Podcasts about Profession

Vocation founded upon specialized educational training

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Latest podcast episodes about Profession

Disruptive CEO Nation
Ep 328 Bold Women in Business: Take the Leap & Make the Ask with Maria Doughty, CEO of The Chicago Network; Chicago, IL, USA

Disruptive CEO Nation

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 36:42


What separates successful women leaders from the rest often comes down to curiosity, courage, and the willingness to use their voice. In this special episode honoring International Women's Month, I had the pleasure of speaking with Maria Doughty, CEO of The Chicago Network, an organization made up of some of the most influential women leaders across Chicago's business, nonprofit, healthcare, and government sectors. Maria shares the key traits she sees in extraordinary women leaders, including intellectual curiosity, humility, and a deep commitment to civic engagement. We explore the importance of advocacy, making the ask, and building authentic professional relationships that create opportunities over time. Maria also discusses why women should pursue board service earlier in their careers, how advisory boards can be powerful leadership training grounds, and why executive presence and personal brand play a critical role in professional success. Above all, Maria reminds us that women supporting women remains one of the most powerful forces for creating opportunity and lasting change. Here are the highlights: ● Traits of Exceptional Leaders: The most successful women leaders share intellectual curiosity, humility, and a strong commitment to civic engagement.● The Power of the Ask: Women must confidently articulate what they need and clearly make the ask in professional conversations. ● Why Civic Engagement Matters: Involvement in community and civic organizations often leads to powerful relationships and new opportunities. ● The Value of Board Experience: Serving on advisory or corporate boards helps women build leadership, governance, and strategic decision-making skills. ● Executive Presence & Personal Brand: How leaders show up, communicate, and present themselves shapes their influence and career trajectory.   About the guest: Maria Doughty is the CEO of The Chicago Network, the premier organization of Chicagoland's most influential women leaders. Since joining in 2020, she has guided the organization through the global pandemic while strengthening its strategic vision, modernizing operations, and deepening member engagement. Maria brings extensive experience in insurance, financial services, public policy, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management, with a career that includes senior leadership roles at Allstate Insurance Company. She currently serves on several boards and advisory bodies, including The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Roosevelt University, and the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Maria is passionate about servant leadership, civic engagement, and advancing opportunities for the next generation of women leaders. She lives in Chicago with her husband and has two grown sons.   Connect with Maria: Website: thechicagonetwork.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-doughty/   Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/ Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/  #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BNI & The Power of One
BNI 885: Struggling to Get a Profession In the Chapter

BNI & The Power of One

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 12:31


we answer a submitted question about strategies to get a specific profession to join the chapter.

Archispeak
#383 - Why We Still Love This Profession

Archispeak

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026 54:04 Transcription Available


In this episode of Archispeak, we catch up after Evan's trip to New York City and the AECtech conference, where he moderated a panel with design technology leaders who've climbed all the way into firm leadership. We also talk about the continuing education grind it takes just to keep our licenses alive, why there's really no such thing as “architecture without technology” anymore, and how technologists are quietly becoming some of the most strategic voices in practice. From the culture and community around AECtech's workshops and hackathon, to studio juries that ask students whether they actually had fun, to wandering Heatherwick's Little Island and wrestling with the idea that architecture is allowed to be whimsical and purely experiential, we connect the dots between career paths, culture-building, and remembering why we fell in love with this profession in the first place.-----Have a question for the hosts? Ask it at AskArchispeak.comThank you for listening to Archispeak. For more episodes please visit https://archispeakpodcast.com.Support Archispeak by making a donation.

The Discovery Pod
Opportunity Spotlight: Canadian Society Of Landscape Architects With Matthew Mills & Teri Cantin, Board Members

The Discovery Pod

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 24:26


The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA) is searching for its next Executive Director—a pivotal role that goes far beyond traditional association management.Are you ready to join a passionate, “fun, nerdy, quirky, cool” team of professionals dedicated to solving some of Canada's most pressing challenges? In this spotlight episode, CSLA President Matthew Mills and Board Member Teri Cantin peel back the layers on the profession and the association, revealing why this is a unique leadership opportunity.Discover how the new Executive Director will:Lead a Profession in Demand: Navigate rapid growth and the urgent need to train the next generation of Landscape Architects.Drive National Impact: Spearhead initiatives touching on climate change, urban health, reconciliation, and social equity.Embrace Volunteer Addiction: Work with a high-functioning, nationally collaborative board characterized by high passion and low ego.If you are a collaborative leader eager to leverage a strong organizational foundation to “springboard into the next echelon” and make a tangible difference in the built and natural environments, your time is now.Listen to our full interview with Matthew Mills and Teri Cantin to hear more about the CSLA's exciting strategic vision, the importance of culture alignment, and why the time for landscape architecture in Canada is now.

VOIES
EP 133 - Développer sa posture d'entrepreneur, #pointsdevue avec Lucile Drouet et Sandra Furlan

VOIES

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 43:02


Créer une matière. Travailler pendant des années dans son atelier. Puis comprendre qu'un artisan d'art doit aussi devenir entrepreneur.Dans cet épisode, nous reçevons Lucile Drouet, fondatrice de l'Atelier Loxiale, qui développe depuis plus de dix ans un travail autour des matières souples, et notamment du liège.À ses côtés, Sandra Furlan, fondatrice de l'agence MDMA Paris, qui accompagne les artisans d'art dans le développement de leur activité.Elles racontent leur travail ensemble, les déclics, les doutes, les outils à mettre en place… et ce moment où l'on apprend à défendre la valeur de son travail.Le projet canopée pour le tronc d'arbre citée dans le podcast a été réalisé avec l'aide de Lionel Accorsi et Clitous Bramble.Si vous avez aimé l'épisode, n'oubliez pas les 5 étoiles sur Apple podcast ou Spotify ;)Enfin, si vous voulez décrypter l'artisanat d'art avec nous, inscrivez-vous à notre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ et rejoignez-nous sur les réseaux sociaux @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠artisansdavenir⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).Si vous voulez acheter le livre "Profession artisan d'art" que nous avons écrit, il est disponible dans toutes les librairies et peut se commander ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠depuis notre site internet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Pour nous rejoindre, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ c'est par ici⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠

The Audit Podcast
Ep 277: Key Risks, New Research, and the Future of the Profession w/ Anthony Pugliese (President of the IIA)

The Audit Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 41:08


This week, our guest is Anthony Pugliese, President and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors.   Anthony joins the show as he approaches his five-year anniversary leading the IIA, reflecting on the major milestones and progress the organization has made during that time. He shares a look back at key initiatives from the past five years and discusses what the next phase could look like for the profession.   We also talk about several recent research efforts, including the 2026 Risk in Focus survey and the joint report with AuditBoard on AI driven fraud. Anthony highlights a few key trends auditors should be watching, particularly as organizations navigate emerging technology risks and evolving expectations around governance and oversight.   Finally, Anthony explains two initiatives aimed at strengthening the future of the profession: the Global Audit Committee Center, which supports stronger engagement with audit committees, and VisionU, a development program designed for new and aspiring chief audit executives.   Be sure to connect with Anthony on LinkedIn. 6:02 - AI Tips 11:03 - 5 Years as IIA President 14:32 - Strategy and the New Internal Audit Standards 14:32 - Why "Simple" Implementations Rarely Actually Simple 17:40 - Key Insights from Risk in Focus 2026 and the AI Fraud Report 21:50 - AI Literacy and Training in Internal Audit 24:26 - The Audit Committee Center 27:54 - How to Join the Audit Committee center 33:25 - Experienced CAE resources 35:35 – Final Thoughts 38:26 - Best advice for CAEs from Anthony Pugliese   Be sure to connect with Mark on LinkedIn. Also, be sure to follow us on our social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.   Also be sure to sign up for The Audit Podcast newsletter and to check the full video interview on The Audit Podcast YouTube channel.   This podcast is brought to you by Greenskies Analytics, the services firm that helps auditors leap-frog up the analytics maturity model. Their approach for launching audit analytics programs with a series of proven quick-win analytics will guarantee the results worthy of the analytics hype.    Whether your audit team needs a data strategy, methodology, governance, literacy, or anything else related to audit and analytics, schedule time with Greenskies Analytics.

Stacking Slabs
Passion to Profession: Building Lasorda's Card House on Trust, Football, and eBay Live

Stacking Slabs

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 40:06


Tommy Lasorda didn't inherit a card business.He got fired during the pandemic and decided to bet on himself.In this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, Tommy shares how he went from working as a breaker in someone else's shop to launching Lasorda's Card House in March 2025We talk about:Why he walked away from allocation and buys only what his customers wantHow repacks, done right, protect value and trustWhy football became the focusThe Gold Kaboom Mahomes moment that accelerated growth Why customer care matters more than short-term marginIf you care about trust, reputation, and playing the long game in this hobby, this one is for you.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Health on the Hill
Profession Suppression Edition

Health on the Hill

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 10:30


Bipartisan Group Comments on ‘Professional Degree' Proposed Rule Lawmakers Ask HHS Secretary to Address NIH Advisory Council Vacancies House Oversight Committee Continues MN Fraud Investigation Energy and Commerce Committee Expands Medicaid Fraud Investigation Sens. Grassley, Wyden Inquire about OPTN Spending Latest Congressional Resignations/Retirements and more...

Feel Free Again with Cole James
047: Retirement as a Grief Event: How to Navigate One of Life's Most Major Transitions

Feel Free Again with Cole James

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 59:54


In this episode of the Feel Free Again podcast, grief recovery specialist Joe Dubowski shares his transformative journey from tech professional to marriage and family therapist. After experiencing the unimaginable loss of his daughter in a shooting, Joe turned to grief recovery methods, which not only helped him process his emotions but also led him to dedicate his life to helping others navigate grief. With over 15 years of experience, Joe offers valuable insights into the often overlooked stages of grief and how we can find healing through focused emotional work. During the conversation, Joe reveals how retirement can be a powerful grief event that often goes unaddressed, leaving people with unresolved emotions. He shares his own personal experience in approaching this life transition with the tools of grief recovery, showing how completing emotional work allowed him to retire on his terms, with peace and clarity. This episode is an eye-opening discussion for anyone facing a major life change, whether it be retirement, loss, or other significant life shifts. Tune in as Joe emphasizes the importance of recognizing grief in all aspects of life, even in places where society doesn't typically acknowledge it. From career changes to personal losses, Joe's story highlights how grief recovery tools can help individuals complete unfinished emotional business and embrace new chapters in life. If you're ready to dive deeper into your own grief and learn how to process it effectively, this episode is a must-listen. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:04 - Introduction to Joe Dowski and His Background 02:52 - Joe Reflects on the Loss of His Daughter 06:37 - Transition from Tech to Grief Recovery and Therapy 09:03 - The Impact of Losing a Child and Joe's Grief Journey 12:11 - How Joe Discovered the Grief Recovery Handbook 15:09 - Joe's First Experience with the Grief Recovery Method 18:22 - Joe's Transition into Grief Recovery Work as a Profession 21:48 - Recognizing Grief Beyond the Obvious Losses 25:31 - Joe Talks About Retirement as a Grief Event 28:44 - The Role of Grief in Retirement and Life Transitions 32:15 - How Grief Recovery Tools Helped Joe Complete His Career 36:01 - The Importance of Getting Complete with Past Grief 49:21 - Final Thoughts on Grief, Transition, and the Power of Emotional Healing About the Host: Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it. We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary. Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more. For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/ 

Psychoanalysis On and Off the Couch
A Candidate Engages Patients Who are 'Difficult to Reach' with Pamela Polizzi, LCSW (New York)

Psychoanalysis On and Off the Couch

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 55:39


"This came from an experience with a patient. It was early in my analytic training, and I was working with a supervisor who I really admired, and worked with her for a number of years. She was post-Kleinian, and was great at interpretation, formulation, and she was really helpful with just starting to guide me towards a lot of this work. I remember describing to her a patient session, and I was going through my process notes, and I said, 'I feel like the patient is inside of me. I feel like they want something that's in me, and I don't know what it is, and I can't quite access my own self, I don't know what to do'. It was through this initial experience where I really felt why analytic training versus other less intense training, we were also right at the time doing infant development, offered so much. It was early in my training and she suggested I think about an infant or even a toddler when they want something from their parents - they want something from their mother. The mother kind of feels this kind of gripping or this yearning from them, the baby wanting something. I started to think of my patients, not as infants or babies, but that what I was feeling was that there was something that the person I was working with needed, and they didn't have words yet to tell me what that was."    Episode Description: We begin by recognizing the unique journeys that lead clinicians to become psychoanalysts. Pam shares with us her initial exposure to dynamic thinking but felt that she was missing some awareness of what was happening in herself and in the patients she was working with - "I was curious...I wanted to go deeper, to know more." This led her to enroll in full-time analytic training. She shares with us her understanding of the 'difficult to reach patients' that she was treating and presents a fictionized case that represents the many countertransference struggles she faced. She noted that "instead of the patient realizing that she wanted something from me, she instead felt attacked by me." Supervision was essential in helping her make sense of her experiences and of learning to 'listen to the music'. We close by noting her open-ended curiosity and interest in learning more - lifelong attributes of analysts who continue to take pleasure in our work.   Our Guest: Pamela Polizzi, LCSW maintains a full-time private practice in New York City. She specializes in working with patients struggling with eating disorders, complex personality struggles, anxiety, depression, relational trauma, and life transitions. She earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) in Advanced Standing Clinical Practice from Fordham University at Lincoln Center in 2011. Currently, she is an Advanced Candidate at the Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the Contemporary Freudian Society (CFS) in Manhattan, working toward becoming a psychoanalyst. She completed a 2015 Two-Year Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Certificate in the Integrated Treatment of Eating Disorders from the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP), Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia (CSAB). She also completed the Contemporary Freudian Society's (CFS) Two-Year Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program in 2019.  Recommended Readings: Readings for Psychoanalytic Candidates:  Bach, S. (2011). The How-To Book For Students of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. Karnac.   Busch, F. (2021). Dear Candidates: Analysts From Around The World Offer Personal Reflections on Psychoanalytic Training, Education, and The Profession. Routledge.    Readings on Clinical Practice with the Patient who is Difficult to Reach:   Bollas, C. (1996). Borderline Desire. Int. Forum Psychoanal., (5)(1):5-9.   Joseph. B., Feldman, M., & Spillius, M. (1989). Psychic Equilibrium and Psychic Change: Selected Papers of Betty Joseph. New Lib. of Psycho-Anal., (9):1-222. (on Pep-web).  Joseph, B. (1975) The patient who is difficult to reach.  Joseph, B. (1982) Addiction to near-death.  Joseph, B. (1983) On understanding and not understanding: some technical issues.  Riesenberg-Malcolm, R. (1999). On Bearing Unbearable States of Mind. Routledge.    Steiner, J. (1993). Psychic Retreats: Pathological Organizations in Psychotic, Neurotic and Psychotic Patients. Routledge.    Winnicott, D.W. (1974). Fear of Breakdown. Int. R. of Psycho-Analysis. 1: 103-107.

Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church
Christ teaches us to ask God to give us a share of his bounty

Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 34:34


"The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season". - Psalm 145:15Preservice Song: Sing praise to God who reigns above:2, 4Votum and SalutationPsalm 24:1, 2, 3Profession of Faith: Nicene CreedHymn 4PrayerScripture Reading: Psalm 65:9-13Psalm 127:1, 2Sermon: Matthew 6:11 (page 811) withLord's Day 50, Heidelberg Catechism Christ teaches us to ask God to give us a share of his bounty.1. God waters our waiting furrows2. God's wagon tracks overflow with abundanceHymn 63:5Thanksgiving PrayerThanksgiving OfferingPsalm 65:5, 6BenedictionTime:AfternoonTexts:Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 50Matthew 6:11

Vet'o micro
Tribune - Marine Slove - Lettre à mes confrères ♂︎ : le temps des mots justes

Vet'o micro

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 11:39


Une tribune puissante et sans concession, écrite par Marine Slove, qui retrace l'histoire de la féminisation de la profession vétérinaire et interroge nos traditions, nos angles morts et notre culture collective. Un texte adressé à nos confrères masculins, pour comprendre comment nous en sommes arrivés là, et comment avancer ensemble.  Fille de magistrate, je porte en héritage le rejet du tribunal médiatique qui tente de se substituer à la justice et le respect absolu de la présomption d'innocence. Si j'écris aujourd'hui, c'est parce que mon engagement sur ces questions est ancien et que ce que je lis ces jours-ci ravive des réflexions. Inspirée par le contexte actuel, cette tribune ne porte en rien sur les procédures en cours.Marine Slove.Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church
Praise befits our God who surrounds us with his goodness

Edmonton Immanuel Canadian Reformed Church

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2026 18:25


"All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name". - Psalm 86:9Preservice Song: Hymn 29:1Votum and SalutationPsalm 27:210 Words of the CovenantPsalm 6:1, 2PrayerScripture Reading and text for sermon: Psalm 65:1-8Praise befits our God who surrounds us with his goodness1. God answers our searching hearts with righteousness2. God brings his chosen people into his blessingPsalm 34:3, 4Celebration of Lord's SupperProfession of faith: Hymn 1Song of preparation: Hymn 59Table reading: 1 John 1:1-4Song after communion: Psalm 107:1DoxologyThanksgiving PrayerThanksgiving OfferingPsalm 117BenedictionTime:MorningMinister:Rev. J. VanSpronsenTexts:Psalm 65:1–8

Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Kissing or Kicking the Son S30e174

Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 7:25 Transcription Available


God is not mocked.  He knows who is on His team.  He knows who KISSES him and who KICKS Him.But do WE KNOW who is on God's team. Let's look at both PROFESSION and PRACTICE: Who are you setting yourself in fellowship and service with each week? What are you regularly doing to experience AWE in His Word? These are ways you might know if you are kissing or kicking Him.Subscribe and share for another kiss tomorrow. https://youtu.be/CeNH229eQ9Y

THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST
Courage to Lead: NCLS Marks 33 Years at USAFA

THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2026 62:09


What does courage look like under fire? In captivity? In command? In service? This edition of Long Blue Leadership was recorded on location at the U.S. Air Force Academy's 33rd National Character and Leadership Symposium. We've explored these questions with our guests and captured the conversations for you. Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist for the Air Force Academy Association and Foundation, hosts this special episode featuring voices shaped by combat, crises and lifelong service. Their message to cadets is clear: Leadership is earned through character, and character is forged in hard moments. - Seg. 1: Lt. Col. Mark George and C1C Jaime Snyder, officer and NCLS cadet director, respectively, set the stage for this year's NCLS and for the podcast. - Seg. 2: Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel "DT" Del Toro on courage in times of crisis. - Seg. 3: Task Force Hope developer and facilitator Maj. Tara Holmes on preparing future leaders to handle crisis before it happens. - Seg. 4: Former POW Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier '64, on leading in circumstances out of your control. - Seg. 5: Annapolis grad and Vietnam-era aviator, Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb on how character breeds courage. All of our guest's lives and careers reflect the reality of this year's theme through combat, crisis and service.     CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS:  - Host, Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist, United States Air Force Academy Association and Foundation  - Seg. 1: C1C Jaime Snyder, NCLS Cadet Director; Lt. Col. Mark George, NCLS Officer  - Seg. 2: Senior Master Sargent Israel Del Toro  - Seg. 3: Maj. Tara Holmes, Task Force Hope  - Seg. 4: Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier '64  - Seg. 5: Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb   Ted Robertson 0:00 Welcome to Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of the 33rd annual National Character and Leadership Symposium. I'm Ted Robertson, multimedia and podcast specialist for the Air Force Academy Association & Foundation, coming to you from Polaris Hall located here at the United States Air Force Academy. This year's symposium centers on the theme Courage to Lead in the Profession of Arms: Combat and Crisis-tested Character, where attendees and cadets will explore how courage in all its forms shapes leaders when uncertainty, fear and consequence are real. Our coverage will start with the Center for Character and Leadership Development's Lt. Col. Mark George and NCLS director, Cadet 1st Class Jaime Snyder. They'll set the stage not only for NCLS, but for today's coverage. Then we'll talk with four key leaders speaking at the symposium, including Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel Del Torro on keeping courageous during times of crisis. We'll also talk with Task Force Hope developer and facilitator, Maj. Tara Holmes, on preparing leaders to handle crisis before it happens. Then, former POW, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier, USAFA Class of '64, on leading in circumstances out of your control. And finally, Annapolis grad and Vietnam-era aviator, Capt. (Ret.) J. Charles Plumb, on how character breeds courage. All of our guests' lives and careers reflect the reality of this year's theme through combat, crisis and service. So I want to bring in our first two guests to help, as I said, frame the discussion today. We're going to dig in to learn what this is all about and sort of the “why” behind it. Cadet Jaime Snyder, 2026 NCLS director. Cadet Snyder, you've helped lead the organizing of the National Character and Leadership Symposium — 33rd year for this, as you know, and part of that work, you've trained cadets and permanent party. I'm going to ask you to explain permanent party, all of which helps strengthen your own public speaking and leadership communication skills. You want to kind of expound on that a bit? C1C Jaime Snyder 2:20 Yes, sir. So a part of my role being in NCLS is to, one, provide the guidance, the support and resources on the cadet side to succeed. But what really makes NCLS special is that we integrate permanent party with cadets. So oftentimes me, in supporting and training permanent party, is giving them cadet perspective, because while they're over here and the Center for Character and Leadership Development, we're over there in the Cadet Wing, and I can be the mediator between both parties. Ted Robertson 2:46 Let's talk a little bit about permanent party. What does that term mean? Who does that describe? C1C Jaime Snyder 2:52 Oh yes. Permanent party describes the civilian and military faculty that works in the Center for Character and Leadership Development that assists with the execution of NCLS — the National Character and Leadership Symposium. Ted Robertson 3:05 How big is the team behind this event every year? C1C Jaime Snyder 3:08 It's kind of complex where we'll get search cadets. We'll get a large number of volunteers, approximately around 300 from the Cadet Wing. Internal staff consists of 50 cadets who work it throughout the entire year, and around 50 staff members who are permanent party who work in the Center for Character and Leadership Development. Ted Robertson 3:29 I want to bring in next Lt. Col. Mark George, who is the experiential and training division chief and NCLS program director, the very fortunate man that gets to work for some incredibly talented cadets. Col. Mark George 3:43 That is absolutely true. Thanks to for having us on. Cadet Snyder has done an outstanding job leading this team. I came into this a little bit late. You know, we've had some reorganization here at the Academy, and after some shuffling, I got the honor and the privilege to take over NCLS while the planning was well underway. So my job was to just make sure this train kept rolling, that people had the resources that they needed, the top cover they needed. And as Jamie said, he was training me as a permanent party member to make sure that I had the cadet perspective. And then, you know, we were moving this ball forward as we got to this event. Ted Robertson 4:23 So coming up in the podcast we'll get to the sort of “why” and what's at the core of NCLS. Colonel, let's start with you. What is National Character and Leadership Symposium designed to do for cadets?   Col. Mark George 4:38 Sure. The National Character and Leadership Symposium — NCLS — is designed to bring exemplars that embody the core values and the traits that we want cadets to have when they become leaders on Day 1 and inspire them to a lifetime of service.   Ted Robertson 4:57 Cadet Snyder?   C1C Jaime Snyder 4:59 We definitely see at USAFA, there is a clear correlation with NCLS and character development. One thing we want cadets to get out of NCLS is to further develop leaders of character who are going to join the fight in the Air Force and Space Force, and that's why I see the epitome of NCLS as it's an opportunity to hear people's perspectives as well as learn from it and apply it to their daily lives. Ted Robertson 5:24 Gentlemen, this year's theme focuses on the courage to lead in the profession of arms. Cadet Snyder, we'll start with you. How did that theme come together, and why is it especially relevant for cadets right now? C1C Jaime Snyder 5:40 With our current structure at USAFA, we've had some implement of change. We recognize that the future war conflict is more prevalent than ever, and that it's important for the cadets to understand that we're changing the way we approach training, as well as what we're learning in curriculum. So this NCLS was an incredible opportunity to discuss courage when leading in the profession of arms, but furthermore, courage and crises-tested character. Which is what we're trying to further push along with what we do in training as well as what we teach in leadership. Ted Robertson 6:15 You make good decisions when your character is strong. You make those decisions with integrity when your character is intact and it's strong. Would you agree with that, Colonel? Col. Mark George 6:25 Absolutely. And I think Cadet Snyder hit the nail on the head that we really want the cadets to understand that the environments that they're stepping into are going to require that courage to do hard things. In my day, like we didn't necessarily think about the fight in that way. You know, we were kind of stovepiped in. And these cadets, whatever environment they may be stepping into, the next conflict is going to require a lot, a high demand of them, and their character is their foundation for that. Ted Robertson 6:59 One of the things you can say about this event is that it brings together voices from combat, crisis, athletics, academia and industry. How intentional is that mix, Cadet Snyder, and what do cadets gain from hearing such different perspectives on leadership and character? C1C Jaime Snyder 7:18 I think by hearing different perspectives, you get to see how universal courage is. When we say courage, it's not just one thing, it's also moral, social, spiritual. And by looking at different versions of courage, you can understand that there's different ways to actually apply courage. Understanding that courage is not the absence of fear, also knowing that courage is not simply being a confident individual. That it's more complex than you may define courage, and so you can then apply it that way — by looking at different perspectives. Ted Robertson 7:53 Colonel, I'll address this one to you as well. Col. Mark George 7:56 Sure. Courage — we're talking about courage here, and there's a heavy focus on the combat side with this year's speakers. The thing that sticks out to me is that courage always involves a decision to do the hard thing. And that's what all of our speakers brought this year. They're showing how in different environments, whether it's in a prison cell in Hanoi or up on the Space Station or — there's a hard decision and the right thing is sometimes pretty obvious, but it doesn't mean it's easy. It does not mean it's easy to do. And so courage always involves a decision to do the right thing. Ted Robertson 8:39 Cadet Snyder? C1C Jaime Snyder 8:40 What he said I find to be very true — understanding that courage is not simply doing something physical, but also in a leadership role, especially — we're talking to cadets who are going to soon be commissioned officers. It's important to know that you need to make the right decision on and off the battlefield. Ted Robertson 8:58 So from your perspective as a cadet — and this one is just for you, Cadet Snyder — what does it mean to help shape an event like NCLS while you're still developing as a leader yourself? C1C Jaime Snyder 9:10 What I've seen through NCLS is taking the time to relax. Don't focus on the future and focus where you're at right now, and that's character development. So don't let the pursuit of tomorrow diminish the joy today. We all have this aspiration to graduate, throw our hats in the air, Thunderbirds fly over. But right now it's important to focus on character development as that's going to be important as future officers. Ted Robertson 9:35 That makes 1,000% very clear sense. But I do want to ask you, less than 100 days from the day you toss your hat — you're giving me a big smile right now — talk about how that feels right now for you. C1C Jaime Snyder 9:47 It's incredible, and a part of it is less daunting, because I can say this institution has really prepared me to commission, and so it's more liberating than daunting for me. Ted Robertson 9:58 Col. George, I'm going to direct this one straight to you, and this is an ask of you from the leadership perspective: How do we events Like NCLS fit into the broader effort to intentionally develop leaders of character here at the Academy. Col. Mark George 10:14 So I get the honor of leading the experiential and training division in the Center for Character and Leadership Development. So we're all about creating experiences and those opportunities for cadets to have different types of environments where they'll learn about character. And right now, NCLS is an opportunity to listen to where people's character was tested, how they overcame it. And then we also have different events that we try to put the cadets in where we'll actually test their character. And that could be on the challenge tower, it could be through our character labs where we're having discussions. NCLS is a huge part of that, because the planning cycle is so long. Ted Robertson 10:59 Cadet Snyder? C1C Jaime Snyder 11:00 Yes, sir. One thing I wanted to add on to that is with NCLS, one thing that makes this event the most unique experience that I've had is the fact that we get to engage in meaningful dialog. This isn't a brief. This is an experience for everyone who attends. I've had the opportunity to talk to Col. George's son, who aspires to possibly come to the Air Force Academy. So I don't want to say this is just for cadets, but it's also a promotion tool. And understand that what we do at NCLS is very important. And anyone who wants to attend can come and see what we're doing and how important it is.   Col. Mark George 11:33 I want to thank you for that, by the way. He looks up to you, and that meant a lot.   Ted Robertson 11:37 That's pretty visionary stuff. That's touching the next generation. That's fantastic. All right, this is for you both. When cadets look back on NCLS years from now, what do you hope they're going to remember feeling or being challenged to do differently?   C1C Jaime Snyder 11:56 There is a very strong human component to NCLS, and with that, there's a human experience. Understanding that we're getting speakers and we'll see their bios that they're incredible. They have incredible stories of making the right decision when tensions were high, and getting to hear their stories and understand that they ultimately were no different than we are. Some of them were Air Force Academy graduates. Some graduated from the Naval Academy, West Point, other colleges, but they were young, 20-year-old people like we were as cadets. And so getting to understand where they're coming from, human experience is vital to NCLS, and how do we grow and understand where they're coming from? Ted Robertson 12:38 Col. George? Col. Mark George 12:39 Yeah, I think what I would want the cadets to remember is how these speakers made them feel. You're right, you won't remember every nugget of wisdom that was said. I just had the opportunity to talk with Gen. Scott Miller, and he was an incredible leader. And I feel like everything he was saying was gold. I wish I'd been able to write it down. But he really makes you feel like you understand just how important your role is going to be as a young leader. And when you come away as second lieutenants from this place, you've had incredible opportunities and now you're stepping out in the real world. I would think I want the cadets to remember that like, “Hey, what I do matters, and how I lead is very important to getting this mission done.”   Ted Robertson 13:24 Lt. Col. Mark George and C1C Jaime Snyder, officer and cadet in charge of the 33rd NCLS. Congratulations on the event. Well done, and thank you for spending time here with us on the podcast today. Hearing from both the cadet perspective and the senior leadership behind NCLS makes one thing very clear: This symposium is intentionally designed not just to inspire but to prepare future leaders for moments when character will be tested. And that brings me to my first featured guest, a man whose life story embodies what combat and crisis-tested character truly means. Israel “DT” Del Toro, welcome to the podcast. It's an honor to be with you here at the National Character and Leadership Symposium. Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Israel Del Toro 14:18 Thank you, Ted. Thanks for having me. Good to see you again.   Ted Robertson 14:21 Yes, it's not the first time we've gotten to spend some time together. Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 14:24 It's always great to talk to people, try and spread the word of the whole spark and the promise of my dad. Ted Robertson 14:30 The spark and the promises are the two things that really stood out to me about that interview — your heart and your soul man, from a very, very early age. Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 14:39 You know, losing my dad at 12, and then a year and a half later, losing my mom to a drunk driver, and being the oldest, you know, having to now kind of step up to be, like, the parent figure to my younger siblings. It was challenging.   Ted Robertson 14:55 Out of all of that, you wound up as a retired — you are currently a retired senior master sergeant. You took responsibility for your siblings, as you say, after you were orphaned as a teenager, and ultimately in the service combat-wounded airmen, and you survived catastrophic injuries against incredible odds, and that did not keep you down. One of the things that you did was you became an Invictus Games gold medalist. You're now a national speaker, and you talk a lot about resilience and purpose.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 15:27 Yes, sir. Yeah, Invictus, I won gold in shot put. It was pretty awesome. You know, everyone was just going nuts. Ted Robertson 15:37 You kind of make me feel like that was a soul-feeding, motivating time for you.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 15:42 It was. At that time, I was probably one of the senior guys, kind of. Obviously, I was one of the senior guys, wounded guys on the team, and so a lot of people looked up to me. And sometimes I wish — people would say, “Man, it's great. You're such trailblazer.” You're sometimes like, “Man, I just want to be one of the guys. I just, I just want to be No. 10.” You know, everything's all done, and no one's focusing everything on me. But it's a burden that I'm willing to carry on to try and continue to help people.   Ted Robertson 16:19 I want to linger here in your background a bit, because it's more than just impressive. I think impressive is pretty trite to describe what your background is. Let's start with before the Air Force and before combat, and just how your life demanded responsibility at such a young age. And what I want to ask is, how did stepping up for your family shape the leader that you became? Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 16:40 Well, I contribute that totally to my dad. I truly do. My dad was there. My dad, you know, I went everywhere with my dad. My dad — you know, he came from Mexico to this country, and he gave up a lot. You know, my family in Mexico is very wealthy, their ranchers and all that. He came here with nothing. And he always used to tell me, he's like, “Don't ever be envious of someone that's successful. Learn from them. Ask them questions.” He also used to tell me, “If you don't succeed, it's no one else's fault by yourself. Don't blame where you came from, where you grew up from, the situation. It is only your fault.” So my dad always had told me these little lessons and obviously the last lesson he gave me the night before he passed: Always take care of your family. And that just stayed with me, that kind of continued to shape me all throughout my life, all through my journey, at a young age to teenager to young adult to the military and to now, to this day, that really guided me to who I am. Now, it's like, I always hear people say, “Oh, man, I don't know if I can do it.” I was like, “Yeah, you can. You Just never know. You weren't ever put in that situation” I always believe — you always hear the fight or flight. “What are you gonna do?” I just fight, and I continue to fight. I just don't see the flight in me. And, you know, being the promise of take care of your family. Yes, I tell people, that originated with my family — my brothers and sisters. But throughout time it has evolved to now anyone I see that's having a hard time that needs maybe to hear a story or read a book or hear a journey to help them find that spark, because I see them now as my family. I see that as my family, as my mission now.   Ted Robertson 18:50 Let's stay with spark for a minute. It's just one of my favorite things that you've ever talked about. You're down, you've been badly burned, you're worried about whether you're going to survive, and a medic is helping you out, and he does something for you. He says something to you.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 19:07 Yeah, you know, the medic — I always like to say, you know, yes, I'm Air Force. Those guys were Army, and we bust each other's chops. But, we're all brothers and sisters, and we're down range, you know? We take care of each other, we tell stories, we talk about our family. So these guys knew what had happened in my past with my family. So when I'm, you know, laying there, after I coordinate getting air, and I started the adrenaline going down, I started getting scared. I was having a hard time breathing, and I just wanted to lay down and sleep. The medic came and reminded me, “DT, remember what you promised your son, that you'll never let him grow without his dad. Fight for your son. You got to fight for your son.” And he's just making me yell it. You use anything you can to keep your guy motivated, to help that spark go, keep going. And that's what he did. He found that spark to keep me going, to keep me fighting until that medevac came and to get me on that helicopter, to the FOB, to the hospital, and then to eventually San Antonio. Ted Robertson 20:24 After that injury, that's when the fight shifted. You had to get off the battlefield. You had to get that out of your head. You had to start battling for your recovery. So what did courage look like when progress seemed like it was slow and at one point nothing was guaranteed? Israel Del Toro 20:46 Yeah, it, you know, when he had a shift from now being on the battlefield to now a different kind of battle and your recovery, your way of life — it's difficult because you have people telling you this is what your life's going to be. You know, being told that you're never going to walk again. You got to be in a hospital for another year and a half, respirator for the rest of your life and your military career is pretty much over. You know, I like to say there's two choices again: Who you're going to be? Are you going to take the easy path, which is, I'm going to sit in a chair, accept what they say, hate life, you know, curse the world. Are you going to take the hard path where I want to fight? I'm going to show you I can do this. I'm going to prove that I still have value, and I want to come out of this ahead and show not only my son but the rest of the world. You stay positive, you find that spark, you will come out ahead. Ted Robertson 21:48 All right, last question on your background, because we're going to roll all this into why you're here and what messages you want to share with the cadets and the attendees that are here. You did something I don't think most human beings would even think about after that ordeal that you had been through all those years, everything. You reenlisted, and it wasn't just a medical milestone. It wasn't because you could, it was a conscious decision. So what internal commitment had to come first for you to make that decision. Israel Del Toro 22:22 You know, I guess it was, for me it was I loved my job. I knew I could teach, I could be prepare these next guys to [be] the next generation operators. Ted Robertson 22:38 You've never stopped being committed. You've never stopped. So it brings you to NCLS. This is the 33rd year for NCLS, and when you speak to cadets here, what message do you want them to take away with them? Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 22:53 I guess my message more is about that when you're in the military, no matter whatever happens to you, you still have a role to play. Even when I got hurt, did I miss being with my teammates? Yes, but now refocusing, OK, I'm here in this hospital, and I see all these wounded guys here as I guess I'm wounded also, but in my head is like I was still NCO in the Air Force. I still have a job to do. Yes, I'm hurt, I'm wounded, but the job of a leader is, no matter where you're at, is you try and take care of your troops. You try and make things better for them, even if you never see any of the benefits — that is your role. And so that's kind of what I want to leave with these guys that, you know, you're going to always have  challenges throughout your career, but you've always got to remember it's not about you, it's about the guys under you to take care of you. You know, I had a group of cadets yesterday and they were just asking me about leadership. So you know what? The best way to be a great leader is to earn the respect of yourtroops. If you demand it, you're not a leader, but when you earned the respect and they'll die for you, that is the greatest feeling. You know, I gave an example of one of the best moments I had after my injury, is after I got hurt, they sent my replacement, and he comes in and obviously introduce him to the scout team, to the Army company, individuals in leadership, and then the SF team, and all these guys I'm supporting. And the guy comes in like, “Hey, I'm here to replace DT.” And all of them, “You can't replace DT.” And I told that was the best moment that that's the best moment of respect, because I had Army guys saying, “He's our guy.” And that's the thing I told them, it's like, when you get to that moment when your guys say, “Nah, he's our guy,” I was like, “He can't replace him.” That is where you've truly earned the respect of your troops.   Ted Robertson 25:21 Israel, the only word that I can pull out of myself right now for your journey to describe it as “remarkable,” and you continue to give of yourself, and that's a wonderful thing. Your opportunity for a couple of final thoughts here, before we close out.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 25:38 Final thoughts, man, putting me on the spot, aren't you. I guess my final thoughts would be, you can't do it on your own. I'm not here right now, because I did it my own. I did it. I'm never gonna say that I did. I had friends, I had family, I had my wife that were by my side all throughout my journey to medical individuals. And I had those dark times, and I'm going down that spot, that rabbit hole, they were there to pull me out of it. So I think it's like, you know, don't try and do it on your own. We all need help. You know, the goal is, don't be prideful. There's a reason pride is one of the seven deadly sins. But, you know, ask for help, ask for advice. It's not going to hurt you. If anything, it will make you stronger and better. That's parting thoughts for the individuals listening to this. Ted Robertson 26:53 Perfect. Israel “DT” Del Toro, what a privilege to sit with you again. Want to say thank you from all of us for your service and continuing to lead by the example, which is a very rich and broad and deep example. Your story reminds us, and should remind us, that courage doesn't end with just survival. It always continues in service to others. Israel, thank you for being here.   Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro 27:18 Thanks, Ted. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me again.   Ted Robertson 27:21 Israel's story reminds us that crisis and moral injury don't always arrive on a schedule, and that leaders are often expected to navigate those moments without ever having been taught how. That's where our next conversation takes us: into the intentional work of preparing leaders before crisis arrives. Maj. Tara Holmes, welcome to the podcast. It's great to have you with us as part of the National Character and Leadership Symposium.   Maj. Tara Holmes  27:46 Thanks for having me; glad to be here.   Ted Robertson 27:48 You are currently deputy chief of staff here at Headquarters USAFA. You are formerly chief of cadet development for CCLD, the Center for Character and Leadership development. By way of background, you flew.   Maj. Tara Holmes  28:01 So I am a B-52 electronic warfare officer by trade, and then moved over into white jets. So instructed in the in the T-1 and I've kind of been in education and training for, I'd say, since about 2017.   Ted Robertson  28:19 You also hold a Doctorate in Business and Management, and you are an AETC master instructor. I will let you explain AETC.   Maj. Tara Holmes  28:27 Air Education Training Command, that's one of the that's our majcom that's responsible for education and training, and they have a pathway to become a master instructor. So I finished the qualifications for that while I was in white jets and working over at Squadron Officer School.   Ted Robertson  28:46 So let's talk about your work with Task Force Hope. We'll talk about what Task Force Hope is, but you are and have been a developer and facilitator of Task Force Hope, which is a crisis and moral injury leadership workshop.   Maj. Tara Holmes  29:01 Task Force Hope is about providing immediately useful tools to our workshop participants to prepare them to lead through crisis, whether that is no-kidding combat related, or whether that's crisis on the home front, going through stuff in life that's really hard. We work through a series of key concepts and exercises, through storytelling and participant engagement that hopefully provides our participants some self-awareness and some tools to recover as it deals with their relationships.   Ted Robertson  29:39 We talked about this. There's a lot of nuance in what you're teaching these people. There's discernment in it. Who should you talk to, who you should trust with information that you want to share? Because ultimately, some of this becomes a pressure release valve, right?   Maj. Tara Holmes  29:52 Yeah, so one of the key concepts that we talk about is worthiness, right? I think often people feel pressure to not share what they're going through because they don't think their problems are worthy of attention, whether theirs or someone else's. That's one thing that we spend a lot of time on. And like you said, you know, who to who to share with, and at what level, some people are more free with sharing than others, and that's OK. So we work through some frameworks that help illustrate how people can kind of work through those levels, or gain some self-awareness and some clarity around where they fall. Something that is a, you know, deep seated secret for you, maybe something that somebody else is willing to openly share, they just don't see it as that big of a deal. So it's definitely about self-awareness and learning some tools to help relieve some of the pressure and drain on our batteries, as it were, that comes from holding these things in.   Ted Robertson  30:52 People who are attending the workshop are going to learn some things that they may not realize are draining their batteries. You're teaching them to discern what those are, and to be careful to try to avoid those. It sounds like an example to me of things that we don't realize we do, that drains us, right, instead of energizes us.   Maj. Tara Holmes  31:10 So we use the kind of metaphor of a smartphone, right? So there are things that drain us, that are big, that we're taking a lot of energy to conceal the hard things that we're dealing with in our life. But then there's, like, the pesky background apps, there's the things that are always running in the background of our lives that drain our energy without us really even noticing it. You know, so for me as an officer, but also as a mom and a spouse, some of the things that are always draining my batteries are my to-do list, the laundry app, maybe social media apps. Sometimes I've probably spend way too much time reading the news these days. That's kind of always on for me. We have these big things that are draining our batteries, but then we have these like small things that are constantly going on, right? So Task Force Hope is about recognizing what those things are for us and then making a commitment to ourselves to make this space and time to recover.   Ted Robertson  32:09 So that brings us to a really unique place. You kind of function at the intersection of character, leadership and development pretty much every day. So how do you define character when you're responsible for shaping it across an entire Cadet Wing.   Maj. Tara Holmes  32:24 To me, character is the essence of who they are. It is how you show up day after day. It's the habits that you have. That's why, when you do something out of character, people are able to say that. You know, we talk about building character strengths as building blocks towards certain virtues. And virtues is really excellence of character. So it's easy to talk about how to be an excellent athlete, or how to be an excellent academic, right? And that's one of our core values, is being excellent. Well, how do you have excellent character? It's really about leveraging your character strengths in a way that can lead you to be more virtuous, and that's the goal.   Ted Robertson  33:05 You've served, both operationally and as an instructor. Tell me how those things shape the way you think about preparing leaders not just to perform but to endure.   Maj. Tara Holmes  33:19 What comes to mind is the importance of training and building those habits. We're, you know, in the previous question, we talked about it in terms of character. You know, you can, you can use any kind of training. It's about building readiness, right? And being able to build those habits so that when you are faced with a challenge, you have a way to work through the challenge, right? That really came out for me, both operationally and as an instructor. So operationally, you rely on your training to get your job done, and then as an instructor, you're helping others build those habits so that one day when your students are faced with challenges, they can rely on their training as well.   Ted Robertson  34:01 We've talked a bit about your experiences and how they shape the way you think about preparing leaders, not just to perform but to endure. And now let's bring it right down to the direct connection between Task Force Hope and why you are here talking about this program to attendees at NCLS. When we talk about Task Force Hope, it's a program that is really designed to prepare leaders to navigate crisis and recover from both emotional and moral injury. What can you tell me about a gap that a workshop like this fills, that traditional leadership education sometimes or often misses?   Maj. Tara Holmes  34:38 Task Force Hope is preventative in nature. It's training to prevent people from letting their burdens get the best of them so that they can show up. They have the tools to show up fully charged when stuff hits the van. And not only that they do that for themselves, but then they can help their teammates or their subordinates also get there. It's self-awareness, because we all perform self-care differently, and what you need to recharge your batteries is different from the way that I would do it. So it's being intentional and having some tools to be able to identify what works for you and then how to make space in your life, and building that commitment to yourself, to make that space so that the next time that you face a crisis, you're not facing it at 10%, you're full up, you're ready to go. So it's that sustained self-care, if that's what you want to call it. And it's important to say that you know, in a 75-minute session, we're really doing our best to provide exposure to key concepts and these tools. What we hope is that people walk out with the start of something. It's not it's not the end of their work to be done.   Ted Robertson  35:54 How often do you hear the question, “Why didn't I hear this earlier in my career?”   Maj. Tara Holmes  36:00 Every workshop. Last year, after the workshop, we had a 1970-something graduate say that exact thing. For me personally, I had four people say something, you know, “Hey, I was a cadet here in '90-something, '80-something, 2000-something. And, you know, I really wish that I would have had this earlier.” So that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to bring it as early as we can.   Ted Robertson  36:26 OK, so our last question of our visit, if cadets take just one lesson from Task Force Hope and NCLs this year, what is your hope for that lesson to be?   Maj. Tara Holmes  36:39 My hope is that they're worth it. No problem is too big or too small to be dealt with, and like we talked about earlier, I think often people keep things to themselves because they feel like they shouldn't bother others, or there's their supervisors or their teammates with what's going on in their lives. And that's a drain. Like, that's a drain on the system. It eats up your energy, right? But our cadets are worth it. Whatever they're dealing with, big or small, is worthy of being addressed. I hope that's the takeaway, and that we all deal with things, right? We don't always know what other people are dealing with.   Ted Robertson  37:22 Maj. Holmes. Thank you for the work you're doing to prepare future leaders, not just to lead in moments of clarity, but to stand firm in moments of crisis. We appreciate you being here.   Maj. Tara Holmes  37:32 Thanks, Ted.   Ted Robertson  37:33 That focus on preservation, resilience and moral courage brings us to our next conversation, one shaped by combat, captivity and a life of service under the most demanding conditions. Coming up next, my conversation with Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Edward Mechenbier. Gen. Mechenbier, welcome to the podcast. It is a huge honor having you here, sir.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 37:56 I hope you feel that way in a half hour so well,   Ted Robertson  37:59 Well, the conversation does promise to be interesting, because your life is… interesting. That was a pregnant pause, sir.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 38:07 Yeah, I've enjoyed it. It's different.   Ted Robertson  38:11 Just to sort of frame things, you retired as a major general, and what year was that, sir,   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier 38:15 2004   Ted Robertson  38:16 And you were USAFA Class of '64. You're a Vietnam-era pilot, having flown F-4s, you were shot down on your 113th combat mission, but that was you also your 80th over North Vietnam. OK, prisoner of war. Then for almost those entire six years following that, being shot down. You come with 3,600 flying hours across lots of different aircraft.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  38:42 I was privileged fly either for primary capability or for familiarization with 43 different airplanes.   Ted Robertson  38:49 And now you describe yourself as a lifelong advocate for veterans and public service.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  38:56 Well, yeah, I mean, I go to a couple prisons in Ohio, and “work with” is probably overstating my role. Veterans who are incarcerated for long periods of time. But my role is just to go there, spend some time, shoot the breeze with them, no agenda, no desired learning objective and let them know that somebody outside knows that they're there.   Ted Robertson  39:19 What I want to do is spend some time in your background. All right, I want to start with combat and captivity and how that tests leadership in its most extreme forms. And this is in course in keeping with the theme of NCLS here, what did character mean to you when circumstances were entirely beyond your control?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  39:38 The Vietnamese kept us in small groups of one and two or three guys. I mean, we never really until near the end and later on when we got a little organization. But it got very down, very personal, when at one time, I was in a cell with four guys, three Class of 1964 Air Force Academy graduates and one poor Oklahoma State University graduate, and amongst the four of us, we had a senior ranking officer. And of course, you got the same rank, you go alphabetical. And so we made Ron Bliss the senior ranking officer in our room. We had a communication system. We had guidelines that, you know, which were basically consistent with the code of conduct. You know, name, rank, serial number, date of birth, don't answer further questions. Keep faith with your fellow positions. That was the key. Keep faith. Never do anything that you'd be embarrassed to tell somebody you did.   Ted Robertson  40:34 What you're explaining is how different leadership looks, and even how you describe it, how different it is from command. So now it comes down to trust and accountability and courage, and how do those show up in those conditions?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  40:51 It was really a matter of, we always knew we were still in the fight. That was one thing that was with us, and so you just kind of conducted yourself with, OK, I'm not going to let myself be used. Now, we also knew that the more you resisted pushed back, the less likely they were to make you go meet an antiwar delegation or write a confession or do something else like that. So they tend to pick on, if you will, the low-hanging fruit or the easier guy to get to. So we always wanted to set the bar just a little bit out of their reach.   Ted Robertson  41:25 All right, having gone through all of that, it really can change people quite profoundly. So when you look back at it, what leadership lessons stayed with you long after you got out of captivity?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  41:39 In the movie Return of Honor. Capt. Mike McGrath, Navy guy, describes the guys in their ability to resist torture and do things. And that's what you learn. Everybody's got a breaking point. If mine's here and somebody else's is there, that doesn't make me better or worse than them. So you learn to appreciate the talents and the weaknesses. If you know the foibles, the cracks in everybody around you and not to exploit them, but to understand them, and then to be the kind of leader that that they need.   Ted Robertson  42:12 Sir, one of the recurring themes when you're discussing leadership with leaders right is knowing something about each of your people so that you can relate to them in a way that that works for them and motivates them.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  42:23 Yeah. Mark Welch, who's also a graduate and he is a chief of staff of the Air Force, always had a saying: “If you don't know what's going on, it's because you didn't ask.”   Ted Robertson  42:32 Now we're going to roll all that into your long journey between captivity and your visit here to NCLS this year. When you're speaking to the cadets at this year's event, what's your main hope? What do you hope they understand about courage before they even ever face combat?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  42:54 Well, courage is a reaction to a clear and present threat. Nobody knows how they're gonna — know he's gonna say, OK, I'm gonna go to Vietnam and I want to get shot down, and when the Vietnamese capture me, I'm going to give them a middle finger and I'm going to be the meanest bad ass and hardest-to-break prisoner. Yeah, it's how you respond to the to the immediate perception of bodily harm or being used or something else like that. So courage is, yeah, it just happens. It's not something that you can put in a package and say, “OK, I've got courage.” It's how you respond to the situation, because you might respond quite differently than what you think.   Ted Robertson  43:35 And I have to say, you presented your story and you delivered your message in kind of a unique way. You drew from some contemporary references, specifically three clips from a movie that you like, that I was curious. How did you sum up your entire life in three movie clips from Madagascar? How did you do that?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  43:57 Well, the three movie clips — when I watched the movie, I was looking at it, I have got two favorite movies. Madagascar is one, and the other is a Kelsey Grammer movie, Down Periscope. I mean, I think that is a perfect study in in leadership. But in the movie Madagascar, the premise was penguins can't fly, but yet it opens up with them applying resource, innovation imagination, and they eventually get this airplane to fly. OK, great. Success. Well, like everything else in life, things go wrong, and you got to have, No. 1, a backup plan, an exit ramp or a control mechanism for the disaster that's pending. So that's the second movie clip we saw. And then the third one was towards the end of the movie, when the crash landing has happened and the skipper asks for an accounting, and he's told that all passengers are accounted for, except two. And he says, that's the number I can live with. And the message there is, you go through life — you're going to have successes, but you're going to have failures, and failure has a cost, and it's not always pleasant, but that's OK, because that's life.   Ted Robertson  45:15 How do you explain how leaders can prepare themselves morally and mentally for moments they can't predict or control.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  45:25 Watch movies like Madagascar and Down Periscope. You know, there's a breadth of unintentional, if you will, guidance on how to be a leader, if you know where to look or if you're looking for it. I mean, that's part of the whole progress program at the Academy. Nobody's going to say, OK, here's a scenario, lead these resources to a proper conclusion. It's kind of like, OK, here's the situation. What do we do? What can we do? What can't we do? It's like, in my presentation, I talk about being able to run across a pasture in nine seconds, in 10 seconds, but if the bull can do it, you're in trouble. So you got to realign your thinking, you got to realign your goals and you got to realign the application of resources. So that's the leadership part, right there. It's a realization of what you can and what you can't do. It's a realization of what you, your people, your resources, can and can't do. It's a realization of what the technology you have at your disposal to do your mission can and can't do. So it's all about workarounds and being flexible. And then the other thing is, we live in a world that just seems to be everything's got a prescription and a protocol on exactly how to do everything. Doesn't work that way. You got to be able to go left and right. You got to be able to be a little imaginative.   Ted Robertson  46:42 What parting thought did you leave the cadets with?   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  46:45 That failure is part of life. It's not death. And I'm part of an organization called American 300 — we go around and talk to young enlisted people and all the services to get them to understand that failure is a learning opportunity. It's not a dagger in the heart, and don't be afraid or ashamed to try, because if you don't, you'll never know what your true potential is. So with the cadets, we close with that last part from the movie Madagascar that basically said, OK, success comes with a price. Be aware and accept it.   Ted Robertson  47:23 All right, we've got to close it out here, but recap, if you would one more time that message that you want cadets to leave here with from having heard you speak.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  47:32 You are now a living, breathing, viable, productive part of our United States Air Force. You bring talents that are unique. Apply them, but understand that they're all very transitory, and you have part of a larger community. If you stick with a community rather than the “I did,” “I want,” I have,” you'll go a long way.   Ted Robertson  47:54 All right, and stepping outside of that very briefly for your final thoughts, what would you like to leave listeners with today.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  48:01 Be proud of the young men and women who are in our military now, not just those at the Air Force Academy. You know, our whole military structure has changed over the years. You know, it's a dynamic world. You got to be flexible and embrace change. We're so reluctant to change. Change is fine, except when you try to change me, is the old saying, but we all have to change. We have to be part of the world in which we live.     Ted Robertson  48:26 Gen. Mechenbier, I want to thank you from all of us for being here sharing those leadership lessons of yours and a lifetime of service that will continue to shape others — future leaders — for a very, very long time to come. We appreciate you very much.   Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier  48:43 Thank you much.   Ted Robertson  48:44 Our final conversation brings us to leadership at the strategic level, where decisions affect institutions, alliances and the nation itself. Capt. Charles Plumb, welcome to the podcast today, sir.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  48:56 Thanks, Ted. Appreciate being here.   Ted Robertson  48:59 It is a privilege to have you. You retired as a Navy captain in 1991 and you have not slowed down, not one inch since. We're going to talk a little bit about the work that you're doing in some very interesting spaces. And what informs all of that. Naval Academy, Class of '64.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:15 Yep, the Great Class of '64.     Ted Robertson  49:17 The great —that's how you express class pride?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:20 Everybody knows the Great Class of '64.   Ted Robertson  49:23 So you are an Annapolis man.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:25 I am, in fact.   Ted Robertson  49:26 No doubt. And a pilot. You flew F-4 Phantoms, and you are a Vietnam-era pilot. You spent most of your time over North Vietnam. Sometimes you got sent to South Vietnam, depending on what was going on. But you said that you have flown 74 combat missions.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  49:45 Actually 74 and a half, Ted. I have one more takeoff and I have landings.   Ted Robertson  49:50 We should remember that, because it's a very important part of your life we haven't talked about yet. Since you got out of captivity, and then you retired a few years later, you became a published author and a speaker, and as such, you have been to every state, several countries, 5,000 presentations you've delivered in the leadership and character development space. Is there any reason you should not be here at NCLS?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:24 Well, I appreciate that. You know, this is a great symposium, and I'm really proud to contribute to it.   Ted Robertson  50:32 Captain, you are a former POW.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:36 Yes, I was shot down on my 75th mission and captured, tortured and spent the next 2,103 days in communist prison camps.   Ted Robertson  50:49 You said you got moved around a lot.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  50:52 We did. I was in six different camps, and some of those camps more than once. We never really understood why. We kind of suspected that they wanted to try to deny any fraternization with their guards, and they wanted to keep us on our toes, because they recognized that being military guys, we were going to have leadership, and we were going to have organization and community and we were going to organize, to fight them, and they didn't want that. So they moved us around and kind of shuffled us up, which didn't work. We always had a military organization in every camp that I ever went to.   Ted Robertson  51:31 You found ways to support each other. You found ways to have a leadership structure, even in captivity.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  51:39 We were all fighter pilots or air crews and most of us were we, you know, we had 10 Air Force Academy grads from '64 in five Naval Academy grads from '64 and so we had in a lot of other academy grads. I don't remember how many, but probably 70 total academy grads. And so, you know, we were, we were dedicated. We were lifers. We were, you know, we were very focused guys, which helped out a lot that we knew a lot about military leadership.   Ted Robertson  52:11 You grew up in the Midwest, and you married a Midwestern girl.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  52:15 I did, my high school sweetheart the day after I graduated from Annapolis, we got married in the chapel, and my buddies were holding up their swords as we came out of the chapel. So it was a beautiful day.   Ted Robertson  52:27 Let's go back to how you found your way to the Naval Academy.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  52:32 I was a farm kid from Kansas. Never seen the ocean, never been out of the four states of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri. Never been in an airplane, and I needed an education. Found that the Naval Academy offered me an education.   Ted Robertson  52:50 Outside of Air Force Academy circles, you probably already know that we think of, you know, salty sea dog sailors when we think of people going in the Navy, but you chose aviation.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  53:02 I did. As a kid, I would see these Piper Cubs fly over and I was fascinated by flight, and wondered if I'd ever be able to ride in an airplane. That was my thought when I was a kid. I didn't have any hopes of ever being a pilot, you know, let alone a fighter pilot. That was, I was out of the realm. Nobody, as I grew up, ever told me that I could do that, or I should do that, or, you know, it would be a hope of mine to ever pilot an airplane. But I went to the Naval Academy and found out that was one of the options, and I took advantage of that option.   Ted Robertson  53:43 Yeah, and it led you, of course, to over North Vietnam, and the rest is that part of your history   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  53:51 Launched on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk on my wife's birthday, the 5th of November, wave goodbye to her, and promised her I'd be back in eight months. I didn't make it.   Ted Robertson  54:04 Hard. Very hard story to hear. Let's talk about all of that informing your presentation now, again, 5,000 of these delivered in the leadership and character development space, but you talk a lot about, in your presentation — and you keynoted here at NCLS — the mental game side of this, the integrity, the choices that you have to make, and character that sort of frames all of that.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  54:38 My message to the cadets, and really to most of my audiences, is around challenge and adversity. And I tell the cadets that they work awfully hard trying to get a degree. They study, they go to computers, they read books all to get a degree. And what I point out to them is that more important than the degree that they will get from the Air Force Academy is a character that they build while they are here. That the integrity first, you know, is part of their motto. And if, in fact, they can learn and live that integrity, if they can learn and live the commitment that they have, if they can learn in and live these kind of ethereal things, the things that you can't measure, things you can't define, the things that, you know, that crop up in your in your mind, in the back of your mind, are more important than the lessons they learn from a computer. And so that's kind of my message.   Ted Robertson  55:49 You know, we're in a leadership laboratory here. The art and the science is character development. And you're talking about a kind of character that leads people to make good decisions and make those decisions with integrity in mind. How did that play into your captivity and getting you through that?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  56:09 You know, of course, I studied leadership at the Naval Academy, and I think that my period of experience more than teaching me anything, it validated what I had learned. And the whole idea — and I love the fact that this is called, you know, the Character and Leadership Symposium, because lots of times you see leadership without character, that's a negative kind of leadership. And if a leader does not have character, he doesn't last very long, and he's not very effective. And so if you can keep your character up front, the leadership can follow easily. And that's pretty much what we had in the prison camps. Several of the qualities of leadership that I promote are the things that almost came natural in a prison camp. First of all, we had to find a focus, a reason. We had to find, you know — and that was developed by our leadership in the prison camp. Return with honor — that was our motto, return with honor. And we all rallied around that.   Ted Robertson  57:22 So all of that said, you're standing here in front of a really big group of people as a keynote speaker, lot of cadets, mostly cadets, yeah.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  57:31 Now there were cadets. I'm speaking on a panel with Ed Mechenbier, my good buddy, and we're on a panel with mostly cadets. The first presentation, the keynote was by invitation only. So there were a number of civilians in the audience, number of cadets. There were Naval Academy midshipmen in my audience today. And we had ROTC people, and, you know, from all over the country. So it was quite a wide audience.   Ted Robertson  58:04 Quite a wide audience. And so if we were just focusing on what you leave with cadets, what do you want them to take away from their experience today?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  58:15 I hope they understand my message, that more important than the degree that they graduate with, is the character that they graduate with, and the importance of the integrity that that they learned here, because that was vital in the prison camp, is integrity. We had to have each other's back, and when we when we finally were released, we refused to be released until all the sick, injured and enlisted men had gone home, and it was a question of integrity, is a question that this is the right thing to do. It's not the easy thing to do. Largely, the integrity thing to do is not the easiest thing to do, and that's what I wanted to leave with the cadets. In addition, I want them to know that regardless of what situation they're in, they still have a choice, and their choice is the way they respond to the surrounding adversity situation that they're in.   Ted Robertson  59:21 An Annapolis grad of '64, Midwest kid from Kansas who makes it into the cockpit, and like you said, 74 and a half flights, then some time in captivity, then to a published author with thousands of presentations all over the country, and some in in other countries. What final thoughts would you like to leave today, sir?   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  59:47 Well, you know, I think I've already told you, you know, you're a great interviewer, Ted, and I appreciate your questions. I think, finally, this whole idea of self-determination and I think that we all, and not just the cadets, but graduates and families and business people, families. You know that we all have choices, and sometimes when we deny the choice and give up that ability to make our life better for ourselves. And you know, we do it sometimes even when we're not even thinking about it. It's just automatic to blame somebody else for the problem, and in doing so, we give away that choice.   Ted Robertson  1:00:34 Don't give away the choice. Yeah, build that character and stick by your integrity all the time. Capt. J. Charles Plumb, what a privilege it is to meet you, sir. Glad that you're here at NCLs and keynoting like you are, and I do hope that our paths cross again.   Capt. J. Charles Plumb  1:00:52 Ted, thank you very much. I appreciate your willingness to tell my story. Thanks for that.   Ted Robertson  1:00:57 You're welcome, sir. Thank you. Ted Robertson Close As we've heard throughout these conversations, courage isn't a single moment. It's a lifelong practice, from cadets just beginning their journey to leaders shaped by combat and crisis to senior commanders responsible for forces and futures. Character is tested when certainty disappears and it's revealed by how we choose to lead. That's the challenge of the National Character and Leadership Symposium, and it's a challenge that extends far beyond these walls. I'm Ted Robertson, thank you for joining me for our Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of the 33rd National Character and Leadership Symposium. This podcast was recorded on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.         The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation      

Stacking Slabs
Passion to Profession: From Bargain Boxes to Building Owner with Ryan Bannister of RBICru7

Stacking Slabs

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 64:22


Ryan Bannister has been in cards for more than three decades.He opened RBICru7 in 2012 with borrowed money, a small space, and a willingness to grind seven days a week. Fourteen years later, he owns the building his shop sits in and has built one of the most respected brands in the hobby. In this episode of Passion to Profession, Ryan shares:Why character is a business advantageThe sacrifices he made early to keep the doors openHow relationships opened doors he never could have forcedWhat COVID taught him about adaptabilityHow he used LeBron autos to fund real estateWhy community beats competition in the long runIf you've ever thought about turning your side hustle into your full-time work, this is a masterclass in what it really takes.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Beyond the Numbers
From Clipboard to Change-Maker: Julie Floyd on Shaping the Appraisal Profession

Beyond the Numbers

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 32:19


Send a textIn this episode of Beyond the Numbers, Kevin sits down with Julie Molendorp Floyd—Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Dean of Students at RSDS Appraisal—for a candid conversation about risk, regulation, mentorship, and the future of the appraisal profession.They also explore innovative pathways into the profession, including RSDS's Appraisal U practicum model, and discuss why curiosity—not fear—is the right response to shifts like UAD 3.6. Whether you're just entering the field or decades into your career, this episode offers perspective, encouragement, and a forward-looking view of where appraisal is headed.

The Democracy Group
How to Transcend Partisan Differences with Senator Anthony Broadman | An Honorable Profession

The Democracy Group

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 23:47


Enjoying the show? Subscribe to hear the rest of An Honorable Profession episodes!

Stacking Slabs
Passion to Profession: Anthony Loparo on Building Top Notch Sports Club From Basement Breaks to Scalable Consignment

Stacking Slabs

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 37:14


Anthony Loparo did not set out to build a multi-service card business.He started where many of you did.In his dad's convenience store.Ripping packs.Falling in love with the process.In this episode, Anthony walks through the real path behind Top Notch Sports Club:Opening cards on YouTube in 2007 when payments came through the mailGrinding two years on Excel spreadsheets, copying and pasting payouts line by lineTaking the leap during COVID and quitting his jobScaling breaking, grading, and consignment under one roofBuilding a website that syncs live with eBayHiring four employees and learning to let goWe talk about:Why speed to list is his competitive advantageWhy he is not afraid of competitionHow he thinks about investing in product and technologyThe role eBay plays in his infrastructureThe mental shift from side hustle to real businessIf you've ever thought about turning your passion into your profession, this one is for you.Anthony's story is a reminder that scale is built on obsession, systems, and trust.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

PT Pintcast - Physical Therapy
This Profession Belongs to All of Us

PT Pintcast - Physical Therapy

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2026 26:17 Transcription Available


What does physical therapy look like beyond the U.S. healthcare system?In this episode, Jimmy talks with Sidy Dieye, CEO of World Physiotherapy, about how the global PT profession is evolving — and why U.S. clinicians should care.World Physiotherapy represents 129 member organizations and over 600,000 physiotherapists worldwide. Sidy shares:Why global collaboration is the profession's greatest strengthThe workforce crisis in countries with only one trained physio per 10 million peopleHow AI should be regulated and used as a tool — not feared as a replacementWhat “direct access” means in different healthcare systemsWhy the 2027 Congress in Guadalajara is more than a conferenceThe 75th anniversary celebration honoring 75 transformative physiosThis episode reinforces a powerful idea:World Physiotherapy doesn't belong to leadership — it belongs to the profession.

Tolu Falode: Love | Faith | Finance
Episode 213 - Meet Your Husband As A 30+ Woman In A Masculine Profession

Tolu Falode: Love | Faith | Finance

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2026 29:13


SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE WITH A SISTER FRIEND IN THIS EPISODE I'M SHARING ON: How to date your husband even in a masculine profession How to start dating your husband and meet him at work Inside Wife In Waiting I show you how to date with a regular routine to meet your husband Wife In Waiting is my 6 month Group Coaching Program that shows single Christian women over 30 how to get into the right relationship in 6 months for marriage in a year Doors are open until February 28 When you apply by tonight you also have access to 1-1 coaching with me on WhatsApp for 1 week APPLY HERE FOR WIFE IN WAITING: https://bit.ly/datelikeawifereview

Experts InSight
The Hospital-Based Ophthalmologist and Focused Practice Designation

Experts InSight

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 33:42


Host Dr. Jay Sridhar welcomes Dr. Sarwar Zahid to unpack a recent American Journal of Ophthalmology perspective essay on the growing segment of hospital-employed ophthalmologists. They examine the appeal of the hospitalist model—shift-based work, reduced administrative burden, and work-life balance—alongside potential drawbacks, including income ceilings, RVU pressure, and burnout. The conversation broadens to declining physician ownership, the challenges of hospital call coverage, and the downstream threat to residency training. The episode finally shifts to whether a focused practice designation (FPD) could help define subspecialty expertise, improve patient care, and give ophthalmologists a stronger seat at the bargaining table. Discussed in this episode: Thomson M, Browning DJ. The Hospital Employed Ophthalmologist: A Growing Segment of the Profession. Am J Ophthalmol. 2026 Jan 18;284:208-215. For all episodes or to claim CME credit for selected episodes, visit www.aao.org/podcasts.

AICPA Town Hall
State advocacy and cyber considerations in the AI era

AICPA Town Hall

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 62:20


The Feb. 19 AICPA Town Hall featured a discussion on state advocacy and cyber considerations in the age of AI. Plus, get the latest DC and technical updates you rely on.   Topics include: Profession update DC update Latest technical guidance State advocacy Cyber risk in the AI era   Speakers: Michael Cerami, EVP, CPA.com Mark Koziel, CEO, AICPA Mark Peterson, EVP, Advocacy, AICPA Melanie Lauridsen, VP, Tax Policy & Advocacy, AICPA James Cox, VP, State Advocacy & State Society Relations, AICPA Avani Desai, CEO, Schellman

The NATA-Cast
The AT Alliance in Action: A Unified Vision for the Profession

The NATA-Cast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 67:19


Send a textIn the season premiere of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, share a special live recording from the recent AT Alliance meeting, bringing together leaders from across the athletic training profession. NATA President A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT  joins Brian Conway, LAT, ATC, of the Board of Certification, MaryBeth Horodyski, EdD, ATC, LAT of the NATA Research and Education Foundation, and Toni Torres-McGehee, PhD, SCAT, ATC of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education to discuss how the Alliance has evolved into a unified effort to advance athletic training across workplace settings. The conversation highlights strategic planning and governance priorities, credentialing and accreditation updates, research and workforce initiatives and coordinated advocacy to strengthen recognition and value of athletic trainers. The episode also explores key challenges facing the profession, including recruitment and retention, transition to practice, compensation and work-life balance, concluding with audience dialogue on supporting mid-career professionals and sustaining the workforce.NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!FacebookXInstagramLinkedInHave an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! thenatacast@nata.org

Couleurs Foule
Louise Carrasco · Capturer la spontanéité et la joie colorée

Couleurs Foule

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 48:02


Dans cet épisode, je reçois Louise Carrasco, photographe spécialisée dans la mode et la publicité. Après un cursus artistique, notamment à l'école des Gobelins, elle va développer un univers photographique pop et playful. Passionnée d'image depuis l'enfance, ses clichés véhiculent spontanéité et naturel à travers une approche chromatique singulière. La couleur est en effet au cœur du processus créatif de Louise, elle construit ses compositions avec des nuances chaudes et contrastées qui donnent à ses photographies une énergie joyeuse et une aura solaire. Ensemble nous avons parlé de l'impact de sa culture chilienne sur son rapport à la couleur, de son processus créatif entre préparation et post-production, et de l'importance du travail d'équipe. J'espère que vous apprécierez cet épisode, je vous souhaite une très belle écoute !

DGTL Voices with Ed Marx
The Power of Voice Training for Leaders in Any Profession (ft. Serg Sanchez)

DGTL Voices with Ed Marx

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 27:48


On this episode of DGTL Voices, Ed interviews Sergio Sanchez, a multifaceted music writer, producer, singer, and vocal coach. They explore Serg's career in music, working with artists like Morgan Wallen and Bailey Zimmerman. They discuss pivotal moments that shaped his path, his influences, and the importance of vocal coaching for both musicians and speaking professionals. The conversation delves into the techniques for effective speaking and the role of technology in music. Serg Sanchez

Stacking Slabs
Passion to Profession: Building Goldin, Betting on Yourself, and Understanding the Real Market with Dave Amerman

Stacking Slabs

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 42:35


What does it look like when a lifelong collector turns obsession into a career?In this episode of Passion to Profession, sponsored by eBay, I sit down with Dave Amerman, Head of Revenue at Goldin.We cover:The Logan Paul Illustrator sale and what this moment means for the hobby How Goldin scaled from $25M a year to nearly $500MWhat changed inside the hobby after the pandemic boomWhy understanding how to sell is the key to learning how to buyThe risk Dave took leaving a stable finance career to start overDave shares stories from:Buying collections in college for cashStarting his own auction house in his early 20sTurning a few hundred thousand dollar auction business into an $8M operationJoining Goldin before the Netflix spotlight and helping fuel its growthWe also talk about sustainability in this market.The 86 Fleer Jordan PSA 10 ride.The flood of supply after peak hype.The difference between pop 2 and pop 300.If you collect.If you flip.If you dream about working in the hobby.This conversation will hit.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Considering Catholicism (A Catholic Podcast)
OCIA: The Bridge to Rome – Trusting the Church, Part 2: Submission of Intellect and Will (#434)

Considering Catholicism (A Catholic Podcast)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 31:42


In the second part of this two-episode series, Greg moves from the initial Profession of Faith to the lifelong Catholic posture of religious submission of intellect and will to the Church's authentic magisterium on matters of faith and morals. Drawing from forty years of ministry experience, he contrasts the deepening crisis of trust and doctrinal fragmentation in Protestantism with the stability offered by a divinely protected Church that demands—and deserves—trust. Using G.K. Chesterton's insights and Catechism passages, Greg explains why this submission is liberating humility rather than blind obedience, and he strongly clarifies what it does not require: trusting every priest, parish council, or Catholic organization in every practical matter. This episode speaks directly to Protestant pastors and investigators who struggle with institutional authority, while reassuring all listeners that the Church's guidance is Christ's own protection against the spirit of the age. If you've ever asked whether it's possible to trust the Church without losing your mind or integrity, this is the episode for you. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is 100% listener-supported. If this podcast has helped you on your journey, please become a patron today! For as little as $5/month you get: • Every regular episode ad-free and organized into topical playlists • Exclusive bonus content (extra Q&As, Deep-Dive courses, live streams, and more) • My deepest gratitude and a growing community of like-minded listeners ➡️ Join now: https://patreon.com/consideringcatholicism (or tap the Patreon link in your podcast app) One-time gift: Donate with PayPal! CONNECT WITH US • Website & contact form: https://consideringcatholicism.com • Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com • Leave a comment on Patreon (I read every one!) RATE & REVIEW If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating (and even better, a review) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — it really helps new listeners find us. SHARE THE SHOW Know someone who's curious about Catholicism? Send them a link or share an episode on social media. Thank you! Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.

Dean's Chat - All Things Podiatric Medicine
Ep. 300 - What We've Learned From the Podiatric Profession!

Dean's Chat - All Things Podiatric Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 20:06


300th episode "What we have learned from over 300 interviews!"Welcome to this special episode celebrating the 300th installment of Dean's Chat! Join Drs. Jensen and Richey as they reflect on the insights, lessons, and recurring themes that have emerged from conversations with more than 300 individuals across the podiatric profession.This episode is sponsored by the American Podiatric Medical Association! Throughout these discussions, several powerful messages have consistently risen to the surface. One of the most common is that no career path is truly linear. While medical training often follows a structured and predictable framework, many guests emphasized the importance of recognizing opportunities, embracing change, and leaning into the aspects of practice that bring genuine joy. It has been especially inspiring to hear the wide range of ways podiatrists have found fulfillment—across medicine, surgery, education, leadership, and life beyond the clinic—by sharing their unique talents and expertise.Another clear theme has been the exceptional quality of our students. Today's podiatric students are highly motivated, deeply engaged, and purpose driven, and they are helping to shape and advance the future of the profession.We are also continually reminded that our profession is rich with talent. From clinicians and educators to innovators and advocates, podiatry thrives because of the collective strength of its people. Our sponsors play a vital role in this ecosystem as well—supporting advocacy efforts, workshops, leadership development, and continuing medical education. No one succeeds alone, and together we are stronger.Finally, leadership has emerged as a central topic, defined by courage, integrity, and passion. We highlight the diverse ways our guests have demonstrated leadership and made meaningful contributions to the profession.We are grateful for this journey and deeply appreciative of you—our audience—for your time, enthusiasm, and thoughtful feedback. The future of podiatry is bright, and we're excited for what lies ahead.

AMERICA OUT LOUD PODCAST NETWORK
Disturbing trend emerging within the nursing profession

AMERICA OUT LOUD PODCAST NETWORK

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 Transcription Available


The Nurses Report on America Out Loud with Kimberly Overton, BSN, RN, BC-FMP – What we are witnessing is not simply burnout or stress. It is a deeper moral and cultural crisis—one that threatens patient safety, public trust, and the integrity of nursing itself. Where free speech ends and professional fitness to practice begins. Why accountability is not persecution, and ethical standards are not...

Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci
You'll Never Find Peace Until You Fight This Battle - Steven Pressfield

Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 39:03


Steven Pressfield is the author of The War of Art, which has sold millions of copies globally and been translated into multiple languages. He is a master of historical fiction with Gates of Fire being on the required reading list at West Point and the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs. His other books include A Man at Arms, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Artist's Journey, Tides of War, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The Profession, The Lion's Gate, The Warrior Ethos, The Authentic Swing, An American Jew, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and The Knowledge. Get a copy of Steven's phenomenal books: The War of Art Gates of Fire Turning Pro The Legend of Baggar Vance The Warrior Ethos The Daily Pressfield Govt Cheese: A Memoir Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. He is the host of the podcast Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci. A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, he lives in Manhasset, Long Island. Pre-order my next book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions Led to the Rise of Trump, out on the 17th of September in the UK and the 22nd of September in the US: https://linktr.ee/anthonyscaramucci Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nurses Out Loud
Disturbing trend emerging within the nursing profession

Nurses Out Loud

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 Transcription Available


The Nurses Report on America Out Loud with Kimberly Overton, BSN, RN, BC-FMP – What we are witnessing is not simply burnout or stress. It is a deeper moral and cultural crisis—one that threatens patient safety, public trust, and the integrity of nursing itself. Where free speech ends and professional fitness to practice begins. Why accountability is not persecution, and ethical standards are not...

Considering Catholicism (A Catholic Podcast)
OCIA: The Bridge to Rome – Trusting the Church, Part 1: The Profession of Faith (#433)

Considering Catholicism (A Catholic Podcast)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 39:14


In the first part of this two-episode series on trusting the Church, Greg walks listeners through the solemn Profession of Faith that candidates make when entering full communion with the Catholic Church—usually right before Confirmation at the Easter Vigil or a regular Mass. He explains the exact words spoken (“I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God”) and why this public, sacramental vow carries the weight of a marriage promise. Using a four-level hierarchy of Church teaching drawn from the Catechism and magisterial documents, Greg shows what requires full, irrevocable assent and where there is room for honest questions and growth during OCIA formation. This episode is especially for those in OCIA, those considering the step, or anyone wondering how a convert can truthfully say “yes” to the fullness of Catholic doctrine. Perfect for Protestant investigators wrestling with authority and for cradle Catholics wanting to renew their own understanding of the faith they profess. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is 100% listener-supported. If this podcast has helped you on your journey, please become a patron today! For as little as $5/month you get: • Every regular episode ad-free and organized into topical playlists • Exclusive bonus content (extra Q&As, Deep-Dive courses, live streams, and more) • My deepest gratitude and a growing community of like-minded listeners ➡️ Join now: https://patreon.com/consideringcatholicism (or tap the Patreon link in your podcast app) One-time gift: Donate with PayPal! CONNECT WITH US • Website & contact form: https://consideringcatholicism.com • Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com • Leave a comment on Patreon (I read every one!) RATE & REVIEW If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating (and even better, a review) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — it really helps new listeners find us. SHARE THE SHOW Know someone who's curious about Catholicism? Send them a link or share an episode on social media. Thank you! Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.

CPA Life
Pipeline Pulse: What's Really Driving the Profession in 2026?

CPA Life

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 23:37


Host John Randolph launches a new quarterly segment called Pipeline Pulse, pulling back the curtain on what's actually happening in CPA talent conversations right now, on Episode 88 of CPA Life. Drawing from scores of interviews with accountants quietly exploring their options, he identifies three critical disconnects plaguing firm hiring: Most firms still treat capacity planning like a last-minute scramble instead of a year-round discipline, leaving them perpetually understaffed when resignations hit in January. They're also selling compensation hard while candidates are buying something entirely different; one senior with 14 years of experience would take a lateral move just to escape the 2,000-billable-hour requirement standing between her and manager. And firms keep saying they want advisory-focused talent while hiring purely for compliance skills, expecting client-facing confidence to materialize without training. The through-line? Recruiting can't be transactional anymore, because firms get measured by trust and reputation, not résumé counts. Get the full show notes and more resources at CPALifePodcast.com  

On Being a Police Officer
Ep. 80 - SFPD Deputy Chief Jim Dudley on 32 years policing in San Francisco, from the crack epidemic to open drug use and reflections on the challenges and rewards of the profession today.

On Being a Police Officer

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 80:45


Ep. 80 - Joining me is Jim Dudley, host of Police1's acclaimed podcast Policing Matters. Jim was with the San Francisco Police Department for 32 years, rising to the rank of Deputy Chief. He takes us back to policing in San Francisco in the 1980s and walks through how the profession — and crime itself — evolved over the decades, from the crack epidemic to today's open drug use and reforms impacting law enforcement like reducing felony charges to misdemeanors. He reflects on his time as an Investigator in the Bureau of Inspectors, working cases ranging from burglary and property crimes to domestic violence, assaults, and serious violent offenses.Jim also speaks candidly about the critical incident in which he used deadly force to save his own life and his partner's during a struggle with an armed suspect. We discuss the reality of being investigated after a fatal use-of-force incident, the emotional toll that follows, and how that experience shaped his leadership style when supporting officers navigating their own critical incidents.Since retiring in 2013, Jim has continued serving the profession as the host of Policing Matters and as a criminal justice instructor at San Francisco State University, where he has taught for 14 years. We touch on a topic of particular interest to me and that is the impact criminal justice professors can have on framing the national narrative on policing. Thank you, Jim.I also want to thank the listeners who I mention in the episode: @Luv fitness pal and @Emandagat01left very kind words in their five-star reviews on Apple podcasts. It means a lot to me. Here's where you can find Jim and Policing Matters: Policing Matters podcastPolicing Matters YouTubeInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/policing_matterspodcast/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimdudley1946/ My interview with Jim Dudley on “Policing Matters”Thanks for listening to On Being a Police Officer. YOU are what keeps me going.Find me on my social or email me your thoughts:Instagram: on_being_a_police_officerFacebook: On Being a Police Officer Abby@Ellsworthproductions.comwww.onbeingapoliceofficer.com©Abby Ellsworth. All booking, interviews, editing, and production by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org

Stacking Slabs
Passion to Profession: Trust Is the Operating System of a Hobby Business with Sharon (BlackJadedWolf)

Stacking Slabs

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 41:29


Trust is not a marketing tactic. It is the foundation.In this episode of Passion to Profession, I sit down with Sharon of BlackJadedWolf to talk about what it takes to build a hobby business that lasts. We get into what she's seeing in the market right now. Repacks. Comps that don't tell the full story. Where liquidity is real and where it is fragile.Sharon shares how she thinks about responsibility when customers hand her cards that carry real value. Sometimes financial. Sometimes emotional. We talk about why data is a starting point and not a decision-maker. Why research still matters. Why relationships matter more.This is a conversation about independence. About accountability. About playing the long game in a hobby that often rewards short-term thinking.This episode is sponsored by eBay.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Gold Street Garden Church
The Gospel in Pajamas & Profession // Dominick Butler

Gold Street Garden Church

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 51:21


The Gospel in Pajamas & Profession // Dominick ButlerMain Text; Col 3:18-4:1————————————————————For more information visit; https://goldstreetgarden.com

Your Best Writing Life
Turn Your Passion for Writing into a Profession with Amanda West

Your Best Writing Life

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2026 18:21


What did you think of this episode?Are you ready to claim your first paycheck as a writer?  Today's guest has the tips you need to hear.Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I'm your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. I'm so glad you're listening in. During this episode, you'll learn how to move your passion for writing into a profession.My industry expert is Amanda Elaine West, a freelance writer who publishes an average of 6 to 20 articles per month. What began as a part-time writing niche for a local magazine quickly grew into a full-time career. She has now published over 200 articles in the past four years and is the lead writer for Good News Shelbyville magazine. As a busy mom of five who also homeschools and a wife to a pastor on call 24 hours a day, she's actively learning how to make it all work. She serves as president of Word Weavers South Middle Tennessee and, until recently, was also president of Page 51.How to move your passion for writing into a profession.How to find freelance writing opportunities. Hint: opportunities are all around us, but you must first invest in yourself before others will. How to craft a compelling story following a lackluster interview. Where do I start? How can I make nonfiction pop off the page?Find out more about Amanda Elaine West www.awestwrites.com Email Amanda at awestwrites@outlook.com for your copy of “From Passion to Profession: How to Kickstart Your Freelance Writing Career.”Visit Your Best Writing Life website.Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing LifeYour host - Linda Goldfarb#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024". Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy PodcastAwarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

The Joe Show
The 'Sexiest' Profession

The Joe Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2026 8:37 Transcription Available


Katie Sommers has found a study! She has the top five hottest professions... but how accurate are they? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Joe Show
The 'Sexiest' Profession

The Joe Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2026 8:36


Katie Sommers has found a study! She has the top five hottest professions... but how accurate are they?

Stacking Slabs
Passion to Profession: How MC Sports Cards Built a High-End Consignment Brand on eBay

Stacking Slabs

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2026 43:40


Trust does not come from volume. It comes from choices made over time.In this episode of Passion to Profession, I sit down with Mike from MC Sports Cards to talk about how reputation became the foundation of his business. We get into why he chose quality over scale, how referrals built a powerful network effect, and what it really takes to earn trust when handling five and six figure cards.We also break down high-end cards on eBay, the impact of Authenticity Guarantee, MC Mondays, and why sometimes the best way to build trust is to say no to business. If you care about long-term relationships in the hobby, this one is for you.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ask Drone U
EDL 019: Turning Passion to Profession: Running successful drone business in Hawaii, with Gabo Hanohano

Ask Drone U

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026


In this episode, Gabe Hanohano takes us on his inspiring journey of building a successful drone business in Hawaii. Starting with a deep-rooted passion for photography and technology, Gabe navigates the intricate world of drones, sharing the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial path. He underscores the critical role of networking in Hawaii's relationship-driven market and the importance of adapting business strategies, including rebranding for better market positioning. Gabe also delves into the power of leveraging technology, such as AI, to enhance business operations and the necessity of a strong online presence for client attraction. His story is a testament to the value of continuous learning, resilience, and maintaining relationships in a rapidly evolving industry. Aspiring drone entrepreneurs will find Gabe's insights on exploring new opportunities, the potential of NSF grants for research and development, and the importance of staying grounded in reality both enlightening and motivating. Join us as Gabe shares his wisdom on thriving in the drone industry amidst challenges and uncertainties. Want to Make Money Flying Drones? DroneU gives you the blueprint to start and grow a real drone business: FAA Part 107 prep 40+ courses on flight skills, real estate, mapping, and business Pricing guides, client acquisition, and weekly coaching Supportive community of top-tier drone pros Start here https://www.thedroneu.com Know someone ready to take the leap? Share this episode with them !! Stuck between a safe job and chasing your drone dream? Download our FREE Drone Pilot Starter Kit   Includes: FAA checklist, pricing template, and plug-and-play proposal to help you land your first client with confidence.  https://learn.thedroneu.com/bundles/drone-pilot-starter-kit  Timestamps [02:49] - Gabe's Journey into Drones [05:59] - First Paid Jobs and Learning Experiences [09:06] - Building a Drone Business in Hawaii [12:04] - The Importance of Networking and Relationships [15:04] - Adapting Business Strategies and Name Changes [18:04] - Navigating the First Year of Business [20:46] - Acquiring Contracts and Client Relationships [23:54] - Leveraging Technology for Business Growth [26:58] - SEO and Online Presence [30:06] - The Role of AI in Business Development [33:01] - Long-Term Business Strategies and Mindset [36:07] - Future of Drone Business and Industry Changes [39:21] - Navigating Uncertainties in the Drone Industry [42:05] - Adapting to Market Changes and Client Needs [44:50] - Exploring New Opportunities and Innovations [46:26] - Reality Checks for Drone Business Owners [51:09] - Resilience and Perseverance in Challenging Times [54:50] - Networking and Collaboration for Growth [01:00:49] - Research and Development: NSF Grant Insights [01:06:08]  - Future Aspirations and Scaling the Business [01:08:55] - Lessons Learned and Best Practices

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed
The Report Card with Nat Malkus: Randi Weingarten on the Teaching Profession

The Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 87:28


On the right, teachers' unions are often treated as the bogeyman, and no one today is more synonymous with teachers' unions than Randi Weingarten. Indeed, in 2022 former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Weingarten “the most dangerous person in the world.” But who is Randi Weingarten? What does she do on a day-to-day basis? […]

The Meaningful Money Personal Finance Podcast
How To Become A Financial Adviser, Part 1

The Meaningful Money Personal Finance Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 50:37


This week, Roger and I discuss the answer to a frequently-asked question - how does one become a financial adviser? Clearly Roger and I make it look like a sexy profession, but as you can imagine, we have lots to say on the subject… Shownotes: https://meaningfulmoney.tv/session606  01:47 - What People Think Financial Advisers Do (and Why That's Incomplete) 07:25 - The Structure of a Modern Advice Firm 17:29 - Career Progression 22:31 - Qualifications and Regulation (The Reality, Not the Myth)  29:14 - Routes Into the Profession 37:20 - The Economics of Advice (High-Level) 46:39 - Who the HARD Side Will Appeal To 

The AlphaMind Podcast
#155: Performance Coaching: The Mental Shift That Powers Trading Excellence — with Andrew Menaker

The AlphaMind Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 67:01


“When a trader stops trying to fix themself, and starts understanding themself, that's when trading can really transform. “ – Andrew Menaker – The AlphaMind Podcast In this episode, we explore how performance coaching transforms traders' mindsets, sharpens decision-making under pressure, and builds routines that sustain a long-term edge.Hosts Steven Goldstein and Mark Randall sit down with performance coach and professional trader Andrew Menaker to examine the psychological shifts that drive lasting improvement in trading performance.While many view trading as a technical challenge—charts, systems, strategy—Andrew argues the greatest gains come from transforming the person behind the P&L. Through coaching, traders develop self-mastery, which produces clearer decision-making, healthier risk-taking, and greater resilience—leading to significant improvements in performance.Andrew Menaker Links: Website: https://andrewmenaker.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-menaker-phd-b2870323/ X: https://x.com/Andrew_Menaker/ AlphaMind Links Website: https://alpha-mind.net Email: info@alpha-mind.net X: https://x.com/AlphaMind101 Linkedin - AlphaMind Hosts: Mark Randall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrandallconsultancy/ Steven Goldstein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-goldstein-060a4913/ AlphaMind Newsletter: https://alphamind101.substack.com/AlphaMind: Powering Performance in Global MarketsAlphaMind brings powerful change, growth and development to people and businesses within global markets. Driven by a deep understanding of how markets work, and how people and businesses function within them, we partner with clients to create personal performance improvements that elevate returns across their trading activities. Go to the AlphaMind website to know more.

Stacking Slabs
Passion to Profession: Trust Is the Business with Josh from PC Sportscards

Stacking Slabs

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2026 40:07


Trust decides who stays and who leaves in this hobby.In this episode of Passion to Profession, Brett sits down with Josh from PC Sportscards to talk about what it takes to build a business collectors trust with their cards, their money, and their time.Josh walks through how PC Sportscards scaled during a period of growth while keeping transparency front and center. From fixed price listings that outperform auctions to grading workflows built around over communication, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how real trust gets built.You will hear why mistakes are not the risk. Hiding them is.Why customers for life matter more than fast transactions.And why technology, process, and empathy all work together.A special thank you to eBay for sponsoring Passion to Profession. The biggest and best marketplace to buy your next favorite trading card.Get exclusive content, promote your cards, and connect with other collectors who listen to the pod today by joining the Patreon: Join Stacking Slabs Podcast Patreon[Distributed on Sunday] Sign up for the Stacking Slabs Weekly Rip Newsletter using this linkFollow Stacking Slabs: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

20/20 MONEY
Flippin' the script: What I've learned about ODs & the profession of optometry producing 300+ episodes of 20/20 Money

20/20 MONEY

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2026 74:19


In this derivative of a show takeover, Dr. Brianna Rue interviews me to explore my journey in podcasting and the insights I've has gained about the optometry profession. We discuss the challenges optometrists face, the importance of financial literacy, and many other lessons I've learned through and because of the conversations I've had on this show. We cover a lot in this dialogue and—among many topics—our conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in goals, the significance of delegation, and the value of building relationships in practice ownership. Towards the end of the conversation , we also touch on the future of the show and the significance of continuous learning and adaptation in the profession.   Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form   Episodes Referenced:  Lessons from the (former) President of TSO: cooperative strategies to counter PE disruption and empower private practice ownership with John Marvin Thoughts and opinions on the state & future of private practice optometry from the president of a $110 million optometry organization: a conversation with John Marvin, President of Texas State Optical A deep dive into practice transitions with Dr. Mick Kling, OD (Part 1) A deep dive into practice transitions with Dr. Mick Kling, OD (Part 2) Dr. Jennifer Stewart's "tepid" start optometry practice: the power of vision & intentionality, the importance of an ideal patient avatar, and reconciling business risk with a conservative personality Increasing optical revenue by rethinking--from buying to selling--your frame management with Kayla Ashlee of Spexy Rethinking the perception of sales in your office with Kayla Ashlee, Founder of Spexy   ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

The Jordan Harbinger Show
1274: Past Indiscretion Keeps Threatening Profession | Feedback Friday

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 78:10


You served time 22 years ago, and now your business partner's wielding your criminal record like a blackmail card to take everything. It's Feedback Friday!And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1274On This Week's Feedback Friday:You paid for a youthful transgression over two decades ago, built a thriving company from nothing, and now your best friend/business partner is weaponizing your past to push you out — all because of a conflict with his girlfriend. How do you break this pattern and reclaim your story? [Thanks to Corbin Payne and Joanna Tate for helping us with this one!]Your stepbrother's getting married in 10 days, and despite nearly 20 years of brotherhood and a close bond, you still haven't received an invitation — apparently because his fiancée and yours had a falling out. Can you break through the silence before it's too late?Testosterone replacement therapy transformed your energy and recovery as a firefighter-turned-fintech professional — until you discovered it may have rendered you infertile while you and your wife were trying for a second child. Now your sperm count is zero. What comes next?Recommendation of the Week: Camp Snap Digital CameraYou've got the dream life — great marriage, strong friendships, vibrant city — but your career keeps flaming out after the honeymoon phase ends. Now you're eyeing a pivot to therapy, but you're terrified you'll repeat the same burnout pattern. How do you finally make it stick?Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Cape: 33% off for six months: cape.co/jordanharbinger, code Jordan33CovePure: $200 off: covepure.com/jordanMint Mobile: Shop plans at mintmobile.com/jhsAudible: Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500Momentous: 20% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JORDAN20Homes.com: Find your home: homes.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.