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"We're all vulnerable. And I hadn't thought about that previously. I thought, oh, it's only a small group of people who might fall for this. What I've learned is actually [that] these scammers are so sophisticated. They have so much money. Based on my reporting, this industry, you know, is maybe more lucrative than the illicit drug trade, and these criminal syndicates might be making over 500 billion US dollars a year.  So that means they have access to the latest technology, whether it's voice cloning or face changing software. They can buy  the latest in AI tools. they can stay several steps ahead of most law enforcement organizations in most places in the world, and, you know, re-invest in their businesses, because that's how they view what they're doing. They just see this as a business line, and they want to make a profit. That's why we called the podcast Scam Inc, because I think the way to understand what we're seeing is that this is an industry and everyone's driven by profits. So the fact that the criminals have so much money makes it really difficult for governments, police or international organizations or banks or crypto exchanges or social media companies to tackle this huge and growing problem." - Sue-Lin Wong Fresh out of the studio, Sue-Lin Wong, Southeast Asia Correspondent for The Economist, joins us to uncover the dark world of online scams and how they've evolved into a $500 billion global crime industry. She shares her investigative journey behind Scam Inc., her latest podcast series, revealing how cybercriminal syndicates operate like multinational corporations—leveraging AI, crypto, and human trafficking to fuel their scams. Sue-Lin explains why Southeast Asia has become a hub for these illicit operations, the psychological manipulation that makes anyone vulnerable, and the deep-rooted connections between scamming, money laundering, and political corruption. We discuss the Kansas bank collapse, the rise of pig butchering scams, and how law enforcement struggles to keep up with decentralized criminal networks. Closing the conversation, Sue-Lin highlights what individuals, governments, and financial institutions must do to fight back against the next wave of AI-powered fraud. Audio Episode Highlights: [00:00:46] – Opening Quote by Wong Sue-Lin #QOTD [00:02:12] – Bernard's Introduction & Podcast Overview [00:03:09] – Sue-Lin's Journalism Journey: From Reuters to The Economist [00:05:58] – The Birth of Scam Inc.: Investigating the Industry [00:07:16] – The Changing Face of Crime: The ‘Gig Economy' of Scamming [00:10:13] – The Meaning of ‘Pig Butchering' Scams & Their Chinese Origins [00:14:34] – How COVID-19 Turned Scams Into a Global Epidemic [00:16:33] – Inside Scam Compounds: The Story of Rita from the Philippines [00:21:15] – The Alice Guo Scandal: Political Corruption & Scams in the Philippines [00:25:33] – How Scammers Launder Billions & The Role of Crypto [00:30:14] – Why Crypto Isn't as Anonymous as Criminals Think [00:35:46] – AI-Driven Scams: The Next Frontier of Cybercrime [00:42:10] – Solutions: What Governments & Companies Must Do [00:44:46] – How Individuals Can Protect Themselves [00:50:46] – Final Thoughts & The Future of Scam Inc. Profile: Sue-Lin Wong, Southeast Asia Correspondent, The Economist LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suelinwong/ , Host of "Scam Inc" podcast series by The Economist: https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/scam-inc [Subscription Required]. Picture Credits in Marketing Image: Logo from The Economist Podcasts. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. The proper credits for the intro and end music are "Energetic Sports Drive." G. Thomas Craig mixed and edited the episode in both video and audio format. Here are the links to watch or listen to our podcast. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

Welcome to The Single Mom Collective! This isn't just a podcast episode—it's your invitation to embrace single motherhood as a powerful new beginning. In this premiere episode of our rebranded show, Amanda reveals her own journey of resilience and transformation, guiding you through three life-changing steps to see yourself as a high-value woman ready to attract the life and love you deserve.This episode isn't about settling or just getting by. It's about realizing that your role as a single mom is a badge of honor, a chance to rebuild your life, and to become the woman you've always wanted to be. Join The Single Mom Collective for an inspiring journey of healing, empowerment, and sisterhood. You'll learn how to:Reframe setbacks into valuable lessons that fuel your successEmbrace the power of starting over to create a life you loveCommit to a growth mindset and attract a high-value partner when the time is rightReady to take the next step?Click right here to Join the Single Mom Collective as a founding member! You'll receive Amanda's exclusive 12-step Metamorphosis Method, a supportive community, and tools to become a high-value woman who attracts high-value relationships.Questions?  No probelm Click here to join or book a call with Amanda here to learn more.Timestamps:[0:00] — Opening Quote and Theme: How successful people see opportunity, while others see failure. Which mindset will you choose?[1:30] — Amanda's Story: From unexpected single motherhood to building a life of empowerment, and why it was the best opportunity she never saw coming.[4:00] — Welcome to the Single Mom Collective: Introduction to the rebranded community that turns setbacks into springboards and brings single moms together to create lasting change.[7:20] — Step 1: Reframe Failure as a Lesson: How to shift your perspective, embrace every setback as valuable feedback, and build resilience along the way.[11:50] — Real-Life Lessons from Amanda's Journey: Why listening to your instincts and staying true to yourself are essential in relationships and career choices.[13:35] — Step 2: Embrace the Power of Starting Over: Why starting over is a gift, and how Amanda's 12-step plan helps members rebuild their lives with strength and intention.[17:15] — Morning Routine Challenge: Amanda's powerful daily practice to reframe your mindset, set goals, and embrace gratitude.[19:50] — Step 3: Commit to Growth, Not Perfection: Releasing the pressure to be perfect, and why growth is the path to self-love and attracting the right partner.[22:30] — The Butterfly Metaphor: How struggle creates strength and why your transformation into a high-value woman is already underway.[25:20] — The Vision of The Single Mom Collective: A space for sisterhood, support, and sharing expertise—from job opportunities to personal growth.[27:40] — Final Thoughts and Call to Action: Embrace single motherhood as a path to fulfillment, success, and love, and join The Single Mom Collective to start your journey today.

Often overlooked for the warmer waters of its Hawaiian and Californian counterparts, the Atlantic coast of New Jersey has been home to surfing for 135 years, and in turn has held unsung influence over the history of the sport in America.”  That is the Opening Quote for the newly released book “I Heard There Were No Waves in New Jersey: Surfing on the Jersey Shore 1888-1984” by Rizzoli Publishing and edited by Danny DiMauro and Johan Kugelberg.  Our Guests for this episode of Hardcore Surf History are the contributors to this beautiful book and tribute to New Jersey Surfing. Book Editor a Danny DiMauro, New Jersey Legend, Mark Neustadter and Former Atlantic City Heavy, Mike May. May is a founding Member of the NJ surfing Hall of Fame and write the definitive story on Duke Kahanamoku protege, Sam Reid.  All of them have contributed to this beautiful book. Drawing on archives of photographs and ephemera from private collections, and from those held in the New Jersey Surf Museum and New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame, this book is a celebration of East Coast surfing, from its pioneering beginnings at the end of the nineteenth century to its heyday in the 1980s as the scene converged with skateboarding and a shared influence on street style. It featured insightful texts that illuminate previously unheralded moments in the evolution of the sport, the book not only introduces some of the greatest unseen surf photography of the last century but also lets the Jersey Shore take its rightful place in the history of American surfing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KENNEDY & GOOLSBY Exclusive Content⬇️ patreon.com/alwaysirish x  @AlwaysIrishINC  e alwaysirishnd@gmail.com

TitlePulling the Red Thread (ft. Gail Davis | President and Founder | GDA Speakers)BioGail Davis is the president and founder of GDA Speakers, one of the top speaker bureaus in the world, representing more than 3,500 speakers in business, politics, government, entertainment, and media.  With more than 25 years in the speaker space and with Gail at the helm, GDA is known to exceed expectations by working with both clients and speakers to create and deliver the ultimate speaker experience.Opening Quote[33:11- 33:56]:“Another tip because you're talking about that arc, and all of a sudden, I'm like, I have to say this, and of course, this is going to be music to your ears, but event planners need to consider a professional MC. It is so important, and they need to be realistic. Do their internal leadership members, is that really their expertise? Because it's pretty unusual that it is and it's a hard sell sometimes because sometimes the ego wants to be on the stage. But I have never recommended you Civillico any of the professional MCs that I've had a client come back and say that was wasted money. I mean, they're all like, oh my goodness. We're never going back. We're never going back.”HIRE THEM TO SPEAK:Follow Gail Davis: LinkedIn BioFollow Scott Bloom: Scott's eSpeakers BioFollow eSpeakers: eSpeakers MarketplaceABOUT NO MORE BAD EVENTS:Brought to you by eSpeakers and hosted by professional emcee, host, and keynote speaker Scott Bloom, No More Bad Events is where you'll hear from some of the top names in the event and speaking industry about what goes on behind the scenes at the world's most perfectly executed conferences, meetings, and more. Get ready to learn the secrets and strategies to help anyone in the event industry reach their goal of putting on nothing less than world-class events. Learn more at: nomorebadevents.comABOUT THE HOST:A veteran comedian and television personality who has built a reputation as the go-to choice for business humor, Scott has hosted hundreds of events over two decades for big and small organizations alike. Scott has also hosted his own weekly VH1 series and recently co-hosted a national simulcast of the Grammy Awards from the Palace Theater.As the son of a successful salesman, he was exposed to the principles of building a business at an early age. Scott cut his teeth at renowned improv and comedy clubs as a comedian. As a self-taught student of psychology, he's explored what makes people tick and has written a book (albeit a farce) on how to get through life. He's uniquely positioned to deliver significant notes on connecting people and making business seriously funny. And who doesn't like to laugh? Learn more about Scott: scottbloomconnects.comPRODUCED BY eSpeakers:When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often. eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals worldwide connect directly with speakers for great engagements. Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.Learn more at: eSpeakers.comSHOW CREDITS:Scott Bloom: Host | scottbloomconnects.comJoe Heaps: eSpeakers | jheaps@eSpeakers.com

We conclude our episode of Fraud in the Martial Arts. We discuss three "martial arts masters" who claim outrageous lineages and/or abilities which are not authenticated or proven. I also discuss what to look for when choosing a martial arts school. Warning that this episode does contain some profanity. Music - Action Rhythm and Epic Boss Fight by David Fesliyan. Opening Quote from Bruce Lee --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gene-tausk/message

This week the fellas dive into MORE Xbox/Activision drama, Switch 2 getting more mentions, Stephen King's gracious offer and much much more! Aricles: The Xbox Trial That Could Change Everything: 7 Bombshell Reveals https://kotaku.com/microsoft-xbox-activision-blizzard-call-duty-deal-ftc-1850581517?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=breadfan35%2Fmagazine%2FMTTG+Stories Nintendo President Teases New Switch Console, Promises Smooth Transition https://www.lifewire.com/nintendo-president-switch-transition-7553866 Stephen King Graciously Sold Remedy Alan Wake's Opening Quote for Just $1 https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2023/06/stephen-king-graciously-sold-remedy-alan-wakes-opening-quote-for-just-usd1?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic%2Fgaming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the fellas dive into MORE Xbox/Activision drama, Switch 2 getting more mentions, Stephen King's gracious offer and much much more! Aricles: The Xbox Trial That Could Change Everything: 7 Bombshell Reveals Nintendo President Teases New Switch Console, Promises Smooth Transition Stephen King Graciously Sold Remedy Alan Wake's Opening Quote for Just $1

In this episode, Rylee shares the five books she recommends to her creative mama friends.In this episode you'll hear:- Opening Quote from CULTIVATE Vol. IV // Creativity Unlocked-Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garigues -Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon-The Lifegiving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson-The Lazy Genius by Kendra Adachi-The Artists Way by Julia CameronThriftbooks.com is Rylee and Joanna's favorite source for used books. Use this link to get a free book after you spend $30.Find Rylee and Joanna on social media: @ryleehitchner and @ballentinedaysOpening song is "Bloom" by Craig Stilley.

OPENING QUOTE:..."You owe it to your industry and the people you know to tell them what you do. Because if you don't, then someone else might do a bad job and continue with that bad reputation of your industry..."- Austin BatesGUEST BIO:- Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist- Mortgage Originator for 19+ years- Expert in Working with Builders, Loan Structuring, Self-Employed Borrowers, and Clients with Multiple Properties as well as first-time Homebuyers and Credit Repair- Graduated in Marketing from the University of Arizona, Eller College of BusinessLinks:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinbates/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-bates-b89a324/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austin.bates

OPENING QUOTE:..."What did you do today to invest in your personal brand? Because I feel that your personal brand right now is going to take you places that cold calling can't..."- Thomas BepkoGUEST BIO:An industry leader with a vast wealth of knowledge, Thomas Bepkobelieves in exceeding your expectations while helping not only theclient but his team reach their goals.Thomas started his Real Estate and mortgage career in San Francisco,California in 2003 after serving in the United States Army. Now withover 18 years of industry experience, as a CT and New York licensedreal estate broker and industry expert, he has successfully managedteams of loan officers at various mortgage lenders.Thanks to his experience with borrowers and customers of all kinds,Thomas delivers some of the best customer services in the industry. Heis best recognized for his unprecedented work ethic, strongcommunication skills, and positive attitude towards his colleagues andhis clients. A social media entrepreneur, he has built one of thearea's fastest-growing real estate companies based on service andtechnology. Currently, Thomas resides in his hometown of Fairfield,Connecticut, where he maintains a large local network of referralpartners.Links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomasbepko/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-j-bepko-iii-9332213/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/teejay0882Website: https://www.thomasjbepko.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tbepko

3–2–1–Welcome back to the micro moments podcast! This week we sat down with David Edwards, the Chief Development Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN. He's also a local pastor, husband and father of two boys! We learn about his local work in the community as well as some of his stories too. We cover a lot of ground in these 25 minutes that you may even want to listen twice! We'll dive into topics like purpose, potential and possibility. David vulnerably shares about moments that have moved him and helped make him into who he is! He talks about engaging in a meaningful way and being present in the moment. He also encourages us when we may feel stuck, out of control, hopeless or helpless to remember that these moments pass. We hope you feel empowered after this conversation, no matter where you find yourself, that finding purpose is possible in all of life's moments! 0:00 We Are Glad You're Here!1:15 Opening Quote of David's3:40 Defending Potential and Advocating for Youth 5:43 What is possible?8:19 Being Aware of the Moment and Taking Action9:42 Moments that Move David12:51 Feeling Stuck and Rekindling Moments of Purpose 14:00 Traumatic Moments 18:41 Seizing the Moment!20:37 Fire Makes Gold Pure23:47 Conversation Wrap-UpResources and References:David's Full Quote: “My life's work and personal mission has been centered around serving youth and young adults,” Edwards said. “I look forward to defending the potential of thousands of young people through my work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. The best is yet to come.”Connect with David on LinkedIn!Learn more about how to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN: https://mentorakid.orgJohn C Maxwell Quote Reference: “In order to go up, you have to give up!”Thank you for listening! We look forward to starting a conversation with you through our “community” number where we'd love to connect with you directly! Send us a text to 615-257-9548! Here we will also be able to share quotes, resources, inspiration and important updates! You can also follow along via social media.Have any comments, questions or thoughts about this episode? Share with us via text and we'd love to continue the conversation! Also, if you were inspired or encouraged, we'd love for you to share with one or two people who came to mind while you were listening!

Opening Quote by Elder Kita Inatoka. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/inthisworld/support

Adopting a child can be a long process, full of waiting and hoping and so much paperwork.  Friends, family, and coworkers can be unaware of the stress and high emotion involved.  Beth and Andy Long share the story of bringing Drew from the forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Bloomington, Indiana and the hardest six months of their lives.  In that story, they reflect on how people supported them well, the dangers of work/home compartmentalization, and the bravery it takes to create change in a workplace culture.    Opening Quote: [00:17:54.430] - Beth Long  It was extremely chaotic. You've got this little boy, Drew, who's two and a half at this point, who we've we've been preparing for, you know, we've got a room for him. We've been talking about him but really to him we're strangers.   Intro   Today, we talk about adoption.  But the conversation is much broader than adoption, it ranges from the forests of the Congo to the NICU to a car dealership in southern Indiana. Along the way, we will talk about how the stress of work impacts home, learning to say yes to offers of help, and the bravery that it takes to create change in a workplace culture.   My guests are Beth and Andy Long, two people that I have had the pleasure of calling friends for more than half of my life.    [00:00:00.610] - Andy Long So should we introduce ourselves? What's our format? I'm Andy Long   [00:00:01.910] - Beth Long I'm Beth Long.   [00:00:08.790] - Liesel Mertes Tell us a little bit about yourselves. Andy, what do you do?   [00:00:12.890] - Andy Long So I grew up in Indianapolis and then, after college moved down to Bloomington to join my family's business which is automotive retail we own several dealerships in Bloomington Ind.. So that's what brought us down here   [00:00:26.560] - Liesel Mertes Beth, a little bit about you.   [00:00:28.900] - Beth Long Well I stay home with our four kids. They're 9 7 5 and 3 at this point and, at this point, I've been in Bloomington eleven years.   Beth and Andy met in the halls of Heritage Christian High School, where Beth was my teammate on the soccer team and Andy was my co-lawyer on the mock trial team.    [00:00:51.880] - Andy Long I tried to date her in high school, but she was having none of that. I didn't drive a hard top Jeep Wrangler that wasn't several years older than her. So I did make the cut.   [00:01:05.380] - Beth Long Yeah. No, what he means by trying to date me was he was trying to date everybody else.   Musical interlude Beth always knew that she wanted to adopt.    [00:01:42.010] - Beth Long we had always talked about adoption. It was something I knew before we even got married that I had kind of put on Andy's radar.   Beth and Andy had two biological children, daughters that had come after complicated pregnancies.  They were advised to take some time before conceiving again, and this was when they embarked on the adoption journey.   [00:02:26] - Beth Long And so, that's when we drove in to the world of international adoption which is what was really on our radar at the time. And we're not really like super organized chart people but we made this big chart of all the countries in the world that you can adopt from and just sort of the different regulations there were because they're all different in terms of family size and length of stay in country and age of child you can adopt. And so we just made our chart and from there sort of narrowed down to the Democratic Republic of Congo which is where our son Drew is from.   One of the reasons that Andy and Beth chose the DRC was because it only required a ten day stay in country   [00:03:44] - Andy Long I get two weeks off a year and so that ruled out countries that require like 30 days in country or multiple visits that would be a couple of weeks apiece. So we had ruled those out. So Congo fit with our with my work schedule being off two weeks. So a 10 day stay in country was what they what the program called for. So that fit. And then they had estimated a timeframe from the inception of the program to bringing your child home and about nine months.   About nine months, at least that was the hope.  But things did not go as planned Music here   [00:04:46.030] - Beth Long Well we were matched with Drew, our son, when he was nine days old and that was in August of 2013. And in September of 2013, the country essentially shut down adoptions. There were the adoptions were still proceeding but they were not allowing adopted children to leave once their process was complete. They said you cannot have an exit letter. And they had done some suspensions like this before and they didn't last very long. They said initially it would last up to a year and everybody thought, oh it'll be a month maybe two months...Given the history, it ended up lasting about two and a half years.   [00:05:24.580] - Liesel Mertes Wow. So two and a half years. What, what did that look like relationally for you guys to navigate that journey? I assume that it wasn't just calm and, OK, this is another delay, this is the next thing. How is it feeling to you in real time?   [00:06:12] - Andy Long We were relatively new to the program and some of the people that had been either, they had adopted previously from the DRC or they had friends or family that had, they had seen some of these suspensions kind of come and go. And so they gave us the expectation of, oh it'll be a few months or maybe a year. So then as it exceeded those timeframes. I think everybody that was in the program we're really confused and nervous about, well maybe this is going to be a permanent suspension of the adoption program or maybe our son will never come home and we certainly had those thoughts as well. There was no timeframe given. So you know after a year or two we thought, you know maybe, maybe that Drew will never come home. Maybe this is just not going to happen.   Musical transition here   [00:06:57.280]  We didn't really know what to do. There wasn't anything we could do on our end in order to speed the process up or to do that. So there was a lot of confusion. I think Beth and I were on the same page which brought us closer together, probably because it kind of felt like us versus them or us versus the world.   [00:07:16.720] - Liesel Mertes Was there a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy?   [00:07:18.220] - Beth Long Oh, absolutely. Oh yeah so much.   [00:07:22.390] - Liesel Mertes And how much time did that take up for you and a given week or month because I picture there's a cost of just your bandwidth of having to do all of this.   [00:07:32.740] - Beth Long Yes so I mean every day, and I was sort of reporting back to Andy, but every day I'm online looking at the rumors talking about the chatter of what's going to happen. I heard this, you know the senator said this, I heard this from DRC. You know, everybody was just kind of putting the information together because like Andy said we really had no idea, we're going on rumors and tweets   [00:07:57.850] - Andy Long There are different Facebook groups and different message boards that we were a part of that we're trying to get information out. There was a big push to contact your representatives in Congress and let them know, hey this is what's happening over there. We need governmental support to put pressure on the Congolese government to get these kids home.   [00:08:18.460] - Liesel Mertes Did you have much... So you're here in southern Indiana. Did you have much in the way of real time community of people who understood what you're going through? Because I imagine that this potentially could feel like very isolating and particular sort of experience as you're dropping your kids off at the local school and going grocery shopping at Kroger and checking about the geopolitical functions of the government in Congo.   [00:08:46.960] - Beth Long Yes. So we had a lot of online support as any sort of Facebook groups but I think we had wonderful people in person but you know how it's difficult to follow another person's health journey or you know their court dates. It's hard to keep all that straight. I'm using a whole different language when I'm talking about this adoption world. And so there were definitely times when people were kind of like, oh you're you're still doing that you're still trying to bring that kid home? Yes this is my daily reality. I'm daily still working on this every day is our son and every day we're thinking about it talking about it trying to figure out how I can make this happen.   [00:09:22.870] - Andy Long I think that even for close friends and family,  after after it went past two years of this indefinite, you know like we're going to try to bring Drew home one day, I think even our friends and family were a little skeptical, maybe nervous for us that it wasn't going to happen and they didn't really know how to feel about that. They didn't, they were nervous that we were going to be really hurt and obviously just crushed if this adoption failed and we weren't able to bring Drew home. I think that they processed that and that manifested itself in the way that they dealt with us and the way that they dealt with our adoption. Maybe it's kind of like a hands off or arm's length that you didn't want to become too invested because they were nervous for us and maybe nervous for their own emotions and that felt isolating or that felt like they weren't invested like we were invested or they weren't sure they were skeptical.   Musical interlude    10:40, Andy They were really nervous. And so I felt like they maybe moved to, maybe be wary of the way that they approached it. They kind of didn't want to talk about it or ignored it. In some ways, because it felt like they were really nervous for us and we interpreted that as, they didn't care as much or they were skeptical, which I think they had every right to be because it was an indefinite suspension. They didn't know what was going on, neither did we. But, it felt hurtful in the moment.   Musical interlude   [00:11:23.370] - Andy Long They had a friend that had tried to adopt from the Soviet Union or a country. I think in the early 90s or the mid 90s and they were close friends with my parents and they had pictures of this little girl and they had spent a lot of money and they had invested over I think over a couple of years and trying to bring her home. And then, at the end of the process, the adoption was scuttled. They didn't have any answers. There was you know, accusations of fraud and maybe that there was never a girl that they were going to adopt. And the family that they were friends with were devastated. And I think that that informed their opinion and they saw maybe that coming back around and they were nervous for us that we were being defrauded or that there was a scheme to bilk us for money and that Drew was never going to come home, which were legitimate concerns because there was no timeframe and very little information. But, that felt really hurtful, because it felt like they were skeptical of the process and they weren't rooting for us to bring Drew home but were maybe rooting for us to have our guard up.   [00:12:32.720] - Liesel Mertes Do you feel like, by extension, there was any sort of implication of:  you're being foolish in this, you're being taken or had ,that felt offensive in its own way?   [00:12:46.330] - Beth Long Yeah.   [00:12:46.730] - Andy Long We are both shaking hands before we answered yes. I don't think it was intentional in their mind to make us feel that way.   Musical Interlude   [00:13:24.750] - Beth Long And I think, just in general just in, sort of in the way that when you're pregnant, like that baby isn't as real to everybody else as it is to you. That's sort of how I felt with Drew. You know, I knew this child. He was ours. I had the pictures. I was invested and it wasn't real to anybody else. They couldn't see him. You know they weren't, they weren't experiencing him and so, I think that was the hard part for me just in real life. Friends seeing, you know I think sometimes they felt so worried for me and concerned that I was really invested in this thing that really wasn't going to happen, maybe.   Andy also felt missed in his workplace [00:14:49] - Andy Long Well, I think the people knew; I had been very open that we were adopting. I've got pictures of Drew. This is my son. So I think they're aware of that, but I don't know if they were super supportive. Well, our workplace is very much like you try to leave your problems at the door, you come in when you're in the office you're focused on work. It's not really a community where we would share problems from home or family life, But there was a moment, towards the very end of the process when Drew was coming home and was literally flying home that there was a major hang up and a copy of the visa wasn't the right one and there was a big problem where they were stopped on literally on the way to the airport. He was stopped and detained with his escort. And I remember getting that phone call at work and I literally just took the phone callm found out that that was happening and just left the office and went home. I don't think that I told anyone that I was going they probably thought that there had been a big emergency, which there had been, but that was the one time maybe where I have a really vivid memory of just having to leave work and it was that environment wasn't gonna be suitable for handling or dealing or processing what was happening with our adoption.     Although there was a disconnect with family, friends, and work, there was still a community of people that supported Beth and Andy.      [00:16:13] - Liesel Mertes Where were the places that you were finding people that came alongside you and supported you well and what did that look like?   [00:16:20.850] - Beth Long I would say mostly our family and our church here in Bloomington   [00:16:25.110] - Andy Long Our small group a church was extremely supportive throughout the entire process.   [00:16:29.190] - Liesel Mertes What were some of the best, tangible things that they along this two year journey with you?   [00:16:36.650] - Beth Long Well, I would say, to back it up just a little bit. So Drew did come home as we said in February of 2016 but in December of 2015 we had a baby. So that's a whole other part of this because it led to sort of a six month period for us that was probably the most difficult of our lives. So we had Luke the baby as he will forever be known   [00:17:01.610] - Liesel Mertes As babies are.   [00:17:04.370] - Beth Long So he was born a month early in here in Bloomington and he spent ten days in the NICU and, unfortunately, I had the same crazy delivery but but worse with him. So he had to spend some extra time sort of getting used to life on the outside and and then Drew came home February. And then Luke, in April, began having seizures. And so, we took an emergency trip up to Riley and a second trip up to Riley the following week.   [00:17:36.680] - Liesel Mertes And Riley is in Indianapolis, which is about an hour and a half drive.   [00:17:42.470] - Beth Long So that was December to May was really taken up with, I mean it just felt like to us, absolutely more than we could handle.   [00:17:52.390] - Liesel Mertes It sounds so chaotic.   [00:17:54.430] - Beth Long  It was extremely chaotic. You've got this little boy, Drew, who's two and a half at this point, who we've we've been preparing for, you know, we've got a room for him. We've been talking about him but really to him we're strangers. We'd been to visit him for a week. But, the language, the food, the clothes that everything every place that he went, every person he saw was new to him. And so you can imagine, that that was an extremely difficult transition for him. And then we had this baby who had these health problems that of course we were not anticipating. So this was a really difficult time for us. And we just we feel so thankful to the people that are in our life that were really there for us. I mean we had friends that were stopping by too because Andy was still working very long hours at this time too.   [00:18:45.550]  And I had a friend that came over many nights during bedtime just to help me with bedtime because I've got now four kids to put to bed. I have friends that would say hey, I'm running to the grocery store. What can I get you today? We had so many people bring its meals. People take our older girls, you know for a playdate, so I could just handle the boys.   [00:19:06.100] - Andy Long My parents came down, your parents came down to watch the kids and help you around the house.   [00:19:11.360] - Liesel Mertes Because Andy, you're still operating on, I have 14 days to use over this year. Did you, did that feel like a pressing concern all through this of I can't be present because I have...   [00:19:25.470] - Andy Long Yeah, that was, that was it I'm not proud of the way that I handled that but, I was so ingrained in the culture of my particular workplace which was you don't miss work, that is unacceptable. As a leader, as a manager, you're gonna be at work no matter what. And I had had over 10 years of being in that environment and it seemed so natural and I had blinders on to how unreasonable that would be. But I I had taken time off for Luke's birth and I had been to the hospital and I would go my lunch break to the NICU but I didn't feel like I had enough time or I had already taken off too much time. So, I had my mom pick up Beth from the NICU when they were released to bring them home. So, I didn't even go and pick up my own child when he was released from the NICU to bring him home for the first time because I felt like I didn't have enough time in my day right or I taking off too much time for this for the birth and that that kind of came around when Drew came home I took off one day but then after that worked my normal schedule, which was really close to 8 to 8. So, I was gone all day throughout the week and then Saturdays.   [00:20:43.170] - Liesel Mertes That sounds exhausting for both of you on a number of levels when you talk about that culture, Andy, so you're going to the NICU on your lunch break and then coming back and needing convince someone that this is the car for them to buy. Was it difficult for you to re-engage with work? What did you find your capacity for coping or compartmentalization needed to become in the workplace?   [00:21:11.430] - Andy Long You know, looking back, I'm not sure how I did that or if I did a very good job. I probably suffered at work and wasn't aware of how distracted that I was. It felt like, maybe I probably was trying to do my best but I would imagine if I look back now was probably very distracted and was underperforming. I think the part that suffered the most was home life because it's more difficult to turn off work and being on stage and you know trying to be pleasant, providing great customer service acting like everything is fine, leaving your problems at the door. I think I became very good at turning that off and when I was at work focusing on work, so that it became more difficult to engage when I came home to pick that back up and then engage with the problems and the difficulties that we had which became a major stress point for Beth and I. Probably the hardest thing that we've been through was my inability to say no to work or to change what I was doing there, which lasted for months and months probably six months. Throughout that time when we had both boys home and Luke was diagnosed as epileptic and we just had tons of reasons to not be at work as much.   [00:22:26.960]  But I wasn't able to see it that way. And didn't turn that off and was really embarrassed and ashamed of how I dealt with that. Looking back. But in the moment, it felt like that was just the reasonable way that you would handle life's problems would be to check them at the door go to work act like it was normal leave work come home and try to re-engage.   [00:22:50.970] - Liesel Mertes Beth what does it feel like even as you listen to that and reflect on that season?   [00:22:57.470] - Beth Long Like Andy said, he was so entrenched in, this is just the way we do it. It's not like anyone at work was saying, you better get back here, you know. That was just the expectation. Sort of an unstated expectation but he had been in it for so long that he didn't see what it was doing to our family life as well. And, honestly, during that time I mean I was barely hanging on. I felt like I was barely treading water and I really needed him and he wasn't there. And so thinking back on that time I just it brings back a lot of emotions for me and I'm just trying to navigate all of that and also to help him see, hey this is not the right path for us.   [00:23:42.200] Something needs to change about your work life and that's a hard conversation to have. For me it's a family business. It's work that he loves. He loves working for his grandfather. So those are really difficult conversations to have. He wants to be the one who's working the hardest. He wants to be there and I really respect that about him, he's a hard worker. But there are also times in life when that cannot be the focus.   [00:24:08.720] - Andy Long We didn't have real clear policies at work about, hey if you have a baby or if your family has a baby, this is what's normal to take off or these many days or this doesn't count against your vacation time or if you've got a medical emergency you know take this amount of time away from the office. We didn't have any of those policies really, really clearly stated at all and so then it was kind of, we were jumbling through it together where there was a lot of weird expectations on my side and I'm sure my co-workers at work needed me there and so they didn't really know how to process that or, you know, they, I'm sure would have liked to have me there more but they also understood it was inappropriate to ask me to come home or to skip some of that family time, so that I made it more difficult that we didn't have any clear policies on how much time I should take or what the procedure was for something like that like a medical emergency or traumatic birth.   [00:25:11.440] - Liesel Mertes Do you think back oh let's update the audience though. How is the Luke doing?   [00:25:16.800] - Beth Long He's doing very well. So, it took a while to find the right medication for him that would control his seizures. And then once they were controlled, he was on the medication for about two years without any repeat seizures. And so we did another EEG last summer and he was able to wean off the medicine. So he's been doing very well.   [00:25:39.850] - Liesel Mertes And Drew's here, he is going to be starting kindergarten not next year but the year...   [00:25:44.420] - Beth Long No, this year. So crazy. So yeah he's ready. He's very excited.   [00:25:51.310] - Liesel Mertes And Andy and Beth, you guys made some purposeful shifts in some of your work life structuring in the aftermath of this. What decisions did you make for your life balance moving forward based on some of what you experienced?   [00:26:07.350] - Beth Long Well I think after the NICU situation and having his mom bring me home and then only taking a day off when Drew came home those two situations and the chaos that was our life at that time, for me was the final straw. Really Weave some music through the drama of the following section…   [00:26:27.160] - Andy Long The breaking point   [00:26:28.130] - Beth Long Yeah, breaking point, I just said I can't I can't keep up with this anymore. And so when, when we were Riley for the seizures, Andy was there for all of that, he was able to take time off and I think everybody at work was really understanding about it. It was just your own I think expectations to it, you you felt really bad because the nature of his position is that he is the one who does that work. You know it's there isn't it.   [00:26:55.780] - Andy Long We a very lean operation. So there wasn't a second person or third person who did my role. I was the president who was in charge of those dealership roles and those tasks. So, if I wasn't there there, I was nervous that those were going to get done and the dealership was going to suffer substantially because we don't have someone else who backed up my role   [00:27:18.730] - Beth Long But, that's when we did make some major changes.   [00:27:22.860] - Andy Long Yeah it wasn't that Beth had not brought up the work life or work family life balance before, but she said it was a lot more urgency in, I think that the combination of events finally got through to me and I realized, man this is crazy. I'm putting work way before my family. I need to make some big changes. And we did after that. It took about a year to enact all the changes. But there is a shift at work. I requested to be moved from what I was doing to another role, which required some really difficult conversations over a period of about six months with my grandfather, who's the owner of the dealership, and we had some conversations about what that would look like and how that's very different than the way he came up in the business, which was a lot more old school of, you work every hour that the dealership is open. You're at the at the bridge of the ship. You're commanding it. You've got to be there every minute every day. And what that would look like maybe  for my schedule, which was going to be more family focused and maybe more new school and millennial where I'm placing a greater, a greater value on being with my family and having time away from the dealership, which was some pretty new territory for him but we were able to work it out.   [00:28:41.500] - Beth Long Yeah. It's a difficult conversation as you can imagine to have with your grandfather, because I think it feels a bit to him like an indictment of the way he raised his family. And so, he had five children and they are greatly loved and he showed his love by working super hard for them and providing for them. And so, when Andy says I want to do it this way it feels a bit like, hey you did it the wrong way. And that's a really difficult conversation to have with your grandfather.   [00:29:06.940] - Liesel Mertes The complications of what is a culture shift in a lot of ways, and even a translation of a different set of values coming in and being, still furthering the mission of the company, but not the way things have been done before. This been a really helpful conversation on so many levels, as you think back and have snapshot in your mind of yourselves as you're going through that super intense season, what words would you offer back to that to that version of Andy or Beth from where you are now?   [00:29:47.410] - Andy Long Well, hindsight is 20 20. And as I look back at the younger Andy of those years he was so wrapped up in the culture of the business that he was in. He was really blinded to the effects that it was having on his family and the tremendous amount of stress it was putting on Beth and his kids. And it seems crazy now that I would have thought, yeah it's totally normal, I should have my Mom pick up my wife and newborn baby from the NICU and bring him home. In the moment, that felt like the appropriate thing to do for work. So, sagely old Andy would tell that young guy,hey there is, that's crazy and you need to try and seek that balance way before you get to a point where you're at your wits end and you're really just treading water and trying to make it through each day. We should have addressed those concerns years previously and tried to figure out, hey what's a, how can we slide gradually into a different schedule or how can we have some backup at work that or some overlapping roles that would allow not just me but other managers to take more time off if something like this happens or to to enjoy a better work life balance?  We should have addressed those years ago not just when a crisis comes.   [00:31:04.150] - Beth Long Yeah, and I would say, for me, this is something I really had to become more comfortable with. But, in the beginning, did not know what to do when people said, let me know how I can help. You know, alright, let me let me...even when they were specific about it, let me take your kids or you know, in the beginning I felt very uncomfortable taking that kind of help. But pretty quickly realized like nope, I just need to say yes you could take my girls or you could come over you know whatever those things were that were going help, I had to get real about that because I I couldn't do it. I really needed that backup.   [00:31:39.750] - Andy Long Beth is really independent. And I do remember us having that conversation about, it was it was unnatural and a little bit against your personality to accept help especially from strangers or people that we didn't know really well. It was different when your best friends like, let me take your girls. But when someone from church was like hey let me bring you a meal or can I bring you some groceries. That felt maybe uncomfortable at the beginning, especially because Beth is very independent, so that was a big change, but it was a good change once we said hey these people are wanting to engage with us wanting to help. This is the way that they're going to show us love. We need to be way more accepting of it. That was huge.   [00:32:19.570] - Beth Long And I think, also, one thing I wish that I would have done is just feel more comfortable to be, to tell people, this is how I'm struggling I feel, I actually later in the year started extreme problems sleeping. I started having chest pains and I felt like I was going crazy, which I think if I had just talked to people they would say know that, you're experiencing anxiety and you probably should be based on your life circumstances right now. It took me slowly telling people small parts of that to put that all together, but I wish that I would have been braver with those emotions to say, hey here's what I'm experiencing. What do I do with this? Or even start, as I ended up seeing a counselor starting in the fall. And I wish I would have started much earlier. So that's something I would have told myself like:  hey look at your life right now. In fact I remember once in that time in that six month timeframe someone gave me a picture that said something about:  in mountains high and valleys low, ttill I am with you. And I was like, why did they give me this? Which is like, I was so unaware of like how chaotic my own life was that I was like, Oh this is a valley low. You know, I didn't even, I wasn't aware enough to know that I needed help beyond groceries, that I needed to see a counselor that I needed to work through the aftermath of watching my son go through seizures that I needed...the traumatic birth, I needed to go through that. You know I need to talk to me about that. So that took me a long time to realize, hey I need to deal with this and my body betrayed me, because I thought I was doing so well. I thought I was holding it together so well. But then I was not sleeping. You know, I started sleeping as you're having chest pains and my body said, Look you're not handling this as well as you think you are   Musical Interlude Here are three take-aways from my conversation with Andy and Beth What are the implicit demands that your company makes on employees? Have you stopped to wonder?  If not, now is a good time to ask.  Go ask a coworker or a direct report about how they think the company views time off.  And, call this lesson 1, part b, do you have established policies around time off and leave? Andy and Beth were trailblazers in many ways, creating policies and precedent around NICU stays and adoption. If you don’t have established policies, its time to get some things in writing.  As you create these policies, ponder, what kind of a culture do you want to create?  If you are going through the stress of an adoption or a prolonged hospital stay or any sort of substantial stress, coax yourself to be able to accept the help that is offered.Taking your other children to play, receiving a delivery of groceries, it is good to be able to accept the help that is offered.  Beth talked about the world of adoption policy and news and updates that was “an entirely different language” than what was being spoken around her in southern Indiana.If you are part of a support system for someone that is going through an adoption process, take time to ask them about the policy and the Facebook groups.  And then listen. Really listen. Andy and Beth spoke about how it was difficult for them to feel that some people close to them were not “in their corner” and rooting for the adoption to go forward, as you hear about difficulties or obstacles, before rushing to judgment and advice, instead consider offering a statement like, “I’m so sorry for that hassle!  That sounds complicated and difficult; I imagine that you just want to be united with your son or daughter as soon as possible.”  This sort of statement conveys empathy without pronouncing judgment.   Outro

"Marriages don't work when one partner is happy and the other is miserable. Marriage is about both people being equally miserable." In this season finale episode of N2M we get down to brass tax and talk about the musician and the marriage of a musician. This week I have some really special guests and people who know much more about marriage than I do. First up we have Steve and Jill Grossman. Both Steve and Jill are musicians, authors, and have a marriage counseling ministry. They have been married for almost 30 years and as they say most of them happily. They have 2 grown children. My next guest is a Marriage Counselor and Author and most importantly my wife Summer. We have 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. We all have an honest and open chat about the unique challenges of being married and a musician from the lack of steady income, to the travel and family adjustments, the emotional roller coaster that being married to a creative is, and even the groupie issue. So sit back, buckle up and adjust the rearview, we’ve been down this road befor…remember normal is just an exit a few miles back on this weeks episode of Nashville to Memphis. Now that Steve and I have finally figured women out go check out Steve’s work at www.stevegrossmanonline.com and Jill at www.jillgrossman.com AND also be on the look out for my wife Summer’s new book “I AM” out worldwide from all the outlets that outlet. That is a wrap on the first season of Nashville to Memphis. Thank you to all the guests and listeners and supporters. Next season will be out soon. Opening Quote from Forget Paris. You should go watch it. - https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/forget-paris/id291181695

Like my all time personal hero Lloyd Dobler says, “I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.” It all starts with a nutty bar. The only multi-appearing guest this season of N2M is the one and only Justin Patton. He takes a break from his training for his NBA debut…sorry wrong Justin Patton. Justin is back to talk about the ills of social media, politics, why the fringe always wins, American Hubris, cultural assumptions and why humans crave security and control.  So sit back, buckle up and adjust the rearview, the exits for that Truckstop on 100 and Dunkin Donuts in Dickson are just ahead on this weeks episode of Nashville to Memphis. Now that Justin and have proved there was a 6 day creation you can all sleep much better at night. Opening Quote from Say Anything. You should go watch it. - https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/say-anything/id907742416

The mysteries of the Giza Plateau continue for Into The Portal with yet another entry into the Underworld… The Shaft of Osiris, a multi-layer underground complex of chambers offers yet another intriguing case, the function of which has eluded researchers to date. Join us for a bonus episode in which we discuss theories surrounding the Shaft of Osiris, its connection to the Egyptian concept of the Underworld, as well as explore some fascinating listener contributions. Credit for Opening Quote: Mojsov, Bojana. OSIRIS: Life and Death Of A God. Wiley Publishers, 2005. For full show notes and resources visit [our website.](https://www.intotheportal.com)

The mysteries of the Giza Plateau continue for Into The Portal with yet another entry into the Underworld… The Shaft of Osiris, a multi-layer underground complex of chambers offers yet another intriguing case, the function of which has eluded researchers to date. Join us for a bonus episode in which we discuss theories surrounding the Shaft of Osiris, its connection to the Egyptian concept of the Underworld, as well as explore some fascinating listener contributions. Credit for Opening Quote: Mojsov, Bojana. OSIRIS: Life and Death Of A God. Wiley Publishers, 2005. For full show notes and resources visit [our website.](https://www.intotheportal.com)

“She only speaks French, Roy. She doesn't speak imbecile.”  As this season of N2M comes to a close. We have some awesome guests. Only two episodes left but be sure I am already hard at work on season 2. This week I reach out down to Dallas to talk with the music director at my favorite Texas radio station, Chuck Taylor joins me  to talk about his journey in the business, his really unique litmus test for putting a song on the radio, and how bleak is the future for terrestrial radio and how that effects the indie artist. So sit back, buckle up and adjust the rearview, the next five exits are Jackson just ahead on this weeks episode of Nashville to Memphis. Now that Chuck and I have solved the mystery of the true identity of Jack The Ripper go listen in to KHYI online at KHYI.com Opening Quote from Better Off Dead. You Should Watch it. - https://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Dead-John-Cusack/dp/B00005JKFA

This episode of N2M I have the pleasure of synching up with Cole Ebel Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party of Tennessee. In addition to his role in the party Cole also owns and operates Ebel’s Tavern in Carthage, TN. Cole has a background in broadcast journalism. Cole had a mobile duologue on everything from his journey to becoming a Libertarian,  Standing on principle even within the party, the wasted vote, and why people are stuck in the two party mentality.  So sit back, buckle up and adjust the rearview, the exits for 440 and Bell Road are just ahead on this weeks episode of Nashville to Memphis. Now that Cole and I found the lost city of Atlantis go check out his restaurant and buy a beer or two and check out http://etnlp.org/lptn Opening Quote from Big Trouble in Little China. You should go watch it. - https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/big-trouble-in-little-china/id270820879

This week we blend the 901 soul with 270 bluegrass notes. I jump on the phone with 2 of the smartest guys I know. Dr. Corey Latta and Justin Patton. Corey has a B.A. in Biblical studies, M.A. in New Testament Studies, M.A. in English, and Ph.D. in Literature. He has taught in Christian higher education and served in ministry for over ten years. Corey writes and teaches on C. S. Lewis, Christian Worldview, Theology and Literature, New Testament Studies, Apologetics, and Biblical Theology. He has published several books, including “Election and Unity in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans,” “Functioning Fantasies: Ideology, Theology, and Social Conception in the Fantasies of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien,” “When the Eternal Can Be Met: The Bergsonian Theology of Time in C. S. Lewis, T. S. Eliot, and W. H. Auden,” “C.S. Lewis and the Art of Writing,” and (forthcoming) “Chasing Adam: A Return to Being Christian.” Corey’s poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction have appeared in several journals. Corey and his wife Jennifer have two sets of twin children, Justice and London, and Augustus and Emma Jane. For Justin it all started with a nutty bar as all great friendships do. Little Debbie’s significant role in our lives aside Justin is an award winning audio engineer, media specialist and professor at Murray State University and lay theologian. Corey, Justin and I tackle the move of culture towards binary thinking, John Cougars Authority Song…sorta,  CS Lewis and the loss of civil discourse, the value of tradition and systems, loss of logic and ad hominem fallacy thinking. So sit back, buckle up and adjust the rearview, the exits for Colliersville and Franklin are just ahead on this weeks episode of Nashville to Memphis. Now that we have figured out how Hitler escaped the bunker and made it to Argentina go and check out Corey at https://www.amazon.com/Corey-Latta/e/B00JHQCIH6  and Justin at http://campus.murraystate.edu/recordingservices/index.html Opening Quote from the 1992 movie Army of Darkness. You should go watch it- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/army-of-darkness-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/id988870374

Shampoo is better. I go on first and clean the hair. Conditioner is better. I leave the hair silky and smooth. Oh, really, fool? Really. Stop looking at me, swan. This week I volunteered to connect those satellites between I40 and the Lonestar state to chew the Buc-ee’s jerky and get a little red dirt under my nails with one of my favorite singers on the planet Stewart Mann.  Statesboro has had many a hit on the Texas Red Dirt scene and shared the stage with too many titans to mention. Stewart has one of the most soulful voices on the planet. Rumor has it he may have sang a Sam Cooke song one rainy Dallas  night with yours truly. Stewart and spend our time talking about our journeys through the music business, getting older, what does it all mean, and balancing it all with family. So sit back, buckle up and adjust the rearview, the exits for McKenzie and Parkers Crossroad are just ahead on this weeks episode of Nashville to Memphis. Now that we figured out who the real DB Cooper was and where he hid the money check out Stewarts music at www.statesbororevue.com Opening Quote from the movie Billy Madison. You should go watch it- https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/billy-madison/id279532350

Since N2M is about ALL the random crap that I think about while I am driving between Nashville and Memphis I was super happy to get to chat on the cell with Nick Gausling. Nick is the Executive Director of the Libertarian Christian Institute. He has previously been a business executive, a consultant, and (regrettably) served in political party leadership. He is a serial entrepreneur and has co-founded several businesses in various fields involving finance, perishable goods wholesale/distribution, and transportation. Nick and I talk about exactly what Libertarian beliefs are, how libertarianism is the most consistent political biblical view, the difference between libertarian beliefs and libertine, and the history of Evil Empires. So sit back, buckle up and adjust the rearview, the exits for Kingston Springs and Huntingdon are just ahead on this weeks episode of Nashville to Memphis. Now that we have found the cure for the Zombie Apocalypse go check out www.libertarianchristians.com Opening Quote from Coming to America. You should go watch it- https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/coming-to-america/id291825889

In our second episode we chat about past lives and reincarnation, and share stories of people who believe they remember living before... Opening Quote from Socrates Intro and Outro Music: "City of Lonely Ghosts" from The Signals by Sergey Cheremisinov

Episode #33; Opening Quote, "Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose." Tennessee Williams 3:00 - What's been going on at PPD.  The thing that helps us manage stress and stay out of overwhelm when things are busy... Suzie's Book: 120 Stress Management Strategies and Daily Tips for Professionals; Wake Up Eager Habit - Re-Calibrate Daily.  What it is and why is matters; Free Quiz Around the Re-Calibrate Daily Habit 7:30 Symptoms that you might need to manage this area more Mantra, "I am actively inviting people into my world." #1 – Build Your personal and Professional Network 10:45 - What does this have to do with being an effective leader?  Interesting facts and stats Gallop's Book: Vital Friends, The People You Can't Afford to Live Without 13:40 - Top Tips for 'Actively Inviting People Into Your World" 15:30 - Some things Suzie did to actively invite people into her world 18:19 - Professional Networking -making it real and even fun!  Key tactical networking tips - small talk can lead to big talk, small talk is where it all starts;  practice listening aggressively; Ask, "What brought you here today?"  or "What have you been working on lately?";  Volunteer 23:24 Networking Introduction Template:    - Name, company name, what you do    - Who you do it for    - What it does for others 25:00  Remember - You Get to Choose Who You Spend Time With Three types of friends: Type #1: Those like food, without which you can't live. Type #2: Those like medicine, which you need occasionally. Type #3: Those like an illness, which you never want. 27:03  A few ideas that really help me have no 'Debbie Downer' Relationships 28:45 Relationship Quiz: - Pick a Friend - Which best describes ow You Feel After Spending Time With This Person              Exhausted, Tired, Okay, Pretty Good Energized? - SCALE: Rate Each Statement from  1 (not true) to 5 (very true)    1) This person is loyal to me.  If I had an emergency or just needed some last minute help, this person would be there for me.   2) We are casual and comfortable with each other. I would feel comfortable, if I wanted to, picking up the phone to talk with no specific agenda or request.   3) This person shares my values. We have the same level of integrity.   4) This person celebrates my successes with me and is always cheering me on. I believe this person always hopes I will win and find success in all of my endeavors.   5) This person sees and brings out the best in me.  I feel good about myself when I am with this person. Count up points - highest score 25 and lowest score 5 Teresa Poole Jones and Suzie Price at Big Canoe 2012 - See more at: http://sbiapps.sitesell.com/sitebuilder/blockbuilder/preview/50282632.xml#sthash.8lu2T2aL.dpufEpisode #33 Episode #33 - Managng Your Spirit - Stress Management Strategies for Professionals Episode #33 - Managing Your Spirit - Stress Management Strategies for Professionals (Part 3 of 3) Part 1 - Managing Your Mind - #31 www.pricelessprofessional.com/mind Part 2 - Managing Your Body -#32 www.pricelessprofessional.com/body Podcast Directory: www.wakeupeagerworkforce.com Contact Suzie - 770-578-6976   suzie@pricelessprofessional.com Opening Quote, "Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose." -Tennessee Williams 3:00 - What's been going on at PPD.  The thing that helps us manage stress and stay out of overwhelm when things are busy... Suzie's Book: 120 Stress Management Strategies and Daily Tips for Professionals; Wake Up Eager Habit - Re-Calibrate Daily.  What it is and why is matters; Free Quiz Around the Re-Calibrate Daily Habit 7:30 Symptoms that you might need to manage this area more Mantra, "I am actively inviting people into my world." #1 – Build Your personal and Professional Network 10:45 - What does this have to do with being an effective leader?  Interesting facts and stats Gallop's Book: Vital Friends, The People You Can't Afford to Live Without 13:40 - Top Tips for "Actively Inviting People Into Your World" 15:30 - Some things Suzie did to actively invite people into her world 18:19 - Professional Networking -making it real and even fun!  Key tactical networking tips - small talk can lead to big talk, small talk is where it all starts;  practice listening aggressively; Ask, "What brought you here today?"  or "What have you been working on lately?";  Volunteer 23:24 Networking Introduction Template:    - Name, company name, what you do    - Who you do it for    - What it does for others 25:00  Remember - You Get to Choose Who You Spend Time With Three types of friends: Type #1: Those like food, without which you can't live. Type #2: Those like medicine, which you need occasionally. Type #3: Those like an illness, which you never want. 27:03  A few ideas that really help me have no 'Debbie Downer' Relationships 28:45 Relationship Quiz: - Pick a Friend - Which best describes ow You Feel After Spending Time With This Person              Exhausted, Tired, Okay, Pretty Good Energized? - SCALE: Rate Each Statement from  1 (not true) to 5 (very true)    1) This person is loyal to me.  If I had an emergency or just needed some last minute help, this person would be there for me.   2) We are casual and comfortable with each other. I would feel comfortable, if I wanted to, picking up the phone to talk with no specific agenda or request.   3) This person shares my values. We have the same level of integrity.   4) This person celebrates my successes with me and is always cheering me on. I believe this person always hopes I will win and find success in all of my endeavors.   5) This person sees and brings out the best in me.  I feel good about myself when I am with this person. Count up points - highest score 25 and lowest score 5 32:30 - This Podcast is dedicated to High School Friend Teresa Poole Jones -  who passed away on the morning of recording this Podcast. --------R.I.P. Sweet "T"  -  August 17, 1964 - April 2, 2017 35:05  --  39 Wake Up Eager Tips and Action Episode #33; Opening Quote, "Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose." Tennessee Williams 3:00 - What's been going on at PPD.  The thing that helps us manage stress and stay out of overwhelm when things are busy... Suzie's Book: 120 Stress Management Strategies and Daily Tips for Professionals; Wake Up Eager Habit - Re-Calibrate Daily.  What it is and why is matters; Free Quiz Around the Re-Calibrate Daily Habit 7:30 Symptoms that you might need to manage this area more Mantra, "I am actively inviting people into my world." #1 – Build Your personal and Professional Network 10:45 - What does this have to do with being an effective leader?  Interesting facts and stats Gallop's Book: Vital Friends, The People You Can't Afford to Live Without 13:40 - Top Tips for 'Actively Inviting People Into Your World" 15:30 - Some things Suzie did to actively invite people into her world 18:19 - Professional Networking -making it real and even fun!  Key tactical networking tips - small talk can lead to big talk, small talk is where it all starts;  practice listening aggressively; Ask, "What brought you here today?"  or "What have you been working on lately?";  Volunteer 23:24 Networking Introduction Template:    - Name, company name, what you do    - Who you do it for    - What it does for others 25:00  Remember - You Get to Choose Who You Spend Time With Three types of friends: Type #1: Those like food, without which you can't live. Type #2: Those like medicine, which you need occasionally. Type #3: Those like an illness, which you never want. 27:03  A few ideas that really help me have no 'Debbie Downer' Relationships 28:45 Relationship Quiz: - Pick a Friend - Which best describes ow You Feel After Spending Time With This Person              Exhausted, Tired, Okay, Pretty Good Energized? - SCALE: Rate Each Statement from  1 (not true) to 5 (very true)    1) This person is loyal to me.  If I had an emergency or just needed some last minute help, this person would be there for me.   2) We are casual and comfortable with each other. I would feel comfortable, if I wanted to, picking up the phone to talk with no specific agenda or request.   3) This person shares my values. We have the same level of integrity.   4) This person celebrates my successes with me and is always cheering me on. I believe this person always hopes I will win and find success in all of my endeavors.   5) This person sees and brings out the best in me.  I feel good about myself when I am with this person. Count up points - highest score 25 and lowest score 5 Teresa Poole Jones and Suzie Price at Big Canoe 2012 - See more at: http://sbiapps.sitesell.com/sitebuilder/blockbuilder/preview/50282632.xml#sthash.8lu2T2aL.dpuf

Episode 32– Get my top tips for Managing Your Body - all the latest stuff I am doing to manage stress and feel good related to fitness and health.  This is Part 2 of a three-part series about top Stress Management Strategies for Leaders for you Mind, Body and Spirit. Opening Quote, "The perfect man of old looked after himself before looking after others."  Chuang Tzu 3:00 - Suzie's Book: 120 Stress Management Strategies and Daily Tips for Professionals; Wake Up Eager Habit - Re-Calibrate Daily.  What it is and why is matters; Free Quiz Around the Re-Calibrate Daily Habit 5:00 - 1% Exponential Growth Principle - VIDEO: Beautiful transformation by Army Veteran Arthur Boorman - demonstrating that 1% a day is powerful.  Watch Video Here 8:25 - #1 Tip/Focus Area - Eat More Real Food and Less Processed Food Your Mantra Statement: “I like to eat and drink foods that nourish me and help me feel my best.  I do.  Taking time to plan ahead, so that I often pick healthy foods, is time well-spent. No one else can do this for me.  I do this so I can feel and be my best.”  Top Facts/Reminders/Actions: - Weight loss and feeling good in your body is 80% the quality of the food you eat and 20% exercise. - Eat MORE foods that live in the wild, and grow on trees and plants, and eat LESS food that's manufactured or packaged in factories.  Eat ALL of the whole and real foods (proteins, veggies, fruits, eggs, nuts) you want, until you're full.  - 11:41- Drink more water. -“Every single thing you put in your mouth makes you healthier or less healthy.” - 15:27 - Any time you feel as though you've gotten off track from eating more real food and less processed – start a food journal.  Track and write down EVERYTHING you eat. (Or use your favorite app.) - Get in the habit of eating a salad and drinking water before your entree comes. - Hot tea with Collagen Protein, from Vital Proteins. - Make and Drink Green Smoothies - Healthy Meals Delivered to Your Door - What Suzie's being using: Green Chef - Bullet Proof Coffee – Dave Asprey - YouTube Video Link 22:26 -  #2 Tip/Focus Area – Rest Your Mantra Statement: “I make sure I get quality sleep, because when I'm rested I think more clearly, I'm healthier, and I'm better able to handle stress.” Top Facts/Reminders/Actions: - Bad sleep on a regular basis can lead to weight gain, illness, and a lack of alertness, memory loss, lower job performance, and a bad mood.  - Sleep deprivation can impair your thinking as much or more than alcohol, the effect of lost sleep is similar to being drunk. - Not enough sleep on a regular basis can cause slower brain function, weight gain, moodiness, stress, and lower immune functions.  The average adult needs 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep a night. - Experts Recommend:  Stick to a schedule.  Exercise. Take a hot shower or bath before bed.  Make your bed and bedroom as comfortable and pleasant as possible. Avoid eating just before bed. Give yourself at least 2 hours from the last food you eat to when you sleep. - Suzie's Top Tips:  Meditation.  Calm app – Deep Sleep – full body scan. Audible.com – (an Affiliate Link) - favorite: hypnosis by Joel Thielke. 30:01 - #3 Tip/Focus Area– Move Your Body Every Day Your Mantra Statement:  “I appreciate myself and my body. I LIKE taking good care of me. I move my body every day.” Top Facts/Reminders/Actions: - Fitness is Good for Your Career: People who exercise on work days are more productive, happier, and suffer less stress, than on non-gym days. 72% reported improvements in time management on exercise days, compared to non-exercise days. 79% said mental and interpersonal performance was better on the days that they exercised. 74% said they managed their workload better. Feedback from focus groups found that people who built exercise into their workday were re-energized, calmer, and more able to solve problems. How to Keep Yourself Motivated and Interested in Moving Your Body: - 34:45 - Journal Prompt for Pre-Paving Action:  “I want to move my body more because I want____ .”  Answer this over and over, and then read what you wrote every day for a week. - My Top 10 Cardio Motivation Workout Tips article: Secrets of Home Cardio Workouts. - Easy Options for Getting More Movement into Your Busy Schedule:  Pick parking spots further away from your destination.  Take the stairs.  Have 'Walking Lunch Meetings' on nice days.   Go for walks with your family after dinner.  Take a mid-day break and walk around your office building.  Focus on finding ways to build extra movement into your day, all day.  - Suzie's Spin Bike that she's using with the Peloton App.  - Inversion Table - Teeter - Stand up desk - VariDesk - Remember: Small efforts add up, and are better than no effort. - For Inspiration, Watch:  The one percent a day video of the man who would not give up! - My Three Best Workout Inspiration Resources for Finding Motivation & Keeping It! -    Inversion table – Teeter.  Hang upside down. 45:00 - Closing:  Very Funny Anti-Fitness Video to Adele's 'Hello" song – Wake Up Eager Facebook Page. Scroll down to January 8, 2017 to see this very fun video! And while you're there LIKE our Page. "The perfect man of old looked after himself before looking after others."  Chuang Tzu Subscribe via iTunes or Leave a Review Related Podcasts: How to Get Out of Overwhelm and Get Things Done Get More Motivation with the Workplace Motivators Assessment Podcast The Power of Focusing on Strengths in the Workplace & Using the DISC Assessment Related Service: Coaching Process Related Books: 120 Stress Management Strategies and Daily Tips for Professionals   Contact Suzie: Schedule a Complimentary Consulting Call or Send Me Feedback: Contact Suzie

Episode #31. Opening Quote, “If I can't lead myself, others won't follow me, won't respect me and won't want to partner with me.” Suzie's Book: 120 Stress Management Strategies and Daily Tips for Professionals Free Quiz Around the Re-Calibrate Daily Habit 3:38 - Wake Up Eager Habit - Re-Calibrate Daily.  What it is and why is matters. 8:20 - These top five Managing My Tips relate to TriMetrixHD Assessment area: Self Direction and in the TriMetrixEQ Assessment area: Motivation  (know where you're going, know what you want to do and happy to do that)   Related Podcast Mentioned: Demystifying and Understanding TriMetrix 11:40 - Tip #1 - My Preferences Matter - Mantra: “I name, claim, and use my strengths. I also manage my blind spots.” 19:40 - Tip #2 - Build Momentum: Pre-Pave - Mantra, "“I plan every day in advance.  I also have three monthly goals that are in writing, so that I can review and take action on them daily.” Henry Ford, "Before everything else getting ready is the secret to success." 24:30 - Related Podcast: Setting Performance Expectations the Easy Way: Build Accountability w/ a Job Dashboard 27:15 - What is overwhelm? 29:22- More about List of Six - Related Podcast: How to Get Out of Overwhelm and Get Things Done 35:10 - Tip #3 - Grow Personal Accountability- Mantra: “I take responsibility for my achievements AND my errors.” More about Personal Accountability - Related Podcast: Biggest Interview Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Detailed article, free quiz and eWorkbook mentioned around Personal Accountability: One of the Most Imp. Leadership Characteristics: What Every Executive Ought to Be Good At... 39:00- Tip #4 - Get in the Zone  - Mantra: “I focus upon what I want and why I want it.” Book: Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement in Everyday Life Flow Formula: 1) Fully using strengths toward a manageable goal  2) Having a clear goal 3) Getting feedback Get Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement in Everyday Life Book Free by using my Audible affiliate link: Get a Free Audio Book w/ 30-day Trial 43:15 - Tip #5 - I Can't Get It Wrong  - Mantra:  “I can never get any of this wrong, because I'm never done.” 48:00 - Article Mentioned about how success REALLY happens... Best Tips for a Quick Recovery When Overwhelmed 52: 13 - Closing Blessing (copied from Mark Silver, Heart of Business) In the Name of the One  Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, Most Kind I ask in the Name of the One to help us all to know: that our hearts are always cared for that our every step is guided that we need do nothing alone. Help to open the way, to reveal the path, to make the signs unmistakable. I ask for nourishment, and support, in abundance for us all. I ask that all of those who need the gifts that we've been given, find their way to us without blocks, or veils, or hesitations. Make our provision easy. I ask for love, and healing. For mercy, and kindness. For power and ability. For gentleness and peace. For strength and success. For life, for justice, for form. I ask for presence, and light. And Love, and love, and love. For you, and your loved ones, and your business, in this new year. Subscribe via iTunes or Leave a Review Related Podcasts: Demystifying and Understanding TriMetrix Biggest Interview Mistakes and How to Avoid Them How to Get Out of Overwhelm and Get Things Done Get More Motivation with the Workplace Motivators Assessment Podcast The Power of Focusing on Strengths in the Workplace & Using the DISC Assessment Related Service: Training Programs Coaching Process Related Books: Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement in Everyday Life 120 Stress Management Strategies and Daily Tips for Professionals   Contact Suzie: Schedule a Complimentary Consulting Call or Send Me Feedback: Contact Suzie STAY IN TOUCH: Are you a leader, trainer or consultant focused on building a Wake Up Eager Workforce?  Subscribe to this Podcast Here.   You can also sign up for monthly email updates, here.   Thank you for being a part of this!!

Insiders, outsiders. Who is us? Who is them? In the news today, the separation is often along the lines of Muslims and Christians, Americans and Syrians. We define who’s in and who’s out based on arbitrary, subjective criteria, often based on fear. But all of these are false dichotomies. There is no them – only us.Today’s Guest:Scott Hicks, laywer and pastor from Lebanon, OH.Read his original Facebook post here, or reblogged here.This great infographic with the information from Mr. Hicks’ initial Facebook post.The White House has also detailed the screening process for refugee entry into the United States.Opening Quote: from Rachel Held Evans. Read it here.Featured photo via Arbeitsbesuch Mazedonien

Are you living the lifestyle that you really want to live? Are you creating excellence in your life that you really want to create? Join me as I talk to Tony Bynum, professional wildlife, hunting, adventure, and nature photographer about his outdoor adventure lifestyle and the model that he lives by.   Guest’s Opening Quote:   “I mean I can’t tell you how many young people just can not afford to come and visit me. They say ‘I can’t afford that. Oh it’s a plane ticket. When am I ever going to get time?’ And five years later they are in the same place they were in five years ago. They are still trying to figure it out. Quit wasting all your money on drinking beer and going to Mexico. What do you want to do with your life?”   More About My Guest:   The About page on Tony’s website has a quote by him “Trails are for hikers, I’m an explorer!“. He is an adventure, conservation, wildlife, nature, and outdoor commercial [photographer] and is based in East Glacier Park, Montana, on the Blackfeet Reservation. Tony has an extensive list of publication credits including National Geographic for Kids, New York magazine, and Popular Photography. His images have appeared on the covers and in the copy of many outdoor recreation focused magazines including Field & Stream, Sports Afield, Eastman’s Bow Hunting, Bowhunt America, and many others. Tony is currently the photo editor for Western Hunter and Elk Hunter Magazine. Another quote from his website says ”I live at 5,000 feet in the rugged mountains of the Northern Rockies in Montana and I truly live the outdoor lifestyle."   If you have considered becoming a photographer, Tony has a link to a great video about that very topic. If you aren’t interested in that as a profession, but want to see some fabulous imagery, watch the video. If you have any interest at all in photography or if you want to see some fantastic images, you need to check out Tony’s website. Tony shares some of his thoughts, ideas, and stories on his blog, as well as many other wonderful images covering big game, cowboys, hunting, Montana, wildlife, Whitetail Deer bucks, bugling bull elk, Big Horn Sheep, Grizzly Bears, Mule Deer, bison, Rocky Mountain Goat, Black Bears.   Tony talked about the way he operates and runs his life, referring to it as his four point “model”. He compares and relates the way he lives to bow hunting. This model can be applied to virtually every profession, career, job, adventure, or project.