Podcasts about origin stories

What if the setbacks in your life were actually the secret fuel for your success? In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Shadé Zahrai, award-winning leadership strategist, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Influenceo Global. Shadé shares her journey from law and corporate consulting to entrepreneurship, revealing how resilience, storytelling, and authenticity helped her build a global brand. She explains the power of reframing challenges, why self-belief is the foundation of success, and how leaders can inspire teams through emotional intelligence. From navigating uncertainty to building confidence through action, Shadé offers practical strategies for leading with influence and connecting on a deeper human level. This is a powerful conversation about courage, growth, and leading with heart. In this episode, Darius and Shade will discuss: (00:00) Introduction and Background (02:49) Shadé's Origin Story (05:54) The Journey Through Corporate Life (08:41) The Importance of Self-Trust (11:28) Transitioning to Entrepreneurship (14:38) Building a Personal Brand on Social Media (17:28) The Power of Visibility and Opportunity (20:14) The Role of Creative Outlets (23:20) Overcoming Adversity and Failure (26:18) The Science of Self-Doubt and Trust (28:50) The Launch of Influenceo and LinkedIn Success (31:45) The Big Trust Community and Book Launch (34:48) Final Thoughts and The Greatness Question Shadé Zahrai is a behavioral strategist, peak performance educator, and co-lead of Influenceo Global. A former lawyer with an MBA and PhD in organizational behavior, she advises Fortune 500 companies on leadership, performance, and career fulfillment. Her viral content has reached over 300 million views, she teaches more than 7 million students on LinkedIn Learning, and her TEDx talks have inspired audiences worldwide. Featured in outlets like The New York Times and Fast Company, Shadé is dedicated to making high-performance strategies accessible to all. Sponsored by: Brevo: Head over to brevo.com/greatness and use the code greatness to get 50% off Starter and Business Plans for the first 3 months of an annual subscription. Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/darius. Shopify: Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/greatness. Connect with Shadé: Website: https://www.shadezahrai.com/  LinkedIn: https://th.linkedin.com/in/shadezahrai  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadezahrai/  Book: https://www.shadezahrai.com/bigtrust  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear more from Connie Walker in this week's episode of Origin Stories. About Origin Stories Have you ever wondered how your favorite movie, book, podcast, TV series, or documentary came to be? Each week, veteran journalist Matthew Shaer sits down with a writer or director to unpack the creation of a work close to their hearts (and ours). The conversations cover everything — the frustrations and the joys, the setbacks and the breakthroughs. Intimate and eye-opening, Origin Stories is the ultimate podcast for anyone curious about the creative process. In this episode Connie Walker, the award-winning Cree journalist and host of Stolen, shares the backstory of Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's — her deeply personal investigation into Canada's Indian residential school system. Reported while she was at Gimlet, then the biggest podcast company in the world, the series earned her both a Pulitzer Prize and a Peabody Award in the same year — the first podcaster to do so. To Connie, all great audio documentaries begin with a central question: “It doesn't have to be the question you end up asking the whole way through,” she explains. “But initially, you have to start with that.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The decision to leave a successful corporate position and start a company requires more than just identifying a market opportunity. For Shankar Somasundaram, it required witnessing firsthand how traditional cybersecurity approaches consistently failed in the environments that matter most to society: hospitals, manufacturing plants, power facilities, and critical infrastructure.Somasundaram's path to founding Asimily began with diverse technical experience spanning telecommunications and early machine learning development. This foundation proved essential when he transitioned to cybersecurity, eventually building and growing the IoT security division at a major enterprise security company.During his corporate tenure, Somasundaram gained direct exposure to security challenges across healthcare systems, industrial facilities, utilities, manufacturing plants, and oil and gas operations. Each vertical revealed the same fundamental problem: existing security solutions were designed for traditional IT environments where confidentiality and integrity took precedence, but operational technology environments operated under entirely different rules.The mismatch became clear through everyday operational realities. Hospital ultrasound machines couldn't be taken offline during procedures for security updates. Manufacturing production lines couldn't be rebooted for patches without scheduling expensive downtime. Power plant control systems required continuous availability to serve communities. These environments prioritized operational continuity above traditional security controls.Beyond technical challenges, Somasundaram observed a persistent communication gap between security and operations teams. IT security professionals spoke in terms of vulnerabilities and patch management. Operations teams focused on uptime, safety protocols, and production schedules. Neither group had effective frameworks for translating their concerns into language the other could understand and act upon.This divide created frustration for Chief Security Officers who understood risks existed but lacked clear paths to mitigation that wouldn't disrupt critical business operations. Organizations could identify thousands of vulnerabilities across their operational technology environments, but struggled to prioritize which issues actually posed meaningful risks given their specific operational contexts.Somasundaram recognized an opportunity to approach this problem differently. Rather than building another vulnerability scanner or forcing operational environments to conform to IT security models, he envisioned a platform that would provide contextual risk analysis and actionable mitigation strategies tailored to operational requirements.The decision to leave corporate security and start Asimily wasn't impulsive. Somasundaram had previous entrepreneurial experience and understood the startup process. He waited for the right convergence of market need, personal readiness, and strategic opportunity. When corporate priorities shifted through acquisitions, the conditions aligned for his departure.Asimily's founding mission centered on bridging the gap between operational technology and information technology teams. The company wouldn't just build another security tool; it would create a translation layer enabling different organizational departments to collaborate effectively on risk reduction.This approach required understanding multiple stakeholder perspectives within client organizations. Sometimes the primary user would be a Chief Information Security Officer. Other times, it might be a manufacturing operations head managing production floors, or a clinical operations director in healthcare. The platform needed to serve all these perspectives while maintaining technical depth.Somasundaram's product engineering background informed this multi-stakeholder approach. His experience with complex system integration—from telecommunications infrastructure to machine learning algorithms—provided insight into how security platforms could integrate with existing IT infrastructure while addressing operational technology requirements.The vision extended beyond traditional vulnerability management to comprehensive risk analysis considering operational context, business impact, and regulatory requirements. Rather than treating all vulnerabilities equally, Asimily would analyze each device within its specific environment and use case, providing organizations with actionable intelligence for informed decision-making.Somasundaram's entrepreneurial journey illustrates how diverse technical experience, industry knowledge, and strategic timing converge to address complex market problems. His transition from corporate executive to startup founder demonstrates how deep industry exposure can reveal opportunities to solve problems that established players might overlook or underestimate.Today, as healthcare systems, manufacturing facilities, and critical infrastructure become increasingly connected, the vision Somasundaram brought to Asimily's founding has proven both timely and necessary. The company's development reflects not just market demand, but the value of approaching familiar problems from fresh perspectives informed by real operational experience.Learn more about Asimily: itspm.ag/asimily-104921Note: This story contains promotional content. Learn more.Guest: Shankar Somasundaram, CEO & Founder, Asimily  | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shankar-somasundaram-a7315b/Company Directory: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/asimilyResourcesLearn more about ITSPmagazine Brand Story Podcasts: https://www.itspmagazine.com/purchase-programsNewsletter Archive: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/tune-into-the-latest-podcasts-7109347022809309184/Business Newsletter Signup: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-business-updates-sign-upAre you interested in telling your story?https://www.itspmagazine.com/telling-your-story Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Onion is responsible for some of the most iconic satirical headlines of our time. From "Study Reveals: Babies are Stupid" to "Kitten Thinks of Nothing but Murder All Day," The Onion has managed to capture and speak to our cultural zeitgeist in ways traditional news media couldn't dream of. And it all got its start right here in Madison. To get the details on the origins of The Onion and why it still strikes a nerve with folks today, host Bianca Martin spoke with Christine Wenc, author of “Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire” and one of the original Onion staffers. This show originally aired March 18. 2025.

Have a message for Karena? She'd love to hear from you and share your comment or question on air!Leave Karena a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/KarenaDawnWhat happens when the “perfect” relationship is powered by control, confusion, and intermittent kindness?In this powerful conversation, Dr. Nadine Macaluso, somatic psychologist and author of Run Like Hell, breaks down trauma bonds. She explains why love-bombing feels so intoxicating at first, and how to rebuild trust in yourself after leaving a toxic dynamic. We cover red flags, green flags, co-parenting with a difficult ex, and why “boring” can actually mean safe, steady, and good.How do you recognize when love turns into control, and find the courage to walk away from a trauma bond?Escaping toxic cycles isn't just about leaving the situation. It's about relearning safety, trusting your own signals, and choosing peace over chaos.(00:26) Origin Story & Reinvention at Any AgeGoing back to school at 39 and finishing a doctorate at 45 proves reinvention is possible at any ageHow early exposure to feelings and psychology sparked Nadine's pathTherapy as a lifeline when chaos became overwhelming(04:03) Love-Bombing & Early Red FlagsThe intoxicating “soulmate” language and excessive attention of love-bombingWhy mismatched words and actions are an early signal to noticeTuning into your body's warning signs when something feels off(07:09) What a Trauma Bond Really IsTwo defining conditions: intermittent abuse and a power imbalanceHow Nadine's Trauma Bonds Assessment and the Big Five test can offer clarityWhy it's critical to drop self-blame and focus on prevention(11:20) Healing Timeline, Boundaries & Green FlagsWhy healing from a trauma bond takes about two yearsThe relief of “I hear you” as a sign of safetyQuick red flags to avoid: boundary-plowing, sudden rage, and chronic inconsistency(21:50) Co-Parenting, Somatic Tools & Choosing PeaceCo-parenting from authenticity instead of rebellion or people-pleasingHow to track emotions somatically—where feelings live in the bodyReframing “boring” as safe, steady, and priceless for long-term peaceThanks for the support from our partners:Let our sponsor BetterHelp connect you to a therapist who can support you - all from the comfort of your own home. Visit https://betterhelp.com/thebigsilence and enjoy a special discount on your first month.If you have any questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are licensed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation model, check out this FAQ: https://www.betterhelp.com/your-questions-answered/Guest ResourcesVisit Dr. Nae's WebsiteFollow her on InstagramRead her book, Run Like Hell

Looking for the next breakthrough in tennis strings?

Send us a textIn this first half of my two-part conversation, actor Sedrick Cabrera opens up about his roots in Watsonville, California, and how his journey into acting began long before the cameras rolled on FREAKY TALES. We dive into his formative years at San Jose State University's Theatre Arts Program, where he discovered a passion for stage acting from Shakespeare to Steinbeck.We explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and stage experiences that laid the foundation for his career to pursue acting seriously.Sedrick shares the pivotal moments, mentors, and performances that shaped his path toward film and television, and how his cultural heritage from a small coastal California town laid the groundwork for his success as an actor.

Sharing a new podcast from Campside Media called Origin Stories, about the creative process and the craft of writing and reporting. Each episode drills down on a single work. What inspired it? How was it created, and why? What kind of challenges and hurdles cropped up along the way? And above all, what can the rest of us learn from the guest's creative process?  In this episode, Matt talks to Dan Taberski about his podcast “Hysterical,” which centers on a strange illness that afflicted a group of girls in the New York town of LeRoy. Dan discusses his reporting and outlining approach and the importance of treating subjects (and their stories) with care and respect. You can listen to more episodes of Origin Stories at https://link.mgln.ai/creativepeptalk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watch the full episode with Ismael Perez here: https://youtu.be/3xrSphmBqWwSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/inspiredevolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special debate episode of the LIFTS Podcast, hosts Matthew Januszek and Mohammed Iqbal are joined by guest co-host Jack Thomas (Fitness Business Asia) to moderate a high-level discussion on the impact of ClassPass for boutique fitness owners. Industry voices Jeff Bladt (ClassPass/Playlist) and Rachel Hirsch (Wellness Growth Ventures, The 2% Club, and studio owner) share opposing perspectives on whether ClassPass is a powerful growth partner or a dangerous dependency. Discussion highlights include: The origin and evolution of ClassPass. How ClassPass transformed consumer behavior in fitness. Free trials, pricing power, and fairness for studios. Parallels with aggregators in travel, dining, and delivery. Revenue data showing both growth and risks for studio owners. Strategies to avoid over-reliance on ClassPass. How ClassPass affects women-led boutique studios. Industry-wide calls for better collaboration between aggregators and studios.

September 14, 2025Preaching: Rev. Justin KendrickScripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:3

By Dean Pinter

Speed reading might sound impressive, but research shows that slowing down can actually improve comprehension, retention, and enjoyment. In this opening segment, we explore why reading at a slower pace could be the real key to getting the most out of your books and articles. https://www.bustle.com/p/7-reasons-slow-reading-is-actually-a-good-thing-because-being-a-speed-reader-is-overrated-73092 On average, people juggle about 22 goals at any given time — but chasing all of them often leads to frustration and burnout. My guest, Jon Acuff, bestselling speaker and author of nine books, including All It Takes is a Goal (https://amzn.to/3PtSiOF), shares a fresh, motivating approach to goal setting. Learn how to identify the goals that truly matter, let go of the ones that don't, and build momentum toward the ones that can change your life. “It's raining cats and dogs,” “go cold turkey,” “know the ropes” — we say these things all the time, but rarely stop to ask where they originated. Caroline Taggart, longtime publishing professional and author of Humble Pie and Cold Turkey: English Expressions and Their Origins (https://amzn.to/3ZazBTw), takes us on a fun journey into the surprising and sometimes bizarre backstories of the phrases we use every day. Winning arguments isn't easy — but there's one simple strategy that dramatically improves your chances. In this closing segment, I share the key insight from Mike Nichols, author of The Lost Art of Listening (https://amzn.to/3ErzkSy), that can help you argue smarter, connect better, and maybe even change a few minds. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! DELL: Huge savings on Dell AI PCs with Intel Core Ultra processors are here, and they are newly designed to help you do more, faster.  Upgrade today by visiting ⁠⁠https://Dell.com/Deals⁠⁠ QUINCE: Keep it classic and cool this fall with long lasting staples from Quince! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! HERS: Whether you want to lose weight, grow thicker, fuller hair, or find relief for anxiety, Hers has you covered. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forhers.com/something⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you! SHOPIFY: Shopify is the commerce platform for millions of businesses around the world! To start selling today, sign up for your $1 per month trial at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://Shopify.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Jesse Jackson as he celebrates the 10th anniversary of 'Set Lusting Bruce,' the definitive podcast for Bruce Springsteen fans. In this special episode, Jesse reconnects with Rob Southgate, reflecting on their podcast origins, memorable moments, and the countless stories shared over a decade. They discuss standout episodes, listener impact, and their passion projects. Featuring heartfelt anecdotes from fans and unique perspectives on Springsteen's music, this episode encapsulates the community and resilience that the podcast has fostered. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the journey, this celebration of Bruce Springsteen's influence is not to be missed. Share your feedback at setlustingbruce@gmail.com and join the conversation. Keep the fire burning and the music alive! 00:00 Introduction to a Decade of Set Lusting Bruce 01:16 Celebrating the 10th Anniversary with Rob Southgate 02:05 The Origin Story of Set Lusting Bruce 03:08 The Passion Behind the Podcast 05:26 Highlighting Memorable Episodes and Guests 09:29 The Evolution of Podcasting and Future Plans 20:10 A Call from England: Remembering Kim 21:50 Emotional Podcast Highlights 22:54 Building the Ultimate Bruce Playlist 23:53 Springsteen's Evolution and Influence 27:16 Exploring Other Musical Obsessions 28:42 Passions Beyond Music 35:36 Meeting Springsteen's Circle 38:08 Concluding Reflections and Gratitude https://www.patreon.com/c/setlustingbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer, rapper and social commentator Darren McGarvey joins Origin Story to unpack the “trauma economy,” working-class rage, AI warping our narratives, and the safeguards every storyteller needs.Content note: This episode includes discussion of addiction, withdrawal, violence, and mental health.00:00 Welcome, why Poverty Safari mattered to me01:02 Pollok in the 80s, safety, and the two-minds dichotomy04:00 Structural poverty, jobs disappearing, trust collapsing10:34 Working-class anger, different tribes, same material pain12:17 Social mobility loneliness, West End vs Pollok12:51 Hip-hop as agency, finding a community16:23 Brokenness, comedowns, and what you run from20:16 Sudden success, visibility shock, family trade-offs24:04 When your pain becomes a product27:04 Safeguards before you share, prevention beats cure30:06 Accountability, making amends in public and private33:10 Your story isn't only yours, many truths, many versions36:37 Going public can re-activate perpetrators, stay safe37:07 Viral fame without guardrails, modern public safety39:03 Boundaries, being an introvert in public41:05 Harassment, threats, and learning to de-escalate42:10 Reward systems, status, and identity labels56:00 Getting triggered, the buzz, and stepping back62:18 Advice to younger Darren, alcohol, and timing66:13 What he hopes this new book does, and why

When Hala Taha started her podcast as a side hustle, she struggled with the same challenges most creators face: low discoverability, no clear path to monetization, and limited marketing know-how. Determined to succeed, she mastered the business side of podcasting by learning SEO, social media growth, and sponsorship strategies. This transformed Young and Profiting into a top-ranked show and led to the launch of YAP Media Network. In this episode, Hala joins Lori Harder on the Girlfriends & Business event to share unbeatable marketing strategies for transforming a podcast into a profitable business. In this episode, Lori and Hala will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) Hala's Origin Story and Podcasting Journey (09:00) Podcasting Evolution and Digital Trends (11:44) Video Marketing Strategies and Podcast SEO (17:08) Secrets to Ranking High on Apple Podcasts (19:36) Effective Podcast Monetization Strategies (23:40) Podcast Sponsorships and Marketing Conversions (27:46) Networking and Guest Booking Strategies (30:38) Q&A: Mastering the Business of Podcasting Hala Taha is the host of Young and Profiting, a top 10 business and entrepreneurship podcast on Apple and Spotify. She's the founder and CEO of YAP Media, an award-winning social media and podcast agency, as well as the YAP Media Network, where she helps renowned podcasters like Jenna Kutcher, Neil Patel, and Russell Brunson grow and monetize their shows. With her business on track to hit eight figures in 2025, Hala stands out as a leading creator-entrepreneur. Sponsored By: Airbnb - Find yourself a cohost at airbnb.com/host  Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING  Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.  Mercury - Streamline your banking and finances in one place. Learn more at mercury.com/profiting  Open Phone - Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/profiting.  DeleteMe - Remove your personal data online. Get 20% off DeleteMe consumer plans at to joindeleteme.com/profiting  SKIMS - Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com  Policy Genius - Secure your family's future with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com/profiting  Masterclass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at https://masterclass.com/profiting  BitDefender - Save 30% on your subscription at bitdefender.com/profiting  Resources Mentioned: Hala's Podcast, Young and Profiting: bit.ly/_YAP-apple  Hala's Agency, YAP Media: yapmedia.com    Earn Your Happy by Lori Harder: bit.ly/EYH-apple  Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, E-commerce, LinkedIn, Instagram, Digital Marketing, Content Creator, Storytelling, Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Communication, Social Proof, Marketing Trends, Influencers, Influencer Marketing, Marketing Tips, Content Marketing, Online Marketing, Marketing Podcast 

Have you ever wondered how your favorite movie or book—or podcast, TV series, documentary, or article—got made? Origin Stories has you covered. Each week, veteran journalist Matthew Shaer talks to a different writer or director about the creation of a work close to their own hearts. Nothing is off the table: not the frustrations and the joys, not the setbacks and the successes. Intimate and incisive, instructive and eye-opening, Origin Stories is the ultimate podcast for anyone curious about the workings of the creative mind. Among the early guests are Noah Hawley, creator of the new Alien show on FX; Mimi Leder, director of The Morning Show; New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe; and Evan Ratliff, of Longform and Atavist fame. Hosted by Matthew Shaer, co-founder of Campside Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we stumble through the latest food trends, including the much-hyped Dubai chocolate and our guest Howie Kislowicz's journey to become a chocolatier. There's lots of tempering chocolate and crafting bonbons. We also share our top movie and TV picks, including Spike Lee's "Highest 2 Lowest" and the cozy mystery "Thursday Murder Club." And we revisit the origin story of the Friday Night Movie theme music—a tale of remote recording experiments and synth sounds that somehow became our signature tune.  Follow @floatersmovie for updates! Sign up for the Friday Night Movie Newsletter for giveaways, curated episode playlists from the hosts and guests (including our mom), and at MOST one email per month (and probably fewer).  Closed captions for this episode are available via the player on the official Friday Night Movie homepage, the Podbean app and website, and YouTube.  The Friday Night Movie Family supports the following organizations: The Red Tent Fund | HIAS | Equal Justice Initiative | Asian American Journalists Association | The Entertainment Community Fund. Subscribe, rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, including iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play | Podbean | Overcast. Play along with Friday Night Movie at home! Read the FNM Glossary to learn the about our signature bits (e.g., Buy/Rent/Meh, I Told You Shows, Tradesies, etc). Email us at info@p4tmedia.com or tweet @FriNightMovie, @pancake4table, @chichiKgomez, and/or  @paperBKprincess.  Follow our creations and zany Instagram stories @frinightmovie, @FNMsisters, and @pancake4table. Follow us on Letterboxd (@pancake4table) where we're rating every movie we've EVER watched.  Subscribe to our quarterly newsletter for exclusive giveaways and news! Theme music by What Does It Eat.  Subscribe and leave a review on IOS or Android at frinightmovie.com.

Learn how Susannah Myerson climbed the invisible ladder to the top of her profession.

Sharing a new podcast from Campside Media called Origin Stories, about the creative process and the craft of writing and reporting. Each episode drills down on a single work. What inspired it? How was it created, and why? What kind of challenges and hurdles cropped up along the way? And above all, what can the rest of us learn from the guest's creative process? In this episode, Matt talks with Noah Hawley, the showrunner behind the new FX series Alien: Earth . You can listen to more episodes of Origin Stories at https://link.mgln.ai/chameleon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered exactly how your favorite movie or book –– or podcast, TV series, documentary, or article –– got made? Origin Stories has you covered. Each week, veteran journalist Matthew Shaer talks to a different writer or director about the creation of a work close to their own hearts (and ours). Nothing is off the table: not the frustrations and the joys, not the setbacks and the successes. Intimate and incisive, instructive and eye-opening, Origin Stories is the ultimate podcast for anyone curious about the workings of the creative mind. Among the early guests are Noah Hawley, creator of the new Alien show on FX; John Hoffman, co-creator of Only Murders in the Building, and memoirist Stephanie Foo. Hosted by Matthew Shaer, co-founder of Campside Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever wonder what it really takes to become a celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles? 

This week on Swimming with Allocators, Earnest and Alexa welcome Lara Banks, Managing Director at Makena Capital Management. Lara shares her journey from real assets to venture capital and offers an inside look at Makena's approach to manager selection, portfolio construction, and the evolving role of LPs. The discussion also covers the endowment model, the impact of AI and market shifts on venture and private equity, and the growing importance of grit, adaptability, and unique value for emerging managers. Listeners will gain insights into current challenges like illiquidity, the rise of secondaries, and the need for cross-pollination between venture and PE, as well as practical advice for building durable firms and navigating today's dynamic investment landscape. Don't miss this great conversation!Highlights from this week's conversation include:Lara's Career Path and Origin Story (1:14)Overview of Makena Capital Management (4:04)Changes in Venture Strategy and Market Dynamics (6:06)Investable Building Blocks Explained (9:14)Challenges for Allocators in Today's Market (10:18)Goals for 2025 and Manager Selection (16:02)Advice for Managers Navigating Market Cycles (22:36)What Makes a Great Growth Equity Manager (26:16)Cross-Pollination Between PE and Venture (28:16)Opportunities in Underfunded Founders and Growth Equity (31:34)How Emerging Managers Can Stand Out (34:02)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (36:51)Makena Capital is a ~$22B endowment-style investment firm founded in 2005 by alumni of the Stanford Management Company. Located on Sand Hill Road, Makena partners with world-class managers across asset classes with a legacy of early and ongoing investment in venture capital. Learn more at www.makenacap.com.Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of the world's most innovative companies and investors. SVB provides commercial and private banking to individuals and companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity, venture capital and premium wine industries. SVB operates in centers of innovation throughout the United States, serving the unique needs of its dynamic clients with deep sector expertise, insights and connections. SVB's parent company, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCNCA), is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than $200 billion in assets. First Citizens Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at svb.com.Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only.

In this episode of People of AI , we take you behind the scenes of "ANCESTRA," a groundbreaking film that integrates generative artificial intelligence into its core. Hear from the director Eliza McNitt and key collaborators from the Google DeepMind team about how they leveraged AI as a new creative tool, navigated its capabilities and limitations, and ultimately shaped a unique cinematic experience. Understand the future role of AI in filmmaking and its potential for developers and storytellers. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction to Ancestra: AI in filmmaking 3:38 - The Origin Story of ANCESTRA 5:35 - Google DeepMind and Primordial Soup collaboration 11:47 - Veo and the creative process 20:21 - Behind the scenes: Making the film 28:47 - Generating videos: Gemini and Veo tools 38:11 - AI as a creative tool, not a replacement 47:41 - AI's impact and the future of the film industry 53:51 - Generative models: A new kind of camera 57:46 - Rapid fire & conclusion Resources: Ancestra → https://goo.gle/4mVScNW  Making of ANCESTRA → https://goo.gle/3JVJil1  Veo 3 → https://goo.gle/4mWn3Kz  Veo 3 Documentation → https://goo.gle/46qqFOV  Veo 3 Cookbook → https://goo.gle/3VMVFSZ  Google Flow → https://goo.gle/3VMVR4F  Watch more People of AI → https://goo.gle/PAI  Subscribe to Google for Developers → https://goo.gle/developers #PeopleofAI Speaker: Christina Warren, Ashley Oldacre,  Eliza McNitt, Ben Wiley, Corey Matthewson,  Products Mentioned: Google AI, Gemini, Veo 2, Veo 3

Thinking Muslim & Ansari Podcast COLLAB! Muhammad Jalal, host of the The Thinking Muslim, visits from across the pond to break the stereotypes that American Muslims have about their British counterparts. Mohammad Jalal opens up about the origin story of The Thinking Muslim, the death of his beloved son, the most impactful guests on the thinking muslim. And both analyze american and european muslim strategy for living and politics. Who was right? The repression of french muslims, the global muslim strategy. The civilizational spark needed to bring back the muslim ummah. And the great potential for Muslim power. This episode is a call for a unification of the Muslims of the West to use their privilege to help those who cannot change their own conditions.#muslimpodcast #islamicpodcast #politics #muslimummah *Pomoroi:* https://pomoroi.com/ansariMention the podcast for a FREE Consultation*Provision Capital:* https://www.provisioncapital.com*Habbah:* https://www.habbah.io*Humaniti:* https://wearehumaniti.org*Alif Network:* https://Alif.build/network-tap*Support Us On Patreon @* ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ansaripodcast00:00 Origin Story of Thinking Muslim Podcast15:48 The Most Impactful Guests25:04 American & European Muslim Culture Strategy30:41 The Repression of French Muslims39:43 American Muslim vs UK Muslim Culture55:20 The Global Muslim Strategy1:00:22 The Muslim Potential for Power1:14:54 Political Organizer, Not Podcaster1:24:37 Losing Loved Ones *Listen on All Audio Platforms:* https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj*Follow The Ansari Podcast**Instagram:* https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast*TikTok:* https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast*Twitter/X:* https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

Join host Jesse Jackson as he celebrates the 10th anniversary of 'Set Lusting Bruce,' the definitive podcast for Bruce Springsteen fans. In this special episode, Jesse reconnects with Rob Southgate, reflecting on their podcast origins, memorable moments, and the countless stories shared over a decade. They discuss standout episodes, listener impact, and their passion projects. Featuring heartfelt anecdotes from fans and unique perspectives on Springsteen's music, this episode encapsulates the community and resilience that the podcast has fostered. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the journey, this celebration of Bruce Springsteen's influence is not to be missed. Share your feedback at setlustingbruce@gmail.com and join the conversation. Keep the fire burning and the music alive! 00:00 Introduction to a Decade of Set Lusting Bruce 01:16 Celebrating the 10th Anniversary with Rob Southgate 02:05 The Origin Story of Set Lusting Bruce 03:08 The Passion Behind the Podcast 05:26 Highlighting Memorable Episodes and Guests 09:29 The Evolution of Podcasting and Future Plans 20:10 A Call from England: Remembering Kim 21:50 Emotional Podcast Highlights 22:54 Building the Ultimate Bruce Playlist 23:53 Springsteen's Evolution and Influence 27:16 Exploring Other Musical Obsessions 28:42 Passions Beyond Music 35:36 Meeting Springsteen's Circle 38:08 Concluding Reflections and Gratitude https://www.patreon.com/c/setlustingbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We finish off our 15 Architectural Decisions series with a special guest - VP of Product Management and early Pure employee Chadd Kenney joins to discuss the origin story of Pure Storage's 15 Architectural Decisions. Chadd will take us back to the early Pure startup days, revealing the drivers behind documenting these crucial decisions. We'll explore his favorite decisions, hear stories that solidified them, and discover how this foundational work continues to influence Pure Storage today around the Enterprise Data Cloud and the Pure Platform. Series Overview: Pure Storage's foundational approach to product engineering is guided by 15 architectural decisions that were established at the company's inception and have shaped both the technical and user experience across its product lines. These architectural choices were not made arbitrarily—they stem from a deliberate focus on simplicity, efficiency, and scalability, ensuring Pure could deliver storage solutions that break away from legacy complexity and enable continuous innovation without compromise. This series will guide viewers through all of the 15 principles, helping you understand why certain choices were made, how they impact your operations, and how they compare to other industry features and products.

In this episode of 'Rooted Agritourism,' host Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen speaks with Jenny Bredeken from Full Circle Farm. They discuss Jenny's entrepreneurial journey from Minnesota to Honolulu, exploring her passion for fermentation and sourdough bread that led to the creation of their farm and micro bakery. Jenny shares her experiences in reconnecting people with the origins of their food, the challenges of farming, and transitioning to wholesale markets. They also delve into the support of family legacy and the importance of local, fresh products. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about agritourism, rural entrepreneurship, and the power of following one's dreams despite the obstacles.00:00 Introduction to Rooted Agritourism00:24 Meet Jenny Bredeken from Full Circle Farm01:24 The Origin Story of Full Circle Farm01:49 From Hawaii to Minnesota: A Journey of Passion05:29 The Birth of a Sourdough Business07:28 Challenges and Triumphs in Agritourism09:43 Building a Sustainable Future16:56 The Realities of Farming22:00 Current Offerings and Future Plans23:06 The Importance of Fresh Milled Flour23:50 Nutritional and Flavor Benefits of Fresh Flour24:45 Storing and Prioritizing Freshness26:06 The Value of Buying Local27:06 Pricing Strategies for Artisan Bread29:29 Challenges and Lessons in Wholesale33:16 Balancing Passion and Practicality35:21 Future Plans for the Farm37:59 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing ThoughtsPodcast Website: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/rootedagritourismPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedagritourism/Business Coaching: https://www.sunnymarymeadowcoaching.com/Farm Website: www.sunnymarymeadow.comFarmerstoFlorists: https://www.farmerstoflorists.com/Farm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnymarymeadow/Podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/888196709178852

In this week's episode, I take a look back at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Summer 2025. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book #1 in the Ghost Armor series, (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store: FALLSERPENT50 The coupon code is valid through September 15, 2025 (please note the shorter expiration date). So if you need a new audiobook this fall, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 267 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is September 5, 2025 and today I'm doing a review roundup of the movies and streaming shows I saw in Summer 2025. Before we do that, we will have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and audiobook projects. First up, this week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book One in the Ghost Armor series (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store. That is FALLSERPENT50. This coupon code will be valid through September 15th, 2025 (exactly one week). So if you need a new audiobook to listen to as we head into fall, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing and audiobook projects. I am pleased to report that the rough draft of Blade of Flames, which will be the first book in my new Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series is finished. The rough draft came at about 90,000 words long, which was what I was aiming for. Next up, I will be writing a short story set as sort of a bonus in that plot line called Thunder Hammer and that will be the backstory of one of the characters in Blade of Flames. And when Blade of Flames comes out (which will hopefully be later this September), newsletter subscribers will get a free ebook copy of Thunder Hammer. So this is an excellent time to subscribe to my newsletter. I am also 8,000 words into Cloak of Worlds. At long last, I am coming back to the Cloak Mage series after nearly a year's absence. Longtime listeners will know the reason was that I had five unfinished series and I wanted to spend the summer of 2025 finishing the unfinished ones and focusing up so I will only have three ongoing series at any given time. I'm hoping Blade of Flames will come out before the end of September and Cloak of Worlds before the end of October, and after that I will be able to return to the Rivah series at long last. In audiobook news, recording is finished on Shield of Power. That will be excellently narrated by Brad Wills and hopefully once it gets through processing and quality assurance and everything, it should be showing up on the various audiobook stores before too much longer. Hollis McCarthy is about halfway through the recording of Ghost in the Siege, which was, as you know, the last book in the Ghost Armor series that just came out. And if all goes well, the audiobook should be coming out probably in October once everything is done with recording and quality assurance and all that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing and audiobook projects. 00:02:34 Main Topic: Summer 2025 Movie/TV Roundup So without further ado, let's head into our main topic. The end of summer is nigh, which means this time for my summer movie review roundup. As is usual for the summer, I saw a lot of movies, so this will be one of the longer episodes. For some reason I ended up watching a bunch of westerns. As always, the movies are ranked from least favorite to most favorite. The grades of course are totally subjective and based on nothing more than my own opinions, impressions, and interpretations. Now on to the movies. First up is the Austin Powers trilogy, the three movies of which came out in 1997, 1999, and 2002. The Austin Powers movies came out just as the Internet really got going in terms of mass adoption, which is likewise why so many Austin Powers and Dr. Evil memes are embedded in online culture. Despite that, I had never really seen any of them all the way through. They've been on in the background on TBS or whatever quite a bit when I visited people, but I've never seen them all. But I happened upon a DVD of the trilogy for $0.25 (USD), so I decided for 25 cents I would give it a go. I would say the movies were funny, albeit not particularly good. Obviously the Austin Powers movies are a parody of the James Bond movies. The movies kind of watch like an extended series of Saturday Night Live skits, only loosely connected, like the skit is what if Dr. Evil had a son named Scott who wasn't impressed with him or another skit was what if a British agent from the ‘60s arrives in the ‘90s and experiences culture clash? What if Dr. Evil didn't understand the concept of inflation and demanded only a million dollars from the United Nations? What if Dr. Evil was actually Austin's brother and they went to school together at Spy Academy? Michael Caine was pretty great as Austin's father. Overall, funny but fairly incoherent. Overall grade: C- Next up is Horrible Bosses, a very dark and very raunchy comedy from about 14 years ago. It came out in 2011. Interestingly, this movie reflects what I think is one of the major crises of the contemporary era, frequent failures of leadership at all levels of society. In the movie Nick, Dale, and Kurt are lifelong friends living in LA and all three of them have truly horrible bosses in their place of employment, ranging from a sociopathic finance director, the company founder's cokehead son, and a boorish dentist with a tendency to sexual harassment. At the bar, they fantasize about killing their horrible bosses and then mutually decide to do something about it. Obviously, they'd all be prime suspects in the murder of their own bosses, but if they killed each other's bosses, that would allow them to establish airtight alibis. However, since Nick, Dale and Kurt are not as bright as they think they are, it all goes hilariously wrong very quickly. Bob Hope has a hilarious cameo. If the best “crude comedies” I've seen are Anchorman, Zoolander, Tropic Thunder, and Dodgeball, and the worst one was MacGruber, I'd say Horrible Bosses lands about in the middle. Overall grade: C Next up is Cowboys and Aliens, which came out in 2011. Now I almost saw this in 2011 when it came out, but I was too busy to go to the theater in July of 2011, so I finally saw it here in 2025 and I would say this was almost a great movie, like the performances were great, the concept was great, the scenery was great, the special effects were great, and the story was packed full of really interesting ideas, but somehow they just didn't coalesce. I'm not entirely sure why. I think upon reflection, it was that the movie is just too overcrowded with too many characters and too many subplots. Anyway, Daniel Craig portrays a man who wakes up with no memory in the Old West, with a mysterious bracelet locked around his wrist. He makes his way to the town of Atonement, and promptly gets arrested because he is apparently a notorious outlaw (which he doesn't remember). While he is locked in jail, space aliens attack the town. The aliens, for unknown reasons, abduct many of the townspeople, and Daniel Craig's character, who is named Jake even if he doesn't remember it, must lead the town's effort to recover their abducted citizens. Harrison's Ford has an excellent performance as this awful cattle baron who nonetheless has virtues of courage and fortitude that you can't help but admire. An excellent performance. That said, the movie was just too packed, and I thought it would work better as a novel. After I watched the movie, it turned out that it was indeed based off a graphic novel. Novels and graphic novels allow for a far more complex story than a movie, and I don't think this movie quite managed to handle the transition from a graphic novel to a film. Overall grade: C Next up is Heads of State, which came out in 2025. This was kind of a stupid movie. However, the fundamental question of any movie, shouted to the audience by Russell Crow in Gladiator is, “are you not entertained?!?” I was thoroughly entertained watching this, so entertained I actually watched it twice. Not everything has to be Shakespeare or a profound meditation on the unresolvable conflicts inherent within human nature. Anyway, John Cena plays Will Derringer, newly elected President of the United States. Idris Elba plays Sam Clark, who has now been the UK Prime Minister for the last six years. Derringer was an action star who parleyed his celebrity into elected office (in the same way Arnold Schwarzenegger did), while Clarke is an army veteran who worked his way up through the UK's political system. Needless to say, the cheerful Derringer and the grim Clarke take an immediate dislike to each other. However, they'll have to team up when Air Force One is shot down, stranding them in eastern Europe. They'll have to make their way home while evading their enemies to unravel the conspiracy that threatens world peace. So half action thriller, half buddy road trip comedy. The premise really doesn't work if you think about it too much for more than thirty seconds, but the movie was funny and I enjoyed it. Jack Quaid really stole his scenes as a crazy but hyper-competent CIA officer. Overall grade: C+ Next up, Captain America: Brave New World, which came out in 2025 and I think this movie ended up on the good side of middling. You can definitely tell it went through a lot of reshoots and retooling, and I suspect the various film industry strikes hit it like a freight train. But we ended up with a reasonably solid superhero thriller. Sam Wilson is now Captain America. He's not superhuman the way Steve Rogers was and doesn't have magic powers or anything, so he kind of fights like the Mandalorian – a very capable fighter who relies on excellent armor. Meanwhile, in the grand American political tradition of failing upward, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who spent years persecuting The Hulk and whose meddling caused the Avengers to disband right before Thanos attacked, has now been elected President. To Wilson's surprise, Ross reaches out and wants him to restart the Avengers. But Ross (as we know) did a lot of shady black ops stuff for years, and one of his projects is coming back to haunt him. Wilson finds himself in the middle of a shadowy conspiracy, and it's up to him to figure out what's going on before it's too late. I was amused that lifelong government apparatchik Ross wanted to restart the Avengers, because when the Avengers had their biggest victory in Avengers: Endgame, they were essentially unsanctioned vigilantes bankrolled by a rogue tech billionaire. Overall grade: B- Next up is Ironheart, which came out in 2025. I'd say Ironheart was about 40% very weird and 60% quite good. It's sort of like the modern version of Dr. Faustus. The show got some flak on the Internet from the crossfire between the usual culture war people, but the key to understanding it is to realize that Riri Williams AKA Ironheart is in fact an antihero who's tottering on the edge of becoming a full-blown supervillain. Like Tony Stark, she's a once-in-a-generation scientific talent, but while she doesn't have Stark's alcohol problems, she's emotionally unstable, immature, ruthless, indifferent to collateral damage and consequences, and suffering from severe PTSD after her best friend and stepfather were killed in a drive-by shooting. This volatile mix gets her thrown out of MIT after her experiments cause too much destruction, and she has to go home to Chicago. To get the funds to keep working on her Iron Man armor, she turns to crime, and falls in with a gang of high-end thieves led by a mysterious figure named Hood. It turns out that Hood has actual magic powers, which both disturbs and fascinates Riri. However, Hood got his magic in a pact with a mysterious dark force. When a job goes bad, Riri gains the enmity of Hood and has to go on the run. It also turns out Hood's dark master has become very interested in Riri, which might be a lot more dangerous for everyone in the long run. Overall, I'd say this is about in the same vein as Agatha All Along, an interesting show constructed around a very morally questionable protagonist. Overall grade: B Next up is A Minecraft movie, which came out in 2024. I have to admit, I've never actually played Minecraft, so I know very little about the game and its ecosystem, only what I've generally absorbed by glancing at the news. That said, I think the movie held together quite well, and wasn't deserving of the general disdain it got in the press. (No doubt the $950 million box office compensated for any hurt feelings.) One of the many downsides of rapid technological change in the last fifty years is that the Boomers and Gen X and the Millennials and Gen Z and Gen Alpha have had such radically different formative experiences in childhood that it's harder to relate to each other. Growing up in the 1980s was a wildly different experience than growing up in the 2010s, and growing up in the 2010s was an even more wildly different experience than growing up in the 1960s. Smartphones and social media were dominant in 2020, barely starting in 2010, and implausible science fiction in 2000 and earlier, and so it was like the different generations grew up on different planets, because in some sense they actually did. (A five-year-old relative of mine just started school, and the descriptions of his school compared to what I remember of school really do sound like different planets entirely.) The Minecraft game and A Minecraft Movie might be one of those generation-locked experiences. Anyway, this has gotten very deep digression for what was essentially a portal-based LitRPG movie. A group of people experiencing various life difficulties in a rural Idaho town get sucked into the Minecraft world through a magic portal. There they must combine forces and learn to work together to master the Minecraft world to save it from an evil sorceress. As always, the fundamental question of any movie is the one that Russell Crowe's character shouted to the audience in Gladiator back in 2000. “Are you not entertained?” I admit I was entertained when watching A Minecraft Movie since it was funny and I recognized a lot of the video game mechanics, even though I've never actually played Minecraft. Like, Castlevania II had a night/day cycle the way Minecraft does, and Castlevania II was forty years ago. But that was another digression! I did enjoy A Minecraft Movie. It was kind of crazy, but it committed to the craziness and maintained a consistent creative vision, and I was entertained. Though I did think it was impressive how Jack Black's agent managed to insist that he sing several different times. Overall grade: B Next up is Back to School, which came out in 1986 and this is one of the better ‘80s comedies I've seen. Rodney Dangerfield plays Thornton Melon, who never went to college and is the wealthy owner of a chain of plus-sized clothing stores. His son Jason is attending Great Lakes University, and after Thornton's unfaithful gold-digging wife leaves him (Thornton is mostly relieved by this development), he decides to go visit his son. He quickly discovers that Jason is flailing at college, and decides to enroll to help out his son. Wacky adventures ensue! I quite enjoyed this. The fictional “Great Lakes University” was largely shot at UW-Madison in Wisconsin, which I found amusing because I spent a lot of time at UW-Madison several decades ago as a temporary IT employee. I liked seeing the characters walk past a place where I'd eat lunch outside when the day was nice, that kind of thing. Also, I'm very familiar with how the sausage gets made in higher ed. There's a scene where the dean is asking why Thornton is qualified to enter college, and then it cuts to the dean cheerfully overseeing the groundbreaking of the new Thornton Melon Hall which Thornton just donated, and I laughed so hard I almost hurt myself, because that is exactly how higher ed works. The movie had some pointless nudity, but it was only a few seconds and no doubt gets cut in network broadcasts. Overall grade: B Next up is Whiskey Galore, which came out in 1949 and this is a comedy set in Scotland during World War II. The villagers living on an isolated island have no whiskey due to wartime rationing. However, when a government ship carrying 50,000 cases of whiskey runs aground near the island, wacky hijinks ensue. I have to admit the first half of the movie was very slow and deliberate, gradually setting up all the pieces for later. Then, once the shipwreck happens, things pick up and the movie gets much funnier. Definitely worth watching both as a good comedy movie and an artifact of its time. A modicum of historical knowledge is required – if you don't know what the Home Guard is, you might have to do some Googling to understand the context of some of the scenes. Regrettably, the version I watched did not have captioning, so I had to pay really close attention to understand what the characters were saying, because some of the accents were very strong. Overall grade: B Next up is Happy Gilmore 2, which came out in 2025. This was dumb and overstuffed with celebrity cameos but thoroughly hilarious and I say this even though it uses one of my least favorite story tropes, namely “hero of previous movie is now a middle age loser.” However, the movie leads into it for comedy. When Happy Gilmore accidentally kills his wife with a line drive, he spirals into alcoholism and despair. But his five children still love him, and when his talented daughter needs tuition for school, Happy attempts to shake off his despair and go back to golf to win the money. But Happy soon stumbles onto a sinister conspiracy led by an evil CEO to transform the game of golf into his own personal profit center. Happy must team up with his old nemesis Shooter McGavin to save golf itself from the evil CEO. Amusingly, as I've said before, the best Adam Sandler movies are almost medieval. In medieval fables, it was common for a clever peasant to outwit pompous lords, corrupt priests, and greedy merchants. The best Adam Sandler protagonist remains an everyman who outwits the modern equivalent of pompous lords and corrupt priests, in this case an evil CEO. Overall grade: B+ Next up is Superman, which came out in 2025 and I thought this was pretty good and very funny at times. I think it caught the essential nature of Superman. Like, Superman should be a Lawful Good character. If he was a Dungeons and Dragons character, he would be a paladin. People on the Internet tend to take the characterization of superheroes seriously to perhaps an unhealthy degree, but it seems the best characterization of Superman is as an earnest, slightly dorky Boy Scout who goes around doing good deeds. The contrast of that good-hearted earnestness with his godlike abilities that would allow him to easily conquer and rule the world is what makes for an interesting character. I also appreciated how the movie dispensed with the overused trope of the Origin Story and just got down to business. In this movie, Lex Luthor is obsessed with destroying Superman and is willing to use both super-advanced technology and engineered geopolitical conflict to do it. Superman, because he's essentially a decent person, doesn't comprehend just how depraved Luthor is, and how far Luthor is willing to go out of petty spite. (Ironically, a billionaire willing to destroy the world out of petty spite is alas, quite realistic). Guy Gardener (“Jerkish Green Lantern”) and the extremely competent and the extremely exasperated Mr. Terrific definitely stole all their scenes. The director of the movie, James Gunn, was quite famously fired from Disney in 2018 for offensive jokes he had made on Twitter back when he was an edgy young filmmaker with an alcohol problem. I suppose Mr. Gunn can rest content knowing that Superman made more money than any Marvel movie released this year. Overall grade: A-   Next up is Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, which came out in 1988. This was a very strange movie, but nonetheless, one with an ambitious premise, strong performances, and a strong artistic vision. It's set in post WWII Los Angeles, and “toons” (basically cartoon characters) live and work alongside humans. Private eye Eddie Valiant hates toons since one of them killed his brother five years ago. However, he's hired by the head of a studio who's having trouble with one of his toon actors, Roger Rabbit. Roger's worried his wife Jessica is having an affair, and Valiant obtains pictures of Jessica playing patty cake (not a euphemism, they actually were playing patty cake) with another man. Roger has an emotional breakdown, and soon the other man winds up dead, and Roger insists he's innocent. Valiant and Roger find themselves sucked into a dangerous conspiracy overseen by a ruthless mastermind. This movie was such an interesting cultural artifact. It perfectly follows the structure of a ‘40s film noir movie, but with cartoons, and the dissonance between film noir and the cheerfulness of the toons was embraced and used as a frequently source of comedy. In fact, when the grim and dour Valiant uses the toons' comedy techniques as a tactical improvisation in a moment of mortal peril, it's both hilarious and awesome. Christopher Lloyd's performance as the villainous Judge Doom was amazing. (I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he's villainous, because his character is named Judge Doom and he's literally wearing a black hat.) Like, his performance perfectly captures something monstrous that is trying very hard to pretend to be human and not quite getting it right. And the amount of work it must have taken to make this movie staggers the mind. Nowadays, having live actors interact with cartoon characters is expensive, but not unduly so. It's a frequent technique. You see it all the time in commercials when a housewife is smiling at an animated roll of paper towels or something, and Marvel's essentially been doing it for years. But this was 1988! Computer animation was still a ways off. They had to shoot the movie on analog film, and then hand-draw all the animation and successfully match it to the live film. It wouldn't have worked without the performance of Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant, who plays everything perfectly straight in the same way Michael Caine did in A Muppet Christmas Carol. So kind of a strange movie, but definitely worth watching. And it has both Disney and Warner Brothers animated characters in the same movie, which is something we will never, ever see again. Overall grade: A Next up is K-Pop Demon Hunters, which came out in 2025. Like Who framed Roger Rabbit?, this is a very strange movie, but nonetheless with a clear and focused artistic vision. It is a cultural artifact that provides a fascinating look into a world of which I have no knowledge or interest, namely K-pop bands and their dueling fandoms. Anyway, the plot is that for millennia, female Korean musicians have used the magic of their voices to keep the demons locked away in a demon world. The current incarnation is a three-woman K-Pop group called Huntrix, and they are on the verge of sealing away the demons forever. Naturally, the Demon King doesn't like this, so one of his cleverer minions comes up with a plan. They'll start a Demon K-Pop Boy Band! Disguised as humans, the demon K-Pop group will win away Huntrix's fans, allowing them to breach the barrier and devour the world. However, one of the Huntrix musicians is half-demon, and she starts falling for the lead demon in the boy band, who is handsome and of course has a dark and troubled past. Essentially a musical K-drama follows. I have to admit I know practically nothing about K-Pop groups and their dueling fandoms, other than the fact that they exist. However, this was an interesting movie to watch. The animation was excellent, it did have a focused vision, and there were some funny bits. Overall grade: A Next up is Clarkson's Farm Season Four, which came out in 2025. A long time ago in the ‘90s, I watched the episode of Frasier where Frasier and Niles attempt to open a restaurant and it all goes horribly (yet hilariously) wrong. At the time, I had no money, but I promised myself that I would never invest in a restaurant. Nothing I have seen or learned in the subsequent thirty years has ever changed that decision. Season 4 of Clarkson's Farm is basically Jeremy Clarkson, like Frasier and Niles, attempting to open a restaurant, specifically a British pub. On paper it's a good idea, since Clarkson can provide the pub with food produced from his own farm and other local farmers. However, it's an enormous logistical nightmare, and Clarkson must deal with miles of red tape, contractors, and a ballooning budget, all while trying to keep his farm from going under. An excellent and entertaining documentary into the difficulties of both the farming life and food service. I still don't want to own a restaurant! Overall grade: A Next up is Tombstone, which came out in 1993. The Western genre of fiction is interesting because it's limited to such a very specific period of time and geographical region. Like the “Wild West” period that characterizes the Western genre really only lasted as a historical period from about 1865 to roughly 1890. The Western genre was at its most popular in movies from the 1940s and the 1960s, and I wonder if it declined because cultural and demographic changes made it unpopular to romanticize the Old West the way someone like Walt Disney did at Disneyland with “Frontierland.” Of course, the genre lives on in different forms in grittier Western movies, neo-Westerns like Yellowstone and Longmire, and a lot of the genre's conventions apply really well to science fiction. Everyone talks about Firefly being the first Space Western, but The Mandalorian was much more successful and was basically a Western in space (albeit with occasional visits from Space Wizards). Anyway! After that long-winded introduction, let's talk about Tombstone. When Val Kilmer died earlier this year, the news articles mentioned Tombstone as among his best work, so I decided to give it a watch. The plot centers around Wyatt Earp, played by Kurt Russell, who has decided to give up his career in law enforcement and move to Tombstone, Arizona, a silver mining boomtown, in hopes of making his fortune. However, Tombstone is mostly controlled by the Cowboys outlaw gang, and Earp is inevitably drawn into conflict with them. With the help of his brothers and Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer's character), Earp sets out to bring some law and order to Tombstone, whether the Cowboys like it or not. Holliday is in the process of dying from tuberculosis, which makes him a formidable fighter since he knows getting shot will be a less painful and protracted death than the one his illness will bring him. Kilmer plays him as a dissolute, scheming warrior-poet who nonetheless is a very loyal friend. Definitely a classic of the Western genre, and so worth watching. Overall grade: A Next up is Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, the eighth Mission Impossible movie. Of the eight movies, I think the sixth one was the best one, but this one comes in at a close second. It continues on from Dead Reckoning. Ethan Hunt now possesses the key that will unlock the source code of the Entity, the malicious AI (think ChatGPT, but even more obviously evil) that is actively maneuvering the world's nuclear powers into destroying each other so the Entity can rule the remnants of humanity. Unfortunately, the Entity's source code is sitting in a wrecked Russian nuclear sub at the bottom of the Bering Sea. Even more unfortunately, the Entity knows that Hunt has the key and is trying to stop him, even as the Entity's former minion and Hunt's bitter enemy Gabriel seeks to seize control of the Entity for himself. A sense of apocalyptic doom hangs over the movie, which works well to build tension. Once again, the world is doomed, unless Ethan Hunt and his allies can save the day. The tension works extremely well during the movie's underwater sequence, and the final airborne duel between Hunt and Gabriel. I don't know if they're going to make any more Mission Impossible movies after this (they are insanely expensive), but if this is the end, it is a satisfying conclusion for the character of Ethan Hunt and the Impossible Mission Force. Overall grade: A Next up is Deep Cover, which came out in 2025. This is described as a comedy thriller, and I didn't know what to expect when I watched it, but I really enjoyed it. Bryce Dallas Howard plays Kat, a struggling comedy improv teacher living in London. Her best students are Marlon (played by Orlando Bloom), a dedicated character actor who wants to portray gritty realism but keeps getting cast in tacky commercials, and Hugh (played by Nick Mohammed), an awkward IT worker with no social skills whatsoever. One day, the three of them are recruited by Detective Sergeant Billings (played by Sean Bean) of the Metropolitan Police. The Met wants to use improv comedians to do undercover work for minor busts with drug dealers. Since it plays 200 pounds a pop, the trio agrees. Of course, things rapidly spiral out of control, because Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are actually a lot better at improv than they think, and soon they find themselves negotiating with the chief criminals of the London underworld. What follows is a movie that is both very tense and very funny. Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are in way over their heads, and will have to do the best improv of their lives to escape a very grisly fate. Whether Sean Bean dies or not (as is tradition), you will just have to watch the movie and find out. Overall grade: A Next up is Puss in Boots: The Final Wish, which came out in 2022. I don't personally know much about the history of Disney as a corporation, and I don't much care, but I do have several relatives who are very interested in the history of the Disney corporation, and therefore I have picked up some by osmosis. Apparently Disney CEO Michael Eisner forcing out Jeffrey Katzenberg in the 1990s was a very serious mistake, because Katzenberg went on to co-found DreamWorks, which has been Disney's consistent rival for animation for the last thirty years. That's like “CIA Regime Change Blowback” levels of creating your own enemy. Anyway, historical ironies aside, Puss in Boots: The Final Wish was a funny and surprisingly thoughtful animated movie. Puss in Boots is a legendary outlaw and folk hero, but he has used up eight of his nine lives. An ominous bounty hunter who looks like a humanoid wolf begins pursuing him, and the Wolf is able to shrug off the best of Puss In Boots' attacks. Panicked, Puss hides in a retirement home for elderly cats, but then hears rumors of the magical Last Wish. Hoping to use it to get his lives back, Puss In Boots sets off on the quest. It was amusing how Little Jack Horner and Goldilocks and the Three Bears were rival criminal gangs seeking the Last Wish. Overall grade: A Next up is Chicken People, which came out in 2016. A good documentary film gives you a glimpse into an alien world that you would otherwise never visit. In this example, I have absolutely no interest in competitive chicken breeding and will only raise chickens in my backyard if society ever collapses to the level that it becomes necessary for survival. That said, this was a very interesting look into the work of competitive chicken breeding. Apparently, there is an official “American Standard of Perfection” for individual chicken breeds, and the winner of the yearly chicken competition gets the title “Super Grand Champion.” Not Grand Champion, Super Grand Champion! That looks impressive on a resume. It is interesting how chicken breeding is in some sense an elaborate Skinner Box – like you can deliberately set out to breed chickens with the desirable traits on the American Standard of Perfection, but until the chickens are hatched and grow up, you don't know how they're going to turn out, so you need to try again and again and again… Overall grade: A Next up is The Mask of Zoro, which came out in 1998. I saw this in the theatre when it came out 27 years ago, but that was 27 years ago, and I don't have much of a memory of it, save that I liked it. So when I had the chance to watch it again, I did! Anthony Hopkins plays Diego de la Vega, who has the secret identity of Zorro in the final days before Mexico breaks away from the Spanish Empire. With Mexico on the verge of getting its independence, Diego decides to hang up his sword and mask and focus on his beloved wife and daughter. Unfortunately, the military governor Don Montero realizes Diego is Zorro, so has him arrested, kills his wife, and steals his baby daughter to raise as his own. Twenty years later, a bandit named Alejandro loses his brother and best friends to a brutal cavalry commander. It turns out that Montero is returning to California from Spain, and plans to seize control of California as an independent republic (which, of course, will be ruled by him). In the chaos, Diego escapes from prison and encounters a drunken Alejandro, and stops him from a futile attack upon the cavalry commander. He then proposes a pact – Diego will train Alejandro as the next Zorro, and together they can take vengeance upon the men who wronged them. This was a good movie. It was good to see that my taste in movies 27 years ago wasn't terrible. It manages to cram an entire epic plot into only 2 hours and 20 minutes. In some ways it was like a throwback to a ‘40s movie but with modern (for the ‘90s) production values, and some very good swordfights. Overall grade: A Next up is Wick is Pain, which came out in 2025. I've seen all four John Wick movies and enjoyed them thoroughly, though I've never gotten around to any of the spinoffs. Wick is Pain is a documentary about how John Wick went from a doomed indie movie with a $6.5 million hole in its budget to one of the most popular action series of the last few decades. Apparently Keanu Reeves made an offhand joke about how “Wick is pain” and that became the mantra of the cast and crew, because making an action movie that intense really was a painful experience. Definitely worth watching if you enjoyed the John Wick movies or moviemaking in general. Overall grade: A The last movie I saw this summer was Game Night, which came out in 2016. It was a hilarious, if occasionally dark comedy action thriller. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play Max and Annie Davis, a married couple who are very competitive and enjoy playing games of all kinds. Jason has an unresolved conflict with his brother Brooks, and one night Brooks invites them over for game night, which Max resents. Halfway through the evening, Brooks is kidnapped, with Max and Annie assume is part of the game. However, Brooks really is involved in something shady. Hilarity ensues, and it's up to Max and Annie to rescue Brooks and stay alive in the process. This was really funny, though a bit dark in places. That said, Max and Annie have a loving and supportive marriage, so it was nice to see something like that portrayed on the screen. Though this also leads to some hilarity, like when Annie accidentally shoots Max in the arm. No spoilers, but the punchline to that particular sequence was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Overall grade: A So no A+ movie this time around, but I still saw a bunch of solid movies I enjoyed. One final note, I have to admit, I've really come to respect Adam Sandler as an entertainer, even if his movies and comedy are not always to my taste. He makes what he wants, makes a lot of money, ensures that his friends get paid, and then occasionally takes on a serious role in someone else's movie when he wants to flex some acting muscles. I am not surprised that nearly everyone who's in the original Happy Gilmore who was still alive wanted to come back for Happy Gilmore 2. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show enjoyable and perhaps a guide to some good movies to watch. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.  

The Book of Acts, written by Luke, chronicles how a small group of fearful believers transformed into a movement that continues to impact the world 2,000 years later. It reveals Jesus continuing His work through the Holy Spirit-empowered church after His ascension. The disciples were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit's power before beginning their mission, emphasizing that ordinary people need supernatural empowerment. Acts 1:8 outlines their mission to be witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, showing how God uses everyday people to share their personal experiences with Jesus. This story continues today through all believers.

Nurses Out Loud – Nurse Ashley Grogg shares her journey from farm life dreams of veterinary care to becoming a bold voice in nursing. Through loss, family illness, and the inspiration of hospice care, she discovers her calling. Now blending functional medicine with traditional care, Ashley leads with passion and purpose, highlighted in her new book Resuscitating Nursing...

Nurses Out Loud – Nurse Ashley Grogg shares her journey from farm life dreams of veterinary care to becoming a bold voice in nursing. Through loss, family illness, and the inspiration of hospice care, she discovers her calling. Now blending functional medicine with traditional care, Ashley leads with passion and purpose, highlighted in her new book Resuscitating Nursing...

This episode features two stories from the Science Podcast. First, Science writer Ann Gibbons tells the story of three ancient hominin species that lived side-by-side in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind. Then, anthropologist Melanie Beasley discusses her new study on why chemical signals in Neanderthal teeth and bones make them look like hypercarnivores. Her research suggests they were just eating a lot of maggots!   Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries.  The Science podcast is a weekly show from the journal Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Search for Science Magazine in any podcasting app to subscribe. Learn more at https://www.science.org/podcasts Origin Stories is audience-supported. Additional support comes from Jeanne Newman, the Anne and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.  

Voyager frontman Danny Estrin on his unconventional path from heavy metal to law and on to the Eurovision grand final (R).Danny Estrin is one of the few Australians who knows what it's like to perform at Eurovision. As frontman for the progressive synth metal band, Voyager, Danny commanded the stage in the 2023 competition, wind machine and all. His musical education started early, on a piano gifted by his babushka and freighted from the Soviet Union to his childhood home in Hamburg.After moving from Germany to Perth as a child, Danny turned to heavy metal as a way of finding belonging.Danny is also an immigration lawyer, but by night he quite literally lets his hair down, swapping his suit and tie for a keytar and microphone.Just months after Sarah first spoke to Danny in 2023, he received a stage four cancer diagnosis.Voyager had to cancel all the shows they'd booked after their Eurovision performance, as Danny started treatment, supported by his wife and two girls.While his cancer is terminal, Danny has been doing really well, defying everyone's expectations.This year he even got the band back together, and when he's not undergoing treatment, Danny is back on stage with Voyager.Further informationOriginally broadcast in August, 2023.Danny is currently working on a television show about people's love affairs with their cars.This episode of Conversations was produced by Tamar Cranswick.It explores music, heavy metal, Eurovision, migration stories, migration law, Russia, Germany, multiculturalism in Australia, classical music, how to have a career in music, family, fatherhood, love, marriage, father of daughters, cancer diagnosis, terminal cancer, cars, hot rods.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Learn how Melanie Mooney climbed the invisible ladder to the top of her profession.

Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast hosted by Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper. In this second episode of a two-part special, we delve into the pivotal moments that lifted the 50-year ban on women's football in England. From the formation of the Women's Football Association, to looking at the birth of the Lionesses and their first official international match. This episode looks at the pioneering women and their allies who revived the game in the 1960s, building grassroots clubs, fighting for recognition to pave the way for women's football today. Tune in to hear all about the history of the women's game.00:00 The End of the Ban00:28 Picking Up the Pieces: Women's Football After the Ban00:53 The 1960s Revival: Grassroots and New Teams03:10 The Impact of England's 1966 World Cup Win07:54 Building a Movement: Key Figures and Early Clubs10:56 Struggles for Facilities and Recognition12:50 International Influence21:22 The Formation of the Women's Football Association24:32 The FA's Changing Attitude and Official Recognition27:20 The First Women's FA Cup and International Competitions29:40 Tensions: Unofficial vs. Official Tournaments36:52 The Lost Lionesses: Mexico 1971 and Unrecognised Pioneers40:26 The First Official Lionesses Game: Scotland vs. England, 197245:44 Media Coverage and Social Attitudes47:44 Timeline: From the First Match to Modern Success50:08 Reflections: The Legacy of the Pioneers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We get an inside look this week from Paul Sage, founder and CEO of Ruckus Games. Inspired by Ultima 3, he worked his way up to lead designer of Ultima Online, to Borderlands 3 and more. Now working on a new project at Ruckus, we talk LEDs to 2600, Multima and when players outsmart you - this week! This week's episode contains mentions of suicide. Viewer discretion is advised.Episode Highlights[00:00:00] Intro: Meet Paul Sage[00:09:15] Founding Ruckus Games: Origins of the Studio and the NamePaul shares how Ruckus Games was formed, why the name was chosen, and the vision that inspired its creation.[00:15:27] Surviving in Games: Do You Really Need a Hit?A candid discussion about the brutal economics of game development, why hits matter, and whether smaller successes can still keep a studio alive.[00:17:30] From Borderlands to Ruckus: Building a Team During a PandemicPaul reflects on bringing together the original Borderlands crew, the challenges of forming a studio during COVID, and why this team made sense.[00:21:04] Growing Up in Texas: Consoles, Coding, and Falling in Love with GamesFrom playing on a Merlin to coding in BASIC, Paul's early years in Texas shaped his passion for computers, games, and Ultima Online.[00:34:50] From QA Tester to Designer: Breaking Into the IndustryThanks to a chance connection, Paul lands his first QA role — and through long nights and relentless work, makes his way onto the Ultima Online design team[00:50:26] Tabula Rasa: Hard Lessons and E3's All-Time LowPaul opens up about leading Tabula Rasa, the struggles of working with ideas he didn't believe in, and the infamous E3 moment that nearly broke the team.[00:59:37] Bethesda and Beyond: Learning Structure and Gaining ConfidenceAfter leaving Tabula Rasa, Paul joins Bethesda and ZeniMax Online, where strong processes and leadership lessons gave him the confidence to launch his own studio, Ruckus Games.[01:02:15] Borderlands 3 and Beyond: Finding Joy and Fixing a Broken IndustryPaul looks back on the success of Borderlands 3, why the industry needs change, and how Ruckus Games is built on lessons learned to create a healthier path forward.[1:09:04] Outro: Closing RemarksSupport the showThank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron MarroquinFind us at www.thefourthcurtain.com Join our Patreon for early, ad-free episodes plus bonus content at https://patreon.com/FourthCurtain Come join the conversation at https://discord.gg/KWeGE4xHfeVideos available at https://www.youtube.com/@thefourthcurtainFollow us on Twitter: @fourthcurtainEdited and mastered at https://noise-floor.com Audio Editor: Bryen HensleyVideo Editor: Sarkis GrigorianProducer: Kimya TaheriArt: Paul RusselCommunity Manager: Doug ZartmanFeaturing Liberation by 505

It's Thursday, and time for our Week in Politics with the Times Picayune's/The Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today, we discuss President Trump's proposal to send the National Guard to New Orleans and how Gov. Jeff Landry has responded. Ask anyone in New Orleans, and they know: Hurricane Katrina was such a devastating disaster because of the catastrophic failure of the city's levee system. In the storm's wake, the federal government built an entirely new levee system, and the state created entirely new organizations to oversee it. Despite the upgrades, water policy critics are warning that politics could be undermining the city's most important protection against the next storm. The coastal desk's Eva Tesfaye tells us more. You have an idea, and you convince your friends to join you in realizing it.  They move to another city, in this case, New Orleans. But just before that vision is about to take center stage, Katrina hits.That's what happened to The NOLA Project when they were getting ready for their first production as a theatre company in 2005. But the group returned to the city and persevered, often performing their works outside of traditional venues and in “found spaces.”Founder Andrew Larimer and original company member and second artistic director, AJ Allegra, tell us more about the theatre's unique origin story.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you!  Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

We are joined again this week by Steve Matthews from Exposing the Cults to take another look into the world of Burning Man and Transformational Festivals. Our guest has attended Burning Man and has studied, written on, and has spoken about this growing phenomenon for several years now, and brings us years of his thinking and analysis on this subject in this episode. Matthews likes to point out that, "Young people today are not rushing out and joing groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses these days. Instead, they are pursuing other spiritual paths like Burning Man and other similar Transformational Festivals. Everything is changing now to new forms of spirituality in our culture." In this episode we delve into the hard to explain nature of these festivals and describes what goes on at them, as well as uncover the true history of Burning Man and then give a critical response to the emerging Pagan worldview behind Transformational Festival culture. You can order his full-length joural article from the Spiritual Counterfeits Project here at - https://scp-inc.org/product/the-burning-truth/ You can also follow episodes on the Exposing the Cults YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ExposingtheCults

Money isn't just about math, it's about mindset. In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with Jaspreet Singh, entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Minority Mindset, to break down the rules of money, investing, and wealth-building. Jaspreet shares why the wealthy treat taxes as a playbook, how to prepare for recessions and inflation, and why owning real assets like real estate, gold, and Bitcoin is key. He also opens up about the cultural lessons that shaped his financial mindset and the importance of being bold enough to figure things out. Whether you're an investor or entrepreneur, this conversation will give you clarity and courage to play the money game wisely. In this episode, Darius and Jaspreet will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Money and Financial Education (02:51) Jaspreet Singh's Origin Story (05:52) Transitioning from Medicine to Money (08:33) The Rise of Minority Mindset (11:31) Navigating the Current Economic Landscape (14:36) Investment Strategies for the Average Person (17:25) Understanding Risk and Active Investing (20:07) The Tulip Mania and Investment Lessons (23:02) Crypto: Store of Value or Speculative Asset? (26:36) Building a Portfolio of Cash Flowing Assets (36:46) Understanding Economic Trends and Predictions (42:53) Investing Strategies in Uncertain Times (47:09) Overcoming Barriers to Success Jaspreet Singh is the #1 ranked financial influencer and founder of the popular Minority Mindset YouTube channel, with over 2 million subscribers. He is also the creator of Briefs Media, a platform offering newsletters and courses that simplify complex financial topics for everyday investors. Recognized as Benzinga's Top Financial Influencer of 2021, Jaspreet has been featured on leading podcasts hosted by Lewis Howes, Tom Bilyeu, Steven Bartlett, and Jay Shetty. His commitment to clarity and integrity in financial education has made him a trusted voice for millions. Connect with Jaspreet: Newsletter: https://briefs.co/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaspreet-singh-6930a649/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeofpaaji/  Twitter: https://x.com/minoritym1ndset/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MinorityMindset  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nurses Out Loud – Ashley and Dave sit down with Nurse Nicole to uncover her story in this heartfelt episode. Known for her mix of humor, strength, and honesty, Nicole shares glimpses of her perseverance and the courage it takes to hold the line. Listeners discover the warmth, resilience, and authenticity that make her unforgettable among friends and colleagues...

Ever wonder how great dealmakers got their start?Some began with childhood lemonade stands. Others learned through necessity when family circumstances required quick business education. A few discovered their talents through door-to-door sales or car flipping as teenagers.But here's what's fascinating: every successful dealmaker has an origin story that reveals the early development of skills that would later drive millions in transactions.In this best of compilation from the DealQuest Podcast, you'll hear from over a dozen successful business leaders sharing their very first deals - from Thomas Samuelson negotiating his way out of Philadelphia to Sunny Vanderbeck subcontracting lawn care in elementary school.What you'll discover: How childhood businesses teach fundamental negotiation principles Why early sales experiences translate directly to deal success The common patterns that predict future dealmaking ability How adversity often accelerates business skill development And much more Whether you're developing your own deal skills or helping others recognize their potential, these stories provide insights into how business instincts develop and grow. • • •FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE:https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/originstories• • •FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER:https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/http://coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today!

Nurses Out Loud – Ashley and Dave sit down with Nurse Nicole to uncover her story in this heartfelt episode. Known for her mix of humor, strength, and honesty, Nicole shares glimpses of her perseverance and the courage it takes to hold the line. Listeners discover the warmth, resilience, and authenticity that make her unforgettable among friends and colleagues...

Vinny of ⁨@monsoon_tactical⁩ explains he took a huge risk to start his company. MEMBERS SAW THIS EARLY!!! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJPQQ7dTlBGs8dKL-6F1bYg/join Join The GUN CLUB https://discord.gg/5RHqPV5kGV

In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, we sit down with the visionary Doc Jana—author, mystic, former DEI consultant, and certified death doula—to explore what it really means to lead with heart in a world on fire.We talk about embracing awkwardness, navigating spiritual awakenings, stepping away from performative professionalism, and time traveling into a more just and joyful 2035. Doc shares her journey from growing up as an army brat to founding Manifest Equity® and helping people imagine a radically better future, starting from within.We also touch on:Burnout in DEI and the cost of being “the only one”The connection between birth, death, and leadershipThe fall of capitalism (yes, we go there)Why joy is a form of resistanceHow to anchor yourself when everything's shiftingThis one goes deep. And yes, there will be a part two! In the meantime, tune in, take a breath, and maybe even schedule some joy time.Podcast Chapters(0:00:07) - Felicia and Rachel Intro(0:13:47) - Welcome Doc! Doc's Origin Story(0:26:07) - Navigating Time Travel and Spiritual Alignment(0:36:10) - Spiritual Responsibility and Cultivating Joy(0:46:53) - Awakening and Collective Transformation(0:50:52) - The Transformative Power Dynamics of DEI(0:54:39) - Navigating Spiritual Transition and PurposeLinksDoc JanaA Psychic Story Podcast InterviewManifest Equity®  Visit us at InclusionGeeks.com to stay up to date on all the ways you can make the workplace work for everyone! Check out Inclusion Geeks Academy and InclusionGeeks.com/podcast for the code to get a free mini course.

Episode 297: In this special solo episode, Vonda LaFever, AIFD, takes us on a heartfelt journey through her 50 years in the floral industry. From her very first Saturday job at a flower shop in Ames, Iowa, to building her own business alongside her husband, to founding Flower Clique, Vonda shares the lessons that shaped her career and her life.She reflects on mentors who taught her the importance of commitment, quality, and mechanics; the joy of teamwork and community; and the milestones that come from family, friends, and faith. Most of all, this episode is a celebration of passion, resilience, and the belief that when you keep learning and share what you know, you not only grow yourself—you elevate everyone around you.

On this episode of the BobbyCast, Bobby spoke with Jay Renshaw, who also goes by 'Chit' from his character he plays on TikTok. Jay dove into the origin story behind the character Chit and his background on moving to LA at 18 years old to be an actor. Bobby also asks Jay about being credited for being in the famous sitcom 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', which Jay says he shouldn't get much credit for and was cut late in the season finale which was heartbreaking for him. Plus, Bobby shares the details behind all of his most infamous beefs with country artists in Nashville. From Florida Georgia Line to Kacey Musgraves. Plus, the celebrity who sent him a mean DM after he won Dancing with the Stars that came out of nowhere!Follow on Instagram: @TheBobbyCast Follow on TikTok: @TheBobbyCast Watch this Episode on YoutubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to reinvent yourself while staying true to who you are? In this episode of The Greatness Machine, actress, writer, and entrepreneur Michelle Argyris opens up about her extraordinary path, from the world of acting to launching Windtuition Wellness. She shares how her experiences in the entertainment industry shaped her perspective on resilience, creativity, and the importance of listening to your inner compass. Michelle also discusses the courage it takes to pivot, the discipline required to chase big dreams, and why building practices that nurture both mind and body is essential for long-term success.  In this episode, Darius and Michelle will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Michelle Argyris (01:27) Michelle's Origin Story and Journey (07:05) Overcoming Rejection in the Entertainment Industry (11:08) The Importance of Supporting Dreams (12:57) Cultural Adaptation in LA (15:07) Intuition and Inner Knowing (20:15) The Power of the Subconscious Mind (22:45) Integrating Heart and Mind in Business (24:05) Creating a Safe Work Environment (27:15) From Acting to Wellness: A Personal Journey (35:38) The Transformative Power of Psychedelics (41:42) Integration and Transformation through Experience (43:03) The Healing Power of Psychedelics (45:53) Transitioning to Wind Tuition Wellness (47:11) Breathwork: A Path to Healing (48:53) Exploring Psychic Mediumship (57:08) Personal Insights and Reflections (57:52) Empowering Women through SheCode (59:28) Creating Impact in Business and Life Michelle Argyris is a Canadian actress, entrepreneur, and holistic wellness practitioner. A former elite athlete turned actress, she has starred in films and TV series including General Hospital, Shadowhunters, and several Lifetime movies. Beyond her entertainment career, she is the founder of Windtuition Wellness, where she guides high-achieving women through breathwork, energy healing, and embodiment practices. Drawing from her own journey of resilience and self-discovery, Michelle helps others reconnect with their intuition, embrace balance, and step into their fullest selves. Sponsored by: Constant Contact: Try Constant Contact free for 30 days at constantcontact.com. Express VPN: Secure your online data today with ExpressVPN. Go to expressvpn.com/darius. Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/darius.  Shopify: Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/darius.  Jerry: Save $1,300/year on car insurance with Jerry at Jerry.ai/greatness.  [DISCLAIMER: *Based on drivers who switched and saved with Jerry over the past twelve months.  Over 20% of drivers who switched with Jerry found a monthly premium of $87 or less. Not all drivers find savings.] Connect with Michelle: Website: https://www.windtuitionwellness.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_argyris/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.argyris/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_argyris  Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleArgyris  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices