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Nathan Lambert and Sebastian Raschka are machine learning researchers, engineers, and educators. Nathan is the post-training lead at the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) and the author of The RLHF Book. Sebastian Raschka is the author of Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch) and Build a Reasoning Model (From Scratch). Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep490-sc See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/ai-sota-2026-transcript CONTACT LEX: Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact SPONSORS: To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: Box: Intelligent content management platform. Go to https://box.com/ai Quo: Phone system (calls, texts, contacts) for businesses. Go to https://quo.com/lex UPLIFT Desk: Standing desks and office ergonomics. Go to https://upliftdesk.com/lex Fin: AI agent for customer service. Go to https://fin.ai/lex Shopify: Sell stuff online. Go to https://shopify.com/lex CodeRabbit: AI-powered code reviews. Go to https://coderabbit.ai/lex LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine. Go to https://perplexity.ai/ OUTLINE: (00:00) – Introduction (01:39) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (16:29) – China vs US: Who wins the AI race? (25:11) – ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Grok: Who is winning? (36:11) – Best AI for coding (43:02) – Open Source vs Closed Source LLMs (54:41) – Transformers: Evolution of LLMs since 2019 (1:02:38) – AI Scaling Laws: Are they dead or still holding? (1:18:45) – How AI is trained: Pre-training, Mid-training, and Post-training (1:51:51) – Post-training explained: Exciting new research directions in LLMs (2:12:43) – Advice for beginners on how to get into AI development & research (2:35:36) – Work culture in AI (72+ hour weeks) (2:39:22) – Silicon Valley bubble (2:43:19) – Text diffusion models and other new research directions (2:49:01) – Tool use (2:53:17) – Continual learning (2:58:39) – Long context (3:04:54) – Robotics (3:14:04) – Timeline to AGI (3:21:20) – Will AI replace programmers? (3:39:51) – Is the dream of AGI dying? (3:46:40) – How AI will make money? (3:51:02) – Big acquisitions in 2026 (3:55:34) – Future of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, xAI, Meta (4:08:08) – Manhattan Project for AI (4:14:42) – Future of NVIDIA, GPUs, and AI compute clusters (4:22:48) – Future of human civilization

Habitat And Hatcheries! Do you think we need more artificial reefs and such or more hatchery production? Let's discuss! Do you have a question about fishing in your area? Email rick@floridasportsman.com and we'll answer your questions on the air. Outline of Episode 328 [1:28] Tropics Report [5:33] Northeast Report [12:00] East Central Report [21:06] South East Report            [25:53] South Report [35:40] Keys Report [39:22] 10,000 Islands Report [44:50] Southwest Report [47:52] Big Bend Report [55:10] Panhandle Report [1:00:27] Florida Wrap-Up A BIG thanks to each of our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to bring you these reports each week Yamaha Outboards • Shimano Fishing • Tournament Master Chum • D.O.A. Lures • Fishing Nosara / Nosara Paradise Rentals • Young Boats

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In today's episode, Neil Iyengar, MD, moderated an OncLive Insights discussion about adverse effect management when using breast cancer therapies targeting the PI3K, AKT, and mTOR pathways. Dr Iyengar is an associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology and co-director of Breast Medical Oncology in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine; as well as director of Survivorship Services at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was joined by Heather Moore, CPP, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist practitioner at the Duke Cancer Center Breast Clinic in Durham, North Carolina; and Sarah Donahue, MPH, NP, a nurse practitioner at the University of California San Francisco Health.  In our exclusive discussion, the experts highlighted the importance of early and comprehensive testing (using both tissue and liquid biopsies) for genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions. They also noted strategies for managing diarrhea, including patient education on diet, proactive use of loperamide, and regular monitoring. They also explained that hyperglycemia management should hinge on prophylactic use of metformin or SGLT2 inhibitors, dietary restrictions, and frequent glucose monitoring. Their conversation on rash management included insights about prophylactic antihistamines, patient education on skin care, and involving dermatology for severe cases. Overall, the experts spotlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and proactive patient education when treating patients with breast cancer.

Is the American middle class actually shrinking, or evolving? In this episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase offer educational context on widely discussed economic, investing, and retirement planning topics shaping today's financial conversations. Listen as long-term data, market history, and household-level considerations are used to frame—not forecast—how these issues connect. • Examine why the U.S. middle class is often described as shrinking and how income mobility, inflation-adjusted thresholds, and household dynamics influence that narrative. • Review how artificial intelligence is commonly discussed in relation to productivity, workforce demand, and labor market participation. • Outline general considerations around emergency savings, including income consistency, job stability, and insurance coverage. • Explain factors households often weigh when deciding whether to engage a financial professional for planning support. • Provide historical context on gold, market corrections, and why gold is sometimes referenced in diversification discussions. • Summarize why dividends are frequently included in long-term investing conversations across market cycles. • Highlight planning considerations for investment club assets, including potential capital gains implications during account or custodian transitions. • Examine variables that may influence retirement spending needs, reinforcing that planning outcomes vary by household. • Compare commonly discussed perspectives on dollar-cost averaging versus lump-sum investing during periods of market volatility. This episode focuses on education and perspective—not individualized recommendations. Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for ongoing conversations that place investing and retirement topics into long-term context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday Evening

Many people begin their financial lives confidently handling everything on their own. They set up retirement accounts, save diligently, and make decisions that feel reasonable at the time. But as life evolves, that confidence can quietly erode. In this episode, we speak directly to the do-it-yourself investor who has started to wonder whether going it alone still makes sense. We unpack the most common reasons people resist working with an advisor, from concerns about fees and loss of control to confusion about what financial advisors actually do. We also share what typically triggers the shift from DIY to professional help, often a late-night moment of uncertainty sparked by taxes, retirement timing, or growing complexity. This conversation offers a candid look behind the curtain of comprehensive financial planning. It explores what advisory fees really buy, how proactive planning reduces costly mistakes, and why time, interest, and expertise eventually fall out of balance for many successful professionals. The goal is not to push a decision, but to help listeners decide when and if partnering with an advisor could add meaningful value to their financial lives. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Who this episode is for and why DIY investors start asking bigger questions [02:00] Why many people prefer to manage their finances alone [05:00] The common misconceptions about financial advisors and fees [07:00] The questions that prompt people to seek professional advice [12:00] What a financial advisor fee actually pays for [18:00] How complexity, risk, and missed opportunities compound over time Why many investors choose to do it themselves For many people, managing finances alone feels simpler. Setting contributions on autopilot and avoiding difficult decisions can be comforting, especially early on when life and finances are relatively straightforward. Cost concerns also play a major role, as do-it-yourself investors often question whether advisory fees are worth paying. Control is another powerful factor. Turning over financial decisions to someone else can feel uncomfortable, even when things are no longer as simple as they once were. Add in confusion about the financial services industry and fear of being judged for past decisions, and it becomes clear why many people delay seeking help, even when doubts begin to surface. The questions that push people to seek an advisor Most people don't wake up one day and decide to hire a financial advisor without a reason. It usually starts with a specific question they no longer feel confident answering. Am I truly able to retire when I think I can? Am I saving enough for college without sacrificing my own future? Why do my taxes feel higher every year? Other common triggers include managing company stock compensation, holding too much cash without a clear plan, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the growing complexity of life. As careers advance, families grow, and assets accumulate, the margin for error narrows and the cost of mistakes increases. What comprehensive financial planning actually includes A key theme in this episode is that financial planning goes far beyond investment management. Comprehensive planning helps turn vague goals into concrete decisions, supported by realistic projections and scenario analysis. It brings clarity to tax planning throughout the year, not just at filing time, and helps diversify not only investments but tax exposure as well. The hosts also discuss personalized investment strategies, behavioral coaching during market volatility, and identifying opportunities that can be missed without an objective third party. Risk management, from insurance coverage to concentrated stock positions, and estate planning round out the picture, ensuring that plans hold up not just today, but across decades and generations. Deciding if the fee is an investment, not just a cost Ultimately, the decision to work with an advisor is deeply personal. The team emphasizes that it's not about finding the lowest fee, but about understanding the value provided. For many, advisory fees represent an investment in better decisions, reduced risk, and greater confidence over time. As financial lives grow more complex, the question often becomes less about whether someone can manage everything themselves and more about whether they still want to. This episode offers a framework for evaluating that decision thoughtfully, with clarity and intention ***********

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In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Dr. David Dimmett, CEO of Project Lead the Way, to discuss the critical importance of AI literacy, STEM pathways, and career readiness in today's rapidly evolving world. They explore how Project Lead the Way is preparing students and educators by integrating AI tools, ethical reasoning, and durable skills into learning experiences. Dimmett emphasizes the role of applied humanities in creating tools that serve humanity and discusses initiatives like Career Advantage, which focuses on career exposure, work-based learning, and industry-recognized credentials. Tune in to hear how education leaders can navigate this dynamic landscape while equipping students with the skills to thrive. Outline (00:00) Introduction & Planning Season (01:44) AI Breakthroughs & The Future of Work (10:08) AI Literacy Course & Framework (18:37) Career Advantage & Skilled Trades (25:16) AI Pushback & The Path Forward Links Read the full blog here Watch the full video here PLTW LinkedIn | David Dimmett  

In this episode, I'm joined by Steve Harding, Senior Vice President of Sales EMEA at SalesLoft and global sales leader, for a deep dive into how AI is reshaping the revenue workflow. We cut through the hype to uncover the real value AI brings to sales teams, from serving as the "air traffic control" for overwhelmed account executives to accelerating pipeline creation through smarter signal prioritization. Steve shares powerful examples from his own organization, unveils practical AI use cases for prospecting and deal progression, and emphasizes the importance of keeping the human touch front and center. Tune in for candid stories and fresh perspectives on how sales teams can successfully adopt AI, avoid common mistakes, and leverage technology to enhance, not replace, the vital role of human judgment and relationship-building in sales. Outline of This Episode 00:00 AI-driven sales productivity insights. 08:08 Human-centric sales in the AI era. 10:42 Content overload challenges modern buyers. 15:48 AI-powered sales insights. 19:13 AI integration in sales workflow. 20:27 AI-driven customer outreach automation. AI in the Revenue Workflow: Separating Value from Hype Today, sales teams are inundated with tools and data, making the challenge not just about having information, but about managing it. AI has the potential to become the air traffic controller, helping teams delegate, automate, and prioritize effectively. AI's most meaningful contribution is compressing "time to insight." Instead of manually sifting data or waiting for CRM updates, AI delivers actionable guidance at critical moments in a seller's workflow. Steve outlines how, at SalesLoft, AI is integrated directly into their platform, which helps account executives instantly recognize the next best action and act at the right time. This isn't just theoretical. For example, teams can now pick up signals, both internal, like website activity or content downloads, and external, like missed payments, that indicate where attention is needed. AI then helps sort and prioritize these signals, recommending actions and automating follow-up tasks so teams spend time where it counts. The result: improved productivity and responsiveness, and ultimately, healthier pipelines. AI that Boosts Prospecting, Qualification, and Deal Progression What does this look like in practice? Steve shares a recent exercise at SalesLoft when they analyzed every major win and loss across markets and segments, mining rich interaction data captured in their system. When they fed this into the AI, they discerned clear themes that differentiated wins from losses. The findings informed improvements to their sales process, especially around discovery intent, giving teams concrete cues that new hires and veterans alike could watch for. This real-world application of AI proved results, boosting win rates and adding confidence, context, and clarity to team conversations while preserving the all-important human connection. The Human Element - Where Judgment Still Matters Most Despite the buzz, AI is not a panacea for sales relationships. At the end of the day, sales is a human-centric activity, Steve explains. AI serves best as a "wingman or copilot." It can automate certain workflows, but when the conversation gets nuanced, or the stakes are high, whether it's handling objections or building deep trust, a human's judgment, empathy, and experience remain irreplaceable. Buyers are showing up more informed, or misinformed, than ever before. But the proliferation of high-quality marketing content has led to confusion and caution. Salespeople must now help buyers navigate this information landscape and overcome the "fear of messing up", a challenge that can't be solved by algorithms alone. What missteps do organizations make with AI rollouts?  Steve stresses two dangers: Expecting AI to perform beyond the skill level of a company's most junior rep. Failing to keep humans "in the loop", validating and verifying a system's outputs. Instead, AI should recommend and automate, not dictate, with human oversight at every critical juncture. It's the old wisdom: "Trust but verify." As sales leaders consider integrating AI into pipeline generation or deal execution, Steve recommends starting with the pain points, not the tech itself. Ask where reps are wasting time, then target AI to solve those problems. Then, using AI within your systems, not on the edge (like ad hoc Copilot or OpenAI research). This keeps valuable intel connected to your CRM. While you're doing this, it's important to keep a human in the loop to protect your relationships and reputation. Where AI and Human Skill Combine for Better Outcomes One standout example is nurturing relationships when key contacts change roles or organizations. AI tools can track these moves and trigger a personalized, multi-step outreach campaign, congratulations on LinkedIn, followed by an email and a phone call. This blend of automation and personal touch lets teams act at scale, re-engage valuable advocates, and build pipeline opportunities that would be nearly impossible to manage manually. AI is transforming sales workflows, but not by replacing humans. Use AI as an intelligent copilot to prioritize, automate, and scale, but never lose sight of the human skills of empathy, and judgment.  Connect with Steve Harding Steve Harding on LinkedIn  Salesloft  Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter  Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show Notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

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Market volatility, global headlines, and policy uncertainty continue to shape how investors experience 2026. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd focus on context, not commentary, to help listeners interpret today's fast-moving financial narrative. • Frame rising investor anxiety amid market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, highlighted by global discussions at Davos. • Contextualize geopolitical developments—including Arctic defense strategy, Greenland, Venezuela, and Middle East tensions—and their influence on markets and sentiment. • Illustrate how rapid headline shifts, from escalation risk to de-escalation, can move markets and emotions within a single trading day. • Outline how fiscal and monetary forces—policy stimulus, liquidity measures, tax dynamics, and regulatory discussions—may be shaping 2026 economic expectations. • Evaluate the role of interest rates and upcoming Federal Reserve meetings in current market narratives. • Review market drawdowns and recoveries since 2020, reinforcing long-term perspective alongside recent volatility. • Emphasize discipline and zooming out as recurring themes when navigating short-term uncertainty. • Examine artificial intelligence discussions through the lens of productivity, workforce evolution, and economic impact. • Compare assets often associated with perceived stability, including gold, utilities, energy, and companies with durable business models. • Revisit historical dividend trends and their role in income-focused investment conversations. • Explain how frequent reaction to news and emotional decision-making have historically influenced investor outcomes, referencing DALBAR research. • Note every day financial changes—such as the end of new penny minting—and their practical implications. Markets will keep changing, but perspective remains essential. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast to follow Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd as they provide structured, long-term context on the financial headlines shaping today's investing conversations.

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Message Notes for Today's Sermon. Click Here - https://gileadchurch.churchcenter.com/episodes/590119/notes Outline for Today's Sermon. Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/1-25-26.pdf Digital Connection Card Click Here to fill one out - https://gileadchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/202250 Having Trouble with the Live Stream? Click Here to watch on our website - https://www.gileadchurch.com/ Looking to Give Online? Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/giving/ Did you make a decision today and want to take your Next Step? Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/next-steps/ Weekly Announcements - https://www.gileadchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/WeeklyAnnouncements1-25-26.png To Listen to Our Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gilead-church-podcast/id1729234971 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sOidhOjzZepJFlQp2ZJWZ?si=9550f665a7fa4612 For More From Gilead Church: http://www.gileadchurch.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gileadchurch1/ https://www.instagram.com/gilead_church/

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The Mid-January Saltwater Breakdown! Join the team as they discuss the cold water fishing of Mid-January. Let's discuss! Do you have a question about fishing in your area? Email rick@floridasportsman.com and we'll answer your questions on the air. Outline of Episode 327 [1:37] Tropics Report [3:25] Northeast Report [11:43] East Central Report [21:10] South East Report            [21:10] South Report [23:50] Keys Report [29:28] 10,000 Islands Report [37:58] Southwest Report [42:39] West Central Report [48:27] Big Bend Report [48:27] Northwest Report [1:01:58] Panhandle Report [1:05:27] Florida Wrap-Up A BIG thanks to each of our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to bring you these reports each week Yamaha Outboards • Shimano Fishing • Tournament Master Chum • D.O.A. Lures • Fishing Nosara / Nosara Paradise Rentals • Young Boats  

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Here's your local news for Thursday, January 22, 2026:We share an update on a new housing development in the city's Owl Creek neighborhood,Outline what's been predictable and surprising about the Trump regime's immigration crackdown,Celebrate Bob Weir's life and legacy with a local Grateful Dead tribute band,Learn how a local woodworker used his art to tackle a complicated subject,Look forward to the Russian Folk Orchestra's first rehearsal of the semester,And much more.

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Redemption Revealed | Week 2 | Kathy Harrelson--Jesus declares that it is time for Him to be glorified through the crucifixion and resurrection, and He calls all to believe and follow Him wholeheartedly.--Outline

Episode 144Happy New Year! This is one of my favorite episodes of the year — for the fourth time, Nathan Benaich and I did our yearly roundup of AI news and advancements, including selections from this year's State of AI Report.If you've stuck around and continue to listen, I'm really thankful you're here. I love hearing from you.You can find Nathan and Air Street Press here on Substack and on Twitter, LinkedIn, and his personal site. Check out his writing at press.airstreet.com.Find me on Twitter (or LinkedIn if you want…) for updates on new episodes, and reach me at editor@thegradient.pub for feedback, ideas, guest suggestions.Outline* (00:00) Intro* (00:44) Air Street Capital and Nathan world* Nathan's path from cancer research and bioinformatics to AI investing* The “evergreen thesis” of AI from niche to ubiquitous* Portfolio highlights: Eleven Labs, Synthesia, Crusoe* (03:44) Geographic flexibility: Europe vs. the US* Why SF isn't always the best place for original decisions* Industry diversity in New York vs. San Francisco* The Munich Security Conference and Europe's defense pivot* Playing macro games from a European vantage point* (07:55) VC investment styles and the “solo GP” approach* Taste as the determinant of investments* SF as a momentum game with small information asymmetry* Portfolio diversity: defense (Delian), embodied AI (Syriact), protein engineering* Finding entrepreneurs who “can't do anything else”* (10:44) State of AI progress in 2025* Momentous progress in writing, research, computer use, image, and video* We're in the “instruction manual” phase* The scale of investment: private markets, public markets, and nation states* (13:21) Range of outcomes and what “going bad” looks like* Today's systems are genuinely useful—worst case is a valuation problem* Financialization of AI buildouts and GPUs* (14:55) DeepSeek and China closing the capability gap* Seven-month lag analysis (Epoch AI)* Benchmark skepticism and consumer preferences (”Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi”)* Hedonic adaptation: humans reset expectations extremely quickly* Bifurcation of model companies toward specific product bets* (18:29) Export controls and the “evolutionary pressure” argument* Selective pressure breeds innovation* Chinese companies rushing to public markets (Minimax, ZAI)* (21:30) Reasoning models and test-time compute* Chain of thought faithfulness questions* Monitorability tax: does observability reduce quality?* User confusion about when models should “think”* AI for science: literature agents, hypothesis generation* (23:53) Chain of thought interpretability and safety* Anthropomorphization concerns* Alignment faking and self-preservation behaviors* Cybersecurity as a bigger risk than existential risk* Models as payloads injected into critical systems* (27:26) Commercial traction and AI adoption data* Ramp data: 44% of US businesses paying for AI (up from 5% in early 2023)* Average contract values up to $530K from $39K* State of AI survey: 92% report productivity gains* The “slow takeoff” consensus and human inertia* Use cases: meeting notes, content generation, brainstorming, coding, financial analysis* (32:53) The industrial era of AI* Stargate and XAI data centers* Energy infrastructure: gas turbines and grid investment* Labs need to own models, data, compute, and power* Poolside's approach to owning infrastructure* (35:40) Venture capital in the age of massive GPU capex* The GP lives in the present, the entrepreneur in the future, the LP in the past* Generality vs. specialism narratives* “Two or 20”: management fees vs. carried interest* Scaling funds to match entrepreneur ambitions* (40:10) NVIDIA challengers and returns analysis* Chinese challengers: 6x return vs. 26x on NVIDIA* US challengers: 2x return vs. 12x on NVIDIA* Grok acquired for $20B; Samba Nova markdown to $1.6B* “The tide is lifting all boats”—demand exceeds supply* (44:06) The hardware lottery and architecture convergence* Transformer dominance and custom ASICs making a comeback* NVIDIA still 90–95% of published AI research* (45:49) AI regulation: Trump agenda and the EU AI Act* Domain-specific regulators vs. blanket AI policy* State-level experimentation creates stochasticity* EU AI Act: “born before GPT-4, takes effect in a world shaped by GPT-7”* Only three EU member states compliant by late 2025* (50:14) Sovereign AI: what it really means* True sovereignty requires energy, compute, data, talent, chip design, and manufacturing* The US is sovereign; the UK by itself is not* Form alliances or become world-class at one level of the stack* ASML and the Netherlands as an example* (52:33) Open weight safety and containment* Three paths: model-based safeguards, scaffolding/ecosystem, procedural/governance* “Pandora's box is open”—containment on distribution, not weights* Leak risk: the most vulnerable link is often human* Developer–policymaker communication and regulator upskilling* (55:43) China's AI safety approach* Matt Sheehan's work on Chinese AI regulation* Safety summits and China's participation* New Chinese policies: minor modes, mental health intervention, data governance* UK's rebrand from “safety” to “security” institutes* (58:34) Prior predictions and patterns* Hits on regulatory/political areas; misses on semiconductor consolidation, AI video games* (59:43) 2026 Predictions* A Chinese lab overtaking US on frontier (likely ZAI or DeepSeek, on scientific reasoning)* Data center NIMBYism influencing midterm politics* (01:01:01) ClosingLinks and ResourcesNathan / Air Street Capital* Air Street Capital* State of AI Report 2025* Air Street Press — essays, analysis, and the Guide to AI newsletter* Nathan on Substack* Nathan on Twitter/X* Nathan on LinkedInFrom Air Street Press (mentioned in episode)* Is the EU AI Act Actually Useful? — by Max Cutler and Nathan Benaich* China Has No Place at the UK AI Safety Summit (2023) — by Alex Chalmers and Nathan BenaichResearch & Analysis* Epoch AI: Chinese AI Models Lag US by 7 Months — the analysis referenced on the US-China capability gap* Sara Hooker: The Hardware Lottery — the essay on how hardware determines which research ideas succeed* Matt Sheehan: China's AI Regulations and How They Get Made — Carnegie EndowmentCompanies Mentioned* Eleven Labs — AI voice synthesis (Air Street portfolio)* Synthesia — AI video generation (Air Street portfolio)* Crusoe — clean compute infrastructure (Air Street portfolio)* Poolside — AI for code (Air Street portfolio)* DeepSeek — Chinese AI lab* Minimax — Chinese AI company* ASML — semiconductor equipmentOther Resources* Search Engine Podcast: Data Centers (Part 1 & 2) — PJ Vogt's two-part series on XAI data centers and the AI financing boom* RAAIS Foundation — Nathan's AI research and education charity Get full access to The Gradient at thegradientpub.substack.com/subscribe

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Julie Holmes is a renowned AI expert, inventor, and tech entrepreneur who's with me on the show to discuss how AI is reshaping the buyer-seller dynamic. She shares her expertise on how to manage when AI-empowered buyers are more informed (and sometimes misinformed), making the salesperson's role as both educator and "un-educator" more vital than ever. Julie breaks down how sales pros can leverage AI to boost efficiency and personalize their approach while preserving the irreplaceable human skills of motivation, determination, and empathy. Julie reveals her "20-60-20" framework for becoming AI empowered, not just an AI user, and gives real-world examples of how blending AI with human expertise creates better outcomes for both buyers and sellers. If you're looking to embrace AI while maintaining integrity, humanity, and the consultative spirit of great selling, this episode is for you! Outline of This Episode 00:00 AI's impact on buyer behavior. 07:21 AI tools for sales impact. 11:53 Collaborating effectively using AI. 14:15 AI misconceptions and questions. 16:25 Maintaining your sales edge. 19:57 Balancing AI and human connection. 25:08 Building trust through AI. AI Can Mirror Sentiment, But It Can't Mean It One of the most striking shifts in the sales process is that buyers now arrive more informed, often armed with research and recommendations generated by AI tools. However, with this information comes a greater risk of misconception. Today's sales professionals must not only educate but also "uneducate" buyers, correcting misinformation before moving forward. This increases vendors' responsibility to provide clarity and guidance, effectively making the salesperson both a subject-matter expert and a myth-buster. While AI can enrich the initial dialogue, it's up to humans to ensure accuracy and build genuine trust. AI-Powered Preparation and Human Skills That Still Matter AI isn't just changing buyer behavior, it's revolutionizing how sellers prepare for conversations. Rather than spending hours collecting information, sales professionals can now use AI for pre-call intelligence, rapidly gathering relevant data on prospects and industries. Julie shares how she uses a chatbot for a six-factor framework, analyzing what's happening before, after, inside, and outside, and identifying what the prospect needs more or less of. This allows for more meaningful conversations, less time lost to research, and greater focus on strategy. Human skills remain irreplaceable, particularly when we think about motivation and empathy. Sellers must take the initiative to use AI as a tool, not a crutch, and most importantly, empathy enables salespeople to read emotional nuances, office politics, and subtleties that AI can't quite capture, proving that the emotional layer of every deal is still fundamentally human. Leveraging AI Without Losing Yourself Julie outlines three powerful strategies that sales teams use AI to boost efficiency and effectiveness without sounding robotic or impersonal.  Pre-Call Intelligence: Harnessing AI to analyze prospects and markets before meetings, so sellers are prepared and focused. Proposal Enhancement: Using AI to break through "blank page syndrome" with draft emails or proposals, then tailoring content for tone and context based on transcripts and prior interactions. Real-Time Practice: Employing AI to role-play sales conversations, allowing reps to rehearse handling objections and refine messaging before high-stakes calls. The secret isn't in delegating authenticity to AI, but rather in using technology to amplify your own understanding, creativity, and responsiveness. Human Judgment is the Deciding Factor Even with advanced AI tools, human judgment plays a central role in guiding insights, making strategic decisions, and building relationships. The distinction between being an "AI user" and being "AI empowered" hinges on critical thinking. Empowered sellers don't outsource decision-making, they use AI to supplement their intuition and discernment, applying context where it matters most. Her 20/60/20 rule puts it succinctly: spend 20% of your time thoughtfully prompting and guiding AI, let it do 60% of the heavy lifting, then use the final 20% to filter, personalize, and enhance the output. Sales teams often stumble with three core misconceptions about AI: Believing it's "plug and play" and mistaking quantity of data for quality. Worrying that AI will make their work less authentic (when, in fact, bad prompting is the real culprit). Fearing the loss of their competitive edge or creativity. The antidote is hands-on AI literacy, combined with ongoing development of relationship-building, communication, and problem-solving skills. Sales leaders should focus on balancing automation with moments of critical human connection to maximize both speed and impact. AI should be viewed not as a replacement for human expertise, but as an empowerment tool that elevates sales professionals. As Julie says, "Be great at what you do, use AI to support that, become AI empowered, and be a better salesperson who is delivering better service with the use of technology." Connect with Julie Holmes Julie Holmes on LinkedIn  Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter  Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show Notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Here's your local news for Tuesday, January 20, 2026:We get Congressman Mark Pocan's take on escalating ICE activity, the impending government shutdown, and efforts to redraw Wisconsin's congressional maps,Outline the partisan debate over rising energy costs,Share an excerpt from the keynote speech at Dane County and Madison's 41st Annual MLK Day Observance,Explain why most of the American ag industry is running in the red,Celebrate the legacy of Mother Fool's Coffeehouse,Offer a novel idea to support the Dane County Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,And much more.

Last time we spoke about the climax of the battle of Lake Khasan. In August, the Lake Khasan region became a tense theater of combat as Soviet and Japanese forces clashed around Changkufeng and Hill 52. The Soviets pushed a multi-front offensive, bolstered by artillery, tanks, and air power, yet the Japanese defenders held firm, aided by engineers, machine guns, and heavy guns. By the ninth and tenth, a stubborn Japanese resilience kept Hill 52 and Changkufeng in Japanese hands, though the price was steep and the field was littered with the costs of battle. Diplomatically, both sides aimed to confine the fighting and avoid a larger war. Negotiations trudged on, culminating in a tentative cease-fire draft for August eleventh: a halt to hostilities, positions to be held as of midnight on the tenth, and the creation of a border-demarcation commission. Moscow pressed for a neutral umpire; Tokyo resisted, accepting a Japanese participant but rejecting a neutral referee. The cease-fire was imperfect, with miscommunications and differing interpretations persisting.    #185 Operation Hainan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. After what seemed like a lifetime over in the northern border between the USSR and Japan, today we are returning to the Second Sino-Japanese War. Now I thought it might be a bit jarring to dive into it, so let me do a brief summary of where we are at, in the year of 1939. As the calendar turned to 1939, the Second Sino-Japanese War, which had erupted in July 1937 with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and escalated into full-scale conflict, had evolved into a protracted quagmire for the Empire of Japan. What began as a swift campaign to subjugate the Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek had, by the close of 1938, transformed into a war of attrition. Japanese forces, under the command of generals like Shunroku Hata and Yasuji Okamura, had achieved stunning territorial gains: the fall of Shanghai in November 1937 after a brutal three-month battle that cost over 200,000 Chinese lives; the infamous capture of Nanjing in December 1937, marked by the Nanjing Massacre where an estimated 300,000 civilians and disarmed soldiers were killed in a six-week orgy of violence; and the sequential occupations of Xuzhou in May 1938, Wuhan in October 1938, and Guangzhou that same month.  These victories secured Japan's control over China's eastern seaboard, major riverine arteries like the Yangtze, and key industrial centers, effectively stripping the Nationalists of much of their economic base. Yet, despite these advances, China refused to capitulate. Chiang's government had retreated inland to the mountainous stronghold of Chongqing in Sichuan province, where it regrouped amid the fog-laden gorges, drawing on the vast human reserves of China's interior and the resilient spirit of its people. By late 1938, Japanese casualties had mounted to approximately 50,000 killed and 200,000 wounded annually, straining the Imperial Japanese Army's resources and exposing the vulnerabilities of overextended supply lines deep into hostile territory. In Tokyo, the corridors of the Imperial General Headquarters and the Army Ministry buzzed with urgent deliberations during the winter of 1938-1939. The initial doctrine of "quick victory" through decisive battles, epitomized by the massive offensives of 1937 and 1938, had proven illusory. Japan's military planners, influenced by the Kwantung Army's experiences in Manchuria and the ongoing stalemate, recognized that China's sheer size, with its 4 million square miles and over 400 million inhabitants, rendered total conquest unfeasible without unacceptable costs. Intelligence reports highlighted the persistence of Chinese guerrilla warfare, particularly in the north where Communist forces under Mao Zedong's Eighth Route Army conducted hit-and-run operations from bases in Shanxi and Shaanxi, sabotaging railways and ambushing convoys. The Japanese response included brutal pacification campaigns, such as the early iterations of what would later formalize as the "Three Alls Policy" (kill all, burn all, loot all), aimed at devastating rural economies and isolating resistance pockets. But these measures only fueled further defiance. By early 1939, a strategic pivot was formalized: away from direct annihilation of Chinese armies toward a policy of economic strangulation. This "blockade and interdiction" approach sought to sever China's lifelines to external aid, choking off the flow of weapons, fuel, and materiel that sustained the Nationalist war effort. As one Japanese staff officer noted in internal memos, the goal was to "starve the dragon in its lair," acknowledging the limits of Japanese manpower, total forces in China numbered around 1 million by 1939, against China's inexhaustible reserves. Central to this new strategy were the three primary overland supply corridors that had emerged as China's backdoors to the world, compensating for the Japanese naval blockade that had sealed off most coastal ports since late 1937. The first and most iconic was the Burma Road, a 717-mile engineering marvel hastily constructed between 1937 and 1938 by over 200,000 Chinese and Burmese laborers under the direction of engineers like Chih-Ping Chen. Stretching from the railhead at Lashio in British Burma (modern Myanmar) through treacherous mountain passes and dense jungles to Kunming in Yunnan province, the road navigated elevations up to 7,000 feet with hundreds of hairpin turns and precarious bridges. By early 1939, it was operational, albeit plagued by monsoonal mudslides, banditry, and mechanical breakdowns of the imported trucks, many Ford and Chevrolet models supplied via British Rangoon. Despite these challenges, it funneled an increasing volume of aid: in 1939 alone, estimates suggest up to 10,000 tons per month of munitions, gasoline, and aircraft parts from Allied sources, including early Lend-Lease precursors from the United States. The road's completion in 1938 had been a direct response to the loss of southern ports, and its vulnerability to aerial interdiction made it a prime target in Japanese planning documents. The second lifeline was the Indochina route, centered on the French-built Yunnan-Vietnam Railway (also known as the Hanoi-Kunming Railway), a 465-mile narrow-gauge line completed in 1910 that linked the port of Haiphong in French Indochina to Kunming via Hanoi and Lao Cai. This colonial artery, supplemented by parallel roads and river transport along the Red River, became China's most efficient supply conduit in 1938-1939, exploiting France's uneasy neutrality. French authorities, under Governor-General Pierre Pasquier and later Georges Catroux, turned a blind eye to transshipments, allowing an average of 15,000 to 20,000 tons monthly in early 1939, far surpassing the Burma Road's initial capacity. Cargoes included Soviet arms rerouted via Vladivostok and American oil, with French complicity driven by anti-Japanese sentiment and profitable tolls. However, Japanese reconnaissance flights from bases in Guangdong noted the vulnerability of bridges and rail yards, leading to initial bombing raids by mid-1939. Diplomatic pressure mounted, with Tokyo issuing protests to Paris, foreshadowing the 1940 closure under Vichy France after the fall of France in Europe. The route's proximity to the South China Sea made it a focal point for Japanese naval strategists, who viewed it as a "leak in the blockade." The third corridor, often overlooked but critical, was the Northwest Highway through Soviet Central Asia and Xinjiang province. This overland network, upgraded between 1937 and 1941 with Soviet assistance, connected the Turkestan-Siberian Railway at Almaty (then Alma-Ata) to Lanzhou in Gansu via Urumqi, utilizing a mix of trucks, camel caravans, and rudimentary roads across the Gobi Desert and Tian Shan mountains. Under the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact of August 1937 and subsequent aid agreements, Moscow supplied China with over 900 aircraft, 82 tanks, 1,300 artillery pieces, and vast quantities of ammunition and fuel between 1937 and 1941—much of it traversing this route. In 1938-1939, volumes peaked, with Soviet pilots and advisors even establishing air bases in Lanzhou. The highway's construction involved tens of thousands of Chinese laborers, facing harsh winters and logistical hurdles, but it delivered up to 2,000 tons monthly, including entire fighter squadrons like the Polikarpov I-16. Japanese intelligence, aware of this "Red lifeline," planned disruptions but were constrained by the ongoing Nomonhan Incident on the Manchurian-Soviet border in 1939, which diverted resources and highlighted the risks of provoking Moscow. These routes collectively sustained China's resistance, prompting Japan's high command to prioritize their severance. In March 1939, the South China Area Army was established under General Rikichi Andō (later succeeded by Field Marshal Hisaichi Terauchi), headquartered in Guangzhou, with explicit orders to disrupt southern communications. Aerial campaigns intensified, with Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" bombers from Wuhan and Guangzhou targeting Kunming's airfields and the Red River bridges, while diplomatic maneuvers pressured colonial powers: Britain faced demands during the June 1939 Tientsin Crisis to close the Burma Road, and France received ultimatums that culminated in the 1940 occupation of northern Indochina. Yet, direct assaults on Yunnan or Guangxi were deemed too arduous due to rugged terrain and disease risks. Instead, planners eyed peripheral objectives to encircle these arteries. This strategic calculus set the stage for the invasion of Hainan Island, a 13,000-square-mile landmass off Guangdong's southern coast, rich in iron and copper but strategically priceless for its position astride the Indochina route and proximity to Hong Kong. By February 1939, Japanese admirals like Nobutake Kondō of the 5th Fleet advocated seizure to establish air and naval bases, plugging blockade gaps and enabling raids on Haiphong and Kunming, a prelude to broader southern expansion that would echo into the Pacific War. Now after the fall campaign around Canton in autumn 1938, the Japanese 21st Army found itself embedded in a relentless effort to sever the enemy's lifelines. Its primary objective shifted from mere battlefield engagements to tightening the choke points of enemy supply, especially along the Canton–Hankou railway. Recognizing that war materiel continued to flow into the enemy's hands, the Imperial General Headquarters ordered the 21st Army to strike at every other supply route, one by one, until the arteries of logistics were stifled. The 21st Army undertook a series of decisive occupations to disrupt transport and provisioning from multiple directions. To sustain these difficult campaigns, Imperial General Headquarters reinforced the south China command, enabling greater operational depth and endurance. The 21st Army benefited from a series of reinforcements during 1939, which allowed a reorganization of assignments and missions: In late January, the Iida Detachment was reorganized into the Formosa Mixed Brigade and took part in the invasion of Hainan Island.  Hainan, just 15 miles across the Qiongzhou Strait from the mainland, represented a critical "loophole": it lay astride the Gulf of Tonkin, enabling smuggling of arms and materiel from Haiphong to Kunming, and offered potential airfields for bombing raids deep into Yunnan. Japanese interest in Hainan dated to the 1920s, driven by the Taiwan Governor-General's Office, which eyed the island's tropical resources (rubber, iron, copper) and naval potential at ports like Sanya (Samah). Prewar surveys by Japanese firms, such as those documented in Ide Kiwata's Minami Shina no Sangyō to Keizai (1939), highlighted mineral wealth and strategic harbors. The fall of Guangzhou in October 1938 provided the perfect launchpad, but direct invasion was delayed until early 1939 amid debates between the IJA (favoring mainland advances) and IJN (prioritizing naval encirclement). The operation would also heavily align with broader "southward advance" (Nanshin-ron) doctrine foreshadowing invasions of French Indochina (1940) and the Pacific War. On the Chinese side, Hainan was lightly defended as part of Guangdong's "peace preservation" under General Yu Hanmou. Two security regiments, six guard battalions, and a self-defense corps, totaling around 7,000–10,000 poorly equipped troops guarded the island, supplemented by roughly 300 Communist guerrillas under Feng Baiju, who operated independently in the interior. The indigenous Li (Hlai) people in the mountainous south, alienated by Nationalist taxes, provided uneven support but later allied with Communists. The Imperial General Headquarters ordered the 21st Army, in cooperation with the Navy, to occupy and hold strategic points on the island near Haikou-Shih. The 21st Army commander assigned the Formosa Mixed Brigade to carry out this mission. Planning began in late 1938 under the IJN's Fifth Fleet, with IJA support from the 21st Army. The objective: secure northern and southern landing sites to bisect the island, establish air/naval bases, and exploit resources. Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō, commanding the fleet, emphasized surprise and air superiority. The invasion began under the cover of darkness on February 9, 1939, when Kondō's convoy entered Tsinghai Bay on the northern shore of Hainan and anchored at midnight. Japanese troops swiftly disembarked, encountering minimal initial resistance from the surprised Chinese defenders, and secured a beachhead in the northern zone. At 0300 hours on 10 February, the Formosa Mixed Brigade, operating in close cooperation with naval units, executed a surprise landing at the northeastern point of Tengmai Bay in north Hainan. By 04:30, the right flank reached the main road leading to Fengyingshih, while the left flank reached a position two kilometers south of Tienwei. By 07:00, the right flank unit had overcome light enemy resistance near Yehli and occupied Chiungshan. At that moment there were approximately 1,000 elements of the enemy's 5th Infantry Brigade (militia) at Chiungshan; about half of these troops were destroyed, and the remainder fled into the hills south of Tengmai in a state of disarray. Around 08:30 that same day, the left flank unit advanced to the vicinity of Shuchang and seized Hsiuying Heights. By 12:00, it occupied Haikou, the island's northern port city and administrative center, beginning around noon. Army and navy forces coordinated to mop up remaining pockets of resistance in the northern areas, overwhelming the scattered Chinese security units through superior firepower and organization. No large-scale battles are recorded in primary accounts; instead, the engagements were characterized by rapid advances and localized skirmishes, as the Chinese forces, lacking heavy artillery or air support, could not mount a sustained defense. By the end of the day, Japanese control over the north was consolidating, with Haikou falling under their occupation.Also on 10 February, the Brigade pushed forward to seize Cingang. Wenchang would be taken on the 22nd, followed by Chinglan Port on the 23rd. On February 11, the operation expanded southward when land combat units amphibiously assaulted Samah (now Sanya) at the island's southern tip. This landing allowed them to quickly seize key positions, including the port of Yulin (Yulinkang) and the town of Yai-Hsien (Yaxian, now part of Sanya). With these southern footholds secured, Japanese forces fanned out to subjugate the rest of the island, capturing inland areas and infrastructure with little organized opposition. Meanwhile, the landing party of the South China Navy Expeditionary Force, which had joined with the Army to secure Haikou, began landing on the island's southern shore at dawn on 14 February. They operated under the protection of naval and air units. By the same morning, the landing force had advanced to Sa-Riya and, by 12:00 hours, had captured Yulin Port. Chinese casualties were significant in the brief fighting; from January to May 1939, reports indicate the 11th security regiment alone suffered 8 officers and 162 soldiers killed, 3 officers and 16 wounded, and 5 officers and 68 missing, though figures for other units are unclear. Japanese losses were not publicly detailed but appear to have been light.  When crisis pressed upon them, Nationalist forces withdrew from coastal Haikou, shepherding the last civilians toward the sheltering embrace of the Wuzhi mountain range that bands the central spine of Hainan. From that high ground they sought to endure the storm, praying that the rugged hills might shield their families from the reach of war. Yet the Li country's mountains did not deliver a sanctuary free of conflict. Later in August of 1943, an uprising erupted among the Li,Wang Guoxing, a figure of local authority and stubborn resolve. His rebellion was swiftly crushed; in reprisal, the Nationalists executed a seizure of vengeance that extended far beyond the moment of defeat, claiming seven thousand members of Wang Guoxing's kin in his village. The episode was grim testimony to the brutal calculus of war, where retaliation and fear indelibly etched the landscape of family histories. Against this backdrop, the Communists under Feng Baiju and the native Li communities forged a vigorous guerrilla war against the occupiers. The struggle was not confined to partisan skirmishes alone; it unfolded as a broader contest of survival and resistance. The Japanese response was relentless and punitive, and it fell upon Li communities in western Hainan with particular ferocity, Sanya and Danzhou bore the brunt of violence, as did the many foreign laborers conscripted into service by the occupying power. The toll of these reprisals was stark: among hundreds of thousands of slave laborers pressed into service, tens of thousands perished. Of the 100,000 laborers drawn from Hong Kong, only about 20,000 survived the war's trials, a haunting reminder of the human cost embedded in the occupation. Strategically, the island of Hainan took on a new if coercive purpose. Portions of the island were designated as a naval administrative district, with the Hainan Guard District Headquarters established at Samah, signaling its role as a forward air base and as an operational flank for broader anti-Chiang Kai-shek efforts. In parallel, the island's rich iron and copper resources were exploited to sustain the war economy of the occupiers. The control of certain areas on Hainan provided a base of operations for incursions into Guangdong and French Indochina, while the airbases that dotted the island enabled long-range air raids that threaded routes from French Indochina and Burma into the heart of China. The island thus assumed a grim dual character: a frontier fortress for the occupiers and a ground for the prolonged suffering of its inhabitants. Hainan then served as a launchpad for later incursions into Guangdong and Indochina. Meanwhile after Wuhan's collapse, the Nationalist government's frontline strength remained formidable, even as attrition gnawed at its edges. By the winter of 1938–1939, the front line had swelled to 261 divisions of infantry and cavalry, complemented by 50 independent brigades. Yet the political and military fissures within the Kuomintang suggested fragility beneath the apparent depth of manpower. The most conspicuous rupture came with Wang Jingwei's defection, the vice president and chairman of the National Political Council, who fled to Hanoi on December 18, 1938, leading a procession of more than ten other KMT officials, including Chen Gongbo, Zhou Fohai, Chu Minqi, and Zeng Zhongming. In the harsh arithmetic of war, defections could not erase the country's common resolve to resist Japanese aggression, and the anti-Japanese national united front still served as a powerful instrument, rallying the Chinese populace to "face the national crisis together." Amid this political drama, Japan's strategy moved into a phase that sought to convert battlefield endurance into political consolidation. As early as January 11, 1938, Tokyo had convened an Imperial Conference and issued a framework for handling the China Incident that would shape the theater for years. The "Outline of Army Operations Guidance" and "Continental Order No. 241" designated the occupied territories as strategic assets to be held with minimal expansion beyond essential needs. The instruction mapped an operational zone that compressed action to a corridor between Anqing, Xinyang, Yuezhou, and Nanchang, while the broader line of occupation east of a line tracing West Sunit, Baotou, and the major river basins would be treated as pacified space. This was a doctrine of attrition, patience, and selective pressure—enough to hold ground, deny resources to the Chinese, and await a more opportune political rupture. Yet even as Japan sought political attrition, the war's tactical center of gravity drifted toward consolidation around Wuhan and the pathways that fed the Yangtze. In October 1938, after reducing Wuhan to a fortressed crescent of contested ground, the Japanese General Headquarters acknowledged the imperative to adapt to a protracted war. The new calculus prioritized political strategy alongside military operations: "We should attach importance to the offensive of political strategy, cultivate and strengthen the new regime, and make the National Government decline, which will be effective." If the National Government trembled under coercive pressure, it risked collapse, and if not immediately, then gradually through a staged series of operations. In practice, this meant reinforcing a centralized center while allowing peripheral fronts to be leveraged against Chongqing's grip on the war's moral economy. In the immediate post-Wuhan period, Japan divided its responsibilities and aimed at a standoff that would enable future offensives. The 11th Army Group, stationed in the Wuhan theater, became the spearhead of field attacks on China's interior, occupying a strategic triangle that included Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangxi, and protecting the rear of southwest China's line of defense. The central objective was not merely to seize territory, but to deny Chinese forces the capacity to maneuver along the critical rail and river corridors that fed the Nanjing–Jiujiang line and the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway. Central to this plan was Wuhan's security and the ability to constrain Jiujiang's access to the Yangtze, preserving a corridor for air power and logistics. The pre-war arrangement in early 1939 was a tableau of layered defenses and multiple war zones, designed to anticipate and blunt Japanese maneuver. By February 1939, the Ninth War Zone under Xue Yue stood in a tense standoff with the Japanese 11th Army along the Jiangxi and Hubei front south of the Yangtze. The Ninth War Zone's order of battle, Luo Zhuoying's 19th Army Group defending the northern Nanchang front, Wang Lingji's 30th Army Group near Wuning, Fan Songfu's 8th and 73rd Armies along Henglu, Tang Enbo's 31st Army Group guarding southern Hubei and northern Hunan, and Lu Han's 1st Army Group in reserve near Changsha and Liuyang, was a carefully calibrated attempt to absorb, delay, and disrupt any Xiushui major Japanese thrust toward Nanchang, a city whose strategic significance stretched beyond its own bounds. In the spring of 1939, Nanchang was the one city in southern China that Tokyo could not leave in Chinese hands. It was not simply another provincial capital; it was the beating heart of whatever remained of China's war effort south of the Yangtze, and the Japanese knew it. High above the Gan River, on the flat plains west of Poyang Lake, lay three of the finest airfields China had ever built: Qingyunpu, Daxiaochang, and Xiangtang. Constructed only a few years earlier with Soviet engineers and American loans, they were long, hard-surfaced, and ringed with hangars and fuel dumps. Here the Chinese Air Force had pulled back after the fall of Wuhan, and here the red-starred fighters and bombers of the Soviet volunteer groups still flew. From Nanchang's runways a determined pilot could reach Japanese-held Wuhan in twenty minutes, Guangzhou in less than an hour, and even strike the docks at Hong Kong if he pushed his range. Every week Japanese reconnaissance planes returned with photographs of fresh craters patched, new aircraft parked wing-to-wing, and Soviet pilots sunning themselves beside their I-16s. As long as those fields remained Chinese, Japan could never claim the sky. The city was more than airfields. It sat exactly where the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway met the line running north to Jiujiang and the Yangtze, a knot that tied together three provinces. Barges crowded Poyang Lake's western shore, unloading crates of Soviet ammunition and aviation fuel that had come up the river from the Indochina railway. Warehouses along the tracks bulged with shells and rice. To the Japanese staff officers plotting in Wuhan and Guangzhou, Nanchang looked less like a city and more like a loaded spring: if Chiang Kai-shek ever found the strength for a counteroffensive to retake the middle Yangtze, this would be the place from which it would leap. And so, in the cold March of 1939, the Imperial General Headquarters marked Nanchang in red on every map and gave General Okamura the order he had been waiting for: take it, whatever the cost. Capturing the city would do three things at once. It would blind the Chinese Air Force in the south by seizing or destroying the only bases from which it could still seriously operate. It would tear a hole in the last east–west rail line still feeding Free China. And it would shove the Nationalist armies another two hundred kilometers farther into the interior, buying Japan precious time to digest its earlier conquests and tighten the blockade. Above all, Nanchang was the final piece in a great aerial ring Japan was closing around southern China. Hainan had fallen in February, giving the navy its southern airfields. Wuhan and Guangzhou already belonged to the army. Once Nanchang was taken, Japanese aircraft would sit on a continuous arc of bases from the tropical beaches of the South China Sea to the banks of the Yangtze, and nothing (neither the Burma Road convoys nor the French railway from Hanoi) would move without their permission. Chiang Kai-shek's decision to strike first in the Nanchang region in March 1939 reflected both urgency and a desire to seize initiative before Japanese modernization of the battlefield could fully consolidate. On March 8, Chiang directed Xue Yue to prepare a preemptive attack intended to seize the offensive by March 15, focusing the Ninth War Zone's efforts on preventing a river-crossing assault and pinning Japanese forces in place. The plan called for a sequence of coordinated actions: the 19th Army Group to hold the northern front of Nanchang; the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi Border Advance Army (the 8th and 73rd Armies) to strike the enemy's left flank from Wuning toward De'an and Ruichang; the 30th and 27th Army Groups to consolidate near Wuning; and the 1st Army Group to push toward Xiushui and Sandu, opening routes for subsequent operations. Yet even as Xue Yue pressed for action, the weather of logistics and training reminded observers that no victory could be taken for granted. By March 9–10, Xue Yue warned Chiang that troops were not adequately trained, supplies were scarce, and preparations were insufficient, requesting a postponement to March 24. Chiang's reply was resolute: the attack must commence no later than the 24th, for the aim was preemption and the desire to tether the enemy's forces before they could consolidate. When the moment of decision arrived, the Chinese army began to tense, and the Japanese, no strangers to rapid shifts in tempo—moved to exploit any hesitation or fog of mobilization. The Ninth War Zone's response crystallized into a defensive posture as the Japanese pressed forward, marking a transition from preemption to standoff as both sides tested the limits of resilience. The Japanese plan for what would become known as Operation Ren, aimed at severing the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway, breaking the enemy's line of communication, and isolating Nanchang, reflected a calculated synthesis of air power, armored mobility, and canalized ground offensives. On February 6, 1939, the Central China Expeditionary Army issued a set of precise directives: capture Nanchang to cut the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway and disrupt the southern reach of Anhui and Zhejiang provinces; seize Nanchang along the Nanchang–Xunyi axis to split enemy lines and "crush" Chinese resistance south of that zone; secure rear lines immediately after the city's fall; coordinate with naval air support to threaten Chinese logistics and airfields beyond the rear lines. The plan anticipated contingencies by pre-positioning heavy artillery and tanks in formations that could strike with speed and depth, a tactical evolution from previous frontal assaults. Okamura Yasuji, commander of the 11th Army, undertook a comprehensive program of reconnaissance, refining the assault plan with a renewed emphasis on speed and surprise. Aerial reconnaissance underlined the terrain, fortifications, and the disposition of Chinese forces, informing the selection of the Xiushui River crossing and the route of the main axis of attack. Okamura's decision to reorganize artillery and armor into concentrated tank groups, flanked by air support and advanced by long-range maneuver, marked a departure from the earlier method of distributing heavy weapons along the infantry front. Sumita Laishiro commanded the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade, with more than 300 artillery pieces, while Hirokichi Ishii directed a force of 135 tanks and armored vehicles. This blended arms approach promised a breakthrough that would outpace the Chinese defenders and open routes for the main force. By mid-February 1939, Japanese preparations had taken on a high tempo. The 101st and 106th Divisions, along with attached artillery, assembled south of De'an, while tank contingents gathered north of De'an. The 6th Division began moving toward Ruoxi and Wuning, the Inoue Detachment took aim at the waterways of Poyang Lake, and the 16th and 9th Divisions conducted feints on the Han River's left bank. The orchestration of these movements—feints, riverine actions, and armored flanking, was designed to reduce the Chinese capacity to concentrate forces around Nanchang and to force the defenders into a less secure posture along the Nanchang–Jiujiang axis. Japan's southward strategy reframed the war: no longer a sprint to reduce Chinese forces in open fields, but a patient siege of lifelines, railways, and airbases. Hainan's seizure, the control of Nanchang's airfields, and the disruption of the Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway exemplified a shift from large-scale battles to coercive pressure that sought to cripple Nationalist mobilization and erode Chongqing's capacity to sustain resistance. For China, the spring of 1939 underscored resilience amid mounting attrition. Chiang Kai-shek's insistence on offensive means to seize the initiative demonstrated strategic audacity, even as shortages and uneven training slowed tempo. The Ninth War Zone's defense, bolstered by makeshift airpower from Soviet and Allied lendings, kept open critical corridors and delayed Japan's consolidation. The war's human cost—massive casualties, forced labor, and the Li uprising on Hainan—illuminates the brutality that fueled both sides' resolve. In retrospect, the period around Canton, Wuhan, and Nanchang crystallizes a grim truth: the Sino-Japanese war was less a single crescendo of battles than a protracted contest of endurance, logistics, and political stamina. The early 1940s would widen these fault lines, but the groundwork laid in 1939, competition over supply routes, air control, and strategic rail nodes, would shape the war's pace and, ultimately, its outcome. The conflict's memory lies not only in the clashes' flash but in the stubborn persistence of a nation fighting to outlast a formidable adversary. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Japanese invasion of Hainan and proceeding operations to stop logistical leaks into Nationalist China, showcased the complexity and scale of the growing Second Sino-Japanese War. It would not merely be a war of territorial conquest, Japan would have to strangle the colossus using every means necessary.  

In this episode of Speakernomics, host Kenneth Kinney, affectionately known as "Shark," embarks on a journey with a panel of international speaking experts including Ruby Newell Legner, CSP, Cavett Award; Sylvie di Giusto, CSP; Elias Kanaris; Stan Phelps; and more. Together, they explore the dynamics of becoming a successful international speaker and the nuances that distinguish it from occasional international engagements.In this session, the esteemed speakers will:* Explain how to adapt speeches culturally and contextually to match diverse global audiences, ensuring both relevance and resonance.* Argue the significance of building strong, service-oriented relationships with international clients, rather than focusing solely on sales intentions.* Outline strategies for defining a clear international speaking strategy by targeting specific regions or industries aligned with personal values and expertise. Become an NSA Member! https://nsaspeaker.org/join/#membership THRIVE 2026! You NEED to be here! https://thrive.nsaspeaker.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Outline of the Sugya

Outline of the Sugya

Common law can feel like a chaotic patchwork of 50 different jurisdictions. But for the last century, the American Law Institute (ALI) has worked to distill that chaos into clear, persuasive principles. We sit down with Mark Hall, the lead reporter for the Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Medical Malpractice, to discuss how these influential texts are written and why they often carry more weight than a standard law review article.In this episode, we cover:The "Goldilocks" Standard: How the ALI synthesizes the "best" version of the law from conflicting state approaches.Medical Malpractice Deep Dive: Defining the "Standard of Care" and navigating the controversial Loss of Chance doctrine.A "Secondary" Source with Primary Power: Why judges often rely on Restatements to settle issues of first impression.The Laboratory of the States: Why a little legal variation across the country is actually a good thing for the profession.(00:00) - Introduction: The Chaos of Common Law and the Role of the ALI (03:24) - What is a Restatement? Harmonizing 50 States into One Principle (04:36) - The Legacy of Torts: How the ALI Created Products Liability Law (07:17) - Defining the Standard of Care: "Competent" vs. "Average" (09:55) - The "Loss of Chance" Doctrine: Can You Sue for a Reduced Probability of Survival? (12:14) - Study Tips: Using Restatements to Outline for Finals and Understand Nuance (16:24) - Litigation Strategy: Making Arguments When the Law is Unsettled (20:00) - The "Laboratory of the States": Why Legal Variation is Beneficial (24:32) - Curriculum Design: Will Professors Teach from the Restatement? (27:38) - Host Debrief: How to Use Restatements as a Research Shortcut for Briefs (34:40) - Evidence vs. Torts: Why Codified Rules Feel Easier to Learn (42:02) - Networking Hacks: Using the ALI Member List to Find Mentors Click here to view the episode transcript.

Message Notes for Today's Sermon. Click Here - https://gileadchurch.churchcenter.com/episodes/590105/notes Outline for Today's Sermon. Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/1-18-26.pdf Digital Connection Card Click Here to fill one out - https://gileadchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/202250 Having Trouble with the Live Stream? Click Here to watch on our website - https://www.gileadchurch.com/ Looking to Give Online? Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/giving/ Did you make a decision today and want to take your Next Step? Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/next-steps/ Weekly Announcements - https://www.gileadchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/WeeklyAnnouncements1-18-26.png To Listen to Our Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gilead-church-podcast/id1729234971 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sOidhOjzZepJFlQp2ZJWZ?si=9550f665a7fa4612 For More From Gilead Church: http://www.gileadchurch.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gileadchurch1/ https://www.instagram.com/gilead_church/

Outline of the Sugya

Before We Leave The Dock! Rick brings up the safety question to the local guides, captains discuss pre-launch safety checks. Let's discuss! Do you have a question about fishing in your area? Email rick@floridasportsman.com and we'll answer your questions on the air. Outline of Episode 326 [2:02] Tropics Report [6:41] Northeast Report [14:38] East Central Report            [22:00] South Report [27:13] Keys Report [32:39] 10,000 Islands Report [41:22] Southwest Report [47:05] West Central Report [57:07] Northwest Report [1:01:06] Panhandle Report [1:04:03] Florida Wrap-Up A BIG thanks to each of our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to bring you these reports each week Yamaha Outboards • Shimano Fishing • Tournament Master Chum • D.O.A. Lures • Fishing Nosara / Nosara Paradise Rentals • Young Boats  

AI is everywhere, from investing apps and portfolio tools to recipe planners and vacation organizers, artificial intelligence touches countless corners of our lives. In finance, AI promises accessibility. For newer investors, it's a way to learn basic concepts, compare traditional and Roth IRAs, or understand the difference between tax brackets, all delivered in plain English. AI is also a huge help with organization and financial efficiency. Need a budgeting framework or quick ways to categorize cash flow? AI can create those. It's a handy pocket assistant that helps you plan and ask sharper questions when evaluating financial advisors or planning your future. The Real Limitations of AI in Financial Planning While AI is a powerful tool, it is not a decision maker. Here are the big dangers and drawbacks you need to keep in mind: 1. Zero Personal Accountability AI doesn't bear the consequences of its advice. If it suggests an irreversible move, like a Roth IRA conversion, based on incomplete or incorrect information, the cost falls entirely on you. 2. Overconfidence in Precision AI delivers advice with absolute confidence, even when it's wrong! Financial planning isn't just numbers, it's trade-offs, nuances, and judgment calls that factor in health, family dynamics, and personal emotional risk tolerance. 3. Struggles with Multi-Year Tax Planning Most AI tools treat tax decisions generically just one year at a time. But real retirement tax planning means looking ahead 10, 15, or 20 years. Missed integration here can cost you tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars over a career or lifetime. 4. One-Dimensional Investment Advice AI assumes perfect discipline and zero life changes, no panic selling, no sudden need for funds. But human emotion, especially during retirement or volatile markets, often drives decisions. 5. False Sense of Security AI's confident answers may mask underlying complexity. A small financial misstep, repeated or compounded over decades, can grow into a massive problem down the road. 6. Lack of Behavioral Guardrails Emotions play a huge role in retirement and investment decisions. Life throws curveballs—loss, illness, market downturns, and AI cannot reframe your fears or keep you disciplined when things get tough. When Human Wisdom Matters Most Retirement planning isn't about finding simple answers, information is cheap, wisdom is not. For complex questions, AI offers basic options, but it can't weigh the sequence of return risk, or policy changes in real time, like a qualified advisor can. Human advisors coordinate, prioritize, and apply experience to your financial life. They support you through market cycles, health challenges, and family transitions, and recognize when purely rational advice doesn't capture your real needs. Using AI Wisely My advice is to use AI for learning and organization, not for important, irreversible lifestyle and tax decisions. Always double-check its work, and don't outsource your financial future entirely to algorithms. Technology plus human judgment delivers the best outcomes. AI is a powerful tool, not a complete solution. Outline of This Episode 02:24 Best in Wealth Podcast future plans.03:57 AI in daily

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On this episode of Catching Up, hosts Nate McClennen and Mason Pashia dive into key topics shaping education in 2026. From the rise of AI in classrooms and concerns about its regulation to a deep dive into the potential of scholastic journalism as a tool for real-world learning, they explore how education can foster connection, critical thinking, and creativity. The duo also shares their top 10 predictions for 2026, including insights on media literacy, work-based learning, and the future of education funding. Tune in for thought-provoking ideas, actionable insights, and even a little inspiration on building forts as adults! Outline (00:00) Introduction (01:17) AI Pessimism & Trends (05:44) Scholastic Journalism Deep Dive (10:48) Top 10 Predictions for 2026 (22:28) School Choice & Funding (29:30) Science of Reading & Work-Based Learning (45:28) What's That Song? Links Watch the full video here Gallup polling - 80% of Americans favor regulating AI Pew study - Only 17% believe AI will have a positive impact Grey Goo - Britannica explanation Economist article - Blue book sales doubling due to AI Child Care Micro-Centers Filling Empty Classrooms in Chattanooga, TN Peer Mental Health Support in Great Falls Public Schools, Montana Local News Initiative - Vanishing Newspapers Center for Scholastic Journalism - Decline in Scholastic Journalism State of News - News Deserts Cell Phone Bans in Schools - Campus Safety Magazine AI Infiltration and Use in Education - Center for Democracy and Technology AI Tutoring Development - LearnLM DeepMind Report Science of Reading - AEI Article  

The Retire Sooner Podcast welcomes Clark Howard alongside Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase for a special episode focused on market history, long-term investing principles, and today's most talked-about financial transitions. The conversation emphasizes context over commentary and highlights how investors often think through uncertainty, change, and market structure. • Highlight Clark Howard's perspective on Warren Buffett stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at age 95 and the transition to Greg Abel. • Review Berkshire Hathaway's long-term role in markets and why its history is frequently referenced alongside the S&P 500. • Frame why long-term market participation is commonly emphasized during periods of leadership change at iconic companies. • Discuss why Clark Howard views this transition as the close of a defining chapter in modern investing history. • Explain how Berkshire Hathaway's conglomerate structure differs from traditional private equity, including transparency and fee considerations. • Examine growing market concentration and the shrinking number of U.S. public companies—and why those trends continue to matter. • Outline how exposure to both public stocks and privately held businesses is often discussed when considering diversification. • Summarize several big-picture themes shaping 2026 conversations, including artificial intelligence, tax-refund dynamics, and election-cycle uncertainty. • Clarify what “dry powder” means and how cash, money market funds, and select bonds are commonly described in retirement safety discussions. • Address listener questions by reviewing general considerations around investing settlement proceeds, tax-advantaged accounts, and dividend-oriented ETFs. This episode offers a thoughtful conversation featuring Clark Howard with Wes Moss, focused on long-term perspective rather than short-term reaction. Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for ongoing discussions that bring clarity and context to retirement and investing topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this concise, Christ-centered overview of the Gospel of Mark, we trace the “beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) and see why Mark presents Jesus as the triumphant Suffering Servant—One who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life “a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). You'll get the big-picture purpose, audience, and driving themes of Mark's fast-paced narrative (action, urgency, discipleship, the Kingdom of God, and the central question: Who is Jesus?), along with a simple outline that helps you read Mark with clarity and structure—especially as the Gospel presses us toward a decision about Jesus and a willingness to follow Him in the way of the cross (Mark 8:34–35). If you'd like a longer (more detailed) overview, I preached an hour-length message on the Gospel of Mark and encourage you to check it out here.Watch this episode as a video on YouTubeCheck out the study notes for this episode-----------------» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday, which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually.-----------------Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 369View the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/369

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Redemption Revealed | Week 1 | Misty Denman--Jesus' triumphal entry ushers in his final week before the crucifixion and highlights John's desire that everyone experience redemption and believe that Jesus is the Messiah.--Outline

Working with transcripts can feel overwhelming. Client calls. Workshop recordings. Interview transcripts. Pages and pages of raw material—good ideas buried under tangents, half-finished thoughts, and off-the-cuff remarks. The problem usually isn't lack of content. It's too much of it! In this episode, I walk you through a simple, repeatable workflow I use to turn messy transcripts or rough notes into a clear, usable outline—without losing the nuance that actually matters. If you've ever dropped a transcript into AI, asked it to "summarize this," and felt underwhelmed by the result… this episode will show you a much better approach. What You'll Learn Why asking AI to "summarize" is usually the wrong first move How to give AI better signal by starting with context, not content A practical, copy-and-paste prompt for structuring messy transcripts How to preserve nuance, tension, and unresolved thinking Where AI's role ends... and where your judgment matters most Key Ideas Covered in This Episode 1. The Real Risk of AI Summaries AI summaries are often: Clean Organized And emotionally flat When you ask AI to summarize too early, it tends to: Smooth over tension Resolve ambiguity prematurely Erase the very moments that make the thinking interesting But those messy moments are often the most valuable parts of a transcript! 2. Start With Context Before Content Before pasting anything into AI, clarify: What this material is (a client call, interview, workshop, etc.) What you're trying to create (article outline, memo, talk, case study) Who it's for What matters more here: clarity, persuasion, or depth This framing alone dramatically improves the output. 3. Don't Hide Your Own Thinking If you were part of the conversation—or listening closely—you already have insight. You noticed: Patterns Tensions Strong opinions What felt important (even if you're not sure why yet) Dump that thinking into the chat. You can literally say: "Here are my rough and random thoughts so far. None of this is locked in." That gives the model far better signal than a raw transcript on its own. 4. Ask for Structure—Not Writing Before asking AI to write anything, ask it to: Identify themes and recurring ideas Group related concepts into buckets Flag contradictions or unresolved thinking Preserve nuance instead of smoothing it out You're looking for a skeleton here. That's it. 5. A Simple Prompt You Can Use Here's the exact type of instruction I recommend at this stage: Take the role of a skilled research assistant helping me make sense of raw thinking without oversimplifying it. Study the transcript I've attached, along with my rough notes and early thoughts. Nothing here is finalized. I need you to: · Identify the main themes, tensions, and recurring ideas · Group them into a clear outline · Flag nuance, contradictions, or unresolved thinking · Do not write prose, conclusions, or clean summaries This keeps the AI in the right lane. 6. Where Your Role Becomes Clear Once you have structure: You decide what stays You decide what moves You decide what gets cut or combined AI gives you a map. Now it's up to you to choose the route. At this point, writing becomes easier. Not because AI wrote it for you, but because the thinking is no longer chaotic. The Big Takeaway Think in layers. So instead of asking AI to finish the job in one move, use it to: Identify patterns Clarify structure Reduce cognitive load When used this way, AI amplifies your judgement. And that's the goal: to let smart tools handle the grunt work so you can focus on framing, meaning, and persuasion. Listener Reflection Here's the question I'll leave you with: What part of your current workflow would benefit most from letting AI point out patterns while you keep the final call? If you found this episode useful, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss future conversations on using tools thoughtfully, without giving up your edge as a creative professional.

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In the latest episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark sits down with education leader Richard Carranza, Chief Strategy and Global Development Officer at IXL. Together, they explore transformative topics like the growing role of AI in education, the enduring importance of arts in identity development, and how personalized learning tools are shaping classrooms of the future. Carranza emphasizes that while AI offers powerful opportunities for efficiency and innovation, it will never replace the need for passionate, well-trained educators. The conversation delves into the challenges system leaders face, including budget constraints, changing learning environments, and preparing students for a future defined by tools and careers that have yet to emerge. Listen in to gain insights on how to lead with equity, embrace technology, and create transformative learning experiences. Outline (00:00) Introduction   (03:30) The Importance of Arts in Education (05:50) AI in Education: Tools Not Replacements (08:10) Leading Systems in the Age of AI (14:10) IXL's Approach to AI and EdTech (27:32) Looking Forward: Advice for Education Leaders Links Read the full blog here Watch the full video here LinkedIn IXL Learning  

There's a proven link between physical fitness and sales performance. My guest this week,  wellbeing and performance expert George Anderson, joins me to share his strategies for boosting energy, focus which I'm sure you'll agree are key ingredients for thriving in the demanding world of sales. We discuss the impact of daily habits like morning routines, and mindful "powering down" at the end of the day. You'll also be inspired by George's personal ultramarathon journey and learn practical tips for overcoming common obstacles like lack of time and burnout. If you're ready to enhance your performance from the inside out, this episode is packed with wisdom you won't want to miss.  Outline of This Episode 00:00 The link between fitness and professional performance. 03:41 The power of going out for a walk. 05:01 Morning routines and their impact on productivity. 08:00 Stress, sleep, and its impact on performance. 11:45 Overcoming the all-or-nothing mindset. 17:02 Daily habits for productivity. The Transformative Power of Simple Habits Focusing only on cardiovascular fitness or gym sessions misses the bigger picture. True performance is rooted in holistic health, encompassing sleep, nutrition, hydration, recovery, and regular movement. If you've ever struggled through a rough day after poor sleep or noticed your creativity wane following unhealthy meals, you've experienced firsthand how interconnected physical health is with workplace effectiveness. As George says, physical fitness is a leverage point every high performer should bear in mind, but most underuse. Getting outside and moving, whether with a pet, a friend, or solo, creates a positive domino effect on energy, mood, and focus. Its simplicity makes it sustainable, and regularity ensures lasting benefits. Developing non-negotiable habits like morning walks or regular breaks can dramatically shift the way you tackle your sales day. Three Energy-Boosting Habits for Sales Professionals Consistency is key to managing the high demands of sales. George Anderson recommends three fitness and lifestyle habits that seamlessly boost energy and resilience: Intentional Morning Routine: Avoid starting your day by immediately reaching for your phone. Instead, take time for yourself before the flood of emails or social media notifications. Set your own agenda before reacting to others'. Transitional Rituals: Clearly separate work and home time, especially when working remotely. Use short walks or reflective pauses to shift mental gears, preventing emotional residue from spilling into your personal life. Power Down Protocol: Shut off screens and calm your mind before bed. A deliberate wind-down helps ensure quality sleep, which directly impacts your motivation, creativity, and ability to handle stress the next day. Battling Stress, Burnout, and "No Time" Syndrome Sales professionals face constant pressure, deadlines, targets, and relentless meetings. The most common barrier to wellness is time, many feel that unless their exercise session lasts an hour, it's not worth starting. George's antidote is the "plus one" principle. Instead of all-or-nothing thinking, start with what you're doing now, and add just one increment, such as a 10-minute workout or a walk around the block. Small, consistent changes not only fit into the busiest of schedules but also spark a positive chain reaction, improving other choices throughout your day. Recognizing burnout and fatigue can be tricky. Lifestyle missteps, late nights, skipped workouts, are obvious, but functional burnout often creeps in unnoticed. Tuning into your body's signals and noticing when productivity drops or motivation fades is essential. Take ownership of incremental changes, even if the workload is outside your control. Fitness Do's and Don'ts for High-Performing Salespeople George Anderson shares actionable dos and don'ts: Don'ts: Avoid reaching for your phone first thing in the morning. Don't sit down all day, take real breaks and step away from your desk. Limit relentless back-to-back virtual meetings to preserve focus. Do's: Incorporate purposeful movement every day (walks, short workouts). Be intentional with routines, morning, transitional, power-down. Reflect daily on habits and celebrate wins, while seeking improvement. Achieving Big Goals Through Better Health Physical fitness isn't just theory for George. When training for a 24-hour ultramarathon, he adapted his methods to fit his evolving life circumstances and age. He advises that whatever you want to achieve set a goal, something you can't do right now, then use creativity and commitment to overcome obstacles. Constraints may be inevitable, but resourcefulness keeps progress within reach. Resources Mentioned By Design Not Default  Connect with George Anderson George Anderson on LinkedIn  George Anderson  Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter    Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show Notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

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With markets, economic policy, and investing headlines moving quickly as 2026 begins, separating signal from noise matters more than ever. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller provide structured context on widely discussed market and policy topics relevant to long-term financial decision-making. • Review early-2026 market and economic headlines, including federal policy activity and legislative developments affecting financial markets. • Examine institutional investor participation in single-family housing markets across the Southeast and related affordability discussions. • Analyze policy proposals that would limit large investors from purchasing single-family homes and the uncertainties surrounding their potential effects. • Explain the proposed design of Trump accounts, a child-focused savings framework often compared to features of IRAs and 529 plans. • Discuss how geopolitical developments involving Venezuela are commonly reflected in energy markets and global pricing narratives. • Describe characteristics frequently associated with later-stage bull markets using historical market cycle examples. • Compare current market conditions with long-term averages for bull-market length and performance for context. • Evaluate recent shifts in market leadership from a narrow concentration of stocks toward broader participation. • Assess how artificial intelligence is moving from conceptual narratives to practical corporate implementation across sectors. • Review discussions surrounding tax refunds, recent tax code changes, and their relationship to economic activity. • Outline recent Federal Reserve interest-rate decisions and how monetary policy is typically evaluated in portfolio discussions. • Summarize historical volatility patterns during midterm election years within the presidential election cycle. Listen to the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Connor Miller for educational discussions on markets, investing, and financial planning topics shaping today's headlines. Subscribe to stay informed as economic narratives evolve throughout 2026 and beyond.

HITM: Today's “Where are they now?” guest is someone who has been joining the show for over 15 years, Popcorn's dad Frankie Lovato. What does AI think of HITM, some thoughts on relationships and your equestrian first world problems. Listen in…AUDITOR POST SHOW: No post show.HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 3860 – Show Notes and Links:Hosts: Jamie Jennings of Flyover Farm and Glenn the GeekJamie and Glenn's Amazon StorePic Credit: Frankie LovatoGuest: Larissa Ray reading her horse husband blog post.Guest: Frankie Lovato of the EquicizerAdditional support for this podcast provided by: Cavallo Hoof Boots, Equine Network and Listeners Like YouTime Stamps: 0:01:03 – Outline of today's show and main topics0:02:55 – Discussion of AI's opinion on the show0:05:15 – Daily Whinnies0:05:50 – “Miami Moonlight” update0:13:33 – “Where are they now?” segment with guest Frankie Lovato0:35:19 – Hoof boot product recommendations and stories0:39:27 – Relationships and “horse husband” blog reading by Larissa Ray0:46:45 – “Equestrian first world problems” segment begins0:54:24 – Show wrap-up and upcoming episode

HITM: Today's “Where are they now?” guest is someone who has been joining the show for over 15 years, Popcorn's dad Frankie Lovato. What does AI think of HITM, some thoughts on relationships and your equestrian first world problems. Listen in…AUDITOR POST SHOW: No post show.HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 3860 – Show Notes and Links:Hosts: Jamie Jennings of Flyover Farm and Glenn the GeekJamie and Glenn's Amazon StorePic Credit: Frankie LovatoGuest: Larissa Ray reading her horse husband blog post.Guest: Frankie Lovato of the EquicizerAdditional support for this podcast provided by: Cavallo Hoof Boots, Equine Network and Listeners Like YouTime Stamps: 0:01:03 – Outline of today's show and main topics0:02:55 – Discussion of AI's opinion on the show0:05:15 – Daily Whinnies0:05:50 – “Miami Moonlight” update0:13:33 – “Where are they now?” segment with guest Frankie Lovato0:35:19 – Hoof boot product recommendations and stories0:39:27 – Relationships and “horse husband” blog reading by Larissa Ray0:46:45 – “Equestrian first world problems” segment begins0:54:24 – Show wrap-up and upcoming episode

Outline of the Sugya

Message Notes for Today's Sermon. Click Here - https://gileadchurch.churchcenter.com/episodes/586623/notes Outline for Today's Sermon. Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/1-11-26.pdf Digital Connection Card Click Here to fill one out - https://gileadchurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/202250 Having Trouble with the Live Stream? Click Here to watch on our website - https://www.gileadchurch.com/ Looking to Give Online? Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/giving/ Did you make a decision today and want to take your Next Step? Click Here - https://www.gileadchurch.com/next-steps/ Weekly Announcements - https://www.gileadchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/WeeklyAnnouncements1-11-26.png To Listen to Our Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gilead-church-podcast/id1729234971 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sOidhOjzZepJFlQp2ZJWZ?si=9550f665a7fa4612 For More From Gilead Church: http://www.gileadchurch.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gileadchurch1/ https://www.instagram.com/gilead_church/

Start the year with structured context around today's most frequently discussed retirement planning questions on the Retire Sooner Podcast, hosted by Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase. This episode presents an educational review of real listener scenarios, placing retirement, investing, and planning topics within a long-term analytical framework. • Review current U.S. wealth statistics by discussing commonly cited data on net worth, retirement account balances, and generational financial trends. • Outline household risk considerations by examining how families often think about emergency savings, retirement contributions, and income stability. • Discuss real estate planning considerations by evaluating factors involved in purchasing a condo for college-bound children, including cash flow and potential resale dynamics. • Describe fiduciary planning relationships by outlining services commonly associated with comprehensive retirement planning, tax coordination, and advisory fee structures. • Explain the “Rule of 55” by clarifying how early access to employer-sponsored retirement plans is typically referenced. • Summarize shared characteristics of long-term savers by highlighting recurring themes reported by listeners with higher household savings levels. • Compare buffered ETFs by discussing how downside buffers and capped upside features are typically weighed within diversified portfolios. • Examine mortgage buyout scenarios by outlining considerations for co-owned property, interest-rate assumptions, and loan structure implications. • Analyze bond duration risk by discussing how interest-rate changes and yield-curve movements may influence long-duration bond pricing. If you're searching for clear, educational discussions around retirement planning, investing considerations, and household financial decision-making, this episode may add perspective. Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for ongoing conversations that help place financial topics in a long-term context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices