Podcasts about opting

Gregory Copley. The discussion centers on the fraying relationship between the U.S. and Canada. Copley explains how Canada is asserting its sovereignty by moving away from U.S. defense procurement, opting for Australian and Swedish technologies over American systems like the F-35, largely due to political alienation felt under the current administration. (10)1890 AUSTRALIA

Many U.S. states require HBV, blood testing, and vitamin K shots at, or soon after, birth. While these interventions may appear helpful. hospitals often provide no informed consent. They also neglect to inform parents they have a right to opt out, with some states going to lengths in order to conceal such opt-out forms. Some states lie about the procedures to coerce compliance. Medical staff are not above threatening to call police or CPS on parents, or prevent them from leaving the hospital, or conceal the baby until they acquiesce. In these cases, they are guilty of kidnapping and violating federal law. As for vitamin k, the shots actually have far more ingredients, some of which are known to kill infants according to the CDC. As for blood testing, most states store the blood without parental consent and give it to the military or private companies. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, subscribe below.

Guest host Rob Fai & Eric Kam, Economics Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University discuss: 1- Canada's unemployment rate ticks down to 6.5% 2 - Canada's June job numbers not enough to move the dial on interest rates, economists say 3 - Canadian savings deteriorate as spending outpaces income: report 4 - Why Canadian millennials may be the least happy to get your wedding invitation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Rob Fai & Eric Kam, Economics Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University discuss: 1- Canada's unemployment rate ticks down to 6.5% 2 - Canada's June job numbers not enough to move the dial on interest rates, economists say 3 - Canadian savings deteriorate as spending outpaces income: report 4 - Why Canadian millennials may be the least happy to get your wedding invitation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Sen Dennis Linthicum weekly interview: Does OR AG Rayfield have authority to punish independent government agencies who violate OR sanctuary laws? https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/oregon-authorities-log-246-rise-in-immigration-enforcement-requests-over-past-year/ OR's chip industry in decline because of decisions by Kotax when Speaker/Governor? https://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/2026/07/oregons-chip-industry-risks-becoming-insignificant-globally-state-report-says.html Portland Police Bureau funding initiative turns in enough signatures to make November ballot: https://elkhornmediagroup.com/or-legislators-will-attend-transportation-vision-meeting/ Is Les Schwab signaling they are leaving OR? https://ktvz.com/news/2026/06/08/les-schwab-restructures-staffing-70-positions-impacted/ Is Kotax setting up the next gas tax increase with rural road show designed to get R's to go along? https://elkhornmediagroup.com/or-legislators-will-attend-transportation-vision-meeting/    

Have you heard of solo-maxxing, or "by yourself maxxing"? It's a social media trend in which young people are embracing single life by opting out of dating and choosing to spend more time on their own. Instead, they're prioritising personal wealth, career growth and emotional independence. So, what's driving this trend? Is it a new kind of freedom, or are young people giving up on dating altogether? BBC Focus on Africa podcast host Nkechi Ogbonna spoke to Kenyan content creator Chantelle Petit and British Somali podcaster Ahmendur Hirad about their solo-maxxing journeys, the motivations behind their choices, and the challenges they've faced along the way.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shuma, Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo Senior Producers: Bella Twine and Priya Sippy Technical Producers: David Kinyanjui Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Dive into the Cavaliers' high-stakes free agency strategy as hosts break down how James Harden's contract maneuvering helps Cleveland avoid the NBA's dreaded second apron. Plus, the guys debate whether the intense fan backlash against Harden is actually justified and what the return of Thomas Bryant means for the roster.

Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Account Management. We recorded this episode on June 29th, 2026, just after the dust had settled on Amazon Prime Day 2026. The initial numbers are starting to normalize, and we have brought together a great panel of internal experts to help us unpack exactly what went down. Joining us to break down the event from all angles, we have: Ross Walker, Director of Retail Media, will walk us through the media side Michael Childers, Retail Account Manager, covering account strategy Meg Scavo, Senior Account Manager, digging into the data from the disruptor and challenger brands we manage Let's jump right into it.   "If you don't run any deals, you might be down year over year. With all the filtering and AI tools, people are going straight to deals in search, so you won't get visibility." -Meg Scavo KEY TAKEAWAYS In this episode, Julie, Jordan, Ross, Michael, and Meg discuss: Prime Day 2026 delivered strong growth. Spend was up ~23% YoY for Acadia clients, ahead of expectations, but performance increasingly came down to execution-promotion depth, media strategy, and catalog focus-not just participation. The sales curve flattened across all four days. Days 2 and 3 saw the strongest growth, and the classic "Day 1 spike + Day 4 finale" pattern weakened. Consumers are pacing purchases more deliberately, while Amazon's merchandising is actively shaping that flow. Participation is effectively mandatory now. Roughly 9 in 10 brands ran promotions. Opting out no longer just forfeits upside-it can actively hurt visibility, as the traditional halo effect continues to fade. Promotions have converged into a more disciplined playbook. Prime Exclusive Discounts dominate, with brands shifting from broad discounting to tiered strategies-heavier discounts on hero ASINs (30–40%), lighter elsewhere (15–20%)-balancing rank defense with margin control. Incrementality looks weaker, but it's largely a baseline shift. June timing created a "higher floor," making lift look smaller than prior years. Absolute growth is still strong, but comparisons to past Prime Days are less apples-to-apples. AI is becoming the infrastructure layer of shopping. Discovery, PDP content, reviews, and Q&A now directly influence how products are surfaced and summarized, meaning content quality and structure are now performance levers, not just hygiene. Media is still essential, but less about scale and more about precision. Ad spend rose ~24%, but conversion declined through the event as shoppers shifted into comparison mode. Sponsored prompts drove big engagement, but performance varied sharply by funnel depth-strong in lower-funnel use cases, weak in top-funnel browsing. Bottom line: Prime Day is shifting from a discount-driven event to a visibility-and-optimization exercise-where winners are defined less by how much they discount and more by how well they manage structure, media efficiency, and AI-era discoverability.   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Connect with Senior Account Manager, Meg Scavo Connect with Retail Marketplaces Account Manager, Michael Childers Connect with Acadia's Director of Retail Media, Ross Walker Connect with our host, Julie Spear Connect with our host, Jordan Ripley Learn more about Acadia

Dive into the Cavaliers' high-stakes free agency strategy as hosts break down how James Harden's contract maneuvering helps Cleveland avoid the NBA's dreaded second apron. Plus, the guys debate whether the intense fan backlash against Harden is actually justified and what the return of Thomas Bryant means for the roster.

Dive into the Cavaliers' high-stakes free agency strategy as hosts break down how James Harden's contract maneuvering helps Cleveland avoid the NBA's dreaded second apron. Plus, the guys debate whether the intense fan backlash against Harden is actually justified and what the return of Thomas Bryant means for the roster.

In this conversation we unpack why chronic disease is not an inevitability but a consequence of the conditions modern life has created — and why the medical system is structurally incentivised to treat rather than cure. We get into the metabolic envelope, the evolutionary framework that defines what your biology was actually designed for, and why the circadian rhythm is the most foundational input in the whole system. We cover sunlight and why public health messaging has it dangerously wrong, the fiat food system and its downstream effects on metabolic health, and the direct parallel between Bitcoin's disintermediation of central banking and ancestral health's disintermediation of the pharmaceutical industry.Listen to the Sovereign Life with Dale Warburton - https://open.spotify.com/show/7vwwcwGyBpNZJnh6kAUbkPSend us Fan Mail

What if the same broken system that's debasing your money is also making you sick and the exit strategy is identical?Dr. Max Gulhane is a medical doctor who applies first-principles thinking to health. He's not interested in managing your decline. He's interested in preventing you from becoming a patient in the first place.In this conversation we unpack why chronic disease is not an inevitability but a consequence of the conditions modern life has created — and why the medical system is structurally incentivised to treat rather than cure. We get into the metabolic envelope, the evolutionary framework that defines what your biology was actually designed for, and why the circadian rhythm is the most foundational input in the whole system. We cover sunlight and why public health messaging has it dangerously wrong, the fiat food system and its downstream effects on metabolic health, and the direct parallel between Bitcoin's disintermediation of central banking and ancestral health's disintermediation of the pharmaceutical industry.Nobody's coming to save you. But the good news is you don't need them to.Connect with Dr. Max Gulhane:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maxgulhanemdWebsite: https://www.drmaxgulhane.com/Podcast: Regenerative Health PodcastProudly sponsored by My Bitcoin Will. If you hold Bitcoin in self custody and don't know where to start, get a free diagnostic call with us. Australia residents only at this time, but we're expanding to the United States later in the year. Visit https://mybitcoinwill.com and register your interest to be first to know when we launch in your region.

In this episode, Dorsey Morrow, CEO of Liberty HealthShare, discusses the growing affordability challenges facing healthcare consumers, the rise of alternative healthcare payment models, and the importance of transparency, trust, and prevention in improving access to care.This episode is sponsored by Liberty HealthShare.

People are shopping for fruit and veggies over meat as more start weight loss drugs. A report from fresh produce group United Fresh has identified a shift in grocery patterns, with more opting for fresh produce rather than processed foods. Berries, avocados, and kiwifruit have had the biggest growth in value. President Jerry Prendergast told Mike Hosking they're not bad things for people to eat. He says people are looking for fresh produce as a lighter alternative, instead of heavy protein they may have eaten in the past. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUR 3 -- SF Chronicle's Susan Slusser on the what's next for the Giants as we get close to the Trade Deadline, Draymond reportedly opting into his deal, Dear Derek segment, Where is Maxx Crosby headed?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUR 3 -- SF Chronicle's Susan Slusser on the what's next for the Giants as we get close to the Trade Deadline, Draymond reportedly opting into his deal, Dear Derek segment, Where is Maxx Crosby headed?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catch up on all the headlines in Utah Jazz, NBA, College Football, MLB, Golf, and NHL news with "What is Trending" for June 18, 2026.

–Physiotherapy (PT) is not natural a standard to participate in.In fact, PT is oftentimes overlooked that it's more “acceptable” to abide by the medical physician's suggestions.But, physicians do physician stuff.And, PTs do PT stuff--It's time to change the old school of thought on this one!.Let's focus on AND not OR when it comes to improving your health, wellness, fitness & recovery profiles..#FunctionWithPurpose#FPTEducation-----The Function with Purpose Podcast.All things health - wellness - fitness - & education through the physical therapy perspective.Fortress PT is here to serve the Charlotte-Metro area by highlighting the importance of how & why physical therapy should be a part of your health & wellness lifestyle.PURSUIT | PRECISION | PURPOSE..DISCLAIMER:  THIS PODCAST SERVES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ADVICE FROM YOUR PERSONAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL(S)...Amy@fortressphysicaltherapy.com980-272-8044https://linktr.ee/FortressPT.#FunctionWithPurpose #DrAmyPT #FPTosteopractor #FPTAthlete #FPTEducation #FPTTraining #TeamFPT #Charlotteagenda #CharlotteNC #CharlotteMetroArea #QueenCity #704 #980 #Physicaltherapy #Physio #Physiotherapy #GetPT1st #Physical #Therapy #Health #Wellness #Fitness #CLT#charlottephysicaltherapy #charlottephysicaltherapist

**Editor's Note: We had some technical difficulties near the end of the episode so weren't able to capture the full conversation, but if you like what you hear so far, stay tuned for more conversations with the wise and wonderful, Dr. Courtney Herbert!**Episode 068 | Dr. Courtney Herbert is an accomplished board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical and cosmetic dermatology and owner of FDL Dermatology and FDL Dermatology Consulting in Arlington, VA.For more than 12 years, FDL Dermatology accepted medical insurance. When the COVID pandemic disrupted life in 2020, Dr. Herbert, like many physicians, shifted temporarily to telemedicine. Much to her delight, the lack of time constraints allowed her to spend more time with her patients, get to know them better, and address all their dermatologic needs at once.In late 2020, FDL Dermatology stopped accepting medical insurance and made the switch to a direct pay model. She and her staff enjoy focusing completely on their patients during longer, more personalized appointments.Through this transition, Dr. Herbert gained practical insight into what works, what doesn't, and what dermatologists need to consider before making this significant change. The experience reinforced an important truth: direct-pay dermatology can be highly effective when it is designed thoughtfully and grounded in real-world clinical practice.Her latest venture, FDL Dermatology Consulting, grew out of conversations with colleagues—dermatologists who were asking the same questions she once did:Is leaving traditional insurance possible?How do I transition without destabilizing my practice?How do I communicate changes to patients?What does a sustainable direct-pay model really look like?Her work focuses on helping dermatologists navigate these questions with clarity and confidence. She offers strategic guidance rooted in lived experience—not generic business coaching or one-size-fits-all solutions.If you're interested in learning more, check out the website and schedule a complimentary 10-minute conversation to discuss your practice, goals, and whether consulting support may be the next step towards building the independent, direct pay dermatology practice of your dreams!**This episode is not sponsored or otherwise financially supported by FDL Dermatology or FDL Dermatology Consulting. I just love Dr. Herbert and her mission and know you will, too!**More from Dr. HerbertFDL DermatologyFDL Dermatology ConsultingMore from Dr. Lewellis and Above & Beyond DermatologyNeed a dermatologist? Fill out this short interest form, text or call me at 715-391-9774, or email me at drlewellis@aboveandbeyondderm.com if you'd like to have a no obligation discovery call. I offer in-office visits, house calls, and virtual care in Wisconsin and virtual care in Illinois and Nebraska.Have an idea for a guest or want to be on the show yourself? Send me a text or email, and we'll see if it's a good fit.Above & Beyond DermatologyNutrafol -- special pricing and physician exclusive productsNeoGenesis -- my favorite source of stem cell released molecules for skin/hairSilagen.biz -- physician dispensed scar refinement products delivered to your door (use practice code 1206240832P)NewsletterLinkedInFacebookDr. Lewellis on InstagramAbove & Beyond Dermatology on InstagramYouTubeTikTokTwitter/XChange Your Mind, Change Your LifeSoMeDocs (Doctors on Social Media)This page may contain affiliate links.

Showing some love of the sponsor of this episode #BEDucated. Join Beducated today at https://beducate.me/loversapril.  Shout out to the sponsor of this episode #Quince. Go to Quince.com/LOVERS for free shipping and 365-day returns. LOVERS! Right now, you can receive up to 32% off your purchase by heading to Biologica.com/LOVERS! ——— Melyssa Ford has heard every version of the argument. She's seen the comments. She knows what people think about a woman her age with no husband and no kids who says she's genuinely happy.  And she's back to say it again,  louder. In this episode, Shan and Melyssa get into the real reason so many women are quietly stepping back from traditional relationship structures, not out of bitterness, not out of trauma, but out of a clear-eyed look at what they were actually being offered.  If you've ever felt like the options on the table weren't worth the cost, this one is for you. Follow Melyssa Ford → Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melyssaford→ Watch Hot & Bothered with Melyssa Ford (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgI18pIo71rZWq6upn_QxMgListen to Hot & Bothered Podcast: available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms → Get her book Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself: 13 Lessons for a Life Well Lived: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58631608-allow-me-to-reintroduce-myself?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=n6x35X4UoC&rank=1 Want more Lover? Shan's AI trained to give you her advice → http://loversbyshan.com  Get a free weekly Love Letter → http://loversbyshan.com/newsletter  Join the Lovers Community → https://www.loversbyshan.com/community  Explore free quizzes + worksheets → http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Katlego Mothudi – CEO, The Board of Healthcare Funders SAfm Market Update - Podcasts and live stream

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her intent this month to opt into the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit—also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit. That makes her the 30th governor to signal support, and the second Democrat to do so, after Jared Polis of Colorado.Congress created this tax credit last year as the first federal program designed to expand K–12 educational choice nationwide. Beginning in 2027 all taxpayers can take up to $1,700 in federal tax credits for donations to qualified scholarship granting organizations.The U.S. Treasury and Department of Education estimate the program could generate $24 billion in new education funding every year. That's enough to fund private school tuition for tens of thousands of students—or tutoring for hundreds of thousands more.But here's the catch: children only benefit if their governor opts in. And Oregon's Governor Kotek, has declined. Last summer she said that she did not intend to participate. More recently, saying that she's waiting for final federal regulations.Whether Oregon opts in or not, Oregonians can still take the tax credit by donating to scholarship nonprofits in other states. If Oregon stays out, however, those dollars will support students elsewhere, not here at home.Opting in won't cost Oregon's budget a dime and it doesn't impact public school funding. It simply allows Oregonians to direct private charitable dollars towards scholarships for Oregon's kids.Thirty states have already said yes. Oregon should, too.For Cascade Policy Institute, I'm Naomi Inman.Learn more at www.cascadepolicy.org

Jake & Ben Full Show from May 7, 2026 Hour 1 Recapping last night's NBA Playoff Games. What was "Playoff P" Doing?  Top 3 Stories of the Day: Most Big 12 Teams are Opting Out of the Red Bird Capital Deal, Looking at tonight's Playoff Games, Details on the new 76 Team NCAA Tournament A Love Triangle featuring a Detroit Pistons Player Hour 2 Cavaliers Writer Jeff Schudel talks Potential Changes if Donovan Mitchell loses in Round 2 Again Draymond Green was on Inside the NBA and took personal shots at Charles Barkley Beehive Meals Hero of the Week Hour 3 Walker Kessler is about to hit Restricted Free Agency. Should he give the Jazz a home town discount?  Kyle Whittingham is 66 But "Feels Like 46" He never Should have Predicted his Retirement Audio Vault: These Timberwolves fans made songs for Rudy Gobert & Joe Ingles Hour 4 Is Donovan Mitchell a better player in Cleveland than he was in Utah? The Cavaliers are discovering why the Jazz decided to enter a rebuild.  College Football Coaches want to expand the Playoff to 24 Teams.  Where is the worst place to be caught with your fly down? 

Hour 1 of Jake & Ben on May 7, 2026 Recapping last night's NBA Playoff Games. What was "Playoff P" Doing?  Top 3 Stories of the Day: Most Big 12 Teams are Opting Out of the Red Bird Capital Deal, Looking at tonight's Playoff Games, Details on the new 76 Team NCAA Tournament A Love Triangle featuring a Detroit Pistons Player

Top 3 Stories of the Day: Most Big 12 Teams are Opting Out of the Red Bird Capital Deal, Looking at tonight's Playoff Games, Details on the new 76 Team NCAA Tournament

In this episode of AI Experience, we look back at five articles that each shed light, in their own way, on the growing presence of artificial intelligence in our lives. Why does the most powerful AI company suddenly look like it is running in every direction at once?What if your next job was teaching an AI system how to replace you?What if AI has already started changing your job… even before your company has an official plan for it?What happens when suddenly everyone in a company can code?Is AI becoming the final straw for some experienced workers?These questions reveal how far AI reaches beyond labs and tech companies: it now shapes our choices, our leisure, our purchases, and even our most intimate spaces.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Politico: Mamdani allies urge him to issue moratorium on AI in schools, https://classsizematters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Politico.-Mamdani-allies-urge-him-to-issue-moratorium-on-AI-in-schools-4.17.26.pdf NY Daily News, NYC parents tell Mayor Mamdani: ‘Slow your horses' on AI in the classroom, https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/04/16/nyc-parents-mayor-mamdani-ai-classroom/?share=w1oyinhns1tmmyaicamh Fortune, Exclusive: Doctors and education experts who studied AI's impact on the young call for a 5-year moratorium in schoolshttps://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/exclusive-doctors-education-experts-studied-070100644.html Say Yes to Recess resolution, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OUzKvVhnicMVlqk1n5Nuh7NxTfi8cAHwuqlaFUJaeV0/edit?usp=drivesdk The Atlantic, How Finland Keeps Kids Focused Through Free Play, https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/06/how-finland-keeps-kids-focused/373544/ Say Yes to Recess Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/821093494186924/ Contact Say Yes to Recess: NewYork@SayYestoRecess.com

The final moments of Vivian Silver’s life were a “pivotal turning point” for her son Yonatan Zeigen, who now dedicates his life to Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation, following in the footsteps of his peace activist mother, who was slain in her home in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7. Speaking on the eve of Israel’s Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers and terror victims, Zeigen recalled his final goodbyes with his mother with the gunshots of Hamas terrorists at her doorstep in the background, and the loss that he described as jolting him out of what he calls a “political coma” and moved him into full-time activism. Zeigen is a board member of The Parents Circle-Families Forum that co-sponsors the annual alternative joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony. He attended the ceremony in his youth together with his mother and immediately after her death, he knew that this would be the appropriate place to mourn her and continue her mission. He said on the podcast that the alternative ceremony represented “how two peoples share a land: They don't share a land by creating artificial divisions and dehumanizing each other. They do it by looking each other in the eye by celebrating together and also crying together, mourning together.” Zeigen said he was not comfortable being part of the government-sponsored ceremonies memorializing terror victims like his mother. “Bereavement is framed in a political manner in Israel. It is utilized to boost morale by diving into our narrative of victimhood and rallying around and making heroes of those who die in the conflict. It’s not the way that I feel comfortable commemorating my mother.” Read more: 'Swimming Against the Tide, but Swimming': More Israelis and Palestinians Now Choose to Grieve Together Op-ed by Yonatan Zeigen: Most Israelis Are Willfully Ignorant, Opting to Deny or Justify. But There's an Alternative Thousands of Israelis Sign Petition Urging TV Networks Not to Broadcast State Independence Day Ceremony Op-ed by Yonatan Zeigen: When Justice Means Revenge, the Open Wounds of Israelis and Palestinians Won't Heal 'She Knew Peace Was the Only Way': Thousands Attend Funeral of Slain Canadian-Israeli Peace Activist Vivian SilverSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode of The Life of a Bon Vivant podcast, Beeta shares a thoughtful reflection on how social media can shape our preferences in ways we don't always notice. She touches on the influence behind trending pieces and the subtle pull of repeated exposure, inviting listeners to become more aware of what's driving their desires. The episode offers a gentle reminder to stay grounded in your own sense of style and make choices that feel genuinely aligned with you.Follow me on Instagram: Instagram.com/MonPetitFour

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Toronto Blue Jays' weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They discuss the decision to opt for an opener with Braydon Fisher taking the mound in Game 1, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s early-season approach, and what the Jays' bats can expect from Diamondbacks' starter, Canadian Michael Soroka. Then, former MLB pitcher and Blue Jays Central analyst Jason Grilli (27:35) joins the show to discuss how relievers react to their role changing early in the season, and the importance of clubhouse leadership when the bullpen struggles. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Marriage Strike 2026: Are Men Opting Out or Just Not Ready?Marriage strike 2026 is trending in red pill spaces — but John and Echo aren't buying it. This episode breaks down why most men calling for a marriage boycott aren't actually being passed over by women — they were never in the running to begin with, and fear is the real reason they're "opting out."John and Echo get into why the real marriage risk isn't losing half your stuff — it's walking in blind without the leadership, vetting, and integrity it takes to actually succeed. John shares his own experience losing more than half in a divorce and *still* going all in again, no prenup — and why that level of commitment is exactly what real leadership looks like. They also dig into why women don't wake up one day deciding to blow up their marriage, what actually causes relationships to collapse over time, and why hashtag movements don't change anything if you don't even know what you're striking for.In This EpisodeMen on marriage strike are often opting out of a game they were never invited to playFear of losing assets isn't strength — it's weakness, and women can see itThe captain analogy: if the ship sinks, that's on you as the leader, not the crewWomen don't plan for divorce — relationships collapse slowly, through neglect and failure to leadVetting carefully and establishing leadership *before* marriage are your best protectionsA woman won't submit to a man who hasn't earned it — "I'm the leader" isn't a title you claim, it's one you liveVictim mindset is the real epidemic — accountability changes everythingPublicly hashtagging marriage strike makes you less attractive, not more principledTimestamps0:00 — Marriage Strike 2026: Who's Really Opting Out?3:02 — Why Divorce Is Often the Consequence of Men's Actions5:05 — Vetting Your Partner and Leading With Integrity8:30 — Women Risk Their Lives, Men Risk Their Wallets10:40 — Going All In: Why John Skipped the Prenup After Divorce14:04 — Women Don't Dream About Their Divorce Day18:07 — Why Social Media Doesn't Destroy Happy Marriages24:19 — You Can't Claim Leadership Without Being a Leader30:59 — The Crab Bucket Mentality Behind Marriage Strike39:59 — Pride, Purpose, and What Marriage Actually Gives Men49:19 — What Are You Actually Striking For?56:26 — Get Out of the Bucket and Build the Life You WantConnect

Honest conversations about motherhood, womanhood, and the spaces in between. Hosted by Daniella Rabbani, Mom Curious is a podcast produced by Hoff Studios featuring culturally relevant conversations with artists, leaders, and everyday women saying the quiet part out loud about the lives we're living. What happens when you don't follow the script? In this episode of Mom Curious, Daniella sits down with comedian and performer Natasha Vaynblat to talk about her show Childless Freak and the complicated, often misunderstood experience of not having children. Through humor, storytelling, and sharp cultural observation, Natasha explores what it means to exist outside one of society's most deeply ingrained expectations. Natasha Vaynblat's show “Childless Freak” is coming to Joe's Pub on April 28th at 9:30pm. GUEST BIO Natasha Vaynblat (@natashavaynblat⁠⁠ ) is a comedian, writer, and performer known for her sharp, thoughtful work exploring identity, culture, and the expectations placed on women. Her show Childless Freak blends humor and storytelling to examine what it means to live outside traditional narratives around motherhood. AFFILIATE LINKS & MENTIONS Tickets for Natasha's performance at Joe's Pub are here: https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2026/n/natasha-vaynblat-childless-freak/ Book your recording at Hoff Studios $30 off WTHN Acupuncture Booking with code MOMCURIOUS30 More Info on EVOLV GLP-1 Supplements Follow @momcurious and the host @daniellarabbani  on Instagram Subscribe, rate, and review - it helps get the word out about the show and keeps these conversations going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this milestone 300th episode of the Retire with Ryan podcast, I dig into whether the Social Security lump sum payment option is right for you. After a client reached out with questions about whether accepting a lump sum is a good deal, I want to break down how the option works, who it's available to, and the key factors to consider when making this important decision. If you're approaching retirement, this episode offers practical guidance on weighing the lump sum versus higher monthly benefits, health considerations, and the impact on survivor benefits and taxes.    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [00:00] Getting started with Social Security [05:22] monthly Social Security benefit calculations [06:11] Reasons to take the lump sum [07:48] Health concerns and social security benefits [08:27] When passing on the lump sum is a better choice [10:24] Your lump sum may increase your taxable income   Should You Take the Social Security Lump Sum? When you apply for Social Security after your full retirement age (FRA), the Social Security Administration may offer a lump sum payment. This option is generally given to individuals who delay collecting benefits past their FRA. The lump sum typically covers up to six months of retroactive benefits. For example, if your FRA is 66 and you apply a year later, you might be eligible for a lump sum equal to six months of prior payments. However, there's a catch: your monthly benefit will be calculated as if you started receiving Social Security six months earlier, resulting in a lower monthly payment going forward.   The Math Behind the Decision Let's look at the numbers. Suppose your current monthly Social Security benefit is $2,500. If you elect the lump sum, your payment will be based on your benefit from six months ago—roughly 4% lower, or about $2,350 per month. You would receive a lump sum ($2,350 x 6 = $14,100), but your ongoing monthly benefit would start at the lower amount. Dividing the lump sum ($14,100) by the monthly difference ($150) gives about 94 months, or almost eight years. In other words, it will take eight years of receiving the higher benefit to make up for not taking the lump sum.   Reasons to Take the Lump Sum There are situations where the lump sum makes sense: 1. Immediate Financial Need: If you have bills, a major expense, or want to fund something important like a vacation, accessing the lump sum offers flexibility. 2. Health Concerns: If your health is poor, the lump sum may be preferable. Social Security benefits cease at death, except for a $255 survivor payment. Taking the lump sum ensures you receive more of your entitled benefits within your lifetime.   Reasons to Decline the Lump Sum For many, passing on the lump sum will be the wiser move, if you're healthy and likely to live at least eight years, your higher monthly benefit will surpass the lump sum. Something else to consider is if you're the higher-earning spouse, your survivor's benefits will be based on your monthly payment. Opting for a lower benefit reduces what your spouse would receive after your passing. Future cost-of-living increases are based on your initial benefit. Starting at a lower monthly payment means smaller dollar increases over time. Historically, Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) average 2.8% per year; these can add up and compound. You also need to remember that receiving a lump sum may increase your taxable income for that year, possibly pushing you into a higher bracket or increasing taxes on your Social Security benefits. Ultimately, the decision is highly personal. Assess your health, financial needs, family longevity, and whether your spouse would depend on your benefit. Crunching the numbers will clarify your breakeven point.   Resources Mentioned Retirement Readiness Review Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel Download my entire book for FREE    Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact Subscribe to Retire With Ryan  

Chip Scoggins joins for two segments of sports conversation as he usually does on a Monday before we turn to the conversation to a discussion about more young couples making the choice to build their lifestyle together without children.

Leviticus: Instructions to the Levites; 400 years of captivity; Jealousy of Joseph; Corruption in city-states; Abraham's altars; Blessings of Melchizedek; Colonizers; Liberty?; The road to freedom; Semites?; "Seed of Abraham"; Tithes?; Warnings from the bible; Cities of blood; THE Way; "Church" in the wilderness; Fig leaves; "Bethel"; Tending sheep; Stripping off fig leaves; Lev 8:1 Speaking to Moses?; Why baskets?; Which door?; Family; Institution of The Church; Wealthy leaders; Lev 8:5 Mobile tabernacle; Golden calf; Cities of refuge; Supreme court?; No exercising authority; Commanders-in-chief; "No kings"?; Rebels; Colonial charters?; Naked?; gods of your government; "Apotheos"; Making things "great again"?; v6 baptism?; Aaron = priest; Permission to be priest; Ordering society; Police powers; Anointing the tabernacle; Pouring oil?; Tongues of fire?; Speaking in tongues?; Living by faith, not force; breastplate hey-chet-shin-nun; Electoral college?; Following Babylon/Cain/Nimrod; "Sanctify"; Freewill offerings; v13 coats? Covering kof-tav-nun-tav; girdle = abnet; sash?; Mitre?; Falling away from the spirit; Bullock's blood?; Burning with fire?; Inspiration; Reliance of Holy Spirit; Moses' system; vs FDR's; Redistributing to needy of society; taking responsibility for neighbors; "No King"ers actually want kings; Social safety net; v27 Aaron's hands?; Freewill offerings; Idols?; Sheep shearing?; Laban's statues; Genocide?; Benefit addiction; Covetousness; Network of priests; Becoming a real Christian; Garments?; Caring for needy; Unmoored imagery; Moses' real intention; Constantine?; Repentance and atonement; Jesus did his part; Distribute all that is offered; Going the ways of Christ; Faith hope and charity; Pure religion; No exercising authority; Ps 104:1; Corban of violence?; Opting out of the world's covetous systems; Urim and Thummim; Seek His kingdom and righteousness - Become a Doer Now!

PJ & Bill are back! They review last week's Optasia Championships, including the title sponsor's meltdown and the fallout from the men's final. They also salute Christopher Gordon's remarkable, record-breaking achievement and discuss The Observer article featuring Mostafa Asal! Subscribe and share every episode from Squash Radio, Squash University and The Rally Report on the Squash Podcast Network: https://www.squashpodcastnetwork.com/ Squash Radio is sponsored by Sunrise Courts: www.sunrise-courts.com

Steve says he's noticed a trend among some commentators on the Right regarding "whiteness" and says it doesn't make sense and will never beat the Left's racialist agenda. Then, the team plays a game of Buy, Sell, or Hold on a cornucopia of topics. Daniel Horowitz joins the program for his weekly message of woe and lamentation. TODAY'S SPONSORS: BIRCH GOLD: Text STEVE to 989898 GEVITI: https://www.gogeviti.com/deace VANMAN: https://vanman.shop/?discount=DEACE and use code “DEACE” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is going ON with eBay Canada! So many technical issues, but it's not even the technical issues, it's the lack of accountability and poor communication that once again has us scratching our heads about why we're still leaning into this platform. Anyway, it's been over 3 weeks since we opted out of eBay International Shipping, so I have some data to share - and the results seem pretty clear: Opting OUT of EIS was an excellent decision. Listen in to find out why.ARTICLES & RESOURCES: Episode 64: Why I'm Opting Out of eBay International Shipping https://youtu.be/5GQsGFKb2lo Join Poshmark and get a $15 credit when you sign up with this link: https://posh.mk/eQ3ySfEqp0bStart investing! Sign up with Wealthsimple today: www.wealthsimple.com/invite/SQVVVSGet started with BidRush.com! Use code STORAGEWARRIOR when you sign up and pay just 10% fees instead of 12% - forever.Get business coaching from me! Email hello@storagewarrior.ca to get started.SHOP WITH US!Main web site: Storagewarrior.caeBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/storagewarriorcanadaShop Poshmark: https://poshmark.ca/closet/storage_warriorFIND US ON SOCIAL:YouTube: The Business of Reselling by Storage Warrior: https://www.youtube.com/@storagewarriorpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profitablestoragewarrior Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storage_warrior

We dissect how a personalized AI therapist exposed the root cause of modern stress stacking. Plus, we explore "The Cypher Dilemma"—are we rapidly approaching a point where consciously choosing the Matrix is the most logical move for survival?Welcome to the Alfalfa Podcast

What if one of the most powerful things we can give our kids is freedom from pressure? In this episode, Wendy sits down with veteran educator and homeschool mentor Julie Ross to talk about how to opt out of pressure-filled schooling, whether your kids are in homeschool, public school, private school, or somewhere in between. Together, they explore how fear, performance, and constant pressure can steal the joy from learning, and what it looks like to create an educational life that feels more peaceful, connected, and developmentally aligned. Julie shares wisdom from more than 30 years in education, including her experience as a public school teacher, private school founder, homeschool hybrid leader, curriculum creator, and homeschool mom of five. Wendy also shares her own story of choosing a lower-pressure path inside the public school system and how that shift changed the trajectory of her daughter's school experience. Inside this conversation, you'll hear: Why slowness and unstructured play are essential for healthy development How parental pressure quietly shapes the emotional climate of learning Why resistance doesn't always mean something is wrong How to replace control with connection, creativity, and partnership What it looks like to trust your child's pace without becoming permissive How to think more wisely about screens, technology, and real learning If school has become a source of stress in your home, this episode will encourage you to step back, breathe deeper, and remember that education doesn't have to come at the expense of your child's joy, mental health, or connection with you. ➡️ Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.freshstartfamilyonline.com/314⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more info and links.

Along with summarizing some key headlines from over the weekend, Carmen opens the Monday Mailbag to answer a question about a podcast the highlights the power of charismatic leaders, and how such giftings can be used and misused.  Political scientist Daniel Bennett, author of "Uneasy Citizenship," talks about how the phrase "Christ is King" is being twisted for political and social purposes that belie the the proclamation really means!  The Reconnect with Carmen and all Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Wiggy educates the crew on what the true definition of a "chicken place" is and an argument ensues. They Said It brings us audio of Carmelo Anthony's advice for Jayson Tatum and a Rapsheet report on the Patriots pursuit of AJ Brown.

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of the amazing actor, producer, director, politcal activist and founder of the Sundance Film Festival... Robert Redford! Though born in Santa Monica, California on August 18th, 1936, this future star often spent his summers with his grandfather in Austin, Texas. Often contributing his time there to being the catalyst for his environmentalist activism and general love of nature. After many wild and traumatic events during his childhood, Redford went to the University of Colorado Boulder to play baseball. Opting to have his educational track be in the arts. However, a recurring problem with alcohol led to this budding artist losing his scholarship, forcing him to leave school entirely. Nevertheless, Redford made the most of his time away from university, choosing to study painting in Europe. Specifically that of France, Spain, and Italy. When he eventually went back to school, Redford was quickly disparged by one of his painting professors. This caused him to become unsure of his commitment to art. However, he used these feelings of uncertainity and set his sights on set design, this ultimately becoming the catalyst to his eventual career in acting. By around 1959, Redford would play a small role in the play, Tall Story (1959), that he would eventually reprise in a movie adaption in 1960--- this being his film debut. From there Redford would go onto being a part of many films such as  War Hunt (1962) and Inside Daisy Clover (1965), Barefoot in the Park (1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Downhill Racer (1969), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Candidate (1972) and The Sting (1973), with the last earning him an Academy Award nomination. In his lifetime, Redford would go onto gain many nominations for his work as an actor and director! To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

Send a textEveryone was told to optimize everything. Optimize your mornings. Optimize your funnel. Optimize your content. Optimize your life. And somehow, in the middle of all that “winning,” everyone got more anxious, more burned out, and more overwhelmed.In this episode of the Mike & Blaine Podcast, we dig into the quiet cultural shift happening right now: people opting out of optimization culture and rediscovering the value of building simpler businesses, calmer lives, and more intentional growth. From founders intentionally staying small, to creators caring less about algorithms, to customers gravitating toward brands that feel human again, Offline Value is becoming a real competitive advantage.We talk about why scale isn't always the goal, how “boring” businesses often outperform flashy ones, and why focus, margin, and sustainability beat growth-at-all-costs in 2026. You'll hear how this shift changes marketing strategy, hiring decisions, product design, and even what “success” looks like for independent business owners.If you've ever felt like you're supposed to be doing more, growing faster, or posting constantly—this episode might be the permission slip you didn't know you needed.Attention is expensive. Simplicity is powerful. And not everything needs to scale.Grab a drink, hit play, and if you enjoy the show, swing by https://mikeandblaine.com and buy us a beer

Paul Keating is a freedom-tech advocate working with Daylight Computers and Primal, a Bitcoin-powered decentralized social platform. After a health crisis reshaped his worldview, Paul left the conventional path to build a sovereign life in the Costa Rican jungle. We explore how Bitcoin reshaped his understanding of money, why decentralized speech matters in an age of censorship, and how “opting out” of legacy systems can restore agency over your finances, identity, and future. Discover how reclaiming ownership of your money, digital presence, and community can be a peaceful rebellion in a world increasingly designed for control.

Stress, urgency, and fear are often treated like “normal life”—but what if that story is the real problem? In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sana explores what it means to treat peace as a premium choice, even when life feels unfinished. This conversation is for anyone feeling overwhelmed by doom-scrolling, pressure, or scarcity thinking. Guest Robin Harris shares how early religious conditioning shaped her view of safety, why fear can become chronic in modern life, and how we can reclaim agency through nervous-system awareness, boundaries, and community—so we're not just surviving, but truly feeling alive. About the Guest: Robin Harris was raised as a preacher's kid and grew up questioning fear-based narratives around safety, faith, and the world. She supports people in shifting subconscious patterns and stepping out of survival mode, drawing on hypnotherapy and nervous-system awareness. Key Takeaways: Treat peace as a power source: fear narrows focus; peace expands choice and possibility. Reduce repeated exposure to fear narratives—especially if you're not acting on what you consume. Watch your nervous system: chronic fear is unnatural and requires intentional decompression. Start with proximity: manage your mind and emotions before trying to “fix” the whole world. Practice saying “no” to what drains you (doom-scrolling, outrage cycles, scarcity messaging). Find your people: healing isn't solitary—community sustains the hero's journey. How to Connect With the Guest: Website: https://3hellos.com/  (the number 3 + “hellos”)   Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate. With over 6000+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.

In this episode we explore the shift toward prioritizing life over endless career grinding, backed by data on turning down promotions for flexibility, gig work trends, and generational changes. They question if it's an echo chamber or a real societal move, plus a live LinkedIn poll reveals surprising stats on what people value most.

Last time we spoke about the battle of Nanchang. After securing Hainan and targeting Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway corridors, Japan's 11th Army, backed by armor, air power, and riverine operations, sought a rapid, surgical seizure of Nanchang to sever eastern Chinese logistics and coerce Chongqing. China, reorganizing under Chiang Kai-shek, concentrated over 200,000 troops across 52 divisions in the Ninth and Third War Zones, with Xue Yue commanding the 9th War Zone in defense of Wuhan-Nanchang corridors. The fighting began with German-style, combined-arms river operations along the Xiushui and Gan rivers, including feints, river crossings, and heavy artillery, sometimes using poison gas. From March 20–23, Japanese forces established a beachhead and advanced into Fengxin, Shengmi, and later Nanchang, despite stiff Chinese resistance and bridges being destroyed. Chiang's strategic shift toward attrition pushed for broader offensives to disrupt railways and rear areas, though Chinese plans for a counteroffensive repeatedly stalled due to logistics and coordination issues. By early May, Japanese forces encircled and captured Nanchang, albeit at heavy cost, with Chinese casualties surpassing 43,000 dead and Japanese losses over 2,200 dead.    #187 The Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang-Shatow Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Having seized Wuhan in a brutal offensive the previous year, the Japanese sought not just to hold their ground but to solidify their grip on this vital hub. Wuhan, a bustling metropolis at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han Rivers, had become a linchpin in their strategy, a base from which they could project power across central China. Yet, the city was far from secure, Chinese troops in northern Hubei and southern Henan, perched above the mighty Yangtze, posed an unrelenting threat. To relieve the mounting pressure on their newfound stronghold, the Japanese high command orchestrated a bold offensive against the towns of Suixian and Zaoyang. They aimed to annihilate the main force of the Chinese 5th War Zone, a move that would crush the Nationalist resistance in the region and secure their flanks. This theater of war, freshly designated as the 5th War Zone after the grueling Battle of Wuhan, encompassed a vast expanse west of Shashi in the upper Yangtze basin. It stretched across northern Hubei, southern Henan, and the rugged Dabie Mountains in eastern Anhui, forming a strategic bulwark that guarded the eastern approaches to Sichuan, the very heartland of the Nationalist government's central institutions. Historian Rana Mitter in Forgotten Ally described this zone as "a gateway of immense importance, a natural fortress that could either serve as a launchpad for offensives against Japanese-held territories or a defensive redoubt protecting the rear areas of Sichuan and Shaanxi". The terrain itself was a defender's dream and an attacker's nightmare: to the east rose the imposing Dabie Mountains, their peaks cloaked in mist and folklore; the Tongbai Mountains sliced across the north like a jagged spine; the Jing Mountains guarded the west; the Yangtze River snaked southward, its waters a formidable barrier; the Dahong Mountains dominated the center, offering hidden valleys for ambushes; and the Han River (also known as the Xiang River) carved a north-south path through it all. Two critical transport arteries—the Hanyi Road linking Hankou to Yichang in Hubei, and the Xianghua Road connecting Xiangyang to Huayuan near Hankou—crisscrossed this landscape, integrating the war zone into a web of mobility. From here, Chinese forces could menace the vital Pinghan Railway, that iron lifeline running from Beiping (modern Beijing) to Hankou, while also threatening the Wuhan region itself. In retreat, it provided a sanctuary to shield the Nationalist heartlands. As military strategist Sun Tzu might have appreciated, this area had long been a magnet for generals, its contours shaping the fates of empires since ancient times. Despite the 5th War Zone's intricate troop deployments, marked by units of varying combat prowess and a glaring shortage of heavy weapons, the Chinese forces made masterful use of the terrain to harass their invaders. Drawing from accounts in Li Zongren's memoirs, he noted how these defenders, often outgunned but never outmaneuvered, turned hills into fortresses and rivers into moats. In early April 1939, as spring rains turned paths to mud, Chinese troops ramped up their disruptions along the southern stretches of the Pinghan Railway, striking from both eastern and western flanks with guerrilla precision. What truly rattled the Japanese garrison in Wuhan was the arrival of reinforcements: six full divisions redeployed to Zaoyang, bolstering the Chinese capacity to launch flanking assaults that could unravel Japanese supply lines. Alarmed by this buildup, the Japanese 11th Army, ensconced in the Wuhan area under the command of General Yasuji Okamura, a figure whose tactical acumen would later earn him notoriety in the Pacific War, devised a daring plan. They intended to plunge deep into the 5th War Zone, smashing the core of the Chinese forces and rendering them impotent, thereby neutralizing the northwestern threat to Wuhan once and for all. From April onward, the Japanese mobilized with meticulous preparation, amassing troops equipped with formidable artillery, rumbling tanks, and squadrons of aircraft that darkened the skies. Historians estimate they committed roughly three and a half divisions to this endeavor, as detailed in Edward J. Drea's In the Service of the Emperor: Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. Employing a classic pincer movement, a two-flank encirclement coupled with a central breakthrough, they aimed for a swift, decisive strike to obliterate the main Chinese force in the narrow Suixian-Zaoyang corridor, squeezed between the Tongbai and Dahong Mountains. The offensive erupted in full fury on May 1, 1939, as Japanese columns surged forward like a tidal wave, their engines roaring and banners fluttering in the dust-choked air. General Li Zongren, the commander of the 5th War Zone, a man whose leadership had already shone in earlier campaigns like the defense of Tai'erzhuang in 1938, issued urgent orders to cease offensive actions against the Japanese and pivot to a defensive stance. Based on intelligence about the enemy's dispositions, Li orchestrated a comprehensive campaign structure, assigning precise defensive roles and battle plans to each unit. This was no haphazard scramble; it was a symphony of strategy, as Li himself recounted in his memoirs, emphasizing the need to exploit the terrain's natural advantages. While various Chinese war zones executed the "April Offensive" from late April to mid-May, actively harrying and containing Japanese forces, the 5th War Zone focused its energies on the southern segment of the Pinghan Railway, assaulting it from both sides in a bid to disrupt logistics. The main force of the 31st Army Group, under the command of Tang Enbo, a general known for his aggressive tactics and later criticized for corruption, shifted from elsewhere in Hubei to Zaoyang, fortifying the zone and posing a dire threat to the Japanese flanks and rear areas. To counter this peril and safeguard transportation along the Wuhan-Pinghan Railway, the Japanese, led by the formidable Okamura, unleashed their assault from the line stretching through Xinyang, Yingshan, and Zhongxiang. Mobilizing the 3rd, 13th, and 16th Divisions alongside the 2nd and 4th Cavalry Brigades, they charged toward the Suixian-Zaoyang region in western Hubei, intent on eradicating the Chinese main force and alleviating the siege-like pressure on Wuhan. In a masterful reorganization, Li Zongren divided his forces into two army groups, the left and right, plus a dedicated river defense army. His strategy was a blend of attrition and opportunism: harnessing the Tongbai and Dahong Mountains, clinging to key towns like lifelines, and grinding down the Japanese through prolonged warfare while biding time for a counterstroke. This approach echoed the Fabian tactics of ancient Rome, wearing the enemy thin before delivering the coup de grâce. The storm broke at dawn on May 1, when the main contingents of the Japanese 16th and 13th Divisions, bolstered by the 4th Cavalry Brigade from their bases in Zhongxiang and Jingshan, hurled themselves against the Chinese 37th and 180th Divisions of the Right Army Group. Supported by droning aircraft that strafed from above and tanks that churned the earth below, the Japanese advanced with mechanical precision. By May 4, they had shattered the defensive lines flanking Changshoudian, then surged along the east bank of the Xiang River toward Zaoyang in a massive offensive. Fierce combat raged through May 5, as described in Japanese war diaries compiled in Senshi Sōsho (the official Japanese war history series), where soldiers recounted the relentless Chinese resistance amid the smoke and clamor. The Japanese finally breached the defenses, turning their fury on the 122nd Division of the 41st Army. In a heroic stand, the 180th Division clung to Changshoudian, providing cover for the main force's retreat along the east-west Huangqi'an line. The 37th Division fell back to the Yaojiahe line, while elements of the 38th Division repositioned into Liushuigou. On May 6, the Japanese seized Changshoudian, punched through Huangqi'an, and drove northward, unleashing a devastating assault on the 122nd Division's positions near Wenjiamiao. Undeterred, Chinese defenders executed daring flanking maneuvers in the Fenglehe, Yaojiahe, Liushuihe, Shuanghe, and Zhangjiaji areas, turning the landscape into a labyrinth of ambushes. May 7 saw the Japanese pressing on, capturing Zhangjiaji and Shuanghe. By May 8, they assaulted Maozifan and Xinji, where ferocious battles erupted, soldiers clashing in hand-to-hand combat amid the ruins. By May 10, the Japanese had overrun Huyang Town and Xinye, advancing toward Tanghe and the northeastern fringes of Zaoyang. Yet, the Tanghe River front witnessed partial Chinese recoveries: remnants of the Right Army Group, alongside troops from east of the Xianghe, reclaimed Xinye. The 122nd and 180th Divisions withdrew north of Tanghe and Fancheng, while the 37th, 38th, and 132nd Divisions steadfastly held the east bank of the Xianghe River. Concurrently, the main force of the Japanese 3rd Division launched from Yingshan against the 84th and 13th Armies of the 11th Group Army in the Suixian sector. After a whirlwind of combat, the Chinese 84th Army retreated to the Taerwan position. On May 2, the 3rd Division targeted the Gaocheng position of the 13th Army within the 31st Group Army; the ensuing clashes in Taerwan and Gaocheng were a maelstrom of fire, with the Taerwan position exchanging hands multiple times like a deadly game of tug-of-war. By May 4, in a grim escalation, Japanese forces deployed poison gas, a violation of international norms that drew condemnation and is documented in Allied reports from the era, inflicting horrific casualties and compelling the Chinese to relinquish Gaocheng, which fell into enemy hands. On May 5, backed by aerial bombardments, tank charges, and artillery barrages, the Japanese renewed their onslaught along the Gaocheng River and the Lishan-Jiangjiahe line. By May 6, the beleaguered Chinese were forced back to the Tianhekou and Gaocheng line. Suixian succumbed on May 7. On May 8, the Japanese shattered the second line of the 84th Army, capturing Zaoyang and advancing on the Jiangtoudian position of the 85th Army. To evade encirclement, the defenders mounted a valiant resistance before withdrawing from Jiangtoudian; the 84th Army relocated to the Tanghe and Baihe areas, while the 39th Army embedded itself in the Dahongshan for guerrilla operations—a tactic that would bleed the Japanese through hit-and-run warfare, as noted in guerrilla warfare studies by Mao Zedong himself. By May 10, the bulk of the 31st Army Group maneuvered toward Tanghe, reaching north of Biyang by May 15. From Xinyang, Japanese forces struck at Tongbai on May 8; by May 10, elements from Zaoyang advanced to Zhangdian Town and Shangtun Town. In response, the 68th Army of the 1st War Zone dispatched the 143rd Division to defend Queshan and Minggang, and the 119th Division to hold Tongbai. After staunchly blocking the Japanese, they withdrew on May 11 to positions northwest and southwest of Tongbai, shielding the retreat of 5th War Zone units. The Japanese 4th Cavalry Brigade drove toward Tanghe, seizing Tanghe County on May 12. But the tide was turning. In a brilliant reversal, the Fifth War Zone commanded the 31st Army Group, in concert with the 2nd Army Group from the 1st War Zone, to advance from southwestern Henan. Their mission: encircle the bulk of Japanese forces on the Xiangdong Plain and deliver a crushing blow. The main force of the 33rd Army Group targeted Zaoyang, while other units pinned down Japanese rear guards in Zhongxiang. The Chinese counteroffensive erupted with swift successes, Tanghe County was recaptured on May 14, and Tongbai liberated on May 16, shattering the Japanese encirclement scheme. On May 19, after four grueling days of combat, Chinese forces mauled the retreating Japanese, reclaiming Zaoyang and leaving the fields strewn with enemy dead. The 39th Army of the Left Army Group dispersed into the mountains for guerrilla warfare, a shadowy campaign of sabotage and surprise. Forces of the Right Army Group east of the river, along with river defense units, conducted relentless raids on Japanese rears and supply lines over multiple days, sowing chaos before withdrawing to the west bank of the Xiang River on May 21. On May 22, they pressed toward Suixian, recapturing it on May 23. The Japanese, battered and depleted, retreated to their original garrisons in Zhongxiang and Yingshan, restoring the pre-war lines as the battle drew to a close. Throughout this clash, the Chinese held a marked superiority in manpower and coordination, though their deployments lacked full flexibility, briefly placing them on the defensive. After protracted, blood-soaked fighting, they restored the original equilibrium. Despite grievous losses, the Chinese thwarted the Japanese encirclement and exacted a heavy toll, reports from the time, corroborated by Japanese records in Senshi Sōsho, indicate over 13,000 Japanese killed or wounded, with more than 5,000 corpses abandoned on the battlefield. This fulfilled the strategic goal of containing and eroding Japanese strength. Chinese casualties surpassed 25,000, a testament to the ferocity of the struggle. The 5th War Zone seized the initiative in advances and retreats, deftly shifting to outer lines and maintaining positional advantages. As Japanese forces withdrew, Chinese pursuers harried and obstructed them, yielding substantial victories. The Battle of Suizao spanned less than three weeks. The Japanese main force pierced defenses on the east bank of the Han River, advancing to encircle one flank as planned. However, the other two formations met fierce opposition near Suixian and northward, stalling their progress. Adapting to the battlefield's ebb and flow, the Fifth War Zone transformed its tactics: the main force escaped encirclement, maneuvered to outer lines for offensives, and exploited terrain to hammer the Japanese. The pivotal order to flip from defense to offense doomed the encirclement; with the counterattack triumphant, the Japanese declined to hold and retreated. The Chinese pursued with unyielding vigor. By May 24, they had reclaimed Zaoyang, Tongbai, and other locales. Save for Suixian County, the Japanese had fallen back to pre-war positions, reinstating the regional status quo. Thus, the battle concluded, a chapter of resilience etched into the chronicles of China's defiance. In the sweltering heat of southern China, where the humid air clung to every breath like a persistent fog, the Japanese General Staff basked in what they called a triumphant offensive and defensive campaign in Guangdong. But victory, as history so often teaches, is a double-edged sword. By early 1939, the strain was palpable. Their secret supply line snaking from the British colony of Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland was under constant disruption, raids by shadowy guerrilla bands, opportunistic smugglers, and the sheer unpredictability of wartime logistics turning what should have been a lifeline into a leaky sieve. Blockading the entire coastline? A pipe dream, given the vast, jagged shores of Guangdong, dotted with hidden coves and fishing villages that had evaded imperial edicts for centuries. Yet, the General Staff's priorities were unyielding, laser-focused on strangling the Nationalist capital of Chongqing through a relentless blockade. This meant the 21st Army, that workhorse of the Japanese invasion force, had to stay in the fight—no rest for the weary. Drawing from historical records like the Senshi Sōsho (War History Series) compiled by Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies, we know that after the 21st Army reported severing what they dubbed the "secret transport line" at Xinhui, a gritty, hard-fought skirmish that left the local landscape scarred with craters and abandoned supply crates, the General Staff circled back to the idea of a full coastal blockade. It was a classic case of military opportunism: staff officers, poring over maps in dimly lit war rooms in Tokyo, suddenly "discovered" Shantou as a major port. Not just any port, mind you, but a bustling hub tied to the heartstrings of Guangdong's overseas Chinese communities. Shantou and nearby Chao'an weren't mere dots on a map; they were the ancestral hometowns of countless Chaoshan people who had ventured abroad to Southeast Asia, sending back remittances that flowed like lifeblood into the region. Historical economic studies, such as those in The Overseas Chinese in the People's Republic of China by Stephen Fitzgerald, highlight how these funds from the Chaoshan diaspora, often funneled through family networks in places like Singapore and Thailand, were substantial, indirectly fueling China's war effort by sustaining local economies and even purchasing arms on the black market. The Chao-Shao Highway, that dusty artery running near Shantou, was pinpointed as a critical vein connecting Hong Kong's ports to the mainland's interior. So, in early June 1939, the die was cast: Army Order No. 310 thundered from headquarters, commanding the 21st Army to seize Shantou. The Chief of the General Staff himself provided the strategic blueprint, a personal touch that underscored the operation's gravity. The Army Department christened the Chaoshan push "Operation Hua," a nod perhaps to the flowery illusions of easy conquest, while instructing the Navy Department to tag along for the ride. In naval parlance, it became "Operation J," a cryptic label that masked the sheer scale unfolding. Under the Headquarters' watchful eye, what started as a modest blockade morphed into a massive amphibious assault, conjured seemingly out of thin air like a magician's trick, but one with deadly props. The 5th Fleet's orders mobilized an impressive lineup: the 9th Squadron for heavy hitting, the 5th Mine Boat Squadron to clear watery hazards, the 12th and 21st Sweeper Squadrons sweeping for mines like diligent janitors of the sea, the 45th Destroyer Squadron adding destroyer muscle, and air power from the 3rd Combined Air Group (boasting 24 land-based attack aircraft and 9 reconnaissance planes that could spot a fishing boat from miles away). Then there was the Chiyoda Air Group with its 9 reconnaissance aircraft, the Guangdong Air Group contributing a quirky airship and one more recon plane, the 9th Special Landing Squadron from Sasebo trained for beach assaults, and a flotilla of special ships for logistics. On the ground, the 21st Army threw in the 132nd Brigade from the 104th Division, beefed up with the 76th Infantry Battalion, two mountain artillery battalions for lobbing shells over rugged terrain, two engineer battalions to bridge rivers and clear paths, a light armored vehicle platoon rumbling with mechanized menace, and a river-crossing supplies company to keep the troops fed and armed. All under the command of Brigade Commander Juro Goto, a stern officer whose tactical acumen was forged in earlier Manchurian campaigns. The convoy's size demanded rehearsals; the 132nd Brigade trained for boat transfers at Magong in the Penghu Islands, practicing the precarious dance of loading men and gear onto rocking vessels under simulated fire. Secrecy shrouded the whole affair, many officers and soldiers, boarding ships in the dead of night, whispered among themselves that they were finally heading home to Japan, a cruel ruse to maintain operational security. For extra punch, the 21st Army tacked on the 31st Air Squadron for air support, their planes droning like angry hornets ready to sting. This overkill didn't sit well with everyone. Lieutenant General Ando Rikichi, the pragmatic commander overseeing Japanese forces in the region, must have fumed in his Guangzhou headquarters. His intelligence staff, drawing from intercepted radio chatter and local spies as noted in postwar analyses like The Japanese Army in World War II by Gordon L. Rottman, reported that the Chongqing forces in Chaozhou were laughably thin: just the 9th Independent Brigade, a couple of security regiments, and ragtag "self-defense groups" of armed civilians. Why unleash such a sledgehammer on a fly? The mobilization's magnitude even forced a reshuffling of defenses around Guangzhou, pulling resources from the 12th Army's front lines and overburdening the already stretched 18th Division. It was bureaucratic overreach at its finest, a testament to the Imperial Staff's penchant for grand gestures over tactical efficiency. Meanwhile, on the Nationalist side, the winds of war carried whispers of impending doom. The National Revolutionary Army's war histories, such as those compiled in the Zhongguo Kangri Zhanzheng Shi (History of China's War of Resistance Against Japan), note that Chiang Kai-shek's Military Commission had snagged intelligence as early as February 1939 about Japan's plans for a large-scale invasion of Shantou. The efficiency of the Military Command's Second Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau was nothing short of astonishing, networks of agents, double agents, and radio intercepts piercing the veil of Japanese secrecy. Even as the convoy slipped out of Penghu, a detailed report outlining operational orders landed on Commander Zhang Fakui's desk, the ink still fresh. Zhang, a battle-hardened strategist whose career spanned the Northern Expedition and beyond , had four months to prepare for what would be dubbed the decisive battle of Chaoshan. Yet, in a move that baffled some contemporaries, he chose not to fortify and defend it tooth and nail. After the Fourth War Zone submitted its opinions, likely heated debates in smoke-filled command posts, Chiang Kai-shek greenlit the plan. By March, the Military Commission issued its strategic policy: when the enemy hit Chaoshan, a sliver of regular troops would team up with civilian armed forces for mobile and guerrilla warfare, grinding down the invaders like sandpaper on steel. The orders specified guerrilla zones in Chaozhou, Jiaxing, and Huizhou, unifying local militias under a banner of "extensive guerrilla warfare" to coordinate with regular army maneuvers, gradually eroding the Japanese thrust. In essence, the 4th War Zone wasn't tasked with holding Chao'an and Shantou at all costs; instead, they'd strike hard during the landing, then let guerrillas harry the occupiers post-capture. It was a doctrine of attrition in a "confined battlefield," honing skills through maneuver and ambush. Remarkably, the fall of these cities was preordained by the Military Commission three months before the Japanese even issued their orders, a strategic feint that echoed ancient Sun Tzu tactics of yielding ground to preserve strength. To execute this, the 4th War Zone birthed the Chao-Jia-Hui Guerrilla Command after meticulous preparation, with General Zou Hong, head of Guangdong's Security Bureau and a no-nonsense administrator known for his anti-smuggling campaigns, taking the helm. In just three months, Zhang Fakui scraped together the Independent 9th Brigade, the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Guangdong Provincial Security Regiments, and the Security Training Regiment. Even with the 9th Army Group lurking nearby, he handed the reins of the Chao-Shan operation to the 12th Army Group's planners. Their March guidelines sketched three lines of resistance from the coast to the mountains, a staged withdrawal that allowed frontline defenders to melt away like ghosts. This blueprint mirrored Chiang Kai-shek's post-Wuhan reassessment, where the loss of that key city in 1938 prompted a shift to protracted warfare. A Xinhua News Agency columnist later summed it up scathingly: "The Chongqing government, having lost its will to resist, colludes with the Japanese and seeks to eliminate the Communists, adopting a policy of passive resistance." This narrative, propagated by Communist sources, dogged Chiang and the National Revolutionary Army for decades, painting them as defeatists even as they bled the Japanese dry through attrition. February 1939 saw Commander Zhang kicking off a reorganization of the 12th Army Group, transforming it from a patchwork force into something resembling a modern army. He could have hunkered down, assigning troops to a desperate defense of Chaoshan, but that would have handed the initiative to the overcautious Japanese General Staff, whose activism often bordered on paranoia. Zhang, with the wisdom of a seasoned general who had navigated the treacherous politics of pre-war China, weighed the scales carefully. His vision? Forge the 12th Army Group into a nimble field army, not squander tens of thousands on a secondary port. Japan's naval and air dominance—evident in the devastation of Shanghai in 1937, meant Guangdong's forces could be pulverized in Shantou just as easily. Losing Chaozhou and Shantou? Acceptable, if it preserved core strength for the long haul. Post-Xinhui, Zhang doubled down on resistance, channeling efforts into live-fire exercises for the 12th Army, turning green recruits into battle-ready soldiers amid the Guangdong hills. The war's trajectory after 1939 would vindicate him: his forces became pivotal in later counteroffensives, proving that a living army trumped dead cities. Opting out of a static defense, Zhang pivoted to guerrilla warfare to bleed the Japanese while clutching strategic initiative. He ordered local governments to whip up coastal guerrilla forces from Chao'an to Huizhou—melding militias, national guards, police, and private armed groups into official folds. These weren't elite shock troops, but in wartime's chaos, they controlled locales effectively, disrupting supply lines and gathering intel. For surprises, he unleashed two mobile units: the 9th Independent Brigade and the 20th Independent Brigade. Formed fresh after the War of Resistance erupted, these brigades shone for their efficiency within the cumbersome Guangdong Army structure. Division-level units were too bulky for spotty communications, so Yu Hanmou's command birthed these independent outfits, staffed with crack officers. The 9th, packing direct-fire artillery for punch, and the 20th, dubbed semi-mechanized for its truck-borne speed, prowled the Chaoshan–Huizhou coast from 1939. Zhang retained their three-regiment setup, naming Hua Zhenzhong and Zhang Shou as commanders, granting them autonomy to command in the field like roving wolves. As the 9th Independent Brigade shifted to Shantou, its 627th Regiment was still reorganizing in Heyuan, a logistical hiccup amid the scramble. Hua Zhenzhong, a commander noted for his tactical flexibility in regional annals, deployed the 625th Regiment and 5th Security Regiment along the coast, with the 626th as reserve in Chao'an. Though the Fourth War Zone had written off Chaoshan, Zhang yearned to showcase Guangdong grit before the pullback. Dawn broke on June 21, 1939, at 4:30 a.m., with Japanese reconnaissance planes slicing through the fog over Shantou, Anbu, and Nanbeigang, ghostly silhouettes against the gray sky. By 5:30, the mist lifted, revealing a nightmare armada: over 40 destroyers and 70–80 landing craft churning toward the coast on multiple vectors, their hulls cutting the waves like knives. The 626th Regiment's 3rd Battalion at Donghushan met the first wave with a hail of fire from six light machine guns, repelling the initial boats in a frenzy of splashes and shouts. But the brigade's long-range guns couldn't stem the tide; Hua focused on key chokepoints, aiming to bloody the invaders rather than obliterate them. By morning, the 3rd Battalion of the 625th Regiment charged into Shantou City, joined by the local police corps digging in amid urban sprawl. Combat raged at Xinjin Port and the airport's fringes, where Nationalist troops traded shots with advancing Japanese under the absent shadow of a Chinese navy. Japanese naval guns, massed offshore, pounded the outskirts like thunder gods in fury. By 2:00 a.m. on the 22nd, Shantou crumpled as defenders' ammo ran dry, the city falling in a haze of smoke and echoes. Before the loss, Hua had positioned the 1st Battalion of the 5th Security Regiment at Anbu, guarding the road to Chao'an. Local lore, preserved in oral histories collected by the Chaozhou Historical Society, recalls Battalion Commander Du Ruo leading from the front, rifle in hand, but Japanese barrages, bolstered by superior firepower—forced a retreat. Post-capture, Tokyo's forces paused to consolidate, unleashing massacres on fleeing civilians in the outskirts. A flotilla of civilian boats, intercepted at sea, became a grim training ground for bayonet drills, a barbarity echoed in survivor testimonies compiled in The Rape of Nanking and Beyond extensions to Guangdong atrocities. With Shantou gone, Hua pivoted to flank defense, orchestrating night raids on Japanese positions around Anbu and Meixi. On June 24th, Major Du Ruo spearheaded an assault into Anbu but fell gravely wounded amid the chaos. Later, the 2nd Battalion of the 626th overran spots near Meixi. A Japanese sea-flanking maneuver targeted Anbu, but Nationalists held at Liulong, sparking nocturnal clashes, grenade volleys, bayonet charges, and hand-to-hand brawls that drained both sides like a slow bleed. June 26th saw the 132nd Brigade lumber toward Chao'an. Hua weighed options: all-out assault or guerrilla fade? He chose to dig in on the outskirts, reserving two companies of the 625th and a special ops battalion in the city. The 27th brought a day-long Japanese onslaught, culminating in Chao'an's fall after fierce rear-guard actions by the 9th Independent Brigade. Evacuations preceded the collapse, with Japanese propaganda banners fluttering falsely, claiming Nationalists had abandoned defense. Yet Hua's call preserved his brigade for future fights; the Japanese claimed an empty prize. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Japanese operations had yet again plugged up supply leaks into Nationalist China. The fall of Suixian, Zaoyang and Shantou were heavy losses for the Chinese war effort. However the Chinese were also able to exact heavy casualties on the invaders and thwarted their encirclement attempts. China was still in the fight for her life.

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