self-trust and identity after a toxic relationship and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psalm 95 begins with a call to worship and ends with a warning against hardening our hearts in unbelief. The Psalmist tells us why God alone is worthy of worship, and then draws upon the experience of God's people in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of a hardened heart. The author of the book of Hebrews points to the warning in Psalm 95 to exhort us to hold fast to our hope in Christ as the one through which we are saved.DNA QuestionsDiscoverWhat are some reasons that God alone is worthy of worship?How did God's people put him to the test and to the proof?Why does the Lord say he loathed the generation that died in the wilderness?NurtureWhat does the name “Rock of Our Salvation” tell us about God's character?In what ways is it comforting to know that “we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand?” Are there ways in which that makes you uncomfortable?ActHow are we shaped by the way we worship? Are there characteristics to the way you worship that you would want to change? If so, why?Does believing that God is equally merciful and just influence how you tell unbelievers about Jesus? Does believing that God is equally merciful and just influence how you encourage and disciple fellow believers?

Psalm 95 begins with a call to worship and ends with a warning against hardening our hearts in unbelief. The Psalmist tells us why God alone is worthy of worship, and then draws upon the experience of God's people in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of a hardened heart. The author of the book of Hebrews points to the warning in Psalm 95 to exhort us to hold fast to our hope in Christ as the one through which we are saved.DNA QuestionsDiscoverWhat are some reasons that God alone is worthy of worship?How did God's people put him to the test and to the proof?Why does the Lord say he loathed the generation that died in the wilderness?NurtureWhat does the name “Rock of Our Salvation” tell us about God's character?In what ways is it comforting to know that “we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand?” Are there ways in which that makes you uncomfortable?ActHow are we shaped by the way we worship? Are there characteristics to the way you worship that you would want to change? If so, why?Does believing that God is equally merciful and just influence how you tell unbelievers about Jesus? Does believing that God is equally merciful and just influence how you encourage and disciple fellow believers?

The most dangerous relationship question may not be, “Do I love this person?” The deeper question is, “Which part of me is doing the loving?” Because a relationship can look romantic on the surface while operating as a spiritual audit underneath. Attraction may arrive wearing the costume of chemistry, but chemistry does not automatically prove compatibility. Sometimes the nervous system recognizes an old emotional climate and calls that recognition destiny. Sometimes the wound sees a familiar room and calls it home. Sometimes the ego finds someone willing to confirm its identity and calls that safety. Sometimes the soul encounters a person who threatens every false self-defense and calls that terror. This is where nature and nurture collide. Nature is the unconditioned spirit beneath performance, fear, adaptation, family programming, cultural instruction, and inherited survival scripts. Nurture is the social curriculum that taught you who to desire, how to attach, what to tolerate, what to fear, and what to call love. The tragedy begins when conditioning imitates intuition so convincingly that people mistake repetition for revelation. A relationship becomes spiritual in nature when it exposes this confusion. It reveals whether you chose from freedom or familiarity. It shows whether your standards protect growth or protect your wound. It tests whether your love seeks truth or merely seeks comfort. It confronts the hidden chooser inside you: the abandoned child, the performing self, the controlling ego, the family script, or the deeper awareness that existed before the script arrived. Maybe relationships are not here to complete us. Maybe they are here to reveal who has been speaking in our name. And once that voice becomes visible, love stops functioning as fantasy and becomes initiation.

I'd like to thank this week's sponsor, Rooted Pathways Counseling and Consulting in Champaign. Rooted Pathways is unique in its focus on culturally competent, trauma-informed care that centers on relationship building and de-stigmatizing mental health issues. Nurture your roots and inspire liberation and fulfillment at Rooted Pathways Counseling and Consulting. Visit rootedpathwayscounseling.com for all information and by their name on Facebook.Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don't forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

You're showing up. You're networking. You're posting. But the leads aren't converting the way they should.Here's what's missing — and it's simpler than you think.Only 9% of people are ready to buy at any given moment. The other 81%? They need nurturing. And email is how you do it — consistently, personally, and without relying on an algorithm.Your email list is an asset you own. No platform can take it away.If you've been sitting on a list you haven't touched — or you've been thinking about starting — this one's for you.

Last week we read the words of Psalm 93, “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty.” This week, in Psalm 94, we come to a very different kind of Psalm. This is a Psalm that deals with the evil in this world. Sometimes we see it - and other times we experience it. We personally experience it. We have been harmed and hurt deeply. There may be pain that never quite goes away. And in the midst of that, we may not have seen any real justice. As followers of the LORD Jesus Christ, as those who have placed their trust in Him, how do we deal with it? The Word of God teaches us how to rightly think about these very real issues in our lives. DNA QuestionsDiscoverIn what ways does the Psalmist describe what he sees going on around him? What words and phrases does he use?How would you describe some of the emotions that are expressed in this Psalm?NurtureHow does it help us to know that God sees and knows about these things?Why is it a blessing to live our lives knowing that God will deal perfectly with these things? Why do we often find it difficult to live our lives believing that God will deal perfectly with these things? ActIn what ways might the knowledge that God protects His people be reflected in our words and actions?How might we better embrace the truth that God is our stronghold?

Tonight marks the completion of our first week together. Over the past six days, we've explored awareness, letting go, acceptance, trust, compassion, and balance. These aren't simply ideas to understand—they are experiences to embody. In tonight's meditation, we'll reflect on the journey you've already taken and explore the theme of embodiment: allowing wisdom to move from the mind into the body and heart. You'll discover why neuroscience suggests lasting change happens through repetition and experience rather than insight alone, learn an ancient teaching about living wisdom rather than collecting it, and hear a relatable story about someone who spent years searching for peace before realizing it had been within them all along. As your body relaxes and your thoughts settle, you'll be invited to stop striving for growth and simply become the calm you've been practicing. Perfect for: Overthinking at bedtime Anxiety and mental restlessness Reflecting on personal growth Deep relaxation and restorative sleep Ending the week with peace and gratitude   A DAILY MESSAGE FOR YOUR HEART Dear Friend, Tonight marks one week of showing up for yourself. Before anything else, I hope you'll pause for a moment and acknowledge that. So often we focus on how far we still have to go that we forget to honor how far we've already come. Over the past week, you've practiced awareness, letting go, acceptance, trust, compassion, and balance. Maybe some nights felt easier than others. Maybe your mind still wandered. Maybe sleep didn't come as quickly as you hoped. That's okay. Growth rarely happens in dramatic moments. More often, it happens quietly—in the small choices we make again and again. The choice to return to our breath. The choice to be gentle with ourselves. The choice to keep showing up. Tonight isn't about learning something new. It's about recognizing what is already growing within you. You don't need to become someone different to find peace. You simply need to trust what you're already becoming. I'm grateful you've shared this journey with me. And I'm so glad you're here. With love, Mary This is day 7 of a 7-day meditation series, "Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking," episodes 3521-3527.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.

I invite you to consider the gentle middle path between effort and surrender. Many of us carry the weight of unfinished tasks, unanswered questions, and endless mental to-do lists into bed. But sleep does not arrive through more effort. It arrives when we allow ourselves to rest in balance. In this episode, you'll discover a fascinating insight from neuroscience about the brain's nighttime processing systems, learn an ancient wisdom teaching about the importance of rhythm and moderation, and hear a relatable story about someone learning that not every problem needs to be solved before sleep. As your body softens and your mind quiets, you'll be guided into a peaceful state where balance replaces striving, allowing sleep to come naturally. Perfect for: Racing thoughts at bedtime Anxiety and overthinking Difficulty letting go of unfinished tasks Deep relaxation and restful sleep A DAILY MESSAGE FOR YOUR HEART Dear Friend, As we arrive at Day 6 of our journey together, I want to remind you of something important: You do not have to carry everything. So many of us believe that if we think a little harder, plan a little better, or stay awake a little longer, we'll finally find peace. But peace isn't found by doing more. Sometimes it's found by allowing ourselves to stop. Tonight's theme is balance. Balance isn't having everything figured out. It's knowing when to set things down and trust that tomorrow is another day. If your heart feels heavy tonight, give yourself permission to release the pressure to solve every problem before sleep. The unfinished tasks can wait. The unanswered questions can wait. You have done enough for today. You deserve rest, not because everything is complete, but because you are human. As you listen tonight, may you find the balance between effort and surrender, between doing and simply being. I'm so glad you're here. With love, Mary This is day 6 of a 7-day meditation series, "Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking," episodes 3521-3527.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.

Place a hand over your heart. It's time to be gentle with yourself as you turn in for the evening. Visualize a soft green or rose-colored light, and respond to worried thoughts with warmth instead of criticism. You'll also hear an approachable explanation of self-compassion, ancient yogic wisdom connected to the heart center, and a relatable story about setting down the need to remain constantly on watch. Tonight's practice is not about forcing the mind to become silent. It is about reassuring the part of you that has been working so hard to protect you. Let this meditation help you soften emotional tension, feel more supported within yourself, and prepare for peaceful rest. Tonight's reflection question: What might my overthinking be trying to protect me from, and what reassurance does that part of me need tonight? Daily Message for Your Heart "I want to remind you that you are not doing anything wrong because your mind feels busy. Sometimes overthinking is simply a tired part of you trying to feel safe. Tonight, meet that part with kindness instead of criticism. Place a hand over your heart and gently say: "I am here with you. You do not have to keep watch. We can rest now." You do not need every answer tonight. You are doing the best you can, and you are worthy of rest exactly as you are." This is day 5 of a 7-day meditation series, "Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking," episodes 3521-3527.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.

What do restaurant owners really think about customers? And what happens when a lifelong people-person—raised in the restaurant business, trained in psychology, and now leading tourism and community development—sits down for an honest conversation about modern life, parenting, hospitality, and America? In this episode of I Like That Story, Jeff Gould talks with Brittany Wagner, Tourism Director for Visit Yankton and a leader with Yankton Thrive in historic Yankton, South Dakota. Brittany's organization has invited Jeff to bring his acclaimed America's Story presentation to Yankton as part of the community's celebration surrounding America's 250th birthday—an especially meaningful event for one of the most historic communities in the Dakota Territory. Brittany shares her unique journey: * Growing up in her family's restaurant from the age of three * Working more than a decade as a mental health therapist for youth and families * Owning and operating a restaurant during the COVID era * Transitioning into tourism, storytelling, and community building through Visit Yankton and Yankton Thrive Together, Jeff and Brittany dive into: * The hidden psychology of restaurants and tipping * Restaurant cleanliness secrets diners never notice * Parenting in the smartphone and social media era * Gentle parenting vs. traditional parenting * Mental health challenges facing young people today * Why family dinners still matter * Storytelling, history, and preserving family memories * The beauty and challenges of small-town life * Why Yankton and the Missouri River region still matter in America's story The episode is funny, thoughtful, nostalgic, and surprisingly personal — blending restaurant stories, parenting insights, psychology, American history, and candid reflections about modern culture and human connection. Outside of work, Brittany and her husband Josh are raising four children while balancing the beautiful chaos of family life, youth sports, travel, hiking, and small-town living. Learn more about Yankton Thrive at:https://www.yanktonsd.com/ Explore Visit Yankton at:https://www.visityanktonsd.com/ 00:06 Introduction to Brittany Wagner and Yankton 01:34 Introduction to Brittany's Journey 03:25 Transitioning Careers: From Therapy to Tourism 09:16 The Restaurant Experience: Insights and Anecdotes 15:17 Challenges in the Restaurant Business 21:19 Family and Work-Life Balance 23:23 Nature vs. Nurture in Parenting 26:21 The Importance of Family Meals 30:17 Gentle Parenting: A Balancing Act 34:55 Mental Health Awareness in Youth 37:39 Navigating Technology and Parenting 45:29 Reflecting on America's 250th Birthday 47:31 Exploring Historical Movements 52:03 The Importance of Family Stories 54:21 The Art of Storytelling 57:24 Secrets of the Restaurant Industry 58:22 Navigating Age and Identity 01:12:17 Curiosity and Connection Learn all about America's Storyteller on his website: https://www.ilikethatstory.com Buy Jeff's books, CD, and audio book: https://www.ilikethatstory.net/shop Get urgent one-on-one coaching with Jeff now: https://calendly.com/jeffjgould Connect with Jeff on social media: LinkedIn — jeff-gould-americas-storyteller Twitter/X — https://x.com/jeffgouldstory Instagram — jeffgouldilikethatstory Facebook — jeffgouldilikethatstory For booking, contact: Email: book@ilikethatstory.net Phone: (605) 215-6414 or https://www.ilikethatstory.net/contact Send business/sponsorship inquiries to book@ilikethatstory.net © Jeff Gould, America's Storyteller This video is not to be reproduced without prior authorization. The original YouTube video may be distributed & embedded, if required. Callers waive all rights to privacy on this public call in show. If you need private coaching, pay for and book a call at https://www.ilikethatstory.com

Midweek Milestone Note: Look at how far you have come since Day 1. In just a few short days, you have actively retrained your nervous system to step out of survival mode and find its footing. Hitting the middle of the week is often when external demands peak, making tonight's practice the perfect opportunity to witness your own growth and resilience. You are doing an incredible job sticking with this commitment to your inner peace—keep going. Are you arriving at bedtime feeling completely depleted, over-stimulated, or emotionally exhausted from absorbing the stress of your environment?  Tonight, our developmental arc is Protect. In this session, we explore the somatic neuroscience of energy conservation and sensory overload—revealing how high-stress days create subconscious tension loops in the lower abdomen that block deep sleep. Tonight, we introduce a high-performance physical seal: the Shakti Mudra. By closing specific nerve circuits in your fingers and directing your focus to your core, you actively signal your nervous system to drop its armor, halt cortisol production, and build an unshakeable boundary around your sleep. Turn down the volume of the world, lock your protective seal, and drop into deep, restorative rest. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The Porous Nervous System: The biological reason why high-achievers absorb environmental anxiety and hit a wall of nighttime sensory burnout. The Shakti Mudra Protocol: Step-by-step instructions on how to use this hand seal to soothe the pelvic plexus and trigger a parasympathetic shift. Somatic Shielding: A guided bedtime integration to help you stop over-functioning for the world and reclaim your absolute sovereignty over the night. A Message for Your Heart "I know how deeply you care for everything and everyone in your orbit. You are constantly holding up a massive vision, managing complex timelines, and anchoring the spaces you occupy. Because your heart is so big, it is incredibly easy to let the chaotic energy of the outside world bleed into your personal sanctuary when the lights go out. Tonight, I want to remind you that protecting your peace is not selfish—it is an act of supreme inner sovereignty. You cannot serve from an empty well, and you do not have to be a sponge for the stress of the world to be successful. By holding the Shakti Mudra tonight, you are safely sealing your borders and declaring that your rest is non-negotiable. Step back into your own power. You are doing an extraordinary job." This is day 4 of a 7-day meditation series, "Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking," episodes 3521-3527.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.

Are you lying awake with an overactive mind, feeling completely untethered by the stress and demands of your week? Tonight, our developmental arc is Ground. In this session, we break down the clinical neurobiology of somatic grounding—exploring how high-velocity lifestyles trap our breathing patterns in the upper chest, sending a continuous loop of false danger signals directly to the brain stem. Tonight, we deploy a highly effective, immediate physical intervention: the 4-6 Grounding Breath for 10 continuous rounds. By precisely extending your exhalations, you actively engage the vagal brake to slow your pulse, clear adrenaline, and anchor your awareness deep into the physical mattress beneath you. Turn down the volume of the world, settle into your body, and drop effortlessly into deep, unshakeable sleep. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The Upper-Chest Danger Loop: How shallow, rapid breathing keeps your body stuck in a sympathetic adrenaline loop even when you are physically exhausted. The Mechanics of the Vagal Brake: The exact science of how a 4-second inhale paired with a 6-second exhale floods your system with calming neurotransmitters. The 10-Round Somatic Anchor: A guided bedtime breathwork progression to lower your internal center of gravity, dissolve muscle bracing, and stop nighttime overthinking. A Message for Your Heart "The noise and acceleration of a busy week can pull you out of your own center. When you are steering a major vision and managing endless logistics, it can feel like your mind is spinning a thousand miles an hour even when the lights go out. Tonight, I want to remind you that you are the deep-rooted tree, not the leaves swirling in the wind. You do not have to carry today's burdens into tomorrow's dreams. By dedicating these ten rounds of breath to your own grounding, you are claiming your sovereignty over the night. You are telling the world: 'I am here, I am safe, and I am choosing to rest.' Let the heavy weight of your own body remind you of your absolute resilience tonight. You are doing an extraordinary job." This is day 3 of a 7-day meditation series, "Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking," episodes 3521-3527.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.

Barber, marketing consultant, friend and trading card aficionado RETURNS to discuss his current passion/hobby and big source of JOY, trading cards. His alter ego, J. Bizzler, literally enters the chat.Listen as this St. Louis area-born, Champaign-rooted, scissor master talks all things trading cards. The hobby from my generation's youth has made a comeback in a BIG way. With modern tech and platforms only fueling the fire, trading cards have become big business and big money for the buyer and seller. The art, the player and the pristine level of the card all contribute to its value. We also talk about the continued fandom behind Pokemon. We are in a flow state convo over this fascinating subject.I'd like to thank this week's sponsor, Rooted Pathways Counseling and Consulting in Champaign. Rooted Pathways is unique in its focus on culturally competent, trauma-informed care that centers on relationship building and de-stigmatizing mental health issues. Nurture your roots and inspire liberation and fulfillment at Rooted Pathways Counseling and Consulting. Visit rootedpathwayscounseling.com for all information and by their name on Facebook.Thank you so much for listening! However your podcast host of choice allows, please positively: rate, review, comment and give all the stars! Don't forget to follow, subscribe, share and ring that notification bell so you know when the next episode drops!Also, search and follow hyperlocalscu on all social media. If I forgot anything or you need me, visit my website at HyperLocalsCU.com. Byee.

Phil Le-Brun: The Octopus Organization Phil Le-Brun is an executive in residence at Amazon Web Services and a former corporate VP and international CIO at the McDonald's Corporation. He is a sought-after speaker and has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian. He is the co-author with Jana Werner of The Octopus Organization: A Guide to Thriving in a World of Continuous Transformation (Amazon, Bookshop)*. Most of us have gone through some version of a reorg. A lot of leaders have also implemented their own reorgs. Sometimes they work. Many times, they don't. In this conversation, Phil and I discuss what goes wrong with reorgs and how we can do better. Key Points Organizations traditionally looked like the tin man from The Wizard of Oz: perfectly planned, many interchangeable parts, not flexible. An octopus organization adapts, works independently to serve the larger whole, and is innately curious. A reorg that starts with an org chart misses the complex organic connections you are unlikely to fully understand. Prioritize structural stability while building internal flexibility. Nurture the complex informal human networks that deliver value. Be honest about objectives and communicate a reorg early. Engage people by starting with smaller-scale change. Clarify the problem to be solved instead of the structural “answer.” Resources Mentioned The Octopus Organization: A Guide to Thriving in a World of Continuous Transformation by Phil Le-Brun and Jana Werner (Amazon, Bookshop)* Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Get the Ideal Team Player, with Patrick Lencioni (episode 301) How to Approach a Reorg, with Claire Hughes Johnson (episode 621) How to Help Employees Handle Tough Moments, with Anthony Klotz (episode 777) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Turn off the screen, let your shoulders sink into the mattress, and claim your absolute right to nighttime peace. Are you struggling to fall asleep because your mind refuses to shut down? Do you lie awake scrolling through tomorrow's to-do lists, rewriting emails, or cycling through background anxiety? Welcome to Day 2 of our master sleep series, Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking. Tonight, our developmental arc is Rest. In this session, we dive into the neuro-somatic science of nighttime hyper-arousal—exploring exactly why a high-velocity lifestyle keeps your brain locked in a frantic "fight-or-flight" loop even when you are physically exhausted. In This Episode, You'll Discover: The Neurobiology of a Racing Mind: Why managing a heavy daily workload causes nocturnal hyper-arousal, making it impossible to transition into deep sleep. The River of Peace Visualization: A highly effective somatic tool to help you decouple from persistent thoughts and watch mental clutter drift away naturally. A Daily Message for Your Heart You may be constantly balancing an incredible mountain of moving parts, steering a large vision, and anchoring the spaces you occupy. Because you carry so much responsibility, your mind naturally wants to keep working overtime, treating your pillow like a boardroom. Tonight, I want to remind you that your productivity is done for the day, and your worth is not measured by how much you carry. You do not have to finish tomorrow's tasks tonight to deserve an absolute sanctuary of rest. You are allowed to take your hands completely off the wheel. Let the affirmation 'At night, I release the day and return to peace' act as a soft, protective shield around your spirit as you sleep. The world can wait. You are safe to let go now. You are doing an extraordinary job." This is day 2 of a 7-day meditation series, "Sleep Meditations to Stop Overthinking," episodes 3521-3527.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.

Quiet a busy mind and gently release the day with this guided sleep meditation for overthinking. In Day 1 of this seven-day sleep meditation series, you'll begin with the emotional theme of release. Through a calming river visualization, you'll practice noticing thoughts without becoming caught in them, allowing worries, unfinished tasks, and mental tension to drift away. This soothing bedtime meditation also explores the ancient yogic principle of aparigraha, or non-grasping, along with the idea that clarity can emerge when we stop trying to solve everything at once. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. Let this meditation help you slow down, soften your grip on the day, and prepare your body and mind for peaceful rest. Tonight's reflection question: What thought, responsibility, or unanswered question am I willing to set down for tonight? Daily Message for Your Heart: "You do not have to carry every thought to its conclusion tonight. You do not have to solve tomorrow before it arrives, replay what has already happened, or hold yourself responsible for every possible outcome. Some things become clearer when you stop reaching for an answer. Some feelings soften when you give them space. And some burdens become lighter when you allow yourself to set them down, even temporarily. Releasing does not mean that you no longer care. It means you trust yourself enough to pause. You can return to what matters tomorrow with a rested mind, a steadier body, and a more open heart. For tonight, let unfinished things remain unfinished." This is day 1 of a 7-day meditation series, 3521-3527 SLEEP MEDITATIONS TO STOP OVERTHINKING.   THIS WEEK'S MEDITATION JOURNEY A Seven-Day Journey into Rest, Release, and Inner Calm When the day grows quiet, the mind can become surprisingly loud. This seven-day guided sleep meditation series is designed to help you gently step out of repetitive thinking, release the mental weight of the day, and create a more peaceful transition into sleep. Each evening introduces a different calming practice, including visualization, affirmations, slow breathing, mudra, chakra meditation, layered relaxation, and a Yoga Nidra–inspired weekly review. Together, these practices guide you through a soothing emotional journey: Release. Rest. Ground. Protect. Nurture. Balance. Embody. Throughout the series, you'll explore a blend of modern mindfulness, gentle nervous-system support, ancient yogic wisdom, reflective storytelling, and compassionate encouragement. This is not about forcing your mind to become blank or making sleep happen on command. It is about changing the way you relate to your thoughts—learning to notice them without following every one, softening the urge to solve everything at night, and allowing your body to remember how to rest. Over the course of the week, you'll be invited to: Release unfinished thoughts and worries Give yourself permission to rest Ground your awareness in the breath and body Create a sense of emotional safety at bedtime Meet overthinking with compassion instead of criticism Bring multiple calming practices together Reflect on what helps you feel most peaceful and supported Each episode also includes a daily reflection question and a supportive Message for Your Heart to help you carry the practice beyond the meditation. You do not need to finish every thought tonight. You do not need to solve tomorrow before it arrives. Let this series become a gentle evening ritual—a place to set down the day, quiet the mind, and return to yourself. Press play, settle into a comfortable position, and begin your seven-day journey toward deeper rest and a calmer relationship with your thoughts. THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: THE NIGHTSTAND SURRENDER RITUAL Each night, write the thought taking up the most mental space. Fold the paper, place it in a small bowl or box beside your bed, and say: "This thought may rest here while I rest." Revisit the notes only during daylight.   FUN NAMES FOR YOUR CONTAINER The Thought Hotel• Tomorrow's Department The Worry Vault The Resting Place   MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: DAY 1: VISUALIZATION Guided Sleep Meditation to Stop Overthinking and Release the Day River of Thoughts visualization: place each worry on a leaf and let it drift downstream. DAY 2: AFFIRMATION "At night, I release the day and return to peace." DAY 3: Bedtime Breathing Meditation to Calm Racing Thoughts and Fall Asleep 4-6 grounding breath: inhale gently for 4, exhale comfortably for 6, for about 10 rounds. DAY 4: SHAKTI MUDRA  Fold the thumbs inward, soften the index and middle fingers over the thumbs, and let the ring fingers and pinkies touch. DAY 5: ANAHATA HEART CHAKRA Center of the chest• compassion soft green or rose light expanding with each easy breath. DAY 6: LAYER ALL THE TECHNIQUES TOGETHER   DAY 7: REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION   SHARE YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEDITATORS Let's connect and inspire each other! Please share a little about how meditation has helped you by reaching out to me at Mary@SipandOm.com or better yet -- direct message me on https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om. We'd love to hear about your meditation ritual!   WAYS TO SUPPORT THE DAILY MEDITATION PODCAST SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode. Consistency is the KEY to a successful meditation ritual. SHARE the podcast with someone who could use a little extra support.   I'd be honored if you left me a podcast review. If you do, please email me at Mary@sipandom.com and let me know a little about yourself and how meditation has helped you. I'd love to share your journey to inspire fellow meditators on the podcast! All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.   FOR DAILY EXTRA SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE PODCAST Each day's meditation techniques are shared at: sip.and.om Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sip.and.om/sip and om Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SipandOm/   SIP AND OM MEDITATION APP Looking for a little more support? If you're ready for a more in-depth meditation experience, allow Mary to guide you in daily 30-minute guided meditations on the Sip and Om meditation app. Give it a whirl for 7-days free! Receive access to 3,000+ 30-minute guided meditations customized around a weekly theme to help you manage emotions. Receive a Clarity Journal and a Slow Down Guide customized for each weekly theme.   2-Week's Free Access on iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sip-and-om/id1216664612?platform=iphone&preserveScrollPosition=true#platform/iphone   All meditations are created by Mary Meckley and are her original content. Please request permission to use any of Mary's content by sending an email to Mary@sipandom.com.Let go of repetitive negative thoughts.   Music composed by Christopher Lloyd Clark licensed by RoyaltyFreeMusic.com, and also by musician Greg Keller.

This is Part 1 of a five-part miniseries on Tim Griesheimer's life. Tim is by far one of the most popular guests we've had on the show, so this series dives even deeper into his life featuring new stories about gang life, prison, identity, trauma, and redemption. In this episode, Tim shares the early chapters of his life, from growing up in an abusive household to finding acceptance in the streets, gang culture, and eventually prison. Tim opens up about what it was like being white while running with mostly Black friends and Blood gang members, how racial dynamics differed between Ohio and Texas, and the controversy around using the n-word. He also describes childhood violence, early crime, carrying guns as a kid, shootouts, and how he became drawn to the outlaw lifestyle before his first prison sentence. Topics include: -Growing up in Ohio and Texas -Childhood abuse and street life -Being white around Blood gang members -Saying the n-word and facing consequences -Early gun violence and shootouts -Racial tension in Texas -First experiences with prison politics -Finding identity through crime and gang culture Go Support Tim! IG: https://www.instagram.com/tattoos_bykriminalkustoms/ This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/connect Prescription required. See website for details and important safety information. Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra®. Viagra® is a registered trademark of Viatris Specialty LLC. Hims is not affiliated with or endorsed by Viatris. Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 From a Troubled Home to the Streets 01:01 Introducing Tim Griesheimer's Story 04:47 Connecting with People and Early Social Traits 07:09 Nature vs. Nurture and Developing an Outlaw Mentality 10:27 Embracing the Streets: Stealing and Early Crimes 13:01 Fighting, Survival, and Street Cred 17:08 Shootouts and Guns at a Young Age 21:12 Gang Affiliations: Bloods, Crips, and Neighborhood Politics 25:48 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims 27:38 Reflecting on Gang Life, Family Bonds, and Military Ambitions 33:13 Childhood Abuse and Family Trauma 36:50 Violence at Home and Resentment Toward Parents 41:13 Cycles of Abuse: Family History 43:14 Moving Between States & Unstable Upbringing 45:27 Culture Shock: Racial Dynamics in Texas vs. Ohio 48:00 Experiencing Prejudice from Both Black and White Communities 50:01 First Time Going to Prison – Facing Reality 54:01 Arrival at the Most Dangerous Texas Prison 56:11 Navigating Prison Politics and Racial Pressure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices